Senseless Things - The First of Too Many

I don't remember how I discovered this UK indie band. Admittedly at the time this album came out I was reading UK comics like Crisis, 2000 AD, Revolver and Deadline which featured Jamie Hewlett's artwork where Tank Girl first appeared and I bought this album due to the cover artwork. However it's also possible I enjoyed what I heard of Ned's Atomic Dustbin and The Wonderstuff and these guys were often talked about in the same breath but reached the sale bin first.

Anyway the band's myspace page rekindled my interest as did Leatherface's BBC sessions where Frankie Stubbs mentions touring with The Senseless Things. The influences listed grabbed my attention: Husker Du, The Replacements, The Slits, The Descendents, The Dickies, Soul Asylum, Fugazi, Neil Young. Here's a youtubevideo to the First of Too Many's opening song Everybody's Gone.



D/L Senseless Things - The First of Too Many

Edit: Links to Senseless Things' Postcard CV album and Homophobic Asshole single. Thanks to shaolinpunk.

Sloppy Seconds - Endless Bummer album

I noticed looking at where my hits are coming from that some people are finding this blog because they're searching for Sloppy Seconds' Endless Bummer album. It would seem you're not going to find it for a little while since Sloppy Seconds sent out this myspace bulletin and I won't be putting it up on this blog.

From: SLOPPY SECONDS




Date: 26 Jun 2008, 00:29
Subject: Well, then I guess Wal-Mart is out of the question...
Body: Don't get all weirded out, because it's nothing fatal, but...

The contracted pressing plant has refused to press Endless Bummer.



Fortunately, Kid Tested/Go-Kart have already enlisted a new plant to press the discs, and have been guaranteed that we will have them in hand in time for all our upcoming shows. They will also begin shipping to outlets next week. The only real issue is that people who were expecting to pick the disc up at their local CD shop on Tuesday will have to wait a couple more days for the distributors to get the product out to the masses. Kid Tested's online order service is live now, so that would be another option.



There has been no straight answer as to which aspect of the disc was so patently offensive as to derail not one, but three work orders. (To their credit, the labels pulled all their business when the plant's owner played the morality card on us.

)

Greg Ross and Dave Parasite each have their theories: there's the song about beating your girlfriend into a coma so you can fuck her without all the drama...there's the cover art - is the band being burned at the stake too similar to a crucifixion, or does this guy have a special bond with St. Joan of Arc? There's the lusty ode to High School Girlz. There's the implicit intent to corrupt minor females of Let Me See Your Driver's License - not to mention the explicit intent to corrupt all minors of Kegs R 4 Kids. There's Thanks For The Mammaries, which encourages free-spirited exhibitionist tendencies.

There's also an expletive-laced soundbite or two - let's not forget that this disc starts right out of the gate with me screaming "PLAY THAT PIECE OF SHIT!" Am I starting to belabor the point?

Who cares...You know what? We should actually take pride in this little sideshow. Think about it: Well into the 21st century, when kiddie porn, grisly beheadings, war atrocities and bestiality are all just a mouse-click away, some stupid sonofabitch still believes Endless Bummer by Sloppy Seconds is a threat to the American way of life.



Halle-fuckin-lujah!

Last Orders, Gripper, The Bludgers, Vicious Rumour-Wellington 21 June 2008

This show must have started roughly on time as I missed Wellington band, Assault City who would have liked to see because I caught about half their set at their first show and enjoyed it.

I walked in while Auckland band, Last Orders were playing. These guys play 80s punk (they've been around since then) with a Motorhead cover added for good measure. At times they remind me of The Circle Jerks.



Pic: Last Orders

Next up were Napier's Vicious Rumour who are currently one of the strongest live punk bands in New Zealand. Thet have something of a street-punk soundand play a few covers.




Above pics: Vicious Rumour

The task of following Vicious Rumour was given to Hamilton oi band, The Bludgers. They're a tight three piece.



Above pic: The Bludgers


Last up were Nelson band Gripper who were the only band I hadn't seen live before and they were AWESOME. Great frontman who handled heckling really well and dished it out plus an average age of about 45.

Here's a poor sounding youtube clip of one of the songs they played at Valve.


Now watch an 82 clip of UK82 band The Destructors and spot the similarities.



As the Gripper clip isn't the best soundwise I recommend checking out their myspace page. I'm sure the song title Lesbian Resthome will make a few people curious.

All in all, a great night.

Dag Nasty and ALL videos

Dag Nasty 's first show with Shawn Brown on vocals. I've heard that before joining the Black Flagish Swiz Shawn Brown was kicked out of Dag Nasty because his vocals weren't melodic enough. Watching and listening to this to my ears he seems close to Can I Say period Dave Smalley. I heard this. I heard that. What do I believe?

And here's ALL playing The Descendents' song Coolidge. I did a double take when I noticed who was playing guitar.



There's two full ALL shows from the early nineties on this youtube channel and the sound quality is quite good.