Thursday, August 28, 2014

High Zero


The 16th annual High Zero festival is happening September 18th - 21st at the Theatre Project (45 W. Preston St.). High Zero is a huge improvised experimental music festival in Baltimore.




Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Lucy -Yard Bones



Lucy released an album today

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Fields Festival



"Fields is a camping, music, and arts festival at the Ramblewood campgrounds in Darlington, Maryland on August 22, 23, and 24th". Some notable acts include Dan Deacon, DJ Dog Dick, Jeff Carey, Lizz King, Myconids, and Horse Lords. Colorado Jesus is running sound and I wish I could go.

Tickets start at 65 dollars in advance and can be purchased here. Don't be a lame ass, you know you have nothing better going on this weekend. There will be food trucks and a pool.


Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)



Empire! Empire! released a new album yesterday. Look at how cute Andrew is in that picture up there. D'aww.



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Punch - They Don't Have to Believe


Punch released a new album yesterday. They are going on tour soon.



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Kitty - Love Me Not



Kitty just released a new song



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Shy Violet New Song



Shy Violet just posted a new song



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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Support Ferguson Protesters Compilation



Some people that I know organized a compilation that they are trying to sell in order to raise money to donate to the protesters arrested in Ferguson, MO. It would be cool if you threw them some money, but if you don't want to or don't want to get involved in the Ferguson stuff, at least give it a listen. Anything will help. Word.



Jacob Marley



There was a short period of time when I lived with Jacob Marley (no relation to Bob, and yes, I was also disappointed until I realized that its a reference to This Dude). He decided to leave us for some closet or something, so like, ok cool R.I.P to your comfort and stuff. He put out a record recently which was engineered by the one and only Colorado Jesus. Check out the stuff below.

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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Bliss



Bliss makes "sad witch house" music. Colorado Jesus did a remix on his newest release, which is out on Friends Records.

Friday, August 8, 2014

GUEST POST - Ramy Silyan



Do you know Ramy? You probably do. He did Olhar De Vidro and Smash Them Dead, used to book for Hyde Park Half, and has been involved with hella bands in California including Ten Thousand Leagues, ColorChromatic, and Pills.

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i went through a good six months where i wanted nothing to do with new bands…. i have no idea why… i was mostly bummed, almost jadded. i quickly shaped up, and the need for new music just came so naturally. i had to learn more about new bands… plus, it was no excuse because i have amazing friends doing amazing things in new bands. thanks for the guest spot robbie <3 span="">

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scowler// i just saw scowler the other day for the first time, and i was completely blown away. all i could think about in my head was “holy shit the power”. i am not sure how they come off on recording because i have yet to put the tape in and listen, BUT live they were monsters. it was extremely drum and bass heavy live, which i can really appreciate. the bass was so trebly, and went from sharp movements, to grooves… from dissonance, to melody. the drums were so unbelievably on point, the perfect mix of chaos and grooves… the drummer seemed to pick a really gnarly beat, and stick with it for a couple of parts. lots of bass drum and snare attack. the guitars were sick, but i wasn't  too focused on them. they were heavy, dissonant, noisy… all the things i want in a band. i couldn't hear the vocals too much but i felt and saw all the feels. all in all this band is definitely top of my 2014 list. reminded me of a way more pissed plot to blow up the eiffel tower meets a much more self aware glassjaw.


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page of concrete// i randomly came across this last night. saw the tags screamo and virginia and immediately raised a brow. put it on, and was blown away. right off the bat, it definitely has that RVA sound. the weirdest time changes, with very distinct vocal change ups, and the most off the wall guitar riffs i have heard since ‘suri’ was still a band. i couldn't tell at first, but they seemed to have two vocalists? or maybe just one super manic person loosing their shit on the mic. none the less, this goes from blasts, to groves, to chugs, to noodley fucked chaos in the matter of seconds. favorite tracks thus far are “interlude” and  “archestones”. interlude has this lead line that sounds like something out of a disney movie.. it reminds me of a song in beauty and beast or something weird, i don't know why but thats my first association with the riff, and its by no means a dis. at the end there is this straight rock n roll riff, that some how works so fucking well. that song pretty much flows right into the next song which is archestones, and that song is a lot more chaotic, with way more change ups. you really hear the two singers on that track, lots of melody with layered anger. very excited to see this band do more, and for this band to tour. 

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tørsö//  when ever i just want to nod my head a long, and pump my fist as i listen to a band, i put tørsö on. super pissed xvx dbeat from oakland. this band just feels like a full body force, moving from more up tempo punk parts, straight into the most un-relentless guitars, and the most pissed vocals. this band is fresh off of a euopean tour, and i am stoked to see what they do next. i am excited to finally see them live again.
band camp// http://torsoxvx.bandcamp.com/

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perpetual motion machine// i was super excited to play with this band a couple of weeks ago. i played two shows with them, and they totally blew me away. they have an energy that i haven’t seen from a band in a very very long time. the singer, dan, said something during their set in san diego that gave me goosbumps, and i knew at that moment this band was a band that was right up my alley. this band just exhumes an energy, that is a very self aware form of aggression that i can really back. one of my biggest qualms about punk and hardcore is when that aggression is turned into machismo, and i can assure y'all that there was no machismo in this set.  live, the bassist grooved so hard (i don't think there is bass in this recording), the guitar was so unbelievably loud and shrill, and i have never seen a drummer go so ham on their kit.. even after the kit had completely fallen apart.
band camp//http://perpetualmotionmusic.bandcamp.com/
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marcy//  damn this band. I wish this band was a band when i was out in the midwest on tour, i would have loved to see them. i initially heard a demo, or early recording (maybe it was live) that i was a little whatever about, musically speaking.. personally speaking i was excited to hear a friends music. the stuff i have been listening to the most as of recent has been the father figure split, and holy shit. its heavy and pissed, and they do a good job of channeling all that east coast chaos, while still grooving really hard. 6/4 emotive hardcore done really really well, with layered vocals that are distinct from one another, some guitar noodles. the drums are on point, and sound like they are being hit as hard as possible.
bandcamp//http://marcymusic.bandcamp.com/
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haram//  this is a band i naturally heard about because of my huge love of the richmond virginia music scene. most bands that i have heard out of that area, by the same group of people, have all blown me away. this band is no different.. i had put them on the back burner for so so long, and finally found both LPs while on a trip to seattle. they were cheap, and i was itching for something new. the second i got back home, put on the first LP (S/T) and was immediately taken by the intro… simple power chord strums, with a little bendy part straight into it, and it is relentless. timing wise it is a lot more simple than most “heavy” “loud” bands i listen to, but that first track floored me. lots of big octave parts, with little leads. its only one vocalists, but they do an amazing job of holding it down. this band does an amazing job of layering. there is a huge amount of bass/guitar layering, i am pretty sure they had three guitar players. they never officially broke up (?) and if they reunited i would be on the first plane to where ever they played.
i can't find any downloads for this band, but i know lovitt records is selling both LPs on the cheap. so do your self the biggest favor and go buy BOTH of them, each are $2.40 cents… like really; 5 dollars total for two amazing LPs,http://store.lovitt.com/artists/27-haramlink// http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBwqaqM3sh8
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wulver// this is a band from 2009(ish) that i have been thinking a lot about lately. they only played a handful of shows, but i remember them all being so fucking awesome. i loved the twangy parts, into the fast punk parts. super heavy, and the vocals are extremely pissed. this band was very driving, and i think the drums had a lot to do with that. “lonely cowboy” is my favorite song, i think its the most diverse, i love the intro and the breakdown/bass drum outro. i remember that song rocked me so fucking hard live. this band simply disappeared, and the people went on to do other bands that were totally different, but still kind of the same. i remember seeing this band and wanting to start something similar, and at one point some friends and i tried.. i remember we called it LARRY H. PARKER and we only had one practice. then shortly there after started the band that we are all pretty much in now together.
link// https://myspace.com/wulverband
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sea sons// this was the first screamo band i saw back in high school, and i was so confused and so jarred. i seriously didn't understand what it was, but it made so much sense to me. the people in the band where all people i knew from going to shows, riding bikes, and i even went to high school with one of them. i never realized they were in this amazing band. it was wild, i saw them for the first time on their last show. the guitars were mostly always clean slightly over driven, bass very groovy, and the drums slightly technical but not over done. all in all really really groovy off timish band. the vocals were probably the part that confused me the most as a young teen… i had heard screaming/yelling vocals… but they were not mutually exclusive to me at that point. the singer in this band does something with his voice, where they are doing both at once, and i remember it hit me straight to my core. i could understand every word, and i could feel just how anxious, upset, and unsettled they were. maybe i am romanticizing this band, but that show set such a high bar for me as far as screamo/emotive bands go.  
link//
https://myspace.com/seasonsdudes

Kali Mixtape Vol. 2



I don't remember if I posted the first one of these, but regardless, this is the second installment in the KALI mixtape series. This is a large collection of active bands from California. The only bands from this mixtape that I have posted previously are Leer, Canyons, and Never Young.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Infinite Pizza



Infinite Pizza is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / Pizza themed powerviolence band from Baltimore.

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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

GUEST POST - Aaron Broneil


Aaron sent me this a long ass time ago and we both forgot about it until today.


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Sup yall. Aaron here. Robbie's letting me do a guest Chug on the DIY scene in St. Louis, which is currently
 the city I represent. Firstly, I'd like to say thank you to Robbie and all the chuggers, as it's a great honor
for my community to be represented on what is probably the best diy blog on the internet. Robbie is the dude,
and his unbridled, hot-and-sweaty passion for this music is really a beautiful thing. If there is ever a book written
on the state of punk music in the 2010s, Chug Life better have it's own god damned chapter, or at least a liner note or two.

Anyways, St. Louis, Missouri has a very active and diverse DIY scene that, I feel, is very under looked compared to other cities. There are tons of new venues and bands always popping up, and there is never a lack of rad shit coming out of the city.

In this chug I am going to compile an alphabetical, and by no means comprehensive list on some really great active STL bands to check out. Here goes.


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Black Fast

Black Fast destroy. They are a metal band that has been active for quite a while now, but have stayed pretty low key until recently. They had an EP Cd-r that you could really only get from band members or at shows. I'd bump the living shit out of that ep in my Saturn, turnin' heads. Their shit is pummeling, technical, raw, and always thrashing. I honestly believe them to be one of the greatest metal bands in the country, let alone the city. Plus, they are the gnarliest most genuine dudes ever. They will drink whicha, they will smoke whicha, they will die whicha. A couple summers ago, when I was pretty much homeless, Ryan let me crash in his basement for a while when I was getting back on my feet. They have a new album coming out this week. I've heard it and it absolutely slays. Buy it when it comes out. If you are a fan of heavy music in the slightest, give these rippers a listen. Expect big things from these dudes.

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Crucial

Crucial are a mathy band from east of the river. All the dudes in the band are killer musicians but their music never gets too indulgent, with shifting textures and meters to keep things interesting. Recently the became a three piece, and I heard their sound is going to change quite a bit. This is really some forward-thinking and ambitious stuff for all you math-nerds out there. Be sure to dig on the EP included on the link, it gets pretty heady and was recorded live(!)..


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Early Worm

I play bass in Early Worm. I feel kinda lame including my own band on this list, but whatever. We're a three piece that play kinda sappy indie-rock. I guess that'd be the best way to explain it. Unabashadley poppy. So far we just have an EP out which was recorded in the Spring by local legend Ryan Wasaba, previously of So Many Dynamos. He really is the dude. Anyways, were probably gonna start work on a full length in the coming months and there are talks of a winter tour. Keep your ear to the ground.


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Foxing

Odds are if there is any band you have heard of on this list, Foxing is that band. Odds are you have made out or broken up with your boy/girlfriend to "Ocelot." I would drink 40s and mope on my couch to it. Regardless, Foxing are really, really good. They recently got signed to Count Your Lucky Stars which is super cool. I caught them live a few months ago with Native, and if their set's material was any indicator of what is gonna be on the upcoming full-length, its gonna be a real banger. 


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The Gorge

Oh my lord do The Gorge slay. Really sick, heavy shit. Local bass-legend Nick Jost, who now thumps it up in Baroness, used to play bass in this band. Now Ryan from Black Fast plays bass, which is awesome. Ryan is like the metal-bass dude but you should also hear him rip on some jazz-guitar. And plus he's absolutely gorgeous. Anyways, check out the Gorge and get your head ripped off. 


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Laika

Laika rule. 3 piece screamo band. Real humble, nice dudes who I've seen tear it up live multiple times.
They tap, they emote, they say funny things like "Shit yeaaah." Check out the split with Weakness on the bandcamp link. Solid.

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Lions Eat Grass

Lions Eat Grass are an accordion/drums duo from East of the river. Honestly I have never seen them live, but have heard John play a bunch of songs solo and they are some of the most heart-crushingly beautiful songs I've ever heard, Brutally honest, even on the edge of disturbing. Great melodies. Check them out.


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Lumpy and The Dumpers

"punk eel goo fuck you eat shit fucked up sic nasty meat slime."
These are the tags on Lumpy & the Dumpers bandcamp page and it sums up their sound pretty well. This is some real noisy and fucked up punk-rock for sure. St. Louis has a really prevalent Noise scene which I'm not really that hip to, but this band takes elements of the STL noise thing into their sound. Peep how raw this city can get. I was listening to the 7" on my ride home from work today and just lost my shit. "GOD MADE MAN BUT FIRST HE MADE SLIIIIIME!!!" Highly recommended, go download it now.


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Mids

Mids is an experimental screamo-ish bass and drums two piece. They've got a real interesting sound going on.
The bass sits, as the name would imply, in the middle region of the tonal spectrum. The drumming, supplied by
Jack from Laika, is absolutely on point too. Jack's a real talented kid, I'm pretty sure he just graduated highschool and is already playing music of this caliber. That's what's up. Get high on some Mids.


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Nos Bos

 NOS BOS is my friend Devin's band. They rule so hard. Noisey energetic punk a bit like the aforementioned Dumpers, but with a more classic feel. Still seriously fucked up, though. Go listen to the self titled on bandcamp right now, it rules. Besides being the coolest dude ever, Devin is also a really talented visual artist, check his stuff out if you can.

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Spelling Bee


Spelling Bee are a guitar and drums duo who are pretty prevalent on the St. Louis DIY circuit. I'm pretty sure they played the Bell Foundry a little while back too. I'm sure they get compared to Melt Banana a lot, due to the cute female vox and overall spazzy feel, but I assure you the simularities end there. Spelling Bee rule, check them out.

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Stonechat

Stonechat are probably one of my favorite bands east of the river. They are also my bosses at the cafe I work at.
But I ain't brown-nosing one bit cause these dudes are the cat's pajamas. Guitar and drums duo. Spazzy, agitated, and melodic indie-rock. Watching these guys live is incredible because they have some serious telepathic shit going on. I mean, Sean and Charlie literally live, work, and play together. How they don't
absolutely hate each other is beyond me. There's something really magical about the dynamic there. Charlie is also a great producer, he's recorded a number of the bands on this list. Beast Ill was one of my favorite records this year, be sure to check it out. Sean tells me there's a midwest fall-tour in the works too so stay tuned for that. 

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Yowie

It's funny that Yowie should end up last here because they are the first band I had ever heard on this list. Back when I lived in Germany, Tobi from Fuck, Wolves! showed me this band. When I found out they were from St. Louis after moving here I nearly shit myself. There is no other band on this planet that sounds like Yowie. Absolutely mind-boggling shit here. These guys are "math rock" legends for sure, despite the fact that the label does a complete disservice to their sound. Just listen and figure it out for yourself. Yowie is nuts.


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So there you go, a little taste of STL DIY. Although this list is most likely biased as fuck as I have friends in a bunch of these bands, I still feel it is a good representation of the diversity and talent in this city. St. Louis bands don't really get heard out too often, so I'm super stoked that I was able to use Chuglife as a platform to people would probably never hear these bands. A lot of bands when on tour seem to circumnavigate St. Louis in favor of other midwest cities, which gets me admittedly butt hurt. Hopefully this will change soon. If you ever need a show or place to stay here hit a homie up. Mark at the Lemp Arts Center is always willing to have rad bands play at the Lemp, and there's no shortage of awesome, free stuff to do in the city if you're a touring band. It's all love here.. aight I'm done peace. 






Monday, August 4, 2014

My America



My America used to be called My America is Watching Tigers Die, and I used to see them play all the time back in the day.



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