Essay from CCPP013.5

I wrote this essay for a mini-zine that will only be available with a limited compilation cd-r I made for Chicago Zine Fest.  I figured I'd share it with everyone here so everyone can read it:





Thank you for showing interest in this compilation cd-r.  This was a long overdue project that took a lot of patience to create.  Last year I made a special edition cd-r for Chicago Zine Fest combining two previously released cd-r compilations combined into one package, and the project did really well so I decided to give it another go and what I ended up with an overwhelming response of fourteen bands contributing over an hour worth of music.  Within this disc there is a variety of musical styles ranging from screamo, grind, stoner rock, punk, noise, garage, to melodic hardcore.  This is just a glimpse of what the Nebraska underground music scene is.

The underground music scene in Nebraska is often overlooked and under-appreciated locally yet alone on a regional or national level.  For these reasons I decided that I wanted the cover art to contain a black hole:  something of the unknown.  This is the very same reason why Crucial Changes Printing Press exists.  I feel that the best way to cover the underground scene is to actively be a part of it, while maintaining a strong D.I.Y. ethic:  no outside influences, no keeping the ad buyers happy, no censorship, no bullshit.

The local scene seems to be on an upswing recently and is constantly evolving.  A lot of the bands are quite short lived and break up after only releasing a few demos.  Some of the bands on this compilation are no longer in existence, many of the members starting new bands going into a different style direction.  A lot of the scenes are blending together allowing bands to play to new audiences, with show attendance is getting stronger.  I would encourage touring bands to attempt to play in Omaha or Lincoln while on tour.

There recently has also been a fresh surge of creativity popping up locally, with a growing zine culture with new zines featuring original art, as well as new punk zines covering bands on national and international levels, as well as collaborations with other artists throughout the country.  There has also been a fresh breath of new record labels and art spaces starting up throughout the state.  There are also two great locally produced radio stations that feature timeslots specifically for underground music including live in the studio performances.

Again, thank you for your interest in this compilation cd-r.  I hope you find as much of a pleasure listening to it as I did making it.  Please contact bands and friends for further information.

A huge thank you to all the bands who participated in this compilation and those who helped out in any way during the creative process.

Peace.


-K

This is CCPP013.5

ATTN: LOCALS - Last day to submit for new cd-r comp is FRIDAY, MARCH 1st!

Just a heads up that if any local punk bands want on the new cd-r comp that I'm putting out, the deadline is FRIDAY, MARCH 1st.  That is less than a week away, so if you want on it, email me your songs ASAP.  This is an open submission, so if you are mad that your band isn't on the comp., it's your fault.


So far the bands that will be featured on this new cd-r are:

Feral Hands
Astral Menace
13th Year
Red Lion
Grimer
Moralton Eggtrade
Gag Reflex


Final update of the project will be announced on March 1st.  Peace.

-K

Chicago Zine Fest coming up soon...

Just a little blurp to remind everyone that Crucial Changes will once again be attending Chicago Zine Fest in March.  Last year was a really good time, and we're currently gearing up for the fest right now as I type this. Expect a new CCPP zine and CD-R punk comp. to be ready for the event.  Any readers of this blog who are attending, please be sure to stop by and say "hi".  Cheers!

-K

New Zine - Pointless Existence - by Martin Gonzalez

Martin Gonzalez grew up in Los Angeles and has moved to Omaha fairly recently and with him he brought a breath of fresh air into the local punk scene with his taste in music and attitude.  After working diligently for weeks, Martin finally has his first zine available titled Pointless Existence printed via Crucial Changes Printing Press.

This punk and metal fanzine features well written interviews with Danish d-beat puckers Nuclear Death Terror, Swedish raw punx Raw Hate, and local blackened noise Vickers. A written column by LA scenester CaliGlock (in Spanish),  plus a few album reviews, and photos.  A strong first effort.

20 pages, b&w, half sized, heavy cover is red or blue, first pressing limited to 40 copies.

Can be purchased from Martin himself at:

pefanzine@gmail.com

$3/ea.- $1.50 wholesale
pointlessexistencezine.blogspot.com

Or by emailing CCPP at CrucialChangesHQ (at) gmail (dot) com

Cheers!

My Favorites Of 2012

I feel that a lot of good shit came out this year, but I’m going to cut it down to just a few releases.  Why?  Most of the shit I know I'm going to like because it leaks on the internet.  The days of taking a chance and possibly buying a shit record are in the past for me.  Anyways fuck it, lets get on with the list (in no particular order):


Long Players

Seems like I bought a lot more lps this year compared to past years.  A lot of them were short enough to be 7”s, but better sound quality and the extra space for artwork is nice.


No - self titled lp  (Static Shock Records)

 This band is from the London, and I don’t know anything else about them, but I read a strong review about this platter in a big time zine, and was interested.  And yes, it does rule.  No play weirdo 80’s styled hardcore similar to Die Kruezen but avoid all the trappings that are often associated with a lot of the bands who also play this style.  Yeah it has some weird guitar parts, but it’s tastefully done.


Prisoner Abuse -  self titled lp  (Painkiller Records)

The most 80’s Boston Hardcore sounding record to come out since Voorhees - Spilling Blood Without Reason.  This 10 song 12” is super pissed off, moshy, and I love that all the drum fills are on the snare. Better than the Boston Stanglah lp.


Bukkake Boys - self titles lp  (Sorry State Records)

Here we have this Atlanta bands debut lp.  I do have Bukkake Boys previous release, a split 7” with American Cheeseburger and I just remember it being a play a few times and file forever record.  But this time around… holy shit does the band impress me.  They added a 2nd guitarist and added much more focus, speed and aggression than the noise approach before.  Some of the riffs on this record are just fucking insane.  A nice treat.


Ilegal - El Aire De Los.. (La Vida Es Un Mus)

Here is the debut lp by this Spanish  fast hardcore band via  Montreal that draws heavy influence from the classic 80’s Italian sound.  The production is way more cleaned up on this record compared to the bands past output and it benefits the band greatly.  Awesome record, great artwork/packaging, and lyrics are in Spanish, so I only vaguely know what the singer is saying, but it only adds to the flavor for me.  La Vida Es Un Mus is one of the best Euro hardcore label going and this lp keeps the streak of great releases going.  This lp can be bought here in the US via Sorry State Records.


No Statik - Everywhere You Aren’t Looking lp  (Prank Records)

Bay Area’s favorite hardcore band is back and have another lp.  Last years release nearly made my list of 2011 but this platter defiantly makes it this time around.  No Statik has all kinds of tricks of their sleeves on this lp playing a handful of styles of blast beats and some nice breakdowns centered around a core of fast 80’s styled hardcore with nasty screamed female vocals.  The first side of this record is one song and the first 10 mins of it is various noises that  isn’t for everyone, but once the guitars and drums kick in it full on hardcore.  Side B just rips till the end, no bullshit.   Awesome release.


Creem - self titled lp  (Katorga Works/Deranged Records)

This 12” is short but it rips.  Creem are from NYC but play more like a Boston Style of hardcore.  I thought the demo was OK, and the 45 single was a total meh, but this record makes up for the sluggish start.  Last time I was in NYC I saw these guys play their first show and they didn’t have anything recorded yet.  Anyway they were one of my favorite bands of the night and I’m glad they finally released a record that sounds as sick as they did live that night.


Short Players

Citizens Arrest - Soaked In Others Blood  (Painkiller Records)

Citizens Arrest are back with an all-new 7” in 2012 and they prove that they are better than your band.  This record is more akin sonically to their debut 7” A Light In The Darkness back in 1990 as apposed to the more thuggish lp Colossus that came out the following year..  If you don’t know of this classic NYC hardcore band, drop out now.  These dudes can deliver it live as well.


Bloodkrow Butcher - Antiwar ep  (Side Two)

After a pretty good demo also this year, Bloodkrow Butcher from Boston drop their UK82 inspired debut 7” that features a member of Brain Killer.  A very tried and true sound that is played well.


Warning//Warning - My World ep  (Kick Rock/Flower Of Carnage)

These guys continue to make my year end lists, this time with a 6 song 7” that displays their over the top noise not music style of hardcore.  I must admit that they are getting less punishing with each release but they keep up with the style and continue to play it well.


Tapes

Tapes suck but here’s my list anyways…


Nuclear Spring - demo

This band features players from some of my favorite NYC hardcore bands, and it sounds a lot like their other bands.  It’s good shit though.  Nice 80’s style hardcore drawing influences from classic UK street punk.  This shit is long sold out so you’ll have to download it.


Violent Future - demo

Raw 80’s styled hardcore from Toronto that features members of Urban Blight and sounds pretty much like Urban Blight.  That’s not a bad thing.  Out now as a 7” via Painkiller Records.


S.H.I.T - demo

Sexual Human In Turmoil is the name of this band, yeah I SHIT (lol) you not.  Anyways, it’s another Urban Blight side project and it’s has one of the most ummm… not so talented sounding drummers I’ve heard in a good while.  But hey, so did Agnostic Front and they are my favorite hardcore band all time.



My favorite shows/memories, etc. bullshit…

It seemed like once summer rolled around, nearly all the DIY shows started much later than ever before and because of this I did miss quite a few shows that I did want to attend and snap some photos, hang out, fuck off, etc.  I however, did attend quite a bit of shows this year and here are my favorite bands/performances I caught in 2012...


Nasa Space Universe at the West Wing

I just really heard of this band only a few months before the show, but the videos they had on the internet really impressed me.  I was actually surprised that they were on tour and were gonna hit up a DIY show space that is close to my house.  I remember this being an over booked show forcing NSU to play somewhere in the middle.  I felt sorry for all the other bands who played after their super energetic set.


Hoax at the West Wing  Charles Mansion

Hoax are a pretty damn good band.  I caught them at an after party show when I was in NYC two years ago so I was already familiar with what they brought live.  They have one of the most in-your-face, dive into the crowd type of singer that likes to roll around and bash his face in with the mic, it’s pretty sweet.   This show was supposed to happen at the West Wing but due to a lot of kids drinking outside, the cops shut it down.  The show was moved last minute though to another spot and Hoax got to play.  Not that many people traveled to the other spot, but those who did slammed it up quite a bit in the basement.


Local Noize Night at the West Wing

A handful of local noize artists and groups from Omaha and Lincoln decided to put on a show at the West Wing, and to me it went off really well.  Noize is the ultimate anti-music so I’m sure a lot of the people were there for curiosity, but regardless the turnout was pretty good.  Everyone who played that night knew what they were doing and it was really fun to see.  I wear earplugs to shows so I can endure the most insane sounds.  It was something really different and I hope more shows like this happen often.  Gimmie Noize.


Both Brain Tumors shows at the West Wing

I already had and loved their first 7” so I was excited to see this band play live.  These dudes have a great don’t give a fuck about anything attitude, and plus they are fast and tight as hell live.  I’m a bit behind in getting their lp and newest 7”, but I need to get on that shit pronto.  These guys played two shows in a span of a few weeks, it was great.


Attending Chicago Zine Fest

Hitting up Chicago Zine Fest in 2012 was the most fun I had in a long time yet alone for the year.  I ended up selling a lot of shit, and I met a lot of really cool people.  I also got to catch up with some old friends who live in the city and that was nice as well.  I had such a good time, I will be heading to this years event in March with plans of brining at least one other local zinester with me.


There you have it.  See ya around.  Peace.

-K

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