Music Banter - View Single Post - punk-folk

GravitySlips · 07-29-2007, 05:28 PM

I used to be into this stuff 2 years ago when Plan It X was gaining momentum. Scratch that, I was OBSESSED with it. I don't listen to it much anymore, but here's some retrospective observations. Long post, watch out!

Against Me - Reinventing Axl Rose was my favourite album back then. It's passion is unbridled, untouchable, the lyrics were awesome, and the songs were fantastic. The EPs were excellent as well, Crime and the Acoustic EP especially. Against Me have went down the drain since this album (the 2nd was good, the 3rd mediocre, and I haven't even heard the new one but I bet it sucks a LOT - also the whole major lable thing). But they were supreme back in the day, and regardless of everything, they still put on a GREAT live show.

Bread and Roses - they had this song called "Bedtime for Plutocracy" which was one of my favourites. Really good music.

This Bike is a Pipe Bomb/Defiance Ohio - I lump these two together because I had the absolute pleasure of seeing them both live in early 2006 in what remains one of my favourite shows I've been to. Defiance Ohio is second only to early Against Me in my favourite folk-punk, and Bikes and Bridges is one of the best songs. This Bike were consistently good, although nothing ultra special

Ghost Mice/Operation: Cliff Clavin/Captain Chaos - I have immense respect for Chris for setting up and running Plan It X, which is non-profit, a real DIY lable truly committed just to putting great music out there. I was never a huge fan of his bands, though. There is some truly brilliant stuff, especially with Ghost Mice, but what ruined it for me was the singing. Chris's voice, and the chick too, can get really annoying after a while. That said, they are lyrically fantastic, and have a great live show as well.

Here's a story that epitomizes the brilliant nature of folk-punk music, in my opinion.

I went to see Ghost Mice last summer (Soophie Nun Squad supporting). Me and my friend got in the venue no problem (we'd both just turned 18, which is the legal age in the UK), but a big group of younger kids who'd travelled quite far to the gig were turned away because of the age restriction. When Ghost Mice heard about this, they decided to do something truly great. When they finished their set, they left the venue and played an acoustic set under a nearby bridge for about an hour, for free, just so these kids could see them. I stayed to watch with my friend, and we spoke extensively to Hannah and Chris. The whole night was one of the best music experiences of my life. These are guys that truly care about the music and their fans. This is the way it should be.

Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains - great lyrics, but I hate HATE HATE the guys voice

Mischief Brew/Erik Petersen - really cool "drunk gypsy" vibe, and some amazing songs (The Lowly Carpenter). Smash the Windows by Mischief Brew is one of the best folk-punk albums. This is like a mix of protest folk, gypsy music, anarcho ideals, and Tom Waits. Perfecto.

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I was really passionate about this music for a while, and I still think it's easily the freshest, most exciting subgenre of modern punk rock by a LONG way. It is fun, it is honest, it is passionate. The lyrics are a great mix of politics, fun, and a desire to LIVE LIFE and do good. That was always one of my favourite things about folk-punk, the lyrics were always great. And the live shows were always immense fun.

I wonder whether the genre will be able to progress, and won't just become a brief fad. I hope so.

07-29-2007, 05:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,578	I used to be into this stuff 2 years ago when Plan It X was gaining momentum. Scratch that, I was OBSESSED with it. I don't listen to it much anymore, but here's some retrospective observations. Long post, watch out! Against Me - Reinventing Axl Rose was my favourite album back then. It's passion is unbridled, untouchable, the lyrics were awesome, and the songs were fantastic. The EPs were excellent as well, Crime and the Acoustic EP especially. Against Me have went down the drain since this album (the 2nd was good, the 3rd mediocre, and I haven't even heard the new one but I bet it sucks a LOT - also the whole major lable thing). But they were supreme back in the day, and regardless of everything, they still put on a GREAT live show. Bread and Roses - they had this song called "Bedtime for Plutocracy" which was one of my favourites. Really good music. This Bike is a Pipe Bomb/Defiance Ohio - I lump these two together because I had the absolute pleasure of seeing them both live in early 2006 in what remains one of my favourite shows I've been to. Defiance Ohio is second only to early Against Me in my favourite folk-punk, and Bikes and Bridges is one of the best songs. This Bike were consistently good, although nothing ultra special Ghost Mice/Operation: Cliff Clavin/Captain Chaos - I have immense respect for Chris for setting up and running Plan It X, which is non-profit, a real DIY lable truly committed just to putting great music out there. I was never a huge fan of his bands, though. There is some truly brilliant stuff, especially with Ghost Mice, but what ruined it for me was the singing. Chris's voice, and the chick too, can get really annoying after a while. That said, they are lyrically fantastic, and have a great live show as well. Here's a story that epitomizes the brilliant nature of folk-punk music, in my opinion. I went to see Ghost Mice last summer (Soophie Nun Squad supporting). Me and my friend got in the venue no problem (we'd both just turned 18, which is the legal age in the UK), but a big group of younger kids who'd travelled quite far to the gig were turned away because of the age restriction. When Ghost Mice heard about this, they decided to do something truly great. When they finished their set, they left the venue and played an acoustic set under a nearby bridge for about an hour, for free, just so these kids could see them. I stayed to watch with my friend, and we spoke extensively to Hannah and Chris. The whole night was one of the best music experiences of my life. These are guys that truly care about the music and their fans. This is the way it should be. Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains - great lyrics, but I hate HATE HATE the guys voice Mischief Brew/Erik Petersen - really cool "drunk gypsy" vibe, and some amazing songs (The Lowly Carpenter). Smash the Windows by Mischief Brew is one of the best folk-punk albums. This is like a mix of protest folk, gypsy music, anarcho ideals, and Tom Waits. Perfecto. -------------------------------- I was really passionate about this music for a while, and I still think it's easily the freshest, most exciting subgenre of modern punk rock by a LONG way. It is fun, it is honest, it is passionate. The lyrics are a great mix of politics, fun, and a desire to LIVE LIFE and do good. That was always one of my favourite things about folk-punk, the lyrics were always great. And the live shows were always immense fun. I wonder whether the genre will be able to progress, and won't just become a brief fad. I hope so.