WORD ON THE STREET |
| "...memorable riffs, inventive rythms and explosive
lyrics..." SF Reporter |
| " ..a staggering testament to rock and roll and
self destruction...." New West read the whole thing >> |
| " ...there is not ONE... all-knowing, cooler than
you, Albuquerque hipster who doesn’t know who this band is..." Wig Wam Bam read the whole thing >> |
| "...explode with intense punk fury laced with
a good amount of pop sensibility..." Albuquerque Journal read the whole thing >> |
| "... leaves the listener with the feeling that
they have been thoroughly rocked." Weekly Alibi read the whole thing, with interview >> |
| "... rocks your face as hard as Mr.T pities fools." Parched read the whole thing >> |
"Their stage presence is undoubtedly confident
and their music speaks for itself." |
"...makes worms meat of other punk rock." |
| "...The punk rockers that renewed my faith in
punk rock..." Weekly Alibi |
KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR MORE! |
| Romeo Rocks New
West 1/20/06 by Jim Phillips. Romeo Goes
To Hell are a staggering testament to rock and roll and self destruction. They
are punk, professional, loose, loud, menacing, wild, appealing, beautiful, weird,
honest, shocking, suggestive, sensitive, harmful, hilarious, affable and just
grand. Romeo’s recent releases include a contribution to “Rock Outside the Box,
Volume 2” ... and “Two Car Garage Rock” on Socyermom Records. Both are well worth
getting into your hot little hands. If you want to hear a rock band that is hotter
than roof tar, then I suggest: 1) picking up a copy of the cd’s mentioned above
or 2) getting yourself to a Romeo live show. Better yet, do both. back to top |
| Albuquerque
Journal Venue, 08/05/05 - Kevin Hopper Two Car Garage Rock, (Socyermom) the debut studio recording from Albuquerque quintet Romeo Goes To Hell, is very much as its name implies. Rarely does a young band have to practice in a single-car garage these days, and with the added room, comes a more contemporary outlook on punk rock. Certainly still as rough around the edges as one would expect “garage rock” to be, these 12 songs make the traditional definition of the term look like it’s housing a beat-up, wood-paneled station wagon. Standouts like “Burn Me To The Ground,” “Hearthrobbin’” and “Let’s Go Bang!” (all of which are tracked up front on the record) explode with intense punk fury laced with a good amount of pop sensibility. Most other tracks stick to this fierce but well-thought-out formula with the exception of the surging instrumental track “She Loves Me She Loves Me Not” and “Black Whole.” The latter refreshingly harkens back to early Mudhoney. Most impressive is the group’s ability to come up with memorable riffs and inventive rhythms in a genre that is limited at best. This quality makes for a band that has an original take on an old idea. And though it may seem that these bands are a dime a dozen, “Two Car Garage Rock,” as a debut, shows that personality indeed goes a long way. back to top |
| Romeo Goes To Hell:
cd release party Friday 8/5 Launchpad. The Aluquerque residents most deserving
of their own fully-posable action figures, Romeo rocks your face as hard as MR.T
pities fools. A double digits show brought to you by people with single digit
tollerance for crap rock. Just TRY to miss this show, and then see what happens...Stuart
Vanstrom, Parched, 06/05 back to top |
| Romeo
Goes To Hell: It's a Blast! People, Rachel plays the damn guitar, not the bass By Jessica Cassyle Carr Weekly Alibi, 08/04-10/05 Oh, hell yeah, Romeo Goes to Hell is releasing their first album entitled Two Car Garage Rock. The Albuquerqueans who label (or are forced by people like me to label) their music as two-car garage rock, or punk by default, came into existence in late 2002 and contain a year-old line-up comprised of Levi Eleven on bass, Noelan Ramirez on drums, Josh King on keyboards, Rachel Luhan on guitar and world-class ladies man Rexx Ruthless (swoon) on guitar as well. Everyone sings. For those of us lucky enough to have experienced live Romeo Goes to Hell performances in the past couple of years, we know that: a) the songs are user-friendly, meaning that if you want to sing along and move your body around rhythmically, the music easily facilitates it; b) they concoct a powerful blend of punk rock and pop which leaves the listener with the feeling that they have been thoroughly rocked, and c) Rexx Ruthless' raspy, atonal vocal style really works! So for all of these reasons, and so many more, I'm pleased that forevermore I will have my favorite Romeo Goes to Hell hits like Terror on the Front Porch, Between My Teeth and the classic Let's Go Bang! at my fingertips. And with the uncompromising and wily cartoon gun imagery as album art, I'm reminded every time I play my Romeo Goes to Hell album that I'm in for a badass ride. Last week the Alibi had the luck of asking Rachel and Levi a
couple of probing questions, via gigaweb. Below is the communique: Is that some kind of dig? Have you been talking to my ex-girlfriends? Can the sentiment expressed in your ditties be described as lyric, verse, ballad, ode, elegy or poem? None of the above Rant? Tirade? Dirty joke written on the men’s room wall? Are you pissed that I just called your songs ditties? Somewhat It’s got my ditties all tingly. What’s your idea of a perfect evening? Being in a band is a nice way to pass the time. It gives you a reason to go to a bar that can hide your alcoholism. Do you think I look fat in this? I’m not falling for that one. I’d really have to see you out of it to make a fair comparison. Down with . . . .? Gravity. Up with . . . . ? No, I can’t go on. That last one outed me as a nerd. Your new album is called Two Car Garage Rock. That sounds like it could be a play on words. Is it? It’s “two car garage,” combined with “garage rock.” Get it? Uh… it’s supposed to be clever… Why in hell should people attend your CD release? Why the hell not? It’ll be the most fun, rockin’ night people in the 505 have had in a long time. Plus you get a free CD. Do you have a message for the people of New Mexico? Lighten up. We are just a rock band. I try to save my messages for other outlets. This upcoming issue is the poetry slam issue. It would be nice if you would make up your very own slam poem, or just poem, so we can share it with the world. Levi? Shit. I can’t do it without insulting Slam Poets, which is something I prefer to do behind their backs. (For the upcoming survival guide) How
do bands get respect in Albuquerque? |
| WIG
WAM BAM # 70 October, 2005 ...the FOXX, ROMEO
GOES TO HELL 8/03/05 Sol Arts In time for the last half of Romeo, I never made
it inside but ended up in the parking lot with a Gracchi and a Foxx, smoking a
cig and drinking things that you’re not supposed to drink at an all-ages show.
But the sound was actually great! It rang like a pistol shot on Central Avenue
on a clear day. Noelan kept the beat going for the entire neighborhood and, wonder
of wonders, the King Dogg Experience was in full effect: I could hear Josh’s keyboards
better outback than anyplace ever before... back to top |
| WIG
WAM BAM # 69 July, 2005 UNIT 7 DRAIN, SOMEDAY,
ROMEO GOES TO HELL ; RB Winning 5/21/05 ...Romeo Goes To Heck (hey gotta change
the name since there were little tykes present) played a stellar set of punkn’roll
just like I’ve come to expect from them. They…uh..uh...hmmm. Too many lazy rock
writers use the tired phrase They didn’t disappoint. Romeo didn’t but they deserve
better than that. They satisfied? They pleased? Jeez, I dunno. Levi writes better
prose than me. Maybe he can set me straight. But all’s I can say is they know
how to do their job well. Somebody ought to be paying them big salary for this
shit... back to top |
| ROMEO GOES TO HELL
Two-Car Garage Rock (CD 2005) Socyermom
Records. Submitted by BRZRKR JOE So… Romeo Goes to Hell. Heard of ‘em? Who
the fuck hasn’t, right? Okay, maybe Helen Keller, but you can’t really blame the
girl, can you? Don’t make that face; I doubt she’ll be reading this anyway. I
guess what I’m getting at is that there is not ONE tight pants and cheap sunglasses
wearing, Buffalo Exchange shopping, Manhattan and Cape Cod drinking, Wig-Wam-Bam
reading, all-knowing, cooler than you, Albuquerque hipster who doesn’t know who
this band is. So, I’m sure, they ( or you ) already know their CD goes on sale
August 5th. Hence, the CD release party at The Launchpad, said date; with opening
acts Lousy Robot, Scenester, The Gracchi, Feels Like Sunday, and Unit 7 Drain.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Romeo GTH is a punk band. I doubt they would
either (call it a hunch). But, regardless of what genre or sub-genre (seriously,
what the fuck is “shoegazer”?) you feel like lumping them into, there IS something
for everyone here. Whether your idea of a good time is standing nearly motionless
(save, your tapping foot and barely nodding head) and sipping Cape Cods, or running
around in circles like a maniac and spilling your PBR and everyone else’s drink
while your at it; their live acts are a blast, and the CD reflects that nicely.
Romeo Goes to Hell does a success-ful job of freeing themselves from any musical
constraints that would be thrust upon them. In doing so, they have created an
exceptional album. It’s very “poppy“ much of the time, but it only lends credit
to the fact that these songs are CATCHY. Certainly much better than a lot of signed
acts you would hear on the radio or goddamn, fucking MTV. Also, better than some
of the more popular ‘Burque bands ( by the way it’s pronounced “Boor-ke`”, as
in Spanish slang, not “Burkey”, dammit. ). This is rock music, pure and simple.
Noelan’s timing on the drums is fucking impeccable; especially on Black Whole
(seriously, YOU try that shit ), and EVERYone’s got the cool vocals. Frontman
Levi does the lead vox on all songs and has a voice all his own. Bassist Rachel
reminds me of the singer for The Red Aunts (sorry, I don’t know her name ); all
the while lead-guitarist Rex absolutely tears the SHIT out of his guitar doing
the solo jobs, and complementing songs with his I-gargle-with-sulphuric-acid growl.
Some people might not like it (Harry), but other people don’t like every vocalist
to sound like Morrisey either. The key boards, complements of “ Big Dog “ Josh,
are subtle, but present (I swear); and the guitar and bass licks are heavy and
hard-hitting most of the time, but melodic when called for. There isn’t anything
unbearable, even if there IS a couple of song’s I tend to skip (I liked Let’s
Go Bang the first few times, but now I can’t hang). My favorites would have to
be, Black Whole , Nobody Succeeds With Success and Petal To the Mettle, probably
since they’re the “faster” tracks on the album, and I like fast. The CD sleeve
is reversible, giving you a choice of two different, but equally sweet cover layouts.
I won’t give away which ones they are, but, unless you’re Helen Keller, you probably
already know. All in all, it’s a great CD; and this is coming from a fairly cynical
guy… Hey, I just know what I like; and I certainly like this release. All comments
in defense of Helen Keller or hipsters are to be ignored by: BRZRKR JOE@myspace.com back to top |
| WIG
WAM BAM # 67 April, 2005 ROMEO GOES TO HELL,
the DELUDES Atomic ...Romeo Goes To Hell tore it up in inimitable style... LOUSY
ROBOT, ROMEO GOES TO HELL 3/25/05 "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?"
--Romeo & Juliet, Wm. Shakespeare; Act 2, Scene II Wherefore art what?! Right
here, motherfucker, with enough punk snarl to fuckin’ pound in Tybalt’s head.
The set could only have been improved by Mercutio sharing the vocals, goading
everyone into rapier frenzy (hmm…sorta like what Rexx already does). To paraphrase
the Bard, Romeo Goes To Hell makes worms meat of other punk rock... back to top |
| WIG
WAM BAM # 66 February, 2005 ROMEO GOES TO HELL,
TEN SECONDS TO LIFT OFF @ Burt’s 1/29/05 ...Finally, back to Burt’s to get ravaged
by the raucous raunchy rattle and roll of those Romeo rascals. Not what you’d
call their cleanest set--so what? clean ain’t what they’re all about but pulsating
punchy party punk (sorry, I’ll put away my Webster’s now)... back to top |
| WIG
WAM BAM # 65 January, 2005 ROMEO GOES TO HELL
Two Car Garage Rock demo and a bunch of other shit [CD-R 2004] This is sort of
the Romeo Goes To Hell 2004 box set: rough mix of the upcoming Two Car Garage
Rock, some Socyermom label sampler tracks, live Launchpad cuts and mono mixes
of the long-in-the-works Roxieharts split (c’mon girls! Where the hell are the
tracks? Are we gonna have to wait until Cara’s kid is in college or what? I swear
to god I almost stole the copy that Liz A. got at her birthday party). As far
as I know, hardly anyone else will see this particular CD because Levi Eleven
burned it to keep me from whining about having to wait. See? Sometimes to pays
to be a bitch. So if you think I’m gonna write good stuff about this just ‘cause
I get special treatment (an assortment of about seventy-five pins from Levi’s
Workgroup Buttons enterprise), you’re absolutely right! I can’t remember the last
time I threw a punk CD in and immediately starting jumping around my living room
pumping my fist in the air. Ummm.…probably never. Anyway, other local bands that
call themselves punk ought to listen to this first and see if they’re further
inspired or ready to just hang it up ‘cause they can’t compete. This ain’t no
Lookout! poppunk but the kind of band that ought to be asked to play Warped tours
instead of backward-ball-caps knuckleheads. I know Levi’s still working on the
final version but me, I like the rough mixes, warts an’ all. I am however looking
forward to comparing the two versions. There’s plenty of rattle-your-brains stuff
here. Let’s Go Bang! is obviously A-side single material while Petal to the Meddle
sounds like Motorhead punk. And I’m happy that there’s a recorded if truncated
version of the Mike Check song which I still insist ought to be at least a B side
of a colored-vinyl seven-inch. With this demo and Romeo’s live gigs, my faith
in punkrock is restored which is pretty amazing since I’d pulled the life-support
plug a long time ago. Too, I think the band would appreciate the fact that when
I needed a jewel case to put this in, I chose the Britney Spears one that I found
in my neighborhood dumpster yesterday back to top |
| WIG
WAM BAM # 56 January/February 2004 ROMEO GOES
TO HELL, KAREN Launchpad 12/13/03 ...it was time to rock with Romeo Goes To Hell.
Its no secret that I didn’t much care for this combo last time I heard them. I
kept hearing reports of improvement but was sorta hesitant because very little
punkrock gets to me anymore. But damn Rex is such a nice guy, I kept telling him
I’d go and I just had to finally live up to my promise. Holy fuck! Not quite in
Epoxies territory, the Romeos have crept up on that period when punk wasn’t yet
bloodless New Wave but still had cojones with a dash of dancepop. The band was
a merciless juggernaut tonight and touched on everything from London ’77 through
L.A. ’79 to D.C. 1980 with just a hair of indie/emo structures on one tune (guess
which was my least favorite? ). A job well done and I hope to see many more. Currently
I believe they’re in the studio and as long as their engineer don’t clean stuff
up too much, it ought to kick... back to top |
| www.looserecord.com Albuquerque Night Life Gets a Kick in the Ass: A Guide to the Alibi Fall Crawl words: Evan Horton 8:35pm :: Burt's Tiki Lounge :: Romeo Goes to Hell :: Kamikaze & Newcastle Albuquerque's own RGTH was half way through an exciting set when I crashed into Burt's. I caught "Sweet" and a few other songs before they ended. I had seen them the night before and wasn't too impressed, but the combination of the 2 nights changed my opinion. Their stage presence is undoubtedly confident and their music speaks for itself. It's just good, plain rock and roll. And their guitarist is hot, so that helps - and not so much because she's just hot, but because she's hot and can shred the hell out of a guitar. This “two-car garage rock” band is easily one of Albuquerque’s favorites and they did not disappoint on their big night out. It was at this point that I was finally able to conjure up a show partner for the rest of the evening. Thanks to Kelly for keeping me company. back to top |
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