Tuesday, September 15, 2015

NOTS "Reactor" Video and tour

You should remember that NOTS LP "We Are Nots" was one of my favorite records from 2014.

Read the review here: http://frankfoe.blogspot.com/2014/12/nots-we-are-nots-lp.html

NOTS just released a video for the song "Reactor" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=142&v=FGp7xFdbPbs

NOTS are heading out on tour. Locally, they will be playing Philadelphia on Thursday October 22nd, 2015.

Oct-19 - Nashville, TN - Stone Fox

Oct-20 - Cincinnati, OH - Comet

Oct-21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Roboto

Oct-22 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie

Oct-23 - Boston, MA - Club Bohemia

Oct-24 - Brooklyn, NY – Tuff Weekend @ The Wick

Oct-25 - Brooklyn, NY – Tuff Weekend @ Acheron

Oct-27 - Montreal, QC - Brasserie Beaubien

Oct-28 - Toronto, ON - Smiling Buddha

Oct-29 - Oberlin, OH - Dionysus Discotheque (Oberlin College)

Oct-30 - Cleveland, OH - Now That's Class

Oct-31 - Detroit, MI - UFO Factory

Nov-02 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle

Nov-03 - Indianapolis, IN - Hi Fi

Nov-04 – Columbus, MO – Rose Music Hall

Nov-05 - Springfield, MO - Outland

Nov-06 - Norman, OK – Mainsite Art Gallery

Nov-07 – Ft. Worth, TX – Lola's

NOTS latest single is "Virgin Mary" on Goner, listen here: https://soundcloud.com/gonerrecords/nots-virgin-mary-7-out-soon-on-goner-records/s-oX1p8

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Part of Lehigh Valley HC legend is the Mr. Yuk recording of "Murder Brick" which introduced many people to the the song "Low in the Lehigh Valley", specifically the Texas Jim Robertson version.

The version below is by Paul Weston and His Orchestra with The Norman Luboff Choir.

The Texas Jim Robertson version is the one that got airplay on Frank FOE's radio shows over the years as it was the hillbilly version we most associated with LVHC.

I spent many years tracking down copies of the 7"/45s of both of these versions of "Low In The Lehigh Valley". I was also lucky enough to find the 78 version of Texas Jim Robertson's version.

Don't forget to head over to http://www.foe.firstpress.net/foedisco.html or http://frankfoe.blogspot.com/p/lehigh-valley-archives.html for the FOE and LVA discography. Hundreds of songs by Lehigh Valley musicians available for free download or stream.

Good luck finding the Mr. Yuk 7" too!

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Addendum from Shawn Smith:

The deep baritone vocals on the Paul Weston version of "Low in the Lehigh Valley" are done by Thurl Ravenscroft, the voice of Tony The Tiger and vocalist of the "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" song from the animated "How The Grinch Stole Christmas".

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Zebras The City of Sun

ZEBRAS

"The City Of Sun"

Secret Records

Digital Released: July 14, 2015

Vinyl Released: September 25, 2015

Vincent Presley (guitars/vocals), Shane Hochstetler (drums) and Lacey Smith (analog synths) make up the Wisconsin based Zebras.

"The City Of Sun" is an intense experience. Fueled by a variety of influences, including punk, hardcore, metal and other genres may make it difficult to classify, but the overall intensity and creativity makes it easy to enjoy. The great riffing, rhythm and vocal shredding on "The City of Sun" makes for a hell of a rip roaring time. Give it a listen on Zebras bandcamp page and don't forget to pre-order the vinyl!

The Ten songs blow by in 31 minutes of fury. Surprisingly great record from some fresh blood (since pairing with Shane Hochstetler, Zebras has shelved all prior material - originated in 2007- had a complete gear overhaul, and considers themselves an entirely new outfit).

Zebras and Child Bite are my two favorite finds so far in August 2015!

Cheers,

Frank FOE

http://www.facebook.com/zebraswisconsin

http://www.zebras.bandcamp.com

Beach Slang Pre Order The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

Beach Slang

The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us

Polyvinyl Records

Release Date: October 30, 2015

(pre orders ship October 21, 2015

Early Bird Edition 180-Gram Clear vinyl (limited to 800)
180-Gram Purple vinyl
CD
MP3
Tape (Purple)
Bundles (with T-Shirt, ltd. edition Silk-Screened poster, or 10 Button set)

Pre-order at this link:

https://www.polyvinylrecords.com/#store/beach_slang_the_things_we_do_to_find_people_who_feel_like_us

Preview the song "Bad Art and Weirdo Ideas" here:
https://soundcloud.com/beachslang/bad-art-weirdo-ideas-2?utm_source=pvmain&utm_campaign=8db55c0450-whitereaperinstantdownload&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1236e41aa2-8db55c0450-79594101

The Biography so far:

Beach Slang are a band who have garnered a lot of attention considering that they've only released two 7"s: 2014's Cheap Thrills On A Dead End Street and its companion Who Would Ever Want Something So Broken?

Refreshingly this Philadelphia based act have built their hype the old fashioned way, without any gimmicks or marketing teams, which makes sense when you consider that frontman and writer James Alex cut his teeth in the Pennsylvania pop-punk act Weston while drummer JP Flexner and bassist Ed McNulty also play in buzzed about projects such as ExFriends and Crybaby.

However there's something indefinable about Beach Slang's music that evokes the spirit of punk and juxtaposes it into something that's as brutally honest as it is infectiously catchy.

That feeling of youth and vulnerability also lie at the core of Beach Slang's music, which is part punk, part pop and all catharsis. It references the ghosts of The Replacements but keeps one foot firmly rooted in the present. It's fun and it's serious. It's sad but it isn't. It's Beach Slang. Enjoy it and look out for the band's debut full-length later this year because they're still just getting started.

Having very close ties to the band Weston, I am a bit biased. I consider myself an actual friend to many of the members throughout the years. I have roadied for them, driven their van, sold their merch, put out records, wrote about them in FOE zine etc... Smilin Jim (weston) continues where he left off with weston in Beach Slang and that earns a pre-order in my book.

Bix and Smilin Jim

Bix was on the road with Braid as a roadie.

Beach Slang was playing a show with Braid, reuniting the two Lehigh Valley legends in Nashville.

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Louise Distras - Bullets & The Hand You Hold [Official Videos]

I just watched the "Bullets" and "The Hand You Hold" videos by Louise Distras.

I don't have the "Dreams From The Factory Floor" LP on Pirates Press, but I would imagine I probably will in the near future as these are two really great songs.

Loving these right now.

Pirates Press Records

Cheers,

Frank FOE

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Peter and the Test Tube Babies "Supermodels"

Peter and the Test Tube Babies

"Supermodels"

Daily Records

Released: 2015 (originally in 1995)

I have been a fan of Peter and the Test Tube Babies since the beginning of my punk days.

The LPs "Pissed and Proud" (1982), "Mating Sounds of South American Frogs" (1983) and "The Loud Blaring Punk Rock Album" (1984) are mandatory records in my book (as yet unpublished). I played them endlessly and they filled up plenty of my air time on college radio throughout the 1980s.

Although their discography lists other releases, these three albums (and the singles) is exactly where I stuck until Dr. Strange Records sent me a promotional copy of 1995's "Supermodels", on the less than preferred format of CD. "Supermodels" was also released on We Bite Records. The music on "Supermodels" always stuck with me, but I never found a vinyl copy of "Supermodels" until I walked into Double Decker in July of 2015 to find this reissue on Daily Records.

This reissue of "Supermodels" is limited to 500 copies (100 of which are on blue vinyl). While I wouldn't say that "Supermodels" is an absolute classic like the three LPs already mentioned, I would say I still wouldn't do without it. "Supermodels" is energy fueled, fun, melodic UK punk with singalong hooks that contain the right amout of snarl.

In my book, "Supermodels" is mandatory for the song "Giving Up Drinking". As a sober man (I had about 4 years under my belt when this record was originally released) this song is just freaking fantastic.

So you are giving up drinking,

You're giving up fun

You're staying at home now

and getting things done

So you've given up drinking,

well that's up to you

You know too much thinking

it ain't good for you

You've just quit smoking,

and you say no to drugs

Now you've finished with joking,

'cos you've fallen in love

Well I'm not giving up drinking,

I'm not giving up fun

I'm going out now,

I'm gonna take lots of drugs

Why would I think this is a fantastic song? Well, rather than get offended as a sober prude, it serves as a reminder not to take life so seriously. I also had way more fun sober than drunk... or maybe I just remember way more fun times now (wink, wink).

So depending on where you are on the Peter and the Test Tube Babies discogrpahy, pick up the first three LPs first, then the singles collection and then definitely pick up "Supermodels" (but don't wait too long, as I suspect 500 copies won't last very long). I don't know anything about the other releases in the Peter and the Test Tube Babies discography, but damn, I love these five records and wouldn't be without them! I can't adequately convey how ecstatic I was when I saw this LP in the rack at Double Decker. I am very happy to be able to drop the needle on this record over and over!

Cheers,
Frank FOE

Peter and the Test Tube Babies Official Website
Daily Records

Sunday, July 5, 2015

External Menace / Droogettes split 7" review

External Menace / The Droogettes

Split 7"

Rebel Sound Records

Released: June 12, 2015

External Menace started in Scotland in 1979. These two tracks are classic punk. Think 999, UK Subs and Rezillos. Rocking with professional ease and energy to please. Thankful they have decided to grace us with some more vintage punk rock.

The Droogettes are a Philadelphia punk band that most definitely set out with a specific mission statement in 2013. Simplistic and minimalist oi (think early Blitz and Infa Riot), performed by all females, dressed in the Clockwork-droog uniform, complete with sugary pop sweetness and tongue in cheek ultra-violence. I say tongue in cheek as their song "Girls at the Milk Bar" has obvious Clockwork Orange roots, which should have readied these young ladies as it did in the movie: "The Korova milkbar sold milk-plus, milk plus vellocet or synthemesc or drencrom, which is what we were drinking. This would sharpen you up and make you ready for a bit of the old ultraviolence." But I have yet to witness the Droogettes waltzing--left two three, right two three--and carve left cheeky and right cheeky, so that like two curtains of blood seemed to pour out at the same time, one on either side of his fat filthy oily snout in the winter starlight. Down this blood poured in like red curtains. Yeah I hope they haven't done that.

I always enjoy the Droogettes live and love the roots approach on these two tracks.

Welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, welly, well. To what do I owe the extreme pleasure of this surprising visit? You can witness the Droogettes twice in the next week. July 10 at the Legendary Dobbs in Philadelphia and Saturday along with FOD at Siren Records in Doylestown.