Ahead of Bradley Riot’s upcoming full-length titled Dark Side of the Road, Dying Scene is pleased to bring you the second single titled “Port to Port”, an introspective tale of a great journey, not across seas to new lands, but of finding one’s self through first giving in to, then later abandoning, self-destructive behavior. “‘Port […]
Ahead of Bradley Riot’s upcoming full-length titled Dark Side of the Road, Dying Scene is pleased to bring you the second single titled “Port to Port”, an introspective tale of a great journey, not across seas to new lands, but of finding one’s self through first giving in to, then later abandoning, self-destructive behavior.
“‘Port to Port” is a song about being stuck in a loop of repeating the same negative habits, specifically when it comes to love. It’s about seeking external solutions for internal problems,” wrote Bradley. “I’d say one of my favorite lyrics in the song is: ‘I’m setting course for blacking out.’ It equates to me completely giving up and leaning into defeat, setting the intention of ignoring the issue instead of trying to solve it.”
One thing that’s become much more apparent since the Covid shutdown, at least in my own musical bubble, is the introspective nature of music both written and recorded during that time. Although as a concept this is nothing new, especially in the realm of punk-rock, when the world is forced into solitude, music lacking outward-looking themes is almost inevitable. I’ve found myself paying far closer attention to this idea, and usually try to question any artist I’m lucky enough to interview (Adrienne Rae of Plasma Canvas, Matt Goud of Northcote). Bradley was no different, and offered some unique insights that most likely resonate with much of what the punk-rock world was struggling with at that same point.
“Covid was definitely a major hurdle,” wrote Bradley. “I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve had to postpone recording sessions in order for someone to get well or test negative. It was a massive time killer.”
He then explains some of the other hurdles that were faced in writing and recording Dark Side of the Road, while also dealing with the overarching headache that was and still is Covid. Writing while simultaneously recording was highlighted, something that since talking with Sam King of Get Dead and Codefendants has become a trait I greatly admire. But the third struggle Bradley listed, that of sobriety, was what really amped me up and got me excited to hear the portrayed journey throughout this new record.
“Many of the vocals were sang between swigs of Jameson or after a night of heavy cocaine usage. Sometimes, that made for a fun vocal texture, but, more often than not, it was just problematic. After I decided to get clean, we revisited the album as a whole, took it back to square one, and I re-sang almost every line. Approaching the songs with a different mindset really opened them up and I’m grateful for (co-producer) Kevin Besignano’s compassion towards the process.”
In the short back-and-forth I’ve had with Bradley, “Port to Port” seems like a much more focused, direct version of what the full-length hopes to portray: “the idea of being a victim to oneself”.
Check out the brand new single below, and keep your eyes peeled October 13 for the full-length release of Dark Side of the Road.
Punk and Folk Legend Jon Langford Calls Bingo at the Hideout in Chicago. On August 9, 2023, punk and folk music legend Jon Langford (Mekons, The Three Johns, Waco Brothers) demonstrated his unique stage banter calling out Veggie Bingo at the Hideout in Chicago. Jon was joined by fellow bingo caller, Martin Billheimer (The Devil Bell Hippies), who often joins Jon […]
Punk and Folk Legend Jon Langford Calls Bingo at the Hideout in Chicago.
On August 9, 2023, punk and folk music legend Jon Langford (Mekons, The Three Johns, Waco Brothers) demonstrated his unique stage banter calling out Veggie Bingo at the Hideout in Chicago. Jon was joined by fellow bingo caller, Martin Billheimer (The Devil Bell Hippies), who often joins Jon on stage as fellow musician. Jon and Martin led the large crowd through politically charged and equally humorous rounds of bingo. Known for their working-class songs and support for community, Jon and Martin led the event to raise proceeds in support of Chicago Community Gardens. Bingo winners received prizes ranging from a head of greens to a bouquet of flowers, a pepper to jar of salsa, a huge jar of pickles, coffee, and books. It was great mid-week fun at the Hideout!
It’s been a good while since Spanish Love Songs released new music. Sure, they did release the EP Doom & Gloom, four songs they covered on their Patreon, during the pandemic. But now they are back with a follow-up – maybe a strong word to use, but to 2020’s Brave Faces Everyone, which, let’s be […]
It’s been a good while since Spanish Love Songs released new music. Sure, they did release the EP Doom & Gloom, four songs they covered on their Patreon, during the pandemic. But now they are back with a follow-up – maybe a strong word to use, but to 2020’s Brave Faces Everyone, which, let’s be honest, left us all as emotional wrecks from having it on repeat for an entire year.
So, the lingering question that still stands… What about No Joy? Is it as heartbreaking as we’ve experienced with the other albums? Well, read on.
“Do you remember the look on my face when you told me you wanted to die?”Dylan Slocum sombrely sings during the bridge in “Middle of Nine”, one of the songs that Slocum wrote to his grandma. The sad and soft guitars accompany Slocum’s gentle deliverance until we hit the song’s bridge. A few lines in this song make it genuinely outstanding yet a different kind of heartbreaking.
Here’s a sweet video before you dive into the rest of the review.
“What other song was written for Slocum’s grandma?” – Well, my dears. None other than “Pendulum”– we’ve all heard it. A song that has managed to blend synths and guitar riffs in perfect harmony with unforgettable lyrics.
I mean, there will always be some hits and misses on any album, and for me, the miss was “Rapture Chaser.” Before you all come at me in the comment section…IT’S A GREAT SONG. It has some moments where it shines with catchy bars and beautifully written lyrics, such as, and I can’t believe how relatable this line “Your heart will never be full, so don’t waste your grief on fools” was until I heard the song. Yes, I may have read the lyrics before listening to the album.
“Mutable” – something about the song makes me like it; it’s sweet and straightforward. And there’s nothing wrong with that, in my opinion. It’s what gives its charm. “Here You Are” has this excellent acoustic guitar opening before the drums come in, and for some reason, I consider it a love song, but only because of one specific line that piqued my interest. Which is “Wish I could live my life until I got it right.”, something most of us might relate to. The fear of not living our truths, whatever that means to each of us. But indeed, we will always go out with a few regrets.
So, back to the question I started us off with. Is it as heartbreaking as we’ve experienced with the other albums? Yes and no. Despite the album being called No Joy, there are glimmers of hope, but there’s also the realization that people can’t do everything. And you hear that realization in “I’m Gonna Miss Everything”and that’s life. But the truly heartbreaking moment comes when Slocum delivers a throwback to “Middle of Nine” with the following lyrics “I can’t remember the look on your face when I told you that I might want to die.”
The vulnerable and, once again, honest lyrics Slocum brings to the table are only here because of the rest of the band. Meredith Van Woert on keyboards, Kyle McAulay on guitar, Trevor Dietrich on bass, and Ruben Duarte on drums set each song’s atmosphere and overall vibe. But I don’t know about you, dear reader, but after they released ‘Haunted’ in May, I hoped that this new sound with synths and, in some ways, a bit more upbeat guitars would continue. Also, if you get the vibes of The Killers in the music, embrace it.
Recommended songs: Middle of Nine, Exit Bags, Lifers
If you’re one of those people who prefers your punk to be a little more of the “post” variety, the Punk Rock Museum has something pretty cool cooked up for you next weekend. On Sunday, August 27th, they’re hosting a book signing event centered around Michael Grecco’s best-selling “Punk, Post Punk and New Wave: Onstage, […]
If you’re one of those people who prefers your punk to be a little more of the “post” variety, the Punk Rock Museum has something pretty cool cooked up for you next weekend.
On Sunday, August 27th, they’re hosting a book signing event centered around Michael Grecco’s best-selling “Punk, Post Punk and New Wave: Onstage, Backstage, In Your Face 1978-1991“. Grecco was a long-time scene staple in both NYC and Boston (and eventually worked for powerhouse Boston rock radio station WBCN – rest in peace) and took many iconic images of those formative scene days.
The B-52s, as shot by Michael Grecco
Some of those pics featured none other than Fred Schneider and his legendary band, the B-52s. Schneider wrote the forward to Grecco’s book, and as fate would have it, they’ll both be on hand to sign books and tell stories. Plus, if you buy the book on-site, you get admission to the whole museum! Also…maybe just maybe…you’ll get to meet one of your favorite Dying Scene contributors! If you’re in Vegas next Sunday, head over to the Punk Rock Museum from 5pm – 7pm and check it out!
After more than 20 years, The Kilowatt in San Francisco’s Mission District has started hosting shows again, and even better, many of them are free. This August night (which was cold and foggy like most summer days in the city) we got a full line-up of local punk bands and a solid crowd. The Bay […]
After more than 20 years, The Kilowatt in San Francisco’s Mission District has started hosting shows again, and even better, many of them are free. This August night (which was cold and foggy like most summer days in the city) we got a full line-up of local punk bands and a solid crowd.
The Bay Area has a long tradition of parody bands, and just plain silly punk bands. Blobby, KaBoom & The Least Friends follows this tradition with lead singer Nettie Kaboom appearing here with a spectacular wig that went flying halfway through their set, Fun, fast pop-punk.
Class of ’77 are a fairly new group of Bay Area punk veterans. Formed as a tribute to the sound of 1977 they plan to have original music available on their web site.
The Creepy Crawlies formed in 2020 but recently went through some lineup changes, adding Flexx Bronco’s drummer Thor Dsr and new bass player Zoran. They’ve also been getting attention in the Bay Area scene, drawing bigger crowds and playing bigger venues. They plan to record in the fall.
Closing out one great show were Oakland’s The Rinds who have been putting out solid garage punk for 12 years. Their 4th LP Everything Dimed! is soon come out on Sacramento’s Outloud Records
Check out our moody black & white photos of the whole show below:
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Blobby, Kaboom and the Least Friends at The Kilowatt, 8/11/23
Breaking news! Milford, Connecticut’s American Thrills will be releasing a Split LP with the Jukebox Romantics, Lost in Society and Night Surf next month. Your pals at Dying Scene are bringing you the exclusive premiere of the first single “Hungover in Church”. Check out the brand new music video below! Here’s what the band had […]
Breaking news! Milford, Connecticut’s American Thrills will be releasing a Split LP with the Jukebox Romantics, Lost in Society and Night Surf next month. Your pals at Dying Scene are bringing you the exclusive premiere of the first single “Hungover in Church”. Check out the brand new music video below!
Here’s what the band had to say about the theatrical direction of the video:
“We got sick of making videos of fake live performances. We dressed Jeff up like Jesus and he got hammered all over town. The video is a metaphor for how shitty life can be sometimes.”
Brighton, UK skate punks Making Friends‘ upcoming album Fine Dying is one of my most anticipated releases of 2023, and with good reason! The first three singles “Damage Report”, “ATM” and “Heroes Die” were absolute rippers, and Dying Scene is pleased to bring you the exclusive premiere of another brand new single from the album! Check […]
Brighton, UK skate punks Making Friends‘ upcoming album Fine Dying is one of my most anticipated releases of 2023, and with good reason! The first three singles “Damage Report”, “ATM” and “Heroes Die” were absolute rippers, and Dying Scene is pleased to bring you the exclusive premiere of another brand new single from the album! Check out “Happy Fucking Whatever” below.
Here’s what the band had to say about the new track:
“Happy Fucking Whatever is the latest single from the upcoming LP release. It’s already a firm favourite in the live set with the band because it’s so much fun to play. We’re looking forward to releasing it, so that those who haven’t had to catch it live yet will get a chance to hear it. The song is about a desire to mask your problems and pretend they never existed. It ends with a bit of a tribute to No Use For A Name, a band we all grew up with.”
And we are still working on our Brakrock coverage! Today we will focus on day 2 and wrap it up nicely. A person requested that I added the timetable. And I am here to please the masses. So here, dear readers. Compared to the day before, the weather wasn’t on our side, but it didn’t […]
And we are still working on our Brakrock coverage! Today we will focus on day 2 and wrap it up nicely. A person requested that I added the timetable. And I am here to please the masses. So here, dear readers.
Compared to the day before, the weather wasn’t on our side, but it didn’t hold us back from living our best lives. It’s rise and shine, honey – because if you thought Friday had me running around like crazy. Saturday, I hit my cardio goal for the week. Let’s get this ball rolling because it’s going to be a long one. And if you read everything, I’ll send you a virtual cookie.
From Germany with love. Straightline took Woodstage to give us a taste of some fine skatepunk. For a rainy day – Straightline certainly did brighten up a rather gloomy day. It should go without saying that, once again, the sound technicians didn’t drop the ball, and the sound was terrific. “This next song is about fucking racists, fucking sexists, fucking homophobe dickheads. You are the true virus. This song is called “Virus”, let’s go.” Bart yelled in the microphone before he started throwing himself around stage. The band certainly does have the energy for festivals and the crowd was dancing along in the rain. I’m impressed that Bart could run on the spot through the duration of the set. Big band energy and we love it.
The Venomous Pinks are a well-rehearsed, three-piece from Arizona. And why am I introducing them? Well, sometimes awesome bands deserve to be reintroduced. And that’s my honest opinion on The Venomous Pinks. They are passionate; they are sincere, and firecrackers with some good messages in their music. That was certainly how I felt when Drea Doll mid-song told us to stand up for our beliefs and hold on to what our hearts want. After countless of tour dates, the fact that Drea’s hoarse scream hasn’t had her drinking nothing but tea, leaves me even more impressed. And Gaby rocking out on stage was amazing to see and vibe too. Did we mention that Linh Le from Bad Cop/ Bad Cop joined on stage? She’s the best hype person ever. I’m calling her if I ever need to be hyped up for anything.
Do you like ska? No? Okay, you should skip this part. Some people say that ska is silly music. And it’s not; it’s gold. After The Venomous Pinks, we were off to see Voodoo Glow Skulls – because why not? They are a brilliant band, fun, and there are masks. I’m in. But joking aside. Voodoo Glow Skulls bringing fast-paced ska to Woodstage, and, shit, can we talk about the performance? They are a highly energetic ska band, not only Efrem Schulz. No, the rest of the band can dish out as well. And honestly, I was picking up what they were putting down.
And the crowd was not standing still one bit either. Screw the rain; let’s get down and dirty to some ska. Ah, that concert is forever printed in my head. They did excellent and played all the bangers. I want to go back.
Authority Zero has gone from strength to strength over the past many years, they have evolved for the better, and they showed that very well on Saturday at Brakrock. And the crowd agrees with me on that. Chris Dalley, a rapid drumming machine, Jason DeVore’s vocal strength and connection to the crowd is remarkable. Mike and Brandon continue to show that performing live looks like the most straightforward job in the world. As it was actually my first time watching Authority Zero live and in action, I decided to stop taking pictures after a few songs and go dance with my friends. And from the crowd and from the stage, I was blown away and couldn’t stop dancing. Sometimes I might have forgotten I was carrying my camera, but I was feeling it. And there was a badass guitar solo. I’m done here.
Are you ready for it? Because I wasn’t. I’ll get my fangirling over Bad Cop / Bad Cop out of the way right here. But I hope to speak for many when I say that they are an inspiration, and as a woman, I look up to them for obvious and personal reasons. So I was happy to see them on the poster for this year’s edition of Brakrock.
So, that was that moment. Let’s continue to the fact of why you’re reading this.
They have a new member! Let’s welcome Alex! And she’s full of talent, and her spark is fantastic. Linh Le is still very hype as she was a few hours ago, and her vibe gets the crowd going. Stacey sounds fantastic, and Myra knows how to work the drums without overthinking. Her flow is insane.
They played their newest single, “Shattered”, and I loved it. They highlighted those old white farts wanting to take away women’s reproduction rights. And as I usually say, No uterus, shut the fuck up. Maybe that’s why I love Bad Cop / Bad Cop as much as I do.
Ups forgot to take photos – but it was pissing down at this point, and something something played a few rounds of snaps. Let’s move on to Frank. Upfront, I am not the biggest Frank Turner fan. Actually, he is what I would say… If he is being played around me, I don’t care. And for that, I must say I am in the wrong.
But holy shit, I think I became a Frank Turner fan that night. He is fantastic and really put on an incredible show. I forgot it was wet and muddy. The company, Frank Turner, and beers were everything that night. And why are his songs so catchy? I really want to know. Oh well, Frank, until October, I’m certainly coming and dancing along again. Here’s a short review of how you gained another fan.
Before we wrap up, I want to thank Brakrock for the fantastic festival, the volunteers, the sound technicians, the light technicians, the bands, and the people serving me food and alcohol for a great first time at Brakrock. We will return next year to do the same and praise your hard work and dedication to the scene. To my friends, thanks for your patience. And Dying Scene and Public Serpents, thanks.
In the meantime, dear friends – please enjoy some behind-the-scenes pictures!
My favorite thing about writing for Dying Scene (aside from the money, fame, and numerous accolades) has always been discovering lesser known bands from all over the world; 7 Years Bad Luck was one of the first bands I stumbled upon when I come on board in the early 2010’s and I’ve remained a loyal […]
My favorite thing about writing for Dying Scene (aside from the money, fame, and numerous accolades) has always been discovering lesser known bands from all over the world; 7 Years Bad Luck was one of the first bands I stumbled upon when I come on board in the early 2010’s and I’ve remained a loyal fan ever since.
The three piece punk band hailing from Innsbruck, Austria has been around over 20 years. They’ve released sixth full-length albums, with the most recent No Shame coming out earlier this month on Monster Zero Records. 2017’s Great, Big, Nothing was was an excellent album, and No Shame is a worthy successor. Check it out below, grab the record here, and hit up Bandcamp to catch up on 7 Years Bad Luck’s extensive back catalog.
Greetings, and welcome to the Dying Scene Record Radar. If it’s your first time here, thank you for joining us! This is the weekly* column where we cover all things punk rock vinyl; new releases, reissues… you name it, we’ve probably got it. Kick off your shoes, pull up a chair, crack open a cold […]
Greetings, and welcome to the Dying Scene Record Radar. If it’s your first time here, thank you for joining us! This is the weekly* column where we cover all things punk rock vinyl; new releases, reissues… you name it, we’ve probably got it. Kick off your shoes, pull up a chair, crack open a cold one, and break out those wallets, because it’s go time. Let’s get into it!
Check out the video edition of this week’s Record Radar, presented by our friends at Punk Rock Radar:
Our friends at Punk Rock Radar and Cat’s Claw Records are having an awesome sale in their webstores this week. Get 30% off everything when you use code CATS13 at checkout! Both labels have a ton of awesome records, shirts & other stuff to load your cart with. Sale ends Saturday, August 19th.
Pure Noise Records has announced Volume 2 in its Dead Formats series, featuring cover songs from 15 bands on the label’s roster. Notable tracks include Less Than Jake covering The Kinks and the Bouncing Souls’ take on “In the Dark” by Billy Squier. There are a handful of different color variants up for pre-order on the Pure Noise webstore.
Rancid’s legendary self-titled debut album is getting reissued in honor of its 30th Anniversary. Links to where you can get all four color variants can be found here. My favorite is the US Indie Exclusive white w/ black splatter – hit up your local record store for that one.
The Riverboat Gamblers’ Something to Crow About turns 20 this year and it, too, is getting a reissue. There are three variants, each limited to 500 copies. Get it on black and/or white wax here; the slate gray color variant is a Garage Land exclusive. This is the LP’s first repress since its original release in 2003.
A mysterious reissue of Face To Face’s Don’t Turn Away has popped up on Amazon and some other ecommerce sites with an October 13th release date. No specific color variant is noted, but there’s quite a bit of speculation this will be on pink colored vinyl. Why not roll the dice and find out?
New Found Glory’s From the Screen to Your Stereo 3 has been repressed on gold colored vinyl, not sure how many copies. Get the 10” here.
Our friends at Thousand Islands Records have brought Spanish melodic punks Adrenalized’s sophomore album Docet Umbra back in print for the first time in 8 years. There are three variants – teal, pink & gold – each limited to 100 copies. Get your copy here.
Toronto’s PKEW PKEW PKEW have a new record coming soon! Siiick Days was recorded with Bouncing Souls guitarist Pete Steinkopf at his Little Eden recording studio in Asbury Park, NJ. Check out the first track “The Dumbest Thing I Ever Done” below and pre-order the record here.
Finch‘s debut album What It Is to Burn is getting a special 20th Anniversary reissue from Take This To Heart Records. The first pressing has already sold out, but they’ve already launched pre-orders for a second pressing of 2,000 copies on “Color in Color (Ruby + Black) w/ Tangerine Splatter” colored vinyl. Get it here.
And last up in this week’s long line of reissues is Set Your Goals’ This Will Be the Death of Us. This Smartpunk Exclusive is limited to 500 copies on blue w/ red splatter colored wax. Grab your copy here.
Well, that’s all, folks. Another Record Radar in the books. As always, thank you for tuning in. If there’s anything we missed (highly likely), or if you want to let everyone know about a new/upcoming vinyl release you’re excited about, leave us a comment below, or send us a message on Facebook or Instagram, and we’ll look into it. Enjoy your weekend, and don’t blow too much money on spinny discs (or do, I’m not your father). See ya next week!
Wanna catch up on all of our Record Radar posts? Click here and you’ll be taken to a page with all the past entries in the column. Magic!
