photos by Johnathan McPhail, words by BBG

There's this awkwardness that I love at a hardcore show, the moment when a beloved band plays a new song. It's clear that the crowd wants to dance and go nuts (especially, in the case of Converge who have a rather large hit rate), but no one knows what to do. I can see the Converge-fan's thought process now:

Do I swing my arms now?
Is it time to make the pizzas?
Should I start pacing in circles?
Is this the break?
Is this the end of the song?

That awkwardness happened a few times at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 14th, when the Massachusetts band played with Pianos Become The Teeth, Git Some and Birds in Row. Converge's new tracks, not suprisingly, sounded exactly like you would expect (no left turns on these) and had names like "Aimless Arrow", "No Light Escapes" and "Empty on The Inside". Check out a video of the band performing "No Light Escapes" below. Of course it wasn't all about testing the waters; Converge also broke out the requisite favorites like "Eagles Become Vultures", "Concubine" and "Jane Doe" among many others (setlist below).

The confused Converge-fan will have the ability to get more familiar with the new tracks when the band teams with Rorschach, Indecision & Xaddax at Le Poisson Rouge on May 26th (!). Tickets are still on sale.

Though we unfortunately missed sets by Birds in Row (who just played another NYC show) and Git Some (them too), pictures from the Music Hall show continue below...

Continue reading "Converge played new songs @ Music Hall of Williamsburg (pics, video, setlist), added to Rorschach at LPR!"

photos by Rebecca Reed, words by BBG

Full of Hell at the remodeled Acheron

During the renovation at Acheron (iPhone pic courtesy of the venue)

One of the first shows in a newly-renovated Acheron went down on Wednesday, April 4th when Full of Hell teamed with Code Orange Kids, Birds in Row and Real Cops to play the space. Here are some pictures.

The show is part of a string of dates for Full of Hell/Code Orange Kids, who both played SXSW, and who share the stage with Birds in Row before the band heads out for dates with Converge (including Music Hall of Williamsburg next week) and with Touche Amore, Defeater, and Code Orange Kids (including the Loft in New Brunswick on 4/20).

All tour dates and more pictures from Acheron, below...

Continue reading "Acheron renovated; Full of Hell played w/ Code Orange Kids, Birds in Row & Real Cops (pics & more dates)"

photos by Katie Chirichillo, words by BBG

Loma Prieta @ the Meatlocker

After visiting Motclair, NJ, as previously mentioned, Loma Prieta and Birds in Row are in NYC TONIGHT (3/24) to play Acheron alongside The Year is One and Scowl (who also play 4/1 with Ilsa).

The Acheron show is one of three NYC dates for Birds in Row, who will also play the same space on April 4th, but with the touring Full of Hell and Code Orange Kids (both of whom just played our Deathmatch party), as well as NJ's Real Cops. Birds in Row is also on board with Converge for some live dates, including Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 14th with Git Some and Pianos Become The Teeth (tickets, no Loma Prieta).

Git Some, who is also part of the MHOW show, is scheduled to play Saint Vitus on March 30th with Morne, Swan King and Gang Signs (tickets).

Loma Prieta/Birds in Row recently played two area dates, one at The Space in Hamden, CT on March 18th, and one at The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ on March 22nd. Pictures from both shows are below....

Continue reading "Loma Prieta/Birds played the Meatlocker in Montclair & The Space in CT (pics); they play The Acheron tonight"

by BBG

Code Orange Kids (photo by Tanner Douglas)

Good news and bad news. Bad news first... unfortunately DNF has been forced to cancel their appearance at the BV/Power of The Riff day show as part of the Thrasher/Converse Deathmatch in Austin. Good news? We have added recent Deathwish signees Code Orange Kids! Full set-time details for that entire party are on the way.

In the days following SXSW, Code Orange Kids will team with Full of Hell and Birds in Row for a string of US dates that will include a stop in NYC at Acheron on April 4th with local addition Real Cops. All dates are listed below.

The Birds in Row appearance at Acheron is one of TWO for the band, who is also scheduled to play Acheron on March 24th with Loma Prieta.

Reminder: Loma Prieta play dates with Git Some, who added an NYC show with Morne, The Swan King, and Gang Signs at St Vitus on 3/30 (tickets are on sale for the BV-BBG production). Git Some is also playing MHoW on 4/14 with Converge and Pianos Become The Teeth (tickets).

As discussed, Full of Hell and Code Orange Kids will share a split via Topshelf Records in April. Check out the video for "Fox Womb" from that release along with all tour dates for Full of Hell, Birds in Row, and Code Orange Kids below.

Continue reading "Code Orange Kids added to a BV Austin show, playing Acheron on tour w/ Full of Hell & Birds in Row (dates)"

by BBG

Complete Failure

Pittsburgh grind/hardcore crew Complete Failure have offered their latest release, The Art Gospel of Aggravated Assault, for stream via bandcamp. No word on what the band intends to do with said release. The band's previous LP, Heal No Evil was originally offered for free download, and eventually came out on Relapse. Stream all of The Art Gospel of Aggravated Assault below!

Velnias have launched a kickstarter to help fund their forthcoming LP RuneEater via Peasanta Urfolk. The all analog recording is pricey, and you can check out the accompanying video for the project below.

Check out Torche's flexi contribution to the Decibel series at Soundcloud. Reminder, they hit the road with COC in February/March.

Kicking Spit will hit Acheron on January 27th with Nuclear Santa Claust (who just played with Night Birds), Artificial Limbs and Aint Rights. Flyer for the show is below.

The Black Dahlia Murder will headline a string of dates with Nile, Skeletonwitch, and Hour of Penance as part of a US campaign that will hit NYC at Irving Plaza on April 19th. Tickets are on sale.

Kayo Dot have releases their new LP Gamma Knife via Bandcamp. Download a copy at their site and stream it below.

Check out new material from Zoskia, ex-Caina, streaming below.

Check out the new track from the forthcoming Worm Ouroboros LP Come The Thaw below. "Withered" premiered on Pitchfork earlier this week and the LP is due via Profound Lore on 3/20.

Download the Birds in Row LP in full and for FREE via their Bandcamp.

Stream the new Unholy Majesty 7" (it rips) below in full. Fans of negative hardcore ala Holy Terror will dig. Order your 7" via A389 Records.

Population Reduction have called it quits.

All tour dates, a bunch of streams, a new Crippled Black Phoenix video, a new Coliseum video and upcoming suggested NYC shows are below.

Continue reading "Evillive (Complete Failure, Unholy Majesty, Worm Ouroboros & much more)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Pallbearer - Demo 2010 (Mediafire)

Coke Bust at Acheron (more by BBG)

Coke Bust will return to NYC with Tenement, D.O.C. and Rational Animals to play Acheron on 1/4. The show is one of a few dates for the fast-hardcore crew. Chris of Coke Bust/Magrudergrind will also be playing drums with D.O.C. when they play Saturday (12/17) at Death By Audio with Triac, Backslider (who are streaming a new track), and Psychic Limb as part of Defeatist's farewell show. Defeatist's Tyranny of Decay was one of my favorite records of 2011, and the Coke Bust show at Acheron was also one of my favorites of the year.

Weekend Nachos have added a gang of dates with Homewrecker leading up to their appearance at A389 Anniversary. Those dates include a stop at ABC No Rio on 1/19. Full tour schedule is below.

Morbid Saint will hit the road for a pair of East Coast gigs that will include Europa on 1/20 with Deceased, Carcinogen and Midnight Hellion. Tickets are on sale.

Check out a new track from The Devil's Blood, as well as a teaser for a second track below. The band's new LP The Thousandfold Epicentre hits via Metal Blade on January 17th.

Maruta has called it quits.

Poison Idea will reissue Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years, The Fatal Erection Years (aka Pick Your King/Record Collectors are Pretentious Assholes), War All The Time, Ian Mackaye, Feel The Darkness, We Must Burn and Last Will & Testament via Southern Lord and TKO Records.

Pallbearer was great for the limited time that I saw them at Rites of Darkness (due to schedule changes), and now you can stream a new track from their forthcoming Profound Lore LP via Pitchfork. Look for Sorrow and Extinction via the label on February 21st.

Birds In Row will release Collected via Vitriol on January 17th, a prelude to their Deathwish release due next year. Collected features previously released tracks from the French sludgy-hardcore band, and is streamable in full below. Preorder your copy of Collected via Vitriol.

On another note, this will be the final Evillive until the New Year, so have a happy one and make sure and leave any notes/comments below. Thanks for reading, and supporting independent music in 2011. All suggested shows, Weekend Nachos dates, and some streams are below.

Continue reading "Evillive (Coke Bust, Weekend Nachos, Pallbearer, The Devil's Blood, Birds In Row & more)"