Artless Nonculture Webzine

Name change, format change, diaper change...

2009-12-06T11:35:00.004-05:00

A farewell to ANC, by Sam Sinister.

"Penn-Ohio Underground." That's what we've decided to change the name of our little cause to.

So, why the name change? Well, I've come to realize that "Artless Nonculture" was, for one thing, too hard for people to remember. And, unless you're an obsessive thinker like me, it probably didn't mean anything to you. Just gibberish. "ANC" (for short), was also never meant to be my site, it was meant to be a collective, but as simple as I tried to make this concept, I think the name got in the way just as much as the format.

Blah, blah, blah. Right?

That brings me to my next point. This Blogger thing, while really great for making your own public journal/webzine, is apparently shit for any kind of collaborative effort.

Social networking! That's where it's at! With Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and all these other sites now fusing together in a corporate orgy of providing every Earthy inhabitant with a platform for narcisistic expression, I've decided to get on board!

The Artless Nonculture Anti-Social Network is dead. I've created a new site, and already it's turning out to be a change for the better. We currently have 54 members, and growing.

This site was created for all underground bands, artists, and local mom-n-pop business owners from the Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania region to meet, communicate, and network with each other.

For all fans of underground music, and the subcultures associated with it, to get together and bullshit.

For yet another way to promote your band's shows.

For anyone who isn't in this for money, fame, or ego.

For those who won't kiss ass.

For those who won't take shit.

For those who don't view music as a "business".

For anyone and everyone who is UNDERGROUND BY CHOICE, NOT BY CHANCE.

Come sign up, tell your friends, kill some time, or whatever you want to do with it. It's not just my site, it's your site as well. Mi casa, su casa.

Things you can do with the site:

Make a profile, just like on MySpace and Facebook. You can upload 100 songs (seriously), detailed interests section, profile picture, activity stream, status, blog, etc.

Find and connect with other people and bands from the area.

Post or find upcoming shows and events in the region.

Create and browse member groups based on whatever you want.

Set up an Etsy store.

Play games.

Share ideas in the forums (there's even a classified ads section!)

This site is 100% free, and there's no angle. Just trying to help out the local music scene. Come join us in our conquest.

This site, and the ANC site that came before it, will both remain running as long as people are interested in it. But it will no longer feature new content. We had some good shit on here for a while, but it's time for a change. Come and be a part of the Penn-Ohio Underground.

http://bit.ly/pennohiounderground

For all the haters of social networking, online band promotion and/or us in general...

2009-11-17T15:05:00.006-05:00

by Optimus Crime

Well, it's been about forever since I posted anything on here. But no one really read my posts anyhow, so it doesn't really matter, now does it?

And why the hiatus? The band I'm in, Storm King, put out a new record on July 31st, and I've had my head up it's ass ever since. Playing a lot of out of town gigs and promoting like no other promoting I've ever done. The record, and everything that surrounds it, has been a huge undergoing since day 1 of recording back in April. And being that it's the biggest project I've ever taken on, a lot of time, effort, energy, money, heart and soul has gone into it. For the most part, we've all got wives and children and full time jobs, so every step has been calculated so as not to waste time. It's gone well.... for the most part.

The following is taken from a Myspace blog we posted a couple weeks ago. Thought it might be worth sharing, as it applies across the board.

We were just informed by someone in the band [this isn't a rap battle, so I'll leave their name out of it] that "no one cares about (Storm King)", and that we can "go be a part of the popularity contest somewhere else". All this because they were on our "friends" list and get the usual band updates or invites to our Pittsburgh area events (in case you're not familiar with how Myspace Event Invites work, you post an event, then your friends list is broken down by region, so with one click you can send an invite message to like 900 people in that area at once).

For the record, we're all adults here (I'm referring to the members of SK), this ain't no popularity contest, no need to be a dick about it, but we will continue to keep people in the know about what we're doing as long as we exist. That's called promotion. I thought that's why we had a "friends" list in the first place. No?

Long story short... if anyone else feels this way, DELETE and/or BLOCK US. Here, on Facebook, on iLike, on iTunes, on Artless Non-Culture, what the fuck ever - anywhere online. It won't hurt our feelings. In fact, that's one less profile I have to plug a message to. Don't talk shit, just don't support us, be our friend, buy our CDs or come to our shows. We only want to play for people who are interested, and we will use whatever mediums we can to find those people. The internet, for us, is probably the biggest one, like paper flyers on telephone polls in the 80s and 90s.

So again, if you feel this strongly about it (or this negatively about us), we don't need you. We don't want you. Sorry we're not underground enough for your ultra-hip standards. Fuck off.

Have a nice day.

PS - I hope this doesn't apply to any of you. Just so you all know, we're actually pretty humble, working class guys, and we truly appreciate the friends and fans that we have.

Metal up WHOSE ass?

2009-11-10T18:09:00.005-05:00

by Pablo Diablo.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have love for old metal, especially of the thrashy variety: Venom, Cynic, old Metallica, Slayer, King Diamond (on the not-so-thrashy side), Marduk is crazy fun... and now Municipal Waste is a great thrashy band. But there are a couple reasons I don't listen/relate to a lot of metal... One being the lack of reality.

When I was a kid, and listened to metal as much as punk, I began to make the distinction that punk, hXc, and hip hop were speaking a language I understood; metal, I started to understand, had a message that was convoluted @ best, nonexistent @ worst. Some metal bands have remained in my heavy rotation since, but I don't frequent metal shows, mostly so as not to catch another assault charge, as drunk idiots spilling beer on me is not my idea of a good time, nor is watching a bunch of vikings wreaking of marijuana whip their sweat-soaked hair around to appease their metal gods.

Also, if I am going to a show, I have a hard time giving my $$ to a band whose ultimate goal in life is a big fat record deal and the unavoidable corpo sell out. Say what you will, but corporate-packaged rebellion is... well, corporate-packaged rebellion. Music, like art, should be done because that is what you do... not to get paid.

Getting Paid. Yes, getting money for doing something you love is the biggest high. Money isn't bad... and as long as it doesn't consume your every waking thought, the more the merrier. Gwar is a big commercial band... but I dig what they do. The same could be said about King Diamond, who, from Them through The Eye, were selling records like evil little hot cakes. I think they were both, on different levels, poking fun at the ideation of the so-called rock god and his drooling, adoring fans [Green Jello is another good example! -Ed.].

I hate hero worship. I hate adults who live vicariously through, I don't know... let's use Pantera for example. I like some of Phil Anselmo's other bands, but to me Pantera was the ultimate corporate rebellion band. With confederate flags flying, they sold a vague non-message, at 15 dollars a pop, to suburban youth... There is no movement involved, no real message. There is a general anti-authoritarian feel to it, but more like a kid who is mad at their parents - there are no solutions given, just broad statements about "the system".

And then we have the "rock star" factor of metal.

Let me take you to the period of time when I started going to shows... late '80s/early '90s. Two shows stand out to me as illustrating the differences between hXc and metal people.

Winter of '87 or '88. My friend Joey & I go to our 1st "non-local" hXc show: Bad Brains. Hearing a legendary band, whose music has truly had an effect on so many people's lives, was only the beginning... HR and Darryl talked to a group of us younger kids about what this scene was, about PMA*, and about family. To have these guys, who were... well, I didn't even have a word for what the Bad Brains were. W/out them, core would have been very, very different. To me, The Spudmonsters were "famous". But these were just guys @ the show... no bodyguards or entourage, no rock star bullshit, no superiority illusion. They spoke to us, 12- & 13-year-old kids, as equals.

Then, in Summer or Spring of '90, a friend invited me to go see Metallica at a stadium show. I had never been to a huge show like that, and it sounded like a good idea. But where I got solid real talk at Bad Brains, that is in my creed to this day, what did I get from the Metallica show?

Well, someone called me a little faggot because I was wearing a Black Flag shirt and cut off camos (same guy, separate comments, about both the shirt & shorts... I guess only gay dudes wear shorts... idk), I don't even know how many people offered me hits off joints, or a drink of their beer (fucking gross), one guy tried to sell me acid... I was 13! I was called various things when I turned down the offered drugs and drink... But Metallica themselves are not responsible for this, I am illustrating the quality of "Metallifans"... Metallica offered me no drugs.

We did find out where they were doing an impromptu meet & greet after the show, in the bus dock... the three members I met all offered to sign my Black Flag shirt - I declined, as the idea was weird to me (I wouldn't have let Black Flag write on my Black Flag shirt!) The bass player, Jason Newstead, was like, "Oh, wow! Black Flag is rad!!" and shook my hand; both Lars and Kirk simply shuffled past me, and on to tits, after I declined to let them write on me or my clothes...

It was here that I saw that ugly side of metal... I didn't want to be the 30-year-old at a show, bullying or offering drugs to a child, if anything I wanted to be able to someday have as much knowledge as Bad Brains had, and maybe share that with the next generation someday.

As the years passed, I kept a distant relationship with metal... I like who I like... but I do not support that lifestyle. I don't usually go to a str8 metal show. Although many people are trying to close the gap, with money-hungry people from the hXc scene dumbing down the lyrics and calling themselves "metalcore", and metal bands cutting their hair, getting tatted up, dressing like cartoon versions of hXc kids and calling themselves... well, "metalcore".

Fuck that.

I remain true to that which remains true to me... I am down for the core forever, and my only hope is that I still have something to contribute...

In the end, I don't hate metal... it's the fans & greedy-ass musicians who sell their art that I dislike.

-Pabs

*PMA: "Positive Mental Attitude".

Interview with PABLO DIABLO (MADISON MAFIA)

2009-11-02T01:45:00.003-05:00

by Sam Sinister

For the record, please state who you are, and what you do in what band.

We are Madison Mafia - I am the vocalist, Pablo Diablo, and my homie Mikey Freedom is the musician knockin' suckaz out with the guitar!

Who else is in the band?

Whoever we can get to play rhythm live. Recording is all us.

How long have you been together?

Hmm... probably wrote our 1st shit together in the early '90s, been homies since 1988... our 1st band together was M.A.P. in the late '90s, but as Madison Mafia, just this year.

How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard you before?

Old school hXc. Thrashy, heavy, experimental.

Who (or what) are your main influences?

Collectively - Major Conflict, Bad Brains, S.O.D., the Beastie Boys (both hXc & hip hop), The Spudmonsters, Weird Al, Integrity, Hostile Omish, Zappa, old Misfits, Ringworm, the Lakewood Police... we are both into massive diverse musica! Our music is old school hXc by definition, but we are also down with blues, jazz, folk, hip hop... really anything with heart - you hear this in our music.

Do you have any releases? If so, how can our readers get their grubby little hands on 'em?

You can contact me through myspace...

There will be a Madison Mafia demo after Turkey Day... I still have Neck Stretcher, ASMF's, Extreme Lack of Conscious, Plan 9, and a few 7"s of HippyKill left (assorted colors, kids). Mike, being the keeper of the Madison Crew history, has the M.A.P. demos... as well as his other projects, Holy Awakening, his compositions & collabos, and Freaks of Hazzard. Hopefully we can find the time to make an M.A.P. anthology (or at least a track list) over St. Turkey's Day.

Where do you usually play?

We haven't played out as Madison Mafia yet. But we have been around the Erie coastline, into PA, NY, & MI.

Bar shows or all ages?

All ages almost exclusively.

What's the furthest from home you've ever played?

Is Cali or Miami furthest from Clevo?

If you could tour with 4 other bands, who would they be (and why)?

Boy-O-Man... couldn't it be a giant 3-day festival, with every good band ever? There are so many people, past & present... (just because this would be a show I would file under "must see"):

Bad Brains/Motorhead double headliner

Danny Diablo

McRad

Madison Mafia

How/when/why did you get into punk?

An uncle got me into punk bands early on - Ramones & Dead Milkmen when I was 9 or 10, discovered S.O.D. around the same time... went to a Bad Brains show with my friend Joey when I was 11 or 12, and that show sealed the deal.

I can't say for sure for Mike, but I met him in '88, and he had a respectable music collection at the time, safe to say we both been around since the late '80s. Yeah, I got grey in my beard... what!

I think we got into it for the same reasons; the reality - no fake "wizard on the mountain"

foolishness. Punk speaks to you or it doesn't, I guess we heard what it had to say.

Who are some of your favorite bands from the general region?

Rabid Reaction, OLC, Ringworm, Hostile Omish, Foose in 216.

Crowd Deterrent/Race Riot hold the Youngstown area down with mad force!

Wisdom in Chains, Death Threat, Knuckle Dust, Strength for a Reason... the whole BFL family is the only good thing about Western/Midstate PA.

Domestic War & Taste the Steel are dropping bombs on Erie full time!

Viva La Lake Effect!

Who do you see as your band's arch nemesis?

Nah man... we don't have no enemies. Maybe police, ACAB in full effect! And we don't like people who are shitty, small minded, judgmental, two faced, fake, or kids that think the scene is some fucking fashion statement... those are our nemeses... and we don't like the chump ass sucka that sings for Embalmer... other than that, we got/get nothing but love!

What do you think this area lacks in terms of a good punk scene, and what do you think we can do to improve it?

See answer above.

What's in the works right now?

Madison Mafia demo, post-Nov.

A documentary about Clevo is in the early stages... more on that in January!!

Any advice or words of wisdom to wrap this up?

Support your scene, support REAL bands... if you download music, support the band - Buy shirts, go to shows, buy their music!

And for you fashionistas that use the scene as a runway - Find a new scene, this one is for ugly, angry hoodlums, not pretty boys impersonating punx!!

Visit Madison Mafia on MySpace!

Interview with John Stahlman (MADE NOT BORN)

2009-11-02T01:11:00.007-05:00

by Sam Sinister

For the record, please state who you are, and what you do in what band.
I’m John Stahlman, the bassist for Made Not Born.

Who else is in the band?

Bobby Goodman on guitar, Jason Kachik on drums, and Nate Billings on vocals.

How long have you been together?

They band itself has been around a couple years, but the current line-up has been around for a couple months.

How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard you before?

A spooky, disharmonious conflict/hellride.

Who (or what) are your main influences?

Rock and roll of the 1950s through the 1990s.

Do you have any releases? If so, how can our readers get their grubby little hands on 'em?

Not currently, but we do have 4 recordings of the more famous line-up, with Aaron Wheeler on drums, Bo Green on Bass, Nick Reinsel on rhythm guitar, Bobby Goodman on lead guitar, and Jason Kachik on vocals, so I guess we could burn someone a CD if they wanted one.

Where do you usually play?

Anywhere we can.

Bar shows or all ages?

Well, since half the band is too young to play in a bar, all ages shows we do.

What's the furthest from home you've ever played?

Erie, PA.

If you could tour with 2 other bands, who would they be (and why)?

Jane’s Addiction, or Chuck Mosely and the Vanduls Agenst Allideracy, because they just simply kick ass, and those are the fans we relate to.

How/when/why did you get into punk?

When I heard Leftover Crack's Rock the 40 oz. and No Cash's Run Your Pockets. After I heard those 2 albums, I just started to listen to a lot of punk bands, expecially Gang Green.

Who are some of your favorite bands from the general region?

Argus and Oh Shit They’re Going to Kill Us.

Who do you see as your band's arch nemesis?

Any band that former bassist Bo Green forms, cuz he left the band on really bad terms.

What do you think this area lacks in terms of a good punk scene, and what do you think we can do to improve it?

The thing that lacks is a decent audience - too many fucking melodic metalcore, emo-indie, and indie scene kids - and the improvement is EMO DEMOLITION NIGHT. Disco had one, so why not blow up a bunch of Fall Out Boy CDs in a football stadium, plus there needs to be more bands throwing TVs into hotel swimming pools, come on when was the last time that has happened?

What's in the works right now?

A full length album that is going to be recorded sometime in November.

Any advice or words of wisdom to wrap this up?

"True knowledge is knowing that you know nothing." - Socrates

Visit Made Not Born on MySpace!

Interview with Gina of FILLMORE JIVE

2009-11-02T00:18:00.007-05:00

by Sam Sinister

For the record, please state who you are, and what you do in what band.

Fillmore Jive. Gina Kantner, drums.

Who else is in the band?

Kevin Braun (guitar/vocals).

How long have you been together?

Six months.

How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard you before?

Psychedelic garage rock.

Who (or what) are your main influences?

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Dandy Warhols, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Warlocks, Dinosaur Jr.

Do you have any releases? If so, how can our readers get their grubby little hands on 'em?

We have a demo CD that's always free. We can send them a link to download it, or hunt us down and we'll give you the CD. We also have a live CD that's free as well, and a lot better than the demo.

Where do you usually play?

Lately we've been playing in Youngstown a lot, but we try to play all over; Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Youngstown, and the surrounding areas.

Bar shows or all ages?

Normally bar shows.

What's the furthest from home you've ever played?

Cleveland.

If you could tour with 2 other bands, who would they be (and why)?

A fantasy tour for me would be opening for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, because they're just the absolute greatest band. As for a band that our friends are in, Rocket Radio is fucking sweet. I love those guys.

How/when/why did you get into punk?

Punk isn't my favorite genre of music, but I don't know, maybe three years ago?

Who are some of your favorite bands from the general region?

Rocket Radio, Dead City Dealers.

Who do you see as your band's arch nemesis?

We try to get along with everybody, because there's no sense in making this a competition. Everyone knows what bands are serious and will survive and what ones won't; they don't need me to tell them.

What do you think this area lacks in terms of a good punk scene, and what do you think we can do to improve it?

I think that the overall music scene needs a complete change of heart- if it does have one. Music is a tough game, and if we as musicians tried to help each other out a little more, I think everything would be in better shape.

What's in the works right now?

We're recording our first EP at the end of November, and plan to play live as much as we possibly can. Expect a tour from us by next summer.

Any advice or words of wisdom to wrap this up?

Be nice, but don't be naive; and most importantly, don't expect the world to take notice of your band- you have to MAKE them notice.

Visit Fillmore Jive on MySpace!

Interview with Dan of THE DUMPSTER BABIES

2009-11-01T23:56:00.003-05:00

by Sam Sinister

For the record, please state who you are, and what you do in what band.

Dirty Dan, and I play bass in the Dumpster Babies.

Who else is in the band?

Jason Setliff (lead vocals), Dan Frey (drums), and Carlos Mendez (guitar).

How long have you been together?

We've been together for a few years, but we took a little break. We have a reunion show comin' up.

How would you describe your sound to someone who's never heard you before?

Old school punk! Loud, fast, and usually drunk.

Who (or what) are your main influences?

Punk rock in general. I could sit here and talk about the Bad Brains, Black Flag, Rancid, and all the punk bands we're into, but all of 'em contribute to the sound we all enjoy.

Do you have any releases? If so, how can our readers get their grubby little hands on 'em?

No releases yet. But we do have a live recording for now. Just come to a show and get one. We should have a record coming out soon.

Where do you usually play?

We usually play in the Cleveland area. Best place ever to play, hands-down, has gotta be the Spitfire Saloon.

Bar shows or all ages?

Usually bar shows. But some all ages. We like to drink.

What's the furthest from home you've ever played?

Probably Columbus. We don't usually go too far. Like I said, we like to drink and don't like to drive a long way home.

If you could tour with 2 other bands, who would they be (and why)?

Antiseptic and Lorain Skum. Both of these bands are from our area. Gotta represent! And they are both great fucking bands.

How/when/why did you get into punk?

We were all into punk in high school, maybe even a little before high school. I can't speak for the other guys, but I never really felt like I fit in with most people. I started listening to the music my older brother liked, and I found something I could relate to.

Who are some of your favorite bands from the general region?

Antiseptic (Dan Frey drums for them, also), Lorain Skum, Labor Force (I play bass for them, also), Hostile Omish, Criminal Menacing and the Three Strikes.

Who do you see as your band's arch nemesis?

EMO KIDS, THE MAN, RACISTS.

What do you think this area lacks in terms of a good punk scene, and what do you think we can do to improve it?

The scene isn't horrible here, it just lacks support. There are some awsome bands, but in the end it all just comes down to support. If you don't support your scene it will never get any better, then one day it's gone and everyone starts bitchin' that there's nothin' to do.

What's in the works right now?

Got a reunion show on Oct. 30 at the Phantasy [Sorry I didn't get this up in time to help promote. -Ed.]. Then some more shows, hopefully, then some new songs, and a record.

Any advice or words of wisdom to wrap this up?

KILL ALL SUCKAS.

Visit the Dumpster Babies on MySpace!

FOUR INTERVIEWS IN ONE DAY?!

2009-11-01T18:28:00.003-05:00

by Sam Sinister

Greetings and salutations! Jeezus Christ! It's been a while, hasn't it?

I posted a bulletin on MySpace about a week ago that was essentially one of those surveys that all the cool people post all the time... you know the ones where they give you about 5,000 questions to answer, about the most inane, uninteresting, boring shit imaginable? Yeah, well, it was something like that, only this one was a list of questions for bands to answer. You might say I've gotten lazy over the last few months.

Case in point.

Response to some annoying publicity department.

2009-10-11T19:27:00.002-04:00

To whom it may concern:

Please stop sending the same message over and over again. We didn't reply to the first however many messages you sent; this should have been viewed as a polite decline - the first time. After the second one you should have gotten the hint. To clarify once and for all, though:

We don't review or interview anyone from outside our coverage area. This means Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, USA. If you'd have explored our site a little more closely you'd have known that, and you wouldn't have sent 50 copies of the same bullshit press release to us, and pissed us off completely. Even if we provided national or international coverage, this still would have been a sure-fire way to ensure further avoidance from the ANC staff. You are annoying.

Thanks.

--The Penn-Ohio Underground

Start Your Own Band

2009-10-05T06:41:00.002-04:00

This was originally posted by Sam Sinister on the Dead City Dealers website.

START YOUR OWN BAND.

Seriously. I'm sure not too many bands say this anymore, but we're definitely nothing special. Anyone could do what we do; hell, some people could even do what we do better than we do it. Unfortunately, not enough people do... and why not? I'd love to see punk and Oi! bands crop up all over western PA. You don't have to be "good" at playing an instrument to do 3-chord rock and roll. You don't even have to have any experience playing an instrument. All you need is... well, an instrument. That, and the desire to play it.

Here are some thoughts people tend to have; stupid, asinine thoughts that keep them from starting a band:

1. "No one else in my town is into the music I wanna play..."

Fuck that. I'm sure there's someone out there who is into at least one or two bands you like. Put out an ad in the classifieds section of the newspaper. Put up a flyer advertising your desire to start a band (along with some broad influences and a phone number and/or email address where you can be reached) in various places around town. Most laundromats and smaller grocery stores have bulletin boards you can use. Ask local businesses if you can put up a flyer in the window. Post an ad on craigslist. Use MySpace/Facebook/message boards/etc. Someone is bound to come out of the woodwork.

Furthermore, different influences can be a good thing. Not everyone has to be into all the same bands, just so long as there are a few strong common ones. Don't forget, you can also introduce people to bands they've perhaps never heard before. Maybe they like bands that are similar to your influences. If you wanted to start a band similar to, say, The Queers, and they kinda like the Ramones, then make them a Queers CD to check out. Fuck it, make 'em a mix CD with the Queers, The Riverdales, The Zeros, Screeching Weasel, The Buzzcocks, Sloppy Seconds, early Donnas, Rezillos, the Undertones, etc.

If you can find people with somewhat "tolerable", yet still ultimately horrible taste in music, introduce them to bands you like, which might share some similar characteristics; also, keep in mind that some truly awful bands have, historically, been influenced by really good bands. Find out what your new bandmates' favorite band was listening to when they penned their first tunes. Chances are, it'll be stuff you yourself listen to. Once again, make that bitch a mix CD.

2. "I'm not a musician..."

Neither are we, fuck-o! Well, okay, maybe Andy and Ryan are, but Chris, Mario, and I definitely are not. We just know what we wanna do, and then we do it. We all taught ourselves to do what we do. You could very easily do the same thing.

Worst case scenario, you look up tabs for other people's songs, write down all the riffs you can actually pull off, Frankenstein-patchwork some of them together, and write some stupid lyrics of your own to go over top it all. Presto! You just wrote a punk rock song. Now get some gigs and annoy some people.

3. "I don't have an instrument..."

Go out, get a shitty job, save a couple paychecks and fucking buy one. Go to pawn shops, second-hand stores, flea markets, (once again) craigslist, your friend's basement, Walmart's toy department... it doesn't matter. It's not like you're gonna be playing with Santana. Sometimes the shittiest guitar can have the most personality.

4. "I do have an instrument but I don't know how to play it..."

Do what I did. Find out what chord a guitar plays when you don't press down on any frets (it's some variant of "E"). Now, most rock and roll/punk/Oi! uses what's called a "fifth chord", also commonly known as a "power chord". It's whatever note the chord represents (or the root), along with the fifth, and the octave (the same note as the root, only higher). If you don't know what that means, it's completely understandable. I hardly know it myself. But the point is, what a guitar is standardly tuned to is not a power chord. It's some really full-sounding, "pretty" chord that has absolutely no business in rock music. I think you'll agree that it must be snuffed out. Right now.

Basically, an E power chord would be, from the lowest note to the highest: E, B, and E. So, all you have to do is tune your guitar so that all of your strings are some variant of E or B when you play them without fretting (my guitar is tuned to E-B-E-B-B-e). Don't worry about playing anything but the 3 thicker strings. The other 3 thinner strings are just tuned that way so that they don't fuck up your tone while you play, in case you bump them accidentally.

(NOTE: Most musically-inclined people are going to read this and think I'm a complete moron, or that I'm destroying the sanctity of being a guitar player, or something equally pompous and elitist, but who cares about them any way?)

Now, if you strum the strings, you're playing an E power chord. If you press down on all of the strings (or the three thick strings, while resting your finger lightly on the thinner ones), with one finger, on any of the frets on your fret board, it will be a different chord.

Get some small alphabet stickers. You can put them on your fretboard to tell you what chord your playing. Here's how to label them:

The first fret is "F".
Skip the second fret, and the 3rd one is "G".
Skip the 4th fret.
The 5th fret is "A".
Skip the 6th fret.
7th fret - "B".
8th fret - "C".
Skip the 9th fret.
10th fret is "D".
11th... skip it.
12th fret should have 2 dots, and it is your octave. This means that you are back to "E".

All subsequent frets have the same pattern as all the previous ones, meaning the 13th fret coincides with the 1st, the 14th with the 2nd, etc. The frets without any labels are your sharps and flats. The only difference between a sharp and a flat is whether the note played before it was higher or lower ("sharp" means higher, "flat" means lower). Now string some chords together and soon enough you'll have a song.

This concludes your "Guitar for Inept Assholes" tutorial. For bass, or drums, or anything else, you're on your own.

5. "We have 2 members, but we can't find anyone to play (insert instrument here)..."

Usually it's bass or drums. I guess singing or playing guitar is what supposedly gets you the most play. But even though you're now a two-man hoochie-magnet, you can't very well go out and play without the standard guitar-bass-drums-vocal combo... or can you? You could always play the same kind of music you wanted to originally, only now label yourself as "folk punk". It doesn't even have to be an acoustic guitar (example - Billy Bragg). Guitar and vocals is all you really need.

In the case of only having any other combination of instruments (example - drums-bass-vocal), you can do one of two things:

1. Opt for something other than guitar to fill that position (organ? piano? accordion?)
2. Play without a guitarist altogether

Either way, people are just gonna think you're trying to be "arty". Extra punk rock points for getting really annoyed or pissed off any time someone suggests this.

If the only member spot you can't fill is the vocals, either draw straws to see who learns to play and sing at the same time, or become an instrumental band. Nothing should hold you back - nothing.

6. "We have a band, but no one around here likes what we play."

Play out of town gigs. Either that, or make it a point to play shows where you know no one will like you. Be really antagonistic and shout insults at the audience. Be as outrageous as possible. While doing all of this, take the stance of, "We're the greatest band in the world," even when you know you're not. I highly suggest this. It's some of the most fun you can have without any illegal substances.

7. "We have a band, and some songs written, but we're not good enough to play out yet..."

Bullshit!! Just get out there and do it!

Alright! Now you're ready to take on the world as a new rock and roll band! Make sure you get in touch with us so that we can have some new friends to share a bill with. Ideally, you'll blow us out of the water, and we can retire. Then we can tell people about the good ol' days, before your band showed up on the scene and changed everything.

Or something like that.

More Abuse of Power at G20

2009-09-28T08:51:00.001-04:00

Pitt Students Attacked by Police: Forward Widely!

2009-09-28T03:31:00.006-04:00

Posted by Ray Zen.

My friend Anna, who is a Pitt student, has asked people to spread the word about the unnecessary aggression carried out upon a group of Pitt students by the Pittsburgh police. Whether you find it repugnant that such strongarm tactics were used against an unarmed group of civilians who were trying to peacefully leave an area or not, please distribute this account freely and discuss it, because it is important that we seriously address violence in our communities whenever it occurs. Addressing our problems head-on is the only way we can grow as a society and a culture.

PITT STUDENTS ATTACKED BY POLICE - FORWARD WIDELY

Yesterday at 3:39pm

The following is an account from an anonymous Pitt student who attended the protest on Schenley Plaza last night Friday September 25th. The gathering, a peaceful crowd of a few hundred students, media, and community members was held in response to the violence perpetrated against Pitt student activists and Pitt students the preceding Thursday by the police. For more information, pictures, and video about the events of Thursday September 24th, visit the Pittsburgh Independent Media website.

Violence perpetrated against student organizers and uninvolved students is not a singular event or a symptom of increased police presence due to an event like the G20. Police violence occurs in many communities across the country and throughout the world every day. It is a sign of the privilege of the educated class that the media and community pay attention and express their outrage about our being abused when low income communities, people of color, and other marginalized groups with less privilege are attacked or harassed everyday. The police state is not just this week, it is all the time, and students need to start looking around and raising your voices everyday to protest the violence of the state.

Students at other universities: Please, forward this to your friends, campus organizations, campus newspapers, administrators, and everyone you know because if we don't stand together in solidarity, your school could be next. Demand that administrators at your school accept responsibility for the actions of police on your campus. Demand that police on your city and campus be held accountable for all the violence the perpetrate. Demand that you and your classmates not be relegated to the conditions of a product for sale in the Industrial Education Complex. Make demands, because your campus is your home, your community, and your responsibility.

In solidarity,
Sheila Hubbard
Go Pitt

"WHAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY NIGHT?
A Firsthand Account by a Pitt student

By 10:00, a group of a few hundred people had formed and the perimeter stretched to 3 sides and started getting thicker. Helicopters were overhead, and someone said they'd heard snipers were on the Hillman Library. Riot police outnumbered protesters at least 5 to 1 at this point, and they looked like they didn't know what to do. Groups of people sat playing Duck Duck Goose and laughing or, like us, stood around tensely waiting for something to happen.

Eventually, the riot police surrounded the plaza. Local filmmakers roved around interviewing people. Some protesters shouted into megaphones, trying to engage the cops in a dialogue and when that didn't work, mocking them. The police started closing in on us, forcing us into a corner and out of the plaza - we ended up with them in a perimeter facing an empty lawn. They formed a blockade between us and Bigelow Boulevard - at this point we were on Forbes Avenue in front of the Cathedral lawn. We were also blocked at Bellefield, and were essentially trapped on the street. People started panicking and running at this point. As the police moved in, we backed up onto the Cathedral lawn. There were about 40 of us backed into a corner.

We headed up towards Fifth Avenue on the opposite side of the Cathedral, but the police there told us to go back the way we came, grabbing us by our shoulders and pushing us back. When we expressed confusion, they threw a canister of tear gas at us so we backed up quickly. They started closing in on us on the lawn, beating their shields with their batons in unison. Even though we asked over and over which way they wanted us to go, because we wanted to leave peacefully, they refused to answer.

Eventually they ordered all 40 of us to lay face down on the ground. They told us we would all be taken into custody, and the officers came around using zip ties to handcuff everyone. We were separated and marched to a series of police cars and vans along Fifth Avenue. Their system there was incredibly disorganized and the officers were crude. "You know, I'm kind of disappointed," one remarked. "I was hoping I would get to beat you guys down, but you guys were pretty peaceful." Eventually, they searched and confiscated our belongings and took down all our information - most of us were being charged with failure to disperse - and tossed us all in some vans to wait. After a while, they pushed us up against the side of a bigger bus, patted us down, and loaded us onto the buses.

Apparently there were too many of us to process properly at the jail, so we ended up driving to SCI Pittsburgh. We sat outside the penitentiary for maybe half an hour or an hour. Outside, we could see dozens of National Guard and riot police officers swarming around. Someone noticed that somebody else's hands were turning blue from the zip ties, so after a few attempts we got hold of the officer in front, who told him to "wiggle them around" and that there wasn't anything else to do for now. Several people requested to use the bathroom, which was ignored. Eventually, they started letting us out one at a time.

The one who took me into custody put real handcuffs on me, cut off my zip tie cuffs, and patted me down. When she brought me inside, there were temporary partitions set up everywhere. I had my picture taken and was fingerprinted, then taken to wait to give my medical information, "in case you go to prison." Afterward we were put in chairs and told to sit quietly, with National Guard guys watching us. One of them seemed slightly sympathetic; he made sure we all got water and food. "Please don't talk," he told us, "when you talk one of us has to come over here, and that means that it slows down the process." When we asked where we were going, he told us, "I don't know where you're going, or whether you'll be charged. For now, you're just waiting till they decide what they're going to do with you." So we waited. And waited. Aaaand waited.

More people kept coming in, and we discreetly asked them what had happened. One guy was shirtless with welts all over his back; after seeing the protest on the news, he'd ridden his bike into Oakland. When he got there, police told him to turn around. He did, and they shot what he assumed was paintball guns full of pepper at his back. He was covered in huge welts and shell-shocked. He refused medical attention from the police and sat staring blankly at the wall. The guy sitting next to me had been walking home, and they'd snatched him off the street.

Eventually they started calling names. They brought us out into the courtyard, where we sat and could talk quietly. We overheard the officers saying that we'd all be released. Each of us had a police officer on our arm, and we went in batches of 4 or 5. They walked us over to a van, still cuffed, and we waited to reclaim our stuff. The cops walking us out harassed us about protesting, to which we responded less than enthusiastically. When we got our stuff, we were told not to go through it until we were off the premises, and escorted to the sidewalk in front of the police station. We were uncuffed and told to leave, and to “stay in groups, this isn‘t a nice part of town.” We were all miles away from home and the place we were arrested.

Welcome to surreality.

Questions? Comments? Email pittprotest@gmail.com and visit http://bit.ly/DD75i
If you have police harassment or repression to report, call the ACLU G20 hotline : (412) 562-5015

Anarchists and police clash in Pittsburgh (9/24/09)

2009-09-27T10:56:00.001-04:00

DISCUSS.

9 Shocks Terror at The Kathedral in Toronto

2009-09-27T09:42:00.001-04:00

Interview with Scotty B

2009-09-27T09:15:00.010-04:00

Conducted by Sam Sinister. Photo editing by Agent Brown.

S- Dirty ones.

ANC- Wait a minute! Exactly what kind of sick game are you playing here, pal?

S- You are the one that is supposed to be asking questions, perv.

ANC- Okay, so like, what's new with you? What exactly are we promoting with this interview?

S- I'd like to promote the change that my former band, West Coast Burning, has made - we are now strictly a West Coast Choppers fansite. I mean, honestly, we've all been real big West Coast Choppers fans for a long time, that is what the band was originally based around. And we realized that we can't hide our roots, and they needed to be shown, so a while ago we officially changed the band MySpace to a West Coast Choppers fan page. I don't think everyone was fully aware, because we didn't really "advertise" it, so to speak, but I just wanted get that out there, even though we are not a functioning band anymore. If you are indeed a West Coast Choppers fan, and want/need to speak with others who share the same love for the iron cross, then that is a place you should visit.

ANC- What is it about West Coast Choppers that you love the most?

S- (Long pondering pause) I'd have to say the overall lifestyle.

ANC- I think you just wanna be like Shaq. Everyone knows he's, like, totally your hero. Did you know you can't download the live album off the MySpace any more? MySpace totally fucked you.

S- Hold up, sir. I didn't even know Shaq had a live album. That's awesome! "All you jealous punks can't stop my dunks!" SHAQ DIESEL! SHAQ DIESEL! Is it available on iTunes?

ANC- No see, that's exactly what I'm talking about. I say "Shaq", and that's all you hear from that moment on. I'm talking about the West Coast Burning live album. It's been disallowed by the MySpace god.

S- Listen here:
1. Kazaam
2. Shaq Diesel
3. Shaquille O'Neal

APPRECIATE. And DUH, it was a limited pressing of an online album download. Quit ruining the scene trying to download all our music we spent thousands of United States legal tender on recording. MySpace has our backs.
ANC- Point well taken. So listen, if Shaq didn't love him some West Coast Choppers, do you think you'd still be in support of them?

S- Although Jesse James built Shaq the el diablo, I wouldn't say Shaq is to be accredited to the West Coast Choppers' fame. Jesse James has also built choppers for Keanu Reeves, Kid Rock, James Hetfield, and The Undertaker. And out of all of those guys, I only like The Undertaker. So to answer your question: Yes, I would still be in full support of West Coast Choppers had they not built a chopper for Shaq - having Shaq support them just makes them even more backed.

ANC- You're getting way too serious about this.

S- I'm only serious 100% of the time.

ANC- So when do you want to start the interview?

S- Start it? I was waiting for you to wrap this interview up.

ANC- Can we just do the interview tomorrow, Scott? I'm really tired and I'm getting sick of waiting for the first question.

S- Yes, we can start PART TWO of this interview tomorrow.

ANC- Okay, good night Scott. Have fun in your race car bed.

ANC Compilation Vol. 1

2009-09-21T10:16:00.004-04:00

Featuring tracks by:
Run Riot
Zero Defex

Uppertanks
Betty and the Baseball Bats
Those Poor Devils
The Traditionals
DROPGUN

CD Truth
Liverball
SSCP

Half Life
Forbidden 5
Submachine
Ellen Degenerate
Broadview Gutters
and more!

Download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MEY800DQ

Slutbangers Live! - "Hit the Gas"

2009-09-15T22:06:00.006-04:00

Posted by Ray Zen.

I like this band. The audio is probably better than it should be considering how loud they usually are live. Check it! =)

Delonte West Being Real (As Usual)

2009-09-14T05:18:00.004-04:00

Since no one's posted anything in awhile, I'm just going to share this because it's musical and it happened in Cleveland. This is a video my little brother showed me of Delonte West of the Cleveland Cavs freestyle rapping about KFC chicken. I thought it was hilarious! Dude never holds back. You gotta respect that.

- Ray Zen

Thanks, Dad (The Rant of a Casual Smoker Who's F***ing Pissed!)

2009-09-14T04:53:00.004-04:00

by Ray Zen.

Clove cigarettes are made exclusively in Indonesia and imported into the U.S. They are a major source of revenue for the country of Indonesia. On September 22nd, the guy who was appointed as our country's "Dad" has decided definitively by assenting through signature that clove cigarettes will be banned from sale here in the United States -- because, though I'm 25 years old, I'm still not qualified to make a decision about what I want to enjoy consciously in my free time.

But wait, it's about the children, not me. How about doing some fucking parenting?

Oh, and I almost forgot... the major tobacco companies in the U.S. backed this ban. Government by the people, my ass. For the children, my ass. This place gets more ridiculous every day.

"SCENE KIDS" Word Bubble Contest winners!!

2009-09-01T18:04:00.006-04:00

First Place Winner:

by: Jason Marshall (New Castle, PA)

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Runners-up:

By: Otto Yamamoto (NY)

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By: Ben Matchett (greater Cleveland area, OH)

(See more submissions on Photobucket...)

Broadview Gutters on Crooked River Groove Part 2

2009-08-30T11:02:00.004-04:00

Posted by Ray Zen.

Part 2 was supposed to have been included in the original post, but my "copy" function must not have worked correctly when I went to get the URL for the second one, so here's part 2 of BVG on Crooked River Groove.

Broadview Gutters on Crooked River Groove

2009-08-30T10:56:00.005-04:00

Posted by Ray Zen.

The production of this is really cheesy due to it being affiliated with Tri-C and their need to make it as "professional" as possible, but looking past that, these guys had their merit when they were around. Check out a couple quality vids of the now-defunct "Broadview Gutters" a.k.a. BVG. Peace!

VIDEO: "Generation Zero" by Hostile Omish

2009-08-25T10:43:00.002-04:00

Posted by Sam Sinister.

These are some truly renegade Amish; they even wear shirts with buttons on 'em!

Interview with Skwid from HOSTILE OMISH

2009-08-25T10:13:00.007-04:00

Conducted by Sam Sinister.

Who am I talking to exactly?

I'm Skwid - drummer for Hostile Omish.

How long have you guys been a band?

We started out as a "family thing" - Me, my 2 brothers, and a cousin - back in 1986.

Who else is in the band?
There's me (Skwid) on drums, Filth on guitar and vocals, Davey-Do-Right-Don't-Do-Me-Dirty on the bass, and Aimlet on guitar... Oh yeah - and Buggylump & Malachi on churns!
How would you describe your sound?

One word - "Barncore".

Who (or what) are your main influences?

Main influences? All music (and beer)...

How and when did you get into punk?

We've been into punk all of our lives, pretty much raised on Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Suicidal Tendencies, the old U2, and The Smiths.

If you could play a one-off gig with any 3 bands, who would they be and why?

Well, we've pretty much played with most of our idols (Misfits, Circle Jerks, Dead Milkmen, a bunch of the Epitaph family, blah blah blah), but I guess a killer show would be:

Hostile Omish
The Clash
The Smiths
and Slayer

Where do you guys usually play?

We tour nationally and regionally, but we do a lot of local stuff in Ohio. During down time, we make short films and music videos.

What's the furthest from home have you played?

We've played CBGB's and the Whisky A Go Go and pretty much everywhere in between. This spring, we plan to release a new video series explaining how each member left our Amish community to join a punk band, followed by a tour of England and Japan.

Who are your favorite bands from this general region?

Mobile Death Camp (Michigan)
L.A.W. (Toledo)
Bushwalla (Bedford)
Johnny Mohawk and the Assassins (Cleveland)
H.H.C. (Cleveland)

What's your favorite peanut butter brand? Do you think it stands up to the leading brand?

JIF - smooth - no others compare.

Favorite movie?

It's a tie between Batman (the good one) and Evil Dead.

Who is the best dancer in your band?

Davey - smooth - no others compare.

How many times a week do you think a band should practice?

Bands should practice as much as possible - I do not recommend lessons. Self-teaching allows one to develop their own "style." We hardly ever practice.

Who do you see as your band's arch-nemesis?

The Earthquakers from PA; totally ripped off our gig! LAME.

Bar shows or all-ages?

Both - two different animals, my friend.

What do you think this area is lacking in terms of a good punk scene?

This scene blows. All the clubs are overpriced, beer is overpriced, tickets... it costs kids $20-$30 just to go see a local show! How about a $5 cover charge?

What can we do to improve it?

Move far away.

Any advice or words of wisdom before we wrap this up?

Poop.

Visit Hostile Omish on MySpace!!

Troubadouring in 2009: Recap of My Summer Mini-Tour

2009-08-24T00:40:00.005-04:00

by Ray Zen.

Once again, I was presented with the opportunity to head out on a tour doing what I love most, only this time I didn’t have my band to hide behind. From August 8 to August 16, I traveled the Midwest with my friends Presque Vu (who I help with backing vox as well), Mush Mouth (Mentor, Ohio), Mike Ra (Youngstown, Ohio), and MC Homeless (Youngstown, Ohio) promoting my first solo EP entitled “Sermons on the Subtleties of Love and Hate”. The following is an account of the awesome week we spent together, and the eye-opening, discouraging, and heartening experiences that filled that in-between.

August 8, 2009 :: Chicago, IL :: Mortville w/ Wattson, DJ Ryon, Mic Logik and Ideal, & DJ Coconutz

Mortville (Mortville Blogspot Page) is one of the coolest places I’ve ever played, period. I rode out to Chicago with my little brother and my parents so they could check the city and visit my cousin who lives there. After I got them settled, I met up with my friend Ben and took a train down the pink line to the Kedzie stop on the South side during which time Ben and I met a cool girl we chatted with for a moment (read about this encounter here: The Blocks Ahead). Mortville is literally an abandoned warehouse-turned-art gallery, show space, and housing collective across the street from the stop. It doesn’t look like much when you’re standing in front of it, but when Clayton (one of the people who lives there) let us in, we were shocked at how cool the place was. The second floor was littered with all sorts of bikes and bike parts, and walking up the steps to the third floor you could see a cubby-hole to the left with a mattress and pillow in it, where someone has made their bedroom.

The third floor was decorated to look like a village, meaning that they had taken cardboard and other supplies and designed “storefronts” that covered the walls. In addition to this, the artwork of a very talented Chicago native named Ben Balanoff was on display. Finally, as far as describing the place goes, the third floor had a door leading out to the roof from which there is an excellent view of both the neighborhood and the Sears Tower in the distance. All the people here (especially Clayton and Sara) were incredible to us and provided my tour mates with a place to crash for the night, there were plenty of people there to check both the music and the art on display, and the show itself was full of excellent sounds. Of the locals that played the only one I got a chance to actually talk to was Wattson, and he is a very cool and very skilled MC. Check him out if you’re into hip-hop as I am.

Due to some drama (don’t ask) I had to undergo the night before this show that resulted in a drive to Girard, Ohio at 12:30 a.m. and a brand new tire going flat at 3:00 a.m. in Orwell, Ohio, I was exhausted and headed back to my cousin’s apartment to crash for the night. My tour mates headed up to Minneapolis, Minnesota the following day after forgetting about a scheduling conflict I had for that day, so I hung out in Chicago with my family until Monday, when the tour crew picked me up and we headed up to Milwaukee. I will be back to Mortville, even if it’s just to visit and check out a show. That place rules!

August 10, 2009 :: Milwaukee, WI :: Y-Not-III w/ Fight Suit & E=MC Hammer

I took a train up the red/purple line in Chicago to the Howard stop, where my buddies picked me up and we headed up to Milwaukee, which is Algonquin for “The Good Land” (thanks Alice Cooper). We arrived a bit late due to traffic, poor planning, and Mush Mouth’s GPS having absolutely no clue how to handle Milwaukee and at one point telling us that we were driving in a river. Thankfully, both the people in the bands as well as the staff at Y-Not-III were really laid back, and our lateness was no issue. We loaded in and shortly after we were greeted by a crowd of some of the nicest people you could ask for, as well as some rad local sounds. I love the fact that almost anywhere you go in the Midwest, you tend to find a similar sort of friendliness and hospitality, and the gracious denizens of Meeleewaukay displayed this in excess.

The two groups we played with were quality as well. Fight Suit (Fight Suit Myspace) reminds me of some sort of Thursday/Make Believe hybrid, and they successfully combined aggression, songwriting, and vocal prowess resulting in an impassioned elbow to the face. E=MC Hammer (couldn't find their myspace, sorry!) was a bassist/drummer duo who sounded like Lightning Bolt beating the piss out of a metalhead who wore a Metallica t-shirt to their show. All told, it was a kick ass night of tunes, brews, and shots with the awesome bartender who works at Y-Not, whose name I regret to admit I cannot remember for the life of me. This does not erase the fact that he was a hell of a guy, and if I ever go back to Milwaukee, I’ll have to stop by and buy him a shot.

One of Johnny La Rock’s (Presque Vu) friend from high school (Kristen) who has just recently relocated to MIL came to the show, got belligerently drunk, told us we were staying in her tiny studio apartment that night (thank you so much!), and then took us out for the craziest night of the entire week. I’m not even sure where to start this part of the story, so I’ll just have to assure you that I’m going to do my best. The show ended right around closing time, which I’m assuming is at least similar to here though I don’t remember. It must have been around 2 a.m. We all drove back to Kristen’s apartment, threw our bags on the floor, picked places to sleep, and moved out to the front steps of the building to enjoy the beautiful summer night. Suffice it to say that we were all ready for a relaxing night spent unwinding. Kristen had other ideas.

As Mike Ra and I chilled and walked around the neighborhood, Kristen began pushing to go to some casino nearby that is apparently open all night (or maybe all casinos are open all night?). Somewhere in here, as the night started to get a bit hazier, we could see cops from the front steps of the building sitting with their lights off in the parking lot of a gas station. Most of us on the tour voted for staying where we were because I think Johnny La Rock was the only sober member of our crew. The casino idea was hotly debated and we eventually ended up going.

At the casino we all got separated a bunch of times, and I spent most of my time walking aimlessly by myself and with Mike Ra wondering why anyone goes to casinos. I’m not much of a gambling man, but they are interesting places in which to observe human behavior. At some point, I found myself staring at this giant wall outside of the casino that had tons of colorful light up panels and hoping I didn’t pass out somewhere on premises to be mistaken by a bored security guard for someone who wanted to be there. This was totally one of those nights that you can’t prepare for, and when it happens it’s all so whirlwind that it’s both exhilarating and exhausting because it’s always good to be up super-late, but it’s not always good to be clueless as to where you are when this is all happening. I guess I’m doing a pretty terrible job describing what a lunatic night this was, but I was drunk, so leave me alone.

We wrapped the night (or morning at this point) up at Denny’s around 6:30 a.m. for breakfast and lots of raunchy/inappropriate comments from select members of our tour (EXCUSE ME!?!?!?!?!?) and finally got back to Kristen’s apartment around 7 or 7:30 a.m. Naturally, we then slept into the afternoon, and this sort of train wrecked the prospect of having our own tour guide for that day because Kristen had prior obligations in the late afternoon. That afternoon, we walked around the neighborhood checking out head shops, comic books, records, and some solid Ethiopian food. I don’t remember exactly when she mentioned it, but after Kristen mentioned the Bronze Fonz statue of Fonzie a.k.a. Arthur Fonzarelli a.k.a. Henry Winkler from “Happy Days” in downtown MIL, I made a complete stink about going to see it later that day. I don’t know about you, but when I was little spending summers chilling at my Grandparents’ house, I watched “Happy Days” religiously. Eyyy!!!!! Before we set out for Iowa, we made a stop in downtown MIL to take some pictures and waste time, and we wound up making it over to the Bronze Fonz! I spent at least an hour in some bookstore speed-reading an interesting book called “Go Ask Alice” that I’m planning on picking up, and we shoved off down the Milwaukee River in the general direction of Iowa. Good stuff.

Here's what I say about Milwaukee in general:

August 12, 2009 :: Ames, IA :: Ames Progressive w/ The Mullinax Street Orchestra (from St. Louis, MO)

After knocking off quite a bit of the travel time to Iowa the night we left MIL, we wound up crossing the Mississippi River for the second time in my life and only the first in my memory, stopping for the night in Dubuque, Iowa. An uneventful night gave rise to a roughly equally uneventful day of driving to Ames, which is the home of Iowa State University, and then wandering around Ames for hours. I’m not sure what impressions people hold about Iowa, but I am here to confirm the rumor that there isn’t much there at all. I did enjoy looking at the river in Ames for a bit, but in general, the scenery throughout the state is pretty monotonous and flat, and there are lots of manure-type smells everywhere outside of any towns we were in. Just an observation, don't take it as in insult please, Iowa.

I feel like Ames could potentially have been an awesome place to play while class is in session, but the town was pretty dead on this lovely summer day. Everyone was very nice to us, and we met a cool man there named Bob who reminded me of that dad of a friend of a friend who’s a professor at some small college. He gave us a rundown on Iowa history, geography, and other tidbits about the state, and was generally cool as hell. Oddly enough, when we were packing up to leave the spot we played, Ames turned into Brotown, USA, complete with lots of popped collars, cold beer lights, and high heels. It was definitely a different atmosphere after sundown, leaving us to wonder where everyone was during the day. I do want to throw a quick shout-out to the Mullinax Street Orchestra from St. Louis (couldn't find their myspace either), who is a three-piece folk/rock band with a fantastic singer that you should definitely check out if you get the chance.

Right before we jumped the Iowa ship in favor of the charms of Western Illinois, Mush Mouth, La Rock and I went over to some gas station called “Kum & Go” (LOL) for drinks and snacks. The clerk at the “Kum & Go” (LOL) was pretty rude to Eddie (La Rock), but then apologized citing the rough night he’d been having as the reason. Mush somehow discovered that the clerk was into Anime and comic books, they wound up hitting it off, and the clerk turned out to actually be a pretty funny dude. He told us about how kids from Minnesota always come in and buy lots of “Kum & Go” (LOL) lighters to take back to Minnesota because there apparently aren’t any of these gas stations there. The clerk also messed with lots of drunk people that were coming in and out as he chatted with Mush about Anime. I just laughed the whole time. We left, crossed the Mississippi again, and bunked in Western Illinois to prepare for a long drive the next day.

August 13, 2009 :: Lansing, MI :: B414 w/ a bunch of ska bands and too-cool mall punks

In the interests of maintaining a degree of class, all I will say about this show is that if you are a musician booking a tour, DO NOT PLAY HERE. I could get into brutal details, especially involving the individual who ran this place, but it doesn’t even warrant my time. A little word of advice for you though, you phony hippie: implicit within DIY music is the notion of respect for both individuals and art, and this goes for both spaces hosting bands and the interactions bands have with the people running spaces. If you have no intentions of actually respecting the artists you host, don’t expect them to respect you. Furthermore, I suggest you close your show space immediately. Scumfuck.

On the bright side, I got to hang out with a pair of friends of mine who live in Lansing and came to the show, so that was cool.

August 15, 2009 :: Detroit, MI :: The Trumbullplex w/ Lindsay and Danielle Hula Hoopin’ It Up

We arrived in the greater D the same night we played Lansing and were shown around by Mush’s friends Heather and Justin, who were amazing to us and took us around a really cool neighborhood that reminded me of Coventry in Cleveland only way bigger all the next day. Most of the day of the show was spent here too, but Mush and I chilled in the car sleeping and writing songs for most of it. At this point in the trip, I think I had all of $4 left, so I wasn’t being intentionally lame sitting around in a car all day. I kind of had to do it. Either way, I got a chance to gather my thoughts a bit and exercise my brain muscle, so it was cool. A couple of hours before show time, we set out toward the Trumbullplex, which was only about 20 minutes from where we were. Mush’s GPS ran into some more trouble, and we had to give the place a call to see if they could sort out where we needed to go to get there. The directions we got from the folks at the Trumbullplex were dead on, and we got there with no problem, but not before we’d seen quite a bit of downtown Detroit on our own. I do have to say that my heart goes out to that town. There is so much suffering happening there right now, and there are neighborhoods that look like absolute warzones with roofs of houses collapsing, burnt out, boarded up, and outright destroyed. That’s not to say that we here in Cleveland don’t have our fair share of this type of thing, but if you drive through both cities and compare, it tends to seem quite a bit more salient in the D. I often think about the poor situations that Cleveland has had to endure, and often with quite a bit of anger toward the terrible mismanagement that occurs in the city government here. After driving through inner-Detroit, I’ve been reminding myself that we Clevelanders are not alone.

The Trumbullplex is in an old neighborhood close to downtown Detroit that has quite a bit of character. It reminded me somewhat of the Ohio City neighborhood of west side Cleveland. The houses around the area have what I’m guessing is that German-inspired style of architecture, and they are far more interesting than the houses you saw in that one kid in your class in high school that used to throw all the parties parents’ development back in high school. But I digress. I had been to the Trumbullplex once before, a few years ago, to check Erik Petersen of Mischief Brew playing a solo set. During that set I got to check a couple local Detroit bands, at least one of which I really enjoyed, but who I found broke up shortly after the show. It was a great show/night that produced quite a few memories, so I think it’s needless to say that I was really excited to be able to play this place. We were supposed to play with a band called Ninjasonik, who wound up having to cancel their stop at the Trumbullplex in favor of some festival-type show a few minutes away at a bigger theatre. Being a bunch of relatively unknown acts, we figured that most people would be heading over to that show instead of to ours, but kids in the D had other ideas. Right before Danielle took the stage to flex her hula-hooping muscles, a nice crowd of people piled into the back of the place. Somehow, none of us really had any idea that there were so many people out front, as we were all inside and in the back of the building. We knew pretty much immediately that it was going to be a good night.

What you need to know about the Trumbullplex is that it is probably one of the most unique D.I.Y. show spaces in the entire country. It’s a house where a group of people live together and take care of the place, and they have built something of a small theatre on the back of the house. This space is used for all sorts of community activities and gatherings, and serves to promote a welcoming, safe environment for residents of the house and neighborhood, and friends from elsewhere alike. The cool thing about the place is that they aren’t at all close-minded to the types of shows they host, as evidenced by a hybrid hula-hoop/hip-hop/folk show happening there the night we played. Lindsay and Danielle were pretty awesome to be honest. I can’t even hula one hoop around my waist let alone do some of the stuff they were doing as you can see in the pictures. Everyone performing was given enough time to do a full set, and I had a complete blast the whole night, especially when I danced with four other people during Mush Mouth’s set. There was even an older local dude who was determined to get his dance on to the extreme, and pulled out a few breakdance moves for Homeless and Ra earlier in the night. Never trust a revolutionary who’s afraid to dance!

Despite all of the fun we’d had all night, my favorite part of the evening came after everyone was already done performing. I asked Claire, who is one of the people who runs the Trumbullplex along with John, if I could grab another glass of water. She took me into the kitchen of the house, and the place smelled oddly familiar, though I’d never been in their kitchen before. I realized that the earthy scent of their kitchen was virtually identical to the scent of my great Grandfather’s farmhouse in Concord Township, Ohio, which naturally brought a flood of old and very welcome memories back. I realized how long it has been since I last had the pleasure of smelling that scent, and I mentioned this to Claire who immediately said I should write a song about it. Because of her, I have now begun working on one and am already excited as to how it is shaping up, so I have to throw many thanks to her for the inspiration. Thanks again to both John and Claire as well for their amazing hospitality. We headed home that same night due to a majority vote of people wanting to re-acquaint with their own beds, and left Detroit in great spirits, but with a definite desire to come back soon.

Recap

I can’t wait to go on tour again. This was my second one personally, and it did not fail to produce the kind of experiences that are exactly the reason that I do it in the first place. It’s an amazing opportunity to connect with other musicians and artists, strengthen old friendships, build new ones, and simply meet cool new people in general, all the while doing something that I must be honest when I say is often the only thing in life that makes any sense to me. Yeah, there are downs, but the downs have not yet been able to overtake the ups, and I’m pretty sure I have no intentions of stopping until this is regularly the case. Good luck to the downs, because you’ve got a hell of a fight ahead of you.

And Endless Thanks, Once Again to:

Clayton, Sara and the rest of Mortville; Wattson for being a cool dude; Ben Gregg for being reason alone to visit Chicago; Ben Balanoff for interesting rooftop conversation about art and Adderall; John “J-Rock” Brennock; my family especially my cousin Rob; Kristen in Milwaukee; Fight Suit and E=MC Hammer for being amazing and making the show in MIL possible; the bartender at Y-Not-III; The Mullinax Street Orchestra; Bob in Iowa; the clerk at the Kum & Go (LOL) in Ames; the Mississippi River for being spectacular; Caleb Sandoval and Chris Austreng for being genuine, awesome dudes and keeping me sane in Lansing; Heather and Justin for coming to the Lansing show and then showing us around the D; Claire and John at the Trumbullplex; Lindsay and Danielle for hoopin’ it up; the folks that danced with me in the D, especially the breakdancing man; and of course, Johnny La Rock, Mush Mouth, Mike Ra, and MC Homeless for filling the in-between in hilarious, glorious fashion. Peace!

VIDEO: "Probation" by DROPGUN

2009-08-23T02:36:00.001-04:00

Interview with Billy from DROPGUN

2009-08-22T09:21:00.010-04:00

Conducted by Sam Sinister.

ANC: So is the new album done yet? What's the story?

Billy: We're moving along on the songwriting. I wanted the next record to really stick out this time. It's going to be called Rubber City Blackout. We've worked really hard on trying not to rewrite the same thing over and over again. So I've been spending a lot of time thinking outside the box. I just want it to be a very hard-hitting, straightforward "rock and roll album". The songs on this one are based more on what I've experienced while being a bartender for the last 9 years, cleaning up after a bad bout with drugs and alcohol, and actually growing up... a little.

I've learned from a lot of peoples actions, fears, and disappointments. I've seen people's kids finish up college, then move back home. And I've watched people drink themselves to death.

I've seen a lot of talent that was wasted-- on the other side of the bar! I actually took a lot of time writing this time. I always felt a little rushed on other projects, but I've never regretted anything I've said. Dropgun's been around longer than most bands I've seen in the mags... We'll keep rolling, as long as someone will keep listening.

You mentioned that the new album's gonna be a lot more "rock and roll". It's funny, I've always thought you can't get much more rock and roll than Dropgun! What do you think the biggest difference is, music/instrument wise, between this record and the last one?

The first record we did was called Shittin' and Gittin'-- very "Oi". That came out in 2001. Devil Music was the second... What happened was that we transformed a bit in 2002-2003. I was working at a place that my buddy owned, called the Lime Spider, in downtown Akron. We opened that bar, in June of 2001. At the time, rock and roll and punk was still trying to make its way from the ruins of the late-'90s rap/metal, boy band thing.

I started seeing bands come through like the Demons and the Dragons. We were also making trips up to Cleveland, to the Beachland. There were some great fucking bands starting to rip, like the Vacancies, the Sign Offs, Amps II Eleven, Electric Frankenstein, etc. Then finally, my friend Keith handed me some Turbonegro, the Hellacopters, and the Backyard Babies... I was like, fucking finally! Some music out there that doesn't suck! Akron from 1992-2000 was really goofy and lame. If you were going to get laid in those days, there were 2 CDs you had to have, and one had Snoop Dogg on it... DJs were everywhere... raves and whatnot.

Anyways, I also started getting back into the music I grew up on: The Dead Boys, Misfits/Danzig, Social D, and some hair metal I dug... that's how Devil Music was written. Working at a club - drinking every night! - strip clubs, etc. It gave me a lesson in "Rock and Roll 101". Finally, a lifestyle I was craving!

Rubber City Blackout... well, we've played some of the new songs live. I didn't know how our fans were going to react. I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel here. I just took a few different elements and mashed them together. One was Joan Jett; hardest-working lady in rock and roll! The others were Social D, and somebody said early Buckcherry, which kinda floored me. I mean, I dig those guys, but I'm not a huge fan...

I think at the moment we have 9 or 10 songs in preproduction, and 3 on MySpace, like "Black Whip", "Know your Friends", and "Knife in You". I'll put it this way; from 2005 to 2008, I had serious writer's block, I was drinking like a fucking fish, along with pain meds. Everything was foggy and I was un-motivated. I was afraid to pick up a guitar 'cause everything I was playing sucked. Last summer was when that lifted. And the chemistry started taking off.

I just want to shake the stage! Destroy and rip! It's the only thing I know, that's my life sentence!

Do you think real punk rock has come full circle? I mean, it seems like the late '60s-to-mid '70s style has really gotten a revival, in the bar circuit at least.

Kinda. I think it did more in early-2001 to 2004. You had the Hives, doing their strange thing, the Living Things doing their T-Rex thing... all music comes full circle, bottomline. I think music is just plain old music. You either like it, or you don't. I really hate fucking labels... especially now. Kids are fucking confused. I was watching some video channel the other day, and they had these kids screaming into a mic, with a keyboard and drums... just tearing it up! To me there was no label for it, but they called it euro/techno/pop/punk? I'm like, wow. That's more of a title than a college graduate gets when he or she receives their masters degree!

Somebody asks me what kinda music I like the most, I might sit them down and ask them if they have a few hours. My i-Pod is nutty-- from Slayer to Muddy Waters, LA Guns, Megadeth, Metallica... fuck, it doesn't matter. If it grabs me by the balls, I'll take it.

How do you feel about what's been happening a lot in mainstream music - the fusing of all this shit, like all the "scene kid", Hot Topic type crap all melding together. Like everything is this weird mix of emo, '80s new wave, late nineties mainstream rock, and really bad indie crap now. I even heard stuff now called "crunkcore" that's absolute garbage...

Like I said earlier, I really hate labels. I'm to the point now where I'm like, wear whatever you
want, shop wherever, act however you like - we'll see who lasts! I've seen people from day one jump off this rock and roll ride.

Somebody told me, about a year outta high school, that I wouldn't last 2 years... that I would open my eyes and want more, maybe go to college. Get a better paying job. Get married and have kids. And this punk rock dream would be over.

Well, here I am, almost sixteen years later, still going at it. I really do hate how tattoos have become socially exceptable. I hate all those shows on TV. Yeah, Hot Topic can kiss my ass. All the great themes have been used up! Everything I see has been worn out! I'm almost bored with it, but I keep going. My music may not change the world, or reach a million people, but the point of all this is to keep playing, writing, and moving on.

It's kinda cool to see how you've grown since the first band you've ever played in, or go back and listen to that first demo tape. I do keep a scrap book (yeah, it's gay), but I've had a few people/fans out there see something that I was a part of, or some interview I was in, cut them out and send them to me. My lastest project is digging out all my old school Jeff Lamm flyers, hanging them, and framing them.

We're only on this rock for a minute! I didn't buy into a bunch of adult/parent bullshit! And I wasn't going to let some asshole talk me into being something that I never wanted to be!

Who are some of your favorite bands to gig with?

Early on, some of our best shows ever, were with the Vacancies and the Cheats... Signoffs... First Offense, Luxury Pushers; I like playing with new bands that haven't been around long. There's something about a new band that can put a fire under your ass. It motivates me...

You guys [Dead City Dealers] tear it up [Thanks! -ed.]. I was just starting to get comfortable, sharing gigs with you guys, then - nothing for a while(?). We'll have to do something about that.

I've seen some bands that have held their own, and ones that never made it to their third show...
that's rock and roll!

Were your parents into music similar to what you listen to? Did you grow up with rock and roll?

Ah, yes I did! I come from an amazing background. My mother was all into the Motown/Chess Records thing... Chicago R&B. My father was into the British thing. Luckily, he was more into the Rolling Stones and the Who, not the Beatles. I got a good dose of Hendrix, the Yardbirds, SRV, Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny Cash... My dad actually had the Clash's Combat Rock record, and Billy Idol's Rebel Yell - both of which I still own!

Thank god for parents like that. My mother has supported me and my musical choice the whole way. She never said anything to try to keep me from the dream. She always told me that no one in our family ever picked up a guitar... but I was playing pretty fluently in the 6 grade. She was amazed at how I could hear a song, and figure it out in an hour. In those days, with the help of tablature, I spent most of my high school career in my bedroom, bashing out Metallica, Megadeth, Danzig, the Misfits, and Rollins Band... That shit isn't easy to play. Kept me busy!

What was the first album you listened to until it wouldn't play anymore?

The first tape I wore out was VAN HALEN 1984.

First punk album?

The Clash Combat Rock... that's kinda lame.

Favorite album (any genre)?

At the moment, that's a hard one. I guess it would be the Chelsea Smiles' first one. Great rock and roll band from L.A.

What's the best thing about Akron?

It just keeps getting dirtier!

Any advice to people who want to start a band but haven't done it yet?

Don't start a band! Take your medication, go to school. Get a real job. This shit sucks sometimes... it's like the mob. Once you're in, you're in. There's no turning back. Like I said, it's a life sentence!

Visit Dropgun on MySpace!

I want to be stereotyped, I want to be classified. . . on genres, standards and individualism

2009-08-21T14:14:00.009-04:00

by FredCore.

Funny enough when The Decendents used the lyrics, "I want to be stereotyped, I want to be classified," in the song Suburban Home; it was a satire on much of the attitude of how our society works - a discussion of roles and standards of American culture.

I sadly see that most of the people in the punk rock scene today use punk rock to define themselves. As far as I am concerned, punk rock is something that can aid me in living my everyday life, but I don't feel that I fit into some label that I can put on my head with a barcode, so that it can be scanned, and someone would know the content of my existence.

I made the following picture to explain how I see punk rock kids most of the time:

Are we just target markets, for some capitalist to come along and sell us back our rage and insecurites? I just feel that much of the "scene" is more like the "herd", and many of us are hanging on to the "herd" mentality. Once someone does something outside of the "scene" norms, there are two options: they are either treated like they need to leave the scene, or the scene expands to accept this difference of opinion.

I understand that I've also fallen into the herd mentality; I am not excluding myself from this discussion in the least. I guess that as I age (I'll be 35 on the 26th of August), I have a harder and harder time seeing, besides hanging on to some of the attitude and creativity that punk rock has given me, how punk rock is important to my life. I have plenty of other things going on with my life, and punk rock tends to become less a part of my life, and more a fading memory of the past.

Is punk rock just a musicial style that has gotten to the point that it is nothing? All style, no substance? I'll have to reach out and quote Social Distortion and say, "I don't have all the answers."

Interview with Krist of the band Divine Tragedy

2009-08-13T22:53:00.008-04:00

by Sam Sinister.

One sunny summer's day, I posted a bulletin online asking our very nice readers who they think I should interview. One suggestion was provided by Brokencyde enthusiast Edilberto in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Well, Berto, I took your advice, and got in touch with Krist, singer for Pittsburgh's Divine Tragedy. I says to him, I says, "Would you wanna do an interview with an online punk fanzine?"

"Sure, sounds cool."

Good, I thought to myself, now's my chance to make my readers proud!! I cleared my throat. "Ahem. Uh, this guy Edilberto suggested it. I gotta admit, I never heard of you until today. You've been around since '99?"

"Yup, off and on. We are more in the metal scene than the punk scene, though."

My eyes lit up. "Have you guys ever opened for METALLICA?"

(silence)

"No... No, I guess not." I felt embarassed. Sometimes I forget myself in these types of situations. "Ummm. You said you're more in the metal scene than the punk scene... What punk bands have you played with?"

"Haven't opened up for Metallica. (Laughs) That would be cool, though. Have opened up for national acts such as Boston, Mushroomhead, and the Motorpsychos."

I made a face. "Ugh. You ever play with any punk bands from around here?"

(more silence)

Eventually I got tired of waiting for a response, so I decided to interview a fictional character instead.

Interview with Harry Potter

ANC- Hey, excuse me, but would you mind if I interviewed you for a magazine?

HP- Oh, gee, I don't know... I'm not really supposed to talk to muggles...

ANC- Huh?

HP- Well, you see, it's just that...

ANC- What the fuck's a muggle?

HP- Non.. magic people.

ANC- Wait, hold up a sec-- You're a MAGICIAN!?

HP- Well, yea, I mean-

ANC- That's AWESOME!! Oh-- Listen, you GOTTA pull a quarter outta my ear...

HP- We don't really, uh, do that. (confused) So wait-- if you didn't know who I was, why did you want to interview me?

ANC- I thought you were Randy from this band Labor Force...

HP- Who's that?

ANC- Nevermind. So what's it like being a magician?

HP- I already told you-

ANC- Oh yeah, right, the muggle thing. What exactly is it that makes you think magicians are so much better than everyone else? Why can't I talk to you?? This would be great publicity for your act!

HP- It's NOT an ACT! I really CAN do magic!!

ANC- Prove it.

HP- (Stares intensly at me for a second, then his expression changes to a nervous one) I can't.

ANC- See, I knew it. You're crazy.

HP- I CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE IF I DO MAGIC IN THE PRESENCE OF MUGGLES THEN I'LL BE EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL!

ANC- Well that's really weird... Hey, what do you keep lookin' around like that for?

HP- Well... (leans in close, whispering) The dementors are after me.

ANC- Oh... kay...

HP- You wouldn't understand.

ANC- What's a dementor? Is that, like, a gang or something?

HP- Dementors are the most terrifying thing you'd ever lay your eyes on. They're about 9 feet tall, they wear long black cloaks with hoods, and they're shrouded in a thick black fog.

ANC- That doesn't sound so scary...

HP- Once they're r'afta you, they'll destroy anyone else thats gets in their way until you're dead. They hover right over you, and they suck out your soul through your face.

ANC- Wow. Okay. You're right, I really shouldn't talk to you. You're outta your fuckin' mind, kid.

HP- The dementors are REAL, I tell you!! Once they stopped a train that I was on, and tried to suck my soul out, right there in front of everyone!!

ANC- Okay, I believe you. Take it easy.

HP- It's true! He Who Must Not Be Named sent them to get me.

ANC- (backing away slowly) Right, yeah, that musta been terrible. I gotta go find that other guy now, okay?

HP- Alright. But be CAREFUL, Lord Voldemort's DEATH-EATERS are EVERYWHERE!

ANC- Yeah, I'll do that. See ya...

Visit Divine Tragedy on MySpace!!

Ellen Degenerate - Live at Rock The Docks 2009

2009-08-07T09:10:00.008-04:00

This was grabbed from the soundboard and then made into mp3. This is a self-released recording of myself and the rest of my band. I think that the quality is much better than the show that Sam reviewed (thanks!!!) and I hope that someone checks this out because you can't beat the price.

-Fred

Get This here!!!!

Tour, Odds and Ends, and True Friction

2009-08-06T13:18:00.006-04:00

by Ray Zen.

Hey, y'all. I've been going a bit crazy lately trying to prep myself for 5 out of state shows I'll be doing next week. However, I will definitely be back with quite a few new articles sometime around the end of August.

Also, since this space is supposed to be all about art [Hey! Speak for yourself! -Ed.], I figured I'd take this time to mention a space that one of my favorite people in the world has recently started on here for underground fiction stories. It's called True F(r)iction and I included a link to it, here in the post title. If YOU have any short fiction, lyrics, poetry, or other original literature you'd like to contribute to this project, e-mail Nick at grandartstudio@gmail.com. He's an awesome and talented dude and I'm sure he'll be glad to hear from you. I'll be contributing short stories and/or poems to his page from time to time, and I'm trying to get as many people involved in this community as possible.

I love the idea of sharing ideas and good stories, because that's what the arts are all about, and without them this world would be painfully boring, so help us make True F(r)iction an awesome place for people to go, and read something that can't be labeled "ordinary".

This project is in no way competing with ANC (it's fiction, dude), but we'd love to have some of the artists involved in ANC contributing whatever they can, so hit Nick up today! Peace, and I'll talk to you all again when I get home!

We have a new 'Dear Eden' installment (FINALLY!)

2009-08-01T14:15:00.002-04:00

What the fuck have you shiteaters been waiting for? I'm sure you think you already have all the answers, but cut the girl a break. All she wants to do is help you and make fun of you at the same time. That doesn't sound so bad, does it?

(Click the post title above to read)

"SCENE KIDS" WORD BUBBLE CONTEST!!

2009-08-01T08:28:00.000-04:00

Fill in what the two scene kids are saying. The best ones will be featured on ANC!! Prizes include:

- Making us laugh.
- Making yourself laugh.
- Having your "cartoon" appear on ANC in about a month.

First place winner will also get an ANC t-shirt, and an ANC Penn-Ohio Punk Rock compilation CD.

Send your entry (as an attachment) to: artless.nonculture2@gmail.com (Subject: "word bubble contest")

Interview with Criminal Menacing and the Three Strikes.

2009-08-01T00:20:00.004-04:00

Criminal Menacing and the Three Strikes is an Akron-based band. I have been to a few of their shows in recent months, and once hosted a show of theirs at my house. This is my first official post for ANC, so I wanted it to be something worth reading. I sent the guys some interveiw-ish questions, and they were kind/drunk enough to respond. To hear the band, and probably get a better idea of them than this interview can give, go here to visit their MySpace page.

I believe that there is a website in the works, and they will be at Annabell's (782 W Market St) in Akron on August 17th, which promises to be a good show.

Arneh.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, so, Criminal Menacing and the Three Strikes, how the fuck are you?

Shit-faced.

That's good. You have any shows coming up?

We have a show in T-County at a beer pong tournament, and then we're opening up for Tom Jones in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock August 29th, then well be back in town to play Annabell's August 17th... we have a time machine.

Speaking of live performance, you guys seem to do it pretty well. What motivates you when you're playing live? And how (if at all) do you guys prepare for a show? Some bands choreograph it down to the slightest jump. Is that how you guys are?

PBR, Percocet, and victory. That's all the inspiration we need... we always shoot to out-perform every other band that we play with... We practice a couple times during the week before a show and then we get drunk and play....

And what would you say is your favorite aspect of playing live?

Jeremy: The naked titties floppin' 'round.
Brandon: Being able to jump around like (see above), and sometimes free beer.
Elliot: Watching people dig shit that I wrote .
Ryan: I like beer....

And your least favorite?

Jeremy: People borrowing shit.
Brandon: (See above), and having to pack up our shit and drive home drunk.
Elliot: The places we play.
Ryan: Javan's Penis.

Have any of you ever had a terrible experience playing live? If so, was it worth it in the end?

Ryan: When Brandon forgot my keyboard stand. But I guess no...

Your album, Homesick, has a pretty unique feel for this part of the world and the styles of music most prevalent here. For those who have never heard it, how would you describe your band's sound?

It's what you get when you mix a reggae guy, an Oi! guy, a gangsta, and a folk-punk guy. We are ethno-folk-punk-ska-reggae. We melt faces. 'Nuff said.

And what are some bands that have influenced you over the years?

Cock Sparrer, Pogues, Choking Victim, Slackers, Combat 84, Old 97's, Gogol Bordello, Toots and the Maytalls. We are all over the place.

Is there a favorite song from Homesick? One that the entire band likes to play the most?

"Won't Be Missed." It has it all.

For an independent band, the sound of your album is far better than would normally be expected. When you play a show, do you try and duplicate this sort of cleanliness? Or do you prefer to have the live sound be different every time you play the song?

It's all 'bout da live, nugga. Performance and recording are two entirely different art forms. With a record, you have to listen to it over and over. With a live show, it's about the noise, energy, beer, and sweat, you don't have to play clean to play good live... you just have to play awesome!

What, if you have one, would you say is the band's over all philosophy on music in general?

Music is what you make it. We make it fucking awesome.

What are some plans/hopes you guys have for the future of Criminal Menacing?

Pay our rent.

Any new songs in the works? Homesick is crammed with a good helping of creative lyrics and songwriting; are you guys taking a break from making new material, or are you still just as driven to make new stuff?

For a while we were at a standstill, when we lost our original drummer, because we had to teach the new one all the songs, and plus it just wasn't the same... We are writing a new album at the moment. It has more explosive sounds and styles that you wouldn't expect from a few kids from Akron.

Who are some other local bands you guys like, or like to play shows with?

We like playing with Weird Penis. Good fuckin' times.

Is there anything you just hate about being in a band?

When Brandon has sand in his vagina. Dude needs Paxil.

What keeps you going when that factor feels like it is too much to deal with?

Jesus, our Lord and savior. (insane laughter)

Anything you feel like saying before we finish up?

Yeah, tell them boys from Pittsburgh to have us come out their way. We want some new crowds and some tastey Yuengling.

Thanks for your time, here's looking forward to only the best in your future.

This is a question? If so, the answer is "No."

Dear Eden

2009-07-29T16:18:00.006-04:00

So...
You say your life's not perfect, and nothing ever goes your way. You wake up every day, and ask yourself, "What's the point?" You can't tell your thoughts from the underpants in your dryer. Your rubber stamp collection is getting out of control.

Don't worry. There is help for you. Don't ask KGB, or ChaCha, or some ridiculous "answers" forum.

Ask Eden.

No question is too stupid, too insane, too serious or un-serious. All we ask is that you ask it. We really don't care at this point.

"Just look at the advert below, and let those questions flow!"

Ask a question...

http://ancdeareden.blogspot.com/

Interview with Holly Berry of the Dead Enders

2009-07-28T00:30:00.009-04:00

Conducted by Sam Sinister.

Obligatory:

ANC: For the record, please state your name and purpose.

Hey, Holly here, answering questions the best I can. I am the singer/rhythm guitarist of Cleveland's Dead Enders.

Give a brief or not-so-brief history of the band, if you would be so kind.

Band formed roughly [during] summer of 2007, now filled with scene veterans CJ Gunn (lead guitar), Keef (drums), and Toddy Styles (bass), from former Cleveland punk bands such as the Subtones and Downtown Daggers. Having all played with one another throughout the years, it was, by far, the easiest line-up, musically and artistically, to work with (for me) so far. We all seem to be "music snobs" (laughs) when it comes to our strong likes and dislikes, so this is what we got!

Describe your sound in one or several words.

Loud, sweaty, and pretty fuckin' fast, like blending Joan Jett, the Ramones, and G'n'R. Or something like that!!

Who writes your songs?

Honestly, we all do, musically speaking, but I write the lyrics and melodies. There are songs we individually contribute [that are already] finished, others not. Maybe an idea we bounce around, until we finally remember the arrangement we can all agree on!

Who, or what, are some of your biggest influences?

Can't speak for everyone exactly, but I can safely say we all were surrounded by vast amounts of hard rock/metal, pop, punk, country, and even rap, that helped mold who we are today. For me, Johnny Thunders and Ramones songs "taught" me how to play and sing!

Tales of Interest:

How'd you get into punk?

I don't think you really set yourself up to "get" into punk, it just gets into you, y'know? Nowadays the term is waaay misused, by [both] the masses and the media.

Have any good tour stories? Exceptionally weird gigs, bad experiences, or funny anecdotes?

For some unlucky, unforeseen reason, it seemed almost any time we'd be booked to play the Jigsaw, something would go wrong and we would end up not playing! It started [as a] "curse", back in the Subtones, when my head blew out a few songs in [I'm assuming this means you guitar rig's head unit, not the thing on your shoulders. -ed.], and since we were playing w/ Uncle Scratch and Cult of the Psychic Fetus, they use zero distortion for guitar, so it was impossible to replace it on the spot. Then we had Keef's kick drum tear in half, opening for L.A. Guns as Dead Enders, 2 songs in, ending our set. Missed one due to illness, what would have been the last [Jigsaw] show; we would have played there (unknowingly) before it closed. We had another Spinal Tap moment, when our drummer quit a week or so before our show with The Independents last fall. Thankfully, we worked shit out eventually. At least there were a lot of good times there, though, like shows we did with Amps II Eleven, Nick Wolff, Sloppy Seconds and more.

What's the strangest request you've ever had while on stage?

Only strange request on stage was to "stop playing". (laughs) Just kidding. "Show us your tits" gets old.

The scene:

Who are some of your favorite bands to play with, locally and/or abroad?

Always love playing with our friends' bands around town. Had an amazing show at the Grog Shop last year, with Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments (she and Dee from L7). By far, 2 of the coolest rock chicks (no stupid egos in that group of people!), and a big influence on me.

What are some of your favorite places to play?

Fave places, locally, to play have been the Grog Shop, the Spitfire, even the 5 O'Clock makes for a good little band set up. But unfortunately, there's the ever-growing list of places we don't care to deal with anymore... Getting shuffled around like cattle, and ticket sales... bullshit takes a lot out of ya over the years!! It's nice to feel welcomed, not like a tagged number.

What do you think our area lacks, in terms of a good punk or rock and roll scene, if anything? And how do you think we can fix it?

Leads me to exactly what I just said about how bands are treated, and even the people [who aren't in bands] are what help influence the scene. It exists as long as people continue to believe in it - just keep [being] involved, and get out to really see and hear what people are trying to do.

Other ran-dumb questions:

Who do you think is the best looking member of your band?

Best looking? Hard to say, we're all pretty grimey sometimes! Depends who wears the most make-up! (laughs)

What's your favorite color?

Hmm, fave colors? Pink for girls, blue for boys. (laughs more)

Which is better: Yellow beer, or yellow piss?

Yellow piss and yellow beer seem to go hand and hand.

If you could play a gig with any three bands, existent or non, who would they be and why?

Let's say, since it's a "make believe" gig, how about Elvis? (He is the King, of course.) There wouldn't need to be anyone else! But I think he'd hate us!!

Who invented punk?

A lot people had to do with inventing punk, but what was coming out of CBGB's, in the early seventies, laid the groundwork. Dee Dee Ramone, for one, with his gutsy songwriting.

Wrap it up:

What's in the future for The Dead Enders?

We'll continue to play out, write songs, support our debut 10-song CD [Ding!! -ed.], and hopefully keep this thing going for a bit.

Any advice for people who want to start a band, but are too chickenshit to do it?

Don't do it!! Not unless you're ready to be married to everyone's fucked up, flaky, can't-keep-your-shittin'-life-on-track, hectic schedules, with countless drama! Ha! Seriously though, if you got it brewing inside, and aren't sure how to let it out, chances are, a band is the way to go!

Any last words?

Last words? Nah, not really, just check out our band!! And thanks for taking the time for us.

Visit the Dead Enders on MySpace!!

ARCHIVES: Interview with Viking Jim (The Homegrown Show)

2009-07-27T00:50:00.005-04:00

(This interview was done during ANC's first run, back in December of '07, I believe. Vike's no longer at The Wolf as a regular jock, but he's still the fuckin' dude behind The Homegrown Show. Working on another interview with him, so keep an eye open. Here's the original chat we had almost 2 years ago...)

VIKING JIM is your friend. Better recognize. Him and his buddy, JT, host an all-Valley bands radio show on WNCD (93.3 FM on your radio tuner), every Sunday night from 9:00 to 10:00 pm. You need to listen to this show! And don't forget to send your CDs in for a chance to get played on the fuckin' airwaves!! They've already played tracks from The Hollywood Blondes, The Kellys, Hellvis, and the Dead Boys. So get in on this, before the "Powers That Be" shut it down or something...

(Interview questions by Sam Sinister)

So what made you decide to do a radio show focusing on Youngstown area bands? How did the idea come about? Was this your idea or did someone from the radio station come to you about it?

My friend JT from here at the station, who is also involved with Third Arm Promotions, and I frequently discussed getting a local show going over the last few years as we saw the scene growing, and we hoped we could eventually get it started. But for whatever reasons the idea was always shot down by the 'Powers That Be.'
And then Vexfest 4 happened... it was AMAZING, and 5,000 people showed up [in downtown Youngstown] to see live, original local music -- I think that's more than most national acts have done at the Chevy Center! It showed exactly how varied and talented local bands are right now, and that people wanted local music. JT and I looked at each other and said 'Now's the time.'

Enter The Wolf's new program director, Matt Spatz. We knew his rep, and that he wanted to try some new things, so at our very first meeting with him we proposed the idea. He was on board immediately, as he had a similar program on his last station in Virginia. He told us to put it together, and so we approached Pete Drivere down at Ampreon Recorder to not only sponsor the show, but also [to sit in] as co-host, as he's pretty much a 'local rock guru.'

Seeing as you're a huge fan of Motorhead, as well as punk pioneers the Ramones and the Clash, and seem to have an affection for Pabst Blue Ribbon, is there a good chance you'll be giving just as much attention to the local punk rock scene as you will to other local "rock" genre bands? I hear you kicked off one of the shows with a Dead Boys track...
DEFINITELY. This area's always been a hotbed for punk and hardcore -- all the way back to Cedars in the late '70s and early '80s, with bands like The 8 Balls and B-Minors, to the old Penguin Pub in the late '80s and early '90s and bands like Sacred Hate and The Gutter Snipes. We want the show to embrace all genres, so you may hear metal, punk, rockabilly... as long as it's solid music, we'll consider playing it!
As far as The Dead Boys go, we just had to get them in on the first show -- some people may not know that Stiv Bators was a Youngstown guy, lived in Girard and graduated from Ursuline. That's something else we wanted to do with the show, to give an historical perspective by spinning some of the great Y-Town bands from the past.

I actually saw the 8-Balls on my birthday at Cedar's last year. I haven't been able to stop talking about them since! Their bass player is a huge Pere Ubu fan, so I talked to him about that for a while.
On a similar note, I used to work with a guy who grew up in Girard, right across the street from Stiv. He had no idea that the Dead Boys were this hugely influential band who still get articles published about them in "punk rock history" books!

Do you think better music comes out of these little hole-in-the-wall areas where people have nothing better to do?

I think that most of the music from this area is more honest, it's like a kind of 'What have we got to lose?' attitude. No pretensions. Not that there aren't pretentious bands in this area, believe me... unfortunately some musicians still follow pre-conceived notions of what they believe it takes to 'make it,' and wind up making formulaic music that simply recycles the stuff that their favorite artists have already made, rather than trying to actually do something TRULY original, something that's got some real heart to it. Cover bands are another thing altogether...

Oh no, please, go on! I think it's so depressing when venues won't book your band unless you play covers.

I think there's a 'comfort level' for club owners when they book only cover bands, it's a known quantity for them. They know what to expect, especially if they keep booking the same bands over and over... If they have an original band, they're afraid that either they won't get a decent draw at the door, or that they'll have a bunch of weirdos that'll scare the regulars off. In turn this leads to bands being afraid to work on original material because they're afraid of not getting bookings. It's a vicious cycle.

Right now there are 5 places in the area I can think of -- maybe 6 --that consistently book original acts. And that's great because there used to be only 1!

But I'm hoping that The Homegrown Show will break down some barriers, expose people to some music that they wouldn't normally be exposed to simply because they aren't aware that this scene is happening, maybe get them out to some of these shows and get them comfortable with new things and new ideas. Maybe then more club owners will start seeing the light as a result.

You mentioned rockabilly earlier. Do you anticipate any confusion or maybe cranky phone calls from people who might not associate "fifties music" or "oldies" with rock music? For people who might not be familiar with the local rockabilly scene, who are some of the hard-hitters, past and present?

Well, hopefully by exposing people to that genre of rock, it'll make them sit up and take notice! In the old days, you had great bands like Southern Culture on the Skids, also national acts like Reverend Horton Heat and Mojo Nixon used to play the old Penguin Pub. Now you've got bands like The Legendary Shack Shakers, they're out of Tennessee but they do play here occasionally, you've got Hellvis, who I describe to people as 'if Johnny Cash was in Motorhead,' there's Bob's Country Bunker, who've been on haitus as of late, they describe themselves as 'rockinhillbillysurfcountrydeathpunk,' and of course The Weedhawks, who's material runs the gamut from traditional bluegrass and country arrangements to outright punk.

See, when I saw Bob's Country Bunker, I talked to Joe Shelby after their set, and mentioned something about rockabilly, and he got very sullen, muttering, "We don't play fuckin' rockabilly..." and walked off. I know Mojo Nixon isn't a big fan of the term either. I think people seem to confuse the term "rockabilly" with any form of rock music with country influence. Then bands who are simply influenced by country music or might just sing with a southern drawl get called "rockabilly bands", and they get offended (or maybe just disgusted with people who don't know the difference). It's a valid concern, but probably nothing to get so up-in-arms over.

Yeah, rockabilly is probably a bad term to use, but you also can't deny the influence of the genre on many bands. And some of them aren't afraid to latch on to some of the imagery -- you know, greaser haircuts, hot rods, all of that sort of thing. Joe Shelby sullen... heh heh, that's kind of a given ain't it? Ah, I'm kidding, Joe's a good friend and a great talent. You should check out his new project, Superbird. I've heard Hellvis described as 'Greasercore' -- maybe that's a better term?

I heard that Hellvis song on your show the other day, "Hellbent Boogie", and it blew me away! I'd always heard of those guys, but never got to hear what they sound like. Are they from Y-Town?

They're out of northern Ohio, or should I say 'he.' As far as I know, Ted Laskowski, the guitarist/frontman, is the only guy left in the band at this point. The bass player, BJ Lisko -- a Youngstown guy -- left the band to form Turbo Lovers. Ted had done a stretch in prison, and when he got out they played a couple of shows, and then BJ departed... guess it just wasn't the same. Turbo Lovers is a great band too, but hopefully Ted will find a new rythym section and get back out there. Their live shows were incredible.

Alright, so back to the radio show... How does all this work with the FCC? I was always under the impression that songs had to have some sort of FCC "stamp of approval" before they could be sent over the airwaves. Or are there just certain guidelines you have to follow? Give us a rundown of what "swear words" you can and can't say on the air.

No such thing as FCC 'approval.' As long as we keep it 'clean,' which basically means not saying 'fuck' or 'shit' or 'cunt' or 'cocksucker', and so on...

It's basically common sense. If you wouldn't say it in front of your grandma, don't say it on air.

As far as guidelines for the show, as long as it's local or regional, as long as it's good music, and a quality recording, we'll consider it for the show. I won't name names, but we have gotten some stuff that's really really terrible, not only bad recording quality but horrendous musicianship as well...

Can bands simply put a "C-tone" over all the prohibited four-letter words in their songs?

Bands are certainly welcome to edit their stuff themselves, or I can do it fairly easily myself. I usually don't use a tone, though... I'll usually just 'flip' the audio.

So, to wrap it up, since I'm running out of questions...
I hear there's been talk of eventually having bands come to the studio as guests, for interviews and/or live on-air performances?

Yeah, once we get our 'sea legs' with this thing, we may start doing interviews.

Where can bands send their recordings for use on the show?

Bands can send CD's to:
The Homegrown Show, 93.3 The Wolf, 7461 South Ave, Boardman, OH 44512.
Just make sure it doesn't suck! ;-)

Any final words of wisdom or advice?

As far as advice for bands, don't get stuck in the 'cover band' loop!
Be creative, make the music you feel rather than the music you think people want... because if you feel it, they WILL want it!

Thanks for your time, Vike! And on behalf of the Penn-Ohio underground, thanks for being a friend of punk rock in general.

--Sam Sinister

HEY KIDS!! Viking Jim says:
"The views and opinions expressed here are strictly MINE, and not neccesarily those of WNCD, Clear Channel Communications, or any of it's affiliates."

ANC FUN PAGE!!

2009-07-26T04:29:00.004-04:00

Hey kids! Check this out!
Now you can color in all of your favorite Penn-Ohio punk rock bands!
That's right! Feel free to print out these snazzy pictures, bust out the crayons, and go to town. Your refrigerator will never be the same.

Even MORE Album Reviews!!

2009-07-25T04:52:00.008-04:00

by Sam Sinister.

The 8 Balls - Science Gone Too Far / When the Spirit Moves Me 7" (out-of-print)
2 songs. I know this is the only thing these guys ever recorded, and I just so happened to find it posted online in someone's blog. Old school Youngstown punk, of the rock 'n roll variety. The A side, "Science Gone Too Far" is more garage-type fare, complete with driving organ riffs. B side is kinda mellow. And power-poppish. And, well, LONG. It's got a good beat, though, and you can dance to it. Definitely worth owning, even if it is in digital format.
4 out of 5.

9 Shocks Terror - Zen and the Art of Beating Your Ass (Havoc)
Hardcore punk/sans-metal thrash from Cleveland. Everybody knows about these guys already. If you don't have this, you should really get it. I mean that. The singer sounds like a pissed off chihuahua. Re-reissue (no, that's not a typo) includes "Zen and the Art of Beating Your Ass" LP, a couple 7" releases (including "Mobile Terror Unit"), and tracks from various splits and comps.
5 out of 5.

Ellen Degenerate - Live at the Spitfire (self-released)
Live recording from a gig at the Spitfire Saloon in Cleveland. Hence the title. Sounds like shit, but you can't blame them as this is just sound extracted from a camcorder or something. Lots of crackling and mud. The band itself is really good, though. I mean, the songs are definitely there. I can tell because I'm hearing them. There are eight tracks in total, one of which is a Sex Pistols cover ("Pretty Vacant"). Sounds kinda like if the guy from the Bad Genes sang for an Oi! band. Get it here, it's free to download.
4 out of 5.

Forbidden 5 - Chop You Up! (ISV Records)
Excellent psycho-esque garage rock from Pittsburgh. Features Bruce Lentz, a.k.a. Mister Schlock, on vocals, and b-movie actor Michael Athey on guitar detail. Lentz sounds almost identical to the guy from Hayride To Hell, if that's any indication. For fans of the Cramps, Gas Huffer, and the Cynics. I think there's some Link Wray in there as well. Good horror movie inspired lyrics, some of the best I've heard, actually. Try to find this disc, you won't be disappointed.
5 out of 5.

Hub City Stompers - Ska Ska Black Sheep (Stubborn Records)
It's about damn time. In no way disappointing, either. 7 new-ish songs, including one dub with candid studio chatter in the background. The other 5 tracks are dub versions of older HCS songs, including a great "I've Got a Boot" instrumental, retitled "I've Got a Melodica" (the melodica takes the lead in place of vocals. Good shit). New recordings include live fan favorites like "Where's My Hooligans" and the hilarious "Ska Train to Dorkville". It's funny because it's true. Don't miss out on this one!
5 out of 5.

Verbal cheap shots, potty humor, and curse words.

2009-07-24T04:19:00.005-04:00

by Sam Sinister.

I realize now that no one really gives a shit about rock 'n roll anymore, and I guess that's all fine and good - or is it good and fine? Whatever - but I refuse to give up the "good fight". I'm pretty much over the fact that people don't know good music anymore, and I'm done being concerned with what other people listen to. I'm not a politican, I'm not a professional music critic - I'm just some jerk with a computer and 2 cents' worth of bullshit that needs to be heard at any given moment. So here's the deal:

I promise that I will, from now on, do my damnedest to "not care" whether ANC's content is up to my own weird standards or not. I pledge to be genuinely happy about having 3 or 4 regular writers, including myself, with the occasional guest writer now and then. Yes, I, Sam Sinister, hereby swear, to all that is sacred and holy, that I will stop being so uptight and bitchy, and I will no longer try to convince people who think I'm a total asshole to believe otherwise. Instead, I will encourage them to keep thinking this way, and even in many instances prove them right. I will revert to things like name-calling, below-the-belt verbal cheap shots, potty humor, and curse words. However, I will also comically self-deprecate as often as possible. I will use devices such as irony, satire, parody, and all around cheekiness. I will poke fun at damn near everything that moves, including (and especially) things I myself have an appreciation for. I will also poke fun at things that no longer move.

You're probably not asking yourself, Where's all this coming from, Sam?

Well, apparently nothing I attempt to accomplish with this site accounts for much of anything.

My friend (?) Bob tells me that promoting your own band isn't what the scene is all about, so only promote other people's bands, and make sure you go to every punk show in Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio, otherwise people will think you're selfish. Also, promoting other people's shows only counts if he is paying attention. Otherwise, all of your efforts are worth nothing. And don't bother attending rock 'n roll shows, those are for poseurs (everyone knows that), only crust, powerviolence, and whatever the hell "deathcore" is count for anything. Lastly, make it a point to let everyone around you know that your own home town and the bands in it are total bullshit at all times, whether they're interested or not. Follow these simple rules and your scene shall blossom like springtime annuals.

Of course, I'm obviously saying all this in the spirit of sarcasm. And yes, a lot of that is my own interpretation or what was actually said, but the point is he said it, and fuck you, voice in my head, for rubbing that moot point in my face.

Listen - I'm not tooting my own horn, but I think I engage in my fair share of fanboy behavior when it comes to this area's punk rock bands. I make it a point to at least think about interviewing every band in the region before they eventually split up. Doesn't that amount to anything? Sometimes I even send questions to bands without asking them if they wanna be interviewed first.

If I'm just a raving lunatic, please tell me. Don't worry, it's okay. I can take it. And if you think I'm unprofessional... well, you can just stick that right up your ass. Now give me some money.

VIDEO: "You Creep Me Out" by The Coffin Bangers

2009-07-21T01:11:00.002-04:00

VIDEO: The Assmen

2009-07-18T15:11:00.000-04:00

Wikipedia Info & History on Skate Punk

2009-07-18T10:06:00.005-04:00

Copied and pasted by Dirty Jon.

It's Wikipedia Time!!!

Skate punk (sometimes called skate core or skate rock) is a subgenre of punk rock, originally a derivative of hardcore punk, that has been popular among skateboarders.Skate punk grew from the Nardcore punk scene out of Oxnard, California. It is very similar to Nardcore, as it is fast and aggressive, yet some skate punk focuses more on melodic and harmonious vocals. Skate punk is usually also more technical than Nardcore. Many members of skate punk bands have been skateboarders. Their lyrics occasionally focus on, or at least reference, skateboarding. The skate punk music style is fast and meant to recreate the feel of skateboarding. Commonly used instruments include distorted guitars and surf rock-style drums. Many skate punk bands also fit into the genres pop punk, hardcore punk, melodic hardcore and thrashcore.

Skate punk started in early 1980s California, where skateboarding was popular and was considered a form of rebellion. Bands such as Dr. Know, Agression, Suicidal Tendencies, Stalag 13, Agent Orange, Ill repute, JFA ect.. were the structure of the skate core scene. Bands that influenced the genre include Black Flag, JFA and Minor Threat. The 1990s saw a rise in its popularity, with skate punk bands experiencing commercial success. Events like the Warped Tour and the X-games have featured skate punk bands. Fat Wreck Chords and Epitaph Records have been home to many successful skate punk bands since the early 1990s when skate punk grew popular. By 2000, the two labels stopped signing new skate punk bands, with the exception of Pour Habit signing to Fat Wreck Chords in 2009.

Since the 1990s, skate punk has slowly grown in popularity (with the exception of the US), especially in Europe, Japan, and South America. The Japanese record label, Bells On Records is a staple in the resurgence of skate punk. It features more than 20 bands from around the world.

Notable Skate punk bands:

Skate Punk (aka Pop Core)

2009-07-17T20:13:00.004-04:00

by Dirty Jon.

Here at ANC, we get a lot of information and facts on skinhead punk, and since Sam is one, he talks about how it shapes his beliefs and views. Me, myself, am not a skinhead, but I like reading the history and articles he provides.

The music I've always had a strong kinship with, most of my life, has been skate punk. Many people call it different things (Epitaph punk, pop core, etc.), but it introduced me to punk, and has a special place in why I am proud to call myself a punk.

In 1994, Green Day, Rancid, and The Offspring broke through on mainstream radio and MTV (beyond the realm of Alternative Nation and 120 Minutes) and a "new" kind of sound was being introduced to a new generation of kids. Now, I was already into alternative rock (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Beck, etc., etc.), but this new sound (to me, at the time) was being ushered in and taking the malajusted kids with them. As being another son of a divorced, working class family, music, as well as skateboarding, was an escape. All I did at the time was skate, listen to music, and smoke cigarettes. Growing tired of school, family life, and fighting inside my family, punk called to me and the first punk music I got into was skate punk.

After discovering the aforementioned "trifecta" of the '90s punk "revival", I got into Bad Religion, NOFX, The Descendents, Pennywise, Social Distortion, Pulley (as well as the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Minor Threat- of course all 3 not being Cali bands). I would run around my bedroom, playing air guitar, and ended up taking my skater attire and tweaking it a bit. As the years passed, my music collection became cluttered with CDs and vinyl of the bands I would read about in Punk Parade, like No Use For a Name, Millencolin, Lagwagon, Strung Out, Swingin' Utters, and Anti-Flag. Every band spoke to me, and made me want to play music and play in bands.

If it was for skate punk, I wouldn't have gotten into hardcore, post-punk, true punk pop, etc. I wouldn't have got to meet many of the friends I have today, I wouldn't have played in any bands, and I wouldn't have introduced the music to my kids if I was wasn't so influenced by it. Remembering how you got into the music you love is never a bad thing, and it helps to shape who you are as a person and what you'll turn out to be in the end.

Thanks for reminiscing with me.

Take it easy fuckers,
Jonny Kunt, AKA Dirty Jon

VIDEO: Stomping Grounds Skatepark (Austintown, OH)

2009-07-16T22:26:00.004-04:00

Posted by Sam Sinister.

I'm pretty sure the kid with the bleach blonde hair was at a show one of my old bands played at Section 8 Skatepark. If so, he kept yelling at us for the way we were acting around all the "families with little kids". HA!

"Political Conversations"

2009-07-16T10:02:00.005-04:00

Lyrics by Dirty Jon.

Well, Sam and I ('cuz I use correct grammar) have been working on an acoustic hardcore project, and I thought I would share the progress thus far. We have come up with 3 songs- one hardcore, the other two have been different, one folk and one old school country. I'm including the lyrics to the 1st song that we worked on, "Political Conversations"- the one song that is actually hardcore.

Enjoy!

"POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS"
(lyrics: Kunt/ Music: Sinister)

Does it really matter
who the fuck is president?
no jobs either way
to pay my bills at my res-i-dence.
Does being political
really change anything?
all it brings is conversation
that leads to fights with no relief.

I'm tired of caring
I'm tired of no change
So sick of no promises
So sick of going against the grain...

Fuck political conversations
Fuck political conversations... anyways!

Does it really concern me
who is my repre-sent-i-tive?
nothing is different here
they take and take with nothing to give.
Does being political
really fucking change anything?
all it brings is conversation
that leads to fights with no relief.

Repeat Chorus:

c+p 2009 anotheracousticproject music LTD.

Sweets: A Short Story

2009-07-15T21:50:00.006-04:00

by Ray Zen.

So I had a miserable day at work today. This one is for everyone who has hated or currently hates their job. It's a short story I wrote about a month or so ago. I have been working on a collection of short stories that I would like to have published as a volume, and thus far I have about 15 that I feel are solid. My goal is to have a total of between 30 and 36, and I am looking for some input as to whether anyone feels that it would be worth my effort to shoot for getting these put out by someone.

Bear it in mind that I'm not interested in "blowing up" or becoming some sort of NY Times bestseller. I am looking for a small D.I.Y. publisher to put out my collection of 30-some quasi-anarcho short stories. Let me know what you think in the comments section, and if you have any thoughts about interesting ways in which your workplace could potentially be disrupted, I'd like to hear those as well. I'll be posting another short story on my personal profile (eclectifuck.blogspot.com) if you enjoy this and are interested in more.

Finally, I am working on a series of interviews with local Cleveland visual artists that I adore, which I will be posting up here in the coming months, so this is just to placate Sam until I get around to writing all of those out. Hope you enjoy. Peace!

P.S. I included a link for Middle Finger Media, which is a third-party oriented website that explores opinions other than those held by the majority, since I did drop the A-word at some point in the original post. I dunno. I dig the site, so check it out!

Sweets

He arrived on time to work for the first time in over a month. Their leniency made him chuckle, although he often wished they’d lay him off so he could get away from there and collect unemployment for a while. Placing his lunch in the office refrigerator, he noticed an aluminum container on the counter. He lifted the lid out of curiosity and found an array of baked pastries. Being as he had decided to swear off of sweets, he closed the lid and walked out of the office toward his shop to do a day’s worth of nothing.

Around 11 a.m. he decided to head back over to the office to grab a snack to keep him until lunchtime. Glancing at the bakery tray on the counter, he noticed that all but three cookies had been devoured. “The people here are SUCH gluttons!” he thought judgmentally. After he quickly imbibed his snack in the break room, he realized it was about time to “hit the train station” because “the train was coming through”. He and his buddy used these phrases to describe going into the bathroom and everything that generally happened while in there.

Walking down the hall, the office seemed awfully quiet. He went into the bathroom, did his business, and decided to swing over to his buddy’s cubicle for a quick chat. On the way, he noticed that the I.T. lady was not at her desk. “How typical”, he mused scornfully. “She’s never actually doing anything.” He turned the corner to the right and then again at the end of the faux-walls that imprisoned every wage slave in the place. He walked into Jim’s cube.

It took him a second to process the fact that Jim was slumped over in his chair. “Wake up, asshole!” he said in a soft voice so as not to alert everyone in the surrounding cubes to his presence. Jim did not respond. He leaned over the desk and gently slapped Jim’s buzz-cut head. No response. “Jim? Jim? Oh shit! Jim!” he spouted frantically.

He sprinted out of the cubicle to find help. Mike did not appear to be in his office on the left, but Dana, in the office next to him, was slumped over her desk. He wondered aloud, “what the fuck is happening!?” Two of the customer service ladies were lying on the floor next to their chairs. There was no blood.

In the next five offices in a row he saw John motionless in his chair, two vacancies, the president half hanging out of his, and the clownish head-of-sales with his forehead down on the particle board. The secretary had fallen out of her chair, which was neatly positioned on top of her. As seconds passed, his panic began to increase. He pushed the button for the elevator, but when it opened he was greeted by Lindsay the marketing woman’s lifeless body on the floor.

Having no idea what to do, he ran outside, jumped in his truck and left the premises until the end of his shift. Returning at 5, he jumped in his car and sped home. He thought himself an obvious suspect in the apparent murders of his co-workers, even though he had not the slightest idea what had just happened that day. Walking through the door of his home, he took his shoes and pants off and lay down upon the couch with the t.v. remote. The media had already gotten wind of what had happened and the story was all over the television. He assumed he would not be expected to report to work tomorrow, the thought of which made him smile ever-so-slightly.

VIDEO: "Don't Give Up The Ship" by the Tradesmen

2009-07-15T15:13:00.003-04:00

The new rule dictates that we now present you with an entertaining YouTube video! I know the day isn't over yet, but what the hell, I doubt anything will change in the next 8-and-a-half hours:

Notes From the Editor...

2009-07-15T14:38:00.004-04:00

It's probably pretty apparent, with the very small amount of posts last month, that we may have hit a proverbial speed bump. It's also probably obvious that I'm getting fed up with this déjà vu-type situation I'm in, wherein someone will say, "Hey, I want to write for you guys!" This is usually followed by a compelling sense of familiarity on my part, which I repeatedly (stupidly) ignore, and send off an invitation to said person to join the ANC staff. More often than not, the person will then accept the invitation, and abruptly vanish into the cosmos.

I'm being a little (well, okay, VERY) overdramatic here, but it is kind of absurd. Today, I got a message on MySpace from someone who seemed genuinely interested in writing for ANC; my only hang-up is that he used words like "hire" and "work". I guess a free online zine, in this day and age, is a strange concept to most, but he also expressed an admitted ignorance of what ANC is and what we're "looking for". Here's the reply I gave him:

Basically, I'm trying to run an online webzine, that's hands-on oriented. People seem very enthusiastic about wanting to participate, until the time comes to actually contribute.

It sounds like, from this end, that you're under the impression that we "hire" people, but the truth is that we're a completely non-profit, free-to-all online publication. This might be the problem with actually getting people to get involved; no monetary incentive. Honestly, I'd love to pay people for their contributions, but I don't make anything from doing this, so therefore I can't pay out anything...

This is a labor of love. Period. The purpose is to build a community, document the scene in our region, and basically get people involved. We're looking for people with honest opinions, passion, and creativity.

There's an FAQ site for Artless Nonculture which you can browse around
here:

http://sites.google.com/site/artlessnonculturefaq/

If you look at our site, the articles and whatnot have started to dwindle down, along with my enthusiasm, in the last 2 months. I'm honestly starting to lose any chance of inspiration. If you want to help out, that would be great. Maybe you can help me breathe some new life into this project. If not, I understand, as I get the impression from your message that you're a professional writer and might not have time for something less than lucrative...

Thanks for your interest. Maybe I'll hear from you soon. That FAQ has a lot of info on what we're looking for and basically what we are. Thanks again.

--Sam

Hopefully this guy will actually pull through, but I'm not gonna hold my breath. What I need to do is stop blaming other people for my lack of inspiration and chalk it up to "I have mental problems". Some help would be nice, though.

H.A.R.S.H.

2009-07-15T13:59:00.007-04:00

I just found another really good article about skinheads on the Cleveland Free Times archive site:

http://www.freetimes.com/stories/11/18/skin-deep

Read it over, leave your comments.

--Sam

VIDEO: "Save Yourself" by The Vacancies, featuring Joan Jett

2009-07-14T20:17:00.003-04:00

Today's video, brought to you courtesy of ANC's new rule:

New Rule

2009-07-13T21:02:00.004-04:00

I've decided that from now on, every day that goes by where no one other than Jon, Ray, or Eden posts anything, I will take the lazy way out and post a video from YouTube.

If someone posts an article, I'll post an article. If not, you'll get a video.

This isn't a regular "blog" site, and I'm not a blogger. This is meant to be a zine. Take some fuckin' initiative, fer cryin' out loud. We're not gonna do this alone. There are enough people on the staff (authors list) that last month should have had a ton more than 9 articles. Fuckssake.

Here's today's video, since Jon was the only one with anything to say:

Movie Time w/ Dirty Jon: "Yes Man"

2009-07-13T09:49:00.007-04:00

by Dirty Jon.

This month, I would like to shine the spotlight on a great movie that I watched while going through a rough time. Certain movies speak to people without them knowing it until after the fact. After walking away from comedy for a little while, having a stellar performance in The Number 23, playing a man slowly going insane, Jim Carey steps back up to the plate with a hilarious comedy, with a great underlying message: say "YES" to life again. Here's the review.

"YES MAN"
PG13 -released in 2008, Warner Brothers-
(stars: Jim Carey, Zoey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, Molly Simms)

The main character, Carl Allen (played by a hilarious Jim Carey), went through a breakup, 3 years ago, and can't move on from it. He makes excuses for why he can't hang out with friends, saying no to everything. After a friend takes him to a seminar on saying yes to life, everything changes! In saying "yes", he gets promoted in the bank where he works, meets a new love interest (Deschanel), stands up to his ex (Simms), and finds time to do great things he would have never done before with friends (Cooper, Danny Masterson), and hilarity ensues. But when the whole story comes out to his new girlfriend, Allison, he realizes, you don't have to say yes to everything!

This movie brings to mind what Jim Carey had to bring to cinema in the first place - playing silly, likeable characters who wore their heart on the sleeves, and provided the movie world with physical comedy (an lost art for many years), while still providing great storylines you fall in love with. Carey stuttered around comedy for almost ten years now, with The Truman Show, Man On The Moon, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, and The Number 23, trying a new serious approach. Besides a stellar performance in The Number 23, he shines his best in comedy roles. This movie makes me feel like it's 1997 all over again, when he made a great performance in Liar, Liar.

In you wanna laugh your ass off (the bank scene with his boss, Norman, is the best), and learn a little something about yourself, then check out this movie. Say "YES", damn it!
(***** outta ***** stars)

**notes from Dirty Jon

2009-07-13T09:41:00.004-04:00

Hey, I have made several mistakes while writing for this zine.

First off, I included a review from a band in Michigan, not in our coverage area... To anyone who is interested in checking out Choking Susan, you can find them on Soulseek.

Secondly, I did a review on who I thought was First Offense from Akron, but as it turns out, the songs I downloaded are, in fact, from a different band entirely. I'd like to apologize to Dan and the rest of First Offense for that misunderstanding.

Thirdly, I reviewed demos for a band from Cleveland, Deaf By Arms, and those also weren't all theirs, and the ones that were, not all were songs that they wanted to leak out. Sorry to the band and its members.

We all make mistakes, but we also gotta take responsibility for the ones we make. I'll try my best to make accurate reviews from now on.

Thanks for the time,
Dirty Jon

More Album Reviews

2009-07-08T10:43:00.005-04:00

by Dirty Jon

Johnie 3- Hang The D.J.
(c. 2007 Rally Records)
In this area, at least for punks, these guys are the best, and probably most accessible, band from Youngstown. For anybody who hasn't heard this band- they are punk pop, a la The Ramones, The Queers and Screeching Weasel. They are gimmicky, and they play fun songs that are simple and easy to sing along to. This is the last CD they put out, and it still sounds as fresh as when it was released. Some of the highlights included "Indie Rock", which at 46 seconds is one of the shortest songs, with a refrain that goes, "fuck your indie rock". Other great songs are "Here We Go", "Please Don't Call Me", "The Girl's Gotta Party", and "Alison". But the CD, over all, is a good dose of punk pop from a simpler time in punk, when the music didn't become all about "fuck the government" and political misguidedness. If you wanna have fun and sing like it's karaoke, then throw this disc in, pronto!
(5 outta 5 cans of PBR)

First Offense- self-titled demo
(release unknown)
I like this scrappy little band from Akron. Sure, the recording sucks ass, but that's what demos sound like. There's a lot of great underlying melodies to be found underneath this blend of hardcore and grimey rock 'n' roll. The disc is a little on the short side too - only 4 songs - but it is a good teaser release, and a good way to check this band out. First Offense is influenced by a lot of hardcore from the '80s, as are alot of bands from this area. The exception is "Cigarette Bummer", which sounds like a lot of rockabilly and cowpunk songs, which I really dig alot. If you want a band that takes a little while to get out the quality and concentrates on the songs, check these guys out. You might dig 'em like I do. Highlights: "Time Disease", "Cigarette Bummer", "Broken Home", and "Pride & Joy" - all 4 fucking songs.
(3 1/2 outta 5 cans of PBR)

VIDEO: Short Rabbits at Cedars Lounge (Youngstown, OH)

2009-07-06T17:00:00.003-04:00

(Filmed by Gary Angelo)

ALBUM REVIEWS

2009-07-01T12:23:00.001-04:00

by Sam Sinister.

Once again, I got a ton of CDs sitting here that are just aching to be reviewed. I think there are a few here that I've had for a friggin' year.

The Benedicts - E.P.
4-songs from Aliquippa punk band The Benedicts. There's enough snot injected into these songs to plug a nostril, and believe me these kids mean business. They remind me of Violent Offense, only slower and without the talent. Nah, I kid. I actually like these guys a lot, and they're a barrel of monkeys to watch live. They typically clear the room by the end of the second song. Not a bad thing!! You can get a copy of the EP at one of their shows, or contact them through MySpace. Rating: 4 out of 5
(self-released)

The Bully Cats - Re-Evaluation of Discombobulation
Not really my cup o' tea, but still a solid 7-song, six-track release from defunct Akron band The Bully Cats, featuring our good friend Scott Massie (known as "Optimus Crime", here on ANC) taking up the vocal duties. I like Scott's voice a lot (think Mike Virus), but overall this CD isn't as much "up my alley" as other, older material I've heard from these guys. It's mostly alternative-metal/post-hardcore fare, with (in my opinion) drastic song progressions, and some splashes of good old-school hardcore thrown in for good measure. Should appeal to fans of underground and mainstream music alike. You can get this disc (as well as stuff from more current Massie projects like Storm King) through the Innervenus Musek website. CD orders include stuff like stickers and buttons. If you like metal- and punk-influenced alt. rock, check this out, but if you're looking for some straight-forward punk, try to track down some of the older Bully Cats stuff. Rating: 3 out of 5
(self-released/distributed by Innervenus Musek)

Misery Jackals - EP
Banjo, accordian, contrabass, jews harp, kazoo!? That's right! The Misery Jackals are here to turn the bluegrass brown! 7 songs, one with a title I have a hard time pronouncing ("The Ominous Anthropophagous Slackeye Slim"). Songs about roller derby girls, bad parenting, sex, and more. These guys call their music "Pillbilly Browngrass", and I can see why! Standout track is "Misery Jackal", which is really a straight-forward punk/rock 'n roll song with acoustic instruments, and lyrical sentiment similar to that of Dennis Leary's "Asshole". If you want a taste of dirty urban Appalacian music, you can get the CD through CD Baby. Rating: 5 out of 5.
(self-released)

ARCHIVES: MAKE YOUR OWN FUN!!!

2009-07-01T11:34:00.006-04:00

MAKE YOUR OWN FUN!!!
THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU'RE BORED.

1. Set up job interviews that you have no intention of getting. Dress weird, give ridiculous answers, and generally present yourself as "not what they're looking for".

2. Call all the "Questions or Comments?" toll-free numbers on random products in the house. Make outrageous claims. Try to keep them on the phone as long as possible.

3. Make flyers promoting something really stupid, and circulate them around the city.

4. Dress up like a late night variety show host. Carry a microphone (or better yet, something else not even close to resembling one) and get someone to follow you around with a video camera. Interview people on the street and act really enthusiastic.

5. Respond to random classified ads in the local paper. Make creepy inquisitions, but be subtle.

--Sam Sinister (Dead City Dealers / Artless Nonculture webzine), New Castle, PA

Drive up to people in store parking lots and cooly say, "Hey, sailor, need a ride?". It is really funny. Throwing bread at people is good, too.

--Denise, Warren, OH

1. Glue a quarter to the floor in the mall or another random public place and see how many people try to pick it up.

2. Dial random phone numbers and ask insanely ridiculous questions.

--Cas, Philly area, PA

1. Have a scavenger hunt at Walmart. Form teams, each one with a cart. Everyone has the same list, with really stupid/bizzarre/creepy items on it. Whoever gets to the end of the list first puts the cart in the middle of the store and leaves.

2. Go to Walmart with an empty cigarette pack. Walk around the store and bum smokes off random people and see how long it takes to fill up the pack.

3. Tape your leg up and hobble into (you guessed it) Walmart, and ask for one of the motorized carts. Zip around the store, "accidentally" wrecking into shit. Pretend to fall asleep at really inconvenient times. When questioned, claim that it's "because of the medication" they have you taking.

--Dan Degenerate, New Castle, PA

Start topics on random forums that you know nothing about then proceed to act like you are a master of that topic. Put down everyone's ideas and make complete BS accusations.

--Jarrett (GOTTA EAT!! Art Dept.), Lorrain, OH

Drive to some town where no one knows you. Go to a suburban housing development. Go door-to-door introducing yourself as a sex-offender. Look really sad and embarrassed.

BONUS POINTS: When they inquire about which house you just moved into, act surprised and confused. Tell them you don't even live in that town, let alone the neighborhood.

--Jared, Clevo, OH

1. Start your own firm by finding the nearest city or town with a European counter part with a premier league soccer club (but never call it that, IT'S FOOTBALL YOU FUCKIN' YANK CUNTS!) and parade your standard, sing your war songs and burn down the city whether your team wins or looses. Be a top firm even if your club is a load of wankers. Note: This is only funny if you live in the United States, otherwise it's just cool.

2. Engage in the age old art of scorn and rejection. Come up with cleverly ridiculous ways of getting rejected by all the pretty girls or boys (if you're a girl) or whatever, it's modern times after all. Don't use bad pick up lines, that's been done to death, come up with some original way. Like act casual and just start with really off the wall topics like abortion, ritual suicide and shop vacs. Or whatever you have a genuine interest in. Goofy clothes help too. But, be careful with this one, you don't want to go after just anyone, cause there is always that possibility that they might actually go for it.

3. Build a shack in the woods, invite people there, make everything look as creepy as possible. Then once you get them inside, serve them tea and act like a Victorian Gentleman and discuss the weather. That's it, don't try to kill them or anything, trust me, it will fuck with their heads more than you'd think.

4. Make a web 'zine.

--Chris Vermin, Zombieland, PA

Pick up hitch hikers while wearing overly large foam cowboy hats.

--Amanda, West Chester, PA

Dress up like a Jehovah's witness and go door-to-door preaching atheism. Or whatever you feel like preaching for that matter.

--Zilla, Menner, OH

I don’t know if this is illegal or not, but it’s hilarious! Get some caution tape and tie it from one side of the street to the other, by street signs or a tree or something. It’s hilarious when cars come from both ways and stop, then start to turn around before they realize that the street is obviously fine, since cars came from both sides. Me and my friends have fun doing it, haha…

--Scotty B, Titusville, PA

Ok, this one has a load of instructions.

What you will need:
-A bottle of elmer’s glue (the blue, clear kind).
-A friend with medium-length hair.
-A few jelly bracelets.

1. Spike the friend’s hair, with the elmer's glue, so he looks like a Medieval mace.
2. Allow to dry completely.
3. Then play ring toss!!

--Spirk, New Castle, PA

Go into a store or restaurant, and with all seriousness order something they obviously wouldn't carry. Example:

Walk into an office supply store, approach a customer sales rep, and ask them (as though you've been looking and you’re sure they must be right in front of your face) where they keep the potatoes.

Or: Drive through a McDonald’s drivethru, and when they ask to take your order ask for a ham and pineapple pizza, with extra cheese.

Never crack a smile, even if you’re forced to feign real stupidity in the matter. This can be very freeing, I highly reccomend it.

--Christa, Pittsburgh, PA

Dress up like cardboard box robots and just hang out downtown (I actually plan on doing this one, too).

--Joe sXe (The Scum Brats), Pittsburgh, PA

Let's Just Say I've Been Away!

2009-07-01T10:57:00.006-04:00

by Dirty Jon

Hey, everybody!

Sorry I haven't been contributing to the webzine much lately. There's been many reasons why I haven't. Sam knows the reasons, and he understands that contributing has been difficult. I am going through a break up with my fiance of five years and the mother of our two children. I've been busy finding a job, getting an apartment, and collecting furniture for the move. I found an apartment in the same building as one of my friends, Holli. It's a one bedroom, first floor apartment in Mt. Jackson, PA, in rural Podunk country- just outside of New Castle. The apartment is small, but it is enough for me while the kids aren't here. No luck on the job front, but I am still hitting the pavement, so until then I am doing odd jobs under the table and helping my ex by watching the kids during the day.

I'm getting used to the idea of being separated- being able to reconnect with friends that I haven't really been able to chill with outside of grabbing coffee, drinks at the bar, or catching their bands at local shows. I am excited that I will be working with Sam again on a side product where he is on guitar and I'll be on vocals. I haven't really written anything worthy of discussion in a long time, and it would be nice to get back to writing again. It will be nice to be on my own and be able to get back into things that I once loved doing. I'd love to go back into writing stories and/or poetry, songs, maybe pick up guitar again, and concentrate on being a great father to my two children. Nothing is ever mapped out for you in this life, but you can make the best out of the hurdles that come your way and be positive in the new journey that lies ahead.

Thanks for not being pissed that I haven't been contributing to the site. I'm glad you understand, and I will be adding posts for the month of July. Everybody, enjoy the summer and you'll hear me rant real soon.

Later,
Jonny Kunt

FAQ disabled!

2009-07-01T10:39:00.005-04:00

I have no clue what was wrong with the site, but apparently I violated the Terms of Service somehow. I've appealed this decision and now it's just a waiting game, I'm afraid.

BASTARDS!!

--Sinister

Interview with JEFF MAGNUM (Dead Boys)

2009-06-26T10:04:00.008-04:00

Conducted by Sam Sinister.

Let's take a little trip back in time here... Frankenstein forms in Cleveland in 1975, from members of Rocket From The Tombs (Cheetah Chrome and Johnny Blitz), Stiv Bators from Youngstown/Girard, Jimmy Zero, and this guy Jeff Magnum on bass. The band is kinda short-lived, then everyone (except Jeff) moves to NYC, changes the band's name to The Dead Boys, and plays gigs without a bass player for a while, until they convince Mr. Magnum to relocate from Cleveland to New York. This was around 1977.

1) Were you a fan of RFTT before you joined up with those guys? How did you meet?

JM: RFTT was the best Cleveland band until we formed. The Dead Boys were waaaay more demented, clever, witty, amusing, and we just played better and they knew it.

2) How would you describe growing up in Cleveland?

JM: Just like today, the last place Indians still stink! Back then the one major FM radio station hired all these asshole DJ’s from Boston and none of them were worth a damn and spun shitty records. I hated it, but I made my own fun.

3) What kinds of bands were you really into growing up? Any bands you really couldn't stand?

JM: Christ, it’s so long ago and you wouldn’t know any of ‘em anyway. If they were all dead now, I’d settle for that. As a kid, I really hated the Raspberries (I love ‘em now, so I was totally wrong). But at the Mentor Hullaballoo teen club, they’d talk forever in between songs, and me and my friends would yell at ‘em “Shut up and play!”. Plus, everybody in the whole town knew that Eric Carmen stuffed his trousers and, one night, we were so bored that we tried to figure out what he was using. We finally agreed that it was a sock filled with poker chips.

4) What made you initially pick up a musical instrument? Has bass always been your weapon of choice?

JM: Yeah, I like playing bass, but it has become a lost art (like hat blocking, VD clinics, and gas station attendants). It’s better to not know how to do anything nowadays (like today’s bass players). When I make my epic solo CD, I’m callin’ it “A Thousand and One Notes”.

5) Who were some of your favorite bands around the time of the Dead Boys? Anyone you considered "contemporaries", or a kin to what you were doing at that time?

JM: Devo were great, the Dictators, that’s about it. So much of that ’77 punk stuff just bored me to death. To be honest, our band was really great and no one could touch us.

6) Who were your main influences at that time?

JM: Loud, noisy, Marshall-stacked rock, played with legitimate brain dead passion (another lost art nowadays, shameful!).

7) Do you think it was a conscious decision for most bands at the time to play "punk music", or just something they all got lumped into by other people? How about for you guys? How did you feel about being considered a part of a movement like that? How about now, in hindsight?

JM: We played our loud, rockin’ songs and others labeled us as “punk”. We fell into that and thrived for a bit, it was fun. Then Cheetah shattered the dream with his drug problems, and the unbalanced madness that accompanies that sort of thing.

8) How sick are you of these types of questions?

JM: Not as sick as the guy that killed Jeffrey Dahmer in prison. Not even close.

9) How do you feel about certain "punk historians"' making allusions to the Dead Boys being "America's answer to the Sex Pistols"?

JM: Well, they made better records than us, but dontcha think they were kinda pre-assembled (like the Monkees) by their handler Malcolm McLaren? If he told them to jump thru a flaming hoop, they’d a done it! We had no flaming hoop (or a crafty handler).

10) Tell us a little about the falling out you guys had with a certain record label...

JM: A few years ago, I heard Seymour Stein (Sire Records) interviewed on WFMU-FM radio for 3 hours, and for him to even say the words “Dead Boys” was sheer torture! The show host asked him about us a couple times, and he just choked and gagged and stammered all over the place. He preferred to go on and on about the phony hell he went thru signing the Talking Heads, and that’s a story that would make the dead rise for a second, and then beg to be put back in the dirt faster than the first time.

11) What did you do after the break up? Any other bands we may or may not have heard of?

JM: Not really, ya oughta check out the Cyclones “We’re Livin’ Like Weasels” CD. It’s great, they rock, and I’m on three toons.

12) You guys [The Dead Boys] have reunited a couple times for a one-off gig here and there. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you weren't called "The Dead Boys" for those, right? What were you billed as?

JM: “Jeff Magnum and the Drano Enemas”.

13) Describe the perfect hot dog.

JM: That would be a Nathan’s frank with chili, onions, and Cleveland Stadium mustard. And to drink, an ice cold Squirt!

14) Tell us a little about this Cyclones album you contributed to...

JM: The Cyclones coulda been contenders! They had killer toons, they could play, and I loved ‘em, still do. They got derailed for a bit and that was a damn shame. Should they rise again, I’ll be right there with ‘em, and their CD totally smokes.

15) What do you have going on these days? Give us "a day in the life" of Jeff Magnum.

JM: I got Jury Duty service coming soon. You haven’t lived until ya served in NYC. Potential jurors that don’t even speak English are told (in English) to “do the best you can”, and the handcuffed guilty are aware of this and get up and dance in every courtroom in town.

16) Any future plans for yourself and that thing they call "rock 'n roll"?

JM: Whenever I’m asked to play on a CD, I listen to the demos in advance a buncha times and if I think I can add something to move or drive the songs, I’ll go in and do it. That’s my plan and I’m stickin’ to it!

17) Any final words of wisdom for all the people out there in Internetland?

JM: Eat Creamettes!!

Jeff currently lives in NYC and owns a large assortment of t-shirts.

Name-dropping

2009-06-23T12:14:00.020-04:00

by Sam Sinister.

When I started Artless Nonculture, back in 2007, the main thing was that I wanted to open people's eyes to a world they might not have ever known existed. I saw a lot of potential for a tight-knit group of friends to really pull together and accomplish something - not just for ourselves, but for the area we live in as well. Too many people are bored out of their minds. The way I see it, a good punk show can break the monotony in a much healthier way than, say, drugs or petty theft can.

Anyway, I'm getting way off topic here.

I want to take some time to mention some bands who, I believe, deserve a shitload more recognition than they're currently recieving. I'm going to make this a semi-regular column. You can call it "name-dropping", but believe me, it's all out of nothing more than a love of the music, admiration, and a kinship I feel with the individuals in these bands. These are all top-shelf punk rock outfits, who I consider personal friends of mine, so I chose them not only because I'm into their music, but because I probably know more about them than any other band in my music collection. This month, I'm going to talk about 3 bands I absolutely loved, who are now no longer together (I'm still waiting patiently for a reunion gig). Let's start "at the beginning":

Violent Offense, Ugly Customer, and Acts of Defiance

Back when Dead City Dealers was called The Disliked, and featured a female vocalist (I was originally the "lead" guitarist), we ended up on one of those bills at the Cellar (Struthers, OH), where there's some unknown touring band who thinks they're hot shit, and all the "local acts" have to pre-sell a million tickets in order to get a good time slot... you know what I'm talkin' about. Also on the same bill were a band called Violent Offense, who I had recently heard online. I thought they sounded pretty good, definitely an "old school" sounding streetpunk/hardcore punk thing, and looked forward to seeing 'em play.

When they got there, they pulled up in one of those short busses like the special needs kids would ride to school. The thing looked like something out of a zombie movie. After introducing ourselves, one of the VO members (I think it was Brandon) asked me if I wanted to buy any tickets. He meant the tickets for the show we were about to play. "Uh, no dude, I'm in one of the bands."

After being told by the venue staff to move the bus, we all went inside. We turned in all our pre-sale money and the leftover tickets. Then Will (singer for VO) went up, and I heard him tell the promoter, "We couldn't sell any."

"None?? Whatever, I guess that's alright, you guys will just have to go on first. Where are the tickets?"

"Huh?"

"Give me back the tickets you didn't sell."

"Oh. Oh yeah, we lost 'em."

"You lost them..."

"Yeah, we didn't know you'd want them back, so..."

"Forget about it, just go get your equipment."

I asked if they needed any help loading in. "Uh... sure, yeah. Come on, man." So we get outside and two of the VO guys are trying to sell tickets to the people coming in. I looked at Will with what must have been a mixture of amusement and amazement. "Fuck this place, they're trying to rip us off. Like we're gonna sell their fuckin' tickets for them for a dollar a ticket! You guys shouldn't've turned yours in." I just laughed. I knew he was right, but I couldn't believe the balls on these guys.

Long story short, Violent Offense ended up playing second (the first band, some modern "hard rock" group, only got 2 songs into their set when the plug was pulled for no apparent reason), got all the way through their set, until their grand finale of "Sex and Violence", when the bouncers there decided that a teenage girl trying to sing backup into her boyfriend's mic posed some sort of threat, and tried to physically remove her from the venue. All hell broke loose, and the entire show was shut down (even the touring band's set!). We ended up playing a hastily-thrown-together house show, at what looked like a squat a couple of blocks away, which included a disgruntled neighbor outside with a baseball bat, cops showing up without a warrant and being turned away, Will being blown in the kitchen, and a graffiti party in the living room (I remember someone spray painting "BALLS DEEP" on the wall while a drunken, giddy Mario was drawing Disliked "D" logos all over the place with a magic marker). It was a fun night.

I'm pretty sure the owner (Eric, A.K.A. "ESP") was evicted shortly thereafter, because a few weeks later, we were invited by VO to play another house show at Eric's, which was now in Boardman. Also on the bill was a band called Ugly Customer, who were a 4 (or 5, depending on what night you saw them) girl band, and I know what you're thinking, but NO, they didn't sound anything like the Donnas. They actually had kind of a simplistic, fast streetpunk sound, like a girl version of the early Partisans mixed with the Devotchkas. You could never hear the singer, Naomi (A.K.A. "Imoan"), during a live set. In between songs she'd talk all sorts of shit to the audience, in a voice that sounded like someone slipped her some rufies, or she just woke up with a hangover. The other band members were always extremely quiet but friendly, in a timid sort of way. They only had, I believe, 6 songs of their own and I think a couple covers, though I couldn't tell you at this point what they were. They recorded a 6-song EP that was pretty awesome, and you could actually hear Imoan's vocals, which were surprisingly stunning (falling somewhere between Brody from the Distillers and Theo of the Lunachicks). Their drummer, Danielle, actually tried out for DCD at one point, but Beaver County is quite a trek to New Castle once or twice a week. I'll bet there are still copies of the Ugly Customer EP floating around somewhere, and if by some strange coincidence you come across one, nab that fucker. The song "Clit In the Pit" is punk rock feminist anthem.

Anyway, that night all the other bands blew me away, though I can't remember who else played aside from an out-of-state hardcore band called Kick To Tha Head. Violent Offense, Ugly Customer, and another band called Talk Shit (who weren't really a band so much as a rotating collection of people with instruments making noise with the multiple singers, including the audience...) all made me smile. Towards the end of the VO set, someone broke a flourescent light bulb over Will's head, which turned into a fistfight, during which Will started having an asthma attack and had to be carried out. That's all I remember.

The next day we were invited to play another show with Kick To Tha Head and Violent Offense at the Chestnut Street Cafe in Sharon. When we got there, we found out that, apparently, the venue owner didn't know that there was a show booked, or no one ever confirmed the date, or something of that nature. After some convincing by Will, we were allowed to have the show (which no one promoted) anyway, and some last minute phone calls were made, adding Ugly Customer, Talk Shit, and another band from Poland, OH called Acts of Defiance to the bill.

AOD were all young kids from the 'burbs, with the exception of the singer, Zach Scocchera, who lived closer to rural PA. They played very old school-inspired hardcore punk, with songs that lasted anywhere from 30 seconds to just under a minute. Zach had so much energy on stage, and I'm sorry to say that the only time I ever only got to see them perform was at this particular show. The only recordings they had were the ones on their MySpace page, and I managed to download all of them periodically, as they were uploaded, and I probably have the only copies out there aside from the band members themselves (They weren't bad recordings for what sounded like a tape recorder in a trash can!). There's an interview I did with Zach around that time, and you can read it here.

I want to go back to Violent Offense. It's a fuckin' shame that these guys aren't still playing together. I mean, sure, most of their shows ended in a fight of some sort, and no one ever wanted to follow them because we knew there wouldn't be much of a show left once they went on stage, but they were really fuckin' good. They self-released a 6-song demo that almost everyone I knew had a copy of, as well as two professionally recorded (I think) songs, "Fuck the Law" and "Drink and Drive", that were part of a compilation of some sort. Every show they played, once they met us, they invited us to be a part of, and there was always the same big group of people at their shows. It seemed like the beginnings for a really good punk scene. I understand everyone's reasons for not playing together anymore, but I still think it's a fucking travesty that this band no longer exists.

Summer Tour Tips 101!

2009-06-14T22:25:00.007-04:00

by Ray Zen.

So if you're paying attention to this zine, there's a decent chance you're in a band. The summer is one of the best times to tour for obvious reasons (more people going out, better weather, etc), and we're coming into the best months to do it (late-June, July, August, and September). That being said, it's time to talk about things you can do while planning your summer tour that can exponentially reduce expenditures and pains in your backside. While I don't claim to know everything (that's Sam's job =), I have done it before, and I did learn a thing or two. Because I don't know everything though, I would really appreciate it if, after having read this and having some experience of your own, you the reader would add additional tips I may have left out below in the comment section. As you'll find from reading this, one of the key points that I have discovered that makes things really easy is if people actively work together, so let's do that, k?

My band and another local Cleveland act set out last May to do a 10-day trip around the Atlantic coast. There were great times, hard times, weird times, and all times in between throughout this ten-day tour, but the learning experience that it turned out to be across the board was priceless. As I said, we went with another group, which brings me to my first point:

1.) Do It Together! (D.I.T!) - From my experience, not only has it been easier to book shows when two bands are involved, but you will have extra people to have fun with, and two groups of heads are better then one when you run into problems on the road. Also, pooling your collective resources as far as contacts for venues and places/houses that might let you crash for free in random cities is also a great way to go. When we set out, it was our first tour ever (the band coming with had been on the road before). We certainly would have had a difficult time figuring out who to contact and whatnot had we not had their help so if you're a first-time touring band, finding a group of seasoned veterans, though sometimes difficult, can be your best bet. They opened our eyes to various avenues of networking and getting in touch with the right people. This leads us to:

2.) Utilizing your resources - There are tons of different sites that you can explore to help you find the right places to play. It's also helpful to remember not to shoot too high without knowing what you're getting into. What I mean by that is that playing an established club or bar with a relatively unknown band native to the city you're playing in is probably much less safe than playing a house show with the same band. When you're first starting out, house shows are usually easier to get people to come to, and most people who throw house shows tend to take pretty damn good care of touring bands, much to their credit. However, if you do get the chance to play a club in a different city opening for a well-known act, DBA! (Don't be an asshole! Do it!) Just think about who you're playing with and where before you book the show. Here are some good places to start getting ahold of potential people/venues:

-social networking sites like Artless Nonculture Antisocial Network *ding!*, lamespace, and facebook;

-Do DIY (www.dodiyusa.org), which provides an excellent rundown and contact info for DIY ethics-minded venues organized by city in each state.

-BYOFL (Book Yer Own Fuckin' Life) - Networking site focused on keeping DIY bands in contact and working together, rather than bragging about what coffee shop you hang out at.

-And don't be afraid to contact experienced bands who've been around for advice, help, or contacts! Most non-a$$holes are generally happy to help!

3.) Equipment Intelligence - If you're going around with another band, share your equipment. Figure out who has the better stuff and roll with only that. It will save you space, hassle, and probably a bit of gas money too. If you're rolling solo, try taking smaller stuff. I know alot of bands want to roll with their half stacks and full drum kits, but sometimes it just ain't practical. If you already have only smaller equipment, you're probably smarter to begin with. A nice 50- to 100-watt amp is usually all you will need to play the places most underground bands wind up playing. You can generally get ahold of something cheap and quality at any music store, and probably even cheaper if you hunt for used stuff (eBay, Joe's Music in Willoughby, Ohio [*ding!*], other Mom-and-Pop music stores in your area, etc). Just hit up the Google for a good Mom-and-Pop Op in your area. For drummers, how about leaving behind that second tom-tom and the floor tom in favor of a more economical jazz-style kit (bass, snare, 1 tom, hi-hat, crash-ride)? You might think you need them to create your wall of sound, but chances are it will just challenge you to become a more intelligent player. Hell, taking less and smaller stuff allowed us to fit most of our equipment into a 4-door Hyundai, extremely uncomfortably, with a bass drum in between the two people in the back seat. The residual equipment went into the other car, inhabited by a hip-hop and electronica group (who really only needed their laptops, beatboxes, and 1 amp). It was miserably hilarious, but it worked, and the gas in that small car was MUCH cheaper than if we had taken a van.

4.) Alternate Means of Travel - I've met some acoustic and hip-hop acts that have tried some interesting ways of getting to shows. In particular, I've heard of people taking the Megabus (check that stuff out, usually pretty cheap for a round trip ticket to a different area of the country), riding their bikes for more regional- or state-centered touring, or even hopping trains (freight, not Amtrak). This kind of idea might force you to have to get creative about exactly where and when you are booking things. For instance, taking the Megabus to every show might not be economically feasible. However, if you took it to a large place with awesome public transpo like Chicago (or I guess NY too, but fuck those miserable, angry a$$holes) with your acoustic guitar, you could book a few shows in different corners of the city, and then buy a 7-day transit pass for about $24 (Chi-town price). In bigger cities like these, it's totally feasible to play numerous shows in different areas and have different people show up to each one. Again, this was more for the acoustic punx among us, but it does transition us nicely to the next point:

5.) Travel light! - The acoustic kids are the prime example of this, and it goes for more than just equipment. Bring all the underwear you think you'll need, but you really don't need more than 1 or 2 pair of pantaloons and a few tees. I recommend having 1 or 2 show tees that you wear during every show to get disgusting in. It sounds nasty, but you aren't going to be very clean by the end of the jaunt anyway, so deal with it, re-use your show shirts, and stop being a drama queen. The shirt you wore on the first night will be dry by the show on the third night, so run into a drugstore with it, spray on some deodorant off the shelf, and you'll be good to go. Make sure you don't leave it in a bag crumpled up though, because that's when sweaty t-shirts can really get ugly.

6.) Bring Your Own Communal Food/Utilize the Damn Grocery Store - If everyone throws down on a couple of bags full of dry snacks and canned goods like granola bars, beans, etc, you'll save alot of money on food and inevitably eat healthier (think about it, a can of black beans and corn vs. a McMurder and Fries). You might even want to just stop at a grocery store here or there to re-up rather than hitting the obvious restaurants that populate the interstates and suck your wallet dry so incredibly quickly. Also, if you bring this stuff to a house show and share with your bandmates and the people at the house, it'll be more like a (sane) family dinner, you'll make friends and continue to build community. Think about it and it makes sense. It's much cheaper to eat dinner at your house with food you bought at a store than it is to go out every night, so why not do it on tour?

7.) Don't Be Silly Out of State - Alot of the dumb things you might do on a Saturday night in your hometown are probably not the best ideas when you're miles away from home with limited cash and all your band's equipment in tow. I don't need to get into what you should and shouldn't do because if you have half a brain you'll figure it out, but I had an incident last year on tour that attracted 7 or 8 (if my memory serves me) cop cars during which I was almost arrested in Maryland for something that could easily have been avoided. Be smart and you'll be safe.

8.) Fuck Hotels! - Many people are more than willing to open up their hearts and homes to a touring band. If you're playing a house show, many times the residents will help you out. It never hurts to ask people who came to the show who seem to be cool (although walking up to some random guy in the corner and asking is not recommended) if they know of anyone around who might be able to put the band up. If someone is willing to help you out though, YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO RESPECT THEM, THEIR HOME, AND EVERYTHING IN IT. Don't be a scumbag, and people will treat you kindly now and down the road. If you can't find a house or squat to crash in, rest stops all up and down the highway are there for exactly that. Pull over and sleep in the car and it will save you quite a bit. There's also a huge corporate megachain of stores that starts with a "W" that allows truckers to park and sleep in their parking lots overnight. I slept in the parking lot of one in my friend's car in Florida one time and it saved me a good $60 or more on a hotel. If you have a problem with this particular chain's sense of ethics like I do, sleeping in their lot and also not buying anything from them is a nice way of sticking it to them in principle.

Anyway, I hope this helped some of you out there. If you have anything to add to this, leave it in the comment section, good luck, godspeed, and be safe and successful on your summer tour! Peace!

VIDEO: BullSkit Productions

2009-06-13T12:28:00.003-04:00

Short Skit Series #1: The Itty Bitty Skitty Committee

Artless Nonculture FAQ

2009-06-11T12:51:00.006-04:00

I've been working hard on an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) site, so that people will know what the hell we are, and what the hell we do. It's also gonna function as a punk rock encyclopedia site of sorts. You can get to it by clicking this link.

--Sam

VIDEO: "Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)" by DEVO

2009-06-09T18:54:00.001-04:00

"DON'T SHOOT" - DEVO from DEVO Channel on Vimeo.

Interview with Myke from Johnie3

2009-06-09T16:26:00.011-04:00

by Sam Sinister.

How was Europe?

Europe was Europe. It's always awesome touring there, WAY better than touring in the States. But as with any tour, it had its usual ups and downs, good points and bad points. The one that sticks out in my mind off-hand was having the van broken into while we were at a bar watching a foosball game! Luckily, only 2 guitars were stolen - and one was insured. The other was Stiv Reynolds' so it's all good :) We also played some of our most sucessful shows in Europe on this past tour, sold outta CDs, and played w/ some killer bands, like Dee Cracks, Teenage Bubblegums, and so forth...

What countries did you go to?

We flew into Copenhagen, Denmark, and got drunk w/ The 20 Belows. From there, we did 3 shows in Sweden, then one show back in Denmark, 2 shows in the Netherlands, and hung out @ Kevin Apers', then 2 shows in Belgium - both were great! From there, we did one show in France. A week's worth of shows in Italy, including Rome! Then 3 shows in Austria, then we made the long drive back to Denmark, [during which] we were pulled over in Germany as soon as we crossed the border! Luckily, our driver wasn't drunk, for once...

What did they pull you over for?

Prolly 'cause they thought we were rappers or something(?). I have no idea. Maybe because a van from Denmark full of punk rockers from the States was in Germany, at 1 AM? They knew we had guitars 'n stuff in the back, just from looking at us? They also pulled us over by driving in the front of us and slowing down. Weird. They asked for our passports, then sent us on our way. Another weird thing was, once they left, everyone got outta the van and took a piss... F the German Police!

What was the crowd response like over there? Any better or worse than audiences in the States?

Actually way better. There seems to be more people, and everyone always wants to make party. There was crowd surfing and naked people! But not naked people crowd surfing... Hopefully next time.

How'd Stiv do on second guitar? Plan on making him a full member?

He did ok - just ok. Hahaha, no it was great having him! Although one night, I think he left his amp on standby. He almost got left behind in Sweden, the 2nd show of the tour. He played in shorts one night, and he smokes a lot. Between The Hollywood Blondes and his power washing, I don't think he has time to be a full time member. The Blondes are playing w/ Pansy Division soon, in Cleveland, so I am excited for that!

Maybe he can join Pansy Division.

HAHA! He probably already has...

You guys are releasing a new album soon. What would you say is the difference between it and the other stuff you've put out previously? Any surprises?

It's very different than anything we have ever put out. Its a lot more ROCK than our previous, say, "pop punk" records that you're used to. So that's a surprise. Also, according to Pete Drivere (who has been recording the new record with us), it's our "most creative" album to date. It's been taking forever, but we finally finished recording this past week. Now it's off to get mixed and mastered by Justin Perkins @ Smart Studios.

Yeah, I noticed your new set is a lot more Riverdales Phase Three than Screeching Weasel Bark Like a Dog.

Isn't that the same thing? None of the new songs sound anything like the Riverdales...

I thought Phase 3 was a lot less pop and a lot more rock 'n roll, like "Out of My Heart" or "AWOM", "Last Stop Tokyo", etc. I guess there are poppier songs on there, like "Homesick" and "Getaway"... I always forget about those ones. I'm thinking of a harder Ramones sound like "I Don't Want You" and "I Believe In Miracles" or "Tomorrow She Goes Away".

Yeah, I think the Riverdales are more of a 3-chord kinda band. I haven't listened to 'em in, like, 8 years, but I doubt they have changed.

I actually sat down yesterday with my guitar to play along with some Riverdales songs, and they're pretty much 3- or 4-chord punk, but the patterns they play those 3 or 4 chords in is like playing a game of Simon; I kept jumping to the wrong chord. It took some practice to remember the order of the progressions. Their later stuff (they're finished now) started getting a little harder-sounding.

Everything sounds cooler if it's "a little harder-sounding. "

What do you think the new J3 stuff sounds like?

One of our friends said the new songs sound like the Hellacopters (haha), but I would just say "no bullshit rock 'n roll". People always say Ramones. I wanna sound like '80s RAMONES!

It's gettin' close! What would you say contributed to the switch in your sound?

Umm... Nothing, it just seemed to happen I guess. We really took our time to write and work out the songs and such, where as other times we just recorded some song real quick, and that was that...

What've you guys been listening to most lately?

I have been listening to alot of Thin Lizzy, Rose Tattoo, Lemuria and Dee Cracks!

What do you think of people who compare you to bands like Blink 182 and MxPx, or call you guys a faggot band?

A faggot band, haha, that's pretty cool! Just 'cause you kiss or makeout w/ guys doesn't mean your a fag! People have their own opinions and are allowed to think whatever they want. If we sound like Blink 182 or MXPX, don't you think we would have a huge fanbase, and be on MTV and be, like, famous by now?? They think like that cause it's all they know, and [they think] that Blink 182 is the punkest band around, and that's fucking crazy! These people have never heard of the Dead Kennedys or Circle Jerks or Bad Brains. All those bands - Sum 41, Good Charlotte, My Chemical Romance, blah blah and so on - seemed to have disappeared-- FINALLY!!
Regardless of what anyone says or thinks, it's not gonna effect what we do or what kinda music we play...

I know you guys gig a lot with bands from all over, but who would you say are some of the better bands from right around here (Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Akron, Erie, Youngstown, etc.)?

By far, The Cheats are up there as one of my faves from anywhere. The
Hollywood Blondes are ok, Dead City Dealers are my favorite Youngstown
band. I like Album a lot, too. I can't think of any bands from Akron or
Erie, you got any?

As far as Akron, Dropgun are by far my favorite, followed closely by First Offense and this new band called Criminal Menacing and the 3 Strikes. I'm good friends with the guys in Five and Dimers too, though their style isn't really what I'm into. There's also some older bands like Zero Defex, C.D. Truth, and the Againsters who I'm also into. Erie has My 3 Scum, The Assmen, Aggro Hippie, Brain Dead Happy, and the Tradesmen. I know there's more, but I'm drawing a blank here.

Yeah, Dropgun are kinda cool. Will check out the others you mentioned as
well.

I'm glad all the Y-Town bands consider us [Dead City Dealers] a Youngstown band, since we have no other punk rock or rock 'n roll bands in New Castle, thanks for that.

It seems like Youngstown has more bands around than ever, which
is becoming awesome!

Besides the ones you mentioned, who else from Y-Town would you say are worth mentioning?

You also got Turbo Lovers, First in Space, Thunderider, The Zou, Posture Coach, and of course, Gil Manteras Partydream!

You seem to like a lot of music uncharacteristic of most "punk rockers". How do you think this affects your music? Also, who writes J3's material and what's the songwriting process like?

I do alot of things uncharacteristic of most punk rockers. I also like all kinds of music and can respect good song writing and musicianship. If anything it makes our music better. Jay comes up with most of the songs, and then we add our parts and such. I, however, wrote 3 songs on the new record, and the process for writing those songs were pretty much just what was going on with me and how I feel/felt at the time. One of them is called "Movin' Up" and it's about finally getting what you deserve, bettering yourself and your life after working really hard to get there. It's fast, loud and a little hardcore, and has been going over really well when we play it live.

You also have some acoustic solo recordings, right? What's the deal with that?

I just recently got some low key computer recording stuff, and started recording to learn how to use it. Some songs come out good, others terrible. Those songs are more or less for friends and family members to keep up with me musically. Some songs have made it to iTunes, including "Spun Out Control" that I recorded w/ Mikey Reynolds in Florida. Others become new songs or just throwaways. The plan is to offer lesserknown bands an outlet to record some demos or new songs or whatever, using Pro Tools through an M-box, and no budget is too small.

So you're just gonna let the bands themselves set the price?

Well it's not gonna be free, if that's your next question. Depending on how many songs, and how long it takes and such, that will determine the price but as I said, no budget is too small. It will be a fully-functioning recording studio, at a fraction of the price.

So what's next on the agenda for Johnie3?

Just putting the finishing touches on our 3rd studio album. Still no name yet, but we're open for suggestions. We got plans to tour this summer, in June and July, including some festivals, once the record comes out. We also hope to have this one released on vinyl, and we wanna tour Europe again before the year is over.

Any closing words for the beautiful people out there?

I love you Sam Sinister, but not in a faggot kinda way! Be young, have fun, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins! Props to my homie Kasper Keen, from The Hitchcocks/20 Belows, who will be in the U.S. of A soon once again, and Panther Booking - Holla!
Also, check us out to see when and where the punk rock party action is coming to your town, myspace.com/johnie3.
Oh yeah, and we are also on Twitter! http://www.blogger.com/www.twitter.com/thejohnie3, BITCH!
PEACE!

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR

2009-06-07T15:23:00.008-04:00

Well kids, this is our sixth month in, and I think it's going pretty well. Since January, we've had over 1,900 hits (granted, some of those are views from our own staff - but hey, that's still pretty damn good!), plenty of positive feedback, some decent interviews with a wide and varied selection of colorful characters, including members of such great outfits as Plastered Bastards, Hollywood Blondes, Crowd Deterrent, Dropgun, and even Hub City Stompers! Not too bad for a fledgling web-based rag, eh? I hope this is only the beginning.

This month, we have an interview with Myke Rosati (of Johnie3 infamy), which took way too long to do, and one in the works with Ammo (Nightmare Mode/Thrashantos). Also planning on trying to get another one with Erin of the Hot Trash radio show, Viking Jim (93.3 FM's Homegrown Show), and Stosh, owner of both the Spitfire Saloon, in Cleveland, and Faction Press, a new Cleveland-based print zine.

As always, my main bone of contention - more like a gripe - is that we still don't have as many contributions as I'd like. Why is beyond me.

I still have a bunch of albums (both digital and in CD form) that need to be reviewed, so if you sent me anything, keep yer pants on. These things take some time.

You silly bastards and bastardettes who've written stuff so far; keep it up. To those of you taking up precious space on the "allowed authors" list: All I have to say is, "What the fuck?" Shit or get off the proverbial pot.

That's all you get, at least for this post. Go through the older postings in the Table of Contents, over there to your right. There's some good shit in there.

--Sam

I Take Drugs and Get Drunk, I'm a Punk! - 1983 Islington Squatter Punk Documentary

2009-06-02T01:58:00.009-04:00

Just about the funniest thing ever right here. I couldn't believe what a douche the old-ass narrator was in reference to the punks in question. Their living arrangement makes me wish people actually still did that shit, or at least anyone around me. I stumbled across this tonight and got a real kick out of it, so although it doesn't have anything to do with OH or PA, I figured I'd share it. Hope ya dig, and I'll be back with new articles sometime...

-Ray Zen