BONE – Pirate the Islands / The Headlines Have It 7”

Rumble Records – Ft. Lauderdale – 1979

Richard Bone – voices, synthesizers & electronics

Buddy Draise – rhythm devices
John Schavone – bass keyboard
Bill Pimm – guest flute

It really doesn’t matter what this sounds like – the cover’s fuckin’ great! But – in case you’re wondering….this features plenty of synthesizers, creepy vocals, yes – a prominent flute on one song….never quite makes it to the “good” column….almost….but hell it was 1979….I’m sure it was ahead of its time…Said Bone person went on to Shox Lumania in New York and apparently something of a music career….

THE BELTONES – Shitty In Pink / Nobody to Love 7”

Radio Records – Gainesville (2000)??

Bill McFadden – guitar, vocals

Bob – guitar

Willy – drums

Mike – bass

This is the fourth (last?) Beltones single, released after their relocation to Gainesville from South Florida. Although the entire original band relocated to Gainesville, they had all been replaced (except Bill) by the time of this record – after various altercations. Following this record, the Beltones relocated to Austin and may or may not still exist. The cover girl certainly looks like trouble – and one can get a limited edition version with McFadden’s head superimposed on her body – but I’m happy with the one I have. Yikes!

The record, of course, is very good – more of what you’ve grown to expect from the Beltones – scabs or not. Nobody to Love is especially wonderful and was written by renowned Irish person, Shane MacGowan.

News Flash - From a confidential, but indisputable source, Rob Sessions (original Beltone) did play guitar on this record and did not bail out until later. I thought that guy in the dress looked familiar.

BREATHERS – 7” EP

Hivariety Records – Ft.Lauderdale (1982)

Did You Think

Don’t it make you feel

Fallen In Love Again

Hoze Fleming – guitar

Rick Harper – bass vocal guitar

Erich Overhultz – piano organ

GT Staley – drums

Talk about pandering to the lowest common denominator – if you don’t enjoy breathing – you’re very unlikely to buy this record. This record had two labels – one in Ft Lauderdale – one in Hamburg Germany and two dates 1982 and 1987. This definitely was not recorded in 1987. Given the mustaches on the back cover, you can tell these dudes had a lot of good dope. I was mistakenly hoping for some kind of Krautrock – like Can or Faust – but no. Did You Think is on “The Land that Time Forgot” compilation and is a pretty good song in a Beatles-type of way. The other two songs are not good and not bad, also in a Beatles / 70’s rock kind of way. I believe another 7” and an LP were released by these folks. The drummer was in NRBQ which may mean something to someone.

BUTTERCUPS/CRETEENS 7" split

FLORIDA'S DYING -- Orlando (2005)

CRETEENS:
I Don't Want to Be Educated
Hound Dog

BUTTERCUPS:
I Wanna Live
Throwing Bulls

No personnel listed.

Both sides are trashy cretin garage punk -- heavy, quick and sloppy.

The Creteens A-side probably has the edge. 'Educated' carries a persuasive message over caveman drums, cymbals and distortion that are hard to distinguish from each other. 'Hound Dog' is surprisingly worthwhile, in a Germs-does-Chuck-Berry 'Round and Round' kind of way. The Buttercups B-side is similar enough that it belongs on the same record.

BOOTLEG BILL - Welcome to Florida

Double Cross Records -- West Palm Beach (1996)

Welcome to Florida
Ian Rotten's Revenge

Bill - Vocals, bass, all guitars
Boomer - drums

You are not allowed to like this and I don't want to get you in trouble with your corporate boss or your liberal girlfriend. Still, I have taken on the responsibility of reviewing Florida records and this record is about as Floridian as it gets. So here goes...

The A-side starts out slow with the words, "Welcome to Florida, now fucking leave" and picks up tempo into the chorus ("Shoot 'em on sight/If they ain't white") and particularly into the rave-up climax ("Miami Beach is a foreign land...Cubans go home! Haitians go home!). This is much like Skrewdriver in sound, vocals and lyrical content. It's also embarrassingly catchy like early Skrewdriver: primitive, ignorant and heartfelt, devoid of irony.

Musically, the B-side is in a similar vein. I think it is about professional wrestling. It is a celebration of violence in any case.

If you find a copy of this extremely limited self-release, you have an eagle eye. Buy it. Hide it. Enjoy it at your own risk.

"Will the last American to leave Florida, please bring the flag!"

BELTONES -- My Old Man 7"

JUST ADD WATER RECORDS -- Deerfield Beach, 1996

My Old Man
Fuck You Anyway

Bill McFadden -- Vocal, guitar
Chris War -- Bass
Kevin Crook -- Drums
Rob Sessions -- Guitar

No one reviews a Beltones record without mentioning Stiff Little Fingers and this single is part of the reason why. 'My Old Man' starts out with a stacato military drum beat, anthemic guitar, personal lyrics and a guttural vocal straight off of Nobody's Heroes, sans Irish accent. Well, maybe there's a little Irish accent in there...

The B-side describes a scene that anyone who punk rock speaks to has experienced a zillion times. 'Fuck You Anyway' sums it up.

Formed in 1994, this band released two full lengths and four 7"s and appeared on several comps. This one is recommended.

BELTONES – Naming My Bullets 7” EP

TKO Records - Deerfield Beach (1998)

Naming My Bullets
Juvenile Delinquent
Suzy is a Heartbreaker v2.0
Let the Bombs Fall

Bill McFadden - vocals, guitar
Chris Arocha - bass
Rob Sessions – guitar
Kevin Crook – drums

The third record by the Beltones may be their best. The Beltones got their start in Broward County, fled North to Gainesville (around the time of this records), eventually defected to Texas and then dissolved. If you like all things Irish, drunk, angry, SLF, etc., the Beltones are for you! I’m not the world’s biggest fan of all of the previous things & these guys were pretty damn derivative – but they usually put on a good show, cared about what they were doing and were from Florida! “Let the Bombs Fall” is a particularly personal song about family tragedy leading to antipathy toward the entire world. Naming my Bullets (the song) is another hit.

BAD HABITS – Livin la vida broke 7”

South Florida Drunk Punx – Ft. Lauderdale (2006)

Ice Cold Beer
Drink to Hate
I’m Glad You Hate Me

Dirty Jay – guitar, vocals
Ray Beers – drums
Josh Raw – bass & vocals

I think I see two predominant areas of interest in the song titles. Drinking and Hating. Drinking first, hating later. You get a fairly ok mix of standard drunk punk and street punk. Their nice logo and commendable dual-mindedness lift this record into the plus column.

BLANKET – 7” EP

Paddywagonjive Records – Miami (1993)

Gary Costa– guitar, vocals
Bobby Baker– bass, vocals
Brian Watkins– drums

Apple
Squash
Soda Man

Loud, crushing, hateful sounding early-90’s rock. I would put this ahead of most of the AmRep catalog (a huge compliment). Songs are all distinctive and suitably abrasive. I love this record! They also appeared on a live at Churchills CD and I think that’s about it.