Winter Scene Report 2012

Winter Scene Report 2012

The world didn't end.  That sucks, now I have to find another doomsday prophesy to entertain me for the next X amount of years.  Do things really come to an end anyways, or just keep evolving?  I was going to have a doomsday report that hardcore shows are becoming more and more infrequent locally and fewer and fewer hardcore and punk bands popping up and playing out but I’m not going to, so fuck that noize.  Like a lot of things in life, the music scene goes into circles, and at the moment a lot of the hardcore and punk bands have broken up, on a lengthy hiatus, playing out with side-projects etc., but  there are local bands still doing their things and more shows will come around eventually.

Lincoln metal band Feeder/Gainer have a new cd available, and have recently played a release show.  I would expect the band to be playing out with the new songs, so keep your eyes appealed.  Staying in Lincoln, the avant-garde dance freak Plack Blague has been playing out recently with new material.  I was lucky/brave enough to catch his set recently in Omaha, and the new material is nastier than ever.  I can’t wait to hear what will come out next.  A Plack Blague remix release is also currently available online featuring remixes by Bad Speler, Cock E.S.P., and Yann Is The Bastard.  Rounding off Lincoln scene news, Bent Life has a short tour stint in January with the following dates:

1.3 Fargo ND @ New Direction
1.4 Minneapolis MN @ Medusa
1.5 Waterloo IA @ 220 East
1.6 Omaha NE @ West Wing

Bent life will also be playing local support for the Terror show in Omaha Feb 21st at the Slowdown.   The bands self titled 7” is out right now on 6131 Records.


Here in Omaha, the local metal scene is red hot with quite a few showings of the grinders Astral Menace playing out.  They have recently recorded some songs and should be out sometime soon, so be on the lookout for that when it drops.  Newer local hardcore band Sister Kisser has been playing the late-night party scene featuring scene veterans of bands I've enjoyed in the past.  I would expect something recorded sometime soon if not available now at shows.  More info once available.   Omaha hardcore bros. Relentless Approach have a new 7” available via Bezerker Records titled Notorious Thugs.  In support of the new record the band will head west for a winter tour playing the following cities:

1-18 Kansas City
1-19 Oklahoma City
1-20 Dallas
1-21 Albuquerque
1-22 Phoenix
1-23 San Diego
1-24 Tijuana, Mexico
1-25 Los Angles
1-26 Orange County
1-27 Santa Barbara
1-28 Bakersfield
1-29 San Francisco
1-30 Oakland
1-31 Reno
2-1 SLC- Ogden
2-2 Denver

Find Relentless Approach on facebook  for more info on the tour/shows.


Here at the CCHQ, things have been a bumpy road the last few months.  If you follow the blog at all you have already noticed that I have reached my 1gig upload limit and to get more space, I’d have to purchase it at a monthly fee.  I’m really against spending money on such a simple setup as Blogger so I have been looking around for other solutions.  As of right now, only text updates/news will be posted as long as I am allowed to.  More news will be announced on the topic once I get it all figured out.  This doesn't mean that Crucial Changes nor CCPP will end.  In other CC related news, a new hardcore/punk/metal fanzine made by Martin Gonzalez will be available in a few weeks called Pointless Existence that features interviews of underground bands from all over the world.  I’m really excited to see more locals getting involved in the scene.  Local artist Taylor Smith will also be releasing a new cut-up art zine very soon as well.  Be on the lookout for both.  In final news, Crucial Changes Printing Press will once again be attending Chicago Zine Fest in March 2013.  This years event was quite the experience and I’m really excited to showoff how we do it here in Nebraska to new audiences.  Expect a new CCPP zine to be ready and hopefully a new cd-r comp. specifically for the fest in upcoming months.  Oh yeah, my year end best-of list coming soon...  Hardcore forever.

I hope everyone had a good year in 2012, here’s to another… cheers!

-K


Are you mad that I didn't mention your band/project?  Then tell me about it!  If it's a local underground project/event/etc. I will write about it.  Do you have something you want to submit to Crucial Changes?  Do it.  Surprise me.

Local bands live on KZUM

Olivia from KZUM DJs Soundcheck, an all-local based radio hour (6:30 to 7:30 every Friday afternoon) and has recently had some of Nebraska's best underground music acts play live on air.  In-studio sessions and interviews by Lincoln's Plack Blague, and Omaha bands: Swamp Walk and Bruja are now up for everyone to check out if you missed the initial airing.  Cheers!

http://soundcloud.com/soundchecknebraska

Reached my 1G storage max...

I'm sure you've noticed the lack of posts for the last 6 weeks.  I've had a few setbacks with car repairs the last few months that have prevented me from attending a few hardcore shows, as well as a few other minor setbacks with the holiday season and etc.

And now for the important news...

I got back show photos from the Black Ice, SWANS, and Agnostic Front shows a while back and finally had an opportunity to upload them last night but was unable to due to reaching my 1G storage max on Blogger.  What this means is that I can't upload any new photos without deleting show pics from the past or purchasing more space at monthly rate.  I've come to the conclusion that if I am going to have to pay to blog, I would like to see what other options there are available.  As of right now I am looking into possibly starting an all new website based on the WordPress platform although I'm still in the infant stages deciding what I am going to do.  Until then, there will only be text posts on this blog until further notice.  Ideally, I would like to re-boot the blog by the beginning of the new year.  Whatever it is I decide to do, the show pics from the shows mentioned above will be posted then.  However, expect an update on my favorite punk and hardcore releases of 2012 to be posted by years end, as well as lists from Crucial Changes main contributor, Taylor and a local poll of the scenes favorite releases.

Crucial Changes is coming on up on the 100,000 view milestone quickly, and I'd like to give a big thank you to everyone who has followed the blog throughout the years of it's existence and all the local punk and hardcore bands in Nebraska past and present.  Cheers!

-K

New Zine Available via CCPP

The newest installment of Nebraska Underground Quarterly is now available for $1/free with trade.  This issue features a Fall Scene Report, Photos from Nebraska Hardcore Showcase III, Record Reviews by Taylor, and a Fall Show Calendar.  8 pages, half sized.  Email to order:  CrucialChangesHQ(at)gmail.com

I also have a few leftover CCPP zines for free, ask for availability.

Peace.
-K

Fall Scene Report 2012

Fall Scene Report 2012

After a very hot summer things have cooled down a bit in the past weeks and we are finally in fall season.  The local hardcore scene however has been heating up with activity.   In the past 3 months quite a few local bands have released records, demos, and tapes many of them being of good quality.  Lincoln mosh masters Bent Life have their self-titled debut 7” out now via 6131 Records and can be bought purchased online from 6131, RevHQ and other fine modern hardcore distros.  These guys are out on the road quite frequently and have been playing the mid-tier fest circuit so be sure to check ‘em out if they come to a town near you if you already haven’t .   Lincoln metal warriors Purgatory have been playing out a bit and their tape Hell On Earth available now featuring cover art by local artist Taylor Smith.  Staying in Lincoln, fast hardcore bros Discourse have a new 7” Shelter available via local label Nihilism Records that is worth checking out if you want to hear something a bit different.  Moving on to Omaha, Nebraska’s newest transplant hardcore band Relentless Approach have a new cd-r discography now available featuring the previous 7” Juicy as well as raw versions of an upcoming 7” Notorious Thugs.   These guys are very powerful live and are worth seeing.  Omaha moshers Bad Vibes are putting the finishing touches on their yet to be named 12" due out this fall.  Keep your eyes appealed.  Omaha hardcore weirdos Gag Reflex have a 7" available soon via shows only, so ya gotta come out and see them live if you want a copy.  Rounding out scene news new tracks from local upstarts Grimer, Flies, and 13th Year are available via the internet that are all worth your time.  In the upcoming months expect to see new recordings released by chaotic hardcore Council Bluffs, IA band Red Lion, new Omaha grind Astral Menace, as well as new songs from two of Lincoln’s heaviest bands; Nasty Asshole 2 and Feeder/Gainer.

Last month the 3rd annual Nebraska Hardcore Showcase went off without a hitch last month at the Commons and although the turnout hardcore wasn't as strong as last years event, but quite a few old and new faces still showed up.  I always have a fun time at this event and we are lucky that we can throw such large local shows without any drama or fights going down.  You can view the photos I took of this year fest HERE.  In final news, I am happy to report that a new show space has popped up here in Omaha calling itself The Kitchen and have been throwing a show from time to time with more shows happening more often in the future.  It’s good to see a space with a pretty good sized basement, their own PA, and a nice neutral territory feeling that is important to allow the scene to grow.  I expect to catch more shows there in upcoming months.

Recently Crucial Changes Printing Press has recently released the 2nd printing of local Omaha artist Taylor Smith’s cut-up zine Devils Blues with only a handful left.  Taylor will have a new zine available soon featuring new artwork.

Lastly, I'm sad to report that Antiquarium Records in Omaha has closed it's doors Sun., but with luck a new location will be found soon.  I have probably spent over 10 grand there throughout the years and It's sad to see another local record store close.  Do your part and support local record stores to prevent this tragedy from happening in your community.

Peace.
-K

Show Pics - Yob - 9/10 @ Burbon Theater

Show Pics - Nebraska Hardcore Showcase III - 9/8 @ The Commons

Show Pics - Brain Tumors, DR4E, Gag Reflex - 8/30 @ West Wing

Brain Tumors

DR4E

Gag Reflex

Show Pics - White Walls, Discourse, + Special Guest - 8/29 @ West Wing

White Walls

Discourse

Local Dudes