Hardcore punk band from Dublin, Ireland. Taking inspiration from bands such as Sick Of It All, Misfits, Black Flag, Blood For Blood, Pennywise and Biohazard, the band are known for their driving choruses and singalong melodies.
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Search Archives OnlyBad Cop/Bad Cop cancel Ireland shows
Bad Cop/Bad Cop have announced the cancellation of their upcoming July dates in Belfast and Dublin. The band released a statement on Instagram which reads, Sorry Belfast & Dublin. We regretfully announce the cancellation of our upcoming shows in Belfast and Dublin. High travel costs and lower-than-expected ticket sales have forced us to make this difficult decision. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and understand your disappointment. Despite these challenges, we want to assure you that we are committed to returning to these locations in the future. However, due to financial constraints, it won't be possible in 2023. Refunds will be provided at your point of purchase. We appreciate your support and hope to see you again soon. On a positive note, our mainland Europe shows are proceeding as planned, starting with a sold-out show in Hamburg at Hafenklang. Please note that tickets from 2020-2022 remain valid for rescheduled dates. Start searching for those cherished tickets now!Thank you for your understanding and continuous support. Let's create unforgettable memories together!” Bad Cop/Bad Cop will kick off their European tour on July 27 in Hamburg, Germany and released their album The Ride in 2020.
DS Album Review: The Real McKenzies – “Songs of the Highlands, Songs of the Sea”
The Real McKenzies are celebrating thirty years as a band with a brand new album, Songs of the Highlands, Songs of the Sea (Fat Wreck Chords). The album itself was preceded by the release of the single “Leave Her Johnny”, a traditional 19th-century sea shanty that has been performed by many folk acts over the […]
The Real McKenzies are celebrating thirty years as a band with a brand new album, Songs of the Highlands, Songs of the Sea (Fat Wreck Chords). The album itself was preceded by the release of the single “Leave Her Johnny”, a traditional 19th-century sea shanty that has been performed by many folk acts over the years, and a fitting example of what the album has in store.
Songs of the Highlands, Songs of the Sea is an album of 12 traditional shanties and folk tunes; the title really gives it away in that some are songs of the Scottish Highlands, and others are songs of sea fairing and the sailor’s life.
Time-honoured Scottish drums and bagpipes open the album, with distorted guitars soon joining in, setting out the classic Real McKenzies sound of Gaelic punk rock with a strong traditional folk feel. Foot stomping, fist pumping, hey! shouting, “Scotland the Brave” is one of the unofficial national anthems of Scotland and is as good an opener as you’d expect. I know if I were Paul McKenzie I would open every live show like this!
“A Red, Red Rose”, a poem by the famed Robert Burns, is one of several songs on this album penned by the legendary lyricist and voice of the true Scotsman; “Ye Jacobites By Name” and the stomping “My Heart is in the Highlands” are also penned by his hand. The expected Real McKenzies sound continues on through “The Green Hills of Tyrol” and the lead single “Leave Her Johnny” and “My Heart’s in the Highlands”.
These songs are legendary for a reason and were written to be performed. I can well imagine a live show, unexpectedly finding myself in the pit, singing my heart out for Scotland in much the same way I sing for Ireland with the Dropkick Murphys. It is important that these folk songs remain as folk songs; that is, songs for the people, to be performed by and for the people, interpreted as needed for the time and audience. While nationalism and pride in your home are often negative traits, these songs remind us that we can be proud without it being at the expense of others.
At this point, the album takes a step down for me. We’re halfway through, I’m fired up, I’m ready to rock and next we have “Sloop John B” performed with acoustic guitar. It’s perfectly good, but I don’t see what it offers above or beyond every other version (Beach Boys excepted). There’s nothing wrong with it, and perhaps those with more polished taste will appreciate the darker feel than the Californian Pop version, but I keep waiting for the electric guitars to kick in with a big fast chorus in the style of so many 90s punk covers. Maybe it would sit better, grouped with other slower songs?
“Drunken Sailor”, picks up where it should be going for me: fast, mean, the way a shanty should be delivered, with the pounding drums and distorted guitars, and shouted lyrics and the cold sea wind rattling the windows, fogged with the breath of a crowd of drunk sailors.
“The Bonnie Ship The Diamond” takes a more traditional folky sound, which is to be expected for the band, but isn’t really to my taste. The Real McKenzies have always felt more like a folk band that listen to punk rather than a punk band that listen to folk, and in that is the uniqueness of their sound. I fear I lean more toward the punk than the folk, so perhaps it is lost on me.
“Dead Mans Chest” caught me out, opening with the riff of “American Jesus” by Bad Religion, complete with pick slide into the first verse. It’s an interesting take on both songs, but the familiarity of the Bad Religion classic takes away from the familiar “yo hoho and a bottle of rum” lyrics for me. I honestly wondered if they had chucked in a Bad Religion cover, and although it is a classic in this scene, it’s not what most would consider a traditional anthem!
“Swansea Town” is sung by Brenna Red from the Last Gang, and it takes the song in a similar direction to “The Bonnie Ship The Diamond”, with winsome melodies and a feeling of sadness that carries the words through the song.
Closing track “Blow the Man Down” is another traditional shanty sounds like it was a lot of fun to record, but I’m not sure where its place on this album really is. Much as with “Sloop John B”, it is a faithful performance, but it doesn’t feel like the Real McKenzies have really made it their own in any way, and in part that sums up this album. In places it is a Real McKenzies album that just happens to be traditional songs rather than originals, but in part it is also the Real McKenzies playing some traditional songs in a traditional way. I am almost certain these songs would be incredible live, and since they are on tour in Europe from January 2023, I shall make the effort to get out and see them and confirm my suspicions!
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DS Exclusive: (World) Cup The Punx! Volume 1 w/members of Stiff Little Fingers, Slapshot, Sam Russo and more!
Reporting by Dying Scene Staff Members, MerGold, Jay Stone, Rae, and Nasty Nate Dying Scene staffers are fans of “The Beautiful Game,” and we are not alone. Some of your favorite punk musicians from all over the United States and internationally discuss the game they love and what they are looking forward to as World […]
Reporting by Dying Scene Staff Members, MerGold, Jay Stone, Rae, and Nasty Nate
Dying Scene staffers are fans of “The Beautiful Game,” and we are not alone. Some of your favorite punk musicians from all over the United States and internationally discuss the game they love and what they are looking forward to as World Cup 2022 kicks in to action in Doha, Qatar. The selection of Qatar as the host nation the subject of FIFA itself, has been rife with controversy from the get-go. Some of the musicians don’t mince words about these issues. Indeed, many of us are also torn over the question of whether to watch the World Cup or not in light of the deserved criticisms. That’s for each of us to decide as individuals. However, in response to our questions about the World Cup and the sport in general, here are the answers from the participating musicians. Also, for newbies to the sport or those needing a refresher course here is a guide from The Athletic for World Cup 2022 viewing.
Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers is a living legend. Burns, now living in Chicago, is unafraid to be blunt when expressing his views, whether in song or any other form. Here, he tackles the elephant in the stadium straight on.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
JB: “Nothing. Seriously. I cannot ever remember NOT caring about the World Cup since I was transfixed by the great Brazil team of 1970. I was 12 years old and marvelled at the mercurial Jairzinho, the only player to score in every round. The selection of venues for the last two World Cups stinks to high heaven. (See the great Netflix documentary “FIFA Uncovered”.) However, there was some footballing merit on the tournament being awarded to Russia last time around. This time, there is none. To move the tournament from its usual summer schedule to the winter just to facilitate it being played in the desert is only one reason to ignore this travesty, perhaps the least salient reason in fact.”
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for and which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy and will win that trophy?
JB: “I spent the longest period of my life living in England and, obviously I’m most familiar with those players so, insomuch as I will be rooting for anyone, that’s who I will be pulling for. It’s also great to see Wales there after a huge absence. As a fairly recently minted American citizen, I also hope the U.S. do well. As to who will win it? Brazil. Not a particularly brave call on my part, but I think the temperatures will suit them more than any of the European teams. And, IF they play to their full potential, I honestly think England can make it all the way to the final.”
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s))/player(s) in the English Premiere League, United States Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
JB: “Newcastle United. A team that for decades was mired in unfulfilled potential. As a one club city, Newcastle has long been one of the many “sleeping giants” of English football. A recent takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, for which read “Saudi Arabia” (honestly that “PIF” stuff is fooling no-one), has led to renewed investment both in staff and facilities that might, finally, see the Toon realize their vast potential…albeit at the cost of a considerable part of their soul.”
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from the area?
JB: “I lived in Newcastle for about sixteen years. As I said, it’s a one club city and if you don’t follow the Toon, then you don’t talk to anyone, at all, about anything!”
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
JB: “Every kid in Britain or Ireland at one point fancied themselves a footballer, but as my eyesight was rubbish from an early age, I always sucked at it. So, no.”
Mike Park (past: Deal’s Gone Bad {DGB}; Lord Mike’s Dirty Calypsonians; present: The Crombies.) is a die-hard fan of West Ham F.C.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
MP: “The Qatar thing is sketchy I’m not saying I’m looking forward to drama but there’s gonna be drama. I’m ACTUALLY looking forward to seeing the US back in the mix. The collapse in qualifying last time was brutal.”
DS: Which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy and will win that trophy?
MP: “I want interesting things to happen, go underdogs! Often the further in your go the more boring and predictable the teams get. An Argentina Spain style final would be lame. Snore…“
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s))/player(s) in the English Premiere League, United States Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world? How did you become a fan of the team if not from the area?
MP: “I’m a Declan Rice, West Ham guy. I definitely got into West Ham via the punk scene. I got to see them at Upton Park years ago when they were down v Rotherham. I think West Ham’s biggest name that year was Marlon Harewood so I can say “I saw Marlon Harewood live!” Lol
The Chicago Fire once had a THRIVING supporters scene that was heavily influenced by the punk rocks. Years of failure and overt front office hostility eventually chased it away. It still exists but isn’t welcome anymore by the organization.“
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
MP: I grew up in a blue collar suburb of LA in the 70s and soccer wasn’t really available to us, you had to move to a fancier neighborhood for that, it was all baseball and football near me. I did play bar league for the Delilah’s team for a couple years back in the early 2000s. It was hilarious, a bunch of hungover punk rock types up against folks who had played in college, were fit and hydrated. We had the most tattoos of any other team and eventually even won a couple games.“
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
MP: “Obviously my favorite punk soccer song is the Chicago Fire goal song Deal’s Gone Bad recorded back in 2002. They used it for like 15 years and it was always a trip to hear myself on ESPN.
In all seriousness I think my fave punk soccer song isn’t really explicitly about soccer but it captures the spirit of the whole scene and the vibe that makes it so exciting – “If the Kids are United” by Sham 69.”
Vee Sonnets presently performs with Park in the Crombies and formerly with him in DGB. He also leads The Sonnets.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
VS: “All of it.“
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for and which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy and will win that trophy?
VS: “I’m rooting for my team Ecuador but it’s looking like Qatar is gonna run away with it.” [DS note: Ecuador beat Qatar in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup]
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s))/player(s) in the English Premiere League, United States Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
VS: “Tough one but I am rooting for [Lionel Messi. He deserves to win one.
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from the area?
VS: “Nationality.“
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
VS: “Yes. H.S. and pick up games throughout my life.”
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
VS: “Kick in the Eye.”
Jordan Salazar of Vultures United is such an Association Football fan he has favorite clubs from almost all of the most prominent leagues around the globe.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
JS: “Just the whole thing. It’s like a month-long gift”
DS: Which teams do you think are going to be there at the end fighting for the trophy?
JS: “Rooting for Mexico then Portugal then the US. Fighting at the end? Argentina, Brazil and France.”
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer, or any other leagues around the world?
JS: “English Premier League = Manchester United / MLS = LAFC / La Liga = Real Madrid / Ligue 1 = PSG / Liga MX = Chivas / Serie A = Juventus and Roma“
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from that area?
JS: “For Manchester United, it was all Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. He came up in Mexico and played for Chivas, who are from the town my Dad and uncles grew up in. So Chivas and Mexican International Soccer was the first sports teams I was exposed to as a kid and just never stopped following them from then on. Oddly enough, out of all teams mentioned, Manchester United is definitely the team I care and pay attention to (and suffer with) the most.”
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
JS: “I play 1 to 2 times a week
with an adult league team or pick-up soccer with friends (our pick-up
group has been doing it for 15 years!)”
“I’m part of an adult club team still called Green Valley Football Club.”
Singer-Songwriter Sam Russo is as hardcore soccer supporter so he’ll be keeping his eyes on the matches. Russo will also be on the lookout for commentary by his Red Scare Industries boss Tobias Jeg.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
SR: “The thing I’m looking forward to most about the World Cup is watching England win the World Cup. Also, Jeg on Twitter defending the refs.”
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for and which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy and will win that trophy?
SR: “I’m rooting for England, and I’m pretty sure Germany will be hanging in there at the end as usual. I follow all the Italy games because my family is Italian, and I always root for Mexico, too.” [DS note: for the second consecutive time Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup.]
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premiere League, United States Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
SR: “I support Ipswich Town – the Tractor Boys. My favourite player in the Premier League is a guy called Robin Koch. Great punk name.”
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from that area?
SR: “I became a Tractor Boy when I was a kid because Ipswich were the only team we could afford to go watch play. Me, my brothers and my Dad used to go to every home game. We had awesome seats because nobody went. It was great!”
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
SR: “I play 5-a-side with a group I’ve been playing with for over ten years! It’s the highlight of my week and I love those bellends.“
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
SR: “Olé by the Bouncing Souls, and Three Lions by Baddiel, Skinner, and The Lightning Seeds.“
Sam Russo says about the photo he included with his answers:
“Yeah! This is me and my team from an 11-a-side match before the pandemic – WE ARE THE SMSC! On yer touch! Shoutout to the excellent humans I play with, they always support my music and we have a bloody good time on a Friday!”
Ryan Packer of Slapshot, is a massive Chelsea F.C. supporter (as are my cousins; I am a long-time supporter of the current EPL-leading Arsenal FC.). So naturally, he, along with Jake Burns, was one of the first people I solicited for this piece. I recalled the photo I shot of him in his Chelsea kit as he worked producing a Boston punk rock weekend several years ago.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
RP: “I would obviously like to see the US make a round or two. That’s all we can hope for with that squad.”
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for and which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy and will win that trophy?
RP: “The last two cups I was lucky enough to be in Europe. I have some great memories of Belgium advancing. Maybe they can put a couple of wins together.”
[on what is one of the best aspects of the World Cup] “That’s what’s great about the tournament it can go a million different ways.”
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premiere League, United States Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
RP: “Premier league I’m a Chelsea FC supporter. I have to support the hometown team so I also back the [New England] Revolution.”
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from that area?
RP: “I became a Chelsea fan by going to a local bar that a lot of supporters hung out at Saturday mornings so I became a fan.”
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
RP: ‘“War On The Terraces” by The Cockney Rejects is definitely a stand out.”
For Felipe Patino, from SACK, disappointment struck during the Qualifiers. His native Peru’s national team did not qualify for the World Cup. Still, he will be cheering on one team in particular.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
FP: “Argentina winning.“
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for? Which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy?
FP: “Rooting for Argentina and France.”
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
FP: Haaland, Martinelli, and Luis Diaz for the Premier League. Flores and Gallese for the MLS. Messi and Ramos for L1. Advincula for Primera Division.
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from that area?
FP: “Just by enjoying the talent and appreciating the sport.”
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
FP: “Yes, still do occasionally.”
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
FP: Domingos by Dos Minutos.
Pedro Aida, of Fire Sale, does not have a particular bar or spot on his couch from where he’ll be watching the matches. But he still plans to watch as many as he can.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
PA: “I’ll be on tour in Europe for most of it with The Iron Roses and I’m looking forward to the experience of watching some of those matches in that environment. All but one of the countries we’re performing in is in the World Cup. Additionally we have some time off so I’ll be in Paris for the semis and London for the final. It would be a dream if France or England were in those matches.”
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for? Which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy?
PA: “Since my home country of Peru missed out in the playoff I’ll be pulling for the Yanks. My final four bracket is Argentina, Germany, France, and Croatia with Argentina winning the cup.“
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s))/player(s) in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
PA: “Fulham FC from the Prem. Tim Ream is my guy, excellent defender and will be holding down the backline in Qatar for the US. I’ve forgiven him for being a former [NY] Red Bull (barf).”
“The team I’ve been watching and supporting since I was a teenager is D.C United (VAMOS UNITED). Grew up watching Ben Olsen play and then coach for DC. Named my first born Olsen.”
“My local home team is The Richmond Kickers in USL League 1. My guy Emiliano Terzaghi, an Argentinian striker, just took his 3rd League MVP in a row. #UpTheRoos!”
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from that area?
PA: “I’ve been a casual Fulham supporter for about 20 years since they brought in Brian McBride and are known for bringing in Americans well before it was common to see Yanks in European football.“
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
PA: “Played as a kid and through high school (rec). Didn’t really play regularly throughout my 20’s. In my 30’s I dove back into it pretty seriously in adult rec leagues here in Richmond. I’ve been taking it easy this past year with touring and stuff ramping up, I can’t risk getting injured.”
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
PA: “Not so punk but it’s Men Without Hats “Pop Goes The World”. I could say something by Cockney Rejects or The Business but they don’t represent any of my clubs.”
Dying Scene’s Nate Kernell has curated a special playlist for the World Cup. Check it out here and let us know what tunes should be added! Also, stay tuned for more installments of (World) Cup The Punx!
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DS Exclusive: (World) Cup The Punx! Volume 2 w/members of Flatfoot 56 and The Real McKenzies and Good Friend and more!
We’ve made it to the knockout round of the 2022 World Cup! So far, there’s been jubilation and disappointment in supporters of various Clubs and a few surprises. Among the highlights: USA followed up draws against the two UK teams, Wales and England, with a win against Iran. Saudi Arabia shockingly beat Argentina; before its […]
We’ve made it to the knockout round of the 2022 World Cup! So far, there’s been jubilation and disappointment in supporters of various Clubs and a few surprises. Among the highlights: USA followed up draws against the two UK teams, Wales and England, with a win against Iran. Saudi Arabia shockingly beat Argentina; before its elimination by the USA, Iran stunned Wales with an extra-time win. THAT goal by Brazil’s Richarlison de Andrade! There were acts of courage by fans and team members; and broken promises by the host nation. Legendary United States Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941) introduced the oft-quoted idea that sunlight is the best disinfectant to counteract negative governance. Hopefully, in the case of the tournament, the eyes of the world that are focused sharply on both the host country and the governing body overseeing the World Cup act as that disinfectant. Punk rock has a long legacy of acting in that same manner whether or not the musicians know of Louis D Brandeis’ and/or his famous words.
Here we present more diehard soccer/futbol fans. Most indicate that they are watching the World Cup with that awareness. One musician understandably chose to boycott. Yet all discuss their love of the beautiful game. Remember, you can read Part One of “(World) Cup The Punx” here and you can check out our World Cup playlist, chock full of all your favorite futbol-related punk anthems, right here!
Part 2 of our World Cup special, as with Part 1, starts with a musician hailing from Northern Ireland. Adam Carroll aka Mad Adam, vocalist and bass player with the band Good Friend, reveals his take on the tournament and which clubs he regularly supports.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
AC: “I’m looking forward to how The World Cup brings people together. Football is on the tip of everyone’s tongue and even people who usually don’t relate to the sport are supporting a team passionately. And there is always drama!“
Carroll adds:
“That’s what sports supposed to be about, right?”
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for? Which teams do you think are going to be there at the end fighting for the trophy?
AC: “As there is no R.O.[Republic of] Ireland or N. Ireland and our usual back up of Iceland also didn’t make it this time round, I’m rooting for Argentina. An England v Argentina final and [Lionel] Messi wins the game with a hand of God. That’s how I think it’s all gonna happen.“
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
AC: “I support Liverpool (Premier League) and Coleraine FC (Hometown team).“
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from that area?
AC: “My older brothers support Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United and rather than swear allegiance to one I wanted a team of my own. I loved how Liverpool played. They were fast and frantic and anything could happen in front of the Kop.“
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
AC: “I did, I was a right winger and played for a few local teams. I once had an unsuccessful trial for Leeds.“
Kyle Bawinkel, bass player for Flatfoot 56, has worn his Chicago Fire scarf around the world. It’s kept him warm from Murmansk, Russia (Arctic Circle) 2013, (photo on right) and back home on the sidelines of the team’s pitch (photo on the left, below, with Part 1 participant, Mike Park of The Crombies.)
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
KB: “It’s hard to not get excited over the first Poland vs Mexico match. growing up in predominant Polish and Mexican neighborhoods. it’s going to be an all out brawl.” [The match ended in a 0-0 draw.]
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for and which teams do you think are going to be there at the end fighting for the trophy and will win that trophy?
KB: “I’m excited to watch this young USA team and think it’s time for Brazil to hoist.“
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s)in the English Premiere League, United States Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
KB: “I’ve always been a Bundesliga watcher so I followed Breman and St Pauli but favorite player has been Schweinsteiger, so I guess you can say the Chicago Fire was watched a lot as well.”
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from the area?
KB: “I watched the Chicago Fire growing up because they played down the street and watched a lot of Bundesliga on tour. Our driver was a huge Breman fan so I started following them. My first love of Bundesliga though is St Pauli. I’ve played many of their supporters’ events over the years and obviously what they stand for is 100%.“
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
KB: “I only played pickup games growing up. I was never in an organized league.“
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
KB: “How can it not be Hardcore Hooligan –The Business?“
Henrike Baliú (Blind Pigs; Armada) will be experiencing the World Cup with his children. The musician is from Brazil, where the National Team has won the World Cup 5 times. That makes the South American nation the winningest in the tournament’s history. Will 2022 earn the Brazilians their 6th title? Baliú shares his thought on that and more with us.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
HB: “Well, I’m looking forward to Brazil bringing home the World Cup trophy. Not because I care, ‘cause I don’t, but I’d like to see my three sons have this experience. I’ve had it in 1994 and 2002 when football (not soccer, that’s how Yanks call it) was still a big part of my life.“
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for? Which teams do you think are going to be there at the end fighting for the trophy?
HB: “Brazil, obviously, even though our national team’s shirt has been stolen by neo-fascists here as their uniform. So, I’ll be rooting but you won’t see me wearing the jersey.“
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
HB: “I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My dad is Flamengo. It’s like a religion that your dad passes on to you.” [The photo to the left is of a young Baliú, in 1982, sporting a Flamengo shirt for his Angell School portrait in Ann Arbor, MI.]
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
HB: “1982” by my band, Armada. It’s about the classic match between Brazil and Italy in 1982 in the World Cup in Spain. I watched it on TV. I was 8. Brazil lost and I couldn’t stop crying. It traumatized me so much that I wrote a song about it decades later.”
Aspy Luison of The Real McKenzies is a diehard supporter and player of futbol but not of this year’s World Cup. Whilst some of us believe eyes focused on the tournament hopefully will lead to change, Luison has a different point of view. He, understandably, believes boycotting the game is the way to avoid rewarding those who deserve anything but.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
AL: “I don’t expect anything at all. I’m not going to watch it and I hope that all of us who love the real football, football with values, please do the same and turn off the fucking TV.“
“I am not going to support a World Cup that the corrupt and mafia-like FIFA gets richer with their shit modern football. Qatar is a country where human rights are violated, it oppresses the rights of migrant workers, women, people from the LGBTQIA+ collective, in addition to preventing freedom of expression.“
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
“My team is Deportivo de A Coruña, but I sympathize with all the anti-fascist and anti-racist teams like Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao, St.Pauli Hamburg, Celtic Glasgow…“
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
AL: “I have been playing football all my life, until I was 16 years old I was a defender (centre-back) and then for due to team needs I have changed to goalkeeper until I was 28 years old.“
“Now I am coach of the women’s team of my town of 4ª division.“
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
AL: “Right now the only songs that come to mind are: The Adicts – ‘You’ll never Walk Alone‘ [and] Los Fastidios – ‘Antifa Hooligans‘”
John Payne from Heart and Lung is hoping one of the best players in the history of the sport never wins a World Cup.
DS: What are you most looking forward to in the World Cup?
JP: “I cannot wait for the moment that Messi fails to win in his last Cup ever.” [Lionel Messi’s Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia but it did beat Mexico.]
DS: Which team(s) are you rooting for? Which teams do you think are going to be there are the end fighting for the trophy?
JP: “Viva Mexico! They’re at the top of my bracket, but I think Germany, Brazil, and Uruguay are gonna stick around for a while. Then again, I’m nearly always wrong.“
DS: Do you have a favorite team(s)/player(s) in the English Premier League, Major League Soccer or any other leagues around the world?
JP: “I wake up super early on the weekends to root for Tottenham, mostly because of Son Heung-min. Kulusevski is fast becoming a favorite, though.“
DS: How did you become a fan of the team if not from that area?
JP: “My buddy lived in London for a bit, and when he got back he asked if I wanted to get up early to watch matches with him. I said no. He told me I could get drunk at the bar at seven am. I said yes.“
DS: Did you ever play football/soccer yourself?
JP: “I was on the purple team in fourth grade. My parents neglected to tell me about the traveling team in fifth grade because they didn’t wanna drive me anywhere in the morning.“
DS: Favorite Football related punk songs?
JP: “The Real McKenzies ‘Raise the Banner’ is a fun one!“
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DS Exclusive: Good Friend debut “Tell Me Ma” video just in time for St. Patty’s Day
Good Friend, everyone’s favorite Northern Irish punk rock trio, have got a super fun video for your viewing enjoyment and your friends here at Dying Scene are fired up to share it with you. The video is for the track “Tell Me Ma,” a Northern Irish classic which if you’re like me, you have committed […]
Good Friend, everyone’s favorite Northern Irish punk rock trio, have got a super fun video for your viewing enjoyment and your friends here at Dying Scene are fired up to share it with you.
The video is for the track “Tell Me Ma,” a Northern Irish classic which if you’re like me, you have committed to memory from your Nana’s old Dubliners and Clancy Brothers tapes. The lads have given it a fresh spin, just in time to pregame for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Here’s what guitar player and two-time Super Bowl winning coach* Andy Reid had to say: “Anyone could have covered this song, to be honest. I fucking hate it, but if anyone is gonna butcher this tune it might as well be us!“
“Tell Me Ma” appears as part of a two-song digital single, being released by our comrades at Red Scare Industries. It’s due out this Friday (March 10th). Here’s where you can buy your very own copy. Here’s what ye olde label had to say:
We like to rib Good Friend about being from Ireland, but the truth is we love them for it. Well, now the joke is on Red Scare, because they’ve turned the tables and given us a couple Celtic punk songs to release in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Fans of The Pogues and Flogging Molly will enjoy this pair of rollicking ditties… Sláinte!
Check out “Tell Me Ma” below!
*obviouly he’s not THAT Andy Reid…we think…
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DS Interview: Hanging Out With Deanna Belos/Sincere Engineer
Deanna Belos’ nom de plume et scène is Sincere Engineer, but sincere is also a great way to describe the human behind the guitar and voice. I recently did a photo shoot with the multi-hyphenate Midwesterner (singer, songwriter, guitar player and fun provider) as we rode Chicago’s Red and Green Lines, and took over parts […]
Deanna Belos’ nom de plume et scène is Sincere Engineer, but sincere is also a great way to describe the human behind the guitar and voice.
I recently did a photo shoot with the multi-hyphenate Midwesterner (singer, songwriter, guitar player and fun provider) as we rode Chicago’s Red and Green Lines, and took over parts of some CTA train platforms post-Riot Fest. This happened just days before Sincere Engineer embarked on a European tour. We later followed up with an interview in which she describes, among other things, the experience of being on stage, her creative process, and fun. That last word serves as a sort of mission statement for the Chicago native.
Deanna Belos starting playing the guitar at age 12. Her foray into music was due to the work of those who stood out to her when she was just a kid. She tells me,
“The bands I watched while I was growing up inspired me a lot.”
Belos soon discovered her favorite band, the Lawrence Arms, by way of Alkaline Trio, which she also loves. Belos is proudly from the Windy City and this is reflected through her affection for the hometown punk scene and the musicians borne out of it. So many of those who inspired her have become good friends, including the lead singers of the aforementioned bands.
The year 2022 saw Sincere Engineer promoted to one of the Riot Fest main stages. She looks as comfortable on it as she does on smaller stages in smaller venues. Her band, composed of guitarist Kyle Geib, bass player Nick Arvanitis, and Adam Beck on drums, also seems right at home on the expansive stage.
I asked her how conscious she is of the crowd and her surroundings as she performs. Belos tells me,
“I’m usually amped by the time we get on stage. But leading up to it I’m always nervous and pacing.”
Her strategy for relieving that case of nervousness?
“I always try to look at the crowd and make sure everyone’s having fun…” adding, “but I always try to look straight ahead and focus on playing.”
There was no doubt the Riot Fest crowd was having fun as evidenced by how many partook in a Corndog Circle Pit [Video by Pray AFK]. This particular circle pit was an homage to the opening track, “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7” off of Sincere Engineer’s debut album Rhombithian. Belos joyfully relates her reaction when she noticed it happening,
“I was able to see it from the stage, yes! It was super cool. I almost teared up at it. A fan started a Facebook event to coordinate the corn dog pit and it kinda took off from there.”
“Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7” is an infectious tune but it also showcases her signature “Raw, Lonely Punk.” I am not quoting Belos there but rather a certain late legendary, comedian whose visage is inked on her leg.
It was in 2017, after Belos replied to a user called @braverygravy “Lol, maybe @NormMacDonald will listen to it.” The one-time Saturday Night Live cast member and comedy icon tweeted back: “I have. What’s not to love. Raw, Lonely Punk.”
To this day, Belos uses a screenshot of that interaction as her Facebook cover image.
It’s not hard to see why her songs and especially “Corn Dog Sonnet No. 7” hits so many, famous or not, in the heart so strongly, and somewhat painfully:
“What am I supposed to do now?
What am I supposed to do now?
When you’re still not around
And you’re all I think about“
When it comes to writing songs, it’s a melding of creative methods which works best for Belos.
“I continually write lyrics just in a document, but typically I’ll play guitar and just riff til something comes to me. If nothing comes to me I’ll use some previously written lyrics and try to puzzle them together to make a song.”
Belos’ humor is often in the form of self-deprecation, and she seems about as humble as any musician I’ve met. When pressed to list some of the qualities which help make her a great musician, this is about as boastful as she gets:
“I think I can write a relatable song and that helps!“
As to other parts of the life of a working professional musician, Belos returns to the same three-letter word so important to her.
“Favorite [part] is watching people have fun at our shows.”
With every favorite of that life, there are challenges as well.
“Hardest…touring probably. It’s fun and rewarding but it’s a hard endurance test haha.”
When it comes to Chicago venues at the top of her list, she has two.
“Metro is my favorite venue to play in Chicago! And Empty Bottle is my favorite to see a show at.”
Belos is grateful for the experiences she has had as Sincere Engineer.
“We have been so fortunate to get to play with some of our favorite bands. Playing Metro with Alkaline Trio was surreal. Riot Fest too. Hometown shows are always the most fun.”
But she is also keenly aware that not all shows are equally great. She maintains a pretty positive outlook even after such shows.
“I try not to beat myself up too much about it, but make sure to try harder next time.”
Belos, asked which musicians inspire her, returns again to two of her long-time faves with whom she is now friends.
“Brendan Kelly [Lawrence Arms, The Falcon] for his songwriting and stage banter. Matt Skiba for his song writing and being cool.”
While it seems, from her current success and increasing stardom as Sincere Engineer, that it must have been a foregone conclusion Belos would become a professional musician. However, she once considered going into the medical field. “Overbite” from Rhombithian describes how she disabused herself of that notion.
“I wanna give up
I wanna give up
I don’t wanna try no more
I wanna stop all these pathetic attempts and saving this shipwreck
Swim right out the door
Before it sinks with a fraction of what’s left of my dignity
I swept so many failed tests under carpets
Deep down I knew this is not what I wanted (not what I wanted)”
Sincere Engineer’s fan base is growing exponentially and no doubt many members of it are glad Belos abandoned attempts to place the initials D.D.S. after her name.
There is one part her life Belos did felt harder to abandon.
Per Belos,
“I was an animal care technician for laboratory animals. It was a tough decision and I’m still getting used to it. It still makes me nervous!”
Returning to the subject of the tour from which Sincere Engineer just returned, Belos happily indicates, it was a success and tells me
“The tour went really well! It was super fun to visit and play in a bunch of new places.”
Belos continues,
“It started in Ireland and ended in Germany. There were stops in England, Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria along the way.”
Such a whirlwind tour left little time for anything more than playing a set at one venue and traveling to the next city or town to perform there. She informs me,
“We did get a little time to sightsee. Not a ton. We went to the Guinness Factory in Ireland, saw the Berlin Wall stuff in Germany. The rest was mostly just doing stuff around the venues we played at.”
On this particular tour, someone especially close to Belos’ heart stepped in to help her out when one of the band members sadly had to stay back in the States. Per Belos,
“My drummer Adam [Beck] couldn’t do the tour because of work. It was nice having Jeremy [Hansen, her long-time boyfriend] there and made me feel less homesick, and he’s such a great drummer and it was an honor to play with him. He played in the band Tricky Dick in the ’90’s.”
Belos was not the only member of the band thankful Hansen could help out. Kyle Geib describes him this way,
“Jeremy was such a great candidate to step in on the European tour! We all love Jeremy.”
For Hansen, it was a blast as well. He tells me,
“It was lovely! Lots of fun. Shows were good. Hangs were good. Got to do some sightseeing. Doing it together was special.”
That’s the thing about Sincere Engineer. While it may be described as a solo project, Belos’ love and admiration for her friends, who double as her band members, is obvious, as is their love for her. This all adds up to…you guessed it…fun.
Belos now has a little breathing room to just kick back and relax at home. After an exciting and seemingly exhausting year, hopefully Belos will be able to enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Once 2023 hits though, she will be back onstage. First up, headlining at Bottom Lounge on January 14. Belos reports there are a couple of other events already inked on her 2023 calendar.
“And we’re doing Slam Dunk in the UK again and SBAM festival in Austria next May/June!”
Should be fun.
In what little time off from Sincere Engineer-related activities, Deanna Belos lists her favorite activities as “Bike riding, kayaking, plants.”
Please see below for images from my recent photoshoot with Deanna Belos, on September 23, 2022, and from her set at Riot Fest on September 16, 2022 in Chicago IL.
September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 September 23, 2022 Sincere Engineer drummer Adam Beck at Riot Fest 2022 Sincere Engineer’s guitar player Kyle Geib at Riot Fest 2022 Sincere Engineer’s bass player Nick Avanitis at Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022 Riot Fest 2022 Riot Fest 2022 Riot Fest 2022 September 23, 2022
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DS Interview: Jake Burns, of Stiff Little Fingers, talks about the band’s final coast-to-coast US tour, new adventures, and more
Main photo by Will Byington Stiff Little Fingers (SLF) is embarking on its final coast-to-coast U.S. tour. The tour also celebrates the 45th anniversary of the band’s seminal debut album, Inflammable Material. I caught up with SLF’s founder and frontman, Jake Burns, in advance of the tour’s commencement. Jake Burns founded Stiff Little Fingers in […]
Main photo by Will Byington
Stiff Little Fingers (SLF) is embarking on its final coast-to-coast U.S. tour. The tour also celebrates the 45th anniversary of the band’s seminal debut album, Inflammable Material. I caught up with SLF’s founder and frontman, Jake Burns, in advance of the tour’s commencement.
Jake Burns founded Stiff Little Fingers in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1977. Burns grew up during the “The Troubles,” as the sectarian civil war raging in Northern Ireland was known. Inflammable Material, which included amongst its classic songs, “Alternative Ulster” and “Suspect Device,” addressed the political turmoil and violence all around it, and brought them to the attention of music fans, and others, worldwide. It is still considered one of the greatest and most important punk albums ever made.
As stated on the band’s site, “Along with The Clash, Sex Pistols, The Damned, Buzzcocks, they were there at the start of the punk rock movement and are still recording and touring today.“
Burns, and his wife Shirley Sexton, moved to West Virginia a few years back from Chicago, where they resided for almost two decades. Burns and bandmates, Ali McMordie; Steve Grantley; and Ian McCallum, kick off their US tour on May 1st, 2024, starting on the East Coast and heading west.
Mer Gold: Please tell us about the inspiration for the title of the tour and the latest track from the band. I understand it is inspired by the “Hate Has No Home Here” campaign in Chicago.
Jake Burns: Yes, that’s correct. That local campaign had such a powerful title that I wanted to share it with people outside of Chicago. I felt it applied not just to a neighborhood or a city but, in fact, to life. So, I broadened the scope of the idea in the lyric to be pretty much all-encompassing.
This is SLF’s last US coast-to-coast tour, how did you decide the time was right to make it the final one?
To be fair, my knees pretty much made the decision for me! LOL. Seriously, though, we are all getting older and SLF have always prided ourselves on a pretty high bar when it comes to live performance. So, I decided I wanted to scale back the amount of touring we undertake to try and keep that bar as high as possible. I’ve seen a number of bands move into their 60’s and try to play as often as they did in their 20’s. In a lot of cases, they simply can’t pull it off and “ease up on the gas” a bit. Understandable, but I didn’t want to do that.
Photo by Michael Steff
What are you looking forward to most on this tour? What can your fans look forward to?
Playing a lot of towns that I know I’ll probably never see again. Most of the places we’re playing have incredibly fond memories for me and I’m looking forward to seeing them one more time. Also, they now contain friends I’m hoping to catch up with, even briefly, especially in Chicago. The tour set will be much the same as the recent one in the U.K., which means we’re putting in a couple of songs we rarely, if ever, play, as well as most of the old favorites.
Will you miss touring coast to coast?
I’ll miss the people, but not the travel. That’s one of the main reasons for scaling back. But, we’ll still do the occasional festival if we get asked. They usually involve a few shows around the main date, so it’s almost certainly not the last time we’ll play over here, but it will be the last “long scale” trip.
Last year, you and your wife Shirley, moved from Chicago to a rural area in West Virginia. How did that decision come about for you both?
Well, without banging on about my age all the time as I don’t “feel” that old(!), but 65 seemed like a good time to look at slowing things down in all aspects of my life. Take a bit of time to “smell the roses”, if you know what I mean. Both Shirley and I have always lived in large-ish cities, Washington DC and Chicago in her case, Belfast, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Chicago in mine. So, I fancied living in a small town before I shuffle off this mortal coil. I looked at a lot of small towns, not just here in the U.S. but also back in Ireland and Scotland and we decided on this little one in West Virginia. Shirley has family in the State, so we’d been coming out this way for Thanksgiving etc for many years and knew we loved the area.
Is country life what you expected? I’ve seen some of the photos you have shared elsewhere, which are beautiful.
It’s fantastic. Everything we could have hoped for. We’re still finding new stuff after almost a year here. It’s such a change of pace to come from Chicago to a small town with around 3,500 residents. You know you’re not in a major city anymore when the main story on the local news is a runaway cow blocking the main intersection in town!
Photo by Will Byington
You are married to an American from the DC punk scene, and became a US citizen partially to vote against Trump. What is your reaction to his continued support? And in general, the support for those worldwide whose own autocracy flourishes?
I find it incredibly saddening. From the selfishly wealthy who can never see beyond their bank accounts when it comes to elections to those who have been duped into buying the scapegoat nonsense that his campaign relies upon, it’s all very dispiriting that this is where humanity is in the 21st century. That an obvious charlatan and snake oil salesman such as Trump can deceive and delude so many people, so easily it would seem, is heartbreaking. I refuse to believe that all of his “fanbase” are rabid racists, although a proportion undoubtedly are. I think that we have all been fed such a diet of mis-information over the past few years that it’s very difficult for some people to see the wood for the trees. And, the consequences of that are truly terrifying.
You are well known to be a supporter of Newcastle United FC of the English Premier League. How do you think your Club will finish out the season? Dying Scene readers will recall that you have noted your love for the NUFC in our World Cup special. Have you found a “Newcastle Pub,” in your new stomping grounds?.
A: No pub here, I’m afraid. I did buy the biggest television I could find and install it in the basement so I can watch the games. Newcastle have had a frustrating season to say the least. Hampered by an unbelievable injury list and also by over-achieving last year, I always felt we were a year ahead of schedule. As I said, the injuries haven’t helped, nor has Sandro Tonali’s ban. If they manage to get into any sort of European competition, that will constitute a decent season at this point.
Photo by Michael Steff
Stiff Little Fingers kicks off its final US Coast to Coast tour on May 1, 2024, at the Paradise in Boston, MA. Ricky Warwick, from Belfast, Northern Ireland. It ends (as solo headliner) at Observatory in Santa Ana, CA on May 26, 2024.
Dying Scene will be on hand for the Chicago stop at The Metro on May 10, 2024.
SLF will also be one of the headliners at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas on May 27, 2024. In August they play Rebellion Fest in Blackpool, England; followed by dates in Cork and Dublin in Ireland; and Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Photo by Craig O’Connell
Whether you are longtime fans of the band or are just discovering the punk legends, whether you have seen them live or have yet to do so, make sure to catch them on the road while you still can.
Thanks Jake! Cheers!
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DS Show Review & Gallery: SPELLS, Celebration Summer, and Heavy Seas – Chicago (05.28.2023)
SPELLS traded in the Mile High City for the Windy City on May 28, 2023. The Colorado self-described “vacation” band was joined by Celebration Summer, and Heavy Seas at Reggie’s Music Joint. It was a low-key, but high-energy evening of compelling music and equally compelling performances. On this weekend Punk Rock Bowling lured many punk […]
SPELLS traded in the Mile High City for the Windy City on May 28, 2023. The Colorado self-described “vacation” band was joined by Celebration Summer, and Heavy Seas at Reggie’s Music Joint. It was a low-key, but high-energy evening of compelling music and equally compelling performances.
On this weekend Punk Rock Bowling lured many punk rock fans away from the Windy City, leading to a smaller crowd in attendance. Many bands would be disheartened by the situation. But not the trio of bands on the bill this night. In fact, in many ways, this situation enhanced the experience. Having become friends with several of the musicians who performed, as well as some showing support, it felt, to me, more of a personal house party. Intimate, yet super fun. You know how there are always a few friends who decide to break out into song during parties? It just happened to be that these friends are all excellent musicians. No drunken, cringy renditions of “Don’t Stop Believing” sung along to a Karaoke machine.
Instead, we got the hyper-goofy fun of SPELLS. The band, consisting of “Little Stevie Shithead” (aka Ben Roy), Charlie “Continental” Stimsell, Don Bersell (aka Duke “Box” Standard), Robert Drew Burleson (aka Peter “P.” Bohner) and Dawn “Dusk Monarch” King were clad in matching golf shirts, and at least partial tracksuits, as is their modus operandi, though they do maintain a rotation of different patterns.
Roy and King shared vocals and played off of each other in a dynamic way unmatched since Sandy and Danny hit the Rydell High Senior Fair. Ok, maybe that’s just a tad hyperbolic. Still, there is a crackling dynamic when they abandon the stage to mingle amongst the crowd, even more so when they draft fans to be a part of the show.
I spoke to Coffey, Burleson, and King several days after the show to get to their reflections on the evening. King told me:
“I think the show was amazing! Even though it was a small crowd, it’s the energy we feed off of. The people who were there were friends or friends of people who weren’t able to make it. Some of them were brand new to the SPELLS experience! I feel like over the years SPELLS have cultivated friendships all over the US and overseas. It’s hard not to fall in love with this band.
“Chicago is an amazing city and we’re lucky to have a bunch of buds there.“
King ended with:
“What’s up next? World Domination.”
Burleson also spoke to the sometimes smaller crowds which every band experiences at some point:
“We are never really concerned about who attends shows. Staying in is the new going out so we get it. But for those who venture out to the dance party, we want to give them a complete 80% effort.”
Burleson shared some amusing memories from lesser-attended shows:
“One time we played in Quebec and the promoter got mad cause we were stuck in traffic and showed up a little late. He proceeded to take the opening band and all of the people who were there and went to another (bigger) show. We ended up playing to a room full of maybe 6 friends of friends, the bartender, the door person, and the sound person. IT WAS AMAZING!“
And he had some invaluable advice to other musicians:
“We made everyone get on stage and had a dance party. Maybe one of my favorite shows. Play to the people who are there and not the ones who aren’t. I’ve played to a room full of stuffed animals, GI Joes, and Kathy Ireland posters, and having a chance to play live in a club in a city we love (Chicago) to people we love is THE BEST.”
Oh, and Burleson also answered a query I’ve had for a while. That is, how they came up with the band name:
“SPELLS is an acronym for Stupid People Elevating Lonely Losers Socially. We came up with it after attending a youth leadership conference.”
Coffey echoes the sentiments of the King and Burleson:
“Like my bandmates said, we play our asses off for anyone that’s there and don’t sweat if it’s 10 people or 200. We do what we do because we love it.“
He added:
“It’s always great to see friends at shows. We do have an affinity for Chicago. It’s the city we’ve played the most outside of Colorado. We’re fortunate to have some great friends in town that have gotten us on some good shows and introduced us to a lot of rad people, such as yourself.“
Coffey is credited as the producer of the latest SPELLS release but he describes the process as this:
“I pretty much get producer credit cuz I’m there during the entire recording process, but it’s a full band effort.”
When not touring with SPELLS, Coffey, remains immersed in music as a producer and owner of his own record label.
“Yep, I started Snappy Little Numbers in 2011. I run it out of my basement. Rob helps out with art for SLN quite a bit too. Reminder… it’s not Fingers!! Even though there are fingers in the logo. I don’t always think things through, haha. [Coffey immediately followed up that he made the joke about “Fingers” “lovingly” sans disrespect to Stiff Little Fingers. He added that it’s quite common for people to make this mistake.]”
And because Burleson revealed the origin of the band name, Coffey thankfully offered how he came up with the name of his label:
“I came up with Snappy Little Numbers cuz it’s old-timey slang for a catchy song. Like, “hey that tune is a snappy little number”. Then I added an S to pluralize how many freakin’ hits we were gonna curate!“
With all this talk about sparsely attended shows, it should be noted that SPELLS shows are way more often playing to jam-packed crowds. No doubt the shows will continue to get ever bigger. With a set list like the band cruised through on this Sunday night, including “What The Hell is Caution,” “Some Would Say,” “She Wants to Die Before Me,” “Deceiver,” and closing with, of course, my favorite, the above referenced “80% Is Good Enough.”
SPELLS latest record, “Loose Change, Vol. 2,” is planned for release on June 29, 2023. If you want the vinyl version, you have a choice between “Dolphin Blue,” or “Drakula Red.” It’s available for pre-order now.
Celebration Summer, a wonderfully upbeat band moniker, sounds like the name of a music fest. However, per the band’s online press kit:
“Celebration Summer is a mash-up of sorts, pays homage to the iconic Hüsker Dü song “Celebrated Summer” and Washington DC hardcore’s significant social and activist “Revolution Summer” of 1985.“
The band’s songs are politically driven and have the mission of racial and social justice. With its powerful set, including “Disconnected,” “Silly Me,” “My Devotion,” “Patience in Presence,” “Bitter End,” and “Fraud,” Celebration Summer neither pulls its punches nor suffers fools. For those who lean MAGA, this is might not the music for them, as the band describes itself this way:
“Celebration Summer hit the ground running with anthemic, progressive songs capturing the struggles of
modern life in Trump/post-Trump-era America.”
Actually, perhaps MAGAs should be listening to Celebration Summer. Perhaps they’ll have a change of heart. In any case, with compelling lyrics set to strident, in the very best way, music, this band should be celebrated this summer and in every season.
Celebration Summer will be festing in Gainesville, FL. You can check them out at Fest 21 in late October.
Heavy Seas co-founder/guitarist Jeff Dean has been a very busy man of late. Amongst other projects produced and engineered The Bollweevils latest release Essential. In the audience at this show was Daryl “The Punk Rock Doc” Wilson, to show his gratitude to and support of Dean, and other friends on the bill.
Dean told me:
“Recording [and] producing Bollweevils was rad…“
Heavy Seas founders Dean and Ronnie DiCola recruited former All Eyes West bandmate Justin Miller to fill in on bass after that position came up available. This Chicago trio kicked off its set with its own originals, “Waves and Dreams,” “Sunn,” “Idle in Life,” and “Oscillation.” Heavy Seas also included as surprise for long-time fans of the three musicians/ Per Dean:
“We also ended the set with 4 All Eyes West songs since Justin was filling in on bass.”
Dean continued:
“Ronnie, Justin and I were All Eyes West then Ronnie and I started Heavy Seas. So having Justin fill in basically made it All Eyes West.
Dean is currently in Baltimore, MD recording the third Heavy Seas album. He provided me with some information about this:
“Heavy Seas has a new album called Distortion Days coming out at the end of summer on Rad Girlfriend records for the US and little rocket records for EU UK.”
Looking forward to the new album and also Dean’s perspective on his role in making Essential. He pledged to tell us at Dying Scene more about it later. We can’t wait!
Please check out more photos from the show. Thanks & cheers!
SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS diehard fan SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS SPELLS Daryl Wilson, of The Bollweevils, jumps in on the fun with Ben Roy SPELLS and The Bollweevils: friends for life! Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Celebration Summer Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas Heavy Seas
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DS Show Review & Gallery: MakeWar, Good Friend, and Tightwire at Reggie’s Music Joint. Chicago (11.01.2023)
Photography by AndresAlejandro Chaves MakeWar, Good Friend, and Tightwire kicked off November at Reggie’s Music Joint. The bands, which represent three different continents, united for a fun global punk rock humpday. MakeWar, off of Fat Wreck Chords, is led by Jose Prieto, a fellow Venezuelan to this piece’s photographer AndresAlejandro Chaves (both are now North […]
Photography by AndresAlejandro Chaves
MakeWar, Good Friend, and Tightwire kicked off November at Reggie’s Music Joint. The bands, which represent three different continents, united for a fun global punk rock humpday.
MakeWar, off of Fat Wreck Chords, is led by Jose Prieto, a fellow Venezuelan to this piece’s photographer AndresAlejandro Chaves (both are now North America based). Edwin Santacruz hails from Colombia, while Greg Taylor came to the band from Florida. Together, they have created a powerful skatepunk group whose forceful set left the crowd exhausted in the very best way.
Good Friend originated out of Northern Ireland and found a home on Red Scare Industries. Its lively set in the middle of the bill was the perfect bridge from South America to North America. Lead singer Adam Carroll aka Mad Adam may also be familiar to DS readers via helping us celebrate the World Cup last year.
Tightwire, another outfit from Red Scare Industries, is a band familiar with Chicago and has many friends in the Windy City. A whole bunch of said friends appeared stage front for a boisterous set. I include myself in that category. But whether it is in their hometown, my adopted city, or where you dear readers reside, I encourage you to check this group out as soon as possible.
Please check out more of AndresAlejandro Chavez’s images from this show. Thanks and Cheers!
MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar MakeWar Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Good Friend Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire Tightwire
