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Punk Rock Mini-Disc series

Be Nice To Mommy Records

Web site: http://www.benicetomommy.com

The majority of record labels that chased pop-punk glory during the halcyon days of the mid-90s have long since moved on and focused their efforts elsewhere. Pop-punk is simply no longer the “cash cow” it used to be, and yesterday’s pop-punk is today’s emo or garage and tomorrow’s synth-punk. Tastes change, and so do the people who help define the food groups.

That pop-punk has declined in popularity over the years may be a blessing in disguise for loyal fans of the genre. Rather than being at the disposal of labels ready to “jump ship” at a moment’s notice or the chameleon-like nature of the record-buying public and critics, pop-punk is once again in the hands of its true fans, people who are passionate about the music. Who’s hot and who’s not means little to these folks.

Umberto D’Agostino and Italy’s Be Nice To Mommy Records are doing their part to keep the pop-punk flame burning bright. Over the past several years, Be Nice To Mommy Records has merged a love of all things pop and punk with the do-it-yourself nature of CD-R technology to create their Punk Rock Mini-Disc series. It is a simple concept that owes a huge debt to Mutant Pop Records, one of the labels responsible for legitimizing the CD-R format as a commercial, pop-punk vehicle.

To date, all but one of the series’ seven discs has focused on the Italian pop-punk underground. The odds are better-than-average that you have never heard of bands like The Breakaways, The Waukees, or The Bonnie Parkers, but that is the idea. There is a lot of great music being made that goes unheard and unappreciated. The Punk Rock Mini-Disc series affords us the chance to hear some of that music.

All of the discs in the series include about a half-album’s worth of material (the discs reviewed here included anywhere from 6 to 10 songs) with simple packaging. Each disc is adorned with a label created using label-making software and a full-color, paper sleeve that looks good enough to be professionally printed (but may be generated from an inkjet printer). A lyric sheet/insert is also included with each release and a vinyl sleeve protects the contents. And at $5 each postage paid (from Italy to your door, no less) you will not have to break the bank to buy them all.

The first entry in the Punk Rock Mini-Disc series, “Where Did She Go?” by The Breakaways, features the only non-Italian band in the series thus far. Hawaii’s The Breakaways are sure to please fans of the Descendents. The seven songs on this disc are reminiscent of the influential poppy punk band, but not entirely derivative. Lead singer Mike Breakaway’s nasally croon is more akin to Cletus’ Johnny Puke than Milo Aukerman’s raspy snarl, and the harmony-laden, mid-tempo material lacks the hardcore energy of the Descendents. The Breakaways fit nicely next to bands like Hagfish or The Ergs when it comes to Descendents’ worship, and they are undoubtedly one of the series’ best finds.

The Stinkers’ “Stink Like A Dog” disc features silly cover art that spoofs the “Dorf” character popularized by comedian Tim Conway. Musically, The Stinkers borrow liberally from early Screeching Weasel, with snotty vocals and simple guitar leads over mid to faster-paced pop-punk. Like early Screeching Weasel, the sound is unpolished but it does not detract from the material. Unlike early Screeching Weasel, the hooks could be stronger in places.

The Elevators’ “Songs From The Ladies Dressing Room” is a modern take on the Screeching Weasel formula in the vein of The Apers or their countrymen, The Manges. This six-song disc features catchy tuneage, good production, and lyrics that touch on such diverse themes as love, fast food, and heavy metal. Not exactly lyrical genius, or is it? Lyrics have never been one of pop-punk’s stronger suits, and this disc does nothing to change that fact. Regardless, The Elevators are a good band and this disc is a winner.

Disc number four in the series, The Waukees’ “Shout It Louder,” is wonderful. The Waukees inject gobs of spunk into a Ramones/Queers/Screeching Weasel cocktail; the result is an eight-song joyride that is liable to make your neck sore from excessive bouncing. Lead singer Vale Waukee’s bratty vocals are fantastic and compliment the irresistibly catchy songs perfectly. While hardly a lo-fi affair, the mid-fi production value on this disc raised the energy level a few notches to the benefit of the band (I wish more bands would follow suit and ditch the squeaky-clean production values for a more relaxed approach). You may wish to set your CD player on “Repeat” for extended listening pleasure; you will want to hear these songs again.

Los Cinghios’ “Spaghetto Brats” is another impressive disc. Picture Green Day flirting with a Fat Wreck Chords band and you are close to Los Cinghios’ sound. Well-crafted choruses (the one-two punch of “Seeing You Again” and “My Way” is terrific), tempo changes, and a fuller-sounding production all stand out on this ten-song disc. The mid-tempo songs stuck in my brain the first time I heard them; my attention waned during the faster numbers. Enjoyable disc, but different from the rest of the pack sound-wise if you are keeping score.

The Turturros are one of two bands in the series that feature label head Umberto D’Agostini (the other is The Bonnie Parkers – see below). The Turturros’ “Still Doin’ Our Stuff” disc starts off strong, but the energy level fluctuates throughout the bulk of the songs until the finale, a cover of The Ramones’ “Commando,” from which the Be Nice To Mommy label moniker was nicked. Occasionally out-of-tune guitars detract slightly from the recording. Overall, this release is about average.

Wrapping up the current lot of releases in the Punk Rock Mini-Disc series, The Bonnie Parkers feature a dual-vocal attack and sound like a potent mixture of The Vindictives and Screeching Weasel, a winning combination. Umberto’s vocal timbre resembles the distinctive voice of Joey Vindictive, and the ten songs on “Raw And Wild Punk Rock Adventures” are well-written and full of energy (the opening chords of “I Hate What” could easily be mistaken for The Ramones’ “53^rd and 3^rd”).

The Italians have produced their share of noteworthy pop-punk bands, and Be Nice To Mommy Records offers a glimpse at a thriving pop-punk scene with their Punk Rock Mini-Disc series. In addition to the seven titles listed here, two new releases are planned for a summer 2003 release. In the interim, visit the label’s web site and sample some songs. You will be glad that you did.

-Mario Solis (3/23/03)

here i go again

by: mario solis
e-mail: mailto:e-mailmariosolis@juno.com

Although clearly tongue-in-cheek, the sentiments expressed in the above lyrics are pretty much right on. I am very much a California guy. I have lived here all of my life, and I love it. Without question, there are plenty of other interesting and exciting places in which to live and visit in the United States and the world; however, California has something of everything, and that’s a huge part of its appeal. This is starting to sound like a sales pitch for California’s tourist industry, so I’d better get to the point of this rant. In addition to the surf, sun, wine, oil, computers, missiles (!), et al., California is a great place for punk music: bands, venues, record labels, record stores, zines, etc. You name it, we got it…and enough of it to keep you busy and broke.

I recently returned from my now annual record buying road trip to “search and destroy” punk record stores in southern California. A couple of years ago, a friend of mine mentioned he was taking one month off from work to drive all over the United States in search of records and books. I was envious, to say the least. At the time, I was contemplating a vacation myself, but I wasn’t entirely set on what I wanted to do. The light bulb flickered during our conversation, and later that day I started planning a vacation devoted exclusively to record shopping.

My plans were slightly more modest. Instead of surveying the United States, I wanted to focus on record stores in southern California (I live in northern California). I knew there was plenty of punk in California to keep me happy, and I was right. Secondly, I set aside one week rather than one month for the trip. One month is a long time, and I knew I could do enough damage in one week to last me a few months. I was right about that, too. With my “little” brother in tow, we set out in search of punk rock and hit pay dirt. It was a blast. We visited a lot of neat record stores and came home with a lot of goodies.

The trip was productive enough to warrant further investigation, and admittedly, the last thing I need is an excuse to look for records. The good ‘ol light bulb showed signs of life once more, and plans were in motion to do it again this year. The results were equally impressive; we discovered several new gems and re-visited old favorites and came home with records, records, and more records.

A few of you reading this may scoff and say, “I don’t understand why you would drive 1000 miles just to look for music, most of which you could probably find online or at a semi-local record store for comparable prices.” If I had a dime for every time I heard something to this effect, I’d be a rich man.

What it boils down to is this: I am a music fan who loves punk rock. Whereas some folks can spend hours exploring the aisles of home improvement stores, craft stores, or automotive stores, I find them to be boring. I’m lost. First stop: information desk. Give me a record store, on the other hand, and I can easily kill a few hours, have a fantastic time doing it, and end up being the de facto information desk for lost souls who think I work at the store.

I am fortunate in that there are a number of cool record stores within a 90-mile radius, and I make frequent visits to said stores. Nevertheless, there will always be regional biases and “flavors” that are not always represented at your local record store of choice. I like traveling to record stores outside of my immediate area because I often find music I’ve never seen before.

To say that the Internet has made music shopping easy is an understatement. It is scary to think that, at some point, record stores might become obsolete, just like everything else. Until that day happens, I plan to buy music online and through interaction with the outside world.

The most important reason why I hit the road to look for records is that it is a lot of fun. Road trips are always good in my book. It can be a bonding experience for some people; for others, like me, it is a chance to spend time with people you don’t see nearly as often as you’d like. My brother and I both lead busy lives and this is an opportunity for us to re-connect.

Below is a brief summary of some of the record stores my brother and I visited on our most recent trip. By no means is this meant to be a comprehensive list of places to buy punk rock records in southern California. However, if you ever visit that part of the state and need your punk rock fix, this would be a good place to start. The stores listed are in no particular order. Without further ado…

Dr. Strange Records (7136 Amethyst Avenue, Alta Loma, CA; www.drstrange.com)

This store has a superb selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs, as well as all sorts of punk rock accessories for the kids (t-shirts, patches, belts, jackets, stickers, etc.). They also have an excellent selection of rare punk records, which are kept in a room near the back of the store. It is neither a big deal nor an awkward situation to browse the rare punk selection, but you might need to ask if a store employee doesn’t approach you first and ask if you’d like to check ‘em out. Prices are very reasonable. The staff is friendly and helpful. You can also find their entire stock online. Be sure to check out titles on the Dr. Strange Records’ label, too.

A surprisingly good record store in a stick town. In the words of a store employee, there isn’t much to Norco besides "a prison, cow shit, and heat." That pretty much sums it up. With that said, the store boasts an impressive lineup of poppy punk bands who have made in-store appearances over the years. It was fun to check out all the signed promo glossy photos on the wall from the likes of the Groovie Ghoulies, Hi-Fives, and Darlington. The folks who run X Records are in the pop-punk band, Thee Impossibles, so it is no surprise the store’s selection leans toward the poppier side of the spectrum. A modest selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs as well as t-shirts, videos, posters, stickers, etc., and miscellaneous used “rock” vinyl. Excellent prices and friendly staff.

Filthy’s Music Exchange (31620 N. Casino Drive, Lake Elsinore, CA; phone: 909-471-0311)

I make it a point to ask record store folks about other record stores in the vicinity that are worth visiting. We got a tip from the X Records’ folks about a store in Lake Elsinore (about 20 minutes south of X Records) called Filthy's Music Exchange, which is run by Matt (of The Phuzz) and Jeanette (of The Chubbies). The store stocks new and used punk vinyl and CDs, as well as other genres. The used selection is much better than the new selection, and the prices are cheap. Prices for new items are fair. Some great finds in the used bins. Looks like they may have live music in-store as well so be sure to keep an eye out for shows while you’re passing through.

Greene Records (12932 Newport Avenue, Suite #4, Tustin, CA; phone: 714-639-3111)

A choice selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs. Used stock might as well be new stock as everything I’ve purchased at the store has been in pristine condition. Used stuff is priced to move. Excellent “new” prices. Greene Records also has a good assortment of t-shirts and punk paraphernalia at reasonable prices. Friendly staff.

Lou's Records (434 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA; www.lousrecords.com)

The best record store in the San Diego area. Lou’s Records has a little bit of everything, and a fine selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs. More used punk CDs than punk vinyl. Prices for everything are outstanding. They also have a “customer rewards” program called “Lou’s Gimmick.” Save your receipts, because every dollar you spend at the store counts towards something free. Once you reach a certain level of spending (i.e., $75, $150, etc.), you may redeem your receipts for t-shirts or music (used or new, depending on how much you’ve spent). During our most recent visit, I combined my purchases with receipts from prior visits (dating back to 1999, no less -- !!) and got Ben Weasel’s “Fidatevi” LP brand new for free! I love to shop at Lou’s and it is nice to be rewarded for doing so.

Underdog Records (812 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA; phone: (949) 494-9490)

Mike Lohrman, singer of The Stitches, runs this store. They’ve got an excellent selection of new punk vinyl and CDs as well as some used stock. Some of the 7” vinyl looks as though it has been shuffled around a bit. I am a stickler when it comes to the condition of records I buy so I tend to notice that sort of thing. Underdog also has a decent selection of punk t-shirts. For the most part, the prices are fair. Certainly worth visiting if you’re in the area.

Noise Noise Noise (1505 Mesa Verde Drive East, Costa Mesa, CA; phone: (714) 556-6473)

A good selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs as well as other genres. More LPs and CDs than 7”s. Excellent prices for used items; new items are priced very fair. Friendly staff.

Vinyl Solution (18822 Beach Boulevard, #104, Huntington Beach, CA; phone: (714) 963-1819)

It has been said that Vinyl Solution is “the only store that matters,” and that may very well be true. Great selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs priced right. Be sure to check out the "locals box" for goodies you can’t find elsewhere. They’ve also got a great selection of t-shirts, and several quality videos of in-store performances. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Scooter's Records (200 Pier Avenue, Suite #1, Hermosa Beach, CA; phone: (310) 372-1666)

A gem of a record store. It can’t be much bigger than the size of a small bedroom or maybe even a bathroom, but the place is jam packed with new and used vinyl and CDs. A very good selection of punk as well as jazz, reggae, and oldies. Excellent prices and very friendly staff.

A modest selection of new punk vinyl and CDs at very fair prices. Some used vinyl, but horribly overpriced. They also have t-shirts, videos, etc. Check out titles on the Destroy All Music record label by Blue Collar Special and The Slanderin’, among others. Friendly staff.

An excellent selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs. The used CD selection is better than the used vinyl selection. This store has the biggest and best selection of punk t-shirts I have ever seen. Prices are fair to high. The store is located in a trendy shopping strip on Melrose Avenue, which explains the prices.

Amoeba Music, Hollywood (6400 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA; www.amoebamusic.com)

A “must” if you are in the area. The LA store opened about a year ago and it is humongous. Cavernous. Airplane hanger-like. Amazing. I remember being floored the first time I visited their Berkeley store 10 years ago. I'd never seen an independent record store that big before. When they opened their store in San Francisco, I marveled at how they actually found a place bigger than their Berkeley store (the SF store is in a building that used to be a bowling alley). The LA store must be twice the size of the San Francisco store, which is twice the size of the Berkeley store. Tons of stuff. All genres, but an exceptional selection of new and used punk vinyl and CDs at great prices. Best record store in the world?

There you have it…a small sampling of record stores in southern California. Again, there are numerous stores that are not represented here. Some of those stores I have visited, and some I will visit eventually. Drop me a line if you know of a record store you think I might enjoy, regardless of its location. I may get there someday. Happy hunting!

here i go again

by: mario solis e-mail: mailto:e-mailmariosolis@juno.com

by: mario solis
e-mail: mailto:e-mailmariosolis@juno.com