Archives: October 2011
The Fest
At the end of this month The Fest will celebrate its tenth anniversary. The event began in 2002 and was founded by No Idea Records publicist Tony Weinbender. Weinbender was inspired by MACRoCk, (The Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference) and upon receiving encouragement from some friends, decided to start a music festival in Gainesville, FL. Over the years The Fest has grown in both size and popularity, fueled mostly by positive word of mouth. For many attendees and performers alike, it’s considered to be a definite highpoint of the year and something never to be missed. Fest 10 promises not to disappoint, as it’s unmistakably the biggest year yet. Spanning three days, 11 venues and over 250 bands, 2011’s Fest should be a memorable occasion to say the least. Continue Reading…
Descendents
The Descendents don’t require much of an introduction as they’re simply one of America’s most important punk rock bands. They started in 1978 and over the years have released six albums, toured throughout the world and influenced countless bands. Last year, they began playing shows again and we spoke with singer Milo Aukerman and drummer Bill Stevenson before their recent performance at Riot Fest in Chicago. Milo joined the conversation after a few questions and we talked about their motivations for reuniting, what their shows have been like lately and what they’ve got planned for the future. Continue Reading…
The Flatliners
Photo by Katie Hovland
Counterpunch – Dying to Exonerate the World
Photo by Katie Hovland
Go-Kart Records – Release Date: 5/31/11
Recorded with Mark Michalik at Drasik Studios, (The Swellers, Much The Same, Fireworks, We Are The Union) Dying to Exonerate the World, the second effort from Chicago’s Counterpunch, is a straight-up, in-your-face affair, a no-holds-barred punk rock barrage that while more than slightly indebted to Bad Religion, still delivers with a flavor and style all its own. The disc kicks off with “Heroes and Ghosts,” an awesome, up-tempo, melodic anthem replete with chugging, chunky guitar tones and nicely harmonized vocals, and continues with the assault into the second track, “High Tide for Internal Strife,” which adds a number of interesting breakdowns to the mix. I didn’t get a lyric sheet, but from what I can gather the lyrics are for most part in the ‘personal’ vein, dealing with everyday problems: relationships, working, family, the music scene, with a strong undercurrent of concern for social issues. With track four, Counterpunch decides to mix it up. “And Everybody’s Right (Asshole)” goes for a more swinging, Fall Out Boy-type vibe, adding a horn section to mid-tempo guitars and the ever-present catchy vocal melodies. Overall, Dying to Exonerate the World would, in my opinion, please most fans of melodic punk. It’s a poppy, slightly glossy affair, but with enough grit, bite, speed and most importantly, songwriting ability, to win over even those skeptical of this subgenre of music. Check it out for yourself here.
– Marc Ruvolo
Dave Hause
Photo by Katie Hovland
Dave Hause, singer/guitarist of The Loved Ones, released his solo debut earlier this year, Resolutions. The album explores various genres and features several guest musicians, yet it’s Hause’s ability to craft memorable songs and tell stories with his lyrics that shines through most. We caught up with Hause before his recent show at Bottom Lounge to discuss Resolutions, in terms of how it was recorded and the ideas behind some of its songs. We also talked about the songwriters that inspire him, what it was like playing shows with Tommy Stinson, music videos and more.
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