Life In A Bungalo

So I went to Asbury Park last Friday to video tape the Koffin Kats and spend a few dollars on some really cool bowling pins. I was trying to time my arrival at the club to correspond with the Kats set time, but alas, I got there early and was forced to eat some amazing grilled cheese and tater tots.

While waiting for the band to get on stage, I caught a set by The Doomsdayers from Philadelphia. The band was Vic Victor approved and from their opening few notes, I was completely shocked to hear that the sounded just like one of my old favorite bands the 12 Step Rebels.

I then crapped my pants when they busted out back to back 12 Step covers starting with “Cobblestones.” I was tipsy, but it didn’t take long to realize that it was the same singer. The band rocked out for half an hour, playing a dozen or so songs that are a little less punk than the 12 Step Rebels, but just as catchy.

After the set, I chatted up singer Nate Hancock and he informed me that the he had moved to the East Coast and brought along 12SR drummer Pat Kappauf with him. I told him how I had waited years for the 12 Step Rebels to get over to the right coast, but they broke up just as the band was getting popular. He said that the Rebels are still alive and well, and are playing a few dates with The Quakes and Tiger Army in Anaheim.

The Doomsdayers are a full time project and will have a proper release out soon. I can’t wait to hear what’s coming. If it’s anywhere near as good as “Go, Go Graveyard”, I will be a very happy boy.

Caught the Koffin Kats in the middle of nowhere in Connecticut last night playing in this crazy skate park/ asylum on a ramp, some 20 feet in the air. Full review to come.

Bouncing Souls, Sick of it All, Grey Area
September 19, 2008
Terminal 5

Click to see full SOIA photolog on FLICKR

I’ve seen the Bouncing Souls a couple a dozen times since 1994 and it’s always been kind of hit or miss. Some times they rock, and sometimes they just kind of stand there and play their instruments. Last night at Terminal 5 in New York, they kicked my ass all over the theater.

First up was Grey Area. I assumed they would be a metal-core act since they were on Victory, but boy I was wrong. The band consists of most of the remnants of Warzone with a pinch of No Redeeming Social Values and Crown of Thornz, but fronted by Ernie from Black Train Jack. That said, the band sounds nothing like the heavier bands in their pedigree and pretty much rock just like BTJ in their heyday. Really enjoyable power punk songs with a ton of melody. Good to see these guys are still floating around. Read more »

Rock-a-Round’s Wild Weekend Power Pop Festival
Austin, TX
8/28/08 – 8/30/08

Goddamn, what a way to celebrate my first visit to Austin, Texas. A wild weekend indeed, full of record buying, rock and roll, power pop, glam, garage and my pal Cody, headlined by the Boys, who haven’t played the United States in some 25-plus years. Not to mention Gentleman Jesse and His Men—I don’t think I can sing their praises too much… these guys are gonna be huge. Point of interest… I didn’t see a Rickenbacker guitar until the second show on the second night. Here’s to hoping there’s another Wild Weekend next year… I’m sure I’m not the only one to think this (Cody being the another), but I definitely would love to see, say, the Real Kids, Romantics, Teenage Head and the Odd Numbers. Read more »

Rancid, Big D and the Kid’s Table
Irving Plaza
August 15, 2008

Rancid took the stage a week or so ago for a five day stint at New York’s prestigious Irving Plaza (only fools call it the Fillmore). It’s been a few years since Rancid’s last visit to the Big Apple, and this time they packed in a larger venue and brought a ton of legendary bands with them–Bloodclot, Sick of it All, Madball.

Alas, I got the bum night and had to sit through Big D and the Kid’s Table and their ska-infused pop punk hooha. They reminded me of a castarated version of the Suicide Machines, but with way more horns and a lot less punk. That said, they covered Morphine, which is always a plus in my book. Too bad no one but me were old enough to care.

Rancid were the stars of the night and truth be told, the band have become legends in their own right. God knows they’ve earned it. While not as intimate as their run at BB Kings a few years back, the plays was packed with kids itching to sing and the band did not dissapoint. Particularly if you’re a fan of “Out Come the Wolves,” from which the band played nearly a dozen songs. It would have been nice if they peppered in some pre-Wolves classics, but alas, they had five nights to fill.

Besides, a fantastic rendition of “Rejected” courtesy of Matt Freeman, the band dipped into their new B-sides collection and pulled out “The Brothels,” “I Wanna Riot,” and “Tattoo.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard them touch those tunes, except maybe Riot during the early Wolves tours.

Other than that, the show was rather paint by numbers with most of the hits accounted for and a single song encore of “Time Bomb.” In all honesty, if you go see the Offspring or Green Day, the chance of them playing a song of their first two records is slim to none, let alone really random B-sides, so this tour ranks pretty high in my book. Good to know there are still bands out there that know there fans weren’t all born after they released their biggest records.

Judas Priest, Heaven and Hell, Motorhead, Testament @ PNC Art Center
Holmdel, NJ

With Ozzfest pretty much hanging it up, there’s not much out there for metal fans in terms of a good rock show. Sure, Motley Crue is lapping up some dough riding the nostalgia train and Poison is milking The Rock of Love, but come on—they aren’t metal.

Enter Rob Halford. The metal god was able to secure the Dio version of Black Sabbath, Testament, and Motorhead for a 12-date expedition under the moniker The Master of Metal tour and the fans have been pouring into the venues to catch a glimpse of this once in a lifetime event.

Eddie Trunk was on hand at the PNC event to introduce the bands. “You know this is a classic show when Testament is the youngest band on the bill,” he proclaimed. Read more »

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 »

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 »