DC Larson's JUKEBOX JURY

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Various

Compilado 25

(Punk Con Punk)

Anarchy en español. As is always so with voluminous band compilations, merit is inconstant. But the finest presented boast enough strength to flatten heads, and techniques honed but not la-di-da. Translators are not needed; demolition rocketeering is a universal language in our underground. Not only will Punk never strike its colors, so long as mifits with perpetual scowls and guitars in hands stalk sidewalks, but every geographic outpost has been molested by surly shouters. Which is pretty damn cool.

Recommended: "Esto Es Madrid" (The Rejects), "La Basura Que Somos" (Viejos Tiempos), "Tema De Adrián" (Fracasso Italiano), "Policía Corrupto" (Los Puta), "Don't Try This At Home" (Whatever!)), "Bhopal" (Punkonia), "Perros Plaga" (Terranos Baldíos), "Tranki" (Qué Dirán), "Alianza" (Alianza), "Alta Frecuencia Que Cura El Dolor" (Hernán Dolor)

Videos: "Esto es Madrid" "Whatever" "Tema De Adrián" "Perros Plaga"

Punk Con Punk

Bandcamp

Discogs

Texabilly Rockets

Alive and Kickin'

(PART Records)

Whoever conceived of pairing these veteran Portuguese, old-class boppers with astute producer Boz Boorer must've hot-wired a genius contraption. Since 1993, the Texabilly Rockets (initially bannered as "Texabilly Rockers") have worked up slapback song stylings that ladle lovingly from vintage Billy, Blues verities, and hillbilly hijinx. None of which would cruise so cooly, were the men at issue not all types of able to make racket that's been giving legions the Sock, since Ike put up feet on the Oval Office desk.

Recommended: "Time is Running," "Sweet Baby Blues," "I Got Lost," "Honky Tonk Feeling," "A Tale of Pain," "Whorehouse Blues"

Videos: "Time is Running" "Sweet Baby Blues" (live) "Whorehouse Blues"

Los Pontiaks

Hay un ojo en mi Martini! 12" vinyl LP

(Subterfuge Records)

"These three Prussian soldiers from the underworld emerge from their graves, when the occasion warrants, to invite us to a true hip-shattering Rock 'n' Roll bacchanal." intones their autobilling. Exotic and often instrumental rat rod treks through haunts of Surf, hacksaw rhythms, and Garage Mambo thrill without pause. Inventive songcraft dodges down unforseen novel night roads. The Lux & Ivy imprint (reflect upon title) has its way, certainly, though not with the Scumbag Alley banshee howl one might anticipate. Summoned forth are ten koo-koo treatises that, while hinting now and again at the storied CBGB's cryptkeepers, do so with the impeccable dash of 1940s John-Carradine-House-of-Dracula flowing cape. Silken finery and military helmets catch eyes, yes, but death-heads, dive-bombing chords, and final-mile drum sureness remind of cursed circumstance. (And whose hand is on your shoulder?)

Recommended: "Plato o Plomo," "Hay un ojo en mi Martini!," "Bailarina de seis brazos," "Chicas Zombies," "El Diablo," "El Atracto Perfecto," "El Indiano"

Videos: "Hay un ojo en mi Martini!" "Chicas Zombies" "El Atracto Perfecto"

T-Drifters

Life is Pretty

(Tombstone Records)

While the trio's name was abbreviated following cover art completion, the sound transmuted nar' a whit. Originals are filled to overflow with leg-shakin' jitter-bop, fit to blast today's Gone Disciples straight up to stars 'n' planets upper reaches. They'll slap skin with ghosts from some 1957 high school hop who're already makin' the scene, pickin' 'em up and puttin' em down in crazy man crazy orbit.

Recommended: "Boppin' My Life Away," "Fade Away," "Life is Pretty," "Fifteen Cats," "Liquor Blues," "Rocking Rebels Rock On," "Tennessee Boogie"

Videos: "Life is Pretty" (live) "Rocking Rebels Rock On" "Tennessee Boogie"

The Monokids

Video "My Baby Left Me"

Zombina and the Skeletones

Videos "Fiend Without a Face" "Two Scoops of Brain"

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Hola Ghost

"The End of the Road" b/w "Iron Reich" 7" vinyl

(Svart Records / Hola Pete Records)

Bone-visaged leder Peter Sandorff knows an infernal agent need not break measured pace. Hence, "End of the Road's" enigmatic narrative gains from his chilling steadiness. The one-time Necromantix guitar menace executes passages and slicing punctuations with preciseness born from a career of taboo toils. Associated scoundrels Jeppe B. Jessen and Kristian Sandorff (Psycho Mariachis from a skewed, eerie dimension) build intensity - their formidability rivets - and spicy, sombreroed accompanists the Haunted Horns augment with poltergiest harmonies from ebony ether. Flip "Iron Reich" (a "lockdown" document) appeared in different form on a previous Hola Ghost waxing; here, it assumes acoustic constitution. And Sandorff's humanity-wrenched strains are emphasized all the more by starkness.

This 7" disc portends a full-length one due later in 2026. The single was initially available as either black & white swirl or clear/black smoke. But in a January Facebook note, Svart advised "All 7” versions are sold out from Svart’s webstore, even the test pressings! Ask your local well-equipped record store if they have a copy or grab one from the band."

Videos "The End of the Road" (live) "Iron Reich"