SONIC SOUNDS #3 - Poppy: Snakes of New Jersey, E.P.

Poppy
Snakes of New Jersey, 2019
Sister Raygun Records

Snakes of New Jersey is the 1990's record that you never knew would come out twenty years later but Poppy comes roaring back with this fresh slab of goodness. The E.P. contains 6 songs of everything that was great about alternative rock in the 1990's. 

This record feels like going home again it's got elements of bands like Superchunk and That Dog but takes it's own path to rock n' roll greatness. I'm a sucker for female fronted rock bands and as soon as I heard vocalist/guitarist Kate Campbell's powerful voice I immediately fell in love with it and this record. 

Last 3 Dollars starts out as a slow radio friendly type of song but it's got this feeling that it is building up to something more, something a little more dangerous . . . and then it happens about half way through the track the pace of the band increases, getting heavier and the vocals become these raspy screams of "Don't you know it's illegal" over and over with an intensity that will make you scream along with it.

The next song is Moomoo & Goadie and upbeat fast paced track. This one has that fist pumping anthem feel to it that is equal parts punk rock and Bruce Springsteen. If you aren't chanting "What do you think it feels like this time?" after listening to this one you need to reevaluate your rock n' roll fandom. This song simply rocks.

Hand In The Lions Mouth follows and for some reason it reminds me a little bit like something that could have appeared on the self-titled debut album of a band called Energy Orchard .(check your 1990's stash for that one) . . an amazing album in it's own right. This song is nothing but good, it has a heavy bass and drum feel to it without being too hard big guitars and raspy vocals. Soooooo good I tell you . . . so good.

No wait a second this next track is changing everything. Made A Memory starts off sounding like this bluesy distorted guitar driven track with slow drum beats and bass that slowly rumbles like we are in a smokey bar waiting for the storm to come . . . and it does, again the voice of Kate Campbell comes alive it's powerful and sexy and full of passion when this song reaches it's chorus. This is the kind of song that'll make someone a rock star if they aren't careful.

In The Clouds is another rocking tune that you'll want to sing along to. This one bleeds 1990's movie soundtrack and that should be taken as a complement. It's got that sing-along quality and I can imagine the opening credits of a movie that everyone will be looking for the next day.

Lastly we have Marga. The band takes a much heavier sound on this one with feedback and distortion droning and fighting their way along. It's dark and brooding for the first half of the song and then becomes lighter and the vocals become lighter and beautiful and uplifting as the record finishes.

This is something I didn't know I needed, and the way it found it's way to me is pure luck (blame the Professor Fuzz 63) but I am so glad it made it's way into my life. This is full of memories of the 1990's but stands on it's own as a viable record in the here and now. Get this album in your life.  

Snakes of New Jersey is available on Bandcamp as a Digital Download, CD, or Vinyl Record.

-Kevin P. Johnson
All content Copyright ©2020 Kevin P. Johnson, Album art Copyright ©2019 Sister Raygun Records

SONIC SOUNDS #2 - Highway Robbery: Dec. 2019 Demos

Highway Robbery
Dec. 2019 Demos, 2019Independent "Hex is rude while Eric’s crude; Brad is shrewd, and Don plays nearly nude" Well that's what the Highway Robbery Facebook page says . . . and it's fairly accurate too. The band describes their music as Punk / Americana / Rock 'n' Roll . . . I'd add with some cajun / garage rock / 70's style in there as well. This first release is three song Bandcamp only download that is well produced and It doesn't sound like a demo at all.

What you get are some really good rockin' tunes that lay out the bands influences, kicks them around a bit, and then gives you something fresh and new to rock out to. This music takes traditional Louisiana sounds and revs them up well past the posted speed limit, you will not be disappointed. The first track Bucktown Special is sounds like something you would hear at the Mamou Cajun Music Festival . . . except it's sped up and spit out with a punk rock snarl that you could still dance too but you might also get caught in a mosh pit. Following is Holiday, this may be the best track on the demo, it's the most radio friendly track and has a sing along quality to it that is definitely punk rock but layered with enough pop sensibility to make it kind of catchy. This is the one you'll catch yourself singing to yourself. Lastly we get Sans Amis en Babylon when the band takes us back to the cajun influence and rips through a fun sounding son which as far as I can tell is sung completely in Cajun French which has no effect on how much you should enjoy this song. It's fast paced and will get your feet moving and maybe your booty shaking too. Don't miss out on this free download I think that these guys are on to something and may turn into something big. This demo clocks in at 8:04 which is a bit short but well worth it as each song is a winner. I can't wait to hear what they do when they do a full album. -Kevin P. Johnson
All content Copyright ©2020 Kevin P. Johnson, Album art Copyright ©2019 Highway Robbery

TAKE ME TO THE SHOW #2 - Upcoming Concerts

All Listings Subject To Change,

Contact Venue for Current Show Status

1/3/2020 - Almost Digital / Jak Locke Rock Show / Ginger & The Bee

The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

1/4/2020 - Green Gasoline
The Celtic Irish Pub, 4901 Chicot St., Pascagoula, MS 39581 - 10 PM - FREE SHOW

1/4/2020 - Dang Bruh Y? / Bad Moon Lander / Liquid

Portside Lounge, 3000 Dryades St., New Orleans, LA 70115 - 8 PM  

1/4/2020 - Headspill / Trick Bag / Backreal

The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

1/10/2020 - Highway Robbery / Dang Bruh Y / The Grooxs 
The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

1/11/2020 - Flying Racoon Suit / Madaline / The Big News

The Juke Joint, 1911 Govenment Street, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 - 9 PM - FREE SHOW - 21+

1/11/2020 - Southern Brutality / Rebel Cowboys / Robbins N' Lawless 
The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

1/16/2020 - Eyeball / Tomb Of Nick Cage / Solemn Shapes

The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop, 224 S. Blount St., Raleigh, NC 27601 - 10 PM - $5

1/17/2020 - Tomb Of Nick Cage / Solemn Shapes / Mauve Angels

Monstercade, 204 W. Acadia Ave., Winston-Salem, NC 27127 - 8 PM - $7

1/17/2020 - East Bridge Junction / Room 101 
The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

1/18/2020 - Zinc / Motoriot / Prophet Pariah / Contingent 
The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

1/18/2020 - Kamikaze Zombie / Tomb Of Nick Cage / The Goddamn Rights
The Nick Rocks, 2514 10th Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35205 - 9 PM - $8 Advance / $10 Door - 21+

1/18/2020 - Raise The Death Toll / Goura / Arbre Morte / Wasted Creation 
The Pour House Saloon, 3501 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, LA 70121 - 8 PM - FREE SHOW 18+

1/22/2020 - Hawthorne Heights / Emery 
House of Blues, 225 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70130 - 6 PM - $25 + Service fees

1/22/2020 - Hed PE

Southport Music Hall, 200 Monticello Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121 - 7 PM - $13 - $33.50 - 18+

1/25/2020 - Green Mantles / Touch
Wayward Kraken, 871 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 39530 - 7 PM - FREE SHOW - ALL AGES

1/31/2020 - All The Clouds Are Taken 
The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

1/31/2020 - A Hanging / Gristnam / The Grooxs

Portside Lounge, 3000 Dryades Street, New Orleans, LA 70115 - 9 PM - $5 - 21+

2/1/2020 - 1016 / The Bald Dog Project / Nothing Sacred / Misled

The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

2/15/2020 - Event Horizon / Swamp Stank / Vega / Price Of Progress 
The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - $8 - 21+

3/10/2020 - FLAW / Gabriel And The Apocalypse

Southport Music Hall, 200 Monticello Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121 - 6 PM - $13 - $30 - 18+

3/10/2020 - Soulfly / Toxoc Holocaust / X-Method / Systemhouse 33

Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, LA - 8:30 PM - $20 - 18+

ATTENTION BANDS!

TAKE ME TO THE SHOW - Upcoming Concerts

All Listings Subject To Change,

Contact Venue for Current Show Status

12/6/2019 - Major Wattage / Pale Shelter / Dang Bruh Y / Zero Heard

Babylon Sportsbar, 2917 Harvard Ave., Metairie, LA 70006 - 8 PM - $7 - 21+

12/8/2019 - D.R.I. / Warton / Haint / The Pallbearers
Santos Bar, 1135 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116 - 7 PM - $12 Advance / $15 Day of Show - 21+

12/13/2019 - Them Ol' Ghosts / Green Gasoline / South Jones

One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St., New Orleans, LA 70130 - 9 PM - $13 - 18+

12/14/2019 - The Tomb of Nick Cage / Solemn Shapes / Come To Ruin

The Goat, 1301 St. Bernard Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116 - 9 PM - Tomb of Nick Cage CD RELEASE

12/21/2019 - Twist of Lime's XMAS Party - Cain / The Tomb Of Nick Cage

The Twist of Lime, 2820 Lime Street, Metairie, LA 70006 - 9 PM - 21+

1/4/2020 - Green Gasoline

The Celtic Irish Pub, 4901 Chicot St., Pascagoula, MS 39581 - 10 PM - FREE SHOW

1/4/2020 - Dang Bruh Y? / Bad Moon Lander / Liquid

Portside Lounge, 3000 Dryades St., New Orleans, LA 70115 - 8 PM 

1/22/2020 - Hed PE

Southport Music Hall, 200 Monticello Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121 - 7 PM - $13 - $33.50 - 18+

3/10/2020 - FLAW / Gabriel And The Apocalypse

Southport Music Hall, 200 Monticello Ave., Jefferson, LA 70121 - 6 PM - $13 - $30 - 18+

3/10/2020 - Soulfly / Toxoc Holocaust / X-Method / Systemhouse 33

Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans, LA - 8:30 PM - $20 - 18+

SONIC SOUNDS #1 - The Tomb of Nick Cage: Cryptids and Creatures

The Tomb of Nick Cage
Cryptids and Creatures, 2019
Independent

When you are asked to describe the Tomb of Nick Cage lots of things come to mind, punk, metal, horror, goth, aliens, monsters, hard rock, the 1980's, the 1990's, 2000's, 1800's, weirdos, tubs of blood, New Orleans, witches, werewolves, Nicholas Cage movies, humor, government conspiracy theories, cryptozoology, green things, any number of other things that go bump in the night, and anyone of those things would be correct . . . very correct.

The end of 2019 brings us the second full length album from these horror punk/metal whatever you want to call it, rock stars. Cryptids and Creatures the followup to 2017's Pharoah of New Orleans is an expansion of the sound and sonic attack brought to you by Kym Trailz and the boys, and is an album you must own.

Cryptids and Creatures is has eleven amazing tracks that get better with each listen, nine of them are brand new with two remastered songs that were released earlier Krampusnacht as a single and the original version of Grunch Road on the out of print compilation Wolfman Chuck Presents: The 3rd Horror.

The album begins with an ode to those who hide behind the internet and social media and try to destroy the people they hate or who are more likely jealous of, with lies and deceptive "truths". Crucible is heavy and angry and a punch in the mouth to all of those who spend their time tearing down instead of building up the people around them. Scrams of "Hypocrite, hypocrite, everybody burn the witch" will make you shake your fist in the air with rage.

Rougarou takes on the tail of Louisiana's own version of the werewolf and speaks of other baddies that lurk in the deep dark swamp. The song is heavy yet danceable (in a punk rock kinda way) with a really great guitar solo at the end.

Next up an alien invasion occurs on Night Of The Lamprey but the lyrics may just be talking about something more that slimy alien invaders . . . maybe a diss track as all of the kids enjoy these days. "It's the night of the lamprey, and all you do is suck" is quite possibly the best lyric I've heard this year. The song thumps along with thumping bass and crunchy guitars, and a drum beat that you can bang your head to. This is definitely one of my favorite songs on the album.

The next track has been in the live show for a little while and was intended for use in a movie soundtrack (not sure if that happened) but Nailgun Massacre is a definite shedder. The theme of the song is simple "It's all about a massacre in Texas, where the bodies lay to rest, and a masked man is a reaper, A chainsaw? No! Nailgun is cheaper." with tongue in cheek lyrics like this you'd think that the songs was a throwaway horror novelty but it's delivered seriously with a punk (kind of thrash metal) honesty that you are going to start a mosh pit with your little sister and run through the house screaming "Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! NAILGUN!" 

Stop the presses . . . what is this? A Trumpet? Oh snap Ted LaRocca lends a hand on The Guns of Castor Troy a song based around the character Nicholas Cage played in the movie Face/Off. This song rocks and this trumpet thing works so well with this. The Tomb of Nick Cage take chances most wouldn't and they bend what you think they should be shove it in your face, take it for everything it's worth and leave the ground burning behind them.

Ohhhhhh the next one is about the Mothman y'all!!!! With Blazing guitars and talk of "Evil In The Skies" the horror of Point Pleasant, West Virginia is now glorified in this fast paced rocker.

Next we have the biggest surprise of the album . . . I heard rumors from band members about this one being something different and without a doubt it is amazingly and quickly becoming my favorite song on the album. Bikini Atoll, you know the island that the United States government did nuclear bomb testing on between 1946 and 1958, is now a song that will be with me forever. The weird thing about this song is that the song is mostly acoustic . . . what? . . . and although it's subject matter dark and sad, this song feels so much like going home to me. It feels like another time, a simpler place, it is having an effect on me that I never expected. Kym Trailz throws away her screams and presents a softer more beautiful style of vocals that we have not seen with this band before. The band tones it down so much that you would thing this was something entirely different, with sing along backing vocals of "Oh, Oh, Oh" make this terrible tale into a beautiful song. Oh and sampling the haunting "creepy broken tornado siren in Chicago" video is complete genius.

MK Ultra . . . well this leaves that acoustic stuff behind with a fast paced thrashing mosh pit turner. This one takes the tales of the C.I.A.'s experiments with mind control over citizens with drugs  . . . but also brings in aliens and becoming an assassin with "a code word just for you." This one is heavy and fast just like the doctor uhhh . . . C.I.A. ordered.

Grunch Road . . . a tale that I only know a little bit about in my own neck of the woods New Orleans apparently has it's own Chupacabra/Dogman sightings. This is a fun song about cryptids in New Orleans, getting scared and finding out what's really going on out there in Eastern New Orleans.

Ok the next song is the hardest song to spell that this band has ever done . . . Krampusnacht . . . I don't ever want to type that again. This one is a bit different as well as Kym Trailz gives way to Aaron McGuire and Taylor Suarez to take over on lead vocals as they do a black metal-esque holiday of horror song that will have children living in fear of the Krampus for years to come. This song rips a new one into the holidays. Being it a holiday song I kind of wish it was a secret track like they used to do on CD's in the 1990's where you finished the album and they ten minutes later you hear this crazy song.

Lastly Crop Circles  this one is the longest track on the album it's a fast paced song that is the standard Tomb of Nick Cage punk sound but it also has a rockabilly feel to the way the bass and drums are played . . . I'm wondering if Sean Mooney is playing an upright bass on this . . . Edward Joubert is definitely playing upright drums. This one is definitely a great way to end the album, and speaking of of secret tracks it ends with some sort of crazy swamp sounds and a short spoken part.

This album is absolutely what I've been waiting for, I've listened to it ten times in less than 24 hours . . . get out there and add this to your collection and run around everywhere screaming "Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! Nailgun Massacre! NAILGUN!" 

The album is out now, you can find it on Bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, CD Baby, and more.

Find the Tomb of Nick Cage at www.thetombofnickcage.com and Facebook

Kym Trailz - Vocals
Sean Mooney - Bass
Arron McGuire - Guitar
Edward Joubert - Drums
Taylor Suarez - Guitar

-Kevin P. Johnson

All content Copyright ©2019 Kevin P. Johnson, Album art Copyright ©2019 The Tomb of Nick Cage

WELCOME TO SONIC BOOM! MAGAZINE . . . ERRRR BLOG . . . SOMETHING

Sonic Boom! Magazine #1

So SONIC BOOM! MAGAZINE what on earth is that? Well starting back in 2015 I had been taking a lot of photos at lots of local concerts and felt like I needed to do something with all of that material and do something that celebrated local musicians who otherwise may have never been heard of outside the tiny little rock music scene in the New Orleans, LA area. So I thought I'd create a book of my photos (I eventually did that too) and that was my plan util one day I just made a random Facebook post about doing a magazine and the next thing you know people are messaging me to do it and as peer pressure goes in November 2016 I released the first issue of Sonic Boom! Magazine . . . online . . . in color but there was a demand for a printed version. So funds were raised to do a small run of black and white copies and they were printed (I'm not sure how many 100-150?) and were sent out some going as far as North Dakota. 

Print issue #1

The magazine would come out online every few months for seven issues until March, 2018. With only one other issue becoming available in print which was issue number 4, Sonic Boom! Magazine was to be a digital magazine only until it ended . . . went on hiatus. I tried to sell advertisements for printing funds but I could not raise enough for the great expense of printing it and I am definitely not a salesman. After issue seven came out I decided to stop publishing the magazine because I wasn't able to go to as many shows and it was getting difficult to get the magazine together with my small handful of unpaid contributors. At that point I needed to work on my book, and rethink what would become of Sonic Boom! Magazine.

Jump forward to December, 2019 and where this is going. The answer honestly is I don't know . . . but we will find out. I intend to do a lot of the things that were done in the magazine like album reviews, concert dates, interviews (at some point), press releases, and who knows what else. I do not know if there will be a magazine format right now digital or print at this point. A possible collection of articles and reviews could come periodically or something I'm open to possibilities right now.

Print issue #4

What will be covered . . . that's the easy part ROCK MUSIC! This includes Hard Rock, Punk, Heavy Metal, SKA, Goth, Glam, Hardcore, Grunge and whatever other genre and sub-genre that might fall into the realm of rock. I intend to keep a focus on the New Orleans, rock music scene but will 

This is a positive place for the love of music. There will be no negative reviews, if I don't like it I won't be reporting on it. There will be no politics allowed here, any comments left featuring political comments or hatred will be removed and the person leaving them will be banned. My opinions and anyone that writes an article for me may not be the same as yours and that is fine but arguments will not happen. 

I will try to update as often as possible I can't promise daily but a few times a week I'll try to give you something. This is the new home of SONIC BOOM! MAGAZINE . . . WELCOME.

- Kevin P. Johnson

Check out the digital issues on issu.com

Sonic Boom! Magazine #2

Sonic Boom! Magazine #3

Sonic Boom! Magazine #4

Sonic Boom! Magazine #5

Sonic Boom! Magazine #6

Sonic Boom! Magazine #7

All images and content Copyright ©2019 Kevin P. Johnson