All posts by Brian Mc

Music, The Awesome, Vinyl

Shop Radio Cast

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I’ve been meaning to give some props to an online record store for a couple of weeks now.  The company I speak of is called Shop Radio Cast and I have been buying from them for a while now.

Fans of limited edition pressings and especially punk rock releases will get a kick out of this site.  They seem to always carry the stuff I can not find in my neck of the woods.  There’s nothing like just jumping online and snagging what you want right there and then without being overpriced.

I feel like I am a commercial…  Shop Cast.  Shop, Radio Cast.

Honestly, it is not just the selection, but also the great customer service.  The guys at Shop Radio Cast answer questions quickly and will resolve any problem as fast as they can.

Case and point:  I ordered the Record Store Day version of The Menzingers Chamberlain Waits in April after having no luck in Ohio finding it.  I did not open it for weeks and when I finally did this past week I discovered it was the regular black vinyl version and not the Record Store Day blue version I thought I had purchased.  I emailed the company to tell them of my disappointment thinking that I was out of luck getting the limited edition version and not even a couple hours later received a response.  It was a simple overlook, but the company made sure that I was taken care of, and guess what?  They were able to locate a Record Store Day version for me and I should have it soon.

It’s nice to have customer service like that.  I have dealt with other online records stores (whose names will remain unnamed…..for now) and either got shitty, short replies or no response at all.

So, props to you fine folk at Shop Radio Cast.  You make it easy for me to waste all of my hard earned money on my addiction also known as vinyl.  Keep up the good work!

Record collectors…  Check them out.  www.shopradiocast.com  They don’t just deal with punk rock genres but also rock and indie.  If you are turned down by the idea of vinyl, they sell CDs, clothing and even hot sauce.  Bitchin’.

UPDATE:  I feel the need to let anyone who stumbles upon this post that SRC never threw me any freebies back in 2011 when I posted this.  I was being sincere.

Over the years, I continued ordering from them but pretty much stopped after the SRC vinyl subscription series was introduced.

I felt kind of cheated out in a way with that series as I was never told I was in the top 10 until I received the first record and then realized the limited edition hand numbered pressings were just records with a cardboard sleeve over them.  I was expecting something a little more official I suppose.

Regardless, having Hum and Quicksand in my collection is pretty bad ass.

As far as SRC goes as a company, I know for a fact that they are not a big operation and there are a handful of them who run that show.  As far as ordering and customer service, I personally never had issues with them, but that was after I realized they communicated within their website to the consumer rather than a direct email.

Seeing comments still come in to this day almost bums me out for the sake of SRC, but I also know in the world of retail, stand alone store or online, you need to bust your ass and keep things running smooth.

Here’s hoping they can fix any of the problems with orders out there and reflect as the website I once referred to.

Austin, Download This!, Folk, Indie, Music, New Release, Review, Rock

EP Review: The Wealthy West – Volume 1 – An EP

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I am back.  That’s right folks, I survived the mean streets of West Virginia once again.  After a week-long escape from everything, I am back.  I have a test already in the class I decided to take this summer so most of this weekend will be focused on studying for that.  I am, however, in need of a break so I thought I would hammer out a quick review of a pretty sweet up and coming folk act.

I would imagine that most of my readers know I have a certain love for Austin, TX.  I think everyone needs to check out that amazing city at least once in their lifetime.  I know I am itching to get back there one day soon.  Anyways, I speak of Austin because that is where Brandon Kinder who goes under the moniker The Wealthy West resides.

Many may know Kinder from The Rocketboys, an indie rock group that he supplies lead vocals to.  Kinder decided to try something on his own, a more personal folky project he calls The Wealthy West.  Fans of soft-spoken indie / folk music (Americana) will really get a kick out of his five song EP entitled Volume 1 – An EP.  It is powerful in the heartfelt department and can easily be compared to Ray LaMontange, Joe Purdy, Frightened Rabbit, and even that of the Avett Brothers.

“Love Is Not Enough” starts off the EP with a nice acoustic riff accompanied by piano playing making for a fun track that just seemed to end way too soon.  “Another Bad Idea” followed in a more gentle indie rock sound that included background vocals and even chimes.

Once I heard “Give Me Resurrection”, I could not help but think of Purdy and LaMontange as Kinder sings slowly over a faint playing acoustic guitar accompanied by whispering background vocals.  The song was really a beautiful piece to check out and had powerful lyrics focusing around the strength of love.  “Home” picked things up in the EP with harmonica joining Kinder’s signing.  “Not A Pretty Pair” ended the quick EP with a more driven sound throughout although singing of remaining stationary due to lack of time.

It’s no mystery anymore, Americana is where it’s at these days and Kinder has no problem writing his own songs to accompany the latest and greatest of a very solid genre of music.  Volume 1 – An EP was a nice and quick listen leaving me, the listener, wanting much more to hear.  With only five songs, I am curious to see what else Kinder has to offer in the near future.

The Wealthy West - Love Is Not Enough
Country, Folk, Music, Music News, New Release, Rockabilly

Nick 13’s Solo Debut Is Streaming on Spinner Right Now!!!

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I’m not sure what you are doing at the moment, but if you can, head over to Spinner and check out the new Nick 13 solo album that drops today.  Spinner is streaming the album in its entirety and I am loving it.

Nick 13, most commonly known as the singer and songwriter of Tiger Army, has gone a new route and created some acoustic storytelling-Americana songs that are driven by his unmistakable voice.  His solo attempt is without a doubt something different from what many people might expect from a rockabilly/punk artist, but I can tell you this…it is amazing and he did a damn good job.

From a press release I received:

Nick’s debut album for Sugar Hill Records features acoustic and electric guitar, standup bass, pedal steel, fiddle and much more from a wide pedigree of players who connected with 13’s genuine passion, understanding and knowledge of the history of the music and forward-thinking vision for the future. Some of the folks on the album include Lloyd Green, Sara Watkins, Josh Grange, Eddie Perez and Mitch Marine, in addition to the album’s producers Leisz and Intveld.

 Nick offered fans a brief preview of his solo work during encores at Tiger Army’s 2009 “Octoberflame II” event, followed by a full unveiling on the Palomino Stage at Stagecoach last year. “Nick 13 paid earnest homage to Merle Haggard and Ray Price, both of whom [followed] him shortly on the same stage,” wrote the Los Angeles Times.
West Coast shows (including a stop at the roots-music mecca Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, California) preceded a second major festival appearance at the 15th-annual “Hootenanny.” Playing second to last, just before Chuck Berry, Nick delivered an hour long performance the Orange County Register called nothing less than “an artistic triumph.” Earlier this year he made his first ever appearance at South By Southwest.
 
Nick spent much of the past two years writing and recording his debut solo album in Los Angeles and Nashville (even living above Printer’s Alley for a time) – laying down tracks like “Nashville Winter” featuring pedal steel legend Lloyd Green, the Bakersfield sound “101” and the atmospheric “Carry My Body Down”.

I hope to have a review of the release shortly, until then, enjoy…

Babble Blog

If I’m Lucky…

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…I will have internet when I return home from class tonight.

Yes, I just said class.  I decided to take a summer class to further my education and am honestly regretting it at this very moment.  Such is life.

I feel bad that I am neglecting the hell out of the site, but it is tough for me to work on reviews and whatnot away from home.  Apparently AT&T is going to be at the house today so I will keep my fingers crossed.  I have been without internet for 2 weeks now and apparently am 1 of 2 houses left to have it turned back on.

I owe this to that horrible storm that tore up my neighborhood of course.  Things are definitely back to normal in my hood, just minus some trees.

So once I get the internet back I will try and throw in some updates.  I have a few bands lined up that I plan on talking about as well as an interview in the works with a certain seasoned punk rock act.  That of course will happen after my vacation is over.

That’s right folks.  Vacation.  I am going back to the cabin for up to 10 days.  No internet, no cell phone, no nothing…except for good friends and ice cold beverages – lots of ice cold beverages.  I need an escape.

I’ll be back in a little over a week and will resume regular BHP material, I hope.  This class is going to kick my ass…

Until then enjoy some videos from a few bands I have been getting into lately…

 

Music, Music News, Music Video, Punk, Rock

The Riot Before Down Two…

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The Riot Before announced on their Tumblr page the other day that bassist Cory Manning and drummer Freddy Clarke have decided to part ways.

From their post:

The decisions were made about a month ago, both independently and amicably. There was a no big fight or incident that led to them choosing to leave, rather the culprit was exhaustion. The truth of being in The Riot Before, and I’m sure this is the same for a whole host of other small touring acts out there, is that you can either be in the band or have a life. It’s almost entirely one or the other. The jobs you work when home, the hours you work those jobs, the places you live, the tenuous relationships you hang onto, they all are governed by your involvement in this band. And about a month ago, Freddy and Cory decided it was time to focus on the rest of their lives. It’s a decision that I don’t at all fault them for making.

Jon and [Brett] are as committed to the band as ever, and personally I’m excited every day for what the upcoming months and years hold in store for this band.

According to PunkNews.Org, the band will still play live shows as bass duty has been temporarily taken over by Dan Zimmerman of Dirty Tactics and the band is currently searching for a new drummer.

The Riot Before will be touring this summer with Off With Their Heads and Dead To Me.  Let’s hope they can regroup and continue on as they are one hell of an act.