NAKED RAYGUN: VFW HALL, KANSAS CITY, MO. 8.11.84. AUDIENCE RECORDING.

Shortly after Midwest thrash had assigned itself to it's own secluded ghetto, where it would knowingly decide not to challenge the musical aesthetics of other genres, a new type of punk ascended from it's rigid cadaver. Naked Raygun (along with other Midwest imaginative heavyweights like Husker Du, the Replacements, Big Black, and Killdozer) were one of the most promising and fresh groups to emerge from the monotony. Naked Raygun’s magical powers were that they expanded the parameters of what many thought hardcore punk was. Moreover, they abandoned the ensnarements of tuneless thrash while producing punk rock that was strong enough to maybe even be taken into consider by the mainstream music critics. Even if this was never actually achieved, they helped push punk forward by giving adventurous people without mohawks something to take pleasure in.

This recording represents an enjoyable audience recording captured during the summer of '84. This performance is heavy with tracks from "Basement Screams" which were dropped a short time later. When comparing this set list with Naked Raygun live tapes I have from only a year or so later, virtually all of these tracks faded out of their live set.

This performance was originally taped by the gentleman who runs the excellent Oxide Flake website. He does something quite similar to this site in documenting many shows that he originally taped in Kansas and Missouri. This site can be viewed here: http://mrfink.com/oxideflake/

Track list:

1. Knock Me Down

2. I Don’t Know

3. Home Of The Brave

4. Mofo

5 .Stupid

6. No Sex

7. Surf Combat

8. Metastasis

9. Gear

10. The Strip

11. Bomb Shelter

12. Tojo

13. Swingo

14. Only In America

15. Managua

16. Rat Patrol

17. Potential Rapist

18. Dog At Large

19. New Dreams (cut)

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?znz4khjyvkm

TRUE SOUNDS OF LIBERTY (TSOL): 1980 DEMO.

TSOL exploded out of Long Beach, California in 1978 to develop into one of Southern California’s leading hardcore outfits. Forming from the remains of Johnny Coathanger and the Abortions and Vicious Circle, the original lineup of TSOL were purveyors of political proto-hardcore that bristled with exhilaration. It’s extraordinary to consider how many name changes that Jack Grisham has had in his musical career; Jack Greggors, Alex Morgan, Jack Ladoga, Jim Woo and James DeLauge have all graced the sleeves of TSOL releases. With no less than 5 different stage names, you begin to wonder if he’s a fugitive evading the lawman.

These four demo tracks are outstanding. The sound quality is outstanding. These tracks are in the vein of the first 12” on Posh Boy; the tracks being simultaneously forceful and melodious with a genuine political edge. This demo recording was previously bootlegged onto vinyl in 1994 as the “1980 Demo” 7”. Supposedly 500 copies were pressed but one can never be sure of such information.

Track list:

1. 80 Times

2. Superficial Love

3. You Don't Have To Die

4. Silent Majority

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zcyydyyyjnm

THE PLASMATICS: BOOKIE'S CLUB 870, DETROIT, MI. 9.20.80. AUDIENCE RECORDING.

To an outsider, the Plasmatics could in all probability be best elucidated as Kiss but with tits. For a brief period, their outlandish behavior earned them some minor mainstream media coverage. To someone more familiar with the group, they represented a magnificent cacophony. Perhaps the greatest thing about the original incarnation of the Plasmatics was the fact that they were masters of artless and uncontrived gimmickry. The band’s image was conceived by ex-porn entrepreneur Rod Swenson and visualized by a squad of total rock n’ roll reprobates. The band is perhaps best defined by their mouthpiece, Wendy O. Williams, who gruffly talks, bellows, barks, and heavy-breathes through some of the finest proto-hardcore our great land has ever heard. Swenson composed all the lyrics of the Plasmatics. This gutter prose involved psychotronic aesthetics consisting of copulation, aggression, and various other superfluous grotesqueries.

Their debut album, “New Hope for the Wretched” is a band captured at their no frills best. There is nothing delicate about this record, which is strangely produced by Jimmy Miller. He is best known for producing the archetypal late 60’s output for the Rolling Stones. Despite the unconcealed spectacle (they were sawing guitars in half and destroying automobiles on stage), there were some bona fide tunes on their first full-length. The tracks hammer on with proto-hardcore locomotion and have stood the test of time.

This audience tape was recorded at the legendary Bookie's Club 970 in Detroit. This was Detroit's first ever punk venue. Homegrown talent such as the Romantics, Sonic Rendezvous Band, Destroy All Monsters, and Wayne Kramer were constantly performing at Bookie's. Virtually every punk touring act from America and the UK would play at Bookie's, thus it made sense that the Plasmatics would rip through this set included here in the fall of '80. The recording quality is pretty good for an audience tape. Download this show and see for yourself!

Track list:

1. Tight Black Pants (incomplete, cuts in)

2. Hitman

3. Monkey Suit

4. Squirm

5. Won't You

6. Test Tube Babies

7. Fast Food Service

8. Sex Junkie

9. Concrete Shoes

10. Living Dead

11. Want You Baby

12. Plasma Jam

13. Want You Baby (Reprise)

14. Sometimes I

15. Headbanger

16. Nothing (slight cut in middle)

17. Corruption

18. Butcher Baby

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zjwmfkm0wqy

HEART ATTACK: NEW YORK THEATRE ENSEMBLE, NEW YORK, NY. 1.12.81. SOUNDBOARD RECORDING.

Hailing from Whitestone, Queens, the nucleus of Heart Attack was formed while the members were still all under the age of 18, ranging from 12 at the youngest and 17 and the oldest. Within the first several months of the band, they cut two humorous demos entitled “The Hitler Demo” and “Mojo Sessions”. These early recordings were teenage imitations of then current English punk bands such as the Clash and the Sex Pistols. After singer Jesse Malin and guitarist Jackie Flannagan stumbled upon a Bad Brains show at CBGB during the middle of 1981, they immediately decided to amend their own sound. They were reborn as a frenzied hardcore act that would serve to be a strong influence (like the Bad Brains had been to them) to future up and coming New York hardcore groups.

Heart Attack were responsible for the vinyl artifact of the New York hardcore scene. This three song 7” EP, “God Is Dead”, was a crucial document in the separation of New York independent music after the late 70s CBGB scene had faded. This record is probably the most sought after item to ever have come from the New York hardcore scene, topping out in an online auction at nearly a thousand dollars two years ago.

This live recording was captured near the dawn of the group. This is the earliest live recording I have ever seen in circulation of Heart Attack. It shows these guys as a band still in the process of trying to discover their own sound. It seems they have one foot immersed in the UK influenced melodic punk rock of the time and another in the rapidly developing style of New York hardcore. Two out of the three tracks from the debut "God Is Dead" 7" EP are performed live in this set along with other tracks that would eventually turn up on the first Heart Attack 12", "Keep Your Distance".

The source of this tape is a soundboard recording. The sound quality seems to suffer from some very minor generation loss. It seems likely that this is still a low generation copy of this tape as it came from a long time trader that prided himself on owning a considerable amount of live masters and low generation tapes. This is a very nice document considering when it was recorded during the band's existence.

This is the first of a few Heart Attack live recordings that I will make available on this archive.

Track list:

1. The Last War

2. You

3. I Don't Want You Anymore

4. English Cunts

5. Assassination

6. Shotgun

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?wjjzbjjhdkq

RIPPING CORPSE: BUFFALO, NY. 1990. SOUNDBOARD RECORDING.

When my family moved to the shore, before I even got into hardcore, one of the first independent bands I heard about was Ripping Corpse. In eighth grade, a few friends who would eventually turn me onto hardcore played me some of their material and I dug it a lot. Their demos and "Dreaming With The Dead" LP are classic metal/hardcore that has become legendary in the underground music community.

The recording quality is that of an above average soundboard tape. The mix is a tad treble laden but overall the sound is excellent. The echo can be a bit distracting at times but it also adds to the power of this recording. This show was sent to me labelled "Buffalo, New York 1990." Does anyone have leads for a venue or more specific date?

1. Glorious Depravity
2. Dreaming With The Dead
3. Anti-God
4. Sadomasochism From The Grave
5. Wounds
6. Beyond Humanity
7. Chugging Pus
8. Sweetness
9. Rift Of Hate
10. Exhumation Days
11. Through The Skin To The Soul
12. Seduction Of The Innocent
13. Sickness of Will

Download
http://www.mediafire.com/?wmzmmhmdnzw

DIE KREUZEN: 1983 DEMO.

Occasionally, an extraordinary band will relinquish a cluster of demos prior to recording a proper release that simply rule, and even rival overshadow the release they were intended to prepare for. Perhaps the best example I can cite here would be the demos Black Flag cut in 1982 prior to recording "My War". Similar to these demos, before Die Kreuzen bestowed us their renowned self-titled debut full length they cut a batch of demos that rival most official releases from the time period and genre.

Like the 1982 demo that preceded the “Cows and Beers” EP, these 1983 demo recordings are an astonishing appetizer for the LP from 1984. These demos are equipped with an antagonistic attitude and a penchant for speed. One of the best things about Die Kreuzen is that could they could play hyper thrash while the songs remained surprisingly articulated. The playing is crisp while Dan Kubinski’s vocals are utterly illegible in the best manner possible.

The world would greatly benefit from having these demos come out officially on LP. If anyone knows how to contact the band, please drop me a line at the email I have posted.

Track list:

1. Sick People
2. No Time
3. Pain
4. Hate Me
5. No Name
6. Don't Say Please
7. In School
8. This Hope
9. All White

DOWNLOAD:

http://www.mediafire.com/?w3d4m12awyn