4/25/2010

THE DRAGONS - Pain Killer

THE DRAGONS Pain Killer cd 1996
Sometimes / High / Runaway / Pain Killer / Who Calls My Name / Too much Too Soon / Bad Reputation / Fuck Up / Train / Riser / Confusion / Adios Mexico.
Produced by D. Jass & The Dragons.
The Dragons: M. Escovedo: vocals & guitar / S. Rodriguez: bass & vocals / K. Horne: guitar / J. Lucas: drums.
So Cal punk & rollers the Dragons were fronted by M. Escovedo, the youngest sibling of musicians Alejandro and J. Escovedo. Javier, of L.A. punk legends the Zeros ( and later with Alejandro in the True Believers), bought his teenage kid brother his first guitar on Sunset Strip, paving the way for Mario's rock 'n' roll future.
Mario and Ken Mochikoshi Horne had formerly been in a punk band called M-80's. Toward the end of 1990, the two decided to form a new band, recruiting bassist Steve Rodriquez and drummer James Barczak. In the summer of 1992, the Dragons released a 12-track vinyl LP in Spain on Impossible Records. The following year the group parted ways with Barczak, adding Jarrod Lucas. In 1994, they recorded a four-song 7" for Pop Tones Records, following that in 1996 with their first CD release, "Painkiller", on Scam-O-Rama Records (buy it here!). By the end of 1997, the group had signed with Junk Records, for whom they recorded several LPs, including 1998's "Cheers To Me", 1999's raw, furious "R.L.F. (Rock Like Fuck)" and the 2000 concert set "Live at the Casbah". "Rock N Roll Kamikaze" followed in 2001, and was supported by an even more furious touring schedule that took the band from L.A. and the southwest all the way to Japan. By August 2002, The Dragons were back in the U.S.A., and playing the 1st annual Gearfest in Austin, TX. Gearhead Records, the show's sponsor, was blown away by the band, and signed them soon after. "Sin Salvation", their fiery, redemptive Gearhead debut, appeared in May 2003, and was supported by a tour with labelmates the Riverboat Gamblers. Allmusic
After 13 years and seven (or eight ...it seems that there's an album recorded only for Japan) albums, the band announced it was parting ways in November 2005. Guitarist Horne moved back to his native Japan, and in 2008 joined The Bronx. M. Escovedo has since formed a new band called the Mario Escovedo Xperience (MEX for short) that plays music more akin to Los Lobos and the Texas Tornados. The Dragons have since reformed with guest lead guitarists for a few one-off shows from time to time.Wikipedia
You can read a very good review of "Pain Killer" in Rick Coffee's blog, Rich's R'n'R Rants & Raves !
Thanks to Théo for all coffees made !

15 commentaires:

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER a dit…

THE DRAGONS "Pain Killer"

Enjoy it & leave comments !

Rafa Ramone a dit…

thank you so much, greetings!!

Anonyme a dit…

please can you apload the filipinos cd peel back the skin 1991? thank you in advanc

dave p a dit…

hi midnight'
great overlooked album.i also have
the spanish vinyl only 1st album . thats a great album too,the band never seems to mention it in any articles ive seen or their discography.i wonder why that is!?!

also a fan of another Escovedo band
the Sacred Hearts.i have the Sympathy ftri 7",but i remember reading somewhere that they released a mini album on i think Munster Records.but ive never been able to find it.do you know if it actually exists ?
thanks as always for your great blog.dave p,uk

Dr. Cowabunga a dit…

Hi! awesome blog mate, now you got a link in ours. Thanks for to have something about the amazing Nomads! Cheers man!

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER a dit…

@ Dr Cowabunga:
You're linked too ! Good blog !

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER a dit…

@ to dave p:
I will post the Sacred Hearts ep (SFRI) soon.
I never heard about a mini lp but it's possible!
I know that there's a spanish lp (and a Japan one also...) & an ep on Impossible Records but I never saw them...
If you know where I can buy the both or I you want to rip them, you're welcome !

Thanks everybody for comments !

d.mlikoti@vip.hr a dit…

cheers...again another great post,of course as usual on this blog and is too sad how many great bands gone...but not forgotten,thankfully to this blog...
by the way i still haven't found what i'm looking for and i'll preciate if somebody outhere in blogosphere could help with dowloading link...at first The Crumbs;they've got two albums with self titled name,one with songs like Shakespeare,Dead Boys Too,etc...i've got already and i'd like to hear another one including songs Had A Chance,Save The Drama...also out of range LP,hold that shit right LP,too...another one band on my want to hear listing is The Electric Frankenstein and albums Spare Parts,Annie's Grave,We Will Bury you...and at last but not least Darlington and two albums titled Euthanize Me and Moron-A-Thon...
'HANX!

trgec a dit…

cheers...again another great post,of course as usual on this blog and is too sad how many great bands gone...but not forgotten,thankfully to this blog...
by the way i still haven't found what i'm looking for and i'll preciate if somebody outhere in blogosphere could help with dowloading link...at first The Crumbs;they've got two albums with self titled name,one with songs like Shakespeare,Dead Boys Too,etc...i've got already and i'd like to hear another one including songs Had A Chance,Save The Drama...also out of range LP,hold that shit right LP,too...another one band on my want to hear listing is The Electric Frankenstein and albums Spare Parts,Annie's Grave,We Will Bury you...and at last but not least Darlington and two albums titled Euthanize Me and Moron-A-Thon...
'HANX!

Max Frost a dit…

Man, these guys rocked like few ever did. Thanks for this post, I had all of the other Dragons albums, but not this one. Does anyone know if Mario's new band (MEX) is going to release anything official?

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER a dit…

@ d.mlikoti@vip.hr
OK for the Crumbs & for Electric Frankenstein !!!
For Darlington have a look here:
http://ramonetothebone.blogspot.com/search/label/Darlington

trgec a dit…

'hanx,man...i'm hardly awaiting!

dani b a dit…

great album. thanks

JRoug a dit…

I saw the Dragons and the sacred Hearts (opening for brother Alejandro Escovedo) in Austin - one of the greatest nights of rock ever. The Dragons were nothing but amazing. Does anyone know what's on their Japan only cd? I haven't bought it because I'm afraid it's a comp of stuff I already have, but info is so vague that it might be a whole new album that never came out elsewhere. I have a Sacred Hearts demo tape somewhere, will look for it.

Unknown a dit…

Where is the link?