Alright, so this weekend I went to see the best pop punk band of this decade, Teenage Bottlerocket, again. As they generally are apt to do, they delivered the goods and I came out five pounds lighter and with a hoarse voice. On this tour they were promising a limited edition, one sided live LP with screen printed logos on the other side. Needless to say the complete record nerd inside of me immediately had a raging hard on.

As I got home from the show and threw on the LP, I noticed the needle bouncing more than a fat kid on a trampoline. Yes, the limited, rare record that I had just purchased a few hours before was warped beyond belief. For those not in the know, Teenage Bottlerocket don’t really rely on many chord changes in their songs, so the warbling was apparent immediately. Even worse, the vocals were affected even more so, rendering the record utterly unlistenable. Essentially what I was left with was a record that only looked cool and would forever be relegated to the back of my collection. After talking to a few other people at the show they all had the same results; warped LPs and broken hearts.

This goes to all bands and to you fans out there: for the love of god, do not stack your records. There is nothing cool about warping, and if you’re of the EBay scum variety, that shit will really bring down the re-sale value. Bottlerocket, you’re still my favorite band of the last five years, but fuck you for essentially ripping me off of ten dollars. Now please come back and play another show in Chicago. It’s been two days already for godssakes and I need another fix.

Yup, once again the title says it all. I went to this show on Saturday night. I’m only posting the flyer because it’s one of my favorite in recent memory and I stole one from the wall of the Beat Kitchen to hang up on my wall.

All the bands were great in their own special way. In fact, Shoot It Up have taken the crown of new “Best Worst Band Ever” in that they were so terrible that they transcend all traditional definitions of “good music” and become amazing. On tour with Shoot It Up were the two esteemed gentlemen behind Fashinable Idiots Records and their sizable distro. The second I walked into the Beat Kitchen I knew that it was a good sign that I brought some extra money. So to steal an idea from Kevin, here’s a brief review of the the records I bought. Unfortunately I can’t find pictures of the covers for all of them so I might have to add them in later, if at all.

The Darvocets - Are New Wave LP. This was the most impulse driven purchase of the night and by far the most expensive at a full ten dollars, but with cover art featuring dolphins and razor blades I couldn’t pass it up. This six song, 45 RPM LP is a pretty good listen but much too short. If you’re not familiar, Are New Wave stays on the same wacky, sci-fi influenced punk rock tip that they’ve been mining for awhile. This is the first real record I own from these guys and I need to get more.

Shoot It Up/Analingus - Split 7″. Judging purely by the names I bet you can tell if you’re going to like it or not. Analingus features ex-members of The Grabbies (who spawned the degenerates Out With A Bang!), so their half is full of snot nosed punk rock. After a few listens I have a general feel for it and like it. Shoot It Up, if you didn’t know, are a drum, guitar and vocal group who’s main purpose is to destroy the listener with poorly executed, vaguely garage punk. It really takes a special kind of person to like these guys.

Shoot It Up - Criminal IQ 7″. Out of the three records I own from these guys this is easily the most professional sounding. Still ameturish at best, but I wouldn’t describe it as shambolic. It fits in well with the established Criminal IQ sound and scene.

Deep Sleep - Manic Euphoria 7″. From what I understand this thing isn’t even officially out yet, but who cares, it’s punk rock. These guys take the Milo Goes To College era Descendents worship of their previous 7″ on Grave Mistake up a notch, and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, I’m tempted to use the word “re-incarnation” while describing this; little lead guitar flourishes are all over this six song monster and the vocals are strained just enough in that Milo tradition. This is a huge step up from the You’re Screwed EP and will be on top 7″s of the year list.

Homostupids - The Edge 7″. This one is not as artsy sounding (aka no keys) as the Brutal Birthday 7″. In fact, it’s a continuation of the poorly recorded racket of their LP, The Intern. I’m not quite sure when this was recorded/released in relation to the aforementioned releases, but it sounds older to me. My lone complaint with this is that the a-side has three fairly long (for these guys anyway) songs, then the b-side only has one sub-minute long song. By the time I sit back down at my chair it’s time to flip over the record again. Bastards!

Sex/Vid - Nests 7″. I didn’t get this at the show, but rather in the mail less than ten minutes before I had to leave to get to work today. I’ve only been able to listen to it once so it hasn’t had time to sink in, but I think I like it. The b-side is a slow building dirge while the a-side features two more of the Void inspired ragers that Sex/Vid has built their name on. I’m pretty sure that with some more listens this one will burrow deeply into my brain.

Within the last few years it seems that every single band on the planet has fallen prey to the “Deluxe Re-issue” phenomenon. Even worse, there are people out there that will re-buy records that they already own because of the promise of better sound quality, expanded liner notes, and bonus tracks. Hard as I try to avoid it, I end up falling into this trap every once and awhile. Expanded versions of the first eight Ramones albums? Sign me up! Re-mastered version of Damned Damned Damned? Guilty as charged. How’s about a clear vinyl version of the self titled Chinese Telephones album? Si senor!

The reason why I bring this up is because it has happened once again. Mission of Burma and Matador Records are the latest offenders to bilk me out of my hard earned money to re-buy albums I already own. Yup, I went and did it again, and I’m not ashamed. All of Mission of Burma’s output from their first era has been re-introduced to the world: Signals, Calls and Marches EP, Vs. LP, and The Horrible Truth About Burma live album.

In my defense, Matador did a fantastic job on this and essentially forced my hand. Each CD has a 32 page booklet chock full of rare photos, flyers, original notebook scans, and single covers. All three of the releases feature bonus tracks, some of which have already seen the light of day and some, such as Signals two outtakes, that are only now being issued for the first time. Last but not least, each disc contains a bonus full length DVD of live performances. Signals features selections from tiny shows in 1979 and 1980. Vs. has the complete afternoon set from their “final” show at the Bradford Hotel in March 1983, while The Horrible Truth… features the whole late show from the same night. An edited down version of the late show was originally released on VHS in the late 1980s but has been out of print for well over 15 years. One of my best record store finds was a pristine, but still age worn, Live at the Bradford VHS a while back for eight bucks; that is now worthless.

If you’re so inclined, there are also 180 gram double LP versions being released with all of the above mentioned bonus materials as well as coupons for MP3 downloads. Whether you’re buying them for the first time (and if so, what kind of a monster are you!?!?!) or you’re like me and going on a second (or third if you’re old enough) go ’round, just pull the trigger and purchase them. If you somehow still need more convincing that these are worth your cash, Matador’s Mission of Burma profile has video clips, scans, interviews, and tons more, or you just can just look at the little widget thing below.

My package came right as I was on my way out the door to go to work today so I haven’t had a chance to scope out the DVDs yet, but the CDs all sound absolutely great. Right now I’ve got Vs. pumping out of the office stereo and couldn’t be happier. So there you go. I’m a huge dork and I’m perfectly fine with that. Now I just need to find my old versions of these CDs/VHS tapes and try to sell them to Reckless for some extra money for when those Replacements re-issues come out in a couple of months. Onward!

The first batch of pictures have started to trickle in from our fearless leader, Kevin DeLury. These are camera phone images but don’t fret, it’s just a taste of things to come. I just got off the phone with him and he’s dead drunk at 3 PM CST. Needless to say I’m jealous.

Dead To Me

City and Clour With Attack In black

The Flatliners

Kevin DeLury mid “getting awesome.”

Paint It Black

Dan Yemin teaching the youth

HERE’S TO THE SKINNED KNEES! THE SUTURED HEARTS! TO THE UNHAPPY ENDINGS AND ALL THE FALSE STARTS!

Hot Water Music

The text of this message simply said “The Best Day Ever”

And this is the latest text to come from Kevin “”Some serious trash talk from Dead To Me to Dead to Fall. Musically, Dead To Fall wins. Sick bros playing party metal vs some asshole with an ironic rat tail? No contest.”

So as you can see, there’s a lot of shit happening. Keep checking back for more

Believe it or not, AirRaid was not pooped out by a god in its current form.  An insane amount of work has gone into getting the site up and running, and even more insane work will go in in the following weeks.  Even though it’s a ton of work I’m still super happy to be doing it.

Meetings.  Lots of them.  Probably too many of them.  We’ve discussed concepts, finances, real estate, and the very philosophy of what we want AirRaid to be.  These brain storming sessions lasted for a couple hours at a time and ultimately left us mentally exhausted.  They were so tough that one afternoon we all relied so heavily on super-caffeinated hot chocolate that we all ended up seeming drunk.  Yeah, that’s right; buzzed on super-caffeinated hot chocolate.  We’re risking our health and well being FOR YOU!

All in all, we here at AirRaid are working our asses off.  I spent the majority of my spring break in the office or in transit to the office instead of going somewhere warm.  The weeks leading up to SXSW and our official launch have been some of the busiest times in my entire life.  I’m trying to balance our my dedication to AirRaid (which is complete and total, by the way) with the annoying requirements of graduating from college.  Come in early, stay late, it’s all a part of what needs to be done.

So as you can probably tell I’m a bit scatterbrained right now.  All you need to know is that Anthony, Kevin, Lisa, and myself are working as hard as we possibly can to make AirRaid the best goddamn music website on the internet.  In time, I think we can do it.

Hi Guys!

It’s Kim and Pam here, the imfamous AirRaid interns. We are so stoked to be apart of the AirRaid official launch. Whoohoo!

On Friday night I went to see the Bob Mould band at The Metro. Last time Bob did a tour with a full band was in 2005 and it was honestly one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, but I had a growing feeling of apprehension leading into Friday night. I’ve been really lazy lately and still haven’t picked up his new album on Anti, District Line. In the weeks leading up to the 2005 show there were reports that he’d be playing songs spanning his entire career, meaning Husker Du and Sugar songs; I heard nothing of the sort about this one and feared it would be a solo material only show. In 2005 Brendan Canty (of Fugazi and Rites of Spring fame) manned the drum kit; this time he was not. I really had no idea what to expect and was kind of worried that I’d flushed $21 down the toliet.

Let’s just say that I’m stupid. Instantly my doubt melted away as the band opened with “The Act We Act” and “A Good Idea,” the first two songs from Sugar’s Copper Blue album. With a start like that I knew that I was in for a huge treat. The strangely beautiful “Hoover Dam” came in at maybe the fifth song. “I Am Vision I Am Sound” was stripped of all dance pretenses and turned into a fucking driving punk rock song. Most of the new songs I didn’t recognize all sounded great, and once again all the Body of Song material got amped up about ten levels in a live setting. Mould played six Husker Du songs, five of the same ones as last time (no “Hardly Getting Over It” this time) with one amazing exception. All of the Husker material came near the end. “Could You Be The One,” “I Apologize,” “Celebrated Summer,” “DIVIDE AND CONQUER,” “Chartered Trips,” and “Makes No Sense At All.” During “Chartered Trips” Mould let loose with this absolute banshee like scream that almost recalled the “Eight Miles High” moan! YES! With the two encores they played for a solid hour and a half.

To put it lightly, the show was amazing. I may not be in Texas right now like some of our staff but this is holding me over for awhile.

I decided to try and help out my favorite crew of rappers today.

Dear Dipset,
First off, let me thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I realize your time is precious, so I will get right to the point.

Today I was listening to Jim Jones’ latest effort Harlem’s American Gangster. Firstly, let me say it is a bold and brazen departure from his previous releases and I wish him nothing but the greatest success.

And at the end of the day isn’t that what the entire Diplomats roster wants, nay, deserves? I think so as well, and I want to be a part of that success.

But what can I do for Dipset? My flow is for shit and I have little to no street credibility, the time I ran out on a bar tab notwithstanding. What I do have is a little trait that pops up now and then as the underlying theme of many a Diplomat’s song: loyalty.

That being said, I bring before you a new outreach program-The Little Dippers. You read that right; it’s like the Mouseketeers only totally fucking awesome.

As a Little Dipper, you would have the entitlement to claim Dipset and would be responsible to uphold and respect all rule, regulations and traditions henceforth. Little Dipper regulation bandanas and newsletters would be issued upon sending a nominal yearly fee of $56. Why $56 dollars? Why the hell not? We’re all trying to get paid, am I right?

I know you may be hesitant at first about the idea. As the acting President of Operations for The Little Dippers, I will hold myself personally accountable for any and all goings on within the organization. Of course, I will need a small stipend as this will be a full-time job.

Once again, thank you for your time. I look forward to a great 2008 for The Little Dippers.

Respectfully,
Kevin DeLury

We were there, and it was good.

Yes, they rocked!  It was very good….

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