words & photos by BBG

In a new tradition of sorts (now three years running... pics from 2009 and 2010), Cro-Mags will play a holiday show, this time at Highline Ballroom on 12/30 with Supertouch, Subzero, and Sai Nam (mems Trapped Under Ice, Breakdown, Skarhead). Tickets are on sale.

Fans of Skarhead can also look towards Santos on 12/17 when they team with Murphy's Law, Lordz Of Brooklyn, Apathy + Reef The Lost Cauze + Slaine (performing as a group), Darkside NYC and others (tickets).

Cro-Mags are currently preparing to play some dates in Florida. All tour dates and a belated second set of pictures of Cro-Mags at the House of Vans this past summer (first set here) is below.

Continue reading "Cro-Mags add NYC show over Holidays --- dates & live pics"

by BBG

After the boat cruise on Saturday, my original plan was to hit Santos for Youth of Today but that was before I heard about the surprise show at the infinitely smaller Acheron later that night (10/22). Featuring appearances from The Last Stand (mem Inhuman) and Mouthpiece, the show sold out around 12 midnight with 150 lucky people crammed into the venue. I caught some of The Last Stand's NYHC before slipping out to catch a drink and returning in time for Youth of Today. As tight as ever, the "youth" crew played many highlights from their catalog including the entire Disengage 7", "Break Down The Walls", "Flame Still Burns", "Positive Outlook", "Take A Stand", and even a cover of "Minor Threat". Though the band was tight and well-executed, I noticed that Ray Cappo's screaming voice was gone, a fact that wasn't apparent at the Mohawk show during Chaos in Tejas. How was it at Santos? Regardless, the crowd was beyond pumped and so was I.

Pictures are on the way. Meanwhile check out the videos below...

Continue reading "Youth of Today played a secret show @ the Acheron w/ Mouthpiece (review & videos)"

photos by Helena Van Leirsberghe, words by BBG

Agnostic Front @ Webster Hall

While I was checking out the brutality at Maryland Deathfest 2011 back in May (pictures from day 1 HERE, day 2 HERE, day 3 HERE, and day 4 HERE), NYC was keeping it brutal in their own way, with the 2011 edition of the Black & Blue Bowl. The show featured a headlining set from a reunited Gorilla Biscuits. We already posted those pictures, but there was also sets by Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, Terror, Absolution, Antidote, Maximum Penalty, Backtrack, Down To Nothing, No Turning Back, Take Offense, and Bottom Out. It was a serious bill for the NYHC faithful. More pictures and video from the mayhem lie below.

In semi-related news, Cro-Mags have a show coming up with Fucked Up at House of Vans. Cro-Mags played Bowery Ballroom on July 1st.

In more related news, Roger Miret (of Agnostic Front) will hit the road for a string of dates with Roger Miret and The Disasters. The week long trek is in support of the new LP Gotta Get Up Now and will include a stop at Trash Bar on August 19th. Full tour schedule is below.

Tickets are on sale now for Murphy's Law's annual Rocks Off Concert Cruise which takes place on August 10th. Hopefully they have more luck this year.

Shai Halud plays Party Xpo in Brooklyn TONIGHT (7/9) with Zombie Fight and many others.

Roger Miret dates, and videos and more pics from Black & Blue Bowl, below...

Continue reading "Black & Blue Bowl pics, Murphy's Law, Cro-Mags, Roger Miret & other upcoming shows"

photos by Helena Van Leirsberghe, words by BBG

Agnostic Front @ Webster Hall

While I was checking out the brutality at Maryland Deathfest 2011 back in May (pictures from day 1 HERE, day 2 HERE, day 3 HERE, and day 4 HERE), NYC was keeping it brutal in their own way, with the 2011 edition of the Black & Blue Bowl. The show featured a headlining set from a reunited Gorilla Biscuits. We already posted those pictures, but there was also sets by Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, Terror, Absolution, Antidote, Maximum Penalty, Backtrack, Down To Nothing, No Turning Back, Take Offense, and Bottom Out. It was a serious bill for the NYHC faithful. More pictures and video from the mayhem lie below.

In semi-related news, Cro-Mags have a show coming up with Fucked Up at House of Vans. Cro-Mags played Bowery Ballroom on July 1st.

In more related news, Roger Miret (of Agnostic Front) will hit the road for a string of dates with Roger Miret and The Disasters. The week long trek is in support of the new LP Gotta Get Up Now and will include a stop at Trash Bar on August 19th. Full tour schedule is below.

Tickets are on sale now for Murphy's Law's annual Rocks Off Concert Cruise which takes place on August 10th. Hopefully they have more luck this year.

Shai Halud plays Party Xpo in Brooklyn TONIGHT (7/9) with Zombie Fight and many others.

Roger Miret dates, and videos and more pics from Black & Blue Bowl, below...

Continue reading "Black & Blue Bowl pics, Murphy's Law, Cro-Mags, Roger Miret & other upcoming shows"

photos by Deneka Peniston, words by BBG

Cro-Mags @ Bowery Ballroom

The venue was packed and it was a tattoo convention of NYC born and bred punks. You could tell the band was beloved by the hometown crowd and John Joseph's patter with the crowd was on cue. He got a message across (it's the food not the pharmaceuticals that can save us) along with some humor "you need to watch some soul train clips before you come back up here with that stuff" to one rhythmically challanged stage diver...

NYHC is a genre unto itself, with bands like Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, Madball and of course the Cro-Mags doing the heavy lifting to get it where it is today, which is, I assure you from my travels abroad, very international and still growing. -[Punk Outlaw]

That review refers to Cro-Mags' headlining appearance at Bowery Ballroom on July 1st. Support came from Wisdom in Chains, Death Threat, and RazorBlade HandGranade. Pictures are in this post.

If, like me, you spent your July 4th weekend out of town and half-wishing you didn't miss the show, you're in luck: Cro-Mags will play a FREE show at House of Vans on July 29th and with Fucked Up! (thanks Sean). The Friday night date is one of the four unannounced House of Vans lineups. NO RSVP yet, but RSVP is still open for the next House of Vans event on July 14th with Superchunk, OFF! and Lemuria.

Meanwhile find Jon Joseph on one of his historic Rocks Off walking tours. He and Jake Szufnarowski (whose band 'Tragedy' is in residency at Brooklyn Bowl this month) take groups out every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fucked Up and Cro-Mags also both recently played Chaos in Tejas. Fucked Up was also just in NYC to play Terminal 5 and 285 Kent.

More pictures of Cro-Mags (none of the support) and a video from Bowery, below...

Continue reading "Cro-Mags played Bowery Ballroom (pics), playing free show at House of Vans with Fucked Up"

by Black Bubblegum

Vinnie Stigma, guitarist, hardcore monument, and philosopher extraordinaire, has gone solo from the legendary hardcore crew Agnostic Front (temporarily), releasing his debut album New York Blood as Stigma for I Scream Records. In celebration, Mr. Stigma will lead audience chants at two NYC shows including an in-store at Generation Records on Feb 26th at 7PM and a second show at The Pyramid on Ave A on March 1st. Full tour dates are below.

The record comes only a month after the release of New York Blood THE MOVIE on DVD:

The latest project from writer, director, cinematographer Nick Oddo is a criminal slice of life starring Vinnie Stigma, guitarist of the legendary hardcore band Agnostic Front. Heavily-tattooed Vinnie (Stigma) is a mid-range mobster who works the streets of Manhattan's Lower East Side with various schemes, including up-and-coming boxers, Chinatown drugs and opening a new nightclub. Vinnie's father Lorenzo (Marvin W. Schwartz), has just been released from Sing Sing after a 12 year stint, and the only thing on Pop's mind is getting revenge... The laid back, rambling script mostly follows Vinnie, and sometimes Lorenzo, throughout their daily routine, capturing the rhythms (and occasional roadbumps) in Vinnie's life, as he juggles a young son and an ex-wife with his coke snorting criminal ambitions. But while Vinnie keeps a relatively level head when it comes to crime, Lorenzo is a major psychopath who's liable to ruin everything his son has built...
- [Shock Cinema]

Stigma playing a tattooed tough guy from the LES. Hmmm. How do you suppose he prepared for that role? Trailer is below.

In other AF related news, the band is currently on tour, but announced that they are on the hunt for a new drummer... contact at their MySpace if interested. Roger Miret's (AF)'s brother band, Madball, also recently added some tour dates with Reign Supreme, though none in NYC. Full AF & Madball dates are below.

In other NYHC news, Subzero have announced they are calling it quits after a twenty-year run:

We will be playing a few more shows through out different regions of NY and out of state before we end it. Our first is @ Popeyes Pub in Westchester, NY with Jasta on FEB 27th and then In Brooklyn @ Europa with The Casualties & The Krays for the A CLOCKWORK ORANGE FEST. That's the last time you'll be hearing The Suffering Of Man / Necropolis set. Then we'll be going out with a bang at the SUPERBOWL OF HARDCORE aka BLACK N BLUE BOWL @ STUDIO B in Brooklyn MAY 30th. There we will be reforming as the ORIGINAL band doing a strictly OLD SCHOOL set. All the demo and HAPPINESS WITHOUT PEACE classics. You don't want to miss any of these shows! Thanks for the good times and the memories! COURAGE! STRENGTH! PRIDE! LIONHEARTED!!!!!

That Europa show, scheduled for March 15th is FREE and the show is all ages. Full tour dates are below. As more details on the Superbowl of Hardcore trickle out, we'll let you know.

Tickets for the Cro-Mags show at Europa on Mar 29 are still available.

Videos and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Stigma album & shows, New York Blood (the movie), Subzero calls it quits, Agnostic Front & Madball dates "

words by Party Paul, photos by Zach Stern

Killing Time played the main support for Bad Brains last night at Irving Plaza. The influential NY hardcore band formerly known as Raw Deal played a quick 30 minute slot setting the stage for the DC legends. Focusing entirely on their classic debut release Brightside (aside from one song "Happy Hour"), the NYHC powerhouse made up for sloppy play w/ a sheer hard assault that had the diehards slamming and piling up in the front. Frontman Anthony Comunale reminisced about seeing Bad Brains back in 81/82 and Bad Brains being THE hardcore band of all time. This was also the first time the bands ever played on the same bill. Not the most impressive performance, but for a band nearly two decades into their career it was great to see them having fun up there, and fun was had by all who appreciate angry, negative music.

No Redeeming Social Value went on before them, but I got there too late to catch their set. More pictures of Killing Time below....

Continue reading "Killing Time @ the Fillmore NY @ Irving Plaza, NYC - pics "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Rival Schools - "Take One For The Team" (MP3)

"So yeah, I draw the line at Quicksand". - Walter

Walter Schreifels. Sam Siegler. Two names of a very select few who defined a sound and a movement in the late 80s and early 90s, New York Hardcore. Building upon the zen-like teachings of prophets with names like HR, MacKaye, and Raybeez, Walter Schreifels and Sammy Siegler cut their teeth in the blooming NYC scene with the legendary Gorilla Biscuits, Youth Of Today, and Judge, as well as Side By Side, and Project X.

Quicksand and CIV, as well as MTV support, multiple LPs and music videos followed, culminating in the reunion of the two Youth of Today bandmates in Rival Schools. Sam and Walter formed the band in 1999, with their lone LP United By Fate coming in 2001. The band split the following year, scrapping existing recordings that were believed to be the basis of the new album. Six years passed, and Walking Concert, Nightmare of You, Head Automatica, and solo work followed until early 2008, when Rival Schools announced their reformation. The announcement was followed by festival dates in Europe, ultimately leading to a handful of US shows.

Which leads us to NYC... The band have lined up a pair of shows at Maxwells and Mercury Lounge in early November which sold out quickly, but the band have also agreed to headline the free BrooklynVegan day party at Knitting Factory on Oct 25th! In part one of their first joint interview ever, we poked and prodded Sammy and Walter about their past & present projects, the old days, and blow-up dolls...

Continue reading "an interview w/ Rival Schools (Walter & Sammy) (part 1)"

by Black Bubblegum

Agnostic Front @ Knitting Factory, 8/21/08 (hardcoreshutterbug)

Hardcore is always screaming about unity, and in times like these, it's admirable that those aren't empty threats. A gang of NYHC bands have teamed up for a benefit for two of their own, Dr. Tom and Walter "Monsta" Ryan of Subzero and Merauder who has liver cancer. NYHC legends Sick Of It All, Cro-Mags (jam), Murphy's Law, Maximum Penalty, Subzero, Jasta (aka Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed) and many others are playing a benefit show at Studio B (we'll let you know if that venue changes) on 9/27. Tickets are on sale, check out the flyer down below. If you can't make the show, there are two other ways you can help..... buy yourself a CD and/or sign up for a free website.

What the hell is a Cro-Mags (jam) anyway? No, it isn't Trey Anastasio playing a 25 minute version of "We Gotta Know" nor is it the latest concoction from Smuckers..... Cro-Mags (jam) is the throat of Village Voice cover star John Joseph with a crew of "No-Mags" providing the soundtrack (aka John is the only original member in the group. The other original members have toured as just "Cro-Mags") . The jam band is also on board for this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest along with ALL (who recently reunited), Dead Milkmen (who also reunited), Flipper, Adolescents, Integrity, Young Widows, Trash Talk, Walter Schriefels, Bad Brains, Bouncing Souls and many many many others.

Bad Brains are also playing a NYC show. It's at Irving Plaza on November 6th and tickets are still on sale.

Bouncing Souls AND Sick Of It All are also playing a NYC show, together, at Terminal 5, with Grey Area. Tickets are still available.

In possibly-related, possibly-NYHC news, Vision Of Disorder will put up their dukes with Indecision, Overcast, and Nassau Chainsaw on Nov 16th at Irving Plaza. Who is Nassau Chainsaw, you ask? NC is a collective of musicians from two very different NYHC bands, Neck and Locked in a Vacancy. Tim Williams (VOD), Sal Lococo (Sworn Enemy), and Mike D(Car Bomb) all lend vocals to their album. VOD's Dead in NY DVD is due on November 11th on Koch. Tickets go on sale 8/30 at noon. VOD's last reunion show was at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale. This will be their first NYC show in a while.

As we mentioned a couple weeks ago, the original line-up of Biohazard is playing Irving Plaza on Oct 5th. Tickets are on sale. The band recently did the same thing at L'Amours (which is now in Staten Island).

Absolution have also scheduled a second reunion date at ABC No Rio on 10/25, this time with Starkweather.

Walter Schriefels recently reunited with Rival Schools and is playing Maxwell's and Mercury Lounge as well as touring. Mercury Lounge is sold out, but Maxwell's isnt.

Subzero recently opened up for Body Count.

Check out a bunch of related videos and the benefit flyer below....

Continue reading "a benefit, 'Cro-Mags (jam)', a NYC VOD show, Sick of It All, Biohazard & other NY Hardcore-related news"

by Black Bubblegum

The brothers Koller (aka Sick Of It All) won't be there, but the brothers Miret (Roger Miret, Agnostic Front) & Cricien (Freddy Cricien, Madball) will..... and by there I mean the Black & Blue Bowl 2008. This year's festival (FKA the Superbowl Of Hardcore) will take place at Studio B (same as last year) and will feature, in addition to NYHC legends and headliners Agnostic Front & Madball, LA's Terror, a reunited Breakdown, Fahrenheit 451, Backfire, Setback and many others.... Tickets are on sale here.

So just because the Koller brothers won't be there, don't mean they slackin on they pimpin.... au contraire! The boys will be preparing for a two month European tour with Wisdom In Chains, but not before showing the east coast some love... including this Saturday night (Feb 9) at the Highline Ballroom (tickets are still available) with Black & Blue Bowl participants Death Before Dishonor & Bloodclot (featuring John Joseph of the Cro-Mags, who just released his memoirs). SBOH flyer, and all dates, below....

Continue reading "Sick of It All, Agnostic Front, Black n Blue Ball, Tour Dates"