My brother recently had a baby with his wife.I am beyond stoked for him.
I know he'll make the best father ever cause he was the best brother ever.
Brett Barto from Atari sang this song out to his brother at a show back in '97.
I could never right words that express my idolising of him so i am just posting
the lyrics.
Tomorrow,i'll think of what we said
and remember us right here.
So full of life this day,so full of hopes and dreams.
And if we reach the end too soon before our time
i promise i'll remember and dream again sometime.
All the other kids could never see just what you've
done for me.
You've kept me up with one strong arm when all
my strength was gone.
i won't forget,i won't turn away
waht i've recieved i can't repay.
Because of you im here today,
I',m here today because of you.
Tomorrow,the lessons that i've learned
i'll try to pass them on.
And keep alive your memory for the others
when you're gone.
Because someday when you leave the new faces
will appear
And i owe it to you to tell them of a friend
i held so dear.
If you want to hear Atari click here
This song appeared on the Rebirth of hardcore put out by Supersoul recordings and
you can check that out here
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Everything
I asked my friend Mitch to write up something about Undertow for my blog.
I did it so i could also get an education about this band as well as to spread it to other people.
Mitch is THE authority on all things 'Tow and his collection will verify that.
He also runs the Undertow fan page on myspace which you can view here.Any questions please send them here.Take it away Mitch.
Seattle and the Pacific Northwest region of the US and Canada is known today for putting out some of the best hardcore of the last decade. From now defunct bands such as Seattle's Champion and Go It Alone of Van-City, to current ragers Get the Most and Not Sorry, the NW has been producing some of the best jams since the early late 80's/early 90's. However, the scene that is now recognized as being one of the today's best was once small and nearly non-existent. In late '88, a group of kids heavily influenced by local acts like Brotherhood, Inside Out and Youth of Today started jamming. In a city with a small and dying scene, these kids formed a band which would drastically change throughout the years, but carry on the remaining life of the straight edge and NW hardcore in general.
The band, which they named Refuse, was comprised of Joel DeGraff (vocals), Mark Holcomb (guitar), Josh (Bass) and Ryan Murphy (drums). Refuse recorded an eight song demo, printed up some XL shirts, and played some shows around the Seattle area. Shortly after, the bassist broke edge and was kicked out of the band. He was replaced by John Pettibone, another local edgeman. At this point, the band changed their name to Undertow and recorded a 4 song demo in the fall of 1990. Seth Lindstrom was added as a second guitar, and the band recorded two more songs which appeared on a split with Resolution (ex-Brotherhood). Those tracks also comprised the elusive and little known "Edge of Quarrel EP", a vinyl mispressing of the Resolution split (limited to 110 copies, Overkill Records).
Mitchs shirt collection
Due to disagreements within the band, Joel eventually peaced out and John moved over to vocals. James Stern stepped in on bass, and the band recorded two songs for a split with San Diego's Struggle on Bloodlink records.
1992 brought "Stalemate", a five song demo which was originally slated to come out as a 7" on Overkill Records. The demo was eventually pressed on vinyl by Dave Larson's Seattle based Excursion records. Songs on the demo, such as "Stalemate" and "cutting Away" (which was originally written and recorded while Joel was on vocals, but rerecorded with John for this release), became staples of Undertow's live sets and sign along favorites. Seth and James left the band, and Demian Johnson filled in on bass. The lineup signaled the end of the revolving door of band members, and Undertow was set in stone. In 1993, the band completed and released "At Both Ends LP", the only full length record the band released, and often times looked at as the pinnacle of the band's existence. The albums covered subjects including love and loss, homophobia and religion. Though these topics were present in much of the metallic hardcore in the early-mid '90s, few were able to convey them in the raw and emotional way Undertow did. Though Undertow was a straight edge band, the traditional edge themes were barely present in their lyrics on any of their releases, including this LP.
By 1995, the band had slowed down a considerable amount. The new wave of violence in the Seattle hardcore scene disheartened the guys, and members had moved on to other projects. Undertow released the "Control EP" on Overkill records, which was their final release as an active band. The band broke up in '95, but reunited shortly afterwards to play a European tour with Ignite and a final show in Seattle. Undertow reunited for one night in December of '97, headlining a show with Seattle’s Murder City Devils, and local newcomers, Botch. Indecision Records put out a four song self-titled 7" in 1999, and released a comprehensive 28 song discography, which contained every song the band recorded with John on vocals.
Upon the 2009 release of Brian Peterson's "Burning Fight", a book containing discussion and interviews about the '90s hardcore scene and the bands within it, book release shows were announced. The first show would take place in Chicago, and the other in California. Undertow was booked for the Cali show (along with Unbroken, Swing Kids, Threadbare and Portraits of Past). They also played a surprise set the night before the show at the Che Cafe in San Diego. The band played a final reunion show in their home town of Seattle in October of '09 with Unbroken, Strain, Converge, and a couple other local/touring bands. According to words spoken at the show by members of the band, this is the end of Undertow and there are no plans for another reunion.
Here is Mitch's epic Undertow vinyl collection.You will need to click this to make it bigger.
He also trades tapes and all footage he gets he uploads to youtube.Linkage
Undertow 07/10/1994 New Jersey
Undertow 07/14/1994 New Jersey
Undertow 04/02/1995 Corona,California
I did it so i could also get an education about this band as well as to spread it to other people.
Mitch is THE authority on all things 'Tow and his collection will verify that.
He also runs the Undertow fan page on myspace which you can view here.Any questions please send them here.Take it away Mitch.
Seattle and the Pacific Northwest region of the US and Canada is known today for putting out some of the best hardcore of the last decade. From now defunct bands such as Seattle's Champion and Go It Alone of Van-City, to current ragers Get the Most and Not Sorry, the NW has been producing some of the best jams since the early late 80's/early 90's. However, the scene that is now recognized as being one of the today's best was once small and nearly non-existent. In late '88, a group of kids heavily influenced by local acts like Brotherhood, Inside Out and Youth of Today started jamming. In a city with a small and dying scene, these kids formed a band which would drastically change throughout the years, but carry on the remaining life of the straight edge and NW hardcore in general.
The band, which they named Refuse, was comprised of Joel DeGraff (vocals), Mark Holcomb (guitar), Josh (Bass) and Ryan Murphy (drums). Refuse recorded an eight song demo, printed up some XL shirts, and played some shows around the Seattle area. Shortly after, the bassist broke edge and was kicked out of the band. He was replaced by John Pettibone, another local edgeman. At this point, the band changed their name to Undertow and recorded a 4 song demo in the fall of 1990. Seth Lindstrom was added as a second guitar, and the band recorded two more songs which appeared on a split with Resolution (ex-Brotherhood). Those tracks also comprised the elusive and little known "Edge of Quarrel EP", a vinyl mispressing of the Resolution split (limited to 110 copies, Overkill Records).
Mitchs shirt collectionDue to disagreements within the band, Joel eventually peaced out and John moved over to vocals. James Stern stepped in on bass, and the band recorded two songs for a split with San Diego's Struggle on Bloodlink records.
1992 brought "Stalemate", a five song demo which was originally slated to come out as a 7" on Overkill Records. The demo was eventually pressed on vinyl by Dave Larson's Seattle based Excursion records. Songs on the demo, such as "Stalemate" and "cutting Away" (which was originally written and recorded while Joel was on vocals, but rerecorded with John for this release), became staples of Undertow's live sets and sign along favorites. Seth and James left the band, and Demian Johnson filled in on bass. The lineup signaled the end of the revolving door of band members, and Undertow was set in stone. In 1993, the band completed and released "At Both Ends LP", the only full length record the band released, and often times looked at as the pinnacle of the band's existence. The albums covered subjects including love and loss, homophobia and religion. Though these topics were present in much of the metallic hardcore in the early-mid '90s, few were able to convey them in the raw and emotional way Undertow did. Though Undertow was a straight edge band, the traditional edge themes were barely present in their lyrics on any of their releases, including this LP.
By 1995, the band had slowed down a considerable amount. The new wave of violence in the Seattle hardcore scene disheartened the guys, and members had moved on to other projects. Undertow released the "Control EP" on Overkill records, which was their final release as an active band. The band broke up in '95, but reunited shortly afterwards to play a European tour with Ignite and a final show in Seattle. Undertow reunited for one night in December of '97, headlining a show with Seattle’s Murder City Devils, and local newcomers, Botch. Indecision Records put out a four song self-titled 7" in 1999, and released a comprehensive 28 song discography, which contained every song the band recorded with John on vocals.
Upon the 2009 release of Brian Peterson's "Burning Fight", a book containing discussion and interviews about the '90s hardcore scene and the bands within it, book release shows were announced. The first show would take place in Chicago, and the other in California. Undertow was booked for the Cali show (along with Unbroken, Swing Kids, Threadbare and Portraits of Past). They also played a surprise set the night before the show at the Che Cafe in San Diego. The band played a final reunion show in their home town of Seattle in October of '09 with Unbroken, Strain, Converge, and a couple other local/touring bands. According to words spoken at the show by members of the band, this is the end of Undertow and there are no plans for another reunion.
Here is Mitch's epic Undertow vinyl collection.You will need to click this to make it bigger.
He also trades tapes and all footage he gets he uploads to youtube.Linkage
Undertow 07/10/1994 New Jersey
Undertow 07/14/1994 New Jersey
Undertow 04/02/1995 Corona,California
Monday, March 8, 2010
Going cycling at night is actually one of the best feelings.I didn't have a clear plan or route i was going to take i just ...went.The fact that i could just pretty much cycle in the middle of the road for most of the time was awesome but it led me to just keep going random ways.At one point i could see the spire so i had to backtrack a bit.
I saw more foxes than people on this ride.They were awesome.
I'm stoked to go again.
near enough start time
and temperature
shakey hands
pisshead
There were two dudes asleep in a van just to my left here.I only noticed when i was leaving.Good times.
I saw more foxes than people on this ride.They were awesome.
I'm stoked to go again.
near enough start time
and temperature
shakey hands
pisshead
There were two dudes asleep in a van just to my left here.I only noticed when i was leaving.Good times.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Turn it around
A friend of mine recently posted up a picture of his Comeback Kid collection and i thought i'd ask him a few questions about it and CBK in general.Rune,BUST!
You have an awesomely impressive CBK collection,what was the first piece you got and where did you pick it up?
My first piece of CBK vinyl... they more or less got me into hardcore, so.... I'm not old enough to have YoT or Minor Threat as my first encounter - unfortunately. I got my first CBK vinyl at a local record store about 4 or 5 years ago. My friend had just sold parts of his collection (he was the dude who introduced to CBK and to hardcore) at this store, and about a week later I saw Turn It Around in that store on red vinyl priced at 100dkr ($20). I knew it was my mates record - I snagged it right away, haha!
What attracted to you CBK in the first place?
As mentioned before, CBK - Turn It Around was the first real hardcore record I listened to (well, and 7 Seconds - The Crew) I thought it was so hard and straight forward and I just loved their former vocalist on that record (Andrew who sings now is solid as well). Still today, I see Turn It Around as one of the best hardcore releases within the past 10 years - if not the best. It's flawless. COmeback Kid wasn't as visible a youth crew band as other really bands like Champion or The First Step. None the less I constantly find myself mentioning Promises Kept, What We Know and Turn It Around as the best youth crew hardcore albums since the millenium.. it might be wrong though!
Did you have a few pieces and say 'fuck!now i have to finish this'?
Actually when I decided I needed to finish this collection I had recently bought a couple of the really expensive stuff (Turn It Aroudn test press and Friends press) from Matthew Jordan (imissversealready) and that's when I realised: hell yeah, I can this shit together! Now it gets further between I get a piece for the collection, well only missing 3 records it gets a little hard. Matthew actually had one of the the 3 missing records, but I wasn't quick enough back then!
Besides that, I had serious doubt whether or not to actually finish the collection, because I didn't know if I wanted to include the Victory releases. They weren't as collectible as the debut (which is insanely collectible), and it was hard to enjoy Wake The Dead and Broadcasting on the same level, given they do not reach the potential of Turn It Around, which is a masterpiece. The other two are good as well, but not in comparison. On a final note, I had trouble collecting anything from Victory because I had read so much about the owner of Victory being such a douche, haha :)
Best CBK song?
Die Tonight.
It's just such a powerful song. Scott's vocal is so angry and intense. CBK did a tremendous job with their song structure on that album. It's just hardcore where you need nothing else, and Die Tonight captivates all this perfectly. I could have gone for other songs on that album, and on a different day, I probably would...
Do you collect shirts as awell?
Given that a lot of CBK shirts are ugly as hell, no. I have never actually understood the concept of collecting shirts.... I've seen people pay $50+ for a worn out Insted or Chain Of Strength shirt... I really don't get that. It's cool to collect anything, but collecting shirts doesn't do anything for me. I could probably pay more for a shirt I really wanted if I knew that print was hard to come by, but not for collectible purposes.
Broadcasting was a bit shit.Discuss.
Broadcasting was... different.... Broadcasting was Victory-infected. I agree that it's the least succesful album they've released, but I wouldn't say it's shit. CBK wanted to try out new things and I'm sure a bunch of people will say that Broadcasting is their best work. It's just hard to get that over your lips when Turn It Around was the first thing I listened to. Broadcasting has it's good moments, but in my opinion they went too far out on something they couldn't contribute to. They started doing something that musically required more avant garde-thinking in my opinion. Also their sound changed too much when they signed with Victory and their music changed in a typical Victory-way... Maybe they didn't have as much freedom, I don't know...they probably did... When Wake The Dead (CBK's first release on Victory) came out, I almost feared that the next release would go even further in the Victory-way... They need to get off that label and signed on to B9 or something like that.... Of course the sound of their two previous released aren't all because of Victory...
We're on a road trip,which five cds are we going to playing?
comps are allowed.
Resolve - Won't Stand By
True Colors - Rush Of Hope
Turning Point - Discography 2LP (because we have a portable record player!)
No For An Answer - You Laugh EP
Four Walls Falling - Culture Shock
None of these records need any elaboraton, right?
Not at all.I can definitely get behind that selection.Especially Resolve.
No Comeback Kid because I can't mention any band I've listened to as much as CBK, so I have to make room for other things on this trip. Turn It Around would be an obvious choice though.
Where are we going to on this road trip?Keep in mind we've never met and i could be intolerable.
Well, setting aside that we actually are going on a trip soon you and I, I'll pick a new destination! I think I'll assume that you're a pain, so I'll probably bring you to a place where there's other people. H20 is playing my city next month, so we're gonna attend that and then head up to xmalthex in sweden where we'll hang near a lake by a pineapple-forest - OG SWEDISH STYLE!
Best show you've been to in the last six months?
Broken Distance/Pressure/Critical Point/Balance/Hårda Tider @ Hemgården, Lund in Sweden
The swedish kids are cool to be among... (especielly when their locals are playing)
What bands are local to you that people should be checking out?
That's a good question. Denmark has a dreadful hardcore scene to say the least. But if we can make our piece with it not being a sxe band ;) then I'd definitely advise people to check out this band from Copenhagen called Night Fever that's more or less the only decent hardcore band in Denmark.
How stoked are you to be rooming with me in SF?
Stoked as hell buddy!
A final note: please notice how Mental - History 101 sounds like Comeback Kid - Lorelei :D or the other way around...
Lorelei Gilmore,I FUCKING LOVE YOU!
Thanks for answering my questions duder.I owe you a pepsi.
You have an awesomely impressive CBK collection,what was the first piece you got and where did you pick it up?
My first piece of CBK vinyl... they more or less got me into hardcore, so.... I'm not old enough to have YoT or Minor Threat as my first encounter - unfortunately. I got my first CBK vinyl at a local record store about 4 or 5 years ago. My friend had just sold parts of his collection (he was the dude who introduced to CBK and to hardcore) at this store, and about a week later I saw Turn It Around in that store on red vinyl priced at 100dkr ($20). I knew it was my mates record - I snagged it right away, haha!
What attracted to you CBK in the first place?
As mentioned before, CBK - Turn It Around was the first real hardcore record I listened to (well, and 7 Seconds - The Crew) I thought it was so hard and straight forward and I just loved their former vocalist on that record (Andrew who sings now is solid as well). Still today, I see Turn It Around as one of the best hardcore releases within the past 10 years - if not the best. It's flawless. COmeback Kid wasn't as visible a youth crew band as other really bands like Champion or The First Step. None the less I constantly find myself mentioning Promises Kept, What We Know and Turn It Around as the best youth crew hardcore albums since the millenium.. it might be wrong though!
Did you have a few pieces and say 'fuck!now i have to finish this'?
Actually when I decided I needed to finish this collection I had recently bought a couple of the really expensive stuff (Turn It Aroudn test press and Friends press) from Matthew Jordan (imissversealready) and that's when I realised: hell yeah, I can this shit together! Now it gets further between I get a piece for the collection, well only missing 3 records it gets a little hard. Matthew actually had one of the the 3 missing records, but I wasn't quick enough back then!
Besides that, I had serious doubt whether or not to actually finish the collection, because I didn't know if I wanted to include the Victory releases. They weren't as collectible as the debut (which is insanely collectible), and it was hard to enjoy Wake The Dead and Broadcasting on the same level, given they do not reach the potential of Turn It Around, which is a masterpiece. The other two are good as well, but not in comparison. On a final note, I had trouble collecting anything from Victory because I had read so much about the owner of Victory being such a douche, haha :)
Best CBK song?
Die Tonight.
It's just such a powerful song. Scott's vocal is so angry and intense. CBK did a tremendous job with their song structure on that album. It's just hardcore where you need nothing else, and Die Tonight captivates all this perfectly. I could have gone for other songs on that album, and on a different day, I probably would...
Do you collect shirts as awell?
Given that a lot of CBK shirts are ugly as hell, no. I have never actually understood the concept of collecting shirts.... I've seen people pay $50+ for a worn out Insted or Chain Of Strength shirt... I really don't get that. It's cool to collect anything, but collecting shirts doesn't do anything for me. I could probably pay more for a shirt I really wanted if I knew that print was hard to come by, but not for collectible purposes.
Broadcasting was a bit shit.Discuss.
Broadcasting was... different.... Broadcasting was Victory-infected. I agree that it's the least succesful album they've released, but I wouldn't say it's shit. CBK wanted to try out new things and I'm sure a bunch of people will say that Broadcasting is their best work. It's just hard to get that over your lips when Turn It Around was the first thing I listened to. Broadcasting has it's good moments, but in my opinion they went too far out on something they couldn't contribute to. They started doing something that musically required more avant garde-thinking in my opinion. Also their sound changed too much when they signed with Victory and their music changed in a typical Victory-way... Maybe they didn't have as much freedom, I don't know...they probably did... When Wake The Dead (CBK's first release on Victory) came out, I almost feared that the next release would go even further in the Victory-way... They need to get off that label and signed on to B9 or something like that.... Of course the sound of their two previous released aren't all because of Victory...
We're on a road trip,which five cds are we going to playing?
comps are allowed.
Resolve - Won't Stand By
True Colors - Rush Of Hope
Turning Point - Discography 2LP (because we have a portable record player!)
No For An Answer - You Laugh EP
Four Walls Falling - Culture Shock
None of these records need any elaboraton, right?
Not at all.I can definitely get behind that selection.Especially Resolve.
No Comeback Kid because I can't mention any band I've listened to as much as CBK, so I have to make room for other things on this trip. Turn It Around would be an obvious choice though.
Where are we going to on this road trip?Keep in mind we've never met and i could be intolerable.
Well, setting aside that we actually are going on a trip soon you and I, I'll pick a new destination! I think I'll assume that you're a pain, so I'll probably bring you to a place where there's other people. H20 is playing my city next month, so we're gonna attend that and then head up to xmalthex in sweden where we'll hang near a lake by a pineapple-forest - OG SWEDISH STYLE!
Best show you've been to in the last six months?
Broken Distance/Pressure/Critical Point/Balance/Hårda Tider @ Hemgården, Lund in Sweden
The swedish kids are cool to be among... (especielly when their locals are playing)
What bands are local to you that people should be checking out?
That's a good question. Denmark has a dreadful hardcore scene to say the least. But if we can make our piece with it not being a sxe band ;) then I'd definitely advise people to check out this band from Copenhagen called Night Fever that's more or less the only decent hardcore band in Denmark.
How stoked are you to be rooming with me in SF?
Stoked as hell buddy!
A final note: please notice how Mental - History 101 sounds like Comeback Kid - Lorelei :D or the other way around...
Lorelei Gilmore,I FUCKING LOVE YOU!
Thanks for answering my questions duder.I owe you a pepsi.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Rain On The Parade
This video is from the ROTP reunion from 2004.I happen to have a screenprint from this show cause Atari played this show as well and if you know me you'll know i love Atari.
I got into ROTP through Atari.They were contemparies in the PA hardcore scene in the mid 90's and i know them from the Growing Stronger comp Teamwork and In My Blood records put put out.I currently own six pressings of that comp and i have five more on my qay to me.
Anyway ROTP were an awesome band.Clock this:
I got into ROTP through Atari.They were contemparies in the PA hardcore scene in the mid 90's and i know them from the Growing Stronger comp Teamwork and In My Blood records put put out.I currently own six pressings of that comp and i have five more on my qay to me.
Anyway ROTP were an awesome band.Clock this:
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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