I Saved Latin

It's official, I have one semester of college left. Two hours ago I walked out of my final exam of my seventh semester of college. Wow. If I lived on campus and had "lasting" relationships with more people at La Salle I would probably feel more nostalgic and perhaps a bit sad. But instead I'm kind of freaked out. Freaked out because this time next year I'll (hopefully) have a "real" job. Not just answering phones or serving families at their dinner tables, but wearing a tie and taking things seriously. Man, I hate this growing up stuff.

I've been listening to a lot of bands lately from the "glory days" of my generation of hardcore. Bands like American Nightmare, The Hope Conspiracy and Reach the Sky. Thinking about times when the Suicide File, There Were Wires and What Feeds the Fire would open up for Bane at the Met and northern colleges like UNH. I miss those times. It amazes me when I think about how much AN influenced modern day hardcore. They, quite literally, changed it. This happened in regards both to asthetic and lyrical content. Before them, New England (and nationwide, for that matter) hardcore kids dressed like they were going to see Ten Yard Fight and In My Eyes. Baggy-ish pants and everything. Then when AN came around, clothes got tighter and hair everywhere was dyed black. The lyrics weren't all about "the edge" and bad friends, they were about directed frustration. They attacked things that mattered. The 'scene' was less violent and more...dark. I remember waiting outside the Met in Providence for one the of best shows I have ever been to...Converge, American Nightmare, The Hope Conspiracy, Thursday and Planes Mistaken for Stars. Everyone outside wore black hoodies with the hoods up. Everyone was super nice and would eat Spike's hot dogs and wings before the show. The atmosphere was unbelievable.
Now it seems that the only thing that has remained is the look. Black hoods and tight jeans (I'm not criticizing that, I'm wearing the same thing at this moment.) But it's all intimidation. It used to be about intimidation against those we hated...the 9-5's and the emo-singer who stole your girl. Now everyone's against each other.
I don't know what the point of this is really. I just remember having terrible weeks at school and home and exploding when Bane or AN hit the stage. Screaming along to the Hope Con's "Truth and Purpose." Nothing else mattered. Now I don't wanna go to shows because I don't want to pay not to dive and go off. The Suicide File needs to get back together. The Hope Con needs to come around. Modern Life Is War, the closest thing we have to AN (we wouldn't have MLIW without AN,) needs to come around more often. And most of all, December 30 needs to roll around sooner. Bane in Worcester. Outbreak. And someother band I love (you know who.) But unfortunately because it's 2006 we'll have to deal witht the bullshit...the metal bands that have no place in a hardcore show and that gang of fuckers that needs to chill out.

I need to start a fucking band...

Playlist:
The Suicide File - Some Mistakes...
The Hope Con - all
AN - Background Music

Kafka - The Metamorphosis

Mercy

Check out Klosterman's article concerning Ali and hip-hop (it's a precursor of sorts to ESPN's special airing on Sunday, which explores the relationship between the boxer and rap.) I like how he calls T.O., "more apolitical than Jay Leno."

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=alirap1

Also, Planes Mistaken for Stars' new record, "Mercy" is great. Amazing? It's up there. Their set last night on the Church stole the show (as usual.) It amazing me how this band can be so great yet so underrated for so long. They've been around for a decade (next year.) I've only seen them headline a show once and the place was (maybe) a third full. Everybody needs to get into this band. Gutsy music.


Playlist:
PMFS - Mercy
Silent Drive - Love Is Worth It
Avail

Get-Hard (That's right, I'm 10.)

You should all check out the project that my buddy Gregg began. He decided to attends events in the city that he has never tried before, whenever he can. For instance he went to a "Rock School" and also Women's Wrestling in South Philly. Check out his blog. It's very entertaining.

http://gregggethard.blogspot.com/

Mmm...term papers.

Cop Killa!

Tis' the time of year of stress. Why is it that professors feel the need to wait until the end of the semester to load up the assignments? And why do I also wait until the end of the semester to begin term papers? Some things i'll forever ponder.

I found, well...Shelly found, my ipod last week. I'm not even going to say how long I was without it. Much too long. Last time I had it I used her luggage to go home and it was during this time that I lost it. I figured it was stolen and, actually, was planning on buying a new one in the coming weeks. Last week Shelly called me while she was packing to go to that state and she apparently found it hidden in a pocket in her luggage. To no avail I searched high and low for it for months; even looking in the luggage. But now I have it. So much music I missed. I always liked walking around the city listening to music. As someone who overthinks everything that happens, it's nice to just listen to music between locations. I was most excited to get back Spoon, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, the White Album, and assorted Dylan bootlegs. It's also nice to hear Ginsberg's and Bukowski's voices again.

So two weekends ago I had a bit of an incident. If you're reading this you probably already know about it, but honestly i'm still so angry and shaken up from it i'm not ready to rant about it yet. But as Gregg said, "One day soon you'll find this to be the funniest story of your life." Maybe so. But not until all the consequences are finished. And after I firebomb the police station. (Joke, officers.)

On another "i'm a big fuck-up and my life's a mess right now" point...i quit my job last weekend. Because Moriarty's is in the theater district and a magnet for simple-minded, Miller Lite soaked frat parties, my boss scheduled me 6 straight nights. Keep in mind, i'm in the heart of stressfull term paper/finals month. As a result I told him I didn't think I could continue working for him. As I told him, "There is no way i'm getting C's because of a fucking Irish Pub." Now, this might seem a bit aggressive but let's look at the facts. I've never missed a shift or been late in over three months, however my bosses continuously tell me to "get my shit together," along with other such positive reinforcements. One day, at the beginning of a shift when I had one single table, which had one single patron, I was in the kitchen making him a salad. The owner, being the hothead, Irish, ex-drill sergeant that he is, walked by and said, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" "I'm, ummm...making a salad." "No you're fucking not," he continued. "Are you always this fucking slow or just today?" In response I was honest; "Just today, sir." At that the entire kitchen broke out in laughter. "Oh shit," I thought, "the Mexicans know sarcasm. Now i'm in trouble." "Well, smartass. THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE A SALAD!!!" At that moment he walked over to the salad bin, shoved his hands in, threw it on the plate (creating a fucking mess), looked me in the eye and said "That's how you make a fucking salad!" Wow. I'm been speechless ever since. Now keep in mind that the first time I was ever "in trouble" at the pub was because I made a salad that was messy. I've had my fair share of bosses. And as a result i've had my fair share of jerkoff bosses. But this guy takes the cake. So do me a favor. Next time you walk by Moriarty's on 11th & Walnut...i don't even know. That's how messed up they are. They suck so much that I don't even know how to take revenge. Give me some ideas. Just do something. Just don't go in unless you're going to puke on patrons. Help me out.

Been a long time

A lot has happened over my last post. I work at Moriarty's Bar/Pub at 11th & Walnut. Come in and visit. I can't get you free beer but probably some fries or soup. Hell yeah...fries and soup. Because I had "so much experience as a server" they hired me. I fuck up more often than on occassion and my boss and I (surprise, surprise) hate eachother, but it pays well. Like any other job with workers my age, the drama never stops. It's annoying and frustrating so I deal with it by going in, doing my shit without talking to anyone, and leaving.
For those of you who know me, I love drinking. Most nights by 11 i'm sitting infront of the TV, watching Baseball Tonight and having some drinks. Sometimes even when I go out with friends I have "a little too much" and get a little, as Erich puts it, "rowdy." But the best beers I have ever drank are at 2:30 AM after i've been on my feet for 11 straight hours busting my ass. Soo good. And with 28 different beers on tap i'm in heaven.

On another note I saw Isis at the Church on Sunday. Wow. With about 10 amps and 15 pedals on stage I needed to change my pants every 10 minutes. So good. They had a day off from touring the Tweeter Centers of the country with Tool so they went for the intimate show. Soo loud. And I wonder why I get migraines.

I bought a bottle of Ballinger Scotch Whiskey yesterday after listening to Tom Waits and Johnny Cash for 2 straight hours. Mmmmm. I then proceded to stay up drinking while listening to "Live at Folsom Prison" on repeat. I love life.

I made two lists (I'm not trying to be Rob Gordon, I swear) in Stalinism today of the best shows I saw this summer, and the single best sets.

Best Shows (Lineups, atmosphere, etc,)
1. Radiohead - Tower Theater
*New songs were unbelievable. "Let Down"!
2. Mogwai & Torche - Starlight Ballroom
*And to think, I almost didn't get to go
3. Paint It Black, The Loved Ones, Cloak/Dagger - The Church
*Drunk stage diving
4. X & the Rollins Band - TLA
*Hot rockabilly girls
5. Bane, Modern Life is War, Outbreak - The Church
*No comment needed
6. Gorilla Biscuits & Murphy's Law - Starlight Ballroom
*Sung the last verse of "High Hopes" with Civ, while on the crowd. On par with singing "Walk Together, Rock Together" with Kevin Seconds
7. Sleater Kinney - Starlight Ballroom
*Third to last show ever. Made me a true believer
8. Sonic Youth - Starlight Ballroom
*Be Your Own Pet sucks so badly they bumped this to #8
9. Strike Anywhere, Modern Life Is War, Ignite - The Church
*More drunk stage diving
10. Envy - The Church
*Best live band ever

Best Sets (Performances, setlists, etc.)
1. Radiohead - Tower Theater
*Yup
2. Mogwai - Starlight Ballroom
*Yup
3. Gorilla Biscuits - Starlight Ballroom
*See above
4. Sleater Kinney - Starlight Ballroom
*And again
5. Envy - The Church
*Get stoned and listen to Envy, then you'll see
6. Paint It Black - The Church
* Dave's last show. Best PIB set ever
7. Lightning Bolt - Starlight Ballroom
* Woah...fucking insane. Way too drunk and stoned for that one
8. The Rollins Band - TLA
*Original lineup. Rollins live is...is...i don't even know what to say. Intense
9. Mission of Burma - The Church
*"That's when I reach for my revolver!"
10. Red Sparrowes - The Church
*I can't believe I was not on drugs for this

**Runner up --- Sonic Youth - Starlight Ballroom
*Didn't play enough old songs


Some say I need a life...

Senior??

So it's my first day as a Senior in college. So far i've succeeded in forgetting everybody's name and being late for my classes. I'm an asshole. Things around here are indeed weird as most of my friends graduated last year. I need some Uber St. love.

I have an interview tonight at Moriarty's bar/pub on 11th/Walnut. My Uncle John is covering my ass saying that I served at his pub in RI for about a year. This way I can prove my "experience" as a server. I hope this works out, I need a job.

Playlist:
Wilco - Summerteeth
Bob Dylan - Desire
Ian McEwan - Saturday

My Birthday

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=686470&blogID=155778502&MyToken=2992702f-0212-4c13-b425-9857ca820bc5

It's all there...

Hyped Bands (Usually) Suck...

I was welcomed at the computer this afternoon to news that last year's ultra-hyped cool-kid band, "Death From Above 1979" broke up. It reminded me of Bloc Party, Art Brut, the Rapture, and the 10,000+ other bands that yesterday and/or today have been deemed "cool," yet who fade out a year later. These bands rely on and swell in the drool that drips from the mouths of early and mid-20's "indie kids" with moustaches and jackets in August. Anti-hipster blog propaganda with always exist, but shit...last year this band was literally THE COOLEST BAND EVER. They sold out the Church on numerous occasions. "Duude...you haven't got their record yet. You should check it out duude. It's so, The Futureheads meets Wire meets Lightning Bolt. You'd like it maan."

There will always be "cool new bands," but not all of them are bad. Some deserve the credit they'r given so early on in their careers. The Strokes write really good rock and roll songs. The Decemberists are really original. The Arcade Fire, as annoying as they've become, are really talented song-writers. But dance-punk-pop, even when made simply with drums and a bass, is not original. Your moustaches suck. Your girl pants suck. I could start a band like all that shit, dress like them, and I'll bet people would take notice. It's fuckin sad.

Playlist:
Fear & Black Flag

One More For Papi

Riot Grrls are Hot (But They'd Probably Beat Me Up If They Read That)

Last night was the long awaited Sleater-Kinney show at the Starlight, one of their last shows together. To be honest, I wouldn't have put that much effort into going if my girlfriend wasn't so into them. But I went. I looked forward to it, but not like others did. Holy shit though, they blew me away. Maybe it was the Bud Ice I was constantly ingesting but a 30-something year old woman with short hair, electric guitar, and screaming at the top of her lungs makes me giddy and hot all over. Woah. Perhaps the second best set I've seen all summer (behind Mogwai.) I wish I could find a setlist somewhere. Oh yeah, and they appreciated my request for Mother. "Hahaha...Danzig ::shakes head::"

I'm at La Salle working right now which means that no, all those motherfuckers I've been applying to for a job the past month don't wanna hire me. Oh well, I'm done caring (I think.) Anyways, Friday was the Paint it Black show at the Church. In typical fashion drinks were had at the Midtown beforehand. 24 oz.'s in the street between sets. Cloak/Dagger rules. Erich's a moron and hurt himself really badly during the Loved Ones (also known as "a bunch of rock stars.") PIB played one of their best sets ever. No joke. Stage dive mania. Next Sunday is Gorilla Biscuits and I'm gonna dive once every 45 seconds. Go ahead, pilgrim...prove me wrong.

Ahhh summer...stagedives & high-fives. Fuckin hot out. Depressing world news. Go Israel. Fuck the Yankees. Go Sox. Go Twins. Fuck nursing students. Go dehydration...

Playlists:
R.E.M. - Eponymous, Automatic for the People
These Arms Are Snakes - Easter (Got my hands on an advanced copy. This band doesn't relent. So good.)

The Economist
Pet Cemetary - Stephen King

Horror

I have officially yet accidently found the scariest thing of all time. This surpasses all. Listening to Sunn O))), while reading HP Lovecraft, alone, while it's storming so badly outside that it looks like it is 8 pm rather than 3 pm. Fuck.

Ohio: Where Nothing Has Changed Since 1803

I survived, and, contrary to my expectations, I had a blast. My family and I went to Ohio this past weekend for my cousin's wedding. 26 hours in the car all together. I could write a book about the weekend but highlights included: getting drunk with family everynight, telling people to stop ask me who's getting married next, getting closer with my cousins, and dancing like a drunken fool to 60's R&B with my mom at the reception. It was simply a really good time. Plus when I was in RI I got to have (real) clamcakes & chowda, watch the Sox on NESN, argue about the politics with every single person around, drum on my kit, and actually drive a car. I hadn't driven in about 6 months so when driving on 95 through my state I went an average of 50 mph like the old folks from Woonsocket. It's good to be back in Philly though...

I had my interview for my internship at the Food Trust this morning. It took 10 minutes for me to get it. Fuck yes. It's a rad organization; dealing with the school districts to ban soda and junk food and to get more healthy foods in there. They also put on Farmer's Markets throughout the city, suburb, and Camden. In a nutshell they make healthy and affordable food available to those who either don't have access to it or cannot afford it. Neil Young and Willy Nelson would be proud. I'm down. www.thefoodtrust.org

Oh yeah, and Lance from N'Sync is gay. Who would've guessed??
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/26/people.lancebass.ap/index.html

Playlist for Vacation:

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Tom Waits - Mule Variations
Dropkick Murphys - Do Or Die
Strike Anywhere - Change Is A Sound
Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today
Bad Brains - all
Trojan Records Dub Box Set
The Pogues - Greatest Hits

It's That Time of Year...

So we're officially beginning to end July. This summer is flying by (not meant to rhyme,) and just in time (there I go again)...the Red Sox are beginning their steady decline to end up behind the Yankees come playoff time. The losses have been monumental. I think the other night was something like 3-13. Last night the A's kicked their asses all over Fenway. They've lost 4 out of their last 5 games. What's funny though, and what most people know about Sox fans, is that I saw it coming all along. I was prepared. I'm dissapointed, but not that dissapointed, (yet.) When the Sox were riding high in the months leading up to the All-Star break, Shelly mentioned one night as I was watching Sportscenter that I must be happy and excited about it. "Yeah," I shrugged, "But it won't last, you'll see." What was percieved as my perpetual pessimism was in fact, my being rational. I accept the fact that, though we are, as of today, 1/2 a game in front of the Yank's, by next week's end we will be trailing by a game or two. If we're lucky. I'm not pessimistic. I'm realistic.

Last night we saw Mission of Burma. They are, in fact, the second loudest band I have ever seen. Behind, of course, the mighty Motorhead who go so far as to hand out free earplugs at their shows (presumably because the cost of a hundred thousand earplugs is much less than the cost of being sued for aiding in the deafness of their fans, or their younger fans' fathers who watch passively from the back, for hundreds of thousands of dollars. It's a safety precaution. It's common fucking sense.) Anyway, MOB rocked hard. They're so old thoug, that they played two sets. They had to take a break halfway though (I'm assuming because of the heat) for about 10 minutes before they played the second half of their set. It was great, though. They played a lot of new songs, which I didn't mind in the least, because their two new records are great. But they also played a lot of old songs. Opened with "This Is Not a Photograph." Closed the first set with "That's When I Reach for my Revolver." Closed the show with "Academy Fight Song" and encoured with "Fame & Fortune," (among the many other old-head favorites that they played.) My only complaint was the crowd. It seemed as if the majority didn't know any of their songs. Oh well, their loss. Hopefully they'll pick up on the hint and go buy their CD's now.

Playlists:
Cursive - Burst & Bloom, Domestica
Planes Mistaken for Stars
Rites of Spring
Rumbleseat - ...Is Dead
Tragedy - Vengeance

Kurt Vonnegut - Timequake (Amazing!)
Camus - Exile & the Kingdom

The World Cup & Flea Markets (Life's Good)

Recent happenings include:
The World Cup Finals yesterday. That headbutt was vicious and stupid. 10 minutes left in overtime, when your team in one goal away from winning it all, and you lose control. Accrding to a report from the BBC, Materazzi might have said something about Zidane's mother to provoke him to headbutt him. Unbelievable.
Punk Rock Flea Market on Saturday. So much good stuff. I got gig posters for the (only) City of Caterpillar show in Philadelphia, the recent Isis/Zombi show at the Church, and the recent Boredoms, Lightning Bolt show from a couple of weeks ago. Also, 4 CD's (Avail - Dixie, Jawbreaker - Dear You, Inside Out - No Spiritual Surrender, Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me.) I think that I got all 4 for a collective $24 or so. Pretty sweet deal.
A few days before I saw Career Suicide, Government Warning & Splitting Headache in a basement in West Philly. That was a pretty sweet deal also.
Daggers of Throwing appears to be getting back together. We're looking for practice spaces in the city. If anyone has any tips on any, let me know. I think we'll be taking things a bit more seriously too.
Also, I'm in the market for a new job. I'm working at La Salle right now, I've been here for over 3 hours so far today and I've barely done any work, I just keep hiding. I can't stand it here and I make practically nothing. At least not enough to get by with. I applied to Borders yesterday. I hope I get it.
Just finished Killing Yourself To Live by Klosterman for the 2nd time. Such a good read.

Last night we watched all this old Nazi Germany footage in color. It seems so much more...real, than the classic black and white footage we're all so used to. It really freaked me out.
...But then I got stoned and ate two slices of Lorenzos.

Playlist:
the 4 CD's I bought at the Flea Market (namely Jawbreaker)
Radiohead - No Surprises (over and over and over again before I go to bed)
Bane - Holding This Moment
Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted

Cash - Johnny Cash (The Autobiography) (The 2nd book I'm reading in a row, for a second time...and I don't know why.)

Made in Germany: Stinkbombens

I ordered 45 stinkbombs that finally came in yesterday. Today at work Gregg and I let some off. Oh my God...they smell so bad. Haha I'm going to have so much fun with these. I also got a switchblade comb. It rules.

Last night I went to a screening of the new Minutemen documentary: "We Jam Econo." Wow, what a band. So original, especially in the stringent and often times insipid hardcore/punk scene. To put it simply they make me want to start a new band, (an endeavor I'm in the process of dealing with.) Mike Watt narrated a good deal of the film and shed a lot of light on aspects of the band that always remained mysterious to me. There's a chapter about them in the great book, "Our band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground," but the film went three steps further. Watt said something interesting about Bob Dylan during an interview that I can't get out of my head. He said something along the lines of, "hearing Bob Dylan is like hearing your pop speak." Wow. I've never heard it better put. Everytime you put on a Dylan record, even though you know the thing by heart, you know when he opens his mouth that it is incredibly important and you damn well better not forget it. Another thing I liked about the documentary was that they didn't focus too much on D. Boon's death as I expected they would. If anything they focused too little on it. There's a tendency in documentaries about bands, in a world where singer's are seen as the most important part of bands, to put too much emphasis on them, leaving the rest of the band behind the scenes and seemingly trivial. I was appreciative that the filmmakers didn't fall into that trap.

Other news...other news...other news...I finished "Still Life with Woodpecker" by Tom Robbins last Night. I liked it a lot more than other stuff I read by him. He's part Chuck Palahniuk, part Vonnegut, part Thompson, and yet unbelievably original. He's just, so...weird. Definately the best book I've read so far this summer. Now I'm onto a biography of Elvis Costello. Fuckin' right.

Playlist:
The Beatles - Revolver, Magical Mystery Tour
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
Ramones - s/t
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
National Geographic
IFC

Buy this CD

Seriously.

The Cup

Last night the Canes won the Cup. Cam Ward won playoff MVP...right on. What an awesome time the playoffs were, but it was weird not watching them at home with my dad. At least this way I can get drunk while I watch though. Tomorrow night i'm taking Gregg's fiance's seat at the Phillies/Yankees game. It's gonna be madness but i'll behave myself. To an extent.
I'm in the middle of a book about Theodore Roosevelt's adventure in the Amazon after he lost his re-election bid. It's pretty awesome stuff, I figure that if I can't get down there I might as well read about it. I should also probably get into the man i'm named after; find out a little about him. I think at the end of the summer Shelly and I are going to hike the Appalachian's in PA for a little. After I graduate I wanna do the whole thing though, from Georgia to Maine. They say it takes between 2 and 3 months to get it done. I figure it would be really good for me. It'll be weird getting back though without having contact, or very little contact, with everyone for so long. I really wish I could base a career around exploration and travel. I'd love to explore Africa, South America, or even Northern Canada. Maybe i'll get to Iceland one day and do all the open areas there. Until then i've got the city and the hoardes of cockroaches that I can't escape...

Playlist:
Bob Dylan - Freewheelin', The Bootleg Series 7, Blood on the Tracks
The Clash - s/t
Cat Power - The Greatest
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
The River of Doubt - Candice Millard
American Hardcore - Steven Blush
The Simpsons

Sonic Youth

Still as innovative and rockin as always. I remember when I heard about the show; in the Good Dog, drunkedly singing 'Sugar Kane' from the radio and Erich saying something like, "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. SY's playing the Starlight!" Shit man! Well it finally came. We walked there in the rain as happens at every Starlight show. Walked right by Kim as we were getting in line, she walked right passed us and smiled. I really didn't know what to say. Haha. Be Your Own Pet opened, shit kids...be your own band. They annoy the hell out of me. It sucks because I think the majority of people there who were getting into them were only doing so because Thurston Moore hypes them up all the time. That man could shit on a piece of toast and people would take "artistic" pictures of it and buy it for $100's on Ebay. Regardless, once they left the stage we moved up. A kid next to Shelly passed out, fully contortion-like, right on the floor. Twice. The second time people just kind of looked at him laying there, including his "friend" he was there with. Once I realized no one was going to do anything I dragged him off to the side. His accomplice just kind of looked at me as if to say, "Do something else man!" Well buddy, I hope you enjoyed the show from the floor. Asshole.
Finally the band came on. In a place of that size, holy shit. They sounded better than when I've ever seen them. They played pretty much the whole new record but also threw in 'Pattern Recognition', with some sweet noise at the end, Pacific Coast Highway (!!!), and Shaking Hell, to which Kim declared to young fans shouting for very old songs, "This song's so fuckin' old, it was written before you were born." Setlist:

1. Incinerate
2. What a Waste
3. Pattern Recognition
4. Do You Believe In Rapture?
5. Reena
6. Rats
7. Sleepin' Around
8. Turquoise Boy
9. Jams Run Free
10. Lights Out
11. PCH
12. Pink Steam
-----
13. The Neutral
14. Shaking Hell
-----
15. Or

How to simultaneously pound ones fists and laugh at the news

So today the UN has officially recognized "mass Darfur killings." Months ago it was evident that the shit had hit the fan when even the Bush administration considered what was happening in Sudan as "genocide." Yet now a prosecuter of the International Criminal Court has documented "thousands" of killings and massacres.
But it's okay, because today President Bush, after visiting Baghdad, pledged to do "whatever it takes to help Iraq succeed." Mission accomplished old boy!

Another State of Mind

I finally got my hands on a copy of Another State of Mind this past weekend; the documentary from 1984, following the BYO tour of Youth Brigade and Social Distortion. I thought it was really well done, at least better than I expected. However, Mike Ness, though I will always remain a faithful Social D fan, can be such a dick. It's really obvious watching him on the screen that all he really wanted was to be a rock star. Well good for him, because he's finally achieved it. I don't think that his intentions were ever truly "DIY" or "Dischord-esque punk rock," but the guy knew what he wanted and he got it. Bravo. The visit to DC and to Minor Threat shows were priceless. At one point before the Threat got on stage a couple of mics got broken so the PA people gathered up their equipment and left the show, and the kids without a PA. So what did Ian and the gang do?, they played without it. The video showed a breathtaking rendition of the song "Minor Threat," with the crowd simply screaming the lyrics so loudly no PA was even needed in the first place.
It reminded me alot of an American Nightmare show from around 2000/2001 at Skatefest in Worcester, upstairs at the Palladium, when the power went out halfway through, "There's a Black Hole In the Shadow of the Pru," and despite the silence from the guitars and mic, the drums kept going and every kid in the room finished the song word for word. I remember those 40/50 seconds being one of those defining "punk rock" moments of my life. One of the realizations of, "this is my home and always will be," and other such cliched thoughts. Those were great years indeed. You could literally feel it in the air that something special was happening for those two summers. Such great bands emerged from Boston that literally changed the landscape of hardcore/punk not only in New England, but throughout the world. American Nightmare, Panic, The Hope Conspiracy, Shark Attack, Carry On...the list goes on and on. And the bands that already had been around a long time were seeming to re-emerge and re-establish themselves with a new generation of punk kids: Bane, Reach the Sky, Converge. Those were the days. I feel as if hardcore/punk lost something after that period of time that it still lacks. It doesn't feel like the same community. So many more tough guys now, less acceptance. I don't know...I'm just rambling. But regardless, I'll never say "goodbye" to hardcore/punk no matter how old I get. Maybe I won't always listen to it nonstop, but the spirit and philosophy will always remain. You won't find that in any other music sub-culture.

In other thoughts, I ate lunch from the La Salle Union this afternoon: two grilled cheeses and fries. I honestly wanna puke. How can people fuck up food so badly? I just don't get it.

Summer of Rock

The envelope full of tickets sitting in my freezer has already been delved into. First was Radiohead at the Tower Theater, in one of the most amazing performances i've ever seen from any band. The sense of intimacy was what made it so perfect i think. The new songs were amazing too. No matter how long we wait for it, they just won't fuck up. Let down and hanging around...FINALLY! I've put the setlist here too.

1. There There
2. Lucky
3. 15 Step
4. Arpeggi
5. Kid A
6. Dollars & Cents
7. The National Anthem
8. Nude
9. Go Slowly
10. Paranoid Anrdoid
11. Spooks
12. The Gloaming
13. Bodysnatchers
14. 4 Minute Warning
15. The Bends (!!!)
16. Everything In It's Right Place
17. How To Dissapear Completely (!!!)

First Encore
18. I Might Be Wrong
19. House of Cards
20. Black Star (!!!)
21. Letdown (!!!)

Second Encore
22. Idioteque



Then this weekend was Paint it Black, the Explosion, and the Souls at the Troc. A great new band called Spanish Bombs (good name choice!) opened up. The bands sounded great but I really don't like punk/hc shows in that club. It just doesn't feel right. I think that the Starlight would've been ideal. The next day was Outbreak, Modern Life Is War, and Bane at the Church. I hope to God that wasn't the last time I saw Bane. MLIW is, hands down, the best hardcore band around today. Their records are inspiring and amazing, their live shows are a fucking blast, and they cover "Nervous Breakdown." Killer. You can't fuck with that.

And as far as hockey; shit. I really wanna see the Oilers take the Cup but it doesn't look like that'll happen at this point. Carolina at home is unstoppable. I wanted to see a Canadian team take it, plus see Samsonov hoist that Cup. However, the mighty Canes are the new home of the Whalers; that seemingly ancient team whose logo used to adorn every car I saw growing up that didn't have a B's sticker on it. So I guess I can live with the (inevitable) results. The game's Wednesday night and I really hope that the Oilers take at least that game because I haven't missed the winning of the Cup since I've been a hockey fan, and that night I'll be at Sonic Youth. Well, now that I put it that way I most definately can't complain.

Besides all that stuff, my grandmother isn't doing so well, so I'm holding out for her, hoping I can get home sometime soon to see her.


Playlist:
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Ray Bradbury - The October Country

check

check...