Archive for January, 2008

Dischord Records just released another one of their classic albums on colored vinyl.

Scream – Still Screaming LP on white vinyl

This was the first Scream record and is now available on white vinyl. It also comes with a lyric sheet. I am pretty sure this record had been out of print on the vinyl format for quite a few years now so it is nice to see it back on the superior format, not to mention on colored vinyl!

You can get one for a fair price direct from Dischord Records.

Time Magazine recently posted an article about how vinyl has been making a comeback. I never really thought it went away as I never once stopped preferring it over those silver coasters that took over the music industry. Anyway it’s a pretty interesting little article that you can check out here.

As I sit here in my West Coast home, aka The Gore Lodge (now bigger and relocated), I am pleased to present to you another new episode of LFCM. What is LFCM you ask new reader of mine? LFCM is Live From Combustion Manor, our classic punk radio show that is in a handy podcast format so you can play it on your iPhones.

This episode is dubbed “the intervention of Cheddar Nines” and is sure to make you chuckle as you listen to some great old punk tunes from The Vault. You can check out the newest episode over at the LFCM site.

The Billybones – We’re Selfish 7″
Doctor Strange Records

Billy Bones has been involved in punk rock for three decades now. He was the frontman for the legendary Skulls from Los Angeles back in the first wave of punk rock. After a couple years, The Skulls disbanded and many members sadly passed away. Nearly 25 years later, Billy reformed The Skulls with new members and put out a bunch of really enjoyable albums that not only didn’t tarnish the legacy of the original band but actually added to it, which is not an easy feat to pull off.

A couple years ago The Skulls disbanded and after a bit of down time Billy Bones has returned with his new outfit aptly named The Billybones. They pick up right where The Skulls left off and if you didn’t know better, you’d really think it was the same band. In fact I wonder why bother with the new name except for the fact that none of the members of The Skulls carry over to this new band.

The music is 1970’s influenced melodic punk rock. You can sing along to it but it has a real punch to the music and isn’t the least bit wimpy. The guitars are loud and a bit distorted and the beat is pretty straightforward which sets for a great backdrop for Billy’s trademark vocals.

This 7″ vinyl as three songs on it and comes in a glued, thick picture sleeve with an lyric sheet. It comes on colored vinyl and I’m pretty sure there was a couple of different colors pressed. The one I was sent is purple with green spots on it and looks pretty cool.

As someone who was sad that The Skulls broke up, I’m glad to see Billy Bones is still at it and still producing some quality punk rock songs and hopefully he’ll make his way out to the Midwest on a tour sometime so I can see the new act in person. In the meantime, this single will be getting some pretty frequent playtime on my turntable.

Related links:

The Billybones on myspace

Doctor Strange Records

It seems that everyone is getting in on the colored vinyl action these days. Records are popping up left and right in new color vinyl editions and one of my long-time favorite labels in all of punk rock, Dischord Records, has joined in on the color vinyl craze too. Their first foray into the vinyl reissue fray came with a clear vinyl edition of the 4 Old 7″s compilation which had been out of print on vinyl for a number of years, not to mention I am pretty sure it even got bootlegged at one point. Now they have just released two more colored vinyl classics.

Minor Threat – Out of Step LP on grayish white vinyl

Minor Threat – 12″ on green vinyl

Both Minor Threat records now come on the above colors of vinyl. Thankfully Dischord not only pressed only one color of each so as not to take advantage of collectors who would buy multiple copies to have all the colors, but they pressed enough to go around too as reportedly there was 2000 of each made.

I believe there is more old Dischord colored vinyl in the works too. Here’s hoping they continue and reissue some more old classics too like Flex Your Head!

These can be found just about everywhere that sells vinyl or you can get it directly from Dischord themselves who have stellar mail order service.

Friday night while battling a cold, I ventured out to the Beat Kitchen to see the return of The Goddamn Gallows who just so happened to be playing with Destroy Everything. I was looking forward to my first show since the start of the smoking ban and had it not been for that, I’d have stayed home because with a cold I’d have been even less able to breathe if there was smoking allowed.

Love and Squalor

Love and Squalor

Love and Squalor
Love and Squalor was the first band. I wasn’t really impressed by them to the degree that I went back out to the bar to talk to my friends and really don’t remember anything about them other than the fact that it felt like they played about an hour.

Destroy Everything

Destroy Everything

Destroy Everything

Destroy Everything

Destroy Everything were second and again they were a four-piece as Hanover Fist was still out sick. That is really some major league sickness he must have! They played a similar set to the one a week prior that was just as good. In between songs Cheddar Nines actually had some different stage banter other than “here’s one” and unsuccessfully tried to get the crowd to line up single file. Only three people lined up while the rest of them just chuckled and continued their drinking. At one point during the show, Senor Citizen switched guitars to a second one that was a total clone of the first one. It was pretty amusing to me because of all the guitars he owns, he brought two of the exact same to the show.

The Goddamn Gallows

The Goddamn Gallows

The Goddamn Gallows

The Goddamn Gallows

The Goddamn Gallows ended the evening and played to a small but enthusiastic crowd. Since they were last here they added a new member who plays a metal washboard gimmick with a cowbell that is strapped to himself and did some backing vocals too. The band were even more entertaining than the last time and played with a lot more intensity. They really have improved their already great live show and were an absolute joy to watch and listen to from start to finish. For the last song, Baby Genius moved his two floor toms to the front of the stage and played them standing up. This is a band that really comes across better live than in the studio and is a guaranteed good show. I look forward to their coming back again hopefully soon!

The Goddamn Gallows

The Goddamn Gallows

The Goddamn Gallows

Additional photos can be found starting this evening on MXV’s Flickr Stream