Avail — Each Other Demo 1988

It looks like this is an SHZ exclusive! I can't find any record of this online, but it's nevertheless definitely early Avail. If the 1988 is true, this would be one of the first things the band ever recorded, when they were still a bunch of kids based in Reston, Virginia, up near DC. It's likely that Tim Barry isn't even on this record, or if he is he's probably on drums. But the music is still that brilliant blend of roots rock'n'roll and impressive lyricism with all the energy of hardcore. It sounds like this is probably a rip off of a cassette, with a few stutters, but overall sound quality is pretty good. Most of the songs appear to be original and don't ever appear elsewhere, with the exceptions of "Bob's Crew," which resurfaces on Satiate (their first LP), and the music of "Who Agrees," which was reworked into "Armchair" on 4AM Friday almost a decade later. It also has "Hope," a weird acoustic song that also reappears on Satiate, but actually closes out the record really well. It's a solid early effort by an incredibly important Virginian band, even before they were in Richmond.

Avail — Each Other Demo 1988

Track Listing:

1. Bob's Crew
2. Aim To Reach
3. Who Agrees
4. One Half
5. Then And Now
6. Have They Won
7. 1 Divided By 2
8. Always
9. Make It Stop
10. Hope

Excerpted from Jade Tree Records: "What some may not realize about AVAIL is that, like most bands, they came from humble beginnings in suburban Reston, VA. They were just like any other kids rocking in their parents’ garage, but instead of ripping out covers or aping their heroes, AVAIL were defining their unique sound at a very early age. By the time Joe Banks (guitar), Tim Barry (vocals) and Beau Beau (cheerleader / uber-roadie) moved the band to Richmond in 1990, the group had already almost honed their effortless blend of the classic Southern rock and protest folk that was in their veins with the melodic skate punk that constantly filled their ears. The backdrop of everyday life in Richmond, though, proved to be the key ingredient in solidifying the band’s immediately recognizable sound. Barry’s tales of everyday struggle and triumph became inextricably tied to the life (and death) of his hometown, at once creating blue-collar anthems that are often not just highly personal, but also highly political. It’s this ability to seamlessly streamline both sonic and lyrical content (along with a relentless touring bug) that has truly made the songs of alienation, travel and anti-establishment triumph… legendary."

http://www.myspace.com/availrva
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avail

Police & Thieves — The Blizzard Sessions

Four brand new tracks from DC's own. As the name suggests, these were recorded roundabouts of the 'snowmageddon' at the beginning of 2010 in an attempt to put out a new 12". The band wasn't really happy with how the tunes came out sounding, and is actually recording again at Inner Ear to get it right. But they decided to release a couple tracks from the first session anyway, to demonstrate their style and get people stoked on the new record that should be coming out on Youngblood in a few months. And while these songs could use a little mastering and fine-tuning, they nevertheless came out sounding damn good. The songwriting is still hard and melodic, reminding me a little of Staygold or Horror Show at times, and while different from their earlier efforts still is solidly rooted in classic DC jams. Lyrics continue the same trend of personal stories and discontent, with solid delivery by Carlos and a good timing relationship to the music. The guitar gets nice and crunchy too. All told, I'm excited to hear the full length.

Police & Thieves — The Blizzard Sessions Demo '10

Track Listing:

1. Thieves Intro
2. All Saints
3. Suburban Life Decay
4. Race To The End

Police & Thieves hail from the hallowed grounds of Washington DC, the intellectual inheritors to a musical tradition decades old. Basically, they sound awesome, mixing energy and passion with impressive songwriting and effort. They are, of course, named after the Junior Murvin song, although most people are probably more familiar with the cover the Clash released on their debut album. They've been around for almost 5 years now, and are in the process of branding a new album. Go see them live.

Get merch and find show dates at http://www.myspace.com/policethieves, or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Police-Thieves/22668852750

Still Here Zine Update 08/17/10

Good news, I'm back with reliable internet and free time, so new tunes should be coming up pretty often. Got lots more Charlottesville jams, new and old, plus more from Richmond, DC, and farther afield. I'm also planning to start doing reviews again, and maybe some other shit, like upcoming shows or interviews, make this more like a real zine. Anyway, stay tuned.

In other news, the Werebear demo is now available for download!