L.A.'s Punk and Rap Past Captured by Photographer Janette Beckman
Photos by Janette Beckman
Janette Beckman is a New York based photographer born in London, England, and is a product of the '70s punk movement. Although much of her portrait work is often associated with New York, Beckman put together a gallery that opened April 17th of select photos, dating 31 years ago of L.A.'s Punk and Rap past. The collection of various iconic photographs includes Johnny Rotten, Joe Strummer, Debbie Harry, Slick Rick, Keith Haring, and Run DMC to name a few. The exhibition is called Rebel Cultures: Punks, Rap & Gangs, and is currently being featured in HVW8 Art + Design Gallery in Los Angeles through May 18th.
Aside from the Punk and Rap scene in LA, Beckman also features photos from the summer of 1982, when she was introduced to members of the East LA gang, El Hoyo Maravilla. The poverty and culture in the area inspired her to capture many of it's members in the heart of their known territory, a perfect additional to her gallery on "Rebel Cultures". Surviving gang members that were involved were even invited to the gallery opening. Other gallery goers included Curt Smith of Tears for Fears and Delicious Vinyl's Rick Ross.
Check out some of the following photos from the gallery on exhibition now, and be sure to check out more of Beckman's work here.
[Via LA Weekly]
Pussy Riot Members Attacked in Sochi
The backdrop to the entire 2014 Winter Olympics has been shrouded in controversy since the location of the games was announced the better side of a decade ago, making the most recent news to come out of Putin's games even less surprising: members of the punk girl revolutionary group, Pussy Riot, were attacked by roving government Cossacks yesterday as they left a restaurant in the town donning their trademark neon baclavas and clothing. Before the demonstration could begin, the members were accosted by the men, a guitar was smashed, but no arrests were made. A very certain check step in the showdown between Putin and his leftist, civil rights-fighting female demonstrators. It is also being reported that Nadya Tolokonnikova and Masha Alyokhina, recently released from prison and fresh on Russian soil after a turn through American late night television lately, were among the protestors put down by the resurgent Cossacks who have been tapped to help bring order and reinforce and agenda. According to a recent New York Times story by Ellen Barry, ""Cossacks have emerged as a kind of mascot [for Putin's ideology]... These days men in Cossack uniforms are making appearances all over Russia, carrying out blustery raids of art exhibits, museums, and theaters as standard-bearers for a resurgent church." They are also compared to cowboys, or Chinese samurai and have become a pawn in Putin's push to continue pushing Russia back to the Soviet days. It is interesting that Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were present at the protest, as they were hesitant to say they were still a part of Pussy Riot after their release in December.
Death Announce Album Details with New Song
The story of Death, a band of three African-American brothers from Detroit, Michigan that transformed from an R&B trio to a full-fledged rock band in the '70s, is one of many peaks and valleys, and one that was best told in the 2013 documentary, A Band Called Death. The band was largely credited with being precursors to the punk movement in North America, predating the Sex Pistols or the Ramones. With a deal in place in 1974 with Columbia Records, the band balked history, deciding that they couldn't bear part with their name for a shot at the big time and one of the brothers, David Hackney, died of alcoholism in 2000.
Revived by a re-release of their music in 2009 by Drag City Records, as well as the documentary, the remaining brothers rang in 2014 with a performance at Reggie's Rock Club in Chicago and today dropped a frenetic 'new' song, "North St.", which was recorded in 1980 ("When ya live on North St., you know just where you stand"). Along with the song's release, which you can stream below, the band announced plans for a new album, Death III, expected April 22. The album is the final collection of tracks, recorded over a series of sessions in 1975, '76, '80 & '92. Check out the latest from Death, below, and scroll down for full tracklisting and tour dates.
III:
01 Introduction by David
02 North Street
03 Open Road
04 We Are Only People
05 Restlessness
06 Free
07 Yes He's Coming
08 First Snowfall in Detroit
09 We're Gonna Make It
Death:
03-08 Monterrey, Mexico - NRMALfestival
03-21 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre
03-22 Fullerton, CA - Bugerama III
03-23 San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
04-05 Phoenix, AZ - The Pressroom
07-04 George, WA - Sasquatch!
Top Bands to See at Riot Fest Chicago 2013
Riot Fest Chicago 2013, at least for myself, has the greatest lineup of artists out of the summer's seemingly never-ending onslaught of music festivals. This year's Riot Fest in Humboldt Park is a dream collection of bands that have played huge roles in my formative years as I made my way through the musical spectrum, falling in love with all types of bands, musicians, artists, etc. Considering this is my first Riot Fest since Riot Fest 2006 and that Ruby Hornet, as a whole, is growing into a much larger outlet that covers many more forms of entertainment, music genres included, Brynn Bixby and I have decided to put together our recommendations of the top bands to see this weekend.
With a lineup as amazing as this, there are a number of bands we have left off of our lists. However, don't let that detract you from experiencing new music! Take a chance and walk over to a random stage whenever you have downtime; I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy any band on this year's lineup... just make sure you prioritize our choices. Get your vocal cords ready to scream along to every song; get your suspenders and checkerboard Vans so you can control the skank circle; lace up your Docs so you can moonstomp like no other; these are Ruby Hornet's Top Bands to See at Riot Fest Chicago 2013. - Geoff Henao
Desaparecidos 2013 Fall U.S. Tour
Desaparecidos fans have been aching for more since the group's first full-length, politically charged album "Read Music/Speak Spanish" appeared on the scene in 2002. Good news came for fans last year when the group -- a pet project of Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst -- got back together and released three 7 inches, most recently with "Te Amo Camila Vallejo," and "The Underground Man." The new tracks stay true to the bands' cut throat anti-consumerism/anti-government views, dismissing social expectations and delivering a raw, hardcore, against-the-grain punk hard rock sound. Â I can't even count the number of times I have wished and hoped for the band to get back together and play a show in Chicago, though I kept myself thoroughly satisfied with frontman (and lyrical genius) Conor Oberst's work with Bright Eyes and Monsters of Folk. And now the dream has become a reality. Desaparecidos is back, and their fall U.S. tour will hit up the metro in Chicago on Oct. 25th, bringing along supporting act The So So Glos. Give Desaparecidos' newest tracks a listen and check out their tour dates below.
Sun-Oct-20 Englewood, CO - The Gothic Theatre
Mon-Oct-21 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
Tue-Oct-22 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
Thu-Oct-24 St Louis, MO - The Pageant
Fri-Oct-25 Chicago, IL - Metro
Sat-Oct-26 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Sun-Oct-27 Detroit, MI - Majestic Theatre
Mon-Oct-28 Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
Wed-Oct-30 Austin, TX - Mohawk (outside)
Fri-Nov-01 New Orleans, LA - Voodoo Music + Arts Experience
Sun-Nov-03 Pomona, CA - The Glass House
Mon-Nov-04 Los Angeles, CA - The Fonda Theatre
Riot Fest after parties announced
With Riot Fest two short weeks away, the promoters of the event have announced the official after parties for the weekend. On Friday, September 13th, Sublime with Rome will be playing an 18+ show at the new Concord Music Hall, party monster Andrew WK will play a 21+ show at Double Door, and hometown heroes The Lawrence Arms will play a 21+ show at Cobra Lounge. On Saturday, September 14th, Against Me! will play a 21+ show at Cobra Lounge and Rocket from the Crypt will play a 21+ show at Double Door. Closing out the weekend on Sunday, September 15th, are Quicksand for a 21+ show at Cobra Lounge, Peter Hook and the Light for a 21+ show at Double Door, and The Lillingtons playing an all-ages show at Beat Kitchen.
Are you ready to up the punx? Tickets will go on sale promptly at 11am this Friday.
Black Moth Streams New Single
A band of heavy noise rockers from across the pond, Black Moth is coming at you with their new single "The Articulate Dead" off of their much anticipated latest album "The Killing Jar." The UK has been busy destroying festival stages throughout the UK and Europe with their aggressive punk for the past few years. But Black Moth isn't just noise and madness. Their razor-blade sharp guitar riffs, shout choruses, and lead singer Harriet Bevan's seductive vocals grab you and hold your attention with clenched fists.
A metal/rock/punk mashup -- think Black Sabbath meets Pretty Girls Make Graves meets Queens of The Stone Age -- Black Moth has evolved into an explosive sound of their own with "The Killing Jar," while staying true to their influences. "The Killing Jar" will be available in North America on CD, download, and limited edition vinyl on October 1st via New Heavy Sounds.
https://soundcloud.com/new-heavy-sounds/01-the-articulate-dead
Death Grips: "Birds"
Death Grips skipped out on their Lollapalooza set and after show, which apparently gave them some free time to get in the studio. Last night, the duo released their new single, "Birds" via Facebook. Check out the track below or go ahead and download it here.
http://youtu.be/ZoPCJisvlNE