Listen: Flabmag Podcast #10 - Sonny Kay

This week’s guest on Flab Magazine’s podcast series  was is multi-media artist/singer/entrepreneur/art director and all around inspiring guy Sonny Kay, who is perhaps best known for starting indie label, Gold Standard Laboratories. Before closing it’s doors in 2007 the label was home of some of the most genre bending punk rock acts of my time including a number of bands that Sonny was a member of like Angel Hair, the VSS, Year Future, Savalas, Subpoena the Past and more. Sonny’s time now days is spent working on some of the best photo collage art works gracing LP covers today.

Sonny Kay – “Accidental Math” 2010 Photo Collage

In the hour and forty minute discussion Sonny talks about his career as a lover and performer of punk rock, a trip down memory lane on life in Boulder, Colorado circa the 90s, the rise of ‘mainstream punk rock” as compared to the rawer sound of GSL, his relationship with Omar from the Mars Volta, the transition from music to visual arts and much more. 

LISTEN HERE.

The VSS Reunite

Finally a reunion I can get excited about! Boulder’s VSS have announced their intention to play a batch of reunion shows in celebration of the release of Nervous Circuits on vinyl and a forthcoming compilation LP that collects their previous 7" material (21:51). "The VSS began in Colorado in January of 1995 before calling it quits in July of 1997. In that time the band relocated to San Francisco, toured the U.S. and Europe/UK, released a series of 7-inch EPs and issued Nervous Circuits, the only proper full length album from the band. The VSS are the pioneers in the underground punk genre having introduced sci-fi keyboards, angular guitars, unusual rhythmic shifts and vocal effects that come together for the bands distinctive sound.  I personally love this band and have praised them in the past, so far no word on dates, cities, etc.

Members of The VSS went on to join bands like The Slaves, Pleasure Forever, Red Sparowes, Rabbits, Year Future and more. They are better than 99% of the punk/hardcore acts that ever existed, past or present, and forgo easy traps like medley and chorus'.

Video: Chromatics - "These Streets Will Never Look the Same"

Chromatics have released their 6th video from the truly great Kill For Love LP. "These Streets Will Never Look the Same" was shot on videotape live on location in Las Vegas, Mexico City and Montreal. Once again directing duties came from Alberto Rossini, who has shot a number of videos for the band.

Video: Chromatics – “Into the Black" (Neil Young Cover)

Here is one I missed. Seems that Portland’s Chromatics, dropped this video from their excellent 2012 LP Kill For Love some time ago, by my count that’s 6 now? Tapping Alberto Rossini for filming and directing once again, the Neil Young cover of “Into The Black” gets a similar treatment to what we have already seen from the band in regards to the visuals. Shot on location at suite 304 in December of 2009 you can now enjoy both the sights and sounds of the Chromatics below, if you like what you experience I recommend going straight to the source and buying the full record for a very affordable $5 from The Troubleman Unlimited/Italians Do it Better Store. 

Listen: Chromatics – “Kill For Love” Full LP

I’m not usually one to post a full stream of an album that is officially out but I’ve been listening to this album heavily since it dropped earlier this week, it will most certainly be on my 2012 best of list and I obviously highly recommend it.  For those  who have been patiently waiting for the latest LP from Portland’s Chromatics, wait no longer,  the bands dreamy synth sounds get right under our skin, and they have very kindly put their full LP ‘Kill For Love’ on soundcloud for us all to stream. You can purchase it in full right now on i-tunes but if you are anything like me and actually like to own the music you pay for I recommend going straight to the source and buying it for a very affordable $5 from The Troubleman Unlimited/Italians Do it Better Store.

Video: Chromatics – “Back From The Grave”

Wow yet another new track from Portland’s Chromatics, this one is called "Back To The Grave" and it’s the 5^th tune the band has shared form their forthcoming LP, Kill For Love.  Again the tune is top notch building on the hazy disco pop sound that the band is becoming known for. Alberto Rossini sticks to directing duties; the footage was shot at Rossini’s chalet in February of 2010, located on Yellowhead highway in Valemount, British Columbia.

Video: Chromatics – “Candy”

Another new track from Portland’s Chromatics, this one is called "Candy" and it’s another slice of dreamy indie pop that fits in nicely with what we have so far heard of the bands delayed  Kill Your Love LP. Alberto Rossini once again took on directing duties; the footage was shot at the House On The Hill back in the Autumn of 2011.  This marks the 4th song that the band have shared from the LP which makes the delay somewhat strange, if delaying something means we get to hear chunks of it ahead of time, and for free, then I’m all for it.

Video: Chromatics - "Lady"

Portland’s Chromatics are back with their third single from their forthcoming LP Kill For Love. “Lady” plays nicely into what we have heard of the LP so far, further exploring the hazy disco sound reminiscent of a dirtier time in nightlife. The video plays right into the sound looking like some sort of footage from Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Filming took place at Silver City in 2011 during a prom of all places, and features photography by Rhys Balmer and Alberto Rossini who also in turn edited the footage.

Video Bonanza: Sonny Kay

Sonny Kay is a legend is some circles, he almost single handedly defined the sound, community and aesthetic of an entire era in "extreme" music with his bands Savalas, Angel Hair, The VSS,  Subpoena the Past, Year Future and Optional Body. Sonny's influence went well beyond the music he released with his own bands as the label he started GSL(Gold Standard Laboratories) was not only home to some of my personal favorite artists ever but also some of the most unforgettable including The Locust, The Mars Volta, !!!, Arab on Radar, Get Hustle, JR Ewing, Le Shok, Melt Banana, Mohinder, The Faint, The Rapture, Chromatics and many many more. Sonny's influence on punk rock would be ever present in the 90's and on with his unique twisted vocal delivery and the heavy use of keyboards in a genre that otherwise has shunned the instrument entirely. Sonny's music and art is still as frightening, invigorating and original as it was 15 years ago and for this reason and more I have chosen him to be my first entry in a segment I hope will become a regular feature.

Enjoy...