SMASH white supremacy

Howdy there ladies and fellas! Happy Iranian Day for Doctors, and welcome to the latest installment of Wednesdays With Andrew. This marks the first full write up in a couple weeks, so let me formally welcome you back to the mix. And what a mix it is. This week we got Rancid. We got Ramones. We got Big B, T.S.O.L., This is a Standoff and much more. So, without further ado, GO FUCKING LISTEN TO THE PLAYLIST



Oh, and the web player link for all you webels.


Oh. Hellz. Yes. Spotify just added my favorite album from (DC-born) French punk rockers Uncommonmenfrommars, 2001's Vote For Me. We'll go ahead and kick off the week with this piece of sliced gold...Tatoo is a hard-hitting (yet cheery sounding) rebuke of all things intolerant and evil. I would also rank it as being in the Top 5 Ringtones of All Time list. If you haven't had the chance to listen to this album in its entirety, go check it out, NOW. My buds and I would go see these guys play every time they came to our town on tour; they killed it live, and they are super chill dudes to boot.

Track Fast is a fast track off Rancid's Trouble Maker, released earlier this summer. The opening song off what marks the seminal punk band's 9th studio album, to me it's reminiscent of the Life Won't Wait/2000 era for the group. It's the sonic equivalent of a train that's gone off the rails, incorporating pounding rhythms and affronting, twangy guitar licks. Since the song clocks in at under a minute (and that is NOT enough Rancid for one sitting), I am throwing in Junkie Man, which is off one of my personal favorite albums, ...And Out Come the Wolves.

This next one goes out to my own little Cuban hottie. Havana Affair is a glazed donut of a song from trailblazing punk band Ramones. Off their debut self-titled album (released all the way back in 1976!), the song features everything you'd expect from these Queens rockers: simple song structure built around 4 power chords, punctuated by sharp syncopated breaks, and sugary melodies courtesy of Joey Ramone. Although all four original members of the band have died, its hard to imagine that their music or impact will ever be forgotten.

Graveyards is a melodic shotgun blast from Canadian outfit This Is A Standoff. Blending complex guitar lines and rhythms, borrowed from 80s thrash metal bands like Megadeth and Slayer, with the raw energy and speed of the 90s skate punk movement, This Is A Standoff provides an aural smorgsaborg, rife with interesting things to listen out for. Do those pop-laden yet piercing vocals sound familiar at all? The band was formed in 2007 by Steve Rawles, founding guitarist/vocalist of cult favorite, melodic skate band Belvedere. Speaking of fucking Belvedere, DID YOU KNOW - that band is still very much active, having released a new album last year (The Revenge of the Fifth) on Bird Attack Records, and still actively touring. See them next time they swing by your local watering hole!

OK I think it's time to inject some zen vibes on this week's journey. Next up is a chill track from Las Vegas-based wordsmith Big B. Part of the original line-up of OPM, Big B struck out on a solo career in the early 2000s. Here Comes the Lightning is off his 2013 LP, Fool's Gold...this album features a lot of cool collaborations, including songs that feature Slightly Stoopid and Dirty Heads.

People! Places! OK, for this next track I gotta give a big ups to dude man Yvann. He showed me this song Monolith last week, and I am really digging the moody, neo-post-punk vibes. This was the cardinal track off the self-titled, debut studio album released in 2012 by Stockholm-based noise act Holograms. The whole album has an oppressive timbre, featuring synth-heavy hooks, straightforward four-on-flour bass drum and distorted amelodic vocals. If you dig this track, go check out their brand spankin' new latest full-length release, Surrender, out now!

Goonies-loving band Slick Shoes, hailing from the deserts of southern California, have been playing fast skate punk since their inception in 1994. Father Son Picnic is off their first EP Rusty, and the band uses it to show some teeth, focusing less on a single pop hook and more on the overall rock n roll feel of the song. Side note: some things simply don't change...when I checked Slick Shoes' Facebook page this week, looks like they're still touring with MxPx!

Our penultimate selection for this week is T.S.O.L.'s soothing ode, Flowers By the Door. This song was part of their 1984 album Change Today?; aptly titled, as the record was released after founding vocalist Jack Grisham left the band. Indeed, Change Today? marked the first album with Danzig-sounding motherfucker Joe Wood on singing duties, while the band's sound also drifted away from their early hardcore influences and more into the realm or art and goth rock sounds. Jack is back at the helm, and the reunited gang released a new record, The Trigger Complex, earlier this year. 

We'll close out the week's playlist with a punch to the head, PEARS' combative track Victim To Be. Off their first studio album, Go To Prison, the song encapsulates these Louisianians' brake-and-go style of speedy, catchy hardcore. Speaking of victims and punches to heads, here's a quick concussion update: I am still showing symptoms, like concentration difficulties, headaches, dizziness...but all in all, things are going pretty well and I have been able to avoid being attacked since!


Okie dokie, annie oakley, that is a wrap. Thanks for tuning in, warriors, and be sure to come back next Wednesday for your weekly fill of good, punk(ish) rock.

Portez-vous bien et comportez-vous mal!

Stick the fucking flag up your goddam ass, you sonofabitch

Happy national hangover day, you filthy Wednesday warriors, and welcome to the 50th (!) installment of WWA. Kinda hard to believe it has been almost a full year since the inception of this weird and redundant sonic experiment. We've got buckets of awesome songs to celebrate our golden anniversary, including tracks from bands like Vandals, 88 Fingers Louie, Dizzee Rascal, Strike Anywhere, Propagandhi and more.

ONWARDS..



Annnnd here's the web player link for all you dinkle donks.


We kick off our patriotic playlist with a salute to the red, white and blue...in the form of Propagandhi's stellar track Stick the Fucking Flag Up Your Goddam Ass, You Sonofabitch. These restless and riotous Canucks channel their political discontent through blazing guitars and screamy vocals, supported by a pounding, fast-as-fuck, four-on-the-floor rhythm section. This catchy little ditty is off Propagandhi's oft-revered 1993 album, How to Clean Everything, which is probably one of the most-listened-to records in my personal collection.

Gaaaah I have been so fucking excited for the resurrection of one of Chicago's finest punk contributors, the brilliant 88 Fingers Louie. A mere 18 years after their last original release (the 1999 split EP with Kid Dynamite), the band dropped their newest album, Thank You for Being a Friend, late last week. I have listened to the album a few times already, and I gotta say, it sounds A LOT like 88 Fingers Louie. Keeping their core around soulful and melancholy melodies and harmonies, heavy bass lines underlying thick guitar tones, and front-and-center tom-heavy drums, this whole LP sounds like the band of yore. Today we're only including the first single from the record, Advice Column, but worry not...we'll be throwing on a bunch of material from the album in the coming weeks.

Brake Lights is a staggeringly potent track off pop punk quartet The Bombpops' latest album Fear of Missing Out, released earlier this year through Fat Wreck Chords. Pulling heavily from 90s era skate punk bands like No Use for a Name, Green Day, Tsunami Bomb and the like, The Bombpops are wont to create highly produced, melody-driven tunes that rely on the use of grungy guitar tones, power chords, fast rhythms and keeps-you-on-your-toes song arrangements. The band was formed in San Diego in 2007 by co-frontwomen Jen Razavi and Poli van Dam, and have cultivated a large cult following on the west coast.

Cheeky Londoner Dizzee Rascal serves up our next tune, Dream. An early pioneer of London's grime scene, which incorporates elements of electronica, ragga jungle and UK garage, Dizzee broke out in the early 2000s with his critically acclaimed debut album, Boy in Da Corner, and is still an important fixture in the scene today. True to form, in this song he tackles important subject matter through his characteristic cheerful beats and sanguine lyrical style.

YAAASSS, give me more of that good old-fashioned Swedish garage punk. I Don't Wanna Go To The USA is a rockin' travel agency jingle from Stockholm band/ex-Village People reenactors, The Baboon Show. Off their 2010 album Punk Rock Harbour (which, yes, features plenty of cowbell), this song encapsulates all the decadent glam and punk rock attitude that permeates throughout everything these Baboons touch.

Next up we have a couple of pop-infused songs from those NYC indie rockers The Drums. Blood Under My Belt is the first single off their latest album, 2017's Abysmal Thoughts. Riddled with sun-drenched surf guitar riffs and layered, reverb melodies, the song is rooted by its punchy rhythm section. This latest album was The Drums' first release through ANTI-, a sub of Epitaph Records. In honor of happier days and more patriotic times, I'm also including their hit song Let's Go Surfing, which was part of their breakthrough, eponymous debut studio album. It is my firm belief that at this very moment, Obama is riding the waves, a sic semper tyrannis flag rippling in the wind with a Camel 99 slowly burning in his mouth. Godspeed, Mr. President.

We close out today's playlist with Sunset on 32nd Street, a rousing anthem from melodic hardcore band Strike Anywhere. A staple in Richmond's vibrant punk scene, Strike Anywhere has been putting out blistering political statements and head banging tunes since 1999. This track is off their debut album, Change is a Sound, released in 2001 through Jade Tree records. Scuttlebutt on the street is these bold Antifas are currently working on their 5th studio album, which is slated to drop later this year. 

Alright, time to crawl back into bed. Hope you guys had fun blowing shit up to the soothing sounds of punk rock, and remember to tune in next week for more playlist high jinks. Comportez-vous mal, les mecs.

Manufactured phonies

Happy mid-week, Wednesday warriors, and welcome to another fun-filled adventure of punk music, rehashed gifs and a lesson in twisting and corrupting our most beautiful English language. This week we have a real doozy of a playlist, featuring awesome tracks from bands like X, The Menzingers, Blur, RVIVR, Brody Dalle and more. Without further ado, let's burn this barn down. 



And here's the web player link for all you porkies

We kick off the week with a blistering track from Cascadian rockers, RVIVR. Known for their work ethic (they tour a shit ton) and raucous live performances, RVIVR has quickly become a household name for old and young punk fans alike. Wrong Way/One Way is off their 2nd full length, The Beauty Between. For all my D. Columbian brethren, mark your calendars: they're playing Comet Ping Pong on May 24.

Brody Dalle, with all of her glorious idiosyncrasies and 
resolute grittiness, is one of my a) favorite Aussies and b) favorite punk rock ladies. Formerly of Distillers and Spinnerette fame, my main girl Brody debuted her solo work in 2014 with the album Diploid Love. Underworld is the 2nd track off this record, channeling all the energy and drive from her previous work, while exploring new themes and sounds (including a dope ass horn section and cool little Spanish guitar outro). 

Up next is a pop punk anthem from widely acclaimed group The Menzingers. Second only to Michael Scott in the category of "Best Things to Come Out of Scranton, PA", The Menzingers have been playing raw, fun punk rock since 2006. Good Things is off their third studio album, released in 2012 on the Epitaph label. Undeterred by the chaos that is slowly engulfing our world, these guys are about to set off on a month-long tour of Europe and Asia to promote their latest album. Godspeed, gents!

Dirty Fences is a hard rockin', punk slingin' outfit out of NYC. Although you can hear some of that 70s Ramones influence in their work, they meticulously blend in their own garage guitar sounds, unique harmonies, and fun arrangements. All I Want is off Too High To Kross, their 2013 full-length.

Ghost Ship is off London group Blur's long-awaited, latest album. Unveiled in 2015, The Magic Whip (which is Blur's 8th studio album) was their first release since Think Tank in 2003. Fans weren't disappointed, and for the most part critics raved that it was a triumphant comeback from Damon Albarn and the gang. Hey, since we're already listening to Blur, I'm gonna throw in a little extra...one of my favorite songs by them, We've Got A File On You.

We're Desperate is a boiling composition and plea-to-action from LA's first wave punk band X. For me, like many other kids growing up listening to punk in the 90s, We're Desperate was one of the first exposures to X that I had, thanks to the reissue version that lead lady Exene Cervenka did with Pennywise. Although that cover doesn't stray at all from the original arrangement, it doesn't quite capture the raw emotion, and feeling of despair, that the original exudes.

DC's own Dot Dash is no newcomer to the WWA rotation, and they have plenty of material to add to the mix. Dumb Entertainment is the first track off their latest record, Searchlights. For all my local listeners, these guys are frequent fixtures in the usual suspects; Black Cat, Songbyrd, DC9, Rock N Roll Hotel...go check 'em out when you can!

She's Like Heroin to Me, courtesy of LA cowpunk band The Gun Club, was featured on their debut  album, Fire of Love, released through Ruby Records in 1981.  With that rumblin' train backbeat, country giiiiitar twang, and blues/rockabilly lyrical style, the song exmplifies the advent of the psychobilly genre that gained so much steam throughout the 80s. The Gun Club came to a sad end when band leader Jeffrey Lee Pierce passed away in 1996.

We're gonna close out the week with a shimmering track from Hot Snakes, a post-hardcore band that emanated from the primordial ooze under a hot and unforgiving SoCal sun. The band was formed and led by John Reis, previously of Rockets from the Crypt, and his old bandmate from Drive Like Jehu and Pitchfork, Rick Froberg. Plenty for All was the last track on Hot Snakes' third and final album, Audit in Progress, which was released through Reis' label, Swami Records.


Alright I think that's it for today. As always, send over song requests, critical feedback, threats, etc. Oh and if you're in a band, send me t-shirts. I started this blog for the free shirts...where are the free shirts. I am a male, slim medium. THANKS

Run.

Howdy Wednesday wranglers...welcome to another bonafide, rollickin' half hour with your 3rd favorite sub market blog personality. This week on Wednesdays With Andrew we feature some real hitmakers, including some ditties from Bad Religion, Bass Drum of Death, Nana Grizol, AWOLNATION, Swingin' Utters and more. Turn on your Russian microwave, open up your favorite purveyor of fake news, and enjoy the playlist.



And here's the webplayer link for all my other sole mates

Wow, has Bad Religion really been around since 1982? Yikes we're getting old. Fuck Armageddon... is off Mr. Brett and friends' 1st full length record How Could Hell Be Any Worse? This album marks the genesis of the now-ubiquitous Epitaph label, which Brett used at the time as a vehicle to publish and sell Bad Religion records.

Flip is a fast and fiery anthem from Israeli punkers Not on Tour. With sticky sweet vocals courtesy of femme fuck-ya'all Sima Brami, and accompanied by treble-friendly guitars and drums at breakneck speeds, these guys are keeping the 90s punk sound relevant. Staying true to their skate punk roots, their 2015 whirlwind of an album, Bad Habits, doesn't contain a single song that clocks in over 2 minutes long.

Bass Drum of Death has been a mainstay of the lo-fi/garage punk movement since the earlier part of this millennium. Gritty and noisy, Crawling After You takes us through frontman John Barrett's journey of unrequited love, changing rapidly from hook to hook that seems to engulf the listener's entire bandwidth. Crawling After You was part of the band's 2013 eleven-song eponymous studio release.

Time to get moody with Aaron Bruno, the genius behind AWOLNATION. Run is the titular track from AWOLNATION's sophomore record, released in 2015 through Red Bull Records. This album marks a departure from the more party-fueled anthems from their first album, and takes a bit more dark and introspective turn.

A trailblazer of 80s east coast hardcore, Gang Green made a name for themselves through irreverent and ragey songwriting and raucous live shows. Skate to Hell was a track off their debut full length, Another Wasted Night. This album also includes their infamous punk cover of Aimee Mann's 'Voices Carry' (ps go check it out if you haven't heard it before). Empowering young people fact - when the original line up formed in 1980, they were only 15 years old. Go get 'em, tigers!

Hope ya'all brought your dancing shoes for this next song, Tumbleweed. Part of the busy LA ska scene, Red Store Bums have been the leading cause of skanking-related injuries since forming in 2001. Back then there were only 3 members - they've since rounded it out to their current line-up of eight touring musicians.

T.V. Song is from Georgia peaches (not to be confused with the Moldy Peaches) Nana Grizol. A super group of indie sorts, Nana Grizol is helmed by Theo Hilton from the band Defiance, Ohio, and Laura Carter, of Neatural Milk Hotel fame. Like Theo's old group, Nana Grizol likes to experiment with non-traditional rock instruments...this time replacing the cello and double bass for an accompanying brass section. T.V. Song is off their latest album, Ursa Minor, which JUST dropped last week.

Is it obvious that Wyldlife are fans of 70s NYC glam punk (n roll), a la Ramones or Dictators? These dudes have been committed to doggedly, feverishly, enthusiastically encouraging crowds to party, through an effective use of sweet power chords and sing-alongable rock n roll anthems. Bruvs, Deadbeat was just released as part of their 2017 full-length release, Out on Your Block...go get yerself a copy now!

We're going to end the playlist today with a song from Battles, an experimental post-rock group out of New York City. Atlas, their hit track off debut studio album Mirrored, shows off the raw tribalism and atonal features of Battles' rhythm-heavy sound. Beyond producing trippy and fun-to-listen-to songs, this also serves as a great project for native Baltimorean John Stanier, previously of Helmet glory, to show off his drumming chops.

OK that's it. Good songs, good stories, good bands, good you, good me, bye.