Punk Rock Academy Fight Song – The Kids Are Alright

It seems to me like every generation falls into the same trap. We swear up and down that we wont do it. No way man, I'm not gonna be that guy. Be eventually what we think is maturity sets in and we feel it is our god given right or perhaps it is our righteous duty and we give in to that feeling in the back of our heads that we’ve been suppressing for years. And then when we cant take it anymore and we explode and out come that odious phrase “...Kids these days.” Its the sad acknowledgment that we are slowly evolving (or maybe devolving) in to responsible adults or we are becoming our parents or maybe just maybe we aren’t as cool as we thought we were. There are of course a wide variety of reasons why this phrase finds its way passing our lips and into the ears of anybody who has the misfortune of being within shouting distance. Cause when you say say something like that you just don't mutter it under your breath you practically broadcast it to the heavens. Usually its the result of switching from your CD to Fm on your car stereo and hearing some over produced auto tuned tripe that passes for “Pop Music” or maybe its when you scan though the pages of  magazines and all the bands have names that are paragraphs long and look like ...well now I am starting to sound old, but you get the picture. But guess what as long as there has been music there has been crappy music to rail against and as long as one cool band has looked and dressed a certain way there have been a thousand of lame one that have tried to cop their style and ride their coattails in vain hopes of success. But that’s all stuff that’s out of our hands and stuff that every generation will have to contend with. So what really raises our ire is that we view ourselves as keepers of a legacy that is greater than ourselves. We are the spiritual descendants of individuals who took nothing for granted and wanted to do something big against complacency apathy and even injustice so it rightfully pisses us off when people just don't seem to care. We are true believers and we hope those that follow will be as well. If your under the age of 25 and your reading this your probably thinking “ Wow! What an old blowhard-just shut up and tell us about something stupid you did!” but I'm getting to my point just bear with me while I pontificate some more.

For me this entire year has seemed like one continuous non stop “Kids these days” moment, only with a lot of expletives thrown in every time. The reason being that this year I had the dubious pleasure of being the 12th grade counselor at my school. I say dubious because I’ve known this group of kids since they were in the 9th and its more or less my responsibility to make sure that as many of them as possible graduate. Anyway from day one I was blitzed with with multitudes of comments about how bad this class was and how lazy and apathetic they were. And after a while I bought into it and started making the comments myself. Now I love my job and I'm the eternal optimist. A teacher once called me an idealist as if it were a synonym for puppy killer. I like to think I can relate to my kids without acting like I'm trying to relate to them. I often tell them if 30 something me could meet 17 year old me I’d kick that 17 year old punks ass. But after a while it really did seem like these kids just didn’t give a damn and felt that the world owed them something- the attitude was that we should be grateful that they even bothered to show up and do the stupid assignments-well truth be told there were a lot of stupid assignments that 17 year old me chose not to do but that's ancient history, right? As the year wore on so did my frustrations, How much brow beating, chasing and cajoling did i have to do before these kids would finally get it Probably the same amount that my teachers had to do with me. Well I may have been a slacker but I’ve never been apathetic or entitled and that's what really killed me-until graduation day. Now having attended many graduations in my life I prepared myself for the interminable and the often  intolerable “this is not the end but really a beginning” speeches. Instead I was pleasantly gob smacked when one of the speakers fessed up for slacking and breaking some rules and thanked their parents and teachers for letting them get away with it because they remembered what it was like to be a confused anxious 17 year old. So yeah kids these days... but as long as some of em are checking out the Street Dogs, reading Kerouac- and starting bands I think we’ll be okay. Oh and teachers that kid falling asleep in the back of the class you just might be working with him in a few years-its not that he doesn’t care he just just doesn’t care right now.

-Daniel N-

 

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J.B. Beverley – at The Viper Room – Hollywood,CA

Tuesday night I found myself in West Hollywood to catch a rare acoustic performance by J.B Beverley in the acoustic lounge at The Viper Room. J.B. Beverley is most recently known as the frontman for his punk band The Little White Pills, and his country western act J.B. Beverley and The Wayward Drifters. He is also been associated with many other acts most notably The Murder Junkies and Bad Habits.This performance was particularly special because it had been quite a while since J.B. has made it out to California. This night brought many friends, fans, and fellow performers such as Carl Raether, Wendy Gadzuk, and Earl Brown.

While a female fronted, second rate Tori Amos sounding Indie band rocked the main stage upstairs a small group of people gathered in the downstairs lounge. A small dark intimate room with candles on the tables, felt more like someones living room complete with a full bar rather than a venue. Never the less it added to the charm and was a comfy place to post up for the next few hrs.

Starting out the evening was solo performer Daniel Capellaro. While his style of music greatly differed the honky-tonk, punk style of J.B. He was a talented singer and guitar player who passionately played an hour of original material. The last song of his set he adoringly dedicated to his parents who were having their anniversary.

The rowdy crowd of J.B. Beverley fans were getting antsy as it neared 11:30. It was clear who the majority were  there to see. As J.B. set up for his performance. People started crowding into the room and before you knew it, the small room was packed to capacity.

The set included  a couple of duets, including a cover of Concrete Blonde's "Darkening of the Light", with Wendy Gadzuk(Whiskey Bitch, The 440's, and Suckerstar).  And at one point, J.B.'s good friend Earl Brown shared the stage with him as they sang "Devil's Road". The fans sang along and were completely engrossed in the performance, tapping their feet and shaking their hips as the two played their hearts out to the small room of people.

Pedal Steel player John Schreffler Jr. known for playing with Shooter Jennings and many other great acts, filled in last minute as a favor for J.B. However you could never tell by their chemistry together that it was their first performance with one another. They vibed well as J.B.'s lead carried John to the next melody flawlessly.

The set list consisted mostly of Wayward Drifter songs, but as the night was drawing to an end and the moment everyone had been hoping for finally arrived as J.B. transitioned from country back to his Punk Rock roots and busted out a couple of Little White Pills tunes, including one called "North to New York" at which time, LWP bass player Carl Raether among other fans jumped on the mic and enthusiastically sang along as the room went nuts. It was the perfect ending to a fun-filled Tuesday night.

Hopefully J.B. Beverley doesn't wait so long before he graces California with his presence again, but until the next time, all who were in attendance will have some great memories to reflect on from that evening!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Little-White-Pills/345753810073

http://www.facebook.​com/pages/JB-Beverle​y-The-Wayward-Drifte​rs/118172334125

 

-J.Moncrief-
Big Wheel Scene Reporter

 

 

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Stench Radio music play list for the week of July 10, 2011

Top 25  - In no particular order -

Victoria De Mare - Let Me Touch You
Modern Warfare - In the Shadows
Total Chaos - Voice of the Streets
Bulimia Banquet - Calloused
69Demented - Eat Your Pussy (Live)
Chemical People - Captain
Dr. Know - Father, Son, and Holy Shit
The Cramps - Creature From the Black Leather Lagoon
Wasted Youth - Fuck Authority
Ill Repute - What Happens Next?
Demented Are Go - Call of the wired
English Dogs - Driven To Death
Didjits - Killboy Powerhead
The Faction - The Kids Are The Future
The Grim - Government Man
Subhumans - Animal
Extreme Noise Terror - Sotahullat
Abrasive Wheels - Find Your Heart
The Lucky Devils - Paint It Black
Stiff Little Fingers - Suspect Device
Dropkick Murphys - Caught in a Jar
Street Dogs - Brostal Breakout (Boston Breakout)
The Damned - Noise, Noise, Noise
Anthrax(UK) - Capitalism is Cannibalism
The Goddamn Gallows - Underneath the Stars

The above list are some of the top played songs on Stench Radio.

 

 

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Shows and events calendar for Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, California and states all over the United States and the world. Complete and extended listing covering Punk, Indie, Rock, Psychobilly and more.

2011 Los Angeles Skacore Invasion – at WLCAC Outdoors – Los Angeles, CA

Amidst the Warped Tours, Coachellas, and other massive music events that take place annually, missing in the realm of festivals was an event that strictly maintained ska, reggae influences, and essentially, the subculture of the rude boy. Thanks to a collaboration between Evoekore Media, NSPIRED1, and several other promotional teams and organizations, the Los Angeles Skacore Invasion arrived as a contender amongst music festivals, holding down the good that is sweaty, fast, and predominantly Mexican Ska. The 2011 Los Angeles Skacore Invasion took place Saturday July 9, and was held in the WLCAC in Watts.

The event featured vendors, skateboarding demonstrations, and two stages sharing 30 bands total throughout the day. Among the line-up, bigger bands consisted of Sektacore, Voodoo Glow Skulls, 8Kalacas, Red Store Bums, La Banda Skalavera, and Chencha Berrinches. Doors opened at 1 p.m, however, as early as 11 a.m. the surrounding area was swarmed with people. Once the mini festival began, the inside was massively crowded with people.


Although the event took place in a community center, at times you forgot that was the case, as the experience inside so closely resembled an event like Warped Tour. If you were hungry or thirsty, there were vendors to satisfy your needs. If you wanted to buy merchandise, there were vendors with items available at a decent price. The live music was there and art was on display; most which related to ethnic culture as for example, there was a stencil portrayal of Emiliano Zapata.

The bands playing throughout the day paid a fair homage to Los Angeles, in that a vast majority of the opening bands were local bands from Los Angeles.

Otro Desperdicio and Libertadores for example, are two of the many Los Angeles locals who played the event. Holding down the festival was mostly an arrangement between Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County ska bands, though that is not to say that all the bands playing that day ONLY came from those areas. As a result, Watts experienced a surge of migration from OC and the Inland Empire, all coming together for the love of Ska.


-Stephanie M.-
Big Wheel Senior Staff Reporter

 

 

 

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Show Preview of: Toxic Holocaust & The Krum Bums So. Cal appearances this Summer, July 29 & Sept 10 2011

Heads will roll this summer as two of Metal and Punk Rock's hardest bands from the underground join forces to destroy North American clubs all through out July and September!Toxic Holocaust have been making a name for themselves in the music world in the last decade as they’ve combined the technicality of thrash metal mixed with punk rock attitude while managing to break down every barrier between the two distinct genres. Their last few full length releases have garnered much acclaim making them leaders in the metal underground and a reckoning force within the punk scene as well. July will also see the release of Conjure and Command, the bands first studio album in 3 years and first to be recorded by the bands current lineup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joining the tour will be Texas’ s very own street punk heroes the Krum Bums! One of the leading forces in the American street punk scene, the Krum Bums are quickly rising in the ranks and destroying each city they visit on tour. Their performance at Punk Rock Bowling 2011’ was the most impressive by any of the up and coming bands, and it’s a safe bet they’ll be bringing their same ferocity this summer on tour with Toxic Holocaust!

The tour kicks off in Canoga Park at the Cobalt Café July 29th and finds it’s way back in Los Angeles at the Blvd Café September 10th. Whether you’re hair is charged up or long and ready to bang, this will be the ultimate cross over tour and show of the summer!

 

-Louie B.-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

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Ana Kefr – The Burial Tree (II)

At first glance judging by the album art, it seems as if this record would be a product of nerdy hipster types hailing from the Silverlake area of Los Angeles. Though after a few minutes of listening to the Burial Tree it becomes obvious Ana Kefr would be more suited for an appearance at Ozzfest or some equally heavy metal festival. As a matter of fact this band is heavier than most of the bands who play Ozzfest, Ana Kefr is heavy as fuck!
This is extreme progressive death metal, though you never would have guessed judging by the bands unthreatening bore of a name and their non- destructive unassuming art work. What the band my lack in style is made up in their music, and can this band fucking play! Everything is here from acoustic guitar, crazy time signatures, pinch harmonics like whoah, guttural growling, soft singing, synthesizer, extreme blast beats and gnarly riffage.

Many metal heads will be thrown into a pit of musical splendor as Ana Kefr offer up something for every kind of metal fan out there. All you technical nerds out there will have a blast studying the instrumentation on this album. A hand full of the tracks here run well over 5 minutes and there’s even an instrumental thrown in for good measure; running over an hour in length, the Burial Tree will keep your head banging until it hurts!

 

 

-Louie B.-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter
 

 

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