Propagandhi, a veteran punk band residing in Canada, made a tour stop on Saturday 26May in Covington, Kentucky at The Mad Hatter Club. They brought with them a clear message to their fans: “Challenge Corporate Power.” Prior to their performance, they started with a call to action against Weyerhaeuser Inc., who was characterized as a global destruction company that profits off the destruction of the natural environments in the name of American materialism. Propagandhi’s apparent spokesperson read from a letter that was written to Weyerhaeuser’s CEO that bluntly characterized the absolute discontent of their destructive activities around the world in the name of sustainable capitalism and American materialism.

Propagandhi came on soon there after and carried on the message through their music, which at times seemed a little disorganized, but since they are a punk band, it was to be expected. In between their songs Propagandhi versed the audience on topics such as Fascism, citing the basic elements of this ideology and drawing comparisons to our own American culture. Both through their lyrics and their activism, Propagandhi seeks to alert their listeners to the unpopular and abhorrent realities that these corporations are creating for people and how our government not only permits it but endorses it through policy. Of course Propagandhi ads a typical punk theme to these messages which makes them that more receptive to their fans, but nonetheless still well polished.

Overall I think you have to admire Propagandhi for what they do. Whether you like their music and message or not, they have the audacity to say it without hesitation and not only that, but they believe in what they preach. And that type of audacity is such a dying, if not yet almost extinct trait in our culture today. Propagandhi reiterates to the average person that we really don’t have to live with all these horrid realities of corporate decisions and government policies if we educate ourselves and protest. They maintain that if Liberty means anything, then it also is the right for the people to tell our government what they don’t want to hear.

If you are interested in learning more about Propagandhi and their music, the organizations they endorse, and the media they support, visit their website by clicking here. Hopefully Propagandhi will be heading to Louisville sometime in the future since I reached out to some of their tour staff and gave them my contact info. I’d definitely like to be able to introduce this band to our Louisville music scene. More to come on this hopefully.

– Written by Jason Ashcraft

Last night’s performance by Ryan Adams was a quickie for an eager and what appeared to be a nearly sold out Brown Theater. Concealed by the darkness of dim blue lights and a hood pulled over his head, Adams only logged a mere 15-20 minutes on stage before rushing off and ending the night prematurely with a cover of Alice In Chains “Down In A Hole.” After a few moments of darkness the lights came back on to a disgruntled audience who realized they just got ripped off on the Adams performance. Adams should thank Vietnam, Charlie Louvin, Suzanne Vega, and Paula Cole for stellar performances and making us Public Radio and Louisville Music supporters feel like we are remotely appreciated.

It’s not my intention to become another unsympathetic critic to what I am sure was a justified reason why Mr. Adams only delivered a popcorn fart performance that more resembled a sound check then an actual full length set. But, on the other hand, it is my job as a responsible journalist to raise the questions that deserve answers, especially to musicians whose livelihood is financed on their fan’s dime. That being said, I welcome a valid reason why Mr. Adams, in all his musical glory, feels a four song set is all Louisville deserves. So, if anyone out there from the Adams camp catches wind of this inquiry and wishes to enlighten scuttlebutt readers, my email address is ash_ent@yahoo.com . I’ll be more than happy to post your official response to what I believe every Louisville based Ryan Adams fan is asking themselves right now: “W.T.F.?”

– Jason Ashcraft

Artists International Independent Radio, a.k.a. Aiiradio, is in need of your support this Friday at Uncle Pleasants. A benefit show for the radio station, which has a solid reputation of supporting and playing Louisville musicians needs to raise money for overhead costs of operating the station. DJ Fender who runs Aiiradio’s Louisville studio and DJ Kali, who now broadcasts from Florida will also be at Unlce P’s to raise the funds needed. Two Pump Chump, Shinerunners, Hardlein, and Ugly is on tap at Uncle P’s and admission is only $5 for 21 and up, and $7 for 18 -20. Ugly, who is comprised of former members of Outspoken, recently inked a deal with Rock Ridge Music Group so this may be the last chance to see them for awhile.

So, you say you support Louisville Musicians, well prove it! Make sure you stop by at Uncle Pleasants this Friday, even if you can’t stay for long. We just need your money.

–Jason Ashcraft

The Black Stone Cherry Interview is in the books and went very well, but I am completely worn out from the trip. I am definitely looking forward to getting a normal night of sleep, since I found numerous ways to negate receiving it last night.The BSC boys were excited to be on the road again as they continue their U.S.-wide tour, which will take them through the end of the summer. They have quite a few popular tour mates, including Buckcherry, Saliva, Hinder, Papa Roach & Breaking Benjamin , who will also be joining them on the road at various stops. BSC was welcomed to Huntsville Alabama by a packed house of rowdy southern rockers at Sammy T’s Music Hall, a local hot spot for live music. This was my first time seeing BSC outside of Kentucky, but judging from the number of people flaunting their BSC T-shirts, you would have thought they were playing back in the good ole’ bluegrass state. They ripped through all their favorites from their self-titled album, opening up with “Rain Wizard” and ending their set with John Fred Young climbing on top of his drum kit to play Jon Lawhon’s bass guitar with his drum sticks.

All in all the trip was good and I’ll have some good material for the interview that will be posted in due time here on Scuttlebutt, once it’s released in the print version of Louisville Music News. The interview and article on BSC will be pushed back to the July 2007 issue of LMN (and subsequently posted here on Scuttlebutt) for a cross-promotional idea and another opportunity I will have to spend some time on the road again with BSC for more content. Be on the lookout for the review on 16 Bones for June 2007 issue of LMN. More to come on this.

– Jason Ashcraft

Louisville metal icons FLAW, who recently reunited are heading out for a pretty lengthy cross country tour for the summer. Jason Daunt and Chris Ballinger are back but no word on why Ryan Juhr’s did not return as well. Taking over Juhr’s duties on bass is Alex Cando from Five.Bolt.Main whom Chris Volz was also apart of.

FLAW played there last Louisville show for the time being at Expo 5 on Derby night along with Ugly, Asleep, Nova Red, Two Pump Chump, and a few others that I unfortunately missed.

I would anticipate a new album (and record deal hopefully) from FLAW will be on the horizon so long as they don’t kill each other on the road. Let us not forget that anything is possible with these guys. But, lets say our prayers on that note because this is truly one of Louisville’s favorite bands and I’m sure that they have some more damage planned for the national scene if not for each other.

– Jason Ashcraft