Yuppies
Hominoid
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Are punk 45s worth buying?
I asked myself that same question after seeing an upswing in bands releasing more singles format releases, and noticing that prices can be as much as $7 for less than 4 mins of music. I can see the collectability of an exclusive track or the strength of the single factoring into buying a 45, but to listen to one, the experience can be a bit brief.
I asked my readers the same very question; Are punk 45s worth buying? The overall consensus... YES. However, a majority of those YES votes were more aligned with the idea of only of the song is great, or expressed not even bothering to listen to the record due to length. I often more than not find myself in the latter category, too busy multitasking to be flipping records over every 2 minutes. Only three people who answered the poll as a NO due to lack of content to price ratio.
Should the price reflect the amount of content on the record? Do you think 45s should be $4 or less? Does it even matter with nearly any release being online? Let me know and comment below.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Local Spotlight - Hominoid
Omaha blasters Hominoid have been quite busy playing out more as of late in support of their new self-titled 10 song tape that was produced just before their Midwest tour last month. Since the last tape release more than two years ago, Hominoid have added a second bassist, and have incorporated early-90's death metal influences and noise soundscapes into the mix of their mid-90's PV worship making them one of the more powerful bands in the middle America scene. I caught up with Hominiod's drummer, Alex at a show recently and agreed to be interviewed to chat about the band and other things.
You know the routine, introduce yourself and what you do in the band.
Alexander - drums
Mitchell - bass / electronics
Nathan - bass
Jon - guitar
How and why did Hominoid get started?
Alexander - I lived in Omaha for about a year, and hadn't found anyone to play music with yet. Jon and I had similar musical taste, I didn't know if he could play music or not, but I asked him to if he wanted to start a band with me. Than we asked Nathan who cant play music to be in the band cause he was 15. played as a 3 piece for a couple years, Mitch joined the group this last February.
What have you recorded so far? What is upcoming?
We recorded a demo in summer 2009. we just finished our 1st record last month. hopefully it will come out sometime.
Where do you draw musical and lyrical inspiration from?
Musically - the skull
Lyrically - the occult, ancient culture and religion, anomie, sociological structures, the duality of capitalism vs communism, civil disobedience, humanity as a holon
What process do you guys use to write a song?
Alexander - We used to write songs based around drum parts and I would hum the guitar riffs to Jon and he would figure them out. Now we function as more of a band, Jon brings a riff and we jam it out than I usually give the song direction, the "whats next" factor. We bounce ideas off each other.
What is your opinion on the Nebraska hardcore/punk scene at large?
It's fair
What are all ya'lls current playlist? Do you have a top record of the year?
The new Selena Gomez single. its dumpy.
Femme Fatale is record of the year.
Any bands out there that we should know about?
Our favorite local bands:
Mitch - powerslop
Nathan - shamon exiles
Jon - gag reflex
Alexander - Icky Blossoms
If Hominoid was to cover an 80's dance song, what would it be?
The normal - Warm Leatherette (back note, came out in 79, sticking with it)
Alex, I know you read shit. What are the latest books you guys have read?
Alexander - Unfortunately, due to school starting I've only been reading my text books. but the last few books I read:
Kurt Vonnegut - Galapagos
Milton Friedman - Capitalism and Freedom
Cormac Mccarthy - The Road (this book is dark!!! never had a book give me nightmares before)
Mitch-
JG Ballard - The Crystal World
Arthur Koestler - The Ghost In the Machine
What parting message do you want to leave Crucial Changes readers?
Were going on a tour mini tour starting this weekend (October 14 - 19)
Iowa City, Chicago, Appleton, Madison, and Minneapolis. so if anyone in those cities reads this, come hang out with us.
http://soundcloud.com/hominoid Some songs off our new record, we got tour tapes of it, and new shirts, were a real band now.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Fall Scene Report 2011 + blog update
Time for another seasonal scene report. Here in Nebraska, the usual gradual slowing down in frequency of punk shows will begin. However, things do continue to change and evolve regardless of the seasons usually positive (new bands playing out) and the negative (the passing of a local musician and artist), the scene continues.
As reported before Lincoln musician and artist Jeff Sayers passed away in early September, leaving a somber tone losing both a long time supporter of the underground Lincoln scene and one of the best bands Nebraska had to offer. Half of Plack Blague continues on with a different, yet enjoyable sound that is more dance/beat oriented. Also as reported recently; Lincoln mosh inducers, Bent Life have recently signed to Los Angeles hardcore label 6131 with plans of re-recording their current demo tape to be released as an upcoming 7". In other Lincoln news, local hardcore label, Nihilism Records have recently released a new 7" by heavy hitters Diamonds R4 Eva titled I Get High is now available and ready for mass consumption. Nebraska's most evil: Vickers have been busy setting up upcoming shows in November in both Lincoln and Omaha with new material on the way. Out of the ashes of the popular Hercules rises a new band called Powerslop that has a style more towards straight grind with artistic flourishes. Powerslop will be hitting the road next month playing a Midwest tour. Staying in Omaha, hometown blasters Hominoid have recently put together a new tape for their recent Midwest tour. As of right now, no more tapes are available, but with luck more will be produced soon. Local Omaha hardcore punk weirdos Gag Reflex have also recently recorded tracks for a demo that should be available any day now. The young and loud Grimer from Omaha have recently leaked a video online of upcoming material that sounds promising. In final news, Council Bluffs melodic hardcore shredders Ties have put on the finishing touches of their debut album after some setbacks. I'm sure the amount of time and effort put into this recording will pay off. Oh yeah, yours truly helped lay down some of the gang vocals. Expect to see the new record out early 2012.
That's it for happenings in the local Nebraska underground scene. If I have forgotten anyone or anything, just shoot me an email anytime and I'd be more than happy to report it.
Here in the Crucial Changes HQ, I have been slowing down the projects due to technical problems with my printer. The Stranger Randy comic is being pushed back to be released by years end, with no other projects lined up till Spring of next year. As reported recently, my latest zine Interview(s) made it into the top 10 selection of the November issue of Maximum Rockn'Roll, a gold star for sure. Also in the CCHQ, I have recently bought a new 35mm camera but I've yet to get the film processed, but I'm hoping that it works out well enough to be used for future show pics. Sometime within the next 8 weeks, tables for the Chicago Zine Fest go up and I do have plans in getting a half table to display my work. The Zine Fest is in March, so during that time I will be busy reprinting past work as exclusives. I'll have more news on that once it unfolds. Until then, most of the updates will be photo oriented and I have already been planning my "Best Of" year end punk releases list. That is it for now. See ya in the pit. Peace!
-Keith
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