Out of the blue, an old friend I haven't seen for ten years calls & makes plans to come by for a visit. I was really glad to see him again, it dredged up old good memories. After we had reminisced for a while, he tells me a strange & wonderful story. He had 'borrowed' an album from me all those years back & had through the course of time inadvertently parted ways with it. It had plagued him with guilt all these years, as it had been in constant rotation on the old turntable at mi casa back then & he had 'borrowed' it without my knowledge. As the whims of musickal taste change with the seasons of man, I had not even realized I was missing it. Anthems for Greater Salvation by Brother Inferior. Then he pulls out a brand-new unopened copy of said vinyl, which I am so glad to present today. He wouldn't say how or where he got it, just that he hoped it was not too late to make amends. Of course, I sent him packing, the fucking thief (just kidding, folks). I don't know if its the fact that the upcoming election could be the turning point in Amerikkkan history that has revitalized my radicalism or not, but I've surely been listening to a great deal more political punk lately. & this raging slab of resistance is one of the best. Let the musick speak for itself.
Brother Inferior started out in the summer of 94 with Ryan, Chad, Alex, Mike & a 2nd guitarist named Dan Riffe. They recorded Bound & Gagged 7" after only two months or so of practice. Dan left the band shortly after. They all pretty much hated that record. They did a big U.S. tour in the summer '95, did the Blasphemy & Treason 7" in early '96, did a short West Coast tour in summer '96, then came the split 7" with NOTA & this LP in early 97, followed by a massive 3-month tour of the U.S. & Canada that summer. They were very, very active in those years, constantly playing local shows & writing new songs. However, shortly after the '97 summer tour, Alex quit the band so they remained very inactive for a long period. They finally got Grant Lohrey on bass, but then Mikey quit the band, but not before recording the Six More Reasons 7" That wasn't released until early '99, by then they were playing a lot again with Jason Garvey from Rash of Beatings on Drums.
During that inactive period Ryan kept busy playing with Burned UP, Bleed Dry, from Fort Smith Arkansas & touring with them in summer '98. Burned Up, Bleed Dry did a really good 7" on Slap-a-Ham records, but then broke up.
Brother Inferior did another U.S. Tour the following July & August & then headed straight for Europe for September, October, & November. It was massively long, strenuous tour, playing in over 20 countries. BI played close to 100 shows in 1999. They also released a 7" on Trujaca Fala Records in Poland called Dismantling the Capitalist Machine -Euro-Tour '99 & a split 7" with Whorehouse of Representatives
Brother Inferior play hardcore punk which is powerful & melodic along the lines of old Youth Brigade & other classic Cali bands of the early 80's. You can hear the thrash & street punk influences present in their music as well. Brother Inferior broke up in 2000. Chad sang & played guitar in Assembly of God & is now in the Leveling.
Brother Inferior are: Chad Malone - vocals; Ryan Rolston - guitar; Alex Simmons - bass; & Mike Spradlin - drums.
Brother Inferior - Anthems for Greater Salvation, Sensual Underground Ministries SUMLP011, 1999.
decryption code in comments
This side -
Capital Gains
Conquest of History
Who Wants to Live Forever
Buy-out
More Than Just a Crime
Hope
My Country
One for the Resistance
That Side -
Profit & Loss
Lives for Sale
Logical End
Poverty Crime
Chivalry's Dead
Divided
Land of the Free
We're not Gonna Take It
Enjoy 'cuz there's not much time left,
NØ
Ah, isn't it nice to get repaid with something you didn't even know was owed you? It's like a gift you are guaranteed to like...
ReplyDeleteFor awhile, I'd been in the habit of buying copies of Word Virus: The William Burroughs Reader just to read on the bus and then give to friends who needed an introduction to the guy... Now, I'm starting to get copies of it back, from folks who were either disgusted/ offended or were so into it that they started buying The Man's library and felt like they had to return the volume. They didn't realize it was a gift.
On the flip-side, I've got a few cds that were borrowed from pals and not returned and I'm just waiting to run into them folks to get them back to them. So I can relate to your pals' anguish over depriving you of the stuff (even though you didn't know it was missing). I hope my returns will be as glorious and appreciated.
Matt - the gift unexpected is the gift most appreciated.
ReplyDeleteWhile I may be surprised at those bands you detest for probably admirable reasons, nate, I knew Roky must surely feature on a list of indispensables.
ReplyDeleteThat Butthole Surfers are up there is 100% proof in the pudding.
Matt: nice to see you here too.
I'm listening to Pretty Things right now. Very good it is too, I might add.
My favourite part of the story is that it follows your post of "Things I Stole".
ReplyDeleteI played bass in this band briefly during that summer 1996 tour,I was also in A.O.G. Chad has a new band called Bring Down The Hammer thats about to go on tour anyday now,they have a myspace page...Mike
ReplyDeleteMike,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads-up about Chad & Bring Down the Hammer. I'll check out their myspace page. Maybe I'll get a chance to see them somewhere. Are you in any bands now?
NØ
MEGA decryption code
ReplyDeleteXS7-ahWM-WjeLNA36afAzlKa4OFPd_jK0_kBvscYIVA
I'm not totally sure I've come across this before, but regardless, thanks for the kind words and great story... Cheers and all the best,
ReplyDeleteChad (BI)