MDC! Show review and Smoke Signals

Welcome to this special Monday edition of Sunday Spins.  I was pretty busy yesterday.  One of the things I was busy doing was going to see a band that I've been listening to since I was 8 years old (maybe even 4, as one of my brothers just pointed out to me).  MDC!!!

It was a seriously great night. My other brother and I got together beforehand and hung out for a while, then headed to the show.  I wasn't sure what to expect from the three other bands who were on the bill, but I was not disappointed.

First up was Fastidio, a local Latin punk band that I wish I would have heard of before now. I've been out of touch with the local scene for quite some time, which really needs to change. These guys tore it up and set the mood for a kick-ass show. I highly recommend checking them out if you get the chance.

Next was another local band. I've been meaning to see them for a while, but this was my first chance. Think Tank describe themselves as alcoholics with nothing better to do, which may be true... but they're more than that.  They're an energetic, entertaining, female-fronted punk rock tour de force. They have some demos up on soundcloud (link on their facebook page). Go listen now. I'll wait.....


I hope you enjoyed that. I certainly did. I also enjoyed the next band on the bill. They're on tour with MDC, so it's no surprise to me that they were fucking good. The Elected Officials is an anarcho-hardcore band from Austin, TX and Santa Fe, NM. I don't know what to say about this band besides they're fucking good. I know I said that already... but I want to make sure you know. I feel like political punk went out of style for a while, but if The Elected Officials are any indication of what's out there right now I'm excited. The world needs more bands like this.

And finally, the moment I had been waiting for... MDC took the stage. Dave Dictor sounded great. The band sounded great.  The energy in the room was electric as I made my way to the front of the stage (not without some slam-dance style contact with other humans... normally not my thing, but this was a special occasion). Highlights of the show for me were (of course) "John Wayne Was A Nazi" and when Sophie from The Elected Officials joined the band onstage for "Mein Trumpf".

I'm very glad I took the opportunity to nurture my inner punk rock kid on a Sunday night in October. This is a night I'll remember forever.  Thanks to all the bands, my brother who introduced me to punk rock as a young child, and my other brother who attended the show an rocked out with me.

(my other brother, me, and Dave Dictor)

Now that my coffee is all gone and I've rambled about the show, how about we drop the needle on Smoke Signals?

This album is some of the best 80s American Punk on the planet. Hard, Fast, Hectic, and with a good mix of message, fun, and humor. 

"No More Cops" starts the album off in full force with lightning fast bass lines and a lyrics about a dream world in which there are no more cops, and no need to have them.  It always amazes me that when John Lennon imagined a world with no government, no war, no possessions, and no religion it became a classic that people will sing on reality TV competitions for generations to come, but when Davey does it people get scared.  I guess it's all in the delivery. The rest of side A covers all sorts of social and political issues as well.  "Drink to Forget", "The Big Picture", and "South Africa Is Free" are some highlights to me... but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for "Tofutti", Dave's ode to vegan ice cream (among other foods).  It's such a fun song.

Time to flip the record.  Side B comes ripping out of the gate with "Acceptable Risks" and keeps tearing things apart with "Missile Destroyed Civilization", both hardcore thrash tunes that hit on political issues that we're still dealing with 31 years later.... war, government corruption, senseless death for someone's gain... as a kid I always thought these problems would be solved in my lifetime.

Side B isn't all as in-your-face as the first two tracks. "Country Squawk" is a fun, fast, country(ish) song about vegetarianism.  Specifically not wanting to eat a dead bird. I find it interesting that the two most fun songs on the record are about vegetarianism.  Perhaps they knew that it would be a good way to present the concept, which was still a very strange thing to most people in 1986. There's also some great musicianship on display on side B, especially the instrumental title track of the album.

With that, the record is over. I know it was abrupt, but it was quite a ride. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Until next time, listen to more records and go to more shows... music is life. 

Cheers!

-squirrel