Category Archives: Punk

Warped Tour Line Up 2009 Looking Amazing…

Vans Warped Tour 2009
Vans Warped Tour 2009

While checking out Punknews.org this evening I could not help but get excited for the Van’s 2009 Warped Tour.  The successful punk rock festival created by Kevin Lyman looks to be getting back to it’s punk roots this year.  This will mark the 15th year the festival has been running.

The line up announced so far:

Anti-Flag, Bad Religion, Big D and the Kids Table, Bouncing Souls, Chiodos, Flogging Molly, Lights, NOFX, P.O.S., Shooter Jennings, TAT, The Devil Wears Prada, Thrice, Underoath and Westbound Train.  Also listed to perform are Less Than Jake, Silverstein, Senses Fail, Streetlight Manifesto, The A.K.A.s, The Ataris, Alexisonfire, Black Tide, Dance Gavin Dance, Escape the Fate and Gallows.

Can you say awesome?  WIth Bad Religion, Flogging Molly, NOFX, and Shooter Jennings listed I am going to be there for sure.  In fact I may try to hit the Cleveland and Columbus shows… maybe even Pittsburgh!

I have has the pleasure of reviewing and photographing the Warped Tour in 2007 and 2008.  I hope again to be able to cover the festival as each year is all so entertaining.

My reviews of both years on Blogcritics.Org:

Warped Tour 2007 Review

Warped Tour 2008 Review

Something that got my attention too was the announcement by Kevin Lyman on NotMTV.tv that there would be some changes at the next installment of the Warped Tour including 40 minute sets, less stages with only one major stage, and ticket prices staying hopefully around the same price.  By the looks of the line up too it looks as if he is making a point to actually have a more punk oriented festival in 2009..

Here is an interview with the creator of the longest running festival ever thanks to NotMTV.tv:

For more info on the Warped Tour check out:

Warped Tour Official Website

Warped Tour on Twitter

Warped Tour Schedule

Punk + Rock + X-Mas = Jingle Cats???

Many of you know I do not call the birthday of Jesus by it’s common name.  I skip out on tradition mainly from over exposure of retail during the holiday season.  I see how people really are before the big day.  I have turned away last minute shoppers from buying just one more thing that is not necessary to give.  I have seen nice turn to pure evil in .00056 seconds.  It’s tough being in retail.  I am glad I am out of it and I do not miss it one bit.

I am sure many of you have heard this before but if not, I call this day of giving some refer to as Christmas or X-Mas simply J-Day.  It stands for Jesus Day, you know, the whole reason the day exists for all you religious type out there.

My wife and I are not religious though we do respect people’s beliefs.  We  actually see J-Day a little differently than most mainly because J-Day is the day my wife and I hooked up.    In fact this J-Day will mark 4 years.

Impressive.

We met at a punk rock x-mas party.  I will never forget the night.  We both had rough days and randomly ran in to one another at party my friends threw.  She was actually friends with my best friend’s girlfriend at the time and I remember I kept asking him before the party if she was coming.  They told me she was coming and I figured it was a good day to talk to her.  Good conversation, endless cans of gross Natural Light, and the rest is history…

So what does this blog have to do with punk and rock and x-mas?  Well I have a certain little compilation I listen to every once in a while during the holidays I thought I would share with some of you.  It is a compilation for all you punk rockers out there who like tradition and also like a little out of the ordinary.  The CD really reminds me of the night of the party I met my wife at not because that music in particular was playing but more so the reminder of the combination of punk and holidays.

Punk Rock X-Mas
Punk Rock X-Mas

Track Listing:
1. Punk Rock Christmas, (It’s Gonna Be A) – The Ravers
2. Silent Night – The Dickies
3. Hooray For Santa Claus (Theme From “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians”) – Sloppy Seconds (CD only)
4. F*ck Christmas – Fear
5. Merry Jingle, A – The Greedies
6. There Ain’t No Sanity Claus – The Damned
7. Homo Christmas – Pansy Division
8. It’s Christmas – Bouquet Of Veal (CD only)
9. Merry Xmas Blues – Celibate Rifles (CD only)
10. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight) – The Ramones (UK single version) 11. Deck The Halls – Metal Mike/Alison & Julia
12. Feliz Navi-Nada – El Vez
13. Run, Run Rudolph – The Humpers (CD only)
14. Daddy Drank Our Xmas Money – TVTV$ (CD only)
15. Here Comes Santa’s Pussy – The Frogs (CD only)
16. Christmas Christmas – Mojo Nixon
17. Mr. Grinch – D.I.
18 White Christmas – Stiff Little Fingers

Choice tracks on the CD would have to be of course The Ramones, Mojo Nixon, and D.I.  I originally bought this on cassette when I was 17 and played the hell out of it.  It was not until a few years back at The Exchange (no way they would ever ever fire me on the day after x-mas) for $5.00.  Worth every penny of it!

So check it out if you dare, or not.

There again if that is too much for you there is always Jingle Cats:

Jingle Cats - "Meowy Christmas"
Jingle Cats -

In case you are wondering, yes I own this CD too.  Well actually I took it away from my old co-workers at a certain little music store one year because they played it daily. 

Just in case your sick sick mind wants to know what Jingle Cats sounds like I found a clip:

Tim Barry – Manchester – CD Review

What do you do when you wake up one day and find yourself a little older, a little wiser, and still broke, even after you spend most of your life fronting a punk rock band?  Chances are, if you are like Tim Barry, you keep doing what you do when you can just so you can get by and love every minute of it.  The Avail front man recently has released his third solo project titled Manchester
again on Suburban Home Records and I must say it is outstanding.

Tim Barry - Photo: Travis Conner
Tim Barry - Photo: Travis Conner

Tim Barry rubs off more as a folk singer on Manchester, even though he is mostly known for being part of one of the more important punk rock acts from the 1990s.  Still touring with Avail but not as a fulltime gig, Tim Barry also performs on his own with family members and close friends.  I still have yet to witness a live show and after listening to Manchester I really hope he comes to my neighborhood again.

Currently residing in Richmond, Virginia, the carefree musician has his day job, loves his beer, and continues his passion with music.  With help from friends and family Tim Barry has recorded a personal album that displays his thoughts as well as encourages you to think for yourself.

Not knowing Tim Barry had a previous solo album this was the first time I heard him minus Avail and I had no idea what to expect.  Opening track “Texas Cops” immediately perked my ears with a more personal track about the law, not missing home, and admitting that having a “bad time is better than no time any day”.   This track really reminded me of Hank III with the tough lyrics and fun country twang.

“On And On” is not as fast paced as the first track, but more a slowed down folk hymn.  I really could feel the emotion in this track.  The backing music was just amazing as well complimenting Tim Barry’s gruff voice.  “South Hill” was one of the few songs that I have heard where I actually got angry while listening.  The track tells the tale of a young soldier thinking he is fighting the good fight, only to return home  not knowing right from wrong.  I seriously was angry with the outcome of this story turned song and it was not because Tim Barry sung his beliefs, he left that up to me.

The cover of Avail’s “This November” was just awesome and sounded just as good slowed down a tad with the same message, take a breath and deal.  “Sagagity Gone” was fun jam about not caring what one more drink will do to you.

The album has its ups and downs midway through but Tim Barry really keeps up with his personal lyricism on all.  In “Tile Work” Time Barry declares “consider where I been” possibly letting everyone know why he is the way he is.  Slow jam “222” was very sad, yet passionate about not feeling alone, and was one of my preferred tracks on the disc.

For a guy who has been in the punk rock scene for years, it is great to see him continue even if it is a tad slowed down.  Where I am a fan of Avail, I can say I am even a bigger fan of Tim Barry’s solo material. It strikes me stronger with his approach at life and personal battles.

With so many artists recording material on their own, some may say that this is a trend.  For Tim Barry that is not the case at all as you can almost hear in each song that he is doing it for the sake of recording music, something you can tell he truly loves.  His mix of punk and folk throughout really is appealing and begs to be played over and over again.  The CD is genuine, honest, and a must have for any aging punker out there who is finally coming to terms with themselves that maybe it’s time to slow things down a little.

Want a taste of the CD?

South Hill

“222”

If you really want to hear more proof why I love the CD so much, click on Manchester, buy it, and check it out for yourself:

Head over to his website for some more music and info: http://www.timbarryrva.com/

Times Of Yore: DINK

So I am slacking on updating here with good quality reading material. My apologies. It was Thanksgiving weekend you know…. I know not a good enough excuse…

Anyways, let’s talk about the gem I came across recently, rather…a few weeks ago.  Well actually let’s clear that up by saying my friend John hooked me up with a CD I loved from the past (read on for an explanation) so I guess I was handed the gem.

Where was I?  Oh yeah…

It all started when I tried to buy a CD from the Ex-(we’d never fire you after xmas)-change in Kent last month.  I was looking for something I have not listened to in a while, something completely random.  As I was shopping in Kent I could not help but to think of a certain alt-industrial act from Kent that had a small taste of success.  The band was Dink.

As soon as I came to the decision that I would leave that music shop with a Dink CD in hand I went searching for it and found nothing.  The CD that comes through the store a lot according to a certain pal who works there just ao happened to be out of stock at the time.  I managed to find the Blame It On Tito EP that Dink released but after getting home I realized the wrong CD was in it…

Fail.

My buddy John who hung out with me later in the week confessed that he had an extra copy of the CD and gave it to me after finding out I was having a hard time finding it.

Score.

Dink
Dink

Dink was not around for a very long time but they sure are not a band many have forgotten about.  Hailing from Kent, OH the band formed in 1992 and stood out from may of the bands at that time combining elements of industrial metal, hip hop style (mainly excessive samples), and alt punk sounds.

The first time I heard them I was an instant fan.  In 1994 the band released their debut self-titled CD under Capitol Records.  To me it was a fine mix of bands like Ministry with the industrial feel and Faith No More with the rock jam.  At times the lead singer even sang like Mike Patton.

Included on that CD was a song called “Green Mind” that was the band’s big commercial hit.  I to this day still listen to the track once in a while.  The song, produced by Skinny Puppy‘s Dave Ogilvie, was really the only success the band tasted.  The video for “Green Mind”, which I need to mention my good friend Kevin can be seen in it for a brief moment, debuted on MTV’s 120 Minutes.  The band was actually discovered by Capitol Records as the track was played contently on a Cleveland radio station program, 107.9 The End’s Inner Sanctum (recently resurrected on Cleveland’s 92.3).

After Dink was released the band recorded some more songs for a follow up CD that would never be released as Capitol Records dropped the band due to a change in the music scene (some of the tracks can be found on the Blame It On Tito EP).  Industrial apparently was not “in” anymore and the record label said bye bye to the talented band.  With no record deal the band called it quits.

Sucks to see such a talented band just stop because they were let go.  I would be very interested in hearing some of the unreleased material that may still be out there.  Rumor has it there are 3 cassettes worth of demos floating around out there that the band sold at their local shows before they made it big.  I wonder if any of the original band members continued with a musical career or if they just all called it quits and ended their short stint of fame?

Hopefully I will find out one day.

Until then, enjoy the “Green Mind” video:

The voice at the beginning of the video is none other than Ohio’s most overheard rightwing car salesman Bob Serpentini.

Here is an interview I found while surfing the net with an unamed member of Dink.  Pretty interesting read.

Sitting Here While Everyone Eats Pie…

I don’t want you to feel sorry for me at all because I am working today.  It comes with the territory I suppose and in the end I will actually gain something after sitting in my cubicle for 8 hours…2 days off in December.  I am ok with that.

The one thing about today that differs from the other days I am here is that it is not that busy.  People are being safe today or just waiting until tomorrow to call in for assistance.  Anyways, slow days mean I get to use the iPod.  That keeps me entertained.

A couple of songs popped up that reminded me of my past throughout my shift.  I guess you could say they are jems from my past.  Has anyone heard of any of these?  If so what do you think?

Just Another Victim” – Helmet & House Of Pain (Judgement Night Soundtrack)
I loved this soundtrack when I was a teenager.  The movie was ok but the soundtrack was just awesome mixing up rock with rap.  Who would have thought this CD could have started such a trend?  House of Pain AND Helmet?  Awesome.

“Not The Same” – Dinosaur Jr.
I was always a huge fan of Dinosaur Jr. except the time I saw them live.  Worst show ever.

“You Make It Easy” – Air
I remember I picked up Moon Safari at World Music in Columbus when I was CD shopping alone.  I was looking for something new and different from all the metal and punk I was involved in.  I sampled this French band called Air and have been a fan of their work ever since.

“Where It’s At” – Beck
Whoever does not like this song in some way or sort has issues.  I only wish Beck would record material like this again. 

“(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” – Minor Threat
In my opinion they are one of the best punk bands out there to this day.  Even if I was not stright edge  when I listened to them in the past I respected them and wished I could have seen them live just once.

“Tonight, Tonight” – Smashing Pumpkins
Still one of my fav Smashing Pumpkins tracks ever.  The video alone blew me away when it was over played on MTV.  I guess I liked the classic style that was portayed.  I also liked Billy’s top hat.

Well that is all I have for now.  I should get back to work…as if there is any…

I hope everyone enjoys their holiday today!