Manipulation- 2nd 7inch

the building as Manipulation starts to thrash.

The cream of dark thrashy hardcore out of Chicago; if you don't know Manipulation by now from their demo or debut on Fashionable Idiots, this 2nd piece of vinyl from them is worth giving a spin.   Featuring members of Pedestrians, Cardiac Arrest, and Chronic Seizure, this band is almost what you'd expect from a group of Midwest ragers who played in the above-mentioned bands.   Only difference are the dark semi-crustish(?) influences that peer through on this baby.  Given the basic formulas that have been rehashed with some success in the Heartland of U.S. hardcore, that is definitely as refreshing as pepper spray in the eyes- but in a good way.

The building after they finished playing.

Give it three "N's": Noisy, no-nonsense, not-cliche.  The soundtrack for the Decline of the American Empire. Get it on Sorry State Records

Culo, Raw Nerve, Ropes, Manipulation (Chicago, January 22)

Anticipation is a double-edged sword.On the basis of a rumored Repos reunion,  some friends and I made the 6 and a half hour trip to Chicago from Ohio in the midst of a winter snowstorm.   We passed through Indiana cornfields into the depths of urban blight in Gary, Indiana to get to Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.  I've really missed basement shows and excellent Mexican food since I've lived in Asia-so this trip started out great.


Arriving a bit early in Pilsen, the basement seemed to be filling up rather fast.  It was -2 outside that night, so after a bit of awkward standing around outside, staring at our own breath; some of us began to venture inside.  Lots of familiar Midwest faces made the place comfortable, but it was a fucking Herculean task to make your way across the basement as the place filled up and the house owners had to start turning people away.  I really regret that I couldn't make it across the room to buy a Repos LP (rumored to be available in limited quantity!).  I also could stab myself for not getting the Raw Nerve LP.


Culo was quite fucking impressing.  Raw hardcore punk. Thrashy and snotty, i.e. a modern Deep Wound.  Interestingly, these guys had 2 guitars and no bass.  As they said: "Bass is for normals and we hate normals." It fucking ruled.  They have a demo, and apparently a record out on Punks Before Profits,  but neither seemed to be available on cassette or vinyl at this show. 

Next up was the big event.  The greatly anticipated event; The rumored Repos reunion under the secret name "The Ropes", a name we figured was just a subtle ruse to confuse potential attendees.  Apparently, the Ropes, though featuring all the members of the Repos, did not actually play any Repos songs.  I believe their singer's quote was "Calm down, you don't know any of these songs."  They ripped through a brief set of all new songs that sounded just like the fucking Repos.  No YOT cover, though.

Raw Nerve played intense Youth Attack style hardcore.  I've heard they play up the whole 'mysterious guy' artcore thing or whatever that Youth Attack (sorta) encouraged.  I duno about all that.  They played their set, people went out, and it ruled.  They didn't wear ski masks or any of that kind of shit. I have no idea what the fuck that is all about.  The singer kept getting shocked and had to use some gloves to avoid being repeatedly shocked.  I overheard Nick Baran of 3rd Party Records discussing the physics of grounding against electrical shock during or after this set.

Manipulation have some members of some other great bands, including the Pedestrians, Chronic Seizure, and Cardiac Arrest. They played through a relatively extended set of fast thrashy hardcore- thinking they are somewhat influenced by the recent trend in noise punk/crust whatever.  Their singer was a great frontman, confrontational, and in the crowd's face the whole time- for whatever that is worth these days.  I believe they have two 7 inches out right now.  The first on Fashionable Idiots, and the latest on Sorry State.   I picked them both up.  Reviews coming soon.  Probably.

                      
Unfortunately, we didn't stick around long and didn't want to sleep on anybody's floor. Grabbed some snacks, got a dollar to a hooker trying to buy a single Black&Mild at the gas station, and left in the snowstorm for Ohio. Home by 6am.   

Shitcago

Flier for the Repos..er I mean 'Ropes' reunion this weekend.  Should be a good time.  Hopefully we don't die on our way there.  

Anyways, I decided to include one of my favorite Repos' releases, even though there are a thousand other fucking blogs where you can do that.   Whatever.  I do genuinely miss this era of Chicago bands.   I couldn't decide whether I like this or the their split with 14 or Fight better.  Definitely puts you in the mood to go off moshing in your bedroom on cough syrup.

die