Danny Wainwright, Ross McGouran, Nassim Guammaz, Kris Vile and more of the Vans Europe team continue their Derelict Places missions into Greek territory this week. Click play for a journey through Athens via the once used Olympic park and beyond.
Author: Zac
Some of Riley Hawk‘s footage filmed for the forthcoming Shep Dawg 4 production by Jacob Nunez has been released today. Slap some curbs with him here.
If skateboarding didn’t have characters like Pontus Alv then it would be boring as hell. Here’s come iPhone tomfoolery from Polar’s main man.
When you think of the word ‘punk’ most people would probably not consider Italians to be in the top five regions famous for it. Look further though and you will find some underground treats like Wildmen here, a duo with a mission to keep the garage-rock flag flying in a country where the punk scene from old concentrated heavily on the subject matter of depression and the proletariat; the scene was politically motivated, sexually charged and fueled by that good old Italian blood found in no other country.
Made up of Giacomo Mancini (guitar) and Matteo Vallicelli (drums/vocals), Wildmen have a solid groove and can kick out a decent jam so we asked Fabiana Giovanetti to introduce them to you.
I know you have been also in some punk and hardcore bands. Which bands have you played in, what do you think you learnt from these past experiences?
I played in a couple of hardcore punk bands and still play with a band called Smart Cops. I think I learned a lot from the hardcore scene. Especially from touring. It helps you maturing the right attitude towards life in general when you have to sleep in a German squat full of rats and stuff like that.
If you had to describe your music in just three words, which ones would you pick?
Fun, fun, fun.
How much has the 60s garage-punk influenced your music? Is there any garage band in particular that you are drawing inspiration from, or are you influenced by other genres?
Of course we dig 60’s garage punk. Every band on compilations like “Nuggets” of “Back From The Grave” was a great inspiration for us but we don’t give a shit about the “garage revival” thing and don’t want to sound like them. We are very open minded and we listen to anything – even hip hop or techno…
Would you like to share with us the “legend” about how you formed the band?
There was this kind of saloon rumble in a bar in Trastevere (Roma). We were there and took part in the fight, and we became friends.
Why did you decide to record Wildmen in analog instead of digital?
We knew these friends who had this studio and decided to work with them cause we really liked their productions. It was very natural. Besides that, the tape has a warmer sound and we like it. We were very happy with the results.
You are now collaborating with Shit Music for Shit People, a label that is highly focused on the records and the artwork. How much is the product itself important, when it comes to a release?
It is very important to have records that sound but also look good, cause it’s easier to sell! Hehe… And you need to sell records when you are on tour. “Cash rules everything around me”, you know.
Was it your idea to suggest and use Francesco De Figueiredo’s art for the cover of the album?
Francesco is a good friend and we decided to work together. Again, it was very natural. We are really satisfied with the artwork he did. In fact, you couldn’t tell it’s a garage punk record. It looks more like a 90’s techno 12″ and we like this.
How much of the punk attitude you deliver when on stage? How is the chemistry between you whilst playing?
We just play really hard, trying to sound as big as we can even if we are just a duo. We need to concentrate on the show. I guess we are more “punk” while we are not playing, actually…
Do you have any interesting/embarrassing anecdote about a gig to share with us?
There are several, but since they all concern girls, drugs or faeces we prefer to keep quiet.
The apocalypse is coming and you have to put one track into a time capsule to preserve for future generations, what would it be?
“Be My Baby” by The Ronettes.
When you are not busy writing and performing with Wildmen, what do your daily lives look like?
Very boring.
Which are the main appointments in your agenda for the rest of 2013?
We are going on tour in Europe again in May and then start writing a new record.
Wildmen’s debut self titled album is out now vinyl 12″ and digital download via Shit Music For Shit People. Fill your ears and buy the album from here.
Categories
Alkaline Trio
ALKALINE TRIO
‘My Shame Is True’
(Epitaph)
When you consider that the four Ds (drugs, drinking, depression and death) have been Alkaline Trio’s lyrical stock-in-trade for most of their seventeen (!) year existence, it’s amazing that ‘My Shame Is True’ (their ninth album) sees the Chicago crew sounding so vital.
The opening ‘She Lied To The FBI’ and ‘The Temptation Of St. Anthony’ belt along with the kind of hooks and addictive choruses that bands half the Trio’s age would kill for, replete with Matt Skiba’s black-humoured story telling. So far, business as usual – and business is good. ‘I, Pessimist’, featuring guest vocals from Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath, is one of the best things the Trio have ever done, and should sound amazing live.
However, the songs that really colour ‘My Shame Is True’ are those of lost love and regret. Hardly fresh ground for this most endearingly maudlin of bands, but the likes of ‘Kiss You To Death’ and epic closer ‘Until Death Do Us Part’ could teach your average screamo band a thing or two about dealing with heartbreak.
“I hear the telephone works both ways/Think you can make a little effort someday?” croons co-vocalist/bassist Dan Andriano on the piano-laden ‘Only Love’. He sounds troubled, but hopefully he’ll find comfort in knowing that, with songs as good as these, we’ll be listening whenever Alkaline Trio call.
Alex Gosman
Sidewalk are running all of the sections from Death’s latest DVD ‘Ordinary Madness‘ this month. Get stuck into Rob Smith’s part here and look out for the rest of this sterling production online soon.
Ph: Kris Vile takes the 7 Set back in 2007.
The recent furore over relocating skateboarders is starting to spread into mainstream media since the Southbank Centre unleashed their plans to move the current legendary skate spot to under the Hungerford Bridge. The Guardian ran a feature this weekend with words from Lansdscape’s Joey Pressey whose interview can be heard in an interview on this stream here.
In addition to this piece, ITV have issued a news feature on television this week too. Watch that feature with Nick Jensen discussing the need to keep the existing park despite the relocation suggestions here.
If you have not read the answers from the first wave of questions issued by the Southbank Centre, then look further into what’s happeneing here and get involved.
Fun skateboarding was further fueled this weekend with the new Fancy Lad full length arrived online this weekend. Put together by Nick Murray and Colin Fiske (of PJ Ladd’s Wonderful Horrible Life fame in Boston) this film is cut with all sorts of montaged classic film clips, skaters ollieing pigeons and far too much more to mention.
It’s a rollercoaster ride of mashup up madness and even has footage of clown shoe skateboarder Jesse James whose recent footage in ‘A Golden Egg‘ has been round the web and back in the last week since our exclusive, this one comes courtesy of Jenkem. Get the teas on, it’s over 50 minutes long.
Categories
Perfect Blues DVD offcuts
Unseen and unused footage from the Perfect Blues DVD was released over the weekend from James Harris’ hard drive. Press play for various bods filmed in Bristol and beyond.
Freestyle’s new Projekts Plaza in Manchester is seeing many great sessions. Get on this Hype Ting from a local perspective ion this new edit with Tyrone O Hanrahan, Lloyd Mcleggon, Dan Carpenter, Armarni Rochford, Ryan Jackson, Adam Ahmed and Dan Cintra.