Poor Aim: Love Songs

First things first: lots and lots of news. I have been very bad about keeping this updated lately, clearly. The main reason at this point is that the structure of my life has changed drastically. I'm no longer in school and cannot update this thing at work. Aside from work, I've been keeping pretty busy, and I generally don't want to do more computer-ing once I'm home. Here's one thing I've been doing...



New York Abortion Access Fund provides assistance to low-income women seeking abortion. Hopefully you know about all the fucked up shit our government has been doing to hack away at reproductive rights lately, and hopefully you're doing something about it, whether signing a petition, donating to Planned Parenthood, getting involved with some sort of radical health collective, or something else. The Gift are an awesome band from DC featuring Turboslut front-lady Beck. Waxahatchee is Katie's current solo project (from P.S. Eliot and Bad Banana). Dear Marje are playing their second show, and they're just about the cutest band in Brooklyn. If you live here I hope you make it out!

What's been occupying my time more so, is starting a record label--it's called puzzle pieces as well. I'm frighteningly uncreative. The first release, a 7" by Four Eyes is out now. Next up is a 7" by Bad Banana. That one should be ready within the next month. I'm quite excited by this whole endeavor.

This weekend I went to two rad shows-- Friday night was Fucking Dyke Bitches (ex-Hand Jobs), and last night was the release show for the International Girl Gang Underground zine with Slingshot Dakota (who did an acoustic remix of "Until the Day I Die"), Bad Banana, Aye Nako, and a new band called American Sun. If you haven't had the opportunity to check out Aye Nako they are the no-longer-so-new rendition of Fleabag. They are probably my current favorite Brooklyn band, and you can download their demo here.

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And now for a post: For the past however many years, I've had an ebbing and flowing obsession with the Blow. With her electropop songs I think it's easy to get hooked in by the catchy beats, and I certainly have. I think this is only half of Khaela's genius though. She uses pop songs, in some ways more contemporarily pop than other present indie pop bands, to cloak an intelligent critique of popular culture, in a totally queer way. While not overtly queer in physical presentation, she is pretty vocally queer at shows (telling stories about girlfriends and so forth), I think what is so sharp about her performance is in her subtle subversion of pop songs.



The Blow follows the heterosexual paradigm of pop music with songs such as "Hey Boy." She subtly exaggerates the part of the desperate-for-love, over-analytic female, queering it in the process. I've raved to many I know about how I think Khaela is truly fucking intelligent in the hopes to convert them, I could go on and on and on, but I'll cut myself short, in the hopes of getting to bed at a reasonable hour. Seriously also read her blog.

Poor Aim: Love Songs was originally released on Portland's States Rights Records in 2004 before being reissued (accompanied by remixes) by K in 2007 (after the Paper Television craze). As the K website says: "A concept record loosely unified in failings; songs about failed love, and conversely, love songs that fell short - Poor Aim explores love's yearnings, deceptions, addictions, and ultimately, its complacency." It is in this failure that Khaela's critique finds its strength.

The Blow- Poor Aim: Love Songs
Buy it from K Records

Lazy Mary

Lazy Mary kick ass. The label (Mountain Man) says "For fans of Slant 6, the Frumpies, Bikini Kill, the Stooges and Black Sabbath," but I keep thinking of if Heavens to Betsy were a metal band but not really metal. See also other grungy girl punk bands. Lazy Mary are more subdued sometimes and straight-up shrieky at others. I think my favorite track may be the totally chilling "Shiza Minnelli."



As far as I know this is the only release from this Long Beach duo. If anyone knows of a demo or any future releases/recordings, let me know! I'm hoping this band will tour the East Coast at some point in the relatively near future, or that I'll catch them at some point while in the LA area.



Lazy Mary- Crazy Hairy 7"
Get it from Mountain Man

Early warning: Teenage Cool Kids, Failures, DST, & Dead Dog on September 19

Help kick off the Record Hospital's 25th anniversary...

Saturday, September 19 at 7 pm

TEENAGE COOL KIDS (Built to Spill meets Meneguar indie rock, from Denton, TX)
FAILURES
DANIEL STRIPED TIGER
DEAD DOG (wimpy pop punk, from Athens, GA)

at the Advocate
21 South Street
Harvard Square

all ages - no booze
suggested donation $8

email rhshows@gmail if you have questions or whatever

In the meantime, you can get hyped for this show by listening to some Dead Dog.



For those unfamiliar, they are from Georgia via Brooklyn or Jersey or something. Mostly I know Angie & Josh both drummed in this band at separate points. Their 12" was put out last year on Mauled by Tigers and was just repressed, so go order it! Here's a few songs to tide you over- "Swallow It," "Hate Song" (Daniel Johnston cover), & "Partners in Crime."

Dead Dog- 3 songs

Weekend recap, Hand Jobs update

final flier by Rebecca

This weekend was awesome. I found out on Friday night that Brainless Oneders couldn't play, which obviously was not ideal, but not really that big of a deal. We started really late (and I normally try to run relatively timely punk shows), but oh well, I knew that was going to happen. My camera won't turn on now (probably because of the shit show that ensued- see below, by Jacki), so I don't really have any pictures. Hopefully I will be able to recover them eventually though.


I branded Allison.

The show itself was awesome. It was great to finally get to see PS Eliot play, and I was so psyched that Little Lungs could play too. Everything went really smoothly- a couple nice boys brought vegan cupcakes, a couple other attendees even drove down from Toronto for the show. Thanks all around to those who came, played, helped out with the show, etc.

What followed was definitely one of the most fun nights I've had this summer complete with markers (again see above), quiet dance parties, climbing into windows, and a couple drinks. (hey PSE- I don't think you read this blog, but up the northerners, we totally kicked your asses.)

Since then I've been consistently jamming their LP (put out on the always awesome Salinas Records, who will also be putting out a Hop Along 10" very soon). They've sold out of it already on tour, but you can get it from the label eventually. I've also been getting a heavy dose of the King Everything demo (Katie's solo stuff). I also am currently wearing my brand new PS Eliot shirt, featuring an awesome drawing by Allison.

I also drove down to see them last night in New Haven- Brian put together an awesome show, and it was great to see Dead Uncles again. It was a ton of fun, good to hang out with everyone again, but now I'm exhausted and am going to sleep.

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Also, a bit more on Hand Jobs from Claire... those songs from the tape are old and were recorded with their first drummer- they're currently scouting out number four, but she says, they'll "be back making noise come the fall."

Saturday, July 11: PS ELIOT, HOP ALONG, LITTLE LUNGS, FOREIGN OBJECTS, BRAINLESS ONEDERS

I'm psyched! Get in touch with me for more info. Also, no booze!
Show will be over by midnight.



PS ELIOT (fuzzy pop punk from Alabama, myspace)
LITTLE LUNGS (NY/NJ punk/indie rock, myspace)
HOP ALONG (Philadelphia lovelies, myspace)
FOREIGN OBJECTS (local post-punkers with members of Conversions, Libyans, Ampere, etc. you know the deal, myspace)
BRAINLESS ONEDERS (local punk/garage with mem. of Closet Fairies, myspace)

thanks to Rebecca for making this flier!

quick FEST recap

Record Hospital Fest was awesome. I could feel the Body through the floor. L'Antietam's lamps ruled all. Friday night favorites were Cheeky & Little Lungs (of course) and Dead Uncles. Pop punk is the best. Black Clouds, Thick Shakes, & DST too... Really just too many good times to write it all down. Plus I should do school right now instead. Here are some of my favorite pictures. More here (just mine, mostly from Friday night because my camera was low on batteries). There's also some from Future Breed and the Phoenix. I think there's gonna be a write-up in the Phoenix this week too which is cool. And the Herald said this last week:

"As major radio stations stay corporate and Apple plays a shell game with its song-pricing plan, it’s good to see DIY is alive and well around the Hub. One of its epicenters is Record Hospital (the underground rock wing at WHRB-FM (95.3), which this weekend welcomes 20 bands that don’t care about anything other than making great music on their terms. Descend on Harvard Square to catch the garage rock swagger of Thick Shakes, the experimental fury of Life Partners and the ferocious post-hardcore of Daniel Striped Tiger, among others. No booze, no attitude, no false promises - just good tunes."

Cheeky

Little Lungs

Dylan Bredeau

Thick Shakes

RECORD HOSPITAL FEST 2009

all the info! these line-ups are rough...

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 6 pm at the Advocate
Thick Shakes
Dead at 24
Life Partners
Black Clouds
Exusamwa
Quits
Dead Uncles
Dylan Bredeau
Little Lungs
Cheeky

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 4 pm at Holden Chapel in Harvard Yard
Revenge
Eunuch
Dry Hump
Fucking Mess
Iron Hand
The Saddest Landscape
Redwing Blackbird
L'Antietam
Daniel Striped Tiger
The Body

all ages, no booze
suggested donation: $10 one night/$15 two

questions/more info: rhshow@gmail

show up early because space is limited

RECORD HOSPITAL FEST 2009 (and other business)

This Saturday, March 7
TURBOSLUT (queens of murky hardcore from DC, only Boston show ever)
RED THREAD (Boston hardcore ladies, last show)
MALE NURSES
GARBAGE STRIKE
at Guns of Brighton


RECORD HOSPITAL FEST 2009

FRIDAY, APRIL 10
CHEEKY (NY)
BLACK CLOUDS (Providence)
LIFE PARTNERS
QUITS
LITTLE LUNGS (NY/NJ)
DYLAN BREDEAU (Maine)
DEAD UNCLES (CT)
DEAD AT 24 (PA)
THICK SHAKES
EXUSAMWA
VILE BODIES

SATURDAY, APRIL 11
DANIEL STRIPED TIGER
L'ANTIETAM
DRY HUMP
REDWING BLACKBIRD (NH)
FUCKING MESS (NY)
IRON HAND (CT)
REVENGE
KONTATTO (Italy)


Wednesday, April 22
SCREAMING FEMALES (shredding NJ pop punk)
GENERAL INTEREST
WHITE PROBLEMS
+ 1 more TBA
at Gay Gardens in Allston

the SADDEST LANDSCAPE: this Sunday!

I promise I'll do a real post soon!

also this Friday: Closet Fairies on Christa's show

and Acid Reflux, General Interest, Get Laid, & Foreign Objects at Platonic Sleepover House

LAST NIGHT

The show last night went really well. Got into a little bit of trouble with the security guards because of fire hazards and had to turn some people away at the door because it was too crowded (sorry), but the show itself was awesome. I only really got to see Walls because I was at the door most of the time, but they were certainly worth all the work. Walls set turned into a Cold Sweat reunion, which was great, especially because everyone was so into it. I was also able to pick up one of the few tour 12"s they had available for the night. Go check the rest of Walls tour if you get the chance.

WALLS

COLD SWEAT

WALLS this FRIDAY

Get into it.

Walls are members of Iron Lung & Cold Sweat. They'll have a new 12" on tour with them and released one last year on Pain Killer.

Iron Lung's Sexless//No Sex was released last year by Prank Records. Twenty songs & twenty minutes of unrelenting assault.



Iron Lung- Sexless//No Sex
Get It from Prank
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Then on Saturday...

PROPOSITION 8 PROTEST
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 1:30pm
BOSTON CITY HALL*

Join the Impact is a group that is organizing a nationwide protest against Proposition 8, the measure which banned gay marriage in California last Tuesday.

People will be gathering in cities across the country this Saturday, November 15th at 1:30 (EST) to protest the passage of this discriminatory proposition.

Join us for a protest to show your opposition to Prop 8. This is not just a California issue! This is an issue of equality for all Americans!

For more information about Prop 8 protests, or for other protest locations, visit the website www.jointheimpact.com.

Final line-up for Tuesday

This got kind of messy due to all the changes at the end.
Ryan from Dreamhouse added! Secret Abuse & Earth Crown will be playing together as Earth Abuse.
Be on time- we're starting close to 7.

Pink Razors, DST, Walls, etc.

New Pink Razors tracks are up on their myspace! Two so far ("Not the Wrong Son" and "Too Obvious"). I've only listened to them a few times so far, but the band continues to deliver (especially after quite a long break). These are their first recordings with Erin Tobey (a favorite of mine, mainly as part of Abe Froman but also through her solo stylings). "Not the Wrong Son" takes advantage of her presence in the band, juxtaposing male & female vox in a way that always pleases me. I think "Too Obvious" sounds more like their other releases, with Erin only in the chorus backing vocals. I'm not complaining about Jeff's usual singing. These tracks are hyping me up for their new album, Leave Alive, which comes out mid-October on Houseplant Records (Erin & Jeff's label). Jeff & Erin both moved to Bloomington, Indiana, which means my plans for Fest '09 might be foiled.

No albums to post for now... I've been listening to the new Shorebirds this week courtesy Roxana. More pop punk goodness, but maybe not quite the glory of their 7" (which is being reissued on No Idea).

I saw Daniel Striped Tiger again on Friday at a house in Somerville. Glad they're playing a lot recently. The basement was really small, and I was afraid the guy from the first band was going to hit his head on the ceiling. I think it was the Big Bucks, but I'm not entirely clear. They were pretty good, but stoned & sloppy. It was definitely way different than the show at the Middle East, if only because of the venue. I prefer the smaller atmosphere, but playing at a bigger venue does offer the advantages of better sound mixing, etc. I'm kind of pissed that I don't think I'll be able to see their next show because it's at the Church (21+). I also really want to see Young Widows.

I'm kind of sick right now and am hoping for a speedy recovery. Off to reading, but get ready to destroy yourself:


and don't forget: SECRET ABUSE + more on Tuesday. Scroll down for more information. Get in touch at girlyshtcambridge@gmail.com for directions/questions

Inaugural girly shit show!

SECRET ABUSE (upcoming LP on not not fun)
EARTH CROWN (on night people records/arbor)
ZOMGRUL OCTIM
BOHOTHAHR (Harvard's only boys of noise)

September 23, 7 pm (early show!)
Adams K-Space (enter at Bow & Linden in Harvard Square)
email girlyshtcambridge@gmail for directions/with questions

Redwing Blackbird tour + Ampere covers

Redwing Blackbird are doing a short northeast tour pretty soon. Check them out if you're in the area. More info at their myspace.


Summer tour poster

July 22: Strange Maine, Portland, Maine
July 23: Abbey Lounge, Somerville, Massachusetts
July 24: TBA, Amherst, Massachusetts
July 25: Capital District Federation of Ideas, Albany, New York
July 26: Koinonia, Plattsburgh, New York
July 27: Radio Bean, Burlington, Vermont
July 28: Reynold’s Hall, Peterborough, New Hampshire

I've been listening to their Ampere covers a lot lately since Rios posted it over at Cookie Cutter.

Rios: all those covers are pretty great
then i listen to the ampere songs and im like "oh thats what you are saying"

They put out that three-song tape for their fall tour last year I think. I'm not sure if you can still get it, but you can find their CD at their myspace.

Redwing Blackbird- Ampere Covers
Ampere- Original versions

Baader Brains + more

In the spirit of Fourth of July, I figured I'd post some Baader Brains. Nothing screams patriotism like "We must fight day and night to destroy the United States of America."



More brilliance (and samples of course) from the always elusive Mike Kirsch (Please Inform the Captain This Is a Hijack, John Henry West, etc. etc.). This came out this past winter on Clean Plate and Waking Records. Fucking solid.

This shit is worth it just for the album art and liner notes. Oh and the incredible music.

Baader Brains played a show pretty recently with Ampere and some others (I think maybe Punch) at Gilman Street in Berkeley recently- must have been epic.

Baader Brains- The Complete Unfinished Works of the Young Tigers
Get it from Clean Plate

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In other news, the new issue of Give Me Back is out now; get it here.

And, Riot Grrrl Independence Day Carnival from 6 pm to midnight at the Smell on the 4th- a benefit for the Downtown Women's Center. Bruise Violet, the Pristines, Las Sangronas Y El Cabron, Motormouth Maybelles, Mermaid, No Ma'am, HOTTUB!, Sasha And the Shamrocks, All Neon Like, Zombelle, Anus Kings, the Loner Rebels, and more. Get amped yo!

Pocahaunted + Robedoor pics

Apologies for the lack of updates. Things got a bit crazy my last week in Cambridge, but just arrived back home.

Everything came together really well for the Robedoor/Pocahaunted show. Eric brought an amp (thanks) and managed to sneak into Lowell to grab a few from there as well. And my self-taught PA skills sufficed. Thanks to everyone who showed up/helped out. Special thanks to Alex for letting us use the Advo, Dan for the band room key, Ben for his help with the band room, Shirley for the drums she left behind (not sure if you knew I grabbed some of those for the show), and more, I'm sure.

It was nice to finally meet Britt after emailing with him for months. Everyone was super nice, and the sets were great. Plus, free records!! Anyway, for some pictures...

Robedoor setting up (Alex & Britt)


About to get started






Amanda looks on














The crowd


Setting up for Pocahaunted








P'Haunted gets started




















more music to come soon...