Bridge and Tunnel - East/West

Bridge and Tunnel - East/West
No Idea Records

A few years ago, it felt like Latterman was playing every show I went to, and I really couldn't care less. It was odd, because they were a band that I should enjoy. Scratchy punk with melodic hooks, big bears, and that No Idea records sound. For some reason, it never stuck, and because of that, I wrote off Bridge and Tunnel from the outset. Well, that was a shame, because I've really come to love their debut full length, East/West.

Starting off with "Wartime Souvenirs," one would think that this is a more punk rock record, picking up where Latterman left off. But to make that assumption would be thinking a little too quickly. While there is a definite punk feel, this is more of a gruff indie rock record, not unlike Domestica era Cursive. Dense layers of fuzzy guitars weave together, almost reminding you of Minus the Bear (particularly on songs like "Night Owls" and "Dear Sir" due to the drums). They're technical and noodley, but not as precise as Minus the Bear. There's an underlying Kinsella vibe as well (Cap'n Jazz and American Football), but this is mostly in the music.

As stated above, the vocals have a very Cursive sound, with a hoarse shout from singer/guitarist Jeff, and a mix of female vocals from Rachel and Tia (guitar and drums, respectively). What really helps to make this band interesting is the lyrical content. There is a current of optimism to the record, with a positivity that borders on cheesy but never goes overboard. The rallying cry to "build something better," both personally, socially, and globally fills the record, and it's obvious that they're passionate about what they care about, which is important.

I'm disappointed in myself for sleeping on this band for so long, but I'm glad that I've finally checked them out and realized what all the hype was about. Unfortunately, I'm sure I missed a lot of great shows they've turned in over the past few months. Luckily I saw them at Party Mansion last month and will see them at Fest next month. Burn your sleeves!

Broadways Calls - s/t

Broadway Calls - s/t
Adeline Records









Fuck, this is good. Like, really pretty damn good. I really didn't want to like this band, kind of based of what I read on the internet about them, and this album art. I expected it to be super poppy and cheesy, and really something that I'd hate. So, a few weeks ago, I saw that they had a video ("Call It Off") on On Demand. I decided to throw it on, and it kind of fit what I'd expected. It was super poppy, and definitely radio-friendly pop punk. But, there whether it was the stage dives, decent band t-shirts (and I'm 99% sure a HWM tattoo!), or underlying Green Day inflection to the vocals, I got the feeling that this was pop punk by fairly legit punk rock kids. It was enough that it made me check out the full length. And I liked it. A lot.

The song "Call it Off" from the video is the first from the record, and the Myspace profile song "Back to Oregon" are two of the first three songs, and are both undeniably good pop songs. But, the rest of the record shows a band with equal footing in radio pop punk and the East Bay circa 1992. This record is full of buzz-saw guitars, a singer who sounds like he's trying to sound semi-British (ala Jawbreaker and Green Day), but with big vocal hooks and choruses. Gang vocals and "whoa-ohs" are all over this record, as are fast tempos and lyrics of growing up, hitting the road (and the inevitable return home), and of course girls and relationships.

While this record is sure to turn off the hardcore and punk purists, I can honestly say that I'm impressed by it. It's a bit long (14 songs, 40+ minutes), but there's enough variety and musicianships, and hooks to fill it up. I'm looking forward to hearing what else these guys come up with, and to checking out their split with Teenage Bottlerocket. Maybe all the teenyboppers that these guys attract will find them as a great springboard into even more legitimate pop punk, like Green Day fans did back with Dookie. And even if they don't, I'd rather have kids watch this video on On Demand than a lot of the crap on there.

Banner Pilot - Resignation Day

Banner Pilot - Resignation Day
Go-Kart Records










In the review of the Monikers full length (below!), I referenced the split between them and Banner Pilot. I was more impressed with the two Banner Pilot songs on that 7", and that carried over to the debut full lengths from those bands. Resignation Day is a solid debut full length that shows a lot of energy and excitement from this Minneapolis pop punk band.

Saying Minneapolis should give at least some indication of where these guys are coming from, as that D4/OWTH sound is pretty pervasive on this record. Of course, Banner Pilot shares a member with Off With Their Heads, so this isn't too surprisingly. Musically, it's similar, but Banner Pilot has a slicker, more polished feel to it. It's still gruff, scratchy, and undeniably pop punk, but the thick guitars and upbeat drums give it a slightly cleaner feel than OWTH, or split-mates Monikers.

If I had one gripe about this release, it's that it's not out on vinyl yet, and I have yet to hear any plans for it's release. That said, it's a minor complaint for a solid debut. If you're into the aforementioned Minneapolis sound, or bands like Lawrence Arms or even Jawbreaker, Banner Pilot is definitely a band worth checking out. Their split with Monikers was a great introduction, and this debut full length has been getting a lot of play from me. I can't wait to check em out at Fest this year!

Monikers - Wake Up

Monikers - Wake Up
Kiss of Death Records









A while ago I got my hands on some mp3s of the Banner Pilot and Monikers split 7 inch. I was impressed by both sides and looked forward to hearing more from both of these gruff Jawbreaker-ish pop punk bands. Luckily, both of them released full lengths this year! I was really excited to hear Wake Up, the recent LP by Monikers, especially when I found out that they consisted of multiple ex-members of Discount and would be in Philly in September (fuck, did I miss that show?)

Well, I'm kinda disappointed in this record. It has that scratchy vocal and fuzzy guitar sound of The Lawrence Arms, before they really started to tighten it up. This record (and band) have a ton of potential, but it's never really reached on this LP. The songs seem to blend together, with little separating the tracks (until the closing acoustic track, which is boring of it's own merit).

The songs all plod along at a slightly above mid-tempo feel, and fuzzy, slightly distorted guitars never really do enough to make it interesting. There are moments when they really slow it down, and add some different guitar layering (the bridge in "Papers") and it provides a nice change. I've heard some complaints on the production of this record, and I could see why. It's a bit muffled sounding, which could really add to a band like this, but instead hinders them here.

While I was typing this, I checked and I didn't miss that Philly show, and I'm still going to go check them out. This record is good, but with some many bands doing this style better, there's really no reason to give this particular LP too many more listens. There's a lot of potential here, and I'm hoping that they can live up to it on their next release.

Have Heart / Conor Oberst / The Hold Steady / The Tim Version

Four mini reviews! I've never really done this before, but I'm going to try to review these four records in about 100 words or less. That seems challenging! There are two reasons for this. The first is that I've been meaning to review these records for a while now and have yet to do it. The second is that I'm honestly not too familiar with most of these artists, or at least somewhat out of touch with their recent output (in the case of Conor Oberst). So, I'll give you my initial thoughts, without really being able to compare in the grand scheme of their catalog.

Have Heart - Songs to Scream at the Sun (Bridge 9)
I’ve never really paid attention to Have Heart, so I wasn’t expecting this record to grab me, but from the outset, I was pretty impressed. This dude is pisssed and it shows. The music seems a bit slower and more layered than what I’ve heard of old Have Heart (which is minimal). This almost reminds me of Modern Life is War, but less accessible, if that makes sense. In short: dense guitars, scathing vocals, more mid-tempo parts. Oh, and straight edge, which is usually a negative for me (how ironic!), but I like this. Weird.

Conor Oberst - s/t (Merge Records)
From the very beginning of this record, it’s obvious that Conor Oberst is in a very different place than he was the last time I listened to any of his work. This record has a folksy element to it, with lots of nice storytelling and a comfortable feel. It almost seems like he’s having fun! This was a pleasant surprise, as the last few Bright Eyes records never got much play from me. I wish I’d found this record at the beginning of the summer, as it seems like nice summertime relaxing music.


The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (Vagrant Records)
The first two songs on this record are a whole new level of catchy. The opening windows-down, summertime anthem “Constructive Summer” backed with “Sequestered in Memphis” really set the bar high, and unfortunately the rest of the album just can’t keep up. I like some songs, particularly “Stay Positive” and “Joke About Jamaica,” but other songs, like “Navy Sheets” kill me. It’s solid rock and roll, with Springsteen comparisons abound, but I’d like more guitars and less keys/synths. Bonus points for D4, Youth of Today, and 7Seconds lyrical references.

The Tim Version - Decline of the Southern Gentleman (No Idea Records)
There was a brief moment that I thought the Tim Version record was one of the best records of the year. I was blasted with gruff vocals, high energy, and the No Idea sound. A few songs in, though, that excitement started to fade. Don’t get me wrong; it’s good but nothing mindblowing. If you’re into No Idea records, with the fast energy of Radon, the gruffness of HWM, and the folksiness of early Against Me!, this is sure to appeal to you. I bet they like whiskey and porches. Don’t sell your HWM records for this, but check it out.

Dillinger Four - C I V I L W A R

Dillinger Four - C I V I L W A R
Fat Wreck Chords

After a much too long delay, the almighty D4 are back with their first LP in years. After delaying the recording and release of C I V I L W A R for what seems like an eternity, it's finally leaked to the internet, and has a release date set! I generally try to wait to review records until they're actually out, but I can't wait for this one. I'll be pre-ordering ASAP, and losing my mind in Florida for all of the new songs.

As it stands, I think this is the worst Dillinger Four record. However, that's saying very little, because a bad D4 record still slays 95% of bands putting out music right now. On the whole, it's evident from the outset that this is a slower, poppier record. Eric sings a majority of the record, with very few songs being led by Paddy or Billy. The first song, "A Jingle For the Product" sounds like vintage D4, with a slower edge, but catchy hooks, politically and socially conscious lyrics, and a nice pop punk feel.

The third song, parishiltonisametaphor, is the first to feature Paddy and Billy more prominently, and their gruff voices are a welcome sound. I can't wait to hear the banter surrounding this song live, as Paddy tells us "around here diva ain't much of a compliment". "Gainesville" is shaping up to be the hit, with a disgustingly catchy chorus about Fest, and a strong ending about staying young and the passing of time. Sing-a-longs for this song will be great.

"The Classical Arrangement" is the slowest and most "atmospheric" D4 has ever sounded, but a lot of people all over the internet seem to be in love with the line "The world turns to a desert while you pray for rain," and the ending of the song builds to a nice uptempo climax. "Fruity Pebbles" may be the poppiest song the boys have ever turned in, with Paddy making some striking similarities to Mark Hoppus. I shit you not.

Even though this album seems a bit slower, and pretty damn melodic, it's great to have another D4 record. It's really unfair to most other bands how damn good these guys. They have an unreal ability to combine the political, the social, and the personal into one song, and do it in a poppy yet punk rock way. All three vocalists have a unique sound, and while I'd like to hear more Paddy and Billy on this record, they do have enough of a presence to provide a contrast to Eric's voice. This is best shown in "Like Eye Contact in an Elevator," which (aside from the bridge) has arguably the most classic D4 sound, with fast tempos and vocal interplay between Paddy and Eric.

It's great to have a new record from one of the best bands in the game, and it's interesting to see them playing so many shows of late. Part of what made them so intriguing to people was their hermit-like approach to shows outside of Minneapolis, but lately they've been a bit more busy. So, go see them, pick up this record when it comes out, and see what most bands can't do. Best dudes.

Into It. Over It - 52 Songs

Into It. Over It. - 52 Songs
Self-released

This has been a hard record for me to categorize and I wasn't really sure how I was going to write it up, originally. For those that haven't heard me gush about this project, I'll copy and paste what Evan himself has to say about it:

my name is evan thomas weiss.

i have spent years writing, recording and touring in bands. THE PROGRESS, DAMIERA and UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT B A START are a couple (among many others).

on thursday, september 27th 2007, i turned 23. i've noticed that my last few years have gone by rather quickly. to combat (or encourage..?) this movement in my life, i have been writing and recording one song every week of my 23rd year. ...roughly 52 songs.

the first song was posted on 9/27/2007. i will balance 6 songs on this page (always hosting the most current song) while hosting a link on this site where you can download (or stream) all of the other songs -- this website (www.intoitoverit.com) will be updated every thursday. if you'd like me to play a show, you can send me a message here or e-mail me.

while this is mainly a project to keep myself motivated, i hope you enjoy it and check back every week. this is my autobiography.

anyway -- thanks so much and enjoy!!

Yesterday, Evan finished this project and put up the last song, capping a year's worth of songs. Over the span of the 52 track span, he has covered a wide range of styles and topics. There have been great guest spots, and an overall unique approach to songwriting. Each week is available on his site, with unique artwork, lyrics, and any applicable notes for the track. Most songs were recorded by Steve Poponi at his studio, with certain songs being recorded by Evan himself, or one of his new bandmates in Damiera.

The songs generally fall into one of two categories stylistically, although not entirely. Many of the songs have a "solo" artist feel, with Evan and an acoustic guitar. Extra guitar work, small percussion parts, or backing vocals add to these, but they retain a personal, singer/songwriter vibe. Other songs have a full "band" which consists of Evan playing most instruments, and Jason Dinapoli (The Progress), Mike Howard (Emergency!), or Steve Poponi (Up Up...) playing drums. All of the drummers have a unique feel that add to the songs, with Howard's being a bit more bombastic, Jason's being technical, and Steve's being more relaxed. I'm not sure how much of this style had to do with their availability, or a choice by Evan, but they fit well.

The autobiography aspect of the project means that the lyrics are very important and relevant to Evan at the time of the song's release. Some are serious and introspective ("Batsto", "22 Syllables"), while others deal with parties and Rock Band ("A Song About Your Party", "Friday at Brian's"). It's funny that even though these are his biography, I've found myself associating songs with the time of the year that they were released, and at times can associate my own memories with them. In that way I've really enjoyed this project and it's kind of meant a lot to me.

As far as favorites go, I have to go with most of the full band tracks. "Heartificial" is a straight forward rocker, and "Fak It" crashing feel to it. "A Song About Your Party" and "Ashley's Big Adventure" are my favorite back-to-back tracks in the whole thing, and the former contains some of my favorite lyrics of any of his songs. "Next Stop Olympics" has more of the Howard crashing drums that make the chorus super memorable, and "The Liquor Your Older Friends Bought" has my favorite bridge. And these are all in the first 15 songs!

The second half of the year started with a jab at The Progress and their indefinite hiatus with Evan proclaiming that "my van should have three times the mileage," but luckily they are on hiatus because we got 26 more killer songs. At times on "Can I Buy a Vowel?" you'd swear you were listening to a Ben Gibbard b-side, and "Dude-a-form" condemns Warped Tour "punks." Jon Loudon's guest spot on "Blaaarg" is husky as hell and adds a nice contrast to Evan's much cleaner voice. Towards the end, a lot of the songs deal with packing up and moving on (as I believe Evan's girlfriend moved) and touring (as Evan joined Damiera and got to hit the road). The project ended this week with a quiet song claiming "I don't have a single thing on my mind tonight besides finishing this project. I know you were expecting something epic but this is all my tired mind could provide." I'm not sure what I was expecting for a finale, but I will say that it ended well, and I was not let down.

Be sure to head to intoitoverit.com and download all 52 tracks before he takes them down. I know he intends to have them all released at some point, with better mixes and mastering, but who knows when that will be. If you've already slept on this, get downloading!

Interview - Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It.)

1. Ok, you have friends in from out of town. What five places in Philly do you take them?
A: Golden Empress, Long In The Tooth, Rittenhouse Square, First Unitarian Church, North 3rd

2. Favorite venue in Philadelphia to play? Favorite to see a show?

A: Play: Circle Of Hope / See: First Unitarian Church

3. Favorite all-time show(s) you've seen in Philly?

A: When I was something like 15, I saw Death Cab For Cutie w/ Bright Eyes and Pedro The Lion at the 4040. Think about if that happened now. I really miss places like The Killtime. Every show I ever saw there was great.

4. Top current Philadelphia area bands?

A: Algernon Cadwallader, Paint It Black, Pissed Jeans

5. Top all-time Phiadelphia area bands?

A: Ink & Dagger, Dead Milkmen, Kid Dynamite

6. What records are you loving right now? (Not just Philly bands)

A: Too many, always.

7. Best food in Philly. Which is your top spot for each?

A: I'm just going to list my personal favorites...

Pizza? Lorenzo's
Burrito/Mexican? None. None of it's good.
Cheesesteak (vegan counts)? Jim's.
Chinese? Golden Empress
Other? The wings at North 3rd are the best I've ever had.

8. Closing up, what do you guys have planned for the near future? Shows/records/tours/etc?

A: Finishing 52 songs. Releasing all of them on CD/LP. Touring. Word is bond.

thanks man.

Jena Berlin / Bridge and Tunnel / Scream Hello / Algernon Cadawallader - 8.28.08

Party Mansion
8PM

So, this is about a month late. I've really been slacking on the blog lately, and that's a bummer because I've actually been listening to a lot of great music. Unfortunately, with school starting up and my pocket situation being a bit dire, I haven't been to a show since this one. Wow, that's bad. It's almost been a month! I need to remedy that soon to gear up for Fest!

So it appears that Jena Berlin shows at Party Mansion bookended my summer. One with Stay Sharp and Landmines was on the last day that I had classes, and this show was the last weekend before I got my students back. Pretty wild. Regardless, this was a really fun show, and a nice get-down to end the summer. I'll keep it brief, since at this point the review is pretty irrelevant.

Algernon played first and turned in a similar set to the last time I saw them at Party Mansion. Similar songs and similar kids getting into it. There were a good amount of people there, and as usual, Algernon (again as a three-piece) didn't disappoint. The aforementioned light wallet kept me from picking up an LP yet again, but I'll get one sooner or later.

Scream Hello was next, and was impressive. I like this band a lot. Part of them remind me of Braid, but a bit slicker and less awkward. My only gripe is that all of their songs seem to be at least five minutes long. I feel like I'd enjoy them a lot more (particularly live) if they exercised their editing skills a bit and cut their songs and sets down. They didn't play too many songs, which was good and kept it from getting toooo long, but a little discretion in the writing process would interest me a bit. Regardless, they were energetic and seemed to really have fun playing, which is always a positive. Their new record is good (albeit long, obviously), so check it out when it comes out!

Because of how much I used to dislkike Latterman, I never really gave Bridge and Tunnel a shot. Recently I listened to a stream of their new LP and realized I'd dropped the ball. I really like their heavy, but still very indie rock feel, almost like Domestica-era Cursive. Everyone who had seen them previously said that they were much tighter than before, which is good to hear, as I intend to pay a lot more attention to these guys and girls. Do yourself a favor and pre-order (because it's STILL not out) their new LP on No Idea. Seriously.

The night and summer ended with a strong set from Jena Berlin (as a five piece again! I can't keep up with their lineups). This was much tighter than their infamous set at the Party Mansion earlier in the summer. Either way, there's not much I can say about this band that I haven't already. Awesome dudes, awesome music, and I hear they just destroyed the entire continent of Europe. I hope they remember to bring me back my Quo Vadimus German press LP.