Baptists "Bushcraft" Southern Lord, Review

Baptists

“Bushcraft”

Southern Lord

Release Date: 2/19/2013

I didn't hear anyone say “eh” (not really expected) or detect any hockey references (disappointed) on this Vancouver band’s debut full length (impressed). What you will hear is a dark assault of hardcore, b-deat and metal that moves at a punishing speed (except for "Soiled Roots" - which switches things up with genuine and powerful results). “Bushcraft” is unyielding, get out of the way or get swallowed up by the disorder. Kurt Ballou (Coverge) captured this unruly beast of a band and made the chaos enticing. “Bushcraft” is dense with technically brutal percussion, abrasive vocals and guitars that are as crisp and in-your-face as Black Breath or Disfear or any of the Swedish death metal that I love so much, with a hint of the old Am Rep callous guitar work (with appropriate use of feedback). 

Here is a ferocious non-LP track called "Tourettes", which was originally recorded by Nirvana.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Record Store Day April 20, 2013 Countdown Clock

 

F.O.D. 30 Year Anniversary Show 1/12/13

The 30 Year Anniversary Flag of Democracy show was one I was not going to miss. Plenty of Lehigh Valley hardcore luminaries also made the trek to O'Reillys (it is a bar, but the bar was shut down and the bands just played in a back room). The vibe at the show was perfect. Plenty of old school hardcore punks hanging out in the parking lot, drinking brews, talking about the first time they saw F.O.D., the first time they saw a punk or hardcore show, what impact it had on their lives...

It was great to see old friends and talk to some Philly people I don't always get to see; Chuck Meehan (ex-YDI bassist, Philly show promoter extraordinaire), Joel from Plow United and Ex-Friends and the original F.O.D. drummer, Mike Giannone who is now a Thereminist in the Divine Hand Ensemble.

Mainline C#%k$ucker$

Up first were the Mainline C#%k$ucker$. I had never heard of this Philly band but was blown away with their direct, abusive, lo-fi hardcore punk energy. I hope to see more of this band. The drummer rocks!

Check out The Mainline C#ck$ucker$ demo here.

The Heels

The Heels fit in on this legendary bill. Classic 80s hardcore punk with a Youth Brigade feel.

The Heels began in 2006, but they are ex-Pagan Babies (among others) and old school in their own right. Vocalist Mike McManus reminisced between songs about seeing the Minutemen in Philly as his first show and how F.O.D. and hardcore influenced his life.

This was my first time seeing the Heels. Their version of Minor Threat's "Betray" was so good, I closed my eyes and felt like I was seeing Minor Threat in 1980-whatever. Spot on. It was that good. Also "that good" was the Heels version of Pagan Babies "In A Lifetime". I had forgotten how much I loved that song. 

The Heels also get mega points for Mike's PJ Stock Phantoms jersey. Hell of a scrapper that Stock character!

YDI

YDI was my first hardcore show. It went down at G's Beef & Brew in Allentown way back when... Yeah, I was excited to see YDI again after all these years. 

YDI are legendary. Their "A Place in the Sun" is one of those ten hardcore 7"s every hardcore fan wants/needs. 

Seeing YDI play "Out For Blood", "I Killed My Family", "Not Sh#t", "Mad At The World" and "Why Die?" was simply heaven for me. 46 felt like 16 for 30 minutes.

One of the best things about early hardcore for me, was the chaotic feel that things could just fall apart or blow up at any second, yet somehow, it all stays together, pushing on. A symbolic statement for that early hardcore sound and representative of our lives. 

YDI still has this chaos that I love so much!

I never actually got to see YDI with Chuck on bass, but now I have seen YDI with Chuck in the audience! Thank you to YDI for beginning my love of going to hardcore shows. Cheers!

Vintage YDI photo with Chuck

IRON CROSS

I have attempted to see Iron Cross three or four times in my life. Fittingly, tonight was the night I finally got to see the DC skinhead/hardcore legends. No riot, nor booking problems this time around! 

Getting to see Iron Cross perform "You're A Rebel", "Fight 'Em All" and "Crucified" after listening to their music for the last 30 years was something I will remember for the next 30 years. 

Pretty sure the current Iron Cross bassist wasn't born when some of these songs were written! 

But I think he gets it!

I believe Sab Grey (vocals) is the only original member remaining. Thanks for putting this lineup together. 

F.O.D.

One of the first shows I was involved in helping set up was F.O.D, Youthful Agression (just realized that Rich YA was at this show too), Constraint and the Russian Meatsquats on December 23, 1984 @ West Catty Playground Building. The flyer for the show is on the back cover of my zine F.O.E. #2. 

F.O.D. has held an important part of my life for three decades. I can still remember seeing them at Abe's in Philly tearing things up like I had never seen before.

Bob FOD (looking like Brad Pitt) says "Hello to Steph with a PH"

Cheers!

I consider myself lucky to have seen F.O.D. close to a hundred times. Well, let's see, thirty years, some of those years I saw them ten times, some only once. So yeah. I also consider myself lucky to share a friendship with Bob, Dave and Jim. Those familiar with Up To No Good Radio know that Bob FOD is a frequent on air guest of ours.

F.O.D. are part of a Philadelphia scene that was one of the most original during the days of 80s hardcore. The bands all had a unique sound while other scenes seemed to want to cultivated a similar sound. No one sounds like F.O.D. There is not another band on the planet that can do what these three gentlemen can do.

The melodic undertones of their songs counter the dissonant hardcore sound and manic, hyper and utterly unrealistic tempos create a distinctive and thoroughly enjoyable sound. Thirty years and no sell out. Thirty years and the only thing they gained was some weight. Thirty years and they didn't change their sound and have not lost one bit of their authenticity or drive.

2012/13 has been exciting for F.O.D. fans. The "Chinese Food" cassette was found and released. The "Shatter Your Day" LP was reissued with a treasure trove of extra tracks. 

That F.O.D. can still annihilate live is a testament to their magnitude and importance. They hammered out a set of hits that would sit well on any greatest songs of hardcore compilation.

The always present between song chatter and laughter.

 

Thank you Dave, Jim and Bob.

I love F.O.D. Here's to another thirty years!

RUIN Tribute Planned on Black Hole Records!

Big announcement. 

Black Hole Records is seeking bands for a 2014 release which will be a tribute to RUIN. 

Black Hole is in the early planning stages yet, hope to include some "suprises" with this. 

Thanks to Joey Jap for dropping the idea on us! 

Contact Black Hole through the Black Hole Records Face book page, we would like to coordinate it so everyone is not doing Proof!

Triple Hex "E.P." on Mon Amie Records, 2013, Review

TRIPLE HEX

"E.P."

Mon Amie Records

2013

Triple Hex on "E.P" obscures perception of reality, like a drunken haze interfering with the decision making process, convincing you to remain in your numb spinning truth rather than consider moving along with time. Flashes of early Butthole Surfers, Cramps and X are triggered as Triple Hex plays on.

Gutiarist/vocalist, Dave Hex channels Nick Cave, Peter Murphy and Iggy throughout these six songs . Lyrically, Triple Hex brings the prime sleaze, from "Deranged", "I've been sniffing your panties, ya left at the laundromat"  and from "Love Song", "I don't wanna hear love songs, I just wanna f&#%, oh yeah, you and me, bring a friend and we'll make it three".

"Love Song" contains explicit lyrical content...

Dave Hex, Miss Chip and Jill provide a quality deviation from the standard on "E.P.", trashing things up while keeping control.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

NHL and NHLPA have reached an agreement!!!

Up To No Good Radio December 16, 2012 + current events listing

Up To No Good Radio 

December 16, 2012

Click to listen online or download!

REDS

Rancid “Up To No Good”

Black Flag “Wasted”

Joe Jackson “Got the Time”

The Cramps “Inside Out and Upside Down”

Subhumans “No Thanks”

Free Beer “Pigs in Space”

Social Distortion “Let It Be Me”

Die Toten Hosen “More and More”

Flag of Democracy “Cheap Alcohol”

T.S.O.L. “Electric”

X “Nausea”

The Members “Brian Was…”

The Freeze “Body Wrap (One Hundred Guns)”

Heartbreakers “All By Myself”

Jack Black “Drive Them Wheels”

Reverend Horton Heat “Galaxy 500”

Ruts “You’re Just a…”

FOE

Adrenalin O.D. “Bugs”

R.K.L. “Think Positive”

Cause For Alarm “Stand As One”

Antidote “Ignorance”

Poison Idea “All Right”

Redd Kross “Burn Out”

Reo Speedealer “Cocaine Dave”

Stranglers “London Lady”

Hatebreed “It’s The Limit” (Cro Mags)

Queers “I Didn’t Puke”

Discharge “Never Again”

Stiff Little Fingers “Go For It”

Sheer Terror “Just Can’t Hate Enough”

Queens of the Stone Age “Hanging Tree”

Suicidal Tendencies “Two Sided Politics”

Blink 182 “I Won’t Be Home For Xmas”

Fang “I Wanna Be On TV”

Hank Williams III “Life of Sin”

Deep Purple “Lazy”

Electric Eel Shock “Rock N Roll Kills the Blues”

Kraut “Mishap”

Negative Approach “Live Your Life”

JOHNNY GENERIC

F-Bombers “Forever Bound”

Elvis Costello “Peace, Love and Understanding”

Queens of the Stone Age “Better Living Through Chemistry”

The Briefs “Destroy the USA”

UK Subs “CID”

Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg “When We Were Angels”

Iggy Pop “I Can’t Explain” (The Who)

Buzzcocks “Fast Cars”

Buzzcocks “I Believe”

The Wrench “It’s Your Right”

Distillers “Drain The Blood”

Members “Solitary Confinement”

Joneses “Criminals”

Goldblade “Jukebox Generation”

Hellacopters “Television Addict”

Black Flag “Spray Paint the Walls”

Buzzcocks “Ever Fallen In Love”

Thank you for listening!

Up To No Good Radio Approved EVENTS Listing

Fri 1/4            Ninjessa, Mad.O, Moonstruck, Off Camber, Rosabelle, Cop Problem, Spanky @ SAS Bethlehem PA

Sun 1/6          Reign Supreme, Ghostlimb, Plague Dogs, Heavy Medical, Xanax @ First Unitarian Church Philly PA

Fri 1/11           Tile, Fake Cult, Muscle Revolution, Slenderer, Manbeast @ Mothers Easton PA

Sat 1/12          FOD, YDI, Iron Cross @ O’Reillys Pub 2672 Coral St, Philadelphia, PA

Sat 1/12          Cadaveric Spasm / XSTROPHY / LIMB BY LIMB / The Crossed / amenema lv / Seven Second Suicide @ Jimmys Place, Allentown PA

Fri 1/18           For Serious This Time, Peeple Watchin’, Brick Mower, Giant Peach @ SAS Bethlehem PA

Sat 1/19         CERCE, FORGER, FAKE CULT, OFF CAMBER, MEANBEAST @ SAS Bethlehem PA

Sat 1/19         Sicker than Most, PILLARS OF VILLAINY, SOCIETY'S BLOOD, ConSUMED WITH HATRED, NAVIGATING THE DECLINE @ Jimmy’s Place Allentown PA

Sat 1/19         Converge, Pig Destroyer, Municipal Waste, Repulsion, Tombs @ Union Transfer Philly PA

Sun 1/20        Neurosis @ Union Transfer Philly PA

Sun 1/20        Stone Sour featuring Lehigh Valley legend and Ex-Youthquake drummer, Roy Mayorga @ Sands Bethlehem PA

Sat 1/26         Common Enemy, Rightstart, Tight Fits, Olde Tigers, Meet at Sundown, and Potential Victims @ Johnny Joe's Sports Bar & Grill 5327 East Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg PA

Mon 1/28      Quicksand, Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Union Transfer Philly PA

Sat 2/2           Yuppicide, Bad American, Orphan Donor, Twin 55, Zombie Fight, Dead Serious @ Mothers Easton PA                                 (free gig)

Fri 2/15          Pissed Jeans @ Underground Arts Philly PA

Fri 2/15          Stinking Lizaveta, Thee Nosebleeds, The Company Corvette @ Elena's Soul Philly PA 

Fri 2/15          Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Dying Fetus @ Crocodile Rock Allentown PA

Sat 2/23         Society’s Blood, Straphangers, Downlow @ Penn Skate Allentown PA

Thurs 2/28    Queers, Teenage Bottlerocket @ Barbary Philly PA

Sat 3/6          In Flames, Demon Hunter, All Shall Perish, Battlecross @ Croc Rock Allentown PA

3/16 & 3/17    THE FIRST ANNUAL PHILTHADELPHIA INFEST @ Gunners Run 1001 NORTH 2ND STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA - featuring: BRUTAL TRUTH (NY), DEVOURMENT (TX), PHOBIA (CA), MASTER (IL), CANNABIS CORPSE (VA), ABACINATE (NJ), MALIGNANCY (NY), MEATHOOK (AZ), COATHANGER ABORTION (TN), WAKING THE CADAVER (NJ), ENEMY MIND (PA), EMBALMER (OH), CASKET (PA), ABNORMALITY (MA), EMBLUDGEONMENT (NJ), SEXCREMENT (MA), EAT THE TURNBUCKLE (THE SQUARED CIRCLE), WITHOUT REMORSE (NY), SACRIFICIAL SLAUGHTER (CA), VISCERAL DISGORGE (MD), GOEMAGOT (NY), COFFIN DUST (PA), NJDOTS (NJ), MANGLED (GA), COGNITIVE (NJ), TOMBSTALKER (KY), SLASHERTHROAT (NJ), FISTHAMMER (PA), NECROPTIC ENGORGEMENT (NY) & INFILTRATOR (PA)

Sun 4/21        KILLING JOKE @ Union Transfer Philly PA

Cheers,

Frank FOE