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CITIZINE REVIEWS By Thom White Witch Hunt This collects all of Witch Hunt’s main recordings from 2002-2004, including their 12-song full-length album, … As Priorities Decay. Witch Hunt recorded these tracks as a trio, with Janine on bass, Nicole on guitar, Rob on drums, and everyone singing. Since then, they’ve added Vince on drums and Rob has moved to second guitar to fill out the live sound. Throughout the CD, this band is loud and raw, and the vocalists in Witch Hunt are seriously concerned about a few issues. Prime themes include the suffering of women at the hands of abusive men and the impossible task of ending sexual harassment, along with a focus (in the song “War on Reality”) on the Bush-Cheney regime’s convenient, repeated use of the “Fear Factor” to influence and control the American sheeple’s mindset since the televised events of September 11, 2001. “By a Thread” is another stand-out track in the catchiness category. This CD also includes Witch Hunt’s self-titled 7” debut (featuring the high-energy “Fed Up”) and other musical goodies. And as the CD’s title indicates, “This is only the beginning” -- Witch Hunt toured all over the place in 2006-2007 to support their second CD Blood Red States and now are preparing new material for ‘08.
This is traditional So-Cal punk. They cuss, they don’t wanna go to work, they like skulls, and they drive a classic 1960s hearse featuring a rebellious vanity license plate with the band name: Killing California. Most people don’t know this, but hearses can actually carry a good deal of band equipment, much more than one dead body’s worth. This band attacks your eardrums with a two-guitar assault and the raging screeds of vocalist Danny Craig. It’s all rock and the drumming is solid and consistent, keeping the fury on point. Look for them on tour in several states this spring and at SXSW (They’re playing at Plush on March 15th).
Since his days in Black Flag, Chuck Dukowski has kept a pretty low profile. But in the last few years, he has judged the atmosphere and timing to be right for a musical revival, and so he has re-emerged with his new band The Chuck Dukowski Sextet. When the band first appeared a couple years back with their album, Eat My Life, the sound was dominated by the sonic clash between Chuck’s unpredictable, creeping jazz patterns and the squealing saxophone of Lynn Johnston. On the new record, the Sextet has gone for a more straight-ahead rock sound. The opening track, “Try to Feel Free,” boasts infectious hard rock riffage that sets the stage for the band’s new direction. Chuck’s Sextet has always been a family affair -- his wife Lora Norton is the lead vocalist and her kaleidoscopic illustrations are plastered all over the CD liner notes. And now Chuck has invited the newest generation to join the Sextet: teenage guitar hero Milo now has a full-time spot with the group, filling out the rock vibe with heavy doses of “wah-ed out” fuzz and noisy anti-solos. At the moment, the CD6 is playing plenty of shows around L.A. and Long Beach, but they’re looking ahead and haven’t ruled out a summer tour someday that could bring them to a club near you.
For 30 years, 999 has been burning the midnight oil to keep the punk rock torch shining bright. By special arrangement, Dr. Strange Records of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has just issued a limited run of a collectible 7” record featuring 999’s energizing “Gimme the World,” a tune that you can also find on their newest LP, Death in Soho (Overground). Both “Gimme the World” and “The System” are high-energy rants, while the third track “Stealing Beauty” is nothing but bubblegum punk love. Not only does this record sound great, it also has the appearance of fine marble and with a limited run of only 500 in existence, I suggest you go to rarepunk.com where (among many other classic punk rock releases), you’re sure to be able to pick up some 999 action.
San Jose, Calif., has been at the heart of the Silicon Valley computer revolution for decades, but the punk rock scene there is less renowned. Fortunately, Vinehell Records has been there to document the S.J. scene, this never-never land caught between L.A., S.F. and the East Bay. Vinehell released a CD compiling the “Lost Tapes” of Ribzy, an early ‘80s S.J. punk band that opened for all the celebrated Cali-punk classics of the era whenever bands like the Dead Kennedys and D.O.A. would swing through San Jose. And now, for a glimpse into the current S.J. scene, Vinehell offers the Church of the Saturday Saints. If you look closely, you’ll notice the cover features a naked, pregnant surfer girl turning her gaze skyward to witness the brilliant shining aura of a rose-colored mushroom cloud. This is punk rock music with no distortion on the guitar. The lead singer (Dover, also of the band Whiskey Sunday) has the whole rough hardcore sound in his larynx, even when he’s “unplugged.”
While most of Los Dryheavers’ albums have been released by Lorelei Records (including their most recent full-length Words of Surrender), the band has turned over their powerful recording of “The Death of Rock ‘n’ Roll” to be pressed by Houston’s own Koi Records as part of a split 7” with Thirty3 of Portland, Ore. When bands decide to share a record, there is not necessarily any competition going on between the groups, but supposing there were, Los Dryheavers win this one hands down. On this disc, Los Dryheavers offer the title track and nothing more, while Thirty3 squeezes four songs on their side -- and yet the Dryheavers come out on top. “The Death of Rock ‘n’ Roll” starts off with a bang and the pounding drums keep the sound alive and kicking at all times. I’m not sure how this song has anything to do with the “Death” of rock ‘n’ roll since it showcases R ‘n’ R at its most exhilarating and vibrant -- this is “high energy, get your body moving, let the drums lead the way” type of music. Thirty3 has four times the songs on this, but not four times the electricity. They released a full-length album in 2004 on State of Grace Records and did extensive touring over the last few years. But in early 2007, they announced they were breaking up, so it looks like this may have been their swan song. ---- Reader Comments No Comments. |
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