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DS Photo Gallery: Catbite / We Are The Union / Kill Lincoln / J. Navarro & The Traitors (Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL 7/7/23)

July 19, 2023 | 11:32 am

Dying Scene was at one of the final stops of the 2023 Bad Time Records Tour in Chicago at the Bottom Lounge, and boy was it a ska party for the ages! This show featured We Are The Union, Kill Lincoln, Catbite and J. Navarro & The Traitors…plus an epic ska-riffic on stage dance party […]

Dying Scene was at one of the final stops of the 2023 Bad Time Records Tour in Chicago at the Bottom Lounge, and boy was it a ska party for the ages! This show featured We Are The Union, Kill Lincoln, Catbite and J. Navarro & The Traitors…plus an epic ska-riffic on stage dance party to conclude the night.

Another sweet treat on this tour is the forthcoming documentary This Is New Tone that followed the entire Bad Time Records Tour. Here is the synopsis of the film:

“’THIS IS NEW TONE’ will be a concert film and documentary centered around the 2023 Bad Time Records Tour, featuring We Are The Union, Catbite, Kill Lincoln, BAD OPERATION, Omnigone, J. Navarro & The Traitors, and more. Much in the spirit of the film “Dance Craze”, the film will primarily center on multi-camera live performances from throughout the tour, but will also document the the bands and crew as they embark on this full-US venture. Featuring interviews from current band members, scene veterans, new fans, and ska legends, the film will also attempt to examine the current state of the modern ska punk scene, how it fits into the broader arc of ska’s history, and try to discover if the perceived “resurgence” is accurate or inflated. With many of the Bad Time Records bands rapidly growing, now is the perfect time to document the trajectory of the bands and the impact of the community.

The modern ska scene has never been captured in this way, and one of the main goals of the film is to make the live show experience accessible to those who are not able to attend the tour or shows in general. We will attempt to make the film as immersive as possible, to show the full scope of the high energy live experience and community aspect that one can find at one of these shows, while also giving a better picture of what the bands are like as people on and off stage. Bad Time Records is a completely DIY effort, and we aim to show that anyone can build up their own scene or collective and accomplish something significant without the support of major labels or corporations.

In the process of making the film, we will have a camera and sound crew documenting all 22 dates of the 2023 Bad Time Records tour. Hours of interview footage has already been captured, and the majority of the remaining filming will take place during the tour in March, June, and July of 2023. We are currently aiming for a December 2023 release of the film.”

A Kickstarter for the film has been launched and features tons of cool rewards. Make note to see this film when it releases!

Opening for the night was J. Navarro & The Traitors, featuring J. Navarro from the Suicide Machines and Ken Haas of Reverend Guitars. They recently released a new album All of Us or None and will be playing at The Supernova International Ska Festival in Fort Monroe, VA on September 16th, 2023 (the entire festival runs from September 15-17th).

Kill Lincoln brought their infectious energy next, including their own hype-man that danced the entire night.

We Are The Union released Ordinary Life on June 4th, 2021. Their song “Boys Will Be Girls” is incredibly catchy.

Closing out the night was the infamous Catbite. They recently released a cover with Brian Fallon from The Gaslight Anthem of “Yes It’s True” by The Slackers. You can listen here! Also consider buying the vinyl from Bad Time Records; all proceeds support Play On Philly, an organization the helps underserved youth in Philadelphia get music education.

Did you miss out on the Bad Time Records Tour? Not to worry- you can catch these artists back on the road soon (including Catbite touring with Anti-Flag and Bouncing Souls!!). Check out the rest of the photos below!

by Staff Writer Mary_Sunde

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DS Photo Gallery: Catbite, Bacchae & Riverby @ Saint Vitus (2022-11-12)

November 30, 2022 | 7:16 pm

It seems like Philadelphia ska band, Catbite is everywhere these days. This past year has seen them on tour with the likes of Streetlight Manifesto, Jeff Rosenstock, Mustard Plug, Anti-Flag, and Screaming Females to name a few. And topping it all off with a cherry on top, they embarked on their first ever mini headlining tour a week or so ago which has had them playing in hometown Philadelphia, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and the show which I was able to catch in Brooklyn at Saint Vitus. (Oh yeah, remember last month when Brittany Luna guest appeared at Gaslight Anthem?)

Saint Vitus was the first time they’d played NYC as a headliner and Brit, Tim Hildebrand, Ben Parry, Esteban Flores, and Chris Pires were beyond stoked as they opened up the set with fan favorite, “Creepin” from last year’s spectacular LP, Nice One. This fast-paced “on the upbeat” ripper is one of that classic kind of ska songs that wouldn’t at all be out of place if it were slipped into a mix with songs off the first The Specials album. Its frenetic pace had the packed room at Saint Vitus in full-blown skankin’ mode right off the bat. From here the band rolled right into their cover version of Neon Trees’ “Everyone Talks” which the band released earlier this year as part of a 4 song split with Mike Park of Asian Man Records (to name just one of his countless accomplishments). Obviously where the Trees start off their original with a sort of late 50’s R&B crooner style before they kick into its indie rock sing-along chorus, tonight Catbite started off with a slow rock steady beat before literally kicking into the chorus which they re-imagined into a total ska romp.

With barely any time between songs to catch their breath, the band stomped from one song to the next, culling a set list comprising the most upbeat and raucous of their material from their two full-length LPs (Nice One as well as their eponymous debut). Needless to say, the crowd at Saint Vitus which had come to skank, pogo and mosh like their lives depended on it were handed the perfect soundtrack to do just that. Things would get seriously crazed throughout the hot and sweaty room for all-out R-O-C-K-E-R-S like “Asinine Aesthetic” and “Amphetamine Delight”.

But who would have guessed that things could get even hotter as the crew kicked off the encore with “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and “Excuse Me Miss” from Nice One. By this time the band had the crowd full-blown out of control dancing and singing maniacally. All in all, it was truly something to behold. Fortunately, Catbite has no intentions of slowing down in the near future and I know that I’ll be skanking along to them in a couple of weeks when they’re scheduled to open for Bouncing Souls in both Brooklyn at Brooklyn Made as well as everyone’s favorite New Jersey joint, Crossroads in Garwood, NJ. (Both shows at Crossroads are sold out but there are still tickets available for the Brooklyn Made gig).

I would be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the night’s two opening bands. Starting off the evening was a band out of Philadelphia that I was not at all familiar with prior to this evening called Riverby. I’m not sure what they’re putting in the water down in the City of Brotherly Love but damn, Philly keeps spitting out really interesting new bands almost as fast as they produce ill-behaved sports fans (sorry, I just couldn’t resist). Lead singer, August Greenberg, possesses quite an engaging stage presence as they led the band through a breakneck-paced set which at times reminded me of the band Heart on amphetamines. All in all, I did enjoy their rough and ragged set and do think that they could be a band to keep your eyes on in the future.

Next up was the band Bacchae out of Washington DC. I’d seen Bacchae a couple of months ago opening for The Linda Lindas and to be honest wasn’t all that impressed. Friday night at Saint Vitus however, changed my mind. The growth shown by the band in a few short months was truly inspiring. With a sound that brings to mind early B-52s crossed with the No Wave sound of downtown NYC circa early 80’s with bands like Bush Tetras, Liquid Liquid and quite noticeably early Sonic Youth was quite invigorating. Both Katie McD (lead vocals and keyboard) as well as Rena Hagins (bass and backup vocals) have grown tremendously in their stage presence and ultimately put on a fantastic set.

Check out full photo galleries from each of the bands below!

CATBITE Slideshow

RIVERBY Slideshow

BACCHAE Slideshow

by Staff Writer Ray Rusinak

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bacchae brooklyn catbite riverby Ska

Anonymous

November 30, 2022 @ 11:06 PM

Hey! There are only people with they/them pronouns and he/him pronouns in Riverby. I’m glad you liked them because I do too, just please make it more of a practice to find out people’s pronouns like you do their names. Often it’s as easy as checking their bios, like in their case. Thanks!

Reply
- jaystone
  
  December 1, 2022 @ 8:03 AM
  
  I misread their Insta bio initially. Updated the story accordingly. Thanks for keeping us honest!!
  
  Reply

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DS Photo Gallery: The Gaslight Anthem & Jeff Rosenstock @ The Metropolitan Opera House, Philidelphia (2022-10-07)

October 20, 2022 | 11:00 am

I’d had the weekend of October 7 marked off on my calendar since last March when The Gaslight Anthem announced that they would be coming out of their self-imposed hiatus and would be touring both Europe, The UK and most importantly (to me at least), the U.S. That U.S. leg of the tour would be coming to a conclusion with a Friday show in Philly and the final show of the tour in Gaslight’s backyard at Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Arts Center (for those of you as old as me, FKA The Garden State Arts Center). Needless to say both dates were etched firmly in my plans. That is however, until an NYC date was finally added to the tour a month or so later. I have to admit that when PNC was announced as the NJ venue, I was not happy. The idea of seeing Gaslight (and Rosenstock) in that cavernous and seated outdoor tin shed didn’t do much for me. So once I knew that I would have the opportunity to see them at the beautiful Pier 17 in Manhattan, PNC was dropped from my plans. Philly, however, I was super stoked for. I’d heard great things about The Met and of course the presence of a GA pit made all the difference in the world.

Jeff Rosenstock hit the stage promptly at 8 PM and when I say “hit” I mean he and his band of John DeDominici on bass, Mike Huguenor on guitar, Kevin Higuchi on drums and Dan Potthast on guitar, sax and keys hit it running! Opening up with “SCRAM!” off their most recent album No Dream (most recent if you don’t count the ska reworking of the same album SKA Dream which came out during pandemic times). I will be the first to admit that I am a huge fan of Rosenstock and while I thought there would be some logical crossover between his and TGA’s fanbases, it didn’t always appear to be that way during Jeff’s set. One place where the set was 100% appreciated however was front and center in the pit where a decently sized circle pit was active throughout “Death Rosenstock’s” rapid fire 10 song set.

As an aside, Jeff did mention midway through his set that shortly before he and the band hit the stage, he discovered that he and a whole bunch of his friends had been laid off from their day jobs. Rosenstock was the musical director for The Cartoon Network’s Craig of The Creek which evidently was uncerimoniously canceled. Nonetheless, this soul-crushing news did nothing to damper Jeff’s energized and exhilarating set. Needless to say, good luck to Jeff & the entire Craig Of The Creek staff; hopefully something pops up soon on the employment front for all of them.

The Gaslight Anthem came on shortly after 9 PM and opened things up with what has become their opener for most of the tour, “Have Mercy” followed by another tour regular in “Old White Lincoln”. It appeared right from the get-go that Brian was in really good spirits, coming off even more chatty than what has become the norm for him. But when I say “chatty” in this instance, I don’t necessarily mean his going off on wild tangents (don’t get me wrong, there was plenty of that throughout the evening) but I mean his literally being very conversational with the crowd, especially those at the rail. His back and forth with the newlywed upfront about their request for some never mentioned song dedicated to his wife who wasn’t there that night but would be in attendance the following evening at PNC was priceless. I wonder if the band added the song to Saturday’s setlist as promised.

Moving forward were a pair of songs which were not part of the set which I’d seen 2 weeks prior in NYC, “Wooderson” and “Biloxi Parish”. Now seems like as good a time as any to mention that one of the major complaints on the various TGA facebook groups which I pay attention to was the lack of variety in the night-to-night setlists. Well I for one came out of the show at Philly feeling none of that. Without actually comparing song-for-song the setlists to the 2 shows which I attended, I definitely left The Met feeling like I’d seen a very different show from the one I’d seen in New York a couple of weeks prior. Well it turns out that my gut feeling was 100% spot on. In doing the research to put this piece together, I found that the Philly show contained a total of eight songs which I had not heard at Pier 17. Out of an average set consisting of 21 songs or so, to me 8 is a pretty good number to define variety.

Along the way, we did hear Brian go off on a number of tangents, only one which could be defined as being a little too long, but personally I enjoyed his monologues quite a bit, particularly the one where he suggested to a couple of out of town fans who were traveling to NJ after the show to go out the next morning and find someplace where they could get an authentic pork roll breakfast sandwich…”it’s pork roll, not Taylor ham! Don’t be calling it Taylor ham.” Now I know quite a few Jerseyites who would argue with this pork roll vs Taylor ham verbiage but hearing Brian explain to a couple of out-of-town newbies, the culinary delights of NJ was absolutely hilarious.

But back to the music, with a mix that encompassed virtually the band’s entire musical catalogue. With songs from ’59 Sound and Handwritten dominating the remainder of the set, we still were treated to a smattering of selections from Get Hurt (“Get Hurt” “Halloween”, and “Stay Vicious”, Sink Or Swim (” We Came To Dance”) as well as American Slang (“The Spirit of Jazz”).

After making sure that the crowd knew that there would be no “lame walking off the stage and coming back for an encore”, the band finished the night off with none other than “59 Sound” to which they brought out Philadelphia’s own Brit Luna from the band Catbite to help on vocals (Catbite just so happens to be one of my favorite new ska bands).

It was a triumphant return to the stage for Brian, the two Alex’s, Benny and Ian. Each and every member of the band seemed to be having fun being back onstage. And sure as hell, they all sounded fantastic. I know Brian had some voice issues earlier in the tour, having to cancel a show in Denver, but his voice sounded fantastic in Philly. Now the only thing that I can hope for is that they don’t take too long to get back out there again, and if there is a delay in touring again in 2023 I hope it’s because they are busy in the studio working on a new album. Welcome back TGA, it’s great having you back.

THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM (2022-10-07)

Jeff Rosenstock (2022-10-07)

by Staff Writer Ray Rusinak

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gaslight anthem Jeff Rosenstock

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DS Playlist: ‘Bootlicker’ Isn’t a Subgenre of Punk

July 3, 2022 | 10:59 pm

From time to time, our intrepid contributors are going to post curated playlists for special occasions/Holidays. For our first ‘Post Resurrection’ installment of this feature, we enlisted our resident Molotov Cocktail Waiter, Anarchopunk to create the perfect tracklist to blast at your 4th of July Cookout! Trust us, your friends and family are gonna dig this one, comrades! It’s 55 minutes of pure Anti-American bliss (and when we say ‘American’ we mean the USA, specifically. It’s shorthand. We know, we know. There’s continents, hell whole hemispheres that encapsulate North/South America and the term ‘America’ generalizes all of the many nations and cultures therein….meh….whatever…it makes writing a lil easier. Give us some slack. Now, on with the story…) from lesser known bands from around the world. I mean, sure, anyone can make a playlist like this featuring songs by Propagandhi, Anti-Flag and Good Riddance but that’s low hanging fruit, homie! We hold ourselves to a ‘higher’ standard. Word of caution, if you’re only here for the music and don’t wanna read a buncha lefty, Marxist propaganda, scroll to the bottom for the playlist. We don’t wanna hear you whining in the comments. If you wanna create your own website and feature music that fits your beliefs, go right ahead! With that said let’s get started, shall we?

The Communard – “Death to America” – Let’s just go ahead and start off with a bang to weed out the bootlickers! No ambiguity here with these French pinko-punks! If you don’t like the message of this one, you’re certainly not going to like the rest of this playlist. So, ‘sayonara, suckers!’
Total Massacre – “The State of the Union (Is Weak,Sad) – Ole Cap’n No Fun and his anti-capitalist cronies always bring an appropriate level of anger for having to live in this hellscape of a country.
Allout Helter – “Maximum Helter” – For some reason, Anti-America tunes sound so much better when it’s set to melodic hardcore and no one does this combo better than these anti-fascists from Denver.
Be Like Max – “Time Flies When You’re Having Work” – Ska acts aren’t generally known for being too political but there’s always an exception and these Vegas ska-punks punctuate that fact.
Arms Aloft – “Untitled” – No one writes ’em better than the lads over at Arms Aloft! There really isn’t anything more fitting than some good ole fashioned Blue Collar Punk to anti-celebrate The 4th! Probably no coincidence that they’re signed to Red Scare, huh?!
The Shell Corporation – “Even Bob Villa Couldn’t Fix This Old House” – You haven’t heard lyrics this academic and vitriolic toward the States since Bad Religion! This Los Angeles based political punk act has it all! That’s why we wanna hear some more new music from ’em! C’mon, guys We need you now, more than ever! 😛
Rent Strike! – “Burn It All” – Folk Punk! Yaaay! If you think there’s any subgenre that, as a general rule, is more anti-US than folk punk, you’re a fool. There I said it. Now, you have to live in a reality where some masked yahoo on the internet schooled you in a public forum. Sad…
Soul Glo – “We Wants Revenge” – Oh shit! This shit hits fucking haaaard, dunnit?!? Philly hardcore acts are notoriously brutal but these cats take it to another level! If these fantastic Philadelphians weren’t on your radar before, make sure they are now. No excuses going forward.
Upper Downer – “KKKPD” – One of the newer bands on our list but that doesn’t mean they’re any less worthy of making our list. These angry Angelinos also have a new album coming out later this year via Wiretap Records, so keep an ear out for that! (DS Exclusive???)
Poor Me – “Classwar” – More Melodic Hardcore? Yes Please! This one is probably one of the more powerfully performed tracks on our list but when you’re fed up with the state of your ‘shit hole’ country, is it any surprise that there’s a lil extra ‘salt on the ‘tater chips’?
The Muslims – “Fuck These Fucking Fascists” – Yea, yea, yeeeeaaaa. We know…we said “lesser known bands” and these young guns have recently singed to Epitaph, which makes them the antithesis of ‘lesser known’ but to be fair, we have been high on them since 2017. So we’re making an exception because this track bops!
Amerikan Made – “Amerikan Made” – This Anti-American SoCal act has been around since 2007 and has been pretty silent up until recently when they did a four week residency at the Doll Hut down in San Diego. Hopefully this recent reemergence means some new tunes are coming soon? Guys? Hello? *tap, tap* Is this thing on?
UCAN’TSAYNO – “The Corrupt Politician” – The Land of the Rising Sun checking in! Over the last few decades, Japan and more specifically, Tokyo has became a major hub for new punk music. So, it’s no surprise that a band from the ‘Child of Edo’ makes our list. It’s really just a matter of odds, innit?
The Orphans – “For an Old Kentucky Anarchist” – Look, we know what we said earlier regarding your opinions on folk punk, but we’d like to think that the tough love we dispensed prepared you for this moment. It really did hurt us more than it hurt you. Now, enjoy this Anti-American, Appalachian folk gem and tell us how right we were.
People Corrupting People – “Corporations” – Of course the US is fucked. We let Wal-Mart and CapitalOne vote. What did you think was gonna happen? But hey! At least the proletariat has to financially bail out all of these companies! Let’s hear it for Corporate Welfare!
Cop/Out – “Pinko Commie” – Always more room for Commie punks! (c’mon, it’s an anti-4th playlist, what did you expect?). “buT i LuV CaPitAliSm, AP!”…. I dunno?? Have you tried…ummm…not??
DUMB FUCKS – “a.c.a.b.” – A Los Angeles based band that isn’t fond of cops? You don’t say?!? For a buncha younger lads, they really do nail that old school hardcore sound though, right?? Can’t wait to hear more from this act.
Debt Neglector – “Cult Cult Cult” – I think the name of this one perfectly encapsulates the current state of things here in ‘The Ole US of A’. We “oldies” remember a time when cults were fringy, and tucked away in the shadows of society. Now, they’re catered to on TV on a nightly basis “at 7pm ET right after Wheel of Fortune.”
The Lungs – “Cross Cult” – Mira! Mira! Another song about cults when talking about current events in The United States….imagine that… All religions are cults. Sad about that? Complain in the comments.
Comrades Collective – “Paws Not Laws” – OK, so full disclosure…we’ll automatically include any band on any playlist if they are even slightly ‘cat/pet’ themed. Include a heavy dose of Anarchist views and there you have it folks…the recipe for getting featured on Dying Scene!
Noogy – “Back At It Again” – Hip-Hop/Punk hybrids are here to stay and we’re here for it, 100%. If you’re not a square, you know that punk and hip-hop have been intertwined, even if just loosely for decades. These Texans are just building onto that inseparable marriage.
The Drowns – “Lunatics” – How’s about a lil pop punk to round things out?? If you despise The US but love catchy, radio ready riffs, we proudly present to you, our finest platter of…The Drowns, my lady/sir/non-binary person!! This one’s gonna be stuck in your head the rest of the day. Corn-gratulations!

You know any lesser known punk bands with some radical (read in the voice of Raphael from the early 90’s Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon) lefty tunes?!? Tell us about ’em and maybe we’ll add them to the list!

by Staff Writer AnarchoPunk.LA

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4th of july Anarchopunk Political Punk united states of america usa

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DS Show Gallery: The Menzingers, A Wilhelm Scream, Ramona, and Have Fun – Worcester MA (5.6.2023)

May 23, 2023 | 10:00 am

The Menzingers came to party at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts on Saturday May 6 with a stacked lineup of support featuring New Bedford, MA’s own A Wilhelm Scream, Ramona, and more MA locals Have Fun! The Menzingers seem to love Massachusetts quite a bit, being the city they sing about the second most after […]

The Menzingers seem to love Massachusetts quite a bit, being the city they sing about the second most after Philly. It is clear that Massachusetts loves them right back– the crowd singing along to every word of every song. The energy was joyous and undeniable.

It is always a blast to get to shoot Massachusetts’ own A Wilhelm Scream. This band can get a pit going in any room they play. They were a perfect fit on this bill with The Menzingers.

Ramona originates from Philly but their members are scattered all over the US now. They still manage to absolutely crush it when they do get together to play shows, like for this tour.

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Local openers Have Fun! did indeed have fun kicking off this show for us!

Check out some photos from the show in the gallery below!

by Staff Writer Brittany Queen

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a wilhelm scream boston dying scene Hardcore have fun

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DS Show Review & Galleries: Riot Fest 2024 Day 2 featuring The Hives, The Dead Milkmen, Sincere Engineer, Descendents; and D.O.A. Chicago (09.21.2024)

October 13, 2024 | 11:01 am

Riot Fest Day 1 was hot, and Riot Fest Day 2 was even hotter. A virtual scorcher, weather-wise and musically, DS hit the photo-pits for The Hives, The Dead Milkmen, Sincere Engineer, Descendents, and D.O.A. as they tore up the stages in Chicago’s Douglass Park. You can see additional day 2 band galleries on Instagram […]

One of the most eagerly anticipated sets on the second day of this year’s Riot Fest was from The Hives. The matching and sharp-dressed Swedish punks exceeded all expectations with a ferocious performance from the first note played. With various band members sporadically taking their places on the giant speakers in front of the stage and with the lead singer “Howling” Pelle Almqvist moving to sing at the barricades and above the fans, the photo pit got a bit chaotic. It was so chaotic (please note, though not out of control) that we shooters were instructed to exit just seconds into the third song. One fellow photographer joked after that if you could not get a good photo within the first minute of that set, you shouldn’t be shooting Riot Fest. Indeed, The Hives set was the epitome of the performances upon which we concert photographers thrive.

Included in the raucous set were the songs “Bogus Operandi, “”Rigor Mortis Radio,” “Walk Idiot Walk,” and “Hate To Say I Told You So.” “Countdown to the Shutdown” was the last song played by The Hives but it wasn’t the last song heard. While lots of bands have walk-on music, The Hives also has a walk-off songs. In this case, Carly Simon’s “Nobody Does It Better,” which, f.y.i., is the theme song to the 1977 James Bond film, “The Spy Who Loved Me.” Band members bowed and waved as the iconic American singer-songwriter’s voice wafted gently from the speakers. More than a few witnessing The Hives’ Riot Fest performance might argue that nobody did it better, at least not on this day.

The Dead Milkmen took the stage a few minutes ahead of time, catching us shooters and those letting us into the photo pit a bit off guard. It was all good, though, as we were given a bit more time to make up for it. The Philly outfit brought its legendary tongue firmly in cheek. The exuberant set included some of the band’s best songs, including “Serrated Edge,” “Punk Rock Girl,” “Bitchin’ Camaro,” and “Big Lizard.”

The Dead Milkmen also performed “Grandpa’s Not a Racist (He Just Voted for One),” off the band’s 2023 album Quaker City Quiet Pills. The lyrics to the song and the fact it was released just last year, make it hard not to think of a certain segment of the voting population in this election year, and of a certain 2024 Presidential Candidate.

They’re coming for his Jesus
They re coming for his gun
They’re coming for his Jesus
There coming for his gun
They’re coming for his Jesus
They’re coming for his gun
Grandpa’s not a racist – he just voted for one

Grandpa’s screaming something about white genocide
as he crawls under the bed looking for someplace to hide
He talks a lot of bullshit when he’s hittin’ the rum
But we know Grandpa’s not a racist – he just voted for one.

Last night we found Grandpa wandering the streets
Whistling Dixie and wearing a white sheet
Letting everybody know He won’t be replaced by the Jews
and we said
“Oh, Grandpa, who could ever replace you”

Do you know a racist Grandpa?
You see one every day
He wonders why the N-word is something he’s not allowed to say
and while he’s the worst person under the sun
We all know Grandpa’s not a racist – he just voted for one.”

The Dead Milkmen set was the one I knew I would not miss at this year’s Riot Fest. I enjoyed interviewing Joe Jack Talcum and covering and documenting the band’s delightful set at House of Vans several years back. I hope to document as many more The Dead Milkmen shows as possible because I’m kind of a punk rock girl who has had the pleasure of riding in my friends’ Bitching Camaro on numerous occasions.

Sincere Engineer is most often described as a stage moniker for singer/rhythm guitar player Deanna Belos in her sole work. But it has also been described as a band, including by Belos herself on occasion. Whatever its most accurate characterization, if there indeed is one, Sincere Engineer has been a Dying Scene favorite pretty much since its debut album, Rhombithian.

Of course, one of the big reasons is Belos’ smartly charming and self-deprecating songwriting. She is unafraid to wear her often aching and/or longing heart on the short sleeves of her black Carhartt t-shirts nor is she wary of letting you know this is the case. The first song the band played “Anemia” perfectly illustrates this

I’m a walking open wound
Don’t make any sudden moves
I’m a walking open wound
It’s a pleasure to meet you

Aware of this, it is unsurprising the group’s walk-on music is the classic instrumental version of the Johnny Mandel theme from M*A*S*H*, also known by its official song name “Suicide Is Painless.”

However, the joy she and her bandmates, Kyle Geib on lead guitar, Nick Arvanitis on bass, and drummer/back-up vocals Adam Beck display whilst expressing sometimes heavy emotions is infectious.

Also included in the roaring set “Dragged Across The Finish Line,” “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7,” “Old Coat Pocket,” and “Overbite,” among others.

Sincere Engineer is currently on the road in the western part of the United States, supporting New Found Glory’s Catalyst 20 Years Later Tour. To say this is a dream come true for Belos’ might be a bit of an understatement. Speaking to her from said road, Belos’ described to me what it has been like.

“It’s such a blast being out on tour with New Found Glory! They’re so nice, and the shows have been incredible! They were my first favorite band, so it’s been awesome to get to know them and see them every night!“

Riot Fest’s regular rotations include numerous members of the “Punk Rock Docs Club” including Bad Religion’s Dr. Greg Griffin, PhD; Dr. Daryl Wilson, MD of The Bollweevils; Dr. Dexter Holland, PhD of The Offspring, and of course, The Descendents‘ Dr. Milo Auckerman, PhD. The latter two were on stage in Douglass Park this year. Dying Scene was able to hit one of those sets.

After taking the stage Guitarist Stephen Egerton gestured to its side area to give a shoutout to skateboarding legend Steve Caballero, whose own band, Urethane, also played Riot Fest 2024. The Descendents launched into its performance. The frenetic and extensive set included “The Only One,” “Silly Girl,” “Clean Sheets,” “Look Good On Paper,” “I’m The One,” and “Suburban Home.”

If the Descendents were offered an annual residency at Riot Fest, few would likely complain.

D.O.A. is still alive and killing it. The only member of the band from start to present, singer Joey “Joey Shithead” Keithley, told the audience that the band has been around for 47 years and added, “I’m in the middle of my third life sentence but don’t worry I can do the fucking stretch. I’m ok, I can do it.”

The band made a strong case for never retiring with its powerful set. Two of the highlights were blistering performances of “Smash The State,” and “The Enemy.”

D.O.A. was recently on the bill for NOFX’s final show. They have a couple of Pacific Northwest shows scheduled in November 2024, providing direct support for Duff McKagen. Check them out if you can!

As noted above, all of the DS Riot Fest galleries can also be viewed on the Dying Scene Instagram account.

Stay tuned for Day 3 coverage coming soon! Cheers!

by Staff Writer MerGold

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chicago DOA Riot Fest Riot Fest 2024 Sincere Engineer

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DS Show Review and Photo Gallery: Camp Cope Live at Union Transfer (2022-07-22)

August 1, 2022 | 8:02 pm

Camp Cope has long considered Philadelphia to be their home away from home, so when lead singer Georgia Maq greeted the crowd at Union Transfer on Friday night with the exclamation, “It feels so good to be in my favorite city in the entire world!” it wasn’t hard to believe that she was being totally sincere. The Australian group was accepted as one of Philly’s own going back to their debut in the City of Brotherly Love at the old Balcony Bar just about 5 years ago to the day. Philly’s vibrant and accepting indie/punk scene is extremely female/LGBTQ-centric and Camp Cope has always been considered one of the gang. It’s with this in mind that I am always willing to make the hour and a half drive down the NJ Turnpike from NY to catch them in Philly.

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since I last saw Camp Cope at The Church (AKA First Unitarian Church) back in 2019. With that in mind, the current version of the band which graced the stage at Union Transfer was somewhat different from what we last saw 3 years ago. They released a new album earlier in the year and Running With The Hurricane is somewhat of a departure for the band. Of course there’s still precocious Georgia and the backbone of the group, Sarah (Thom Thom) Thompson behind the drum kit but for the album, they added a second guitar and for this tour they’ve added Jenny Aslett to the mix. And then there’s the absence of Kelly-Dawn Helmrich on bass who couldn’t make this trip due to her expecting her firstborn relatively soon. Kelly’s role as bass player extraordinaire is being filled by UK ex-pat and current Philadelphia denizen, Lou Hanman of All Away Lou (amongst a multitude of other bands).

Having seen their show a couple of days earlier at Webster Hall in NYC, I already knew what would be in store as far as the new lineup was concerned. Their set started off with an early single, “Keep Growing” which the band would eventually include on a 4 song split they did with the now disbanded Philly group, Cayetana. With the lyrics:

I’ll keep growing my hair out

It’s not for you

Oh no, it’s not for you

No, it’s not for you

While the song might have been at the time a direct response to a romance gone wrong, it seems that on this tour, Georgia and Camp Cope are doing their own thing, they’re not the same group from 5 years ago and these imminent and obvious changes aren’t for the public but instead for them. They’re growing as a group (both literally and figuratively) because they need to. The need to avoid inertia and stagnation is first and foremost a priority for the group.

Next up was “Jealous” from the new album. This one started out pretty slow with Georgia singing almost dirge-like over Lou’s rolling bassline riffs. That is until the chorus where Georgia’s vocals take off. After experiencing vocal issues a couple of years ago and subsequently having surgery to repair the problem, her voice is back better than ever. With a range much more diverse than before, she is now hitting notes and killing them…killing them in a very good way.

The third song of the evening was another older one, “How To Socialize and Make Friends”, the title track from their incredible sophomore album. A bouncing rocker and crowd favorite, this one would have the crowd swaying and dancing and singing right along with Maq as she danced and swirled all over the stage in not much more than a t-shirt and sandals, eventually kicking off her shoes saying “shoes…they’re so fucking stupid”.

We then got a stretch of new songs from Hurricane to which the crowd was already quite familiar, singing and dancing throughout. At some point during this set of new material, Georgia expressed how sorry she and the band were for the “fucked up things your country is putting you through”. Going on she explained how they were raising money on this tour for reproductive and female rights. This would be an ongoing topic throughout the evening, not at all surprisingly.

Two of the new songs which stood out during this section of the show were “Caroline” and the album’s first single “Blue”. On the album, “Caroline” is sung quite slowly but here Georgia took the bouncy, yet subtle bass riff that plays throughout and interpreted the lyrics with that same bounce, picking up the pace of the song, making it much more of a jaunt than what we hear on the album.

As far “Blue” is concerned, they played it pretty straight up relative to the recorded version. But what struck me was the vocal work on the song. As I’ve said already, Georgia’s voice is sounding superb on this tour and on this song particularly she gets to show it off glowingly. Furthermore, we are treated to something we’ve never had before as far as live Camp Cope is concerned, background vocals. With the addition of Jenny and Lou, the extra vocals only accentuate the power and beauty of Georgia’s pipes.

I guess this might be as good a place as any to mention the unbridled triumph which Lou Hanman is on bass. Kelly’s style of playing bass as almost a lead instrument rather than a rhythm instrument is not at all typical. Matter of factly, off the top of my head, the only other player who does it is Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order fame. Well, Lou has managed to step into the band and absolutely nail it. While I’m not at all surprised she was able to fill Kelly’s role, but the ease and comfort to which she’s accomplished it blows my mind.

Finishing off the evening’s set were two absolute gems. First, was the title track from the new one, “Running With The Hurricane”, a rollicking freewheeling song that reaches anthemic levels as Georgia pranced throughout the stage shouting the title and main lyric.

And to close things out, the band jumped into what might be one of the most scathing FU songs of all time. Part jilted lover breakup song and part I’m so sick of the patriarchal music biz bullshit, the song oozes with male loathing. And on Friday night Georgia spewed that loathing with an absolute vengeance. The beauty of it all, however, was and is that here was Camp Cope, having just gotten back from a triumphant set at Pitchfork, here was Camp Cope playing Union Transfer in Philly, a steady upward progression from The Balcony Bar to Philly MOCA to The Church and now UT.

Camp Cope killed it in Philly and continues to kill it almost everywhere they go despite all those naysayers who told them along the way to book a smaller venue.

Swipe through below to see more pictures from the triumphant event!

by Staff Writer Ray Rusinak

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australia camp cope Philadelphia

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Dying Scene Revisits: Ten of Fat Wreck Chords’ Most Overlooked Releases

December 1, 2022 | 10:47 am

Few names loom larger in punk rock lore than Fat Wreck Chords. Started in 1990 by NOFX frontman “Fat” Mike Burkett, the label has stood tall as a bastion of independent punk music for over 30 years. Fat has been home to countless great bands; No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, Strung Out, Good Riddance… the list goes on. If you’re like me, a good chunk of your record collection is stamped with their iconic logo, like a punk rock Nintendo Seal of Quality. Today, we’ll be discussing some of the less heralded entries in the label’s extensive catalog. Come along for a magical journey as we dive into Fat Wreck’s most overlooked releases.

Zero Down – With a Lifetime to Pay

The name Jim Cherry is synonymous with Fat Wreck Chords for me. In addition to being a bass virtuoso, the man was one hell of a songwriter. He played an integral role in Strung Out’s success, with writing credits on classics like “Bring Out Your Dead”, “Firecracker”, and “Mind of My Own”, just to name a few. Then, of course, there’s his contributions to Pulley. Prior to his untimely passing, Cherry started a new band called Zero Down. Their lone album With a Lifetime to Pay is criminally underrated. This is essential listening for all skate punk fans. Zero skippable tracks on this one.

The Loved Ones – Build and Burn

Alright, this one might be a somewhat controversial pick; not because this is a bad album or anything, but I think Keep Your Heart is generally considered The Loved Ones‘ “best” record. But you know what? I don’t give a fuck, I think Build and Burn is better. I couldn’t get enough of this album when it came out. Many regard the mid to late 2000’s as Fat’s “lean years”, but they put out a lot of good shit that didn’t have the typical “Fat sound” during this period. There isn’t a bad song to be found on Build and Burn. The first three tracks alone are worth the price of admission. Everything else is icing on this Philly pop-punk cake.

Limp – Guitarded

Limp was a pretty short lived pop-punk band that released three records through Fat Wreck imprint Honest Don’s Records. Music critic types lazily painted these guys into a corner as a Green Day or Blink-182 imitation. I personally don’t think Limp sounds anything like either of those bands. Their sophomore effort Guitarded is a mostly midtempo pop-punk record with a little ska sprinkled on top. More than anything else, this album is melodic to a fault. “Decision”, “Ten Minutes”, and “Entertainer” are my favorite songs.

Cobra Skulls – Bringing the War Home

Now, I already know what you’re thinking: “Really dude, you’re including a fuckin’ EP in this list?”. Yes, yes I am. Cobra Skulls released two killer albums on Red Scare and were quickly snatched up by Fat Wreck. They made their Fat debut with 2011’s Bringing the War Home and immediately went out on tour with NOFX and the Bouncing Souls (yours truly saw them in Orlando). For many (myself included), this was their introduction to Cobra Skulls, and the band capitalized on that opportunity in a big way. Bringing the War Home provides the perfect bite sized snapshot of a band that was firing on all cylinders. The Bad Religion cover is pretty good, too.

Only Crime – Virulence

Fat Mike and Floyd used to host a podcast where they played songs off the label’s new releases at the time. I was introduced to Only Crime for the first time when they played “Eyes of the World” off their record Virulence. I was blown away, and instantly ordered the CD. Only Crime is one of the greatest punk “super groups” ever as far as I’m concerned. You’ve got Russ Rankin on vocals and Bill Stevenson absolutely killing it on drums, that’s all you need to know. This whole record kicks ass.

American Steel – Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts

A cornerstone of the Lookout! Records roster in the late 90’s, American Steel made a strong impression with the chaotic energy of their 1999 LP Rouge’s March. Over time, the East Bay punk band’s sound mellowed out quite a bit, culminating in 2009’s Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts. This record is full of great midtempo punk-ish rock songs with big choruses that invite you to sing along – the album opener “Emergency House Party” being a prime example. Other highlights include “Your Ass Ain’t Laughing Now”, “Bergamot”, and “Meals and Entertainment”. This isn’t the best American Steel’s discography has to offer, but it’s a fun listen nonetheless.

Big in Japan – Destroy the New Rock

Hailing from Reno, Nevada and featuring members of Zoinks! and The Gain, Big in Japan made their debut in 2001 with Destroy the New Rock. This power-pop punk gem is buried deep in the Honest Don’s catalog, which sucks because it is fantastic! The songs are catchy and the production is stellar, but that’s no surprise considering this was recorded with Mass Giorgini at Sonic Iguana. This record sounds like a mix of Squirtgun and Green Day. Highly recommended listening.

Swingin’ Utters – Here, Under Protest

Call it a comeback! After going eight years without releasing a new record, Fat mainstays Swingin’ Utters made their triumphant return in 2011 with Here, Under Protest. They had a new guitarist in Jack Dalrymple (One Man Army, Dead to Me), and a slightly more polished, melodic approach. Singer Johnny Peebucks’ voice lent itself nicely to the band’s renewed sound. Standout tracks include “Brand New Lungs”, “Kick it Over”, “Heavy Head”, and the album closer “Effortless Amnesiac”, on which Dalrymple takes the lead on vocals.

Love Equals Death – Nightmerica

If you’re a fan of anything AFI did before Sing the Sorrow, you will probably like Love Equals Death‘s Nightmerica. I won’t say frontman Chon Travis sounds exactly like Davey Havok, but at certain points on this album the resemblance is almost uncanny. “Bombs over Brooklyn”, “When We Fall”, “Voice of Change”, and “Numb” offer up a high energy blend of AFI and Pennywise. “Pray for Me” is a kinda corny, on-the-nose love song but in a charming way. “The Broadcast” is complete with all the George Dubya soundbites you’d expect from a mid 2000’s punk song. This whole album holds a special place in my heart, but “Sonora” is by far my favorite track on Nightmerica.

Teen Idols – Full Leather Jacket

The undisputed champions of Ramonescore, Teen Idols mastered their formula and stuck to it. Of their three albums on Honest Don’s, Full Leather Jacket is the one I find myself returning to most often. This is a quintessential pop-punk record. Absolutely zero duds to be found here, every song is great. And with Mass Giorgini at the controls you know the production is top notch. Big shoutout to whoever sequenced this album; “The Team” is a perfect closing track.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk! I’m certain I pissed at least a few of you off for one reason or another. But hey, that’s to be expected when treading on sacred ground. If I introduced you to an album you’ve never listened to, or just gave you the little nudge you needed to check out something you passed on when it first came out, then I’d say my mission has been accomplished. Fat Wreck Chords has been a big part of my life for a long time now. They’ve introduced me to some of my favorite bands and records, and I’m sure a lot of you can say the same. Here’s to another 30 years of awesome music!

If you think we’re fucking idiots because your favorite record isn’t on this list, feel free to let us know in the comments. Maybe we’ll include it in Part 2! 😘

by Staff Writer Screeching Bottlerocket

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Fat Mike fat wreck Fat Wreck Chords Lists pop-punk

Kn0wDissent

December 1, 2022 @ 7:13 PM

Diesel Boy’s Cock Rock. they used to play “Titty Twister” sporadically on an old college Station. Great Album all the way through with “Saving the World” as the other stand out single.

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Errth

Punk band from Philly/NJ. Current and former members of Aspiga, Public Serpents, Reunions, and Seeing Snakes.

Errth – “Control/Sleep All Day”

"Control / Sleep All Day" - Errth

Release Date: July 07, 2023 Record Label: Unsigned Release Type: EPBandcamp Link: Listen on Bandcamp

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control errth philly sleep all day

Philly’s Errth are your brand-new favorite band, you probably just didn’t realize it. Consisting of Kevin Day (Aspiga/Graduation Speech), Eric Saylor (Reunions), Tim DeMarco (ex-Public Serpents), and Brian McClure (Seeing Snakes), the band formed at the end of last year and are putting out their first EP this week. It features two songs, “Control” and “Sleep All Day,” and they were recorded with Arik Victor from Goddamnit at Creep Records in Philly. Check out the new stuff (or am I supposed to say “jawn”…I feel like I’m supposed to say “jawn”) here, and stay tuned for Errth’s debut full-length next year!

<a href="https://errthisaband.bandcamp.com/album/control-sleep-all-day">Control / Sleep All Day by Errth</a>