Sonic Overload 6/4/12

So I open and close this week’s show by mentioning a couple of anniversaries—and that doesn’t even include my 24th wedding anniversary that happens on the 5th. Thanks for putting up with me so long, Ellen. I love you! But the first one is Queen Elizabeth’s “Diamond Jubilee,” marking 60 years on the throne. Trust me, I REALLY had to resist the temptation to make low-rent jokes like “60 years on the throne, eh? I hope she has enough toilet paper.” I know you’re out there—I can hear you breathing. Anyway, the Queen’s Silver Jubilee was in 1977 and the Sex Pistols came up with the celebratory anthem that opens the show. It was also the song that permanently converted me to the Church of Punk Rock, although that happened in September 1977.
   
The other occasion is the 40th anniversary of the release of one of my favorite singles when I was a kid, Argent’s “Hold Your Head Up,” which came out in May 1972. That’s the same year I finished up at Stanley School, my elementary school. Damn I’m old. And that became more apparent to me when catching a few minutes of one of those PBS shows geared to the Baby Boomer set. Even though I was born at the tail end of what many consider to be that era, I refuse to say I’m a “boomer.” The show featured “British Beat” artists and included the likes of Gerry and the Pacemakers, Lulu and the Zombies, a predecessor to Argent who had a couple of hits in the 60s (you might know them—“Time of The Season” and “She’s Not There”). They sounded fine but it almost seemed polite in delivery and the seated audience didn’t look as though they were about to jump out of their seats and start dancing. It seemed perfectly respectable. Ah well, enough navel gazing and back to the Argent song. Not only do you get to hear “Hold Your Head Up” but it’s the longer, album version. Rejoice, ye listeners...

Sonic Overload 6/4/12

TRACK 1

SEX PISTOLS-God Save The Queen (Virgin)

RESTARTS-Parasitic Monarchy (Plastic Bomb)
INDIGESTI-Silenzio Statico (Vacation House)
CHEETAH CHROME MOTHERFUCKERS-Easy Targets (Belfagor)
LA URSS-Ciudad Geriatrica (Todo Destruido)
TRAGATELO-Anguista y Esperanza (Lengua Armada)

BI-MARKS-Gunk (Mata La Musica)
ENERJETICS-Assembler (demo)
HYGIENE-Office Job (La Vida Es Un Mus)
A-LINES-Wrong Way Home (SFTRI)
SLOWMOTIONS-Dance (HG Fact)

UNHOLY THOUGHTS-In Living Color (Way Back When)
BAD AMERICAN-Dictator (Bad Recordings)
DISCHARGE-The Nightmare Continues (Clay)
VOIVOD-Overreaction (Noise)

TRACK 2

STIFF LITTLE FINGERS-At The Edge (Chrysalis)
TRANSPLANTS-Suicidal Tendencies (Dionysus)
CLOVERBOTTOM-Cottage Cheeze Heads (Toolbox)
AVENGERS-Uh-Oh (Water)

BUNNY SKULLS-AHC/False X (self-released)
BREAKS-Landlocked Blues (Firestarter)
SHARK ATTACK-Blood In The Water (Bridge Nine)
CARDIAC ARREST-Going Nowhere (Grave Mistake/No Way)
SGT. SLAUGHTER-Guitar Dickmouth (Social Napalm)
CONVERSIONS-Stay Home (demo)

NIP DRIVERS-Fox On The Run (Taang)
K-JELL-Struggle and Break Through (October Party)
RINGERS-For Arguments Sake (1-2-3-4, Go!)
STINK-Never Will Forget (from “Shreds Volume 1,” Shredder)

TRACK 3

POOR LILY-Third Rail (self-released)
GENERAL INTEREST-What’s A Darfur? (Ride The Snake)
CLOAK/DAGGER-Electrocution (Grave Mistake)
WEIRD PARTY-Sarah Palin (Sex & Death)
ERECTUS MONOTONE-Tweeter and Quibble (from “Self Mutilation,” Hippy Knight)
CABARET VOLTAIRE-Nag Nag Nag (Rough Trade)

WHITE LUNG-Thick Lip (Deranged)
BAD JESUS EXPERIENCE-Finlandia (Tuska & Ahsdistus)
SOUND OF FAILURE-8848 (Cheap Art)
THE EXPLODER-Decision (Reptilian)
NOMEANSNO-And That’s Sad (Alternative Tentacles)
VERBAL ASSAULT-Trial (Giant)

TRACK 4

X-We’re Desperate (Slash)
BROWN SUGAR-La La Land (Fashionable Idiots/Feral Kid)
ÜBER KRØPPLING-Vi Gør Det I Nat (Blood Sausage)
DIALTONES-All Night Long (Dead Beat)
LYRICS-So What! (from “Essential Pebbles,” AIP)

TUFF DARTS-(Your Love Is Like) Nuclear Waste (Sire)
DAMNED-Problem Child (Stiff)
999-Nobody Knows (United Artists)
SAINTS-Know Your Product (Sire)
TEENAGE HEAD-Tearin’ Me Apart (demo)

ARGENT-Hold Your Head Up (Epic)

Sonic Overload 5/28/12

It's Memorial Day and, as is the tradition, I play a number of songs touching on the ravaging effects of warfare—on the troops, on the civilians and on the countries. And it never seems to end. US military activity continues in Afghanistan although there finally seems to be a timetable for US withdrawal. I’ll believe it when I see it. Of course, Romney thinks this a bad idea. And if he somehow gets elected, expect an uptick in saber rattling and an increased willingness to lead this country into more misguided military conflicts. It’s telling that this would-be warmonger never served in the military. He was eligible during the Vietnam era but chose not to serve. That didn’t stop him from being involved in pro-war counterdemonstrations.

The tracks during the first segment of the show are meant to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in these conflicts, be it military personnel or innocent civilians, those whose families were irrevocably affected and those who returned and continue to face further, unending personal battles...

Sonic Overload 5/28/12

TRACK 1

THE PROLETARIAT-Decorations (Taang)

GOONS-Toy Soldiers (Reptilian)
SUSPECTS-Swords Of The Fallen (Torque)
NO ALTERNATIVE-Johnny Got His Gun (from “SF Underground,” Subterranean)
RED ROCKERS-Dead Heroes (415)

CRISPUS ATTUCKS-America’s War (Soda Jerk)
FREE BEER-Premature Enlistment (Alternative Tentacles)
SPECIAL FORCES-Dead Soldier (Boner)
KORO-Dear Sirs (Sorry State)
NEGATIVE FX-The Few, The Proud, The Dead (Taang)
DRI-Stupid, Stupid War (Death)

CONQUEST FOR DEATH-Global Travel In A Zippered Bag (Wajlemac)
BORN/DEAD-Endless War (Prank)
DEATHREAT-Who Counts The Bodies? (Partners In Crime)
SLAYER-War Ensemble (Def American)

TRACK 2

WALLS-Stare At The Walls (Iron Lung)
OBSESSOR-In Fear Of The End (Tankcrimes)
SHARDS-Suicide (Sorry State)
SICKOIDS-My Curse (Residue)
SAHN MARU-Never Too Late (Inimical)

BABES IN TOYLAND-Bruise Violet (Reprise)
NEIGHBORHOOD BRATS-We Own The Night (Abscess)
BAGS-Babylonian Gorgon (Dangerhouse)
DEATH BY SNOO SNOO-Pentutehdas (Creative Class War)
CRASS-Punk Is Dead (Crass)

FIVE DAY MESSIAH-For Death or Glory (Paco Garden)
MAN AFRAID-3-91 (Half Mast)
GARDEN VARIETY-Pretty Mouth (from “Punk USA,” Lookout)
LEATHERFACE-New York State (Roughneck)

TRACK 3

UK SUBS-You Don’t Belong (Captain Oi)
YOUNG OFFENDERS-Black Hands (Deranged)
SCEPTRES-Flatline Generation (Dire)
PLASMATICS-Monkey Suit (Stiff)

VAASKA-Estado Policial (HeartFirst)
MUNDO MUERTO-Ciegosal Poder (Charged//Distorted)
LOS MONJOS-No Hay Salvacion (Metadona)
NO PROBLEM-Most Days (Deranged)
CRANKED UP-Another Vietnam (Creep)

RAW POWER-Tired and Furious (multi-label)
UNHOLY THOUGHTS-Black and Red (Even Worse)
CRACKS-Sandpaper (demo)
NEIGHBORS-Wear My Corpse (self-released)
OUT COLD-Just Plain Mean (PHD)
STRIKING DISTANCE-Hated (Thorp)

TRACK 4

DEADBEAT ECHOES-Forces (Louder Than War)
RAISED ON REPLICAS-OMG (Louder Than War)
KICKING SPIT-Reality Dropout (Prank)
DIGITAL LEATHER-The Fortress (Crash Symbols)
DOCTORS OF MADNESS-Bulletin (Polydor)

BUFF MEDWAYS-(I’m A) Lie Detector (Damaged Goods)
MUMMIES-That Girl (Estrus)
PIRATES-I Can Tell (Warner Bros)
SWIMMING POOL Q’S-Rat Bait (DB)
BARRENCE WHITFIELD AND THE SAVAGES-Ship Sailed At Six (Mamou)

PYLON-Feast On My Heart (DB)

Sonic Overload 5/21/12

This show was recorded while recovering from consuming some very bad seafood the night before. All things considered, I think it came out OK. Oh yeah, I also saw Cock Sparrer play one hell of a great set a few days earlier so, of course, I have to open and close the show with two of my songs by them. No joke—I’ve been singing “Take ‘Em All” nearly incessantly for a few days. Now it’s your turn...

Sonic Overload 5/21/12

TRACK 1

COCK SPARRER-Take ‘Em All (Taang)

SICKOIDS-Psychic Cold War (Residue)
WILD//TRIBE-Squeaky Wheel (PunkAlive)
P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.-No Hope Is Lost (Doomtown Sounds)
WYMYNS PRYSYN-Payday (Scavenger Of Death)
DEGENERICS-What’ll You Do? (Soulrebel)

DRUNK IN A DUMPSTER-Drunk In A Dumpster (No Profit)
SWEET JAPANESE AMERICAN PRINCESSES-Den De Den (Big Neck)
REGISTRATORS-Terminal Boredom (Rip Off)
TV FREAKS-Street Rat (Schizophrenic)
GOD EQUALS GENOCIDE-Give It Up Front (Razorcake)
GORILLA ANGREB-Aaarrrgghh (Feral Ward)

MANLIFTINGBANNER-Wall Street Wars (Crucial Response)
POISON PLANET-Boycott Everything (Third x Party)
STRIPMINES-Gallows Tree (Sorry State)
ORGANIZED SPORTS-Cut/Run (Bulkhead)
BOSTON STRANGLER-Primitive (Fun With Smack)

TRACK 2

HEBE GEEBEES-Night Fever (from “Saturday Night Pogo,” Rhino)

DOA-Disco Sucks (Sudden Death)
MEATMEN-1 Down 3 To Go (Touch & Go)
DESCENDENTS-Hey Hey (New Alliance)
DOW JONES & THE INDUSTRIALS-Ladies With Appliances (from “Red Snerts,” Gulcher)
LOU MIAMI & THE KOZMETIX-Fascist Lover (Final Vinyl)
FLIPPER-Way Of The World (Subterranean)

C.R.A.S.H.-Cult Merch (Post Present Medium)
PUFFY AREOLAS-1981 (Siltbreeze)
KUSTOMIZED-The Place Where People Meet (Matador)
HEAT TAPE-Spend It (Red Scare)
EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING-Through The Trees (Goner)

TRACK 3

ANGELIC UPSTARTS-Police Oppression (Captain Oi)

VILE -5 to 10 (self-released)
RAW DEAL-No More Mr. Nice Guy (Victory)
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST-Blood Guns and Guts (Inimical)
RETCHING RED-Bullshit Repellent (Bleeding Bitch)

GENBAKU ONANIES-Life Is A Gamble (Tin Drum)
VALSE TRISTE-Ilman Saattajaa (IfSociety)
GUZZARD-Supersonic Enemy Of Evil (Amphetamine Reptile)
GIRLS AGAINST BOYS-Wow Wow Wow (Adult Swim)

OFF!-Jet Black Girls (Vice)
POOR LILY-2.5 Song (self-released)
THE MEN-Cube (Sacred Bones)
CEREMONY-World Blue (Matador)
ANGRY RED PLANET-Fucktard (Angry Red)

TRACK 4

AVENGERS-Teenage Rebel (Water)
THE FREEZE-Broken Bones (Dr. Strange)
BUSINESS-Harry May (Taang)
ATTAK-Today’s Generation (No Future)
GIRLSCHOOL-Race With The Devil (Stiff)
RUNAWAYS-School Days (Mercury)

SPIDER-Spiderlili (self-released)
NOH MERCY-No Caucasian Guilt (Superior Viaduct)
VYLLIES-Purple Gorilla (Creep)
FRICTION-Automatic Fru (TJC)
KEBAB-Weekend (Softspot)

COCK SPARRER-Runnin ‘Riot (Taang)

Sonic Overload 5/14/12

Well, I'm hoping this one won't be taken down like the one for 5/7 was, due to some "copyright infringement" bullshit. But if anyone really wants to hear that show, email me at al@sonicoverload.net and I'll see what I can do.

In the meantime, this week's show goes out in memory of Tony Johnson from the Offenders, who recently passed away from cancer. The Offenders are one of the most-underrated US hardcore bands and were an unholy terror live. I'm grateful I got to see them play a couple of times in the 80s.

Sonic Overload 5/14/12

TRACK 1

A tribute to Anthony “Tony Offender” Johnson (songs from releases on Rabid Cat, R Radical and Kangaroo)

Fight Back

Face Down In The Dirt (from P.E.A.C.E./WAR”)
Never Cared
Victory
On The Crooked Edge
We Must Rebel
I Hate Myself

BAD AMERICAN-Dirty Waters (Bad Recordings)
SLICES-Slices Is Dirts (Iron Lung)
JOINT D?-(I’m) Haunted (Sorry State)
BROWN SUGAR-Black & White Panther Party (Feeble Minds/Feral Kid)
KICKER-Walking Headache (Inimical)
BIG EYES-Back From The Moon (Grave Mistake)

TRACK 2

BAD NOIDS-Ticket To Mars (self-released)
OMEGAS-Fevered Freedom (Painkiller)
LOSE THE TUDE-Keep Nike Out Of Hardcore (Sacred Plague)
EXECUTIONER-Why War? (Patac)
CRAZY SPIRIT-In The Thick (Quality Control HC)
G.I.S.M.-ABC Weapons (Dogma/City Rocker)

SONNY VINCENT-Resistor (NDN)
DUM DUM BOYS-Let There Be Noise (from “Hate Your Neighbours,” Pussy Muncher)
SICK THINGS-Bondage Boy (from “Raw Deal,” Raw)
VILETONES-Rebel (Other People’s Music)
RICHARD HELL & THE VOIDOIDS-Love Comes In Spurts (Sire)

NO SIR I WON’T-No More Poetry (demo)
TOKYO STORM WARNING-Spy Hunter (Mind/No Mind)
RANK/XEROX-Turn To Stone (Make A Mess)
THE VERGE-Understand (No Crust)

TRACK 3

CRIATURAS-Criaturas (Trabuc)
FIX MY HEAD-Mission: Hipster (Inimical)
URBAN UNREST-No Answers (United Shoebrothers)
SECTARIAN VIOLENCE-Misplaced Trust (Grave Mistake)
COLD SHOULDER-Not For Sale (Cowabunga)
IMPALERS-Return To Eden (Beach Impediment)

ALCOHOL FUNNYCAR-Last Night (C/Z)
FITZ OF DEPRESSION-Before It’s True (K)
THE URCHIN-I Can’t Drink Your Tear With My Beer (Broken)
TOUCH MY RASH-Sexless Existence (Bittersick)
SOVIETTES-Together (Fat)

CRO-MAGS-World Peace (Profile)
SNFU-Broken Toy (BYO)
76% UNCERTAIN-I Hate The Radio (Schmegma)
WHITE PIGS-Victims Of Society (Swinch Kwilsen)
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY-Kiss Of Death (from “Cleanse The Bacteria,” Pusmort)

TRACK 4

TOXIC REASONS-Killer (Risky)
LAW AND ORDER-Power (Fetal)
COURT MARTIAL-Young Offender (Riot City)
ADOLESCENTS-Losing Battle (Frontier)
CHAOS UK-Kill Your Baby (Anagram)
GERMS-No God (Slash)

JESUS LIZARD-Bloody Mary (Touch & Go)
SHELLAC-Spoke (Touch & Go)
TRACTOR SEX FATALITY-Prosthesis Rising (Big Neck)
SNITCHES GET STITCHES-Let It Stack (Empty)
HONOR ROLE-Lives Of The Saints #135 (Merge)
FAILURE-Princess (Slash)

BOOKER T & THE MG’S-Time Is Tight (Stax) in memory of Donald “Duck” Dunn