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Roadburn 2016 Audio Streams: Behold! the Monolith, Blind Idiot God, Blood Ceremony, CHVE, Hills, Of the Wand and the Moon & Peter Pan Speedrock

Posted in audiObelisk on August 8th, 2016 by JJ Koczan

peter pan speedrock roadburn 2016 (Photo by JJ Koczan)

I was fortunate enough to catch a few of these bands at Roadburn 2016, among them Hills, Blind Idiot God and Peter Pan Speedrock (seen above). As an American traveling abroad — though I’ll say that eight Roadburns deep, there’s a big part of me that feels like going to Tilburg in April is a homecoming as much as foreign travel — it was particularly thrilling to watch Dutch natives Peter Pan Speedrock round out my second night of the fest (review here), their boot-to-the-ass thrust seeming to be in direct contradiction to their stated intent to retire. From Sweden, Hills‘ jammy psychedelics were also thoroughly welcome and somewhat less performative than Goat, which is made up in some measure or other of the same players.

And what to say about Blind Idiot God? Performance art. I might liken it to the first time I saw Cynic after they got back together in that the New York trio were so utterly assured of what they were doing that they managed to carry the audience in the revamped Green Room along their bizarre, oddly-timed path. It was jazz with metallic arrangement, essentially, but the people in front of the stage to see it were rapt the entire time and the level of appreciation was palpable and well justified. They were nothing short of incredible.

Of course, the same could be said for Roadburn 2016 as a whole. “Incredible” is just kind of how it goes. This latest round of streams also featured Behold! the Monolith, Blood Ceremony, a solo set from CHVE of Amenra and Of the Wand and the Moon.

Please enjoy:

Behold! the Monolith – Live at Roadburn 2016

Blind Idiot God – Live at Roadburn 2016

Blood Ceremony – Live at Roadburn 2016

CHVE – VERMAPYRE – Live at Roadburn 2016

Hills – Live at Roadburn 2016

Of The Wand and The Moon – Live at Roadburn 2016

Peter Pan Speedrock – Live at Roadburn 2016

Thanks as ever to Walter for letting me host the streams. To hear the first batch of Roadburn 2016 audio streams, click here, to hear the second one, click here, to hear the third one, click here, and for all of this site’s coverage of Roadburn 2016, click here.

Roadburn’s website

Marcel Van De Vondervoort on Thee Facebooks

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ROADBURN 2016 DAY TWO: Living with the Dead

Posted in Features, Reviews on April 15th, 2016 by JJ Koczan

roadburn 2016 day two (Photo by JJ Koczan)

04.16.16 — 00:40 — Hotel room, Tilburg

When I got in from the show last night, I triumphantly tore my wristband off in accomplishment of having put down day one of Roadburn 2016. Then I looked at the thing and saw it was for all four days. So first thing this morning, obviously enough, was to get a new pass. Needless to say, sheepish grins abounded, but as ever, the Roadburn crew was nothing but delightful and accommodating in the extreme. For the hours of fretting I did about it, was done in about five seconds, then off the finish putting together the second issue of Weirdo Canyon Dispatch, which you can read here.

hexvessel arktau eos 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan)That process was less smooth, but better than yesterday, and I got excused from folding pages in time to catch the beginning of Hexvessel and Arktau Eos‘ collaborative set at Het Patronaat. On the Main Stage, it was the Lee Dorrian-curated ‘Rituals for the Blind Dead Pt. 1,’ but that wouldn’t be starting up for a while yet, so Hexvessel & Arktau Eos felt like it was snuck in as a bonus for anyone who showed up early. Plenty of people did, and were greeted by robe-donned, incense-burning ritualism, the group performing a special set called “Mirror Dawn” in honor of Arktau Eos‘ debut album, Mirrorion, and Hexvessel‘s debut album, Dawnbearer, from which it drew its source material.

Flourishes of ritual bowls, keys, violin, acoustic and electric guitar, synth, various bone-looking rattlers and percussion instruments, a carved horn of some sort, but the shrouded Arktau Eos, it was a deeply ambient beginning to the day, patient on the cusp of droning but with stronger currents running under the still-seeming waters. It was clearly a work of passion — I’d be interested to hear it recorded; will attend the hopeful arrival of the audio stream — and distinct completely from what Hexvessel brought to the Main Stage with their set yesterday (review here) in a way that only made it more engrossing to witness. Something special for Roadburn to start the afternoon.

When I left Patronaat, it was to begin a succession of one band into the next that would define the better part of a remarkably busy day. Mondo Drag were going on in the Green Room. Diamanda Galás would follow shortly after on the Main Stage, mondo drag 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan)so I headed across the alley to the 013 and hit the Green Room on the quick to get a feel for what Mondo Drag were up to, and was struck almost immediately by the clarity of their tones, but the weight they still carry. I felt fortunate to have been familiar with their new RidingEasy album, The Occultation of Light (review here), since it features the current lineup of keyboardist/vocalist John Gamino, guitarists Jake Sheley and Nolan Girard (the latter also synth), bassist Andrew O’Neil and drummer Ventura Garcia, and the live versions of songs like “The Eye” and “Out of Sight” mirrored the chemistry the band as they are today showcased on the record.

It’s almost like a second debut for Mondo Drag in that, but as they melded those cuts with “Zephyr” and “Plumajilla” from last year’s self-titled LP (review here), there was no less ownership of that material, which featured on record what would become the rhythm section of Blues Pills when it was recorded in the Midwest, where the band lived before moving to the West Coast. Either way, Mondo Drag have clearly worked out their niche sound-wise and are engaged in the process of developing that in the textures of the dual guitars and keys and the classic feel of their songwriting. I’d see a lot of psychedelia as the day went on, but catching Mondo Drag for the first time was a thrill for sure. They sound like a band that is going to keep growing.

During the latter portion of their set, I popped over to the Main Stage to bear witness to Diamanda Galás. The grand dame of the avant garde has a few ground rules for playing. They included: No photos (signs were posted), no bars open (they even turned off the lights), and no leaving until the song in progress was mondo drag 2 (Photo by JJ Koczan)finished. Far more free-thinking in her creative spirit, Galás took the stage alone, with a baby grand piano and proceeded to tear gaping holes in sonic convention, her astonishing range matched only by her will to push it to its limits, pulling elements from folk-blues and moving into and out of language for roughly 70 experimentalist minutes. It may have been one of the bravest sets I’ve ever seen at Roadburn — or at least the bravest since Wovenhand in 2011 (review here) — but she kept an impressive portion of the crowd with her for the entire hour-ten, while others waited for the song to end so they could switch out with those waiting on the other side of the door.

I myself went back and watched Mondo Drag finish their set, visited the merch area again when they were done, and still made it back in time to catch the end of Diamanda Galás. All of this was done in anticipation of the next stage in the afternoon/evening’s back and forth, which would see me push from Repulsion to Death Alley to With the Dead to Hills with nary a breath between before catching some of G.I.S.M. and closing out my night with Black Moon Circle and Peter Pan Speedrock, one into the next. There were moments of respite between some sets, but most of it was right in a row. Beats stopping, I guess. No regrets, in any case, though I did sacrifice catching solo sets from Neurosis‘ own Steve Von Till and Scott Kelly in the process, but I saw Kelly in Chicago back in November (review here) and I did some quick math and decided I’d be way likelier to run into Von Till again before Repulsion, so went that way.

Bassist/vocalist Scott Carlson was kind enough to let me have a look at the setlist, which consisted almost entirely of cuts from Repulsion‘s 1989 debut, only album and mega-classic, Horrified. You know why? Because when you fucking repulsion 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan)have Horrified, you don’t need anything else. Repulsion was most definitely not closing any bars. In fact, I think a few new ones opened as they tore into the fleshy bits of classics like “Eaten,” “Slaughter,” “Six Feet Under,” “Repulsion,” and “Horrified” itself. Carlson remarked from the stage that Horrified was recorded 30 years ago (in 1986), and he and guitarist Matt Olivo seemed to relish the opportunity to bring them out again. Does it still count as nostalgia when the songs are about cannibals? These and many more important questions were answered.

With Chris Moore (formerly of Magrudergrind, among others) on drums, Repulsion was as filthy and raging as one could’ve possibly hoped, Carlson noting before “Bodily Dismemberment” that he and Olivo wrote the song in Death guitarist/vocalist Chuck Schuldiner‘s bedroom while Evil Chuck was out working at Del Taco. Easily the best story I heard from the stage today. When they were done, it was time for Death Alley in the Green Room, which was probably my most anticipated set of the day, foremost because I so very much dug their debut LP, last year’s Black Magick Boogieland (review here), but also because it was billed as Death Alley + Friends, which signaled to me a high potential for some psych weirdness to go with their driving heavy rock and proto-thrash. Add to that the fact that the first time I saw the band was at the Hardrock Hideout in 2014, and basically I wasn’t missing them for anything.

After a line check with all six parties on stage, they started the set with just the core four-piece lineup — vocalist Douwe Truijens, guitarist/backing vocalist Oeds Beydals, bassist/backing vocalist Dennis Duijnhouwer and drummer Ming Boyer — and dove headfirst into their cover of Hawkwind‘s “Motorhead”death alley 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan) (premiered here) to begin a kinetic thrust that would only increase in energy as it went along. They were fucking awesome, flat out. I could go on and on in overindulgent language about how righteous Death Alley‘s take on heavy has become, and how expansive, in the two years since I last saw them, but it boils down to the same thing. After the title-track from Black Magick Boogieland, “The Fever” and “Stalk Eyed,” they brought out guitarists Ron van Herpen (also of Astrosoniq, formerly of The Devil’s Blood, currently of ZooN) and Jevin de Groot, who was a bandmate of Duijnhouwer‘s in the wildly underrated — remind me sometime to tell you about how frickin’ underrated they were — cosmic doom outfit Mühr.

The resulting sextet incarnation of Death Alley brought extra fullness of sound and all-out swirl to two cuts that seemed newer, “II’s On” an “Feeding the Lions,” before rounding out with a triumphantly spacious rendition of “Supernatural Predator,” the band three-guitar, pull-the-earplugs-out psych-jamming their way farther out and out and out into the cosmos, utterly hypnotizing the Green Room as they went, BeydalsTruijens and Duijnhouwer sharing the vocal duties that Farida Lemouchi performed on the record — before, with nothing more than a few snare hits from Boyer, they masterfully turned the jam on its head and dug back into the space-rocking-push of the song’s central riff to finish out. A surge of electricity went through the room. They’d wind up being my band of the day, hands down, and the really good news is they play another set on Sunday, closing out the fest where it all began, at Cul de Sac.

As Death Alley were spacing out in the Green Room, With the Dead took the Main Stage for what I think was their third show ever, the four-piece including the day’s curator Lee Dorrian, of Rise Above Records and Cathedral fame (to start with) as well as new drummer Alex Thomas (ex-Bolt Thrower), and new bassist Leo Smee (formerly of Cathedral) in addition to guitarist Tim Bagshaw, whose with the dead 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan)tone was as grime-coated as I recalled it being when I saw him with Ramesses here in 2011. They played the bulk of their 2015 self-titled debut (review here), including “Living with the Dead” and “The Cross” and “Nephthys.” Come to think of it, it might’ve been the whole record. They had an hour and only have the one album, so, you know, you have to make the most of the time.

Even apart from their pedigree — and I’ll readily admit that it’s difficult to separate these guys from their pedigree — With the Dead‘s material is devastatingly heavy, and Dorrian‘s sneer was as true to the dirt coming from Bagshaw and Smee‘s amps as the riffs were raw and oppressive. Seemingly on the other end of the spectrum entirely, but really only back in the Green Room, after Death Alley finished with the aforementioned jam, Sweden’s Hills followed-up with ultra-groovy heavy psych of their own. The poorly kept secret is that they’re the same band as Goat (though whether all or in part, I don’t know), but if it’s Hills‘ brand of laid back kosmiche or Goat‘s afrobeat-inspired costumed throb, I’ll take the former every time. Sans pretense, they were in a fully molten state by the time they got around to the title-track from 2011’s Master Sleeps, having brought out Svensk Psych Aften label owner and promoter Sven Kruppa for a guest vocal spot earlier in the set that felt kind of random, but in such an open context could hardly be considered out of place.

There was a lot to dig about them, from the trance-inducing aspects to the custom visuals, but it was the peace-through-jam serene atmosphere they proffered that most struck me. At the same time, they weren’t quiet — or at least not all the time — and they had energy in their delivery.hills 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan) A lot to dig, but sadly no merch to buy. I was hoping to pick up a CD of last year’s Frid, which is sold out online, but no dice. Apparently you can believe what you read on the internet. While a take-home version of their mesmeric, pulsating and still definitively laid back space rock wasn’t forthcoming, the vibe they set was enjoyable in the moment, though it would soon enough be back to extremity as I got a sampling of G.I.S.M. on the Main Stage.

Granted, it was somewhat obligatory. G.I.S.M. were formed 35 years ago and this marked first show in 14 years and their first show ever outside their native Japan. Showing up wasn’t really optional. I didn’t have quite the same nostalgia factor as I did for Repulsion, but many, many others certainly did, and I watched as G.I.S.M. showcased punk extremity that underscored just how broad Roadburn‘s spectrum has become. I was waiting to close out the night with Black Moon Circle, at Extase, and Peter Pan Speedrock in the Green Room, so I went up to the balcony in the Main Stage room and sat back for the end of G.I.S.M., which of course was no less furious than the start had been.

I knew I was missing Pentagram, and that’s not nothing. But every Roadburn means hard choices, and since Black Moon Circle are Norwegian and Peter Pan Speedrock are playing their last shows — allegedly — ever on their current European tour, priority was given. No regrets. With Roadburn regular Scott “Dr. Space” Heller joining the trio, Black Moon Circle were a more grounded answer to Hills, but still plenty jammy when it came down to it. Dr. Space, whose synth is a swirl factory in itself, always helps in that regard — one recalls his set black moon circle 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan)with Carlton Melton a couple years back — and while I was only there for a short while, and I spent a goodly portion of that trying to get my camera to focus in the mostly darkened Extase, which turned down its lights to allow for Black Moon Circle‘s psychedelic oil lightshow, as well as thinking about how I need to get a review up for their new album, Sea of Clouds, they were a pleasure to watch. I had a hard time pulling myself away.

Motivation in the end, though, was that Peter Pan Speedrock, the Eindhoven trio who’ve been blasting out mission-in-the-name heavy punk for over 20 years, are preparing to retire. They’ve got fest dates booked into the summer and more shows in the fall announced, so I don’t know when they’re actually doing that, but from what I hear, it’s true nonetheless. I’d never seen them before, but in about 20 seconds, the sprint was at full speed and guitarist Peter van Elderen seemed to be out to earn the two-decades of reputation again as quickly as possible, manic in his motion from front to back of the stage, foot up on the monitor, standing on the barricade to play directly to the audience, whatever it might’ve been as drummer Bart Nederhand and bassist Bart Geevers locked in grooves with no room left for questions.

Songs came and went in short, intense bursts, and if this, as my first indoctrination to Peter Pan Speedrock live, is also to be my last, then I’m glad at least I got to see the band once. I was clearly in the minority in that, by the way. Granted, Eindhoven’s only a few towns over from Tilburg, but between peter pan speedrock 1 (Photo by JJ Koczan)singing along to the Hank Williams track that served as their intro to starting a mosh pit in the Green Room, it was abundantly clear that the majority in attendance were more experienced than I when it came to seeing the band. Fair enough for the near-hometown heroes. The last shows I saw booked for them are in November. Never say never, but if they are done, that’s a loss.

Hardly a bummer ending to the night, though. They were far too upbeat and kick-your-ass for that. There was more going on afterwards, but I needed to get back and get writing, so I made my way through the crowd and out, down a busy Weirdo Canyon and back to the hotel. Tomorrow starts bright and early and ends dark and late, but promises plenty of incredible sights and sounds between. Fortunately I kept my wristband on this time.

More pics after the jump. Thanks for reading.

Read more »

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Roadburn 2016: Mondo Drag, Blind Idiot God, Bliksem and Peter Pan Speedrock Join Lineup

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 18th, 2015 by JJ Koczan

I’m extremely pleased to announce that I’ll be returning to Tilburg next April for Roadburn 2016. News came earlier this week that we’ll be doing another run of the Weirdo Canyon Dispatch daily fanzine at the fest, and I’ll once more be partnered with Lee Edwards of The Sleeping Shaman and publicist extraordinaire Becky Laverty in bringing the thing to life. This will be my eighth time at Roadburn, but my first time at Roadburn 2016, and from where I sit, that makes all the difference.

I know damn well I’ll have more about the fest between now and next April, but I can’t even hope to begin to express how grateful I am to Roadburn, to the 013 venue in Tilburg, to Walter and Jurgen and all involved with making it happen. I’m continually humbled by how welcomed and included I’ve come to feel over the last few years, and I can’t wait to get back to the 013 office and see everybody again. It’s been a hell of a year. I have no doubt there will be much to discuss.

Today, Roadburn 2016 announces Mondo Drag, Blind Idiot God, Peter Pan Speedrock (who’ll play as part of their retirement tour) and Bliksem for its lineup. The batch of news below also contains ticket info for the individual days, though really, if you’re going, go for the whole thing. Pack as much in as you can, because it’s going to have to sustain you a whole year until Roadburn time comes around again.

Oh, and make sure you click through and read the full Blind Idiot God announcement! I wrote that one.

Here’s the latest:

NEW ADDITIONS

We will have the legendary PETER PAN SPEEDROCK bringing their high energy rock to Friday proceedings as part of their farewell tour. Read more about them HERE.

The news has already gotten out but we’re incredibly excited to welcome BLIND IDIOT GOD to the Roadburn family for the first time.  They perfectly embody the Roadburn manifesto. Read more about them HERE.

MONDO DRAG will be bringing some Californian sunshine and psychedelic, Krautrock inspired prog all the way to Tilburg in April. Read more about them HERE.

BLIKSEM have been celebrating the release of their latest album, Gruesome Masterpiece, and we’ll be helping them continue those celebrations into 2016 with their performance at Roadburn Festival.  Read more about them HERE.

SKEPTICISM: FAN PICKED SET LIST POLL IS NOW OPEN

When SKEPTICISM take to the stage on Saturday April 16, they will be playing a set that has been entirely picked by their fans. The poll is now open for fans to select their favourite tracks from their back catalogue – which the band will bring to life on stage at Roadburn. The poll runs until the end of the year; votes can be cast HERE.

AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE

Due to some logistic issues, we have to switch JOHN HAUGHM’s solo performance from Friday, April 15th to Saturday, April 16th. Inspired by the bleak desert landscape, he  will bring one of the most sinister Western soundscapes – a collage of material from his latest release The Last Place I Remember – to Roadburn 2016.
Read more HERE.

DAY TICKETS

Roadburn Festival is very pleased to announce the details of our 2016 day tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the festival. These will go onsale at 7pm CET on Thursday January 7, 2016 and will be priced at €59 each (plus fees). Day tickets will be limited so don’t delay!

Due to the upgrades to the 013 venue throughout 2015, Stage01 (still affectionately known by many as the Bat Cave) no longer exists, but in its place there is a larger Green Room which will host bands at the 013 venue. In addition to this Roadburn will be making use of the nearby Extase venue which is located behind Het Patronaat – the smallest stage has always been such an important part of Roadburn and that will continue in 2016. Cul de Sac will also be used as an official venue for Roadburn once again.

More information on the day tickets can be found HERE.

http://www.roadburn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/roadburnfestival
https://twitter.com/roadburnfest

Mondo Drag, Live at Saint Vitus Bar, Brooklyn, 2015

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Peter Pan Speedrock Announce Retirement

Posted in Whathaveyou on December 1st, 2015 by JJ Koczan

Can this possibly stick? Am I crazy for thinking that after 20 years, Dutch trio Peter Pan Speedrock might not just be able to put the band down and walk away? It’s like slamming into a brick wall at 100 miles an hour. I mean, right now and for the last couple nights, they’re in Japan. They toured in the US back in October. They’ve got an extensive run through Europe set up for before and after the New Year. Granted, they might need a break, but I have to think that sooner or later Peter Pan Speedrock will pick up again and continue their assault. It’s what Motörhead would do.

Until I hear otherwise though, they’re calling it a retirement. News came down the PR wire:

peter pan speedrock (Photo by Brendy Wijdeven)

Peter Pan Speedrock announce retirement and plan international farewell tour for 2016

“It was loud, mean, fast & dirty”

An international farewell tour in 2016 will be the last chapter in the saga of the loudest band from the Lowlands. Dreams came true, goals were achieved, Peter Pan Speedrock had their say and left their mark, so the book may close. After twenty years it’s time for singer-guitarist Peter van Elderen, bassist Bartmann and drummer Bart Nederhand to embark on new endeavors. Meanwhile the Dutch speed rockers take off again, for their Japanese tour starts on November 27.

The farewell marks the end of an era, because Peter Pan Speedrock are more than a band. This force of nature is a counterweight for Holland’s lack of earthquakes and hurricanes. Since PPSR arose from Eindhoven in 1996, the sonic landscape in the Netherlands has been shaken up and blown to smithereens. This relentless approach eventually gained PPSR worldwide recognition. Alas their roller coaster ride will come to an end somewhere in 2016.

While they are flying to Japan, the three Lighttown diehards are probably reminiscing about a long and lively career. In 1996 they had a damn good feeling about the road ahead, but no-one foresaw it would lead Peter Pan Speedrock across the length and breadth of Europe numerous times, cut through by tours in North America and Australia. To top it all PPSR instigated the grand slam of rock on Dutch soil: Speedfest. Last Saturday this annual international festivalhalla celebrated its tenth anniversary.

With over 25 releases under their belt PPSR are still on top of their game: supercharging their own brand of rock & roll vigor and winning crowds over by playing scorching live shows. Initially they strived to play 2247 shows, as much shows as the Ramones, but the counter will stop at around 2000 shows next year. If that’s the only unreached objective, it must have been a wild and wonderful ride. And the million visitors who witnessed PPSR live over the years will agree. Let’s drink to that with some Speedrock Premium Heavy Lager. That’s right, PPSR even have their own beer brand as part of their legacy.

No matter what the future holds, Peter Pan Speedrock shall ring on forever and a day!

Peter Pan Speedrock tour dates:
27.11 – Nutty’s (Machida, Japan)
28.11 – Vertex (Yokkaichi, Japan)
29.11 – Gramhouse (Ina, Japan)
30.11 – Metro (Kyoto, Japan)
1.12 – Varit (Kobe, Japan)
2.12 – Hokage (Osaka-Shi, Japan)
3.12 – Huckfin (Nagano, Japan)
4.12- Sunash (Shizuoka, Japan)
5.12- Earhdom (Tokyo, Japan)
11.12 – Rock School Barbey (Bordeaux, France)
12.12 – Secret Place (Saint Jean de Vedas, France)
13.12 – Le Mars Attack (Angouleme, France)
17.12 – Gleis 22 (Munster, Germany)
18/12 – Hafenklang (Hamburg, Germany)
19.12 – East Club (Bischofswerda Germany)
15.1 – dB’s (Utrecht, Netherlands)
20.1 – La Scene Michelet (Nantes, France)
21.1 – Sala Sidecar (Barcelona, Spain)
22.1 – King Kong Club (Zaragoza, Spain)
23.1 – Libertados (Leon, Spain)
24.1 – le Bukowski (San Sebastian, Spain)
26.1 – Sala Son (Pontevedra, Spain)
28.1 – King Creole (Estepona, Spain)
29.1 – Gruta 77 (Madrid, Spain)
30.1 – Hell Dorado (Vitoria, Spain)
31.1 – Edaska (San Vicente De Barakaldo, Spain)
1.2 – Le Tigre (Selestat, France)
12.2 – Patronaat (Haarlem, Netherlands)
13.2 – Neushoorn (Leeuwarden, Netherlands)
26.2 – Café Nord (Essen, Germany)
27.2 Westwerk (Osnabruck, Germany)
17.3 Club 007 (Prague, Czech Republic)
18.3 Groovestation (Dresden, Germany)
19.3 Lido (Berlin, Germany)

https://www.facebook.com/peterpanspeedrock/
http://www.peterpanspeedrock.nl/
http://www.suburban.nl/en/
http://www.shopturbojugend.com/category/selfdestructorecords

Peter Pan Speedrock, Live at Speedfest, Eindhoven, Nov. 21, 2015

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Mondo Generator and Peter Pan Speedrock Tour Starts Tomorrow

Posted in Whathaveyou on October 8th, 2015 by JJ Koczan

Nick Oliveri‘s Mondo Generator and Dutch rippers Peter Pan Speedrock are both celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year, and they’ve joined forces to take what’s sure to be a riotous cross-country trip together this month. It’s Mondo Generator‘s first US run since early 2013, but Peter Pan Speedrock have that beat easy: It’s been 13 years since the last time they came Stateside. Seems only fair to expect they’ll be in lively form to stand up to the occasion.

The PR wire has dates and whatnots:

peter pan speedrock mondo generator tour

Peter Pan Speedrock and Mondo Generator announce US tour in October

High octane powered Dutch machine Peter Pan Speedrock have confirmed and announced a Fall tour in the United States with Los Angeles based punk/metal hybrid Mondo Generator that has the hell ride begin in the city of Brotherly Love and conclude in the Emerald City.

Dates:

10/9 – North Star (Philadelphia, PA)
10/10 – Wonder Bar (Asbury Park, NJ)
10/11 – Bowery Electric (New York, NY)
10/12 – Ottobar (Baltimore, MD)
10/14 – Hard Rock Cafe (Pittsburgh, PA)
10/15 – Small’s (Hamtramck, MI)
10/16 – Brauerhouse (Lombard, IL)
10/17 – Rock Island Brewing (Rock Island, IL)
10/19 – The 5th Quarter (Indianapolis, IN)
10/21 – Larimer Lounge (Denver, CO)
10/24 – Shredder (Boise, ID)
10/25 – El Corazon Lounge (Seattle, WA)

This tour ends a thirteen year long hiatus and a long awaited return of Peter Pan Speedrock to US soil and it is perfect timing for them to do this. 2015 is a significant milestone in their world as they are marking twenty years strong as a band, the ten year anniversary of their Eindhoven based metal/punk festival Speedfest and a North American release of their latest album Buckle Up And Shove It!(first release in North America since 2005). Their success is accredited to a solid foundation, nonstop touring and a work ethic that’s as heavy as the 2015 lineup for Speedfest.

Their latest album Buckle Up And Shove It! was released across Europe by Suburban Records/Steamhammer and picked up earlier this year by Self Destructo Records for North American audiences. Fourteen powerful tracks that blend crushing metallic guitar, powerful low end bass and hammering drums that were recorded at their new in house recording Mecca Bootleg Studios in Eindhoven, Netherlands. Their career includes ten full lengths along with split albums with names like Zeke, Danko Jones, Batmobile, Gluecifer, V8 Wankers & Death Alley. Their workhorse ethic has taken their live shows across the European, Australian and North American continents with their first visit to the Asian continent occurring in wintertime. With this ethic, they draw themselves closer to their goal of surpassing The Ramones number of live shows played of 2,263.

Mondo Generator is celebrating twenty years as a band as well! Reactivated after being put on ice due to Nick Oliveri’s touring/recording commitments with Bl’ast, Moistboyz and Dwarves, as well as releasing his solo album Leave Me Alone (Schnitzel Recordings) with tours across California and Europe in support. The break also had him rejoining his old band Queens Of The Stone Age on the stage during their final show of 2014 in Los Angeles at The Forum as well as a performance in Portland, OR. This tour will conclude for Mondo Generator at the Day Of The Shred festival in Santa Ana, CA where they will play alongside the likes of Torche, Crowbar, Yawning Man, Saviours, The Body and Nick’s old band mate from the Kyuss years, John Garcia. It will be the first US tour for Mondo Generator since they shared the road with Wino and Saviours back in 2013 in support of their last album Hell Comes To Your Heart (Mondo Media/No Balls Records).

Says Mondo Generator founder Nick Oliveri of the tour: “Looking forward to touring with Holland’s finest motor rock punk kings PPSR, on our 20th year of Mondo Generator being a band.”

Buckle Up And Shove It! is available now from Self Destructo Records on vinyl and CD in North America and through Suburban Records for the rest of the world.

Leave Me Alone and Hell Comes To Your Heart are available through the Nick Oliveri webstore.

https://www.facebook.com/officialmondogenerator
http://www.freewebstore.org/nickoliveristore

https://www.facebook.com/peterpanspeedrock
http://www.peterpanspeedrock.nl/

Mondo Generator, “The Last Train” official video

Peter Pan Speedrock, “Get You High” official video

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Peter Pan Speedrock to Release Buckle up and Shove It! on March 31

Posted in Whathaveyou on March 10th, 2015 by JJ Koczan

peter pan speedrock (Photo by Brendy Wijdeven)

When it arrives later this month/next month, Peter Pan Speedrock‘s Buckle up and Shove It! will be the Netherlands-based trio’s first North American release since 2007’s Pursuit until Capture, leaving 2010’s We Want Blood! ripe for reissue. Self Destructo Records will have Buckle up and Shove It! out on CD on March 31 with vinyl to follow in April. The album was also released by Suburban Records in Europe last year, but as Peter Pan Speedrock have never really gotten their due from the heavy punker Stateside contingent, a separate North American distribution seems like a fair move. Maybe they’ll tour. I’ll try not to get ahead of myself.

We turn to you, oh PR wire, with your copious informando and upcoming (European) tour dates:

peter pan speedrock buckle up and shove it

Self Destructo Records to unleash Peter Pan Speedrock in North America with the release of Buckle Up And Shove It!

Peter Van Elderen (Guitar/Vox) – Bart Geevers (Bass) – Bart Nederhand (Drums)

For the first time in a decade, the Netherlands prevalent group of balls out/motherfuckering rock n’ roll Peter Pan Speedrock will service their North American fan base in late Spring with their latest offering entitled Buckle Up And Shove It! to be released on CD and limited vinyl through Self Destructo Records.

Peter Pan Speedrock is hands down the hardest working band to come from the Dutch rock n’ roll scene. That can be said with absolute confidence on our end. The band derived their name from a condition called “Peter Pan Syndrome” (a popular psychological term regarding male social immaturity) and have a career together spanning nearly twenty years which includes 1800+ shows, eleven full lengths, a handful of E.P’s and split releases with appearances by fellow neck breakers Zeke, V8 Wankers, Batmobile, Gluecifer and Danko Jones. They’ve done transcontinental tours (Europe, Russia, Australia and USA), played to massive audiences at some of the largest festivals in the world (Pinkpop, SXSW, With Full Force, Dynamo Open Air) and organize/curate their own festival called Speedfest, which happens annually in their hometown of Eindhoven “Rock City” and draws 5,000 + from around the globe to the festival grounds. They’ve done tours with Turbonegro, Zeke, Honky (to name a few) across Europe, toured the US with Nashville Pussy and have opened up for Motörhead and Anthrax during tour stops in the Benelux. At Speedfest, they’ve shared the stage with some of the biggest names in underground hard rock (i.e. Monster Magnet, Suicidal Tendencies, The Fuzztones, Red Fang, The Reverend Horton Heat, ..And You Will Know Us By Trail Of The Dead, Doomriders, Napalm Death and TONS of others.)

Buckle Up And Shove It! consists of thirteen blistering tracks that blur the lines for anyone attempting to categorize them as a punk or metal band. Just a pure sonic assault on the ears. For 37 minutes, these cats exhibit their love for Motorhead-like heaviness, AC/DC like riff structures, the speed and ferocity of Zeke and conjure the swagger of The Damned. Recommended tracks like “Murdertruck” and “Get You High” bring out exactly what any hard rock fan wants: Illegal activity praise, POUNDING drums and down strokes on the strings on a Les Paul and Fender Jazzmaster through Eindhoven amplifiers (these dudes support as much local Nethelands business as possible). The album will be released on CD and highly limited vinyl in a first run flaming translucent beauty for North America. Buckle Up And Shove It! will be made available through Shop Self Destructo, Shop Turbojugend and wholesale through Cobraside Distribution.

As mentioned earlier, its been a decade (and countless amounts of Grolsch consumed by these lads) since a Peter Pan Speedrock album has been picked in North America for a release (last one being Pursuit Until Capture c/o Prophase Music). The last time Peter Pan Speedrock made a presence in North America was at the turn of the century with two appearances at SXSW (2001 and 2003) and a 25 date tour through the US and Canada with Georgia based sex, riff n’ whiskey thumpers Nashville Pussy. We here at Self Destructo Records have been avid fans of these guys for years and the opportunity to work alongside Suburban Records to push these guys in North America is something we’re not taking lightly, we’re proud to have Peter Pan Speedrock be a part of our roster alongside The Meatmen, The Hip Priests, Against The Grain, Razorbats and the rest of our brothers here.

Release Date and formats for North America
Digital – March 24
CD – March 31
Vinyl – April 21

2015 Tour Dates
2/13 – Victorie (Alkmaar, The Netherlands)
3/6 – Mezz (Breda, The Netherlands)
3/14 – Helling (Utrecht, The Netherlands)
3/20- Gebr, De Nobel (Leiden, The Netherlands)
3/28- Nitrofest (Hannover, Germany)
4/3 – 4/5 – Paaspop (Schijndel, The Netherlands)
4/11 – Manifesto (Hoorn, The Netherlands)
5/7 – Schabule (Kiel, Germany)
5/8 – Mavericks – Club Sin (Tampera, Finland)
5/9 – Beta (Copenhagen, Denmark)
5/16 – Duycker (Hoofddorp, The Netherlands)
9/25 – Paard (Den Haag, The Netherlands)

http://peterpanspeedrock.nl/
https://www.facebook.com/peterpanspeedrock
https://twitter.com/ppspeedrock
http://www.shopselfdestructo.com/
http://www.shopturbojugend.com/
http://www.cobraside.com/

Peter Pan Speedrock, “Get You High!” official video

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