Posts Tagged ‘punk’

Punk Outlaw Records Signs Leading Punk Band From Serbia

// April 11th, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos

PUNK OUTLAW RECORDS SIGNS LEADING PUNK BAND FROM SERBIA 

- UPS! (Stand Against the System) Releases first CD “Evolution of the Transition” -

 Los Angeles, CA April, 11th, 2012 – Punk Outlaw® Records announced the signing of their first band outside of the Americas with UPS! Hailing from Petrovac na Mlavi, Serbia (the former Republic of Yugoslavia), UPS! is a Serbian abbreviation for “Ustani Protiv Sistema!” which translated means “Stand Against the System!”

No stranger to the atrocities of war during the last century, Petrovac na Mlavi can now boasts having the distinction of spawning the first Serbian punk band ever signed to a U.S. record label. UPS! began performing in 2006 when the band, impoverished but believing in their vision,  persevered and began by borrowing instruments to play covers and eventually originals. When they couldn’t find rehearsal space they practiced in a nearby sheep meadow creating a quiet a spectacle for the local sheep herders.

Their vision and hard work paid off. In 2009 UPS! won the qualification rounds of the GBOB Serbia Contest (a country wide battle of the bands). They then participated at the national finals in Belgrade, where they earned the distinction of being the only punk band to reach the finals. They later toured all over Eastern Europe and even Switzerland with other famous regional rock bands.

After five year of struggle and hard work, UPS! has released their debut album “Evolution Of the Transition”, an aggressive, edgy release that features 10 originals railing against corruption and mistrust of authority in a way that can only be described as both angry and authentic.

“We’re excited to have UPS! be our first band from the punk music hotbed of Eastern Europe” states Robert Rose, Founder of Punk Outlaw Records. “These guys have important things to say and our intention is to help them say it” Rose continued.

UPS! influences include Pennywise, Rancid, Bad Religion, NoFX and Bouncing Souls, as well as local bands Atheist Rap, D?a ili Bu, Goblini, etc. Their trademark sound is speed combined with melody and powerful vocals.

“Evolution of the Transition” is currently available on iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music, CD Baby and other digital music sites. Samples of the music can be heard and official bio and photos can be viewed at www.upsband.com and www.punkoutlawrecords.com site. Current members of the band include Jovan Kostic (Mandow) – Vocal & Bass, Darko Stojanovic (Dare) – Drums, and Luka Glasnovic (Luka) – Rhythm Guitar.

ABOUT PUNK OUTLAW RECORDS:

Punk Outlaw Records is a digital record label and publishing company with a focus on distribution and promotion of socially conscious punk, ska, reggae, rockabilly, psychobilly and other forms of music from around the world. The label’s mission is to facilitate music’s ability to bring social awareness and change to some of the world’s most pressing issues.

 # # #

No Means No

// January 6th, 2012 // 3 Comments » // Videos

Thanks to Dave who sent me the link to this cool video of “No Means No”… an interesting, long running band north of the border (Canada!) that’s got a loyal, underground fan base. Their jamming style runs counter to the short/sweet songs many punk bands perform, but I think that’s part of what makes them interesting, along with a great sound and killer lyrics. But you got to check their website link HERE , very funny and yes, punk as hell.

Take a look and a listen and let me know what you think.

Normandie Blue Rocks Whittier, CA

// December 16th, 2011 // No Comments » // Events, Photos, Videos

If you’ve followed us for a while, you may remember waaaayyyy back in 2006 or 07 we were covering a somewhat legendary band called “Calavera” who had been one of the first Latino Psychobilly bands around, usually splitting their time between LA and Mexico City.

In case you forgot or very likely never saw it, below is a video we did on the band back in those days.

Shortly after this interview aired on the national TV show I was producing back then “American Latino TV” the band went on hiatus and I had largely lost touch with them. But from time to time I’d catch up with Alex Blue, the guitarist for the band, who sent an encouraging email when I had gotten robbed in Buenos Aires in 2010 and was pretty down about the whole thing.

Well, now I’m spending some time in LA and taking the opportunity to hit up the psychobilly/punk events going on and one such event went on last Sunday night out in Whittier, CA a suburb of Los Angeles. Punk Outlaw was a presenting sponsor… but you’d never know it from the limited exposure we got (long story I won’t bore you with…at least not now), but it didn’t really matter as the crowd was super light.

But the good thing about a light crowd is you at least get to interact one on one with the people and we met some super cool cats who I sure hope to run into down the road and some other events. A few fine folks bought the Punktology Vol. 1 – Free Cuba Now! CD and Punk Outlaw Tanks.

Mucho appreciated guys.. hope you enjoy.

The other good thing about the evening was the bands were pretty tight, at least the ones we saw. It opened with Psycho Madbatz playing some old school psychobilly fronted by a petite but but bad ass female on the vocals who let it rip.

Then to my pleasant surprise, next up was Alex Blue’s new band “Normandie Blue”. Normandie Blue is more straight ahead punk music with three guitars blaring over Alex’s vocals. It’s loud, it’s raucous and I loved it. You can tell Alex has had some time under his belt on stage, because he performed like a pro despite the low turnout.

The band seemed to give it their all and they ended the night with some cool spin on a couple of covers after cranking through some kick ass original material. Alex has promised me a CD and I can’t wait to hear these guys with some good sound mixing where I can make out the vocals and lyrics better but I’m expecting big things. And I think you might be hearing big things from Normandie Blue in the future.

And who knows? A possible Calavera reunion maybe? Well, we can all hope. That band really rocked man.. Spanish or English didn’t matter, I dug them a lot and you can be sure if they do reunite, I’ll be doing my best to cover it for you guys.

Enjoy the pics from the Sage Nightclub in Whittier last weekend below.

Punk Outlaw Music Mix For Free Download

// 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!

Ska-Core Band Mojiganga Performing Live (as opposed to performing dead)

// July 15th, 2010 // No Comments » // Videos

July 15th, 2001 – NYC

I’ve always been intrigued about the relationship between Ska and Punk. Ska had a real heyday back in the 1990s and early 2000s with bands like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Sublime selling tons of records. Of course, this band called “No Doubt” burst on the scene but I can’t really consider them Ska when Gwen Stefani became just another pop icon, celubutard singing God awful, formulatic and very mass appeal (AKA Shitty) pop music. But hey, maybe you dig them so who am I to judge.

Anyway, I’ve noticed down in Latin America in particular, Ska seems to still be going pretty strong, especially in places like Chile and Argentina when I visited back in February.

I saw this Medellin based band “Mojiganga” at Rock Al Parque in Bogota when visiting over the 4th of July holiday and thought I’d share it with you. These guys seem to have a pretty big following as I spotted “Mojiganga  T-shirts when in Colombia and the crowd at Rock Al Parque seemed to dig them.

I’d love to know your thoughts on Ska’s relationship with punk music (yes, I already read wikipedia’s definition and while informative, lets consider that it might be more complicated than that). Was it the Clash, who spent a lot of time in immigrant Jamaican communities in England who introduced Ska to punks? Is ska really punk? What about Ska-Core (as Mojiganga self describes themselves)? And can somebody tell me what the hell is “Skampe”?

While I admit, Ska doesn’t get me all riled up like punk music, I do enjoy it. What about you?

Video of Fertil Miseria @ Rock Al Parque

// July 7th, 2010 // 3 Comments » // Videos

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA: July 7th, 2010

Fertil Miseria

I promised you video from our coverage of Rock Al Parque in Bogota, and here goes our first clip. This clip features the very popular punk/hardcore band from Medellin, “Fertil Miseria” performing on July 4th at the big 3 day festival.

Fertil Miseria was just my 2nd interview when filming the documentary “Punktology” on location at their store, “Rock and Roll Tienda” (Rock and Roll Store) which, as the name suggests, sells punk and rock inspired clothing and merchandise.

Viky from Fertil Miseria

At that interview, there was very little English spoken (my friend Jorge from Colombian punk provided some rough translation), and my Spanish was even worse then than it is now, so I didn’t really know what to think of this wild group of friendly and outgoing characters, much less the full content of their interview.

Hardcore/Punk with a violin

Since that interview I’ve witnessed Viky (vocals) jump on stage to play with their friends, the legendary Medellin punk band I.R.A., when I.R.A.  opened for The Casualties last December and the Medellin crowd went absolutely wild. The love was palpable.

The Rock Al Parque performance was my first time witnessing the entire band playing a gig live and it was cool to watch the festival fans respond. Viky worked the crowd well and while I’m not sure what she said exactly (yes, my Spanish still pretty much sucks), I do know they went wild whenever she frequently shouted “Puta” (Whore)!

Fertil Miseria Press Conference

I won’t be able to upload the High Def video until I get back to NYC, so this flipcam video will have to do until I can edit something nice, but I hope you enjoy nonetheless.

Email to Social Distortion’s Management

// March 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Photos

March 10, 2010

EMAIL TO SOCIAL DISTORTION MANAGEMENT

My name is Robert Rose a NYC based Independent video producer and as it so happens a very big Social Distortion Fan.

My company is Punk Outlaw Productions and I am currently working on a “to be titled” documentary film on Punk and Rockabilly music in Latin America.  It will be bi-lingual (English & Spanish) with subtitles in both languages as appropriate.

The project is meant to shed light on a topic never truly examined by North America, which is the punk influence and history in Latin America, including a look at the bands most influential in that region.

It is a fairly new project (about 6 months) but I’ve already interviewed bands like NOFX, Tiger Army and The Casualties along with dozens of local fans and bands in several countries including Colombia, Cuba (yes, there are punks in Cuba) Guatemala, Chile, Uruguay and most recently Argentina this past February. They are super excited about Social D. show in April.

Unfortunately, while in Argentina in February I was robbed of my video camera and computer and lost over 3 weeks of footage and interviews.

In April, I’d like to return to Argentina to do some re-interviews.

I’d also like to plan my trip around the Social Distortion concerts where I’d like to specifically interview Social Distortion fans there to discuss the influence of Social Distortion and, if at all possible, interview  Mike Ness (and the rest of the band if possible).

If I were allowed access to Mike Ness at any time before, during or after any of the shows, I’d gladly share any footage that I shoot, not only of the interview and any portions of the concert that I am given permission to shoot (either stills or video or both), but I’d also make available all the interview footage from all the Social Distortion fans that Social Distortion could use in any manner they so choose (at no charge of course).   Our line of questioning could include information about the forthcoming album as well.

Additionally, www.PunkOutlaw.com has lots of visitors from all over Latin America (including Argentina and Brazil which rank in the top 5), and I’d feature web teasers and outtakes there as well. I did this for the punk band The Casualties in their tour in Medellin and Bogota Colombia and it worked out very well.

I’m not sure how to proceed in getting access to Mike Ness in Argentina but any direction or advice you could offer would greatly be appreciated as I’d want to tie down details before I finalized my travel plans.  It would just be me and a camera man (2 person crew).

I can’t imagine a documentary about punk’s influence in Latin America without Mike Ness or Social Distortion’s participation, especially as they undertake this historic Latin American tour.

Thank  you for your time and consideration.

Exclusive: Punks in Cuba Speak Out Against Oppression

// January 4th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Videos

Punks in Havana bravely open up on camera about their lives and being punk in an oppressive country like Cuba. While we were conducting interviews, the Cuban police arrested one of our interviewees for reasons unknown.

Undaunted by the possibility of arrest and harassment these punks were courageous enough to express to the world what they really think about Cuba, if Che Guevara  was a Punk and their admiration for Cuban punk band “Porno Para Ricardo” and more.

Thanks to my amigos Camilo and Renzo for helping me to get this story out. It is dedicated to all the Punks who proudly and loudly carry on in countries where being a punk rocker can be downright dangerous.

Our good friends the Casualties help us out..

// November 22nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Videos


We got a chance to go backstage and see the Casualties the other night at the Nokia show when they were opening for Less Than Jake.

The Casualties and Lewis over at Powerchord productions put toghether a nice promo for my amigo Jorge from ColombianPunk.com for the upcoming concert in Bogota and Medellin in December. We’ll be shooting the concert and sharing photos and pics of this first time event for the Casualties.

From what I hear from Jorge who is in NYC Colombian punks are super excited and I think the crowd will be nutz!

Die Toten Hosen in Bogota

// November 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // Videos

German punks Die Toten Hosen in Bogota, Colombia from November 13, 2009.. their first concert in Colombia.. singing about something…? any ideas?

« Older Entries