DTR - 025 Brainworms / Tubers 7"

The Record:
Released July 2008.
Co-released with Bakery Outlet Records and Rorschach Records.
Vinyl quantity / color variations as follows; 100 / Pale Green, 100 / Gold, 100 / Clear, 300 / Black.

Reviews:

"The underground railroad from St. Augustine to Richmond, VA finally comes to listeners in the form of Tuber’s split with the almighty Brainworms. Brainworms unleash two tracks on their 3rd split 7" in a year, one being Jays Big Date which is the zingiest of zingers yet by the band and the debut of Josh Small on guitar with the band. Track two is a cover of Rites of Spring - For Want Of, recorded at the same time as the live side of Which is Worse. Tubers, who have circuited the Florida punk scene in bands one might call spastic hardcore such as Twelve Hr. Turn, Solid Pony, and Environmental Youth Crunch, find a mellower spot to sit while not letting aggressive tendencies completely fall by the wayside. Tubers are the perfect complement for a party that wants to let loose, have fun, and, you know, maybe get a little weird on the dance floor."
- The Internet

"Brainworms seem to be the kings of split 7 inches as this is the band’s third in the span of a year now. This time the Richmond band teams up with St, Augustine, Florida’s Tubers. Brainworms let loose two tracks here. “Jays Big Date” is trademark Brainworms and sees the debut of Josh Small on guitar with the band. Probably best known as Tim Barry’s touring guitarist, Small’s inventive playing can only enhance Brainworms’ crazed punk rock nuggets. The second track is a surprisingly straight-ahead live cover of Rites of Spring’s “For Want Of” which of course is a classic. For a live recording it sounds pretty amazing.
Next up we have Tubers who are able to fit in four short ditties on their side. Members of Tubers have done time in notable Florida bands like Twelve Hour Turn (an amazing band!), Solid Pony, and Environmental Youth Crunch. While not as spastic as some of their past bands, Tubers still find aggression in a more straight forward approach. But, screamy vocals still appear and add a cool dimension to the band’s solid backbone. This is my first real introduction to the band and I am impressed. Tubers finish it off with a great old school Lemonheads cover of “Glad I Don’t Know” from the band’s album, Lick.
And the Brainworms awesome split seven inch streak continues."
- Will / Sound as Language

"Brainworms: Pretty Revolution Summer-esque stuff. They provide one original and a live cover of “For Want of” by Rights Of Spring, which is my favorite ROS song. Their original ain’t bad, but it’s hard for me to recall what it sounds like after listening to the cover. It’s emotional hardcore like you want it to be when you hear that term; that much I can remember. But their cover is where it’s at. I mean, c’mon, it’s a ROS song! Tubers: Kind of a lightweight Hot Snakes. They aren’t as frantic, but it doesn’t seem like that’s what they’re going for. It’s kind of like Hot Snakes with a dash of Fugazi—maybe my mind was stuck on Guy Picciotto from the other side. Tubers also contribute a cover on their side. It’s of “Glad I Don’t Know” by the Lemonheads. It definitely doesn’t sound like the other songs on their side, but it beats the original version while not straying very far from it. Then again, I never was too big on the Lemonheads (I always confuse them with the Gin Blossoms)."
–Vincent Battilana / Razorcake

The Bands:

Brainworms
For the working man, the summer season is over. Somewhere deep within the northern woods, a trail crew is wrapping up its season with a final all night from dusk 'til dawn rager. Multiple handles of Jack are consumed; PBR freely flow out of cans into mouths, hair, and the ground. People exploit tiki-torches to spit fire igniting a gasoline-soaked chair nestled in the middle of a yet to be started bonfire. Young men and women with shaved mohawks are burning things they don't need anymore like clothing, equipment, and/or facial hair. This is one of those parties where drunk people with an acute attraction for wrestling and making a lot of noise get sweaty with pick axes. Young people are getting weird in the woods and not thinking about tomorrow. As the summer fades to fall, Brainworms sets up to be the houseband.

With a pedigree featuring ex and current members of Stop It!!, Ultra Dolphins, Snack Truck, and Are You Fucking Serious?, Brainworms have quickly made a name for themselves whether they intended to or not within the realm of whatever the kids are calling it these days. Sure, you can ramble about how they're better than most bands playing out today but that still can't hold a light to actually going to a Brainworms show. Vocalist Greg Butler is the perfect frontman for the new generation of punks worn down by the working week. Musically, Brainworms are a little too melodic for the hardcore scene and a little too gruff for the fashion show scene. Brainworms have created a niche for themselves writing some of the burliest, intense music punks have heard in a long time.
-Jeff Beyers

Tubers
Saint Augustine, Florida in the summertime can be a magical place. A weekend spent there can create twenty years good memories hanging out in the hot Floridian sun with your friends. One moment you’re hanging out at your friend’s lake house drinking beers doing relay races and in a snapshot, you’re playing volleyball cockfighting style on a tarp wet, slippery from dish detergent. Homemade pina coladas being made in a blender, someone refreshes ice upon a wheel-barrel full of beer stocked in the shade, and mix tapes with Hot Snakes and the Descendants is blasting through some blown-out boombox speakers. This is TUBERS. Caught between the awkward time of adolescent and adulthood, St. Augustine’s Tubers find a natural balance in life and music. Previously, the three men of Tubers circuited the Florida punk scene in bands such as Twelve Hr. Turn, Solid Pony, and The South. After years of playing what one might call their collective back catalogue as “spastic hardcore”, Tubers finds a mellower spot to sit while not letting aggressive tendencies completely fall by the wayside. Tubers are the perfect complement for a party that wants to let loose, have fun, and, you know, maybe get a little weird on the dance floor. The underground railroad from St. Augustine to Richmond, VA finally comes to listeners in the form of Tuber’s split with the almighty Brainworms. Having years of friendship and numerous 12 hour drives built up over time, it only seems natural to have these two bands come together to commemorate friendship and make peace with alligators, whatever that means.
- Jeff Beyers

Brainworms myspace http://myspace.com/brainwormsrva
Tubers myspace http://www.myspace.com/tubers