“What? Punk rocker/Ska nerd silverunity is posting on an indie band? I just lost 10 scene points for listening to a band liked by someone who likes ska!!!! Say it ain’t so!”

Oh but it is… it is so. To be honest, I don’t know too much about this band, besides the fact they are a lo-fi, anti-folk, hipstertastic band (whatever the fuck that all means) from NYC (although originally Washington State). So how the hell did I hear of these guys?

About four years ago, me and a friend ran a radio show in college, and one night, we had another friend of ours come up and play some music he liked. He found “The Moldy Peaches” buried in the shelves, and played it for us (and everyone listening to our show, which was probably just us actually.) Anyways, we found it hysterical and loved these moldy fruits since.

MP3:
The Moldy Peaches – On Top
The Moldy Peaches – NYC’s Like A Graveyard

BUY:
Amazon

Me and the roommates watched David Lynch’s Blue Velvet last night and it made me want to start watching Twin Peaks again. I’ve watched the first season and a couple episodes into the second but I’m definitely ready to finish the series off. I miss special agent Dale Cooper and of course everyone’s favorite character the Log Lady. I’m always shocked by how such a bizarre show got so much mainstream attention. It aired on ABC and was one of its most successful shows in the first season. I can’t imagine ABC airing anything that strange and awesome today.

MP3: Angelo Badalamenti- Twin Peaks Theme
MP3: Angelo Badalamenti- Freshly Squeezed

Some people think the M. Ward song I’ll Be Yr Bird is about Twin Peaks:

“I cannot resist the opportunity to speculate on a few lyrics from the end of the song, which closes with three repetitions of the lines “I’ll hide your locket under the dirt / I’ll be yr bird.” The ears of any good Twin Peaks fan would perk up at this line, and part of me cannot help but think that the song is really meant to be from sweet, stupid James Hurley to the ghost of sweet, dead Laura Palmer. I mean, come on! We all saw him stash his half of the locket in the dirt off the road at the end of the pilot episode.” – Jared Bland

MP3: M. Ward- I’ll Be Yr Bird

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24MYikma530]

Since getting a copy of Arrah and the Ferns début album Evan is a Vegan I’ve listened to it either on my own or in my friend Andy’s car 7.5 million times.* Being a Housewives favorite they’re one of our most blogged bands (weirdly enough so is Journey). So I was really pumped to get a chance to talk to them before their show in Long Island City a couple weeks ago. Read on to learn what the band thinks about Third Eye Blind, singing with dead people, and of course breakfast cereal.

If you had to describe Arrah and the Ferns to someone who’d never heard you what would you say?
Carl- I would say indie-pop with a folk twist.
Arrah- Sounds like potatoes and unicorns and summers eves, yeah folk, pop, indie-rock, we’re hybrids of alot of things.

What would you say your major influences are?
Arrah- For me alot of female musicians like Mira or… it kinda depends on who I’m listening to at the moment. It’s always like, this song’s influenced by this band that I’m listening to at the moment. I dunno, but alot of poppy stuff and lately it’s been more rocking angsty stuff.
Carl- As far as for Arrah and the Ferns guitarists I really like the guitarist from Deerhoof, I guess that’s a big influence. I don’t play very much like his style. Then bands, Wolf Parade we’ll throw that in, we all really like Wolf Parade. I can’t really think of anything else off the top of my head.
Joey- Having just joined the band I haven’t really been in the writing process very much so I dunno. I really like Modest Mouse’s bass player, I’d like to play like that guy.
Dave- I guess a drummer I look up to and try to keep in mind is the drummer from Deerhoof, Greg.

Do any of you have any musical guilty pleasures?
Joey- I listen to Tool, Blink 182.
Carl- We all like to pop in the Third Eye Blind.
Arrah- As a joke.
Carl- That’s a guilty pleasure.
Arrah- Ok, I mean we don’t like it.
Joey- I think it’s good.
Arrah- Oh, well I don’t like it.
Carl- And then Taking Back Sunday.
Joey- Speak for yourself.
Carl- Joey doesn’t like Taking Back Sunday.
Arrah- I don’t have any guilty pleasures, I don’t really feel guilty for what I listen to.
Carl- I still listen to Coheed and Cambria when it comes up on my itunes. Yeah, I don’t really feel guilty but I guess that’s stuff that’s not cool.
Joey- I only listen to Brittany Spears.

So what would a dream collaboration be?
Joey- Neutral Milk Hotel for me.
Dave- I dunno, probably some jazz band.
Arrah- I would like to sing in a choir with all my favorite vocalists, so lots of different people. Particulatly Billie Holiday, Niko, people that are dead. I wanna have a women’s choir with lots of dead people.
Carl- Taking Back Sunday, I wanna do a split with them.
Arrah- I think on the whole though, Arrah and the Ferns would have alot of fun with Architecture in Helsinki. That would be alot of fun.

If Arrah and the Ferns were a breakfast cereal what would they be?
Joey- Fruit Loops
Arrah- Coco Puffs
Dave- Probably Lucky Charms or something, something with alot of colors.
Joey- Something with alot of sugar.
Arrah- Or Reeses Cups, candy for breakfast.
Joey- I think Lucky Charms is good.
Carl- Yeah Lucky Charms.
Arrah- No I know what I would be! Oops All Berries!

What’s the best and worst thing about Indiana?
Joey- Alright, the best thing is that because of its size there aren’t very many people there so in the music scene it’s really easy to get your name around, people hear about you alot easier. The worst thing is… you’re living in Indiana. There’s not really much to do for fun there.
Arrah- The scenery’s pretty bad
Joey- Oh yeah, it’s completely flat. Everyone assumes we like racing alot when they hear we’re from Indiana.

Joey, has it been your lifelong ambition to become a Fern or how did you get into this gig?
Joey- I wanted to for a long time. Dave and Arrah and me have this side project band called Woodlands where I played guitar and they just asked if I wanted to play bass and I was like yeah sure I’ll do that. I dunno I just kinda fell into it I guess.

If you guys could play any presidential inauguration whose would it be?
Arrah- William McKinley!
Carl- Why William McKinley?
Arrah- Because he’s my uncle. No, everyone wants him, what about Garfield. We can’t agree.
Joey- See I would say Roosevelt but whatever.
Carl- I would just be happy for the free food, I’d imagine there’s alot of that involved in playing an inauguration.
Joey- Wait, what if we played at Bill Clinton’s and he played saxophone with us. That’d be sweet.

When can we expect a new album out from you guys?
Arrah- Hopefully by spring, early spring. I have most of the songs written for the next album and we have alot of new songs we’re playing but we still need to work on alot of stuff and we’re gonna take our time in the studio whatever we do. I’d like to start recording in the fall and get it done by Christmas time. It depends on how things pan out because Dave’s gonna be living a couple hours away from us but I’d really like to see it out by spring. But for sure next year by next summer.

MP3: Arrah and the Ferns- Science Books
MP3: Arrah and the Ferns- Bernadette

Buy: Insound, Amazon

*This is a rough estimate; the actual number might be higher.

I’ve had a Misfits song in my head for the past two days, and i’m not even a big fan of the Misfits. Anyway, this song is amazing, and maybe if I post it, it will get out of my head finally. So in the words of The Misfits: “Oh dear god, set me free….Stop haunting me.”

P.S I sense a battle of Atom vs the misfits soon… stay tuned!

Buy:
Amazon

I was poking around the internet and found NME’s list of the 50 greatest indie anthems ever. It’s not a bad list, a little heavy on the Oasis maybe and I’m not sure what definition of “indie” they’re using but an ok list nonetheless. Here are their top ten:

1.Oasis – ‘Live Forever’
2. Nirvana – ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’
3. Pulp – ‘Common People’
4. The Smiths – ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’
5. The Libertines – ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’
6. The Libertines – ‘Time For Heroes’
7. The Smiths – ‘How Soon Is Now?’
8. The Stone Roses – ‘I Am The Resurrection’
9 The Strokes – ‘Last Nite’
10 Arctic Monkeys – ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

And here are some songs I can’t believe they left out:

MP3: The New Pornographers- The Laws Have Changed
MP3: Wolf Parade- I’ll Believe in Anything
MP3: Neutral Milk Hotel- Holland, 1945
MP3: The Shins- Kissing the Lipless
MP3: The Decemberists- The Sporting Life

MP3: Built to Spill- Big Dipper
MP3: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth

Buy:
Insound
Amazon

Other blogs might cover SXSW in Austin, CMJ in New York or Lollapalooza in Chicago but who would travel out to Cleveland to cover the DEVOtional (a yearly Devo convention)? That’s right dear readers, the Midwestern Housewives!

(The famous “hand wave of death and inevitable destruction)

Looks like Fugazi has some military allies. Atom is going to have to watch out for Puerto Rico’s army if he wants to come out alive.

Laaaadies and gentlemen! Step right up! Tonight, the main event is the champion “Ol Fighting” Fugazi vs. “The Annihilating” Atom and his Package! Victories shall be glorious, defeats shall be painful, and heroes WILL be made!

Currently Fugazi is the champion with their #1 chartbuster, “Waiting Room”. However, Atom and his oh so notorious Package plan to strip that title from them and make it his very own with his rendition of “Waiting Room”. Ohhh scandalous! Atom could not be reached for comment on the issue, however this is our interpretation of what he would probably say: “Uhh. Hi.”

There you have it folks! Ol’ Annihilation Mcgee has spoken!

Fugazi could also not be reached, but they would probably respond: “Yeah? Think he can beat us? I’ll wait (and wait and wait) for the day that happens.”

Round 1: Emotion
While Atom and his Package makes a valiant effort, he just seems slightly annoyed about waiting. I’m assuming Atom was sitting in some very heavy traffic while writing this tune. Fugazi on the other hand, seriously seems PAINED by waiting any longer, my guess is that they were writing about the new Streetlight Manifesto release. Fugazi wins this round.

Round 2: Dancability
Fugazi could definitely get a crowd swaying back in forth, all eyes closed screaming along. However, Atom’s rendition is known to cause sudden urges to do “the robot”, “the macarana”, and in severe cases, “the funky chicken”. Sorry Fugazi, Atom wins Round 2.

Round 3: Best Gang Vocals
Hmm… Fugazi’s gang vocals sound like a bunch of depressed 80s rockers, while Atom’s gang vocals resemble those of drunken Russian skinheads doing the Can-Can.

Winner of round 3?
These guys.

MP3:
Fugazi – Waiting Room
Atom And His Package – Waiting Room

BUY:
Fugazi
Atom And His Package

Think ska was killed by a stake through the heart years ago? Think again. Ska is alive and kicking, almost as much as everyone at the First Unitarian Church last night. While there were 4 bands on the bill, I only caught 2, The Hub City Stompers (who I went to go see), and The Slackers.

If you don’t know who The Hub City Stompers are, they are a skinhead influenced self
proclaimed “Ska for people who hate ska” band out of New Brunswick NJ. Now to all you people who just stopped reading at the word “skinhead” and are actually ignorant enough to believe that all skins are racist neo-nazis… let me quelm your fears by saying the lead singer (a skinhead) is half Irish, half black. So you can continue reading now.

Their lineup changed quite a bit from the last time I saw them, but they still put out that delicious stomp steady beat. Playing songs mostly off of their newest album “Dirty Jersey”, they ripped through a rather short yet solid set. The crowd was getting pretty into them,skanking away to all of the favorites. They gave their usual shout out to the larger women before busting into “Mass Appeal” and talked about people who talk tough behind the shadows of the internet before playing “Chatterbox”.

Although, the highlight of their set for me is when Reverend Sinister stated that it was a girl’s first time at a ska show, and swore “They are usually much dorkier than this.” At this point, they busted into a slower reggae tune making fun of rude boys and girls everywhere called something like “Dork Train to Skaville” (I don’t remember the exact title.) The crowd took this all in good humor with the chorus “You’re a fucking dork”. In the middle of the song, the tempo suddenly changed to a fast paced typical ska progression, in which the lead singer shouted “Come on you fucking dorks! Do your circle thing”. The crowd went completely insane at this point.

I think this is most of the setlist, and this isn’t in order by any means, but here is what I remember from the show:

Setlist:
Wtfiu?
Skinhead Boi
Skins Don’t Cry
Johhny Date Rape
Chatterbox
Dork Train To Skaville
Trojan Night
Mass Appeal
I’ve Got A Boot
Bumbl-b

MP3:
Hub City Stompers – Johnny Date Rape
Hub City Stompers – Wtfiu?

I skipped the next band (Westbound Train) to go get some fresh air (it was ridiculously hot in that basement), however I made it back in time for The Slackers. I was definitely not prepared for what I was about to see. A crowd of maybe 100 now easily quadrupled in size, and the entire basement was filled with people skanking to the sweet sweet sounds of the Slackers. There was even a 70 yr old couple there, dancing the night away (let this be a lesson to anyone who thinks they are too old for shows). I’m not even really familiar with any songs by The Slackers, but I had the time of my life. I would love to have gotten a set list for you guys, but unfortunately, I don’t know much of their songs. However, let me make this recommendation… If you like ska, and The Slackers are coming to your area, even
if you don’t know any songs GO SEE THEM.

MP3:
The Slackers – Married Girl

BUY:
The Slackers
Hub City Stompers

So apparently this EP has already been out for three years, whatever I just got it so I’m reviewing it now. Awesome. Very awesome. I loved their last album Bring It Back, I actually had a dream about the song So Many Ways last week and couldn’t get it out of my head all morning. Anyway the song Along For The Ride might top even that. It’s your typical Mates of State duet with lots of synth and joyful yelling/singing.

MP3: Mates of State- Along For the Ride

Buy:
Insound
Amazon

Hey indie kids and punk rockers alike! Have you heard of NoFX’s Punk in Drublic? Of course you have, it’s nearly 13 years old. So why the hell am I making a post on it? Because, chances are, if you are over 20 yrs old, regardless if you still listen to punk or have gone on to indie, you have owned or at least liked some songs off this album at one stage of your life. Like the Giving Tree, you have shunned what has once given you joy and hapiness (shame on you!) But don’t worry, I’m here to make peace between you and NOFX. Because contrary to common belief, it is NOT my job to keep punk rock elite. Who knows, maybe you’ll still know some of the words!

PS: Linoleum always made me want to name my dog “dog”. Oh and The Brews made me wish I was Jewish (ok not really, but I do want an “Anti-Swastika” tattoo).

MP3:
NOFX – Linoleum

Buy:
Epitaph