Scene Report: Mary Gibney / We're In A Cult

Hey dirtbags, go to One On One Bicycle Studio and check out the We're In A Cult show. There's some other cool shit up in there by some other presumably cool dudes, but the standouts by far are Mary Gibney's paintings of Andre the Giant, Dick the Bruiser, Doctor X, Hulk Hogan, Mad Dog Vachon, Superstar Billy Graham, Verne Gagne, Maurice Roberre & Miss Atlas, and Wahoo McDaniel. I'm pretty sure a bunch of them are sold but you can still go look at them in person until some day at some time. All I know is they were there last week. You're smart, look it up yourself. Then go see it. You're welcome, assholes.
-BNB

"Wrestlers" by Mary Gibney, Mpls, MN, March '14

Record Review: Teledrome - Self-Titled

Teledrome - Self-Titled (FDH / P.Trash)
By Nathan G. O'Brien for Tight To The Nail

It’s funny, as a kid riding the bus to school in the ‘80s this was the kind of stuff that dominated pop radio. I burned through millions of AA batteries on my knockoff Walkman trying to hear anything but synth; rap, punk, hair metal, R&B, you name it. Thankfully nostalgia doesn’t play by the rules because, holy crap, does it ever sound so great in the present day. This has given my ears so many orgasms they’re dripping semen. If I had a Delorean and 2.21 gigawatts I’d set the dial to 1983, go back, find John Hughes, convince him to make a movie about neon wayfarer and lipstick-clad robots that break out of weekend detention to take over the World, and then use this as the soundtrack.  ...Review continues here.

Record Review: The Estranged - Self-Titled

The Estranged - Self-Titled (Dirtnap)
By Nathan G. O'Brien for Verbicide Magazine

I’m not much of a believer in things like fate or otherworldliness, but damn, the universe sure has a way of landing a great record right in my lap at the exact moment that I was least expecting it. Had I known that The Estranged’s members were associated with crusty hardcore acts like Hellshock, From Ashes Rise, Lebenden Toten, and Remains of the Day — and not only that, but that they were also capable of making post-punk, death-rock, and other subgenres that require hyphenated descriptors sound this textured, un-cold, and, well, fun — I would have sought them out long ago.  Up until this point, the seven-year existence of this band has somehow slipped underneath the magnetic pull of my (previously believed to be) all-punk-encompassing radar.  ...Review continues here.

Interview: Sorry State Records

Interview: Sorry State Records

By Nathan G. O'Brien for Scene Point Blank

Since 2005 Sorry State Records has grown from a small boutique label into one of the most dependable, well-curated record distributors in the global punk & hardcore network. While the label maintains a heavy contingency of bands from their home state of North Carolina, they've also released records from a number of bands from around the world. 2013 was a banner year for the label, as not only did they open up a storefront in their hometown of Raleigh, but they released highly acclaimed records from the likes of Nö Pöwer, Joint D≠, Broken Prayer, Rough Kids and others. Sorry State owner and operator Daniel Lupton took some time to talk with me about running the label.

What was the catalyst that got you into punk and hardcore? Is there moment in time that you can pinpoint?
I think I took a similar path to a lot of people my age (I’m 34). I was super into skateboarding as a kid, and was around 12 when Nirvana really blew up. Being a curious kid I just followed the breadcrumb trail that led me to heavier and more intense stuff. So from Nirvana you get into Sonic Youth and Mudhoney, and eventually you make your way down to Black Flag and Minor Threat, which is the stuff that really blew my mind. I knew I was hooked when I first heard Minor Threat. If there’s a moment I can pinpoint it’s definitely that. It was just the rawest, most intense, and best music I’d ever heard in my life. I’ve often said that every subsequent record I’ve ever bought in my life is just chasing after the bliss of that one moment when Minor Threat completely blew my mind.

Before you started Sorry State were you involved in the punk scene in other ways – zines, bands, etc.?
Sort of. I used to do an online zine called Deep Fry Bonanza that had a small but dedicated following, and then that kind of mutated into a blog called Dead Metaphor after I got tired of writing about crappy promos all of the time and wanted to focus more on the music I was actually excited about. I put a lot of work into those sites. I think I probably wrote close to 2,000 record reviews for Deep Fry Bonanza, many of which were well over 1,000 words. However, because those things were online I still never really felt like part of the scene…I was still a spectator. I think part of that was also coming up in the Richmond, VA area. The scene there is kind of insular and I’m super shy by nature, so I just never found my way in.

...Interview continues here.

Record Review: Grand Invincible - Cold Hand in the Dice Game

The following review, which was written by Nathan, is an excerpt from the brand new issue of The Soda Killers. They're moving quick, but there's still time to get your resin-tainted fingers on one. Email me at: bnb@hotdogdayz.com to find out how.

Grand Invincible - Cold Hand in the Dice Game (No Friends, 2012)
By Nathan G. O'Brien

Grand Invincible is a Bay Area duo comprised of emcee Luke Sick and producer/deejay DJ Eons One, which is the hip-hop nom de plume of Spazz guitarist Dan Lactose. Cold Hand in the Dice Game is on some straight bucket hat/baggy jeans/puffy vest ‘90s rap shit. One of the illest tracks is “The Way We Revolt”, in which the loop runs long, the drums play the background, and the hook is made up of recognizable hip-hop samples in the cut. I don’t make beats or mess around on the decks, nor do I have my hip-hop book of terminology handy, so if the way I just described that doesn’t make any sense, I apologize. I’m just saying it’s a nice beat reminiscent of classic hip-hop and Eons’ record scratching is on point. “Gutter” is a harrowing track, which really showcases Sick’s prowess as a songwriter. Shits deep and disturbing, as he bounces back ‘n’ forth between braggadocios and distressing subject matter. “There’s A Message” is another hype track with a nice xylophone sample, jazzy drums, and record scratching. Shit, the same can be said of the following track, “Left on 19th.” The two sequence into each other very nicely. “Eons On The Cut” is archetypal “what’s my DJ’s name”-type emcee ‘n’ deejay interplay, as Sick spits freestyle-like rhymes and Eons goes buck on the wheels of steel. So dope.

Scene Report: PAPERCUT!

Yo, go get your mind blown by art, you lowlifes. As zinesters, you know our shit is all about paper, so we dug it. It's called PAPERCUT! and it's at the American Swedish Institute until like, May 25th or some some shit. Go do it now.
-BNB

PAPERCUT!, American Swedish Institute, Mpls, MN, 2/23/14

The Soda Killers issue #6 OUT NOW~!

HotDogDayz presents...

THE SODA KILLERS//PUNK, RAP & GRAFFITI FANZINE//ISSUE #6

Well here we are with the six six sixth issue of The Soda Killers. In addition to Nathan’s normal record reviews, he’s also done a lengthy interview with Condominium (the Twin Cities'/the World's best band) that was originally rejected by Maximum RockNRoll Magazine because it broke the rules of punk.

This winter’s weather has been so brutal that it’s stifled not only our desire to go out and create art but to capture it as well. The idea of pulling out my camera on a below zero day with a bunch of wind chill kicking my ass to flick a new tag makes my fingers feel like icicles just thinking about it. That being said, we were able to escape the winter for one week though, and came back with handful of graff flicks from a warmer climate. You’ll find some of those in here as well as a brief piece on the Kodak Kidd by yours truly.

Aside from the Condominium interview, which we are very excited about, we are also happy to include words from some new contributors. Our newest Northwest correspondent Vincent Kisena sent in a piece, as did our book-hocking motherly friend The Book Goddess. And a special shoutout also goes to Luke Rusch of fanzines Too Good to be Hood and Heart of the City. He created the new TSK logo on the front. (Check out OVRABNDNC)

GET IT NOW

Peace!
-BNB

Record Review: Deadkill - No, Never!

Deadkill - No, Never! (Good to Die)
By Nathan G. O'Brien on Scene Point Blank

It must be stressed how awesome Krieger’s vocals are. In fact, in terms of hardcore, it’s his presence that makes it really difficult to be totally dismissive of the band as a whole. He’s got a voice and a delivery that recalls some of the genre’s most historically revered throats – Mike Muir, John Weiffenbach, and Ian McKaye to name a few. Krieger attacks the microphone in a way that really pushes the band’s recorded sound into a somewhat polarizing position. His commanding, slightly blown vocals provide an aura of rugged validity, even while existing in stark contrast to the band’s urbane instrumentation.  ...read full length review here.

Record Review: Acid Fast - Rabid Moon

Acid Fast - Rabid Moon (Protagonist)
By Nathan G. O'Brien on Scene Point Blank

Acid Fast play really angst-y yet bouncy punk rock that is rooted as deeply in the Midwest sound as it is the Pacific Northwest. But here’s the thing: they’re not from Olympia or Minneapolis or Portland or Chicago; they’re from Oakland. But goddamn, if they don’t sound like a band that came up playing damp basements alongside The Soviettes, RVIVR, Mean Jeans, or The Brokedowns. At times it’s a bit imitative but that’s easily forgivable since it’s also incredibly charming thanks to the melodic male-female vocal tradeoff, and really rockin’ because of the fuzzy bass, driving drums, and spirited guitar.  ...review continues here.

HDD Radio #21: '90s Youth Crew Revival, Mid '00s Punk Demos, Late '90s Mpls Rap, New Rap

Back with our 21st episode! Listen as our fearless DJ accidentally gives his book idea away to the Internet, talks about how bad weed is actually better than good weed, has a mid-show meltdown when the HDD studio breaks, and says he hates local hip-hop before trying to back his way out of it. All the while he plays some killer tunes and one really awesome Dusty Rhodes promo.


Tracklist:
Gore Elohim – Iron Baphomet (feat Young Dirty Bastard)
Madball – Show No Fear '90s
In My Eyes – Lasting Values
Ten Yard Fight – Back it Up
Floorpunch – No Exceptions
Clusterfux – Sewage
Wanted Dead – Black Roses
Totally Harsh! – Bring Me the Head of John Connor
Pandamonium – Shameful Mistake
Bring That Shit! – Voices in My Head
Bastard Sons of Bukowski – Never Trust the Man in Charge
Party Time! High Five! – Green Tea Punks
Terrordactyls – Critical Massacre
Stereo Type Click – Contact (feat Abstract Pack)
Anomaly – Monsters Inside (feat Eyedea)
Anomaly – Weight of the World (feat Swift)
The Dynospectrum – Southside Myth
Gore Elohim – Lord of Plagues
Step Brothers (Evidence & Alchemist) – No Hesitation (feat Styles P)
Roc Marciano – Soul Music (feat A.G.)
Guilty Simpson & Small Professor – I’m the City (feat Boldy James and Statik Selektah)
Step Brothers (Evidence & Alchemist – Mums in the Garage (feat Action Bronson)
Gore Elohim – Goretorium

Subscribe in iTunes here. Direct download here.