Show Review: Dillinger Four, Bottom Lounge, Chicago 9/19/2008

Dillinger Four/Scared of Chaka/Brokedowns/Lynyrd's Innards
Bottom Lounge, Chicago IL
9/19/2008

The west loop is a whole new experience for me. I've lived in Chicago my entire life and very rarely have I really seen a need to venture to the west loop. With all of it's meat packing facilities, Harpo Studios, empty warehouses and newly developed high end condos, there's been very little draw. The first time I ventured into the greater west loop area was right at the onset of the West Loop's development into a high end living. I was applying for a position as a sound engineer at one of the new clubs that were opening along Randolph Street. Luckily, I didn't get the job, because the place ended up shutting down a year later. Had it opened in the mid 90's, in the height of the drum circle, hippie jam band movement, it would have thrived for a few years.
Now, flashing forward to last Friday, I found myself taking a fairly retarded route, which involved driving down Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue, turning onto Randolph, getting strange looks from the people going to see Wicked as I was listening to Jet Generation by Guitar Wolf, turning again on Franklin, realizing Lake St. wasn't two way yet, cutting down upper Wacker Drive back to Lake St. and then finally on proper route to the Bottom Lounge. I'm not sure what inspired me to take such an ass-backwards route to the venue, but hey, getting dirty looks from old people and looks of confusion from Bike Hipsters was compensation enough for going out of my way.
I arrived at the venue fifteen minutes before let in, found my buddy John and enjoyed a $3.00 Red Tail, only later to cringe at the thought of paying $4.00 for a PBR tall-boy.
The new Bottom Lounge is a really nice space. It's ridiculously big, but you really feel like you're seeing a show in an old warehouse, which you are, but it's a warehouse that's been prettied up. They did an excellent job on the room and I fully approve. Despite really high ceilings, they managed to insulate it well, to cut down on sound reflections, which makes the big room sound really good. Plus, there's a hardwood stage, which makes all the amps and drums sound amazing. I wish the sound guy would utilize the floor bounce a little bit and not tight mic the amps so much, but whatever, he did a good job, regardless.
Aside from over priced cheap beer, my only beef with the new bottom lounge is that the bouncers will walk into the crowd and tell kids not to lean on the stage monitors. lame. Yet, they didn't even bother to break up a fight that almost erupted between some drunk jocks and a drunk fat dude, leaving it to the crowd to patrol. In my younger days, I would have been OK with this, but right now, I just want to stand up front, sing along and get bounced around a little bit. I don't want to have to deal with "Dudes" and their "Dudeisms."
First up was Lynryd's Innards. One of the truly classic and most underrated Chicago pop punk bands. My buddy Justin stated that he felt it was the best he'd ever seen them play. I think I have to agree with him. They were solid and played a great set.
Second up were the Brokedowns, who are one of my favorite Midwest bands. They have a great stage dynamic, are all excellent musicians and have the skills to get the crowd worked up in a frenzy. Hailing from Elgin Il. (and surrounding towns), they show the town's rich history as a great haven for punk rock. There's elements of Chicago and Minneapolis in their music and an all around understanding that they're doing this because they love it. It reflects in their music, so if you haven't, check these dudes out. They're one of the best things going right now.
Scared of Chaka followed and continued the ball rolling. FUCK. SCARED OF CHAKA! FUCK! I haven't seen this band in years and small piece of me was scared that they were going to suck this time around.
It's no secret that Dave Hernandez spent some time in the Shins, and there was concern abound that Scared of Chaka wouldn't be the same because of it. I call bullshit on that, but my concern was that the several year absence would leave them rusty. Honestly, it felt like they never called it quits. It felt like they picked up where they left off, playing a solid set, which included a pretty sexy Sonics cover. SoC did not disappoint. Plus I saw people I haven't seen in years, because of it.
Dillinger Four ended the night with a cannonball of a set. The old songs kicked ass, the new songs kicked ass, Paddy was hilarious and they ran out of XL t-shirts.... again. Guys, please, cut back on L and invest in XL. I'm a bigger dude and L just doesn't cut it. They also had the repress of their More Songs About Girlfriends and Bubblegum 7", which was recently reissued by the Mutant Pop Records.
Dillinger Four is a band that are completely incapable of selling themselves short. They're also unable to suck live. I've never seen D4 play a weak set, nor have I ever seen them play a set where the between song banter was boring. Friday's show didn't leave any rock unturned and they covered all their bases. Solid set.
All in all, this was a show I absolutely needed. Good job guys, thanks!

Burger Review: Hamburger Mary's

Hamburger Mary's
5400 N Clark St.
Chicago IL

OK, so I've been a member of the Chicago Rocky Horror Picture Show cast, Midnight Madness since the mid 90's and as a straight man who appreciate gay culture quite a bit, I can get behind everything about this place, except the burgers. The burgers are secondary, or possibly even thirdiary (it's not a word, I know, but it works here) to the decor, the atmosphere and the beer list. They have a decent and respectable selection of beers, whether you're into mainstream stuff like Miller products, or if you're looking for Fat Tire or 312. They also have your stock imports like Guinness and Newcastle.
The decor could be a drag queen's bedroom and you would honestly expect to see the ghost of Divine waiting tables. The atmosphere here is great and the wait staff is fairly consistent and friendly. Of course, the busier they are, the less fun the wait staff will have, but this is common with any eatery.
There's a decent selection of appetizers that will accompany your beer well, but unfortunately, their specialty, which they place in the name of the restaurant is not #1.
Their burgers are very obviously frozen patties. This is so incredibly disappointing. Despite them consistently nailing my burger as medium, which I love them for, the over all taste of the meat is that of the cardboard box it came out of. I really really want this place to have better burgers, I really do. Mostly because it's close to home and I really do enjoy the atmosphere.
Now, I'm not saying the burgers are terrible, because they're not. The toppings are tasty and they're very creative with their specialty burgers. I just think that this would go from a good burger to a great burger simply by pressing their own patties. Go ahead, tack on an extra buck to the price of each burger, it's worth it! I'd pay a dollar more for a fantastic burger! Anyone who wouldn't is out of their mind!
That being said, my wife stands behind their turkey pizza burger. This is her usual order and she absolutely loves it. I'm yet to try this, but as soon as I do, I will report back.

Record Reviews 9/18/08

So I'm suffering from "the plague," so I've had the chance to really dig into the piles of music I have lying around everywhere.



Dillinger Four - Civil War - Fat Wreck

Yes, I got this through very illegitimate avenues, but I will preface this review by saying that I would buy this album three times over on different formats. That is how much I love the Dillinger Four. In fact, I will buy the vinyl version as well as the CD, because the D4 is one of the best things going right now.
Don't worry dudes, I'm not planning on redistributing this and further. It's solely for my own hunger and anticipation for this record. I'm sure what you're thinking is "you've waited six years, why can't you wait one more month?" Because I can't, ok? The point is, the six year wait for a new record has turned me several shades of blue and purple waiting.
I was suffering from "the plague" over the last few days and in a moment of desperation yesterday, I did a quick search through my usual means of this sort of thing and found a "leak" of the album. I D/L'd it, dropped it onto my iPod and sat out on my back porch, reading and listening to the album. I've since listened to it several times and at this moment, I'm listening to it.
The one thing I can take away from this album is that the Dillinger Four's six year absence from the recorded format has not made them rusty. I think if more bands would wait to release albums instead of forcing out bullshit, they too would have the longevity of bands like the Dillinger Four and AVAIL. Instead of "playing the game," the D4 have put together a record that is the most logical follow up the Situationist Comedy anyone could imagine. The arc of their existence has been one of consistent evolution and experimentation, while retaining what makes the D4 a band that we all love. Let's face it, we do all love them. Every last one of you love this band and if you don't you're probably tone deaf or you just haven't heard them yet. Which at this point you should probably just hit up your favorite record store and take care of that problem.
What the D4 at the core is a melodic punk band, made up of four dudes who do this because they love it. They have an understanding of what punk rock is and realize that it's not worth doing if it isn't fun. Sure, they have a lot to say and who says having something to say isn't fun? If you listen to the words on this record, there's the signature D4 play on words as well as clever song titles.
There are moments which are outside the norm of the D4, like melodic break downs, ala None More Black and an incredible slow song called The Classical Arrangement.
If you've downloaded the leak of this record, you know how good it is, so I'm urging you, as well as everyone else to buy this record. It's seriously the album of the year for me. It's topped Off With Their Heads record, so I implore you to check it out. So so so incredibly good.
Dillinger Four
Fat Wreck Chords



Metallica - Death Magnetic - Warner Bros.

Do I really need to review the new Metallica album? Does Lars Ulrich and company really care what some dude in the Midwest really thinks of their latest effort? The answer to these two questions are "no" and "probably not," but I'm going to anyway.
I was extremely curious about this record; more so than I have been in years, in regards to Metallica and their output. I can think of a million other bands that I like more than this band, but very few have had the profound impact on my life that Metallica had.
Like many people in my generation, I discovered punk rock through heavy metal. Being born in the mid 1970's, most of my formative years were spent listening to local top 40 station Z95, which on occasion slip in some metal and hard rock into their rotation. Eventually, I discovered local metal station WVVX, which coupled with my best friend's older brother was responsible for my introduction to Metallica.
The first Metallica record I ever bought was Master of Puppets, which to this day is not only my favorite Metallica record, but my all time favorite metal album. In fact, had it not been for the Garage Days Re-Revisited cassette that logged countless hours in my Walkman, my discovery of the Misfits would have simply been a comical foot note in my discovery of punk, rather than a band that changed my life.
I owe a lot to this band and despite their actions against their own fans, I think that most of their intentions are fairly pure and non-money motivated. I even remember rediscovering Metallica, after distancing myself from them and their legion of dopey fans (for fear of getting flamed by actual intelligent Metallica fans, I will say that later in my life, I realized that there are smart Metallica fans, but at 15, my only exposure to Metallica fans were the dopes who went to my high school.) I was in college, sitting in a coffee shop in a not-so-cool part of town, reading some bullshit for my Sociology class when the goofy looking kid behind the counter put on Ride the Lightning. He and his annoying art school counter part behind the counter were giggling uncontrollably at their self induced irony. While these two dip shits laughed about listening to Metallica, while faux-headbanging and holding up the horn hands, the unbelievable musicianship and speed of Fight Fire With Fire was a surprising and pleasant change of pace from the mamby-pamby bullshit that the two art school assholes were previously listening to. I made a mental note to bust out Master of Puppets when I got home.
The reason I was curious about the new Metallica album was the promise of "back-to-basics" speed metal. Add to this thought process the production of Rick Rubin, a man I've been a fan of since the first time I took note of his name back in the mid 80's, I felt this could be a formula for success.
I really went into this album wanting to like it. I really did. I wanted to see this album as a return to form, or even a welcoming of an old friend. I was expecting them to at least attempt to break new ground, but instead, what we received was Metallica trying to reinvent the wheel. As much as I tried to like this album, it just isn't happening.
At this point in the game, all I can really do is reiterate what a lot of other people have said; I can pinpoint riffs from other Metallica songs in the new songs. I can even pinpoint riffs from other bands songs in Metallica songs. Of course, let's look at some of my favorite bands: the Ramones. Their entire career can be summed up in three or four riffs. The Jesus and Mary Chain; they're infamous for recycling chord progressions and even in some instances melodies.
So I ask myself, why is it less of a big deal when the Ramones or the Chain do it and a bigger deal when Metallica does it? I think the answer is that in the case of Metallica, they approached their music as redefining themselves with each album, raising the bar and constantly redefining the genre they helped create. Where as with the Ramones, they did what they did really well for four or five albums and everything that followed was a throw away.
Where as with the Jesus and Mary Chain, each album they released sounded completely different from the last and their use of simple blues and pop progressions were the linking element between each album, still making each sound unique.
With the new Metallica album, it almost feels like they phoned it in. Many of the riffs sound like they were pulled from a catalog of riffs, or as my friend Chris calls it, "riff tapes."
I think if each song were half as long and the record clocked in at forty or fifty minutes, as opposed to roughly 72 minutes, we might have something to work with.
Honestly, on this album, Metallica absolutely shines when Lars is ripping out Discharge style d-beat patterns and rest of the band is just tearing through the song. When they drop into "riff mode" they lose me. Eight minutes of riff-fast-riff-fast-riff-solo-riff-fast tests my patience. If they would simply destroy every song like they do on the "Discharge" parts on the first song, this record would be absolutely mind blowing. Unfortunately, this isn't the case at all.
Metallica, if you're reading this, and I doubt you are, I want to thank you for your first four albums. I would also like to thank you for getting me into the Misfits and Venom. Beyond that, please, either break up, collaborate with Hank Williams III and write a country-metal album or please stop worrying about record sales and "the industry" and go back to writing honest, full force metal albums. Please check out the band His Hero is Gone, or possibly visit the Havoc Records discography, because those records can teach you how to play fast and be brutal again.

Record Reviews 9/15/08

Kim Phuc - Wormwood Star b/w Freak Out the Squares 7" - Criminal IQ Records

It was a rainy Friday afternoon and I was meeting up with my pal and gang leader of Criminal IQ Records, Darius Hurley, in a very straight laced part of town. The only things remotely interesting near by was a record store where I picked up some fairly odd releases, a punk rock hair salon, where I was once stabbed in the back of the head with a pair of scissors and a really good sandwich shop called Costello's.
We were meeting up to exchange some goods and the conversation went like this:

Darius: "Hey Chris, have you ever heard Kim Phuc?"
Me: "Who's Kim and why would I have heard her fuck?"

Then my favorite Brit handed me a 7" that he just released for the Pittsburgh Pa. band, Kim Phuc. He told me that he thought I'd like it and described it as "death rock," sort of like the Swans. Being a fan of death rock as well as the Swans, I was looking forward to hearing it. It was an added bonus that he released it, because I'm a fan of Criminal IQ and just about all of their bands. When a label consistently puts out records that seem to live on my turn table, I'm more than willing to blindly check out artists I've never heard of.
All I knew about the name Kim Phuc, beyond a failed attempt at being a smart ass in the previously mentioned conversation was the famous photo from the Viet Nam war. Kim Phuc was the naked burning 9 year old running from her napalmed village.
When I got home, I almost immediately dropped the needle on this 7", starting with the B-side, Freak Out the Squares. What struck me first was the fact that this band had a great deal of dissonance, much like Sonic Youth, or early Brainiac (minus the moog), but they did indeed rock heavy like the Swans. The vocalist came out of the gates not unlike the front man of any number of early SST bands. They lyrics to the song were that of a more intelligent GG Allin, with lines about flying to California and fucking on Reagan's grave, wiping his ass with the American flag and various other crude lyrics that cracked me up. It's an amazing track all around. I listened to the b-side three more times before flipping the record.
The a-side, Wormwood Star, again reminds me of mid 90's Sonic Youth with a snotty LA hardcore singer fronting the band. Not quite as amazing as the b-side, but still a fantastic track. I hope for a full length at some point, as I think it would have potential and could be seen as a psych-punk/death rock classic.
Kim Phuc
Criminal IQ



Sass Dragons - Bonkaroo! - Johann's Face Records
Remember in high school, those dudes everyone said was on drugs and had drinking problems and there were always rumors about them being high in school? They didn't hang out with the smug pretty-boy punk rockers with the fancy hair cuts, but instead they wore long coats and had dirty, stringy hair and commonly smelled of stale beer and cigarettes? That's who these guys are.
These guys are straight up party-punk and are surprisingly excellent musicians, despite the fact that their songs are pretty much about drinking doing drugs. This is a really tight, well executed record, full of pop-punk hooks, thrash parts and screamy, yelly vocals that make you think of twenty or thirty shirtless dudes in a basement screaming along while spilling Old Style tall boys on one another.
This band is pretty much everything that Plan It X records band, the Bananas wish they could be. Where Plan It X bands are usually hippies, these dudes are the polar opposite. They're crazy dirt bag punks playing the kind of music you'd expect them to play. Why these guys aren't best friends with Chicago's Catburglars is completely beyond me.
Sass Dragons
Johann's Face Records

Burger Post: The Berghoff Chicago 9/6/08

The Berghoff - 17 W Adams St, Chicago, IL

It amazes me that I, a life long Chicagoan never made it to the Berghoff before last Saturday. This place is a long running Chicago institution and very well known for it's primarily German and occasionally American cuisine.
The wife and I stopped in here after a concert at Millennium Park for dinner and I was wowed by the layout. According to my mom, this place used to be bigger, with an upstairs and downstairs dining room as well as a bar. Now, the downstairs dining room was turned into a cafe, that has limited hours of business.
We were seated in a nice corner of the large dining room and started out with their stuffed mushroom appetizer, which was delicious. I obviously tried the burger, as it is pictured above. It came with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and barbecue sauce, no ketchup. Instead of fries, you get Berghoff chips, which are somewhere between fries and potato chips. I wasn't too into them, but I was starving, so I still managed to finish them off.
The first thing I noticed was that it was cooked exactly how I ordered it, which is a huge huge bonus for any burger place. The roll it was served on was decent, but left me wishing for an egg-bun or a pretzel roll. The meat was excellent and cooked just right. The bonus was that you could taste the flame in the burger (which I absolutely love.) It wasn't the juiciest burger I've ever had, but it had enough juice to keep the burger from being dry.
The downside was that the bacon was thick cut and not crispy at all. I don't like soggy bacon, but I usually don't take bacon on my burger anyway, so no harm, no foul. Next time, I'll either order it crispy or just ask them to hold it.
I definitely recommend stopping in at the Berghoff when in Chicago. If not for the burger, then for the atmosphere and their home made root beer.

Bummer of a Monday

Today, I sat down at my desk at work, as I do every Monday and logged into all my various programs as well as Firefox. One of the first handful of sites I check in the morning is Punknews.org, but instead of rolling my eyes at the usual stupid commentary from it's readers and wondering why this site pimps certain bands so hard, I was struck with some of the worst news I've heard in weeks. My favorite modern pop-punk band was breaking up.
The Ergs! are hands down, without an argument one of the best things going in pop punk right now. I hold them up on the same pedestal I hold the Chinese Telephones and Off With Their Heads. These three guys from South Amboy New Jersey hold a very special place in my heart, mostly because they're not unlike people I know and South Amboy is not unlike the part of Chicago in which I grew up. I can relate to this band's songs about girls and get their pop-culture/music nerd references. They could quite possibly be the quintessential riot nrrd band.

Today it's raining in Chicago and I'm sitting at my desk, soaking wet from getting caught in the rain, listening to their most recent full length, Upsairs/Downstairs. I keep thinking back to the summer of 2007, when I set up a basement show for them and Lemuria here in Chicago and how stoked I was. I was smiling ear to ear, singing along, having the most fun I've ever had at a show that I set up. Sure, I'd put on quite a few hardcore shows and a few smaller pop punk shows, but the Ergs!/Lemuria tour was one that I was looking forward to that entire summer. Two bands that I'd been incredibly stoked on at the time, on the road together. It couldn't be beat. Figure in locals, Canadian Rifle and you had the perfect show. I would go so far as to say, it was the best show we put on at the Humility Gallery.
The Ergs! songs are not your typical simple pop punk songs; paying close attention to the bass lines and structures, you realize that these kids are really talented and know what they're doing. You can tell that they've been playing together for a long time and that they've found the formula; they've found the chemistry. Sometimes it's best to get out while you're on top, I guess.

The first time I heard the Ergs! was in 2003. I was heart-broken and "glued up on some chick," and not unlike a Chesterfield King, Dorkrockcorkrod tore through me at just the right speed. Lyrics like "I would bet my life that you’re never gonna call me/I would bet my life that I’ll end up being lonely" and "So while I’m sore from the smiles that you’ve given to me/I just can’t wait for the day when inevitably
You say I’m not the guy you thought you knew when we have “The Talk”/And you’ll regrettably inform me that you’re taking a walk" were feelings that I felt and/or was feeling. I connected with the Ergs! on such a simple, basic level, yet they still hit home the way a Jawbreaker record hit home.
The only time I got to see the Ergs! was at that basement show. I guess that's the way the Ergs! are meant to be seen. I'm currently working out details to insure that I can get to their last show in New Jersey.
Mikey, Jeff, Joey, thanks for everything. Your band will be sorely missed. Best of luck with everything in the future.
The Ergs! web site.
The Ergs! Myspace profile.

Record Reviews for 8/8/08

The Darvocets - ...Are New Wave - Fashionable Idiots Records
Featuring members of Nine Shocks Terror and other Cleveland hardcore bands. Quirky punk, similar to various "Killed By Death," "Blood Stains" style bands, as well as the Crucifucks, early Butthole Surfers and the Mentally Ill. Of course, this is lazy reviewing.
The Darvocets have put out one of the most genre bending punk records I've heard in a while, writing songs about time travel, Big Foot, anti-gravity devices and man-made viruses. Very twisted and very fitting on the Fashionable Idiots label.
The Darvocets
Fashionable Idiots



Methadones - Career Objectives - Underground Communique Records
The vinyl issue of the Methadones second album, Career Objectives really highlights the art work. I always prefer vinyl issues of records, not for any audiophile purposes, but mostly because the art work is bigger and it's more fun to collect.
Our good friends at Underground Communique did a bang up job with this pressing and not only does it look great, but it also sounds great. There's a couple bonus tracks on here that don't sound like add ons and fit the flow of the record.
For those of you who either don't follow pop-punk or have been living in a hole, the Methadones feature Danny Vapid, formerly of Screeching Weasel, the Queers and the Riverdales, Mike Byrne, formerly of the Vindictives as well as current members of the Bomb and Explode and Make Up.
The sound varies from record to record, but is consistently rooted in pop punk. This album is heavily rooted in power pop, but doesn't stray from the punk. Highlights include Premature Mid-life Crisis, Say Goodbye To Your Generation, Far Away and the bonus track Accident Waiting To Happen.
If you didn't catch this album while it was still in print, or you dig vinyl, this would be a much welcomed addition to your record collection.
The Methadones
Underground Communique