Tag Archives: Washington DC

the_shifters

Feel-Good Friday: The Shifters

Normally when I introduce a post, I’ll mention how I found the band. A lot of times, it’s as simple as randomly searching for something on Bandcamp and coming across something good. I found The Shifters in the bathroom of The Slidebar in Fullerton last night. No, not literally. When I was there to see Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, I made a trip to the restroom, which is decorated with band stickers. One of the stickers bore the name The Shifters and I remember the word reggae being somewhere on the sticker. That was fortuitous because reggae and ska are always good for Feel-Good Friday. This song in particular is a good one for the occasion. After all, the weekend is right around the corner, and it’s as good a time as any to dance like no one is watching. Enjoy your Feel-Good Friday, everyone.

 

Incognito pick of the week: Borracho

Oculus is available now for download on Bandcamp (vinyl in November)

Oculus is available now for download on Bandcamp (vinyl in November)

Yes, I know, loyal reader. It’s supposed to be Funk Friday. Or maybe even Feel Good Friday. And here you see the pick of the week, which normally appears on Wednesday. Here’s what I can tell you. A wiser feller than myself once said, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” I’ve planned to write about Borracho for at least three weeks, but let’s just say a whole lot of life happened. So, anyway…I do apologize for not delivering Funk or Feel Good Friday, but I think you’ll find this band worthwhile.

As I was randomly searching Bandcamp for fuzz rock (one of my biggest areas of exploration this year) one day, I came across this band. And you know something? These guys deliver the goods. LEt’s face it. One of the great things about fuzz rock (or stoner rock, or whatever you call it) is big, meaty guitar riffs. Well, you’ll certainly get your fill of those on this album. It doesn’t just sound like it was recorded in the 70s, it’s also formatted like a 70s rock LP with four songs longer than seven minutes long. I can see turning this over after the first two songs and playing Side 2 after enjoying the two songs on Side 1. All of the songs are a good example of the 70s sound, but “Know the Score” really grabs my attention with its wonderfully low, fuzzed-out sound. Just have a listen for yourself. And don’t miss the guitar solo in “Stockpile.”

If you’re a fan of Clutch, or anything on Small Stone Records, I have no doubt that you will thoroughly enjoy this album and the other offerings Borracho has available on Bandcamp. Do yourself a favor. Get this album, put it on, crank the volume, and share it with your neighbors. Who knows? This could be the new favorite band for everyone in your neighborhood.

Incognito pick of the week: Kill Lincoln

That’s Cool…in a Totally Negative and Destrucive Way is available tomorrow 14 August 2012

Loyal reader, we have scoured the musical landscape to find our pick of the week and we think it’s a pretty good one. Kill Lincoln is a skacore band from Washington DC and if nothing else, this band proves one thing: that even when ska sounds aggressive, it’s still pretty happy music. Especially when it’s infused with humor like “Brick’s not dead, he’s just hiding in Connecticut.”

Kill Lincoln has a new EP that will be available tomorrow. The name is long but it’s as catchy as the music: That’s Cool…in a Totally Negative and Destructive Way. You can’t preview the entire EP, but you can hear “Brick Song” on Bandcamp. Oh, and you can listen to the band’s album You Were Here in its entirety.