I Have Dreams — Three Days 'Til Christmas

I'm not gonna lie, this is screamo. Normally I would never put this kind of thing up; I've always had this gut feeling that screamo is inherently a shit genre. But I guess this proves me wrong, I Have Dreams is… good. Really good. I think what usually puts me off is the overproduced bullshit that typically makes the rounds as screamo; the empty lyrics, stupid haircuts, the emphasis on being "brutal" and sexualized over having any meaningful content.

This is different. It still has the genre signatures, switching between dissonant hard parts and lighter distortionless singing. But this is a cheap recording probably done in someone's basement, the guitar work is intelligent, and the lyrics are actually pretty deep. Not in the weird Jesus-y way most other Florida bands try to be either. Plus it sounds like they're having fun (you know, in addition to the sadness…), and getting real into it. These are some emotionally charged jams, but definitely worth checking out. 'In Good Hands' is an absolute killer track too.

I Have Dreams — The Days 'Til Christmas EP

Track Listing:

1. Three Days 'Til Christmas
2. Countless Rooftops
3. In Good Hands
4. I Don't Imagine You And I Anymore
5. Thank You For Having The Courage To Help A Friend Change His Life For The Better

Lyrics:

From Last.fm: I Have Dreams was a screamo/emo band born from the ashes of a band called New Ethic, when their guitar player Daniel died in a car accident. New Ethic played their last show in August, 1998 with Daniel’s best friend Mike Hanson in his place, and it was about a month or two later that I Have Dreams started playing. The band consisted of Allen Compton and Mike Peters on vocals, Mike Hanson on guitar, Ben Seals on bass and Clayton Rychlick on drums. I Have Dreams were more than a band - in the words of Mike Peters: “It was an attempt to cope with the pain everyone was feeling after Daniel’s death.” I Have Dreams were together for roughly six months, and they broke up in the Spring (around April/May) of 1999.

Warbound — Shades Of Red Demo

Warbound are a solid new band from DC. This is their demo from only 2 months ago, it's hardcore that references the mid-80s really hard. Like, I'm hearing a lot of early youth crew, but also other stuff from that time when people still just really loved keeping it fast and hard. It's the essence of hardcore. And they cover NA.

Recording quality is a little lo-fi, but that actually works really well for this. It's nice and crunchy, and the vocals stand out on top nicely. I'm also digging how it's obviously only one guitar on here, it sounds real, you know?

Warbound — Shades Of Red Demo 2010

Track Listing:

1. Punching The Wall
2. You Don't Have A Rep Yet
3. Like Chains
4. Shades Of Red
5. What Will Remain?
6. Age Of Apocalypse
7. Unstoppable
8. Why Be Something You're Not (Negative Approach)

Warbound is a pretty new group from the DC area. Cool dudes, cool band, go check them out when they play!

http://www.myspace.com/warboundhc

Stay Gold — S/T

Stay Gold were a melodic hardcore band unlike any other. As in, they sound like no one else. It's hard to describe, but the music is some of the most thought-out and rounded this scene has ever produced, taking a lot of influence both from punk bands like Good Riddance and from hardcore like Turning Point. The vocals are really what sets this band apart though, it's almost a spoken-word delivery but with a lot of conviction. The lyrics are different too, they rely on vignettes and analysis, along with the more traditional personal narratives, hitting an emotional level you don't see to often. It's sort of like a collection of short stories, if that makes sense. Anyway, this band might not be for everyone, but it's nevertheless a compelling piece of hardcore history. One of my favorite bands, at least.

Stay Gold — Self-titled 7" (2001)

Track Listing:

1. Once I…
2. Remember Me
3. Black Eyes
4. TGIF
5. Just Say No

From Indecision Records: Eagle Barber (Drums/Vocals) and Chad Repp (Vocals) came up with an idea for a band during the summer of 1998 or 1999, who really knows? Anyways, at that time in Seattle, music was leaning toward the "metal" side of the equation and Chad and Eagle wanted to start a band that was reminiscent of their influences. Bands like Hot Water Music, 88 Fingers Louie, Turning Point and Bane could be considered there "core" influences but they also had much broader musical tastes, from Split Lip to Bad Brains.

After working on a few songs in their cramped Capital Hill apartment they recruited Ross Swanes (Guitar) and Chris Jahn (Guitar) and rounded out the line up with Chris' younger brother Matt Jahn on bass. Taking the name Stay Gold they practiced, played some shows, had some fun, recorded a demo, and had some more fun. Matt decided to go to Europe to play the bag pipes (not kidding), it's a bit more complex than that but he went traveling. Stay Gold liked having two Jahns in the band so they got Cam Jahn, the middle brother of the three to play bass.

From that point Stay Gold was pretty solid: Aram/Anchor records put Stay Gold’s s/t 7"/CDep, a few short west coast tours commenced…good times. Then Indecision signed the boys of gold to do a few records. So out came the 7”/CDep, "Caught up in the Moment", and the full length CD "Pills and Advice" with the vinyl of that record coming out on the European label Years From Now Records.

Now the details get fuzzy…more tours, and more chaos, Chris quit and moved to New York and Paul Betinson joined Stay Gold on guitar to do a U.S. tour. Stay Gold played what was to be their last show on August 18, 2002 at Hell’s Kitchen in Tacoma, Washington with Champion, Terror, and Allegiance.

Demagogue — Bad Blood EP

Figure I might as well put up more tunes from my first real band. This EP was six of Demagiggle's first songs, plus a SLF cover. It's a strange cross-section of punk, kind of crusty, a little bit hardcore, a definite late-70s influence. Keep in mind that we were all under 18 though, so it's a little weird. It was also recorded after Jake left but before Sam joined, so it's really heavy with the Patrick/Alethea influence, also very weird. This was recorded by Corey at the MRC, so it sounds pretty good, at least. It also has the hit single 'Motivation,' the first time I ever sang on a recording. SO POS. Actually it's all kind of silly looking back, but we had some fun times. Now it's just another piece of Charlottesville history, I guess.

You can also check out our unreleased LP if you're interested here.

Demagogue — Bad Blood EP 

Track Listing:

1. A King And His Crown
2. Motivation
3. Up The Subordinates
4. Tainted Water
5. Pedestal
6. Sleepless In Sedation
7. Alternative Ulster (Stiff Little Fingers)

Originally a small side project from M2S, Demagogue was built around Patrick and his then-girlfriend Alethea. Jake Phipps showed up to the first practice, but phased himself out and was eventually replaced by Sam Richardson, at which point we cranked up the rock. It wasn't very good. It was hardly punk, and contained far too many awkward screams and yelps. That being said, I got a lot better a bass during our 6-8 hour per week practice sessions, and we managed to create some interesting, if unusual songs. We spent like 30+ hours in the MRC's studio trying to record and mix an LP, which unfortunately never saw the light of day; however, I recently got my hands on a copy, and I have to say, we were on to something… too bad that that something was so strange and ephemeral that it serves as an example of our potential, rather than our actual quality.

www.myspace.com/upthesubordinates

Minor Twang — Seeing Red, White, And Blue

This is a joke, but it also sounds sweet. It's in the acorestic trend of a couple years back, taking the lyrics to hardcore songs and singing them over acoustic music. This particular one is "Seein' Red, White, and Blue" by "Minor Twang," a collection of Minor Threat tunes over country or western music. Pretty funny, but only because it's well done. Well worth a listen.

Minor Twang — Seeing Red, White, And Blue

Track Listing:

1. Straight Edge
2. Guilty Of Being White
3. I Don't Want To Hear It
4. Guilty Of Being White
5. Minor Threat

Dry Spell — Demo

Dry Spell's debut demo from a couple years back. If you're from the area and you've never heard them, either you don't know what the core is or you're living under a boulder. At the bottom of a mine shaft. These dudes rip, it's hardcore but it riffs a lot on mid-tempo rock'n'roll. Really awesome style with some growly vocals. This demo is a little crunchy but sounds fine, pretty good mix. Some killer tunes on here too, especially 'Pig Meat.'

Dry Spell — Demo

Track Listing:

1. World Of Shit
2. Road Rage
3. Pig Meat
4. Freak Acts

Dry Spell are a sick nasty band from Richmond. They have a raucous live set, they're a lot of fun. They have a couple seven inches out that you should pick up. Snuff Daddy even has a song about them. Don't miss out on this.

http://www.myspace.com/dryspellusa
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dry-Spell/258157774702

Raindance — Demo 2010

Raindance is a new band from Charlottesville, members of Werebear, Full Court Press, Gutter Strutter, that whole crew. Chappy once again fronts, this time with almost scarily negative lyrics and some insightful commentary on sexuality and relationships. Recording quality is solid if not groundbreaking, but the music is straightforward and well-played (Sam can put some good crunch on a guitar) and there's a good matchup between vocal content and musical style. It makes allusions to Richmond riffs, but also to newer West Coast bands like Trash Talk or Ceremony. Maybe I'm analyzing too much. Anyway, solid dudes, solid band. Check this out if you're into good music.

Raindance — Demo 2010

Track Listing:

1. Flaws
2. Broken Machine
3. Come Alive
4. I Know Your Type

Raindance started a year or so ago in Charlottesville, although half the band lives in Richmond now. They don't seem to be doing too much at the present, but hopefully they'll get it going again and play some more house shows.

http://www.myspace.com/raindanceva

Count Me Out — Few And Far Between

Happy Edge Day!

I figured this was as good a time as any to upload this classic 90's straightedge revival album. This is before their more brooding later albums, and has instead a really solid youth crew vibe. I'm reminded at times of Floorpunch, Ten Yard Fight, Side By Side, Uniform Choice, and it's obvious Champion spun this record on occasion as well. These guys are often also compared to Chain of Strength, and some of that's in here, but this is a little more straightforward (listen to the Permanent LP if you want to here a true reflection). Rather, this album is end to end positivity and gang vocals, and (as scenemates Time Flies would have said) highfives and stagedives. It's time for some crew mosh.

Count Me Out — Few And Far Between EP (1999)

Track Listing:

1. What We Built
2. How Much It Meant
3. Few And Far Between
4. On My Own
5. Past Mistakes
6. Not This Time

Count Me Out were a youth crew band from Richmond in the early 2000s. They released this EP and two full lengths on Indecision. Some really impressive work. Members have gone on to be in Cloak/Dagger, Strike Anywhere, Memorial, and other bands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Me_Out_(band)
http://indecisionrecords.com/bands/countmeout.html

Dead Beat — The Accuser

This demo reminds me a little of Swamp Thing, or maybe even Bracewar. Similar music, similar vocals… same Richmond, I guess. Really well recorded and well played music, interesting songwriting (so many dissonant chord progressions, tempo changes, some good crunchy chugs), the kind of violent, youthful lyrics you might expect. I can imagine some good breakdown mosh for these guys. Definitely worth checking out.

Dead Beat — The Accuser Demo 2010

Track Listing:

1. The Accuser
2. Bound At The Knees
3. Fists
4. Persecution
5. You Lose

Dead Beat are a new Richmond hardcore band, from the same scene as Tough Luck. It's cool that new people are stepping up and kicking out the jams. Real talk.

http://www.myspace.com/deadbeatsxe

Troops Of Tomorrow — TWWL

Troops are back with another taste of raucous Oi!-influenced hardcore. While their demo was a solid effort, this new single goes far beyond it. These three songs clock in at under five minutes — there's no filler involved. The vocals still growl their way through simple but powerful lyrics, but the music is a lot tighter and more varied. Really good production too. It's been a while since I've been this stoked on Oi, especially the opening riff to 'TWWL.' Turn this up real loud, and just try not to sing along with "the world won't listen!"

Troops of Tomorrow — TWWL Single

Track Listing:

1. The Edge
2. Dear John
3. TWWL

Troops of Tomorrow are an oldschool streetpunk band from Washington, DC. Check them out, they're starting to get big. So far they've put out a demo and this single, and hopefully more soon.

www.myspace.com/troopsoftomorrowdc