Live Shows, Music, Music Video, Punk, Review

Bouncing Souls – “Gasoline” – Song Review

21 January, 2009 Brian Mc 1 Comment

One of my favorite punk rock bands ever, the Bouncing Souls, recently have celebrated their 20th anniversary as a punk rock band. With such a high accomplishment in the music world the band thought they would celebrate their success by releasing material a little differently from the norm. They announced that on the first of each month for the entire year they will release a single. This might very well be the longest album you will ever hear seeing how they have decided to discharge the songs month by month.

About 16 years ago the Bouncing Souls released an album called The Good, The Bad, & The Argyle on their very own Chunksaah Records. Their DIY attempt proved that the band could do it on their own without help from major record labels. In remembrance of their DIY effort years ago the band will be releasing a song a month for the entire year of 2009 exclusively on their website for a mere $0.99 a song.

They also announced that every four months the songs released for this specific project would be pressed onto a 7” vinyl and available for sale on their website. This is indeed a great idea, now all I need to do is remember to visit the Bouncing Soul’s website at the beginning of each month.

The first song released, called “Gasoline”, is punk rock satisfaction from start to finish. The Bouncing Souls prove with this single that even if 20 years have passed they still are capable of pushing out great tunes. Greg Attonito sings of being bored yet sheltered from reality and screaming for an explanation or maybe just a distraction. After hearing this song I can not wait for the next installment.

The New Jersey punk rock band has always been a favorite of mine not just for their musical style but for also doing things themselves with limited help. They stayed away from the mainstream, chose to not be seen on corporately owned music television channels, and refused offers for assistance. Traveling in vans over big fancy tour buses may not be a luxury for anyone but feeling a sense of self accomplishment for 20 years sure is.

Check out the websites of the Bouncing Souls or their label Chunksaah Records to purchase “Gasoline” and be sure to remember to return to either site at the beginning of each month to grab their next single for the rest of the year. Also check back here on good ol’ brokenheadphones.com as I will be reviewing each song every month!

I’d offer you a sample of the song or a link where you could hear the whole thing, but for $0.99 you might as well just buy the song and help support the band!

The Bouncing Souls will be touring this year in celebration of their 20 year accomplishment including first time shows in South America as well as finally making an appearance in Alaska. Check out HERE for info on buying tickets (see below for tour dates).

One show to mention in particular that the band will be playing this spring is at the Harvest Of Hope Festival 2009 taking place the weekend of March 6-8. I will have more about this great benefit festival in a later post as I am working on interviewing some of the acts that are performing, including the Bouncing Souls. Stay tuned for that.

Bouncing Souls Tour Dates:

01.20.09 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Club Elevate at the Hotel
01.24.09 – Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
02.06.09 – Mexico City, Mexico – La Capilla
02.07.09 – San Jose, Costa Rica – Latino Rock Cafe
02.08.09 – Panama City, Panama – Cancha De Futbal Femca Coca Cola
02.10.08 – Bogota, Colombia – Gotica
02.11.08 – Lima, Peru – Mao Bar
02.13.08 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Hangar 110
02.14.08 – Rosario, Argentina – Willie Dixon
03.07.09 – Elkton, FL – St. John’s County Fargrounds – Harvest of Hope Festival
03.10.09 – Louisville, KY – Skull Alley w/ Dillinger Four
03.11.09 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.12.09 – Balitomore, MD – The Ottobar w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.13.09 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.14.09 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.16.09 – Orlando, FL – The Social w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.17.09 – Orlando, FL – The Social w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.18.09 – St. Petersburg, FL – The State Theatre w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.20.09 – Austin, TX – Red 7 w/ Dillinger Four and AKAs
03.24.09 – Honolulu, HI – Anna Bannana’s
03.27.09 – Fairbanks, AK – Wood Center Ballroom
03.28.09 – Fairbanks, AK – Pub

Visual entertainment time:

Hip Hop, Music, Music Video, Rap

You’re So Ugly

20 January, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

In celebration of the re-mastered, re-packaged, re-release of Atmosphere‘s God Loves Ugly, an email was sent my way…

With today’s release of the re-issue of the Atmosphere classic God Loves Ugly we thought we’d give you an opportunity to show off your own ugly mug at www.youresougly.com. Upload a picture or take one with your webcam and just like that you’ll have your very own God Loves Ugly cover. Share it with your friends, add it as your social networking profile picture or print it off and use it as a brand new cover for your repackaged, remastered and uglier than ever God Loves Ugly CD. Now get over to www.youresougly.com and start uglying up the place!

I admit it is a humorous concept idea giving fans a change to emulate their own face where Slug‘s originally is, but I just couldn’t do it. I did find a few that were posted on the site that humored me though:

If you have not heard of Atmosphere I do want to let you know they are a surfacing one time independent underground hip hop duo. If you are not into hip hop then you should just move on, but if you do like hip hop they are an act you should know about already.

I have adored Atmosphere since I first checked out God Loves Ugly when it debuted. At the time I worked at an underpaying under appreciated record store and a copy was put in front of me by a co-worker. He told me to take it home and listen to it. I was hooked immediately and have loved every release by the duo since.

With there independent success Atmosphere had a high underground fan base. It was almost a treat of sorts to know who they were and to be a fan as they were unknown in the mainstream. That soon changed for them as they were just that good.

Many former fans fell off the bandwagon as the duo achieved stardom with their slick beats and intelligent lyrics. Soon former fans were calling them sellouts and boycotting their future releases, I myself did not have a problem with their success and remained a fan. I was even fortunate enough to catch them at the 2006 Bonnaroo. I must say their set that day was a highlight of that hot, humid day.

They continue to be an impressive act to follow and show no signs of slowing down with their 2008 release When Life Gives You Lemons…You Paint That S@#t Gold. Again, there were some folk calling them sellouts and saying how terrible the album was compared to their underground material, but to each their own. I like the old and the new.

Now that God Loves Ugly has been reissued you have a chance to see what they used to sound like before the spotlights took aim.

Check out the following to pick up a copy for yourself:
Fifth Element Online
Buy God Lives Ugly @ Amazon.Com

Video anyone???

Art, Artist, Derek Hess, Good Times, Random, Shepard Fairey

01-20-2009

20 January, 2009 Brian Mc 1 Comment

Today is a day that people will be talking about for years to come. Today is a day that will stand out in history.

Today is a great day.

That’s right folks I speak of the event that is happening today that are making people around the world talk. The event, in case you are out of the loop, is my birthday.

Yup, today happens to be the first day I opened my eyes the year punk was born.

I happen to share my birthday with quite a few important people too. In no real order: David Lynch, Bill Maher, Skeet Ulrich, Rob Bourdon (Linkin Park), Sid Wilson (Slipknot), ?uestlove (The Roots), Tracii Guns (Guns N Roses), Greg Kriesel (The Offspring), Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preechers), and Derrick Green (Sepultura).

I will gladly accept presents from anyone. I accept Paypal as well.

You can stop shaking your head now…

Today is an important day with an important inauguration. Now I try to stray away from my political/religious views on this site at all costs, but today deserves at least some mention of the day.

I look forward to the Change.

Funny, The Dumb

Humor at it’s finest…thanks to the dumb.

17 January, 2009 Brian Mc 1 Comment

Well since I am bummed out a little since the Elton John / Billy Joel concert sold out (at least my price range) I thought I would share some humor to you all.

My buddy who I am visiting shared a very funny website with me this morning called (The Customer Is) Not Always Right

The site is personal conversations between people who work in customer service and the dumb…

It is hilarious and after working retail for 10 years of my life I can totally relate to some of these shared conversations. Here is just a snippet:

What A Tangled Web We Weave

Coffee Shop | Northridge, CA, USA

(A customer had already ordered, picked up, and drank most of his drink. He then walked up to the counter and was very angry.)

Me: “How can I help you?”

Customer: “What the f*** is this?!” *points to his cup*

Me: “It looks like the drink I made you, and you seem to have already enjoyed it.”

Customer: “No smart-a**…this!” *pours the drink onto the counter and a key bounces out* “What the f*** is going on here?!”

Me: *alarmed* “I am SO sorry sir! When I made the drink, I know there wasn’t a key in it. Let me make you a new one.”

Customer: “Yeah! You f***in’ better make me a new f***in’ drink. This is complete bulls***! You’re lucky I don’t sue you and this coffee company!”

(I take the key and make him a new drink, and he goes and sits outside with his friends. The key wasn’t mine, so I started asking coworkers and customers. No one was claiming it. The customer walked up about 5 minutes later, bright red and embarrassed.)

Customer: “Yeah, uh…I’m going to need my car key back so I can go home….”

For more entertaining and head scratching conversations visit (The Customer Is) Not Always Right

Have a great weekend all!

Random

Where it’s at.

15 January, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I admit I have been absent from doing what I do on here for a minute but I promise to be in full force shortly. I have many CDs I am in the process of reviewing as well as requests to check out bands and such. I have a lot on my plate and I intend to do a good job cleaning it up.

I have a dilemma. This Saturday tickets go on sale for:

The dilemma is do I shell out the cash to go? I know this may be the last time I may ever get to see the duo. Decisions, decisions…

Also this is coming up:

I do not want to miss this either. I need to find a bag of money.

I am heading out for the weekend here but when I get back will be putting up some good reading material for you all. Until then have a great weekend!!!