In tribute to the passing of GWAR's Dave Brockie on March 23, 2014, I present to you photo's Frank FOE took at GWAR's show at Wally's in Bethlehem PA 25 years ago, in March of 1989 (or thereabouts).
Cheers,
Frank FOE
A blog combining all FOE's musical endeavors
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Anti Ritual EP
ANTI RITUAL
"Anti Ritual"
Released: April 28, 2014
Anti Ritual are from Denmark. These six songs of hardcore doom are in the same vein of punishment as one of my current favorite bands, NAILS. A bit more dirty and leaning more to the doom side than NAILS, this hardcore / metal hybrid from Copenhagen rarely releases the throttle and when it does, the feedback continues.
The track "A New Discourse on Enlightenment" is the longest song, taking up nearly 5 minutes of the 17 minutes of this release (total of six tracks for those of you looking to do the math). Providing more than a change of direction from the relentless assault, "A New Discourse on Enlightenment" ups the doom quotient with beautifully catastrophic results. It is a dark, epic musical journey in under 5 minutes.
500 pressed ( 350 black vinyl ; 150 white vinyl )
Looking forward to plenty more from Anti Ritual.
Cheers,
Frank FOE
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
GEARHEAD
The following is a re-post of Michelle Gearhead's latest newsletter. I am a fan of Gearhead. I am a fan of Michelle. I am a fan of Mike (forever indebted to Half Life, Pittsburgh and Mike). Gearhead is releasing the new Lords of Altamont LP - just preordered my vinyl copy.
I love this email / newsletter as much as I too loved my first K-tel records. While FOE records was no where near as successful as Gearhead records and FOE zine was no where near as successful as Gearhead magazine, the history we all bring with us is fascinating to me.
Cheers,
Frank FOE
From Michelle, April 3, 2014
I listen to my words but
They fall far below
I let my music take me where
My heart wants to go
I swam upon the devil's lake
But never, never, never, never
I'll never make the same mistake
No, never, never, never
"The Wind" by Cat Stevens
As I step into my 50th year of existence, I can’t help but look back over the course my life has taken. They say hindsight is 20/20 and never has this been truer than at this point in time.
I remember the exact moment when I first fell in love with rock n’ roll as clearly as if it were yesterday. I was six, shortly before my seventh birthday. There was a company called KTEL and they put out compilations of all the bands that were popular at the time, selling the records with amazing TV commercials that mixed the music with live video of the bands, predating MTV by at least ten years. It was one of those commercials that changed my life. I don’t remember what the record was but I remember the band, Credence Clearwater Revival.
I was playing in the family room, and that commercial came on TV. I wasn’t really paying attention, until I heard the clip for CCR. The song was Travelin’ Band, and as John Fogerty sang, “Playing in a travel band, playing in a traveling band, Yeahhhh”, he screamed this deep guttural scream and I felt a bolt of electricity go through my body like lightening. I ran to the TV to see what it was, with one thought in my mind, “What Was That?!! I want more of that!!”
Shortly afterwards, my parents got me a Close and Play Record Player for my seventh birthday and my love affair with music and my life long musical exploration began in earnest. That was the early 70s, and I still have the first batch of records I bought with my allowance, a collection of 45s that I paid 69 cents for.
I bring this story up because it is so clear now how my path was unfolding as I look back, but growing up, going through all the passion and heartache and misery that one experiences as one learns life’s lessons, it seemed like I was forever stuck in the twists and turns not ever quite knowing where I was going. But I followed my heart and now, in 2014 I finally see how it all fits together.
Gearhead® Records was always just about following my passion.
I had met Mike LaVella when we both wrote for Maximum Rock and Roll in the early 90s. We had similar tastes in music and often were the only ones digging the more garagey-rock ‘n’ roll stuff, so Tim always assigned those records to one of us to review. I was also DJing for MRR, and when Tim opened The Epicenter Record Store, we both volunteered there, so were able to spend more time talking about the bands we loved.
When Mike started Gearhead® Magazine in 1993, I was working at Reckless Records on Haight St., and he brought in that first issue to put on consignment with me at the store. Over the next few years, that was usually how our paths crossed, until I started working at Mordam Records and talked them into bringing Gearhead® in for distribution.
Shortly after that, we became partners and created Gearhead® Records and in 2000 put out our first record, a compilation CD called Runnin’ On Fumes. Gearhead® took off like a dragster jumping off the starting line, and we were off and rolling. In fact, this month is the fourteenth anniversary of that first record! Happy Birthday Gearhead Records!
When we parted ways in 2006, it was for the best. We had different visions of what Gearhead® could be, and we each needed to find our voice and follow our hearts. We split the company in two to explore our passions, ideas and interests and each did pretty good on our own.
But it turned out, Gearhead® was better together that it was as separate companies, and it is with pleasure I’m announcing that all the pieces of Gearhead® have been reunited under one roof, managed wholly by Gearhead® Productions, Inc., and guided by a board of directors. There’s a new website, Gearhead® Rocks, and from that site, you can access websites for each of the parts of the company, Gearhead® Records, Gearhead® Apparel and Gearhead® Magazine. You can also access them each individually.
There’s a bunch of new products too, the Motorskull T Shirt and Shop Rag, as well as the Wrench and Roses shirt all designed by Cuz’n Bill Lorenz from Sacramento Tattoo.
There’s also Gearhead® Pomade, crafted exclusively for Gearhead® by Cock Grease, using the XX Cock Grease formula, perfect for both rockers and greasers who need those flowing tresses to stay put whether you’re wrenching or rocking.
A new issue of Gearhead® Magazine is in the works as well, so whether you paid for an ad for issue #19 or want to take an ad out, please contact me right away. And finally, saving the best for last, the first new record in four years, The Lords of Altamont Lords Take Altamont hits the streets April 15, 2014, just in time for the band to celebrate their fifteenth year.
Having already put out two records from this band, I knew how easy they were to work with and how professional, so when Jake called me and asked me for help with their new record, it was a no-brainer. It’s been a pretty steep learning curve though, since everything has changed since I last put out a record! But it’s been fun and well worth it, and on April 15, 2014, this baby officially hits records stores around the world. You can get your copy right now though, and until April 15, you’ll get free shipping if you live in the US. I’ll start shipping the CD on April 11, to be in your mailbox by street date, but the vinyl is gonna take longer, so it will probably ship around the end of April.
But check this out: the vinyl is a limited edition pressing of 500 copies on yellow vinyl, with a special gatefold sleeve, extensive full-color inner sleeve with liner notes, and a digital download card. The CD has 2 extra bonus tracks, but if you buy the vinyl, you’ll get them when you download the record to your favorite device! How cool is that?
The band is on tour now in Europe, and will be playing a few US shows when they return, and now that Gearhead® is barreling full-speed ahead, I’ll be writing these newsletters a lot more often, so I’ll keep ya more up to date.
For daily updates, be sure to check out the Gearhead® Facebook page as well as my blog and Instagram. I’m slowly getting the hang of all this social media stuff, but if anyone out there has a hankering to help out, I could sure use an intern to help me out!
I’m really excited about the new direction of the business, and the renewed energy and passion I’m feeling again. I am able to look back at my path knowing I’ll never make the same mistakes. New ones for sure, but never the old ones!
If you have something you’d like to share, or a suggestion, or a comment, please feel free to send an email. I’m not the fastest about answering, but I always read them, and at some point, will respond.
Finally, thank you to all of you who have stood by Gearhead® and me with encouragement and support. You know who you are and have my undying gratitude.
Keepin’ the rubber on the road,
Xoxo Michelle
_________________________________
Gearhead Productions, Inc
Gearhead® is a federally registered trademark
Records, Apparel, Magazine
Cheers,
Frank FOE
Monday, March 31, 2014
Iron Reagan "Spoiled Identity" EP Review
Iron Reagan
"Spoiled Identity" EP
Released: March 31, 2014
Free download, soon to be released flexi 7"
Photo by Wendi Shwendi
In case you haven't heard, Iron Reagan released a free download today of 13 songs called the "Spoiled Identity" EP. You have no excuse. Download and enjoy the vintage thrash these Virginians play. If you don't know them, think D.R.I. meets Municipal Waste.
Of the 13 tracks, ten clock in at 26 seconds or less. Total vintage D.R.I. territory here. Brilliant.
Iron Reagan © Luz de Luna Duran
Iron Reagan makes me nuts, and I like being nuts.
Iron Reagan will have a full length release on Relapse Records later in 2014. Consider yourself teased. Consider obtaining everything else they have released as well (it's all great).
Download "Spoiled Idenity" Ep here. Just click buy now and enter 0 and the ep is yours for free.
Cheers,
Frank FOE
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Satanic Malfunctions "Them" review
"Them"
Released: October 15, 2013
I sent cash in the mail to own the 1986 7" "Who Wants the World" by Satanic Malfunctions.
It was one of those records that proved cathartic to my mental state back in 1986. Twenty-four songs on a 7" back then was almost proof you knew what you were doing.
Satanic Malfunctions were in the same field as Protes Bengt and L'arm.
"Them" is Satanic Malfunctions' (from the UK) first full length in 22 years. These 20 songs bring in a bit more of a Concrete Sox meets Disorder or Chaos UK thrash sound and would not fit on a 7". Still averaging under two minutes, the CD lasts only 31 minutes.
Glad Satanic Malfunctions are back, keeping that 1980s chaotic hardcore punk sound alive.
I am late to the draw on "Them", unlike when I was right on time for "Who Wants the World". I also missed 2012's "Disgrace to Music" 2xcd that was their entire discography up until that point. Join me as we catch up from 1986 to 2014.
Cheers,
Frank FOE
Beginners "who knows" song / video
"Who Knows" from the s/t EP
"Who Knows" by Beginners captures my modern pop attention much like Santigold does.
The video captures my attention with with Jeffrey, the 50 something Venice Beach roller skater (see Roller Dreams movie).
"Who Knows" is fun, light and enjoyable. Pop.
The video and Jeffrey are amazing.
Cheers,
Frank FOE
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