All right, so last night I went to a HIM/Bleeding Through show.

It was awesome, being second row back from the barrier is never not awesome. It was ridiculous how few people there even knew Bleeding Through was playing. I’m not a huge fan, but their lead singer (Brandan Schieppati) is a super cool guy, so all the tweens and even older people not knowing who the hell they are was kind of disappointing. Yeah, they are radically different from HIM but that doesn’t mean they can’t be good.

Speaking of HIM, they were aaaahmazing. They played an hour and a half long set including a ton of old songs, including Buried Alive by Love, The Sacrament, It’s All Tears (Drown in this Love), Razorblade Kiss, and Poison Girl. Fuckin’ sweet.

So here’s just my dorky concert stories:

There was this crazy drunk bitch on the floor before the show even started that started a fight with the people next to me and got kicked out. I felt kind of bad because her husband, who was Finnish, was a really nice guy. But fuck her, she needed a good swift kick in the ass and I was glad to provide one. (Literally.)

Second row back is the best. I’ve been front row and the farthest back I’ve been is fifth row. There was a really chill kid in front of me too, who I got to know really well, considering the 400 people behind me basically made me molest him.

The dorkiest story: I was wearing two layers (slutty tank top and Jim Morrison tee shirt that’s about 8 sizes too big) and I got REALLY hot, obviously, so I took off the Jim shirt and threw it on stage during Razorblade Kiss. After the song ended, Valo promptly picked it up and announced that he was keeping it. It really just made me laugh, because if it’s huge on me, it’s going to be equally huge on him, since he’s pretty much the skinniest man I’ve seen in my entire life. But oh well, he’s welcome to it.

Moral of the story:  the show was great and I will definitely be seeing both bands again.

So, it’s been an age, right? And I totally explained August. You knew I wasn’t going to be here. As for September, well, I have a life. And I attend this lovely thing called school. And I have a job. So. Running a blog sort of falls by the wayside.

I’ve been driving all over creation to see friends and a new boy toy and concerting almost every weekend and looking into buying a horse and all those things that constitute having that “life” I mentioned.

Anyway! Projekt Revolution was… good.

MSI was brilliant and I was on the barrier. Lyn-Z fell on me, actually. She was very nice, though she kicked me in the face with a massive platform boot. Good times anyway, concert bruises are a good thing.

MCR kicked major ass. They always do.

HIM was decent. They aren’t very good in a major tour setting, or at playing really big venues. Small dark little holes in the wall are more their thing. They were okay. I’m going to see them again in late October in a small, local venue so it should be awesome. Plus, Venus Doom pretty much owns me. I think we’ve had that discussion.

Everyone else at PR sucked.  End of story. Don’t argue with me.

Also, a little side story. Gerard Way was backstage for the entire MSI set, right? Right. And as soon as MSI’s set is over, he and Lyn-Z get in this MASSIVE fight. And I’m at the right angle where I can see him and I can see part of her. They’re completely going at it. Hand gestures, leaning towards each other, screaming. Not pretty, let me tell you. So I go back to my friends and tell them about this and we all immediately decide that they’re fucking.

And we were right, considering that Gerard and Lyn-Z got married not long ago. Can you imagine the music that could come out of that? I drool at the possibility.  Good on them, I wish them the best of luck.

As for unknown bands you guys should check out, because I’m too lazy and short on time to do a real post I would say The Midnight Renewal and Cassela. I saw them both not long ago. Most excellent.

For something slightly more mainstream, I recommend Cold War Kids. Absolute genius, they are.

I’m thinking the next post I do, when I get around to it, might be of the rant persuasion. I’ve been greatly irritated by Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III (No. I didn’t make that up.) as of late. It might just be because I have a friend that looks exactly like him and therefore gets assaulted by 12 year olds a lot, but that’s besides the point. I think it’s time I tear Fall Out Boy a new asshole. Be on the look out for that one.

I don’t care if you even LIKE HIM. Just go download Venus Doom and listen to it. I’m not fucking kidding.

My mind is officially blown. It is FANTASTIC. The only thing I’m not totally sold on is the title track. But Song or Suicide… I don’t even have words.

And most of the tracks are heavy, old school Metallica esk rock, as promised. There are a lot of keyboard openers and closers, but in the middle? It’s all guitar and bass that just makes your whole body shake.

So download it now. Learn to love it. And then BUY IT! Seriously. I WILL have this album when it’s officially released September 18th. I actually feel BAD about downloading. That’s how fucking good it is.

I own up. I was WRONG. Dead fucking ass WRONG. HIM delivered something awesome. And I don’t mean that like “haha, Becky, that’s so awesome!” I mean that like breathtakingly, indescribably awesome.

Fuck it if fangirls like it too. I’ll get over it.

THAT’S HOW GOOD THIS ALBUM IS.
I forgive them Dark Light. Shit son…

So, you all remember when I said I would probably only post once for the rest of August? Yeah, I lied. And there’s a reason, I swear!

While I was on vacation, I was walking around the park in Oak Bluff at around 9:30. There’s some really gorgeous houses in that area and I really had nothing better to do but look at them. And on a porch, there was this big gathering of people and a boy playing guitar. Being the music connoisseur that I am, I stopped to listen.

The guy was BRILLIANT. Original music, great voice. Top notch. Just awesome Indie rock. Mellow, meaningful. Great. And also really drunk, which sort of explains the cover version of Dylan’s All Along the Watch Tower I was treated to.

Anyway, when it was about time for me to get home for the night, I walked up and asked him his name. The answer I got was “Hmm? Oh, my name’s Ryan.”
I stared blankly. First name wasn’t gonna help me out all that much.

“Oh! My name’s Ryan, the band’s name is Do It To Julia. You can find us on the web and stuff.”

“Thank Ryan. Have a good night everybody.” I smiled, waved, and got back in my car.

I know what you’re thinking. I was thinking it too. “Do It To Julia? What the fuck?”

And then I figured it out. It’s a reference to 1984. The brilliant novel by George Orwell? Well, if you haven’t read it, pick it up. (I’m a literary nerd as well as a music one.)

So basically this entire post is just me telling a vacation story and then telling you to check out this rad band I found walking around in Martha’s Vineyard. Their myspace is www.myspace.com/WeAreDoItToJulia

Enjoy kiddos.

It’s not looking so good, as far as posting.

I worked all last week (hence the ‘no new post’ status of the blog.) and then next week I’m on vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. And then the day after that, I’m going up to Toronto to visit some people and see the Toronto stop on that traveling horror show, Projekt Revolution. (Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m going with some good friends and we’re going to sunbath on the lawn, drink, smoke, and listen to the music like it’s a giant boom box. You can’t really go wrong with that.) And then when I get home from THAT extravaganza, I have a major horse show. So, it looks like the only post I have for the rest of August is a review/therapy session about Projekt. Sorry kids!

So, kids, it’s been a while. Sorry. Sometimes I get busy with having a job and friends and a life.

Anyway. I figure it’s about time I did another weird band from Finland post, so where we are.

Quick Background

Hanoi Rocks is a glam rock band from Helsinki, Finland formed in 1979. The original line up consisted of five members

Michael Monroe, vocals and saxophone

Nasty Suicide, guitar

Stefan Piesnack, guitar

Nedo, bass

Peki Sirola, drums

(We have discussed my penchant for stage names.)

Shortly thereafter, Piesnack was replaced by Andy McCoy, Sirola by Gyp Casino, and Nedo by Sam Yaffa. After moving to different cities including Stockholm and London, Casino was replaced by Razzle. In 1985 the band broke up following the death of their drummer but in 2002 was reformed by McCoy and Monroe. The current line up looks like this:

Michael Monroe, lead vocals

Andy McCoy, guitar and backing vocals

Conny Bloom, guitar

Andy “A.C.” Christell, bass

Lacu, drums.

Hanoi Rocks released seven full length albums between 1979 and 1985, and another two between 2002 and now, with a third album upcoming.

Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks (1981)

Oriental Beat (1982)

Self Destruction Blues (1982)

Back to Mystery City (1983)

All Those Wasted Years, live (1984)

Two Steps from the Move (1984)

Rock & Roll Divorce, live (1985)

And, more recently

Twelve Shots on the Rocks (2002)

Another Hostile Take Over (2005)

Street Poetry, expected sometime this year.

(I didn’t do best ofs this time. I’m a little short on time today.)

I love Hanoi Rocks

Reasons:

1.   1. Um, hello, look at how much shit they lasted through.

2.   2. Even without much mainstream commercial success, they’ve been around for nearly thirty years. (Admittedly, in many different forms, with rotating band members.)

3.   3. They paved the way for bigger bands from Finland including artists such as HIM and The 69 Eyes.

4.   4. Hanoi Rocks has been a huge influence on a lot of major bands and it’s unfortunate that they haven’t been able to experience the same kind of success.

      5. Occasionally sleazy, occasionally cheesy, always awesome.

6.   6. They look glam rock. They sound like a real rock band.

7.   7. I adore Monroe’s ridiculously teased blonde hair. I have mad respect for that hairdo.

8.   8. Let’s face it. They changed the course of rock music history, even if you don’t know who the fuck they are.

9.   9. Gotta love a band that actually manages to have original lyrics. It gets tougher and tougher as more and more shit gets poured into what is quickly becoming the cesspool of ‘rock music.’ (Thanks Nickelback, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, The Killers, etc, etc.)

    10. It’s unfortunate that a band that’s been around as long as they have and done as much as they have doesn’t have the kind of success that they deserve. On the other hand, I’m not complaining about the fact that I don’t have to deal with a ton of douche bag Hanoi Rocks ‘fans.’

Here’s where the bitching starts

For Hanoi Rocks, I would put up with those fans. Honestly. They deserve more recognition from the music world than the dedicated cult following they have. Cult followings are awesome but everyone should know (and love) this band, if only for the changes and influence they brought to music.

Stupid European tour that doesn’t have any dates in the US, let alone on the East coast. I’m moving to Europe as soon as possible.

The older albums are mildly harder to find, although since they were rereleased on CD that makes life easier. Hanoi Rocks is a band that I refuse to download, though I’m sure that I could.

Razzle. December 8, 1984. Respect, love, and remembrance for a fantastic musician.

This isn’t bitching, I think it’s awesome. To promote Another Hostile Takeover, the boys started a concert in the middle of rush hour in Helsinki, bringing traffic to a screeching halt. You don’t fucking do better than that. Hanoi Rocks owns you. And buy a fucking album, for fucks sake. They need to stop being a rock and roll secret.

So this post is a semi-apology for my Bam Margera is a Cunt, Version 2.0 post. I was tweaking out, I admit it. I’m not taking it down because I think it’s hilarious, but I figure I should probably put up some more music posts before I rant like that again.

Quick Background 

Mindless Self Indulgence (MSI) is an acid punk band from New York City self described as “industrial jungle pussy punk.” The line up contains four current members:

Jimmy Urine- Vocals/Electronics

Steve Righ?- guitar/Vocals

Lyn Z- Bass

Kitty- Drums

They currently have five albums and two EPs:

            Mindless Self-Indulgence (1995)

            Tight (1999)

            Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy (2000)

            Alienating Our Audience (2002)

            You’ll Rebel to Anything (2005)

Despierta Los Niños (EP, 2003)

Another Mindless Rip off (EP, 2006)

I love Mindless Self Indulgence

Reasons

1. They put on a fantastic live show. Jimmy Urine’s antics are generally they focal point.
2. As usual, they are offensive, so I adore them.
3. Nothing is sacred. Child molestation, sexuality, race, masturbation, violence, or suicide.
4. They make fun of their fans and are loved for it. Who the hell gets away with that? MSI.
5. You’ll Rebel to Anything is one of the best albums I’ve ever listened to, and it’s basic message is that the real punk scene is being destroyed by young kids who use it as a way to be unique or get attention. Thank you, Jimmy.
6. The band went out of their way not to be noticed. They played with and as openers for some very popular bands and still managed not to gather deserved acclaim.
7. That band will stay after a set for HOURS to make sure every fan that wants a picture or autograph gets one.
8. As usual, they don’t take themselves too seriously, so I adore them. There are literally songs by MSI saying the majority of their music is a joke.
9. Both Jimmy Urine and Steve Righ? have very wide vocal ranges.
10. They draw influence from a varied group of musical genres including punk, rap, hip-hop and comedy rock.

Here’s where the bitching starts:

Projekt Revolution? What? Are you serious? MSI has played in some big festivals before, but that’s just the thing. They were festivals. Not really shitty tours. Okay, okay. I concede, they did Give It a Name over in Europe. But I don’t live over there so I don’t have to deal with obnoxious European fans. Just obnoxious American ones. So much for them going out of their way to stay underground.

The time I saw them live didn’t last nearly long enough. I could have stayed at that show until seven in the morning and I’d still think it ended too soon.

I saw them in July. It got really disgustingly pass out hot. I threw my shirt at Jimmy. He kept it. That’s not really bitching, that’s me being a dork.

Other than that, I haven’t really got a lot. Check out their videos. Buy an album or five. See a show. If you’re planning on going to Projekt Revolution, then check them out. You’ll regret it if you don’t.

http://www.myspace.com/artistonartist Edit: This link no longer leads to the interview and I’m having trouble finding the stupid thing on Myspace (because that’s a terrible website.) When and if I find it, I’ll change the link!

This? Is the most horrifying fucking thing I have ever seen in my ENTIRE LIFE! Bam Margera and Iggy Pop? I am having the worst day ever and this SERIOUSLY made me cry. I can’t even stand to listen to it. This is horrid. To see a punk rock icon like Iggy Pop take a fucking washed up fat disgusting greasy gremlin cunt like Bam Margera seriously is one of the most awful things I have ever seen in my entire life.

It’s fucking sad that I’m fucking jealous of Bam Margera for being friends with fucking Iggy Pop. He’s a disgusting bastard and I wish he would just GO AWAY. Shut the fuck up and stop trying to be cool. He’s so FUCKING bullshit. Fucking typical fat fucking American rich sonofabitch. Talentless FUCKING hack that just needs a fucking swift kick in the ass and a fucking reality check.

“It’s kinda all about the image.”

HOW CAN YOU STAND YOURSELF, BAM FUCKING MARGERA?! Do you fucking listen to yourself talk?! Do you look in the FUCKING MIRROR? No shit it’s all about your image! If mildly retarded teenage girls didn’t think you’re “like, soooooo totally hot,” WHERE THE HELL BE? POOR, LOWER CLASS, HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT TRAILER TRASH! THAT’S WHERE YOU WOULD FUCKING BE! Uneducated, ungrateful, fucking fame whore! I may be ridiculous for being this fucking angry about this shit, but I don’t fucking care. It’s fucking bullshit like this that makes me so angry about the music world at large.

GET A CLUE! BAM IS NOT COOL! BAM IS NOT TALENTED! BAM IS NOT A ROLE MODEL! BAM IS NOT A MUSICIAN! BAM IS NOT A LEGITIMATE MEMBER OF THE MUSICAL COMMUNITY! BAM IS NOT MUSICALLY INCLINED! BAM IS A FUCKING SELLOUT! BAM MARGERA IS A FUCKING CUNT!

It’s so stupid that he even has fans. Just STUPID. I can’t even wrap my mind around it. I don’t understand those people! How could you listen to that fuckwit talk and say “Oh yeah, that makes sense! He’s cool!”

I adore Steve-O because he’s just balls to the wall, all the time.

I adore Johnny Knoxville because he’s a legitimate actor. He makes movies besides Jackass. (Granted, they’re not Oscar winners, but he’s funny.)

I adore Pontius because he can actually play a guitar and makes decent music.

I adore Ehren, Dave, and WeeMan because they know when to shut the FUCK up.

I despise Bam fucking Margera because he can’t accomplish ANY of these things.

Take the make up off and SHUT UP.

Stop trying to be Ville Valo. You’re not, okay? You’re not! Take off the scarf and the rosary beads and the nail polish and just STOP.

No one wants to hear from you anymore. Give up! You’re fat and washed up at twenty seven, okay? Accept it.

Can you believe I share my birthday with that cunt? And I can’t get that shit legally changed.

Quick Background

The Pogues are a traditional Irish Folk band with heavy Brit punk influence, founded in 1982. The original line up disbanded in 1991 when singer/songwriter Shane MacGown left the band. The other members continued until 1996 when the band officially announced a break up, but reformed in 2001. Currently, the line up includes eight members.

Shane MacGowane: vocals

James Fearnley: accordion
Spider Stacy: backup vocals, beer tray, tin whistle, and lead vocals in MacGown’s absence.
Jeremy ‘Jem’ Finer: banjo, guitar.
Andrew Ranken: drums
Phil Chevron: banjo, guitar

Terry Woods: mandolin, cittern
Darryl Hunt: bass

The Pogues’ discography includes sixteen (yes, sixteen) albums, EPs, and collections:

Red Roses for me (1984)

Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash (1985)

Poguetry in Motion (EP, 1986)

If I should Fall from Grace with God (1988)

Peace and Love (1989)

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah (EP, 1990)

Hell’s Ditch (1990)

The Best of the Pogues (1991)

The Rest of the Best (1992)

Waiting for Herb (1993)

Pogue Mahone (1996)

The Very Best of the Pogues (2001)

Streams of Whiskey: Liven in Leysin, Switzerland 1991 (2002)

The Ultimate Collection including Live at the Brixton Academy 2001 (2005)

Dirty Old Town: The Platinum Collection (2005)

The Pogues Ultimate Collection of Songs to Listen To (2007-2008)

I love The Pogues.

Reasons

1. They were a stalwart of rockin Irish folk/British punk throughout the 80’s disgustingness of hair/glam ‘metal.’ (I’m not saying they were the only one. They weren’t. But they were important.)
2. The invented Celtic punk, fusing two very different styles of music together.
3. The presented traditional music to a young audience. And their young audience loved it.
4. Politically tinged lyrics without being preachy or obnoxious.
5. They use traditional Irish instruments, such as the tin whistle, as well as an accordion in their music. And it’s awesome.
6. Not all of their songs are have to be about something. Some of them are just fun. (This is an important aspect of music, to me. If you can’t have fun, or you take yourself too seriously, you’ll never survive.)
7. They struggled through the erratic behavior of their lead singer/songwriter and were able to show that they could be a band without him.
8. They also managed to close the rift with said singer/songwriter and brought him back to the band.
9. They didn’t immediately record a shitty album after they got back together in order to promote their reunion or to show “Hey, we’ve still got it!”
10. Their sound is infectious and you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy it. (I am, partly, but that’s not the point.)

Here’s where the bitching starts:

All right kids, I broke out the CD player for this one. My computer hard drive is way too full to house all my music on it, which includes eight Pogues albums. That’s how much I love the Pogues.

If you’re a Dropkick Murphys’ fan (and I am) and you haven’t heard of the Pogues, you’re not a Dropkick Murphys’ fan. You’re a fuckstick. There would be no Dropkick Murphys without the influence of the Pogues.

Voted one of the Top Fifty Bands to See Before You Die, by Q Magazine, I haven’t seen them yet. And I don’t see them coming to visit the east coast anytime soon. If they do, I will be there.

Because the band broke up for a time, and they were most popular back in the 80’s, older people don’t respect my thoughts and opinions about them. This statement also goes for The Doors, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, The Who, Pink Floyd, Steppenwolf, The Band, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Iggy Pop, The Stooges, Hanoi Rocks, Queen, Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Misfits, Led Zeppelin, etc, etc, etc. Just because I’m younger than you doesn’t mean my opinion isn’t valid. In fact, I probably know more about what I’m talking about than you. So shove it. Lardass.

On the plus side, because the band broke up for a time and were popular back in the 80’s, there aren’t a bunch of little idiots running around, extolling their music.

You don’t have to be Irish to appreciate and love The Pogues. It’s cultural music blended with punk to make it relevant to all cultures, not just the Irish.

So, Dropkick Murphys’ fans, pick up a Pogues album, so next time someone like me asks if you’ve heard of them, you won’t say “Who are The Pogues? Are they like, new?”

Quick Background:

The Kooks are an indie band from Brighton, England. Currently, the band is composed of four members.

Luke Pritchard: vocals and guitar

Hugh Harris: back up vocals and guitar

Max Rafferty: bass

Paul Garred: drums

Their debut album, Inside In/Inside Out, was released in October of 2006.

I love The Kooks

Reasons:

1. They have fun and don’t take themselves to seriously.
2. They can be light and still have meaning to their songs without being preachy.
3. They’re an easy listen. You can put on The Kooks and just chill, mellow out.
4. There’s something in their sound for everyone, it varies from song to song.
5. The Kooks are blast the radio in your car friendly.
6. Since it’s the summer, they are the perfect beach/summer band
7. They’re sexual without being obnoxiously crude. There’s funny obnoxiously crude (See The Bloodhound Gang) and then there’s OBNOXIOUS obnoxiously crude. (See Nickelback.) And then there’s just giggle-worthy sexual that you smile at and shake your head to the beat. And therein lay The Kooks.
8. Accents rock.
9. The guitar in their songs just gets me. It’s perky. A girl gets tired of deep, melancholy and/or thrumming sometimes.
10. Mostly it’s just the accents. I’m not gonna lie. I have the ability to be shallow.

Here’s where the bitching starts:

I haven’t been able to see them in concert yet, which is enormously disappointing. It’s such a good concert summer around here, and yet the Kooks have not made an appearance. Where are you, boys?! Come and visit.

Naïve is overplayed. The first time I heard it on the radio, I squealed and went “OH, NAÏVE! LOVE THE KOOKS!” and blasted it.

The thirtieth time I heard it, I went “Jesus, I won’t be able to listen to this on album anymore.”

I am however, glad that they’re getting some exposure. The Kooks aren’t a band that would mainstream and make me irritated. Their first album was a hit, so it’s only natural that they be big. Their sound has a broad appeal and even hardened metal/punk/oddity lovers such as myself enjoy them. They were never an underground with a dedicated following, instead right off the bat they were signed to Virgin Records. You know a pop/indie band is good when they’re just rockin’ enough for me to enjoy them but still fluffy enough for everyone else to enjoy them as well. The boys from Brighton rock, so pick up the album. Inside In/Inside Out.

Plus, like I said? Not gonna lie, the accents are a big bit of their likeability. Great lyrics just sound better when there’s an accent involved. It gives the words a different lilt that allows for language that shouldn’t sound good together to mesh perfectly.

And also the song She Moves In Her Own Way has maraca on it, and you can’t use maraca in a song and not be totally fucking awesome. The Kooks make me smile.