Photo credit: Shawn Lopes
M.U.G. are probably my favorite of all the early Hawaii hardcore/punk groups. Originally starting off with a thrash-influenced hardcore sound, M.U.G. quickly started writing more melodic, but no less energetic punk music more influenced by skinhead Oi and ska sounds. M.U.G. was started in 1985 by brothers Mike and Gabe Silva and their friend Ray Bala, three skateboarding teens from the Kalihi Valley. From everyone I've spoke to who knew or had seen M.U.G., this is an important fact. The mid eighties scene was largely composed of kids from the suburbs and scattered military bases, so to have some local kids from a really local town like Kalihi play hardcore punk (a style of music that was not as mainstream or popular as it is today) and to play as hard and fast as M.U.G. did was a revelation.
Originally started as a three piece of Gabe (guitar), Mike (bass/vocals) and Ray (drums) they added Saud on vocals before playing live on KTUH in 1985. At this session they tore through a too-fast set of 10 original thrash ragers like "Victims of Violence" and "Suicidal Run", filling it out with two Suicidal Tendencies and Slayer covers. At the end of the 20 minute session you can hear the DJ asking them if thats all the songs they had...
The lineup changed numerous times over the years, with the constants being Mike (now on vocals full time) and Ray. After a short hiatus in the late 80's, M.U.G. came back with a tighter more melodic style of punk that was no less angry or energetic than their short-fast-loud days. This period is best represented by the song "Under The Gun", which is probably their most enduring and catchy song and one of the greatest songs that has ever come from Hawaii in my opinion; a classically frustrated punk rock gem. M.U.G. experimented with ska and funk in some songs, but mostly kept it rockin', with a high energy live show that brought the punks, the skins and metalheads together in the pit. M.U.G. continued off and on for about ten years, playing their last show in 1996. They went through the scene's various ups and downs (violence at shows, lack of venues etc) and while no one band makes a scene, M.U.G. were definitley a major part of a time where bands,venues and zines were working together to make a stronger more unified scene.
In 2009, Mike M.U.G. compiled and released the Anthology CD, which brings together three live sessions and a 3-song demo. It's highly recommended for any fans of great punk and hardcore music and it's a real undiscovered slice of Hawaii music history. You'll find a link to purchase the CD below.
Live on KTUH, December 30th 1985
Buy the Anthology CD here
MP3's for sale here
M.U.G. Facebook
A more detailed history of M.U.G. can be found
here
Named after a maneating toad from Dungeons and Dragons, Tarrasque were a
thrash band that formed in the mid-80s and crossed over with fans of
both the Hawaii hardcore and metal scenes during their time together.
They recorded an absolutely crucial five song demo in 199,
totally under the influence of Slayer, Exodus and early Metallica with
it's headbanging riffs, double time beats and end of the neck shreddity, but I also hear a rough around the edges, NYHC feel to some the songs that begs
for circle pits and two-step moves.
