CH3 (Channel 3) announce The Bellwether – Record Store Day 2019 Release

CH3 (Channel 3) announce The Bellwether – Record Store Day 2019 Release

CH3 (Channel 3), those stalwart survivors of the early 1980’s So Ca punk scene, return with a surprise new five song EP. The 12″ 45 RPM colored vinyl from Hostage Records (HostageRecords.com) in stores Record Store Day 2019.

The 12″ vinyl The Bellwether hits the shelves April 13, 2019. Digital and CD are also available at all the usual sources.

The collection of songs showcases the band at the peak of their game, some 38 years after their debut EP on the legendary Posh Boy label. Hostage Records has packaged the record as an homage to that first release, with tribute label artwork mirroring the Posh Boy flag.

The Bellwether is a tight bright collection of four new songs that showcase the group’s melodic punk craft, as well as a cover of The Plimsouls’ How Long Will it Take.

The first track up, What You Need, is a 100 second hardcore blaster, echoing back to the eponymous 1981 EP’s Mannequin.
The EP is available on red vinyl as well as collectors editions in unique color swirls. The sleeve artwork features Toronto artist Rob Elliott’s torch monkey leaving a burning bridge in his wake, a theme that is echoed in the EP’s title track, The Bellwether.

This record also feature’s CH3’s first instrumental track, Mendiolas 1983. Those familiar with the L.A. hardcore days of the 1980’s will recognize this call out to the infamous Exploited/CH3/Youth Brigade riot at the ballroom of the same name.

Blackballed, the power punk pop single that kicks off side B, is a reminder of CH3’s ease of bridging the muscle of hardcore with the timeless melody of power pop. The video for the song (with the Spinal Tap tribute intro!) was filmed at Long Beach record store Third Eye Records.

The album closer How Long Will it Take is a fitting tribute to Los Angeles’ beloved The Plimsouls, who’s raucous live shows influenced the lads in CH3 back in the glory days of the 1980’s So Ca club scene.

Links
SoundCloud Link
Blackballed Video

Bio
Channel 3 was formed in 1980 by childhood friend Mike Magrann and Kimm Gardener. They met in the newborn suburban community of Cerritos, CA, innocent 8 year old lads who remain lifelong friends against a backdrop of ever changing cultural storms. They learned to play guitar together in junior high and witnessed the birth of punk rock in the heady Southern California scene of the early 80’s. They graduated from being obsessed fans to backyard party hacks and finally upon the stage themselves.

The Current lineup features longtime bassist Anthony Thompson and drummer Nick Manning.

Contemporaries of fellow So Cal punks Social Distortion, Bad Religion, T.S.O.L., Circle Jerks, etc., CH3 has been steadily touring the world since releasing their first eponymous EP on the influential Posh Boy label in 1981. The band continues touring the states this Spring and Summer with a European tour set for late Fall.

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