BLASST 64: TRACKLIST + NOTES

BLASST 62 TRACKLIST

1. Old Time Relijun - "El Naranjo Gritando"
2. Salt-N-Pepa - "Shoooooooop"
3. Will Smith - "Gettin Jiggy Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiith It"
4. EXEK - "To Medicine (Biased Advice)"
5. Puzzlehead - "Rock$lut"
6. Gumming - "Sinking Ship"
7. SOUL GLO - "23"
8. Muro - "DESAHUCIADOS"
9. Klaus Johann Grobe - "Discogedanken"
10. Smog - "A Hit"

11. Chronophage - "Oh Gone From Me"
12. Table Sugar - "Carmen"
13. Solid Space - "Contemplation"
14. Toni Tornado - "Mane Beleza"
15. Githead - "Cosmology for Beginners"
16. Experimental Products - "Feeling Left Out"

17. Soft Healer - "End of the Chain"

- - - LISTEN - - -

NOTES:

Alright folks today's episode cover a lot of different ground: we've got some fresh new hardcore from MURO and SOUL GLO alongside some great guitar rock from Austin's prophetic four-piece CHRONOPHAGE, Olympia, Washington's TABLE SUGAR and we open up with a fresh new single from Olympia's own OLD TIME RELIJUN. All around a great episode in which I begin by driving to order Whataburger for the show, realize I forgot my wallet, retrieve it, and pick up my food--all during the intro. That's how we do things here at Universal Punk, I'm afraid.  

DON'T MISS THIS WEEKEND'S HALLOWEEN TRIBUTE SHOW AT THE ECHO HOTEL! SATURDAY OCTOBER 27TH! 8PM! $8! 18+! GO! I'm in the black sabbath cover band "SABBATHO GIGANTE", which is a reference to SABADO GIGANTE, the popular Univision variety show hosted by the immortal Don Francisco, who's deep grandfathery voice is forever burned in my brain. 

ALSO!  

U-PUNK'S MUSIC MARKET II is in less than two weeks! Sign up to be a vendor if you haven't yet! I've got a lot of people on board already but there's always room for more! We'll have DJs spinning vinyl the whole time, and in a variety of genres! It's going to be unbelievably cool! Cooler than anything you could be doing on a Sunday afternoon, to be sure! Don't miss it!

That's it for announcements. See y'all next week. Thank you again for tuning in, please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. I'm going to try and revamp this site and maybe start a Patreon???!? I already have the packages/tiers in mind! The BLISTERING LISTENS PACKAGE, THE STRANGE SOUNDS PACKAGE, and the THANK YOU PACKAGE. 

More info on that soon.

-A

BLASST #63 - Tracklist + Notes

BLASST 63 TRACKLIST
1. Maximum Joy - "Stretch"
2. A Certain Ratio - "Only Together"
3. Medium Medium - "Hungry, So Angry"
4. Suburban Lawns - "Anything"
5. The Sound - "Missiles"
6. The Clean - "Anything Could Happen"
7. Total Control - "Bloody Glass"
8. SPF - "Moderation"
9. Pity Party - "Pop Song 4-Evr"
10. Würst Nürse - "Hot Doctor"
11. Sauna Youth - "Leisure Time"
12. Girls In Synthesis - "Fan The Flames"
13. Clang! - "OBVIOUS"
14. Tamagotchi Teenage Dirtbag - "DEVIL"
15. Eephus - "Gin Buck"
16. Carambolage - "City-Grossmarkt"
17. Ut - "Mosquito Botticelli"
18. Equalizer 24K - "New Moon Aries"
19. Didi - "Haru"

LISTEN 2 THE SHOW

Show Notes
This was an especially fun broadcast to put together. It's been a while since I've played mostly punk on the show, and I'll admit, this particular instance is not an uninspired one. If you listen to the show, you'll notice most of the people playing in the groups on the playlist are women, and cut from some kind of punk cloth. This is because I've been on the hunt for groups featuring women, lgbtq artists, and most importantly, people of color. I have found several groups with queer members and frontpersons, and plenty of unsung female heroes in the post-punk realm, but not very many groups from this realm featuring members of color. I tried looking a little closer to my own timeline and still have not found very many, the few groups in existence today have been found and are great and slowly getting their well-deserved attention, but still not quite what I'm looking for. I've felt so compelled to fill this gap myself--and I might sooner than later--but until then, my search will continue. The upside to constantly searching for something you don't find is that you come across a bunch of other things that you are thankful to have discovered, despite not knowing about them in the first place. I'm rambling as usual, but I've begun adding links to each artist name in the above tracklists so you can look them up easier, and below I've posted a link to the music video for the final track of the show, "Haru" by the Columbus, Ohio group, Didi. I think it's an incredibly beautiful song and I want the whole world to hear it/see it because the music video in particular seems to match the general air of whimsy and wonder that the song encapsulates. Enjoy.

Oh! Sign up to be a vendor at U-Punk's Music Market II! It's going to be a lot of fun and we will try our best to air all of the DJ sets from the event via the same listening link above! Until next week!

A

BLASST 62: Tracklist + Notes

BLASST #62: 10/8/18

1. Low - "Quorum"
2. Broadcast - "Message From Home"
3. Charles Mingus - "Fables of Faubus"
4. Pill - "Fruit"
5. Sonic Youth - "Washing Machine"
6. Big Fruit - "Rivers and Rabbits"
7. 강정석 - "The Green Leaves Of Summer"
8. Virgin Prunes - "Pagan Lovesong"
9. Mr Twin Sister - "Jaipur"
10. Exploded View - "Raven Raven"
11. Yves Tumor - "Licking An Orchid (feat. James K)"
12. Yaeji - "One More"
13. Essential Logic - "World Friction"
14. Dikes of Holland - "Braindead U.S.A."

LISTEN

This episode is a good one, as usual. Less talking done though due to my car having some troubles and my needing to work on them immediately after the broadcast, which prompted me to do all my post-production work during the show. Sadly, the repairs did not help my car much. I'm pretty sad about that. But in other news, I heard about Kavanaugh later into Saturday (a surprising development in my social media-burnt life cycle) and it's not surprising at all that the people who currently make decisions for this country appointed a rapist to the Supreme Court, and not just because they've already done it once before (looking at you, Clarence Thomas), but because these senators and representatives were elected by people who voted with their interests in mind, people who exist in the same world you and I do, dear listener. It should go without saying that voting matters in every election, but this upcoming election in particular is of great importance to the future of our world as we know it (at least if you live in the US, though the US has so much imperial influence throughout the world, it will eventually get to you too, international listener.) Sure, politicians are all tools of the state and the machine etc etc etc, BUT there are very real differences between some of them. You're not voting for your best friend, you're voting for someone who can be held accountable for what their responsibilities are. Some politicians are receptive to citizens taking to the streets and demanding their futures and livelihoods. Some make change--take that fella who became DA in Philadelphia completely overturning their prison system, that's one hell of a radical move, and he's a fucking Democrat. Partisanship is all smoke and mirrors, I tell you! It's all about human rights and who truly cares about them. Some politicians, like a good chunk of the Senate Judiciary Committee (on either side of the "aisle"), couldn't care less about an issue if it doesn't affect their reelection. In Texas, my senators are Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, both of whom voted Kavanaugh into the Supreme Court. These men don't listen to citizens demanding change, they think they've got enough support from their vested interests (who have also had a hand in Texas' gerrymandering of districts no doubt) to stay put in their senate seats. What reason would they have in their minds to listen to anyone else? I hope voters in Texas give them a reason to feel fear. I hope voters across the country send shivers down all of their diabolical sitting politicians' spines, and pull the rug out from under them. It's the next best thing to a kick in the ass, which would land any good citizen brave enough to do so in jail for who knows how long, depending on their skin color or religion. Wow, I'm really rambling here. Okay, look--my point in all of this is that you--the listeners--NEED TO VOTE. I hope you've registered. The deadline to register in Texas is tomorrow. You can't do it online, please don't fall for that garbage. Find a voter registrar in your area (surely they're running around looking for you), or go to your local county's election office and get a form, fill it out, and voila, you're good to go. I was a voter registrar during the 2014 gubernatorial election and can personally confirm that this process is that damn easy. There's no excuse. If you think something needs to change, put your vote where your mouth is. Remember, the monster of a government that exists today--was created, which means it can certainly be destroyed and replaced. Much like broken car parts! UGH. Okay, I'm done ranting for now. I think I've had too many Ferrero Rocher chocolates this evening, honestly I'm just obsessed with them. So bad. Anyway, thanks for listening. Go to U-Punk's Music Market if you're in the RGV on November 4th. I'm selling a lot of great records, tapes, shirts, and the rest of the vendors will surely have great stuff too. Don't miss. OK. Ferrerito Rocherito over and out.

BLASST #55: DEZORAH - The Return + Notes

BLASST #55: DEZORAH - The Return

On today's episode we are once again visited by our good friends in prog rock magic, the mighty Dezorah. Hot off the heels of their first (two-month) tour throughout the US, the band recalls the ups and downs of learning how to live on the road as full-time musicians and shares some of their favorite moments and most important takeaways from their experience. This is not an episode to miss, for the first half of this narrative, check out episode #42, which features the band's first appearance on the show.

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LISTEN

To buy your tickets for RYUICHI SAKAMOTO: CODA in September, go to the following link: https://www.tugg.com/events/ryuichi-sakamoto-coda
 
For udpates, follow the Facebook Event page HERE.

NOTES: BLASST #53 & BLASST POINT #2

Last night's broadcast began with a segment I haven't used very much called BLASST POINT.

It is a segment in which I address a subject or occurrence or trend that is affecting our community or the world. I provide commentary for the most part. Consider it the Editor's Note at the beginning of this audio magazine.

Anyway, BP#2 addressed the ever-present threat of toxic masculinity by citing the fight that occurred outside Yerberia this past Friday night which began when three men refused to leave a woman alone after she rejected their advances, and ended with two of the woman's friends and bandmates suffering stab wounds after confronting the assailants. These men felt so entitled to this woman's body that they were willing to pull a knife out and use it on anyone that opposed their desires. 

There's no other word for that than EVIL. People could have died. The woman in question, the vocalist for San Antonio's Party Foul, could have been seriously hurt had these men's actions gone unopposed.

RAPE CULTURE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FIGHT.

Now, following the BLASST POINT was episode #53! 

This episode featured a lot of excellent music from Japan and by bands featuring Japanese members.

Tracks by Ai Aso, OOIOO, Nagisa Ni Te, Minami Deutsch, and much more. 

There just wasn't enough time available for a Les Rallizes Denudes track this time around, though. MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE STUCK TO WRITING POP SONGS.

 BLASST #53 NOTES:

- I mispronounced OOIOO as "ooh-ee-ooh", when their proper pronunciation is a sequence of lone vowel sounds "O-O-I-O-O".
- Keiji Haino's Watashi Dake? album was not released in 1979 as I stated, but in fact, originally released in 1981. The avant-garde new wave had, however, taken parts of Japan by storm by the late 70s, though.

Thanks again for tuning in, and we'll see you next week. 


Listen to all of our episodes on Mixcloud, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen to podcasts), drop us an e-mail at UUPUNK@GMAIL.COM !  

Thinking about creating a Patreon. Thoughts?

A

7/30/18 - BLASST POINT #2 / BLASST #53

Click the link in the header above to tune into the show.

 

A

BLASST #51: TRACKLIST & NOTES

BLASST #51 TRACKLIST
1. BLASST - "Sunrise on a Sunset" (Theme for BLASST)
2. Wax Idols - "Warning (Had It Good)"
3. Haruomi Hosono - "Body Snatchers"
4. Kamasi Washington - "Vi Lua Vi Sol"
5. Lower Dens - "Brains/Stem"
6. Michael C Sharp - "Yes You"
7. Group Anmattaf - "Tinariwen"
8. Yoko Ono - "Walking on Thin Ice" (feat. Jason Pierce of Spiritualized)

NOTES: The Wax Idols show went so well this past Friday. Thanks to all who came out to see them and SRSQ, and especially the folks who got there early to see Cat-Ion. I was completely blown away by their performance that night. They've matured so much and tightened up their sound a lot in the short time they've been a band. There's no reason that Linda, the vocalist, shouldn't be surrounded by people screaming her lyrics at the top of their lungs, huge mosh pits erupting at her feet. I can see it happening in the near future. Even Hether Fortune, leader, vocalist, and guitarist of Wax Idols, told the audience how impressed she was with their set, and urged everyone to continue to support them. I couldn't agree more. Slow Attack did well, we were a little more on the noisier side, which I always enjoy. Not that playing shows with fellow local musicians is a competition or should be competitive, but there's a distinct comfort in knowing you came in second place. As well as Slow Attack did, we were thoroughly handed our asses by the rest of the lineup. So much fun.

The following day, my Patrick, the promoter of the WI/SRSQ show, and I drove the bands into Mexico to meet up with their driver for their Mexican dates, Oscar/Daniel. It was here that the bands' complete lack of Spanish speaking skills became apparent. I think I always assume that everyone in the country knows at least a little bit of Spanish, perhaps because of the privilege I have of coming from a part of the country that is 95% latinx. I provided translation services between the band and immigration employees while the band applied for their migration permits. I think that helped ease whatever tension they had about traveling into Mexico. They seemed quite concerned. I think, if I were in their shoes, I probably would have as well. I've never traveled beyond Reynosa without my family. However, after the band picked up their permits, and we returned to the parking lot where we sat for a couple of sunburnt hours, I felt the anxiety of traveling through the unknown fade. I've been watching episodes of Anthony Bourdain's Parts Unknown for the first time lately, and it's been quite stimulating for the intrepid side of my personality. Caution should not be an excuse for depriving oneself of experiences. Like any decision one makes, the decision to travel unknown roads should be an informed and researched one. I hope to one day tour throughout the world at least once with any of my bands, present and future. Traveling is one of the few things left that brings me true, unconditional joy.

I'm rambling. Tune in for BLASST #52 Monday 7/23/18. It's going to be a good one. Tune in here.

A