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Ross and the Hellpets Straight Choice Optimism, Ross and the Hellpets’ disc from last year, is a blast of hook-laden power-pop with pitch-perfect harmonies and leftist political lyrics mixed with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek humour. Founding member and Louisiana native Ross Beach comes with top indie credentials—he played bass with the Elephant 6 collective, including Neutral Milk Hotel (whose 1998 record In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is a psyche-pop classic). Bassist the Countess is, well, the Countess—what more need be said? Chris Baker on drums rounds out the Portland-based trio, which plays Pub 340 Saturday (April 8). Hanson Brothers 01/22/07 Aaron Chapman Review Billy Hopeless on Bad People his Cramps tribute Angry Samoans - Georgia Straight Pick of the Week Quite understandably, you might be tempted to write off the Angry Samoans as a band of also-rans from the early ’80s SoCal punk scene. After all, it’s not like you ever hear the name Metal Mike Saunders mentioned in the same breath as Black Flag’s Henry Rollins or the Circle Jerks’ Keith Morris. Savvy students of ancient history know, however, that few bands were faster, or fucking funnier, than the Samoans, who play Venue on Sunday (August 29). You want awesome? That would be “You Stupid Jerk”, a 23-second screed that consists of greased-lightning guitars and five simple lines: “You stupid jerk/I can’t take it no more/Your face makes me want to puke/And you’re mother’s a whore/Aaaarrgggh—you stupid jerk.” And don’t even get us going on the majesty of “Get Off the Air”, a “tribute” to long-time L.A. DJ Rodney Bingenheimer which contains the indisputably inspired lines “8 p.m. and Rodney’s on the air/He’s beating off in Joan Jett’s hair.” Black who, and the Circle what? Opening act the Bonitos have their work cut out for them on this one. Angry Samoans Preview in The Province
Bill Vockeroth doesn't always have the patience for punk rock, even though it has been his creative lifeblood since 1978. Too many personalities to deal with and not enough money to be made. That said, the lightning fast punk rock of his band, Angry Samoans, seems like a breeze compared to the abuse his body takes while gardening. "Gardening is way harder," Vockeroth, 52, said from his farm in Riverside County, which doubles as a professional nursery. "Punk rock bands play for an hour." It's an exciting hour, no doubt. A new Samoans lineup led by drummer Vockeroth and his longtime bandmate, 58-year-old singer "Metal" Mike Saunders, makes its long-awaited Victoria debut Tuesday at Sugar, part of a tour that continues to bring the band's old music to new audiences. The ripple effect of their ongoing efforts, which has kept alive what began in 1978, has resulted in a number of tributes over the years, from Foo Fighters (who covered the band's song, "Gas Chamber") to Mudhoney and Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The peer praise has been late coming, to a degree. Angry Samoans were a key part of early California punk rock, a vital movement that also included Fear, the Dickies and Circle Jerks. But for a variety of reasons, the group was not always mentioned in the same breath as standouts X, Black Flag and the Germs. In addition to the band's politically incorrect lyrics, significant blame for the group's underdog status among the L.A. punk hierarchy has always been attributed to the early song "Get Off the Air," in which Saunders calls influential L.A. radio personality Rodney Bingenheimer a "pathetic male groupie," among other unprintables. Bingenheimer was incredibly influential during the late '70s. It was assumed the nasty tone of the single prompted many of the city's clubs to blacklist Angry Samoans, although Vockeroth isn't so sure that was the case. "I think it was just a story. If we did get banned from a club, it was probably a crumby club anyway that was trying to kiss Rodney's ass." Nonetheless, Vockeroth was against the song when it was first brought to him at rehearsal. "If it wasn't for Rodney, I never would have got into punk rock." Vockeroth grew up in East L.A., a notoriously rough neighbourhood full of gangs and gang violence. Though it was a nasty district, it provided Vockeroth with his musical education. After moving to Pasadena, then Van Nuys, he was indoctrinated into the group that eventually became Angry Samoans. Beyond drumming duties, he was not involved in any aspect of the songwriting or management of the band. Saunders and original members Gregg Turner and Todd Homer were the key Samoans early on. "They didn't ask too much for my input. I was just the drummer." These days, Vockeroth and his wife have been forced to take a more prominent role in the day-to-day dealings. Saunders, meanwhile, mostly covers "goofing around," Vockeroth said. "He's like the court jester. He jumps around and acts angry. That's just Mike." Saunders every so often reverts to his original instrument, the drums. After the singer expressed an interest in drumming live on a few songs, Vockeroth said he had no choice but to assume singing chores. More than a decade into his new role, Vockeroth is out front more than ever, which has resulted in an unexpected and new-found notoriety. "I went to a real nice restaurant and the Maitre d' was this real nice pretty girl, probably about 32. She asked me if I was in a band, and I said no because I thought she would never know us. But she said, 'That's weird, because you look just like the guy from Angry Samoans.' You wouldn't think this woman would know. It was crazy." © Copyright (c) The Province
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