The Runouts – “A Demonstration of the Musical Abilities of The Runouts”
Andy and I are at a Japanese restaurant. We’re with Luke The Frog.
“Did you bring your debit card?” Andy asks me.
“No,” I say, “Isn’t this going on the TNB credit card?’
“That card has been sliced and diced more than a piece of sushi at this restaurant,” he says.
“I say we high-tail it out of this joint and that reminds me, I need to review The Runouts three song EP.”
“Sounds like a plan of action.”
(As angry, sushi chefs wield sharp blades of steel- Slimedog and Andy Bang are seen running down the road in double-speed. Faster than a hardcore band. With Luke hopping slightly behind.)
I relate this story because I think it ties in perfectly with the bands name, but truth be told, Andy and I run in (and run-out) of this scenario, nearly every other week. And, let me tell-ya, it’s very embarrassing to be running through a McDonalds parking lot with Ronald McDonald or The Hamburglar hot on your heels. But it’s nothing special to us.
What is special is The Runouts with their exuberant, emotional, earnest, excellent pop/punk- tuneful but gutsy; catchy but faster than the posted speed zone in the popular musical world.
This is concise, cutting slabs of sonic space that incite, induce, irrational, iridescent, interest in illicit, igloo infiltration.
Or maybe, just some great fun. Don’t look now but I think I see some down below-
“Eraser” starts with the vocals leaping (much like Luke) into your face. This is emotions over the top, rhythms running over the restraints. “You’ve got every right/ You don’t have to like the way I am/ My stupid mistakes/ The friends that I keep/ The ones that I love.” Well, I can tell you- the ones you keep and the ones you love are the right choices, ’cause they’re the ones who’ll be there when your back’s against the wall. This song lurches and jerks with the power of early Husker Du and the melodic pop of The Buzzcocks or Bad Religion. The song is called “Eraser” but there’s nothing you’d want to change in this great tune.
With stomping drums on the two and four, “Lame Brains” starts right out of the gate along with guitars feeding back and sliding down the neck- screaming. As it continues with vocals pressed against you like a knife in the heart- this song sends out a challenge. “Go ahead and do what you want man/ Go ahead and act like a cunt, man.” A short, succinct guitar solo, which is really a guitar lick repeated, fills in the spaces nicely. “Trickle down a little piss on my head.” (Like the bogus, non-theory of trickle down economics?) “Working hard on not trying to work/ He’s down by a knee and a jerk.” Or a knee-jerk response which is what our politicians wish we all would do. This song blasts away with passion and power, backed by melodic harmonies and slicing guitar licks. Another winner.
“Loaded Gun” begins with some chuggin’ guitar licks before the drums take over and propels this song into form. A harmonic guitar lick leads the song in majestic fashion. “I don’t wanna feel feelings/ I wish my head would stop reeling/ I’ve got to get out from under your thumb.” The chorus crashes in and leads out with a melodic guitar ringing, recalling The Clash, The Jam and early English punk at it’s finest. “A steady diet of rage/ It’s what I breathe/ In what I bathe/ Freebase it straight into a vein/ Wash it all down/ A furrowed brow and a frown.” This song is loaded with fun, cocked with passion and firing with realness just like the old bands I mentioned and stands on its’ own merit, quite well. My favorite song on the EP but just handle it carefully!
Hey, I know some of you only like it when it’s heavy sounding and political. And the bile and disgust is piled up high to the sky.
And I like that, too.
But I have room on my musical plate for hooks and fun and excitement and having a good time. As long as the guts and intensity is not left behind. Bands like Chanticlear, OC45 and other pop/punk bnds we cover have as much power and potency and worth as any other band from any other style we cover.
And The Runouts can run equally besides those pop/punk bands any day. And maybe I’ve run out of things to say.
But if I were you, I’d run out and catch this band as quickly as possible.
And if you were me?…Well, I wouldn’t want to wish that on anyone.
(Slimedog)
