FILMAGE

FILMAGE: The Story of Descendents/All

Teaser

I was lucky enough to be 16 when Descendents released "Milo Goes to College". Lucky enough to have that record greatly influence me at that significant time in my life.

My Descendents/All vinyl

I was lucky enough to see Descendents and All multiple times in my life.

I have treasured drinking coffee from my Bonus Cup.

Having the opportunity to see "Filmage; The Story of Descendents/ALL" at Zoetropolis in Lancaster PA is another unforgettable memory. 

The movie is currently making the rounds in premieres. 

This Lancaster PA premier was exceptionally special, as Matt Riggle and Milo Aukerman were in attendance and graciously handled a Q&A session between the 7:00 and 10:00 PM showings. The Akrons also played a set, with Milo guesting on "Silly Girl" and "Hope". Thanks to Michael Alan and Zoetroplolis for setting this up!

Milo with the Akrons

FILMAGE FILMMAKERS

Matt Riggle - Director, Producer, Writer

Deedle LaCour - Director, Producer, Editor

Justin Wilson - Director of Photography, Editor, Co-Producer

James Rayburn - Editor, Producer

Stefany Strah - Producer

Caryn Capotosto - Co-Producer

Marissa LaCour - Co-Producer

"Filmage" is an engaging documentary that tells an actual story that makes it attractive and entertaining even if you have never heard of Descendents or ALL. It is a biopic, a documentary, a tragedy, a comedy, it is an action film, it has awesome animated parts, a drama, a musical, a love story. This is no VH1 Behind the Music story of debauchery, drug abuse and hedonism. This is a story about people who love music, who love playing music, living their lives. The human element is a main focus, as one would expect when dealing with Descendents / All. The historical element, the influence on the music that came after "Milo Goes to College", the interviews, the peaks and valleys and Bill Stevenson's biographic parts make this movie a must see for anyone, especially anyone who loves either music (punk, hardcore, rock, alternative, indie etc...) or a heartwarming, triumphant story. 

Milo Aukerman and Matt Riggle had an engaging question and answer session with the 70 people (sold out) after the 7:00 PM showing. Milo's wife and children were in attendance as was one of Milo's children's school teachers. Fielding questions about everything from lyrics, to how he feels about when he finds out that children and cats have been named "Milo" because of him, to his PHD and work with genes, Milo was gracious, warm and humble. A gentleman, a rock star, a scientist and an all around good guy.

Matt and Milo.

I enjoyed Milo's response to the conflict between being in the band and pursuing science and his PHD and how when there were peaks and valleys between the two parts of his life. The peaks in Descendents are greater than the peaks in science. The answer was directed after someone wanted to know how it felt on a bad day, when things are down, and then he can just say, "I'm Milo of the Descendents"! Great question, and Milo's response was relate-able to everyone. Pursue ALL!  

Milo took the time to take some photos and talk to some of my friends:

Milo and Gil

My sister Judy and Milo.

Milo and Larry

John and Milo.

Anxiously awaiting the DVD release (with bonus material)!!!

For now I'll be dropping the needle on my Descendents / ALL vinyl.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Haymaker "Let Them Rot" A389

Haymaker

"Let Them Rot"

A389 Recordings

Released: February 7, 2014

7"/digital download

By definition a "haymaker" is a powerful, forceful punch.

By design, throwing a "haymaker" is the goal of pretty much every hardcore, punk and metal band.

The four songs on the "Let Them Rot" seven inch last less than a total of five minutes, the longest is a minute and 25 seconds. Haymaker is all about the first round knockout punch.

Angry, abrasive, harsh and demented sounding. The music makes you feel like you should be striking out at everything immediately.

"Let Them Rot" has a hook reminiscent of Gang Green's "Alcohol". Haymaker rage alongside the hardest of their label partners on Deranged, Deep Six and A389.

"Let Them Rot" comes off as a possessed attack. If you love hardcore, you'll understand this is desirable commentary on a record!

Cheers,

Frank FOE 

Teen Agers "I Hate It" Anchorless Records

Teen Agers

"I Hate It"

Anchorless Records

LP/CD/Download
Released: 11/5/13

Teen Agers are from Orlando Florida.

"I Hate It" is their debut album and it was recorded by Roger Lima (Less Than Jake) and mixed/mastered by Stephen Egerton (Descendents, All, Flag etc...).

Teen Agers play pop punk. I can't say I have been following pop punk too much lately. I live in the Lehigh Valley, so yeah, pop punk runs in my veins, it has just been pretty dormant lately. Weston (the finest in pop punk) helped out my label FOE back in the day by letting me put out some of their records. Some of the best days of my musical life were associated with pop punk.

Teen Agers remind me of another Lehigh Valley pop punk band, Digger. I thought this was Digger on first listen. That is a pretty awesome compliment.

Check out this video of "Here We Go Again"

Teen Agers have just finished recording four new tracks, three of the tracks will appear on a split 7" with Lima's side project, Rehasher, while the final song will be used for a TBA split release. The songs will also be mixed by Stephen Egerton.

Teen Agers "I Hate It" is a strong enough of a release to remind me how enjoyable a hi energy, well structured and executed pop punk song can be. Thank you Teen Agers.

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Abserdo "Back to the Stoop" HPGD

ABSERDO

"Back To The Stoop"

Horror Pain Gore Death

Released: January 21, 2014

Philadelphia based Abserdo existed for three years, disbanding in 2011.

"Back to the Stoop" is a nine track, eleven minute collection of previously unreleased material.

One of the tracks is a cover of the Accused's "Take My Time", complete in all its thrash glory. The fact that these youngsters even knew to cover this song earns them endless points from me. I have been a diehard Accused fan since the band's beginning. Their metal approach to hardcore and thrash blew me away in the early/mid 1980s. I was lucky enough to see the Accused at I believe Club Pizazz in Philadelphia in the late 1980s. My memory is a little foggy on the date / venue but... here are my photos from the show (yes, the Accused are one of my all time favorites). I was giddy with excitement to see the Accused back then. I would probably be giddy today if I had the chance to see them again.

Abserdo blend all of that late 1980s thrash, cross-over, hardcore-metal like they lived it, like they were there "back in the day". For being a Philly band, their influences are definitely West Coast. Oxnard hardcore, Accused, Final Conflict etc.. Both of their previous releases, "Sweet Baby Eagles Coop" 7"/download and "Raising a Pervert" digital album are equally awesome thrashers.

Great sense of humor, great sense of thrash history, awesome tunes. From "Smoke a Bowl, Have Some Sex" to "xDon'txDrinkx" (with the lyric "you're so wasted, so is your life") to the amazing "Xanax", Abserdo never pull off the throttle.

I love this. It really feels like Abserdo recorded this in the late 1980s rather than somewhere around 2011. Classic. I completely enjoy this band's discography from beginning to end.

Have some fun and check out the classic thrash of Abserdo!

Don't miss "You Got Pregnant and Dropped Out Of High School" from "Raising a Pervert" too! 

Cheers,

Frank FOE

DISCHARGE Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing: The CVLT Nation Sessions download

Various Artists

DISCHARGE 

Hear Nothing See 

Nothing Say Nothing: 

The CVLT Nation Sessions

Free Download Released: January 16, 2014

There is no greater influential band on my life. Yes Slayer is my favorite band. Yes  I love Devo, Agnostic Front, Napalm Death, Johnny Cash, Ramones and the list goes on into the tens of thousands and across most genres of music. But Discharge had the greatest impact on both my frame of mind, my guitar and drum playing and how I lived my life. I still get chills and have a mental adjustment (kind of like a chiropractic adjustment for the mind) every time I hear those early Discharge records.  

"Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" has long been a mandatory record to own, feel, enjoy, study  and absorb into your existence, whether you are into metal, punk or hardcore and EVERY subgenre linked to those genres, not just those who live by the D-beat.

I love Discharge so much, I mail ordered directly to Sweden (and around the world) in the early 80s to get all those records by all those bands who also joined together in their love of Discharge as they created their own music. Mob 47, Crude SS, Anti Cimex etc... I actually bought an early Discharge 7" from Randy Now at City Gardens! I appreciated how countless bands took that influence and changed it into something their own. Discharge is one of the most important bands ever. 

This is not the first album to compile Discharge cover songs and won't be the last. Even Metallica covers Discharge. The great thing is, I love listening to Discharge covers almost as much as I love listening to Discharge!

FROM CLVT:

CVLT Nation is proud to present the first covers compilation in a series dubbed The CVLT Nation Sessions with DISCHARGE’s seminal album Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing. The digital release is available today, Thursday, January 16th, 2014, via CVLTNation.com for exclusive streaming and free download. The CVLT Nation Sessions is a musical project with the aim of reinterpreting iconic music that has influenced a wide spectrum of genres, while also widening the audience for the participating bands. 

1. Per Capita: Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing


2. Dark Horse: The Nightmare Continues



3. Unru: The Final Blood Bath

4. Wölfes: Protest & Survive
5. Severe: I Won’t Subscribe
6. Plagues: Drunk With Power
7. Absvrdist: Meanwhile



8. Blood Division: Cries Of Help




9. Napalm Raid: A Hell On Earth

10. Tolar: The Possibility Of Life’s Destruction



11. Cop Problem: Q: And Children? A: And Children

12. Dephosphorus: The Blood Runs Red

13. Wölvefröst: Free Speech For The Dumb

14. Occultist: The End



Every track on this is amazing. I have listened to these tracks ten times in the last two days. If I had more time, I would have listened to it twenty times. All hail Discharge!

Prior to this release, Cop Problem was the only band I knew. I've actually seen Cop Problem live, have their music and am a fan. CLVT's goal of widening the audience of participating bands was a success. I am now interested in each and every band on this compilation and am looking forward to discovering more by each of them! Problem is, I am having trouble finding some of them! If you can find any info on Tolar, Wölfes, Severe and/or Plagues (or any of the other bands) on the internet, please send me a link and I will update this post with that information!

Cheers,
Frank FOE