Grip Bite – “Demos 2020”
I’ve known Crazy Jay Genoa, the vocalist for Grip Bite, shortly after TNB started, which would be ten years ago.
His band was Red Line Rebels, was one of our favorite bands back then. And Andy and I knew them as a wild, fun skate punk/hardcore band that had great and funny songs much like bands we grew up with like
Angry Samoans and The Circle Jerks.
Plus, we always enjoyed Jay’s stage presence, roaming through the crowds, perched atop spaces- I thought of him as the Iggy Pop of our scene, not as physically self-destructive but very interactive with the crowd.
But career, marriage, children detoured Jay away from band life. It’s all good that positive events came his way but it’s also good that he gets to do what he loves and what he does best, once again.
And he has guitar slinger Derek Rossi, from OC45, another early band that TNB has always loved, still going strong with Derek riding shotgun alongside him.
This release comes from last November, hence the 2020, but since there were no gigs happening- I only now became aware of this release.
But since I am aware, even if only barely conscious, I feel it’s only fair that you have to suffer through what I had to, listening to this release.
That’s a joke! But it’s no joke that what you’re about to hear is some terrific music that combines skate punk, hardcore and metal influences- that influenced the creation of some great songs, as well.
That is, ultimately, just great punk-
With a fuzzin’, buzzin’, bodacious bass line brewin’ and bustin’ out “Broken Boards, Broken Bones,” skates out slowly much like a skateboarder cautiously approaching his first leap upon a ramp. “Breaking out of the
hospital to go skate again… Rip out the I’V’s and reattach the bones… Smashing the shit outta your deck. Leaving the spot completely wrecked.”
This song encompasses completely- the energy, the thrills and excitement of carousing wildly on a skateboard, capturing fully all the fun and passion. “Broken boards, broken bones- tell society to leave us alone.” I hear that skateboarding is now in the Olympics! And I’m hearing right now, how really great this tune is.
Starting with a doomy, grindcore lick, “Deceivers” only pauses a second before the vocals pounce in like a leopard seeking its prey. “Seeing you transition like a double crossing magician. Selling tricks that are known to be fake. All we see is someone double-backing, lying and covering their mistakes.” The vocals are in your face, the guitar trills with treble along, while the rhythm section beats your ears into the dust and smithereens. All on a journey of a short but perfect song.
“The country is a fucking mess. Everyone is completely stressed. The President has his head up his ass. (Make note, these are lyrics from last year!) While his sheep hope and pray it’ll pass.”
“USA” begins with a simple, but effective, rhythm guitar riff that sounds so great that it makes me think of The Mc5. “Waking up before my alarm, fearing something has gone all wrong. Laying awake in my bed, counting all the sheep, but they’re all fucking dead.” Because, as the chorus goes, it’s the “United States Of Anxiety.”
This song combines the best elements of rock, metal, punk and hardcore into one rockin’, slammin’ pulverizing tune.
“Grip Bite is a product that will accelerate tire action…it builds bite and grips without softening the tire. Using Grip-Bite Red Light before a race will help the tires “fire off” faster.”
Though that previous paragraph actually is touting a car product. I feel it succinctly describes this band even though, the band describe themselves as “skate punk, hardcore, sophisticated black metal.” The latter part, I feel, is meant as a joke.
But understand- this is music that is intense as it is offhanded, aggressive as it is not overbearingly macho, crazy as it is coherent, chaotic while still expressing itself poignantly and precisely.
The Stranglers, a great, early English punk band, first hit song was called “(Get A) Grip (On Yourself).”
I’d recommend to all of you that instead of gripping yourself nightly, as I’m sure you do. (Remember, as I said before, God is watching you. And as he has an Instagram account, he posts all the unspeakable things
that you do to yourselves.)
Get a grip on the great music that Grip Bite has for you, instead.
Do everything to get your hands on it!
(Slimedog)
