Tag Archives: Punk

St. Patrick’s Day Is The Only Way

Being an Irishman myself I have to confess that St. Patrick’s Day is my favorite time of the year.  Forget the winter holidays, the turkey dinner, or the fireworks.  I like my day to be green and I am not talking about Earth Day.

I remember the days when I would drink the day away with my brother and friends.  We would start the day early, 4am early, and pretty much try to destroy our livers.  I would sing, ok attempt to sing, Irish songs while spending ridiculous amounts of money on liquids that would guarantee in a disturbing hangover.  Boondock Saints would be played on repeat as we took naps to try and sober up for the rest of the evening for another round of debauchery.  One might think it is stupid and a waste but some of the best days I ever had were with my friends just being stupid.

As the years pass by though I am not the drinking machine I used to be and the thought of green beer does nothing for my taste buds.  Kegs and eggs is something of my past and I feel old admitting it.  Pour me a pint of Guinness just like any other day for me and I am perfectly contempt.

I still love the day and I always will.  I love everything about being Irish and I especially love my Irish punk rock music.

Yes, I really was going somewhere with this…

Remember these guys?  The Dropkick Murphys?

To help celebrate the big day I have decided to post some videos that the Dropkick Murphys have been posting around the interwebs.  Almost makes me want to relocate to Boston…

If you are wondering where some of this footage came from I might as will let you know that today, March 16th, the Dropkick Murphys released a live CD/DVD for all to see.

Six shows in seven days were thrown into the release that is more like a party like none other.  That is what Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA is all about, fun.  If you like all that you saw on here you should make sure you pick up this ultimate St. Patrick’s Day party favor – after all every day is St. Patty’s Day. Pint glasses not included and aspirin highly suggested.

Here’s an exclusive video for you if you liked what you saw already. Head over to Spin.com and check out the video for “State Of Massachusetts”.

The Bomb – Speed Is Everything– CD Review

Hey Jawbox fans, have you been looking for something to tide you over until they finally drop something new this year?  I can’t promise that they will even release new material but that set on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon really brought suspicions to the table.  Let’s hope for the best and until then I have a recommendation for you.

The band I speak of is called The Bomb.  Why should you check them out you ask?  Simple, J. Robbins of Jawbox recorded and mixed The Bomb’s most recent album Speed Is Everything.  He might have also contributed some singing throughout the album as did Dan Yemin from Paint It Black.  This is The Bomb’s second release and was released on No Idea Records.

Need more reason to check out this band I speak of?  Well I can tell you that the band includes former members of Naked Raygun, The Methadones, and even Four Star Alarm.  Oh I might as well throw in that they also cover a Flock Of Seagulls song – more on that in a bit.

This Chicago foursome features Jeff Pezzati, as well as Jeff Dean, Pete Mittler, and Mike Soucy.  With years of experience in the music world they came together and dropped a sophomore release that can stand strong next to a two decade old Naked Raygun album with no intimidation at all.  Perhaps that is a bold statement but after listening to it I think many of you can and will agree.  To me it has a sound that fits in that, dare I say classic, era perfectly.

“The Kids” and “Holiday” really have a post-punk sound straight from the early nineties and fans of that era will appreciate.   “The Rescue” was interesting as the song was sung from a hero point of view with interesting lyrics including hiding the goods.  “Haver” had a little harder punk feel throughout making for a good listen.

As mentioned previously the band took at stab at covering a Flock Of Seagulls song and I honestly like it more than the original.  When “Space Age Love Song” started I immediately knew it was a cover but was unable to immediately grab of whom but after a quick Google check that all changed.

Dan Yemin lends his pipes on the fast fist-pumping “Integrity” track that really rises over the rest when it comes to speed in the album.  “Spaceman” was another track I appreciated on the album a lot with it’s old school post-hardcore sound.  Title track “Speed Is Everything” was another notable track on the album and I even got a kick out of the album ending track “Blown Away”.

I could not help but think of other acts like Husker Du and Jawbreaker while listening to the CD as well as of course Jawbox.    Heavy drumming and straight forward guitar playing formulate a solid album of course with post-Naked Raygun singing styles.  I am shocked this band has not gotten a ton of hype seeing what they are made of but perhaps that makes this album that much more likable.  Old school fans of punk rock will adore this CD, well, at least I do.

Screw all that crunk-punk, emo baby, try too hard crap that recent bands have been dishing out, you kids need to check out The Bomb.  God, I feel old now saying that.  I feel like I just told all the punk kids to stay off my lawn…

DOWNLOAD THIS! The Bomb – “Spaceman”

Here is a live video of the band at a record store in NYC. Notice the excitement in the kid’s faces…

Bad Religion To Release Live Album & Give It Away For Free

Thanks to Matt for posting this one out to me…

Punk rock legends Bad Relgion (BR) recently announced on their website that they will be recording a live album and giving it away for free to all their fans.  The album titled 30 Years Live will be recorded during BR’s 2010 tour and given away to all fans who sign up on their mailing list.  If you are a BR fan, make sure you sign up so they can email you a link to the album for download.

Oh and if you have not heard yet BR will be playing back to back shows for a month starting March 17th.  Sadly they will not be making it this way, but how awesome is that?

Bad Religion 30th Anniversary Celebration from Bad Religion on Vimeo.

Concert Review: Frank Turner / Flogging Molly / The Architects – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH – 03/05/2010

It was a sold out kind of night last night in Cleveland thanks to a couple of events that were going on.  First there was the sold out Cleveland Cavaliers game going on at the Quicken Loans Arena.  It was Sunggie night after all so you know everyone and their mother wanted to get a glorified Cavs robe and cheer on the hometown team.  Apparently a new Guinness World Record was set for the most ridiculous looking people all in one place at one time. I’m sorry but being part of “largest gathering of people wearing fleece blankets” is not something that I want to think about in Cleveland on a Friday night.

Luckily for me and many other folk there was something much better going on just around the corner at the House Of Blues sans the Snuggies.  UK artist Frank Turner and some Celtic punk rock band called Flogging Molly were playing a sold out show and I was a part of it.  There was Guinness there too, the kind that is best served in pint glasses.

With many shows I attend I usually focus on the headlining act.  Where I am a fan of Flogging Molly and always will be, this night was all about me seeing Frank Turner live for the first time.  I am pretty sure I am the only person who was more excited for the one time punk rocker turned folk rock musician over the Irish punkers.

Opening act The Architects from Kansas City, MO started off the night with a bang.  Having never heard of them before they grabbed my attention with their straight forward rock n roll styles.  The foursome had great stage presence and the crowd rewarded them with constant approval.  I later learned that three of the members of the band used to be in the ska act The Gadjits. featuring the three Phillips brothers.  After hearing the Architects’ set I never would have fathomed them being in a ska band prior.  Great set by a great band I hope to hear more from in the future.

To say I was excited when Frank Turner and his nameless band took the stage would be an understatement.  With smiles on all of the band member’s faces they broke into “The Road” which just sounded amazing live.  I am sure it is safe to say not a lot of the people packed into the House Of Blues knew who Turner was but after just a couple songs in the crowd soon learned about the UK sensation who openly admitted that it was his first time in Cleveland as well as offered apologies if the set sucked at he was fighting a nasty cold.

Pointing to the crowd for a volunteer Turner chose a young fan to play harmonica on “Dan’s Song” knowing fully that the kid never played the harp in his life.  With a quick lesson Turner played the song alone on acoustic guitar and gave the honorary band member of the night “the look” when it was time for him to play.  Sure it did not sound like the recorded version or anything close to it but it was hilarious.

Armed with his acoustic guitar Turner continued the night along with his band playing like it was his most important show of his career.  He proudly yelled “Hello, Cleveland” to the crowd and fought his illness through each song.   It was apparent how ill he was feeling but he kept trucking along through the set that included “Poetry Of The Deed” as well as “Love, Ire, & Song” as well as “Back In The Day”.

From where I planted my feet the fans around me all seemed to enjoy Turner who let many in on a little secret telling them all that is was not actually a folk artist but a punk rocker who plays folk music.  Closing the night out with “Photosynthesis” I could only hope for a headlining show the next time Turner and crew come back to Cleveland.  They put on a great show and I am thrilled to be able to say I saw Turner live finally.

Without a doubt everyone was Irish for the night as Flogging Molly is notoriously known for spreading the Irish cheer around with their likable Celtic punk rock sing along jams.  Once the seven-piece took the stage it was clear how many people were packed into the venue to see them.  Fueled mainly on Jamison and Guinness the crowd showed no sign of calming down throughout the set.  Entertaining as always, Dave King pranced around the stage with Nathan Maxwell slapping the bass and the rest of the crew just playing a solid strong set.

I stayed for about the first half of the set and will try and post Flogging Molly’s set list on here the moment I find it.  Remember, I was there for Frank Turner, so once things started getting really crazy I packed up and headed towards the exit.  I have nothing against Flogging Molly at all but I have seen them multiple times and really am used to the good times they exhume.  Being a proud Irishman myself I know all too well what an evening of Irish music and stouts can do to my body so I chose to play it safe.  I am pretty sure not many followed my idea and are still battling the Irish flu today.

Speaking of flu it was reported by Frank Turner himself on Twitter that he had to pull from the Detroit show tonight so I am even more pleased I was able to see him last night.

Here is his Tweet he posted:

@fthc – MotherF***ER. Very sad to say I’ve got to pull tonight’s show in Detroit. Sick as a dog, no voice. A thousand apologies.

Get well soon Frank Turner and thank you for fighting through your amazing set last night in Cleveland.  It was a highlight to my year.

Frank Turner Set:
The Road
Try This At Home
Dan’s Song
Reasons Not To Be An Idiot
Sons Of Liberty
Poetry Of The Deed
Love, Ire, & Song
Back In The Day
Photosynthesis

(I may have missed a song or entered the wrong one.  Corrections always welcomed.)

Concert Review: Alkaline Trio / Cursive – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH – 03/04/2010

Pop punk rockers Alkaline Trio paid the House of Blues in Cleveland a visit on Thursday with special guests indie rockers Cursive as well as rock act The Dear & Departed.  This was the second stop for Alkaline Trio who just started touring in support of their new release This Addiction.  The line-up of the evening was an interesting mix but still it looked to be a great evening of music for all who filled up the venue.

Most commonly known as the guy who tattoos along side Kat Von D on the reality show LA Ink, Dan Under and his band did their best to warm up the crowd with their straight forward rock music.  The crowd gave them the respect they deserved but it really did not look as if too many were really getting into them.  A couple fans sang along and gave support but the energy level was still rather low.

Nebraska’s Cursive on the other hand played a solid, yet interesting, set  that eventually caused a lot of cheer by the set’s end.  Hammering through “Some Red Handed Sleight Of Hand” as later playing “Art Is Hard” the band threw on an absolutely amazing show.  I especially enjoyed hearing “From The Hips” off their latest release Mama, I’m Swollen.  Digging deep into their catalog the band even played “Mothership Mothership, Do You Read Me?” which absolutely floored me.  It was clear though that not everyone around me was enjoying the indie, almost experimental, performance with a very vocal Tim Kasher but I will admit that there are some folk out there today looking into who exactly this Cursive band is.

Alkaline Trio took the stage in full force and started the night off with “This Addiction” off their latest release.  The band looked so comfortable on stage and Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano shuffled about on stage as Derek Grant beat the hell out of the drums.  Skiba announced in the middle of songs that he was at a photo shoot earlier in the day for some magazine called High Times admitting that “if it seems like I’m really stoned, it’s because I am.”   Needless to say the crowd went berserk.

Adding to the energy of the night the band carried onward with an amazing set playing old and new songs.  Seeing Andriano pick up the horn on “Lead Poisoning” was one of the highlights of my night for some reason.  I really enjoyed that track off their new album but seeing it live just made me appreciate it even more.  If that was not good enough, once the band finished that more poppy track they jumped back a few years and played “Mr. Chainsaw” only to return to new material again with “Dead On The Floor”.

Throughout the night I was continually impressed to see what song the band would play next.  Hearing “Fuck You Aurora” and later the Manson inspired “Sadie” the set list just kept getting better and better and the band just hit every song head-on with almost everyone in the house singing along.  Just when I thought think things could not get better the band played “’97”.  At that very moment I was completely contempt with Alkaline Trio’s set.

The band exited the stage with fans pleading for one more song.  I decided this might be a good time to make way to the back of the venue and to call it a night.  As I was walking back the crowd exploded in cheer as the band did a little switch up with Skiba on drums, Andriano on guitar, and Grant on bass and vocals.  The band appeased me by playing one of my favorite Misfits songs ever, “Attitude”.  All I could say was “are you kidding me” and stopped dead in my tracks and started singing along with everyone else.  It was the perfect way to end an amazing performance.  I was a happy concert goer.

Alkaline Trio’s Set List
This Addiction
Armageddon
Emma
Dine, Dine My Darling
We’ve Had Enough
Lead Poisoning
Mr. Chainsaw
Dead On The Floor
Fatally Yours
Crawl
Fuck You Aurora
Goodbye Forever
In Vein
Continental
100 Stories
Sadie
Nose Over Tail
’97
Encore:

Attitude