Thepunkguy

THIS CLOSE, an ongoing series of posts about bands that were THIS CLOSE to being huge.
(photo cred.)

This week, we feature the Promise Ring, a band from Wisconsin that, in my opinion, could have been as big as the Shins or even bigger had they released their records a few years later. A great post punk band with a lot of pop parts and great melodies. Check out some of the fun lyrics and unusually poppy songs from the Promise Ring below:

The Promise Ring – Why did we Ever Meet ? from Nothing Feels Good .

The Promise Ring – The Deep South from Very Emergency .

The Promise Ring – The Best Looking Boys from Boys and Girls .

(more…)

Another installment of a band that I thought were going to be huge and were “this close” to being huge and somehow weren’t. This time: GAMEFACE, this Southern California punk band was what I thought was the perfect combination of punk inspired rock and melodic pop songs. Jeff Caudill‘s voice was one of my favorites in the genre.

Had their records come out a few years later, during the Blink 182 years, they would have been playing right along with those guys… Anyway, check out some tracks below:

Gameface – Ten Blue Sticks

Gameface – The Pirate Song

Gameface – Start me Over

Gameface – Four Chords, Seven Years.

Jeff Caudill – All the Way down

Gameface – Somebody Save this Boy

BUY OTHER RELEASES HERE. CHECK OUT MORE MUSIC FROM THIS ARTIST HERE. BACK TO HOMEPAGE HERE.

This Close, a segment, where we focus on bands that almost made it and came “this close” to be huge. Today we’ll feature three great hit songs, from three post punk bands, for whatever reasons, never became hits.

Jawbreaker – Fireman

Knapsack – Decorate the Spine

Samiam – Capsized

BUY OTHER RELEASES HERE. CHECK OUT MORE MUSIC FROM THESE ARTISTS HERE. BACK TO HOMEPAGE HERE.

A new segment, which I am sure won’t last very long, THIS CLOSE, will feature artists that were ‘this close’, to making it huge but never did.

Though often associated with the New York City hardcore scene of the mid-’90s, Shift never quite fit in with their contemporaries, and were more apt to play a ballad than to kick over a mic stand. Their sound fuses complex time changes and manic break-outs with blatant pop sensibilities; a combination which won them a loyal underground audience, culminating in a jump to a major label in 1997. Originally formed in their native New York by singer/guitarist Joshua Locke, bassist Brandon Simpson, and drummer Samantha Maloney, Shift went the DIY route, playing shows whenever possible and recording an EP, Pathos (1994), and a full-length album, Spacesuit (1995), on indie label Equal Vision Records. While Locke’s monotone voice could grow tiresome at times, both releases showed a firm grasp on the heavier and lighter elements of rock, a combination best realized on Spacesuit’s “Dress Up,” which veers from ballad to rocker with astonishing ease. Even in such a competitive scene, Shift stood out, and in 1997 were signed to Columbia Records. With the addition of guitarist Mark Holcomb, the band evened out their sound (the multi-layer guitar work on their first albums was never quite realized in concert), they released Get In in the fall of that year, and continued to tour aggressively.
- Brian Raftery (All Music Guide)

Shift – Spacesuit

Shift – Best Song I ever Wrote

Shift – Pinprick

Shift – Picturesque

Shift – I want to be Rich

BUY OTHER RELEASES HERE. CHECK OUT MORE MUSIC FROM THIS ARTIST HERE. BACK TO HOMEPAGE HERE.