100 Resolutions

This time of year, The Lawrence Arms hit 100 Resolutions reemerges frequently among my friends as our perennial New Years anthem (Take that, Auld Lang Syne). Enjoy our favorite as we toast to 2009 being done and very much over with:

This year I'll try not to drink so much.
This year I'll try to stand up straight.
This year let's live liked we've never lived before,
this is our year for sure.

Holiday Havoc - Saturday Scrutiny

The much awaited Holiday Havoc IV show at Harro East came and went last Saturday with a lot of anticipation, and a fair return on investment. My partner-in-crime, a former ROC local drummer, and I arrived early, amped up to see the line-up that ranged from pop-rock to metal. Sets flew by (around 20 minutes apiece) and tunes were shredded. All in all, the show was worth the 10 bucks, but could have used a little diversity in the sounds, and a lot of help with the equipment and technical difficulties.

Rock quartet, Avenue You, is always a crowd-pleaser, and didn't let us down. However, the boys were suffering the wrath of a crapped-out amp. Technical difficulties aside, we love their genuine rock foundation and pop-punk roots

Drawing Infinity had a lot of flash, but need to work on the substance behind the scenes. Song Pirates on Parade was a whimsical rock-metal journey. But, their most innovative sound came from their cover of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, which either shows their ability to rock an iconic/ironic oldie, or reveals cracks in their own creativity.

Loved the brand new tune Upstate Confidential with its heavy bass sound. Storm the Bay, was this you? On a related note, bands, set lists change, always enunciate your band name in the mic, eh?

Finally caught up with A Scene Unseen, the veritable wet-dream of the local metal/rock/hardcore scene. We really wanted to love them too, but they came at the end of a block of acts with the same rock-metal sound. But, their potential- mainly in the guitar crescendos- makes us want another shot. Keeping an eye out for their next ROC show.

Just as band after band was lulling us to sleep with their cookie-cutter hardcore, Lights of Autumn blew up a pop bomb and rescued us from monotony. Playing such favorites such as Business Men, we were glad they closed with the most lyrically developed and mature song of their repertoire, Anything.

We tried to bear the rest of the night, catching ATSOC as our last act (Thumbs up, I-town represent with singer, Jake Gissen), but when our only main draw was so my concert companion could see Thom of Young Bloods play, we called it quits.

Cheers to the holidays, and a Happy New Year filled with shows....

Roc Local Holiday Show

Every season in the Roc welcomes concerts that mash the local bands we love into a venue for one night of our enjoyment. This Saturday the 26th brings Holiday Havoc 4 to do just that. The bill is filled with some we've seen before, and some we've been dying to see and slacking on (cough, A Scene Unseen, cough). Be sure to get front and center for these highlights:

-Storm the Bay's power guitars and pit-worthy tunes. Watch out for this girl throwing some 'bows.
-The never-ending girl power and newish lineup of Lights of Autumn (fingers crossed that they play Anything)
-A Thousand Shades of Cold's speed-metal guitars. Aggressive backing + powerful vocals = must see.
-The boys of Avenue You, playing their pop-rock complete with lyrics that will break your heart and make you fall in love in 3 minutes or less.

Presale tickets are suggested, and must be purchased through a band. But, if you need 'em, shoot me a DM @PunkROC on Twitter or an email at Punkrochester@yahoo.com.

Where: Harro East Ballroom, 16+
Time: Doors at 6

Christmas come early

As if preparing this girl's Christmas list early, Warped Tour pit reporter, Tiffany Mink, dropped a vlog post today that brings the official announcement of the Warped Tour acts for 2010. This year, the tour is coming to Darien Lake July 14th, and here's a breakdown of what and who we're looking forward to this summer:

The Casualties
Eyes Set to Kill
Polar Bear Club (Roc City WHAT?)
Sum 41
Set Your Goals
Reel Big Fish (Ska love)
Motion City Soundtrack
You Me at Six
Andrew W.K. (Classically trained)
Fight Fair
Bring Me the Horizon (UK amazing)
Call the Cops

King Me

Retro jams are reigning blows down on the ROC this weekend. The Chesterfield Kings, Rochester's own throwback rock band of crazies, is shredding the German House Saturday night. They are a misfit group of musicians that easily have one of the best stage shows this chick has seen. Come on out if you have a genuine appreciation of rock music's past taking shape today.

Location: The German house
Time: 8PM
Cash: $25 at the door or the Bop Shop

Full Metal Set List

Back in August we happened upon metal rockers Call Me The Patriot at Ragefest while dashing back and forth between the sides of Water Street. We were struck by their stage presence, enthusiasm, and powerful vocals. But, they admitted that they were pretty fresh out on the scene, and their set showed it: lots of heart, needed some elbow grease.

Now, after a couple months, a lineup change, and some time in the studio, they're back headlining a night of metal bands from the Rochester area. We're excited to see what CMTP has been up to since the summer, and also for some rock solid openers. Our pre-show favorites are looking like Sky Davis and Heavy Lies the Crown.

When: Friday the 11th
Time: Doors at 6
Damage: $10 presale, $12 at the door

#MusicMonday

I woke up today with this song in my head–don't you love when dreams have great soundtracks–and had to share it for Twitter's #MusicMonday.

Aside from being a big fan of this song, Finch is the textbook example I use of how a band that features screaming should also balance it with strong, melodic vocals. A band that only showcases screaming limits accessibility to audiences other than their core. I am a firm believer that the bands with the best innovation and musical foundation in the generes of screamo, metalcore, hardcore, and rock etc are the ones that blend different vocal stylizations into one bitchin' result.

More Finch: What it is to Burn
Bitemarks and Bloodstains
Stay with Me

Saturday Concert Series

This weekend's concert options offer two great choices. And, both shows are totally varied so you can pick your level of motivation and price, and still see a badass performer. Check it out:

Weezer in Toronto
Effort level- 8 out of 10
Cost-6

Our loves, Weezer, will be playing at Toronto's Air Canada Center tomorrow. Show starts at 8, so there's plenty of time to gas up your ride and cross the border. Best of all, they are headlining radio station The Edge's Jingle Bell Rock and the openers include Motion City Soundtrack and Jack's Mannequin. Though it takes a little cash and commitment, this show is sure to rock.

MC Lars at Water Street Music Hall
Effort Level- 2
Cost-2

So I'm a little biased in that I've seen Lars 2 or 3 times in the last year and a half. But, his brand of nerd-rock combined with the fact that he's playing at the Club at Water Street make this the ultimate Roc concert this weekend. He is headlining WBER's Holiday show, along with Lovedrug, K. Flay and Hyperbole Caboose. On the cheaper end of the spectrum, but Lars always puts on a performance when he comes to the Flower City.

Punky Xmas to You

Stumbled upon this beauty early Monday morning. Just like the advent calendars than count down to Christmas with a daily piece of somewhat gross candy, click on the daily links and receive your tasty bit of punk.

Sing me some drunken lullabies!

Word on the street is that Flogging Molly will be returning to our fair city for 2010's Green 17 tour (After two sold out shows this past March, can you blame them for putting us on the bus route?). Luckily, this time they're switching venues from Waterstreet to the larger-capacity Main Street Armory.
Mark your calendars for February 28th. They bring a powerful stage show that is best celebrated by hoisting a pint with friends and kin.

#MusicMonday

She's a dove, she's an f-ing nightmare.

Roc City Sunday Soundtrack

ROC city music

At 6:00 We Go Live

Pop-punk rockers, Hit the Lights, are coming to Mohawk Place in Buffalo this Sunday, SUNDAY, Sunday. Ordinarily, we love a good 'ol pop punk show, but this band earns one better because two of HTL's members are none other than Rochester natives.

The ROC kids, guitarist Kevin Mahoney and drummer Nate Van Dame, helped bring the noise this summer at Warped Tour in Darien Lake. Even though the temperature was rising and that lovely Western New York humidity was making the day predictably unbearable, seeing Kevin bust out his KKBB shorts made the show.

We love their enthusiasm and showmanship, while turning out tracks that are lyrically relatable and laid over poppy, upbeat guitars and rock-solid drums. Even though the weather is getting cold in this section of the world, their tunes are pure summer.

Time: 6:30 PM at Mohawk Place (featuring There For Tomorrow, Vinnie Caruana, Sparks the Rescue, & Oh No Not Stereo)
Damage: $13

Calling all ska kids

Summer's over, but that's no reason to stop the party. Dust off your checkered pants and get ready to bust a move this weekend. This is the perfect excuse to pretend it's not raining in western NY and enjoy some seriously fun music.

Thursday the 19th: Get out to Buffalo to see Big D and the Kids table. Caught them last year with Less than Jake and this summer at Warped Tour, and their infectiously fun music gets you off your ass and showin' the crowd your moves. Be prepared for some serious brass and sing-along excitement.

The Sandwich Crackers were supposed to play tomorrow, but had to cancel (FOR SHAME, Sandwich Crackers). For now, we'll just have to enjoy their reggae/ska tunes instead.

#MusicMonday

Our favorites for today's Twitter #MusicMonday is all about homegrown Rochester hardcore.

Enjoy our picks:

Dawn of War, Better Days '08
Achilles, The Cold Floor
Polar Bear Club, Parked in the Parking Lot of Your Heart

Back to Back Local Shows

Two of Rochester's rising star local bands are rocking out Waterstreet on back to back nights this weekend. Here's your chance to get out and support our local boys as they take a pause from touring the US to come home and tear up the stage.

Friday- The Hoodies (Greece natives) featuring The Graduate and The Morning Off
$12 tonight, doors at 6.

Saturday- The Sunstreak (Irondequoit natives) opening for Anberlin with Nocturnal Me
$15 tomorrow, doors at 7
Both shows are 16+, but that's just a great opportunity for you kids to bring out your impressionable parents for a couple nights of great live music.

Hurts & Skirts II

The roller derby season is coming to a close for 2009, and with that is the Roc City Roller Derby's final bout of the year. This Saturday, these ladies, better classified as hell-on-wheels, will be facing off against two teams:

Roc City Roller Girls vs. Charm City Rollergirls' Mobtown Mods
Roc City Roller Girls B-team vs. Ithaca SufferJets fresh meat

Come on down to the Dome Arena and watch these girls duke it out for one last time this season. Doors are at 5, first whistle at 6. Tickets are $10.

#MusicMonday

In the world of Twitter, today is #MusicMonday. Our suggestion for your playlist?

Follow us at Twitter.com/PunkROC

Raditude = Shittastic

Perennial nerd-rockers, Weezer released their seventh studio album last week to a base of eagerly waiting fans. With bated-breath and swift fingers, we downloaded Raditude as soon as it dropped and eagerly gave it our first listen. Single (If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To was our first taste back a few months ago, and immediately I was thinking that this sugary-sweet Buddy Holly-esque anthem would mark the reemergence of Weezer as a rock staple.

And then, the rest of Raditude dropped.

This CD plays like Rivers Cuomo's absurd adolescent fantasy to branch out as a musician turned sour. A rock collaboration gone seriously overboard, much to the consternation of the listener.

Yes, there are some sweet, irreverant ditties, much like the old Weezer, but this album is mired with tracks that insert drum, vocal and guitar parts into the Weezer machine and squeeze out facsimiles of songs past. On the other hand, when not weighed down by cookie-cutter tunes, Raditude goes over the top to bring in outside collaborators and producers, creating a sound so unique and mish-mash that the resulting songs are completely incongruous to the Weezer of our past. All the irony of featuring Little Wayne is overlooked by the sheer awful sound of songs such as Can't Stop Partying. Too far, or not far enough, Weezer missed the mark on most of the album.

Yet, to those of us who are made completely confused and uncomfortable by this release, fear not. There are a few redeeming tracks that are worth skipping the wannabe-crunk tunes. My favorite by far is The Prettiest Girl In The Whole Wide World, and it's likely because the guitars remind me so much of those used in Maladroit's Dope Nose. Here's the breakdown by track:

Popped out of the Weezer mold- same rock guitar and drum beats and repeat the title/chorus over again.
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
The Girl Got Hot
Trippin' Down The Freeway
Let It All Hang Out
Turn Me Round- Cuomo is waaay off key

Awful- Nonsensical guest spots, excessive producing
Can't Stop Partying
Love is the Answer- Bollywood WTF
In the Mall
Get Me Some- same awful production, easier to swallow
I'm Your Daddy

Best of the Worst
Put Me Back Together
I Don't Want To Let You Go
Run Over By A Truck- cool jazzy piano, picks up after the 35-second mark
Underdogs- when you get past the R. Kelly I believe I can fly beat
The Prettiest Girl In The Whole Wide World- Dope nose guitars rule

This is Halloween!

Tonight is Halloween, and the streets of downtown Rochester will be teeming with people to see and things to do. Many bars are hosting bands of all genres, but our recommendation for a punky good time is Halloween Havoc at Montage:

Bands include:

Our favorites, Lights of Autumn and Storm the Bay

Doors open at 6pm and costs only $10. Costume contest starts at 9pm. Happy Halloween!

AFI & Gallows pics

Took a little while, but uploaded our pics from AFI & Gallows on 10/16. The night was an awesome mix of traditional punk tunes with the accessibility of modern rock.

We love the Penny

Badass show coming to the Penny Arcade this Saturday. Pull on your tightest black jeans, comb your emo-mullet and rock out to:
Youngbloods (headlining)
T13C
A love like Pi
A scene unseen
Avenue You
Storm the Bay

Fall ROC albums, EPs and new tunes

This fall has welcomed a wave of new albums to the Rochester punk scene that spans a few flavors of rock and totally different sounds across the board. CD release shows have played, albums dropped both locally and nationally, and in the end, here is the good, bad and ugly:

Polar Bear Club- Chasing Hamburg. Genre- hardcore
What teases PBC must have working behind the scenes. Prior to Chasing Hamburg's official release, a few tracks were leaked via their awesomely titled 7 inch The Summer of George. After waiting patiently for the rest of the album, we welcomed it at Dubland Underground for their release. Verdict: The rest was totally worth waiting for. Every little rough-vocaled number is tasty. Living Saints is getting the most buzz, but we were drawn to the softer side of Take Me and catchy opening track, See the Wind.

Avenue You- Where to Start. Genre- Pop punk/rock
True story- we first laid eyes on lead singer Kevin O'Brien years ago when he was fronting a lovely little Webster outfit named Marius. Years pass, his vocal range matures, and Avenue You takes Rochester by storm. A former Metromix Battle of the Bands winner, AY dropped their album this past weekend at Rock for Food, and we were immediately struck by the variety from track to track. Some pull in bits of synth, others more pop-punk beats. Our fave is the collaboration Here with Lauren of LOA- the lyric I'm not the girl you knew at sixteen pulled approximately 1,593 of our heartstrings at first listen.

The Sunstreak- Once Upon a Lie. Genre- Pop punk/rock
Released nationally this past Tuesday, hardcore Sunstreak fans, or Streakers as they are monikered, around the nation snapped up this Roc native band's new album. After being inundated with their single Until I Met You's sickly sweet lyrics for the past month or so, we're totally skipping that track on the album. But, title track Once Upon a Lie makes us want to cringe a little less. Overall, the tonality and sound of the album is a little flat and over-produced. Check them out November 14th at Waterstreet for a real taste of The Sunstreak's live sound.

Sakes Alive!!- Act II. Genre- hardcore/screamer
When I get down on the Rochester music scene for being full of emo haircuts and neon tee shirts, I turn on a little Sakes Alive!! and all that is wrong with the world melts away in a fit of screaming punk. Their album Act I garnered quite a bit of notice, and fans were dying for Act II. Last Sunday they released the follow up to a raging crowd at Dubland Underground. The tunes are raw, gritty, emotional. The Open Maw is our favorite, partly because of the rocking beat under the razor-sharp vocals that is absolutley perfect to pump your fist to. But, three songs, seriously? We vote that this release should have gone back in the oven until a few more songs could have been cooked up.

RIP Vice Grip

Said goodbye to our favorite local band on Sunday at Waterstreet's Rock for Food concert. Vice Grip, with your absurd sets, smoke machine, monopoly on day-glo skinny jeans and sing-along anthems of ridiculousness, you will be sorely missed. To remember how you singled out the one non-singing audience member and made him feel like a loser, please enjoy Mr. Robot, below.

Halloween punx

It is October 1, time to kick the Halloween costume plans into high gear. Currently searching for a Sid for my Nancy.

Old vs. New

This weekend, it's all about honoring the old and exploring the new. Here's what's on tap for the music scene:

New- Battle of the bands at Montage- Approximately 10 bands, duking it out for the top spot. Added bonus? Two members of Lights of Autumn are judging. Doors are at five, come support your local musicians.

Old- KMFDM at Waterstreet- Europe's industrial trailblazers are on tour and gracing our fair city with their mix of metal, electronic and rock. Get ready to rock the pit and declare no pity for the majority. Doors at 7.

2001 was a hell of a year

Found this old ass, scratched CD I made in high school. It is a wicked mix of pop punk and alternative. Enjoy!

High School Mix 2001

Where have all the good hardcore bands gone?

A while back, fellow blogger and local music enthusiast, Rich, wrote a piece about the hardcore scene in Rochester in the 90s. After reading it, he and I traded notes about the scene and how, over time, it has devolved into a place where electric drum kits and neon tees rule.

So where have all the good hardcore bands gone?

The answer emerged Sunday evening in the dingy Dub Land Underground basement with Mayflower, Title Fight, Like Wolves and especially with headliner, Polar Bear Club.

Mayflower blew us away with their Millencolin-like speed guitar parts and a surprisingly mature sound for a young band. Even though their songs are a bit on the melodramatic side, we were impressed with their sound. By the end, we too were chanting along with In it to win it.

If the boys of Mayflower looked high school age, Title Fight is pushing middle school. Their musicality was solid, but the lead vocals left us underwhelmed. We think they have the pieces to work, but just need more polish.

Like Wolves came screaming on stage, easily the hardest of the openers. Lead singer Ben turned up the intensity level, crawling over the crowd and nicking the overhead pipes, while never ceasing the battle-cries. Amazing passion.

Splitting time between Syracuse and Rochester, Polar Bear Club strikes a perfect chord of boyish good looks, solid musical background and the emotional, crowd-engaging vocals that harks back to Rochester hardcore of yesteryear. The concert at Dub Land was to commemorate the release of their album Chasing Hamburg and recent signing with Bridge Nine records. Track Living Saints has gained much notoriety in the industry as the jam to focus on.

But, to us, though this was a concert to showcase the new, nothing says Rochester hardcore like the crowd interaction and participation that older songs brought. And, PBC sure did bring the love from the hardcore community that still thrives on.

In memory....

Following 9/11, Clear Channel issued a notice banning some excellent songs from the radio, in fear of their "questionable lyrics." On this day of solace and remembrance, we're rocking some of the banned tunes:

Drowning Pool- Bodies

Green Day- Brain Stew

Mudvayne- Death Blooms

P.O.D.- Boom

Rage- Guerrilla Radio

Labor Day playlist

Because the last long weekend of summer demands a playlist that can keep up with us.

Anything4afriend- Standfast

Shade of Red- Makyo Star

DJ DJ- The Transplants

Noise Complaint- Big D & the Kids Table

AFI in the ROC

AFI is coming to Waterstreet on October 16th with Gallows opening. It's never to early to start celebrating.

Rage Fest 2009

The self-described "homegrown Warped Tour," Rochester's Rage Fest 2009 tore up Waterstreet music hall on Friday with two stages and a list of both well known and emerging bands. Rotating start times kept us running back and forth from the main stage to the club side between acts; but, in the end, we found the bands so similar in sound that to liken the Fest to Warped tour was a huge overstatement- we need a much broader variety for next year. Here were some of the highs and lows of the night:

Drawing Infinity wasn't the first band we saw, so when they kicked off, our first thought was "Here we go, another generic hardcore band." But, as the songs kept coming, some underlying hip hop roots began to show. Though some might say that this hardcore/hip hop blend died with Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit, it was the feature that helped set them apart from the rest of the bands.

Rage Fest was our first opportunity to check out The Young Bloods, a ROC area rock band with quite a buzz following them. Though their upbeat tunes got the crowd of high school scenesters rocking, it quickly became an event worthy of eye rolling when lead singer Joey Arena clearly became more interested in being captured by the media photographers than putting on a show. Luckily he was backed by guitarists who understand showmanship over vanity.

When we tweeted about punk rock aerobics the other day, we had no idea that we would be confronted with them full on when Call Me the Patriot took the club side stage. Just like Drawing Infinity, we were underwhelmed at first, then once was heard the music behind the screaming, paired with enthusiastic crowd participation, we were hooked. Last we saw, the band was doing synchronized calisthenics to their song The Many Faces of A Martyr and the crowd was loving it.

The last act we stayed for (how dare we shame Sirens & Sailors by leaving!) was the reason we came in the first place: Makyo Star. After an evening of predictable rock and unintelligible lyrics, MS's unpretentious pop punk rounded out our evening happily. We love their poppy track Perfect Score. The only downside? They were out of size small tees at the merch table.

Reckless Abandon

Blending together their trademark adolescent antics, Cali-punk roots and blistering drum solos a la Travis Barker, Blink-182 headlined the stage at Darien Lake last Friday, drawing a crowd of around 18,000 into a frenzy that hasn't graced this region of NY since the mid 2000s.

We arrived in time to catch the bulk of opener Fall Out Boy's set, unfortunately missing out on Chester French, but gladly skipping the watered-down lineup of the new and not so improved Panic! at the Disco.

The stage blared an FOB-lettered set that flooded light behind the band as they shredded such favorites as Thnks fr th Mmrs and Grand Theft Autumn. Their setlist was a predictable blend of old, new and covers; however, they reminded us of how much we've enjoyed their music over the years when they closed with oldie-but-goodie Saturday.

Given that we had been cross-training our ears with Blink's albums for the past few weeks, we were totally prepared for what we anticipated to be the concert of the summer. Yet, despite guitarists Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge's commitment to hilarious banter and your mom jokes, halfway through their set we were terrified that Enema of the State was as old as we were going to delve into their discography. But, we were calmed by one of our underrated favorites, Man Overboard, which was soon chased by Josie.

At this point, we befriended a pack of dudes from Nova Scotia, because one of their intoxicated cohorts was yelling "Play something old!" And, thankfully, Blink's encore of Carousel and Dammit increased the average age of the songs played.

Now in their 30s, the boys are still bringing the A-game that they did in the mid-late 90s. Whether it was Barker's brush with death or simply the 4 years off, the energy and entertainment factor of the show was exponential. Blink 182 has been on our concert to-do list since our introduction in 8th grade, we just hope that they remember more of the older tunes that got them where they are in the future.

Rage Fest 2009

Coming this Friday, August 28th, to Waterstreet Music Hall is the 2nd annual Rage Fest. Clear your throat and wear close toed shoes. Get ready for headliners Sirens and Sailors' hardcore rock.

Celt rock weekend

If you are Irish, Scottish, or just wish you were, this weekend is the best time for you to rock it out.

The Sterling Celtic Rock Festival is packing this weekend with acts that range from folk to rock. All day, Saturday & Sunday. We love Enter the Haggis and Searson and the serving of tradiational fare and beverages. Hoist a beer, slainte!

Fell in love with the girl at the rock show

Coming to Darien Lake this Friday with Chester French, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco...Blink 182.

Dammit

ROC city weekend music bender

The approaching weekend is bringing an onslaught of local and national acts that can only be described as going on a music bender. Rochester is faced with a variety of acts that span many genres, and we intend on somehow cramming them all in to one weekend.

Thursday- At Montage Music Hall, Lyrics to Life. Christian punks who identify with MXPX. Sound is pretty soft (even by Christ-rock standards), but they can rule the synth when needed.

Thrash and Burn Tour. A hot little grouping of bands that are bound to leave you hopefully more thrashed than burned... Keep an eye out for DevilDriver with their speed rhythm section and vocal sounds in the family of Static-X.

Friday- The Sandwich Crackers (with Forty Lashes & Whitecliff Drive) at DubLand Underground. Synth-ska. Need we say more?

Museums farewell concert at Waterstreet. So sad that they have to go, but look out for former members of Museums showing up, as well as some CDs of newer jams. Also, Plattsburgh's own Hello Control will be pop-rocking out.

East End Fest 3 has plenty of acts to check out. We recommend the Insider/Metromix stage, and From These Eyes, who are rock hotties.

Seen It All. Who knew good surf ska could come out of Buffalo? Guitars that sound like Homegrown are bound to rock DubLand after East End.

Saturday- The Hoodies CD release party, also featuring bands such as These Green Eyes and Surprise Surprise. After starting this weekend with hardcore bands, this pop, rock, punk alternative will be music to our ears.

Later, The Isotopes hit the stage at Bug Jar with their shredded version of surf rock. Fun, dirty, nostalgic sound. The Beach Boys on acid.

Summer Ska Set

Back in action, here's what's coming up in the ska scene for the rest of the summer/fall:

Radioactive Snowshu: Homegrown punky ska. Sounds like the Ramones with a horn section.
The ROC (Camp Eastman)- 8/7

This is a stick up: Basic ska undertones with a hardcore finish. Bad Religion-y guitars.
Albany- 8/16
Naples- 8/16

Mrs. Skannotto: Pure and simple party ska. The stuff pogo-ing was invented for.
The ROC (Montage)- 9/11

The Toasters: All about the horns. Bleating, honking, sweet, sweet horn section.
Buffalo- 11/11

Rancid in Buffalo Tonight

Who: Rancid (opening for Rise Against). Punk rock purists, gritty & rockin. Great to skank to. Bring your studded vest and safety pins.
Where: Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY
When: 7PM

Fall Back Down

KMFDM, doing it again. ROC style

KMFDM, Germany's industrial hard-rockers, has announced tour dates that also include the ROC city, herself. They are slated to play Waterstreet Music Hall September 27th. Doors at 7, tickets are $20 in advance to see one of the most innovative, influential, crossover techno-metal bands.

Juke Joint Jezebel circa 1995

This weekend in ROC city

Thursday- Party in the Park(ing lot). Headliner Bad Fish brings the Sublime style straight to the ROC. Prepare for lots of raggae/ska/rock vibes and plenty of cold beer and people watching.

Saturday- 10 Ugly Men Fest. Genesee Valley Park. Boozin' all day for a good cause. A handful of musical acts will provide for beautiful day of tunes. The jury's still out on our thoughts about headliner, Safetysuit, but take a look for yourselves:

"Someone Like You" Music Video from SafetySuit on Vimeo.

punkROC Warped Tour Best of Awards 2009

Well, we did the paces, walked the fairgrounds and observed dozens of bands. Now, we present our votes for the best of the best of the Warped Tour.

Mr. Congeniality
The Architects earned the spot of Mr. Congeniality for their honest and truthful songs. Ok, so really the lead singer announced "We write songs about two topics: drugs and law enforcement." But, this gritty cross between Bad Religion and Lit really knows how to tear up the guitar solo.

Best West Coast Import
Brokencyde is the proof that not far under their pallid skin and band tee, every punker has a dirty, dirty need for hip hop. As I crested the hill at Darien leaving the lawn behind me, the crowd to see them spoke loud and clear-this band is on the brink of doing big things. Their emphatic MCs and infectious T-Pain-esque tracks satisfies the same need that Travis Barker drumming over Soulja Boi did. We can't wait for more!

Most Motivational
With song after song of "untitled" tunes (Lead singer Craig claimed them to be nameless, only known as "Crowd participation song 1-5"), Chiodos had the massive, undulating, moshing crowd obeying at their every whim. Particularly when they asked for us to beat the record of 73+ crowd surfers simultaneously.

Best Bioootch
British rockers, Tat, won the coveted Best Bioootch spot with their shrewd but sexy female lead, Tatiana DeMaria. Particularly when she zeroed in on the one guy who knew the words in the crowd, fan Shane, and brought him up to duet on their smash Bloodstain. Tat blended ska riffs and power guitar solos, all while DeMaria rocked out smashing-ly.

Next Big Thing/Best of Show
Our favorite neighbor to the north, Toronto, provided us the opportunity to the international award category with our new loves, Down With Webster. Canada's answer to the Gym Class Heroes, septet Webster acts out whole story lines in their theatrical rock/hip hop set. The fact that one of their several MCs sounded oddly like Ad Rock from the Beastie Boys adds to the entertainment.

punkROC Warped Tour Best of Awards 2009

Our winners:

Mr. Congeniality: The Architects

Next Big Thing/Best of Show: Down with Webster

Most Motivational: Chiodos

Best Bioootch: Tat

Best West Coast Import: BrokenCYDE