American Upstart.com

Not that I'm breaking any earth shattering news, but the "godfather" of punk el Joey Ramone has past away from a bout of brutal cancer. I'm not gonna try and be all deep and let random trivia be my 2 cents on the matter. We all know who he is and what he did and lets let that do all the talking it needs.

The Louts* have confirmed for the Midwest Oi Showdown Fest 2000 & oi! XXXtransvaganda StreetPunk Shake, Rattle and Stomp™©® (*not to be confused with the Louts from Denver outfit, but if they wanna send a demo too, yer more than welcome)

That's it... I'm sure you've heard the many rumors. Stories of American Upstart's future, and yes sad to say they are all true. I have been away awhile, coasting down the mountain side at chaotic speeds, with each near miss of a tree or pokey skier an epiphany was struck. Walking the winding roads of the Colorado mountains, talking to guitar wielding hippies, skate punks in Greatful Dead shirts, rich kid snowboarders sporting Crass whiteboy dreadlocks. Something deep inside of me was awakened, and I shed a tear when I considered my past and future actions. With great regret ... we will be updating this week. I know, I know just as you were getting used to the stagnant, repetitive views each day, here I come along with new interviews, book and music reviews. But of course, I'm still gonna make you wait a day or two (insert cute "text" face here.) ;)

I would also like to announce for all the nieghsayers out there that yes, STREETPUNK 2001 is moving full steam ahead. Booked so far, the Hudson Falcons, GC5, BeerZone, the Tossers, the Volts, Razorburn, Tanka Ray, the Ugly Truth. Bands still in the wings yet not completely confirmed, the Bodies, the Staggers, the Louts. The show is Memorial Weekend, and as always will be a the largest gathering of yer friends from across the midwest, down south, up north, from the east and west, (only said better in a beer commercial) come to where the good times are.

The show is also the same weekend as the Annual KC scooter rally, and after 3 years of incooperation we have finally come together.... THE BAND OF THE HAND!!!!!!

What a week here at Upstart HQ, I noticed that the guest book is still damn empty, I understand it is new and different, it's a bit clunky, but alas it is free. We have been recieving some letters finally, and it's chicken soup for the soul to hear from you. Speaking of books and Boards, InsidetheWeb, our messageboard host is pulling the plug on our (and every other user's on the net) messageboard. So any last whoorahs or fantasy poetry you want to post, get up there now cause by March 5th it's gone.

You know what I love about getting a new issue out? The records that follow (then hopefully reviews of said records will be posted) New this week: from Knock-Out Records , the lable that is keeping true vinyl available is the LP release of The Worldwide Tribute to Real Oi, thats right 13 of Hardcore's finest belting out some traditional and not so traditional oi oi music. Oh and some pudding for the pie, Bonecrushers; Followers of a Brutal Calling, oh, it's so much bigger than a CD and smells better too. Also from Knock-Out we have Radio 69 from Sweden, a couple from Moltov Soda, and the Euro release of Oxymoron's: Best Before... . From my holy bretheren at TKO the much anticipated Niblick Henbane release and it will not l disappoint. Look for the reviews to be posted soon. Speaking of reviews, Brain Bomb of Brain and the Big Bomb fame has helped to fill and freshen the review section, give em a look see.

The Midwest Oi Fest: Streetpunk 2001 is slowly but surely booking itself up. Stay tuned for more info.

And for straight up shits and giggles: working in the type of enviroment that I do, myself and millions of others search the web for absolutly nothing, crap, dripple and non-sense. Call it what you will but our bosses call it wasting valuable time and bandwidth. Here is this weeks cream de' la crop:
Two words: Lego Sex
What happend to all the Superheroes
No words can explain what you are about to witness: Hatten
This one's made the rounds.

American Upstart is looking for writters for both the printed and web editions of the publication. If you think you got the gusto (look at us) then give us a holler. We are always looking for new voices and ideas. Think we are lacking in an area, let us know.

So who wants to riot? According to the Suburban Parka Commando, anti-fans of the Angelic Upstarts were in full force at the Upstarts show in Boston, leaving the boys of Oxblood to sound the battlecry. Speaking of battlecry, what do you get when you put a scene newbie and a bunch of ol' school girls in a shark tank? It's a gruesome little tale that has been witnessed by many across the globe.

Added the Classified section, got something you wanna sell or are ya lookin to buy. Of course it's dead empty right now so why dontchya post some stuff. I have also changed the guestbook. I was unable to delete year old entries and though we might as well start over with a new one. The format is different, and highly annoying.

North America won the NHL All-Star game.... again. Of course the All-Star game usually lacks any bloodthirst or embedded rivalries. But it's hockey and it's not on cabel.
We have added a slew of new reviews for you. Check out our new review section then browse the archives and seek out the typos. I've also been busy slapping the monk.... new links up, if a site, band or label has been mentioned in the past you will be able to find a link to it over yonder.
The soccer rant did not generate as much heat as I had anticipated but we have gotten some support and even alternative sports for your non-futball enjoyment.
Also a hand full of new show dates have been posted.
American Upstart will soon be changing hosts, and you'll no longer be distracted by the pop up windows. Other American Upstart changes: we will be adding a classifieds page for you to buy and sell those precious CD's 7's, and other "memorabilia" look for that in the coming week.

Anyone who may have heard the nasty rumor that the Staggers have broken up, we here at American Upstart would like to assure you that our friendly fiends from Texas are still alive and kickin.

The original NJ street rock warlords, NIBLICK HENBANE are slated to spray their drunken pogo Oi! anthems all across the land with the release of "Go Away", their brand new full-length due out 2/26 on TKO Records. The band will be playing a record release show on 2/24 @ The New Brunswick Court Tavern in Joisey w/ Darkbuster and The Skels. Get out there and support the raucous drunken mayhem! Also look for the release of THE GENERATORS new 7" which features "Dead at 16", a preview of their upcoming full-length "Tyranny" slated for release by TKO Records this April! If you caught their AMAZING performances in Southern California with the Angelic Upstarts, then you no doubt are, like us, frothing at the mouth for this fucking record! Last but not least, but certainly FORGOTTEN, Craig Fairbaugh from THE FORGOTTEN has joined LARS FREDRIKSEN AND THE BASTARDS on guitar and will be touring and playing live with those fucking bastards from here to eternity! Rock! Don't forget their latest full-length "Keep the Corpses Quiet" out NOW on TKO Records!

Superbowl Sunday and I actually forgot the sumbitch was on. I missed the whole first half of killer commericals. Well if that aint enought to twist yer panties in a knot I don't know what is. Well just in case you missed it last time I have posted the fantastically thrilling and gripping Terminus City interview from issue #6.... Yeee HAAAAAAAA. Now git off your asses and send me some news people.

Half of Radical's Punk, Ska, 'n Oi! roster will be in the studio recording this Spring, including US skinhead Ska/Oi! band INSPECTER 7, Pittsburgh heavyweight punks SUBMACHINE, and, rumors have it, NJ streetpunk Oi! band THE CUFFS will reunite for a new cd. The fate of singer Mike Cuff remains up in the air, as he contemplates a move to France to pursue his culinary calling Mike Blank of world-infamous Punkers BLANKS 77 has re-surfaced with a new band, MIKE BLANX and the SDAB's (Sex Drugs Alcohol Band).

Also due this Spring is the sophomore-ic release from ROAD RAGE, the band of English punters whose sole claim to fame is being formed by Sid Vicious' mom after a failed attempt at stopping the Sex Pistols' 1996 reunion. You Can't Purify Bad Blood continues where last year's Nothin' To Declare debut left off, with speeding chunky guitar riffs rattling around many empty bottles of booze. ROAD RAGE will be on tour in Europe for most of this year, purportedly coming to America in August 2001 as part of the Holidays in the Sun tour (see below).

In other news Mami records proudly announces the upcoming release AVOIDED "A Few More Lines", that is set to be released on February 10th 2001. AVOIDED comes from Sweden, so you probably do know what you can expect! Their music is high quality softcore in vein of Good Riddance, 88 Fingers Louie, Vision, they just could remind you these bands. AVOIDED has found their own style, they put a lot of emotions and energy into their music. The final effect is amazing!

Walzwerk has taken on a new quest/name/attitude/adventure: Leprock , whether or not this is a replacement or a side project we wish them luck.

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01/16Late midweek update. Nothing other than news added, send in the goodies folks, I can't post it if I don't got it... The Main Street Saints traveled down to the mighty ATL to play with punk all stars Terminus City, the Beltones, No Holds Barred and Tanka Ray. The show was a blast with solid attendance.

On a rougher note, the Beltones suffered a terrible car wreck on the way back to their home state of Florida. The band flipped their van on the Interstate, no one was seriously injured but the band took a total loss after a semi-truck devistated the abandoned van, destroying it and everything in it. Luckly the band had made it to safety beforehand, you can read the full story from the mouth of the horse.

It's that time again for ol Capt'n Tim to start rounding up the nation's top crop of oi bands to make the sacred trip to the mighty midwest to play their hearts out for you at the 3rd annual Midwest Oi Fest amply titled TWO THOUSAND AND OI!, THE MIDWEST OI FEST, kinda wordy but fuck it. Same date as last year and the year before that, Memorial Day weekend!!! Check back often for more info, band lists, directions, and tips on roach filled hotels.

Brooklyn based label The Telegraph Company heralds 2001 as the year of rock with the launch of a bi-monthly 7" subscription series called With an X. Beginning in January 2001, on a bi-monthly basis, subscribers will receive two songs on a freshly minted 45rpm 7" from bands familiar and new. With the edition of New York punk revivalists ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN and former Devildogs frontman Steve Baise and Candysnatchers' Larry May new supergroup, STEVIE and THE SECRETS. The line up is now:
Electric Frankenstein - New York's gods and monsters of rock
Stevie and the Secrets - Virginia Beach's rock and roll supergroup
Causey Way - Not one of Florida's many cults
The Beatings - Baltimore's most psychotic Glitter punks
Crosstops - Northern California's raunchiest trucker punks
The Dirtbombs - Detroit's super-fuzziest garage monsters
Adam West - Rock from DC, that's not Dischsord.
The Deadbeats - Sweden's high octane gasaholic marauders
Kelley Stoltz - San Francisco's basement psych scientist
Knife Wielding Punks - Jersey speedthrash before there was speedthrash: circa 1976
Double Naught Spy Car - Fractured and frayed SoCal surf
Dimestore Haloes - Punk as fuck, pop as hell, punk-pop as fucking hell
And more new bands being added all the time.
W.A.X. subscriptions cost $50 (postage paid) for 12 months or $35 (postage paid) for six months. International orders are also available. For more information or to subscribe online, go to www.withanx.com or send check or money orders to The Telegraph Company, P.O. Box 2553, New York, NY 10009.

The Telegraph Company proudly announces the release of the debut album from San Francisco punk-pop band, HOTBOX. The album, entitled LICKITY SPLIT, will be available in stores on March 27th. Named "Best Local Punk Band" by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, HOTBOX-led by front-woman Mel Chappell-is a super sundae of punk delights that will launch you into a sing-a-long sugar-high. HOTBOX also features Barry D'Live, the hot fudge to Mel's maraschino cherry, formerly of RKL and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Chris Rest, also on guitar duties, is a member of a Fat Wreck Chords favorite, Lagwagon. And no ice-cream treat is complete without sprinkles! Rounding out the group are drummer Bob Simmons and bassist Warner Harrison, and Matt Fitney also on guitar. LICKITY SPLIT was Co-produced by the band and Fat Mike of NOFX fame.

Promote Chaos is giving American Upstart a run for our money with their own Oi and Punk Fest this summer. They are lining up bands left and right, including: The Crack, Warriors, Gundog, the Templars and Terminus City.