LIKE WOLVES RECORDING UPDATE!

Yo! LIKE WOLVES is wrapping up the recording of their debut full length LP. Thankfully, I happen to live down the street from the fabulous Moresound Studio where this jam is going down so I've had the good fortune to sneak in and catch some of the sounds being laid down. Check the above pictures for evidence that they were actually there keeping busy.
I can say that this is a giant leap forward for these dudes in every sense of the word. And that's easy for me to say because I really wasn't wild about their first 7". This is like honest to (insert deity) good songwriting, mixed with wild, manic energy. The whole thing has been recorded live, so it has a great vibe to it. Recording wraps up real soon and then it's off to the presses.
Expect an official release date in June.

In the mean time, catch the dudes live at these following dates:
March 10th
Badlands - Syracuse, NY
Fuck The Facts (As part of their 10 year anniversary tour)
Oak & Bone (Playing a slew of new songs from their upcoming LP)
Like Wolves (Rochester's best)
Ebony Sorrow (Syracuse Black Metal)

Show starts @ 7pm
$8
(http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173661626013661)
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March 11th
Generic Insight Fest - Day 1
Party Xpo - Brooklyn, NY

Iron Chic
Slingshot Dakota
Soul Control
Mayflower
Like Wolves
Oak & Bone
and many more

(http://www.songkick.com/festivals/170771-generic-insight-fest-2-day-1/id/8020776-generic-insight-fest-2-day-1-2011)
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March 12th
Democracy Center - Boston, MA

Deep Sleep (MD)
Like Wolves (NY)
Soul Control (RI)
Ancient Filth
+Very Special Guest TBA
Doors - 7PM
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March 18th
Sugar City - Buffalo, NY

Black Breath
Like Wolves
Bestower
Strangers

6PM


And as an extra little update OAK AND BONE have nailed down their recording details. They too will be hitting up Moresound for their LP debut from March 25-28. With any luck their record will be out the same exact time as LIKE WOLVES. Word up.

NEW REVIEWS!

Yo suckas! It is a rare, nice day here and rather than blow it on loading up all these reviews I'm going to... wait, I am loading up these reviews. OK, I'm going to make it quick and enjoy a 50 degree day before it turns back into planet Hoth. Read and enjoy.



CARPENTER, “Sea To Sky”
I can’t be too cold-hearted with this band. It may be hardcore dudes playing a style that is the furthest thing from punk. But at least they’re not fronting like it is. Essentially, this sounds like a Gin Blossoms record or something. There is nothing separating this from any number of middle-of-the-road radio rock bands, though it’s not overly-polished crap. At least they appear to have their hearts and ethics in the right place. The music, on the other hand, does not appeal to me whatsoever. (Gold Stock Records)

KITTY LITTLE/ SCIENTIFIC MAPS split 7”
Buffalo/Albany band Kitty Little rears it’s head every so often to deliver some more sugary-sweet tunes, play a few shows, and then go into hibernation for another six months. It’s just good to know they still exist. On this split they once again turn on the Superchunk worship, but simplify it just a bit to their own blend of rock goodness. Scientific Maps, on the flip side, has another vibe going on that is more on the true indie side of things. Simple tunes accentuated by trumpet leads and female vocals. For some reason I am reminded of stuff off the final offering from DCs The Most Secret Method, “Get Lovely”, as well as other DC bands like Routineers. But I imagine that means absolutely nothing to 99.9% of you reading this. Just think indie style, horns, soothing vocals, and a bit of late 90’s Dischord style rock. I’m very into this. The download has an extra song from each band. The SM extra is in line with the two on the physical copy. The KL extra jam might be the oddest offering from them ever- slow, noisy, creepy, and talking of kissing ghosts. I love it. (Peterwalkee Records)

LEYLINES demo
A very nice introduction from a new Syracuse band, done up quite well. Typically, I’m not a big fan of really noodly, tapping technical stuff like this. But they do a good job of it and the players in this group are quite talented. That is none more evident on the first track, which alternates between the aforementioned delicate tapping parts to a more solidified chorus with some harmonious vocal accompaniment. The second track is a bit more straight-forward rock style. The last track loses me a bit, and is back to that more techy-tapping thing again. Overall, it is a very good start for this new group. I’m actually surprised I dig it as much as I do. (leylines.bandcamp.com)

MOUTHEATER, “Colonial” 12”
Here’s a band that I finally got around to checking out and man, was I floored! I immediately picked up as much of their output as I could find (as in, I paid for their records, you all should try it some day). This is exactly what I look for when I want a band that can make everything feel ugly and kick ass at the same time. This stuff is like heir apparent to the Unsane, it’s in the exact same vein and a worthy successor, should they ever keel over and die. So, onto the newest offering from Virginia’s Moutheater- this 4 song 12”. While 4 songs on a 12” might seem unnecessary it fits well as a couple of the songs break the five minute mark and the whole deal is on 45 rpm (sound quality geeks will understand). The A-side has two barn burners, more up tempo piss and vinegar rants. The B-side, which I like better, focuses more on slower material. While I have enjoyed everything Moutheater up to this point, I think they excel with the slower songs they write. Creepy guitar lines twist around the meaty low end and eventually blow up in a frenzy of mean spirited nastiness. This was even more apparent on their previous full length, “Ornament” (particularly on the track “Inept”), which I prefer over this record. but it’s still a damn good record. There is also a slight discrepancy over the recording between these two records, “Colonial” sounding a bit thinner than “Ornament”. I’m not sure what it is. All I can think of is maybe whoever mastered it played it a little safe for vinyl’s sake maybe? I’m not sure. Either way, get yourself something from Moutheater like now. It will be worth it to hate a little longer. This isn’t a bad place to start. (Last Anthem Records)

NEON BASTARD, “Meikhaus”
Fucking off the wall crazy blast rock from some Australian goons. How else to describe this? Older Daughters with a sense of musical clarity? Converge further unhinged, blasting jams in their garage? Whatever it is, it’s all good. Their modus operandi seems shrouded in confusion and random imagery, strange song titles, and indiscernible lyrics shouting about who knows what. Musically it just rages with punk fervor, metallic dexterity, and throwing more than a few nods in the direction of both Sabbath riffs and noise rock nihilism. There’s plenty of fast whiplash that quickly degenerates into riff-fest bangovers. I guess what gets me most is the odd recording quality of this. It sort of has that purposeful ‘sounds kinda like ass’ thing that actually works in it’s favor to make it raw and dirty. I really dig this slab and good to see Robotic Empire releasing a record that will have long time fans of the label reminded of why they liked stuff from this imprint in the first place. (Robotic Empire)

SCAM Anthology, by Iggy Scam
Yo! The zine that truly lives up to it’s name, this is the original punk zine about scamming on the Man. This enormous book covers the first four sloppy, hand-written (mostly) installments of the legendary Scam zine. While having always known of it’s existence I never got around to reading it. But now that I have its a fun adventure read. This is basically where Evasion got it’s entire blueprint, except Scam is way more into public drunkeness and FYP instead of vegan straight edge and Earth Crisis. But Scam started the left-hand scam, the receipt scam, the squatting in a college library, and just about anything else involving criminal mischief based around a fun story of living free and clear. While most of this takes place in mid-90s Miami and starts as juvenile tales of fucking shit up it does progress over time to more clever and varied stories- squatting different places, setting up free public shows, Miami culture, train hopping across the country, short interviews with bands, and other things that seem a little more innocent and wild in our youth... before cell phones and GPS made everything accessible and familiar at the press of a button. It felt a little more brazen and wild then, to discover things and fail at them, only to try again and half-ass it. It might not always work, but it makes for a great story. And that’s what’s in here- a lot of fun great stories. Even if a lot of them revolved around getting wasted, which doesn’t pertain to me, it’s still a fun read. And believe me, this thing is mammoth. It will take forever to read. (Microcosm)

TO HELL AND BACK, “Will We Be Torn Apart” 12”
I dig the cosmic trip going on with the cover art. It’s an invitation to music that shakes and swaggers with equal parts Thin Lizzy and Tight Bros. From Way Back When kept in mind. In other words, it’s a balls out rock record. To their credit I admire the frame of mind these dudes were in when they created this stuff, but it’s missing some of the excitement and energy of those raucous rockers. They play things a little close to the vest and planned out, whereas their clear inspirations let everything go and went for the throat with reckless abandon. This is certainly not cock rock, nor is it dumb party rock. I think an apt name to what they strive to do here is ‘bitchin’ rock’. They need to loosen up a bit first and let shit fly wherever it may. (Peterwalkee Records)

TRANSIT, “Keep This To Yourself”
They got some slick-ass packaging happening with this release, and it’s clever too. The whole mailed packages thing is a nice touch. As for the music on here Transit really aren’t my bag. I give them credit for some of the things they do to separate themselves from the bloated pack of pop rock bands posing as punk bands. Transit toss in some good post-hardcore rhythms, a few unexpected quick transitions, various flourishes of melodies mixed with fancy guitar effects, but really turn me off with the whole broken heart white boy off-key singing. Very few bands of this ilk pull it off with any degree of potency. Transit, sadly, are not one of them. As a band they certainly do work hard and can play the shit out of their instruments. And they even have some original moments. But overall, I can’t get behind this style. If I could give them a good comparison it would be The Movielife butting heads with Native. I know some people will drool over that. But it’s not really working for me. (Run For Cover Records)

ZINESTERS GUIDE TO NYC, by Ayun Halliday
Another thoroughly exhaustive guide to a big city, written up by various zinester types and their recommendations on everything from food, to sightseeing, to where to go for yoga, and little nooks in parks you might not have thought of. Being from NY myself I have made frequent trips to the big city many, many times and thought I knew quite a bit about things to check out. Yet this guide offers pretty much everything one could want to see minus the trappings of the obvious tourist dead ends like Times Square. Big whoop. You see it once and that’s enough. It does not, however, skip over the museums, which should be a necessary stop on any NYC trip (even though they will cost you). About a million other things are broken down into categories from every kind of food you could want to bookstores, food carts, coffee shops, yearly events of every race, culture, club, and random organization. In a city where everything seems to be happening all the time this does a pretty good job of covering the bases of what there is to do for the person looking to diverge from the well-worn path of the common tourist and see some additional neat stuff. Works well if you happen to be a resident in the city too. (Microcosm Publishing)

NEW OAK AND BONE/LIKE WOLVES JAMS!

Hi! So, you might have heard that both OAK AND BONE and LIKE WOLVES will be hitting the studio real soon to record their debut LPs. Well, if you didn't now you do.
So to give a taste of what's in store we thought it would be nice to share some videos of them playing some new jams. Well, OK, the LW stuff isn't new, new. But if you are unfamiliar with them it's a good introduction of what to expect.
If you've caught either band live in the last few months you've probably heard some of these songs. These videos are from when both bands played Ithaca's annual Big Day In Fest in December. Well documented, and a hoot of a good time.
Here's OAK AND BONE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ptdi8l0i8s

And here's LIKE WOLVES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDzpYyRajRk

NEW REVIEWS FOR JANUARY

Well, well, well, so reviews return! It's been some time, I know. What with all the holiday hoopla, and post-holiday 'shotgun-in-mouth' blues (or is it the other way around?), there just seems to be no time to do all this stuff. Either way, while the entire civilized world remains buried under what appears to be a new ice age, you may as well get up to speed with what's on record/book shelves lately and read this stuff.




1994, “Fukyrhed” 12”
My first listen of this made me want to throw this LP at oncoming traffic. Super noodly Capn’ Jazz type bands infuriate me. Upon second listen I found some respectable points to this EP- mostly really impressive drumming. Yeah, it’s kind of over the top in a not that great sort of way. But when this dude finds the pocket he sure can beat the shit out of it. But yeah, techy, noodly whineypants stuff... overall, no thanks. (Inkblot, Square Of Opposition)

AFTERTHEFALL, “Eradication”
This band sounds so much like Propaghandi it’s not even funny. OK, maybe less guitar solos, but still a dead ringer for the Canadian political punk powerhouse. And I’ll be honest, I have never really been into Propaghandi, or any of the more fast, politically-oriented melodic punk bands. It’s simply not my thing. I’m down with their politics, and I dig the Black Flag-inspired artwork, and for this style this is done well. But it’s not what I listen to. These dudes have been at it for quite some time so it is nice to see them get some recognition. The respect is there, but my taste is not. (Mightier Than Sword)

ANTILLECTUAL, “Start From Scratch”
Much like the record I just reviewed before this Antillectual play very fast and very melodic singing political punk. Again, this sort of thing is what I have admiration for on a lyrical front, but everything else is just not my bag. This could be on the radio for how clean and polished it sounds, and honestly, I dislike it quite a bit. That’s not some pink purist frame of mind, it’s really just because I don’t like music like this. SoCal Fat Wreck fans and AFI types will probably dig this. but not I. (Shield Recordings, Square Of Opposition)

CASTING CURSES, 'Cold All Over Again" 7"
C.C. is a sort of on-again, off-again group from different parts of New York that have already made a number of recordings in the last few years. Their sound has progressively become more and more of a sort of late 90's post-hardcore direction, yet it overall remains grounded in chunky hardcore chugging. The flourishes of various guitar effects and melodies shake it up and make for an overall fun listen. The artwork on this release is incredible. (Panic Records)

FISHERKING, “Forget It” CDEP
So what I cannot fathom for the life of me is how the press release for this record was stating that they think this record sounds like Jesus Lizard or AmRep bands. Were they listening to the same band I was? Did I get the wrong CD? There is absolutely NOTHING here that sounds anything like that. The first half of this EP is bland and generic melodic hardcore. Nothing bad, but also nothing that stands out from the norm. The last couple songs have more of a late 80’s NYHC crossover vibe going on that seems a bit more adventurous and mean. While those songs are also not terribly original they have a nice little bite to them. So that’s what you get here. I’m not sure what that press stuff was all about. (Bermuda Mohawk Productions)

LEMURIA, “Pebble”
Godamn. They just know how to get it right. This LP is fucking great. First thing this year to kick my butt. Moving even farther away from a pop-punk tag Lemuria just wrote a bunch of good songs. I think I dig the A-side more , but the B-side has got those super catchy lines like, “I could always do a little better” and “The man who is half of me”. I’m going to be humming this stuff all year. But the A-side has “Wise people”, perhaps the best track on here with it’s slightly-off and rumbling groove throughout... and those awesome bells in the chorus. It’s a great little touch. “Pleaser” and “Ribcage” are a bit more expansive, lengthy for Lemuria songs and they get a great vibe going. The guitar tone on here (courtesy of J. Robbins exceptionally capable recording skills) is fucking top notch. It’s grittier and a bit meatier than on past Lemuria records, but has this wonderfully warm and crisp feel to it. It seriously makes a big difference in setting the mood of the record and these songs. Main vocalist Sheena Ozella has also taken some new twists with her already playful and delicate voice, hitting some of those high notes in new ways, while drummer Alex Kerns takes a somewhat more upbeat tone with his vocals (side-stepping the more somber tone he has had in the past). This is really a great step forward for the group and I totally dig it 100% (Bridge 9)

LITERATURE, “Cincinnati” 7”
Even though silkscreened this record has a pretty ugly cover and it made me not want to listen to it. But I’m glad I did because I really dig the two short songs on this record. They really could have thrown down a couple more, but hey, I suppose that’s what keeps people coming back for more. Anyways, this is total retro garage pop with playful female vocals and jangly guitars. A little Velocity Girl, a bit of Shonen Knife, but basically just retro garage rock that’s clean as a whistle. The title track is the jam. (Voice Academy/ Square Of Opposition)

NINE GALLONS #2, by Susie Cagle
This here is a short comic-zine about one person’s involvement with Food Not Bombs in the SF/Bay Area. There’s the typical cast of the underappriciated activist, the misunderstood ideologues, the flakey mouth breathers, the burnt out overachievers, bewildered public, and pesky relatives all whom anyone involved at all in any sort of cause will know very well. Susie’s stories here are all too familiar, but are communicated simply and quite well about some of the outside influences and distractions to being involved in Food Not Bombs. (Microcosm Publishing)

PARAMEDIC/ SPRAYNARD split 7”
A playful record cover/artwork gives way to two PA bands that have a similar kind of playful energy to their music. Both bands have a similar vibe going- scrappy and rocking emo style music (think 1995, not 2010), very rough around the edges and hearts worn clearly on sleeves. Paramedic, I think, is my preference of the two simply because the female vocals add a dash of variety, while Spraynards side - though decent- is a little more typical of this fare. Worth checking though simply because 4 songs on a 7” is a deal no matter what. (Square Of Opposition)

PISSED JEANS, “Your Life Is Worth...” 7”
Yup. You get what you pay for. And either you’re going to check into this band and get the completely stupid humor or you’re going to hate them and wonder why they’re so stupid. But that’s the catch.. they’re actually awesome! A record cover that took no more than two minutes to make, a lead off track called “Sam Kinison Woman” and linear notes that list Leslie Neilson as band member only because the accompanying live photo has his image on a screen behind the band. I can’t really explain it, maybe they really are just dumb, but it somehow makes me smile. The music remains great- dirty as shit rocking punk, taking equal cues from Flipper and Jesus Lizard, and blending it up into some weird stew. The B-side is a repetitive drone with all sorts of weird glitches and mistakes while vocalist Matt Korvette talks about his love of the Flyers, pie, and a good sunrise over, and over, and over. Again, funny in an annoying sort of way. Maybe it’s because they really do kick ass on the musical front I can appreciate Pissed Jeans for their odd brand of humor/annoyance, making it all so great. After all, they are one of the best bands I’ve heard in years. But if you have never heard them I’d start with one of the full lengths first. (Sub Pop)

RESTORATIONS, “Strange Behavior” 12”
I was such a big fan of Jena Berlin, which is two members of this bands former group, that I was anticipating hearing this new group. While it’s clearly not the same group at all what remains are the gravely and soulful vocals of frontman Jon Louden. I’ve always admired his voice, which takes a style similar to Polar Bear Club, but with a bit less happy-go-lucky and a bit more Soul Man (C. Thomas Howell version only because Jon is actually white). Musically it feels a lot more settled than Jena Berlin and has a lot more in common with groups like Lucero, and perhaps a dash of Casket Lottery in it’s sound. Then again, there are only 4 songs on this LP, so as an EP it’s a little hard to tell exactly where they will go just yet, but it’s a decent start. (Paper and Plastick)

ANNUAL END OF THE YEAR LISTS!

It's a dumb tradition here, but one we maintain nonetheless where those associated with this label in one way or another get to beef about their favorite stuff from this year.
I enjoy knowing what other people were digging, especially those whose opinions I value. So I always get a kick out of seeing what's on the lists.
Personally, I thought 2010 was a great year. Just overall. Saw a lot of great bands, heard some great music, went a lot of fun places, spent a ton of time in my garden, went to a lot of weddings (strangely enough), and there were no disasters. It was a good year to just be doing what I do, and that's all I can ask. So let's just hope next year goes as swimmingly!

OK, enough babble, here's some lists from a few people I dig.

JEFFREY POSO, Uno world champion, The Helm

1. Getting married.
2. The Helm/Owen Hart Summer tour
3. Kylesa- Spiral Shadow.
5. Cursed -John Peel 7".
6. My October bike crash.
7. My November bike crash (not as bad).
8. Inception.
9. Rope Swings all Summer long.
10. Recording the new Throne of Bone full length.
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SEAN DOODY, Self Defense Family Man, End Of a Year

I’m awful at keeping up with current music, underground or otherwise. There are some current tracks I’ve dug (“The Weekenders” by the Hold Steady; “I Can Change” by LCD Soundsystem; “Ready to Start” by the Arcade Fire) and some I haven’t (“Barricade” by Interpol is so bad that it makes me wonder why I liked their first two LPs), but I haven’t checked out any of those full albums yet. So instead, I’ve listed my Top 10 new experiences, new discoveries, or what-have-you of 2010:

1. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Rattlesnakes. On the recommendation of Patrick Kindlon, I found this album, the Commotions’ 1984 debut, at the library and uploaded it to my iTunes last March. Cole’s lyrics sound like he was born to be a literature professor at a New England liberal arts school; indeed, he now lives in the Pioneer Valley, writing, recording, and playing lots of golf. Ultra-cool Eighties British indie, with a distinct soul influence and a singer who has impeccable taste in books, clothes, and everything else.

2. Taking care of myself, i.e., eating vegan again and quitting smoking. This is simple: I realized I was turning into a cartoon slob from a Replacements video. Quitting smoking was easy, actually, once I realized that I hate being around other people who are smoking. And I’ve felt much healthier and lost weight once I stopped inhaling every Hungarian street sausage or slice of sketchy pizza I could find, just because I hadn’t had it before and it was cheap. Yeah, I haven’t had the mumps either; doesn’t mean I want to give it a go.

3. Reevaluating my record collection. Goodbye, later Gang of Four records. Goodbye, mod revival bands that “sound like the Jam,” except that they can’t come close. Goodbye, every hardcore record I hung onto out of nostalgia and nothing else. Hello, more Talking Heads and Julian Cope and Belle & Sebastian and Pixies records. We’re going to get along great.

4. Dramamine, self-titled LP. End of a Year played with this band in Münster, Germany, on our European tour last spring. Live, they just sounded like any one of the rash of Wipers-influenced bands that have cropped up over the past several years. Feh. On record, though, Dramamine are much more than that. Sure, the Wipers are in the mix, but so are Fugazi, the Jesus Lizard, and – crucially – a strong sense of how to put their influences together to build something new and distinct. Check out Dramamine at the Sabotage Records website and definitely pick up their LP if you can find it.

5. Swans, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky. Michael Gira is older than my parents and has been playing in bands longer than I’ve been alive, yet he still has a constant desire to make music he hasn’t made before. And I appreciate his approach towards reviving the Swans name: he felt that what he was writing would be better as a Swans album than as a solo album or Angels of Light, so he put together a Swans lineup and that was that. I hope to be as driven a musician as Gira when I’m his age.

6. My new Rickenbacker 4003 bass. I’ve never bought an instrument new before, and I’m thrilled with this one.

7. Being employed again. I appreciate the paycheck, but more than that, my current job has finally solidified the fact that I need to move out of Albany and never move back.

8. Rediscovering my enjoyment of music and writing. Two things that I had felt burnt out on for years, frankly, because I’ve been expecting too much out of them, both as an experience and as something I make. Psyching myself out of enjoying anything is a really bad look, and I’m glad to get away from it.

9. Unknown band whose album I heard on the U-Albany radio station the other week. I have no idea who it was, just that it sounded like the Swell Maps or some other jerky Seventies post-punk band tried to write Damaged. The results were fascinating. I called the station to find out what it was, but no one picked up.

10. Ke$ha, Animal. Yes, it’s beer-and-lifestyle music. It’s not the beer I’d drink, and it’s definitely not my lifestyle, but I can take a peek at both from a distance without having to clean up the puke afterwards. Yes, I’m serious about this.
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RYAN HEX, pick pocket, label person

Here’s a combination of favorite records, as well as best shows since there weren’t enough ‘favorite records’ that stuck to make a top 10, but there were a heckuva lot of great shows.

1.) 108, “18.61”
2.) BLACK BREATH, “Heavy Breathing”
3.) END OF A YEAR, “You Are Beneath Me”
4.) TORCHE, “Song For Singles”
5.) COLISEUM, “House With a Curse”
6.) BLACK THROAT WIND demo
7.) MAYFLOWER, “Second Best Sunsets”

Shows:
2.18- Mission Of Burma @ First Unitarian Church, Philly (intimate atmosphere, killer set, great new record)
3.27- Rollins @ Westcott Theater, Syracuse (finally got to meet the man)
6.11- Shaun Luu Horrorfest day 1 w/ End Of a Year, Mandate Of Heaven, Like Wolves, Mistletoe @ Westcott Community Center, Syracuse (Best MoH set in ages, hilarious EOAY set, Like Wolves letting me sing “Merchandise” with them)
6.22- Tortoise @ Bug Jar, Rochester (been waiting about 15 years to see this band and on a microscopic-sized stage no less)
7.7- Devo @ Town Ballroom, Buffalo (small-ish venue, great vibe, so much dancing)
8.11- Public Enemy @ Town Ballroom, Buffalo (again, smaller venue, excellent set of mostly their best two records and I’ve been waiting 20 years to see them)
9.7- Unsane, Keelhaul, Surroundings @ Ottobar, Baltimore (loudest, most punishing Unsane set I’d ever seen. My ears were numb afterwards)
10.3- Achilles/ Another Breath @ Bug Jar, Rochester (one of the wildest reactions I’ve seen in years for Achilles. So much fun)
10.28-11.2- Soul Control tour/Gainesville Fest (best vibe, and hanging out with great dudes)
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WESTON CZERKIES, Founder www.Westonsucks.com, Oak and Bone

1) Nina Worf Wolfpaw DeVoe Czerkies....the kitten.
2) New Syracuse DIY show space!
3) Merchandise LP
4) Burning Love - Songs For Burning Lovers LP
5) White Walls - new tape and live performances
6) Eyehategod live @ Maryland Deathfest
7) Iggy & the Stooges live @ All Tomorrow's Parties (for free!)
8) Oak & Bone disaster tour. It had its moments.
9) birth of Hunger Pains. vVv.
10) Girls Nite in Glen Spey with KDV, DP, SOB
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RORY VAN GROL, Achilles Van Grol Control

- Another Breath - A God Complex
- Dangers - Messy Isn't It
- Torche- Songs for Singles
- Fang Island - Day of the Great Leap
- Black Angels - Phosphene Dream
- Rochester, NY , including me moving home and The Owl House (owlhouserochester.com), and Like Wolves Live
- RVIVR - Dirty Water EP
- Coliseum - House With A Curse
- Black Breath- Heavy Breathing
- The Body - All the Waters Turn To Blood 2XLP
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ROB ANTONUCCI, Achilles, “Proctor”

Terror - Keepers of the Faith
Black Label Society - Order of the Black
Against Me - White Crosses
The Damned Things - Ironclast
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Soilwork - The Panic Broadcast
Sleigh Bells - Treats
Holy Grail - Crisis in Utopia
The March - Demo (7")
The Curl and Drag - Demo

TRANSLATE #5 NOW AVAILABLE!

TRANSLATE strikes back! The brand-spankin' new issue that is a big, fat 76 1/2 size pages of nothing but interviews... but with who? Absolute nobodies, that's who. This time around I chose to simply interview almost 20 of my closest friends, ask them about life, growing up, how we met, and all the simple joys in life, as well as the tough times. Stupid kid memories, terrible high school classes, making our way across the country, having children, marriage, adult stuff, and maybe a little music because... well, it's inevitable. Maybe you know some of these folks, but you probably don't. So take a walk in my shoes and see what all the hub-bub is about.
Get it HERE
On a personal note, I've had the idea to do a zine like this for about 5 years now. It's not terribly original, but it sure is rare. I just couldn't wrap my head around how I was going to execute it because how weird is it to ask your friends about things you already knew? So once I did construct a framework idea of how to carry this thing out, and come up with a list of potential interview candidates, I dove right into it. The whole project was completed within one month and somehow I came up with almost 20 interviews and 76 pages. I had to cut a couple out even, as it just got a little out of control and my goal was to be done by Christmas. Well, here we are. So check it out, won't you?

LIKE WOLVES JOIN HEX RECORDS

It's been a little quiet on the blog front lately, but it's mostly because I've been putting a shitload of work in on the new issue of TRANSLATE, which I think will be a really cool one. Aside from that, a lot of snow has been getting shoveled... also, quite time consuming.
On the news front though, I'd like to announce that I'll be releasing the next LIKE WOLVES recording. They'll be putting out a long player on Hex come summer 2011. Recording will take place late in the Winter. Color me stoked, not only because of a long-standing love affair between Rochester and Syracuse peoples, but because there is a consistent wealth of good bands that come from this area, and good dudes in those bands.
Along with that release, OAK AND BONE will be readying their first full length release for the same time. The riffs are getting riffier, and the smoke is getting thicker. This thing will melt your stereo when it is finished, this I do believe.
OK, that is all for now. Coffee and transcribing interviews from now 'til Christmas.