The Aquabats are the only band that I saw before having kids (1995 to be precise) that my kids have also seen. That happened just a few weeks ago thanks to 3hive’s own Sean. The very day we were visiting him and his family was the same day the Aquabats were playing nearby in a cul-de-sac for someone’s birthday party. When the kids got to take a photo with the Aquabats before the show, little did they know what was in store: the costumes, the comedy, the monsters, the satire, the mosh pit, the silliness, and the pool party accessories. In the last 9 days, they’ve listened to the full album 42 times. And watched the “Fashion Zombies” video 38 times. Aquabats, you have some new cadets!
Hit The Switch
It’s not punk rock if you’re not pissing someone off. Hit The Switch will piss some of you off, and that’s a good thing. When a band names their album Domestic Tranquility and Social Justice you know they ain’t messing around. So yeah, there’s a message here and you may find it leaning too far towards socialism for your political tastes (that’s definitely the case with my father’s political bent…Hi Dad!) but Hit The Switch won’t try to convert you to any one way of thinking, they just want you to think. I suggest you close your political ears and listen with your musical ears and be converted by their fast, catchy, aggressive take on punk rock.
By the way, this is the second half of their album, available as a free download for a limited time from Nitro. The first half of the album was likewise available last month.
Nepotism note: I’m employed by the band’s label. But I dig this band and you dig free music so, so what?
Prototypes
Depending on where you stand on the infamous World Cup headbutt, you could dedicate this punchy little number to Zinedine Zidane because, unless my French is nonexistent (which, actually, it is), the title translates to something like “I don’t know you,” which seemed to be the clarion call of commentators and journalists around the globe. (Did anyone else get tired of the ABC TV commentator repeatedly call the hit “vicious”? Overly aggressive? Yes. Ill-timed? Absolutely. But it seemed clear that Marco Materazzi A) took a dive, and B) said something pretty, ahem, unsportsmanlike…but I digress.) Luckily the Prototypes, who apparently are huge in France and have recently joined Minty Fresh stateside, don’t specialize in downtrodden numbers—there’s a “yeah yeah yeah” callout in English on this track—so we can look at Zizou’s antics with a little levity and maybe practice some fancy footwork, and headwork, of our own.
The Floor Is Made of Lava
You Americans reading and asking yourself “Is that what they really think about us?”, apparently the answer is yes. The Floor Is Made of Lava is possibly named after a Simpsons quote and in the funny and moshable “Told Her I’m From Compton” they name-drop Camaros and Kodak moments, among other things. One look at the Kodak moment to the left and you’ll agree that these guys wouldn’t want to find themselves in Compton, even in a Camaro. But that’s OK, because whether the crazy Copenhagen kids are taking the piss out of us or just having themselves some fun, their bouncy chords and goofy lyrics come across as a post-pop Ween for expats. So turn it up, turn your sensibilities off and hide your sister (see song 2).
Cinemechanica
Twitchy time signatures, fiercely intricate drum patterns, dualing guitars, and speak/shouting about things not quite right in the world…just what you’ve come to expect from Dischord. Only it’s from Athens, GA’s Hello Sir Records. The band’s called Cinemechanica. I don’t want to say they’re a breath of fresh air…more like a swift punch to the gut that knocks the wind out of you and pauses life for a second and THEN is followed by a breath of fresh air that fills your lungs that makes you choke and sputter but glad to be breathing again.
As an aside, Cinemechanica’s dummer Mike (he of the fiercely intricate rhythms) sent me and I’m sure a number of other bloggers an email from the road back in early April stating honestly and openly that he loves the record they just put out called Martial Arts and he knows it won’t be the next big indie hipster phenomenon but it’s everything he hoped it would be and if I’d just listen to it and give feedback good or bad he’d feel validated because, at the time, no one seemed to be paying much attention and they were touring and working their butts off to get the word out and he was running out of ideas. I’m paraphrasing because it was a well written email and I don’t want any other bands out there who might have the same sentiment to bite his lines. So there, Mike, is your feedback: good email, even better music.
Data Panik
You want the bad news or the good news first?
The bad news (you’re so predictable): Scottish electro-pop-punkers Bis are no more. Kaput. Finito. The band that gave us the theme song to the Powerpuff Girls is dead.
The good news: original Bis members Manda, Steven, and John have been joined by two other lads to form Data Panik. The torch has been passed. Now aren’t you glad you heard the good news last?
The Soviettes
Frenzied. Snarling. Catchy. Fun. The first four words that describe the Soviettes. Not to be confused wtih the Soviets. The perfect soundtrack for working out at the gym on the Stair Master. Just be careful not to break the thing!
Subcity Dwellers
Being around my old college friends a few weekends back brought back a craving for cheap Mexican food and ska-punk, which I’ve had a hard time satiating for some reason. So I was stoked when Grant Lawrence included this scorching new (to me, at least) track from Vancouver, B.C.’s Subcity Dwellers on the latest Radio 3 podcast. Now Grant, where’s my bean and cheese burrito?
No Trigger
I came across No Trigger while doing business with their drummer, Mike. He was too modest to mention his own band, keeping everything aboveboard, business-like. Respectable. But I gave him an earful when I finally heard his band — you can talk up your band without hyping it up ad nauseum. A rare skill, but possible. No Trigger has given me an earful ever since. I’ve got a soft spot for scream-a-long punk rock. It got me through adolescence, kept me awake on road trips, and lately it’s been paying the bills (full disclosure: I’m employed by No Trigger’s record label). I’m uncomfortable with any self-serving promotion (ah, I understand Mike’s reticence), but I’ve been listening to and loving No Trigger a lot lately. And it was time for a little dose o’ punk rock around here.
Parts & Labor
Parts & Labor is a Brooklyn trio that makes some noise — some very noisy noise. Don’t let that deter you if it ain’t your thing, because the way all that noise is organized on “A Great Divide,†well, it’s darn near rapturous. Screaming guitars, drums pulsating like helicopter blades, vocals shouted through a bullhorn, bleeps and burps and explosions like a Radio Shack under siege — and it all comes together like there’s a riot in your headphones and everyone’s invited!