Each physical release is a piece of physical art. A zine can be scammed or printed at home within a few hours if need be, no T Swift or Beatles related muss at the pressing plant. Easier to "repress" for a tour. Less space in the home, recyclable upon obsolescence.
There was this band from Alabama about a decade ago who screen printed a piece of thick brown cardstock.
Front was a beautiful piece of art, back side was the lyrics to three or so songs. They'd found some way to screen print unique bandcamp download codes (do these exist anymore?) on every one.
I think there's a strong argument to be made that this, or something like it, is the way.
The Bug group chat is chittering, so lemme posit a qq (quick question) to all of YOU:
If the vinyl record WERE to be replaced as hardcore punk's dominant physical medium, which alternative would you prefer?
Play it as safe or as outside the box as you'd like, but keep in mind that responding "8-track" is like yelling "Freebird!"
Couple thousand dollars just sitting in my alley right now. It makes my heart hurl.
If I ever say "I'm pressing a record again" put me in a fucking white jacket and lock me in a padded cell.
Controversial opinion time on the premiere punk instance: records are a fucking scam
Last up was art punk freaks IRA GLASS, a very good band with a name I don't love. They have a saxophonist, which I feel will give most people a good read on whether or not it's for them. I've seen them described as "post-hardcore" in local arts papers, but I hate that term and the implications thereof, so lemme just make it clear that I file this under "sick."
I've known the drummer Daniela since she was like 13 or 14 years old. Last night was the first time I've ever seen her play drums and she just fucking killed it.
I paid the band two direct compliments last night: that they managed to make long songs dynamic and interesting, and that they avoid the sins of a three piece without a "proper" frontperson. Leah never used her bass or the mic stand as a security blanket, just played the menace while people (me) fist pumped to oblivion.
SLIT was the clear stand out of the night. I covered their demo in a recent issue, but had yet to see them live. Guitarist Sorcha made a comment about how they're "multi-genre," but I don't think this is true at all. Just driving, devastating, heavy fucking crust that another show goer described as "blackened," while my punk-addled brain registered notes of distinctly British interpretations of evil (see: SACRILEGE or AMEBIX).
Overall though, the gig was a nice kickoff to this Distress Fest weekend.
The venue, Lowdown, used to be called TCC. It's remarkably smaller than I remembered, but 7 years will make mountains of molehills.
PURE JOY, fronted by a member of Lowdown's crew, played a quick little hardcore punk set that got some of crowd's fists pumping. One of the member's had family in attendance, snapping pics and very proud.
I'm gonna be honest, I could not hang with the skramz on display. Not chaotic or punk enough for me. Very "emotional," I honestly don't even remember their names.
Live posting from the screamo show.
The punk umbrella is wide for me but if we get into the more granular subgenrenation of Chicago, there's only one Punk Hardcore band, a handful of punk bands, and everything else is indie, screamo, or beatdown.
This documentary on Hattiesburg's punk and DIY music scene came out last spring! Yall should check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LNZ7kMk2dQ
It was filmed and edited by two student workers who worked with me at USM (so proud of Hannah and Lauren <3) who joined two others and they interviewed myself and @ThinkAndGrowRich and several other members of scene. It's a really well done video and we're so honored to be part of something people want to make documentaries about :)
The word "content" makes me hurl.
This new way is untenable and preposterous.
If you've already found three to four bands to play, sounds to me like you've already got 12-20 promoters.
Not to unc-post, but if you're an out of town band, and you hit me up to put on a show that you've already found a full lineup for, I'm canceling your tour.
Last night was such a fun time. Folks braved tornado warnings and showed up drenched in rain to have fun for two hours.
La Casa del Migrante 3 is one of the last house venues we've got and they're accommodating as fuck.
Mini reunion between me, Maddie from Cel Ray, and Brian from Real Shocks, who all were in a band called TUMS pre-pandemic.
A real joy filled time.
