Last night, I picked up a few unsuspecting friends, and headed out to West Philly’s Danger Danger Gallery to see housewives favorite Totally Michael. There were only two bands on the bill, so I was pretty stoked to see the new king of pop play a longer set than usual… Although that didn’t really happen (lots of issues), the few songs he did play were awesome.

When I got there at 9, I was afraid I missed the bands since the show started at 8. Turns out, the bands didn’t show up yet, as they got stuck in crazy Brooklyn traffic. Unfortunately, the show had to be over by 11 for noise complaint reasons, and Prizzy Prizzy Please didn’t even start until about 9:45. (And I was out eating cupcakes… sorry Prizzy)

There were only about 20 people at the show, and when Totally Michael came on, it was 10:40. Apparently, his iPod also got ruined, and he was having some troubles with his laptop, so there were some issues getting a playlist going. Finally though, he broke out into a cover of the YMCA, and then straight into “Death Hill”. Myself and a few others in the crowd got the tiny dance party going that didn’t let up for the rest of the night.

I’m dissapointed that the set was so short, but those 5 songs he played, they were tight as usual. Just gives him an excuse to come back to Philly really soon.

Setlist:
-Death Hill (Over And Over)
-Shout Out
-Slow Jam
-Winona
-Casual Satisfaction

MP3:
Totally Michael – Casual Satisfaction

Totally Awesome:
Interview with Totally Michael
Totally Michael Debut
Totally Michael and Cerebal Ballzy Live (3/29/09)

Buy:
Totally Michael

Pretty sure my boxes are packed with this.

Keeping up with the tradition I unknowingly started for myself back in ’05… I apparently move out of my apartment every year. All damn weekend, it’s been a party of packing, lifting heavy crap, and complaining that my girlfriend has too much stuff. Although when I pack, it gets kind of dangerous. I don’t believe in boxes, and throw everything (and I mean everything) into plastic bags: including fragile kitchen glasses. If they break? Fuck em, drinking from broken glass toughens you up.

On the plus side: I did see Bedouin Soundclash on Friday, so I’ll have a posting on that soon. I also am going to see Totally Michael tonight (assuming I can find enough quarters to pay the cover, as I get my paycheck tomorrow… being paid once a month is aweeeeesome…)

MP3:
Bouncing Souls – Apartment 5F
Atom and his Package – Posession (Not The One By Danzig)
Lawrence Arms – The First Eviction Notice

More Moving Mixes:
Moving Strife ’08
Apparently, I didn’t make a mix for 07, so here’s one about racist yuppies.

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Michael Jackson Chilling With The Reagans…

A world without Michael Jackson is a better world indeed, just ask the world’s little boys who collectively breathed a sigh of relief last night. No more sleepovers! No more babies hanging from windows! But in all seriousness, I don’t think he’s actually dead. I’ve seen the Thriller music video, he’ll be back… Making splits with Tu-Pac.

MP3:
The Unseen – Beat It
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – Ben
Me First And The Gimme Gimmes – I’ll Be There

More Mixes:
Holy Crap Iran (A Mix!)
Go! Go! Go Me, It’s Your Birfday (A Mix!)
Bike Races, Drunk Fests and Racist Yuppies (A Mix!)
You Sick Of Your Job? (A Mix!)

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Straight up Winnipeg grind-core! Featuring Todd from Propagandhi and Cory from Malefaction, Swallowing Shit has a bit of an interesting history. Apparently, as they were making a name for themselves and having their popularity increase in the Winnipeg punk scene, some of the city’s more conservative residents learned about their song “Pro-Abortion, Anti-Christ”.

Trying to figure out how to stop Swallowing Shit from satanically brainwashing their children, the Christians would picket outside of their shows, and finally got city council to resurrect an outdated and rarely used ordinance prohibiting any challenges to the church, successfully banning Swallowing Shit from playing within Winnipeg city limits.

Regardless about their history, Swallowing Shit is one of the best grind-core bands that ever existed, and Anthology is pretty much everything they ever recorded. With 21 songs on 16 tracks finishing under 18 minutes, song titles like “Lyrics That Will Offend The Honkeys” and “Burn Winnipeg To The Fucking Ground”… I think you pretty much know what to expect.

MP3:
Swallowing Shit – If Assholes Could Fly, This Place Would Be An Airport
Swallowing Shit – Christian Metal = Nazi Reggae

Anthology (Of Housewives Articles):
Housewives Interview Propagandhi
Ceremony
Propagandhi – Supporting Caste

Buy:
G7 Welcoming Committee

Before there was a Minor Threat, there was a Minor Disturbance (EP). Formed back in 1978 when Ian Mackaye (bass) met Jeff Nelson (vocals) (a classmate of his who was setting off a pipe bomb). This group of teenagers were one of the most influential bands in shaping 1980s hardcore.

Ok, so the EP was a precursor to some major bands, what about the actual music? Musically, the band was harsh, and similar to Minor Threat songs such as “Bottled Violence” and “Straight Edge”. Minor Disturbance is really short, with 8 songs ending in about 9 and a half minutes.

Definitely check out if you’re a fan of early 80s hardcore, and if you want to learn more about Ian Mackaye’s history… this was his starting point.

MP3:
Teen Idles – Get Up And Go
Teen Idles – Teen Idles

Read These Now or Pay The Price:
Scenester 101: Your 10 step guide to becoming a Hardcore Kid
Minor Threat
Embrace (Ian’s Band After Minor Threat)
Token Entry
Ceremony – Still Nothing Moves You (face melting hardcore)

Buy:
Dischord

Lately, there’s been a lot of hubbub, hooplah, and other words you haven’t heard since people were still doing the Charleston about Blink 182. While I don’t care too much (or at all really…) about their reunion or any album after “Dude Ranch”, all the news did successfully make me go back and to listen to their older stuff that I own.

One of my favorite, yet little known releases by Blink was a 3 song EP called “They Came To Conquer…Uranus”. The EP was released back in 1995 (right after Chesire Cat), and two of the songs can only be found on this EP, while the other was rerecorded for Dude Ranch.

Solid pop-punk before Blink-182′s music became all over produced and went after the luxorious 11 year old pre-teen market. Give it a listen, you may be surprised.

MP3:
Blink 182 – Zulu

They Came To Conquer… The Housewives:
The only good Saves the Day Album
Some band about Blinking and 182.
The Lillingtons – The Too Late Show
Teenage Bottlerocket – Another Way

Buy:
Amazon

Photo By: shahram sharif

Wow, what’s been going on in Iran is completely insane since the elections. If you just so happen to be living under a rock for the past week or so here’s a summary: People voted, election seems rigged, people are fucking pissed and are taking to the streets.

All I have to say, is that I’m proud of our Iranian brothers and sisters for standing up against injustice in their country, even when innocent people are getting shot and killed around them, they aren’t backing down.

MP3:
Planet Smashers – Skah of Iran
Strike Anywhere – Riot of Words
Beans – Let’s Riot

More mixes:
Birthday Mix
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School
Monday Morning Ant Brigade
Housewives Guide To Getting Through An Interview Without Being Bamboozled

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk

Paint it Black has gotten it backwards: most hardcore bands release a handful of EPs before releasing one or two full lengths and calling it a day. With three full albums already under their belt, it’s kind of odd to see Paint it Black jump to the 7-inch format. But hey, if it’s going to get me more Paint it Black in the shortest amount of time, I’m not complaining.

Put short, “Amnesia” fucking dominates. With 5 songs in about 10 minutes (with one song 3:30 in length, a new record for the band!), it’s easy to ask “what the hell just happened” by the end.

The opening track “Salem” is a rough-around-the-edges (and straight to the core) song that reminds me a bit of “We Will Not” or “Gravity Wins” without the melodic breakdowns. The next 4 songs are much more melodic, but in a much more low key way (you won’t find any “Memorial Day” on this EP).

Their next EP is set to be released in August on Fat Wreck (seriously…), which contains songs from the same recording session, so I’ll be looking forward to those.

MP3:
Paint it Black – Amnesia

Sweet! More Articles:
Western Addiction – Cognicide
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Gorilla Biscuits
Ten Yard Fight
Rise Against’s Brand Spankin’ New 7″

Buy:
Bridge 9

As I mentioned on Monday, I saw Ceremony for the first time on Friday night, was completely impressed, although I had my doubts how their ferocious grindcore would translate on album. After listening to 2008 release “Still Nothing Moves You”, I can say “pretty fucking well” with confidence.

I can’t listen to many grind influenced albums all the way through without getting bored (greeeat, you’re heavy and like noise, you’re different. I get the fucking point) but I can listen to Ceremony’s grind/hardcore over and over again.

Pulling influences from bands such as Some Girls and Converge, “Still Nothing Moves You” is a must hardcore album for people who prefer their music to resemble a jackhammer to the face.

MP3:
Ceremony – He-god-Has Favored Our Undertakings
Ceremony – Eraser Making Its Way Its Only Job

Still Housewives Moves You:
Scenester 101: How to Be Hardcore in 10 Easy Steps!
Paint It Black w/ Ceremony Live
Ten Yard Fight

Buy:
Bridge 9 Records

Soooo… tomorrow, I turn the big two four (and it seriously feels like yesterday last time I put a birthday mix up for myself.) I figure I post today since I’m presumably busy tomorrow (cutting work, going to the beach suckas…. if it doesn’t rain.)

It’s been an interesting year, and I remember when I was turning 23 I thought I was getting old (I was so young and naive back then), but now… I don’t feel old at all.

MP3:

Groovie Ghoulies – Happy Birthday

The Vandals – Happy Birthday To Me

The Vandals – Bad Birthday Bash

Atom and His Package – Happy Birthday General

Big D And The Kids Table – Running Young

7 Seconds – Young ‘Til I Die

Big D And The Kids Table – Good Luck

Bouncing Souls – Born Free

Low Budgets – Born Before The Internet

Kid Dynamite – Birthday

NOFX – New Happy Birthday Song

More Mixes:
Tribute To All You Bored At Work Or School
Monday Morning Ant Brigade
Housewives Guide To Getting Through An Interview Without Being Bamboozled

Buy:
Interpunk
Smartpunk