// May 4th, 2012 // No Comments » // Videos
Proof positive that it wasn’t always sold out ticket master, concert halls, merch tables, tour managers and security guards.
Remind you of any bands we’ve posted? Social D. plays a party.. ala 1988.
// April 23rd, 2012 // No Comments » // Events
I live on the west coast and while I THOUGHT that meant sunshine and warm weather (it does not), at least I was right about one thing… it does mean some of the best punk rock in the United States.
On the west coast, punk is still a legitimate force in the music world and you can find pretty much whatever strikes your fancy… Non-commercial, underground bands (I know… redundant), to legends who have flirted with the mainstream (NOFX, Offspring, Social Distortion, Pennywise, Bad Religion, etc.) to those who have fully gone over to the other side (Green Day).
Part of the reason these guys have been so successful is that punk is, gasp… cover your ears you punk purist, part of the mainstream music scene here. Blasphemy! I know..but you will actually hear punk on the radio here.. and not JUST on the low end of the dial during off hours, it’s blasting on 98.7 and KROQ.
I love driving along and then hearing a Social Distortion ditty pop up out of the blue on the radio. It sounds so different from when I’m banging SD out on the ipod into my car speakers. It’s got a different sound coming on the radio and it’s a sound I’d probably never, ever experience in NYC (maybe in New Jersey.. maybe!).
Luckily for me I chose the west coast more for it’s punk and underground subculture musical offerings than the always sunny and warm weather (it’s been warmer in NYC than LA on more days than I can count in 2012 and it’s only April!).
Every weekend and indeed during the week there is some kind of punk music event or concert going on somewhere, from big to small weekly events like this Drunk Punk Thursdays event in Orange County at the Doheny Saloon.
Add in some rockabilly, psychobilly and a little pachuco music, well you got yourself a full agenda. Cool venues like Weber’s out in Receda, CA have cool stuff almost every weekend and in Paramount, the new Torino Lounge is becoming a force.. then there are major concert promoters like Goldenvoice which puts on a plethora of punk shows and some not so punk shows like the recently wrapped Coachella.
So much punk, so little time… one has to be selective or never sleep. Well, as much as I like sleep, I like punk better so this Saturday, we’re picking a not so small event called the Punk Rock Picnic presented by our good buddies at PunkRockers.com and 98.7.
If you live on the west coast and like good old fashioned punk music and picnics then you should hit it with us.
Hope to see you there but if you can’t make it, as always, we’ll do our best to give you pics, videos and coverage and make you feel like you should have been!
This Saturday April 28th it’s the 5th Annual PUNK ROCK PICNIC!
ALL AGES! Starts at 11:00AM and ends at 8:30PM – Get there early as some of the big named bands play early in the day! 7 Stages, BMX half pipes, Skateboarding and all sorts of fun stuff!
With
FEAR, Jello Biafra, Duane Peters and the Hunns, The Crowd, D.I., Angry Samoans, Deniz Tek and the Golden Breed, Fang, Monster X, RF7, Symbol Six, Ill Repute, The Co-Dependents, Decry, Shattered Faith, Battalion of Saints, Doggy Style, Yeastie Boys, Bonecrusher, Death on the Radio, The Rift, the Supplement, Radioactive Chicken Heads, Walk Proud, Dissension, Bananarchist, Splntr, Desperation Squad, Fiction Reform, Civil Disgust, Rodents of Unusual Size and more…..
Tickets http://
At Oak Canyon Ranch
5305 East Santiago Canyon, Irvine, CA 92606
// January 2nd, 2012 // No Comments » // Photos
Our relationship with Remzcla.com continues. We wrote an article for them in an attempt to explain the Latino influence in the international rockabilly and psychobilly scenes.You may note a few familiar names and some not so familiar.
Check out the article HERE and if you like it, for God’s sake hit “like”, tweet it or facebook it, forward it to your 2 best friends or something.. and if you don’t like it, well, hell.. go ahead and write me a nasty, flaming, annonymous comment, I can take it.
Enjoy!/Disfruta!
// December 19th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Events, Photos
PICS FROM ADOLESCENTS, X & SOCIAL DISTORTION IN SANTA MONICA
Goldenvoice is one of the most prolific punk concert promoters of all time. Founded by Gary Tovar, you guessed it, 30 years ago, the legendary promoter was able to bring the different factions of Southern California’s burgeoning punk rock scene together, give it just enough structure and kick in the pants to take off and become something truly special in the world of music.
Gary Tovar - Founder of Goldenvoice
Now 30 years later, it’s hard to believe what a force West coast punk (my personal favorite and I’m not from here btw) has become in the rest of the world. I mean if I listed all the influential west coast punk bands here, I’d still be listing the bands by the time you’d be reading it.
There are simply too many to count and whether you consider Offspring and Green Day to be true punk rockers any more, the reality is that bands like them along with NOFX, Pennywise, Rancid and….geez, there I go again listing the damn bands.. well let’s just say there are not only a bunch of Cali punk bands still playing to this day, but they are as influential as ever.
Well on this magical night, the 1st of the 3 day Goldenvoice 30th Anniversary shows, I was honored to be able to photograph the legendary promoter himself, Gary Tovar, as he introduced 3 legendary punk bands.
The night began with the Adolescents, who I assure you are no longer Adolescents at all, but that didn’t keep em from rocking the house. This Fullerton, CA band was formed in 1981 right around the hey day of West Coast punk. This was my first time seeing these guys live. I shot the first 3 songs in the photo pit and then headed dutifully back in the crowd to hear the rest of their set which was pretty tight.
Now I’ll admit, I only have a few tracks of Adolescents, “Kids of the Black Hole” and a couple more. But after seeing them live, well, they are one of those bands that will probably be top of mind when I get ready to refill the old ipod. The band members have played in other notable punk bands like “Agent Orange”, “Social Distortion” and more.
Next up was the legendary LA punk / folk band “X’, whom I’d seen in NYC about 2 years ago. Once again, I don’t have a ton of “X” material but what I do have I love. Lead singer, Exene Cervenka was once married to one of my all time favorite actors, Viggo Mortenson (see him in “Eastern Promises” if you haven’t already). Exene is also an accomplished artist, but she’s had some serious health issues of late. She announced a couple years ago that she is suffering from Muscular Sclerosis, a serious disorder with no known cure.
But on this night, Exene showed little signs of anything but energy and love for her craft as she and her talented band mates Billy Zoom and John Doe ripped through hits from their critically acclaimed albums they’ve been cranking out since they formed in 1977.
“X” is an LA band through and through but they’d look right at home in Austin, TX or Nasvhille, TN with their sometimes folksy look and sound which bounces between hard, fast paced punk and root tinged folk for a sound that can sound almost like Folk or hillbilly punk (at least to me, a guy from Tennessee).
The final act was what I and most of the crowd came to see, Social Distortion. Unlike the Adolescents and X, I’ve seen Social D. at least a dozen times and am more familiar with their music. Extremely familiar actually. I own every Social D. song ever released and have listened to a Social D. track at least once almost every single day of my life since I first discovered them in 1997.
But since I’d been traveling in Latin America for the past year or so, this was the first I’d seen SD in in a long time and the first getting a taste of their hometown crowd going nuts over Mike Ness and co. He is treated like a God in Southern California and I see now why they like to tour so much around home. They can sell out a venue several nights in a row no problem and no one seems to tire of seeing them.
As always, there were fans that looked like they were so young they were probably dropped off by mom or dad and fans who must be facing retirement soon. There were parents with their kids and there was an older guy wearing a Social D. jacket who could have easily been an accountant or a company CEO or gasp!!! a f”ing wall streeter or 1 per center.. rocking out on the front row.
Needless to say I was stoked (how is that for some so-cal vocabulary?) to be shooting my favorite band of all time up close and personal. My flash was malfunctioning but I still managed to get some decent pics as Ness and Co. came out and immediately kicked it old school with “Atom Bomb”.
They played a wide range of songs including “Moral Threat” which was my first time to see them play that particular diddy live as well as a couple off their recent release “Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes” including my favorite “Machine Gun Blues” and “Gimme The Sweet and Lowdown” which Ness proclaimed his favorite to the partisan crowd.
After an intense set of rock n roll classics, the guys did one encore before the 11pm curfew hit (it’s LA yall!) which characteristically was the Johnny Cash cover and now Social D. classic “Ring of Fire” that you’ve heard all over NBC promoting the return of “Fear Factor”. Yep, Social D. should be rolling in the licensing $ this year, I’ve heard them all over TV lately.
Ah, but they are still firmly punk, doing it their way or the highway kind of stuff. The manager got all the photographers over for a little huddle pre-show and laid out the rules of the road (flash is ok, 3 songs only, after 3 songs put your camera away or you’ll be asked to leave, etc., etc,). I was cool with that. It’s their show, I’m just trying to get a pic.
Social D. did not disappoint and I was really honored to help GoldenVoice, a true legend in the promotion game and possibly the single most influential punk promoters of west coast punk of all time , celebrate their 30 years.
The next two nights featured even more bands like Bad Religion, Youth Brigade, Vandals, Dickies… oh man, there I go again, listing bands.
Well I’ll let Gary Tovar’s published statement sum it up:
“The artists and lineup for these special shows were chosen to reflect the bands that embraced and were instrumental in building Goldenvoice from day one. Like us, they had just the right screws loose. Because of their support past and present, Goldenvoice was able to flourish and become a part of the Southern California music scene. These bands took a chance on us 30 years ago and continue to be a big part of what we do today. We are excited for them to help us honor our first 30 years!”
You don’t know me, but thanks anyway Gary. It’s a cliche I know, but here is wishing you 30 more years. I might be in a walker or wheelchair but if I can, I’ll be there for that celebration too, just like some of the old cats that made it to this show.
Check the Social Distortion Pics HERE!
Enjoy the pics from the show and if you want to see the complete sets from all the bands then visit Punk Outlaw’s FLICKR page right HERE.
// November 9th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos, Videos
IF YOU MISSED THE ARTICLE LAST WEEK FIRST PUBLISHED IN REMEZCLA, HERE IT IS IN IT’S ENTIRETY WITH A FEW MINOR TYPOS CORRECTED TO BOOT. THANKS TO ISABELA AND THE GANG AT REMEZCLA FOR SHOWING INTEREST IN THIS SUBJECT (IT RECEIVED OVER 300 “LIKES” AND STILL GROWING). AND OF COURSE THANKS TO PANCHO FROM LOS SAICOS FOR THE INTERVIEW.
ENJOY!
Our Article on Los Saicos for Remezcla Magazine
The question of how and when punk music really began, or who really was the first punk band have fueled many documentaries, books, articles and more than their share of drunken conversations over the years. Hell, they may have even contributed to a bar room brawl or two. Despite being steeped in the scene the past few years both at home and abroad, I’ve never really felt qualified to have much of a discussion on these points.
There is so much written about the history of punk, yet it seems so easy to get the info twisted, such as getting the dates of punk’s emergence mixed up. And to be honest, I really hadn’t cared that much about punk history. I’m a fan of ’80s west coast punk and it seemed a bit pointless to worry so much about history when there is so much good stuff going on right now. While I respect it, I don’t want to live in the past. If old school bands like The Damned, Dead Kennedys or Social Distortion are touring, I want to hear all their songs, past and present.
Bands like Social Distortion still going strong...
All this changed when I visited Lima, Peru. Now, Peru is known for some serious history, mostly the indigenous kind with ancient ruins (If you didn’t know it, Peru is home to Machu Picchu and many other ancient ruins), but you’d be excused if “the home of punk rock” doesn’t exactly pop into your mind when I mention Lima. But what if I told you that Lima, Peru was in fact home of one of the very first punk bands in the world, years before the Sex Pistols and the Ramones popped onto the scene? Despite my previous statements, I do have a rough, sort of working class knowledge in a general sense of punk history. I’ve read the books, I’ve seen the films, I know about the Sex Pistols, Malcolm McLaran, “God Save the Queen” and all that good stuff. I’ve read extensively about Joe Strummer, The Clash and the influence of Jamaican immigrants in England on their music.
Joe Strummer Tribute Mural - NYC
__________________________________________________
COULD IT BE, THAT DESPITE ALL WE HAD BEEN TOLD, ALL
THAT HAD BEEN WRITTEN ON THE SUBJECT….THAT SOME OF THE
FIRST INKLINGS OF PUNK MUSIC BEGAN IN SOUTH AMERICA?
________________________________________________
Having lived many years in New York City just a few blocks from the famed CBGB’s, I know and certainly appreciate the Ramones and that now-deceased venue’s (and others like Max’s Kansas City, Coney Island High, etc.) incredible influence on the scene. I know about the Sonic, Iggy Pop, the MC5 and Detroit’s own influence on the scene. I’ve read and even vaguely remember that Blondie was punk, before they were funk, and how a young David Bowie was looking for talent at places like these former hot spots cum dive bars dotting the lower and then sketchy parts of Manhattan in New York City.
The reality is that the true beginnings of punk and even subsequent subgenre’s like psychobilly (The Cramps, Meteors, etc.) and fore bearers like rockabilly (Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, etc.) are up for debate and really hard to pin down. Relying on sometimes extremely foggy memories of an increasingly small base is not exactly scientific research. To further complicate matters you have that pesky and equally popular little question: What exactly is punk anyway?
But in all the debates and conversations, how many times have you heard of Peru even mentioned? If you live in South America maybe, but I’ll wager if you live anywhere else in the world, probably not. While traveling down in Latin America working on my documentary Punktology… The Worldwide Influence of Punk and blog for Punk Outlaw, I had heard for a couple of years about a band from Lima, that was playing some cool music in the mid ’60s, well before the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Ramones and right around the time bands like the MC5 were lighting the motor city and surf was making a splash on the west coast. Now remember, kiddies, no internet back in these days, so underground music was traveling quite differently (and much more slowly) back in those days.
At first I thought maybe my Spanish needed improving, during my travels in Latin America, and I was just misunderstanding the folks who kept mentioning this quirk of history I’d never heard of. Finally, I realized there must be something there, so I researched and it led to some interesting possibilities. Could it be, that despite all we had been told, all that had been written on the subject, all that had been documented, debated and deciphered about it, that some of the first inklings of punk music actually began in South America?
It seemed people in Latin America knew something that had hardly been acknowledged (at least to me) by the English speaking, dominant messengers and historians of punk which had always pointed to bands in the U.S. and Europe as the closest approximations to the Fathers of the punk music spawn. But for Lima, Peru, there’s no debate.
A band called Los Saicos (as in The Psychos) was such a band. The band’s story begins like many others. They were four childhood friends and amateur musicians who grew up together in the Lince neighborhood of Lima. They sprung up on Lima’s music scene in 1964 and while they only put out 6 singles before they broke up in 1966, they are arguably the most influential rock band ever to come out of Latin America. I realize this statement may ruffle some feathers in rock Meccas like Argentina and Brazil.
I wanted to learn more about Los Saicos so this past August while traveling in Latin America I made the pilgrimage to Lima, in the dead of the Peruvian winter (which means chilly, damp weather without a hint of sunshine), with a barely adequate grasp of the Spanish language and high hopes of meeting and interviewing Los Saicos which had recently reunited in 2006.
Lima's current punk scene...
Over a period of a week I was able to get a snapshot of the punk scene in Lima which consists of 3 distinct stages: 1) Los Saicos in the 1960s 2) the 2nd wave in the early 1980s with bands like Voz Propia, Narcosis and Leusemia 3) and the current stage with punk bands like El Terrible y Los Mongoloides, Los Lemmings and others.
Initially it seemed my timing was bad. Soon after I landed in Lima, I heard that Los Saicos was holed up in a studio in Mexico City laying down some new music. Determined to make the most of my trip, I got busy interviewing a fore mentioned bands from the 2nd and current waves and that kept me plenty busy.
Interviewing George AKA "Pelo" From Lima's 2nd Wave Band "Narcosis"
It was about time to head home and I had pretty much given up on getting an interview with Los Saicos when my contact and local punk resident Victor called to tell me that Los Saicos’ drummer, Pancho Guevara, was back in town and would agree to meet with me. Pancho didn’t speak English so I had to rely on my Tarzan Spanish, which counter intuitively seemed to be getting worse each passing day!
Off the bat it was clear that this was not going to be like most of my punk interviews in a loud concert venue or at a drunken rehearsal. We met Pancho and a pal at a diner near Lince. Pancho was wearing a V neck sweater and sipping hot tea.
...with Pancho of "Los Saicos" in Lince
Pancho wanted to feel me out and see what my purpose of the interview was. I know they’ve given countless interviews but mostly to Latin press. I felt we hit it off immediately as I told them about my projects and Pancho filled me in about the band. From the diner, we headed over to the plaque on the street corner, which proclaims Lince the birthplace of Los Saicos and punk music.
Pancho pointed out to me the nearby street corner where the guys from Los Saicos would meet up and hang out. When I asked Pancho if he held any resentment to not being recognized for being a major player in the founding of punk music, he didn’t seem to really understand the relevance of the question and I think I understand why.
The plaque declaring Lima, Peru the home of punk rock!
Before, during, and after the interview, numerous people on the street recognized Pancho and came up to him, not for an autograph, but to chat. Like old neighbors from the neighborhood recognizing an old lost friend. Pancho is the only member to still live full time in Lima. Guitarist Rolando Carpio died in early 2005 and singer Erwin Flores and singer/bass player César “Papi” Castrillón live near Washington, DC.
The surviving members of Los Saicos have played gigs again in Peru and Spain. A documentary Saicomania was released this year and Pancho said he has conducted many, many interviews recently about the band. They have plans to tour the U.S including a stop in California next spring which I hope to catch. I think, at least as far as Pancho is concerned, there is plenty of recognition, albeit a bit late.
Pancho’s positive outlook notwithstanding the recognition of Los Saicos as punk is lacking. I don’t think it’s a conspiracy by North Americans or Europeans to not give Los Saicos their due. But I do think it points to a larger issue of punk music being viewed erroneously as a largely working class, white music, largely a stereotype perpetrated by mainstream media that has no idea what punk is.
That is one of the points of my documentary Punktology. We’ve interviewed punks the world including punks in Latin America (who are a rainbow of colors), as well as African punks, Asian punks and even Muslim punks. Punk is the most tolerant music subculture I know of. But history has a way of being written from slanted perspectives, and in punk music’s case, it was written from a largely North American and European perspective (sound familiar?). Ironically, this is exactly the type of ignorance, misinformation and subtle racism that punk music often rails against.
And I know I said that history doesn’t matter, but it does. We need to give credit where credit is due. Reunions notwithstanding, Los Saicos had a short life span but so did the Sex Pistols, MC5 and numerous other bands widely credited with contributing to punk’s earliest beginnings. We need to recognize Los Saicos for what they are; an influential, unique and original band that was one of the most influential ever in Latin America and possibly the world. Check ‘em out and next time you’re in a debate about the beginnings of punk music, you’re gonna come across as the smartest (or craziest) guy or girl in the room!
// June 6th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Photos, Videos
The Dorados Rockabilly Trio
I knew there had to be a rockabilly scene in Colombia. I just figured it would be in Bogota, not in Medellin where the Paisas (people from Medellin), rock out to the sounds of punk and metal to such legendary bands as I.R.A. and Los Suziox along with other really talented cats like Los Sornos, Industrial punks Nues, the hardcore Fertil Miseria, Desadaptadoz and newer bands like Lokekeda, Alkoholema, Insurgentes, Grito and Nacion Criminal.
I mean there are so many good, solid punk bands in Medellin I’m discovering them by accident all the time.
Dolman - Bass & Vocals
I guess I should not have been surprised after discovering that yes; there is indeed a rockabilly scene in Medellin! Or should I qualify that as there is a rockabilly band in Medellin that is doing its best to establish a scene. They are the Dorados Rockabilly Trio.
Now I discovered them (or should I say they discovered me) through my good buddies Andres (Los Suziox) and Faber (Medellin Rock Festival) at the Medellin Moto Show a few weeks back.
I immediately hit it off with the guys. Felipe Ossa, the bands singer / lead guitar who spends some time with family in New Mexico had just been to the U.S. and witnessed his first Social Distortion in concert there so we had a lot to talk about. Felipe looks a little bit like a young, Latin Mike Ness himself (before the jail time) don’t you think?
Carlos - Drums & Vocals
At the time, I was headed out of the country to Ecuador to work on my side project “Raw Travel” but I promised you that when I returned I’d be featuring some music from these guys.
Good to his word Felipe stayed in touch with me and I made it out to their rehearsal on Friday night.
They played a good mix of covers of rock-n-roll classics (Richie Valens, Eddie Cochran, etc.) as well as a few of their originals which I really dug.
Felipe's tricked out guitar
We had some studio time left over so we ripped through a version of Cold Feelings (Social Distortion) & Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash/Social Distortion) with yours truly at the mic before I let the guys finish it out with “Don’t’ Think Twice” (Bob Dylan/Mike Ness) and “Reach for the Sky (Social Distortion).
Rehearsal was a roomfull of Social D. fans
Good rockabilly finished off with some punk and punkabilly… Now that my friends is a good couple of hours well spent.
Well, proving that I ALWAYS tell the truth MOST of the time, here ya go, a video clip of their original song “Bettie Page” from their rehearsal session is below.
STAY TUNED: And coming up, pics and genius insights from my recent Ecuadorian Punk Odyssey and, keep your fingers crossed, a complete interview and feature on the Dorados Rockabilly Trio.
And for more pics of the Dorados Rockabilly Trio head to Punk Outlaw’s Flikr page HERE.
// May 10th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Photos, Videos
This “review “has been months in the making but I figure if it took Social Distortion 6 years to come out with a new CD then it can take me 6 months to find the time and energy to write about it.
I realize it might be irrelevant at this point, but given that the record company recently released the video for “Machine Gun Blues”, they at least think this CD has a long sales cycle. And you know what, I agree. Happily punk music and Social Distortion don’t follow whatever norms are left of the so called music “industry”.
I also wanted to give myself time to listen to the CD, record, LP, download whatever you call it these days, front to back and back again numerous times. Experience tells me many of my favorite Social D. songs were weeks, months or even years in the listening. Like some exotic piece of sushi, some of the best songs are an acquired taste. Glaring exceptions are my favorite songs from “White Light, White Heat, White Trash” CD. My first.
Social Distortion
I know, I know, I in no way resemble a professional or even unprofessional music “critic”. What qualifies me to even attempt to analyze and pass on my opinions about a work of music?
Well, I am a massive Social Distortion fan, own every song they’ve put out (and some they haven’t) and while I am partially uncomfortable and wholly unqualified to sit in judgment of what took many, much more talented and gifted people months, or in this case years to put together, I’m doing it anyway.
Now what’s more punk rock than that?
ROAD ZOMBIE: My favorite track on the CD. No lyrics just bad ass guitar melodies from Ness and Co. Full disclosure I first heard this track when Social D. played Mulcahey’s pub in Long Island in 2007. Though I had taken in many a Social D. show, I had uncharacteristically worked my way up to the front couple of “rows” and got my first “up close and personal” if you will, of Social D. live. Since then, I fight and maneuver to the front as much as possible for every punk show. I missed punk during my teenage years so now I’m making up for lost time.
In this instance, Mike Ness came out like an outlaw, bandana over face playing this kick ass tune that I later found out to be “Road Zombie”. It was raucous, it was loud and it was vintage Social D. While, I didn’t know the title of the song at the time and had never heard it before, I liked It straight away and now that it’s finally on the old i-pod, have to force myself to listen no more than 3 times in a row per session or I become like that little rat in a cage in those drug addiction tests. Road Zombie is classic Social Distortion and that’s why it’s my favorite track on the CD and probably in my top 10 of Social D songs of all time.
FAVORITE LYRIC: None. Song doesn’t have lyrics. But I imagine it’s about being on the road, touring so much you’ve become a sleep deprived, guitar playing zombie.
CALIFORNIA HUSTLE AND FLOW: Least favorite track on the CD. Ness channels the Rolling Stones and 70s Elvis with the soulful sounding background singers that for my money, just sound out of place. The Stones are legendary but only “alright” to me and Elvis rocked, even during the fat years (“Suspicious Minds” anyone?) but for Social Distortion this style of music doesn’t fly for me. It comes off bluesy, cheesy and decidedly not the least bit punk.
I respect Ness’s freedom to experiment and after this many years he’s certainly earned the right. But for my money, unless you’re into the Black Crowes, then I’d save the 99 cent download on this one.
FAVORITE LYRIC: None really.
GIMME THE SWEET AND LOWDOWN: This song took a while but it grew on me. And while also a touch bluesy. It has a more modern day social d. sound reminiscent of 2004’s “Sex, Love and Rock N Roll” and would have been at home on that CD.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “You gotta get right or get left don’t you know”
DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH: An altogether very listenable song, this is not vintage or hardcore punk Social Distortion but the lyrics really get to me. I don’t suppose to know what Ness was thinking when he wrote this one, but it seems like a lyric written by a middle aged punk rocker that’s been through some shit and come through it all the wiser. Feels like he’s talking about himself when he was a teen, or maybe passing along a little wisdom to his own young sons. When the harmonies kick in its hard not to sing along.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “You’re dirty and you’re damaged, all you need is a little love”
MACHINE GUN BLUES: I noticed this was all over satellite radio before the CD was release. Epitaph put together a nice video for it, so I guess this is the official “hit single”.
Yet I still dig it. It’s vintage outlaw Social Distortion. Lyrics take you back to another time in Hollywood when Ness might have been a gangster instead of a punk rocker. Once again, the harmonies on “I’m al…..read…y goooo…nnne”.. (Also a good Eagle’s tune) are hard to beat and I love the theme, which could mean onto the next score but also gone from this life, a foregone conclusion that bad guys don’t win. Machine Gun Blues sounds like an ode to Bonnie and Clyde and the 1930s gangster lifestyle. Certainly not Ness’s first. The video ain’t bad either. In the end, the good guy is the bad guy and he gets his just desserts just as the song suggest.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “I’m sorry for the things I’ve done, if indeed we do cross paths it’s nothing personal”
Some people never understand, it’s just business!
BAKERSFIELD: Ah Bakersfield… heard it many a time at Social D. shows as it sapped the energy out of the crowd and sobered the fans right up. But it’s not a bad song at all… it’s just more country-bluesy, ballady rock and roll from Ness and while if I’m ever in the mood for some “easy listening punk” (hey, it happens), this song will be on the playlist, I’d save the 99 cents on the download and get my fill at the concert cause God knows it’s probably gonna get played. BTW, Bakersfield, home to a few good alt-country artists isn’t THAT bad. I wonder how the Social D. fans in Bakersfield feel about this tune when Ness plays it.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “I can’t seem to make it on my own”
FAR SIDE OF NOWHERE: My buddy “Peyo” from the punkabilly band “Rudos Wild” way down in Uruguay said it best when he joked that this was Ness’s “Shania Twain” song. Exactly! “I wake up and drink my coffee…” “The birds are singing”. So glad Ness pulled himself out of the dirt and filth, but Ness is way too happy go lucky on this one. I’m happy he’s happy but I like it best when he writes me songs about the pain and misery! I guess this one’s for the girls??!!
FAVORITE LYRIC: None
ALONE AND FORSAKEN: This little light weight and predictable ditty grows on you about ½ way through and I can’t accuse Ness to being “too happy” on this one. The melody is mad simple and the lyrics are somewhat sung in a story telling prose. Would I ever download it on its own? Nah… but since it’s on the CD, I give it a good listen every now and again.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “Forsaken, forgotten without any love”.
Been there, felt that.
WRITING ON THE WALL: People might accuse me of losing my edge when I say, I love this song. I’m man enough to admit here publicly that I’m a sentimental wussy more than I usually admit to anyone privately. CONFESSION: I can still tear up when I hear that damned Titanic song! Sorry, was that TMI?
This song sounds like Ness struggling to raise and keep connected to one of his young sons as he’s perhaps reaching that stage when even a rock star dad is not cool anymore. It’s heart tugging, even for me, a dude without kids. Maybe that’s why it connects for me. I probably am at a place in my life where I should / would have expected to have a family and I can imagine what Ness is going through.
Or maybe, he’s just a master lyricist and paints a good if painful picture of the drama in his everyday life. I sure hope his son, if that is indeed who he wrote it for, appreciates it. It’s a classic.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “I’m hopelessly aware of the good and bad traits we share”
CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU: Ness revives the soulful backup singers and it seems to work a little better here. And while I generally don’t dig the bluesy elements, I do dig this song and look forward to hearing it in concert sans the 70s style back-up singers.
FAVORITE LYRIC: This song is chock full of ‘em… but “Never seen a hearse with a luggage rack”, not sure if that’s original Ness or not, but it’s simple wisdom that can’t be repeated too often to any credit card carrying North American (of which I’m one).
STILL ALIVE: OK, as any fan knows and as mentioned here before, Ness has been in the punk game for a while, seen a lot of stuff and been through a lot. This song is an ode to his lasting power and while it’s well deserved and perhaps had to be written and recorded, I wouldn’t normally download it.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “With a guitar in my hand I stand a little taller” From the back to the front page. From the gutter to the stage”.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: Yeah man, I dig this goodbye song to a former lover (I assume). This song is hard to classify. I guess it’s just a straight ahead rock and roll ballad but I really dig the lyrics, melody and harmonies in the chorus. It’s definitely hooky and not very hard at all but I still like it.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “I’ll walk away but baby take care of yourself”
I WON’T RUN NO MORE: Ness really ends the CD strong with the last few songs and this song is hooky and once again, not very hardcore punk but alas again, I still would download it. Very listenable.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “And when you’re sick and tired of playing all the games and maybe realize that nothing’s gonna change, you said you wanted less, but you really wanted more. There comes a time in life when you must tell yourself, I won’t run no more”
Amen brother!
DOWN HERE (WITH THE REST OF US) – Acoustic: Not a new song, an acoustic version from the tune off the White Light, White Heat CD… and a precursor to Ness’s rumored upcoming acoustic CD.
After hearing “Cold Feelings” acoustic live in concert and now this song acoustic I must say I can’t wait for that one. Acoustic has been over done in many genres, but not in punk. This song is a classic and perfectly displays Ness’s ability to meld honky tonk, roots country with punk for that perfect mix of Punkabilly… which is a major reason why I love this band.
FAVORITE LYRIC: “No one’s immune now to a world full of problems. No one’s exempt now from a world of pain?”
“I tried hard now to do the right thing, yet I wonder why I still do what’s wrong”
“That’s the way it goes and I know how you feel”
So what’s my overall recommendation for “Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes”? Well aside from a great title the CD is pretty solid and has some really good gems in there.
If you are a hard core Social Distortion fan from back in the day, it may not be “punk” enough for you. If you’re more of the type of fan who appreciates the wide variety in this legendary band’s body of work, well this is another bullet in that gun and demonstrates Ness’s versatility.
And if you’ve never heard of Social D. at all, give it a listen, you may dig the songs I hate, and hate the songs I dig. I’m not naive enough to believe it’s my way or the highway kind of thing, I often tend to like things others dismiss and dislike things others rave over (electronic music anyone, no pun intended).
And in the end, who cares what I have to say anyway? Well, nonetheless I said it. And whether anyone cares is immaterial to me. But feel free to write to me and tell me how much you care anyway. He, he.
// 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!
// April 7th, 2011 // No Comments » // Photos
When you think of Trinidad what comes to mind? It could be “Carnival” or “where is that?” but chances are it’s not “Punk hotbed”… and you know what, you’d be right.
But having been in Port of Spain less than 24 hours (and most of those sleeping), I am here to tell you that this place has a bit more punk vibe than you’d think for a small Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela.
First and foremost there are my boys from “Anti-Everything”, a really, really good punk band from close by St. Augustine. Now granted, I cheat a little bit when speaking of these guys because I researched the scene before I came and found the guys’ MySpace page (MySpace is still good for something I guess) and we hit it off online a few weeks ahead of my arrival.
It helps that Trinis speak English, but let me tell you when you factor in the accent with the insane amount of slang, I still only understand about 50% of what is being said. In other words, I understand Trini about like I understand Spanish.
But Randall from Anti-Everything is so cool he insisted that he pick me up from the airport and take me to my hotel, even though I landed around 1 AM and he had class the next day. Talk about a cool cat.
Anti-Everything enjoying Shark n Bake (Randall 2nd From Left)
We stopped off for a local “Stag” beer (ladies, order this in Trinidad if you want to raise some eyebrows. It’s marketed aggressively to men on the island) and Randall filled me in on the punk scene in Trinidad and Tobago and guess what? It’s really, really small!
Well, hell.. everyone says that about their scene, even in punk hot spots like Bogota, Medellin or Los Angeles and New York City. By definition of being an underground culture, punk is bound to be small in relative terms.
But in Trinidad when Randall means small, he means small. The island is famous for it’s carnival, it’s steel pan / calypso style music and it’s diversity.
My First Shark N Bake
There are East Indians, Africans, tons of Asian influence as well as the occasional white, Caucasian like me. The religions range from Hindu, Muslim and all colors of the rainbow of Christian. Despite the fact that I stand out much more here being a white dude, I get stared at MUCH less than in other countries, like Colombia. Maybe people are more used to diversity here and that would apply to things like Punk.
But in an island that is inhabited by a little over 1 million people, the punk scene by definition, once again, is going to be small.
However, I’m here to tell you it’s more punk than you think…or since you probably didn’t even think about punks being in Trinidad, let me revise that statement, “its more punk than I thought”.
Cases in point:
1) Anti Everything – Already covered above.
2) Social Distortion - when I see a Social D shirt in NYC I get excited. But here I am in Port of Spain and who passes me but a completely tatted up, hardcore punk looking dude wearing a Social Distortion wife beater. I was so excited I wanted to hug the guy but thought better of it and said instead “hey man, Social D! they are great!” and he looked at me like I was crazy and kept walking. Hey, I said Trinidad is more punk than I thought, not friendly. Good thing I didn’t hug him.
3) Johnny Cash – Roughly 20 minutes after making an ass out of myself to the random Social D. fan, I am walking to my hotel and what do I hear cranking out of one of the houses, but good old Johnny Cash. Now when you say a place is punk, your probably thinking Sex Pistols, Ramones, or maybe the newer stuff like NOFX, Pennywise or Bad Religion. Well, me too. But you never can tell til you get to a place and of course, Johnny wasn’t a punk artist per se, but he was one influential cat to all genres of music including the aforementioned Social Distortion among others.
Now these are random observations from a guy LOOKING for signs of a punk life everywhere I go. I’m part anthropologist, part filmmaker, part fan and part curious traveler. I don’t know why this interest me so much but it does so I’m making a film about it “Punktology”, and granted I’m taking my slow, sweet time.
Maracas Bay
But when I first arrive to a place like Trinidad, the 1st day is crucial. That is when my senses are on overload and hyper aware. They’ve yet to be lulled to sleep by the routine that eventually falls into place everywhere I’ve ever been. My survival instinct is on high alert.
“Is this dangerous?” “Should I be walking or taking a taxi?” “Holy shit look at that crazy character” “Oh man, did he see me staring?”, “Just smile and say good morning”, “Don’t be that a..hole tourist”.. these are typical stream of consciousness thoughts of about 0.03 seconds of my first day in a country. And I love it.
In the afternoon, I hooked up with Randall and some of the other guys from Anti-Everything who took me to Maracas Bay about an hour outside of Port of Spain to experience the beach and to sample the famous Shark and Bake sandwich (worthy of the hype I might add). And while punk rock and beaches don’t seem to naturally mix so well, I like punk and I like beaches and we’re in Trinidad so I’m going to experience both to the best of my ability.
A Global Warming Machine
On the way up we mostly talked about what life was like living in Trinidad and tried to get out of the destructive path of this incredibly polluted automobile that was in dire need of an exhaust overhaul (passing this guy was not an option, roads are incredibly winding).
Oh did I mention Trinis drive on the other side of the road, with the steering wheel on the RIGHT hand side, I’m still wigging over that cause I eventually have to rent a car and remember to stay left is so anti-well, anti-everything I’ve ever experienced driving (sorry). I’m not a great driver when the steering wheel is on the right, excuse me correct, excuse me again, North American side of the car so this should be interesting!
But on the way back we got a chance to discuss the punk scene some more and Randall and I know some of the same people including the really burgeoning Puerto Rican Punk scene (I’m coming soon guys, hang on). He turned me on to a compilation CD of some of the best punk in countries you wouldn’t expect (like Trinidad) and I can’t wait to give it a listen.
Maracas Bay Beach.. really chill on a Wednesday
Randall’s a really smart cat and the guys I’ve met from Anti-Everything are super cool and laid back (all Trinis are so far). I’m gonna go limen (hang out) with the guys over the next few days and of course an interview for Punktology as well as a rehearsal or even studio session (they are currently recording their 2nd CD) is in the works here so I hope you’ll stay tuned as my Trinidadian experience continues.
// January 21st, 2011 // No Comments » // Videos
So I know I promised a review of Social Distortion’s “Hard Times & Nursery Rhymes” and I”m sure your all waiting with baited breath, hand hovering over the keyboard thinking “should I buy it? oh dear.. what would punk outlaw do?”.. Well, since I already bought it, you know what I’d do.. I’d buy it and worry about if it’s any good later.
But actually, I already knew what I needed to know when I heard “Road Zombie” was on the CD. I first heard Road Zombie before I even knew the tune had a name at Social D’s concert at Mulcahey’s in Long Island way back in 2007. I didn’t know what it was, never heard it before but instantly loved it. I still get chills when I listen to it and I have to say after downloading “Hard Times..” I’ve hardly gotten past this very 1st song on the CD.
I keep playing it over and over and over and my little pea sized, Pavlovian brain just gets more and more addicted to each and every riff, each and every pounding beat. It’s primal, it’s old school vintage Social Distortion outlaw music (ala “Prison Bound”). Yesterday I ran 4 miles listening exclusively to “Road Zombie”, do some quick math and that is like 12 0r 13 times in a row.
Is “Hard Times..” any good? I don’t know yet. My favorite Social Distortion songs took time to appreciate, like good wine or sushi or a hot rod car your favorite tattoo, punk shirt or whatever comparison you want to make, it’s often an acquired taste that makes the biggest, deepest impression.
So while I’ll weigh in on the CD in good time, I think I should give it a good dozen or so listens first and I just can’t get past “Road Zombie”.
In the meantime should you plunk down the $12.99 or whatever it is to buy the CD? I can’t answer that for you. Depends on how big of a fan you are, how much money you have to play around with, etc.
For me it’s a no brainer. On every Social Distortion CD there are at least 2-3 songs that rank up at the top of my all time favorite songs. The rest are rarely bad and almost always good. There are very few Social D. songs in their lengthy body of work that I say, “WTF is that?”
In early listening sessions beyond “Road Zombie”, there indeed may be a couple of those on “Hard Times”.
Mike Ness after all did say this CD will have a heavy “Black Crows” influence and I’m thinking who in the fXXk are the Black Crows to influence anybody or anything? I truly hate their music, their look, their style, everything about them actually. Why in the hell would a punk legend who’s carved his own path ever, ever say something like that?
I don’t own a Black Crows or a Bruce Springsteen song for that matter for a damn good reason.
Well, I do guarantee you this, “Road Zombie” and “Machine Gun Blues” don’t have a Black Crow’s or Bruce Springsteen influence. It’s 100% Social D.
For $12.99, if I only get a couple good songs then my investment has already paid off. Anything more than that is a happy bonus and I bet there are a couple more gems on the CD and I can’t wait to find how many there actually are on “Hard Times…”
So please, record buying public, give me some time. It took Social D. 6 years to release a CD, give me 6 weeks or so and I’ll tell you what I think about “Hard Times” when ALL the songs have etched themselves, for better or worse, into the grooves of my increasingly redundant little thought processes.
In the meantime, enjoy this flipcam video of “Road Zombie” recorded and live at Mulcahey’s pub in 2007. Feel free to listen over and over and over.
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