What is the Punkin’Pie Hubbub? We still don’t know! But it has something to do with carting a bunch of city slickers through a small town main street, with screeching guitars and freaked-out antics aboard some approximation of a float.
Shot in a variety of formats including 16mm color film, Simon Nagle and I created and recorded this event for a documentary film course at Temple in 1990.
Look for Richard Fravel, Arthur DiFuria, Andrew Clees and Noel Babineau of the Uptown Bones. Also Eric DeJesus, Elizabeth Duby, Tom Miller, Jim Reed, Joe David, and an entourage of Hubbub followers and fans.
Latimer was a fixture on the local scene in the mid-1990s, thanks to frequent live shows and tape, 7 inch releases plus later a pair of memorable albums on the World Domination record label. The band — which at various times included singer/guitarist Geoff Doring (who sadly passed away in 2005) – bassist Dylan Cotton – drummer Rob Sherman – guitarist/singer Rich Fravel (Uptown Bones, Mt Vengeance, Ashtabula, Blue) and guitarist Kevin Morpurgo (Dandelion).
This is an early 6 song demo tape called Ted Morgan Muscle Car in the band at this time was Rich, Dylan, Geoff & Spidey. There are little excerpts of music in between the songs.
A very recent nice development has been members of bands from the 80’s getting back together and/or starting new bands. Three of them from Philly all have members from of one of my favorites Electric Love Muffin. Another fan of ELM has been releasing records by these new/old bands on Sister Raygun Records. According to him the label’s main goal is to promote local Philly bands (though we have non-Philly bands too). Plus it is “purely a labor of love for me — just trying to help put out some good under-the-radar music….” The great part is these bands aren’t rehashing the sound of any of their old bands they are expanding on those sounds in many new directions. For some videos Check out the Sister Raygun YouTube channel
Now, getting back to the three bands:
Poppy
Poppy was first formed in the early 1990s with members of 2 of 80s Philly punk scenes favorites Electric Love Muffin (Brian Campbell) and Scram! (Craig Heim) with Kate Campbell’s powerful vocals and loud guitar. They returned a few years ago and have been playing all over Philly. First time I saw the reformed Poppy was at the Tusk (I think) and they were heavier than I had remembered and it was just a good time seeing them again. In November of last year (2019) they released a new album Snakes of New Jersey. There are a variety of styles on the album from Noisy Blues with powerful vocals to straight ahead pop rock to one song Marga, which in some ways reminds me of (I’m not sure what it’s been labeled) but bands like Seam/ Dustdevils/ Breaking Circus/ Polvo.
FoxyContin
FoxyContin formed in 2003, the band features members of 2 Philly punk legendary bands The Electric Love Muffin and Krhissy. Rich Kaufmann (ELM singer) wanted to start a band that channeled the first wave of punk rock after the end of his country rock, the Rolling Hayseeds. He was working with Ravine Veneer at Silk City who played guitar and got Michael Barndt (Krhissy) on drums and Mike Stifel on bass. I missed recent Foxycotin shows since they have been back, but once we can return to seeing bands, I plan on going, Their long awaited debut album This Time You’re On Your Own (see below) comes out on August 7th on Sister Raygun. There is something for everyone on this album. A song for the sad state of politics in America (The Whole World Knows I’ll Never Get Over It Now), A reworked Rolling Hayseeds song (It’s Starting to Show), and a couple of songs have organ music by Sam Steinig (Mondo Topless and GTVs) that reminds me of the organ parts of early Elvis Costello songs, plus lots of cool covers from all over the musical spectrum.
Mt Vengeance
Mt Vengeance is Rich Fravel – singer/guitarist (Uptown Bones, Latimer, Ashtabula, Blue & Realtor extraordinaire who helped me buy my house), Brian Campbell – bass (Electric Love Muffin & Poppy) and Nicky Santore – drums (Valsalva, Glory Hole). I have seen them live a few times and for me it was a strange (in a good way) mix of nostalgia for the 90s but with enough freshness to it to make it sound new. Their first album Covered in Dust from 2018 was one of my favorites of that year and the new album Machines is even better (see below). There are a lot of different styles on this album. A few songs have a pop sensibility but with a harder edge. Others like Nil By Mouth has distorted noisy guitar with a grove. Then it all wraps up with the song Machines which has a metalish Hawkwind sort of sound.
Here is a video I shot before the Photon Band / American Trappist / Mt. Vengeance show at JB’s. Brian (ELM, Poppy, Mt. Vengeance), Rich (Uptown Bones, Mt. Vengeance), Art (Uptown Bones, Photon Band) & Noel (Uptown Bones) played two Uptown Bones songs and an ELM song.
Other Sister Raygun bands include Philly’s own Beretta 76
Good Power Pop Italian band Mad Rollers
I have to use the bandcamp description for Pre-Cog in the Bunker – a sci-fi post-punk duo blending punk noise, classic melodies, and literary lyrics.
And The Professor Fuzz 63 is a cool, lo-fi, rocking’ trio from Dallas,
Uptown Bones were one of my favorite Philly bands of the late 80’s early 90’s. They seemed to be heavily influences by the Love Muffin but added in some psychedelic and noise elements to it. The band was Rich (Ashtabula, Latimer) vocals & Guitar, Andy Clees on Guitar and Noel on drums. The original bass player, Scooter Anderson (Thanks Eric & Art) was later replaced by Art (Photon Band, Tons of Nuns, Lilys, etc.) Collected below are 2 demo tapes (I don’t have the track names for the 2nd one) the first 7″, the split 7″ with Les Thugs and then the 2 cd’s that came out on the French Black & Noir Records. As an added bonus there some Flyers at the very bottom + a video I shoot from Johnny Brenda’s which was a sort of reunion with Noel, Art, Rich along with Brian from ELM. It was before the newish band Mt Vengeance which is Rich Fravel – guitars and vocals & Brian Campbell (Electric Love Muffin & Poppy)- bass & Nick Santore – drums
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