Nothington

Justin: Tsunami Bomb's demise had little to no effect on me - while nearly always competent the band always seemed to lack a "hook" aside from Ms. Whitehurst's voice. Born from their ashes are three bands, one of which has caught my fancy. Nothington may claim San Francisco as home now, but their sound is a blending of Social Distortion-esque punk rock and the gruff of Gainesville's finest. Today's song, graciously offered up for this feature by BYO, features driving guitar and extremely gruff lead vocals set against a bit of a "southern" backdrop. "Going Home" is an upbeat, yet melancholic salute to traveling, moving and of course a love left behind. It also features guest vocals by the aforementioned female vocalist in the chorus, fleshing out an already impressive sound while fitting the ouvre of the song perfectly. I think the fans of Ann Beretta, Social Distortion and the Street Dogs' more introspective moments would be into this.

Nothington - "Going Home"

Lemuria

Justin: Hailing from the non-City part of New Yawk state, Lemuria sing sweet songs. They made a bit of splash last year on their split with now-defunct crooner Kind of Like Spitting, an album that by all rights should have been on my year-end list. The song "Hours" is the apex of their sound in my mind: powerchords, slightly throaty vocals and leading basslines. Sheena takes the lead on this track with the most awkward chorus ever of "everywhere you touched everywhere you touched!" It's happy sometimes female fronted indie-punk that sings about not wanting to get out of bed. Who likes getting out of bed? Losers, that's who.

Lemuria - "Hours"

Starting out this new year on the right foot. Perhaps a day late already, but expect us to keep the schedule this year. If DC can do it, we can too.

Tim Barry, Chuck Ragan, Rob Huddleston & Foundation, Nathan Gray

So, I was working on the video for this, and ran into some "technical issues". But that's no reason to deny you some live music this week. So, while I straighten this little mess out, I've ripped the audio from this week's video into an MP3, for your downloading pleasure. Oh, I guess I should tell you a little about this week's offering…

Last month, an amazing acoustic show hit Richmond, VA with some of punk/hardcore's best frontmen performing their own solo/acoustic material. Nathan Gray of Boy Sets Fire kicked things off with a short set of his new solo material, joined by Rob Huddleston from Ann Beretta and Foundation, who also followed Nathan's set with a set of his own. Next was Chuck Ragan, best known for his role in Hot Water Music, and oddly enough the only musician on the bill not currently living in the former capital of the confederacy. Closing out the night was Tim Barry, who happens to front dixie-core legends, Avail.

So, with all of that said, I've created an MP3 which contains one song from each performance. Yes, it's in one MP3, so if you want to cut it up into separate tracks, be my guest. I'm working on the fly here people. (that and it's the audio directly from the edited video, which I hope to post later this weekend)

RVA Unplugged 2 - Nathan Gray, Foundation, Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry

The Jellydots

Justin: I love my bicycle. I love songs about bicycles. I love kids. I love music for kids. So what's better about upbeat rock songs about bicycles directed towards kids? Probably only if I could share it with you all. Clean guitars with simple bass and drum lines and a soothing voice not that far from either the Shins of Sufjan Stephens' more inspired (and less yawn-inspiring) moments bring you a truly positive vision of "riding my bicycle" (the chorus) and how "the air will do you good." This song would probably fit better with a summer breeze, but it at least helps shoo away the winter doldrums as the rain sets in here in the Bay Area.

The Jellydots - Bicycle at their MySpace page

Satori / Saw Wheel

Chris: I love me some good ska, but my definition of it tends to vary. I don't rock the the skinny ties or wear suits to shows, but I dig pretty much every style and every era, even the dreaded "3rd wave" (to a certain extent). Though commonly known as "the band with members from Rx Bandits and Link 80", Satori offers much more than simply an extension of their previous endeavors. Combining the elements of early ska with dub and reggae, the end result is a relaxed and fun sound, which will appeal to almost anyone. The band has posted the track "Deeper" on their MySpace page from an upcoming album, though it's only listed for a UK and Japan release at this time.

Satori - "Deeper" Justin: More music with acoustic guitars and former beardcore singers. RJ spent some time in my favorites One Reason before he set up shop in Austin and started strumming his acoustic guitar as Saw Wheel. While his first few releases found him strumming that guitar (or banjo) at lightning speed, sounding as much like a punk without an amp as a hillbilly with a love for HWM he's been steadily moving towards a fuller sound. The newest track he's got up for download is called "Call It Home" and sees him hitting his stride as a songwriter, moving farther away from his punk roots and further into the realm of straight up porch-sittin' country music. This track sees him stretching his vocal range a bit more while increasing the varied instrumentation as well. If this is what we've got to expect from his upcoming album then I doubt any past fan will be disappointed.

Saw Wheel - "Call It Home"

Ultimate Power Duo / Landmines

Adam: Saskatoon's Ultimate Power Duo have raged across the prairies with their own brand of "destruction rock" for two years now. Following a quartet of EPs the three-piece is now celebrating the release of their debut full length. We're In Control Now is an 18 track opus of high energy Ramones-rooted garage punk produced by the band and David J Taylor (Despistado / Sylvie). The CD Baby released disc features such epics as "Buddy Holly was the First Ramone," "Do Electric Sheep Dream of Ultimate Power Duo?" and "Ultimate Power Duo Prophesizes Future Record Deal." Of course there's no better place to start than the song "Ultimate Power Duo," which is the first you'll be hit with streaming from their website.

UltimatePowerDuo.com with flash player UPD @ MySpace Chris: One of the newer additions to the Richmond, VA punk/hardcore scene is Landmines. Their brand of aggressive, yet melodic hardcore immediately brings to mind bands like No Trigger, Hot Water Music and fellow RVA brethren Strike Anywhere. They recently released a five-song EP via Pop Faction Records, and also have posted a few tracks on the band's MySpace page, which can be streamed, or downloaded. I'm really digging "First Chords", but have a listen for yourself.

Download "First Chords" Landmines' music at MySpace

Street Dogs / Jon-Rae and the River

Justin: Ex-who? The Street Dogs have moved past any sort of ex-member stigma three albums in and carved a wonderful niche for themselves in the punk rock and roll world. On their newest album, Fading American Dream the band rips apart the first "single," a cover of classic Boston punk band Mung's best song, "Fatty." Its chorus reminds me instantly not only of that long-lost troupe, but infuses the anthemic qualities of the Bouncing Souls and sincerity of early Dropkick Murphys. It will burrow its way into your head like a tapeworm does into your stomach, refusing to let go until you're singing it while walking down the street, sitting at work or driving your car. Fading American Dream is a must-listen-to this year and this song is a perfect example why. You can stream it (gasp) the band's 'space page.

The Street Dogs' MySpace Adam: I first encountered Jon-Rae and the River opening for the Constantines in Hamilton earlier this year. The band sounds implausible on paper, but live they put on one of the most insanely fun and captivating live shows I've ever seen. The River is the brainchild of the geeky, unassuming Joh-Rae Fletcher. Fletcher's the son of a Baptist minister, and the influence of gospel music comes through in a set of songs about, well, the very un-gospel topics of drinking and fucking. It's all wrapped in a riotous mix of alt-country crooning and punk energy that can get whole rooms of people whipped into a frenzy of debauchery and spirit. The band made the cover of Exclaim this month, and there's a great interview up on their website.

Jon-Rae and the River - Just One More / MySpace

Weatherbox / Scatterbox

Brian: Whoa, it's Saturday night and I completely forgot I meant to type this up. So let's make it short: Weatherbox's upcoming EP, The Clearing, is good. Really good. Sure, there's obvious similarities to Criteria and label alum Say Anything, but plain and simple that's why I like it so much -- that and hooks capable of reeling in blue whales, soft/loud dynamics capable of setting fires at the bottom of the ocean and something else involving a nautical metaphor, I guess. This shit streets for real November 7th, but in the meantime check out a bonafide MP3 of the first track below, then go check out some demo versions at the band's MySpace.

Weatherbox - Snakes, Our Ground Aubin: To further Brian's "box" theme, I'd like to offer up Spokane, Washington-based Scatterbox (ex-Moral Crux). The band plays gritty, fast California-style punk rock with weathered vocals and poetic, but unpretentious lyrics. It's hard to describe, but if you like punk that can rightly be called "punk" and nothing else. You should check them out.

Four songs (myspace page).

The Menzingers / At the Drive-In / Stalins War / Beat Beat Beat

Justin: The Menzingers hail from Scranton, Pennsylvania and play a mix of pop-punk, gang-vocals, a bit of ska by way of both the Specials and the Hippos. It reminds me of the kind of punk that I always hoped would start blossoming at the beginning of the 2000's when that much-maligned "other genre" took over much of the underground scene. These guys mix raw lyrics, vocals with upbeat, fun rhythms and fast guitars while still keeping an intelligent edge. The mix of some upstroke guitars and a real sense of rhythm doesn't hurt either.

The Menzingers on Myspace.

Aubin: I've been on a weird At The Drive-In kick all week, perhaps in anticipation of releases from both the resulting bands (Sparta, Mars Volta) coming out this fall. Still, despite the pointless debates over which is better, the band remains one of the best examples of what the inner conflict of a band can produce when put on tape. It's now been five and a half years since the break up, and as good a time as any to give them a listen.

You can check out three tracks on their myspace page.

Chris: Ok, so this isn't what I usually get into, but I dunno, something about girls singing hardcore, I love it. Especially when the female vocals are as smooth as those from Santa Cruz, CA's Stalins War. Lately it seems that mixing punk, metal and hardcore is so unoriginal and bland; but with clean riffs, well-placed gang vocals and the mixture of harmonic vocals and heavy backing screams, these guys (and gal) sound like they are actually doing it right. Check out their MySpace Page or:

OMG!!! Bands still have webpages that aren't MySpace!!! Adam: Here's a discussion topic for ya. Are there any labels you trust to the point that you can pick up any of their releases, regardless if you're familiar with the band or not, and still to be reasonably satisfied with what you hear? Dirtnap's on my shortlist, and while I'm fairly new to Atlanta's Beat Beat Beat but I know I'm already looking forward to their full length Living in the Future this Halloween. Check this short but sweet number:

Beat Beat Beat - Nasty Nightmare

The Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure / Jena Berlin

Justin: Porch-core. Acoustapunk. Whatever you want to call it, the style that the Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure play gets you singing along by the second spin. Recalling shades of Foundation mixed with that of Tim Barry's solo material, the band forges little new ground but retreads all that is good about sitting on a porch drinking your favorite beverage. Add in a couple covers of the original rambling boys of pleasure and you have a nice package. To top it off, it's all free.

The Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure Myspace page The Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure - Pillow Talk at Mattress World (free album download)
The Ramblin' Boys of Pleasure - Prohibition (free EP download)

Aubin: Ever since Brian's review motivated to pick up their debut, I've been enamored with Jena Berlin. Taking a sound that is equally influenced by post-hardcore/early emo torchbearers, Braid and the flawless history of Fugazi, Passion is a driving, intense and emotional album that manages to sound both fresh and mature at the same time.
Jena Berlin - Looking Over the Wall

Retrace

Brian: Retrace's first demo is ridiculously impressive and one that should satiate fans of semi-melodic hardcore. The band comes from a Northwestern area of the U.S. which has become increasingly fertile in recent years, sporting the likes of Champion, Shook Ones, Sinking Ships, and others, while managing themselves to exude the raw energy and melody of newer bands like, say, Ruiner. Here's the demo in its entirety, courtesy of the Legitimate Bros Fantasyland (they would probably appreciate downloading over streaming to avoid that all annoying bandwith issue):

Retrace - Walk Alone Retrace - The River Retrace - On My Own Retrace - Years of Our Lives

Taft's Brigade / Hiretsukan

Justin: Sometimes you're glad when a band isn't joking. Taft's Brigade is that band. Like hardcore? Like history? Like the idea that any single one of us nerds can start a band? Then this band is for you. It's a hardcore band that studies the minutia of history and makes short, fast songs about it. How can you not love it? How many more questions can I put in this writeup? Why shouldn't we eat the yellow snow? I don't know.

Taft's Brigade at Myspace - 4 downloadable songs

Aubin: Speaking of hardcore, one of the most underrated and excellent hardcore acts around has to be Brooklyn, NY's Hiretsukan. Dynamic, passionate music as much Converge as Drive Like Jehu, and powered by one of the most incredible frontwomen in any genre. The band released End States last year on G7 and you can check out two tracks here:
Hiretsukan - "Manual Function" Hiretsukan - "Click and Repeat"