Closer Than You, Vol. 1: Florida Ska

Florida had a pretty big ska scene in the mid to late 90's and this CD is proof. Put out in 1997 by Moon Ska Records this featured a variety of ska bands from Florida ranging from traditional ska to more punk influenced ska. There is also a Volume 2 but I haven't been able to track it down. I apologize for the size of the image but I cant seem to find the actual cover I scanned so this is the best I could do. The track listing is as follows:

1. So Much :: Magadog
2. Growing up on a Couch :: Less Than Jake
3. Looking Up :: Skif Dank
4. Besame Mucho :: Usuals
5. Kojack :: Blue City Kings
6. My Dog Pedro :: Pork Pie Tribe
7. Smoke in My Horn :: The Rugcutters
   
8. Picture :: Baccone Dolce
9. Senator :: Hopscotch
10. Knocked Out :: Jive Step Bunch
11. Stressed Out :: Skahumbug
12. The Bone :: The Shakes Society
13. Mohammed Ali :: Majik Dirt
14. Less Baltimore :: Magadog
15. Peanuts and Radishes :: The SKalidays
16. A Few Too Many :: Lame
17. Don't Tell Me :: The Usuals
18. My Very Own Flag :: Less Than Jake
19. It's Time :: Blue City Kings
20. Skanking in Scotland :: Pork Pie Tribe

Closer Than You, Vol. 1: Florida Ska

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8FVNDDNS

Culture - Live in Germany 1998 (videos)

I just came across this and wanted to get it up before I forgot. Culture, live in Germany in 1998, full live set.

01-Born of You/Not As Mine


02-Oath


03-Pimping The Revolution/Vampires, Maggots and Draggons


04-Pillars


05-Twenty-Four/Deforestation


06-Momento Mori


07-Fred Up

Denny's Unit - Unreleased Demo

City: Miami
Type of Music: Punk
Years Active: 1995 - 2000 (roughly)
Myspace or Website: n/a

I was really hoping Id find some kind of info on Denny's Unit to post but I couldnt find anything. Real good punk rock from Miami that later featured Mike Marsh from the Agency and Dashboard Confessional on drums as well as Lori, the future Mrs. Marsh, on bass. If anyone has photos or more info to add, pass it along and Ill get it posted. I don't know what else the band recorded, but this demo was apparently unreleased so I dont have the track names but the quality is real good. Check it out

EDIT:
The Man, George Van Orsdel, dropped this info for us regarding the band

"The Denny's Unit demo was recorded around 1997-1998 (I could be mistaken with the year), at Tapeworm studios in Miami, with Jeremy DuBois. I played drums on these demo recordings. I also have a live recording from a show at Cheers (I need to transfer it to MP3). I have the song titles somewhere but I can't find them, I'll do my best to find them for ya. The singer/guitarist, Patti Gran, eventually moved out of state and played in a band called New Black and currently plays in a band called The Dials. Mike Marsh took over on drums after I stopped playing with the band. I don't know if they recorded anything after that. As for any photos, I don't have any and I don't know if any exist."

UPDATE:
I received an email from the band who asked that I take down the link. The demo was never meant to be released and I apologize to them for having it up. They said they would send me pictures to post so be on the look out for that

Timescape Zero

City: Miami
Type of Music: Hardcore
Years Active: 1992 - Present
Myspace or Website: http://www.feastofhateandfear.com/timescape_zero.html

Alright so I posted this before but Adel 156 was nice enough to send me an actual copy so I could get a real good sounding rip of it. Huge thanks to him for his support in this cause. This is everything that was released by the band before the release of their last full length "Total War" on X-Ray Records. I scanned the back so you can see the tracklisting as well. Also Im including the link to the original post I did for the band which has a link to purchase "Total War". Again, huge thanks to Adel for helping me out

Timescape Zero - Everything Short of Total War

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DM24D8VN

Link to the original post:

http://southfloridamusicscene.blogspot.com/2008/04/timescape-zero.html

Roach Motel

City: Gainesville
Type Of Music: Punk
Years Active: 1980 - 1984
Myspace or Website: www.myspace.com/roachmotelrules

Arguably, Florida's first punk band. While The Eat was the first punk band in South Florida, Roach Motel was the first punk band in Florida. George Tabb would later go on to start the band Furious George.

Also the man Aesop had to this to say on his blog about this release. Thanks to Aesop for letting me use his words. Check out his blog for some great out of print releases:

"Roach Motel were one of the earliest and best-known hardcore bands from Florida. Here's their debut 7" Roach & Roll from 1982. Sure this record has some jabs at Cubans, old people and homosexuals and the infamous track "Wetback," but back in '82 punk wasn't overrun with PC watchdogs, and this kind of naive bigotry was just part of a bigger misanthropy. Not that I am condoning such sentiments, it was just how it was back in the day, and I am against any kind of revisionism of the past to conform with people's tight-assed worldview in the present. Either way, this is a classic of American punk and a very important piece of my growing up punk in Florida. These guys were the kings, this record is the proof."

From their Myspace:

"1980, Gainesville, FL - Roach Motel play their first gig, opening up for the Bazookas at a tiny dive for about six people and a toothless bartender. A legend is born.

1984 - After an illustrious career during which the boys find a real drummer; tour with Black Flag, Minor Threat and Suicidal Tendencies; play with Dead Kennedys, CH3, the Necros and others, get lucky, release four records (including the mind-blowing punk compilation, "We Can't Help it if We're from Florida" and their debut "Roach & Roll", both of which are highly sought-after collector's items), the band finally implodes from the pressures of fame, money, and punk cred. In a haze of booze, broads, and Percodan, the members scatter across the US.

Last known whereabouts:

* Bob Fetz - Spotted on the "F" train to Brooklyn mumbling, "I am Gilligan."
* George Tabb - Founded the world-wide Punk Television (Ptv) media empire.
* Jeff Hodapp - Runs a successful flamingo farm in South Florida
* Frank Mullen - Producer of pornographic movies
* Eric Engan - Last seen on "America's Most Wanted" (reward pending)"

The vinyl version of this record has been out of print for years but it was released on CD in 2003. As far as I know, that CD is now out of print. If someone knows otherwise, please let me know and Ill take down the download link

Roach Motel - Roach & Roll

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9XOY7BQR

Morning Again, Live at the 108 show in 1997

I got an email from Bob who played in Caught Inside saying that he has a bunch of pictures from the mid 90s at Cheers. I told him to send em on over and heres what I got so far...Morning Again in their earliest lineup including Damien on vocals and John on guitar. You can see Alex from Makeshift and George from Brethren in the last picture. Check it out. All pictures ©Robert Lyon

George Van Orsdel comes through huge!!!

George Van Orsdel, the singer of the Van Orsdels (among many others in the past), was nice enough to send me a disc with loads of bands from South Florida's past as a contribution to documenting this great scene we love so dearly. Huge thanks to him for sending that out of the kindness of his heart without asking for money to cover postage and shipping (which I gladly would have paid). Expect some real gems from South Florida's past real soon...he also included this picture of the Cameo Theater marquee being prepared for a Dead Boys show in 1986. Again, George thanks so much for all your help and contributions...expect a full interview with George in the near future.

One other note of interest, I received a message from Dan Buddah asking if I had been able to find any of the following bands...a few I had but others not yet so if any of you reading this have anything of it, get in touch with me.

Ruptured Nun
Nuclear Beer
Pagan Faith
The Believers
Slap of Reality
Drunken Fish
The Hangmen
Henchmen
Meatlocker
The Roidz
Bad Rep
The Trash Monkeys
Incadescent Rage
Pitbully
FWA
Rugged Edge
Slag
Nazi Satan