Review

I Know Kung Fu!: Stout, Whiskey, And Wine

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I think I pissed these guys off a little while ago, and if they really know kung fu, then my days in Portland might be numbered. Okay, so I’m exaggerating a bit, but I did promise these guys I go to see them live back in May. My excuse? It was opening night for the Portland Timbers Soccer Club. Sorry guys, I forgot. Now that I’ve cleared my name, I’ll continue with the album review. I Know Kung Fu! literally kicks ass. It’s closer to punk’n roll, but also leans heavy on the metal side of things. Also known to throw in a rowdy drunken sing-a-long, the best way to describe them is like this, it’s loud, it’s good, and it rocks!! Last time I checked these guys were still unsigned, and that’s simply uncalled for. The local Portland record labels need to get off their arses and sign these guys A.S.A.P.

I usually don’t do this, but I think their bio does a better job describing I Know Kung Fu.

From The Bio: We are here for the Rock. We are not here to get famous. We are not here to get chicks. We are not here to show off our wardrobe or our collection of indie t-shirts. We are here for the beer. We are not here to be part of the record industry. We are here for the volume. We are not here to fight. We are not here to listen. We are here for the brotherhood. We are not here to find a record label. We are not here to look good on stage. We are not here to impress. We are here for the groove. We are not here to sell CDs. We are not here to take our shirts off. We are not here to wear make up. We are not here to whine about girls. We are here for the riffs. We are not here to dance. We are not here to gossip. We are here for the tone. We are not here to push religion while wearing leather pants. We are not here to teach. We are not here to learn. We are not here to change the world. We are here for the Rock.

In 1999, a tangled web of friendships, hobbies, employers, spouses and alcohol brought three wandering satellites together, and forged the brotherhood bond that would spawn the audio war-hammer that would later be known as IKNOWKUNGFU. Bill Niese, bass player and long-time veteran of the Southern California metal scene, joined forces with Dave Becker, a heavy guitar wielding, proto-punk music disciple and the willing, talented, hard-hitting and lightning-fast drum set player, Justin Craft to give birth to one of the most honest, straight-forward and balls-out power-trios that Rock Music has ever encountered. We are here for the Rock.

While the music produced by this enigmatic combo is not easily categorized as punk, metal or otherwise, it is not so pretentious to claim to defy genre classification. IKNOWKUNGFU music is pure, unadulturated Rock that has been influenced by everyone from Black Sabbath, the Pogues and Iron Maiden to the Cure, Slayer, Tom Waits and the Pixies to Motorhead, the MC5, Operation Ivy and NOFX to Free, the Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy and AC/DC. We love the music we listen to almost as much as the music we make. IKNOWKUNGFU is not about making music for the people, IKNOWKUNGFU is about making music, period. We are here for the Rock.

We love small shows, we love big shows, we love playing parties, we love shows where we make money, we love shows where we don’t get paid. We especially love shows where we get free beer. We love to play. We love to see people in the groove of our music. We love to talk gear with the other bands. We love to see people in the audience singing along to our songs. We love the shows where Dave pukes after the set. We love shows where we’ve played with the Jimmies, The Catholic School Girls, the Rats, Darkbuster, the River City Rebels, Avalauncher, the Rock and Roll Soldiers, the Hung Kung Product and Blue Star Creeper. We are here for the Rock.

September 2003

Review

Tommy and The Terrors: 13 the Hard Way

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In their early days, Slapshot were called “the closest thing to American Oi since Iron Cross” and in many ways, it was an apt description. Choke and company sang about things that mattered to the kids in Boston, all set to a background of hard and chanted hardcore punkrock. It wasn’t about phony British accents or dressing to the tee like a wannabe Joe Hawkins – it was about music and attitude – a lifestyle. American skinheads. American Oi.

In many ways, I see Tommy and the Terrors as heirs to the Slapshot throne. The similarities are all there: Boston bands made up of unpretentious types, skinheads and non, who are telling things like they see it, all the while sounding similar to how Choke and co. did it – more rock’n’roll but complete with an old-style hardcore attitude meets chanted British Oi choruses.

T&TT have matured by leaps and bounds since their first offerings. They come at you with a double guitar-style led by Lance and Mike and it shines, with Ryan on bass and Anders on drums, rounded out by the mighty Tommy the Terrible on the microphone, barking orders to Boston crowds like a skinhead Lee Ermy.

If Boston steetrocknroll appeals to you, then check this out for sure. Highlights for me include: “Pull the Plug” the catchy as hell “Turn the Screw,” “Washed Up,” the nice guitar work in “Looking Glass,” and “Radioactive Radio.” “Lot 11” is also a winner, with its Boston sports provincial subject matter – the New England Revolution. Makes me grin thinking about the crew attending said games – although I’d have to argue the Chicago Fire are the team to set a tune around.

In the end, all the tunes hit you in the face like “a train pulling 20 cars of aggro” to quote my favorite poster on the now defunct DKM message board. Boston pubarios rejoice!!! You’ve got a house band to rival the might of the legendary Slapshot.

September 2003

Sean Holland

Review

V/A: It Came From The Barn IV.

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This is the 4th CD in the “It Came From The Barn” serious from Germanys, One Million Dollar Records – the world’s only specialist Irish-Folk-Punk, Cow-Punk, Polka-Trash and Bluegrass-Punk (!!!) record label. Volume IV features five bands and 17 tracks.

First up are England’s (the North of…) The Whisky Priests, a band I’d heard ’bout but had never bothered to check out. For some reason I figured they were more on the folkie side of things but man was I wrong. They are as tough as nails and as hard as a kick in the nuts by a coal miner’s steel capped boots. Think of a North of England version of the Pogues fronted by Billy Bragg at a Coal Miners riot in the 80’s.

We’ve never tasted whisky
Just lager and red wine
But by Christ we can’t half knock ’em back
When it comes to judgement time
We’ll take you on at drinking
And if you lose we’ll skin your hide
Then you’ll say we’re the hardest gang in town
And we’ll go home drunk with pride

The Hard Men (Gary Miller)

Pronghorn (4 tracks) sound like (insert the name of your favorite band here) on major drugs. “Lady-Boy of the Night”, sounds like The Charlie Daniels Band on major drugs. “Jewish Thing”, sounds like your local Jewish folk group on major drugs. “Roobarb and Kurdish” is Suggs from Madness with the circus band on major drugs. You get my drift. Strange stuff indeed.

Greenland Whalefishers (4 tracks) should need no introduction from me and you should already own each of the four tracks here on your copies of Loboville and Main Street Sword.

The Revelling Crooks (4 tracks) play what they describe as Irish-Klezmer-Country-Balkan-Folk. Interesting, but didn’t really strike my fancy.

Finally we have Katkalta (1 track) with “Last Order”, who from their photograph look Japanese and play some manic Celtic-Punk with some extra manic Japanese (I think) vocals.

September 2003

Review

Dirty Water : Dirty Water

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I caught Dirty Water, the new band from ex-Ducky Boy Mark Lind quite by chance opening for the Skels at The Middle East Club in Cambridge, MA recently. And to be honest I wasn’t that excited about seeing them, especially after my over excited friend raved about how Dirty Waters new CD was really just the 3rd Ducky Boys release. To me the Dunky Boys were ok, but nothing more then ok.

Live, Dirty Water blew me away with their no bullshit, no image, Punk’n’Roll and this 7 tracker has done the same. Think, Hudson Falcons, Bruce Springsteen (huge influence), AC/DC, The Clash, Social D., and of course Rose Tattoo. If you like your Rock’n’Roll loud, honest and with dirty finger nails this is for you.

September 2003

Review

The Pubcrawlers: From the Barn to the Bar

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A much improved Pubcrawlers are back with a 6-song demo follow up to their first demo. The band are starting to define a strong style of their own with strong influences from Irish Folk, Oi/Street Punk and Metal. The closest influence is obviously the DKM’s but the Crawlers metallic guitars give the band their own edge. The CD opens with “The Irish Combine”, the weakest track in my opinion – the vocals just don’t have the rough edge needed to keep up with the music, two fine traditional covers follow, The Rattlin Bog and The Irish Rover (For the grand city hall in New York – YANKEES SUCK – nice guys!!!) both given the DKM treatment ala Finnegans Wake. Boston Subway is a much strong original composition and “Tripping Up The Stairs/An Honest Gamble” is fantastic, definitely the standout track. Things end on a metal note with a medley of Canon in D, Hole in the Wall and Johnny Comes Marching Home. In summary still not perfect but getting closer.

September 2003

Review

Icewagon Flu: Trouble has a Car

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The bio states the band perform “Original Music”, and that they certainly do. Lazy bastard reviewers like me hate bands like Icewagon Flu, they are impossible pigeon hole, compare them to a similar band and move on. You really have to really listen to the CD and take in what they are trying to do.

The Flu if I may call’em that, play a highly original combination of loud Rock’n’Roll, American roots, whiskey soaked Irish folk with almost a jam band feel. The songs are strong and they lyrics are wacky, off beat humorous (and some of them herbal inspired I’m guessing.) If you’re looking for the next Flogging Molly sound alike you’ll be disappointed, but if your looking for something fresh and original you won’t go wrong.

September 2003

Review

The Steam Pig: Potshots

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Dublin’s reining Kings of Punk are back with their first release since their last one (always wanted to say that – stupid eh?,) the very fine “Deep Fried Obedience”. Boz, Andy and Del are still spitting glass, nails, venom and sticks of dynamite at all they despise – Old Ladies, Boggers, the stupid in general and the girl from CRASS (something about catching the clap from her). Though the music sounds much more experimental/Industrial/bloody intense then the more straight forward punk of DFO. A couple of tracks remind me of early THERAPY?, I’m also hearing late 80’s HC influnces and even maybe a touch of Slayer (Turnpike). Not for the faint hearted, Old Ladies, Boggers, the stupid in general and the girl from CRASS. Available in the US through Rube Records (P.O Box 121, Cobleskill, NY 12043 – $13.00 PP)

September 2003

Review

The Skels: Any Port in a Storm

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The Skels are back (did they ever fecking go away) with their first release in over 4 years. Proving they are the Ramones/AC/DC/Motorhead of the Irish-Punk scene they have gone and made a CD that sounds exactly like the last two. Now that’s not a bad thing at all in my book. I loved both “The Book of Skels” and “Stoney Road” and still play them regularly. None of that “Maturity, Growth, Progression” crap here, the Skels are having a drunken good time so why change or even sober up. Though strangely enough this is still their best album yet and I’m putting it down to just some bloody good foot-stomping, glasses raised drink for 3 seconds songs and Chris Skels impressive lyrics as he brings us on a pub crawl from darkest Bergen County to the Cambridge Port Saloon via Flannerys in NYC and the Presidential palace’s of Chile. If you haven’t heard the Skels yet then think Sally McLennane pogoin’ with Hank Williams at a Clash show after the Bottle of Smoke came in a 25 to f**ckin 1.

Drink for 3 seconds.

September 2003


Review

The Real McKenzies: Oot & Aboot

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First off, how ’bout those Warpipes, and thundering drums, on that last track “Taylor Made”? It’s a perfect example of a theory of mine… (and I’m sure about a million others before me, agree!) The theory is that the drums represent the heartbeat, and the bagpipes represent the soul, and when it’s done right, it’s simply an overwhelming feeling that hits you deep in the gut. You know you’re truly alive when you feel it. If you’ve ever witnessed up close a huge crowd of marching bagpipes and drums then you should know what I’m talking about. In my personal opinion, the last track, “Taylor Made” gave me that exact same feeling.That song could have lasted 10 – 15 minutes, and i’d still be happy with it. I ask all you reading this review to get the album “Oot & Aboot”, go home and turn up the volume to 50 and start with track 13. If you don’t get that feeling I’m talking about, then go far, far, away & shoot yourself, or better yet, lay down on some railroad tracks.

Sorry about that, got a wee bit carried away…On with the album review, if I had one word to describe the new album it would be, catchy. I mean that in a good way, mind you. I’m seriously impressed with the vocal melodies scattered throughout this new album. I’m also impressed with the overall sound on “Oot & Aboot” The dual guitars are clean, Paul McKenzie’s vocals are solid, and the bagpipes are interwoven perfectly, not to mention the bass and drums hold everything down like they should. You can tell they had some professionals in the studio with them this time, unlike some previous efforts in the past. Have I mentioned catchy yet?

“Oot & Aboot” starts out with a damn fine pirate number “‘Cross The Ocean” and in my book, every good Real McKenzies album MUST have at least one pirate tune on it.

“Droppin’ Like Flys” is more or less an ode to all the punk bands of the past. Speaking about the unfortunate and untimely deaths of Joey & Dee Dee Ramone (among others.)

“Ye Banks And Braes (O’ Bonnie Doon)” is one of the two traditional tracks on the album originally written by the master Scottish poet, Robbie Burns, it good to see another one of auld Rabbie’s poem’s alive and kicking again.

“Get Lost” is one of those catchy tracks on the album i’ve been talking about. It’s also one of the songs the lads played during the Fat Wreck Chords tour earlier this year.

“Lest We Forget” is a good follow up to “Get Lost” it’s like a one-two punch of how good the vocal melodys have become. If I heard everything right, I think it’s about women!

“Heather Bells” is another traditional ditty, it’s also one of the stronger tracks on the album, is more or less an ode to the Scottish homeland, an ode to a land that we long to be! I’m sure anyone displaced or homesick can relate to this track no matter where the homeland may be! Ahh! I need a vacation!

“Dance Around The Whisky” is the most folky tune on this album. Centered around an acoustic guitar, It’s a drunken sing-a-long about Scotch whisky. Complete with the background pub atmosphere. One of my favorites. It almost reminds me of earlier folky stuff off of “Clash Of The Tartans”

“Oot & Aboot” I hate to break it to all the Canucks reading this, but, YES! You do have an accent when you say Oot & Aboot!! Can I have some Canadian bacon and maple syrup now?

“Shit Outta Luck” The melody reminds me of “King O’ Glasgow” It also reminds me of alot about my luck lately! Is it unlucky to accidentally break a mirror on Friday the 13th? What the fuck? I’m shit outta luck!

“Jennifer Que” Hell yeah! the fastest, hardest-hitting track on the entire album. For the idiots that think the Real McKenzies have gotten soft. Take a listen to this one. This is how some of the older stuff would have sounded like if it was produced a little cleaner.

“Drink The Way I Do” (The same song that’s one the ecard that I emailed everybody with!) What happens when you drink the way I do? Simply put, a hangover, that’s what will happen.

“The Night The Lights Went Out In Scotland” April 16th, 1745. The Battle Of Culloden. The Scottish Jacobites were slaughtered by the English. The Jacobite rebellion was more or less brought to it’s knees, yet it’s still not forgotten. Fuck no, never forgotten! After the battle of Culloden, The Highlanders were eventually kicked off their lands, and forced to leave the only way of life they have ever known. At this moment, I raise my glass to those displaced Highlanders.

“Taylor Made” an instumental song using the instruments of war. – Hey Paul! Can you guys record a half-hour version of this track and send it to me? Hey Matt! Brad! Whaddya think??

September 2003

Review By Brian Gillespie

Review

Mutiny: Bag of Oats / Digging for Gold

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“Folk Punk For Punk Folks”

Melbourne Australia’s, Mutiny have sailed the seven seas for over a dozen years, and the quality of the music reflects the years of hard work they’ve put into their craft. For some reason or another, Mutiny’s pirate ship has gone undetected by alot of landlubbers over the years. Hopefully that will change when they release a new album next year. (and a possible US tour?) If you’re a fan of nautical-folk-punk that leans toward sea shanties, and ballads (much like The Dolomites early stuff did) than this is your band.

2002’s album, “Bag of Oats” is six-song CD that will knock yer pegleg off. The lyrics of folk songs should tell the listener about what’s really going on in their paticular part of the world, and with songs that speak about current and historical issues, that’s exactly what Mutiny does, and with a true Aussie accent throughout the vocals to boot. Musically, the album has no weak spots either. It really is folk punk for punk folks. I tried to pick a favorite track from this album, but I couldn’t do it. Each and every song is as solid as stone. More or less what it does is make me itch for the new album!

Next up is a single titled “Digging For Gold”. Released just before the holiday season last X-mas, the single contains three songs such as: “Digging For Gold”, the previously released “Bag Of Oats”, and “Heave Up”. It’s just as solid as their earlier material. So there you have it. Mutiny is obviously a quality group from the land down under. Those of you who have heard them before know what i’m talking about, and those of you that haven’t had best get off your arses and get familiar with ’em, because if they do tour the States, we need to do our best to support them. I know I will! (and if that’s not a plea for them to come to Portland- then I don’t know what is!!!)

September 2003

Review by Brian “Capt. Redbeard” Gillespie

Potato-eating, Whiskey-drinking, Bog-trotting, CELTIC PUNK ROCK