Metal Alliance Tour

TIME

• I have time.

• I have choices of what to do with my time.

• Friday, November 30th 2018 I chose to see my son's Winter Concert and then head out to see the last date of the Metal Alliance Tour at One Centre Square, Easton PA. Amazing what you can be a part of in one day. Grateful for these life affirming opportunities (having or showing a positive outlook that encourages optimism about life).

• I arrived in Easton in time to see the two headliners, missing an opportunity to witness two of my favorite bands, Black Tusk and The Parasitix.

SPIKES AND FLYING V GUITARS

• Heading in to the show, I had no idea who decided putting punk legends The Casualties on tour with metal gods Goatwhore. What could possibly be the connection?

• Then after seeing the bands play, I got it. The Casualties and Goatwhore both play Flying V guitars and have spikes (The Casualties with their spikey hair, Goatwhore with those amazing spiked forearm gauntlets)!

• This was the first time seeing The Casualties without Jorge on vocals. A little over a year ago, the Casualties posted this:

After 27 years of performing with the band, Jorge has chosen that the touring life is no longer for him. With that said, The Casualties will carry on. As anyone who follows us knows, the name The Casualties is stronger then any one member. The songs written in basements throughout New York City shall continue to ring loud. We will continue our commitment to the Casualties Army! We will tour and put forward new anthems for many more years to come. When we said "it's a f*cking way of life" back in the beginning, we meant it.

• David Rodriguez fills in the void left by Jorge and if there was any doubt of his commitment to performing, those doubts were squashed when he dove from the balcony at One Centre Square into the pit below. Check Alessa Decay's video here:

• Fantastic. 

• Goatwhore is just sick. The crowd was definitely a mix of punk and metal, with some punks rotating out and metal heads rotating in to the pit when the bands switched. I love the look of both bands. I appreciate it when bands give a show. I've seen plenty of bands in shorts and t-shirts. I like the "show" when bands bring it beyond just stepping on stage. Spike up the hair, grow the hair, break out the spikes, give it your all as if tonight was your last night on earth. Stand out. Both Goatwhore and the Casualties brought it on this last night of the Metal Alliance Tour.

• Life Affirming.

• Check this piece from Revolver to get a glimpse of the coolness that surrounds Goatwhore:

• Thank you Goatwhore and The Casualties! 

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Check out more of Alessa's work here:  Alessa Nicole Photography

The Ratchets "First Light"

THE RATCHETS

"First Light"

Pirates Press Records

Released: November 9, 2018

• The Ratchets are from New Jersey.

• "First Light" is not their first LP, but the first I own and I feel super ridiculous. Why? Because I love this album and feel like I should have known about them earlier. 

• Bouncing Souls legend Pete Steinkopf recorded and mixed this at Little Eden, Asbury Park NJ. I always thought highly of Pete when I first met him hanging out with the Weston lads back in the Mammyhouse days a couple of decades ago. You can check Pete's goings on here: http://petesteinkopf.com/

• Check the video for the album's first cut, The Ratchets - "Gotta Be Cool" (Official Music Video):

• There is a "feel" to this album. A punk rock, earthy energy that has an edge yet is comfortable. Buffalo Tom meets the Clash in a dive bar playing their hearts out to the loaded locals.

• Automatic high regard in my book for name dropping George Jones in the song "Jammyland". See, George Jones rules, or ruled. I love George Jones. I have 35 George Jones albums on vinyl. I buy any record of his I find. I think that the Ratchets tap in to the same comfort that I get from a George Jones record, while being completely different. I have seen George Jones live many times and was completely blown away every time. I miss George Jones. 

• The Ratchets cover The Tom Robinson Band song "2-4-6-8 Motorway", which is one of my all time favorite songs. 

• The packaging with this LP is fantastic. I LOVE the colors on the vinyl. They call it "piss yellow with hot pink and halloween orange twist". I call it magic. The thick record inner sleeve, with lyrics and photo gets extra points. I also scored a poster and digital download. I am very happy.

• The Ratchets made me learn a new word:

do·tard

noun

1. an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile.

• Check the video for "Dotard At The Dial":

• I love the locked groove at the end of the record. I actually listened to it for a good ten minutes.

• Pressing Information
• 400pcs. - 12" Piss Yellow w/ Hot Pink & Halloween Orange Twist Vinyl (Retail Version) 
• 100pcs. - 12" Black Vinyl (Sold as set w/ PPR008, PPR209, PPR215, PPR216) 
• 1000pcs. - Digipak CD

Cheers,
FOE

The Ratchets FB
Pirates Press Records

Noi!se "Mass Apathy" 12"

Noi!se

"Mass Apathy" 12"

Pirates Press Records

Released: November 23, 2018

• Noi!se is a punk rock band from Tacoma Washington.

• I have been listening to punk rock for about 38 years. I have heard so much punk rock, that new material in 2018 sometimes goes in one ear and out the other. Noi!se is a current band that stands above the crowd, motivates me to write about, because I want to make sure you know about them. I love their sound. The guitars, the anthemic drive and power along with distinct vocal tonality and delivery.

• Skinhead Rob (TRANSPLANTS/RANCID) lends some vocal assistance to "Mass Apathy".

• This 12" vinyl single includes the one song ("Mass Apathy"), with a silkscreen print of the band's logo and "Mass Apathy" on the non-playable b-side. The outer edge of the record itself has a ring of bullets milled out... bringing to mind a punk/metal bullet belt ala Motorhead. The poly sleeve has a silkscreen of "We bury kids and we say 'It's a Shame'. Concern lasts less than murderers minutes of fame. It can all change in the blink of an eye. How Many More Children Have to Die."

• In response to the recent barrage of public shootings, especially those involving school children, NOi!SE and Pirates Press Records will donate all proceeds from this release to several charities.

• You can vote on which charities receive these funds at this link: http://piratespressrecords.com/massapathy/

• The five winning charities will be announced on December 7th, 2018.

• Give "Mass Apathy" a listen below on Spotify or YouTube. 

• Get yourself a copy of the physical record. This is a mandatory record to add to your vinyl collection. It hits on so many levels (physical uniqueness, charity, kids and the song is spot on)!

• If you are a digital person, head on over to bandcamp:

Cheers,

FOE

Noi!se FB
Pirate Press Store

T.S.O.L "1 Thing"

T.S.O.L.

"1 Thing" 12"

Hardline

Release Date: March 2019

• I did not know who Amerie was until Jack Grisham (vocals) told us T.S.O.L was covering "1 Thing"

• Jack says: “I like go-go music and soul and anything that really moves. I first heard Amerie’s “1 Thing” in 2005, when it was released. F*cking infectious man, the way that groove keeps rolling, and she’s such a great vocalist. The lyrics were your basic relationship trip but then it hit me, this isn’t just a song about some dude, these lyrics read like a song to a system or a government that’d been up to no good. When she sang, “memories keep ringing bells” I was thinking of the state of our union today, the turmoil in our society, and where we’d been before—I was musing on our involvement in the Middle East, Latin America, Vietnam. I was thinking about the dirty deeds that this nation had been up to and then she sang, “why don’t you just admit it” and I realized that no one in power, not in this country, was ever gonna admit that we were wrong.” 

• This is the video for Amerie's version of "1 Thing" (I now love Amerie):

• This is T.S.O.L.'s version of "1 Thing" thanks to Spotify:

• or YouTube:

• I dare you to hit play on both Amerie's video above and T.S.O.L.'s spotify version at as close to the same time as you can.

• Hardline Entertainment is taking pre-orders for the vinyl, which will be available in transparent red, white or blue and will have a black and white silk screened American flag on the reverse side. Limited to 150 units of each color. Records ship late March 2019.

• Order up!

Cheers,

FOE

T.S.O.L. FB

Hardline Entertainment

Goatwhore "Vengeful Ascension" live at One Centre Square

GOATWHORE

"Vengeful Ascension"

Metal Blade

Released: June 23, 2017

• I love Goatwhore. "Vengeful Ascension" is their 7th full length release.

• I'm not sure I can pick a favorite Goatwhore album, but right now, this record still has me excited almost a year and a half after the initial release. 

• When "Vengeful Ascension" was released it did rather well on the charts! https://www.metalblade.com/us/news/goatwhore-topples-billboard-charts/ It debuted at #59 on the Billboard Top 200. I love this stuff!

• Sammy Duet (Acid Bath/Crowbar guitarist) formed Goatwhore in 1997. I love Acid Bath. That New Orleans sludge phenomenon fascinates me and there is a Celtic Frost influence, which is a beautiful thing.

• There is a freaking spellbook edition of "Vengeful Ascension"

• Goatwhore is playing a gig with Casualties, Black Tusk, Parasitix and Great American Ghost at One Centre Square in Easton PA, Friday November 30, 2018. A show not to be missed.

• Check the video for "Chaos Arcane":

• And check the video for the title track:

• And while you are at it, check the video for "Mankind Will Have No Mercy"

• See  you in Easton!

Cheers,

FOE

Metal Blade Records

One Centre Square Gig Friday November 30 2018

Goatwhore FB

Oceanwires "Beware the Heartless" single

Oceanwires

"Beware the Heartless" single

Released: November 9, 2018

Niffer Calderwood Photography!!! 

• Seattle band Oceanwires debut album "There Never Was A Was" will be released on February 15, 2019.
• While I don't usually get around to telling you about a band's release until much closer to the release date, I have been provided a digital advance of "There Never Was A Was" and I can not contain myself. I just love it.
• Check out their video of the single "Beware the Heartless" that was recently released in advance of the full-length:

• Steve Fisk (Nirvana, Screaming Trees etc...) produced the LP.
• Steve Fisk also released one of my favorite CDs, "Over and Thru The Night".

Cheers,

FOE

Oceanwires FB
Oceanwires Page

The Bar Stool Preachers "Grazie Governo"

The Bar Stool Preachers

"Grazie Governo"

Pirates Press

Released: August 3, 2018

• "Grazie Governo" means "Thank you government" (Italian)
• The  Bar Stool Preachers are from the UK and meld anthemic punk ala Dropkick Murphys with an uptempo punk-ska drive. The mix is both classic and modern punk and ska influences with a precision that is rarely matched with this kind of success.
• This is a smooth, well-crafted and pro sounding record.
• Check the video for the title track:

• Aimee from the Interrupters provides guest vocals on "Choose My Friends". I am sure this song brings the house down every time it is played live. Check the video here:

• While you are at it, check the video for "Warchief":

• This is the band:

• Pressing information looks like this:
• 1,500 pcs. - 12" Black Vinyl (Retail Version) 
• 250 pcs. - 12" Milky Clear with Black Smoke & Black, Bone and Blood Red Splatter Vinyl w/ 3 Flexis (PPR Mailorder Version)
• 250 pcs. - 12" Bone Vinyl w/ 3 Flexis (PHD Version) 
• 250 pcs. - 12" Oxblood Vinyl w/ 3 Flexis (Band Version) 
• 100 pcs. - 12" Gold Vinyl w/ 3 Flexis (Randale Version) 
• 100 pcs. - 12" Silver Vinyl w/ 3 Flexis (Coretex Version) 
• 550 pcs. - 12" "Lava" Colored Vinyl w/ 3 Flexis

Take care,

FOE

The Bar Stool Preachers FB
Pirates Press FB
Pirates Press BSP store page