Regulator (Cro-Mags + Bad Brains Members) to Play Benefit Concert (9/25) at Bowery Electric

In late 2005, the Bad Brains played two sold-out shows at CBGBs with Cro-Mags' John Joseph on vocals and Mackie Jayson on drums and the band focused on songs from the Bad Brains' self-titled debut album and I Against I. (I can't remember the reason given for HR being in CA these nights). This lineup is back and is playing a benefit show on Thursday, Sept. 25th at Bowery Electric under the name Regulator.

A NYHC all-star event, Regulator includes John Joseph & Mackie of The Cro-Mags and performs all classic Bad Brains material.

Special guests to join Regulator during this performance will be none other than the Bad Brains own Darryl Jennifer & Dr. Know. All proceeds from the event will benefit The Children’s Tumor Foundation (which is also the charity John Joseph supports through competing in Ironman Triathlons). Also performing will be Wilding Incident (which features members of Crown Of Thornz, Maximum Penalty and The White Mandingos) and the recently re-united Subzero.

Tickets are $20 and you have to figure that this show will sell out.



Links:
Cro-Mags
Bad Brains

Cro-Mags: Buy a Ticket for John Joseph's Walking Tour, Get on the Guest List for Friday's Show at House of Vans

There is something fundamentally wrong when the two Cro-Mags websites [Paris' site is www.cro-mags.com and Harley's site is www.cromags.com] haven't been updated in years. While Paris' site was registered before the release of Revenge, I don't remember either site being active before the "final quarrel" in 2001 .

Anyway, the RSVP list for Friday's free Cro-Mags / Pissed Jeans / Fucked Up show at House of Vans in Brooklyn is full but John Joseph posted to Facebook earlier today "Do this SATURDAYS walking tour and get free VIP tix to sold out Cro-Mags show FRIDAY."

THE HISTORY OF ART, CRIME, DRUGS and PUNK ROCK ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE:

What was it about the Lower East Side that attracted so much talent and crime in the last 40 years? Since my early days of punk the summer of 1977 I’ve been exposed of the best music and the worst crime. Everything from Max’s Kansas City to the Alphabet City Butcher Daniel Rackowitz who lived right above me and killed his girlfriend, chopped her up and fed her to the homeless in Tompkins Square Park. I was also in that park when the riot of 1989 kicked off and I played one of the last shows at CBGB’s.

Most people walking around on the Lower East Side today with its trendy boutiques and coffee shops have no idea of its history, the great music and violence that has always co-existed side by side down here. I’ll take you to the punk clubs, gang hangouts and drug spots where some of the craziest things went down. It’s a first hand account from someone who was immersed in the danger having myself grown up on the streets of NYC since the age of 14. I guarantee you it will be a true punk rock & crime history lesson from someone who was there way back then and is still here.

We will drop by the famous CBGB’s location where The Ramones and so many other legendary punk bands started. We’ll walk by Great Gildersleeves where the Hells Angels regularly ran people over on their motorcycles. Stroll down memory lane at Saint Marks Place passing Trash and Vaudeville (punk store), the Electric Circus where the likes of Bad Brains, Crass, and so many others jammed. All the while telling you my anecdotes and funny stories of the crazy shit I’ve seen go down. Then Tompkins Sq Park, giving first hand knowledge of the areas events. We’ll even hit MANITOBAS for Bob Gruen's famous Punk Rock photo exhibit before we go by the Ritz (now Webster Hall) and Irving Plaza where so many great bands like Black Flag, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Motorhead (first US gig), The Damned, Buzzcocks and where the late punk-rocker John Belushi slam danced his nights away. Finally our last stops on the tour will be Max's Kansas City where we end in Union Sq Park discussing the area and what is what like. Drugs, hookers, violence, the Palladium where The Clash's London Calling album cover was taken and many great bands played. Ever heard of Julien's Pool Hall? The porno theaters where I’d sleep in the dead of winter for 50 cents a night and the Gramercy Park Boxing Gym (now PC Richard’s) where my old man and many world Champions boxed. The bottom line is, whether you’re a seasoned New Yorker or someone visiting the city on vacation, this tour is not to be missed. I can guarantee you it will be a memorable experience.
Hosted by John Joseph

Links:
Rocks Off Walking Tour (Tickets are $35)
John Joseph

Cro-Mags, Murphys Law and H20 Play Rocks Off Concert Cruise Shows in August (NYHC)

STREAM: Murphy's Law - "Don't Bother Me" Live

Rocks Off has a number of NYHC bands playing this month as part of their Concert Cruise series. "The Rocks Off Concert Cruise is a 3-hour tour through New York Harbor with Bands, Booze, Bridges and great times."

August 11th, 8PM
Cro-Mags
Rocks Off Concert Cruise Aboard The Temptress
Pier 81 – W 41st St and West Side Highway
$30/$35 (DOS)

August 12th, 8PM
Murphy's Law
Rocks Off Concert Cruise Aboard The Jewel
E. 23rd St. & FDR Dr.
$20/$25 (DOS)

August 22nd, 7PM
H2O
Rocks Off Concert Cruise Aboard The Temptress
Pier 81 – W 41st St and West Side Highway
$29.99/$35 (DOS)

Links:
Upcoming Rocks Off Concerts

Cro-Mags "Alpha Omega" (1992) CD To Be Reissued on Divebomb Records

I'm probably in the minority as I still think this is a pretty good disc. This was the Cro-Mags third disc and the sound is firmly in the crossover thrash genre. While detractors moan about how the band had moved away from the NYHC sound of The Age of Quarrel, crossover thrash was red-hot at this time. Biohazard released Urban Discipline in 1992 and the sound reached the mainstream the following year with the Judgement Night soundtrack.

Divebomb Records has partnered up with Century Media Records to reissue one of the most overlooked crossover albums ever, CRO-MAGS’ Alpha Omega. Only 1000 CDs will be pressed up for this special reissue. Since the original release of Alpha Omega in 1992, its creative origins have been long argued amongst the band members, and with so many turbulent rumors floating about it’s no wonder this record has neither been properly understood nor – even worse – acknowledged by many Cro-Mags fans.

Reissue highlights:
- New introduction by Andrew of Aversionline.com
- Contains bonus music video
- Out of print for years
- Limited Edition of 1,000 (CD ONLY)
- Remastered by Jamie King (May 2010)

Tracklist:
01 See The Signs
02 Eyes Of Tomorrow
03 The Other Side Of Madness (Revenge)
04 Apocalypse Now
05 The Paths Of Perfection
06 Victims
07 VII
08 Kuruksetra
09 Changes
+ The Paths Of Perfection (Music Video)



Divebomb Records has a pre-order going now till 7/13 which includes free shipping.

You can read both Harley and Paris' views on Alpha Omega at the sites below.

Links:
Cro-Mags (Harley's Website)
Cro-Mags (Paris' Website)

John Joseph (Bloodclot/Cro-Mags) is Doing a Spoken Word Show at Webster Hall

Cro-Mags/FVK/Bloodclot (and occasional Bad Brains) frontman John Joseph is kicking off a spoken word tour next week. The NYC show is at The Studio @ Webster Hall on Saturday, Feb. 21st. Admission is $10 and the show starts at 7PM.

For anyone who (correctly) thinks that Rollins' spoken word tours get lamer by year, John is still the real deal. I saw him read from his book, "Evolution of a Cro-Magnon", last summer and he still knows how to hold the attention of everyone in the room.



Here are the upcoming spoken word tour dates:
Fri/​Feb-​20 - Phila​delph​ia,​ PA @ THE KHYBE​R.​
Doors​ @ 7:​00/​SHOW 8:00

Sat/​Feb-​21 - New York,​ NY @ WEBST​ER HALL(​THE STUDI​O)​ .
Doors @ 6:​00/​ SHOW 7:00

Sun/​Feb-​22 - Washi​ngton​ DC @ BLACK​ CAT.
Doors @​ 8:​00/​SHOW 8:30

Mon/​Feb-​23 Alban​y,​ NY @ THE LINDA​.​
Doors @ 7:​00/​ SHOW 8:00

Tue/​Feb-​24 - Cambr​idge,​ MA @ THE MIDDL​E EAST
Doors @ 7:​00/​SHOW 7:30

Links:
Bloodclot's MySpace Profile
The Cro-Mags MySpace Profile

John Joseph and the Cro-Mags Play the Knitting Factory on Dec. 28th

John and crew are playing a Cro-Mags jam at one of the last nights of the Knitting Factory. John will be playing with Mackie, AJ (from Leeway), and Craig (from Sick of It All). Also on the bill is Wisdom in Chains, Laws of Gravity and Trapped Under Ice.

Tickets are $15 and doors are at 5:30PM.

John Joseph: Playing Cro-Mags Set at Dr. Tom/Walter Ryan Benefit Show + Second Video from Book Reading at The Delancey

On September 27th, the NYHC is coming together for a benefit show at Studio B for Dr. Tom and Walter Ryan (Subzero/Merauder). John Joseph is playing a Cro-Mags set and other bands on the bill include Sick of It All, Jasta and Murphy's Law.

The NYHC community has always come together to help out someone in need and, from what I've heard, Dr. Tom and "Monsta" Ryan really need our support. Come on out to the show, sign up for Moli (click on the poster), make a donation. Every bit helps...



While on the subject on John (Joseph)...I finally located a misplaced video where I filmed some of John's book reading at The Delancey back in June.



If anybody missed it, I also did an interview with John before his book reading (see previous post).

Links:
John Joseph's MySpace Profile

John Joseph: Book Release Party Interview, NYC, 6/19/08 (Cro-Mags, F.V.K., Bloodclot)

Last Thursday, John Joseph, vocalist for many of the great NYHC bands (Cro-Mags, F.V.K., Bad Brains, Bloodclot, etc.), had a book release party for his new book at The Delancey. John's new book is an autobiography entitled "The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon" and is available from www.punkhouse.org.

I had a chance to catch up with John at the beginning of the night and talked with him about the new book, his new band Bloodclot, his views on the current musical and cultural scene and his plans for the future.



John also did a book reading this night (second video to follow) and played a full Cro-Mags set.

Links:
PunkHouse.Org
John Joseph's MySpace Profile
Bloodclot's MySpace Profile

John Joseph (Cro-Mags) Schedules Book Release Party and Live Show

Former Cro-Mag and current Bloodclot vocalist John Joseph has scheduled a book release party and live show on Thursday, June 19th at The Delancey. John is going to be reading from his recently published auto-biography "The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon" (Punk House Books)and playing a live set of Cro-Mags and Fearless Vampire Killers tunes with an 'all star band'. (It would be great to see some of the Bad Brains turn up for this)

The reading and vegeterian food (from John's Krishna Temple) are free but it is a $5.00 donation to see the band play. All proceeds are going to Food Relief for the Homeless.

Links:
John Joseph's MySpace profile
The Delancey

John Joseph (Cro-Mags/Bloodclot) Reading and Book Signing Tomorrow at Generation Records

Bloodclot/Cro-Mags front-man, John Joseph will be reading from and signing his new book "Evolution of a Cro-Magnon" tomorrow night at 8PM.

This is at Generation Records which is located at 210 Thompson Street.

Bloodclot plays Club Highline with Sick of it All on February 9th and L'Amour on February 17th.

New CD/DVD Releases for this Week

There are a couple of interesting releases this week:

Angels of Light - We Are Him
The latest release from Michael Gira's post-Swans band. I've loved all of the past Angels releases and the early press on the release has given it great reviews.

"We Are Him is the most assured and relaxed Angels of Light album since the debut, and deserves to be considered alongside Gira's highest peaks. The frightening rage of old Swans surfaces several times, albeit in more bucolic clothing; the contrast is bracing. Lyrically Gira's constantly in-pocket, addressing his subjects with renewed agility, but also in a very relaxed voice; if De Sade had lived long enough to tell folk tales around a campfire, some of them might have sounded like this. The genuinely playful orchestration - banjos? horns? chimes? slide? check – is by turns charming and perverse, and has a band-of-brethren feel to it that's both ominous and exiting. The title track is like a pure shot of adrenaline. An intimate, unexpected masterpiece." - John Darnielle/The Mountain Goats

Blue Cheer - What Doesn't Kill You (CD)
Who would have thought that Blue Cheer would still be touring and recording after 40 years? I believe this to be the band's first studio recording since 1991's Dining With Sharks. The band put on a great live show at NorthSix about a year or so ago so I would expect this to be a great disc.

Cro-Mags: The Final Quarrel - Live at CBGB (DVD)
MVD has put out some pretty interesting stuff documenting the NYHC scene and this is no exception. This DVD captures the final Cro-Mags show (with both John Joseph and Harley Flanagan) at CBGB in 2001. As a bonus features, Amazon says that the disc includes a full set from Harley's War, Harley Flannigan's post Cro-Mags band.

Heaven & Hell - Live from Radio City Music Hall
Dio-era Sabbath captured live on March 30, 2007 at Radio City Music Hall. This has been released as a 2-CD set and a (separately sold) DVD. Both this tour and this particular show got stellar reviews -- 'nuff said.

Killswitch Engage - "As Daylight Dies" (CD/DVD)
The CD came out a month ago and is now being reissued with a bonus DVD and four bonus audio tracks. (I'd be p*ssed if I bought this a month ago). The DVD contains:
"My Curse" video
Making of "My Curse" video
"The Arms of Sorrow" video
Making of the "The Arms of Sorrow" video
"Holy Diver" video (Dio Cover)

and the bonus tracks on the CD are:
Be One
Let the Bridges Burn
This Fire
Holy Diver

Pink Floyd - Piper at the Gates of Dawn (CD)
There is both a 2-disc and a 3-disc version of the 40th anniversary edition of the first Pink Floyd release (w/ Syd Barrett).

The two disc version contains both the stereo and mono versions of Piper. The three disc version contains the same stereo/mono Piper discs plus a third disc of bonus tracks. The bonus track include all the Pink Floyd singles from 1967, ('Arnold Layne', 'See Emily Play', and 'Apples And Oranges'), plus the B sides 'Candy And A Current Bun' and 'Paintbox'. Other tracks are a version of 'Interstellar Overdrive' - previously only available on an EP in France - and the 1967 stereo version of 'Apples And Oranges'.

Bloodclot Makes Its NYC Debut at Knitting Factory on July 29th

NYHC is alive and well...

With Bloodclot consisting of singer John Joseph (x-CRO-MAGS), drummer Danny Schuler (x-BIOHAZARD, bassist Rick Lopez (x-MERAUDER) and guitarist Scott Roberts (x-CRO-MAGS, BIOHAZARD, and THE SPUDMONSTERS), this should be a great show.

The show isn't up on the Knitting Factory website yet so no word on ticket prices or other bands on the bill.

Vinny Stigma is playing the Rumblers CC annual Kustom Kills & Hot Rod Thrills show on August 24th. The show is in Williamsburg in the space under the BQE @ Union Ave. Other bands playing include The Disasters, Murphy's Law, Turbo ACs, and Electric Frankenstein!

Lastly, Agnostic Front are playing two shows in the area next month:

Aug 1 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwells
Aug 3 - Brooklyn, NY - Cha Chas on Coney Island

Free 10 Course Vegetarian Feast Tonight @ The Yoga Spot, 93 Saint Marks (in the East Village)

Former Cro-Mag, current Bloodclot vocalist John Joseph posted the following to his MySpace page:

FREE 10 COURSE VEGETARIAN FEAST TONIGHT!!!
@ THE YOGA SPOT. 93 SAINT MARKS PLACE IN MANHATTAN. 2ND FLOOR. 7:30-9:00. IN OBSERVANCE OF LORD NRSIMHA'S APPEARANCE DAY (WHICH IS TOMORROW). FOR ALL YOU CRO-MAG FANS LORD NRSIMHA APPEARED ON THE COVER OF BEST WISHES. PEACE > jj

Joseph's band Bloodclot is supporting Scatterbrain at The Crazy Donkey on Long Island on June 24th.

John Joseph DJs @ Punk Slope @ Bar 4 in Brooklyn on Saturday

Punk Slope returns to Bar 4 with John Joseph and FK. This should be a great night -- The Punk Slope parties last year were wild.

Check out the Punk Slope website (link) for more details.