Can You Feel The Magic Johnson?
Friday, September 11, 2009
We're not talking about Earvin Jr., but there's definitely enough energy coming from these two Portland via LA kids to survive HIV and make a decent basketball comeback. Musically speaking. There have been tons of two-piece bands since there have been bands, and for reasons abound (couldn't find a bassist, didn't want a drummer, guitarist was lame, who needs vocals anyway...), but it seems magic combo for Magic Johnson is drums and guitar, blistering with the enthusiasm of a fight between LA's smog and its signature sunshine. They don't need the rest of the band. Mando and Ana have it covered with old fashioned, simple, loud, punk music that'll give the needle on your turntable a workout. Their 7" release on OlFactory/LA is Wax Paper, Telenovelas, is a vocal tag team of screams into guitar pick-ups and drum heads bursting like cannon fire. If there were more than two of them it might just be plain scary.
Magic Johnson from Mark Greshowak on Vimeo.
Labels: LA is Wax, magic johnson, olFactory records, portland, punk
What If Punk Never Happened!?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Check out this video of "What If Punk Never Happened" off the new King Blues album Save The World, Get The Girl. It's a spoken word of sorts. It's pretty cool.
Labels: punk
LAWRENCE KANSAS' FINEST HOMEGROWN: BABY BIRDS DON'T DRINK MILK
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk are a trio, sometimes they are not. If there is one band that has and will stay true to the DIY term, it's these guys. The band is all swirled out colors, flushing upwards through the atmosphere. Spaced out, dreamy, part folk, part punk thrash, ambience and shoegazing abound. I asked guitarist Luke Namee some questions, you can read them below.
Gaurav: How has playing the West Coast been so far, and what makes it different from other tours you've been on?
BBDDM: West coast is really rad. Recently the X-men moved to San Francisco from New york and that really motivated me to come to the west coast.
G: Tell our readers a little bit about the genealogy of your tour van
BBDDM: Our last van Planet Claire was hit by a drunk driver, which was a bummer for all parties involved. so our friend Brad sold us the old Blood on the Wall van. Its also used by Boo and Boo Too and the Rooftop Vigilantes and has recently started making this weird clanking sound.
G: What's been the best show on this tour so far?
BBDDM: We all have different opinions, usually because of girls. Drew says in Rhinoceropolis in Denver and Allen isn't here right now. Beat Box Fred in Olympia was fantastic.
G: Which city are you most excited to hit within the next month?
BBDDM: Phoenix and the desert.
G: What are future plans for Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk?
BBDDM: We're out here for few weeks. A full US tour in May and June and some split cassettes. Puppycat 7 inch and coloring book. Lots of sleep.
G: Three most listened to records on tour..
BBDDM: Yellow Elephant. the Inland Empire / Married in Berdichev split tape and the new TI Paper Trail.
G: When you are not actually playing a show, where do you and the rest of the band most often find yourselves? BBDDM: In the van. We read a lot. Allen is reading the Phantom Tollbooth and Drew is reading Tales from Jabba's Palace. I only read comics. Smoke weed.
G: What is Chomp Womp? Where would you direct people to learn more about the background/ history and functions of this entity?
BBDDM: Chomp Womp is the battle cry of the california whale dolphin, mascot of the seattle superdome. To learn more about Chomp Womp see no school get fucked up or call 316 393 6047
G: How many shows do you think BBDDM have played in the last year?
BBDDM: One hundred shows
G: Last movie/ tv show/ cartoon you guys watched together?
BBDDM: Last night in a motel we watched Tom and Jerry. Saw Mean Girls recently which was way good.
G: Favorite superhero? Favorite comic book?
BBDDM: Wolverine. hands down. Such a badass character, and he kills people. Batman has been pretty interesting lately, with Grant Morrison eluding to his death a lot. Grant Morrison loves to fuck his characters up. All the X-men series' are tying together really well too, with the unifying threat of the Hellfire Cult and constant hints of Jean Grey's return. Astonishing x-men has been consistent in its entire run as well. Drew says Luke Skywalker but only in Return of the Jedi. Allen says Frank.
G: Favorite venue?
BBDDM: Scrummage University
"Fort Pork Chop" from the Puppycat EP
Tour dates:
12.10 - Portland, OR (Live on KPSU)
12.11 - Santa Barbara, CA (Live on KCSB)
12.12 - Claremont, CA (Ecoterra Health Market)
12.13 - Los Angeles, CA (The Smell)
12.14- Los Angeles, CA (Echo Curio)
12.15- Los Angeles, CA (Pehrspace)
12.16- Phoenix, AZ (The Trunk Space)
12.17- Albuquerque, NM (1817 Gold Ave)
12.18- Santa Fe, NM (MEOW WOLF)
12.19- Lubbock, TX (Bright House)
12.20- Wichita, KS (Eagles Lodge)
BBDDM: West coast is really rad. Recently the X-men moved to San Francisco from New york and that really motivated me to come to the west coast.
G: Tell our readers a little bit about the genealogy of your tour van
BBDDM: Our last van Planet Claire was hit by a drunk driver, which was a bummer for all parties involved. so our friend Brad sold us the old Blood on the Wall van. Its also used by Boo and Boo Too and the Rooftop Vigilantes and has recently started making this weird clanking sound.
G: What's been the best show on this tour so far?
BBDDM: We all have different opinions, usually because of girls. Drew says in Rhinoceropolis in Denver and Allen isn't here right now. Beat Box Fred in Olympia was fantastic.
G: Which city are you most excited to hit within the next month?
BBDDM: Phoenix and the desert.
G: What are future plans for Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk?
BBDDM: We're out here for few weeks. A full US tour in May and June and some split cassettes. Puppycat 7 inch and coloring book. Lots of sleep.
G: Three most listened to records on tour..
BBDDM: Yellow Elephant. the Inland Empire / Married in Berdichev split tape and the new TI Paper Trail.
G: When you are not actually playing a show, where do you and the rest of the band most often find yourselves? BBDDM: In the van. We read a lot. Allen is reading the Phantom Tollbooth and Drew is reading Tales from Jabba's Palace. I only read comics. Smoke weed.
G: What is Chomp Womp? Where would you direct people to learn more about the background/ history and functions of this entity?
BBDDM: Chomp Womp is the battle cry of the california whale dolphin, mascot of the seattle superdome. To learn more about Chomp Womp see no school get fucked up or call 316 393 6047
G: How many shows do you think BBDDM have played in the last year?
BBDDM: One hundred shows
G: Last movie/ tv show/ cartoon you guys watched together?
BBDDM: Last night in a motel we watched Tom and Jerry. Saw Mean Girls recently which was way good.
G: Favorite superhero? Favorite comic book?
BBDDM: Wolverine. hands down. Such a badass character, and he kills people. Batman has been pretty interesting lately, with Grant Morrison eluding to his death a lot. Grant Morrison loves to fuck his characters up. All the X-men series' are tying together really well too, with the unifying threat of the Hellfire Cult and constant hints of Jean Grey's return. Astonishing x-men has been consistent in its entire run as well. Drew says Luke Skywalker but only in Return of the Jedi. Allen says Frank.
G: Favorite venue?
BBDDM: Scrummage University
"Fort Pork Chop" from the Puppycat EP Tour dates:
12.10 - Portland, OR (Live on KPSU)
12.11 - Santa Barbara, CA (Live on KCSB)
12.12 - Claremont, CA (Ecoterra Health Market)
12.13 - Los Angeles, CA (The Smell)
12.14- Los Angeles, CA (Echo Curio)
12.15- Los Angeles, CA (Pehrspace)
12.16- Phoenix, AZ (The Trunk Space)
12.17- Albuquerque, NM (1817 Gold Ave)
12.18- Santa Fe, NM (MEOW WOLF)
12.19- Lubbock, TX (Bright House)
12.20- Wichita, KS (Eagles Lodge)
Labels: Chomp Womp, DIY, folkgaze, indie, punk
Ponytail's Ice Cream Spiritual!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Baltimore's 4-piece Ponytail are a complete mess! They have managed to completely rock my ears with their "organized" chaotic instrumental heavy sound. They've got tons of genre mooshing energy on their new album, Ice Cream Spiritual. It drops June 17th via Now We Are Free recs but you can get the single right now below! You can guess the rest of the album will be more yelly dancey pop punk sound ranging madness. Diggg!
Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From An Angel)
They're doing some touring around the Atlantic. I bet they pluck a mean show.
bbqchickenrobot
WideEyedEggplant
The GOOD Pants
2Scoops
El-izzle
Open Mike
