EDITOR
Jason Bolduc
COPY EDITOR Naomi Kelly
PHOTOGRAPHERS Jason Bolduc Jim Smith Mike Marshall
COLUMNISTS
THE TOWER
Hamilton's Anarchist Social Centre 281 Cannon St. E Hamilton, ON L8L 2B4 Hours: Sundays 11am-5pm* Mondays 2-6pm* Thursdays 12-5pm* http://the-tower.ca/
Jason Bolduc Jim Smith Juana Luck
REVIEWS
Jason Bolduc Mike Mccarthy
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mike Magee/Stomp Records Melanie Racette / Stomp Records Melanie Kaye PR Sacha Miller/Erin Caroll/ AB Co. PR Mike Cubillos / Earshot Media Nikki Law/ Metal Blade Brian S Gross/ P.R.B James Gooson/Brixton Agency Talia Miller/Brixton Agency Dan Gildan /Brixton Agency
Label ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Epitaph Records /Fat Wreck Chords / Stomp Records / Bird Attack Records / Spartan Records Paper & Plastick Records/ My Fingers My Brain Records/ Greenway Records/ Flatspot Records Metal Blade Records/ Cardigan Records / Rebel Time Records/ Victory Records
CONTENTS
Steve Rawles of Belvedere on “The Revenge of The Fifth” “Mean Jeans” talks about Ooze Booze and “Tight New Dimension”
Good Tiger / Between the Burried and Me / August Burns Red Tour Review. NEWS: The Runaround / WRATHS: Jim Lindberg side project MUSIC REVIEW: STOMP RECORDS / LOST LOVE
INTERVIEW WITH STEVE RAWLES from BELVEDERE on “THE REVENGE OF THE FIFTH”
WITHIN PUNK ZINE INTERVIEW WITH
STEVE RAWLES/BELVEDERE BY PHONE
APRIL 06,2016 COURTESY OF
MELANIE KAYE PR
J.B: So on we are here talking with the one and only Steve Rawles from the Canadian Skate melodic Punk band Belvedere which is named after the cheeky 80’s family sitcom. Steve: Hello how is everybody? J.B: So did the tour for “We are the One Tour” actually happen? Steve: Ya we did that in the end of February and early March we were in South America we did Brazil, Chile and Peru through to Columbia. We did that with Lagwagon, Mute and Adrenalized. It was a great tour, it was fun! J.B: What was that like hanging out with Joey? Is it always an adventure when he’s around and on tour? Steve: Ya I’ve known them for a while now and I’ve always felt really fortunate to tour with them with Belvedere or Standoff and that’s been up in Europe and in Canada and now South America. So ya they’re always good fun and great guys along with Mute and the Adrenalized guys it worked out to be a super fun tour. J.B: So do you find it hard to get back into the full on speed of touring after the hiatus and the family life and stuff, but I guess not because you guys did do a pretty good reunion tour? Steve: Oh ya well we started playing shows in 2012 and we started picking away at it we can’t do full time touring anymore but we were able to do about 20 shows a year or so. We’ve been playing quite a bit and especially since we’ve been writing for the album we’ve been able to do quite a bit of practicing at our drummer’s studio here in Calgary. We haven’t been practicing every week but usually every other couple of weeks we get together and jam, so yeah it feels just how it used to be. Right back at it feels pretty natural. J.B: Of course that was the reunion tour though you did Europe and some North America and big festivals from Groezrock to Resurrection Fest and Extreme Fest? Steve: Ya well we were down in Brazil with Less Than Jake and we did a bunch of stuff up in Canada and then we did some Europe stuff, I don’t know I guess we thought it would only be about ten shows or something. Then we did a couple of weekend shows - so we did a show with Grade/Moneen and Full blast and that show was in London, and then it was okay well it’s back to Europe (Laughing) but you look at each other and say well this is music! But in the end you know it’s pretty sweet and that’s kind of where we are at. Everyone in the band is in a good spot and getting along really well and it just kind of happened organically where we said hey we have all these reunion shows and we wanted to start writing again. J.B: Of all the places you played and the different scenes that you’ve seen is there any scene or venue that really stood out to you and inspired you because of how strong the scene was? Steve: I feel really good everywhere we go but Italy is really good for us obviously Groezrock is a huge festival and that’s in Belgium and it’s really great. Japan’s a
lot of fun we did two nights in Tokyo - that’s things you don’t see every day. You know we play in Calgary and it’s the same thing it’s like oh okay see next time but places like Brazil it’s somewhere we haven’t played in a while and the crowd gets really amped up and those places are special to me, but places we haven’t played even more so. J.B: “Revenge of the Fifth” where does the name come from? Is it a reference to where you guys left off with “Fast Forward Eats The Tape”? Steve: (Laughing) Ya it’s a reference to a lot of things accidentally actually, like me and Scott were looking through our emails and it was actually May 5 when you came up with that song! And I was like yeah it was actually May 5 and because it was May 4 and the Star Wars Movie was out with the title “Revenge of the Sith” and he was like check out this riff I call it “Revenge of the Fifth”. And he was joking around with it and the whole thing of “Revenge Of The Fifth” and what that meant and all that the Fifth element being the Human Spirit and I started writing about that. And then we were like well we like the title of that
song let’s just call it that. Then we were like well let’s just put “The” in front of it as a criteria for album names and then it became “The Revenge of The Fifth”. So from there we were like oh this is our Fifth album and laughed and that’s what we said on May 5 and you know 05/05 and that’s funny and if you order an album we will send it you five days before the release day and we just went a little crazy with it. J.B: Almost a Star Trek Continuum there? Steve: (Laughing) Ya it’s been fun and the whole idea with the art work and the album. J.B: So you guys started out obviously as the Skate/Melodic Punk but now is faster what was your inspiration?
Steve: Now or in the beginning? J.B: Well I mean you guys have changed the formula and now it’s faster, more technical? Steve: I started the band and I consider Jay and Scott to be founding members but I started the band in ‘95 and I was just a kid out of High school and just trying to figure it all out. You know the difference between 18 and 40 if you’re playing regularly hopefully you get better? (Laughing) I think we’ve gotten better at what we all do and we try to push the envelope a little bit and it’s not you know three chord songs I wrote when I was eighteen and it’s evolved into what it is now and it’s something that we are really excited about. As far as influences we all come from a different background and listen to different stuff and the bands we’ve played to a listen to all kind of play a part. J.B: Obliviously you’ve had lineup changes over the years that has affected that outcome also with the introduction with Casey Lewis? Steve: Ya mostly in the drummer department it’s mostly myself Jay and Scott in
the band that’s been consistent since ‘98. J.B: Ya and Casey is from “The Evidence” and he has that almost Jazz and Classical Training like Neil Peart? Steve: Casey is still in a bunch of bands and still in “The Evidence” and he likes to jump into other bands as well at the Studio if the bands are having problems and help people out. He’s been playing for a long time I can’t speak on if he has classical training but he goes around listening to stuff like that. J.B: Ya not to mention he has some sick ink of flames that ties also into your logo? Steve: Ha! Ya we kind of lucked out on that one! J.B: So let’s talk about that with the earlier works you had the 4/4 classic blaz
ing snare drum and Hi Hat usual work with tom rolls. Now of course it’s more technical and Jazz influenced with more symbol work and you would almost say that there is a double pedal in the kick? Steve: OH NO! No Double allowed in this band (Laughing). But thanks for saying that because that is the skill he has its all single but sounds like it. J.B: So rhythm section and Leads back in the day - when you did pick up Scott and things really did change how would you explore his guitar wizardry? I’m talking about the Scale work? Steve: Ya Scott’s a beauty he’s been playing a really long time and I’ve played with a lot of good players and he ranks right up at the top. He’s an awesome dude to be up there with and he does shit I don’t even know, that’s why I play rhythm and sing and let him do all that fun stuff and I just kind of watch and enjoy. J.B: Obviously you pay homage to the metal because you do have gallop riffs in there does that really come through on “The Revenge of the Fifth”? Steve: Oh ya for sure we did do some video’s for songs that are more mid-tempo and more newer sounding, but there is a pretty good metal influence in the more structured songs. You will have to listen and see for yourself I can’t say too much. J.B: Ya also plays in with Jason’s sick base lines like the intros of “Mediator” and “Stain” right? Steve: That’s awesome and thanks, I know he will appreciate that, he works really hard at it. J.B: Ya well you know when you hang on tour with Dan Palmer (Death By Stereo) and Jake Kiley (Strung Out) it’s hard to not get influenced by those guys. Steve: (Laughing) Oh ya! Danno is awesome we have been really lucky to tour around with bands like that. And when you bring up the Death By Stereo guys those guys are fucking shredders ya those guys are great. J.B: You guys had samples at one point in time to song intros like an homage to Good Riddance like on “Angels Live In My Town”. Is there any possibility of that coming back into play on the next one? Steve: Ya that was ‘98 so we were doing some crazy goofy things and drinking way too much beer in the studio. And on “Angels Live In My Town” we were definitely in the that wave of bands that liked to play movie samples. And it’s funny we were at shows and people were like coming up to us after these shows and doing these quotes off like “Falling Down” or something (Laughing). But then that made me want to go and watch that movie you know! And I was like ah that was kind of cool you know! Maybe we should do a plug for that or something? J.B: So lyrical content on this release you covered pretty much everything from personal relationships to life experiences so what was the creative writing process on this one? You started writing in 2013 right?
Steve: Ya 2013 -2014 you know the lyrics always come last in this band but in the last four to six months is when I really went at it and try and put together stuff. You know I’m forty now so when I was writing back when I was eighteen I wrote about those things that made the difference and were effective back when I was 25. Now you know I have a six month old son, I’m married now, the world is a bit different now. Maybe I look at it in a different eye than I did maybe fifteen years ago. Maybe I’m more passionate about the world we are leaving to our kids and when you have a kid that really plays into my psyche and to you know what I like to write about so. It is a little bit more personal the lyrics I think than it has been before in the past. And I tried to be very direct about what I was speaking about and what I’ve done before in the past was people could interpret to whatever people got out of it. So whatever it means to them and that’s cool to me and maybe now I’m a little bit more direct about the subject matter. J.B: And of course the cover art you’ve always had some epic Illustration over the years one of my favorites was “Twas Hell said former Child” with that whole epic Graphic Novel thing going on. But now you guys have that cover of the Ouija board? Steve: So yeah we were thinking about the cover art and we brought up the idea of the Ouija board and gave it to a friend to work on and he found this perfect one and it’s really kind of beautiful and scary looking at the same time. It’s not one of those cheap Fisher Price looking things you know and we really liked the way that it looks and in our minds what we wanted this album to look like. I have a friend Colin Mitchell who ran a bunch of contests for it and he did a really good job with it and we gave it over to our buddy Juan in South Africa who designs album covers for a lot of bands. And he started going on it in it Illustrator and got it going and he tweaked it and we really loved it. J.B: So let’s talk about the Studio end of it I noticed a clip of Jay and Casey doing Tracking? Steve: Yeah it was done in Casey’s studio and were lucky to have someone in the band that owns a studio and that’s his job. And he’s tracking all the time not only do we jam there we were actually able to go through a proper demo process and we’ve never done all the way through. We did a little bit of demoing before but this time we were able to go in a couple of hours at a time every week or every other week. So we were able to hammer down on vocals and Guitars and kind of worked the song out and some of the songs took months to do that. And that went on for a better part of a year and then we tracked it at his studio
“That the Fifth element being the Human Spirit and I started writing about that”
but you were able to listen to it over and over and think of the songs through you know instead of like okay we have twelve days in the studio to smash it out and whatever happens and let’s get it done type of thing. And ten hour days because you know we can’t do ten hour days for a month in studio we just can’t do that so to be able to go in for like four hour chunks at a time when ever he wasn’t busy with other guys and bands it was great to do that. And so it took two months to record the album and then we sent it down to the Blasting Room in Colorado and then we mixed it there for about a week. J.B: Oh so it was the Blasting Room? Steve: Ya Mixed and Mastered there. J.B: Who did the mixing? Steve: Ah Andrew did the Mixing and he’s done so many bands and he’s a really great guy really talented, and obviously Jason Livermore did the mastering and he does the mastering for everything coming out of the blasting room. J.B: And Labels this time you are not on The Union Label Group you are on Bird Attack Records and released in Effervescence and Funtime Records for Europe and Japan by Bells on Records, Italy by No Reason Records and the UK by Lockjaw Records. Anything in ink yet for Canada? Steve: Ya Bird Attack is doing all of Canada and the States and Distribution they are handling it all and lot of these people I have known for years and we are friends and they were like people to help push the album in their area. And these guys are amazing they really push the stuff at the shows and the Festivals and you always see them out there and they have a lot of fans. And you always see them with these records handing them over you know one at a time and that’s what’s really cool about all this stuff you know. It’s not like shooting thousands through the store there’s some love here and they’re handing it over to someone saying you know you’re going to love this this is a band and album that I like so! J.B: Yeah it’s an old school approach just like the old days of picking up the zines to find shows and venues or asking fellow bands where to stay and Social Media plays a big part of all of that. How do you feel about the evolution of the scene like that? Steve: I’m thankful it’s here. We used to only play maybe 25 shows a year and now it’s way more active you know playing every day and running into people and it’s just not the case anymore and you hope you can reach all these friends and hopefully catching up with them. I’m on Facebook all the time and it’s awesome like that looking from a band aspect as to communicate. Myspace was really getting off when we disbanded so! J.B: You guys also have that sick skate deck that is up for grabs on the pre order contest? May or not come pre signed or scratched by a session down at Shaw? Steve: Ya we are giving away 5 (Laughing) get it? They were done by Jackson. But ya everyone that pre ordered has a chance to win one up to somewhere like
April 20 on the 26 we will do the draw but we will press others for show merch maybe. J.B: So Pouzza Fest this year! Are you guys excited? Steve: Ya it’s going to be awesome we have been watching the festival for years and they contacted us and when they asked it was perfect and we’re excited and can’t wait. A month after we are in France with NOFX and then Pennywise. J.B: We always end with a famous book or quote that inspired your life. Anything come to mind? Steve: Well I was reading a book called “Hawaii” and that’s been out since the fifties and I can definitely say “Hawaii has stolen my heart”.
May 13 May 14 May 20 May 21 May 22 Jun 22 Jun 24 Jun 25 PLAYING
Dickens Calgary, Canada Brixx Bar & Grill Edmonton, Canada Call The Office London, Canada The Cave. Toronto, ON Pouzza Fest Montreal, Canada Stereolux w/NOFX Nantes, France De Klinker w/HomerAarschot, Belguim Jera On Air w/ Pennywise, Zebrahead Ysselsteyn, Netherlands
WITHIN PUNK ZINE INTERVIEW WITH
MEAN JEANS
BY EMAIL
APRIL 12 ,2016 COURTESY OF
MELANIE KAYE PR J.B: As usual you guys launched an E.P for “Nite Vision” before the much anticipated Fat Wreck Chords Release “Tight New Dimension” which is a sample of the direction to come? BJ: The song Nite Vision is the A-side of the single and is also on the new record. It has a darker mid-tempo vibe, but that’s not an indiciation of a new direction of ours. It’s just a song. We like to branch out and experiment, but it’s always safe to assume a Mean Jeans album will be full of fast idiotic party songs. Tight New Dimension is no exception. J.B: How do you like being part of the infamous “Fat Family” I’ve heard nothing but great things from that? BJ: It’s all new to us, but this morning we had beers and burritos at Fat HQ with most of the staff and it was fun as hell. Everybody’s cool and were excited about working / partying with them.
JW: Everyone associated with FAT that we have met so far has been awesome. And of course I was a supreme FAT-head when I was a youngster so i am beyond stoked to have our records be a part of their catalog, fer sher. I don’t have any tattoos but I’m thinking I might get a giant FAT logo backpiece. J.B: The album cover art to no surprise which you guys are known for on this release has that epic Alien and the (Tron) suits are you guy’s big time Arcade fans? Must be because again it’s a homage on the Singles collection cover? BJ: I wouldn’t say any of us are big time arcade fans. The same artist Josh Freydkis did both our Singles Collection and Tight New Dimension album covers. We threw some loose concepts at him and included lengthy lists of the things we love, including but not limited to: slugs in bondage, martinis, other dimensons, aliens playing saxophones, guitar shredding rats and subterranean teenage rebel clubhouses a la the Foot Clan in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. JW: Yeah we are probably more into the IDEA of arcades rather than arcades themselves. Although the first time we went to Ground Kontrol in Portland we were blown away because it was a dopetastic arcade with neon bathrooms and shit where you could also CHUG BEER! BJ: Not to mention they had the game TOOBIN’, which you gotta love. The record relase show for our first album Are You Serious? was held there. J.B: What are your thoughts on Aliens? Cause dam I swear I was abducted once but then again that might have been induced visions? BJ: Mad jealous. I’m still w waiting to get abducted. If you are an alien and are reading this, holler at me. JW: Damn BJ that was a tight answer! J.B: Most recently you finished up the Japan Tour of course the Fat Wreck Chords 25 year anniversary how do you view the scene over there in difference to the west coast scene? BJ: Our Japan tour happened before the Fat Wreck 25th anniversary show, and before we signed with Fat. Before our tour I’d heard a lot of people say crowds were more stoic and subdued than we’d be used to. The first show consisted of more than ten bands playing in two adjacent rooms and people going absolutely insane. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. It was incredibly hot and sweaty, I was crowdsurfing while playing guitar, people were standing on
the DJ’s turntables, one band was completely naked, people were bleeding. My mind was blown. The scene was sick! JW: Yeah there was blood all over my shirt when we were done playing but I wasn’t bleeding so I dunno who the blood came from. I’m having it DNA tested so I can find out who is responsible for buying me a new Simon & Garfunkel shirt! But yeah Japan was an amazing experience. The best people. JJ: All the bands there were amazing. They put so much heart into playing. Literally bleeding for rock and roll. The two bands we toured with Gezan and The
“But then again we also jammed a lot of Paula Abdul remix albums too so…” Guays were awesome to watch every night. Everytime they hit the stage, they ripped it like it was the only thing in the universe that mattered. And of course someone made you some cookies? BJ: Yes! The greatest gifts we’ve ever received from a fan. Her name was Rikashi (sp?) and she made us a ton of cookies in the shape of various mean jeans logos and images. Thank you Rikashi, we hope to see you again soon! JJ: After getting them, we found out through a translator that she was slighlty put off because we didn’t eat them. But how could we? They were so rad and such an amazing thing to do. I still have them on display at my house. I’ve definitely drunkenly nibbled the corners on a few of them. J.B: And of course you mentioned on Social Media about “Bubble Blue” by Shiori Ikeno written about the Japan Tour? BJ: Yeah! Man, you’re reminding me of how cool everyone in Japan was. Rikashi,
Shiori, everyone in Gezan and The Guays, we miss you! Shiori came on the entire tour taking photographs and contributing to the excellent group party vibes. When she said the photos would be getting printed somewhere I figured it’d be a zine, but it’s actually a beautifully published photo book that does a great job of capturing how special that tour was. I’m so happy to have a copy. J.B: Portland has a really dynamic scene going with bands like CastOff and the heart of the hardcore scene with Poison Idea and Wipers. So what made you follow in the Ramones School of sound? BJ: We’re actually all from the east coast and moved to Portland 9 years ago, so I wouldn’t say the history of Portland music has had a massive effect on us. That said I’m a big fan of The Wipers, Dead Moon and countless other great Portland bands. The Ramones showed the world that you didn’t have to be musically talented in a traditional sense to write and perform good music, so that’s probably been a big influence on me. JW: We jammed a lot of Ramones later albums in our formative years of the band for sure. But then again we also jammed a lot of Paula Abdul remix albums too so… J.B: And of course you guys have the Association with Pizza art and Ooze even down to the fonts what is the perfect pizza? BJ: Slime sauce JW: Yeah I’m more into ooze than I am into pizza. Rich Kids on LSD can be thanked for that. Also a big shout out to Creepshow 2. J.B: You also have a new direction on this release that we hear on the E.P “Nite Vision” on the track “Now I Wanna be Yer Dogg” which is faster in rhythm and that same distorted leads and classic “Whoa’s”. Is that the overall feel on the
amount of years that passed and the configuration of the tight lineup? JW: Yeah we probably play most shit way faster than any sane “musician” would choose to do. And then when we play live we are all hopped up on jagerbombs so we play em even faster. Funk it. Who makes these epic show posters? They seem to know your style well? BJ: I don’t know which you’re referring to, but I’ve made a ton of our posters over the years. J.B:You guys are known to be the party machine with the whole Jaeger Cover homage with “On Mars” and the attempted product endorsement with the video “Anybody Out There”. Did they realize that you just like there shit but hey I’m not a product machine? BJ: We chug a lot of Jagermeister because we want to. Jager caught wind of this one way or another. They sent us some Jager goodies, including a Jagermeister guitar which was awesome. They in turn expected us to do some boring crap that we neglected to do and the relationship terminated as soon as it began! But we still chug a lot of Jagermeister. JW: Drop that jager shot in some red bull and then guzzle it and I guarantee it will improve your night. Also, Jagermeister, if you are reading this: what are the chances on a second shot at a sponsorship? Also, do you have any contacts over at Red Bull by any chance? J.B:Even though I think the most epic video is “Ragers of the last Sparks” with the whole Rufus Homage to it? The Video for “Stoned To the Bone” has that epic 80’s Skate video vibe? Any honorable mentions to your first decks? BJ: Rollerblading rules. JW: Alien Workshop forever. JJ: Minor Threat out of step sheep on the grip tape and and Old English 40oz graphic. J.B: You also pay homage to classic Horror movies anything really stand out that scared the shit out of you? BJ: When I was a young buck Killer Klowns From Outer Space really scared the shit out of me. JW: Once again, Creepshow 2. JJ: Ernest Scared Stupid. I couldn’t sleep for days. J.B: So let’s talk splits because I feel that’s where you guys really got noticed so the start with White Wires and the cover of course with “I remember how”. Then the Hollywood split and “Underground Railroad to Candyland” but most notable the Big Eyes split. That split was the defying moment I felt with that classic “Howling” cover. Is that the one that really put you more out there and started to really get noticed? BJ: Haha. I’ve never heard anyone mention the Big Eyes split before. I kinda forgot about it. The singles collection is what holds it all together from the span over the years
with again that classic arcade cover but is more refined was there a remastering for it? BJ: Yeah it was remastered. Some songs sounded better, and some sounded worse, I thought. J.B: What kind of Lyrical content can we expect on the next release because you guys have written so many good feel good tunes? Even from the earlier years like ‘Ready To Rip” and the redo of “ Total Creep” is there anything in there you were thinking of remastering and a different take on it? BJ: The new album covers subjects including Michael Jackson being tight, the last night on earth, living like an idiot and failure. And one song imagines us along for the ride when Gordon Bombay gets a DUI in Mighty Ducks. You finished up the Japan tour have a few select shows what’s the next tour looking like? BJ: We’re on tour with NOFX right now, it’s great. JW: Yeah our first show with NOFX was last night and it was zany as all hell. Early set time, shit tons of people, hella beers. Lookin’ forward to more huge venue partying. Let’s see if I can avoid annoying Fat Mike too much. J.B: Do you think you can shotgun faster than the Deaner? BJ: I’m happy you mentioned Deaner. Fubar has had an influence on the band for sure and I’m happy to say we’ve partied with both Deaner and Terry in real life. Shotgunning speed hasn’t ever been my strong suit, but can Deaner thumbgun? JW: Thumbgunning is my specialty but my chugging speed could use some work. My overall chugging AMOUNT though does NOT need work. It is stellar. JJ: I’m more of a slow and steady Guzzler. J.B: We always end with a famous book or quote that inspired your life anything come to mind? “That would be a waste of time” Anthony Kiedis, Point Break
TOUR REVIEW
Morgan Sinclair / Photo Jason Bolduc
Dez enlisted some of t Coleman, drummer A Post-Hardcore faith ba pass that postivity to o the lyrical content and performance that leave cating what uses for m Tiger is composed of s ing former members o strangers to scale time “A Head Full of Moonl tent than thought out g ences in lyrics between chorus chants often th notable of the night’s s Derya Nagle / Photo: Jason Bolduc interesting catchy intro The set lasted decent enough for Good Tiger to play out most of the s their release “A Head Full of Moonlight” with “Aspirations” and “Snak followed up by another “All Her Own Teeth” which drummer Alex Ru does a youtube drum through for and “Enjoy The Rain”. What’s more ant is that new supergroup leads the way into what the scene has evol after the Post Hardcore wave and musically kind of fit into different m genres. It is quite clear the fan base that follows Good Tiger is no stran amount of energy and complexity these guys bring to the live perform This is probably one of the better openers for this type of show and ve the atmospheric lighting staging with dense fog and the sound system board of a proper concert theatre.
As far as opening bands go they either entertain the crowd from glossed over antsy anticipation or leave them stoked in amazement craving for more. And that is exactly what happened when the opener hit the stage. Good Tiger was formed in 2015 by guitarists Derya “Dez” Nagle and Joaquin “Jo” Ardiles. the pair’s most talented friends to complete the line-up: vocalist Elliot Alex Rudinger, and bassist Morgan Sinclair. When it comes to certain ased tours I am always able to catch one to keep the message alive and others regardless of my position on religion. The clear indication of d the musical composure is comparable to any emotional orchestrated es you breathless in awe. I remember clearly looking at a poster indimath are in life but never ever saw musical structure in that list. Good several musically influenced musicians from previous bands featurof TesseracT, The Safety Fire, Architects UK. Whose members are no e signatures and tempo shifts. Which their crowdfunded latest release light” reflects through with a more harmonic approach to lyrical congrooves. Good Tiger has a post Hardcore forumula with tonal differn Elliot Coleman’s one note smooth harmomics and his aggressive he oldschool hardcore approach instead of backing vocals. The most songs from Good Tiger was ‘Where are all the Birds” which has that o which got the attention of the younger influenced crowd. songs off ke Oil” udinger importlved into musical nger to the mances. enue with m and live Alex Rudinger/Photo: Jason Bolduc
Between the Buried and Me have opened up previously before for a lot of really amazing tours and never fail to leave you in amazement of what just happened. This 5 piece from North Carolina has been around for over 15 years plus and brought something overt that speaks to the masses in this tour. Between The Buried And Me are well known in the post hardcore / Metal genre and where they have influenced many newer generation bands on the Time signature jazz influenced tempo shift composures. Coming right into probably the best respected and well known studio release “Colors’ with “Foam Born (a) The Backtrack” and “(b) The Decade of Statues” blazing energy and matching the atmosphere of the crowd that was there to feel it all.
Paul Waggoner / Photo Jason Bolduc
They played a rare track for live perfomance off their debut release from Lifeforce records and hauled into it full on taking turns working the stage on “Mirrors” from “The Great Misdirect” released on Victory Records. Between the Buried and Me has been around as a staple performer for many Victory label tours and it’s no wonder why with their raw energy well composed structured scale guitar intensity and intricate drum sections that leave you wondering truly how much more complex can they take it to. Tommy Giles Rogers does the balancing act between both Vocals and Keyboards and
Tommy Rogers / Photo Jason Bolduc
allows the element of Electronica in the song structures be it from long atmospheric song composures like the 13 mintue intro off the great Misdirect to tempo swings or synth rhythms throughout song structures. The one thing that is constant is that both Tommy and Paul Waggoner (key founders of the band) continue to evolve and bring the perfect foundation to the lineup. What is differential in the years gone by of the many releases of Between The Buried and Me is the
overall band’s look which was marked from the earlier Post Hardcore days to the present more matured well oil machined they have become. Although during this performance the usual energetic forces of this band ruled the stage giving a certain full on hype to the over the years best of setlist, the only person that stayed more in the shadows was bassist Dan Briggs. The overall atmosphere of this band’s perfomance can lead to some serious lighting composure that flows with the act from the massive LED panel systems to the rotational LED Washers and moving spots and light blinders all synched by Duck Lights specifically created for August Burns Red and this tour. Only one track was preformed from The Parallax II: Future Sequence album released through the current label Metal Blade Records. Between the Buried and Me played two tracks from their latest release Coma Ecliptic probably because the album has had bad reviews from the industry over the conceptual
manner of the content being a more misplaced journey of expression of experimentational prog than the more defined structure of previous releases. It is unknown when Between the Buried and Me will play this release in entirety as it is always more defined on tours to play the crowd favourites. Perhaps on their own bill or another tour slot they will perform this release in it’s entirety as a theatrical musical experience that it was conceived to be. What remains to be true is that this well defined mastery of complicated musical instrumental musicians continue to hone on their talent and inspire not only the masses and those to follow but also push thier own boundries even further. Between the Buried and Me ended the set with a track off the 2005 Alaska release which left the crowd pleased and chanting for more from the sort of best of setlist that blazed through with precisions and skilled timing.
Dustie Waring / Photo Jason Bolduc
Jake Luhrs / Photo Jason Bolduc
John Benjamin Brubaker / Matt Greiner /Photo Jason Bolduc August Burns Red is no stranger to the Metal -Core or Post Hardcore Genre fueling intense vocals and faith based inspirational conveying hope and relating social issues with a clear toned message of keeping it true. This band has been known for extensive touring and working hard to get where they are today and it clearly shows in their musical progression over they course of years and several Studio albums. For the most part every time I have seen August Burns Red their attention to sound check and the atmosphere of the theatrical lighting environment is what makes the show from Midi controlled software curiosity of Duck Lights. August Burns Red set came full out with the intro track “Martyr” from their latest release found in far away places. The full energy of Jake Luhrs precariously standing in expressive poses while striking deep out the content filled strongly over the blazing chord work of Brent Ramblers metered rhythm sections and took pace with John Benjamin’s technical precision Prog scaling which balances harmonically with Dustin Davidson’s deep hard basslines. The intensity of the music is well composed with the hard fast drum skills of Matt Greiner who I don’t even think broke a sweat during a constant straight through set. Followed up with
Brent Rambler /Photo J.B the video released “Identity” off the latest release also and then into “Empire”. Then again ‘Everlasting Ending” to follow up with “Spirit Breaker” from ‘Rescue and Restore” They played the track “Cutting Ties” from leveller which really got things going with some heavy circle pit action with “Provision” also of the same album. There was a short message from Luhrs before getting back into it from the “Messengers” release playing “Back Burner” before
Dustin Davidson / Photo Jason Bol
lduc
returning back to the newest release with “Ghosts” and then diving back into a more scaped track off “Constellations” with Mariana’s Trench and followed back into a “Messengers” track. Of course the set wouldn’t be complete with out having a song from everyone’s perspective and personal journeys so up next was ‘Majoring In the Minors” which has some intresting tempo shifts and intricate work. Of course no Metalcore or Post Hardcore tour is ever complete with out some blazing solo of sorts and that comes in the form of Matt Greiner. It all ends with “White Washed” which I find the is the foundation of what is August Burns Red. Being a faith based band it is quite clear of their message which does not stray far from the spirit of Hardcore - to be there for each other and and overcome your demons and inner struggles to pierce through the darkness and become whole. It’s just a matter of opinion or indifferences that separate us from another,but judge not the other for they are facing only themselves.
NEWS RELEASES The Run Around Premiere New Video (“A Voice”) On DyingScene; ‘Reckless Ones’ LP Now Available; Band On Tour Through May 7 Chicago punks The Run Around are premiering their new video “A Voice” on DyingScene. The site calls the track, “a fantastic working man’s punk rock anthem falling somewhere between Dave Hause and Bouncing Souls.” Front man Jason Fein tells Dyingscene, “Our Guitarist/Brother, Jeremy Kitt, passed away suddenly almost 2 years ago. The song and video is in tribute to him and his life.” “A Voice” appears on The Run Around’s debut full-length “Reckless Ones”, released in January. The band’s spring tour kicked off last night in Chicago and runs through May 7.
“Just like their music, The Run Around fans are rowdy and dedicated. One thing that hasn’t changed from the frat party basements, this bands stage show and energy goes unmatched. Their albums will draw you in, their live show will make you a lifelong fan.”
Wraths, Feat. Jim Lindberg (Pennywise), Steve McCall (1208), Chris Kranes (1208, The Darlings) and Andrew Murphy (The Darlings), Releasing Self-Titled LP; Vinyl Available Now
Fronted by Pennywise vocalist Jim Lindberg and also featuring Steve McCall (1208), Chris Kranes (1208, The Darlings) and Andrew Murphy (The Darlings), Wrath’s self-titled LP is available now on vinyl, with the digital release to follow on April 19. Straight from the noxious refinery air of sunny, smoggy El Segundo, CA, skate punk veteran Jim Lindberg of Pennywise and his band of cohorts bring us their newest project WRATHS. Channeling the ghosts of punk’s past, WRATHS combines the dark guitar driven tones of T.S.O.L and Dag Nasty and the glaring sun bleached angst of the Descendents and Circle Jerks. Their no bullshit sound puts them right at home next to a faded SST sticker on a rusty strand cruiser. The band which includes Steve McCall (1208) on guitar, Chris Kranes (1208, The Darlings) on bass, and Andrew Murphy (The Darlings) on drums set out to pay homage to the heroes of the 1st and 2nd wave, not only in song craft but in recording. Tracked over just a few days with minimal production at Screaming Leopard Studios in Hermosa Beach you can here echoes of Black Flag and Big Drill Car coming through the grooves but the band definitely has their own unique sound and approach. It’s raw and real, something that is sorely lacking in today’s over-produced sea of cookie cutter soundscapes. The band and their producer Patrick Burkholder are firm believers in the plug in and go ethos and the songwriting is stripped down and honest.
“We Don’t Want The Airwaves” AVAILABLE MAY 6/16 www.fatwreck.com
MEAN JEANS
“Tight New Dimension” AVAILABLE NOW www.fatwreck.com
“COMFORTABLE SCARS” AVAILABLE NOW
“SUPERBAFRANGO” AVAILABLE NOW
NEW
NOISE https://suburbanscum.bandcamp.com/
https://colorsfademusic.bandcamp.com/releases
LOST LOVE COMFORTABLE SCARS
AVAILABLE NOW on STOMP RECORDS
Comfortab;e Scars is Lost Loves second full length release so far and remains true to form of what they are fun easy going Punk Pop rock with a twinge of Indie fuse. The album comes into play rigth off the start that makes you think that maybe you hit a track further in with the Homage to Rocy seven. These guys work hard and are a heartfelt band that wear it well among those who are listening to them for the first time. Catchy mid tempo tracks with catchy hooks.This latest release Comfortable Scars pays respect to the heartfelt lrycial content that is composed from Inner peace and dealing with some demons and issues from the past.Take Care,Get Better, See you Never has that movie soundtrack feel good summer vibe with full “Whoa’s” opener chorus chants. This release has 11 tracks full of something for someone even from the low toned “Run Forever, Run” about breaking away from the norms and getting away for a breather.The overall tone of the album reamins a solid Mid tempo four and for all the way through with some experimentation on the rifts. This seems to be the working forumula for this band that resonates with the newer wave of Punk. The tracks ‘Severance” and “Scotch and Soda” are reminsicent of that 90’s sound that is reminsicent of the older sonic youth days. With breaks downs and chorus chants these guys probably carry a really solid live perfomance. For people that like Alkaline Trio,Gaslight Anthem, The Mezingers, The Lawrence Arms and the Wekaertheans. By far ‘Here’s Fifteen cents now where even has that dual voice back and forth vibe about relationships that will resonate with the heart felt crowd pleasures.
The john fished two twenties from a wallet that Becky noticed was still comfortably full. “You do understand, don’t you? You, me, all this—we are all fulfilling God’s destiny, even if we don’t know what he has in mind for us. Faith is not believing that God can, but believing that God will!” His eyes burned with the fury of a thousand suns. “Whatever you say, pal,” said Becky, tucking the money away and reaching forward to unzip the trick’s pants. To her surprise, he was already rock hard. She quickly unrolled a condom over his cock, thinking that maybe this wouldn’t be so difficult after all. “REPENT!” roared the trick as Becky worked her magic. “GOD’S HELP IS ONLY A PRAYER AWAY!” Becky worked faster, split lip reopening, a small amount of blood running down her chin. The trick was very modestly endowed, and her bloody bottom lip made contact with his white briefs with each rapid bob of her head. For one horrifying second, the bloodstain bore an uncanny resemblance to Jesus, but when she looked again the crimson mark was just a blob. She kept going, certain that the freak would spurt his holy juice into the condom at any moment. There was nothing like the love of Jesus to bring a man over the edge.
UPCOMING RELEASES
PEARS
“Green Star”
FAT WRECK CHORDS APRIL 1 ,2016
LOST LOVE
“Comfortable Scars”
STOMP RECORDS APRIL 22 ,2016
MEAN JEANS
“Tight New Dimension”
FAT WRECK CHORDS APRIL 22,2016
ABANDONED BY BEARS “The Years Ahead”
VICTORY RECORDS APRIL 29 ,2016
BELVEDERE
“The Revenge of the Fifth”
BIRD ATTACK RECORDS APRIL 30,2016
SUBURBAN SCUM “Ultimate Annihilation”
FLAT SPOT RECORDS MAY 20 ,2016
UPCOMING TOURS/SHOWS
https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/979309?utm_medium=bks