Live Shows

Iron Fist holds a special place in my music collection.  They were one of the first punk bands that I saw in Minneapolis.  I know two of the four singers, and quite honestly, there is no greater punk rock demo tape, in the history of punk rock demo tapes, than "Crucify Me".  I found my 47th generation copy of that awesome piece of history just the other day, and once again, I can’t stop listening to it.  Amazing is the only way to describe it.  (I’ll be posting that later in the week!!)

Among their greatest accomplishments is  really bridging the gap between metal and punk in the Twin Cities.   For a time, they were Impaler’s personal warm up band, or at least that’s the way it seemed.  These two tapes are essential, but seek out the studio recordings.  Well worth the effort.

2 great live shows from 1986 & 1987, from a great Minnesota hardcore punk band.  Both of these shows appear to be with the second singer, Jay, that went on to play guitar for the Loudmouths in California.

Read more about the band here and here .

Get it here .

Violence Sweat Violence

Another great post by Strad over on the Lockjaw blog.  Thrash/metal demo from 1989.

Myspace

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Self Destruct demo

First demo from these guys, and it shows it.  25 year old crappy cassette tapes don’t always stand the test of time, and this one is proof.  Dropouts all over the place.  I had trouble tracking the cassette properly across the tapes heads….it’s ugly….but it’s probably the only copy in existence, so what the hell…I preserved it. I did not break the songs up into seperate tracks because of the poor quality.

I did however add to this demo tape.  The last track o nthe tape was recorded backwards….so I copied it and flipped it around at the end of hte tape.  Both versions are included, so I didn’t cut anything.  Also, no artwork was included with the demo they sent me, but I did scan the letter they sent because it’s kinda funny and it has the track listings.

Get it here .

World Fate demo

13 song thrasher from this two piece thrash band.  I believe there were from Oakdale, MN. This is the second demo from these guys, released in 1987.   Be sure to check out the first demo (with a different lineup) tomorrow.

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Granny Smith 7"

Another 27 Various record posted from the Wilfully Obscure blog.  Read he description, its way better than I could write it.

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Hi

First album by this Ed Ackerson band.  I’ll catch hell for this, but I liked Ed’s previous band, the Dig a lot better.  I was just never into this band.  To each his own though.  Ed also went on to some level of success with the post 27 Various project, Polara.

Ed has been in so many bands, and produced so many records, making Ed a powerhouse on the Minneapolis music scene.   One of Ed’s greatest accomplishments was the label that he helped start with John Kass,  Susstones.  The Susstones/Prospective group of labels went on to put out a lot of local Minnesota bands in the 80’s & 90’s.  Helping document that, is Ed’s biggest contribution in my mind.  More than that though, he and John supported a whole scene of 60’s influenced rock/pseudo-psychedelia in Minnesota and beyond.

Anyway, this is what Twin/Tone has to say about the album:

Ed Ackerson : vocals, guitar, sitar, keyboards
Jed Mayer : drums
Jay Orff : bass, vocals
Jerry Lefkowitz : guitar, vocals

Produced by James Harrington and Ed Ackerson
Engineered by Scott Tuttle
Recorded at The Underground, Minneapolis
(Fall-Winter 1986)

Originally released by John Kass (Prospective Records) on his Susstones label. It was released on Vinyl only. This record is now out of print.

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Cat Hair Haven

Okay, not much "punk" here but c’mon, it was produced by Bill Batson for fucks sake.  Pretty typical indie rock for the time (1987).  I don’t know much about them.  If you do, post it as a comment.

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1993  Demo Tape

Ten song demo tape from probably the best known Minnesota ska band, Ten Cent Fun.  I hear they are even thanked on an early No Doubt album.  Luke used to hang out at the house I lived at around this time all the time (THD house) and I believe his big house cred was attending EVERY THD house show.  I remember Jesse Miner being pretty cool too.  Lots of fun to watch the band play.  I specifically remember seeing them play at Macalaster College, and the Whole.  This is essential.

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Demo

I wish I knew more about these guys.  Test Monkey were a sort of industrial/noise/punk band from Minneapolis.  They played a lot at First Ave., likely because their guitarist worked there.  I saw them a few times, but remember liking this tape a lot more then seeing them live.  That’s just my opinion though.  YOu can’t play as much as they did and not havea few fans, so someone must have really liked them.

For more info, check out their MySpace page.

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Rebels Choice

Great split from my former roommate THD records.  Two great bands, lots of solid rock.  EVeryone knows D4, but shortly before (or after, I forget) this split 7" was released, THe Strike moved to Chicago and put out a couple of albums as a three piece. Speaking of hte Strike, make sure you get their early demo tape on this same blog.  Search it out.

Oh, yes the artwork will say that it was Doin’ It For the Kids Records…..I was never sure why J.P. changed the name, but never fear…..this is classic THD records.

Get it here !