Observations, Musings, and Lessons Learned mostly in the world of Punk, Ska, Alternative, Metal, and just plain Rock and Roll. Music with guitars…mostly
This is a repost from 2019’s Riot Fest. I missed them then but any band getting this much love by Riot Mike deserves out attention.
An emo (they don’t like that term) or pop punk band from Kansas City, The Get Up Kids formed in the wake of Dookie and Smash blowing up in the mid-nineties. I’m seeing a pretty common theme about how many of these bands started in 1994/5/6. Another potential conflict band amidst the heavyweights on Friday. Give them a spin and see if they’re worthy.
Their sound immediately reminded me of NOFX. Without the potty humor. And more skate punk. And that makes sense as they came up from Santa Barbara in the early nineties along the same time as some other Cali faves like Green Day, Rancid, Pennywise, and NOFX. And they were quickly signed to Fat Mike’s Fat Wreck Chords label. Could have easily been a Surf City Blitz (R.I.P.) band.
First off the entire band is between 13 and 18 years old. They’re from LA. And they are on Epitaph, which is huge street cred on its own. And they were “discovered” by Amy Poehler. Oh yeah, they’ve opened for Bikini Kill. They have chops. Stop reading and play some of their videos.
Yeah….
Here’s a preview for my top draw for Sunday. Sunday didn’t jump out me but these ladies coupled with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs really elevate Sunday. I have to admit I didn’t follow them that closely during their first run. They click many of the boxes…Riot grrrrl, Pacific Northwest, SubPop label, punkish females. But when I became a fan of Portlandia I went back and listened. For those unaware, Carrie Brownstein co-starred with Fred Armison on Portlandia. She’s also Sleater-Kinney’s guitarist and co-singer. Here’s a sampling of Portlandia…
Ok, about Sleater-Kinney. They started as a three piece and their drummer left a few years ago leaving Carrie and Corin as the only members, backfilled by touring musicians. They’re named after an exit south of Seattle.
Formed in the early nineties and active for about 10 years putting out seven albums before going on the dreaded “hiatus” after playing 2006 Lollapalooza in Grant Park (with The Raconteurs, RHCP, Death Cab, Violent Femmes). Reformed in 2014 and have put out three new albums. We should be more familiar with them.