Punk & hardcore never went away, you just have to know where to look. I remember living in Pennsylvania - traveling all over the state to catch Submachine shows, and (a few years later) going up the East Coast to watch Pig Destroyer, and hanging out after A.C. shows with Seth Putnam (and his mom). Moving to Austin didn't really leave me with much access to live punk bands (that, and the music scene had shifted to more 3-chord power pop bands in that city), so I've been searching online for something to take me back to those small, cramped venues that were packed with people, and the energy could power a small country.
Backstruck is the brainchild of Ryan Mincey, and is hardcore punk in the vein of '68 and The Ghost Inside. That is to say, Backstruck has the sound that the music scene needs and has needed for years.
That - like Backstruck's other songs - are exposed raw nerves - an agitation that cannot be kept inside any longer, an outpouring of what makes us human, that very few acknowledge.
If you want to keep up with Backstruck to get the latest released tracks and any upcoming gigs, check out their Facebook page. I look forward to hearing more from Backstruck, and if they start going shows, it will be a great excuse to drive back to my old stomping grounds to see them.
Blaise Delfino is a recording artist hailing from Bethlehem, PA (so forgive my bias, because this is coming from my old stomping grounds) who recently released a new EP, Commencement. Kicking off this new release is the video for the song, You Should've Told Me.
In a world where the music industry is bombarding us with vapid lyrics and semi-catchy hooks, Blaise Delfino is giving us depth and dimension. Yes, I love music, but I'm also in it for the lyrics. Give me songs that tell a good story, and you will instantly have a fan. With or without the video, You Should've Told Me tells a tale of a relationship of two divergent personalities - or maybe differing goals and timelines. It's a very human story - it's not an artists putting up the front of "I'm such a badass" or "I'm a superhuman lover." The song shows flaws and the things we all have experienced in romantic relationships at one time or another. In fact, the entirety of Commencement is very human and very relatable.
The music is great - acoustic guitar and lilting vocals with a Pop/R&B groove with a smart rap flow. It's like - well, I can't really make accurate comparisons. If I say it's like G. Love, then I'm selling this album short. Likewise if I use later Debbie Harry tracks. Commencement is it's own thing, and I like it, and I want to hear more!
This isn't just me telling you what I like to hear. This is me telling you that you need to listen to this! So it! Download Commencement right from Blaise Delfino's site. It's free! And you may call up a memory or five, and playing it over and over just like I have.
