Alternative/Punk

Skate rock (Think Sublime's genetic material crossed with that of Minor Threat) is a lot like milt. Some people get a mouthful of the creamy white stuff and think, "So this is fish sperm. Not bad!" Other people take a bite, move it around with their tongues, and then say to themselves, "Oh god, I just put fish balls in my mouth." They panic. They look for a trash can, a napkin, maybe some condiments to amend the taste. They crunch up crackers and squirt cocktail sauce directly into their gaping, fishy maws. When that doesn't work, they spit what's left into their hands and shove it in their pockets.

The Deal: Charlotte quartet Brandon Kirkley & The Firecrackers independently releases six-song EP, What We Thought We Knew.

The Good: The band offers up pop-rock tunes on its debut. "One to None" has a radio-friendly groove to it and building chorus that you can easily see might be a live staple in their set. Singer Kirkley shows a bit of range in his vocals on "You Don't Know" with moments of falsetto and a bit of that rock 'n' roll power scream. The harmonica gave a nice touch on "Sunset City."

For today's Roll Call, we call out Justin Brooke of Howlies.

Who are you?
Hi! My name is Justin Brooke and I play in the alternative rock/adult contemporary band Howlies.

With his geek-chic style, New York rapper Theophilus London might look like he belongs in a class with tight-pants new jacks like the Cool Kids and Kid Cudi, but his music bears only a passing resemblance to theirs. The superficial cheekiness of his current release, This Charming Mixtape--its title references the Smiths and its cover spoofs Elvis Costello's This Year's Model--doesn't really prepare you for the weirdness in its guts.

Balkans played a 7-inch release party on Sunday night (Feb. 22) at Vacation Gallery & Boutique in the Virginia Highlands, and there was one small problem: there weren't any 7-inches to be found. The label didn't get them from the pressing plant in time for the show, which has been an increasingly common problem as of late. Rumor has it that all of the pressing plants around the country are experiencing a huge demand for vinyl right now. As a result it's taking longer and longer to get records.

The Andalusians craft a sound that is more akin to the Pixies, Throwing Muses and the freewheeling alternative rock of late night MTV circa 1989 than any of their Dischord Records peers. The group is the main vehicle for songwriter Basla Andolsun, and her debut "Do the Work" 7-inch is out this month on Dischord Records.

Frontman and co-founder of the legendary American horror punk band the Cramps, Lux Interior died on Wed., Feb 4th, at the Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California. Born Erick Lee Purkhiser, Lux Interior was 62 years old at the time of his death. According to a press release issued by his wife and Cramps guitarist Kristy "Poison Ivy Rorschach" Wallace, a pre-existing heart condition is attributed as the cause of death.

When Brian Eno spearheaded the No New York compilation to document NYC's no wave scene in the 1970s, he heard plenty of gripes from the bands who got cut. History is repeating itself closer to home this time. The pending arrival of the Atlanta rock documentary We Fun has prompted some local bands to take matters into their own hands. We No Fun compiles 15 bands, most of whom have shaped Atlanta's post-punk, hardcore and DIY scene for years, but aren't in the film.

"I don't want this to be seen as reactionary," says Michael Keenan, who fronts the band Hawks and organized the compilation. "From conceptualization to having finished songs took three months, and never once did anyone ask, 'Is this reactionary?'"

For today's Roll Call we call out Paul Collins of the Beat.

Who are you?
Paul Collins, founding member of The Nerves and The Beat, proud participant of the DIY movement in the late seventies in America... Proud father and eternal rock n roller.

The Academy Is... and The Cab will be signing autographs at the Hot Topic in Northlake Mall on Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m.