Radio Silence / A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore Music

Anthony and I had a great time last night at our Philly Radio Silence / Selected Photography opening at Juanita and Juans. Ian Svenonius did a live performance of his live rocu-movie “What is a Band?” (fuckign awesome, BTWs) and we got to hang with lots of old and new friends. Thanks to everyone for coming out, and thanks to Wes, Max, Nikki, and Will for helping out and making the whole show run smoothly.

San Diego update: Amenity is filming a video for the new song “Shine” on Sunday January 4th (yes, tomorrow). If you are in the San Diego area and wanna come hang, check the flyer above for info.

Photograph by Jeremy Dean (sent from his iPhone).

Radio Silence / Selected Photography travels to Philadelphia in January for a showing at our friend Wes’ new book store Juanita and Juans. Ian Svenonius will be doing a special performance for the opening on Friday January 2nd. 

Radio Silence / Selected Photography
January 2 - February 1, 2009
Juanita and Juans
125 North 11th St (corner of North 11th St and Cherry St)
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Opening reception on Friday January 2, 2009 / 7pm-10pm

Portraits from both our San Diego release parties are up on Flickr here and here. Check out the new Amenity track “Shine” on their Myspace page from the forth coming Amenity 10″ on Gravity Records. A huge thank you to Mike Down and Amenity for making these parties so great, Jesse Untracht-Oakner who took all these awesome shots, and everyone who helped out.

Amenity “Shine” from Millimeter Productions on Vimeo. Full length Amenity video out in January 2009.

In other news, we are launching a Radio Silence webstore in January where you will be able to buy T-shirts, books, and limited edition book packages that are not available in stores. Below is the first Radio Silence limited edition package available that includes:

1 copy of Radio Silence signed by the authors and tons of contributors
1 ’zine the details the process of creating the cover photograph
1 T-shirt available in this package only
1 Radio Silence poster

Sign up for our mailing list on the left and we will let you know when the webstore is online.

This just in from Walter Schreifels :

Hi There,
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you!
Writing to let you know that I’m playing an acoustic set at Punk Slope this Sat. at 11 PM
All the info is on the flyer above.

In the spirit of Christ and Punk the show is free.
I hope to see you there!
Yours,
Walter

Here are the details :

HEY HO HO HO, LET’S GO!!!

It’s time once again for the annual
PUNK SLOPE XMESS PARTY
Saturday December 20th, 2008!

’tis the season to be jolly, merry, and all that good shit.
We’ve lined up one hell of a night… check it out…

Live!
WALTER SCHREIFELS
(Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools, Walking Concert)
Our favorite guest returns!! playing your favorite tunes from the past, present and future!
we could not be more excited to have him for this special occasion!

Along with special guest DJs!
CHRIS DALY (Texas Is The Reason, Jets To Brazil, 108)
JOSH GRABELLE (Trustkill)
JAY GROTRIAN (Eye For An Eye)

And your fave residents!
NICK CAIN, JOEL TEE, JORDAN MAKOW, MIKE FALIS

BAR 4
444 7th Ave. at 15th St.
Punk Slope, Brooklyn.
9pm-4am.
FREE as always. righteous.

myspace.com/punkslope
punkslope.com

Nathan and I will be there with some Radio Silence posters as a holiday gift to those interested and I’m going to bug Jay For An Eye to spin and all Boston set, It’s not going to be proper unless we he play’s SSD’s Jolly Old St.Nick…in fact if this isn’t played along with the Crucial Yule 7″ we have a fucking problem Houston.

When we started planning the release parties for Radio Silence the number one thing we wanted to avoid was the “remember when” vibe. Obviously it’s cool to have fond memories of hardcore and the book deals with a sliver of hardcore that doesn’t run up to present day but the last thing we wanted was to celebrate with a bunch of crusty jaded old guys talking our ears off about the “good ole days“. Rather that go down memory lane we’d rather make new memories. Our goal was to give a full view for hardcore and not date it. The Cro-Mags Jam was a new chapter in a legendary story, Amenity 2008 was an unexpected rebirth and when Craig Mathis at powerHouse mentioned to us that Mind Eraser should be the first band to play the powerHouse Arena we were surprised and psyched. Psyched because Mind Eraser is a band that makes our heads explode because they’re so fucking good and surprised because the idea of a bunch of literary dudes, industry people, free-drink enjoyers, friends and family being treated to a set of blistering light speed hardcore in the middle of a book release party in a showroom / art space is kind of weird and also a rad social experiment. Big thanks to Mind Eraser for rolling the dice on this event, it couldn’t have been a better way to commemorate the release of Radio Silence.

Chris Corry is the crunch behind Mind Eraser and co-founder of Boston based Painkiller Records. He was nice enough to be the first participant in the Radio Silence “Best of 2008″ ongoing feature. When he’s not running a killer label and putting up entries on bidhardcore.com he erases minds. Mind Eraser have some releases on the way that you should check out if you’re not washed up or if you are washed up and want to appear unwashed including a 12″ MLP out on Clean Plate and a 7″ ep coming this week on Youngblood. Thank you again to Chris for sharing his list and if you are in a band and want to have a recording done by a dude who knows what you want rather than a dude that likes the sound of his voice you should get at him through the Painkiller website linked above

Chris Corry Best of 2008

1) Joe Petagno likes the Cro Mags, still paints cool shit.

2) Roky Erikson’s ice cream social @ South By South West. Best set I
saw all weekend by far - nearly moved me to tears (no emo).

3) Robots Everywhere episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force — I forgive you guys for the movie now.

4) Satriani suing Cold Play. I don’t even care who wins really, but I’m rooting for Satch. Just picturing Chris Martin hanging out listening to a Satriani disc (from 2004!) like “Fuck! He’s still got it! Gweneth! Come listen to this! Bring the baby!”

5) Playing “Chunks” and “I Saw It” with J Mascis @ Fucked Up’s 12 Hour Show (10/12/08)

6) Sex Vid on record, live, as record collectors, and as humans.

7) The number of people convincing themselves they like Chinese Democracy. “What I’ve always wanted is an album that sounds like Journey mixed with White Zombie, and a constant barrage of laser sound fx — but with Axl singing”

7.5) Death Magnetic - which is actually way funnier than Chinese Democracy, and since every riff sounds like Megadeth - but not as outrageous.

Jive Time records in Seattle + Beautiful World Syndicate in Philly. My current fav. record shops in the USA. Mostly killer, very little filler, reasonable prices.

9) Outlaw Order “Dragging Down The Enforcer” CD. A surprise Eyehategod album from 4/5ths of Eyehategod? I’ll take it.

10) Uniqlo store in Soho and their sweatshirts.

Photo: Mind Eraser at powerHouse Arena, Brooklyn, New York, October 3rd, 2008; Photograph by Nikki Sneakers.

San Diego Party tonight, last night at Bar Pink was amazing. Details here one last time, don’t miss out on seeing Amenity. Mike had the original paste ups for the This Is Our Struggle 7″ (pictured above).

Nathan and I are crashing with Mike Down, I’ve been documenting things with my shitty cell phone camera because I spaced on bringing a real camera.

This is the view from Mike’s spot, not a bad life.

We went for a walk this morning and stopped by a hotel to take a piss, they had parrots in the back. There was a bright red one who had his claw up to his head, he looked like he was talking on his parrot cellphone. It was one of those cute America’s Funniest Home Video heartwarming type moments until the fucker started talking and calling us crackers. You can’t really talk shit back to a parrot so we just walked away and let him win but we’re better for not engaging him.

We got a San Diego tour courtesy of Mike which included stops at the last midget house in San Diego, some beautiful parks, a half finished war memorial and the “two greatest parking spots in the world.” The above is a picture from the view, they totally delivered.

Here’s another picture from the spot, there’s nothing better than getting off a plane and getting a tour, some sun and good food. Thanks again to Mike Down for being such a gracious host.

Photos: Mike Down San Diego Tour San Diego, California December 5th, 2008; Photographs Anthony Pappalardo’s Shitty Cellphone.

Nathan and I were stoked for this weekend with two parties happening San Diego but after receiving an email from Mike Down with a link to the new Amenity jam the expectations went through the fucking roof.

The new track is titled Shine which is fitting title as it conjures up Amenity’s iconic sun logo which is featured in Radio Silence on a kelly green t-shirt. Download the track and visit Amenity’s Myspace profile to peep the new track, some classic cuts and new photos from the studio. You might recognize a familiar voice on the hook, no not T-Pain, Matt Anderson from Gravity Records and Heroin. Roll out to the pre-party Friday and then the show this Saturday, both events should be packed with surprises and pretty fucking epic.

Photo: Amentiy at Black Box Studio San Diego, California 2008; Photograph Uncredited.

When I found myself on the phone with Ernie Parada asking what he could contribute to Radio Silence the first thing that came out of my mouth was “Do you still have the denim vest?”. I crossed my fingers but and without hesitation Ernie replied “Yeah sure I have it, you want me to bring it down?”. Simple as that a “wish list” item was checked off and more importantly we had an opportunity to speak to a musician and artist that means to so much to New York hardcore’s tradition and legacy.

Ernie has been a cornerstone of the New York hardcore scene for several decades playing in Token Entry, In Your Fac e, Black Train Jack, Grey Area, The Arsons and most recently Higher Giant, but his influence isn’t limited to music. Carrying on a tradition of colorful cartoon based illustrations along with Uncle Al Morris and Sean Taggart, Ernie’s been responsible for several legendary album covers in your record collection and he found time to help Gorilla Biscuits get started by playing drums in their early stages, say thank you to the man please.

In fact if you’d like thank Ernie in person and experience what a down-to-earth guy he is you can roll out to see Higher Giant and Token Entry on December 27th. Token Entry will be thrashing out their signature brand of skate influenced New York hardcore and you’ll also get a chance to hear Higher Giant’s unique brand of melodic hardcore. Former Lifetime and Kid Dynamite drummer Dave Wagenshutz provides the beat while Ernie and Jason Lehrhoff, formerly of Warzone and Grey Area, trade riffs that draw from Dag Nasty’s intricacies and sophistication topped with Ernie’s best vocals yet. Add them on Myspace immediately.

Photo: Ernie Parada at Athletics, Brooklyn, New York, March 2008; Photograph by Nathan Nedorostek.

If you’re an American and you’re reading this we’re going to assume you’re going to celebrate stealing this country from Native Americans by eating a shitload of turkey/tofurkey, pie, mashed potatoes and maybe even watching some football while your stomach expands a few inches. This isn’t an anti-American rant, we love the US of A, but let’s be honest Thanksgiving is a fucking weird holiday but a great excuse to be with your family, eat too much and GIVE THANKS!

Pilgrims aren’t that cool but Vic Bondi and Articles of Faith are very fucking cool, criminally underrated and when you’re going around your dinner table saying what you’re thankful for it wouldn’t hurt to say “Articles of Faith!!!!!” You can even salute with a drumstick or something as a tribute to a great fucking band. Unfortunately we didn’t uncover and AOF gems for the book but we got some of their record covers in there because they are essential. Peep these MP3s if you think I’m lying.

Enjoy the clip from Back Porch Video. You can check out their Youtube page here and peep some classics. Here’s the lowdown in case you don’t know the scoop with our friends from Michigan and their legendary show:

So yeah we are thankful for everyone’s continued support and help, Happy Thanksgiving to all and don’t forget to check these classic videos out during halftime.

If you haven’t been keeping up with Double Cross Webzine you’re missing out on the web’s best hardcore blog. Tim McMahon and Gordo have consistently been busting their asses unearthing unseen photos, rare video footage, and conducting interviews with some of hardcore’s greatest personalities. Their passion and attention to detail has lead to a grip of must read content that’s constantly expanding. The McMahons were some of the first people to let us into their home and share their archives with us. In the early 1990s when hardcore’s fire was down to a single flickering flame, Mouthpiece proudly carried on tradition and set hardcore aflame again with no apologies. With Radio Silence reaching into the 1990s we knew Tim and Mouthpiece had to be a part of the book and the results were crucial.

We’re stoked to finally coordinate with Double Cross on a post, it’s been a long time coming. In addition to coming up with compelling content ranging from a recent interview with Judge/Death Before Dishonor member Jimmy Yu to some crazy Dwid stories straight from Tony Erba’s mouth, Double Cross is also home to Radio Silence contributors Tony Rettman and the always jovial Joe Nelson.

To celebrate the feature on Double Cross (one last time if you aren’t reading this on the reg you’re fucking BLOWING it!) we wanted to post some Cro-Mags outtakes taken by JJ Gonson. Double Cross will be posting some footage of The Cro-Mags Jam from our release party in Los Angeles filmed by Larry Ransom. Here are some classic images of the Cro-Mags with Raybeez on stage doing crowd control, you can almost hear the opening chords of Seekers of the Truth signaling a grinding destruction of anything in their way… I’m going to go now before I destroy my home and punch the nearest human that tries to tread on me, enjoy! Thanks again to John Joseph and the Cro-Mags for all their help and support and to Double Cross Webzine. Here’s another link to the feature.

All Photos: Cro-Mags at The Ritz, New York, New York. 1986; Photographs by JJ Gonson.