Recommends: Bondbreakr “Exile” EP

Exile is the calm before the storm. It brings you in with a sweeping but beautiful darkness. This mix of instrumentals, hardcore punk, and metal blend into this musical mixture that only Bondbreakr can construct. This is a short EP but I think it is a good representation of what a band like Bondbreakr offers. They are not one-dimensional but have a lot of depth even within their metal elements and music stylings.

If you are not familiar with Bondbreakr yet, then you will be sometime very soon. They hail from the Austin, Texas punk scene and recently signed to Grimace Records, along with other legends such as MDC, Naked Aggression, Elected Officials, Casual Relapse, Noogy, and Reagan Era Rejects. They have been gracing a lot of stages and festivals since 2018 with their unique blend of hardcore punk and metal. They have built a cult following in recent years (even your favorite artists book them for shows) and they want you to be the next pledging member of their doomed congregation. Exile is also a good representation of what their live shows feel like within this recording. Not only will this band give you the straight-up business but they will move on to something more innovative that we were not expecting and it keeps you wanting more.

Their most powerful track Progress and Change, is an anthem to the world’s injustice while building the message up brick by brick. The vocal mixtures of protest chants to metal growls build up a lot of texture and power within the song itself. The guitars act like pillars to hold up the song’s strength with their technical provision. Iconoclast is such an interesting track as well. It starts with an almost pop drum beat but then hits you with some gritty deep guitar riffs that roll right into the rest of the song. Singer Gerilyn also slowly builds from this slow chanting chorus into these slow growls towards the middle of the track which is very dynamic. Then we fade into an ambient moment within the song to just reel you back into the chaos. Before you know it, you are beautifully set up for the next track. The Living Fire honestly showcases classic Bondbreakr. It has fierce cutting vocals, gritty riffs and bass lines, with precision-like drum placements that have power behind each beat.

The album ends as it started, a perfect bookend to resolve the storm and let us back out to sea once more. Maybe it’s the lessons from what we lost in the storm that are the story of what makes us who we are today.

Where to listen/follow Bondbreakr:

The Queers: MTX and The Queers Tour 2019

In the final chapter of this three part series, we got to sit down with one of my favorite bands: The Queers. Joe Queer has been the longest member of The Queers and has carried out the vision of this band from the 1980s to the present day. There has been many changes from this band when it comes to labels and members but many albums later The Queers have stood the test of time.

Mr. T Experience and The Queers might be the peanut butter and jelly of the Lookout era days. They are different in styles and personalities but something about this combo really works for this pop punk fan base. The Queers have always had an allure with their bratty and tongue in cheek lyrics but has some real thought behind what they say. They want you to be in on the joke or to be offended by it. With these clever musical stylings, you can’t help but get an ear-worm from time to time.

The main focus of this interview was to find out why this fan base has been coming back to these two specific bands year after year. I have seen The Queers countless times in my punk rock career and it is just a staple of my diet. I am sure a lot of fans can say the same about both these bands. And this is coming full cycle due to their fans bringing their kids with them to have the same experience.

I wanted to know from Joe what the secret is to his success is. The Queers tour constantly and somehow make it work tour after tour. They still have relationships with bands they came up with and they also try to highlight some of the up and coming punk bands they meet on the road. I will say that was the refreshing part of this interview, is that this particular punk ethos is still there and thriving after all these years. It was a short but fun conversation but you can tell he is still a fan of the music that influenced him and wants to keep going back on the road.

Check out the interview below:

The Capitalist Kids: MTX/TheQueers Texas Tour 2019

*This might be strange to see remains of live music from 2019 in the time of COVID 19. Luckily we saved some gems in our archive for a time like this.

Let’s return back to a different day and time just for a moment. Especially since it is where we want to return to in the future for live music. This past winter, I was fortunate enough to join my friends on a pop-punk filled excursion through central Texas. I went to the Dallas and Austin dates to find out why the fans of the Mr. T Experience and The Queers have such a devoted following after all these years. Since the days of Lookout, both these bands have held their own and have influenced a generation of musicians to follow their roots.

One band that definitely falls in the same vein would be the openers for this tour, The Capitalist Kids. Their power-pop sounds and their punk ethics marry in a delightfully fun way. Don’t sleep on this band because of their flashy pop vibes because there are layers of ethical thought, love, and loss weaved throughout their discography. As stated in this interview, the band has gone through changes, locations, and tours to get where they are now. I can’t think of a better band to represent Texas on this tour with MTX and The Queers. See interview and links to their pages below:

Capitalists Kids: Bandcamp, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Grant Announcement: PRA needs a new face and podcast!

This year I plan on rebranding this blog. I really want to keep writing, posting photos and videos, and discussing punk music as it evolves. It takes a lot of time and a lot of sacrifices but it is worth it at the end of the day.

Bossbabes, a women’s creative collective in Austin, Texas is giving away 3 grants to women-owned businesses that need to take it to the next level. For this blog, my dream is to add a podcast and new branding to make the necessary changes needed for this project. I want to shine a light on the rich Texas punk scene and be able to share that with the rest of the world. If you know anything about audio production, you know that price tag is steep. I currently pay for this website out of pocket. I work several jobs just to keep this website and my life afloat.

So needless to say, I made a video about this website and my qualifications. I discuss what it means to be a woman in a punk world and how this conservation about punk itself should have different narratives. If I gain support behind this video, I will more than likely be considered for this grant. If you are reading this, or have been a reader in the past, please take a second to comment and let them know the importance of women’s voices within the scene and supporting women-owned businesses.

This is my first video EVER online so be kind. I am excited to revamp this website and add new content this year! Thanks for your love and support.

If you liked what you saw or heard please reach out to Bossbabes, comment on Youtube, repost, tweet about this project.

Punk Rock Anthropology: Facebook , Twitter, Instagram, YouTube