Nice to Meet You: The Press Fire!
The Press Fire! gives us dance punk you would sell your soul for.
Let's face
it - punk is dead. Once it
became a fashion statement more than a culture, it's core beliefs and ideals
slowly disintegrated into horrible 80s pop and new wave music. There are
some that still play within the genre and do well, but the essence of it is
lost in eyeliner and Hot Topic t-shirts. But there are some bands though
that refuse to let the spirit die. With wanton vocals and a knack for
breaking stuff, Los Angeles' the Press
Fire! take the energy that started the punk rebellion in the 70s and bring
it to the California culture. The Press Fire! grew out of the chaotic east
LA scene, playing some of their first shows at skate-punk house parties.
Because of their at home approach to promoting their music the band quickly
found a niche in the over saturated world of LA in a little over a year they
were signed and recording. Not an easy feat for many bands. Their
energetic and spunky style easily transferred over in the studio, and the end
result is the fiery EP ES SLASH TEE.
ES SLASH
TEE is just about as LA as the band itself.
Produced and recorded by LA natives Aaron Buckley (Anavan)
and Timothy James (The Movies).
I'm normally not one to make comparisons like this, but the Press Fire! is like
if CSS grew up listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band has the
style of the girl-fronted new rave band and swagger of their LA predecessors.
It's rough, abrasive and an instant adrenaline rush. Though the band
isn't excatly the punk made famous by the Sex Pistols and company, it still
emobies the insane antics and fuck-all atmosphere those bands started and
combines it with the post-hardcore stylings that bands like the Blood Brothers
brought back to the scene. Not only do you feel the energy the band puts
into every song, you get infected by it. You find yourself wanting to
jump around and hurl the nearest chair against the wall. Since the Press
Fire!'s music is more "go crazy" music than anarchy-spouting, you
probably won't feel compelled to slash your face up a la Sid Vicious. Probably
for the better.
"Hipster
Crickets" is the perfect example of this more positive punk energy.
I'm not usually one to favor female singers, but the Press Fire!'s Merisa
Libbey is my new girl singer crush, mostly due to her raunchy lyrics and
explosive voice on this track. With a tight bass line and a demented
circus of a guitar riff, "Hipster Crickets" easily embodies the jumpy
punk style I explained earlier. The ending of the track is the best
part. The song slowly becomes an anticipation for a welcome release,
coming out in spurts and screams until a final climax. Sound too dirty to
be true? (editor's note: Yes, it does.) Too bad.
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Jul 21, 2009 @ 9:00 am