America's Youth.

Algy Ward for Prime Minister

Yes, that's Algy Ward from the Damned playing bass with the shades and denim...how cool does he look!!!

 Know your product from a few years ago.

 Which part of fuck off?

RF7 - Fall in 12'' (1982)

Back to these guys after a loooooong time and a really deserving 12''. Released in 1982 on Smoke Seven records, this 12'' is a seamless continuation from the album released the previous year.

Compilation albums were so important back then and I heard these guys via the Public Service comp and thought they were canny. I added them to my wants list and quickly got their first few releases and I've followed the band ever since. I LOVE this 12'' - it never gets old; it might take a few listens to appreciate it as Felix's vocals are aren't instant hit with some.

I truly believe this band are sadly overlooked when it comes to documenting hardcore; they deserve so much better.

Anyway, download and decide for yourself.

Music

ISM - I Think I Love You (1983)

The early days of hardcore were sometimes confusing for a guy based 1000's of miles from the center. This band were categorized as hardcore, as comicbook and lumped in with the Berts by some, but make no mistake they're really important and were at the epicenter; as soon I got this 7'' I was hooked.

In my opinion, this a great New York band who came my way via a compilation tape and quickly made their way onto my "wants list". They are really chaotic, yet can clearly play their instruments and manage to make a discordant racket sound like the best thing since sliced bread.

This 7'' needs to be heard. A really good band who lasted for far too few years, but they managed to release a couple of albums, and 7'' along with a 12''. I'd suggest getting them all.

Music

This 7'' is pure genius.

High Back Chairs

As I've said before, I loved following certain artists to see just where they can take their art/craft, call it what you will. Jeff Nelson was a guy I watched from afar and was totally gob-smacked at just how fast he could play drums yet he'd never miss a beat, ever; the guy was a human metronome. When he was in Minor Threat he was just amazing, what a fucking drummer!!!

I followed him, and Ian, from band to band to see where they went, but I lost touch with Jeff, primarily because I stopped buying Flipside around 93(ish), so I had a few lean years where I had to go back to square one and write letters to people to find out, what was what and, where it was happening.

Fast forward to '96 and I get myself on the interweb and things become easier to follow. I did some digging and found out that Jeff had joined a new band called High Back Chairs; this is after Wonderama. This band ARE NOT punk, however, they could be slotted in with latter day Asexuals, but they're as about as far from Minor Threat as you could get.I really liked these and have no issues from switching from MT, to Void to these in a heartbeat.

It appears that their releases are still available on Dischord, so I've grouped 4 songs together as a taster to get a feel for the band. If you like them then plod on over to Dischord where you can buy the real thing online for a very small fee.....go on, they deserve it; so do Dischord.

Of Two Minds = Buy it here
Curiosity and Relief = BUY IT here (this is the best one and it only costs $4 digitally)

The band consisted of

Pater Hynes - Vocals/Guiter
Jim Spellman - Guitar
Charles Steck - Bass/Vocals
Jeff Nelson - Drumming god like person

This is another band who epitomise why I love DC...so many artists so many, many, many bands. You could spend months trying to plan a family tree around this city. Jim was also in Velocity Girl and Julie Ocean, Charles was in Rambling Shadows, Colo(u)r School etc.

Music

"Dream of a Day" reminds me of sitting outside the "Free Trade" pub in Newcastle with a freezing cold pint of Stella in my hand on a boiling hot summers day, listening to this album on my walkman waiting for friends to turn up so we could get royally drunk. Ah...those were the days.

Sold my Fortune

A very good band, who released two very good albums.

The drummer in this video is Joey Castillo who started out in Wasted Youth before moving onto Sugartooth, Danzig and Queens of the stone age.

Damned if you do, Damned if you don't......

This is the Damned live at the 02 academy in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on 17th November 2011.

I was humming and harring about going to this gig and almost did, but in the end decided not to as I'm not keen on how Dave sings the old songs these days. This is a really good recording, but on this evidence I still think I made the right decision..... ...you might disagree. However, there's no denying that this contains the worst version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde ever.

You need both music links below to get the full gig.

Music part1
Music part2

Some nice chap on youtube has a very good quality video of this gig, his channel is.... here

P.S. Thanks to John for this recording.

Major Conflict - How do ya Feel 7'' (1983)

Soon after Urban Waste folded a couple of ex members formed this band, and boy, am I glad they did. I was offered this 7'', but had no clue who it was and then the seller said "it's some ex Urban Waste members" and I tore his hand off; £3 including import fees and I was laughing. I got home, threw in on the turn table and it's never stopped spinning ever since. I still have this piece of plastic sitting in a storage facility somewhere.
 
My love, some might say obsession with American Hardcore is no secret, but I never really had an affinity with New York. I've often thought why it was that I didn't click with NYC, but I still can't put my finger on it and there are far more bands from there that I didn't like than I did. This band are a huge exception.

This isn't Urban Waste, and if you weren't told the bands shared members you'd never know. This is a huge, powerful wall of noise that will knock you off your feet proving that when New York kicked hard it really kicked; the riffs are brilliant. This 7'' should only be played at one volume, and that's full!

 Music