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CITIZINE REVIEWS by Thom White ---
This is a five-song EP, and when I first heard the Psychotics’ opening track “Lost Angel,” I thought “This guitar riff is soooo old!!” but then I realized that the song actually had a good vocal melody, and it just happened that this generic guitar chord progression went pleasantly with this lyrical tune. Coronado is about the tragedy of Los Angeles, I sense. But wait, in “Desperate Measures” we discover that the sound will not be so simple -- a guitar melody and more. Then “Misled” ramps things up with full-speed Bad Religion beat and Misfits “Woa-ah-ohs!,” making it a top tune. The Psychotics are four: the Lopez Bros., Steve on vocals, Mike on bass, Roberto Medina on guitar, and Pete Robleto on drums. Most of the songs are also co-written by a shadow Psychotic, one John Depotwitz, and these are all really catchy songs. If you want to hear these beauties for yourself live in the City of Angels, check for the Psychotics on any upcoming “Northeast Records Night,” which is supposed to be the last Saturday of every month in 2005 at Café Danssa in West L.A. Or, if you want to avoid all those snobs out in West L.A., you can simply buy the Psychotics CD online at northeastrecords.com for a measly $5.00 (less than a gallon of gas!) and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home (and away from the snobs). It really can’t get any easier, so get your Psychotic pop-punk melody infection today! NORTHEAST RECORDS NIGHT
Austin, Texas, is a city that mixes many disparate things, yet concocts a cultural brew that is peaceful and in harmony. Where else can hard-working ignorant rednecks, ignorant, know-it-all college students, and crowds and crowds of homosexual waiters, gather together in any watering hole, in every corner from North Austin to south, and swill beer in perfect harmony? Only in Austin (and certain parts of Dallas). In the same way, Texas showman Scott H. Biram brings together apparently conflicting influences with punk, hillbilly blues, and gospel, and he doesn’t need any help sorting them out to make some fine little ditties. Scott Biram, native of Kingsbury, Texas, combines savant redneckery with Gospel-style lyrics. Not only are his growling voice and ‘59 Gibson guitar amplified, so is his ever-stomping left foot, which provides the rhythm section in this one-man band. Biram uses his whole body to make full his “hillbilly” racket, and appears to be singing out of a ten-watt guitar amp. Scott Biram was seriously injured in an auto accident on March 25, 2003, when an 18-wheeler crossed into his lane and collided with his truck at 75 mph. After a month in the hospitals and several operations, Biram returned to play The Continental Club in South Austin (in a wheelchair with IV equipment), proving nothing could stop this one-man music machine. (The Times, Lafayette, La. 09/03/03) Check out “Truckdriver,” the standards, and above all, be wooed by Biram’s blues love. SCOTT H. BIRAM
Is it true that Blood or Whiskey “seamlessly merges traditional Irish music with punk rock” as the publicity proclaims? It is. See, sometimes it sounds merely like an accomplished house band from merry ol’ Eire that no longer must busk for change, while at other times it is punk drum and bass with loud shouting guitar choruses. But every moment they may be rocking out on electric guitar like English punks (with the almost-English accent of Dublin, Ireland), there is the high twitter of the tin whistle, the smooth, rhythmic plucks of banjo, and reverberating mohawked accordian to fill out Blood or Whiskey’s sound. The first track, with its “Trouble!” chorus, is a great start, but I especially like the instrumental “Requiem for a King” and the next three rockers that followed. After a mini tour to New York and Boston in March, Blood or Whiskey will have their first full U.S. tour in July 2005, so look for them then in your Homeland zone. As it says on their web site, “Blood Or Whiskey will be tearing up a town and a venue near you soon. So lace up your boots, grab your partner by the neck, and get ready to rumble....” BLOOD OR WHISKEY ---- Reader Comments No Comments. |
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