. LIFE IS CHEAP .: 08/30/14

Samstag, 30. August 2014

Caught In A Surprise

I'm known among friends as having somewhat of a thick skull when it comes to opinions about bands. Right Thomas? What's up Jochen? If I like a band and you don't that's due to your generic taste in music. If I don't like a band that you like it's because they are actually bad. It's not a matter of taste and I'll definitely let you know. Once I've passed judgement that's it and you can't convince me otherwise. And then there was this band:

Caught In A Crowd - still holding on LP - 2014 Powered Records PR-019

We booked a show at AK47 in Düsseldorf on May 24th 2014 that was supposed to feature sets from December Youth, Hangin' Tough and Man Lifting Banner. But we must have hit a bad note somewhere as first the headliner Man Lifting Banner cancelled and then our buddies from Hangin' Tough also had to get out of the show due to health issues. Luckily for us Caught In A Crowd had a show cancelled the very same day of our show and I am in touch with Robert Refuse who booked their tour. So bad luck on both sides turned into a win win situation. Nice. Also we were able to get locals Dull Eyes to fill in for Hangin' Tough. Perfect. A little bit of stress a week before the show but it all turned out fine.
December Youth and Dull Eyes were not really my thing and then Caught In A Crowd went on. I didn't expect much since I didn't like those demo recordings I had heard after which I didn't pay any attention to further releases of theirs. Boy was I wrong.
To my perception there is at least a bit of a hype around that band so I expected some youth crew kids to come out to the show and mosh it up but no. It seemed that no one specifically came to see that band so everybody was standing back. German style. No one in front of the stage. Everybody in the back or to the sides. But that didn't matter much to the band. They gave it their all and played a great set that was well received. I think their friendly and likeable presence on stage helped a lot.

Afterwards I had a chat with their singer Brian who is one of the nicest dudes I met during the almost 10 years that I book shows now. Actually the whole bunch of them including their driver Laura were a really nice bunch. I told Brian that I was pleasantly surprised by their set because I thought their demo was not to my liking and that I didn't pay any attention to his band after that. To which he answered that he's not surprised I didn't like the demo because they don't like it anymore either. Which looking at it now only proves my point that I know what's good and you don't. Ha. We continued chatting for a while and in the end he gave me a copy of their LP which is actually a compilation of the two 7"es they released so far. Not sure if I would have bought it but soo glad I have it now. Thanks Brian.

Caught In A Crowd are one of the best youth crew bands around these days. Check them out. I just proved that I'm right

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about About ABOUT!!!

This blog is mainly about what I do, did and like within the realms of Hardcore, Punk, Rock 'n' Roll or whatever you want to call it.

Also I'll be spicing it up with whatever I think is of interest and might be nice for my (and maybe your) life in that world outside of collecting records and going to shows.

ENDEAVORS!
PAST & PRESENT

xSTEPDOWNx SHOWS

I started putting up shows in 2005 with a friend who slowly dropped out of it and was most active doing so until the end of 2007 with a total of 23 shows in those 3 years. In 2008 and 2009 I promoted one show each but none in 2010. And then came the day that another friend of mine talked me into helping him with putting up shows. So we had our first go at it in Nov. 2011 which was wildly successful. As a result of that Stepdown is back on the map. We would like to do more than our busy schedules allow us but if you still want us to keep you posted follow this blog or like us on Facebook where you can also check out our past show-flyers

FUCK YOU -

NON-PROFIT MAILORDER

I started up that distro in the mid 90's. I really can't remember exact dates. But I know that the first records I had on sale were a bunch of dead wood I got from Edward - Good Life. It was great for getting things started but at the same time it was hard getting rid of those.

After a while a friend of mine joined in and started taking over the whole opperation as he was much more active than me and I was more into politics than music at the time. So I quit FxU and took all the 'zines, books and political brochures with me to start something new.

This beast underwent a few namechanges but never took off due to the lack of interest by the general hc-kid. So I gave everything to people who hadn't been as jaded and disillusioned as I was at that time and stepped out of that arena.

VINYL-OD DISTRO

Back to the year 2005 again. After having spent some time away from "the hc-scene" (not the music, let alone philosophy) and slowly growing back into it. Pushed by a good start with xSTEPDOWNx I joined forces with another friend and started dealing Vinyl again. Now this got as messy as it can get so that I am now left with loads of records that nobody wants anymore. Trying to sell those off, dropping the name Vinyl-OD changing the agenda and merging this section with the label you can read about next.

SANDBLASTER

RECORDS & DISTRO

Totally boosted by all the great bands that were around I came up with the idea to put out a compilation LP in 2006. Joining forces with yet another friend to tackle that project led to the release of 3LP's and a split released MCD. Unfortunately the last LP we put out was by a band that decided to call it quits shortly after the 12" came out. Leaving us with about 400 of the 500 pressed records and most of our money tied up in those.

The lack of money and time (as our daily schedules got more and more busy) made us go on hiatus until mid 2011. Which is when the Get It Done! demo tape was released.

This was followed by the Telegraph Road demo tape and that's that for Sandblaster Records. For several reasons we decided to fold it but you can still check out all the release info and details about the records we did. One of the reasons is

GOOD INTENTIONS HC

which yet another friend and I started. It's an online store for merch and music. And though it's way legit now everything is still run 100% DIY.

With SBR I tried to specialize in distributing classic records be they old and used or current reissues / bootlegs and this is what we continue doing with GIHC next to making merch from US bands available right here in europe so you can save a few bucks on postage. We also do XcatalystX europe and of course we release records/ tapes too. From now on you will even be able to listen to those. Including each of the SBR releases. All hail the future!!

EXCUSE

Was my 1st ever Band. I think we started out in '97 but don't quote me on it. We did release a demo called "eleminate the opposition" and one of the members later played in Settle The Score RIP. I tried to play the guitar but sucked at it and stopped when that band due to ongoing member changes became...

NIRDEZNEB

Which I never really felt like being a part of. So in 2000 I split for good. They went on to release a CD and do a euro-tour with Creation Is Crucifixion. After that they kinda faded.

NO EASY RUN

Late 2000 early 2001 saw me picking up the pen to channel my thoughts and with it rose the desire to shout those into peoples faces. After a lot of trial and errors No Easy Run finally fell into place sometime during 2006 and I had a blast. Unfortunately in 01/09 it came to an end and ever since it's been trial and error all the way again. But I keep my PMA.

You can still check out what we were about on the old NER myspace site. Or just listen to our demo.

WANNA DO A BAND???

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Samstag, 30. August 2014

Caught In A Surprise