Punk Rock Saturday VI
There are certainly artists who use their platform to preach about the evils in the world, but one of our favorite things about the punk genre is the often obvious display of not taking everything too seriously. So when we saw the video for “NOLA,” from Los Angeles trio Rundown Kreeps, we were reminded of just that. While the song itself delves into the idea of escapism, they have released it with a shot-for-shot remake of “Help!” by the The Beatles. Please do not let that description fool you; this is a straight up punk song that, lyrically, covers real-life issues; however, visually, the band pays homage to their musical heroes. Check it out:
For those of you catching every live show that you can now that many COVID restrictions have been lifted, Rundown Kreeps are currently touring the US:
And now that we’ve eased you into this Punk Rock Saturday VI, the only logical next step is to hit you in the face with a slightly heavier brick. For fans of: Rise Against, Strung Out, and No Use For a Name, let us introduce you to one of your new faves: Sic Waiting. From Oceanside, CA, this quartet has just added the polish to their new LP, A Fine Hill To Die On, which will be available on vinyl and CD November 4th. If you’re anything like us, you know that waiting sucks, and so you’ll be pleased to know that they’ve unleashed the single, "Uncommon Veins,” in hopes that we drop our pitchforks and reach for our earbuds. For a group that originally formed in 2000, you can bet your ass that they sound tight as hell in 2022. Listen for yourself:
Our third pick comes from The Netherlands and reminds us of the hope that we have for the future of the genre, or even music in general. Even though After Elmer are certainly no spring chickens, there is nothing like seeing the younger generation of punks put down their video games and candy cigarettes long enough to grab an instrument and start a band. In all seriousness, when we received After Elmer’s hometown anthem, “Skyline,” we immediately knew they’d be featured on the blog. “The video was filmed on top of Het Nieuwe Instituut, an architectural museum in Rotterdam. To celebrate the ‘Rotterdamse Dakendagen’ (a couple of weeks in the summer when you can visit some interesting rooftops in the city), the museum put a giant pink stage on top of their roof…. The video was filmed by Rutger van der Zwaag of Silvermotion Pictures.” If your jam is the more poppy end of the punk spectrum, you do not want to miss out on this one, though not to be overlooked is “Flip a Coin (Overthinking),” which was released earlier this summer– their first studio release since dropping an EP last year and well worth a spin.
Until next time, stay hydrated, turn up the music, and turn off the news.
-TM