popwreckoning

“A sold out punk show – that means with all the mohawks present, vision impairment is going to be a major issue.”

Kansas City’s Beaumont Club is a lovely venue, recently remodeled, but since it does host line and salsa dancing, the flat venue already makes it a little tricky to see. Then with a sold out line-up of Dropkick Murphys, Strung Out and Larry and His Flask, only one of the biggest punk shows of the season, average-female-reviewer-here was hesitant to go immerse myself in the sweaty throngs of tattooed, gauged earringed, mohawk-wearing muscle men that I pictured at this show. And while there were some who met my poor, misguided stereotype, the beauty of this tour is that it appeals to so many people of all walks of life: tiny girls, punk guys, indie kids even in plaid, etc. And with St. Patrick’s Day a few weeks away, green clothes and holding an Irish beer would have been the most apt stereotype.

Another apt stereotype was that the audience was either there for the Murphys or Strung Out, both bands having released several successful records in their 10+ years. So when Larry and His Flask took the stage, nobody quite new what to expect, but we all had faith the Murphys wouldn’t let us down in their selection of tour mates. Larry and His Flask was one spectacular surprise after another:

“Is that guy in the crowd with an upright bass?”

“Yup.”

“Is that guy standing the entire time wailing on that drum set and singing?”

“You betcha.”

“Did they just dedicate a song to all the grandmas?”

“Guess they did.”

“OMG. Did you see that guy flip the upright bass over his head?”

Enter speechless response here.

The band’s myspace doesn’t do them justice. This is something to experience live. The stage presence was insane. This was americana-punk-folk at its finest. At first, the upright bass player acted as a magnet. Those things weigh more than a small child and I’ve never seen anyone move with one as if it were as light as another guitar – and without missing a beat. Forcing myself to watch others in the band, I was impressed by the gang-vocals and the speed of the banjoist, but really left me speechless in the dust was the vocalist/drummer standing front and center. Those sticks were flying like lightning and the guy could stand a foot back from the microphone and belt out a chorus that could still be heard clearly over his powerhouse drumming.

The bar was set and it was set high. It was time to see how the veteran acts would stack up.

Strung Out was next at bat. The stage looked a bit more bare with the opening act’s bajillion instruments gone, but that was to Strung Out’s advantage. Immediately, as the first note was sounded, the singer was in the crowd. Vocals and heavy guitars practically shook the venue as excited fans reached their arms up and half moshed and half surfed. The world’s energy issues could be solved if we could find a way to harness the amount in the room at the moment of Strung Out’s set.

For those that have been living under a rock the past 14 years, Strung Out is like a punk meets heavy metal meets regular rock act – Avenged Sevenfold cites Strung Out as one of their primary influences. It’s a bit different than my usual type of music, but watching Strung Out, I got a little hooked on the mind-blowing guitar solos. You don’t see many of those in indie music where it’s just a bunch of light chords.

Following Strung Out, was everyone’s favorite Boston/Irish punk rockers: Dropkick Murphys. This band should be synonymous with awesome at this point in the game. Beers clanking, crowd-singing along to every word, it was like we were all friends magically transported away from Kansas City to an intimate pub in Ireland.The band was tight and sounded better than their recordings and countless radio singles. They, too, showed their fans love with constant time in the crowd. The piano had never been used so rockingly. It was just insane fun to watch and take part.

If you love Dropkick’s albums, you have to see the live show. It’s the way they’re meant to be experienced.

In fact, if you can (many dates have already sold out), try and get to a show on this tour immediately. You won’t regret it.

Writing by Bethany; Photos by Joshua Hammond

“They always have the same sound but the punk level changes…” 

This Addiction, the seventh album by Chicago natives, Alkaline Trio, cycles back to their beginnings. Fans will be split, either into separate groups or divided inside themselves. Some will enjoy the sound which brings the punk level of Alkaline Trio back to the 90s while others, who were captured by their building mainstream appeal of their past three albums, might be deterred.

Driving drums and common punk chord progressions aside- the vocals are what makes this so recognizably Alkaline Trio. This is one of the few bands I can think of that have alternating lead vocals where it is pulled off so well. It’s the consistency/production of all the tracks in the album making so cohesive.

Bassit Dan Andriano sings on only three tracks , two of which I love (“Fine” and “Off the Map”) while I don’t particularly care for “Dine, Dine my Darling,” which speaks to the fact that I am one who has enjoyed their punk to mainstream build over the years.

I have to say my favorite song sang by Matt Skiba is “Draculina,” though I have to admit after my first listen of the album, “Draculina” is one of the last that I wanted to revisit. I can appreciate the goth-rockoprea-esk story (I keep thinking of the most recent Ludo) that the song tells, although the name/word Draculina is the one thing I DON’T like about the song. Here are some lines that really stand out to me both lyrically and the melody.

Love this line!

“Leaving heaven behind for good this time, the angels can keep it.
I’ve got a demon in mind and she’s standing behind my dark secret.”

And also this line:

“I’ve got a devil inside that has been exorcised, now I’m bleeding.”

The theme of this album is seen throughout, from album title, musically and lyrically. Though using drugs or addiction as a metaphor for relationships is nothing too original, it is done well in This Addiction. Musically the album has a mix of punk roots with their more recent melodic-mainstream tendencies (at least vocally). A few tracks feature horns in them which might throw you off at first listen, but it actually fits and adds a nice touch to the album, with the exception of the trumpet featured in “Lead Poisoning.”

Track Listing:
1. This Addiction
2. Dine, Dine My Darling
3. Lead Poisoning
4. Dead on the Floor
5. The American Scream
6. Off the Map
7. Draculina
8. Eating Me Alive
9. Piss and Vinegar
10. Dorothy
11. Fine

Regardless of what is endlessly repeated, punk is very much a matter of conformity. Let me explain using music. As an musician you’re expected stick to the same influences for your sound. You sample Tim Armstrong, Ian Mackaye, Guy Picciotto or Fat Mike. You do exactly what was done before you, because that is the path punk has chosen to take. Any deviation from your path that could result in just enough of a change to catch the attention of a “non-punk” kid, is a sin in the highest manner, often referred to as “selling out.” So basically to remain part of this club, you look as your friends look, sound as your friends sound, and stick to the trends already laid out for you.

To me, that sounds a lot like shopping at the Gap to make sure you have the right label on your new jeans, so Cindy Cheerleader will keep you in her circle of friends. And seemingly, Time Again, really likes being in their punk circle, as they have constructed a very sell-out safe punk album with Darker Days.

Their instrumentation is very minimal, but hell, this is punk! Sid couldn’t even PLAY his guitar. Furthermore, there is a lot left to be desired in regards to the album’s lyrical content. But most of the time punk is about moving people through energy and emotion, not lyrics. Sadly however, I think Darker Days might honestly be taking a step backwards in reference to emotion from Time Again’s 2006 cut The Stories Are True, which stood stronger in both message and style. The difference is noticeable between the two albums, as the new cut honestly never seems to settle into that punch in the face needed to push a punk album over the edge. But if you like Rancid, this album sounds a LOT like them. Very fitting from a label owned by the band’s singer.

Look for Time Again’s Darker Days in stores February 19th 2008, on Hellcat Records.

Time Again’s Website
Time Again’s Myspace
Hellcat Records

Despite the risk of being tied to a tree and kicked to death by Doc Martins, I’m going to say it:

Stop being a whiny bitch, punk has changed. It’s split into two different things. A movement, and a music genre. This has happened because it’s not the seventies, CBGB doesn’t exist anymore, and upper middle class girls from Yale are wearing Ramones shirts. That’s reality. There’s nothing you can do about it. Your pouting will never make punk the way it was for you.

Take this moment to separate the two. It is very important that you remember that punk, and punk music should not be stereotyped as any man with a mohawk in a leather jacket with a thousand metal spikes on it listening to really loud music. Punk is intended to be a community and a realistic avenue for sharing ideas and making change in the world. That stated, please explain to me how Green Day’s American Idiot was not an attempt to drive down that avenue. I’m pretty sure the concept of that album was to enlighten and encourage listeners to stand up against the “redneck agenda”. I mean, seriously, why exactly is it that when NOFX and Green Day say the same thing, that the only one who is credible is Fat Mike?

Oh that’s right! It’s because Green Day sells records, and thats a cardinal sin in punk. Records sells can only come from selling out. When little kids wear hoodies with your faces on it, there is just no way that the words coming out of your mouth can be worth listening to.

To me, that goes against everything punk is supposed to be. It’s censorship in the most simple form. You’re discrediting the potential of a group of individuals based on their following. Now I understand that of the millions of people who have purchased Green Day’s music, only a few thousand of them may actually get the real point of this movement. Isn’t having those few fans aboard, pushing for change, actually better than having none at all? Fuck, I honestly think things are bad enough right now, that maybe punk should take all the help it can get. I mean, if Lester Bangs had fallen into overwhelming exposure, and reached millions, would you have discredited him also? Should we write off The Clash and The Ramones now that teenage girls have embraced them? Maybe we should just throw them out for being “post-career sellouts.” “Ruby Soho”was on the radio for a while, so should we even bother listening to Rancid? Most importantly, however, I’m pretty sure a handful of us can functionally see the difference between Black Flag and Simple Plan. If we can’t, blame us, not the bands.

Our stupidity is not their fault.