// November 23rd, 2011 // No Comments » // Links, Music
Listen to some punk music from all over the world. Got some good music you want to share? join the group and upload. In the meantime, enjoy these tunes by our good buddies Los Suziox (Colombia) and Rudos Wild (Uruguay). Disfruta!
// October 11th, 2011 // 7 Comments » // Music, Photos, Videos
Special Thanks to Juan Estaban Lopez from Lokekeda for helping with the artwork. Photo Renzo Devia - Creador Pictures
In December of 2009 I visited Havana, Cuba to help a friend who was working on a documentary film. I brought my own camera, which was pro-sumer, meaning it looked like just a regular personal camcorder any tourist might have but it actually shoots professional video and audio. I wanted to grab some interviews for my own documentary “Punktology… The Worldwide Influence of Punk”.
I had researched and concluded there must be some kind of punk scene there, because the band “Porno Para Ricardo” was making headlines. Turns out the lead member, Gorki Augila was in exile after numerous arrests and harassment by the Cuban government for “social dangerousness” which, according to the website PunkNews.org, is behavior that runs contrary to “communist morality” and allows authorities to detain offenders before they commit an actual crime.
I knew if I found any punks willing to speak on camera, I’d have to be careful. I was not a registered journalist and this was my first time in Cuba. If I were to get in any trouble there was no U.S. Embassy there to help me out. Indeed, I had a young filmmaker friend who had died while in Cuba attending the “Havana Film Festival” with his film just a few years before. I had no idea what to expect and I was excited if a bit nervous.
I was with another, more experienced filmmaker, Camilo, a Colombian-American who was bilingual and had agreed to run camera and translate for me while I ran the interviews.
We went to Calle G or G Street, where I had been told the Los Freakies (the freaks) hang out on a nightly basis. Los Freakies were basically the misfits of Havana, a crowd of hundreds of teens and young adults consisting of goth and metal heads, skateboard kids, emos and yes, a handful of hardcore punks, some sporting mohawks and tattoos. It was a surreal scene.
Los Freakies @ Calle G - Havana, Cuba
The police were close by but they didn’t seem to really be doing anything but watching the Los Freakies hang out and frankly, they looked really bored. In the U.S. that might mean the cops would be grabbing some coffee & donuts or busting a jaywalker. In Cuba, I was to find out it was a recipe for trouble.
We started pre-interviewing a couple of punks who were very eager to be on camera and tell the world about the punk scene and about life in general in Cuba. But just before the camera started rolling, the police spotted us and headed straight for us.
I thought for sure my camera was going to be confiscated. I was prepared to claim tourist status but that wouldn’t explain the microphone. I was racking my brain to explain the microphone when I realized that instead of questioning Camilo and I, the police had focused all their attention on the punks.
In the end after some very brief questioning they took one of our potential interviewees away in handcuffs to jail. The charge? We weren’t told and were not sure. But it is illegal for Cubans to speak to tourists. How long would he remain in jail? What would happen to him there? None of his friends were sure, but their enthusiasm had vanished and they were much more reserved afterward. We could feel the gloom that had set in and realized this was probably a far more serious matter than an overnight stay in the pokie.
I stayed in Cuba just 8 days, but during this time, I was personally in contact with no less than 3 Cubans who were arrested while I was there for very different minor offenses, ranging from not having their “papers in order” to “tourist harassment”. In Cuba, it appears the police have free reign to arrest first and make charges later.
Eventually we learned to be more covert in our operations and amazingly, even after the arrest of one of their own, I had no problems finding other punks who, though they had heard about the arrest, were still willing and eager to speak on camera.
In case you have never seen it, below is a video compilation that we put together shortly after.
That night in Havana, Cuba has bugged me ever since. I’ve never forgotten the shock of seeing someone hauled away in handcuffs, simply for having a conversation. I felt somewhat responsible for that poor guy’s arrest. Had I not had my camera and been nosing around Calle G he would have never been taken to jail.
The Cuban people are desperately poor and most (that don’t have government jobs) subsist on a sub par diet of rice, beans and potatoes.
The tourists in Havana are extremely important to the very limited economy there. As a result tourist are usually protected at all cost. The joke around Havana was that if a tourist were to stab a Cuban for no reason, well the police would promptly arrest the Cuban for “running into the knife” of a tourist and let the tourist go free.
Good, nutritious food and justice are not the only things missing in Cuba. It’s obvious that freedom of expression is in short supply as well and this, I gathered from our interviews, was the most frustrating part for Cubans.
They felt their leaders were old, backwards, out of touch and basically crazy and they were paying the price. When I looked out into the Cuban harbor, I noticed none of the boats had motors. Only rowboats are allowed for Cubans I suppose. Cuba is such a paradise that the government feels the need to keep people prisoner.
At night, I noticed many families in Cuba watched the local Univision (the Spanish TV network) station from Miami, whose signal bled into Cuba. Even this simple pleasure incurred a risk.
I heard stories of police, undercover government officials and citizen informants roaming the streets at night listening for homes that might have been “illegally” watching TV signals from the U.S.
Internet access was a non existent and when I think about it, I’m really surprised there was a punk scene at all in Cuba. Thanks to bands like Porno Para Ricardo and the punks who bravely spoke out to our cameras, though, I have faith that the punk scene is still thriving in Cuba. As you can see from the interviews, they find ways to get internet, music, clothes, etc. despite the U.S. embargo and a paranoid and repressive Cuban government.
Are there worst offenders of freedom of expression than Cuba? Possibly in the middle east (Iran, Syria, etc.) or China (where the U.S. doesn’t dare impose an embargo), North Korea or in some African countries. But for a relatively small island country just a few miles off the coast of Florida, it amazes me that this cold war relic of a place can still cause so much misery.
With all that’s going on in the world today, it would be pretty easy for citizens in the U.S. and other parts of the developed world to forget that Cuba even exist.
Cuban Punks who braved arrest to be interviewed
But having visited the island, I can’t get out of my head the image of the guy being arrested and of his friends’ gloomy dispositions afterward. I can’t help but wonder if the people on camera who told us so candidly how they felt about the Cuban government might also have joined their punk amigos in jail… or worse. I certainly hope not but you never know.
Since my Cuba trip, I’ve traveled to most of Latin America and I’ve been wanting to showcase music from the many excellent punk bands I’ve come in contact with while filming “Punktology”. I was finally able to pull enough music together to put together a compilation.
We’ve decided to name this compilation “Punktology: Volume 1 – Free Cuban Now” in honor of our punk “comrades” in Cuba. We hope to have the compilation out digitally at places like I-tunes, Amazon, etc. by December.
I decided a long time ago that commercial projects in and of themselves were not fulfilling. As the late Steve Jobs said “leave a dent in the universe”. I don’t believe that most people think that freedom of expression should depend on an old dictator finally succumbing to death (and a nice warm place in hell afterward). I believe most people feel that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all mankind regardless of geography.
Other than raise some awareness or make a little noise, I’m not sure what we may accomplish by putting out this compilation, but it is something. And if we do end up actually making any money, well, we’ve pledged support to our buddies at Cuba Skate, a small but passionate start up charity that is working hard to supply skate boarding equipment and better opportunities to Cuban youth
The press release announcing our little venture is below. Please read and if possible, help circulate.
Oh and if you get a chance today, go out and say something controversial or unflattering about your government to a group of people (if your in the U.S. maybe at one of the Occupy Wall Street, etc. events) and enjoy the feeling of walking away free without being thrown in jail. ! Sure feels good doesn’t it?!
Los Suziox (Colombia) - One of the bands featured on Punktology Vol. 1
PUNK OUTLAW RECORDS’ COMPILATION SAYS “FREE CUBA NOW!”
- Emerging Label’s Compilation Features Punk Music from Latin America & Beyond -
New York, NY October, 11th, 2011 – Punk Outlaw® Records announced plans to release their first compilation collection, “Punktology Volume 1 – Free Cuba Now!” which will feature independent punk and hardcore music from Latin America and the Caribbean.
The fledgling digital record label’s objective is to showcase a collection of punk music from emerging musicians in Latin America and the Caribbean to North American and European audiences.
The title “Free Cuba Now” was chosen to help bring attention to the fact that Cuban punks, as well as many other subcultures on the island nation of Cuba, still suffer from oppression and suppression in their freedom of expression at the hands of the Cuban police and government.
The musical compilation is the first from the fledgling music label and features artists covered in the documentary “Punktology”, which is currently being produced by Punk Outlaw® Productions to showcase the worldwide influence of punk music.
“While working on the documentary, I visited Cuba and witnessed firsthand the incredible lack of basic freedom of expression we take for granted in much of the western world when one of our interviewees was arrested, apparently for simply speaking with us” states Robert Rose, Founder of Punk Outlaw Records and Executive Producer of Punktology.
“I believe Punk music is at its best when it’s railing against injustice. The music comes from a variety of bands from different countries, each with their own issues such as social inequality, government corruption and crippling poverty, but freedom of expression is a basic human right that most enjoy and we think Cubans, and all human beings deserve this right as well.” Rose continues.
Punk Outlaw Records has pledged 25% of the record label’s share of net profits to a U.S. based charitable organization, Cuba Skate (www.CubaSkate.com) which provides skateboarding equipment, clothing and works to better opportunities to Cuban youth.
Participating artists for the project include Punk Outlaw artists Los Suziox (Colombia) and Rudos Wild (Uruguay). Other contributing artists include Anti-Everything (Trinidad), Demeter/DMTR (Ecuador), El Terrible Y Los Mongoloides (Peru), Lokekeda (Colombia) and Warning (Guatemala). More announcements are expected in the coming weeks.
The compilation will be released and available for purchase at various digital online retailers including I-tunes, Amazon Music, Zune and more in December 2011. Visit www.PunkOutlawRecords.com and www.PunkOutlaw.com/po09/2011/10/FreeCubaNow for more information.
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Rudos Wild (Uruguay) - Featured on Punktology Vol. 1
SPANISH VERSION
Nueva York, 11 de Octubre 2011 – Punk Outlaw ® Records ha anunciado planes de lanzar su primera compilación de la colección “Punktology Volumen 1 –Liberen a Cuba ya!”, Que contará con el punk y el hardcore independiente de América Latina y el Caribe.
El objetivo de la nueva disquera digital es mostrar una colección de música punk de los músicos emergentes de América Latina y el Caribe a una audiencia norte americana y europea. El título de “Liberen a Cuba ya!” fue elegido para ayudar a llamar la atención al hecho de que los punks de Cuba, así como muchas otras subculturas en la isla sufren la opresión y la represión de la libertad de expresión por parte del gobierno.
Esta compilación musical es la primera de la disquera digital y los artistas han sido parte del documental “Punktology”, que actualmente está siendo producido por Punk Outlaw ® Producciones para mostrar la influencia mundial de la música punk.
“Mientras trabajaba en el documental, visité Cuba y fui testigo de la increíble falta de libertades básicas de expresión que no apreciamos en gran parte del mundo occidental, cuando uno de nuestros entrevistados fue detenido, al parecer, por el simple hecho de hablar con nosotros”, expresó Robert Rose, fundador de Punk Outlaw Records y productor ejecutivo de Punktology. “Creo que la música Punk esta en su mejor momento cuando está protestando contra la injusticia. La música proviene de una variedad de bandas de diferentes países, cada uno con sus propios Problemas como la desigualdad social, la corrupción gubernamental y la pobreza agobiante, pero la libertad de expresión es un derecho humano básico con la cual la gran mayoria cuenta y creemos que los cubanos, y todos los seres humanos merecen este derecho. ” Rose continúa.
Punk Outlaw Records se ha comprometido a donar 25% de sus ganacias a una organización caritativa con sede en EE.UU., Cuba Skate (www.CubaSkate.com), que ofrece equipos de skateboard, ropa y obras para mejorar las oportunidades de la juventud cubana.
Los artistas participantes en el proyecto incluyen artistas de Punk Outlaw Records como Los Suziox(Colombia) y Rudos Wild (Uruguay). Otros artistas que tambien se han comprometido a contribuir incluyen Anti-Everything (Trinidad), Demeter / DMTR (Ecuador), El Terrible Y Los Mongoloides (Perú), Lokekeda (Colombia) y Warning (Guatemala). Más anuncios se espera en las próximas semanas.
La compilación sera lanzada y disponible para comprar en varias tiendas digitales en internet, incluyendo itunes, Amazon, Zune y más en Diciembre del 2011. Visita www.PunkOutlawRecords.com y www.PunkOutlaw.com/po09/2011/10/FreeCubaNow para más información.
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// August 23rd, 2011 // No Comments » // Videos
You may have seen that we’ve written a little about the emerging rockabilly and psychobilly scenes in Colombia.
Salidos de la Cripta (Bogota Psychobilly)
We’ve featured interviews with bands like Los Chiclosos Desmembrados (Dismembered or Chewed Up Gum) and Salidos de la Cripta (Leaving the Crypt) who are representing some emerging psychobilly music from Bogota (more from those bands coming later in the fall btw). If you missed it you can read that archived article HERE.
Earlier we had interviewed the Dorados Rockabilly Trio from Medellin.
Well we finally got the video interview/feature from the Dorados edited for your enjoyment so here ya go! The guys spill their knowledge and opinions on what it’s like to be carrying the torch for the rockabilly scene in a legendary punk & metal city like Medellin.
Punk Outlaw Records' "Dorados Rockabilly Trio"
Oh and a bit of exciting news, the guys have a 5 song CD coming out soon. It’s being mixed and put out in the U.S. & beyond by none other than your good buddies right here at Punk Outlaw Records.
So look for news on that this fall as well and congrats to the Dorados Rockabilly Trio, the newest member of our small, but growing family of artists which includes Uruguay’s rowdy punkabilly Rudos Wild and fellow Medellin, Colombianos, the headed for legendary status, Los Suziox.
More exciting news to come soon on this front. We’re just getting started.
Oh and thanks to K’milo Rio from Medellin for editing this little bit of rockabilly gold for us. K’milo had to do some double duty translating and subtitling to English for us non Spanish speakers. His English, like my Spanish, is less than perfect, but as in all things punk, we got it done in good old fashioned DIY Style. Gracias K’milo and bien hecho amigo.
Enjoy!
// August 17th, 2011 // No Comments » // Downloads, Music
We interrupt our regularly scheduled coverage of the worldwide punk scene for a little shameless self promotion (and free music for you!).
When our good friend and event promoter extraordinaire, Amylulita (check her kick ass Nacotheque events if you live in NYC), suggested to the fine folks at Remezcla.com that they do a profile on Punk Outlaw Records, I was a bit hesitant for two reasons.
1) We’re a very FLEDGELING punk music label – Punk music isn’t supposed to court promotion right?
2) Were a very FLEDGLING punk music label – Fledgeling, meaning we’re just getting started. What’s to write about?
Then they suggested that we put together a compilation of music for free download from our travels while shooting the documentary “Punktology” and things started to click.
We’ve heard some pretty damn cool punk music over the past couple of years. From Russia to Trinidad to Cuba to all over Latin America, we’ve seen bands working hard, sometimes with sub par equipment and usually no recording budget, doing whatever it takes to get their music out there; to get their message across in whatever DIY way they know how.
I felt we could put a compilation together of at least a small sample of some of this music for people in North America, Europe and other spots across the globe to see how it’s done when it’s done for the pure love of music under sometimes really tough circumstances.
Dead or Alive Free Music Download
So that’s what we did and the result is a nice little music download called El Mix, Volume 6 “Dead or Alive” . Its sort of digital mixed tape if you will of all kinds of punk music, from straight up melodic punk to rockabilly and surf.
I think the mix is good of course, but it’s punk too, not just because of the musical genres and certainly not because it’s all encompassing or representative of all types of music we have heard over the years (11 songs can’t possibly do that justice).
But on our mix are some old songs, so old they were recorded with old analog equipment and a new song, so new it hasn’t even been completely mixed down yet and everything in between.
Isn’t that what punk music is about? Not waiting til everything is pitch perfect like in the god awful pop music business. But letting the sound escape when it’s still raw and in the works and recorded under whatever conditions you can muster… while the feeling is fresh, not manufactured? That’s punk!
And as I said, I think it’s all good stuff. But you be the judge.. Oh and did I mention it’s free? That’s pretty punk too, so help yourselves to 11 tunes of the following 9 artists.
Rudos Wild (Uruguay)
1) Rudos Wild – Our punkabilly buddies from Uruguay. They provided two hardcharging little ditties that will make your hair stand on end. You can download more of their music on i-tunes HERE!
Los Suziox (Colombia)
2) Los Suziox – Our really good punk pals from Medellin, Colombia. Probably the most talented punk band you’ve never heard of. They provided two songs from their past archives that I love. You can download more of their music on i-tunes HERE!
Demeter - DMTR (Ecuador)
3) Demter (DMTR) – Straight from Quito, Ecuador with a kick ass song I fell in love with very first time I heard it.
Freddie & The Drillers (Russian Surf)
4) Freddie and the Drillers – Our surf buddies from St. Petersburg, Russia with a ditty that is technically Spanish as it’s only lyrics are “La curva Peligrosa!” (Dangerous Curves). Love it!
Anti-Everything (Trinidad)
5) Anti-Everything - the ONLY punk band from Trinidad & Tobago and they happen to be very, very good. They also have a new CD coming out soon.
911 (Colombia)
6) Nueve Once - another punk band from Medellin, Colombia, this one holding down the skate-pop punk scene. They have over 30 tunes in the can!
Dorados Rockabilly Trio (Colombia)
7) Dorados Rockabilly Trio – Our first rockabilly band and one of the few in all of Colombia! Their first CD is coming out soon!
Lokekeda (Colombia)
8 ) Lokekeda – Also our pals from Medellin, with an addictive song “Espinas Asesinas”. Give it a listen!
Los Ultraman (Uruguay)
9) Los Ultraman – A really solid surf band from Uruguay who, by the way, have a killer new CD on the way and are hoping to get someone in the U.S. to help them do a vinyl version.
Thanks to all these artist who participated. If you like what you hear, then be sure and visit their websites (just click their names to be taken to their respective sites).
I’d also like to thank Isabela from Remezcla.com for putting it all together.
And you dear viewer/reader/listener/punk fanatic. We hope you’ll enjoy these FREE 11 tunes from 9 artists from all over the globe (well at least Latin America, the Caribbean and Russia).
There’s a plethora of music out there these days, a lot of it free.. but good punk music, well that’s another horse of a different color all together. Enjoy!
// August 15th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos
Ask anyone around the world about Medellin and I pretty much guarantee that the first thing that pops to most people’s minds isn’t punk music. Well, it should be!
Medellin’s annual music festival “Alta Voz” (Loudly) did not disappoint. This was my 2nd festival, having attended 2010′s which was headlined by my good buddies Los Suziox.
Alta Voz organizers tend to alternate bands each year. In a city like Medellin, brimming to the rim with Punk talent, it’s not hard to alternate bands and still have a kick ass line up.
I along with local punk royalty, Monica and Viola from the legendary band IRA and a few thousand punk fans headed over to the Park next to Parque Explorer on a beautiful Saturday to take in some kick ass punk and hardcore music.
I arrived in time to see another legendary band, GP take the stage. GP is a band that’s been playing punk music in Medellin for over 25 years. Yup, that’s over a quarter of a century! While Punk may be big in Colombia but it is not new.
Next up was a relative newcomer on the scene (who isn’t compared to GP!), Herida de Guerra (War Wound). Well actually, they are not THAT new, I checked their site and they’ve got a few CDs out and the crowd seemed familiar with the guys.
After Herida de Guerra was our good old buddies, hardcore mainstays Desestra Capital (Capital Disaster).
These hard core heavyweights were followed by my favorite “new to me” band of the evening, Atrofia (atrophy). The energy these guys put out was contagious and I really dug the songs. I hear the lyrics are pretty potent as well, so I’d love to get my hands on their CDs.
After a brief pause wisely used by the guapa (cute) and very punk Telemedellin TV hostess to give back a couple of odd, mismatched shoes that had somehow made their way from the punk pit to the stage (gee, wonder how that happened? No one would throw a shoe at a punk show would they?), the show cranked back up.
This time it was my good buddies Lokekeda (leftovers) who rocked the place. Lokekeda came out rocking to one of my favorite punk songs from Latin America, “Espinas Assassinas” (Spine Killer?) which set the tone for the rest of the high energy set.
The thousands of screaming, moshing, out of control fans must have inspired these guys because I’ve seen them play a few times and this was by far the best set I’ve ever witnessed them.
My only regret of the evening was missing industrial punks “Neus” who were on the bill but I couldn’t really get a read of when they were supposed to play AND missing legendary hard core band “EstoyPuto” (I’m Pissed). Gotta love these punk band names and sometimes google translate just doesn’t do them justice.
I had to leave a little early but I hear the place rocked til 1AM. Maybe next time.
Enjoy the pics below and stay tuned for a couple of videos coming up later in the week!
// June 13th, 2011 // 4 Comments » // Photos, Videos
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA - Last Friday I received a last minute invite by my good friends Andres (Los Suziox) and Faber (Rock in Medellin Festival) to a private concert by the incredible local punk band I.R.A.
David from I.R.A
For those of you who don’t know I.R.A., here is a little info. It is so hard to believe from looking at them but the band has been around for over 25 years, since the 1980s and the early days of Medellin’s punk scene.
Monica from I.R.A.
They’ve toured the U.S., including the legendary CBGB’s in NYC. They’ve had books written about them, been featured in several documentaries and most importantly they have put out some incredible punk music over the years and continue to do so.
Duvan from I.R.A.
But the thing I think I like most about I.R.A is their attitude. I first met them all, David (vocals/guitar), Monica (vocals/drums) and Duvan (bass/vocals) at The Casualties show in December 2009 and they gave me a short interview for Punk Outlaw (which you can see HERE).
Later that day I saw them play a kick ass set as they opened for The Casualties. Since then, I’ve seen them a few times doing things that really embody the spirit and solidarity of punk rock; like supporting their friends Fertil Miseria to Rock Al Parque (Rock in the Park) in Bogota, creating a compilation CD to benefit a sick friend of theirs who had no place to live, etc.) and on and on.
Boom Box Licker
Not to get all sappy or emotional here but I.R.A. represents everything I love about Punk Music. They play really good, raucous and socially conscious punk music and the fact that they care passionately about the world around them is obvious in their actions on and off stage.
But watching them play a small, private show for their punk friends (it was in a small but very cool video production studio), you could tell how the punk scene in Medellin really sticks together and I.R.A. provides much of the glue. There were people from many of the local bands like Los Suziox, Nacion Criminal, Dorados Rockabilly Trio, etc., and there were many familiar faces I’ve seen at shows here over the past couple of years covering the Colombian punk scene.
As I said, I.R.A. is the glue. They help hold the scene together and after over 25 years, I think their role as punk ambassadors for a city that has seen a lot during that period of time can’t be overstated.
Watching David being carried around on the shoulders of the crowd… watching the punks joking around with Monica’s “Boom Box”, but more than that.. feeling the positive energy from the crowd which was by and large sober (it was early), very mixed (plenty of punk females) and just overall putting out nothing but good vibes.
Paisita Punk Beauty with Andres (Los Suziox)
I had just come off a rough week. Feeling a little homesick for the U.S. for the 1st time really.
I was tired of living in small, cramped hotel rooms and dealing with my horrible Spanish which seems to have not improved one single bit in my 6 months in Latin America. Dealing with issues with my other project, Raw Travel, thinking maybe I’m doing nothing but wasting time and money and why am I here? I don’t belong here, etc.
Then I go to an I.R.A. show. I see my old friends. I feel the vibes. I hear the music. I see the show. Suddenly things get back into focus. This is why I’m here. To experience this and to try to communicate this to others. Maybe a little self important, probably very myopic and selfish and definitely over dramatic and emotional, but that is the way I felt at the time.
And if I had a rough week, I imagine how many others had it even rougher. Maybe no cramped hotel, in fact no place to stay and not enough money to get through the week? My problems were nothing. This is real, this is punk, this is I.R.A.
Unfortunately I had to leave early because I had a previous commitment on the other side of town.
Coincidence or not, my taxi driver that night was the coolest, funniest dude who felt obliged to play (and sing along to) some North American metal and rock music for me. I could barely hear the guy speak over the Metalica, U-2 (the old stuff, the good stuff, not the recent garbage) and eventually, The Ramones singing “Sheenah isssss a punk rocker…”, much less understand him but I didn’t ask him to turn it down. “Mas alto por favor” (more higher please, my Tarzan Spanish way of saying “turn it up”).
All in all the rest of the evening was one of the best nights I’ve had since coming to South America. I’m not sure why, can’t pinpoint it exactly, but I think it had something to do with seeing I.R.A., who are (I think I can safely say this without critique) a legendary punk band not just from Medellin but from Colombia..from South America.. actually, a legendary punk band period.
Below is a little video clip from their show and for more photos check out the album on our flikr page HERE.
// May 15th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // Events, Photos
Ecuador here we come!
In the meantime, thought you might dig some pics from the recently wrapped Moto (Motorcycle) show in Medellin. Officially known as “Feria de las 2 Ruedas” , (Show on 2 wheels) it’s a 4 day extravaganza of motorcycles (and almost any other motor on 2 or sometimes 3 wheels), models, cerveza, food and did I mention models?
I went there with my buddies Andres from the local punk band, Los Suziox and Faber (Rock en Medellin Festival) and we had a good time as always.
Andres and Faber with refreshments
Ran into The Dorados, a rockabilly trio holding down the rockabilly scene in Medellin. The guys from the Dorados are chimba (super cool) cats and we made plans for me to tape a performance of these guys when I’m back in Colombia so stay tuned for that in June.
With the Dorados rockabilly trio
In the meantime, enjoy the pics from the Medellin Moto Show and I’ll see you in Ecuador.
Some of the ahem.. "entertainment" @ the Moto Show.
Have no idea how to ride this thing..
I could get used to this...
Andres (Los Suziox)
The Dorados Rockabilly Trio with Andres of Los Suziox
// April 29th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Events
UPDATE:
Here is an update from the previous post. The concert in Rio Negro in Medellin Colombia was canceled due to heavy rain in the area which is causing flooding. It’s been one of the wettest “winters” on record in South America and the result is many, many people on flood plains and near rivers have lost their homes. Just goes to show you that disaster comes in many forms, big and small and if you don’t hear about something, it doesn’t make it any less real.
I’m not sure how to help out but I do know that the good people of Vision Mundial (AKA “World Vision” in the U.S.) do a great work here in Colombia (and all over) for people in need and are a good start.
Secondly, a bit of better news, the fine people from the Bots sent me some photos that, how should we say are a little better quality than my little BS digital that I used last summer at the Afro-Punk Festival in Brooklyn (damn, now why was I so lazy not to bring out the big guns, the Sony or the Cannon?). Oh, and they have the additional benefit of being from this year’s warped tour.. so not only are they of better quality, they are more timely as well.. so my good fortune is yours. Ladies and gentlemen, the Bots on the warped tour.. Thanks Emily for the fine pics.
After a brief stop in Miami I’m back in my new home away from home, Medellin, Colombia, and just in time too as there is, tadaahhh… a big punk show on Sunday which I’ll be hitting and if you happen to be here, you should too. Now it starts @ 9AM (won’t be there for the opening act I can tell you right now) and it goes until 9PM (But I will be there for the final act!).
Los Suziox
It’s 12 hours of good old fashioned local Colombian punk including a rare 2011 appearance by our buddies “Los Suziox” , now that my friends is punk to the core!
CLICK HERE for more info and hope to see you there but if you can’t make it we’ll have photos and videos up for you next week.
Now if you are one of the many folks who read this humble little blog and are in the U.S. this summer then you gotta get out to the Warped Tour.
The tour is going into it’s umpteeth year and is really first rate and I dare to say the organizer, Kevin Lymon has done more to keep punk alive in the U.S. than most anyone. Of course there are lots of non punk rock acts as well. Still, when I grow up I want to be just like Kevin.
You may remember last summer that I raved about a young duo called “The Bots” after seeing them perform live at the Afro-Punk festival in Brooklyn? (see POST HERE).
The Bots
Well this year, the Bots are on the Warped tour and I predict will probably be bustin’ out as more people get to sample ‘em. I’ve been listening to songs off their debut CD and the more I listen the more I like.
So if you hit the Warped Tour make sure you go see these guys and let me know what you think.
That’s it for now. Lots of good stuff coming up including a couple of new videos and a long, long overdue review of Social Distortion’s no longer new CD… so stay tuned!
// February 15th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Photos, Videos
Before we head to Uruguay and Argentina to reconnect with our punks friends, we have an update for you from Medellin, Colombia, our current home base.
At Battle of the Bands
This past Saturday was picture perfect day for punks and my new hood, Barrio Laureles was the spot.
There was a battle of the bands just down the street from where I was staying and while I’m really bummed I missed the all female hardcore/punk group “Insurgentas” (Insurgents), I did see some of the other talented bands and it was pretty first rate, if not necessarily punk.
Tequila was involved
Later that evening my good buddy Andres O’Campo from Los Suziox invited me to catch a rehearsal of his side project, a punk cover band called “The Rockadores”.
"Insurgentas" getting ready!
Happily for my lazy ass, this was also in Barrio Laureles and within walking distance so I grabbed my camera and headed over.
Rehearsals in Medellin can be fun
Most of the crew from the rehearsal had been at the Battle of the Bands all afternoon and as you can see by the photos, tequila was involved . For the record I successfully declined numerous invitations to take some shots from the bottle being passed around.
Andres from Los Suziox plays bass and sings for "The Rockadores"
This had nothing to do with hygiene. I got over that little issue a few trips to ago when the Latin punks would grab my beer, take a big swig, pass it around to another punk I hadn’t even met yet and then return it to me half or a quarter full.
Working Hard
No, my restraint instead had to do with shooting tequila in the middle of the day after a long night out with little sleep. And maybe, just maybe, with the fact that, yup, I am getting older and just can’t hang like I used to.
Paisa Punk Power
Anyway, if I took a shot of liquor every time a punk offered it to me, you’d probably never see another post on here again.
The Rockadores
Unlike me, however, these guys can hold their liquor and despite the tequila drinking the rehearsal was pretty damned tight and as you’ll see everyone from some old timer, gnarly punks to some much younger (and decidedly prettier) punk paisas enjoyed the private show.
Out of focus? Blame the tequila.
Here is a little video clip of mi amigo Andres and his amigos from “The Rockadores” at rehearsal.
Be you young, old, pretty, ugly or in between, I hope you enjoy!
We’ll check back in with you from Argentina.
// February 8th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Videos
Punks are always helping out. This is a message that probably doesn’t get out very often, I mean its not as if punks have a big Public Relations Department spinning all the good stuff that punks do. There is no Global Association of Punks for Good Causes or anything like that (that I’m aware of).
Lokekeda
But one thing that I’ve learned traveling around a few different continents interviewing punks is that no matter if the punks are into hardcore, street punk, classic punk, California punk or whatever, a general theme is helping out.
As I’ve written before, helping out seems to be a very punk thing to do. Talking about it, not so much.
Last year, legendary Medellin punk band I.R.A. organized the recording of a CD compilation featuring about 20 local Medellin punk bands like themselves, Los Suziox, Desadaptadoz and more. The proceeds of the CD went to a local punk who had been really sick and unable to work to help him build a house to live in.
Cesar of Lokekeda
We happened to be in Medellin during the recording session, and over 20 bands had been scheduled over a 2 day period to lay down new music. Each band had an hour of studio time to do their stuff. I was impressed with the industry and professionalism that each band demonstrated.
Nobody was getting paid, everyone was volunteering their time and creativity but everyone shows up pretty much on time and (mostly) sober to lay down their tracks.
Lokekeda performs "Espinas Asesinas"
I think getting 20 punk bands to do anything in an organized fashion is pretty damned cool.
When I returned later that summer, the CD was out and I purchased one. I always get a kick out of hearing new punk music, especially from a punk hotspot like Medellin with so many young, good bands playing in the scene.
For me, one song that immediately stuck out was called “Espinas Asesinas” from a band we had interviewed just a few months prior, Lokekeda (I have no idea what the English translation is sorry, I’ll ask my Spanish teacher or maybe Cesar, Lokekeda’s drummer who is also an English teacher).
Last Saturday at the punk show in Milagrosa punks were collecting notebooks for some local school kids who couldn’t afford them (another example of punks helping out that probably didn’t make the evening news).
Punk Show in Barrio Milagrosa - Medellin, CO
Well, I finally got the chance to hear Lokekeda perform “Espinas Asesinas” live and while it doesn’t have the same crystal clear sound as the recording on the CD compilation (as most live performances don’t), it still kicks some serious ass so I recorded and uploaded the video for you.
Give em a look and a listen and let me know what you think.
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