Giant Robot Store and GR2 News

I didn’t know much about It’s Casual until just a couple of weeks ago when I caught the duo on a killer bill with Negative Approach and DYS at Alex’s Bar. I knew what to expect from the hardcore legends from Detroit and Boston, but holy shit. The local skate rockers not only held their own but totally ruled with their full-on aggro (yet smart) blasts of metalic (yet fun) brand of SST-informed hardcore. I confirmed my suspicions a week later when they played a furious in-store at Vacation Vinyl to promote a rad limited-edition split 7″ single with Early Man.

Meanwhile, Eddie and I chitchatted after each show and he began responding to some of the photos and reviews that I was posting online. One thing led to another, and here’s a (yup) casual Q&A with one of my new favorite bands and dudes. If you make it to the end, there’s an exclusive MP4 waiting for you.

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The first time I saw The Jesus & Mary Chain was a religious experience. I was still in high school when Rodney on the ROQ first played “Never Understand” and then announced that the JAMC were going to play their first gig in the U.S. at the Roxy in 1985. The show, which was a couple of nights before Christmas, didn’t last more than 20 minutes with Jim and William Reid mostly facing away audience and Bobby Gillespie banging on a single tom. The set was as out of control as the feedback, and just as rad. So were the next JAMC shows I saw at the Santa Monica Civic and Palladium. When I found out that I could see them at Hollywood Park for only 10 bucks, how could I resist?

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