New Music Shindig 11/29 - Post Turkey New Music Extravaganza

1- "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" by Arcade Fire
2 - "I Still Believe" by Frank Turner
3 - "You Wouldn't Have To Ask" by Bad Books
4 - "Ice Hotels" by Dinosaur Bones
5 - "Getting Old" by Hellogoodbye
6 - "Til It's Done To Death" by John Nolan
7 - "Don't You Want It" by Lovers
8 - "Cameras" by Matt & Kim
9 - "Sleepyhead" by Passion Pit
10 - "Songs For Teenagers" by Fake Problems
11 - "Lydia" by Two Cow Garage
12 - "You Petty Pretty Things" by The Get Up Kids
13 - "Radioactive" by Kings Of Leon
14 - "Hands" by the Ting Tings
15 - "On The Other Side" by Kele
16 - "Surfing The Void" by Klaxons
17 - "Picture Perfect" by Atlantic/Pacific
18 - "Between The Bars" by Elliott Smith
19 - "Get Behind Me" by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
20 - "I Walked" by Sufjan Stevens
21 - "We've Got A Situation Here" by The Damned Things
22 - "In Division" by Underoath
23 - "Why It Scares Me" by La Dispute
24 - "Heart Attack At Thirty" by Polar Bear Club
25 - "What You Call Thought Control, I Call Thought Control" by The Felix Culpa
26 - "Done Haunting Houses" by The Republic Of Wolves
27 - "Dog's Blood" by Alexisonfire

New Music Shindig 11/22 - Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!

This year I am grateful for my wife Kim.  I am grateful that I got to see Crime in Stereo, Envy, and Touche Amore this year at the Basement.  I am grateful for the good releases that touched my life, My Dinosaur Life by Motion City Soundtrack, Searching For A Pulse / Weight Of The World by Touche Amore and La Dispute, Challengers by The New Pornographers, I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone by Crime In Stereo, Sever Your Roots by The Felix Culpa, and plethora of other albums that went on repeat over and over in my life.  Outside of the music world I am grateful for Graduate School, having my own kitchen to cook in and people to eat my food. 

1 - "We End Up Together" by The New Pornographers
2 - "You Wouldn't Have To Ask" by Bad Books
3 - "Brooklyn Boy" by Kevine Devine
4 - "I Can Barely Breathe" by Manchester Orchestra
5 - "I Will Play My Game Beneath The Spin Light" by Brand New
6 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" by Crime In Stereo
7 - "I'll Deserve Just That" by Touche Amore
8 - "Purexed" by P.O.S.
9 - "Til It's Done To Death" by John Nolan
10 - "Don't You Want It" by Lovers
11 - "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine
12 - "The Road" by Frank Turner
13 - "The Weekenders" by The Hold Steady
14 - "The Heaven & Hell Cotillion" by Fake Problems
15 - "Brandy, You're A Fine Girl" by Look Mexico
16 - "Ice Hotels" by Dinosaur Bones
17 - "Heart Of The Continent" by John K. Smason
18 - "Believe" / "Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now" by .Moneen.
19 - "Merry Happy" by Kate Nash
20 - "Silver Lining" by Rilo Kiley
21 - "Call It Off" by Tegan & Sara
22 - "Thirty One Today" by Aimee Mann
23 - "Living Saints" by Polar Bear Club
24 - "Divine Intervention" by Taking Back Sunday
25 - "My Favorite Accident" by Motion City Soundtrack
26 - "Be Calm" by fun.

New Music Shindig 11/15

Lately I have been listening to Manchester Orchestra's last album like crazy.  It has so much feeling and emotion to it.  Also very surprised by the first D.R.U.G.S. song.  It is nothing like Circa or Chiodos.  It has a different level of anger than previous albums.  The buzz makes all kind of sense.

1 - "As Long As There Is Whiskey In The World" by Murder By Death
2 - "Last Train To London" by The Salteens
3 - "The One I Love Is Gone" by The Secret Sisters
4 - "A Grown Man" by Tim Kasher
5 - "1,000 Years" by The Corin Tucker Band
6 - "Picture Perfect" by Atlantic/Pacific
7 - "History Reshifts Itself" by Touche Amore (Featuring Geoff Rickly)
8 - "Why It Scares Me" by La Dispute
9 - "What You Call Thought Control, I Call Thought Control" by The Felix Culpa
10 - "You Wouldn't Have To Ask" by Bad Books
11 - "Radioactive" by Kings Of Leon
12 - "I Still Believe" by Frank Turner
13 - "Meet Me In The Basement" by Broken Social Scene
14 - "My Own Sinking Ship" by Good Old War
15 - "Boxer" by Lovers
16 - "Til It's Done To Death" by John Nolan
17 - "The Burning City Smoke" by Kevin Devine
18 - "Kiss That Grrl" by Kate Nash
19 - "We End Up Together" by The New Pornographers
20 - "The Great White Ocean" by Antony & The Johnsons
21 - "Needle In The Hay" by Elliott Smith
22 - "Into The Light" by jj
23 - "My Body Is A Zombie For You" by Dead Man's Bones
24 - "Catch Myself Catching Myself" by Underoath
25 - "Dog's Blood" by Alexisonfire
26 - "We've Got A Situation Here" by The Damned Things
27 - "Understanding In A Car Crash" by Thursday

New Music Shindig 11/8

So a brief statement about last week: for some reason we were down as a station and I was unable to broadcast.  However I have been jamming out to a plethora of unplayable on radio songs.  "Mansions" by Kate Nash, Fugazi, Fucked Up, Touche Amore, La Dispute, just to name a few.  Here are the songs that I really have been playing on the air.

1 - "Alive" by Goldfrapp
2 - "For Ash" by Marnie Stern
3 - "Into The Mirror" by Minus The Bear
4 - "Cameras" by Matt & Kim
5 - "Kiss That Grrl" by Kate Nash
6 - "Boxer" by Lovers
7 - "Goodbye England (Covered In Snow)" by Laura Marling
8 - "My Heart Skips A Beat" by The Secret Sisters
9 - Claire's Ninth" by Ben Folds & Nick Hornby
10 - "The Chaos" by The Futureheads
11 - "Digging For Something" by Superchunk
12 - "Your Petty Pretty Things" by The Get Up Kids
13 - "Bamboo Bones" by Against Me!
14 - "Ice Hotels" by Dinosaur Bones
15 - "Liberties" by Attack In Black
16 - "The Weekenders" by The Hold Steady
17 - "Let The Record Go" by The Mynabirds
18 - "If Love Is Gone Where Do We Go From Here" by The Salteens
19 - "We End Up Together" by The New Pornographers
20 - "Vesuvius" by Sufjan Stevens
21 - "Tenderoni" by Kele
22 - "You Stay. I Go. No Following" by Look Mexico
23 - "My Sorrow's Name" by Good Old War
24 - "The Journey Of The Magi" by Frank Turner
25 - "As Long As There Is Whiskey In The World" by Murder By Death
26 - "Cold Love" by Tim Kasher
27 - "Why It Scares Me" by La Dispute

New Music Shindig 10/25 - This Is How You Spell

1 - "This Is How You Spell "Hahaha, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux Romantics" by Los Campesinos!
2 - "Hand" by The Ting Tings
3 - "Night by Night" by Chromeo
4 - "Sleepy Head" by Passion Pit
5 - "Drunk Girls" by LCD Soundsystem
6 - "Radioactive" by Kings Of Leon
7 - "Imaginary Enemy" by Circa Survive
8 - "Deadbolt" by Thrice
9 - "100 Dollars" by Manchester Orchestra
10 - "You're Not Afraid Of The Dark, Are You?" by Look Mexico
11 - "Dan's Song" by Frank Turner
12 - "Saint Anthony" by Senses Fail
13 - "Here We Are Juggernaut" by Coheed & Cambria
14 - "Sink" by Brand New
15 - "Goodbye England (Covered In Snow)" by Laura Marling
16 - "Boxer" by Lovers
17 - "Praises In Your Name" by Adam Haworth Stephens
18 - "Make Your Heart" by Azure Ray
19 - "I'll Get My Just Deserve" by Touche Amore
20 - "It Never Ends" by Bring Me The Horizon
21 - "Said The King To The River" by La Dispute
22 - "Pigs & Pearls" by J Roddy Walston & The Business
23 - "I Don't Want To Waste Your Time" by Fistful Of Mercy
24 -"Big Wave" by Jenny & Johnny
25 - "Green Eyed Love" by Mayor Hawthorne
26 - "Get Real Get Right" by Sufjan Stevens
27 - "5678" by Fake Problems

New Music Shindig 10/18 - Street Painting Night

1 - "We End Up Together" by The New Pornographers
2 - "The Hustle" by Bars Of Gold
3 - "Soulless" by Fake Problems
4 - "Sneaky Louise" by Good Old War
5 - "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" by Arcade Fire
6 - "Let The Record Go" by The Mynabirds
7 - "Rock Crowd" by Pete Yorn
8 - "Into The Mirror" by Minus The Bear
9 - "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine
10 - "Full Growing Man" by J Roddy Walston And The Business
11 - "I Don't Want To Waste Your Time" by Fistful Of Mercy
12 - "Praises In Your Name" by Adam Haworth Stephens
13 - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
14 - "Drifting Thing" by Polar Bear Club
15 - "The Devil In Stitches" by Bad Religion
16 - "Living With Ghosts" by The Black Pacific
17 - "The Boxer" by The Gaslight Anthem
18 - "Drunk Girls" by LCD Soundsystem
19 - "Alive" by Goldfrapp
20 - "Tenderoni" by Kele
21 - "Don't Turn On The Lights" by Chromeo
22 - "All The Pretty Girls" by fun.
23 - "5678" by Fake Problems
24 - "Shake It Out" by Manchester Orchestra
25 - "Gronlandic" by Of Montreal

100 Posts?!?!?!?!?!

Hey Everyone,
Here it is.  I never thought I would get to a hundred posts on this blog but here it is and I don't really have anything to help celebrate it.  Except the usual playlist - Here is The New Music Shindig playlist for October 11th, 2010.

1 - "Heights Of Diamonds" by Adam Haworth Stephens
2 - "5678" by Fake Problems
3 - "When We Get Together" by The Hold Steady
4 - "White Crosses" by Against Me!
5 - "Tenderoni" by Kele
6 - "Extra Astronomical" by Klaxons
7 - "Dream Team" by Lazerbeak
8 - "Escape Velocity" by The Chemical Brothers
9 - "In The Fog" by Azure Ray
10 - "Jesus" by Brand New & Kevine Devine
11 - "Switchblade" by Jenny & Johnny
12 - "Tiny Vampire Robot" by Margot & The Nuclear So & So's
13 - "From The Mouth Of Gabriel" by Sufjan Stevens
14 - "1,000 Years" by The Corin Tucker Band
15 - "Gimme" by Marnie Stern
16 - "Vital Signs" by Frank Turner
17 - "No Fireworks" by Tim Kasher
18 - "Holdin' Me Back" by Ferraby Lionheart
19 - "Evidence" by Jimmy Eat World
20 - "Don't Die Digging" by The Graduate
21 - "Deafening" by Far
22 - "Let The Record Go" by The Myrnabirds

New Music Shindig 10/4 - The Ball Is Rolling

1 - "The Happiest Lamb" by Audra Mae
2 - I'm Not Contagious" by Chromeo
3 - "Completely Exposed" by Jamie Lidell
4 - "Wake Up Everybody (Feat. Common & Melanie Fiona) by John Legend & The Roots
5 - "Die By The Drop" by The Dead Weather
6 - "The Weekenders" by The Hold Steady
7 - "Scissor Runner" by Jenny & Johnny
8 - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
9 - "ADT" by Fake Problems
10 - "The Hustle" by Bars Of Gold
11 - "The Dog Days Are Over" by Florence & The Machine
12 - "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) by Arcade Fire
13 - "Avenues" by Gospel Claws
14 - "Full Growing Man" by J. Roddy Walston & The Business
15 - "My Best Theory" by Jimmy Eat World
16 - "Make Believe" by The Graduate
17 - "My Own Sinking Ship" by Good Old War
18 - "Home Sweet Hole" by Bring Me The Horizon
19 - "The Devil In Stitches" by Bad Religion
20 - "History Reshifts Itself" by Touche Amore
21 - "Tannhauer/Derive" by Refused
22 - "Gone Man" by Eels
23 - "Mirror, Mirror" by Dr. Dog
24 - "For Ash" by Marnie Stern
25 - "Enchanting Ghost" by Sufjan Stevens
26 - "Fools Rush In" by She & Him

The New Music Shindig September 27th, 2010

Aggie Radio doesn't know what hit them.  Here is my new show, Monday nights on Aggie Radio - listen at radio.usu.edu.  This is the story so far...

1 - "Rococo" by Arcade Fire
2 - "Drunk Girls" by LCD Soundsystem
3 - "Tenderoni" by Kele
4 - "Born Free" by M.I.A.
5 - "Big Wave" by Jenny & Johnny
6 - "You Stay, I Go, No Following" by Look Mexico
7 - "Rock Crowd" by Pete Yorn
8 - "Don't Die Digging" by The Graduate
9 - "Into The Mirror" by Minus The Bear
10 - "A Grown Man" by Tim Kasher (Of Cursive)
11 - "Love Kills" by Robyn
12 - "Salt And Sea" by Lazerbeak
13 - "I'm Not Contagious" by Chromeo
14 - "From Above" by Ben Folds &Nick Hornsby
15 - "Heights Of Diamond" by Adam Haworth Stephens
16 - "Heart Of The Continent" by John K. Samson
17 - "Thank You For Your Love" by Antony & The Johnsons
18 - "It Never Ends" by Bring Me The Horizon
19 - "Love Is A Cat From Hell" by Chiodos
20 - "It Must Really Suck To Be Four Year Strong Right Now" by Four Year Strong
21 - "Bamboo Bones" by Against Me!
22 - "Make Your Heart" by Azure Ray
23 - "The Happiest Lamb" by Audra Mae
24 - "Scissor Runner" by Jenny & Johnny
25 - "Surfing The Void" by Klaxons

See you next week!

Matt

Dead Air Radio May 17th, 2010 - My Last Show

1 - "The Pledge Of Resistence" by Saul Williams
2 - "Catamaran" by Bear Vs. Shark
3 - "New Noise" by Refused
4 - "Big Shot (Hands In The Sky)" by Straylight Run
5 - "Number 5 With A Bullet" by The Felix Culpa
6 - "Black Bubblegum" by The Dillinger Escape Plan
7 - "A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus
8 - "There Are Times" by Fake Problems
9 - "Inmates" by The Good Life
10 - "Another Bag Of Bones" by Kevin Devine
11 - "Try This At Home" by Frank Turner
12 - "And The King Said To The River" by La Dispute
13 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" by Crime In Stereo
14 - "No One Ever Gives You A Straight Answer To Anything" by Ghost Of A Thousand
15 - "Honest Sleep" by Touche Amore
16 - "At Your Funeral" by Saves The Day
17 - "A Decade Under The Influence" by Taking Back Sunday
18 - "Start Angry, End Mad" by .Moneen.
19 - "Hold Me Down" by Motion City Sound Track
20 - "The River" by Manchester Orchestra
21 - "Old White Lincoln" by The Gaslight Anthem
22 - "The Shape Of Punk That Never Came" by United Nations
23 - "Knights" by Minus The Bear
24 - "Harrowdown Hill" by Thom Yorke
25 - "A Warm Room" by Envy
26 - "Laser Life" by The Blood Brothers
27 - "Boiled Frogs" by Alexisonfire
28 - "Lonewolves" by Converge
29 - "Writing On The Wall" by Underoath
30 - "Bulimic" by The Used
31 - "De La Souls" by P.O.S.
32 - "We Drink So You Don't Have To" by The Blackout Pact
33 - "They Call It Rock 'N' Roll (And Other Lies)" by The Letters Organize
34 - "Misery" by Gallows
35 - "Knifeman" by The Bronx
36 - "Waiting Room" by Fugazi
37 - "Typecast Modulator" by Snapcase
38 - "Imitation Is The Sincerest Form Of Battery" by Every Time I Die
39 - "All That's Left" by Thrice
40 - "Frequency Ass Bandit" by Botch
41 - "Harem Of Scorpions" by Cancer Bats
42 - "Problems" by Against Me!
43 - "You Won't Know" by Brand New
44 - "Tomorrow I'll Be You" by Thursday
45 - "The Ballad Of Me And My Friends" by Frank Turner

Dead Air Radio May 10th, 2010

1 - "Do You Like To Slam Dance?" by Doomriders
2 - "A Stirsticks Prediction" by Despistado
3 - "Can't Be Saved" by Senses Fail
4 - "Every Man Has A Molly" by Say Anything
5 - "Trippin' The Life Fantastic" by Weatherbox
6 - "Minnesota" by The Color Fred
7 - "Black Gold" by Espirit De Corps
8 - "Scream" by The Verse
9 -"Me Vs. Morrissey In A Pretentiousness Contest (The Ladder Match)" by A Wilhelm Scream
10 - "I Grew A Mustache" by The Motion Sick
11 - "Jaked On Green Beers" by Alkaline Trio
12 - "The End Of The Line" by Hot Water Music
13 - "I Caught You Some Rain In A Mason Jar Today" by WeDropLikeBombs
14 - "Foxglove" by Murder By Death
15 - "What You Call Thought Control, I Call Thought Control" by The Felix Culpa
16 - "My (Fucking) Deer Hunter" by Fear Before
17 - "Love Has Led Us Astray" by Thursday
18 -  "You Punch Me, I Punch You" by The Blackout Pact
19 - "Thing Of The Past" by Tim Barry
20 - "Coney Island" by Good Old War
21 - "Sometimes The Line Walks You" by Murder By Death
22 - "Live Fast, Die Old" by Frank Turner
23 - "The First Single" by The Format
24 - "Cancer" by My Chemical Romance
25 - "Searching For A Former Clarity" by Against Me!
26 - "Long Live The Queen" by Frank Turner
27 - "You Were The Cancer" by Thursday
28 - "Suicide Medicine" by Rocky Votolato
29 - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
30 - "Irish Blood, English Heart" by Morissey
31 - "Inhabit" by Hot Rod Circuit
32 - "HPxHC" by The International Superheroes Of Hardcore
33 - "Northshore" by Tegan & Sara
34 - "Constructive Summer" by The Hold Steady
35 - "Batman's A Deadman" by The International Superheroes Of Hardcore
36 - "Disappear" by Motion City Soundtrack
37 - "Head For The Hills" by Saves The Day
38 - "Belt" by Say Anything
39 - "Six Bar Phrase Hey Hey" by Bear Vs. Shark

Dead Air Radio May 3rd, 2010

1 - "100 Dollars" by Manchester Orchestra
2 - "A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus
3 - "New Storms For Old Lovers" by La Dispute
4 - "Sink To The Beat" by Cursive
5 - "Shitty Future" by The Bronx
6 - "The Grand Marshal's Mooncloth Robes" by Settle
7 - "This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)" by Taking Back Sunday
8 - "The Magic Bullet Theory" by Texas Is The Reason
9 - "Boxer" by The Gaslight Anthem
10 - "You Petty Pretty Things" by The Get Up Kids
11 - "Naked At A Family Function" by Settle
12 - "History Reshifts Itself (Featuring Geoff Rickly)" by Touche Amore

Dead Air Radio April 26th, 2010

1 - "A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus
2 - "Liberties" by AttackInBlack
3 - "Breaking Down" by Good Old War
4 - "Your Humble Narrator" by Two Cow Garage
5 - "Mile After Mile" by Straylight Run
6 - "Bleed American" by Jimmy Eat World
7 - "Imaginary Enemy" by Circa Survive
8 - "Slow Man" by Sage Francis
9 - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
10 - "Deafening" by Far
11 - "Swing" by Taking Back Sunday
12 - "Affinity For My Hometown" by Settle
13 - "Try" by Straylight Run
14 - "Can't Be Saved" by Senses Fail
15 -  "Me And The Moon" by Something Corporate
16 - "Where Did You Go?" by Valencia
17 - "Island" by The Starting Line
18 - "Said The King To The River" by La Dispute
19 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" by Crime In Stereo
20 - "Took A Turn" by Young Widows
21 - "Drumroll (We're All Thirsty)" by P.O.S.
22 - "Black Eyes" by Gallows
23 - "Disconnected" by The Steal
24 - "Trippin' The Life Fantastic" by Weatherbox

The Pinnacle - My Interview With Geoff Rickly Of Thursday & United Nations

Like the Cancer Bats interview below this one is a long time coming.  Out of anyone from the music world I respect Geoff Rickly the most.  He has continually been my voice in issues dealing with homosexuality, government, the state of music, and relationships.  I have been listening and reading his words since I was seventeen and they have never lost any of their value to me. 

Interviewing him was otherworldly.  He was gentle, intelligent, and very conversational, something that is hard to come by in the real world let alone in the world of music.  He spoke with frankness about his views of the industry, politics, music, and the fan culture of current music.  It was a fantastic experience and it was the pinnacle of my college music career.

Interview by Matthew Winters, Video and Editing by Shay Bonnie. 



























Here are some question and answers about his side project United Nations -

Dead Air Radio April 19th, 2010

1 - "I Was A Teenage Anarchist" by Against Me!
2 - "Famous Friends And Fashion Drunks" by A Wilhelm Scream
3 - "100 K" by The Loved Ones
4 - "The Redness In The West" by The Lawrence Arms
5 - "Give It All" by Rise Against
6 - "Shitty Future" by The Bronx
7 - "Honest Sleep" by Touche Amore
8 - "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers" by The Blood Brothers
9 - "Vipers, Snakes, And Actors" by Norma Jean
10 - "Not Dead" by Crime In Stereo
11 - "Deathsmarch" by Cancer Bats
13 - "Cell Mates" by Maraichi El Bronx
13 - "Cowards Sing At Night" by Tom Gabel
14 - "I'm Not For You" by Good Old War
15 - "Sometimes The Line Walks You" by Murder By Death
16 - "No Exception" by Chris Wollard & The Ship Theives
17 - "Like A Record Player" by Brenden Kelly
18 - "Naked At A Family Function" by Settle
19 - "Complaintor" by The Color Fred
20 - "Where Did You Go?" by Valencia
21 - "Direction" by The Starting Line
22 - "Don't Let Her Drag You Down" by New Found Glory
23 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" by Crime In Stereo
24 - "Asleep In The Chamber" by Thursday
25 - "Quit Benefit" by Pianos Become The Teeth
26 - "Hearing Damage" by Thom Yorke
27 - "Scream" by Verse
28 - "The Shape Of Punk That Never Came" by United Nations

Finally --- My Full Interview With Cancer Bats Singer Liam Cormier

It is finally here.  I got a new computer so I am now able to post and show you the video document of my interview with Liam from Cancer Bats.  This interview took place a year ago at In The Venue on The Taste of Chaos.  I just remember how awesomely nice Liam was to me and my camera woman Shay.  He was so personable and easy to talk to, it was quite startling due to powerful nature of his on stage persona. Without further ado here is in pieces my interview with Liam. 























Interview by Matthew Winters, Camera & Editing by Shay Bonnie.

Live Show Review - Crime In Stereo with Robbers, Reviver, & Despite Despair at the Basement April 14th, 2010

Honestly I never thought that Ogden, Utah would be home to great touring acts again. With the closure of Boom Va in the mid section of the last decade I thought that music lovers in Ogden would have to forever flock to Salt Lake. Last year, however, Jason Allen changed all that with the opening of The Basement in downtown Ogden. Since its inception it has hosted some great underground touring acts and has become a sort of haven for local musicians that crave a real stage to play on. So it should be no surprise that he should book a pair of touring bands as good as Robbers and Crime In Stereo, but I will get to them in a minute.

Opener Despite Despair from Provo started off the evening with a dedicated hardcore set. Despite being a younger band they plowed through a short set that focused on a very good interpretation of modern metalcore with some hardcore punk leanings. Despite Despair reached into the playbook that made Modern Life Is War and Botch mainstays and styled it very well. Tigg, drummer, played in the vein of Refused drummer David Sandstrom, and that kind of energy is not very easy to duplicate, but Tigg did it in boat loads. The band are currently working on an EP and if it is anything as good as their live show then good things are in store.

Reviver took the floor next, these guys have been around for a long time, and they never fail to disappoint. Their music reminds me of the energy of early Crime In Stereo mixed with a little No Motiv, punk but with some more melodic leanings. As always they raced through their set like some one was going to steal the mics away from them, but that is just what this band is about. Reviver craft hard hitting, fast punk with little fat anywhere. They did however have a lot of noodling in between songs, and with some time and more diversification of their sound I could see them being something akin to Crime In Stereo's current material.

Robbers were mental. Their Colour Revolt-esque indie rock was such a departure from the previous bands sets but, oddly, it fit so well. Even if their brand of music was not entertaining you have to appreciate their lead singer jumping around and singing so beautifully. The songs from their debut Flesh drifted into one another but did not blur together, instead they created a beautiful mix of indie rock and straight ahead rock. Robbers must have been paying attention when they opened for Brand New a few months back, as they created a stage presence that was just as intense as Brand New but much more personable than Brand New. Robbers swirling chords, powerful base lines, and disparate vocals, ranging from whispers to shouts, filled the Basement and got more than one person dancing. Bands like Robbers can fit with a cornucopia of artists and their touring plans show that fact, after this tour with Crime In Stereo they are heading out on some dates with P.O.S. Robbers put on a powerful live set that if they continue touring will set them up for a long time.
 

This is a really bad cell picture of Robbers.  Picture by Matthew Winters.

I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone is the type of album that accelerates a band from being a opening act to making them a true blue headliner. Crime In Stereo know this and put on a set, albeit for a small crowd, that proved that the energy and craftsmanship of their recent album is not just studio magic. Starting off with the double punch of "Everything Changes / Nothing Is Ever Truly Lost" and "Bicycles For Afghanistan" and accelerating from there the band sailed through a set that contained songs from everyone of their full lengths. The older material, including songs from 2007's ...Is Dead, still had the urgency that it was crafted with, particularly the bruising ...Is Dead opener "Xxxx (The First Thousand Years)." The newer songs faired well but have not been road tested enough, don't get me wrong "Drugwolf" and "Not Dead" sounded great but they were not as good sounding as the older songs. It felt like the band have not had enough time to truly perfect how they want to present them live, and for a band this perfectionist that is something that will come with time. The last time I saw Crime In Stereo I was dumbfounded by their drummer Scotty Giffin and his powerful style of drumming, this time it was vocalist and guitarist Alex Dune that captivated my attention. Despite a few set backs (a broken string, some feedback issues) his powerful vocal delivery and his ability as a guitarist really shone through. Singer Kristian Hallbert was just wonderful and you could tell he was perfectly at home on the smaller stage he was on, however with their new record and a blistering live show I have to wonder how much longer will they be playing the smaller stages.

Set list -

1 - "Everything Changes / Nothing Is Ever Truly Lost"
2 - "Bicycles For Afganistan"
3 - "Xxxx (The First Thousand Years)"
4 - "Sudan"
5 - "For Exes"
6 - "Animal Pharm"
7 - "I Cannot Answer You Tonight"
8 - "Not Dead"
9 - "... But You Are Vast"
10 - "Drugwolf"
11 - "Gravity/Grace"
12 - "I Am Everything I Am Not" - This was not played due to feedback issues.
13 - "Small Skeletal"
14 - "I, Stateside"

Dead Air Radio April 12th, 2010

1 - "Album Of The Year" by The Good Life
2 - "Coney Island" by Good Old War
3 - "Mr. Richards" by Frank Turner
4 - "Plea From A Cat Named Virtue" by The Weakerthans
5 - "Reinventing Your Exit" by Underoath
6 - "An Absurd And Unrealistic Dream Of Peace" by Thursday
7 - "The Shape Of Punk That Never Came" by United Nations
8 - "Frequency Ass Bandit" by Botch
9 - "Image Of The Invisible" by Thrice
10 - "Said The King To The River" by La Dispute
11 - "Long And Lonely Step" by These Arms Are Snakes
12 - "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers" by The Blood Brothers
13 - "The Sad Mafioso..." by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
14 - "Change Your Face Or Change Your Name" by Colour Revolt
15 - "Almost Ghostless / Above The Gathering Oceans" by Crime In Stereo
16 - "Sink To The Beat" by Cursive
17 - "Into The Mirror" by Minus The Bear
18 - "Harem Of Scorpions" by Cancer Bats
19 - "Prelude (Again)" by This Is Hell
20 - "Anyone Can Dig A Hole But It Takes A Real Man To Live In It" by Underoath
21 - "Appeared And Was Gone" by Thursday
22 - "Prayer Of The Refugee" by Rise Against
23 -  "Orchestra Of Wolves" by Gallows
24 - "Sink Into Me" by Taking Back Sunday
25 - "I'm Through With The Past But The Past Isn't Through With Me" by Straylight Run
26 - "Buried Myself Alive" by The Used
27 - "Checkmarks" by The Academy Is...
28 - "We Will Erase All Life On Earth" by Say Anything
29 - "Saints & Sailors" by Dashboard Confessional
30 - "Thrash Unreal" by Against Me!

Lyric Of The Day

"My tightly coiled, regressed, frustrated past fading fast. / I was constantly exploding, I was constantly screaming."

- "I'm Through With The Past, But The Past Isn't Through With Me" by Straylight Run on About Time.

- If this is what I have to expect from Adam and John on the next Taking Back Sunday album, then I will be so happy.  Lyrically John was on the top of his game with this little four song EP.  It is a collection of songs that are completely unsubjected to the worries of a major label and that is what makes them seem so effortless.  Sad to see them go but happy to see them back.

News Bits & Bobs - April 12th

1 - Deathwish Inc. and Six Feet Under Records have released a monster new digital sampler for the fall.  It is HUGE, mostly new or unreleased stuff from great hardcore, metalcore, and metal bands from the Deathwish Family.  My highlight is a new track from United Nations (Geoff Rickly from Thursday, Daryl Polumbo from Glassjaw, others) called "Pity Animal", it rips so hard.  Pick up a copy for free at http://www.deathwishinc.com/news/#510 .

2 - Taking Back Sunday is back together and recording.  I don't care if they sound like TBS circa 2003 or if they play Tell All Your Friends ever again, if it is as good as Straylight Run's last EP and much of TBS's post break material then I will be a happy camper.  Check out this awesome teaser video -



3 - Dead Air Radio will go on tonight at 8 PM Mountain Time for the illustrious KWCR studios in Ogden, Utah.  Tune in for the best in punk, hardcore, and emo music.  Hosted by Matthew, Chelsea, Scott, & Derek.

III: Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones by Cancer Bats

Released 13th, 2010 on Distort Entertainment.

February 2009 was an amazing month in my life. Mostly for two reasons: it was the lead up to the last semester of my college days, and I got to interview Thursday and Cancer Bats in the same day. Some kids dream that they will someday fly a plane or do surgery or maybe write a novel, I dreamt for a long time of interviewing and talking with Geoff Rickly from Thursday. Liam Cormier was a close second. What threw me off about both of these men is how open they were, they just talked and talked to me and my camera woman Shay. They look like hard dudes but Liam and Geoff are honestly just sweet dudes. The thing that sticks out though from both of their interviews is that they were both so smart, honest, and aggressive, but older. They still had the fire in their eyes to create music that makes kids mosh and think at the same time.


This is the overwhelming thought I had as I delved into III: Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones: Liam and his crew from Canada are older. They have been around for awhile and they obviously are older when you meet them and talk to them, however they shred and yelp, scream and pound better than most loud bands that are years younger than they are. From opener "Sleep This Way" to the album closer, a cover of seminal Beastie Boys track "Sabotage" the album just rips.

Liam screams, yelps, talks, sings and sometimes screeches through the tracks with a backing band that sounds like a mix between Pantera, Gallows, and some hints of the more straight ahead parts of the Blood Brothers. Guitarist Scott Middleton just rips the shit out of line after line with a proficiency that is rare for any person in any type of music. The drums ride back in the mix as does the bass to a certain extent but they are viciously there, one listen to "Sabotage" and you know.

Cancer Bats are not reinventing the wheel with this album. However, as with every good sports car or computer upgrade it comes with some wonderful new features. "Scared To Death" and "Trust No One" features Cormier speaking in some parts, slowing down and givin the tracks an uneasy but completely balanced feel. Lyrically this album is a little more claustrophobic and angry than previous albums but it is still distinctly positive, "In this life I want nothing, expect nothing but the truth I know I've found," Liam screams "Black Metal Bicycle" and you cannot help but want to scream along. The album has no guest stars but then again they are not really needed on an album that speeds this fast and is played this proficiently. Basically Cancer Bats took everything that was great about Hail Destroyer and added a few things that made the mix a little more dense and claustrophobic but still quintessentially Cancer Bats.

Cancer Bats proved once again why they are a band to be reckoned with, and this is the album that makes the general music scene appreciate that fact. Basically Cancer Bats rock harder and faster than most bands years younger than they are and have more fun. Above all that, Cancer Bats are just honest, they do not compromise their music to create more fans and do not have an agenda except to create blue collar rock with a metal edge. I can't really ask for too much more than that.

- Cancer Bats are heading out on tour this spring with Every Time I Die and Norma Jean.  Below are two videos from my interview with Liam, the second one about made me wet my pants, seriously.  Video shot and edited by Shay Bonnie, interview by Matthew Winters, shot at In The Venue behind the dumpster in Salt Lake City.





Rating - 5 out of 5
Favorite Tracks - "Trust No One", "Black Metal Bicycle", "Sabotage", & "Make Amends"

New Bits & Bobs - April 8th, 2010

1 - Here's one for you - utterly missed Canadian indie rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor are reuniting to help curate the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the UK next year.  In true GYBE fashion the band released a curious and indelibly original statement to the world.  Look at it below or here (http://www.1119732.net/) -

2 - Malcolm McLaren died today.  Though I am not a Sex Pistols fan and I have never worn a safety pin as an optional piece of clothing, the influence that this man had on the world of music, not just punk, was exceedingly important.  If you want to take a movement in music and bring it to the surface you couldn't do better than following this man's blueprint.

3 - M.I.A continues to prove to the world why she is amazing and why Lady Gaga is not in this month's NME.

4 - I bought a copy of the Take Action Compilation today.  My only question is when did it become not only acceptable but also desired for a emo pop punk band to become remixed?  It just seems to weird to me, is this a move towards emo kid dance clubs?  Will DJ's begin spinning the new cuts from All Time Low as remixed by Felix Da House Cat?  It seems to work for a few groups but others it does nothing to help the original sound better, mostly it just becomes even more unlistenable. (The Comp is awesome however, some really good live tracks and an unreleased Frank Turner track, bad ass.)

5 - To anyone who missed Dead Air Radio on Monday, we were snowed out and lost our ability to broadcast.  Sorry folks. Be there next monday with some new Cancer Bats.

Lyric Of The Day

"What can you say / When it's all been said before / What can you write? / When nothing's right anymore. / How do you stand up? / When so many are standing up. / How do you raise the stakes? / When the dangerous aren't dangerous and daring."

- "They Call It Rock'n'Roll (And Other Lies)" by The Letters Organize on Dead Rhythm Machine.

- These guys could have been the next Refused.  They have the swagger, the chops, and most importantly they understand the bigger picture of aggression as art.  Many bands out there, more than ever, do not understand that if you are going to scream into a mic for an hour on a record make sure you have something more to say than women suck.  I truly do not understand why these guys are not looked at with reverence. 

Lyric Of The Day

"I swear that she meant it / She whispered so often / Husband, I'll always be here with you /But always, always, always, always, always, always / Always is valueless / I wish I'd never heard her speak a word."

- "New Storms For Old Lovers" by La Dispute on Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair.

- I was so struck by the anger and mature nature of these lyrics as I read them.  These guys are so above everything else going on right now; and to quote the amazing Converge song - they are bitter and then some.

Dead Air Radio March 29th, 2010

1 - "Suture Self" by The Loved Ones
2 - "Heart-A-Tact" by Kid Dynamite
3 - "I Want A Mohawk, But My Mom Won't Let Me Have One" by AFI
4 - "You Guys Want One Of These" by  The Flatliners
5 - "I Could Be With Anyone" by Manchester Orchestra
6 - "The Game Needed Me" by Minus The Bear
7 - "Sink" by Brand New
8 - "Small Skeletal" by Crime In Stereo
9 - "Blood In Your Mouth" by Colour Revolt
10 - "Under The Boards" by Saves The Day
11 - "Bloody Symphony" by I Am The Avalanche
12 - "For The Silent" by Say Anything
13 - "Somthing That Produces Results" by The Early November
14 - "A Decade Under The Influence" by Taking Back Sunday
15 - "You're Not Afraid Of The Dark, Are You?" by Look Mexico
16 - "Born & Raised" by Fake Problems
17 - "The Brightest Blub Has Burned Out" by Less Than Jake
18 - "Rice & Bread" by Against Me!
19 - "A New England" by Billy Bragg
20 - "Prosser's Gabriel" by Tim Barry
21 - "A Fond Farewell" by Elliott Smith
22 - "Waiting For The Monster To Drown" by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly!
23 - "Naked At A Family Function" by Settle
24 - "Young Bloods" by The Bronx
25 - "The Reproduction Of Death" by The (International) Noise Conspiracy
26 - "Jaguar Pirates" by Jaguar Love
27 - "Eat Dinner, Bury The Dog, And Run" by Polar Bear Club
28 - "The Ballad Of Sal Villanueva" by Taking Back Sunday
29 - "Telegraph Avenue Kiss / The Love Song Writer" by Thursday
30 - "These People Should Know Who We Are" by Crime In Stereo
31 - "Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck" by The Blood Brothers
32 - "Geneva" by Russian Circles
33 - "Frequency Ass Bandit" by Botch
34 - "Sabotage" by Cancer Bats
35 - "Start Angry. End Mad" by Moneen
36 - "Keep It On Wax" by Alexisonfire
37 - "Indestructible Sam" by Buck 65
38 - "Broken Things" by Attack In Black
39 - "Intro / Same Shade As Concrete" by Circle Takes The Square
40 - "New Storms For Older Lovers" by La Dispute
41 - "Six Bar Phrase Hey Hey / 5,6 Kids" by Bear Vs. Shark
42 - "A Disgust For Details" by Coalesce
43 - "Our Retired Explorer / Civil Twilight / One Great City" by The Weakerthans
44 - "Sequestered In Memphis" by The Hold Steady
45 - "New Noise" by Refused

Lyrics Of The Day

"Great words won't cover ugly actions / Good frames won't save bad paintings."

- "New Noise" by Refused on The Shape Of Punk To Come: A Chimerical Bombination In Twelve Bursts.

- On the heels of rumors of a reunited Refused I thought this lyric was a good choice.  Here's to at least a handful of US dates.  CAN I SCREAM?

Microcut - Young Giant by Queen's Club

Released March 23rd, 2010 on Tooth & Nail Records.

For two guys that split from the cathartic monster that is The Chariot, they sure can dance. I was a little worried as I put this CD into my drive. I thought for a second that Tooth & Nail, who have released Underoath, Frodus, and As Cities Burn, had jumped the shark and pulled a Fearless by releasing music that would scream mall trendy. However the guys in Queen's Club are legitimate and create wonderful rock music in the vein of dance punk a la Franz Ferdinand, but keep it clean and upbeat. I could see songs like "Issinar" and "Lydia" playing well on most modern rock station and sounding great live. While the record is kind of a chore to listen to, mostly because while each song is good, they tend to blend to well together; it still is a better rock record than anything Nickleback will ever put out.

Favorite Tracks - "Family Ties", "Issinar", "Lydia", "Less Talk"
Rating - 4 out of 5

Microcut - The Alphabet Of Hurricanes by Tom McRae

Released February 22nd, 2010 by Cooking Vinyl.

I have always had a thing for singer songwriters from the United Kingdom; they get me in a way that I cannot completely convey to a reader. I guess you have to have the same love I have for Damien Rice or David Gray to understand it. Tom McRae is from London, so I have a bias towards liking him already. The only problem is that I only kind of do like him. While many songwriters will find a groove this far into their songwriting and stick with it sometimes to saddening effects and other times to dazzling effects, Tom McRae is all over the place with The Alphabet of Hurricanes. "Won't Lie" plays like a vaudeville throwaway, "Told My Troubles To The River" like a blues standard, and other tracks like something off of Smallville or The O.C. McRae just cannot choose a side, and sometimes it produces some good songs, but for the most part this album is too diverse for its own good.

Best Tracks - "Please", "Best Winter"
Rating - 2 out of 5

Microcut - Two Thousand And Ten Injuries by Love Is All

Released March 23rd, 2010 on Polyvinyl Record Co.

What is it with Sweden and making incredibly catchy dance music? It seems that if you are a musician coming out of Sweden you have one of three choices: become a dance pop Mecca, write sad slow songs for the hipster crowd, or write blasting, balls out metal. Love Is All write music in the first musical vein and I can say that their debut for Polyvinyl lives up to the genre and also to Polyvinyl's sterling reputation for putting out good music of any genre. Two Thousand and Ten Injuries just bristles with energy and the songs leave you wanting so much more, the album as a whole is only thirty five minutes long. "Repetition", "Never Now" and "Less Than Thrilled" all play so quickly and end just as I am getting into the groove, but luckily the album blends together so well and there is never a dull point in the whole project, so the party just keeps going. Oh, the horns, the vocals, the wonderfully crafted music, this is an album that you just want to keep on repeat while partying with fifty of your closest friends. 

Best Tracks - "Repitition", "Never Now", "Less Than Thrilled"
Rating - 5 out of 5

Microcut - I Will Be by Dum Dum Girls

Released by Sub Pop Records.

Something told me when I started listening to this album was that Pitchfork would love this record. Dum Dum Girls have the retro girl vocals, including back gang vocals from other girls, and a lo-fi sound that hipsters are in love with, so they are something many people who follow the tides in popular underground music will love. However, I Will Be reminds me of the 60s that we tend to forget, the dirty, ugly parts that are so cute because of the hippies but ugly because of the drugs. We tend to forget that the hippies put flowers in their hair because they were so high. I Will Be is beautiful in parts including "Yours Alone" and the rollicking second track "Bhang Bhang, I'm A Burnout." If this record had come out in 1966 then it may have been legendary, a Velvet Underground or a Stooges, but since it is being released in 2010 it is lost in the waves upon waves of retro and underground music that sound better than this album and have a better production value.

Best Tracks - "Bhang Bhang, I'm A Burnout", "Yours Alone"
Rating - 2 1/2 out of 5

Dead Air Radio March 22nd, 2010

1 - "All That's Left" by Thrice
2 - "My Body Is A Zombie For You" by Dead Man's Bones
3 - "Things Of The Past" by Tim Barry
4 - "We Came To Dance" by The Gaslight Anthem
5 - "Suicide Medicine" by Rocky Votolato
6 - "The Ballad Of Me And My Friends" by Frank Turner
7 - "Sabotage" by Cancer Bats
8 - "You're A Woman, I'm A Machine" by Death From Above 1979
9 - "Mondrian Was A Lie" by Botch
10 - "In My Wake, For My Own" by Coalesce
11 - "Golden Tanks" by Cancer Bats
12 - "Set Your Goals" by CIV
13 - "Infrared" by Strike Anywhere
14 - "I Fought The Law" by The Clash
15 - "Gaia (Make Way For Men)" by Set Your Goals
16 - "Sic Transit Gloria... Glory Fades" by Brand New
17 - "Theatre" by Gatsby's American Dream
18 - "The Game Needed Me" by Minus The Bear
19 - "Give It Up" by Midtown
20 - "Secret Song / Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can And Can't Do" by Moneen
21 - "My Favorite Accident" by Motion City Soundtrack
22 - "They Call It Rock And Roll (And Other Lies)" by The Letters Organize
23 - "The Artist In The Ambulence" by Thrice
24 - "A Word Of Welcome And Warning" by La Dispute
25 - "French Immersion" by Cancer Bats
26 - "M. Shepard" by Thursday
27 - "Drugwolf" by Crime In Stereo
28 - "Young Bloods" by The Bronx
29 - "New Way" by Face To Face
30 - "Maybe I'll Catch Fire" by Alkaline Trio
31 - "Blink 182" by Kudrow
32 - "Airport Monday Morning" by Lifetime
33 - "Belt" by Say Anything
34 - "Believe" by .Moneen.
35 - "Brothers" by Brand New
36 - "Why Did We Ever Meet?" by The Promise Ring
37 - "Delusional" by Saves The Day
38 - "The Ballad Of Sal Villanueva" by Taking Back Sunday
39 - "Division St." by Thursday
40 - "Feed Me To The Forest / Trash Flavored Trash" by The Blood Brothers
41 - "First And Ellen" by Modern Life Is War
42 - "Boiled Frogs" by Alexisonfire / City & Colour
43 - "Teach" by The Chariot
44 - "And The King Said To The River" by La Dispute
45 - "We Ride Skeletal Lightning" by The Blood Brothers

Dead Air Radio March 15th, 2010

1 - "Institutionalized"  by Senses Fail
2 - "Sabotage" by Cancer Bats
3 - "A Blessing And A Curse" by Black Lungs
4 - "Sons of Privilege" by Alexisonfire
5 - "Cowardice" by Defeater
6 - "Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck" by The Blood Brothers
7 - "Lift The Veil, Kiss The Tank" by The Blood Brothers
8 - "Conclusions of Existence" by Envy
9 - "These Are My Twisted Words" by Radiohead
10 - "Retreat, Retreat" by 65daysofstatic
11 - "Dying In New Brunswick" by Thursday
12 - "Old Skin" by Young Widows
13 - "Living Saints" by Polar Bear Club
14 - "Misery Business" by Paramore
15 - "Nose Over Tail" by Alkaline Trio
16 - "Turnpike Gates" by Lifetime
17 - "Like AM Radio" by Northstar
18 - "Comin' Home" by Murder by Death
19 - "Vital Signs" by Frank Turner
20 - "You're Not Afraid Of The Dark, Are You?" by Look Mexico
21 - "Things Of The Past" by Tim Berry
22 - "Invasion" by Eisley
23 - "The First Single" by The Format
24 - "Sequestered In Memphis" by The Hold Steady
25 - "Jaguar Pirates" by Jaguar Love
26 - "Is It Me? Is It True?" by Midtown
27 - "Set Fire To The Face On Fire" by The Blood Brothers
28 - "The Casualty" by Cursive
29 - "Laser Life" by The Blood Brothers
30 - "Said The King To The River" by La Dispute
31 - "Wild Ox Moan" by Coalesce
32 - "The Grand Wizard's Mooncloth Robes" by Settle
33 - "I'm Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?" by A Day To Remember
34 - "Sorry You're Not A Winner" by Enter Shikari
35 - "Heroes Get Remembered, Legends Never Die" by Four Year Strong
36 - "Vehicle City" by The Swellers
37 - "Boss DJ" by Reel Big Fish
38 - "Graffiti Worth Reading" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
39 - "Shining On" by Big D & The Kids Table
40 - "I Wipe My Ass With Show Biz" by A Wilhelm Scream
41 - "Wake The Dead" by Comeback Kid
42 - "We've Had Enough" by Alkaline Trio

Dead Air Radio March 8th, 2009

1 - "Imitation is the sincerist form of battery" by Every Time I Die
2 - "Woke Up Near Chelsea" by Ted Leo / Pharmacists
3 - "Lead Poisoning" by Alkaline Trio
4 - "Please My Favorite Don't Be Sad" by World Inferno / Friendship Society
5 - "Feed Me To The Forest" by The Blood Brothers
6 - "I Started A Fire" by Jaguar Love
7 - "Eyes Like Static" by Rocky Votolato
8 - "Bullet To Binary II" by Mewithoutyou
9 - "She's Lost Control" by Joy Division
10 - "I Could Be The Only One" by Manchester Orchestra
11 -  "Our Ballads" by Polar Bear Club
12 - "Supporting Caste" by Propagandhi
13 - "Atoms Smash" by Weatherbox
14 - "You Go. I Stay. No Following" by Look Mexico
15 - "Didi (My Doe, Pt. 1)" by The Matches
16 - "LG FUAD" by Motion City Soundtrack
17 - "Hearts BPM" by Fake Problems
18 - "Things Of The Past" by Tim Berry
19 - "The Reasons" by The Weakerthans
20 - "Born And Raised / Old Crows" by Alexisonfire
21 - "Get Your Life Together" by Fear Before
22 - "Jet Black New Year" by Thursday
23 - "Life Vests Float, Kids Don't" by Narrows
24 - "Lucifer" by These Arms Are Snakes
25 - "But You Are Vast" by Crime In Stereo
26 - "Sink" by Brand New
27 - The Disco Before The Breakdown EP by Against Me!
                 "The Disco Before The Breakdown"
                 "Tonight We're Gonna Give It 35%"
                 "Beginning In An Ending"
30 - "Fear And Loathing On Long Island"by Latterman
31 - "Let Them Eat War" by Bad Religion
32 - "Six Months In A Leaky Boat" by Ted Leo / Pharmacists
33 - "Rat Within The Grain" by Damien Rice
34 - "Another Bag Of Bones" by Kevine Devine
35 - "The Messenger" by Thrice
36 - "Worms Of The Senses / Faculties Of The Skull" / "Liberation Frequency" by Refused
37 - "Young Bloods" by The Bronx
38 - "Honest Sleep" by Touche Amore
39 - "Minor Threat" by Minor Threat
40 - "London Calling" by The Clash
41 - "Said The King To The River" by La Dispute
42 - "First And Ellen" by Modern Life Is War
43 - "Blink 182 Reunion" by Kudrow
44 - "Dammit" by Blink 182
45 - "Don't Let Her Pull You Down" by New Found Glory
46 - "Firefly" by Saves The Day
47 - "You Know How I Do" by Taking Back Sunday

Lyrics Of The Day

"We were born and raised / To live beyond / The heft and weight of a world undone / Like a bird from the North / Our hearts will roam in search of warmth."

- "Born And Raised" by Alexisonfire on Old Crows / Young Cardinals.

- These guys are going out on tour this spring with Therefore I Am and La Dispute.  It should be epic.

Lando by Kudrow

Released in 2009 by Quote Unquote Records / Ernest Jenning Records.

This is the side project, once again, of Jeff Rosenstock, whose day job with Bomb! The Music Industry and running Quote Unquote Records you would think would keep him busy enough to have no time to write any more good music. However with accomplices Mike Campbell, formerly of Latterman, and Dave Garwacke they manage to write an album that somehow fills the gap between Gaslight Anthem based nostalgia punk rock, Walkmen indie rock, and the driving power of Latterman and Bomb! The Music Industry.

The album just runs so fast but not like a blur, more like a movie that you love so much you want to watch it again as soon as it is over. Opener "Commutilation!" plays like a distorted, sped up 50's music, the vocals are dragged through fuzz but the lyrics are clear and the music just jumps up in your face. The second track, "Blink-182 Reunion" is much cleaner, but so much more nostalgic, it pops with the pop punk energy of it's namesake but the lyrical content and the singer bring ruminations of The Weakerthans at their faster points. "Favreau" is handclap fueled, punk rock flavored track that has the closest relations to Bomb! but it is still something new and totally Kudrow. The closer, and longest track on the album, "Brooklyn Pool" is another slower tune, choosing to focus on the way life tends to disappear into thin air, the band has already created a sad atmosphere by the time they get to the chorus "No one wants to be alone, No one wants to be alone on a Saturday night, crowding the pilot light 'cause the heat in the pipes has stopped." It is sad but amazingly touching and true.

Honestly, I could listen to this EP all day. It does not get old, repeat listens show a little more, and you see different corners that you couldn't before. It honestly does not get better than this.

Rating - 5 out of 5
Favorite Track - "Brooklyn Pool"

Download at Quote Unquote Records for a donation only price -
http://www.quoteunquoterecords.com/qur037.htm

Cancer Bats Covering Sabotage = Amazing!?!?!?!

Here is the latest offering from everyone's favorite Canucks Cancer Bats.  Yes, it is a cover of "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, but it works so well, so very very well.  These guys just keep getting better and better.  Check it out below -



Also this video is adorable, give it a watch -

Lyric Of The Day

"As I stand before an unresponsive automatic door, / just another door that won't open for me anymore."

- "Heart Of The Continent" by John K. Samson on City Route 85

- This is the lead singer of The Weakerthans doing what he does best: writing beautiful, heartwrenching portraits of modern life with very understated music backing him.  This is a must have EP. 

Dead Air Radio March 1st, 2010

1 - Last American Cowboy by The Bled
2 - Our Homes Are Graves by Colour Revolt
3 - Everything Went Quiet by Defeater
4 - Can't See The Forest For The Trees by Confide
5 - Young Crows / Old Cardinals by Alexisonfire
6 - Come Friendly Bombs by Gallows
7 - Scream by The Verse
8 - Blood On My Hands by The Used
9 - Rabbit In My Headlights by Unkle
10 - Into The Blinding Light by Thursday
11 - Boiled Frogs (Alexisonfire Cover) by City & Colour
12 - Happy Birthday To Me by The Vandals
13 - The Red, White And Blues by Defeater
14 - Pints Of Guiness Make You Strong by Against Me!
15 - Sequestered In Memphis by The Hold Steady
16 - Shhhh! I'm Listening To Reason by Gatsby's American Dream
17 - Stories About Ourselves by Maps & Atlases
18 - Signal by The Appleseed Cast
19 - Haram Of Scorpions by Cancer Bats
20 - Took A Turn by Young Widows
21 - Busses / No Busses by Bear Vs. Shark
22 - Bury White by Far
23 - Botchla by Poison The Well
24 - The State Of Massachusetts by Dropkick Murphys
25 - History's Stranglers by The Bronx
26 - Ode To The North American Snake Oil Salesman by Dillinger Four
27 - Turnpike Gate by Lifetime
28 - Things Of The Past by Tim Barry
29 - Interview / Long Live The Queen by Frank Turner
30 - The End Of Commitment by The Felix Culpa
31 - Filial by Pianos Become The Teeth
32 - Nine by Touche Amore
33 - This Mortal Soil by Mastodon
34 - An Umbrella Fallen Into Fiction by Evny
35 - The Sound Of Settling by Death Cab For Cutie
36 - Eye by Neurosis
37 - Repeaterbeater by Mew
38 - Hooligans for Life by Rival Schools
39 - Liberties by AttackInBlack
40 - The Saddest Day by Converge
41 - Feed Me To The Forest / Trash Flavored Trash by The Blood Brothers
42 - The Earth Isn't Humming by Frodus
43 - Should Have Stayed In The Shallows  by Fear Before The March Of Flames
44 - The Redness In The West by The Lawrence Arms

Lyric Of The Day

"Did you wake up today? / You find the strength to say / The world is your own / Did you look up today? / You find the words to say /The world is your own, / To be left here alone. / Your own way."

- "Believe" by Moneen on The World I Want To Leave Behind

- I am watching the Olympic closing ceremony right now and they had this god awful song as the athletes theme.  This would have been a much cooler, much better song and the band are Canadians.  Come on show the 'Neeners some love. 

January 17th - Finch by Finch

Released July 22nd, 2008.

After a two year hiatus and a plethora of side projects, we were presented with this EP in 2008. Honestly I have a hard time listening to this Socal semi-screamo band. They legitamately had a chance back in 2005 to break through to the mainstream and create some buzz and money for themselves. I mean all the backing was their, a good label at the time (Drive Thru Records), underground cred in the form of a cameo on their debut by Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw and Head Automatica, and a cult of young fans that were at the heigth of the screamo craze. However, they decided to smoke a lot of weed, add some grooves and present themselves as a progressive band.


Now almost five years later they have completely lost the plot. The music is not aggressive, neither is it easy listening. It is in that vacuous middle area that does not allow the listener to get energetic or to just gently nod to the music. It is, honestly, just annoying. Maybe I grew out of this type of music a long time ago, which honestly I think is the case, but all the songs blend together for me. There is little differenciating them from one another as they have about the same vocals, same guitar parts, same tempo, and same lyrical content. The only track that sounds slightly different is the closer "Chinese Organ Thieves" but even then it is over shadowed by the fact that it is an inhospitable 7:28 long. Hopefully they can pick it up on their next full length, due out sometime soon, and maybe they can get back to where they were. If they do not then maybe the hiatus will be back on.

Rating - 2 out of 5
Favorite (Most Barable) Track - "Chinese Organ Thieves"

January 16th - Burst & Bloom by Cursive

Released in July 24th, 2001 by Saddle Creek Records.

To be honest I have never met anyone who has said that they hated The Ugly Organ once they had sat down and listened to it. However I have never heard anyone state that this was their favorite album in Cursive's catalogue. How I look at it is that this is Cursive winding up to give people The Ugly Organ, it has many of the same traits: songs about writing music, the cello, a winding sense of eclecticism, and mostly good mid-tempo songs. This album was a step away from the mostly guitar based indie rock of Domestica, and while the cello plays a more forward part in Organ, the electronic aspects of Cursive are much more in the fore ground of the music.

The tracks are pounding, mid tempo guitar indie rock with flourishes of what is to come for Cursive. "Sink to the Beat" and shows hints of Happy Hollow with its background blips and beats, and the vodocoded vocals at the beginning. "Mothership, Mothership, Do You Read Me?" rages with the kind of energy, in guitar, vocals, and cello, which made “Red Handed Slight of Hand” and “Art is Hard” such standards of the Cursive live assault. The lyrics are classic Tim Kasher, loads of sadness, a bit of irony, a tad of self deprecation, and finished with classic diary style emo. When he sings "4/4 / Hip Hop and you don't stop" on "Sink to the Beat" it is without a bat of an eyelid, that is the beauty of Kasher: he can say the most absurd line without losing a bit of his honesty or character.

While this album is not as classic as the full album output of Cursive, it still stands as wonderful EP, and as a live standard. Last night I saw Tim Kasher belt out "Mothership" mid set, and it still stands as loudly as the other songs in their set. If you have never heard this EP but you have heard The Ugly Organ, do yourself a favor and pick this up, it will not disappoint.

- The above photo is from Cursive's set last night in Salt Lake City at In The Venue.  Photo taken by Matthew Winters.

Rating - 4 1/2 out of 5
Favorite Tracks - "Sick to the Beat", "Mothership, Mothership, Do You Read Me?"

january 15th - Decahedron EP - Decahedron

Released in 2005 on Lovitt Records.

Some bands dazzle you with their live shows, some with their recorded output, some with the artwork, others with timing and productions, but then there are other bands that just dazzle you with their members. Decahedron are such a band, in the beginning it was Shelby Cinca and Jason Hamacher just out of the disbanding of the lauded hardcore band Frodus and Joe Lally of Fugazi. Yep, that is quite a pedigree.

However by the time this album came out, three years later, in 2005 the band had lost Lally and picked up Jake Brown of Moments in Grace to fill the huge spot. While this is a pretty heavy album, it still does not live up to much of the input on their debut full length Disconnection_Immient and it definitely does not live up the standards of their previous bands. For the most part this EP was mostly forgettable and very bland, and maybe it was just a tinge more so because I know the pedigree of the band.

There are two high spots though, the opening instrumental "Movement A" is a dazzling piece of music that runs the gambit from punk and hardcore to traditional instrumental, it really showed the chops that made their previous band so legendary. The other high point is "We are the Virus", which sounded like a rallying call to arms that the band really needed to produce. However the rest of the album, while good, was not up the standards of their previous bands.

Rating - 2 1/2 out of 5
Favorite Tracks - "Movement A", "We Are The Virus"

January 14th - About Time by Straylight Run

Released May 20th, 2009. 

When John Nolan and Shaun Cooper split from Taking Back Sunday in 2003 it was pretty sure that they were going to need to continue in music. Not only was Nolan a gifted song writer but both men were seasoned road veterans at that point. So in conjunction with Will Noon and John's sister Michelle, they created Straylight Run. Over the course of a little over three years with this line-up they managed to create two albums and two EPs worth of material including their self titled debut, The Needles, The Space, Prepare to be Wrong and a covers EP. Then Michelle split, amicably, to create her new project called Destry.


Straylight rolled on, creating a great EP with 2008's Un Mas Dos, and finally with last year's About Time. It seems sad to me that this will probably be the last new material that we hear from Straylight. It is sad for two reasons; one, it is probably the best set of songs that Straylight have ever released, and two, they announced the dreaded "indefinite hiatus" just two weeks ago.

While this EP is just four songs it is just perfect for the band. Straylight has always struck me as a group that is better perfecting single songs than whole albums, and it shows with this EP. Each song is just so consistent and well constructed, the lyrics, instruments, the vocals, and the whole feel of the album is just so balanced. It is urgent but not rushed, loving but disconnected from the needs of the audience. Opener "I'm through with the past, but the past isn't through with me" is cathartic, but beautifully loving song that runs like a pop version of "A slow descent." It touches on so many of the problems the band has faced over the years, i.e. never ending comparisons to Taking Back Sunday, the endless drama from outside media, the terrible record labels that did not understand the talent these people have, and finally the normal woes of being in a traveling band. It is just so wonderful when you understand that John Nolan really wants to be finished with all the drama and just write beautiful music.

Second track "The Great Compromise" is a cacophony of jazz time signatures, wandering bass, and driving vocals. "I got to where I am by giving up on who I was" Nolan sings, and you can understand that he really gave up on many of the pieces he wrote long ago. It is a striking song that plays well on the A side with the opener.

"Don't count me out" plays more friendly with the A sides because it is a beautiful mid tempo song that rolls through the verse and chorus in quick step, and while it is not a misstep on this album by any means, it is the song that sticks out as weird in the set.

The final track "Mile After Mile" is one of the most haunting tracks about being on tour that I have ever heard, it rolls through the acoustics like a revved up version of "Ride" by Cary Brothers, however the lyrics are much more powerful and emotion than Cary Brothers could ever do. It is a touching, poignant tribute to the power of true love on the road trying endlessly to get home.

Over the years it has been interesting to see the progression of the three Long Island songwriters that came up at the same time. John Nolan chose to write from a pop perspective, while Adam Lazarra and TBS wrote to the emo radio crowd that are slowing dying away, and Jesse Lacey is writing music that is only for his own self and people still love him for it. It is an interesting progression; however, the sad fact is that all three bands while still being talented will only live on in the shadow of the larger more radio friendly bands. They may have huge followings but it would be a rare thing to hear anything off of Daisy, Tell All Your Friends, or this album on the air of a commercial radio station. That is the sad, powerful legacy of these bands, they will live for a long time in the minds of those that saw them in the heyday or met them, but those that didn't pay attention will lose them forever.

 

 

Rating - 5 out of 5
Favorite Songs - All of them