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Band Spot Light: Bad Cop / Bad Cop

April 1, 2014

Bad Cop / Bad CopBad Cop / Bad Cop started in a small and very cold rehearsal space at Koos studio in San Pedro, Ca in 2011.  Stacey Dee had written some Punk Rock songs and with drummer Myra Gallarza and their original bassist.  At their 2nd practice Jennie Cotterill came along and everything changed and for the better The band became more vocally driven with harmonies and trade off lead vocal singing.

Jennie and Stacey started writing songs together, keeping this formula going as it just felt like the right thing to do.  They pulled from their different backgrounds to bring together a definite Punk Rock band, but one that offered the feel of all different genres that they loved.  Stacey and Jennie still use this formula for the band’s songwriting.   



After a year of playing up and down the west coast, Bad Cop / Bad Cop began to gain momentum. They recorded their first demo, “Get Rad”, 5 fun songs, suffering poor recording. Eventually, the band got the opportunity to record at Hurley studios, working with producer, Davey Warsop, who helped the band develop their sound. This became their well-received Self-released EP. Shortly after recording, the band changed bass-players, welcoming the high-energy and expertise of Linh Le.  She was the icing on the proverbial donut.  Not only was Linh a veteran bass-player, but she also brought great stage presence and a strong singing voice to the table.  This gave Bad Cop / Bad Cop something different – really good songs, a kick ass drummer, solid rhythm section and 3-part harmonies.  In Fall of 2013, the band recorded another 4 songs with Davey Warsop at Hurley Studios.



The girls have been allied with the Bears of San Francisco since Myra and Jennie’s Cunt Sparrer days.  A residual of this was Bad Cop / Bad Cop’s playing Lilith Bear, as part of SF Bear Pride Weekend. This proved to be a wild night, complete with bearded drag queens, a fire, shitty sound system, fake mustaches, and NOFX frontman and Fat Wreck Chords owner Fat Mike, himself.Mike dug the band, appreciating their sounding good despite the terrible PA system.   He said he liked all the songs and wanted to put out their 7” on Fat. Three days later, Stacey got a call from Fat Mike saying that Fat Wreck Chords had a meeting and unanimously decided they wanted to sign Bad Cop / Bad Cop. It seemed to be perfect timing as the band had just recorded an EP they had no money to release, and now one of the best Punk Rock labels in the world wanted to put it out!



 Bad Cop / Bad Cop will be playing several release show to support their new 7" that was released on April first. Most notably for Los Angeles locals, they will be at The Redwood in downtown LA on the 12th of April with supporting acts, Johnny Madcap and The Distractions, The Bombpops, Hands Like Bricks and Harry and The Henderson's. You can find more details for this show HERE


But it doesn’t end there…. Bad Cop / Bad Cop are now writing songs for their first full length record.  They will be working with Davey Warsop and Fat Mike on the pre-production and production of their record.  The ladies just played their biggest show to a sold out House of Blues, Hollywood with Me First and the Gimme Gimme’s. The girls were very well received with the Gimme’s posting the next day, “If you haven’t heard of Bad Cop / Bad Cop – You Will!”.  

Bad Cop / Bad Cop



Bad Cop / Bad Cop’s plans for the next few months include writing and recording their upcoming full-length for Fat, playing the Punk Rock Bowling Tournament’s main stage, and touring Europe in August / September of this year.  

These ladies know they couldn’t pull this off without each other.  They’re seasoned, and ready to hit this thing out of the park. They’re a band full of very creative, talented, and forward-thinking people; Jennie Cotterill is a muralist, sculptor and curator (she painted the BOSS LADY cover and designs the majority of Bad Cop merchandise and posters), Linh Le plays in another VERY active Southern California band called Vagrant Nation and can do an uncanny Bobby Hill Impression, Myra Gallarza is left handed but plays her drums right handed, (but air drums left handed) and can crush a can on any part of her body, while Stacey Dee sings on a lot of other people’s records, has been in too many bands to mention, is an actress, a voice over actress and an advocate for animal rights, rescuing every dog or cat she can in the city of Inglewood, where she now resides.




Keep your eyes and ears open for these girls to hit your town. They love new friends, encourage people to come and talk to them and always deliver one hell of a fucking show.

Follow Bad Cop / Bad Cop through the various social media sites listed

Instagram: #badcopbadcop
Twitter: @bcbcmusic
Facebook: facebook.com/badcopbadcopband
badcopbadcop.bandcamp.com

 

Big Wheel Magazine


 

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Band Spotlight: Victory

March 1, 2014

If you are any kind of fan of hard-hitting punk or Oi music, chances are you already know Victory. Maybe you saw them at the 20 Tons of TNT festival in Hartford last year with Poison Idea. Maybe you were lucky enough to get a copy of their debut EP, Laced Up, before it sold out 90 minutes after going up for pre-sale.

But just in case some weird twist of fate has left you in the dark, consider this your guiding light.

Victory hail from the Midwest, specifically the St Paul area, and they play raw, straight forward American Oi. Ok, I know American Oi has suffered more than a few black eyes over the years, but this isn't some crop of 42-year old fresh cuts, or millionaires writing songs about being working class. Victory are former members of Pist & Broke, Subversives, and Vigrgin Whores, among others. They are fathers and Afghan war veterans, they are working class, they struggle, and they are pissed off. 


PHOTO BY BARBARA BULLEMER

And that's where Victory's strength lies. Everyone loves a good knees-up, and singalongs about how much we all love beer, or how much fun it is to be a skinhead will always be a cornerstone of Oi, and "Laced Up" definitely pledges the usual "skinheads will never die" refrain. But Oi is having a laugh AND having a say, and Victory have something to say, and you're going to want to listen. "Our country 'tis of thee, but not of us. Take a look around, who can you trust?... We've not living the American Dream, one step away from poverty. We're all living the American Nightmare. They don't care about you and me." Victory knows everything's not ok, and they're not going to pretend it is. They're going to lace up, and scream their frustration in your face. So, are you going to run and stay out of the way? Or are you going to scream along?


PHOTO BY ADAM DEGROSS

If you're in or around the Northeast, Victory are on tour with The Warriors from the UK, playing

Dusk, Providence, RI 3/20/14

TT the Bear's, Cambridge, MA 3/21/14

The Place Bar & Lounge, Brooklyn, NY 3/22/14

and keep an eye out for Midwest dates as well.

 You can follow the band HERE

 

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

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Show Preview: 8th Annual Dre Day Featuring : Bad Cop/Bad Cop – Pu$$y Cow -Turkish Techno – and Hands Like Bricks at The Dragonfly – Los Angeles, CA – February 7, 2014

January 23, 2014

It's getting close to that time of year where Los Angeles Punks and gangster rap fans alike, gather to celebrate and pay homage to Los Angeles' prolific producer known as Dr. Dre.  

Friday February 7th will mark the 8th consecutive year that lead singer Joe Dana from local Punk band Pu$$y Cow will be throwing a birthday party for Dr. Dre. Each year he has gathered an amazing line up of Punk bands to play a set that includes at least two cover songs of something either sang, written or produced by Dre. Years past have included performances by Toys That Kill, Stab City, The Maxies, The Neighborhood Brats, and of Course Pu$$y Cow, as well as many other amazing bands. This years line up is no exception!

Headlining is the all female Punk band Bad Cop/ Bad Cop. They consist of members of Cunt Sparrer, Angry Amputees, Compton SF, The D'Maggs, The CIty, and The Radio Sweetheart. You may have seen them at Awesome Fest in San Diego last year. This band signed to Fat Wreck Chords and have been growing in popularity, for good reason. Their songs are infectious and packed with power. All four of these chicks bring it and bring it hard.

As always Pu$$y Cow will be setting the roof on fire with an ace stage performance, This year has been promised to have the most Dre covers that they have ever done in one Dre Day set.  

Turkish Techno and Hands Like Bricks will also be taking the stage at Dre Day to deliver the goods with seriously fun pop Punk performances as well.

Aside from the bad ass show there are other festivities that have become tradition such as the Eddie 40's hand competition (SEE THE VIDEO below) and a rap off at the end of the evening winners receive some gangsta ass prizes.

Here is some video from last years event -This is a MUST GO TO event


You will also have the opportunity to have your photo taken in The Chronic photo booth and free Dre Day stickers will be handed out as souvenirs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last years event was at capacity by 7:45 in the evening. A lot people weren't able to get in, so don't make the mistake that many made last year of straggling to get there. Early arrival is suggested!
MORE info on this event can be found at the Dr. Dre Day Facebook page HERE

You can see full coverage, including video, photos, and write up of last years event HERE



-J.Moncrief-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter


 

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Operation Damayan: Relief in the Philippines

December 26, 2013

I was burned out. I had been the frontman for The Stitched Lips for about 6 years already. Eric Martinez, who now plays bass for the Black Mambas, and Sergio Sandoval, who is now focusing on his career and is soon to be married, formed the band in our hometown of Bell Gardens, Calif., while we were seniors in High School.

 

Eventually, Luis Herrera, who is currently the drummer for Sonny Vincent and the Testors, the Sorrows and the Nasty Souls, joined in and we established ourselves as an upcoming Los Angeles Punk band that was roughly in the style of the Stooges, the Kids, and the New York Dolls.

We were doing really well before disbanding. We were playing good gigs, we opened up for more established bands and started carving a mark into the scene, but the slightly more fame we got, the more discontent I felt. I wasn’t making any money and it really was like a job. I lost interest, and we decided to split. That was the end of a huge chapter in my life, rock ‘n’ roll was everything.


In May of 2011, about one month after we split up, I enlisted in the Navy. I went in there expecting to receive a job that consisted of hard labor, I mean; I did join the military after all, right? Well, much to my surprise, I was offered the very rare job of Mass Communication Specialist (MC), basically, my job as a U.S. Sailor is to document the Navy’s history and mission through photography, photojournalism, videography, broadcasting, news writing, graphic design, print and production, and public affairs tactics. I lucked out, didn’t I? 

After boot camp, I went straight to my specialty school. I went through six months of training in Fort Meade, Md. There, I found I was pretty good at photojournalism. I was given orders to the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), based out of Yokosuka, Japan. 

I went back home for about three weeks before reporting to my command. I played my very last show at my house and it was the best going away present I could ever receive. More than 100 people showed up to this private show to see the greatest band that never was. We sold our never before released EP, and they all sold out. People went nuts. It was a great feeling, but it was time to leave it behind and start a new chapter.

I’ve been at this command for a little over a year now, primarily working as a photojournalist aboard the ship. I write stories and take photos of our daily operations, ranging anywhere from launching and recovering aircraft, going up in helicopters to photograph ship formations, various training evolutions and community service events during our various port visits. Occasionally, we get sent to different ships or different commands to provide media coverage for various operations. 

The ship departed for its 2013 patrol June 26. We visited Australia, South Korea, Singapore and finally Hong Kong. During our Hong Kong port visit, our ship was recalled. The Republic of the Philippines was hit by the super typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. The typhoon left many areas in the Philippines decimated, with many dead in its aftermath. Our mission was to go to Philippines and provide relief for those who needed it most. We were to provide water, food, and medical care to disaster victims. The George Washington media team and myself were there to document it.

On Nov. 14, the ship arrived in the Philippines. I departed the ship around the afternoon via MH-60S Seahawk from the “Golden Falcons” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12; I was supposed to be temporarily assigned to the Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Lassen, where I was to document the ship’s participation in the relief effort, but first, I had to get dropped off in Tacloban Air Base. The helicopter had to make a few supply drops before they dropped me off on the ship. 

We flew over Philippines to our destination and I saw firsthand the aftermath of the typhoon. From up above, I saw the trees that looked like they were blowing in the wind, but there was no wind blowing. I saw villages that were surrounded by debris and rubble from buildings that were missing roofs, windows, and walls or were just completely gone. There were trucks and cars that were flipped over.   Every city that we flew over was in ruins.

I had no idea how much worse it was down there than I could see from above. The Seahawk soon dropped supplies into Tacloban. Sailors were waiting in the rain, directing aircraft. As soon as these supplies came in, Sailors rushed the pallets to get them ready for distribution. I didn’t know how long the Sailors were there, but they sure as hell looked busy. They were all Sailors who volunteered to help. They were probably doing more intense work than what they were doing on the ship. They didn’t care, they all wanted to help.

The first thing I saw when we reached the air base was the line of disaster victims that were waiting to get evacuated. They were coming out of a building that was barely standing. These people were waiting in the aftermath of a chaotic environment and all men, women, children and elderly had a blank, desperate look on their face. Most of them only had the clothes they were wearing. Few had backpacks, purses or some form of luggage. Many were soaking wet from the on-and-off again tropical thunderstorms, but the ones that were helping them the most, were the Marines assigned to Logistics Battalion 4, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Marines were lined up, escorting and loading supplies onto MV-22 Ospreys and C-130s. They were tired, wet and their uniforms were all messy. They had been there all day and night helping the people that needed it most. They never once fell out, they made sure everyone got to where they needed and got the supplies they needed. They didn’t stop; they kept on going.

I walked through lines of disaster victims, aid relief tents, debris and trash and made my way onto where the Marines had set up their tents. Once I got there, I spoke to a Marine officer who was curious about the transport capabilities we had on the ship. He then informed me that there were more Marines coming on foot from Manila and pointed out that they were trying to make room for them. I looked over to the open field and noticed that there were Marines clearing out debris, trash and bodies from the grassy areas. I made my way over and was going to start taking picture, but ultimately decided against it. I didn’t want family members or friends to find out their loved ones were gone through a photograph on a newspaper.

A couple of hours and photographs later, I was informed that I would not be going to Lassen. I went back on the Seahawk and we made quick drop off in a small island. It was torn apart. People rushed out of their houses to get our attention. They kept signaling at us to land. We circled around a couple of times but we found no suitable place to land the Seahawk. We had to hover over a small patch of land right off the island to drop off supplies. The Aircrewman had to hoist himself and box after box, 50-pound bag after 50-pound bag; he lowered himself to deliver those supplies. People were scrambling to get them and many others thanked and waved as we flew off. It was great to see joy in such a devastating area. 

I got back to the ship and I was told to keep my equipment packed just in case I were to go out again. Later that day, I was informed that I would be going to the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63). I spent my first day on Cowpens settling in, but the next day I was up on a Seahawk from the “Scorpions” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49. For the next four days, I flew with them to document everything they were doing. We would pick up water from George Washington, pick up food from Tacloban and deliver them to different areas. 

At one point, we picked up a couple of Army Rangers who assisted us in evaluating which villages needed supplies and medical attention. We would drop them off, pick up supplies, drop those off, and pick up the Rangers and any evacuees they brought with them. I recall them bringing on a woman who had a bandage wrapped around her hand. I asked one of the Rangers how she got injured. He informed me her hand was severed by debris as she was trying to pull herself into shelter during the typhoon. It was getting infected without the proper medical treatment. I didn’t see here after we dropped her off. I was just glad these guys were there to help.

Back on the Cowpens, the crewmembers started collecting candy, cookies, cereal, chips and any snacks they could get their hands on. The ship store was running out of items because of all the snacks people were donating. Some went ahead and wrote messages on the packaging. Others made goody bags and left a note in each bag. Every time we handed them out, kids would rush to us, laughing and smiling. They would shake our hands and gives us high fives. At one point shortly after handing out snacks, a woman grabbed my hand and kept thanking me as tears streamed down her face. 

The look on her face, the children laughing and smiling as they waved by, the feelings and emotions I felt and continue to feel is very gratifying. The experience I had there was something new that I’ve never experienced. Seeing it on television or photograph doesn’t do it any justice. 

Although our armed forces are an asset of war, many seem to overlook the work that we do to help those who need it most. There were many Sailors who voluntarily gave up their rack, ventilated spaces, and hot food to go sleep in a tent and work a full day carrying box after box of heavy supplies onto helicopters and I can tell you that none of them have any regrets.

 

-Ricardo Guzman-

Big Wheel Contributor

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Win some tickets to go see Murder City Devils – The Bangles – Suicidal Tendencies at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles

October 20, 2013

        Enter the various current contest

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Win tickets to Murder City Devils

Win tickets to go to:
Murder City Devils

 
at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday November 10, 2013
   Enter the contest HERE

   
Win tickets to go see The Bangles

Win tickets to go to:
The Bangles
 
at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on Friday December 6, 2013
   Enter the contest HERE

   
Win tickets to Suicidal Tendencies

Win tickets to go to:
Suicidal Tendencies

 
at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles on Friday December 20, 2013
   Enter the contest HERE

   

 

 

 

 

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9th Annual Johnny Ramone Festival – at Hollywood Forever Cemetery – Hollywood, CA

August 18, 2013

9th Annual Johnny Ramone Festival - at Hollywood Forever Cemetery - Hollywood, CA - August 18, 2013The best party of the summer just took place over last weekend at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. In case you were left out in the dark we are indeed talking about the 9th Annual Johnny Ramone fest!

This summer may have just seen the biggest and best event in the festivals long history with a draw that exceeded previous years turnoutsby far. Not only was attendance high, but the number of special guests, especially those who were of cult status was beyond what anyone expected, and fans have come to expect a lot from the organizers at the Johnny Ramone fest.

The main attraction of the night was legendary film maker John Waters who easily could have been enough to satisfy the rabid crowd. Like a sugary topping on a cake, last minute guests made this event that much sweeter. Film star Ricki Lake was a nice addition but it was Johnny fucking Depp who had the audience roaring with excitement as he stepped to the Q and A panel alongside the cast from “Cry Baby”. To top things off the questions for the cast were asked by Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols.

Burlesque queen Dita Von Teese also made an appearance as she introduced John Waters. John described his excitement for Cry Baby and how his love for rock n roll and the Ramones was a long lasting love. He recalled how The Ramones made rock and roll dangerous again and that working with Iggy Pop on the film was a great experience as well considering Iggy had just gone sober. Some of the nights funniest moments came when Ricki Lake described in secrecy how she lost her virginity during production of the film, much to the crowds surprise it was not to co star Johnny Depp and remains a secret unknown the public!

DJ Howie Pyro provided music during the change over and spun Ramones hits while classic concert footage played on the mausoleum wall.

Musicians from well known bands were also in the house. We saw members of The Vandals, X, Samhain, Tiger Army, Dgeneration, Fangs on Fur, The Stray Cats, Sex Pistols, artist Shepherd Fairy and much more on site for the event.

“Cry Baby” was the perfect film for the event and with a cast of characters who came out to support, it made for the best Ramones fest despite the fact that none of the surviving Ramones were around.

We want to thank Linda Ramone for once again putting on an event that honors her husband and his bands legacy. We’d also like to thank the good people at Hollywood Forever for their role in the Ramones fest as well.

We are already looking forward to next years Fest!



-Louie Bones-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 


 

 

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