Listen: Turned Out A Punk Episode #4 - Meredith Graves

Fucked Up frontman Damian Abraham recently started a podcast series called Turned Out A Punk, in the podcast he interviews people about their backgrounds in punk rock. On this week’s episode he chats with Perfect Pussy leader Meredith Graves where they discuss a multitude of social subjects including the singer's formative years, the misogyny, sexism, homophobia and racism that exists in the music scene today. It’s not all super serious though as the two also delve into some music geek type stuff and lighthearted fashion talk in the hour and a half chat. So grab a comfy chair and something to drink, kickback and enjoy the show.

listen to ‘Episode 4 – Meredith Graves (Perfect Pussy)’ on audioBoom

Video: White Lung – “In Your Home”

There aren't enough heavy bands with a strong female base that are getting press for the most part but Vancouver’s White Lung is one of my favorites and they return to the internet today with a new video from their absolutely killer album, Deep Fantasy. “In Your Home” sees the band having some fun in various costumes and animated scenarios, directed by Justin Gradin & Ben Jacques.   

Video: The Art Of Punk - Episode 3: Dead Kennedys

From the chaotic, surreal, madness, of collage mixed with political folly that blazed their LP's and gig flyers; to the razor edge ultra-simplistic DK symbol that is still lovingly displayed on shirts across the world today, the latest episode of The Art Of Punk focuses on San Francisco punk band legends, the Dead Kennedys. In the fourteen minute video Jello Biafra discusses his own warped inspiration for the many sleeves and often controversial posters created in the early days of the band. We also meet pop surrealist artist Tim Biskup who chimes in about how the DK's affected and twisted his own young mind.  And finally we meet up with master collage artist, and designer of the DK's symbol, Winston Smith in his North Beach art studio, where he talks about how he was drawn into the early Bay Area punk scene - and his long and creative artist relationship with the Dead Kennedy's and Jello Biafra. 

Video: The Art Of Punk - Episode 2: Crass

From the black and white photo-realistic paintings of protest, anarchy, and social satire, to their legendary adopted brand and two headed snake and cross symbol  the latest installment of The Art of Punk is an inside look at the art and music of Crass..  In the video Gee Vaucher, and founding Crass member, writer, and activist, Penny Rimbaud discuss the art and the lifestyle stemming from the infamous Dial House, where they have lived, worked, and crated their own brand of anarchistic beauty, for more than 3 decades.  Onomatopoeia favorite, artist Scott Campbell, also chimes in to talk about how the art of Crass, and how one single t-shirt created a fork in the road of his own life and career. Finally British graphic designer Dave King - the creator of the infamous snake and cross symbol, discuss’ post war England, hippies, punk, graphic design, and more, that led him to the creation of the symbol made legend by the band. 

Video: The Art Of Punk - Episode 1: Black Flag

Whenever we can share something that combines our love of art with our love of music it’s always a good thing. The Art Of Punk, a new web show from MOCAtv premiered yesterday with an episode focusing on the art of Black Flag and is just that.

The show which was created, directed, and executive produced by writer/author of 'Fucked Up + Photocopied', Bryan Ray Turcotte (Kill Your Idols), and Bo Bushnell (The Western Empire) and traces the roots of the punk movement and the artists behind the iconic logos of punk bands such as: Black Flag (Raymond Pettibon), The Dead Kennedys (Winston Smith), and Crass (Dave King.) So you are basically getting some top tear experts in the subject matter and it shows throughout the twenty-two minute run time.

From the iconic four bars symbols, to the many coveted and collected gig flyers, singles, and band t-shirts, all depicting the distinctive Indian ink drawn image and text by artist Raymond Pettibon. The episode starts off in Los Angeles talking to two founding members of Black Flag, singer Keith Morris and bass player Chuck Dukowski, about what the scene was like in 1976 - setting the stage for the band’s formation, as well as the bands name, and the creation of the four bars symbol. Raymond Pettibon speaks from his New York art studio while  back in LA we hear from Fleaof the Red Hot Chili Peppers, about how the art, the music, and that early LA scene impacted his own life and career. To wrap it all up Henry Rollins chats via MOCA Grand Ave in Los Angeles, about all of the above and more.

Episodes exploring the visual identities of Dead Kennedys and Crass will debut soon at the MOCAtv YouTube channel. In addition to profiling the artists, the series includes intimate interviews with former band members, notable artists, and celebrities who have been heavily influenced by the art of punk rock including Jello Biafra, Tim Biskup, Scott Campbell, Steve Olson, Penny Rimbaud, Owen Thornton, and Gee Vaucher to name but a few.

The filmmakers Bryan Ray Turcotte and Bo Bushnell take a unique approach to exploring the rich histories of these three seminal punk legends by focusing on the influential imagery and seeking out stories that have not been told yet through the artwork, which is integral to the importance and influence of each band.

Video: Crate Diggers - Hank Williams III

It’s been a moment since we last checked in with Fuse TV’s Crate Diggers series, the show that visits some of your favorite people in the biz and checks out their personal record collections. I’m happy to see that the series isn't just sticking to hip-hop/electronic oriented folks as it could have easily had.

In last weeks episode, Hank Williams III got the treatment  and talks about the hundreds of metal records his mom burned, a rare Hank Williams recording that's never seen the light of day, and his punk rock rebellion, check it below…

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.

10 Black Flag Logo Parodies

Parodies, I tend to love em’, especially when they are referencing something from my past or part of a counterculture movement.  I figured why not compile some lists highlighting some of the better ones out there, first up is Black Flag’s iconic 4 bar logo.

Black Flag Parodies - slideshow

Happy Friday!: It’s A Bad Brains Christmas, Charlie Brown

HR and friends meet the Peanuts. Let them eat jellybeans, indeed.

Listen: Evans – “The Odds” (Full LP Stream)

On November 20, Ian MacKaye will release a record from his latest band, the Evens, his collaboration with former Warmers drummer/vocalist Amy Farinao on Dischord .The record, titled The Odds, follows their 2006 full-length Get Evens.  The album was recorded this summer at Inner Ear with Don Zientara and you can hear the whole thing in full right now via NPR HERE or below. It’s worth noting that the sillouette on the cover is MacKaye and Farina's son Carmine, full track list below…

Track Listing:
01 King of Kings
02 Wanted Criminals
03 I Do Myself
04 Warble Factor
05 Sooner or Later
06 Wonder Why
07 Competing With the Till
08 Broken Finger
09 Architects Sleep
10 Timothy Wright
11 This Other Thing
12 Let's Get Well
13 KOK

Happy Friday!

Finally the world of ice cream and punk rock come together!

Video: Ian MacKaye Highlight Real from The VERA Projects in Seattle WA

Ian MacKaye, co-founder of Dischord Records and vocal proponent of all ages shows, visited The VERA Project for a special question and answer session on September 7^th where he discusses such things as what punk means to him, file sharing, the straight edge movement, marriage equality, and more.

The VERA Project aims to be a place for youth and people supportive of an all-ages atmosphere to create social change, strong community ties, and education opportunities through music and visual arts, placing importance on a non-hierarchical internal structure and "participatory culture." 

Check out the 25-minute highlight real below….

The Pussy Riot Russian Doll

Someone should produce and sell these with a portion of donations going towards the legal fees of the band.

Video: Japandroids - "The House That Heaven Built"

Canada’s Japandroids have gotten a lot of love for their latest LP, 2012’s Celebration Rock, and for good reason. The record is full of fun, fast, well written summer anthems.  "The House That Heaven Built" was directed by Jim Larson and follows the band as they play shows, party, and goof off, check it below….

Video: The Refused Live on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Last night, the recently reformed Refused played "LateNight With Jimmy Fallon" after having to postpone their originally scheduled appearance some months back. The band performed  "New Noise" and "The Shape of Punk to Come" (as a web exclusive) from 1998's The Shape of Punk to Come. Enjoy both videos below….

Video: New Teaser for Descendents/ALL documentary, “Filmage’”

Before Blink, before Fall out Boy and before the bastardization of pop punk into what I now refer to as mall punk there was the Descendents and All, the original pop punk band(s) with up tempo songs about nerd heartbreak. It’s truly crazy how many bands starting in the mid 90’s totally hijacked the sound these guys created but never with even a fraction of the humor and intensity that the Descendents and their sister band did. Filmage, the long-in-the-works documentary about Descendents and ALL, has a new preview up on the internet alongside some news that the filmmakers are planning to work the festival circuit with the movie, as well as holding public screenings in cities around the US this year, though the only specific city mentioned so far is Fort Collins, CO. You can read the full update on the film's website, here and watch the preview below…

Listen: Lyle Preslar (Minor Threat, Meatmen, Samhain) on Going Off Track Podcast

Photo: Nick Romanenko

Going Off Track podcast recently sat down with Lyle Preslar of Minor Threat, The Meatmen, and Samhain. In the very entertaining and informative hour and a half conversation Preslar discusses his time in Minor Threat, his record executive experience, and "what it's like to deal with Glenn Danzig under both circumstances." You can subscribe to the podcast HERE and hear a short preview below...

 

Video: AT THE DRIVE-IN’S FULL COACHELLA SET in HD

Coachella’s first weekend is finally over, and while everyone is talking about Tupac’s hologram, I find this to be a lot more exciting. At The Drive-In performed  an energetic 40 minute set featuring tunes from their final two LP's, Relationship of Command and In Casino Out.  Make sure to enjoy lead singer’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s onstage banter, on topics ranging from Peter Saarsgard’s mom to Urban Outfitters but don’t wait too long because these video’s have been getting pulled from the internet extremely fast by Johnny Law.

Setlist:

01:05 Arcarsenal
04:34 Pattern Against User
08:09 Chanbara
11:35 Lopsided
15:30 Sleepwalk Capsules
19:17 Napoleon Solo
24:20 Quarantined
31:30 Enfilade
37:36 One Armed Scissor

Video: At the Drive-In's First Reunion Show

The reunited At the Drive-In played their first show in over a decade last night at Red 7 in Austin and we have footage to share. Check out the boys playing Relationship of Command's "Quarantined", "Enfilade" and "One Armed Scissor" below. If you didn’t catch the hugely influential band the first time round more and more dates will inevitably be added to this reunion tour giving you the chance to do so now. 

At The Drive-In | Quarantine


At The Drive-In | Enfilade


At The Drive-In | One Armed Scissor

Video: Refused Playing Their First Show in 14 Years

Refused played a secret show that took place in their hometown of Umeå, Sweden yesterday. It is the first performance by the band in 14 years and marks the beginning of their upcoming reunion tour which officially kicks off at Coachella next month. Check out the fan footage of the guys playing "Everlasting” below…