The Residents – at The El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

The El Rey Theatre turned into a playhouse for the strange when it hosted The Residents on their Wonder of Weird 40th Anniversary Tour. The Residents for the un-initiated are pioneers of electronic music. They have been experimenting with all types of media since the late 1960’s. Their artistic output has broken down conventional pop music but they have also created intricate conceptual theme pieces.

The Residents live can be described as witnessing an over the top spectacle that while being very funny is also an intense bombardment of sound.

The show at The El Rey began with the song “Loser=Weed” from the band’s 1976 single, which was a good indicator that The Residents were going to treat us to a wide range of their discography.

The band played songs like “Give It To Someone Else” from their 1980 Commercial album, “Hanging By His Hair” and “Bathesheba Bathes” from 1998’s Wormwood album, “Constantinople” from the 1978 Duckstab album, “March To The Sea”, “Would We Be Alive” and “Shorty’s Lament” from Mark Of The Mole 1981, “The Black Behind” from Ozark 2011 and even went back to 1972 when they played “Santa Dog”.

The stripped down power trio with singer Randy, keyboardist Chuck and guitarist Bob played for almost 2 hours much to the capacity crowds delight. Randy was hilarious telling us about his sexual prowess, penchant for groupies on the tour bus, and his disdain for the music business. The evening did take a somber note when Randy talked about the band’s longtime friend and collaborator Snakefinger who died in 1987. The band played two Snakefinger songs “Picnic in the Jungle” and “The Man in the Dark Sedan”.

The Residents have been de-constructing and then recreating their own brand of music for over 40 years. Seeing them doing it live at The El Rey was such a treat, kind of like Halloween and Christmas in a freakshow funhouse. I can only hope they keep it for a while longer.

            More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Eric Lara-
OG Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

 

 

 

 

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Show Preview: Anti-Flag 20th Anniversary Shows – at The Troubadour – West Hollywood, CA – March 18 and 19, 2013

The failing music industry has had a disastrous affect on many touring bands in the music scene today, there’s no denying it. Whether it be record labels going under or record stores closing up shop due to lack of sales, it’s proven that things are harder now than ever for a band to survive. So for a modern Punk band to release numerous albums, tour globally and succeed on their own terms for 20 years; well that is quite the cause for celebration and that is exactly what Pittsburgh’s own Anti-Flag are doing come March.

March will mark the 20 years of Anti-Flag, and to celebrate the band have booked two shows at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. Seeing how past tours have brought Anti-Flag to larger venues like The Fonda, Wiltern, Key Club, Palladium and Warped Tour it will be nice to see the band perform at a more intimate club setting.

If that didn’t already sound enticing, the band are making each night extra special as each set list will be comprised of song selections split between particular studio albums. Everything you wanna hear from Die For Your Government thru The General Strike will find its way into the set, so for the diehard fan attending both shows is a must!

Monday nights show will feature songs from studio albums; “Die For Your Government”, “A New Kind Of Army”, “Mobilize”, “The People or The Gun” and “The General Strike”.

Tuesday nights show will feature songs from studio albums; “Their System Doesn’t Work For You”, “Underground Network”, “The Terror State”, “For Blood and Empire” and “The Bright Lights of America”.

Monday nights show will feature support from Dead To Me, Donots and Chotto Ghetto. Tuesday night will again feature Dead To Me, Donots and an opening slot by Destruction Made Simple.

      Tickets will go fast, so get them while they’re available!

-Louie Bones-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

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Victory – Laced Up EP

How do you know when a band is going to be big? Sometimes you're captivated by their live energy the first time you see them open for someone. But sometimes it's a simple as a single teaser posted to YouTube by the label.

 

Enter Victory. Gutsy, furious street punk from St Paul. Featuring members of Pist & Broke and Virgin Whores, among others, their debut EP went up for presale last night. And sold out in about an hour and a half. 

Re-read that. Ninety minutes to sell 300 records, with orders even being phoned in from people currently at the Cockney Rejects show. This band is going to be huge.

Why? A single listen through the 4 song EP answers that question pretty definitively. The songs are furious, well sharpened street punk. There's no unnecessary breakdowns, no noodly fretwankery, only the justified anger that has carried real Oi music through the decades without slowing down. 

Though only four songs, the album covers the usual skinhead pride anthems, as well as a tribute to the fallen service men and women in Afghanistan where front man Dan served, and commentary on the crumbling state of the American economy.

If you'd like a copy of your own, better keep an eye on either Oi! The Boat who pressed the record, or the band's page for info on a second pressing, or the few shops who managed to get a few copies of this highly desirable record. 

 

 

 

Oi The Boat is HERE  (scroll down for preview video on this release)

You can follow Victory HERE

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter
 

 

 

 

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Vince Ripper and The Rodent Show – The Windsor Hotel – Kirkcaldy, Fife, UK

The show opened with the wonderful band The Coffins from Glasgow with Joe Bone on lead vocals we knew right away this was going to be a special gig. The Coffins haven’t played the Windsor before so this was a first for them and us, and boy we were glad we booked them. Now bear with the reviewer cos we don’t know the names of the songs so all we can say is that they have a new album out in a few weeks and if the songs they played are on the album then it’s going to be well worth buying!

The Coffins were a superb addition to the line up playing a blinder of a set with their own unique brand of music.

The Coffins

Next up were Brothel Corpse Trio, a pyschobilly style to these guys, large double bass and punchy catchy tunes played very professionally indeed. The band started with a great tune called ‘Do zombies have feelings too’? they ran through the set which was a 45 minutes and treated the folks to songs from their two albums, all of them played to perfection –  songs included  Love Mattress -  Big Ron – Cannibalism  and the brilliant ‘Death Shop Pit Stop’ ended the set off . These guys are well worth watching live and we can’t wait to see them again.

Brothel Corpse

Taking the stage before the featured act were 13 Tombs, locals to the Kirkcaldy area they are a two piece outfit brothers Mark and Alan Wilson, stamping their own mark on the horror rock scene. These guys go from strength to strength and everyone seemed to be in fine mood as they went through some of what folks now recognise as a rock solid set.  It seems though that when Mark introduces one of their songs and says ‘you got a puss like a monkey’ everyone takes notice as it is a firm favourite with the locals … folks were dancing around and having lots of fun when 13 Tombs entertained the crowd. These guys also have CDs for sale or giveaway and as usual band members of all bands can be found in the venue hall itself with their merchandise. Check them out if you get a chance.

13 Tombs

Vince Ripper and the Rodent show are up last with their stage show, not a band, but backing tapes and 3D images beamed onto the big screen …. The stage itself was set with ripped bandages and skeletons and a severed head. Ripper opens with  a track called It Lives … a thumping tune done in the way only Vince Ripper could!

The music pounds out and Rodent walks the stage looking like an extra from a George A Romero film.  Rodent being guitarist of Alien Sex Fiend in a past life gives him the right to play some classic Fiend tunes...so were all treated to Dead and Buried  and Smells like shit ! … 50 minutes later and Ripper is playing Surfing Bird and ends with Boneshaker Baby …the crowd loved the Ripper and Rodent show and we did to

Now it is easy to get a gig and ‘show’ mixed up...this is NOT a band!  But a show! Once you get your head round this fact you’re allowed into Rippers world to enjoy the brilliant sounds and pounding beats.

On the whole the gig was a huge success and Vonnie Carstairs from Over the Bridge Events said it was 1 of her favourite night since starting putting gigs on and cant wait till she has all the bands back again.
 
             More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-PUNk GIRL-
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

 

 

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Angry Samoans – JFA – Lucidal – Naked Aggression – White Kaps – and Social Task – at The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA

Friday nights show at The Observatory offered and All Star line up of Punk Rock alumni including old school favorites, Angry Samoans, JFA, and Naked Aggression. Upon arrival, it seemed that everyone was already excited for the show. This is the type of line up that brings out faces you may not have seen in years, many were happy to see old friends. 

Local favorite, Social Task started off the evening with a lot of energy, working up the crowd as the venue started to fill up. With it's roots going back to the early days of the Punk scene, Social Task remains a crowd pleaser anytime they perform live. 

By the time the White Kaps took the stage there was more movement in the crowd, showing just how much they wanted to party.

During intermission, the vibe mellowed out a bit, but as soon as Naked Aggression came on stage, things picked right back up during their powerful set.

Luicidal took over and sang love songs to the crowd (okay they weren’t really songs about love, but the crowd sure loved them).

And out of nowhere, JFA slammed the crowd with their loud music and intense energy, and practically forced fed the mic down a few throats (metaphorically speaking) to the many fans that eagerly wanted to sing along. This long tradition of having the audience involved in the fun of their set can be further evidenced on the cover of their album "To All Our Friends" that Big Wheel Magazine shot and donated to the record.

Angry Samoans had their sights set on a good show and that’s just what they got. It was definitely entertaining to watch the boys dance around the stage and after their set was over the crowd wanted more.

They played over 30 songs including fan favorites such as "Stupid Jerk", "Lights Out", "Steak Eye"

It was fun evening, good times all around!

            More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Jen Reightley-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

 

 

 

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Show Preview: Musink 2013 – Orange County Fairgrounds – Costa Mesa, CA – March 8, 9, 10, 2013

Since 2008 Musink has brought together world renowned tattoo artists with the musical performances of many different bands, and has become a staple event within Southern California to unite the cultures of music and tattoos. Musink 2013 will mark the Orange County based tattoo and music festivals sixth annual year in existence. This year Musink looks poised to deliver nothing short of a spectacular musical showcase and awe inspiring body art.

 

 

Located in Costa Mesa, CA the Orange County fairgrounds will once again play host to Musink. In the past the event has supported the type of family friendly atmosphere that an all age’s event like Musink needs to be successful. It is that way that Orange fairgrounds has been a major contributor to Musink. By promoting safety, with the leniency that is needed to keep the event fun for all those involved this year’s Musink looks to be no different, and as in previous years thanks in part to the Orange County fairgrounds and its staff. Musink tattoo and music festivals will be divided up into three separate days of festivities. For more specific details on the rules of the event please refer to musink.org.

Day one of Musink will feature Bad Religion, The Vandals, and Guttermouth. Bad Religion has been in core of the Punk rock music scene the 1980s. There 3 part harmony music takes punk to a level that they helped create. Currently the band is set to tour the majority of the United States and parts of the world this year, and will no doubt be playing a mix of their classic tracks, and well as some off of their new album True North. 

The Vandals, a punk group out of Huntington Beach, California that has been making music since 1980 and whose trademark style is anything but serious will no doubt bring the audience in attendance a show they will not soon forget. Currently the band is touring and will be performing with Blink 182 and Sharks at the RNA Showground this coming Friday.

Guttermouth brings to the table the musical force of hard punk guitar riffs that have been around since the bands inception in the late 1980s they like many other famous punk bands hails from Orange County, CA. Look for them to light up the stage and bring the energy needed to get the festivities started at Musink 2013.

Day two of Musink will showcase the bands: Pennywise, who after a quite few years will be reunited with former members Randy, Byron, Jim and Fletcher to bring fans of the band a sense of nostalgia that only Pennywise can deliver.

Lagwagon a band that formed in the early 1990s has since developed and displayed a style that gets the listener thinking about whatever happens to be on Joey Cape’s mind from the tracks he performs from the bands wide array of musical creations. They are currently touring the United States’ west coast.

T.S.O.L. has been around since the age of hardcore punk, that they themselves helped spur into the various forms of the genre seen today. Look for lead vocalist Jack Grisham to take charge of the stage and bring a show that has not lost speed or vivacity since there hardcore Punk early years.

Cor a band that brings to stage the vocal mixture of Glenn Danzig coupled with the kind of metal ballads seen in bands throughout the ages. Cor will bring what is needed to help kick off day two of Musink 2013.

The Reverend Horton Heat will once again be gracing Musink with their straight up rockabilly musical styling that will serve to aid the country and blues rooted musical stylings of the artists featured in day 3 of Musink 2013. 

Out of Memphis, TN -Lucero is the kind of band that unless experienced live the true soulful emotions of their music can easily be missed by the remote listeners of their bar room musical tracks.

The Head Cat is a rockabilly group that features Lemmy of Motorhead this band brings with them the ability to take a crowd of people and unite them in a torrid love affair with all things country, blues, and rock as they take their listeners into their prospective past of musical upbringing by playing music by anyone from Chuck Berry to Johnny Cash. Currently tour somewhat sporadically, which makes their upcoming performance at Musink such a special one.

Jonny Two Bags is a man of many talents he has been a guitarist for Social Distortion, The Cadillac, Youth Brigade, and the U.S. Bombs. Currently his band is scheduled to tour parts of the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Johnny brings to Musink the talent of a worldly traveler, and his talent is witnessed in the lyrics of his songs. He like all other artist performing at Musink will not disappoint.

The participation of  those amazing musical acts in combination with a long list of amazing tattoo artists like Robert Atkinson, Bob Tyrrell, Small Paul, Jack Rudy, BJ Betts, Tokyo Hiro, as well as many others will guarantee a good time for all in attendance.

Musink 2013 will be an event like no other, and if this show preview has done its’ job the anticipation for the event alone should be enough to get tickets. I hope to see you all there, because I know I will be.
For more details and ticket info go to musink.org

-Ryan R.-
Big Wheel Contributor 

 

 

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