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Saturday, October 8, 2011

Another Mistake (KY)



Lies For Lust EP
Life's Noose Demo

Another Mistake first started playing shows in 2010 and immediately picked up it seems like. I've been able to keep up with Louisville bands pretty well due to the strong connection between their scene and Nashville when I lived there, and members of this band were also (from memory) in Iron Wolves, Python, and Rattletooth. This band seems like the band they were meant to do though, considering this past summer AM were the locals lucky enough for the opening slot on Saturday for the long awaited return of Krazy Fest. It seems like things just keep going up for them, and it's easy to see why. The music is a straight tribute to the early 00's Bridge 9 roster, notably American Nightmare, Right Brigade, and Striking Distance. It's the fast and pissed off style, but the guitar/bass riffs are well-written and avoid unnecessary repetition. Lyrically, songs are honest and to the point, and the vocalist has one hell of a stage presence.  Put all of this together and it goes without saying that it's fucking awesome.

Current releases have been on Knoxville label Like Glue Records support that shit too.

They also have some even bigger news on the way... To keep up add them here...

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Bare Your Teeth- Cursed or Forsaken EP


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Bare Your Teeth is one of the new bands to come out of Crossville, TN in the last year or so. It's cool to see some more bands come out of that area, ever since Do It Yourself and Hysteria started playing shows in Nashville and surrounding cities it's gained the city some good recognition; also allowing a younger band like this the opportunity to do the same. The one thing that I find similar between Hysteria and this band is that they're not afraid to combine every style they like, which in turn makes it hard to pinpoint exactly what style they are. That's not a bad thing though, in fact that's how writing music should be. With this in mind, this EP (released as a demo this past February) switches between numerous things, the itunes file says "grindcore" but I'd say it's just hardcore, labels beyond that are just misleading. The songs are short, to the point, with a steady combination of hardcore, metal (mostly the riffs), and blast beats. Right now they're playing shows everywhere in and around Tennessee that they can, and putting in the right amount of effort for a new band wanting to get out there. Download the EP, go to a show, book them a show, etc.

Also, they've got an 11-song full length coming out in late November, but before that set to be released October 15th is a split cassette with Traits from Birmingham, which will feature 4 of the songs from the album. Once again, working hard.

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Sunday, October 2, 2011

Scum of the Earth (Gainesville)


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Hip hop has always been well-received in the hardcore community. The lyrical content often relates to similar features in both genres, and you can't hate on good beats either. Scum of the Earth has been a long-running hip hop group with strong ties to the Chattanooga punk and hardcore scene. Whenever they play here it's a pretty wild crowd of punk kids getting down like it's nobody's business (the picture seen above is from one of their last visits).The duo was cool enough last year to drive all the way from Gainesville for their good friend Adam Foster's 25th birthday in August of 2010. We played that show too, and to this day it's the best show I've ever played and one of the most insane parties I've experienced my entire college career, needless to say there's been quite a few.

Here's an interview Adam actually did with "Scapegoat" from S.O.T.E.


What did you get into first, punk or hiphop?
Hip-hop definitely, I was excited to get cable when I was 9, just for Yo! MTV Raps. I also collected Yo! MTV Raps trading cards and listened to terrible pop rap groups. My grandmother taped a PBS documentary for me called "Rap City Rhapsody" that was my first exposure to Too $hort and Public Enemy, which my mom taped over in front of me while I cried like a maniac, because it was a "bad influence." The first tape I got was MC Hammer's "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em." The first record I got was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Soundtrack, because it had an MC Hammer song that wasn't on wither of the tapes that were out. Nothing to be proud of, but we are being honest with each other. Or at least I hope we are.

When did you start making music with waxatom?
I met Bobby when I was about 18 when he was DJing a party and we hit it off pretty immediately by talking about records we had or were into at the time. He was dating a girl that I had grown up with and I used to run into him a lot. I got him to spin records in between bands at a punk show we were doing at our house around that time too..
Me and my friend James recorded a rap demo on a four track (that my friend Tolar bought from the bass player of Limp Bizkit -- true story) and my friend Rose Saperstien who was Bobby's girlfriend at the time got me to play it for him at a party, and he was into it. We already had a show booked and I asked him if he would DJ for us. After the show, I asked him if he wanted to be in the band. He obliged and the mayhem began.


What is the wildest show Scum of the Earth has ever played?
Quite possibly the New Year's show in New Orleans, I think New Year's '08.. We played a party for the Black Label bike club, which I had never heard of at the time, I had also never heard about the whole bike club subculture which everybody at the show seemed to be a memeber of.
The first band's guitar player lit like 6 joints and handed them out to the crowd, and people pretty much just felt free to smoke whereever in the club. People also felt free to dance naked and shoot of fireworks in the club. I'm not really doing it justice with this description, but I also almost got beat up by an all girl bike gang for Richmond called the Cutthroats.
The one where we smashed all Bobby's shit when we opened up for Baroness was really wild, but I don't remember much about that.


Chronologically list the Scum of the Earth discography...
The only thing we still really distribute is the "Bad Decisions" LP, but it's something like this.
s/t Demo CD
Missed Opportunities CD
Sleeper Ep CD
The Story So Far CD (sort of a greatest hits deal because we were tired of burning all these damn cds, we probably only made in the neighborhood of 20 of these)
Bad Decisions LP
Split 7" w/ La Cara Oculta


Over the years you haven't been afraid to call people out in your songs, that ever come back to haunt you?
Not Really. The only reason I call people out is because they were fake as fuck anyway. I would know better than to call out a real motherfucker who could beat my ass.


In your opinion, what is the best florida band of all time?
Radon is my favorite Gainesville band of all time, and since that's where I'm from, I think I'm gonna stick with them.


Any Scum of the Earth releases planned for 2011?
Yeah, If I ever write any songs. We were supposed to release two albums in 2010. That never happened.


Who is the biggest shithead of all time from Gainesville?
Some people say me, I say Jason Rockhill.


Who is your favorite modern mainstream rapper?
I think Ludacris was always pretty witty, especially for a dude who is on the radio. My girlfriend just told me he is on the new Justin Bieber song and putting this will hurt my street credibility. I am going to put it anyway.


Stage Dives or Skankin'?
Stage dives all day.

Convictions (Birmingham)


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Fresh out of Alabama, Convictions is another solid band taking part in this oncoming revival of youth crew.What can I say? I can't ever get tired of this type of hardcore. It has the best energy in the live setting, and the simplistic form proves itself tried and true as long as the bands know what they're doing. These kids do. It's too bad they got put on an early slot on Sunday at Southeast Hardcore Fest, and not Saturday with comparable acts like Written Off (KY) and Enough (TN). Not only that, but after two solid days, playing an early set on the third day guarantees a less-than-satisfactory turn out. But that's no reason to overlook Convictions. They're a new addition to the scene and Birmingham has always had a good output from younger and aspiring musicians. Listening to the cassette Undefeated Youth shows Convictions in the early stages, with a load of potential at that. Keep it up, boys. Adam repped your shirt the rest of the night by the way.

email: convictionshc@yahoo.com

Monday, September 26, 2011

Life To Live Records



If you were into those Overlooked tracks, but hadn't heard them before, know that this Florida record label has their latest 7", "Nothing Is Sacred" available on vinyl, and also as a free download via Overlooked's bandcamp page. Not only that, but they have some other awesome bands from around the country putting out some solid records. Doing a record label is a hectic job, especially in an age where record sales continue to drop, so it's always good to support smaller ones with ambition to go further.

Their current roster includes:
Ivy League (Preorder's are up)
Overlooked
Alert
Control
Outlast
Damages

Each of these bands have records out, you can download them, order vinyl while it lasts, and more here:

Life To Live Website

Sign of the Times- Show review for the Cro Mags, Feb. 2011-Atlanta



I know that February 2011 is a little too far back to be considered a "new" feature, but how often does the south get a band like this to play? Rarely. Needless to say, their show was of great significance to anybody in the south who likes hardcore. I don't remember why I couldn't make it, probably something stupid in retrospect. A couple people from here did make it down, and fortunately Kevin Roberts (formerly of Coping Methods and False Sense of Hope) was able to write a thorough review. If you were there, consider yourself lucky and maybe in reading this it'll bring back some good memories; also know that those of us who weren't able to make it missed something rare and special.

by Kevin Roberts...

Cro-mags, Primate, Kids Like Us, & Nightwolf

The Cro-mags are hands down my favorite NYHC band. (that period should be bolded). So, when I heard they were playing in Atlanta, I immediately made my way to the oracle of knowledge known as the worldwide web for answers. I couldn’t find anything…. I told my friend John and he found it within minutes. And within minutes of that, I ordered tix!

The show was listed as Cro-mags with special guests; which didn’t matter to me because seeing the Cro-mags with John Joseph on vox was gonna be well-worth the trip.

On the day of the show, Adam, Dylan, John, and I loaded up and headed to the capital of the dirty south to see the legends. We were all sooooo stoked and the intensity of anticipation, at least for me, definitely matched the feeling of adolescents when I first heard “The Age of Quarrel” and “Best Wishes”; because at that point in my life I was obsessed with metal- particularly thrash metal (circa 1991)- but I was growing increasingly bored with the staleness of a lot of thrash because thrash was becoming more about the flashiness of the guitar players and less about the intensity of the song, and at 13 all I wanted to do was rage!!! In other words, I credit The Cro-mags for building my bridge to hardcore and punk rock (along with The Misfits and The Ramones- yes, that’s how special those Cro-Mags albums are to me).
As we made our way into the club, John and I found our way towards the back, in the senior citizen section. Honestly, my thinking was: I’m sure the other bands’ll be good, but I’m saving ‘it’ for the Cro-mags. As the first band’s set got underway, I realized how much I missed coming to hardcore shows in Atlanta. The first band was Nightwolf who did a split set with their friends. Both bands were great and brought the right amount of style to hang with the rest of the show. Next up was Kids Like Us. I had never heard of Kids Like Us before they played. I’m sure some of you are puzzled by that; that I’d never heard of them. I thought they were great! In fact, they are the best band that I’ve ever seen that I first heard about at the show. After I was pleasantly surprised by Kids Like Us, Primate played. I was curious about Primate because I knew that Bill from Mastodon and Kevin from Brutal Truth were in the band. Primate was great, too! They play the Discharge style of hardcore, which I love, but it was a little out of place for this particular show!

FINALLY, The Cro-mags took the stage! I guess most people were as anxious (or more anxious) than me to see the Cro-mags, because people began stage diving to the intro music; which, sounded like some kinda Krishna spiritual music—nothing that remotely resemble the Cro-mags’s music. The Cro-mags opened with “World Peace” and the place exploded—bodies flying everywhere! John Joseph’s intensity and passion did not let up the entire set; which, he credits to 30 years of being a vegetarian and exercising. Regardless, of what fuels his stamina (I believe that it is because he takes such good care of his physical and mental health), I hope I can look like he does when I’m his age! The show continued with the entire ‘Age of Quarrel’ album a few songs from “Best Wishes” and a couple of Bad Brains covers. And before I knew it, their set was over! It’s crazy sometimes when you think about seeing something that has been a part of your vocabulary (so-to-speak) for some many years is over in less than an hour! But, so are most of life’s greatest pleasures!

If you have not had a chance to see The Cro-mags, find a way to do it!
-Kevin Methods

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Carolina In My Mind- Overlooked (NC) new tracks/interview with Ian



Review of Overlooked's new tracks "The Hangover Sessions"

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Holy shit. That was the first thing that popped in my head during the first song, "Sheltered," because as soon as the song kicks in, it's right in front of you. Both songs, posted today 9/25, have the same features: fast and pissed off, my two favorite things. They're sounding more together than most of the bands I've seen from bigger labels. The way they stay together throughout "Singled Out" is especially impressive from a musician's standpoint; it's nearly impossible to disparage their talent. These two tracks are a combination of everything good hardcore should be, and they avoid lengthy/boring introductions, prolonged mosh parts intended for shows, and everything else that makes a band's recordings unlistenable. My only let down from hearing this is that I only got to see them play three songs at their show back in July. But it's also showing us all that the best is yet to come.

Interview with Ian, 22, Vocalist for Overlooked....


-When/how did Overlooked start up?

overlooked got started in the summer of 09 with myself and our old drummer wanting to start a new band that didnt sound like anything else going on in the area.

-You guys have had some issues with members lately, I've been there before with bands, how are you guys doing with the situation at the moment?

as of now we have just about everything worked out. every band has its ups and downs, and this has just been a tough year for us all around. everything that could go wrong, HAS gone wrong just about.

-What are some of the main influences for your band? It seems like a pretty wide range from what I've heard, but that's definitely good.

its different for every member, but we draw a lot of contemporary influence from bands like no warning and right brigade, but also lots of old metal, classic rock, and 90s grunge. our intention is to be as fast and pissed as possible and we take influence from just about everything.

-This summer I saw you did some dates with our friends in Fingers Crossed, what was that like?

yeah back in march we did an east coast run with those guys and it was awesome. i actually booked their first out of state show and weve been good friends ever since, so it just made sense that we would eventually do some dates together. they kill it every night and are one of the harder working bands in the scene currently, so it was awesome to get to kick it and play together for a few weeks.

-A noticeable factor about Overlooked is that you rep NC pretty proudly, how are things up there?

things are better than they have been in a long time, but there is still a lot of work to be done. the bands that are out right now are absolutely killing it, but there is always room for more.

-A lot of bands are referring you guys as a band to check out, so who do you want people to check out? 

fingers crossed, BAD, the beautiful ones, venia, doubledealer, lockdown, agitator, hivemind, and so many more. thats just a few hardcore bands that come to my mind right away that deserve some attention.

-Best thing about touring?

sheetz, wawa, del taco, in-n-out burger, winning free food at taco bell on the coin game

-Worst thing about touring?

gas prices, not winning free food at taco bell, being away from cookout, texas heat

-Closing comments?

do the toxic waltz

"These Are the Days We Don't Appreciate" -Just Die! (Asheville, NC)

Photo Credit: Picture Dave Photography

9/18/11 Just Die! @ Sluggo's, Chattanooga, TN Show review

It's not too often anymore that a band plays and leaves an impact on me. Maybe it's the hundreds of hardcore bands I've seen over the years all starting to blur together. I'd attribute it entirely to being somewhat jaded, but I can still leave a Bane show and feel like a better person, so my enthusiasm for hardcore is still alive. JD! plays the fast pissed off punk-influenced hardcore from the early 00's that drew me in back then. Their singer Steve Shell, 36, had a lot to say, and he kept the audience attentive and inspired throughout their performance. The band themselves played tightly, showcasing their skills as musicians. I had to miss their previous show in Chattanooga, which was my own band's record release, due to work conflict. Everyone who was there in February that was present last week made sure people watched them. By the end of their set they played to a full room of onlooking, and impressed, hardcore kids who all left with that same sense of gratification through Just Die!'s performance. As he introduced the last song, Shell taught the crowd it's concluding chant, "These are the days we don't appreciate," something that couldn't be more true. I saw lots of my friends smiling as they whispered these words to themselves, and it had us all reflecting on the weekend and the fortune placed in our hands. Everyone left the room at the end of their set with a reclaimed sense of enthusiasm, something that is priceless no matter who you are or where you're from.

I got to do a brief interview with guitarist Matt Evans, here's what he had to share:

-How about an introduction?

First off, thanks so much for taking the time and interest to do this interview. For those of you who are just tuning in to JUST DIE!, we are from Asheville, NC. We started back in 2006 and so far have recorded: Demo 2006, No Time for Poetry (2008), Garages and Basements (2009), and A Momentary Lapse in Positive Thinking (2011). We've been fortunate enough to go up and down the east coast numerous times and through the midwest. We love using this band as our own personal outlet and venue for travel and making friends.  I'm excited to answer your questions, Aaron.

Your show last weekend here in Chattanooga has been mentioned by everyone in attendance as a favorite of the weekend, how's that feel?

Honestly, it feels great.  The show was too much fun and every band was great at what they do (we missed one set).  I feel proud to be part of the Southeast Hardcore Scene.  We were all stoked on the great crowd response and energy from our set.  That's what it is about for us, always.  We met some great people and I was stoked to talk about straight edge with some younger guys just getting into it.

Most of you have day jobs, what's it like trying to balance out real lives and a hardcore band?

Steve (vocals) and Dave (drums) are both teachers.  They currently work at the same place, a school for troubled/at risk children and teens.  They could tell you all about it, but always hearing them talk about it, it seems rewarding, yet outrageously tiring,  It seems that a bit of some of Steve's lyrical content deals with the struggle of the job.  I respect those guys for that.  Josh cooks and serves bagels and I sling movies at an independent movie store in downtown Asheville.  I have the least"day" job out of the bunch.  Since we work like we do, we have to be selective about shows and touring.  Its great to get away though.

What's the Asheville scene like currently? Most people recognize it as a more hippie-based community, does that impact the hardcore scene at all?

The Asheville scene has always been great for the 7 years I've been there.  However, its not really a good place for hardcore.  We sort of fit in because we play really pissed off like and fast, which is what Asheville seems into.  We have some great bands: Flies Around It, Autarch, Kakistocracy, Sunshine SS, Soft Opening, Forget Me, Reining Sound, Zombie Queen, GO DEVILS, and tons more.  I just wish more people dug hardcore.  I was part of a house that was doing shows last year and we were fortunate enough to get some great current hardcore bands through.  We hate hippies.  Do what you do I guess.  I love the music scene in Asheville, there's just a lot going on.  Booking shows in Asheville will turn your heart black.

I have to ask a few generic questions, so what's the future have in store for JD!?

Well, we aren't letting up anytime soon. We just released our new record, so as soon as our van is fixed, we will be getting out and touring to support.  2012 will be a busy year for JD! to make up for the early part of 2011.  We have some bands in mind that we want to go on the road with.

Whatever the future plans may be, you better make sure Chattanooga shows are abundant factor

We love CHATTANOOGA, so we will definitely be back.  Adam Foster for President.  3/4 of our shows there have been great.  We can't thank you all enough.


Any closing comments? Say whatever you want...

Thanks so much for checking out this interview.  Please check out Young and In the Way, Torch Runner and Campaign.  










Saturday, September 24, 2011

FADED


Subconscious Infiltration EP

Faded is a one of a kind band. To attempt to define their style doesn't really do them justice at all, think if Integrity did peyote out in the desert and you'll get a good start. Their newest release, Subconscious Infiltration, features songs you've heard live if you've been lucky enough to catch them over the last year. Also, Tyler brings his DJ mixer to shows and does trippy shit with his vocals, who else does that? Fucking nobody, that's who. +10 punk points.

Instead of an interview, I decided to post something better.... In fact it counts as an interview, because I'm standing right there next to him, and brought this up right before Josh realized this needed to be documented.

Will To Die interview/demo


Will 2 Die demo


I did this a few months ago for a zine that unfortunately never took off. Will To Die, also known as Will 2 Die, is a hardcore band hailing from Knoxville, TN. They started up this past summer and recently released their first demo, though the demo itself sounds like they’ve been playing together for years. Well actually, it’s because they have played together for years, only in Fingers Crossed. They came through recently and did their first Chattanooga show this past January. These guys have done a lot for the East Tennessee hardcore scene, and when they’re not playing they’re still supporting the scene somehow.

Interview with Sammy (vocals)

How’ve you been doing man?


Sammy: I've been doin awesome man just working enough to get by and doing the bands. Thats my usual.

What made this project happen? I know you guys are constantly busy with FC…

Well im not exactly sure. I guess we thought our local scene needed another jolt and we wanted to help with it. I havd never done vox in a band before and i wanted a chance to say something haha. We are always extremely busy with both of the bands and work. FC is in full swing hitting it hard. We just got back back from a 2 week east coast tour and have a ton of badass regional shows coming up that include Breast Fest in NC, a show with the almighty Merauder in SC, and etc. FC is writing a new EP right now also. Look out for FC tour dates the entire month of july.

What are some of your main influences for W2D?

That’s hard man haha. Strife, Earth Crisis, Trial, Stigmata, The Cro-mags, Sepultura, Judge, and Hatebreed. I don’t know if that’s what we sound like but thats what we wanted to sound like ha. We just get together and jam. Whatever grooves, hits hard, and goes fast is what we like.

Tell me about the Knoxville scene, I haven’t made it to a show there in a good while…

Knoxville's scene is definitely getting itself together. Real kids are getting into it and making it awesome. It seems like every show we book gets bigger and bigger.

What’s the future have in store for W2D?

We are currently writing some new material for a tape we will be putting out sometime this summer. Definently wanting to tour but until then just playing regional shows. We are just a fun band trying to kick it and have fun. Im just trying to improve my bench press, Matt is trying to find someone to chip in on a bottle of early times, Mason is trying to be a rocket scientist and a bike rider, Aaron is trying to circle pit to Rancid, and Tim is trying to adopt more dogs and eat NY pizza.


In your song “Addiction” your final line is “Burn, Burn, Burn, Burn, Bitch!”, are you talking about a woman? If not, who or what?

The song is about someone who denies they have an addiction. This song definently came from a personal experience. Edge or not most people can relate to this situation. A selfish person with a selfish problem affects the lives of there friends and family and do absolutely nothing to stop it. Its not about one person in particular. There is about four people this song is really about. Just four different times in my life where i have seen this happen. Mostly with family.


So you’re in this month’s edition of EDGE WATCH* (a section from the zine whose title implies the content) as well, for suspected use of steroids… what’s the deal?


Steroids! hahaha na just protein, hard work, and dieting. Go to my gym. I look small compared to a real juice head. haha Mason needs to be on edge watch for listening to too much Sunn, Eyehategod, and Weedeater... Wanna be hippie stoner.

Who do you feel has the hardest mosh, and why?

SEPULTURA. Its tribal mosh. Whats harder than that? Straight out of a fuckin jungle.

Any closing comments?

check out In Time, Overlooked, Coping Methods, Stronghold, Worlds Below, True Life. Just some new bands that are killin it.

First Post

Here we go.

This blog is dedicated to all the up and coming southeast hardcore acts. At the same time we're going to go back in time to some of the bands that helped shape what we have today. This past weekend here in Chattanooga was the very first Southeast Hardcore Fest, where everyone in attendance was lucky enough to see that there's something special going on all around us, and that this scene we love so much is alive and well. Before things get too involved, what I'm asking is that you help me out however you can. It doesn't take much at all really, in fact, just posting on your facebook/twitter/whatever social media you use most. At the same time, any submissions or suggestions are strongly encouraged, please send them to my email at aaronlitvack@gmail.com

We've got a lot to offer, and I want to see this go as far as possible.