WATCH: Diamond Teeth Mary McClain

Born in Huntington, Diamond Teeth Mary McClain ran away from home at age 13, began singing at 15, but didn't receive recognition until she was in her mid-30s. She sang until her death in 2000 and had performed at the Appollo and the Cotton Club and has been billed with the likes of her half-sister Bessie Smith as well as Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and other legendary musicians. Here are a couple videos of Diamond Teeth Mary including a short bio about her in the top video and footage of one of her later performances below.

WATCH: Down Goes Frazier live in Huntington, 2009

I recently traveled home to West Virginia. While there I got the opportunity to hang out with my good friend Ryan. That inspired me to listen to his old band Down Goes Frazier. If you're a fan of Hot Water Music or Planes Mistaken For Stars, be sure to download their discography. Here's a video of DGF playing in Huntington in 2009. They were a good band.

DOWNLOAD: Complete Strangers - Complete Strangers

I originally posted this album in March 2010, but because I've been listening to it a lot lately, I am posting it again. Every time I listen to Complete Strangers, I am reminded of how amazing they were. If you like rock music along the lines of Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, T. Rex, Elvis Costello or The Stooges, download this. There is nothing I will ever post to this blog that I will recommend more highly.

Artist: Complete Strangers
Album: Complete Strangers
Year: 2002
For fans of: The Stooges, T. Rex, Elvis Costello

DOWNLOAD: Complete Strangers - Complete Strangers

WATCH: The Blanket Institute live in 2001

Yesterday I posted the demo from Huntington noise-rock band The Blanket Institute. I mentioned their live performances, which were always tense and abrasive. So here is a video of them playing in what seems to be a gymnasium - maybe at the old Ceredo-Kenova High School - in 2001.

DOWNLOAD: The Blanket Institute - fearsomeasinmouthwithscapel

Taking note from The Locust, The Blanket Institute played acerbic noise-rock with a heavy hint of irony and sarcasm. Hailing from Huntington, TBI was dual vocalists exchanging roars and screeches overtop of drumming and guitar playing that was equally frantic. Despite never quite being a serious band, TBI did record this low-quality demo in 2001 that quite well represent their bleak but provocative performance. Though this isn't the best or most approachable music I've posted on this blog, TBI was a fun and entertaining group of guys, and it's a rare piece of the Huntington music scene in the early '00s.

Artist: The Blanket Institute
Album: fearsomeasinmouthwithscapel
Year: 2001
For fans of: The Locust, Swing Kids, Melt Banana

DOWNLOAD: The Blanket Institute - fearsomeasinmouthwithscapel*
(Sorry for the lack of track titles.)

WATCH: Rollins Band live in Huntington, 1999

Rollins Band covering Thin Lizzy's "Are You Ready" at the Gyrationz (Drop Shop) in Huntington in 1999. What else do you need to know?

LISTEN: Living Saints - Living Saints

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.

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

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

DOWNLOAD: Down Goes Frazier - Discography 2003 to 3004

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

WATCH: Appalachian Terror Unit live in London, 2011

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.

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

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.

DOWNLOAD: Appalachian Terror Unit - Greenwashing

In someone else's words:

"The long-anticipated full length LP from West Virginia mountain punks Appalachian Terror Unit is upon us. [Seven] raging tracks of angry crust punk with crushing riffs and (mainly) female vocals. They have shed one guitar player since their EP, making for a much more raw and organic sounds (more rock and less thrash). Both musically and lyrically the best comparison I can conjure up is Sabbath Bloody Sabbath meets Nausea’s Extinction LP (original mix). One of the most raw and intense musical experiences Profane Existence has released in a long time and a fitting finalé for Profane Existence Records.

“Greenwashing: The unjustified appropriation of environmental virtue by a company, an industry, a government, a politician or even a non-government organization. Using more money, time and energy on slick PR campaigns aimed at promoting their eco-friendly images, than they do to actually protecting the environment.”

Artist: Appalachian Terror Unit

Album: Greenwashing

Year: 2008

For Fans Of: Nausea, Black Sabbath, His Hero Is Gone

DOWNLOAD: Appalachian Terror Unit - Greenwashing

WATCH: Appalachian Terror Unit live at ABC No Rio, 2008

Check out this video of Huntington's environmentally-polical crust punks Appalachian Terror Unit playing ABC No Rio in New York City in 2008.

DOWNLOAD: Appalachian Terror Unit - Armageddon Won't Be Brought By Gods...

Hailing from Huntington, Appalachian Terror Unit spend a lot of time touring - with scheduled dates in the France, Germany, UK and much of Europe planned for 2011. Their sincere and brutal brand of eco-conscious crust-core punk metal with angry female and male dual vocals. Compared to a contemporary Nausea, the music is at times frenzied and fast, at times heavy and haunting, and always bitter and confrontational. The band's first EP Armageddon Won't Be Brought By Gods... was released in 2007 on Minneapolis-based Profane Existence, and is now out of print. The album points fingers at greedy coal executives responsible for mountain top removal and the destruction of West Virginia's environment. "You can't replant a mountain," Sarah says in the opening moments of the album, calling out Massey Energy by name. "Every time we turn on the lights, we're guilty." Appalachian Terror Unit is a band that seemingly has never got the respect or attention it deserves West Virginia, as they play a Swedish style of punk not approached by many from the Mountain State. Fitting alongside more familiar bands like His Hero Is Gone or World Burns To Death, Appalachian Terror Unit is a hardworking group of genuinely nice people (bassist Matt Belville is still one of my favorite dudes I knew from Huntington) that not only has a lot of important things to say, but is doing it in an exciting way. Also, the band's entire discography is now available on Profane Existence. If you dig ATU, support them.

Artist: Appalachian Terror Unit

Album: Armageddon Won't Be Brought By Gods...

Year: 2007

For Fans Of: Nausea, World Burns to Death, His Hero Is Gone

DOWNLOAD: Appalachian Terror Unit - Armageddon Won't Be Brought By Gods...

WATCH: A small tribute to Brad Dourif

Whether you know it or not, you've seen Brad Dourif in a movie - if not many of them. His resume includes memorable roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Lord of the Rings, Child's Play, Blue Velvet and more including the cable series "Deadwood." The Oscar-nominated actor (for his role as Billy Bibbit in Cuckoo's) and Huntington native is one of West Virginia's most underrated talents. He is the best tribute I can give to Dourif, who is always a pleasure to watch on screen.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest:

Child's Play:

Blue Velvet:

Wise Blood:

DOWNLOAD: Chum - Dead to the World

About a year ago, I posted the 1994 EPs from this Huntington's Chum. Dead to the World is the 1996 full-length album from one of West Virginia's best and most successful (by getting signed standards) heavy bands. After releasing the EPs, Chum went on tour and found themselves on stage at CBGG's in New York City, where they were discovered and signed by Century Media Records. This is the excellent album the band produced for for the label. Despite the quality of Dead to the World, the success - and Chum's career - was short-lived after it was dropped by Century Media, but not before receiving plenty of critical praise and comparisons to King's X, Helmet and Quicksand. One critic wrote of Dead to the World:

"The amalgamation of harmonic bliss and chaotic guitar riffs sets this band ahead of the pack with a triumphant bit of genuinely open and sure-fire songwriting. No sooner than the first track "Stepping On Cracks" begins do we feel the intensity that Chum are willing to reveal to us through their music - and it only gets heavier."

The members of Chum including band leader John Lancaster went on to play in other bands and solo projects, but nothing quite lived up to the legendary status Chum established for itself in and around Huntington. In 2004, the band's principal line-up lead by Lancaster reunited in for sporadic performances, but nothing permanent.

Artist: Chum

Album: Dead to the World

Year: 1996

For Fans Of: King's X, Helmet, Quicksand

DOWNLOAD: Chum - Dead to the World

WATCH: Hatebreed live in Huntington, 2003

I will admit, not since I was 19 have I really been a fan of Hatebreed, but they have continued write some of the most straight forward, heavy, angry, metallic hardcore, and it has brought them deserved success. Despite the band's success they always made time to come through Huntington, and play DIY venues much smaller than places they could be playing. I have always respected that loyalty to their fans. Though they like to look quite tough (and they probably are), Jamey Jasta and his band are stand up guys whose hearts are in the right place when it comes to hardcore. Hatebreed puts everything they have into every show, and though their albums haven't made it into my playlist since I was a teenager, their shows in Huntington were always a fun time to run in circles and jump on top of people. Here are some videos of one of Hatebreed's many shows in Huntington - this particular one in 2003 at the YWCA - a consistent venue for the band.

DOWNLOAD: The Red Carpet Bombers - The Red Carpet Bombers

This is a continuation of contributions from a reader. The contributions include a number of rare, out-of-print or unreleased material from bands from around the state from the early '90s to '00s. I will be posting those records over the next couple weeks. Unfortunately, I don't know much about some of the bands so I won't have anything to say, so I have to rely on short write-ups by the contributor. The help with adding new material to the blog is always welcome and much appreciated. So thank you and keep them coming. Enjoy. If you would like to contribute, just contact me at srrblog@gmail.com.

"Featuring Kevin Allison (Bacon Hat, Milk of Napalm) and Brian Myers (Chum, The Gasoline Angels) amongst its ranks, this short-lived Huntington band released this lone album and appeared on the Loud & Local Stage at X-Fest 2004 before disappearing from the scene completely." For more on the back, click here.

Artist: The Red Carpet Bombers

Album: The Red Carpet Bombers

Year of release: 2004

For fans of: Backyard Babies, Danko Jones, Turbonegro

DOWNLOAD: The Red Carpet Bombers - The Red Carpet Bombers

WATCH: Down Goes Frazier, live in Huntington, 2009

Here is a video of Huntington's Down Goes Frazier playing "Diarrhea of an Emotional Problem" at Marley's Dog House the band's home town some time in 2009.

DOWNLOAD: Down Goes Frazier - Discography 2003 to 2004

A love for booze and punk music is what brought together this Huntington band, which features ex-members of Holden Caulfield, Out of Nowhere and The Shift. With a shared love for bands like Hot Water Music, Alkaline Trio and Avail, the quartet (now playing as a trio) formed in the early 2000s to make music that represented what they to listened to. What came of it was heavy, fast and aggressive post-hardcore punk rock that at times is melodically inclined.

Like band favorite Hot Water Music, Down Goes Frazier featured dual gravel-coated vocals from its guitarists, but the musical comparison is not so simple. Nick Adkins's technical guitar skills and songwriting ring of Silent Majority but his roaring vocals are more Planes Mistaken For Stars. Ryan McCullough's songwriting and vocals bring to mind Leatherface or American Steel's "Rogue's March".

On this download are Down Goes Frazier's first two demos - 2003's Self-Titled and 2004's "Blue Ribbon High Life." While the style doesn't change much between the separate recordings, the quality of songwriting matures as the band recognizes its intentions. The music is bittersweet, the lyrical content is the normal for a band of its genre - relationship difficulties, friends and family - but the words are as clever as the song titles, and easy to see along with.

Having toured minimally around the midwest, Down Goes Frazier never quite picked up the steam they could have with a lot of musical talent and arsenal of quality songs. In 2009, Ryan McCullough left the band to be a college professor, while the three other members have continued performing. They're a band that has not gotten enough attention outside the bar-venue scene of Huntington, so it is about time people here these recordings.

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