Vultures United – The Healers

Vultures United are the rare type of band that can come off as musically somewhat traditional, while also being completely fresh and original. They do so by combining contemporary musical influences with Punk rock's original simplicity and purist sensibilities. Their lyrics are conscious and well thought out without being dry or pretentious.

Their newest C.D.,  "The Healers" starts right off the bat with a rager- "Shoot Guns, Eat Pussy" (not to be confused with the Half-Off song of the same name) is the perfect culmination of influences from Black Flag, The Bronx, Nerve Agents, and Murder City Devils. The lyrics rail against American soldiers who abuse their power in other countries and use their position to exercise their desire to fuck shit up rather than to provide a service.

Vultures United manage to kick things up yet another notch with "T-Rexellent," a song that ridicules members of the Religious Right who believe that dinosaur fossils were planted around the world as part of a conspiracy to convince people of Darwin's theory of evolution. The music is heavy and fast while the vocals spew anger and contempt.

"The Healers" includes one more rocking original song called "Our Beloved Beatles" before concluding with a spot on cover of Operation Ivy's "I Got No." This cover highlights the band's musical flexibility. More than simply doing the song justice, Vultures United manage to seamlessly incorporate the song in with their own material and make it sound like they could have written it themselves.

Band Website:  www.myspace.com/vulturesunited   or   www.vulturesunited.com

-Ditch-

 

 

12 Hours of Punk Rock – at The Piratical Warehouse – Santa Ana, CA

Having practiced from ten to midnight the night before with my band, Thought Process, it was a bit painful to get up in the morning in order to get to the venue early to help prepare for the show, but when I got there I was happy to see that a decent amount of other people showed up to help the Piratical folks out. It was going to be a long day, but the show, that all of the bands volunteered their services for free of charge, was important to all of us.





After a few hours of preparation the first few bands started playing. Joe's Garage played early in the day and it was great to see them back at the Warehouse. Their set was tight and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The next few hours kind of blurred together. Most of the bands were pretty good, and things were running smoothly with all one band setting up on one stage while another was playing in the other room. Everyone was getting along and the ego games were minimal. It was nice and cool outside so it was a good time to hang out with friends outside and then go inside to check out a few songs from each band.

By around five or six things started getting a little more hectic. A lot more people were showing up, some of the adults who had been hanging out all day were getting a bit intoxicated, and a rowdier element was starting to mix in with the regulars. However around this time Circle One played, and they were the first band of the day to really blow me away. They have a new singer named Omar and his vocals sound pretty similar to John Macias's in the early days of the band. He has a lot of energy and a very dominating stage presence. The band themselves were tighter than I had ever seen them play before and they played a lot of classics like "Highway Patrolman," and "Destroy Exxon." Their signature guitar sound with muscular leads and innovative tempo changes still makes the audience go crazy. It was clear that they were there because they still love punk rock and not to get their egos stroked.

Unfortunately for the rest of the night there did seem to be some people who were getting rock star complexes, but for the most part everything was still fun and people in the audience were getting along and supporting the bands despite how long the show was. Shattered Faith played a killer set as always and they got a pretty decent response from the audience. At one point during their set Ryan from Tipper's Gore turned to me and said "Shattered Faith still rules" and I think everyone in the audience agreed. Their melodic punk rock songs sounded brilliant and it was great to see them playing to both old fans and new fans.

Knocked Out Cold kicked the energy up and rightfully got the full attention of their audience with their street Punk sound. By this time their had been a few minor altercations between audience members but there were no major problems. We played our set in the small room and were grateful to see that a good amount of people had stuck around. We were all having fun playing and in the middle of one of our songs I turned around to face the band and all of my band mates stopped playing. I turned around again and almost everyone was outside. Apparently a fight had broken out. I was bummed but after a few minutes it was broken up and we played the rest of our set with some technical difficulties but we still managed to have fun.

After our set the Deadbeats, who feature Paul Roessler of the Screamers on keyboards, played the last set of the night. Their music is pretty off the beaten path and even today sounds avant garde, but most of the people who stuck around were pretty impressed. It was cool to see a part of L.A. Punk rock history and at the end of the night I think everyone involved in putting the show together was proud to say that the show ran pretty smoothly for such a big event. It had been a great showcase of several generations of Southern California Punk rock and it was great to see young and old punks hanging out together and supporting a movement that is clearly as vibrant as ever.

Stage A (Big room)
Joe's Garage - Knocked Out Cold - Love Canal - Strangers - Shattered Faith
Dischords - Circle 0ne - Deadbeats

Stage B (Small room)
Life On the Bang Bus - Leash Kids - Time Bombs - Dead Lazlos's Place
Mad Parade - Le Face - Thought Process

-Ditch.-
Big Wheel Asst. Editor

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
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Black Mountain – The Sadies – at The Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA

The night began on a bad note. For some unexplained reason the Echoplex saw fit to hold everyone in line an hour after posted door times.  I don’t know what my problem is, but I cannot be late for anything. I always arrive exactly on time and end up inevitably waiting for whatever or whoever it is I’m waiting for to be ready. You’d think I’d learn my lesson, but no. Anyways, this was, thankfully, the lowest point of the evening.

Maybe the delay had something to do with a band canceling, because (much to my delight) there was only one opening band before Black Mountain, The Sadies. You know you’re getting old and cranky when you get really excited that there are only two bands playing. I mean, usually by the time headliner plays, your feet are tired and you can only think about  how you really want to eat a burrito or something. Again this goes back to me always being earlier for anything and, even if I have no interest in the opening bands I have to see them.

I swear I’d heard of The Sadies before and after an impromptu BlackBerry wikipedia search I learned that they were an alt-country band from Canada. They took the stage and launched into an epic Ennio Morricone inspired instrumental, which pretty much hooked me from there on. What I liked about these guys is that they didn’t just stick with one genre, instead they ran the gambit from country/bluegrass, outlaw ballads, surf rock, and Buddy Holly era rock and roll, and they did it all well. Sometimes bands like this run the risk of being all gimmick and no substance, but the two front men (the brothers Dallas and Travis Good) are good song writers and work really well off each other.

Next came Black Mountain. For those who have never heard them, they’re basically stoner-rock 70’s fetishists, complete with awesome riffs, Steve Miller-esque synth, and a whole lot of extended guitar noodling. One thing that struck me during their set was that I  had forgotten how 75% of the songs on their albums are mid-tempo and that I always just listen to the faster songs. That’s not to say that I was disappointed, though. I fell right into a head-bobbing groove as the songs riffed by.

For me the highlights of their set were “Stormy High”, “Don’t Run Our Hearts Around”, and “Angels”.

-Erock-

 

More photos from this show can be seen HERE

 

 
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The Adicts – Life Goes On Tour 2009 Coverage

The reports and photos of 5 Adicts shows in a row is here. There is no reason to wait to see coverage of this in a printed magazine as a blip, Big Wheel takes good care of you and there is more coverage here that you will not find anywhere else. This is your exclusive source for complete coverage of these 5 shows including a VIDEO of Bad Girl and Chinese Takeaway as a bonus!

 

 

 

 

The Adicts are back again in Southern California starting off their Life Goes On 2009 tour in Victorville.  When I first arrived to the venue, Fans were already lined up patiently waiting to get into the venue. It was my first time going to the Karma and I  was really impressed by the venue. The inside was filled with scattered tables and stools, there’s an outside patio area where people could smoke, and the venue has it’s own full bar. The place gave a nice and friendly atmosphere. Kids and Adults scattered the venue, some sitting on stools and couches, patiently waiting for the show to begin.
Thursday March 18, 2009
The Adicts - Gonzo Fiction - Spitting On Cops - Hurry Up and Die Alreadies - at Karma - Victorville, CA


 

Anaheim, California is perhaps best known as the home base for "The Happiest Place on Earth", Disneyland. When one thinks of Disneyland, images of child-like scenarios always come to mind. It’s no wonder then that the House of Blues at Downtown Disney made the perfect spot for The Adicts to play on Thursday night. Every time The Adicts play, just like  a trip to Disneyland, you can’t help but feel like a kid again. Confetti, beach balls, streamers, glitter, and vocalist "Monkey" with literally tricks up his sleeve, all combined deliver one of the most enriching times you will ever have.
Thursday March 19, 2009
The Adicts - The Billy Bones - The Henchman - Disguster - at The House of Blues - Anaheim, CA


Hollywood’s Sunset Strip is a diverse environment where weirdos and characters of all types flock to and inhabit, especially during the weekend. Friday night was no different, except for the many hyper Punk kids running all over strip and seen on every corner heading towards The Key Club in West Hollywood. The Adicts never fail to compel and move their fans, and the show in Hollywood was a remarkable example of that. Whenever The Adicts announce their tours, people flock to their shows in mass numbers, hoping to witness and experience the intense and vivid times that their concerts consist of.
Friday March  20, 2009
The Adicts - The Dickies - The Henchman - Masked Villians - Pogo Brats - at The Key Club - Hollywood, CA

Round 2 at The Key Club for The Adicts was a night entirely different from the shenanigans of the first night at the Hollywood venue. None of the bands that played the night before played on Saturday night, and the crowd that the local L.A bands which played that night brought a fresh perspective and entirely different atmosphere to the show. L.A. Groove, Informal Society, The Spooky, and The BillyBones all joined in The Adicts’ second round in Hollyweird. The second round at the Key Club was far different from the first night, yet just as powerful during The Adicts’ performance.
Saturday March 21, 2009
The Adicts - The Billy Bones - The Spooky - Informal Society - L.A. Groove - at The Key Club - Hollywood
 

The last stop for Southern California could not have been a better selected city than San Diego. San Diego, which is the last county to cross before reaching the border separating the United States and Tijuana, hosted the last SoCal Adicts show at the House of Blues. On Sunday night, The Henchmen, The BillyBones, and The Dickies all reached their final destination with The Adicts. The end of their Southern California journey reached its end in San Diego, and it marked the success of the band’s 5 shows in the region. San Diego greatly appreciated the band’s stay, and it was a cheerful hello and goodbye on their behalf.
Sunday March 22, 2009
The Adicts - The Dickies - The Billy Bones - The Henchman - at House of Blues - San Diego, CA

 

 
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The Adicts – The Dickies – The Henchman – Masked Villians – Pogo Brats – at The Key Club – Hollywood, CA

Hollywood's Sunset Strip is a diverse environment where weirdos and characters of all types flock to and inhabit, especially during the weekend. Friday night was no different, except for the many hyper Punk kids running all over strip and seen on every corner heading towards The Key Club in West Hollywood. Along with The Adicts that night, The Dickies, The Henchmen, The Masked Villains, and The Pogo Brats would also play.



South Central's Pogo Brats opened up the show, bringing L.A street Punk into the venue that night. Members of the audience consider the band as one of L.A's few best street punk bands, with a sound made up of the mixture of Oi and Street. Pogo Brats' set was short, but they did not fail to impress members of the audience. Their attitude and fierce sound gained them new fans and recognition. The Big Wheel reporters that were at this show thought they were one of the best opening bands they had seen on a bill in a number of years -look for this band when they play in your area!

L.A natives The Masked Villains played second, and similar to The Adicts, base their appearance according to the characters in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange". The band typically plays songs which contain lyrical content in reference to the movie, and which they went on to play at The Key Club. People in the audience were impressed by how young the band looked, and how coordinated their set and sound was. The Masked Villains were young but knew what they were doing, and rightfully held their spot in the line-up that night.

When The Henchmen went on, the band members seemed much more relaxed and calm than the previous night. Though the songs were played just as fast and aggressive as they were in Anaheim, the crowd seemed to stand back and enjoy the performance instead by simply observing. The Key Club was just as packed as the Anaheim show, but because it was larger, there was enough room for people to move around their arms without worrying about hitting each other. The Henchmen's set was just as energetic as the night before, and it was impressive to see the band maintain the same energy two nights in a row.

Before The Dickies went on, it was plain to see that The Key Club had suddenly filled in with a larger amount of people, and space was suddenly becoming a thing of the past. When The Dickies began to play, the pit broke out immediately, and somehow it managed to maintain itself the entire time. Among the songs played, "Waterslide", "You Drive Me Ape" and "I'm Okay, You're Okay" provided the most energetic pits. The Dickies are sassy in their own right, and frequently incorporate humor into their songs and shows. Their set was not only exciting when it came to their music, but also in their chatter and jokes. It is easy to see why they hold the title of the clown princes of punk, and their set went on to reassure that title.

The anticipation for The Adicts was once again greatly felt in the venue, and was also clearly visible. The Key Club was void of all free space, and people dressed like Monkey were difficult to miss. When the hauntingly daunt music began to play in preparation for the band, the audience began to push towards the stage, and people on the floor of the venue resembled an ocean wave moving forward and backward, crashing down and gaining momentum all over again. It almost seemed as though a pit would definitely be impossible this night, because the floor was ridiculously full. When the band members made their way on stage and Fiddlin' Dan began to play the beautiful sounds of his violin for us, all hell broke out on the floor... well, a happy hell.

As Monkey came out and demonstrated his amazing spectacles, "Joker In The Pack" was beginning to play, and over on the floor, a few people seemed to be struggling in their attempts to start a circle pit. The Key Club was said to be sold out that night, and the amount of people in the venue that night far took out the night before in Anaheim. The floor was therefore an overwhelmingly huge mess of people falling over and moving furiously, all for the love of The Adicts.There was no pit for almost 5 songs, and people got so tired of fighting the wave of the crowd, that when heads began to leave the floor and find higher calmer ground, a circle pit finally broke out right and remained that way until the very end.

It was like a giant mad birthday party inside the Key Club once there was enough space to move around. As the colorful glitter and confetti flew all around you, it seemed like a surreal experience, and was almost like you were in a magical spell singing along to every Adicts song in a crowd of people under the same trance. Monkey's spells consisted of the colorful splashes he would surprise you with and throw at you, and around you. The streamers popped at you and flew past you, and Monkey in his colorful and intricate outfits was the composer of all of it.

 * * * * * * *  Here is some video to give you a more live prospective   * * * * * * *

When it was time for the band to play "Bad Girl", women from the audience were exclusively selected to go on stage and dance with the band. The song's most popular verse, "You naughty naughty girl" seemed to stir up the most reactions from the young women on stage. The females were all dancing the best they could and giving coy smiles during that verse, and the entire song was showcased in the most entertaining manner. Including the women from the audience on stage for the song was the icing on the cake during that time, and probably one of the highlights of the night.

When "Viva La Revolution" prepared the night for its end, just as in Anaheim, people appeared terribly frantic and upset that the night's spell was about to lose its fervor. When the band left the stage, the crowd clapped their hands to the same beat together and shouted for the return of The Adicts on stage. A road member fixing the stage took the mic and teased the audience by telling them, "In my 30+ years of Punk Rock, I've never heard a more worse demand for an encore than tonight!" The audience took this comment to heart and began to scream and shout louder, hoping eagerly that the band would show up one more time.

When The band came back, people were stomping on the floor and jumping up and down in the most hyper manner. Everyone hoped for one last taste of The Adicts' spell, and the band delivered it by coming back and playing "Steamroller". The beach balls finally appeared again, only this time with bubbles blowing all over the venue. People seemed exhausted going around the pit, but it didn't matter to them because The Adicts were fueling them with all the energy they exemplified during their set. Finally, the band dismissed themselves for good, and everyone applauded them for their efforts, and for mesmerizing the crowd throughout their time on stage.

The Adicts never fail to compel and move their fans, and the show in Hollywood was a remarkable example of that. Whenever The Adicts announce their tours, people flock to their shows in mass numbers, hoping to witness and experience the intense and vivid times that their concerts consist of. Maybe we're all just as weird as the characters that flock to Hollywood on the weekend, but what sets The Adicts and their fans apart from that flock, is the childish innocense of their shows, and the truly magical sensation that falls and drapes over us and captures our imaginations and hearts.

-Stephanie M-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter
 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

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Anti-Nowhere League – at The Citrus Club – Edinburgh, Scotland

Punk is dead, so they say, well sad to disappoint it is alive and kicking more than ever. We may be older and wiser but the music from 25 years ago is still as great as ever. As soon as Animal uttered the words “We are the league, the Anti Nowhere League” the crowd was off – jumping, pushing, pogo-ing.

 

I don't have the energy nowadays to get in amongst the crowd but my buzz is taking photos of the bands and the crowd, which gives me natural high.

We were to hear most of “We are the league” album including Snowman, Streets of London, I hate rock n roll, Woman (one of my favourite all time punk tunes), So What (the infamous b-side to the 1981 single Streets of London that had the British police seize all copies of it from the bands distributor under the obscene publications acts, and is now covered by many bands including Metallica, it has been 28 years since I first heard this song wow) had the place going wild.

The addition of Johnny Skullknuckles from Goldblade on Lead guitar was a master stroke, he brought rock n roll look to the band, and with Shady on bass, Nato on drums and the menacing figure of Animal singing you have one awesome band.

When there was time for one more song Animal said “what would you like” and in unison the crowd shouted “So What” so we got it for the second time that night. The crowd went totally mental, people falling everywhere, being picked up to be knocked down again, all in a friendly manner.

After the show, the band came outside to speak and take photos with members of the crowd. I know many bands will not do this but I think it is great and sometimes just finishes of a great evening.


-Dod M.-
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

 

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

 

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