free download: LIQUID HAMBURGER TRAINING PANTS Koala Comp 2001

2001: This is a quality comp cd-r that came out on Koala Syndicate to a few hundred people. Sorry about the title... Handed out freely at the Torpedofest that year where around 40 bands played in a few days... The cover star is a local streetguy named Art, he was funny, with his super gravelly voice "Hey Boss." Bands included: Worm Quartet, Mil Mulliganos, Dealership, The Flashing Astonishers, The Secession Movement, Hitlist, The Fiascoes, Sought After, Thunderosa, Que Se Dice, Go Sushi, Martha Dumptruck Massacre, Mandate Of Heaven, This Afternoon, Pacer, The Dollar Canon, Molotov Cocktail Inc, Layton Avenue, Mearle Throttle, This Rectangular Planet, McLane's Zoo, & Dufus.

Liquid Hamburger Training Pants free download right here!

free download: Look What The WE FEST Dragged In 2002 compilation cd

The Wilmington Exchange Festival known as WEFEST has been a Memorial Day tradition since the mid-9teen 9tees, and I've played it something like 5 or 6 times since then. I have made tons of friends, hooked up tons of shows all through networking & partying with the people there. Many bands have played and gone on to major things, like Dismemberment Plan & Lamb Of God, but mostly festival grandfather Kenyata Sullivan started the festival with a stone hard streak of D.I.Y. in his veins. Over the years there's been bands of all shapes & sizes, from metal to folk to crazy homerecording underground tape traders who never play out. There's been film screenings, air hockey tournaments, art shows, poetry readings. Generally a little something for everyone... You can leave the festival with tons of free zine & music & stickers, all piled up on the free merch tables; this was always one of my favorite aspects... The overarching vibe is one of open-mindedness, I have seen 3 piece jug bands that have blown my mind right after an explosive indie punk show on the same stage & it all makes sense. Over the winter I have pleasurable memories of midnight beering and swimming in the ocean until the sun comes up in the neighboring Wrightsville Beach area. Jim Testa of Jersey Beat zine even made a song about WEFest!

I made this comp cd to hand out when the Flashing Astonishers played there for the last time in 2002. I probably only made about 1000, I don't recall. All of the bands are WEFest veterans and mostly are extinct... Bands (and a poet!) included are Kenyata Sullivan, Landspeedrecord!, Punch Drunk Monkeys, Mil Mulliganos, Plug Spark Sanjay, D Michael McNamara, The Secession Movement, Aviso Hara, Sidedoor Johnnies, Cropduster, First Night On Earth, All The Dead Pilots, Astronaut Lost, Pandora's Lunchbox, Worm Quartet, Dufus, Jim Testa, Pacer, 71 Sunbeam, Second Sky, & The Cogs. I should've made a 4 cd box set because I've seen so many good bands there over the years!

free download: Look What The WE FEST Dragged In 2002 compilation cd

Gregg Yeti

free download! HOBBY HORSE mix tape from 1998

I remember having several boom boxes making dubs all at once sitting on the floor at the 549 Columbus Ave dive house... the release shows for these tapes were always fun, over at East LA or Planet 505 - whatever it was called on Westcott Street back then across the street from Alto Cinco and the movie theater... the cover picture is of a hobby horse someone at the house trash-picked I think - it sat on top of the half-assembled pool table for a while... here's KR003 the 3rd release from Koala Records in 1998. It includes The Fiascoes, Kweezy, Jerry Maliwesky, Fledgling Death, Greg Pier, Monkshood, Jessica Matt, Dirty Vicars, Bobby Budd, Eugene Iosilevich, Ashley Cox, FM Cowboys, Hardcore Fishermen, Delta Of Venus, The Flashing Astonishers... donations via paypal to greggyeti@yahoo.com are greatly appreciated and will get you more swag in the future! Download the mix tape here!

free download: COLOR WHILE YOU LISTEN 7" vinyl Koala Comp!

2002: The COLOR WHILE YOU LISTEN 7" vinyl comp came with crayons so that you could color the awesome Joey Larkin-drawn cover while you listened to songs by The Flashing Astonishers, Pale Green Stars, Negativ Seaven, Visionstain & Drunken Orgy Of Destruction. Five bands squeezed onto one little 7" and they genres were varied: indie rock, spazz-core, nu-metal, powerpoprock. 500 physical copies were made by Koala in conjunction with Substandard Records of San Francisco, who also released the 3rd Flashing Astonishers album On Involuntary Bliss.

Download the COLOR WHILE YOU LISTEN 7" vinyl comp right here!

free download: NOT DEAD YET - 2010 SYRACUSE OLD SCHOOL REUNION comp cd

Download the full compilation cd right here!

In 2007 Elise Flanders had an idea, to get a whole bunch of her old friends from Syracuse's halcyon indie & punk days from the 1980's & early 1990's back together all in the same room. People came in from all over the country and met up at Klub Polski, a run-down venue everyone held all-ages shows at back in the old days. Much beer was drunk, old friends met up again, a few bands played, and a great time was had by all. Flash forward to 2010: Elise once again wanted to bring forth the aging scenesters but decided one evening was not enough. Two days were booked over Labor Day Weekend at Syracuse's legendary Half Penny Pub (which just recently and lamely stopped hosting bands). The weekend was labeled "Syracuse Freaks & Geeks" hoping to be more inclusive of people who may not totally label themselves as punk. It's not ALL about the bands either; people had a fun kickball game in the daytime, and shared many meals together. Several bands reunited especially for the occasion, some playing for the first time in 15-20 years! Grisly Fiction, Sound Of My Own Voice, The Fiascoes, and Pagan Love Child all dusted off their guitars & sprang forth from the wheelchairs to show the kids how it is done. Beauty Scene Outlaws played a riveting set of songs of the members old bands (Wallmen & Milton's Disciples). Veteran rockers Undergang tore it up as always with singer Alan Smead the main attraction; the man is a idiosyncratic performer who's been in bands in Syracuse since the 1980's. My favorite band of the weekend was The Fiascoes, led by songwriter Joshua Lee Loomis, Greg Pier (Mandate Of Heaven) and Ethan Jenks (Counterpursuit). Think Buffalo Tom, The Replacements & The Stooges in a blender. Fucking brilliant. Professional Victims & The Legendary Jones Gang both featured solid sets from stalwart Syracuse veterans. A amazing weekend of Northern Rock was enjoyed by a select few hundred people.

Jamie Trecker (Sound Of My Own Voice/Kewpie Dolls) was an instrumental hand in helping Elise bring together the music for the weekend. He also pressed 200 copies of this compilation cd "Not Dead Yet". The cd is out of print forever, but you can get a digital copy right here. The bands included are: Sound Of My Own Voice, The Trend, The Flashing Astonishers, Thunderosa, Pagan Love, Milton's Disciples, Kewpie Dolls, One Death Two, The Wallmen, Spike Penetrator, Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights, Unsound, Professional Victims, The Legendary Jones Gang, and Grisly Fiction.

Here's Ryan Hex's review from his Hanging Like A Hex blog:

V/A, “NOT DEAD YET”
This is a compilation of Syracuse alternative/indie bands from the early 80s up to some more current bands. It leaves a substantial amount of bands out, so I’m guessing it’s sort of based upon favoritism, or at least bands that were of personal relevance to the curator of this comp. What a lot of people don’t know is that Syracuse has had a pretty good history of excellent indie bands over the last couple of decades. Then again, many of these bands don’t or didn’t tour much at all so it’s no wonder no one knows about them. Nevertheless, some of the groups represented here are the Pixies-influenced Flashing Astonishers, the sloppy proto-hardcore punk of 80’s band Milton’s Disciples, the New Wave sounds of 70s/80s group The Trend, down to the Clutch-styled bar rock of Thunderosa. While many of these bands are familiar to me, if by nothing but name, others are completely off my radar, having fallen through the cracks of time in this town. All in all, 15 tracks of history are on this thing, and I’m thinking a volume 2 is in order to further document the scene here past and present. (zippypops@yahoo.com)

There's talk of another reunion in the future, we'll see!

TWO new Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights cds available now!!!

That's correct. Koala Syndicate has two albums by Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights for this winter's listening. They will be available free at over 40 locations across the country, including several locations in Upstate NY. The two albums will be available digitally by month's end. Physical copies are in a limited handmade edition of 1000 each, packaged with handstamps, stickers & paperbags. They look neat. If you wish to obtain a copy mailed to your door email gregg yeti at greggyeti@yahoo.com - donations are always welcome via paypal to that address!

"The Harvest Brass Echo" is the sophomore full length album by GY&TBL and comes out swinging. The selections of songs are solid and confident while expanding on the familiar sound of previous releases. Songs like "Ura" and "In The Dim Light Of Glowglobes" pack a epic gazey rock while the lights dim for the ballady "Grey" & "Half Is Me". Pop songs are abundant, with the short "(Someone Will Be Looking) Out For You" and "Christmas Quarantine" leading the pack. There's several guests on the album, including Jehn Cerron's lead vocals on "Little Scar," and Andrea Lee Higgins lead voice on "Red Curtain Sunlight" (which also features Bob Kane of Mandate Of Heaven/Flashing Astonishers on drums). Alex Kerns (of the band Lemuria) is a guest on drums on "Ura" & "Little Scar" also.

"Wonderbuckets" is a collection of the 4 eps done between 2004 & 2007, with a bonus new song "The Truth Behind Sarcasm". The collection were remastered by Jocko of More Sound with additional mixing & mastering by Doug White of Watchmen Studio. It features different earlier versions of staples like "My Narcoleptic Sara," "Laughter Be Your Slave," and "Christmas Quarantine," amongst a bunch of mid-fi home recordings and experiments...

You can sample a few songs by clicking here!

Download FREE 1996 demo cassette by The Flashing Astonishers

click here to download 1996 demo cassette by The Flashing Astonishers

Recorded in the 549 Columbus Ave band house in Syracuse by Jeff Jones (Dracula Jones) and Sean Curley (Wallmen/Druggies/Midget). The reel to reel tape machine was set up in the non-functioning bathroom. I remember we took the tape to Alex Perialis at Pyramid Studio in Ithaca for help with mixing/mastering, the same place big sweet sounding bands like Anthrax & Bad Religion did work and Alex made SUCH A BAD FACE when this came through the speakers... we really had no clue...

Download Self Titled LEPER PONY 2005 ep FREEEEEE!

FREE LEPER PONY DOWNLOAD

2005 - Noise & Words by Gregg Yeti - This is not pop music. Noise, ambience, spoken word stuff... I found some old diary poetry stuff & just cut it up & made this. One track, "This Tinfoil Hat Keeps The Aliens From Hearing The Voices In My Head" is over 20 minutes long. It features the recently & sadly departed Calvin Wilcox on keyboards & mumbling... RIP dude. In 2010 i remixed this a bit, because it sounded dreadfully like what it is, which means some of my very first computer home-recordings on my own... so if you have one of the original 200 cd-rs burned this is different a little bit. I re-did some of the vocals on the long song & took some of the bad noise out... there will be more stuff like this... 2010 finally saw two new Leper Pony releases, Showered In A Hail Of Fisticuffs & June Blue Larkspur. paypal donations to greggyeti@yahoo.com thanks so much!

FREE LEPER PONY DOWNLOAD RIGHT HERE!

The Complete Koala Syndicate Records Discography

I just pulled together this list... do you have them all? I don't!

KR001 various artists - Fuzzy Bunny (1998 cassette)
KR002 The Flashing Astonishers – Everything Is Gonna Stop (1998 cd)
KR003 various artists - Hobby Horse (1998 cassette)
KR004 various artists – A Nice Koala Compilation (1999 cassette)
KR005 various artists – Deep Fried Rubber Bands (1999 cassette/cd)
KR006 Go Sushi – Fascist Breakfast Delight (1999 cassette)
KR007 The Flashing Astonishers – The Star Off Machine (2000 cd)
KR008 various artists – Color While You Listen (2001 vinyl 7")
KR009 various artists - Liquid Hamburger Training Pants (2001 cd)
KR010 various artists – Look What The Wefest Dragged In (2002 cd)
KR011 The Gregg Yeti – A 32 Branched Candelabra Of Evil (2004 cd)
KR012 The Gregg Yeti – The Ender’s Mind (2005 cd)
KR013 Go Go Sushi – Better Living With Beer (2005 cd)
KR014 Leper Pony – Leper Pony (2005 cd)
KR015 The Gregg Yeti – The Star Off Machine (2006 cd)
KR016 Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights – Heart Palpitations Of The Rich & Famous (2008 cd)
KR017 The Gregg Yeti – The Liver Is The Eater (2007 cd)
KR018 Leper Pony – Showered In A Hail Of Fisticuffs (2010)
KR019 Leper Pony – June Blue Larkspur (2010 cd)
KR020 Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights – Wonderbuckets (The 4 EP Collection 2004-2007) (2010 cd)
KR021 Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights – The Harvest Brass Echo (2011 cd)
KR022 Monkey Knife Fight - Live at Armory High Syracuse 1-17-01 (2011 digital)
KR023 Leper Pony - Elementary Bumps And Grinds (2011 cd)

Download FUZZY BUNNY 1998 Koala Mix Tape FREEE!

Koala done did a whole slew of mix tapes years ago, and this year they will be posted up here for free download... Let's start at the beginning... KR001 - This tape was the first released by Koala back in ye olden days of 1998. Just a couple hundred were made... most of the bands were Syracuse based and Dave Woodson did the cover art. Bands include: The Flashing Astonishers, The Fiascoes, Dracula Jones, Kweezy, Ashley Cox, Delta Of Venus, Ghost Monkeys, Larry Demellier, Ryan Tzara, This Rectangular Planet, Dionne Warwick's Psychic Soldiers, Phil Broikos, & Jeff Jones.

This is your magic link to download Fuzzy Bunny for FREE

Donations of any size should be directed via paypal to greggyeti@yahoo.com - allah will bless you!

WONDERBUCKETS Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights is finally here!

Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights - Wonderbuckets - The E.P. Collection 2004-2007 collects the 4 eps done by The Gregg Yeti before the debut full length, 2008's Heart Palpitations Of The Rich & Famous.

1000 cds have been made, and one can be yours for a paypal donation of any size to greggyeti@yahoo.com - the cd will be mailed to your address. It's a cd-r package in a brown paper bag with 52 minutes of lovely music on it. With a great cover collage by Ryan Zara. Yippie Skippie.

But, if you are crafty, the cds will be available for free at several locations in Syracuse and also free at several record stores throughout the nation - so, if you want one get it directly or try your hand at getting one through at one of the free drop offs - there is no plans on re-releasing this material after this pressing except digitally. (Unless someone wants to pay for it!)

Cheers, Gregg

Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights - Laughter Be Your Slave video

ok ok ok enough of the videos! i just wanted to get 'em up here...



Song from the 2008 album "Heart Palpitations of the Rich & Famous" (Eskimo Kiss Records). Fun random video by Randy Tallo!

The Flashing Astonishers - Four Chords (live video from 2010 reunion)

A video by Randy Tallo - old song + new video :) Song from 2002 album "On Involuntary Bliss" and video from 2010 Syracuse reunion show at The Half Penny Pub - the first show in 8 years!

None of the Flashing Astonishers smoke any cigarettes anymore...

apparently, we all had too many cigarettes back ye ol' days... we probably would have had 6 albums instead of 3 if we weren't taking so many cigarette breaks all the time... here's the only video we made back then...

Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights - The Erase Her Eraser

let's watch a video!



video by Randy Tallo 2009 from song on Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights "Heart Palpitations Of The Rich & Famous" album (2008 Eskimo Kiss Records)

Old Video for My Narcoleptic Sara

For the hell of it, here's an old video of the first version of Gregg Yeti's "My Narcoleptic Sara" done by Syracuse based artist Elliott Mattice back in 2004 from the first e.p. "A 32-Branched Candelabra of Evil" by Gregg Yeti. This song has been re-issued on the 2010 Wonderbuckets compilation.

Hello!

This is the new Koala Syndicate home. Now let's get to work.