I am just in a punk rock mood tonight it seems… I guess that means music video time! Here are some music videos recently I checked out hovering around the punk genre… Enjoy!
First up is some live footage from a cover band called Filler a Minor Threat cover band that only played once to my knowledge. The band that night was made up of some pretty heavy hitters in the punk world including Zach Blair (Rise Against, Only Crime), Luke Abbey (Gorilla Biscuits), Mike Herrera (MxPx, Tumbledown), and Rob Marchant (Riverboat Gamblers), and featuring vocals by Frank Carter (Gallows) and Sam Ghanbar (Complete Control).
This video was taken at Red 7 in Austin, TX at SXSW. Reason #78621654 why I wish Austin was the city I lived in…
About a week ago A Wilhelm Scream dropped the very entertaining video for their song “Fun Time” that appears on their most recent self-titled EP. I am really hoping for a full length release in 2010 buy these guys…
2009 was the year of the Bouncing Souls. They took the entire year to celebrate their anniversary as a punk rock band for 20 years by playing tons of live shows and also releasing a song a month available for download on their record label Chunksaah Records.
On January 12th all of those songs will be released on an album titled Ghosts On The Boardwalk for all the fans that never were able to download the tracks or pick up the limited edition 7″ vinyl records that the band pressed quarterly through the year featuring the songs.
I have heard most of the songs already and without going into detail yet I can tell you that they are all amazing. The band may have two decades behind them now as a band but they have not slowed down one bit. The tracks on this CD contain catchy anthem tracks that all Bouncing Souls fans can sing along to proudly and loudly.
My friends and I were just talking about the first time we saw the Bounding Souls play in Cleveland. The foursome played a bill with NOFX and Hi-Standard at the Agora to rowdy crowd. I believe the year was 1996 and even if the show is still fresh in my memory that was 14 years ago. Ever since then I became a huge Souls fan and not one of their releases disappointed me. I am thrilled these guys are still doing what they do. It makes an aging punk rocker like myself appreciate them even more.
Recently the band played a Daytrotter session (that I was unaware of) and the songs they played are available for free download. I love the version of Anchors Away” they bust out. Good stuff. Click HERE to check out their session on Daytrotter.
Here are a couple tracks that will be appearing on Ghosts On The Boardwalk. Support this amazing band and buy their CD when it comes out!
9 days until Jesus Day 2009. Have you been naughty or nice? Do you care?
I can tell you who cares, punk rockers The Briggs. They care so much that they are giving away a free mp3 download of their rendition of “Silent Night”. How freaking generous! The download is available on their MySpace page or you can just click below for a direct link. After listening to it myself I must say I will be adding it to my punk rock Jesus Day mix. Good stuff.
The Los Angeles band actually recorded this version in the middle of recording new material for their next release. Grab it while you can and be sure to blast it on the big day for all your friends and family!
So indie rock is cool right? Well I think so… What about folk music? That seems to be hitting the ears of many as of late. Now imagine an indie folk rock band or a folk indie band that rocks or how about a rock folk indie band. Yes this has been covered before but there is something about Cleveland’s Unsparing Sea that really hits me when I think of indie rock mixed with folk music. Recently the band released their sophomore album entitled In The Diamond Caverns, an album full of a mix of both genres of music that was ever so tasteful to my ears.
Opening track “Sandpaper/Sadpaper” started off the CD as if one was entering the world of dreamland with inviting harps and hypnotizing cello playing temping you for a taste of what was going to come. Originally I thought of this song as an intro but after the slightest pause the song jumped into this orgy of music with plucking and blowing (banjos and horns you perverts).
Maybe it’s the way lead singer J.R. sang along with the cello and saw (yes, saw) in “Wolves At A Wedding” but my attention perked up a tad. The song is beautiful yet gloomy and is the kind of song someone can either profess their love to someone or devise a planned Dexter-like attack to the unsuspecting villain. The song actually premiered on the band’s previous EP In The Crystal Canyon.
“The Diamond Caverns” is a less gloomy track and carry lyrics speaking of a savior left to be determined. I absolutely loved the combination of the drumming and strings midway through the song. “Sleight Of Hand” carried a more lullaby sound that continued the attractive cello with what sounded like an upright bass being gently plucked.
My choice cut on the album without a doubt is “Sing Devil Sing” as it really brought out the twang with banjo playing but kept an indie sound vocally but then out of nowhere came this Spanish trumpet playing that just brought the song together perfectly. Ryan Kelly’s drumming really makes “Fires, Attics, Etc.” a lively track to listen to. The song is perhaps the most upbeat on the album and clearly shows this band has many sides of emotion.
Granted I had only been treated to a sample of tracks off of The Crystal Canyon I can tell you I am hooked and want more. I was lucky enough to catch Unsparing Sea play the Music Saves 5 Year Store-A-Versary a few months back and was floored by their live performance. It was my very first taste of a talented local act truly unique to neighboring bands. If things go my way there might be a copy of the CD in my stocking on Jesus Day morning.
Better yet the band is scheduled to play a show on Dec. 23rd at the Beachland Ballroom‘s Yulesville Pre-Holiday Bash! The show starts at 9pm and there is going to be a slew of bands there including Unsparing Sea. Looks to be a fun time. Having seen Unsparing Sea live before I can tell you they are an act not to be missed.
If you are interested in purchasing this awesome Cleveland band’s material you should head over to their website.
2009 was the year of the 
