Toys, Tunes and Beer

TheSameIdiot said:
Man, this guy doesn't miss. Fugazi is a little before my time, but my favorite bands always listed them as an influence. As a teen, I went back and listened to their discography. They're not as melodic as the bands I listen to, but they rock.

I haven't heard of Codefendants. Your tunes have been so good that I'll give them a listen.
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Well thank you.

Fugazi was before my time as well. I got in to them via Minor Threat (who is a whole other story). I loved Minor Threat, and was excited to hear Ian was in another band. I was shocked to hear how different they sounded...but were still GOOD.

The Codefendants are an interesting band. Like I mentioned, they blend a lot of punk and hip hop sounds, and I'm really down with it. I saw them open for NOFX last year, and while I had heard some of their stuff before, I was blown away by how good they really were over all. Fat Mike from NOFX records bass for them, but doesn't tour with them. Check out the song Def Cons to get an idea of their overall sound and see how it lands for you.
 
Welcome to episode ten. That’s a pretty big accomplishment for me. I was thinking of what I could do for the tenth episode that would be special. I thought I’d listen to something that’s very special to me and open something that’s a little different as well. So here we go, Toys, Tunes, and Beer number ten (it’s extra looooong). I’ve had this two pack since Walmart set up that fancy display. I was only going to get this set but will grab the Sentry pack down the line too. These two are a lot of fun. Yelena is a great figure, well articulated, a great sculpt and pretty spot on to her movie appearance. Red Gruardian is equally nice. I was going to complain he doesn’t have a shield, but I remembered he didn’t have it in the movie either. I like the new costume he has. Very homemade looking. I do appreciate him having a waist swivel (I’m looking at you Yelena). The second head is fantastic, and I will display him that way. It’s spot on to David Harbour and is one of the best head sculpts I’ve ever seen in the Marvel Legends line. We are once again in the Treehouse beers. This one is Golden Fern, a double IPA with more New Zealand hops (Nelson and Peacherine!). The color is what we call “yolky” in the beer biz…or something like that. It’s citrusy, smooth, easy to drink 8.2% beer which is kinda dangerous. You all will be happy to hear this is the tail end of my Treehouse stash. Maybe my next round will be some Fidens. Now on to the music. The two 7” records here mean the world to me. They are the reason I got in to collecting vinyl. These are the first two recordings from Dropkick Murphys. The split with The Ducky Boys includes Barroom Hero, the first song they wrote, and is one of 1,000 copies on green vinyl. Fire and Brimstone has four songs of which only one (Never Alone) appears on a full album. Both 7”s are originals, that cost me waaaaaay too much on the secondary market. I don’t care. Worth it. The first time I saw them live in 1997 they had Fire and Brimstone at their merch table, and I didn’t buy it because I didn’t have a record player. I was disappointed. A couple of years ago I did get a player, and I quickly started buying all their old 7”s, albums, and anything weird I could find on Discogs. To say I love this band would be an understatement. It’s a nice collection that I’m more than happy to have.
Overall Ratings. Figured 5:5. Beer 4.5:5. Records 5:5.

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I’m a day late. Life gets in the way. Between work, and getting a new (used) car for my wife, I’ve been out straight since episode 10. Tonight we take a hard right though. Welcome to episode 11 of Toys, Tunes and Beer. I’ll get it out of the way first. @myfigvoice Go buy some of these stands. They are some of the best action/flight stands I’ve used. I have a few of the @hasbro ones, and they are nice (the cost is the best part), but these are sooooo much better. Each single pack comes with one stand, two flight wires, two caption wires, two round speech bubbles and two square ones (left and right of each). The wires are sturdy, and don’t feel like they’d bend and break. The flight clamp is secured with a screw and can be tightened or loosened. Each stand has three points of connection with the wires, and can be mounted to the wall with a screw or command strips…both are included! The Spider guys have been posed like this for about a year now with no issues. Just go buy some. (No I’m not sponsored). I said I’d have some @fidensbrewing soon. Tonight’s offering is DDH Waiheke double IPA, another New Zealand Hop. Told you I liked them. This one has some semi-sweet grapefruit, and other various citrus. The color is killer, and what I usually like to see in my IPA. I know, I know “IpAs sHOulD bE cLeaR!!” Go over there and sit. I know most of you probably haven’t heard of @ramallahhxc. They’re a “post hardcore” hardcore band fronted by “White Trash” Rob Lind @rob_from_nod (brother of Mark Lind of the @duckyboysboston), guitarist and vocalist of Blood for Blood. B4B is one of my all time favorite bands, so this album hits me right in the core memories. It has that same rawness, and intensity of B4B, while doing its own thing…perfectly. Blood for Blood got me through a pretty crappy time in my life, and this album came out in early 2020…another crappy time in everyone’s life. Rob’s lyrics are alway on point, and his voice is like wet gravel…I mean that as a good thing, really. If you’re a fan of the late 90s-early 00s hardcore, check them out for sure. You’ll feel right at home.

Overall ratings. Figu…er display stands 11:5. Beer 4.25:5. Album 4.75:5.

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Saturday is the new Friday I guess. Welcome to Toys, Tunes and Beer. Earlier this year I preordered @hasbro Classified Dial-Tone and never expected to see him. But here he is, the man, the myth, the legend. Winner of goofiest backpack in the Joe ranks, DT is a communications guy. He was one of the many ARAH Joes I had back in the day, and he was always on my away teams, usually dying first. I gave up on ever having him in my collection, but I guess that’s when things tend to happen. He comes with the right amount of gear, and has a weird new microphone thing that fits. On tap tonight is @fidensbrewing Jasper with Nelson (gasp!). I think I figured out why I like this hop so much. It has a lot of similarities to Sauvignon Blanc, one of my favorite white wines. Tropical fruit and passion fruit type flavors, whatever. Beer taste good. @refused are a band I feel are underrated, and never got their rightful shot in the spotlight. A great mix of hardcore punk, and some electronic, with lyrics that hit you right in the beliefs. This specific record is the 25th anniversary reissue that includes two records of the album that are covered by bands like @gel_band, @snapcaseband and @idlesband . I usually go through phases and I’ll listen to nothing but The Refused from their early stuff to this. In conclusion, go listen to them and be amazed.

Overall ratings. Figure 4.25:5. Beer 4:5. Album 4.75:5.

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Snapcase is that secret band I don't mention too much because they are so great...and I like to feel special every now and then. Hah.

The album I reviewed is the regular release. There is an additional two records included in the set that has all the covers. I'll admit, I've only listened to the first side, with the Snapcase song.
 
One of my HS social circles were the activist vegan skate kids. It was a lot of shoplifting and vandalism and hummus in the name of Anti Capitalism.

Earth Crisis, Snapcase, Avail. Anything Victory, really. Mind opening scene for me.

One dude got into Get Up Kids and Jets to Brazil and clued me in and we got ostracized for it. But that continued to inform my musical tastes, so that was worth it.
 
Earth Crisis, Snapcase, and Strife were my big three. After them I'd have Blood for Blood and Hatebreed (just the one Victory album though). I never saw Strife live, but the rest are multiples. Snapcase was one of the most packed shows I had ever been to. I got in to Get Up Kids because this one girl I liked was in to them. I really don't mind their stuff. I've gotten my older son into a lot of punk, but he's never really crossed over in to the Hardcore stuff. Minor Threat is about as close as he gets, and that's ok.
 
It’s Monday night and you know what that means. Why yes, it does mean new Toys Tunes and Beer. This is for Ruadh. I hadn’t planned on owning Grimlock. Dinobots just aren’t my thing. Oh sit down, it’s fine. When I saw the reissue at Target I knew that was my sign. I don’t see me getting any more though. He’s a beefy robot, and looks pretty accurate to the cartoon and movie. He comes with an “accessory” Wheelie who probably won’t be in my display. The transformation to Dino mode is pretty easy, and stays together well. Dino mode is nice looking as well. Wheelie can fit on his back nicely. This is on me I may actually display in Dino mode. Equilibrium is one of my other favorite breweries. Space Castor is a DIPA collab with Tripping Animals brewing. A lot of citra, riwaka, and Nelson hops give it a tropical citrus taste, while maintaining a little bitterness at the end. EQ was the brewery that got me through the pandemic when they started shipping across NY, and I applaud them for it. First, RIP MCA. Beastie Boys are one band I wish I could have seen live. This EP “Aglio e Olio” brings them back to their hardcore roots (yeah they used to be a punk band). Ten songs that are done in a little over 13 minutes, and all of them are bangers. Soba Violence might be more known song from this, but Nervous Assistant might be my favorite. I miss the Beastie Boys.

You can scroll through the pics now.

https://imgur.com/a/l4864fs
 
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