Life In A Bungalo

Pat Todd and the Rankoutsiders
Holdin’ Onto Trouble’s Hand
Rankoutsider Records

Pat Todd is a man that just won’t quit! Barely over a year ago, the ex-Lazy Cowgirls’ front man assembled a new rock and roll troupe and put out a 28-song double-CD (The Outskirts of Your Heart, Rankoutsider Records) of his trademark mix of rock and roll/punk/country.

In an interview at the time he claimed to have 30 more songs written and ready to go! Now here he comes again with a 20-song release (and threatens to have 60 or so more songs ready!), a full-time label home to a dozen or so bands and plans to tour. Read more »

H2O, melodic hardcore heroes from the mid-’90s, have posted the first new song from Nothing To Prove, which is hitting stores through Bridge Nine Records on May 27th, 2008. The album’s opening track, “1995″ is streaming over at their recently renovated and redesigned myspace page.

Nothing To Prove was produced by Chad Gilbert and recorded with famed engineer Paul Miner and it’s a 10-song statement that H2O is indeed back and better than ever. Read more »

Young Werewolves
“Cheat the Devil”
www.theyoungwerewolves.com

Out of the grindhouse and onto the radio, the Young Werewolves fire on all cylinders with silver bullets blazing and fangs bared. This band of punky surf rockers pummel the listener to oblivion with 14 infectiously catchy numbers about horror movies and Hollywood babylon.

Every song on “Cheat the Devil” is a keeper. The production sound is pure Nuggets era garage rock with simple yet savage drum beats that just groove. The bass is fast and tight and the guitars are sloppy and noisy–music to my ears. Guitarist/singer Neil Falcon’s voice sounds a bit like Rob Zombie, but the music is pure Cramp’s style rock & roll.
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Download digital copy of Life In A Bungalo #2 (15.6 MB)

Well, as four or five of you might know, Life In A Bungalo was not always called Life In A Bungalo. The fanzine was originally pretentiously titled Marked for Life. It served as some lame call to arms, and at a time when sanctimonious straighedge bands with names like Path of Resistance ruled the punk scene, I thought it would fit right in.

What I didn’t know was that there existed a comic book by the same name. A comic book with a lawyer. Once cease and desist letter later and I was ready to put the ‘zine to rest faster than you could say broke teenager. At the same time, my parents moved me into our basement, which we turned into a pretty cool punk rock rec room. My buddy Mike dubbed it the Bungalow and thought it would be fitting to rechristen the ‘zine Life In A Bungalow. Read more »

B-Movie Rats
“Radio Suicide”
Rankoutsider Records

I have this B-Movie Rats t-shirt that I’ve worn the hell out of for years. I don’t know where it is now, probably lost it in my cross-country move. I got their newest CD in the mail and was surprised. I haven’t heard anything from them in years and thought they were long broken up. Apparently this album was recorded back in 2002 and the band did break-up. They’re slated to play at this year’s South by Southwest but since the members live on different coasts, I don’t know if they’re back full time.

Naturally, I went to grab some of their old records and was surprised that I had none! Not even the 7″ where they cover the Raunch Hands’ “Your Fat Friend” or their split LP with the Hellbenders (turns out I do have one Hellbenders LP though). Strange…
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Epitaph just sent out a link to a fantastic performance by Bad Religion on KROQ. It’s just Brett, Brooks, and Greg performing three songs on acoustic guitars and a snare.

The King Khan and BBQ Show
“S/T”
In the Red Records

This record can be summed up in five words: “Motherfuck! This is so good!”

My own laziness astounds me sometimes. I’ve had this record for like three months and am only writing this review now. I don’t know why I waited so long, I love it and can’t say enough good things about the King Khan and BBQ Show (nee’ Mark Sultan) and their assorted side projects (well, I’m not so fond of the Shrines). Read more »