Last Show Recap

The last show came and went. Thanks for showing up and making it a party. I thought I might get all emotional and dumb but it turns out I'm an careless prick with no feelings. Just had a blast with a ton of friends and set the thing on fire whilst handing out PB&Js. It was great to play the old songs with Burke and blow the power at the Comet again. Also need to give Eric Carnell of Android Hero huge props for coming through with the t-shirts last minute.

The local press had some kind things to say about us.
Farewell Akimbo - Brian Cook
Farewell Akimbo, and remember that time they made drunk of the week - Kelly O
Akimbo's last stand - Todd Hamm

Here we are crushing LUNGLESS

Our friend Hollie took a bunch of sweet photos. The full flickr set is HERE.

Couldn't have asked for a better send off.

The last album is in the works. Stay tuned for that junk.

HAVE A GOOD TIME ALL THE TIME.

Love,

Jon
Nat
Aaron

Last show will be 8/11 at Comet in Seattle

Our last show will be Saturday August 11th at the Comet Tavern in Seattle, WA.

Here is a helpful FAQ for the inquisitive fuckers out there:

• We decided to stop playing because Aaron is leaving the band for non-dramatic reasons. He just wants to do other stuff. Nat and I are completely busy/fulfilled with our various other projects and see no need to drag you people through any more nonsense than you deserve. Also, Aaron is really good, and rather than try and outshine his contributions we'd rather be lazy and just do other bands.
• The decision was totally boring. We talked for a bit, agreed it was the best call, and started talking about the last show. Nobody punched anyone, nobody was the asshole, voices were not raised. So far in my experiences breaking up with a band is way easier than breaking up with a girl.
• Akimbo has been actively playing shows since October of 1998. That's roughly 14 & 1/2 years, which is longer than I did anything else. Including school.
• We have almost a whole album written. We might try and record some songs, we might not. It all boils down how little of a pain in the ass that is going to be and if any labels are foolish awesome enough to release a half complete record that will never be performed.
• Counting touring guitar players, Aaron was the band's 11th member.
• We released 6 albums. I love and hate all of them equally. 
• The single greatest influence on this band is/was Nomeansno. If you are reading this and don't know them you need to correct that.
• When we started booking tours the internet wasn't a thing. We used phones and we cold called angry people who did not want to talk to you.
• When I try to think of bands that can outdrink us night for night on tour I really have to dig deep. Saviours is probably the closest. Lords' original line up also came close. Everyone else got dusted.
• Five vans have fallen under our touring battle cry.
• I think my favorite show of the band's lifetime was a last minute show to 20 people in a wine cellar in Paris, France. It went off like a pipe bomb. You weren't there.
• Considering the casual nature of all this I'm not going to say we'll NEVER play again. It could happen with the right circumstances. We'll probably be fat and gross and if you go you'll probably be initially stoked but end up disappointed that it wasn't as good as you remember. Just to be dramatic I want to put a ridiculous disclaimer on that, so I'll say we won't play a reunion show unless it is also Botch's reunion show.
• I don't care if you never liked this band. It was always for me, never for you. You were just a happy accident.

... that being said ... Ferocious and sincere thanks to all of our friends and supporters. We have had a gift of an experience and take none of it for granted. Each one of you have a seat saved at our banquet hall in Valhalla.

Have a good time all the time.

See you 8/11

Quick update.

We are still writing the new album and have about 9 songs in various stages of completion. Hoping to record in the summer. This record will literally cure AIDS.

The Brokaw album release show at the Sunset was a bruiser. Thanks a ton for coming out and getting rowdy.

Sandrider released an album in December. It is HERE if you're looking.

Added some shows in May that we're very excited about. May 11th and 12th we'll be joining two bands that used to tear up the northwest with regular efficiency but have become increasingly rare sightings: The Ruby Doe and Black Elk. 11th at Comet in Seattle, and 12th at Shakedown in Bellingham.

Now I'm off to Crate and Barrel to get some dishwear.

Live videos from MFNW in Portland w/ Neurosis

The Fucking French (new!)


Digging a Hole (old!)


I am very Successful (new)

10/15 Poster

Here's the Nat Damm poster for our upcoming rager with Grenades and Bitches Crystal. Does your band's poster have this much baby vomit?

No. No it does not.

[suck it chops]

MFNW 2011 - Photos

Thanks for QRO for posting these. Full gallery is here.

"Keeping with my plan of avoiding the multitude of Portland indie-pop bands that sound like music from a Starbucks commercial, the next band for the day was Akimbo.  Akimbo is a hardcore band but at their core has the genes passed down from their hometown Seattle's harder grunge side.  Which makes it no surprise that they've been recorded both by Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles and Neurosis's Neurot Recordings. 

Akimbo was just the band to warm up for the evening's shows. "

Eat Beer Shit Riffs (new shirt)

New shirt for sale online over at shirt killer (click this to buy). It's another Nat Damm original. $15, and totally worth it considering it says "shit" real big on the back.

Hell yes!

CHBP Poster

A Damm Damm Damm design original poster for our Cha Cha show as part of Capitol Hill Block Party this year. We go on at 9:45 at the Cha Cha stage, Sat 7/23.

It's all new levels of gross. We are gonna do our best to be as disgusting as this poster.

Bra Rock at Wild Buffalo in 2009

Stumbled across these pictures the other day from a raucous show at the Wild Buffalo in Bellingham from back in 2009. If memory serves me correct it was either Cicadas' last show or Dog Shredder's first show. Anyways, we're playing our usual dumb shit and all of a sudden this girl jumps on stage and takes her shirt off and starts getting nutty in just a bra. Was she wasted? Fucking of course. Luckily there were cameras. Enjoy!

Thanks to Paul Israel for the pictures.

These shots make me love my life.

Stacy Schrag

 
We recently heard that our long time friend Stacy Schrag committed suicide on May 18th. This was a huge shock to hear and we're still reeling.

I wrote a big sappy eulogy, then read it, then deleted it. I don't think it was in the spirit of Stacy Schrag. I think I wrote it for myself to help process his absence, but I think if he read it he'd look at me with a smirk and tell me to fuck off. Here is the condensed version. Honest. Straight to the point. No bullshit. It's more his style.

Stacy played guitar in Blueprint for Disaster. They were unrelentingly brutal. Show for show I don't think I've been more positive I would see someone's blood than I was with BfD.

When we parted ways with Patrick, Stacy played guitar with us for a 5 week tour. He was my first pick for the job and after the tour I tried very diligently to get him to move to Seattle and permanently join the band. He declined, choosing to stay in Medford with his wife at the time (love you too Kimbo!) and continue building up the small DIY scene in Southern Oregon.

Stacy was a phenomenal photographer. We're proud to have his photography in our albums. His flickr page is here.

Stacy was a loyal friend. You could cold call him at 3am on a shitty drive up the coast and he'd open his house to you and the other 2 bands you're touring with in a second. He had your back without any hesitation.

I wish I could say I knew he was having trouble and had the opportunity to reach out and see if I could help, but sadly that's not how this shit tends to go down. Still think about him everyday. Love and miss him.

UPDATE - (SUMMER SHOWS)

We're writing a bunch of awesome songs, talking with label bros, and planning out engineers and studios for the seventh album from your favorite three jerks. Hope to have it recorded by end of year and out in 2012, preferably before the world ends.

 
We have some shows n' junk.

Sat 6/11 @ Underground Events Center
Noise for the Needy and Seattle Rock Guy present:
Akimbo
Wildildlife
Black Queen
Princess
Vultures 2012
Smooth Sailing
Whiskey Tango
What What Now
DJ Nik C
DJ Blazon Stone
$10, 21+, 7pm

Wed 6/29 @ Neumos
Helms Alee (Album Release Show)
Akimbo
Brothers of the Sonic Cloth
Norska (Yob dudes)
$10, 21+, 8pm

July Something @ Cha Cha
We're playing everyone's favorite redly lit booze hole for the Cappy Hill Block Party. I forgot the details. I'll update later. It's gonna be great.

August Something @ TOTAL FEST
Haven't heard the official date/time/stage yet. We're gonna be in Montana partying like true mountain men. Take yer shirt off.

Sat 9/10 @ Roseland Theater (Portland, Northwest Music Fest)
Neurosis
Grails
Akimbo
$ doesn't matter, time doesn't matter, you'll be there.

Verellen amps on the Seattle Channel

The Seattle Channel recently did a feature on Verellen Amps. Also featured are three ugly hairy dudes in Akimbo, one of which plays an amp called the Dynamo.

Local broseph Seattle Rock Guy has posted the video. Click HERE to watch it.

1 Day in 1 Hour by Joseph Weisnewski

My dad is a damn good musician. He was in rowdy bands touring europe before I was born, he's been a music teacher my whole life, he got me my first guitar, he pointed me in all the right directions when I was learning how to play it, when he heard me listening to Rancid and NOFX he suggested I try Dead Kennedys and Oingo Boingo, and he made sure music was all around me and my sisters for our entire upbringing. He drove me to practices as a 14 year old, he helped record my first demos in a teenage band with Nat.

One of his more recent personal projects is called "One Day in One Hour / 1d1h", which is a captivating auditory exploration of an every-man's trial through the grind of office work. It is not background music, it is meant to be listened to. From the CD Baby link:

"Many contemporary listeners, especially those who have grown up with minimal exposure to western classical music, have had little contact with the concept of program music. The term ‘program’ is believed to have first been used by Liszt to describe music attempting to communicate extra-musical ideas such as a poem or a story. There are many examples of program music that pre-date Liszt however. From text painting in madrigals, to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, to Beethoven’s 6th and the works of Berlioz, many composers have engaged in this kind of musical story telling.
This work was begun in a spirit of fun and adventure. It is the composer’s hope that you the listener can experience it in the same light-hearted manner."

I have heard it in various stages of completion and seen it performed live with accompanying dancers and imagery. The piece is compelling, complex, catchy, and interesting. It definitely isn't the racket Akimbo is known for, but nonetheless I highly recommend it to everyone here.

Samples and MP3s available, full album is $9.99

CD Baby
iTunes
Amazon

Paris, 2005

We played Paris back in October 2005 while on tour with The Assailant. It was a last minute show in the cellar of this tiny bar, only about 30 people showed up, but when we started playing the place blew up like a fucking powder keg. This was when Patrick Cunningham was still playing with us, the tour happened right after we finished recording Forging Steel and Laying Stone but before it was released.

I stumbled across these photos with Maria the other night so I'm posting them now.

This show was without a doubt the craziest we've ever played, and is easily my favorite of the thousands of shows in our history.

Update!

Hello dudes and babes.

Here we are destroying Tokyo like God-damn-zilla.

The Japan tour was fan-fucking-tastic. We owe many thanks to Phillip at Red Cobalt Industries for the Jersey Shores release and the potent 4 day tour through Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. We played with some great bands: Eternal Elysium, Vomit Monster, Coffins, Terror Squad, Birushanah, AKBK, and tons more. Also super great to see our bros from Green Milk From the Planet Orange: T, K, and Ace!

I'm also happy to announce we sold all the fart shirts.

 The year ending show with BuzzOven was also sweet. Thanks for raging.

Our friends in The Ruby Doe released a new album this year, which is a stripped down rock album very reminiscent of their first record. It's called "Getting Ahead in the Music Business". Follow the links on their myspace to buy it.

When the fuck is Dog Shredder gonna release an album?

Going into 2011 we are going to keep on playing around the northwest and keep working on new jams. We are a number of songs deep into a new album and the intent is to record it this year. Our pace has slowed considerably but we are still stoked on making brutal jams and raging with you fuckers.

Jersey Shores - Japanese Release

Jersey Shores is also getting a Japanese release (a first for us) through Red Cobalt Industries. The pressing features all new art design by resident Nat Damm, but still incorporating Jesse's work.

Available now for $15 USD / 1,500 Yen

FEATURES:
• First pressing of 500 units worldwide.
• Randomly mixed colour 12" vinyl and CD included in the same package
• 420 x 594mm Colour Poster on matte poster paper
• 560 x 276mm double-sided colour insert on matte poster paper
• All artwork and designs by Nat Damm
• 279mm x 279mm double-sided full-colour insert

Jersey Shores Vinyl

Vinyl available through Alternative Tentacles. - $12

CD available through Neurot.

Half drunken ramblings after the pictures...

So we released Jersey Shores in October 2008, the release show was also our 10 year anniversary as a band, free to the public, and populated with all our close friends, family, and long time fans. Writing, recording, and especially performing the album was a taxing, yet ultimately rewarding experience. I feel like we grew substantially as musicians in that time, and it was a central part of solidifying the band's sound with Aaron as an established and talented contributor. Blah blah blah, yeah... But it's special to me. The fucking record means a lot to us.

Neurot released the CD, and I still feel like they are the perfect home for the tone of the album. It fits better next to Neurosis and US Christmas than it does Dead Kennedys and Triclops. The moniker on the inside of the record "Get dark. Get high. Get loud." is meant as a very sincere listening suggestion. It sold about as well as all our other records, which is not very much. Due to various financial and political reasons with Neurot and Revolver the album never got pressed to vinyl. Revolver are shit by the way, just as shady as the Mordam/Lumberjack capitalist mayhem that occurred just before they went under. Akimbo stopped touring all the time which killed the momentum that normally fuels our prolific behavior, and I started worrying that the vinyl would get forgotten and possibly never be released.

It's weird to me that we don't play these songs live all that much. It feels like there's an unspoken understanding that this record is a unique departure for us, and it deserves its own special place in our history. It's also meant to be heard as a single cohesive piece, so it feels weird playing just a song and then stopping when you know it should go on for another 40, 30 or 20 minutes. Somehow it feels very okay to just leave this album alone as a time stamp on a moment.

After two goddamn years I'm now holding the vinyl in my living room. A few good friends ended up stepping to the plate for us on putting the vinyl out and while I truly thank them all, we ended up going with Mr. Biafra and Alternative Tentacles. Jesse Roberts' beautiful oil paintings can now be appreciated at the size and majesty that they were created at, and I can finally breathe easy knowing the record has ran a full lap around the underground apathy course. More importantly though, I have it. We're not the kind of band that has a ravenous following. We persevere because we like the music and it's fun, and having a physical manifestation of the trials and memories is extremely important to me.

Verellen amps show recap

It was hot. Peace!

Dungeon Bastard

Hope everyone who went to PAX enjoyed it.

I know I did.

Sept 16th: Verellen Amps Night @ Neumos w/ Helms Alee, Akimbo, Narrows, The Dark

Playing a very awesome show Sept 16th at Neumos. Here's a picture of the massive poster on capitol hill if you haven't see it yet. The show is a Verellen Amps showcase night. Come see my new DYNAMO in person.