Signifying Nothing

Reviews For The Week of August 15th

By admin on Aug. 15, 2011.

A 1965 performance of Naima by John Coltrane.

Antidote
Thou Shalt Not Kill 7″
Bridge 9 Records

Along with Infest, when I got into hardcore there wasn’t another band talked about in such mysterious and hushed tones as Antidote. The record was expensive, but the music was great. There was a bootleg 12″ of it with other early NYC eps (Cause For Alarm, The Abused and either The Mob or Urban Waste), but for most people, this was a record to get on tape, which I had a really nice dub from a virtually mint copy in 1997. Obviously, Antidote influenced the youth crew sound, especially Youth of Today, combining the early NYHC sound with the guitar playing of UKHC bands like Discharge. Some pretty stupid lyrics (not really “racist,” just idiotic), with some righteous lyrics, plus perhaps the best artwork on any hardcore record this side of the Age of Quarrel make this one a keeper. If you don’t own an original or one of the other reissues of this, definitely pick this one up.

Invasion
La Caza LP
Deranged Records

Somewhere between Amebix and Discharge come Spain’s Invasion. One of the best records of the past decade, Invasion are noisy, but also very tuneful. I listen to this one all the time.

Hands Tied
Through The Wreckage 7″
Livewire Records

Released for their reunion shows last summer, this ep shows some progression from their first record in 1996, but there is also something lacking about these songs. I think my problem here is that they both drag to the three minute mark almost, but could lose 30-45 seconds each easily. They’re aren’t bad songs, just not something I am enjoying. What I am looking forward to is hearing the finally recorded Gagged & Bound ep songs, which were live favorites during Hands Tied’s second lineup with Geoff TDT, Dan from Ressurection, and Matt Smith of Rain On The Parade/Shark Attack.

John Coltrane-At Temple University

By admin on Feb. 21, 2011.

John Coltrane
At Temple University 1966

I have had a bit of this gig on tape for years, but it’s to have the whole thing together finally. This is one of Coltrane’s final gigs in Philadelphia. This is at his height of unhinged free jazz with a gnarly version of Naima and equally raging versions of Crescent and Leo. Jimmy Garrison and Rashied Ali (Replaced by his brother Mohammad) aren’t on this, but the band sounds great nevertheless. This isn’t an absolutely essential Coltrane performance, and better ones are available through reissues or traders, but it is worth checking out.

Absolution Reunion

By admin on Sep. 22, 2008.

For the first time in a very long time I drove up to this show with my friend John. We hit a ton of rain on the way up but, thankfully, by the time we got to New York City it was gone besides some lightning. John and I caught up on what each other was up to and laughed at the antics of the world around us.

On the way up we listened to Dave K’s 1988-1990 NYHC mix.

Upon arriving in Hoboken and trying to find a parking spot for probably around twenty to thirty minutes I quickly realized why I can’t stand that city. Yuppies and “norms” everywhere going to bars and other social gathering. On the way home we had to watch adults stumble out of bars bombed out of their minds. Pathetic. Thankfully, we went directly to the PATH train and got to 9th street pretty quickly where we met up with our friend Dave.

A cab ride later we were in front of the club. I have seen a variety of bands at The Knitting Factory, from 7 Seconds to Kristin Hersh’s solo act. These days I am not really a people person, even worse than before, so when we got in the club I tried to make my way inside as quick as possible to check out whoever was playing.

We ended up getting inside while Maximum Penalty was setting us, which was fine by me. I had not seen MP in many years (I think the last time was in 1996 with Hogan’s Heroes and Vision…) so I did not know what to expect from them. The records they released in the nineties weren’t too hot but I love their demo from 1989, which is one of the best attempts at combining Bad Brains style hardcore with Alleyway Crew style mosh parts.

Despite some new songs that were a bit on the long side, I thought MP played well enough. They busted out most of the demo plus the songs from the Blackout! compilation. A huge pile on for Acceptance ended their set in excellent fashion.

Now this a reunion I just did not think I would ever see. After that haphazardly put together discography CD in the late 90′s (98? 99?) I perceived bad blood between band members and the chance of a reunion being near zero. I made my way up front and slid off to the side where some friends stood so I would be out of the way of the kickboxing (take it back to the nineties, please) and other jerky bullshit. My original plans had been to dance and dive and generally have fun but after running earlier in the day my stomach never settled (at the time I was a little under the weather) so I decided to pass. Soon enough Gavin came out along with Sergio (Collapse, Quicksand), who was filling in on bass, and their fill in drummer Doug (formerly of Slapshot, Speak 714, and other bands).

After a few minutes of tuning Djinji came out to a rather loud round of applause. Quickly they were flying into As We Are (no intro?!?) and from there they proceeded to play a pretty good set. In the beginning they were a little sloppy but that changed after a few songs. For some reason Gavin’s guitar was really, really, low in the mix for a handful of songs as well. Djinji had great things to say between songs and the band went off hard.

I was hoping on the way out to find Djinji so I could mention how much I appreciate his father’s playing with John Coltrane on the Ascension album, but the band had disappeared into the backstage area. Ascension is one of my favorite Coltrane albums. There is an excellent reissue CD from a few years back which combines both versions (as the story goes, I guess, one version came out but was recalled and the second version was then released in subsequent pressings) onto one CD. I tend to like the second version (they are long suites) more, but you can’t go wrong with either one.

After getting the cold shoulder from a few long time “friends” I decided to go find Dave and John and start heading back to New Jersey. We ended up at the World Trade Center PATH station and from there parted ways and headed home. Absolution and Maximum Penalty are playing ABC No Rio in a few weeks. I don’t think I am going to be able to make it, but I would advise others to check them out while they can. There are rumors of a more organized discography CD in the works as well.

Uprise

By admin on Nov. 7, 2005.

I interviewed Uprise at Fieldsboro on January 4^th 1997 during either Floorpunch or Ten Yard Fight’s set. I think it was Ten Yard Fight actually, because I was angry we missed Floorpunch on the way home. My ride wanted to leave early for some insane reason. To miss Floorpunch?!? The lowest blow had to be having to listen to The Descendents on the whole ride home. Yeah I really want to hear Silly Girl while we drive in the opposite direction of the best band in hardcore. Thankfully, I got a car a few months later.

Interview is with Matt, Steve, and Greg. I added some pictures to my Flickr archive.

Who’s in the band?

Matt-Okay, I’m Matt, the vocalist, Steve on drums, Frank Pooch on guitar, Drug Free Mike Z on guitar, Greg Rise on bass.

So you got a demo and a 7” coming out?

Matt-Originally in September of 1995 we released the Bustin Out Of Morris County demo which had four songs on it. It doesn’t say it on the demo, I just call it that.

That’s awesome.

Matt-If you heard it, you probably wouldn’t like us anymore

Steve-We didn’t know what we were doing, we just wanted to get something out

Matt-Only Steve knew what he was doing. Nothing against the other kids in the band.

Hardware said it was the first generic demo they’d heard in a while.

Matt-Just kick us while we’re down don’t you…just kidding

Well now, I know you’re good

Matt-Now we’ve gotten a lot better, a couple guitar player changes, basically it’s been me, Steve, and Greg the whole time. Mike joined the band in March maybe and with him we recorded the Positive Youth On The Rise demo which has six songs on it, three of which will be on the 7”

On Orphaned

Matt-On Orphaned Records

Cool

Steve-It should be out early February

Matt-Yeah, early February

So what’s Morris County like nowadays? When I lived there I remember seeing some skinheads around…

Matt-In north Jersey there used to be a big skinhead population; that was like late eighties

That’s when I lived there

Steve-A lot of sincere, dedicated kids

I used to live in Hopatcong

Matt-That’s where our guitarist is from

Yeah!

(At this point, some girl talks to Matt for a couple minutes)

Lots of girls dancing tonight

Matt-Yeah, it was cool

I was dancing and there were like girls all around me. It was cool.

Matt-Cool

That’s what I want; more girls, not just for the sake of more girls…

Matt-It’s like the 7 Seconds song Not Just Boys Fun, hardcore is for everybody

I notice with the new school kids the girls just stand in the back and hold their boyfriends bags. Fuck that.

Matt-People shouldn’t be coat racks. They should go to shows to have fun.

Greg-They all just bring book bags to shows to show off their vegan patches.

Yeah what’s up with all the Earth Crisis patches?

Matt-They suck anyway. But we won’t talk about that…

(We go on to talk about crappy Victory bands. Anyway.)

So the 7” is coming out?

Matt-Yep, six songs, three new

What do you think of the whole metal thing?

Matt-Metal

Sucks

Matt-Yeah, we’re a hardcore band. What do you think, Steve?

Steve-Well, some metal is good…

Matt-He likes some bad bands

Steve-The only thing I have to say is everyone should be open minded

Metal’s metal, hardcore’s hardcore

Steve-People shouldn’t be like “this doesn’t belong here”

Matt-I think it sucks. We take our influences from hardcore bands, not metal bands. All my favorite bands are not hardcore bands by any means but I’m not coming to band practice saying “let’s put a little piano” and shit, you know what I mean?

My favorite musician is John Coltrane

Matt-It’s good to be a talented musician because then you can put your talents into hardcore

TAPE ENDS…SWITCH IT OVER

Matt-Okay, Greg, what were you saying?

Greg-I was saying Matt curses too much

Matt-Sorry about that

Greg-He needs to work on his cursing problem…we apologize for Matt’s cursing problem

Matt-What’s wrong with that? I have the mouth of a trucker

Who gives a fuck

Matt-Exactly

Who gives a shit

Matt-Who gives a fucking shit. I get a little excited when we play, what the fuck?

The bands are excited tonight. That’s good because I see a lot of bands and I want to start dancing but they aren’t moving so I’m not moving

Matt-If the band doesn’t like what their playing how can you?

Closing comments?

Matt-Look for our record coming out on Orphaned Records. Six songs. Basically support all the New Jersey bands. Ensign, Floorpunch, 97a, Hands Tied, One 4 One, Backlash. Thanks for the interview, keep an open mind.

Greg-People should appreciate what we have because others don’t have shows.

Matt-Hope everything’s good.