What Ken Geiger Did Before His Summer Vacation

Mastodon at SXSW back in March.

Spring Semester Update

by Ken Geiger

Another short update of essential stuff I have heard in the last few months during school.  Now with my summer vacation here, I can start going back to more individual reviews, rather than just clumps (which I think is great).  But anyways, here is a good list of records and live acts you should familiarize yourself with if you want to stay cool and such.

Best New Music

Mastodon, Emperor of Sand. Mastodon have propelled themselves as emperors of metal (pun intended) throughout the years with great release after great release. Although many do complain that the band have stepped away from their progressive metal sound, I'd argue that this record is a perfect blend of their newfound interest in straightforward rock and technical playing. This album has ended up as one of my favorite records of the year; so I, of course, have to recommend that you go out and pick it up. Hell, you should even see the band live on their upcoming tour, too (featuring some great openers in Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles). THE CoolDad himself can vouch for me that even a non-metal fan can see them as a live force.

[CoolDad Note: I can. The thing that really struck me about them was that they seemed to be having so much fun as they played. None of the earnestness I usually associate with metal. Just a band who could really play giving it all they had.]

Best Song: There are about 7 songs I could say are the "best song," depending on my mood for the day. Today, I am going to have to go with the soaring epic that is "Roots Remain."

Pallbearer, Heartless. Along with Mastodon, I can confidently say that Pallbearer is a perfect band for fans of non-metal that want to become acquainted with the genre. Their vocals are beautiful and easy on the ear and their riffs are heavy, yet extremely melodic. The only thing that one could say is a turnoff for these guys is the fact that their songs are very long (two tracks on this release are over 10 minutes). However, no song on here feels like its length is forced by boring or painful compositions. It's pretty amazing when a band can do that.
 
Best Song: The finale of “A Plea for Understanding” is too mighty to deny.

Bones, Unrendered. Bones has built his reputation up for years as a Soundcloud rapper with ambient beats and a quiet vocal delivery. His whispering of bars is almost an instrument in and of itself, giving the instrumentals more emotion. While I have been a fan of some of his select tracks in the past, I think that this project is probably his most cohesive work to date. Definitely a good mixtape for fans of rap and/or ambient music to check out.

Best Song: "MyNephewHasAWhitePickupTruck" not only is my favorite song off this release, but it also might have the goofiest title of any of the songs on Unrendered (and trust me, there are plenty of odd titles on here).

Crystal Fairy, Crystal Fairy. Melvins madmen Buzz Osbourne and Dale Crover team up with Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta and At The Drive-In? Yes please. Give me that music. Give it all to me NOW… This record is kind of what you would expect when you hear those names paired together; a collection of heavy yet quirky riffs mixed with the amazing vocal talents of Teri (and occasionally Buzz). Fans of any of these musicians' previous bands will find this project to be great. As for newcomers, I think if you enjoy heavy, female-fronted rock with a twist of punk in the sound, then this record is for you too.

Best Song: When you have a riff machine like King Buzzo in your band, it is often difficult to pick favorite songs. I think though overall as a band though, this project shines through best with the track "Moth Tongue." The guitars are undeniably catchy, the drums are classic Dale Crover and Teri does some of her best vocal I have heard up until this point on here.

Blame God, Strategically Confined. Blame God guitarist Mark Valentino once said this EP was "the best way to waste 10 minutes of your day." Well, he's pretty dead on in saying that. This EP is unrelenting in its delivery, and it's a good representation of what this Long Island-based grind act is all about. This is a definite must-listen to for fans of bands such as Pig Destroyer and Insect Warfare. For anyone who lives up in the Long Island area, Blame God will be playing some great bills this summer, opening for the likes of Gatecreeper and Negative Approach.

Best Song: The opening track "Deny" is catchy in its riffs, and a great introduction to what this band is all about.
 
Best Live Acts

Eyehategod. New Orleans sludge institution, Eyehategod, had one of the more interesting and somewhat depressing stories of 2016. Their singer, Mike IX Williams, was in need of a liver transplant and had to sit out their tour with Discharge and Toxic Holocaust. As a result, Lamb of God vocalist, Randy Blythe, stepped in for the dates. While Randy was great live, I felt that I missed something by not seeing this legendary band play with Mike. Fast forward to Easter weekend in Philadelphia; and there I was, seeing the legendary Mike IX front the band everyone had grown to know and love him for. Despite nearly dying, Mike sounded great with the band. His vocals are still as harsh as ever, and the band just churns out riff after riff. On top of that, the band's stage banter was great (Although I wish that guitarist Jimmy Bower had taken my debit card with him. It would've been an honor). I do not know if the band have any plans to come near again; but, if they do, they are a band you do not want to miss. Their rabid fanbase and aggressive playing will make for a show you will not soon forget.

Full of Hell. My plan is to review the new Full of Hell album separately from this piece, because that album deserves some long coverage. In the meantime, let me talk about how the band killed it at Union Transfer this past winter. The band have become very well known for their chaotic live shows, and this one did not tarnish that reputation at all.  Full of Hell were able to pummel through both old and new songs with absolute precision, and included some creepy noise interludes when possible. My favorite part of the set had to have been when drummer Dave Bland and vocalist Dylan Walker shared a moment to showcase their drumming and screaming skills as Walker did a Mike Patton type of screaming solo over the final drum solo of the night. This is definitely a band any fan of punk, grindcore, metal, etc. will want to see live.

Today is the Day: As a part of a Record Store Day in-store performance, I was lucky enough to catch the legendary Today is the Day rip through a blistering 40-minute set at the Rough Trade in Brooklyn. Playing mostly material from their seminal Temple of the Morning Star album, the band gave everyone in the crowd a compelling demonstration as to why they have become legendary in underground circles. Singer/guitarist Steve Austin always appears as if his chest is literally going to explode with each scream in a showcase of some of the most passionate yells I have still heard to this day. The band remain surprisingly active, despite their longevity, and plan on touring after they record a new record. I recommend keeping up with them so you can have a chance to witness them live. Today is the Day are worth every penny you will pay to see them, and if you think I am lying about that… I really cannot help you because you must be out of your damn mind.

Ivan Saladin: This New Jersey grindcore outfit is one I was able to witness at an undisclosed location one weekend back in April, and they appealed to me almost immediately. Their set caught my eye at first because the first half was a musical reinterpretation of a Metal Gear boss battle. The other half had some pretty punishing and catchy riffs, which you know I happen to be a very big fan of. Heavy music in New Jersey needs to have weirder stuff like this going on, because it rules hard. I hope to see these fine gentlemen play again in the future, and I hope people reading this will take my word, and come out with me to hear whatever the hell they have up their sleeve next.
 
That's all I have to say for the final few months I have been away. Now that I am free of school-related obligations, I promise to do more in depth coverage as I had in the past. My first mission: review the new Full of Hell album, so be on the lookout for that. I feel like it is bound to be another great summer here on the Jersey shore.

SXSW, Days 4 & 5: Labels, Beach Slang, Mastodon

Mastodon

Saturday Catch-Up

I'm going to try and cover the last two days here so that I can get back on track. Sunday is going to be a travel day, and I just don't know if my brain could take recapping Thursday on Monday.

Anyway.

My hotel is a relatively short walk from what's arguably known as the best barbecue in America, Franklin Barbecue. I walked over and stood on the then pretty short line for a few minutes until someone from inside came out and told us they were out of food. Huh. Oh, well.

I made my way down Red River St. and got a not-the-best-barbecue-in-America brisket sandwich from a food truck. From there, it was over to the Merge Records Showcase at Barracuda.

Sneaks (a.k.a Eva Moolchan) were just setting up, Moolchan on bass and her partner on beats. Spare, short, jagged, confrontational songs that Moolchan delivers while playing bass or dancing to the beat. It was a good pick-me-up for a set that was, as Moolchan repeatedly described it, "early as fuck."

Sneaks

Coco Hames followed, and so did one of the annoyances of Barracuda. Hames and another guitarist played through a set of her country-tinged pop while the Secretly Canadian party went on outside. Every time someone opened the doors separating the spaces, Hames was nearly drowned out by the drums and rock happening on the patio. Still, she persisted; and her set was pretty enthralling. Similarly, Mark Eitzel -- solo, with just acoustic guitar -- had to compete with the noise outside, but his fans up front didn't seem to mind.

The final two acts of the day were two that I'd specifically identified as ones I had to see while here. Allison Crutchfield and The Fizz were great during a set that featured many of the songs from Crutchfield's excellent Tourist in This Town. The day, though, and maybe the whole festival belonged to Austin's own A Giant Dog.

Allison Crutchfield & The Fizz

A Giant Dog

The band tore through their 30-minute set of glam punk with an abandon I haven't seen in a long time. Singer Sabrina Ellis -- despite saying, "I'm pretty docile today" -- was absolute manic energy. Guitarist Andrew Cashen may not be as front and center as Ellis, but a glance over in his direction reveals that he's almost as kinetic. Their set was relentless with Ellis declaring that she nearly dies every time during one song or saying, "Ooooh, you really don't like me today," when the band called out another. I got a little choked up by their passion.

Sweaty and pulse still racing, I headed a block over to Velveeta Room to meet Brooklyn's Baked for an interview (yet another thing I have to edit). A couple of slices of from Hoboken Pie (not bad -- for Texas) and it was back to Velveeta for the Exploding In Sound Records showcase. I finally got to check out some Brooklyn bands that my buddy Joe is always raving about (Jackal Onasis, Stove); and I caught the set from Baked, whose Farnham, I've been enjoying immensely over the last couple of weeks.

Baked

It was nearing midnight, so I bopped over to Valhalla for the set from Aye Nako. I caught the tail end of Sammus's set; and, with fans in the crowd rapping right along with her, Sammus rode a real wave for those  last few minutess.

Sammus

Valhalla was bathed in red like some pizza joint from the fifth circle of hell, but that didn't phase Aye Nako who played through a set of their angular indie-punk to close out my evening.

I decided to give Franklin another try on Friday, heading over well before anyone would consider eating lunch, only to find a line of people who'd obviously been camped out in lawn chairs for hours. Defeated, I headed towards downtown and happened upon free breakfast tacos and beer provided by Comedy Central. Score.

Then, it was over to the Midgetmen's annual showcase at Side Bar for Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires. I could have seen them the night before in Satan's Sbarro, but I knew this one was on the schedule. A combination of southern rock and punk politics, they're another band that put a lump in my throat; and you just have to check them out when you can.

Lee Bains III

I hung around for the set from Colleen Green, who's been one of my personal favorites for the last couple of years. She was playing to tracks on her iPad but had to cut her set short when the device overheated in the sun.

Done there, I met High Waisted for another interview I'm going to have to edit and then took a dinner / shower / nap break to refuel for the evening.

It was back to Barracuda for a set from Louisville's White Reaper whom I've been trying to see again since they blew me away at Asbury Lanes a couple of years ago. I caught a few minutes of one of their SXSW sets last year from behind a bunch of Joe Jonas fans, but this was my real second time seeing them. Just good stadium-sized rock from a band in a bar. Fun.

White Reaper

Finally, I crossed the street to the Mazda / SPIN / Stereogum / Whatever space to catch Potty Mouth, Beach Slang, and Chastity Belt. Mastodon were headlining the evening, and almost every band I'd seen that day had asked the audience, "Are you seeing Mastodon tonight?"

I hadn't planned on it because I thought the crush would be too huge, but... ...It turns out I had access to the photo pit. I was thrilled to be able to bypass the crowds -- for the first three songs each anyway -- and get shots of all the bands. As usual, for Beach Slang, I was screaming along behind my camera.

Beach Slang

The crowd went absolutely apeshit for Mastodon. I'm not a metal fan; but, damn, were they good.

Mastodon

Things cleared out a bit for Show Me The Body. I'd shot the Queens hardcore band once before when they opened for Single Mothers at Baby's All Right. There wasn't a Mastodon-level crowd there, but the SPIN stage in front of the couple hundred people who remained was still an impressive step up from two years ago.

Show Me The Body

I lumbered back to my hotel and absolutely crashed. This afternoon, I'll head over for some pancakes and rock at Little Dickman's Saturday showcase. Tomorrow, it's back to frozen Jersey.