Acres - Silos

The emo band Acres from New Jersey broke up at some point this year (I think).  It's a shame too because they were pretty great.  They are giving their Silos demos away now, while they compile some sort of retrospective discography.  So stay tuned for that because if these demos tell us anything, the discography will be worth the wait.

Download

Myspace

Grown Ups - Songs

 

So Grown Ups is releasing their first full length in two weeks.  It's featuring six brand new songs and four re-recordings of the songs in the link below  You are going to have to wait until May 18th for aptly named "More Songs", but  they are currently giving the EP "Songs" away so download it and introduce yourself to this amazing pop punk/emo band.

Oh and not to brag or anything but I got the last copy of that beautiful DIY album above.  It's OK to be jealous.

Songs

-Jim

Malegoat - Plan Infiltration

Have you ever wondered what Algernon Cadwallader would sound like if they were singing in Japanese?  Or have you ever speculated what Cap'n Jazz would sound like if their name was Jap'n Jazz?  Wonder no longer.  All terrible puns aside,  Malegoat recently toured the east coast of the United States and caused quite the stir in the emo scene with their somewhat familiar, yet somehow refreshing music.  If you check their lengthy list of influences on their myspace it is no wonder that they present the sound you they do.  Their popularity on this side of the ocean has been growing over the last year so give them a shot. 

Shout out to to the guys at something about music for giving me a heads up on this band.

oh and an even more important shout out to ALI for making that cool Professor Bros. pic! (and for proof reading)

EDIT:  I really screwed up the try it link.  Fixed Now. Sorry

Try it 

Buy it
-Jim

Indian Summer - Science

You know those few days in autumn when the weather gets really nice and mild after you thought summer was gone for good?  It's pretty awesome isn't it?  For those lucky enough to live in a more accomodating environment; The Farmer's Almanac tells us that the period of sunny and warm weather after the leaves have changed and there was already frost is called Indian Summer.  One of the few gems of living in the midwest when it comes to weather.

Speaking of gems and enjoyable atmosphere I present you the band Indian Summer, a must listen for the emotive hardcore fan.  Bringing a mixture of chaos and calm Indian Summer's Science is a relatively underappreciated example of early punk influenced emo.  Their obscurity should come as no surprise due to their relatively short lifespan (1993-1994) and their limited touring.  Before a re-release of their complete discography much of their work was extremely hard to come by even on the internet.  Much of it was on rare tapes and 7" splits shared with even more obscure bands in the scene.  Their songs were actually never even named so all track names that you find were actually given lovingly by fans of their work.  Thankfully this issue was solved with a 2006 release of Science, a collection of their various tracks.

What we find in Science after over a decade of wait is a lo fi tribute to loud/soft dynamics.  Most songs begin with soft instrumentals and whispers that build slowly, giving the listener a sense of something big on the horizon much like the calm before a violent storm.  Once the climax is reached the band begins to absolutely attack their instruments creating a gale force of screaming guitars and frenzied screams.  This style of combining gentle picking followed by cathartic chaos is emulated by bands such as Envy, Pianos Become the Teeth, and City of Caterpillar.  That my friends, is a pretty darn good lineage.

So check it out and learn your roots kids.

Download
-Jim

Chalk Talk - Killing Spree

 

Normally I wouldn't be so quick to suggest a band whose lyrical content ranges from waxing poetic about the smell of their urine to singing passionately about slamming beers, but this band is impossible to dislike.

Once you lighten up a bit and get over the somewhat concerning lyrics about young girls you will be treating yourself to some amazing pop punk with bouncy music and harmonies that are almost impossible not to sing along with.  They are all about the fun, and it definitely shows.

So check out their Killing Spree EP, the sweet merchandise on their Myspace, and their collective Cake Life. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. They're going on an extensive tour this summer so keep an eye out for that, just don't bring your little sister.

Mad props for the guys from Something About Music for introducing me to their music.  You can snag the download link from them.

-Jim

Another Cool Show at the Eagle's Nest

I saw some Sunday Night goodness last night at the Eagle's Nest.

Myspace

The night started off with Maidens, a post-metal band which draws influence from Russian Circles.  It definitely has that Suffocate for Fuck Sake feel with heavy riffs and special attention to atmosphere.  Really heavy and really good.  Keep a look out for these Milwaukee area guys as they have just begun, but are already producing some pretty impressive work.

Myspace 

Next up was Parrhesia, a grind band from chicago.  Going into the show I had a very rudimentary idea of what grind is, having only heard studio recorded work in the genre.  Before the show I was very unimpressed, but I quickly found this is definitely a style of music you need to see live.  After some technical difficulties (which merely added to my anticipation) this band began to attack their instruments, themselves, and the crowd.  I experienced pure discomfort as I wasn't really sure if they were going to harm the crowd, themselves or my ear drums.  It was surprisingly enjoyable and liberating.  Check these guys out live if you can.

Myspace 

If you have been reading the blog you would know I tried to see Grown Ups earlier this month at Strangelight.  Unfortunately a speeding ticket and questionable navigation caused me to miss Grown Ups.  I wasn't too bummed however, because I knew I had another chance to see them.  This was my chance and they were everything I hoped for.  That pop-punk/emo sound I fell in love with on their studio album Songs translated quite nicely live.  Their energy and sound last night would have definitely made the Kinsella brothers proud.  I also purchased their last copy of their EP ever (hipster victory!).  It was the last night of their tour with Antilles who played next.

 

Myspace 

Antilles from Ohio had been touring with Grown Ups since the night after the Strangelight show, but they didn't let it show.  They didn't even want to stop playing.  These guys brought some serious energy and some humor.  Punk to the core, their intricate guitar work left my ears ringing.  Very awesome.

 

Myspace 

The night wrapped up with a band that is slowly becoming one of my favorites in Milwaukee, Absolutely.  As usual their luscious locks and mathy riffs blew me away.  If you live in Wisconsin you have to check these guys out.

It snowed a lot today.

So have some music by a band called Snowing.  It's pretty much the best the current Emo scene has to offer.

My writing genius knows no bounds

 

EP Download
BUY BUY BUY

The most expensive basement show ever.

 It was worth it though.  All the bands were amazing and we got some awesome merch!  It was the most well organized DIY show one could hope to go to, so props to the guys at Strangelight.  They kept everyone hydrated and happy.  Here are some pictures full set here

 

Grown Ups

Castevet

 

1994

Algernon Cadwallader

I'm going to a cool concert tonight.

I'm seeing Algernon Cadwallader (pronounced al-jur-non kal-wall-uh-dur), Grown Ups, 1994, and Castevet tonight at Warbux/Strangelight in Chicago!

Here are some links:

Algernon Cadwallader - Some Kind of Cadwallader

Grown Ups - Songs (I'm most excited for these guys)

This is a 1994/Spires split

Chicago's own Castevet

Oh and if you don't feel like making the trip to Chicago, check out 14th Century Explorers (you may know them as Cider Cloud) playing at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee.  They are coming out with an EP soon so stay tuned.

Check out their Myspace

Cap'n Jazz-Analphabetapolothology

Cap'n Jazz was formed in 1989 by brothers Mike and Tim Kinsella.  These guys went on to influence a staggering amount of bands and are widely considered to be the best of the second generation emotive hardcore bands.  You can thank these guys (or curse them) for transforming Emo from an undergound hardcore subgenre to a more accessible pop-punk sound.  When the band broke up in 1995 the various members formed well known emo staples; Make Believe, The Promise Ring, Owls, Joan of Arc, Owen and a little ole' band called American Football.

Pretty impressive right?  Well there is this little matter of Mike's age.  He was born in 1977.   Mike Kinsella was twelve when Cap'n Jazz was formed.  TWELVE.  I don't know about you, but my biggest accomplishments at that age involved scrambled porn and strange thoughts about my sixth grade teacher.  Needless to say I wasn't tagging along with my older brother helping create what would become the most influential band in a genre's history.

So check out their anthology, mostly because you will be hard pressed to find much else by them (besides their only full length entitled Burritos...).  Analphabetapolothology feels like a party. Loud, fast paced, and sometimes incoherent.  It's beautifully messy and imperfect, and you should absolutely check it out.
Disc 1
Disc 2 Live