The PG-13s - "Get Back" EP review:

"Sounds like Lagwagon!"
...is what popped into my head after I hit go on my turntable, enabling the first track, "Sure Thing." The PG-13s are a four-piece from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and just released a four-song EP on Merman Records called "Get Back" on June 15, 2009.
The first song, "Sure Thing," seems to draw past and present influences from doo-wop bands to modern day pop punk. It's just over two minutes long and makes for a good intro song to the EP.
"Sasha Sasha" is a little closer to three minutes, stretching out the "Oohs" as lead singer Sean croons over this Sasha chick. Very good, and I think I hear a little Saves The Day in there? Whether the influence is there or not, their voices sound similar, which is a good thing. Very poppy, but stays on the correct side of the thin line separating "pop punk" from "this is too poppy."
There's a track on here called "Winona" which I think to be about Winona Ryder. The following line led me to this conclusion:
"I'll bail you out when things just get so tough/Don't worry about what they'll say/I won't let them take you away." America's favorite little shoplifter.
The last song, "Oh So," I had heard previously on an online compilation called "Punk Rock Pot Luck Vol. 3." It's got a sweet catchy solo in the middle of the song and it reminds me a little of Weezer. It's a real lovey-dovey song with the "ba da bas" and "oohs and ahhs." I dig it. Three stars out of five. The band is pretty good, although one thing I would change is the frequency of the rhymes in "Oh So" because at some points, it seems a little excessive. But songs like "Sasha Sasha" redeem it with the band's originality. Pop punk is a real hard genre for a band to bring something new to the table because really, there's only so much you can do with a few chords and a broken or swollen heart. Their progression in their songs reminds me a little of The Leftovers - a very power pop and 60s rock/pop-influenced band. Instead of the progression of say, a Riverdales or a Ramones tune, it goes a little longer and in not-so-typical places, making the verses and chorus a little longer and well, kinda better.

Check 'em out at www.myspace.com/thepg13s and www.thepg13s.com and pick up the 7'' at www.mermanrecords.com.

Alkaline Trio, Saves the Day, Death in the Park at the Metro (4.20/21.09):

First off, what the hell is wrong with this weather? The e-mail I got for the Alkaline Trio meet and greet said to be there at three, and I didn't go inside till about five. Anyways, I'm not complaining because it was all totally worth it. I go in, and I hear them playing something, so being the fanboy that I am, I run up the stairs and they were just ending a song that I didn't hear enough of to recognize. Then they dicked around a lot with pickslides and effects and then played "Into the Night" off their latest album, "Agony & Irony."


^"Into the Night" at the Meet and Greet^

After the song, they came down and hung out with us lucky 15 members. It was kind of like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Only way cooler and none of us got kicked out for being douches.


^Matt Skiba and I. Look behind us, there's Chris Connelly from Saves the Day!^

Anyway, I'm not gonna lie, I brought a lot of LPs. I brought two posters I have had for a long time that will finally go in a frame and on my wall. I have the Halloween at the Metro poster that Paul Frank did and one from their Metro shows withg Against Me! a couple years ago. I think those ones were the ones where they played Goddamnit from start to finish. Maybe? No, I think those were three other shows. I'm not sure. I've seen them too many times to remember. Jeez, I'm only 22, I hope I remember all this cool stuff when I get old.
Anyway, it was cool. They signed my Maybe I'll Catch Fire LP too (Original pressing - orange wax/1000!) So I'm gonna put that one in an LP frame next to my signed Goddamnit LP. Man, my room is gonna look cool once it's together.
Anyway, here's Alkaline Trio's setlist for Monday's 18+ show:

1. My Friend Peter
2. If We Never Go Inside
3. Burn
4. Fatally Yours
5. Continental
6. Love Love, Kiss Kiss
7. I Found Away
8. Queen of Pain
9. Cooking Wine
10. The Poison
11. Calling All Skeletons
12. Sadie
13. 100 Stories
14. The KKK Took My Baby Away (Ramones Cover)
15. San Francisco
16. This Could Be Love
17. Time To Waste
18. Every Thug Needs a Lady
19. All on Black

I couldn't find a setlist posted for last night's yet, but they did a new song which was fast, kind of aggressive and had Dan singing. It was awesome. They also played Cringe, Radio, Cooking Wine, Tuck Me In, Calling All Skeletons, My Friend Peter, If We Never Go Inside, Burn, Fatally Yours, I Found Away, Into The Night, The Poison, Sadie, 100 Stories, This Could Be Love, Every Thug Needs a Lady, I'm Dying Tomorrow, Donner Party (All Night)...I think that's it.
Anyway, it was an all-around great night. Met up with some friends afterwards next door for a beer and then hit the road and basically sat in Cubs traffic for a while, which sucked.
Oh, Ed (Kobanes drummer) and I handed out a bunch of fliers for our Gasthaus and Underground Lounge shows coming up. I'm stoked about both of those. Especially the Elgin one because that place is just fun. At least from what I remember of going there a year and a half ago. Last night was a great time. Oh, Death in the Park - not worth checking out. Bunch of hipsters playing bad music. The lead singer was one of those guys that would be emo, but then extra emo by putting his hand out like a "stop" signal. It was weird and a bit too lame for me. Even the all-agers didn't seem to care too much for them. They were selling their CDs for $5 while everyone was walking out, but then a half hour later, I'm standing outside of the Gingerman and they are walking up and down the sidewalk trying to sell their CDs to people. It was a bit weird and the guitar player's freaky mustache probably didn't help their album sales. Alkaline Trio kicked ass. Saves the Day was OK because they played some old stuff I used to listen to. The first band sucked.
Anyone know where I can get semi-cheap poster frames by the way? Preferably a store and not the Internet?


^Saves the Day 4/21/09^


^Alkaline Trio 4/21/09^


^Alkaline Trio 4/20/09^


^Saves the Day 4/20/09^


^Me and Dan before the show on 4/20/09 at the Gingerman. We were watching the Bulls lose to the Sonics. Well, he was. I was too busy drinking and trying to get the balls to ask him to take a photo with me^