Adolescents – Kids of the Black Hole
My wife once told me that before she met me she had seen the Adolescents performing at this club. I knew they hadn’t played there, and it turns out she had seen the Descendents instead. I love these guys, even if my wife confuses them with my band.
Buzzcocks – Love You More
Wait … you mean punk bands can be romantic? The Buzzcocks – progenitors of pop-punk, or maybe it’s more like second-generation powerpop. Whatever. Singles Going Steady was the soundtrack of my teen years, and definitely made it OK to write punk songs about girls.
999 – Homicide
When this came out, it had just enough traditional rock feel to appeal to a “new waver” transitioning into punk rock (ie me). Great guitar fills, great production.
Pears – Victim to Be
I can’t wait to see these guys! Quirky melodic hardcore from Louisiana, they remind me of My Name crossed with A Wilhelm Scream.
Black Flag – American Waste
The whole Six Pack 7inch is genius, and why they didn’t also put Police Story on there is a mystery to me. But I’m choosing this one for the lyrics, which always blow me away, especially with Dez spitting them out. Dez is god.
• Descendents’ new album Hypercaffium Spazzinate is released on 26 July on Epitaph Records. The group play their only UK gig in 2016 at Rebellion festival in August.
