Ghoul Gang X-Mas show review- 12/18/12 at the Magic Stick

Ghoul Gang X-Mas show review- December 18^th, 2012 at the Magic Stick

Freedom, Retribution, Weed Nap, Heat Lightning, From Hell, Build & Destroy, Face Reality, Ghoul Gang, and Rzl Dzl

As a stacked local line-up, I just knew I had to be at this.  As such, I took the day off work and caught a ride down there.  As I arrived, sound check for Freedom was just starting.  Thankfully, I was right on time.

Freedom went on a couple of minutes later, the first to do so.  They blasted through a quick set of youth crew-influenced powerviolence, or vice versa, whatever is suited to the subjective definition of the band’s sound (in other words, whichever YOU like more).  Fast and very short, the songs hardly eclipse a minute, if that.  Some of the band’s newer song stretched on for a bit longer than that, but make no mistake- this is definitely hardcore that everyone has time for.  Singer Denny has a strong voice that manages to mix both the mile-a-minute powerviolence sound with the rough, tough, slower youth crew sound.  It’ll take one longer to fap than to listen to a set by these guys, so no doubt, do the latter before the former, if at all separately.

Next was Retribution, who have been playing out more as of late, following a mild hibernation that has clearly led to the band becoming far more energized.  The set they did this time around, though not as stellar as the ones they’ve done recently (opening for Expire, Trial, and Twitching Tongues, respectively), was still pretty solid.  The material on their “Consumed” 7” is always energetic live, and some of their newer stuff, particularly the one about gay marriage and the moral clusterfuck churches seem to be preoccupied with at the moment, are even harder-hitting.  After a few years of sporadic activity and only a demo released, it seems that Kenny Smith and Retribution are at long last moving forward and accumulating much-deserved fans of their 90s-style straight-edge hardcore.

Weed Nap followed after this, jamming out their brand of funky, janky party punk.  This was some weird music, yet it was some very interesting stuff.  Still in its early development stages, I anticipate a decent EP to come out soon.  Think garage, janky, funky, punky.  Close enough.

After them came Heat Lightning, a band play jam music in the punkiest way possible.  This is definitely not music to have to read the lyrics to or soak in all the vibes, art, and meaning of the band to, but it is absolutely high quality, fun music to listen to.  I was not disappointed with it, I’ll put it that way.  Some music is to be taken in with absolute seriousness and the vibe/aesthetic to be fully absorbed, and other music is meant to be taken lightly, to be enjoyed, and be played loudly at parties.  This is the latter, and I couldn’t be happier with it.  Jam these jams.

After Heat Lightning was From Hell, who radiated dark energy with their slower, demonic style of hardcore.  Their brand of punk rock, though different from the more positive and fun styles of their friends, was strangely fitting.  The rearing of a dark, ugly sound has been a staple for Detroit for quite some time, and the current harbinger of this sound is From Hell, who have been around since roughly 2010, sludging it up with a demo and currently working on a 7”.

Build and Destroy came on next, and seemed as though they had improved since I last took notice of them around two years ago (at the Refuge benefit show in November ’10).  Sporting a party-style 90s hardcore with a subtle hip-hop influence, the band was very crowd-friendly, two-steps and gang vocals all around- the locals definitely seemed to know the words to the songs.  This is fascinating, as the band (to my knowledge, at least) has only a demo a good circulation of fans who spread the word, from Detroiters to, uh… Philadelphians, I guess, would be the word.  These guys do live up to the hype, so long as you understand that the music isn’t excessively serious or unique- it’s just fun hardcore.

Next came Face Reality, who is one of the best bands to come out of Michigan punk-wise in a long time.  The band came out full-force, and save for a couple moments where singer James’ voice went out, the band was totally on point, largely opting to play the newer material, which is much heavier and “harder”, so to speak.  Crowd participation was pretty strong, and people were singing moving for the majority of the duration of the set (yours truly included)- the only time the band stopped was to thank a few folks for their contributions to the scene, and it was, all in all, a pretty energetic and united vibe in the room.  Truly a sign of good things to come, and some already here.

Ghoul Gang and Rzl Dzl closed out the show, but due to my ride situation, I was unable to catch these two sets (much thanks to Ryan Coleman of Heat Lightning for that ride!).  However, the Ghoul Gang is not that unlike in its punky jam band vibe, and Rzl Dzl is the more hardcore side of party punk music- fun and light-hearted, and including Haroun Khan as a member.

Ultimately, the show drew a lot of different faces (I am more of a “punker” than a hardcore kid, I suppose) and truly drew them all together under one roof, for one purpose.  All in all, a great example of a Detroit show done right- I haven’t experienced an all-local show this awesome in quite some time.  This is how it’s done.

-Aunty Social

GROG- Hood Core CD review

GROG- Hood Core CD review

This CD somewhat continues the Michigan-based, party punk, dirty punk rocker theme that was set forth by GROG’s first release “Back in the Crack”; though the theme continues, the style is notably different, and a lot better.  While “Back in the Crack” left me a bit disappointed, Hood Core certainly redeemed the band, amping up the energy and tossing aside the clean production for a grittier one with much better songs.  Though the band calls their style of punk “Hood Core” (and I couldn’t disagree), it’s more clearly described as a dirtier, faster, heavier, but not quite hardcore version of the Dead Boys or Stiff Little Fingers.  Though the production of working class asses with penchants for alcoholism, weed, and hooliganism, this is a good record that has a lot of fun packed inside.  Not required listening, but I can certainly recommend it.

-Aunty Social

Eight-Ball Death- three song demo review

Eight-Ball Death- Three song demo review

It’s hard not to love this band based off of the name and the cuddly-bear nature of singer/ guitarist El Toro.  After a couple of live shows, I saw these guys definitely had something going.  Sure, it’s drunken party punk, but given that the level of expectations I have for that sort of thing is pretty low, it’s above average, even on this demo.  It’s very lo-fi, raw, and sometimes hard to hear, but for a band putting out their first demo, this is about what I would expect to hear.  Not earth-shattering, but it’s a nice band to get drunk and pit to.  Even if drinking isn’t your thing, it’s still fast, goofy, and decent for what it is.  I don’t know if this band has “it”, but they’re good at what they do.  It’s no Suicidal Tendencies’ first album, but I’ve bands put out far worse shit, and been a longer-existing group.  Lo-fi thrash-y punk, nothing to go crazy for, but worth listening to; it’s free anyways.

-Aunty Social

Disposable Society- Drink N Fight review

There’s a thin yet distinct line between bar punk and party punk:  One is that annoying background noise that reeks of failed dreams and nonexistent ambition, and the smells of whiskey, weed, and wanderlust.  Bar bands don’t do jack shit except play the local bar, write a few songs, and maybe put some money towards an album.  Party punk is just plain old misanthropic punk, often mixed with intoxicating substances; one genre has potential, the other shits all over ambition and kills any existent potential.  All in all, party punk can go places, not just the local bar or some hometown show space.  Disposable Society, despite consisting of members who are heavily anchored down in Michigan, is one of these so-called “party punk” bands; it’s angry, bitter and discontent enough to be more than just another bar band barking the same tired shit.

The sound of this band is heavily influenced by Detroit punk from the 80s (the even do a Skraps cover; nice shout-out!) and some harder British punk like Blitz, Discharge (then again, everyone loves Discharge) and GBH.  It has gang vocals, sing-along choruses, and hometown shout-outs that resonate of some hometown pride akin to that of Detroit and Pittsburgh, where there’s pride in a place no one else sees a reason to have pride in.  The vocals are rather raspy and rough around the edges, perfect for this hoodrat style of punk rock.  Drums are mid-tempo; not fast and not deficient in speed.  The guitar and bass rock well enough for this unusually tight UK 82 influenced style of punk.  I didn’t bust a load listening to this, but I did hear some fucking gnarly hoodrat punk rock.  Worth the cash, definitely worth a listen.

-Aunty Social