It's Saturday! Now What?

Now that it's officially the weekend, I don't want anybody to get bored. Because bad things happen when you get bored (unplanned pregnancy, spontaneous combustion, etc). So anyways, here's some of those music shows that the kids like so much. Here they are, by genre:

Punk
Who: Face to Face, Strung Out, Cerebral Ballzy, and The Darlings
Where: Paradise Rock Club, Boston
When: 6 pm
How Much?: $20 for advance tickets
Why???: For my money, this is the best show this weekend. Face to Face is a seminal punk/pop-punk group from Southern California, and Strung Out plays their own brand of metal-infused, fast-paced skate punk. Should be a grand old time if you have 20 bucks to shell out. Plus, it's ALL AGES!

Indie Rock
Who: The Shills, Grass is Green, Mrs. Danvers, Julia Easterlin
Where: Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge
When: 8 pm
How Much?: $10 for day of show tickets
Why???: If you're over 18 this could be a fun one. The Shills play an eclectic mix, evoking many genres and bands. If you don't mind a band that's hard to get a read on, genre-wise, then you should enjoy these guys. They're a local group who's been known for their impressive on-stage precision and energy.

Old-School Indie
Who: The Feelies
Where: Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge
When: Two Sets, First at 9:30 pm
How Much?: $20
Why???: The Feelies are a legendary and influential indie rock band that can trace their roots back to 1976. They played their first show since 1991 last year at Battery Park, opening for none other than Sonic Youth. Their music has been cited as an influence by R.E.M., which is pretty hard to argue with. Keep in mind, this one's 18 and up.

Song Of The Week: Big D and the Kids Table

Hey! Sorry I've been a little absent recently, but what can ya do. Anyways, here's a little tune by Big D and the Kids Table (straight outta Boston), it's called L.A.X. It's about any number of things, but most importantly its about not selling out and not forgetting what's important even when you make it. At least that would be my interpretation. Anyways it rocks but I have to warn you, if you don't like the fuck word, you won't like this song very much at all.

Song Of The Week: Bad Religion

This week's entry is from melodic hardcore legends Bad Religion. The video premiered yesterday and it's for the song Wrong Way Kids, off BR's latest album, The Dissent of Man. Footage used in the video was compiled from throughout the band's lifespan, dating back to 1981 at the earliest. The song is typical Bad Religion fare, fast, hard, and melodic. Here's my thanks to the guys for 30 years of service to their fans, and hope for many more to come.

Song Of The Week: The Gaslight Anthem

This week's song is an unreleased gem from New Jersey americana-punkers The Gaslight Anthem. They played it live in Australia, and the video made its way around the online punk community pretty fast. There are rumors of  a Gaslight release for 2012, so I'm already looking forward to seeing this song on the album. It's called Biloxi Parish, and has a blues riff and feel that evoke the alt-blues stylings of the White Stripes. Frontman Brian Fallon promises the crowd the next Gaslight album won't be a blues album, but if that means more songs like this, I'm okay with it.

Stream a New Track from the Have Nots!

Boston's very own ska-punk brawlers have a new album due out May 3rd and they have graciously offered to stream the first track off the disc on Punknews.org. You can check it out here: Have Nots' Punknews Page

The Have Nots have been playing their officially un-cookie-cutter style of ska-punk (read: no horns!) for some time now. Their first album, "Serf City USA", was critically acclaimed and their sound evokes early Rancid/Operation Ivy as well as NOFX.

They have toured with Boston legends like Dropkick Murphys and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. They also played a couple shows with the Street Dogs this past November at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston.

The title track of the new album "Proud" doesn't deviate much from the band's signature sound, although it feels decidedly more like a rock'n'roll track than a ska one. Lyrically, the song deals with a son's desire to make his father proud, even post-mortem. It will be interesting to see whether the rest of the album will follow the rock'n'roll path or dip more into the ska foundations of the band.

Subhumans Preview

In case anyone was unaware, the Subhumans will be visiting Boston this evening to play the Middle East Downstairs. I wanted to take this opportunity to enlighten anyone who isn't aware of them as to who they are and why it's absolutely worth it to come out and see them on a Wednesday night.

The Subhumans were founded in Wiltshire, England in the year 1980. For those of you keeping score at home, that means it has been 31 years since they first came on the scene. Although they weren't active for the entirety of that time, it's pretty damn remarkable that they're still alive, let alone playing shows.

Vocalist Dick Lucas

The Subhumans have a staunchly anarchist political view, and LP's like "The Day the Country Died" and "From the Cradle to the Grave" are established anarcho-punk classics. Although the band has only released one album between 1998 and now, they have remained a touring entity and have produced a live album and live DVD.

One of the most impressive things to me about the Subs is that they have a spotless record as far as punk goes. They have only released albums on indie labels and continue to play local venues and support independent music. They're a group that generally goes about things the right way (they're actually a DIY group!), and their live show is amazing. If you live within 25 miles of Cambridge, there is no excuse to miss them tonight.

Song Of The Week: Teenage Bottlerocket

This week's entry comes from Laramie, Wyoming's own Teenage Bottlerocket. With a sound fueled by old Ramones records and energy drinks, TBR has been a standout in the punk scene for years now. Formed in 2001 by brothers Ray and Brandon Carlisle and their friend Zach Doe, the group has toured with national acts like NOFX and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The video this week is for a song called "In The Basement", and it features the best-behaved basement crowd of all time.

Boston Weekend Preview

Big East

Friday, April 1

New England Americana Fest (Night 2) @ Church (Boston) 5 pm doors, $25 (for a three day fest pass), 21+

Gogol Bordello

Saturday, April 2

Gogol Bordello, Forro in the Dark @ House of Blues (Boston) 6 pm doors, $29.50, ALL AGES

New England Americana Fest (Night 3) @ Church (Boston) 5 pm doors, $25 (for a three day fest pass), 21+

The Snipes

Sunday, April 3

The Snipes, Hopeless Otis, The Olde Edison, More Beer Please @ Midway Cafe (Jamaica Plain)*

Killslug, The Jabbers, Nothing But Enemies, The Scrapes @ Church (Boston) 7 pm doors, $10, 18+

*Contact venue for more info

Song Of The Week: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

This week's song of the week is living proof that Me First and the Gimme Gimmes can make pretty much anything not suck, even annoying pop songs that you sang at your elementary school graduation. It's the punkest version of "I Believe I Can Fly I Think You'll Ever See". Plus the video has some notable cameos from people like Deryck Whibley of Sum 41, Paris Hilton, and I think I saw Chris from Less than Jake in there. Enjoy, I hope everyones Monday wasn't a complete shitshow!

Boston Weekend Preview

Friday, March 25:

Glassjaw

Glassjaw, These People, Tidal Arms @ Paradise Rock Club (Boston) 6 pm, $20, ALL AGES

Refuse Resist, Down Low, Milo's Syndicate, Revilers @ Church (Boston) 8 pm, $10, 18+







Saturday, March 26:

Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age, The Dough Rollers @ House of Blues (Boston) 6 pm, $30.50, ALL AGES

Tex Railer's Doomtown, Al and the Black Cats @ Midway Cafe (Jamaica Plain) 8 pm











Sunday, March 27:

Holley 750

Holley 750 @ Middle East Upstairs (Cambridge) 8 pm, $10, 18+

Sardonic, The Elysium, Call Me Anything @ All Asia (Cambridge) 7 pm

















Monday, March 28:

OFF!

OFF!, Trash Talk, Cerebral Ballzy @ Middle East Downstairs (Cambridge) 8 pm, $15, 18+

VYGR, Finisher, Crippling Fear, Powerwolves @ Great Scott (Allston) 9 pm, $7, 18+

Song of the Week: The Subhumans

This week's SotW is from UK punk legends the Subhumans. The video is a live clip from a show where they were also recording their live album "All Gone" for Fat Wreck Chords. The song is called Peroxide, and from what I can tell, it's about dying your hair.

Oh and Boston/Cambridge fans mark your calendars: they'll be playing the Middle East Downstairs on Wednesday, April 6.

1, 2, 3, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Show Review: The Alrighters, Razors in the Night and others at Middle East

This show may go down in history as one of the most mismatched bills ever. There was progressive indie rock, pop-punk, hardcore, and some wacky R&B. The one thing about this show that fit was the attitude, talent, and work ethic evident in these bands.

The Alrighters

It's not often you see an opening band pour itself into its performance like Full Body Anchor did on Saturday night. Lead vocalist Eric Edmonston is a beast, plain and simple. With a pounding rhythm section behind and driving guitar forging the way forward, Edmonston's vocals soared, wailed, and screamed their intensity. The band, made up of various veterans of the Boston punk and rock scene, have come upon an amazing sound for fans of bands like the Deftones, Queens of the Stone Age, and in their heavier moments, Helmet. Clearly this collection of weathered vets knows their stuff and knows how to put on a show.

Cradle to the Grave brought a change of pace to the stage, bringing in lighter elements and upbeat rhythms. The band plays a brand of pop-punk that calls to mind the Bouncing Souls and Green Day. Formed in 2009, the band consists of four experienced musicians who have a comfortable stage presence and an uncensored sense of humor. The band's setlist was written on a take-out menu, prompting some self-deprecating weight humor. In all, Cradle to the Grave is clearly a fun bunch of guys who play some good songs.

Troy of Razors in the Night interacts with the crowd

The highlight of the night for me was local hardcore act Razors in the Night. A genuine hardcore band with no posturing, no bullshit, and no mercy, RITN caused havoc. Lead vocalist Troy Schoeller gained my respect by immediately coming down from the stage and onto the floor, inspiring a small but spirited mosh pit. RITN have a sound reminiscent of old-school Oi! and hardcore that is rarely heard these days. A critically acclaimed group, they have played with legends like The Casualties and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. This show revealed their appeal instantly, as their velocity, brutality, and attitude was readily evident.

The final band of the night was The Alrighters, a 4-piece that plays 50's R&B with a dash of psychosis. The vocalist, Panda, kicked off the set by showing off his unique sense of humor. The band ripped through songs that necessitated movement in the audience, with topics like barbecue and fish & chips. A steady and driving rhythm section set the headlong pace for the baritone sax and vocals, which were kept at the level of a crazed scream. Sadly, this show was the last for The Alrighters, but it is safe to say that they will be sorely missed in Boston and wherever else they have brought their rhythm and blues madness.

Weekend Preview for Boston and Mass.

Friday, March 11:

Destroy Babylon (left), Tiny Mtns., Math the Band @ Church (Boston, MA) 8 pm, $10, 21+









Wicked Whiskey (left), Sasquatch and the Sick-A-Billys @ Midway Cafe (Jamaica Plain) 8 pm, ALL AGES











Saturday, March 12:

The Union Boys (left), Please Be Punktual @ Midway Cafe (Jamaica Plain) 3 pm, ALL AGES








The Alrighters (left), Razors in the Night, Cradle to the Grave @ Middle East Upstairs (Cambridge, MA) 8 pm, $10, 18+











Sunday, March 13:

Vagora (left), Armistice, Jimi Halfdead and the Die-Alongs @ All Asia (Cambridge, MA) 3 pm, ALL AGES

Why Are All Ages Shows Important?

As recently as 2007, there was a proposed ban on all ages shows in establishments serving alcohol across the city of Washington, D.C. This was proposed by councilman Jim Graham as a result of a 17-year-old being shot at a poorly secured nightclub. Were it not for an uproar from various parts of the community, underage and otherwise, this law could have gone into effect. As an 18-year-old person, I cannot imagine the world without all ages shows.

All over the United States there are young men and women who grow up in small towns with nothing better to do than get high or drunk, or both. Establishments in all cities should be allowed to open their doors to these people, if proper security precautions are taken of course. There is a much higher risk of an adolescent OD-ing or falling into some other bad shit if they are bored, and let's face it, people get bored pretty quick.

All ages shows are important because they give a misfit teen a place to go, and are often safer than staying at home or hanging around their neighborhood. I am not promoting a straight-edge agenda in any way, but the most important message here is something that Ian Mackaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi) said in his testimony against the all ages ban in D.C.: "Music is for all people".

There have always been people that would like to downplay the importance and the role of music in society and people's lives. The fact is, music is inseparable from humanity. With every great social movement there has been music to inspire and fuel the revolution. The punk movement, from the 60's to today, has exemplified that. Punk music is an inspiration to misfits everywhere, and the more inspiration people have, the less despair, hate, and rage they have. All ages shows are vital because music is not a privilege, it is a right, and teenagers are people who have the ability to make conscious decisions.

You'll notice I never once referred to a teenager as a "kid" in this piece. There is a very finite reason why I chose to do that. A teenager is not a child. As an 18-year-old I take offense to that term because it implies a lack of intelligence, decision-making ability, and maturity. Most teenagers are more mature than many of the adults you know. Not only that, but they can make better decisions than, say, a 62-year old councilman proposing a ban on all ages shows for an entire city, based on a single incident.

I will leave you with Ian Mackaye's testimony from 2007, I'm sure he says it better than I ever could. (Notice the round of applause after, followed by Graham harrumphing)

Song of the Week: The Loved Ones

This week's Song of the Week comes from Philadelphia, PA's own The Loved Ones. One of the foremost bands in roots and americana-based punk, The Loved Ones fall into the esteemed company of groups like The Gaslight Anthem and Lucero. This track, The Bridge, is from their 2008 full-length, Build and Burn. Cool video, great song.

In other news, The Loved Ones vocalist Dave Hause will be releasing his first solo record in 2011, on Paper + Plastick records. The album will buck the current trend of punk singers going acoustic, as Hause plans to use a full band but to deviate stylistically from his work with The Loved Ones.

Here's the vid:

Album Review: Wolves and the Radio

Wolves and the Radio have hit on something with their self-titled January release. With a post-punk sound that evokes visions of beards, flannels, and PBR, the album pays homage to bands like Hot Water Music. The sound is familiar enough to appeal to any punk fan, but the bands shines in the more unique songs. The songs have a catchy, anthemic quality that makes you want to raise a glass or a fist and sing along.

The opening track has you reeling with urgent guitars and searing vocals. Vocalist Matt Murphy lets loose with the first line, "Hey there stranger, don't you dare pass me by" and indeed, Wolves and the Radio is not a band to be ignored. The album carries at a steadily breakneck pace for the most part, and the band certainly shows its speed and ferocity with songs like "Kellegra" and "Minus One".

The standout on the album in my opinion is "St. Maria", which sticks out from the other songs with a slower, more thoughtful tone. Granted the song picks up some pace towards the end, but it's more of a slow build, showing a wise deviation from a simpler song structure.

Wolves and the Radio close out the album with a pair of acoustic songs, a welcome respite after an exhausting, fast-paced ride through the first nine tracks. "One Sitting" is a hybrid introspection and drinking song, and manages to keep from being corny on either account. Overall Wolves and the Radio showed they know their punk history with this release and that they can execute that style to a T. However when the album really triumphs is when they change the pace or the song structure up. I look forward to hearing from these guys in the future, they are not going anywhere.

Weekend Preview for Boston and Mass.

Friday, March 4:

More Beer Please (left), Free Beer, Dun Bin Had @ Anchors Up! (Haverhill, MA) 6 pm, $10, ALL AGES








Peelander-Z (left), Starscream, Tijuana Sweetheart @ Church (Boston, MA) 8 pm, $10, 18+











Saturday, March 5:


Murder By Death (left), Fake Problems, Buried Beds @ Middle East Downstairs (Cambridge, MA) 8 pm, $15, 18+

Rebelution (left), Iration, Orgone @ House of Blues (Boston, MA) 6 pm, $20, ALL AGES









Sunday, March 6:

The Get-Up Kids, Miniature Tigers, Brian Bonz @ Paradise Rock Club (Boston, MA) 6 pm, $20, ALL AGES

The Facebook Machine: You're Using it Wrong (Editorial)

Seeing as this is my first editorial for the blog, I would like to put a disclaimer (which I will likely end up putting on all my editorials). This piece of writing is my opinion, not fact, although I may or may not use facts to support it. No one is required to agree with me, but I would appreciate not to be verbally abused via the internet. Or physically abused, although if you manage that I'll be more impressed than anything. Anyways, I am in no way qualified to write this or probably any piece, so if you have a problem with or are offended by what I say, write a *CIVIL* comment explaining your position. That being said, profanity will be allowed and encouraged, however only in correct context and/or if it's funny. That will be all.

The impetus for me to write this editorial and post it on HWT for the world to see (hypothetically) was an experience I had today. I opened up Facebook in my browser and looked at my newsfeed in shock to see a long string of comments on a political video. There were several things that made these comments so notable. First, the length. The comments were long, sometimes multiple paragraphs. Second, the commenters were severely and viciously bashing each other and the poster of the video. And the final thing that caught my eye was the age group of the commenters. With some skillful creeping (read: ten seconds worth) I determined that the commenters were all  roughly middle-aged and that a couple even had children. This led me to our topic of today: "The Facebook Machine: You're Using it Wrong".

Sorta like this.

This editorial is meant to address the proper way to utilize Facebook. Many people seem to think that this website is used as an outlet to trash other people's political views, personal lives, musical tastes, and basically anything else you could think of. Although each age group certainly exhibits such behavior, a surprising main culprit in my eyes is middle-aged people. Keep this in mind: as an 18-year-old "kid", I have very few Facebook friends who are middle-aged. For me to notice their comments as a nuisance takes a high volume of comments coming from a small group of people. I would like to take this time to introduce middle-aged users to the main purpose of Facebook, as most have been using the site for a shorter period of time than their children.

You can imagine how I feel!

First and foremost, Facebook is a social-networking site. It is a means by which people can express themselves and more importantly, stay in touch with their friends and family who may not be nearby. This is the basic purpose of having a Facebook. Now, it is perfectly acceptable to post political, religious, and any other type of material on Facebook. I am not for censorship of any kind. An issue arises, however, when many middle-aged (and other) people choose to use it as a place where a person can make personal attacks on people that they may never even have met in person. This seems like a misuse of the site. In what way does ripping on a person thousands of miles from you for being a pacifist, or a democrat, or a libertarian, or simply for disagreeing with you, help you to network or communicate with friends?

So they can see how angry I am!

Basically, the idea I'm trying to get across here is that Facebook can be a great service, where you get to talk to all your friends in all parts of the world, for free. It can be a forum for ideas and social movements (see: Egypt, Tunisia). These are certainly ways that it could be positively utilized. The other option is that it can sink into the drudgery of seeing people make biting and oftentimes cruel personal attacks on other people, as much of the internet already has (see: Youtube commenters).

I propose this become effective immediately.

In closing, this editorial is not so much a "set of rules" as a plea for common civility. A general rule to follow for Facebook is to not comment anything towards another person that you wouldn't have the balls to say word for word to them in person, and a general rule for life is to refrain from saying things that are unproductive or harmful to others simply for the sake of being harmful.

I would also like to apologize to middle-aged users of Facebook that use it in a productive and lighthearted manner, I only singled out this age group because of personal experience. Now go post some punk rock videos and make up!

Song of the Week: Dropkick Murphys

This week's Song of the Week is a classic from Dropkick Murphy's called Sunshine Highway. A personal favorite, I've heard several interpretations of the lyrics. The most compelling to me (and possibly the most factual?) is that "sunshine highway" was the name of the road to Dropkick Murphys (the detox center from which the band took its name). The drunks would drive this road and toss their bottles out the window, and all the broken glass would make the road light up when headlights shined on it. Regardless of whether this story is true, it's cool and the song is wicked fun. Check it out:

Upcoming Boston and Mass Shows

Check these out:

February 23 (TONIGHT!)

-- Emarosa (at left), Chiodos, Go Radio, Decoder @ Middle East Downstairs (Cambridge) ALL AGES

February 25

-- Tijuana Sweetheart, Blow Your Face Out, Jason Bennett & The Resistance @ Middle East Upstairs (Cambridge) 18+

--Kill Conrad (at left), The Black Tie Operation, The Egos @ Royale Palace (email TexRailer@gmail.com for the address) (MA) ALL AGES

March 1

--Motorhead (at left), Clutch, Valient Thorr @ House Of Blues (Boston) ALL AGES

Setlist From WTBU Broadcast 2-14

Sorry for the lateness of this post, the setlist from this week will probably be up in the next couple days as well.

1 The Ramones - Outsider
2 Flatfoot 56 - Shiny Eyes
3 Wolves and the Radio - One Sitting
4 The Gaslight Anthem - Red at Night
5 Against Me - Cavalier Eternal
6 Frank Turner - Photosynthesis

Background: Modest Mouse - Float On

8 Flogging Molly - Float

9 Dropkick Murphys - The Wild Rover
10 Flatfoot 56 - The Hourglass
11 The Real Mckenzies - Will Ye No Come Back Again
12 The Briggs - Until Someone Gets Hurt

Background: Modest Mouse - Blame it On The Tetons

14 Alkaline Trio - Every Thug Needs A Lady
15 Four Year Strong - Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Hell
16 Teenage Bottlerocket - Fall For Me
17 Descendents - Nothing With You
18 NOFX - We Got Two Jealous Agains
19 Millencolin - Killercrush
20 Hi Standard - This is Love
21 The Loved Ones - Please Be Here

Background: Dropkick Murphys - Black Velvet Band

23 Evergreen Terrace - Chaney Cant Quite Riff Like Helmet's Page Hamilton
24 Hatebreed - I Will Be Heard
25 Every Time I Die - The New Black
26 The Bronx - White Tar
27 Love Equals Death - Bombs Over Brooklyn
28 The Misfits - Scream

Background: Modest Mouse - One Chance

30 Dillinger Four - Like Eye Contact in an Elevator
31 Avail - Black and Red
32 The Lawrence Arms - The Devil's Takin' Names
33 Dead To Me - Don't Lie
34 Bad Religion - Suffer
35 Against All Authority - The Restoration of Chaos and Order
36 Rancid - Olympia, WA
37 Chixdiggit - Geocities Kitty
38 The Sainte Catherines - The Shape Of Drunks to Come
39 The Creepshow - They All Fall Down
40 The Flatliners - Macoretta Boozer
41 The Johnstones - No Time For The Moment
42 Real Mckenzies - Best Day Until Tomorrow

Song of the Week: Casey Jones

Casey Jones is a straight-edge hardcore band (as you'll see from the video) from Jacksonville Florida. Featuring members of Evergreen Terrace, the band plays a bludgeoning form of hardcore that fans of Minor Threat and bands like This is Hell will find appealing. The group definitely displays some influences from its Evergreen Terrace members, brothers Josh and Caleb James (vocals and drums, respectively). Here's the first video off their album "I Hope We're Not The Last", the song is called "Hammer The Nails".

New Music

Hey you! If you're looking for something new to listen to, try on Pteradon's new release, "Viva!", for size. Their vocals are gruff, bringing to mind Hot Water Music and early Gaslight Anthem work, but the guitarwork is intricate and often subtle. All the while the drums drive a steady pace, as in any great punk rock band. Download the full album with an optional donation (means you can get it for free) at Quote Unquote Records, which runs entirely on donations.

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Song of the Week: The Lawrence Arms

Played this one on the show this morning, it's "The Devil's Takin' Names" by The Lawrence Arms. This is a punk  ripper with probably some of the best and most tongue-in-cheek lines I've heard in a long time. My personal favorite: "You've got those moves and those eyes / I've got these shakes and bad breath". Check the video here, much thanks to Blank TV for putting up 90% of the videos I use here.

Setlist From WTBU Broadcast 2-7

This may be incomplete, as I based it purely off of the base setlist I wrote up before the show aired, anything extra unfortunately will not be listed here. If you have a question about a song that you don't see her, I can identify based on a lyric or maybe (big maybe) based on musical style. But feel free to leave me comments and requests for next week!




Meanwhile, In Hell... - The Flatliners
Bigger Than Kiss - Teenage Bottlerocket
I'm Warning You With Peace And Love - None More Black
I Remember You - Chixdiggit!
Overwinter - Banner Pilot
Nuthin Runnin Through My Brain - Dead to Me
When I Get Old - Descendents





Looking For A Kiss - New York Dolls
Communication Breakdown - D.O.A.
I'm Against It - The Ramones
Anarchy in the U.K. - The Sex Pistols
Voice of God is Government - Bad Religion
Numbers - The Adicts

Stupid Kid - Alkaline Trio
Sleeper - The Swellers
The Few That Remain - Set Your Goals
Nothing On My Back - Sum 41
On a Saturday - Four Year Strong







When You Don't Control Your Government - Anti-Flag
Gaia Bleeds (Make Way For Man) - Set Your Goals
Leaving Jesusland - NOFX
Summerpunks - Strike Anywhere
Let Them Eat War - Bad Religion
Numb America - Chaser







Cutshow - Big D and the Kids Table
What a Wicked Gang Are We Below - Streetlight Manifesto
Take a Ticket - The Expendables
Little Red Hook - The Expos
He Was a Jazzman - The Flatliners








Minus One - Wolves and the Radio
Breathe In - The Loved Ones
Rivalries - The Menzingers
The Dream Team - Fake Problems
I Coulda Been a Contender - The Gaslight Anthem

Song Of The Week!

Back to the normal schedule for Song Of The Week: it's Tijuana Sweetheart with Trash Candy. Four grimy rocker chicks that really know what they're doing. They'll be playing at the Middle East Upstairs in the People's Republic of Cambridge on February 25.

Oh and about the video: all I have to say is, Black Eyed Peas, ima let you finish, but Tijuana Sweetheart had one of the best Slash cameos of all time.

Anchorless Records Leaves Boston

Anchorless Records is an independent punk label that started in Orlando, Florida in 2004. From there they headed to Allston Rock City, Massachusetts. Now they're on the move again, and personally as a resident of Boston and Cambridge and someone who spends a good amount of time in Allston, I am sad to see them go. Over the years they have signed a number of bands, ranging from local upstarts like Wolves and the Radio to punk stalwarts like The Sainte Catherines. Although they are just going over to Brooklyn, the city of Boston will surely miss having them in our own backyard.

The bright side of this is that they are unloading their inventory at outrageously good prices to prepare for the move, so I will be hitting you guys with some reviews of recent releases from the label, including the recent Wolves and the Radio self-titled album.

Song Of The Week!

I know it's been a while, but fuck it, I'm back now and I got your Song Of The Week so relax. It's Gallows, with
"In The Belly Of A Shark". Real live British hardcore punk rock. A word of advice: if you see anyone more pissed off than Frank from Gallows, RUN. Here it is.

By the way, sorry for the censorship, I'm sure you kiddies can fill in the blanks.

Song Of The Week!

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, you lucky bastards get two songs of the week! Not only that, but they come from two of the greatest punk bands to ever walk the earth. First off, it's Dead Kennedys with "Nazi Punks Fuck Off". With a name like that, the song really speaks for itself, but Jello Biafra's lyrics are worth checking out too, if you couldn't catch them from the song. The video is from the Kennedys lost session tapes,  but there are also a few live vids on Youtube worth checking out. Lyrics

The next one is a song about a having a PMA, or positive mental attitude. It's called "Attitude" and it comes from  a band that was living proof that punk is in the heart and the head, not in the skin. They are Bad Brains of course, from good old Washington D.C. The video is live footage from 1979, when punk was merely a thorn in the ass of the establishment. Lyrics

Coming up in the future: Review of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Hometown Throwdown, and also keep an eye out for some new music reviews.

Song Of The Week!

This week's song of the week comes with two videos! Bonus!

The song is "Put Down Your Weapons" by The Black Pacific, a band formed by ex-Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg. The first video is not really a video, just a recording of the song with the album cover as a backdrop. For those of us who are visual learners, there is a second video which is an acoustic version is played by Lindberg. Also in that video is an acoustic version of another song off the band's recent album.

In the wake of the recent killings in Arizona, this song is probably more timely than the group ever could have imagined. The song speaks to the important issue of how hateful and violent speech can lead to hateful and violent acts, especially in a country where firearms are so readily available. Lyrics

Song of The Week!

Hey folks, sorry for neglecting ya last week but I'm sure everyone was too deep in their consumerism-induced coma to notice! Anyway, as an apology I'm bringin' out a ripper of a Song of The Week in "Wanderlust" by Buffalo metalcore fiends Every Time I Die. I'm pretty sure the song is about how frickin' scary it is when you open a door and a big bearded lumberjack is shredding on guitar in there. Could be wrong, but watch the video and you'll see what I mean.

In other news, my application for a radio show was sadly rejected. This means I will likely be serving another term as a lowly intern, I will keep you posted as to what show I am appearing on. 

Before I go, let me just say to keep an eye out for a couple new entries in the week ahead, reviews of the Hometown Throwdown and also some wintery albums are imminent.