European Invasion

It's time to get motivated and update this thing more regularly, my apologies for those of you who actually read this and enjoy it, i actually do enjoy writing about music, and just writing in general and now that i have a reliable computer it will make things a little easier. I also updated my other blog, Against The Grain, I'm starting to do book reviews so check it out if you want to know about some cool books.

This post is going to be solely about European youth crew, specifically those bands on Powered Records. First off, the new Common Cause record "The Power To Change" is really great. I got the pre-order a couple of weeks ago and have been listening pretty consistently, I'll do a more in depth review when i can find a digital copy somewhere and have more time to listen to it. Secondly, the new True Colors 7" has solidified these guys as my favorite current youth crew band with Fired Up close behind, with TFS now out of the picture. Speaking of Fired Up, they're coming out with a new 7" on Youngblood Records I think, i can't wait for that, it'll more than likely be on my top 10 list at the end of the year.

Getting to that True Colors 7", it's probably their best material to date and that's saying something coming from me considering i can't get enough of their LP "Focus on The Light". The songs off of "Perspective" just sound more complete and little more dynamic. It's still straight forward catchy youth crew, with gruff, sometimes Ray Cappo-esque vocals and solid delivery all around. You can tell these guys have been around for a bit longer though, they've improved as musicians, or at least in their chemistry with one another and Packo's vocals seem a little more worn, which works just as well. The lyrics are positive and at times insightful. At this point this record is probably my favorite to come out in 2008, considering there have been a lot of other memorable releases this year that's some pretty high praise. Well worth it though. If you haven't heard this yet, it's really essential, especially if you enjoy any sort of youth-crew hardcore, this band reaches near perfection within the parameters of this genre, and that's right where they should be.

I was lucky enough to see True Colors play last night on their North American tour. It was awesome, they played a YOT cover, "I Have Faith" along with some of my favorites from their own collection. Their live show is somewhat reminiscent of the recently defunct First Step's, which is a really good thing, they had a ton of energy, their vocalist, Packo, was relentlessly yelling his lungs out and all the while sprinting, jumping, and moshing throughout the tiny space he had. Speaking of small places, the venue where this show was held, Siesta Nouveaux, was pretty small, it was the first time i had been there since it took over as the primary spot for hardcore punk shows, it has a cool vibe though and the owner of the place seems really into it. This is a good thing considering good venues in this city are few and far between.

This was also the first time my younger brother was able to make it to a show with me, his first hardcore punk shows, so it was definitely cool to see, he's been into the music for a while so it was about time he got to take part in the real deal. We got there half way through local band Come Clean's set, i won't link them because they were not enjoyable, although I'm sure some people would like them, just too melodic and the vocals were really bad. Next, another local, Molested Youth played, they were all really young, no older than 17 or 18 so that was good too see, they've got a good concept too, just a stripped down early 80's hardcore sound. They weren't very together on most songs and the guitarist couldn't figure out how to tune his guitar and aside from one valiant effort didn't seem to care that he was way out of tune. Their set was highlighted by their singer spinning around on the floor like Curly from The Three Stooges used to do, it was pretty weird.

True Colors were next, they opened their set with an instrumental in which Packo was leaping and moshing, i think the intention was to get himself warmed up. I don't remember all the songs they played but going off memory they played "Coming Through", "The Way To Myself", "Perspective", "Enough", "Direction", and maybe one or two others, they finished with "Focus On The Light" which was really fun. Also During the song "Perspective" they have a near seizure educing mosh sequence than would make any youth crew fanatic stomp into oblivion. If you haven't heard this song, it's on their new 7", listen to the last 30 seconds or so. There wasn't really many kids into it, although they drew the biggest response on the night. But nonetheless it was an awesome time and I'm thankful they were able to make a stop in Toronto on this tour.

Cruel Hand played next and although i wasn't really that enthused with them on record i thought they played a really good set, they had a lot of energy and seemed like they were dead on through every song. They also, along with True Colors seemed really grateful to be able to play which was cool too see. I'll definitely check this band out more thoroughly and catch them next time if they come back to the city.

Anyway, that's it. I'll leave with the lyrics my favorite song off of True Colors latest.

Without faith

Walls of lies - Buildings of hate
The people stand in line to taste the poison they create
Losing touch - Reality
Humanity is marching on a song without faith

Without faith

Without faith, without faith - brainless fools
Without faith, without faith - blindfolded truth

It's all the same, with all those stories
Power over wisdom, it's all about their glories
No eyes for no one, except themselves
The world is dying your own hands
Selfish needs - Absurdity
Selfish needs - No identity

Are you fuckin' buying it - No fuckin' way
Go

Hatred is becoming a natural thing - It's time
To do something

It's not too late

Walls of lies - Buildings of hate
The people stand in line to taste the poison they create
Losing touch - Reality
Humanity is marching on a song without faith

Currently Listening: The Clash - London Calling