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May 05, 2006

CRINGER "Time For A Little Something..." EP

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin grace the cover of this endeavor, and it gets better from there. These East Baysters, who did three or four other records before this, kick out delightfully tuneful hardcore which makes me smile with each listen. Great production. Great lyrics. Great music. Great! Their best release yet! ('Though their all-time greatest song is still the cover of Pooh's "Cottleston Pie"!) (Vinyl Communications)

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JAWBOX EP

Jawbox

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

JAWBOX is a new band whose overnight popularity made me wonder are they really that good, or did having Jay Robbins, of the now-defunct GOVERNMENT ISSUE, front the band and being connected to Dischord throw them into the limelight? When I heard this EP, it became apparent that it was a little of both. Jawbox has a melodic sound with a strong post-punk feel. Kim Colleta provides a nice bass sound (it's great to see woman play important roles in the male-dominated scene!) and Jay has made a successful switch from bass to guitar, but his vocals are rather emotionless. A good effort overall, but not earthshaking. (DeSoto Records)

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DOWN BY LAW LP

Down By Law

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

Pop-punk is the bill of fare, and it's no wonder, considering this band in¬cludes Dave Smalley (ex-ALL) and Ed Urlick and Dave Naz (both from CHEMICAL PEOPLE). Years back, when bands like the aforementioned, BIG DRILL CAR and the DOUGHBOYS, hit the scene, the sound was fresh, original and exciting. Now that the sound been done so much, DOWN BY LAW offers nothing new. But their sound is really pretty nice. There's a strong CHEMICAL PEOPLE sound, but I like this more, as Smalley (in prime form) provides an excellent vocal dimension which CHEMICAL PEOPLE is sorely missing. It's not the greatest band in which the musicians have been involved in, and maybe their next release will be better. But the talent's there, and this record will grow on you. (Epitaph Records)

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CHRIS BALD 96 "Uglified" EP

Chris Bald 96

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

Chris has been a mainstay of the D.C. punk community since the early 1980s, playing in such fabulous bands as FAITH, EMBRACE and IGNITION. I definitely expected a lot from this EP, and was unfortunately disappointed. It is mainly mid-tempo emocore, lacking any real cohesiveness. It flounders. I had the same complaints about IGNITION's first EP, and they eventually progressed to become one of my favorite bands. Perhaps CHRIS BALD 96 will do the same.

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ORDEAL EP

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

I saw an ad for this record in Maximum Rock 'N Roll, where the band's sound was described as melodious hardcore. With my tastes further moving away from thrash/dirge/blender shit, I decided to send away for it. I admit that I had preconceptions of hearing something like the DESCENDENTS or BAD RELIGION, but I ended up getting forgettable, slower three to four chord hardcore. Listening to this band, out of the D.C. area, was an ordeal. (Sunspot Records)

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SCRAM "Kingsessing Trails" LP

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

Many of you may remember SCRAM, a hardcore/reggae trio which tore up the Philadelphia underground music scene in the mid-1980s (BYO Records released their "Stand Up" LP back then). They've since acquired a percussionist, two seasoned jazz horn players and a whole new sound. SCRAM has thrown the sounds of punk, reggae, salsa, calypso, jazz, Motown and big-band swing into a blender and have ended up with an amazing mix - highly danceable and lots of fun. Though staying true to their punk days by speaking out on social and global matters, SCRAM could be considered "commercialized." Whatever. But all I can say is that this release will be blasted out of my car speakers for some time to come. (self-released)

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SHUDDER TO THINK "Funeral at the Movies" EP

Shudder to Think

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

SHUDDER TO THINK won me over when I first heard their debut EP, "It Was Arson." Since then, they have progressed admirably, both musically and lyrically. The poetic lyrics are sung in the band's trademark floating, ethereal manner, with falsettos and bizarre notes being hit throughout the album, and I actually felt the complex, layered guitar in my stomach. Powerful and thoughtful, some songs on this release are actually beautiful. This record sounds especially pleasant on CD, where Dischord packages it to include "Ten Spot," one of last year's best releases. (Dischord Records)

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FUEL LP

Fuel

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

Fuel had caused quite a stir on the West coast, and it's easy to hear why. Few artists in the underground scene display as much sincerity and integrity as Fuel seems to in their lyrics. Fuel plants the seed of thought in their audience by delving into such topics such as religion, apathy and personal pacification in an eloquent, thought-out manner. Over a backdrop of melodious hardcore, the diversity, complexity and enjoyment is endless. I hope others follow their example of dedication and conviction. (Rough Trade)

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SOULSIDE

soulside logo

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

LOOKING BACK: SOULSIDE was the best band to come out of DC. There. I said it. ABSOLUTELY underrated. Recorded, their songs would thump you in the heart with powerful melodies. Live, they would shred your skin off with their energy. This was an interview with Bobby Sullivan, who at the time referred to SOULSIDE’s status as a “long, long break.” They never got back together. The same year as this interview, Alexis, Scott, and Johnny went on to form GIRLS AGAINST BOYS, who are still playing. Bobby went on to sing in RAIN LIKE THE SOUND OF TRAINS with Pete from VERBAL ASSAULT and Dug from BEEFEATER. Dunno what he’s up to now. Someone let me know? Please? -- Mickey


SOULSIDE raged. From their first album in 1987 to 1990's “Hot Bodi-Gram,” they proved to be a thoughtful, intelligent, powerful band. Though they have been broken up for a while now, their music remains just as fresh with each of their albums' listenings. This interview with vocalist Bobby Sullivan took place in early 1990, after “Trigger” hit the store shelves (and after the recording of “Hot Bodi-Gram”). Bobby now has the vocal chores in 7 LEAGUE BOOTS, a Boston-based band with a reggae flavor.

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May 04, 2006

LAWRENCE LIVERMORE (Lookout Records)

lookout
it's lawrence livermore

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

LOOKING BACK: It's a crying shame what's happened to Lookout Records. Founded in the 1980s by Lawrence Livermore (and named after his bands THE LOOKOUTS), the label had a spectacular stable of bands and release -- OPERATION IVY and GREEN DAY are only but two of the lenegary bands who made incredible music on Lookout. Alas, the label has been run into the ground fiscally by its current owners, and its top-selling bands have pulled their records from the Lookout catalog. In any case, here's an unpublished phone interview I did with Lawrence in the early 1990s, when the label was on the cusp of booming. -- Mickey


Lawrence Livermore has been an active figure on the West Coast - the East Bay area, to be more specific. From helping bands get a big boost via his label, Lookout Records, or supporting the punk gigs by playing in his band, THE LOOKOUTS, and publishing his fanzine, titled - you guessed it - Lookout Fanzine. Lawrence epitomizes a dedicated, D.I.Y. ethic that so obviously missing in the underground music scene today. Read on!

Continue reading "LAWRENCE LIVERMORE (Lookout Records)" »

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ALL

ALL

LOOKING BACK: If Threatening Society had kept going, Issue 7 would've been the best. We started to nail down interviews -- making them seem more conversational, and the answers more intimate. This chat with Bill Stevenson is one of my favorites. Glad it's seeing the light of day. And it's only appropriate that all three of us -- me, Tony, and Caleb -- were there for the enjoyable chat. -- Mickey

[The Lost Issue (unpublished), early 1990s]

Life on the road has always been hell for ALL. Endless miles of mundane landscapes. Breakdowns in the
summer heat. Stinky, sweaty bodies crammed tight into a tiny van, with little chance of breathing fresh air until the next rest stop.

Often, tragedies strike when a band tours, but few groups have probably experi¬enced such heart-wrenching events such as a portable toilet overturning inside the van (as chronicled in the liner notes of ALL's live “Trailblazer” LP).

But throughout it all, ALL presses on, seeming as though they are constantly touring.

We caught up with ALL while on tour promoting their “Allroy Saves” LP. We spoke with Bill Stevenson, drummer extraordinaire, after a blistering set in Trenton, New Jersey. Present were Tony, Caleb and Mickey.

MICKEY: Your current line-up is...?
BILL: It's me [drums] and Karl [bass] and Stephen [guitar] and Scott [vocals]. The same as on “Allroy's Revenge” and “Trailblazer.”

MICKEY: First off, why did Dave Smalley, ALL's first singer, leave?
BILL: It's sort of like being in the army with all of the touring and everything.
MICKEY: You tour for eight months a year?
BILL: Nine. It's not Dave's fault. I think people think, "Oh, it sounds like fun." And after a year or so of doing it, it might get in their blood, and they might really like it, or they might go, "Jeez, I've had enough."

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