Red Tape – “Red Tape”
If you’ve managed to hang out with TNB for any amount of time and follow our meandering imaginations (…good luck with that), you’ll probably know by now that we have a very special penchant for late 70’s, early 80’s hardcore punk bands. More specifically the bands that germinated from the early CA punk scene. Bands like; Black Flag, Fear, The Germs, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, Angry Samoans, Bad Religion, Minutemen, Social Distortion, Suicidal Tendencies and TSOL, to name a few.
I think you’ll agree, there’s nothing quite like a sub-minute ditty, blaring at eardrum shattering decibels and played at a break neck tempo to help get the juices flowing. In fact, just the other day I was visiting my dad at the Our Lady of the Perpetually Bleeding Ulcer Nursing Home on main street (…you know the one), and brought with me a copy of Group Sex by the Circle Jerks for their daily calisthenics and stretching exercises.
Well, you should have seen the mayhem and debauchery that ensued as soon as the first track went on. There was stage diving off tables with no catchers, moshers running head first into poles, false teeth and hair flying across the room, and even some loose bowel throwing for good measure. By the time the last track went on, the scene resembled a sureal medievil battle scene or perhaps even more, a strange game of elderly twister, with bodies strewn about, noses bloodied, limbs entangled, eyeballs rolling, clothing torn and stained, and lots of incoherent moaning. By all accounts, an extraordinarly good time was had by all.
Speaking of the last track… , there’s a fresh new hardcore trio hailing from Amesbury, MA that follows in the footsteps of the founding fathers of hardcore. Their name, of course, is “Red Tape”.
“Red Tape” consists of Jake Martin on guitar and vocals, James Sheridan on bass and Nathaniel Peirce on drums. Although young in age (…all mid teenagers), they are very well versed on the hardcore punk scene that preceded them by some thrity years. All I can say is, kudos to their parents for leaving old hardcore albums around where they could find them.
A week or so ago I was priviledged to meet the young lads at an Off! show held at the Middle East Club in Cambridge. Very fine lads indeed, we spoke briefly about this and that while readying ourselves for the pending onslaught by arguable the most influential hardcore vocalist of all time, Keith Morris.
To make a long story longer, “Red Tape” has a new self titled CD which contains 12 killer hardcore punk tracks. And I think it’s high time we check out a few of these tracks right now.
The first track is “Fucked Up”. Need I say more?
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01-Fucked Up -.mp3|titles=Fucked Up]The fourth track is call “Hypocrisy”. When I was sixteen I couldn’t even spell hypocrisy. A very cool tune that combines vintage hardcore spouting with melodic choruses.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/04-Hypocrisy -.mp3|titles=Hypocrisy]Now for the serious stuff. The sixth track, “P-Fac” is my favorite. If you listen closely you can hear the string instruments over shadowing the woodwinds.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/06-P-Fac -.mp3|titles=P-Fac]The seventh track, called “Shitcoms”, offers straight ahead head bangin’ goodness. Reminiscent of Angry Samoans ilk.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/07-Shitcoms -.mp3|titles=Shitcoms]The eleventh track, “Stuck Like Glue”, seemingly delves into the minds of the Butthole Surfers replete with bullhorn-like recited vocalizations. Not sure who pissed them off, but I’d duck.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/11-Stuck Like Glue -.mp3|titles=Stuck Like Glue]Then finally there’s “Up Yah Bucket!”. And what a fine tune it is. I think every band needs a tune called Up Yah Bucket!
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/12-Up Yah Bucket! -.mp3|titles=Up Yah Bucket!]Hey, did you hear what I just heard? These guys are awesome. Very cool stuff indeed. It does my cockles goodness to know that the torch of yore still burns brightly in the hearts and minds of young lads like “Red Tape”. Be sure to check out the rest of their awesome CD and also, make sure you see them at a club near you.
But I digress…, lets get back to the nursing home story. Next week they want me to bring in “Damaged”….
Later,
(Andy Bang)
