NEW MUSIC: Mallwalkers Demo (2011)

Here is a link to the Mallwalkers demo.

SHOW: Decency Rally 2011

For the Buffalo hardcore/punk scene, the last twelve months have lead directly to Saturday's second annual Decency Rally. It's over now, the PA's have been packed up, and the floors scrubbed clean of the traveling sketchies' inherent grime. Until 2012, all we can do now is reflect...

Having missed White Whale, the sound of Final Insult's set spilling into the stairwell was magnetic. The hall is vast, with beautiful scenes on the ceiling and walls. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling, spinning a spotted electric pattern that no doubt disagreed with the sobriety of many in the crowd. All night, Polish beer flowed like water and the kitchen cranked out delicious food.

STRANGERS were a standout performance early in the night, with Andy Czuba flailing about the floor, invoking an other-worldly scream, the most selfless lead singer of the rally. For years, the man has been one of those people that are like a conduit through which the scene merely passes, and his bands have always been great. Strangers is no different, and rest of the guys drive the sound with big walls of thick fuzz and really interesting rhythmic ideas. The only national band that comes to mind is Refused. The idea of a Strangers full-length record could be exciting.

If Strangers were the movers, then MALLWALKERS were the shakers, summoning a twenty minute impromptu dance party from the crowd. They're at the top of the scene right now, and everybody knows it. Maybe it was all of the pot and or the Baltika from the downstairs bar that some of us had stumbled into, but their set was brilliant (even missing Biff on trumpet), and should have gone on for hours. It's how the world should end, to the soundtrack of a Mallwalkers dance party.

The encouraging part about the two bands is that they represent everything that the Decency Rally seems to be all about: to brim with optimism at the future of the movement. Both groups are young, and will no doubt have fresh recordings sooner than later (Mallwalkers/White Whale 7" drops at the Sugar City release show on December 19th). These two sets were personal highlights, which is to not forget about truly incredible sets from Beardage, Coworkers, Everything Falls Apart, and Vile Crocodile.

REVIEW: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

I have never seen a movie that looks so cool on the big screen. Inception was incredible on a whole new level, but this one also did something really great. Edgar Wright, known for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, took his film making to the next level with Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. The entire film plays out like a comic book with a pulse and leaves you wanting more. Also, the soundtrack was put together by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. You really couldn't ask for much more in a movie. Stellar.

REVIEW: Inception (2010)

In news that isn't really that hard to believe, Christopher Nolan has once again released a film that is really impressive. Inception follows a neurosecurity team who infiltrate the mind of a wealthy heir, implanting an idea into his subconscious via the dream world to stop his father's company from having a monopoly on the energy industry. The truly interesting part of the process is that they continue going deeper into the mind, through numerous dreams within dreams. Of course, there are rules and you can become trapped in "limbo," which is basically a dream hell where you can't leave and return to your normal conscious life. The film is very heavily influenced by Michael Mann's Heat, as well as Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and it shows, as it vividly dances around genres while blowing your mind. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (picture above) stole the show as Arthur, the team's point man, who organizes the inception process so that his coworkers can go in and get the job done. The storyline, the acting, the rules, everything holds your attention during the two and a half hours Inception plays out. I'm not one for grading films, but this one gets whatever is better than an A+.

CLASSICS: "Jagged Thoughts" by American Steel (2001)

Full disclosure, this record changed my life. It really did. It showed me a different approach to punk rock that took the great things The Clash did during the 80's and took it that much further with a new sound. If you'd heard the band's eponymous album and "Rogue's March," this one was vastly different. It sways with beautiful rock songs like "New Religion" and throws a 180 into the mix with the ballad "Rainy Day." Then there are more raucous tracks like "There's a New Life" and "Turn It Out." American Steel gave us a record that has a little bit of everything, an ethic that has carried over into their two latest comeback records, but nothing can touch "Jagged Thoughts." The band came through my hometown the year this one came out and tore through damn near the whole thing. I left feeling sweaty and enlightened to the idea that Irish-American existentialists can redefine what's "punk" and what isn't. Cover to cover, this is a really good time.

RIP: Chylde

Well, it looks like another great local band has bitten the proverbial dust. Chylde was an incredible 70's-style stoner rock act that at times rivaled some of the greats. All too soon, the band is hanging it up and going in different directions. Here's to new music, but let us not forget the killer tunes they cranked out when they were still around. You can still purchase their album via iTunes and I most certainly encourage you to do so as fast as possible. Sadly, for Chylde, "the road has come to an end."

NEW MUSIC: White Whale

White Whale is a newish local garage punk band with a dash of hardcore thrown in for good measure. Put simply, they tear shit up. The band is made up of members of Everything Falls Apart and their self-released cassette tape is some serious shit. For fans of the black circle, they're putting out their first seven inch next week and I, for one, couldn't be happier.

Last night, they tore apart the living room above Amy's Place in Buffalo and left my jaw on the floor. The charm isn't just the really great music, but also that frontmen Pat and Derek not only trade vocals, but also switch guitars during their set. They never really stopped playing, each song carrying into the next through a wall of fuzz.

Hopefully, this band stays around for a very long time and continues releasing interesting music. For now, here's a sample of the upcoming seven inch, a song called "We're Dead."

For more information, please visit them online at http://www.thepalewhale.com