Saturday, March 30, 2013

Sonic Overload 3/18/13


Hard to believe but it’s been 10 years since George W. Bush got the US into the illegal, immoral military exercise known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. A pointless war predicated purely on lies and one that cost thousands of lives—military and civilian. And Obama didn’t extricate US troops from that quagmire until a few years into his presidency. Then there’s the not-so-small matter of the war in Afghanistan, drone strikes and on it goes. Obviously, that topic is touched on at the top at show.

By the way, I just watched an excellent documentary about sexual assault in the military and how the “brass” has basically turned a blind eye to it. That’s stating it mildly. It’s called The Invisible War and it’s by the same filmmakers who made the documentary West of Memphis about the West Memphis Three. It’s on Netflix. Definitely check it out.  It received a 2012 Oscar nomination for Best Documentary.

Sonic Overload 3/18/13

TRACK 1

PROFITS-Shock & Awe (Active Distribution)

SLEEPER CELL-Bombs Under Baghdad (Cries Of Pain)
TRAUMA-Policy Of War (Bulkhead)
BURY THE LIVING-Baghdad Skies (Soul Is Cheap)
NEEDLES-Ugly World (Iron Lung)
NO CLASS-Static This, Static That (Deranged)
RESIST-Peace In The Kingdom (Profane Existence)

BRAVE NEW WORLD-Like Van Gogh (self-released)
CHRON TURBINE-PTSD (Peterwalkee)
MINISTRY-Yellow Cake (Megaforce)

HERO DISHONEST-Systeemi Ei Lepää (Peterwalkee)
NEO CONS-Overstimulation (Deranged)
S.H.I.T.-Mind Fuck (demo)
HERATYS-Paivittainen Haramus (La Familia)
RAYGUN-Aivopesty Kansakuuta (Kamaset Levyt)
KLIMAX-Moscow (from “Killed By Finnish Hardcore”)

TRACK 2

RUDIMENTARY PENI-Vatican’t City Hearse (Southern)
MISSION FOR CHRIST-Stay The Course (Ektro)
MIKEY WILD-Die Die Die (Bulb)
FATHER FIGURES-Made In China (AZPX)
TENEMENT-(Messy Endings) In Middle America (Cowabunga)

DRI-Violent Pacification (Beer City)
KORO-700 Club (Sorry State)
VOID-Get Out Of My Way (Dischord)
ULTRA VIOLENT-Dead Generation (Riot City)
ONE WAY SYSTEM-Give Us A Future (Anagram)

KILLING JOKE-Pssyche (Malicious Damage)
CRIMINAL CODE-Hollowed (Deranged)
SPECTRES-Deconpensation (Deranged)
SOVIET VALVES-Death Trumps Romance (Vertex)

TRACK 3

OUT COLD-Ugly On The Inside (from upcoming album)
ANTI YOU-Johnny Baghdad (Six Weeks)
WILD CHILD-Brown Nosed (Deranged)
BRAIN TUMORS-I Am Weird (Deranged)
HASSLER-Amoral (Beach Impediment)
NO FRAUD-Failure (No Clubs)
RAT BYTE-Fun (FNS/Party Time)
FESS-Troublemaker (Roachender)

SHIRKS-Motherhood Of The Wolf (Grave Mistake)
FREEDOM CLUB-Control (Bulkhead)
THEE MIGHTY FEVERS-Sunday Breakdown (Dead Beat)
DC SNIPERS-Power Off (Dead Beat)
WAX MUSEUMS-Disco Ball (Tic-Tac-Totally)
NIGHT STALKERS-Stabbed In The Mouth (Who Cares?)

IRON MAIDEN-Wrathchild (Capitol) in memory of Clive Burr
REX-Violent Playground (Columbia)
SECRET AFFAIR-Let Your Heart Dance (Sire)
ENEMIES-X-Ray Spex (Raw Productions)
NIKKI & THE CORVETTES-He’s A Mover (Bomp)

TRACK 4

WHITE WHALE-Sunburn (self-released)
REPLICA-Last Judgment (self-released)
TAR BABIES-Beyond Caring What’s Right/Rape (Lexicon Devil)
NOMEANSNO-Two Lips, Two Lungs and One Tongue (Alternative Tentacles)
WHITE DRUGS-DMT (Amphetamine Reptile)
URINALS-Ack Ack Ack Ack (Warning Label)

DOGS-No Way (Melodies Massacre)
TRACKS-Brakes On You (Blue Door)
BOYS-Cop Cars/Keep Running (Captain Oi)
JILTED JOHN-Jilted John (EMI)
RICH KIDS-Ghosts Of Princes In Towers (Fan Club)

AC/DC-It’s A Long Way To The Top If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll (Atco)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Sonic Overload 3/11/13--13TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW


12 years and 363 days ago, give or take, I took to the airwaves to warp a punk nation and... OK, enough of that crap. Here’s the 13th anniversary show for Sonic Overload. I did take to the airwaves on March 13, 2000 on Allston-Brighton Free Radio for my auspicious (?) debut, under the show’s original name Inflammable Material. As I’ve said many times before, my diction isn’t that great and inflammable was a word I have difficulty with so I switched it to Sonic Overload after a few months.  I did the show there until early 2005. We operated as a pirate station for most of that time. I’ve actually been webcasting the show since mid-’03 and did that for over 7 years on sub-domains generously donated by Adam Gandelman and Jim Burnham. I finally set up my own domain, www.sonicoverload.net, in October, 2010.

Every year, I try to do something a little different to mark the anniversary. This year, I had the idea of playing one of my favorite songs from each year, starting with 2012 and going back to 1973. 40 seemed like a nice even number, plus it was the year I got my first cassette recorder and began taping songs off the radio. Actually, the tapes I made with that recorder sounded like shit because I used a hand-held mike and put it next to the radio. Luckily, my dad had a stereo cassette deck and I’d use that on occasion—much to his chagrin, I might add. I mean, we’re talking about a guy who wouldn’t let me use his power mower or snow blower even after I was an adult. I miss my dad. He hated my music but was a really nice guy.

Anyway, I don’t think there’s anything all that strange on the playlist. In the late 80s/early 90s, I was listening to some godawful rock music but not 100% of the time. Before I got into punk, I mainly liked hard rock and metal, although I listened to some Top 40 radio, as well. The only difficulty in putting together the playlist was picking what to play from ’77 to ’84, since those were the years where music really changed my life. Also, the songs I picked were ones I was listening to that particular year. Otherwise, you probably would have seen Iggy’s “Raw Power” on this list but I started listening to it in 1976. And, to wrap things up, I play some songs that were on the very first Inflammable Material show.

Time for me to stop yakkin’, or typing, that is. Time for the thank you list: to Steve Provizer, for giving me the opportunity to start this show on Allston-Brighton Free Radio and all my compatriots on that station; Adam and Jim for the webspace; Mike, Jim, Chris and Carrie for administering the Sonic Overload Facebook page (check it out if you haven’t yet); and, last but not least, my lovely wife Ellen for putting up with my musical obsessions for so many years.

Before I go, I should mention that Sonic Overload is being broadcast on KWTF in Santa Rosa, CA, every Wednesday evening at 11 PM Pacific time. They’re on the air at 88.1FM and also have a live stream. Just the first hour for now but that could change.

Sonic Overload 3/11/13

TRACK 1

STIFF LITTLE FINGERS-Suspect Device (Rough Trade)

(2012-2008)
JOINT D?-(I’m Haunted) (Sorry State)
FOREIGN OBJECTS-Pill Popper (Vinyl Rites)
THE ENERGY-Destroy Imagination (Team Science)
DESTINO FINAL-Donde Estan? (La Vida Es Un Mus)
NIGHTSTICK JUSTICE-Control (Grave Mistake)

(2007-2002)
DOUBLE NEGATIVE-Redshift (No Way)
SHELL SHOCK-Wake Up (Puke N Vomit)
DIRECT CONTROL-War All The Time (Kangaroo)
FULL SPEED AHEAD-Overload (Manic Ride)
READ YELLOW-Read Yellow (Fenway)
BORN DEAD ICONS-Great Western Mistake (Partners In Crime)

TRACK 2

(2001-1997)
NERVE AGENTS-War Against! (Hellcat)
AMDI PETERSENS ARME-Alt Er Ved Det Samme (Kick N’ Punch)
F-MINUS-We’re All Deadmen (Hellcat)
DILLINGER FOUR-Doublewhiskeycokenoice (Hopeless)
9 SHOCKS TERROR-Prozac Logic (Devour)

(1996-1993)
OUT COLD-Victim (Kangaroo)
SWINGIN’ UTTERS-Teenage Genocide (New Red Archives)
NEW BOMB TURKS-(Gotta Gotta) Sinking Feeling (Crypt)
ARCWELDER-Will When You Won’t (Touch & Go)

(1992-1989)
GOD AND TEXAS-Mask and Glove (Rave)
JESUS LIZARD-Mouth Breather (Touch & Go)
DIDJITS-Killboy Powerhead (Touch & Go)
HAYWIRE-Sword Swallower (New Beginning)

TRACK 3

(1988-1984)
PUBLIC ENEMY-Black Steel In The Hour of Chaos (Columbia)

BL’AST-Only Time Will Tell (SST)
POISON IDEA-Lifestyles (Pusmort)
NAKED RAYGUN-Surf Combat (Homestead)
HÜSKER DÜ-Something I Learned Today (SST)

(1983-1979)
CRUCIFIX-Indo China (Southern)
DISCHARGE-State Violence State Contol (Clay)
TSOL-Peace Through Power (Posh Boy)
RUTS-Staring At The Rude Boys (Virgin)
MOLLS-White Stains (Skids)

TRACK 4

(1978-1973)
WEIRDOS-Solitary Confinement (Dangerhouse)

SAINTS-(I’m) Stranded (Sire)
SWEET-Action (Capitol)
ZZ TOP-Tush (London)
FANCY-Wild Thing (Big Tree)
FOCUS-Hocus Pocus (Sire)

(Songs from the first Inflammable Material)
URBAN WASTE-Public Opinion (Mob Style)
LIFE SENTENCE-Problems (Walkthrufyre)
STAINS-Sick and Crazy (SST)
THE PIST-We’re The Pist (Eugene)

EFFIGIES-We’ll Be Here Tomorrow (Touch & Go)

Friday, March 15, 2013

Sonic Overload 3/4/13


Some good news to start off with—I mentioned that my classmate and punk rock “mentor” Paul Greenberg had suffered a heart attack and had bypass surgery. He’s shown some signs of improvement and here’s hoping he’s on the road to recovery.

With the good comes the sad, unfortunately. Joe Coughlin, a longtime Boston rock ‘n roll fixture, passed away last week after a long battle with cancer. I didn’t know Joe very well—just a passing acquaintance—but I always liked the candor in his writing. He was a little older than me and I think we definitely had a lot of the same reference points. I can see him growing up, reading Creem magazine and listening to his favorite bands Blue Öyster Cult, the Dictators and the Ramones, all of which were staples of my teenage years and continue to be so. His writing in The Noise was brutally honest and definitely got a reaction, often negative, and I’m sure that pleased him just fine.

Finally, while I was putting together today’s show, I found out that Jeff Paul, vocalist for 80s Portland hardcore band Final Warning and, in recent years, Trauma, was killed in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. When Ellen and I were in Portland last fall, we had the chance to meet Jeff at a sports bar, where he was hanging out with Todd and Paul from Tragedy and Brad from From Ashes Rise. Todd played in Trauma, as well. My condolences to his friends and family.

Next week, it’s the 13th anniversary show and I’ve got a surprise in store. As I said last week and on the show, you’re just going to have to wait to find out what it is...

Sonic Overload 3/4/13

TRACK 1

INFERNO-Ein Alptraum? (Pusmort)

ANCIENT FILTH-Egokill (demo)
DOUBLE NEGATIVE-Cancer Perks (Sorry State)
IDIOT VEHICLE-Garbage Truck (from “You Can’t Kill Me,” Atomic Action)
VANDAL X-Murphy’s Law (Fons)
XADDAX-The High Hat (Skin Graft)

DICTATORS-The Next Big Thing (Epic) in memory of Joe Coughlin
BLUE ÖYSTER CULT-ME 262 (Columbia)
RAMONES-This Ain’t Havana (Sire)
MAPS-I’m Talking To You (self-released)

TRACK 2

FINAL WARNING-I Quit (Southern Lord) in memory of Jeff Paul
TRAUMA-Barrier (Bulkhead)
LONG KNIFE-Artificial Heart (from upcoming album)
HASSLER-Apathy (Beach Impediment)
GREEN BERET-Under The Boot (Side Two)
BRAIN KILLER-So Much Hate (Deranged)

URBAN ACHIEVERS-Dog Shit Avenue (Hjerenespind)
CÜLO-Modern Depression (from upcoming album)
WOMEN IN PRISON-Strange Waves (HoZac)
RATSAK-Vacated (12XU)
TY SEGALL-Standing At The Station (Goner)
SLUTEVER-Sun Hot (self-released)

MINOR THREAT-Betray (Dischord)
NECROS-Conquest For Death (Touch & Go)
FU’S-Rifle (X-Claim)
SS DECONTROL-How Much Art (demo)
MEATMEN-Blow Me Jah (Touch & Go)

TRACK 3

CONSUMERS-Teen Love Song (In The Red)
RABIES-The Man With The Flute (Smokin’ Barrel)
SACK-Vacancy (self-released)
FREEDOM CLUB-Burn (Bulkhead)
HJERETESTOP-Pis Mig I Munden (Kick n’ Punch)
YOUTHS-My End (demo)
ROUGH KIDS-This Technology (Sorry State)

DEAD ENDING-Speed Of Lies (Alternative Tentacles)
BUKKAKE BOYS-Born Dead Generation (from “Land Of Nod,” Scavenger of Death)
STOIC VIOLENCE-What I See (Katorga Works)
EMPTY ROOM-Take Me Home (demo)
APE ATTACK-Switch Off (Yellow Dog)
VENKMAN-Burritos and Wrestling (Cow Catcher)

BLITZ-New Age (Future)
PEGBOY-Not What I Want (Touch & Go)
THE SQUAD-You’re Shit (demo)
PERMANENT MAKEUP-Headcount (New Granada)

TRACK 4

METHOD ACTORS-The Method (Armageddon)
FLESH EATERS-No Questions Asked (Upsetter)
THE FALL-Totally Wired (Rough Trade)
MEKONS-Where Were You? (Fast)

CONSERVATIVES-Los Alamos Lab Technician (Sonic Swirl)
RED RED RED-New Action (Big Neck)
NIGHT MARCHERS-Ned Lud (Swami
ICEAGE-Ecstasy (Matador)
YATSURA-Pow R. Ball (Primary)

ORCHESTRAL MANOEVRES IN THE DARK-Red  Frame White Light (Virgin)

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Sonic Overload 2/25/13


I’m dedicating this show to my dad Arthur, who would have been 95 years old today and most certainly would not have liked one song or even one note of what was played on this week’s Sonic Overload. I’m also sending out get well wishes to Paul “Greeny” Greenberg, the man who got me listening to this punk rock stuff way back in 1977. Greeny suffered a heart attack and needed triple bypass surgery last week. He’d probably like at least some of the songs I played this week. Get well soon, Greeny!

Sonic Overload 2/25/13

TRACK 1

SYSTEMATIC DEATH-Cheers To Earth (Feral Ward)

CÜLO-Adult Life Is No Fun (from upcoming album)
URBAN ACHIEVERS-Feel The Guilt (Hjernespind)
MINUS APES-Back To The Cave (Yellow Dog)
COP DE FONA-Adolescents (Yellow Dog)
SACK-Payback (self-released)

FATHER FIGURES-Tin Soldiers (AZPX)
FRUSTRATION-Angle Grinder (Born Bad)
GET LAID-Dead Occasion (demo)
CRUDDY-Berlin Wall (Basement Scream)
RATSAK-Endurance Manual (12XU)
SYNTHETIC ID-Brain Spiral (1-2-3-4 Go!)

HASSLER-Trainwreck (Beach Impediment)
HOAX-Sleep (Youth Attack)
NEON BITCHES-Seeing Through (from “I’m Already Dead!,” Atomic Action)
BRAIN KILLER-Made (Deranged)
DROPDEAD-You Have A Voice (HG Fact)

TRACK 2

MIL MASCARAS-Fuzz (HoZac)
CATHOLIC SPRAY-Plane Crash (Born Bad)
CONSTANT MONGREL-Reflex (R.I.P. Society)
DESTRUCTION UNIT-Great Wall (Jolly Dream)

REALITY CRISIS-Engrave (Prank)
BOMBS AWAY-The Sun Will Rise (self-released)
SOKEA PISTE-Kylmä Asema (Ektro)
CHAMELEONS-The Fan and the Bellows (Hybrid)

NIGHT MARCHERS-Loud, Dumb and Mean (Swami)
ROUGH KIDS-Into the ‘00s (Sorry State)
ICEAGE-Coalition (Matador)
FITZ OF DEPRESSION-Power Shack (K)

TRACK 3

VERBAL ASSAULT-Backstab (from “RIX-Core,” Atomic Action)
HATED YOUTH-Hardcore Rules (from “A Compilation Dedicated To Tim Yo”)
NO LABELS-I’m Tired (from “No Core,” Raw Deal)
DEPRESSION-Money Chain (Reactor)
VICIOUS CIRCLE-Vicious Circle (Reactor)

HONG KONG BLONDE-Buddha Hat (demo)
INSURGENT RAT-Background Music (Yellow Dog)
REGULATIONS-Catholic Love (Deranged)
REAL COPS-The Future Is Written (demo)
POISON CONTROL-Norms Out! (demo)

SKI PATROL-Agent Orange (Malicious Damage)
OUTCASTS-Spiteful Sue (Captain Oi)
LEFTOVERS-I Only Panic When There Is Nothing To Do (Dropkick)
FILTH-Don’t Hide Your Hate (from “I’m Sure We’re Gonna Make It,” Epitaph Europe)

TRACK 4

PISSED JEANS-Health Plan (Sub Pop)
VANDAL X-How Sick Is That (Fons)
ACID FREAKS-Meth Buddies (from “Land of Nod,” Scavenger Of Death)
BROKEN PRAYER-Wow! (Sorry State)
PLATES-Under Suspect Tutelage (Big Neck)

CHORDS-Maybe Tomorrow (Polydor)
2x4’S-Bridgeport Lathe (Bessemer Process)
TRESPASS-One Of These Days (Sanctuary)
THE WALL-Kiss The Mirror (Captain Oi)

4” BE 2”-One Of The Lads (Island)