Episode #17
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1. Crookedhook
These Ontario natives have a more than a few shows lined up for the coming weeks with other awesome bands. Check out their website or the Show section for more details on that. The members are also hoping to play this years Warped Tour. Check this out for more details on how to help them out. On this episode is a track from the band's first full-length, All We Got (2007). This record features a great mix of the band's ska and punk sound, best heard on tracks such as Waste No Time, Down It Goes, and the title track. The song, Size Zero, off of Breathe Pollution, appeared on episode eight. The song on this episode is titled, Freestyle Battle.
2. The Rusty Trombones
The Rusty Trombones come from Brantford, Ontario, Canada. They are a four-piece with one album, Sleep When You're Dead (2007), and an EP, Fights & Flights (2010). The band's first album is nine tracks of thrash punk and ska, with a combination of some political ideals on top of some chill guitar and bass work. The album also has a rough quality to it, but it fits well with the frequent tempo changes and often aggressive melodies. More than Ape Records, which is owned and operated by members of The Rusty Trombones, released Sleep When You're Dead. Select tracks from Fights & Flights can only be heard right now on the band's myspace. It features a crispier sound and tighter instrumentals. The song on this episode is called, Shadow of a Bomb, off of, Sleep When You're Dead.
3. Still Alive
Still Alive are a punk/hardcore band from Chicago, IL. The music is obvious in its hardcore influences, often displaying a sort of destructive attitude, but at times, will hint at some reggae and ska rhythms. And when that happens, the song takes an unexpected turn into some cool territory. The band is working on and writing for a full-length record to be released sometime, hopefully this year. But they do play the occasional show every now and then. The band's demo can be downloaded for free on their bandcamp. The song on this episode is titled, Captive, off of that demo.
4. Social Concern
Social Concern are made up of three members from the Sacramento and Chico areas in California. Currently, the band is on hiatus right now with their last show being sometime late last year. The band's last release was their Cut and Dry (2010) album, which appeared on this podcast's Top 25 of 2010 show. The album is a fantastic one, with some of the best writing by the band since their formation in 2003. On Cut and Dry, the songs stay consistent in Social Concern's punk and rock sound, but what makes it different from their previous efforts is that the band took a chance on exploring some different musical approaches. The song structures are a bit more technical and the vocal work switches back and forth from clean to aggressive. And the album opener, The Leaves, just has one of the coolest bass lines ever. The song featured on this episode is called, Script, off of, Cut and Dry.
5. Broken Spokes
Broken Spokes was a punk band from San Antonio, TX. The band has since changed their name to Break Away. The band, as Broken Spokes, has one release, an EP titled, No Place to Go (2008). It is four songs of punk influenced rock reminiscent of late 80's punk with a modern day approach. Some hardcore is apparent on some of the songs as well. Other original work can be heard on the band's myspace. New music may be released sometime this year under Break Away. The song featured on this episode is titled, Negative Productivity, off of, No Place to Go.