Art for Shiner's The Egg

Shiner was a band from Kansas City, Missouri that was active from 1992 to 2003. The group formed in 1992, and quickly found wide exposure, releasing a vinyl EP in 1993 and touring with acts such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Chore, Jawbox, Season to Risk, The Jesus Lizard, and Girls Against Boys. The group released their first LP, Splay (recorded at Steve Albini's Chicago studio) in 1996, and a second album, Lula Divinia the next year. Sub Pop took notice, and released a 7" single of the group's songs "Sleep it Off" and "Half Empty". Following this the band toured with Hum in 1998.[1] A third full-length, Starless, was released on a label run by members of The Descendents, Owned and Operated, in 2000. A fourth LP, The Egg, would follow before the group broke up in 2002.

Close to ten years later, the band is back for a quintet of reunion shows in the US in celebrate of The Egg's reissue, due on August 7th. The dates include stops in Lawrence, Kansas, Chicago, LA and NYC at Irving Plaza on August 11th with Errortype:11. Tickets are on sale.

In related news, Errortype:11 shares members of Primitive Weapons, who will team with Whores, Family, and Tiger Flowers at Saint Vitus on June 13th. Tickets are on sale. As previously mentioned, Whores will also play Union Pool on June 15th with Harkonen, The Atlas Moth, and Fight Amp as part of a Brutal Panda/BV-BBG Northside event. Tickets are still available, or get in with your Northside badge.

A listing of all Shiner tour dates and a teaser video for The Egg reissue are below.

Continue reading "Shiner reunites for US dates (including Irving Plaza)"

by BBG

After Refused at Terminal 5 (pictures), I headed to Greenpoint to try and catch the tail end of the Young Widows/Pygmy Lush/Primitive Weapons show at Saint Vitus Monday night (4/23). Though I missed Primitive Weapons entirely, I arrived just in time for the first song of Pygmy Lush, catching all of their set before Young Widows took the stage a little before midnight.

Young Widows played mostly older material but with some new songs mixed in. No word on a home for the new material, but it definitely had that latter-Young Widows post-punk meets gothic noise-rock feel. The band played with no house lighting whatsoever, counting on their own rigs built into their guitar cabinets for stage lighting and using those to punctuate moments within the songs.

The bands played at the exact time that Refused was taking the stage at Acheron. Pictures from Saint Vitus are below...

Continue reading "Young Widows & Pygmy Lush played Saint Vitus (pics)"

photos by Samantha Marble, words by BBG

Primitive Weapons @ Saint Vitus

Pygmy Lush, whose Old Friends album was a 2011 favorite, will join Young Widows on a string of dates that will include the band's stop at Saint Vitus on April 23rd with Primitive Weapons. Tickets are on sale. All April dates are listed below.

Primitive Weapons just returned from a string of dates with Ringworm and Cancer Bats that included a stint at SXSW (where Ringworm played our official showcase at Scoot Inn). Primitive Weapons played a homecoming/record release show at Saint Vitus on March 24th. Some pictures (though none of the support) are in this post. More below...

Continue reading "Pygmy Lush playing shows w/ Young Widows (dates); Primitive Weapons played Saint Vitus (pics)"

by BBG

Primitive Weapons will release their debut LP The Shadow Gallery on March 13th via Prosthetic Records, and will celebrate the release with a short stint of dates with Ringworm who play our SXSW showcase at Scoot Inn) on their way to SXSW and a Record Release party at their home base of Saint Vitus on March 24th. Tickets for the Brooklyn show are on sale. All dates are listed below.

Before you check them out live, get familiar with their new LP The Shadow Gallery which appears here for the first time. Stream it, with all dates, below..

Continue reading "Primitive Weapons welcoming 'The Shadow Gallery' (full album stream & tour dates)"

by BBG

Primitive Weapons at Mercury Lounge (more by BBG)

Dissonant mid-paced hardcore meets sludge and psychedelia on the new Primitive Weapons LP The Shadow Gallery, which hits via Prosthetic Records on March 13th. The band will hit the road with Cancer Bats and Ringworm (who is playing the BV/Southern Lord/Power of The Riff mega-show at Scoot Inn), and eventually make their way back to NYC to play a record release party atSaint Vitus on March 24th. Tickets are on sale.

Sannhet, Bad Biology, and one more "special guest" will also be on the bill at Saint Vitus, as well as Old Lines, the new project featuring ex-members of Pulling Teeth. Check out the new Old Lines demo below. The show is one of four together for Bad Biology & Old Lines, all of which are listed below.

All tour dates and some video below...

Continue reading "Primitive Weapons schedule record release show after tour"

by BBG

Inquisition at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by BBG)

With the Dark Funeral dates officially off, Inquisition have announced a two night stay at Saint Vitus on April 26th and 27th. Ticketing info and support is forthcoming. Abigail Williams, who was also on the tour, have added a date at Saint Vitus on 1/30 with Woe in the wake of that cancellation.

Pitchfork is currently streaming the title track from the new Pilgrim LP, Misery Wizard, due via Metal Blade in February. Look for a new track on BrooklynVegan next week.

Inverloch, a new project featuring members of dISEMBOWELMENT (who, as dUSK, will play Roadburn this year) have signed to Relapse Records. Look for the band's new LP this Spring via the label. In related news, Huata have signed on for Roadburn as well. Stream their Atavist of Mann LP below. Download their new demo at Bandcamp, and stream it in full below.

Magic Circle, a new doom band that features personnel from Mind Eraser, The Rival Mob and The A-Team, will join Pilgrim, Windhand and Natur on March 1st as part of an incredible evening of (mostly) doom at Public Assembly. Its an unmissable night for doom fans, and tickets are on sale. Stream some Magic Circle material below.

Stream a new Pelican track from their forthcoming EP Ataraxia/Taraxis at Spin.

Check out a new Primitive Weapons song at Pitchfork, and look for their forthcoming LP, The Shadow Gallery, via Prosthetic this Spring.

Congrats to Code Orange Kids, who have signed to Deathwish. Stream their 7" below, and catch them on tour with Xerxes.

Tickets are now on sale for the Behemoth, Watain, The Devil's Blood, and In Solitude show at Irving Plaza.

I talked to Dave Smalley.

Last weekend I went down to Baltimore for the A389 Anniversary show. Pics and review HERE and HERE. A few of the bands also played Acheron one night earlier.

Suggested NYC shows and some streams are below.

Continue reading "Evillive (Inquisition, Pilgrim, Magic Circle & more)"

photos by Markus Shaffer, words by BBG

Hull @ Mercury Lounge

Hull is currently on the road with The Fucking Wrath, and is also scheduled to play a Fun Fun Fun Fest Nite show in Austin with Toxic Holocaust and Pushmen at Red 7 on 11/3.

Hull have also been added to the previously mentioned Doomriders / Eyehategod show on December 4th at Europa with Knight Terror.

Hull recently played Mercury Lounge with Rwake as part of their Record Release celebration, and Union Pool as part of the Tee Pee CMJ Showcase. Time Out reports on CMJ:

By my count, my CMJ 2011 consisted of 13 metal sets. Not every one was great, but what impressed me overall was the willingness many of the bands displayed to cut across the genre's constrictive sub-borders. Locals Raspberry Bulbs and Tombs--whom I caught, respectively, at Saint Vitus on Tuesday and on Rock Off's East River-faring Jewel on Saturday--each drew on black metal; but while the former spiked the style with grimy punk, the latter took a more expansive and emotive path. Likewise, Norway's Kvelertak (who also played the Jewel) juxtaposed dire metalcore breakdowns with primitive, almost Queens of the Stone Age-ish rock & roll. Best of all, though, was Hull, a local quintet that toggled gracefully between doom and thrash stylings. On Friday night at Union Pool, the band's riffs, ground out by a trio of heavy-bearded six-stringers, rolled forth from the stage like massive boulders, and its stage presence oozed conviction; these were players who had clearly pored over everything from Sabbath to Mastodon, synthesizing their research into epic treatises on the nature of heavy. --Hank Shteamer

Continue reading "Hull played CMJ, added to Eyehategod show (here's a second set of pics from Mercury Lounge)"

photos by Greg Cristman, additional Rwake photos & words by BBG

Rwake / Hull (by Greg Cristman)

"Hey man, I'm Gravy," he said as he shook my hand.

The man was guitarist Kris Graves of Rwake. I wondered whether that nickname came from his abilities as a guitarist and where he is from (the comfort-food lovin' South - specifically Little Rock, Arkansas), or if it was simply a play on his last name. I'd like to think the former, judging by the soulful and unique sludge-doom of Rwake at Mercury Lounge last night (10/10).

Rwake were in town to help celebrate the release of Hull's Beyond The Lightless Sky, out today via The End Records. Though performing as a five-piece due to the absence of keyboardist/vocalist Brittany Fugate (aka "B"), Rwake performed favorites like "Crooked Rivers" next to material from the new record Rest, out now via Relapse. The show, which ended past midnight, was the only current East Coast date for Rwake until a scheduled appearance at MDF.

Hull's focus was Beyond The Lightless Sky, performing the LP in its entirety with assists credited to Sarah of Bezoar, Joe Merolla (Death First), and Fade Kainer (Batillus). Their hour-long set featured tribal drums, synth/noise textures, and (quite clearly) a wall of loud rumbling 4x12s.

Primitive Weapons were the first band of the night after a DJ set from yours truly, bringing their sludge-influenced post-hardcore to a 2/3 packed room that filled significantly by the end of their last overdriven note. Pictures of them, Hull, and Rwake await below...

Continue reading "Rwake, Hull & Primitive Weapons played Merc (pics)"

by BBG

Youth of Today at Chaos in Tejas (more by BBG)

After many years away from the road, Youth of Today will return to play a free CMJ show at Santos Party House in NYC on Saturday, 10/22. This is the same show that Trash Talk & Kylesa are playing, not to mention AraabMUZIK, Action Bronson, Mr. Motherfuckin eXquire, Main Attrakionz and many others for what will be an eclectic mix of stoner, hardcore, and hip hop. Converse's "True Til Def" will be hosted by the venue's own Andrew WK and is open to the 21+ public, but RSVP is required. Full lineup and flyer for the show is below.

In related news, Primitive Weapons (who are also on the 10/22 show) will support Rwake & Hull at Mercury Lounge on 10/10 as part of Hull's record release party. Tickets are on sale.

Trash Talk also plays at least two other CMJ shows.

Converse lineup and flyers below...

Continue reading "Youth of Today playing Converse CMJ show w/ Kylesa, Action Bronson, eXquire, AraabMUZIK, Primitive Weapons & more"

by BBG

Tombs at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by BBG)

The halfway point of the year is behind us, and already some folks are chalking up their favorites of 2011. Undoubtedly, one my favorites (much like Brandon Stosuy) is the new Tombs, Path of Totality. Now you can catch the Brooklyn greats performing some of that material at Saint Vitus on July 11th for FREE. Primitive Weapons kicks off the show at 9PM, followed by Tombs shortly thereafter at the 21+ event.

Outside of Saint Vitus, Tombs has no other US dates thus far. They'll hit Europe with The Secret in late July. Full tour schedule is below, alongside some video including a great "name that metal logo" featuring the Tombs guys and Morgan from Kill The Client.

Continue reading "Tombs playing free NYC show before European tour (dates)"

by BBG

The Dwarves at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by Tim Griffin)

"THE DWARVES were kicked off tour with Motorhead for sleeping with the girls the aging metalheads had hired to hang out backstage. They were banned from venerable punk dive CBGBs for breaking a table and bleeding on the floor, making the venue cleaner and improving its décor." [25 THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE DWARVES]

That's right folks, the Dwarves magnum opus is done and set to drop May 10, 2011 on vinyl and cd, both including a free dvd! 25 years in the making the Dwarves Are Born Again features heroes from throughout the Dwarves saga. Blag the Ripper, HeWhoCanNotBeNamed, Rex Everything, the Fresh Prince of Darkness and a cast of thousands including Vadge Moore and Sgt. Saltpeter from the notorious Blood, Guts and Pussy record return to crush the ears of a desperate public.

The Dwarves have a few dates on the way including an appearance at Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas and two NYC dates: July 15th at Knitting Factory and July 16th at The Studio at Webster Hall. Tickets for both the Knitting Factory date and the Studio date go on sale Friday at 10AM. All other Dwarves dates are below.

--
Steve Ignorant rehearsing earlier this month

In other news, after a stutter a few weeks ago, TONIGHT (4/20) marks the return of Steve Ignorant to the U.S. to play Crass songs at Europa. Dog That Bites Everyone Thulsa Doom,A.P.P.L.E., and Goldblade open the Brooklyn show... though there is a rumor that Goldblade, who are supporting on the whole tour, may not get here in time for tonight's show due to visa issues (update: rumour confirmed as true) (maybe you caught them at Southpaw in 2003). if not, they will hopefully make it soon though, and definitely in time for the sold-out Santos Party House 'Crass songs' show on 5/8. Tickets for tonight's Europa show are still available, and a full list of Steve Ignorant tour openers is below (Santos has Goldblade, Cult Of Youth and Primitive Weapons).

Also tonight (4/20), strangely, ex-Black Flag/current-Misfits-er Dez Cadena will hit Park Slope venue Union Hall with his band Dez Cadena & The Broken Down Bitches, as well as The Slants and Lunic. Tickets are still available.

Speaking Black Flag, two Black Flag vocalists (Henry Rollins & Keith Morris with his band Off!) will share one stage (Terminal 5) as part of a show/tour with Dinosaur Jr. Since that show was announced, Off! also announced even more tour dates which are listed below.

And while we're on the subject, former Misfits vocalist Glenn Danzig heads out on a tour that hits Starland Ballroom in his birth state next month. The current version of the Misfits play Festival For Humanity in Vernon, NJ on May 27th.

In more modern punk news (and other "Off" news), Off With Their Heads will team with Dead To Me for a string of US dates surrounding their appearance at Best Friends Day, including Knitting Factory on August 4th with The Holy Mess and Brian Bruner. Tickets are on sale.

And last and probably least, CJ Ramone will play The Studio at Webster Hall on July 9th, performing "an all Ramones set with Ramones producer Daniel Rey on guitar". Tickets are on sale. Joey Ramone died a little more than 10 years ago, and his birthday will again be celebrated at Irving Plaza in May.

All tour dates and that Dwarves stream is below.

Continue reading "new Dwarves LP & dates, Steve Ignorant is here, Dez Cadena too ++ CJ Ramone, updated Off! dates, Off With Their Heads"

by BBG

Woe at Knitting Factory (more by BBG)

Woe will join We Are All Savages, Mutilation Rites, and Magrudergrind for a Brooklyn show at The Charleston at midnight on Friday night (2/18, or Saturday AM). The show, billed as the "Official Eyehategod Afterparty", features some overlap with the actual Eyehategod show (happening at Europa), as both Magrudergrind and Mutilation Rites are on-board to play both shows. Eyehategod will also be at SXSW this year, playing an official showcase at Scoot Inn on 3/19 with Pentagram, Naam, Cough, Ancient VVisdom, and Primitive Weapons.

Woe is currently working on new material, and will be sporting a fresh lineup at The Charleston following the departure of the Madden brothers. Woe posted this message:

"First and foremost, we are sad to say that Evan and Shane have left Woe. I think that not addressing it would be disrespectful but if they want this note removed, I will certainly do so. Nobody is going to go into detail about it so please respect everyone's privacy and don't ask. While I cannot and do not claim to speak for them, I have nothing but positive memories of the fantastic shows we played together to say nothing of the phenomenally-received recent album. They will continue with The Green Evening Requiem and recent Earache Records-signees Woods of Ypres (who were recently announced as a headliner for Heart of Winter Fest in Richmond, VA this coming February) so expect to hear a lot from them.

And we soldier on."

Continue reading "Woe playing Eyehategod afterparty, Woods of Ypres touring"

photos by Jason House, words by BBG

After a triumphant showing at Cake Shop, 108 ripped Death By Audio a new one later that night (1/8) with support from Primitive Weapons, Heavy Breath, and Black Kites. Was Death By Audio 108's last NYC show ever? Only time will tell.

More pictures from Death By Audio are below.

Continue reading "108, Primitive Weapons, Heavy Breath & Black Kites played Death by Audio (pics)"

by BBG

Government Warning

Tons of great hardcore and punk shows in the coming months!

Richmond hardcore rippers Government Warning will hit the road for a string of dates with Night Birds in late February, hitting NYC for a pair of shows on Feb 19th. The day of old-school hardcore madness begins at an early show at Cake Shop (5PM) with Perdition and Ex-Humans and continues into the wee hours at a late show (11PM) with 0megas at 538 Johnson, # 201. Full tour dates are below.

As previously mentioned, 108 teams up with Ensign, Incendiary, and Torchbearer at Cake Shop at 3PM on Saturday (1/08, yeah I know). Tickets are still available, but this 21+ show WILL sell out. As a result, 108 has added a second ALL AGES show at Death By Audio with Primitive Weapons, Heavy Breath and Black Kites that will kick off at 9PM. No advance tickets, and $10 gets you in.

And now for all of you who missed them on their first go around, you're in luck. Tear It Up have reunited and will play Europa on March 25th with Last in Line & The Cell Mates.

Since forming out of the ashes of Dead Nation in 2000, Tear It Up has become a mainstay of the American DIY hardcore scene. Their aggressive fast hardcore sound and intense live performance won over legions of fans from the start. Tear It Up toured the US and Europe constantly, and when not on tour still played as many as 4 shows a week anywhere within a days drive of their native New Jersey. Tear It Up survived several line up changes most notably Paul went on to form Cut the Shit and John was drafted from Down in Flames. Tear It Up broke up shortly before [their final record Taking You Down With Me] was released... Let it be known that Tear It Up went out at the top and never put out a weak record or put or a lame half hearted show.

Most Precious Blood are back, and will play Cake Shop on January 30th with Suburban Scum & Spectators. Advance tickets are available now.

The previously discussed 'Steve Ignorant plays Crass' show at Santos Party House on March 10 has added Leftover Crack and Thulsa Doom to it's ranks. Tickets are still available. Leftover Crack played Music Hall of Williamsburg on the day after Christmas 2010, but not with Bouncing Souls in Asbury Park that same week.

Reverend Horton Heat has a pretty impressive set of tour dates laid out for the first half of the year, and one of thise is scheduled for The Bell House on May 6th. Tickets are on sale. Full tour schedule is below.

Though Stiff Little Fingers still exists as a band, original guitar player Harry Cluney will play Europa to perform "Stiff Little Fingers Classics" on Feb 11th. Tickets are on sale.

Supertouch has reunited, and will play Santos on Feb 12th with Sweet Diesel. The show originally had 1.6 Band on the bill, but they have since been removed. Tickets are on sale.

Reagan Youth will team up with Yuppicide, Beer & Cable, and Agitator to play Europa on January 23rd. Tickets are on sale.

The Brooklyn venue will also host a monsterous hardcore lineup two months later featuring Urban Waste, Ultra Violence, Step 2 Far, Down Low NYHC, Darkside NYC, Kincaid, Fed Up, Caught In A Trap, Chesty Malone & The Slice Em Up's, Not Without A Fight, Sexual Suicide, Olde York, and Yo Scunt. The March 26th show will begin at 1PM and tickets are on sale.

Tour dates and some video below...

Continue reading "Government Warning, 108, Tear it Up, Most Precious Blood, Rev Horton Heat & other punk & hardcore shows & tours"

by BBG

Song of Zarathustra @ the Triple Rock earlier this year (photo by Adam Bubolz)

Song of Zarathustra originated in Sioux City, IA during March 1997. The founding members were Trever McInnis, Travis Bos, James Munsen and a Roland R8 drum machine which was later replaced with David Seaman (ex-Nudibranch, ex-Orlock) on drums. For the next year, SOZ toured the greater part of the U.S. and disbanded in 1998 when David moved back to his hometown of Richmond, VA.

...March of 2000, SOZ decided to regroup. They toured immediately with the original line-up (Trever, Travis, James / Roland R8) and later recorded "The Birth of Tragedy" (Troubleman Unlimited) with Mark Jorgensen (Book Of Dead Names & Infinity Dive) on drums.

After the release of "The Birth of Tragedy", SOZ toured most of the U.S. on many occasions and set course to tour Europe for its first time in 2001.

In late 2001, SOZ parted ways with long time bass player James Munsen. Mark Shaw(Khayembii Communique, The Cardinal Sin) filled his place and Tad Kubler (formerly of Lifter Puller & currently The Hold Steady) joined as second guitarist.

The new line up hashed out new songs as well as adding some life to songs that were written for the up and coming album "A View from High Tides" which was also released on Troubleman Unlimited....

During the summer of 2002, Tad parted ways with SOZ to move to N.Y. and eventually forming The Hold Steady with old Lifter Puller bandmate Craig Finn.

Due to several shifts in line up's, personal differences, etc. the remaining members decided to call it quits in January of 2003.

The show is Song of Zarathustra's only current date, and though Tad Kubler (Lifter Puller, The Hold Steady) isn't participating in the reunion, the following people are:

Travis Bos | Vocals, Keyboard (1997-2003/2010)
Trever McInnis | Vocals, Guitar (1997-2003/2010)
James Munsen | Vocals, Bass, Drum Machine Programming (1997-2001/2010)
Mark Jorgensen | Drums (2000-2003/2010)

Continue reading "Song of Zarathustra reunited (sans Tad Kubler), playing NYC "

photos by Lionel D Bergeron, words by BBG

"My Ink & Dagger adventure stared at 1:30 PM and ended at 3:30 AM. TOTALLY WORTH IT". -Kari Squires

"still in amazement that im at an ink & dagger show" -xlilchrisx

The newly re-vamped (get it?) Ink & Dagger returned to NYC with a new vocalist Geoff Rickly in tow for a show at Party Expo alongside Primitive Weapons. The show acted as a primer for an upcoming set at This is Hardcore, a newly announced set TONIGHT (8/13) at The Ox in Philadelphia, and two shows in LA which are NOT at Eagle Rock Performance Center as previously posted. The West Coast dates are affiliated with fyffest and taking place at 6th St Warehouse (update: tickets for one of them. maybe there's only one? are on sale). All dates and more info below.

Those of you NOT heading to Philadelphia tonight, a reminder: Pollution teams up with The Love Below, Megasus, and Judas for a show at Acheron. Show kicks off at 8PM. Get there!

Some pics and video from the Party Exp show, as well as those updated dates, below...

Continue reading "Ink & Dagger played Party Expo w/ Primitive Weapons (pics, video), add Philly show (TONIGHT) + updated LA dates"

by BBG

Geoff Rickly of Thursday & now Ink & Dagger, in United Nations (more by Paul Birman)

Ink & Dagger (now with Geoff Rickly on vocals) return TONIGHT (8/12) with the newly added opener, Primitive Weapons, for a show at Party Expo in Brooklyn. Its one of a few announced dates for I&D. Those include the previously discussed This is Hardcore appearance, as well as a pair of LA shows at Eagle Rock Performance Center in mid September and a rumored new east coast date.

The NYC show will definitely be out of control and packed out. It starts at 8pm and costs $10, but luckily I have a pair of tickets available for giveaway! Details on how to win, as well as updated dates, some video and the flyer are all below...

Continue reading "Ink & Dagger add dates, play NYC tonight w/ Primitive Weapons (win tix) "

words by BBG, photos by Markus Shaffer

This is not an African tribal warrior - just a member of Yuppicide

Indecision was wrecking a sold out Knitting Factory, but in Manhattan, Yuppicide was playing their first headlining date at Santos Party House on 7/10 with Primitive Weapons and Old Yorke. The band recently played Black & Blue Bowl with Cro-Mags. Coming up they only have one other date on their radar at the moment, and that's day two of CT Punkfest on July 31st in New London Connecticut. The Festival will also feature Murphy's Law during it's three day run. Full lineup below.

More pics from Santos (we only got Yuppicide) and some video from the show is below...

Continue reading "Yuppicide played Santos (pics), playing CT PunkFest (lineup)"