I have had the pleasure of getting to know the dudes in Cleveland’s Signals Midwest for years now, so there is no reason why I would not be stoked on sharing their new music video for “Alchemy Hour”, a track off their latest release, At This Age.
Filmed by their pal Tommy Calderon, the video follows the band during their Fall 2016 tour. Do not worry if you have noticed JR and Loren missing in some clips and Josh Voland as well as Ryan Williamson filling in when JR and Loren could not make some of the tour. Just thought I should disclose that. JV is good dude btw and carries leftovers with extreme pride.
At This Age was one of my top releases in 2016 and if you have not made yourself privy to it, you really should change that.
I admit, I do not get to crank out reviews like I used to. If I had it my way, I would quit my paying gig and do this full time, but the truth of the matter is that I do this for fun and not profit and I have bills to pay. 20-year-old me would kick my ass right now for even mentioning that. I sound like grandpa punk again…
I’ve been trying to find some time to write about one of my favorite albums of 2016 for the past month now. I am seriously stoked to have found some time tonight to do so. With that said, here we go.
Developing a Theory of Integrity by Brooklyn’s MakeWar immediately jumped to the top of my favorite albums the moment I heard the first song. I cannot get enough of this album and have been listening to it almost daily since it dropped on Red Scare Industries in September.
Side note: Not even two days after I heard the album, I learned that they were playing the final Dag House show in Cleveland (RIP DAG). As luck would have it, I had a free night and I booked it over to that historical home to see MakeWar do their thing in the basement and got to act like a fanboy afterwards who was short $1 when trying to buy their debut self-titled LP out of their van while they were literally trying to back out of the driveway to make a long ass drive to Omaha. Thanks Jose, I will pay you back that $1 next time you roll through town.
Originally an acoustic act called Sad and French, MakeWar took their songs to a new dynamic and turned themselves into a full fletched punk rock band that carries so many likable qualities from catchy hooks to relatable lyrical content. Don’t get me wrong, Sad and French were absolutely amazing, but plugging in the guitars and turning up those amps have MakeWar way more exciting to listen to.
As previously mentioned, opening track “Matador Pool Party” blew me away. There was so much going on with this track from the group singing to the Rancid/Face To Face reminiscing bass playing, brutal drumming, and lyrical content that just brought it all together perfectly.
“Ode” was just that, an ode to living life with booze in hand in NYC. I loved the line “fuck not drinking for a week” as I’ve said that in my heyday when having a rough week of celebrating but refused to give it up. I also loved the random thought process throughout the song that really could pertain to any city. This is about as real as a song gets with spirits raised high.
“DTFH” was another standout track that begged to be sung along to. Ironically this track reminded me in a sense of more upbeat Iron Chic who used to be on DTFH records. “Don’t Panic” resembled Taking Back Sunday’s earlier years in a good way.
“On Feelings” might have been the most emotional track on the album but not in a cowering sense. This track just make me happy for some reason and brought back some memories of great hangouts with great pals. “Sallie” was another amazing song on this album. I feel like I keep saying that, but it is true. There were a lot of songs of this album that caught my attention including this one that referenced the paying back of those stupid ass student loans.
“Distractions” was more technical like Strung Out. I really loved the change up of musical style on this track which clearly was the heaviest. “Dust” ended the album in a completely different style full of dismay and sorrow, but damn it was beautiful.
I can not say enough good things about MakeWar. If you are reading this, you need to at least check out the video for “Ode” below so you can see what got me so excited. If you dig like I do, snag the album. You will not be disappointed.
Visit MakeWar on Facebook and check them out live if you can.
James Alex as been through a lot of shit in a short amount of time with his band Beach Slang, both good and bad.
The pressure of being 1/4 of Beach Slang (now 1/3) almost had him call it quits earlier this year, but thanks to a fan who caught him after a show that night before he disappeared, he reconsidered.
Let’s face it, being in your 40s and having your band blow up the way Beach Slang did in such a short amount of time can not be easy. For what it is worth, I am glad Alex did not throw the towel in yet.
With that said, Beach Slang just released their followup to 2015’s The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us.The band actually wrote most of this sophomore release while touring. That right there is dedication if you ask me.
A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings, on Polyvinyl Records, is incredible. It’s an encompass of Jawbreaker and The Replacements with plentyof held back angst and passion to produce an album worthy of multiple listens.
“Play it loud, play it fast. Play me something that will always last” starts off on “Future Mixtape for the Arts Kids.” This track is a perpetual anthem for anyone who uses music as a crutch to get through life.
“Atom Bomb” followed with plenty of fuzz and rock to keep anyone who listens entertained. This fast-paced track may have clocked in at less than 2 minutes long, but its effects lasted much longer. “Spin the Dial” was full of hooks and solos with Alex laying out some lyrics that sounded more personal.
“Punks In a Disco Bar” was perfectly contained in that the band sounded so together yet not overly produced. This was one of the first singles off the new release and it’s no wonder why they chose it, the song rules.
“You’re my favorite weirdo” is sang during “Wasted Daze of Youth”, a love track of sorts that seemingly repeated many phrases I have said out loud when I felt smitten. The hopeless swooning and the confessions combined lyrically was the best thing about this song.
The complementing “The Perfect High” focused on the best correlation between two individuals while carrying a 90s musical feel. I really enjoyed this track a lot, especially the bass line throughout. I almost felt like a teen again listening to this track.
Album closer “Warpaint” was an inciting jam that slowly built up a credence with Alex ending the track “don’t be afraid to want to be alive.” These are the kinds of songs I clung on to as a lost juvenile – songs that made me feel better about my situation Hell, there are some days I can still use the encouragement.
I’ve heard some banter recently from folk based on the album’s title alone that maybe Alex has been writing music that he is a little too old for, but I have to disagree. He is writing for the all-ages fan who is looking for a release with a comparable ideal. Alex is the voice for many and Beach Slang certainly carries the talent to do so. The band has proven this on A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings and I’m positive the fans will confirm this.
My only complaint with this album is that it is only 29 minutes long and the selfish me wanted to hear double that. I won’t lie, this is the best album I have listened to so far this year.
Beach Slang is playing the Grog Shop next month in Cleveland with Bleached. This is a show to NOT miss.
My day has not even really started yet and here I am just smiling ear to ear. Produced by EL-P (Run The Jewels), it appears that all of those rumors I have been hearing about Zack doing a solo album are becoming a reality.
Those three words are what keep reoccurring in my mind as I listen to The Astral We by Cleveland’s Harvey Pekar.
The lyrical content in this album is beyond deep. It makes you think and react based on how you interpret it. There is no tongue in cheek rhyming, stolen ideals, or laziness in these songs.
With that said, it’s nice to hear Harvey Pekar once again. Spite a lineup change since the last album, OG members Elliot Frank (guitar), Nick Krastas (vocals), and Nick Schmitt (bass) joined forces with Nate Kelly (drums) and Tyler Sickels (guitar) to create a more solid band than ever. Without worrying about reinventing their sound, Harvey Pekar continued full force where they left off on their debut release back in 2013.
“Huff Joules” started off the album strong with the band as a whole not holding back at all. “The Heritable Self” was a true hardcore romper with plenty of group singalong opportunities as Krastas screamed his thoughts out. Loved this track.
“Ferrous Kin” was one of the songs where I just felt like Krastas was delivering a spoken-word of sorts backed by heavy riffs and fast-paced drumming. The lyrics, “frail is the life trivialized by that of artifacts” really stuck to me for some reason.
“Truisms of Infinite Regress” caught my attention in more ways than one. The track, which seeming talked about conformity and a sense of false logic, sped up midway making for quite a powerful statement and throw down. This track begged to be heard over and over by this listener.
I should also mention how much I found myself enjoying “Crystal Starlings”. The breakdown about half way though and change up kept the track interesting, the group vocals towards the end make the song enjoyable.
Everyone has their own definition of hardcore music. Harvey Pekar’s is more aligned with the genre I recall from the 90s and early 2000s, at least the hardcore I enjoyed the most mixed with a punk feel and beyond intelligent lyrics. Perhaps a little more melodic than some might like, The Astral We impressed the hell out of me and has been fueling my ears daily since it’s release a few weeks back.
Looking past the band’s sound, Harvey Pekar consists of some of the most down-to-earth guys I have had the pleasure of knowing over the years. I’ve seen them play in bars, inside a warehouse, and even on a church stage on a Sunday morning over the years and they always put on the best show and always are down for a hang afterwards.
Here I am sounding biased now. I am just calling it as I hear it. Listen for yourself and make your own determination.
James Alex as been through a lot of shit in a short amount of time with his band 
Looking past the band’s sound, Harvey Pekar consists of some of the most down-to-earth guys I have had the pleasure of knowing over the years. I’ve seen them play in bars, inside a warehouse, and even on a church stage on a Sunday morning over the years and they always put on the best show and always are down for a hang afterwards.