Useless ID

When the words "punk" and "Israel" are mentioned in the same sentence, people think one of two things: either it's a joke, or they could be the most political band since Anti-Flag. Neither is the case.

Useless I.D. is the exception to the rule. As a punk band raised on the unfairly-tough streets of Haifa, Israel, they reached out beyond the borders and found peace in the West Coast pop-punk sounds of MxPx, The Ataris, NOFX and others. Already gaining fans in Europe, the band was brought stateside to record their debut album by Kung Fu Records and Ataris front man Kris Roe, who would go on to produce their Kung Fu debut "Bad Story, Happy Ending."

As the tension of life in the Middle East grew heavier by the day, Useless I.D. found even more motivation to get out of Israel via touring. The peak of this escape came in 2002 as Useless I.D. was granted a spot on the entire length of the Warped Tour. Now younger fans finally got to witness what bands like The Vandals, The Ataris and Good Riddance knew all along: there is some goodness coming out of the Middle East, and it's in the form of a quality punk band who's sweet n' sincere lyrics and scathing melodies will attract all schools of punk rock.

"No Vacation From The World," the new album from Useless I.D., takes the patented So-Cal pop-punk sound, and brings in darker melodies, brighter harmonies, and even the occasional moog keyboard to lift the eyebrows of the jaded punker. Guitarist Ishay Berger explains: "I think the energy is the same as anything we did on our older records, but since we got bored with playing simple and catchy pop punk like we did for so many years, we kind of wanted to write a powerful heavy record and create different sounds that we wanted to hear more on punk records we like."

Useless I.D. also credits Tony Sly (No Use For A Name) for his contributions to the album. As tour mates on the 2002 Warped Tour, the band worked with Sly on the new songs. Sly helped with the arrangements of the songs, and even went as far as writing a new track for "No Vacation…."

As the future of Israel looks bleak, Useless I.D. will carry on against all odds, doing what they can in bringing a glimmer of good times to torn punkers around the globe. Produced by Angus Cooke (Nerf Herder, Bad Astronaut, The Ataris) at So-Cal recording haven Orange Whip Studios in Santa Barbara, "No Vacation From The World" shows that even in the face of terror, uplifting music can be found in places other than Celine Dion albums.