Hardcore 83'

Boston Hardcore Legends, The F.U.'s, live in 1983. Madrid Hardcore Pioneers, Espasmódicos, live in 1983.

GV30: TSOL, Bad Religion and Youth Brigade @ Santa Monica Civic

TSOL, Bad Religion, Youth Brigade and three opening acts played at Day II of the Golden Voice 30th Anniversary show. A full capacity crowd at the legendary venue, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, for a night reminiscent of an old school SoCal punk rock bill. Several generations of punk enthusiasts gathered for this larger-than-life event presented by legendary rocknroll show producer, Gary Tovar.

The first act was a lousy band called A Pretty Mess. Female-led generic punk that left everyone wanting the headliners as soon as possible. The second worse thing, aside of this, was hearing a Ramones-only soundtrack between bands. A lack of variety that reminded us that definitely, the best was yet to come.

Mystic Records 80s outfit, The Grim, hit the stage for their blend of hardcore surf punk that set the tone for the rest of the night. Fast songs with potent guitar riffs that initiated circle pitters to wreck shit up. Things to highlight were the tallest bass player ever and the lead singer throwing out their entire merch to the crowd.

Sin 34, the female-fronted 80s hc band, came next. Led by singer Julie Lanfeld and drummer Dave Markey (from We Got Power Films fame), they blasted songs from their classic "Do You Feel Safe". It was so good to hear live, a sort of underrated band from that era.

After this, arrived one of the main dishes of the feast, Youth Brigade. 2/3 of The Stern Bros, Shawn and Mark, accompanied by two young guns to play all their classics. "Blown Away", "Modest Proposal", "Men in Blue", "Fight to Unite", "Violence" and they ended their set with singalong classic "Sink with Kalifornja"(in the latter, the remaining Stern brother Adam as well as producer Gary Tovar, join them on stage for the encore).

The main reason for our attendance, TSOL, brought mayhem to the stage with their presence. Lead singer Jack Grisham with a full-face of make up and a suit joined by the other original members: guitar extraordinaire Ron Emory and pounding bass player Mike Roche. Keyboard-player (Greg Kuehn) included, they passed through their classic discography with great taste. Fast punky stuff like "Superficial Love", "World War 3" and "Abolish Government" and horror punk anthems as "Sounds of Laughter", "Silent Scream" and "Wash Away" kick some major ass. Grisham's witty and irreverent talk between songs stand them out as great punkrock performers, a thing musicians in general lack. Their classic necrophiliac tune "Code Blue" ended their round set like a bomb.

Bad Religion closed the fest with an hour-long wall of sound full of their 3 decades repertoire. "Fuck Armageddon, This is Hell", "Do What You Want", "You Are the Government" heated up thousands of kids, old timers and walk ins. Their 3 guitar attack of Hetson (Circle Jerks), Baker (Minor Threat) and Gurewitz (Epitaph Records) was outstanding. Graffin (UCLA professor) and Bentley (original bassist) completed the full five-man front row performance. Songs like "I want to conquer the World", "Modern Man" and "Supersonic" continued the singalong extravaganza. Finally, to time travel to the eighties decade, they played never-before stuff from their first album. This was a great way to end this show because it completely fulfilled the purpose of showing the attendees how was punk rock back in the day. As Gary Tovar said: "Don't ever underestimate the power of Bad Religion".

Post Scriptum: This fest started on Friday with X, Adolescents and Social D. and ends on Sunday with Descendents, Dickies and Vandals.

Late 80s and Early 90s Puerto Rico Hardcore Punk

While living in Europe, I bought the compilation "Delirium Tremens Vol. 23: Puerto Rico Hardcore Compilation" from a guy named Marko Orava of Sweden who actually released the compilation back in the day. I sent him 3 one-euro coins wrapped in newspaper to the Nordic country for this piece of history. It was released in 1992 and was assembled by Fernando Díaz, from old school Puerto Rico punk band Fobia Estatal and the label Fuera de Orden Records.

Infamous bands such as No More from Sábana Grande, Unión de Defensa (an oi band featuring some members of No More), Werner and Paíto's first punk band Frontside Generation, Aguada's Chicken Shit (later Demasia), Crossover legends Sham Pain, Long-standing hardcore outfit Golpe Justo, ska band Pies Negros and Rotten Core (about whom only know that they were from the West Side) complete this long out of print sonic gem.

To make long story short, recently I have seen this compilation posted in a couple of European blogs and decided to put my copy for download (since it was private in my Mediafire files for so long lol)..


Artist : Various Artists
Album : Puerto Rico Hardcore Punk Compilation: Delirium Tremens #23
Genre : Hardcore
Label : Delirium Tremens
Year : 1992
Source : Tape
Tracks : 21
Time : 40:37 min
Size : 36.15 MB


Tracklist:

1. Rotten Core - Never [01:30]
2. Rotten Core - Society Rules [01:52]
3. Rotten Core - I Don't Care [01:23]
4. Frontside Generation - No More Politics [01:34]
5. Frontside Generation - I'll Break All My Promises [01:34]
6. Frontside Generation - No More War (Pagan Babies cover) [03:52]
7. Shampain - Mosh It Up [02:11]
8. Shampain - No Más [02:25]
9. Chicken Shit - Cerdos [02:50]
10. Chicken Shit - Soldados [00:51]
11. Golpe Justo - Golpe Justo [01:37]
12. Golpe Justo - Fuerza Bruta (live) [01:56]
13. Golpe Justo - Maldita Opresión [02:03]
14. Unión De Defensa - Pensamientos Contra El Racismo [01:27]
15. Unión De Defensa - Oi! For Respect [02:02]
16. No More - Represión En La Prisión [01:46]
17. No More - No Somos Penes [02:10]
18. No More - Twenty-Five [01:41]
19. No More - Steppin Stone (live) [02:01]
20. Los Pies Negros - El Espíritu Del Gran Guerrero [01:00]
21. Los Pies Negros - Niño De Sangre Azul [02:42]
-------
40:37 min

Get it, here.

Picture: No More at Steps Club 1989.

2011 FYF Fest=DESCENDENTS

DESCENDENTS headlined the 2011 FYF Fest at the L.A. Historic Park in downtown Los Angeles. The SoCal kings of hardcore-punk-pop played for the second time in their hometown after more than a decade. In addition, other great acts such as OFF, Dead Milkmen, Kid Dynamite, Weakerthans, Guided by Voices and Cults played across the four stages named after our four favorite famous painters.

After watching a couple of decent bands such as Tijuana Panthers and Ty Segall in "Michaelangelo" and "Donatello", came one of the most anticipated bands by ourselves, OFF. This kick-ass band features legendary Black Flag and Circle Jerks lead singer, Mr. Keith Morris, and Steven McDonald from Red Kross. Hardcore Punk with an early 80s sound that provoked a couple of fights and broken noses at the ferocious circle pit. Songs like "Fuck People", "Peace in Hermosa" and "Jeffrey Lee Pierce", the latter dedicated to Gun Club's lead singer with whom Keith used to hang out at Chinatown's Hong Kong Cafe in the early 80s.

Then we went to the main stage aka "Leonardo" to see Cults, an indie band, who for my surprise sounded very neat. Catchy vocal harmonies and mellow songs that invited to chill out after OFF's energetic set. During their repertoire, a huge California Republic flag waved as the sunset started to go down.

We continued across the other side of the park to the isolated "Raphael" stage to see the Weakerthans and Kid Dynamite. After passing the merch booths of Amoeba Music, RevHQ and LA Weekly, we sat down to see Canadian folksy punks The Weakerthans. Good overall set with no major anecdotes.

The highlight of this stage came next with Philly Hardcore Punk legends Kid Dynamite. Old school hardcore anthems interpolated with melodic punk songs that invited to circle pit and stage dive. Almost during their entire set, lead vocalist Jason was singing at the space between the stage and the pit. Their sound sent me back through time to the late 90s hardcore punk scene. At this point: sun, fun and Raybans were gone and a kinda cold night was awaiting us.

After that, headed back to the main stage to prepare for the almighty fucking Descendents which was the main reason we were in this fest (our last one being 2008's Cultura Urbana). We sat down to see Broken Social Scene through the giant screens. Their set was ok and then it was the turn of 80s Ohio indie rockers Guided by Voices.

We took advantage and saw their entire set in the first row. They played some good punk-sounding stuff. Neither great nor bad, but served to see first hand, Bill Stevenson setting up his drum set. The excitement was reaching its highest point.

The clock ticked at 9:40 pm when Milo Aukerman, Bill Stevenson, Stephen Egerton and Karl Alvarez a.k.a. DESCENDENTS came on stage. They began with the song "Descendents" who excited thousands of screaming fans who were there to see history in the making. Milo put on a Dodgers cap that the crowd threw at him and sang the hymns of every album (the song selection was perfect).

Songs like "Pervert", "I like food", "Silly Girl", I'm not a looser", "Sour Grapes", "Bikeage", "Hope", "Rotting Out", "I'm the One", "Coffee Mug", "I don't wanna grow up", "Suburban Home", "Van", "Clean Sheets", among others completed their 1 hour set.

At the stage you could see Matt Skiba, Fat Mike or Fletcher from Pennywise singing as every other fan who was there. One of the highlights was during "All-O-Gistics" that a couple of young kids (I supposed some of their sons) recited some funny-as-hell postulates made for the occasion. In "Hope", Dr. Milo Aukerman went down to the pit to sang with his fans.

The constant stage diving and singalongs helped the South Bay legends make the best set of live-music I have ever seen. I waited 15 years for this and it was all worth it. It was perfection defined.

As good as it gets, we went back to the tiny isolated stage for the Dead Milkmen performance. They opened with their classic "Tiny Town" and continue with a couple more, such as "Punk Rock Girl". Good set but we were tired as fuck and needed to walk almost 2 miles through downtown to get back to our vehicle. After 12 hours of sun, fun, good music, organic food, attention-whore hipsters, punk rock and DESCENDENTS, I slept with a big smile on my face.

Hardcore Punk Pioneers: Rhino 39

Long Beach's Rhino 39 are definitely one of the first hardcore punk bands ever. They formed in 1976 and released their classic EP "Prolixin Stomp/No Compromise" in 1979. Shortly after, lead singer Dave Dacron died in a car crash.

Some might say is The Middle Class, the Bad Brains or even The Neos from Canada but Rhino 39 were one of the first punks to began playing faster drum beats and guitar rhythms. Enjoy the vid!

A bill from the early 80s

JFA and Angry Samoans presented their punk rock classics at the House of Blues in the Sunset Strip. A bill reminiscent of the early 80s California hardcore punk scene with the addition of newer bands such as Death Punch and The Casualties.

At 7:00 p.m., the doors opened to hundreds of youngsters attire in classic punk bands shirts and spiky hairs. While waiting in line, Metal Mike, lead singer of The Angry Samoans, approached some of the attendees with a punk rock game to give out some free Samoans shirts.

In the background, some well-known punk bands sounded as fans continue to filled up the venue. Around 8:00 pm, local band Death Punch appeared. They looked sort of like The Casualties but sounded like generic punk with emo vocals and breakdowns. Their highlight was the Operation Ivy standard "Knowledge".

The main dish were definitely Arizona's skate-punk pioneers JFA. Dozens of kids circle pitted to classics such as "Out of School", "Jodie Foster's Army", "Beach Blanket Bongout" and "Preppy". Brian Brannon, the lead singer, played some keyboards during their surf tunes that slowed down the atmosphere quite a bit after several skate punk songs. Their mythical guitar player, Don Redondo, sponsored by "Independent trucks" clothing blasted that guitar like it was an early 80s show. Pure surf, skate and hardcore punk.

After the highlight of the show, came one of the true power houses of the L.A. punk scene, The Angry "Motherfuckin" Samoans. Metal Mike, Bill Vockeroth and cia rocked all their hits "Gas Chambers", "Todd Killings", "Light's Out", "Homosexual", "Hot Cars" and "Right Side of my mind" to hundreds of cheering punkers. Mike and Bill switch between drums and vocals as usual. And to add more greatness, they played two covers: "Slave to my dick" (Canadian Subhumans) and "Wasted" (Black Flag). Punk Rock as its finest.

We left after that and did not saw the "headliners", The Casualties. I have seen them in other occasions and didn't want to hear the same song for an entire hour. Anyhow, great punk show with JFA and Angry Samoans sets.

NOFX pays tribute to 80s hardcore punk

In the vein of great covers' albums such as Slayer's Undisputed attitude, Ratos de Porão's Feijoada acidente? (International), Guns N' Roses' Spaghetti Incident and The Hives' Tarred and Feathered Ep, NOFX has released an 80s hardcore punk cover's album with classic songs from Battalion of Saints, Stretch Marks (Canada), Necros, D.O.A, Agnostic Front, Urban Waste, Rebel Truth, Sin 34 and Social Unrest. This 9-song ep is only on vynil.

Also, NYHC outfit H2O will release a punk covers album called "Don't Forget Your Roots" with songs from Ramones, Dag Nasty, Madball, Rancid, Circle Jerks, Descendents, Cro-Mags, Bad Brains, The Clash, Government Issue, Verbal Assault, Gorilla Biscuits, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, 7 Seconds, Embrace, Social Distortion, Sick of it All and Warzone.

Get NOFX's Hardcore covers Ep and be on the look for H2O's release this fall.

Bad Brains documentary.

Trailer for the documentary on the hardcore-punk pioneers from DC/NYC, The almighty Bad Brains.