Daily Loaf

What do you do after 20 years of confounding mainstream-music expectations — during which, despite your best intentions, you’ve become bigger than many of the bands that personified the process and culture you so effectively eschewed? If you’re NOFX bassist and singer (not to mention Fat Wreck Chords founder) “Fat” Mike Burkett, you begin to drop your alternately provocative and hilarious persona/guard, and show a bit more of your true self to those fans that have stuck around long enough to deserve it.

Just a bit. A little, little bit. Read the rest of this entry »

In case you weren’t paying attention, there’s a garage rock revival going greatly surpassing the one that happened at the beginning of the century (think White Stripes, Strokes, etc.). But what differentiates this one from the previous is attention to detail. Attempting to replicate the ruckus as a relic rather than a slick re-invention, San Francisco’s Hunx and His Punx (comprised of members from NoBunny and Gravy Train) emulates the Twist rhythms and Buddy Holly backbeats of early rock ‘n’ roll, and succeeds in merging these classic idiosyncrasies with whiny and scrappy power pop.

Gay Singles includes a collection of 7″s put out by various record labels over the last year or so, though it’s really more like a greatest hits compilation. As part of a greater whole, each single exceeds well beyond the limitations of the shorter release while maintaining the robust zing of an A-side and retaining that energy throughout, which makes Gay Singles more cohesive than other singles collections. As the French are often known to announce “Tout le tueur, aucun remplisseur” (”All killer, no filler.”)

You could set it next to early Pretty Things, or organ-heavy garage and it’d be hard to guess the decade it comes from. Call it post-punk Bill Haley, if you will, or a long-lost slower Ramones, albeit draped in a pink cape, because where Hunx truly subverts the genre is through lyrics that are incredibly homoerotic, although limited to the perspective of a young teen craving carnal satisfaction. Songs about junior prom and other puerile nonsense are told with the simple vision of peevish love appropriate for a juvenile to bear at such an inexperienced age, like in the early ’60s, when sexuality was poorly and crudely coded. Read the rest of this entry »

“Tampa misses so much cool shit,” my friend Brian Repetto of Insect Joy turns to me and whispers through a cigarette smoke exhale. New World Brewery, Thursday, August 6. One of those nights in Y-bore that turn out really fun because you conned a few friends to hang out and support local music.

“Oh well, I’m glad I made it out, man. This is a really great lineup tonight.” No joke. Insect Joy interestingly spliced record dj-ing and spinning with their usual weird electronic sounds whirling into the atmosphere. Flexxehawk blasted through their spidery, angular, intricate yet minimalist songs with true enthusiasm and purity reserved for bands willing to play their damnist whether the crowd consists of five people or 500.

Huge musical buildups and crescendos with very few but very meaningful words flesh out the Flexxehawk sound into something original, in the vein of Polvo’s kind of math rock mixed with textured vocal harmonies. Historically members and contributors of several local and national acts including Ima, Dumbwaiters, Meringue, etc. All this not even mentioning the touring headliner, ST37.

Out of this world, psychedelic, noisy, punk and weird, references to J.G. Ballard and Twin Peaks, all in one four-piece from Austin …

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What is it about immortal blood sucking broodaholics that makes women swoon?  Is it the danger?  Is it the biting?  Because trust me girls, I can nibble your neck and I’ve been known to walk fast with a pair of scissors in my hand.  Or perhaps it’s something unattainable to us, the meek mortal man.

Vampire stories such as Twilight and True Blood are currently the hottest things on the market from books, to film/TV and even sex toys.  What gives?  The thought of having my blood removed from the warmth of my veins does not get me wild in the pants.  But the ladies, the ladies do love their undead bad boys.  They want to be taken to the edge and peer over the side.  It drives their juices and makes their heart feel a new sense of life.  The thought that you could be laying with your lover and in the throes of passion and he could take your life must be a mighty intoxicant.  But give me a shot of tequila over a chalice of blood any day.

Edward Cullen does have quite a few more desirable qualities than say Count Dracula.  For one he doesn’t consistently look like he’s heading to the opera.  He’s a moody, anti-social, and more Abercrombie than Hot Topic.  And you’d being lying if you couldn’t admit those eyes are DREAMY. Read the rest of this entry »

Several years ago, a friend lamented, “My punk rock lifestyle is becoming a hobby.”

We discussed this thought over the course of several hours and several beers. We were getting to the point in our lives where having a full-time, 9-to-5 job was more necessity than chore. We were homeowners. We were planning families with our significant others. The dilemma we faced was how to continue living the DIY lifestyle while still making car and mortgage payments. Could we still try to make a difference in the world while strapped to a desk for 40 hours a week?

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