Live: Supertouch with Capital and Sweet Diesel @ Santos Party House 2.12.11

I can't front and say that I was in this for anything more than Capital. All respect to Sweet Diesel and Supertouch, but I had never seen the LI boys and the records are getting lots of spins at JS-NYC HQ, so it was time to break my Santos cherry. After the nicest yet most thorough TSA grade pre-entrance search I've received before a show in years, I posted up just as Sweet Diesel launched into what may have been their first reunion set? It was odd to see them outside of Brownies, but beyond that they kinda brought it. Old crowd, highlighted by many Bill Dolan (of American Standard) stage invasions. They seemed to draw most of the old Brownies crowd and evidently stand to do some more shows soon. Whouda thought.

Capital were up next. Did I mention that I like me some Capital. Fronted by Tommy Corrigan (ex-Silent Majority) they sounded like Dag Nasty if they came from the L.I. Corrigan gives good smart-ass banter and the kids are pretty tight. Get the new record for free at their web presence.

As it was cold and all, I figured I see a song or two of the Supertouch and probably end up heading for the hills early. As they were setting up, I realized that Dean Baltounis was playing bass for them, which sweetened the pot considerably. I had thought he was out of the live rock game, but I guess Mark managed to cajole him. Either way, fuck were Supertouch good. Mark sure doesn't look healthy, but the band is fucking killer. I'm going to have to revisit the catalog before I can conjure up any semblance of a setlist, but I do know that Paul Bearer came out to scowl his way through Victim In Pain towards the end, if that sways you. Either way, a hell of a show for the $12.

R

Capital - Givers Takers

I haven't been into Long Island hardcore for a long time. I always liked Garden Variety, and the guys from V.O.D always were solid dudes, but it's been only the advent of the Dead Broke roster that brought the LIHC back on my radar. Iron Chic are pretty aces, and although I knew of Capital previously, I didn't realize until a couple of minutes ago that they shared members.

It makes sense, as both franchises bring it nicely. There's a middle ground of Dag Nasty, although Capital definitely blaze more of a hard guy trail. It's not done without a sense of humor, as evinced by the awesome prank call where they impersonate a fake tough guy band from NJ called T.U.F.F, short for Tools Used For Fighting. That is fucking classic.

The rest of Givers Takers is pretty great as well. It's mixed and mastered by Chris Hannah of Propagandhi, if that sways you. I'll go out on a limb and say that there are no real respectable new school NYC area hardcore franchises. Feel free to prove me wrong, but in the absence of any others, major props are due to Capital for keeping hardcore vibrant around Gotham. Capital are giving the digital version of Givers Takers away for free, but those that are of a mind to own vinyl versions can reach out to Underground Communique.

R

Jaded Scenester Top 10 EPs of 2009

Ok kids. You loved the comp (still free, just e-mail) and were over the moon about the first Top 10 list where we dropped science on the best full-length records of 2009. Let's ride the wave of nostalgia a little more, shall we? Today we're going to give the little guys some shine and select the Top 10 EPs from 2009. Note that while some of these releases were two song 7" releases, JS-NYC is going to shout out the Top 10 individual songs (i.e. singles) later on this week.

Peep it:

Jaded Scenester NYC Top 10 Eps of 2009

1. RVIVR - Life Moves EP

2. Jon Snodgrass/Cory Branan split EP

3. Tenement - Icepick 7"

4. Copyrights/Dopamines - Songs About Fucking Up split EP

5. The Jealous Sound - Got Friends EP

6. Capital - Blind Faith EP

7. Paint It Black - Amnesia EP

8. Superchunk - Leaves In The Gutter EP

9. Minus The Bear - Into The Mirror

10. Celeste - Misanthrope(s) EP

Capital - Blind Faith 7"

I had heard a lot about Capital and was pretty sure they were local, but hadn't sought them out until Eric mentioned that he was feeling them. I missed them with Alleyway at Gramercy, but after hearing this, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to miss my chance to see them at the C.R. reunion benefit in a couple weeks.

Paint It Black have undertaken a little crusade to make the 7" relevant again for hardcore. It's nice to see Capital following suit. The three songs here are quite the assrippers in the hardcore end of things, indebted to local NYHC faves, but not uninformed of Dag Nasty and other DC favorites either. Trust me, you want this. Pick it up from the good folk of Iron Pier here. There's colored vinyl and download coupons, too, so step lively.

See you in Staten Island!

R