16 March 2013

STRAY BULLETS


Our shows in Minneapolis in the mid-90s were always kinda weird. We got the impression that no one liked our band - we weren't even 10% as punk as these people were and our brand of hardcore was lightyears from the Profane Existence crust assaults that were synonymous with the Twin Cities (and on one tour in 1995 we had pink patches...if you've been to Minneapolis, then you know how ridiculous that must have been, and I assure you it was even more ridiculous than you think it was). But somehow the shows were still good, and we were treated like fukkn kings while we were there (I realize in hindsight that we were simply treated like punks treat touring bands when they have the means and actually give a shit, and I definitely used the shows we had there as a model when we started hosting bands en masse), and even though everyone looked like apocalypse punks. the bands were not all crust warriors (there's more to Minneapolis than MISERY, it seems). I can't remember if we played with them there or if I saw them on tour elsewhere in the States, but I unearthed this STRAY BULLETS demo a few weeks back - I probably hadn't listened to it in well over a decade and I was floored. If I called this pop punk then I wouldn't be lying, but I assure you that there are the fukkn punks, and I still see Talon cruising around SF these days and he is still punker than most motherfuckkrs that collect mp3 files (not you, I mean the other people who frequent Terminal Escape, you are punk as fukk). Talon's vocal snarls are worthy of far more attention than they have ever received, and "Down The Drain" is the catchiest song you will hear all damn day - if the chorus doesn't hook you then the guitar lick surely will. It's a story of a bunch of shit that doesn't make any sense - a bunch of squares from Oklahoma, a pop punk band dressed like Mad Max, a shitload of crusties making everyone food and giving us beer and being ridiculously nice...basically this tape is about good times and great memories and friendships (even if they are casual) that will last a lifetime. Punk rules, ok?



5 comments:

NO BEAST SO FIERCE said...

I'll never forget seeing Talon cruising down Howard st near 3rd, doing a wheelie, on a girls bike w/ a banana seat where the front wheel was unusually small, as he screamed 'Never forget the Castro, never forget the struggle' over and over and over! Awesome guy and Stray Bullets were sick! Thanks for this!

J said...

Thanks! Great band. I posted the EP a while back, hopefully the link is still good. http://onesidedwar.blogspot.com/search?q=stray+bullets

Blacktooth said...

"Change Come From Within" is a total burner. Anarcho-responsiblity-pop-crust? Whatever. Thanks!

b said...

Oh, also, PINK patches in Minneapolis? Circa '95? That is unreal HILARIOUS!!! I heard a Minne' native once say "There's one end of the rainbow firmly planted in the twin cities." Thanks for sharing stories.

Andy Lefton said...

They've reunited and will be playing tomorrow (09/03/21) for the Bob Murderer and Norman Truman memorial show here in Minneapolis. It's bittersweet to have them play again due to the circumstance but having everyone in one room will be nice :) They're recording again as well!