Soft Rock Renegade

WATCH: D. Ray White - Cindy

2012-02-13T10:43:00.000-06:00

I have my opinions on Jesco White and the cultural attention he has received over the years, but I'll save that for a dissertation one day. What I can't argue with is the talent of his father D. Ray White. Here is clip of D. Ray tapping and singing from the documentary Talking Feet.

DOWNLOAD: Librarians - Alright Easy Candy Stranger

2012-02-07T09:15:00.000-06:00

When I asked the guys from Librarians a while back if I could post this album, they were a little embarrassed. They've seemingly put this 2006 album them, but I don't see what the problem is. Though a bit dated and certainly not as mature as 2010's Present Passed, this album has some good moments. Alright Easy Candy Stranger is electronic indie dance rock that brings to mind Les Savy Fav, Joy Division or Franz Ferdinand. Recently, Librarians' Ryan Hizer has been doing Good Sport, a "lazy, lo-fi, electronic" (according to their Bandcamp tags) project that is quite good. But if you want to know what Hizer was up to six years ago, whether he wants you to or not, here it is.

Artist: Librarians
Album: Alright Easy Candy Stranger
Year: 2006
For fans of: Les Savy Fav, Franz Ferdinand, Killers

DOWNLOAD: Librarians - Alright Easy Candy Stranger

WATCH: Brother's Keeper live in Charleston, 2001

2012-02-06T10:49:00.000-06:00

Here is a pair of videos of Erie hardcore band Brother's Keeper playing at the VFW in Charleston in 2001. I sure I was at this show, but I don't remember it very well. I do, though, see a lot of friends including Dana White, who put on the show and deservedly receives words of appreciation from BK singer Mike Ski. I wasn't the biggest fan of the music of Brother's Keeper, but the guys in the band were always incredibly friendly and appreciative. Any band that enjoyed coming to play in West Virginia had my respect, and the members of Brother's Keeper always returned with their future projects. That is what I think about when I watch these videos.

LISTEN: Living Saints - Living Saints

2012-02-03T10:01:00.004-06:00

I've known Living Saints' main man Cody Lynch for many years since his days in the skate punk trio Feet First. He then played in Down Goes Frazier before doing his solo project Wine & Water. I have a lot of talented friends, but I've always admired Lynch's work ethic and ambition. In 2011, he formed Living Saints, what I believe is the first full-time full band he has fronted. With Living Saints, Lynch's hard work seems to be paying off with what is his most creative and professional musical outing yet. Living Saints blends many of Lynch's influences including Leatherface, Austin Lucas or Dinosaur Jr., making for some enjoyably catchy folk punk rock and roll. The production of this record isn't top quality (a demo recording in a living room), but I've certainly given it a number of listens. I hope the band can get into the studio soon, as I'm excited to see what is to come from this pretty promising group from Huntington.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://livingsaints.bandcamp.com/album/living-saints"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Living Saints by Living Saints&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

WATCH: WWF introduces Earthquake as "John" from West Virginia

2012-02-02T14:09:00.000-06:00

In 1989 at a WWF even in Wheeling, the Ultimate Warrior and Dino Bravo participated in a push-up contest. To show off Bravo's strength, Jimmy Hart picked a random audience member to sit on Bravo's back. The 460-pound man introduced himself as "John," and said he was from West Virginia. John Tenta, who was actually from Canada, eventually became known as Earthquake, and wrestled in the WWF for 5 years. In fact, I saw Bravo and Earthquake take on Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior in a tag-team in Wheeling the next year. Yeah, I loved wrestling, and never forgot seeing this clip when I was a 8 years old, and how excited I was to hear "John" say he was from state.

DOWNLOAD: The Union Deposit Road - Tapes

2012-02-01T11:10:00.003-06:00

Union Deposit Road is a band I found about via a now-defunct page about Wheeling hardcore. From what I can gather, the UDR existed from 1994 to 1998 in Fredericksburg, Virginia, featuring members from Wheeling. This collection includes songs from the band's tapes including "American Rock Classic." UDR followed in the path set by bands like Lincoln and Hoover using the loud-soft dynamic mixed with sing-scream vocals. A WMWC staffer wrote of the band in 1997, "Intense, passionate, balancing that tenuous line between euphoria and rage. In my opinion."

Artist: The Union Road
Album: Tapes
Year: 1997-1998
For Fans Of: Lincoln, Hoover, Jawbox

DOWNLOAD: The Union Deposit Road - Tapes

LISTEN: Old Poets - Demo

2012-01-24T09:36:00.002-06:00

Time for a little self-promotion as I post the demo from my new band. Old Poets is a new hardcore punk band in Austin, Texas. We formed in late 2011 because there is a lack of quality hardcore in the area. Being a band of older guys who haven't played in years, we just wanted to write music that we listened to when we were the age of most people in hardcore bands in Austin. Since releasing this demo, we've had light comparisons to Right Brigade, Black Flag and Youth of Today. So have a listen, or download it, and feel free to drop a donation. We hope you dig it.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://oldpoets.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2012"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Demo 2012 by Old Poets&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

WATCH: Paul Sturgess: Big Man On Campus

2012-01-20T13:56:00.000-06:00

I came across Paul Sturgess via an interview on Huffington Post. The 7'8"-tall Englishman was drafted by the Harlem Globetrotters in 2011. Before that, Sturgess was the tallest ever college basketball player when he was a part of the team at none other than Mountain State University in Beckley. Here's an ESPN piece about him from 2010.

WATCH: Police try to shut down The Radio Beats final show

2012-01-18T11:59:00.000-06:00

Speaking of punk rock, here's a great video of The Radio Beats' final show in 2006. Hailing from Pittsburgh, The Radio Beats was a three-piece punk rock'n'roll band, for which my friend and once-Wheeling resident Steve Anderson sang and played bass. They were a great band with a lot of attitude playing music influenced by the likes of the Devil Dogs and Dwarves. Just as they were starting their at The Rock Room in Pittsburgh for their final show, the cops showed up and told them to "shut it off." Check it out, and if you can ever track down some of the Beats' record, do.

DOWNLOAD: Connie Dungs - Earthbound for the Holiday

2012-01-10T11:26:00.004-06:00

This is the third full-length released on Mutant Pop Records from Eastern Kentucky's most successful snotty pop punk band Connie Dungs. By this point, the Dungs were moving their style from sounding like the Ramones into Jawbreaker territory. There are plenty of three-chord hooks and clever lyrics. Holiday also features back-up vocals from Mass Giorgini of Squirtgun. Having experienced quite a bit of success in the region around Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee, the Connie Dungs also received plenty of praise in Maximumrocknroll, Flipside and Punk Planet over the years between 1995 to 2000. Brandon Tussey later went on to form the excellent A Radio With Guts.

Artist: Connie Dungs
Album: Earthbound for the Holiday
Year: 1999
For fans of: The Ramones, Jawbreaker, Screeching Weasel

DOWNLOAD: Connie Dungs - Earthbound for the Holiday

LISTEN: Friday Nights Lights and West Virginia

2012-01-09T09:04:00.000-06:00

In October I wrote about Friday Night Lights, and how the first season closed with Bright Eyes' rendition of Daniel Johntston's "Devil Town." It was exciting as a new fan of the show that a song by a West Virginia (and Austin) native had been used.

Last night, with bittersweet emotions, I finished the series. (Best ever.) In one of the final episodes, though, it wasn't football that made me sit up and cheer (it rarely is on this fantastic show). Instead it was hearing Daniel Martin Moore's "Flyrock Blues" playing in the background of a quiet scene between two characters. With anticipation, I listened for the line where he sings, "In West Virginia the water's bad, and there just ain't no peace to be had." I was excited to clearly hear the name of my home state on my favorite show. It's a good song, so give it a listen, but if you haven't watched FNL, do.

WATCH: Sierra Ferrell - Wet Your Whistle live in Charleston, 2010

2012-01-06T13:49:00.000-06:00

A few months ago, I stumbled across this video of Charleston-based singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell performing at the Empty Glass. I had never heard (of) her, but was impressed by her voice and this song enough to want to share it on here. I believe this talented young lady plays with a band called 600 Lbs. of Sin, who are okay. If I was her friend, I would recommend she stick to the solo gig (and probably try a career in a place like Nashville or Austin) as she belongs with the likes of Laura Marling or Elle King.

DOWNLOAD: Chernobyl Kids - To Spoil Go the Victors

2012-01-05T11:21:00.001-06:00

Around 2000, Looks Like Rain from Baltimore began making regular stops in Morgantown and Huntington. We all quickly became friends with singer Mike Riley and the band. It was Mike who introduced me to this fellow Baltimore punk outfit Chernobyl Kids, with which Looks Like Rain did a split seven inch. Mike compared them to Dag Nasty and encouraged me to book them, but unfortunately I never got the chance to even see them live. He sold me this album in 2001 when it came out, and more than 10 years later, I still listen to it. It's lively punk hardcore that is melodic at times with thrashy guitars and rousing vocals, and brings to mind 7 Seconds, Circle Jerks or AFI. Chernobyl Kids recently created a Facebook page, which leads me to believe they're reunited. So get on this. (Note: cover art by me because my the CD case is at my parents' house in West Virginia.)

Artist: Chernobyl Kids

Album: To Spoil Go the Victors

Year: 2001

For fans of: Dag Nasty, 7 Seconds, AFI

DOWNLOAD: Chernobyl Kids - To Spoil Go the Victors

WATCH: GG Allin live in Huntington, 1991 (NSFW)

2012-01-04T10:07:00.000-06:00

No better way to start off 2012 than with some GG. Happy new year, scumfuck.

LISTEN: M Iafrate - Happy Xmas, X Is Here

2011-12-22T10:49:00.001-06:00

Happy Holidays. Enjoy this seasonally appropriate record from M Iafrate. See you in 2012.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://miafrate.bandcamp.com/album/happy-xmas-x-is-here"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;happy xmas, x is here by M Iafrate (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; The Priesthood)&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

WATCH: Dallas Campbell and Geoff Hoskinson - McDonald's Holy Arches

2011-12-20T09:17:00.001-06:00

Dallas Campbell (Drown Culture mastermind and former singer of The Minus Tide) and Geoff Hoskinson have been busy lately with Geoff Hoskinson & Dallas Campbell Make Videos. The project consists of the two Wheeling-ites writing, producing and performing in bizzarre, surrealistic and satirical music comedy sketches - think Tim and Eric but more hip and handsome. This recent video was featured on iheartchaos.com, but be sure to check out more of their videos on their Tumblr blog. The one below is my personal favorite.

DOWNLOAD: American Minor - Demo

2011-12-15T10:22:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday Robert McCutcheon, formerly of American Minor. I've been listening to the alt-country/southern rock band's 2002 demo a lot recently. If you don't have it already and you're a fan of Uncle Tupelo or Ryan Adams, be sure to download one of my favorite demos from a West Virginia band.

READ: Breece D'J Pancake - Trilobites

2011-12-14T09:26:00.002-06:00

The second post I made on this blog was about author Breece D'J Pancake, a South Charleston native and Marshall grad who committed suicide at the age of 26. His talents have been celebrated over the years by the likes of Kurt Vonnegut, Chuck Palahniuk and Andre Dubus III.

If you've never read Pancake's work before, I suggest starting with Trilobites, which you can read in full online thanks to The Atlantic, where it was originally published in 1977. "Trilobites" is the first story in Pancake's only printed collection, The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Click here to read Trilobites.

WATCH: Alex's Birthday, Family Ties

2011-12-13T13:40:00.003-06:00

Check out this gem. When Michael J. Fox's character on Family Ties turned 18, there was only one way for him to celebrate - head to West Virginia to drink. And yes, that is Crispin Glover (aka George McFly). Brilliant.

DOWNLOAD: Shindig - Hell, She Looked 18

2011-12-08T10:44:00.002-06:00

Here is Shindig's follow-up to their debut Trendy Music For Trendy Kids. On the unfortunately but humorously titled Hell, She Looked 18, the songwriting is a bit more aggressive at times, but picks up where Trendy left off. There are a couple great songs on here including "Better Off," "I Wanna Go Home" and the homages to The Andy Griffith Show "I Don't Wanna Fall In Love With Ellie Walker" and "It Wasn't Helen Crump." But at 17-tracks of Blink 182 or Fat Wreck-esque pop punk, there is some room for editing, especially toward the end of the album. With that said, the experienced Charleston four-piece wrote hook-filled songs with cleverly memorable lyrics, and they always put on a fun show. The band's appeal was not limited to teenage girls, but anyone within earshot who couldn't resist wo-oh-oh-ing along.

Artist: Shindig
Album: Hell, She Looked 18
Year: 1997
For fans of: Blink 182, Green Day, NOFX

DOWNLOAD: Shindig - Hell, She Looked 18

WATCH: The Demon Beat love at Trackside, 2011

2011-12-07T09:21:00.004-06:00

Here is a video of a recent performance by The Demon Beat, a garage-blues-rock trio from Shepherdstown. I've been hearing a lot about this band over the past couple years. I posted about them back in September after posting the drummer's fantastic solo effort The Rozwell Kid. I have not listened to The Demon Beat much, though, because, to be honest, they just didn't appeal to me. I'm not a fan of The Black Keys and prefer My Morning Jacket's early, more mellow material, and those are two bands to which I would compared The Demon Beat. Then I saw this video, and I'm sold. It's a great song by talented musicians playing with tons of energy. David Klug, music engineer and former drummer from The Minus Tide, said The Demon Beat put on a great show. I hope they make it to Austin again soon, as I'd love to see them. For now I will watch this video for the sixth time.

DOWNLOAD: U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd - Mountain Fiddler

2011-12-05T13:18:00.004-06:00

This album needs no explanation. The late U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd playing bluegrass. This album, recorded in 1978, was re-released after Byrd's death at the age of 92 in June 2010. Fantastic stuff from one of the greatest ever West Virginians.

Artist: U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd
Album: Mountain Fiddler
Year: 1978
For fans of: Robert C. Byrd

DOWNLOAD: U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd - Mountain Fiddler

READ: Happy 2nd Birthday Soft Rock Renegade

2011-11-26T09:24:00.001-06:00

I started this blog two years ago today with this post about Malicious Intent. Thanks for the support.

WATCH: Pulling John

2011-11-22T11:25:00.002-06:00

The other night I was searching through Netflix Instant for something quick and easy to watch and came across the above film "Pulling John." The documentary is about John Brzenk, a nearly impossible-to-beat arm wrestling champion, and two men who hope to end his invincibility. One puller is Alexy Voevoda, an overwhelming species of strength from Russia - like Drago with a soft heart and a ponytail. The other is Travis Bagent, a loudmouth egomaniac from, of course, West Virginia. I had no idea one of the main characters was a West Virginian, but as soon as I saw that, I was hooked. Bagent is half vainglorious villain and half underdog, and as much as he wants to make you dislike him, it's hard not to root for him. "Pulling John" isn't the best doc I've seen in a while, but it's a film that will make you cheer. Except for the fact that they say Travis from Charleston when he's actually from Charles Town. If you have Netflix, check it out.

WATCH: The Caterpillar Scheme live in Morgantown, 2008

2011-11-21T09:14:00.004-06:00

Here are a couple videos of The Caterpillar Scheme playing at 123 Pleasant Street in Morgantown in 2007. Though the camera is hidden behind the drums, the light is low, and the audio is a bit loud and booming, the video hints at the The Caterpillar Scheme's energetic and intense live performances, which could not be captured on the band's self-titled EP.

DOWNLOAD: The Caterpillar Scheme - The Caterpillar Scheme

2011-11-15T11:21:00.009-06:00

Editor's Note: Not long after I started this blog (two years ago), I asked my friend Eric Courtney to write about his friends The Caterpillar Scheme. Eric said he struggled to write without being too sentimental and talking about how important his friendships with the band's members were. But I've finally gotten these words out of him. He just wanted to make sure Dan Sheets, Danny King and Mindy Parsley were mentioned as the individuals who introduce him to the band.

While none of the members of the band would likely acknowledge it, North central West Virginia’s The Caterpillar Scheme was truly an inspiration to the community of talented musicians and artists who collected at the Morgantown bar 123 Pleasant Street during the middle years of the last decade. In 2003 (I THINK), brothers Joshua (guitar, vocals) and Ross Israel (drums), Jeremy Casto (guitar, keyboard, noise) and Todd Molina (bass), all of whom grew up around Clarksburg, formed The Caterpillar Scheme in the wake of the band Down July. The Caterpillar Scheme toured surrounding states and played gigs in various West Virginia towns, but Pleasant Street was where their brand of cosmic, art-damaged post-hardcore was truly embraced, and at home.

The Caterpillar Scheme's live show was something to behold - a surprisingly tight mix of tension and release, melody and caterwaul that destroyed guitars, amps, PAs, you name it. When they were at their best, their force was enough to levitate audiences ever so slightly, like sheer magic, leaving even the drunkest of crowds in awe. They made Morgantown feel a little bigger and more significant than before. Their music challenged the people who knew it intimately to create better. It bridged social cliques, helped forge lifelong friendships, and was the catalyst for countless nights of hazy elation. I look back on the years of my life spent among the members of this band with deep nostalgia, and I’m certain many others do as well.

The Caterpillar Scheme left us with only a single EP that doesn't quite capture what the band could produce live. They drew from a variety of musical influences, but fans of Unwound, Blonde Redhead, At the Drive-In and early Radiohead won't be disappointed. Down July also recorded a CD a few years before three of the bands four members created The Caterpillar Scheme. If anyone has a copy, I would love to see it posted.

Artist: The Caterpillar Scheme
Album: The Caterpillar Scheme
Year: 2003
For fans of: At the Drive-In, Blonde Redhead, Unwound

DOWNLOAD: The Caterpillar Scheme - The Caterpillar Scheme

LISTEN: 63 Eyes - Look in For Mothmen

2011-11-14T13:14:00.002-06:00

Here is material from an incredible 1980s underground rock band from Parkersburg. 63 Eyes featured now prominent West Virginia musician Todd Burge on vocals and bass along with Mark Poole (guitar) and Wes Poole (drums). Influential on the likes a number of area bands to follow in the years after, 63 Eyes could be compared to Husker Dü, Meat Puppets of Flipper. One fan commented: "I swear I hear 'Exit the Pig' when I [listen to] Foo Fighters 'This Is a Call.' Same chords, same guitar sound, same attitude... but 7 years after [63 Eyes]." Considering this album was recorded in 1987, the terrific songwriting paired with quality production could fool any listener into believing this record is contemporary. Look in For Mothmen is now available for download for $10, and upon streaming it for free, is well worth it.

<a href="http://63eyes.bandcamp.com/album/look-in-for-mothmen">Look In For Mothmen by 63 Eyes</a>

DOWNLOAD: Kukim - Live on the Morgantown Sound Show

2011-11-09T11:08:00.011-06:00

Yesterday I posted a pair of videos of Kukim, the Morgantown band featuring ex-members of Lincoln. Where drummer Justin Wierbonski denies Lincoln being an emo band, instead calling them a rock band, it was Kukim that moved away from post-hardcore and more into the rock spectrum. While stylistically very similar to Lincoln, the guitars are less heavy with more hooks and less screaming. As stated, the band never released any material other than these eight tracks recorded live on U92's Morgantown Sound Show in 1994. The production is quite organic, as to be expected from a radio show recording, but powerful nonetheless. Kukim picks up quite well where Lincoln, one of the states best ever bands, left us wanting more after such an abbreviated existence.

Artist: Kukim
Album: Live on the Morgantown Sound Show
Year: 1994
For fans of: Lincoln, Drive Like Jehu, Unwound

DOWNLOAD: Kukim - Live on the Morgantown Sound Show

WATCH: Kukim live in Dayton, 1994

2011-11-09T09:44:00.004-06:00

Most readers of this blog are pretty familiar with Lincoln by now. Formed in the early 1990s, Lincoln was considered one of the originators of the post-hardcore/emo/screamo sound - "filled with super heavy dissonant guitars, screaming vocals and spastic drumming to a relatively medium tempo," as drummer Justin Wierbonski explains. "However, I don’t and never did consider Lincoln an emo band. We were just a rock band to my ears, and a pretty darn good one at that." Truth.

So it was unfortunate that after just a few short years and a handful of seven-inches, Lincoln called it quits. But where Lincoln left off, the Morgantown band's members picked right back up with Kukim. Kukim never released any albums except an in-studio performance at Morgantown's U92 radio station, but here are a couple videos of Kukim performing in Dayton in 1994. The top video features video from the show but overlayed audio from the u92 recordings. The video and audio below are from the actual performance.

DOWNLOAD: Down Goes Frazier - Discography 2003 to 3004

2011-11-08T10:34:00.003-06:00

On Monday night, boxing legend Joe Frazier died after a long battle with liver cancer. It is only natural that I repost the band respectfully named after Howard Cossell's call during the working man champion's epic fight against George Foreman in 1973. Though the reference to one of Smokin' Joe's rare losses (only four in his career) is not the best way to commemorate his life, this is just a music blog, so it's appropriate. So from one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time to one of my favorite punk bands from West Virginia, if you're a fan of Hot Water Music, Planes Mistaken For Stars or Against Me!, check out Down Goes Frazier.

Artist: Down Goes Frazier

Album: Discography 2003 to 2004

Year: 2003 to 2004

For Fans Of: Hot Water Music, Planes Mistaken For Stars, Silent Majority

DOWNLOAD: Down Goes Frazier - Discography 2003 to 2004

IN MEMORIAM: Samuel "Meuwl" Harshbarger

2011-11-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

Two years ago today we lost a great artist and dear friend, Samuel "Meuwl" Harshbarger. In January this blog paid tribute to Meuwl's life and career as one of West Virginia's finest hip-hop emcees and personalities. With help from Meuwl's friends and other artists from the state, we posted Meuwl's music, videos, photos, graffiti and some beautifully sincere words from Meuwl collaborator and close friends Justin "L-No" Leonard.

I am reposting this exact post from a year ago to again celebrate the genius who was Meuwl. On this day I wanted to re-post everything to give people another chance to download his music or just take an opportunity to remember what he contributed to all our lives.

RIP Meuwl.

DOWNLOAD: Rabble Rousers - Tastes Like Crazy

DOWNLOAD: Meuwl - Soooooo Hot Right Now

DOWNLOAD: Killer Affiliates - The Chelsea Grin

DOWNLOAD: Law Biting Citizens - Keep a Candle Burning

2011-11-03T11:30:00.006-05:00

Law Biting Citizens enjoyed a healthy 10-year career as one of the premier hardcore bands in north central West Virginia. Having formed in 1995, the Morgantown band's core members were Jeremiah Munsey (vocals), Jordan Munsey (drums) and Jeff Goodwin (guitar) with a number of bass and guitar players along the way. Though considered a hardcore band with influences such as 7 Seconds, Minor Threat and Sick of It All, LBC's music proved to be less simple than that. Keep a Candle Burning, the band's final release in 2004, sums up an experienced career of writing creative, catchy songs that are both aggressive and melodic. The guitar playing in LBC's songs represent a love of old hardcore punk blended with jazz funk influences that brings to mind of Bad Brains or Greg Ginn. There are plenty of hooks, circle pit-friendly parts and thoughtful lyrics sung by Jeremiah's unique shout-sung vocals, which along with his intelligent lyrics are what make this band special for me. Every LBC show was an entertaining performance - absent of any contrived punk rock theatrics, but filled of spontaneous energy from individuals who cared about what they were playing and believed in what they were saying. Because of that sincerity, the scene believed in them, which is why the were able to outlive so many other local punk hardcore bands of the same era.

Artist: Law Biting Citizens

Album: Keep a Candle Burning
Year: 2004
For fans of: 7 Seconds, Sick of It All, Warzone

DOWNLOAD: Law Biting Citizens - Keep a Candle Burning

WATCH: Eric Courtney on Showbiz Pizza and staying up late

2011-11-01T10:11:00.001-05:00

This is Eric Courtney. He is from Clarksburg. When he was 7 years old, he went to a Showbiz Pizza lock-in. Now he lives in Los Angeles, and he stays up more than you.

This video (made by filmmaker James Markidis) deserves to go viral. Make it happen.

WATCH: The Flaming Lips live in Parkersburg, October 2011

2011-10-31T09:18:00.009-05:00

The Flaming Lips are not a band of which I've ever been much a fan. I do, though, recognize how entertaining their shows must be and why they have achieved their success and popularity. Which is why I was so shocked to find out on Saturday that the Oklahoma band was set to play a house show in Parkersburg on Sunday night. Yes, the Flaming Lips played a house show in Parkersburg, West Virginia! Supposedly it was the brainchild of a 17-year-old girl on Twitter from the third-largest city in the state, but I am unaware of any other details behind the event. Nevertheless, here is a video of the band's introduction and a couple minutes of their first song - Dream Syndicate's "It's Halloween." I've also included a couple photos via Parkersburg native and singer/songwritier Michael Iafrate, who was in attendance. Pretty awesome.

UPDATE: Here is a longer video with more music and explanation from Wayne Coyne on how they ended up playing a house show in Parkersburg. It just gets better.

PHOTOS:

DOWNLOAD: Walt Flanagan's Dog - Discography 1998-2000

2011-10-27T09:48:00.005-05:00

Walt Flanagan's Dog was a ska-punk band. So it is unnecessary to call them rambunctious, quirky or boisterous, but these teenagers from South Charleston were just that. Despite a decent horn section, Walt Flanagan's Dog fit more into the aggressive guitar-driven side of ska-influenced punk with bands like the Bosstones, Less Than Jake and Suicide Machines - with innocently sarcastic songs about girls, two-tones and steak. The band was fronted by the rowdy Justin Leonard, who was equal parts Dropkick Murphys and the Beastie Boys. In fact, Leonard later became known as hip-hop producer L-No for Meuwl and Rabble Rousers.

Though, I only got to see Walt Flanagan's Dog a handful of times upon a reunion of sorts in 2000, they were a band that always seemed to have fun. I will not lie - these recordings aren't the best productions. But while singing voices often crack, horns miss notes, or audio levels fade in an out, WFD were a group of ambitious, creative teenagers attempting to play a style of music not many others in the state did. And well over ten years later, Justin Leonard continues to be one of my favorite people I have ever met thanks to the music scene in West Virginia.

Artist: Walt Flanagan's Dog
Album: Discography 1998-2000
Year: 1998-2000
For fans of: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Less Than Jake, Suicide Machines

DOWNLOAD: Walt Flanagan's Dog - Discography 1998-2000

DOWNLOAD: Samuel - Lives of Insects / Self-Titled 7"

2011-10-20T09:57:00.005-05:00

Though Samuel was a short-lived project from ex-members of Junction and Glendale (including J Marinelli) they managed to record a pair of memorable releases for Art Monk Construction including the Lives of Insects EP and a self-titled 7" before doing 1995's split with Texas Is the Reason.

As one blog writes of Lives of Insects: "[Samuel was] streamlined and no-nonsense, guitars that roared, and a vocalist more than capable of issuing bitter denunciations and offhand lyrical putdowns in an instant. The group’s ability to encompass so much without being easily pigeonholed is why these songs still sting."

Artist: Samuel
Albums: Lives of Insects / Self-Titled 7"
Year: 1994 / 1995
For fans of: Shudder To Think, Split Lip, Samiam

DOWNLOAD: Samuel - Lives of Insects
DOWNLOAD: Samuel - Self-Titled 7"

WATCH: Samuel live in 1994

2011-10-19T09:08:00.004-05:00

Here is a couple of videos of Samuel playing in Pennsylvania in 1994.

DOWNLOAD: Samuel/Texas Is the Reason - Split

2011-10-17T16:15:00.012-05:00

J Marinelli has been a name to appear frequently on this blog. From his solo efforts to his involvement in Glendale or current Lexington, Kentucky-based rock outfit Arcane Rifles, Marinelli has been playing quality music for a number of years. In the mid-'90s, he also played guitar for Samuel, a female-fronted post-hardcore-ish rock band from D.C./State College. One of the band's few releases was a 1995 split 7" with New York City's Texas Is the Reason, who gained a bit of popularity in the emo scene and courted major label interest before disbanding.

On the split, as is the case with Samuel, the standout feature is the aggressively beautiful vocals from Vanessa Downing, who also played in Junction with Jay Demko. The music is crunchy and emotive with pop sensibilities, which has invited comparisons to Doghouse recording artists Shudder to Think or Split Lip. The track from Texas Is the Reason later appeared in shortened form on their Revelation Records full-length Do You Know Who You Are?, which gained the band its success, but is not as good as their earlier, more Quicksand-influenced material.

Aritst: Samuel
Album: Split w/ Texas Is the Reason
Year: 1995
For fans of: Split Lip, Shudder to Think, Junction

DOWNLOAD: Samuel/Texas Is the Reason - Split

WATCH: Daniel Johnston - Devil Town

2011-10-14T08:52:00.004-05:00

I have been living in Austin, Texas (with a short stint away) since 2005. Last year I began photographing high school football for the newspaper. As this football season started up, a good friend ranted about the television series Friday Night Lights, which was shot almost entirely in and around Austin. I have never been one for watching television series, but since it was on Netflix, I checked out the pilot. Next thing I knew, I had watched five episodes. Now I love the show. So when I finished the first season last night, I was particularly excited by the song at the end of the episode - "Devil Town" by Daniel Johnston, a West Virginia native who became a cult musician and artist while living in Austin. Though the song was less excitedly performed by Bright Eyes, I was still happy to hear it. So here is a video accompanied by Johnston's original version of the song from his album 1990. And if you haven't watched Friday Night Lights... do.

Arm - Arm LP / Simple Victim 7"

2011-10-13T10:00:00.002-05:00

I trust Brian Pauley. When he sends me music, the odds that I will enjoy it are high. Camel Beast and Pu' Rens were both impressive Charleston-area bands with which I was not familiar. So when Brian sent me an e-mail saying, "This... is a band called Arm. They came from Minneapolis, Minnesota. 3 piece band. Amazing. My favorite band that came to Common Grounds," I was very excited. Brian said he booked these guys in the mid-90s on a show with Dirt Bear, Flood and Seven. Local show-goers responded so positively, Arm returned not long after to play to a good crowd despite no local support. Upon their visit, they left Brian with these two records - a 7" and self-released LP.

"Great songs. Great band," Brian said, and he is right. This is right up my alley - mid-'90s post-hardcore in the vein of Drive Like Jehu, Fugazi, Unwound or Lungfish. Arm would have fit well somewhere between the AmRep and Dischord rosters - subtle, noisy, melodic and abrasive with a lot of energetic flair. (The "Simple Victim" 7" was produced by AmRep's Tim Mac and released on Lori Barbero's Spanish Fly Records.) It wasn't until years after the band's demise that they gained much popularity. That may have had something with Arm's drummer Bobby Drake going on to play in The Hold Steady, and bassist Nate Grumdahl was in Selby Tigers. Nevertheless, I am really into both of these records. So if you're into any of the bands I mentioned, AmRep or Dischord, or just post-hardcore in general, check this out. I really wish I could have seen them play at the Common Grounds.

Artist: Arm
Albums: Arm LP / Simple Victim 7"
Years: 1996 / 1995
For fans of: Drive Like Jehu, Fugazi, Unwound

DOWNLOAD: Arm - Arm LP
DOWNLOAD: Arm - Simple Victim 7"

WATCH: Death & Co. live at the Blossom in Charleston, 1989

2011-10-12T14:02:00.005-05:00

This isn't just a video of a fantastic performance by Keith Dunleavy and Jon Nathan's post-Unwanted Christmas Presents band Death & Co. playing at the Blossom in Charleston. It also shows some shaky but great footage of downtown Charleston in 1989 and some scene kids hanging out. The info says it is on Virginia Street, but the Blossom Deli was/is on Quarrier, and in the beginning of the video the kids are hanging out on Hale Street next door to where the excellent Stray Dog Antiques is now. I find it unfortunately ironic that in the video that Keith (in the black turtleneck) comments to the filmmaker who replies, "Just getting you beatniks while you're still alive." Less than a year later Keith died in a car accident. Also, based on the way they dress, I could be convinced that this was filmed recently on the east side of Austin. (Charleston's music scene didn't always have bad style.)

Of course, the highlight of this video is Death & Co.'s performance. I really wish I could track down recordings of this band - if recordings exist. I hope someone sees this and can give me some more information. Below is Death & Co. covering Echo and the Bunnymen's "Do It Clean" and Keith reading poetry at the same show.

WATCH: Unwanted Christmas Presents live in Morgantown, 1988

2011-10-11T14:35:00.002-05:00

I love Unwanted Christmas Presents, and I love this video of the duo playing in Morgantown. The performance is simple and raw but I find it to be powerful and beautiful - half punk, half poetry. Keith Dunleavy died less than two years after this, and it's a shame, as I think he could have become quite iconic in the music scene.

LISTEN: Unwanted Christmas Presents - LP

2011-10-04T09:06:00.008-05:00

As I mentioned Friday in a post about The Mad Daddys, Unwanted Christmas Presents were brought to my attention by my friend Eric who read about them on the Terminal-Boredom forum. UCP was an improvisational garage-noise punk band from Charleston in the mid- to late-80s. The duo was made up of Keith Dunleavy on vocals and Jon Nathan on guitar/percussion/electronics. Dunleavy, who along with Nathan also played in Death & Co., died in a car accident in 1990 at the age of 26. By that point he had already established himself as a sort of Jim Shephard of West Virginia. As an experimental rock cult figure in the region, Dunleavy was seemingly as controversial and confrontational as he was creative and brilliant. It is difficult to compare Unwanted Christmas Presents to any other bands. The music is abrasive and sleazy punk rock but with a poetic and bluesy backbone to it that brings to mind the MC5, Pere Ubu or Cheater Slicks. While UCP may not be easily approachable by those who don't listen to artists from the In the Red, Siltbreeze or Flying Nun rosters, there is a beauty to the songs. It is a tragedy that Keith Dunleavy died so young - the cause of which I do not know. Jon Nathan did an interview with Negative Guest List magazine (of Australia) in 2010 that my friend is trying to track down. Maybe that will shed some light on this somewhat mysterious Charleston band, who only hinted at their potential to exist among some truly great experimental noise acts from that era. So take a listen to these two tracks from the band's LP, which was recorded in the late '80s but not unearthed until 1993 by Electrocution Records. This is a truly fantastic piece of West Virginia punk rock history.

LISTEN: Unwanted Christmas Presents - Industrial Death
LISTEN: Unwanted Christmas Presents - Everything Is Fine

LISTEN: The Mad Daddys - Nancy

2011-09-30T14:27:00.006-05:00

It is safe to say that Keith Dunleavy is an unknown name to most, even within the West Virignia music scene. In fact, I didn't know of him or his music ventures until a couple years ago when my friend Eric read about Keith's band Unwanted Christmas Presents on the Terminal Boredom forum, where members came to blows discussing the controversial band's greatness. I bought the Unwanted Christmas Present record, originally released in the late '80s, from the band's guitar player/drummer Jon Nathan. It was wonderful to discover that there was a band from Charleston that made such gritty and visceral punk rock, and was decades ahead of its time.

I have come across some fantastic videos and recordings of some of Dunleavy's projects, and I am very excited to share them. This live audio recording is of Dunleavy's band The Mad Daddys playing at his residence in Charleston on New Year's Even 1985-6. It is more approachable than Unwanted Christmas Presents, less punk than another of his bands Death & Co., and sort of reminds me of Velvet Underground or Pere Ubu. This video also features some old images of Charleston, which is fun to see.

LISTEN: Sundown - Mansion Burning

2011-09-29T09:00:00.003-05:00

On Monday I posted the demo from Charleston accordion-driven punk-pop band P'u Rens, which featured Dustin White on bass. Nowadays, Dustin is living in Columbus, Ohio, playing in a new band Sundown. The "psych-folk" group recently released this six-song cassette, which you can stream below via Bandcamp. Sundown is comparable to other bands of the sub-genre including Grizzly Bear or Deerhoof, with a mix of folk rock and electronic noise. It is enjoyable stuff that has the potential of gaining popularity with Pitchfork readers. The band recently played a gig at The Empty Glass in Charleston, and did an interview withe Charleston Gazette, in which Dustin talks about his Appalachian roots.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thisissundown.bandcamp.com/album/mansion-burning"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;MANSION BURNING! by sundown&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

DOWNLOAD: P'u Rens - Hocus Polka

2011-09-26T11:37:00.010-05:00

Blog contributor Brian Pauley (of Shindig and Dirt Bear) recently sent me this demo by P'u Rens, which he called one of the funnest and most underrated bands from the Charleston area. P'u Rens were an experimental punk-pop band that featured an accordion played by Joseph Moore. The band also included Paul Francke whose project Alsace Lorraine got decent press a few years back, as well as Dustin White (Dead Ant Farm). Recorded at the Cave at some point in the mid-'90s, "Hocus Polka" brings to mind the intellectual amateurishness of punk acts like The Dead Milkmen, and the playful pop sensibility of They Might Be Giants and Ween. The music is often boisterous and ironic, but always intelligent and well-executed. And despite the use of the accordion, xylophone and other non-traditional punk instruments, "Hocus Polka" is very listenable for all 22 short tracks (only two of which are over 3 minutes).

Artist: P'u Rens

Album: Hocus Polka
Year: Mid-'90s
For fans of: The Dead Milkmen, Ween, They Might Be Giants

DOWNLOAD: P'u Rens - Hocus Polka

WATCH: Down To None live in Charleston, 1999

2011-09-23T09:36:00.003-05:00

Here is Down To None playing the American Legion in Charleston in 1999. At this point, the band had ditched its second singer and was rejoined by original bassist Jared Stephens. Also, the music had started moving more into the direction of melodic hardcore. Unfortunately, the video is a bit Blair Witch Project-esque and is just snippets of a few different songs. Though, I think I recognize myself (with a thick neck) along with friends Ryan McCullough (later of Down Goes Frazier) and Justin Leonard (Day One Media) among a mob signing along with Dana toward the end. After the closing of the Common Grounds, the American Legion became a great DIY venue for all-ages shows. I believe this was one of the first Dana put together there.

DOWNLOAD: Down To None - 180°

2011-09-21T08:41:00.009-05:00

Before Dana White captained Holden Caulfield for nearly a decade, even before he joined Malicious Intent as a second vocalist for a short time, he fronted Down To None. Made up of members from the Charleston and Huntington areas, Down To None formed in 1997. Within the next year, the band had already made a couple personnel changes including adding a second vocalist. In 1998, Down To None recorded this 12-song tape that showcases the band's diverse style. While it is simplest to place DTN into the hardcore genre, listening to this album now, I am more reminded of bands such as Helmet, Clutch or Rollins Band. I love Dana's vocals in Down To None - they are gutsy unlike his more throaty style in Holden Caulfield, and his memorable lyrics are angry and straight forward. Unfortunately, second vocalist Kevin weakens the band's ferocity with a less sincere presence on tracks such as "Mask" and "Closer Than Blood" (on which his voice actually cracks like Peter Brady). It is guitarist Duane's detuned crunchy riffs that remind me most of Helmet, and help make this somewhat dated album still enjoyable as I listen to it today. Dana was a great influence on my interest in hardcore music and my involvement in the West Virginia music scene for many years. Listening to this album reminds me of that and makes me proud to have known him for so many years, so I am proud to share it.

Artist: Down To None
Album: 180°
Year: 1998
For fans of: Helmet, Clutch, Rollins Band

DOWNLOAD: Down To None - 180°

WATCH: A night at the Common Grounds coffeehouse in Charleston, 1997

2011-09-20T11:15:00.004-05:00

I came across these videos a while back while doing a search on YouTube. The videos, shot in 1997, are almost 30 minutes worth of footage from a Band Slam at the Common Grounds coffeehouse in Charleston. The all-ages venue on Summers Street was a fantastic space to see shows before it closed in the late '90s for a multitude of reasons. After multiple two-hour road trips from Bridgeport to Charleston, it was at the Common Grounds that I formed a lot of friendships with fellow showgoers from the Kanawha Valley and discovered a lot of new music. It was there that I saw local bands like Malicious Intent, Westbygod, Shindig and many more, as well touring acts such as Fugazi and Codeseven. Though I wasn't at the show from the videos, I did recognize a lot of people I know from footage of the crowd and performances from Dead Ant Farm and other local groups (most of them pretty bad). Seeing the mid-'90s fashion sense of Charlestonians is an embarrassing reminder of my youth, but the videos succeed in making me sentimental for a scene that was a lot of fun. I wish I could think owner Bob Webb for giving us such a place. I'll never forget that fucking carpet.

READ: Digital Millennium Copyright Act takes down Karma to Burn post

2011-09-15T09:34:00.003-05:00

This morning, I received the following e-mail from Blogger concerning the post of Karma To Burn's Wild Wonderful Purgatory:

Blogger has been notified, according to the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), that certain content in your blog is alleged to infringe upon the copyrights of others. As a result, we have reset the post(s) to \"draft\" status. (If we did not do so, we would be subject to a claim of copyright infringement, regardless of its merits. The URL(s) of the allegedly infringing post(s) may be found at the end of this message.) This means your post - and any images, links or other content - is not gone. You may edit the post to remove the offending content and republish, at which point the post in question will be visible to your readers again.
A bit of background: the DMCA is a United States copyright law that provides guidelines for online service provider liability in case of copyright infringement. If you believe you have the rights to post the content at issue here, you can file a counter-claim. For more information on our DMCA policy, including how to file a counter-claim, please see http://www.google.com/dmca.html.
The notice that we received, with any personally identifying information removed, will be posted online by a service called Chilling Effects athttp://www.chillingeffects.org. We do this in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). You can search for the DMCA notice associated with the removal of your content by going to the Chilling Effects search page at http://www.chillingeffects.org/search.cgi, and entering in the URL of the blog post that was removed.
If it is brought to our attention that you have republished the post without removing the content/link in question, then we will delete your post and count it as a violation on your account. Repeated violations to our Terms of Service may result in further remedial action taken against your Blogger account including deleting your blog and/or terminating your account. If you have legal questions about this notification, you should retain your own legal counsel.

Whatever.

DOWNLOAD: Shindig - Trendy Music For Trendy Kids

2011-09-14T09:58:00.007-05:00

Around 1995, Richie Ray was in Dead Ant Farm, Brian Pauley in Dirt Bear, Ray Davis in Seven and Ronnie Stricklen in The Happy Foundation. Then most of those bands broke up, and the four gentlemen joined together with Brian Spangler of Seven to form The Pumpernickels. After Spangler left the band due to military commitments, the band changed its name to Shindig, wrote new songs, kept some Pumpernickels songs and recorded a demo with Scott Robinson. This is that first recording that introduced Shindig's energetically wry brand of pop punk that came out in the midst of a good time for the genre when labels like Fat Wreck, Epitaph and Lookout were at their peak. With a lot of "woah oh oh" sing-a-longs, Shindig could be thrown in with bands like The Queers or Mr. T Experience but less Ramones influence. Instead, Shindig's style is more poppy, less punk. The music is aggressive but played with a positive attitude. The lyrics - which are about girls, friends or just having fun - are sarcastic but not bitter, which is often the case in pop punk. It's more along the lines of a more mature Blink 182 or less annoying New Found Glory.

Not long after putting out this tape, Shindig played a show at the Drop Shop in Huntington to "win" the opportunity to play X-Fest. The winner was determined by votes at the door, and because no one knew Shindig, they lost by a landslide. In spite of that, the radio promoter was so impressed by the band's performance, Shindig was selected to play the festival, after which the band's regional popularity took off. Deservedly. Though their biggest audience was teenage girls, which became a bit of a running joke with the band, Shindig wrote good, catchy and memorable poppy punk.

Artist: Shindig
Album: Trendy Music for Trendy Kids
Year: 1995
For fans of: Blink 182, New Found Glory, The Queers

DOWNLOAD: Shindig - Trendy Music For Trendy Kids

WATCH: Appalachian Terror Unit live in London, 2011

2011-09-13T08:39:00.005-05:00

Huntington's Appalachian Terror Unit is a hard working band and has spent much of 2011 traveling the world playing their eco-conscious brand of crust-punk metal. With a powerful message of ending mountain top removal as just one of the band's platforms, they have spread awareness to new audiences. Here is a video of Appalachian Terror Unit playing ScumFest in London back in May. ATU headlined Friday night of the DIY benefit festival, which also featured Extreme Noise Terror, Fuk and Shades of Grey (<-- so good). This is a great band from West Virginia that I just never see people from the state mentioning.

WATCH: The Demon Beat - You Got It, live at SXSW, 2010

2011-09-09T08:24:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I posted the The Rozwell Kid, the power-pop rock solo effort from Jordan Hudkins. Here is a video of The Demon Beat, for which Jordan drums. The garage-soul-rock band (I don't listen to the Black Keys, but I imagine it is comparable) is from Shepherdstown, but here they are playing in Austin at South by Southwest in 2010. Sounds good, and they seem to be very talented (teeth-played guitar solo) and professional musicians, but I must say I am really digging Jordan's solo project.

LISTEN: The Rozwell Kid - LP

2011-09-08T09:47:00.004-05:00

The Rozwell Kid is the solo project of Jordan Hudkins, who drums for The Demon Beat. I'm actually not that familiar with The Demon Beat, who is a garage rock band out of Shepherdstown (my favorite town in West Virginia). I tried to go see them in Austin once, but on the day of the show they were no longer on the bill. The Rozwell Kid moves away from the style of The Demon Beat and instead play "noisy power-pop" that "recalls the earlier, glory days of acts like Weezer and the more amplified side of Ben Kweller and Spoon." Living in Austin, I've come to despise Spoon, but I certainly love early Weezer, and I see where Jordan is coming from. Rozwell certainly rings of mid-'90s big guitar pop rock. I have to say, the songs on this LP are quite enjoyable. You can stream the album here or download it for free via bandcamp.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rozwellkid.bandcamp.com/album/the-rozwell-kid-lp"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Rozwell Kid LP by Rozwell Kid&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

DOWNLOAD: Ahimsa - The End of a Lifetime of Fear

2011-09-07T11:48:00.006-05:00

Around 1998, I was contacted by a Wheeling band that was interested in playing shows in the Clarksburg area. I received a pair of tapes and some info on Ahimsa, and was surprised to find out that there was a straight edge and vegan-conscious hardcore band from West Virginia that I didn't already know. Not long after I got the tapes, I met Josh Mason. Josh as visiting a friend in my hometown Bridgeport who had just moved there from New Martinsville, where Josh lived. Being straight-edge and into hardcore and emo alike, Josh and I quickly became friends. The gap between the north central West Virginia and the northern panhandle was soon bridged.

I was introduced to the likes of Killed at Camp, Mikey Iafrate and Once Again. I headed north many times to see Ahimsa, who also became friends of mine. It was exciting to discover a new scene in my own state, so I began booking shows with both bands from my area and the panhandle. It has a merger that has never turned back, and I'm proud to still consider many of those guys from the north my friends.

That said, The End of a Lifetime of Fear was Ahimsa's first CD and its last release before the band broke up. With influences from youth crew (Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits), knrishna-core (Shelter) and mid-90s straight edge (Earth Crisis, Culture), Ahimsa played a style of hardcore that was confrontational and angst-ridden but lively and at times melodic with passionate, culturally-conscious lyrical content dealing with issues such as rape, violence and veganism. After the band's break-up, guitarist Wes Ebling went on to form Klopeks Furnace, which was one of my favorite West Virginia hardcore bands.

Artist: Ahimsa
Album: The End of a Lifetime of Fear
Year: 1999
For fans of: Youth of Today, Shelter, Earth Crisis

DOWNLOAD: Ahimsa - The End of a Lifetime of Fear

WATCH: Neutral Agreement - Silicone and Confidence

2011-09-02T08:58:00.004-05:00

Earlier this week, I posted a download of Neutral Agreement's album I Bet You Never Thought. As I mentioned, not long after I was introduced to the band, singer/guitarist Matthew McDowell left the band. As a three-piece, guitarist Bryan Patterson took over vocal duties, and the band also changed drummers. The re-shaped band returned with a new style that took on influences from slightly heavier post-hardcore bands like Thrice and Thursday but still maintaining elements of pop punk. In 2003, they released The Joyful Facade, for which they recorded this video for the song "Silicone and Confidence." The video was shot at the Frederick Hotel in Huntington in the old ballroom, which we stumbled upon while doing a photo shoot (above). I'll be posting the album next week.

DOWNLOAD: Worn Thin - Demo

2011-09-01T08:37:00.004-05:00

Around 2000, I played in a band that shall remain forgotten. But one of the highlights of playing in unsaid group was the bands with which we shared the stage. I'm not talking bands of mediocre accomplishment like Thursday, Breaking Pangaea or Zao, but the fellow up-and-coming hardcore and punk acts from the region. One of my band's early shows was at 123 Pleasant Street in Morgantown. Though we were hardly impressive (aside from maybe our stage antics), we received some excitedly kind words from Carlos, singer of Worn Thin. He and I hit it off immediately as he's the type of guy with whom it is difficult not to get along. Then Worn Thin played. They were a fairly new band out of the D.C. area, and their melodic hardcore style rang of Lifetime, of whom I was a big fan at the time.

Carlos and I kept in touch over the next couple years. My band soon called it quits, and his band's style changed more into D.C. youth crew hardcore punk, losing much of its melodic elements. Worn Thin recorded a number of records for different labels and members went on to play in Police & Thieves, Trapped Under Ice and others. But more than ten years after that show, I've held onto this four-song demo on a burned CD. While it's not the most original material (what is?), Lifetime-esque hardcore will always have a place in my heart. As will those times of playing fun shows with new bands and meeting good people. That is why I got into that damn scene in the first place. This demo just reminds me of that.

Artist: Worn Thin
Album: Demo
Year: 2000
For fans of: Lifetime, Gorilla Biscuits, Turning Point

DOWNLOAD: Worn Thin - Demo

WATCH: Freelancers web series

2011-08-31T10:44:00.008-05:00

The first time I saw my good friend and fellow West Virginia expat Erica Lies perform comedy was as part of an improv troupe in New York City upon a visit in 2005 (I think). One skit called for the audience to recommend a place you'd go on Spring Break, and I shouted "coal mine," which the cast used for a performance that made me proud. Soon after I moved to Austin for grad school, and a year later Erica, a Morgantown native, followed for the same reason. Since then, my former roommate has been heavily involved in the improv community in Austin, as well as hard at work on a new web series over the past year.

The series "Freelancers" is about two freelancing friends living the post-college career dream of offering a creative life, flexible schedule, and never working for “the man.” But navigating life as a freelancer can be perilous at best for the most talented and tragically hilarious for the hopelessly hapless. Freelancers explores the latter as a work-place comedy about the self-employed. It follows ambitious would-be journalist Anna Feils (Erica Lies), a plucky twenty-something with Joan Didion aspirations but sub-TMZ skills. Her march toward success is alternately aided and upended by the self-aggrandizing Mark (Ted Meredith), a libertarian yoga instructor.

Written by Erica and Ted, the series is based on real-life experiences. "Freelancers" has produced six episodes, and has received positive words from local critics. "The web series totally gets it," said the Austinist, and Austin Eavesdropper wrote, "Something almost every twenty- (or thirty-) something can relate to." As a freelancer myself, I can only agree, and as awkward as it is to watch my friend on screen, the series is quite funny. All episodes are available on the series' YouTube channel, but you can check out the first three here.

Episode 1

Episode 2

Episode 3

DOWNLOAD: Neutral Agreement - I Bet You Never Thought...

2011-08-30T09:25:00.007-05:00

The first time I saw Neutral Agreement was at the Brickhouse in St. Albans around 2002. I had never heard the band before, but I knew they were described by many as Christian pop punk. For someone who is not religious and had grown past said genre of music at that point in my life, I'm sure I approached the show with a sense of cynicism. Over the next half an hour, I bore witness to one of the most energetic, passionate and sincere performance from a local band I had ever seen. The instruments were loud, they sang from their guts and they were tight but still with a sense of improvisation. While they made coordinated jumps, posed with their instruments and fell to their knees like I had seen many bands do, it seemed less contrived. At the end of the show the quartet stopped played, turn toward one another, raised a hand in the air and finished with a song of prayer. Had I not just been shocked by such a powerful performance, the cynic in me would have walked out. Yet I remained, excited to meet the guys in the band, who I saw and photographed a dozens times after. They are guys with whom I became good friends for years after this first performance.

Unfortunately for Neutral Agreement, who were from Hurricane, their live performance was so impressive, any recording couldn't quite do the band justice. I Bet You Never Thought... hints at the band's ability to write a heartfelt punk song with catchy hooks, but doesn't do well to represent the band's spirit and vigor. Following in the footsteps of youthfully sentimental acts Further Seems Forever, Juliana Theory or The Get Up Kids, Neutral Agreement play a brand of rock that is sweet and upbeat yet at times urgent and volatile. Matthew McDowell's untrained vocals ring of characteristics of many late '90s emo-punk bands - at times nasal or off-key but always earnest. While the band's instrumentation certainly matured over the following the year, dual Les Pauls provide an enjoyable crunch, especially on the album's highlight "Five Hours to Elwood."

Neutral Agreement eventually became a three-piece and took on a new style after McDowell moved onto real world obligations. Bassist Matthew Jenkins has continued to run Future Destination Records, which put out the band's albums as well as a number of nationally touring groups. I miss that guy. In fact, I miss all these guys and the sincerity with which they played that few bands from the region could ever touch.

Artist: Neutral Agreement
Album: I Bet You Never Thought...
Year: 2002
For fans of: Further Seems Forever, The Juliana Theory, Get Up Kids

DOWNLOAD: Neutral Agreement - I Bet You Never Thought...

LOOK: Viva La Revolución de Appalachia T-shirt campaign

2011-08-29T12:49:00.004-05:00

For nearly two years, I've spent a lot of time on this blog promoting other artists. Because of that, I am going to justify this shameless self-promotion.

In 2007, I was living in McDowell County, West Virginia, working on a documentary photo project. As I was deeply in touch with my Appalachian pride at the time, I wanted a way to show it off. So I designed the Viva La Revolución de Appalachia T-shirt. I did an edition of fifty shirts, which received a great response. Four years later, I've done five runs of the shirt, each in limited editions on different colors. While I donated the slim profits from the first couple editions to the Big Creek People in Action non-profit in McDowell, I have since used the income (of which there is not much) to support Appalachia awareness projects such as photography exhibitions, community discussions or even this blog.

My goal was to make something that people would wear to show off their pride of a region I love, as well as to encourage awareness or discourse of cultural, political, social or environmental issues in Appalachia. Where I understand it's not much, I am proud that it is anything.

With that said, I am currently accepting pre-orders on the newest edition of the shirt, which is red ink on a light blue garment. (Maybe my favorite yet.) The shirts are $20 each, and that includes shipping. If you are interested, please order today. As always, the edition is limited to about 50. And thanks to everybody who has supported this project over the last few years. Click here for ordering information. Viva La Revolución de Appalachia!

WATCH: O Lendário Chucrobillyman live in Lexington, 2011

2011-08-25T10:02:00.004-05:00

Klaus Koti is known as O Lendário Chucrobillyman, a one-man band from Brazil who wears his Hasil Adkins influence on his sleeve. Koti's The Chicken Album gives a nod to the West Virginia rockabilly madman who recorded an album by the name of Poultry in Motion. Koti's album features tracks such as "Chicken Flow" and "Chicken Strangle." Adkins had a multitude of similarly-named songs - "Chicken Walk," "Chicken Flop" and "Chicken Run" to name a few. Other songs on Koti's album are "Love Miner" and "Whiskey River," which seemingly are also nods to his Appalachian songwriting influence. The music of O Lendário Chucrobillyman lives up to the influence, which is why it received such high praise from fellow Adkins-influenced multi-instrumentalist J Marinelli, who after sharing the stage with Koti, called him the best one-man band he'd seen. Check out these videos of O Lendário Chucrobillyman's show in Lexington.

READ: Tristan Egolf - Lord of the Barnyard

2011-08-24T13:35:00.006-05:00

I was recently in Chicago visiting my old friend Aaron Flanagan (formerly of The Warriors). Aaron, a native of the Charleston area and son of a retired coal miner, is currently an instructor of creative writing at Columbia College. During my visit, Aaron was nearing the end this book - Tristan Egolf's Lord of the Barnyard: Killing the Fatted Calf and Arming the Aware in the Cornbelt. Lord of the Barnyard is a fictional biography/history of farm boy John Kaltenbrunner and the Appalachian-affected Middle America coal town of Baker from where he comes.

Salon wrote of Egolf's 1999 debut novel: "He practices a form of shotgun writing -- aim in the right direction and spray words on the page -- always searching for another country-fried turn of phrase that will one-up his last one. Egolf mixes fable, metaphor and pure anger to attack mob mentality, class warfare, the mindless media and the just-under-the-surface madness of the Midwest. His brilliantly warped, pedal-to-the-metal vision has the obsessive quirkiness of a Pynchon, the rough-and-tumble bad-assness of a Daniel Woodrell and more than a malignant touch of the Faulkner who created the Snopeses."

I'm nearly half-way through the book's 400 pages, and my anticipation builds with every new paragraph. In fact, I missed my bus stop yesterday because I was so entrenched in what was going to happen to Kaltenbrunner next. Though the author or the story have no significant relationship to West Virginia (one minor but memorable character is a Mountain State native), Lord of the Barnyard does ring of Appalachian characteristics familiar to anyone from the region. I highly recommend it. Thanks, Aaron.

WATCH: Daniel Martin Moore - Flyrock Blues

2011-08-23T13:38:00.004-05:00

I recently posted a video of Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore performing "Dear Companion", a song about a miner's letter to his wife. It is the title track from their collaborative album, which was produced by Jim James of My Morning Jacket. Also on the album is the soft-spoken track "Flyrock Blues," which is played by Moore alone. It is one of my favorite tracks on the album - probably because he mentions West Virginia. Nevertheless, here is Moore very elegantly playing the song in a shed.

DOWNLOAD: Transistor Indiana - songsforanactivelifestyle

2011-08-22T09:11:00.002-05:00

After multiple requests, I'm finally posting this demo from yet another unfortunately short-lived Charleston-area indie rock/emo band. Transistor Indiana formed in the early 2000s around the same time as similarly-styled Apart From the Projector. In the same vein as No Knife, Burning Airlines or Trail of Dead, the Kanawha Valley quintet play a brand of rock that is aggressive, dramatic and some times sweet. A threesome of crispy guitars is fronted by Bud Carroll whose passionate vocals are backed by hollow screams. It is a sound that could have easily found the band on Jade Tree Records in the late '90s. Transistor Indiana recorded an album for North Carolina-based indie metal label Tribunal Records, but it was not released after the band broke up. What remains is this four-song teaser, while certainly representing the young musicians' ability to write quality songs, does not live up to the band's intense and provocative live performances. Carroll, along with bassist Bruno, went on to play in American Minor, but the demise of Transistor Indiana left many people in the region wanting more.

Artist: Transistor Indiana
Album: songsforanactivelifestyle
Year: Early 2000s
For fans of: No Knife, Trail of Dead, Burning Airlines

DOWNLOAD: Transistor Indiana - songsforanactivelifestyle

DOWNLOAD: My 5 favorite albums with less than 30 downloads

2011-08-17T11:01:00.000-05:00

This blog is nearly two years old, and in that time I've posted about 100 records that are available for free. Some of those records have been downloaded almost 400 times (Hasil Adkins's Peanut Butter Rock and Roll) while others have been only been received 12 hits. Some of those rarely accessed albums are ones I truly love, and it disappoints me that more people have not heard them, which was part of the goal of this blog.

I am giving some of these records a second chance. These five demos, full-lengths or discographies are my favorites that have been downloaded less than 30 times, which frankly needs to be a lot more. So here are some haikus to try to convince you to put these tunes in your digital collection.

1. The Beautiful Down - Ashes and Vanity / Of Angels and Of Men (27 downloads)

Redneck boys from Boone
In vein of At the Drive In
Christian sure can shred

2. Horns to the Matador - We Own This Town, Johnny! (15 downloads)

Big guitars play emo
Think Journey as indie rock
Broke up way too soon

3. Malicious Intent - The Sound of Diesel (29 downloads)

As thick as gravy
Lighthearted death metal punk
Changed my fucking life

4. The Dick Brothers - The Dick Brothers (16 downloads)

Iafrate bros
Listen to Hazel Dickens
Play great folk music

5. Steel Nation - Forever Wounded (13 downloads)

Nineties hardcore lives
Hard style like Biohazard
Ethan Mania

WATCH: Elvis Presley live in Charleston, 1976

2011-08-16T15:19:00.001-05:00

On the anniversary of the King's death, what could be better than some lo-fi footage of Elvis performing in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1976.

WATCH: M Iafrate & the Priesthood - Song of Songs live in Morgantown, 2010

2011-08-15T09:40:00.008-05:00

"Song of Songs" by M Iafrate is one of my top five favorite songs by a West Virginia artist. In fact, of the tens of thousands of songs I have in my iTunes, it is a top play. The track was first an acoustic number part of M Iafrate's impressive 2003 split with Sean Decker. A flawless full-band electronic version was later recorded for M Iafrate & the Priesthood's 2005 album O Happy Marriage. Here is the band performing the excellent song last year at 123 Pleasant Street in Morgantown where they opened for Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. The performance also features Iafrate's brother Andrew Iafrate on acoustic guitar. A former member of The Minus Tide, Killed at Camp and others, M Iafrate is still making great music, which you can hear on his bandcamp page. And much thanks to Iafrate for sporting the Viva La Revolución de Appalachia t-shirt on stage.

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Superchrist

2011-08-12T09:14:00.002-05:00

Today is actually the first time I've ever listened to Superchrist, Sam Black Church's final release on Taang! Though it was released in 1995, around the time I got into the band, my CD collection never grew past Let In Life and Boston LP. On Superchrist, SBC make its most drastic move away from sounding like Bad Brains and more into the vein of Clutch or other more alternative metal bands, which a lot of Boston bands were doing at the time (i.e. 454 Big Block, Tree). It's not my favorite material by the band, but it's still SBC and it's still listentable, especially for fans of bands like Clutch, Helmet or Rollins Band.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Superchirst
Year: 1995
For fans of: Clutch, Helmet, Rollins Band

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Superchrist

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Boston EP

2011-08-11T09:25:00.002-05:00

If you've listened to Let In Life, you've heard half the songs on this EP - "Infernal Machine" and "Big Barbecue." The self-titled EP came out on Taang! in 1994, just before Let In Life, but I honestly believe it is better production than the full-length. The highlight of the album is Sam Black Church's cover of "Disco Inferno," which they seamlessly move into at the end of "Big Barbecue." As corny as it could be, somehow it works. And understanding the time and place of the scene of which they were a part, I respect this band for never taking themselves too seriously.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Boston EP
Year: 1994
For fans of: Bad Brains, Cro-Mags, Clutch

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Boston EP

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Unincorporated

2011-08-10T09:45:00.003-05:00

Unincorporated was the first 7" from Sam Black Church. Originally released in 1989, it was re-released with some additional tracks in 1999 by Wonderdrug Records. The original four-song 7" featured demo versions of "Big Barbecue" and "Captatin of the World" which both appear on later albums as they're the band's most standout tracks. The difference between Unincorporated and later recordings is on this album, Sam Black Church sound particularly by Bad Brains, but replace the reggae undertone with a heavy metal overtone. It is Jet's vocals, on these recordings especially, that echo H.R.'s hyper, fast-talking style on I Against I until Jet lets out a guttural roar to remind you of SBC's unique formula. The early pressings of this 7" are a gem among the hardcore-metal scene in the northeast, and there is a reason, it is brilliant. In no way to slight any of SBC's later material, in which they further discovered their own style, but this is my favorite material. It combines the finer elements of punk-hardcore bands like Bad Brains, Cro-Mags and Gang Green and throws in some speed metal. And not to forget their Appalachian roots in Greenbrier County - hence the album cover - which makes it all that much better.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Unincorporated
Year: 1989/1999
For fans of: Bad Brains, Cro-Mags, Motörhead

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Unincorporated

WATCH: Sam Black Church live in Boston, 1997

2011-08-09T08:53:00.004-05:00

Sam Black Church is one of those bands that I never got to see before the broke up that I really wish I could have. Though they are from Boston, they break from the mold of angry Beantown bands like Wrecking Crew, Blood For Blood and other bands with which they shared the stage. On stage, Jet is like a cheerleader - always with a smile on his face, he never quits moving and firing up the audience by clapping, waving and leaping. (His stage mannerisms are an obvious influence on Holden Caulfield's Dana White, who introduced me to the band in the mid-'90s.) And like one of my favorite bands Guided By Voices, the band's songs seem to come to life on stage compared to the soft-spoken versions on record. I believe these guys were in the Charleston-Huntington area in the around 1996 with Tree, and I regret not being there.

Anyway, here are a couple videos from the SBC's 10th Anniversary show in Boston. Opening for the band were Gang Green, Blood for Blood, Karma to Burn and others, which shows the respect that the scene had for these guys. In 2007, when SBC reunited for a 20th Anniversary performance, it was Madball who opened.

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Let In Life

2011-08-08T09:24:00.010-05:00

Sam Black Church was a moderately successful band from Boston in the mid to late-'90s. Playing an original blend of metal, hardcore, thrash and even elements of jazz, the band's multifarious style allowed them to share bills with a diversity of acts such as Bad Brains, Cro-Mags, Motörhead, Clutch and Helmet. The band put out three records on Boston's Taang! Records (Gang Green, Mighty Might Bosstones, Lemonheads) and a pair of other releases. But Sam Black Church was probably best known for their wild, energetic live shows - vocalist Jet's aerial acrobats and epic leaps into the crowd from atop stage speakers earned the band a reputation.

So why am I writing about a band from Boston on this blog? Because the group's core members Jet, guitarist Ben and drummer J.R. were all from Greenbrier County, West Virginia, before moving to Boston for college and forming the band, which is named after a small town in their home county. They were soon playing shows with Slapshot and Wrecking Crew before recording their first demo. Let In Life, SBC's first full-length, was releaed on Taang! in 1993, and though not the best recording quality, does well to represent the band's unique brand of dynamic metalcore that is quite underrated and also unknown to many West Virginia music fans nowadays.

Artist: Sam Black Church
Album: Let In Life
Year: 1993
For fans of: Bad Brains, Helmet, Motörhead

DOWNLOAD: Sam Black Church - Let In Life

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - Bear It All

2011-08-04T13:57:00.003-05:00

Now that the demos have been posted, here it is again (with my own updated artwork) - one of the best records produced by a West Virginia band - Bear It All. Here are some of Brian Pauley's notes on the recording process:

"Bear It All was recorded in 1996. It was recorded on an 8-track ADAT. Digital recordings on SVHS tapes. Sort of done the same way as the 4-tracks. Seven tracks of drums running through a mixing board and then bounced down to one track. However, only the drums were recorded first. Andy and Billy would play bass and guitar through a scratch track. Meaning they were playing along with me, I could hear them, but it wasn't being recorded. We'd bounce the drums down to 1 track and have 7 tracks to add everything else. I think this is when we started doubling up the guitar track to make it thicker. So basically you hear two guitar tracks playing the same thing. A trick Scott learned at the Recording Workshop and something he started making every band do. And since it was digital, if anyone screwed up the guitar, bass or vocals, the fixes could be punched in and you never notice."

Whatever the process, this record is heavy, crunchy, poppy, rowdy, but above all fun. And like some of the greatest indie-punk-rock bands of the mid-90s, the era of music is recognizable but the songs are still enjoyable 15 years later. I love this fucking record, and why I am posting it for the second time.

Artist: Dirt Bear
Album: Bear It All
Year: 1996
For fans of: The Jesus Lizard, Butthole Surfers, The Flaming Lips

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - Bear It All

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - Beart With Us

2011-08-03T09:04:00.003-05:00

Bear With Us is the last of the Dirt Bear demos that preceded the release of the Bear It All full-length. Released in 1995, Brian Pauley said of the album, "Personally, Bear With Us is my favorite, next to Bear It All. Bear With Us has 'The Centrifugal Force' and 'Dynamo,' which were my favorite songs to play up to that point." It's all quality in my opinion. Thanks again, Brian.

Artist: Dirt Bear
Album: Bear With Us
Year: 1995
For fans of: Meat Puppets, The Flaming Lips, Flipper

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - Beart With Us

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - We Hate It

2011-08-02T10:06:00.006-05:00

Here is We Hate It, the second of the Dirt Bear demo tapes. The fourteen tracks were also recorded in 1994 following We Love It. Like all of the Dirt Bear releases, and much of the music coming out of Charleston in the '90s, it was recorded by Scott Robinson and put out by the guys' own Cave Records. According to drummer Brian Pauley (pictured above on the album cover I made):

"All three of [the] demos were recorded on an analog 4-track recorder by Scott Robinson. Drums were mic'd up thru the mixing board and then fed into one track. The guitar amp was mic'd up and became a separate track, and then the bass was done the same way on a third track. Scott then bounced those three tracks down to one track, thus opening up three more tracks. So ultimately, we had seven tracks to work with. Once the music was bounced to one, that allowed each vocal to have a separate track and then an open track for any other extra thing we wanted to add. Be it guitar solo or whatever. And the thing with the 4-track recordings was that the music was done live. If one of us screwed up, we had to completely start the song over. The fact that it was analog and the fact that we were just learning how to operate the damn 4-track... it just sucked."

We Hate It, though not quite as excellent as We Love It, picks up where the first demo left off. It is sleazy and fiery - like Killdozer playing pop punk. (Listen to Killdozer if you don't.) Again, thanks to Brian Jarrett for the photograph for the cover. Sorry, Pauley.

Artist: Dirt Bear
Album: We Hate It
Year: 1994
For fans of: The Jesus Lizard, Butthole Surfers, Killdozer

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - We Hate It

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - We Love It

2011-08-01T10:29:00.007-05:00

Dirt Bear remains one of my favorite ever bands from West Virginia. Despite the fact that I never got to see the raucous punk trio from Charleston play live, I wore out my cassette copy of their final album Bear It All, which I posted a while back.

I recently recent a great gift from Drummer Brian Pauley who sent me fairly clean, digital files of all the Dirt Bear demos. I can't explain how happy this makes me as I never owned these tapes, and now I can make them available on here over the next few days - starting with We Love It from 1994.

Those who are familiar with Dirt Bear will appreciate this as much as I do. Those who may not be, think instrumental abrasiveness of The Jesus Lizard with the pop sensibilities of The Flaming Lips meets the rebelliousness of Butthole Surfers. Throw in some comparisons to Dinosaur Jr., Meat Puppets or Sonic Youth for fun. It is just great '90s indie punk noise-rock. And I can't quit listening to it. Thanks again, Brian. And thanks to Nitro music scene archivist Brian Jarrett for the photo for the cover I made, as we don't have any art of the old demos.

Artist: Dirt Bear
Album: We Love It
Year: 1994
For fans of: The Jesus Lizard, The Flaming Lips, Butthole Surfers

DOWNLOAD: Dirt Bear - We Love It

WATCH: Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore - Dear Companion

2011-07-28T11:39:00.003-05:00

Danny Chiotos of the Keeper of the Mountains Foundation is always posting good stuff on Facebook (see the photo below). This video he posted today was especially enjoyable. It is Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore. Sollee is a classicly-trained cellist and Moore is a singer/songwriter. Both are from Kentucky and collaborated on the album Dear Companion, which was produced by Jim James of My Morning Jacket. Here is the duo performing the title track from the album for KEXP in Seattle. The song is about a letter from a coal miner to his wife. I'm excited to hear more from the album.

LOOK: This made me laugh

2011-07-27T08:19:00.003-05:00

Via Danny Chiotos.

READ: Harvey Pekar - Huntington, West Virginia 'On the Fly'

2011-07-26T10:55:00.004-05:00

I was at Chicago Midway Airport last night, when my flight got delayed. It was late and I was too tired to finish the book I was reading, so I went looking for some lighter reading. I was browsing the non-fiction section when the words "West Virginia" caught my eye from the spine of one book. I grabbed it and saw the title "Huntington, West Virginia 'On the Fly'" and to my surprise was from the late Harvey Pekar, the famed writer of the underground comic series American Splendor.

I have never read a comic book in my life. But like many, I became a fan of Pekar as a character and creative individual after the 2003 film adaptation of American Splendor, which starred Paul Giamatti as Pekar, who himself was featured in the film.

When I saw "On the Fly," I had to buy it because I lived many a year in Huntington, and was curious why Pekar was writing about the town. The book is, according the the back of it:

"... prime Pekar, recounting the irascible everyman’s on-the-road encounters with a cross section of characters—a career criminal turned limo-driving entrepreneur, a toy merchant obsessed with restoring a vintage diner, comic-book archivists, indie filmmakers, and children of the sixties—all of whom have stories to tell. By turns funny, poignant, and insightful, these portraits à la Pekar showcase a one-of-a-kind master at work, channeling the stuff of average life into genuine American art."

An hour or so after picking up the book, I had breezed through the 160 pages and was left with a smile on my face. The "On the Fly" story, the final of about six character portraits, takes Cleveland-native Pekar to the Huntington for a book festival. In the early pages, it capitalizes on a couple opportunities to poke fun at West Virginians, as Pekar's autobiographical character questions a a couple people's intelligence. By the end, he befriends a group of smart, creative, passionate Huntingtonians. His slice-of-life writing style captures the true open-arm nature of Applachians, and it left me proud that someone half-known as a misanthropic curmudgeon could be touched by characters with which I am so familiar.

Check it out.

WATCH: A Tale of Two TAs, a short film

2011-07-20T10:04:00.003-05:00

As I am about to head into production on a short film I've written and am directing, I thought I'd post this video. In 2006, I created a short film mockumentary for a grad class. The content may not make sense to most outside the context of my graduate school photography lab. But the premise is: Sloan impregnates Courtnay, who is dating Sloan's friend Rob. Courtnay rigs the vote for TA of the Year for Sloan to win so she can live on the prize money. Nevertheless, it features a couple songs from Parkersburg singer-songwriter M Iafrate, so maybe it's relevant here.

DOWNLOAD: Blankface - A Better Day

2011-07-18T15:40:00.005-05:00

Some time in (maybe) 1997, Dana White (eventually of Holden Caulfield) helped book a two-day hardcore/punk/indie fest at the Common Grounds in Charleston. The shows featured a number of local acts such as Malicious Intent, as well as a few out-of-town bands, including Codeseven, who was excellent. One of the other highlights of the weekend was Blankface, who was from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Though Blankface is not from West Virginia or the region, they were a part of one of my favorite local shows as a teenager. Also, after doing a little web search, their material is pretty obscure and this particular record I only found available for $30 on eBay.

This album isn't spectacular, but it is fun emo-punk in the vein of early Saves the Day, or a less-punk Lifetime or Samiam. It's melodic but also gritty and energetic with pop-punk-esque vocals and lyrical content that you would expect form a mid-90s emo band (before "emo" was a bad word). The band broke up in 1997, and guitar player Mitchell Marlow went on to play for Filter (yes, "Hey Man, Nice Shot"). Fourteen years later, I still re-visit every once in a while, so that says something.

Artist: Blankface

Album: A Better Day

Year: 1997

For fans of: Saves The Day, Lifetime, Braid

DOWNLOAD: Blankface - A Better Day

LISTEN: Tom Waits - Midnight Lullaby

2011-07-14T15:03:00.004-05:00

Tom Waits is one of my favorites - no explanation necessary. And it always exiting for me to to hear in his song "Midnight Lullaby" from 1973's Closing Time, when he sings the line, "Dream of West Virginia or of the British Isles / 'Cause when you are dreaming you see for miles and miles." Love it.

DOWNLOAD: Camel Beast - United By Hatred / Camel Beast / Lost In Bumphuc, Egypt

2011-07-11T14:17:00.004-05:00

The following is a contribution from Brian Pauley, who played drums with many Charleston-area bands in the '90s including Dirt Bear, The Povos and Shindig. Brian remains one of my favorite players from the West Virginia music scene, and I've always had a endless respect for him and his opinion. Here he shares with us his his thoughts on the Charleston band Camel Beast:

I started playing drums when I was in junior high. Bobby Hughes, who was the drummer for a local thrash metal band called Pale Hecate lived around the corner from me. Through Bobby, I became aware of all the local shows going on within the Kanawha Valley. I was introduced to other bands. It was clear that the thrash metal sound was dominating the scene. Besides Pale Hecate, there was Grey Malcomb, Diabolis, Arch Angel, and a ton of other bands trying to put their stamp on the local thrash scene. My band (Last Rites) included.
I'd say it was probably 1989... there was a show going on at the American Legion Building (the same venue we would all play years later). On the bill was Diabolis, Outface (who's singer went on to sing for Sepultura), F.U.C.T., and Camel Beast. As soon as as I heard Lee Lawler's voice, I was hooked. Camel Beast had a metal, punk, grunge (before it was cool), blues sound about them that just made them stand out. They were just different than any other band around. They just had this punk attitude about them that I instantly connected with. I was pretty narrow minded with my taste in music at that age, but Camel Beast just completely changed how I heard music. That sounds corny as hell, but it's true.
Shows were super scarce in those days. About a year or so later, I saw Camel Beast again. Again, they were amazing. I bought up the demos, but over time, lost them. If you listen... you can hear how this band had an influence on my bands (The Provos and Dirt Bear) during the early years.
It's a catch 22 with this band. Had they been around just a couple of years later, they would have been around during the Common Ground years and the Pit years, and everyone would have gotten to experience them. However, had they not been around when they were, the scene may not have gone in the direction it did. I'm serious when I say that this band pointed the scene in the direction that it went.
I can't do this band justice and maybe everyone else who listens to these songs might not feel the way that we all did back then... but this band is legendary to those of us who were a part of the scene during those super early years.
In my short conversation with Geof (I asked for permission to share these songs with everyone), I got the impression that these guys might not know how much of an impact they had on people that would later play a huge role in the Charleston music scene.

Thanks to Brian for sending in these rare Camel Beast demos.

Artist: Camel Beast

Album: United By Hatred / Camel Beast / Lost In Bumphuc, Egypt

Year: 1988 / 1989 / 1990

For Fans Of: Jane's Addiction, Fugazi, Queensryche

DOWNLOAD: Camel Beast - United By Hatred / Camel Beast / Lost In Bumphuc, Egypt

WATCH: Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. on America's Got Talent

2011-07-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

My mother sent me this video of a car washer from Logan, West Virginia, auditioning on "America's Got Talent." Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. breaks into a performance that shocks the judges (and myself). Pretty impressive Good luck to him.

WATCH: FüD (food), CD release show, 2002

2011-07-07T10:00:00.001-05:00

How did this video exist on YouTube for three months before I found it? How have only 16 people watched it before me? This is pure brilliance - a FüD (food) show in its entirety. This is their CD release show in 2002 at the Brickhouse in St. Albans - all 13 minutes of it before the show is seemingly shut down.

If you're not already familiar, FüD (food) were the Boone County duo of Mick McMick (keytar) and Orange Stuff (garbage can/drums) playing pure comically genius proto-punk. This short-lived band is still one of my favorite ever local live acts. Eccentric, sarcastic and rousing, it was always a joy to scream along to songs like "My Butts A' Bleedin!!! I'll Call Ya Back Later," "Popeye's Legs" and "Two Brothers Fucking." I truly miss their shows.

DOWNLOAD: J. Marinelli - Keep It Fake

2011-07-06T11:14:00.002-05:00

Keep It Fake is the 16-song album from Morgantown's lo-fi, one-man band legend J. Marinelli (Arcane Rifles, Glendale). Consistently drawing comparisons to Hasil Adkins and Mark E. Smith of The Fall, one reviewer writes of Keep It Fake: "Most of the songs are short pop tunes with a big dose of punk attitude and aesthetic. The disc is crammed full of loud, catchy tunes that rock, which is what pop music should be all about, at least in my mind." The track "Telephone Teeth" has always been one of the highlights of Marinelli's impressive body of solo material.

Artist: J. Marinelli
Album: Keep It Fake
Year: 2007
For Fans Of: Hasil Adkins, The Fall, Daniel Johnston

DOWNLOAD: J. Marinelli - Keep It Fake*
*Download link fixed on 31 July 2011.

DOWNLOAD: 77 in October - Sound Effects Added To Lessen Tragic Impact

2011-06-28T10:14:00.006-05:00

Hailing from Saint Clairsville, Ohio, 77 in October were part of the Wheeling area scene in the early 2000s. Self-described as an experimental hardcore punk band influenced by the likes of Radiohead, Converge and My War-era Black Flag, 77 in October played shows with the likes of The Minus Tide, Fleming and The Victory. Guitar/keys players Brian Spragg is now in Morgantown's It's Birds, as well as Pat Pat with twin brother and 77 in October bassist Patrick.

Sound Effects Added To Lessen Tragic Impact is the band's final album, which was recorded and released in 2003. It was also mastered by The Minus Tide's David Klug.

Artist: 77 in October
Album: Sound Effects Added To Lessen Tragic Impact
Year: 2003

For fans of: Converge, Deadguy, Breather Resist

DOWNLOAD: 77 in October - Sound Effects Added To Lessen Tragic Impact

WATCH: John Denver - "Country Roads" live at Mountaineer Field, 1980

2011-06-20T16:15:00.005-05:00

On June 20, 1863, West Virginia became the thirty-fifth state in the Union. Every year it is worth celebrating. And though I'm not the biggest fan of "Country Roads," almost everyone else is - and it is, in fact, the State Song. So here is a short clip of the songwriter himself John Denver performing the song at Mountaineer Field in 1980. (Via Josh Exline.)

Happy Birthday, West Virginia.

READ: Aaron Patrick Flanagan essay on Sago featured in Tarpaulin Sky

2011-05-25T09:31:00.008-05:00

Aaron Patrick Flanagan may be known by some in West Virginia as the former frontman for Morgantown hardcore band The Warriors, who was also an important player in the state's music scene in both Charleston and Morgantown for over a decade. Nowadays, the Elkview native is an educator at Columbia College in Chicago and also a poet.

Much of Flanagan's writing has to do with his Appalachian roots, including his most recently published lyric essay about the 2006 Sago Mine Disaster. The piece is featured in the current issue of literary journal Tarpaulin Sky. Flanagan is one of the finest emerging young writers from West Virginia. I encourage anyone to help support his art by purchasing a copy of the print version of Tarpaulin Sky #17 for only $12.

WATCH: Elephant Micah performs "West Virginia, My Home" in Louisville

2011-05-24T10:25:00.003-05:00

Elephant Micah is Joseph O'Connell, a singer/songwriter from Indiana. Here is a video of Elephant Micah performing the Hazel Dickens classic "West Virginia, My Home" at The Rudyard Kipling in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 14. West Virginia native Andrew Iafrate, who also covered the song in the brotherly duo The Dick Brothers, was lucky enough to be in attendance to record the excellent performance.

WATCH: The Coffee Experiment features Lewisburg shop

2011-05-18T15:10:00.007-05:00

A lovely West Virginia native by the name of Elizabeth runs a site called The Coffee Experiment that is about "traveling the world to explore culture through coffee." I don't drink coffee, but I do love the creative ventures of people from West Virginia. Elizabeth (presumably based in New York) recently featured The Wild Bean coffee shop in Lewisburg among her other videos from Costa Rica, D.C. and Harlem. Along with self-produced short videos, the site features local culture write ups, photographs and more. Seems like she's onto something pretty cool, and it's worth checking out.

DOWNLOAD: Andrew Iafrate - Hallowed Be Our Wayward Ways

2011-05-17T11:17:00.003-05:00

"Andrew Iafrate’s first full-length under his own parentally-given name forges new paths along the folk/country fault lines he hinted at on his last record [as Pariah Prophecy]. 'Wayward Ways' sounds like an old timey album pulled out of the vault after decades of dusty slumber. Iafrate ain't no poser. This is the real deal: modern roots music informed by the very best in the tradition, shunning all the fashion of the current alt-whatever craze."

Artist: Andrew Iafrate

Album: Hallowed Be Our Wayward Ways

Year: 2005

For Fans Of: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, My Morning Jacket, Bon Iver

DOWNLOAD: Andrew Iafrate - Hallowed Be Our Wayward Ways

DOWNLOAD: Andrew Iafrate - When I Am Stone Dead

2011-05-13T11:51:00.004-05:00

When I Am Stone Dead is the 2006 Internet-released EP from indie folk singer/songwriter Andrew Iafrate. It is the pre-cursor to 2007's excellent full-length album The Ravages.

Artist: Andrew Iafrate

Album: When I Am Stone Dead

Year: 2006

For Fans Of: My Morning Jacket, M Ward, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

DOWNLOAD: Andrew Iafrate - When I Am Stone Dead

WATCH: Andrew Iafrate - Red Light Bay

2011-05-11T15:34:00.001-05:00

Here is a friend-made video for the track "Red Light Bay" from Andrew Iafrate's first album Hallowed Be Our Wayward Ways, which I will post tomorrow.

DOWNLOAD: Andrew Iafrate - The Ravages

2011-05-10T09:32:00.003-05:00

"Andrew Iafrate is a musician born and raised in the [Parkersburg,] West Virginia and currently resides in Louisville, Kentucky. He developed a cult following throughout the Midwest following the release of his debut solo record, 2005's Hallowed Be Our Wayward Ways. He has been noted for his strong vocals, intelligent songwriting, and for delivering “indie rock with folk influence at its finest" (Daily Athenauem, Morgantown, West Virginia). He has shown promise in his developing career by supporting acts such as Magnolia Electric Co and J. Glenn (ex-My Morning Jacket). Andrew has followed in the footsteps of artists like Sufjan Stevens and Regina Spector by being featured on NPR's All Songs Considered: Open Mic, a music blog showcasing talented independent musicians.

"After a brief affair with Austin's diverse music scene in 2006, Andrew returned to his home state in order to begin production on his sophomore release, 2007's The Ravages. The record is released under the Factory R imprint–a project label established by West Virginia's defunct sci-fi metal phenomonon The Minus Tide. It features heartfelt, roots-influenced songcraft backed with traditional instrumentation, tight harmonies, and Andrew's haunting, transparent vocal style."

Artist: Andrew Iafrate

Album: The Ravages

Year: 2007

For Fans Of: Magnolia Electric Co., My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens

DOWNLOAD: Andrew Iafrate - The Ravages

DOWNLOAD: Th' Inbred - Kissin' Cousins

2011-04-29T10:15:00.004-05:00

Here is the second LP from Morgantown's Th' Inbred. Eventually, the band's discography was released by Jello Biafra's label Alternative Tentacles as the album A Legacy of Fertility, but all of this legendary Mountain State band's material is available here and certainly worth checking out.

"Th' Inbred was a terrific band in the mid-80s. These West Virginians played a unique, intricate and untraditional Hardcore, called “Mutant Jazz-Core”. In their lyrics, they attacked American policies, Satanism, Christianity, apathy and much more. The band had talented musicians that played very tight music."

Artist: Th' Inbred

Album: Kissin' Cousins

Year: 1988

For Fans Of: Dead Kennedys, Crucifucks, Circle Jerks

DOWNLOAD: Th' Inbred - Kissin' Cousins

DOWNLOAD: Th' Inbred - Reproduction 7"

2011-04-28T13:25:00.005-05:00

To complement yesterday's post of Th' Inbred's debut LP A Family Affair, here is their Reproduction 7" from one year earlier in 1985. "Fast cynical hardcore punk from these (Morgantown,) West Virginians, I guess the closest comparison would be Dead Kennedys. This is a really good single with a lot of quirkiness and excellent vocals."

Artist: Th' Inbred

Album: Reproduction 7"

Year: 1985

For Fans Of: Dead Kennedys, Crucifux, Circle Jerks

DOWNLOAD: Th' Inbred - Reproduction 7"

DOWNLOAD: Th' Inbred - A Family Affair

2011-04-27T08:48:00.003-05:00

Th' Inbred were a hardcore punk band from Morgantown during the mid- to late-'80s. According to Wikipedia, "The original idea was of a punk band that incorporated a banjo into the band. While the banjo never made it, a strong sense of humor and a willing (and ability) to play whatever came to mind made this band a strong entry, leading to many opening gigs for nationally known groups and three tours. Subject matter of the songs included many songs looking critically at the punk scenes they were (or had been) a part of or linked to."

A Family Affair was the first of their full-length albums and was released in 1986. Last Days of Man on Earth says of the album, "This one is a fucking gem. ... I ended up loving [A Family Affair] because it was so critical of the scene I had just walked away from. The song "Positive Youth" alone, really summed up why I wasn’t into hardcore anymore. See, Th’Inbred really weren’t raging against Reagan or normal society. Instead they were raging against the scene itself.

"Musically, Th’Inbred were as tight as fuck. I’ve heard them compared to The Crucifucks and The Dead Kennedys. Both comparisons are valid. ... It's hard to believe, but we took bands like this for granted back then. Listening to it now, I am blown away by its overall awesomeness."

Artist: Th' Inbred

Album: A Family Affair

Year: 1986

For Fans Of: The Dead Kennedys, Crucifucks, Circle Jerks

DOWNLOAD: Th' Inbred - A Family Affair

WATCH: Th' Inbred, live in Morgantown, 1988

2011-04-25T14:49:00.004-05:00

J Marinelli described this band as "..prog/jazz/thrash death from Morgantown, WV, 1988."

Aaron Crothers of The Emergency said, "This is great for so many reasons, not the least of which is the proof that Robert Bowers does. not. age."

Enjoy this and additional videos from the show on YouTube.

WATCH: A profile of Hazel Dickens, RIP

2011-04-22T11:45:00.000-05:00

Hazel Dickens, RIP.