Music
All Systems Fail
In a world of people that think a bowl cut and a wardrobe from Hot Topic is what punk is all about, the true essence of what the punk movement originally set out to achieve has been lost. Or has it? Not according to Salt Lake City’s hardcore punkcrust entity All Systems Fail. SLUG talked
(Don’t) Abandage Hope: Scarling. Lick Their Wounds and Overcome
Jessicka, Rickey Lime and Christian Hejnal contemplate the fields of scarecrow stuffing behind them in honor of their upcoming album, So Long, Scarecrow Scarling.—among scant other bands and scant other people—possess an uncanny ability to soothe a constant fear I have that I am utterly alone on this globe among a sea of yabbering people.
Making History From the Shadows: Interview with Agnostic Front’s Roger...
The first time I heard anything hardcore was the first time I saw Agnostic Front live. Everything about them was so brutal. I couldn’t believe my ears—the way Vinny Stigma punished his guitar and the way Rodger Miret attacked the microphone with such magnetism; it was the most ferocious thing I’d ever seen. … read more
Erupting in the Right Direction: An Interview with the Explosion
Initially, The Explosion was just another underground punk band in which I invested no time or attention. I then reviewed their CD and was impressed, saw them play with Social Distortion, was pleasantly surprised, spoke to bassist Damian afterwards and realized they were far more than a simple generic punk band. When asked how The
The Musical Film Noir of the Flaming Stars
Académie Française is an institution aimed at keeping the French language free from outside influences; however, for about 50 years, the term “cool” has been proliferating in Paris and elsewhere, perhaps fronted by the Frenchies’ affinity for American jazz. What does this have to do with Londoner Max DéCharné, lead singer of the Flaming Stars?
HOW ROMANCE CAME TO BE: An Interview with Mike Patton...
One of them is a Norwegian composer who has scored numerous European films and released his mold-shattering debut album, Thank You For Giving Me Your Valuable Time, on Ipecac Recordings in 2001. The other is the enigmatic frontman behind some of the most influential and original projects of the past 15 years, and the owner/founder
My Parents’ Favorite Band and the Gimme Gimmes: Interview w/...
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes really need no introduction—you should know their shtick by this point. Just in case you don’t: Swingin’ Utters’ Spike Slawson (vocals), NOFX’s “Fat” Mike (bass), Joey Cape and Dave Raun from Lagwagon (guitar and drums, respectively), and former No Use for a Name and current Foo Fighters member Chris Shiflett (guitar) don their finest attire, drink too much, and crank out skate-punk covers of just about everything. … read more
Extending Soul: Who is Ron Carroll?
From being a choirboy to an award-winning vocalist, Chicago native Ron Carroll not only can play classical saxophone, clarinet, trombone and trumpet, but he’s been on Billboard charting and DJ-ing house music for over a decade. Find out who he is in this SLUG exclusive interview. SLUG: Who is Ron Carroll? Ron Carroll: A-jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none kind
Take the Fall – December 2004
“I smashed my head against the wall, I don’t bleed at all. … I’ve forgotten how to feel, is any of this real/I’ve got suicide intent.” –Austin Parton (singer/guitarist, Take The Fall) “Something that differentiates us from other bands is our songwriting,” Austin explains. “Every song you’ll hear on our CD is a true story.”
How to Build a Better Monster: My Psycho-Sexual Dream of...
Last night I had a dream. Or was it? A giant black-and-white spiral pulled me from my bed. I passed through its middle and found myself in a science lab with a strange-looking man on an operating table. He had dark hair, pale skin, a thin body and flamboyant 50s clothes. Hovering over this man
