An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 23)

Posted on 3 September 2008 | No Comments

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Can you even believe that I haven’t posted anything in this series since December of last year? I’ve been seriously slacking here. I can hear all of you asking now, “What brought this out of dormancy?” Well, I (first) got an email, then a letter and two tapes. Let me explain…

Back in October of 2006 I posted the five songs from the totally-obscure and out of print original Skokie demo tape. Skokie featured Roy & Dale from the ska-punk band the Eclectics and existed during 1997 and 1998 but that’s about it. I thought they put out the one tape until I got an email from Kevin (who played guitar for Skokie) asking if I’d be willing to digitize the rest of the Skokie catalog. “Hell yes!” is a pretty good approximation of my reply.

So a month or two later I got a letter from Kevin (who now lives in Columbus, OH) and an envelope with tapes containing a total of nine songs from recording sessions at Sonic Iguana in 1998. In his letter he stated that Skokie’s lineup on these songs was Kevin: guitar, Dylan: bass, Eric: guitar, Tony: drums, and Roy: vocals. Kevin also said that (aside from “Skokie”) he didn’t even remember any of the song names from the October 1998 session, so I just made up the titles based on what I could understand of the lyrics. If there are any Skokie aficionados out there that might know better, I’m all ears.

Due to the nature of the source tapes the quality is questionable at best. Just like Skokie was. Special thanks to Kevin.

MP3 | Skokie – You Only Love McCormick March 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – Basement March 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – Security Blanket March 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before (Smiths cover) March 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – Make A Fool Of Me October 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – It Could Happen October 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – Skokie (Hardcore Version) October 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – No Hope October 1998 Songs
MP3 | Skokie – No Reason To Care October 1998 Songs

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 22)

Posted on 2 December 2007 | 2 Comments

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Winepress
Now my first exposure to the now legendary South Suburban bubblegum pop-punk of Winepress (and a number of other bands) was on the “Dad Are We Punk Yet?” compilation from the awesome but now defunct Harmless Records which featured their song “She Just Won’t Do.” My next exposure to the band was the Mushuganas cover of the Winepress tune “Disappointed.” It is (IMHO) a classic. I love the Mushuganas version and when I found out it was a cover, I just had to find the original.

Winepress officially existed from 1991-1995 and were the kings of the Off The Alley scene in Homewood. Sadly, I’ve never seen Winepress live even though they have played a few scattered shows around Chicago the past few years, but I do own a copy of their Worth A Thousand Words 7” and their Complete Recordings discography CD. The CD contains everything the band recorded but I believe that the CD is now out of print (or at least really difficult to find) but definitely worth searching out. It’s one of my all time favorites.

MP3 | Winepress – Revenge Of The Nerds Complete Recordings
MP3 | Winepress – Disappointed Complete Recordings
MP3 | Winepress – Stay Awhile Complete Recordings
MP3 | Winepress – She Just Won’t Do Complete Recordings

If you’d like to revisit some other great Chicago punk rock bands, the other posts in this series can all be found via the links below.

Oblivion | Rise Against | The Bollweevils | The Effigies | A.Y.A. | Sludgeworth | No Empathy | Los Crudos | Apocalypse Hoboken | The Lawrence Arms | Naked Raygun | The Mushuganas | Allister | Screeching Weasel | Tuesday | Slapstick | Tricky Dick | The Falcon | Skokie | The Feds | Rustweiler

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 21)

Posted on 23 August 2007 | 1 Comment

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Way back in the mid 90’s there was a little band from South suburban Chicagoland called Rustweiler. I’m not actually too sure on many of the details other than a girl I met at school in Champaign (I think her name was Lauren) was friends with ‘em. I think I she was friends with Mark from The Living Blue. Anyhow, I saw the band live a couple of times and picked up their Assholes Of The Universe 7” at one of those shows.

The 7” is full of six short and crappy (but awesome) warp-speed pop-punk that is just way too fun to pogo around your living room to. Think F.Y.P. meets Crimpshrine. The lo-fi craptastic recording and subsequent vinyl transfer make it sound even more punk rock (read shitty). All this happened right at the dawn of the Internet Age and because of the timing, there’s not much about the band available anywhere online.

What I do know is that former members of Rustweiler have played in other Chicago punk bands like Ambition Mission and Fourth Rotor. Even with the complete dearth of information on Rustweiler, I think that the songs below speak for themselves. Assholes Of The Universe was released on the wicked awesome but now defunct Underdog Records in 1996 and has long been out of print.

MP3 | Rustweiler – Assholes Of The Universe Assholes Of The Universe
MP3 | Rustweiler – This One Assholes Of The Universe
MP3 | Rustweiler – 2401 Assholes Of The Universe
MP3 | Rustweiler – You Can Knock Assholes Of The Universe
MP3 | Rustweiler – Canteen Assholes Of The Universe
MP3 | Rustweiler – Bad Feelings Assholes Of The Universe

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 20)

Posted on 20 July 2007 | 2 Comments

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Allister circa 1998
After just over 10 years together, Chicago pop-punk band Allister is calling it quits and playing their final show tomorrow night at Metro in Chicago. Now I’ve written in much more detail about the band here already, but thought one last run through would be appropriate.

The Allister story begins in late 1996 when guitarists John Hamada and Eric Mueller (that’s me) met in a calculus class at UIUC and realized they shared a love for the Blake Babies and punk rock. Along with drummer/singer Tim Rogner (John had played in a band with Tim during high school) the trio of John (guitar/vocals), Tim (drums/vocals), and Eric (bass/vocals) began playing out in early 1997 and finally settled on the name Allister after discarding names like Phineas Gage and Fall Out Boy (seriously). In December of that same year, the band recorded their debut 7” You Can’t Do That On Vinyl with Phil Bonnet (RIP).

That 7” caught the attention of upstart California punk label Drive-Thru Records who agreed to distribute the record and later signed the band. In 1998 Scott Murphy joined the band on bass while Eric moved to guitar and the band recorded their first full-length Dead Ends And Girlfriends which was released in 1999. Eric left the band the following year and John quit shortly before Allister’s 2002 album Last Stop Suburbia was released.

The band’s lineup changed dramatically as Tim moved from drums to guitar, Dave Rossi was added on drums, and Tim’s younger brother Chris Rogner (also of August Premier) joined on guitar. In the following years, both Dave and Chris left the band and were replaced by Mike Leverence on drums and Kyle Lewis (formerly of Now She’s Gone and Showoff) on guitar. The band recorded one more album, Before The Blackout which was released in 2005 and a Japanese only EP (the band was very popular in Japan) before finally calling it quits earlier this year.

And there you have it. Kyle and Scott continue to play in The Get Go and Chris plays in the band One Black Tooth. All said, this is probably the last time I’ll ever write about this band and those days.

MP3 | Allister – Residential Burglary Dead Ends & Girlfriends
MP3 | Allister – Moper Dead Ends & Girlfriends
MP3 | Allister – Better Late Than Forever Last Stop Suburbia
MP3 | Allister – Somewhere On Fullerton Last Stop Suburbia
MP3 | Allister – You Lied Before The Blackout
MP3 | Allister – Alone Before The Blackout

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Let go of your throat sweet throttle

Posted on 29 April 2007 | 2 Comments

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I’m not sure that I ever mentioned how great it was to ring in 2007 while watching the Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio at Metro. Well it was. I only bring it up now because I finally got around to ripping the songs from the limited edition split 7” we got for attending the show. The above picture was one of only a few that my wife was able to take before Metro security confiscated her camera for the duration of the show. Bummer, but at least we got the 7”. It features the Popes covering a Trio song and the Trio covering a Popes song. Not the ideal soundtrack for removing a stinky dead opossum from under our front porch, but I’m not sure that anything would be.

MP3 | Smoking Popes – Blue Carolina Split 7”
MP3 | Alkaline Trio – Off My Mind Split 7”

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 19)

Posted on 27 April 2007 | 9 Comments

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Easily one of the best, most influential, and most prolific punk bands in Chicago history, Screeching Weasel, also managed to be one of the most enigmatic and polarizing bands as well. There seems to be no middle ground when it comes to loving or hating singer and principal songwriter Ben Weasel. Even my wife (in true teenage rock-and-roll crush fashion) once said that the only person she’d ever leave me for is Ben Weasel.

Now I first heard Screeching Weasel as a result of a mix-tape that a friend made me in 1994. It featured songs by Operation Ivy, Rancid, Sublime, Screeching Weasel, and many others I can’t recall right now. I think the SW song was “Dingbat.” I originally thought they were from California because at that time, I was only beginning to discover that Chicago even had a punk scene. What follows is a history of Screeching Weasel as briefly and succinctly as it can be told.

The first incarnation of Screeching Weasel was formed in the suburbs of Chicago in 1986 by Ben (Weasel) Foster and John (Jughead) Pierson after seeing a Ramones concert and was filled out by Vinnie Bovine on bass and Steve Cheese on drums. They cheaply recorded a self-titled album with the legendary Phil Bonnet (RIP) which was released by Chicago label Underdog Records in 1987. It was fast, brash, snotty punk rock that reeked of teenage sass and rebellion. In 1988, the band recorded and released their second album Boogadaboogadaboogada!, but by the following year Steve Cheese, Vinnie Bovine, and Bovine’s replacement Warren Fisher had all quit or had been booted from the band. The departed members were replaced by Brian Vermin on drums and Danny (Vapid) Schaefer on bass, and the lineup quickly recorded the Punkhouse EP. This (like all of the band’s lineups) didn’t last and Screeching Weasel broke up in 1989 when Vermin and Vapid quit to concentrate on their side project, Sludgeworth.

In the following years Ben played in The Gore Gore Girls and The Vindictives, but Screeching Weasel just wouldn’t die. The band reformed in 1991 with Weasel, Jughead, Vapid, and new drummer Dan (Panic) Sullivan replacing Vermin. The group (along with new bassist Dave Naked) then recorded My Brain Hurts for California punk label Lookout Records. Naked was subsequently kicked out of the band and (with Johnny Personality of The Vindictives playing bass) the band recorded their 1992 album Wiggle. Personality then quit the band to focus on The Vindictives and the four-piece of Weasel, Jughead, Vapid, and Panic recorded their 1993 (IMHO) masterpiece Anthem For A New Tomorrow which features guest appearances by Jawbreaker’s Blake Schwarzenbach and NOFX’s Fat Mike. After the album’s release (however) Ben stated that he no longer wanted to play live and shortly thereafter Vapid quit the band. Screeching Weasel then recorded 1994’s How To Make Enemies And Irritate People with Green Day’s Mike Dirnt handling bass duties. After the album was released the band broke up again.

During this hiatus, Weasel, Vapid, and Panic formed another group called The Riverdales, but (again) Screeching Weasel just wouldn’t die. Weasel, Jughead, Vapid, and Panic reformed the band in 1996 and released Bark Like A Dog on Fat Wreck Chords. Vapid and Panic both quit the band (again) and were replaced by bassist Mass Giorgini and drummer Dan Lumley (both of the band Squirtgun) and guitarist Zac Damon (formerly of Zoinks!) also joined the band. In 1998, the new Screeching Weasel recorded the Major Label Debut EP and another album called Television City Dream. Both were blistering slabs of pop-punk that despite catchy-as-hell melodies were razor sharp. In the winter of 1999 the band recorded the ironically named and looser sounding Emo during the blizzard that pounded Chicago in January and then added Phillip Hill (ex-Teen Idols) on guitar before they recorded Teen Punks In Heat in 2000. Screeching Weasel (supposedly) broke up for good in 2001.

Way back in 1999 when I still had a car with a cassette player, I made two 90 minute tapes filled with my favorite Screeching Weasel songs. The twenty tracks below don’t even begin to scratch the surface of what was on those tapes. The band has re-released re-mastered versions of a number of their early albums on Asian Man Records which you can (and should) purchase here. Maybe one day my daughter will start a Ramones-inspired band herself.

MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Murder In The Brady House S/T
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Dingbat Boogadaboogadaboogada
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Punkhouse Punkhouse EP
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – The Science Of Myth My Brain Hurts
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – One Step Beyond Wiggle
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Radio Blast Radio Blast EP
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Goodbye To You You Broke My Fucking Heart EP
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – I’m Gonna Strange You Anthem For A New Tomorrow
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – 99 How To Make Enemies And Irritate People
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – My Friends Are Getting Famous Punk USA Comp.
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Suzanne Is Getting Married Suzanne… EP
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Hey Suburbia Kill The Musicians
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – You’ll Be In My Dreams Today Bark Like A Dog
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – (Nothing’s Gonna) Turn Me Off (Of You) Formula 27 EP
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Racist Society Major Label Debut EP
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Speed Of Mutation Television City Dream
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Punk Rock Explained Four On The Floor EP
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Sidewalk Warrior Emo
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Bottom Of The 9th Teen Punks In Heat
MP3 | Screeching Weasel – Every Night Thank You Very Little

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 18)

Posted on 11 April 2007 | 1 Comment

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After the breakup of Chicago ska-punk heroes Slapstick in 1996, the group splintered in two. One of the bands that rose like a phoenix from the ashes was Tuesday. The band only ever released an 8-song cassette demo (of which four songs appear on the Early Summer EP) and one full-length called Freewheelin which was released by Asian Man Records in 1997.

Despite starting with a little remnant of Slapstick’s ska sound, Tuesday’s sound evolved into something of a pop-punk/emo hybrid. You are thinking that sounds awful, right? Not so. Back before emo was a dirty word it is pretty evident that Dan, Rob, and Matt we probably listening to (and taking cues from) bands like The Promise Ring while also remaining true to their punk roots. I think I saw Tuesday live six times during their brief existence with bands like Less Than Jake, Smoking Popes, Skagina, Allister, and Animal Chin. They were great every time.

At one point they added some dude named Tyler on second guitar, but Tuesday sorta sputtered to a halt when Dan Andriano joined Alkaline Trio. Drummer Rob Kellenberger has kept busy and has since played in bands like Duvall, Smoking Popes, and Colossal. You can still (I think) find Tuesday’s lone album Freewheelin in print from Asian Man Records. I highly recommend that you check it out.

MP3 | Tuesday – Hold On Demo Tape
MP3 | Tuesday – Everybody Was In Love Demo Tape
MP3 | Tuesday – Put A Little Love In Your Heart Demo Tape
MP3 | Tuesday – It’s A Bright Light Early Summer EP
MP3 | Tuesday – So Awake Freewheelin

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 17)

Posted on 5 March 2007 | 3 Comments

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Does anyone remember Dill Records? That was the name of Mike Park’s label (and a reference to his band Skankin’ Pickle) before he changed the name to Asian Man Records. It seems like such a long time ago. I also bring this up because one of my favorite albums of all time was originally released on Dill Records. It is Slapstick’s punk-ska masterpiece Lookit!.

Slapstick was an energetic and snotty punk-ska band from Elgin/Chicago, IL that played from about 1993-1996. I think the first time I saw Slapstick was when they opened for Less Than Jake at the Fireside. From that day until their official last show at Metro, I probably saw the band live a dozen times or so and was never disappointed. Maybe it was because I was 16 or 17 years old and nostalgia has colored my memory, but those were some of the best shows I’ve ever seen. In November of 1997 I even got to see the band play two reunion/benefit shows at the Fireside Bowl. Those were amazing times.

Since their breakup in 1996, the former members have gone on to play in bands like The Honor System, The Broadways, Tuesday, Less Than Jake, Colossal, Duvall, Smoking Popes, Whale|Horse, Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio, and The Falcon. Pretty impressive, huh? I could say that Slapstick was the best band ever, but they weren’t. Yeah it was an absolutely perfect marriage of crunchy rock guitars, rocksteady bass, punk rock backbeat, and bright melodic horns, but they were sloppy, rebellious, teenage punks.

Despite having two 7” records, a few compilation appearances, and Lookit!, the only remaining music of theirs still in print is their green Discography CD. Luckily for us, it contains a majority of their recorded material. I have two copies of the Lookit! CD and the Discography. You should really go to Asian Man Records and buy this today.

MP3 | Slapstick – The Park Discography
MP3 | Slapstick – Sick Of This Place Discography
MP3 | Slapstick – Colorado Discography
MP3 | Slapstick – Almost Punk Enough Discography
MP3 | Slapstick – Broken Down Discography
MP3 | Slapstick – The Punks Discography
MP3 | Slapstick – Alternative Radio Discography

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 16)

Posted on 27 January 2007 | 4 Comments

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Back again after about 2 months without one of these, I’d like to focus some attention on the (now) legendary Tricky Dick.

Formed in the western suburb of Elgin in about 1993 and consisted of Memo, Chris McCaughan, Steve Katzel, and Jeremy Hansen (who is not my boss). Since breaking up in 1998 they have gone on to play in bands such as The 4-Squares, The Broadways, Biscayne, Burn Elgin, The Lawrence Arms, Houseboy, and Seedy Sea Controversy. They sounded like a cocktail of Crimpshrine, Jawbreaker, cold Chicago winters, and warm beer. They were fun and existed in the era of Chicago punk rock that I grew up with, and I’ll always remember them fondly because of that.

What the band left behind is a 24 track CD Discography of everything that the band ever recorded (and) which is still (amazingly) in print from Quincy Shanks Records. This is Chicago punk rock. The production is terrible, the singing/shouting is (oftentimes) off key and inaudible, and the music is sloppy. In simpler terms, it is f$*%ing great. The Tricky Dick Discography is (in my eyes at least) a must have for any fan of the Chicago punk rock sound.

MP3 | Tricky Dick – Fair Weather Friend Discography
MP3 | Tricky Dick – World Gone Mad Discography
MP3 | Tricky Dick – Oak And Clark Discography
MP3 | Tricky Dick – When I Was Twelve Discography
MP3 | Tricky Dick – Climbing Discography

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 15)

Posted on 18 November 2006 | 2 Comments

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NOTE: I realize (just as you do) that this band ain’t really “history” yet, but they play kick ass Chicago punk rock and this just happens to be the perfect time for a write up. Quit yer whining.

Have you ever seen street people huddled around a barrel fire on a cold December night? You know, a few disheveled guys with shabby winter coats. Their stained & mismatched gloves with the fingers cut off holding bottles in brown paper bags. The glow of the blaze illuminating their dirty faces. At their party, The Falcon is their soundtrack.

Comprised of current members of The Lawrence Arms and Alkaline Trio (Rise Against’s original guitar player played on their first EP), The Falcon is the latest band to fall from the Slapstick family tree. They throw ska, cock rock, and hillbilly c&w into a punk rock blender and mix it with Old Style and cheap whiskey. Their debut album is called Unicornography and (simply stated) it is f&^%ing fantastic. It is snotty, trashy, and fun.

The electric guitars oftentimes sound like shit, the playing is sloppy, and Brendan’s vocals can be off-putting and are as irritatingly horrible as they have ever been, but I totally love it. While their 2004 God Don’t Make No trash… EP was good, it is the strangely perfect addition of acoustic guitar to the mix that takes The Falcon’s sound on Unicornography to a whole new level. The songs are catchy like a venereal disease and (as stated before) way more fun. How can music be gritty, bouncy, quirky, and well-written all at the same time? I dunno, but I just can’t help but smile when listening to this record.

I also find it almost laughable (and frighteningly sad) that a band that’s virtually unknown outside of Chicago and that began as a less-than-serious side project may have (quite possibly) released the best punk rock record of 2006. Unicornography is out now on Red Scare Records.

MP3 | The Falcon – The Lazyboy 500 Unicornography
MP3 | The Falcon – Scratching Off The Fleas Unicornography

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 14)

Posted on 24 October 2006 | 3 Comments

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Here is a really obscure entry into this series. Back when the third wave ska/punk fusion was all the rage in the early and mid 90’s, one of Chicago’s finest was The Eclectics. They put out a few records on Jump Up! Records, including Idle Worship which was recorded with (none other than) Steve Albini. After a few lineup changes they weren’t the same. Anyhow, when former Eclectics front man Roy started a new band (I think it was about 1997 or so), he incorporated more punk/hardcore/emo styling into the music. I’ve also heard (but don’t know for sure) that the drummer was also in the Eclectics. To the best of my knowledge, Skokie was only briefly a band and only recorded one demo tape with five songs that is long out of print. Despite that very limited output, I remember them fondly rocking the Fireside Bowl. Here are all five songs in iPod friendly format straight from the original demo tape.

MP3 | Skokie – Skokie Demo
MP3 | Skokie – Sunday (A Whole Lot Of) Demo
MP3 | Skokie – Some Kind Of Wonderful Demo
MP3 | Skokie – Sam & Diane Demo
MP3 | Skokie – Snow Angel Demo

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 13)

Posted on 9 October 2006 | 1 Comment

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It’s been awhile since the last one of these, so are you ready for some more Chicago punk rock? Good. I’ll preface this one (however) by saying that this will quite possibly be the shortest write up of the whole series, but still certainly worth your time. This is good stuff!

The Feds were an extremely short-lived band that released (correct me if I am wrong) two 7” singles and one full-length record over the course of 1996 and 1997. They played snotty melodic Chicago-style punk rock in the same vein as Raygun, The Bollweevils, and 88 Fingers Louie. The band was comprised of Ken Weevil (ex-Bollweevils), Mark Piss (ex-Montgomery Burns), and some drummer named Louie. What else can I say? The Feds didn’t leave much behind except some great music. Heck, I couldn’t even find a picture to post. Listen up.

Speaking of Chicago punk rock, have you heard of this or this? Seriously. It’s like I’ve been sucked into a time warp.

MP3 | The Feds – Distance Chicago Bureau
MP3 | The Feds – The Addict Chicago Bureau
MP3 | The Feds – Ride It Out Chicago Bureau
MP3 | The Feds – I Know Chicago Bureau
MP3 | The Feds – Hard To Find Chicago Bureau

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 12)

Posted on 16 August 2006 | 1 Comment

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Despite seeing them live at least a half-dozen times (and probably more) during the mid and late 90’s, I was never the biggest fan of Oblivion, but I’ve grown to really love ‘em like a redheaded stepchild since their demise.

Anyhow, the group was a trio comprised of Pete Oblivion (vocals/bass), Scott Ozark (guitar), and Brian Czarnik (drums). They were an important and ever-present band during my years in and around Chicago’s punk scene. They released a bunch records on Johann’s Face, and also Dr. Strange, Harmless, Underdog, Sinister, and Suburban Home before calling it quits in 2001 after about ten years together.

Musically, Oblivion (not to be confused with The Oblivians) played spazzy hyper pop-punk with occasional nods to metal and classic rock. Kinda like Cheap Trick on speed. Their songs were catchy and poppy, but a little bit too goofy for me. I also thought Pete was a little wierd (Hubcap anyone?). With lyrics about girls and relationships, having fun, and whatever random topics they felt like singing about, Oblivion was never in danger of being considered a political band.

What are they up to now you ask? Well, Pete is in the band Mexican Cheerleader with Andy & Scott from Apocalypse Hoboken, and Brian (who wrote for Punk Planet for awhile) lives in Florida and works with disadvantaged tigers at an animal sanctuary. No one has seen or heard from Scott in years (OK, I made that last part up).

MP3 | Oblivion – Fantastic Plastic VA – A Taste Of Chicago
MP3 | Oblivion – She’s Moving To Paris VA – Achtung Chicago! Drei
MP3 | Oblivion – School Stop Thief
MP3 | Oblivion – We Had To Say It Again Suckers From The Start
MP3 | Oblivion – Hamster Man Apocalypse Hoboken Split 7”
MP3 | Oblivion – Oak Park VA – Cheaper Than DIY
MP3 | Oblivion – Gar VA – Marc’s A Dick, Gar’s A Drunk

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 11)

Posted on 19 July 2006 | 5 Comments

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Now we are all aware that the focus of this series is on the history of Chicago punk rock, but with the release of their new album it just seems fitting to focus this volume on Rise Against. Even though they are still a relatively new band, they have already made quite a mark.

Rise Against formed in 1999 from the ashes of the great Chicago bands Baxter and 88 Fingers Louie and burst onto the local punk scene with their Transistor Revolt demo in 2000, and then onto the national scene a year later with their Fat Wreck Chords debut The Unraveling. The record blended Chicago’s emotional hardcore with fast poppy California skate-punk and gave the band an outlet for lyrics demanding political and social change.

The band then released Revolutions Per Minute on Fat Wreck in 2003 before they made the jump to a major label for 2004’s Siren Song Of The Counter Culture on Dreamworks. That album introduced the band to a wider audience, and found them (as on their latest) adding quieter MTV ready songs to their repertoire. Even so, Rise Against still retains the tenacity and energy that made a fan in the first place.

Their latest album The Sufferer & The Witness was just released a few weeks ago and climbed as high as #10 on the Billboard 200. Their sound is a bit more refined and Tim’s vocals might have a little less grit to them now, but (lucky for us fans) the band shows no signs of letting up.

MP3 | Rise Against – Join The Ranks Transistor Revolt
MP3 | Rise Against – Six Ways Til Sunday The Unraveling
MP3 | Rise Against – Anyway You Want It Revolutions Per Minute
MP3 | Rise Against – Like The Angel Revolutions Per Minute
MP3 | Rise Against – The First Drop Siren Song Of The Counter Culture
MP3 | Rise Against – Done With The Compass The Sufferer And The Witness

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 10)

Posted on 13 June 2006 | 3 Comments

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While bands like Naked Raygun and The Effigies defined the “Chicago punk sound” in the 1980’s, bands such as The Bollweevils refined that sound one step further. Combining buzzsaw guitars and blistering drumming with snotty vocals, anthemic choruses, and a great melodic sensibility, the band rose to the top of the Chicago punk scene during their too brief career.

The Bollweevils began as a trio in (roughly) 1993 with Ken, Bob, and some guy named Joe playing drums. They then added Daryl and replaced Joe with Brian, and viola! you have The Bollweevils I came to know and love.

The band released some 7” records on (now defunct) Underdog Records and various other local labels, but in 1994 Dr. Strange Records released their debut full-length Stick Your Neck Out. In 1995, the band upped the ante and released Heavyweight which showed a more dynamic and (gasp!) mature side of the Bollweevils. It was followed up in 1996 with Weevilive, a record that documented their scorching live show and their die hard fans.

While I only saw the band live a handful of times, I remember them absolutely tearing it up in Elgin at The Big Show in maybe 95 or 96. I feel luck to have been one of a few hundred sweaty kids singing along to every word that night.

So after releasing Weevilive the band replaced Brian with a new drummer and went on tour, but because of Dr. Daryl’s obligations (he had just finished medical school and was about to start his residency) so in the fall of 1996, the band played their final show to an unsuspecting crowd at the Chicago’s Fireside Bowl.

Aside from one reunion show in November of 2003, the band has been dormant for almost ten years, but is there activity on the horizon? Maybe. The band says they will play again if they can get 1000 friends on their Myspace page. Go make a new friend.

MP3 | The Bollweevils – Talkpeople History Of The Bollweevils Part II
MP3 | The Bollweevils – 999 Stoney History Of The Bollweevils Part I
MP3 | The Bollweevils – John Doe Stick Your Neck Out
MP3 | The Bollweevils – Dehumanize Stick Your Neck Out
MP3 | The Bollweevils – Utopia Heavyweight
MP3 | The Bollweevils – Railroad Coaster 2005 Previously Unreleased

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 9)

Posted on 21 May 2006 | 1 Comment

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I was less than two years old when (in early 1980) The Effigies formed and became one of Chicago’s first and most important punk rock bands. They (along with bands like Naked Raygun) can be credited with creating the Chicago-style punk rock sound of the 80’s. Driven by forceful guitars (a la The Buzzcocks) and the down-to-earth lyrics of front man John Kezdy, the band was (unlike a lot of other “punk” bands) never afraid to write a catchy melody.

The band released the Haunted Town 12” in late 1981 and then the Bodybag/Security 7” in 1982 on their own Ruthless Records which also put out the debut records from Steve Albini’s Big Black and even Naked Raygun. In addition to touring the country multiple times, The Effigies released an EP and three-full lengths before breaking up in 1986.

The band reformed in 1987, performed with a few different lineups, and called it quits again in 1990. In 1995 (however) the original members agreed to re-release almost all of their early material on the Remains Nonviewable retrospective on Touch & Go Records in late 1995 and reunited for a few shows in late 1995 and early 1996.

Interestingly enough, my chance to see The Effigies live in action has not yet passed. The band (featuring 3 of the 4 original members) has been playing shows again since 2004, but (alas) hasn’t released any new material in 20 years. For a better rundown of their history than I could ever hope to write, go here or here.

MP3 | The Effigies – Body Bag Bodybag/Security 7”
MP3 | The Effigies – Mob Clash Haunted Town EP
MP3 | The Effigies – We’re Da Machine We’re Da Machine EP
MP3 | The Effigies – The Eights Fly On A Wire

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 8)

Posted on 19 April 2006 | 3 Comments

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I think that most will agree that the mid-nineties were the golden years of pop-punk. That was the case in Chicago. One of those bands was the south suburban A.Y.A. (Andy’s Yellow Alligator).

Lead by frontman Chris Envy, A.Y.A. played lightning fast, snotty, catchy pop-punk in the much the same vein as the early Lookout Green Day stuff. In addition to putting out a few split 7” records and some tracks on a few Chicago punk compilations they released the vinyl only A.Y.A. Gets Phat And Stoopid 7” on the now defunct Underdog Records in 1996. Well (like all these bands do) they broke up and Chris formed Showoff while drummer Tony Tintari went on to play in Shai Hulud (as well as on Rise Against’s original demo).

The four songs below are from the long out-of-print A.Y.A. Gets Phat And Stoopid 7” which (being a sucker for great pop-punk) is easily one of my favorite records of all time.

MP3 | A.Y.A. – They Don’t Like Us Anyway A.Y.A. Gets Phat And Stoopid
MP3 | A.Y.A. – Only Girl A.Y.A Gets Phat And Stoopid
MP3 | A.Y.A. – Dork A.Y.A. Gets Phat And Stoopid
MP3 | A.Y.A. – Once More A.Y.A. Gets Phat And Stoopid

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 7)

Posted on 2 April 2006 | 2 Comments

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This is the stuff of legend.

Back in 1989, in between the first and second incarnations of Screeching Weasel, bassist Dan Schafer (A.K.A Danny Vapid) and then-drummer Brian Vermin formed Sludgeworth, which then proceeded for a couple of years to virtually rule the Chicago scene. They eventually called it quits in 1992 and were supplanted by a reborn Screeching Weasel and a host of other Chicago bands.

Vapid continued on in Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, and The Methadones, but none of these projects (to me at least) captured the “lightning in a bottle” that Sludgeworth did. Their sound is often said to be Face To Face meets Screeching Weasel meets Samiam, but even that isn’t really fair. Sludgeworth was a special band and Losers Of The Year is a one-of-a-kind record.

Back in the early nineties it would not be uncommon to see flyers for shows at MacGregors featuring the likes of Sludgeworth, Jawbreaker, NOFX, and Smoking Popes for $5 (with Sludgeworth headlining of course). Sadly though, Sludgeworth released only one album on Lookout! Records during their short lifespan. Lucky for you Lookout! is selling copies of Losers Of The Year for only seven bucks. Buy it here.

MP3 | Sludgeworth – Waste It Away Losers Of The Year
MP3 | Sludgeworth – Someday Losers Of The Year
MP3 | Sludgeworth – Another Day Losers Of The Year

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 6)

Posted on 20 March 2006 | No Comments

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No Empathy began as a glam/thrash/metal band sometime in 1988, but soon after releasing their first album decided to adopt a more straightforward punk rock sound. Their second album was released on Roadkill records in 1989, with their other three full-length albums all being released by singer Marc Ruvolo’s Johann’s Face Records and a handful of 7” singles on labels like Beer City Records and Broken Rekids.

I saw No Empathy a live a few times with the most memorable performance being from the original Big Show in Elgin, IL at which Oblivion, Bollweevils, Slapstick, Boris The Sprinkler, Zoinks!, and a whole bunch of other bands also took the stage. They played classic Chicago punk rock that never forgot to have a sense of humor.

Since they called it quits in the late 90’s, members of No Empathy have kept busy running recording studios, record labels, and playing in bands such as The Traitors.

MP3 | No Empathy – Ben Weasel Don’t Like It They Want Whatever
MP3 | No Empathy – Oi Across America They Want Whatever
MP3 | No Empathy – Consolation Prize The Same Mistakes Endlessly Repeated
MP3 | No Empathy – Heard That Song Split With Zoinks!
MP3 | No Empathy – Shot In The Head Split With Zoinks!
MP3 | No Empathy – Daddy’s Got A Problem Good Luck Makes Me Nervous

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 5)

Posted on 10 March 2006 | No Comments

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Simply stated, Los Crudos was a great political hardcore band from Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood that dominated the hardcore scene in the early 1990’s. All four members were Latino and (thus) the vast majority of their ultra-political lyrics were sung in Spanish. They subscribed to punk rock’s DIY ethic and even stared their own label (Lengua Armada Discos). They ranted and raved (in Spanish of course) about cultural and socio-economic hardships that we all face.

The music was fast, loud, and aggressive straight-ahead hardcore punk. During their six year existence, the band toured extensively throughout the US, as well as Central and South America, Europe, and Japan.

In 2004, Los Crudos’ singer Martin Sorrondeguy released a documentary film entitled Beyond The Screams: A U.S. Latino Hardcore Punk Documentary, which focused on the Latino punk scene. Sorrondeguy is currently playing the hardcore band Limp Wrist.

MP3 | Los Crudos – Crudo Soy Discography
MP3 | Los Crudos – Desde Afuera Discography
MP3 | Los Crudos – Se Ven En Tu Cara Discography
MP3 | Los Crudos – That’s Right We’re That Spic Band Discography

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 4)

Posted on 2 March 2006 | 5 Comments

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What can I tell you about Apocalypse Hoboken that you don’t already know? Probably quite a bit. They existed in one form or another from 1987 until 2004 or so. I’m not really sure about the end date but that isn’t of any great importance. What is important here is the music.

Apocalypse Hoboken has released at least 5 albums and a bunch of vinyl only stuff on labels like Johann’s Face, Rocco, Fueled By Ramen, and even Kung Fu Records and is (in my mind at least) one of the most important bands in Chicago punk-rock history. They were a little bit snotty punk, a little bit glam, but 100% rock and roll. Their sound is indescribable but f@#&ing awesome and showcases Todd’s huge vocal range.

I saw them live over a dozen times (I’m sure) including a memorable New Year’s Eve show in which they almost burned down the Fireside Bowl. The songs below are all from between 1994 and 1998 and everything except for “Hazelnut” is out of print. Members of Hoboken are currently playing in bands such as Mexican Cheerleader and Storybook Funeral. Just listen to the f@#&ing music.

MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Pop Sensibilities Daterape Nation
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Blockhead Jerk Lessons
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Jerk Lessons Easy Instructions For Complex Machinery
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Dean Is A Punk Easy Instructions For Complex Machinery
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Somebody’s New News Now’s Not A Good Time
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – The Family Strong Now’s Not A Good Time
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Box Of Pills Led Zeppelin III 7”
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Speaking In A Menthol Way Led Zeppelin III 7”
MP3 | Apocalypse Hoboken – Hazelnut House Of The rising Son Of A Bitch

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 3)

Posted on 20 February 2006 | 2 Comments

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“Chicago’s The Lawrence Arms are a gritty but clever punk rock trio that trace their beginnings back to 1999. These three punks/hunks/drunks blend East Bay punk with an intelligent and introspective Midwest sound. Take those musical influences and add a heap of bad television, some leftist literature, and exactly three cases of the cheapest most watery piss-beer you can muster, and you’re just beginning to get an idea of what this band is about. Imagine Aaron Cometbus and the guys from Jawbreaker sitting around happily drinking Hamm’s from martini glasses in a dank Chicago basement whilst watching Press Your Luck or The Rockford Files.” – Fat Wreck Chords

The band’s members have been playing punk rock for quite some time and (when they weren’t drinking) previously spent time in great bands like Slapstick, Tricky Dick, Baxter, Colossal, and The Broadways. The Lawrence Arms have five full-length albums and a few splits out on both Asian Man Records and Fat Wreck Chords and continue to keep Chicago’s great punk rock tradition alive and well in today’s era or watered down so called punk music.

Their new album Oh! Calcutta! is due out on March 7th on Fat Wreck. I’ve heard it’s their best yet.

MP3 | The Lawrence Arms – Great Lakes/Great Escapes Oh! Calcutta!
MP3 | The Lawrence Arms – Lose Your Illusion 1 Oh! Calcutta!
MP3 | The Lawrence Arms – Quincentuple Your Money Cocktails & Dreams
MP3 | The Lawrence Arms – Drunk Mouth Kitchen Smile The Greatest Story Ever Told
MP3 | The Lawrence Arms – Porno And Snuff Films Apathy And Exhaustion

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol. 2)

Posted on 15 February 2006 | 2 Comments

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Naked Raygun existed from 1980-1991 and is perhaps the most revered of all Chicago punk bands to have come and gone in the 80’s (maybe ever). I was only seven years old when they released Throb, Throb so I never got to experience their brand of blazing Midwest punk firsthand, but listening to their records, it is evident why so many other Chicago punk musicians cite them as a major influence.

Influenced by such bands as Buzzcocks, Wire, and Stiff Little Fingers, Naked Raygun’s hardcore punk rock didn’t sacrifice pop accessibility. Their sound was fast, tight, aggressive, and melodic and melded anthemic sing-a-longs into their political protests. When John Haggerty left to form Pegboy in 1990, the band lost their trademark buzzsaw guitar sound and called it quits a year later. Former singer Jeff Pezzati is now fronting The Bomb.

While most of their albums went out of print in the mid 90’s, Quarterstick Records reissued the entire Naked Raygun catalog in 1999. This is classic Chicago punk rock.

MP3 | Naked Raygun – I Lie Basement Screams
MP3 | Naked Raygun – Rat Patrol Throb Throb
MP3 | Naked Raygun – Rat Patrol Throb Throb

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An incomplete history of Chicago punk rock (vol.1)

Posted on 11 February 2006 | 1 Comment

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Sorry for the lack of posting consistency lately. I’ve been busy with projects for school and the family has been feeling a little under the weather. Anyhow, I’m going to kick off this new feature with a favorite of mine that still remains relatively unknown outside of Chicago.

I never really know if The Mushuganas are broken up or not. They sporadically play one-off shows but are basically a now-defunct group from the south suburbs of Chicago that formed in 1993 and released most of their best material in the mid 90’s. Their Dropout Girl 7” (on Harmless Records) is considered by many to be a Chicago punk rock classic with it’s “Crimpshrine meets Johnny Thunders” sound and rough yet sappy love songs.

They broke up and reformed and broke up again a few times before I finally stopped keeping track. They played fast straight ahead gruff-yet-poppy punk rock until they got back together in 1997 and went in more of a garage rock direction that alienated and turned off many of their fans (me included).

Their discography (ie: good stuff from the early years) is scheduled to be released by Beer Can Records this April. For now though, the Dropout Girl 7” and the other track below (a cover of Winepress’ ‘Disappointed’ from the A Taste Of Chicago compilation) are out of print.

That being said, if anyone out there has a copy (MP3 or otherwise) of the Rocco Records compilation The Check’s In The Mail: The Rise And Fall Of The Rocco Empire that is way out of print and has a few great Mushuganas tunes on it, drop me a line. I haven’t heard those tunes in years.

MP3 | The Mushuganas – Dropout Girl Dropout Girl 7”
MP3 | The Mushuganas – 18 Dropout Girl 7”
MP3 | The Mushuganas – Maybe Dropout Girl 7”
MP3 | The Mushuganas – It’s Raining Dropout Girl 7”
MP3 | The Mushuganas – Disappointed A Taste Of Chicago Compilation

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Smoking Popes to tour this spring

Posted on 18 December 2005 | 6 Comments

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“Did you ever hear ‘Born To Quit’? It’s by the Smoking Popes. I thought that album was extraordinary, the most lovable thing I’d heard in years.” –Morrissey

One of my all time favorite bands is Smoking Popes. Even Morrissey loves them. Despite being extremely important to me and countless other kids in Chicagoland, they never became hugely popular outside of their hometown and broke up after releasing their the brilliant Destination Failure. I attended their final show at Metro in 1998 and only because of the birth of my daughter did I miss their reunion show at Flower 15 just last month.

No need to worry or have any regrets if you missed either of those shows. The Popes have a North American tour planned for February 22 to March 12, 2006 with Bayside in support of the live CD/DVD from their recent reunion show on Victory Records on February 28, 2006. Amy and I will certainly need a babysitter for the Chicago date of the tour.

Oh yeah, vocalist Josh Caterer also recently mentioned that The Popes are working on songs for a new album. Looks like Christmas came a little early this year.

MP3 | Smoking Popes – Pasted Before I’m Gone 7”
MP3 | Smoking Popes – Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground Need You Around EP
MP3 | Smoking Popes – Pretty Pathetic Destination Failure
MP3 | Smoking Popes – Valentine The Party’s Over
MP3 | Smoking Popes – Writing A Letter 1991 – 1998
MP3 | Smoking Popes – Need You Around (Live) Live

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