» punk

Mar
22ndAnti-Flag: Rock Against Santorum?

Anti-Flag have been saying what’s on their minds for over two decades. Why stop now? The punk rockers from Pittsburgh are back with their eighth studio album The General Strike, and like previous efforts, it finds the band speaking against injustices in the world and the government’s abuse of power. Earlier this month, Anti-Flag — Justin Sane, Chris #2, Chris Head and Pat Thetic — stopped by the Music Conservatory of Westchester to record an “A-Sides” session. More accustomed to head-banging and stage-diving, they found it a nice change of pace to perform acoustic versions of two tracks within a practice studio at the Conservatory usually reserved for its Music Therapy Institute. Chris #2 performed “1915″ off the new album, while Justin Sane played “One Trillion Dollars” — an old favorite that’s sadly still relevant today. Following the performances, the band did an informal, extremely candid interview with me on the new album and the sad state of the current political scene. Watch. Listen. Learn. “1915″: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nK6Gu4E40I&w=460&h=315] “One Trillion Dollars”: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMAMpoetc4E&w=460&h=315] Interview: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMViYy7Yx_0&w=460&h=315] About A-Sides with Jon Chattman Jon Chattman’s music series features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles — just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an un-rehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, [...]
Jan
27thThey Might Be Front Bottoms and Black Taxi Rides

They might be the next They Might Be Giants or perhaps they’ll follow punk icons like Blink 182, and yes I hate calling that latter band “icons.” Their best bet, however, may be becoming the first ever Front Bottoms. That’s a good thing. The quirky duo of Brian Sella and Matthew Uychich have been playing shows throughout New York City and New Jersey rigorously in support of their recently released self-titled album. Getting back to the “first ever” part, the Front Bottoms are hard to pigeonhole into one genre because their pop-meets-rock-meets-punk-meets-everything-else sound sets them apart from others you’ve seen perform live at a low-dough show in Manhattan. Nothing against Uychich, who drums like a madman — usually shirtless, the uniqueness of The Front Bottoms comes mostly from Sella, who admits he’s not the best singer ever nor the best songwriter. Watch below as the Bergen County duo, who’ve known each other since grade school (they even played in crappy talent shows together), along with a third member you can Google after watching them perform “Mountain” The performance was filmed within a practice studio at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, NY last month. “Mountain” Live and Interview: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHxOe77ZP70&w=460&h=315] We leave the New Jersey Turnpike, and travel to Brooklyn courtesy of a Black Taxi. How’s that for a terrible segue? The band of that name are currently touring in support of their second full-length album We Don’t Know Any Better which was released earlier this month. The [...]