Spiderworks

Spiderworks is a heavy experimental rock band from Riverside, California that has existed off and on since 1988. The band was founded by Chris Vigil (vocals) and Monte Williams (bass), two central figures in the hardcore underground art and music scene in Riverside. Vigil and Williams later recruited Dan Hill (drums), Joe Hill (guitar), and Mike McKinnon (guitar); this lineup has remained intact. Spiderworks made their debut as an aggressive metal-tinged hardcore punk band, but soon morphed into an experimental punk-metal project heavily influenced by bands such as Kiss, Voivod, Celtic Frost, Iron Maiden, Black Flag, and The Melvins.

After releasing a cassette EP, Spiderworks were signed to the fledgling Alchemy Records label. The band recorded their debut "Black" album, but became entangled in a dispute with the label, which folded soon after. Left without a record contract, Spiderworks released the album independently around 1990. The album represented a musical evolution of sorts and featured a much more technically precise form of thrash/metal/punk. Lyrically the album was loosely conceptual, exploring the ambiguities of corporate biotechnology, urban expansion, and religious thought. The album was moderately successful and helped build a strong following for the band.

By the end of 1990, Spiderworks began a string of performances supporting bands such as Kreator, Sacred Reich, the Cro Mags, and Excel, among others. At the same time, Spiderworks became, perhaps, the largest drawing act within Riverside, playing oversold shows at venues such as the legendary Spanky's Cafe. Soon after the release of the Black Album, Spiderworks underwent another stylistic change, incorporating into their sound, elements of free form improvisation, blues, gothic electronica, and post-punk drone, all heavily soaked by an intense psychedelia.

In 1992 the band entered Altar Studios (formerly Radio Tokyo) in Venice, CA, to record their second album. The sessions were co-produced by the band and Dan Rothchild (son of Paul Rothchild, producer of The Doors), and resulted in "Shiver," a highly atmospheric and psychedelic album documenting this period. With the release of Shiver, Spiderworks expanded their audience, and spent the next three years honing their live sound and incorporating extended improvised jams into their set. But heavy drug and alcohol abuse by band members led to interpersonal conflict, eventually resulting in the band's break-up.

download Spiderworks - Shiver

download Spiderworks - Black Album

Working Class

Working Class were from Riverside and released their CD in 1998. It's hard to pigeonhole them into one particular genre because they tended to mix different styles of music. Different elements of punk and hardcore with typical Oi! topics like working hard, etc. Not exactly groundbreaking, but not bad either. Members later went on to form the band Disarm.

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Voodoo Glow Skulls

Voodoo Glow Skulls released The Potty Training Years in 1993 on the Signal Sound Systems label. Their first 7", The Old Of Tomorrow, came out in 1990 on Goon Records and didn't have the horn section with Joey Hernandez (saxophone), Joe McNally (trumpet) and Brodie Johnson (trombone). The Potty Training Years has their following releases;"Rasta Mis Huevos" 7" EP and their 12" titled "We're Coloring Fun", which was a glow in the dark record that came with a coloring book. Both records were released in 1992.

download VGS - Potty Training Years

Savage Republic

Savage Republic were from Claremont and released their first LP Tragic Figures on the Independent Project Press label in 1982. They regularly opened for bands like Sonic Youth, The Minutemen and Public Image Limited. A track from Tragic Figures, "Real Men", later appeared in the movie Silence Of The Lambs. Savage Republic created a reputation for themselves with their legendary performances. Their brand of ritualistically tribal exhibitions blurred the boundaries of Post-Punk and Industrial music. Their music incorporates minimalist bass rumbles, exotic and/or militaristic drumming, Arabic melodies, primal chants and even a bit of surf guitar. Their last record was released on the Neurot label in 2007.

download Savage Republic - Tragic Figures

download Savage Republic - Ceremonial / Trudge

The Sins

The Sins were from San Bernardino and released the Mood Music 7" in 1982 on the Black Noise label (who also released the first White Flag 7"). Musically they were influenced by '79 style punk (Rhino 39, The Cheifs, etc). You can also hear some similarities to Falling Idols in there. Their next appearance was on the Sudden Death compilation. Their last release was an LP on the Squirtdown label, which wasn't very good. I've included both the Mood Music and Sudden Death tracks.

download The Sins - Mood Music

Stepmothers

The Stepmothers were from Claremont and had 3 releases on Posh Boy, along with an appearance on the Rodney On The ROQ vol. 2 compilation. They were one of the first I.E. punk bands to use the phrase Inland Empire (in reference to where they were from) and also had a song "Inland Empire" on their You Were Never My Age LP, which was released in 1981. The band had a revolving door of members, including Lita Ford (ex-Runaways).

download Stepmothers discography

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Pillsbury Hardcore

From their Myspace:

Pillsbury Hardcore formed in the summer of 1984 out the ashes of Disinfection (Bill Tuck's first band) & BDT (Joel Connells first band). The band was named by a friend, Pat Kwee, after another pal of ours (Dean Riley Stokes, who on the first gig was our guitar player) who resembled the Pillsbury Doughboy and was feverishly into hardcore, hence Pillsbury Hardcore. Our first show was a party where everybody was getting drunk, in retaliation to what we were experiencing, we borrowed instruments and called ourselves The Straight Edge Facists/Pillsbury Hardcore. The set consisted of a improv jams with lyrics made up on the spot and basically annoyed all the party goers (this was basically the bands mantra until the end).

This would continue for a few more parties and into our first bonafide show, which featured Scab on vox, Bob Durkee on guitar, Jon Roa on bass, and Joel Connell on drums. This lineup lasted one show and Shawn Connell was brought in on bass duties which also lasted one show when Shawn was moved to guitar and Eric Wood on bass. This lineup lasted for nearly two years and produced a demo (Poppin Fresh), a live tape (Live In 85), a appearance on Flipside Video, two 7" records (In A Straight Edge Limbo & Horror Snores), and two compilation appearances (End the War Zone & Empty Skulls 2).

Sadly the group disbanded in the summer of 1986. After a brief break, the band minus Bill, reformed, which produced a failed attempt at an album. The album material was not up to snuff so plans to release the L.P. were subsequently scrapped. The band continued for another year which produced some of the tightest material the band ever produced. After a 1987 U.S. tour the band continued to rehearse, then eventually called it quits. Members of Pillsbury Hardcore went on to form Pissed Happy Children (a.k.a PHC), Shoeface, Process, End to End, & Man is the Bastard.

download Pillsbury Hardcore - Poppin' Fresh demo

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