| HAIRSTYLES OF THE POOR AND CONTAGIOUS #7 February 2007 **** These are coming thick 'n' fast! Latest issue from down under of this another well put together Freebie zine which is fast becoming another hot fave here in the Wolfs Lair. FREE is definitely cheap 'n' cheerful in our punk universe but don't always mean high standards are kept. But have no fear dear reader, coz HOTPAC certainly don't cut corners or deliver inferior indulgences for the punk rock hordes. This 20 pager is presented with snazzy layouts which are well thought out and generously put together with good pix. Although its a slightly thinner page count than issue 5's more chunkier outbursts. From the front cover onwards which features a photogenic mid 80's Southend punkette called Kerry, this is a sharp spiky studded zine that's certainly hungry and on the hunt for punk! HOTPAC reminds me of an Aussie version of Puke with its similar cut 'n' paste typewriter presentation and Flee has the same kinda eye for detail. Australia definitely ain't cut off from the rest of the world as far as punk goes these days. More and more bands are making their presence felt from its major cities and towns, and more punk bands seem to be venturing over there on tour which has gotta be good. HOTPAC keeps up the international scoops by probing the Menstrual Tramps from Minneapolis. Their name alone conjures up some greasy motorcycle chapter, but in actual fact they're a female punk trio who bang out â €œraw 1 2 Fuck you!â€� punk and provide some good answers. Particularly on being a single mum with kids in a punk band. It makes the single guys in bands who complain they got it hard look like poseurs. On the other hand we get shorter less involved answers from Beki Bondage who is still bitter about old Vice Squad royalties but blames it on the naivety of her youth. Which reminds me I must check out some new Vice Squad sounds to see if it really ain't metal dressed as punk which was never my favourite dish. Local Melbourne outfit The Worst don't let the Aussie side down by supplying meaningful answers like this one... What are the Worst like?.... â€�The Worst is like a vagina. We start off dry, but after a while we get wetâ €� (snigger) say no more. There's an historic piece from '77 zine Jolt where the acidic Lucy Toothpaste takes a no holds barred swipe at the Runaways, Slits and any other female circulating the punk parameters. But where's Lucy today?...I think we know where Joan Jett is! Plus some detailed record and zine reviews are thrown in. Another good issue and well worth checking out. Sorry to hear Flee who writes this is struggling to send oversea copies out (postage is a major bummer) so make it worth her while by trading her sommert like a record or zine coz you won't be disappointed in getting this, but maybe you will be if you miss out! (no longer in print) |
| FAST N LOUD #7 2007 *** One of the UK's more striking zines seems to have come across a few hiccups this issue. Biggest bein' the reviews section which are all meticulously laid out, but presented to us in tiny print that requires the assistance of some satelitte image surveillance system if you really wanna read about what Captain Oi! etc. have just released. This I'm told was due to a reducing mishap by our appologetic editor, who I suspect will not be repeating lapse of concentration next issue. Everything else in Loud 'N' Fast though you can read with pristeen ease and is as always presented in obsessive detail in good old Courier new type face amidst a cut 'n' paste flurry. However personally I wasn't really interested in this issues subject matter nearly half as much as the last time I read a copy of F'N'L. I love the UK Subs but they certainly don't excite me in print these days. And it don't help bein' one of the most overkilled bands to interview in UK zinedom in recent years. I dunno if its me, but Charlie Harper might be a friendly, affable chap as he's trying to flog a few Subs t-shirts on his bands stall after a gig. But he has about as much intrigue or danger about him as a market trader selling Banannas! He maybe the king of punk to legions of Subs fans across the globe, and his survival instincts are unequalled, except put next to Iggy Pop? But for me yet another Subs interview is similar to another Subs gig. You know exactly what your gonna get! We did however get some good pix and an old cutting to jazz it up a bit. The other big interview, band history and general hometown spotlight fell upon the even less rivetting outfit Demob. These geezers must be the most overrated comeback band yet. That by-line 'Once Punk Always Punk' made me laff out loud. When I caught 'em in Birmingham last year playing to 15 or so unfortunates my initial fears were so confirmed. They get a massive 12 pages dedicated to 'em in here, so they should thank their lucky stars they got a local zine like this to do the honours. Coz I doubt anyone else will, unless they're really desperate. You can't really blame Fast N Loud for going over the top on local punk outfits, but its just a pity they were lumbered with Demob as the towns flagbearers. To round off things we get Hacksaw from Bristol. Hacksaw are a comedy duo who are apparently a cross between the Fish Brothers? and Disorder, so say no more. Next issue sounds more like it with Mandy from MDM and Pablo from 999 bein fast 'n' loud. Just one question John? Whatever happened to the Fast 'N' Loud website we were promised last issue? £1.50 + 66p sae john@fastnloudzine.orangehome.co.uk or write to 88 Overbrook Road, Hardwicke, Gloucester, GL2 4RZ UK |
| RIOT ON YOUR OWN #26 2007 **** Riot On Your Own discovers Crust! Well maybe just a chunk of it in local outfit Stillbirth. A band who have one of the most cryptic looking logos I've seen since I accidentally stumbled opon a death metal site the other week whilst checking out the prices for nuts 'n' bolts! I'm reliably informed they're noise polluters of the highest degree, but you'd never have guessed it from the pisstaking interview. In complete contrast we get a straight down the line waltz with The Great St Louis from Bolton. Not really my thing after hearing their rated album and when they admit to bein' "Country" fans you start wondering if punk bands like these really do possess that snot and disregard for the old guard that made punk so vital? The Punk quiz has returned with brainteazers such as...'Which Stranglers album included a free white vinyl EP featuring a live version of 'T.I.T.S'? Lots of gig reviews this issue with some increasingly good shots of the bands and punters in action. Im sure there's a web presence with Bill's name on it just waiting for his snaps to be featured online sometime soon? Talking of imagery, we get a neat centrespread featuring Darren's (from 1000 Drunken Nights) poster he produced for the recent Belfast Punk DVD. Some of you may recall this piece was April's impressive NOTP backdrop. ROYO promises to do a more indepth reveal of spiky Darren's art in next issue. Young Scotty, Bill's 11 year old son who has the makings of an impressive Kick boxing career in front of him is featured with warwounds he recieved after doing a backflip over his settee last Christmas. An astute young Scotty seems to know a good photo opportunity when he sees one and ordered his dad to get his camera sharpish. And that ain't all, coz young Scotty can recite the words to the Dead Kennedys 'California Uber Alles' while taking a bath! There's a view on Talcy Malcolm and a spotlight on Punks 7 inch career as seen through the eyes of our editor. Runnin' Riot once again adorn the front page in ferocious fashion. And despite rumours this is not the last issue. Bill however informs us he will be winding this zine up very soon as he feels its time for younger blood to take up his pen action. So c'mon kids don't let Belfast down or wankers like meself who enjoy reading about different scenes (having not got one of my own). So get yer pencils sharpened. FREE with an SAE to BILL, 5 GLEN ROAD, BELFAST BT5 7JH billyriot@hotmail.com |
| RIOT ON YOUR OWN #27 August 2007 **** Bill's intro reads like he's a slightly bit pissed off about the apathy surrounding his beloved Belfast scene. Which is a shock coz its always seemed like a buzzin' scene, as seen through the pages of this zine. He's admitted even he was a bit blinkered in his appraisal and encouragement of certain acts in order to keep the momentum goin', but we've all been guilty of that I spose. I can't agree with him more about the state of punk in the UK as a whole though. Coz lets face it, it does seem like we're sliding closer towards Punks dark ages (late 80's) once more. But if he thinks he's got it bad in Belfast, he wants to try sniffing round this dog hole for some action. It's either smothered with bands with nothing or little to offer or bands we do wanna see, playing to empty venues and not much else. Apathy in punk is a reality we all have to contend with. Some of us more than other. A few of us ain't young enough to jump on the next bandwagon, so were stuck with Punk and having lived through 3 decades of it, it did get pretty grim at times when we didn't have the Internet or regular zines to keep us up to date with other scenes and happenings. It almost seemed like we were the last of an extinct breed on planet Earth, secluded and remote in our out of date and out of touch punk rock outposts. But now with global communication and some zines that are honest, we can at least savour other scenes while our own gets its arse back into action. And since Bills wrote this piece, things are looking up round his end. His own band (Violent Fuckwits) are preparing to chuck out an album, and we can almost hear the foundations of Belfast rumbling as we speak. More about this in next issue I suspect. Before I get totally side tracked, back to the zine review. There's a neat piece on Bills favourite punkette and one of mine too, Jordan! It's accompanied by an hilarious Belfast shroud or immaculate conception kinda moment caught on camera featuring Jordan's face imprint on Bill's pillow. The actual tattooist responsible for such evangelical miracles is Helen, who runs Skulduggery studio which gets a profile further on in the zine, along with shots of her impressive work. The reviews as always are varied and honest (snigger) and incorporate a huge selection of DVDs this time round (how the fuck Bill finds time to watch 'em is anyone's guess?) He also spills the beans on the new Emo generation getting robbed, and there's a gallery of local punk Darzo's spiky artwork. Let's not forget the 'Gayest' photo of the issue which includes our humble editor. The featured interview is with fellow zinester Jamesy from Anarchoi zine whose got himself a punk band called Dogs Abuse. But from his answers the band sound about as interesting as his zine. Maybe this is a growing trend amongst zinesters of late getting their own band together? Wonder if Andy Cactus and his white power skinhead combo are ready to rumble or Trev Hagl's found that acoustic balladeer for his militant ensemble yet? Oh and there's another punk quiz and Runnin' Riot appear on the cover with some sexy new backing singers. Always a pleasure never a chore. FREE with an SAE to BILL, 5 GLEN ROAD, BELFAST BT5 7JH billyriot@hotmail.com |
| EVERLONG #9 Summer 2007 **** This edition from Cider country came out the blue after what seems like an eternity. I was beginning to think Everlong had met the print reaper, but 12 months later the latest issue of Bristol's most informative punk zine hits the stands again. Flick open the first page and we are greeted by a cutlass wielding stripy pirate wench called Fi who fronts an outfit called Dragster from Coventry. They actually sound as good as she looks with their dirty punk rock 'n' roll and are one band who look like fun live. They are followed by the less impressive Billy No Mates who features the drummer out Snuff fronting his own speedy pop punk crooning outfit. They are so popular they can rope together duel lineups for East and Western hemispheres.. We then get Demob from Gloucester who are Fred West centrals first punk band and seem programmed to inform us at every given opportunity how they are 'once punk always punk'...why? Pinch me if I'm dreaming coz I don't remember 'em in the punk scene anywhere between 1984 and 2001? We get a profile of local beer monster Payney who is guitarist in This System Kills and once upon a time In The Shit. Apparently he now has his fingers in a lotta promotion pies (not mentioning Sheep's rears) and is possibly the only Taff who likes Bristol. Everlong wouldn't be the same without its token Dickcheese band, and cover star Laila from Sonic Boom 6 alongside her Manc side-kick give us the low down on their well produced but ever so manufactured pop punk hankering for a bit of ska and brass. So lets move on swiftly for some genuine punk with California's P.A.W.N.S who have about as much gloss about em as GG Allens underwear, but offer some neat punk rock tunes. Pity they're sectioned off into Anarcho, for their sound is more akin to the original Californian punk scene. In keeping with America, melodic hardcore outfit Far From Finished give us their feeble excuses of why they ain't shagging all the birds down the front unlike Kicks out the Briefs. But more importantly why they have got such a shitty moniker. The live reviews were good this issue with a massive Wasted festival rundown, although the Reading festival report is about as punk orientated as Ming Campbell's wife's wig! Gawd I'm so blinkered, we also get a large amount of borderline punk in the CD section as Black Sabbath grace the token book review. If all the bands and reviewers in here had a bit more snot and less manners about em, I'd probably be salivating over this zine, but you have to give it to the Bristol duo...they present their jam packed take on punk with easy on the eye reassurance and its always well put together. Oh and is it me or are there less ska bands about in this zine lately? £1.00 & A5 SAE FROM Shane.Baldwin@uwe.uk 1 Shilton Close, Kingswood, Bristol, BS15 9UZ, UK Shane.Baldwin@uwe.ac.uk |
| ANTI-HIPPIE #2 2007 **** Only the second edition of this well researched 60 page Oi! Punk Ska zine from Finland. Its all written in English and shows a creative drive which I have to say seems to be pretty prevalent amongst the better skin zines I've come across over the years. In actual fact this reminds me of quality old British zines like Control or Crucified from the 90's. It kicks off with Part #2 (Part #1 featured in Anti-Hippie #1) of a massive and impressive 16 page feature on 'Blacks in Punk, New Wave and Hardcore 1976-1983'. An article that delves into an array of individuals who chose punk as their music or mode of expression. Quite an eye opener I gotta say, from Bad Brains, Pure Hell to a whole host of other less well known characters, including the Clitboys and the infamous LA tranny zine writer Vaginal Davis. I believe this piece was first published in Roctober mag? So I dunno if this republishing from other sources is gonna be a common feature in Anti Hippie? The other big feature is titled 'Belfast Punx The Story' which focuses on the early 80's Belfast punk scene which is also nicked off the web! Both good articles, but could be seen as lazy journalism by some of our more devout zine fraternity. However with this much information online you ain't ever gonna read it all in one sitting unless your retina is made up of pixelated stem cells. So I for one was glad it was included, coz id never have read it all otherwise. I still think Anti Hippie should maybe keep their purloined features to a minimum next time out though. The interviews however were all home grown Anti Hippie ones, which veered heavily towards the Oi!/Street punk market, but with a distinct international flavour. Germany's Bovver Boys admit playing a disused windmill, Finnish Street punkers the Symptons explain why their name is spelt funny, and an interview with UK skin author Steve Goodman rounds of this issues interrogations. Thankfully there's only one piece on the Ska Association of Estonia, along side a review of local venue, club 'Stomp it'. There are also quickfire spotlights on a variety of smaller bands making a noise around the planet. The reviews are small, but this is a new zine and I'm sure it will be flooded within a few more issues. I was particularly impressed with the photo quality collage running through the back pages featuring an array of local snapshots of bands and the scene in Estonia, and no cheap photostat job here! These are all printed and it comes on a nice punky glossy layout which was easy to read. Good zine despite a few broken English sentences and issue one is still available so check out Martins myspace below for more info. www.myspace.com/oibootboy Cost 2 euros plus postage. bands and trades are welcomed! |
| NEGATIVE REACTION #7 January 2007 **** Been a while since I last read a copy of Negative Reaction and this issue like the last and issue #8 out now (reviewed when I've read it) is on track with what we've come to expect from a newly politicized Comrade Hagl and his babushka bird Dawn. Together they are beginning to forge a 'right on' collective amidst these pages. I suspect the cover shot is some Wasted festival? Or maybe a Farepak mob demanding their money back? But we ain't here to demand a refund or look at the grainy pix (whatever happened to Honey?), we are here to be amused, lectured on how Nazi we all are and certainly entertained in all the right places. Girl on the run Honey Bane gets interviewed, although not as probing as we'd like here in Nihilism's cozy interrogation cells, and it was nicked off the web, so what do you expect? Honey does mention an autobiography is due out this Christmas, so we'll have to wait for all the juicy bits in there I spose? The Cocksparrer interview was interesting not coz a handful of overweight, middle aged, balding glamsters seem to have captivated a whole generation of skins 'n' boot boys, but coz for once a band who can fill venues more than most, give long detailed answers to the questions asked in this five page musical career round up. There's also a big but less enthralling interview with St. Steve Drewitt of Newtown Neurotics fame. His band had their moments back in the 80's but I was never a big fan of that lefty liberalism kinda bollocks that Billy Bragg, Atilla et all spouted out on the back of punk. Local Harlow outfit Antibodies reckon Steviie boy was a well known fake and bandwagon jumper around town, and every time I read an interview that always seems to stick in my gullet. A surprise inclusion was Nardwuar the Canadian irritant journo and punk enthusiast, who is a general thorn in the side of a sensible world. Plus young scousers the Down and Outs who sound a bit posh for Negative Reaction. Best bits however was the sad Gash Brown (Barse) obituary, the hilarious Character Assassination of New York's Bobby Steele (the Dr Goebbals of punk) and the depressing Chav Central expose, alongside the doomy Bollocks to Bureaucracy piece. Reviews as always are safe and spot on with zines, books and recordings getting the once over. So whatever your politics Negative Reaction remains one of the best all round UK punk reads. For more information write to Trev c/o Rosehill, 20 New Front St, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, Co Durham, DH9 9LY, UK trevhagl@hotmail.com |
| NEGATIVE REACTION #8 Summer 2007 **** Trev Hagl seems to be knocking these out as fast 'n' furious as he did in the old HAGL days, and that's just how we like it. Although the lions share of this zines interviews are done by his gobby Margate side kick (and I don't mean his Mrs), its still worth your coinage and investigation. We kick off with yet another punk rock death and tribute this time to Toots who used to promote punk gigs at Gateshead's legendary Station venue back in the early 80s. He died last year on the streets of Plymouth. Still in a sombre mood there's an expose on the Royal Mail, which having worked there myself, I can totally agree with. There's an hilarious Negative Reaction vs The Modern World piece, where Comfy Pub Sofa's and E-Bay Fuckwits are amongst an array of targets that gets a severe bashing from NR's Mr Angry. The interviews arevaried and spotlight the complex selection of punk available today from '77 to Oi! and back to Anarcho. But kicks off with Cass from the Violators (UK82 outfit) who were a band who didn't fit into any kinda genre which made them way more memorable. He tells us they've been gigging with a dilluted Violators line-up (sorry no Helen) and why they were referred to as 'street level Joy Division'. I always thought the Warriors were way over rated even amongst the Oi! fraternity and thankfully they only give us brief answers, which we should swiftly move along from. The Tights are a first wave UK punk band who have reformed with gigs and new material for the album "they always wanted to make". But realistically speaking the personality's like their jangly music is pretty average even if they did have the nerve to burst the Clash's football. From one extreme to another, the Cardinal of the notorious Blood lets rip in a somewhat sensible kinda disappointing middle aged way, with only the bands media manipulated gory past (inspired by the late JJ Bedsore) and a couple of good singles to cling too for dear life. He now strums away in his true persona under the Blood name which is slightly, no make that completely naff. When I see a Conflict interview in a zine I recoil, coz its usually done by bedroom anarchists in awe or right on punks waffling on about Animal fucking liberation. This interview does a degree of both, but at least Mr Jerwood does get confronted with the 'being a rip-off' tag and the hilarious Oi Polloi fall out (couldn't resist that one). He of course totally denys any ill feeling or blatant greed, blaming the hectic catapult to infamy of the times as the mitigating factor. I'm still waiting for the Armarni suits and rave club owner rumours to be outed from the early 90s? He did leave us with one exemplory note "just do things the way you see right". There's also loads of zines, a few books and DVD reviews which you can count on being almost 95 percent correct, coz after all we don't all live in Stanley. Hmmm Issue #9 and #10 are out as we speak...! For more information write to Trev c/o Rosehill, 20 New Front St, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, Co Durham, DH9 9LY, UK trevhagl@hotmail.com |
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