You can't tell me that punk rock isn't alive and well and living in Rhode
Island. In fact, let's go out on a limb here together. If there's a healthier
sub-scene in this whole state, I'd like to see it. Hardcore, punk, old-school,
and post-hardcore are all pretty well represented in these parts. Ever since
these gritty styles came about back in the '70s and early '80s, they've
factored significantly into Providence nightlife. Yeah, maybe they've faded in
and out over that time, but they've never disappeared. You can't exactly say
that about ska or grunge or new wave or any of the more ephemeral trends we've
seen come and go.
So it makes good business sense that a brand new label has arisen to cater to
the punk music aesthetic. Irresponsible Records is a label dedicated to
promoting up-and-coming punk acts. Owner Brendan McCarthy, a 20-year-old
college student, explained in a recent press release the label's goal. "I just
want to put out records that I really stand behind and admire," he said. "There
are so many great bands out there that go unnoticed and don't receive the
proper attention and respect they deserve."
For McCarthy, the formation of a label started out as a hobby. "I had been
involved in music scene for a couple years in different capacities," he said.
"I started going to shows when I was really young, then started booking shows
and recording and producing albums, so starting the label seemed like a logical
progression. I only put out music that I would listen to, dance incessantly to
and rock out to -- simple as that."
The label's first release, the Paranoids' Black Eye and a Broken Heart,
produced and recorded by McCarthy, sold out of its initial pressing. The label
followed with a release from Glenn's Army, a punk-rock trio from Portsmouth.
Their previously self-released demo got good reviews from the punk peanut
galleries and they took to the road this summer for a 10-day tour covering the
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. A limited edition sampler, Open 24
Hours, and a disc from Providence's the Usual Suspex have rounded out the
release schedule to date.
So far, McCarthy has been able to get his records out to stores throughout
Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and he's searching for national distribution.
And, by the way, he's looking for new acts. So if you fit the suit and look
good in black, well, get your ass in gear and get on the horn. You can grab
more info about the imprint by calling Brendan at (401) 651-0379, or by
visiting their Web site: www.irresponsiblerecords.com.
TRANSPARENT. Rich Bocchini and company are getting Transparent up and
running with plenty of changes, all for the best. The current lineup is Keith
Pirtle (vocals, ex-Richard), Adam Riley (guitar, ex-Richard), John Farley
(guitar, ex-Richard and Walks On the Beach), Chris Bowers (bass, ex-Foundation,
Times Expired, Nowhere Fast), and Bocchini (drums, ex-Times Expired).
The band just completed their debut four-song EP, which should be out real
soon, with notable New York hardcore producer Don Fury at Cyclone Sound on
Coney Island. The session took all of three days. "It was cool working with a
guy who is a legend to us and most other hardcore fans," says Bocchini.
The tentatively self-titled EP was recorded October 5-7 at Fury's studio loft
in the heart of Coney Island. Although a release date is pending, advance
copies will be sent to local and national media as well as a select handful of
record labels. The band currently intends to release a limited pressing of the
recording on Providence's Red Planet Press.
"Growing up, we all listened to a lot of the bands Fury worked with," said
vocalist Keith. "Stuff like Quicksand and Shift probably has the most obvious
link to our sound, but we all were led to those bands by the late '80s and
early '90s hardcore bands Don produced. We jumped at the opportunity to record
with him when it arose."
Taking cues from the post-hardcore sound of the mid-'90s, Transparent melds
the driving guitar sounds of that era with melodic and moving song structures.
"We didn't reinvent the wheel," said guitarist Adam Riley. "But we think we
have an EP that is catchy and current while tipping our hats to the bands that
influenced us."
Transparent will perform on Friday, October 18 at the New Wave Café
in New Bedford, and on November 15 and 16 at the Green Room. Go to www.transparentband.com for more info.
HIP-HOP. It isn't often that we get to write about the area's hip-hop
scene -- for whatever reason. So it's with pleasure that I announce the
impending explosion of beats and rhymes this Friday. It all goes down at the
Met Café; the gig celebrates the release of three projects by a trio of
Rhody's deffest jammers. It's officially called the Broken Bus Crew Record
Release Party, and features performances by FunkBunker Fleet, Time Machine, and
Soul Kaliba. FunkBunker Fleet marks the release of their full-length debut CD,
Slap & Spit. The group consists of five members, including three
emcees and two DJs -- Romen Rok, JahPan, InfoMite, DJ Dusty Frazier, and DJ
Mekalek. FBF was also nominated as Best Local Hip-Hop Act in this year's Best
Music Poll.
The show also marks the release of Time Machine's second 12-inch vinyl single,
"Personal Ads." Time Machine features emcees Jaysonic and Comel and DJ Mekalek.
Over the course of the past year, TM has built -- from what they tell me -- a
worldwide buzz generating impressive overseas record sales and licensing
offers. See more on Time Machine at www. TimeMachineSound.com. Opening the show
is Soul Kaliba. He got his start as half of the duo Roolette, and was featured
on the Lyricist Lounge Pre-Tour CD. His new album, Soul Searchin', is
shakin' things up 'round town.
Before, between, and after the sets, Mekalek and Dusty Frazier will keep the
crowd live, putting in work on four turntables. All the new releases, as well
as additional merchandise, will be available at the show. And it's all-ages,
which means it'll be seriously rockin'. It'll cost you $10, with doors at 8
p.m. and the show at 9.
WANDERING EYE. The Greenhornes come with a little hype
undercurrent, which I found well-deserved after checking out their latest disc,
Dual Mono (Telstar). Now that folks are talking about garage-rock again
-- even though most of the bands being discussed don't even qualify for the tag
(that's another story, right?) -- it's cool that new, worthwhile bands are
getting some mainstream attention. While they've not capitalized yet, the
Greenhornes' vintage rumble sounds good and should enjoy guilt by association.
They're at the Met on Sunday with the Magnums and Runner & the Thermo
Dynamics. And speaking of garage rock, well, you have to check out the
Mooney Suzuki next Wednesday at the Met. If you haven't seen 'em yet,
you're in for a treat. And while they're not true garage rock either,
they've found a way to meld the power-pop sound of the Romantics with the
sloppy riffing of the Fleshtones, served up with very high-energy stage
presentation. Better still is the fact that two inspired Scandinavian bands are
sharing the bill. Sahara Hotnights is an all-girl garage-punk slam that
recalls the original Runaways. And Finland's Flaming Sideburns are the
grandaddys of the Great North garage movement, the band the Hives watched
growing up. Powerful three-chord stuff with a touch of the Stones. See you
there.
E-mail me with your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.
Issue Date: October 18 - 24, 2002
