I should be posting news about the upcoming Damned US tour dates or a link to the new Against Me singer’s video, but instead I present to you - Chuck Nasty - frontman for Love Cinema Vol. 6 and occassional Bungalo contributor. This shot was taken at sunset on the Asbury Park boardwalk. I like how he brings a little bit of class to the Jersey Shore. Look for a new Love Cinema record in the near future.

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.

Photo by George Koroneos

Biggest news for the day is that Jerey’s own Thursday have signed to Epitaph after their short run on a major label. Life In A Bungalo talked with singer Geoff Rickly a few months back at Jonathan Levine Gallery and he pretty much alluded to the fact that the band was looking to gt back to one of the larger indie punk labels. The band was originally on Victory, but abandoned the metal-core label for greener pastures. Then the record industry collapsed. The band is working on a new record, but nothing has been announced yet. This is the second big pick-up for Epitaph in the last few weeks, having just signed New Found Glory. We’ll try to get an interview with Thursday ASAP.

Fat Wreck Chords just released a bunch of new records from the likes of Star Fucking Hipsters, Lagwagon, and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Most importantly, The Swingin’ Utters’ “Juvenile Product of the Working Class” is getting repressed on limited yellow vinyl.

Slayer is giving away a new song to people attending their upcoming Unholy Alliance dates. Too bad all the tour dates are overseas. Word on the street is that the new album will be hitting stores some time next year. Prepare to be slayed.

Finally, the Satin Peaches have a new video and it isn’t that awful. It would be cooler if their name was Satin’s Peaches.

Photo by Jim Graham

Anchorless Records is releasing All Aboard: A Tribute to Johnny Cash on October 21. The record features covers performed by 16 bands that are just below the popularity line, including: Chuck Ragan, The Bouncing Souls, The Gaslight Anthem, The Dresden Dolls, and - most imp, Derekortantly - Russ Freakin’ Rankin doing “I Walk The Line.” It’s kind of a bummer that there aren’t any rockabilly bands on here. But there’s already a psychobilly tribute to the Man In Black, so I guess it’s okay. And yes, there will be a vinyl version. Go to www.myspace.com/weareanchorlessrecords to hear a few tracks. Read the rest of this entry »

I was bored over the weekend and made a short film covering the Koffin Kat’s recent show in Asbury Park. The movie was shot in its entirety with a Canon G9 and edited in iMovie HD (the old version).

Sweat! The Story of the Fleshtones, America’s Garage Band
By Joe Bonomo

I used to live in a small town in New Jersey called Butler. My friends and I used to visit Bill’s Tavern (RIP), a townie bar just down the block from our house. They served Schaefer on tap for only a buck, it was glorious. We knew a late-30’s barfly by the name of Wally. Wally was a good guy, everyone at Bill’s knew his name.

One night in the summer of 2001 he and I were talking music and he told me he had just seen a show in nearby New York by the Fleshtones. Wally claimed to know the singer from the early ‘80s. Sometimes you couldn’t tell if Wally was fucking with you or not, so I said something like, “Yeah, his name is Peter Zaremba, right?” Wally said, in his most flamboyant voice, something like, “Oh no, honey, that’s not the name I knew him by!”

According to Wally’s story, he knew Zaremba from visiting various gay clubs, and when Wally was at the above mentioned 2001 Fleshtones show, Zaremba did a double take on seeing Wally in the crowd. I could never figure out if Wally claimed to know Zaremba from his time in Athens, GA, Florida or New York City. After reading Sweat! I think Wally may have been somewhat telling the truth (I can’t even begin to describe the section on the disco after party scene in early ‘80s NYC… well, I don’t have to because Bonomo does). Read the rest of this entry »

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 the rest of this entry »