Crib Notes

In the secret history of American punk and hardcore, the Effigies played a key role in leading Chicago’s strain of the energetic and reactionary sounds that defined disaffection in the Reagan era. The group’s 2007 CD, Reside – its first in 21 years – is a return to the lashing chops that made them such a formidable band in the early ’80s. With this one-off show, they’re playing at The Earl on Fri., Sept. 11 the group will show that the razor-sharp songwriting and political righteousness that gave the Effigies so much power in the early days of punk rock on American soil, still rings loud and clear.

Chad Radford:  I never thought of the Effigies, or the Chicago hardcore sound of the ’80s as having much in common with “Hardcore” (with a capital H), like bands from Boston or D.C.
John Kezdy:  If I were to describe what the Chicago sound was, with bands like us and Naked Raygun — we tried to write real songs but they had the punk energy. Our influences were a lot different from hardcore and I cringe whenever anyone calls us a hardcore band.

You don’t like being called a hardcore band?
It’s not that I don’t like it, but I think it’s an error. This may come as a surprise to you, but a lot of the hardcore crowd is kind of bigoted and has a very strict definition for what passes as hardcore.  If you don’t meet it you’re not hardcore. When our last album, Reside came out in 2007 we saw all of these hardcore blogs out there that hated it, and that’s as it should be because we’re not a hardcore band. I don’t mind if people call us a punk band because that’s what we’ve always been. I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but the lineage of the Effigies has always been more along the lines of the Sex Pistols, the Stranglers, the Ruts and that kind of stuff, as opposed to thrash metal or heavy metal which is what a lot of hardcore bands are. People forget that the term hardcore was actually a pejorative.

The Effigies play The Earl on Fri., Sept. 11 with Customers and Poison Arrows. $10. 9 p.m. , 488 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-522-3950.

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The Earl announced today that the seminal late ‘70/early ’80s Los Angeles hardcore band Fear will be playing on Mon., Aug. 10. Bloodhook opens.

From Steve Huey’s bio for allmusic.com

Along with Black Flag and the Circle Jerks, Fear helped define the sound and style of L.A. hardcore. Although they actually formed during the first wave of punk back in 1977, Fear didn’t release an album until five years later, by which time they’d honed a blistering, thrashy attack that, for all its fury, was surprisingly tight and sometimes even intricate. Which is to say that, musically, the band wasn’t as crude as frontman Lee Ving’s outrageous, humorously offensive lyrics, which were geared to piss off anyone within earshot, particularly women and homosexuals; his vulgarity was equalled only by his sincere love of beer. Continue reading.

$12. 8:30 p.m. The Earl. 488 Flat Shoals Road. 404-522-3950.

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Nashville-based film maker Matthew Robison’s (Silver Jew) much ballyhooed, but yet to be released Atlanta rock documentary We Fun premieres at the Atlanta Film Festival this Saturday night (April 18.)

The film is showing on screen no. 4 at the Midtown Art Cinema on Sat., April 18 and again at 2:05 p.m. on screen no. 6 on  Wed., April 22.

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This Friday night, April 17, Atlanta bands Sick Figures and All Night Drug Prowling Wolves will celebrate the release of a brand new split 7-inch single on Stickfigure Records at 529 in the East Atlanta Village, across the street from the Flat Iron.

Gainesville, Fla.’s country punk/rockabilly ensemble Whiskey & Co. return to Atlanta for the first time in several years to headline the show.

Doors open at 9 p.m.

Sick Figures get things started at around 10 p.m. All Night Drug Prowling Wolves go on around 11 p.m. and Whiskey & Co. will take the stage around midnight or sometime shortly thereafter to close out the night.

Cover is $7. 529 is located at 529 Flat Shoals Rd. 404-228-6769.

“Maybe Tomorrow” mp3 from All Night Drug Prowling Wolves’ side of the 7-inch.

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Austin, Texas, garage-punk quartet the Strange Boys craft a primitive, lo-fi rock and roll sound that’s both dirty and addictive. At its most predictable moments, the group comes across like a Lone Star state little brother to the Black Lips. But when they’re on, they’re on. Their In the Red Records debut, The Strange Boys and Girls Club, unleashes a psychedelic post-punk jam that’s part Texas psychedelia and part slow, Southern post-punk. Carnivores and the N.E.C. also perform.

$8. 8:30 p.m. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-522-3950.

Before their proper show at the Earl the Strange Boys are playing a free acoustic show across the street at Reactionary Records at 6:30 p.m.

“Heard You Want to Beat Me Up” mp3

(Photo courtesy of In the Red Records)

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On Fri., March 20 the folks at Mondo Homo are throwing their first fundraiser show at WonderRoot to raise money to support this year’s Mondo Homo fest., taking place from May 21-25 at Eyedrum. Dangerous Ponies, the Long Shadows, the Thieves, and Treephort are all down for the cause. Admission is $5. Music starts at 8 p.m.

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Shortly before 5 p.m. this evening (Wednesday, February 25) Pylon guitarist Randy Bewley died in the I.C.U. at Athens Regional Medical Center. He was 53 years old.

A blog post on the group’s Myspace page reads,

“Today, our bandmate and brother passed away at a little before 5 p.m. with his family and friends at his side. He will be missed, even as we celebrate his life and creativity. His guitar sound was as special as he was and always will be. Randy’s guitar work defined not only a generation of sound but Randy himself. His visual art, painting and photos, combined with his signature sound formed a loose set of boundaries that helps understand him. His quiet devotion to family and friends will become a benchmark for those he leaves behind.”

Earlier today Crib Notes reported that Bewley had suffered a heart attack while driving on Barber Street in Athens. According to an e-mail from the group’s vocalist Vanessa Brisco-Hay, “His van drifted off the road and tipped over. No other people or vehicles were involved. Rescue workers did CPR at the scene and he was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center. He is in ICU.”

This is a very sad day.

(Photo courtesy of Pylon’s Myspace page).

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… and if you’re still lurking around after Ricky Powell’s DJ set at Criminal Records, the Black Lips are sitting up for a 5 o’clock in-store to celebrate the release of 200 Million Thousand.

When they’re done, Austin, Texas high-concept rockers …Trail of Dead will play an in-store at 7 p.m. Both shows are free.

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Earlier today producer/director Matthew Robison sent Crib Notes a new cut of the trailer for the forthcoming Atlanta rock scene documentary, We Fun.

WARNING: The trailer features a few swear words, so if you are at work put on a pair of headphones.

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Call it the home field advantage, but ex-Nerves drummer Paul Collins’ show at the Earl Saturday night was fantastic to say the least. Not to say that his last show at the Earl back in August wasn’t a good one, but this grand unveiling of the line-up of the Beat, featuring Jesse Smith (bass), Dave Rahn (drums) and Warren Bailey (guitar), wielded a much stronger dose of chemistry than what the prior Beat brought last time around. If ever there was a time to catch Paul Collins, it was Saturday night.

It’s interesting to note that at the same time Paul Collins’ Beat was tearing it up at the Earl, British Ska band the English Beat was playing across town at the Loft, which has to have set some sort of historical precedent. In case you aren’t familiar with the story, the English Beat has to alter their name in the states because Mr. Collins already had the name for his far superior power pop outfit. Photographer Perry Julien shot some photos at the other Beat show .

(Photos by Chad Radford)

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For Today’s Roll Call we call out Michael Keenan of Hawks.

Who are you?
Michael P. Keenan Jr., A.K.A. Mike, Kees, Rah Dynamo, Moss Avitol (Airoes). I’m a freelance print/motion designer that runs by the name of Younganimals, a musician, self proclaimed Atlanta underground scene historian, occasional promoter/show booking flunky, and crisis control expert.

Describe yourself in three words.
Unhinged and constructive.

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
It would be a tie between Egon Schiele and Chuck D.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Thomas Edison.

What song do you wish you had written?
“Maniac Dragstrip” by The Nation of Ulysses hands down. I never would have survived high school with out N.O.U. They honestly had the biggest impact on me musically, in the way I’ve always looked at performing live, than any other band I’ve ever been exposed to. They’ve always been a sort of sonic Tylenol to me, soothing the acts of the day away. Oxbow does run a close second though.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Neither really. I’d rather listen to almost any Stax or Volt record than “The King of Rock ‘n Roll” and Elvis Costello just makes me think of bad “120 Minutes” era MTV. I can appreciate them both for what they’ve done but I have to be honest. How about El Vez? How’s that sound?!

LP, CD or MP3?
LP’s are for keeps.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
The side belt. I’ve worn my buckle to the side since I was 19 after I saw a picture of my grandfather in the 40’s in Hell’s Kitchen. He was stepping right off the boat from Ireland rocking the side belt with flat front slacks and a scarf tied around he’s neck.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Bluetooth ear pieces. Nothing in this world is more ridiculous to me than somebody rolling around town with a tiny cell phone crammed in their ear, screaming into the air, acting like a muttering homeless lunatic, looking like they’re talking to themselves and being a general douche. Your not fooling anyone. We all know you’re not that important.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
My 1st girlfriend (so I can show her all the tricks I’ve learned), Bowie, Winona Ryder, The girl Christian Slater makes out with in Pump Up The Volume, the Bangles (80’s era), Scarlet Johansson and MC Lyte.

“Chocolate Vulture”

Hawks play day two of the We No Fun Fest. at the Drunken Unicorn on Sat., Jan. 31st. $5 (21+). $8 (18+). 736 Ponce de Leon Place.

(Photo by Anthony)

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Savannah’s punk-metal-hardcore ogres Kylesa have announced March 17th as the release date for their next record Static Tensions (Prosthetic Records).

The record’s release coincides with a full-fledged tour of the U.s. with the haunted and Glass House, which kicks-off Thurs., Apr. 2.

Kylesa guitarist/vocalist Phillip Cope produced Static Tensions, which was recorded at the Jam Room in Columbia, S.C.  Cope boldly claims that the songs on Static Tensions are the group’s “best work yet.”

The album’s artwork was created by by Baroness’ John Dyer Baizley, and the album will see will a vinyl release on the same day via 20 Buck Spin.

Kylesa “Where the Horizon Unfolds.”

(Tour dates and Static Tension track list below the jump).

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Atlanta lady punk quartet the Coathangers have set April 7th, 2009 as the release date for their sophomore full-length, titled Scramble (Suicide Squeeze Records). The album is being released on both CD and a limited edition yellow vinyl LP.

Scramble track list:

“Intro”
“Toomer Head”
“Stop Stomp Stompin’”
“Time Passing”
“Bury Me”
“Dream Boat”
“Pussy Willow”
“Gettin’ Mad & Pumpin’ Iron”
“Killdozer”
“143″
“Arthriitus Sux”
“Sonic You”
“Bobby Knows Best”
“Cheap Cheap”
“Outro”

(Photo by Bob Levett)

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For Today’s Roll Call we call out Knife of the 4th Ward Daggers.

Who are you?
My name’s Knife. I’m the Majestic Diner hang around, a 4th Ward Dagger, and a pretty nifty hockey player to boot.

Describe yourself in three words.
Who needs words, when you got exclamation marks?  !!!

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Michael Jackson and Scarlett Johansson.  I’d be like, “Dude, I believe you’re innocent… So uhhh, can me and Scarlett go ride that roller coaster now?”

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
50 cent.  I once read an interview with him that was pretty much the most unintelligent thing I’d ever seen.  Remember when rap music had something to say?

What song do you wish you had written?
“Stay” by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
If I had a choice I’d play songs like Elvis Costello, but try to look as cool as Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock while doing it!

LP, CD or MP3?
I only listen to mixtapes that pretty girls give me when they’re trying to woo me.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Girls in tight jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of torn up Chuck Taylor’s that let you know that this girl knows how to have fun.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Cocaine and that oh so hip game of trying to be secretive about going to the bathroom to do it, but at the same time making sure everyone in the room knows what you’re doing in hopes of them thinking you’re really cool. Dumb.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
The Coathangers. Where ever that bottle stops, I’ll be happy with it!  Maybe I could ditch Michael and invite Scarlett into the game too.

Knife and the 4th Ward Daggers play Lenny’s on Tues., Dec. 16the w/Thee Crucials, Facehugger and Poison Arrows. FREE. 9 p.m. 486 Decatur St. 404-577-7721.

“Don’t Need You” MP3

(Photo by Lamar George/Dark Wolf Productions).

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Philip Frobos of Carnivores.

Who are you?
I’m Philip Frobos, and I play bass and sing for CARNIVORES (used to be Chainestereo). I also play bass with those Untied States kids. I like dead culture, cheese grits and David Bowie.

Describe yourself in three words.
Rambunctious, Paranoid, Blue

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
I’d like to roll with Nancy Sinatra back in her heyday, I wanna be her Lee Hazelwood. That record Nancy & Lee destroys me, if you can find it on the internet you should get the bonus track that doesn’t come on the LP called “Arkansas Coal.” I don’t know how they wrote that song, it might as well be an epic, but not like lame epic rock.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Dj Dj Dj Dylan. He wouldn’t get an Oh Snap picture with me. Maybe next week.

What song do you wish you had written?
It’s probably a tie between ELO’s “Showdown” and Jobim’s “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Costello.

LP, CD or MP3?
My favorite is LP, since I moved to Atlanta I’ve been building up a decent collection. I like that its a little more engaging, I like to think of records as two parts. Although I do love my morning on Marta with my iPod. It’s a toss up, those new LPs that come with the mp3 download card are brilliant!

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Bring the word “Rad” back up to its former dynasty in “cool” synonyms. Also bring “Game On” from Wayne’s World back, but then I probably wouldn’t want to say them anymore. How about Swatch?

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Overly HUGE sunglasses that hide ugly girls’ faces. Those things are as good as beer goggles but you don’t even get to be drunk.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Zooey Deschanel. She seems like a pretty rad kid.

“A Crime”

Carnivores plays the Pine Magazine showcase at The Star Bar on Thurs., Dec. 4. Free. 9 p.m.

(Photo courtesy of Philip Frobos)

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To celebrate the forthcoming vinyl compilation of Atlanta’s finest outsider, art punk, DIY, post-hardcore and non-garage rock bands, We No Fun,  a gaggle of bands and DJs are headed over to 97 Estoria tonight (Fri., Nov. 28th) to throw a pre-party.

Bands scheduled to perform include Hawks, Brass Castle, Sunglasses, Vera Fang, Skin Problems and Lay Down Mains.

The actual release party for the record won’t be happening until the last weekend in January.

But if you would like a sneak peak at what the record has in store, come check out the show tonight.

The show is free and starts at 8 p.m.

For more information on the record, including a track list and details regarding the forthcoming We No Fun Fest in January at The Drunken Unicorn, head over to the We No Fun Myspace page.

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Poets, elder statesmen and rabble-rousers  of the Atlanta punk scene, All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, have released a video for the song “Dance Again” from their recently released self-titled LP on Brooklyn’s Colonel Records.

All Night Drug Prowling Wolves-Dance Again from Stussey on Vimeo.

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For today’s installment of Roll Call we call out Rob’s House Records co-owner Travis Flagel.

Who are you?
Half of Rob’s House

Describe yourself in three words.
Awesome giant douche.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Sam Cooke and Gentleman Jesse Smith (’cause he doesn’t know how to use a cell phone).

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
All the cool people and maybe Mark from Die Slaughterhaus cause it would be kinda fun although I love the kid (in a non-gay way).

What song do you wish you had written?
“She’s the One” by the Ramones.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Elvis Presley

LP, CD or MP3?
LP

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Flat iron hair.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Dudes who flat iron their hair.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Analucia (Busy Signals) and Tommy Chung!

Rob’s House Records, along with DoucheMaster and Die Slaughterhaus Records host The Atlanta Mess-Around which continues tonight, Sat., Nov. 15th at The Earl. Tickets are $12 at the door.

(Photo by Chad Radford)

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For today’s installment of Roll Call we call out Bobby Ubangi.

Who are you?
Bobby Ubangi of the Gaye Blades and the Soft Spots

Describe yourself in three words.
Knowing, growing and showing

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
B. Kliban.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Sarah Palin

What song do you wish you had written?
“Little Red Book” by Love

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Fucking… the Pres.

LP, CD or MP3?
Laser disc.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Utilikilts

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
UtiliKilts

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
9 to 5-era Dolly Parton with Jane Fonda watching.

Bobby Ubangi M.C.’s the Atlanta Mess-Around Festival at The Earl this weekend (Fri., Nov. 14th-Sat., Nov. 15th). Two day passes are available for $20. Tickets are $12 at the door.

(Photo by King Khan)

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For today’s installment of Roll Call we call out Derek Lyn Plastic, the self-proclaimed “monk of Atlanta punk.”

Who are you?
Derek Lyn Plastic “The Mother-Fuckin Monk of Atlanta Punk.”

Describe yourself in three words.
Gozer the Destructor.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Nikola Tesla — I like them both.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Everybody just wants a little slap and tickle right?

What song do you wish you had written?
“Wooly Bully”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
I’ve listened to the Charles Manson White Album 5 times today.

LP, CD or MP3?
7″

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
The Witch Doctor look.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Mall Metal.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
The Coathangers — you couldn’t lose… C’mon someone had to say it!

Derek Lyn Plastic heads up a month-long residency at The Star Bar every Wednesday night in November.

Wed., Nov. 12th, he will be joined by the N.E.C. and Abby Go Go.
Wed., Nov. 19th Hollow Stars and the Sunglasses open the show.
Wed., Nov. 26th DLP plays the middle slot between Das Manics and opening act Vera Fang.

All shows are $3, 21+ and start at 9 p.m. for more information look online at www.starbar.net

“Let’s Get High”
”Run With Me”
“She’s Got A UTI”
“Swim”

Photo courtesy of Derek Lyn Plastic.

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