HIDE YOUR KIDS: IT'S 2013 and FIREBALLS OF FREEDOM BREAK LOOSE (AGAIN)

Photo by Kia Lizak

When I first heard that Fireballs of Freedom were putting things back together, I wasn't sure what to expect. It's not like I thought the guys didn't have the chops to do it (both Kelly and the Leaders and Sammy and Lords of Falconry have played Total Fest the past couple of years), but it's been a few years since FoF "took a break." Although they had "reunited" a couple of times, my fear was that the new reality would be overshadowed by my cloudy, nostalgic memories. 

Excitement, meet pushing 40.

I didn't move to Missoula until 1998 so I can't give you all the dirt and grime that some of our fellow Missoulians can, but I was told that I must see FoF any and every time the local legends played. My neighbors were rabid fans, filling my head with tales of sweaty, drug and whiskey crazed shows, and after-hour parties that would last through the weekend. My neighbors were also kind of crazy -- one time, while playing chess on the porch, a drawer full of knives crashed through the front window. A few speared into the wood and couch, and when I looked inside, female-neighbor was rushing back to the kitchen for more things to throw and male neighbor was reaching for another baking sheet.

Good times.
 

Anyway, I wasn't sure I wanted to be involved with anything they were involved with. I don't remember all of the ins and outs (who opened, what songs were played, etc.) of the first FoF show that I saw, but it was one of the first times I had seen Jay's packed to the stairwell. When FoF took the stage, I had a few reservations. I lose patience with macho, bro rawk and I have less patience with gimmicks. To my delight, the gimmicks weren't present, and when Kelly Gately (Gator) launched into his dizzying verbal cadence, I knew that I was in for something more than any record could represent (and this was before the music started). Once the first drum stick hit and the guitars flexed and squealed, it went the way as any love story. I was smitten. It was loud, blitzed out, fuzzy, and raucous with some of the best showmanship that I have ever seen. There is a lot of press out there about the Fireballs, but if you're curious about more of their history, check here and here.

Fast forward to the present. I was lucky enough to catch the Fireballs reunion show when they opened up for X at Dante's in February this year. The show was sick and quickly put to rest all of my "worries."

Seriously.

FoF's energy was the same controlled chaos that my patchwork memory put together, but the music possessed a new level of skull swirling psych-scuzz.

Atomic Punk is back, people.

It's a no brainer for us to invite Fireballs back to Total Fest; it should be a no brainer for you to be there when they play. These cats (Kelly, Sammy, Von, and Adrian) are the real-deal. It's a flurry of guitar, drums, and vocals that push the bounds of showmanship while it blisters you with its psych-punk explosions. This space is too small to throw in all the varying stories of the past, so please feel free to add comments and anecdotes. Thankfully, FoF is a full fledged band again, and 2013 provides us a new opportunity to build new memories and friendships.

plus, Gator is wearing a Lubricated Goat shirt!

AUSTIN PSYCHIC TACO ROCK: HUNDRED VISIONS

I first heard Hundred Visions on Dave Martens' excellent Hi-Tone/8 Flags Over Guadlajara radio show on KBGA. Dave's an invetarate rock and roller from the Harbor City of the north and had been going to Austin for years checking out new music. Hundred Visions were one of the bands he's come back with music from. I was driving into Missoula on I-90 and I still remember having to know who the band was. I guess there are lots of moments like that on KBGA.

Regardless of all that Hundred Visions were the band I heard that evening,  I called in to figure it out, and I set my sights on figuring out how to get 'em up to Total Fest. We started swapping email with the band and were stoked to hear they'd heard good things about Total TF and were all about hopping into a van and coming north. Musically, it's got some a big rocking surf gallop and the kind of fast-tempo driving perfectly executed pop of Buzzcocks or something. It gets me a little nostalgic for one of my all-time favorite bands the Joggers when I hear the big melodies and uber-tight execution and the overarching good-time-all-the-time vibe.

Here's a recent video.

MINNEAPOLIS KEEPS COMING: SEAWHORES

Where to start? Minneapolis based Seawhores is a dauntingly prolific band who have been blowing out speakers for over ten years. Held together by core members Adam Marx and Cody Weigel, Seawhores has featured a rotating, collaborative line-up, including Dale Crover, Brian Chippendale, Jeff Mooridian, Shawn Walker, and Jesse Bottomley (to name only a few). It's an impressive project to say the least. Unfortunately, I've never seen Seawhores live, but I've coveted every record, single and split that they've released. Their contributions to A Butcher's Waltz (2012 Learning Curve) are some of the most brutally tight noise tracks that I've heard in a long time. The songs also tantalize you with a few unexpected twists that gesture toward what their live sets are like (or so I've heard).

Seawhores just released a few new gems, The Hunt is On (2013 AmRep), a B-side continuation with some delicious splatter, as well as a track on Learning Curve's Held Hostage compilation. Keeping up? It's difficult, I know, but they are well worth it. Seawhores have found a way to incorporate all of the wonderful blisters of 90's noise rock with a sense of humor, and, dare I say, fun. Yeah, I do. It's refreshing to listen to a band, be blown away by them, and then to read interviews, talk to other folks, and watch stuff like this, realizing that they thoroughly enjoy making records and exploring possibilities. These aren't cookie cutter, 3 minute songs (hell, check out Opus). It's addictive in its relentless probing and development. We're excited as hell to have Seawhores play Total Fest this year, and I, for one, am more than happy to continue typing and saying "Seawhores."

RED FANG: TOTAL FEST XII

We all know Red Fang from the LARP-inspired, beer can mountain, blow-coffee-out-your-nose hilarity of the Prehistoric Dog video which is creeping up on a million views. And the other videos. And the tour blog which is one of the best going. I mean, honestly. We’re not particularly religious around here… but fuckin’ thank god to Whitey McConnaughy, the internet and uh, these guys’ own on-screen awesomeness for breaking Red Fang to the broader world. It took and somehow made being in a band a viable endeavor for dudes like John Sherman, Bryan Giles, David Sullivan, Aaron Beam and Chris Coyle. And, honestly, we can think of no better group of dudes, nor a more seriously raucous band to be on the radar of the broader world.

Let’s turn on the way-back machine for a minute, if you will: Red Fang wasn’t always a band. True story. Before they were, Bryan and David played in Last of the Juanitas, which was a bleak, mathy, heavy, sort of metal/sort of punk band from the desert. Lana from that band admits they listened a lot to Black Flag’s Process of Weeding Out. On their worst day, the Juanitas were better than that era of 'Flag, but it makes a fair amount of sense really. Bryan’s kind of like the punk/metal version of Jerry Garcia. His shit weaves, but is a little bit more paranoia-heavy compared with the generally good-vibedness of Jerry. David was in the incredible, intricate, technical Shiny Beast. Download some of it from the internet. John was also in some killer North Carolina bands like All Night and Bad Wizard, and even did a little time on the drum stool for Trumans Water. Aaron was in the awesome band Lachrymator. What’s all this besides an inventory? Well, actually it’s a list of awesome, and thoroughly under-appreciated bands that worked shitty jobs at cardboard box factories, put out records, toured a bunch, and ultimately reached the same conclusion: this shit ain’t working. I mean, that’s probably a little melodramatic, but I think it’s roughly the truth.

And that brings us to the main thrust of this here: Red Fang is working, and for that we’re so goddamn happy. It’s a full-time + job for these dudes, we’re positive. They work super hard at it, and it totally shows. That they have time for Total Fest to us is exactly the kind of thing that keeps us completely positive that we’re doing it for the right reasons. Obviously Red Fang’s in it for the right reasons. They continue to make awesome records, and have a good time with fans, and are super approachable dudes, and ultimately rip like fuck. We’re not even sure if those are cohesive thoughts. But, let it be known that Total Fest loves Red Fang, and we’re ultra proud that -with the support of KBGA 89.9 FM- we’ve got ‘em coming out August 2013.

ZACC HOSTING PUNK SHOWS, CRIMINAL CODE PLAYS THIS SUNDAY.

The Zootown Arts Community Center (or “ZACC”), a nonprofit arts organization just took a huge step and secured the basement space under their main-floor digs on Missoula’s North 1st street. It’s pretty awesome news if you’re like me and you consistently long for a more or less "informal," more of a hang-out-watch-bands, talk-about-stuff situation compared to the average show. Oh, and I’m stoked to see Criminal Code again.

They played Total Fest last summer and are a great, fast and kind of chorusy (the guitar effect) ala Hüsker Dü new wave punk group from the unassuming, sleeper hit-maker city of Tacoma, WA. The Funs from Chicago and two great locals, Needlecraft and King Elephant round it all out. $5, 8-11 PM. Event information is here

The thing I want to talk about is this: The ZACC is a registered 501C3, or nonprofit organization. It provides arts education to pretty big crop of young Missoulians and it’s important work they do. Missoula’s a fortunate place to have an organization that provides arts education as increasingly the K-12 system falls short of the mark for arts. It is a huge, huge deal (correct, two huges) that the ZACC has chosen to widen its scope of support to original, local and traveling musicians. Low-overhead show spaces are hard to sustain (see closures to shows of  Zoo City Apparel, the Lab, Eating Cake, Spruce St. etc. etc.) but among the most fertile ground for supporting a community of musicians and bands. That the ZACC is getting into this business is worth celebrating, supporting and respecting. Here’s how you can do all three:

Celebrate it: I know that sounds like a bullshit new ageism, and I cringe a little that I've used that language, but man, it's sincere. Come see the show, and other shows! These are great, informal times with awesome music. They’re truly structured to be safe, affordable and for all-ages, 8-80. Bring earplugs if you don’t do much loud music listening.

Support it: Come prepared to support the show, it’s $5. Dig it up and give it willingly. It's a worthy investment. And, hey, come to future shows. Buy some stuff from bands. Nearly everybody should have a record, shirt or CDR or something. Make a donation to the ZACC. They put the money to good use, keeping costs low, providing scholarships to students, and doing things like offering their basement for all-ages music. http://www.zootownarts.org/donate

Respect it: I’m an of-age guy, and somewhat unoriginally, a beer fan. However, I’ll be fine bringing along a water bottle to quench my thirst on Sunday. And don't mistake this for martyrdom. Watching some rad bands is more important than having a drink in my hand, and I think I'll get by! These events are alcohol free, and that’s the rule that's there to ensure that the environment’s safe for all-ages, and that takes a lot of trust. Shows like this are typically run by volunteers, and folks who care about DIY music happening. They’re not the authorities, but they are charged with ensuring the show follows the rules, and the alcohol rule is there for a really good reason.  If you’ve got time, help folks clean up.

Hope to see you there—

Total Fest XII: Band Submissions Update

Our April 1st deadline for Total Fest XII band submissions has passed. Thanks to all of the bands and artists who sent in their submissions for this year's fest. Our volunteer committee will be working our way through the pile of submissions and will begin making decisions over the next two weeks. If you submitted, please be patient with us in the process and expect to hear from us in the coming weeks. Thank you!

March 30th: Zoo City Apparel Farewell Show with HELMS ALEE and more!

Join us as we bid a fond farewell to one of Missoula's beloved all ages venues, Zoo City Apparel. No frowns or sad faces. We're going to send off this beast in style.

On Saturday, March 30th, ZCA, Total Fest, KBGA, Minor Bird Records, and Sound Color Productions team up to bring you this epic blowout.

Featuring:

Helms Alee

Monster with 21 Faces

Total Combined Weight

Vacation Club

Crys

Tickets are $7 in advance and $9 at the door.

It's a bummer to lose such a great space that hosted some great freaking shows (Mike Watt, Tragedy, White Mystery, Thee Oh Sees, Coathangers, Blind Shake, Total Fest X-XI ... ok, look - I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot, here. there have been way too many bands to list. way too many memories forged and lost). This seemed like a fitting way to go out. Not with a whimper but a bang. It also seemed like a great idea to raise some money for Total Fest. It sucks that Missoula is losing ZCA, but it means we have work to do. Please remember, though, that ZCA is only closing its downtown location but will be open for business selling Zoo City designs online, in other stores and continuing to offer custom screen printing at the company’s expanded printshop inside the Ceretana building. They're’re adding another press to their print shop and will be more equipped than ever to take on your custom printing orders. Also look out for Zoo City’s Spring/Summer ’13 line on their updated webstore, in local stores and at the markets.

It was a great run, and a great place to host bands and talk with friends.  Cheers to all of you who came out for a show at Zoo City.