ALBUM REVIEW: Pissed Jeans – Half Divorced


Even in a world of Butthole Surfers and Cuntroaches, there’s something about the name Pissed Jeans that’s so… gross. In terms of bands with names that might bother your parents though, the Pennsylvanian four-piece’s latest record Half Divorced (Sub Pop), has more in common with The Circle Jerks (not to mention Black Flag and Fear). This album here is quintessentially hardcore in spirit (and often in sound too). Continue reading


Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre’s MC5 Tribute Album (Alice Cooper, Jello Biafra, Phil Campbell and More) Out Now



On Friday February 2nd the Rock ’n’ Roll world was saddened the passing of “Brother” Wayne Kramer, founding member and guitarist of the legendary, influential Detroit band the MC5. Issued on Black Friday, 2023 via Saustex Records Call Me Animal: A Tribute to the MC5 was never intended as a send-off for Brother Wayne, but his untimely passing makes its recent release feel even more serendipitous. Conceived by Joey “Joecephus” Killingsworth, the album was several years in the making with his band/collective Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre and his production partner Dik LeDoux. Kramer himself participated in the project, laying down a smoking version of “Human Being Lawnmower” with Jello Biafra.
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ALBUM REVIEW: Mastodon – Medium Rarities


We have been blessed with a lot of great Mastodon news of late, from celebrating their 20th anniversary, their new song on the Bill And Ted Face The Music soundtrack – “Rufus Lives”, to the band hitting the studio to work on full-length number eight. So 2020 seems like a good time for a good old odds and sods release, the cleverly titled Medium Rarities (Reprise).

Continue reading


Melvins Stream New Single – STOP Moving To Florida


Melvins have just released their new single, their first from their upcoming album Pinkus Abortion Technician, due on April 20th from IPECAC Recordings. Jam out to ‘STOP Moving To Florida’ now! Continue reading


On The Road… with The Melvins and Le Butcherettes


melvins tour poster

The Melvins are out on the road with another leg of their “Hold It In Tour”. Supporting their album Hold It In (Ipecac) from last fall, mainstays Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover are joined by JD Pinkus from Butthole Surfers. Not only did they play a set of songs from their collaborative album together, they played some choice classic Melvins material (‘Night Goat’, ‘Hag Me’, ‘The Bit’, ‘Anaconda’, ‘Sweet Willy Rollbar’), they also played some covers ranging from the Surfers to Pop-O-Pies. Joined by their label mates Le Butcherettes, who are fresh from their tour supporting Faith No More, it was a night of musical and mental twists and turns. Captured here by Melina Dellamargio of Melina D Photography at Club Congress in Tuscon, AZ The Melvins continue to surprise and delight after 30 plus years in the business.

 

The Melvins, by Melina D Photos

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

The Melvins, by Melina D Photography

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Prong – Songs from the Black Hole


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I’ve never really taken to Prong, strange though it seems. Energetic and bruising, they nevertheless come across a tad light-heartedly for me, and that’s sometimes the case with latest album Songs from the Black Hole (SPV GmbH).

A set of lesser-known Punk covers, the opening draft of Discharge‘s ‘Doomsday’ rips up trees with its pace and ferocity; Tommy Victor‘s acidic growl and rapid bursts of leadplay enlivening a great start. It’s on the ensuing ‘Vision Thing’, however, a gothic classic given a Blink182-meets-Desert feel, that the irritation begins: the largely laconic vocal blunting a subtle yet driving riff, turning the track into that awful ‘Nu-Punk’ stuff that blighted metal in the 90s. No doubt the band are trying to retain the feel of the originals while slapping on their own slant, but that cheapens the sound in some areas; the chopping bullet riff of the Butthole Surfers‘ ‘Goofy’s Concern’ diluted by that throwaway, almost disinterested vocal. The Adolescents‘ ‘Kids of the Black Hole’, though, is given a crucial kick by a more urgent, sputtered delivery, some pinpoint pace changes and a real snarling attitude with riffs and lead pulsing viciously together culminating in a brooding atmosphere enhanced by a rumbling bass.

As well as questioning the need for a band of Prong’s stature to produce such an album, it’s the lack of substance, immediacy, a paucity of real feeling and belief which ultimately disappoints despite the occasionally feisty rampage such as the version of Black Flag‘s ‘Bars’. If only the emotive, baiting ‘Seeing Red’ with its staccato riff, pounding drums and true Killing Joke evocations was the norm rather than the exception, this would be a joyous reworking of understated favourites. Even the catchy, driving riff of Fugazi‘s ‘Give Me the Cure’ seems to miss an edge, a vitality that only appears in the angered chorus.

There’s no doubting the “fun” aspect, nor the quality of the musicianship, but overall this could be a really decent pub band working through a hard-edged set. If Prong want to prove their relevance, this isn’t the trick to do it. Go and stream the originals, kids.

6.0/10

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PAUL QUINN


The Melvins Reissuing Electroretard, Tour With Le Butcherettes


melvins19833

The Melvins will be reissuing their 2001 release Electroretard on June 2, 2015 via Ipecac Recordings and will be touring behind it with Le Butcherettes opening on this run. Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover will be joined by JD Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers.

In related news, a Melvins documentary Kickstarter campaign has been launched and go here for more information.

Jun 06: Club Congress – Tucson, AZ
Jun 07: Lowbrow Palace – El Paso, TX
Jun 09: Korova – San Antonio, TX
Jun 10: The Mohawk – Austin, TX
Jun 11: Trees – Dallas, TX
Jun 12: Opolis – Norman, OK
Jun 14: The Bottleneck – Lawrence, KS
Jun 15: The Firebird – St. Louis, MO
Jun 16: The Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
Jun 17: Shelter – Detroit, MI
Jun 18: A&R Music Bar – Columbus, OH
Jun 18-21: Amnesia Rockfest – Montebello, QC
Jun 22: Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
Jun 23: Call The Office – London, ON
Jun 25: The Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
Jun 26: The Westcott Theater – Syracuse, NY
Jun 27: Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
Jun 28: The Ballroom at the Outer Space – Hamden, CT
Jun 29: Santos Party House – New York, NY
Jun 30: Santos Party House – New York, NY
Jul 01: Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Jul 02: Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
Jul 03:Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Jul 05: Exit In – Nashville, TN
Jul 06: Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY
Jul 07: The Vogue Theatre – Indianapolis, IN
Jul 08: Double Door – Chicago, IL
Jul 09: High Noon Saloon – Madison, WI
Jul 11: Grumpy’s – Minneapolis, MN
Jul 12: The Aquarium – Fargo, ND
Jul 13: The District – Sioux Falls, SD
Jul 14: The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE
Jul 16: Aggie Theatre – Ft. Collins, CO
Jul 17: Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
Jul 18: Taos Mesa Brewing – Taos, NM
Jul 19: The Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
Jul 21: Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ


Prong Streaming “Banned In DC”


Prong is streaming their cover of the Bad Brains classic “Banned in DC,” off their forthcoming covers album, out in the US on March 31, 2015 via eOne Music (SPV/Steamhammer special CD and LP edition available in Scandinavia on March 25, in Germany on March 27, and the rest of Europe on March 30), here.

The track list is far from traditional. With covers of artists like Neil Young, Black Flag, Bad Brains and Sisters of Mercy, the band casts their net wide. The goal, says Victor, was to explore the vast landscape that makes up the bands sound, stemming from their roots. “Since the record explores Prong’s roots, musically and geographically, this needed to be expressed visually and this was attained.”

TRACK LISTING:

1. Doomsday (Discharge)
2. Vision Thing (Sisters Of Mercy)
3. Goofy`s Concern (Butthole Surfers)
4. Kids Of The Black Hole (Adolescents)
5. Bars (Black Flag)
6. Seeing Red (Killing Joke)
7. Don`t Want To Know If You Are Lonely (Husker Du)
8. Give Me The Cure (Fugazi)
9. Banned in DC (Bad Brains)
10. Cortez The Killer (Neil Young)

The band has also announced their upcoming US tour this fall.

Apr 17: VERA – Groningen (NT)
Apr 18: Poppodium Volt – Sittard (NT)
Apr 19: De Kreun – Kortrijk (BL)
Apr 21: O2 Academy 2 – Birmingham (UK)
Apr 22: O2 Academy 2 – Liverpool (UK)
Apr 23: O2 Academy – Islington (UK)
Apr 24: O2 Academy – Bristol (UK)
Apr 25: L’Empreinte – Savigny Le Temple (FR)
Apr 26: Konzertfabrik 27 – Pratteln (SW)
Apr 27: PPC – Graz (AT)
Apr 28: Szene Wien – Vienna (AT)
Apr 29: Feierwerk – Munich (DE)
Apr 30: Huxleys Neue Welt – Berlin (DE)
May 01: Underground – Koln (DE)
May 02: Turock – Essen (DE)
May 03: Knust – Hamburg (DE)
Oct 23: Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA
Oct 24: Las Vegas Country Saloon (LVCS) – Las Vegas, NV
Oct 25: Club Red/Red Owl – Mesa, AZ
Oct 27: Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
Oct 28: Aftershock – Shawnee, KS
Oct 30: Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
Oct 31: Tree’s – Dallas, TX
Nov 01: The Korova – San Antonio, TX
Nov 02: Scout bar – Houston, TX
Nov 03: Siberia – New Orleans, LA
Nov 04: Orpheum – Tampa, FL
Nov 05: The Haven Lounge – Winter Park, FL
Nov 06: Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, FL
Nov 07: The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Nov 08: TBA – Birmingham, AL
Nov 09: Centerstage Bar & Grill – Kokomo, IN
Nov 10: Expo Five – Louisville, KY
Nov 11: Empire – Springfield, VA
Nov 12: Upstairs at the Palladium – Worcester, MA
Nov 13: Trickshots – Clifton Park, NY
Nov 14: Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
Nov 15: Foufoune’s – Montreal, QC
Nov 16: L’Agitee – Quebec, QC
Nov 17: Ritual Nightclub – Ottawa, ON
Nov 18: The Garrison – Toronto, ON
Nov 19: Hard Rock Café – Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 20: Rt 20 Outhouse – Racine, WI
Nov 21: The Token Lounge – Westland, MI
Nov 22: Agora Theatre & Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
Nov 23: Mojoe’s – Joliet, IL
Nov 24: Spicoli’s Grill & Reverb Rock Gardnen – Waterloo, IA
Nov 25: Fubar – St Louis, MO
Nov 27: POV’s Sports Bar & Grill – Andover, MN
Nov 28: Zoo Cabaret – Winnipeg, MB
Nov 30: Pawn Shop – Edmonton, AB
Dec 01: The Nite Owl – Calgary, AB
Dec 03: Venue – Vancouver, BC
Dec 04: El Corazon – Seattle, WA
Dec 05: Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
Dec 06: Thee Parkside – San Francisco, CA
Dec 07: Whisky – West Hollywood, CA

prong north american tour 2015

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Mastodon Reissuing All Reprise Titles On Vinyl


mastodon 2

Mastodon will be reissuing all of the Reprise Records titles on vinyl in the coming months. Blood Mountain (2006) will be issued on a mix of solid yellow and transparent green vinyl on March 3, 2015. On June 2, 2015, Crack the Skye (2009) will be released on baby blue vinyl. On August 4, 2015, The Hunter (2011) will be released on a mix of solid white and solid red vinyl. On October 5th, Mastodon’s current album, Once More ‘Round the Sun (2014) will be released on a mix of transparent green and solid white vinyl.

On December 8th, Mastodon will release a limited-edition box set featuring all of the band’s Reprise titles on vinyl. Only 500 will be made available. More details to come.

As an added bonus for fans, Mastodon will release a Limited Edition 12″ vinyl picture disc in celebration of Record Store Day on April 18th. The disc is comprised of a new song titled “Atlanta,” featuring guest vocals from Gibby Haynes from Butthole Surfers, originally only digitally available as part of the Adult Swim Singles Series. The ‘B-Side” is an unreleased instrumental version of “Atlanta,” and is exclusive to this very limited RSD pressing.

As previously announced, Mastodon will be co-headlining with Clutch for The Missing Link Tour, with Big Business and Graveyard as support.

mastodon clutch tour

MASTODON:
Troy Sanders — Bass Guitar / Vocals
Brent Hinds — Guitars / Vocals
Bill Kelliher — Guitars
Brann Dailor — Drums / Vocals

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