Aguirre Post Video Featuring Debut Album

New Jersey's Hardcore Punk newcomers Aguirre have posted an impressive video which features the bands debut album. Featuring current and former members of acts such as 

Melissa & Paul, Control, Hell Mary, Barcode Youth and many others. The band comes to the table with an impressive pedigree. The band will be playing their first show friday night at Tony's in Stockholm NJ on Friday  Details Here and are said to have copies of the album with them the following night when they play at Taps Pub. Details Here Aguirre has a site coming soon. For now you can go support them on their Facebook page. Here  JD

Ratnip - Done More On Less

Born out of the ashes of the band Suspect.
Review Here
New Jersey's Ratnip follow a similar musical path while kicking up the musicianship a notch or two.
'Done More On Less'
the bands debut full length delivers twelve songs of guitar driven Punk with elements of Hardcore thrown in here and there.
The instrumental 'This Quality of this Record is Suspect' introduces the album promisingly enough. While
'Big Hooker, Little Room', 
'Beer, Food, Dudes', and '973' highlight the record while informing the listener that Ratnip isn't looking to change the world. There are some really good guitar leads, riffs and bass lines on here but I can't help but feel as if I've heard them before. And while  'Done More on Less' definitely has it's moments, overall it doesn't do much to separate itself from the pack  or to leave any lasting impression.
James Damion

Ratnip  Bandcamp

Michael Ironside - Top Shelf Hooch

New Jersey's experimental duo Michael Ironside return with their follow up to their surprisingly good 2012 debut"Gelatin Moon". The fifteen song "Top Shelf Hooch", a collection of love songs about an alcoholic trying to find himself in the 21st century. Proves to this listener that a joke, when good, should be short and to the point.

The LP opens on a promising note with "Top Shelf Hooch". Highlighted by fuzzed out guitars that bring immediate comparisons to bands like
Fu Manchu and Mudhoney.

Experimental, campy and downright annoying at times. MI come off sounding more like a comedy troupe in the midst of performing a comedic tragedy. As most of the album rely's on the comedic aspect, "Top Shelf Hooch" becomes more of an annoyance or inside joke than anything.

Though I really enjoyed brief moments on "Top Shelf Hooch". Those where guitarist
Jeff Wassenger gets to shine. Adam Lepowski's voice and the mode of it's delivery is so incredibly annoying and over fifteen songs, absolutely unbearable. If it's any saving grace.
I feel things could have been a lot different if the they trashed most of the album and made an EP from the tracks "Top Shelf Hooch", "Vapid Whore"and "Look What's Under the Hood". Unfortunately this album is comes off like a bad college prank that went on way too long. James Damion

Michael Ironside - Gelatin Moon

Our blogs biggest WTF moment arrived the other day in a nondescript CD mailer.
As I opened it for closer inspection I was only faced with more unanswered questions. The note, "James, sorry this took so long to get out.
Had to order another batch. Look forward to your feedback" initialed, no scribbled, in a language yet to be born.
Thus adding more mystery to this ever growing plot to make me lose my mind. MichaelIronside, perhaps taken from the name of the actor who so perfectly played the villain in movies such as
Scanners, Visiting Hours,
Top Gun and Total Recall. The band, as it turns out features Adam Lepkowski (Sick Jerk) on vocals. Jeff Wasserburger (Four Fingers, Bombay) on Guitar and a ghost lyricist by the name of Ryan.

As I began to listen to the first four tracks I couldn't help but think this was the worst thing I had ever laid ears on. Something that a group of college nerds created while locked in their dorm rooms high on some synthetic hybrid they had just created by connecting their chemistry set to their sisters sampler. I kept thinking Devo on down syndrome.

Then as the fifth track began to spin it's wheels, I began to understand, maybe even believe that there was something to this. I felt that Devo influence and perhaps a little Beastie Boys mixed with a Lo-Fi version of Serge Gainsborg doing acid while listening to Pink Floyd's "Days of Pompei". I give myself a lot of credit for being able to sit through all fucking twenty-four tracks of this weirdness. In the end, I'm glad I did. This is definitely not for everyone. Not for a lot of people at that. But if your in for a penny, you better be in for a pound.
James Damion

MichaelIronside  Bandcamp

Four Fingers Summer Demo

As our friends Four Fingers return from their summer tour I thought I'd take a moment to post their summer demo and let you know they'll be playing a homecoming show at Montclair's sweat box The Meatlocker. The show will also be celebrating bassist Ryan Betrix's birthday which falls on the 27th. Sadly I will not be able to make it but I wanted to wish him an early Happy Birthday regardless. Have a blast Ryan. James Damion

Four Fingers Summer Demo

Four Fingers Hit the Road Again.

This Wednesday, June 29th our friends Four Fingers will be launching their Summer tour from Montclairs favorite arm pit The Meatlocker. They'll be joined by Rabbit Troupe, SIck Jerk, The Flops and others. Join them as they thrash, crash and most likely burn. I asked Tohm to give me a look into what the next couple of weeks looked like. Here's what he had to say. James Damion

Tohm: So we, Four Fingers, took it upon ourselves to book a 28 day tour and in doing so, we managed to get fired from our jobs and ousted from our families. Pretty awesome if you ask me. So heres the fucking dates! We need some that still need to be filled, so if you can help us, let me know here or at tohm138@yahoo.com or flynn.christopher1@gmail.com. Thanks! Come thrash and fucking eat pizza with us!

Tohm

June 29 - Meatlocker Montclair NJ
June 30- Philadelphia PA (HELP!)
July 1 - The Sidebar Tavern - Baltimore MD
July 2 - Gone Studios - Staunton VA
July 3 - The Triple - Richmond VA
July 4-OFF!
July 5 - Fred’s Speakeasy - Asheville NC
July 6 - Staycation - Burlington NC
July 7 - Suite 8 Studios - Greenville SC
July 8 - The Burro Bar - Jacksonville Florida
July 9 - Uncle Lou’s - Orlando FL
July 10 - Churchill’s Pub - Miami FL
July 11-Orlando FL (HELP!)
July 12 - Shark Tank - Tallahassee FL
July 13-OFF!
July 14 - The Cold Brew - Laredo TX
July 15 -The Moldy Laundry Boys’ Apartment - Laredo TX
July 16 - Hard Times Fest - Laredo TX
July 16 - The White Rabbit - San Antonio TX
July 17 - Tulsa OK (HELP!)
July 18 - Kirby’s Beer Store - Wichita KS
July 19 - The Hole - Omaha NE
July 20 - Skullets - Rapid City SD
July 21 - Ben Roman’s Basement - Black Hawk SD
July 22- TBA - Peoria IL
July 23 - Econofest - Champaign IL
July 24 - Indianapolis IN (HELP!)
July 25 - Cleveland OH (HELP!)
July 26 - Meatlocker - Montclair NJ

Dates that need to be filled: June 30, July 11, July 17, July 24, July 25

a flyer will exist shortly for this tour.

Four Fingers Facebook

Listen ... Four Fingers summer demo 2011