Another Epic Record

Epic Problem

’11-’14

Boss Tuneage

http://bosstuneage.bigcartel.com/product/epic-problem-11-14-digipack-cd

 

I have raved about Epic Problem many times in the past and hope to be able to do in the future. They mark this 2015 with a compilation of releases from the previous 4 years. 17 songs from varioius ep’s since 2011

All tracks have that gruff vocal over fast guitar riff. All belters, coming at you fast paced and joyful. Right from the off we have the blistering guitar of Petrol Blue with Jake McCullogh proclaiming that “it’s a long way down” but then Blindside would have to move even those busking statues on many busy town streets. If they didn’t move during Blindside then Lines would have them jumping up and “whoaaaaaaaa-ing” as musch as any 7 seconds fan.

How can you say this is a classic in a way that doesn’t feature those words. Short, sharp, snappy anthems that are top top class.

niallhope

This weeks News – August 31

This weeks news August 31

Instigators were a UK hardcore band who played Ireland in 1988. I remember being blown away by their onstage antics as singer Andy Turner used the wooden stage as a springboard. he moved trampoline like from amp to amp, corner to corner. Their first album was re-issued on Skuld last year, with the Second Now available for pre order from Boss Tuneage

Also available to preorder on Boss Tuneage is Retard Picnic by the Stupids.

It’s not just UK bands that are getting re-issues – US legendary hardcore band The Dicks have had some of their records re-issed by Alternative tentacles including Kill from the heart . There is a movie about the band being screened around the States over the next while.

On the way

Many of us old punks remember Stiff Little Fingers as having some classic punk songs. Infalmmable material was the album that took us away from our 4 bedroom walls and inspired many to make their own noise. Henry Cluney and Jim Reilly from the band are back playing as XSLF. They are returning to Dublin on September 19 to play in Fibber Magees. Also on the bill are Dublin Street Punk band, Hooligan, Dundalk punkers The GAKK and Clash Jam Wallop. All for €10, bargain

There’s plenty of excitment for Fuzz coming to Dublin this week. They are bringing their riff laden sound to Whelans on Wednesday. As U:mack put it “The mood is not light. The songs project a state of perpetual paranoia and eroding mental health.
And as it should be, you know? It’s a record for the burners.”

Dublin Songs and Stories was an event organised by the people behind Come here to me blog. It was a night exactly as described and raised over €2,000 for Pieta Housse. The second colume is on this week and is a benefit for Rape Crisis centre. BP Fallon, Steve Averill and ADW will be telliong some tales, Mick Pyro and John Flynn will be singing some songs and there will be loads more in between. Sounds like a great night ahead .

Forthcoming Gigs

Fuzz – Whelans – September 2

Dublin Songs and Stories – Sugar Club -September 3

Workmans Club 5th Birthday Celebrations – Sept 8th – 12th
Al Porter – Sept 8th
The Hot Sprockets – Sept 9th
Little Green Cars w/ guests Other Creatures – Sept 10th
Little Green Cars w/ guests Bleeding Heart Pigeons – Sept 11th
Eternal Summers w/ guests Pleasure Beach – Sept 12th
Tickets to all shows just €5

Jello Biafra + Paranoid Visions + Sissy – Hangar September 9

Vic Goddard and Subway Sect + The Dubtones + Gakk – Fibber Magees – September 11

Eternal Summers + Plpeasure Beach – Workmans Club – September 12

Dope Body – Whelans – September 12

August Wells – Workmans Club – September 13

Sleaford Mods – Hangar – September 19

XSLF + Hooligan – Fibber Magees – September 19

La Misma + Disguise + Overbite + Surge – Dublin September 20
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Whelans – September 26

Wheatus – Whelans – September 28

B Dolan – Wormkans Club – September 29

We Shall Overcome – Dublin – October 2-4

Hard Working Class Heroes – Dublin – October 2+3

Juan Wauters + No Monster Club – Whelans – October 4

The Lemonheads – Academy – October 5

Hey Rosetta – Workmans Club – October 9

Giveamanakick – Whelans – October 10

Nothing Clean – Tenterhooks – October 10

Cockney Rejects – Grand Social – October 10

Inner Terrestials – Fibber Magees – October 16

English Dogs – Fibber Magees – October 23

dAVID kITT – wHELANS – oCTOBER 24

Litovsk – Dublin – October 25

US Girls – Whelans – October 25

Liturgy – Whelans – October 26

Dragster + Angry Itch + Stop start Again + Black Pitts + Jobseekers – Fibbers – October 30

Deer hunter button factory – November 1

Slaves – The Academy – November 5

Girl Band – Button Factory – November 7

Stiff Little Fingers – The Academy – November 13

Coitus + Paranoid Visions + Coldwar + Liberty – Fibbers – November 14

Mercury Rev – Button Factory November 22

Chelsea Wolfe – Button Factory November 25

Peter Hook and the Light – The Academy – November 27

OM – Button Factory – November 28

Therapy – Button Factory December 11

The Selecter – The Academy – December 11

Bad Manners – The Academy – december 28

HDQ – When Worlds Collide 7″

HDQ –
When Worlds Collide 7″
Boss Tuneage

Melodic Hardcore punk from the legends that are HDQ. You may not know the history but HDQ have their roots in 80’s hardcore. There was a time when the highly influential Leatherface were just starting and on their poster were ex HDQ as 3/4’s of them came from the Sunderland 4 piece.

In the age of torrential rain and water charge protests there’s a lot of water flown under that bridge since HDQ released their 2 albums and Leatherface went on to champion and be championed.

A couple of years ago Aston from Boss Tuneage added HDQ to his long list of lost hardcore records that he wished to re-ignite passion with the punk rock community. Boss Tuneage re-released the first two HDQ records as Golly and Dickie from the band got back playing together. I’ve seen them twice since and while the agility is not quite there in such an abundance as previously (their live show was spectaculour due to Golly’s on stage movements.) it is still an entertaining spectacle.

HDQ were based in melodic hardcore, always musical and never afraid to throw a few guitar solos in. 29 years after the release of their first record a 7″ has surfaced. A white marble slab of record with one song on either side. Both songs worthy of an a-side and both with that early energy still shining in abundance.

Fantastic

niallhope

Hope Show 35 – The Lowdown

Tonights show, the lowdown

1. THe Blades – Last Man IN Europe
2. Bangers – Blind Hindsight
3. NoFX – US Aholes
4. The Great St Louis – DOnt ASk
5. The Jam – Down IN the Tube Station
6. BL’AST – SSSHHH
7. Fury – Resurrection
8. Rudimentary Peni – The Rain
9. HDQ – Sometimes
10. Jawbreaker – Friendly Fire
11. Hunx and His Punx – Rat Bag
12. Revenge of the Psychotronic Man – red Top Bullshit
13. The Ruts – Something That I Said
14. Neurotics – Take Strike Action
15. TV Smith & The Bored Teenagers – Bored Teenagers
16. TV Smith – Not IN My Name
17. Ghost Mice – England
18. Captain Chaos – Up The Punks
19. The Flatliners – Bad News
20. Vic Chestnutt – You are never Alone

My friend Ramor is partial to some mod music, he reminded me last week I have neglected this genre on the show. I thought playing Southport would have him enough soul in recent weeks but that hasn’t been the case. I read during the week that the Blades may be reforming. I suppose they all got together at the Phil Chevron gig and decided to do it while they can, and good on them too.I love the last man in europe. That soaring riff, infectious chorus and slight Pretty Vacant guitar intro. brilliant

Bangers came to my notice courtesy of No Idea records and fit in with the theme of singalongs, as do NOFX. Maybe not mod but still sharp eh Ramor

The great St Louis have those soaring songs too, intelligent songs I call them

And to finish off this set I had to dig out the Jam, some great songs, still sounding great

I played Bl’ast last week and loved every second of it. The remixed new record is a blast, go get it. Jade Tree records re-released some stuff by Fury a couple of years ago. This is resurrection from it

Rudimentary Peni are not hardcore in a musical sense but from a way of running your band they are hardcore, Speaking of bands reforming (which I was at the start, keep up) HDQ have been doing gigs on and off and have a new record coming out. This is from Soulfinder on Boss Tuneage . When HDQ played Dublin in the 80’s we were amazed that a band from the UK could sound like a band form the US, and boy could they jump

I end my hardcore set with Jawbreaker from the US. Tuneful in a way BL’ast never were but they always packed a friendly fire to their sound.

Hunx and his Punx blast out obnoxious punk and i’m liking the new record more each day. Whether they live in a rat bag or not doesn’t matter, it’s a reflection on the world.

Red Top Bullshit may not be an obnoxious song and Revenge Of the Psychotronic man are not poster boys for gay punk rock but it fits in here somehow as The Ruts bounce us in to Something That I Said. I wrote about the ruts in my first fanzine in 1984 – I’m still listening to them just as much. Another band from just a bit later that I still return to are the Newtown Neurotics . I had the pleasure of seeing them a couple of times in recent years and that is why I would urge the Blades to reform while they can. If the songs are good they stand the test of time and if you’re doing it for the right reasons (music rather than money) then go for it. I picked this neurotics song as there has been so much talk around the centenary of the lockout from those in power n a country that still hasn’t legislated for Collective Bargaining

This may not be No Time to be 21, or it certainly wasn’t when Tim wrote this song in 77. Boss Tuneage released this record of the Bored Teenagers performing the first Adverts album with TV Smith on vocals. If you’ve none of Tims records, I’m asking you person to person, right now to get one. Not In My Name was written about the war on Iraq, it’s as relevant as ever now in these ever so dangerous times of nation building.

Ghost Mice and Plan-it-x records are great. Ghost Mice are so interesting. They brought out a cd about their European tour and have a song about each country. It’s a personal zine set to music. Youeven get bonus pictures on the cd and a load of songs from their tour. One extra song is “Up The Punks” “Punk rock music save my life” – brilliant “That’s why I sing and ask you the sing with me – Up the punks, up the punks”.

The Flatliners have a new album out this week . I haven’t got it yet so you have to make do with a song from their last excellent record.

No doubt you’ve been singing along to everything through the show so I am finishing on a note to let you all know that when you come down from all this dancing, You are still not alone, never feel that way or let it envelope your life. Live this life as best you can and stay true

Thanks for listening