EP Lineup: Gus, jason, and beckett, + Rasputin Sane–bass and Damian Schoeneke guitar
Favorite Tracks: Snake, Goin To Jail, She May Not Think, and Please Die Soon
Sounds Like: Bad Brains, Dag Nasty, and Hüsker Dü
When a band purposefully, spells their name wrong. It makes your brain go what? As a writer I’m watching my spell checker red line almost everything haha! Per vocalist Gus Gonzalez, “Crawling out from under forgotten rocks, Bad Desicions’ humble beginnings began in 2016 when drummer Beckett “Tommy B” Martin (drums) and Gustavo “I’ve been doin this for 30 years” le Douche (vox) met in a dark alley after a back and forth Craigslist conversation.
Neither wanted the other to know where they lived at this point. It took about 6 months to get the ball rolling but roll it did. With the help of bassist Zeke “el churro” Olguin and Damian “American Blackout” Shoeneke, the band began scaring the crap out of bar patrons from Fort Collins to Denver regularly.
Unfortunately, dealing with both Tommy B and le Douche became too much for the aforementioned “members” (except for Jason “he makes guns” Brack–who had also scared many an IPA drinker with the boys). After a stint with “el Turbo Jugend” Rasputin Sane (bass), the guys finally got some relief as David “__” Brack (bass) and John “I got fired from Wax Trax” Hunter (guitar) joined the band in its present incarnate.
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With a foot in 80s hardcore and the other in progressive metal, Bad Desicions plays music that may sound familiar but then moves in another, less expected direction.”
That’s a pretty interesting little bio. So kids the story here is pick up an instrument when you’re young so you have a badass story to tell your interviewer! So let’s dig into their latest self titled EP and incorrectly spelled name, Bad Desicions. Personally this record was a very welcomed relief for me. I’m old school and personally tired of the emo based punk stuff. I like my punk, angry, energetic, and raw.
With tracks like “Snake”, “Goin To Jail” and my personal favorite, “She May Not Think”. Bad Desicions latest release spurs the classic punk feeling, with a tiny bit of occasional metal. They are currently working on a record! See them Saturday night at Tennyson’s Tap for CPRA’s Skate Or Die Night. Other bands on the lineup include, Admiral, Unusable Signal, and Modern Goon. You can check out the event page here, https://www.facebook.com/events/938762672984213/.
Track List Per Bandcamp
1.Snake 02:14
2.Goin To Jail 02:01
3.She May Not Think 02:06
4.Makin a Pipe Bomb 01:50
5.Pompous Hippies 01:48
6.Please Die Soon 01:16
Sounds Like: Sunset Silhouette, Came And Took It, Mixed Kid Fridays, The Swifts, and Jagger Holly
Photo by 303 Magazine
Don’t you love those I heard it first moments? I hate to sound like an elitist, but I love finding new music before the mass population. My friends and family call me a “Music Nerd”. It’s a blessing and a curse, yet this is who I am. So when the Mazlow’s announced they were dropping their new single, “Wolf Inside” today. My music ears perked up.
Photo by Lola Maria
I’m gonna be straight up on this song. This will be a hit. It may not make the Billboard Top 100, but it will get regular airplay on the likes of Punk Tacos and other media. Yes it’s that good! From the kick ass intro to the addicting lyrics. I tend not to be a huge pop punk fan, but this songs is ridiculously good. The best part? It’s relatable to you and I.
Photo by Lola Maria
“I’m bursting at the seams
Good things can never last
Can you feel it all
Fading into the…
I’m just an animal
Raging out of control
Can you hear the wolf inside
Cryyyy out
You get knocked off your feet
And the odds are stacked
You might just let it out
You might not hold it back
Sometimes you lose control
You can’t win the fight
It’ll be alright, yeah it’ll be alright”
Not convinced yet? Head over to their Spotify channel and give it a listen! I’m personally hoping this is first song, off a a great pending new album. Be sure to check them out 4/3/2019 at the Larimer Lounge!
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Benjamin Feliciano – Lead Vocals
Jeff Giles – Guitar
Ethan Harris – Tenor Trombone, Bass Trombone, Bass Trumpet
James McPherson – Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Vocals
Bryce Patton – Bass Guitar
Matt Sanchez – Trombone
Solomon Smith – Guitar
Nicole Swan – Trumpet
Caleb Williams – Drums, Vocals
Favorite Tracks: Happiest Nihilist, In Our Genes, You’re A Weak Anarchist Perry
Sounds Like: Streetlight Manifesto, Sorry Sweetheart, Less Than Jake, Mighty Mighty Bosstones
A couple weeks back Denver’s Younger Than Neil announced they were releasing a brand-new full length album. Here at CPRA we are suckers for all things’ ska. So we had to make sure we got our hands on an early preview. I reviewed their 2018 EP release, “Never Quite Asleep”. As you can tell I fell in love with them immediately.
My only con for the ep was it was just too short. We all know that feeling when you find a great band, but a limited discog. Recording these days can be very expensive. It’s understandable why it may take some time to get a full release. Now we have full album with, “Write New History” and personally I couldn’t be any happier.
The album kicks off with ‘Roger Bravo Leader’. This is the perfect track to start an album off. My foot began tapping along with the beat right away. The drums are pounding, the bass and guitar shreds, while the trumpets help build to a massive crescendo. This is not your father’s ska punk band.
This is one of my favorite bands when it comes to relatable lyrical content. Don’t get me wrong I love a good lyrical scream here and there. Although, I tend enjoy lyrics that are easily discernible.
“The sirens calling though the radio, drowning out all that we thought to know, airwaves like a storm, that filled the sky, this is no requiem, this song is not yet done”
The next track up is, “You’re A Weak Anarchist Perry”. Talk about one of the coolest lyrical intros ever, “Lift your foot from my neck, like an, anchor, cause that ship has sailed”. The pit will be absolutely insane on this song. This song goes from third wave to ska core in what feels like a seamless and kick ass manner. This track is for you when you’re pissed off at the world.
Track three is an addition from “Never Quite Asleep”, and is titled, ‘In Our Genes’. That familiar yet, legendary Younger Than Neil sound is back! I cannot express how much I absolutely love this song!This track has everything I admire about ska punk and the lyrics are so good! For me this song is about not repeating the same mistake our parents and even their parents made. I dare you the reader to listen to this track. If it’s not stuck in your head. I owe you a beer.
Photo by Lateralus Photography
“They say that violence is in our genes, point the finger as if they ruined everything, our fathers cursed us with spirits unclean, but it’s only up to us to change our destiny”.
The 4th track is another from “Never Quite Asleep”, ‘Happiest Nihilist’. This is by far my favorite, Younger Than Neil song. From the intro to the very last beat. I play this song daily. The hope in this song, make me smile every time. Don’t be surprised if this ends up on the major airwaves! Every day when I get up like a robot to go to work. In my mind I can only say, “Don’t let, They Live be your story.”
On to Number 5, no not Number 5 from Umbrella Academy. The track is called, ‘Firefight’. Ben and Jeff kill this song on vocals. This song sounds like a marching band on speed! The riffs are hard and raw. The next song up is, ‘Sleepwalk Song’. This was also on “Never Quite Asleep”. If this song doesn’t have you running for the pit. I’m only gonna guess you’re lacking a soul. Haha. Do you remember how I mentioned relatable lyrical content?
“Dragging through the daylight, sweating through my sheets, haven’t been awake for months, but I’m never quite asleep, scheduling the poisons that help maintain my state, there’s nothing left to salvage here, but i’m begging me to stay”
How deep is that shit? Do you schedule your bar nights out? I do haha! The next song up is “Trouble Breathing”. Yet another killer tune. This is ultimate misfits song, and no not the band the Misfits. We don’t care when people make fun of our studs and jackets. We don’t care when they say, “Why is that guys hair pink?” Sometimes you have to stop caring about what other people think, and only think for yourself. I probably completely missed the message on this song, but this it what it means to me.
Photo by Indsignton
‘1981’ is next on the track list. The ska core sound rumbles back on this track. This is the unofficial song of the millennial generation. I myself was born in 1978, so I just barely skipped the millennial label. Seriously though people give millennial so much shit for reasons previous generations caused.
‘Up For Air’ is sadly the last track on the album. The trumpets are the stars on this one, right before some kick ass drums chime in. I love this message on this song. It’s about seeking hope, before giving up. At the end the song finishes with an immaculate bass/guitar riffs, with a hopeful send off with the trumpets.
“Please don’t drown what is yet to breathe, tomorrow holds more than the past may seem, I can’t tell you where to go, or what to seek, but I’ll leave the map by your bedside the night before you leave”.
Photo by Indsignton
Let’s wrap this one up. Younger Than Neil’s, “Write New History” is the perfect blend of hardcore, punk, and ska wrapped in one delicious package. From the hardcore songs like, “1981”, to the ska punk “Happiest Nihilist” and “In Our Genes” this album is not only my new favorite, but my nomination for CPRA’s 2019 Local Album Of The Year.
The next CPRA show is this Friday at the brand new/renovated Antero Hall at Eck’s Saloon! Join us as we celebrate the opening of Antero Hall and give a great middle finger to the pious day Valentine’s has become. Who knows you might meet your next ex?
Release Date: 2/14/19 Format: Digital, physical CD Distro for North America: self released Location:Occupied Cheyenne/Arapaho/Ute Territory
Current Lineup:
Ratt Dooley – Vocals/Pit Administrator
Tenaya Kodze’e – Bass/Vocals
Dave Maelstrom – Guitar
Cymballic Nate – Drums
Favorite Tracks: Defective Human, Manifest Destiny, Let Them Eat Guillotines, Fascist Killing Machines. If you like these bands, you will love Sinister Pig: Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Black Flag, Death Angel, TSOL, Adolescents, DRI, Anti-Flag, Circle Jerks.
Rarely can a recording capture the energy and attitude that a punk band demonstrates live, but I think this album has done it! On tracks like “Let Them Eat Guillotines” and “MMIW”, Sinister Pig trade vocals and phrases between members. This release is full of enthusiastic backing vocals that support the lead vocals, truly getting their message across. This is not music for the faint of heart. It’s political, impulsive, motivating, honest, and kicks your brain into thinking about the world around you. It touches on subjects that only a few bands are brave enough to discuss through their art; such as classism, societal pressures, fascism, residual economic issues leftover from the Reagan era, capitalism, and personal isolation.
Musically, the band is in great form! Always in the pocket, the drums and bass lay a driving, pulsing, energetic rhythmic landscape for the guitars to shred over, and do they shred! The bass and guitar often have licks that work beautifully together, complimenting each other in unison or in contrary motion, while the vocals sit perfectly on top of the guitar parts. The lead vocalist encapsulates the rage and disdain many people feel about the current state of political affairs, while also maintaining a personal feeling…not an easy combination to attain.
Overall, I love this album! Sinister Pig truly practices what they preach, and this album illustrates their beliefs very clearly. Listen to it, and listen to it loud!
About The Reviewer: Megan Kelley is the front woman for Denver based post-punk band Married a Dead Man. She is an accomplished pianist, keyboardist and singer, with a full time private music teaching studio. She is also a composer, songwriter and holds degrees in classical voice and piano, as well as a second degree in sound engineering. Music is her entire existence.
***THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE THOSE OF A? AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF OUR ORGANIZATION***
Ok, so, usually, we try not to get too “political” with our posts; but with this particular album, that’s simply not possible.
So, here’s what I’m gonna do…
If it’s unavoidable, I’m just gonna say “fuck it all,” and just go for it…
I mean, given the current climate, it’s “all or nothing,” right?
Having said that…
FUCK TRUMP!!!
I don’t think words have been created to portray the utter contempt and disgust that I feel about the government right now… so I’ll invent a few:
Fuckxasperated
Enfuckyoulated
Ragetastic
The embrace of Fascism and complete denial of facts and reality by the Republicans…
The complete and total FAILURE of the Democratic Party to fully comprehend the severity of our problems, and their pathetic need to treat this all like a “difference of opinion,” because the hippies still think that we can all just sing “Kumbiyah” and “get along”…
I’m sick of it ALL!!!
I’m sick of the concentration camps popping up on the Southern border! I’m sick of the overt RACISM of Trump and the CULT that follows him! I’m sick of watching well-meaning people trying to present facts to CAVEMEN who are too brainwashed to even LOOK at them! I’m sick of the right wing propaganda outlets that KEEP people brainwashed by LYING to their audiences on a daily basis!
… but I’m also a white guy…
… so a lot of the things going on now don’t impact me in the same ways that they impact people more darkly complected than myself… I’m never going to have racist assholes demanding to know my immigration status… I don’t have to fear that I or my family might be taken away by the ICE gestapo while waiting for the school bus with the kids…
… and watching other people have to go through this shit REALLY pisses me off!
That’s where Bricheros comes in…
A “Brichero” (or Brichera) is a seductive Peruvian man (or woman) who sleeps with foreign vacationers with the hopes of achieving citizenship in their country.
The band, Bricheros, are Peruvian immigrants; and this album paints a vivid picture of the justifiable anger that many immigrants are feeling right now, at the hands of racist policies that are wreaking havoc; and a racist CULT that’s developing increasingly violent tendencies.
Musically, they remind me a lot of a band I liked a lot in the 90’s, called Helmet. Similarities can also be drawn to Bad Religion, Sponge, Ramones, and even Tom Petty (in a good way). I guess I would say that they’re like old school New York attitude with an LA style.
The album is further complimented by the awesome cover art by Denver’s ICONIC artist, Joshua Finley!
I truly love listening to this album! After hearing Der FurHair spewing hatespeech for the last decade (including all the birther shit), it’s great to hear it get dished back so beautifully, from the people it’s directly impacted!
From that perspective, while vastly different in style, I like them for the one of the same reasons that I like bands like Gogol Bordello, Fishbone, and Bad Brains: the perspective gained; and the justice served via honest, heartfelt music!
If you’re as sick of this shit as I am, it’s safe to say that this is an album that you want in your collection. You can purchase it (I recommend the vinyl) at the Bandcamp link below:
