I recently saw one of my favorite bands Joyce Manor on tour with Modern Baseball and Say Anything this past month. Unfortunately, some of my content was messed up for a full review of that show. But my favorite moment from this tour is what remains. I can’t describe how much I love the Murder City Devils. So when I see bands like Joyce Manor embrace their love, it is magnificent.
They did a cover of Murder City Devils “Midnight at the Mutter Museum” off the Thelema EP (2001). I thoroughly enjoyed their version of this song and I hope you do too.
Notes: My storage space cut out the last bit of the video. Also, the non-landscape view is due to poles in the view and my height, apologies on those issues.
This time of year, in my opinion, is the beginning of the punk festival season. I think between Punk Rock Bowling and Fest is the prime picking for festivals in the United States. With these amazing lineups and the Misfits reunion, we can all see the money flying out of our bank accounts. Just remember there is no price on memories even if we might black out and forget….
Here is the break down for every major punk lineup in the U.S. and a few international mentions:
Punk Rock Bowling: Las Vegas, NV( May 26-30), Denver, CO (June 2-4), and Ashbury, NJ (June 10-12)
I am VERY biased when I say this is my favorite festival. I have been several times now and it is the quintessential punk rock festival. All the punk kids having fun against the glitzy Las Vegas lights is a sight to be seen. This festival also brings cool and unique club after shows. Did I mention there is a bowling tournament too? With the gambling, pool parties, and karaoke, the fun never stops in this 24-hour festival. This year they are attempting to branch out by having dates in Ashbury and Denver. Here are the lineups for each date:
Riot Fest: Chicago, IL (Sept. 16-18) and Denver, CO (Sept. 2-4)
Riot Fest REALLY brought the surprise of the year by only announcing the Misfits reunion in their initial band. They didn’t mention any of their other stellar artists and let us just freak out for a moment because hell froze over for a second. Of course, in our heart of hearts, we could see this happening but no one was holding their breath. But it’s happening! I will be there this September to give all the details of this reunion for you guys. This might be my favorite lineup of all the festivals this year. It has such punk gems as Bad Religion, Lagwagon, NOFX, The Aquabats, Against Me!, and Leftover Crack to name just a few. Both lineups are very similar but it depends on how much you want to see certain headliners and old school favorites. They are still announcing more to each lineup so stay tuned:
Fest is on my bucket list of punk festivals to go to before I die. I think it should be on yours as well. Anyone that I have discussed Fest with says that it is a place where new punk bands are made and found. This year is very special since it is an anniversary of the festival. They have a heavy lineup of alumni playing, which makes it harder to decide who you want to see. This is a great problem to have. So cancel all your Halloween plans now and make it out to Fest 15 this year, check out the official lineup below:
A super surprise for the state of Texas. As a punker growing up in Texas, we tend to miss out on bands from the other coasts that can’t afford to tour here often. So when this festival popped up, the internet lit up! I feel the lineup is equal parts street punk, pop punk, and ska. It will be amazing to see Bigwig, Slapshot, The Exploited again since it has been a hot minute. I think this festival will do well since the venues will cater to every kind of punk. I will also be covering this festival since it is in my backyard, which in Texas means a 2-hour drive.
This has been my favorite local festival for many years now. This 10-year festival is uniquely Austin. These festival people love bands such as the Descendents, GWAR, and Fat Wreck bands, and reunions. And don’t forget tacos. I hope this is not the end of the road for this festival since the company has changed owners this past month. It is a great festival that is equal parts electronic, hip-hop, comedy, punk, metal, hardcore, and indie rock. Every year they do a recap video and I think it gives a good depiction of what good times to expect. Fingers crossed for another great year and lineup to come!
Other Honorable Mentions:
Since some of these festivals are overseas or have already happened, here is a quick list of festivals to hit up outside the U.S. Get those passports ready!
I am a podcast addict. There are endless possibilities when it comes to podcasts. It can be artsy and deep or straight out crass. It keeps me sane in Austin traffic and on long flights. I feel like I have learned a little more about the world just listening to a 30 minute-hour long episode. I have done a ton of searching online and on the iTunes app. Here are my top recommendations on punk podcasts in no particular order or rank. Share the love:
Turned out a Punk: Damian Abraham is the beast at everything he does. I love his band Fucked Up and the energy of his live performances. Who knew he brought that kind of ambition to podcasting? Well, he does. He has a vast knowledge of vinyl and music that is very impressive. He puts up episodes weekly, sometimes even sooner with the footnotes podcasts he adds too. He has interesting guests from musicians to industry people. He also gives an interesting take on the Canadian punk scene.
MMR Radio: I have been reading this zine forever. I am glad they have never changed because they do what they do so well. It is a mix of garage rock, punk, hardcore and indie. It seems to work really well together. They upload episodes weekly from bands that submit to their podcast and/or zine. Mostly just a music playlist and some talk. I have definitely found some gems within these playlists.
Rebel Songs Radio: This is my personal favorite out there. I had spent months looking for another female that discusses and plays punk music. It varies from hardcore, rockabilly, thrash, metal, oi, and punk. Which pretty much lists all my favorite genres. Support this awesome podcast!
Punk News: I am obviously a fan of Punk News. What is so great about this podcast is that if you don’t have the time to sit down and read your newsfeed, then this will catch you up immediately. They have awesome interviews with bands and talk current punk news. They also play tracks from new releases. They also have sub-podcast called The Wizard’s Beard and Space Punks. These podcasts are exactly what you think they are.
Rocket Fuel: I REALLY enjoy Jeff’s podcast. The spectrum of genres is punk, ska, and indie. Even though this podcast is not 100% punk all the time, all the songs that he plays are music we still love as music fans. Also, his guests are spot on. This podcast has truly interesting conversations from bands such as Face to Face, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, to Fest coverage. I think the reason I like this podcast the most is that you can tell it is very influenced by the 120 minutes era. Which I am totally that person too. I HIGHLY recommend this podcast to any music lover.
WTF with Marc Maron: Marc Maron’s podcast is one of the best out there. Yes, not all of them are punk. BUT occasionally there will be gems on there such as Iggy Pop, Flea, Mike Watt and many more. So it’s worth checking out even for those specific interviews.
Mostly Harmless with Dammit Damian: I really dig this podcast out the Denver area. I also love the fact that Damian comes from the zine scene. His interviews consist of bands, comics, and nerd pop culture. He also has some awesome live footages and old interviews to dive into. Definitely worth a tune in.
All Songs Considered: I get that NPR is a super adult station. It can be hard to sit through and listen. But this podcast is pure music nerd haven. Obviously not the most punk podcast out there but very surprising. In the past couple of months, they have played great bands such as Greys, The Dirty Nil, and PUP. If you like a roulette of music that includes punk and all genres, then this is a great podcast choice.
My favorite punk podcast of this past year has to go toRupual’s What’s the Tee with Michelle Visage. I only mention this episode because it was with Henry Rollins. It is a superb episode. Little did you know that Rupaul and Henry Rollins collaborated musically? Exactly. Amazing episode. I personally listened to this episode twice!
**I am also excepting any recommendations for other punk podcasts not listed. I know there are probably more out there. Feel free to comment or leave a link below.**
Through the past month, artists from all genres have been publicly speaking out against House Bill 2. Some artist like Bruce Springsteen has decided to cancel their dates in North Carolina. Which makes sense to a degree, since why would you want to pay tax money in a state passing this type of legislation. But on the other hand, people might need a place to vent their anger and frustration. I believe this is why Against Me! is still keeping their tour dates there.
The band plans to have local LGBT organizations to table their show and give people much-needed information. Also, they are planning to use gender-neutral bathrooms as a sign of protest. I also believe there will be a heartfelt statement at the show. To me this a true punk band in the traditional sense. In the days of going against the opposition, it is most effective at the moment. Punk music is a place to vent your frustrations and have a community voice. I can’t wait to see the footage of this show and I hope it gives people the voice they need.
A lot is going on in the Modern Baseball camp. They have a new album coming out on Run for Cover Records titled Holy Ghost. It’s due out on May 13, 2016, which will be followed by their tour. They have been releasing bits about the album for months. They also are filming a documentary called Tripping in the Dark. It will follow the band from early beginnings to their release of the upcoming album. Here’s the trailer for the documentary:
On a side note, they also did a cover from one of my favorite recent bands Violent Soho. I am glad they are a fan of a band I really admire and I can’t blame them for wanting to do a cover by this band. Here is them doing Dope Calypso. Can’t wait for the new album:
This documentary was a long time coming. After 16 years, the documentary film project is finally done and is going to be shown this weekend at the Dick’s hometown. The documentary is called “The Dicks From Texas” directed by Cindy Marabito. The reason this film is getting so much regard is due to what the Dicks really meant to the Austin punk scene in the 1980s. The Dicks were a larger than life punk-hardcore band that pushed the envelope of sexuality, politics, and music. They are best known for their songs such as “Hate the Police” and “Kills from the Heart”.
The reason this documentary is important to watch is that it is a piece of Austin’s music history and a pivotal moment in the punk scene. They rocked against Reagan. They played alongside MDC and the Big Boys. Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, and Mike Watt all want to talk about how great this band was. I don’t think I really have to sell much more here.
They are also releasing a tribute album with such bands as The Bulimics, Black Irish Texas, The Fuckemos, and much more. It is currently streaming here: The Dicks From Texas and Friends
I feel like Post Pop Depression is this year’s most anticipated album. All the tastemakers are discussing it on air and in the streets. It’s like we don’t want to miss a moment before the album dropped so we can say we heard the magic first. It was released on March 18, 2016, after their tour stops in Austin during the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival. My fellow Austinites and I got the privilege of hosting and seeing this unique tour. I use my word choices her very precisely due to the fact that I believe Iggy Pop is a star. He is a punk legend and what I think of when I say the words “front man”. He is also a bit of a renaissance man. You think you might know who Iggy Pop is one minute but he will do something completely out of his range and nail it with grace.
Iggy Pop Showcase SXSW 2016 ACL Live
I think that describes the approach to this album and tour. Post Pop Depression isn’t glam rock, indie, or punk outright. It has so many layers to it that you have to take it at face value. It is gritty, dancey, and profound. The first couple listens I would get little bits stuck in my head and it would remind me of the first times I fell in love with Iggy Pop/The Stooges, Queens of the Stone Age, and even 80s David Bowie. In an overly produced pop world, it refreshing to go back to certain eras of music that are about reinvention and attempting something new.
The SXSW showcase was at the Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater. The day before Iggy and Josh did their official taping for the Austin City Limits television show. What was great about the showcase the day after was that they just got to play music without anything technical in the way. The set started with “Lust For Life” which I thought would be a closer. It was exactly the excitement I needed in my life. Then the band went right into the album with songs such as ” American Valhalla”, “Sunday”, and “Break Your Heart”. They also did a cover of David Bowie’s “China Girl” which fits very much into the style of this album. The band covered some Iggy Pop classics such as “Nightclubbing” and “Passenger” which fit well within in the set and is very classic Iggy.
Iggy Pop SXSW 2016
While Iggy Pop danced and thrashed upon the stage, while Josh Homme soothed with his guitar. The music spoke for itself. Some might have thought this collaboration would be odd but they both offset each other organically to make this transformative dance pop. I love that this album doesn’t take itself so seriously but is still a serious piece of music. I can also say that this was one of the best shows I have ever witnessed. So when I die and my life flashes before my eye, its comforting to know Iggy Pop will be there dancing with me till the end.
Even though most SXSW veterans will say this year’s festival wasn’t above and beyond might not be appreciating the roots of the festival. Growing up punk in Austin, I used to wait on the sidewalks of Emo’s hoping to get into the SXSW Fat Wreck Chords showcase. Those were the golden years of Rock Against Bush for Fat Wreck and we needed NOFX’s anthems then.
Ray Rocket at Fat Wreck Chords Showcase SXSW2016
Let’s focus on today; we need their help against Trump and to celebrate their classic punk tracks. This year NOFX released their memoir and brought the best of their label roster to SXSW. The showcase at Buffalo Billard’s was intimate enough for the stylings of Ray Rocket’s acoustic set and to rock out in the pit. All the bands I bought albums from this past year were on the lineup: Ray Rocket, The Dirty Nil, Mean Jeans, toyGuitar, Night Birds, and NOFX.
The two bands I haven’t gotten to see within the past years were my most anticipated: Mean Jeans and Night Birds. I was fortunate enough to go to the Fat Wreck Anniversary Tour this past year but did not get to see these gems. Mean Jeans would be my vote for the most anticipated band for the fest. NOFX is definitely everyone’s favorite but I am always curious to find out who is going to be the next wave of punk. Mean Jeans has the amazing grit and snarl that true punk rock has, but also contains the roots of the Ramones tangled within every song. Their energy and live show was everything I expected from their music and are a perfect fit for the label.
Night Birds has also been a favorite of mine for the past year. They are the hardcore punk that I need to revival the sweet melodic punk I love. Most of the audience noted that the Night Birds are one of the best live band. That is definitely the truth. They come running out the gate and you are coming with them no matter what. Their guitars and angst reels you in and leaves you wanting more.
Of course, the end of the night is topped with the sweet cherry that is NOFX. They are the crowd favorite and everyone goes crazy. Maybe because it was St. Patrick’s Day or the fact they were finally back in Austin but it felt good to have NOFX just play a solid set and have fun with it. I hope this continues to be a tradition with Fat Wreck Chords and SXSW. The most important part of this festival is to remember why we listen to music in the first place: the classics and new finds.
Tiger Army’s mantra is “Never Die” and for a while, I thought they might actually die off. In 2013, the band acted like they were disbanding. After the departing of Geoff Kresge in February 2014, there seems to be a radio silence of what was to come next. Also the fact that Tiger Army hadn’t been to Texas since 2008, it seemed pretty damn bleak. As always though, founding and constant member, Nick 13 said the band would continue.
Tiger Army (Dropkick Murphy Tour 2016)
After all the drama this band has seen over the decades, I was still pretty excited when I heard they would be touring with the great Dropkick Murphys. I was expecting they would play it safe and play old hits. The set was actually a little bit of everything. They stuck to their roots and also debuted some of their new material. They had been gone so long I forgot how much I truly love Nick 13’s voice. I rarely can hear the crispness of a vocalist, especially at a big venue like Stubbs. I am not gonna sugar coat it but I do miss Geoff Kresge as the bassist because I loved his style of playing but Djordje Stijepovic is definitely up to par. They also have another drummer Mike Fasano, who has played on a previous album. Nick 13 has definitely planned this revamp carefully. By getting top musicians such as Dave Roe and Mitch Marine, that have worked with other artists such as Dwight Yokham and Johnny Cash, the new record will have a rich vintage sound. Also the fact that it was recorded by Grammy winner Ted Hutt, who also records Dropkick Murphys, Old Crow Medicine Show, and The Gaslight Anthem. Check out the new song “Prisoner of the Night” which they are debuting on this current tour:
This new and improved Tiger Army will also be returning to Texas again for Houston’s Free Press Summer Fest on June 4-5 this summer. An obvious statement here is that: Tiger Army Never Dies.
Editor’s Note: The original post was modified to name the correct musicians in the current touring band and on the album. Apologizes for the mix-up and the correction was made. Thanks for reading and the kind words.
As a music junkie, I listen to music day in and day out. I have been to countless tours and have probably spent almost million dollars on this music fanaticism. I regret nothing.
Since I have worked in the industry and have listened to so many hours of music, I rarely get overly excited about a band. One weekend of my life, my asshole friends got married on the same weekend as Fun Fun Fun Fest. I was sad that I wasn’t at the fest but then there is real life. I bought a ticket for the last day of the fest and I thought at the very least I can see one solid day of music.
I want to thank the sound guy at Neutral Milk Hotel for being awful. If he wasn’t so bad and the band wasn’t so depressing, I would have never discovered one of my all-time favorite bands: Murder City Devils. I had never heard a single song by them but I thought anything would be better than the horribly mixed sound (I am an audio engineer). I watched the rest of Murder City Devils set and I couldn’t remove my eyes or ears. It felt like a piece of my life that had not be fulfilled was suddenly over full. I felt the electricity that gives you goosebumps and makes you feel suddenly alive. I didn’t even know what I had been missing all this time.
I devoured all the albums I could after that weekend. They are so dark, beautiful, and had this raw emotion that is very hard to describe. They have been a band 1996 and are on SubPop. They did break up for a moment back in 2001 but go back together in 2006 to play a few festivals. Their last album was in 2014, which was titled “The White Ghost Has Blood on its Hands Again”.
I have seen them as much as I could in recent years. I saw them play in a lightning storm at Punk Rock Bowling in Vegas. I recently saw them in a club venue, the Mohawk in Austin. Texas was blessed to have their tour dates this year, which included San Antonio and Dallas. I didn’t really know what to expect since every show I have seen them in had been a unique experience. Their set list was mixed with old and new songs, which is to be expected. But what really sold me on this show was watching the audience. Their fans are devoted and they get it. They get the darkness and the tongue & cheek of it all. Part of the set Spencer had the mic literally in his mouth because no one should ever take themselves that seriously. I think the best quote about Murder City Devils would be the one from that FFF fest handout that said “Murder City Devils are like the drunk uncle you invite over for Thanksgiving. He ends up getting drunk and crashing into a china cabinet.” Maybe it’s a simplified meaning, but they have the allegory just right.
Punk Rock Anthropology 