I've been to a couple shows tha last couple weeks. Let's recapitulate.
First one was Gnarwolves in Zoersel. Support was provided by Coma Commander, who I missed and The Dutch Rudders, whose set was sloppy as usual but filled with great songs. Gnarwolves rules but the crowd was pretty tame. I could've destroyed shit but I cut my finger pretty badly the day before so i decided to stay safe. Good one.
I put on a show for Misgivings about 10 days ago. Two Minutes Hate opened up & played a rad set. Their record is real good, ya guys. Harsh Realms spit hits like fuck-all and blew the couple of people that came down away. Misgivings are great friends of mine so I was delighted to see them again. They may not yet live up to a band like Harsh Realms but I thoroughly enjoyed their set and their EP Delete History, that's supposed to drop in November, is really good. Afterparty was rad. I have some black holes and everyone kinda got lost. Fun night.
Two days after that I went to see Grim's last show. They were huge, considering they were only really around for like 3 years. Kids went apenuts. It's cool I guess. Time for new stuff.
In that context, I got around to rehearsing with my band (temporarily called BADGER) again a couple times, it's heading into a cool heavy direction so I'm stoked. (Little bit of early self-promotion can't hurt, right?)
On Monday I went to the Misgivings show in Oostende, together with The Mostly Whites, a new garagepunk outfit that sounded really cool and promising, and DRS, the household name for Western Belgian hardcore. Fun show, fun afterparty, long ride.
01-09-2014
06-08-2014
Stuff I've been lizning to
The past month I've been working a bunch but I did manage to check out some music.
JOYCE MANOR - NEVER HUNGOVER AGAIN
Completely fell in love with this one. It's like the self-titled but better. Short, abrasive, fragile, counterintuitive and confrontational. The drums on this record are fricking insane. I've never loved an album so much based on the drum patterns.
SUGAR STEMS - ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT
More power pop perfection (po-po-pe for short) from Wisconsin. Midwest chilliness and summery vibes mix very well for the gals 'n' guys. So good, a true joy to listen to.
THE COPYRIGHTS - NO KNOCKS 7"
3 songs, 4 minutes, all hits. No comment.
TIGERS JAW - CHARMER
Melancholia in record form. Couple of real bangers, couple of under-the-radarers as well but overall a solid record after a bunch of internal and external turmoil concerning this band. Great output. That last song is amazing.
MASKED INTRUDER - M.I.
Truthfully... just not as good. It's good, but it sounds safe, and that's not what a record by 4 on-the-loose party pop punk criminals should sound like. I really dig the doo-wop influences, mostly obviously in Almost Like We're Already In Love, and there's some hits on there like you wouldn't believe. But also some safe songs that miss the X.
BANNER PILOT - SOUVENIR
I always enjoy Banner Pilot, it seems. This record is more experimental guitar-wise, but is equally awesome in terms of songwriting, general sound and that desolated feeling you get when the record in done.
JOYCE MANOR - NEVER HUNGOVER AGAIN
Completely fell in love with this one. It's like the self-titled but better. Short, abrasive, fragile, counterintuitive and confrontational. The drums on this record are fricking insane. I've never loved an album so much based on the drum patterns.
SUGAR STEMS - ONLY COME OUT AT NIGHT
More power pop perfection (po-po-pe for short) from Wisconsin. Midwest chilliness and summery vibes mix very well for the gals 'n' guys. So good, a true joy to listen to.
THE COPYRIGHTS - NO KNOCKS 7"
3 songs, 4 minutes, all hits. No comment.
TIGERS JAW - CHARMER
Melancholia in record form. Couple of real bangers, couple of under-the-radarers as well but overall a solid record after a bunch of internal and external turmoil concerning this band. Great output. That last song is amazing.
MASKED INTRUDER - M.I.
Truthfully... just not as good. It's good, but it sounds safe, and that's not what a record by 4 on-the-loose party pop punk criminals should sound like. I really dig the doo-wop influences, mostly obviously in Almost Like We're Already In Love, and there's some hits on there like you wouldn't believe. But also some safe songs that miss the X.
BANNER PILOT - SOUVENIR
I always enjoy Banner Pilot, it seems. This record is more experimental guitar-wise, but is equally awesome in terms of songwriting, general sound and that desolated feeling you get when the record in done.
02-08-2014
I'M PUTTIN' ON SOME SHOWS Y'ALL
Hey come to these show I'm putting on that would be rad. I don't do booking and promoting that often so it'd be nice to see a bunch of people come down to something I'm responsible for.
I come to your shows, right? Why wouldn't you come to mine? (Classic guilt-tripping right here!)
AUGUST 22ND 2014 - DOORS AT 19h
FACEBOOK EVENT
After their rather unnoticed venture at Vleugel F earlier this year, the South-Englandians of Misgivings return to the Mainland for a stop at Rockcafé/ Room 66, the coolest venue in Leuven for punkrock shows.
MISGIVINGS (UK): Punkrock - FFO: Leatherface, Dead To Me, punknews.orgcore and other bearded throats. - http://misgivingspunx.bandcamp.com/
HARSH REALMS (NL): Punkrock from Roosendaal. FFO: Red City Radio, Latterman, Off With Their Heads - http://harshrealms.bandcamp.com/
+1 TBA
MC KAREL: Afterparty set. Pseudo-rap with 4 chords and a lousy performance. FFO: MC Lars, Atom & His Package - http://mckarel.bandcamp.com/
FREE SHOW
FACEBOOK EVENT
Come and celebrate the end of the summer at JH Govio, Kalmthout, with a rad punkrock show!
HOMESICK (FR): Fast melodic punk from Angers, France. As catchy as a good STD and almost equally unexpected! FFO: Lifetime, Carry On, 7 Seconds - http://
LA RUPTURE (FR): French punkrock with a dynamic edge. Together on tour with Homesick to promote their split EP! FFO: Burning Heads, Bouncing Souls, Maladroit - http://
OUTLINE: semi-young and angry with riffs from the highest shelf. FFO: Dead Hearts, Paint It Black - http://
Afterparty with CAPTAIN CRACK (tbc)!
ENTRANCE €5
I come to your shows, right? Why wouldn't you come to mine? (Classic guilt-tripping right here!)
AUGUST 22ND 2014 - DOORS AT 19h
After their rather unnoticed venture at Vleugel F earlier this year, the South-Englandians of Misgivings return to the Mainland for a stop at Rockcafé/ Room 66, the coolest venue in Leuven for punkrock shows.
MISGIVINGS (UK): Punkrock - FFO: Leatherface, Dead To Me, punknews.orgcore and other bearded throats. - http://misgivingspunx.bandcamp.com/
HARSH REALMS (NL): Punkrock from Roosendaal. FFO: Red City Radio, Latterman, Off With Their Heads - http://harshrealms.bandcamp.com/
+1 TBA
MC KAREL: Afterparty set. Pseudo-rap with 4 chords and a lousy performance. FFO: MC Lars, Atom & His Package - http://mckarel.bandcamp.com/
FREE SHOW
Come and celebrate the end of the summer at JH Govio, Kalmthout, with a rad punkrock show!
HOMESICK (FR): Fast melodic punk from Angers, France. As catchy as a good STD and almost equally unexpected! FFO: Lifetime, Carry On, 7 Seconds - http://
LA RUPTURE (FR): French punkrock with a dynamic edge. Together on tour with Homesick to promote their split EP! FFO: Burning Heads, Bouncing Souls, Maladroit - http://
OUTLINE: semi-young and angry with riffs from the highest shelf. FFO: Dead Hearts, Paint It Black - http://
Afterparty with CAPTAIN CRACK (tbc)!
ENTRANCE €5
best band ever.
Muncie Girls is the best band ever.
Monday 14th of July I went to Sint-Antonius, Zoersel, to attend a show at JH JoeNiz. Pretty cool place with very cool shows lately.
I arrived when Mountains To Move were ending their set. I met Niek at the entrance, then said "I'm gonna go inside, this sounds pretty good" and then they stopped playing. Oh well.
Healing Powers was ridiculously good. All short shorts, all frantic punkish screamo, all cool. Great band.
Hey Joni wasn't as good. Bassist/singer played in his boxers though, I can respect that.
Muncie Girls are LITERALLY the best band in the world. So good. Sound kinda lacked quality but ok. I love 'em. Thanks to Dean for the after-show beers.
Great Cynics was a non-stop dance ârty, which is the type of dance parties I enjoy most. They never stop. Such a fun show, great tunes, new and older, all dancy, all poppy, all rad.
After the show a bunch of things happened. I tried to play a broken guitar, someone put on the MC Karel record on the PA, I watched parts of the Great Cynics/Muncie Girls mockumentary and had a bunch of beers. The Muncie Girls remembered me as the Louis Theroux look-a-like from the last time they passed Belgium, hehe. I biked home super fast and arrived very tired.
I've been working loads lately so sorry for the lack of updates, I'll make it up to you when I move and start being a bit moe unemployed.
Monday 14th of July I went to Sint-Antonius, Zoersel, to attend a show at JH JoeNiz. Pretty cool place with very cool shows lately.
I arrived when Mountains To Move were ending their set. I met Niek at the entrance, then said "I'm gonna go inside, this sounds pretty good" and then they stopped playing. Oh well.
Healing Powers was ridiculously good. All short shorts, all frantic punkish screamo, all cool. Great band.
Hey Joni wasn't as good. Bassist/singer played in his boxers though, I can respect that.
Muncie Girls are LITERALLY the best band in the world. So good. Sound kinda lacked quality but ok. I love 'em. Thanks to Dean for the after-show beers.
Great Cynics was a non-stop dance ârty, which is the type of dance parties I enjoy most. They never stop. Such a fun show, great tunes, new and older, all dancy, all poppy, all rad.
After the show a bunch of things happened. I tried to play a broken guitar, someone put on the MC Karel record on the PA, I watched parts of the Great Cynics/Muncie Girls mockumentary and had a bunch of beers. The Muncie Girls remembered me as the Louis Theroux look-a-like from the last time they passed Belgium, hehe. I biked home super fast and arrived very tired.
I've been working loads lately so sorry for the lack of updates, I'll make it up to you when I move and start being a bit moe unemployed.
09-07-2014
In Dawgs We Trust
My friends who create the In Dogs We Trust zine set up a fest a while ago, aptly called In Dogs We Trust fest. 5 bands, cool venue, DIY attitude and a bunch of drinks.
Korst opened up the night. Theit setup was just a bass and a drum if I remember correctly, but they made it sound angry, angsty and feisty. Cool band, better than expected. The Misfits cover was kinda underwhelming though. Couple of rad riffs, I'm excited about this.
VVovnds delivered. Still need to check their new material from their AmenRa split, but it's a live bombshell waiting to happen. Chaotic, extravagant and fucking angry.
Clean Shirts played a rad set of early-80s Descendents/Minor Threat influenced hardcore jams. Very enjoyable, I almost danced a bit.
After they were done and Petit had told me they soundchecked with Carry On's Off My Chest I went up to them and drunkenly told them they should play that cover again. So they asked me to sing it, but I don"'t know the lyrics either so I'm guessing it was as awful to the audience as I though it was. Hehe.
Cheap Drugs tore it apart.
Toxic Shock rules.
Awesome night, best of people, best of bands.
Korst opened up the night. Theit setup was just a bass and a drum if I remember correctly, but they made it sound angry, angsty and feisty. Cool band, better than expected. The Misfits cover was kinda underwhelming though. Couple of rad riffs, I'm excited about this.
VVovnds delivered. Still need to check their new material from their AmenRa split, but it's a live bombshell waiting to happen. Chaotic, extravagant and fucking angry.
Clean Shirts played a rad set of early-80s Descendents/Minor Threat influenced hardcore jams. Very enjoyable, I almost danced a bit.
After they were done and Petit had told me they soundchecked with Carry On's Off My Chest I went up to them and drunkenly told them they should play that cover again. So they asked me to sing it, but I don"'t know the lyrics either so I'm guessing it was as awful to the audience as I though it was. Hehe.
Cheap Drugs tore it apart.
Toxic Shock rules.
Awesome night, best of people, best of bands.
19-06-2014
Apologies, j'ai pas
There are bands that have 10 albums out and been around for 20 years that I haven't seen once in my life. Then there's Apologies, I Have None. They just have a new EP out since their debut album London and I've seen them play 15 times maybe. I've lost count. Doesn't matter. Either they're insane or I am. I don't know.
They played Leuven's Rockcafé for the third time I think. The first time was one of the funnest shows I went to. I missed the second time. I was gonna miss the show yesterday as well but I unexpectedly got off work and Max Lasagne hooked me up with a spot on the reservations list. Much love, much obliged. Apparently like 10 people who reserved a spot didn't show up, that's pretty lame, but okay. Time to party.
Harsh Realms opened up. They're just so ruddy good. New songs sound promising, and the new full length is coming out on Shield so that's a guarantee it's gonna be a banger. Anyway, great show, great Bouncing Souls cover and they have a new split 7" out so check it out!
Next up was the Lowest Standard, another bunch of Dutch people. Good band but too slow and too safe. Not really my vibe.
Apologies, I Have None just flippin' killed it. The new songs don't translate as well as the jams from London, but they fit in very well in the set. Two Bombs In A Box and Coffee, Alcohol, Codeine, Repeat definitely do their job in the live setting, moreso than on record. The energy is higher. They intertwined beautifully witht he other songs. Great set, went on pretty long I reckon, but it didn't necessarily bother me so that's a good sign. Lotsa dancing of all sorts, singing along to the tunes and wrecking the place just a tad.
Crowd was excited, the place was nicely filled but not too packed, v. hot and steamy and everyone was having a wee fun time on an otherwise regular Wednesday night.
They played Leuven's Rockcafé for the third time I think. The first time was one of the funnest shows I went to. I missed the second time. I was gonna miss the show yesterday as well but I unexpectedly got off work and Max Lasagne hooked me up with a spot on the reservations list. Much love, much obliged. Apparently like 10 people who reserved a spot didn't show up, that's pretty lame, but okay. Time to party.
Harsh Realms opened up. They're just so ruddy good. New songs sound promising, and the new full length is coming out on Shield so that's a guarantee it's gonna be a banger. Anyway, great show, great Bouncing Souls cover and they have a new split 7" out so check it out!
Next up was the Lowest Standard, another bunch of Dutch people. Good band but too slow and too safe. Not really my vibe.
Apologies, I Have None just flippin' killed it. The new songs don't translate as well as the jams from London, but they fit in very well in the set. Two Bombs In A Box and Coffee, Alcohol, Codeine, Repeat definitely do their job in the live setting, moreso than on record. The energy is higher. They intertwined beautifully witht he other songs. Great set, went on pretty long I reckon, but it didn't necessarily bother me so that's a good sign. Lotsa dancing of all sorts, singing along to the tunes and wrecking the place just a tad.
Crowd was excited, the place was nicely filled but not too packed, v. hot and steamy and everyone was having a wee fun time on an otherwise regular Wednesday night.
Gnarwahls
Last Friday night was one of those Friday nights. I finished my academic career by half-arsedly filling in an exam in the afternoon, then I drank some Punk IPA's on a balcony, ate some fries with some friends and went to see a couple of radical bands.
When I arrived at Kavka, Coldsore was playing. Last time I saw them they were an acoustic outfit, now they've seemingly upgraded. It sounded alright but I went to say hi to some buds and drink a beer outside.
I drank a bunch of beers. Inside, outside, on all the sides.
Cheap Drugs played next. I love Cheap Drugs. Show was good. That is all.
Off The Charts rules as well. I guess The Ignored did good as well, don't think I saw them though.
Gnarwolves ruled. Everthing in fries of one and all that. Had a good dance, a good singalong. It was pretty gnarly. They're an amazing band like.
Then I got drunk on more beers and weird cocktails and had a headache till 5 pm the next day.
hashtag punx
When I arrived at Kavka, Coldsore was playing. Last time I saw them they were an acoustic outfit, now they've seemingly upgraded. It sounded alright but I went to say hi to some buds and drink a beer outside.
I drank a bunch of beers. Inside, outside, on all the sides.
Cheap Drugs played next. I love Cheap Drugs. Show was good. That is all.
Off The Charts rules as well. I guess The Ignored did good as well, don't think I saw them though.
Gnarwolves ruled. Everthing in fries of one and all that. Had a good dance, a good singalong. It was pretty gnarly. They're an amazing band like.
Then I got drunk on more beers and weird cocktails and had a headache till 5 pm the next day.
hashtag punx
06-06-2014
...without dicks
You know, how sometimes you're like "eh..." and then you decide to
get out and you're all "yeah!". Well, I had such a yeah-Erlebnis last
Friday. Eglantier basement show. Always the best ones.
It started out with a French band called Sevices. Powerviolence/hardcore. Fast, pissed, all that stuff. Sounded good. I wasn't blown away, but I was enjoying it quite a bit.
Wrong Decision, from the other side of our Belgian language barrier, came to Antwerp to rock out with their mosh out. Hard and heavy old school hardcore with an attitude. Pretty cool, not really into it but I can assume people would dig this a lot.
Another French band, from Lille to be precise, was Anxiety Attack. Short, fast hardcore bursts. I missed the beginning but the sounds coming from the basement lured me downstairs, in time to see them play some rad songs and some Surf Nazis Must Die covers, which is definitely applaudable. I Am Angry, what an incredible song. Anyway, really liked it, bought the new EP, it's cool.
Imaginary Dictionary closed off the show. One of my favourite current hardcore bands. Stijn Reproach on vocals because the usual guy was still somewhere halfway around the world. Such a fucking energetic, fast, angry band with the right amount of party-inclination. Rad. Great show,
It started out with a French band called Sevices. Powerviolence/hardcore. Fast, pissed, all that stuff. Sounded good. I wasn't blown away, but I was enjoying it quite a bit.
Wrong Decision, from the other side of our Belgian language barrier, came to Antwerp to rock out with their mosh out. Hard and heavy old school hardcore with an attitude. Pretty cool, not really into it but I can assume people would dig this a lot.
Another French band, from Lille to be precise, was Anxiety Attack. Short, fast hardcore bursts. I missed the beginning but the sounds coming from the basement lured me downstairs, in time to see them play some rad songs and some Surf Nazis Must Die covers, which is definitely applaudable. I Am Angry, what an incredible song. Anyway, really liked it, bought the new EP, it's cool.
Imaginary Dictionary closed off the show. One of my favourite current hardcore bands. Stijn Reproach on vocals because the usual guy was still somewhere halfway around the world. Such a fucking energetic, fast, angry band with the right amount of party-inclination. Rad. Great show,
02-06-2014
AGNSTM!
I’d never seen Against Me! live. They’ve been one of my favourite bands for years, mainly based on their first 2,5 records, but I had never seen them play live. Until yesterday.
My friends in Silver & Gold managed to get the opening slot for the show, after a lot of hassle and asking around. Really stoked to see them play again, and they were good. A short and vibrant set, including the Husker Du cover and some promising new tunes. Really happy for those guys.
I saw a bit of INVSN, but I saw enough of it after a few songs, energetic new wave with a punk feel.
But hanging out with friends outside was fun too. Cool to see some people again.
Against Me! fucking ruled. They started with a new song, I think FuckMyLife666. I just had a new beer, and they started playing Cliche Guevara, so me and Jordi got all excited, started the mosh and I lost my new beer. No worries, the next song was a new one again, so I went to get a new beer. Same thing fucking happened all over again, this time to the sound of Walking Is Still Honest. They continued this strike of last-three-records-song/first-three-records-song for a while, even playing Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists, one of my favourite Against Me! songs. I absolutely loved hearing classics like I Still Love You Julie and the likes. The last part of the set was mainly new songs that I don’t know or care too much about, although some tunes like Black Me Out, True Trans Soul Rebel and Drinking With The Jocks. This last one was part of the encore, together with Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong, Sink Florida Sink and some acoustic song, making the encore almost cooler for me than the entire set.
Notable fact: the bass player is undoubtely Dee Dee Ramone or his son or something.
As I said, I’m a huge fan of pre-Searching For A Former Clarity Against Me!, less so of the records/sound since that one. I got pretty sad when they played I Was A Teenage Anarchist, cause now you see the band that was all about wanting "a band that played loud and hard every night” and didn’t "care how many people are counted at the door” touring in a tourbus 10 times the size of a regular van and having a management that decides support acts for sold-out shows that costs 15 euros to get into. I have no problem with that, I’m really stoked Against Me! is able to do this stuff, that they get the recognition they deserve, but the irony of the band’s folk-punk/anarchist era makes me a bit bummed out is all.
They certainly did reinvent Axl Rose, maybe not how they originally set out to do. But they did a good job.
Great show, best band, loved it.
My friends in Silver & Gold managed to get the opening slot for the show, after a lot of hassle and asking around. Really stoked to see them play again, and they were good. A short and vibrant set, including the Husker Du cover and some promising new tunes. Really happy for those guys.
I saw a bit of INVSN, but I saw enough of it after a few songs, energetic new wave with a punk feel.
But hanging out with friends outside was fun too. Cool to see some people again.
Against Me! fucking ruled. They started with a new song, I think FuckMyLife666. I just had a new beer, and they started playing Cliche Guevara, so me and Jordi got all excited, started the mosh and I lost my new beer. No worries, the next song was a new one again, so I went to get a new beer. Same thing fucking happened all over again, this time to the sound of Walking Is Still Honest. They continued this strike of last-three-records-song/first-three-records-song for a while, even playing Turn Those Clapping Hands Into Angry Balled Fists, one of my favourite Against Me! songs. I absolutely loved hearing classics like I Still Love You Julie and the likes. The last part of the set was mainly new songs that I don’t know or care too much about, although some tunes like Black Me Out, True Trans Soul Rebel and Drinking With The Jocks. This last one was part of the encore, together with Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong, Sink Florida Sink and some acoustic song, making the encore almost cooler for me than the entire set.
Notable fact: the bass player is undoubtely Dee Dee Ramone or his son or something.
As I said, I’m a huge fan of pre-Searching For A Former Clarity Against Me!, less so of the records/sound since that one. I got pretty sad when they played I Was A Teenage Anarchist, cause now you see the band that was all about wanting "a band that played loud and hard every night” and didn’t "care how many people are counted at the door” touring in a tourbus 10 times the size of a regular van and having a management that decides support acts for sold-out shows that costs 15 euros to get into. I have no problem with that, I’m really stoked Against Me! is able to do this stuff, that they get the recognition they deserve, but the irony of the band’s folk-punk/anarchist era makes me a bit bummed out is all.
They certainly did reinvent Axl Rose, maybe not how they originally set out to do. But they did a good job.
Great show, best band, loved it.
Unposh
Wednesday night was fun. Some people came all the way from the UK to play songs in Leuven. Weird, right? Totally weird.
Trails played first. Not my jazz, but it was a good show and they had some cool parts.
Dead Neck second. Cool skatepunk/melodic something punk/hardcore. Loud, fast, all that stuff. It was cool.
Beans On Toast played his tunes. Apparently he’s on Frank Turner’s label or something. His songs are pretty rad. Just really quirky and down-to-earth and fun. Lots of drugs-themed tunes. He did a reggae song with a reggae voice, which people liked for some reason. Fun show, very entertaining man.
Migre Le Tigre closed off the night. Lots of whoa’s, some really cool songs and a throat to say ‚you’ to.
Trails played first. Not my jazz, but it was a good show and they had some cool parts.
Dead Neck second. Cool skatepunk/melodic something punk/hardcore. Loud, fast, all that stuff. It was cool.
Beans On Toast played his tunes. Apparently he’s on Frank Turner’s label or something. His songs are pretty rad. Just really quirky and down-to-earth and fun. Lots of drugs-themed tunes. He did a reggae song with a reggae voice, which people liked for some reason. Fun show, very entertaining man.
Migre Le Tigre closed off the night. Lots of whoa’s, some really cool songs and a throat to say ‚you’ to.
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