Posts Tagged ‘Polar Bear Club’


31.12.2009

Jeff (from Rocket Fuel): 2009 Top 25

posted by Jeff

in Year End Lists

Jeff – SAL contributor and Rocket Fuel Podcast moderator

25-Arliss Nancy Dance to Forget
24-Reigning Sound Love & Curses
23-The Riverdales Invasion USA
22-Lucero 1372 Overton Park
21-Above Them Blueprint for a Better Time
20-The Sidekicks Weight of Air
19-The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Pin Points & Gin Joints
18-Dear Landlord Dream Homes
17-Rehasher High Speed Access to My Brain
16-Banner Pilot Collapser
15-Noise By Numbers Yeah, Whatever
14-Teenage Bottlerocket They Came From the Shadows
13-Heartsounds Until We Surrender
12-Polar Bear Club Chasing Hamburg
11-Big D & The Kids Table Fluent in Stroll
10-Used Kids Yeah No
9-Left Lane Crusier All You Can Eat
8-The New Lows Atlantic/Pacific
7-The Thermals Now We Can See
6-The Evening Rig Is Doin’ Stuff
5-The Marked Men Ghosts
4-Failure’s Union In What Way
3-Cheap Girls My Roaring 20’s
2-Red Collar Pilgrim
1-Nothington Roads, Bridges and Ruins

20.12.2008

SAL Reader Year End List

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

#1

Dillinger Four “C I V I L W A R” – 8 votes

#2

Bridge And Tunnel “East/West” – 6 votes
Constantines “Kensington Heights” – 6 votes

#3

Death Cab For Cutie “Narrow Stairs” – 5 votes
Fleet Foxes “Self-Titled” – 5 votes
The Gaslight Anthem “The ‘59 Sound” – 5 votes

#4

Able Baker Fox “Voices” – 4 votes
Algernon Cadwallader “Some Kind Of Cadwallader” – 4 votes
Polar Bear Club “Sometimes Things Just Disappear” – 4 votes
Torche “Meanderthal” – 4 votes

#5

Beach House “Devotion” – 3 votes
Cheap Girls “Find Me A Drink Home” – 3 votes
Drive-By Truckers “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark” – 3 votes
Foals “Antidotes” – 3 votes
Fucked Up “The Chemistry of Common Life” – 3 votes
Good Luck “Into Lake Griffy” – 3 votes
Scream Hello “Everything is Always Still Happening” – 3 votes

18.12.2008

Mike’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

Mike – Static Radio – NJ

1. Antillectual – Testiomy
2. Let Me Run – Meet Me At The Bottom LP
3. Seasick – Ouroboros EP
4. Ghost Town Trio – Have You Heard EP
5. Bridge And Tunnel – East West LP
6. Polar Bear Club – Sometimes Things Just Disappear LP
7. The Ergs! – Hindsight Is 20/20 My Friend LP
8. Paint It Black – New Lexicon LP
9. Jena Berlin – Quo Vadimus LP
10. Arm The Poor – Blurring The Lines Slurring The Ryhmes EP

17.12.2008

Yamil’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

Yamil Velez – Lipona – Tallahassee, FL

1. A Wilhelm Scream – Career Suicide
2. The Gaslight Anthem – The 59 Sound
3. Dillinger Four – Civil War
4. Fucked Up – The Chemistry of Common Life
5. Polar Bear Club – Sometimes Things Just Disappear
6. H2O – Nothing to Prove
7. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
8. Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
9. Shai Hulud – Misanthropy Pure
10. Underoath – Lost in the Sound of Separation

17.12.2008

Chris C’s Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

Chris Connallon – Scream Hello – New Brunswick, NJ

1. Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
2. Beck – Modern Guilt
3. Portishead – Third
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
5. The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound
6. Guns n’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
7. Bridge & Tunnel – East/West
8. Dillinger Four – C I V I L W A R
9. Polar Bear Club – Sometimes Things Just Disappear
10. Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs

15.12.2008

James’ Top Ten

posted by Will

in Year End Lists

James – Anchor Arms – Gainesville, FL

1. How Dare You – Comfort Road
2. Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves – Self-Titled
3. The Shaking Hands – Self -Titled
4. Bridge And Tunnel – East/West
5. Mike Hale – Broken with No Hope
6. Murs – Murs For President
7. The Night Marchers – See You In Magic
8. Virgins – Miscarriage
9. Chuck Ragan and Austin Lucas – Bristle Ridge
10. Polar Bear Club – Sometimes Things Just Disappear

05.12.2008

Polar Bear Club – More Touring

posted by Will

in Music News

POLAR BEAR CLUB – Touring the World (sort of)
——————————————————-

* U.S. Shows with Fireworks begin on Friday (Dec 05 – 16)
* Canadian dates with Cancer Bats (Dec 17 – 21)
* UK / European tour with The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner (Feb 02 – Mar 04)

——————————————————-

No rest for New York’s Polar Bear Club as they continue with a heavy touring schedule in support of their Red Leader debut, Sometimes Things Just Disappear (released 03/11/08).

Beginning on Friday, the boys will leave for nearly two weeks of shows in the U.S. with Fireworks, immediately followed by five days in Canada with Cancer Bats. Then in February, the band will travel overseas for a month of shows in the UK and Europe with The Gaslight Anthem and Frank Turner.

While it’s not exactly a “continuous” world tour, 14 countries in the span of three months counts for something, right? Consider that in that same time period, I will have traveled to exactly one state. Maybe two if I decide to drive ten minutes due south.

If you’d like to attend any of these shows or speak with Polar Bear Club, drop me a line here.

Tour
——————————————————-
DEC 05 – Syracuse, NY @ Westcott C.C. w/ Another Breath, Like Wolves, more
DEC 06 – Albany, NY @ SUNY Albany w/ Forfeit, After The Fall
DEC 07 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott w/ Forfeit
DEC 08 – New Haven, CT @ Peoples Center
DEC 09 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire w/ Fireworks
DEC 10 – Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Arts Space w/ Fireworks
DEC 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks w/ Fireworks
DEC 12 – Indianapolis, IN @ The ESJ w/ Fireworks
DEC 13 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s w/ Fireworks
DEC 14 – Romeo, MI @ Static Age w/ Fireworks
DEC 16 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place w/ Fireworks
DEC 17 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Babylon w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 18 – Montreal, Quebec @ Underworld w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 19 – Kingston, Ontario @ Time To Laugh w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 20 – London, Ontario @ Rumrunners w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
DEC 21 – Toronto, Ontario @ The Mod Club w/ Cancer Bats, The Holly Springs Disaster
FEB 02 – Portsmouth, UK @ Wedgewood Rooms w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 03 – Birmingham, UK @ Academy w/ w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 04 – Manchester, UK @ Academy 2 w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 05 – Bristol, UK @ Academy 2 w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 06 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 08 – London, UK @ Shepherds Bush Empire (NME Awards) w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 10 – Koln, Germany @ Underground w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 11 – Berlin, Germany @ Kato w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 12 – Malmo, Sweden @ KB w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 13 – Gothenburg, Sweden @ Sticky Fingers w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 15 – Helsinki, Finland @ Tavastia w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 17 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Debaser Slussen w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 18 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Lille Vega w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 19 – Hamburg, Germany @ Knust w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 20 – Wiesbaden, Germany @ Schlachthof w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 21 – Munich, Germany @ 59:1 w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 22 – Vienna, Austria @ Flex w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 24 – Milan, Italy @ Zoe Club w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 25 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Mascotte w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 27 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique Orangerie w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
FEB 28 – Groningen, Netherlands @ Vera w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 01 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 02 – Norwich, UK @ Waterfront w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 03 – Nottingham, UK @ Rock CIty w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner
MAR 04 – Dublin, Ireland @ The Academy w/ The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner

Listen to Burned Out In A Jar (Free MP3)!

- Jam-packed with ace, life-affirming tunes for fans of Rise Against, Hot Water Music, Propagandhi and great, gruff punk anthems in general.Rock Sound
- PBC has something special – an original voice – and the album is one that can be respected by fans of indie, hardcore and punk alike.Wonkavision
- This immensely talented quintet have all the poise of seasoned veterans. Scary thing is, they’re only just beginning.Alternative Press
- One my favorite albums to come out this year and quite possibly one of my favorite albums of all time.ScenPoint Blank
- Packing unrelenting power and passion…Sometimes Things Just Disappear has classic written all over it.Exclaim

01.12.2008

Sakes Alive!!: Act I

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

Sakes Alive!! quickly return with a three song follow-up to the band’s insanely impressive debut. Continuing along the lines of the band’s first material, this is 6+ more minutes that speak to the passion and undying energy of Sakes Alive!!. The anticipation the band builds up in the first thirty seconds of Act I’s first song, “I’m Religious”, is enough to gently tease the listener before pummeling them in a haze of gloriously raging melodic hardcore. The short and sweet “Staff Meeting” speaks to the insanity of how numbing our  day-to-day lives can get. Act I’s final song, the mid-paced “Relax”, might be the most melodic song the band has written so far in their young career. It speaks to what great heights this band might just be capable of in the future. And speaking of that, the band is already gearing up for their next release. On “I’m Religious” lead singer/guitarist Chris Vandeviver sings We spread the Gospel of fervent rage and Scream Sakes Alive!!/We are born again. With bands like Sakes Alive!! at the helm, melodic hardcore might experience a rebirth of its own sooner rather than later.

Genre: Punk/Rock/Hardcore

RIYL: Strike Anywhere, Glass And Ashes, Polar Bear Club

Label: Barrett

I’m Religious

1.%20I%27m%20Religious.mp3

www.myspace.com/sakesalive

20.06.2008

Transit: This Will Not Define Us

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

Transit reside from the fertile fields of Jersey and you can hear it in the band’s sound and obvious influences. Oh wait, scratch that, Transit actually hail from Boston. The band sure had me fooled for a second there. Echoing bands like Saves The Day and Fairweather, Transit play melodic hardcore/pop/punk with some healthy additions of gruff backing vocals that recall Polar Bear Club. Transit are pushing some solid buttons on their debut full-length, This Will Not Define Us.

The aforementioned youthfulness weighs as both a positive and a negative for the band on This Will Not Define Us. Ambition and exuberance are both honorable attributes of Transit even if they do get the band in trouble at certain points along the way. At 35+ minutes, This Will Not Define Us is a bit long-winded for this style. The slower paced tracks have a tendency to bog the album down while the band could certainly use more variation in the vocal department. When those gruff backing vocals do appear, it tends to give the album a swift kick in the rear. Transit certainly do knock out their fair share of winners though. Tracks like “Scrape And Crawl”, “Radio Flyer” and “Parking Lot Nights” are undeniable anthems practically begging for the listener to sing along.

Negatives aside, the potential of Transit is certainly dripping from all corners of This Will Not Define Us. It is one of those debut records that I can certainly imagine looking back on and saying to myself, “Yeah, you could tell these boys were onto something.” If Transit can continue to refine their songwriting, no doubt the band will be able to leave a much longer lasting impression next time around.

Genre: Punk/Pop/Rock

RIYL: Polar Bear Club, Saves The Day, Fairweather

Label: Barrett

Scrape And Claw

08%20Scrape%20And%20Claw.mp3

www.myspace.com/transitma

23.04.2008

Sakes Alive!!: Presents

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

As the first guitar chords ring out, you can tell that Rochester, NY’s Sakes Alive!! mean business. Initially started as a solo project of Chris Vandeviver, Sakes Alive!! have expanded into a full-blown melodic hardcore behemoth. The band blisters through three punk rock anthems that emphasize a frenetic, unhinged energy. Vandeviver’s raw vocals match the powerful roaring attack of the band. Lyrically, Sakes Alive!! touch on all the monotony of life and thumbs their nose at the apathy that instinctively affects us all. On “Riders United” the lead singer begs us all to come along on the journey:

Let’s be reckless riders of the roads already chose; Nomads who drift from place to place To follow their hopes I want to thumb my nose, cut all my ties, So I can celebrate my fucking life!

Beyond the music, I dig the way Sakes Alive!! approaches their craft. There is a professional quality to how the band handles themselves. Yet, they do it all in true DIY fashion. In reality though, it all comes down to the songs. Even at barely seven minutes, Sakes Alive!! are able to make one hell of an impression. If these first three songs are any indication, Sakes Alive!! will be a name on the tip of a lot of tongues sooner rather than later.

(You can download the songs from the band’s myspace player or here.)

(Artwork by Stan Doll)

Genre: Punk/Rock/Hardcore

RIYL: Strike Anywhere, Glass And Ashes, Polar Bear Club

Label: Self-Released

Our Mistress The Sea

sakesalive!!_ourmistressthesea.mp3

Your Money’s No Good Here (Fuck You)

sakesalive!!_yourmoneysnogoodhere(fuckyou).mp3

Riders United

sakesalive!!_ridersunited.mp3

www.myspace.com/sakesalive

17.04.2008

Polar Bear Club: Sometimes Things Just Disappear

posted by Will

in Music Reviews

Releasing such a promising debut can be a double edged sword for a band. It’s twofold for Polar Bear Club on their second release and first full-length, Sometimes Things Just Disappear. Here, not only does the band have to live up to their debut but they have to do it with a vastly different line-up. In between records, Polar Bear Club added a few new members (most notably from the defunct melodic hardcore outfit, Marathon). So, now you can add on the expectations of Marathon fans as well. So, how does Sometimes Things Just Disappear hold up against the weight?

Sometimes Things Just Disappear comes off sounding like an album in transition. That is a difficult proposition for a band releasing only their first full-length and it is one the band struggles with here. The album is somewhat familiar to the shift that Small Brown Bike made later in their career. Moving away from their screamy tendencies, the band embraced a more melodic approach. Here, Polar Bear Club are stuck somewhere firmly in the middle. It makes for an album that simply lacks cohesion. The album starts off strong with two of its best tracks leading the surge. After that, Sometimes Things Just Disappear struggles to find its way. Seemingly going in a more accessible direction, Polar Bear Club lose some of that passion and aggression that was dripping from the band’s debut. However, the band is able to rebound with some strong material near the back end of the album. When the band is hitting on all cylinders it is a powerful statement to witness. Too often though, Sometimes Things Just Disappear struggles to find a secure footing. For now, Polar Bear Club may have failed to fully capitalize on their enormous promise. I would not give up on them just yet though. The talent is here for something phenomenal in the future.

Genre: Melodic Hardcore/Rock

RIYL: Hot Water Music, Small Brown Bike, Rise Against

Label: Red Leader

Eat Dinner, Bury The Dog, And Run

01EatDinnerBuryTheDogAndRun.mp3

Burned Out In A Jar

05BurnedOutInAJar.mp3

www.myspace.com/polarbearclub