Friday, December 9, 2011

Kontaminat Demo




Kontaminat are one of the best bands out now, and their demo proves it. Hailing straight out of Chicago, the group is composed of past members of Chronic Seizure, Los Crudos, Sin Orden, and Rat Bastards. Kontaminat play in the vein of fast, paced hardcore, mixing their previous resumes and creating an entire new take on hardcore. "Team player" opens up the demo with a surf-inspired guitar riff that goes into their own brand of Midwestern hardcore. I'm also seriously digging the track "Timeless", from it's hypnotic mind bending guitar chords, the harsh menacing vocals, and a bass line that just screams trouble from far away. "Costume" is another favorite of mine; encompassing the blitzkrieg attack that would definitely bring Chronic Seizure to mind. A must have for those really into this type of hardcore.

Below is the band's bandcamp where you can download the album in it's entirety. For physical copies, contact anyone from the band or via their facebook.

Kontaminat bandcamp

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Crazy Spirit, Hoax, Culo, Skrapyard, Other Women show review

Damn, what a night! From recalling this particular event two weeks later, I can't believe I almost missed out on what's been hailed as the best show of the year, by far. I've been to some pretty killer shows this year, as the Omegas show back in May, but this is another contender that's impossible to leave out.

The show took place at an unnamed venue on W Huron street, what I'm assuming is to be a new place, just an assumption so no hassling on my end. Anyway, once I stepped in and observed around, the venue had a sick appeal to it; small and compact, but big enough to still provide room for those getting physical, in length and width. After waiting around for a good 45 minutes or so, the first band was up.

Other Women is one band I hadn't come across before, but I was pretty impressed with their overall set. Composed of members of local Chicago band Regrets, Other Women played a great set of hard-hitting hardcore, as the crowd grew a bit excited from hearing their songs. Haven't seen a vocalist that pissed on stage in quite some time, so he definitely had that energy going off that night. I anticipate hearing more from this band in the next year, and wouldn't be surprised if they got attention nationwide.

Skrapyard played right after Other Women and had the crowd moving, no joke. For those unaware, Skrapyard is another local hardcore band mixed in with meshes of oi, much like 86 Mentality or Urban Blight. Like I said earlier about the venue being compact and small, it was hard not to be affected i.e, moved to the other side within a few seconds and heavily cramped but it didn't ruin seeing Skrapyard's set. The crowd kept chanting to every single song played, and the moshing/crowd surfing didn't cease a bit during their breaks. Hell, I was even in on the chanting during "9 to 5". Prior to their set, I wasn't really sure of what to think of their next release on Youth Attack, or their set, but was convinced they're another band to keep an eye for, so maybe it gets better from here.

Culo was one of main reasons why I headed out, aside from Crazy Spirit. I haven't seen them at their worst, but that's coming from a huge fan of theirs. Much like Skrapyard, the chanting and moshing grew pretty intense, compared than before. Culo nailed out hit after hit, from "Wasted on Wine" to "Military Trend". I was even in on the action, joining the rest of the mutants that night for some chaos. Jokingly, the band took their time, going on with their long breaks and making fun of the audience, especially those whining about not playing. Even more humorous, the guys in charge of sound even played "Culo" from Pitbull and drew a bad response from the vocalist, comically of course. The band ended up closing with a classic in the making "Toxic Vision". Overall, Culo didn't disappoint. Not too sure of any upcoming releases of new material, but for those that missed out on past releases, Derranged is putting a compilation of early Culo material. A must have for anyone wanting to take a gander at true american hardcore.

After about another thirty minutes, Hoax came up afterwards. If they were planing to leave a mark that night, they truly succeeded with their mission. From opening with "Fagget", the crowd were instantly on the prowl, beginning to ensure madness from all directions. With stage dives coming from in front and the sides (one dude climbed up this locker on the side of the room, and jumped off despite being crammed from the little area in between the locker and ceiling), everyone seemed to be in awe of Hoax. The band didn't seem to lose their edge at all, especially the vocalist, whom was throwing punches and beating himself with the microphone. I dig how the band played "Stuck", a growing favorite of mine from the group. Everyone ape up their set, even those unaware of the group. They definitely killed it. For those that are huge Hoax fans, a new EP should be out sometime soon on Youth Attack.

Crazy Spirit was last to play, and they made it worthwhile. They culled just about every song one would expect them to play and some surprise songs too ( A lot more songs from their demo, than their new EP that really surprised me). Once they played "Cool Death", I honestly said to myself "I can finally die with peace of mind". Just from the intro, the crowd fit in line with the groove, putting more force once the song got more quicker. They were instances where the mic went off and you couldn't really hear the words, but it made little difference to me and probably those present during their set. The band closed with "I'm dead", probably the one song played that night from their I'm dead EP released earlier this year. I would have loved for the band to play "This world is not my own", but even then, they still put on one hell of a show.

Like I said earlier, this show definitely ranks at the top. I'm not alone, but that's just the opinions of others. If still unimpressed, they're some videos of this show on YouTube. I'm posting videos of Culo and Crazy Spirit's sets, which are down below. I can't help but still laugh at the stage banter from that night. Till then, I'll probably put up another post of my top tens of this year. Cheers!




Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Brown Sugar- Get Fuckin' Mugged




Wow, what a wait. I've been inactive mostly due to outside factors getting the way (school, work, laziness, etc). However, I still kept an eye out for releases that came out along the way. Among them was Brown Sugar's Get Fuckin' Mugged EP, which is fucking brilliant.

Never has hardcore sounded so much sweeter to my ears, displaying a vast arrays of influence found in 80's hardcore scene. Brown Sugar are currently becoming a favorite of mine, mainly impressed how the band changes between tempos, usually playing at high speeds before slowing down then only to go again at high speeds (Mind Funk is a prime example). The hand screened artwork is pretty rad as well, matching with the chaotic madness found on this record. I personally recommend this to any fans of the 80's hardcore scene (Jerry's Kids come http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifto mind, if they were heavily on acid) as well as current hardcore favorites such as Culo.

They're still some copies available at the feeble mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifinds webstore. With that said, Brown Sugar are plotting a 4 week US tour to coincide with the release of their upcoming Brown Sugar sings of birds and racism LP. I wish I could attend their Chicago date due to prior obligations but so it goes. If they manage to stop by in your town, drop by and be totally warped by Brown Sugar.

Feeble Minds

Narrow Mind

Monday, August 15, 2011

August 15th: Punch, Loma Prieta, 10,000 Leagues, Get Rad, Noose @ Strangelight

Compared to my previous reviews, this will be quite show, considering I fucked up by not heading down right on time. Still though, my buddy and I managed to capture the chaos ensued at the Strangelight. Those there will probably agree that was one hell of a show, so I guess it wouldn't be wrong to say it was.

As I said, I messed up with the start time, considering the last two shows I've been too at the Strangelight usually begin an hour later and I didn't really feel like waiting around for an hour so I headed down and arrived at 8. In doing so, I missed out on seeing Noose and Get Rad. I guess I'll have to wait it out for another Noose show, sadly but I managed to snag me a copy of their 7 inch so it sort of makes up for it. Get Rad also falls into that category, minus any merch snagging. Walking into the Strangelight felt almost similar to entering the first gates of hell; a massive wave of heat was felt throughout the venue, mixed in with an aroma of man sweat. Considering that Noose and Get Rad played, it didn't bring much surprise but damn, they sure left a mark that night.

With Noose and Get Rad out of the picture, the first band we witnessed was 10,000 leagues, a quartet of Los Angeles natives. The band was pretty chaotic, no joke. Playing in the realm of Power Violence, 10,000 Leagues shredded through their set with no problems or hassle. They culled through their recent release and discography, before playing what I considered to be a highlight (a Spitboy cover). 10,000 Leagues are definitely a band to keep an eye on if you're interested in Power violence. Even more so, I was impressed how the band even trekked on during their set, considering how ridiculously fast they were the entire time. We saw each member afterwards literally drenched in sweat, as they paced around outside. Jesus Christ.

Loma Prieta was up afterwards, which by this time my buddy and I were near the back of the venue. I hadn't heard much of this band, so my curiosity was at a high level once they came on. The San Francisco band features members of Punch, Sailboats, Beau Navire, among others that give a better picture of what they might sound like. The band still played a pretty tight set with a good portion of the audience digging their tunes.

Last but certainly not least, Punch came on right after Loma Prieta and got the crowd started early. This was first time playing in Chicago, although they tried to make a show here happen (the ceremony tour from last year in particular, but dropped due to injury sustained by the vocalist), None the less, from the few ten seconds just starting into their set list, we were pushed immediately toward the front, catching a good sight of their vocalist just screaming her guts out into the mic. There was hardly a moment of the audience stopping the madness, even engaging in crowd surfing despite the limited amount of space and wide array of pipes coming off the basement ceiling. Still, Punch blazed through incorporating their own brand of hardcore, mixed in with power violence influences that would bring shivers down your spine. I was struck by how crazy the place got, even drenching myself with sweat in the process. Punch even pulled a new song in the mix, released on their recent EP, that got a great reception of the crowd, myself included. They certainly made an impression and I instantly felt glad I finally caught their live act. Fantastic!

Though I managed to miss the opening bands, the show didn't bring any disappointment what so ever. Much thanks to Joe of Lifeline Records for making this all possible. Posted below is the link to Deathwish Records, in case you wanted to purchase the new EP from Punch. I'll probably post up a review from The Men show at Waterworks last week so keep an eye out for that, along with future LP reviews from Razorxfade, Night Birds, and much more. Looks like one fantastic year in the world of punk, Cheers!

Deathwish Records

Monday, August 1, 2011

Pukeoid- Rabid EP





It's been a long while since I posted something, mainly due to laziness and outside factors. I did manage to catch some cool shit and find newer bands along the way, so it wasn't much of a big deal for me to really complain. Any who, much of my anticipation was directed more to this release, being impressed with their demo just last year.

Pukeoid's new EP Rabid manages to live up to it's name and hype, relinquishing their own brand of Midwest hardcore. What sets Pukeoid apart from most bands generally in the Midwest is that they display that vibe found from listening to earlier hardcore bands (To my ears, the Fix is the first to come to mind) yet able to recreate a sound all their own. From hearing the first track "Intro/Puke", one can instantly tell it's going to be a rager, bringing the Fix to mind once more from the pacing drum beat, straight forward aggressive guitar chords, and the rabid barking vocals. "Sex Wound" is a standout in my eyes, which has the band playing at a moderate pace, yet still delivering blows to the listener from it's driven bass lines and intense build up accompanied by a hypnotic guitar intro. Even during the chorus, Pukeoid is able to create more intensity with a rabid guitar onslaught of chugs that goes hand in hand with chants of Sex wound. "When I'm alone" is another favorite, where the band blitz through in less than a minute, probably less than that. In my opinion, it brings back that sound found more commonly from Formaldehyde Junkies. Overall, the Rabid EP shows Pukeoid's potential that will only grow more till their next release. These fellas will surely refresh your memory on how hardcore should really sound.

Their new 7 inch is still up for grabs via Not Normal and through the band's blogspot, provided below as well as various distros scattered all over the internet. If still not convinced, head over to Harry's Rex for a link. It's one of my more favorable blogs still around, so kudos out to him. Do yourself some justice and buy the actual record if impressed. It would all be worth it.

Pukeoid Blogspot

Not Normal Webstore

Friday, May 13, 2011

The Ropes 7 Inch




The Ropes 7 inch
Self released
2011

1. Your End
2. Valium Cocoon
3. Collisious End
4. All Things will Come Undone
5. Heads will Roll
6. Low End Highs


It's been a long while since I posted something, due to school and other shit going on so I figured I'd make it worthwhile. Considering that last I've been able to head too was the Ropes show at Waterworks, it only made sense to only spread awareness about their now sold out release. I was lucky enough to obtain myself a copy at the show and not going to the ordeals of spending a shitload of cash just so I can hear it but so it goes.

Never heard of the Ropes? It's basically Chicago Hardcore legends the Repos but with newer material, picking up where they left off on their last original LP Hearts and Heads Explode. Raw, aggressive, menacing, blitzkrieg hardcore containing probably the best barking, rabid vocals found from vocalist Aaron Aspinwall. Short, fast and to the point, The Ropes bulldoze through each song on this release."Your End" opens up side A in the best way possible, building up slowly before engaging in attack mode. "Heads will Roll" will be punk staple in later years, just exemplifying their strengths, with a devastating guitar onslaught that's just grab you by the throat.

Considering it's sold out from both the group and Video Disease, I'd probably contact some of the distros available from the band's blogspot, provided below. In the mean time, Narrow Mind managed to upload the 7 inch for all to hear, rejoice, and/or complain. Credit goes to those fellas. I'm stoked on seeing these guys live again, along with School Jerks and Culo in two weeks. Till next time, Cheers!

May 30th, 2001
Treasure Town
2016 South Kedzie Chicago
7pm, $7
Omegas
School Jerks
The Ropes
Culo
Bald Pig
Risk

Narrow Mind

the Ropes

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

New Neighbors



4/16/2011

Raw Nerve in-store
Reckless Records
3126 N Broadway Ave Chicago, IL
1pm, Free.




Then, later on.






4/16/2011

Raw Nerve
Salvation
The Ropes
Hoax
Risk

7pm, All Ages
Water Works, $7

I'm almost sure that this show will likely be packed so I'd would probably get there as early as possible. Once they fill up, you'll be turned away.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Leather- Sterile EP



Leather
Sterile EP
Jade Tree
2011


1. No Motivation
2. Zek
3. Relapse
4. Novitiate

Probably one of the more recent releases I've came across that startled, but excited me. I remember Leather fondly, seeing them at the Nazi Dust show in August. They're were one of two bands (the other being Culo) that made more of an impression that night, playing with a fury unmatched by the rest of the lineup that evening. I even purchased their Anchorite 7 inch and was floored once more, hearing in my opinion some of the best, jaw-dropping hardcore in recent memory. So, it surprised me that Leather was at it again with a new release, and from what I'm hearing, it's two damn good to miss out on.

I was surprised to see these guys release Sterile on Jade Tree, but it does make sense, considering how fantastic these guys are live, but also on record. Sterile, compared to Anchorite has a different sound production, emphasizing the Cro-Mags vibe more noticeable, not that it was hard before. Agran's vocal mirror John Joesph's, adding more a dark, howling approach. It's spine chilling almost, especially when hearing a track like "Zek"; the sheer aggression just being poured from all around. Agran's delivers at new heights, incorporating a bit of melody here and there, while retraining his hard, sinister approach on the mic. The rest of the band hasn't lost their touch either; playing more clean-cut organized hardcore than their contemporaries. "Relapse" is a perfect example; playing Straight to the bone hardcore, not having to go outside the realms of being unpredictable to make a bold statement. Then again, Leather still manages to bring the unexpected, avoiding the unnecessary bullshit acquired.

Pre-orders are being taken up now via Jade Tree, shipped around April 19th. The Anchorite 7 inch is also being released through the same webstore in limited quantities. Album comes with free download through the pre-order, so really no excuse to miss out.

Jade Tree

Leather

Monday, March 21, 2011

Truman & His Trophy- Bottom George Pizza Planet



Truman & His Trophy
Bottom George Pizza Planet
Cassette Deck Media
2011

1. Bottom George
2. Fruit Fight
3. The Virgin Harry
4. Jake Babe
5. Jake Hibernates
6. Eternal Nose
7. West
8. Everything is Weird
9. Slam Dunk
10. Spicy Water
11. Arm
12. Galaxy Quest
13. Journey To Pizza Planet



Not gonna lie, what grabbed my attention about this album was the cover shot, being both a lover of all things pizza and creativity. In fact, I started to get a sudden urge for pizza just after seeing this cover. None the less, after giving this album a spin, I started to appreciate the sheer catchy-ness of a majority of the songs found on here. Truman & His Trophy are pretty exciting and wonderful to hear, unraveling this sheer attitude of fun and pure energy track after track. It reminded me little bit of Bomb the Music Industry! upon the first list but after a couple more spins, I started to see the originality found on this album and put them in a list of their own.

"Jake Babe" is their more standout track, being that is the first single coming off this album but it makes sense why. Opening with an intro that would remind listeners of the minutemen (at least for me it did) from it's explosive guitar riff, the group just goes all out on this potential classic. The harmonies of the vocals during the chorus make it quite hard to whistle or sing along with the band. Another great track that just counterparts the single is "Jake Hibernates". It starts off a little more slower compared to the "Jake Babe" but that doesn't hurt the album or group, but rather showcases that the band is willing to mix up a variety of influences and changes with their sound.

From there, "Eternal Nose" comes into play and still works along that same vibe found on "Jake Hibernates", sounding a like a mixture between Pink Floyd and Wolfmother, that all the while continuously builds up before going into a massive attack of pop punk goodness. "West" is another favorite of mine, that sounds like a masterpiece to my ears. I'm instantly reminded to the post hardcore greats Fugazi, from the sudden change of the guitar riffs and vocals that unfolds from beginning to end. I'm also more fond of the how strong and powerful the drums and synthesizer are displayed on the track; the drummer going into this mesmerizing tribal beat, being complimented with the synthesizer manically going in and out.

Bottom George Pizza Planet shows this Chicago band at it's finest. I can't really recall a band that puts as much variety and influences into their sound, in regards of course to the current crop of bands appearing here and there. One thing is certain, I'm anticipating more materials from this band that will continue to knock me off my ass with more up-beat tracks. It's like the old saying goes, "Never Judge a book by it's cover". With that in mind, it would be right to say for fellow outsiders to instead of dismissing this band, try giving this a spin and you too will be raving about the fabulous sounds of Truman and His Trophy.

As of now, the album should be available for purchase on Cassette Deck Media. If you have to be in the Chicago area this weekend reading this post, I'd would advise you to head over to Pancho's to witness Truman and His Trophy in person, along with Pisces at the Animal Fair and Heart Shaped Hate. In honor of the release, the band is having a Pizza themed show on only the most suitable place in the world; Chicago. It's all ages and plus there's Pizza! Now, who doesn't love Pizza.

Cassette Deck Media


March 26th, 2011
Bottom George Pizza Planet Release Show:
Truman & His Trophy
Pisces at the Animal Fair
Heart Shaped Hate
7pm, All Ages

Pancho's
2200 N. California Avenue
Chicago, IL

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Culo- Toxic Vision EP



Culo
Toxic Vision
Derranged Records
2011

1. Brain Cavity
2. Wasted on Wine
3. Neighborhood Watch
4. Death Culture
5. Toxic Vision


I've been anticipating another release from these hardcore boys from Elgin, and boy did it not disappoint me at all. Never being the stranger to Hardcore, Culo are one of the few bands in today's scene that still manage to keep things fresh while sticking to their guns or having to alienate outsiders over ridiculous reasons (I'd go into it but now is not the time or place). Culo let it all lose (figuratively and literally) on this fine slab of in-your face, "I don't give any kind of a fuck" mantra of Midwest hardcore. Combining the infectious sounds of Discharge and the Ramones, adding a Jerry Kids' style vibe, Culo pick up where they left off with Military Trend EP. One of the finest tracks found on this 7 inch is obviously the self titled track, clocking in at a minute and a half. It displays Culo as their finest; a ravaging, wild, and more brutally intent on describing death in their own interpretation. "Wasted on Wine" is another personal favorite, showcasing their style of a short, blasting, and "Faster than thou" approach. If somehow this name hasn't appeared in your usual radar of hardcore, then I suggest you check this band out. I guarantee you'll be surgically attached to this record once it's over.

The link below to buy Toxic Vision (or Military Trend if you haven't heard it either) via Derranged Records. the blog Mind disease has the download link to the album, if that's really what's important to you. I'm also posting Cowabunga's record store, considering they were selling copies of their demo My Brain is turning upside down, which is another must have in their category. Copies are near out, so yea...


Derranged Records

Cowabunga Records

Culo Myspace

Thursday, March 10, 2011

School Jerks: Control EP





School Jerks
Control EP
Cowabunga Records
2011

1. Screamer
2. Control
3. Ready to Die
4. Ugly Minds, Ugly Faces
5. Moral Addiction
6. 4-F

One of the most blistering 7 inches released this year, no doubt about it. The School jerks are at it again with another rager that kicks it up a notch. Fans of their earlier material will appreciate this one. New to this band? To give a clearer image, it's reminiscent to the earlier works of Black Flag, notably the Nervous Breakdown era. With bits of Greg ginn-esqe riffs and brutal, snotty, nasally vocals, School Jerks give it all they got, blasting away for as long as 5 minutes; giving no fucks if you can't keep up and stay on track. A personal fave on here is "Ugly Minds, Ugly faces", a track that's easy to be lured by despite its brutally honest lyrics. I'm disappointed they didn't get to post lyrics for the rest of the songs, but still, I give them some props on the work.

Cowabunga Records still have copies for sale, if it does draw some interest for newer folk. Now would be a better chance to snag a copy, since their releases tend to go out fast., but maybe that's just my luck. School Jerks just recently finished a Californian tour with Elgin's mighty Culo. You can also preview tracks "Ugly Minds, Ugly Faces" and "Ready to Die" off their myspace. Maybe that'll persuade you. Till then, cheers!

Cowabunga Records Store

School Jerks Myspace

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Raw Nerve Nervous Habits CS



Raw Nerve
Nervous Habits CS/Cassingle/Cassette
Youth Attack!
2011

1. Nervous Habits
2. New Neighbors
3. Strychnine


I can honestly say I never get sick of listening to this particular band, either seeing time perform or just lounging around enjoying their music in the safe comfort my home. Even with an insane amount of hype that would have probably ruined careers, they still seem deliver the goods without having to resort to generic stereotypes (kind of an oxymoron if you think about it really) in hardcore. Any who; with so much anticipation regarding their upcoming 7 inch on McCoy's Youth Attack label, Raw Nerve decided to release this cassette as a way to show off what direction the band is heading in for their record. Overall, It's nothing too different from what you'd expect from Raw Nerve but the songs are perfect statement to hardcore.

"Nervous Habits" starts off with instant feedback, building up little by little until going forth in an immediate attack. From there, Raw Nerve seems to never lose its edge, with Ralph Rivera proclaiming near the end of the track "Are you what you say you are", a message still be relate-able in the minds of teenage angst. Compared to most of their songs found on their previous LP, demos, or 7 inches, this one lasts a little longer, at near 2 and a half minutes. Given that it's not really long, but quite a difference from their LP containing songs that barely lasted for 30 seconds(excluding Crosses, Skinned, or Hemlock). Regardless, the track still kills.

"New Neighbors" is probably one of my favorite tracks off this release, heading in the same usual sound found on previous tracks. Need a description; Fast, rapid, straight up the ear canal hardcore that can lose a listener with a couple seconds. Raw Nerve just go nuts all over this track; hard to keep guitar riffs, rapid pace drumming, a singer that seems to go overboard with yelling, enabling a clear, concise way of actually hearing the lyrics.

"Strychnine" is, if you haven't taken noticed by now, a cover song from the Sonics/The Cramps (whatever satisfies your preferences). Another slow cut off this cassette, it doesn't have the same vibe compared to other tracks. Instead of building up or just going in an onslaught, Raw Nerve keeps it at a steady pace, easier to stay along without ruining the vibe and still be original. One of the mere differences aside from the pace is the addition of a saxophone showcased for a good duration of the track. If more songs were to be like this found on their upcoming record, some outsiders would probably give a little more credit to Raw Nerve. If not, it wouldn't be much of a disappointment either.

Overall, this teaser (if you will call it one) as least gives an idea of what to expect from Raw Nerve and their release expected to out spring. With no doubt, this cassette adds more hype to the release but that's only the start (Those keeping an eye on Raw Nerve already know a record store day release of Tall Tales, containing almost every single release from the band, including this tape). None the less, it was to be expected and it shouldn't stop Raw Nerve from disproving non-believers wrong. Although I'm pretty ecstatic about their Youth Attack release, I'm still curious about that Culo split rumored to be released this year as well.

I'm not leaving a Download link, but am posting two of the other blogs that do have the link, mainly to give them both credit and props to bringing this to the web. I'm also posting some shows that Raw Nerve is playing, giving them their much needed respect within hardcore. Till then, thanks for reading!

Mindisease

Elementary Revolt

March 21st, 2011
Beat Kitchen: 17 +, $10
Ringworm
Raw Nerve
Hate
Thieves

April 16th, 2011
TBA- possibly Waterworks
Raw Nerve
The Ropes (Repo's new band)
Salvation (Youth Attack's finest)
Hoax (Hardcore up the ass)

April 16th, 2011
Reckless Records, Chicago (location to be announced)
Raw Nerve

Friday, February 11, 2011

2/5/2011 Paint It Black, Lemuria, Raw Nerve, Poison Planet, Boilerman @ Locked Out

It's been awhile since I last posted a show review on here and I figured I'd make it worthy since my last possible choices were a bust due to personal shit. Any who, I thought I'd make it up by attending this benefit that was hosted last weekend at Locked Out. So, I persuaded a close friend to venture out with me and off we were like a couple of race horses, or something similar.

I've only heard of Locked Out from the various flyers I've came across for shows going down in the city. Assuming it was another basement venue, sort of like the Strangelight, it ended up being an upstairs VFW hall, decorated with various political protest signs hung up on the walls or very interesting artworks created by students in the community. Considering the lineup, the overall look of the venue was a worthy choice for the location. I should point out that the proceeds of the show were going to a local charity called the Chicagoland Bully Bread rescue, a charity that houses and cares for pitbulls, either abandoned or waiting to be adopted. Along with some of the show's proceeds going to charity, a raffle was also conducted for "special" audience member to actually have a chance to win some of the money. Good idea for a real good cause, that's for sure.

After about an hour waiting around, the first band came up. Boilerman are a local Chicago pop punk band, playing some pretty mouth watering tunes that would satisfy any pop punk fan. Hearing their 7 inch, I was anticipating this band, but was pretty disappointed with the sound guy. The vocals were going in and out, making quite difficult to actually hear the singer from way in the back. The band, of course, didn't play too terribly, still continuing to play, but the crowd didn't seem very impressed with band, going on with their conversations about their lives. I still give credit to the band for at least giving an effort to play, and hopefully they do plan another show were the show won't be an issue.

Next band up was Poison Planet, another local band coming straight out of Chicago. The last time I'd seen these guys was last year in August when they were playing alongside Nazi Dust at the Strangelight. Things were a little different this time around, playing to a now sold-out crowd instead of a little crew of cellar dwellers. Once the band engaged in a couple riffs, an instant circle was made in the front and from where we were, all we could see was a ring of fists going up in the air. Poison Planet from then on, were a force to reckoned with. It was a blitzkreig going off and kids were getting physical, with some stage dives here and there. The vocalist, who was also organizing the show, thanked everyone for coming out and went on about the charity; from how it started to reasons for support. Poison Planet were pretty great, even playing a cover of "Bleed for me" by the Dead Kennedys, that even had a couple kids near us chanting the lyrics. Great set fellas, keep it up!

Raw Nerve were up next, and was my main reason for attending the show. I've kept missing shows from this particular band that ended up being some of the better shows around, from the -/- gig back in October to a recent gig at the Kostner house, alongside Culo and The Ropes (The Repos member's new endeavor). I've never been disappointed with this band, especially live and this show was a pure example. Jokingly, the band engaged in a stereotypical hardcore breakdown and vocalist Ralph Rivera stating "Come on now, they've paid $10. Let's make sure these kids have a good time". My friend and I both laughed, getting the joke, and watched some of local kids start hardcore dancing. Once this was over (they did this twice, for the record), Raw Nerve then went off with their set list and like Poison planet, kids were starting a ruckus. The band played tracks off of their LP released by Youth Attack last year and a couple songs off their cassingle released last month, with the exception of the cover song. I still remember seeing Dan Yemin's face during their set, and saw a stage diver go over his head, lipreading Dan say "woah". Raw Nerve of course were going chaotic during their set, especially with crosses with guitarist Nico and bassist Antonio head banging along with the beat, and then unleashing madness once the intro was over. Definitely not their worst set ever, keep it up.

Lemuria came right after Raw Nerve, coming off as a surprise for me, since I figured they'd be headlining the show. Much like Raw Nerve, it has been awhile since I've seen this group in person, this one being 3 years ago at Reggie's during their stint with the Queers. Their set didn't disappoint, playing from their back catalog such as "Lipstick", and "Chautauqua County". Although the band played perfectly, the sound from the microphones was pretty inaudible and made Sheena's voice sound like one of the characters found in Charlie Brown. A guitar malfunction sort of ruined their set, taking about five to ten minutes to fix the issue before the band got back on it's feet. The crowd didn't get sick of enjoying them, even clapping along to the beats of "Pants", singing along to the entire song with smiles shown on their faces. I admired their set and enjoyed seeing their performance as fan, instead of three years ago when I had no idea about this band. My friend, on the other hand, was pretty bored by their set and instead decided to read the "vegan literature" (i.e pamphlets on why to actually go vegan) and I joined him. Despite so, A great band indeed to keep an eye for but I'm pretty sure kids are at the point. If not, check their stuff out.

Last but finally not least, Paint It Black graced the stage, fulfilling the wishes of every attendee at the venue, including my friend and I. The last time I had witnessed this band was 2 years ago during Riot Fest, where they played in the lobby of the congress theater, probably one of the better performances that night. Around this time, the crowd got a little bit smaller, with some kids leaving right after Lemuria, and the kids before that left during Raw Nerve's set. Still, the band was on fire, hitting song after song, non-stop with unprecedented fury that was matched by the kids in the pit, stage diving or dog-piling Dan Yemin. The Philadelphia band played some of their more recent released songs from the Amnesia and Surrender 7 inches from last year, so nothing too different from their usual sets. Much like Lemuria, the sound was a major issue, with Yemin's microphone cutting in and out during their set, kind of a buzz-kill after dealing with this as an attendant from the first band to the last. Paint It Black didn't let this bother them, with Dan having the crowd chant along to their songs. He even had time to actually interact with the crowd, talking about various issues still affecting our county such as the immigration fiasco to personal thoughts revolving animal cruelty. Despite dealing with the shitty sound the other bands had to deal with, Paint It Black made it worthwhile with kids getting their money's worth. My friend was also impressed, telling he'd never seen anything like that. Talk about a good night.

Although the sound basically ruined a good majority of the band's set, the event was still a success, raising about $1300 for the charity, excluding the raffle tickets. Pretty impressive if you ask me, but who's asking anyways. Not only was it a success for the rescue but also for actually bringing the headliners back to Chicago once more, due to the year gap since their last shows.

I'll try to post something about the Raw Nerve tape that I recently received (Postoffice can be a major pain in the ass sometimes), and then a couple more record reviews from Culo and maybe Lemuria. Also, I plan on doing a couple more show reviews, such as the upcoming This is My Fist! show and Libyans show in may. Till then, thanks again for checking this out!

Boilerman Bandcamp

Not Normal Records

Lemuria

Paint It Black

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Crazy Spirit Burning Churches EP





Burning Churches EP

1.When Faces Change
2.The Burning Churches
3.Cool Death
4.Slimey Leech
5.Tooth and Nail
6.Killing Children


I'm a little way to late on this band, and for that, I apologize. Crazy Spirit is one of the fewer bands coming straight out of NYC that definitely display some chops; reviewers even compared the vibe found on this EP with renowned bands such as the Germs and Cheetah Chrome Motherfuckers. Why I would not pay attention to band much sooner I'm unsure, but it's hard now to even put this down.

I was reading an interview about the band from Accept the Darkness a couple months back and I was pretty impressed with how fearless this band was, prompting me to check this EP. It standouts compared to most of the 7 inches I've came across in awhile, showcasing a style all their own. The sludgy bass sounds, drumming that would mirror an early discharge record, all topped with Darby Crash-esque vocals that would make any punk's back shiver.

One of my favorites that basically on repeat at this very moment is Slimey Leech, a track that honestly left an impression from the start. The hypnotic guitar intro, intense build up, and Bleb Farnslarven's nasally vocals all made an unholy combination on my ears. The track has all the components of a classic, at least in the inner circles of today's underground scene.

"Cool death" has that same essence found on slimey leech, however providing different paces throughout, going from a buildup to high speed to then pacing slowly, sort as it just finished making it's attack. The lyrics leave a grimy impression, particularly "so many eyes, so many legs. take me now, cool death". "Tooth and Nail" is a different take, striking the ear's with a massive attack that will leave anyone in the dust.

This band is definitely a band to keep an eye out for, if you've haven't already. I'm anxiously anticipating future releases or tours that would come across Chicago soon. Anywho, I'm sure you can find links of this album on various other blogspots so instead I'm leaving you the band's blog. I'm also posting a link to another blog, in case some might want to preview their demo beforehand. Till then, thanks again. I'm hoping by next week I'll post a review up for the new Raw Nerve cassingle tape.


Crazy Spirit Blogspot


Terminal Escape