Catch 22-"Grown In The Gutter" demo (1988)

Download "Grown In The Gutter"

Catch-22 was a New Orleans punk/hardcore band that existed from 1987 to 1990.

Here is a short interview with former vocalist Bryan Civello.

Who was in Catch 22 throughout the life of the band? How did you get together?

Catch 22 originally formed as F.U.K. with original members Adam Richard-bass, Skip Stire-drums, Brian Peterson-guitar and myself Bryan Civello-vocals . After loosing Adam we picked up Don Davis for a brief time then moved on and picked up Ted Ochoa on bass, dropped the name F.U.K. and adopted the name Catch 22

What style of music did you play?
we played American hardcore punk.

Talk about your "Grown In The Gutter" demo.
Grown In The Gutter was our first attempt at recording. It was recorded at Bird Cage studios and was an extremely humorous experience, being that it was the fist time we could actually hear what we sounded like. We were surprised we didn't just break up there and then

Was there anything else recorded?
We had gone into the studio 2 more times but only producing one more tape. We had picked up the newest recording and started working on artwork and unfortunately broke up shortly there after.

What are some of your favorite memories from the 80's NOLA underground scene both on and off stage?
The scene in the 80's was always fun. With the amount of venues that were around, there was always a show going on. In one night it wasn't uncommon  for bands to show up and jump in on a show. I remember going to see Agnostic Front and GBH showed up and jumped in on the line up. No attitudes, just good times.
Some of my more fond memories, such as playing with the Circle Jerks at Tipitinas , and the Exploited at Storyville (now Jimmy Buffets) also include the first time Catch 22 played, which ended up being at the Artist Cafe on Iberville. The stage is set up behind the bar and barely had enough room for the bad to the point where while I was singing I had one foot on the bar and the other on the stage, with the bartender going back and forth underneath me.

What did the members of the band do musically after Catch 22 disbanded?
After the band broke up, Skip ended up in Body Bag Slam and a few other bands. Ted ended up in RF7 playing trumpet. Brian Peterson had lost his equipment and I don't believe ever replaced it. I had stopped playing altogether for almost 20 years, until I was asked to sing for ENDALL

Are you and other former members active in the music scene today?
Ted is still playing in the pacific north west, and I've just recently started playing again. We've threatened to do a reunion show for Pat Roig, but we'll see what the future holds.

Elimination-"Process Of Elimination" demo (1989)

Download "Process Of Elimination"

Elimination was a New Orleans thrash metal band that existed from 1988 to 1990.

Here is a short interview with former Elimination guitarist/vocalist Scott Walle.

Who was in Elimination throughout the life of the band?
Members-
Scott Walle - Vocals Guitar
Bryan Hebert - Drums
Jeff Weibelt - Bass
John Rincon - Guitar

Chris Vamvoras - Drums
Craig Legendre - Bass
Dino Mazone - Drums
Tony White - Guitar

How did you get together?
Brian and I started jamming together after Brian left Osiris, in the summer of 1988.  We started writing a few songs and decide to put a whole band together.. Suicidal Overdose broke up and we snatched up Jeff and started practicing and his house. We couldn’t find a singer so I stated singing.  We played a Christmas party at Jeff’s house as a 3 piece, the one and only time. Soon after, we hooked up with John, and Elimination was complete.

Talk about your "Process Of Elimination" demo.
We recorded Process of Elimination @ MSI Studios in Metairie, I believe it was Spring 1989. It was recorded and mixed in one day. We were just kids, But it was a learning experience.  It was the underground, it was supposed to sound shitty, right? I dubbed all the copies of the tapes on my stereo in my bedroom.  The artwork was done by Brett Balu.  I made copies of the cover at my mom’s work, some on white paper some on blue.

What are some of your favorite memories from the 80's NOLA underground scene both on and off stage?
The ‘80’s, ah such a magical time!!!!  There seemed to be much more unity in the underground scene.  We were young and dumb, just trying to have a good time.  I’m sure my memories are much better that the reality. The most memorable show was kind of the introduction to the new, younger up and coming bands. It was Red Army, Elimination, Destitute Savior, Armed Response and Paralysis.  Just a huge show, tons of new faces in the crowd. That show was what cemented my love for playing music live.

What did the rest of the members do after Elimination disbanded?
After Elimination, Jeff and Bryan started No Destination with former members of Destitute Savior.  Jeff also went on to play in Daddy Y-Belt among others,(Hawg Jaw, Bump Daddyz).  John joined Rude Awakening then eventually Dr. LaLa.  Dino started Body Bag Slam.  I played in Large Traffic Orange Juice with Danny Nick(Name Dropping). Fast Forward 10 years or so, John  and I played together in Rise Above, I know I'm leaving out a billion bands we've been in but, I’m old and my memory ain’t what it used to be.

Are you and other former members active in the music scene today?
Present Day:
Scott - A Hanging  and Disciples of Thrash
Jeff - The Weakness
Dino - The Pests
John - Overtone

Blatant Frustration-"No Refuge" demo (1986)

Download "No Refuge"

Blatant Frustration was a New Orleans hardcore band that existed from 1984 to 1987.
Here is an interview with former vocalist Reynard Rochon.

Who was in Blatant Frustration throughout the life of the band? Joey Delatte - 1st and last Drummer Jimmy Bower - Middle Drummer Daniel Marsalone - guitar William Murphy - bass

Reynard Rochon - vocals

How did you get together? Pretty much high school or friends of friends in high school

What style of music did you play? Hardcore Punk / Thrash  

Talk about your demo. We were ALL about DIY and recording. We were obsessed with it. We recorded, or tried to record everything. We'd use a 4 channel Radio Shack mixer ... kinda get levels of everyone's highest volume and then DO IT !!!! Record direct to a cassette tape on an ghettoblaster . Mannnnnn....... those 80s jam boxes had great Tape recorders/players ... The demo was the best takes of those songs recorded in different locations. Fading Away was recorded in My bedroom the very 1st time Jimmy Bower played with us ! While Forewarned was done at Will Murphy's house in separate rooms using this ELABORATE headphone system and us Yelling down the hallway to get a cue or count off !!! ahahahahahha The 3 songs in the middle including Retreat were recorded in Danny's garage ... during the day in summer I think. Passion and guilt was recorded in Danny's garage late on a REALLLY cold night. I think it might have even been a school night ?!? Danny was blowing on his fingers to try and warm 'em up to play ...... it was cold !! I was sick which made my voice more raspy ..... I always wish it could have stayed like that when I got better. 

Was there anything else recorded? well... as I said , we tried to record every practice. there are other recordings but we never got a chance to write anymore songs.  

What are some of your favorite memories from the 80's NOLA underground scene both on and off stage? LINCOLN BEACH and Hallucinogens .... ahahha no seriously .... The Virul Nihils vs Graveyard Rodeo war because they were both really Great bands but they had beef with each other ... hahahaha ..... Watching Bastard Child/Chaos Horde & Burnt Eclipse DESTROY EVERYONE !! Suffocation by Filth !! Walking around late at night ANYWHERE and not worrying about being SHOT !

Are you and other former members active in the music scene today? well there's Jimmy Bower ... hahahahahah

Graveyard Rodeo "Realms Of The Undead" demo (1984)

(I couldn't get a hold of the cover for this demo, so here is an ad for it from The Dark Truth 'zine #2, circa 1986.)

If ANYONE has the actual cover/j-card for this demo, scan and send to bobby at paranoizenola dot com

Download "Realms Of The Undead"

Instead of an exclusive interview for this blog, I've included  an interview with Wayne "Doobie" Fabra, conducted by Mike IX Williams for Paranoize 'Zine # 26, circa 2007.

Obligatory Introductory Post.

Welcome to The Way It Was! This is a journey back into the early days of the New Orleans underground music scene, and the 80's/90's scene in general, where tape trading, fanzines, college radio shows in the very late night/very early morning, and those annoying little ads that would scatter everywhere when you'd open an envelope were the only way to spread the word about new bands and 'zines in the underground!

Most of the music that I post here is already up at http://www.paranoizenola.com in the The Way It Was section there, but here I'm going to include links to download the entire demo, instead of having to right-click and save track by track and, if possible, try to include the entire inserts/j-cards and a short interview with at least one former member of the band and photos if possible!

If you have ANYTHING that you can contribute, I'm always looking for old photos from the 80's/early 90's New Orleans punk/hardcore/metal scene to post here!
I'm also presently looking for the inserts/j-cards for:  Paralysis-"Plegia", Graveyard Rodeo-"Realms Of The Undead", Spoiled Brats-"Think For Yourself", and East Cambodia. Also looking for the lyrics sheets for Armed Response-"Mad At The World", The Detrimentz-"Face Reality" and Paralysis-"Promo '91" demos!

Email bobby at paranoizenola dot com if you can help/contribute!
Thanks, and enjoy!