I am sure I am not the first to say how much I enjoy it when Old Man Markley (OMM) decides to cover a song.
There’s just something so great about OMM throwing down their own bluegrass/punk rock style into a song.
Case in point, the OMM is dropping a 7″ next week called Stupid Today and the B side is a cover of NOFX’s “Reeko”, a track on the infamous Punk In Drublic. Can I tell y’all how awesome this cover is?
It’s awesome folks.
I especially appreciated the cover that was hidden inside the cover with a quick spoken word-type rendition of “Perfect Government”. That is correct, I said a cover within a cover. OMM is clearly a bigger fan of NOFX than you think.
The title track on side A, “Stupid Today”, revolves all around the ups and downs of being in love. It’s a punk rock ho down with plenty of opportunity to swing your partner or knock them down. I loved the harmonies throughout as much as the quick-plucking of the banjo and fiddle playing. It’s safe to say this song just adds further proof why they are so damn amazing.
Head on over to the Fat Wreck site and pre-order yourself a copy of Stupid Today.
I soon befriended the now disbanded Ninja Gun and even was able to house them for a couple of nights in the middle of one of their tours. Without going into too much detail, I can tell you that all four members were quality individuals and we’ve kept in touch ever since.
As I was a huge fan of the Valdosta, GA act, it was no surprise to anyone that I was bummed out when Ninja Gun said announced they were calling it quits in 2010. How couldn’t I? I loved everything that band ever had to offer and also was fully away just how bad ass each of the members of the bad were. I was just stoked to have gotten to know them.
Jeff Haineault, Ninja Gun’s former drummer, got in touch with me recently to let me know that his new band, New Natives, were going to be releasing an album. I was beyond stoked to listen to what he and his new band had created.
New Natives can best be described as a chill indie pop rock act with a hint of a small town vibe. Members not only include Haineault on guitar and vocals, but also Taylor Patterson on drums, Jackson Dean on guitar, and Joe Martin on bass.
Their self-titled debut started with the fun track “Gets Around”. a song clearly about fun loving times. The song really perked my attention with their upbeat indie rock style. Had this song come out in the 90s, it probably would have been featured on the Empire Records soundtrack. I am sure that just made no sense at all, but for whatever reason, I thought about that movie while listening to this track.
“Too Far” was an instant hit to my ears. This radio-friendly song would be perfect to include in any road trip mix or even would be perfect to listen to at a summer shindig.
“Broke Your Heart” had Haineault resembling the singing style of Gregg Alexander at times and I loved it. I am sure it is no shocker to many of you out there, but I was a HUGE New Radicals fan. Guilty pleasure folks. Don’t judge.
“Hopes and Dreams” really carried that Ninja Gun style I was hoping to hear from Haineault. This was a definite laid back jam full of plenty of ohhs and ahhs.
Continuing was the farmland indie rock, was “Lonely Eyes”. This song was all over the place and I loved it. I thought from the start the song would be a country love track, but soon it morphed into an indie jam all about moving on.
Ending the album was “Take You With Me”, another track where I could not help but think of Alexander as Haineault sang. I liked how the piano hid in the background of the song, it just added just enough extra support to an already well-written song.
This really was a refreshing album to listen to from beginning to end. New Natives have the ability to take over college stations all over the place with their unique blend of indie and small town rock. Original and catchy, this album is well worth the listen.
Perhaps the greatest punk rock cover band of them all, Me First And The Gimme Gimmes have announced an all new gender-bending release Are We Not Men? We Are Diva! to be dropped on May 13, 2014 on good ol’ Fat Wreck Chords.
After taking stabs at country, R&B, and even Japanese pop, the band continues to surprise their billions of diehard fans with unique covers of songs that everyone has probably heard in a sappy-ass love story or in an elevator.
I laughed when I saw this last night because I was not expecting them to go this route with their punk-infused covers (plus I appreciated the Devo reference). I just hope one day they take a stab at 90s hip-hop. Hearing Spike sing Tupac might be the coolest idea ever.
Track Listing:
1. I Will Survive
2. Straight Up
3. Believe
4. Beautiful
5. My Heart Will Go On
6. I Will Always Love You
7. Top of the World
8. Speechless
9. Karma Chameleon
10. Crazy for You
11. On the Radio
12. The Way We Were
I know I have said in the past that I usually do not review any of my friend’s album releases, but I seriously think it’s time to change that.
Within the last year alone, a whole slew of my friends have been dropping excellent releases left and right. Many of those said releases were immediately thrown into my regular rotation and also made it to my “Best Of 2013” list without me even thinking twice.
One of these bands I speak of is Cleveland’s heartthrobs (and beer snobs), Signals Midwest. I learned of them through friends who had shared stages and basements with them and soon became not only a fan, but also a friend. All four members are some of the coolest, kindest people I know.
They have a musical style that ranges from punk rock to indie rock while also carrying a progressive technical grace that is just so appealing. Featuring Max Stern on guitar / vocals, Jeff “JR” Russell on guitar, Loren Shumaker on bass, and Steve Gibson on drums, the band has been doing their thing since late 2008.
The band’s sophomore release of Latitudes & Longitudes was easily one of my favorite releases in 2012.It was no surprise that I turned into even an bigger fan once I heard Light On The Lake. Yeah, it may have dropped a few months back, but after listening to it again today, I realized I needed to write a little something-something about it.
Released through the ever cool folk at Tiny Engines, Light On The Lake is an impressive release from start to finish. It’s an album not only composed of great tunes but also layered with a very narrative story containing a journey of self-realization, injury, and coming to terms. The more I read into the story throughout this album, the more I am loving it.
“308” started off the album with Stern and crew singing a somber yet catchy into. With Stern singing, “give me time ’cause I’m trying to process this”, clearly emotions were beginning to rise. I really dug how the opening track snuck its way into “In The Pauses”. I enjoyed this track tremendously with continual up and down arrangements throughout.
“A Room Once Called Yours” picked things up, but the song continued down a gloomy route. The guitar playing and brutal drumming really is what grabbed my attention throughout. I loved when Stern sang: “So why do we decide to leave when what we really wanna do is stay? And when all we want to do is sleep, we force ourselves awake.”
“St. Vincent Charity” sat on me heavier than the others with technical guitar playing added to an array of group harmonies throughout. What a killer track to listen to. Listening to the song build up and climax was beyond satisfying. The lyrics though is what made this song so poignant. Easily this was one of my favorite tracks on the album.
Having been far away from home before leaving loved ones behind, “The Desert To Denver” really stuck to me. I felt that I really related to the lyrics: “Save me from sinking in this city. Be the light that guides me home.” After all, it was the love in my current relationship as well as from my friends and family that kept me stable until I was able to travel back east.
Signals Midwest – Photo Credit: Andee Wells
I loved Loren’s distorted bass-smashing on “Lowercase”. It really reached back to the 90s alt-rock that I have always adored.
“San Anselmo” opened reminding me of an Avett Brother’s song – no joke. Remember the part in “Pretty Girl From Chili”right after Gabriella’s voicemail?Ok, I am sure I lost some of you just now. Anyways…the song opened up pretty awesomely and just continued to amaze throughout. I loved this west-coast-love-affair-with-a-rust-belt-local track so much.
Closing the album was “A Glowing Light, An Impending Dawn”, a track that was like a tribute and a procession. The song put the album to rest as well as the story that was being told throughout. It started softly and built up almost to a celebration status, only to thin out.
I’m pleased to have gotten to know these swell guys over the last few years and plan on keeping them pals for life. From seeing them live on stage to hanging out with them for a night when I was out in the middle of nowhere, these dudes are top notch.
Cleveland is full of amazing bands and honestly, this is the best the music scene has been for as long as I can remember. Take that how you want it, but if you are not caught up with the area talent, then maybe you need to turn your attention to some of these hard working acts in the area. Start with Signals Midwest and branch out accordingly. You will not be disappointed.
Signals Midwest are playing Brite Winter Fest this weekend before taking a well-deserved break. You can follow their shenanigans on their Tumblr page or on good ol’ Facebook.
To snag your very own copy of Light On The Lake, head on over to the Tiny Engines website and give them all of your money.
This music blog could have a driver's license by now…
I am sure I am not the first to say how much I enjoy it when Old Man Markley (OMM) decides to cover a song.
One of the best things about attempting to run my own blog is the amazing humans I am introduced to because of it.
Their self-titled debut started with the fun track “Gets Around”. a song clearly about fun loving times. The song really perked my attention with their upbeat indie rock style. Had this song come out in the 90s, it probably would have been featured on the Empire Records soundtrack. I am sure that just made no sense at all, but for whatever reason, I thought about that movie while listening to this track.
