HOLD DOWN THE OCEANHold Down The Ocean is a four piece band from
Southeastern Pennsylvania. Coming together initially as a side project
of Philadelphia Hardcore mainstays All Else Failed in 2015, HDTO
quickly took on a life of its own. While the mission statement called
for increased sonic exploration and broadened horizons in the form of
looser arrangements, lush soundscapes and droning ambience, old habits
die hard, and the occasional bursts of energy an aggression peek
through the clouds. 2020 sees the band prepping their second EP as
well as their second LP, which are each due for release in the Fall.
SHINER
Shiner formed in 1992 and soon found themselves signed to DeSoto
Records, (owned by Jawbox’s Kim Coletta and Bill Barbot). The band
began a creative high and a busy touring schedule that endured for
years, with their final album in 2001 The Egg a critical success.
Pitchfork said, “Shiner's six-string bloodletting beats the crap out
of anything you'll hear on commercial FM these days" and All Music
noted, "The songs themselves bask in an epic splendor, replete with
the kind of arrangements that reward repeat listenings" Along the way
countless tours of the US, Europe and Japan, and 4 full-length albums
gave them a fiercely loyal set of diehards. Comparisons with their
contemporaries of HUM, Jawbox, Failure, and Swervedriver were
unavoidable, but Shiner carved a path of their own with a dedication
to song-craft and musicianship wrapped in darkly sugared hooks.
Shiner broke up in 2002 but 10-years later re-released The Egg on
vinyl and played sold-out shows in New York, LA, KC and Chicago. Those
were some of their biggest shows ever and many in the audience were
new to the Shiner fanclub. In 2018 the 4 of them - drummer Jason
Gerken, bass player Paul Malinowski and guitarists Allen Epley and
Josh Newton decided they were not quite finished, there was another
life for Shiner they could not ignore.
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31/05/2020 Last update