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Big Winter Sale 2018 – Redstar73 Records – Punk Ska Oi!

Hi All!

we have a big sale during December.
40% off all CDs,T-Shirts, DVDs, Tapes, Fanzines and much more.

https://redstar73.com/tienda/specials.html

Thanks for ordering and keeping the mailorder running. You’re the best!

Mega CD Sale
Some of the highlights we have to offer:
Ska / Reggae

Laurel Aitken – Rudie Got Married CD 5.40EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/laurel-aitken-rudie-got-married-cd-p-818.html
New York Ska Jazz Ensemble – Live In Europe CD 5.40EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/new-york-ska-jazz-ensemble-live-in-europe-cd-p-1951.html
Pama International – Trojan Sessions CD 5.40EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/pama-international-trojan-sessions-cd-p-4160.html
Phoenix City All Stars – Two Tone Gone Ska CD 5.40EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/phoenix-city-all-stars-two-tone-gone-ska-cd-p-4095.html
Phoenix City All-Stars – Searching For The Young Ska Rebels CD 5.40EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/phoenix-city-allstars-searching-for-the-young-ska-rebels-cd-p-4161.html
The Offenders – X CD 6EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/the-offenders-x-cd-p-3939.html
The Skatalites – In Orbit Vol. 1 and 2 CD 7.20EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/the-skatalites-in-orbit-vol-1-and-2-cd-p-3595.html

Oi! / Punk
Angelic Upstarts – Anthems against Scum CD 6EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/angelic-upstarts-anthems-against-scum-cd-p-51.html
Autonomads – No mans land CD 3.60EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/autonomads-no-mans-land-cd-p-3295.html
Bull Brigade – Vita Liberta CD 5.40EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/bull-brigade-vita-liberta-cd-p-4104.html
Cartouche – A Venir CD 6.60EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/cartouche-a-venir-cd-p-4158.html
Faintest Idea – Ignorance Is This CD 4.20EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/faintest-idea-ignorance-is-this-cd-p-3758.html
Ghetto 84 – Tracce 87-91 CD 6EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/ghetto-84-tracce-8791-cd-p-580.html
Guerrilla Oi! – Guerrilla Oi! CD 3.60EUR
https://redstar73.com/tienda/guerrilla-oi-guerrilla-oi-cd-p-4145.html

At the 3rd and 4th May 2019,  will be celebrate the first edition of the “Straight Ahead Festival (A 161 Event)” in Freiburg im Breisgau/ Germany

– The Oppressed (Antifascist Oi! Legends/ UK)
Stage Bottles (161 Oi! with saxophone/ GER)
Moscow Death Brigade (Circle Pit Rap/ RUS)
What We Feel (HC Moscow/ RUS)
Bull Brigade (Street Punk/ IT)
– Empowerment (HC/ GER)
Mister X BY Streetpunk (Street Punk/ BLR)
Enraged Minority (Classwar Rock’n’Roll/ GER)
T-KILLAS (Ska, Soul, Mod- Rock/ GER)
Scheissediebullen (Polit Deutsch- Punk/ GER)
Backstabbed (HC/ GER)

More Bands and Infos will be announced soon.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2217378455148346/

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United Bottles – The Spirit And The Legacy interview

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Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band. When was it started? What about your name?
United Bottles: We are United Bottles. A four piece punk Rock band from Belfast. We are former members of Belfast Oi! Band Runnin’riot.
We formed in the winter of 2014.
We are :
Marty – Guitar and vocals
Ralph – Bass
Eden – Drums
Phil-Guitar

Redstar73 Blog: You have released your debut album. Tell us more about it!
United Bottles: We just self released our 13 track Debut album “The Spirit and the legacy” at the start of July.
We did a run of cds and put the album up for digital download. We have a had a good response and We sold out of cds pretty quickly we’ve restocked now and We’re working with Alex at Distr-oi! Records To get it released on vinyl. We should have it in the autumn. Hopefully.

Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?
United Bottles: Well first off we still have a lot of great gigs to play this year. We have Rebellion Festival in Dublin at the end of October. Cocksparrer are playing! In Ireland for the first time. Can’t wait for that.
We’ve just started working on the new stuff and we hope to put out a split 7″ with our mates, Cork city’s finest THE JOLLARS.
Hopefully we can sort a few gigs in Europe in 2018.

Redstar73 Blog: How is the scene in your area?
United Bottles: The Belfast scene is great. Although we have fewer venues to play these days.
Plenty of new bands coming through regardless..
Like Takers and Users, Lawfucker, Deathgrip.. We even have a fantastic new Ska Reggae band called Tonic all stars. All bands to watch out for.
Locally I promote some punk and Ska shows. We also have a volunteer run social centre called Warzone and we hold alot of fests and gigs there.
There’s a lot happening in such a small city and it’s far more vibrant than it was in the bad old days.

Redstar73 Blog: Any chance to see you guys live in Europe?
United Bottles: We would love to come to Europe.
If anyone is interested in having us over to play they can get in touch with us on the Facebook page

Redstar73 Blog: How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?
United Bottles: Belfast has been steeped in the DIY punk ethos from the start! From the gigs in The Harp bar to Terri Hooley releasing the local bands music on his Good vibrations label. Then we had the Anarchy Centre which later became the Warzone collective. That’s been a hub of music and activism for a while now.
I think it’s important for bands to learn how to do things for themselves. Be it organising gigs, printing your own tees or releasing your own music.
Helps keep your feet on the ground.
Being from Belfast it’s hard to escape politics. The Punk Rock scene here has always offered an alternative to the quagmire of divisive, local sectarian politics.
As for the band. We are anti racist and anti fascist. It Goes without saying.

Redstar73 Blog: What do you think about the Oi! current scene?
United Bottles: It’s very healthy and there’s some great bands doing the rounds. There’s so many bands now it’s hard to keep track.
Special mention to Gimpfist, The Jollars, Takers and users, Arch rivals, The Angry agenda and the excellent GRIT

Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top5 Punk & Oi! songs.
United Bottles: This is difficult and ever changing.
We’ll give it a go

RALPH –
Sex Pistols-God Save The Queen
The Clash-Tommy Gun
Sham 69-What Have We Got?
4 Skins-Chaos
Blitz-Voice Of A Generation

EDEN-
Gimp fist: skinhead not bonehead
Argy bargy:homeward bound
Booze and glory: our passion
Perkele: moments
Runnin riot: oi oi angel

MARTY –
Towerblocks-General boredom
Gimpfist – a country divided
Leatherface – Dead industrial atmosphere
The Jollars – The fight
Cocksparrer – last train to Dagenham

PHIL –
DKM: The Gauntlet
Cocksparrer: Because you’re young
Darkbuster: Whiskey Will
SLF: At the Edge
Star Fucking Hipsters: Immigrants and Hypocrites

Redstar73 Blog: Last words!
United Bottles: Keep the faith!

https://www.facebook.com/unitedbottles/
https://unitedbottles.bandcamp.com

Festa Major de Gràcia 2017

FM La Jove de Gràcia 2017: Ara i sempre resistint
https://www.facebook.com/events/255119878322236/

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Festes de Gràcia al Bar Laila ’17
https://www.facebook.com/events/340314906392056/
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Festa Major de Gràcia al carrer Perla 2017
https://www.facebook.com/events/136924773573064/
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Festa Major Popular de Gràcia – 2017
https://www.facebook.com/events/654503161405423/
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Festes Majors Llibertàries de la Vila de Gràcia 2017
https://www.facebook.com/events/1831302587198703/
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Festival Raices & Cultura a Les Festes De Gracia
https://www.facebook.com/events/647440198780571/
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The Slingshots + Shirley Davis = Blackcelona Rovira Experience
https://www.facebook.com/events/439180266451797/
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El Polvorí [Festes de Gràcia 2017]
https://www.facebook.com/events/132238144048389/
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Festes (A) Gràcia
https://www.facebook.com/events/1548729295172314/
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Festigàbal 2017 (Festes de Gràcia)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1722084284486641/
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Puro Traqueteo: The Rigodonians & El Sonido de Veldá
https://www.facebook.com/events/1915892482027208/
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Error! Fest 2017 a les Festes de Gràcia
https://www.facebook.com/events/475198522834602/
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Las Furias en La Festa Major de Gràcia (Barcelona)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1149818571790828/
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Urban Vietcong – A Colpi Di Machete Interview

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Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band. When was it started? What about your name?
Urban Vietcong: Urban Vietcong started from the ashes of Trade Unions in october of 2015. When this experience ended ,Sciu and Bebe were searching a new guitar and new drummer to form a new band, because they were still thirsty for stages. Giova and Fante were an excellent choice, both for affinity and for sound because with different influences (melodic hardcore,punkrock)the sound has become more original. The name comes from some texts where we refer some street fighters like Black Panthers or troubles in Ireland,from this and our love for Vietnam war was born our name.

Redstar73 Blog: You have released your debut album last year. Tell us more about it! How is the feedback?
Urban Vietcong: “a colpi di machete” come out in november of 2016. Our songs are about our daily lives and the struggles of our city. We are played around Italy and beyond. The first print is nearly sold out..

Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?
Urban Vietcong: We are working on new songs, we will try to release a new album in early 2018.

Redstar73 Blog: How is the scene in your area? Are you going to football?
Urban Vietcong: After years of little activity where many bands have stopped playing,now the movement is growing again,in Toscana there are many good bands,like Bomber 80,Basta,Tondino Bois,Luddite Riot,M.I.V.,one night stand,7years,57100,attaccabrighe and more.
The passion for Livorno Calcio remains,although new repressive laws(such as fan card,bans,nominal tickets) have removed so many fans from the stadiums.

Redstar73 Blog: How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?
Urban Vietcong: Crucial! We make activity in the social centre of our city, we practise in a room of our social centre and we organize some gigs. To be diy is crucial to supporting free spaces and being one self!

Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top5 Punk & Oi! songs.
Urban Vietcong:
Tondino bois – Bomba a orologeria
Non Servium – Que paso en el lieja
Cock Sparrer – Take em all
S-Contro – Ma che cosa resta di noi
RPG 7 – Pasate

Redstar73 Blog: Last words!
Urban Vietcong: Thank you and all people that support this scene and the diy and antifascist scene!

Contact:
https://www.facebook.com/urbanvietcong

Buy the CD here:
http://redstar73.com/tienda/urban-vietcong-a-colpi-di-machete-cd-p-4078.html

Grit – Ghost Estate Interview

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Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band.  
Grit: GRIT is Byrneos, Clodagh, Eric, John and Seán.

Redstar73 Blog: When was it started?    
Grit: Grit started in 2014 with Eric and John jamming for fun with Byrneos in his shed. They decided to make the project a real band so Seán was approached to play guitar early in 2016.  I approached the lads about doing vocals at this time as I heard about the band and that they didn’t have a singer yet. We played our first concert in July 2016.

Redstar73 Blog: What about your name?
C:It’s a nice, snappy word in the english language that means “courage”.

Redstar73 Blog: You have released your debut single. Tell us more about it!    
C: We recorded a demo in July 2016 and put it online for free streaming and download at gritdublin.bandcamp.com. Alex from Distro-y Records heard it and offered to release the songs on 7” format. The other labels on board are Visions of Warning Records, Contraszt and Ultra Peace. This release has four of the six songs originally on the demo. The (beautiful) design and layout of the 7” is by TwoHeadedDog.

Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?  
C: Concert-wise, the immediate future involves playing at Dancing With The Fallen Festival in Belfast at the end of May, then we will spend ten days in Europe in June (dates can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/GRITDUBLINOIPUNK/) and might see you at the Barcelona show on the 7th of June ; )
Releases: a second 7” later in Summer 2017.

Redstar73 Blog: How is the scene in your area?    
E:The scene in Dublin is really healthy but has suffered some direct hits on its DIY spaces in the last year with the evictions of two really large squats and the Tenterhooks punk space. That said, there are still spaces for punk including Jigsaw DIY venue, The Karate Klub punk space and our local football club Bohemians where we can put on shows and have freezing Irish barbeques! There are a ton of bands here and our scene is quite united between different styles. Some of my favorite Dublin bands include DISGUISE, SISSY, THE BLOW INS, SURGE, GAZE, POZOGA, ZONA ZLA, R.A.Z.O.R, STRONG BOYS and SO MANY more!

Redstar73 Blog: I saw you guys are going to play at the COMMON GROUND FESTIVAL. How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?    
B: I would say very important, we’ve been involved in the DIY scene and with left-wing politics for a long time now and I would say that influences every aspect/decision of the band, for example: who we play gigs with, who we talk to (interviews), labels we’ll work with etc,.

Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top5 Punk & Oi! Songs.  
It’s too hard to pick just five songs,so if it’s ok with you instead we have picked a song each from a band that has influenced Grit either in our sound, lyrics or attitude.
B:Runnin’ Riot – Ode to the working man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7T8_hEi4x4
C:Hard Skin – Council Estate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md0lG-4nTFc&spfreload=10
E: Al Kapott- Bretagne 44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRbfRe_Yxfg
J: No Hope For The Kids – Meningsløs Vold https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gseqip5gpBc
S:Camera Silens – Suicide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RYxXzuqMoE

Redstar73 Blog: You see yourself as an Oi band?
B: At the heart of it we are a diy punk band but Grit was formed because of many drunken chats and oi sing-alongs! I think with our sound and lyrics we sit happily in that box.. People will hear different influences themselves. We have been compared to 77 punk, 82 no future bands, post-punk and GIRLSCHOOL to just name a few and that’s all great too.

Redstar73 Blog: What do you think about the current scene?
B:The current Oi! scene varies so much from country to country it’s hard to talk about it as one scene. There are some really great bands knocking about at this time. Unfortunately in some parts of “the scene” it still attracts idiots and right wing fuckers whom some people are happy to ignore as long as they  “leave their politics at the door” but that shit doesn’t work for us.  I’d prefer to “leave their politics all over the door” if you know what I mean.
In Ireland the Oi! bands are part of the larger punk scene, not a different grouping and have decent politics. Some Irish bands in the Oi! style worth a listen are THE JOLLARS, TAKERS AND USERS, UNITED BOTTLES, R.A.Z.O.R

Redstar73 Blog: What are your influences?    
E:The band started from a serious love of Oi! and the more catchy styles of punk that we had listened to since teenagers but never played..BLITZ, CAMERA SILENS, SCREAMING SNEAKERS, NABAT, WARRIOR KIDS, VIOLATORS, ESKORBUTO, KLAXON..and on and on we could go!
C: Lyrically, I have been influenced by PERKELE, BISHOPS GREEN and RUDE PRIDE (to name a few) who all sing in english, I like their style of being tough but with a big heart and a social conscience.  Obviously, I filter these inspirations through my own lived experience as an Irish woman. I spent a weekend with RUDE PRIDE when they toured in Ireland and had some good conversations. They told me how they write lyrics collectively, which was a new idea to me and it is something that we have done in GRIT.

Redstar73 Blog: Do you guys are involved in other projects?
C: John plays fiddle in an electronic outfit called “DOWTH”, he also plays drums and Eric sings in raw d-beat punk band “RATS BLOOD”.

Redstar73 Blog: Last words.
‘They’ll never be able to shoot us from that far away..’

https://www.facebook.com/GRITDUBLINOIPUNK
https://gritdublin.bandcamp.com/

Almighty Uprisers – Systematically Screwed Interview

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Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band. When was it started? What about your name?
Almighty Uprisers: Started in 2015, the name sounded the best from a list of half a dozen most bands create before settling on a name. There’s the political notions and the drive to “rise up” that we all posses but few do anything about, unfortunately.

Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?
Almighty Uprisers: Write new material, Record and tour/play live

Redstar73 Blog: How is the scene in your area?
Almighty Uprisers: It’s survives and it’s thrives. Like most scenes it fluctuates as bands form and bands move on or disband. There’s a distinct lack of ska/reggae bands but definitely the scene and interest to support it. Like most scenes everyone looks out for each other, despite what type of genre you play. it’s like a family.

Redstar73 Blog: How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?
Almighty Uprisers: DIY is a tremendously important to us and is the backbone of what drives the band. There’s very little help from outside sources and unless you’re incredibly lucky, it’s what you do that determines your success, nothing is handed to you on a plate. Politics influence everyone and everything around us whether you like it or not. Everyone has a voice, why not use it.

Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top5 Punk, Reggae & Ska songs.
Almighty Uprisers: I think it would be sweet to end up with a list of not run of the mill/well known tracks here as opposed to anarchy in U.K. – sex pistols etc so it makes for an interesting read. Obviously it’s impossible (or at least we find) to have an ultimate favourite song in any genre so a cool list of tracks people may not have heard will be better for the reader. Here’s three from me as a starter:
Sparra/Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Ska: Dry Acid – The Upsetters
Reggae: Jah Jah Give Us Life To Live – Wailing Souls
Punk: Tube Disasters – flux of pink indians.

Scott/Lead Guitar/Backing vocals
Ska: Hooligans – Wailers.
Reggae: Come into my parlour – Bleachers.
Punk: Big a little a – Crass

Andy/Drums
Ska: soon you’ll be gone – blues busters
Reggae: talking blues – bob Marley and the wailers
Punk: cheat – the clash

Nathan/Keys
Ska – toots and the maytals, 54-46 whats my number.
Reggae – Bob Marley – iron lion zion
Punk – iggy pop – The passenger

Bill/Bass
Ska: Skatalites “Sakaravan”.
Reggae: Culture  “Natty Never Get Weary”
Punk: Subhumans “Animal”

Redstar73 Blog: Last words!
Almighty Uprisers: Plug the facebook/social.
Look out for us.
Destroy Fascism and Unite.

https://www.facebook.com/almightyuprisers

Prins Carl – Bow To No One! Interview

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Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band. When was it started? What about your name?

Prins Carl: Well we started about 14 years ago. We had no actual planes for the band, we just wanted to have something to do so we drank and had fun.
Västerås (our hometown) got rewarded for beeing Swedens most boring town. There is no places to play and we have cops everywhere. so the only thing to do is to lock yourself in in a rehersal room.
I think the first bandname we had was Prome Queens but we wanted to change for some reason i can’t remember.
Prins Carl is the name of an old steamboat where a man killed allot of people and then got executed in our hometown Västerås.
We wanted a name that could relate to Västerås so we thought that would be perfect!

Redstar73 Blog: You have released a new album ‘Bow To No One! ‘. Tell us more about it!
Prins Carl: Yes. It’s recorded by ourselves in our tiny rehersal room. We always record the basics live, but the new rehersal room that we have is so small so it was pretty hard to mix it, but i love the result.
I think it’s the most honest album we’ve ever made and i absolutely adore every song on it. The lyrics are better, the melodies are better and everyhing is more personal, for me it is! If you listen, listen loud as hell!
The question is What do you think about the album?!


Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?
Prins Carl: The plan is to play as much as possible cos thats what life is all about!
We are also talking about making a split Ep. We have 2 songs that didnt come on ‘Bow To No One’ that we will release somehow, sometime.
But I guess we will keep recording stuff and make good music!

Redstar73 Blog: How is the scene in your area?
Prins Carl: Well, as I said earlier about beeing Swedens most boring place. We dont have much of a scene.
We have a few bands but we have no places to play!
Most of the bands to go Stockholm to play.

Redstar73 Blog: I saw you guys are going to play at the Rebel Days 08 festival. How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?
Prins Carl: Yes. That gig will be awsome!
I love the Diy idea cos im so interested in every part of making music, recording, mixing, mastering and so on, and not selling your soul to any money man.
Well the politics is what it is. We have to much shit in Sweden so we have to do something to get rid of the idiots.
But i think that it’s not politics, it’s just common sence!


Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top5 Punk & Oi! songs.
Prins Carl: This is the hardest question so far. To only pick five is like death!
I like mostly old stuf so you will get that. And because i think you havnt heard so much old Swedish Punk im going to list that!
Hope you’ll enjoy it!
First of I have to say a band called Bristles and a song called “Sick”, recorded in 1983!
its angry and its wonderful!
Secound up is an old band called KSMB and a song called “Klockan 8” (8 O’clock) A song about beeing in prison and dreaming about freedom.
Third up is Asta Kask. A band that still plays and in my eyes is one of Swedens best bands! Everything they’ve done is great.
my song for you is “Dom får aldrig mig” (they’ll never get me). Pure Gold!
Forth place goes to the new Västerås band called Call Cat and the song “Bearded Burden”. Just listen to it!
Fifth place goes to Trubbel from Gothenburg and the song “snedstegsvalsen” (Wrongstep waltz, or something like that). a song about trying to dance.
6. The Baboon Show and the song “Me myself and I”. Good driving song!
7. This is a band that is realy close to my heart! Also from Gothenburg, i present The High Hats! Every song is fenomenal but if i have to pick one song it’ll be “Heartbeaten by the police”. For all you melodical heartakers out there!
8. WC a band from Eskilstuna (pretty close to Västerås). and the song “Polis polis” (police police). A song about violence by the police. It
has to be the 1982 single version! listen to the drums and the 4 beat!

Oh shit, i just realised i was only to list five.
Hope you enjoy these songs!

Redstar73 Blog: Last words!
Don’t try fit in! Go your own way!

https://www.facebook.com/prinscarlpunk/

 

Takers & Users – Backbars and Alleyways interview

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Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band. When was it started? What about your name?
Takers & Users: The band started in 2014. Myself and Sprouley had played in Hardcase previously. We then asked Darzo to sing and he decided to play bass as well. Ryan joined on second guitar about a year later. The name came from the Business song Takers and Users. No real meaning behind it.

Redstar73 Blog: You have released your album ‘Backbars & Alleyways’. Tell us more about it!
Takers & Users: We initially recorded 4 tracks in a studio in Larne and released a 100 demos ourselves. We sent a few out to labels to see if anyone would release our album and Diana at Randale was interested. So we went back into the studio and recorded another 6 songs and put them all together for the album.

Redstar73 Blog: As we are big fans of the Neurotics here, please tell us the story behind your song “The Neurotics Were Right”.
Takers & Users: It was more a dig at the Tories than it was a tribute to the Neurotics to be honest. I’m a fan of the Neurotics and went to see them the last time they played Belfast, but the lyrics are more to do with the welfare reforms that were being implemented by the Tories.

Redstar73 Blog: How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?
Takers & Users: I think for a band like ours the idea of DIY will always be important. Most gigs we play are either put on by ourselves or our friends, and its better that way to be honest. It generally means you don’t have to deal with any bullshit. As far as politics goes we’re not really party political. I’ve never voted in a general election and don’t think any of us have to be honest.

Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?
Takers & Users: Hopefully release an EP soon, finish writing our second album and get a few more gigs under our belts.

Redstar73 Blog: How is the scene in Belfast?
Takers & Users: The scene in Belfast is quite small, and because of that the gigs are mixed. For example there wouldn’t be enough oi bands to do a full oi gig so we normally play with hardcore, ska or psychobilly bands.

Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top5 Oi&Punk songs.
Takers & Users: Tough one to narrow it down. It changes all the time. In no particular order.

Cocksparrer – Take em all
The Business – Product
Marching Orders – Songs of yesterday
Runnin Riot – Double the pain
Red Alert – Long Night in Long Island

Redstar73 Blog: Last words!
Takers & Users: Cheers for getting in touch. Happy New Year and hopefully speak soon.

https://www.facebook.com/takersandusers/
https://takersusers.bandcamp.com/releases

One Step Ahead – Hinter Fassaden Interview

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Redstar73 Blog: Please can you introduce your band. When it was started? What about your name?
One Step Ahead: We are ONE STEP AHEAD from the small Saxon town Limbach-Oberfrohna. We were founded at the end of 2010 and are playing hardcore-punk. Before that we played in various other bands and were and still are active in political and subcultural groups for a while. Half a year ago our bass player dropped out and since then two friends of us helped us out on our concerts and played bass. It was difficult for us to find a good and suitable name for our band at the beginning.
There is a song called ‘One Step Ahead’ by the band ‘Guerilla’, which we liked very much (especially content-wise), so we named our band after it.

Redstar73 Blog: You are going to release your new album soon. Please tell us about it.
One Step Ahead: Our album called ‘Hinter Fassaden’ will be released as vinyl and download in a few months by the record labels RiotBike Records and Streetwar Records. It is a consistently political album and we hope the music is a bit diversified. The songs show the whole history of our band because some of them we wrote five years ago and others were completed just before the recording. Thematically our songs are primarily about the strengthening of reactionary and fascist powers since the rise of PEGIDA in Germany and the related changes in society. As well we try to point out problems in our own scene so other people reconsider their own acting. In the song ‘Ihre Fassaden’ we say that we do not need right-wing tendencies in the punk- and hardcore-scene and that we do not tolerate merchandise from R.A.C. or right-wing bands on our shows. We definitely wonder how the reactions on the album will be and we can hardly await to hold the result in our hands.


Redstar73 Blog: What other releases have you done so far?
One Step Ahead: The album ‘Hinter Fassaden’ is actually our first album after five years. In 2011 we released our first demo on CD-R and after that we were in studio to record some songs for various Samplers. Two years ago we burnt all of our previous records on a CD and distributed it to the people for donation on our shows. We made two different versions of this CD – the ‘Riot Dogs’n’Cops’ version and the ‘Clench ya fist’ version. Both versions differ only because we liked the idea that people can decide which design they like the most personally.

Redstar73 Blog: How important is for you the DIY idea and politics?
One Step Ahead: Punk is not business. But unfortunately the reality is different. Booking agencies are growing more and more, there are huge salaries for famous bands or reunions of ‘punk legends’, which seemingly have no longer a connection to the scene. And those determine the image of bigger punk concerts or events. In our opinion the idea of DIY is one of the most important in the punk-scene and that’s the reason why we always like to play at solidarity concerts. But politics are very important for us as well. We really like it when concerts run under a political context or when there are some antifascist information points. We think punkrock can only come along with an antifascist self-concept. All too often right-wing tendencies were able to spread? under the mantle of the non-political inside the scene.

Redstar73 Blog: What are your plans for the future?
One Step Ahead: Well at the moment we have no concrete plans for the future.
As a start we want to make our upcoming record public and want to move around a little bit.
In 2017 we would like to make another tour and also play some international concerts, like we did this year. Maybe we will write some new songs as well so that our next album won’t take another 5 years to be released.

Redstar73 Blog: Give us your Top 5 Oi! & Punk Songs
One Step Ahead: Oh, that’s really difficult… we listen to quite different music but we were able to agree on these five songs:

Blitz – Razors In The Night
Arkada Social – En la oscuridad
Non Servium – A.C.A.B.
Versaute Stiefkinder – Schlag zurück
Guerilla – The Streets are ours

Redstar73 Blog: Last words
One Step Ahead: We wanna thank you for presenting our band and wish you continuous success with your label and your online shop.

https://www.facebook.com/ONExSTEPxAHEAD/
https://one-step-ahead.bandcamp.com/