Whip It (PG-13)
Ignore it if anyone says that this is a “chick flick” or something similar. It has more in common with The Bad News Bears, The Karate Kid or even Rocky than it does with your average romantic comedy.
With that said, this DREW BARRYMORE-directed drama (which is occasionally very funny) stars ELLEN PAGE as BLISS CAVENDAR, an indie-rock listening misfit stuck in a small Texas town as she transforms into BABE RUTHLESS, the star player on a fictitious Austin-based Roller Derby team called the “Hurl Scouts”. The casting and acting are spot-on and the movie will resonate with anyone who ever felt like an outsider.
Mika Miko – Treasure Tropics (Not Not Fun)
Last summer, I bought a stack of about a dozen discs at a porch sale. Among them was this one, which I just get around to listening to. I wish I’d have heard this band before they broke up, as this is really solid, female-fronted punk rock in the vein of SLEATER-KINNEY or PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES. Blazing through 12 songs in 20 minutes, it’s got that lo-fi feel, which also gives it a resemblance to fellow LA club The Smell regulars NO AGE.
Citizens Arrest – Discography (Lost and Found)
Back in the early ’90s, I had the discography disc of this awesome late ’80s New York hardcore band that was affiliated with other ABC-NO-RIO acts like BORN AGAINST and RORSCHACH. They also launched the music career of TED LEO as he sang on their demo! In any case, this contains the A Light in the Darkness 7”, the Colossus Lp and several compilation tracks. It’s brutal, crushing metallic hardcore (though not metalcore; not even close) with socio-political lyrics. I keep hearing rumors about a 2xLp reissue, but thus far nothing has materialized. In the meantime, get it here.
Vampire Weekend – “Ruby Soho”
I’m still on the fence about their new album Contra, but I really like their cover of this RANCID tune.
The Joy Formidable – Union Hall (Brooklyn, NY) – January 10, 2010
I wish I could’ve attended this show, but I do have a recording of it. This is a board recording, though I do hear the audience on occasion. In any case, it sounds quite good and the performance is spot-on. Get it here.
Now let’s hope they play here in Philadelphia at some point!
Descendents – Hallraker (SST)
After the Descendents’ breakup, SST released this album of outtakes from their more popular live album Liveage!. Although Liveage! has more of a live album feel and thus feels more essential, I’ve always preferred the track listing on this one.
Rogue Wave – Permalight (Brushfire)
This is the third absolutely great Rogue Wave album in a row. I’m particularly enthralled with “Per Anger”, an absolutely stunning song that rivals previous highlights like “Love’s Lost Guarantee” (from 2005’s Descended Like Vultures) and even “Chicago X 12” (from 2007’s Asleep at Heaven’s Gate), my favorite Rogue Wave song.
Various Artists – Idiot Box (Cherry Blossom Clinic)
This is a CD compiled by WFMU DJ TERRE T and as the title indicates, this features 27 (count ‘em) songs about television. Some are relatively well-known, like FRANK ZAPPA‘s “Trouble Everyday” or BLACK FLAG‘s “TV Party”, but many are completely obscure, ranging from tracks by LOTHAR AND THE HAND PEOPLE and THE COASTERS to punk-era obscurities by the likes of THE RADIATORS OF SPACE and THE VICTIMS (the awesome “Television Addict”). If you can get your hands on this one, I highly recommend it.
Cringer – Zen Flesh Zen Bones (Vinyl Communications)
Before LANCE HAHN and GARDNER FUSUHARA formed J CHURCH in 1992, they played in this Hawaii-based band from 1984 to 1991. As such, I’ve always liked this 7” from 1988. It’s basic, raw pop-punk, but super catchy and with intelligent lyrics to boot.
The Gerunds with Cellmates and Thee Nosebleeds – Tritone (Philadelphia, PA) – February 12, 2010
This was my third time seeing The Gerunds and like the first two times, they didn’t disappoint. In fact, I think they get better with every show despite the (I’m being really generous here) iffy sound, though let’s face it, that’s part of the Tritone’s charm. This time we get the requisite five or six tracks from the demo, one new song and two DAG NASTY songs (“Dag Nasty” and “Under Your Influence”, complete with the outro reminiscent of the then controversial version on Field Day).
Cellmates, from Baltimore, were a nice surprise as well. Grabbing my attention by sound checking with the Descendents classic “Cheer”, they proceeded to play a very short (four songs or so) set that felt like garage rock ala ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT being blasted at hardcore speed and power, but without sacrificing the melodic angle as well.
Locals Thee Nosebleeds are a power trio who started off the night with a set more reminiscent of ’90s hard rock and stoner rock than punk or hardcore, but that’s OK as diversity is not a bad thing.
Kudos go out to PETER SANTA MARIA of the “Positively Sick on South Street” series and the band JUKEBOX ZEROS for putting together this bill and for doing it every second Friday of the month.
