Hey! Long time! No Posts! I know!
This one made it all the way to Bandcamp, so, at least for now, I won't be posting a link from my account. It's still free though (but you should totally give them money anyway!), so no worries. Moving on? Great!
Bobby Joe Ebola is the brainchild of two men, Corbett and Dan, who started the group about two decades ago, along with a seemingly revolving-door line-up of other musicians. The result is something sort of like They Might Be Giants meets Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, only far more sinister. When on the road though, they often tour as a duo, with just two mics and a guitar. It's pretty hard to categorize them since it varies from song to song and show to show, and, to be totally honest, I'm in a feverish nearly hallucinatory state, so, if I'm linking to outside sources and being semi-coherent, I may as well just go for it...
This show was supposed to be part of their first tour as a full band in years (full band being drums, electric guitars, bass, horns, accordion, and who knows what else), but unfortunately, due to van troubles, they ended up playing touring as just the duo. Still a great set though! Where else are you gonna find hilarious songs about prom night abortions and assassinating the President?
I'm hoping to have a few more things up in the next few weeks too - things have been a bit busy/hectic/odd lately, but I'm getting back into the swing of things..
So, not to brag or anything, but I kinda put together The Ducky Boys' first NY show in seven years, and it was AWESOME!
I started getting into punk right around the same time they broke up, so they were one of those bands I always kicked myself for not getting to see in time. That being said, getting to put this show together felt like an honor. What's even better is that, unlike many of the recently reunited punk bands out there, The Ducky Boys still have it!
If you've been following them on Facebook, you'd know that The Ducky Boys have been playing some epic sets lately, and this one was no different. Running through twenty songs in just under an hour, The Ducky Boys played a great mix of old stuff, new stuff, soon to be released stuff, and an AC/DC cover, oftentimes barely stopping between songs. While they haven't played a ton of shows since reuniting, they definitely still have what it takes, and it's no surprise they've been opening up for some of punk's heaviest hitters like Rancid and The Dropkick Murphys.
Check out this set, and then go pick up their excellent new album! Make sure you go download Bryan McPherson's set as well. Not only is he on the road with The Ducky Boys for this tour - he's also on their self-run label, State Line Records, and an amazing artist as well.
I know my last few posts have been all metal, so now it's time to do a complete 180 and post this set from Bryan McPherson!
Bryan is currently on the road with The Ducky Boys, touring behind his new album American Boy, American Girl, which he just released on the Ducky Boy's own label, State Line Records. He also might just be the next great American folk artist! Raised in Massachusetts but now residing in California, Bryan provides a unique take on traditional folk music by incorporating his punk rock roots to make something that, while musically softer, is just as powerful and intense in its emotion.
Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, I wasn't able to record the first few songs of Bryan's set, which is sad not only because of how well these came out, but because his set was so absolutely awesome that we wound up having him play a few extra songs!
Also, I know I always say something like "go out and support this band," but right now, you can do Bryan a very big favor all from the comfort of your computer!
He's started a kickstarter campaign to raise enough money to buy a van to tour in, and is already over halfway to his goal! Head over to Get Bryan Rolling Around America to see how you can help pitch in!
If you read my last post about Tiger Flowers, then you know how much I love this band... This set is from their homecoming show at The Charleston, fresh off a two week tour to SXSW with Meek is Murder. Their singer also injured his leg at a show a few months back, so this was their first local gig in while.
Needless to say, it was great to see them back in action and more Crüe than ever before - even sealing the deal with a cover of "Live Wire!" By the end of this set the crowd was in a frenzy, the band was at 110%, and their singer was practically airborne. You can pretty much hear the room descend into madness during "The Weight."
Download this set. Rock the fuck out. Then go support the band.
Meek is Murder began as the solo project of Mike Keller (formerly of The Red Chord), but over the last few years it's evolved into a three piece outfit, not to mention one of the more respected bands in New York's grindcore scene. If you're not familiar them, imagine The Locust covering Dillinger Escape Plan, and you're maybe somewhere close to the same ballpark. Heavy, technical, and so frantic you can't blink without missing something - Meek is Murder can pack more into a minute long song than some bands do in entire albums.
Anyway, this set was recorded at their first show back from a SXSW bound tour with Tiger Flowers, and you could feel the excitement from both the bands and the audience. It's also obvious that two weeks on the road did nothing to slow these guys down, seeing as how this set is an almost unrelenting onslaught of awesomeness, with Meek is Murder flawlessly tearing through song after song, and rarely stopping for more than a second or two, if at all.
There may or may not be an epic Botch cover on here as well...
Download, enjoy, and then make sure you go out and support them! Catch their shows! Buy their merch! These guys are so DIY that they're spray painting their own album covers, so you know any money spent is going to a noble cause.
I had no idea who these guys were before this show, but it only took them a few riffs to win me over. Apparently they've been around for a while now, but just recently moved down to Long Island from upstate NY, and are still breaking into the NYC scene. Hopefully that means I'll be seeing a whole lot more of them soon.
Musically, they do a lot, and definitely aren't pigeonholing themselves into one style. Hardcore, metal, crust, mathcore, and beyond - there's a bit of everything on here, and these guys clearly know how to write interesting songs. Their set was also more energetic and intense than a lot of bands out there, and surprisingly tight considering that they were one member short and admittedly a bit drunk. I can't wait to see them as a full band!
Check out this killer set, and if you like what you hear, go buy a copy of their new album Connections! It's been getting a lot of plays on my iPod these last few days, and is definitely worth it.
If you go to punk and hardcore shows in the NY/NJ area, you should probably know about Model Home by now. Featuring members of Line of Scrimmage, Probable Cause, Stray 76, From A Lacerated Sky, and Reclaim The Crown, these guys burst onto the scene with their unique mix of gruff pop punk and melodic hardcore, opening for everyone from Indecision to Samiam, and routinely winning over some of the toughest crowds.
Check out this great set, recorded at a packed Lifetime after party, and then go to RTF Records and grab their new EP - an album so good it convinced Mitch Hurwitz to finally get moving on that AD reunion.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Model Home would like to make it clear that THEY ARE NOT A STRAIGHT-EDGE BAND. They are still AD fans though, so no worries.
