Saturday 14 January 2012

UK - Brighton

“Brighton has always had a strong vibrant underground music and art scene. There are loads of bands, projects, artists, venues and labels but I'm only gonna mention the alternative music scene...

Amongst its most famous exports are what remains of the ashes of Theatre of Hate (London originals but now resident in Brighton) - Spear of Destiny.

Also a Brighton resident is Chelsea's frontman Gene October and he told me they're getting together for a couple of gigs here in town and also the coming Rebellion festival in the summer with the "Evacuate" album line-up. That will be a blast!

Also still doing the rounds are probably the city's most famous Punk band Peter & The Test Tube Babies.

As for that great band Poison Girls - they're sadly missed but obviously not forgotten...

Now for the newest generation of rebels with a cause…


Burnt Cross and Constant State of Terror which fly high the anarcho-punk flag and in the case of the latter a slight crustie influence can be noted in their sound as opposed to the Crass and affiliates type of sound that Burnt Cross diffuse through the several means of communication...


Also we have Dollar Sent that owes its credentials to a more garage/punk genre but are a must to see live...


Now as for The Meow-Meows, ska is the dish being served. Bon-Apetite!

Speaking of Ska but with lashings of hardcore/punk infused in its sound The Junk have been slowly but surely gaining ground along with a faithful fan-base.


Now also of the Punk persuasion but with a comic and funny outtake on life are Los Mendozas, Always dressed as Mexican wrestlers in their gigs, they're a band that you gotta see them to believe it and the sound damn it rips!


For those that like a bit more melody then maybe Corrigan would be the answer.


For the trasher that hides inside you one can always rely on Crypsis to deliver...


For the new hardcore legions of nouveau kiddies then it'll have to be The Fallthrough. These guys don't mess about!


Finally Random Heroes are also worth mentioning...

There are loads more bands about but I think I've given you all the right pointers as if you go to see or hear one of these then you probably hear about others sometime too...

As for venues places like The Hydrant, Prince Albert, Cowley Club and for the bigger gigs the Concorde 2 are the usual rendez-vous.

For the place to buy records, cd's and t-shirts, I have to mention Buz and his store the Punker Bunker as he is also one of the people that organizes events in town and has over the years delighted many folk bringing to town such great acts as The Adicts, the Dickies, NoMeansNo, etc...”

Friday 13 January 2012

France 3

France 2

"There is nothing much new from my region except...

Death Mercedes


Youth Avoiders released a new EP


Idiot Talk from Lille released a new EP


And that's pretty much everything that comes to mind..."

Sunday 1 January 2012

US - Oxnard & Ventura County, CA 2

US - Oxnard & Ventura County 1

“Frankly I was appalled at the first report that you had for the Oxnard area. At the moment we have TONS more bands than 5 groups who all play the same generic (not a huge fan of myself) 2-stepping HXC. Don't get me wrong, the dudes who play in those bands are all cool. I went to school with some of them. It's just not the only bands that are, and at that time, were active.

The Oxnard scene has always been thriving. Every clique of people seem to have their own opinion about the vitality of the scene.

The "street punks" scene tends to come alive once every ten years. Same with the "pogo" and "drunk" punks.

The "HXC" kids scene usually makes a revival every two years or so when bands like Ceremony or Trash Talk decide to come down to Oxnard to visit.

A list of genres and bands are below. Separating active bands, styles/genres/ and area of origin.

All bands listed represent a whole spectrum of punk and hardcore. Not just one style. Tons of styles with people of all types.

Cheers!

--"ACTIVE"--BANDS—CURRENT

BLASTING CONCEPT (SCUMMY PUNK RAWK/SANTA BARBERA)


CATHOLIC SPIT (PUNK RAWK/VENTURA)


CHIMPOWA (PV/NOISE/OXNARD)

CRUCIAL (HARDCORE/OXNARD)


EL MARIACHI (PV/NOISE/OXNARD)


FLYSWATTER (POP PUNKISH/VENTURA)


THE FUCKING WRATH (STONER/DOOM/VENTURA)

GLOBAL CRIME SYNDICATE (PUNK/VENTURA)


GUN OF A SON (PUNK RAWK/VENTURA)


HEROS FUNERAL (RNR/DEATH/SANTA BARBERA)


HIPSTER TRASH (THRASHCORE/VENTURA)

ILL REPUTE (PUNK RAWK/OXNARD)


OUT OF TRUST (PUNK/VENTURA)

LAZY DOGS (STONER/RIFFAGE/OXNARD)


THE LAST PRIORITY (PUNK/HARDCORE/OXNARD)


LOCKED IN SILENCE (HARDCORE/OXNARD)


THE MISSING 23RD (PUNK/HARDCORE/VENTURA)


MISSIONARY POSSESSION (PUNK/GOLETA)


NEVER MEANT (PUNK/HARDCORE/OXNARD)


NO ADVISORY (PUNK/SIMI VALLEY)


THE ONLY CHILD (ANARACHO/PUNK/OXNARD)

ONE HATE (PV/NOISE)


RETALIATE (HARDCORE/OXNARD)


SIDEWALK SLAMMER (R'ALSH/OJAI)


SHATTERED BADGE (PUNK/HARDCORE/OXNARD)


SORDO (FASTCORE/OXNARD)


STOP BREATHING (PUNK/HARDCORE/VENTURA)


SUBURBAN MOMS (PUNK/HARDCORE/VENTURA)

SWELLBOW (PUNK/HARDCORE/MOORPARK)


VIOLENT AMERICANS (PUNK/HARDCORE/OXNARD)


UMARRA (THRASH/METAL/FILLMORE)

WAGES OF FEAR (PUNK/HARDCORE/VENTURA)