Life In A Bungalo

Hellbound Glory
“Scumbag Country”
Gearhead Records

Hellbound Glory gets props right off the bat for one of the greatest band names in years. Couple that with an amazing record of country-fried hellbilly rock ‘n’ roll, and you have one of the best package deals of 2008.

“Scumbag Country” is a balls-to-the-wall road ripper with tunes that just chug and chug, and lyrics that are as crack up funny as they are catchy as all hell. The record kicks off with the band’s phenomenal eponymous track “Hellbound Glory,” which secures the band in the annals of kickass rock bands. The song rises like a prayer, ramping up to a twangy rompfest of goodness, featuring some amazing fingerpicking and a chorus that just won’t quit. “Here now I’m riding on a hellbound train/Hellbound Glory, yeah that’s his name,” singer Leroy Virgil cries out throughout the song.

“Chico’s Train” follows suit as a traditional country ditty, bashed in the head with a good helping of honky tonk and rockabilly fun. But the band’s call-to-arms is “The Ballad of Scumbag Country,” a laugh out loud tribute to hard living, coke snorting, rebel rousing scumbags. A true tounge in cheek (I think) anthem to white trash living.

Hellbound Glory are just getting started, but judging by “Scumbag Country” this trio of punkabilly rockers already have the world by the balls. It’s just a matter of time before they take it over and spit it back out like used up chewing tabaco.

Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks

The Pink Spiders, the Nashville-based power-pop band with the explosive sound and attitude to burn, is priming their fan base for a new fix later this year as they prepare the September 23 release of “Sweat It Out.” With producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Bruce Springsteen) at the helm, “Sweat It Out” is the band’s first album to be released on Pink Spiders frontman Matt Friction’s own label Mean Buzz, via Adrenaline Music.  Giving fans a taste of what’s to come, the new album’s first single and video “Gimme Chemicals” - which screams “summer party anthem” - will be hitting the airwaves shortly. Read more »

NorCal hardcore/punk band, The Force, is reuniting for the first time in 10 years. Singer Matt Wedgley (Viva Hate), bassist Hunter Burgan (AFI), guitarist Mark Roustabout (The Roustabouts) and the inimitable drummer Chad Cox went their separate ways after the band’s final show in 1998, each following his own path to personal and professional success. Read more »

Thee Merry Widows
“The Devil’s Outlaws”

The brides or rock & roll Frankenstein have returned with a record of mid-tempo psycho anthems that provide the perfect soundtrack to the latest zombie invasion.

While not as viciously heavy as some of their contemporaries, the gals that make up the Merry Widows approach their music with a laid back swagger that recalls goth lounge with a bit of swing. Singer Eva Von Slut eschews the sickly sweet vocals of most of today’s rockabilly female vocalist in exchange for a croon that would make Danzig proud.

In fact, “Devil’s Outlaws” could best be compared to The Misfits “Static Age”–a record of slower, punk classics, that are highlighted by trippy lyrics that you can actually understand and a solid groove that you can get behind. That said, this record also begs for a bit more rock. Songs like “My High Heels” and “The Bride” have that catchy feeling, but most of the tunes on here might be a little off-putting to fans of more traditional psycho fares.

Pick up “The Devil’s Outlaw” and you’re guaranteed to be enticed, go see these gals live to be blown away.

Iron Maiden
PNC Art Center, NJ
June 14, 2008

Click for full Iron Maiden Photolog

From the moment Winston Churchill’s legendary speech resonated over the PA, it was obvious that the evening was going to be a special one. Fans screamed as the first riffs of “Aces High” echoed through the amphitheater, rolled over the masses, and poured out into the rain soaked crowd. Last night, was a special evening, and for those that withstood the torrential downpour and startling lightning, it was worth it to see true legends in action. Read more »

Life In A Bungalo swung by the old WWE New York in Times Square today for a press conference promoting Vince McMahon’s million dollar giveaway. Here are some tidbits:

The press conference started at noon, and fans were seated in the general floor area behind the press and fans filled out the balcony area. The place was pretty packed with tons of chanting New Yorkers.

A team of security guards went on stage at the start to unload a clear suitcase filled with money into an acrylic, see-through podium. The audience started chanting for some of the dough, to no avail. Read more »

It’s coming…

www.lemmymovie.com

Mad Marge & the Stonecutters
Karma, Victorville, CA
May 31, 2008

Click for more photos of the show>>>

Round trip gas to Victorville = $55
Dinner for two at burrito joint = $35
Tickets to the show = $24
Seeing Mad Marge and the Stonecutters perform in their home town = priceless

Sorry, but I could not resist the lame AMEX joke and there’s no other way to compare the experience of driving a million miles through the desert in a shitty PT Cruiser to check out one of the wildest live punk acts in years. Read more »