Blog — Page 1 of 278

The infrequently-updated site blog, featuring a range of content including show reviews, musical musings and off-color ramblings on other varied topics.

Murder City Devils/Animal Self @ GHCH 7/12/25

Posted by Aaron H • July 17, 2025

Murder City Devils - Credit: AMH

The Murder City Devils don't get out much anymore, so when the opportunity presented itself, I made my way down to Pomona to catch one of the 2 shows they had lined up in California. They brought along Animal Self, which features Kareem Karam and Coady Willis from Murder City Devils as well as Julia Kugel of Soft Palms. Julia sang and danced across the stage in a dress with twinkling lights attached to it while Kareem and Coady banged out a blend of art-pop and punk. The trio had just played their first show not even a week prior and are currently in the process of mixing songs to be released in the future. 

Animal Self - Credit: AMH

The Murder City Devils took to the stage and jumped into "I Don't Wanna Work for Scum Anymore" from the band's 2014 release The White Ghost Has Blood on Its Hands Again. The crowd appeared to still be waking up, but once they jumped into fan favorite "I Want A Lot Now," frontman Spencer Moody reacted to the crowd's excitement by chomping down on the microphone and holding it in his mouth, as well as jumping to the barricade to sing with the fans. 

Murder City Devil - Credit: AMH

The band played a pretty even split of tracks from their 4 full-length lengths, with highlights like "Rum to Whiskey," "Idle Hands," and "Murder City Riot" as well as throwing in "Midnight Service at The Mutter Museum" from their 2001 release, Thelema. For the most part, The Murder City Devils' setlist has been consistent over the years. In 2024, they released a 7-inch with the track "Hill & 6th," which they've been able to incorporate. The group even threw in a cover of PJ Harvey's "In Dark Places." Upon finishing the track, Moody took the time to express what he believed the song meant and proceeded to read the lyrics with a broken voice. During "Hey Playboy," the last song of the night, Moody jumped into the crowd to perform the sort of speak-sing number until getting lost amongst the audience before completely disappearing.

Murder City Devils - Credit: AMH

Age slows down many, but not the Murder City Devils. They continue to perform with gusto and the mindset that Rock 'n' Roll is an unstoppable force. Moody's voice may be beginning to wither, but it only makes him scream louder. The second those notes on the organ begin to play on "Press Gang," nothing else matters. You black out for a second and then find yourself screaming, "pecked by the seagulls! Hanging from the gallows!" and you're having the best time. Murder City Devils have a couple more performances lined up this year, including a spot at Bumbershoot in Seattle and a Halloween weekend in San Francisco. Do yourself a favor and get a ticket if you're gonna be in the area. 

Gallery: Murder City Devils/Animal Self (29 photos)

Aaron H • July 17, 2025

Daryl Gussin - A Year In Submission

Posted by Jiffy Marx • July 16, 2025

Can't say my review of it will be as well written or entertaining as this book of 50 poems by Daryl Gussin. Daryl is the managing editor of Razorcake. Daryl was in an awesome punk band called God Equals Genocide. Daryl is my friend but also possibly my spirit animal. Part of me wonders if the leather jacket that Daryl is looking for is the same jacket I’ve been looking for. It probably is and I hope he finds it.

I’ve never written about poetry before but I’ve written a lot of lyrics and wondered if anyone considers that poetry. Who am I to judge when I don’t know what poetry is? I did take one poetry class in uni where I submitted prose poetry that I’d written while black out drunk, something I was working on at the time. Lacking m/any historical or contemporary references with which to compare this, Gussin’s work reminds me of Raymond Carver who is known for his mastery of short stories. So what's the difference between prose poetry and a short story? Or what about lyrics vs. poem? Daryl has written lyrics for the aforementioned GEG along with Spokenest and Marriage Material- all fucking awesome bands worth checking out!- but I did not notice a single rhyming couplet in this book so I would not describe this poetry as lyrical. In lieu of knowing how to finish this review I’ve picked out a handful of my favourite lines from the book and pasted them below, inadvertently (or maybe advertently?) creating a “cut-up” poem of my own. Clever indeed.

“Boyfriend” Is A Top Notch Poem By Daryl Gussin The Following Is Not

The two friends were frozen in terror as they looked through the curtains out onto the opposite side of the street as a storm drain mouth with two parking meter eyes was deeply inhaling, only to spray sewer water and street-trash across the entire block, “I’m not your fuckin’ white noise machine!”

That is my fear, I refuse to be the distant childhood memory in the mind of an adult, I have to survive this life.

But not today, today I’m free to dream while I breathe the untaxed air, and live the dignity we all had been taught to expect, I must remember to relish this moment, ‘cause tomorrow the shit must be shoveled, and I am the shit shoveler.

We wake up and we take one for the team, and then we get one from the team, anyone getting more than they’re giving is just taking extra from someone else on the team, fuck that.

if you don’t get laid you should get at least 35% of what you paid back on a hotel room, we associate hotels with the absolute best sex and we are not wrong,

If you ever wanna be happy to be home, be happy to take a shower, be happy to lay on your bed in your underwear while your girlfriend puts her head on your shoulder, one way is obviously going to war or prison, but damn, you can also just spend two days on a fuckin’ bus.

The rain on the leaves, the barbecue in the backyard, the taste of a new lover’s neck, the feeling of recently purchased underwear, these experiences will never affect the exchange of stocks, will never satisfy the bloodthirsty viewers of the twenty-four hour news cycle, will do very little for those with their snake oil market analytics, but they will make your day better, your life better, your outlook on the future brighter, embrace the brighter future, embrace the goosebumps and the butterflies, the lightening bugs and uncontrollable smiles as your eyes meet, let the parallel universes live their parallel lives and accept this one for what it has to offer: a poem, a party, and then one final kiss good night.

---

Buy it here.

Jiffy Marx • July 16, 2025

Tripping Daisy North American Tour 2025

Posted by Mirela Z. • July 13, 2025

Tripping Daisy @ Lee's Palace
Toronto, Canada
July 11, 2025

Tripping Daisy brought us back to 1995 and sounded better than ever! When the crowd sings along 30 years later there’s no better feeling!

Gallery: Tripping Daisy North American Tour 2025 (11 photos)

Mirela Z. • July 13, 2025

Death from Above 1979

Posted by Mirela Z. • July 6, 2025

Death from Above 1979 @ SummerStage
New York, USA
July 2, 2025

"The boundary pushing Death From Above 1979 originated from Toronto with the uncompromising one-two punch of 2002’s fuzz-bomb EP Heads Up and 2004’s epochal debut album You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine. The band has made numerous appearances on the Billboard charts as well as on TV performing on iconic late-night shows including David Letterman and The Tonight Show Jimmy Fallon, which opened up their catalogue to a wider audience. 

In association with the Consulate General of Canada, SummerStage brings Canadian artists to Central Park."

Source: https://cityparksfoundation.org/events/canada-day-25/

Gallery: Death From Above 1979 (10 photos)

Mirela Z. • July 6, 2025

Sum 41 @ Scotiabank Arena

Posted by Mirela Z. • June 19, 2025

Sum 41

final shows - day 1 of 2

Scotiabank Arena

Toronto Canada

Jan. 28, 2025

All photos by @front.row.fans

 

Gallery: Sum 41 Final show 1/2 Jan 28, 2025 (30 photos)

Mirela Z. • June 19, 2025

Latest news stories

Pool Kids run down "Leona Street"

Posted in Records on July 18, 2025

Epitaph indie-rock band Pool Kids released a summar jam pop single, "Leona Street," coming from their August 15 new album Easier Said Than Done, which was recorded with Mike Vernon Davis, who also produced their self-titled album. The new record is described as their most collective and explorative release yet. … Read more

Predeceased and the Weirdo Riffers

Posted in Records on July 18, 2025

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Porcupine releases Under The Altar

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

Midwest heavy noise punk Porcupine has a new album, out now. New Morality Zine released Under The Altar yesterday. The 6-song record is streaming below and follows last year's All Is Vapor. Read more Tracklisting: 1. Close the Doors II 2. Dull Blade 3. Stolen Rib 4. Old Skins 5. … Read more

Fluffy's first

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

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Gridfailure's Sixth Mass-Extinction Skulduggery III

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

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Street Sects / Street Sex

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

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The Sword's Warp Riders: new dates

Posted in Tours on July 17, 2025

The Sword's tour in recognition of Warp Riders' 15th anniversary has been extended, with the band adding a new leg to the tour, which initially covered just the western US. Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol will join the tour in support. Read more Full list of Warp Riders 15th Anniversary Tour … Read more

Sell The Heart anniversary shows

Posted in Labels on July 17, 2025

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WENCH! time

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

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Living Hour to release 4th album via 3 labels

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

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A clip from the new Moviola

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

Moviola recently shared a single and video for the new song "Slage Wave," which appears on the band's latest album, Earthbound, out August 29 on Dromedary Records. The single plays fuzzy indie-pop with subtle country moments and a labor-focused message. Formed in Ohio in 1993, the band has 11 albums … Read more

Milo Goes To College reissue

Posted in Records on July 17, 2025

Org Music will soon release a reissue series of many of the Descendents best known albums, beginning with Milo Goes To College, originally released in 1982 (New Alliance/SST), coming out again on Sept. 19 on LP, cd, and cassette. A limited edition "Punk Note" edition features alternate packaging by John … Read more

Intercourse with Alf

Posted in Records on July 16, 2025

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TV Cult Industry date

Posted in Records on July 16, 2025

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Weakened Friends announce Feels Like Hell

Posted in Records on July 16, 2025

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The Lousekateers and DCxPC Live

Posted in Records on July 16, 2025

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Bad Cop Bad Cop's new album

Posted in Records on July 16, 2025

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Red Scare Across the digital landscape

Posted in Labels on July 16, 2025

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The TAGABOW LOTTO

Posted in Records on July 16, 2025

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Big Life covers Hüsker Dü in new EP announcement

Posted in Records on July 16, 2025

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