Macconnell - You Can't Take Us Anywhere

EDIT: Brian, the drummer of Macconnell, unfortunately passed away in an automobile accident on September 4, 2010. It is a shame to see a life like his cut so short and we now will never know the potential of him and what his band could accomplish. Brian was a great dude and is and will be missed. RIP Brian.

This is a post for my homies:

Macconnell - You Can't Take Us Anywhere.

For fans of Hot Water Music, Foo Fighters, Leatherface, The Draft.

Macconnell is my current favorite local band - I am thoroughly impressed with their songs so far and cannot wait to hear even newer jams. I am not saying this because they are my friends, I am saying this because it is true.

DOWNLOAD HERE!!

Also, hit up their FACEBOOK PAGE to hear and extra song not on the demo and check out a video of them I took from a show in March HERE.

Nightmares For A Week - A Flood Tomorrow

Nightmares For A Week is a three-piece punk/folk-rock band from Kingston, New York and right now they are currently among my three favorite locals (along with Document and Dead Channels). This band consisting of ex-members of Jerk Magnet/Ana Divine strays far from that mid-to-late 90's pop-punk sound and focuses more on a twangy guitar-driven country approach to punk rock. With the Jawbreaker influence blatantly obvious (what, you couldn't tell from the name of the band?), they also draw influences from the likes of older Against Me!, Lucero and Hot Water Music while still focusing in and delivering on a sound I would like to think as their own. This five-song EP showcases some of their best songs while at the same time leaving the listener anxious to hear what this band has in store next. If you dig what you hear, take a trip to their Myspace page and pick up a copy of the cd.

Favorite Track: Tour Song

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Death

THIS is fucking awesome.

READ about it here.

The Gaslight Anthem - Acoustic AP Session

Nerdery Pt. III

Someone on the Gaslight message board posted this and now I am posting it here.

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PS-Zack I know you hate this band and I am sure you don't enjoy me posting about them on here (every 5 seconds) but this is what you get for posting whackasstabulous bands like Bridge and Tunnel. DAWG I OWN YOU.

The Gaslight Anthem - Live in Boston

Gaslight Anthem Nerdery Pt. II

This is a live set from when they played Boston on August 17, 2008. This was the day after the record release show in NYC which was incredible. The quality isn't great but I thought it would be a lot worse. It hasn't kept me from listening to this a hundred times already. ENJOY!

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The Gaslight Anthem - Live Acoustic on KEXP

For all the other Gaslight Anthem nerds, I have a live acoustic set + interview for you. Just Brian but it is still pretty delicious and I enjoy hearing the songs played acoustically. ENJOY!!

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The Bouncing Souls - How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I figured I would make a Souls post seeing as how I am seeing them tonight (for maybe the 20th time) with GREYFUCKINGAREA and Sick Of It All & I am ridiculously excited. Best Bouncing Souls record. The end.

Favorite Track: That Song or True Believers

Rating: 1,000 Out Of 10

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Latterman

Is there really enough that I can say about this album other than it's probably my favorite album by one of my favorite bands and probably one of my favorite albums ever? However, listening to them this morning at work led me to make this post. Although, I really would be surprised that anyone hadn't heard of this band...

With the release of this album, it was confirmed Huntington Long Island's Latterman had returned from hiatus. With comparisons to Hot Water Music and Dillinger Four, they kick off their second full length entitled 'No Matter Where We Go...!' with the electrifying track 'Doom! Doom! Doom!' and launch into their unique brand of punk.

With driving bass lines, melodic guitars, and thought provoking yet politically relevant lyrics bassist Matt Canino and guitarist Phil Douglas trade vocals as they lead the band through 12 tracks of fist pumping songs that are better heard than described. Lyrically tackling subjects from the importance of your friends to sexism in punk rock to the effects of gentrification, this band actually touches on subjects they, themselves experience.

However it couldn't last. Shortly after the release of their third album '...We Are Still Alive', bassist Matt Canino announced his departure from the band citing a variety of reasons including a misrepresenation of the band as well as trouble with their label.

Matt now lives in Olympia, WA and did play in Shorebirds with Chris Bauermeister of Jawbreaker, but I recently discovered they are no longer a band. He does, however, still run Rumbletowne Records. Drummer Pat Schramm now plays with Bridge and Tunnel.

yo, get into it

Favorite Track: My Bedroom Is Like For Artists

Rating: 10 Out Of 10

The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!

This is the most recent, though really not all that recent, release from Chicago's The Lawrence Arms, and it is easily my favorite record of theirs. On this album, The Larry Arms still blend the East Bay sound and Chicago sound like they have always been known to pull off, but it is a little less Jawbreaker and a little bit more of themselves. I think the band has always done a good job of taking what they know and mixing it well with their influences but I feel that this is an album they can call their own. The songs for the most part are a little bit shorter in length and I believe it to be lyrically leaps and bounds ahead their previous albums. I am by no means trying to knock their older work, I LOVE everything this band has released, but nothing they have put out has knocked me on my ass as much as this one and in the same way that Oh! Calcutta! did when it was first released. This is one of those albums that helps me every time I get into a little funk and I hope it has the same affect on some other people that it does for me.

Favorite Track: Cut It Up or Are You There Margaret? It's Me, God.

Rating: 10 Out Of 10

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Straightjacket Nation - Cheap Kicks Single

I have heard of this band mentioned before but never really bothered to check them out. I heard they were playing with Career Suicide and are from Australia, but other than that I didn't and still really don't know too much about them. What I do know is that I was lucky enough to see them play twice this weekend in New York City and they were one of the most intense bands I've seen. EVER. I regret not checking this band out earlier and I regret that I was only able to purchase the Cheap Kicks LP and 7" when I am now aware that they have a handful of other releases. This is really good aggressive, infuckingsane hardcore punk rock. If Career Suicide and Government warning had a baby on speed then that might give you something half as intense as this band truly is. Check this release out and if you ever have the chance go see them, who knows how long it will be until the next time you have the opportunity.

Favorite Track: Distaste

Rating: 9 Out Of 10

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Black Dove - No Future/No Fate

So I actually only heard about Black Dove for the first time last night. My friend Chris saw them play upstate and said this would be right up my alley, and he was right. Dirty crusty style punk rock from former members of Still Crossed. No Future/No Fate is an in your face release comprised of an intro and nine tracks of intensity. The music is great, while somewhat the standard to this style of music, but it was the vocals that really draw me in. There are a few parts throughout the album where some of the chord progressions sound a little odd and catch me by surprise, but at the same time I appreciate that because it doesn't feel like I have heard this release a million times before. Definitely not completely original by any means but these dudes seem to put their own spin on it. The only complaint I have with this album is on the eighth track, the drummer seems to get a little happy with the double bass in places I feel do not deserve to be abused by it. The drumming is spot on throughout the rest of this record though. This release is definitely worth checking out.

Here is the tracklisting since the mp3s aren't tagged properly. Sorry!!

01 HORDES OF LAMPADS
02 EMPIRE OF DUST
03 DIRGE OF THE HILLS
04 SAVAGE CHILDREN
05 BLACK DOVES
06 WHY DO BABIES CRY
07 NECROBUTCHER
08 DOOM DREAM
09 MJÖLNER

Favorite Track: Hordes Of Lampadas

Rating: 7 Out Of 10

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Cursed - III: Architects Of Troubled Sleep

After catching wind of their recent breakup earlier in the week, I became thoroughly bummed out with this news and decided to deal with it by listening to the newest, and in my opinion best, Cursed release. Cursed was one of those bands that every time I made an attempt to see, something either came up which prevented me from attending the show or they just happened to cancel. I have always been a fan since I first heard them & knew that anything with members of Haymaker, Chokehold and The Swarm were involved in was going to be both important and intense, and after this final release of theirs I am deeply regretting missing out on the opportunity of seeing them live. This album is one of the more violent records I have heard in a while, from start to finish ranging from slower sludgy parts to crusty influenced grindy blast beats, the riffs and drumming are sure to grab your attention and not let go. I believe III to be their most mature and most cohesive album while not losing an ounce of the chaos in their music they have been known to pull off quite well. The only complaint is that the quality is a bit iffy on this release, but it isn't so bad as to be distracted by it while listening to the album. Definitely a must have for any fan of Cursed.

Favorite Track: Friends In The Music Business

Rating: 9 Out Of 10

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Fucked Up - The Line

Not much of a fan of Fucked Up to be honest, but some of the things they do seem to crack me up & this song is no different. This is their dis track on Billy Talent. (Sort of) oldie but goodie.


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