INTERVIEW: THE BLACK LIPS (BONNAROO 2012)

Six records, three live LPs and over 23 7-inch singles later, THE BLACK LIPS are still terrorizing mainstream surfers with professional amateurism. It isn’t super-clean (rhythms get scuzzy) and things do get out of hand (improv make out sessions), but the group are tethered to the idea you have to work for what you want as no Dr. Claw label-type is going to spoon-feed you commercialism or a memory fans will drool over. That may be why the... Read More

REVIEW: OFF! – “OFF!”

[May 8th 2012 - Vice Records // Find it at: iTunes | Insound] ______________________________________________________________ What do you do when the world demands you make an “official” debut record? In the case of OFF!, you make a debut record that leaves claw marks on your sense of hearing. As the Los Angeles super-outfit – comprised of Keith Morris, Dimitri Coats, Steven McDonald and Mario Rubalcaba – gave in to making... Read More

INTERVIEW: OFF! (SXSW 2012)

Here’s the thing about OFF!. Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Black Flag), Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides), Steven McDonald (Redd Kross) and Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes) have been involved with so many bands, not to mention producing (fun fact: McDonald handled the production on The Format’s 2006 epic Dog Problems), that if you made a playlist with every album on it, your head would explode and death would come knocking... Read More