While We Wait - S/T 7' Inch EP

While the name "While We Wait" might read like the perfect handle for two guys waiting for the next thing to come along. The bond between Andy Guida (Altercation, Supertouch, Absolution...)  and Matt Warnke (Bold) go back to their time together in Running Like Thieves and more recently The Mistaken.

Less Bluesy and more connected to their Hardcore past than
The Mistaken were.
While We Wait's approach to Hardcore is more melodic and for lack of a better description, subtlety pronounced.

The EP opens with
"Kings Ransom". A song so ambitious with it's revved up guitar part, up front drum leads and emotionally drenched vocals.
The epic nature of
the song bring to mind the long lasting effects of Hardcore greats Supertouch and their landmark song "Searching For the Light" (A band for which While We Wait's Andy Guida played. a key role.) To even attempt describing the deep pull of the "Kings Ransom" without mentioning the emotional grip of Guida's backing vocals would be damn near criminal.
"By Now You Should Know Right From Wrong" follows respectfully with similar results before "All the Plans You Made" finishes the three song sample like a statement of purpose. It's all systems go with Matt's deep and soulful vocals belting out lyrics with both authority and purpose. Having listened to this a couple of dozen times  continually over a twenty four hour period is without pause, the highest recommendation I can possibly give.

Released on Freddy Alva's Wardance Records and available through Big Cartel. The record was produced, recorded and mixed by Andy Guida himself at Six III Studio. Matt Warnke wrote the songs, sings lead vocals and plays rhythm guitar while Andy Guida handles the drums, lead guitar, backing vocals.

Maybe it's time we move on from familiarizing ourselves with artists by mentioning or comparing their work to what they accomplished decades ago. Leave your preconceptions of what Hardcore kids can do as adults in the past and just listen. You might like what you here. I know I did. James Damion

Available Here

Altercation - Re-Mastered 1987 Demo 7 inch

1987 marked somewhat of a peak in the changing of the guard in NYHC. Just as Revelation Records and bands like Youth of Today were winning the hearts and minds of kids from the suburbs seeking a more positive route,
There were bands such as Sick of it All, Breakdown, Raw Deal and of course Altercation that were cracking their knuckles and sharpening their musical knives speaking to the more angry and disenfranchised kids, much like Agnostic Front did in earlier days.

Having purchased the original demo at the now legendary Some Records and witnessing the Altercation boys put fear into the hearts of the squeamish at nearby CBGB's and the Pyramid Club. I was a devoted knucklehead with the word "ALTERCATION" boldly written with a fat marker on my back pack. This recording brings back that angry and primitive Hardcore sound that made me really love this band.
Favorites such as the opening track 'Unite Us',
'Friends Like These' and 'Vigilante Song' really capture the bands original intensity and perhaps misguided messages.

Drummer Andy Guida does a really good job on remastering the original demo. So much so that, like an ass, I thought this was actually re-recorded. I found that myself comparing the remastered version with the originals and though my opinion is based on a very small comparison. I find myself really appreciating the updated versions. If you're a fan of bands such as Breakdown, Killing Time, Krakdown, Absolution or anything related to Hardcore music in general I would highly recommend heading into battle with this. The record, brought to us by the people at Lush Life comes on clear vinyl and includes three reproduced show flyers and a couple of Altercation stickers.
A nice package to say the least. As the revival of 80's Reagan era Hardcore approaches it's tenth year. One can only wonder what nostalgia the new era will bring.
James Damion

Lush Life  Get it Here
Altercation  Facebook

Caught in an Altercation; Talking with Andy Guida Part I

In part I of my interview with Andy Guida I decided to focus on the reunion and history of the band Altercation. Saturday night the band will be taking the stage at Webster Hall for day one of this years Black N' Blue Ball. As far as reunions go, this will be one for the ages considering the band has not performed together in more than twenty-five years. 
Though they only had a demo, a handful of shows and a memorable WNYU set. 
They left a permanent mark on the first decade of the storied and oft misunderstood NYHC scene. In my mind the band always seemed to fit in perfectly with contemporaries such as Breakdown, Raw Deal and Krakdown. Good company if you ask anyone that was around at the time. This hopes to be the first of a trilogy of interviews I'll be doing with Andy. 
Thanks for the walk through. James Damion

James: Altercation were a special band for me back in the late 80's. I remember having an old army knapsack that had Altercation written with a big fat marker on it. The name Altercation looked perfect wedged between the likes of Raw Deal,
Breakdown, Krakdown and the NY Hoods. Can you tell me how the idea of bringing Altercation back to the present came about?

Andy: There were two near misses for Altercation reunions over the years. First, maybe 1989, we rehearsed at least once that I can remember. That was with AJ Novello on rhythm guitar instead of Myles. Then about ten years ago we thought of doing it. A promoter contacted me about doing a show. We even started rehearsing with
Scott Heatherly,
(Lament, Running Like Thieves) on bass. No second guitar. In the end we decided we didn’t want to do it. The band sounded great but we didn’t feel right about it. Over the years I’ve been approached a few times about releasing the demo as a 7”. I always resisted doing it for various reasons. But then we did the Absolution record with Ryan at Lushlife.

That went smoothly and he and I started discussing other releases we could do. Independently of that, I was contacted about doing the B&B Bowl this year. It made sense to reunite now. Myles can’t do it because of work commitments. Eddie wasn’t interested.
So it’s Paul, Jay and me for original members, and Dan Cav (Resurrection, Absolution) on bass. I think we sound great. I’m excited to get this band in front of people! We’ll see what else we do after the B&B Bowl.

James: What's going on with the 7 inch? Why did you decide to re record it? This practice of re-recording

old material is becoming somewhat prevalent with a lot of older Hardcore bands. As someone who was raised on these bands. It comes off as somewhat of a cop out. 

Why do you think bands tend to tighten the screws on old recordings as opposed to writing and releasing new material?

Andy: The record is not re-recorded old songs. It is the old versions of the old songs. It’s a phase corrected, mastered version of the original demo. We don’t have plans for any new material or re-recording the old stuff. But, there is a new outro on one old song in the live set. Maybe a free download of a current rehearsal recording playing the old songs? We have changed some things in a few songs. Just extending certain parts, not adding new. People want to hear what they love the band for. They don’t want to hear it all fucked up. When I saw The Police on their reunion tour I thought they were weak. "Next to You", as a mid tempo laid back groove is not good. I didn’t want them to rearrange the songs I knew from studio and live recordings. They changed too many songs. It’s one thing for a band that is consistently together to morph songs. It’s another when you come back after 20+ years and songs sound completely different, however recognizable. Altercation, in it’s current state as a reunion band, wants to give people what they remember.

As far as old bands re-recording old songs I can see why it’s done. In the case of Absolution we did it because Gavin and Djinji felt strongly that the recording and performances on their 7” was sub-par. I have to agree. And I think the record we did destroys the old one. I haven’t listened to any of the redo records except for Exodus doing "Bonded By Blood". I don’t like it. The original was well played, well recorded and it was heavy as fuck, perfect to me.
So I can see both sides. Some fans want the original. But to me, if the original isn’t good it needs correction. It’s all about perspective though.

James: I recall seeing Altercation several times and remember the Crucial Chaos set rather fondly. 

The band had a certain vibe and energy about them that was dangerous and explosive.
As if to say, "Before this set is over, blood will flow." Was that reputation more perceived or earned?

Andy: Some of the guys in the band got into plenty of fights. Some of the friends of the band got into plenty of fights. Of course, 15-18 year old skinhead kids tend to fight.
And we were pretty damn pissed off skinhead kids. But we weren’t exactly the Cro-Mags.

James: I understand one of the bands girlfriends at the time wrote a lot of Altercations lyrics. I can only imagine that was a first in the history of NYHC. How did that situation present itself?

Andy: I don’t know how that happened. I must agree, it’s got to be a first. Bianca, then Paul’s girlfriend, wrote the lyrics. I don’t remember how that came to be. I don’t recall caring, I thought they were great lyrics. We all did. We were young and clueless. And very, very angry. Anger looking for a direction. The lyrics aided in direction, I suppose. Though I never noticed it back then. There was mention of borderline "racist lyrics". 

James: There was a lot of racial tension around that time. I was curious about how those ideas materialized and how they were received in the Hardcore community at the time.

Andy: There was a pretty big skinhead thing going on at that point so we were very well

received by a segment of the people going to shows. I’m sure there were plenty that

thought badly of us. Within in a year of being in Altercation I had regrets about aspects

of the band. I read something where Walter Schreifels said he saw us and worried the

dark side was going to win. That cracked me up. That’s a powerful reaction to evoke!

Though, not the one I want at this point in my life. There were definitely prejudiced and simply misguided lyrics. Also some stuff that’s not correct. Robert Chambers, who, “Getting Away with Murder” was about, did not get away with it. He went to jail. Although the sentiment, the rich “getting away with it”, still is true. But I can’t change what was said. The music is great, and we can change some lines live. If we were skrewdriver I couldn’t stomach doing a reunion. We were hardly that.

James: When recording the record did you make a point of changing them?

Andy: Live Jay is changing some lines. When he remembers. Hearing it one way for twenty six  years made an impression!

James: Can we expect new material and songs from the band in the future?

Andy: Don’t expect new songs from us. It could happen, but it’s unlikely

Altercation  Facebook

Atercation Blogged and Quartered

Six III Studio  Andy Guida

The Mistaken - Between Memory and Habit LP

The Mistaken features
Andy Guida and Matt Warnke who team up for the first time since working together on Running Like Thieves 2003 release "Same Time Next Year..."

On "Between Memory and Habit" The Mistaken live up to their namesake as they throw us a musical curve switching gears and sounding unlike any of their past musical endeavors.

This is not Hardcore.
Instead, these ten songs offer a nice blend of Bluesy-Rock and surprising, dare I say,  Country leanings. A lot can be said for musicians, known for creating music within a certain, set genre, step out of the box to create something different. It doesn't always work and is often
illl received. But when it comes off sounding this good and honest. How can one not embrace it with open arms? Matt's Bluesy baritone vocals have him sounding like he spent some time on chain gang channeling the likes of Johnny Cash and Mike Ness. Andy Guida does an excellent job sharing guitar duties, playing bass, piano and drums. All while handling  production duties at his Six III Studios. He really lives up to his reputation as a go to engineer and musician time in and time out.

Though currently a two piece, The Mistaken are looking to take things out of the studio and on to the stage in 2013. They've enlisted Gavin Van Vlack and Dan Cav of Absolution to handle Bass and Guitar duties. So stay tuned. James Damion

Get it Here

Absolution - S/T 4 Song EP

Ever wish you could go back in time and hit the "Do-Over" button? Right the wrongs of the past and tidy shit up a bit? Well, that's exactly what the band Absolution did here. Originally released in 1989 by Combined Effort records.
The self titled four song EP was well received by the Hardcore/Punk community and deservingly praised as somewhat of a much needed breath of fresh air to a style of music that had grown stale due to mediocrity, caused largely by an influx of cookie cutter, paint by number Hardcore bands.
Fast forward twenty something years and a few reunion shows later. The band, which features original members Djinji Brown and Gavin Van Vlack joined by Hardcore veterans Dan Cav and Andy Guida, decided to right some wrongs by going back into the studio and tightening the screws a bit.

Upon hearing the band was going into the studio to record, I was sent into an anticipatory orbit. When Andy Guida, the bands drummer, engineer and producer informed me they were re-recording old material... Well, my anticipation quickly came crashing back to earth. Regardless of the results the improved recording and production might achieve. I couldn't help but scratch my head, wondering "What if that time in the studio produced new Absolution songs?" It felt like a cop out.

Fortunately for me, I decided to put aside any and all preconceived notions and listen with both an open mind and open ears. As the needle hit the records and "A Drop of Patience" kicked in. I was presented with a moment of precise clarity. It had been years since I last played the original EP. Yet, I could instantly hear the difference in the quality and overall power of the newer recording.

The marriage of Guida's colossul drumming and Van Vlack's signature guitar style create a sinister and unforgiving sound. Not to mention the addition of Dan Cav on bass. However, it's not until singer Djinji Brown enters the fray that I have to wonder aloud "I remember liking this band a lot." "How is it possible I didn't love this band?" While Brown's style will easily draw comparisons to a younger, healthier H.R. (Bad Brains). It also allows us a glimpse into, what was then, the not so distant future and Chaka Malik (Burn, Orange 9 mm). To close,
I'll say this,"Though I may have come to this record feeling a bit cheated."
"I left with a nice reward." The future of this band is yet to be determined. One can only hope that we'll see some new music from Absolution in 2013.  James Damion


Lush Life NYC  Order it Here