Let’s get one thing straight: Nickelback are bad. It doesn’t matter what tangible measures you use to gauge their talent, the end result is the same- unless, of course, you value commercial success above and beyond anything else. In which case, I’d like you to stop reading now (I’m joking- please read, I’m desperate for the attention!). On the other hand, AC/DC (it’s a shame we can’t replicate the lightning bolt in type form) are regarded as rock legends, instrumental in the mainstream recognition of heavy metal. They too have sold unbelievable amounts of music, yet retain their musical credibility for their originality.

 But is there really such a gap between these two bands? Are Nickelback a modern incarnation of AC/DC; are AC/DC perhaps a devolutionary Nickleback? As a long-time Acca Dacca basher (since when was a nickname deemed worthy if it was longer than the original name?), I would argue that the bands are, in essence, one and the same. Here’s why.

 The musical origins of both bands remain murky, mysteries wrapped inside enigmas (translation: I don’t know how they started, and frankly don’t care). But this I can be sure of: their names, whilst semi-memorable, were derived from some of the most anti-rock activities ever. The name AC/DC? Depending on which story you believe, they got it from either a vacuum cleaner or a sewing machine. To paraphrase Bob Dylan, how can the name of such a band be in the palm of some fool’s hand? What kind of extenuating circumstances causes the heaviest rock band ever (at the time) to feel that a brand name of a domestic appliance would accurately convey their MO?

Similarly, Nickelback supposedly got their name from a band member’s stint at Starbucks; when a customer paid for a coffee, he’d give them their change with “and here’s your nickel back!” I can’t say that I expected too much more from them, but once again, isn’t this a really, really dumb name? It’s memorable, I’ll give them that; though hepatitis-memorable isn’t the kind of memorable anyone wants (exception: Tommy Lee).

Another aspect of Nickelback that you probably didn’t know or care about is that they have a pair of brothers in the band: Chad and Mike Kroeger. And being a true blue Aussie (i.e. drinking an ice-cold stubbie as you simultaneously read this and check out your ute’s siiiiiick V8 engine), I’d assume that you knew about the Angus/ Malcolm Young parallel that exists in the AC/DC universe. So what, you say. Well, I know that including your younger brother in your jamming sessions is a sure-fire way to get in Mum’s good books, but doesn’t it stymie your musical potential as a band? I mean, all the greats- Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin etc- they mightn’t have got along famously on a personal level, but when it came to music, they were kindred spirits. Now how can that happen when two of your guys are continually trying to outdo each other and argue over who gets the top bunk? I don’t care what anyone says; brotherly competitiveness cannot be overcome, and thus is detrimental to a band’s progress.

An undeniable fact about Nickelback is that basically all of their music sounds the same. Now it’s granted that I’ve never actually listened to their entire discography, but the ones I’ve heard, the ones everyone’s heard, are effectively carbon copies in so many respects that it isn’t even funny. (Okay, maybe it is a little funny.) Each song starts off with some heavily distorted guitar playing a few basic chords, then follows the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge pattern, culminating with a rousing chorus taking the place of the proverbial icing on the cake. Only thing is, the icing’s made of shit.

But here’s the thing: AC/DC’s songs? They all pretty much follow the same format. A few months ago, when I actually had a job, I was regularly subjected to the horrors of commercial radio for 12 hours at a time. Generally, there would be a gross overabundance of mega-hits in their prime, mega-hits on the decline, and mega-hits from the 80’s and 70’s. (Actually, the songs from the 80’s weren’t mega-hits as much as they were just randomly selected songs to take the baby boomers back to a younger, skinnier version of themselves. And since every station is run by baby boomers, these songs were played basically non-stop.) Occasionally there would be a half-decent Pearl Jam or Bob Dylan track played, but that’s beside the point. I discovered during this time that AC/DC were played incessantly, as if there were some kind of local content rule which required at least ten of their songs be heard each day. So when they released a new album last year, the lead single was obviously played non-stop. But my first thought upon hearing it? “Wow, haven’t heard this one in a while!”

The point of this: their songs are horrifically repetitive.

So if Nickelback are essentially the evolutionary AC/DC, how did they come to be so maligned? If you say AC/DC were the innovators of hard rock, I can argue that Nickelback established kid-friendly rock (apologies to Matchbox Twenty). Sure, the latter mightn’t hold much esteem in the music canon, but surely Chad Kroeger and co. deserve some respect for squeezing every single inch of their musical talent and making high-selling, tremendously crappy records.

My theory is that because AC/DC made it big in America, we have placed them on a pedestal- a totally undeserved accolade seeing as Nickelback are Canadian, and their success in the USA is as unlikely as Mugabe and Tsvangirai having Christmas lunch together. Since America is a notoriously self-absorbed country on the whole, to break into its market either requires impressive musical talent, a stupid gimmick, or a combination of both. AC/DC fell into the third category- as well as being a great guitarist, Angus Young brought back the school uniform look, then kept on wearing it for the next 30 years, even though it was as out of fashion as Hammerpants (girls, they’re ridiculous!). They also benefited from the Kurt Cobain corollary- that when the frontman of the band dies, their musical output becomes ten times more appreciated- especially when the band releases their defining album just 5 months later. Actually, there is a strange phenomena relating to this within AC/DC; whenever you ask someone who the singer of AC/DC is/was, more often than not they’ll say Bon Scott. Um, I don’t mean to be insensitive, but he was only with the band for about 5 years, they hardly had any hits with him, and they only really took off when Brian Johnston took over on vocals; it really seems like an egregious overstatement to say Bon was ‘the heart and soul’ of a band that has continued to prosper well after he left them.

Back to the point. Since we fancy our country as a mini-America, AC/DC’s acceptance into their musical culture has massively inflated their importance, much like Jet when they inexplicably achieved the same. But Nickelback’s popularity has led to backlash and ridicule, highlighted by Chad Kroeger’s JFK-style assassination (no, this didn’t happen- just checking if you’re still reading). Regardless, as long as both bands continue to make music, I will continue to ignore commercial radio completely. And could someone please make Rob Thomas mute? Thankyou.

Back in Black

AC/DC

1980

Atlantic Records

 In early 1980 (February 19th, to be exact), the intense singer of hard rockers AC/DC, Bon Scott, passed out in his car after a night of heavy drinking.  He was found deceased, choked on his own vomit, and also had alcohol poisoning.  The rest of the band, after considering breaking up, instead insisted that to continue without Scott, believing that this would be what he would’ve wanted.  Of course, the band found Brian Johnson, still with the band today (like you needed me to tell you any of that?).  How Angus and Malcolm Young wound up with two of the most unique voices in classic rock is beyond me (when I was younger, I initially thought the two singers to be the same person – imagine my confusion when looking at the liner notes).

Of course, the album that was quickly recorded in the wake of Scott’s untimely demise is the classic Back in Black (quick note, the album cover is black to signify that the band was in mourning).  This album provides some of the band’s biggest hits (the title track, “Hell’s Bells,” You Shook Me All Night Long”).  And yet, despite it’s inclusion into the rock and roll canon, the songs never grow old.  Actually, that could be the reason that the album is canonized. 

The album opens with ominous ringing bells – “Hell’s Bells” has begun.  After a few of the bells, an awesome guitar riff plays over them.  AC/DC, despite losing their singer, uses this to show that they still rock – even harder than before (and probably ever since then too, but that’s more of my opinion than anything else).  It doesn’t matter that this is a mid-tempo song.  It kicks ass, no matter what.  The drums, refined at first, provide a steady beat, just being awesome.  After the extended intro, the audience is introduced to Johnson as he sings some of the most brilliantly Hellish lyrics ever (“White lightning’s flashing across the sky, you’re only young but you’re gonna die”).  Can you imagine what it would be like if this had happened now?  One of the most popular rock groups loses their singer and brings a new one on board.  Today, we have leaked albums available for anyone to hear months before the album officially comes out – no one would even care about the switch of the singers.

The album continues with another great riff in the form of “Shoot to Thrill.”  In fact, Malcolm Young’s rhythm guitar is just as hard as his brother’s lead.  The intro even captures a great drum fill by Phil Rudd.  As the band comes into the bridge, Johnson sounds extremely excited when he sings “I’m gonna pull it, pull it, pull the trigger!”  The band’s execution here is flawless, providing a sense of hesitation before the chorus.  The chorus has a great lyric of excess: “Too many women, too many pills.”  Right before the guitar solo, the band brings the excitement to a new high.  Johnson screams “Pull the trigger!” and a syncopated riff is played, then the great instrumental break.  Again, the rhythm guitar is just as cool as the lead, which doesn’t sound difficult at all, but has so much feeling placed into it.  The ending of the song is also brilliant, bring the pace down low.  Great arrangement.

The third track is the derisive “What Do You Do for Money Honey.”  The intro again shows the band’s affection for hard chords in the form of riffs (which one will notice on every AC/DC album ever – the thing with AC/DC is when you buy one of their albums, you already know what to expect.  Which could be a great thing or a bad thing depending on how you view it).  With the vocals, Johnson’s words drip with malice, “You’re always pushin’, shovin’, satisfied with nothin’, you bitch, you must be gettin’ old.”  The music provides a short, seemless buildup to the chorus, again an old AC/DC trick.  The one thing I don’t particularly like about the song is the background vocals.  They sound detached, bringing an impression of separateness from the music.  With everything else so in-your-face, they don’t fit perfectly in.  But they’re not bad.  At all.

“Given the Dog a Bone” has one the best riffs, which just flows perfectly.  The intro is surprisingly quick, with an awesome buildup.  The entire song features great, pulsating bass lines from Cliff Williams.  Being that this isn’t one of their more famous songs, it is actually one of their best, definitely one of my favorites.  And actually, the answering backup vocals in this song are done well, even though they don’t sound too different from those in the last.  The guitar solo, again not very difficult, is bombastic.  Following the minor pentatonic scale, like most, if not all, of Angus’ solos, he hits the mood perfectly.  This is particularly true at the end of the solo, with scratching fret sounds and feedback when the rest of the music pauses.

“Let Me Put My Love Into You” is a slower (keyword: slower.  Not slow) bluesy song.  Normally, I grow bored with bluesy songs (I have to be in the mood to listen to anything blues, but I particularly like blues with harder tendencies (as shown here), such as Zeppelin, SRV, or even Robben Ford), but AC/DC provides enough bite to keep it genuinely interesting.  Best part of the song:  the interspersed guitar licks between Johnson’s vocals during the bridge, “Don’t you struggle” – winding guitar lick – “Don’t you fight” – answering guitar riff.

The next two songs are two of the most famous songs ever, definitely two that are in the collective conscious of everyone, ever.  “Back in Black” is the first of the two, with one of the most recognized guitar riffs of all time.  Everyone HAS to know this song, and if they don’t, that person should be executed or sent to an insane asylum.  The riff speaks amounts of refinement.  It doesn’t overboard the listener with noise and sound.  Instead it even provides for pauses – even the drums get in on following the walking lines.  The song is amazing, even if the chorus is nothing more than the repetitive “‘Cause I’m bad, yes, I’m bad, Well, I’m ba-a-a-a-ad.”  The guitar solo is especially lyrical, exchanging high notes with low notes, and just flows.  And there’s a breakdown section!  (Well, maybe not a breakdown, per se, but still…) The song is just awesome, no doubt.

Next is “You Shook Me All Night Long,” which is one of the most overplayed songs on classic rock radio, and actually, even normal radio (Quick note to prove my point: I’ve heard this song on modern rock radio stations and even at school dances.).  Again, this is a very important cultural song, as everyone has to have heard it.  I won’t say it’s the weakest song on the album, as there is no song that could be described as weak on Back in Black.  However, I will say this is the least bad-ass song here, being a love song.  It is an AC/DC love song though, and does have the lyrics, “She told me to come, but I was already there,” “Now I’m back in the ring,” and “She kept her motor clean.”  This last line could be the strangest idea of love I’ve ever heard.  It’s a very popular song for a reason, and that reason is that it is quite great.

Track eight, “Have a Drink on Me” brings the album back to its ass-kicking mode.  Again, another AC/DC intro complete with lead guitar lines, a powerful buildup, and awesome drums (in fact, the drums are my favorite part of the opening).  The song is one of the best about drinking ever, and the line “Forget about the tip, we’ll get Hell to pay” deserves an honorary award of being Fuckin’ Awesome.  The guitar solo is amazing, but, actually sounds countryish when you listen closely.  That’s alright, as it’s so hard, no one will ever care where the inspiration is from.

“Shake a Leg,” the penultimate track, tricks the audience.  It starts slowly, almost bluesy, and Johnson even echoes himself (“Of the law, of the law”).  However, a stop / start arrangement comes in, then with a huge, grandiose, drum fill the riff kicks in turning the song into an all-out rocker.  It’s an awesome song, but after the intro it’s pretty straightforward AC/DC.

Lastly is “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.”  Which is kind of an excessive taunt to disco, I believe.  Which is fine, being excessive is what ROCK AND ROLL IS ABOUT, MOTHERFUCKER. Ahem, sorry about that.  Got carried away with how awesome rock and roll is.  Commanding a certain respect is the tone of the song, though.  It doesn’t go all-out, fast-tempo, hard-rock.  Instead it takes a step back, beginning with a slow bluesy riff, with very little distortion.  We hear Johnson exhale in a sigh, a nice touch as we’ve come this far, and this is the first time the album rests a little bit.  The drums snap, and you know a more powerful part is coming soon with that, and the feedback from the guitar.  Of course, the lyrics could be cliché, but the band is so intent on the message that it doesn’t come across like that at all.  It’s a powerful message, and could’ve been the song that killed disco, had not “My Sharona” come out the year before.  Still, it’s a great ending to a great album.

So, after the death of Bon Scott, AC/DC had the decision to make of whether to quit or continue.  It must have been a tough decision, for if they continued on, they would’ve needed to prove themselves.  Back in Black is just that, showing that they can be heavier, more massive, and more popular than before.  Johnson had to have been extremely anxious, for these guys were AC/DC.  But Back in Black has stood since 1980, and is of course, one of the greatest rock albums.  There is not one bad song on the album, and is essential to anyone who listens to music.

Buy This Album

Official Site

• Tom Petty/Mudcrutch < Lynyrd Skynyrd/Allman Brothers
• Frat Dudes <  Jax Beach Rockabilly dudes
• Less than jake > Yellowcard
• Xenophobic Gainesville Hipsters < Go Nowhere Riverside Hipsters
• No Idea Records > Dead Tank Records
• Hot Water Music/Against Me > Whole Wheat Bread/evergreen terrace
• Paines Prairie = Hanna Park
• Santa Fe College > Florida State College (FCCJ)
• Boca Fiesta < Burritto Gallery
• Kickstand > Zombie Bikes Bike Gang Bike Co-Op
• Gainesville Artwalk < Jacksonville Artwalk
• Wayward Council/ Hyde & Zekes/ Sharpies > Weird Wax/nothing/ nada
•  Lake Newnan < Jax Beach
• Anthem Tattoo < Ink Smith and Rogers
• Purple Mushroom < Glasseye
• RTS > JTA
• Reggae Shack  > Phase 1 Jamaican Products
• 1982 > Jack Rabbits
• O Connel Center < Jacksonville Arena
• Gator Football < Jacksonville Jaguars( Fuck the Gators, they win every fucking game, thats boring)
• Downtown Farmers Market < Beaver Street Farmers Market
• Civic Media Center > The Museum of Southern History
• Balls > Blanding Billards
• Alachua/Newberry/Waldo > Macleney/Fernandina Beach/ Orange Park
• Downtown Gainesville < Downtown Jacksonville
• Gainesville Beer Prices < Jacksonville Beer Prices
• Jammy Dodgers < The Band Aids
• Grabass charlestons < SPP
• Hardback = Milk Bar
• Kickstand (venue) < Doozers Pub
• Backstage Lounge > The Pit (Beach Blvd)
• The Atlantic > The Landshark
• The Venue > Freebird
• Young Livers < The 2416
• Religous As Fuck > Civilization
• Radon = Grabbag
• Asshole Parade > Status Faux
• Anchor Arms < Swirl360
• Assassinate the Scientist > Whaleface
• Whiskey & co. < Honey Chamber
• Chris Wollard < Kevin Lee Newberry
• 2nd Ave   <  College St.
• Gainesville Downtown Library Bums <  Jacksonville Downtown library bums
• Fletchers = Da Dirty Dirty
• Swamp < river
• Mothers < Harpoon Louies
• Video Rodeo > Superstore Video News
• Gator Dawgs > JAG Dawgs
• Leonardos < Moon River
• Obscurist Press = Infintesmal Records
• Southernshedpunk.com > Whacksonville.com
• Stephen Stills < Ricky Medlock
• Oaks Mall < Normandy Mall
• Glory Days Booking = Orange Garden Productions
• Haile Village Market < Riverside Arts Market
• Hogtown Brewery = Bold City Brewery
• Las Margaritas > La Nopalara
• The Fest( corp. sponsered) < Conmoto Trech Fest(imagine if HOH was in downtown jax! !)
• Later Gator bus service > Calling a fucking cab/driving drunk

By Rory Reynolds

AC/DC front man Brian Johnson has revealed that when he’s not screaming out the band’s hits about women and whisky on tour, he enjoys a sedate drive along the A68 to Melrose.

The rock legend says he likes nothing more than to pull down his famous flat cap and hit the open road in Scotland.

The 62-year-old singer – whose band has sold 200 million albums – said that he comes to Scotland whenever he can to visit friends and unwind from their globe-spanning tours.

He said: “I love driving about up there, I used to go up a lot to Loch Lomond and Loch Ness, but you know my favourite place now? Melrose in the Borders.

“Driving around there is fabulous, it’s beautiful.”

And for the first time Brian revealed that he nearly passed up the chance to be in one of the biggest bands of the century.

He said: “I only went because I had other work lined up in London – a Hoover jingle advert.

Breaking into song, he added: “It’s the new Hoover, ooh. She such-a-sweet little movurgh – ooh yeargh.

“That ad got me £350, which is the most money I’d had in one go in my life.”

Brian also said that he will never forget the band’s gig in Glasgow during the summer, saying that the Hampden Roar is “no myth”.

He joked: “I swear to God the hairs on the back of my arms stood up and my old ticker was twitching like a rabbit’s nose.”

Obsession

AC/DC’s original line-up were Scots dominated, with Angus Young, his brother Malcolm and Bon Scott making up most of the band’s members.

Next year the band will celebrate the 30 years since Johnson took over the helm following the death of Bon Scott.

Brian added: “It’s brilliant that people remember Bon 30 years on.

“I met him once and he was one of those cool souls.”

The singer has just released his autobiography Rockers and Rollers, charting his career and his obsession with driving.

The band has made £58million in the past 12 months alone, with their latest LP getting to No1 in the charts in 29 countries.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Οι AC / DC είναι ένα αυστραλιανό ροκ συγκρότημα που σχηματίστηκε το Σίδνεϊ το 1973 από Σκωτσεζους της Αυστραλίας, τα αδέρφια Angus και Malcolm Young (Angus & Malcom  McKinnon Young).  Αν και το συγκρότημα ταξινομείται συνήθως ως hard rock και θεωρείται πρωτοπόρος των βαρέων μετάλλων, αυτοί ταξινομούσαν πάντα τη μουσική τους ως rock ‘n’ roll.

Η μπάντα υπέστη πολλές line-up αλλαγές πριν από την κυκλοφόριση του πρώτου τους  άλμπουμ, High Voltage, το 1975. H Σύνθεση παρέμεινε σταθερή μέχρι την αντικατάσταση του μπασίστα Mark Evans από τον Cliff Williams το 1977.  Η μπάντα που καταγράφει ιδιαίτερα επιτυχημένη πορεία με το άλμπουμ Highway to Hell το 1979. Αλλά στης 19 Φεβρουαρίου 1980 ο “πρώτος” τραγουδιστής και  συνθέτης Bon Scott πέθαινει μετά από μια νύχτα μεγάλης κατανάλωσης αλκοόλ απο αναρώφιση.

Η ομάδα εξέτασε εν συντομία την διάλυση του συγκροτήματος, αλλά σύντομα ο πρώην τραγουδιστής των Geordie, Brian Johnson είχε επιλεγεί για να αντικαταστήσει τον Scott. Αργότερα εκείνο το έτος, η μπάντα κυκλοφόρησετον δίσκο με τις μεγαλύτερες πωλήσεις σε άλμπουμ, με τίτλο Back in Black.

Ένα τραγούδι γραμμένο, από όλη την μπάντα και το νέο μέλος της Brian Johnson, για τον Bon Scott. “Θέλαμε ένα τραγούδι που να μας θυμίζει τον Βon αλλά να έχει δύναμη, να διλώνει την επιστροφή μας και να μην είναι καταθλυπτικό” δήλωσε ο “πρώτος” κιθαρίστας Angus Young και αυτό ήταν το “Back in Black”.

Επόμενο άλμπουμ του συγκροτήματος, “For Those About To Rock, We Salute You”, το οποίο ήταν το πρώτο τους άλμπουμ που πήρε την πρώτη θέση στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Οι AC / DC είχαν μια πτώση δημοτικότητας
αμέσως μετά τον ντράμερ Phil Rudd ο οποίος απολύθηκε το 1983 και αντικαταστάθηκε από τον μελλοντικό Dio ντράμερ Simon Wright. Ο Phil Rudd επέστρεψε το 1994 (αφού ο Chris Slade κλήθηκε να εγκαταλείψει υπέρ του) και συνέβαλε με το 1995 στο άλμπουμ της μπάντας με τίτλο Ballbreaker. Το 1991 πραγματοποιούν ένα από τα καλίτερα τους live, και ένα απο τα καλλίτερα live στον κόσμο, στο Donington στην Αμερική.

Το επόμενο τους άλμπουμ κυκλοφόρησε το 2000 με τίτλο “Stiff Upper Lip” και έτυχε να έχει ευνοϊκή υποδοχής από τους κριτικούς. Πιο πρόσφατο άλμπουμ του συγκροτήματος, είναι το Black Ice, το οποίο κυκλοφόρησε στις 20 Οκτωβρίου 2008 και συνοδεύτηκε από μια τεράστια περιοδία μέσα στα πλαίσια της οποίας ήρθαν και για πρώτη φορά στην Ελλάδα. Από το 2008, οι AC / DC έχουν πουλήσει πάνω από 200 εκατομμύρια άλμπουμ σε όλο τον κόσμο, συμπεριλαμβανομένων 71 εκατομμύρια άλμπουμ στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Το Back in Black έχει πουλήσει περίπου 45 εκατομμύρια κομμάτια σε όλο τον κόσμο, καθιστώντας το υψηλότερο σε πωλήσεις άλμπουμ από κάθε ζώνη και το 2ο υψηλότερο σε πωλήσεις άλμπουμ στην ιστορία, πίσω από “Thriller” του Michael Jackson.

Το άλμπουμ έχει πωλήσει 22 εκατομμύρια μόνο στις ΗΠΑ, όπου είναι το πέμπτο κατά σειρά υψηλότερο σε πωλήσεις άλμπουμ. Οι AC / DC κατατάσσονται τέταρτοι στην λίστα του VH1 μέσα στους «100 μεγαλύτερους καλλιτέχνες του Hard Rock”  και η μπάντα πήρε το όνομά του έβδομου “Greatest Heavy Metal Band όλων των εποχών» από το MTV.  Το 2004, το συγκρότημα κατετάγη αριθμό 72 στη λίστα του περιοδικού Rolling Stone (το πιο καταξιομένο μουσικό περιοδικό στον κόσμο) των «100 μεγαλύτερων καλλιτέχνων όλων των εποχών”.

Ακόμα είναι μια από τις ελάχιστες μπάντες ανάμεσα σε group ή ακομα και ανεξάρτητους καλλιτέχνες που έχει την δικιά της οδό με τίτλο, φυσικά,  AC/DC Lane. Η “AC/DC Lane” είναι ένας δρόμος στη Βικτώρια της Μελβούρνης. Είναι ένα μικρό, στενό, που “κοιτάει” προς το νότο από το Flinders Lane μεταξύ Exhibition Street και Russell Street και βρίσκεται στην κεντρική επιχειρηματική περιοχή της Μελβούρνης.

Quinze dias para o show do AD/DC no Morumbi! Na contagem regressiva, começo a lembrar de Plug Me In, uma tentadora caixa com 2 ou 3 DVDs que faz uma devassa no arquivo sobre a banda em emissoras de TV. Na versão tripla, o primeiro DVD só tem as sonzeiras com o excelente vocalista escocês Bon Scott (1946-1980).

E o pessoal do Rock Flu preparou um especial sobre AC/DC para o programa nº 60, que você pode ouvir aqui.No DVD 1 do Plug Me In, o AC/DC eletrocuta clássicos do seu rock ´n´roll muito próprio era Bon Scott como High Voltage, It´s A Long Way to The Top (If You Wanna Rock´n´Roll), TNT, Let There Be Rock, Baby Please Don´t Go (cover de clássico do blues com direito ao strip-tease tradicional de Angus Young), Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap etc.

Parte do material está em condições precárias, mas vale como documento histórico da banda, que foi ficando mais e mais pesada… E dá para perceber a “evolução” do figurino de Angus Young, até a imagem consagrada mundialmente.

Leia também sobre o filme Deixa o rock rolar!

(Nice shirt Chuck Heston.)

I am looking to start a Christian Band to praise God with talent an dmusic, afterall he gave it to us. So I have been playing guitar for 3 years now and I have always wanted to start a band. So I need people who are deeply in love with God and wanna give back to him. I need a rhythm guitarist, a drummer and a bassist and either a fmeal or male vocalist between 13 and 18 years of age.

I do have a band name in mind also. We can work together to get some powered pa speakers, I have the mixer now I just need the spaerkers mics, and other stuff. We can work together and write music and praise God. We could even be the praise band at my church which would be cool since we don’t have one yet LOL, anyways thanks for reading and for any extra info or if you are interested email me at vernon.geoffrey@gmail.com for anything you want and I will be glad to help you.

• Location: Westside
• it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

EDITORS NOTE: This is fucking real and located on Jacksonville’s Craiglist “Musicians”  feel free to email. Always reach for the stars kids!!!

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/muc/1455043537.html

COPFACE: Waldo, FL: S/T: CD

So I went up to my local record store on a mission to find some new Florida bands to pummel and belittle on my website.(jk, kind of.) While scourging through the dregs in the new shit bin. The smell of fresh spray paint caught my nostril. Below me stood a perfectly crafted self made CD EP. It had a excellent Xeroxed punk paper cover. Which was slyly wrapped around a sloppily spray painted CD. I wouldn’t have thought twice about it until I noticed this bands address. They are from Waldo, FL.  HOLY FUCK!

If you have ever driven from Jax to Gainesville or vice versa,  you become very familiar with Waldo. Its either the first or the last shitty little town you got to slow down and watch for pigs in.  So the thought of a punk band calling Waldo home was extremely exotic and enticing  to me. Shit these fucks probably have a lot of experience getting harassed and throwing bitching “barn” parties.  Anyways, the band is called COPFACE and they play an Ultra heavy drudge- sludge doom core style of music. They describe themselves as posi-violence. Whatever that is. I would say its like a more slowed down metal DISCHARGE with a gruff/tough guy  hardcore muffled style of singing.  They have moments that I really like and jammed too and I would love to read the lyrics to the last song, “Burritos Are Just Domesticated Tacos.”  I bet these guys are fucking heavy live. I would be totally on their sack but I just don’t like the singing too much but it didnt ruin the experience.  Hell, some punks like the strained yelling that people make when their constipated.  So get your ass of the pot and open your ears, cause Waldos making some death crust noise ! 4 songs RECOMMENDED. (Scottanimo Bay)

WEBSITE: http://www.last.fm/music/Copface

AVAILABLE AT:

COPFACE/Never Give Up
P O Box 436
WALDO, FL
32694

     All the assholes were fleeing Gainesville last weekend for the Gators game in Jax. I hate football, so I fled Jacksonville for the Fest 8 in Gainesville. 

    For the Gainesville natives who remained, University blvd must have been a hell of a sight. Friday afternoon to Sunday night, the place was crawling with all sorts of weird folk. Whatever culture Gainesville has is completely consumed for these days late in October. It becomes a punk town. From 250 pound beardos to rude boys to crusties, every weird subgenre of every weird subgenre of every weird genre in music was represented there. Fringe groups that come together for 3 days a year for the purpose of partying and listening to music.

 Now that I think of it, the same thing can be said about the Gathering, so I’m gonna take a different approach to this and focus on cops and crusties. Now, as any Florida native knows, Florida’s justice system is on par with 17th century Massachusetts’. For the eight years of festin’ Gainesville has put on, the cops have been generally cool with it. Considering how many drugs and beers are consumed at the fest, most fest kids, despite their weird subgenre of weird subgenre of weird genre affiliation, have been grateful for this. Most fest kids.

     One stupid fucking crusty was dancing in the middle of a street, a rare cop appeared, and tried to get him to get out of the way of traffic. Another stupid fucking crusty thought he saw an opportunity to crush the system, so he punched the cop. The cop tasered him. About 5 more stupid fucking crusties started to beat the shit out of the cop. The cop radioed for backup, tear gas was broken out, arrests were made and the crusties lost. The next day this was all over the local news. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091102/ARTICLES/911021004

    This is the second time in two years Gainesville cops have had fest problems, and in the words of one Lieutinent, they are going to ‘increase staff’ for the next one. Way to up teh p0nx, guys. Put aside the fact that these kids were out of line and got what was coming to them (personally, I would’ve loved to see the cops go Kent state on their asses. I hate hippies.) and let’s assume that the cop was being a prick. When cops are being pricks, you don’t fucking punch them. Now if you’re from out of town and you’re representing a subculture that has had problems with the town’s cops before, you swallow your pride use a little tact and try to give your people a better name. That ain’t the time to relive 82 and start a riot. It’s the time to shut up and get out of the way so I don’t have to be frisked anymore next year. Yeah, big black dudes at the venue frisk you when you go in. I don’t fucking get it.  

Gainesville debates Fest impact:  http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091103/ARTICLES/911031008/1118?Title=Fest-s-impact-on-city-is-debated

ANGRY YOUNG MAN

Jacksonville, Fl post apocalyptic doomed city cyber-radiation-fallout punk

TOOTH AND THE ENAMELS: Orlando, FL: Oral Decline: 7inc

Do you like your puke filled  skate-punk sexism with a  little bit of sick horror humor? Then you’ll love Orlando, FL.  band: TOOTH AND THE ENAMELS.  Something about the cartoon nature of this band really makes me smile and enjoy myself. The music pays homage to 90’s California pop punk but has more of a sick and twisted east coast, by way of Florida edge.

I guess you could call it Skate-goofy-thrash-pop punk.  How’s that for sub genre.  Awesome little guitar solos with steady backing beats and crazy vocals come quick and correct.  If you are a into PC punk then do not buy this. Sexist and juvenile lyrics and humor are sprinkled through out, Its like screeching weasel if they liked GG ALLIN to much.  I happen to know(from experience) that they are an intense live act. Back in the day at the old Kountry Tavern. Tooth got so dehydrated while singing he puked into a beer pint. Without hesitation the mother fucker drank that shit. Right in the middle of the guitar solo.  Yes, tooth you are here for my amusement. 7 songs.  RECOMMENDED (Scottanimo Bay)

WEBSITE: http://www.myspace.com/toothandtheenamels

AVAILABLE AT: CANCER CLAW RECORDS
http://www.myspace.com/cancerclawrecords

CROWS FOOT:  Pinellas County, FL: S/T CD

Man, this EP rules. Like, really bad. This thrashy, hardcore punk quartet runs in a different vein than the norm because of a female frontman. JD’s gritty vocals remind me of the gal in Rager or even Hatemail Killerz – a clear, strong yell but still high-pitched. A lot of times when girls take up hardcore vocals they tend to want to have deep vocals, like in Pantychrist or The Distillers (well maybe that’s Brody’s natural voice), but the high-pitch definitely sounds less groany (I don’t want to say ‘manly’ or else Kathleen Hanna will be after me). This EP is three songs, but the insert includes lyrics to more songs unrecorded. Judging by these tracks, the LP is going to be awesome. I found myself humming “Be yerself, be yerself! Don’t let them define you!” after listening to the CD. The dual-vocaled “Victimas” has Ben on deep growls and sets a contrast as the two sort of answer to each other. Then it follows with a simple punk beat and sing-along. I even learned some Spanish from this, because they graciously included the translation! (Ambika)

WEBSITE:http://www.purevolume.com/cfoot/overview

WATSON: Tampa, FL: Chasing .500: CD

I saw WATSON last year at FEST 7, they had a huge bro crew singing along to every song. They played with a hell of a lot of energy, ass sweat and fully soaked from the inside shirts aplenty.  After the show the lead singer bro gave me 2 CD’s and thought I was in the band ENVIROMENTAL YOUTH CRUNCH. He was really cool and sweaty. Basically I really, really wanted to like this CD.  But when I got home and spanked it in to the old music player, I just couldn’t get into it.  The music is like DINOSAUR JR crossed with THE LINE.  A good idea in concept, but lacks in execution  I don’t understand all these bands in Gainesville and Tampa. They all try and sound the same. Slightly pop punk with gruff vocals to conceal their wiener true feelings.  At times try’s to be melodic but vocals are all over the place. If I was from Tampa I could see going to all their shows and being total bros, but as for this CD, you could do better gentlemen. 6 songs. Not Recommended. (Scottanimo Bay)

WEBSITE:http://www.myspace.com/watsontampa

AVAILABLE AT:

ADD RECORDS

PO BOX 8240

Tampa, FL

33674

Their from Cocoa Beach, FL and their really fuckin good!!! SWAMP Horror punk goodness!!!

WEBSITE: http://www.myspace.com/thegreengoblynproject

GRABBAG: Jacksonville, FL. : Dismantaling Punk Capitalism CD

  The album artwork really has a mind of its own; there’s a chupacabra-like creature on the lyric page and CD front, some sort of tribal border design, and the usual Shedpunk Inc. man with a bulging eye. What it has to do with the songs, I couldn’t tell ya. I don’t really care, either, because I thoroughly enjoyed the whole album for its fast pop-punk, its obscene lyrics, and its unclean recording. Having full-blown studio recordings is just not fun. It’s like basement shows opposed to expensive amphitheaters, in that I would so much rather have rawness than exactly how it sounded on the radio. There’s never a dull moment with the J Church-like powerpop, a disco song, and a little acousticore number to end it. Plus, Marty McFly was a Punk Rocker, from Grabbag’s 2007 S/T, sneaks up on you as a secret track. There are notable bass lines in really every song, and I only mention so because they seem to overpower and conquer the tune as a whole. And of course, it must be pointed out that Scott’s drawings, which normally include a character with an eye infection, are the inspiration of his facial expressions at live shows(or vice versa, as he tends to squint one of his eyes). It’s what I think about as I’m listening to this, so keep that in mind. (Ambika)

WEBSITE: www.southernshedpunk.com

AVAILABLE AT: Download the whole album for free here:  http://southernshedpunk.com/index.php?pr=Albums

GRABBAG

4264 SW 22nd Ln. Unit 109

Gainesville, FL 32607

USA

wow, shameless self promotion at its best.  Song from our upcoming full length:

WEBSITE: www.myspace.com/grabbag , www.southernshedpunk.com

THE JAMMY DODGERS: Gainesville, FL: Fish n’ Chips: 7inc

Energetic positive pop-punk mixed with 80’s hardcore. Think Minor threat sexed up with early 90’s Lookout Records. Somehow it works. Its really fucking peppy, and positive to boot. Male- female dual vocals.  Dude kind of sounds like a dull Fred Snyder from The B-52’s. You know, if you saw Fred at an after party and he wasn’t the life of the place. The female vocals shine through. Overall I like this record. It’s fast and has good lyrics. Although their left-wing cliché songs are borderline simpleton.  I heard this band broke up after  the dual vocalists broke off their love affair. Oh well, life goes on.  7 songs.  Recommended. (Scottanimo Bay)

WEBSITE: http://www.noidearecords.com/bands/releases/jammydodgers_fishnchips.php
AVAILABLE AT:

No Idea Records
PO box 14636
Gainesville, FL
32604

DEAD FRIENDS: Gainesville, FL :S/T : 7inc

Thrash-tastic, sludge, heavy grunge punk. The music sounds swampy and frantic, but in a good way. Lyrics are yell/sung in a questioning manner like “whhhhhhyyyyyyy??????” but the lyrics are funny and sung with gruff passion that only a beardo could posses.  Overall I kind of dig it. At least they jam like hell, which is more then I can say for every other Gainesville band.  DEAD FRIENDS sound  like weirdo crazy- dirt- grunge -punk but hip enough for the young bloods to dig and you know what? I like that. Gainesville needs more bands like this. 6 tracks , and 1 is about Kobe Bryant fucking up his image in front of the kiddies. Recommended.  (Scottanimo Bay)

 WEBSITE: http://www.myspace.com/deadfriendz
 
AVAILABLE AT:

OBSCURIST PRESS
PO box 13077,
Gainesville, FL
32604