New Bloodclot LP Art and USA Negative Approach tour

Luckily, I have been listening to the Metal Blade Records promo fro the new Bloodclot album, Up in Arms. First, you may ask: that John Joseph project? with Biohazard, Spudmonsters, and Pro-Pain dudes? again? Unfortunately, many people disparage that self-released 2008 record, Burn Babylon Burn! I, on the other hand, love that record and blast it loudly as I scream along to revolutionary tirades with heavy crunching breakdowns. 

But erase that image. Despite being named the same, minus an exclamation point, Bloodclot is based on vicious, speedy, old-school NYHC riffs from Todd Youth. Youth, of course played in Agnostic Front, Murphy's Law, and Warzone. He then went off to D-Generation and then, Danzig. But back to NYHC sounds, Youth brought veteran rockers, Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, QOTSA, Vista Chino - love that record!- BL'AST! and Dwarves) and Joey Castillo (LA's Wasted Youth, QOTSA and Danzig/Son of Sam with Todd Youth). I will admit as a non-QOTSA fan, I was nervous when i saw this line-up. But that is my small mind being stubborn. This album is a triumph.

Since 2008, I have lamented, as much as I rampage to Cro-Mags' current vibrant energetic live line-up when they play, John Joseph's reluctance to create new music and simply thrive on Cro-Mags' legacy. Bloodclot! was brilliant. Certainly, he could have some magic left. He sure as fuck does. On Metal Blade will afford them opportunities.

The April release date has been delayed until July 17th, 2017. And Metal Blade does not want the music played or really even discussed. All I will say is that it moves like fire.

Here are dates announced today for a tour with the mighty champs of cynicism and raging old school hardcore (which these days sound like grind), speaking of killing it in the 2000's live, and needing new material, ha ha ha.... Negative Approach! Can you imagine that show?!? Going to be severe.

But if you missed the title track being released, it is on:
NOISEY

Bloodclot tour dates
w/ Negative Approach
July 14 - Amityville, NY - Revolution Bar and Music Hall
July 15 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
July 16 - Washington DC - DC9
July 18 - Virginia Beach, VA - Shaka's
July 19 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
July 20 - Belmar, NJ - Paul's Tavern
July 21 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
July 23 - Buffalo, NY - Studio at the Waiting Room
July 25 - Pittsburgh, PA - Cattivo
July 26 - Cleveland, OH - Now That's Class
July 27 - Cincinnati, OH - Northside Yacht Club
July 28 - Detroit, MI - The Magic Stick
July 29 - Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
July 30 - St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill
Aug. 1 - Denver, CO - Marquis Theater
Aug. 3 - San Francisco, CA - Thee Parkside
Aug. 4 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex w/ Nails, Final Conflict
Aug. 5 - Santa Ana, CA - The Constellation Room w/ Nails, Final Conflict
Aug. 6 - San Diego, CA - Brick by Brick w/ Nails, Final Conflict


Metal Blade released this John Joseph quote:
"In this band, we're doing what each of us have always done: give it our all," John Joseph states plainly. "We work hard, and we have a lot to say. Look around the planet - people are fed up with the corrupt ruling class. They destroy the planet and kill millions for profit, and the formula for our response is simple: Anger + applied knowledge = results. Don't just bitch. Change it."


 

Dr Know Interview for Woodstock Sessions and Black N Blue Bowl

Dr Know of the Bad Brains

Black N Blue Bowl May 16/17, 2015 

Woodstock Sessions, May 30, 2015 woodstocksessions.com

When I call Dr Know he is picking up Mackie and John Joseph. Mackie Jayson is most known as the drummer as the Cro-Mags and a part of the crucial Age of Quarrel album. He also recorded with the Bad Brains on Quickness and Rise; among other touring stints. He played in Fun Lovin’ Criminals, NYHC treasure The Icemen, Hazen St, and even came into Madball when Riggs stepped down. Doc and Mackie have been brothers for many years. John Joseph is returning from a Cro Mags’ gig in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The Ironman contender, outspoken vegan Krishna, NYHC retro tour guide, aka Bloodclot, will jump directly into the singers’ slot at Black N Blue Bowl.

Dr Know is the guitarist of Bad Brains. There are never sufficient words to describe Bad Brains quickly and their spiritual connection with their fans. Along with his partner in bass, Darryl Jennifer, Doc will be headlining day one of the BNB Bowl, with Mackie and John Joseph, as The Regulators. They will be performing an hour long set of classic Bad Brains’ material. Dr. Know (Gary Miller) describes the reunion as “an old-time special”.

“The show is at Webster Hall, which is the old Ritz. I haven’t played there in twenty years. It will be special. We are headlining, like the old days.” The energy will be indescribable. As much as Bad Brains came from DC, they can still be considered a NYHC band from the beginning. And JJ and Mackie were there to see and learn from their peers as the Cro-Mags were growing. “They’re family. We are all brothers. We did this line-up back in the winter, some smaller spot in the city. It was thirty minutes and it was great.” 

John Joseph will bring a fervent intensity. He does Ironman competitions. “He is more fit than ever,” Doc notes. The four will practice all week. Black N Blue Bowl is having a one off Burn reunion to top day two. The varied array will push all the styles that make up NYHC. Other bands appearing are Crumbsuckers, Sick Of It All, Madball, Earth Crisis, and Candiria. Among 100 Demons, Booze and Glory, EGH, Wisdom In Chains, King Nine, Rival Mob, Rude Awakening and even more, the vibe will be electric. Doc wants to give the people a crazy show, as many family and friends will be there. And The Regulators are, well as Doc says, “It’s the OG’s”.

At the end of May, Bad Brains will be recording a five song EP in Woodstock, NY where Dr. Know lives. The recording will be with Jesse Royal. The special aspect to this recording will be that the public can buy a ticket to attend the memorable event at Applehead studios. A series called Woodstock Sessions is hosting the Bad Brains recording with sixty to seventy people in attendance. “We are going to write the album that day. Make it up, revamp it, and record it.”

Jess Royal is a “hot new Jamaican. We met him at the Afro-Punk fest. We had a special set with rotating vocalists; Corey (Glover of Living Colour; John Joseph, Jesse Royal and two others.” While Doc is excited to record new material with a young vocalist, the addition of the fans is a unique experience. “People will get to know us as we record. It will be straight up spontaneity. Some of the songs we are working on, we have already in process. We need to jam them out. It all happen there. We wrote a lot of records in the studio.” Applehead is comfortable for Doc. He reports having done much work there. The idea came up between him and the studio.

“It’s cool. People are going to get to hang out all day.” The event boasts fans being treated to an open space studio, stocked with a Caribbean feast. When they leave the fans will receive a commemorative t-shirt of the day, a limited edition poster and reservation for a 180-gm vinyl of the recording. Doc is very excited to share this event. “The vibe will be incredible, laid back. It’s going to be fun. We are going to play some reggae, maybe a rock joint. We can’t get too wild, though,” Doc laughs.