Wednesday Night Show Pick: Born To Lose at Red 7 w/Capital Scam

Born To Lose is one of my all time favorite punk bands. It is still hard to believe as good as they are that I still get to see them at Red 7 on Wednesday. Their sound is so gutter, raw but yet polished, and worthy of a mid to high level Warped Tour stage. I have been to many a Warped Tours and three fourths of the bands there don't hold a candle to Born To Lose. I even saw Born To Lose play Warped a few years ago in front of a small but satisfied crowd. Seeing them live is like reliving my early twenties all over again.

They have been a Red River staple for years now. The reason you only see their name in show listings every so often if that much of their time is spent kicking ass and taking names in Europe, a much better place for punk bands from what I hear. Everyone who loves punk that I have shared their music with has always become a big fan. When they played at Emo's this summer with Gallows, the crowd loved them. People saw me singing along to the words during the whole show, which prompted them to approach me after and ask questions about them. "Who are these guys again?" "Are they local?" "Can you send me some MP3s?"

Born To Lose

www.myspace.com/borntolose

Their current album, Saints Gone Wrong, is in regular rotation in my truck's CD player. People new to Born To Lose need to pick that up first as it is their best. If you really want to get into Born To Lose, pick up Blessed Days. The recording and sound quality isn't as good as on Saints Gone Wrong, but the songs are phenomenal. In fact my favorite Born To Lose song is on Blesses Days, a song called "Borrowed Time".

Tonight Born To Lose takes the stage with any great local punk band called Capital Scam. I have seen these guys around, I believe most recently at The Broken Neck skate park. Tonight's show is also serving as Capital Scam's tour kick off show. Expect nothing but their A-game as always. I suggest arriving at Red 7 around 9:00. Red 7 is located on 611 E. 7th, right off I-35 and adjacent to the uber hipster Beauty Bar. I couldn't find anything that mentioned the cover charge, but it can't be more than ten dollars.

For some punk rock goodness or to check out Born To Lose for the first time, take a look and listen to this video for "Saints Gone Wrong".




For more info about tonight's show and the bands, visit the following links:

Capital Scam Myspace

Born To Lose on Double Stereo

Red 7 Myspace

New Album from Sober Daze

Every time I go to a local punk show, I wonder if I am going to see anyone new or buzz worthy. I have wondered for a longtime who would fill the shoes of great veteran punk bands like Lower Class Brats, Born to Lose or the Krum Bums. There are plenty of good local punk bands in Austin. One band that will surpass the up and coming status soon, and I mean sooner than later, is Sober Daze. I got first listen to their new release, No Brainz, No Headache.

Full Review...

The Dynamite Boy Reunion show

I figured since I went to a show at Emo's tonight, I'd waste no time at all as I promised frequent posts to whoever decides to read this blog I created. I saw the flyer for this show on a myspace bulletin from Cruiserweight, a band that has been around since I was 19. As much as I enjoy Cruiserweight, I wasn't there for them really. I went for Dynamite Boy.

This show was a reunion show as Dynamite Boy broke up a couple of years back, not sure when or why exactly. They are another band that is from Austin that has been around since I was either in high school or shortly there after. I had heard them on 101x before, maybe on their Homegrown Live segment. I liked whatever song or songs I heard from them but never caught a show. I admit that I took them for granted. Every time I saw them listed in the Austin Chronicle playing somewhere, I never got around to going. I figured I would just catch them the next time they played in town. Little did I know that there wasn't going to be another next time a few years back. I didn't really sweat it too much, but knew I should have gone.

Once I saw the flyer for this show, I immediately put this on my calendar and planned to attend. I called up a few friends whom I thought may dig the show, but none could go. I wasn't going to miss a good show I wanted to see so I went by myself. I do that most of the time as I never let anything stop me from being a good show I want to see. I live in Austin after all and may not be here forever, so I have to seize each moment I can.

I got to the show later than when doors opened and just missed Say Hello to the Angels. I had no idea I was in for a punk rock treat with the next band called "Born To Lose". Now I really wasn't expecting a punk band on the bill tonight, but it was a good surprise as I love punk. Born To Lose is a five piece band that reminds me when Warped Tour was good in the 1990s. I immediately looked them up on myspace and sent a friend request so that I could keep up with them. Their songs were catchy, intense, and fun. Plus, they had the traditional punk chant "Oi Oi Oi" which warms my heart.

After Born To Lose was Cruiserweight. Somehow I have managed to see them three times this year. They were on the bill now for two bands I went out to see and of course were at Emo's infamous "Free Week" in January. They always put on a good show thanks to catchy power pop tunes you can sing along too and a great front woman named Stella. Not only does she have a cool voice, she is hilarious and entertaining. With her signature hand wave, bouncy dance moves, and funny faces she makes, the crowd always loves her. Boys want her for a girlfriend and girls wish they could be more like her. Her curly hair is fabulous. I wish they would "make it" already as I saw them working at Double Dave's Pizza the other day by the community college campus my sister goes to. I recommend checking them out with your girlfriend.

When Cruiserweight was done, Dynamite Boy finally got started. They quickly reminded me that my decision to venture out to the show by myself was a good one. They had incredible energy and the crowd was into them right away. I am not claiming to know the names of the songs, but a couple were familiar. All I remember from them was "Satellite". This concert is going to send me to Waterloo Records looking for their old stuff on CD, maybe used hopefully. Whether or not they play more shows, I don't know. Hopefully they do, but I saw on myspace that some of their members had side projects or something. Either way, I got what I always wanted. That was to finally see Dynamite Boy live and the bonus was seeing them at Emo's, one of my favorite venues. If you like good pop rock alternative music with a little 90s feel to it, do check out Dynamite Boy. They are still better than half the skinny jean wearing bands kids listen to these days. Why do guys wear girl jeans now? I will never get it I guess. Maybe they could at least wear a Dynamite Boy t-shirt with their sister's jeans.