tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8130454809972510462024-03-05T13:06:52.880-05:00Artless NoncultureRamblings. Rock 'n Roll. Bad Taste.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-64202373748925075582016-03-06T18:20:00.001-05:002016-03-07T17:52:57.286-05:00News | Rachel Logic (Uncommon Logic, First Offense, Dropgun): R.I.P. 1979-2016<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Monday, February 29th, 2016, active member of the Akron punk rock scene, LGBTQ* activist, and loyal friend to many <b>Rachel Bishop</b> (AKA Rachel Logic) was involved in a fatal car accident. During her life, she made a huge impact on nearly everyone who knew her, and was an inspiration to so many due to her bravery, honesty, sense of humor, and big heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I met Rachel, everyone knew her by a different name. At the time, she was the bassist of the band <b>Dropgun</b>, who my band at the time, Dead City Dealers, had played a number of shows with. Though the two of us had never talked at any great length at that time, Dropgun had become one of my favorite punk bands in the area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then one day, in the Fall of 2009, I got a long, detailed MySpace message from a woman with the screen name "Rachel Dreadful", explaining that she was this person I had known the last couple of years, that she was transgender, she was going through transitioning, and wondered if I would like to do an interview with her for Artless Nonculture (2.0), in order to fully come out to the regional punk rock community, as well as to help answer everyone's questions, "all in one shot." After taking a minute to let this news sink in, I was eager to help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the years, Rachel became sort of an "FAQ" for transgender issues, not just for me, but to many of the people in her life. Not that that's all she was, mind you; Rachel had a huge amount of knowledge on geek culture and punk music, as well. She had a sharp, sarcastic wit, and a warm, caring personality. She was also very humble, and would probably not care much for any tribute such as this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When my girlfriend of 6 years passed away suddenly, back in 2014, Rachel Bishop was one of the first people to reach out to me, offering support in any way she could. Keep in mind, before this we were not close; there was a lot of mutual fondness and respect there, definitely, and we would bullshit on Facebook, but I would say we were more <i>fond acquaintances</i> rather than <i>good friends</i>. </span>And around the one-year anniversary of this loss of a loved one, Rachel actually took the time to drive to Cleveland from Akron to spend the afternoon with me. <span style="font-family: inherit;"> When I sent her a message thanking her afterwards, all she said was, "We all gotta take care of each other."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the last 2 years, we would periodically check in on each other via social media (me, struggling with depression and other issues related to the death of my partner, and her with her own moods and health issues. This would typically be in response to one of us seeing a Facebook post from the other).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOEaxv97zZCXc06-N2mJSLDICGZHA1XXvoOBK6jx5u_aVTQHwSDzabOfxRUtAlYLqsGpSs0ik7F3xWIYbCWf1Dz4D589Halj-7tYnjgGmN4pwznTiuL9vRpvSbi70Wd0qIUPY5gPoGkUm/s1600/rachel+bishop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVOEaxv97zZCXc06-N2mJSLDICGZHA1XXvoOBK6jx5u_aVTQHwSDzabOfxRUtAlYLqsGpSs0ik7F3xWIYbCWf1Dz4D589Halj-7tYnjgGmN4pwznTiuL9vRpvSbi70Wd0qIUPY5gPoGkUm/s320/rachel+bishop.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">We would always invite each other to come and hang out in each of our respective cities (we were only a county apart, after all), but something would always get in the way—typically money or car troubles. I really wish we had spent more time together now, because I truly believe we would have become good friends had we lived just a little closer to each other, or had fewer financial issues. Unfortunately, time gets away from all of us, and you never know when it's gonna be your last chance. I just feel really lucky that I got to know her at all while she was here.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a tribute, I'd like to republish the 2009 interview I conducted with her while she was transitioning. Maybe her story can help someone else who's going through a similar situation, or help quell any confusion about the entire subject for someone who just doesn't "get it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Interview with Rachel of
DROPGUN</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b>by Sam Sinister.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>ANC: Please state your
name, and what you do in which band.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>RD: My name is Rachel, and
I play bass in DROPGUN and maybe You Have Ten Seconds to Unfuck
Yourself, if we ever play again.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Now for anyone who is
confused, you're not a new member to either band, correct?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>No, I am not. I've been in
DROPGUN for three years. My legal name is John, that's the name I was
given at birth. I'm a transsexual, and Rachel is the name I go by,
and will legally be my name soon.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>That answers my next
question then... the legally changing your name thing.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I'm reading your mind.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Wanna explain the
difference between a transsexual and a transvestite?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Well, the term transgender
is a blanket term, covering transvestites/cross-dressers,
genderqueers, and transsexuals... and others. They all have one thing in
common: They mess with gender. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>A transvestite is a person who lives
as their birth gender, but get some sorta kick outta cross-dressing. <i>[The term "transvestite" has fallen out of usage in most circles within the trans community, as it is now seen as being archaic and, to some, offensive— much in the same way that "colored" and "negro" are within the black community today. -Ed.]</i> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Transsexuals are people whose bodies developed differently than their
brain.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Now, this is a new term to
me... What is genderqueer, and is that different from homosexual?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Yeah, it's just people who
screw with gender to the point that they completely break the binary
laws of male and female. Gender and sexuality are not related.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>So, how far along are you
into the transition? Are you taking hormones?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Yeah, I've been doing that
for a year-and-a-half or so. I've got a therapist. It's been
interesting, first trying to hide the changes, like wearing a coat on
stage while sweating. Second, not hiding the changes, like when my
friends look at my chest. It's funny. I take two pills every day, and
one shot in the leg every week. So it's a routine, but it's worth it.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>At least you have a sense
of humor about it. What's the reaction been like so far from your
friends/band? Your family?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>The band has been pretty
rad. Everyone reacted in their own way, but all positive. My friends
have been great; I haven't had a terrible reaction yet. I'm not
saying people 100% get me, or accept me, but it's been fine so far.
There's so much gender-bending in rock, I think I can get away with
it a little more than, say, an accountant. (laughs)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>How long before you're
done with the hormone treatments, or do you never stop with them?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I'll always be taking
estrogen, but I won't have to block my testosterone once I lose some
of the male equipment.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>When will that be?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>When I raise the money.
Insurance normally won't cover trans health issues in the USA, so the
brunt of the bill is on me and my family. It's not uncommon for trans
people to drop 40k during transition. A lot go bankrupt, blow through
savings, and sell everything that's not crucial to life. If I had the
cash I'd be done by now. If I hadn't of sold my soul to the devil for
rock n' roll I'd be cashing that in.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>(Laughs) This is gonna be
an in-depth and complicated interview...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Maybe you'll win an award.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>(Laughs) Doubtful.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Well, if it makes you feel
better, the Cavs are up by 27!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Not a basketball fan
(laughs), sorry... or any sports for that matter.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>If you live in Akron you
gotta like the Cavs, it's the rules.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>So, when did you first
realize that you were... uh, for lack of a better word, different?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>From the time I was able
to notice the difference between boys and girls. I knew if I tried to
hang with the girls I'd get messed with, so I hung out with the guys
and envied the girls from afar. It was weird when everyone was
growing up, I didn't understand why I was becoming more boyish.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Well, then later in life,
I'm sure it's easier to hang out with mixed company, though...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Sure, and I didn't hate
being a guy, it just wasn't the perfect fit. When I was growing up, I
latched on to punk rock, because at least then I could control why I
was an outcast. I know other trans people latch on to things like
sci-fi, and comics, and stuff like that. In fact, there was a band
called Label the Traitor that were huge when one of their members
came out as a trans person. So I know there has to be more of us out
there. If I could reach out to just one punk still in the closet,
then they'd reach out to one, and so on. That's one reason that I'm
open with being trans, and not trying to go stealth.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>One of the early New York
punk frontmen, Wayne County, later became Jayne County...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>That's right! Very early
on, too. How punk rock is that?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>I guess very... I mean, if
punk is being "real" and saying, "Fuck you, this is me
and you can deal with it or get out of my way," then I'd say
you're pretty damn punk rock.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Bobby Steele of the Undead
is friends with Jayne and he's shared a few stories online (laughs).</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Okay so, you mentioned
that sexuality and gender are completely unrelated. What exactly is
your sexual orientation? I mean, since "gay" and "straight"
are usually determined by whatever gender you happen to be...</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Well, as a guy I'm
straight, and as a girl I'm lesbian. It's a weird line to cross.
That's an issue some gay people have with trans people. Some don't
like the switching ability.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Would you be lesbian right
now, or would that happen once the transition is complete?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I think of myself as a
lesbian right now, plus it makes sex hotter (laughs).</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>You're married, right?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>June 1st, 2010 is the big
day. It's a Tuesday, because nothing is ever normal with me.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>How did she take it? Was
this something she's been aware of all along, or did you sorta spring
it on her?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>She was amazing, it
doesn't hurt that she's bi. All of her family has been really nice
about it too. I will marry her as a guy, however, as there is no gay
marriage in Ohio (yet).</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Ah, that brings up an
interesting point. Once you're married, and then you "officially"
become a woman, can they sort of revoke the marriage? In a legal
sense, I mean?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>In Ohio, where I live, I
can't change my gender on my birth certificate, so my marriage will
not be voided. It's really sad, some people lose their marriage after
years together.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Sounds complicated.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>No kidding.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>But you'll have a new
social security number once you legally change your name, right?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>(Very long pause) ...I
think you win a prize for stumping me. I have no idea.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Yes! Free DROPGUN t-shirt?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>(Laughs)</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>I'm serious.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Well, first we gotta make
'em.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Oh, okay.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>We're a lazy band.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Umm... MP3's emailed to me
that aren't on Devil Music?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>It's all up on MySpace
right now, even that Groovie Ghoulies cover we did.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Yeah, you can't download
off MySpace anymore.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>MySpace pisses me off more
and more everyday, but I'm hooked.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>I have "Alone"
and "Black Whip". I downloaded those before all the changes
to the player took effect...</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>I can't wait to get this
album out, it's going to shock people a little. We have five or so
songs being worked on right now. It's a real change from where the
band started.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>How so?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>DROPGUN started off as a
cover band, mostly Oi! and hardcore stuff. Then came Shittin' n'
Gettin', and that was very rock and very punk with hard yelling
vocals, and then Devil Music added a ton of guitar solos and calmed
down a bit. The new one has a hint of surf in it, but in a rock n'
roll kinda way. Sounds like nose bleeds and hooker spit.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Surf </i>is<i> rock 'n roll!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>True.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>And I don't think Devil
Music was very tame, by the way... Pretty hard rockin' stuff.</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Yeah, those guys really
made that one work.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>What kinds of covers did
you guys play in the beginning?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Well, I wasn't in the band
then, but it was a lot of early punk, hardcore, and Oi!. On any given
night you could have heard anything from "Crucified" to
"Borstal Breakout". Now we stick to the Dead Boys, and more
rock n' rollish punk.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Electric Frankenstein, New
Bomb Turks, stuff like that...</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Yeah, but no covers of
bands who are still around. Unless it's a special kinda deal, like
the Misfits for Halloween...</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Well, if you play the
Glenn-era stuff, that band definitely isn't still around!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Yeah, no kidding. I did go
see Danzig when he brought Doyle with him to do a classic Misfits
set, it was amazing.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Anything else in the works
for DROPGUN besides the album?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Nope, we're just doing
that right now. Billy and Paul have been writing songs left and
right. We just gotta get 'em recorded and fire 'em at ya.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><i>Any last words for our 3
or 4 readers?</i></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>Yes. If you are
questioning your gender or sexuality, contact your local PFLAG.
Educate yourself. Also -Rock N' Roll.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>- 4/26/2009 09:02:00 PM</b></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-10880421890189607102016-03-06T16:29:00.001-05:002016-03-06T16:29:40.537-05:00Reviews | Brutality and Bloodshed for All: The Rockabilly vibe of GG Allin and the Murder Junkies<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>By Mondo Carnage</b></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70HrvFJiEDDxBNur96nBS_RmynWkejklyJZJvDicqcsLBtypgNPmrf1l-LY70CwTsyptsXVl65YOB3BzhaHzFfF9dxYbQ3OM4A1AFHug8Un698X6GchsTgH-LvRgQYTrJkD6yjZNy9JkO/s1600/Brutality_and_Bloodshed_for_All_%2528GG_Allin_album_-_cover_art%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70HrvFJiEDDxBNur96nBS_RmynWkejklyJZJvDicqcsLBtypgNPmrf1l-LY70CwTsyptsXVl65YOB3BzhaHzFfF9dxYbQ3OM4A1AFHug8Un698X6GchsTgH-LvRgQYTrJkD6yjZNy9JkO/s400/Brutality_and_Bloodshed_for_All_%2528GG_Allin_album_-_cover_art%2529.jpg" /></a>When someone mentions GG Allin, or even the Murder Junkies, one does not think of the distinct musical sound they have. Most people think of GG and the band's antics, such as GG rolling in his own feces, urinating on the audience, fist fighting with the audience, and beating himself to a bloody pulp; or the band's naked drummer, Dino, who is also known for some strange behavior as well (As a matter of fact, I remember a story that the editor of this magazine told me, about how his own band played a show with the Murder Junkies on the bill. Pretty much, the venue owner's wife was scolding Dino for trying to get naked, so he shoved a drum stick up his ass and threw it at a wall, where it stuck due to the feces covering the drumstick).<br />
<br />
However, this article is not about all that. It's about the sound structure of The Murder Junkies' debut album, <i>Brutality and Bloodshed for All</i>.<br />
<br />
Since this month's issue was originally supposed to be about punk rock's connection to '60s garage rock and '50s rockabilly and rock 'n roll, I figured I'd use this album as prime example. Ignoring GG's lyrics and vocals (which are great in their own right, but do not show the rockabilly influence of the music), we're going to look at Bill Weber's guitar work. <br />
<br />
On this album, right of the bat you're treated to the blasphemous song “Highest Power” which has some weird rockabilly guitar work during the verse. Same goes with the second song, “Kill Thy Father, Rape Thy Mother”, again with a weird '50s rock sound. The next song, "Anal Cunt", however, takes from a '70s and '80s hard rock sound, but then comes the song "Raw, Brutal, Rough, and Bloody", which has a very crude '60s garage rock structure to the main riff. <br />
<br />
Then come the straight up punk songs, “Shoot, Knife, Strangle, Beat and Crucify” and “I Kill Everything I Fuck”. Although being almost <i>purely </i>typical punk songs, they have some stereotypical riffs and solos that have been used in rock 'n roll since the '50s, especially during the chorus and solo of "I Kill...".<br />
<br />
After that, a similar formula of rockabilly riffs continue with “Shove That Warrant Up Your Ass”, and then even <i>more </i>riffs and fills that send a tribute to the rock 'n roll of the '50s with “My Sadistic Killing Spree”. Then, back to the typical-punk-sounding “I'll Slice Yer Fucking Throat”, and the heavy metal-sounding “Terror in America”.<br />
<br />
Then the song “Fuck Off, We Murder” comes on, and the solo is straight out of '50s rock 'n roll, and it's totally awesome and ends in just total punk rock rage. After that, in a similar rockabilly/punk rock mishmash, we have the songs “Take Aim and Fire” ,“Bastard Son of a Loaded Gun”, and “Legalize Murder”. Finally, we have the album's title song, which pretty much sums up the sound of the overall album: a weird combo of punk, rockabilly, death metal, and pure carnage. A musical masterpiece.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-21594010892801211872016-03-06T15:54:00.000-05:002016-03-06T16:04:59.057-05:00Columns | Cellar Dwellers of the Underground, an Introduction.<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">by Mike Original</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQDjcTXf3lANk54LdCMgDI_WB9H1bV8FH0dzU9jc-ioIY5dq_kVhyphenhyphennNtVSvnbTLmSq_wFwnGM4VovkbWS78iND2FlV7L74eZtdLlWz2KNCOylm0tMxgvof-i-Yr7PCdWBiQEpwnAWeo_Z/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQDjcTXf3lANk54LdCMgDI_WB9H1bV8FH0dzU9jc-ioIY5dq_kVhyphenhyphennNtVSvnbTLmSq_wFwnGM4VovkbWS78iND2FlV7L74eZtdLlWz2KNCOylm0tMxgvof-i-Yr7PCdWBiQEpwnAWeo_Z/s400/download.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">One thing that could describe me (don’t worry, I won’t make this seem like some sort of weird personal ad) is that I am, in many ways, nostalgic. When I talk to people I usually refer to some old movie, a cartoon, the unfortunately dead Swedish comedian Micke Dubois, or a heavy metal record from the glorious days of the '80s. I got all my old Garbage Pail Kids stickers in a drawer at home, and was excited like a kid at Christmas when I bought the book a month ago with the GPK stickers art in it. Unfortunately, it didn’t include that gum that the old sticker bags did, that lost its taste before it touched your teeth. I buy DVDs with old cartoons I watched when I grew up, and sit there smiling and feeling a warm familiar feeling wash over me every time. I think I might have cried a little when I got the Incredible Hulk cartoon on DVD. Loads of stuff like this has found its way into my movie collection.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are a lot of things that throw me back in time to when I was a kid; it’s both a good and bad feeling, I guess. Nostalgia does that to you, but hopefully you have more fond memories than bad ones.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sometimes think that people these days won’t have the same emotional attachment to things when they grow older because everything is so accessible. A whole collection by an artist, a complete TV-series, or all the movies by a certain actor is a click away, 24/7. People don’t slow down and really <i>enjoy </i>anymore, or get the thrill of really looking for something, at least that’s the feeling I get (<b>damn </b>I felt old writing that, but it’s true). I collect records and movies, and I feel I got a connection to almost every one of those things, and I love the feeling I get when I finally get my hands on something I’ve looked for a long time. There's an H100s 7” on red vinyl that haunted me for years, but I got it now and it feels goooood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">People often consider it a weird thing, and even "fanatical," that I got several different copies of the same record or bought all different versions of <i>Night Of The Living Dead</i>, for example. I still haven’t felt that same feeling for a movie I’ve downloaded, an mp3 record, or a Spotify link. I download things, but I, like many others, tend to rush through the downloads and I don’t let it stick to me like when I get a physical record or movie in my hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZenmGnxQpIjmyglC_kCbmHuswlpCfapBDHbmwk0HxYDemRojpfNMceiTKyWk6fjYa301GBGaieRmkW1BYLq9nwGqZKG5P9L8LLS2QLXO9s7eW6y-dib-Thgq_scEqI60lhs2S9aEzS9Y/s1600/1280px-Star_Wars_Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZenmGnxQpIjmyglC_kCbmHuswlpCfapBDHbmwk0HxYDemRojpfNMceiTKyWk6fjYa301GBGaieRmkW1BYLq9nwGqZKG5P9L8LLS2QLXO9s7eW6y-dib-Thgq_scEqI60lhs2S9aEzS9Y/s320/1280px-Star_Wars_Logo.png" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can pinpoint some bands down to the day I first heard them, and can talk for hours about some of the movies. Like <i>Star Wars</i>. Every time I watch the originals (episodes 1-3 can suck it), I think about how my whole family sat around the TV back in, like, '84 or something like that. My life changed there, I fell in love with movies and haven’t looked back since. I watch and talk about movies everyday, and I write reviews on two different homepages online. The fanatical interest in movies, and the urge to collect movies was born right there, with the kid version of me sitting on the floor watching <i>Star Wars: A New Hope</i> with my family. A year or so later, my mom and dad bought me an Alice Cooper record, and in '86 my grandfather bought me the <i>Somewhere In Time </i>album by Iron Maiden. These events profoundly changed me forever and helped shape who I was and still am. I don’t trust people who can’t name a life-changing record, book, or movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alongside these things, I also grew up reading comics. I was never really into books all that much growing up. I like pictures, so comics were right up my alley. <i>Tintin</i>, <i>Asterix</i>, <i>Lucky Luke</i>, <i>Masters Of The Universe</i>, the Swedish comic <i>Bamse</i>, <i>MAD</i> magazine, Don Martin, and the like was well-read and also served as inspiration for my drawings. I learned the basics of drawing using these comics, and they kept feeding my wild imagination, and still do to this day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When working on my own comic, I try to include some elements of those old comics that helped me a lot when I was growing up. Getting closer and closer to turning 40 (I got a few years left, luckily), people tend to think I’m childish reading comics, watching cartoons, and drawing these silly pictures. I have no problem with that, because in <i>my </i>world, being childish isn’t all that bad. My parents always encouraged me in my strange pursuits and still do to this day, so I guess the people closest to me saw my interests and nostalgia as something positive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Like I said in the beginning, nostalgia can also have a darker side, and there's been many a time I’ve been shedding a tear or two over the fact that times change and the years go by, and working with my comic has brought me to those dark places many times. With this column, I hope to dive head first into the brighter side of nostalgia with movies, music, and just ranting on about things. I might end up on the darker ends from time to time as well, because as a person I tend to focus on that too much and I struggle with depression.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Being nostalgic is also about thinking back and trying to relive happier days. Watching a movie you saw as a kid can take you back, and by keeping those interests, acting silly, drawing, reading comics, and not actually caring one bit what “a person your age” should be doing, I think you will be a happier person. Even when I’m at my lowest I can always pat myself on the back and hear that little kid with the crooked teeth tell me that he’s kind of proud of me for still, even at a grown up age, comfortably fat, baldheaded, and a "mad at the world" kinda guy, being into comics, eagerly learning stuff about movies, getting all excited about buying records and movies, and still drawing or painting something everyday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This first entry to my column may have gotten sidetracked, but since it will deal a lot with nostalgic movies and things from the '80s, it might still hold together with my original intent for this column. Hope I haven’t scared anyone away... I can ensure you I will get sillier and the texts will be more fun most of the time. Got some fun subjects to sink my teeth into planned for the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time, thanks for reading. True Originals forever!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjEgOmaCymKLbXPRWBVEw3Q5gQE_5Wx5jtcEAgQz16LPEfFQ-KlIBq-3uiFyzjYg4zE_BTHhI-Kn33IzyIi2b6AN-gGm5NyPNijENMgWQH9OaXRzvri955hrqwFD5hGT9F-zdiKA9pZsk/s1600/Artless2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjEgOmaCymKLbXPRWBVEw3Q5gQE_5Wx5jtcEAgQz16LPEfFQ-KlIBq-3uiFyzjYg4zE_BTHhI-Kn33IzyIi2b6AN-gGm5NyPNijENMgWQH9OaXRzvri955hrqwFD5hGT9F-zdiKA9pZsk/s320/Artless2.jpg" width="264" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: white;">“The creative adult is the child who survived.”—<span style="line-height: 16.5455px;">Ursula K. Le Guin</span></b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-26361739483012561502016-03-05T15:22:00.002-05:002016-03-08T13:03:23.625-05:00News | Parma Mayoral Candidate Warns About Refugee Threat<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">by D.X. Ferris, Nick Wolff, and the Associated Press [sic]</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUo8HjZG1Hw9FFuqg6X-ZISHulsCFcwm1lfeML6nUNur2j1qkT7rHXAMYRBXzWxq1_x_uihNBURja9vJSuY4UBL1rV1OhCc0TigKHHZ7ni-yNeELeSxalJ5K4W4_m24TFGMshec2v8EhQ/s1600/img_4117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUo8HjZG1Hw9FFuqg6X-ZISHulsCFcwm1lfeML6nUNur2j1qkT7rHXAMYRBXzWxq1_x_uihNBURja9vJSuY4UBL1rV1OhCc0TigKHHZ7ni-yNeELeSxalJ5K4W4_m24TFGMshec2v8EhQ/s320/img_4117.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Parma politician <b>Nick Wolff</b> warned about a looming Cleveland-area crisis in a speech during March’s mayoral primaries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I want to talk about a serious issue,” said Wolff. “Refugees.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff delivered the speech at the bar in Parma Heights’ Yorktown Lanes bowling alley. After a manager interrupted and threw him out, he later posted the text on Facebook.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff is one of 38 locals running for mayor of Parma following the <a href="http://noisey.vice.com/blog/rip-nunslaughter-jim-sadist-konya" target="_blank">premature passing</a> of <b>James “Jim” Konya</b>. Wolff warned of an imminent invasion by colorful outlanders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">January 16, Lakewood dive bar, the <b>Spitfire Saloon</b>, <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/11/cleveland_punk_dive_bar_spitfi.html" target="_blank">closed</a>. For nearly a decade, the tavern had provided hospitable shelter, live music, and cheap Pabst products for area punks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“When the Spitfire a closed its doors,” said Wolff, “I was scrolling through posts by a bunch of mohawkio’ed, 30-somethings crammed into a corner, throwing PBR, and having a good time. And I was hit with a disturbing thought: ‘Where will they go?’”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff, a 37-year-old internet radio talk-show host, is the capo de regime of the political party <b>N.W.O Wolffpack</b>. Previously, the longtime community activist organized the short-lived Musicians' <b>Local 00</b> union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“For the last nine years, the Spitfire had been like a roach motel, collecting all the undesirables and miscreants in a sticky paste of PBR, puke, and punk rock,” said Wolff. “It was the plug that kept the sewage out of the Cleveland area's fine establishments.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff’s punk-rock cred includes musical group the Eviction Party, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzTRqfaffcE" target="_blank">Pride of Ohio</a>, the Lottery League project <a href="http://www.lotteryleague.org/2016-lottery-league-bands/band-23/" target="_blank">Can’t Won’t Mustn’t</a>, and his self-titled band, which wrote a swell song about the socio-politically oriented HBO series <i>The Wire</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“An alarming number of these refugees are headed to a bar near you,” warned Wolff. “It could be the Foundry. It could be the Happy Dog. It could even be your favorite neighborhood dive. Now That's Class is already bursting with even <i>worse </i>people.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff’s words did not fall on deaf ears. The Facebook version of the rant attracted nearly 50 likes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Before you welcome these refugees, remember,” warned Wolff’s Facebook friend <b>Donald Trump</b>. “They may LOOK alternative, but many of them have radical conservative agendas. I say we impose a moratorium on new punk-rockers until we can find out what's really going on.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff’s incendiary rhetoric provoked more heated responses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“I suspect that many of these self-declared ‘anarchists’ are really law-abiding citizens,” read one reply. “Hearings must be held.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The frontman argued that his artistic success and temperament made him far better suited to judge people than the other candidates, who he called “politically correct social-media keyboard warriors.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Great, you have a lip ring,” said Wolff. “But it doesn’t matter how you wear your hair. It’s what’s inside your head.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff later returned to the bowling alley and delivered a monologue to a crowd of karaoke-night regulars. He took the microphone purportedly to sing “Don’t Stop Believing”, but instead delivered a monologue as the track played in the background. Wolff proposed a strict screening test to weed out people who are internally plain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“They may be jaundiced, and they may be wearing tattered denim jackets adorned with dozens of patches,” said Wolff. “But many of them have rejected traditional values, only to adopt a new orthodoxy of restrictive dress codes and moral prescriptions.”</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbGinJj98nBW3XOghaDjdB1lgenQzkWIwB0s4FgxxutnD9hZIvVQHQcf2V3ma2MmVRT906ZEN-asRvOQIviVSVtVAPMP12N2u9n7frIT5eVDkspwtGSSJ5avlDaUG1u0gzZKqpKg57-Mq/s1600/12651312_10153790813328260_2518013055545760280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbGinJj98nBW3XOghaDjdB1lgenQzkWIwB0s4FgxxutnD9hZIvVQHQcf2V3ma2MmVRT906ZEN-asRvOQIviVSVtVAPMP12N2u9n7frIT5eVDkspwtGSSJ5avlDaUG1u0gzZKqpKg57-Mq/s320/12651312_10153790813328260_2518013055545760280_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The N.W.O. Wolffpack’s primary platform is the controversial Spitfire Refugee Program. The initiative would grant drink discounts and preferential service to “true punks” while instituting high cover charges for “fashion-oriented poseurs” who enjoy pop-punk, attend the Warped Tour and crowd Social Distortion concerts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wolff also continued to criticize the collective Cleveland punk scene, citing poorly attended Eviction Party shows and a recent Face Value reunion that only drew a small crowd. He questioned West Side punks’ espoused beliefs in contrast to their spending habits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"I say they prove that they're punk," stated Wolff. "How are they proving it? Many of these eccentric characters might even be Christian."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The growing “Keep Parma Punk” movement advocates a test for unfamiliar pierced faces when they appear at local watering holes. The Wolffpack’s “Triple A” statement of values promotes “action, attitude, and authenticity.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“If they’re so punk-rock, are they willing to spit on a Bible?” said Wolff. “Will they break a window? Maybe these so-called punk-rock girls will kiss another woman in exchange for a free shot of Jäger. And maybe the men will speak up in favor of gay rights. But will they participate in a truly deviant sexual act? I say they put their money — and their mouths, and their votes — where their mouth is. People of Parma, you have a right to know who you’re drinking with.”</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-53954409781596639492016-03-05T14:35:00.000-05:002016-03-05T14:35:06.165-05:00Columns | What is Your Conceptual Continuity?<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>by James Turner</b></span><br />
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Fucking <b>do not</b> and <b>will not</b> <b><i>ever </i></b>understand this love for insincere bands that are only there as a "so-bad-it's-good" joke for anything more than a personal thing amongst (and for) friends.<br />
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It's not that I don't get behind stuff that was intentionally humorous when it comes to performing acts, but <b>for fuck's sake</b>, it's <i>not </i>a new idea and people have done it before—<br />
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Only <i>those people </i>also happened to leave us with music people still actually <i>enjoy</i>, without having to hide behind the forced detachment of "irony," or the pretentiousness of being "avant-garde"!<br />
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Although they, too, were praised by the pretentious, mainstream rock had <b>Frank Zappa</b> and <b>Devo </b>(although they were just incorporating humor into amazing music, not just having a laugh), hardcore had <b>Nig Heist</b>, post-punk had the <b>Butthole Surfers</b>, alt-rock had <b>They Might Be Giants</b>...<br />
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The difference was, we were also still left with music you could get behind, and not have to <i>challenge </i>yourself to enjoy just to keep up with the people around you; music that was memorable, and enjoyed for many years later, not just laughed at (not <i>with</i>) by anyone who wasn't in on the joke.<br />
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Hearing modern acts that produce this stuff, for me, feels like trying to breathe oatmeal, to the point where nearly <i>any </i>form of sincere music feels like the relief of an emergency tracheotomy. What's so difficult about "taking the piss" <i>and </i>giving something back of non-fleeting value? <br />
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The opposite of this is what's known as "outsider music": stuff that is arguably <i>terrible </i>or <i>genius</i>, depending on your viewpoint, but is nearly completely self-unaware. It's not <i>manufactured </i>irony, it's sincere, no matter how horrible it may (or may not) be.<br />
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If you're unfamiliar, refer to <b>Wild Man Fischer</b>, the manic-depressive schizophrenic (I believe that's his actual diagnosis), produced by Frank Zappa:<br />
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This other shit I'm talking about? Think of the mock-jazzy intro part to "Bitchin' Camaro" by <b>the Dead Milkmen</b>.<br />
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<i>Now</i>, imagine someone got the idea that <i>that </i>should be an entire band-concept, or an album's worth of material.<br />
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Anyway, <b><a href="http://artlessnonculturewebzine.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html">bring your scorn</a></b> if you're feeling butthurt at all about what I said, but I'll warn you: It will be a headed-nowhere conversation. I prefer to be challenged, and either feel stronger about my position or open to seeing a new perspective that I couldn't consider without the help of another.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-59339688818209838422016-03-05T14:34:00.002-05:002016-03-05T14:34:44.797-05:00Columns | Night of the Living Dead: Human Nature at Its Truest.<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">The swinging '60s. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">What comes to mind when you think about the 1960s? Is it the social changes that happened all over the world, or is it the rise of the hippies? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Maybe it’s all the groovy tunes, maaan or is it the first trip to the moon (if you believe in that, that is)? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Whenever someone starts talking about revolutionary things and the '60s, only one thing comes to mind for me, and that is <i>Night Of The Living Dead</i> by George A. Romero. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">To talk about revolution and not mention that movie is a <i>crime</i>, in my book. It changed the face of horror for all time to come, basically. I always enjoy seeing something that so profoundly changed the path of something, whether it is a record, a book, or—in this case—a movie. Sure, there were movies with zombies before <i>NOTLD</i>, but <i>never </i>had they been so scary, and Romero added to the creature what we know as a zombie today, the flesh eating, mindless hunk of dead flesh walking around. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">What Hitchcock had done for the thriller genre with Psycho in 1960, Romero did for horror in 1968, and both movies are such genre-defining films. I remember seeing <i>NOTLD </i>in my early teens for the first time, and I liked it. I rewatched it many times, and the more I saw it the more depth I saw in it, things that I hadn’t noticed the first time around. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The politics behind the movie that I didn’t notice when I was younger became more clear as I grew older, and nowadays I can rave for hours about how, in it’s own way, it mirrored what was happening in the world, and how it (in some warped way) showed the human mind when faced with danger and extreme situations. I watch <i>NOTLD </i>several times a year, and I never grow tired of it. It gets to me every time. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">One of the many amazing things with the movie is the D.I.Y-spirit that flows through every minute and every second of it. Hearing Romero talk about how he and his friends gathered up some money to make this little horror movie, how they shot the movie by the house, no running water so they had to take baths in a little stream out back, and have their friends play parts in the movie is extremely inspiring and is also something that shows in the movie, how dedicated to this they were, and how genuine it feels. Guerrilla film-making, he calls it, and it changed the movie world by being such an uncompromising movie. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">The movie also looks amazing, has a good score, and the violence… <i>oh </i>the violence. It’s raw, mean, and, at the same time, so mechanical. It is <i>unnerving, </i>and I think the Romero-style zombies are a pretty scary thought if they somehow came true. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">It’s just so perfect in all its ruthlessness. Zombies don’t care, and they symbolize us as humans as we just stroll along, brain dead, not caring as long as we just eat away at the world. </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Like the doctor in Dawn Of The Dead said, they are "pure, motorized instinct." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">One of the things that didn’t occur to me when I was younger is the fact that it’s an African-American who plays the lead role, and how much of an upset this was back in the day. It was pretty much unheard of before <i>NOTLD</i>, and what is so beautiful is that Romero picked Duane Jones because he was a nice guy, a good actor, and, most importantly, not a lesser human being in any way, which many people at the time grew up thinking. Unfortunately, Duane Jones suffered greatly from the racism in society, and Karl Hardman (who plays Harry Cooper in the movie) says Jones received a rotten deal in life due to the racial tensions of the time. Romero went against societies “rule” of the day, and he did it in the best way possible: by showing that in circumstances like the one depicted, you will meet people from all walks of life, of all skin colours, genders, sexualities, and everything else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The movie is about group dynamics, and peoples inability to set aside differences—even under an extremely dangerous threat knocking on your door. Romero is a master at making horror where the “monster” isn’t necessarily the most dangerous threat against you, it's <i>other people</i> you should <i>really </i>worry about. I’ve heard people say, when they talk about <i>The Walking Dead,</i> that the biggest threat is at most times other people, and that is pure Romero right there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Whenever I hear an interview with Romero, it strikes me how humble he is. The man defined a genre, and basically created a new movie-monster, one which has survived and once again made its way back, sinking its teeth into all those "fast zombies," and throwing them clear to make way for that slow-moving horde of the dead. He created this, and is in no way bragging about it, he’s just happy that people likes his movies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Everything comes back to <i style="font-weight: normal;">NOTLD</i>—<b>all </b>zombie movies are related to it. Not only is it is the <i style="font-weight: normal;">first </i>one, it's also the most important one. I own a copy of each version of it, and I can watch it over and over again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I know most people value the music and the politics of the 1960’s as the biggest achievement of that decade, but to me <i>Night Of The Living Dead</i> and George Romero will always be the top of the line. It shows human nature at its truest, and it’s not a pretty sight. But <i>damn, </i>does it make a good movie.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB">Thank you, George. You are the master.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnv3jMJk6JxXnVeNxIAZuJvzrAfn7dG0bZTQoovlvCEGmH2TKCBc2-Xrt5QegrFT5e3a4vR4WyGLKiYyGVGDN-fjO6QxBboTyIa3yiOBWHGGeOFPa4FlbqJds-NK7VcE8Y-8p49YPtyXV1/s1600/mike+original+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 12.8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnv3jMJk6JxXnVeNxIAZuJvzrAfn7dG0bZTQoovlvCEGmH2TKCBc2-Xrt5QegrFT5e3a4vR4WyGLKiYyGVGDN-fjO6QxBboTyIa3yiOBWHGGeOFPa4FlbqJds-NK7VcE8Y-8p49YPtyXV1/s200/mike+original+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><i><span lang="EN-GB">Mike is a True Original. He hails from Sweden and has a formidable collection of comics, movies, records, and key chains. His favorite things to cram into his face are tacos, pie, and vegetarian sushi, and his favorite beverages are </span>Pepsi Max, Lilt, and Julmust. When he's not watching movies, drawing, or writing, you might catch him jamming to DEVO, Integrity, and Funeral Mist. And if that wasn't enough info already, he also enjoys hockey, junk culture and art. Shit!</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-69699401517533342202016-03-05T14:34:00.001-05:002016-03-05T14:44:28.567-05:00Columns | JONNY BIPOLAR: 3 of the Strangest Bands I Listen to... And You Should Too!<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Jonny Bipolar</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS94gfdw7kfe26eBpgEQOMxM2MX2JwNO4ia0-E1cOQt0hTHhfCIXyN_ngSoEq1XCnsM-hBVczburIYM7npgXOgFEOpUbxIrYNlQHaLLBIUXGKkxatxwvKx7-tDMPXLqgKz4Msrvj2sjIc/s1600/ButtholeSurfersLogo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQS94gfdw7kfe26eBpgEQOMxM2MX2JwNO4ia0-E1cOQt0hTHhfCIXyN_ngSoEq1XCnsM-hBVczburIYM7npgXOgFEOpUbxIrYNlQHaLLBIUXGKkxatxwvKx7-tDMPXLqgKz4Msrvj2sjIc/s320/ButtholeSurfersLogo.gif" width="312" /></a><b>THE BUTTHOLE SURFERS</b><br />
<br />
Punk. Metal. Country. Psychedelia. Noise. Electronica.<br />
<br />
They all meet in a hole-in-a-wall bar in the middle of nowhere. They shit talk the bartender, smack the waitresses' asses, drink Jack and Cokes all night, probably doing various drugs. The cops get called and they end up in a holding cell overnight.<br />
<br />
That is The Butthole Surfers.<br />
<br />
The first time I ever heard of them was on the program 120 Minutes, and the song was "Who Was In My Room Last Night?" (From the album <i>Independent Worm Saloon</i>). It was a blistering mess of heavy metal and punk rock (well, what <i>I </i>knew of punk rock in 1993). My friend had a few cassettes of them (yes, I'm 34 and know the joys of cassette tapes), and I was hooked. <br />
<br />
Weird samples, noise collages, tape loops, two drummers, breaking the traditional sound structure. I was locked in and a fan since. They were bizarre, but once you thought you had them figured out, they threw you another curve ball. <br />
<br />
Many people only know of them from the 1996 hit "Pepper", but they were much more than that. This Texan band was a crazy cacophony of chaotic sound and worth really checking out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Recommended albums:</b><br />
<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcgkXighasM" target="_blank">Independent Worm Saloon</a></i> (1993, Capitol Records) | <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tWsBw3lB64" target="_blank">Locust Abortion Technician</a></i> (1987, Touch & Go)<br />
<br />
<b>Extended listening:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Ah65YqFkU" target="_blank">"The Hurdy Gurdy Man"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE8tg3hONzQ" target="_blank">"Dust Devil"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG56PPrNf3w" target="_blank">"Goofy's Concern"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFXuZF-uC30" target="_blank">"I Saw an X-Ray of a Girl Passing Gas"</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>ATARI TEENAGE RIOT</b><br />
<br />
What, punk rock doesn't have to consist only of <i>guitar</i>? It seemed like a crazy concept when I first heard of this band in 1998, but this band not only turned a form of music on its heels, it shattered preconceived notions of what was still left uncovered.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh64DmCebpMQGNH0nWIm-Qf_fvsF7kd-lciw2dXj3hbBYq3kHhziDtZ21s3wjhvtZ76qoO21lxSrz0Xj-Oh0Qdei8CwAe0tlX935LAHEQBWSv6Uw6u87XcNZOv2C2ljOIo4GESdIVvZ0U/s1600/atr.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh64DmCebpMQGNH0nWIm-Qf_fvsF7kd-lciw2dXj3hbBYq3kHhziDtZ21s3wjhvtZ76qoO21lxSrz0Xj-Oh0Qdei8CwAe0tlX935LAHEQBWSv6Uw6u87XcNZOv2C2ljOIo4GESdIVvZ0U/s400/atr.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a>"They were a band that sounded the way you always wanted The Prodigy to sound," is what one NME writer said. Instead of four chords and snotty lyrics, ATR came crashing through with synthesizers, computers, samplers, and other electronic delights and ushered in some of the most pissed off and politics lyrics I'd ever heard, with a sonic backdrop like a mosh pit-fueled crime scene.<br />
<br />
Song like "No Remorse (I Wanna Die)", "By Any Means Necessary", "Destroy 2000 Years of Culture", "Activate", "Start the Riot", and "Deutschland (Has Gotta Die!)" turned punk rock into the frenzied, unpretty, angry mess it needed to me.<br />
<br />
'Digital Hardcore' was for the new millennium, and these Krauts (Alec Empire, Carl Crack, Hanin Elias, and Nico Endo) made me excited about punk again, when everything had become bland and safe. They didn't give a <i>fuck</i> about playing it safe, and helped a generation change the way they looked at the scene.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Albums to check out:</b><br />
<i><a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/47LlU900KmFYQDWZ7xxnqJ?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open" target="_blank">Burn, Berlin, Burn</a></i> (Compilation 1996, Grand Royal) | <i><a href="https://play.spotify.com/album/0nHp1IQVIHqaXB99fF1nOZ?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open" target="_blank">60 Second Wipeout</a></i> (1999, Digital Hardcore Recordings)<br />
<br />
<b>Extended listening:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4DOLWSiGQ" target="_blank">"Start the Riot"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzvRShWU8No" target="_blank">"Sick to Death"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bivsP_h6l0s" target="_blank">"Destroy 2000 Years of Culture"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvY5U1eU6zA" target="_blank">"P.R.E.S.S."</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRItLsy-nv8wmpGgkQKoL6anzpJZDyDcjyOTEyd1pgt_MU6WMDKZjURH0_aPzlflESnW7gR2FLvkJDXAIzCtxjwfc9H6y56fSjN7r_A6oksie9Gxh-sMZJUw-g_BqqIz77kPsE-0aAaAWI/s1600/borepage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRItLsy-nv8wmpGgkQKoL6anzpJZDyDcjyOTEyd1pgt_MU6WMDKZjURH0_aPzlflESnW7gR2FLvkJDXAIzCtxjwfc9H6y56fSjN7r_A6oksie9Gxh-sMZJUw-g_BqqIz77kPsE-0aAaAWI/s320/borepage.jpg" width="320" /></a><b>BOREDOMS</b><br />
<br />
Get ready to get your brain split. And fucked. And microwaved. And ran over by a semi-truck. <br />
That's Japan's Boredoms. Noise punk without any rules. That's really all you can say.<br />
<br />
They made me realize you could hit record on a tape player and play anything. It was an art form and there are some people who will dig it. Not everybody, but somebody. That's been my philosophy with every band I've been in. <br />
<br />
Primal drumming, weird song structures, sound effects, sampling, screaming/babbling/yelped vocals making you question most music forms. I love them and the chaos they bring. <br />
<br />
Check them out if you want to be confused, mesmerized, pissed off, and lost all at the same time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Albums to check out:</b><br />
<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc-8Q5sjayI" target="_blank">Soul Discharge</a></i> (1989, Original Selfish) | <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDzBpQ0GcoU" target="_blank">Pop Tatari</a></i> (1992, Reprise)<br />
<br />
<b>Extended listening:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVFRroQ5EHE" target="_blank">"Sun Gun Run"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2EekrqOQqI" target="_blank">"Mama Brain"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmSk2j8thVs" target="_blank">"Bo Go"</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-rOcGCmlg" target="_blank">"Tomato Synthesizer"</a><br />
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<i>Jonny Bipolar lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA, and is exactly as described on the tin.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-69502273647727999522016-03-05T10:00:00.000-05:002016-03-05T13:54:17.675-05:00EDITORIAL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_dDXWKS_Hx_qlw8a8fRh92gpfDZmrRh7_3uZpCM6PZO2baHf9zHIhX5HDYrgZ3RxFpnCL-1hpeZlyMUZHm2sO9U7t8PxQTPTTjTZXgaGbv3t0YNANmcqp9hA4A2UGLyrnGxvv_FcT-mg/s1600/bacon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_dDXWKS_Hx_qlw8a8fRh92gpfDZmrRh7_3uZpCM6PZO2baHf9zHIhX5HDYrgZ3RxFpnCL-1hpeZlyMUZHm2sO9U7t8PxQTPTTjTZXgaGbv3t0YNANmcqp9hA4A2UGLyrnGxvv_FcT-mg/s320/bacon+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm anxious. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not about anything in particular, mind you. I'm just an anxious person. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As my food arrives, I realize that to any fly on the wall, I probably seem like a health nut. I'm not—far from it, in fact—but the egg whites, turkey bacon, and wheat pancakes sounded good to me for some reason. I'm sure from a distance, it all just looks like the same old slop any way. Not that it matters, either way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the short drive over here, I decided to flip through the radio stations. You know, just for some perspective. My old standby, WCSB, was playing polka (which I normally enjoy in small doses, but I wasn't quite "feelin' it" right now), and all the other stations were, unsurprisingly, unhelpful. Crappy modern pop music, even worse "rock" (what's the difference?), today's top "country" (I repeat), a Van Halen song (sadly the best thing so far, so I leave it)...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">AND THEN!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The opening guitar lead and <i>kick! snare!</i> pattern of "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)", one of Elton John's only real rockers, a bootboy/sharpie classic from way back, a time when someone outside of a particular subculture could write songs <b>about and for</b> that subculture, and still be somewhat respected by the members of it. Back when styles, and subcultures, and genres were pieced together from elements of <i>pre-existing</i> ones, a byproduct of diverse tastes and influences, <b>amalgamated abominations</b>, curated by influential scenesters, musicians, fans, and journalists; only given a name once something so loosely defined became <i>solid</i>... too big and widespread to be contained, it now needed a rallying cry. A catchy marketing term. Or both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Maybe I'm reading into this too much. But I don't think so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Punk used to be one of these things (and to a degree, to me at least, it still is). The bastard child of glam rock, novelty songs, '60s pop, what we now call "garage" rock, and an anti-hippie/anti-disco/anti-prog sentiment, among many other small strains of many other things, "punk rock" was a relatively unknown term, employed by a very small group of rock writers and fans, which was applied to bands and artists ranging from The Sonics to Alice Cooper. I doubt any of these groups liked the term very much, either.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">***</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">::FLASH FORWARD 24 HRS::</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Remember back when you could sit in a family restaurant for hours on end, no one fucking bothered you, and you could smoke an entire pack of cigarettes with the rest of society's dregs? Now I'm relegated to the magazine section of the public fucking library. The quiet is nerve-wracking, and I still can't chain-smoke. But regardless, it's free, and I get to save bandwidth on my internet at home. Isn't adult life fun?</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I told my friend Laurie I was writing an editorial, and she asked what it was going to be about. I said, "The state of music today, relevance of punk rock, specifically garage punk/first wave revival... mission statement, etc." She said that punk is more relevant than ever, and also:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Music is pre-packaged, contrived garbage & people are sheep. Youth today have more to be angry about than ever. They have far less opportunity than their parents did--the world is garbage. They're just too busy playing on their phones to notice."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Honestly, I think <i>the world</i> is probably in the best shape it's ever been in, and there's nothing wrong with technology in and of itself [he said as he pounded feverishly on the keys of his laptop], but people, on the whole, definitely don't seem to be getting any smarter; At the very least, they're generally as complacent, stubborn, close minded, backward, anti-intellectual, superstitious, and boring as they ever were... a bunch of followers, lacking any critical thinking skills. People who make their minds up about everything based on who said the dumbest thing the loudest or most confidently. Some are even still stuck in this notion of "traditional values" and other outdated archaic bullshit, like strict gender roles/rules, and maintaining the "status quo".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tradition is kinda like collecting a bunch of OCD rituals and passing them down through generations of scared, stupid assholes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Punk might have been a reaction against hippies (partially), but that doesn't mean it was ever meant to be enjoyed by <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far-right_politics" target="_blank">ultra-conservative, authoritarian</a> twats</b>. I mean, what kind of "normal," wholesome, career-path driven <b>douche </b>is going to ever really "get" the songs of the Ramones? You could argue that Johnny Ramone was a staunch Republican, but he was far from being a normal dude. He was into collecting rock 'n roll and junk culture memorabilia. He loved horror movies, and glam bands, and Yoohoo, and had long hair. He was obsessed with Charles Manson. He wore the same on-stage uniform of a t-shirt, sneakers, and torn blue jeans while he was off-stage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But maybe my friend is right. Even the (very few) young punks I've met around here are only into excessively fast street punk, or old-style hardcore bands, or all that garbage crusties seem to love, like powerviolence. These fucks wouldn't give the time of day to a Ramones record, let alone something as influential on the entire genre as, say, rockabilly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hell, I even know some older people who were around in the early '80s, and even they think rock and roll is <i>shit</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's enough to make you wanna beat someone over the head with a copy of <i>Please Kill Me</i>.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-27267435905854983202016-01-05T18:00:00.000-05:002016-01-05T18:09:46.115-05:00THE ARTLESS NONCULTURE TOP 40<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs4CoTU9NEC9KyrErATMRf7GDh66ORdbjHWIXUWHGvUn67SDYmbxZ-TZQHeVVAKaG4QDpj5VRseI2Y9CQ3CcDg8PPdqCZ_H9FhSxydcXcC-92d8dykOhdlAEzaihuOwAR74sSpXuGg5N1/s1600/rec.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAs4CoTU9NEC9KyrErATMRf7GDh66ORdbjHWIXUWHGvUn67SDYmbxZ-TZQHeVVAKaG4QDpj5VRseI2Y9CQ3CcDg8PPdqCZ_H9FhSxydcXcC-92d8dykOhdlAEzaihuOwAR74sSpXuGg5N1/s200/rec.png" width="197" /></a>Alright, you sonsabitches! The moment you've all been waiting for:<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<h2>
<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It's ANC's Top 40 playlist for the month of January! </span></strong></h2>
<br />
These are the songs that've really been tingling our private areas over the last 4 weeks or so, and <em>if you really know what's good for you</em>, you'll listen to THESE TRACKS ONLY for the next couple of hours—or at least for as long as your pathetic attention spans can handle it:<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0GtRI4Ulo" target="_blank">The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFWJ2LPzkzA" target="_blank">Rubber City Rebels - Brainjob</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL4AzzIpli4" target="_blank">Slaughter and the Dogs - You're a Bore</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDn6gEM3u60" target="_blank">Electric Frankenstein - Just Can't Kick</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzYyvCVY4uU" target="_blank">Alice Cooper - Teenage Lament '74</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6siGKxcKol0" target="_blank">Ramones - Rockaway Beach</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQaFVXcPyxE" target="_blank">The Groupies - Primitive</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0zxESS3djI" target="_blank">Little Richard - Ooh! My Soul</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fML-0M3e6Tk" target="_blank">Los Saicos - Demolición</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V1p1dM3snQ" target="_blank">Kingsmen - Louie Louie</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQsBQ8gLOts" target="_blank">Super Awesome Macho - Beatnik Beach</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRjlZ8x2uQM" target="_blank">Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTDa5cGqkVo" target="_blank">Wayne County and the Electric Chairs - Cream In My Jeans</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weQ4oNk7Pqc" target="_blank">Eddie and the Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZL_Ex_JUzM" target="_blank">Off! - Upside Down</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcyO3Msu26w" target="_blank">Pure Hell - No Rules</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7Vmbl2vlw" target="_blank">Iggy and the Stooges - I Need Somebody</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxFM3hvqXYM" target="_blank">The Count Bishops - Teenage Letter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSqbUr2IRSQ" target="_blank">X - Nausea</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R5lcZFWEwg" target="_blank">Patti Smith - My Generation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HKnuTKZH9k" target="_blank">Black Sabbath - Evil Woman</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y67yy3iniI" target="_blank">The Rats - Rat's Revenge (Parts 1 & 2)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQXqkiKXiHc" target="_blank">The Paragons - The Tide Is High</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvMY_dKySh4" target="_blank">Joey Dee and the Starliters - Shout (Parts 1 & 2)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-96fNW02UCM" target="_blank">Rosco Gordon - Let's Get High</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdcfxk-e_iw" target="_blank">Poison Idea - Just to Get Away</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUgRS-1AOGY" target="_blank">The Bullys - Skel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRWunSUmEm4" target="_blank">X - Johnny Hit and Run Pauline</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emwhUk2PRqw" target="_blank">Screeching Weasel - Bark Like a Dog</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUliCrCgm8Y" target="_blank">It's All Meat - Feel It</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHMUvS4fCls" target="_blank">Germs - Forming</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBH21tGuojc" target="_blank">The G.O.A.T. and Your M.O.M. - Quack Like a Duck</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1iXVjQ_xFI" target="_blank">The Floyd Band - Mellow Yellow</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFOHlJbZKqU" target="_blank">World's Scariest Police Chases - Punk Rock Ruined My Life</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3XOoO-y2rw" target="_blank">Detroit Cobras - Shout Bamalama</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiW5DF2LFOI" target="_blank">B-52's - Devil In My Car</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yd_sKPCqMNw" target="_blank">DFL - Thought Control</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKtGiLyka5A" target="_blank">Meat Puppets - In a Car</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFI5shxoozw" target="_blank">Wesley Willis Fiasco - Girls On Film</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YVgw7QO8uw" target="_blank">New York Dolls - Pills</a></li>
</ol>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-54306032126778872832016-01-05T17:51:00.000-05:002016-01-05T18:46:49.981-05:00Columns | Rancid Vat: The Most Underrated Punk Band In Existence<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">by John Stahlman</span></b><br />
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I'm here to talk about <b>Rancid Vat</b>.<br />
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In case you bastards are illiterate, I'm talking about the punk band that came out of the hell hole of Portland, Oregon (not that <i>I</i> think it was bad, but the band hated their city of origin, so it is best to describe it in a term they would like).<br />
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<i>Not</i> Rancid.<br />
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So this article will <b>in no way</b> mention the band Rancid again, because <b>no way in hell</b> are they underrated. Rancid Vat, on the other hand, <i>is</i>.<br />
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Formed sometime in the '80s the band has gone through many line up changes, with the husband and wife duo of Phil Irwin and Marla Vee. Despite their unique and ahead-of-their-time sound, this band has never gotten the respect they deserved throughout their three eras (being the Portland, Philly, and Austin line-ups). Maybe it's because they did their own thing and rejected (and <i>still </i>reject) trends throughout their 30-something years of playing.<br />
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The first era was the <b>Portland line-up</b> of Phil Irwin (guitar), Marla Vee (drums), Eric Larsen (bass) and Steve Wilson (vocals). They started out as a noise rock group (due to Phil not knowing how to play traditional chords at the time) and got their name from dicking around with a Ouija Board, asking "spirits" what to call their band.<br />
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Eventually the band developed a very sludgy sound, reminiscent of the Seattle grunge bands that came into popularity in the next decade. Most of their lyrics were extremely nihilistic, with songs about murder, rage, and also contempt for the punk music scene at the time being trendy. Personally, it's a breathe of fresh air to listen to a band that goes back to the old themes of "no future" and "fuck off", since it seems more relatable for those trapped in a music scene that has been taken over by rules.<br />
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Not only this, but they have also written songs praising their favorite wrestlers at the time, and even covered wresting theme songs and music groups that they played with (such as Antiseen).<br />
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One of the main interesting aspects to the band's sound during the Portland days is Steve Wilson's vocals, which are extremely atypical in punk music: he sounds like a very menacing and mentally unstable John C. Reilly.<br />
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Songs to check out from this line up include "Apathy" (my favorite from the band), "Face Full of Teeth" (Antiseen cover, but it out-does the original), "Deeds of the Damned", "HHHH", and "When the Rolls Called Down Under".<br />
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After creating a bit of buzz, the band got a chance to move away from Portland, and they relocated to <b>Philly</b>, while unfortunately leaving Eric Larsen (who was previously fired) and Steve Wilson behind.<br />
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However, the Philly line-up became a force to be reckoned with. With the Cosmic Commander of Wrestling (RIP) fronting them, it added a more chaotic element to their sound with his extremely raspy and intense voice. This was actually the line-up that got me into them, and I wish I could've witnessed seeing this version of the band live.<br />
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Recommended songs from this line-up include "Hostile City U.S.A.", "Rock N' Roll Fraud", "Loser Leaves Town", and "Live Radio Fiasco" (includes a cover of Adrian Street's "Breaking Bones").<br />
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After some success touring with long time friends Antiseen, and other insane acts like the Murder Junkies and Hammerlock, the band again relocated, this time to <b>Austin, Texas</b>, and recruited Texas Studd as their new vocalist (as the Cosmic Commander decided to remain in his hometown of Philadelphia). Although a bit weak compared to the other previous vocalists, he does a pretty damn good job.<br />
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Recommended songs include "Die Hipster Die", "Imagine What I Could Do To You" (another Adrian Street cover), and "We Hate You All The Way From Texas".<br />
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Despite the line-up changes, they always had a "no bullshit" approach to punk rock, let alone rock music in general—An element that has been missing for some time, and is probably why they do not get the respect they deserve, or even taken seriously due to their noise rock origins—Which is bullshit, since everything they released does not sound dated, <i>at all</i>, and elements from even their earliest material can be heard in modern day bands.<br />
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<i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">John Stahlman is the current bassist of the punk trio Omission and has also been in numerous other bands in the northwestern Pa scene, including Paint Thinner, TxSxOxDx, Made Not Born, Wydell, and Choke The Bastard (now Vermin Warfare). He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and majored in Broadcast Communications with a minor in Public Relations, if that has any merit to it anymore. While at college he hosted a few radio shows at the campus' student radio station WDRQ1620 AM, most notably the Underground Vault, which played local music, and also covered the Biological and Health Sciences department while writing for the student newspaper The Source. Stahlman is currently unemployed, in debt, and has gotten to embrace even more of his nihilistic punk rock view of life.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-34303846254130241752016-01-02T14:17:00.000-05:002016-01-02T15:00:51.668-05:00Reviews | Sam and Whiskey's Drunk Listening Party, Vol. 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Y_XZ-WFA9-UIEmfpfQUgga3NTVRZSZD6fyPixvJ-13J40BljbLfS_ONn-FOlAvbu93UTU457-61TaGjR4rcMrcGiF0UBzmyNkg3HeFBL_I5Me_WqR38wrEITGGFKCNeRkQ_KS0a-5jZM/s1600/sam+and+whiskey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Y_XZ-WFA9-UIEmfpfQUgga3NTVRZSZD6fyPixvJ-13J40BljbLfS_ONn-FOlAvbu93UTU457-61TaGjR4rcMrcGiF0UBzmyNkg3HeFBL_I5Me_WqR38wrEITGGFKCNeRkQ_KS0a-5jZM/s320/sam+and+whiskey.jpg" width="292" /></a><b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">ANC staff members Sam Sinister and Whiskey got together one day over drinks to listen to some Cleveland punk bands' digital releases on Bandcamp. These reviews are the result.</span></b></b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCediw5N-lh02Bfy8l4fAKEJeTLDAmCGA7FtpGRXvRYrPLiRp7G0Br7S2Qfs6DUcpYXVO63gNjPUJxh7-Bc3yv8oanQCfj6ryFo0Zafm2aqUAt2knlf2uQshXVjYzUnsxX-TW3mFAV8mpf/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCediw5N-lh02Bfy8l4fAKEJeTLDAmCGA7FtpGRXvRYrPLiRp7G0Br7S2Qfs6DUcpYXVO63gNjPUJxh7-Bc3yv8oanQCfj6ryFo0Zafm2aqUAt2knlf2uQshXVjYzUnsxX-TW3mFAV8mpf/s200/1.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><a href="https://partyplates.bandcamp.com/album/self-titled-7" target="_blank">Party Plates - s/t 7" (2014)</a></b></b><br />
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<b>Sam: </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Okay, so I guess these guys are kind of angry about something. Is this crust? The recording quality reminds me of old black metal, but I think it might be crust or d-beat. It's not unlistenable, at least not for me, but I don't think I'm in the mood for it at the moment. And trust me, this is music I would have to be in the mood for. Dichordant, quasi-metal guitar riffs and hoarse, unintelligable vocals. It's just monosyllabic sounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Are these words? There's also a lot of snare drum. The best part is the part right after the intro to the third track, before the singer starts barking again like a yippy little dog whenever the mailmail shows up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This all sounds really negative, but honestly I like it. Or, at least, something about it. If it didn't seem like these guys thought they were an awesome band, I'd like it even more.</span><br />
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<b>Whiskey: </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">kidnapping quatro: robotic drums, sloppy guitar solos, & proto screaming vocals. needs to come with a lyrics sheet - totally unintelligible (is that kind of the point?), wow, you’re so pissed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">disforeplay: again, i need the lyrics. do punk/hardcore bands ever have lyrics when the singer is actually screaming? doesn’t his voice hurt after a while? there has to be vocal classes for screamers, right? more sloppy guitars but that obviously doesn’t matter since the rhythm is fairly tight. ah & now we get to the sludgy outro & “discord” false ending.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">intro/galloping ghost: chugchugchugchugchugchugchugch</span><wbr style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"></wbr><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">ugchugchug. “WOOOOOOOORDSSSSS.” chugchugchugchugchugchugchug. “IM SO EROJHLEJSDSLLHFOSHDGLJSBIKWE.” higher tempo chugchugchugchugchugchugchug. it’s like if between the buried & me & a pile of sludge metal shit had a baby. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">the one thing i will give these guys credit for is that they obviously don’t take themselves too seriously. super serious hardcore punk bands lately have often have their heads up their asses in regards to their “talent & vision.” the discorded vocals, overdone snare, & choppy guitar riffs definitely lead one to invest in the name: party plates.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8RZiuxpJiTmpzQLjD-_OZgiF2PmjXH-ocXacPGHgT18sn5WwL7QfI6IqxcebBzw3XYVhZblQsRA5MHLyG_kQEZLD4QrFz0fh3YmmOKSqIB-iMd34xTDFTOjSiN1o0c2Aeumf1P9H6et1/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8RZiuxpJiTmpzQLjD-_OZgiF2PmjXH-ocXacPGHgT18sn5WwL7QfI6IqxcebBzw3XYVhZblQsRA5MHLyG_kQEZLD4QrFz0fh3YmmOKSqIB-iMd34xTDFTOjSiN1o0c2Aeumf1P9H6et1/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><a href="https://pervertsagain.bandcamp.com/album/all-over-again" target="_blank">Perverts Again - All Over Again (4-track EP, 2014)</a></b><br />
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<b>Sam:</b> Decent snotty mid-tempo punk rock, SST-style. What's with the flanged, demonic vocals, though? At first I thought it was a gimmick for the opening track, but it's in every song! Overkill, guys! I like the lo-fi approach to the recording, though, and the simplistic guitar/bass/pounding drums formula never fails, at least not for me.<br />
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I will say one thing: If these guys never heard of Nirvana I'd be really fucking surprised. Whether or not that's a selling point is entirely up to you, but it reminds me of high school kids who formed bands back when I was, you know, in high school.<br />
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Replay value: Not much. Originality: Not much. Listenablity: Sure, why not. The good news is that these guys seem to have a good sense of humor: With song titles like "Bald Spot Boys" and "Outhouse Countdown", you'd have to. They also have "Charged" plastered across the top left corner of their logo, so bonus points for the referential irreverent stuff.<br />
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<b>Whiskey: </b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outhouse Countdown: very simple, straightforward punk groove & lyrics, very silly & campy, the use of the actual countdown is clever. i admit i snickered at some of the lyrics. “brute in the bathroom” chorus is fun & could definitely be screamed while drunk at a show. so far, i’m liking this much more than Party Plates if only for the camp factor & lyrics that are actually understandable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re Not Taking Me to Prom: this song is definitely making me wonder what these guys are like live. the stage show would ideally be pretty outlandish & possibly with a dash of crossdressing & stage humping. (fingers crossed!) drums are incredibly solid & head-nod worthy while the strings are tight. i’m just now noticing the underwater effect on the singr’s voice & it’s giving me a Jabberjaw meets the creature from the black lagoon vibe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bald Spot Boy: the same vocal effect is on the singer’s voice that’s definitely intentional & Jabberjaw-ish. so far i’m not blown away by this track because it’s very safe & typical of newer punk bands but it is a decent song with good arrangement. the drummer holds the line down & the guitarist hasn’t overstayed his welcome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hunt and Gather: my fear is confirmed: they’ve overdone the underwater effect on the singer’s voice. *yawn* the final track is a dud, limp & lifeless like a lost lamprey. i was pretty into this EP at the beginning but the schtick has worn thin by track 4. still, an okay song. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">i do dig the vibe these guys were going for: surf rock meets punk meets garage with overlays of vocal tweaking but it does get tiresome after a few tracks. maybe i will revisit this & come to a different conclusion but for now, it’s an okay effort.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQBdQCZtm9s7L7CQ0-QKNH4ALqiIcdgPqHFAF27HRck8egoE6NvTO-3ACf5S-uIuvVPnyckxteFZcQR9IIydgAtoSlC0pFOqmvPKQQhnhaZcNVWzM9Ho67NEUU_NtI-SE7TQuOH2Yv4h1/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQBdQCZtm9s7L7CQ0-QKNH4ALqiIcdgPqHFAF27HRck8egoE6NvTO-3ACf5S-uIuvVPnyckxteFZcQR9IIydgAtoSlC0pFOqmvPKQQhnhaZcNVWzM9Ho67NEUU_NtI-SE7TQuOH2Yv4h1/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><a href="https://cruelster.bandcamp.com/album/potatoe-boys-lp" target="_blank">Cruelster - Potatoe Boys LP (2014)</a></b><br />
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<b>Sam:</b> Old school! Instantly reminds me of Circle Jerks, Black Flag, and Government Issue.<br />
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Lots of downstrokes on the guitar, in a Greg Ginn/Johnny Ramone style, and all songs clock in at around a minute or less. Tons of yelling, in a way that doesn't sound contrived. Just pure energy and aggression. Minus any of the metal influences and tough guy posturing typical of most modern hardcore—this is just good ol' fashioned '80s style punk. Mostly mid-tempo fare (for hardcore, at least), with a few double-time circle pit numbers thrown in for good measure.<br />
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Not a bad effort; no sir, not by a long shot. A+<br />
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<b>Whiskey:</b> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">i’m not going to bother doing the song titles because they’re less than 90 seconds long. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the recording is what strikes me off the bat; incredibly lo-fi, gritty, & sounds like shit but that’s kind of the charm here. although the vocals are very loud, the lyrics are still comprehensive. high energy & frantic. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the tired trope of using movie quotes is overdone by track 3. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">but by track 4, i’m back on board for more fist swinging & energy expulsion through the intense guitar churning, tight drums, & call to arms oi inspired lyrics. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">these guys are definitely not everyone’s cup of tea but there’s definitely a passion for yesteryear’s punk rock formula: Keep It Simple, Stupid.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkegUCs9oOEqOoWgt5K0NmSEV0HTR_MbZWxgm6yRoQCkJ9sV-YJV4cBDhRGEcNBgOLCLmBe6pa_o9MbFms-ADYacaauFNQMRVRVV2XFjJwkPbw3clcLqrTE2qPl3IZa-za2dKNQMTTAFc/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNkegUCs9oOEqOoWgt5K0NmSEV0HTR_MbZWxgm6yRoQCkJ9sV-YJV4cBDhRGEcNBgOLCLmBe6pa_o9MbFms-ADYacaauFNQMRVRVV2XFjJwkPbw3clcLqrTE2qPl3IZa-za2dKNQMTTAFc/s200/4.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><a href="https://swagultraultra.bandcamp.com/album/swag-ultra" target="_blank">Ultra Ultra - Swag Ultra (2011)</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sam:</b> No wave/heavy indie rock stuff. The opening track, "Culture Vultures" is decent: angry, snotty, occasionally off-time vocals and heavy, fuzzed-out guitars with a bit of dissonance here and there.<br />
<br />
Track 2, "The T.I.V.", whatever that means, has a bit of hardcore/post-hardcore and emo influences (the latter is especially pronounced, unfortunately). Really not my thing.<br />
<br />
The third and final offering, "Chimera (Reprise)", starts out sounding sort of like a bad attempt at garage punk, but quickly goes back to being an awful emo/shoegaze hybrid, this time complete with time signature changes and an answering machine message at the end that was aparrently supposed to be funny, but I couldn't tell what it was even saying, so the joke was lost on me.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't recommend this release to my worst enemy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Whiskey:</b> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Ubuntu; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">this seems like the most post punk entry that we’ve sampled so far & it’s going down smoothly so far in track one. there’s definitely a mewithoutyou/tiger’s jaw/glassjaw influence here or at least a band i would have seen on warped tour in the late 90s, early 00s. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Ubuntu; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Ubuntu; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">there are some chunks to gulp through (typical lyrics, predictable riffs, an overall yawn fest to be honest) but it’s incredibly easy to digest. the biggest saving grace is in the tightness of the bass & polished recording. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Ubuntu; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Ubuntu; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 20.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">this band definitely has similar influences of what i grew up enjoying but doesn’t have much edge to their music. i have to admit that i enjoy it if only for the nostalgia factor (much like a warm yoohoo) but it is unremarkable.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-67210946886067122682016-01-02T09:47:00.000-05:002016-01-02T11:26:04.983-05:00Columns | Why Punk Rock Feminists Tend to Be Better Feminists Than the Other Idiots Who Claim the Title<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>By Mondo Carnage</b></span><br />
<br />
Feminism: The word has come to have a ton of definitions according to the person's opinion on the movement. One person can view it as a positive movement, made to improve gender equality; another to expand specifically <i>women's</i> rights; a "dangerous" movement, used to promote sexism<br />
against men; or a complete and total joke (if you're a misogynistic asshole).<br />
<br />
I personally view feminism as a movement to promote equality amongst the sexes and for all genders. Although it started out to improve equality for women, my belief is that this goal can never be reached without focusing on equality for all, so the definition should therefore expand. This, therefore, is why I make the claim that punk rock feminists are the ones that actually got feminism right.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjRLFwcyNNtqYa3NDVKSJ9n4x189ZTtArP2MagX_dCaYJX9xQO0CK8Q-pWEHwhBiXMY27Y6aodOqjrsMORBey4XehpgxrwPeIthZ7yk1pd3xeHskjz-WvomtCuoqyLHDm9qbvp8VVDv3X/s1600/2000px-Woman-power_emblem.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjRLFwcyNNtqYa3NDVKSJ9n4x189ZTtArP2MagX_dCaYJX9xQO0CK8Q-pWEHwhBiXMY27Y6aodOqjrsMORBey4XehpgxrwPeIthZ7yk1pd3xeHskjz-WvomtCuoqyLHDm9qbvp8VVDv3X/s320/2000px-Woman-power_emblem.svg.png" width="197" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Disclaimer: This is based entirely on anecdotal evidence, so it could be total bullshit, but I'm making the argument anyway, even if only for the sake of writing).</span><br />
<br />
From my own experience, people who listen to punk rock and are feminists actually want equality for <i>everyone</i>. They don't spew some anti-sex bullshit message, nor do they support the idea that the male sex is filled with rapists and are, for some reason, subhuman. This is probably due to the diversity of ideas that punk rock creates, and widens the paradigm of individuals who see the world in shades of gray, instead of black and white (with a few exceptions). I've seen punk rock feminists support men who've been raped by women, and stood by men who've been sexually harassed. I've also seen punk rock feminists fight for transgender rights as well.<br />
<br />
However, on the other side of the spectrum, within the realm of YouTubeland, it seems this type of feminism—unfortunately—has not expanded outside of punk rock. For some reason, I end up running into videos of women in their 20s ranting like they've read the S.C.U.M. Manifesto way too many times. I've heard things from them saying that all sex is rape, women should be modest because men treat women who wear skimpy outfits as objects (this is true only if the man is a fucking asshole; most men know there's a damn human being in that outfit), and men should be put into certain classes that expose how shitty we are, because a few select individuals of the male sex are terrible human beings, so the majority must be, too.<br />
<br />
That logic reminds me of uber-conservative ideologies like "all Muslims are bad," and so they should have to wear markings to identify themselves as Muslim.<br />
<br />
Not only this, those internet feminists refuse to acknowledge that <i>women</i> can also rape <i>men</i>, and the fact that men are subjugated to the same victim blaming as women. Because we all know, if a man has a boner, he <i>must</i> be asking for sex, or even if a man is intoxicated he still wants sex, because <b>men just want sex</b>, right? So therefore, no one can rape a man, according to this mentality.<br />
<br />
Which is why I say, "thank you," to the punk rock feminists that expose the world to what feminism really is, and tell the internet plague of pseudo-feminists to go fuck off. Because the punk rock feminist fights against the double standards that those sexists spew from their mouths.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-87359281874198284722016-01-02T09:13:00.000-05:002016-01-02T09:26:16.628-05:00Columns | True DIY<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFj4ud1271AGHvt_B7Le6mZBL1yIAcQFKgbA4pZoK9rWPuw85jLH97JYvTAHDPsHZrGfdfbC-EZ1MafqcXdBzNUuo7ZUqVZ_oCMWTMKOPhertu9smD5nKJ_rArSllHhzkl42suVaFHqpp/s1600/Jugplayer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizFj4ud1271AGHvt_B7Le6mZBL1yIAcQFKgbA4pZoK9rWPuw85jLH97JYvTAHDPsHZrGfdfbC-EZ1MafqcXdBzNUuo7ZUqVZ_oCMWTMKOPhertu9smD5nKJ_rArSllHhzkl42suVaFHqpp/s320/Jugplayer.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">How to Fucking Make A Real Fucking Do-It-Your-Fucking-Self Fucking Punk Rock Band</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">by Squeeze</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Since a lot of people who fucking claim to be fucking Punk Rockers religiously follow the DIY ethic, here's how to shut those bastards up, and have them cry and piss themselves to sleep (cuz honestly, people who brag are assholes and poseurs anyway).</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Step one: Find a random dude (or dudette, tranny, gender neutral, or a fucking amoeba, it doesn't really matter. You know what, let's go outside the box more, the singer is a fucking rock) as a singer (talent optional).</span></h3>
The second step is having some sort of guitarist. There are two ways of doing it for free, though both will take a bunch of effort, but it could be worth ending the trend of fake crusty Blink 182 rip-offs ruining local shows with their acoustic pop punk songs.<br />
<br />
The first instrument is <b>a fucking mouthbow</b>, played by white trash hillbillies who live in stolen trailers.<br />
<br />
In short, it's predominant in Appalachian Music, and is the perfect to play while being blinded by fucking moonshine cut with wood alcohol. What you do to make the fucking thing, is you get a tree branch (the wood must be green, meaning NOT rotten... the color itself doesn't matter), and get out your Hep C-infested knife to cut two grooves into the stick, at the ends. Then find a tennis racket in the garbage of some random bullshit country club, and de-string it. Next take one end of the string and put it into the groove of the one end of the stick. Then bend the stick until you can tie the other end of the string to the other end of the stick.<br />
<br />
To play the instrument, just put the one end of the bow to your mouth, and pluck the string. To get different sounds, just make different shapes with your mouth.<br />
<br />
The plus side of this instrument, is it can be made for free, and it's also a real long bow, so you can shoot targets with it (I use a poster of Nicki Minaj's ass because her music sucks and it is easy to hit for how fucking huge it is). The cons? It doesn't pick up well on a fucking mic, and looks like you're practicing your fellatio skills.<br />
<br />
Second string instrument is a called a <b>diddley bow</b>, or single-string zither, if you're a fucking snooty<br />
twat.<br />
<br />
To make this, just get a fucking plank of wood, two beer bottles, a guitar string, screws, and nails. Put the two screws in, halfway, on opposite sides of the plank, vertically (I figured I would have to specify this, in case someone as stupid as a person voting for Rick Santorum is reading this). Then, wrap the string around the screws, slide the beer bottles underneath the string, nail the fuckers in place, then tighten the screws until you get the tuning you want (most are tuned to G, as in G-String).<br />
<br />
To play it, get something to use as a guitar slide (like a socket, or the knife you used to make the mouth bow), and pluck or strike the string while sliding the slide on it.<br />
<br />
The third instrument is a little more complex, and it's called a "<b>canjo</b>."<br />
<br />
You take a planks of wood that are wide enough to put two strings on it, put it inside a can (with both ends of the can open), then duct tape the plank to the can. Then get two screws and screw them into the wood on the side that is sticking out of the can a little bit (the can is the fucking resonator). Now wrap the fucking strings around the screws, and fully tighten them. Then take a drill, drill two holes the size of guitar tuning pegs, and screw in the pegs with them sticking out of the hole.<br />
<br />
Next, get two bolts, place the one bolt between the can and screws on one end, and one a little bit after the tuning pegs. Now tighten the strings.<br />
<br />
This instrument can be played like a regular fucking guitar.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmW-UlydK-r5-0Ji0G_5X5tDGGGis86rGHbBEJjfguIyrShnVkE1Xu_95lwfqdCA_-pnaGB4g_fiCHjsksz31NvmpkWz4J_dxVQQzdph1aoJXZ_IiD53rUhv7vFKmbrZoDcIPbiTFjqMh/s1600/download+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmW-UlydK-r5-0Ji0G_5X5tDGGGis86rGHbBEJjfguIyrShnVkE1Xu_95lwfqdCA_-pnaGB4g_fiCHjsksz31NvmpkWz4J_dxVQQzdph1aoJXZ_IiD53rUhv7vFKmbrZoDcIPbiTFjqMh/s400/download+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a>Next instrument is a <b>cigar box guitar</b>. The materials for this can be found for free, except for the tools to make it. You will need a drill and your Hep C knife at the very least. The instructions are about the same as the canjo, except there are three strings and a cigar box is used as a resonator. I could give more details, but it would make for a long article, so I am just going to say fucking <a href="http://lmgtfy.com/?q=how+to+make+a+cigar+box+guitar" target="_blank">Google the directions</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, we have a third step in place, and this is for the bass player.<br />
<br />
There are two ways this can be done, either via a <b>washtub bass</b>, or via a <b>jug</b> player. Both will have a low bottom end sound to go with the guitar melodies.<br />
<br />
To build the washtub bass, get a washtub, and poke a hole in the bottom of it. Then get a length of nylon string, feed it through the hole, and tie a not in the inside end of the washtub so the string will not go through the hole.<br />
<br />
Next, get a broomstick and carve a slit as wide as the bottom lip of the washtub. Now wrap the untied end of the string to the top of the broomstick until tight. To play it, just move the broom stick back and forth creating different tensions of the string for the notes.<br />
<br />
In the case of the jug, just find a jug, and put your lips over one side of it and buzz your lips for the different notes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quk12NRfe1c" target="_blank">Videos on YouTube</a> explain this better.<br />
<br />
Now for the drummer. Pretty much, find a <b>washboard</b> and a bunch of thimbles or two spoons and make drum beats off of that, or just get anything that makes a noise.<br />
<br />
Now take a combination of any number of these instruments, start a band, and show off how seriously you take this DIY shit and piss off bragging poseurs in the process.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-42593178826973902452016-01-02T06:59:00.000-05:002016-01-02T07:00:59.775-05:00A Brief Word on Lemmy<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DVJhf2Huse8" width="420"></iframe></center>
<center>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></center>
<center>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"When
my oldest daughter was about five, I played a live concert video of
Motörhead for her. The show opened, as always, with Lemmy
announcing, “We are Motörhead and we play rock and roll.”</span></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></center>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At
that moment, my daughter’s jaw dropped and she let out this odd
noise—part delight and part fear. That noise. That will be how I
always remember Lemmy.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>He
played rock and roll." </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMspo-ljzjMHVzSAehymLzLqMI2fDmsbFOBbNco-9mwYn_g0Gcpx-9AVEKq2E9Tp3xU6skigeJflmn-6rtbooTD7gy5nhDjSyQWuRATFvg7ccyJeiB5F-Jl-bCNr3Q3dBTeanNT9kJbOWx/s1600/lemmy+beki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMspo-ljzjMHVzSAehymLzLqMI2fDmsbFOBbNco-9mwYn_g0Gcpx-9AVEKq2E9Tp3xU6skigeJflmn-6rtbooTD7gy5nhDjSyQWuRATFvg7ccyJeiB5F-Jl-bCNr3Q3dBTeanNT9kJbOWx/s320/lemmy+beki.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemmy with Vice Squad's Beki Bondage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">—Ben Butina</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-85718673066306514622016-01-01T17:40:00.002-05:002016-01-01T17:52:58.225-05:00Reviews | Super Awesome Macho - Deep Water [2014, self-released]<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPTtioXrUynohU0BtINNP0f67YjNLoCfiAk3rnR5m2qH9u4tG-PA_C6aVvlmtvDxX-3sFX0_JO6rKSZD54xPEtf2uZqt1HtvI6oLEMZvxynzAMHmVmD55hslWYZ2PX3qxS9QdbFAM523n/s1600/deep.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPTtioXrUynohU0BtINNP0f67YjNLoCfiAk3rnR5m2qH9u4tG-PA_C6aVvlmtvDxX-3sFX0_JO6rKSZD54xPEtf2uZqt1HtvI6oLEMZvxynzAMHmVmD55hslWYZ2PX3qxS9QdbFAM523n/s200/deep.jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"><b>by Sam Sinister</b></span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Tongue-in-cheek,
egomaniacal, and self-referential amalgam of punk, surf, hard rock,
and garage, sung by an ageless ginger army vet. Quite a few numbers
even hinge on all-out American-style psychobilly—<i>sans </i>the usual
upright bass, or any obvious cowpunk and honky-tonk
influences—sounding something like horror punk songs, minus the
horror. </span></span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The lyrics are hilarious slabs of satire and over-the-top
bravado, referencing everything from Star Wars, junk food, drug
addicts, unicorns, cowboys, Youngstown, video games, girls, and
monster trucks, all while showcasing the sonic monstrosity that is
Greasy Steve Dixon's guitar work, which sounds something like a
Frankenstein's monster pieced together from parts of Dick Dale,
Poison Ivy Rorschach, and Greg Ginn. Singer Texas Pete Wildman croons
and hiccups in a style that's equal parts punk and roots. </span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The entire
thing was recorded live by Tommy Horror in a warehouse, in one
take—so it's obviously raw. Surprisingly, though, it's an extremely
professional-sounding recording of a band that's obviously tight and
well-rehearsed. </span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">A for effort, or is it E for effort? E for Everyone.
A for Awesome. Whatever. As far as replay value, it's only left my CD
player twice—briefly, mind you—in the week I've had it. Can't
wait for the next one. Bring it!</span></div>
<div lang="en" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0.14in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />[Get the CD album <a href="http://www.superawesomemacho.com/store/p1/Super_Awesome_Macho_-_Deep_Water.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Listen to schtuff <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsVjt0JDWic&list=PLQq1UGEOVQwqYQgpdROzfcgwSWWvOeXki" target="_blank">here</a>.]</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-10640465022848154902016-01-01T16:19:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:48:59.965-05:00Photos | Commandos and Super Awesome Macho @ Yorktown Lanes, 9/26/15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photography by Sam Sinister.</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-48773582739047386682016-01-01T15:28:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:25:23.543-05:00Reviews | Turbosonics - Tres Gatos Suave (2015, self-released)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>by Ben Butina</b></span><br />
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Alrighty, hodads, here’s the standard rundown on surf music.<br />
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It’s the early '60s in Southern California, and loads of teenage Baby Boomers are (a) learning to surf, and (b) dancing with each other. Naturally, they invent a form of instrumental dance music that sounds the way surfing feels. There’s a steady, driving drumbeat and a reverb-soaked guitar that supposedly mimics the experience of riding the waves.<br />
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After only five years, though, the heavier sounds and themes of the British Invasion and psychedelia washes out the surf sound. Surf rock has a minor resurgence in the '90s—thanks to Tarantino using the surf classic Miserlou in the opening of Pulp Fiction—but, it never really recovers from its wipeout long enough to get back into the mainstream. Everybody got that?<br />
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At first glance, it looks like surf rock is the ultimate “scene” music, arising as it did from a very specific subculture. In reality, most surf rockers never touched a board in their lives. (Hell, bands like The Trashmen out of Minneapolis were thousands of miles from the nearest wave.) Fortunately, surf is the kind of scene that doesn’t involve obsessively separating the “authentic” from the “poseurs.” There are certain kinds of guitars and clothes that most surf rock bands prefer, but for the most part, it really is just about the music, man.<br />
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This is one of the nice things about surf: you can pretty much leave the “scene” baggage at the door. It’s impossible for anyone to be in a fake surf band because there are no qualifications other than playing surf music. And, it’s impossible for any surf band to sell out because there’s no money to sell out for. (The most popular surf musician in the world is Dick Dale, and he’s touring constantly just to barely pay his medical bills.) As a newb, you never have to worry about anyone giving you a hard time. They’re happy to have you.<br />
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So, are the <a href="https://turbosonics.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Turbosonics</a> out of landlocked Pittsburgh, PA a real surf band? Is their new release, <i><a href="https://turbosonics.bandcamp.com/album/tres-gatos-suave" target="_blank">Tres Gatos Suave</a></i>, an authentic surf album? Yes. Now on to the more important question of whether or not it’s any good.<br />
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If you’re new to surf music—or you’re only familiar with the '60s stuff—<i></i> will be a good introduction to where this genre has gone in the last half-century while you were busy sniffing glue and staring at your smartphone.<br />
<br />
Surf has gotten bigger and heavier since the '60s, but the focus is still on the melody. Listen to enough surf, and you’ll catch on that this melody business is right at the heart of the music. Too much experimentation and improvisation and you lose the purity and sweetness of the melody. Your music becomes a kind of reverb-soaked jazz and your audience doesn’t have a place to hang its hat. Keep it too simple, though, and your audience gets bored. By the time you’ve played your hook for the third time, the audience is already done with the song.<br />
<br />
For most of the tracks on <i>Tres Gatos Suave,</i> guitarist Jason Truckenbrod does a solid job of finding this melodic sweet spot. He passes what I call the “hum” test. (Here’s how it works: When you’re done listening to a track, can you hum the melody? If the song got too far out there, the melody won’t stick. If it was too boring, you won’t want to hum the melody because you’ll be sick of it.) That said, there are a few tracks that I think he veered too far across the experimental border for my taste and I lost the thread. I am a remarkably simple-minded creature when it comes to melody, though, so your mileage may vary.<br />
<br />
Melody will always be the heart of surf, and melody is timeless. If "Walk Don’t Run" or "Apache" were released today, we’d be humming those tunes, not saying, “Those melodies sound old-fashioned.” We would probably notice that the rhythm section sounds a little outdated, though, and that’s where surf has evolved most noticeably over the last 50 years. Keith Caldwell (bass) and Timmy Klatte (drums) do a great job of adding texture and interest to these songs while, at the same time, never losing the beat. (Which ain’t easy, kids!)<br />
<br />
[You can listen to, and purchase, this release <a href="https://turbosonics.bandcamp.com/album/tres-gatos-suave" target="_blank">here</a>. -Ed.]<br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></h4>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Ben
Butina lives in Westylvania with his patient wife and four kids. He
plays guitar, bass, drums, piano, and harmonica—all poorly. If
you’ve got a beef with him—or if you want to contact him for
non-beef related communication—send your alcohol-soaked manifesto
to <a href="mailto:butina@gmail.com">butina@gmail.com</a>.</i></span></h4>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-56454907956049756592016-01-01T15:16:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:52:42.861-05:00Columns | i am not my hair; or rather, i am which is why you shouldn't touch me.<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>by whiskey</b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">so listen up, sugar lumps.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">i change my hairstyle semi-regularly. it can be short, fluffy, and coily or long in braids or loose fun and textured curls. whatever style it is, it is mine. and you do not have the right to touch me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">you read that right, ya walnuts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">you (yes, you!) do not have the right or agency to touch me without asking my permission. “but your hair! it’s so big/fluffy/pretty/interesting/</span><wbr style="background-color: white;"></wbr><span style="background-color: white;">gorgeous! I MUST TOUCH.” no, you must not touch! my hair is a part of me, even if it’s not all mine. when you visit a museum, do you put your hands all over the artwork? my hair is part of my body & unless i have expressly told you it’s okay to touch me, you don’t get to place your hands on the masterpiece.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">do we understand each other, my lil’ pumpkin spice lattes?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">wonderful. carry on.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-11080321924336205272016-01-01T15:15:00.000-05:002016-01-01T17:03:06.960-05:00Columns | FUCK YOUR LIFESTYLE SHAMING<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Jetboy Crisp</span></b><br />
<br />
You know what? I'll tell ya.<br />
<br />
FUCK YOU.<br />
<br />
Yes, YOU, with your stupid fucking marathon runs for AIDS, or whatever. You're not doing it for the cause, you lying cunt—we all know the real reason. You want that all-important feeling of superiority.<br />
<br />
We see it in your CrossFit updates on Facebook; the Instagram pics of your latest vegan cuisine conquest; your gym member t-shirt. The "tsk-tsk" you give the rest of us whenever you see the fast food wrappers on the passenger side floor of our cars. The repulsed expression on your face every time one of us farts. YOU aren't fooling ANYONE, fucker.<br />
<br />
If I had a quarter for every time some smug <b>hamster wheel jockey, </b>fresh from some torrid affair with an exercise bike,<b> </b>had the audacity to tell me everything I'm doing wrong with my life, I'd make a dildo out of quarters and pistol-whip that sonofabitch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDiO3QFLarVGicZP7lTPwvSyEjvK9y32LrGe_Z0914RWWMJ5xLy9w0owNby9mcjSXQRtyDoAM_dBGvVnR7baza1E5Mu_uIYlPaIx-fq8CKlE1lAKdrC7fSeIV9a1iWGrJADeXS9Hg6JGS/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDiO3QFLarVGicZP7lTPwvSyEjvK9y32LrGe_Z0914RWWMJ5xLy9w0owNby9mcjSXQRtyDoAM_dBGvVnR7baza1E5Mu_uIYlPaIx-fq8CKlE1lAKdrC7fSeIV9a1iWGrJADeXS9Hg6JGS/s400/download.jpg" /></a></div>
Do us all a favor: get yourself a fucking life—and then end it.<br />
<br />
Just go ahead, kill yourself.<br />
<br />
That way, you can be sure you died young, and pretty, at your <b>physical fucking peak</b>, while the rest of us fall apart slowly from self-abuse with pizza while binge-watching marathons of Breaking Bad.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-18172368938516857852016-01-01T15:12:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:54:36.999-05:00Columns | This Town Needs an Enema<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Sam Sinister </span></b><br />
<br />
So, I'm living in Cleveland now, and I'm trying to blend in with the natives. NO, I'm not pretending to be a huge Browns advocate who hates himself... in fact, while we're on the topic, FUCK FOOTBALL.<br />
<br />
I'm listening to the Pack A.D. and Black Death, and drinking the last of the Black Velvet in my freezer, and it occurs to me: I have <i>no fucking clue</i> what to write.<br />
<br />
This is an ongoing problem.<br />
<br />
So <i>why </i>would I want to write a zine? <b>Because this town needs an enema.</b> But I'm out of booze, and I'm already drunk, but<i> not quite </i>drunk enough. Maybe I should walk to the corner store... think I'll get run over?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f3TiyrZJCkhUQEw_wDjnYDvp1PDyWRLFC5dQ5L_u-9m75PAQ6QejJZj5DEsoRgIBvyN6GHg7fJ0sqDdZn7qtuVPqfEdPHtIr26cvxT3hY_l_hYo1EN83MGmETCKS80bLXWmXcnXkqE4t/s1600/IMAG0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f3TiyrZJCkhUQEw_wDjnYDvp1PDyWRLFC5dQ5L_u-9m75PAQ6QejJZj5DEsoRgIBvyN6GHg7fJ0sqDdZn7qtuVPqfEdPHtIr26cvxT3hY_l_hYo1EN83MGmETCKS80bLXWmXcnXkqE4t/s320/IMAG0071.jpg" width="179" /></a>I'm thinking about punk rock, the rarity that is good metal, or at least what <i>I </i>would consider good, GG Allin on Jerry Springer, and booze.<br />
<br />
And Cleveland.<br />
<br />
<i>Specifically</i>, why there are so many bands, and <i>none </i>of them know about each other—<br />
<br />
Eureka! THAT'S why I wanted to write a zine. <b>Because these lazy, self-centered fucks won't know how to network with each other if somebody doesn't.</b><br />
<br />
This piece is going to be a whole fucking mess in the morning when I sober up.<br />
<br />
Fuck it.<br />
<br />
Microsoft just won't let up with their fucking offers for Windows 10<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sam Sinister is a 30-something Pennsylvanian living in enemy territory who writes music and prose on a laptop in his bathroom. He is the former vocalist for street punk band Dead City Dealers, and currently plays guitar in Sump Pump Sluts and Kingsbury Runners, and sings for digital hardcore outfit, Shart 69.</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-72646156442807875272016-01-01T15:01:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:53:35.424-05:00Columns | What Ruins Local Shows<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>by John Stahlman</b></span><br />
<br />
As someone who has played, and went to local shows for like a decade, I have seen bands that were really killer, and blew my mind, and others that just made me wish I spent my $4 on a couple of 40's instead. I do not normally say a band outright <em>sucks</em>, but there are some bands that just <strong>annoy the piss out of me</strong>, and tend to just make for a boring show, and then people wonder why their music scene dies.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 2em;"><strong>Tᴏᴘ 5 Bᴀɴᴅs Tʜᴀᴛ Wɪʟʟ Rᴜɪɴ Your Lᴏᴄᴀʟ Sʜᴏᴡ</strong></span><br />
<br />
<strong><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
5. Tʜᴇ Bᴀɴᴅ Tʜᴀᴛ Oɴʟʏ Pʟᴀʏs 3 Sᴏɴɢs</span></strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcd5hmn3UIv4eKwl15zSlPISfcO6Xp7sHZHvXo3DZhqMVELJ2xZdc1ZIXhoTTJ-dcH8y5oOPR6FfhmduAEVJcYmcb9UuYHbUSSc_w4N8jqZC0ATJzO0w6HGhD5WoSobO_5SDv0E-_Sq7T/s1600/y+u+no.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcd5hmn3UIv4eKwl15zSlPISfcO6Xp7sHZHvXo3DZhqMVELJ2xZdc1ZIXhoTTJ-dcH8y5oOPR6FfhmduAEVJcYmcb9UuYHbUSSc_w4N8jqZC0ATJzO0w6HGhD5WoSobO_5SDv0E-_Sq7T/s320/y+u+no.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I get that some bands have to start <em>somewhere</em>, but unless your three songs take up <strong>the whole set list</strong>, add some covers, or write more material before playing. It just seems like a waste of time to see a music group play for 8 minutes and then leave.<br />
<br />
This is <em>especially</em> bullshit when you go to a show that is supposed to be, like, 3 hours long, and it ends in a half hour because<strong> the show was booked with nothing but bands that do this</strong>. It also hurts the promoter who rented the venue, out of the amount of money they paid to keep the place open long enough for bands to have a half-hour set each.<br />
<br />
This results in the promoter not wanting to waste their money, and just not even bothering in the first place. Nice job, guys.<br />
<br />
<strong><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
4. Tʜᴇ Sᴇʟғ-Rɪɢʜᴛᴇᴏᴜs Pᴜɴᴋ Bᴀɴᴅ Tʜᴀᴛ Dᴏesɴ'ᴛ Sʜᴜᴛ the Fuck Uᴘ</span></strong><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AjxNPVpjT77wCXqiUnLbd2ZXggleGX36TWhoDqwqxl5cbvaW5qqkqfEk4w3rDTxXlfSCPPNophiYuoriGHU9R5Rzxmdrvd6ZtzGn9MjqsTU3Lx3gD4N3FXoGXplpCpcFuCDWTvX16q-b/s1600/Crass_pete_steve_andy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AjxNPVpjT77wCXqiUnLbd2ZXggleGX36TWhoDqwqxl5cbvaW5qqkqfEk4w3rDTxXlfSCPPNophiYuoriGHU9R5Rzxmdrvd6ZtzGn9MjqsTU3Lx3gD4N3FXoGXplpCpcFuCDWTvX16q-b/s320/Crass_pete_steve_andy.png" width="320" /></a>I have nothing against political bands, or bands that stand for an agenda, but I really fucking hate it when the entire set is based on how your views are better than everyone else's and how we should be ashamed of ourselves because we:<br />
<ol>
<li>drink</li>
<li>eat meat</li>
<li>vote</li>
<li>don't vote</li>
<li>live and breathe</li>
</ol>
Just fucking play. If I wanted to go to a concert with nothing but holier-than-thou, fascist bullshit ranters telling me how to live my life, I'd go see Ted Nugent.<br />
<br />
(At least with Nugent, there's <em>supposed</em> to be the bullshit rockstar mentality of him being at a higher standing than the audience. In a local show the audience and the performers are equals, so treat us all like your equals and do what you're there to do: play.)<br />
<br />
If you want to play a song and then just rant, <strong>go to a damn protest</strong>, and play there.<br />
<br />
Or create a blog or a zine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iptX6liMF5SVFGmuDmbnKkv7WduPaOfRK7Y8KmuklufXxdj7XglThnlC6G_H1K4MGM1913u8zKBrOOeUvW6ZqeglulxQviur_5Zpf2jwh0zO2RR3RriYsltSH_cCGZNE5NkfLUSjyRxc/s1600/blank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iptX6liMF5SVFGmuDmbnKkv7WduPaOfRK7Y8KmuklufXxdj7XglThnlC6G_H1K4MGM1913u8zKBrOOeUvW6ZqeglulxQviur_5Zpf2jwh0zO2RR3RriYsltSH_cCGZNE5NkfLUSjyRxc/s200/blank.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: large;">3. Tʜᴇ Pᴏᴘ Pᴜɴᴋ Cᴏᴠᴇʀ Bᴀɴᴅ</span></strong><br />
<br />
This is something that I run into all the time. Like, I've been to shows where 5 bands played the same Blink 182 and Fallout Boys songs, over and over. Like, how about actually writing <em>original</em> material, so everything doesn't just sound like an iPod playlist on fucking repeat?<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
2. Tʜᴇ Oᴠᴇʀᴛʟʏ Hᴀʀᴅ-Ass Mᴇᴛᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ Bᴇᴀᴛᴅᴏᴡɴ Hᴀʀᴅᴄᴏʀᴇ Bᴀɴᴅ</span></strong><br />
<br />
Metal is known for its "hyper-masculinity," but in most cases it's tolerable, and is just based on looks, and not their actual personalities.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdJniYJSVLqJOGHi1qGtglJ-ZnyTjJ6uxlHx1IGLKj2FyKNDP3jbgxxQxzIBJJ19Wi9L9l8UfGG9vvVsdRLPhljPUsE8JgfHz7z-jB0caq_OKD2HKOq4pz9f0F9iqf5cFt7Wjy0CzH9OV/s1600/Meshuggah_Kidman2_2008_Prague.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdJniYJSVLqJOGHi1qGtglJ-ZnyTjJ6uxlHx1IGLKj2FyKNDP3jbgxxQxzIBJJ19Wi9L9l8UfGG9vvVsdRLPhljPUsE8JgfHz7z-jB0caq_OKD2HKOq4pz9f0F9iqf5cFt7Wjy0CzH9OV/s320/Meshuggah_Kidman2_2008_Prague.jpg" width="320" /></a>However, every so often, some douchebags with <strong>ʀᴏɪᴅ-ʀᴀɢᴇ</strong> decide to start a band, and then just try to be heavy and "hardcore", so they can seem cool. These bands usually have the singer beating on his chest like a gorilla, threaten people for not voting for them at the battle of the bands, and flex their muscles a lot.<br />
<br />
The worst thing about these bands is that they attract even <em>more</em> douchey friends, who gang up and beat on people who call them out for being a douche.<br />
<br />
Not to mention, most people in these bands are in love with Disturbed and Five Finger Death Punch, and will stop at nothing to replicate the shitty sound of those bands.<br />
<br />
<strong><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
1. Tʜᴇ Mᴇᴛᴀʟᴄᴏʀᴇ/Dᴇᴀᴛʜᴄᴏʀᴇ Bᴀɴᴅ</span></strong><br />
<br />
First of all, I wanna say this does <em>not</em> include bands who have the sound of the first wave metalcore bands (like Earth Crisis, Shah Hulud, Bio Hazard, and Chokehold). The number-one type of band that can ruin a local show are bands that wanna be Whitechapel, Bring me the Horizon, or A Day to Remember. Say what you want about these bands, they have their fan base (which may have fucked tastes in music, but whatever) and it's not the fact that they play metalcore—It's the fact that <em>they all sound the fucking same</em>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox5G0JpwUGiDVeet3LGQfFpaOtLpjURX67ngbFJfUf04jMw7K7GN8e25cVV6EjnmMlLlge-T8HwQe0nKOzX_CS-o9qci9p8o6THfUSbIR6_qc9EUTOaNDmZOzLyIRhOZAFhfiIMBitjXO/s1600/Bring-Me-The-Horizon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox5G0JpwUGiDVeet3LGQfFpaOtLpjURX67ngbFJfUf04jMw7K7GN8e25cVV6EjnmMlLlge-T8HwQe0nKOzX_CS-o9qci9p8o6THfUSbIR6_qc9EUTOaNDmZOzLyIRhOZAFhfiIMBitjXO/s320/Bring-Me-The-Horizon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These local metalcore bands (or deathcore bands—both are fucking guilty of this) try so hard to be like their idols, they bring nothing new to the table. I guarantee if you walk out in the middle of a local metal band's set and come back with your eyes closed during the next band's set, you'd swear it was <em>the same fucking band</em>.<br />
<br />
Every time I go to a show anymore it seems all it is is "chug-chug breakdown, off-pitched, flat, clean, pop punk vocals," and shallow growls and screams during yet-another-fucking breakdown. The local metalcore bands are so formulaic that it just makes everything so boring, so no one fucking cares that a band is playing, and most of the crowd just flocks to the bar. (Unless it's a dry show, then the crowd just stands there and stares, or makes fun of the kids with their Hot Topic/Warped Tour shirts, trying to mosh to the br00t4l bands.)<br />
<br />
I, on the other hand, go throw up in a fucking trash can.<br />
<br />
Now, in all honesty, I would not have a problem with these bands if they just did something that was <strong>their own</strong>, instead of being <strong>carbon copies</strong>. It's like being a cover band without being a cover band.<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><i>John Stahlman is the current bassist of the punk trio Omission and has also been in numerous other bands in the northwestern Pa scene, including Paint Thinner, TxSxOxDx, Made Not Born, Wydell, and Choke The Bastard (now Vermin Warfare). He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and majored in Broadcast Communications with a minor in Public Relations, if that has any merit to it anymore. While at college he hosted a few radio shows at the campus' student radio station WDRQ1620 AM, most notably the Underground Vault, which played local music, and also covered the Biological and Health Sciences department while writing for the student newspaper The Source. Stahlman is currently unemployed, in debt, and has gotten to embrace even more of his nihilistic punk rock view of life.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-246650126862464052016-01-01T14:50:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:55:03.750-05:00News | Punk Rock Doc Union Calls for Boycott of New Cleveland Hardcore Documentary<h6>
by D.X. Ferris</h6>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEqvNELclIdQ6Cdeiv7liUaO5GeoiCzjBs0yLD3fKLb5_ovAUWKCIDAe1c09dgO7Xod4Gz7sBnG_BnrCjUaBRp6ZebWHg0xFRDjgrpU5fApnoEQJyrsfJKiVuTH7HIId-1r3Xy4wU_ENB/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEqvNELclIdQ6Cdeiv7liUaO5GeoiCzjBs0yLD3fKLb5_ovAUWKCIDAe1c09dgO7Xod4Gz7sBnG_BnrCjUaBRp6ZebWHg0xFRDjgrpU5fApnoEQJyrsfJKiVuTH7HIId-1r3Xy4wU_ENB/s400/download.jpg" width="400" /></a><strong>WASHINGTON, D.C. -</strong> The new hardcore documentary, <em>Destroy Cleveland,</em> has sparked an outcry from the Punk Rock Documentary & Historical Testimony Union.<br />
<br />
“All card-carrying punks should boycott this movie,” says Ian MacKaye, president of the union’s influential Washington, D.C. chapter, Local No. 138. “It is not up to the standards we have come to expect from a documentary about this important form of American music. Specifically, it fails to include testimony from several key figures in the history of punk rock.”<br />
<br />
Local 138 members include Dischord Records founder MacKaye (ex-Minor Threat, Fugazi) and fellow punk icon Henry Rollins (ex-Black Flag, S.O.A.).<br />
<br />
At least one of the duo have appeared in every punk history, including the book and movie versions of <em>American Hardcore, Punk: Attitude, The Art of Punk — Black Flag, We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen</em>, the D.C./Virginia episode of Dave Grohl’s <em>Sonic Highways</em> series, and About.com’s <em><a href="http://punkmusic.about.com/od/punk101/a/punkhistory2.htm" target="_blank">The History of Punk Rock</a></em>.<br />
<br />
But neither MacKaye nor longtime associate Rollins appear in the independently produced documentary.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know Cleveland hardcore, and I don’t have anything to say about it,” explained MacKaye in the chapter's plush office, a fat cigar dangling from his mouth. “But if you think you’re gonna make a punk rock documentary without Big Ian Mick-ay, you are sorely mistaken. I don’t care how many of your little buddies from the One Shocks Terror Crew or whatever want to relive their glory days; I have 15 of Dischord’s finest corporate lawyers on my side, plus another little secret weapon you may have heard of.”<br />
<br />
“That’s right,” added Rollins, emerging from a shadow in the corner. “I hear it’s a nice documentary the Ohio boys put together. It would be a shame if something were to… happen to it.”<br />
<br />
<em>Destroy Cleveland</em> director Matthew Greenfield, an Ohio native who currently lives in Texas, says MacKaye and Rollins simply do not belong in the movie.<br />
<br />
“Ian and Henry are accomplished figures in the punk movement, no question,” explained Greenfield via Skype. “But they weren’t on the scene. Though many Cleveland hardcore personalities went on to play in major acts like [platinum alt-rock band] Filter, Sepultura, and CIV, half the point of this film is to document groups whose primary audience and impact were in Cleveland.”<br />
<br />
According to MacKaye, the film’s initials, “D.C.,” constitute an actionable copyright infringement against both the phrase “[Washington] D.C.,” which he copyrighted in 1982, and the typographically specific term “harDCore.”<br />
<br />
Greenfield said he sent Dischord’s publicity firm a list of questions about Cleveland bands from the 1980s through the modern era, including Integrity, Confront, Outface and Face Value. According to the director, 13 months later, he received an invoice from the union, a postcard from MacKaye that read simply “Never heard of ’em — IxMx” and a list of demands that included 15 minutes of screen time for members of his local.<br />
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“Ian wanted me to pay for my own transportation to Washington,” claims Greenfield. “Then I would have had to pay $10,000 cash for him to tell me the story about the first time he saw [the] Bad Brains play in the D.C. ghetto. It has nothing to do with Cleveland. And I’ve heard it before.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8HsMk7S9_gmPBuwGdpSkDqU26kjMWR_cRRxoHM4ied6VDMhdxnIwkuyHNw393G0X7DqNz_3vd49KCqz4sJMh13Gz2IiQqFasNM_jXMisRgIf4H2EfArnHchFeDKQP7w_e6GiDRsPxXpC/s1600/Ian_MacKaye_Brooklyn_Book_Festival_2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8HsMk7S9_gmPBuwGdpSkDqU26kjMWR_cRRxoHM4ied6VDMhdxnIwkuyHNw393G0X7DqNz_3vd49KCqz4sJMh13Gz2IiQqFasNM_jXMisRgIf4H2EfArnHchFeDKQP7w_e6GiDRsPxXpC/s320/Ian_MacKaye_Brooklyn_Book_Festival_2008.jpg" width="266" /></a>“I’ll tell him what fits in his movie,” retorted MacKaye. “This is about two things: the historical truth, and me getting paid. One, if I don’t have anything to say about it, it never happened. And two, people don’t buy CDs any more, so appearing in documentaries is the primary means of income for our hard-working, law-abiding members. And lemme tell ya: bitches and hamburgers are not cheap.”<br />
<br />
“You heard Mister MacKaye,” said Rollins, flexing a massive right bicep. “We have a little saying around these parts: 'The "Ee" don’t talk for free.' ”<br />
<br />
“The cigar and the part about the burgers are off the record,” added MacKaye. “I’m a vegan icon.”<br />
<br />
<em>Destroy Cleveland</em> premiers Friday, July 24 at Cleveland’s Ohio City Masonic Center. A post-show concert will follow, at the nearby Foundry nightclub, featuring a reunion set by the Gordon Solie Motherfuckers.<br />
<br />
“Never heard of them, either,” said MacKaye.<br />
<br />
— 30 —<br />
<br />
<em>[Note to Reader: If you're taking any of this seriously, you're an idiot. -Ed.]</em><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.9636px; white-space: pre-wrap;">D.X. Ferris wrote two books about Slayer. People seem to like them. Learn more at </span><a href="http://slayerbio.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.9636px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">SlayerBio.com.</a><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.9636px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Ferris doodles a webcomic called </span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suburban Metal Dad</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.9636px; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Nobody seems to like it. Learn more at </span><a href="http://suburbanmetaldad.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; line-height: 13.9636px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">SuburbanMetalDad.com.</a><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 13.9636px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> He used to write the </i>Around Hear<i> column for Cleveland Scene, back when it was still half-decent. He started doing DDP Yoga after throwing his back out while humping your mom.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-14607334546163501032016-01-01T14:42:00.000-05:002016-01-01T16:55:20.738-05:00Columns | SNACK REVIEWS<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBGvHaUCUuX7rZhRbAA547f9v6AL_DifKeHzFikCyIn87bN96jry0rDuID8XO_K1zzBlBIOx4lNqPVRSixRMwRiuhi5XRzRY8jy7GN0nxL4S4ORsU9sY8CBRgRTy0-dDSAPulsetjWdln/s1600/Untitled-7+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBGvHaUCUuX7rZhRbAA547f9v6AL_DifKeHzFikCyIn87bN96jry0rDuID8XO_K1zzBlBIOx4lNqPVRSixRMwRiuhi5XRzRY8jy7GN0nxL4S4ORsU9sY8CBRgRTy0-dDSAPulsetjWdln/s640/Untitled-7+copy.jpg" width="100%" /></a><br />
<br />
Welcome to the first of hopefully many parts of this here review section, focused around all those things that people tell us not to eat—Namely candy, snacks, junk food, sodas, and things of that nature.<br />
<br />
For future reviews, I might bring in some outside help, and have a little discussion around the sampled goodies. But for this first time around, you’ll just have to keep up with my company. I’m Mike Original, and if you got some snacks or something you think I’d like, please contact me.<br />
<br />
For this first edition, I went on a <b>strool</b> downtown, and checked into the different Asian markets we have where I live. I frequent one of the stores pretty often and the people working there are very helpful and also tease you if you choose the less strong <b>sweetchilisauce</b>, so it’s a good store. They have a large selection of sweets and things of that nature, but I had decided beforehand to focus on chips and the likes of that, so no candy this time.<br />
<br />
I also bought the drink I’m reviewing there. Thank you to Khai Hoan and Siam Shop in Linköping.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVz6e_LvhqAheX8PyEF-GLPJTzA5ad2B2MtQaW6pubsf_9M_rd5KM6bf9w-xIYZWg0KkQ8w0zMSXVP3N4R88_S3pnyLnHFndqybTF1eIdKyJfUEYzzUDiQy8KKfnd5gZrh638Jl76Oisf/s1600/Chicken+Spicy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVz6e_LvhqAheX8PyEF-GLPJTzA5ad2B2MtQaW6pubsf_9M_rd5KM6bf9w-xIYZWg0KkQ8w0zMSXVP3N4R88_S3pnyLnHFndqybTF1eIdKyJfUEYzzUDiQy8KKfnd5gZrh638Jl76Oisf/s320/Chicken+Spicy.jpg" width="250" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name: Carada Nugget</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Flavour: Chicken Spicy</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Made by: Greenland</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Weight: 75g</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Not suitable for cornallergics</b><br />
<br />
I’ve been a vegetarian for over 20 years and chicken is pretty much the only thing I miss eating, so I was really excited to try this snack. The snack is a puffed corn, similar to a cheese crunchie, but square. I liked that it was crispy and had a bite to it, but still was easy to eat much like already mentioned cheese crunchie, or something of that nature. To quote one of those pretentious <b>TV-chefs</b>... it was light, and I don’t really see a problem eating the whole bag without getting sick. The snack might be baked instead of fried actually, which only adds to the light feeling. The big winner with this snack is the taste. It tastes great. Not sure it tastes like chicken, but maybe a little if I remember correctly. The taste is a bit sweet and has a good pepper-taste. It’s not hot but the pepper gives it a nice warm feeling when you eat it. It’s black pepper, and they manage to sprinkle exactly the right amount on these snacks to make it taste great. I also like the fact that the ingredientslist isn’t a mile long, it’s only 5 ingredients and from what I can see they’re all natural. Corn, rice, sugar, pepper and vegetable oil. Perfect.<br />
<br />
Definitely a snack I’ll buy again. Highly recommended!<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">8/10</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeast-j-FOFRr-2jyn0A3lSrcKPEQnxv6SSIJwRXCE8d3m424fUFzy_lZHXHqI1ujFNhsMxoWJGYqwrED4IuRTt6JVtjE_mS0mhUNpDuJaDoefm7m7ZKHw98hwyJAFBY2zxI2VDwC_HSd/s1600/Sesame+Seaweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeast-j-FOFRr-2jyn0A3lSrcKPEQnxv6SSIJwRXCE8d3m424fUFzy_lZHXHqI1ujFNhsMxoWJGYqwrED4IuRTt6JVtjE_mS0mhUNpDuJaDoefm7m7ZKHw98hwyJAFBY2zxI2VDwC_HSd/s320/Sesame+Seaweed.jpg" width="246" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name: Carada Nugget</span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Flavour: Sesame Seaweed</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Made by: Greenland</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Weight: 75g</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Not suitable for cornallergics or soyallergics</b><br />
<br />
Same company and same sort of snacks as the Chicken Spicy-snack. Whenever I go out to eat sushi I always get the seaweed-salad. It has quickly become one of my favourite things to eat.<br />
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Does it translate well into a snack? Well…. Not really, I’m afraid. I was hoping that this snack would either be just as tasty as the salad or disgusting to the point of being funny.<br />
<br />
But it wasn’t any of those things. I kinda liked the snack, but it wasn’t anywhere near as tasty as the chicken spicy. It was sweet and had a little aftertaste of the seaweed, but nothing that stood out really. It was actually a bit too sweet to be a snack for a <b>movienight</b>, but wasn’t sweet enough to be a <i>candy </i>for a <b>movienight</b>. I tried it before I tried the chicken spicy so the grade for this one got lowered when I found out exactly how good snacks from the Greenland company can be. If someone had these and treated me to a couple I’d eat them, but it wasn’t as good as I hoped. It’s hard to translate something as delicious as seaweed-salad into a <b>cornsnack</b>… but nice try!<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b> <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">6/10</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XJ9YHFxRHjlJ0UTFrJqTVAMomrQ80zZdcjYl7WS5pBGFse2gOPZ1G8LQbPOdWemaXddbMC3FWe4Bit6GzIlV0c-XzKoa9XpzhAJTYsRsAmvPfgXuQyZPdBBU-1mfLne400kR2XSJePVF/s1600/Cornae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XJ9YHFxRHjlJ0UTFrJqTVAMomrQ80zZdcjYl7WS5pBGFse2gOPZ1G8LQbPOdWemaXddbMC3FWe4Bit6GzIlV0c-XzKoa9XpzhAJTYsRsAmvPfgXuQyZPdBBU-1mfLne400kR2XSJePVF/s320/Cornae.jpg" width="256" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name: Cornae</span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Flavour: American Corn Snack</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Made by: Useful Food</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Weight: 56g</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Not suitable for cornallergics or soyallergics</b><br />
<br />
In Sweden we have a snack called Sombreros, which is basically the same snacks as these but this is much sweeter. I’m not really into snacks being sweet, I’m more into salty, hot, or with some kind of onion or herbal-flavour. Since I’m used to the Sombreros, which are salty, it felt a bit weird to eat these snacks, which look exactly the same but taste differently. When I got over the sweet in the flavour it was ok, but still not digging it a whole lot.<br />
<br />
A funny thing about this bag is the note on the back which states that the snack is “attractive to eat, valuable to health and good for family’s…” Not sure if corn snacks are really valuable for your health, but hey.. if the bag says so, it must be true.. mustn’t it? I’ll stick with Sombreros in the future.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5/10</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdGBQFAaBIQLtDMW8kW8BTkpvJajUO4I5vaOONd5RqyycGPD7QKpkXItOAQ4s5382QdMAdU7X9JQKVEFwZi2ABAVjTpHG71Z6ySdc1lmzf_5uMhyDXZNqRSh8dfN4myQL4nbeUBy0ZOlo/s1600/Snack+Jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdGBQFAaBIQLtDMW8kW8BTkpvJajUO4I5vaOONd5RqyycGPD7QKpkXItOAQ4s5382QdMAdU7X9JQKVEFwZi2ABAVjTpHG71Z6ySdc1lmzf_5uMhyDXZNqRSh8dfN4myQL4nbeUBy0ZOlo/s320/Snack+Jack.jpg" width="264" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name: Snack Jack</span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Flavour: BBQ</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Made By: Unknown (Can’t read Thai… sorry)</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Weight: 70g</b><br />
<br />
First thing that hit me when I opened the bag was that it had a strong scent, and I understood right away that this time it’s gonna be hot. I was partially right.<br />
<br />
It was pretty hot, but not to the point of being unbearable. I’m in no way a tough person when it comes to spices and <b>chiliflavours </b>but this was on the right side of that line. I like it hot, but to a certain degree.<br />
<br />
Jalapénos is usually my go to place when I wanna spice something up. Snack Jack packed a good sort of hot punch and it gave me a light burning sensation on my tongue, but it’s good.<br />
<br />
It has a bbq flavour which fades out into this strong taste that stays with you after the bag is done. The color of the snack might be a bit offputting for some. It’s sorta looks like French fries with a hint of green to it, but that’s all from the snacks being made with green peas. This is a first for me, and I hope it’s not the last because the consistency is perfect. Crispy with a bite to it, and I think the green peas gives it a sweet flavour which mixes perfectly with the strong spices.<br />
<br />
I also love the logo. A happy green pea with a head band, can’t go wrong with that. Snack Jack, ladies and gentlemen: My new friend.<br />
<br />
I once again gotta hand it to Snack Jacks that the consistency is really nice, and every piece is packed full of taste. I really liked it, and my first encounter with snacks made with green peas couldn’t be better.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">8/10</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z96w-9WvNfmHif6imchZ4okOdUkaRgz0FNhZUW4-_YMGrWE8_cheUmSWmcR7In9X6iUVqyVM2xF69cukkiO18v7DvI7oh-kUamGy4ylPj2UhfrCP_Mb1T-DKj7kKS5PLGjUWeYblIpXG/s1600/Basil+Seed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z96w-9WvNfmHif6imchZ4okOdUkaRgz0FNhZUW4-_YMGrWE8_cheUmSWmcR7In9X6iUVqyVM2xF69cukkiO18v7DvI7oh-kUamGy4ylPj2UhfrCP_Mb1T-DKj7kKS5PLGjUWeYblIpXG/s320/Basil+Seed.jpg" width="180" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;">Name: Fresh</span></b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Flavour: Basil seed with honey</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>Made by: V. Thai Food</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b>290 ml</b><br />
<br />
Me and some friends meet up almost every Tuesday to hang out and watch UFC or a movie.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we buy funny snacks and drinks to try out, much like I have done for this review section. A couple of months ago, I bought a <b>coconutdrink </b>that had bits of coconut floating around in the drink. The taste was nice, but the pieces of nut were a bit hard for us to muster, since it had been soaking in liquid and got a bit slimy. So I thought I’d up the ante and try this basil seed drink.<br />
<br />
First thing I noticed was the smell—it had a light beer-smell to it, but mixed up with seawater that has been sitting in a glass still somewhere. The taste was also similar to how I think that old seawater taste, with a hint of something grassy if the grass had been wet and has gone a bit bad.<br />
<br />
The honey did nothing to disguise it, unfortunately. But the worst thing was all the seeds. I can’t get past drinking something that has small pieces of slimy, kinda-hard particles in it. I just can’t. I was about to throw up, first from the seeds and then from the taste, and then from trying to explain this drink.<br />
<br />
Hats off to anyone who can finish this bottle. On the shelves in the store there were more drinks like this, and if I know myself I’ll probably buy all of them... stay tuned.<br />
<br />
The grade is a bit higher because I got chocked about how undrinkable it was, and I think I might have to buy it some other time and try to get other people to drink it (To paraphrase GSMF from Cleveland: If I’m at your party you’re shit out of luck!).<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3/10</span></b></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-813045480997251046.post-83870094751936806022016-01-01T13:23:00.000-05:002016-01-05T19:47:52.268-05:00EDITORIAL<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4E2zkSAY-ZvNR5xwrVFT3OzR7Pe4-xtBBGg7lKihryY7u8Khd0TtsLrCxB98vdzD5IZmwwElElPbsDisN1Vj45GdNve1i4w1UKcqMLNhi40cJGuxf-zXoiBIGpXZnaVF3ZT8yVASj_6D/s1600/Artless+Nonculture+Pork+n+Beans+iPod+skin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4E2zkSAY-ZvNR5xwrVFT3OzR7Pe4-xtBBGg7lKihryY7u8Khd0TtsLrCxB98vdzD5IZmwwElElPbsDisN1Vj45GdNve1i4w1UKcqMLNhi40cJGuxf-zXoiBIGpXZnaVF3ZT8yVASj_6D/s320/Artless+Nonculture+Pork+n+Beans+iPod+skin.jpg" width="208" /></a>My idea of punk——and rock and roll in general, in fact——is for people who eat Speedway burgers after a night of binge drinking.<br />
<br />
People who like cartoons, horror movies, and dark comedy.<br />
<br />
People who listen to Little Richard and the Troggs just as much as they do the Ramones and the Stooges.<br />
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People who think pro-wrestling is better than football.<br />
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People who take stand up comedians more seriously than they do talking-head political commentators.<br />
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People who are in love with the truth, reality, and authenticity.<br />
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People who think costumes and gimmicks are lame——even if they like bands who use them.<br />
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People who know that three chords are all you need.<br />
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People who think 10-minute guitar or drum solos are useless and boring.<br />
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People who reject groupthink, and shirk political affiliations; people who identify as "punks" on their own terms; people who only follow the rules that make sense to them——even rules imposed on them by their local music scene.<br />
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People who don't care about social status, pecking orders, or scene "cred".<br />
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People who know the history and influences of the music they listen to; people who immerse themselves in it; people who seek it out, who dig deep, and can't get enough of it.<br />
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But, most of all, my idea of punk is for OUTSIDERS. So to the freaks, the geeks, the nerds, the weirdos, the obsessive-compulsives, the free-thinkers, the slobs, the tomboys, the faggots, the havenots, and the abnormals: This site is for you.<br />
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—Sam Sinister, Editor-In-CheapAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12792882942017044300noreply@blogger.com