Guitars, Drums, Tones, and Saxophones

Asian Man Records 15th Anniversary

Over the past week, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend Asian Man Records’ 15th Anniversary Festival in San Francisco. For those unfamiliar, Asian Man Records is a label started by Mike Park of Skankin’ Pickle, The Bruce Lee Band, and The Chinkees. Over the years, Asian Man has released many, many records from bands like Slapstick, Lemuria, The Broadways, as well as helping to launch the careers of bands like Less Than Jake, Alkaline Trio, and The Lawrence Arms. Personally, the first time I found the folded-up mail order one-sheet catalog for Asian Man in a CD- it was Less Than Jake’s Pezcore- was a huge moment in my entrance into punk rock.

The festival was 5 days of shows in San Francisco, with high profile reunions of short-lived but classic Asian Man bands, Slapstick and The Broadways, not to mention bands like Slow Gherkin and MU330. The shows I attended were:

• Slapstick, MU330, The Chinkees
• Alkaline Trio, The Hot Toddies, Kepi Ghoulie, The Atom Age
• The Broadways, Bomb the Music Industry!, Ratasucia, Spraynard
• The Lawrence Arms, Toys That Kill, Short Round, Spraynard, Chotto Ghetto

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The Atom Age - Kill Surf City

I’ve only heard of the Atom Age before from their split 7″ with the Queers, released by Asian Man Records. This was apparently their first recording, and this full-length being the second. Helluva a way to start things out! But I happened to win a copy of their album, Kill Surf City, from the wonderful Rocket Fuel podcast, which you should go check out at some point. Asian Man describes the Atom Age’s contribution to the aforementioned split as “Rocket From the Crypt influenced punk rock.” Color me intrigued!

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