Monday, January 16, 2006

nml-v30

Todays show is SICK!!! - I'm sick as a dog, and so today I played some sick ass trax.
Check these bands out....

Brad Sucks
I make music and put it on the internet.

Ummm, simple enough... Rock on man!

The Matches
Straight outta Oakland, the Matches set the California music scene on fire last year thanks to twelve explosive, hook-injected songs recorded on the cheap in their basements and living rooms. Coupled with an unstoppable work ethic that included the band's very own "Commotion Promotion" tactics, buzz on the quartet's self-released debut E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals and the live shows that supported it spread like a virus to music enthusiasts up and down the Golden State and, as they toured small venues relentlessly, across the country.Despite the ensuing hype that landed the interest of numerous label A&R execs, the truth is that the Matches wouldn't be shit without contagious anthems like "The Jack Slap Cheer" or "The Restless." It's these songs, sounding like they were written for the bored and lonely kids loitering in bowling alleys and backyards across the fruited plain, that have sparked so much attention.Formed as The Locals in 1997, when vocalist/guitarist Shawn Harris, drummer Matt Whalen and bassist Justin San Souci were early in their respective tenures at Oakland's Bishop O'Dowd High, the group grew frustrated by the turn of the millennium at the lack of under-21 venues in the Bay Area. Commandeering a webcasting warehouse called iMusicast in their home city, they launched a show called L3: Live, Loud and Local. In an effort to promote these L3 shows, the band - now with guitarist Jon Devoto in the fold - initiated "Commo Promo," accosting potential fans exiting concerts and clubs, student unions, dorms, high schools, malls and fast food joints, welcome or not. By performing these brief acoustic attack sets in the days prior to L3 gigs, word soon spread and the shows started selling out - without advertising or publicity.Changing monikers in time to self-finance and release their February 2003 debut, the Matches mothballed their educational pursuits to focus on music. Veering from headlining West Coast All-Ages venues to touring opportunities with Reel Big Fish, Lit, and Zebrahead, the latter even asked Shawn, Matt, Justin and Jon to join them for a ten-day trek to Japan late in the year. Around that time a new tune, "December is for Cynics" appeared alongside Blink 182, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and New Found Glory, on the Immortal Records benefit compilation, A Santa Cause.The group also aligned with Epitaph, walking away from the lure of those wide- open major label checkbooks. And now the energy and innovation of E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals is yours to behold, you lucky bastards.If the Matches sound like they could be the next big thing in a way that nearly every other band only wishes they could, perhaps it's the musical and lyrical ingenuity that steers "Eryn Smith," an exuberant, irresistible song about falling in love with a punk rock girl. With the throbbing bass-line that launches "Dog-Eared Page" and the wry, quirky rocker "Chain Me Free," the Matches have more hooks than your Grandpa's tackle box. When they do tap their influences, such as the blend of Elvis Costello and the Faint in "Audio Blood," it's done tastefully, damn-near out of respect. And with tunes about dying for a new zipcode ("Borderline Creep") or dying in slow motion at our own careless hand ("Sick Little Suicide"), these concise, communicable bursts tap a common nerve. Whether your memories of sneaking out a window to catch your ride to that not-to-be-missed show are from last summer's Warped Tour or from the days when Green Day first exploded, the Matches take you back to those moments in an instant. Now that's red-tipped Rock & Roll. Light 'em up.

Sick Of It All
As torchbearers of this only true remaining worldwide musical underground, SICK OF IT ALL is the one band upon which every fan can depend. From Iceland to Japan, from Argentina to the UK, hardcore fans have remained under the commercial radar for two decades. Whether deliberately shunned or accidentally overlooked by the mainstream, these hundreds of thousands of kids live for something that cannot be fabricated or target-marketed to them: lyrics that capture their alienation, music that channels their rage, and the emotional release provided only by the most energetic and communal of live shows.
SICK OF IT ALL’s latest sonic conquest comes in the form of a collection of B-sides and rarities titled Outtakes For The Outcast. These 15 tracks have been compiled over the years and make up some of their best songs and hardest to find material; covetous record collectors be damned! Outtakes For The Outcast is the band’s fifth full length for the San Francisco based indie-punk label, Fat Wreck Chords. In addition to their classic full lengths like Scratch the Surface and Blood, Sweat, and No Tears, SOIA have four other records on Fat: Call to Arms, Yours Truly, Live In A Dive, and Life On The Ropes. Eight full lengths in all, and a catalog that has influenced numerous bands from all genres of underground music.
While SICK OF IT ALL’s transition from indie label to bigger indie to major and back again has been the subject of heated debate in the worldwide HC forum, the band has always had the last word. Putting its collective nose to the grindstone and touring non-stop around the world, the band has blazed new ground for hardcore figuratively and literally: Refining and expanding the genre for nearly a decade and a half, playing the first ever hardcore shows and some of the most obscure corners of the world, and often becoming the first true hardcore band to crack the Top 100 and play the major festivals of many a foreign territory. It’s only fitting for SICK OF IT ALL to now be releasing their best stuff on an indie label with roots as deep as their own.
But for SICK OF IT ALL, it’s not all about retrospective records, because the band is still riding high from their latest studio material: Life On The Ropes. For the making of this full length SICK OF IT ALL switched things up by tracking and producing the new record by themselves. This is an unprecedented occurrence in SICK OF IT ALL’s long recording career and has them getting back to the Do-It-Yourself ethic that first endeared fans years ago. After countless hours spent in the studio and with years of road-tested musicianship under their belts, SOIA has all the necessary tools to produce their own material. And in a continued effort to make this album even more noteworthy, SICK OF IT ALL enlisted the guest vocals of the great John Joseph on the song ‘Paper Tiger’. This is indeed a landmark as John Joseph is the Godfather of the New York hardcore scene and was the original frontman of the seminal NYHC band the Cro-Mags. SICK OF IT ALL pulled all the stops for this record and the listener can tell that on this album SOIA is expanding their skills and their sound.
Between Outtakes For The Outcast, Life On The Ropes, and their colossal U.S. tour they just wrapped up with the band Terror, things don’t seem to be slowing down for the scene’s most storied veterans. This band is relentless and you can always count on them for intense live shows and powerful records’stay tuned!

Cobretti
Hailing from SF, vets of bands such as: Motorhome, The Grannies, All About Evil, Sammy Shakes and a bunch of other dumb bands you never heard of . Our main goal is to ignore everything that hipsters claim as their own for the next 20 minutes and pound out some fine loud Rock.

As always, if you like what you hear, go buy the cd... Beacause if you don't support the musicians, the music goes way...
Go check out The Tech Tap Podcast , more info about them at the end of todays show.
Thats it guys. I'm going to go take some tylenol and sleep this shit off.
Laterzzzzzzzzzzz
Simon

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Sunday, January 15, 2006

Headbangers Lab - Jan 14th 2006

Todays show - Headbangers Lab - Jan 14th 2006 - Having another hard attack, check out the bands played on todays show...

awaiting the apocalypse
Awaiting the Apocalypse was formed late in the summer of 2004 by Tyler and Marcos with one vision in mind, to make the heaviest music possible. Through a couple of line up changes (between slackers and finding a drummer that could keep up), with Jon on lead guitar and Scott on the drums, A.T.A. is a force to be reckoned with.
Confirmed Kill

137
Taking influence from "Dark-Groove" masters like Black Sabbath, Morbid Angel, and Cathedral... 137 has proven themselves the new kings of the genre. Turn on a blacklight and enjoy. - Cordial Records (www.cordialrecords.com)


Chapstik
The finest Hillbilly Heavy Metal Art Stoner Cockfight Music from Detroit Michigan via South Texas
Life In Pictures

Prepare for War
This band started october 2004 and has made a big apperence in the portland hardcore scene. For being a young band we have shared stages with make move, the warriors, six bullets, endless fight, hollow ground, the contender, reflux, a taste for murder, brutal fight, lose none, and many many more. To sum it al
morpheena

HORSE the band
Stumbling out of Los Angeles, CA, HORSE the band has been many people's favorite little secret since their inception in 2000. The godfathers of the sound already coined as "Nintendo-core", they've built a sizable worldwide fan base just by being creative and having a slightly demented sense of humor. Deconstructing hardcore and metal trademarks and soaking them with a sharp tongue and inventive keyboard leads, HORSE the band has risen to the forefront of eclectic and extreme hard rock music. When HORSE the band signed with Pluto Records in early 2003, they finally got to release a debut full-length, R. Borlax, which was an immediate hit. The media picked up on the buzz as well and the band found themselves praised in the pages of some of the top music magazines such as Kerrang, Alternative Press, Terrorizer, and Rocksound just to name a few.
In the summer of 2004, the band set out on the most ambitious tour any band, big or small, could hope to accomplish. HORSE THE WORLD TOUR 2004 included 85 shows in 90 days, spanning 7 countries. One highlight was a jaw-dropping performance at Hellfest in July, which was characteristic of the whole tour which turned out to be a huge success. An offer from Combat Records soon followed, and HORSE the band seized the opportunity to take things to a new level. The band found themselves in Seattle recording with producer/engineer Matt Bayles (Botch, Norma Jean, Mastodon) and produced what's sure to be a huge follow-up to R. Borlax. The album will be called "The Mechanical Hand" and is scheduled to hit stores this fall through Combat Records.Catch HORSE the band on tour all summer, and making another appearance on this year's Hellfest!

Trauma Concept
Formed in April 2001, Trauma Concept came together for one thing - their love of metal. Ever since, they've become known not only for their "enormously heavy" sound, but for their high intensity shows as well. With members from Texas, New York, and Massachusetts, this Framingham, Ma. based metal band has fused all of their influences into an original, focused, attack. The result is the double bass assault of Derek Jay on drums, the searing vocals of newly added frontman Trey Holton, John Jones' guitar riffs that go from blistering, to down right brutal breakdowns, and Scott Heron delivering an evil, damaging rumble from the bass. Thus, creating their own distinct sound that Boston SoundCheck Magazine describes as "..potent, throbbing, enormously heavy music". Since their debut release, "The End of Denial"(2002) [recorded by Adam D. of KillSwitch Engage (Roadrunner Records artists)], the band has been a non-stop powerhouse, gaining a nationwide fanbase. With performances at large festivals such as GWAR-B-Que (w/Lamb Of God), Milwaukee MetalFest (w/Exodus, Arch Enemy, Nile), & Locobazooka (w/Black Label Society, Hatebreed, Disturbed), Trauma Concept has proven their ability to win over and "own" crowds of any size. Combine these accomplishments with constant touring, and the fact that the band had only been around for a year and a half when these accomplishments were made, and you can plainly see that Trauma Concept is unarguably one of the hardest working bands out there. Surely one to keep your eyes and ears on! With the addition of being part of MTV's "Battle For Ozzfest", the response to the band has been overwhelming, and brought worldwide requests for them to pass through new areas. One thing is for sure - This band will continue to play more shows in a broader area for an increasingly larger audience. Overall, Trauma Concept will prove to you that metal is here, it’s been improved, and there’s no stopping it.


As always if you like what you hear on todays show, go check them out and buy a cd, because if you don't support musicians, the music goes away.
I'll finish the show notes and links in the morning, my ass is numb from sitting in the same spot for 3 hours...
Rock on!
Can you hear me now!?!
Simon Smith

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Wednesday, January 11, 2006

nml-v28

Todays show - Hey, it could happen..... I'm adding new tracks to the playlist. Let me know what you think, crank it or yank it? Keep it or delete it? 100% free podsafe music goodness.
If you dig what we played today, click on the band you liked the most to learn more about them, and/or buy a cd. Don't forget about the "BIG BLUE BUTTON". We need your support.

Check out these new bands.

Opus Dai
Drawing on influences from Led Zeppelin and Jeff Buckley to Tool, The Mars Volta and Maiden. Opus Däi embody a musical energy that have made them a must-see live band with a diverse and loyal following in their home town Los Angeles. Look for Opus Däi's debut full-length in March 2006!

George Hrab
George Hrab is a multi-instrumentalist philosopher skeptic who writes, produces and performs original material. George firmly believes that the most direct route to someone's brain is via their funny bone and dance shoes. Geo has been featured on SKEPTICALITY (full episode!) and COVERVILLE.

Crank or yank?
Onion Flavored Rings
3-piece, formed 6/01. Paul (bass/bu.vox) played in great bands like Crimpshrine & Go Sailor. Erick (drums) publishes SCAM, in addition to playing in tons of one-off bands like Chaos LR, Allergic to Bullshit, Hey Schmecky, & the legendary Chickenhead. Steve (git/vox) founded the funyons so long ago.

Keep or delete?
Escape Goats
Our lead guitarist plays the drums, two different, but equally unconventional voices sing lead vocals and our guitar player recently learned the names of all five strings on his guitar. Ideally, we'd just like to play songs that rock, and maybe amuse people a little with our witty lyrics.

What do you think? I dig it...
LifeInBraille
From the Black Hills of South Dakota to the San Francisco Bay, Creepy Sleepy Music has published and promoted artists since 2002. If you hate the Creepy Sleepy Podcast, then you'll also hate Creepy Sleepy Music! If you are of refined character, then you know that Creepy Sleepy Music means 'class.'

These guys had a great response on the last Headbangers Lab...
The Jonbenet
The Jonbenét began in the sweltering Houston summer of 2003. The band released their first demo later that year, and following a lineup change, proceeded to release two self-released EPs in the summer of 2004 ("Five Stories Retold") and again in early 2005 (a split with The Kidnap Soundtrack). During all this time, the Jonbenét hit the road hard, traveling across the US and into Canada, building their fan base solely based on punk rock ethics and incredible word of mouth.The band soon found support from Pluto Records, and plan to release "The Plot Thickens" in July. The 8-song release is a discography of sorts, combining remastered versions of both self-released EPs recorded in the past year.The music of the Jonbenét consists of a blend of indie stylings, metallic urgencies, and a post-hardcore sense of delivery. Appealing to a vast array of listeners, they have comfortably shared the stage with a variety of bands such as The Red Chord, A Life Once Lost, Murder By Death, The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, Breather Resist, Dead To Fall, Codeseven, Evergreen Terrace, Fear Before The March Of Flames, and many more.The Jonbenét will again be embarking on a nationwide tour this summer.

That's the show. We played a couple new tracks today. brand new to the PMN. Tell me what YOU think. newmusiclab@hotmail.com
See you show 29

Simon

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Sunday, January 08, 2006

Headbangers lab - Jan.8th 2006

Todays show- Headbangers lab - Jan. 8th 2006
I forgot to upload last nights show, so I updated the show with a massive set list.
Check this shit out!

Killing Time
Way back in 1988, during the heyday of NYC hardcore, three guys named Carl, Rich, and Drago departed their band Breakdown to hook up with ex- Token Entry vocalist Anthony Comunale to form Raw Deal. As Raw Deal they released a demo and toured the US and Released a track on the benchmark Blackout! records compilation Where The Wild Things Are.

137
Taking influence from "Dark-Groove" masters like Black Sabbath, Morbid Angel, and Cathedral... 137 has proven themselves the new kings of the genre. Turn on a blacklight and enjoy. - Cordial Records (http://www.cordialrecords.com/)

All for nothing
All For Nothing is a Rotterdam based band with five members, who will not be labelled easily. Their debut album “Start At Zero” was released in July 2004 and consists of eight songs, alternating between up-tempo punkrock and finger-breaking hardcore riffs, all drenched in melody and sarcasm.


UNCROWNED
Explosive, Modern Edge Rock band UNCROWNED, was chosen by CMJ's Bobby Haber and Dick Clark as one of the 10 hottest unsigned bands in the CountryUNCROWNED are only the second independent band in the history of Hard Rock Cafe to have an instrument added to the HRC permanent memorabilia

Toasters Not Torpedoes
We are a 3 piece punk rock band from Farmington Hills, Michigan. WE JUST RELEASED A NEW CD! Its called "The Scary World of Busy Richard". If you want a copy, its free for now, so just let us know and we'll send it to you. If we have to ship it, you just pay shipping. If you already have it, pirate it like crazy, whore it out like its your mother on tuesday, or something. Anyway, thanks for checking us out, we hope to see you at a show sometime soon.


Thoughts Lost
Formed in Buffalo NY in August 2002, Thoughts Lost was created for one reason. That reason is an undying love for the music that is metal. Bridging the styles of everything heavy, and melodic minor clean parts, Thoughts Lost has become known as a band that can be brutally heavy as well .....


Tangaroa
www.tangaroa.org.ukwww.tangaroa.org.uk/forumadd us - www.myspace.com/uglypeoplebreedfast

The Deadly
The Deadly began in 2001 when members of some of Philadelphia's most impressive bands happened to discuss the need for something new in the city of brotherly love. With experience as members of legendary hardcore band Turmoil, they decided to fulfill this need with a new take on danger rock. Thus, The Deadly was born.Within a few months, The Deadly were holed up at Gradwell House Studios recording their debut EP, "Phantoms In The Frequencies," to be released by Hawthorne Street Records the following year. The album received great reviews comparing the band to a variety of acts such as The Jesus Lizard, Converge, The Nerve Agents, and TSOL. Soon thereafter, other commitments lead to instability in the ranks, leaving guitar player and main songwriter Jonathon Hodges (from Turmoil) and searing vocalist Rich Lippold as the only remaining members. After a regrouping period, Hodges and Lippold called on some friends to stabilize the line up welcoming drummer Jonathan Pushik (from Turmoil), guitarist Matt Hanemann (from Metroplex/ex-Sound Of Failure), and bassist Steve Turtso. After recording some new demos, the Deadly signed on with Pluto Records and headed into Skylight Studios with Vince Ratti (Hot Cross, Bury Your Dead, Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer) to record their debut full-length. The Wolves Are Here Again is an all out assault on the senses, exhibiting a wide array of stylistic changes from their first release but still holding tightly to the energy and aggression they had previously developed.

The Jonbenet
The Jonbenét began in the sweltering Houston summer of 2003. The band released their first demo later that year, and following a lineup change, proceeded to release two self-released EPs in the summer of 2004 ("Five Stories Retold") and again in early 2005 (a split with The Kidnap Soundtrack). During all this time, the Jonbenét hit the road hard, traveling across the US and into Canada, building their fan base solely based on punk rock ethics and incredible word of mouth.The band soon found support from Pluto Records, and plan to release "The Plot Thickens" in July. The 8-song release is a discography of sorts, combining remastered versions of both self-released EPs recorded in the past year.The music of the Jonbenét consists of a blend of indie stylings, metallic urgencies, and a post-hardcore sense of delivery. Appealing to a vast array of listeners, they have comfortably shared the stage with a variety of bands such as The Red Chord, A Life Once Lost, Murder By Death, The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, Breather Resist, Dead To Fall, Codeseven, Evergreen Terrace, Fear Before The March Of Flames, and many more.The Jonbenét will again be embarking on a nationwide tour this summer.

Pink teeth
We are all about music. We release it, promote it and make people like it. Well, try at least. How's it going so far?

My Sorrow
4 dudes playing shred/death/thrash/progressive metal

Osiris Rising
Osiris Rising was conceived in 2002 by Joseph Arthur (lead guitar) and Brian Vorisek (drums). Vocalist Michael Ibarra was sought out shortly. After numerous bassists, the line-up was slolidified by Paul "Papa Middy" Arthur

Morpheena
We started to play together in 2004 and are now ready to take over the world (:For more info and MP3´s, check out our website: www.morpheena.com

KAPUDA
KAPUDA is breaking grounds with music that holds no punches back...A little political and a lot of fun..KAPUDA touches on issues that are real and to the point..KAPUDA has shared the stage with:POWERMAN 5000, ACCIDENT EXPERIMENT, MANNTIS, 36 CRAZYFISTS and more..Watch out for these guys!!!!

Hostile
John Moser: DrumsBlaine Rice: GuitarMatt LaCasse: VocalsEric Rittenhouse: Bass

Darque Carnival
Darque Carnival came together in May of 1999. Since that time Darque Carnival has played over 100 shows with such acts as Dope, Testament, 40 Grit, Deeds of Flesh, Nile, December, Witchery, Pissing Razors, Metalchurch and dozens more! Besides the music that Darque Carnival plays, DC has a show rich

Coded
CODED is NY's powerful female fronted original hard rock / modern metal band. CODED’s socially conscious, existence-related lyrics are delivered with a mixture of power & passion over untempered double-bass beats, sick riffs and metal-melodic bass creating thought-provoking, head-banging songs.

Damn! Thats a shload of tunes, what a set list, and the best part is, IT'S FREE!!!
If you got into any bands played on the show tonight click on the bands link and go learn more about them, or buy a cd. If you want to support this show, please fill out the survey listed under feedback on our home page. http://www.thenewmusiclab.com/ or http://www.headbangerslab.com/
Send comments, questions or anything else to Mail: newmusiclab@hotmail.com - Phone: 206-666-3414
Until next Saturday, or over at the NML show.....
Rock on!
Simon Smith

Download this show

nml-v26

Todays show - The email said I didn't talk enough, so I talked about a bunch of nothing and played some great tunes and band promos.

The Black Math Experiment
The Black Math Experiment does not exist! It is purely a fiction dreamed up by intellectual masturbators of the lower orders. No, I do not have the means to gainsay these so called “discoveries”. They are too fantastic to be discussed in more learned circles. Arithmancy, indeed. Pay them no mind!

The Misprintz
The Misprintz are a well-oiled 4 piece strategic Rock and Roll machine which features 3 main songwriters and 4 unique personalities that create a fun and exciting stage show. The MISPRINTZ have been around for 2 years and have released 2 albums to become one of LA's hottest emerging bands.

Faster Faster Harder Harder
We are Faster Faster Harder Harder, a Baltimore-based rock band. We play music that works to build intensity out of simple ideas. Stemming from punk and indie influences, we make music that's fun to play but that carries some weight with it; music that aims to combine tight rhythms with inventive melodies,

The Hillbilly Casino
The Hillbilly Casino features Nashville rockabilly pioneers Nic Roulette (ex - Blue Moon Boys) Geoff Firebaough (ex - BR5-49) Ronnie Crutcher (bassist for Brian Setzers "Rockabilly Riot" gigs) and Andrew Dickson (drummer for Matthew Ebel) "D On Drums." Get rockin'!!!

Thee Minks
Formed in 2001 by guitarist / vocalist Hope Diamond and bassist / vocalist Liz Lixx, Thee Minks burst out of the garage and onto the stage, steaming up bar windows up and down the East Coast with their infectious Ronettes-meets-the-Ramones-by-way-of-Radio-Birdman stomp. After solidifying their line-up with the addition of drum whore extraordinaire The Playthang, the band headed back into the studio to add another notch to their rock and roll bedpost, resulting in the 14 tough and sexy bittersweet rock and roll nuggets that make up their first full length CD, Are You Ready Now?

The Plus
A hard charging live band that pulls no punches while performing an agressive, high energy, and, above all, honest show. Sound wise, The Plus borrow a little from the past and a little from the present Think: Rolling Stones, Pavement, Archers of Loaf, Velvet Underground, The Who, Sonic Youth...The Everydays Pop-o-matic the way pop was intended- for mature (?) adults (and a few enlightened kids). Really...Enough with the muscle guy hardcore. Harmonies from the heavens and melodies from Mars. Think: REM (if Michael Stipe wasn't such a wuss), Nick Cave, tame Pavement...

So how do you like the new mobile show?
Mail: newmusiclab@hotmail.com - Phone: 206-666-3414
Laterzzzzzzzzzzzz
Simon

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Friday, January 06, 2006

FYI

Shit! I want to do a show but I have to go to work in 5 hours. I just got here! [insert choice profanity here]. Ya know, some days, I'm extremely proud to be a hard working, no collar, low class citizen. Today is NOT one of those days.
Show 26 coming soon... Headbangers Ball ehum... I meen Headbangers Lab is tomorrow. Thanks to the dedicated NML heads that filled out the survey! You are fucking cool!
If the rest of you want to be cool like them you should do the survey, C'mon everybody's doing it, and you'll be cool like us.
Rock on!
Simon

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

nml-25

Todays show - Live bands! ok, not live in the studio but, live recordings. Theres something about the live energy, that cant be captured in a recording studio. I found my compressor! Damn, me likes. If it sounds like ass on your ipod, drop me an email newmusiclab@hotmail.com
Here's the live bands on todays show....
Back trax by, Rocket city riot, and ended the show today with The plus. Thanks guys!

Gecko 3
Edinburgh based groove trio - gig highlights are mini tours in Scottish central best and highlands, London (including Ronnie Scott's), New York, Germany and N. France. 2nd EP 'Mentum' released in 2005

Swingin' Utters
San Francisco’s biggest and best punk band, the Swingin’ Utters, have returned to set the scene aright with two powerful releases: their latest studio full length, Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones, and their even more recent live album for Fat’s Live In A Dive series. Where other bands have made a mockery of street punk with their corny gimmicks and posturing, the Utters deliver music brimming with the passion and desperation the genre is known for.
It all started for the Utters back in 1995 with their first full length The Streets of San Francisco, which was released to critical acclaim. As a result, the band received two Bammy’s (Bay Area Music Awards), one of which for best debut album. Their success caught the attention of many others as they were then invited to join the first Warped Tour and later went on to tour with fellow Bay Area punkers, Rancid.
We here at Fat Wreck Chords snatched the Utters up in 1996 in time to release a classic punk record in A Juvenile Product of the Working Class. Considered by many as one of the best punk records of the 90’s, Juvenile Product marked the Utters as the premiere punk outfit from SF. The release of this album sent the Utters into a touring frenzy as they toured the U.S. and Europe for nearly a full year with bands like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, NOFX, and Social Distortion.
Since then, the Utters have put out some glorious material. Two full lengths: Five Lessons Learned and a self-titled record in late 2000; and two EPs: Sounds Wrong and Brazen Head. Years of hard work and quality releases have firmly established them at the top of the Oi/streetpunk scene and garnered them much respect from their peers, touring nationally with The Dropkick Murphys and The Damned. They’ve even further bolstered their lineup by adding Spike from Me First and the Gimme Gimmes to give them yet another vocalist.
Throughout all these great tours and great records the band has stayed true to their working class ethic and proletariat roots by maintaining their blue-collar day jobs. Other bands pretend to sing about the plight of the working man, the Utters live it six days a week. Chief songwriters Darius and Johnny both have families to support and both work unglamorous day jobs. While Darius makes a living as a truck driver, Johnny works backbreaking hours in the Cinderblock warehouse.
Despite all the adversity and despair that is inherent to a working punk band, you won’t hear a muttered word of regret or resentment from the Swingin’ Utters. Never have they wavered from the righteous road of punk rock and never have they accepted offers from the abomination that is the corporate rock machine. With this latest (and arguably greatest) record, it’s clear that the Utters’ time is now. Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones is a breakthrough record made up of guts, Guinness, guitars, and accordions.
Their latest release makes up the sixth volume in Fat Wreck Chords’ Live In A Dive series that boasts other participants like No Use For A Name and Subhumans. The 23-song CD not only showcases all of the Utters’ hits captured at a sold-out show, but it also comes on an enhanced CD with live footage and interviews. It’s a perfect introduction for new fans, or a consummate release for streetpunks. Oi!

Lagwagon
Santa Barbara’s pride and joy, Lagwagon have been belting ‘em out since 1988. Their catchy brand of punk is an infectious blend of pop and hardcore, lyrically tackles an array of personal politics. This punky quintet has secured a massive following worldwide with their solid, tonal attack and hectic touring schedule. With over a million records sold (and all independently, pal!), it’s impossible to deny Lagwagon’s greatness. All of this is clearly evident with one listen to their latest studio masterpiece, and their ninth full length, Resolve, an album dedicated almost entirely to the recent suicide of former Lagwagon drummer Derrick Plourde.
The new record was written in only few short days after the unexpected death of Derrick. Whether songwriter Joey Cape was eager to pay homage to his best friend or just got a burst of inspiration, no one can be sure. But the listener can gather that these songs lean heavily on Lagwagon’s older melodic-core and skate-punk influences. Maybe that’s the real crux of this new batch of tunes: the band is reaching back to it’s earlier sound and the time when Derrick was pounding out a break-beat behind the drums. Regardless of the tragic circumstances, the Lagwagon faithful will no doubt be pleased with this return to form.
Lagwagon is an original Fat band’in fact the first band Fat Mike signed! They’ve been with us since their very first record, Duh, which was released in 1992 and quickly followed up by their second album, Trashed. More records ensued, including their breakthrough, Hoss, their B-sides collection, Let’s Talk About Leftovers, and their recent Live In A Dive installation. Ya see, after touring every corner of the globe Lagwagon decided that the next thing they had to do was release a live record so that ALL their fans could experience the mayhem. There are certain places so isolated that not even these ambitious pioneers can book a show there, and believe us on this one, we actually get fan mail Siberia and Burma. Everyone can now enjoy the ‘Wagon live and because we captured one of their sold-out and sweaty live shows on disc and released it in the form of the 22-song Live In A Dive album.
An endless touring schedule best describes Lagwagon, and while the members are extra busy with projects outside of the band’two are in Me First and the Gimme Gimmes’this latest full length will mark the return of Fat’s flagship band. They will once again get back on the ‘Wagon and bring their wild live show to the world; and after having last played the U.S. from the mainstage of the Warped Tour, their fans will eagerly welcome a tour of clubs and sets longer than 30 minutes. The theme of Resolve may be heavier than some of their previous stuff, but we all know how earnest feelings and anguish can make for the most compelling art. Resolve is no exception, and perhaps the band and it’s fans can come to terms with the momentous loss of Derrick together through this record.

Subhumans
Subhumans were, between 1980-85, one of the most prolific and original of the evolving UK punk scene; they were based in Warminster, Wiltshire, [SW England], and the lineup was Dick on vocals, Bruce played guitar, Phil on bass, and Trotsky on the drums. Dick had previously sung for The Mental, who released one EP and embodied the ‘can’t-play-will-play’ early punk ‘anyone-can-do-it’ attitude. Bruce had been in the Stupid Humans, also based in Warminster; these two met at an Angelic Upstarts gig in 1980, and when their bands split they got together to form Subhumans.
Musical influences were a mix of Sex Pistols, Damned, and similar punk originators, and prepunk bands like King Crimson and Frank Zappa, which led to a style of punk more intricate in its structure than their contemporaries, without losing the base energy and dynamics of punk. Dick’s lyrics, at once socially aware and heavily critical of social norms, placed them in the anarcho-punk area of the ever-expanding UK punk scene of the early 80s, alongside Crass, Antisect, Conflict, and Flux of Pink Indians, who released the band’s first 3 EPs [Demolition War, Reason For Existence, and Religious Wars] and their first LP [in ‘83] The Day The Country Died, which became an instant classic that went on to sell 100,000 copies, [largely at the cover price of ‘pay no more than #3.25’, which was as cheap as possible in order to make the music more accessible].
In ‘83 they formed their own label, Bluurg Records, and over the next two years released From the Cradle to the Grave LP [which included a 16 minute track of the same name that had the music press calling for a redefinition of ‘punk’!] Evolution EP, Time Flies 12” EP, Rats EP, Worlds Apart LP, and 29:29 Split Vision LP, which was released after splitting up in ‘85. By then they’d played 262 gigs including several European tours and 2 in the USA, [which was in the 80’s a rare achievement for a non-commercially minded band].
Dick went on to join seminal ska-punk-reggae band Culture Shock [86-89, 3 LPs on Bluurg Records], and met up with Phil and Trotsky again in Citizen Fish [89-???], who have so far recorded 7 LPs of their politipunk-ska songs and clocked up over 1000 gigs across the planet…then in ‘98 these 3 ex-Subhumans roped Bruce back in to reform Subhumans, to ‘see what it felt like’, and, it feeling rather excellent, have kept going with occasional touring and a limited release CD of old unused songs, Unfinished Business.
New songs are being created slowly but surely for another studio release, and a live one will be out in February; released as part of the Live in a Dive series on Fat Wreck Chords, it was recorded April ‘03 in Corona, California during a highly packed-out USA tour, and features 26 tracks that span their entire output and captures the intensity of Subhumans live that studio recordings could only hint at. In August, Queens of the Stone Age recorded and released their version of a Subs song ‘Wake Up Screaming’, and the film director Asia Argento has asked to use Subs music in her adaptation of ‘The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things’.

The hypertonics
Brian Lord and Mike Rogers form a strange and accelerating combination. More than balancing each other out they succeed in making things either gloriously lifting or gloriously disasterous. Foundations & ancestors include the ramones, the clash, ian mackaye, leonard cohen, george carlin, bob dylan.

The Experiments
Formed in San Diego in 1994, The Experiments have perfected their style of rock over countless gigs and cross-country tours. After 3 CD releases and 5 drummers, the band is ready to prevail over any adversity.

Bad Religion
Bad Religion has always seen music as a force for social change. On their latest CD entitled The Empire Strikes First, punk's most important active band takes its weightiest stance yet on the dual themes of religion and politics. Clearly condemning the Bush administration's doctrine of preemptive war, and questioning religion's increasing and ever-frightening role in American politics, Bad Religion's message proves to be more salient today than ever before and it's conveyed with the fierce musical attack that has helped define the band, and the genre, for two decades.The L.A. outfit's thirteenth studio album -- co-written and co-produced by vocalist Greg Graffin and guitarist Brett Gurewitz -- also finds Bad Religion raising its sonic stakes. With the disc's centerpiece, "Let Them Eat War," the band fires a roaring, three-minute missive at a certain so called compassionate conservative. Structured around a breakneck beat, blistering riffs and an apocalyptic chorus, the song -- which houses a ferocious verse by rising hip/hop intellect Sage Francis -- advocates an impoverished populace duped by the very Washingtonian prevaricator they've supported with their vote and their military service.

Opus Dai
Drawing on influences from Led Zeppelin and Jeff Buckley to Tool, The Mars Volta and Maiden. Opus Däi embody a musical energy that have made them a must-see live band with a diverse and loyal following in their home town Los Angeles. Look for Opus Däi's debut full-length in March 2006!


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