This Track Is Fire!

Today's vibe. Where were you when I was lonesome? Locked away with freezing cold Someone flying only stolen I can't tell this light so old I don't wanna swim the ocean I don't wanna fight the tide I don't wanna swim forever When it's cold I'd like to die Is it comforting or terribly depressing? Maybe both. You tell me. All that I know with certainty is that it is very moving. Welcome to Friday. Enjoy!

Seven years ago in September PUP came to my town for a show the night before I was supposed to start a new job. I had fallen in love with their second album, most especially the punk assault that is "DVP" and really wanted to go see them. The show was on a Sunday night and if it had been a higher profile act my partner may have joined me, but as she is not a fan of punk she encouraged me to find someone else to go along to the show. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, so I decided at the last minute to go to the show solo. I figured, "PUP isn't that huge, I'm sure I can get a ticket at the box office." Nope. I showed up to the venue and found out that yes, indeed, the show had sold out. Had I gone online I would have seen that, but I just assumed  that it would not sell out. I stood there in line as the people in front of me were finding out that there were no tickets left; I lingered there for a moment when I heard someone say, "Mr. Diaz..." I ...

Mannequin Pussy I've Got Heaven was my favorite album of 2024 (I said so here ), and a large part of that are the songs that surprised me. MP were initially a punk band, and to that effect they still are, but on their Perfect EP from 2021 they started to experiment outside of the traditional punk sound, sometimes going quieter, more vulnerable. On I Got Heaven  they continued to grow, evolve, and though there are still plenty of face-melting punk tunes, this song is a nice balance of chill mixed with a boot to the face. I loved this song when I first heard it two years ago, but due to their Tiny Desk appearance I have rediscovered it and placed it back into my song rotation. Happy Monday! I Got Heaven by MANNEQUIN PUSSY

In late January my friend Jeff sent me a link to an Instagram post from KEXP and the band Chalk  and since then I have posted here about them twice, so three times in two months is probably a bit much. And yet, here we are. Chalk are playing a handful of US dates before jetting off to Europe, so after much hemming and hawing I decided to grab tickets for their Chicago show (I knew I wanted to go, but I had to make sure I had someone to go with). I mean, listen to "I Can't Feel It" and tell me it doesn't tickle your synthpop pleasure centers (if you have them; I do!). Their entire debut album is great, but I've gone back to this track more than a few times now. Enjoy!

It's only been two weeks since I first posted about Chalk, so I probably should give it more time before I post about them again. The thing is, since first posting about "I.D.C." I have since purchased their three EPs and have become properly obsessed. There's not a bad song in the lot, but of particular appeal to me of late is the track "Afraid." A song like this make me want to turn it up loud and drive fast.  I don't, but I want  to. So, drive fast and listen to Chalk (only don't, because that's dangerous)! Enjoy! Conditions III by Chalk

I first heard of The Bobby Lees from my friend Lisa, whether it was this track specifically or another, I am not quite certain (welcome to your 50s, amiright?), but what I do know is that I would never have even heard of The Bobby Lees if it hadn't been for her. So, life lesson, there, kids: get you a great group of friends who share awesome music with you, because it will pay off in spades. Oh, and I just bought this track during Bandcamp Friday last week. Happy Monday! Napoleon by The Bobby Lees

Last week my friend Jeff sent me a link to an Instagram post from KEXP and the band Chalk thinking I might like their music and boy, he was not  wrong.  I think I was hooked within the first minute, and by the end of the two songs I was full-on obsessed, so much so that I had already started looking for their live dates. I am now debating if I want to go see them in March in Chicago. To say that I was immediately impressed with this band in a very short time is an understatement. Their debut album, Crystalpunk, debuts on March 13, but they've released "I.D.C." as one of its singles. I fucking love it! Enjoy!

Back in November my friend Peter sent along a track by Ecca Vandal that was a glorious, musical punch to the face. That song is still in heavy rotation for me. The other day he sent me this track to check out and if you're wondering if lightning has struck twice the answer is yes, yes it has. It's smart to cultivate a group of people with fantastic musical tastes so that they share great music with you, that you in turn share with the world via your blog. It boops, it beeps, it screams right in your face, and yeah, it's everything I like about aggressive electronic music. Enjoy! Have a great weekend! yes, please. by Sextile

Once again, if you're Gen X and thinking about songs about cars, well, of course you're going to think of "Bitchin' Camaro" by The Dead Milkmen. Also, they take a few digs at hair metal, and as we all know, hair metal is terrible, so yet another reason to love this song. While most of the references are dated now that they're 40+ years old, I think the idea of a priveleged white boy being a gifted an overly powerful sports car and wreaking havoc is still as valid in 2026 as it was in 1984. Enjoy!

I think from yesterday it's pretty clear that I have an affinity for Christmas music that is not the norm, and this track is no different. And really, shouldn't there be more punk rock songs about Christmas? I think so. Enjoy!

Full disclosure, I had actually written up a completely different entry for today, but on Monday morning my friend Peter sent me this song and a message saying, "I don’t know if you’re familiar with this band or song already, but there is so much to like about this." My response to him? "Holy shit!" I knew nothing about Ecca Vandal two days ago, but every so often you hear a song that in the first few seconds makes you go, "fuuuuuuuuuuuck." This is one of those songs, and yes, it is straight up FIRE! And don't you worry, the original post I had for today will be posted on Friday, I just had to post this track as soon as possible. ENJOY! MOLLY by Ecca Vandal

I admit that I liked Danzig much more when his "evil" was more tongue-in-cheek when he was the lead singer of Misfits (which, I guess he is again now, or of "The Original Misfits," IDK, man it's hard to keep up). Regardless, it's Halloween in two days and this song not only rocks, it fits the bill. Thanks!

  A lot of people will tell you that punk can't be fun or even catchy, but those people forget that groups like the Ramones had a deep love for the melodies of the Beach Boys. Besides, if you  like it then listen to it! And me, I really like Teen Mortgage. Listen to that almost-twangy rock-a-billy/garage rock intro as the drums and guitar jump in before the fuzzy lyrics take hold, and then BAM! you're getting yelled at by that lovely chorus. For me, this is the hit of dopamine I need to get my blood flowing. This is the fun, aggressive punk that I enjoy so much! Enjoy and have a great weekend! TEEN MORTGAGE by TEEN MORTGAGE

I mentioned before that I go through spurts of creativity, and this entry is no different. I initially drafted this entry two months ago but when I heard it played before Garbage hit the stage the weekend before last I was again reminded how good this song was. With that opening guitar lick the song draws you in, and like a cresting wave it continues to hum along but never seems to actually crash. It has a power and tension that is almost palpable, to the point that you kind of want to wash over you, but it holds you there in its power until almost four minutes in when everything comes crashing down. Damn! Apocalipstick by Cherry Glazerr

You know, after this week I felt that we all needed to hear from the Dead Kennedys because I think this about sums up my mood. Have a great weekend!

A peek behind the curtains here: I usually write up these posts well in advance. Because of my ADHD I go through bursts of creativity followed by dayslong, or weekslong, fallow periods. More on that here . I wrote up my post on Lambrini Girls on September, 7 (Sunday night) as well as my forthcoming post for Friday and two other posts. I realized there was a common thread between my Monday and Friday posts (feminism, irony) and I thought to myself, "the entry I have scheduled for Wednesday doesn't really fit the theme I unintentionally created; I wonder if I have other songs that I love that would fit that bill?" Readers, of course I do. I think I looked for less than a minute. Here comes THICK to the rescue! I was first introduced to THICK years back by my dear friend Sean, who seems to know all of the up-and-coming punk bands, which is pretty impressive for a dude in his 50s. He thought I'd like THICK, and yes, yes I do, so very much. While this isn't the first s...

Please note that the change in the title is mine because, well, I don't want to get punished by Google/Blogspot. You may have noticed that it was Bandcamp Friday last week, which you already knew if you read this blog because I may have mentioned it once or twice . I made a few purchases (which I will be highlighting on my main blog later), of which this is one.  Should we start the week with the "c-word?" I think so. I consider myself to be a feminist, but as I am a man I believe that I'm a feminist that needs to listen to what women have to say. For example, I have been listening to how some women have decided to own that word. I have enjoyed the last couple of years how some acts have made an effort to reclaim the most awful American curse (which obviously doesn't have the same power across the pond in the UK). There's no better example of that than here when it is used ironically: Getting used to saying no is cunty Getting out of your comfort zone Lear...

  This Labor Day Monday I think it's important to remember why there is a Labor Day: unions and the working class sticking together and demanding a day dedicated to celebrating and remembering the importance of labor. Say Johnny me boy, you live no longer, Others forgotten, your memory's stronger. Lets drink to the causes in your life: Your family, your friends, the union, your wife. What is more blue collar than punk? And who better to remind us than Dropkick Murphys? Also, this song kicks ass. In fact, one might say it was fire... I hope you have the day off today and are having a wonderful Labor Day! And remember, "together we are what we can't be alone."

  I think I have said here before that synth-pop, that boop-boop-beep, is my happy place. As I have placed a limitation on myself for last week and this week to only link to those artists/songs that one can find on Bandcamp, well, that love for electronic music has become all too evident. So, it took a little extra effort, and I assure you, this track ain't that (synth-pop, that is). Hey, I also like punk, and there's not much better when it comes to punk rock than Idles. I mean, how do you not love both the title of this track or the album that it came from? My partner isn't the biggest fan of most punk, but when it's this good she actually enjoys it while she sings along. Maybe you will too. Happy Bandcamp Friday! Joy as an Act of Resistance. by IDLES

The existence of disruptive voices is important for music and art, and Bob Vylan are definitely that. Maybe you'd heard of them recently due to their appearance at Glastonbury and their controversial set. Yes, they said something that may be conservatively called "aggressive" and perhaps even "inflammatory," but I wouldn't call it antisemitic. To that point: We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use "unnecessary lethal force" against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.   - Bob Vylan on Instragram Me, I've been around long enough to remember another controversial band called NWA releasesed "Fuck Tha Police" almost 40 years ago. That song was met with the same sort of acrimony at the time, but so were Elvis's hips, and the Beatles' mop tops. Music a...