Los Angeles noise rock veterans and nasty boys… CNTS is a mother fucker and they eat Lunchables and kiss the little puppies…

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Hurt Hawks hails from sunny Arcadia, a lonely suburb of Los Angeles which is home to Santa Anita Park Race Track, a regular haunt of American Poet and Novelist, Charles Bukowski. Across from the Santa Anita Park was the recently demolished Santa Anita Inn, which is where Hunter S. Thompson, under the influence of multiple substances, is rumored to have written the majority of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The city of Arcadia is also immortalized by Jack Kerouac in his seminal novel On The Road, where the beat poet laments about protagonist Sal Paradise, and his Mexican girlfriend Terry, encountering racist teenagers.

Hurt Hawks consists of producer/composer Jake Bowman, and transgressive fiction writer/song and dance man Joel Zimmerman. The duo follows in the footsteps of the aforementioned literary giants with their own brand of dirty realism, wryly labeled Americana Drunkwave, which is a form of jittery electronic post-punk, sung to the tune of an alcoholic life in a Los Angeles suburb.

Hurt Hawks has been referred to as a punk rock Leonard Cohen, or a dark wave Tom Waits, and is revered for their live performances.

Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook

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Originally intended as a moniker for video game scoring, Anemometer was a project started by Dameon Thompson in early 2011. After his first two releases Something To See, Not To Say (2012) and Alternate Residence (2013) he soon realized his music could be enjoyed without the accompaniment of pixel graphics.

His influences ranged widely from classical to metal and electronic ambience; Final Fantasy’s Nobuo Uematsu to The Locust, Prokofiev to Messaien. Though hints of these eclectic styles can be heard, none are obvious. 

Before his untimely passing in 2018, Dameon had come close to completing what would be his third and final album An Affordable Paradigm. Recovered and lovingly reassembled by Sweatband Records two years later - along with memo recordings of personal notes and dreams - his final album can finally be enjoyed by Anemometer fans everywhere.

An Affordable Paradigm can be pre-ordered in our shop HERE.

Bandcamp / Bandcamp (Archive)

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Guitar player, producer, and songwriter for CANCER CHRIST, Tommy Meehan, began writing demos and sketching concept art for the project in early 2020. Teamed up with Anthony Mehlhaff, the duo rounded out several live line ups with upward of 30 or so “official” and “unofficial” “SNAKE PERSONS”…

The band garnered a rabid fanbase through their abrasive sound and chaotic live shows, their use of violent subject matter, and constant DIY touring of the United States…

In 2024, the band released their first LP (GOD IS VIOLENCE), however, a series of mental health incidents forced the band into early hibernation and indefinite hiatus…

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WE ARE CHUM OUT! YOU ARE NOT CHUM OUT!

When Tommy Meehan (THE MANX, DEAF CLUB, etc.) and Jimmy Turner met in 2007, they immediately started spewing chum-chunks and crotch-grime onto the LA noise/punk scene in the form of unruly chaotic noise and short bursts of blasty punk songs about exploding priests and decapitated brats. Playing shows mostly in their speedos at the countless underground venues that seem to bubble up and then disappear in and around Los Angeles, the two have been gay-bashed from hick-bars and embraced by weirdos over the years. Hiatus’s are common but the duo always seems to come back around for new releases and fresh strings of live sets.

Their discography includes some nasty beaters:

In 2009 they released the very first SWEATBAND release as a SPLIT with DJ EMBRYONIC PETIT SAC. It wasn’t until 2016 that the next release came out in the form of “AMERICAN FAGGOTS”. 2018 brought on the 4” Lathe Cut record entitled, “PRISON SHIT”. 2019 marked the completion of their “DEATH ORB” cassette. 2020 brought forth the aptly titled single, “NOW DUST SURROUNDS YOU”.

FFO: The Locust, Street Sects, Author and Punisher, Dillinger Escape Plan, Fantômas, Mr. Bungle, Daughters, Genghis Tron, Mike Patton, etc.

Bandcamp / Instagram

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CORPORATE ACCORDION ELECTRO GRIND!

Featuring Myke Chilian of THE MANX and Dameon Thompson (A.K.A. ANEMOMETER), CO-OP is what you get when you toss a nasty ass salad of grindcore, electronica, polka and toy commercial hype music all into an industrial sized blender and churn it up to 11…

SWEATBAND is proud to release the COMPLETE RECORDINGS on one slick lil cassette AVAILABLE HERE.

FFO: The Locust, They Might Be Giants, The Aquabats, Mr. Bungle, Frank Zappa, Primus, Fantômas, Melted Bodies, QUI, The Manx, MELVINS, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, ANEMOMETER, etc.

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Deaf Club is a savage sound bath dripping with sardonicism: a blastbeat-centric hardcore punk assault channeling crust, thrash, and grind (un)sensibilities.

Succinct pauses, surreal frequencies and effects, breakneck pace and sharply hurled vocals characterize the band’s aesthetic, which seems as though it is rooted in a sort of nasty-sound-meets-highbrow-message ethos.

Fueled by the onslaught of society’s insanity and driven mad by tinnitus, Justin Pearson (THE LOCUST, DEAD CROSS, PLANET B), Brian Amalfitano (ACxDC), Scott Osment (GLASSING), Jason Klein (of LEAVING BLEU CHEESE IN THE VAN), approach music as an opportunity to confront our collective sicknesses.

Releases “PRODUCTIVE DISRUPTION” and “BAD SONGS FOREVER” feature ex-member Tommy Meehan (of GWAR, SQUID PISSER, CANCER CHRIST, THE MANX, CHUM OUT!)…

Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook

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Sac adopted many nicknames: Embryonicpetitsac, Petit Sac, or sometimes just Sac. Sac was birthed as a performance artist in Southern California around 2003. Sac then started gravitating away from samples and into midi-NES samples mixed with vocal sounds/screaming. Sac's consistent set up tended to be that of a DJ mixer and 1 to 3 Korg Kaoss pads. Since 2009 Sac has continuously released numerous splits, tapes, 7", 10" and lathe cuts as a driving force behind Sweatband Records.

Bandcamp / Instagram

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Florida’s dirty little camp secret, DUKE STAMINA, is your new favorite rapper… And he’s probably already sexing up your father.

Duke Stamina didn’t come out until he was 21, citing that a lot had to do with the inability to identify with the Will & Grace mold that gay men his age squeezed themselves into.

“I wanted to create a representation for gay, alt, and queer folk out there who don’t feel like they fit into a stereotypical gay scene. Those who’d rather catch a punk show or nerd out with friends instead of being stuck listening to top 40 trash that’s overplayed in most gay bars. I want to show folks an often unseen side of the gay experience - the angry middle finger of resistance to the norm.”

The lead single and music video GAY PAC was completely directed, shot, edited, and hand animated by Duke Stamina himself. His recent musical achievements include a collaboration with Kool-AD of Das Racist, multiple “band of the year” awards during his tenure in the North Carolina group Bare the Traveler, and a featured segment on #GulfCoastLive on NPR via WGCU Public Media.

Pre-order the debut album Super Horse Dads 2 TURBO: Tournament Edition [OST] now.

Website / Instagram / Facebook

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HUMANFLUIDROT is an experiment in otoneurological stimuli focusing on the use of sound wave manipulation, volume and layering started in 2005 with a focus to create an interesting and different listening experience. Using heavy amounts of everyday instrument effects and a collection of not-so-ordinary tools, a powerful blend of tones and wave lengths formed that continue to change.

DEBUT FULL LENGTH OUT ON SWEATBAND RECORDS SPRING 2021.

FFO: Prurient, Merzbow, DJ EMBRYONIC PETIT SAC, John Wiese, Bastard Noise, Sissy Spacek, Pedestrian Deposit, Wolf Eyes, Endometrium Cuntplow, DEATPILE, etc.

Bandcamp / Facebook

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Joe Blow is defined as a slang expression used to refer to just an average guy. An example of Joe Blow is your regular, ordinary next door neighbor. An average, ordinary man. A name used to refer to a man whose name is not known or whose typicalness is being emphasized. - yourdictionary.com

“Someone forgot the deadbolt on the fallout bunker lock, allowing these surf punk weirdos their first taste of sunshine in decades. Which way to The Ed Sullivan Show? We got some stars.” -Anthony Mehlhaff

The Joe Blows are a band consisting of three or four men. They have matching haircuts, similar complexions, and shop  at the same department store. Robotic movements, nervous energy, and slack jawed with a thousand yard stare that would make even Charles Manson uncomfortable. Don’t let their All-American quarterback, boyish good looks fool you, with song titles like Guillotine, Hippy Death Cult, and Stripper Covered in Bug Bites, there is definitely an unsavory element that most mothers would not approve of. They play average rock n roll music.

Their 7’’ EP Guillotine is being released on Sweatband Records. They have a track on Sweatband's NEON CORPSE PARADE VOL.1 vinyl compilation. They self released The Joe Blows Play Teen Party Favorites on streaming platforms in 2019. Their music has been featured in videos by Santa Cruz Skateboards and in ad campaign videos with skateboarder Christian Hosoi. They’re your new favorite ordinary, next door, everyman band.

FFO: The Mummies, The Spits, The Dead Kennedys, CRIME, Screaming Lord Sutch, Thee Cormans, The Dickies, Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, The Weirdos, The Stitches, Misfits, etc.

Spotify / Instagram

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Seafoam obsessed musician Kali Kazoo started as a solo project by Kali Fontecchio to channel her love of Dylan, Devo, and Neutral Milk Hotel. Her first full length album Outlaw Engineer Painted Pioneer (2013), an aggressive acoustic exploration of punchy ballads and including a couple of songs with producer Tommy Meehan singing alongside her. With the addition of drums and a renewed sonic palette as a rocking two-piece Kali Kazoo hit the studio to record a second LP, the stripped down electric and semi-orchestral Contrary To Popular Belief (2015). Through several tours and a constant presence in the Los Angeles music scene, the duo grew to include a bassist and a lead guitarist. With this complete lineup and a fresh sense of identity the band hit the studio to complete the 2019 full length Bleed Darker & Deeper Than The Seas Of Hell (produced by Toshi Kasai). Kali Kazoo collaborated again with Kasai for a fourth album, Long Live The Loser (2024) which is by far the moodiest and most catchy. Its 90s rock mix with singer-songwriter soul coming to the forefront explores self-exploratory themes. Contemplating break ups, self-worth, and an overall existentialist point of view on what it all means, songs like the haunting first single “Black Wind” harkens back to female fronted alt rock while pushing forward the cynical yet hopeful perspective of today’s world.

Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube /Contact

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Keddies Resort is a three piece explosion with a catalogue consisting of 4 EP’s and 2 albums titled Makita and KYST.

Since their first show April 2nd of 2022 they’ve quickly climbed the ranks in the Portland music scene gaining popularity and solidifying a strong fan base.  The power trio punches above its weight, with a striking mix of Alt-rock, punk, and harmonic pop sensibilities.

Their stage antics have gained the band major notoriety in the all ages scene landing them the title “Portlands most infamous band”. When they’re not inducing indoor crowd tornadoes, you can find them playing generator shows under bridges and in the basements and garages that have been served as the backbone of underground youth culture in Portland for years…

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MAJOR ENTERTAINER

Major Entertainer is a Los Angeles based professional *OPENING ACT* deeply committed to self promotion and social networking. Able to quickly adapt to any situation in which entertainment is required, he shines brightest in front of a small audience who has never heard of him before.

He has toured internationally opening for the likes of Neil Hamburger, Secret Chiefs 3, Eric Andre, Pinback, and more.

Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

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Animated and slime-slathered, The Manx have morphed over time from an acoustic folk-punk three piece into their current form – An explosive, bubble-fueled arcade-amped quintet featuring obscure instruments, cartoon styling, and their own wonky lexicon. The Manx are a surrealist, avant-garde punk act made up of full-time animators and an anchor salesman. 

Cynical and gritty, but somehow also whimsical as fuck, the lyrics spew forth with a post-hardcore urgency, and the band rages with an unmatched energy and completely unique aesthetic. Their new long-player, Malibu Slime (2019) was produced by Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Tweak Bird, Qui) and features cameos from friends Justin Roiland (Rick & Morty), Justin Pearson (The Locust), and Derek Mears (Friday the 13th). 

Malibu Slime encapsulates the art-punk world that is The Manx, complete with unparalleled riffage and a universe of spectacular characters. In addition to the band, its members have developed music for Nickelodeon Animation Studios, designed characters for Rick and Morty, shot series for Adult Swim and Comedy Central, and literally sold anchors. 

FFO: The Locust, GWAR, The Aquabats, MELVINS, Mr. Bungle, Melted Bodies, Man Man, Leftover Crack, Buckethead, Blackbird RAUM, Days N’ Daze, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Mischief Brew, Ramshackle Glory, The Pogues, Defiance OHIO, On The Water, etc.

Spotify / Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook

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Melted Bodies creates music for people to propel their limitless potential. We aim to inspire a can-do attitude that's culturally relevant, relatable, safe, and accessible to everyone. Instead of breaking boundaries, let's shatter them into a million mobile-friendly pieces, together. Motion creates emotion, and emotion creates content that challenges our core cultural influencers in our ever-increasingly connected world. 

These are all ideas and themes that we can leverage and take advantage of in the new media democracy. We are here to target influencer content and engage media partners through collective storytelling and game-changing ideas. Autonomous social media helps drive peer to peer authentic engagements that can be tracked and measured to create augmented experiences which can then be leveraged to connect human truths. Our aim is to pander to the needs and wants of these global progressive influencers and pander we will. 

fuck me. fuck you.

FFO: Mr. Bungle, DEVO, Dead Kennedy’s, Melt Banana, HORSE the band, Graf Orlock, The Manx, etc.

Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook / Spotify

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One man psycho octopus drummer and multi-instrumentalist…

Born in a fish tank in Seoul (South Korea) in 2015, Octopoulpe is a half-naked creature playing tentacular music, from Math-rock to hardcore-punk.
Thanks to his many tentacles, he can play drums and control other instruments, lights and video-projections at the same time, allowing him to play with his digital self, as well as with many other guests.

Since 2015, Octopoulpe already performed over 850 shows in Asia, Europe, and America.

A demo "Squid Korea" got released in 2015, followed by 3 albums, "Man won" in 2017, "Kichompré" in 2020 and "Alt-164" in 2023.

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Los Angeles duo Oort Smog (comprised of Patrick Shiroishi [Corima, Upsilon Acrux] and Mark Kimbrell [Upsilon Acrux, Solar Wimp]) somehow make two instruments sound like a dozen on their experimental jazz full-length debut Smeared Pulse Transfers. A record that gives no quarter, the first track, “Gurge Reaction”, opens with piercing saxophone amidst tinny cymbal crashes. The cacophony only intensifies throughout. Rather than lean into long-running epics, Oort Smog opt for brief, punchy displays of their craft — but make no mistake, their arrangements, at times, sound so complex you’d think they were venturing into time signatures with decimals, especially on “Loam yourself or die trying” and “Avoidance”. There seems to be very little post-production on the record, with the focus instead highlighting the organic interplay between the sax and drums. Jarring, yet captivating

- Words by Aquarium Drunkard

Bandcamp / Facebook

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Comprised of vocalist/guitarist Matt Cronk (recently of Cunts) and drummer/vocalist/keyboardist Paul Christensen (also of Hepa.Titus), LA-based Qui is a two-man band whose music manages to span a vast and eclectic range of styles from jazz to noise, classic rock, and punk - with an air of absurdity ever-present.

Known for their live antics and beloved for their iconoclasm and refusal to settle into any one scene, the pair are friends of/have played with The Melvins, Marnie Stern, Sebadoh, Head Wound City, Red Fang, Retox, Gay Witch Abortion, and Zu, to name a handful. Their peculiar musical approach was enough to enlist David Yow (of The Jesus Lizard, Scratch Acid) as a past member of the band who still collaborates with and supports them today.

Snuh has no shortage of heavy-hitting collaborations either, featuring cameo performances from Justin Pearson (The Locust, Retox, Head Wound City, Dead Cross), Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle, Fantomas, Melvins, John Zorn), Dale Crover (Melvins) and Adam Harding (Dumb Numbers).

[SNUH limited PINK cassette tape from Sweatband Records can be purchased HERE]

Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook

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SQUID BOYS getting ready to fuck… Photo by: Raz Azraai

SQUID PISSER is a nastied up tapioca nest of black pus and shiny plasmatic hair-loss infomercials…

Guitarist, producer and multi-instrumentalist Tommy Meehan (of GWAR, CANCER CHRIST, DEAF CLUB, THE MANX, CHUM OUT!, etc.) and bad boy drum savage Seth Carolina (of STARCRAWLER) wrote and recorded MY TADPOLE LEGION and DREAMS OF PUKE in 2022…

Rounding out the line up is Michael Armendariz (of DUCK DUCK GOOSE and MELTED BODIES), Raz Azraai (of CANCER CHRIST, and Corey Wolford…

Blazing and shredding buckets of hot vomit and creamy Skittles at breakneck speeds, the band leans heavily into noise, controlled chaos, and spastic jerking of all flavors…

Instagram

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WACKO brings the chaos and confusion of a thousand fucked up mortar blasts. The Long Beach, CA crust punks summon the spirits of fed-up generations past, present and future. Fed-up with outdated traditions. Fed-up with ass-backward values. The band pummels you at a break neck speed with the precision and purity of a cop car burning brightly in the night.

With gut slicing riffage and bone folding d-beat and bomb-blast action, these So-Cal rippers not only bring the true hardcore punk values and ethics to the battlefield but they also bring hardcore chops. Laid on top of it all, further bespattering the cacophonous onslaught, is a lyrical lexicon that is straight to the fuckin’ point. All spewed at you with a vocal styling that could only be described as “the sound of a pit-bull shooting hot lava out of it’s throat”.

Oh yeah… These guys also destroyed a Denny’s back in 2019 when a 17 year old first time show promoter booked the band at his local Denny’s chain restaurant. This went on to gain them international attention from outlets like Billboard, Vice, Fox News and yes even arena-rock-super-sellouts Green Day.

Bandcamp / Instagram / Facebook

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