This Wednesday at Red 7 brings "The Economy Sucks Tour" featuring Trash Talk, Aiden, Cancer Bats and Anti-Flag. That's a pretty good bill and should make for a killer Wednesday night. I'd be lying to you if I said I was absolutely crazy about any of these bands, but they are worth seeing live.
It pains me to pick this show as it is the last show in Austin for one of Austin's best metal bands, At All Cost. The were one of the few to really build a following and whom I thought were going to get bigger nationally. I was hoping they'd be responsible for bringing in more metal to Austin so the metal heads of the world can stop calling Austin "hipsterville" or "an indie town". While we do have a plethora of indie talent here, we also have a lot of good hardcore the world needs to hear. Again, at one point I thought At All Cost would be one of those to bring more hardcore attention.
Now that Warped Tour and Mayhem Fest have since past, I am feeling a void in my hardcore soul lately. Say what you want about it, but there's just something that does it for me when it comes to music genres that end in the word "core" or start with "post". Those genres aren't popular here in Austin with local music media (minus Double Stereo and No Control). I don't understand that when I know Austin has plenty of harcore and emo/screamo fans. I see them at shows all the time, mostly at Red 7 or Emo's. They buy the hell out of merch and bring a certain high energy with their mosh pit craziness.
I got a hold of their latest album, titled Apologies Are For The Weak. I have been listening to it for about a month now and it certainly sounds better when played loud in my truck than it does while at my desk. The screams are a little high at times, but over all I enjoy the album. "Architect" and the title track are the standout tracks worth downloading even if you don't pick up the whole album. There's energy, passionate lyrics, and good breaks. In a genre of gimmicky bands who scream because they think its cool, Miss May I is refreshing to hear.
Me and my good friend Ajay Miranda with Brad Bell and Craig Owens from Chiodos. Check out Ajay's interview on Double Stereo with Chiodos. For being such a huge star in the Alternative Press world, they were some of the coolest dudes you'll meet.
Me with Dallas Green from Alexisonfire at the San Antonio Warped Tour stop. In case you were wondering, it is pronounced "Alex-is-on-fire". They're a cool band from Ontario, Canada. You should check them out along with their interview on Double Stereo.
Me with Chris 2 from punk rock legends, Anti-Flag. Unfortunately I didn't catch their set this year, but I have seen them three times already. I was just stoked to get this picture.
The Used is giving away a new guitar tab each week at TheUsed.net from their new album “Artwork”, in stores September 1st. The first handwritten tab is “Blood On My Hands”. The band is encouraging users to play and upload video of their guitar skills to each new song released before street date at TheUsed.net. New tabs will be given way each week until the release of "Artwork" on September 1st.
One of the things I look forward to every summer when the Warped Tour comes around is their annual Warped Tour Compilation album. This year’ s compilation, which feature’s NOFX’s Fat Mike on the cover, is one of the more diverse Warped Compilations to date. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it is the best of the series, but it is a must own for anyone who is going or went to Warped Tour this year.
Having just recently opened for punk rock legends, The Vandals, Austin punk rock group Sober Daze are on their way to making serious headway in the punk scene. Having come from Puerto Rico in 2003, they made their name by throwing their own house party shows and winning over new fans their own way. Despite playing along side some pretty big punk rock bands, no major media outlets have either taken an interest or have Sober Daze on their radar. I sat down with the guys from Sober Daze (Peter, Fatty & Corn) recently and talked with them about everything from life in Puerto Rico, their new album, and those now legendary house parties on St John's.
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
