January 27, 2012

Once again I post on this more than 6 months after the last post. I don't know why it is so hard to keep up with a little blog. Well who knows. As all of the previous posts say, I am going to try and do a little better when it comes to updating this blog. Mainly because this will probably replace the physical zine of Self Aware and we will begin to post interviews, reviews, columns and what ever crap I normally would have cut down trees for in the past.
I'm bummed about the reality of the situation but with the record label (Self Aware), planning a fest (Treasure Fest), being married, and being in two bands, Pullman Strike and Late Bloomer, something has to give. I am currently transcribing two awesome interviews as we speak but for the time being check these Charlotte, NC area bands out...

Young and in the Way
Calormen
One Another
Old Milwaukee
No Power
Hungry Girl
Andy the Doorbum
Blossoms

(p.s. Andy the Doorbum has a double LP coming out Feb. 4th, if you are interested then follow the link, he is also the model for this entry).

June 14, 2011

So instead of a post about myself, I will let you know about some things you should get behind. First off is Durham, Raleigh based zine (print/webzine) Fracture Compound. They are an indie/punk/everything else zine with one of the busiest writers in the state, Bryan Reed. The first issue had an interview with Superchunk and looked pretty damn good for a first issue. I really hope they stick around because the state could use another zine and one that has a different format than SELF AWARE.

fracture-compound

Another zine you should check out is Florida's own, SEVEN INCHES TO FREEDOM. This zine provides some of the best insights on DIY punk that I have ever read. They push me to make a better zine everytime I read it but definitely have the lock down on their content. I really wish I could explain it better than that but I think it would be better to just go pick up a copy for a couple of bucks.

seven inches to freedom

That's gonna wrap it up. Hope you enjoy the links. Hopefully it won't be another two months before my next post.

April 26, 2011

I can't believe that I haven't updated this in almost a year. The original intention was to use this site to supplement things we couldn't possibly cover in the zine and still be relevant if we sit on our collective asses and fall behind schedule by about 4 or 5 months. I kick myself everyday with how lazy I have become in regards to my writing and really try to push this blogging medium to new levels.

So what has happened in my life in the year that I have been absent to this blog? Well most importantly, I got engaged. I am getting married in November and time is running out and a lot of wedding things still need to get done. In order to truly make my fiance hate my guts I decided to plan a fest, TREASURE FEST, that goes down at the end of May. The fest in question is not the usual one venue fest with about 14 bands or so but is instead, over 60 bands and 5 venues over two days in Charlotte, NC. Bands such as Algernon Cadwallader, Daytrader, Red Collar, Restorations, Shitstorm and Denmark's Cola Freaks, just to name a few. It has truly been a lot of hard work and it remains to be seen if people truly give a shit about the amount of red tape this fest truly has been. With that said, I have had a blast setting it up and hope that I can continue to do this every year or at least do it again next year.

On the label front, things are looking up. People are interested and records are moving so that is always good. We have a busy year, with releases from Matt Evans, Pullman Strike (NC), Just Die!, Yardwork, Andy the DoorBum and Florida's own Small Talk. If somehow that all pans out then I will truly be a happy camper.

I am currently unemployed and it hasn't been that bad since I have a very supportive fiance and future in-laws. The zine, as always, is way behind schedule but will soon be out. It features interviews with the legendary EYEHATEGOD, Punch, The Measure and a whole lot more. Like I said previously, I really want to update this more and be more relevant with show reviews, record reviews and short interviews that don't make it into the zine. Thanks for the support and please come to Charlotte, NC, and experience the amazing music scene we have here and TREASURE FEST which takes place May 20th and the 21st.

self aware records
treasure fest blog
treasure fest facebook

BUY A TICKET FOR ONLY $25 (for both days)
treasurefestnc@gmail.com

June 4th, 2010

So this update is a little behind schedule but isn't that starting to be a running theme with anything Self-Aware? Also if we are mentioning Self-Aware records/zine, then I will give a quick update before I go into this show review. First off we have two new releases out. The first is the Meth Mountain discography tape and the second is the new issue of the print zine, Self-Aware issue #6. The aforementioned tape has 18 tracks and a digital download card. Buy both together for $7ppd. The zine features pieces on, Algernon Cadwallader, Bandname, Raein, Concrete Sox, Entombed and an interview with Make Do and Mend. Alright with that out of the way, here goes...


So when I heard the legendary Eye Hate God was coming through the area, I knew right away I was going to be at one of the shows. After missing D.R.I. in Charlotte, I told myself I wouldn't be a dumbass twice. I decided on going to see them in Spartanburg, SC, and I think it was a great decision. If you are going to see EHG go see them in a shit-hole like South Carolina to make the experience so much better. On the bill with EHG was Withered, Nachmystium, and for some reason Joe Buck of Hank III fame. Honestly in some way I almost expected EHG to sound kind of bad and for all of them to be completely wasted but that wouldn't make me any less of a fan. Withered went on first and were really tight but nothing really stood out to me. I thought to myself that I would have been into this more in like 2005. Definitely tight metal. Nachmystium was next and definitely caught my interest a little bit more with their style of "Americanized" black metal. While I'd consider myself a moderate fan of black metal, I still really can't get super into them. I think some of the issue is how popular black metal seems to be all of a sudden and how many people are miraculously into maybe the most unpeople friendly genre ever. How people are really into Burzum and Emperor as easily as they are today, is just beyond me? While I am a fan of both of those bands I wouldn't never expect as many people to be fans as well. Nachmystium rocked it and then Joe Buck came on next and just totally ruined the momentum for the show with his brand of "solo psycho-billy while looking like Skelotor". What was maybe an hour felt like an excruciating eternity. While in some way it definitely fit with EHG, it doesn't mean I didn't want to rip my ears out. Finally EHG set up and I headed to the front. I really haven't been more excited for a show in a long time and was probably grinning like a madman. Mike Williams definitely seemed a little trashed but everyone else looked like they were sober enough to put on a good show. When Jimmy Bower turned his amp and started chugging some of the most amazingly down tuned riffs I knew this was going to be a religious experience. They finally get going and everything thing sounds phenomenal. Mike Williams might have been a little off but I wouldn't have it any other way. Most of the set consisted of tracks from "Take As Needed For Pain" but for that I am glad. Each song was more awesome than the last and I haven't had as much alcohol thrown on me in a good while. Jimmy Bower accidentally kicked a beer bottle into my roommate's face but I think Wes was proud to have it done by such a living legend. I definitely was not let down and was in fact surprised with how amazing they sounded. While my ticket was $24, I honestly feel like it was worth every penny.

(pictures by the amazing Angie Owens)

May 6th, 2010

First things first, I have to mention that
Self-Aware has a new website. It is currently in the state of eternal UPGRADE but for the time being allows you to keep track of us a lot easier. Go to the link and look at what we have released and our future plans. I will continue to update this as irregularly as I do, so no worries. If you are in the need for some new records or 'zines, then by all means help us out and check out the site.

Keeping with the contribution theme, here goes a show review from my brother, Adam Robbins. He recently went to see NOFX in Oregon and wrote a very brief summary of the show. It is short and sweet just like him.


So recently my girlfriend and I drove down to Eugene to see the infamous NOFX. (I might add that she actually did the driving since I do not have a license). Gauging from the last few times I have seen the band I wasn’t really expecting much of a show, but with my deep love for the band the goes back more than a decade and the simple fact the Jenn had never seen them was reason enough to go. Normally I wouldn’t pay more than 20 dollars for a punk rock show, especially with a opener like Tony Sly, but I figured, "what the hey? Anything could happen." Knowing Fat Mike's history with substance and what not it may have been the last time I could have been able to see them before he pulls a James Brown and is running from the police high on PCP, and then is shot like ‘Pac. So we show up over an hour and a half late, great because we miss Mr. Sly and some crappy band called Teenage Bottle rocket that Fat’s really pumping up these day. Surprisingly it wasn’t too crowded and the level of drunken idiots was down to a minimum. So NOFX finally came on and played quite possibly the best show I have seen in years, playing stuff as far back as Liberal Animation, including a good number of Ska stuff. Fat mike was soberish, El Hefe rocked the house, Smelly killed it, as did Melvin. They must have played for an hour and a half; however, we left after 45 minutes only to get talked into going into a nightclub with my dear friend Anna called The Clownfish, which was fucking clown shoes. So check out NOFX, especially this Cokie the Clown stuff, and steer clear of any place with the name Clownfish.

April 5th, 2010

So this is a really interesting update. I am lucky to have a good friend of mine, Kristen Leake, bringing you a show review, thus bringing a fresh perspective to the webzine. Kristen writes a new blog entitled, Outside The Mosh Pit, so make sure you check it out (especially since she had some nice things to say about Self-Aware). Kristen will be writing some stuff in the summer/fall issue of Self-Aware zine so as long as the spring issue comes out at the end of this month or early March you should see her contributions sooner rather than later. Thanks once again and enjoy!!!



Until March 31st, I felt like the only Charlotte native who has not seen The Junior Astronomers live. The Local 506 in Chapel Hill had a free show consisting of O’ God The White Whale and The Junior Astronomers.

O God The White Whale performed first and I just wasn't feeling it. Granted, I talked to a couple of kids who were there solely to see them. So I suppose it just wasn't my preferred style of music. The band is hardcore with metal undertones... and one of the songs will surprise you with a 10 second rap. What I enjoyed most about their set were their song titles (e.g., I Love Jesus But Sometimes I Drink, I asked her to Dance She Asked me to Die). Nevertheless, I was happy when their set ended. I don't think I was the only one because when The Junior Astronomers stepped on stage, the number of people inside doubled.

Seeing them live was worth the drive to Chapel Hill. These guys are not your typical indie rock band. Their distinctive vocals make it difficult to put them in a general music category. The band's overall sound is raw and unrefined. All of their songs are upbeat so don't be surprised if you unconsciously tap your foot to the beat of each song. This is going to sound old school but I honestly felt like two-stepping during their set! Everyone was dancing. Note, I said dancing and not moshing. No jumping on top of each other, no running into each other, no doing spin kicks or whatever kids do in the pit these days... It was a different atmosphere compared to what I'm used to. Half of the crowd was jumping up and down, and the other half was bobbing their head while swaying their body from side to side. The crowd reciprocated the positive energy The Junior Astronomers emitted. I did not want their set to end... After playing their last song the crowd and I chanted for more. Being the cool guys that they are, they played a couple of requests before calling it a night.



After the show, I talked to a couple of the guys in the band--who by the way, are very nice and easy to talk to. I mentioned how I wished Flavorless Candy was on the set list and they apologized. Terrence (the vocalist) actually looked around for an acoustic guitar to play the song for me. There wasn't one in sight... bummer, but that just shows how genuine the guys are. If you don't know already, they are raising money to buy a trailer so they can tour in the near future. Until that time comes, make sure you see them...even if you have to drive an hour or two. It's well worth it.

March 9th, 2010

It's been a little bit since the last update but isn't it always that way? We have a new print zine wrapping up right now so be sure to pick that up since it is our 6th issue. You will see interviews from Raein, the legendary Italian screamo band and Make Do and Mend, a great post-hardcore band on Panic Records. So it's been a busy past few weeks and there haven't been many shows worth making an update for. I was moving during the DRI show and couldn't make it out and definitely regret it. West should be doing a write-up on that for the print zine if all goes well. So here I go with this update...

Leatherface @ The Milestone (3/09/10)

So I have never really gotten around to listening to Leatherface as often as I wish but when given the opportunity to see such an influential band i try not to pass it up twice in one week and since i had just missed DRI then I figured I was obligated. I wasn't familiar with the rest of the lineup but it wasn't like I was going to see anyone else but Leatherface. I missed the first band and I apologize for not knowing their name. I came in during Riot Before, a Richmond, VA band, who played a by the numbers style revolution punk ala Strike Anywhere but not nearly as good as them. They weren't bad but nothing really grabbed me. The lyrics kept throwing me for a loop with lines like, "mustard seed."

Next up was Yesterday's Ring from Montreal. They played a "loud" country-punk hybrid which often does does sit well with me. It seems to be a good idea the mixing of the two genres but for the most part ends up sounding really cheesy. For example, banjo mixed with pop punk. Once again they weren't bad and were definitely super tight but it wasn't my thing.

Finally Leatherface was slated to go next and the oldest guys in the club took to the stage and tore the place up. The odd thing is that the singer of Leatherface looked a lot like my grandpa in the face and it definitely freaked me out. I probably only knew a small handful of songs but when they played them with such force I felt that I had known them all my life. You realize how many bands have been directly influenced by them and how underrated of a band Leatherface truly is. Bands like Hot Water Music for one wouldd probably not exist if it weren't for Leatherface. I wish the turnout was better so they feel good about coming back. I am totally bummed that more people did not get a chance to come out and witness such an awesome set.