TTSCC

MY WARdrobe: Black Flag Tribute Shirt Back in None More Black

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:20:38 -0400

You can’t keep a good Black Flag tribute shirt down. You also can’t count on music nerds to not do something for Record Store Day—besides maxing out their credit cards and being homeless one day because of it, that is.

Fabrication Fabrication are doing a special black-on-black ink/shirt combination of the MY WARdrobe: Black Flag Tribute Shirt for Record Store Day. Black, like a record, get it? Gimme some more—1-2-3-4!

Noise for Your Face

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:15:06 -0500

Nothing surprises us on the internet anymore except that things on the internet surprise us anymore. Surprise: the Noise Kills Punk Dead Facebook page.

Yes, Noise Kills Punk Dead, the semi-legendary, first (only?) appearance of Scum Music as a genre, punk/noise/found sound, record-label-hopping, international, scandal-laden, near-disaster compilation adventure that was released 14 (omg ibid) years ago, now has its own Facebook page.

Well.

Our very own collectorbaseemitter make an appearance, an appearance that you can purchase for yourself, and get tracks from MSBR, Radio Slave, The Evolution Control Committee, and 60 other of the world’s greatest bands. Hyperbole? It would be the greatest mistake that humankind ever made to call it so!

Maybe Monday: Project Preview?

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:18:00 -0400

Studio shot of a project underway at newly renovated Transemitter Tactile Studio City Country. Any and all theories as to what it may be are welcome.

Blip Festival 2011: May 19-21: Chip Tune Mayhem

Mon, 16 May 2011 09:31:06 -0400

If you’ve never experienced the sound of a Game Boy being blasted through a PA while a world-class visual artist projects their work on a wall, now is the time to rectify that situation. The 2011 Blip Festival (Fifth Anniversary NYC Edition) starts this Thursday, May 19th. From May 19th—21st the international chip music scene will converge on New York City for presentations, tutorials, and shows from everyone who is allveryone in this gathering of the Chums of Chip.

Chip tune embraces the “audiovisual style of low-bit video games and home computers”—in other words, your Ataris, Nintendos, and Tandys of yore, transformed into earth-levelling music makers.

Act now to get a three-day festival pass (some still available, but pre-order only), or check the schedule and get a ticket(s) for your preferred night(s).

Can’t swing a flight to NYC since your last “incident”? WFMU will be webcasting the Blip festivities. The internet is killing music? Our collective colloquial ass it is!

If you can’t make it to NYC, don’t have an internet connection, and/or would prefer to see a festival in Tokyo, then bookmark, socially save, Facebook, tweet, digg, tumble, iCal, gCal, Evernote, Stickies, Post-It, flesh-carve, or whatever it is you do to remember your important URLs, and check back at: http://tokyo.blipfestival.org/. Soon. Ish.

If all else fails, buy a shirt, the DVD, the live recordings and BLAST IT like YOU are THERE. Play all materials at once for a truly immersive experience. Pour beer on your floor at least one day in advance for a more accurate olfactory and podiatrically-focused tactile experience. Your neighbors will thank you for your efforts.

Bit Shifter: Reformatted by Lightning

Sat, 14 May 2011 21:13:00 -0400

“Your Music! Played through Lightning!” is the seductive siren call of the Open Spark Project, a “fun-loving group of people” who play music through Tesla Coils (pictured above).

Bit Shifter’s anthemic “Reformat the Planet” was super-heated and blasted through the air today. It’s a mesmerizing viewing experience—like a laser-light show, but it doesn’t suck (and no Floyd).

The screen capture above doesn’t do it justice. View it on YouTube, skip to 34:19, and set to full-screen for full-on Bit Shifter/Tesla mashing action.

Your Saturday night = made.

If this doesn’t serve to whet your appetite for Blip Festival 2011 next weekend, you’re probably not reading this. You’re dead.

Spring Spawned A YNGMNSTR Records

Mon, 02 May 2011 23:38:00 -0400

Chattanooga, TN art collective Young Monster are launching their record label YNGMNSTR Records with a 7” by Big Kitty, promising “mystical folk gem[s]” on both sides. The TTSCC Internet Musical Sound Research Facility investigated this claim and found that Big Kitty does indeed specialize in “mystical folk gems” that invoke a feeling of “Moonshine frolic” (their genre term, not ours).

The TTSCC welcomes YNGMNSTR Records to the world of records! The TTSCC welcomes all new record labels! They’re all cause for excitement! Huzzahs and raised glasses, for the independent spirit that causes one to share a love of music, and to share all over the world the sounds of friends and/or complete strangers and/or future mortal enemies (see: Greg Ginn/SST vs Everybody) is one to celebrate!

Prior to the opening of the Southern North America Distribution Center in Atlanta, GA, USA, the TTSCC, though it is populated, propagated, and propped up by the peoples of the world, was unaware of the ties between Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN—it is the SEA to its TAC, the Buffalo to its Rochester, the Toronto to its Buffalo.

Through a labyrinth of internet connections woven throughout Atlanta’s art/music scene, we were finally introduced to Young Monster and their roiling amalgam of artistic jams. Expanding into records makes perfect sense. This first release is an interesting start, and we can’t wait to see what else they do.

A Tunguska Weighs A Ton

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:00:05 -0400

Tunguska: A mysterious 1908 explosion in the Siberian wilderness that leveled trees over 830 sq. miles, or promising experimental band from South Carolina? Answer: Yes.

This new meaning of Tunguska was stumbled upon by TTSCC Representatives at the recent Charges show featuring Ruby Velle. It was but one highlight in a night of highlights, including (in no particular order):

Ruby Velle: Soul singer takes a detour, with phenomenal results. Vamping it up w/Mick on the Murder City Devils’ “Boom Swagger Boom”, D-E-S-T-R-O-Y-I-N-G it on a full-tilt take of DC legends Nation of Ulysses’ “Look out! Soul is Back”, or lending a smoothness to Charges’ original “Coming Attractions”, she could do no wrong. Hers is a talent that knows no genre boundaries.
Unsane Asylum reps making the trek once again from Chattanooga to ATL. Their punk enthusiasm and hilarious tales are always a blast.
The breezy and beautiful vocal harmonies of The Vibe Dials…
…followed by the deafening discovery of a new form of Tunguska.

Tunguska are labelled “experimental”, word and genre dear to our tiny TTSCC hearts, manifesting in a sonic shockwave that attempts to turn the audience into an echo of those felled trees, over a century hence. (Let’s not beat these Tunguska event/band comparisons into the tundra, ok? - Ed.)

It’s an indie and metallic-edged rock sound. Without vocals, the rhythm section-propelled songs are free to have plenty of jagged edges, angular, biting traded guitar work, and no damnable twinned guitar solos. Heavy with thought, not with hair metal cheese.

Listen to a some demos (which only provide a 33% accurate representation of Tunguska’s true intensity) here, then get to your nearest Southern town and see them. After you’ve peeled yourself from the back wall, you’ll be glad you witnessed this event. Let’s hope for more sound soon.

Other Tunguska outposts:

The Backpeddlers Need You to Kickstart Their Vinyl Dream

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:00:06 -0400

This post has a sad start: “Only a year ago, Mark Norris was through with music.” “Who’s Mark Norris?,” you may ask, and the fact that you may even have to ask is a testament to the injustices of the world.

Mark Norris was the wise-cracking, high-kicking, rabble-rousing frontman of legendary and loved Buffalo band Girlpope—a band without whom it’d be impossible to write the book of the thriving Buffalo indie-pop/rock scene of the 90s. Every TTSCC band that ever performed live played with Girlpope—The Disappointments even opened at Girlpope’s release party for The Whole Scene Going!

Now leading The Backpeddlers, it’d be another injustice if Mark’s smart and sardonic songwriting voice were silenced, which is why we at the TTSCC were over-effin-joyed to hear they have a new record out…almost. Yes, almost. This is where YOU [ed.—and us] can help!

The Backpeddlers have a dream to release their new album Songs of Guilt & Revenge on beautiful, deluxe, and pristine vinyl. However, due to injustice, they “absolutely cannot do it without you”. Yesterday they launched a project on Kickstarter to make Songs of Guilt & Revenge a 12” reality. Donate now, and you, the discerning donateur, may take your choice from a plethora of gifts that are full of hi-quality, hi-larity, or hi-…uh…both—lity.

In addition to getting a vinyl copy of Songs of Guilt & Revenge, you can get some amazing extras. For example, make “The Redd Foxx Level” donation, and receive “A signed* Redd Foxx LP (*signed by Mark Norris)”. Other levels have a limited edition of Mark Norris’ book, a limited edition letter press poster from the acclaimed WNY Book Arts Center, and/or the ability to have The Backpeddlers write and record a song about YOU! “Wow”—and let’s be honest here: a three-letter word comprised of only two letters has never before, nor ever will, be a more apt description of amazement, joy, and a willing call to action on the part of the reader, than it has as when used right here, in this paragraph.

So what can you do? Dude, are you skimming this? Like we said: Go donate now via Kickstarter and make Songs of Guilt & Revenge a beautiful 12” platter of deluxe vinyl, spinning hypnotically on your turntable, spitting out amazing rockers to the left- and right-channles as you listen in smile-flattened bliss.

Get extra motivation:

The Backpeddlers on MySpace
The Backpeddlers on Facebook
The Backpeddlers’ Stranded Between Stations

Charges LAST SHOW (for several months) featuring Ruby Velle, plus Yunguska, Vibe Dials at The Music Room in Atlanta, GA, Saturday, April 9, 2011

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 22:30:27 -0400

All good things must come to an end, however, all great things merely take a break before returning to dominate anew! And so it is with Charges, who play their last show (for several months) this Saturday, April 9, 2011, at The Music Room, 327 Edgewood Avenue, Atlanta, GA.

This brief respite from the Charges’ electrocution-fueled farfisa+guitar-rock furor is to help bring their two new babies into the world: one, being an actual baby, and two, a new recording. To send them off proper, Charges have, as featured guest, none other than Atlanta’s own up-and-coming soul queen Ruby Velle. Opening the show are Yunguska and Vibe Dials. Doors 9:00 p.m., $5. Soul is back!

As has been the case for 2011, Paul (of the Larkin Administration) will be joining Charges on second guitar, keyboard, and bass. As always, Paul’s appearances with Charges are sponsored by Slow As Molasses. Remember, when you want want to do your food up Southern-style, you’ve got to go Slow As.

Keith & Dimitri & Mario & Steven & Keith & Ron & Dez & Henry

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 09:16:06 -0400

Keith & Dimitri & Mario & Steven & Keith & Ron & Dez & Henry:

If you missed this tidbit last week, the MY WARdrobe Black Flag Tribute Shirt recently made an appearance with OFF! in Atlanta. What style! You can can purchase your own (although supplies are dwindling) of the limited edition MY WARdrobe Black Flag Tribute Shirt in our store.

fbrctin:

Punk rock supergroup OFF! played Atlanta’s Drunken Unicorn last week. Their collection of EPs is a favorite in the office, so the whole Fabrication Fabrication team was in attendance. Also there, as modeled above by Dimitri Coats, was our Keith & Ron & Dez & Henry MY WARdrobe…

Charges at the Drunken Unicorn, with The Dollyrots and Superpill, Tuesday, March 15, 2010

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:33:00 -0400

Monday nights are boring. That why Charges, Atlanta’s premier guitar and farfisa punk/glam quintet, are playing tomorrow night, Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at the Drunken Unicorn. Charges will be middle-lining between local openers Superpill and headliners The Dollyrots. Read more about this exciting triple bill on the Drunken Unicorn’s blog.

A mere $8 (21+) buys entrance to the refreshment arena and all the seismic rock you can handle. Doors at 9 pm. Get to the Drunken Unicorn!

This show is one of your last chances to see Charges before their Aprilish to ??? break. It may also be one of your last chances to see the dual-guitar version of Charges with our very own Paul (of the Larkin Administration).

Paul, whose contractual arrangements do not allow unauthorized collar-popping of his wardrobe by other band members, is currently re-evaluating his options after an “incident” at the last show. When not performing with Charges, Paul relaxes with his twin Huskies Bifidus and Fang at his private Mediterranean enclave.

Charges at the Highland Ballroom with One-Third of the Larkin Administration

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:43:24 -0500

This is a not a last-minute show-going tip: you have nearly 26 hours notice that those freewheelin’ farfisa-fellows known as Charges are playing at the Highland Ballroom this Friday, March 4th with Arcado and The Fortunate Few. As their hit song says: “Believe It”!

Charges, as previously noted, have a special guest second guitarist right now in the form of Paul from the Larkin Administration. Paul, whose special joie de destructive guitar sound graces many unreleased recordings by the Larkin Administration, will once again be lending this special service to these Atlanta chord-slashers. Ever-elusive, this is a rare chance to see Paul without one of his trademarked paparazzi-shunning “get ups”.

Festivities begin at 8:30 pm and cost $5.00. Go: to the Highland Ballroom. See: Charges. Say: Hello to your local TTSCC Representative.

See you there!

Atlanta's Charges Get Some (Larkin) Administration

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:19:29 -0500

Hot tip for Atlanta show-goers this 2/5/2011 weekend: see Charges at 529 this Saturday, and you’ll see interim Charge Paul (the Larkin Administration) on second guitar.

What? When? How can this be?

Please! Calm yourselves, and read on…

Charges are a hard-driving, farfisa-abusing, glam-nodding punky rock quintet who have been racking up rave reviews for their debut 7” Consequentialist Communique on ISP. Unfortunately, all that hard-driving has temporarily disabled one of their members. ISP representatives contacted the TTSCC, suitcases of Columbia’s finest were exchanged, and Paul was rotated in.

Paul, known as the “Howard Hughes” of the Larkin Administration due to his social habits and propensity to travel to gigs in a large, ground-skimming airplane, will be outfitted in attire from the TTSCC Collection for the duration of his performance with Charges.

See you Saturday!

Quora 1, TTSCC 0: Meet Emmitt Scciccio

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:28:19 -0500

Following our previous exchange with Quora Admin, we received the following message:

We currently don’t allow corporate accounts on Quora. We understand that you want to be a representative of your company but please do it as yourself;

“Please do it as yourself,” Mr./Mrs./Robot/Other “Quora Admin” non-ironically asks whilst hiding behind an all-encompassing, identity-masking, username, drunk on the grapes from the volcanic soils of Italy, sipp’d from chalice, spilt on laptop keyboard whilst spinning in gaiety in yon velvet-trimmed Aeron, eating succulent meats in drumstick form, bare-handed. Fair enough, we decide, since no-one needs to tilt at the Quora Windmill. The TTSCC, if we may be internet-candid with you, has a lot of work that still needs to be done after its disastrous stewardship by unscrupulous label-wreckers. Besides, the whole “real person” angle smacks of ye olde Friendster days—and that worked itself out just fine.

Therefore, it is with great pride that we present for your following, questioning, and general spamming, TTSCC Employee Emmitt Scciccio. Emmitt is on Quora, ready to be of internet service for your internet questions, even if you are Mrs./Mr./Hamster/Box-Elder/Pizza-Roll/Other Quora Admin. Emmitt likes ribbon candy, elaborate graffiti, long walks in awkward silence, and, as he says, “all sorts of hot licks”. It is unclear what was meant by that remark (if anything).

We don’t begrudge Quora’s policies, nor do we seek to change them. Companies, as they so often show us, are free to do what they want. We do have an issue, however, when their own practices don’t line up with what they request from their users.

Is the TTSCC doing this anywhere? If so, let us know. Hell, let Emmitt know. Kid needs to earn that paycheck, son.

—This Report Has Been Generated by the TTSCC Web Site News and Information Dispersal Division, N. America, Southern Division.

Fabrication Fabrication (aka fbrctin) helps spread the love of...

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:30:07 -0500

Fabrication Fabrication (aka fbrctin) helps spread the love of all things Black Flag. It started with the MY WARdrobe: Black Flag Tribute Shirt(s) (distributed by the TTSCC). Next came the SPRAY PAINT (THE WALLpapers): Black Flag Tribute Wallpapers. Now it’s reblogging this bit of whimsy from the northwest:

My God, My War Quilt Exemplifies Why We Love Black Flag Lovers

People thought we took our love of Black Flag too far with our MY WARdrobe: Black Flag Tribute Shirt(s). Look at that greatness above from shelbyrude:

Finally finished my Black Flag quilt!

Read a short interview with her on Invisible Oranges. She is what punk rock is all about.

Drop us a line, Shelby, we can share beautiful Black Flag fan goods together.

Know of other Black Flag fun? Drop us a line.

2011 Begins with Niggling Quora Drama

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 10:50:39 -0500

Quora Admin enters.

Quora Admin

Hello,

One of the rules of Quora is that everyone uses his or her real full name. Do you mind changing your name to reflect that?

If this is a mistake and you are already using your real name, just reply to this message letting us know that.

You can change your name here: [ REDACTED ]

And you can find more details here:
Do I have to use my real name on Quora?

Thanks!

Underpaid TTSCC Staff Correspondant, Morning Shift, Weekends, consults TTSCC Style Guidelines, and Responds. Automated Message Verification Processing Time 0.071ms. Status: Good. Time: Good. Reply sent, copied internally for further review, comment.

Ttscc is Real

I appreciate your interest in the username selected for this account, and understand your concerns regarding its validity as it relates to your site guidelines.

This account is meant to serve as an internet persona for the TTSCC. Therefore, it is not a single person, in the sense of you or I, but in the sense that a Corporation is also a person. In fact, it is a person in much the same way that “Quora Admin” is a person, and “Quora Admin” is that person’s name.

On a related note, we did experience difficulty in signing up due to our name being both all capitals, not consisting of two parts, and otherwise ungainly.

Thank you for your concern, and we look forward to hearing from you regarding this matter.

Sincerely,
TTSCC Emerging Internet Phenomena Staff, Dept. of Services, Internet

Continued Happy Holidays, Courtesy of a TTSCC Alumnus

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:35:00 -0500

Whether you’re festive, restive, snowed in, plowed under, or busily transferring your record purchasing hitlist to your phone/blog/bookmarking service/sugar daddy, it’s never too late to celebrate the holidays.

If you follow the TTSCC on Twitter, you already saw our update about former member of the Larkin Administration Erik’s band Unikord. In case you missed it, Unikord released a special two-song single for the holidays that carry on Unikord’s tradition of metal and murder, Merry X-Massmurderer (exclusive vinyl download). “Frosty” tells the tale of a familiarly-named, yet dangerously homicidal, snowman. Likewise, “Santa Clause is Killing in Town” tells a tale of St. Nick gone bad, murdering all in his path. Is the name “Santa Clause” a typo, or is it in fact Tim Allen’s character from the cornball Christmas “Santa Clause” movies who is on a murdering spree? Personally, the TTSCC prefers the latter interpretation.

“But wait,” you yell at your phone whilst careening one-handed through a snow-rutted parking lot, “what’s this about Unikord’s ‘tradition’ of murderous metal? Isn’t this the first release?”. As surely as you are about to hit that car backing out, we can say “Yes, this is NOT their first release!”. Then we call the ambulance for you.

Unikord has been ripping it up out Colorado way for several years now. We’ll spare you the exhaustion-inducing task of using a search engine and point you to this amazing video of the ‘Kord back in 2007 performing the song that made them famous, “Floss with Steve”

Remember, when requesting the band at your local internet search parlor, that’s Unikord with a K (as in Killing), and not “Unichord” with a CH (as in Clueless Honkies).

I Need More Holiday-Related Merriment

Of course you do! That is why we’re also including this somber folk number, reflecting on the passing of Christmas, and of gifts given, gotten, and dreamed about. Once again, it features Erik on drums. So sit back, relax, gather the family ‘round, and join The Broken Spoke in their feel-good anthem “The Pills I Got for Christmas”.

What About That Image in The Last Update?

If you mean this image, we’re sorry to report that news on that will have to wait for a hot minute. As a small tip, but join our mailing list now to get the scoop (and some special offers) on what is sure to be an exciting 2011.

This Report Has Been Generated by the TTSCC Web Site News and Information Dispersal Division, N. America, Southern Division.

This is happening. Any guesses?

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 20:17:55 -0500

This is happening.

Any guesses?

Field Journal Update #885

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:57:00 -0400

Whatever is happening is not good. Besides not being able to actually find out what is happening with our ship, our new friends make us all nervous. Sometimes, they laugh at things we say about the States/India/Japan—but at the wrong moments. Usually in relation to something about a site we will be glad to see. Most of yesterday and tonight they have a pacing quality to them. Watching us. With their guns. Us with ours. I tried offering them a clif bar or two. One spit it out and began to raise the ak-47 he wears like a bike messenger, when his friend (my new best friend) grabbed it and rebuked him. Tense.

Also there is a fairly constant drizzle of gunshots outside. here and there, but always happening. Loud boom from the back of the compound and everything shook, reports of an attempted breach. Yes compound, seems to be some sort of industrial yard, now stripped except for buildings, the wall, and our too watchful friends. At least the one is a real friend, sort of.

Professor seems unconcerned. There must be a plan. Plus, every time he goes into the one trailer he comes out seemingly refreshed. Must be his new baby in there. The whatever it was we mined out.

Company…

Field Journal Update #882

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:07:00 -0400

Our ship didn’t come in. Detained for “inspection”. Planes are also being denied access to the airport.

Word from our Southern Third is good, and they made their contact. No word from the Northern Third still.