Carnival of Souls – Shaking of the Sheets

Carnival of Souls
Shaking of the Sheets
199? (no label)
Pennsylvania, USA

Brian Lowry – Hammered dulcimer (A1-4, B2, B4), keyboards (A5, B1, B3)
Jim Orr – Vocals (B3), guitar (A1-5, B3-4), alto recorder (B1)
Chuck Ownston – Vocals (A1-5, B2), guitar (A1-2), cittern (A3, B2)
Rob Grano – Drums (A1-5, B2)
Bob Hartman – Bodhrán (A1-5, B2)
Sara Masters – Flute (A1-5, B2-4)
Dewey Gunall – Bass (A1-4)
Jeff Schoellen – Guitar (A5, B2)
Vonnie Holt – Lead vocals (B1, B3)
Dave Morris – Bass (B2)
Amy Rose – Vocals (A5)

Greg Felmley – guest Bodhrán (B4)

Side A:

1. Shaking of the Sheets
2. Dives & Lazarus
3. Knave of Diamonds
4. All Souls’ Band
5. Anthem

Side B:

1. Exile
2. Judas & Mary
3. The Sally Garden
4. Jig Medley

I wasn’t sure what this was based on the cover, but I noticed several traditional Irish instruments listed in the musicians list. So I was hoping for a kind of Celtic rock band like The Crossing, and that is kind of the case. But to my ears, at times this sounds a bit more traditional like The Rovers Three. This was recorded live, and some songs are covers. For example, the first song was written in 1348 and “Exile” is an Enya cover. I’m not sure about the other songs, but there are probably other covers. Something to easily Google for anyone interested. I first thought the name of the band was Shaking of the Sheets because of the way that is written on the cover, but looking around online it seems the band is Carnival of Souls. This is also the same band that made an appearance on the Owl-Stone the Minstrel tape – with Chuck Owlston being a major contributor to both. The band member list is a bit confusing, as few members plays on every song. I have listed them above in the order of who did the most. Felmley is listed as a guest musician, but plays on as many songs as some of the listed members. Also, no release date on this, but it had to be at least 1988 or later because of the Enya cover. However, based on online sources, I think this was recorded in the early 1990s. Oh, and this is also an American band. From what I can find online, they had at least a couple more CDs after this, the next one that I know of being 1999’s No Scone Unburned.

Electronic Chaos – Demo

Electronic Chaos
Demo
199? (no label)
Vestaburg, Michigan, USA

• (5-6 unnamed songs)

Not much information on this one – and no song lists or vocals to give any clue about the song titles. It’s about 5-6 songs of experimental industrial noise. There are some samples, but the songs are driven mostly by percussion. Since the percussion is manipulated, I don’t think it is played on real drums. Also some keyboard elements as well. This does have a bit more structure than some noise albums, but still sounds like an early industrial album. But that is all I know. They also have a one song demo CG called 2 a.m.

Kingpin – Chix & Politix & More

Kingpin
Chix & Politix & More
199? (no label)
New Lennox, Illinois, USA

Brad Ber – Guitars, vocals
Jason Braasch – Bass
Nick Waters – Drums

Side A:

1. Spend a Day
2. Cut a Rug
3. Democrat Girl
4. 72 Hours
5. Copout
6. Surely Shirley

Side B:

1. Thrift
2. How Do I…
3. Be As It May
4. So Lame
5. Cool Free
6. Me & You Topia

As you can probably tell, this band is trying very hard to make Republicans look cool. No date on the tape, but I would guess at least mid-90s. Several decades later, and it seems neither party really cares much about appealing to the youth anymore. But at least these guys tried? The first song is a bad attempt at being ska punk, but they do improve over the course of the tape. It is punk rock, and they definitely have the sloppy DIY punk vibe down. Still, the whole thing kind of has a “how do you do fellow kids?” vibe to it. Some really cringy lyrics in places, like the first song “Spend a Day.” The point is about walking in another person’s shoes, but I guess they wanted to sound cool and changed it to “spend a day in my pants.” Yikes. The inside cover says “It’s about time someone depicts punks as thinking members of society”… and… well… it wasn’t this tape. I’m guessing the bonus tracks are the first two songs. The tape itself has a different track listing than the cover – I have put the actual track list above. The tape also adds “& More” to the demo name. As well as changes the name of “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye” to “How Do I…” (both phrases are prominent in the song).

Project 7 – A Matter of Necessity

Project 7
A Matter of Necessity
199? (on label)
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Brad Watson – Guitars, keyboards, bass, vocals
Kevin Swope – Lead guitar, keyboards, vocals
Bob Terrell – Guitars, keyboards, bass, vocals
Ken Hasty – Drums, vocals

Side 1

1. God’s Call
2. Don’t You Know That He Loves You
3. I am Here
4. Come With Me
5. Never Think About Dying

Side 2:

1. War of the Harvest
2. Is Love Just a Game
3. It Could Be Today
4. Your Time

I really didn’t know what this could be – never heard of it, and the artwork didn’t give any clues. Its from Missouri which does have a few scenes in St. Louis and Kansas City. So I took a chance, and turns out it is a metal album. It doesn’t have a date on it, but from what I can find online it was released in the 1990’s. Probably early 90s. The sound is kind of a classic metal sound with some AOR and prog/pomp influences here and there. It is a bit rough in places, but could also fit in with 80s Pure Metal releases as well. A few ballads of course, but at times they just flat-out rock out with songs like “Is Love Just a Game.” Don’t know much about this band before or after this, but seems some members are still making music in different ways.

Sidekick Salvation – Basement Demo

Sidekick Salvation
Basement Demo
199? (no label)
Lansing, Michigan, USA

1. Truth in Fairytales
2. I Found You
3. Born to Die
4. Sidekick Salvation
5. Lady Liberty
6. World Today
7. WWJD
8. Greater Cause
9. G.I.G.
10. Middle Name (MxPx cover)

A second undated demo from Sidekick Salvation, so I don’t know if this is before or after I Ain’t Got Worms. Even though this is called a basement demo, the recording quality is slightly better than their other demo (even though it’s still rough and DIY). The style is still melodic pop punk, and the comparisons to MxPx are even closer due to their cover of “Middle Name.” But I should point out that the lead singer sounds nothing like Mike of MxPx. This singer is a bit higher pitched and gruff, making this a bit closer to classic British punk. Well, vocally that is. That cover would also put this tape as being released at least 1995 or later. “I Found You,” “Truth in Fairytales,” “Lady Liberty,” and “Sidekick Salvation” were also on I Ain’t Got Worms. And yes, “Sidekick Salvation” is still a punk rap track here.

Missing Information: Who played on this? What year was it released?

Sidekick Salvation – I Ain’t Got Worms!

Sidekick Salvation
I Ain’t Got Worms!
199? (no label)
Lansing, Michigan, USA

1. My Prayer to You
2. I Found You
3. Truth in Fairytales
4. Whatever Happened?
5. Lady Liberty
6. I Tried
7. Punk Rock Way
8. Sidekick Salvation

As you might guess from the front cover, this is punk rock. Very DIY, the sound is a fast but melodic pop punk that reminds me of early MxPx mixed with many of the other bands on the I’m Your Biggest Fan compilation. The recording quality is kind of around the level of a boom box set in a garage, but that is typical of punk rock. Just don’t expect to hear all of the lyrics. The song “Sidekick Salvation” is actually a rap punk song that kind of works better than it sounds like it would. “I Found You,” “Truth in Fairytales,” “Lady Liberty,” and “Sidekick Salvation” were both recorded on their Basement Demo, but since neither tape has a date, I don’t know which one was first.

Missing Information: Who played on this? What year was it released?

Nohbdy’s Heroes – Demo Promo

Nohbdy’s Heroes
Demo Promo
199? (no label)
Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

1. Walk With You
2. (God Can)
3. (Need You)

The band that everyone misspelled back in the day. I remember seeing them on various comps and samplers, but I don’t think they ever broke through. The sound here is kind of a punk rock tinged alternative rock kind of like Plankeye was doing in the early days, but more on the alternative side. Even with a bit of a pop side. “Walk With You” was also on their Newman demo, but that demo also has no date that I know of. The original uploader of this demo had to take a guess at the titles of the last two songs, as none were listed on the tape.

Missing Information: Who played on this? What are the song titles? What year was it released?

 

Big Reply – Demo

Big Reply
Demo
19?? (no label)

1. Peace Will Come
2. I Can’t Believe
3. Face of the World

The cover of this demo gave off a slacker rock vibe, and that is a pretty good starting place. For some reason, the band reminds me of Blind Teeth Victory Band, maybe if you crossed that with Joe Christmas. Even maybe a hint of the Dead Milkmen. I don’t know much else about this band or where they went from here. But if you are thinking that the J-Card looks like a picture print, it is. They basically cut it down to size a bit, folded it at the right places, and wrote the rest on in pen. You see a very small number of bands doing this, but I am surprised you don’t see more.

Missing Information: Who played on this? When was it released?

Joe and the Coffeemakers – Demo

Joe and the Coffeemakers
Demo
19?? (no label)
Detroit, Michigan, USA

Joe Terzano
Otto Jensen

1. De Caf
2. My Pops

This is labeled as punk rock, and that is probably one of the best overall umbrellas to put them under. But they definitely have their own take on punk rock. Kind of like the way Crux or Blaster the Rocketman were punk but so much more. Of course, this sounds nothing like those two bands – it’s more like a fuzz rock/indie rock version of punk. Only two songs, but I want more. Both members listed on the cover were also listed as part of Acceptance in 1988 on a few live videos on YouTube. I also wonder if this is the Otto Jensen that was a member of bands like Leper and Leaderdogs for the Blind, as well as doing photography for Glen Kaiser and Grave Robber?

Autumn Tribe – 2-Song Studio Rehearsal

Autumn Tribe
2-Song Studio Rehearsal
199? (no label)
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, USA

1. Remembrance
2. Babica

The tape says there are two songs, but most would probably consider the first song more of an intro. It’s just keyboards with scripture being read over it, which is how many bands intro their albums. The second track is an industrial metal number with male lead vocals and female backing vocals. This song was also on the Escape the Furnace Volume 3 compilation, so you might have heard it before. So this tape would have been year 2000 or earlier. But there isn’t much more information out there on it.

Missing Information: Who played on this tape? What year was it released?