90's Mixtape #2: Punk

A lot of the punk bands from the 90s are still going strong these days. For some reason, probably people from the 80s becoming adults, punk became quite a profitable and popular genre. Just look at some of the concerts we’ve been to: Pennywise, NOFX, Bad Religion, Frenzal Rhomb, Against Me!, etc... they all came to popularity in the 90s. It’s like the Rolling Stones were to our parent’s generation I guess.

This mix starts off with a Chicago punk scene tribute. I was on the outskirts of it too late for some of these bands, but it was strong in the 90s. Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Fallout Boy, the Tossers, Local H, Smoking Popes and even (not really so punk) the Smashing Pumpkins.

1. Mach Pelican - Dance In Chicago (1:59)

Not from Chicago, but actually from Japan but playing out of Perth. These guys just worship the Ramones and try to be the Japanese version of them.

2. Lucky Boys Confusion - Fred Astaire (3:33)

Chicago reggae/punk/ska band that was actually mainly all of Indian descent. They played my old university town every few months and were much loved by all. I was at one of their final shows before they broke up in early 2004.

3. 88 Fingers Louie - Drunk & Ugly (1:43)

Chicago melodic hardcore punk band and one of Clus’s favourites. After they broke up, 2 band members helped form Rise Against.

4. Hot Water Music - Rooftops (2:53)

I saw the lead singer Chuck Ragan play an acoustic show earlier this year in Perth. Not as punk as most punk bands, but almost a working class rock and roll. I thought they were from Chicago, turns out they formed in Florida. Woops.

5. Lawrence Arms - A Guided Tour of Chicago (1:45)

Chicago pop-punk. These guys just have a lot of fun and sing about the most random shit. They opened for Frenzal Rhomb at the Arena about 4 years ago. Although they got booed off stage by Frenzal’s dipshit fans, I think they are a much better band.

6. Ace Troubleshooter - Punk Rock Chicks (2:05)

Christian pop-punk. I saw them open a ska show years ago, and they are reasonably good fun.

7. Fenix TX - All My Fault (2:50)

Originally called RiverFenix, they were sued by the dead actor’s estate. I only really know this song, as it was a bit of a one hit wonder in the late 90s.

8. Against All Authority - Daddy's Little Girl (1:21)

Hardcore/skatepunk ska. They do the kind of ska that has no horns, but is more of skate punk. One of the heavier ska bands there is. In fact, most people don’t consider them ska at all.

9. Propagandhi - Ska Sucks (1:51)

Canadian skate punk, quite political in their songs. They are still putting out albums but are now almost a metal band.

10. Suicidal Tendencies - Cyco Vision (1:49)

A punk/thrash metal band from California, although these days half of the band is married to Australians and live on the Sunshine Coast. They’ve gone through a lot of different sounds, from punk to metal to thrash, but this song is off their skate-punk album Freedumb. It was so much skate punk that it was on the soundtrack to the first Tony Hawk game.

11. Descendents - I'm Not a Loser (1:29)

The originators of nerd punk and probably pop-punk, they were one of the first punk bands to not take themselves seriously and just sing about fun things. They are about to embark on their first Autralian tour in their 30+ year career, I’m stoked. Barely a day goes by when you don’t see someone wearing one of their shirts, which have a quite distinctive caricature of the lead singer Milo as their recurring logo.

12. The Bouncing Souls - Kate Is Great (2:53)

One of my favourite pop-punk bands, in the 90s they were more of a melodic hardcore style. Amazingly fun live band, they are touring here with Hot Water Music in December.

13. The Vandals - Euro-Barge (1:54)

A band very much in the style of the Descendents, most of their songs are just jokes. Very skilled musicians, but this is the most serious song on their best album “Hitler Bad. Vandals Good.” The rest of the album is about the government reading their mind, mullets, dead girlfriends, people going to hell and even movie ideas. I think you saw them with me opening for Sum 41 once.

14. Good Riddance - Hardest Part (1:44)

A very influential and political hardcore punk band. They were on the record label owned by NOFX, but were never overly famous outside of the punk scene. However, most modern hardcore punk bands owe a lot to their sound.

15. Dogbuoy - Mozzies (2:56)

This was a small one hit wonder on Triple J when I was in primary school. Came around about the same time as 28 Days, when we went through that rap/rock phase.

16. Guttermouth - What If? (2:25)

A very rude and crude American skate punk band. They are quite vulgar and every song is generally a joke or an innuendo. I really don’t like them too much, but this song is a great parody of the Doors and the B-52s and always makes me laugh.

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