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

BoB Mould

Thanks to Days of our Youth for alerting me to this.

The Freeze- Celebration 7'' (1980)

The Freeze were a late 70's/early 80's punk band who gigged extensively and supported many a band during their time, but never achieved the success that could/should have been heaped upon them based upon their two releases. They also recorded a peel session, or two, and then fractured.

Gordon Sharp (vocals) relocated to London in '82 and formed Cindytalk who have a very devout and fanatical following. Cindytalk were not punk, but were classed in that catch all genre of "post-punk".

I have to be honest and say that Cindytalk seldom set a spark alight in my world, let alone set anything on fire, but Gordon did gain many kudos points for recording with the Cocteau Twins in their early days. Anything associated with the Cocteau Twins earns respect from me. If you've never heard them I highly recommend Stars & Topsoil as a jump off point........BUT, it's about as far from punk as you can get so be warned.

Anyway...here's the Freeze's 2nd 7'', not as punk as the first, but still worthy of many a turntable spin.

Music

Punk World Cup

 

Who would you pick?      (Taken from the Damned's website.)

Some tough choices here for me, but here goes: -

Crass Vs The Ramones. Crass were pretty big in my early days and despite the fact that I partially blame them for the downfall of UK punk it doesn't detract from the fact that ALL their 7'' and first two albums are classics.

It's so easy to forget just how threatening Crass were back then; when had we heard the likes of Asylum? .......We hadn't! The way that track feeds into Do they owe us a living still sends shivers down my spine. I fucking love Feeding of the 5000. It's a hard album to get into, but once it clicks it sits forever rewarding you with great, great punk. However, having said all that, it simply has to be the Ramones, hands down, no argument, no explanation required. The Ramones win.

Siouxsie & the Banshees Vs the Clash. The second hardest fight in the chart but as much as I love them both, and the Banshees made some great albums, with the Scream being almost untouchable the Clash produced the Clash and London Calling which top trumps the Banshees one true bona-fide classic. So the Clash progress.

The Ruts Vs X-Ray Spex. Toughest choice for me as I adore both bands. The Ruts were simply stunning in their musicianship. Listen to any Ruts track and you'll hear four people contributing to a track as individuals, no bass player following the bass drum as often happens but contributing on it's own merits.

X-Ray Spex were one of the sound tracks of my school daze...and I love a good saxophone mixed in with punk so a really hard choice. ....BUT it has to be the Ruts, if only for Westone shine on me which would be in my top ten punk songs ever.

Sex Pistols Vs The Damned. Again I love both bands, but the Pistols late career was muddied with commerciality and sub-standard releases. McLaren ruined their reputation...and let's not mention filthy lucre eh!?

On the other hand we have The Damned who were one of the bands that kept punk alive during its lean period; mid '78 - '79. They were the band that remained closest to the ideals, no matter how ridiculous they might look nowadays, of punk and produced a higher calibre of classic albums than any punk band. Please move the Damned.

Subhumans Vs Stiff Little Fingers. This is the easiest one for me to decide and it's SLF to go forward. Nothing more to say really, just stack up the 7'' and albums and this is a total mis-match....it's Mike Tyson vs Barry McGuigan.

Killing Joke Vs The Stranglers. Sadly another David and Goliath event. Love KJ, but faced with the Stranglers, who produced five, arguably 7 classics. The Stranglers pass go and collect 200 pounds.

999 Vs The Buzzcocks. I thought this one would have been harder than it was, but on reflection it was pretty simple. Both great singles bands, but on albums, for me and possibly controversially, it's 999. They remind me so much of school and raving about their latest release.

UK Subs Vs Dead Kennedys. Again another hard one. I saw the Subs so many times and they never failed to impress. The most memorable being  in '80 at the Mayfair in Newcastle when Charlie Harper called people to get on the stage and dance along with them, there were so many people on the stage that the left side collapsed under the weight.

I saw the Dead Kennedys once and had a chat to Jello. They still remain one of the most incendiary bands I've ever seen. NOTHING comes close to a Jello on fire on stage; the guy was in a class of his own. Throw Klaus, Easy Bay and DH into the mix and we have to say goodbye to the the Subs.

Quarter Finals
Ramones Vs The Clash. Pass forward the Clash.
The Ruts Vs The Damned. The Damned win.
SLF Vs The Stranglers. JJ and Co continue.
999 Vs Dead Kennedys.The Kennedys win by technical KO.

Semi Finals
The Clash Vs The Damned. Any day of the week it's the Damned.
The Stranglers Vs The DK's. Sorry Jello, but the Stranglers win. ... just.

Final
The Stanglers Vs The Damned. No contest......it's the Damned each and every time.

All hail The Damned.

The Clash live in JFK stadium (1982)

Can you believe it's almost ten years.... :(

Music

The Freeze - In Colour (1979)

Speaking of obscure records; here's one. This is the Freeze from Scotland and it's a "must have" record. I'm being lazy and watching the Olympics (go Team GB) so I'll post more about them when I upload their second 7''.

Enjoy.

Music

Fallout - Salami Tactics 7'' (1982)

When I bumped into a new group of friends in late '80 one of them was a guy who was mad on collecting foreign punk whilst I was after obscure Brit punk. One thing we had in common was a love for Six Minute War. We both loved their trashy DIY ethic and their three 7'' (and cassette...anyone remember them?) have been favourites ever since.

As Six Minute War began to disintegrate a new band was forming out of the ashes. Fallout lasted a few years releasing 3 7'', 1 album and a 10''. Not unsurprisingly, they shared the same trashy DIY ethic as Six Minute War, and all their releases are well worth grabbing. This 7'' is the best, imho, as it includes the epics Slice it Up and Spice and Fly the Flag, which you might recognise. I remember buying this so clearly and wishing the bus home would hurry up so I could play it....those were the days.

Music