Song of the Day: Curtis Mayfield- Diamond In The Back

So after a hiatus that went on for too damn long, it’s good to finally be back, and what better way to kickstart Disco Before The Breakdown than with this diamond in the rough (har har) right here. It all started from going on an Amoeba run with some buddies earlier on. After spending virtually the entire afternoon there as usual, we head back to Marin. Before we get back to my buddy’s place, low and behold, Bobby Womack’s Across 110^th Street  from the Jackie Brown soundtrack comes on. Enough said.

Needless to say, I’ve been on a soul music kick all day ever since. While listening through the Jackie Brown track on YouTube, I noticed that one of the suggested songs on the side was Diamond In The Back, so I clicked it. Game fucking over. This song is the perfect fushion of soul, funk, and tropical stylings, complete with organ, congo drums and xylophone thrown in the mix. While it’s laid back and relaxing as can be, it goes strong by offering a solid mid- tempo pace, which keeps things real interesting, especially with the few minute instrumental interludes toward the end.

This is everything that is good about oldies. You’ll be grooving in your lawn chair while sunbathing in no time.

(above: Sabertooth Zombie getting crazy with it)

Recently I got asked to write for an up and coming blog called Krisrael about the Bay Area music scene. For my second post for them, I chose to write about the stigma punk rock gets as well small features about four Bay Area punk bands (Sabertooth Zombie, The Phenomenauts, Comadre, and Face The Rail) from all corners of the Bay who are doing great things for themselves. Peep it and enjoy!

http://krisrael.com/2012/05/09/four-bay-area-bands-that-youre-missing-out-on/

Song of the day: Marvelous Darlings- Teenage Targets

Holy hell have I been sleeping on this band. Funny how you can find a hidden treasure while browsing through bandcamp. Nothing more to say than this is some of the catchiest punk rock/pop I’ve ever heard. Enjoy!

Recently I got asked to start writing about music in the Bay Area and in general for a great up and coming blog with great writers called Krisrael. For my first article, which was posted today, I wrote about five of some of the best and inexpensive music venues that the Bay Area has to offer, which includes places like 924 Gilman Street. Even if you don’t live in the Bay Area, it’s still an enjoyable read to get an idea of what the music scene has to offer here as well as venues to check out if you ever do visit here. Check it out if you’re interested, as well as all the other great articles Krisrael has to offer.

Life Long Tragedy | Time Stands Still

Where will this road lead?
Is this our destiny?
Right now, time stands still.
This is all that I believe.

These guys were such a talented band, it’s a shame they didn’t stick around for longer. Check out some other killer bands that feature the members of LLT: Sabertooth Zombie: http://bandcamp.com/tag/sabertooth-zombie PurpleMercy: http://purplemercy.bandcamp.com/album/private-pleasures No Sir: http://familydrugs.org/ The Vibrating Antennas: http://thevibratingantennas.bandcamp.com/ North Bay on top!

swtch:

The title of Snow’s 1992 album 12 Inches of Snow is a triple entendre:

1. 12 inches of fallen snow
2. This album on vinyl has a radius of 12 inches
3. The sexual insinuation, which is probably the first meaning you thought of.

If you’ve been having a real rough Tuesday and are looking for something to cheer you up and make you laugh your ass off, the link above will help with that immensely. It’s ten clips of some of the greatest instances where annoying hecklers at comedy shows get absolutely verbally destroyed by the comedian on stage. Ten glorious clips of drunk, loud, and obnoxious assholes being put in their place by talented as hell comedians. It’ll make you feel as if everything is just and the universe is balanced after all. Some of the comedians include Jamie Kennedy, Patton Oswalt, and Bill Burr just for starters. Enjoy! Also, for the Bill Burr clip, read the description of it to put the actual clip into context about why he’s ripping on Philadelphia so much, it’ll make it that much more hilarious.

Song of the day: Rick James- Mary Jane

Even though I’m not one to be much of a smoker and I’m a bit late on the whole 4/20 deal, I had to post this. Why? Because it is the best damn karaoke on the planet which I had the pleasure of drunkingly singing along to last night for the first time. Forget Bohemian Rhapsody, forget Don’t Stop Believing, this is it. This song is so mellow, yet powerful, so smooth, yet rugged, all with that unmatchable vocal range of Mr. James and his backing funk explosion of bass and guitar. Mary Jane has the ability to stop wars ladies and gentlemen. I could totally see Saddam and Stalin gyrating their hips and grooving out to this and letting their people free. The War On Drugs in America never had a chance because of this song along. It can make the most straight and narrow person want to toke up in their garage. Anyways, enjoy this classic for what it is. And btw, I’m Rick James bitch!

Paint it Black- We Will Not

“So is it a crime to think that we’ve found something more sublime? That we’re somehow more alive? That we’re not just busy dying? No coincidence, it’s by design. Herded into a pen with the rest of the swine. Born to shine, or born to stand in line? You decide”.

Dan Yemin is a lyrical genius. Easily one of the greatest lyricists/vocalists to ever grace hardcore and punk rock. Enough said.

Merchandise- In Nightmare Room

These guys from Florida played in Santa Rosa a few nights to a crowd of about 30 and absolutely killed it. With a booming drum machine, haunting vocals and propelling guitar and bass, it’s impossible not to tap your leg or bobble your head. Merchandise are extremely talented and unmatched at what they do, check ‘em out!