============================================================================= @ @@@ @ @@ @@@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @ @ @@ @@ @@@ @@@ @@ @@ @@ @ @ @@@@@ @@@ @@@ @ @@ @@ @ @ @ @ @@@ @ @@@ @ @@@@@ @ @ @@ @@ @@ @ @@@ @@@@@ @ @ @ @ @@ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@@@ @@@@@@ @ @ @@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@@@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @@ @@ @@@ @@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @ @ @@ @@ @@@ @@@@@ @@@@@ @ @ ============================================================================= D I G E S T ============================================================================= Issue 1 October, 1995 Volume 1 This Month: þ Column: News & Notes þ Column: Unsigned: Bad Hat þ Column: Album Reviews: CIV, Foo Fighters, Hum, The Presidents Of The U.S.A., Sweet Diesel, & Tripping Daisy þ Feature: You, a lot of bands, and the internet: What a better way to communicate? þ Column: What's New?!? Release dates for October þ Column: Tabulature, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, My Friends þ Feature: The Wild Punk Fest At The Warp Tour þ Column: Spotlight...Toadies & Orange 9mm þ Column: Riffs °±²ÛCOLUMNÛ²±° News & Notes by John Yatsko Well unfortunately the first issue of the Editor Alternateen Digest did not make it out on it's John Yatsko originally planned release date. A lot has been (yatjoh16@pct.edu) going on since the first idea to release a magazine (atd@unix.gcomm.com) like the ATD. Contribution from the music industry has been scarce. However, I would like to deeply Senior Writers that Howie Klein and Jim Baltutis at Reprise Records Brian Jones for helping me out in just about any way possible. (dagmar@onix.com) Dan (Deacon) Daidone A lot of thought has gone into the format of (dagmar@onix.com) the magazine since day one. We are thinking of making this magazine into a total print magazine. Alternateen Digest That way we would be able to be more creative with Iss 1, Vol 1, Oct. 95 that format and include pictures among other things. B-309, 101 Park St Also we are hopefully going to have the ATD on a web Williamsport, PA 17701 site sometime soon. So either way, this primitive Local Aria Inc. format we have now will probably be gone. The Filter and Silverchair album reviews are missing because we believe they have been outdated since the original add to the release of the magazine. Sorry if it caused any inconvenience. Local Aria Inc., the company that owns the Alternateen Digest, is sponsoring and possibly promoting a local unsigned band show to be held at Pennypack Park in Philadelphia. If you are interested in possibly performing at this show, please get in contact with a staff member of the ATD. More information will be posted on the event as it becomes available. One final note. If you have an unsigned band or know of an unsigned band that would like some publicity, get in touch with us either via email or the U.S. Postal service. Both addresses are listed above. Thank you for you time and I hope you enjoy the first issue of the Alternateen Digest. John Yatsko Editor - Alternateen Digest °±²ÛCOLUMNÛ²±° Unsigned: Bad Hat by John Yatsko "To quote "Deathtongue," we want: "Chicks, chicks, chicks, and dough."" In our neverending search for unsigned bands, we found the Bensalem, Pennsylvania based band Bad Hat. The band was nice enough to take time out of their practice session to sit down and answer a few questions that I emailed to one of the members that runs a bulletin board system, which can be contacted at 215-943-1885, and is the Official Bad Hat Fan Club Headquarters. Bad Hat consists of Bill Hottenstein, vocals, Jim McCloskey, guitar, Mike Harrison, drums, and Joe DeLucas, bass. All the band members are in their early twenties and claimed to have met in a parking lot. The group has been together off and on for about a year and a half. Last year they put out their first demo, which was a four song demo entitled "Dinner With Bob", that they call a "do-it-yourself trailer." One of the songs on the demo won an award from "Out On The Town" magazine for Best Song of 1994, Honorable Mention. Some of the bands influences are Monty Python, Ethel Merman, Marty Feldman, and The Beatles. Interestingly enough, all the members of the band, excluding Mike, have written lyrics to at least one of the songs on the demo. These guys love to play out, but don't seem to get as many gigs as they would like to. Some times they are asked to play all cover gigs, which they hate to do but is better than nothing. Some of the covers they do include: Fire by Jimi Hendrix, Everything Zen by Bush, Helter Skelter by The Beatles, Blister In The Sun by Violent Femmes, and Killing The Name by Rage Against The Machine, just to name a few. Bad Hat assures me that their contact with any record company is "nothing to write home about." The lack of gigs and record deals may have some to do with the terrible management or total lack of management the group has had. They are looking for new management to this day. Hopefully the will get a break because they seem to have a tremendous deal of talent. Bad Hat can be reached at: Bad Hat PO BOX 432 Bensalem, PA 19020 °±²ÛCOLUMNÛ²±° Album Reviews: CIV, Foo Fighters, Hum, The Presidents Of The U.S.A., Sweet Diesel, & Tripping Daisy by Various Staff Members Artist: CIV Album: Set Your Goals Album Comments: Following in the foot steps of SICK OF IT ALL, CIV is the newest addition to the New York Hardcore scene with their debut album SET YOUR GOALS. Song: Set Your Goals Rating: 4 Comments: They couldn't have picked a better song to begin the album. It has a poppy rhythm and a beat you can snap your fingers to. Song: Do Something Rating: 3 Comments: The distorted guitars have a QUICKSAND feel to it and the pace varies from quick to very quick. Could have be longer. Song: So Far So Good So What Rating: 3 Comments: Though not as fast paced as some of their other songs, it shows the diversity of the group at its best. Song: State Of Grace Rating: 1 Comments: Besides it being quick and hard edged, STATE OF GRACE sounds like every other 59 second punk song ever created. Song: Can't Wait One Minute More Rating: 5 Comments: Without a doubt the best song on the album. The drums lead the way, as the lyrics fit just about perfect to the bouncy rhythm. It coincidentally is their first single. Song: Trust Slips Through Your Hands Rating: 4 Comments: Even if this track just had the intro to it, it would deserve four stars. Not to mention the bombastic kick thrown in by the drums. Song: Gang Opinion Rating: 3 Comments: The lyrics get right to the point and seem to overshadow the music which would have been an even better tune if it were longer. Song: Choices Made Rating: 3 Comments: Another anthem for the 90's teens to scream and yell to. "I don't need you to make my choices." Teen angst at its best. Song: Solid Bond Rating: 1 Comments: The lyrics seem a bit generic and the rhythm is a little weak, but relax, there's seven tracks left to enjoy. Song: Marching Goals Rating: 3 Comments: It's original, you've got to give them that. Song: United Kids Rating: 2 Comments: Nothing new or original can be found on this track, which has angry lyrics, but seems like it was just thrown together. Song: Soundtrack For Violence Rating: 2 Comments: These guys seem to get more pissed off as the album goes on. It's fast, edgy, and it sounds like their others. Song: Boring Summer Rating: 4 Comments: Led by the bass and the crashing cymbals, the louder this is played the better the chant of "It's a boring summer" sounds. Song: Et Tu Brute? Rating: 2 Comments: Definitely influenced by QUICKSAND, like the guitars and lyrics. It's almost a rip-off. Song: All Twisted Rating: 3 Comments: The only song not written by the band, but you wouldn't know it unless you read the inside of the CD sleeve. The guitars rip the whole way through. Song: Don't Got To Prove It Rating: 4 Comments: If BAD RELIGION forgot to plug in their instruments and you could only hear the repetitive chanting, then it would sound similar to this. Song: Rating: 4 Comments: Hidden track. A great track to end the album with. The dark guitars have a fierce rhythm and maybe the best song besides CAN'T WAIT ONE MINUTE MORE. Why would they choose this tune to be the 'hidden' track? Album Rating: 3 Review by: Deacon ù---ù Artist: Foo Fighters Album: Foo Fighters Album Comments: Before listening to FOO FIGHTERS, the bands self-titled, debut album, put aside the thoughts that Dave Grohl, the lead singer and guitarist, was the drummer from Nirvana. If you think of this group as an extension of Nirvana, then you've already begun to put expectations on them, and limits as well. Song: This Is A Call Rating: 5 Comments: It's not easy having your first track be the first single off of your album, but this works perfectly. With the catchy, almost childlike lyrics and kick ass guitars, this maybe the best song off the album, but it's go competition. Song: I'll Stick Around Rating: 5 Comments: Though it may sound like a Nirvana inspired guitar drive, the lyrics put that aside and take control. I personally think that this song adds more to the rest of the album. Song: Big Me Rating: 4 Comments: Its short but sweet. Dave's melodic voice, and light instrumental pace show a slower side of Foo Fighters, a side which is equal to is counterpart. Song: Alone + Easy Target Rating: 4 Comments: The fierce guitars added along with the softer voice makes this song another favorite of mine. Song: Good Grief Rating: 3 Comments: I feel that if the voice matched the guitars with a more edgy tone, then it could have made it a little more interesting. Song: Floaty Rating: 4 Comments: With the lyrics and guitars cutting back and forth between psychedelic to hard rock, it shows how the band can use its diversity in the same song. Song: Weenie Beenie Rating: 3 Comments: So what if you can't tell what he's saying, just listen to the rhythms pace and go beat the hell out of a 12 year old. Song: Oh, George Rating: 3 Comments: I guess its tough for them to make a song that doesn't sound like one of their others, but the lyrics do have some meaning to them. Song: For All The Cows Rating: 5 Comments: How the hell can you not like a song with this title. You can almost guess that when a song starts off this slow paced that it's going to change for the better. Song: X-Static Rating: 2 Comments: Possibly the only weakness of the album. It features a cameo performance by Greg Dulli, guitarist if the Afghan Wigs. The song kind of drags on, but maybe this was part of their plan to lull you asleep for the next track. Song: Wattershed Rating: 5 Comments: As you wake from your lull, you get pounded by the guitars, bass, and drums. Grohl send this song into a moshable state. This will undoubtedly be the next single after I'LL STICK AROUND. Song: Exhausted Rating: 4 Comments: Foo didn't want to end the album on a bad not and they didn't. Though this track isn't the most recognized on the album, it certainly ends it showing how they can calm you down and wake you like and irritating alarm clock. Album Rating: 3.9 Review by: Deacon ù---ù Artist: Hum Album: You'd Prefer An Astronaut Album Comments: HUM's debut album which is released on the RCA label is that of mellow vocals with loud distorted instrumentals. All the the tracks on this album show a great deal of energy, yet it seems HUM is always holding something back, ready to explode. Song: Little Dipper Rating: 4 Comments: This is a great start off track to show you how HUM is. The mellow vocals with the loud distorted instrumentals. Song: The Pod Rating: 4 Comments: Another track in the HUM fashion. Song: Stars Rating: 5 Comments: The first single off of the album and rightly so, since it probably the best song on the album or it's tied with I HATE IT TOO. Song: Suicide Machine Rating: 2 Comments: Nothing in this track really stands out. This is the only weak song on the album. Song: The Very Old Man Rating: 3 Comments: One of the two slower songs on the album. Nice guitar riff. Shows a different side of HUM. Nice way to end side one of the album. Song: Why I Like The Robins Rating: 4 Comments: "This is a song about a bird." Song: I'd Like Your Hair Long Rating: 4 Comments: This is as up tempo as HUM gets. I think they finally let it all loose on this track. It fits the HUM pattern, though something about this track makes it stand out. Song: I Hate It Too Rating: 5 Comments: This song is definitely my favorite on the album and could be compared to STARS as the best on the album. The lyrics and the instrumentals on this track are definitely worth listening to since they are incredible. Song: Songs Of Farewell And Departure Rating: 3 Comments: Seems they wanted to end the album the same way they did side one, showing a different side of HUM, with the only other slow song on the album. Album Rating: 3.8 Review by: John Yatsko ù---ù Artist: The Presidents of the U.S.A. Album: The Presidents of the U.S.A. Album Comments: This is definitely a group that is hard to classify into one music category since they change from practically song to to song. The Presidents are definitely a group that revolves mainly around the bass guitar. The lyrics on this album and very strange and at times make no sense, but hell, it sounds good. Song: Kitty Rating: 2 Comments: This song definitely gets you ready for what's in store for you on the rest of the album. Strange lyrics with great tunes. Song: Feather Pluckin Rating: 3 Comments: This song is nothing special. The chorus reminds of something from an old heavy metal album. Song: Lump Rating: 5 Comments: The first single of the album and the best song on the album. Reminds me of CIV and CAN'T WAIT ONE MINUTE MORE. Song: Stranger Rating: 1 Comments: This is the worst song on the album. Song: Boll Weavil Rating: 3 Comments: Great bass lines in this song. The lyrics are still weird though. Song: Peaches Rating: 2 Comments: Once again, nothing special. Song: Dune Buggy Rating: 2 Comments: I hate repeating myself, but again, nothing special. Song: We Are Not Going To Make It Rating: 4 Comments: This song is fast paced and something different with the chorus of "We're not gonna make it / Cause there's a million better bands / With a million better songs." The bass lines on this track a great too. Song: Kick Out The Jams Rating: 4 Comments: Another fast paced song with more great bass lines. Song: Body Rating: 4 Comments: This is a great slow song. Sounds along the lines of something PAVEMENT would do. Song: Back Porch Rating: 2 Comments: Something of a cross between punk and country music. Song: Candy Rating: 3 Comments: Starts out slow with a killer chorus. Song: Naked And Famous Rating: 2 Comments: This song is nothing special and a weak way to end the album. Album Rating: 2.8 Review by: John Yatsko ù---ù Artist: Sweet Diesel Album: The Kids Are Dead Album Comments: Many unknown bands are unknown because they have no talent or they aren't played on the popular radio stations. Well another sad case of a good band which doesn't get much airplay is the NYC hardcore band Sweet Diesel. The debut album titled THE KIDS ARE DEAD has been overlooked and could possibly be the most consistent hardcore album of 1995. Song: The Empire Strikes Back Rating: 3 Comments: The group uses crunchy guitar sounds and a lot of feedback to display their energy, and it works well with the fuzzy yet comprehensible lyrics. Song: Supermarket I Don't Know Rating: 4 Comments: They keep up the blistering pace as the guitars switch from a high to low pitch and then back again, all to the beat of rapid drums. Song: Morning Breath Rating: 3 Comments: The instruments take a backseat to the raspy words spat out by lead singer Nat. The bass is the loudest instrument played on this track, which gives it a unique sound. Song: I Hate The Man Rating: 2 Comments: It starts out great but the vocals sounds a little too hardcore for the track which features great rhythm. Don't fool with perfection guys. Song: I'm Just A Kid In This Town Rating: 3 Comments: Perhaps the greatest bouncy rhythm ever created. It is helped out by the flying drums and raw bass sounds. Song: You Want It Rating: 3 Comments: Almost sounds like they would slow down on this track, but once the screeching vocals start in, the feedback is let loose and keeps their consistency alive and well. Song: Gallon Man Rating: 4 Comments: Not since Led Zeppelin has a band made a song that is off tempo in some parts and actually make it work. The chant of "liver like a sponge" is a classic. Song: The Kids Are Dead Rating: 4 Comments: Their first single and coincidentally the same name as the album. Though it isn't that lengthy, it is obviously the most thought out song with screams that will kick your ass. Song: Enemy Rating: 3 Comments: At the beginning the guitars are at a jerky pace and never really get going until the end. It gives it a different sound with another guitar in the background and the vocals in your face. Song: Workers Comp Rating: 3 Comments: Still consistent with the quick fastball tempo, with almost dueling instruments and loud painful lyrics. Song: What Happened To My Anger Rating: 3 Comments: With lyrics and vocal power to match another NYC hardcore band, Unsane, the distorted guitars rip their way through the teen angst lyrics and high pitched feedback. Album Rating: 3.1 Review by: Deacon ù---ù Artist: Tripping Daisy Album: I'm An Elastic Firecracker Album Comments: TRIPPING DAISY is another Dallas, Fort Worth, band like the TOADIES. They have a major following in Texas and for good reason. The album reminds me a lot of PORNO FOR PYRO'S, mainly because of Tim's, the lead singers, high pitched vocals and the mellow tunes with that slight edge. Song: Rocketpop Rating: 3 Comments: You know what you can expect from TRIPPING DAISY after listening to this track. Tim's strange voice fits in with the strange instrumentals. Just when you think the are going to speed up, they slow down, and when you think they are going to slow down, they speed up. Song: Bang Rating: 3 Comments: From its mellow beginnings the words "All you do is try it / You go inside the whore and buy it / And if you think you will like it / I will be hear to let you stay" lead you into a rocking chorus and back again. Song: I Got A Girl Rating: 4 Comments: This is the first single off the album and definitely a catchy tune. Song: Piranha Rating: 3 Comments: This is a very laid back track with a great intro. Song: Motivation Rating: 2 Comments: Another slow track that shows the different dimensions of Tim's voice. Song: Same Dress New Day Rating: 1 Comments: These are some of the strangest instrumentals and lyrics on the album. In this track it just doesn't seem to work like they make it do in the other songs on the album. Song: Trip Along Rating: 5 Comments: This is a great song. It has a great guitar riff to start the song. It starts out slow and has a killer chorus. Song: Raindrop Are Dead Rating: 3 Comments: A swift moving song that you can really get into. Song: Step Behind Rating: 3 Comments: Another good track, although nothing really makes it stand out from the others and by now you know what to expect. Song: Noose Rating: 3 Comments: Very slow song with a let loose chorus. Song: Prick Rating: 4 Comments: One of the louder songs on the album. Great guitar riffs and Tim's voice fits this song perfectly. Song: High Rating: 2 Comments: This is a really mellow and relaxed track to end the album with. Album Rating: 3 Review by: John Yatsko °±²ÛFEATUREÛ²±° You, a lot of bands, and the internet: What a better way to communicate? by John Yatsko You've heard this a million times by now: "Computers affect our every day lives." Well it's true, they do, so why not in the music industry too? Computers are have already been is use by a number of bands and studios to create music. Filter recently released this statement in their debut album Short Bus: "There is a certain subset of musicians who for reasons unknown adhere to the false premise that "electronic" music or the tools involved imply a lack of creativity of inspired performance. Technology in the hands of creative, intelligent individuals is a tool for art, not a hindrance. Filter, being members of the current millennia, admit freely to the use of such devices." In fact, Filter had planned on creating an entire album with a computer. Not only are bands and studios using computers to create music, bands, music labels, and fans are using computers to talk about and promote music. Instead of getting out the old pen and paper to contact an artist or record label, you can simply send them email. Bands such as Filter and Letters To Cleo and labels such as Sony and Reprise can be contacted via email over the internet. On the World Wide Web you will find a number of music magazines and even be able to download audio and video clips of your favorite bands. A great place to find bands and magazines is the Internet Underground Music Archive (IUMA for short). IUMA has a large collection of music from various artists, that are either unsigned or on independent labels, that you can download for free. The music on IUMA ranges from classical to punk and everything in between. If you have a band, you can even send a sound clip of your band to IUMA for other people to download. IUMA also has a great magazine online called Addicted To Noise (ATN). In recent issues they have done interviews with Filter, Sonic Youth, Everclear, and Silverchair. You can also download audio and video clips from ATN, all of which is totally free. .___ ____ ___ _____ _____ | | | \ \ / _ \ the net's first free hi-fi music archive | | | / Y \/ /_\ \ .:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:. | | | / | \ | \ The Internet Underground Music Archive |___|______/____|__ /___|__ / bands/music/artists/images/bull-fights ====================\/=======\/============================================ Recently I had a chance to chat with Howie Klein, President of Reprise Records, while emailing Filter at ShortBus@aol.com. Howie was reading and responding to email sent to Filter, but assured me that, "yes, the band members read a lot of the e-mail when they're off the road (which seems rarer and rarer these days)." On average Filter receives about a dozen emails per day from fans, which is to the benefit of the fans since email is so much easier to read and respond to than regular mail. You may even receive a reply to your email within the same day, something the U.S. Post Office cannot offer. All in all, the internet is a great way to communicate with bands and record labels and an inexpensive way to check out some of the newest artists around. The following is a list of addresses that may be of interest to you: (There was no way we could fit all of the music sites in this column. Anything can be found on the World Wide Web by doing a Net Search. These sites and email addresses are just a few to get you started.) ftp.iuma.com (Internet Underground Music Archive anonymous FTP server) http://www.iuma.com (Internet Underground Music Archive World Wide Web site) http://www.sony.com (Sony Music World Wide Web site) http://www.musichall.com (Music Hall of Fame World Wide Web site) http://www.polygram.com (Polygram World Wide Web site) shortbus@aol.com (Filter email address) cleo@world.std.com (Letters To Cleo email address) list@mustang.bridge.net (to get on the Toadies mailing list, send email to this address with the message SUBSCRIBE TOADIES) °±²ÛCOLUMNÛ²±° What's New?!? Release dates for October ùSeptember 26ù ùOctober 3ù fluf "The Classic Years" (Cargo) Candlebox "Lucy" (Maverick/Warner) Hole "Asking For It" (Caroline) For Squirrels "Example" (Sony) Sonic Youth "Washing Machine" (DGC) Meat Puppets "No Joke" (London) Oasis "What's The Story" (Epic) ùOctober 10ù ùOctober 17ù Grateful Dead "Hundred Year Hall" (Arista) Marilyn Manson "Smells Like Green Day "Insomniac" (Reprise) Children" (Interscope) Nomeansno "The Worldhood Of The World (Alternative Tenacles) Ramones "It's Alive" (Sire/Warner) ùOctober 24ù ùNovember 7ù Anthrax Stomp "442" (Elektra) Alice In Chains "Tripod" (Columbia) Cypress Hill "Cypress Hill III - Alice In Chains "Swing Into Temple Of Boom" (Ruffhouse) Christmas" (Columbia) Dead Milkmen "Stoney's Extra Stout" Grateful Dead "Dicks Picks Vol. (Restless) Three" (Grateful Dead Records) Smashing Pumpkins "Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" (Virgin) Toad The Wet Sprocket "In Light Syrup" (Columbia) ùNovember 14ù The Rolling Stones "Stripped" (Virgin) °±²ÛCOLUMNÛ²±° Tabulature The Red Hot Chili Peppers : My Friends From the album: One Hot Minute by: Brian Jones tuning 1/2 step down Intro (let all notes ring): D Fmaj7 G C e:----------0-------------0------------0-----------------------| B:----------3-------------3------------3-----------------------| G:------2---2-------0-2---2------------0--------------0h2p0----| D:--0-------3---0-3-------3--3-----0---0----------0h2-----0h2--| A:-----------------------------2-------2--2-3-0h2--------------| E:-------------------------------------------------------------| D Fmaj7 G C e:----------0-------------0------------0-----0-----------| repeat and B:----------3-------------3------------3-----3-----------| play through the G:------2---2-------0-2---2------------0-----0-----------| first verse with D:--0-------3---0-3-------3--3-----0---0-----0-----------| slight changes. A:-----------------------------2-------2--2--3-----------| E:-------------------------------------------------------| Chorus (just the chords) C Am C D Am e:---------------------| B:--1---1---1---3---1--| G:--0---2---0---0---2--| D:--2---2---2---4---2--| A:--3---0---3---5---0--| E:---------------------| Little Solo: e:----------------------------------------------| B:----------------------------------------------| G:----------------------------------------------| D:2h4--4-4-4--2h0--2-0--------------------------| A:---------------------3--3h5--2--2h3-3--3h5--5-| E:----------------------------------------------| e:----------------------------------------------| B:----------------------------------------------| G:-----------------2--2--2h4--0-----------------| D:2h4--4-4-4--2h4-------------------------------| A:----------------------------------------------| E:----------------------------------------------| Endpart (chords only): E D C# C G F#5 F5 e:-----------------------------| B:--7---5---4---3--------------| G:--9---7---6---5--------------| D:--9---7---6---5---5---4---3--| A:--7---5---4---3---5---4---3--| E:------------------3---2---1--| --- Lyrics: My friends are so depressed I feel the question of your loneliness Confide 'cause I'll be on your side You know I will you know I will Ex girlfriend called me up Alone and desperate on the prison phone They want to give her seven years For being sad Chorus: I love all of you Hurt by the cold So hard and lonely too When you don't know yourself My friends are so distressed And standing on the brink of emptiness No words I know of to express This emptiness chorus Imagine me taught by tragedy Release is peace I heard a little girl And what she said Was something beautiful To give your love No matter what she said chorus °±²ÛFEATUREÛ²±° The Wild Punk Fest At The Warp Tour by John Yatsko Over 35 bands playing from coast to coast in 24 cities, including some in Canada, followed by an onturage of skaters, bikers, and inline skaters. "Extreme sports meets extreme music," stated a member of one of the bands playing at the Warp Tour. None of these bands, with the exception of CIV, make the daily MTV video rotation and none of these sports are our national pastime...yet. With punk and hardcore music gaining popularity and the success of bands like Green Day and Offspring, more shows like the Warp Tour are bound to come to your local area. There was a rainbow of hair colors to be seen and numerous tattoos and piercings. The music was great and the atmosphere, although thought of on the outside as violent and harsh, was friendly. Mosh pits, crowd surfers, and stage dives were all in the days fun. Exhibitions put on by bikers, skaters, and inline skaters went on all day on both the halfpipe and the street course. The theme of the Warp Tour though, was music, music, and more music. Quicksand and L7 headlined most of the tour. Other bands such as CIV, Orange 9mm, fluf, Sublime, Sick Of It All, Wizo, No Use For A Name, and Tilt played at just about every show. About two dozen or more bands played at certain venues that were closer to home for them, along with a bunch of local acts. All the bands were great and really enthused to play on a tour like the Warp Tour. Hopefully next year there will be a follow up tour. °±²ÛCOLUMNÛ²±° Spotlight...Toadies & Orange 9mm by John Yatsko Toadies ------- Toadies are a Dallas, Fort Worth, band which released a five song EP entitled Pleather on Grass Records last year. The original lineup for the band was Todd Lewis, lead vocals, Charles Mooney, guitar, Lisa Umbarger, bass, Mark Reznicek, drums, Darrel Herbert, guitar, and Tracey Sauerwien played guitar on a few tracks. A year later they released their debut album, Rubberneck, on Interscope Records. The lineup had changed from a six person band to a four person band. Todd Lewis picked up a guitar and also did lead vocals, Lisa Umbarger stayed to play the bass, Mark Reznicek on the drums, and Darrel Herbet on guitar along with Todd. The Toadies have 3 singles off of Rubberneck, Mister Love, Backslider, and Possum Kingdom. It's been well over six months since the release of the album and the Toadies are finally getting the air play they deserve with their third single off their album, Possum Kingdom. They rank in the top ten on most alternative radio stations around the country and are in the daily rotation on MTV. They have been touring with Bush the past few months, since there original touring partner The Cult didn't go on tour. The Toadies weren't too thrilled about going on tour with The Cult in the first place. Orange 9mm ---------- Orange 9mm is straight from the New York hardcore scene, growing up on matinee shows at CBGB's. They 9mm formed in 1993 with the original members, Chaka Malik, lead vocals, Eric Rice, bassist, Larry Gorman, drummer, and Chris Traynor, lead guitarist, were all in their twenties. A year later they released a self-titled four track EP on Revelation Records. The EP contains the songs Driver, Dry, Cutting and Draining, and Can't Decide. Cutting and Draining and Can't Decide are on their debut album, Driver Not Included, which was released earlier this year on EastWest Records. The new album also has a new lineup for the group. They got a new bassist, Davide Gentile, and a new drummer, Matthew Cross. Chaka, Chris, Davide, and Matthew just seem to click, which would be the main reason the band was able to release their second album a year after losing half of its members. Orange 9mm is in line with the new type of hardcore coming out of New York. They seem to fit in with the likes of Quicksand and CIV, but definitely have their own unique sound. They are able to keep their edge with aggressive vocals, yet still be able to throw in some rhythm and harmony. Orange 9mm toured all across the country this summer with the Warp Tour. You can easily tell that Orange 9mm loves to play their music with their enthusiasm on strange as well as in their songs. °±²ÛCOLUMNÛ²±° Riffs by Brian Jones This is my first actual article for the mag (I also did the tab in this issue), but hopefully it isn't my last. I decided to do a Guitar column because i know from experience that learning the guitar can be frustrating if you don't have the right teacher. I had one guitar teacher that knew a lot about the guitar, but couldn't read music, so he could only teach me the basic stuff. I wanted to know more than that, so i found a new teacher. He was it. I learned so much from him, Just from the first lesson. I was amazed. I have been playing guitar for about 2 years now, and through my experience, I found that the most important aspect of the guitar is learning the notes. If you have any musical background like I did (6 years of piano lessons) it is a little easier, but still as important. The notes on a guitar, as well as any instrument, are the same. They range from A-G, and then continue that pattern, only octaves higher or lower. An Octave consists of 8 notes (C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C), and is what every song, chord, or solo is based on. As the octaves go higher, the names of the notes stay the same, but when you read them on paper, it is located in a different position, so that is how they are identified. The names(or notes) of a guitar go as follows: if you are looking at your guitar from an above angle) -------------------e---------------- -------------------B---------------- -------------------G---------------- -------------------D---------------- -------------------A---------------- -------------------E---------------- Those are the notes of the strings as if they were played "OPEN", or without fretting any of them. Now, I will show you your first Scale, Gmajor. This scale is one of the easiest scales to learn. The scale can be played starting from any G on the guitar, but I will show you starting with the low E. e:--------------------------------------0--2--3-| B:-----------------------------0--1--3----------| G:-----------------------0--2-------------------| D:--------------0--2--4-------------------------| A:-----0--2--3----------------------------------| E:--3-------------------------------------------| The notes of the scale go as follows G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G. There are 16 notes in that scale. The first 8 are one octave, and the second 8 are the same notes, only an octave higher. If you study the names of the notes in relation to their positions on the fretboard, it should be pretty easy to learn the names of the frets. As for next issue, I will show 2 more scales (Cmajor, and the blues scale), along with some chords.