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

Anti-Flag

Wow, so much energy was put into that show, I can't even describe it. The opening band was Much the Same, followed by None More Black, Against Me!, Rise Against, and finally Anti-Flag. Not much happened while Much the Same was playing, there was an attempt to mosh, but the security guards were always breaking it up. They seemed like they were really tired up on stage. Well, NMB got up and they were even better than the last time I saw them. They played about 3 times faster than they recorded it. They were amazing. I managed to get surfed up on the stage, and took my first stage dive. Amazingly the crowd managed to catch every diver.

Anit-Flag

From: Andrew
Date: Fri Jun 27, 2003 4:56 pm

Well, Anti Flag played at Metro on Thursday night. They played along with The Vacancy, A Static Lullaby, and Darkest Hour, but the lead singer from Darkest Hour couldn't make it because he was bit by a poisonous spider--go figure. When we got into Metro, it was packed. We caught the ending of the second band that played. They were okay, but there wasn't much of a mosh pit going for them. A Static Lullaby took forever to set up their equipment. And it wasn't worth the wait. For some odd reason, the lead singer was squawking like a Chicken, but it wasn't even funny. It was rather pathetic. They sounded like one of those Blink 182 wannabees. Very pathetic. Well, at least Anti-Flag was worth it. They had a very nice mosh pit going on. They tried to lead one giant circle mosh pit, but according to them, and the rest of us, Chicago doesn't know the difference between a circle and a straight line. The whole room merged into one pit, and it was great. They talked a bit much in between songs, but I kind of expected them to. For a 7 hour drive, Anti Flag was very much worth it. I thought they put on a nice show, and wow, when they play guitar, they jump massively high.
--The Gecko

Rocket From The Tombs quick review

As a rule, I don't do nostalgia shows, but this one was very different. RFTT is arguably the first US punk band and they came out of Cleveland, Ohio (1975). They were together less than a year, never recorded an album, and played less than 10 gigs. The three key members were Richard Lloyd (Television), Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys) and David Thomas (Pere Ubu). Songs like Sonic Reducer, Thirty seconds Over Tokyo, Final Solution, What love Is, etc. were first done by this band. Cheetah Chrome said that he really loved The Dead Boys--but loved this band more.

Magnus (Chicago)

I had the good fortune to see Magnus band a few months back--and met with three of their members at my house tonight. They are currently in the studio finishing their first album--and it is going to be a very fine, diverse product (in a good way--not like The Vines being all over the place). Rarely have I seen a band so committed to the process of making a great first album--most bands seem to want to get it out so quickly. I found it funny that they repeated that they see themselves as much more of a European band--they meant it in the best way possible. They are not a raw garage band--and their instrumentation sets them apart from any Chicago band I have heard in quite awhile. I am pushing them to give me one track I can post here--and, the good news is this group will hear it first. I hope to upload a song from their album within 2-3 weeks. Sometimes, I feel really good about the US heartland--Magnus did it for me tonight.
--Dem

Soledad Bros / The Kills

I managed to get to see the Soledad Bros supported by The Kills at the Metro, Oxford St, London last night. Both acts were enjoyable, and I'll certainly be seeing them again.

The Kills are a two piece boy/girl guitar duo with backing tapes providing drum/keyboard noise etc, who do a "VU meets the White Stripes" kinda thing. The Soledad Bros (for those of you who have yet to hear them) are essentially a "blues trio with a punkish/garage edge".

Although I like both, I can see how people might dislike them - the obvious unfavourable comparisons to the White Stripes, a bit of a "been there/done that" feeling. But for me both put enough of their own personalities across for that to be no problem. Anyone who refers to either as "the next WS/Strokes/Hives/whatever" I think would be mistaken. I can't see much potential for cross-over into the mainstream, but whadda I know?

I'd be interested to hear what others think - I'd esp like to see your version of the ten-words-or-less encapsulations in quotes above. I know the people involved hate being pigeonholed, but jeez, if we had to listen to every album ever issued before making a decision about whether we've wasted our cash we'd have no time to sleep and no cash to pay for the bed anyway!
--NeilM

Von Bondies show

Not slick, not particularly tight just hard driving hard core bluesy rock and roll. My first time seeing them and unfortunately the place was only about 2/3 full but the Von Bondies put on a fierce show. The good was being able to rest my beer on the stage--the bad was that there was no effort required to get to the stage. Jason was a little hoarse but made up for it with energy and great guitar work. Talked to him briefly after the show and after this tour the band is taking a few months off (won't be back to Chicago for about 6 months). They are heading to the studio to put together a new 15 song release. They showcased some of the new material and it is as strong (or stronger) than stuff off the debut. Definitely looking forward to it. They are definitely a part of the whole Detroit music sound but packing a much bigger wallop than I anticipated.

The Kills opened and were actually pretty good but I couldn't get too excited because of another irrational prejudice--I just don't like bands that use drum machines. Didn't like it when J&MC did it on their first US tour way back when and I don't dig it now.
--Dem

Doves / Clinic / Kaito

I saw the Doves on the 7th, at San Francisco's Fillmore, and had the most wonderful time. The band sure knows how to use visuals to enhance their compelling music. Clinic was very good (Bimbo's, 10/5), but I think that they kind of bored some people with the same tempos for nearly every song, however hypnotic their music was. I was very pleasantly surprised by their opening acts, Kaito, from Norwich, UK, and Apples In Stereo. Kaito was composed of 2 seemingly teenaged girls, an older dude and a ordinary joe drummer who had my attention with their art school, XTC/Clash/Wire-like primitive punk songs. Kaito's web site... Kaito's record label, home to some cool local Northern California bands as well.

Apples In Stereo I saw before, but was not impressed. This night, they had more power, punch and focus. They remind me of the Beatles colliding head on with navel gazing indie band. The Dirtbombs played Bimbo's Tuesday night. I like this soul-drench wholly danceable garage sounding band.

My friend Michele and her rockabilly girl pals were there too, and really enjoyed the 2 opening acts, The Detroit Cobras, and Ko And the Knockouts. I love bands that combine their music with a sense of humor. Super Furry Animals, to me anyway, totally fall into that category. They played The Fillmore on Wednesday, and they were completely entertaining, playing songs from all of their albums, including their newie, Rings Around The World. My favorite album is Mwng, an all Welsh language album that is covered in Beach Boys influences. They had a screen on stage that showed the short films of the songs that accompany their album songs on Rings Around The World, as well as cool images along to their other, older songs. "Best mind-fuck yet", indeed.
--Heidi