Category: Music

Music Wire #6

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I’ve always found myself looking back on music past rather than its present. What an odd metaphor to borrow from Christmas. I’m reminded of all these great emo bands from the 90’s and early 2000’s reading Tom Mullen’s Anthology of Emo Volume 1.

These bands seemed like missed opportunities while they were around. Texas is The Reason came into my life long after their run and first reunion shows. When my high school journalism and social justice teacher gave me Do You Know Who You Are? they became the biggest band in the world to me.

I couldn’t wrap my head around why they never became what I felt. Learning they had actually worked on a second album and songs like “Blue Boy” and “When Rock ‘N’ Roll Was Just A Baby” were intended tracks agonizes me even more. The Norman Brannon interview is quite insightful.

There’s a common thread with these early emo bands rejecting the potential for mainstream success. Kurt Cobain said it best. He enjoyed the getting to the cusp of “making it” but hated everything about making it.

Reading Anthology of Emo gives great perspective about bands like Texas, The Van Pelt, and Rainer Maria who I frankly never knew had gotten to the level they were at. There is a universe where they could have become a major mainstream success.

Tom Mullen also has a great podcast called WashedUpEmo, where all the interviews for Anthology came from. This week Buddy Nielsen from Senses Fails appeared and really surprised me with such a full history of the band and himself.

They’re still a band, with a new record out next week, but it’s basically Buddy’s solo project, writing all the music now. Surprisingly former band mates tried to kick him out during the band’s hay day. Buddy admitted to suffering from anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. I dug a bit deeper to learn he struggled with his sexuality and sexual addiction.

It’s nice to hear his life seems together now with a spouse and child. Senses’ new songs reflect Buddy’s personal recovery. “New Jersey Makes, The World Takes” speaks to his personal triumphs and paying back support to his loved ones.

“Double Crosses” sounds as strong as any song I’v ever heard from them. It’s contemporary yet there’s nothing lost from their Jersey days. They still have the aura of a band dreaming to play Geoff Rickly’s basement.

Forever

Gojira Performs At O2 Academy Leeds

Photo by Andrew Benge/Redferns

It’s extraordinary times for Code Orange. They’ve toured with Gojira, Hatebreed, and Killswitch Engage since the release of Forever. It’s a dream come true for a young band to not only play with legends, but get their respect too. Last night I got to see the new superstars devastate The Wiltern in Los Angeles with the heaviest band ever, Meshuggah.

Code Orange’s arrival on stage brought out all the anticipation in the audience to fruition. When they opened with “Forever” the show really began. After two minutes I was indoctrinated into their cult. They played with absolute disregard for anything and anyone. I couldn’t describe their performance at first. It’s not anger, hate, sadness but the transmission of freedom to express our primordial nature. For me, it’s liberation to exhume every emotion, positive and negative.

The first three songs of the set were unrelenting. I felt the ground literally vibrate during the “Kill The Creator” breakdown. You felt no mercy during “Real” when the band and audience in unison erupted “this is real now motherfucker!” Things settled down a bit with “Bleeding in the Blur” but they gave no quarter to anyone.

This was just another night for them, but for me this was a ceremony to join their tribe. It’s a new way to perceive how heavy music should sound and how we expect to experience it. They’re on my list of favorite current bands. Their performance only solidified that position.

Bands who seem like the soundtrack of my life and times stay with me, forever. They’re the kind of band that gives strangers a little insight about who you are.

The Scope of All of This…

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It’s been a while since I’ve written anything here. Work and ambition have taken priority in day to day life. I haven’t even spent time putting an LP on when I cook dinner or just hang out in the living room. My goal for the first quarter of the year is to lose 25 pounds. Not even sure it’s possible but I’m motivated by what I see in the mirror. I bought a new belt this week because my old one was too big. By April I hope that belt starts getting too big for my waist as I shred this dead weight from my body.

Since last time I added Of Mice & Men’s debut album, Joey Bada$$’s All-Amerikkkan Bada$$, Scarecrow by John Mellencamp, You Blew It!’s first EP, The Shape Of Jazz To Come by Ornette Coleman, December by George Winston, The Front Bottom’s debut album, and The Lack Long After by Pianos Become The Teeth with their next LP Wait For Love on it’s way. While I haven’t spent as much time dropping the needle on wax I’m still adding to the collection, so much so space is running out.

There’s a lot going on for me right now. The start of the year held a lot of excitement along with some disappointments as well. I’m in the process of making some big personal decisions. Once there’s resolution I can really explain what’s going on but I’m really excited about the future and this year which has only just begun. Last year I started identifying my goals and what I want to achieve. I made progress and this year I’m hoping to not only continue to improve but advance. Achieve my goals.

Thanks for stopping by! I have some album reviews and new adventures in the pipeline. Check out my vinyl & tape collections here and on Discogs. You can also learn a little more about me and read how I experienced this past year and where I’m going.