Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Under Pressure- Come Clean LP

Under Pressure- Come Clean LP cover
No exaggeration, this record has spun on my turntable at least 350 times ever since I picked it up back in early 2008. I saw them live on their final tour when I was still a gullible youngin'; I had no idea who they were, I actually went to this show to see one of my area favorites, Government Warning, who were always great to see without question. The show was at this terrible bar full of dimwitted employees called the Double Down in Raleigh, NC. The staff was rather brood-ish and ego-scary.

From memory, I could only remember seeing this band feeling like my jaw had dropped to the floor. I could have died happy at that moment, while I observed this five-piece monster of a rock n roll band completely destroying this shitty bar, and playing a seamless, uncompromising 30-35 minute set that left me wanting even more at the end. There were absolutely no breaks between songs, and the guitar player crawled on top of things, did a lot of scary things, went outside during a guitar lead, and scared the hell out of all of us attendees by coming inches short of slashing our necks with his guitar neck. The vocalist, Cam Popham had a firm stance in the middle of the floor, belting out terrifyingly genuine feelings through the microphone. Driven by lyrical content on par with modern poets, his voice was straight low-end diaphragm. I was immediately shifted.

I specifically remember the bartender telling the band after their set, "Hey, ya'll can't play here ever again!", and the response from one of the band members being something like, "Um okay, we were never going to anyways, we are from fucking Canada." One month later, this bar closed forever and became the Black Flower. Good job guys.

Under Pressure (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) was definitive for what they were performing. The drummer Dan Ryckman (I probably spelled that wrong, whatever) wrote parts that were directly inspirational and influential to my drum parts for bands I would later be a part of, such as Stripmines (NC), and later, some of the more recent Much Worse (MN) stuff I'll be doing on the new LP. Back in 2008, seeing Under Pressure, and listening to their records didn't make me want to create more of what I was doing, but instead inspired me to completely destroy it and start all over again (i.e. quit the band I was in, which I did quit it, gladly and for the better). In that area in life, the timing could not have been more perfect as a means for self-improvement and musical discipline. From what I understand, that dude also plays in a bunch of sick grindcore bands such as Violent Gorge and Archagathus, thus making for Ryckman's such perfectly practiced pacing and drumming language.

Another great thing I remember about Under Pressure playing in Raleigh was smuggling pizza out of my job's kitchen (don't tell my boss) for this band the day after their show. This action would very well be my foot in the door for doing DIY hardcore show stuff later on down the road. These habits and understanding for the needs of touring bands would quickly create great contacts for me and, only a year later, would send me booking really neat DIY hardcore shows of my own all over Raleigh. I can tell any of you first hand, that sometimes bands come through and they can be a true catalyst for members of the audience, and for me it took a band setting an example of "how to do it". This would keep me excited enough to understand that I would diligently keep at this stuff for years, and that I would care about doing it for a very long time. It also made me practice drums nearly every day and still does, and it made raised the bar for me deciding on what kind of bands I would eventually be doing for my years after seeing them.

I genuinely felt like this band was pushing the boundaries of what's actually possible in songwriting while still making hardcore punk that sounded so completely perfect and musical. Riff heavy rhythm parts, minus too many leads, much like the Ramones were so popular for. This band was the equivalent, or more, of seeing something like a mix of Japanese hardcore or Bl'ast, but with a grimy melody carrying every part uniquely, just like in the song "Muddy Waters". The songs carry a fine distinction from one another and contrast tempos frequently throughout the record. Perfect guitar tone, and the vocals belt out in a realistic, non-contrived format, laid out in a well thought out process. I feel like this entire record builds itself up to the punishing track "Sick/Sinful" and closes perfectly with "Tired Eyes". To say that I recommend this record to you is a criminal understatement, for I actually feel like you have not been alive yet until you've heard this record start to finish. Their other LP that I have called "Black Bile", is just as good, I promise. As soon as I find a digital version of Black Bile or upload it myself, it'll definitely be up.

RIP Under Pressure
Listen: Under Pressure- Come Clean (Full Album) thanks to Mindless Mutant's youtube channel.

--Ira

Friday, November 28, 2014

MUCH WORSE tour video 2013

This is a video I put together from my first tour with Minneapolis hardcore quartet MUCH WORSE.

We did another tour in 2014, and you can expect to see a video from that around the time of the release of our new LP. We did a five song tape before we left for tour that I will find a way to include in the next post. We are counting down about 3 weeks remaining until we hit the studio to record an entire 12 new songs. The tour tape and this upcoming LP are my first releases with them, and maybe first of many. It's been a good run, and I plan to return to Minneapolis in the spring-time to finish up some more possible tours and definitely a lot of great shows with the new material, which we are all very excited about. Anyways, this video is pretty cool, and is worth checking out if you've got 27 minutes to watch a cool DIY HC video.

Tour video from 2013

Much more, very soon!

Thanks
Ira

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Nasa Space Universe- ICE EP

I picked this up when I booked a show for NSU about two years ago. Truly, this band was unbelievable and wrecked house at the weirdest bar/hair salon in Raleigh. There were smoke bombs and fireworks going on indoors and the bartender miraculously did not care about the entire event at all. We blamed the hair coloring products for all the paint spots on the floor.

Simply enough, they stayed at my house and after seeing them and putting this record on, NSU gave me a breath of fresh air in the hardcore punk genre. The hardcore shows in Raleigh in 2012 had some really average touring bands from the way I collect. Previously, I had heard the 12" record they had entitled "Across the Wounded Galaxies", but had no clue whatsoever to how completely loud and forceful this music would be live, though I still listen to ATWG rather frequently still. Cameron Craig and I stood there with our mouths open being like "what in the fuck is this band? THIS RULES"

Simply enough, after NSU stayed at my house and we discussed horrible movies such as Birdemic: Shock and Terror, The Room (Tommy Wiseau) and many other humorous things, I realized that these guys were not only a cool band, but simply great guys with fantastic senses of humor about them. They were walking cartoons. One year later they would play a show at King's with The Coltranes (who rule hard as well), and all of these guys then introduced me to Longmont Potion Castle (the greatest albums ever created completely encompassed with prank phone calls). Every time I meet these guys, it seems I learn something new.

About the music. Just click this and find out. It's blistering hardcore punk. Like a shamelessly evolved form of Die Kreuzen, yet very original stuff. Fucked up band with fucked up dudes. Key things to keep in mind, is if you pick up any NSU record, READ THE LYRICS. All of the lyrics have some sort of hyper intelligence to them, and the vocalist Kevin seems to read a lot of books. All of these songs are very well versed and creative, and the lyrics give it some of its own purpose. It's relieving to find hardcore punk bands that care about writing lyrics so much, while still having them remain decipherable (Double Negative, Devour, Wasted Time, Under Pressure, Concrete Cross are all examples of contemporary hardcore punk bands with great lyrics). The structures are all over the place and still remain influential to bands that will be coming out in the next hundred years, I hope. Cut the bullshit breakdown crap and dumb growler death core for a minute and get into a band that writes actual songs.

Here

This coming tour, look forward to their EGM EP, I have it on tape, and it's arguably even better!

--IRA

Friday, April 4, 2014

Upcoming Raleigh and Area HC gigs 4/4/13

Greetings all! Ira here. First a couple of updates.

Two projects I have been up to in the past year is Minneapolis' MUCH WORSE and Raleigh's PROSTHESIS.

PROSTHESIS consists of Jeff Young (we played together in STRIPMINES and both run this blog), Daniel Lupton (DEVOUR, LOGIC PROBLEM, Sorry State Records), Dave Yarwood (DEVOUR), David Gallagher (VACANT PLANET). It is essentially a continuity of our deceased projects and ideas from the past year or so. The first show for Prosthesis is APRIL 14, and another show scheduled thus far is JUNE 5. Information on both of these shows are listed below.

MUCH WORSE is the 4 year long running hardcore speed freaks from Minneapolis that I've been playing with over the summer. Live, Much Worse attempts to blow the doors down with a full and intense wall of sound. With plenty of breakneck, furious and fast tempos, something that feels new about it. Inventive riffing, complex lyrical structure and overall style. I will be playing for them again this summer on another US tour, flying out there on June 15th. Much Worse tour video coming very soon.

For a while I will continue to hop on airplanes and play drums for bands. Meanwhile, I'll use this blog to let you know about cool hardcore shows happening in Raleigh.

Area gigs.
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SUNDAY APRIL 6th @ NICE PRICE BOOKS (Raleigh)
Show by IRA ROGERS
ALLVARET (Sweden), NO LOVE (Raleigh)
9:00PM
$5
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/652290658141841/
Watch Allvaret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-C2hVAvheI
Listen No Love: http://noloveraleigh.bandcamp.com/
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APRIL 11-13
DAMAGED CITY FEST (Washington D.C.)














Not to be missed!
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/184839145038461/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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SATURDAY APRIL 12 @ THE PINHOOK (Durham)
PISSED JEANS + more
9:00PM
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/616202445117659/
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MONDAY APRIL 14 @ THE MAYWOOD (Raleigh)
Show by DANIEL LUPTON
VIOLENT REACTION (UK), THE FLEX (UK), PROSTHESIS (Raleigh HC, first show)
9:00PM, 18+, $8
























Gonna be a great Raleigh show for all the hardcorepunkmetal freaks
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/740296246001787/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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THURSDAY APRIL 17 @ NICE PRICE BOOKS
DREADED / HERON / VITAMIN GIRLS
8:00PM

















Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/466231456839007/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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SATURDAY APRIL 19 @ THE MAYWOOD
Show by PRIMITIVE WAYS and THRASHITORIUM
MIDNIGHT / SHITFUCKER / BANDAGES / GORBASH
9:00PM, 18+, $13adv./$15

















Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/596250993763194/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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FRIDAY APRIL 25, @ NICE PRICE BOOKS (Raleigh)
Show by JEFF YOUNG
GOVERNMENT FLU (Poland) / RED DEATH (D.C.) / HOLDER'S SCAR (GSO) / SKEMATA (Raleigh)
9:00PM, ALL AGES, $7
LISTEN: http://yamadori.bandcamp.com/album/government-flu-holes-7ep
LISTEN: http://reddeath.bandcamp.com/
LISTEN: http://holdersscar.bandcamp.com/
LISTEN: https://sorrystaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/skem-ta-demo

















Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1389256427963455/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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SATURDAY APRIL 26 @ THE MAYWOOD (Raleigh)
Show by PRIMITIVE WAYS
LIONS OF TSAVO / PRIAPUS / LESSER LIFE / BUSTED CHOPS / THROATSTOMP
8:00PM / $7/$9

















Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/682526341793062/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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SATURDAY MAY 10th @ IN THE GROOVE RECORDS
All ages matinee show! Show by JASON BROWN
MAN WILL DESTROY HIMSELF / INTHESHIT / SONS OF TONATIUH / RECREANT / PRIAPUS / RBT
3:00PM / $10












Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/663300273734760/?ref=2&ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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THURSDAY JUNE 5th @ NICE PRICE BOOKS (Raleigh)
Show by TREVOR FUHRMANN
BARGE / PROSTHESIS +more
8:30PM, ALL AGES, $6
I will be playing this show in PROSTHESIS
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/137076919796306/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming
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THURSDAY JUNE 12th @ NICE PRICE BOOKS (Raleigh)
Show by WILL BUTLER
CHEST PAIN (TX) +more
9:00PM
More information TBA
Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/770235206327440/
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After this, I will be away for the summer, however, I will try to keep you all updated with Raleigh shows while I'm gone!

If you would like to add a show of yours to my blog or have any questions please feel free to contact me at vilediscourse@gmail.com

Thanks to all the hardcore punk metal freaks of NC

--IRA

Artwork of Raleigh HC Gigs by Ira Rogers



Inspired by Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1 and 2

This flyer inspired by Longmont Potion Castle

Some things from MUCH WORSE tour 2013

Just got a laptop so I can get back to updating this blog. I will begin by simply sharing some images collected from tour. It went very well, and definitely am looking to do it again this coming summer. Also coming soon will be a 28 minute video mix I've edited and mixed together from all the analog videos we took from tour. I feel like it's one of the best projects I've been involved with. The video will speak for itself and I'll have them pressed to DVD by the time Much Worse does another tour.

Raleigh flyer.
Artwork by: Ira Rogers

Richmond Flyer
How my brain interprets these songs live

This is Logan
The cymbal was new at the beginning of tour

Live at In The Groove Records, Raleigh
Photo by David/Megan Gallagher



--Ira