Authors: Dylan Chadwick
Cold World @ SLC Foursquare Church on 05.23
There was a distinct time in hardcore lore when Cold World was absolutely the BIGGEST thing past or present. CW Bape shirts commanded hundreds of dollars on Ebay. Snagging an Ice Grillz EP on clear wax or the debut was akin to snifting the Hope Diamond. … read more
Naysayer @ SLC Foursquare Church 07.19
The best thing about all-ages hardcore shows isn’t the moshing. It’s not the contrived feeling of male camaraderie and it’s not the chance to shout along to a butchered Chain of Strength cover. No, the best thing about all-ages hardcore shows is the simple fact that six legitimate bands can play full sets, and the passive observer can still be home in time for 10 PM Simpsons re-runs and a hot bath before the following work day. … read more
FYF Fest: Dylan Chadwick Style
FYF Fest in Los Angeles: A summer block party of indie rock touchstones from sunup to sundown in the middle of the downtown Historic Park. Multiple stages, monitors, concessions, vendors, comedians, water tents … the stuff Perry Farrel tried to resurrect with his travelling roadshow in the 2000s, but didn’t catch it on. … read more
Deftones Interview
Surviving the “nu metal” press tags, a fatal car accident, which put longtime bassist Chi Cheng out of commission, and a slew of studio problems, Deftones have emerged triumphant, confident and, since the 2010 release of Diamond Eyes, wholly invigorated. SLUG chatted with Deftones Keyboardist and DJ Frank Delgado about the upcoming album, their new approach to recording and his own musical genesis. … read more
Dinosaur Jr @ Urban Lounge w/ Shearwater 10.14.12
Cheers announce J, Lou and Murph approaching the stage. They resemble the picture in Our Band Could Be Your Life. They are Dinosaur Jr. J slides like a newborn snail on a predetermined track, wispy strands of a silvery mane undulating with each slinking step. He removes his horn-rimmed glasses, lifts a Fender Jaguar from its stand and delicately summons a jangly wail from it. … read more
Wavves with Koala Temple
Wavves sound meaner live than on record, more taut, as if they’re being jerked around by strings suspended from the rafters. Audience members lap it up. There’s a vibe here. My girlfriend calls it “snotty indifference” but I’m not so sure. They’re with it—they’re bashing it out hard. It seems genuine. They’re saying to us, “You fuckheads really wanna know what happened to Milo Aukerman? He didn’t go to college! He moved to Tijuana and started huffing a bunch of copier toner! Then he killed his girlfriend and buried her in the desert! BWAHHHH.” … read more
FYF Fest: Dylan Chadwick is Finally Over L.A.
Sets by the Melvins, The Breeders, Yo La Tengo, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and My Bloody Valentine copped the ideal bait for oldster journo types, while curveball appearances by obscure punk/noise vets (!!!, The Locust), up and coming taste-makers (Metz, Solange, Death Grips) and mainstream-level smashers (MGMT) made more attractive waves for those in the know at FYF Fest. … read more
Localized – May 2011
On Saturday, May 14, roll on out to the Urban Lounge for a healthy smattering of punk rock from both ends of the spectrum. Expect a dose of sugar-sweet pop punk from The Hung Ups and an unholy strain of riotous thrash from Desolate. Problem Daughter will kickstart the sonic smorgasbord at 10 p.m. $5 gets you in. … read more
Localized – June 2011
On Friday, June 10, come out to The Urban Lounge to give your aural senses a swift thrashing on all accounts. Prep your ears for the blackened atmospherics of Moon of Delirium and the rolling, uncontainable stomp of IX Zealot. The auditory assault launches at 10 p.m. with Beyond This Flesh, and $5 gets you in on the action. … read more
Love in a Lightbulb Factory: Fucked Up Goes to the...
Canadian hardcore stalwarts Fucked Up have just released a landmark album in their ten-year career: a true life rock opera. With a dizzying assortment of hardcore singles, three well received full lengths (one of which is a Polaris Music Prize winner), prominent slots on the indie festival circuit, and a newfound following of eye-rolling, slack-jawed hipsters who’ve just now accepted hardcore, Fucked Up has met incessant praise for their transcendent approach to punk rock. … read more
National CD Reviews – July 2011
New releases from Black Lips, Crystal Stilts, Dox, Explosions In the Sky, Friendly Fires, Iceage, Jello Biafra, Los Vigilantes, Set Your Goals, Sol Invictus, Thurston Moore. Tyler the Creator and many, many more are reviewed.
… read more
More Heart than Talent: NeverNever Refuses to Say… Well, You...
“Some really gnarly things happened to this band,” says drummer Gavin Hoffman, gently twirling his sticks. “Things I wouldn’t wish on anybody.” It’s dim here at NeverNever’s practice space, and I’m hoping my eyes will adjust. For a band that’s endured as much upheaval, tragedy and general misfortune, it’s a wonder that they’re back at all … let alone on speaking terms, in the same room together. … read more
