Upon arriving at the Tremont Music Hall last night with my friend, we were greeted by a very enticing scent. Someone somewhere nearby was baking doughnuts. After spending forty-five minutes searching with our noses (with the help of a stranger who informed us that the smell was coming from the food processing plant and not an actual restaurant and then directed us to the nearest Dunkin' Doughnuts) we entered the venue to find that there were very few people there. We sat down in the only large couch where we remained for the first two bands.

Monarchist opened the show up fifteen minutes late. They were probably waiting for more people to show up but they never did. Their set, while good, was boring. There have obviously been some member changes since the last time I saw them (almost two years ago.) The lead singer is now the bassist and there seems to be a missing guitarist. Originally they played a sludgey form of Hardcore, but their new sound is more similar to the Post-Metal of ISIS. Like I said, it was good, just boring.

Meth Mountain was up next. I have never seen them before but they did play a show that I attended a few months back, but didn't actually watch. They played a form of Hardcore Punk very much like later Black Flag albums, but their lo-fi poor playing style didn't translate very well to an actual stage environment. They are definitely the kind of band you watch in dingy basements or on a Saturday afternoon in a record store. A few technical problems showed up, but overall their performance was decent.

At this point a few people began trickling out, which is understandable since it was a Tuesday night show and I'm sure a few people had to work in the morning. Trap Them played an energetic Converge inspired set. Trap Them is one of the increasingly popular bands on Deathwish Records so the fan reaction was pretty good. And the guy who looked just like my brother really got into them. Thrashcore/Power-Grind is probably a good description of their genre and they lived up to the hype.

At last the headliners took the stage. At this point the club was half empty. Apparently the people just couldn't stick around. Narrows played a great set. They utilized two large stage lamps pointed towards the audience to give an intense back lighting effect. This is obviously taken from the lead singer, Dave Verellan's, old band Botch. Botch was extremely influential to some modern Hardcore bands and Narrows continues this style, albeit in a more subdued fashion. With one extremely loud amp deafening the audience, they blazed through their set. Dave has not lost much of the energy he became known for and he showed an appreciation for the audience who stayed till the end. The best line of the night was when he proclaimed that they "felt sexier than the girls who left two bands before" them.

Overall it was a laid back show, which is fine by me after going through three days worth of bands two weeks before.

Up next, it's Fireworks on Friday night in Greensboro.

FEST RECAP

The Fest was incredible. The annual collection of beards, booze, and bands did not fail to live up to expectations. Here is a run down of the highlights.

Most Wanted to See Band - Mouthbreather put on an incredible set at 1982 on Saturday night. After learning about this band a couple months ago and rocking out on their full-length debut, I became extremely excited when I discovered they were playing the Fest this year. Mouthbreather plays Revolution Summer inspired Emocore in the vein of Rites of Spring, Embrace, and the new band End of a Year. Their set was full of songs I didn't really recognize and a few standards that were great. They were the only band that I interacted with physically when the lead singer kept putting his arms around me and a couple other guys in the front row. Apparently only music nerds like Mouthbreather because I stood next to a Steve Albini look-alike and a guy who looks like he plays lots of D&D. They ended their set with a cover of Nirvana's "Territorial Pissings" which almost brought a tear to my eye because He Is Legend used to like covering that one. My only complaint is that they didn't play my favorite song but it's alright.

Most Exciting Set - Polar Bear Club played to a packed out room at The Atlantic on Friday night and I've never seen more outstretched arms. After waiting in line for quite a while and sitting through an over exhuberant Mezingers set and a very boring Ghost set, PBC finally took the stage. This band is going to be huge. Next year they'll probably end up playing either the Venue or the Common Ground. A nice mix of new and old songs and great crowd reaction, it was well worth the wait.

Most Emotional Moment - American Steel played Friday night at the Venue to a decent sized crowd. American Steel has become one of my favorite bands in the last couple weeks only because of their albums Destroy Their Future and Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts. This band has such touching lyrics that probably stem from their lead singer beating cancer a few years ago. When they played "Smile On Me" from Destroy Their Future I got choked up during the line "I don't wanna feel the hurt no more, smile on me baby." One of the most enjoyable sets all weekend.

Most Painful Set - It has come to be expected that Dillinger Four is going to have one of the best crowd reactions. For past couple years D4 have been the biggest supporters of The Fest and truly understand they fans. Of course, when they played The Venue Saturday afternoon the audience was there. We were at the front of the stage and my knees have never been in worse shape. Crowd surfers and pushing galore. Reminding everyone why the Fest is so much fun.

Reunions! - This years Fest had some big names dust off their instruments and get back together to rock. Small Brown Bike, Samiam, Snuff, PEZZ, The Ghost, Clairmel, Panthro UK United 13, The Thumbs, and Radon all came out to celebrate with the people. Even the bands who once called it quits and got back together in the past couple years (Coalesce and 7 Seconds) played.

Disappointments - The biggest disappointment this year was my attempt to see Andrew Jackson Jihad at the smallest club at the Fest. I got in line forty minutes early to get in and didn't move further than around the corner. It was almost worse because Dead To Me was playing at the same time and I missed their set to wait in line. Luckily I got to see Dead To Me at a Warehouse show later that night after the main shows were over. Also missing any good band who played the Common Ground because of their ridiculous lines.

Comadre Everywhere - So Comadre played...and played....and played again. A house show Friday night with Touche Amore and Daniel Striped Tiger saw the band doing an entire set of Refused covers. I wish I knew more than "New Noise" but it was still an experience. The next night they played with Dead To Me, Banner Pilot, and a bunch of unknown bands at a Warehouse. The Warehouse show was insane and you could swear the lead singer was going to kill someone. Next day they played their offical Fest set at the Market Street Pub. I missed it but seeing them twice was already enough.

Funniest Moments - Off With Their Heads started their set with "What's up ding-dongs?" It was pretty much the only thing they said but it was a good show nonetheless. D4 had Paddy posing with Jesus and Green Man and proclaiming that "Since last year, it has become a joke that The Fest is nothing but fat guys and beards and New Balance shoes. So I decided that from the neck down I am a certified plumber and the head up a skinhead."

There were so many moments at The Fest that its kind of hard to cataloge it all. But rest assured, I'll be back next year.

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Where Blood & Fire Bring Rest Finally Coming to Vinyl

After ten years from its release, one of Zao's finest releases is finally coming to vinyl. Blood and Fire shook the Hardcore world when it came out, it was something new to the general Hardcore scene and it still stands up as an incredible album even today. Broken Circles Records is going to be putting it out and if their work on the Further Seems Forever - How To Start A Fire LP pressing is any indicator of the work this label can do, this one will be a stunner.

According to guitarist Scott Mellinger if this re-release is successful then this could lead to other Zao albums getting vinyl re-issues. Oh if only there could be a Liberate Te Ex Inferis vinyl with new art that the band actually wants to have on it, then the world would be a perfect place.

Not only are Zao re-issuing Blood and Fire but their new album Awake? is about to drop May 5th on Ferret Records as a limited CD release and digital download. Looks like Zao is living up to their Greek name's meaning.

A Horse is a Horse of Course of Course...

Good news! The Horse has returned. The amazing Neon Horse has just announced that they will be releasing their new album Haunted Horse - Songs of Love And Devotion will be out this summer and you can the first single off of the album now.

For those who follow the band they may recognize this song. A few months back they posted a demo version of "Yer Busy Little Beehive" and now you can hear it in its fully mixed glory. Oh this album will be tremendous.

Neon Horse plays garage rock in the vein of Starflyer 59 (which makes sense considering SF59 mastermind, Jason Martin plays guitar in the band). Lead by the enigmatic Norman Horse (Mark Salomon of Stavesacre, The Crucified, Outer Circle fame) uses his eternally creepy and strangely seductive voice to draw you in, and you cannot resist.

Very very excited for this.

He Is Legend - It Hates You album cover

It's official, He Is Legend has signed to Tragic Hero records and their new album It Hates You is due out June 23rd. You can pre-order now and get the cd with a signed booklet

Coalesce posts tracks from OX

Coalesce has uploaded two new tracks from their forthcoming album, which will be their first new full length since 1999's 012: Revolution in Just Listening. If you thought that album couldn't be topped, this new material from OX, which is due out June 9th on Relapse Records, will surely give you something to look forward to. I am highly disappointed in missing Coalesce perform a few months back at the Scion Rock Fest, though, regardless of the circumstances involving my early departure, I would not have been able to even get in the room and a lot of people were turned away from the performance, which reportedly ended with the sound man cutting them short saying, "You fucking suck and you broke all my mics!". yep, sounds like a Coalesce show.

Drips Coffee House Bringing the Metal to Hickory

So Drips Coffee House located in downtown Hickory has had some pretty incredible shows in the last few months since opening up. Most notably Black Cobra's, U.S. Christmas, Just Die!, She Rides, and Crawford Downs (gotta plug ya Joey.)

But it looks like Drips is about to really hit it big. Upcoming shows include U.S. Christmas, Nervous Breakdown (80's Hardcore band from Germany), Projexocism (go FaZe), Allison Moe, Stinking Lizaveta (incredibly weird Stoner Doom/Post-Metal that has gained a cult following), Dark Castle (killer Doom Metal duo and the nicest band I've ever met), Thrones (has worked with The Melvins, Sunn O))), Harvey Milk, and High On Fire), Ca$hio (Ben Teeter of U.S. Christmas), and probably the biggest band to play there (not official yet).........


*Drumroll*



Cattle Decapitation!

Thats right, Grindcore/Death Metal legends may be playing Hickory.

Not to mention the many other Folk, Indie, Rockabilly, and Experimental bands that make the local scene so nice.

Come out to these shows if you can.

Converge, new songs

Brakesbrakesbrakes

Almost a year ago I discovered an incredible band from the United Kingdom. Known as Brakes in the U.K. and brakesbrakesbrakes in the U.S., this wonderful Indie Rock/Americana band has not really got much attention. Lead singer Eamon Hamilton has a voice very reminiscent to Shrek. Great songs about pineapples fighting porcupines, picking up the phone, and Dick Cheney littered their first album Give Blood, and their follow up album The Beatific Vision expanded on their unique brand of rock. After spending a small amount of time playing in the hugely popular British Sea Power, Eamon Hamilton has obviously taken some influence on the new album.

Touchdown, the new album that will be available April 19, is good but different. Much lighter and moodier, doesn't quite live up to the excitement as previous works. Highlights include the songs "Don't Take Me To Space (Man)" and "Red Rag." This album is good, but it lacks a lot of the humor that Give Blood had.

Zao posts new song

That's right, the legendary Zao has uploaded a new track from their forthcoming album, Awake? which is due out 5/5/09. I will definitely have to give this song a few more listens, its good, but its not quite what I was expecting. Yet again Zao manage to throw long time fans through a curve while still holding onto their signature sound. I have no fear that this album will disappoint, but you wonder with such high expectations how will they pull through? well, they've always come through in the past, I expect nothing less this time around. This particular track hints at [self-titled] era writing but with similarities to material from Funeral of God.

*edit* on further listening, the opening riff reminds me heavily of their cover of Black Flag's "Black Coffee" then there is the familiar Zao dissonance. The vocals are nice and natural sounding but not under produced like on The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here. I'm getting the feeling that this album will fall somewhere between the rocked out elements of Parade of Chaos and the genre-defining metalcore of FoG.

A note on my bastard child

Lately, I've been somewhat busy with a burgeoning social life and school assignments, not to mention going through the mental/emotional aftermath of being dumped. I will not go into any details on that because 1)I am not the kind of person who likes to publicly air the details of my relationship and 2) everything is copacetic, we are "just friends" now and it works, so there.
Considering all of this it is very hard to find myself in the right frame of mind to write(ie: wank) about music on the Internet in the stupid, lazier version of music journalism that is a blog(yick)

As I am not a professional writer and do not get paid for my contributions to the think tank of modern music opinionated jackoffs I find it very easy to not f-u-c-k-ing care about this blog. Yes, that's right, I'm like a father finally admitting that he does not love or care for his bastard child who has no prospects and will never amount to anything, unlike some brilliant, creative individuals who are able to overcome their father's abuse/reproach. The difference between these poorly concocted metaphors is that unlike the prodigy child with a bad relationship with his father who reconnects with him after he sees all that his son has accomplished and realizes that he has been a fool all a long and my blog is that, my child has garnered no success or popularity or contributed anything useful to society and is in fact quite thick. Its time we stop pretending.
(If you are detecting a slight degree of British to my writing, this is not coincidental, I have been watching a lot of Zero Punctuation and British skit comedy lately, and its rubbing off on me)

Anyway, what was the point of this whole post? nothing, I was just bored and feeling sickish so I decided I would get my mind off things by blowing another load of gibberish into the stratosphere of the Internet. Lets be honest, of all peripheral sources of music journalism this has to be one of the more peripheral. I am NOT calling an end to this blog because will always need an outlet when I need to geek about Frodus(look look!) or randomly feel like writing a review or posting a cool video I stumbled across. I simply felt that I should go ahead and inform my regular readers(what, all two of you?) what you have already come to grips with, I don't post here often, don't expect me to. But check at least once a week if you will, because you never really know.