Sunday, December 16, 2018

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:


Cheers,
Frank FOE

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


Wednesday, December 5, 2018

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