I hope everyone out there is enjoying Okkervil River’s new record The Stage Names. Awhile ago I wrote about how much I liked it and since then it has only grown on me. Right now I’d like to point your attention to my all-time favorite Okkervil River song, The President’s Dead. Released a coupled years ago on a 12 inch from JagJaguwar the song chronicles the death of a fictional president. More precisely the reaction of a young republican to this news. If you get bored stick with it, it gets really good towards the end and its definitely worth the build up.

MP3: Okkervile River- The President’s Dead

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Insound
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It’s no surprise that I’m a pretty big fan of Lagwagon (well to be honest, I haven’t checked out much of their newer stuff), and in that vein, let me assure you that Double Plaidinum is chock full of roasted peanut goodness. All of the songs have intertwining melodic backup vocals, but not in that lame Simple Plan way.

The album isn’t heavy at all, (think Bouncing Souls type heavy), which seems to attract some indie kids to the band. The songs are all catchy, and you’re going to be praying to holy [Insert denominational deity of your choice here] to help you learn the words, because wanting to sing along is pretty much inevitable. So get a head start on it, and download the songs suckafool.

MP3:
Lagwagon – One Thing To Live
Lagwagon – Smile (wait 35 seconds for it to get into it… it’s worth it.)

Buy:
Fat Wreck

I wasn’t in a great mood Wednesday night and I wasn’t too pumped about heading back into the city after work and getting home late after the show. Nevertheless I dragged myself onto the subway and out to the Bowery Ballroom.

Every iota of bad feeling I had that night evaporated the moment Bishop Allen broke into song. I saw an amazing show they headlined last year in Virginia and I love their new album but somehow I had forgotten what a fun band they are. Just try and listen to Rain without smiling. I dare you. Wednesday night the bad played a fantastic set including some rockin keyboards and ukulele and a really beautiful rendition of Butterfly nets.

MP3: Bishop Allen- Butterfly Nets
MP3: Bishop Allen- Eve of Destruction

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a huge fan of Vanderslice’s recorded work but the man knows how to kick out the jams live. This time around he didn’t disappoint. In particular I thought it was awesome that he had a violinist playing with him through most of the show. Also, he got down offstage and played the last song out in the middle of the audience- awesome.

MP3: John Vanderslice-White Dove
MP3: John Vanderslice- Time Travel is Lonely

Buy:
Bishop Allen
John Vanderslice

Are you over the age of 18? Do you go to shows? If you answered yes to both previous questions, then chances are there has been a time when you said to yourself “What am I doing? I’m too old for this.” Suddenly, shows no longer have that same charm to them when you notice that you are in the top 10 percentile for “geezers in the audience”. We’ve all been there, the trick is breaking through without giving up something you completely love.

I know my defining moment was when I went to go see Ignite earlier this year. I saw kids moshing around, and was like “man, I’m way too old to be doing that” (I was 21 at the time). Then they broke into one of my favorite songs, and I said “fuck it” out loud, and bumrushed into the pit. I haven’t looked back since, and have not noticed the audience’s age in a long time.

I believe that UK’s The Steal put it best:
“If you’re standing at the back
If you don’t want to clap
If you think you’re too old? You’re never too old!
remember why you came here, instead of staying home!”

So do yourself a favor and stop caring about age when you goto shows. Let yourself go, and have some damn fun! Be the one to open a pit/skank circle/whatever the hell it is you guys do at indie shows (what do you guys do anyway?). And now I’m done ranting.

(P.S: There’s a pretty funny story behind that picture I took.)

MP3:
The Steal – Wonderstuff
The Lawrence Arms – Old Dogs Never Die
Nofx – Mattersville

Buy:
The Steal
Lawrence Arms
Nofx

The Extra Glenns is a side project of The Mountain Goats, John Darnielle. With the Mountain Goats huge back catalogue of work it’s easy to forget about The Extra Glenns but if you’re an MG fan I highly recommend checking them out. The band is a collaboration between Darnielle and Nothing Painted Blue member Franklin Bruno.

Martial Arts Weekend is supposed to be a country western record but with the exception of the Lenard Cohen cover Memories it sounds like an indie rock album to me. Actually for my money it may as well be a Mountain Goats record. It even includes three songs in Darnielle’s “Going to” series, most notably Going to Marrakesh for the lyric “Our love is like Jesus, but worse.”

MP3: The Extra Glenns- Baltimore
MP3: The Extra Glenns- Going to Marrakesh

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Insound
Amazon

I’ve been listening to a lot of Superchunk lately, specifically their 1991 release No Pocky for Kitty. It’s really just awesome early 90s indie rock. Although his name is nowhere in the liner notes the album was recorded by the amazing Steve Albini. It’s a noisy, poppy album and with lyrics like “You’ve been sucking wind so long it makes you feel full” who could resist?

MP3: Superchunk- Skip Steps 1 and 3
MP3: Superchunk- Punch Me Harder

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Insound
Amazon

Ok, The Nipple Erectors (eventually changed their name to The Nips) sound NOTHING like the Pogues. So you’re probably wondering “who the hell are The Nips?” Well, I can guarantee they’re thinking the same thing about you Mr/Ms anonymous internet blog reader.

The Nips were a British punk band formed in 1977, and played music in the vein of The Clash , Elvis, and Anti-Pasti. “So what the hell do they have to do with The Pogues?! I want my money back! Midwestern Housewives ripped me off!” Cool it anonymous aggravated aggregator, you didn’t pay anything, and I’m getting to it. The Nips were fronted by Shane MacGowen, the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.

Now, you can’t find much of their stuff, as most is out of print. In fact, the MP3s that I posted with these are from an old out of print album, so enjoy!

Buy:
The Only Album available to my knowledge

Never fear indie kids! My internet is back up which marks an end to the recent punk rock takeover. What better way to come back than with news of my favorite band. I told myself I wouldn’t get too excited waiting for the new Mountain Goats album (wasn’t a huge fan of the last couple) but I just read that it’s recorded and features members of the Bright Mountain Choir. Here’s the word straight from the official site:

“The big news from where I stand is that this album will be the first Mountain Goats record since 1996 to feature members of the Bright Mountain Choir: Rachel and Sarah came up from L.A. to San Francisco and put down backing vocals on three songs, all of which (“New Zion,” “How to Embrace a Swamp Creature,” and “Marduk T-Shirt Men’s Room Incident”) have made the final sequence. I have tried several times to write a sentence that would convey just how wonderful it was to make music with the Choir again, but if such a sentence is out there in the ether anywhere, I haven’t been able to find it. I resort again to native Californianisms. It was completely rad.”

Some of you may be saying to yourself “yes, this all sounds very exciting but I have no idea what the Bright Mountain Choir is.” The Bright Mountain Choir is a group of four women whose vocals are featured in many early Mountain Goats records including Zopolite Machine and Nothing for Juice. John Darnielle’s work with the choir was done back in his lo-fi days so I’m very interested to hear what it sounds like with the production values upped.

Others of you may be saying to yourselves “Ok, but I don’t care about the Mountain Goats, I thought this was a punk blog now.” No, That is incorrect.

Old Mountain Goats songs featuring the Mountain Bright Choir:
MP3: The Mountain Goats- The Window Song
MP3: The Mountain Goats- Going to Lebanon

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Insound
Amazon

Well Sasha’s internet has been broken for the past few days, hence we have turned into punk rock housewives (muwahaha).

I compiled a list of 5 kickass songs by bands that really aren’t big at all, but have some solid songs. Check it.

5. Topper – No More Elvis
These guys from Sweden definitely draw influences from ’77 style punk, but add their own catchy as hell twist to it. This song has a clap breakdown, and quite honestly, what else do you possibly need?

4. Jup – Queen Of Hearts
Jup was a NJ band I saw play with my friend’s band during a Battle of the Bands (I just used the word “band” 3 times in the last sentence. Beat that sucka). While they don’t play my usual brand of punk rock (they are more on the poppier side), this song definitely stands out. This is pop-punk the way it should be… strong melodies, not overly whiney, and catchy as… well, a catchy song.

3. The Black Halos – B.S.F
Ok these Vancouver glam rockers are bigger than I thought. One look at their myspace, and it shows they actually get craploads of hits. Either way, this song is awesome, not overly “glammy”, and very reminiscent of a heavier The Humpers.

2. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Just kidding indie kid. Sorry to get your hopes up.

2.The Faction – Lets Go Get Cokes
70′s style skate punk at it’s best. This band got pretty big in the skateboarding scene back in the 80′s (because Steve Caballero was in the band, whoever he is… don’t look at me like that, I inline, son.)

1. Humungus – I Hate Mother Fucking Cops
Amazing street punk song. Think INDK on speed.

BUY (sorry, I forgot this was a punk list… let me try again. “Go ahead you capitalist pig. Up the punks… I mean punx.” Better?)
Topper
Humungus
The Faction
Black Halos
Jup doesn’t exist anymore. If you want their demo, leave a comment and I’ll post it.

MP3:
Toxic Narcotic – I’m So Thirsty
Toxic Narcotic – Asshole
Toxic Narcotic – Shoot People, Not Dope

Buy:
Rodent Popsicle Records