Razorcake podcast

This summer is more sentimental than previous ones. When I started playing in garage bands in 2006, I started going to backyard shows with generic emo-core bands that were more focused on getting signed to a record label than building a real connection and maintaining a DIY community in Southern California.

The current music scene feels different. We have more bands who have embraced the do-it-yourself attitude by self-releasing their music and supporting alternative venues. Plus, many more up-and-coming bands are advancing the screamo/post-hardcore genre while fostering a more supportive and collaborative community.

This podcast is a reflection of that journey, featuring songs that have defined my current summer alongside tracks that bring back memories of summers long gone.

Enjoy

-Christian Valles

Todd: “Our previous bookkeeper is now a dick doctor.”

Ethan: “He’s seen a lot of peen.”

Of course, this is all in the context of punk and punk-adjacent songs with horns in them.

Todd then uses a rhetorical device with Ethan, like pretending to not know that MDC stands for many different things, to further the conversation.

Yet to answer some of our own questions, the Mick Collins interview ran in Razorcake issues 136 and 137 end of 2023, beginning of 2024. So a little over two years.

Instead of saying, “Well, I don’t know how many more horn songs we can find,” we’re settling into the idea that this project will never end during our lifetimes, that perhaps after Todd retires from doing Razorcake, we’ll still be releasing more Horns episodes out of a sense of (misplaced?) obligation.

We revisit issue Horns 18, thanks to DJ Mal, with her theories on why there’s a skip in the Style Council song. Is it a dig at Margaret Thatcher? Please be true.

Todd also talks about the difference between mind reading and hat reading. Listen to almost the end to find out the context.

And with that, here’s When Horns Are Okay 51.

We used to call it “the scene.” Some people say it’s like people who fought the same war, but I find the word “war” far from appropriate. War is death and devastation, and people sent to die for some other people’s interests. What we did was full of life and joy, running away from a tamed death programmed for some other people’s interests. We were searching for a life of our own. Full of anger, but with a lot of laughs too. It gives me a warm feeling thinking about the way we trusted each other. One day we meet, the next time you come around you stay at my place. I guess it was too naive, it didn’t last long, but hey, it was great to be involved in it!

-Roberto “Tax” Farano (Negazione) from Artcore Fanzine Issue 31, 2013.

Wacky punk.

Thirsty Thursdays Presented by The Dollar Boys is a highly unorganized group of individuals who get together to play the best and worst of old and new, punk, hardcore, and god knows what else.

The Wasteland of My Fathers: Welsh Punk and New Wave 1977-1990

Shouting off-key in the land of song. Thirty two songs that form an incomplete audio history of punk and new wave from Wales. From pub rock and major labels to anarcho and DIY. Mainly from South Wales, but with some from the West and North, the evolution of the variety of sounds that came out of the cities, towns and valleys of Wales between 1977 and 1990.

Over two decades into the 21st century, the independent spirit of music continues to thrive. This episode features a mix of what’s on my current rotation and the essential hardcore punk tracks that shaped my adolescent years.

Enjoy.

-Christian

There’s been some killer music released in the past few months including some big surprises from Fugazi and Neurosis. I also have some gems that might have flown under your radar like Miltown and the Belonging/Inny split. There are some other tunes herein that have been popping in my head lately that I included to round out what I think is a fine podcast of punk and punk-adjacent music. I hope you hear something you enjoy!

A series of transmissions based on the book NefariousArtists by Welly of Artcore Fanzine (est. 1986) that charts the evolution of the punk rock, post-punk, new wave, hardcore punk, and alternative rock compilation vinyl record from 1976 to 1989. A compilation of compilations, all songs digitized direct from vinyl. Episode 17 concludes the series bringing the total songs featured to 500.

Looking through my Discogs account recently (where I catalog all my records) I’ve come to notice that a majority of the records I bought in 2025 were re-issues. In many cases multiple albums by the same band (Inepsy, Soilent Green, Descendents, and Lip Cream who I play on this one.) Most of these records haven’t been available for decades and some, while readily available, were hastily and unlovingly pressed by a label who lost its luster ages ago. I didn’t necessarily mean to ignore anything newer coming out at the time. The rising costs of vinyl prompted me to secure copies of the classics while the getting is good; before they disappear again and become even more unattainable. Towards the end of the year I made a conscious decision to seek out more new music. Six of the eight tracks I picked to play for this podcast were released in 2025 so you might still be able to track down some of them if you act fast. Once again I’m joined by Todd who turned me onto Skinhead and Hot Load. Shortly after recording this podcast I went out and bought a copy of one of his picks and ordered another online. Keep vinyl alive. Oh, and Fuck ICE!

-Juan