Hello faithful readers. I’d like to sell mad tickets for this. The Real McKenzies are right up my alley, these Goddamn Gallows cats look to be our kind of insane, & the Bloody Seamen remind of us our new bff‘s The Botched for some reason.
This is my personal plea to all of you to come out to this show & show us (Ernie and the Berts – the band, and the people) your support. We’re selling the tickets for $12 a pop in advance, and we hope to sell out quick… so get a hold of me, or get a hold of Erin [a.k.a. Ernie] at ernie@ernieandtheberts.com to score your tix.
I know it’s a Tuesday, and I know it’s not a $5 bar show… but shows like this really help us get our music/name/faces out there. Don’t you want more people to be aware of the nearly-controlled chaos that is Ernie and the Berts?
We’ll be rocking with the shockingly scandalous Steel City Slingers and whoever’s brave enough to step up to the plate! Here are the details so far, with an incredible flyer by the Slingers’ own Zach.
Ernie has informed the Berts (and by extension all of you bad muppet fuzzers) that he will be raffling off his pants at the Real McKenzies show. That’s the pants directly off of his ass from the show that night. Maybe you’re hoping he brings extra pants. Maybe you’re hoping he doesn’t.
These may not be the actual pants that are being raffled off, but these are Ernie's pants.
Ernie has commanded that we the Berts autograph the pants along with him, and I bet we’ll personalize them too.
All you have to do to enter is to buy a physical ticket off of us. It will be your raffle ticket. That’s $12 for a show on Tuesday June 5th with the chance to win Ernie’s pants!
THE REAL McKENZIES hail from Vancouver, Canada, and don kilts and bagpipes to celebrate their Scottish heritage. Born in 1992, THE REAL McKENZIES were the brainchild of singer Paul McKenzie, who claims, while at a party, heard Robert Burns playing in one room and the Sex Pistols in another. This epiphany led to the celtic cocktail they serve up by mixing rock, punk, and folk with a splash of whiskey and the odd Scottish traditional as a garnish. They have just released their eighth album, Shine Not Burn, on the Fat Wreck Chords label.
Through constant touring around the globe, THE REAL McKENZIES have carved out a role as modern minstrels through a relentless commitment to playing live music over the past 18 years. Fueled by an insatiable longing to entertain, the band is truly at home in front of an audience regardless of the size or venue. Whether playing monumental rock clubs, festivals, or tiny squats, electric or acoustic instruments, THE REAL McKENZIES immediately captivate any crowd through their jovial and heartfelt style. Guitars and bagpipes play off each other as Paul McKenzie weaves historic tales into a modern, Scotch-drenched mythology. Shine Not Burn (the motto of the McKenzie Clan) is the first release that captures and delivers the essence of a REAL McKENZIES live performance. Recorded in August 2009 at Wild at Heart in Kreuzberg, Berlin, Shine Not Burn utilizes acoustic instrumentation to add an intimate aspect that has not been heard on any previous REAL McKENZIES releases. Exploiting the incredible talents of former members of the legendary bands The Descendents, Good Riddance, and DOA, while adding a mandolin and fiddle to the mix, the music on Shine Not Burn is the perfect complement to Paul’s trademark banter and passionate singing. For the listener it brings to life the experience of a REAL McKENZIES show without actually being there.
The Real McKenzies previously released Off The Leash and 10,000 Shots, (Fat Wreck), Oot & Aboot and Loch´d & Loaded (Honest Dons), Pissed To The Gills and Clash Of The Tartans (Sudden Death), Real McKenzies (IFA)
From the Altar Bar website: *** WE ARE A NON-SMOKING ESTABLISHMENT ***
DruskyEntertaiment.com wrote:
A NEW PUNK REVOLUTION IS EXPLODING OUT OF L.A. AND GREECE’S GIRL-FRONTED ‘BARB WIRE DOLLS’ ARE ON THE FRONTLINES
There’s a new punk rock revolution inspired by the original seeds of ’77 Punk and this ‘back to the roots’ attack is fueled by a demand for change. Hailing from the Birthplace of Democracy, Greece’s first ever full-time import to the USA, a band that in just a few months ignited and spearheaded an entirely new punk movement on the once wild streets of Los Angeles, is the fire-like phenomenon known as Barb Wire Dolls. “Their (Barb Wire Dolls) music carries a message, much like the anarchy of the Sex Pistols, but without the “no future for you” aspect of it” writes the UK’s Mudkiss Magazine. “Greece is on the verge of bankruptcy but before they went belly up they sent us Barb Wire Dolls, a punk rock band deeply influenced by New York and London in the 1970′s and L.A. in the 1980′s” writes Rock NYC. The girl-fronted Punk band compared live on stage to a cross between Blondie and The Sex Pistols and described as “kinda like a girl-fronted Green Day” by punk legends Bouncing Souls, made history by being the first rock band from Greece to play in America in December 2010 at their sold out show at the Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip. “This is just what the world needs now, a good girl-fronted punk band” says Charlotte Cooper of the UK’s Subways.
“Barb Wire Dolls are going to take over the world. The world needs their music and attitude. Everything is so lame and boring and these punks are a breath of fresh air. Take it from me, I’ve been around and experienced and lived all the scenes from the past 30 years from London to Seattle. I feel the change and it’s called Barb Wire Dolls! They are the next fucking Nirvana!” After being discovered and played non-stop on L.A.’s world famous KROQ radio station by Rodney Bingenheimer who has been instrumental in launching careers of such bands as The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Blondie, Nirvana and numerous other popular ‘take it to the street’ rock bands” writes Dainty Seventyseven and Hollywood Weekly Magazine about Barb Wire Dolls and while still living in an artist commune on the Greek island of Crete, the band sold all and relocated to the bright city lights of Los Angeles to live their dream. “Every few years or so a band comes along that changes the music landscape. They are different from the other bands that are out there. They bring something new and exciting to an otherwise generic music scene that the public has grown tired of. The Beatles did this, The Sex Pistols did this, Gun’s and Roses did this, Nirvana did this. But for the past 20 years no band has been able to stand out from their predecessors. No band has been able to re-ignite the music scene, to bring back the energy it once had….that is until now. With their sound, their look and their attitude, Barb Wire Dolls are going to do what no band has been able to do within the last two decades…take the music industry by storm” writes Sugarbuzz Magazine after experiencing the band live in concert.
Fed up with the current state of popular music and with an uncompromising military-like agenda, the wild blond bombshell and sexy rock star Isis Queen on vocals (compared to everyone from Blondie’s Debbie Harry to Wendy O Williams of The Plasmatics), along with Pyn Doll on guitar, Voodoo Doll on bass and Krash Doll on drums, the band stormed Los Angeles with a full frontal attack. With a passion and fervor not seen in decades, they annihilated their radio-friendly raw Pop songs live with over sixty shows in the first six months upon arrival. “There’s a whole new scene coming out of L.A., and it’s called New Punk Revolution. You know why?! Because we’re not against anyone, we’re in it for ourselves! To change our destiny! And fuck everybody else ’cause this is our life and we’re gonna live it the way we want to!” declares Isis live from the stage. With relentless fury the band built a solid foundation of new fans from punks to metal heads creating a hype and hysteria not witnessed in years. “There are plenty of bands playing the Sunset Strip every night but no band has had such an impact as quickly as the Barb Wire Dolls have had on the scene in recent times” states The Viper Room on their website’s blog. Revamping and bringing back the classic L.A. punk scene to the media and masses, their authentic attitude of DIY, inner revolution, and a bombastic must-see live show built them an exponential word of mouth buzz being heralded as “The Next Big Thing” by the U.S. and international press and caught them the attention of the record industry receiving their first record deal offer after only three months. Barb Wire Dolls signed with the legendary A&R executive Tom Zutaut for management immediately after he saw them live for the first time. Zutaut has spent over twenty years in the business discovering new talent and is best known for signing Guns & Roses, Metallica, Motley Crue, PIL, Nashville Pussy, Veruca Salt, and Muse and his artists have sold over 600 million records. “There is a buzz on the streets of L.A., it’s loud, it’s nasty and it’s hitting the region like a tornado. The music they (Barb Wire Dolls) played was so refreshing and full of an energy the Punk scene needs desperately” declares Big Wheel Magazine.
On stage the girl fronted band is a lethal injection of pure raw sexy chaotic R-rated Rock and Roll, but on their self-released studio recordings Barb Wire Dolls come off as pure Pop masters. Fusing guitar driven angst with memorable sing-a-long hooks, their songwriting sets them apart from the pack. Their debut EP “Punk The Fussies!” (2010) was released in Greece before arriving to the States and was recorded for $500 in one night ‘live and in one take/band including vocal’ and spawned a Top Ten hit on commercial radio in South America. After a packed residency on the legendary Sunset Strip, Barb Wire Dolls released the full length “Live At The Viper Room” (2011) to document their invasion of Hollywood on record. The album’s show was dedicated to L.A.’s first punk Darby Crash of The Germs. From blistering Punk anthems to Reggae influenced Pop, new songs from their 14 track studio follow-up album “Fuck The Pussies” (2011) were recorded in Los Angeles in one night in the same DIY-punk ethic manner as before but this time with the legendary Bryan Carlstrom who has worked with Dave Jerden making loud guitar driven records that have sold over 50 million copies for the likes of The Offspring, Alice In Chains, Anthrax, and Social Distortion. “Barb Wire Dolls are the real fucking deal! The most excited I’ve been about music in 15 years!” says Carlstrom.
“They are hitting Los Angeles with a powerful force and they have only just begun to unleash their immense talent. Look Out America, here come the Barb Wire Dolls” writes Punk Globe Magazine. “In recent times it has seemed that popular rock music has lost a bit of its attitude, bands seem a bit soft, carefully treading along a musical path whereas new punk sensation Barb Wire Dolls have seem to tear the path apart, going against the grain, going against what is “Now”, creating a new blueprint for the future of rock in the mainstream” – The Viper Room. Barb Wire Dolls came to the US with a dream and they are realizing it with a “search and destroy” attitude, much like the early punks that inspired them decades ago. With the raw potential to be one of the biggest bands in the world and with their thousands of constantly growing legion of fans across the globe known as the “Street Generation Army”, they are giving all they got taking their punk rock gospel on the road proclaiming: “the revolution has begun, so what the hell are you gonna do?!” Get ready to rock, riot, and rip it up ’cause Barb Wire Dolls and the New Wave of Punk may be hitting up your town next.
We told you about this already, but in case you didn’t get it or didn’t do it… here’s your chance. Here’s all the info stolen right from the Backallie site:
“like” the Backallie FB page,”tag” your favorite band, fan, person, etc and list the category you want them to win.
Nominations will be counted by number of tags and likes.
- Categories -
Best Alternative Rock Band, Best Alt Album, Best Alt Video, Best Metal Band,
Best Metal Album, Best Metal Video, Best Punk Rock Band, Best Punk Rock Album,
Best Punk Rock Video, Best Indie Rock Band, Best Indie Rock Album,
Best Indie Rock Video, Best Hardcore Band, Best Hardcore Album, Best Hardcore Video,
Song of the year, Music video of the year, Best Live performance, Best venue,
Best local promoter, Best beard, Best “Oh, Shit!” moment, Youtube Idol
Please review official rules here.
For questions or comments please email us here.
So go nominate, then come back & vote. You’re on Facebook, right? Of course you are. Go, go now. Why are you still reading this? GO! It would be cool if you nominate us or some of our friends, but most importantly do it to let people know you’re involved & care about your local music scene.
OK, maybe you should read the rules:
- Rules -
1) Dates:
Nominations start Saturday, Nov. 5th at 12:00 AM and end Thursday, Dec. 15th at 12:00 AM. 2nd round of voting begins on Dec. 15th and ends January 1st. 2nd round is only open to judges and nominated bands/people. The actual ceremony is Sunday, January 15th at Club Diesel.2) Who can nominate:
Anyone who has a facebook can nominate whoever they feel deserves to be nominated.3) Who can be nominated:
Any band, musician, fan, venue, or person that fits the criteria to meet the appropriate category that is from Pittsburgh or the greater Pittsburgh area, and currently resides in Pittsburgh. If for some reason a fan or person nominates someone for the incorrect category, the band or person being nominated must make this known to fans and to me, and the nomination will still count towards that particular person or band.4) How to Nominate:
If you are nominating yourself, first “like” the Backallie facebook page, then post on the backallie page, Hi, I am Tim Schlong, and I nominate myself for best beard.” If you are nominating someone else, tag them in the post and post on the backallie page. “I nominate Dikkplow for best hardcore band.” If you are nominating a band or person for multiple categories, they must each be separate posts to count for individual votes. If a band is nominated for multiple categories in one post, it will be removed and discounted. Both “tags” AND “likes” will count as votes, so if you are already tagged, share the status with your fans to get as many “likes” as you can. I am going to attempt to update and retally votes and nominations on the backallie website every week.5) Additional info:
in order to win “song of the year” or “video of the year” your song/video had to be released within the year 2011. “Best beard” sort of a relative category, and person (fan or musician) that is a part of the Pittsburgh rock scene that has a noteworthy beard should be nominated for best beard. if you would like to nominate yourself, upload a video or picture to the backallie music page and get your friends to “like” your post. “Youtube Idol” is a category that was created for people who do their own songs or covers and post them to youtube, particularly for musicans who are looking to showcase their talent to find a band. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t be in a band to win this category, but this category is for any INDIVIDUAL, not a full band. “Best ‘Oh Shit!’ moment” is the type of moment in a song or live performance where the whole audience is so excited with anticipation that they all are thinking in their heads… “OH SHIT!!!!” (in a good way) ex: a really awesome breakdown in a catchy song, or a one-line chant that everyone sings along to; something cool that a band member does, etc.Thanks for your time, and get ready to nominate!!!
So, it’s come to our attention that there are going to be some local music awards by local record label Backallie Music. Ernie would like to earn your votes for “Best ‘Oh Shit’ Moment”, and any other category that you’d like. Feel free to jump on this bandwagon, or start your own!
Ernie has had more than a few literal “oh shit” moments, earning punk rock points for multiple shits in the infamous 31st Street Pubbathroom (once without toilet paper), and more recently going to take a shit in the middle of a set at Howler’s.
Listen to Ernie tell the tale of the 31st Street Pub incident in this video:
We’re still waiting on video to surface from the Punk Rock Sock Hop in Pittsburgh where Ernie had to take an emergency poop break. The DJ was recording video, and DVD’s are to be made… but get that stuff on YouTube dude!
The cool part about this awards thing is that it aims to bring together bands from all around the Pittsburgh scene, and maybe just make us a little more aware of each other. We can celebrate each other, and build up the existing friendships & camaraderie while forging new ones.
OFFICIAL RULES/FAQ (also in the “discussions” tab)
Alright everyone, I’m going to try and keep this pretty simple and straightforward. please message me if you have any further questions.
1) Dates: Nominations start Saturday, Nov. 5th at 12:00 AM and end Thursday, Dec. 15th at 12:00 AM. 2nd round of voting begins on Dec. 15th and ends January 1st. 2nd round is only open to judges and nominated bands/people.
The actual ceremony is Sunday, January 15th at Club Diesel.
2) Who can nominate: Anyone who has a facebook can nominate whoever they feel deserves to be nominated.
3) Who can be nominated: Any band, musician, fan, venue, or person that fits the criteria to meet the appropriate category that is from Pittsburgh or the greater Pittsburgh area, and currently resides in Pittsburgh.
If for some reason a fan or person nominates someone for the incorrect category, the band or person being nominated must make this known to fans and to me, and the nomination will still count towards that particular person or band.
4) How to nominate: If you are nominating yourself, first “like” the Backallie facebook page, then post on the backallie page, Hi, I am Tim Schlong, and I nominate myself for best beard.”
If you are nominating someone else, tag them in the post and post on the backallie page. “I nominate Dikkplow for best hardcore band.”
If you are nominating a band or person for multiple categories, they must each be separate posts to count for individual votes. If a band is nominated for multiple categories in one post, it will be removed and discounted.
Both “tags” AND “likes” will count as votes, so if you are already tagged, share the status with your fans to get as many “likes” as you can.
I am going to attempt to update and retally votes and nominations on the backallie website every week.
5) Additional info: In order to win “song of the year” or “video of the year” your song/video had to be released within the year 2011.
“Best beard” sort of a relative category, and person (fan or musician) that is a part of the Pittsburgh rock scene that has a noteworthy beard should be nominated for best beard. if you would like to nominate yourself, upload a video or picture to the backallie music page and get your friends to “like” your post.
“Youtube Idol” is a category that was created for people who do their own songs or covers and post them to youtube, particularly for musicans who are looking to showcase their talent to find a band. This doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t be in a band to win this category, but this category is for any INDIVIDUAL, not a full band.
“Best ‘Oh Shit!’ moment” is the type of moment in a song or live performance where the whole audience is so excited with anticipation that they all are thinking in their heads… “OH SHIT!!!!” (in a good way) ex: a really awesome breakdown in a catchy song, or a one-line chant that everyone sings along to; something cool that a band member does, etc.
Thanks for your time, and get ready to nominate!!!
So, pop on over to the Backallie Music Facebook page now, nominate Ernie, and all of your local favorites for their prospective categories. (Hey, we’ll take Best Punk Rock Band & Best Live Performance if you want us to too!) “Tag” us, “like” people’s tags of us, and tell your friends to do the same!
Share this link with your friends & favorite bands in the music scene!
More importantly, while you’re on their page… check out the other bands that people are nominating too. I bet you’ll find something that you like.
