Oslo’s The Hallingtons are allowing fans to stream their latest EP, 1-2-3-4 Songs. As you’d expect, the release features four tracks of classically-inspired punk rock à la Ramones. You can check out the EP in its entirety below. The previous release from The Hallingtons was the 2016 effort, Devil In You.
Oslo’s The Hallingtons are allowing fans to stream their latest EP, 1-2-3-4 Songs. As you’d expect, the release features four tracks of classically-inspired punk rock à la Ramones.
You can check out the EP in its entirety below. The previous release from The Hallingtons was the 2016 effort, Devil In You.
Dan Cribb is allowing fans to stream his thirteenth The Simpsons cover, “Canyonero”. The track appears in the 15th episode of season nine, in the episode titled The Last Temptation Of Krust. It was originally sung by Hank Williams, Jr. Cribb’s version features a cameo by Adelaide singer-songwriter Bec Stevens, as well as an old pal of Dan’s, […]
Dan Cribb is allowing fans to stream his thirteenth The Simpsons cover, “Canyonero”. The track appears in the 15th episode of season nine, in the episode titled The Last Temptation Of Krust. It was originally sung by Hank Williams, Jr.
Cribb’s version features a cameo by Adelaide singer-songwriter Bec Stevens, as well as an old pal of Dan’s, Jackson Grealy. You can listen to “Canyonero” below.
It’s been 20-years since The World/Inferno Friendship Society put on their first “official” Hallowmas at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey and it was a spectacle to behold. The group had only been together a short while, they’d released three-singles, and they even managed to get some love from the Village Voice. Not a bad kick […]
All Photos By Jeff Schaer-Moses Photography
Mr. Terricloth giving his all at Hallowmas 19.
It’s been 20-years since The World/Inferno Friendship Society put on their first “official” Hallowmas at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, New Jersey and it was a spectacle to behold. The group had only been together a short while, they’d released three-singles, and they even managed to get some love from the Village Voice. Not a bad kick off party for a new band’s new event. However, according to Jack Terricloth W/IFS has been celebrating Hallowmas since well before 1997.
“In a very real way, Inferno had been celebrating Hallowmas long before we were making music. Back in Jersey, we were a mischief gang long before our musical ambitions usurped the name.A lot of the gang members could play something, the ones who couldn’t we gave a drum. So instead of having a private bacchanal, we had a public one. Worked out.” said Terriclcoth.
From those humble Garden State roots sprang what has become one of New York City’s best Halloween celebrations. It’s not just a celebration of a fun holiday, but one of New York’s last standing cult phenom’s The World/Inferno Friendship Society.
“It is our holiday, It is the way we mark time, it is the holiday unmarked by a patriarchal tyrant and if you ask people for candy they give it to you. A gift!” Says the eccentric Terricloth.
He has been the proprietor of Hallowmas for its entire two-decade run, and even after running the show for so long Terricloth remains the central force behind the growth of Hallowmas from a little show in Jersey to one of New York Cities best Halloween events.
“It is still very DIY. I’m over at Warsaw twice a week checking out the projections, up all night writing Hallowmissives and filling out postcards and in clubs every weekend ducking and a weaving your shot glasses. Like life this job does not get any easier, just different,” said the Pumpkin King.
The main difference from year one to year 20 has to be the growth in the venue. While Maxwell’s is no hole in the wall the northern New Jersey launching pad is nowhere near the size of W/IFS current Hallowmas venue, The Warsaw in Green point which is cavernous in comparison. Also presumably the good folks over at Scenic Presents like ‘ole Jack Terricloth and the World/Inferno a little better than the promoter at Maxwell’s did back in the late 90’s.
“The booker at Maxwell’s really didn’t like my previous band Sticks and Stones but I had changed my name and band so I don’t think he cared enough to care (there are knowns and known unknowns). His name was Todd Abramson, I used to call him every other day in SAS to get a gig! He finally gave in and gave us a Thursday night. Todd called a couple days before the show and said ‘The Hoodoo Gurus are playing Thursday’ and I said ‘Oh cool, I’d love to play with the Hoodoo Gurus! ‘mars needs guitars!’ to which he replied ‘No, you don’t understand. The Hoodoo Gurus are playing. You’re not’ and hung up. I had to tell this to the band who of course blamed me and not The Hoodoo Gurus. Decades later I told this story doing the acoustic thing in support of Kevin Second’s acoustic thing at Maxwell’s and was promptly told I was banned from Maxwell’s again,” said Terricloth.
Hallowmas is going down on Oct. 31 at The Warsaw and tickets are still very much available.
Regrets, I’ve had a few. Like back in 2005 when I went to see Dashboard Confessional in Washington DC. I remember people going nuts about the tour and stating that the openers could not be missed. People that have seen a lot of shows usually try to catch the openers because you never know when […]
Regrets, I’ve had a few. Like back in 2005 when I went to see Dashboard Confessional in Washington DC. I remember people going nuts about the tour and stating that the openers could not be missed. People that have seen a lot of shows usually try to catch the openers because you never know when you might stumble upon the next… Brand New. Well, obvi I wanted to see D/C. Don’t judge! I also really wanted to catch Rooney, for some reason. When we arrived at the venue, I had to get my gameface on, they weren’t allowing beer in the auditorium. You had to drink outside. As I sat there sipping my Heineken, sounds leaked out from under the door; sounds being made by Brand New. All the kids were milling about in their bright red “Brand Nizzle” T-shirts. I thought about buying one. Haven’t seen one like it since, couldn’t even find it today on a Google image search. I think that some of those sounds leaking from under the door made it into my ears, and into my brain. When I finally broke down and bought Deja Entendu, the first listen was like being reunited with an old friend. I had DE on 24/7 for a few months and then I had to ration it out a bit. I grabbed a copy of Your Favorite Weapon which helped to scratch the itch. Then came TDAGARIM, Daisy. I’ve seen them quite a few times since then and they always bring the house down. I wish I could go to that auditorium in 2005, see them play their new stuff off of Deja Entendu. Unfortunately, sometimes you just don’t get a second chance.
So where are we? 2017? In 2005, Donald Trump was in his third season of the Apprentice, “You’re Fired” reverberated through the country as the catchphrase of the day. Now Donald Trump is President of the United States. Back in 2005 it seemed we were on the upswing. Having made it through Y2K and 9/11, the future looked bright. Today, although unemployment is at an all-time low and the stock market is at an all-time high, a lot of people are angry, the hatred and anger flowing out into the streets. This country has evolved, some might say devolved, and we need voices that can provide sanity and consolation to the disaffected masses. Back in 2005, Jesse Lacey was touring on a record that had just begun to scratch the surface of the deeper thoughts in his head. What does he have to say in 2017? Can he and his mates in Brand New provide some solace in these maddening times?
I guess I’m not the only one looking for comfort right now as Science Fiction debuted at number one on the Billboard Chart, Brand New’s first number one record; proving the masses have not completely gone mad. I’ve had the album on heavy rotation for the last month. My quick thoughts are that it’s eminently listenable. The 60 or so minutes just seem to fly by. I remember an interview in which Lacey said that this record will go in a direction Brand New could have gone in rather than the one that led them to Daisy. Science Fiction certainly eschews the trademark screams and call-and-response choruses for more introspective and mature deliveries. Mike Sapone, long time Brand New collaborator, does an exceptional job manning the boards. Brand New just sounds fuller on this record; every track on the board has something going on. Science Fiction rewards the repeat listener with new subtle nuances. I really get the feeling that Brand New and Sapone spent time crafting this record, they use discordant noises, overdubbed soundbites (a la Lacey’s BAE The Smiths), Keys, and even background singers. It’s almost as if BN had gone back to the 70s and created a record like Kansas or Pink Floyd.
The album opens with a bizarre recording of a woman in psychotherapy. She’s discussing a dream where she’s at a convention feeling out of place. She concludes, “While I don’t mind having all this going on inside of me, it’s sort of–I think I’m going to be relieved when it’s over, when I can sort of settle back down.” Brand New spends the rest of the album echoing these sentiments in one form or another. Lit Me Up almost sounds like it could have been on TDAGARIM. It reminds me of Sowing Season a bit. When Lacey drops the line “You lit me up like a witch in a puritan town,” he demonstrates that he hasn’t lost his penchant for turning a clever phrase. Track two, Can’t get it out, opens with a strummed acoustic guitar, another recurring theme on Science Fiction. In fact, I think there is an acoustic guitar somewhere on every track. This song will definitely please the Brand New purists and represents the most traditional Brand New-sounding song on the record. Waste comes next, and I’m getting the Kansas vibes here as Lacey drones over acoustic and feedback, “Every night you were tripping out. In the morning you were coming down. If it’s breaking your heart, if nothing is fun. Don’t lose hope, my son. This is the last one.” Is he talking about life on the road as a musician? Is he foreshadowing the end of Brand New? I’m catching a lot of Smiths on Could Never be Heaven, it reminds me of Back to the Old House, although CNBH is a beautiful tune in its own right. Same Logic/Teeth will also please the purists, and we even get some screams here too!! But there is something untraditional about the Sergeant Peppers-esque goofy line “At the bottom of the ocean fish won’t judge you by your faults.” Beautiful and powerful encapsulate my thoughts of Science Fiction and the next song 137. “Let’s all go play Nagasaki, we can all get vaporized.” Lacey sounds defeated, as if he is resigned to the fact that the system can’t be changed and he’s embraced his fate of turning to ash. This song resonates with me in our current political climate where the system seems to have failed us and the only thing we can hope for is a quick and painless end. It could also be construed as an odd allegory on the end of Brand New.
Did I mention the 70s vibe? Out of Mana brings some serious funk feels by using a wah pedal and some kind of synthesized chorus inspired by Boston. In the Water sticks with the 70s mojo, this could be America or the Eagles. Stripped down acoustic, slide acoustic, electric piano, harmonica, it’s a trip! Desert throws some blues in there with a riff that would make Keith Richards jealous, they also stole the Stones backup singers!!! “Don’t come running to me, when they’re coming for you.” Remember Neil Young singing “Tin Soldiers and Nixon’s coming…” No Control brings the nostalgia trip to an abrupt halt. The booming reverbed-out bass hearkening back to the traditional Brand New. 451 does a great job melding the whole blues-come-Brand New sound into one song. The record closes with Batter Up, fans might think Tautou, this tune does conjure up thoughts of the sounds and themes of Deja Entendu. If this is how Brand New closes out it’s career, it’s fitting, “It’s never going to stop. Batter up. Give me your best shot. Batter up.”
Is this the end of Brand New? I think the cryptic messages coming from Lacey and Crew suggested 2018 as their last year. The songs on Science Fiction certainly have a somber tone and there are many allusions to the end, be it “this is the last one” or “Let’s all go play Nagasaki.” If they do call it quits after SN, they will certainly be going out on a high note. For all fans of Brand New, I assume you already have this record on heavy rotation. It is most definitely in my ten best of 2017. With sabers rattling around the world and a demagogue with his finger on the button, might as well float off into oblivion to the sweet sounds of Brand New’s Science Fiction.
5/5 Stars
Yorkshire, England based post-hardcore quartet Sounds of Swami have released a new album. “Furniture for Modern Living”, the band’s second full length, is out now and available on the band’s Bandcamp. The LP has been given the vinyl treatment, which is available for order as 180g, turquoise vinyl. You can listen to the full album […]
Yorkshire, England based post-hardcore quartet Sounds of Swami have released a new album. “Furniture for Modern Living”, the band’s second full length, is out now and available on the band’s Bandcamp. The LP has been given the vinyl treatment, which is available for order as 180g, turquoise vinyl.
You can listen to the full album below.
Scottish folk punk Billy Liar has detailed a tour that will take in the UK and Ireland throughout November and December. The majority of the dates will be with Colorado’s Andy Thomas’ Dust Heart. Full details of all dates are below.
Scottish folk punk Billy Liar has detailed a tour that will take in the UK and Ireland throughout November and December. The majority of the dates will be with Colorado’s Andy Thomas’ Dust Heart.
Full details of all dates are below.
Italian skatepunk thrashers Thanx 4 All The Shoes have officially joined the Disconnect Disconnect Records family, and are celebrating with the announcement of their new album “Another Ride” coming on November 25th. The band have plans for full European, UK and International tours in support of the album. “Another Ride” will serve as follow up to […]
Italian skatepunk thrashers Thanx 4 All The Shoes have officially joined the Disconnect Disconnect Records family, and are celebrating with the announcement of their new album “Another Ride” coming on November 25th.
The band have plans for full European, UK and International tours in support of the album.
“Another Ride” will serve as follow up to their second full length, “This World Is Not Yours.”
You can check out a video for the title track below to get a feel for the full length coming your way.
Offensive Mindset hail from Montreal, Canada and deliver some pretty straightforward, aggresive anarcho-crust punk to bang your heads and trash your room. These guys have been around a couple of years but they released their first full-length album titled “Legacy” digitally and independently, a few days ago. “Legacy” is comprised of eight bullet-like songs, aimed […]
Offensive Mindset hail from Montreal, Canada and deliver some pretty straightforward, aggresive anarcho-crust punk to bang your heads and trash your room. These guys have been around a couple of years but they released their first full-length album titled “Legacy” digitally and independently, a few days ago.
“Legacy” is comprised of eight bullet-like songs, aimed straight to the heart of the system. Mid-tempo punk filth laced with a tasty punk ‘n roll groove and fucking awesome vocals. Definitely worth listening and strongly recommended for the die-hard fans of the genre. Check it out below.
Hello, ladies and gents, I’m happy to introduce to you En Psychro, a hardcore punk act from Nicosia, Cyprus. These guys have been around since 2011 and have a demo, two splits and a full-length album (Faceless Mass, 2014) under their belt. They released a new EP titled “Ravaged Land” a few days ago and the […]
Hello, ladies and gents, I’m happy to introduce to you En Psychro, a hardcore punk act from Nicosia, Cyprus. These guys have been around since 2011 and have a demo, two splits and a full-length album (Faceless Mass, 2014) under their belt. They released a new EP titled “Ravaged Land” a few days ago and the title track is available for stream.
If you enjoy the smell of the street, the feel of cobblestones in your hands and aggressive, straight-forward hardcore punk, check it out below.
Toronto skate punkers The Bare Minimum have just released a new Halloween themed music video for their track, “Pyrrhic Victory” which is off of their album “Sink to the Top” released earlier this year. The 12 song record was self-released as a free download this April. Check out the new digs from these guys below!
Toronto skate punkers The Bare Minimum have just released a new Halloween themed music video for their track, “Pyrrhic Victory” which is off of their album “Sink to the Top” released earlier this year. The 12 song record was self-released as a free download this April.
Check out the new digs from these guys below!