Posts Tagged ‘punk rock’

Helping Out.. A punk rock thing to do

// January 26th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos

She's all smiles, but needs our help

Why are there suddenly photos of adorable little kids on this blog? No, this isn’t a feature on the future punks of the world (FPOTW) or cute kids of punk rockers. These are kids who need help.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m working on developing a travel show called “Raw Travel” that is in it’s infancy at the moment, but is going really well.

Spare Rollerblade with handles. Now thats punk!

It’s a perfect way for me to continue my travels for the documentary, Punktology, and this blog covering the world wide punk, rockabilly and psychobilly scenes while doing something that may actually help me pay the bills someday (and for all this traveling).

The show will be a bit punk rock in itself, no 5 star hotels, no fancy makeup or famous host (he, he) and it will hopefully help people travel and learn about other cultures in a “economic” (i.e. cheap), “eco-friendly”, “socially aware” and “sustainable: manner (did I include enough buzz words, or should I add a couple more?).

No? So here is another for ya, “Voluntourism”! Though I really don’ t like that word, I like what it represents, which is giving back while traveling to another country.

Me.. actually shooting a camera

But that is not what this is about and that is not why there are cut little kids on this otherwise, big and scary punk rock website.

Punks are by their very definition a socially conscious bunch and so I thought this might interest some of you. Last week, while taping for Raw Travel, I took a tour with World Vision or Vision Mundial as it is known in Latin America, you know the humanitarian organiziation that helps poor kids and their families in almost 100 countries.

Peter Singer asks "What Are Their Lives Worth?"

We toured one of their most dangerous barrios, Comuna 8, in Medellin, Colombia which is completely controlled by the gangs. We were able to go in with our cameras with World Vision shirts and with the gang leaders’ permission to help kids and their families that are crippled by poverty and all the crap that brings with it (lack of health care, nutrition, often violence in the home, etc.).

I also spotted a real live scopalamine (zombie drug) tree, saw a memorial  where a landslide buried almost 1,000 people alive  in the 80′s and the whole thing was a big crazy trip and in my view, and a very punk rock thing to do.

We Don't Need No Stinking Famous Host!

I documented it all here on the Raw Travel Blog and our sister site, “Don’t Drag Me Down”.

I also talk about being inspired by a book I recently read called “The Life You Can Save” by Peter Singer and the myths of U.S. charitable giving (you often here we’re a charitable country spouted by news media and politicians, actually, uhhh… not so much when you analyze it).

I hope you’ll check it out as it explains why there are cute kids on the site this week.

Don’t worry, we’ll get back to featuring some ugly punks and their music on the site real soon.

In the meantime, enjoy the cute little kids.

I'm a daddy! well, sort of, I sponsored this kid for less than $20 U.S. a month

You can learn more about the show at www.RawTravel.tv and follow our travels and our adventures at www.RawTravelBlog.com

CHECK OUT MY TRIP TO COMUNA 8, SEE MORE PHOTOS, SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP HERE!

Premiere of Los Suziox Music Video “Armas Silenciosas”

// September 20th, 2010 // No Comments » // Videos

As you may have read or heard, we announced the launch of Punk Outlaw Records last week by signing two bands, “Rudos Wild” from Uruguay and “Los Suziox” (LSZX) from Colombia. We are excited about this project and hope you will support us as we attempt to do something that has never been done before, namely import punk music from places like Latin America and other places and expose these new artists to a new audience in some kind of organized way.

I love discovering new music and I figure many of our readers do to, so I’m giving you a sneak peak of a music video we put together for Los Suziox’s  single “Armas Silenciosas”.

The lyrics are a powerful admonishment to corruption and the governments that rule our societies with dirty wars in the name of protecting freedom, the masses, etc., but often are just a cover for some ulterior motive.

The lyrics can be viewed in Spanish and in English (please keep in mind the English never translates literally) at the Punk Outlaw Records / LSZX lyric page so you can see for yourself.

This song is big in Colombia and the video features punk fans from all over Colombia as a fine group of extras.

Thanks to my friend, video editor Camilo Mendoza for helping me put this video together and to all the punk rockers and underrepresented good people of  Colombia and South America who continue to fight the good fight day in and day out.

This music video is dedicated to you.

Social Distortion Performs “Prison Bound” @ Wantagh, NYC show

// August 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Videos

Mike Ness

Yup, I’ve been to jail. Twice! So I guess I’m twice as hard core yo! However, since I cried like a baby the 1st time, I guess that cancels out at least half the hard coreness of it.

Both times I was under the legal drinking age and both times arrested for, you guessed it, drinking under age and public intoxication. As I said, I cried like a little baby the first time.

I was 16 and knew my parents were going to be royally pissed and that I was in for some very long and frequent lectures, a church sermon or two directed precisely at me and most wretchedly, weekends without my car, which where I grew up meant there was absolutely nothing to do, unless you count farm work as fun stuff.

My memories of that evening have fogged with time, but I do remember I had two girls, my girlfriend and her friend,  in my car with me when I was pulled over. In a cruel but accurate foreshadowing of my future experience with women, they both bailed on me as soon as they could find another ride home. Sorry ladies, just speaking the truth.

The second time was more of a badge of courage. I was in college and was living in my fraternity house.  Yup, I was in one and was even the President. Yes I realize not very punk of me but you need to know the details before you judge my friends, we were a bit different, I promise.

The police came and busted our party for too much fun. I drunkenly slurred they couldn’t arrest me since they were technically at my house of residence. Cops being cops, and not really caring about technical things like the law, they took that as an invitation and promptly arrested me for public intoxication.

Once again, the girl I was with bolted and went to another party while my fraternity brothers pooled their funds to get me out of jail.

Both times I was in and out in less than a couple hours and I’m pretty sure Mike Ness wasn’t talking about my puny teenage jail experiences when he wrote “Prison Bound”.

I think he was most likely referring to his own actual prison stays back in his wilder drug days.

Say what you will about prison, it sure helped Ness write some damn good songs on the “Prison Bound” CD including the self titled track “Prison Bound”, “It’s The Law” and my favorite “Like an Outlaw” a punk-western anthem that inspired this blog’s namesake.

After first discovering Social Distortion, the “Prison Bound” CD took me a while to warm up to. I had started off on “White Light, White Heat, White Trash” and worked my way backwards. Fast forward to today and it’s one of my favorite CDs of all time and the title track “Prison Bound” one of my favorite songs (even if it does conjure up bad memories of me being drunkenly or tearfully carted off in handcuffs).

At the Social Distortion concert in Wantagh, Long Island the other night it was obvious I wasn’t the only one who digs “Prison Bound”, as the crowd drunkenly sang along to every word of this sad little ditty during Social Distortion’s encore. I’m sure more than a few of them have been prison bound themselves, so maybe we all shared that common history or maybe it’s just a great song, or a little or lot of both.

Whatever the reason, I thought it would be cool to share the video of the crowd and Ness singing along together what has become a punkabilly classic “Prison Bound”.

Enjoy!

On Stage With Los Suziox in Medellin

// July 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Videos

July 10th, 2010 – Castilla, Sin Armas (Disarm) / Medellin, Colombia

This was my first time being on stage with Los Suziox as they played live and what a trip it was. The view from the stage of the crazed fans, the circle pit and the rain pouring down the whole time was pretty intense.

Everyone was yelling out for their favorite song in the brief pauses between performances, but Andres and the gang kept things moving pretty fast, ripping through 10 or so songs, including some of my favorites like “Revoluccion” (Revolution), “Armas Silenciosas” (Silent Arms) and this little ditty “Perfeccion” (Perfection) which I recorded with my flip cam.

I have some great High Def video from the evening which I shot with my Sony HD cam so I hope to have even more video of the evening up pretty soon, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this excellent punk band from Medellin, Colombia… Los Suziox!

Medellin Colombia’s Los Suziox Interview & Video Segment

// May 3rd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Videos

I’ve dug deeper in the punk scene of Medellin, Colombia for a couple reasons. 1) I’m in love with Medellin and as a result am more familiar with the city and the scene there 2) There is a damn good punk scene in Medellin.

As many of you may have read before, I am very high on a band there called “Los Suziox” which roughly translated means “The Dirty”.  While in Medellin last month I went by lead singer, Andres’ house and saw first hand the music studio he had ingeniously installed in his house. I tell you, the heights people go to get their music heard in Latin America puts many musicians (and people) to shame in the U.S.

So much talent in the U.S. can’t make a meeting on time, or return an email promptly but the punk bands in Latin America are killing themselves against impossible circumstances to simply be able to play their music and have it heard.

Well, I believe, Los Suziox time has come. Their music is too original, the lyrics too powerful and the melodies too infectious for their music not to be heard by a wider audience. It’s time for Medellin, Colombia to let their best kept secret out of the bag and share Los Suziox with the rest of the world.

Here is an exclusive interview and segment on Los Suziox. Check it out and let me know what you think.

South American Punkabilly With Rudos Wild

// March 10th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Photos, Videos

MONTEVIDEO, URAGUAY – Final Night In South America

Birthday Boy: Peyo from Rudos Wild

My month long trip to South America was coming to a close. My laundry,  too much, too dirty and me tan,but not TOO tan, very relaxed and maybe, just maybe, getting better at speaking Spanish. Clocking in at 30 days on the dot almost, this had been my longest trip ever, a test of sorts really, to see how I’d fare on a trip this far away for this long.

Pros: I was relaxed, I was tan, I had lost 5 lbs (thanks I believe to the natural South American food and a stricter work out regime) and I had made numerous friends and been turned on to the Chile/Argentina/Uruguay punk, rockabilly & psychobilly scenes.

Cons: First, I got sick as a dog in Chile, THEN I threw my back out in Argentina (again) at the gym and could barely move for 3 days, and, ouch, still hurts to think about, in a moment of vulnerability (and temporary stupidity) was robbed of all my video & photo equipment, passport, etc.

Then to top it all off, there was a devastating earthquake in Chile just two days prior to me going back, thus forcing me to reroute my return trip home and canceling a planned interview with Chilean psychobilly band the Vodoo Zombies.

CONCLUSION: It was a great trip.. my only regret being the lost footage and photos (and the earthquake of course).

Camilo of Rudos Wild sporting a classic punk rock stance!

So how would I spend my final day in the deep south of South America? By hitting a punkabilly concert of course!

The one good thing about rerouting my trip meant I had an extra night in Montevideo, meaning I could now attend the much anticipated Rudos Wild concert Sunday night. So I threw on my Rudos Wild T-shirt that bass player Leonardo had given me the previous day and headed over to the Decibelios club.

Leonardo of Rudos Wild sporting a Tennessee whiskey t-shirt!

The concert was also a celebration of lead singer’s Peyo’s birthday, who I think was turning 29, so I knew this would probably be equal parts party and concert. It was a Sunday night so the crowd was a bit smaller than normal, but those who were out were a rowdy, dedicated bunch.

The Rudos Wild fans showed up to support and wish Peyo “Feliz Cumple Anos” (yes, I am aware the little squiggly tilde thing goes over the “n” in anos, but I don’t know how to do it, so happy anus Peyo, which is basically what it means without the tilde).

Sancho of Rudos Wild sporting no shirt

About half way through the set, Peyo had some problems with his guitar but like a true punk and in true DIY fashion, the guys kept going with 2 guitars and Peyo singing lead.They played equal parts covers of Johnny Cash and Social Distortion along with their own unique Spanish songs which range from hardcore to punkabilly to straight up punk. They ended the set with a nice Roots Radicals cover from Rancid which the couple of skinheads in the crowd really got into.

Peyo sans Guitar sporting a Viva Las Vegas shirt

After the concert I hung around outside and shared in some more beer and took some photos with the band and their friends.

After the concert with Rudos Wild & friends (me sporting my new Rudos Wild shirt)

But alas I had to get up early and pack and get ready to head back to the states (and my harsh reality?) so I bid adieu. The guys insisted on helping me get a taxi and stuffed my hands full of Rudos Wild Stickers, a copy of their soon to be released CD (which I can’t wait to listen to) and gave hugs all around.

On the way back to the hotel I couldn’t help but wonder how it was Peyo’s birthday but I was the one who ended up with all the presents.

Because I didn’t have my normal HDTV camera, this video was recorded with my little panasonic digital still camera, hardly ideal sound or lighting.  So please bear in mind when viewing the video.

The U.S. Missing Out On Good Latino Punk Music

// January 19th, 2010 // 6 Comments » // Videos

Medellin Colombia's Los Suziox

Medellin Colombia's Los Suziox

When I was down in Colombia for the big Casualties show back in December, I knew I’d get treated too some great punk music, what I didn’t know was that much of that music would be local talent singing in Spanish. Medellin Colombia has a rich, rich punk history due in no small part to their, ahem, “colorful” history in the 80s and 90s with Pablo Escobar’s drug empire, corrupt governments, the paramilitary and the guerrillas and the violence that ensued that gave Medellin the dubious distinction of the most violent city in the world in the 1990s.

I didn’t visit Colombia then and my first visit back in 2005 or 2006 was just after things had settled down and were markedly safer. I had done lots of research, had lots of Colombian-American friends who encouraged me to go but nonetheless was still very nervous my first visit.

Now I go often and don’t think twice, partly because I’ve been so many times and never had an issue and partly because I’ve traveled to so many more sketchier, more dangerous spots (Recife, Brazil or Lima, Peru anyone?) that Colombia seems tame by comparison. Colombia is a beautiful and relatively safe country these days and while it still has the occasional governmental scandal, it has one of the largest middle classes in Latin America. Medellin is one of the safest cities in all of Latin America and my favorite. The climate is excellent, the people (Paisas) are incredibly warm and friendly and trust me they know how to have a good time. Oh and need I mention again the excellent punk scene?

Tailgating before the Casualties show in Medellin, I met a band I had heard a little about even before I arrived called “Los Suziox”. Luckily for me and my rapidly deteriorating Spanish, they had a friend in from Toronto, Canada (Rony) who spoke English and served as my interpreter. We agreed to meet up later in the week so I could hear and video them practicing a set. Boy am I glad I did.

These guys are the real deal. If they were in the U.S. singing in English they would be touring constantly and putting out CDs every year or so. As it is, they do tour Latin America and have quite a following there and have put a few CDs as I understand it (I have one and it’s excellent).

This is not the first time I’ve heard some good music during my travels. Latin America has a much more international influence than the U.S. and they take their cues from Europe as well as the Americas. Even dance music, which I pretty much despise in the U.S., is absolutely tolerable and sometimes likeable in South America.

I’ll admit it may have something to do with the fact that I’m away from home, hyper sensitive to my new surroundings and stimuli but I think it’s more than that. I think the music in Latin America is less, they put out less music so it’s easier to find good stuff and the good stuff gets played more often. Also, they are not so into the “flavor of the month” (or week) as we are in the U.S. Different generations will play the classics as if they were their very own and it doesn’t seem to get stale like so much of the classic rock here in the U.S. (to me at least). I also hear old pop songs from the U.S. I haven’t heard in YEARS and I admit I like it as it triggers memories and forces me to think back where I was when I heard that song.. not just the same Led Zep, Who, AC/DC songs like they play on classic stations in the U.S. but songs that maybe barely cracked the top 40 over 20 years ago but you remember them, just barely and that is like tickling your brain, it feels good to try and remember.

But alas, back to Los Suziox. Below is a video of them performing “Armas Silenciosas” (Silent Arms?) at the studio in Medellin. I know its hard to hear a song for the first time and be hooked but listen to it the whole way through and see if you are hooked instantaneously on this melody like I was. I’ve been listening on my i-pod ever since getting back. It’s one of those songs I just play over and over and over. Take a look and a listen and let me know what you think (to hear more music or this song with a fuller sound quality you can visit their page at www.myspace.com/lxzx and visit their player).

NEW VIDEO EDIT: Casualties in Bogota, Colombia

// January 9th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Videos

The crowd goes NUTZ as the Casualties take the stage for the first time in Bogota, Colombia to perform “Carry on the Flag” and “We Are All We Have” from their latest CD. More video coming soon.. stay tuned!

Legendary Youth Brigade Perform “I Hate My Life” in NYC

// October 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Events, Videos


So I’m all amped for the big Youth Brigade/Casualties show at Cafe Europa in Brooklyn, NYC on Saturday 9/19/09. I mean, I literally postpone a couple of trips to catch one of my all time favorite hard core bands the Casualties. I just bought their recent CD off i-tunes “We are all we have” and i have to say it is excellent stuff. I also want to see Youth Brigade, I mean these are two legendary punk bands, why aren’t they playing in Manhattan?

Well, I figure its going to be a packed show, so I prepare for the day by going to see a special documentary screening of “Let Them Know” the story of the Youth Brigade and BYO Records. I don’t regret spending a couple hours of a beautiful college football Saturday holed up in a dark theater checking this doc out. This is one good documentary and it deals with the often overlooked West Coast punk scene so often overshadowed by the scenes in NYC and England. With interviews with Fat Mike from NOFX, Seven Seconds, Bouncing Souls and of course the Stern brothers from Youth Brigade, it is a truly entertaining, mostly hilarious and slightly uplifting documentary. It really made me appreciate what punks went through in the 80s in the U.S.

I arrived at Cafe Europa around 8:30PM and was dismayed to find out I arrived just in time to hear the last :20-:30 of the Casualties “Unknown Soldier” with about 100 or so punks in full fury in the pit. That was it? Final song!? WTF? What kind of punk show is over at 8:30PM on a Saturday in NYC none the less? What do punks have to be in bed by 10pm or something?

I was really dismayed, proceeded to down 4 beers in a row but the evening was almost salvaged when I met Shawn Stern, lead singer of Youth Brigade, who was out mingling with the crowd before the show.

I congratulated him on an excellent documentary (he executive produced and got the most air time). We also discussed the punk scene down in Central and Latin America. Shawn’s a big surfer and he indicated he’s ready to tour down there and get some good surfing in.

He’s a cool guy, as expected and YB proceeded to put on a hell of a show. Here are a couple of clips for your viewing pleasure. YB and Shawn, thanks for all you’ve done for punk… oh and thanks for salvaging my night.

7 Seconds in NYC

// October 24th, 2009 // No Comments » // Events, Videos

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