Hardcore Matinee is an ode to the budget punk rock compilations that informedåÊa young John Reis, Swami Records head honcho / overlord. WhileåÊmany of these LPs were disposable‰ÛÓthey favored quantity over quality,åÊcramming 40 or 50 unknown groups onto records that crackled and poppedåÊwith tinny sound and infantile graphics‰ÛÓtheir cut-rate aesthetic has actuallyåÊweathered the passage of time relatively well. Call it nostalgia or perhapsåÊa testament to how truly ugly the world has become, but these records canåÊnow be enjoyed as curious oddities of a bygone era. It was with this inspirationåÊthat Hardcore Matinee was assembled.åÊThe compilation features 22 of San Diego‰۪s most exciting groups andåÊcovers the wide range of current punk music. From well-established bandsåÊsuch as Hot Snakes (with their first new recording since 2004 and featuringåÊboth drummers on the same recording), Pinback (their final recording beforeåÊdisbanding and then reforming) and Gary Wilson (off his recent collaborationåÊwith The Roots) to up-and-coming bands Octagrape (ex-Truman‰۪såÊWater), Death Eyes (hardcore supergroup with members of Rat‰۪s Eyes andåÊDeath Crisis) and Schizophonics, this record‰۪s varied styling is a jarring ride.
The Swami Records harem is represented by the reformed Sultans (first recording since 2003), Beehive and The Barracudas (first new recordingsåÊsince 2008), Mrs. Magician (an outtake from their soon-to-be-released secondåÊalbum Bermuda) and The Heartaches (first new recording since theiråÊToo Cool For School LP). Other artists include The Loons (featuring MikeåÊStax of Ugly Things), Rob Crow, Teenage Burritos (Burger Records), PlateausåÊ(Art Fag Records), Creepy Creeps (Dionysus Records), The WidowsåÊ(Route 44 Records), Ale Mania (Volar Records), Ghetto Blaster (ex-FishwifeåÊand The Let Downs), WHA (ex-Tourettes Lautrec), The Shake BeforeåÊUs, The Lumps (both on Tower Bar Records) and the debut of The Soaks.åÊIn order to stay true to the original compilations‰۪ aesthetic, it was importantåÊto keep the music fresh and moving quickly. All of the bands recordedåÊnew and previously unreleased material and kept their contribution as brief
as possible. Hardcore Matinee showcases a cross-section of some of SwamiåÊRecords‰۪ favorite, current San Diego noise and presents it in a blurred collectionåÊhigh on energy and momentum. The result is a whole record greateråÊthan the sum of its parts.åÊEqually important was to keep the spirit of regional punk rock aliveåÊfor future generations. As a result, proceeds from Hardcore Matinee will beåÊdonated to The Museum School in San Diego and be used exclusively foråÊtheir music department. The Museum School is a tuition-free, public charteråÊschool that serves students from all over San Diego in Kindergarten throughåÊ8th grade.