Lollipop Magazine

Free Lunch – with Mephiskapheles, Bim Skala Bim at The Rat – Review

April 1, 1996

Free Lunch, a power trio who describe their music as “funky-crunchy-soul,” played some great originals.

D.R.I. – with Acid Bath, Toxic Narcotic at The Rat – Review

April 1, 1996

After D.R.I. had gotten about ten seconds into “Violent Pacification,” security suddenly gave the boot to about a dozen overly-enthusiastic moshers.

Bim Skala Bim – with Mephiskapheles, Free Lunch at The Rat – Review

April 1, 1996

Bim Skala Bim offered a compelling set from their 11-year, six-album history and unveiled five new songs which blended easily into a catalog of set classics.

Acid Bath – with D.R.I., Toxic Narcotic at The Rat – Review

April 1, 1996

From the swamps of NOLA, with their pulsating bass and voice of eternal doom. Dax Riggs’ voice is kind of like a melodic trill over a deep and angry growl.

Stuck Mojo – at the Rat – Review

March 1, 1996

They mix the rapcore thing together with beefy vocals and a pleasant death roar: Quite a tasty mix to these ears.

Mephiskapheles – with Bim Skala Bim, Free Lunch at The Rat – Review

February 1, 1996

From the rock-steady beats to the more prominent ska-core, Mephiskepheles commandeered the crowd. Meph earned an encore, which is tough as an opening band.

Zia – with Ultraviolence, Cubanate at The Rat – Review

February 1, 1996

I guess they went funk pop. I’m going to need more exposure to see if I like the new style. To be fair, it seems much of the crowd was totally into it.

Ultraviolence – with Cubanate, Zia at The Rat – Review

February 1, 1996

Donning dark sunglasses and short, spiky hair, Johnny let the strobe light freeze-frame his manic figure as the techno-opera began to wind its twisted tale.

Screw 32 – at The Rat – Review

February 1, 1996

In many ways, Screw 32 is like early SNFU or Youth of Today; all play high energy, anthem music with simple, catchy, non-offensive choruses.

Cubanate – with Ultraviolence, Zia at The Rat – Review

February 1, 1996

Vocalist Marc Heal is similar to a psycho queen techno-Lemmy with a frog in his throat. That’s good, by the way.