SONG OF THE WEEK: 11/27/22

SONG:  "Find A Reason"

ARTIST:  The Grizzly Band

ALBUM:  "Lost And Found"

YEAR:  2014

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Houston, Texas

YEARS ACTIVE:  2008 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Find A Reason" appears to be about yet another break-up song. The twist, at least from what I find, is that most of these break-up songs talk about the girl walking out on the guy. But on this song, it's the vocalist that's ending the relationship and it appears for sure that he has no regrets in doing so.

THE GRIZZLY BAND DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2009 - How Fast They Fade (self-released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Drunk And Loud (self-released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Lost And Found (Altercation Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2019 - Anywhere But Home (self-released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON THE GRIZZLY BAND:

The Grizzly Band formed as a band back in 2008, hailing from Houston, Texas. The band dropped their debut full length studio album in 2009, called "How Fast They Fade". Soon after they self-released a live album titled "Drunk And Loud (Live At Rudyard's)" in 2011, followed by their "Victory" EP in 2012. 2014 saw the band drop "Lost And Found". Most recently, The Grizzly Band released "Anywhere But Home" in 2019. The Grizzly Band self-proclaim themselves to be "southern whiskey punk". And that sound is some sort of the influence of Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Social Distortion and Jawbreaker. I think that combo sums them up pretty good! I first learned of these guys from dyingscene.com for sure. I want to say "Lost And Found" was the first album I owned by them but I'm not totally sure. I may have had their debut, "How Fast They Fade" back in 2009. These guys are pretty cool. Think of a southern rock type of band with punk rock elements, even some Americana/Folk sprinkled in as well. These guys aren't super out there on social media so there's not a lot of info out there on them. In fact, as of writing this blog, I didn't even know they released "Anywhere But Home" in 2019 so that's something i'll have to pick up soon.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Tumbledown

Arliss Nancy

Social Distortion

Nowherebound

The Tim Version

TEN THE GRIZZLY BAND SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Pass The Smoke

2. Good Times With Bad Friends

3. I Need You

4. Foreign Shores

5. How Fast They Fade

6. Stand Up

7. One More Day

8. Devils Calling

9. The Letter

10. Concrete River

SONG OF THE WEEK: 11/20/22

SONG:  "Meatballs And Corn Stew"

ARTIST:  Druglords Of The Avenues

ALBUM:  "Sing Songs"

YEAR:  2008

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Oakland, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  2004 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

Not really sure what the song "Meatballs And Corn Stew" is about. Is it about meatballs and corn stew? I don't think so! It's definitely about a woman who seems to be a "woman of the world". By that, she seems like someone who holds your attention by speaking of her life's experiences. That could be totally wrong! Can't find the lyrics on the net so that's all I got!

DRUGLORDS OF THE AVENUES DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2008 - Sing Songs (Red Scare Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - New Drugs (Red Scare Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON DRUGLORDS OF THE AVENUES:

Druglords Of The Avenues formed as a band back in 2004, hailing from Oakland, California. This is a side project of Johnny Bonnel, lead singer of longtime punk stalwarts Swingin' Utters. Though the Utters have been a loyal Fat Wreck band, Druglords Of The Avenues have spent their years on Red Scare Records. The band's debut album dropped in 2008, titled "Sing Songs". Five years later, the band released what would be their most recent full length album, "New Drugs". Their most recent release was a split with the band Death March. As I said earlier, Druglords Of The Avenues is a side project band for Swingin' Utters frontman Johnny Bonnel. In fact, he has another side project band called Filthy Thievin' Bastards as well. Their style is not much different from the Swingin' Utters. It's kinda like a street punk vibe. In 2020, the band actually posted a video of some new music being worked on through their Facebook page so hopefully, there's something in the works. But, Swingin' Utters is always Bonnel's main focus. Being a huge Utters fan, I knew of Druglords Of The Avenues right away. I mean, if you're a fan of the Swingin' Utters, then you would like this band as well. Great stuff for a side project!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Swingin' Utters

The Tim Version

The Arrivals 

Enemy You

The Sainte Catherines

TEN DRUGLORDS OF THE AVENUES SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. MacGowen's Seeth

2. So Called Druglords

3. There's Something Seriously Wrong With Me

4. Drunkest Teen

5. Take Your Meds

6. Druglords Of The Avenues

7. Me Decided

8. For My Life

9. Staling Bread

10. There's Nothing Really Going On

SONG OF THE WEEK: 11/13/22

SONG:  "Pills & Smoke"

ARTIST:  Swingin' Utters

ALBUM:  "Swingin' Utters"

YEAR:  2000

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Santa Cruz, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1987 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Pills & Smoke" appears to be a song about going out and making it on your own. The vocalist knew at 18 years old that he had to set his own path on his own. And though the years were filled with booze, drugs and lots of teenage angst, he seems to have come out of it with his ideals and his soul intact.

SWINGIN' UTTERS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1992 - Scared (Quality Of Life Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1995 - The Streets Of San Francisco (New Red Archives Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1996 - More Scared:  The House Of Faith Years (SideOneDummy Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1996 - A Juvenile Product Of The Working Class (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

1998 - Five Lessons Learned (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2000 - Swingin' Utters (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2003 - Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass And Bones (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2004 - Live In A Dive (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2008 - Hatest Grits:  B-Sides And Bullshit (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Here, Under Protest (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2013 - Poorly Formed (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2014 - Fistful Of Hollow (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2018 - Peace And Love (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON SWINGIN' UTTERS:

The Swingin' Utters formed as a band back in 1987, hailing from Santa Cruz, California. The band was originally called Johnny Peebucks and the Swingin' Utters. Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel is the lead singer of the band. By 1994, after some releases, the band changed their name to Swingin' Utters. Many believe their 1995 release, "The Streets Of San Francisco", to be their proper debut. In 1996, the band joined Fat Mike's (NOFX) label, Fat Wreck Chords, where the band has remained to the present day. The band pumped out 4 albums in 7 years from 1996 to 2003. These were 1996's "A Juvenile Product Of The Working Class", 1998's "Five Lessons Learned", 2000's "Swingin' Utters" and 2003's "Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass And Bones". Though a live album was released in 2004, the band went on pretty much a 7 year hiatus at this point. Luckily for fans of the band, the boys got back together in 2010 and in 2011, they released "Here, Under Protest". This began another streak of 4 albums in 7 years, rounding it out with 2013's "Poorly Formed", 2014's "Fistful Of Hollow" and 2018's "Peace And Love". The Swingin' Utters are an awesome punk rock band. These guys have been going for an amazing 35 years! And the best part is that they are still going strong. The Swingin' Utters are hugely influencial in punk rock circles and they always get utmost respect from the punk rock scene. They can be considered mostly to be a street punk band but they do draw some inspiration from celtic punk and folk punk. The first song I heard from Swingin' Utters was "Pills & Smoke" so yes, I was a little late to the party. "Pills & Smoke" is one of my favorite songs so it set the tone back in 2000, then I worked my way back through the band's catalog. These guys are definitely due for a new album so hopefully that sees the light of day sooner rather than later.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Bracket

Lagwagon

Bombshell Rocks

Pulley

No Use For A Name

TEN SWINGIN' UTTERS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Pills & Smoke

2. '39 (Queen cover)

3. Brand New Lungs

4. Windspitting Punk

5. Fistful Of Hollow

6. Human Potential

7. Stuck In A Circle

8. Five Lessons Learned

9. Teenage Genocide

10. All That I Can Give

SONG OF THE WEEK: 11/6/22

SONG:  "Good Luck, Goodbye"

ARTIST:  Hear The Sirens

ALBUM:  "Some Form Of Stability/Good Luck, Goodbye" 7"

YEAR:  2011

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Livermore, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  2006 - 2013

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Good Luck, Goodbye" appears to be a song about feeling you'd be better off going your separate ways. While i don't have the lyrics to the song, after a few listens, I got the sense that the vocalist has some goals he'd like to attain and this person he is with doesn't seem to be totally in his corner. The relationship seems to be more of a strain for both involved.

HEAR THE SIRENS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2009 - Rebel Hearts Lost (Silly Girl Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Renegade (Pirate Press Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON HEAR THE SIRENS:

Hear The Sirens formed as a band back in 2006, hailing from Livermore, California. This East Bay punk outfit dropped an EP in 2009 and followed that up with their debut full length album in that same year, titled "Rebel Hearts Lost". Not long after these releases, the band decided to go their separate ways. In 2011, however, the guys got together, thinking it was just gonna be some jam sessions and maybe even a few live shows. It turned out that they began writing new material, most of which would end up on their sophomore full length album and what would turn out to be their last release, 2012's "Renegade". Hear The Sirens last played a live show in 2013 and I haven't heard any news from them since so I assume they have broken up. Early on, Hear The Sirens had a little more of a hardcore edge to them, think of bands like Strike Anywhere. But, after they reunited in 2011, their sound became more of a melodic, pop punk vibe perhaps in the same vein of early Green Day. The first time I heard of Hear The Sirens was definitely their 2012 "Renegade" album and I'm absolutely positive that I discovered this band through dyingscene.com. Pretty good band, just seemed like it wasn't destined to be for these guys.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Still Rings True

Protagonist

Living With Lions

Landmines

Never Hit Again

TEN HEAR THE SIRENS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Bad Excuses

2. Last Call Love

3. Some Form Of Stability

4. Goodbye My Love

5. Good Luck, Goodbye

6. Dead End Response

7. Our Disaster

8. Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time

9. There's Hope For You Yet

10. Kings, Queens And Music Scenes