Tag Archive for nj

Violent Society, Blanks 77, Combat Crisis (Live In Trenton 4/20/13)

/ April 23, 2013 / No comments

This past Saturday, I headed to my old home state of NJ to catch a bunch of damn good street punk bands that do not play anywhere near often enough.  The show was at Joe’s Mill Hill Saloon, which was this small little dive with a stage in it’s intimate basement, making it feel like any other house show (but with better bathrooms).

Everything about the show reeked of Philly: almost all the bands (minus Blanks 77) and the crowd came out from Philly to party.  I unfortunately missed most of the openers due to traffic, but I got there at the end of Dopestroke’s set, which definitely had people dancing throughout.

Combat Crisis


The first band I was able to catch in it’s entirety was Combat Crisis, the Philly street punk band who’ve made quite a name for themselves.  Combat Crisis had people singing along and sporadic pits throughout their energetic and fun set.  Female fronted punk rock, definitely check them out if you get a chance.

Blanks 77

NJ’s finest party pogo punks, it’s rare for them to play a show these days, so I try to make sure to catch Blanks 77 whenever they come around.  It seemed like the majority of people there were for Blanks 77, and fairly so… these guys (and gal) have been inspiring pogo pits and sing-alongs since 1990.  Us in the crowd were in a frenzy from the opening note, and didn’t really let up for the majority of the show.

Apparently the band is working on some new material as well, which would be pretty damn sweet since their last full length came out in 1998.

Highlights:
I Don’t Wanna Be
Up The System
I Wanna Be A Punk
We Are The Punks
Radio Hits
Void (I think they played this one)
Losing My Brain
Party Train

I missed The Heels because I had to go grab some food (and from the sound of it, I regret missing them), but made it back in perfect time for the other reason I came to the show… Violent Society.

Violent Society:

Violent Society is another band that plays incredibly infrequently these days, and they always put on a damn good show as well.  Some of the crowd thinned after Blanks 77 and The Heels, but there was still a sizeable amount fixed in the basement to see the Philly street punk legends.

Singalongs abound, Violent Society played a bunch from all of their releases… including closing with one of my personal favorites “You’re Gonna Fall”.  Definitely a good time, it made me realize I don’t go to nearly enough street punk shows anymore.

Setlist:
Philly Shreds
I Wanna Know
It’s Only Your Life
Can’t Stop You
Sick Sick Sick
Fashion Song
Behind The Bullshit
Rise Of Punk
Call Me
Coming Back For You
Totally Fucked
We Don’t Believe
Consumed
Violated
The Problem
Alone
Time Of Distraught
Piss On You
Culture Magnet
In Crowd
Why Do You Deny
Mr Suit
Sarges Last Stand
You’re Gonna Fall

MP3:
Violent Society – I Wanna Know
Blanks 77 – Radio Hits

More Punk Rock:
The Unseen – Lower Class Crucifixion
The Virus – Nowhere to Hide
Minor Disturbance – Bullet For You

Buy:
Blanks 77
Violent Society

Category: live, music, punk, show, street punk, Uncategorized / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Caseracer / Ink And Sweat Split (For fans of Kid Dynamite, Hot Water Music, Go Rydell)

/ April 17, 2013 / No comments

When I first heard Delaware/NJ’s Caseracer’s Self Titled EP some time last year, I was blown away by their cohesive melodic hardcore tunes, and anxiously waited for a new full length.  I’m still waiting for a full length, but in the meantime they dropped three new songs on a split with Tampa punks Ink and Sweat.

On the split, Caseracer opens up with “Uncomfortable Silence / The Death Of My Financial Security” which starts with a very Paint It Black-esque riff (which is NEVER a bad thing by the way), and immediately sets the tone for the split: energetic, melodic, and gruff.  Between “Van Envy” and “Untrue”, it’s sure to elicit plenty of two-stepping and sing-alongs (or at least it does in my bedroom.)

I’ve heard the name Ink and Sweat before but never actually heard them until this split, and their two songs definitely have me wanting to check out more.  Dual gal/guy vocals (although even the female vocals are pretty gruff) over melodic midtempo punk rock make for a solid listen.  They are relatively new and this split and their demo are all they’ve released according to their bandcamp.  If they keep it up, I can see them becoming a household name in our neck-beard, beer soaked music world.

Caseracer has it up on their bandcamp as a “pay what you want” download, and it’s definitely worth your time if you dig melodic punk rock.

MP3:
Caseracer – Uncomfortable Silence / The Death Of My Financial Security
Ink and Sweat – Brickwalls and Pitfalls

More:
Caseracer – Self Titled
Kid Dynamite, And The Art Of Moshing Everywhere
Go Rydell – Golden Age
Grey Area / Go Rydell Split

Buy:
The EP

Category: music, punk / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

United Nations – Self Titled (For fans of Thursday, Glassjaw, Converge)

/ January 25, 2013 / 2 comments


United Nations played a rare show in Philly earlier this week, and I missed it.  Oh well.  I can say I’ve been spinning their Self Titled pretty much nonstop since though.

A brief history:  United Nations is surrounded by secrecy with most of the official members identities kept hidden due to contracts, etc.  Founded by Geoff of Thursday, other rumored members involved with the project are members of Glassjaw and Converge.  In addition, the band has had legal issues with the actual United Nations, and also had the majority of retailers refuse to sell their debut Self Titled with the original artwork due to copyright issues (which featured a picture of Abbey Road with all of The Beatles on fire).  Needless to say, shit hasn’t been easy for them.

Musically, the band describes themselves as “screamo powerviolence” which essentially means take Thursday songs and give them a shit ton of amphetamines. Songs such as opener “The Spinning Heart Of The Yo Yo Lobby” or “My Cold War” are incredibly heavy jams that any hardcore fan can get behind while “Filmed In Front Of Live Studio Audience” is much more reminiscent of Thursday.

If you dig aggressive blast beat filled music, you can’t really go wrong with United Nations.

MP3:
United Nations – Resolution #9

More:
Thursday – Full Collapse
La Dispute – Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between…
Punch – Self Titled
Converge – Jane Doe

Website:
United Nations

Category: grindcore, hardcore, music, screamo / Tags: , , , , , ,

Bouncing Souls, The Casualties, Grey Area Home For The Holidays (Live In Asbury Park 12/28/12)

/ December 30, 2012 / No comments


Ah yes, The Bouncing Souls Home For The Holidays… their (and mine) yearly holiday tradition since 2007 where the Souls play 4 nights in Asbury Park with something special going on each night.  I went on Friday at the Stone Pony, because Grey Area was playing and I fucking love those guys.

Team Vibes:

Team Vibes kicked things off for the festive night, and while I don’t know anything about them, it seemed like a decent amount of people were digging their set.  They played slower, Gaslight Anthem-esque music that I’m actually not too crazy about… but I can see them gaining a decent following by people who are into that.

Grey Area:

Fuck yeah.  Even though I was a little bit sick and still really fucking sore from the Paint It Black house show I went to the night before, I was beyond stoked to see these guys.  Although it was only about 5 people (including myself) two stepping and dancing through out their set, a decent amount of people were shouting along every word.

Ernie and crew took the stage and joked around with the crowd about the H20 show they were at last night, cover songs, and generally keeping it light as Grey Area is known to do.  It was a bit strange seeing them with a barrier up since last show I saw them was at Philly’s intimate Fire, but it was still a damn good time with their Lifetime/Kid Dynamite type of melodic hardcore.

Highlights:
Insomnia
Reminder
Right Now
Before Me
No Guarentees (I think)

BONUS: At the end of the show, I overheard some guy talking about how he never heard of Grey Area before, but how they were easily his favorite band of the night.  Fuck yeah.

The Casualties:

I know it’s not “cool” to like The Casualties after the age of 17 (shit, some say 13) but fuck it, and if you’re one of those holier than thou types, fuck you too… The Casualties are always a fun time.  I didn’t anticipate dancing to the gritty street punk sounds of these NY dudes, but once they played “Get Off My Back” I found myself thrashing around in the a circle pit.

It’s funny how much the pit itself was almost like a history of The Casualties legacy: during the newer songs, you saw some younger kids doing their thing and then the old fucks like myself would come out during their Die Hards and For The Punx songs. Current status of the punx?  Upped.

Highlights:
Get Off My Back
Ugly Bastards
Punk Rock Love
Made In NYC
Riot
Police Brutality (I think)
Tomorrow Belongs To Us

The Bouncing Souls:

The Bouncing Souls?  Those fucking NJ moochers.  Regardless of how I feel about their latest albums, The Bouncing Souls will always and forever be my favorite band. They got me through a lot of shit in life over the past decade and them some years I’ve been listening to them, and regardless of the fact I’ve seen them close to 30-40 times, I always get excited to see them again… especially in NJ.

The band took the stage (surprisingly not to Born To Run, as is holiday tradition) and instantly opened with Manthem… Ahh shit.  This was the song I completely annihilated my arm (2 steel plates and 20 screws) to at their show last year, and I’d be fucking lying if I said I don’t get a little panicky every time it comes on.  Except this time around, I was way to stoked and just lost my shit in the pit which I didn’t leave for the entirety of the show.

The Souls setlist was created by Mike Dirnt of Green Day fame, and he had them play songs off of most of their albums, with a pretty strong emphasis on How I Spent My Summer Vacation.  We were rowdy throughout the entire set (I realize now I didn’t watch them at all as I was in the pit the ENTIRE time).  At one point, the band brought up The Loved Ones who played their song Jane which was pretty sweet.  Great Souls show, no serious injuries (a little black eye ain’t no thang), and I think I’m finally convinced of getting a Bouncing Souls tattoo that I’ve been contemplating for the last 10 years.

Set (From what I remember and not in order):
Manthem
Say Anything
Sing Along Forever (I think)
Toilet Song
East Coast Fuck You
Hopeless Romantic
True Believers
Gone
Quick Check Girl
Ballad Of Johnny X
Sarah Saturday
Lean On Sheena
Better Things
I Like Your Mom
The Guest

MP3:
Bouncing Souls – Low Life
Grey Area – Lucky
The Casualties – Get Off My Back

More:
Bouncing Souls “Worst” Album
Bouncing Souls – The Good The Bad And The Argyle
Bouncing Souls Split Series


Category: live, music, punk, show, Uncategorized / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Cobra Lung (For fans of Negative Approach, Paint it Black, Coke Bust)

/ November 20, 2012 / No comments

I get a little nostalgic every time I listen to Cobra Lung.  Sure, it may have only been two years ago, but listening to the tongue in cheek straight edge hardcore band makes me miss the Terrordome and other Philly basement shows, and they were easily one of the most fun local bands around… more people should know them.

These NJ/Philly dudes played fast and furious (starring Vin Diesel) hardcore and their self titled (ok, I think it’s self titled… I’m not sure it’s ever been officially released) one track 4 song jam is probably my favorite by them.  Containing the songs Rock And Roll, Throwback Soda, Beefstick Jerky, and John F Ryan Kennedy… Cobra Lung is a whirl wind of stage dives and pits (bonus points if you’re doing it alone in your bedroom).

Even though they broke up, which is super lame… Cobra Lung is really good, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll check em out.

MP3:
Cobra Lung – Rock And Roll, Throwback Soda, Beefstick Jerky, and John F Ryan Kennedy

More Jock Jams:
Cobra Lung Split
Lighten Up – I’d Rather Be Snoring
Lighten Up – Absolutely Not
Cobra Lung Live

Buy:
Cobra Lung

Category: hardcore, music, punk / Tags: , , , , ,

The Misfits – Walk Among Us (For fans of The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks)

/ November 15, 2012 / One comment


Around Halloween I mentioned that I have been on a serious Misfits kick as of late, and that still hasn’t settled down yet.  I’m sure all you punkers know who The Misfits are (if you don’t, they were a punk band from NJ formed in the 70s who mixed catchy aggressive melodies with B-rated horror film themes), and the one I’ve been listening to the most lately is Walk Among Us.

Released as The Misfits debut full length back in 1982, Walk Among Us was actually the 3rd album the band recorded as the band had a hard time generating label interest… (way to drop the fucking ball on that one labels).  Consisting of 13 songs in 25 minutes, The Misfits played a style of punk rock blending “in your head all fucking day” chord progressions with Danzig’s “blues crooner on bath salts” to make some of the most high energy songs of their time.

The band really took the 1950s and 1960s influences that early punk had to heart with plenty of “whoas” and oldies chord progressions, but instead of lyrics about lost loves we get songs about collecting skulls and zombies from outer space exterminating all humans.

Walk Among Us is a rowdy damn good time and a classic punk album that you should definitely have.

MP3:
The Misfits – Astro Zombies

All I Want Is The World:
Misfits – Static Age
Cock Sparrer – Shock Troops
The Buzzcocks – Singles Go Steady
The Clash – London Calling

Buy:
Misfits

Category: music, punk / Tags: , , , ,

The Misfits – Static Age (For fans of The Ramones, The Adicts, Danzig)

/ October 30, 2012 / No comments

I don’t know if it’s because it’s almost Halloween, or maybe because my Jersey roots force me to… but I’ve been on a serious Misfits kick as of late (I mean, I often am… but now it’s even intensified).  Chances are if you’re a fan of punk, you damn well know who The Misfits are, but for the 2% of readers who might not, The Misfits formed in NJ back in 1977 and pretty much are the gods of the whole B-rated campy horror punk genre.

The album I find myself gravitating towards the most is Static Age, which was technically recorded in 1978, but wasn’t actually released until 1997 (due to the lack of labels interested in releasing it… hindsight’s 20/20 eh?).  Containing 17 classic Misfits horror tunes, the band plays incredibly catchy punk rock while Danzig sounds like a drunken Elvis singing over it.

Clocking in just over forty minutes, Static Age is pretty much a must for any fan of punk rock in general, and has influenced countless bands.

Mp3:
The Misfits – Hybrid Moments

You Got Some Fucking Attitude:
The Misfits – American Pyscho (post Danzig)
Black Flag – The First Four Years
The Adolescents

Buy:
Interpunk

Category: music, punk / Tags: , , , ,

Lifetime – Hello Bastards (For fans of Kid Dynamite, Saves The Day, Bouncing Souls)

/ July 10, 2012 / No comments


There are seriously some days when I don’t feel like doing anything but listen to Lifetime all day, and no, I’m not talking about that stupid television station that just shows women getting beat all the time.  Maybe it’s my Jersey blood and maybe I’m a little bit biased, but I am willing to say that their second release Hello Bastards completely redefined hardcore and influenced a countless number of bands.

Released back in 1995 and consisting of 12 melodic hardcore tunes, Lifetime brought a completely new element to a scene that was at the time dominated by more tough guy bands from NY, and put NJ on the hardcore map.

Whether it’s desperately singing along to mid-tempo “I’m Not Calling You” or two stepping my brains out to “(The Gym Is) Neutral Territory”, I find myself returning to Hello Bastards again and again.  I could probably make bittersweet, yet triumphant “Ostracized” the anthem of life with it’s chorus We are all alone, none of us don’t know, where to begin. / We’re doing for ourselves. Through Ari’s vocals and the melodic chord progressions and bass lines, the music manages to be emotional without ever losing it’s hardcore edge.

Under appreciated by many, a lot of people will always see Lifetime as “that band Dan Yemin was in before Kid Dynamite and Paint It Black”.  Shit, even when I was an angsty teen listening to them, I didn’t appreciate them anywhere near as much as I should have, but I’ve grown much wiser in my (angsty) adult years.  A gem in hardcore history, and a gem from my home state.

MP3:
Lifetime – Daneurysm

More:
Lifetime Live In Philly 2011
Saves The Day – Can’t Slow Down (Seriously. if you like Lifetime, listen to this first album by Saves The Day, straight up melodic hardcore)
Kid Dynamite, And The Art Of Moshing Everywhere

Buy:
Lifetime – Hello Bastards

Category: hardcore, music, punk / Tags: , , , , ,

Static Radio NJ – We Are All Beasts (For fans of Lifetime, Banquets, The Great Explainer)

/ June 22, 2012 / No comments


Static Radio NJ have evolved quite a bit over the past few years.  After releasing their debut One For The Good Guys EP, the band gained popularity due to their no bullshit, fast paced hardcore.  With their follow up An Evening Of Bad Decisions, Static Radio NJ switched gears into a more melodic direction, and with their latest release We Are All Beasts, they expand their Lifetime-esque sound even more.

With 12 melodic punk tracks it’s almost impossible not to compare them to other NJ contemporaries such as Banquets or The Great Explainer.  While the band is more melodic, Static Radio NJ manages to be more straightforward in their melodies.  At times on Evening Of Bad Decisions, it sometimes sounded like the band was trying too hard to change their sound up and evolve, but on We Are All Beasts the songs are much more natural and organic sounding.  The band also shows a completely new side breaking uncharted territory with their acoustic tearjerker Geeks, yet still manage to remain gritty as fuck.

Where in the past vocals used to be yelled or screamed, the majority are now sung with a gruffness that (strangely) reminds me a bit of Kurt Cobain (seriously… go listen to Some Kind Of Something or the chorus of I Might Kill, you’ll see what I mean).

Fans who were hoping for a return to hardcore form will be disappointed, but while One For The Good Guys holds a special place in my hardcore heart, We Are All Beasts is definitely one fuck of a listen and definitely worth your time.

MP3:
Static Radio NJ – I Might Kill

More:
Static Radio NJ – One For The Good Guys
Static Radio NJ – An Evening of Bad Decisions
Lifetime Live In Philly

Buy:
We Are All Beasts

Category: music, punk / Tags: , , ,

The Bouncing Souls – Comet (For fans of Hot Water Music, The Loved Ones, Gaslight Anthem)

/ June 12, 2012 / No comments


New Jersey’s The Bouncing Souls and I have a bit of a history.  They’ve easily been my favorite band since I picked up their Self Titled many moons ago as an angst filled teen, I have seen them countless of times, and even fucking broke my arm at one of their shows (resulting in the permanent fixture of 2 steel plates and about 20 screws in my arm.  Their music has (and still) gets me through some of the roughest patches of my life, and I’m been seriously been considering getting this tattoo since I turned 18 (which was 9 years ago).  Needless to say, I’m a pretty fucking die hard Souls fan.

With all that being said, I was cautiously stoked for the release of Comet, as I didn’t really love the Ghosts On The Boardwalk or The Gold Record (don’t get me wrong, there’s some solid songs on there I love… but I don’t find myself listening to them regularly.)  Now, I know you’re supposed to listen to music contextually as opposed to comparatively, but when I’m listening to an album and I can easily switch to Maniacal Laughter at any point if I get bored… fuck it, I’m going to compare things.  So how does newly released Comet stack up?  I’m not entirely sure yet.

On one hand, with songs like Infidel, Baptized, and DFA the Souls do seem to embrace their punk rock roots a bit more on Comet than on their previous two release, but they still pursue the more mellow, Bruce Springsteen influenced songs that we found on Ghosts On The Boardwalk.  Even the mellow songs like Fast Times and In Sleep are pretty solid.  Also worth mentioning is the first single Static, which while a solid song, doesn’t even sound like the Bouncing Souls until the anthematic breakdown (and I honestly wouldn’t be too surprised if this one gets radio play.)

There aren’t any real lulls in the album, but there aren’t incredible passionate highs for me either.  The whole thing comes off a bit generic, and it may be because it’s The Bouncing Souls and everyone expects greatness from them all the time, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fun album to throw on.

Will it enter my regular rotation like anything pre Gold Record?  Probably not, but I do sense it may be a bit of a grower for me.

MP3:
Bouncing Souls – Baptized

More:
Bouncing Souls “Worst” Album
Bouncing Souls – The Good The Bad And The Argyle
Bouncing Souls Split Series
Bouncing Souls – Ghosts On The Boardwalk

Buy:
Amazon

Category: music, punk / Tags: , , ,
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