Wow, what a show! Dropdead/Wasted Time/Cough/Ilsa

15 03 2011

Wow, what a show! is brought to you again this week by Will Butler of To Live A Lie Records / Fastcore Photos. If you take photos and like to write about punk shows (or if you and a friend wanna team up to do this) drop us a line at webzine {at} maximumrocknroll(.)com with a sample review and pics, and maybe you too can be a MRR shitblogger!

Ilsa (photo by Will Butler)

It has been a little bit since I’ve posted something for you fine folks. Of course, if you get the print version of MRR you can see my interview in issue #335 with the fine folks in DEVOUR. Speaking of a little bit of time, the almighty Providence grind/violence band DROPDEAD hasn’t played a show in DC in thirteen years! Well, on March 12th, 2011… all that changed when the band drove all the way down just to play DC and turn around and go back on with their normal lives.

Not sure if anyone likes a show review to be more like a journal or not but I think it makes it more interesting, and I’m the one writing here so you’ll have to deal with it for now. The kids of BURMA, a local Raleigh band, were nice enough to let me tag along with them on the way up to the show. Had an entertaining ride up. We then caught up with (sorry this seems to be shout-out heaven right here) Greg from DEATHRATS who was nice enough to show us around town for an hour or two before the show. We went to Smash and Crooked Beats Records, and then by Sticky Fingers bakery so that I could get a killer vegan cinnamon bun and some coffee to get me amped up for the night, and so that I wouldn’t crash early because I woke up at 9 a.m. As we roll back to the house, Greg starts to flip out as there is a van parked in front of the house. He looks over at me and says something to the extent of, “Please don’t let me flip out — Dropdead is over at my house now.” Awesome nice folks, I had met Ben a few times before as he has toured down with bands and when Dropdead played Richmond for Best Friends Day a few years ago. A quick aside: when they played Richmond it was one of the most insane house shows I’ve ever been to… The show got moved from a venue to a house; the house’s basement ceiling got ripped down during their set and I was clinging to the water heater for protection.

Cough (photo by Will Butler)

Fast forward to actual show time. The show was at a church a few blocks from Greg’s house and even fewer blocks from Sticky Fingers, where we had gotten some eats earlier in the day. Really awesome setup for shows. ILSA went on first. This is the only band I had no idea about before seeing them. Pretty good down-tuned sludge/doom. I noticed one person in that band that I recognized but couldn’t place it at all. I later realized he was in a two-younger-kid grindcore band I had seen maybe four years ago in Baltimore called WYLD STALLYNS. I had always wondered what happened to people from that band so was excited to make that connection.

Aptly, COUGH followed. Sludge jams, back-to-back. I saw the band five years ago and the singer was too obliterated to stand up, so the new configuration of the band was a huge improvement. I tried my darndest to get pictures of the band to where they didn’t have hair splaying in their faces but didn’t have much luck.

Wasted Time (photo by Will Butler)

Next to play was WASTED TIME. The band rips every time. Slightly different than any band playing the night, but was somehow a perfect transition between the sludge and grind bands. I was standing at oh so the wrong place during their set and was about to get my camera smashed by a stagedive when the guy realized what I had in my hand and made a feline-esque leap right over my head. Later in the set I turned around and saw three different people holding their noses, people were in the pit crowd killing and freaking out really hard for the band. Later in the night I had the pleasure of meeting Mark and Alex for the first time, and got to say hey to the lovely Brandon as well.

Last was cherry on top of an already awesome show, DROPDEAD… lords of grindcore and purveyors of animal rights. During the whole set people were clamoring to share the mic with Bob as he was belting out song after song. I really don’t even know what to say that gives them justice. I felt kind of awkward as I was the only person on stage during their set but I had a bird’s eye view of the maniacs in the pit. I saw even more people holding their noses as if each person in the place was systematically punch squarely in the nose. I think they did their thirteen-year absence justice. Lots of video cameras — please do yourself a favor and lurk video sites for a recording of the set.

Dropdead (photo by Will Butler)

So I am one to harp on the good things during a show. There unfortunately were a few fights, mainly near the end of the night. Both Michelle from SICK FIX and Greg seemed to do a good job keeping things under control. I thought Bobby Egger from Headcount Records was about to jump in and break up one fight. I’m an outsider to things that go on in DC so I hope nothing was more serious than someone got hit wrong in the mosh pit or something.

My night concluded back at a house with DROPDEAD, eating the biggest piece of vegan pizza I have ever seen in my life. Amazing show, good town, good trip, awesome friends. Thanks to Chris Moore for putting the show on.

March 15th, 2011 by Will Butler
Comments : 13 Comments »
Categories : Show reviews

Monday Photo Blog: Savage Lady

14 03 2011

Savage Lady from the Netherlands sent a nice batch of garagey photos in this week for the photo blog. Some from Holland, shot at the now-closed, legendary De Diepte club in Amsterdam, others from the good ol’ USofA.

Carbonas @ Beerland, Austin, TX, 2007? 2008? (photo by Savage Lady)

Digital Leather @ Beerland, Austin, TX 2008 (photo by Savage Lady)

CPC Gangbangs @ Longbranch Inn, Austin, TX 2008 (photo by Savage Lady)

die Rotzz @ De Diepte, Amsterdam, 2005 (photo by Savage Lady)

The Reatards @ De Diepte, Amsterdam, 2005 (photo by Savage Lady)

If you shoot shows and have photos you want to submit for the MRR Blog, send them to: photoblog {at} maximumrocknroll(.)com. Be sure to put “MRR Photo Blog” in the subject. Include your name, the band, where and when it was shot. Just send your best photos – edit tightly. Three to five photos is plenty. We like to exercise a little quality control here…not everything sent in will be posted. Please size your photos so they are 600 pixels (72 dpi) at the longest side.

EARLY WARNING: The Powers That Be at MRR and I have started talking about doing a new photo issue. This one will most likely focus more on people who were shooting in the early days of punk. If you know of any unsung photographers, undiscovered photo collections of punk bands from the late ’70s – early ’80s, or are just interested maybe in interviewing someone, drop us a line!

March 14th, 2011 by icki
Comments : No Comments »
Categories : Monday Photo Blog, Photos

The MRR Records Discography: a History

14 03 2011

The very first time readers got their hands ink-stained with the pages of Maximum Rocknroll, it was through the zine insert for the now-classic Cali punk/HC compilation Not So Quiet on the Western Front. Right from the beginning, MRR wanted to have its hands in everything DIY punk: zines, records, radio, show spaces, politics, and more. That locals-only double LP was released by then-MRR Radio collaborator Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles, and served as ground zero for both Maximum Rocknroll fanzine and Maximum Rocknroll Records. Just two short years later, MRR Records unleashed its first official release onto the world: the era-defining ripper Welcome to 1984, a compilation that managed to introduce some of the greatest global hardcore bands to a wider audience. Always reflecting both the local punk scene around it and the happenings of the international punk world, MRR Records next released the Turn It Around double 7″ EP, featuring local bands associated with the nascent Gilman Street Project, and the Dezerter and Naïve records, both from behind the Iron Curtain. The ’90s saw MRR Records focusing on politics (Noam Chomsky), old and new punk classics (Bad Religion, Furious George), and the emergent garage punk sound (Spoiled Brats, et al.). After a seven-year hiatus, MRR Records re-emerged with the monster 2006 international HC/punk comp Public Safety. Not forgetting the local/international combo that made those early records classics, the newest record on MRR is the SF/Bay Area comp Noise Ordinance. Buy now or pose later, punkers!

—Golnar Nikpour

MRR Records Discography:

MRR 001 – Welcome to 1984 compilation LP (1984)
Reissued in 2010. Available in our webstore.

Terveet Kadet/Olho Seco/Crucifucks/Electric Deads/Inferno/Kidnap/N.O.T.A./Icons Of Filth/R.I.P./Skjit-Lars/Rattus/Raw Power/Bristles/Depression/B.G.K./The Stalin/Frites Modern/U.B.R./Mayhem/Red Tide/Moral Demolition/Huvudtvatt/Upright Citizens

MRR 002 – Turn It Around! compilation 2×7″ (1987)
3,000 pressed (?)
Compiled by David Hayes. Reissued as an LP in 1991 as a benefit “bootleg” for Gilman Street on Very Small Records (1,087 pressed).

Corrupted Morals/Sweet Baby Jesus/Isocracy/No Use for a Name/Crimpshrine/Operation Ivy/Stikky/Nasal Sex/Yeastie Girls/Rabid Lassie/Sewer Trout/Buggerall

MRR 003 – DEZERTER – Underground Out of Poland LP (1987)

Reissued in 2010 by Nikt Nic Nie Wie.

MRR 004 – They Don’t Get Paid, They Don’t Get Laid, But Boy Do They Work Hard! compilation LP/cassette (1989)

Out of print.

The Detonators/Amenity/Christ on a Crutch/Nausea/Apocalypse/Conspiracy of Equals/Screeching Weasel/Jawbox/Dissent/Downfall/Dead Silence/Cringer/Bazooka Joe/Libido Boyz

MRR 005 – NAÏVE – Switch-Blade Knaife LP (1990)

Out of print.

MRR 006 – BAD RELIGION/NOAM CHOMSKY – New World Order 7″ EP (1991)

Out of print.

MRR 007 – DIESEL QUEENS/INSAINTS – split 2×7″ (1993)

Out of print.

MRR 008 – THE SPOILED BRATS/BUTTAFUOCO – split 2×7″ (1994)

Out of print.

MRR 009 – DIESEL QUEENS – Hooked on Moronics LP (1995)

Out of print.

MRR 010 – FURIOUS GEORGE – I Gotta Gun/Burger King Is Dead 7″ (1996)

Out of print.

MRR 011 – DIESEL QUEENS – The Beast with Five Heads… And a One-Track Mind! 7″ EP (1997)

Out of print.

MRR 012 – THE B-SIDES – LP (1999)
We still have a few copies of this. Buy one here via PayPal:

Or send $10.00 US • $12.50 Canada/Mexico • $20.00 world to MRR • PO Box 460760 • SF CA 94146 • USA Limit one per customer.

MRR 013 – STRYCHNINE – Born Too Loose LP (1999)

Out of print.

MRR 014 – Public Safety compilation LP/CD (2006)
Out of print.

Aaritila, Career Suicide, Deadfall, Direct Control, Disease, The First Step, Formaldehyde Junkies, Framtid, Gorilla Angreb, Holy Shit, Look Back And Laugh, Limp Wrist, Nightmare, No Hope For The Kids, Observers, Pedestrians, Persevere, Regress, Regulations, Signal Lost, Sin Dios, Sleeper Cell, Smalltown, Smartut Kahol Lavan, Strung Up, Sunday Morning Einsteins

MRR 014.5 – BUM KON – Drunken Sex Sucks LP (2008)

Recordings from 1983; co-released with Smooch Records.

Available in our webstore.

MRR 015 – Noise Ordinance compilation LP (2011)

Morpheme, Needles, Rank/Xerox, NN, Shotwell, Black Rainbow, Surrender, Conquest For Death, Acephalix, Airfix Kits, Ruleta Rusa, Face The Rail, Ecoli, Migraine, Year One, Love Songs, Suicide Bomb, Hunx and His Punx, Acts Of Sedition, Fix My Head, I Will Kill You Fucker, Duck And Cover, The Fleshies. Comes with zine insert. SOLD OUT.

Other MRR/related releases:

Virus 14 – Maximum Rocknroll Presents: Not So Quiet on the Western Front compilation 2xLP – Alternative Tentacles (1982)

Still available on CD through Alternative Tentacles.

MANIC HISPANIC – The Menudo Incident LP/CD (1992)

The LP version was funded, at least in part, by Tim Yo, ’cause he loved it.

924 Gilman: The Story So Far… Compiled by Brian Edge

It’s a Book! 400 pages, with over 200 photos and lots of first-hand stories, flyers, memorabilia, and a list of every Gilman show through 2003…awesome!

We are sold out of this book, but you can still get it through AK Press.

March 14th, 2011 by MRR Web Coordinator
Comments : 8 Comments »
Categories : From the Vaults, Merch, MRR Archive

MRR Radio #1235 • 3/13/11

13 03 2011

MRR Radio is a weekly radio show featuring the best DIY punk, garage rock and hardcore from the astounding, ever-growing Maximum Rocknroll record collection. You can find the MRR Radio podcast, as well as specials, archives, and more info at radio.maximumrocknroll.com. Thanks for listening, and stay tuned!

THIS WEEK: Layla, Mariam, Dan, Robert, Arwen, Martin and outta town guest Amelia send messages of solidarity to the people of Wisconsin and Japan.

Listen here:

Download here

Vegetable

Intro song:
GAS – (title in Kanji)

Dan Goetz hardcore on your ears
DADDY NO! – Cruisin for a Bruisin
ACID REFLUX – Voting
PINK REASON – Empty Stomach
H100s – Knock Your Teeth Out
VARUKERS – One Struggle One Fight

Robert Collins is NOT HARDCORE
HASKELS – Taking the City By Storm
DIALS – Television Silence
VEGETABLE – Castration Frustration
GIRLS OF PORN – Sled Blaster
LOVER – In Death

Arwen is Unsafe at Any Speed
HUSKER DU – First of the Last Calls
LOST SOUNDS – Love Killed My Brain
STREET EATERS – The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprise
SHOP ASSISTANTS – Looking Back
SILLA ELÉCTRICA – Tension

Layla’s Early Punker Lady History Lesson
GIRLS AT OUR BEST – It’s Fashion
MYDOLLS – Exorcism
AMADOTS – Hit Girls
FOAMS – Wanton

Amelia dedicates this set to Japan
THE SEXUAL – Anarchy and Destruction
GISM – Shoot to Kill
THE COMES – Panic
DISORDER – 3 Blind Mice

Mariam only got one song but it’s a RAGER!
NARCOSIS – Destruir

Outro song for Bruce:
AGNOSTIC FRONT – Victim in Pain

March 13th, 2011 by Layla
Comments : 8 Comments »
Categories : MRR Radio, MRR Radio Podcast

We miss you, Bruce…

13 03 2011

Bruce Roehrs passed away one year ago today. He is, and will always be, sorely missed.

March 13th, 2011 by MRR Web Coordinator
Comments : 2 Comments »
Categories : Uncategorized

Where the magic happens…

11 03 2011

Come with us, won’t you, for a look behind the curtain. Here’s an eerily accurate diagram by our UK correspondent Bryony Beynon, showing the inner workings of the MRR headquarters. Speaking as another long-distance shitworker, I can tell you it’s just like being there! I just hope this doesn’t fall into the wring hands…

March 11th, 2011 by Paul
Comments : 5 Comments »
Categories : Blog!

Japan Earthquake 2011: 8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits, 30-Foot Tsunami Triggered

11 03 2011

If you haven’t heard by now, Japan was hit with a devastating Earthquake followed by a giant Tsunami. To all of our friends and those who have family in Japan, all of us here at MRR have you in our thoughts.

Narm Discos sent us this link which may be helpful for anyone searching for loved ones in Japan, and we will pass on any information we receive in assistance to the tremendous relief effort that will be needed.

Taken from Huffington Post, Associated Press writers Jay Alabaster, Mari Yamaguchi, Tomoko A. Hosaka and Yuri Kageyama contributed to this report…

TOKYO — A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan’s eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control.

Hours later, the tsunami hit Hawaii and warnings blanketed the Pacific, putting areas on alert as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast. In Japan, the area around a nuclear power plant in the northeast was evacuated after the reactor’s cooling system failed.

Police said 200 to 300 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai, the city in Miyagi prefecture (state) closest to the quake’s epicenter. Another 88 were confirmed killed and at least 349 were missing. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster.

The magnitude-8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (seven-meter) tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0.

Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter. A large section of Kesennuma, a town of 70,000 people in Miyagi, burned furiously into the night with no apparent hope of the flames being extinguished, public broadcaster NHK said.

“The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan,” Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

The government ordered thousands of residents near a nuclear power plant in Onahama city to move back at least two miles (three kilometers) from the plant. The reactor was not leaking radiation but its core remained hot even after a shutdown. The plant is 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.

Read the rest of this entry »

March 11th, 2011 by Mariam
Comments : 2 Comments »
Categories : News

Record of the Week: TIMMY’S ORGANISM Rise of the Green Gorilla LP

10 03 2011

This Record of the Week comes from our record reviewer Mitch Cardwell (welcome back, Mitch!) and appears in the April issue of MRR magazine, which also features an interview with TIMMY’S ORAGNISM…

***

How can KURT VILE fans sleep at night knowing that this fucking guy is out there, ruling the universe? Seriously, Timmy Vulgar — punko-futuro from EPILEPTIX, CLONE DEFECTS and HUMAN EYE — makes everyone else look like a fucking joke.

Timmy Vulgar (photo by Doug Coombe)

Bottom line: there are few people in the world making music in the same league as this guy, and Rise of the Green Gorilla, though slightly different from previous efforts, keeps the bar set incredibly high.This is not some artful grouping of bleep-blops unleashed as a vanity project, but a collection of songs that are sometimes harsh, sometimes surprisingly pretty, but always Timmy. There’s a heavier reliance on electronics and synths on this LP than anything else he’s done, yet his particular brand of damage is present throughout.

I like to think this record is just a day-in-the-life type of document, recorded sometime in between eating a small child for breakfast and bedding a starlet from outer space around 3 a.m. This LP contains the lyric, “We survive on marijuana and carrots,” for crissakes. Genius!!!

(Sacred Bones Records)

March 10th, 2011 by MRR Web Coordinator
Comments : No Comments »
Categories : Record of the Week, Record Reviews

Monday Photo Blog: xSevastopolx

7 03 2011

Grisha from Sevastopol, Ukraine, sent a handful of photos of hardcore bands ASPIRE and STILL who played there back in January. X up and dig in!

Aspire, Sevastopol (photo by Shipa)

Still, Sevastopol (photo by Shipa)

March 7th, 2011 by icki
Comments : No Comments »
Categories : Monday Photo Blog, Photos

Maximum Rocknroll #335 • April 2011

6 03 2011

In this holiest of months in the MRR calendar, we present to you the holiest of issues, the April 2011 Christian punk special! That’s right MRR #335 has arisen! An incisive look at the state of punk through the lens of our Christian brethren. We also managed to squeeze in interviews with New York punk maniax CRAZY SPIRIT, Finnish post-punk anarchos 1981, and creative Detroit music destruction force TIMMY’S ORGANISM. Plus we’ve got North Carolina hardcore courtesy of DEVOUR and SUNSHINE SS, some Gainesville Noize Not Music from MAUSER, and Pittsburgh, PA’s own ICON GALLERY. That is not all! We have a look at Hartford, CT punk house/show space the Whitney House, an interview with Rob from Boston’s legendary SIEGE, an extensive Michigan HC scene report, and an interview with that state’s hardcore basement dwellers ATTENTION SPAN. All of that, plus more reviews and columns than you can shake a Christ on a Crutch at!