The Morons were self declared as the "only band that never mattered" but as far as Albany history goes, that's pretty inaccurate. Started in 1979 and ended in 1982, the Morons have a pretty short catalog as far as their musical output. Similarly to The Verge, The Morons had a 7" and a song on the Hudson Rock compilation and that was about it as far as official releases. However, this lack of releases doesn't mean shit as The Morons were an embodiment of the Albany mentality that set the tone for the rest of punk in the area whether they knew it or not. This is snotty as shit, crazy catchy stuff that wouldn't be out of place on a Killed By Death compilation (much like The Tragics, who will be getting their own post soon). I feel like some members are in The Last Conspirators now, but I'm not really all that sure.
After Bourbon Scum dissolved (worry not, they'll be getting their own post soon) Nick was eager to get something new started and play some rock n' roll. Right around the same time, Tom was looking for a band too so they teamed up. It took a few tries, but it was apparent that ex-Bourbon Scum drummer Paul was the natural choice to play with them. Together they recorded this killer cassette EP that didn't see an official release until the last show the band played, which is par for the course for these dudes. The Rigs were a killer punk/rock n' roll combination bringing to mind bands like Radio Birdman and the 101ers, but more power pop influences thrown in there. Calling them underappreciated in their active years would be accurate, but the scene as a whole was on kind of a down slope since the closing of Valentine's and the Pauly's Hotel crowds weren't quite as developed yet, so a lot of people never even got the chance to see them play.
The last show had a slightly different lineup that led to the eventual creation of beloved local power pop band Mystery Girl. Gus from Bourbon Scum came in to play second guitar and while Paul was away taking care of himself, yours truly filled in on drums. It would unfortunately be the last show Nick would ever play, as he passed away a couple months later. We had continued to jam after the final show with the intention of starting a new band, and by far Nick was probably my favorite bassist I've ever played with. There needs to be a certain sync in the rhythm section and it was never a struggle with him, he was a natural and had a real ear for making the songs bounce while maintaining a gritty punch. He is missed by many as a person and a musician.
Give Up were exactly the kind of hardcore punk you would imagine to come from Albany. Ferocious delivery, darkly harsh wall of sound, and a well maintained melody behind it all with the addition of both male and female vocals that keep your attention. Can definitely hear some His Hero Is Gone in here, with a little more Euro crust influences too. An all-star Albany lineup if there was one though instead of the majority of the members having moved, not a single one of them live in the area anymore. Everyone involved is still playing killer music with Matto LaQue being in Lieutenant and Resist Control most recently, Zach London in Gas Rag and Plomo, Paul Henry in Exit Order and Limp Wrist (Paul Henry and Zach London were also in Albany based Acid Reflux who will be getting their own post soon), with Liz Liles being the only person I never really knew to any degree so I am unsure of her current musical situation. I see now how my "everyone involved" statement may have been misleading.
A little unclear about a lot of things involving this band and release. I have no cover art, and no official year of release, but the first lineup was just a four song demo with Zach Carlin and Pat Dwyer, while this release was done much later with a powerhouse lineup consisting of members of Coughing Fit, Infidels, and Girls of Porn. Final Friday definitely was the Infest of Albany hardcore: fast, pissed, with heavy breakdowns. I remember seeing them a handful of times in various basements and downstairs at Valentine's, but those were the days of Four Loko by the gallon so my recollection of details is hazy at best. Either way, check it out!
Post Outta Commission band Mouth Hole only played a couple of gigs, but from what I gather that band split up and made way for the Albany punk kings of weird Girls of Porn. Just one of many Party Shirt's (aka Kieran for you Phillistines) bands of the time not limited to the before mentioned Outta Commission, Damnation Alley, Death is Easy, and dozens more to come in the years that followed. This demo being my favorite of their releases, very much a psychedelic Bad Brains vibe here, but a natural kind of weird. Never felt contrived, always original and always a pleasure through the dozens of their break ups. Still hoping to see them play again in whatever incarnation it may be.
I don't really know a lot about this band, but I stumbled across this demo a ways back and it rips pretty hard. In the era of NYHC in Albany these dudes were playing blazing fast and harsh as hell, but with pre-Devoid of Faith Nate and Kevin, and Dave Stevenson who went on to play in Death Is Easy and Deviant Loners, it had to be good. Parts of it feel very era appropriate, while some of it sounds a little before its time (we all remember how everyone went fastcore in the '00s, right?) but either way it is a cool slice of Albany punk history.
What can be said about Bad Friends? This band were one of my favorites to share the stage with, not only were they awesome folks but their performances were an avalanche of blast beats and sludgy breakdowns. The almost unrivaled intensity of their performances were captured accurately on this 7" that was mostly a rerecording of an earlier demo, followed by another release a ways after everyone thought they had broken up.
A lot of power violence bands are really hit or miss, but these guys were always on. This still gets regular play on my turntable all these years later, and I was holding out hope for a while to see them play again but unfortunately (as is the case in most Albany bands) several of the members no longer live in the area. Some members (Jake and Will) went on to start Exul, which is another of my top ranking Albany bands and I'll be posting some of their shit another time, and two of them (James and Jake) now play in The Spirit of Violence who have a solid LP up on Bandcamp.
Tracklist:
Baby Mac // Yuppie
Shallow Grave // Vomit Shit // Purebred
Rotten Apples
Chicken Little
Mr. Owl
The Gutter
Thump Your Head Like a Gallagher Melon // Frankendustry
