OZ Beat: Music That Matters

Boys On Trial - Run From The City

Boys On Trial is a three-piece that blows down the floodgates, tidal waves of huge sound. Bass and neck snapping drum beats, vocals theatric in expression but with a gritted tension that's mesmerizing. Comparisons have been made to Mars Volta, Gang of Four, Muse, Mclusky, Ikara Colt. Big comparisons, sure, but they hold their own among them. Hear them on CD and get blown away. See them play live and you'll never want them to leave the stage. 

Boys On Trial is currently recording their debut album, ¡Guantanamo Boy! 

In the meantime, look for their E.P. release in June 2006 both U.K. and U.S. in June.

Directions for Use: 

1. Click link Run (from the city).
2. Allow Boys On Trial's signature track Run (from the city) to lift you outta your seat.
3. Wait for ears to bleed (won't have to wait too long).
4. Enjoy euphoric sensation.
5. Repeat.
6. Repeat.
7. Repeat (you get the idea).

Support music -- check out the other bands at the jukebox link.  Thanks for stopping by.   Play out -- Play loud.

Click to join boys_on_trial

Boys On Trial are --

• Michael: guitar, lead vocals
• Adam: bass, backup vocals
• Colin: drums, backup vocals

Some Recent Press:

Is there a new genre called “intelligent taser punk”? How about “ball-busting rock with cherubic vocals”? Attention is mandatory and Boys On Trial has earned the right to push limits and show-off a touch. With BOT, those few trips into the nether worlds when vocals (and music) go over the top serves as a quick reminder that this band should not be taken for granted. Boys On Trial’s signature sound soars to a new high; heightens shatters and refines the expectations. Shoe gazers are not allowed. In the case of BOT, it’s simply not possible." --OZ Beat

The Libertines second album release Exclusive Sneak Preview CD Review 14 tracks (August 2004 release date) Pete, Carl, band brilliance

There’s something about the ability to create music that is emotional, big, hard, stripped down, not too dressed up but definitely dressed for an outing, while at the same time, enormous in delivery. To call The Libertines just a rock band, just a bunch of kids, just another sound in the new resurgence of 60s rock and 70s punk, would be equivalent to witnessing a tsunami and calling it another day the beach. The influences of many are heard within the latest Libs release, but there is a unique desperation in their music that stands apart. I would have to say the most appealing thing about all Libertines music is inside pain that manifests such beauty, as much will, there is never an indication of insincere sentimentality. No hidden agendas. Poets, artists, edge-walkers, harnessed rage, tumultuous energy infinitum. The Libertines, they can rock you into frenzy and then pull you into a Mexico sand bar sunset, lamentations of lost love or love on the verge. Then without a thought, back to the beat driven riffs, shock into the grit of naked bulb reality. Yes, you’re back, but you’re different. Anyone inclined to classify The Libertines with the phrase of just another anything need go no further than this CD for a new set of values. This latest creation is nothing short of witnessing a birth, one that will change the expectations of bands to follow. And so I take a slight departure to review not all, but most, of the tracks on The Libertines self titled second release.

The Libertines Can’t Stand Me Now
“If you wanna try, if you wanna try…there’s no worse you could do.” They start with a wonderful loss of love song; some head bobbing beats, harmonicas, vocals that send a little tingle. A voice that always makes think of the inherent heartache in sending away the very sweet thing that is so soft, yet dangerous enough in flirty innocence to be forever forgiven.

Scissor Sisters

Not my favorite concert of the year--Muse and TCTC still rank one and two. But, this was the best live stage performance that I have seen in a lot of years. I've been hanging on to the belief that The Butthole Surfers were the best live show around since the early 80's (and I think they were). They have been de-throned. Scissor Sisters is the hardest working band in music today. I had heard about three songs and was interested in seeing the show. I bought tickets the day they went on sale in Chicago--mostly because I knew from the tracks that I had heard that my boyfriend would love them. They had just come off two previous dates (Detroit and Cleveland) where they had only drawn 15 people. Chicago didn't sell them out but probably had a good 400 show up in support (and many who had ordered the music via UK and really knew them -- unlike me). They were so thrilled at the size of the crowd. All their current hype is UK (but they did make US network television the last two days).

So a few hours later (after the show), Scissor Sisters are my favorite new band of the year they have been around for awhile--but they broke this year). I expected the disco-influenced sounds to bore me right away. Talk about misreading this band. The music, the musicians, the stage show, the lyrics, the versatility is beyond what anyone can really expect from a band in this most modern age.

Pixies ticket giveaway for sold out Chicago shows at Aragon

OZ Beat has tickets to the November sold out shows at The Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. We will be giving away a pair (or two or three, depends on our mood) in the coming months.

Maybe you think nothing is for free. Well, you're wrong. These tickets will be free. All we ask is that you register with the OZBeatmusic Forum site. By registering, not only will you have a chance to win Pixies concert tickets, but you will qualify for other future giveaways, have access to our exclusive music downloads, music reviews, and first look on some breaking new rock bands:

Magnus (Chicago rock music)
The Carlsonics (DC conspiracy rock)
The Barbs (straight outa comix -- actually straight outa UK)
The Bamboo Kids (NYC punk)
Mahjongg (Chicago)
The Sleaves (San Francisco rock)

Check out our Media and download a few cuts from these new musical talents. We're proud to feature them.

There's more to come in the future, some noteable free exclusive music downloads we will be offering: Another Pretty Face (the release -- 70s glam even more stunning than the first time around) and Busted at OZ, the rare and out-of-print compilation LP. You only need to register, we'll do the rest.

Thanks for taking the time to check us out. We welcome your feedback, give us your thoughts by posting to our Forum.

OZ Beat -- Music That Matters.

Busted at OZ LP: Effigies, Raygun, Strike Under, Silver Abuse

Check out OZ Beat's website for the latest on this one. Tracks will be uploaded in the near future, but you've gotta sign up at the website for access to free media exclusives. How do we have this rare and out-of-print LP? Because we do. It's the original OZ harcore punk bar from Chicago hosting this site. Other great new local and international indie bands are featured on the site as well as links, music news, early concert warnings and archived reviews.

Free concert ticket giveaways are upcoming and will also include the SOLD OUT Pixies shows in Chicago later this year (you read right, they will be free), but this is only available to those officially registered through OZ Beat's Forum as a future email drawing. Get in here and register--it only takes a minute and it's great fun as a way to appear as though you are "working" at work. We'd love to hear your feedback.

OZ Beat is not affiliated with any music industry conglomerate... we don't even enjoy those words let alone affiliate with them. Truth be told, we can't live without great music and we want to spread it around.

The music is back.

Magnus CD review, Sleepwalker, in The Big Takeover

One goes through a thoroughly depressing pile of 46 CDs by unknown artists utterly bereft of advanced talent and imagination, calling "Next!," hoping against hope there might be one like this hidden there. Wherefore art though, Cinderella trying to get noticed behind her wretched stepmom/sisters? But at last, here she is, not too late for the ball!

What they remind of is early 1990s (i.e. comeback) Comsat Angels, with some Adam and Eve Catherine Wheel too. It's that marvelous swirling guitar edge, bonded to hard pop tunes that slowly but forcefully unfold and then implode, the pensive touches (love the trumpets and bits of piano, like on "Drinking With Baron," and the feeding back cello on "Awake"), the clear and clear-eyed singing, the long languid passages that give way to building storms, and riffs that catch you from first play. Excellent!

This Chicago group won't fall in line with prevailing indie rock elements, putting up a false intensity. They just let the delighting, surprising turns in their tightly-written and executed music speak volumes. I can't remember the last time I heard such inventive guitar passages from an American band that doesn't ape Neil Young, yet seems like they might have heard Brian Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets or Radiohead's Ok Computer along the way, and understood the dynamic trichotomies of beauty, brain, and aggression inherent in both. I know next to nothing about Stephen and David Wade, George Patrick, or Scott Schaafsma (and Simon Hunt) other than that they had a 2002 debut EP I really need to get. But after playing their LP so much, I might write them a fan letter (and see if the slipper fits).

With music of this striking power right under our noses, the rest of America rock and its overwhelming mediocrity just lost its excuse.

--Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover

The Fuse

Saw this west coast hard-core band at the Empty Bottle. The place was empty because International Pop Overthrow is in town. The band's CD is very good and the live show even better. Makes me want to revisit the CD. But, the standout of the night was the drummer. He sat so high above the kit that you could see him from knees--up. The cymbols were so high up that he could just reach them -- or when needed--stand up and bash the fuck out of them. I assumed he was either 7 feet tall with no legs--or 4 feet tall with gorilla arms. In fact, he was human. The band left the stage after a great set--and I cornered the drummer. The dude was completely modest, somewhat taken aback, and so happy that I was asking him about every thing he did behind the drum kit. It turns out that it is simply the way he bangs the drums. You don't have to love this band--although I'm getting close--to fully appreciate an extraordinary drummer. Front man tries hard--drummer steals the show! I couldn't take my eyes off him--even when the front man was writhing on the floor at my feet.
--Dem

Weird War / The Rapture / BRMC

The set started strong with 3 cuts from the Scene Creamers CD but quickly turned into a bore. A band that one year ago did one of the most inspired sets I have ever seen, was disappointing last fall and kind of a wate of time last Friday. The new material is very weak and the band seems to be involving into a funk band. That would be just fine--if they could play funk. I love good funk but when it is bad (quite frequently it seems) it is torture. I'm also not getting much of a spark from Ian and his performance has to be at top-level or the band's show to come off. It probably wasn't as bad as I am making it out to be--it was the high expectations that I went to the club with that made the performance seem all that much more lackluster. However, Friday's dismal show was more than made up for last night by BRMC and The Rapture--both bands putting on high-energy tight shows and The Rapture turning in a perfect set from start to finish.
--Dem

Eagles Of Death Metal/ Pixies dates

Run, run, run to get this CD. Produced by Josh Homme of Queens of the Stoneage, it is butt-shaking great rock n roll. These songs are going to translate so well on stage. Solid beats, great vocals and a whole lot of fun. Might be my highest recommendation of a CD for this new year. The CD is fine throughout--but is worth the price for "Miss Alissa" alone. Nothing fancy--just great music. Also, Pixies announced US tour dates--Chicago is November 13th at the Aragon. I don't think on-sale date has been released yet for the
Fall part of the US tour.
--Dem

The Darkness

I wouldn’t dissuade anyone from seeing this show for the sheer entertainment factor. Having attended some metal concerts in my past and run the gauntlet of musical tastes that I’m sure would be considered “bad,” I can appreciate the fun that something like The Darkness offered. I was excited to see them work it. From the beginning of the show, they built the drama of the entertainment factor. The packed room swelled with fans donning their matching Darkness shirts, all swirling in the build, mesmerized by the large white curtain strung across the stage only adding to the anticipation. Lights dim and against the white sheet shielding the stage,