Harsh Distractions Playlist 11/03/09

I'm a few weeks behind on posting this, but on November 3rd, Like Rats came in and played a set live on Harsh Distractions. Here's what was played in addition to their set.

Hour 1
Hour 2

1. Chapterhouse – Breather - Whirlpool (INTRO MUSIC)
2. The Disaster - Cholera Asiatica And I Have Bullet Wounds For Eyes - Holy Ghost Can Suck It - 2003
3. On The Might Of Princes Go Fuck Yrself – Sirens - 2003
4. Polvo - Can I Ride - Cor-Crane Secret 1992
5. Sun Airway - Waiting on You - Oh, Naoko EP - 2009
6. Henry's Dress - Can't Make It Move - Henry's Dress/Rocketship Split 7" - 1996
7. Scotia Widows - Night In LA – Demo 2009
8. His Hero Is Gone - ...And We Burn - Fifteen Counts Of Arson - 1997
9. Down In Flames - I Don't Care That I'm Falling Apart - Down In Flames/Tear It Up Split - 2001
10. Colleen - I'll read you a story - The Golden Morning Breaks - 2005
11. Lake – Gravel - Let's Build A Roof - 2009
12. Group Home - Serious Rap Shit - Livin' Proof - 1995
13. The Saturday People - California Girls - The Saturday People - 2001
14. Cold As Life - Little From The World - Born To Land Hard - 1999
15. Unrest - Yes She Is My Skinhead Girl - Yes She Is My Skinhead Girl 7" - 1990
16. Squeeze - Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) - Singles 45's and Under - 1982
17. Dead Swans - Thinking of You – Sleepwalkers - 2009
18. Altercation - Friends Like These - Demo #2 -1987
19. Punch in the Face - Sector 7g - S/T 7" - 2002
20. Blacklist - Blue Shifted – Solidaire – 2007
21. Marva Whitney – It’s My Thing
22. Shudder to Think – Earthquakes Come Home – Pony Express Record
23. Black Breath – Beneath the Crust – Razor to Oblivion

Raw Nerve - Teens in Heat EP

If you've read hardcore/punk blogs or messageboards within the past year at all, chances are that you've heard about Raw Nerve. Most of the initial attention they received came from the mystery surrounding them and the fact that Youth Attack would be releasing a R/N record before they'd even really done anything. However, there is nothing wrong with keeping things interesting and presenting yourself in a creative way, especially when you have the songs to back it up. Musically, Raw Nerve plays raging, noisy hardcore that often reminds me of Void because of their use of mid-riff "solos" and delay effects. Singer Ralph Rivera has perfectly snotty vocal delivery that carries the four songs (including an X-Ray Spex cover) here. This band makes me really excited about current hardcore and I'm psyched to see what they do next.

This 7" was limited to 300 copies and sold out in a matter of days, so if you didn't have a chance to grab a copy, you can now at least have the songs. Enjoy!

Also, if you didn't check out their live set on my radio show, you can download it here.

Raw Nerve - Teens in Heat EP

Harsh Distractions Playlist 10/27/09

Here is the October 27, 2009 episode of Harsh Distractions.

Hour 1
Hour 2

Chapterhouse - Breather – Whirlpool (intro music)
1. Youth Of Today - Flame Still Burns - We're Not in This Alone
2. Portastatic - I Wanna Know Girls - Bright Ideas
3. Minutemen - History Lesson - Part II - Double Nickels on the Dime
4. The Mayfair Set - Cease to Be - Young One
5. Blitz - Criminal Damage - Voice Of A Generation
6. Sex Vid - Dead Ends – Demo
7. No I.D. - State to State - Accept Your Own & Be Yourself
8. Breaker Breaker - Sound Check #2 - Out Of Service
9. The Heist - My Point – Demo
10. Madball - Pride (Time are Changing) - Demonstrating My Style
11. Grouper - Heavy Water/I'd Rather Be Sleeping - Dragging a Dead Deer Up A Hill
12. Pedestrians - Deal of the Century – Demo
13. Mineral - Gloria - The Power Of Failing
14. Biohazard - Urban Discipline - Urban Discipline
15. Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks – Veckatimest
16. Young Governor -You're So Sad - Hidden Love EP
17. Wet Hair - When the Right Time Comes Glass Fountain
18. X – Sex and Dying in High Society – Los Angeles
19. New Sweet Breath – Shine - Acceleration & Distortion
20. Bad Business - What Are The Chances - Rare & Unreleased
21. Man Overboard – Dreaming - Hung Up On Nothing EP
22. Adorable - A To Fade In - Against Perfection
23. Young Marble Giants - Salad Days - Colossal Youth
24. Carry On – Waiting on Forever – A Life Less Plagued
25. Clipse – Comedy Central – Lord Willin’
26. Pulp - Disco 2000 - Different Class
27. The Primitives - Stop Killing Me - Lovely
28. Tsunami – Skinny - Deep End
29. Shark Attack – Feeding Frenzy – Demo
30. Sugar – Changes – Copper Blue
31. Jerry's Kids - Build Me A Bomb - Is This My World?

Fall Mix 2009

We've had a fairly prolonged fall in Chicago compared to the past few years. Usually, it lasts for about 2-3 weeks between the extreme heat and extreme cold, but it's been long and in spite of early onset SAD, it's been pleasant. Here is a mix to set the mood of the season, posted just before the cold sets in.


01. The American Analog Set - Born On The Cusp
02. The Babies - Meet Me In The City
03. Lake - Gravel
04. New Sweet Breath - Shine
05. Josef K - Sorry For Laughing
06. Black Math - Reckless Thoughts
07. The Sunday Reeds - 2000 & Something
08. Beulah - Silver Lining
09. Telefon Tel Aviv - I lied
10. Chris Walla - St. Modesto
11. The Beach Boys - Aren't You Glad
12. Vivian Girls - Lake House
13. Swearing At Motorists - One More Next Time
14. Giant Drag - Slayer
15. Sleep Out - Ross Sea Party
16. Talking Heads - This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
17. White Hinterland - Icarus
18. Therese Aune - I Tend To

Fall Mix 2009

Running - Demo Cassette

Here is the debut cassette from Chicago's Running. I wasn't sure what to expect when Matthew was telling me about his new band, but the songs here are fast, blown-out punk tunes that are heavy in a non-bro way. It's noisy and lo-fi with the vocals buried deep in the mix, but when they come through it sounds pissed. I'm excited to see them live in the near future when they inevitably play some harsh noise show featuring a dude spraying an aerosol can into a microphone through an effects pedal. Check it out.

Running - Demo Cassette