Who: The Underground Railroad To Candyland

Background: The San Pedro, CA based band, who just released their long-awaited full-length Bird Roughs on Recess Records, features Todd C. from Toys That Kill/F.Y.P.

What do they sound like?: Pop punk veterans showcasing some This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb-esque jams.

Why YOU should listen!: Fans of the aformentioned bands would most definitely get into this. Although there are some shared characteristics, the band’s sound is much more folky, with some garage and surf rock thrown in for good measure. Bird Roughs has definitely reserved a spot on my year end best of list.

Check out “Livin’ in a Straw in the Summer” below.

Tags: Band Spotlight, News, The Underground Railroad to Candyland by Matthew
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Photo Credit-Yoshiharu Ota

Who: Envy
Background: Since 1992, they’ve been regarded as one of Japan’s musical pioneers. Some people throw around the terms “hardcore” or “screamo” in regards to their sound. Frankly, I think that is just foolish and lazy. The music is too complex to fit under a single classification.

What do they sound like?: Neurosis having a love-child with Explosions In The Sky.

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Tags: Band Spotlight, Envy by Matthew
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Ok ok, I know. I promised all of you, our faithful readers, to a band spotlight every Wednesday leading up to the Fest. As you may have seen, that did NOT happen. I apologize for this. I’ve been a busy beaver of late. But to make up for, while I pack for the trek down to Gainesville, I will focus on the band with the greatest name on the face of the planet; Vaginasore Jr.

Obviously, when you first hear the name, you think this band could not be nearly as ass kicking as their moniker. I mean, seriously…they are called V-A-G-I-N-A-S-O-R-E -J-R. But here’s the catch, they are fucking awesome. They aren’t a cover band. They do not have “annoying punk rock stage names.” They just play Queers and FYP influenced snotty pop punk that would make Ben Weasel proud. Hey, who knows, maybe Vaginasore Jr. will be the next Green Day. Eh, probably not, but Vaginasore Jr. is the type of band that Green Day or any big punk band of that nature would take on tour with them to piss off the mothers of the 15 year old kids in attendance. Oh man, in a perfect world, this would be the case.

Tags: Band Spotlight, Vaginasore Jr. by Matthew
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It’s October and you know what that means, the Fest will be here in here no time. Leading up to the weekend of the 26th, we will have a new spotlight every Wednesday showcasing a non-headlining act that we think you need to check out down in Gainesville. For the first installment of Band Spotlight: Fest Edition, we focus on the Midwest’s drunken-troublemakers known as Off With Their Heads. These boys have been pounding out slurry, sloppy, angsty pop punk for a few years now.

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Tags: Band Spotlight, News, Off With Their Heads, The Fest, The Fest 6 by Matthew
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I hate it when I write band spotlights and the band has been around for a couple of years. It makes me feel like I’ve been missing out on something for a long time. A good example of this is FIYA. FIYA’s first 7″ came out in the summer of 2002 and their last CD, Better Days came out on No Idea records May 2005. Like most bands on No Idea, FIYA combines fast pop punk chords with raw throated vocals, which bare resemblance to early Lawrence Arms songs.

I saw FIYA open for Fucked Up last month and they were easily the most enjoyable act of the night. FIYA stood out from the hardcore line up with their melodic, energetic songs and kids that were otherwise too scared of accidentally getting kicked in the face walked up to the front of the stage to dance.

FIYA just ended a tour but you can catch them at The Fest 6 this October.

FIYA’s Myspace

Tags: Band Spotlight, FIYA by Elona
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