Ben Lee of The Bens fame has recorded an acoustic version of the entire Against Me! album.
The Australian said that he downloaded the album New Wave and fell in love with the album, saying it was “unmistakably a pop masterpiece” and wondered how they’d sound acoustically.
“A couple of days later I was on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne and had the thought “I’d love to cover this album.” The whole thing. Beginning to end. So I did. Anyway, here are the results.”
Given that the current thrash revival has been featured in the NME, of all publications, one contemplates whether just about every local scenester will now be donning Nuclear Assault shirts and hi-top trainers and proclaiming that they’ve always “dug Reign In Blood, dude”.
Still, for now, the Underworld remains a haven for the committed (and the crazy). “There are no posers here tonight…just ragers!” roars Mutant vocalist Atom Luchtenstein, clearly pleased that his band are whipping the pit into action at this early hour. With a clutch of high speed, heads-down anthems and some truly impressive gurning, this lot are exactly what the doctor ordered.
Scouse quartet SSS are highly unlikely to appear in any ‘sexiest band of 2007’ polls – and thank fuck for that. Closer in spirit to thrash’s hardcore punk roots, this is music made by misfits for misfits; and judging by the frenzied reaction down at the front, they have no shortage of takers. Check out their recent self-titled debut album on Earache Records; it will rock your world.
Plenty has been written about Municipal Waste‘s amusing onstage antics; and when tonight’s furious rendition of ‘Terror Shark’ heralds a couple of stagedivers dressed in shark costumes, it’s a clear indication that Tony Foresta’s crew aren’t taking themselves too seriously on a personal level.
But the real genius of this band lies in just how fast, tight and vicious they are; barely pausing for breath between songs, even as the Underworld’s ceiling starts to drip from the heat. Ever the people’s thrash band, they welcome the circle-pit maelstrom with high-fives and devil horns, and by the time they close with ‘Bangover‘, the ensuing stage invasion seems entirely appropriate.
“Municipal Waste are gonna fuck you up!” The crowd chants, in anticipation of an encore. Indeed they are – and you should be grateful. Thrash may be fashionable, but thankfully it’s still a hell of a lot of fun.
The Radar Festival is offering emerging directors to get their work seen by industry figures.
The event allows every director the chance of an evaluation and up to 240 videos will be seen and judged by record label commissioners. Winners will get label commissions, cash and mentoring opportunities.
The tracks to be used for entry are found at www.radarfestival.com/tracks.html and have been licenses so there is no legal worries or red tape to get through. It costs £10 to enter and the deadline is October 7th.
The balance ballerinas of Jason Dill, Chris Roberts, Kenny Anderson, Jereme Rogers, Dennis Busenitz, Joey Brezinski, Brandon Biebel, and Ronnie Creager were all in attendance at the Red Bull Manny Mania event.
The guys set about wearing out only one pair of wheels as they put on a display of the most ridiculous manual skills since Rodney Mullen lost his front truck on the way to the newsagents.
Check the video of what went down over at the Transworld website, kindly filmed by Jason Lee, no less.
Gentschy baby (German photographer). He’s a friend of mine who helped me a bit to get in contact.
Have you met any of the team yet?
I met them all, we’ve been together at the Feast tour last year and the recent European tour.
Have you met Harry Bastard yet? Can you understand his accent?
No I didn’t, but I met Ian Deacon. He’s got such a crazy accent, too. But I like it so much, even when I only understand half of it.
Which skater impressed you the most?
Tom Penny, I love his behaviour and everyone is fucking uber. There are different things that can impress me.
Who is the strangest skater on the team?
Tom Penny. The SloMoMan
What was the best story from that trip?
That the guys went crazy when they ate German schnitzel.
What trick blew your mind the most and from who?
Red Bull coffee joint trick.
Do any of the Flip team have monkey girlfriends?
I don’t think they like monkeygirls, they prefer tiger lillies.
What country was the best fun to visit on that tour?
Germany of course.
Who do you get on with most on the Flip team?
I like Arto and Ewan trying to talk German. But I also like the accent.
Whose skating do you appreciate the most?
Sami Harithi, he used to ride for Flip back in the day.
I hear you’re a big coffee and cigarette fan, me too. Why do they go so well together?
The German triple king. Kaffee, kippe, kacken = Coffee, cigarettes, shit.
The triple king, haha! In the UK we call it M.A.P.S (Morning After Pub Shit), or The Shit Trigger. It really is the best way to start the morning though isn’t it?
Yes, that’s my fucking routine. The chocolate commander knocking on Hells door.
What’s your daily routine like? What would you do in on average day?
Get the triple king, watch out of the window and pray for good weather, feed my cats and fish, and hope to go out and have a nice über day.
What’s your favourite thing to skate? Stairs, blocks, rails, etc.?
I like everything, but mostly I like to jump from buildings like Spiderman…
Jumping like Spiderman? You don’t skate wearing spandex costumes do you?
Only wear it at home with my monkeygirl. You should see it.
We had a German skate website ring us the other day and none of us can speak German. What phrases would we find useful in life?
Get stumpfed, mein stumpf ist rot, rote rackete, eine kleine führer bitte, über vibes.
My German is very bad. I can’t translate all these, so what do they mean?
Get stumpf is not really a German word. It’s mixed from English and German. A stumpf is a stumed or a stub, rote rakete = red rocket my penis, eine kleine führer = the little conductor, and I forgot okolyten the most stylish word = tits or big pickaxe.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen?
Coffee without cigarettes.
Black coffee, or coffee with milk?
If everything is on charge at home, I put everything in. Milk and 3 cups of sugar
Your name is Willow, so what is your favourite kind of tree?
Cherry tree
What music are you into?
Folk, Bulgarian trance, Russian gabba and of course Finland’s finest hardcore
There have been rumours of you having beef with Bastien Salabanzi. Is this true?
Come on man. Never heard such stupid things…that’s the first time I’ve heard that. I’m not the kind of character that get beef with other guys. Why?
The rumours about Bastien came from him leaving Flip and going to Alis, and supposedly this was because you two did not get along. Is this just stupid internet rumours again?
Of course…
Lots of people in the UK have seen your Hello 21 part (below) on Youtube now and were amazed by it. Has it helped you be recognized in the UK more?
Oh they know me? That’s über stumpf good. Nice that they like it.
Do you find it hard to film stuff?
I don’t know. No, I like to see the footy at the end.
Do you ever get stressed whilst skating?
Many times, stress with other ignorant people. I get stumpfed so bad.
If you could skate with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
Johnny Depp on a board. It would be crazy if he could skate like he acts.
Which possession would you take quickly if your house was on fire?
My boards, get my cats, and get my monkeygirl piggyback.
Which 80’s pop artist took the piss the most?
Boy George or Wham
Do you feel as though you have much in common with David Hasselhoff?
I’ve been looking for freedom, and Pamela Anderson
Is it true that he has a grip on the new generation of German children?
No no no.
Last words?
Stumpf.
Any links, thanks or plugs?
Mom, Dad, monkeygirl Nikki, Flip Family, Ian, Gentschy baby, Jeremy Fox, my cats Emi and Emil, my Berlin and Cologne crew, Timmy, Schnu, David Hasselhoff, Moni, Etnies, Asiootus, Livin Company, Split, Rockers
The band posted an announcement on their website saying:
“In 1994 we started making music, screenprinting our own seven inch covers and borrowing our parents cars to get to shows. Since then, we have traveled the globe, released many records, and played thousands of shows; pedaling the righteous name of piebald to all whose paths we crossed…Thanks for all the undying support. We love you.”
Wu Tang’s Method Man is to go back to school to teach kids about the dangers of drug use.
The rapper was arrested earlier this year for possession of weed and driving under the influence. As part of his a plea agreement, he is to visit 15 city high school and warn children away from drugs, with his attorney saying:
“He’s thrilled to do it…He’s never been in trouble before. He’s not a stereotypical rapper.”
The Megaramp crew of Danny Way, Rene Rene, and Dave Duncan have written a song recounting Jake Brown’s recent cheating of death at the X-Games with the song“Tearing Down The Walls”, which is bound to be a club smash this year, maybe.
Down frontman Phil Anselmo has begun blogging about the band’s new album.
The album, Down III: Over The Under is due out on September 25th and this blog is the first in what is expected to be a series regarding the record. To check out the first update, click here.
Series 2 kicks off tonight at 9pm on Sky channel 144, Sumo TV.
This episode features a Casual trip to Boulogne, a Boardroom in Leicester Park check up, courtesy of Spt and the Plan B demo at Saffron Walden for part 1. Part 2 has the Vans team at Revolution, Duffs Concrete Carnage at Romford and Casual at the new park in Swalecliffe.
There’s a sneak peak at the new title sequence (rough version) up on the Casual site at the moment, for those who don’t want to wait till tonight. Of course, anyone wanting to submit music or edits get in touch via the Casual website.
Ben Lee of The Bens fame has recorded an acoustic version of the entire Against Me! album.
Given that the current thrash revival has been featured in the NME, of all publications, one contemplates whether just about every local scenester will now be donning Nuclear Assault shirts and hi-top trainers and proclaiming that they’ve always “dug Reign In Blood, dude”.
The Radar Festival is offering emerging directors to get their work seen by industry figures.
The balance ballerinas of Jason Dill, Chris Roberts, Kenny Anderson, Jereme Rogers, Dennis Busenitz, Joey Brezinski, Brandon Biebel, and Ronnie Creager were all in attendance at the 
You may not have heard of Willow, but the 
Boston’s Piebald have split up.
Wu Tang’s Method Man is to go back to school to teach kids about the dangers of drug use.
The Megaramp crew of Danny Way, Rene Rene, and Dave Duncan have written a song recounting Jake Brown’s recent cheating of death at the X-Games with the song“Tearing Down The Walls”, which is bound to be a club smash this year, maybe.
Down frontman Phil Anselmo has begun blogging about the band’s new album.
Series 2 kicks off tonight at 9pm on Sky channel 144, Sumo TV.