Laughing Stock – “Gluten Free” and “Crucial Hang”
There’s a lot of different styles of punk, of styles that bands play on our site. I love them all- from pop/punk, Oi, traditional punk, hardcore, heavy New York hardcore, skate punk, Egyptian reggae punk, post-hardcore math rock….except for the last one, “it’s all good” as they say.
And there’s no need for me to pick favorites but then, I must admit, I do like the few bands that hit me like I’m in 1977. That have the spirit even more than the sound of early punk.
I think Laughing Stock is one of those bands. They’re not easy to lump in with many other bands, they stand apart. Sure, they’re hardcore in speed at times but only sound like an early band, like Black Flag when they hit that speed. Lots of their tunes are more moderate in tempo with a crazy energy bubbling up inside them.
Their manic exasperations (songs) make me think of early L.A. punk (The Screamers) or early Boston punk (The Girls); look the later up on youtube- they sound like if Devo was more punk and mentally unbalanced.
My old friend Sam Malabre, not that I’ve known him long, just in his wiseness and age, said of them, “too much energy for a small venue…riot inducing songs.”
I saw them open a show recently and they ripped the place apart, sonically, and I was glad to be made aware that they have two separate things on bandcamp, seven songs in total, and I’ve picked a few selections for our private viewing.
“I Am A Laughing Stock” crashes out at a moderately brisk speed, like an early English punk song, like a monochrome dream. “I’m a laughing stock/ I’m a fucking joke/ I’m the butt of ridicule/ I am a laughing stock.” A more precise definition of myself could not be imagined. “Everyone is moving forward/ Your fifteen minutes are up.” Andy Warhol said, “in the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” A true prediction of our attention spans, not of the life of artists. And before this succinct splash of sound ends it would appear they’re singing “plastic cock” instead of “laughing stock.” Oh, well maybe the laugh’s on me but either way this is a great punk song.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 I am a Laughing Stock.mp3|titles=I am a Laughing Stock]
“Stoked On Stress” starts out with some screeching Johnny Thunders guitar shooting sparks of city frustrations against the third rail. The rhythm section wails mightily along, the vocals bleat a heart or anxiety attack-”Turning purple, trouble breathing, out of breathe.” This song hits and collides like a drunk bouncing off the sides of buildings in an alley. Suddenly the song stops and a soothing gospel keyboard swells up and moves us toward the light.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 Stoked on Stress.mp3|titles=Stoked on Stress]
“Home School Shooting” comes out full force in fury and rhythm though the parameters of hardcore seem to have been shaken up a bit. The back-up vocals come in with a “Hey-a-hey” while the bass burbles up occasionally. And the guitars are like a smear of sound hitting you upside the head sideways landing you in a coma of noise bliss manna.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/04 HomeSchool Shooting.mp3|titles=HomeSchool Shooting]
“Over It” is another manic maniac rush of insanity exploding in front of our eyes. The guitar sputters and slashes as the rhythm section hurries it along. A slight pause and the song ignites again with a frantic guitar line short circuiting along with passionate, panic stricken vocals. A little bass break and then we’re pushed into the pit of musical mayhem once more. “And I’m not over it.” And I’m not over how great a tune this is.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/05 Over It.mp3|titles=Over It]
A laughing stock is “a person subjected to general mockery or ridicule,” in other words- a punk! Or made an outcast, someone unpopular, someone who doesn’t fit in, in other words- a punk!
Laughing Stock describes themselves as punk and hardcore. In my live review I say, “I wouldn’t call this hardcore…more traditional punk or skate punk.” And I also say, “is this band not a rip roaring full throttle attack on our senses and genitals and all we hold dear?”
And that pretty much describes them live and their recorded output, also. This is a great band with “riot inducing songs” that will tear your genitals into tiny little bits and you won’t even care at all- you’ll be screaming with joy!
I can’t wait to see them again, they’re our only hope to destroy music…and that’s no laughing matter.
(Slimedog)
