Category Archives: Music Video

Album Review: Unwritten Law – Swan

Southern California’s Unwritten Law once used to be a skate punk band that was a ritual in my ears.  I popped in their cassette in my trusty Walkman daily and used them as a soundtrack to my life.  As the years went by, they kept dropping albums and thier songs followed me around.

The first time I ever saw Unwritten Law was at a Warped Tour in some stone-covered parking log in Cleveland in the mid-nineties.  They were just what my young ears were looking for.  Weeks later they opened for Bad Religion at the infamous Agora.  That was all I needed, I was an instant fan.  From there on I made a point to see them live every time they came to Cleveland.

I can sit here and recall portions of my life that included an Unwritten Law song.  I remember having a first kiss to “Catlin” in my beat up Cutlas Calais and years later hearing a girl admit their love to me in some dindgey-ass Kent State apartment while “Because Of You” played in the background.  The songs pose as prompts to personal memories that will last for a lifetime thanks to a band that I have seen live easily over 12 times.

After battles with drugs and alcohol as well as with a brush with death due to a fire that claimed all of lead singer Scott Russo’s possessions (but not family), the band took all of their problems and issues and used them as fuel to write an all new album.  Recently the band, including original members Russo and bassist Pat “PK” Kim, dropped  Swan, their sixth studio album on Breaksilence Recordings/Suburban Noize Records.

“Starships and Apocalypse” started off the 11-track album with a more rock driven feel with Russo in singing about some Gucci knock-off glasses wearing woman who clearly is out of this world.  “Nevermind” followed with a more Killers synthesizer sound going on in the background.  “Dark Dayz” slightly hinted to older sounding Unwritten Law making for a good track to listen to.  I love the way how Russo can still tell a story while singing.

Out of nowhere came “Sing” an acoustic song that just put the breaks on the entire album.  For those of you that have heard Music In High Places you can agree with me that UL plays great acoustical songs.  Gentle and just beautiful to listen to, this was one of my favorite cuts on the album.

“Let You Go” was more of a ballad than a song.  The track lead up to an explosion of group vocals that laid behind Russo’s vocals.  Just by listening to it you can tell there was a lot of effort put into it.  I loved the change up when the bass took over only for it to build up again.

“Chicken (Ready To Go)” featured hip-hop god Del Tha Funkee Homosapien.  The first time I listened to this song I just shook my head and wondered why in the hell did there have to be a hip-hop/rock song on this album.  The truth is, the track is actually kind of catchy.  I loved Del’s raps (as always) and  really got a kick about half way though the song when Del steps back and lets Russo do his thing for the chorus.

“Love Love Love” was a touching track that I am positive will land on a mix for that next special someone out there that steals my heart.  It was a ballad by a punk rock back with a lot of heart and a ton of talent.

Unwritten Law leans more towards a rock act these days, but still they have not completely lost that punk rock edge I adored the first time I heard them.  A lot can happen in fifteen years and this band is proof of that.  From playing side stages to headlining their own shows, Unwritten Law has paved their way to rock-stardom their own way.  Swan is continued proof that this foursome still has what it takes to make it in the music world.

Album Review: Those Darlins – Screws Get Loose

Fueled with a new found (and very welcomed) sex appeal while looking ever so refreshed, Those Darlins are back with their all new sophomore album entitled Screws Get Loose.  Nikki, Jesse, Kelley, and  Linwood continue their quest to have constant fun, drink the stiff drinks, and tour the country all while leaving a lasting impression on all who join in their nightly rock n roll shambles.

Even amidst non-stop touring, minus a brief timeout due to pair of broken bones in Nikki Darlin’s forearm after she lost a battle with Ohio terrane, the band was quick to record a follow up to their 2009 debut.

Screws Get Loose, in reference to the screws used to hold Nikki’s bones in place last summer, was released once again on Oh Wow Dang Records.

Known for being a more of a country / punk / garage rock sounding act, the foursome have switched things up a tad and added a nice indie rock style to their sound in their mix.  One of the coolest aspects of this change is hearing Linwood, the band’s lone male drummer, lend his pipes on the album as well as help write some of the tracks.  The girls still trade off with vocals throughout the album keeping it catchy and all so fun.

The title track “Screws Get Loose” open up things with a song carrying a couple of references to why screws were needed in the first place.  The new sound coming from the quartet was good and quite the shock to hear.  It was almost as if Those Darlins left their country sounds on the porch in Murfreesboro and headed off to the big city for a entirely new prospect.

“Be Your Bro” hands down is my favorite track on the album. Having heard it months earlier at a live show of theirs last Fall, I fell in love with the Darlins a little harder because of this track.  Singing of how the girls just “wanna run and play in the dirt” while said guys “just wanna stick it in” just proved how real the girls are and how not afraid they are to tell it how it is.  Singing “I may have girly parts but I have a boy’s heart” hopefully will throw a hint at any Darlin chasing fellow, or will it?

“Let U Down” premiered Linwood’s vocals, an improvement in the direction of the band if you ask me.  Not that there was anything wrong with the girls taking vocal duties throughout the songs, but Linwood has himself a very fitting voice that goes perfectly with the music that they all create.  This is a track that needed to be heard.

“Mystic Mind” was a trippy track that didn’t necessarily fit the rest of the album but was hard not to listen to.  “$” was a step back for a moment into what I previously was used to coming from the Darlins and their group vocals.

“Starving for something and it ain’t your touch” start off the hilarious “Fatty Needs A Fix”.  The track easily is a continuation to “The Whole Damn Thing” off their debut album, as a drunken end to a night out required some immediate stomach pampering and nothing more than that.

“Waste Away” put a halt to the party with a direct message to a certain someone to knock off the hardcore partying.  This track reached back to material from their previous album.  “BUMD” closed the album with what sounded like to me something pulled from the 60’s.  The song differed from the others with more proof of how much talent these four musicians possess.

It was almost a shock to hardly hear any country driven tracks on this album, but it’s just proof that Those Darlins are maturing into an even more of an amazing act.  Shorter than I would have liked, Screws Get Loose is a great album from start to finish with plenty of tracks to help you shake your baby-maker throughout thanks to all of the members coming together and doing what they like to do best.  If you were not a fan of their first release, you might just want to pop this one in and see if it catches your fancy.

Face To Face & Strung Out To Play Cleveland!!!

Excitement is just one of the thousands of words that describe the way I am feeling right now. 

I just learned that Face To Face AND Strung Out are playing a show at Peabody’s in Cleveland on May 10th.

In support of their upcoming release titled Laugh Now…Laugh Later, 90’s punk rockers Face To Face will embark on a multi-city tour with special guests Strung Out who are currently working on their upcoming retrospective album.

This may not be a big deal to you, but it is for me seeing how these are two of my favorite bands of all time.  I am going to be there especially seeing how it is going to be a small club show. 

I caught Face To Face last year at the Warped Tour and remember telling myself how much I wished they would just play a regular show in Cleveland.  Not enough kids there appreciated them like my friends and I did.  I remember how pissed I was when I turned around and saw all the little guppie punk kids sitting on the ground while they played their set…  Well, I guess Face To Face can read minds. 

I have not seen Strung Out in years and missed seeing them play the Agora the night it shut down.  Years ago I got to see them back to back in Cleveland and Cincinnati thanks to an ex who had ins with a guitar tech.  Those were the days.

Who:  Face To Face w/ Strung Out & The Darlings
When:  05/10/11 – Cleveland, OH
Where:  Peabodys Down Under
How Much:  $19.00
Buy Tickets Here

Tour Dates for Strung Out w/ Face To Face (taken from Fatwreck.com):
04/27/11 Vancouver, BC Canada Commodore Ballroom Face to Face, The Darlings
04/28/11 Kelowna, BC Canada Rutland Centennial Hall w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
04/29/11 Edmonton, AL Canada The Starlight Ballroom w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
04/30/11 Calgary, AL Canada Macewan Hall Ballroom w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/01/11 Saskatoon, SK Canada Louis Pub w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/02/11 Winnipeg, MB Canada West End Cultural Center w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/04/11 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/05/11 Chicago, IL The Bottom Lounge w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/06/11 Milwaukee, WI The Rave w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/07/11 Covington , KY Madison Theatre w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/08/11 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/10/11 Cleveland, OH Peabodys Down Under w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/11/11 Buffalo, NY The Town Ballroom w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/12/11 Toronto, ON Canada Phoenix Concert Theatre w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/13/11 Montreal, ON Canada Olympia Theatre w/ Face to Face, The Darlings
05/14/11 Boston , MA The Paradise w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/15/11 Portland, ME Part City Music Hall w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/17/11 Providence , RI Lupos Heartbreak Hotel w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/18/11 New York City, NY Best Buy Theatre w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/19/11 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/20/11 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/22/11 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/23/11 Washington , DC Black Cat w/ Face to Face, Cerebral Ballzy
05/24/11 Norfolk, VA The Norva w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
05/25/11 Ashville, NC The Orange Peel w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
05/26/11 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
05/27/11 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
05/28/11 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Revolution w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
05/29/11 St. Petersburg, FL State Theatre w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
06/01/11 New Orleans, LA House of Blues w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
06/02/11 Houston, TX Warehouse Live w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
06/04/11 San Antonio, TX White Rabbit w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid
06/05/11 Dallas, TX Granada Theatre w/ Face to Face, Blitzkid

Mid-Week Pick Me Up: Larry And His Flask

Larry And His Flask just hit my ears this evening in a good way.  I had heard about them before but never had the chance to check them out.  What the hell took me so long?  This band is amazing.  So who are they?  Hailing from Bend. OR, this band is a six-piece stand up act that infuses punk and folk perfectly into some pretty catchy sounds.

Seriously, if you have not heard of this band – and I know I say this a lot – but, you are missing out.

Here, check this out:

More?  Ok…

Looks like the next time these guys are hitting up Cleveland is when the Warped Tour makes a stop at Blossom Music Center in July.  I know I retired from the Warped, but I really really want to see these guys live…