Millencolin’s new album dropped last week. Another solid release from these skate punk veterans. Not as heavy on social commentary as True Brew. It’s more the feel of classic Millencolin though these guys have never put out a bad album. This is still on their home label of Epitaph Records. The title track would be at home on any Punk O Rama comp. So pick this one up or stream it at your skate sessions. More proof that punk is becoming great again.
-C Fish
REVIEW: The Exquisites latest release, “Home”
The Exquisites latest release, Home, finds them continuing down the same road they began on their debut; featuring rough around the edges punk that also knows how to slow things down and the hoarse but soulful vocals of Jason Clackley. This album finds the band a bit more comfortable with its sound than before, and Clackley opening up a bit more about his past than on the previous release.
This album finds Clackley’s lyrics being both reflective and featuring a sense of determination to move forward. Lyrics like this, for me personally, is the best way for a singer to write lyrics of that nature because it shows where they’ve been but also how they’ve grown and changed because of it. While there is certainly something to be said for albums that can absolutely devastate you emotionally or get you so pumped up on positivity you feel like you can take on the world, those albums are defaults for certain moods. The relatability of a lyricist/vocalist dealing with life as a whole, and doing so in a relatable manner, is one of the harder things for a songwriter to accomplish.
READ More Here: https://www.punknews.org/review/14689/the-exquisites-home
Maty’s Corner #27
Duane Peters and the Great Unwashed Review
Coming out in 2012 was Duane Peters and The Great Unwashed. A bit of a one off side project from the master of disaster. While short lived, they did release on great album titled Beautiful Tragedy. It’s out and out punk blues with a lot of great piano and even a bit of harmonica, a definite departure from other music that Duane has put out. Most of lyrics sound like lost writings from Charles Bukowski’s urban genius. The two big stand outs for me are Coffee In The Kitchen Gone and the title track. This was released vinyl only or you can download it from http://duanepetersandthegreatunwashed.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-tragedy
Go ahead and get this if you don’t a have it. A must for fans of Duane and just good sad music.
-Maty Almost
The Skate Punk Band Making Waves Out Of California…
“FIDLAR” is a skate punk band from Los Angeles, California. The band’s name is an acronym for ‘Fuck It Dog, Life’s a Risk’; a skate mantra created by singer Zac Carper’s former roommates. The members of FIDLAR were seemingly destined from birth to play in a band. Originally, FIDLAR went under the name ‘Fuck The Clock.’ Three years after recording their first songs they stepped on stage and out of the gate teamed up with ‘The Black Lips’ and went on tour with ‘The Hives,‘ what kind of luck do these kids have?
Elvis Kuehn (guitar/vocals) and Max Kuehn (drums) are the sons of Greg Kuehn, keyboardist for Long Beach punk legends T.S.O.L., while Zac Carper (vocals/guitar) is the son of famed custom surfboard crafter and designer to the pros, John “JC” Carper, who works out of his home based shop in Oahu Hawaii. Along with Brandon Schwartzel (of Rooney fame) on bass, the Kuehn brothers and Carper came together in 2009 to form their local garage/skate punk band known as FIDLAR.
Before long, the four members were cohabiting in a pad on Figueroa Street, rehearsing DIY garage style and recording on site their newest tunes, and throwing insane house parties every weekend. They soon became the talk of the L.A. underground punk scene and went on the road full-time, and haven’t looked back yet.
FIDLAR haven’t stopped touring since their early beginning performing local high school-house parties, when known as “Fuck The Clock” before 2009. FIDLAR is the band to keep an eye on now as they carry the torch, and continue to make news in the underground punk rock world, proving punks not dead in skateboarding, it’s very much alive. I haven’t gotten juiced up for a sk8 punk band since 1980’s band the ‘Faction.’
“Getting fucked up on the 101, shooting our guns and having fun, 40 beers later and a line of speed, eight-ball of blow and a half-a-pound of weed. (chorus) I drink cheap beer so what fuck you…”
“I just want to get really high, smoke weed until I die, I don’t ever wanna get a job, if I fucked up today, hey nothings wrong. Get pissed up by the hills, cocaine and shitty pills, get head in a broken car, with the windows up and the lights turned off. There’s nothing wrong with living like this, all my friends are pieces of shit…
The band is constantly making references to weed, cocaine, girls, guns, surfing, skating, L.S.D, pills and having no money. The songs make perfect sense for a generation of young skaters who just don’t give a fuck. Before long I was singing some of the chorus’s while driving down the road…”Wake – Bake – Skate.” These guys make me feel 22 again.
Zac Carper – guitar, vocals
Brandon Schwartzel – bass
Elvis Kuehn – guitar, vocals
Max Kuehn – drums
Hometown
Los Angeles, CA
Label
White Iris
Website
http://www.fidlarla.com/
Twitter
http://twitter.com/fidlarla
Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/FIDLAR/107196795985818
Taking Notice:
*In 2012, were named one of Stereogum’s ’40 Best New Bands of 2012′
*In the 2013 O Music Awards, FIDLAR were nominated within the ‘Best Web-Born Artist’ category.
*In 2013, AIM Independent Music Awards, hosted by Association of Independent Music (AIM), FIDLAR were nominated within the ‘Best Live Act’ category.
The Modesto Banks. I skated this spot while they were still finishing the front end of the construction site. Gnarly skate spot. Sorry, No BMX & Scooter Riders allowed!
The Carver Ledges and I’ve got my game plan set, so I thought.
Nope, ain’t happening yet grasshopper! The force is with you!
Again, no high fives on what felt like my 40th attempt. Damn I’m fucking old…
That’s it Rich, just slow down and and make a good pop!
Ah, finally, Huston we have made contact. Now just slide the night away.
Fuck this new wax you say everybody uses is slick Fennigan.
Don’t argue me damn it, just snap the fucking shot on the E.O.S.
God I’m a big & tall heavy beast. Tall skaters look rad though when they unfold a trick.
Why do I go so fast? Now I have to land it and not fall into the traffic 10 feet in front of me. Thank God for the spotter. Now just pull it off and walk away for the sake of your body.
God what a sketchy roll away, but I’ll take it. Now pass the bottle and inject the pain relievers from last night, because this spot has made me sober from the brutal falls, fuck!
Fuck What You Heard!
Pro skateboarder and band manager Mike Vallely with bands founder Greg Ginn
There’s a simple answer for all the “Black Flag” fans who are confused about why two different versions of the hardcore punk band are touring this year only separate: It’s about money, says Mike Vallely, professional skateboarder and newly appointed band manager for Black Flag. The master mind and founder of “Black Flag,” guitarist Greg Ginn carefully selected, vocalist Ron Reyes and original drummer Gregory Moore, to be the front men on a world tour in 2013. Now here’s a hilarious facet of this punk rock reunion story, but also performing on the road, simultaneously, playing memorable Black Flag songs, is tribute band “Flag,” who’s by the way is also composed with former band members, and playing the same popular hit songs, while traveling on the road. Seems almost everyone from Black Flag’s “Ghost of Christmas Past,” have been called to duty, except for the bands most popular vocalist and easily most famous band member, Henry Rollins.
Henry Rollins Performing Live from L.A. in 1996 as the “Rollins Band”
Keith Morris, the bands original singer and song writer for Black Flag, heads up the tribute band “Flag,” with the likes of Dez Cadena, Chuck Dukowski and Bill Stevenson, also reuniting together and touring North America, performing the same Black Flag songs, live in concert. Guitarist Greg Ginn claims the touring band “Flag,” consisting of Keith Morris, Dez Cadena, Chuck Dukowski and Bill Stevenson, infringes on “Black Flag’s” rights, which are owned by him under his label, SST Records.
Keith Morris of OFF! former singer of Black Flag, Circle Jerks and now Flag
Keith Morris and all the ex-band members through the years, have been wanting to do Black Flag again, but they’ve been wanting to do it on their own terms,” Vallely tells in Rolling Stone magazine. The pioneering hardcore punk rock band had been largely dormant since splitting in 1986. Then, after years of releasing music on his own and with various side projects, Greg Ginn announced in January that he was re-teaming with Reyes and Moore for a tour and a new album under the original band name, “Black Flag,” a move that Vallely says was nearly a decade in the making. “Greg and I had been talking about doing something together since 2003,” says Vallely, who is Black Flag’s newly appointed manager and remains the lead vocalist in the hardcore band, “Revolution Mother.”
Vallely has been performing hardcore since early years as Mike V and the Rats
Paul A. Hebert/Getty Images
“Good for You” turned into something good thus far, a new punk band with Mike Vallely on vocals and Greg Ginn on guitar. The group released its debut, “Life Is Too Short to Not Hold a Grudge,” in February on Ginn’s legendary label “SST Records”. “Good for You” seemed to signal that Ginn was ready to return to producing hardcore punk rock, and at the same time the guitarist was working with Vallely, he was talking to Ron Reyes about reviving Black Flag, but he did not want to just play oldies, but goodies as the sets.
Keith Morris, remains calm after hearing of Ginn’s negative comments to the media and the multiple pending law suits popping up almost daily. Kieth Morris says he’s doing “Flag” just for fun, not for an increase in revenue, or fame, says Morris, who is the original vocalist and the front man for “Black Flag” from 1976-1979. Morris later went on to sing with the band “Circle Jerks” and currently remains the lead singer in the punk rock band “Off!” who’s also touring North America in 2013.
By Rich Monday
Legendary punk band BLACK FLAG has reformed and will play this year’s Hevy Fest, set to take place August 2-4 in Port Lympne Wild Animal Park in Kent. The group’s only 2013 appearance in the U.K. will mark the first time in 30 years that the band’s played in the country.
BLACK FLAG’s lineup for the show will include singer Ron Reyes, who was a member of the band during 1979-1980 (after Keith Morris but before Dez Cadena) and was featured on the “Jealous Again” EP. He will be joined by guitarist and founder Greg Ginn as well as bassist Chuck Dukowski and drummer Roberto “Robo” Valverde.
Vocalist Henry Rollins joined BLACK FLAG in 1981 and left five years later. He has since released several music albums and established himself as a spoken-word artist and book author.
Now we have “The Chase,” which could be described as the “second new song from BLACK FLAG in a generation.” That’s right — fans have had to wait 28 years for the follow-up to 1985’s In My Head and now we’ve got two new Black Flag tracks in as many weeks.
“They have undoubtedly had the greatest impact on DIY record distribution, underground touring and hardcore music of any band, before or since,” Hevy Fest’s announcement reads. “There is a whole generation of musicians and fans that would cite BLACK FLAG as being the most important band to have influenced them, without ever even having the chance to see them perform live, until now.”
-Punk Monday
May 14 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal Club
May 15 Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
May 16 Zurich, Switzerland – Dynamo
May 17 Rome, Italy – The Orion
May 18 Hünxe, Germany – RUHRPOTT RODEO
May 20 Vienna, Austria – Arena Wien
May 23 Austin, TX – Infest
May 24 Dallas, TX – Trees
May 25 San Antonio, TX – The Korova
June 06 Lawrence, KS – Granada Theater
June 07 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
June 08 Chicago, IL – Reggie’s Rock Club
June 09 Chicago, IL – Reggie’s Rock Club
June 10 Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
June 11 Erie, PA – The Crooked I
June 12 Albany, NY – Bogies NY
June 13 Boston, MA – Middle East Downstairs
June 14 Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw @ The Polish National Home
June 15 Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw @ The Polish National Home
June 17 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
June 18 Roanoke, VA – Growlers
June 19 Lexington, KY – Buster’s
June 20 Newport, KY – Southgate House
June 21 St. Louis, MO – Fubar
June 22 Fayetteville, AR – Rogue
July 10 El Paso, TX – Tricky Falls
July 11 Tempe, AZ – Club Red/Red Owl
July 12 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
July 13 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
July 14 Los Angeles, CA – Vex Arts
July 15 San Diego, CA – SomaSanDiego
July 16 Santa Cruz,CA – The Catalyst
July 17 Redway, CA – Mateel Community Center
July 18 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
July 19 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
July 20 Vancouver, British Columbia – Chinese Cultural Centre
July 23 Oakland, CA – Oakland Metro Operahouse
July 24 Ventura, CA – The Majestic Ventura Theater
Black Flag With New Release For First Time In 28 Years
Revived hardcore punk band Black Flag will release “What The…”, their first studio album in 28 years, on November 5th. The group put the 22-track album up on iTunes today for pre-orders and the sales were high.
Earlier this year, the group released two new songs that are included in the track list for “What the…” In May, they posted the song “Down in the Dirt” as a free download in exchange for an email address list signup. Shortly after that, Black Flag posted another new song, “The Chase,” as a video release.
Guitarist Greg Ginn, who co-founded Black Flag in 1976, announced the return of the group in January. Its lineup includes vocalist Ron Reyes, who sang on the band’s 1980 EP Jealous Again, as well as two new members, bassist Dave Klein and drummer Gregory Moore (who played drums at a Black Flag reunion show in 2003). In April, the group announced they would be releasing a new album. Ginn doesn’t want it to be about a reunion, or just some sort of greatest-hits act. It’s not Beatlemania, you know; for him, it’s about the music. So there has to be new music for him to even consider playing the old music.
Around the same time Ginn announced the band’s return, a group of ex–Black Flag members calling themselves simply “Flag” began touring, playing songs from the band’s catalog. In August, the guitarist filed a lawsuit against that band’s members and former Black Flag front man Henry Rollins over alleged trademark infringement and related issues. A U.S. District Court judge ruled in early October that he would not provide Ginn with a temporary injunction against his former band mates due to a lack of evidence.
Black Flag will begin their tour in Puerto Rico and Australia shortly after the legendary hard core band releases their album “What The…” made available world wide.
1 My Heart’s Pumping
2 Down in the Dirt
3 Blood and Ashes
4 Now Is the Time
5 Wallow in Despair
6 Slow Your Ass Down
7 It’s so Absurd
8 Shut Up
9 This Is Hell
10 Go Away
11 The Bitter End
12 The Chase
13 I’m Sick
14 It’s Not My Time to Go-Go
15 Lies
16 Get Out of My Way
17 Outside
18 No Teeth
19 To Hell and Back
20 Give Me All Your Dough
21 You Gotta Be Joking
22 Off My Shoulders
-Punk Monday
