Shakey Bones - The Soup EP

Shakey Bones were something of a house band at Berkeley's 924 Gilman St for a while. It seemed like they were playing every other week or so, if not actually on the bill then playing outside or in the store.
The Soup EP is theyre third and final release before going they're seperate ways, but its by far some of the best music they put out. The sound ranges from upbeat folk-punk to bluesy-jug band suprisingly naturally. I remember seeing them one time and have someone shout out "you guys arent punk...my dad likes you!".
What else can i say about Shakey Bones? I know that theyre first ever show was in a dorm room at Crown college at UC Santa Cruz. I also know that when i was working for the school painting walls one summer i came across a dorm at Crown with the shakey bones Camel (above!) and the Flying Feet logo tagged on the underside of a bed...the same room? quite possibly! its a mystery!

But seriosuly, these guys were great, a lot of fun, punk and folky and sloppy in the best possible ways.

Top Songs:

In The Morning

The Drunkard and the Bottlecap

Borningtown

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nynod23yyee

http://www.myspace.com/shakeitorbreakit

2nd St. Rag Stompers - Camping on Low or No Dollars (REUPLOADED!)

This was one of the many bands that i saw busking on pacific ave in Santa Cruz, but unlike most of them, this band was actually good! These guys arent afraid to show their roots, in fact they let theyre roots come up through the cracks in the sidewalk and bring civilization to its deserving knees. They play, as you might expect, rag time mixed with that punk element all the kids seem to be into these days. They do theyre fair share of covers (even a cover of Baby on Board for all you Simpsons fans), but they do them really really well, so dont let that stop you from listening!
Maybe the coolest thing about when I saw them was when, in the middle of a song, one of those Santa Cruz winds came along and blew a five dollar bill out of theyre case, and they just let it keep blowing; didnt stop playing or miss a beat even as they watched it blow away. Maybe its not a big deal but it impressed me.

Top Songs:
Railroad Bill
Trains and Cops
Lay Me Down

http://www.mediafire.com/?jzka0zyk2wk

http://www.myspace.com/ssragstompers

Abi Yoyos - This World Is Not My Home

NEW FORMAT! Long Post! More Personal! Deal With It!

The Abi Yoyos were a part of the bay area punk scene roughly from 2002 through 2007. in other words they were there exactly when i was a teenager, going through the motions at Berkeley High and realizing that the local punk scene hadnt died in 1992 (contrary to what everyone was telling me...).
I probably saw them a half a dozen times and dismissed them before i realized how much i actually liked them. The first time that they really stuck with me was when i saw them play theyre CD release party at 924 Gilman. I was going through a particularly rough couple of days then, I hadnt slept in 48 hours, i was worried about life and graduating and dieing; and i was on a handful of medications i probably shouldnt have been on; but i managed to pull myself together enough to bike down to Gilman and check it out.
I didnt even stay for the show, i left almost as soon as i got there, but not before picking up THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME, the Abi Yoyos 4 song EP. I got home and put it on the record player. I played both sides and then put it on again. "huh" i thought, "this isnt that bad".
...
The Abi Yoyos definitely have roots in classic east bay bands like Crimpshrine, but they make theyre own sound out of it - its more hectic and strained; which really gets the sense of urgency across. Its angry but they actually have something to say (and they have fun doing it). At times it sounds like a circus, but maybe that only makes sense to me. i think you'll enjoy it though, even if you dont think youre about to die.

Now they play in a band called Yankee Kamikaze, but that deserves its own post.

Top Songs:
Xenophobia
Bohemian Grove
Fuck the UN

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yh0mfrzzy2z

http://www.myspace.com/abiyoyos