Censorship is a Motherfucker, isn't it? LOL Oh, if you saw it, great! If you didn't, don't worry about it. It was nothing but Drama, and we don't need anything even resembling that around this website. That's why the Tag Board is gone! hahaha Yeah, those days are long over, and besides, I just don't have the time to devote to instigating and perpetrating the Drama anymore. I barely have time to update shit on here, much less get into a verbal battering with some douchebag idiots. I got waaaaayyy better things to do, like watch Hockey! <3
hahahahahah FUCK YOU DETROIT!! hahahaha Nothing will make me happier than beating your over rated Chicken Wing asses and knocking you out of the Playoffs AGAIN! hahaha Such a great win. I love this time of year. <3 Game 2 is manana, and, of course, I'm going to miss it because I have to go to band practice. Sometimes I really, really hate my band mates...
Everything's updated, I think. Go see Pigasus with Built To Spill and the Memorials (featuring some over rated drummer from some equally over rated craptacular band) tomorrow night @ the Beauty Bar. And don't forget about D.R.I. gig on Thursday too! It's at Vamp'd, where, if you dress up like Dracula, they give you a free Bloody Mary! baaa dum-dump! ;-) See ya there!
 What are YOU looking at? Her new album was coming out today, fer Christ's sake... :-(
I first started hearing the news on Monday afternoon. Of course I refused to believe it. Too many Deaths as of late, and it's even harder to accept when it's someone you admired but hardly knew. The only source cited was some Facebook page, with a posting on there from 'a friend of the Family', who was reporting that Poly Styrene, the boisterous, animated lead singer of X-Ray Spex, had slipped into a coma and passed away. The story spread like wildfire, and I was countering everyone's R.I.P. comments by saying that nothing official was said, no one but the O.C. Weekly was confirming it, and I was pulling for a Chuck Biscuits style of Internet rumor mongering. I kept watch on the clock, figuring that at 9 am U.K. time that we would hear the news, for better or for worse and, unfortunately, it turned out to be true. Very fucking true. Poly Styrene, the cutest lead singer in all of Punk Rock, had passed away at the age of 53. The world was no longer day-glo.
I only saw X-Ray Spex once, during a reunion gig in the 90's, at Bogart's (or was it Night Moves) in Long Beach. The turnout was piss poor, and the band was touring behind an album that nobody wanted to hear a thing from. All we wanted to hear was everything from Germ Free Adolescence, and after a bit that's exactly what they gave us. Some songs were better played than others, of course, but there was no mistaking that Poly was dead spot on that night, nailing songs like I'm A Cliche, The Day The World Turned Day-Glo, Obsessed With You and Art-I-Ficial with the greatest of ease, sending the hairs on the back of my neck standing straight up when she barked out the opening line of Oh Bondage, Up Yours! It was a fucking magical night, and hanging out with her and the band afterwords while people were having them sign anything and everything they presented them with, telling them just how much they loved the band, and just seeing the looks of Joy and Appreciation on peoples faces after finally seeing a band play that obviously meant so much to them, was just beautiful. Poly took her time talking to everyone, thanking them over and over again with the utmost sincerity and appreciation - no rockstar bullshit posturing with her. She really meant it, and that's something Ill never forget. "You must get this a lot." I told her, and she said she did, and that she was extremely thankful that something she had been a part of had such an affect on so many people. Just a fucking class act all the way around, and the world is a little less colorful with her passing. This fucking sucks. God's speed Poly Styrene, and get some much needed rest. You deserve and earned it. You will be missed.
 Photo by Dave Kapnik
My head hurts. I mean, really hurts. My back too. I can hardly move or lift my arms, and there isn't a sink in my house that doesn't have vomit in it. I've been pissing blood for 7 days now and I really don't care. These past few days have been soooooooo worth it, and to end it yesterday at Casa de Amoroso, sitting poolside amongst Friends and Family, was just the perfect ending for a good run of days. A really, good run of days. :-)
Bad Brains gig? Rats. I was gonna go, I really was. I was on the Guest List and everything (Thanks Tyson!), but I had Loud Pipes practice, so I decided to play music with my friends as opposed to watching my friends play music. Once I was finished practicing, I was in no condition to go to the gig so I decided to head home and watch Game 4. We killed them 6-3. :-) I only ran into 3 people who said the Bad Brains were good. Everyone else said they sucked, or that it wasn't worth the $35 to get in. I don't blame them. Last time I saw the Bad Brains it cost me $15 to get in, and they were opening up for the Ramones at the Hollywood Palladium.
The Manic Hispanic / Loud Pipes gig on Friday was in-fucking-amazing! LOL Whoever said that Diablo's sucked needs to be kicked in the vaa-jay-jay. That place was rad! It was weird being treated like Kings, with an endless supply of Food and Booze being foisted upon us, but I got used to it after like 2 or 3 minutes or so. ;-) Great to see so many Friends there, and weird not seeing Hank or the Captain there when we played. Shame on you 2! Manic Hispanic were fantastic, playing a great mix of the Classics (Big Heinas, Uncle Chato's Garden, Wasted, Rudy Cholo) and some unreleased songs I haven't heard them play in years, covers of songs from bands like the Bad Brains and the Ramones. Just an incredible set from them, as usual. They deliver nothing less each and every time they play. It was great seeing Gabby up on stage with the band. Almost didn't think I'd ever see that again. Afterwards it was off to Viva were, well, let me put it this way. I have never seen such a massive gathering of Mediocrity, Lameness and Douchebaggery in my Life. Just areas full of Tools and Sheep and Poseurs, all trying to out Happy Days each other. Ghey. I had to see it to verify it myself, but Viva sucks. It's just pathetic now. Gawd Damn. What happened to that thing?
Sat. had me heading up the mountain to converse with the Tibetan Monks to be told what a bad person I am, all after getting virtually no sleep the night before. I tried going to the Car Show at Viva, but after nearly having a heart attack at how much they wanted to get in there, I passed on checking it out. Elvira was there giving away autographed head shots, but I was waaaaay too drunk/hungover to be standing in a 5 mile long line to get one of those, so I left. I spent the best part of the afternoon with a friend at the bar she works at, drinking beers and eating pizza, having girl talk and gossiping. :-) I went home to watch the Sharks game, fully planning on going to the Anti-Viva gig @ Meathead's right afterwords, but I passed out in the middle of the first period. Good thing too, as we got slaughtered by the Kings. SLAUGHTERED. Glad I missed it.
Easter Sunday I woke up mid-afternoon and raced down to Jesse and Roxie's to partake in Birthday celebrations for one of my favorite people, Miss Roxie. Walking into a home filled with Friends and Family was just the cure I needed for my mental and physical recovery. Beer and Cake are one of the best combinations EVER!. That's one of the many things Roxie and I have bonded with over the years, and spending the day with her and everyone else was just the perfect ending to a great run of mind numbing, physically draining, drunken, drugged out debauchery. I also heard the new Pigasus recordings (wowsers!) while I was there and heard of the new Unfair Fight recording. Both are guaranteed to blow minds. Gawd damn it's gonna be a great year. :-)
Everything's updated. Game 6 is about to begin, and my phone is blowing up with shit talking Kings fans. I'm hoping that the Sharks can wrap this up so we can move on to Round 2. I'm not too optimistic that's gonna happen, but I remain forever optimistic. GO SHARKS!!
Sooooo... the Mapes gig... Epic or what? LOL And what about Black Fag, huh? Yeaaaaahhhhhh... hahahahaha
Having no car is a bit of a drag, but that just means that I can get more stuff done, a little bit around the house being domestic but the majority of my time is spent in band rehearsal as of late, and it's killing me. I don't mention it that much but the Loud Pipes have a gig with Manic Hispanic this Fri. @ Diablo's Cantina, and to say that there isn't a deep feeling, kindred spirit between the two bands is unfathomable. We as a band would see Manic Hispanic religiously, probably before YOU found out about them, and there wasn't a Loud Pipes Tour or road trip taken that didn't have some of their degradingly brilliant music as the soundtrack to all the madness. But we never played a gig with them, which is a bit odd. Well, that's all changed now, because like I said, this Friday, that's all getting taken care of. The Loud Pipes will have the Luck to be opening up for Manic Hispanic. This should be fun. Hope to see a bunch of you out there, and not just the people hitting me up to get on the Guest List! LOL If you don't make this one, you're an idiot, but you can always catch us at our next gig, which is forthcoming. I don't know if the Loud Pipes are back for good, or if this is just some temporary thing for shits and giggles, but it doesn't matter. I'm just enjoying the ride and showing up when I'm supposed and playing the drums, just like I always did way back then. :-)
I swear to Allah that if San Jose does not beat the gawd damn L.A. Queens that I am going to cut my fingers off so that I never type a good word about them again! LOL I don't care really if we stay our usual consistent selves and choke in the playoffs, but just not to L.A. - anyone but L.A. I can barely take the shit talking as it is! LOL Playoff Hockey. It really is one of the best times of the year, and you know the best part of it all? That means there's only 4 months until Football season starts! YES!!!
It's been a Drama filled Monday, but like I told my Bestie, I'm fucking Teflon, nothing is sticking to me today. I'm gonna head off to watch the Buffalo / Philadelphia game. The Prince of Drummers is a Sabres fan, so I kind of keep track on what's happening in that series so we can have something else to talk about besides what sexy beasts we are. :-) Lots of stuff going on this week - Gigs Galore! I'm avoiding Viva like the plague because, well let's face it, all that shit is GHEY and the people that go to that shit are Clowns, both in Look and Attitude. Luckily, there's lots of good gigs to keep me entertained and away from the farce that's happening at the Orleans. I fucking hate Viva. Hate it.
GO TO THIS GIG TONIGHT!!
 They'll be playing in the parking lot - should be fun!!
I just added the late night club shows for Punk Rock Bowling to the Gig Calendar page. Click here to check them out. I'm hyped on a few of them, like the Cadillac Tramps reunion show, of course, and M.D.C., Ill Repute, Tiltwheel, and the rest are just laughable. Congrats to Guilty By Association, TheCore and Goldfish Don't Bounce for being the only Locals lucky enough to get on a PRB gig. I saw that the LVCS has some gigs lined up too, but fuck that place, just fuck it. Azul Tequila and the Bunkhouse seem to be the place to be this year, for those of you who aren't attending the main shows on the big stage with the shitty bands playing. Descendents gig sold out, and I think the Dropkick Murphys one is too. Regardless of where you spend your time at, Punk Rock Bowling 2011 is gonna be some majorly drunken fun.
Before I forget, let me show you this: Yeah, I was a bit too close, and the sound suffers a little because of it but man, what a great piece of video. This is from the 2nd night. I think I have more video stuff coming, but I'm not sure. Anyways, the big Meatmen / Black Fag gig is going on Saturday night, and it's final resting place is at the Cheyenne Saloon. That gig has been listed at every venue in town, and if Pulsar didn't put that 1 shitty band that both Chris Piss and I despise on the bill, then I would be there with bells on, but as it is, I'll stay away. Not like I haven't seen all those bands before, right? Yeah. The Vermin are also playing that Meatmen gig, and they're also listed as playing with the Peccadilloes and the Mapes @ the Double Down the same night, so I dunno if they're pulling double duty or just not playing one gig or the other. The Holding Onto Sound CD release party is happening Saturday night @ the Bunkhouse. Wish I had a working car so that I could be there... :-(
It has been sooooooo fucking beautiful weather wise as of late that I'm sorely slacking on getting updates done to this site. I got stuff to add, like this CD review! LOL Man, I gotta get back into doing CD Reviews, since I have such "impeccable taste in music... NOT!" (Thanks Shane!) and "weird opinions" (Thanks San-D!)... hee hee hee
v/a
Punk Rock Heart TransplantI was standing in line at the best Roberto's in town (next to what used to be the Aristocrat near Charleston / Rancho) after an early morning jaunt with the Amoroso clan to the Broad Acres Swap Meet, which I have never been to before. Yeah, I know, shut up. While I'm standing there pondering what to grub on, Brian from TheCore walks in, says Hello to me, and after a bit of chit chat he mentions to me that his band was just featured on some compilation thing, and gave me a copy of it.I thanked him for it, put it in my back pocket, forgot about it until doing my laundry weeks later, burned it to my hard drive and songs from it keeps popping up on shuffle, and it sounds pretty good. A bunch of bands from California, a token few from Canada, and a handful from Las Vegas comprise all of the music on here, and it all kind of goes in a Pennywise / Strung Out / Lagwagon / Death By Stereo kind of direction. What ever happened to diversity on compilations? LOL All kidding aside, there are some really good tunes on here, stuff from bands like The Regime, No Bueno, Guilty By Association, Bastard Suns, Eken Is Dead, Battle Born, and, my favorite song from TheCore, which I never knew the title of before, Scene Kid Sacrilege (Return Of The Shirt). Gawd, such a great song. Besides being a cool collection of some good songs, this compilation is also a great idea in getting bands music out to the people for free. All the bands involved paid for the pressing and recording of the songs, and because of that, the CD is absolutely free for the taking. Not bad. For more information go to www.punkrockhearttransplant.com or www.facebook.com/punkrockhearttransplant for more info on the project, and maybe to find out how your band could be on the next one. It's a good idea, and there's some pretty good stuff on here.End of Review. I'll make a new page for it later. Everything's updated. New Pictures of Barrington Levy and Haleamano @ the Bunkhouse added to the website, and the Show Review of the Guilty By Association 10th Anniversary gig @ Yayo Taco is now Alive and Kicking. It's about time too, as that one was a bitch to put together, for some reason. Click here to read that if you're so inclined. It's hard to get things done on here as of late, but there's good reason for that. ;-) My beloved Sharks are in the Playoffs, and we're gonna kill the L.A. Queens in 4 straight! hahahaha Life is Good.
17 years ago... damn. Has it really been that long? I remember like it happened yesterday. I woke up at my usual 2 in the afternoon. I had passed out watching Beavis and Butthead on the tube the night before, and when I woke up the next day and flicked the TV on to have something to watch while I ate my Froot Loops, it was all over the news. Footage of the people gathering outside of the house and from the helicopters circling overhead let me know that someone important had died, but when I saw that it was Kurt Cobain that they were talking about, I was floored, to say the least. I kind of knew the dude. Hung out with him many times. I was a huge fan and had seen Nirvana play like, at least 25 times. The image of all those thousands of people losing their shit @ the Del Mar fair grounds when Nirvana opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, right when Smells Like Teen Spirit was breaking big, is something I will never forget. The last time I saw them @ the Forum is something I wish I could forget! Phooey! LOL They were a fucking great band and for someone who supposedly had it all and was on top of the world, the suicide came as a major shock. Yeah, I knew about the previous attempt in Rome weeks before, but still, I just chalked it up to rock star indulgences and left it at that. The guy I casually chatted with all those times before and after a gig seemed like the last person I would ever suspect of killing himself, that's for sure. Yeah, that last time I saw him in Costa Mesa @ Club With No Name for that Melvins / Cows gig, he had his handlers with him and yeah, he looked a fucking mess, but he was still talkative, he seemed OK all things considered, and after talking to him for a bit and realizing he didn't remember me or have a clue as to who I was, I left him alone and wandered off to check out the bands, never thinking that was gonna be the last time I saw him, but it was. What a fucking shame. Such a fucking loss. I'm gonna go listen to my Chosen Rejects Nirvana box set and just revel in all Nirvana's brilliance. makes that With The Lights Out box set look like the piece of shit it is.
GO TO THIS GIG TONIGHT!!!
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