Rebel Sound Records, the label, still has some of the Urban Waste "Recycled" LPs available on red vinyl with the official retail jacket and retail insert. Only 200 were pressed on red vinyl. We also have a very limited number of the band-only jackets, 100 of these were done by hand and all are different. These are on black vinyl with a slightly different insert (all of the information is the same on both inserts, the band-only inserts are just different looking). The remaining copies are on black vinyl with the regular retail jacket and retail insert. However, there may be a alternate jacket that pops up this year depending upon how sales go. 1,000 were pressed total.
Urban Waste is in the process of booking some dates for this year, definitely check out their Facebook page if you want to check them out live, I'd highly suggest you do it too. "Recycled" was recorded in 2010 by Paul Kostabi (White Zombie, Youth Gone Mad, Psychotica, Hammerbrain) at his studio in upstate New York. The songs are new and it's a not a re-recording of their classic 7" which has also been reissued recently by Mad at the World Records.
Even though some hipster doofus at Maximum RocknRoll trashed the Red Invasion album (along with the name of the label, Rebel Sound Records!) you can still pick one up at the webstore. If you're a fan of Johnny Thunders, the Dolls, Dead Boys, Ramones or The Crumbs then definitely check this band out. Yeah, they broke up and will most likely not be having a reunion (thanks guys), this album is still worth your attention.
While the store and live venue have closed for good, there are still some things happening here in far western Mass:
Rebel Sound Radio is a 4 hour punk show that can be heard worldwide on WTBR 89.7 FM every Saturday from 4pm-8pm eastern time.
Mike Pigott, a local punk veteran, has started a label that features all different kinds of music from South America. Check out MassTropicas for some sounds that are truly unique to this part of the world. There has been some buzz about his releases in the circles where buzzing happens.
The Damaged have been working on a new release (it's been years guys!) and based on their live performances, it going to be worth the wait!
It's quite possible that 2011 will see a reunion of the local ska-punk legends, The Detriments! The Damaged emerged from the ashes of The Detriments and if reunion rumors are to be believed, this year is going to be pretty great!
Dead Radio Rebels are a band we really need a proper recording from sometime soon, come on guys! Now's the time!
Getting ready for their first major out of town show in 2011, The Dance Cancer are playing Northern Lights in Latham NY (Albany NY) in a battle of the bands. Hopefully they will bring some clubs and karate moves to beat the crap out of all the other competitors! Definitely call the club for more info, because the show is not listed anywhere on their site. 518.371.0012
UPDATE: A post just appeared from The Dance Cancer regarding this gig as it's been rescheduled:
Former members of When I Came Back From Death and Uglies have assembled one of the more unique and interesting bands from the area. El Spectre have some shoegaze, Revolution Summer-era emo (just to clarify) and punk elements all thrown together and the result is pretty intense. They're now playing over in the Pioneer Valley from time to time and have recently released some music that can be found via their Facebook page.
South County's Teleboi (formerly Teleboy) are off to record some songs with Rob Sanzone in a matter of days, good luck guys. Definitely keep your eyes on this band.
Gloom and acoustic-doom trio Forever Autumn played a rather unique show on the side of Mt. Greylock towards the end of 2010 and it was one of the more memorable show locations ever! Supposedly the band is in the process of writing and recording some new material and let's hope so! Waiting for October is in need of a follow-up release soon!
They Themselves (formerly Goodbye For A Day) features only two musicians, Garrett Holmes and Nick Beer. Nick was formerly the drummer in Reason 837. They Themselves write fun party songs that have much more to do with new wave acts like the Human League or Soft Cell, but it's probably safe to say, they don't really know who those bands are. Definitely check this band out for something completely different and fun.
Hailing from Great Barrington, the Fallen Starlets are virtually unclassifiable, but their performance captures all that was great of the early NYC punk scene. Part Heartbreakers, the Dolls, Ramones, The Stimulators and Tuff Darts, the Fallen Starlets are a lot of fun live. You can most likely find these guys playing live in South County if they haven't been banned everywhere yet.
For better or worse, The Poncherellos are still around and will supposedly play live at some point this year. For those who didn't know, the band is loosely based around the punk rock episode of the classic 80s TV "CHiPs". In case you don't know what I'm talking about, do some learning, please.
Another band that caught me completely by surprise is Shattered Vision and in keeping up with technology, they don't have a Facebook page or even a My Space page. Oh well, they're pretty good and don't even realize they write punk songs, which is kind of funny to me.
Some bands with ties to Berkshire County but are based elsewhere (and they're all currently playing live and/or recording):
Big D & the Kids Table (long-running Boston-based ska band with Derek Davis of Three Fifteen and Skip George on drums) have a new album coming out soon to be followed by a tour.
Smoke or Fire (believe it or not this band who is currently based in Richmond VA got their start right here in Richmond MA, Lenox and Pittsfield) and they're currently touring for their new Fat Wreck Chords release, The Speakeasy.
Limbs Bin are (usually) a one-man power assault of insanity, but sometimes random family members who happen to be in town will also perform. Limbs Bin has put out a CD and a tape (and possibly more) at this point.
Colossus, with Bryan Larkin on vocals, were once based in Pittsfield but have now gotten hipper by moving to the Pioneer Valley. The current line-up features members of the Outdates. They have a new tape out.
Former members of Three Fifteen, Scattered and Minimal Effort got together a while back forming Just Say So, an excellent pop-punk (or power emo haha) band who just wrapped up recording. Check out the new band photos on their Facebook page.
Outdates feature Marc formerly of the downtown Pittsfield CVS photo department. The Outdates have put out possibly two tapes by now.
Jessie Lynn formerly of Millions Dead debuted with her new band Suffer Die and there is no word if line-up changes have put them out of commission for a while.
Another couple of Millions Dead members are still playing in other bands, Jon Plaid joined Mugy Weather, Hubby and Andy in The Poncherellos and Punk Rock Jon is currently in Dead Aces who are based in Troy NY. Dead Aces have been recording with Don Fury (producer of many bands, far too many to list) for quite some time now and a new release is due out soon so they tell me!
JBJ toured Europe and now those Masshole jokers are back, no word yet on any live performances scheduled but supposedly they have a release in the works!
Hip-hop is alive and well in Berkshire County courtesy of two MCs, Dreimz (ex-Officer Pig) and Snazz. Both acts shared the carpeted stage at the Room with members of Slang Corp this past year and it will be interesting to hear what either of these guys come up with next! Catch Snazz bowling in his Friday night league at Ken's Bowl in Pittsfield, no word on whether or not he's rhyming in-between shots.
Only a few hard rock/metal/metal-core bands are still around, definitely check out Warsynium as the band (and their songwriting) have been maturing as of late. Gone is the teenage rage and it's been replaced with the 20-something rage! Listen for elements of jazz, thrash and even classical to get the shredding treatment! This Names Taken has gone through several line-up changes and even name changes over the past two years and their current line-up is their best. Zarvis, Sinop, Brown x 2 and Tony have been bringing the power-mosh to the Springfield MA area as of late. Don't know when they'll play locally in Berkshire County, but be on the lookout for them. Dominic Rufo's new band, the Final Kill, are also a band to watch if you can catch them live locally. These kids seem like pros even though they've only played a handful of shows. One Bright Day are in the process of trying to get some demos recorded, no word yet on their progress. Unofficially known as The Grocery-Men of Doom, OBD promise to have something ready for your consumption by summer 2011.
2010 saw some bands come to the end of the road or at least reunite and then go on indefinite hiatus including Roses For the Departed, Blessings of Ruin, Uglies, Werewolves of Pittsfield, Wicked Fag, Over the Mountain, Three Fifteen, The Inheritance, Prick Bastard, Throwing Aces, Even the Odds, When I Came Back From Death, Bare Bones, The Mallards, Scrumtrillescent, Reason 837, Mudlark and Millions Dead.
I'm sure I've forgotten some, just let me know. I am only mentioning bands based in Berkshire County, there are a couple of exceptions, but for the most part that's it.
