None More Black / The Loved Ones

None More Black/The Loved Ones: live in Washington, DClive in Washington, DC (2004)
Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: sickboiChris
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on June 11th 2004I don't drive to DC much anymore. Maybe it's my job's long hours, or getting older, or just getting lazier; but during the week it takes something special to get me off my ass and into my truck for almost 2 hours on the highway from Richmond to DC.... So yeah, 3 of 4 members of Kid Dynamite in th.

I don't drive to DC much anymore. Maybe it's my job's long hours, or getting older, or just getting lazier; but during the week it takes something special to get me off my ass and into my truck for almost 2 hours on the highway from Richmond to DC....

So yeah, 3 of 4 members of Kid Dynamite in the 2 bands on one bill? Giddy-fucking-up.

The Loved Ones. Interesting. I missed them in Philly when they opened for the Souls and kicked myself several times since for doing so. I wasn't going to do that again. I arrived about 1/2 hour early, just enough time to have 2 Bud's and walk to the backstage area of the Black Cat, which is where a lot of smaller bands play.

The Loved Ones were just setting up. I'd seen all of their members in previous bands like Paint It Black, Kid Dynamite, the Curse and Trial By Fire; so one would be lead to have a pretty good idea of their sound right? Nupe. Their sound is more traditional rock, fused with simple punk power chords, and amazing melodies. Front man Dave Hause's vocal delivery is crisp, snarling, and at the same time bursting with harmony, very much like Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music.

Musically, the band could be compared to the likes of Ann Beretta, or as previously mentioned Hot Water Music....simply rock n' roll, raw with punk tendencies. The set itself was nothing short of being incredibly tight. Not exactly the type of music to have you running in circle pits, but upbeat enough to have you tapping your foot along, and undoubtedly when these guys blow up, many will also be singing along.

As None More Black were finishing setting up, Jay began his almost trademark soundcheck. "Check 1, 2, whoooooooooooah!"...awesome. I love that snarl. The guys quickly had their shit ready and launched right into "Everyday Balloons". Immediately you could see the difference with Dave "I play in 500 fucking bands" Wagenschutz completely wrecking shop on the drums. I honestly can't think of another drummer that hits the skins as hard as him.

After leading into "Dinner's For Suckers", I realized that it was a little difficult to hear Jay's voice. I was hoping for an adjustment on the vocals, but then I realized that Dave is just so god damn brutal on those drums, it almost drowns out Jay. Regardless, the set was great. Consisting of tracks from 'File Under Black', highlights included the previously mentioned 2, "Ice Cream with the Enemy", "The Ratio of People to Cake", "Bizarro Me", and one of my favorites "Never Heard of Corduroy" (how the fuck can people rag on this song?)

Ending the set was the group's contribution to the first installment of the 'Rock Against Bush' series, the opener on the comp; "Nothing To Do When You're Locked Away In A Vacancy".

To summarize, 2 great bands, $5...you can't beat that with a wiffle ball bat.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (June 18, 2004)

Well thank you... I hate it when dumbasses do shit like that. So... do they ever play 'It's pronounced Thermometer' live?

...evildeadalive

Anonymous (June 17, 2004)

'thats so franco' isnt a slow song at all. you're thinking of "it's pronounced thermometer" (but i belong in the jerkstore now! haha), which for some reason, some fucktard renamed to "thats so franco" on kazaa.

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

Greasing up the engine for the Asskicking Stage.

Yes!!!

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

yeah, background is on new age which no longer exists. and background does suck ass so it's probably better that it's out of print (fortunately some of the better new age bands like unbroken and turning point have had their shit re-issued on other labels). seven inches is a mixed bag, the first 7" (but the second on the CD) sucks, but the second 7" is really good. and it's still in print.

p.s. hello bastards is my all time favorite album. holy crap i love it.

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

yeah, the lifetime "background" record is pretty poor. i love that band a ton, but i can't dig that album.

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

To the guy below me;

The pre-"Hello Bastards" Lifetime material is on New Age Records, I believe. Some sXe label that's not around any more. Lifetime weren't that good back then, to be totally honest.

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

"whoaaa wait a sec...i've never found any other cds by Lifetime other than the ones on Jade Tree. only me and one of my friends really listens to them, but neither of us have found anything other than those 2 albums. what labels were they released on?"

They have an album called "Background" which i believe Dave Wagenschutz drums on. They also have a compilation album of all of their seven inches aptly titled "Seven Inches"

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

this must have been an awesome show. that whole family of philadelphia bands are really kicking ass right now, and it really doesn't matter to me which is better than the other.

Anonymous (June 14, 2004)

whoaaa wait a sec...i've never found any other cds by Lifetime other than the ones on Jade Tree. only me and one of my friends really listens to them, but neither of us have found anything other than those 2 albums. what labels were they released on?

and yea i know about the split KD did with 88 fingers louie (another fucking great band that broke up) but i'm talking full-length records here. the Cheap Shots, Youth Anthems b-sides and demos and live radio shit is cool too, but its not a full length. Lifetime was together from '90 to '97 by the way, much longer than KD ('97-'00)

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

Im all for 80s hardcore but PIB suck!

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

Like the guy below me said, PIB is for those who still love Embrace, MInor Threat, Scream, Gorilla Biscuits, Black Flag, etc. It's not the more melodic HC/straight punk of Kid Dynamite, it's harder, more thrash.

" Fucking Lifetime had only 2 albums, KD had 2 albums, The Curse had only one short little EP...."

Lifetime had more than just two albums, they only released their last two on Jade Tree.. KD, in addition to two albums, also did a split with 88FL, and weren't together as long as Lifetime (I believe).

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

Paint It Black requires an appreciation of early 80's American hardcore, so of course you're not going to get it, GreenDase.

-BSD

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

NMB and PIB are both the shit, although I dont think anyone can argue that they're better than Kid Dynamite was. KD was fucking brilliant, one of the best punk bands that ever existed. Why the fuck can't those guys in those bands stay together tho? Fucking Lifetime had only 2 albums, KD had 2 albums, The Curse had only one short little EP....PIB and NMB better both do more than 2 full lengths because if they do it will be a miracle. And by the way, I saw NMB play Invisible Suitcases and it was better than the recorded version in my opinion.

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

I thought that was a great review, even if it apparently wasn't intelligent enough for someone who makes comments like "Gay as Aids."
Do NMB ever play 'That's So Franco' live? I've only seen em live once, and that was for a shortened set. And well, it may be their slowest song, but it's prettty damn close to their greatest.

...evildeadalive

theOneTrueBill (June 13, 2004)

I thought your last sentance was "$5... you can't beat a wife with that." at first glance.

Anonymous (June 13, 2004)

this review was completely homosexual

"snarl" ---no, you dont sound intelligent, you sound retarded
"skins" ---nah....just nah.
"$5...can't beat that with a wiffle bat" ---wow...good analogy i guess?

well i couldnt score it a 10, coz the review was gay as AIDS, but i gave it a 5 because i love NMB, PIB, and KD

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

i just went to this same show in trenton the other night and it was fuckin awesome.

the loved ones are soo good and dave wagenshutz makes none more black a ton better.

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

Pib>nmb

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

When I saw them, I had the same problem with Jay's vocals. He needs to get closer to the mic or something. Still an incredible band though.

-Danny X

inagreendase (June 12, 2004)

I just can't get into PIB. I try so hard and I can't even force myself to like them.

NMB retains the KD melody/aggression combo I love and that's what makes them great. Oh well, I lose.

Anonymous (June 12, 2004)

can everyone agree that Paint it Black simply rocks None More Black's ass in terms of Kid Dynamite-member bands? im sorry, CVA is just a waaaaay better album than File Under Black.

_911 (June 12, 2004)

this band seriously rocks hard live.

thirtyseconds (June 12, 2004)

Budweiser is piss water. None More Black are great.

hey_sailor (June 12, 2004)

Yeah, I liked the 7'' a lot...probably partially due to the production.

sickboi (June 12, 2004)

Invisible Suitcases is prolly my favorite NMB song, does anyone know if they ever play it live?

hubitcherkokov (June 12, 2004)

None More Black is fucking great on album and live. I like them a hell of a lot better than KD. Anywho, the songs on the self-titled record are "What's Inside Bone", "Invisible Suitcases" and "That's So Franco" and they're all awesome.

PsychoOS231 (June 12, 2004)

"Seems like a nice show Im not really into None More Black but their song on the RAB comp is sweeeet!"

Well if you like that song there is no reason why you wouldn't like their full length.

I just couldnt get into them the first time around, I guess I should give these guys another try.

ThatotherGuy (June 12, 2004)

Not to rag on them, because I love NMB, but I'm seeing Duvall, The Catheters, and Panic in Detriot for 5 bucks tomorrow, which does beat 2 good bands for $5, it's 3. Although, I'd much rather have None More Black than all 3 of those bands.

THAT GUY
(fuck, it's been awhile since I posted huh ?)

boba_fett (June 11, 2004)

i read that prior to releasing file under black on fat, they recorded a 3 song 7 inch ep that was released on sub division records. does anyone know what songs were on that?

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

"Seems like a nice show Im not really into None More Black but their song on the RAB comp is sweeeet!"

Well if you like that song there is no reason why you wouldn't like their full length.

maverick (June 11, 2004)

Sickboi-

The link you left in the review for a picture didn't exist anymore... Email it to me and I can add it.

-Scott

Anonymous (June 11, 2004)

NMB are an awesome live band, and the mp.3's of TLO that I've heard are great. Must've rocked.

hey_sailor (June 11, 2004)

Sounds like a great show...I can't wait to hear The Loved Ones...

boldredletters (June 11, 2004)

i'm guessing from the mp3s you meant "caution"-era hot water music?

PsychoOS231 (June 11, 2004)

Seems like a nice show Im not really into None More Black but their song on the RAB comp is sweeeet!