The Business End

The Business End
Today our new friend and guest writer Todd Williams tells us about a local punk band called The Business End.


This Sunday I was able to meet at the Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa with a band that will be very prominent in the punk scene very soon; And this Monday I was invited to the studio to be further convinced of the previous fact. San Francisco punk-rockers The Business End keep a strict sentimentality for the punk scene that once engulfed the bay area along with a clear devotion to those acts that came before them… and, not to mention, a sense of humor. With songs like “Alvislleujah,” a tribute to the Christ-figure of Sealab 2021 and “Han Solo,” the Christ-figure of any late seventies teenage boy, The Business End hold their own against the best that modern punk rock has to offer (and, not to mention, soar above the so-called emo “punk rock” that currently suffocates the scene (re: Ukiah)).

Vocals are shared between the bassist, Bret Fontaine (rings of Greg Graffin and Glenn Danzig) and the guitarist, Mike Ward (with a taste of Fat Mike and Billy Joe Armstrong). The rhythms are backed by the distinctive punk-rock n’ roll blend of Noah Smith (see: D.H. Peligro). One thing that is for sure is that these musicians are not your average modern American punk band. With lyrics ranging from “it’s got a texture like a tortoise and it’s smelling like a porpoise” to “you can’t bring back the dead with another corpse” one can expect everything from humor to biting commentary from this sensible and witty punk band. However, be warned, if you are expecting punk that is for punk’s sake, you will not find any of that from The Business End; the sound, summed up best by the words of bassist Bret Fontaine, is “loud… not sloppy, aggressive… not angry,” which is a delight to their audience as when one arrives to a show they can expect to be greeted by a band that is actually happy to be on stage. The theatrics don’t spell melancholy but a band that is genuinely having fun doing what they are doing. Neither of the singers hold their forehead whilst performing, and Noah constantly has a smile on his face while kicking out the proverbial jams of old. This sort of attitude is sure to transfer to a crowd and create a positive atmosphere within the hallows of any union hall.

In any case, The Business End are a sure catch within the scene, and you can catch them this Friday the 21st of September at 330 Ritch St. in Soma, the doors open at 7:30 in the PM and other acts featured will include Get In The Van, Seven Stories Falling, Novice, Round Three Fight, and A Dying Beauty. Those who can’t make the show can make themselves regret missing it after hearing the tunes on their Myspace page.

~Todd Williams

Published on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:47:34
- www.thedelimagazine/sf.com

The Business End

If you remember when Green Day’s Dookie came out, you’ll recall that it was like a second chance for the entire population of Ramones T-shirt wearing, PBR swilling, Chuck Taylor walking aficionados who missed the punk heyday because of, well, not being born yet. Well, if you missed Green Day’s grand entrance, keep watching the door because The Business End is coming through it next. You won’t even need to finish playing a whole song by The Business End before you agree with these San Francisco kids (at least agree with their press kit) about their punk influences. More power to ‘em, I say — these kinds of catchy singable teen anthems, bratty lyrics and confident, crunchy guitars are an absolute must these days when every other new indie release seems to be another singer/songwriter whining about coffee grinds and moonlight. The Business End is pure fun. (http://www.myspace.com/noahsaysno) (Review date: Sept 22, Lexi Kahn)
- Low Budget Superhero