COURTESY OF FAT WRECK CHORDS
Strung Out joins the lineup at Punk on a Rock music fest.
Diverse bands rock
at punk fest
It's time for another Punk on a Rock mini-festival, and this time, it marks the return of a SoCal band that was a fest participant back in '01, plus the debuts of a veteran Detroit band and two tuneful up-and-comers, one an emo rock outfit from Oxnard, Calif., and the other from Phoenix.
SoCal's Strung Out has distinguished themselves with a sound that marries hardcore punk with the technical intricacy of metal and progressive rock, and pushed forward by the strong vocals of Jason Cruz. Since their last Honolulu appearance, the band's released a well-received studio album, "An American Paradox," and this year's "Live in a Dive," generously filled out with 20 of their best songs from over the years and even includes a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark at the Moon."
The 4th Annual Punk on a Rock
With Strung Out, The Suicide Machines, No Motiv, Stereotyperider and local band The 86 ListWhere: Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St.
When: 5 p.m. tomorrow
Tickets: $17.50, all ages, available at the club, Jelly's in Aiea, Cheapo Music in Puck's Alley and all Ticketmaster outlets
Call: 589-1999
The Motor City's Suicide Machines have seen it all over their 12-year existence -- countless lineup changes, the so-called "third wave of ska" and the rise, fall and return of punk-pop. The band's latest album, "A Match and Some Gasoline," shows that they can still both thrash and get ska crazy with authority, as "Burning In the Aftermath" and "Did You Ever Get a Feeling of Dread?" attest.
And the album's a pretty strong political statement as well. Guitarist/vocalist Dan Lukacinsky is quoted as saying, "'Burning In the Aftermath' is about the human denial of the threat of nuclear weapons, and 'Did You Ever Get a Feeling of Dread?' is about how the government is banking on the hope that most people in this country are ignorant about what goes on behind the scenes. We're definitely not afraid to talk about more serious subject matter, because the day that we can't express our opinions about what's going on in this country is going to be a sad day."
COURTESY OF SIDE ONE DUMMY
The Suicide Machines take the stage at the Punk on a Rock fest, along with Strung Out, No Motiv and more.
No Motiv and Stereotyperider round out this year's lineup. Both bands have developed a pretty strong melodic sense in their material. It's not surprising that California band No Motiv has a little more emo punch, considering that the band's upcoming album, "Daylight Breaking" (out Jan. 27), is on the Vagrant label, home of emo heartthrob Chris Carrabas aka Dashboard Confessional. An advance listen to "Grey Notes Fall" and "Independence Day" shows that No Motiv knows its craft.
"Same Chords, Same Songs, Same Six Strings" is the title of the latest album from Arizona's Stereotyperider, and while there is a bit of punk influence in their songs, the band doesn't shy away from guitar melodies within songs and tricky little tempo changes.
"I think that a lot of it has to do with music influences," guitarist/vocalist Mike Upsahl told Access Rock.com. "I grew up in South Dakota, and my dad was a marching band and jazz band teacher. I always loved hearing 7/8 time, 4/4 switching to 3/4 time, and doing weird things like that. In fact, I remember one of the songs that I totally loved was 'Cult of Personality' by Living Colour. That whole little break down. I was really into that kind of stuff. We try to incorporate odd time changes in the newer stuff."
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