I’d like to take a moment to thank WNUR (Northwestern University Radio) … Well actually … ALL this area’s college radio stations – WZRD, WRRG, WDCB, WHPK, WLUW (I apologize to the stations I’ve forgotten) for enticing my ears & opening my mind. Without you I’d be happy to guzzle whatever garbage commercial radio has been serving up for the last 26 years of my life.
I’m gonna keep this short … (well, short for my ranting big mouth)
I recently attended a “festival” that featured several bands throughout the day. It was a mix of cover bands & bands playing originals. Some were great, some were background music and then there was the final act. I stood there watching & listening … giving them a “fair listen” … and then it hit me. THANK JEBUS I FOUND WNUR!!! If I hadn’t stumbled across 89.3 when I was 14 years old, I might have ended up in a band like the one that I was suffering through. Imagine a blend of all the worst parts about Metallica (including prima donna attitudes), Stone Temple Pilots, and a poorly executed dash of Skynyrd. I gave it 15-20 minutes before I opted for Karaoke at a nearby bar.
Yes … I said Karaoke! Those people singing their “out-of-key” hearts out were more interesting & genuine than the overgrown adolescent boredom-machine that I had just escaped. This band (which shall remain nameless) weren’t quite as old as me, but they were well out of their teens – I guess physically just not emotionally nor mentally.
Big D’s tip for the day … aww hell the week – month – forever! … take some time & listen to College Radio, your soul will thank you.
Also – donate during you favorite station’s pledge drive if you can … they need it. NOTE – I’m not affiliated with any media source, so this isn’t an “ad” for any particular radio station.
Filed under: Blogroll, Reviews | Tags: chicago, Detroit, punk, Quenchers, surf
August in Chicago generally means oppressive heat that swells with “pea soup-like” humidity. But something strange has been going on. The last week has been freakishly cold for August. Some may start thumping their recycling bins to say, “I told ya so” but that’s far too simple an explanation. I believe it all started last week when The Amino Acids came to town.
The Amino Acids, like visitors from another planet, command your attention even though fear of the unknown may surge through your body. You can’t turn away & you begin questioning your musical familiarity … Does thrash exist is surf? What would happen if you merged Dick Dale & Tony Iommi? Can you really trust a man (or alien) with a Theremin?
The Amino Acids play the darkest most aggressive breed of surf I’ve ever heard. It’s heavy, fast, melodic, fun, at times comical and some may even say bizarre. Clad in black, behind stark white smiling masks the Amino Acids put on one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. If they aren’t coming to your town any time soon, check out their latest release “Humanity Will Fall Like Pins”. It’s a down-n-dirty thrill ride that will give you a small taste of what an evening w/ The Amino Acids is like. And if they do come to your town, strange things may occur but fear not … do not alert the authorities … just remember “Klaatu Barada Necktie” and all will be well.
hee hee hee hee heeeee … www.theaminoacids.com
There once was a magical place called The Cabaret Metro. It was dark, smokey, loud, and filled with rock-n-roll degenerates … well, at least the nights that I was there, and I got to see some kick-ass shows there.
Some kind person on youtube has posted majority of one of those shows.
Nirvana from 1989:
THIS LINK will take you to the Youtube Playlist Page so you can watch all 9 songs.
This footage makes me smile
Filed under: Blogroll, memories | Tags: chicago, thrash, windy city hardcore
Damn … Chicago lost a character this week. Troy “Roach” Coates, frontman from The Plague – Lungbrush – Stunt Double Jesus – Rising Up Angry – Ghost of the Underground, passed away due to complications from a rare form of Adrenal Cancer.
I saw The Plague a few times & Lungbrush once, after that I lost track of Roach’s other bands. I was more of a fan of The Plague myself. They along with bands like Life Sentence & Zeotrope were important in the mid-late 80’s in Chicago because they were a bridge between the punks & the metal heads at the time.
Generally, you could be sure to see a fight if a pack of headbangers walked into a punk show & vice-versa. But with the growing Hardcore Scene, there was an acceptance at shows. I’m not saying people held hands screaming Kumbaya or anything, but the fights were over things other than the uniform you wore.
Anyhow – whether it was Cabaret Metro, The Cubby Bear, The Iron Rail or some dive bar Roach always put on a lively engaging performance. If memory serves correct, I think I saw Lungbrush at Circuits on Cicero when they were starting up – Good stuff, just more metal than I was hoping for. The Plague was fast, strong & in your face … and that’s what I dug about ‘em.
The scene is gonna miss you Roach! If you’d like more in-depth info … check out www.rockforroach.com
Pulled out an oldie but a goodie today. The self-titled Debut LP (1987) from Life Sentence! Chi-town hardcore that at times reminds me of a blend of 7 Seconds & D.R.I. with a touch of Suicidal Tendencies on the guitar solos. And when I say solos, I mean brief blasts of seering fuzzed out guitar riffs … no wankery here! This is my favorite of their few releases. This record sounds like it was recorded at a VFW Hall while a herd of drunken teens were running around losing their minds.
There’s nothing subtle about this album, everything sounds hot & urgent. Even the skank-a-rific slower parts of “Race to Die” gets the adrenaline flowin’. “In the Streets” throws a few quick stop-starts at you & then the drums pummel you as if you were falling down a three story flight of stairs. “Punks for Profit” is another standout track, not just for the lyrical sentiment but the music starts out with a fists in the air stand-up & shout vibe and then whirls into a thrashing frenzy and back to the fists in the air and so on … it a brilliant 53 seconds which you should hear.
There are some other good tracks & then a few that are ok … but “In the Streets” “Punks for Profit” and “Race to Die” are three tracks that no midwest punk +/or hardcore comp should go without. Check ‘em out on MySpace … looks like there’s a reformation of the band hittin’ the clubs.
