Friday, July 31, 2015

Weekend at Mooster's #3: The Advantage


Welcome to my [sorta] regular column/blog post. I wanted to make a place where I could share bands that have influenced me and Mooster Records in any way. Basically, I wanna share some bad ass bands with you. I don't intend for these posts to be complete in anyway, but more of a jumping off point. It's the weekend, so welcome to WEEKEND AT MOOSTER'S. This weeks band is THE ADVANTAGE!

No! Not this Advantage!



THIS ADVANTAGE!






THE ADVANTAGE is from Sacramento, California and started playing around 1998, the best way to describe them is if KING CRIMSON covered the music from old NES games. The band is considered to be one of the original pioneers of the Nintendocore genre and widely praised for bringing video game music into the spotlight. Named after the Nintendo controller of the same name, the Advantage offers their own style and blend of video game rock. The band consists of Robby Moncrieff (guitar), Ben Milner (guitar), Carson McWhirter (bass) and Spencer Seim (drums). 


The idea for the Advantage began at a talent show in Nevada City, CA.  The Advantage signed to Kill Rock Stars affiliate 5 Rue Christine Records (5RC) in 2004 and released their debut self-titled album, The Advantage



This was the introduction to THE ADVANTAGE for me, I was perusing eMusic one day and happened across their record. I was immediately blow away by how accurate they pulled off the tunes. My fave from the S/t album is absolutely the "Contra: Snowfields" as its been one of my fave NES tunes ever since I was a kid. Check it out!



During the tour of their debut album the band released, Da Advantage EP, in 2004 through their own label and sold it at shows. Two years later in 2006  their second full length record, Elf Titled, was also released on 5RC Records. Again in similar fashion to their first EP, the band released their second EP, Underwear: So Big! EP, through their own label during their 2006 tour and sold it at shows.


After the release of Elf Titled, the band toured for a short while before entering a hiatus. In 2010, a compilation album, B-Sides Anthology, (AKA: B-Sides) was released by Obstructive Vibrations in digital download format. It contains all of the material from Da Advantage EP and all of the material from the Underwear: So Big! EP (except for track 3, Gradius II - Boss) plus a few extra rare tracks. 

If possible the second record shows a progression, the instrumentation is more obsessive, the interludes between tracks are crucial and no track shows it more than "Guardian Legend: Corridor 1" the very unobtrusive track nestled towards the very end of the record sits and awaits you to discover it. "Is this record over? HELL NO!" Heres the best track. Absolutely killer!




Their most recent album, Rock Bottom: Live from Bottom of the Hill, was released by SPM Records in digital download format May 30, 2013. The album consists of songs from a June 24, 2006 live performance at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA.

Since then, the band has two releases that have been posted to their Bandcamp page Edits, This is the seventh release by The Advantage. It is a collection of edited tracks from the Self Titled, Elf Titled and B-Sides albums. and Live: From The Great American Music Hall, the eighth and most current release by The Advantage. It is a live performance of the band from February 27, 2004 at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA. 

If somehow, Spencer or the crew happens upon this. WE WANT MORE. WE ALWAYS WANT MORE! I believe we will get more soonish because the infamous mantra of the band just happens to be that they would like "to record every NES tune before each member of the band lay dead"

I guess maybe theyve been a little busy with HELLA or sBAch, who knows?!?! :)

(a lot of info taken from Wikipedia and various webpages from record labels)

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Florida Teen Wolf punks, Wolf Face, Perform 2 Lollapalooza After Shows in Chicago


MoosterCrest.jpg


A Rare Wolf Sighting in Chicago

Floridian Lupines, WOLF FACE, bring their sexy fur and fury to two LOLLAPALOOZA after shows this weekend. The first chance to rock is on Friday, JULY 31st with an RSVP only Culture Collide Chicago after party held at The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago (230 N Michigan Avenue), opening up for “The Ruler” himself, SLICK RICK. The second show is on Saturday, AUGUST 1st at The Hard Rock Cafe (63 W Ontario Street) alongside JOAN of ARC and headliners MINUS the BEAR. Both performances are free admission and strictly 21 and over. RSVP to the Culture Collide Chicago after party does not guarantee entry.

Wolf Face has been turning heads with their ferocious and fiery live shows, not to mention their very own food and music festival, BURGATORY, a monthly food column, WOLFING IT DOWN, in Creative Loafing, Tampa’s free alternative-weekly newspaper, viral videos (yes TAY SWIFT and CHVRCHES, WOLF FACE did it first...and this video is included in the Hard Rock global video library which plays daily all over the world in every Hard Rock property.) as well as on stage antics that would make most sex shop workers blush. The City of Chicago has barely seen anything like what these pups from Saint Petersburg, Florida are capable of and this weekend the city is going to get TWO opportunities!

Information and Links

About Wolf Face
In high school Michael J. Wolf made some serious waves when Hollywood decided to steal his life story of being a small town basketball playing werewolf and put it on the silver screen. Nowadays, Michael has found his groove rocking a hard pumping and infectious brand of hairy punk rock with his pack-mates Rain Wolf, Good Wolf, and Wolf Fart..

About Mooster Records
Mooster Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, IL run by Brandon and Nichole Harrod. Mooster has been supporting musicians since 2008. Mooster Records' purpose and passion is to support unique independent musicians and artists by making their art available to a wider audience. They are committed to collaborating with artists of all medium to create a total artistic experience through the production of tangible music, such as vinyl records, cassettes and CDs, as well as exhibitions and performances.



Contact: Brandon Harrod - moosterrecords@gmail.com - moosterrecords.com


Monday, July 27, 2015

Mooster CLEARANCE SALE until Aug 1st!

WE'VE LOST OUR DAMNED MINDS!!!!


VISIT OUR STORE HERE!

FOR $5 LPS 
INCLUDING:
CAFFIENDS
CRAZY AND THE BRAINS
COPYRIGHTS
CREEPS
DISCONNECTS
HI HO SILVER AWAY
HOSPITAL JOB
MANGES
MUGWUMPS
PLOW UNITED

$2 7"S
INCLUDING:
BROKEDOWNS/VACATION
CEDAR PLANK SALMON
CITY MOUSE
CREDENTIALS
DARLINGTON
PROZACS
DIRECT HIT
EX BOMBERS
HUNGRY EARS
MEAN JEANS

$2CDs
INCLUDING:
CELEBRITY INTERNMENT CAMP
FRENCH EXIT
HEWHOCORRUPTS
KINGONS
MAXIES
KOBANES
PEABODYS

AND THE SUPER SPECIAL 

MOOSTER BUNDLE!!!!!

What Youll get:
The Connie Dungs "S/t" LP(green vinyl) 
Pool Party "Pool Party Number One" LP(yellow blue splatter vinyl) 
Pool Party "Pool Party Party" 7" 
Pool Party "Teenage Weirdo" 7" 
The Demerits "Shake It" 7" 
Kepi Ghoulie "13 for 13" Tape 
Chronics Tape 
McCrackins tape 
MTX "King Dork Approximately cassingle with goodies 
One mystery 7" pf my choosing 
a Mooster Mania CD of my choosing

2 LPs, 4 7"s, 4 cassettes and 1 CD!!!

Friday, July 17, 2015

What are we listening to? PODCAST EDITION

Happy Friday! We are mucho busy behind the scenes at Mooster HQ but still wanted to get one mor epost in this week. So I came up with an idea to share some awesome podcasts with you, the reader. I listen to podcasts while working about 7-8 hours a day, it's depressing really, but I feel like Ive heard a great handful of them and wanted to pass along the savings to you! In the comments below share some of your faves too! Have a good weekend! ...and hey! pick up some records while your here! - Brandon/Mooster 

What is The Best Show? It used to be The Best Show On WFMU for thirteen years. Now we are on our own and making our way through the world! The show is comedy, call-ins, music and fun. It's Scharpling and Wurster and everyone else! Tell your friends that we're back and we're coming for your children! 


Pistol Shrimps Radio! Get the thrilling courtside action delivered straight to your ears by venerable sports acknowledgers Matt Gourley and Mark McConville. Brought to you weekly, but seasonally, wherever fine podcasts are downloaded. Support the Los Angeles Women’s Rec Basketball League no matter which jersey you wear. 'Fight the rivalry, and feel the bleed.



Comedian Doug Benson (Super High Me, Last Comic Standing) invites his friends to sit down and discuss his first love: movies! 


Never Not Funny is an award-winning weekly podcast hosted by comedian and TV personality Jimmy Pardo and producer Matt Belknap. Since 2006, the show has offered comedy fans the unique opportunity to eavesdrop on freewheeling conversations between Pardo and his sometimes famous, always funny friends. Unscripted. Unedited. Unstoppable. It’s Never Not Funny.


SPONTANEANATION with Paul F. Tompkins is a completely improvised show, from monologue to interview to long-form sketch. Join Paul, his special guests, and his incredibly talented friends from the world of improv for an hour of comedy that none of them ever see coming.

SUPEREGO: Profiles In Self-Obsession. Improvised, analyzed, and brought to you by Drs. Matt Gourley, Jeremy Carter, Mark McConville, and Paul F. Tompkins. Guest appearances by Patton Oswalt, Neko Case, John Hodgman, Jason Sudeikis, Greg Proops, Erinn Hayes, Andy Daly, Kristen Schaal, Thomas Lennon, and many more. SUPEREGO: SEASONS 1, 2, BONUS EPISODES, and NON-ENHANCED MP3s available at goSuperego.com.

Comedian Marc Maron is tackling the most complex philosophical question of our day - WTF? He'll get to the bottom of it with help from comedian friends, celebrity guests and the voices in his own head.

the world's foremost fake internet judge rules on topics of all nature with bailiff Jesse Thorn

NSF RADIO is a weekly mixtape composed of NSF(Nintendo Sound Format) tunes from the Nintendo Entertainment System. Every mixtape corresponds with a different letter of the alphabet.









Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Stiletto Bomb Giveaway courtesy of Mom's Basement Records


We have a special giveaway today. The fine folks over at Mom's Basement Records want you to have a copy of the brand new Stiletto Bomb CD "In The Dark". Go on over to Facebook and give them a like to get info on new releases coming soon.

"Yeah! But how do I get a free CD, schmuck" your asking.

Well....that was rude! ;) But here's how!


Send us an email to moosterblog (at) gmail (dot) com  that includes the number of like you were on the Mom's Basement Records Facebook page(hint you have to actually click like on their page). Once I receive 25 emails we will randomly pick one email that win one copy of the new CD.  Also, dont be a knuckle head! Include your mailing address and we will ship one out to you all courtesy of Mom's Basement Records!

you can get ready for your free CD and crank the tunes below!


Sunday, July 5, 2015

Mooster goes to: Animal Planet: Woofstock 2015




The Mooster crew (Nichole and I) headed to Chicago’s Soldier Field on a very warm and sunny Saturday(mainly to pet lots of puppies) as we were guests of Animal Planet’s Woofstock: Road to Puppy Bowl. In addition to puppies, there was a great food, beer, giveaways and a fun, dancey, eclectic bill of musicians, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah headlined the day long event, before them were the oh so funky JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound and Gulf Coast soul band, The Suffers.




Clap Your Hands Say Yeah has been a favorite of ours for years and Nichole even caught them way back in 2006 while she was traveling in Spain. According to her, despite the lack of crowd in the stage area, they still held their energy and put on a great set for the few of us loyal music fans that stuck around.

Even better, comedian Eugene Mirman (Bob' Burgers) was the host throughout the day’s festivities, we unfortunately missed a brief stand up set but caught up with him for a little chat during the CYHSY set. Eugene mentioned that he is a huge supporter of Woofstock and had an awesome time at the event. I briefly tried to get him to geek out with me about music but he strayed away from naming his favorite band.  He has also been a favorite of ours (we loooooove Bob's Burgers(new episodes September 27) and his stand-up equally). The Lagunitas may have gotten to our heads and we may have tried to convince Eugene to come see 2001: A Space Odyssey with us that night. :) :) :)

Eugene wasn’t the only personality in attendance, a ton of Animal Planet's hosts were roaming the grounds, eating yummy veggie burgers and drinking up the beer with us, Jackson Galaxy of My Cat From Hell, the dudes from Pit Bulls and Parolees, and Treetop Cat Rescue were also around. Internet celebs Lil BUB and Manny the Frenchie also made appearances.

There was plenty at the event to keep our attention but it was hard to miss the furry friends, they were all over the place! There was special doggy ice cream and snacks and bones galore.

I was there to take in the vibe and check out some music but from the photos below you can see what Nichole had on her mind! ;)
There was more to Woofstock than entertainment, it was a chance to adopt a special puppy or kitty that was in desperate need of a home. The event was the culmination of a 17-city tour that went started on the East Coast and went to San Francisco. Chicago adopted 50 pets on site from PAWS Chicago.

We had a great time at WoofStock: Road to the Puppy Bowl and were thankful for a beautiful afternoon. Despite the hard to find location, a sparse and antsy crowd, the event seemed to be a success and the folks that were there had tons of energy and seemed to be loving it, as did the animals. Heres to hoping next year is twice as successful!!