Saturday, June 28, 2014

Reverend Horton Heat "Rev" LP and live

Reverend Horton Heat
"Rev"

Victory Records
Janaury 21, 2014

I bought the vinyl version of "Rev" at the Reverend Horton Heat & Creepshow gig at the Musikfest Cafe in Bethlehem PA on June 27, 2014. So yeah, even though I have each of the ten studio albums that preceded this release by the band, even though I have seen the Reverend Horton Heat live numerous times, "Rev" escaped my radar. 


Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA


Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA

So the first time I heard the latest legendary tracks from the Reverend Horton Heat like "Victory Lap", "Smell of Gasoline", "Zombie Dumb", "Hard Scrabbled Woman", "Never Gonna Stop It", "Schitzoid" and "Let Me Teach You How To Eat" was live. Normally, when a band plays a ton of new stuff live, I am flat out disappointed. Not so on this night. These songs all kill, which should lead you to the obvious conclusion that so does this album. "Rev" is a mandatory LP, combining the band's trademark influences of country, rock n roll, surf, punk, psychobilly, rockabilly, attitude and fun. Immediately, this is an instant favorite album of mine.


Photos by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA

One of the most enjoyable things about seeing the Reverend Horton Heat live is that the guys in the band are true characters, entertainers and musicians that seem to be having the time of their lives playing for the audience (and themselves). 

Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA

From the Reverend's suave smiles, knowing glances, welcoming personality and effortlessly amazing guitar playing to Jimbo's high energy stand up bass thumping to Scott Churilla's precise, technical, on point drumming...  Damn, when Scott plays a drum solo, no one rolls their eyes or goes for a drink at the bar, they stick around to witness. I have never noticed a drummer wiping down his cymbals, polishing them between songs. I take this as a reflection on Scott's drumming. So precise, so technical that not even a smudge on the cymbals will be tolerated. I say cheers and thumbs up to that! One day I hope to be that good on the kit. 

Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA

Thank you Reverend Horton Heat for yet another great album and another fun show. If I had any troubles, they were surely wiped clean off the slate during Reverend Horton Heat's set, absolved by Jim, Jimbo and Scott.




Touring with Reverend Horton Heat was The Creepshow. New to me, but not to those knee deep in the genre, having released four albums.

Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA

I was pleasantly surprised by The Creepshow! From Toronto Canada (since 2005 - geez where have I been) are a treat live. Kenda is a mighty force on vocals and guitar. And she can't sit still, traveling around the audience, on the main floor and up to the balcony all while singing and never missing a beat. 

Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA


This was my first show at the Musikfest Cafe and now that I have been there I regret not heading out to see the Psychedelic Furs and English Beat shows that have recently happened there. I won't pass up on these kinds of gigs again. Can't beat a 20 minute drive to a quality venue. 

Cheers, 
Frank FOE

 Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA
 Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA
Photo by Frank FOE 6/27/14 Bethlehem PA



Sunday, June 15, 2014

Lalo Schifrin Cool Hand Luke


Dropping the needle on my recent LP find of the "Cool Hand Luke" soundtrack, I realized that the music was composed and conducted by Lalo Schifrin.


"Cool Hand Luke" is one of my favorite movies, and until now, I hadn't realized Lalo Schifrin was one of my favorite composers. 


Lalo is also credited with the following (among many many more):

The Dirty Harry movies
Bullitt
Amityville Horror
Enter the Dragon
"Theme from Mission: Impossible" 

Cheers Lalo Schifrin!

Frank FOE

Saturday, June 7, 2014

SICK OF IT ALL


Luckily I saved some stuff. 

Found my Sick Of It All demo in an old box and it still had the letter from Pete in it. Pete and SOIA were submitting the tape for review to my zine FOE.

So many great SOIA memories...

One was when I was DJing between bands at Airport Music Hall and SOIA's record label at the time, I believe it was In Effect, gave me some merch to offer up to the kids at the show. Well, once I announced that I would have some giveaways, the audience stormed the DJ booth, pushing the entire booth back a few feet (I think I had a Youth of Today record on the turntable at the time) and I ended up just throwing all the merch out to the crowd, all at once just to get the lunatics away from me.

My favorite of the dozen or so times I saw SOIA was a New Brunswick, basement show. If my memory serves me correctly, I interviewed Lifetime for FOE zine that day. Of course the shows at Wallys in Bethlehem were legendary!

Follow this link to read the interview I did with SOIA in FOE #14 : 



Cheers and Thanks for the Memories.

Frank FOE


Monday, June 2, 2014

EHG-Ringworm-Enabler Philly June 1 2014


I hope you enjoy these photos I took June 1, 2014 at Philadelphia's Underground Arts. The show was one I will treasure. From the brutal metal/hardcore of RINGWORM, to the ear-wrecking, over the top punk meets hardcore meets metal exorcism that is ENABLER, to the preeminent stoner sludge metal of EYEHATEGOD this was a tour I wasn't going to miss. I was also treated to experiencing two Philly bands I had not seen before, Sadgiquacea and Sunburster. 



SADGIQACEA


SUNBURSTER

ENABLER recently released their LP "LA FIN ABSOLUE DU MONDE". Bought a copy on vinyl at the show. I'd been looking forward to seeing Enabler as I have been loving this band for the last couple of years. They did not disappoint.

My write up of Enabler's "Shift of Redemption" at this link: http://frankfoe.blogspot.com/2013/03/enabler-shift-of-redemption-download-7.html

Enabler's "All Hail the Void" made #21 on my best of 2012, see full list of 100 at this link: http://frankfoe.blogspot.com/2012/12/frank-foes-top-100-music-releases-of.html




ENABLER

ENABLER


ENABLER

ENABLER

RINGWORM's new LP "Hammer of the Witch" is one of my current favs. Write up at this link: http://frankfoe.blogspot.com/2014/03/ringworm-hammer-of-witch.html

RINGWORM

RINGWORM

RINGWORM

I had the pleasure of seeing EHG in Allentown PA in 2011. Write up and photos at this link: http://frankfoe.blogspot.com/2011/12/eyehategod-live-jimmys-place-allentown.html Glad I got to see the newer songs mixed in with the classics in Philly in 2014. If you haven't experienced EHG live, you need to go. I love how this band enjoys themselves as much as the audience. For instance, I love that guitarist Jimmy Bower applauded after nearly ever song along with the audience. I suppose he was having as great a time as the rest of us.



EYEHATEGOD

EYEHATEGOD

EYEHATEGOD

EYEHATEGOD

EYEHATEGOD

EYEHATEGOD




Cheers,
Frank FOE


Sunday, June 1, 2014

BOY "Darkest Visions"

BOY
"Darkest Visions"
Rebel Sound / Voltage Records
Released: April 4, 2014


First became aware of BOY on the "Cashing In On Christmas Volume 5" LP with their track "Party Time".  My review of Cashing In Vol. 5 included the statement, "As a result of this record, I now have to find more music by BOY (never heard of them before this record) and The Bad Engrish." That day finally arrived with "Darkest Visions".


Obvious attitude, style and sound nods go out to Turbonegro. Highest praise if you can earn it. There is no other band that I can honestly recall that deserves that compliment. BOY perfectly executes their music. The hooks, riffs, song subject matter, energy, vocals, leads, backups, presentation are all perfect. 


Check out the video below for "Never Break Us Down". The lyrics, melody, hooks all work perfectly. Not sure how it is possible to not like this song. If you like melody, punk (from the classics like the Damned to Turbonegro to whatever is popular today), or any styled alternative I can't see how you wouldn't love this uplifting manifesto. 


"Drop the Bomb" is certainly as grandiose as any Turbonegro song. Give it a listen below.


Tracks like "Stop Talking To Me", "It Was the Alcohol", "I Need Your Hate" and "Back For More' leave no questions as to where BOY are headed.


BOY is from Czech Republic which makes this even more amazing to me. And just so you know they aren't denying their influences, the album was produced by Tommy Akerholdt of Turbonegro (more recent lineup) and mixed by Tommy and his colleague Johan Larsson in Kick - Ass Studio.

Martino – zpÄ›v
Kelso – kytara
Olda – kytara
Rob – Basa
Vinca - Bicí


BOY "Darkest Visions" is guaranteed to be among my favorite records of 2014. Fantastic. Uplifting, majestic, punk with full on attitude.





Cheers,
Frank FOE