Dead band, vibrant songs: Softer than Yesterday

Softer than Yesterday (www.reverbnation.com/softerthanyesterday)

Although officially disbanded for several years now, the Saint Louis Metro punk/post-punk band Softer than Yesterday produced a wealth of songs which provided powerful and intelligent critiques of capitalism, inequality, and state-corporate abuses of power.  Unlike many bands that write political songs, Softer than Yesterday was blunt, blatant, and as articulate as the thinkers who inspired their message.   Lyrically, the music is well grounded in the radical political philosophies of Marx, and this shines through on almost every song.   The band was engaged in significant forms of praxis, always being true to the spirit of punk by playing all ages shows anywhere they could (including rented halls, basements, etc…).  The goal was to spread a message of hope, resistance, and social action. 

Although there are many songs I could highlight, I will focus on System Overhaul (freely available for download here, as are all the band’s songs).   Two things stand out right away on this track:  Singer Josh Lucker’s high pitched and emotional delivery as well as the tight but turbulent drum parts.  Heavy power chords rooted in drop D tuning supplemented with well placed guitar flashes spur the energy of the track along.  The slow bridge and instrumental spaces later in the song gives the listener some rest, perhaps as a time to reflect on the previous messages, and also a chance for the bass lines to stand out.  The song reemerges with a blend of the previously used chorus with addition of the chant “No war but class war,”  which pushes the meaning of the song to yet another level of critique and resistance. Other songs certainly worth checking out are Reaction Dies Tonight and Are We Listening?

It would be a shame for Softer than Yesterday’s compelling message to die along with the band.  Download and spread these tracks.

All Ages: A New Kind of Citizen

All Ages (www.iloveallages.com)

A New Kind of Citizen

San Francisco’s All Ages works hard.  They have toured much of the U.S. over the years and regularly play shows in Japan.  In fact, they are in the middle of a three month stint on the small and troubled island right now.  My band was fortunate enough to share the stage with them back in February 2011 at a show in Saint Louis.  I was impressed with their musicianship, songwriting, and energetic stage antics.  More importantly, I have always been a sucker for gritty and harmonized vocal melodies over distorted guitars, speedy and active drums, and run away bass lines.  All Ages delivers this style of music in fine form, and that they often write songs about building community, getting engaged in social movements, and calling for youth activism makes them one of my favorite independent melodic punk bands.  Illustrating their commitment to more than entertainment, the band is heavily involved in raising funds for Japanese tsunami victims. 

All Ages’ 2010 full length, A New Kind of Citizen, is loaded with excellent punk and rock songs.  The title track, which I’ll focus on here, is a blazing and chunky blend of harmony, guitars, and drums, with a very nice bass presence provided by the notoriously crazy Tom (pictured to the right).  Starting with a cleanish guitar and bass riff and then quickly moving into a charged classic punk beat and harmonized guitars, the vocals soon cut in with singer Derrik Soares’ distinctive and powerful tone.   Think Rise Against meets Rancid, except with better singing.  Soares’ delivers good timing and inflection throughout the song, punctuating notes at just the right points and still letting the instrumentals breathe.  The refrain “We need a new kind of citizen, hey are you listening, this is a message of truth, directed at the youth,” is super catchy but also poignant because it underscores the main theme of the song:  Get involved, get conscious, and just get off your ass and do something meaningful.  I like the breakdowns and bridge of the tune as well – they help support the totality of the song and message.

Check out this song on their official website under the music tab, and while you are at it, you have to spend some time watching their videos.  Some are moving, and others are just flat out funny.   

Don’t let corporate radio control you.  Buy A New Kind of Citizen from All Ages and show that you give a damn about good guys making good music that matters beyond the existential.

Voice of Addiction: September Remembered

Voice of Addiction (www.voiceofaddiction.com)

September Remembered

It may seem odd to start off this blog with the caveat that I know the guys in Voice of Addiction because my band has shared the stage with them several times.  I can say, however, that I am reasonably sure that even if I didn’t know and like these guys, I’d probably come to the same conclusion:  Voice of Addiction is a cut above most punk bands.  

VoA is a three piece band, a structure I’ve always admired.  It requires a responsibility for each person in the band to fill, but not overfill, their parts.  It also usually requires someone to lead sing and play their instrument well.  That is harder for many musicians than you may think.

The band's live shows are energetic, their performances genuine, their playing skills impressive, and most importantly to me, they write and perform songs critical of injustice and oppression.  If I were you I'd catch them before everyone in the punk scene is waiting outside venues paying some serious cash to see their shows.  They are that good.

Voice of Addiction is rooted in Chicago and regularly plays loads of shows across the Midwest. They are almost finished with a full length album, which should be available for download in about a month.  For now, I call your attention to a single they released sometime back, September Remembered.  To say this song is melodic, catchy, and full of interesting riffs would be an understatement.  The track starts with seductive, warm, and somewhat prickly guitar licks,  picks up energy very quickly via bright drums, and then kicks in with perfectly timed vocals. There is just something about the way lead singer and bassist Ian Tomele sings “You’ll never extinguish the fire.”  It sort of makes me wish I had written the song, and certainly makes me wish I could draw out a phrase like that and make it sound good.  The song continues with more thoughtful vocal and percussive cadence, punctuated with emotional but articulate lead and background vocals, and rather basic but powerful guitar parts.  The guitar solo is perfect – it has just enough contained flash to provide an extra layer to the song.   

You should download this song for free while you can.  All you have to do is go here, the official VoA website where you’ll probably hear the track start right away, and sign up for their mailing list.  Knowing Ian and the boys, they’ll probably send you the song within a few hours. Yep, they are that passionate about sharing their collective vision.