New Blood

MRR magazine’s “New Blood” section is now a regular feature here on MRR.com! See below for info on how to submit. Now, get to discovering some killer new bands…

Band name:
SHITTY FRIENDS

Date & location formed:
We formed in late 2013 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Reason for forming:
For the past 4—5 years we would get together on Halloween to play as a Misfits cover bands called Shit Ripper at ABAG (a local bar here). It would always be a lot of fun getting together and playing music but every year after Halloween; we just stopped and never thought about making a band. Last Halloween we figured we would try to keep playing after the cover show. So Shit Ripper just became Shitty Friends.

How would you describe your sound?
Standard guitar, bass, drums set up. I’m a huge Ginn fan so you can probably hear that in my guitar playing. Self-loathing vocals make any song good too right?

What’s in the future for this band?
We just released our demo tape and are almost finished recording our first 7″ that we plan to self-release, unless some label wants to do that for us because we don’t know what we are doing.

Links and contact info:
weareshittyfriends.bandcamp.com

Band name:
ASHKENAZI

Date & location formed:
February 2014, Braddock, PA.

Reason for forming:
Two main reasons: I had a number of ideas for songs in an ’80s hardcore style and I was really obsessed with the Age of Quarrel recording production and wanted to create a recording that was true to that era. A third reason developed after the band name and lyrics came to fruition; to have a Jewish-themed band that could bring the message to anti-fascist Germans that supporting Israel isn’t congruent with their political aspirations.

What are your lyrics about?
All the songs are about different topics. “Blackened Mind” is a visual depiction of the Holocaust, “Mentality” is about other white people thinking you are receptive to racism because you are also white, and “Revenge” is about a personal situation of psychological slavery. “Trapped Inside” was inspired by my cousin who recently came out as being a transgender person. I thought it would be amusing for bro-hardcore dudes to get down with lyrics about gender issues, but since the new Cold World sounds life Life of Agony it looks like they beat me to the punch.

How would you describe your sound?
I did a lot of research on the recording techniques of Age of Quarrel, especially drum micing techniques. While the recording doesn’t sound exactly the same, I’m really happy with the elements that came through.  If I spent 100 hours on the recording (as the Cro-Mags did) instead of 6, maybe I would have gotten closer. Now that’s it’s complete I’m glad the inspiration has resulted in something that sounds unique and has become it’s own thing rather than just a bad photocopy. In general, if I were describing the band in under 10 words I would say 80’s NYHC with a crossover feel.

What’s in the future for this band?
We just played our first three shows in Germany and after some anti-Israel banter I’m not sure if I will be welcome back. I’d like to give a public thanks to my Aryan (German) backing band — Basti, Marcel, and Sebi — for learning the songs and schlepping around the Fatherland. The future of USA Ashkenazi is yet to be determined. I know there are some prominent Jewish cores who have taken an interest in the live lineup (Dan Oestreich, Jake Gordan, Jordan Hollander, Josh Agran) and there are some Pittsburgh based Jew-cores who would be ideal but also have full schedules (Reba Meyers, Joe Goldman). It may just have to be a scab lineup of goyim, mensches only of course. The demo has just been released on the French label Offside Records and will be released as a 7″ on the German label Use Your Head. I am thinking about writing more songs and recording in 2015. The real future can be depicted by the expression that happens at the end of every Passover seder: “Next year in Philadelphia! (at TIHC).”

Links and contact info:
ashkenazi.bandcamp.com
vegthesystem@gmail.com
facebook.com/braddockhitfactory

Band name:
BAD CANOES

Date & location formed:
FALL 2014, Philadelphia

Reason for forming:
FUN, FREE SELTZER, FREE FRIES, EVERLASTING SISTERHOOD

What are your lyrics about?
SONGS ABOUT SWEET TREATS AND OUR FAVORITE RADIO STATION 95.7 BEN FM

How would you describe your sound?
NO WAVE

What’s in the future for this band?
LOOKING GREAT

Links and contact info:
badcanoes.bandcamp.com
badcanoes@gmail.com

Do you have or know of an awesome new band? It’s easy to submit to be in MRR’s New Blood feature. Just send us the following info, and keep keeping’ it real…

1) Band name:
2) Date & location formed:
3) Reason for forming:
4) What are your lyrics about?
5) How would you describe your sound?
6) What’s in the future for this band?

Along with the answers, please send a band photo at least 600px on the longest side (with photo credits), a logo if you have one, and links and contact info for the band to: mrrnewblood@gmail.com