Life In A Bungalo

NorCal hardcore/punk band, The Force, is reuniting for the first time in 10 years. Singer Matt Wedgley (Viva Hate), bassist Hunter Burgan (AFI), guitarist Mark Roustabout (The Roustabouts) and the inimitable drummer Chad Cox went their separate ways after the band’s final show in 1998, each following his own path to personal and professional success.

This reunion will give fans as well as those who missed The Force the first time around a chance to witness California hardcore/punk at its truest and finest.

The Force will only be playing three shows, the first of which will be in their hometown of Grass Valley, CA (a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills, between Sacramento and Reno) followed by a Bay Area concert and finally a Southern California stop. The dates are as follows:

August 29, 2008 - Miner’s Foundry in Nevada City (Grass Valley), CA
August 30, 2008 - 924 Gilman St. in Berkeley, CA
August 31, 2008 - Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA

Formed in May of 1995, the band recorded and toured for three years. The Force released several recordings, including a 7″, a 10″ and a split 7″ as well as a number of songs on compilations.

This reunion will coincide with the release of a complete discography, containing every song The Force ever recorded. A limited edition, 21-song double-LP will be sold at the shows as well as online while supplies last.

Sadly, no East Coast dates are on the list. Hopefully, Hunter’s Revenge will be opening.

Source: Earshot Media

Thee Merry Widows
“The Devil’s Outlaws”

The brides or rock & roll Frankenstein have returned with a record of mid-tempo psycho anthems that provide the perfect soundtrack to the latest zombie invasion.

While not as viciously heavy as some of their contemporaries, the gals that make up the Merry Widows approach their music with a laid back swagger that recalls goth lounge with a bit of swing. Singer Eva Von Slut eschews the sickly sweet vocals of most of today’s rockabilly female vocalist in exchange for a croon that would make Danzig proud.

In fact, “Devil’s Outlaws” could best be compared to The Misfits “Static Age”–a record of slower, punk classics, that are highlighted by trippy lyrics that you can actually understand and a solid groove that you can get behind. That said, this record also begs for a bit more rock. Songs like “My High Heels” and “The Bride” have that catchy feeling, but most of the tunes on here might be a little off-putting to fans of more traditional psycho fares.

Pick up “The Devil’s Outlaw” and you’re guaranteed to be enticed, go see these gals live to be blown away.

Iron Maiden
PNC Art Center, NJ
June 14, 2008

Click for full Iron Maiden Photolog

From the moment Winston Churchill’s legendary speech resonated over the PA, it was obvious that the evening was going to be a special one. Fans screamed as the first riffs of “Aces High” echoed through the amphitheater, rolled over the masses, and poured out into the rain soaked crowd. Last night, was a special evening, and for those that withstood the torrential downpour and startling lightning, it was worth it to see true legends in action. Read more »

Life In A Bungalo swung by the old WWE New York in Times Square today for a press conference promoting Vince McMahon’s million dollar giveaway. Here are some tidbits:

The press conference started at noon, and fans were seated in the general floor area behind the press and fans filled out the balcony area. The place was pretty packed with tons of chanting New Yorkers.

A team of security guards went on stage at the start to unload a clear suitcase filled with money into an acrylic, see-through podium. The audience started chanting for some of the dough, to no avail. Read more »

It’s coming…

www.lemmymovie.com

Mad Marge & the Stonecutters
Karma, Victorville, CA
May 31, 2008

Click for more photos of the show>>>

Round trip gas to Victorville = $55
Dinner for two at burrito joint = $35
Tickets to the show = $24
Seeing Mad Marge and the Stonecutters perform in their home town = priceless

Sorry, but I could not resist the lame AMEX joke and there’s no other way to compare the experience of driving a million miles through the desert in a shitty PT Cruiser to check out one of the wildest live punk acts in years. Read more »

The latest episode of Radio Bungalo is in the feed. Click play to hear it or choose download to play it in your MP3 player.

 

 Radio Bungalo #37 : H2O Interview [61:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hosts: George Koroneos & Chuck Nasty
Interview: Todd Morse of H2O
Music: Brine + Bastards, H2O, Young Werewolves, Iron Maiden

Show Notes:
This week we talk about whether melodic hardcore really is hardcore, we interview Todd Morse of H2O about his new record “Nothing to Prove,” GTA IV is discussed to death, and we prattle on about seeing Iron Maiden in Jersey. Read more »

H2O
“Nothing To Prove”
Bridge 9 Records

H2O have returned after a very long hiatus and their fans couldn’t be luckier. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, “Nothing to Prove” is a potent melding of power punk and mid-90s hardcore, lacking any macho posturing and soaked with infectiously catchy tunes. H2O have never been known as a traditional hardcore act, eschewing the cookie monster vocals favored by their friends and contemporaries. Singer Toby Morse instead enunciates every word of the bands’ insightful lyrics, most of which eulogize about time gone by and expounds on positive attitudes. Read more »