NO NEED TO FEAR! UNDERDOG WILL SOON BE HERE!
Last year, hardcore label Bridge Nine really stepped up to show love and respect for classic NYHC when it reissued Agnostic Front’s seminal hardcore records Victim In Pain and United Blood on CD and vinyl. So when I received the following message late last night from Bridge Nine, I couldn’t help but get excited.
[W]e are proud and excited to announce the release of NYHC legends Underdog discography titled Matchless. Set to hit stores on May 18th, 2010, this comprehensive release will include both The Vanishing Point and the Demos on CD / double LP. Bassist Russ Iglay said, “This release has been a long time coming. We’re glad that it’s going to see the light of day this Spring on Bridge Nine and we can’t wait to get out there and play more shows this year!” Buzz has been re-building around the band since their performance at last year’s Burning Fight show in Chicago – expect to see Underdog on the road this summer in support of this release.
Underdog definitely has a robust, erm, pedigree, with vocalist Richie Birkenhead having been a member of Into Another and Youth Of Today. Feeling more than a little frustrated that we’ve got another three months until this thing comes out? Well you can try and fulfill your insatiable consumerist craving by purchasing one of these two brand new Underdog t-shirts. Also, the video above shows nine minutes of Underdog performing at CBGBs (now a John Varavatos boutique) way back in 1987. Let that serve as a taster for the promised summer gigs!
On a related note, Underdog’s Bridge Nine labelmates H2O are playing two 15th anniversary shows this weekend here in New York City. Tomorrow, February 20th, they’ll hit Gramercy Theater with great openers including Maximum Penalty, Trapped Under Ice, Backtrack, and The Attack. Then on Sunday, the band will headline a good old fashioned hardcore matinee at the Knitting Factory. Openers include The Attack as well as some as-yet-unannounced as well as some as-yet-unannounced special guests, which in this town could be anybody. (Miss Elise from Reigninblonde informed me that H20 appeared at last night’s New Found Glory show, FYI.) Speaking of The Attack, you can STILL download a free MP3 from their new album here.
-GS
[Gary Suarez usually manages the consistently off-topic No Yoko No. He’s back on Twitter for the remainder of the Lenten season.]
