The Warning Shots – “Six To Midnight”
The Warning Shots are a new, local band and WARNING! DANGER!- they’re a pop/punk band. Not too dangerous, you say? Oh, no, you say- no need to be afraid? But while we usually write about all these heavy, hardcore bands with menacing music and threatening vocals why should we be afraid of these harmonious, catchy, musically adept batches of tunes?
Because though this style is melodious and catchy and the vocals harmonically grooving doesn’t mean that lyrically they are not laying their blood and guts on the line as much as any hardcore unit and maybe they’re more apt to be open about their emotions, in fact. And as long as the music still embodies the energy and roughness of punk and the lyrics- the realism, grit and passion, then this is just another way of laying your blood and guts on the line.
Like I said- scary stuff.
The Warning Shots are led by Mark Lind of the well-known and still active Ducky Boys and it seems like everything he’s involved with contains the strong points of that band. Namely, well written songs in classic structure; catchy, melodic tunes that don’t lose the hard edge of punk and a bunch of energy and excitement injected into every song keeping the grit and passion of punk intact.
Let’s check out a few tunes from their new EP, shall we?
“No Holidays” starts with some ringing guitar chords and a stomping rhythm section that sort of alludes to “Holiday In The Sun” by the Sex Pistols, at least to my ears. The stomping, ringing intro announces the entrance of the proclaiming vocals while the previously stated rhythm section kicks the song up a gear into overdrive. “I don’t need anyone/ I don’t need your sympathy/ Hey, someday we’ll find our way.” This song has a catchy chorus with high background vocals and is a passionate, propulsive, punk pulchritude full of panache. The song keeps charging along until a reprise of the intro leads into the chorus, not the verse, and the ringing guitars, pounding drums and melodic but gutsy vocal rides this gem of a tune to the end.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 No Holidays.mp3|titles=No Holidays]
“Terminally Insane” starts with some mellow, arpeggiated notes until the crunching guitars come in with the cheerful retort, “We’re all gonna die.” There’s a lot of call and response on the vocals with two voices that sometimes harmonize while the rhythm section keeps hitting hard and the guitars keep chugging and ringing along. “I’m finding that it all works out/ We get ahead/ But then pretty soon we’re gonna be dead.” The high back up voice takes the lead as the main voice recedes, “We’re all born the same/ But then we go our separate ways/ And just like everyone we’re terminally insane through and through.” You’re crazy if you don’t dig this tune.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 Terminally Insane.mp3|titles=Terminally Insane]
Starting with an almost funk rock beat, “It Took A While,” takes off with a vocal and sound that recalls to me Guns’N’Roses in their prime. After a verse or so the energy kicks in and reading the lyrics it would seem to be about a disillusionment with a relationship, “It took me awhile but I see right through you/ And now I know what you are.” But as this person is referred to as “Mr. Irony,” I wonder if this song is about the rejection of irony itself. I believe it is true, that people use irony and cleverness to hide behind, I’ve been guilty as charged, but here Mr. Lind might be putting those tactics in the past. But then it could just be about a personal relationship with the bitter lines, “Won’t you come around my back door/ And take the trash you’ve been waiting for/ Ain’t if funny how it all works out?/ Ain’t it funny what you’re all about?” Either way a great tune that has a little breakdown before it builds up to an explosive, emotional, energetic end.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/03 It Took a While.mp3|titles=It Took a While]
The Warning Shots fit in with other pop/punk bands on our site meaning, bands that fall into that category, like OC45, but never forget that the feeling and passion must equal the catchy-ness and fun in the final quotient.
Such bands in the early days like The Buzzcocks and Generation X didn’t forget this and because of that they can stand proud alongside bands with a harder edge like The Sex Pistols, The Clash or The Damned. And when I think about it weren’t all the early punk bands really pop/punk bands when you get down to it, even The Ramones?
So check Warning Shots out- I’m looking forward to seeing them live and hearing more from them. And remember, in my opinion- not all punk bands are good but all styles of punk are great.
(Slimedog)
