Power Clown are an all clown Iron Maiden tribute band

They played with a gorelesque group...Sometimes there are no words...

Henry Rollins and Danzig want you to read

They're serious you guys, we better go read!!

New Music Crush: Midtown

Growing up in the middle of nowhere in Ireland, you tend to miss out on bands that a lot of people know, while often loving bands that never really got that big. My punk rock family tree had it’s roots in Epitaph/Fat Records, P-Rock TV and Tony Hawk’s skate games. To me, Alkaline Trio were the cool but slightly emotionally fucked up cousin of the family. I didn't discover other bands like Bayside until much later, or my new music crush Midtown until this year. More than a decade after the band split up...

Not sure what they're going for here

Simply because Drive Thru Records didn't have the same gravitas where I was from as some other punk labels, I missed out on great songs like Just Rock and Roll


Look how zany this videos is, totally unfair that it was kept from me, I would have loved it as a teenager! They're playing a bar mitzvah...but the people there don't understand rock music! It's just noise to them! What a hilarious concept! Who could possibly have made such a booking mixup?

Seriously though, I love this mix of pop punk and punk rock. Despite trying to look more bad-ass with the all black stage outfit, the nerdy, stupid fun side ultimately wins out through all the 'comedy' elements of the video, the drummer's DGAF attitude while wearing his glasses and the mandatory girl with big boobs.Also, dat 'jump' riff at 1.20 is delicious.

On the same album is depressingly-titled We Bring Us Down



This is a more PUNX song! Well, it's short and kinda fast, at least. Not sure if the lyrics are about an ex-girlfriend or some guy having sex but either way, it's a good song.

Like more pop in your pop punk? Try Like A Movie


This is a song they released after the last two, when I guess they signed to a bigger label. They act and dress kinda like douchebags in the the video but I guess they were hoping that would make them more popular or something. Still a pretty good pop punk song now that summer has hit.

The band broke up after this and one of the guys joined Senses Fail, while another made a synth pop band called Cobra Starship. This is obviously a very divisive issue amongst fans of these various projects, which is pretty funny because it's all music made by awkward dudes with the aim of trying to get girls to like them, whatever way you slice it. Makes no difference to me, I just get more albums to check out!

The new Streetlight Manifesto is great but their label situation is not

Everyone knows about third wave ska, right? As a genre it’s a bit like a whirlwind teenage summer romance. We look at it with an odd mixture of embarrassment and pride, knowing it was fun at the time, but really, let’s be serious, we’re like totally better and more mature than that.

The sun will come out (maybe) and we will again feel the irresistible magnetic pull towards music with upbeat tempos and a brass section. If only there was a ska band that didn’t veer into gimmicky territory. A band where the brass section is more than an afterthought. A band who don’t sully good songs about selling out with hideous cringe-inducing songs about being dateless losers. Oh, such a band would be a wonderful thing.

And so, let me introduce Streetlight Manifesto and their album The Hands That Thieve. A more talented group of individual musicians you will be hard-pressed to find, let alone find them playing ska of all genres.

This is the album cover.

Now, before I go any further, there is a large, black and white checkered elephant in the room. After several disputes, their label refuses to send the band copies of their own CD, meaning they cannot sell them/send them to fans who have pre-ordered. You can still buy the album off the label (which isn’t going to help the band) or some people suggest that as the band isn’t profiting from the material they have produced, that it is not unethical to download it… The band are understandably very close to being burnt out because of this and all the other day to day issues of being a band on the road, and they will be stepping back from touring soon. Ok, now that the unpleasantness has been dealt with…

Under the dictatorship leadership of guitarist/singer Tomas Kalnoky, the band are responsible for bringing credibility to ska, each excelling on his instrument on each of the songs, which often reach five minutes plus.
To say the album starts as it means to go on is a disservice to the diversity SM can achieve. The Three Of Us is an ideal song for first time listeners of the band.

Instantly drawing you in with a hook, they then diverge into a taster of their musical prowess before sliding back into a beautifully crafted ska song. The song has gentle twists and curves, that are mild surprises compared to the output of other bands in the genre, yet the song writing is of a standard that it all flows together and feels instantly familiar. That is until the riff straight from the System of a Down handbook comes out of nowhere, with a playful reminder that genre is a mere guideline and not a, well, not a manifesto. (Sorry.)

The second song starts out like something from the soundtrack of a borderline racist Disney film before throwing a punk rock grenade into the mix and sending the song legging it in a different direction. As if they are aware of the distraction their musical dexterity can pose, the chorus is stripped down at one point, to remind the listener that there is a heart to the music.



This, I feel, is an important point to remember. Streetlight aren’t just streets ahead (sorry) of most other ska bands in the music department, their lyrics have a substance that goes beyond the themes of teenage awkwardness or ham-fisted politics. Some might feel the lyrics are a bit heavy for ska, but considering the trials the band have been through over the past few years, it is unsurprising that themes of loyalty and betrayal, friends and enemies, right and wrong, and of course thievery, are constantly simmering under the surface. The most relevant metaphor is that of David and Goliath, referenced in the song Toe to Toe.

The juxtaposition of emotions evoked by upbeat ska and upset lyrics is odd, and that might be responsible for a slight leaning away from outright ska as the album progresses and touches on folk, reggae and even salsa. The title track in particular is poignant.  It seems to boil down to a protest song that speaks of standing your ground when it’s time to fight, but it seems to be tinged with a sadness that a protest is needed in the first place.

This feeling of hurt and defiance lingers in the second half of the album, as the band toy with genres with their usual gusto, while using the lyrics to vent their frustrations.

It is sad to see that a genuinely talented group of musicians, who have tried to do everything with dignity, is forced to choose between touring and being happy.   There are some positives however, like the fact that the band are still in love with making music regardless of what happens. The biggest positive is that The Hands That Thieve is a cracking album; filled with more heart and defiant spirit than a ska band should be able to muster. Here’s hoping that at the very least, David can survive the skirmish with Goliath to fight another day.

Images/Music from Streetlight Manifesto. Support the band at the Risc Store.

Japan has a screamo band called Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas

Ah, Japan. What a baffling land of head-melting goodness it is. It reminds me of the artistic guy in your class who would be pretty cool if he just stuck to what he was good at and didn't try to pass himself off as the rebellious trouble-maker. Instead of drawing on his own background and skills, he copies another culture down to the last detail and basically becomes a parody of himself.
And so it can be the case with Japan and the U S of A. Don't get me wrong, Japan is scarily far ahead in terms of technology and karate and all that stuff. There's also some great bands like Engrave and some funny bands that are ok like Brain Failure. (No idea if either are from Japan or China or wherever but same difference, am i right?!)

Enter Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas, a trancecore/screamo band from Japan and OMGoth where do I start?

I don't even..I can't...what?!

I tried to make some order to this but they are an assault on the senses! Alright first off - the name. Firstly it is lol just by simply existing as a band name. If I have to explain this then you need to pay more attention to post hardcore/anything-core bands. That's before I talk about DAT COMMA. Did they intentionally say 'fuck you grammar' when they chose it, or was it a ridiculous attempt to distance themselves from crazy ol' Hunter S?

Then there's their sound and videos...

I actually like the first 20 seconds or so of the song. I mean, they are jumping around like overgrown androgynous kids dancing in front of a mirror but it's upbeat, it's fun, I can dig it...and then....

DAT AUTOTUNE

W...T....F.... I'm guessing they set it to 11?! Holy shit. Talk about taking an idea and going with the 'make it more make it better' formula! Why not just have a robot, that would be x10000 times cooler and just as natural sounding. Though I will say when the screams come in I think it works a bit better aaaand they can write/programme a catchy chorus! 1.25 brings some of the best 'get the fuck up!' nu metal style bounce riffing I've heard in a long time and that guy/girl really can scream! Also the little breakdown with the guitar lead over it is kinda sweet.

But let's get back to the comedy!

• Has anyone else noticed that the screamer moves a lot like a certain magician in Arrested Development?

•  I thought 'party by the pool' music videos were meant to have, you know, people? Friends..fans..guilt-tripped girlfriends..

• Flip flops...

• Dat keyboard playing at 2.01 looks familiar...
   
  
  
  (SRSLY PLAY THE SONG IN THE BACKGROUND AND WATCH THESE TWO GIFS)
  
  
  ...and this is only the tip of the iceberg...they have loads of videos ..!

I would non-ironically lose my effin' mind to the first half of this song if I was in a club. I think I got a nose bleed about 2.30 though.

Now, I'm sure you're all saying 'this is A grade stuff, but they won't be my new favourite band until I connect with the lyrics.' I hear you! Here is a lyric video.

I'm going to go on record and say I would actually be super into this band if it wasn't for the autotuned lad. The intro is sweet and the heavy bits are nailed down MOSH. But, back to the lyrics. Some highlights include.

• Travelling all four point wherever wind blows
• Do not hold any bag courage is all you need
• There are no choice for you but to go forward
• Things you've never met exist in the world. It's will surely make your journey worthy.

But fie on all my jokes, dat breakdown 2.00. Hooooooly.

I'm actually going to check out some more, but I might need a lie down first. As their last.fm biography says:

"The audacious and unique fusion of heavy music and various electronic sounds produced by the keyboard has facinated many audiences."

 CONSIDER ME FACINATED. 

The Moral Majority Movie Guide is my film bible

The Moral Majority, for the unenlightened, are a Christian, right wing, conservative group who are very concerned about family values and morals.

In their bid to rid the world of EVIL these do-gooders have created a site (www.movieguide.org) dedicated to promoting nice little films that are clean and happy and safe for kids! They also detail the sordid elements of movies and rating them, from a ‘concerned parent’ type of view.

Now, anyone who has read this blog knows my taste in films, and might be wondering what could possibly interest me here. Do I really want to see films such as The Nativity Story or The Ten Commandments? Hell no!

But not only does Movieguide rate good-intentioned, family-friendly films, it also give minus stars for the most SHOCKING, BLASHPEMOUS and IMMORAL movies! It just so happens that some of us like these despicable creations.

Machete

First off, I can't believe I haven't written about this for Dodgy Film Club, something I will rectify asap. The moral majority have listed the following adjectives in relation to the film all about the mustachioed Mexican: 

“Evil, rotten, disgusting, humanist, nihilistic, Communist”

Not only that, but it also contains “68 obscenities and 17 profanities.” This, I remind you, is all before a summary of the film itself is actually touched upon. These are merely red flags of disgust, to spark the beginnings of a righteous, moral fire. Red Flags of Awesomeness more like!

I’ve just realised that I’m assuming everyone knows what Machete is about, or at least can have a stab at the gist of it from the poster. Apologies, let me have the good people at MovieGuide.org explain: 

“MACHETE is an ultra violent, extremely lewd and bloody exploitation movie about a Mexican immigrant who, working with left-wing revolutionaries, violently stops a conspiracy involving a corrupt white businessman secretly in cahoots with a Mexican drug lord who’s manipulating white vigilantes killing illegal immigrants. MACHETE is one of the worst movies ever – an ultra violent, bloody mess with extremely lewd content and a hateful, offensive, racist, Anti-American worldview.”

 I don't know what they could possibly find offensive about this.

Sounds amazing, right?! I think so. But perhaps it’s not for you. I mean, exploitation films are kind of a niche.

How about a film that is a true celebration of being alive? A film in which a man, who suffered terrible punishment and died, came back to life! That sounds like something Christians could get on board with!

Crank High Voltage

 

“CRANK HIGH VOLTAGE is a repulsive action movie about a former hitman who must find the Asian gang leader who replaced his heart with a mechanical one that needs constant electrical stimulation to keep working.”

Okay, they don’t like it, but it can’t be the worst action film they’ve ever seen?

“CRANK HIGH VOLTAGE may be the worst, most abhorrent and evil action movie ever made.”

 Ah. Moving on then…

Tell me there's nothing angelic about this scene!

Piranha 3DD

Next up is GDAC Dodgy Film Club favourite, Piranha 3DD! A tale about man struggling to find his place in the ecosystem. Initial signs are good with this review, as the MovieGuide tag line says ‘This movie really bites’. That’s right folks, that’s a pun! A real, live pun!

I’m not sure they’re thinking this reviewing craic through, because if the lines: “more than 120 obscenities and profanities; extreme bloody, gruesome violence includes piranha comes out of woman’s body and attaches to man’s private parts" makes me want to (re)watch this as a 26 year old, think of what impact it would have on teenage boys.

There’s also a very odd segue, when the reviewer talks about 'anti-smoking Nazis’. Are we SURE this isn’t a parody site? Does the reviewer really detest films with swear words and nudity because they harm children, yet he is pro-smoking? Lololol.
 
(I don't want to spoil any of this by adding gifs. Plus, I can't find any vaguely religious themed gif.)

I’m sure the list contains any number of entertaining/evil films I have yet to see. MovieGuide.org has gained a new fan, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

Ridiculous Metal of the Month: The Book of Heavy Metal by Dream Evil

There are some examples of metal that are just so over the top, so ballsy, so joyous, that they go full circle, passing ironytown on the way, and become songs that I actually enjoy (after a few drinks).

The Book of Heavy Metal by Dream Evil is one such example. My relationship with this song started like many others of this genre; found on a compilation CD from Metal Hammer, funny to listen to a few times, then pretty much forgotten about.



Soon however, I unearthed the accompanying music video, which came to receive heavy rotation on the ‘you have to see this video, lololol’ type of nights my friends and I partake in every so often. There is so much going on, from the outfits, to the CGI, the power stances, the drummer (in general)…not to mention the delight in having someone discover  the ‘to be or not to be’ line for the first time.

Things the singer doesn’t want:

• A flashy house
• A car
• An ugly wife

Things the singer does want:

• What his parents don’t
• To be in the book of heavy metal

Whether they are being serious or not, I can’t help but sort of admire them. From a distance, of course.