HELLO SHITTY PEOPLE - EP

This Here Records – Gainesville – 2000(?)

Marketable Melancholy

Dos Gatos
Figure Skator
Punctual Posse
I Kill Butterflies
Deadly Retribution III

Timmy Put – bass and or vocals

Wolski – drums, feathers
Michael Collins – guitar, vocals, liberty
Cinque – breasts and belly

A representative example of the region-rock phenomenon (basically a bunch of drunks who also rock – and leave a trail of empty beer cans stretching from Miami to Chattanooga with stops in Gainesville and other mostly-Southern cities. Songs are mid tempo to fast with gruff vocals, workmanlike musicianship with zero pretentiousness. Actually, pretentiousness in the rock arena can be a good thing – and if I remember correctly, their LP features a side-long ukulele “jam” and was a little more engaging….though – great name and inspired cover! I wondered who drank Busch, now I know it was bats all along.

 

HARRY PUSSY – 1st 7”

Esync – Miami Beach (1992)

2 untitled “songs”

Bill Orcutt - guitar

Adris Hoyos – drums

First record by Miami Beach’s highly influential and much beloved noise-makers. They didn’t fully have their sound together yet on this record. The hardcore punk influence didn’t show up for another record or two and there’s no vocals this time. In lesser hands, improvy instrumental “pieces” (especially in the 7” format) usually come off as annoying, uninspired excuses to make a record and are soon filed – never to be listened to again. This record is different – it totally sounds like it was recorded on another planet and there were very few precedents at the time. Mr. Orcutt invented a new way to play guitar. Ms. Hoyos hadn’t perfected her craft yet (amazing flailing drums with simultaneous ear-piercing screaming) on this record. The “compositions” may sound random, but more than likely were at least semi-worked out. Great WTF cover art too!

HOLY TERRORS – Cigarettello / Bad Thing 7”

Esync Records – Miami – 1992

Rob Elba – vocals, guitar

Dan Hosker – guitar, vocals

Frank Labradr – bass, vocals

Sam Fogarino – drums

The Holy Terrors have been around forever – they claim to have not really been an active band for the last 10 years or so – that does not stop them from playing about 6 times a year. And every set, they play Cigarettello – I don’t blame them – it’s probably their best song – you know the one “the flames get higher – higher – higher, etc….”. But - you really do need to rotate out your best song once in a while if only to disappoint people.

HOLY TERRORS – s/t 7” EP

Esync Records – Miami (1990)

Spirit
Shine
Stranger

Rob Elba – guitar, vocals
Dan Hosker – guitar, vocals
Frank Labrador – bass, vocals
Sam Fogarino – drums

First record by long running South Florida band. As of 2009, they’re still at it – at least Rob and Dan are. I’m not sure what happened to the Labrador guy – and Sam Fogarino fled Florida for fame and fortune with Interpol (the band, not the international police organization). They still play Shine at their shows (write more songs!!!) Holy Terrors were one of the first bands to emerge after the horrible crash of local music in the late 80’s. It’ sounds like the Terrors may have had some career ambitions at the time. Spirit, especially, is very commercial sounding featuring spacey guitar from Mr. Hosker. The record is maybe a little tame – especially given the beast the Terrors would become in live settings. Its good, its produced by Rat Bastard – it’s a nice start.

THE HATE BOMBS -- Untitled four song 7" EP

SCREAMING APPLE RECORDS (Koln, Germany) -- Orlando (1996)

What a Woman Wants

Like It That Way

Everytime

Cry Into the Night

Dave Ewing -- guitar, vocals

Mick Crowley -- guitar, vocals, organ

Scott Sugiuchi -- bass, chatter

Ken Chiodini -- drums, vocals

More '60s American garage rock from The Hatebombs. You know these revival bands are good when their originals are better than their covers and that is the case here with "Cry in the Night" by Q65 being easily surpassed by the the savage "What a Woman Wants" and "Like It That Way." The latter steals the drum gimmick from the Sonics' "Psycho" to great effect.

THE HATE BOMBS -- She's the Girl

Speed-O-Meter -- Orlando (1994)

She's the Girl

Know About You

Dave Ewing -- guitar, lead vocal

Scott Sugiuchi -- bass

Ken Chiodini -- drums, vocal

Mick Crowley -- guitar, vocal, harmonica

The Hate Bombs turned into one of the best 60's garage revival bands of the '90s anywhere, not just Florida. Necessarily derivative, they nonetheless transcended other such bands primarily because they are competent songwriters, not just copycats. Of course, they had the schtick down too. They made it work live. The band rocked, audience danced.

This record, their first, hints at this with two originals. 'She's the One' is the standout. It is not not their best, but not a bad place to start. After all, it's where they started.

HARRY PUSSY - “Girl with Frog” 7” EP

Esync – Miami (1993)

Adris Hoyos – drums, vocals
Bill Orcutt – guitar, vocals

(5 or 6 untitled songs)

Harry Pussy defined their sound on this, their second, record. The first single featured two slower, lumbering improvisational sounding compositions. This time around, there’s still some slower, introspective moments, but, in general, they pick up the pace and put together a style of music all their own. The excellent LP that followed this record would have more of a hardcore punk influence than this EP, but you can start to hear it here. Bill’s completely unique (I hadn’t heard anything like it before) guitar style, Adris’s flailing approach to drumming, their ability to make tuneless screetching sound like art, and a very dry sense of humor about the whole thing, put them miles in front of their noisy peers. I cannot image a worthwhile person passing this record up in a store. The cover alone makes it a mandatory purchase.

HUDSON -- OUT OF GAS EP

Far Out Records - Fort Lauderdale (1996?)

Big Deal

Down in Front

Loaded

Dancing with Myself

This is the first record from Far Out Records, which later recorded Bingo Mut, One-Eyed Kings, Against All Authority, Less Than Jake and others.

'Big Deal' is a standout and justifies this disk. Fast, powerful and heartfelt, it also appears on the Far Out Records South Florida comp. It is not threatening, adventurous, comical nor nihilistic, so what Hudson has to peddle is basically hooks and speed.

Or maybe just speed: The other songs on this record are not easily distinguishable from each other or from those of many other straightforward punk bands from the mid-1990s. The cover of Billy Idol's 'Dancing With Myself' is, uh ... just is. But if it weren't, that would be OK too.

HUMAN ODDITIES - Henry

Gravel Co. -- Miami (1991)

Smooth Sippin'

Henry

Fire Bad

Jimmy Da Brain - vocals

Natasha Wyoming - vocals

Mr. Torso - guitar

Betty Bulldozer - drums

Jesus Christ - bass

Sunny Lee Lucas - stylist

This is a good-natured indie bar band in the Beat Happening mode with songs about drinking, serial killing and cavemen. Not essential, but not half bad either. I really don't know what to say about it. Hal Spector recorded it, does that tell you anything?

HUMAN BUFFET – 7”EP

Transparent Records – Miami (1999)

Cum
Man-size habit
Do You Love Your Bad Self

Splinter – guitar
Baby Doll Todd – vocals
James Ivers – bass
Joey Image – drums

I saw these neo-glam weirdos at least once at Churchills, about the time this record came out. Their self-conscious punkity look was a little out of place and throwing confetti at the sullen crowd was ridiculous. Yes, that’s Joey Image of Misfits fame – a fact they don’t let you forget (can’t really blame ‘em). Man-sized Habit is the best song title and probably the best song on this record. Rabid fans of New York Dolls, Dead Boys, etc. will find kindred souls at the Human Buffet. It’s good – I suppose I’ve just heard it before. The most amazing part of this release was the over-the-top propaganda claiming oppression from Rudy Guliani and the church for not understanding. Nice cover, red vinyl - best band person name – Baby Doll Todd – I wonder if he kept the name for real life.