Posts Tagged ‘Punk / Pop Punk’

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Cutest new group on the block? Courage My Love.

They hail from Ontario, three cool kids with a mighty dream. Thus far, said dream is becoming their reality.

No, they don’t satisfy my headbanging qualifications. But with that incendiary salt and undeniable pep, who needs it? They’re making some competition for Paramore, Hey Monday, and all those neo-pop-punk bands with righteous leading ladies. They don’t sever my nerves, but they do enough to slice the skin and make me see stars.

The attitude of the vid takes me back to the days of Avril Lavigne when she was singing about skater boys. I’m hoping young girls can take a look at this band and be inspired to kick ass.

A final note: it’s rare to see a female drummer. And I love it.
　

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

They rock because they can.

That’s just the vibe I get from these guys.

Inner City Elegance is a three-man army who shout-out against all that is varnished and fake. They’re a neon splash of unique in an otherwise colour-coded atmosphere. A perfect cut between the manic and the mild, they let me get my rock on without falling off the edge.

Not only do they appear legit in their love of music, but they seem super-pumped about getting their album out there. They’re blogging, tweeting, and touring, and I’m glad to say such efforts garnered my attention.

I feel they’d find home in tight, underground clubs, the beaten down venues, the shady pubs, all the places where misfits are likely to congregate. They’d need to be close enough to reach out, grab the audience by the hair and shake them to pieces.

Their music wouldn’t settle for anything less.
　

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

This is just too damn awesome not to share. Joining the Black Lips on stage this past weekend for their Do You Wanna Dance? number was Deerhunter/Atlas Sound frontman Bradford Cox, who posed as Joey Ramone, complete with long black wig and black leather jacket.

Halloween is still a month out, but this is the best damn disguise I’ve seen in quite some time.

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

[Photo by: MTV/Getty Images]

Ten albums deep, this band is still ticking like a damn time bomb. Red Hot Chili Peppers are back with a new single, The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie, taken off their soon-to-be-released album I’m With You. On that note, their five year hiatus have officially ended.

Note that this is their first single without long-time guitarist John Frusciante since 1995’s One Hot Minute. The Adventures has the band’s touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer in place instead. Frusciantes absence is noticeably heard, as Klinghoffer has principally substituted Frusciantes discrete funk style with ordinary power chord rock lines, but no need to hate; I still like the way this single is taking the band. This song is far from mediocre.

Chili fans, give it a listen here and jam!

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

No Witness leaves no man behind! Local bands with a bang-up ensemble are hard to come by, so I consider myself lucky. These three flesh-winding maniacs hail from my very own Edmonton, Alberta. I like a trio that has moves on the stage and a rocket launch affect on your electrodes. These guys give it all without anticipating a thing in return. Punk is always delivered best with a raw edge, and theirs is one with jagged material. What’s more, we all know an anti-establishment genre shines when the band in question gives it their own unique pinch. Plus, they’re pure indie and self-managed, making them the epitome of what punk rock should be.

Do be a darling and check out their Myspace and treat yourself to red-hot tracks like Dirty Suds and Grounded.

For now, dig the action in their music video for M.O.O.B. The song is all instrumentals, but the vid does good for a laugh.
　

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Punk has always been a walking contradiction, both as a subculture as well as a music genre. But I can’t help be drawn to its chaotic, cindery allure. And how can you love punk without loving the Sex Pistols?

Yes, I know. The band itself was the biggest sham in music history, concocted by Malcolm McLaren with the only intent of making a buzz. He stole what he learned from the New York Dolls and clamped it up with the sparking subculture that was budding right under his nose. Despite that, the Sex Pistols helped set fire to the UK and solidify that which we now know as punk. John Lydon couldn’t sing and Sid Vicious played bass even worse than Glen did. But they proved that punk isn’t about the music- not entirely at least. It’s about the spirit; that raw, grating, f**k-you spirit that just might punch you in the face.

I love that. No matter how many corporate sleazeballs stick their hand into the hunny pot, punk will always be a retreat for every pissed off kid, inflamed protestor and anyone who feels like an outsider.

Sure, maybe they all ought to have died off like Sid and left the rock n’ roll hall of fame adorned with middle fingers, but I think it’s also uber cool that most of the band is still up and running. Some become legends by dying; others, legends by living.

Unite with me, mohawk grabbers, attention slammers, self-pronounced misfits. We have an anthem, and it’s called punk.

P.S. I have to send out my love to Sid Vicious, whose birthday was just a few days ago. Rest in Rock, my dear.
　

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Everyone knows that Silverstein ranks high on the hard-core list. Anyone with ears, anyway. Their melodic tampering with screamo vocal effects and acoustic patterns is nothing short of artistic exploration. Therefore, it seems apt that their most recent single happens to be titled The Artist. It has exactly the kind of kick you hope (and expect) from Silverstein, those luscious Toronto boys with their thrashing skills and huge hearts.

The Artist has come just in time for me to land my hands on their new album, coming out in a mere few days. You can pre-order the dish on their website, and I’m not usually one to vouch for commercialism, but these guys deserve official sponsorship.

Can’t spare a buck? No matter. Dig into the delectable appetizer below.
　

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Iggy Pop has always been on the forefront of the punk scene. And when I say forefront, I mean spotlight. He was a key element to The Stooges, a band that helped punk grow some teeth and punch in some jaws. Songs like I Wanna Be Your Dog, Search and Destroy and No Fun are second only to the Sex Pistols with their raw edge and middle finger raised to society.

There isn’t a thing I can say about this man that doesn’t end with the words ‘influential’, ‘groundbreaking’, or ‘fondly insane’. On stage, he introduced the kind of grit, passion and spitting of blood that would eventually be hardboiled into the punk scene. Unlike some of his leather-bound counterparts, he actually had talent to back his attitude, a talent that hasn’t receded as the years have gone on. No matter what style he injects in his soul, he always goes out with his fists swinging and your stereo blaring.

Born to humble roots in Michigan, Iggy started out with drumming in garage bands, but it didn’t take him long to find that his place was at the front of the stage with a mike in his wild hand. His charisma and crazed antics couldn’t be matched by the most die-hard imitators. He has a charm that sticks and won’t let go.

The power of his gig is so strong that it wouldn’t matter what band was backing him- as long as he was giving his most insane, he’d keep those shockwaves flowing. Hence the success of his single career, no doubt. Just one bar from his mouth or one stare from his not-quite there eyes, and you know your brain is going to be ripped soundly.

But don’t you go saying that the rip and spit is the only act he has up his sleeve. Quite the contrary! He can jazz it up with the best of them, leaving out the grime and glory for some more subtle hypnosis. Take for example one of his solo acts, Livin’ On the Edge of the Night, a trip that’s more of a ballad than a battle. No matter how he does it, he always does it well.

He’s been rocking the world for thirty-plus years, and he’s still inciting riots. My guess is that Iggy Pop is a rock n’ roll cockroach; even when we’re all gone, he’ll still be singing up a storm.

　

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

My favorite band in the history of the planet earth, Incubus, is back with the fresh new single Adolescents (taken from their upcoming album If Not Now, When?). Although I have waited a long time for this release (2006 to be exact, with the release of Lights Grenades), it was totally worth every second.

This track syndicates oh-shit modern-rock guitars and robust vocals from lead singer Brandon Boyd that reminds me of the notes that made Incubus oh-so successful in the late-90’s. I also hear countless influences from their 2001 hit album Morning View, with mid-song interims containing dreamy vocal chilling and whistling. Trust me, I mean this in the best way possible. Elegiacally, Boyd sings about feeling overawed and out of bounds, reiterating the memorable hook, “Out of sight, out of mind/ We’re out of time.”

I could go on for hours about my affection and admiration for Incubus as musicians, but I will let you give it a spin. In the words of the kings themselves: “The long awaited 6th studio album from Incubus is completed! True to the Incubus legacy, this record is nothing like its predecessor, but still maintains the quintessential Incubus vibe.”

Until July, I will repeat this track on a daily basis.

Adolescents by incubus

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Sum 41 is a band that has always struck a chord with me since my youth, back in the days where it was cool to get a Fat Lip and be In Too Deep. After four years, the guys are back with a track entitled Blood In My Eyes, off of their upcoming release, Screaming Bloody Murder (due out March 29th).

Although on a slight release hiatus, the boys have been hardworking during those four years, spending a significant chunk of 2010 on the road, including their fourth run of headlining the Vans Warped Tour. They also put out a best-of collection (All The Good Shit: 14 Solid Gold Hits 2000-2008) bridging all of their albums dating all the way back to 2000. But still, Sum 41 fans have been waiting a long time for new material, which may have influenced their new album title. This track is definitely getting me excited for the album, for it’s hard, edgy, and just what I wanted to hear from these guys. Granted, if you’re looking for the same album the guys released many moons ago, your expectations won’t be met entirely, but don’t fret — it’s a good thing. The sound has changed for the better as the band has matured, not sold out, and built upon the foundation of the real talent Sum 41 has always contained.

I wouldn’t call this a comeback, but more of a rejoining of forces.

Check out Blood In My Eyes and reunite with Sum 41. Are you excited?

Blood In My Eyes by Sum 41 (Audio)

By: Maria Ciezak
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Rock and roll veterans Social Distortion will be dropping a new release, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, on January 18th. For any music enthusiast in the genre, this has been long awaited and anticipated; six long years to be exact. Single Machine Gun Blues is an appetizer to the main course that is exceptionally filling; a contemptuous, up-to-date desperado anthem which incorporates the album’s insubordinate attitude. Mike Ness is hands down one of the tightest guitarists in the world, and this is the first Social Distortion album produced solely by the front man. Ness has explained in several interviews that it’s something he has always wanted to do. Well hell, Mike, we’re right there with ya, buddy.

Although I have only heard a few tracks, I am sure the band’s unique vintage sound will syndicate with their modern-day vision to create quite the banger. Their new record label has associated Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes to the “loves of Hank Williams and Exile-era Rolling Stones” — not the vilest company, if I do say so myself.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

It’s a weird, weird world if you’re Zebrahead. A weird, weird world full of awesome possibilities. They come from a little place called Orange County, have been in the habit of slapping tunes together since the mid-nineties, but have found a nice fit in the 21st century. These light-hearted laughers couldn’t take on the weight of keeping ska alive all by their lonesome, but they still do their part for the genre. If you’re not acquainted with the taste of ska-punk, imagine if a mohawk-bearing anarchist mated with a groovy Caribbean chick. Ska-punk would be their lovechild.

With songs that are transferable from video games to primal aspects of pop culture, I’d say that, although they’re not quite iconic, they’re definitely deserving recognition. They have that classic jump-start push that any good ska-punk should have, ‘cept they somehow make it even more energetic than is expected. Their vocals aren’t as rough around the edges as other alternative vocalists, making them a good refresher for sunny days.

Took a while to hook in to their pizzaz, but (I guess) the wait was worth it. Underneath all that hoppin’ and boppin’, they’re quite loveable. A group you want to hang up on your bedroom wall and take home to mother for Christmas.

And they’re always running around with crazy ideas popping out of their ears, which makes them both cute and endearing. I mean, their 2009 album Panty Raid consisted of nothing but cover songs from female artists, anything they could shove their groove into from Christina Aguilera to our beloved Beyonce.

Little tweets tell us they’ll have another extravaganza popping our brain cells like bubblegum in mid 2011.

So for now, let’s settle for a novelty Zebrahead classic: The Juggernauts. That peak in the chorus accentuates the hope in the misfit generation.
　

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

I used to joke that The Warped Tour was like Woodstock, except there were more drugs and less peace. But after finally getting the whiff of what it’s all about, I’ve been forced to revoke my previous bias. I got in to the Country of Hardcore sans passport, simply because I was working one of the charity booths therein. Expecting to get some good doses of awesome music through bad sound sets, throbbing sun, and people already drunk by 9AM, I was preparing myself for one long day. But as time went on and the crowds grew thicker, I came to feel there was something more to what I had expected. Somehow Warped has a way of making you feel special, knowing you were a part of the spectacle — that the things you saw, the hairdos you spotted, and the smiles you captured were all part of something significant.

I don’t think I have to tell you how many heaven-bound bands showed up. From the household names to the underground breakout artists, the place was packed with talent. It was a direct injection of sizzling, incinerating rock, and a salute to what the Sex Pistols set out to prove: as long as you’ve got a guitar and some ‘tude, you have the means to go far. I even got to experience the unpasteurized thrill of discovering some new sounds along the way!

I was stationed by the tent where This Time Next Year and Suicide Silence sat to give autographs, heard Andrew W.K. bellowing to the crowd, Anti-Flag working up a riot while Hey Monday showed off their stuff, and as I walked away from the grounds I could hear Pierce The Veil start up on Caraphernilia. Everyone was singing along, and it was this magical moment I couldn’t get rid of. Suddenly, everything in my writing had popped off the page, and every note in my earphones had transcended to reality.

I guess the only true problem with The Warped Tour is there are so many different shows going on, it’s impossible to see every single snazzlegram of the line-up. And, one must remember, I was chained to a charity booth the whole time. But even getting snippets of it was a crucial addition to the memory bank.

If The Warped Tour went through your city this year, share the dirty details with us. If they haven’t hit you up yet, take a look here to see if your city’s on their warpath. ‘Cause, like one of the singers shouted from the stage, there will never be another Warped Tour ‘10.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Have I been getting on too much of an animal rights kick lately? Meh, oh well. Pierce The Veil is a band I just couldn’t keep quiet about.

Thing is, usually I find a band for its music, then learn heartwarming details about them as I get acquainted. But with Pierce the Veil, it was the opposite. I first heard about them through the PETA website, and fell in love with their music afterward. Good to know they have both a clear conscience and incinerating skill.

Though the band has been trading names back and forth over the years, the habit of communicating their inner paradoxes and nightmares through efficiently packaged screamo and experimental rock has survived. Who cares what title you’re playing under, as long the soul behind the mask sticks?

Their prose writes itself on the walls of your mind, making you a willing spectator of philosophy in action. They are a hybrid of ideal evolution; they’ve got the pretty boy looks of a emo-core band, and the adrenaline-injected compound found only in the blood of heavy metal enthusiasts.

Like watching genius unfold, you can see how the song builds itself up or slows itself down, keeping you guessing. They have a habit of incorporating recognizable downbeats from hit songs to grab peoples’ attention, but it’s their ability to make the clouds rumble that’ll convert people to fan loyalty.

Like many notable bands, they’ve been on the Warp Tour, signing autographs at the Peta2 tent, and doing fabulous PR for their new album along the way. Seeing as Selfish Machines is their first album in three years, it makes sense that they’d be pumped to get the word out. As I type, they’re streaming it through their Myspace page (gotta appreciate that they’re more about spreading the music than they are about making the money).

You can check out their PSA ad for PETA here.

After your heart has swelled from their philanthropist efforts, get back to basics of pure, precise innovation, and brace yourself for the most tart tasting track from their new cd: Caraphernilia.

By: Caitlin Hoffman
For BiggerThanBeyonce.Com

Turn up the amplifier and head to the bomb shelter. The Black Stars are now available at a missile silo near you. After you’ve experienced their crash course in kickass, your energy will have shrivelled. All of it will have gone full throttle into pumping your fist and banging your hair at their all-out, smash-up punkfest. They’re jumping out, drum sticks blazing, ready to rock through your solar system.

Their songs are like a step into the underground. Almost always they’ll start with a riff or startling drum solo that makes your brain cells perk up. The effect they have on your ears is massive. Like the sensation of striking liquid gold; it all gushes out and sinks through the pores, like you’re watching ink get absorbed in your skin.

Though they have some killer EPs showcasing their talent, their first full length album is only coming out, as they say on their Facebook page ‘mid 2010′. Can’t wait to see how all that unspoiled energy juice comes together!

Just when you thought there was no more good punk revival out there, two blokes and one miss from down under suddenly fall into your line of vision. They have the potential to become a lifestyle, synonymous to mornings like caffeine and cigarettes.

If the Beat Generation was assigned a soundtrack, The Black Stars would be a definite candidate. When you listen you may feel zapped up but misdriven, as if motivated to do something drastic, but unsure of what you’re going to do. Soon all that unfocussed animation will just go into dancing, and you’ll feel the joy come back to sunsets.

I long to get rock and roll whiplash from The Black Stars, up close and personal.

Best of all, the message they slam in their performance is one they roll with off the stage. All that rebellion and energy isn’t just put into rocking, but doing good deeds. They’re fiends to the slimy corporations, and friends to the animals. In fact, on their Myspace, their last blog entry was in protest of allowing hunters in the national parks of Australia. Fingers like lightning, and spirits that are as selfless as they are sweet –that’s what I’m talking about!

Go on now, and download their tracks from Itunes. But before you do that, take a peek at one of their older songs Alright Baby, with a vid that shows you don’t need a steel contract to make a sweet music video. Though I do warn you: playing this video may cause your monitor to spark.