APOGEE SOUND CLUB
REVIEWS
...ASC is a band i do love, and here they are with a split cassette w/ art band, K^REN, called SPLITTING HAIRS and their side does not disappoint. Songs range from pretty, acoustic ditties, to angular, choppy tirades, maybe like a super pissed at the world MINUTEMEN, and even some short, tolerable blasts of noise. At twenty great songs, I hope this sees an actual vinyl release, because it rules." (Modee) MAXIMUM ROCK AND ROLL
“SHELL SHAG / APOGEE SOUND CLUB: Lifestyle Obsession: Split 7” EP Shell Shag: Things start off on a dissonant note with “Why the Fuck You Looking at Me,” then get a bit more conventional indie-punk, though more minimalist in structure and execution than most others, on the remaining two tracks. Pretty sure this is a two-person lineup, but you don’t really notice, which says volumes about the effectiveness of their delivery. Apogee Sound Club: Opens up with what sounds like a full band banging out a dissonant instrumental, followed by a wiry, angular tune named “Hungover Again,” then closes out with another short instrumental comprised of someone playing a kalimba over some synth noises. Nice split here. –Jimmy Alvarado (Thrillhouse)”
— JIMMY ALVARADO, RAZORCAKE
“i really love APOGEE SOUND CLUB's ability to keep themselves from being pigeonholed into a certain style of punk and have even gone as far as creating a new style to play under (USE or Underground Sonic Energy). All three songs on their side sound completely different from one another, but work together to make a cohesive unit. The first song is a jerky instrumental that almost seems to go nowhere until a staccato synth arrives to save it and carry it over the top. The second song is a straight ahead flawless rocker that recalls a Kerr / Boon guitar tone and Wade's unmistakeable vocals. The last track is a noisy knob-turning experimental track that acts as the perfect closer.”
— (GH), Maximum Rock and Roll June 2013
“APOGEE SOUND CLUB: Belligerent: 7”EP
Riding the airwaves out of California’s Bay Area, this threesome drops a bomb of anarchic agenda on the masses. With an illustrated singalong booklet and manifesto claiming punk has been dragged to the murky depths of mainstream society, Apogee reminds us art should be dangerous. With a steady hand, they aim at taking down authoritarianism, addressing police brutality and the nefarious tentacles of government in “The Pig Song,” their most melodic of the four tracks. “You Fill Me with Inertia,” the instrumental cut of the bunch, and “From End to Beginning” bring up PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me, with jangly, disjointed guitar work that still manages to eke out a melody long enough to get you moving your feet. Recommended. –Kristen K (Fullyintercoastal, fullyintercoastal.com)”
— Kristen K, RAZORCAKE
"What does Apogee mean? Well, Random House Webster’s College Dictionary says: ” ap o geeˈæp əˌdʒi(n ) the point in the orbit of the moon or of an artificial satellite at which it is farthest from the earth Category Astronomy Ref Compare perigee the highest or most exalted point climax an apogee of artistic development.” This ain’t no jam session, this is a gotdam political and social revolution, set to the wildly kinetic, yet somehow organized chaos of Apogee Sound Club. Apogee is primarily made up of three players. Driver, Byrne and Thee, a trio that make enough sound and energy to blow away a band twice its’ size. Listening to Apogee takes me back to the glorious and frenetic time that I first heard “The Punch Line”, the Minutemen’s first LP. Though in that Minutemen vein , Apogee is at once unique and a fresh breath of unbridled creativity. Stripped down, unpretentious music for the sake of art from the heart put into the medium of music. These are”
songs to throw Molotov Cocktails to. “Belligerent” is a manifesto calling for real change, for the people by the people. In an age where everything and everyone can be marketed, especially “punk rock”. People fear and avoid what they can’t classify, label or understand. Apogee Sound Club defies classification. They are in a class all their own. Liz Byrne’s bass is the pounding, concise backbone that pairs with Mr. Thee's Krupa style drumming to create a rhythm that is more jazz fusion than simple rock and roll. Driver’s guitar joins the fray with guitar riffs at times both atonal and melodic. The ASC brew is unconventional and undeniably urgent, like the topics and lyrics in the songs. And Driver’s lyrics and Byrne’s backing vocals rage against complacency and lethargy. They seem to say “THE TIME IS NOW, GET OFF YOUR ASS”. Apogee makes no attempt to hide their purpose or their agenda: REVOLUTION. In every facet of society and creativity. Part of the USE (Underground Sound Energy) movement, ASC decries tyranny of any kind in America; from unlawful detention, to the corporate ownership of America’s so called democracy. The vinyl 7″ comes coplete with a “comic” book sing along, with lyrics to the 4 songs and the kind of raw art that fits “Belligerent” to a “T”. “Belligerant” is a loud cry in the wilderness of ignorance and false contentment. To try to pigeon hole ASC or “Belligerant” into a musical style or a genre is futile. It is as different and necessary as art itself. ASC refuses to color inside the lines set down by society and culture. Lines are barriers. Unjust laws and practices are walls, and APOGEE SOUND CLUB is tearing those walls down. “Belligerent” is SWEET DISSONANCE and Apogee Sound Club are MUSICAL DISSIDENTS. !!!!!! VIVE LA REVOLUTION !!!!!”
— JUSTIN BUZZCRUSHER, RANK & REVUE
“And secondly, we have a new record out by San Francisco's APOGEE SOUND CLUB. It's the newest project by ex-members of the cow-punk pioneers THE HICKOIDS and 90’s Mission punk favorites 50 MILLION. Their aggressive, angular attack and radical politics is a departure from the more straight forward rock of songwriting duo Liz and Wade's previous project, THE REACTION. The four song record comes with an eight page comic/lyric booklet from the folks at Mission Mini Comix.”
— THRILLHOUSE RECORDS
“Apogee Sound Club – “Belligerent” – [Fullyintercoastal Records] Angry, disjointed scrap rock with a strong political focus from this SF trio. While this has a distinct punk sound, they reject this term, opting for a more open ended, anti-authoritarian ideology of underground sonic energy. Side A contains the hits, with muddy guitar-bass interplay that is persistently gritty without losing its groove assisted by some consistently dazzling fill-work by Phill Thee on drums. The second track is a rollicking instrumental with guitar and drums locked-on and an almost bluesy sound amidst the mania. The B side starts with another kicker that throws some tweaked surf swells in between verses and ends with a slowed-down story time anthem about getting your ass kicked by friendly neighborhood peace officers. Check out the agit-prop included along with the sing-along comic book. Awesome debut release from these rising stars of the SF underground!”
— abacus, KFJC 89.7 FM
"APOGEE SOUND CLUB - "Belligerent" 7" The difference in attitudes regarding age in punk and jazz split in much the same way as the age is regarded in Western and Eastern action movies. In Western action movies, youth is usually privileged as a source of strength and power, whereas in Eastern action movies, and martial arts films in particular, the older a character is, the more they are represented as dangerous and skilled fighter. Enter APOGEE SOUND CLUB, featuring San Francisco undergound music veterans Liz Byrne (bass, THE KIRBY GRIPS, others) and Wade Driver (guitar, THE HICKOIDS, 50 MILLION, and about 50 million other bands), as well as the younger Phill Thee on drums. Liz and Wade have been honing their craft for a long time now, and in a number of different styles, including different kinds of rock music, pop, experimental projects, and jazz. And unlike many, or the stereotypical Western action movie character, they have retained a high level of” artistic craftsmenship, originality, and ferocious power...APOGEE SOUND CLUB represents a distinct new direction for the pair. Gone are the mod allusions and the direct rock riffs and guitar leads. Instead, ASC pushes with a choppier and much more angular guitar style that accommodates much more for play in the playing, but whilst still sounding tight as a bulls ass. The rolling, groovy bass is still there, in much the same way as it was in THE REACTION, but it has been effectively reshaped so as not to draw comparisons to the previous outing. This style rounds out the sound of the band, and this record, which is crucial when you consider the drumming. Thee is spastic, fast, and would at times draw the comment "over-busy" from me if it didn't work as well as it did. Here, four songs are given the vinyl treatment with a nice, slightly lo-fi sounding recording. The three with vocals all draw on all of the aforementioned qualities to craft killer punk songs. The lyrics are especially worth noting, as they draw on Wade's considerable knowledge of subversive philosophy and politics, especially the Situationists. However, the crowning moment of this record is the instrumental "You Fill Me With Inertia." This may be one of my favourite new songs of the year. The simple driving guitars, the underpinning bass, the clattering drums, all surging to the one moment when the guitar stands alone with one ringing, slightly dissonant chord... a singular moment, and a proper beginning for an exciting new band. (LP) (Fully Intercoastal) (www.fullyintercoastal.com, fullyintercoastal@hotmail.com)”
— LANGFORD, MAXIMUM ROCK AND ROLL
“Did I know what an "apogee" was before writing this review? Of course not, I'm not that smart...now I know that it is the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which point it is furthest from the earth...or also the highest point or climax in the development of something. No idea why I haven't heard the word in everyday speak yet. Probably hanging around with the wrong people. Anyway, let's not waste any more time on such inane intellectual pursuits as learning new things. This band was spawned from the demise of The Reaction and all of the band members have history in various San Francisco bands. This 7inch features four short songs of lo-fi and angry post punk with grooving bass lines and reasonably snotty vocals from Wade Driver. "Out Of Joint" starts things off strongly with angular riffs and spat vocals. The rollicking instrumental that follows this is pretty cool too - my choice of the 4 tracks on offer here. It is full of drive, urgency and chaos and is excellent”
The B side opens with the warped "From End To Beginning" with a twangy lead riff and the slower closing track "The Pig Song" is positively melodic by comparison and unless I'm losing my mind there appears to be something of a warped "Delilah" to this song - maybe I am hearing things. The lyrics are vitriolic and political, giving (amongst others) government and authority a bit of a kicking - I'm oversimplifying it here but reading the lyric sheet is well worthwhile and comes in the form of a small comic book. The whole release is an excellently put-together”
— MH, Collective Zine