rolling punk rock 2024

They were great. I still have a cassette of theirs from when they were orginally called Insult II Injury

Do we all go through a teen year or two where it feels wrong to listen to things not-punk? And is that the source of later exhortations that Mingus/Dylan/whatever *are* punk?

I will cosign this along with table and sleeve, but will also note that the notion of "punk is an attitude and not a genre," while cliched, is nevertheless very true. And on some level, my whole taste in music is kind of subconsciously founded on this, which is why I have opinions like "Louis Cole is punk." Feel free to dismiss, I was never a true punk anyhow.

irrational, they were huge here in Philly— all the crusty kids wanted to sound like Submission Hold, His Hero is Gone, or Anti-Product.

And on some level, my whole taste in music is kind of subconsciously founded on this

I wouldn't say *all* of it, but a lot of it. Like, do I think there is a connection between the snide and sneering rampages of Jello and the DKs to the cool cocaine cynicism of Steely Dan? Fuck yeah there is. The 'Dan are extremely punk...that's just one example, of course, but the point rings true to me.

that's awesome to hear. cool to see one of those bands I grew up going to see at house shows and such was actually much more popular than I ever knew

I was listening to Submission Hold today, strangely enough

I had college radio punker friends who would enthusiastically proclaim that acts like Springsteen and Billy Joel were punk as fuck. We didn't always agree, but I can see it, at least with Springsteen. One of those guys is now my brother in law so the arguments have lasted and evolved over the years.

always thought that punk is one of the most aesthetically conservative (resistant to change, highly deferential to its own traditions) and minimalist (three chords, four-four, guitar-drum-bass) music genres. i kinda like that about it, but imo it’s stolen valor when punks try to claim actually formally innovative music (mingus, steely dan)

Submission Hold was one of the best shows I've seen

They were great when I saw them, too, only once. I was 14!

Snooper are playing in Brighton in September hurrah

I think I've raved about this band before on earlier threads - Electric Cowboy Club - they haven't put out any records yet but I think they have some tracks on bandcamp or soundcloud or something - they are a local band and are fucking brilliant live so not surprising but they sold out a decent sized venue tonight despite that. best gig for a while

first band was just one guy doing a kind of Messthetics UK DIY thing, finished with a cover of Sand In My Joints by Wire, then a goth band who made an impressive racket with just a bassist with a lot of FX pedals, then Electric Cowboy Club who are like a demented Cramps-type band, with a frontman to match, complete with Charlie Feathers covers, plus a load of noise and feedback. so basically made for me

ridiculous price but I am going to see Cock Sparrer next weekend and am v pleased about it

This Bandcamp Friday, I finally bought the G.U.N. album from last July, which I liked a lot (and frankly think is way better than the "up the middle 80s USHC" pitch suggests) (https://sorrystaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/g-u-n). Also Lamictal's Hard Pill to Swallow, which I don't think is great per se but splits the difference between ugly and mean and eggy and springy in a way that I find irresistible (https://lamictal.bandcamp.com/album/hard-pill-to-swallow).

I saw Cock Sparrer tonight. Occasionally I wonder how come out of all the oi bands they can consistently sell out big venues while the likes of the Cockney Rejects have to play venues that hold a few hundred people. Then I see them and remember that it's because they're fucking awesome.

They have a new album out this week which they say is their last and it's pretty good but their previous one Forever is much better than a punk album by people in their late 60s gas any right to be

Going to see Vacuous/Knifedoutofexistence/Hellscape/Healing Wound tomorrow, think I will take earplugs to that one

god I love this dude

Download includes all releases listed on cassette. If you do the math this is the single greatest deal in financial history

https://hiimbilliam.bandcamp.com/album/billiam-fucks-around-and-finds-out-boring-old-tape-comp

(all previously released stuff)

nick sakes of dazzling killmen, colassemite, sicbay has a new band upright forms, new songs sounds great

https://uprightforms.bandcamp.com/album/blurred-wires

Framtid set from the Damage Is Done weekender I went to in March is on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjkhq4cuw1U

woo hoo I think I'm going to see Stiff Little Fingers tonight!

#oldpunks

I saw Medway garage legends Ye Ascoyne D'Ascoynes tonight, they put out 1 7" single on Billy Childish's Hangman records in 1992. Good things come to those who wait

I saw Stiff Little Fingers in 2008, tbh they weren't that great, hope it was good though

going later this evening, I am a little dubious but hey I will prob never get the chance again

doors open in 3 hours

They didn't even play Gotta Getaway wtf is that about

yah I have been warned in advance:

"Though focused on their new material, they always play the old favorites at gigs."

aside from the obvious 1st album cuts I would love to hear "At The Edge" or especially "Doesn't Make It Alright"

https://wowhall.org/event/stiff-little-fingers/

Xp both bangers

OK that was fucking great, they played everything mentioned above and more, the new songs didn't suck, band was tight, good sound, packed crowd in a 300-person venue

as soon as "Suspect Device" kicked in, myself and a woman at least my age to my left went down immediately from pit madness, good times

Late night thoughts of an old punk after seeing Stiff Little Fingers in 2024:

I didn’t really hear much advance hype for this show, maybe I missed Instagram chatter, but it became clear as the day drew closer that this was a must see.

Like lots of other kids, i had my brain fried by “Alternative Ulster” back in the day, it remains one of the finest moments of incandescent punk protest to be put on record, by people who were living the words they sang. I love those first three albums, they hold up. (OK, really it’s the first one and the 3rd one, if there are any diehard Go For It fans out there I don’t know them).

Before I even went to the show, I was feeling that special high that one gets when you are fully aware that you are part of a community - I tried out a new restaurant (Yardy, for locals) and it turned out that I knew the bartender and a waiter already. Had some unbelievably great West Indies dishes, plus rum cocktails.

I had planned on just buying a door ticket, but it turned out that one of my oldest friends had a spare ticket. He lives here in town with me, although we both grew up in Virginia in the 80s. So it was him, me, his wife (a Eugene native and OG punk rocker), and their daughter’s fiance, her high school sweetheart but now it’s been almost a decade. The daughter herself had bailed, I was the beneficiary. I remember her being born, now I am going to her wedding, these are the kind of landmark events I think about all the time these days, the connections of community.

It turns out that Jake Burns had all that on his mind as well. During their (incendiary, awesome) set, he repeatedly returned to the themes of aging while still moving forward. They never thought the band would last more than a few years, yet here they are, in a packed room, with people singing along, 47 years later. At one point Jake talks about seeing The Clash for the first time, and I reflect that there are probably only a few people in the packed hall who ever even saw them - I saw one of their last US shows almost by chance in late 1982, when I had just turned 16. It makes me think of the Gabriel Garcia Marquez concept of how nobody really dies until the last person that remembers them from real life dies.

Before SLF took the stage, I was front and center with a bunch of other folks my age (i.e. old). About 10-15 seconds into their opening track “Suspect Device”, when the whole band kicks in, the pit went nuts and I got knocked off my feet (and on my ass) to my left, taking down another woman who was also around my age. Immediately, many hands reached for us to get us back up, and honestly this has always been a part of every punk show I’ve ever been to, maybe I’m spoiled by living in college towns all my life but the support has always been there, it manifests in many other ways as well.

Their whole set was great, I got to take it in from a few vantage points, even got back in the pit for “At The Edge” (the first song I ever heard/loved by them, thanks Spud). I kept seeing people I knew in the audience. By the time they finished the 1st encore song “Barbed Wire Love” even the toughest crusty guys were swooning like doo-wop soda counter pretty boys (which Jake commented on, to his credit).

And then we get to “Alternative Ulster”, their statement of purpose. Played by a guy who is clearly feeling his mortality, as am I, especially after the death of Steve Albini who was like 5 years older than me. I sing along at the top of my lungs, as does a much younger woman behind me, while a kid to my left who is maybe 10-11 years old watches the band intently, taking it all in. The memories continue through generations. I wonder if this kid will remember this SLF show 42 years from now the same way I remember The Clash in 1982. Punk is community at its heart, but yes also ritual and remembrance.

“And they say they're a part of you
And that's not true you know
They say they've got control of you
And that's a lie you know
They say you will never be free”

Great post, thanks sleeve.

more Billiam ... love this:

https://hiimbilliam.bandcamp.com/album/full-of-spots

yeah that one fuckin rules

glad you had a great night, Sleeve. had to miss them for the first time here (not that there have been that many chances in the past).

count me as a huge Go For it Fan, definitely ahead of the third for me (which I also love).

I was away and missed SLF show in Baltimore near me. Saw on Facebook that tour is billed as their final American tour. Oh well. Jake is living in the US these days.

yo UK folks

JUDY AND THE JERKS - Hattiesburg, MS / Atlanta, GA
SHITTY LIFE - Parma, ITALY

WHOEVER WINS, WE LOSE

~ SUMMER 2024 SHITTY LIFE / JUDY TOUR ~

07 JUNE - NYC, NEW YORK - Oh Bondage, Up Yours Fest*
09 JUNE - BRISTOL - ENGLAND - The Exchange *
10 JUNE - SHEFFIELD - ENGLAND - Delicious Clam *
11 JUNE - LEEDS - ENGLAND - Mabgate Bleach *
12 JUNE - LONDON - ENGLAND - Shacklewell Arms *
14 JUNE - ITALY - PADOVA - Yucca Fest
15 JUNE - SLOVENIA - ILIRSKA BISTRICA - MKNZ
16 JUNE - CROATIA - ZAGREB - Club Attack
17 JUNE - SERBIA - BELGRAD - Akab Okretnica
18 JUNE - HUNGARY - BUDAPEST - Kripta
19 JUNE - AUSTRIA - WIEN - Rhiz
20 JUNE - CZECH REP. - PRAGUE - Dragon H Fest
21 JUNE - POLAND - POBIEDNA - Izero Hardcore Fest
22 JUNE - GERMANY - BURGHAUSEN - Burgkellar Bar
23 JUNE - ITALY - TRENTO - Smash Fest!
*NO SHITTY LIFE

https://earthgirltapes.bandcamp.com/album/split

I am tempted by that one, next few weeks are already v busy though so not sure a mid-week trip to London is on the cards that week

NEW GOBS SINGLE

https://thegobs.bandcamp.com/album/pop-off

new Bootlicker K I C K S A S S

https://boot-licker.bandcamp.com/album/1000-yd-stare

"kicksass"

thought i had a space in there

oh well

killer. can we talk about how essential Will Killingsworth seems to be to this whole scene?

a/k/a "Dill Picklesworth" according to The Gobs

i actually *would* like to talk about that. i know nothing about him ... who is he and what role does he play?

he does all the mastering for these bands, idk who he is but his name pops up like "a porky prime cut" used to on cool records of all sorts

https://www.discogs.com/artist/495765-Will-Killingsworth?superFilter=Technical

almost 2000 credits for "Technical"!

the only other major vector I am aware of is the "jimmy" youtube channel, as per that egg vs chain meme

Haven't heard any studio stuff, but caught Bootlicker live a couple weeks backs and they did indeed kick metric tons of ass