Dawn of Humans at 285 Kent, December 2012 (more by Lukas Hodge)

After teasing us with a promise of an "international punk and hardcore" fest in NYC, organizers have announced New York's Alright 2013. The festival will happen April 18 - 21 in NYC and will feature everything from local favorites like Perdition, Goosebumps, Crazy Spirit, Dawn of Humans, Hank Wood & The Hammerheads, to names like Double Negative, Culo, Who Killed Spikey Jacket?, Stagnation, The Rival Mob, Hoax, and many many more. Full lineup announcement is below, individual show lineups and venues are still TBA.

Both Hoax and Warthog, who are on board for the NYC fest, play with Inmates at Acheron on January 12.

Full statement regarding New York's Alright is below.

Continue reading "Punk festival 'New York's Alright' announced for April (line-up)"

photos by Lukas Hodge; words by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Dawn of Humans @ 285 Kent, 12/20/2012

Just in time for the holidays, antisocial punk crew Dawn of Humans headlined a set at 285 Kent last night (12/20) joined by incredible sets from Kremlin, Bloodkrow Butcher, Creem and La Misma (who I missed, as did our photographer). Packed to the gills and heaving with the pomaded, pit bosses and stringheads alike, the show was a fantastic evening of brutal punk that featured a fair share of nudity and a whole lot of moshing. More pics (slightly NSFW) from the show are below...

Continue reading "Dawn of Humans played 285 Kent with Kremlin, Bloodkrow Butcher, Creem & La Misma (pics)"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

One Tail One Head at Inferno Festival, April 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

2012 was a year of considerable personal growth for me, as a person, a photographer and a music fan. As I recounted in my favorite photos of 2012, I got to shoot some of my favorite bands of all time and travel the globe in search of new ones. The beginning of the year was spent dealing with personal drama, and if it werent for key records in my life I shudder to think at where I would be right now. To every band on this list and many who aren't, I cant thank you enough.

First order of business, my musical pallette is much much larger than just a series of metal records. This is NOT a list of my favorite records of the year, because that would surely include other entries from across many different genres. This is, however, a list of some of my favorite heavier records.

To me, the term "heavy" can be defined in many ways, from the elongated riff on a doom record to a noise squall to a particularly punishing punk-rock beatdown. While most of the following records are "heavy" in the traditional "distortion and loud guitars" sense, a few are not. You'll see metal, you'll see deathrock, you'll see raw punk, you'll see hardcore, and many spots in between in the numbered list below. And to answer your question, yes you'll see Swans... right beside D-Clone and Asphyx.

My favorite records of 2012 are below. Hopefully you'll see a connection in favorites or maybe discover something new. Regardless, I hope you found your own favorites of the year whether in this list or outside of it.

Continue reading "The Year in Heavy (Fred Pessaro // BBG's favorite metal, punk & other records of 2012)"

Warthog

Christopher Hansell of Warthog (ex-The Men) has dropped off his top 10 releases of 2012, as well as other thoughts on the passing year. Check out those below.

Warthog (which also features members of Nude Beach) is scheduled to play Worcester, MA at The Beacon on 12/15 with Who Killed Spikey Jacket, in addition to their previously discussed show with Inmates at Acheron on 1/12.

Hansell is also involved in power electronics crew Foreplay who will play the West Coast later this month with the great Pharmakon and Soren (of Rosenkopf). Dates are below. Soren will also play NYC at Saint Vitus on 1/5 as part of the Dysrhythmia/Wreck & Reference show (tickets).

Speaking of The Men, check them out this Friday at Saint Vitus (12/14), part of a Hurricane Sandy benefit (tickets).

Hansell's 2012 Top 10 list is below, along with video and a list of all tour dates.

Continue reading "Christopher Hansell's favorite records of 2012; Pharmakon & Soren (Rosenkopf) add West Coast dates"

Ceremony at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2012 (more by Keith Marlowe)

Andy Nelson of Ceremony / Paint it Black took time out from his string of dates with Titus Andronicus (which included Webster Hall this past weekend) to fork over his favorite records of 2012. Andy actually gave us two lists -- favorite LPs and EPs/singles. They include Frank Ocean, Merchandise, Savages, Julia Holter and... well see for yourself. His lists are below.

Continue reading "Andy Nelson's (Ceremony / Paint it Black) top records of 2012"

Perdition at Acheron, Oct 2012 (more by Sarja Hasan)

Everyone knows that NYC's punk scene is brimming with great bands and hospitable venues. Now all of these will converge for a single weekend of madness in April in NYC.

I'm incredibly excited to make the first announcement for NYC's Spring 2013 International punk and hardcore fest. The dates will be Thursday April 18th to Sunday the 21st. There will be more band confirmations, venue and ticket information, lineups, and plenty more news in the next couple of weeks/months.

Continue reading ""International punk and hardcore fest" announced for NYC"

by BBG

Saint Vitus @ Irving Plaza in 2011 (more by BBG)

Chaos in Tejas (May 31-June 3 in Austin) have announced ANOTHER batch of bands to add to their ridiculous lineup including Saint Vitus, Church of Misery, No Statik, Toys That Kill, Pegasus, Martial Canterel, Anasazi, Bloodwing (mems of The Spits, who are on tour soon), Harm's Way, Hatred Surge, the Hex Dispensers, John Wesley Coleman, Joyce Manor, and many many others. The current full lineup and flyer is below and tickets are FINALLY going on sale TODAY (1/31).

Doom legends Saint Vitus are currently preparing their new LP Lillie: F-65 for Season of Mist. The record, their eighth and first in seventeen years (!), is tentatively set for release at the end of March. More details are forthcoming.

In related news, members of Mind Eraser also serve as personnel in Magic Circle, another Chaos in Tejas band. Look for Magic Circle to team with Pilgrim (who we recently interviewed), Windhand, and Natur at Public Assembly on March 1st.

The updated Chaos in Tejas lineup is below along with the flyer.

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas 2012 expands again; tickets on sale today"