Once again, out of nowhere, some new music from the one and only Scott Sellers. You might know him from his previous projects, Rufio and Mercy Street, but as of late, he has been writing and releasing solo work. And it's amazing.
     This time though, he released a batch of acoustic renditions of tunes from his previous projects. The album is titled, unplugged, i suppose... A nice list of choice tracks too, as listed below:

1.Above Me (Perhaps, I Suppose... by Rufio)
2.Closure (The Judge, solo)
3.Being Strange (Being Strange, solo)
4.Don't Hate Me (EP, by Rufio)
5.Follow Me (MCMLXXXV, by Rufio)
6.One Slowdance (Perhaps, I Suppose... by Rufio)
7.Gravity (The Judge, solo)
8.The Grey (Let Me Live, by Mercy Street)
9.Road to Recovery (Perhaps, I Suppose... by Rufio)

     Sellers does another acoustic rendition of Above Me, the first one being released around 2007? It was up on Rufio's MySpace page for the longest time (this one), but it may have been the same version that appeared on a special edition 7” that was made specifically for the band's last show at The Glasshouse in 2007 (do copies of this 7” actually exist?). But it was a cool rendition of Above Me, complete with a toned down intro of the electric version. On unplugged, i suppose..., Sellers adds some strings/synth action to carry the bulk of the melodies and does so with all the songs that appear on the album. It's a warm addition to the songs and especially shines on One Slowdance (my personal favorite of the songs). The song Closure sounds like it was originally meant to be an acoustic song with its folk type leads and upbeat bass line. And speaking of bass lines, Don't Hate Me keeps that original bass riff on this album too (the bass line during the slow breakdown). It's all a nice new take on all these songs. And if you're familiar with the songs, and love the originals, you might appreciate all the subtle differences these new renditions have to offer. I know I do.  

     SOON, a four-piece made up of members from Rotten Blossom, Lice, and Siblings (and probably many other projects...), formed in 2018, and now have 12 new tracks of fast punk and hardcore. The new album, What the Fuck did we do to the Earth, is raw and abrasive as can be and probably what you might expect based on the title alone. Four of the tracks originally appear on their first demo, now revised and updated for a clearer sound. The tunes are still thrash filled and gritty though, and violently fast and heavy on impact. Sure, it's 12 tracks in 12 minutes, but condition yourself before listening, you'll be exhausted by the end.  

     Another Hawaii ska band? Yes, please. Like most (if not all) local ska bands past and present, No Villains Left is no different: strong horn parts, a groovy rhythm section and off-the-wall lyrical content (“...and if you love me, let me eat your crust,” - Pizza is For Winners). After four years of playing shows and crafting a sound that's fresh and original, it's time NVL release an album. And it's a good one too, not Turn-the-Radio-Off, “good.” NVL is made up of 5 seasoned musicians, they skipped formalities and went straight to Why do they rock so hard? territory. It's a 90's ska/punk party on this debut record, Bright Lights.
     The album opens big with the track, Dark Days, a punk-ska tune with a catchy horn riff and dual vocals going back and forth on verses. This song is followed up with an even bigger horn theme, Pizza is for Winners, a ditty that pays homage to the dish best served with sausage and pepperoni, yeah, pizza (deep dish or the floppy kind? The floppy kind). Another funny track on the album, is the rocking tune, Hairline. This is a tune dedicated to a receding hairline (Push back against the wall, no, it's never gonna come back, IT'S NEVER GONNA COME BACK). Sad times, for real.
     

Check out the album HERE
​Official Website: HERE

Ninjas with Syringes will be releasing a new album, Punkanomics, featuring 13 new punk rock gems. Check out it on iTunes, spotify
​My review below...

Listen to the album on iTunes, spotify

     I went to once-a-month punk on the Saturday before last, the 17th and really enjoyed this one. Everyone on the flyer played, with a sort of last minute addition (MISTERMEANER!!!). I even got there early, like, two pints and one monster, early. And I stayed til the last song. The streets were still pretty active on the walk back to the zoo, maybe because of all the recent graduates celebrating (congrats to all of this years new graduates!). But yeah, I dug every one of the sets. The theme of the night, Punk Vs. Ska. 

     Look Out! Rosie! opened, and played a very energetic set. I think they're from Hawaii Kai side. Nice blend of punk and ska grooves.
     Anti-Matter played second, with some high energy punk rock, fast and sweet. Really nice sound. They mentioned a CD release show coming up, I think in the beginning of July. Flyers were passed out. Check them on Facebook HERE. 
     MisterMeaner brought the rage afterwards. Loved the set, but maybe I didn't show it? I'm fine with just watching the band, especially in small settings. Looking forward to their upcoming show with Good Riddance though. That's gonna be a tight show. I'm still waiting for that moment to hear, AREA 51, live. In fact, I hope they open with that song. 
     The last time I saw Black Square was at...I can't think of the venue name...right at fort street mall and Beretania...that one place you go upstairs...anyway, it was there, Upstanding Youth played and so did Buckshot Shorty. Maybe a couple other bands too? I'm unsure. It was a nice chunk of time since then, so it was especially nice to hear their songs live finally. The Rude Boy song they played is really tight. I think it's a newer song, but I imagine they've been playing live for a while now. I need to hear that again. 
     Pimpbot closed the night. Excellent set as always. Tons of energy with non-stop jams. And I think they played a few more songs than originally planned. Very nice. The crowd was definitely enjoying themselves. I thought I was going to see a fight break out in front of me. I'm glad that didn't happen, it was too late into the night for that to happen all ready. 
     Black Square and Pimpbot will be playing this Saturday again too! Info HERE. Along with Super Fuct. Should be fun. #localmusic 

     I was able to make the show on the 26th. Missed all openers (Black Square plays tomorrow in Kailua with The Smitz at Boardriders and Pimpbot turns 13-years-old and will be playing in Waikiki on Saturday), and all ready maybe a half hour to 45 minutes into Big D's set? I was able to catch about 9 songs, from what I can remember. These are the songs in no particular order:

- Bender
- Find Out (I think they played Find Out, wasn't too familiar with the song. Funny, it reminded me of Jah Ska's, Milk Chocolate). 
- Flashlight
- Describing the Sky
- Girls Against Drunk Bitches
- Little Bitch
- LAX
- A Steady Riot
- Noise Complaint

     Chris Bush, a former sax player (he told me he played on the Gypsy Hill EP, Good-Luck and How It Goes), performed with the band, which was cool. I wondered if they played Cutshow. Oh and How It Goes turns 10-years-old! Really great batch of songs, with some of my favorites on it. Glad I got to hear a few of them live. 
     Turns out too that Hawaii was the first stop for their tour. I think they're currently in Australia, but since then all ready made stops in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. Awesome. 

     The new album by Five Iron Frenzy is titled, Engine of a Million Plots, and is up for pre-order on itunes. Holy crap! I didn't forget that I pledged for their kickstarter, but I went ahead and made a pre-order anyway...I really wanted to hear a new track off of it. The new track is, So Far...dayum, it's a tight track. Horn section is fantastic, crisp guitars and bass, drums are tight, and Reese Roper's vocals are as lovely as ever. 
Looks like they did release a couple singles last year. I thought I'd wait it out...I couldn't wait any longer. I basically just paid ten bucks for a single. Worth it...check it if ya got a chance. Five Iron Frenzy is back.

     This compilation was just released a couple days ago by the wonderful people at Indie Vision Music. It's volume three of their Ska compilation series. They've been releasing awesome stuff through out the years, and a bunch of other kinds of comps such as their Summer Slam and Fighting from the Ground Up series...I'm not sure if those are still going on though? It's actually been a while since I've visited the website. I just so happened to read about this comp through a bunch of tweets (Oh social media, you're such a wonderful tool!). And I haven't gone through all 28 tracks yet, but I'm streaming through it as I write this and everything is oh-so-lovely.
     The lineup on this comp is really tight. It includes tracks from superstars like, The O.C. Supertones, For Pete's Sake, The Insyderz, an unreleased track from, The Dingess, The Anchorage and Codename Rock (They have on here, Mile Markers, their newest track that they released last year). Some other band's I'm hearing for the time and digging include Christafari and Atombender. Again, this comp is 28 tracks long, lots of time to check out everything. 
     But the one track that did catch my eye, and the one I'm keeping on repeat for now is the track from Upstanding Youth, Burn With It. That was a surprise to see them on this thing. I was surprised because they played a final show last year (I didn't attend it) and I didn't know they had released music after, A Senses of Urgency. The songs on, Burn the Process, are tight though. Be sure to check out the compilation HERE and best of all, it's free. Free is good right? Your new favorite Ska band will likely be on this compilation. Check it. 

     I bought this slice of heaven for this podcast because it turned 3-years-old on 06/19/2013. Chocolate pudding topped with haupia and whipped cream. Delicious I tell you, delicious. Next year, I'll get a whole pie. And I'll probably eat it all by my lonesome self listening to Peter Cetera and then later watch the Karate Kid Part 2. And listen to Peter Cetera again, just because.  
     Yes, I made some minor changes to the website. Podcasting will be a part-time, part-time thing. Does that make sense? I've had episodes in the works, but nothing came about them. Maybe later...One things for sure, I haven't stopped listening to new music. In fact...well, I've been listening to a lot of stuff lately. Here is a tiny list of a small part of what I've been listening to lately. And of course there's more! I recently went to Las Vegas (the last week of May) and went record shopping there. Picked up the new Dillinger Escape Plan, The Color Morale and Phoenix. And loving all three! Haven't gone to any shows while I was up there though. I did want to catch The Objex and The Seriouslys...two separate shows, but I was having fun hanging out with family and friends and stuffing my face with rolls and rolls of sushi. All-you-can eat sushi deals here on the island is pretty much nonexistent. Why oh why?? 
     Anyway, do check out these records if you get a chance. Pick up a copy for yourself. Support Local Music. You won't be disappointed. Thanks for reading :-D

Big D and the Kids Table will be releasing two records this year, Stomp and Stroll. It's not a double album, but instead two separate records showcasing their love of punk and ska and stroll, a sound unique to their style. The records came about with the help of generous people who donated on Kickstarter. And the band responded with two amazing records, although, I'd have to say my favorite is Stroll. It has elements of their rude sound and lots of reggae to boot. The Doped Up Dollies also make an appearance, a stronger one in fact, often taking leads on several tracks. The last song on the record, Trust in Music, plays like a sequel to Once in a While/Baby, Don't Cry (my favorite Big D song). It's the song that I've been waiting for since I started listening to this band. Oh, so you didn't hear it yet? You should have pledged. 

Gasoline Kills are a four-piece rock and roll punk band from Orange County, California. They recently released a full-length, Give Up Chorus, featuring ten songs of rock and roll style punk through GC Records. The album plays on a quick tempo and with a whole lot of catchy choruses, punk fillers and even a couple acoustic based tracks too. It's a really solid debut for this four-piece. The packaging for this is album is custom made and it's pretty rad. It's so rad, in fact, I haven't even opened up my copy of the album yet because I didn't want to break the wax sealing (check out a little video about the making of this record HERE). The album is also available on the band's Bandcamp HERE. They're currently booking some shows along the West Coast. Go to a show and tell me how amazing and great it was and that I missed out on some good times. Ack. 

Opposition Rising are a four-piece punk band from Boston, Massachusetts. They just released a new EP, Get off Your Ass, Get off Your Knees (pick it up now on their Bandcamp HERE), a follow up to their debut record, Aftermathematics. They'll soon be releasing it as a 10” through their own label, Opposition Records as well as through Pirates Press, Rodent Popsicle, and Riot Ska Records. The new EP opens with a heavier edge bordering their hardcore style, which later progresses into their punk and ska roots. It's a very fast paced EP, aggressive in both sound and words, and mosh friendly – it definitely is, especially that last part. But to make it more interesting, the band includes for their fifth track (the EP clocks in at less than ten minutes) an extended, slowed version of, The Rich are Killing the Poor, titled, Opposition Dub. The track keeps the same chorus and theme, but played to a slower groove and dubbed vibe. Nice way to close the EP with some familiar territory.

Pet Tigers are a three-piece pop-punk trio from Las Vegas, Nevada with a full-length set to be released soon through SquidHat Records. I'm pretty stoked to finally hear some new material from this band. They play some pretty infectious pop-punk that's heavy on the synth and very upbeat to a new-wave 80's kind of vibe. One song in particular, Some Sun, is an uptempo dance track saturated with surf-pop and keys, a fun ditty, while the song, Shoe, an equally fun track, provides loads of electronics, a healthy dose of sassiness in the vocal work and an awesome story of a relationship in comparison to shoes. Currently these two tracks are available for free on the SquidHat Records website (check it out HERE (scroll to the bottom) as well as tracks from the rest of their excellent roster). The band also released a 7” single on Record Store Day with another version of, Some Sun, and another new track, Yeah. You will love this band. Oh yes. You will love this band.

Save the Swim Team are a seven-piece ska band from Huntington Beach, California. Their newest EP, The Big Compromise, released through Not Punk Records, is three songs of catchy, progressive punk and ska. Very nice uptempo tracks with lots of crunch in the guitars and a tight horn section to back it up. There's quite the lot of heavier riffs in their tunes and whole variety of breakdowns, but they do a good job at keeping it skank-friendly with their clean guitars and, again, their awesome rhythm section. They're just wrapping up a summer tour they did across the country, but what they need to do now is start writing for a full length - and fast.  There is something special about this sound, lots of creative melodies and a diversity of hooks, and I'm sure the band knows it too. Until then, listen to the songs off their EP HERE. 

Siblings are a four-piece hardcore band from Honolulu, Hawaii. They just released their self-titled debut record back in April – and it's a good one. Really, really good (listen to it HERE). It's a hardcore album featuring eight heavy tracks, fast and explosive without a moments rest, clocking in right at the ten minute mark. And they do quite a bit within their limited time frame. Siblings' self-titled goes through a mesh of gang vocals, power chords and breakdowns, and enough guitar feedback to make a record of its own. It's an excellent sound backed by vocals that hold no regard to anything short of aggressive. Their lyrics are angry with a bit of frustration, but there's a drive somewhere in between all of that. And it's the same drive that's glorified in the band's consistency to play shows and put out music, being active in a small town music community with a strong emphasis on doing things yourself – nothing short lived. Fuckin' A, guys.