The Curse

I've posted before about The Curse from Philadelphia. Well I'm finally getting around to posting their demo and self titled record on Hellbent Records. As I've said before these guys were really good melodic hardcore much like Kid Dynamite. I picked up their demo 9 years ago and still listen to it often. Great band.

Here is the description Interpunk.com used for their self-titled release:

"They say hardcore music comes around in cycles; well it's coming back again! Plain and simple, honest and brutal, hardcore is back. In your face, point your middle finger, walk on peoples heads hardcore the way we like it. The Curse is here to stay! Hailing from the city of brotherly love, these four Philadelphia natives are fresh on the scene and need no comparison. This record will redefine whatever you think punk is. The Curse has already shared the stage with the likes of: Sick Of It All, Avail, Hot Water Music, Kill Your Idols, Strike Anywhere, and Trial By Fire. The Curse features current members of Paint It Black (Founding members from Kid Dynamite, Good Riddance, and Lifetime) and former members of Step Ahead and Kill The Man Who Questions."

Download the EP here.

Download the 2002 Six Song Demo here.

Martini

Hellfest 2004 was memorable for many reasons. It was the last Hellfest, but we didn't know that at the time. Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza is easily the most memorable and most talked about set, but my personal favorite was E.Town Concrete. Apparently it was their first time playing their hometown of Elizabeth, NJ. I'm pretty sure it was supposed to be one of their last shows too, but I'm not positive about that. They played towards the end of Saturday night and were great. I completely get how people can hate on E.Town, but I've always loved them. Anyway, when I strolled by their merch table that night I was disappointed to find them selling very little stuff. Still I had to buy something so I grabbed a shot glass and hat. Then I noticed a CD sitting there that was Anthony Martini's solo rap EP. Official Bootlegs: Vol. One was the title and it would forever change my life. I threw it in my car CD player as soon as I walked out of the RexPlex and dropped my jaw. This shit is equally hilarious, awful and good. Songs sampling Slayer, lyrics about being a honkey, and a serious track, what more do you need. Download it and laugh at it or dance or make stew or whatever the fuck you wanna do.

 

Download it here.

Baltimore Hardcore: Belly Of The Beast

Since the early 80's it hasn't been uncommon for many bands from the same city to get together for a compilation album. There have been tons of classics releases like This Is Boston Not L.A., New York Hardcore: The Way It Is and Flex Your Head. Ultimately though a lot of these styled compilations have gone without notice by those outside of the city walls. Now I am pretty biased, but one of my all time favorites was released in 2004 called Baltimore: Belly Of The Beast on Cornerstone Records. I'm not sure of the distribution for this CD, but I can't imagine it got too far out. This 28 track disc covers almost 20 years of Baltimore hardcore starting from the early days of legends Gut Instinct to the kings at the time of the release the Slumlords. There are many classic bands covered here including the aforementioned as well as Harsh Truth, Next Step Up, Stout, Curse Of Years and Dead End Boys. Do yourself a favor and download this and get to know what Baltimore hardcore was all about before Trapped Under Ice, Ruiner and Pulling Teeth took over.

1. Together We Fall - Ninety Days
2. Together We Fall - Drowned
3. Stout - Eternal
4. Stout - Ne Ya E (The Beating)
5. Bring It On - Only The Strong
6. Bring It On - Respect
7. Harsh Truth - Altered State
8. Harsh Truth - Lie To My Face
9. Dead End Boys - I Don't Like You
10. Dead End Boys - Everyday
11. Next Step Up - I Am The Law
12. Next Step Up - Take Me Away
13. Slumlords - Hardcore Eviction Crew
14. Slumlords - Time To Drink
15. Erase The Past - Voices Of Youth
16. Erase The Past - Ascension
17. Curse Of Years - Days In Black
18. Curse Of Years - Remember
19. Backhand - Wrestlemania
20. Backhand - Hang Em High
21. Never Enough - Passed On
22. Never Enough - Perfect Truth
23. Wake Up Cold - Wake Up Cold
24. Wake Up Cold - Live For Yourself
25. Fighting Chance - Global Homicide
26. Fighting Chance - Got Your Number
27. Gut Instinct - No Trust
28. Gut Instinct - Vicious Circle

Download it here.

Keith Morris and his marker.

Last night I went to the Ottobar here in Baltimore to see The Reticents, Trash Talk and OFF! Unfortunately, my friends and I dragged ass getting out of my house so I missed The Reticents. We got there right before Trash Talk and settled in by the stage after grabbing a beer and a little bullshitting. I've always liked Trash Talk and their live show is intense, but at some point I remembered that I wanted to pick up some shit at the OFF! merch table. I headed that way and was surprised to find Keith Morris doing their own merch. There were two people in front of me buying shit, but I noticed they both had Morris sign their CDs and shirt. Never being the type to care or ask for signatures I kind of laughed to myself and stepped up to the table. I was hoping to get the First Four EPs 7" box set, but they were sold out. So being the music junkie I am I grabbed the three 7 inches they were selling (Live at Generation Records, 1st EP, and a newer release on Southern Lord Records) and First Four EP on cassette and CD. Then Keith did what made me furrow my brow. He pulled on of the 7 inches out of the sleeve and started signing it. He wrote "Wrong Size!" and signed his name.

Now I just don't understand this, I don't care that he did it, but it was a very awkward moment for me. Honestly, I would rather have had him not sign the record, but I am in no way a record collector so I don't really care about that kind of shit. Later I was talking with Lee from Trash Talk and he told me that Keith has been doing this at every show due to 9 out of 10 people asking him to sign shit anyway. It makes more sense that way, but it still seems odd to me to just start signing peoples shit they want to buy. Either way it is cool that Keith is getting up close and personal with some of the people who might idolize him. I've seen much smaller bands sit back stage and act like douche bag rock stars.

OFF! and Trash Talk were both awesome by the way. I think it is cool that bands that different are touring together and representing two of the many styles of hardcore out there. This was my first time seeing any of Keith Morris' bands and that man didn't disappoint. Other than his glaring bald spot through his dreads he didn't show a sign of his age.

East Coast Tsunami Fest

East Coast Tsunami Fest 2010 was very easily my favorite show of all time. With a line-up of Sick Of It All, H2O, Earth Crisis, Fury Of Five, All Out War, Mushmouth, Stout, Death Threat and so many others it was easy to expect it to be great. Last year exceeded my expectations for the fest. It wasn't just the bands that made the show so great, it was the atmosphere.

This year things are being done a little different. The location has been moved to Reading, PA at a new club called Reverb. The fest has also grown to three days instead of last years two. This past Friday the guys putting together the show started announcing three bands each night at 10pm. The show already looks impressive and I can't wait to see who else is playing.

The line-up so far:

SixSouth

One of my favorite shows ever was at the Emigsville Park Building in York, PA. The line-up was basically all of Youngblood Records roster at the time. Washington D.C.'s Striking Distance, Worn Thin, and Desperate Measures, and My Luck from Texas. Along with Pat from Violent Society playing in his new band Cranked Up the other opener was SixSouth. I remember them being pretty good, but beside all of these other bands I completely forgot about them until last year. I was looking through a used CD section when I came across Playing For Pennies...Paying Our Dues and gladly picked it up. It was a good choice because this is a pretty good disc. It isn't ground breaking and amazing, but it is fun hardcore punk. I know these guys played all the time in my area and now I wish I had gone to see them more. Oops.   Taken from Angry, Young and Poor: "Tracing the lines that meet to form SIXSOUTH would be a history lesson in York, Pennsylvania hardcore/punk. Members from the now defunct '90s bands: THE ARMED CITIZENS, GFNC, and TAP AND DIE converge to blend their tastes and talents to create an original sound that has yet to be properly placed or described by comparison. Those who try only become frustrated when the music goes from zero to one hundred in a matter of one measure, or the desperation of the vocals turns to anger in one word. You may wonder how music described as such could possess any kind of appeal. There is only one way to find out. Listen! 8 songs."
Download it here.

Lake Effect Hardcore

I've been going through a lot of my older comps and came across this gem. Erie Hardcore Scene Report: A Documentary Of Lake Effect Hardcore is a sixteen track treasure chest of Erie Pennsylvania's best bands. I'm not exactly sure when this came out, I don't have the physical copy in front of me right now, but I do know that I have had it long enough to wear out my first copy.

Brother's Keeper is the first band featured here. I know people love to hate on BK, but I love them, chicken voice and all. This is the beginning of many Mike Ski appearances throughout the comp from guest vocals to his older bands. Disciple or xDisciplex or xDisciplex A.D. also add to tracks of their classic metallic hardcore. Who could give a fuck that these guys were a christian band when they write such evil sounding and heavy hardcore. Abnegation are an odd standout and take some getting used to. Imagine if deathcore actually sounded like a combination of death metal and hardcore instead of the shit with that label now.

Digression, Mothership, Neverfall, and Sumthin' To Prove contribute two tracks each, followed by a track from Out Of Hand and Break Iron. There really is something for everyone in the hardcore scene on this compilation. Erie was a big scene at one point and this collection helps put that in perspective. Download it at the link below and see what you might be missing.

Get it here.