I CAN LICK ANY SONOFABITCH IN THE HOUSE: Menace

I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House

Menace

© 2004 In Music We Trust Records (678277082823)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Southern rock (Lynard Skynard) meets political punk rock in a show down. Here is piss 'n' vinegar rock that takes on George W. Bush, Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, the war, and salute American hero Rachel Corrie.

tracks

1 Gone
2 Thousand To One
3 A Good Day To Be A Bad Husband
4 I Be Ready
5 Pauline
6 Walkin'
7 Menace
8 Rachel Corrie
9 Regrets and Greyhounds
10 Westboro Baptist Church
11 Fall Down
12 Dust and Sun

notes

I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House - Menace [BIO]

Portland, Oregon-based pull-no-punches rock 'n' roll band I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House delivers the rock you'd expect from a band with a name like that!

"A fan in Louisiana came up to me after a show and said they thought we were the country version of Rage Against the Machine," laughs front man Mike D.

Mike D., a former army boxer, served in the 101st Airborne/Air Assault. He was born in Oklahoma, raised in Las Vegas, and, following his military service, bounced between Los Angeles and Dallas, Texas, playing bass in Mercury Records recording artists Tablet.

Mike D. packed his bags, jumped on a Greyhound, and moved to Portland, Oregon. A few short years later, he began writing his own songs. Sick of playing other people's songs (he played in numerous local bands during this time), and sick of playing the indie-rock he didn't even listen to, he decided it was time to start his own band.

A longtime fan of boxing legend John L. Sullivan, the last bare knuckles fighting champion, Mike D. grabbed a band name from Sullivan's autobiography (co-written by Gilbert Odd): I Can Lick Any Son of a Bitch in the House: The Riotous Life of the First Heavyweight Champion. Dropping the latter part of the title, and turning Son of a Bitch into one word (Sonofabitch), Mike D. had a handful of songs, a demo, and a band name.

He played as many local shows as he could throughout 2001, and crowds were growing. Things started to take off for I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House. The only problem: the line-up seemed unstable at best, with friends joining Mike D. on stage when they could.

After playing out for over a year, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House's line-up finally took permanent form, following the release of the band's debut full-length, 2002's Creepy Little Noises, released on Portland-indie In Music We Trust Records.

On drums is Flapjack TX, a Who-loving, prolific drummer that gives the songs the muscle they need to bite down hard. AC/DC-freak bassist Mole Harris adds an indie-fried-meets-hard-rock sound to the band. Blues-bred David Lipkind, the band's harp player, gives the songs the Southern spice they need to really set the listener on fire (he is also long-regarded as the band's not-so-secret weapon). And, last but certainly not least, is guitarist and engineer/producer Handsome Jon Burbank, a huge fan of NOFX and At The Drive-In, and the man that brings the punk rock to the band's already aggressive sound.

With a line-up in place, and Creepy Little Noises garnering rave reviews, the band toured relentlessly. After six grueling months of touring, they quickly entered Burbank's tongue-in-cheek named studio, "It's Cold, It Stinks, and I Don't Like The Way It Sounds". The results of those sessions were the eleven songs that comprised Put Here To Bleed, the band's sophomore release, also released on In Music We Trust.

With another long year of endless touring behind Put Here to Bleed, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House once again entered Burbank's studio to record their third full-length, Menace. The band also got the opportunity to track a few songs at Stone Gossard's (of Pearl Jam fame) Litho Studios, after playing several shows with The Supersuckers and converting the 'Suckers sound man, Dave Fisher, into a fan. Hell's Belles, the all-female AC/DC cover band, who are another band SOB (as fans call them) has graced the stage with several times over, make an appearance on the record, with members doing backing vocals on two tracks.

Fans of Put Here To Bleed's political commentary will not be disappointed with the even more controversially political mindset of Menace.

The album's most outrageous song, "Westboro Baptist Church" takes a stab at Westboro Baptist Church head Fred Phelps and their website, http://www.godhatesfags.com.

"Fuck Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church, fuck him long and hard, until his rectum hurts" and "Now if God hates fags, you asshole, I'm sure he hates you more" are just two of the song's controversial lines. The song also shouts out to others, including George W. Bush ("He prays to a God that hates his guts, then he sends young boys to die"). The 700 Club's Pat Robertston ("Took all my grandma's money, gave it to the 700 Club"). And faith healer Benny Henn ("He claims he's a faith healer, but he's just a charlatan").

That isn't the album's only heavy subject matter. "Rachel Corrie" is a dedication "to a true American hero, she took a stand and died for what she believed in", says Mike D. with sadness in his voice. "I wrote this song and sent it to her parents, to let them know what a courageous, powerful daughter they had. This is my tribute to her."

Corrie died in Palestine, when an U.S. made bulldozer ran her over, not only killing her, but also destroying the homes of her close friends.

In his memorial to her, Mike D. sings, "Stand up and be counted, throw your fists towards the sky. Folks walk around like they're already dead, long before they ever die. And on the ground where the savior walked, was it Palestine? Man and machine gonna silence this one voice, one martyr is gonna take to the sky. And all the flowers bloom in your name, and all the children sing out your name".

"Dust and Sun" is another live wire political song, examining war from both sides.

"If we don't start looking at the reasons why war occurs, if we don't get to the core of this evil, generation after generation will be paying with their blood," Mike D. says of "Dust and Sun". "The rich do need their wars; so few have so much and no soul or guts. But, what they don't realize is death makes us all equal."

In true I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House tradition, Menace isn't all political, it also carries its fair share of regrets, disappointment, heartache, and sadness. Yet, even in the eye of the storm, Mike D. finds a way to unearth beauty, if only eerily beautiful reminders of why life is so precious.

"Pauline", a song Mike D. wrote for his grandmother, is a prime example of sadness and sorrow mixing together with beauty.

"I was with her and holding her at the exact moment she left this world," says Mike D. "It's amazing to see someone's spirit just up and fly. She was the one good constant in my life. They don't make people much better than this."

"Thousand To One" has a strong, personal message, standing tall as a reminder that sometimes your heart and soul is all you have, so don't give it away too easily.

"After a show in Seattle, a pretty girl gave me a note with her phone number and a list of things she wanted me to do to her," recalls Mike D. "Me, not being used to this sort of thing, I was flattered, but also freaked out. I wanted to tell her not to give what she's got to just anyone. It's important. I wish I'd have figured out sex wasn't just a handshake a long time ago. I guess I wrote this as a talk to myself that I needed."

One of the most personal songs on the album, "Fall Down", deals with re-occurring nightmares Mike D. still has, about one of his close friends, Jim, and his drug-related death.

"I found Jim dead after work one night. He was young, handsome and paid his bills. He was not a stereotypical junkie. I believed he had his habit under control. This song is about how that stuff can get to anybody".

Menace is a testament to the fact that nobody is safe, there is always someone lurking underneath your bed, and that the Boogie Man is real. Nightmares, demons, and government control oppress in their own ways, helping to keep those who have nothing poverty stricken, while making the rich richer. When The Clash said, "The money is in the hands of the people rich enough to buy it", they were never more right than right now.

Now is the time to stand up and be counted, to throw your fists towards the sky. Stop walking around like you're already dead. Menace is proof that Portland, Oregon's I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House aren't.

Look for them to tour relentlessly behind this record, and come to a town near you soon.

In Music We Trust, Inc. - http://www.inmusicwetrust.com

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • FECKIN INCREDIBLE
    author: Jeff

    I was just intoduced to this band thanks to CD baby and I cant stress enough how great it is. As far as politically minded rock/country goes these guys make Steve Earle look like Shania Twain...Buy this album if you can cause garunteed you wont be disapointed

  • This makes Three
    author: Matt McJones

    THat's three albums down and the live one to go! Being in Australia I can only hope to see them one day, but I'm hopin' their live album packs the same punch. But i'd like to clarify that they're like the OLD Drive by Truckers LIVE and you're stone drunk!

  • Do yourself a favor and buy this
    author: Tim

    Great CD all around. If you are a fan of the Drive By Truckers, you'll enjoy this album. It is 100% passionate, politically charged rock. Stand out tracks are Gone, Rachel Corrie and Westboro Baptist Church.

  • Raw and refreshing rock and roll
    author: jason

    This was my first time hearing this band, and they are great. The content on some of the songs is important, and can stand up to some of the best lryics out there. This cd flows nicely, mixes up the vibe, and keeps you wanting to listen. I will be buying the other albums soon.

  • Badass Country Punk
    author: Liz

    I love these guys. Menace has a broader range of musical styles and emotions evoked than Creepy Little Noises (which I also love). I've been trying to find a way to describe ICLASOBITH to my friends, and I think the best I've come up with is to say that on Menace, they sound kinda like Steve Earle with a bad hangover and a worse attitude. I'm hoping to get to see them live this summer.

  • awesome as ever
    author: brad shaw

    this cd had a different vibe than the first and second they've got a sound that's just cool even in different sounding genre's. it's progressing and getting darker sounding to me. but you've got to see them live to really get their enegry.

  • Solid
    author: jdier

    This is a good solid effort from the band. Having seen them live for the first time last month, I was expecting a more lively CD. The first few tracks along with the fantastic Westboro Baptist Church make this CD worth every cent, but it still does not quite hit on all of the cylinders that the band hit playing live. Again, this is a solid effort and worth the bread. Looking forward to next album.

  • great fidelity, and great songs
    author: Al Gator

    this cd totally rocks!! it will have you going ballistic. you can understand the lyrics first time through, and hear all the nuances of great guitar and harmonica playing. Mole gives the whole cd exact timing, and Flap creates his own melodies with his cymbals. good job guys!!

  • Intense and powerful.
    author: Larry

    SOB strikes a cord with this disk that's been sorely missing in mass produced corporate modern music, and the folkabilly post hits the nail on the head! Folk music has always been a political thermometer of sorts and SOB makes that whole idea accessable again to us on the street. Do yourself a favor and go see these guys play. Then go up and talk to them and you'll see what I mean. There's no egos or attitudes, just regular dudes like you and me, with problems and issues of everyday crap to deal with, yet still beleive things can be better. Just so sick and tired of being sick and tired...

  • author: Sandusky

    I have seen the Light and it is called I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House. I am converted, holy rolling jumping screaming filled with the spirit of this mighty wonderful beautiful goddamn rock n roll band!!! If you think music sucks, well you haven't heard this phenomenal band. Go buy all their stuff and stop reading this.

  • truly great record
    author: henry kammerer

    SOB has made a record here that everyone should own. Put me in charge today, and tomorrow your @$$ will be listening to Menace. Think this record is great? Go see them play. Now.

  • -This is what its all about-
    author: Pittsburgh Steelers

    These guys just keep getting bigger and better. This album demonstrates how powerful music can be when written with honesty,feeling, and experience. From the adrenaline rushing, kick your ass opening track "Gone", to the *pour your heart and soul outta your ass and put it on a record* sound of "Regrets and grey hounds"-*You never seen a live rock show until you see these fuckers*

  • Epic Garage smashing Miller light drinking Rock
    author: folkabilly

    I'm giving this type of music a name, since there aint none. Folkabilly. A great rock band, great picking, great lyrics, and a damblast'n harmonica going off like Chris Farley in his prime. It's a great bar band with a huge future. Same level as Slobberbone, and Drive By Truckers.

  • This new album delivers everything you expect from SOB.
    author: Mo

    Great new album. I love the hard driving rock grit that eats the lyrics into my soul. This band is going places. Excellent job. After listening to the album go see the band live b/c until you do you've only heard half the show. To see these guys play live is a mind numbing experience.

email

Please log in to email this artist.