by BBG

Unsane/Melvins tour 7"

Let's party like its 1995! Melvins will team with Unsane (!) for a string of forthcoming tour dates, including a show at Webster Hall on April 29th. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale on January 20th at noon. No word on the rest of the tour dates thus far.

Make sure and head by the merch table and scoop up a copy of the tour-only split while you're there. The split will see Melvins covering Unsane and vice versa (!). The Thomas Hazelmyer (founder of Am-Rep) art for said split is above.

God Bullies at AM-REP 25th Anniversary (more by Taylor Keahey)

"The Color of Noise" will be a story of music and art, and how the keen musical tastes, and ultra graphic design sense of one independent record label owner brought to the world the sights and sounds that helped to create and influence future musical genres while humbly kicking the crap out of the rock underground! Amphetamine Reptile Records while in full operation from the mid 1980's to the late 1990's turned out an incredible roster of music acts with the participation of up and coming graphic designers and poster artists. Though recent facts prove that there is still activity brewing within the AmRep factory, and have ever since it officially closed it's doors in 1998. The ending of a record label gives birth to a new kind of boutique art movement, where music is the art and the records are on the wall! The Color of Noise is currently filming, and will be throughout the next year... We are looking for archival footage relating to the following artists:

Boss Hog (89'-92' lineup), Chokebore, Cosmic Psychos, God Bullies, Guzzard, Halo of Flies, Hammerhead, Hedonists, Helios Creed, Helmet, Killdozer (pre-90'), King Snake Roost, Lollipop, Love 666, Lubricated Goat (pre-91'), Mama Tick, The Melvins, Mudhoney, Nashville Pussy (97'-2000 lineup), Servotron, Surgery, Supernova, Tad, Tar, The Cows, The Thrown Ups, The U-Men, Today Is The Day, Unsane, Vertigo, Otto's Chemical Lounge, Toadlochen, Billy Childish

We are about 1/2 way through interviewing- meaning we have a heck of a lot more to do, so if you are reading this and were somehow involved with AmRep in any way- employee, band member, poster artist or fanatical music reviewer or even just a fan of the label- get in touch with us.

Anyone who was part of the Am-Rep story and/or has documented any of the bands associated should contact the filmmakers at media at thecolorofnoise dot com. Filming is currently ongoing, but The Color of Noise have posted a trailer at their website. - BBG

photos by Michael Darpino, words by BBG

Today is the Day celebrating AmRep

BrooklynVegan/AEG Live/1000Knives are proud to announce, that in addition to the recently-added Keelhaul (and as hinted in that piece), Today is The Day will play the Corrosion of Conformity show at Highline Ballroom on 10/10. Tickets are still available.

Today is the Day recently played a show at Santos Party House with A Storm of Light (who played last night with Sleep, pics forthcoming), but also played the AmRep Anniversary Party in late August. More pics from the show (the first set is here) are below....

Continue reading "Today is the Day added to CoC show, played Santos & AmRep's Anniversary w/ Melvins & others (more pics) "

photos by Taylor Keahey, words by BBG

God Bullies

On what was a perfect day to celebrate anyone's anniversary, a sold-out crowd gathered at Grumpy's in downtown Minneapolis to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the legendary local label Amphetamine Reptile Records. It was an all-day event (on 8/28) that honored and saluted an influential and groundbreaking scene, as well a bunch of bands that perhaps never got their due back in the day. All the groups played to a large, receptive crowd that was, if not trying to turn back time a bit to see a bunch of bands that they never had a chance to, than maybe just feel younger for one day at least. Everywhere you looked there were old friends running into each other for the first time in years, and there were broad smiles plastered on everyone's faces (due in no small part to the $5 Surly's). It was a glorious commemoration of a label that still packs quite a punch and knows how to throw one hell of a party. -[City Pages]

The above review comes from the second day of the AmRep Anniversary show, which featured a headlining set from Boss Hog, as well as appearances from Melvins, Vaz, White Drugs, Gay Witch Abortion, Thrown Ups (with Mudhoney's Mark Arm and Steve Turner), Today Is the Day (who play NYC Friday), Shannon Selberg (Cows) with AmRep founder Tom Hazelmyer, God Bullies, and Hammerhead (who played DBA recently). The first night featured performances from Unsane (who just played Santos) and Lollipop.

Pics of both day one and two, as well as some video, continue below.

Continue reading "AmRep celebrated 25 years (pics & video) (Unsane, Melvins, Boss Hog, Hammerhead, Vaz, God Bullies & more)"

by BBG

"Looks like Stu Spasm from Lubricated Goat just scored to put Spain ahead 1-0 (or was that Wurzel from Motorhead?) #WorldCup #GER Germany #ESP Spain" - Mike Rubin

Noise Magazine: I'm 'quoting' Nick Cave 'cause your music captures the darkest side of the Australian swamp rock/noise scene from Birthday Party, The Scientists, Beasts Of Bourbon to Lubricated Goat or even Bird Blobs... Is this among your main influences/inspiration sources? You've been on the bill with a bunch of those Australian bands too. What's your connection with them? Kristian is basically from Australia, right?

Woman's Kristian Brenchley: Thank you, in fact I am Australian but have but have been living in NYC since 2001. As for those Australian influences, stuff like The Birthday Party is in our blood down there. Same goes for AC/DC. So, I can't pick up the guitar without a little of that coming out! But we don't try to sound a certain way, I think once you start with that you're doomed to failure. As for the Bird Blobs, I've known Tim for 15 years and he lives in NYC now. So we have been playing on the same bills all that time. [Tim and I] took what we had in Melbourne in the '90's and moved it over here.

Though they aren't participating in the AmRep Anniversary show in Minneapolis, reactivated Australian noise rock terrorists Lubricated Goat are still back at it with Stu Spasm, the only oringinal member, behind the mic. Their last show was at Bruar Falls in June. Catch them next at Union Pool on August 6th alongside Pink Reason and NYC/Australian band Woman. The show is the only show scheduled for all three bands.

Former Lubricated Goat (and Swans) drummer Vinny Signorelli will be in Minneapolis to play AmRep's anniversary show, though he'll be there with his band Unsane. Unsane are scheduled to play NYC on August 5th alongside Keelhaul, Pigs, and Disappearer at Santos Party House, where the band will perform all of their landmark LP Scattered Smothered & Covered. Tickets are on sale.

Singorelli's former band Swans will play reunion shows in October, two of which are in NYC (neither of which Vinny will play): October 8th at Brooklyn Masonic Temple (tickets still on sale) and October 9th at the Bowery Ballroom (tickets still on sale).

by BBG

As early as 1989 or 1990, a band came out of the moderately sized North Dakota town of Fargo. They were called Hammerhead. The line up was Paul Sanders on guitar and vocals, Paul Erickson on bass and vocals, and Jeff Morridian Jr on drums. At some point early on they relocate to Minneapolis, Minnesota...[where] they hooked up with Amphetamine Reptile Records, the invincible indie label that rose from the ashes of Treehouse Records and Glitterhouse Records. Between 92' and 96', Hammerhead released 4 full length albums, including many singles and comp songs as well... [helping to] propel Amrep to greater heights of popularity, and ...define that "minneapolis/amrep" sound of the early 90's. Some time in 96', however, Hammerhead suddenly broke up [as] Paul Sanders left the band. ...About a year later, word started to spread of a new band, called Vaz, featuring Paul Erickson on vocals, guitar and bass, and Jeff Morridian Jr on drums and vocals. Paul Sanders [reemerged] ...with The Heroine Sheiks, that disbanded in 2009.

You won't have to fly to Minneapolis or wait until August to catch the return of AmRep badasses Hammerhead, as the band will play a reunion show on THURSDAY (6/24) at Death By Audio alongside Pink Reason, CCR Headcleaner (ex-Long Legged Woman, ex-Hospitals), Bogan Dust, and Divorce Money. According to Pink Reason, the show will be a "one time only NYC reunion gig", so get there! (thx Mark!)

The only other tour date on the sked for BOTH Hammerhead and Vaz is the AmRep anniversary show in Minneapolis on August 28th alongside Melvins (who just played two shows with Isis), Boss Hog, Today Is The Day, and many esteemed others.

Some classic videos from Hammerhead are viewable below...

Continue reading "Hammerhead reunited for AmRep Anniversay & a NYC show"

by BBG

Unsane at Union Pool (more by Paul Birman)

So far there have been a few contenders for my favorite show of 2010, but definitely on that short list was the return of the gods of NYC noise rock, Unsane, to Union Pool earlier this year (with a stellar supporting cast in Made Out of Babies, United Nations, and Dark Vibe).

Now I am pleased to announce that Unsane will return again, and this time the band will perform ALL of their landmark Am-Rep classic Scattered Smothered & Covered for one set, before returning to play a second set of material from their other releases. Supporting them will be none other than the Cleveland madmen Keelhaul (who played a BV show almost exactly a year before), Pigs (featuring Dave Curran of Unsane), and Disappearer. The whole shindig goes down at Santos Party House on August 5th (the day BEFORE Boris/Torche/Russian Circles at MHOW) . Tickets are on sale.

The NYC gig is one of eight shows where Unsane will perform the full album in August...

"We're really looking forward to the Unsane shows in August," Chris Spencer comments. "The idea of performing "Scattered, Smothered and Covered" in its entirety is something that I have wanted to do for a very long time. To do an album that I like that much from start to finish is going to be incredible. We've never done this before, and it's going to be both challenging and very exciting. The thought of being able to also do this at the AmRep anniversary show really kicks it up a notch!"

The AmRep anniversary show is August 27th at Grumpy's Bar in Minneapolis, MN. All dates (most of which Keelhaul is also playing), the NYC show flyer, video from Union Pool, and some classic Unsane videos are below...

Continue reading "Unsane playing classic album in its entirety at shows in August w/ Keelhaul (Santos Party House included) "

by BBG

Arab on Radar

Arab on Radar are a Providence, Rhode Island based noise rock band founded in the mid-1990s. They went on hiatus in 2002. Members of the band went on to form or join the bands The Chinese Stars, Athletic Automaton, Made in Mexico... Arab on Radar's early sound was typified by thickly distorted, repeated bass grooves, 4/4 drum beats, and two deafening guitars that employed contrasting melodies and near-unison chords that drew comparisons to the Contortions.

Arab on Radar will reform to headline Dudefest 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 9th and 10th. The band will join a stacked lineup that includes Municipal Waste (playing Knitting Factory Thursday, tix), Trap Them, Voetsek, Landmine Marathon, Weekend Nachos, Get Rad, Coffinworm, and many notable others. Full lineup for the show is below. More info is forthcoming.

It's one of two notable shows recently announced for the Midwest this summer, with the incredible 25th anniversary of Amphetamine Reptile being the second! That show goes down in Minneapolis at Grumpy's on 8/28, and features a plethora of the label's greats including Melvins, Boss Hog, Today Is The Day, God Bullies, a Hammerhead reunion, and many others. For those considering the trek to Minnesota, the label has set up group rates for a hotel. Show flyer is below. Somewhere I hope that Unsane and pre-Betty Helmet's phone is ringing....

The Melvins are touring and playing NYC with Isis. Tickets for Webster Hall are still on sale. The Melvins will welcome their new LP, The Bride Screamed Murder via Ipecac on June 1st.

Weekend Nachos have a new EP on the way, while Get Rad was recently profiled in the latest edition of Short Wave Warfare.

Full dudefest lineup and AmRep flyer/more detals are below.

Continue reading "Arab on Radar playing Dudefest 2010 in Indiana, Amphetamine Reptile celebrating 25 years in Minneapolis (both lineups)"