Savage Beat "Wired"

SAVAGE BEAT

"Wired"

Rebellion Records/LSM Vinyl

Released: February 01, 2019

Savage Beat are from Amsterdam, Holland. "Wired" is their debut LP after and EP and compilation tracks. While this is 2019, the Savage Beat take me back. 

Driving punk that sounds like it was recorded during the golden years. Pulling worldwide influences from Saints, Wire, Hellacopters, Blitz, Ruts, Kids, The Jam, The Viletones and the Wretched Ones that results in a pure 70s punk riot of a good time. 

When a band makes me want to see out the physical, to get the music on vinyl, you know I love it. I need to get this on vinyl.

This is tough punk music, filled with attitude that demands to be played loudly! Every song hits the target!

"Wired" is already a candidate for Best of 2019!

Marko's vocals are gruff and on point. Steven and Paul play off of each other on guitar like any classic punk rock duo. Rogier (bass) and Lionn (drums) drive the songs like a machine and while a definitely a punk band, the rhythm section is as powerful as Motorhead or MC5. 

Take a listen to "Tar and Feathers" to hear why I think they compare to the mighty Wretched Ones!

Thank you Rebellion for putting out such a quality release! Thank you Savage Beat for making my life that much better!

Cheers,

FOE

Rebellion Shop

Rebellion Records FB

Savage Beat FB

Alone In A Crowd Philadelphia 2019

ALONE IN A CROWD 

February 16, 2019

First Unitarian Church

Philadelphia

This was a benefit for Howie. We were in the same band many years ago called MUGFACE.

He is of course more well known for his time in Alone In A Crowd!

Some of our friends wanted me to live stream this on FB. I told you there would be videos up as many people were filming this event. So here you go.

These are the first I have found! Will add more as I find them.

If you still want to help out Howie, head on over to the GO FUND ME Page for Howie.

From that page:

Howard (“Howie”) Wallen needs your help. He would not ask for himself, so we are doing it for him.

Howie played guitar with us in Alone In A Crowd 30 years ago. He is now a macrobiotic chef, with a wife and a teenage daughter. In the spring of 2017, Howie was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma: a slow growing tumor originating off of the auditory nerve between his inner ear and his brain. The tumor affected his balance and ability to walk and caused right side functional deficits. In May 2017, he underwent a 6.5 hour surgery that was supposed to have him back up and running in a month…

The surgery, which left him deaf in his right ear, did not remove all of the tumor… and it is growing back. Howie now suffers from chronic debilitating headaches; loss of balance; cognitive, memory and speech deficits; a tremor in his right arm and hand; vision problems; facial numbness; extreme fatigue, anxiety and, understandably, depression. With these disabilities he cannot work, and that has hit his family very hard. And, as the tumor grows, Howie’s symptoms will only get worse. If left unchecked, Howie’s condition is fatal. 

So, Howie must have another surgery, this time a 10 hour surgery, followed by radiation treatment. We can only hope that after this he will improve… but there is no guarantee.

Let’s let Howie and his family know that they are not alone during this ordeal. After 30 years, Alone In A Crowd is getting back together again to play a one-time benefit show for him on February 16, 2019 at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia.  We hope you will show your support and come. If you can’t, you can still donate to this fundraiser we have set up for him.

For Howie,

ALONE IN A CROWD

Cheers,
FOE

Dad Brains / Ramoms "MerryXmas"

DAD BRAINS / RAMOMS

"Merry Xmas" 7"/download

Pirates Press Records

Released: December 14, 2018

I hope that you have discovered the Dad Brains. The Dad Brains is "Hardcore Punk made by Dads, about Dads, for everyone!" I just love them. Check out their EP, released in June of 2018, on their bandcamp page:

This split EP with the Ramoms has the Dad Brains covering Suicidal Tendencies "Institutionalized" with the lyrics changed to support their "It's Christmas Time" and continued "hardcore/punk dad" themes. Check out the crucial video:

"The Grinch" is equally awesome Dad Brains. Love their take on punk and hardcore. I put it right up there with Me First and The Gimme Gimmes and Manic Hispanic. 

The Ramoms are up and coming Philly legends. All "mom" (I'm not sure they are all moms) band doing Ramones covers. Vocals are handled by Jodi, who used to live in the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania and is one of my favorite people on the planet. She is married to singer/guitarist Jonathan of Duffy's Cut (also a fan-freakin-tastic band). Drums are handled by Ginger of The Droogettes (if you have read this blog at all, you know I LOVE Philly's Droogettes).

"Lego Blocks" is set to "Chinese Rocks" and "Merry Christmas" is of course the legendary Ramones "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)". 

This is a mandatory record on so many levels. 

I know it is past Christmas 2018. But there is still snow on the ground in Pennsylvania so you can rekindle that Holiday spirit. Or start your Christmas 2019 shopping early and get this record for everyone who would enjoy a quality, fun, holiday slab of vinyl that should appeal to moms, dads, kids, Christmas record fans, vinyl junkies, Ramones and Suicidal Tendencies fans and anyone with a sense of humor!

Cheers,

FOE

Pirates Press Records Store Page

Ramoms FB

Dad Brains Bandcamp

Landfill Crew "Landfill Crew"

LANDFILL CREW

"Landfill Crew"

Hellcat Records/Pirates Press Records

Released: January 29, 2019

Tim Armstrong's latest project. The Landfill Crew is a fictional animated punk rock band set in the 1980s. It reminds me of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, you know, except that the Landfill Crew is punk.  

Tim Armstrong (Rancid, Operation Ivy, The Transplants...), is Bagga and Tippa Lee is Hux as the lead vocalists of Landfill Crew. 

Tippa Lee is one of Tim's favorite Jamaican vocalists that has been recording reggae music in Kingston since the early 80s. 

Check this video of Tippa Lee's "Mi Nah Call the Police":

J Bonner (The Aggrolites) animated the videos and helped develop the characters. 

This is available as a four song, double 7". And it is as amazing as you'd assume it would be! The undeniably original sound and style of Tim's vocals, uplifting fun times punk rock, that mixes all the styles Rancid and Tim have been known to do... just a fantastic project! The theme song, "Landfill Crew" is an instant classic.

Check the videos below. Love the circle pit in the backyard! 

The full lineup of Landfill Crew is Tippa Lee (Vocals), Tim Timebomb (Vocals / Guitar), Kevin Bivona (Bass / Background Vocals), Dash Hutton (Drums / Background Vocals) and John Morrical (Piano / Melodica).

Outstanding. 

Cheers,

FOE

Pirates Press Records Landfill Crew Order Page

Alone in a Crowd - A Benefit For Howie at the Church

The following is a cut and paste from the "Alone in a Crowd - A Benefit For Howie at the Church" FB page:

Howard (“Howie”) Wallen needs your help.  He would not ask for himself, so we are doing it for him.

Howie played guitar with us in Alone In A Crowd 30 years ago.  He is now a macrobiotic chef, with a wife and a teenage daughter.  In the spring of 2017, Howie was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma: a slow growing tumor originating off of the auditory nerve between his inner ear and his brain.  The tumor affected his balance and ability to walk and caused right side functional deficits.  In May 2017, he underwent a 6.5 hour surgery that was supposed to have him back up and running in a month…

The surgery, which left him deaf in his right ear, did not remove all of the tumor… and it is growing back.  Howie now suffers from chronic debilitating headaches; loss of balance; cognitive, memory and speech deficits; a tremor in his right arm and hand;  vision problems; facial numbness; extreme fatigue, anxiety and, understandably, depression.    With these disabilities he cannot work, and that has hit his family very hard.  And, as the tumor grows, Howie’s symptoms will only get worse.  If left unchecked, Howie’s condition is fatal.  So, Howie must have another surgery, a 10 hour surgery, followed by radiation treatment. We can only hope that after this he will improve… but there is no guarantee.

Let’s let Howie and his family know that they are not alone during this ordeal.  After 30 years, Alone In A Crowd is getting back together again to play a one-time benefit show for him. 

The show lineup:

ALONE IN A CROWD

TERROR

PAGAN BABIES

MAXIMUM PENALTY

BREAK AWAY 

LET DOWN

SEARCH

NOWHERE ROADS

Listen to Alone In A Crowd (band Howie played in) from this YouTube video:

Check this video from Nowhere Roads (opening the show):

And listen / download the Mugface recordings here as LVA 031:  Mugface demo and practice session

Either Howie replaced me on guitar in the Mugface lineup or I replaced Howie. Neither of us can remember that far back (pre - Alone in a Crowd) !

Link to the FB page event page: Alone In A Crowd - A Benefit for Howie at the Church

If you want to help out whether you got a ticket or not visit: Go Fund Me - Benefit for Howie Wallen

Cheers,
FOE

UV Rays "Flowerhead"

UV RAYS

"Flowerhead"

Released: January 25, 2019

My email tends to get flooded with publicity type emails. The ones with downloads usually catch my eye and I give them my time. 

I received an email about UV Rays without a download. So typically, I would probably not even bother as I am already behind on things I want to review and help publicize without having to do additional "work" (hardly, this is one of my creative outlets that gives me great pleasure).

But two things caught my curiosity in those five seconds I give a band a chance in a "non-download" email:

#1 The band's name. UV Rays. Simply because I saw "UV" and my mind went to this other band I like, called UV Race. I thought, wonder if UV Rays know about UV Race?

#2 The charm in the photo of the band sucked me in:

The facial expressions of the band members on each end. The white boots, the tattoo just above the boot, the cropped hair, hoop earrings and just everything about Erica Warner's style. And then there is that spectacular mustache.   

So I clicked on the link for the video. (So yes, in this world of endless sources and options for your music, you just never know what will tickle someone's fancy and grab their attention to make them pause and investigate rather than delete and go on to the next thing). I suggest you click on the video below:

Oh my god. I just love this song. Love this video. Watched it a dozen times instead of going to sleep. Then watched it again.

I am taken back to when I used to see Velocity Girl and Superchunk live every other month. When I listened to the Swirlies "What To Do About Them" endlessly, even though I didn't really listen to that type of music. 

Drummer / vocalist Erica Warner, bassist / vocalist Tim Marchetta-Wood, and I believe guitarist / vocalist Adrien DeFontaine sound so perfect when they sing together.  The music just flows perfectly. It gels (a word which here means a project or idea that takes a definite form and works well)! Adrien, guitarist Danny Sullivan, Tim and Erica have enchanted (a word which here means filled with great delight) me with "Flowerhead". I look forward to hearing much more!

I'm not sure how to state this, but Erica rules. Not only does she have style, rocks the kit, sings in a distinctively appealing manner, but she also drops the f-bomb in the song. Killer.     

The charm, energy and hooks this band delivers makes me want to see them live! 

One of my favorite ways to spend my time is to share music I love with people who might also love the music as I do. Thank you UV Rays for giving me the opportunity to love and share your music. 

The band's debut EP, "Try and Begin", is due out March 1st. 

For now, download the three songs on their bandcamp page and tell them you love them as much as I do.

Cheers,
FOE

UV Rays FB
UV Rays Bandcamp

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