Guts of The Ice - An Exploration of "Puck" Rock/Hockey-core #15: Pat Society Curates Rink-rousing Playlist (Violent Society, Battalion Zośka)
Not entirely unlike Wrestle/Wrassle Rap or Basketball Rap, there's, apparently, a whole sub-genre of hockey-themed Punk/Hardcore—oftentimes, referred to as "Puck" Rock or Hockey-core. Yes, I've been a die-hard fan of Punk/Hardcore for 15+ years and I, too, only first heard about Puck Rock within the last few weeks. Although, once I started diggin' around, I discovered about 10-15 bands at the forefront; this was, then, gradually narrowed down to 10 "front-line" bands, which will be chronicled here over the course of coming weeks. The "top-scoring" bands we selected include: Crippled Youth, SLAPSHOT, The Hanson Brothers/Nomeansno, Two Man Advantage, The Boils, D.O.A. THE ZAMBONIS, Pansy Division, The Hextalls, and THE RAMOMS' "Gritty Is A Punk" flexi-disc. We sent out a short 6-question interview form to all of the aforementioned bands, received some back, heard a few choice words, and still have yet to hear from a few more. We'll be running those interviews, as well as features, profiles, etc. in the coming weeks. EDITOR'S NOTE: be warned, while I'm a casual hockey fan, I DO NOT claim to be an "expert" on the sport, nor will I EVER claim to know "everything" about hockey-themed Punk/Hardcore. Now, let's just try to have some fun and learn more about the sub-genre together!
Pat Society is a Philly Punk scene veteran, who has been releasing fast, furious, and politically-driven Punk/Hardcore for 25+ years. Society is/was part of Violent Society, Cranked Up! and Battalion Zośka and works for Creep Records' sister label Violated Records. Additionally, Pat Society has produced records for The Droogettes, The Oppressed side-band Fatal Blow, Infant Mortality, Deceptacons, and his own newly-formed band, Battalion Zośka. The latter's 2019 self-titled debut boasts contributions from Neil "Newts" Newton (Angelic Upstarts,) The Boils' Greg Boyle & Eric Endrikat, and Dez Cadena (Black Flag, The Misfits,) as well as members of both Violent Society & Combat Crisis. Society produced NJ Street Punk band The Parasitix's debut full-length, No End In Sight, due out Friday, July 22, 2020 on Violated Records. Pat Society tells The Witzard he enjoys "hockey, football, soccer, Punk Rock, cooking, travelling, etc." via text message. Although, he's lived in the Philadelphia area his whole life, Pat is, admittedly, a Vancouver Canucks fan, somehow. Pat Society actively plays in two hockey leagues as a defense and a wing and admits he's been a hockey fan since 1981 when he attended his first game. Wayne Gretzky, Pavel Blue, Ron Francis, Sidney Crosby, Trevor Linden, Dale Hawerchuk, Illka Sinosalo, and Pelle Lindbergh all rank amongst Society's favorite players. We reached out to Pat Society after Greg Boyle suggested it and he was kind enough to curate a YouTube playlist full of Hockey Punk favorites and rink-rousing classics exclusively for Guts of The Ice.
Sincerely,
Matt "The Witzard" Horowitz
Puck Rock/Hardcore Purveyor
01. Two Man Advantage - "Skating Down The Ice"
Pat Society: "Two Man Advantage was a band I met when we played with them on Long Island, NY at one of their first gigs. I became great friends with them and they have done a lot of records since then."
02. D.O.A. - "Give 'em The Lumber"
Pat Society: "D.O.A. are the hockey kings and this song is pretty funny; about [smacking] someone over the head with a hockey stick."
03. The Vandals - "Change The World with My Hockey Stick"
04. The Misfits - "I Wanna Be A New York Ranger"
05. Lummox/The Cretin (Dayglo Abortions) - "Hockey Fight"
06. Les Dales Hawerchuk - "Dales Hawerchuk"
07. The Hanson Brothers - "A Night Without You"
Pat Society: "Hanson Brothers took their name from The Hanson Brothers in the hockey movie, Slap Shot."
08. Goldfinger - "Wayne Gretzky"
09. CHIXDIGGIT! - "(I Feel Like) (Gerry) Cheevers (Stitch Marks On My Heart)"
Pat Society: "CHIXDIGGIT! If you remember Cheevers' mask, this song is pretty funny. He used to put stitches on his mask for every time a [puck] hit him in the face."
10. S.N.F.U. - "Cancer Sticks & Hockey Sticks"
Pat Society: "S.N.F.U. used to have a "hockey rivalry" with D.O.A. They would play each other in the old days."
11. The Boils - "Bullies"
Pat Society: "I remember Greg Boil writing these Hockey Punk songs. I was like, "what the Hell are you doing, Greg?" And, then, people ate it up... so much for what I know."
12. Violent Society - "Times of Distraught"
13. The Misfits - "This Magic Moment"
Pat Society: "I grew up listening to 50's and 60's [music] from my dad and when this song was recorded by The Misfits, I instantly loved it... the Project 1950 LP is so great for a cover album."
14. Circle Jerks - "Rock House"
Society: "Under-rated Circle Jerks song they will never play..."
15. Battalion Zośka - "80's Kid"
16. 7Seconds - "Happy Rain" (7-inch Version)
Society: "This song was on the Out The Shizzy record... this is a totally different version."
17. Infant Mortality - "Toxic Huff"
Society: "From the deepest bowels of Wilmington, Delaware. The greatest band you never heard. I produced this track with my buddy, Arik Victor."
18. Cranked Up! - "Get Out"
19. Social Unrest - "Good for You"
Society: "Old school Bay Area Hardcore... I love it."
20. The Exploited - "The Massacre"
Society: "From my favorite Exploited album [The Massacre]. I love the drumming on this; brutally fast."
21. Battalion Zośka - "Heather"
22. OFF! - "I Don't Belong"
Society: "Best band in years..."
23. Pidżama Porno - "Twoja generacja"
Society: "Great Polish Punk band [you] should check out."
24.The Sods - "No Pictures"
Society: "Great band from Essex, UK."
25. Violent Society - "Totally F**ked"
