Archive for March, 2007

Almost in time for Daylight Savings Time, we have just posted a new episode of LFCM. This classic punk podcast radio show can be had right here. This landmark episode features the origin of the “Vagina Out” mandate! What the hell does that mean? Tune in to the show and find out!

Have you ever said something during an argument so completely mean, stupid, and out of line that you wish you could rewind life to the point and not said it? That just happened to me in an argument I had with the person that means everything in the world to me and I love more than life itself. I pray that I will be forgiven and I’m not typically the praying type.

American Hardcore – DVD
Sony Pictures Classics

Last year’s documentary based on the book of the same name from a few years ago now finds itself available on DVD. I was actually surprised by how quickly this came to DVD seeing as it was just a few months ago when this movie had a limited theatrical run.

My original review of the theatrical release can be found here so there is no need to re-review the main feature of this DVD. However after watching this a couple more times some things did stand out more to me now than before. There was way too much emphasis on the East Coast bands, especially Boston. I mean SSD was good and all but couldn’t you have cut out some of that stuff to make room for Naked Raygun, The Effigies, Meatmen, Social Distortion, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Kennedy’s or The Misfits?! These are all household names if the household has any fan of punk rock living in it and were all pretty important bands in the punk rock scene. I also could have done without Phil Anselmo or that dude from Gwar and would have liked instead to have someone who contributed a little more to the punk scene being covered in the film have that screen time instead. The rather narrow focus and glaring omissions aside, I still think the movie is an enjoyable trip back through time.

There is a small handful of special features on this DVD. First and foremost is nearly one hour of deleted scenes. These scenes are all interview scenes that didn’t make the final cut of the film. Some of it was easy to see why it was cut out but there was some stuff that I think should have been included, especially some of the stuff with Lisa Fancher who not only would have represented a female who was a big contributor to the scene mostly dominated by males, but also would have touched on one of the two subjects that was barely given a mention in the movie; the people who started record labels to release this music (the other being fanzines who wrote about the music and scene). Most of the unused interview footage was as interesting as the movie itself and had there been another hour of the stuff included, I would have easily sat through it all without losing interest. The “bonus musical performances” is simply full clips of the live footage used in the film so instead of only getting 20 seconds of it, you can see the entire song. Most of this footage is of low quality as the source material was usually VHS tapes and obviously wasn’t show on pro equipment as 20+ years ago it was uncommon for most people to have video cameras. There is also two live clips of DOA and the Circle Jerks playing at Sundance for the film’s release party. This footage looks great but sounds average at best. A commentary track done by Steven Blush and Paul Rachman rounds out the features and it was somewhat interesting but they got some facts wrong during it (it was Pig Champion from Poison Idea who died, not Jerry A) and there were times when it was obvious they didn’t know what to say and just said something just for the sake of speaking.

The DVD is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The picture quality varies throughout the film depending on the source of the material. The photo still and most of the modern day interview stuff is sharp and clean but there is some footage that was grainy due to poor lighting and the live footage is mostly very rough and of bootleg tape trader quality. None of this really detracts from the story being presented however. The audio is Dolby 5.0 surround. Three is no subwoofer action nor is it needed as a good 2/3 of the movie is dialog and the other 1/3 is music of varying quality. The main feature run time is 100 minutes and the bonus features total in at close to 90 minutes.

The omissions aside, I still find after a few more viewings that American Hardcore is a good way to spend two hours of your time. If you were there at the time like I was, you probably won’t learn a whole lot that you didn’t already know or live through, but it makes for some nice reminiscing. If you weren’t there at the time, it does give a pretty good glimpse into what it was like “back in the day” and you can get some sort of idea of where us old punks came from.

Related links:

American Hardcore the DVD on amazon.com

American Hardcore the book on amazon.com

Sony Classics website

It seems I have to post one of these every few weeks and wrestlers are dropping faster than old punks. Allen Coage, better known to wrestling fans as Bad News Brown, or Bad News Allen depending on where he was working (Bad News Brown was his WWF name) passed away. Unlike a lot of recent wrestler deaths, Bad News actually lived past 40. He was 63 when he died. More information can be found here. I enjoyed watching Bad News in the WWF back in the 1980s, he was a very good heel wrestler. My condolences to his family and friends for their loss.

I had heard recently that the Bad Brains were back together with HR and recording a new album with Adam Yauch at the helm. I had assumed it would be coming out on the Beastie Boys label, if that even still exists. Turns out I assumed wrong as I was sent the following information from Megaforce Records.

MEGAFORCE SIGNS DEAL WITH PUNK ICONS BAD BRAINS!
BEASTIE BOYS’ ADAM YAUCH PRODUCES!
New Album To Be Released Spring 2007!

New York NY — March 2, 2007 — Megaforce Records is proud to announce it has entered into a worldwide deal with the legendary punk band Bad Brains. The new album is currently being finished in New York and will be released worldwide this spring 2007. Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys) produced the yet-to-be-titled Bad Brains album and it represents the first recording, aside from Beastie Boys’ recordings, from the Oscilloscope laboratories and studio. The Bad Brains recently honored the legendary punk club CBGB’s closing in 2006 by performing three shows, which sold-out in record time.

“The Brains are one of most powerful and unique bands in the world. They have been a huge influence on me, and it was an honor to work with them on this record,” comments Adam Yauch.

Considered by some to be the “holy grail” of punk rock, the Bad Brains iconic legacy is best defined by their frenetic and legendary live shows. The Bad Brains are one of the definitive American punk groups who garner the same respect as the Sex Pistols, Black Flag, The Clash, and the Ramones. The band brought a new dimension to music by melding punk and reggae into an innovative style that has yet-to-be copied. And with this forthcoming release, the band essentially returns to their early roots with a raw, analog-driven chaos.

“It’s such an honor to be working with such an iconic and pioneering band. They are one of the most important and influential bands still working today. And with Adam Yauch producing, it is history in the making,” comments co-owner of Megaforce, Robert John. “Adam and Darryl were essential in getting all the original members (HR, Darryl Jenifer, Dr. Know, Earl Hudson) into the studio in NYC to create this magical album. It’s organic and powerful.”

A Bad Brains worldwide tour will commence, including several festival appearances, this spring in conjunction with the album’s release.

Hopefully it will be a much better album than the last time these guys got together and recorded that album for Madonna’s label.

The good folks at Munster Records asked me to pass along the following information and since they are a good label and we have a mutual friend, I figured I’d give them a plug. You folks living in the Chicago area are the ones who may be interested in this.

MUNSTER PUNK-ROCK NIGHT @ Delilah´s – Chicago, USA !!!!!!!
March 12th (Monday) !!

Munster Records is more than pleased to announce the upcoming big party which will take place at the world famous DELILAH´s club in Chicago. On the night of monday March 12th you will able to hear the best selection of Munster´s favourites, taken from the vaults of Munster´s family of labels!!! Psychotronic southamerican freakbeat from Electro Harmonix, classic Punk-Rock hits and Garage nuggets from Munster, aussie high-energy cuts from Bang!, “action-packed R&R” from Rock&Roll Inc. and mucho mucho more. AND, of course, some surprises and lots of FREE STUFF for all Munster fans who come and say hola!! SI!!

About Munster…
Established almost 20 years, and with something like 500 references on various labels (Munster, ElectroHarmonix, Bang, etc.) Munster Records is one of the most respected and older european independent labels. Punk, Garage, Rock, Psychedelia.. you name it, Munster has it! Oh, and both new bands from all over the world, and reissues of classic stuff of the 60s, 70s and 80s!

About DELILAH´s…
Delilah´s is without a doubt one of the best and coolest ROCK&ROLL clubs in the world. Not only they have THE BEST JUKEBOX, but they have great DJs (almost) every night of the week, spining the best Rock&Roll, Punk, Garage, Soul, County, Mod, etc. Patron Mike Miller hosts lots of special themed nights, record release parties, free movies of all kinds (classic masterpieces, rock&roll documentaries, B-movies…), temporary exhibitions of great artists (most or them related to the rock&roll world and much more. Delilah´s has been opened for 14 years, and it has become synonimous for rock&roll in Chicago.

DELILAH´s is located at 2771 North Lincoln Avenue, which is near the intersection of North Lincoln Avenue and West Diversey Parkway. Two blocks west of the Diversey stop on the CTA Brown Line. Chicago Illinois USA, yeah!