Obnox : Know America

Garage Rock / Punk has had some pretty big moments in music’s frontlines.  From new bands spearheading resurgence in the last decade to the 90s and casting back to the bottomless pit of the 60’s.  I’ve been fixated since living overseas for a few years in 2006 where I got a baptism of fire in New York.  I would say nearly all the records I bought and relished were garage rock.     It was new and exhilarating to me, after listening to a lot of albums some material started to feel like mimicry of what had come before, and ultimately a genre I had become enamoured with felt stale at times.  Sure, there are truly great innovators but I’m not going to tire you with a list, suffice it to say there’s been nothing quite like Obnox. 

Obnox’s recordings are thrilling and challenge its predecessors.   It is clear beginnings in 90s garage punk still play a vital part in what Lamont ‘Bim’ Thomas does, along with a penchant for all things underground.  I mean the Tommy Jay cover on this record gives a nod to one of thee great outsider albums made in Ohio – and anywhere else for that matter.  Previously working in several other garage and punk outfits such as Bassholes, Unholy Two, Puffy Areolas and This Moment In Black History, Thomas has only gathered momentum for his most raucous material yet.  Obnox’s gritty experimentation of introspective punk rock and soul began to emerge in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio around 2011.  Thomas has had some pretty great labels behind him already 12XU, Negative Guestlist and Permanent have all supported his releases with this new record finding a new home at Ever/Never.   There’s a real sense that Thomas’ surroundings informs his writing;  musicians, the streets, the community, people around him  - in searching of synergy in amongst all of it.  The havoc brought forward in Obnox’s material feels like ideas being brought into focus by chaos.   Sound is collaged and layered slammed against blown out guitars, pummelling rhythms and melody driven vocals forever driven to breaking point.  ‘Freaky’ hits with the full whack of how intense this record can get as it seems as though the song only just comes short of frying the equipment it was recorded on. 

The tempestuous nature of the song writing on ‘KnowAmerica’ is undeniable and it still stands from the last time I said it, Obnox’s approach is unbelievably refreshing.  For the first time there’s a chance to see him perform all this too at the end of the month at Café Oto you can buy tickets here, not to be missed!

Nots : Virgin Mary

Nots have followed up their debut album ‘We Are Nots’ on Goner with a new single of unswerving garage rock which is more deranged, more scuzzy and even more commanding than before.  This new track has a raw live quality to it which calls back to their first singles, so it’s no surprise to learn that Keith Cooper who worked on those early Nots releases recorded ‘Virgin Mary’.  A menacing bass line, contorted guitars and keys beside bold rhythms frame a void of outright abandon.  Nots’ new single is packed with the drive to heighten their focus on synth punk.  It’s this ability to connect with likeminded bands that have come before and desire to push things further that makes Nots so exhilarating.  They’re reckless, unwavering and totally fun, go get Nots 'Virgin Mary' or Nots gripping new songs will come get you.

White Wires 'Crazy'

There's no stopping Total Punk Records!  The label seems to be churning out releases at a head-spinning rate and I'm yet to hear one that I haven't enjoyed.  One of the more recent offerings was a brand new single by Ontario's White Wires called 'Crazy', a feel good pop-uh-rific garage number that Total Punk Record's described as "summertime punk" - welp, it's September and I guess the season is almost over, but playing this White Wires 45 feels like one final stand - summer, hell no, you're NOT going without a fight.

WAKE UP DEAD 7" release show w/SAUNA YOUTH, HIPSHAKES, RADIO SLAPS & Le PECHEUR

Shabeen Scene & Gilded Gutter present Wake Up Dead's release show for 3-track-double-A-side slab on EZPZ Records.

FRIDAY 15TH JUNE
POWERLUNCHES
446, Kingsland Road, Hackney, E8 4AE
Entry 5.00
Doors 8pm

Support from the most righteous punk rockin bands in the country
universally loved SAUNA YOUTH
HIPSHAKES back from the grave
new Latino sensations RADIO SLAPS
and fresh French psychsters Le PECHEUR

Wake Up Dead
Members of Black Time and Black Mamba Beat celebrating the release of their first single.
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Sauna Youth
Rampant and savage punk rock from London four piece.
Blog

Hipshakes
Off kilter schizoid garage punk by trio based in Bakewell.
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Radioslaps
Spine grabbing righteous garage rawk brought to London via Spain.
Facebook Bandcamp

Le Pecheur
Spooked and unhinged tangents of lo-fi psychedelia from Parisian band now based in London.
Bandcamp Facebook

'Bring Beer' Compilation

Record store day is upon us and I have my own mixed feelings about the event. I love seeing shops packed to the rafters and everyone hanging out to support their favourite music retailers but, endless queuing, items being put on ebay and people walking away empty handed because the person before them bought everything as though the plane was going down is a real bummer. The thing that doesn't sit right is record stores are a place where I've always felt at home and the frenzy that has become RSD leaves people excluded in a place where everyone should be able to get a look in and have a good time. There are some great titles I'm looking forward to like Lee Hazlewood and Gene Clark, but where to get them from? Will the stores that I like to visit have these releases? Some places get left in the dust in the stampede to try and get stock for RSD and this is exactly what this new compilation on 12XU addresses.

12XU Records have found their own way of celebrating Record Store Day by giving back to the unsung heroes of music retail. 'Bring Beer' is a new compilation on the label that will see all profits being donated to Austin's Trailer Space. Trailer Space functions as a practice studio for bands including some featured on this album, as well as hosting free all ages instores and provides a preferred general hangout spot all year round. 'Bring Beer' is splattered with rock in all it's shapes and sizes along with folk and psychedelic jams from artists like; Chris Brokaw, Carolee, The Golden Boys and Flesh Lights. I've never been to Texas but hope to one day visit and go to this store as I know whatever the time of year it will feel like Record Store Day.

Bands featured on the release:

Cruddy
Diehard garage punk from Austin based three piece.
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Nazi Gold
Strutting rock stomp form Texan trio.
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Rhett and Dean
Classic rolling rock by Austin based Duo.
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Carolee
Tidal and wayward psychedelia melting hearts, minds and faces.
12XU

James Arthur Manhunt
Siren spattered noise from our new fuzz overlords.
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Naw Dude
Breakneck and guttural turbo punk from Austin Quartet.
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Marriage
Deranged, kraut infested rawk by Austin five piece.
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Followed by Static
Tremorous, stinging folk and pop inspired rock hammered out by Velvet, Rut based six piece.
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The Golden Boys
Sprightly, re-imagined version of "Sidewalk" by Austin's party makers and music shakers -- taken from new album 'Dirty Fingernails'.
Facebook

Chris Brokaw
Chilling and lush motley folk.
Website

Philip Sambol
Tender, bluesy serenade from Strange Boys band member.

Flesh Lights
Pulse racing commotion from spunky Austin trio of garage punks.
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GGreen
Reckless and raucous racket makers from Utah four piece.
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Naw Dude
Breakneck and guttural turbo punk from Austin Quartet.
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Air Traffic Controllers
Primal and fierce wanderings of ballistic rock by Austin outfit.
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Record store day is April 21st, if you can't make it to Trailer Space well worth checking in with the label to see if you can get your hands on a copy...12XU

The Hussy 'Weed Seizure'

The wax has barely set on The Hussy's 2011 debut LP 'Cement Tomb Mind Control' and here they are with a knock-out follow up 'Weed Seizure' just released on Tic Tac Totally (OBN III's, Bare Wires, A Giant Dog). The band are based in Madison, WI made up of duo Bobby Hussy (vocals/guitar/keys) and Heather Hussy (vocals/drums/percussion), some may already be familiar with them through Bobby's ever growing label Kind Turkey. The band recorded and mixed the album, produced it with the help of Bert Roberts and artwork was made by Ben Lyon. Together the pair forge rip-roaring Oblivians inspired garage punk touched by psychedelia's feel good freak outs.

Firing on all cylinders "Undefined" opens the album with radiant pop drenched in surges of fuzz, reverb heavy vocals, jangly rhythms and sanguine tinged guitars that will have any Mikal Cronin or Ty Segall fan drooling. Throughout 'Weird Seizure' there's a play on dueling boy/girl vocals, this is best shown on "Stab Me" which is measured out by dirty buzzing guitars and a bright honeyed glockenspiel. Highlight for me is The Hussy's cover of The Ones "Dog Said Yeah", with the drums propelling the song layers of crunchy guitars swarm alongside urgent vocals complete with a few barks and snarls. The album cools off with official closer "The Moon Rules #1", but with a little bit left in the tank The Hussy sneak in hidden track "Go Outside", and you know what? It's a beau-ootiful day in Buckinghamshire today so that's exactly what I intend to do - and this album is coming with me to go bask in the sun somewhere.



Watch out for The Hussy's two brand new singles on Italy's Goodbye Boozy label and Eradicator Records. They also have an extensive tour coming up - check out the Facebook link below for more details.

The Hussy on Facebook Bandcamp

Find copies at Tic Tac Totally

The Rebel/Year of Birds 'Pre-Pub/Blocker For Coinslot EP'

Ack! Ack! Ack! Records is a new label based in Middlesborough UK offering up a 12" adding to their growing roster and it's a doozy. Teaming up on this 12" is The Rebel and Year of Birds who flirt with electronics, kraut, lo-fi and punk in experimental home-recordings.

ASide 'Pre-Pub' from The Rebel features five songs about eating, fucking and death played out mainly with synthesizers, guitars and drums. Opener 'Pubgrub' sets the tone with angular-cyber-pop allowing Ben Wallers and Sophie Politowicz to robotize the world around them. Digitizing commonplace subjects explored with a sense of black humour sums up a little bit of what I take away from The Rebel's work. Shown further on 'It's a 10'; "I'll fuck anything that isn't nailed down", sings Wallers alongside minimal beats and dissonant melody. Another highlight on this side is 'Hard Times of Old England' that has the spirit of one of those football sing-a-long anthems, seeing The Rebel doing what they do best, morphing everyday life into bursts of off kilter electronic rock told from a tragicomic perspective.

Flipping over are Year of Birds a band grounded in Middlesborough featuring; Paul Coates, guitar, Michael Gillham, drums, Oli Heffernan, guitar & vocals and Danielle Velterelle, bass. Together the four piece deliver ramshackle garage punk in the Black Time and The Intelligence vein. Eleven short, gritty and dense sounding numbers flesh out this side of the record. 'Jabs At The Brow' kicks things off with urgent guitars, pummeling rhythms and unmannered vocals, qualities that are consistent throughout and become even more frenzied - like on head-spinning track 'To The Left'. If I didn't know any better I would say this band were from the states, so I was more than excited to find out they're on home turf. From what I can tell these guys have only been around for a year with a handful of releases to date NOT including an album yet, for me, one to watch...

Great, great piece from both bands and stellar way to kick off a label - erm, more please!

Year of Birds Bandcamp
Ack! Ack! Ack! Records Facebook Bandcamp

Radioslaps 'Music Is A Mistake'

Here we have debut tape from London's Radioslaps self released earlier this month. Three piece, Alba (synth, vocals), Melissa (drums, vocals) and Pumu (guitar, vocals) have put together ten scuzzy garage punk numbers. 'Music Is A Mistake' isn't challenging garage bands who have come before, rather made out of a love for them and bringing new blood to the genre. These ballistic recordings play out crunchy guitars, shattered rhythms, saccharine synths with simple melodies measured with erratic, atonal vocals. All in all Radioslaps raucous approach makes this album a burst of adrenaline, available as a download or cassette tape through their Bandcamp page.

You can listen to 'Music Is A Mistake' on Radioslaps Bandcamp
Radioslaps Facebook

Cheater Slicks 'Our Food Is Chaos: The Allen Paulino Sessions'

Almost Ready has released tracks by Cheater Slicks recorded in 1989 during their first line up of the band which included Allen Paulino on bass. This bill didn't last as Paulino would by replaced by Merle Allin until guitarists Tom & Dave Shannon and drummer Dana Hatch did away with bass altogether. These early crude recordings brilliantly show how their dissonant demeanor can easily be mapped back to these first tracks featuring, a gnarly cover of 13th Floor Elevators "Rollercoaster", and personal highlight "Born Loser". I love that this record shows Cheater Slicks as an unwavering scuzzy, degenerate garage punk band who've stood firm for nigh on 25 years. Since forming in 1987 Cheater Slicks are one of those bands like Sun City Girls or the Fall, who don't challenge or even seem to care what musical trends may be going on around them - they create their own unmatched identity and exist on the outskirts where enjoying their songs is as easy as allowing them take you into their world.


Almost Ready Records
Cheater Slicks Facebook

OBN IIIs 'The One and Only'

OBNIIIs make their full length debut on Tic Tac Totally after their raucous garage-punk started to turn heads last year with a flawless run of singles that mixed classic rock with a Stooges-swagger. Members of OBN IIIs are well known for work in other current bands, The Strangeboys, Bad Sports and A Giant Dog who are all active in Austin, Texas, which is where the album was recorded by lead singer Orville. 'The One and Only' features twelve heavy-duty songs loaded with guitar solos and sharp shooting lyrics, checkout 'Get Off Your Knees' to see what I mean! Opener 'If The Shit Fits' is another high point setting the tone for the record with gritty guitars, howling vocals and a snotty attitude which continues to bulldoze its way through this testosterone fueled record - a cracking debut, not to be missed!

Copies from Midheaven
OBN IIIs Facebook