It seems like things are coming together very quickly with the benefit this year. I'm currently talking to several bands to see who wants to help make this happen, but I am really pleased to announce that I have a band added to the bill already. These guys are a great band, and a really cool bunch of people...
I give you the band that put the "Sex" back in "Sex, drugs and rock and roll."
It makes me happy to present to you - Haf/Life!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Breast Fest 3
It's just been formalized that Breast Fest 3 will happen on June 28.
I am currently speaking with bands, and I'll update as I know more.
I am currently speaking with bands, and I'll update as I know more.
Monday, March 24, 2008
To the confusion of our enemies
In light of recent events, anniversaries, birthdays and etceteras, I offer up an unoriginal post. It's just a song by a band I really admire, whom I've met and chatted with. It's probably one of the best-written songs about this sort of thing.
If this song is about you, you'll know it, and for those of you that I'm not writing this post about that take this song to heart, blessings at you too.
To all the given ups, the special needs crew.
To all those who were told "we didn't need you."
To all the people who are eating all alone,
you know something fucked that kid up good.
To all those who wake up at dawn,
underpayed and then shit upon.
To all my friends who never had a chance.
To those who closed their eyes,
thinking they'd be better off...for now.
To those who felt that the gods kept them from getting out,
this town.
To spite as a reason.
To clothes out of season.
To those stuck in caskets as nails hammer in.
Just keep screaming out...I'm still not dead.
To the ugly ones with the bad teeth,
staring at the pretty people that they can't meet.
Staring at the magazines on the endcaps,
that fuck your head up good.
To all those buried in the ground,
God knows I wish you were around,
to laugh and cuss about what's going down.
To those who stand watching the last bus as it drives away...again.
Those those who see that by not playing and not giving in...they win.
To have no good reason,
To no cuts and lesions.
And to the confusion of our enemies.
Just keep screaming out...I'm still not dead yet.
Don't bury me yet.
If this song is about you, you'll know it, and for those of you that I'm not writing this post about that take this song to heart, blessings at you too.
To all the given ups, the special needs crew.
To all those who were told "we didn't need you."
To all the people who are eating all alone,
you know something fucked that kid up good.
To all those who wake up at dawn,
underpayed and then shit upon.
To all my friends who never had a chance.
To those who closed their eyes,
thinking they'd be better off...for now.
To those who felt that the gods kept them from getting out,
this town.
To spite as a reason.
To clothes out of season.
To those stuck in caskets as nails hammer in.
Just keep screaming out...I'm still not dead.
To the ugly ones with the bad teeth,
staring at the pretty people that they can't meet.
Staring at the magazines on the endcaps,
that fuck your head up good.
To all those buried in the ground,
God knows I wish you were around,
to laugh and cuss about what's going down.
To those who stand watching the last bus as it drives away...again.
Those those who see that by not playing and not giving in...they win.
To have no good reason,
To no cuts and lesions.
And to the confusion of our enemies.
Just keep screaming out...I'm still not dead yet.
Don't bury me yet.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
We made it back from SXSW safe and sound, and had a wonderful time meeting some wonderful people and hearing some amazing bands.
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I offer up the guys from Steer Clear. These kids are from Belfast (and I mean kids, they're all like 17), and they played their hearts out. It was great to see and meet you guys, and I wish the best for you guys and I'll offer up more coverage on this on my site I do for a job...
We're feeling pretty low-key from Austin, but we'll be out tonight to hoist a glass for a very special friend whose birthday was today and is no longer with us.
Cheers.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Balsamic Explosion
This morning, I am all packed for my trip to Texas. I brushed my teeth, and went to get a baggie out of the pantry to throw the toothbrushes in the suitcases...
CRASH!
I smashed an entire bottle of balsamic on the top step leading to the basement. It exploded, sending a geyser of sticky thick vinegar down stairs. It landed next to thee cat, who had just eaten breakfast. She jumped three feet in the air, hit the floor, and immediately started throwing up.
I was left with a horrible mess to clean up, and a nearly depleted can of carpet cleaner.
Hopefully, all that's out of the way, and the vacation can go on without major catastrophe...
Off to Austin!
Friday, March 07, 2008
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
We're praying that the taps will keep the holy water flowing...
Eight inches of snow last night. Eight inches on the walk. Eight inches in the driveway. Eight inches on the porch. Eight inches everywhere, EXCEPT for the three-foot snowdrift that had blown and piled between the two cars in the driveway.
That’s what I shoveled this morning.
I also used a giant push broom to clean off the cars.
Then, there’s the driving out here. The roads are bad, and will continue to get worse because the county is out of salt for the year. That’s it, there’s a salt shortage, and that’s one of the dumber things I’ve ever heard.
I wish I could blog about more than the snow and the weather. I’d like to blog about biking, and bikes. I’d like to tell you about the sweet ‘70s neighborhood cruiser bike that I just bartered for from a friend (price? A fifth of bourbon and a vintage punk rock pin), but the truth is, I haven’t even been able to visit the bike, because it’s snowed in!
So, yeah it’s all about snow. Snow and music. Tomorrow night we’re going out with Yoda to see NOFX.
Here’s some NOFX. It’s actually a song about being snowed in at a bar, which is where I’d rather be snowed in than anywhere else. Yep, snow and punk rock.
Sorry if the religious symbolism offended you, but if you can’t handle that sort of humor, odds are this is the first time you’ve visited this site.
Yoda’s one I’ve not mentioned before. He’s our spiritual leader/bike guru rolled into one. He taught us to mountain bike, and continues to supply guidance. We call him Yoda for that matter, despite the fact that he’s well over six feet tall, long-haired, bearded and tattooed. He’s really more of a Qui-Gon Jinn, but that’s more of a mouthful than Yoda.
It’s a rarity to see him in the winter. He, like the rest of us, hibernates all winter. We usually won’t see him from, say November to April. No bikes, no Yoda. It takes something rare like an appearance from NOFX to bring us all together when there’s snow on the ground.
I love NOFX. Their singer, Fat Mike, is the biggest jerk in the world, but somehow he makes it work. He’s a drunken idiot, yet strangely charismatic. I worship the guy, yet I can’t figure out why I relate to him so… no comments please.
He’s also the guy behind some amazing political movements. He’s the guy behind Punk Voter, an organization created to mobilize American punk rock youth into a political force, by signing them up to vote and informing them of the issues. He put out the Rock Against Bush albums, and basically has tried to get an apathetic youth motivated to do their share.
On a side note, it will probably never happen. You won’t be able to get the American teen population politically motivated unless the draft is reinstated - which the government knows, and won’t do. Instead, they’ve instituted the Stop-Loss Policy, which says that the government can send its soldiers back whenever they want, even after they've fulfilled their commitment.
Which they’ve made a film about. I saw the trailer before Juno, and I want to see this. It’s about time stuff like this is getting said.
Sorry about that political segue. I honestly didn’t see it coming.
Must be snow blindness.
That’s what I shoveled this morning.
I also used a giant push broom to clean off the cars.
Then, there’s the driving out here. The roads are bad, and will continue to get worse because the county is out of salt for the year. That’s it, there’s a salt shortage, and that’s one of the dumber things I’ve ever heard.
I wish I could blog about more than the snow and the weather. I’d like to blog about biking, and bikes. I’d like to tell you about the sweet ‘70s neighborhood cruiser bike that I just bartered for from a friend (price? A fifth of bourbon and a vintage punk rock pin), but the truth is, I haven’t even been able to visit the bike, because it’s snowed in!
So, yeah it’s all about snow. Snow and music. Tomorrow night we’re going out with Yoda to see NOFX.
Here’s some NOFX. It’s actually a song about being snowed in at a bar, which is where I’d rather be snowed in than anywhere else. Yep, snow and punk rock.
Sorry if the religious symbolism offended you, but if you can’t handle that sort of humor, odds are this is the first time you’ve visited this site.
Yoda’s one I’ve not mentioned before. He’s our spiritual leader/bike guru rolled into one. He taught us to mountain bike, and continues to supply guidance. We call him Yoda for that matter, despite the fact that he’s well over six feet tall, long-haired, bearded and tattooed. He’s really more of a Qui-Gon Jinn, but that’s more of a mouthful than Yoda.It’s a rarity to see him in the winter. He, like the rest of us, hibernates all winter. We usually won’t see him from, say November to April. No bikes, no Yoda. It takes something rare like an appearance from NOFX to bring us all together when there’s snow on the ground.
I love NOFX. Their singer, Fat Mike, is the biggest jerk in the world, but somehow he makes it work. He’s a drunken idiot, yet strangely charismatic. I worship the guy, yet I can’t figure out why I relate to him so… no comments please.
He’s also the guy behind some amazing political movements. He’s the guy behind Punk Voter, an organization created to mobilize American punk rock youth into a political force, by signing them up to vote and informing them of the issues. He put out the Rock Against Bush albums, and basically has tried to get an apathetic youth motivated to do their share.
On a side note, it will probably never happen. You won’t be able to get the American teen population politically motivated unless the draft is reinstated - which the government knows, and won’t do. Instead, they’ve instituted the Stop-Loss Policy, which says that the government can send its soldiers back whenever they want, even after they've fulfilled their commitment.
Which they’ve made a film about. I saw the trailer before Juno, and I want to see this. It’s about time stuff like this is getting said.
Sorry about that political segue. I honestly didn’t see it coming.
Must be snow blindness.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
We won't stop until somebody calls the cops...
Music of the moment: Kimya Dawson
Kimya Dawson makes me happy, even when the world is frozen.
I feel like this winter simply isn’t planning on ending for us. Ever. The winters that are cold, yet relatively free from snow, here in the Southwestern Michigan Tropics seem like they have never happened, as we keep getting pummeled by snow to the tune of 3-4 inches per week (that may not seem like much; but it’s more than enough to grind this city to a halt due to our lackluster city services and people who, despite living in the Motor City, show a certain reluctance toward driving like a sentient being.)
I think this general cold is causing a general malaise as well for me, as it regards things like writing. And physical activity. And anything that would require any level of ambition or motivation. I really just want to hibernate.
At least there is only a week left until I head out to SXSW, and I am really gearing up for it. I will wear sandals, and I will go swimming, and I will sit outside in shorts and a t-shirt and I will be warm and happy.
Wonderful moment worth recapping as of late:
Last week, down in Greektown on a rare, sunny day, scoping out the gallery where TFN will be hosting a solo exhibition of her works in May, we stopped into a little convenience store. We bought Cokes in glass bottles, and the Greek man behind the counter opened them with his bottle opener, smiling and saying a thickly accented “Just like old times, ah?”
Walking through the streets of Detroit on that rare sunny winter day, glass bottle of Coke in my hand was a total flashback to childhood Saturdays, and as we went by Comerica Park, what did we see? People taking photos, sightseeing in our city! That felt good. Even if Detroit’s mayor is corrupt, and won’t resign despite being discovered to have committed perjury on the stand regarding using city money to facilitate an affair with his chief of staff, and despite the fact they are still investigating his possible connection in the murder of a stripper… yep, this is all going on… at least people are still sightseeing down here, and maybe one day it will recover.
OK, one more from Kimya.
“They think we’re disposable. Well, both my thumbs are opposable.”
So that’s where I’ve been lately, I’ve been cold. Eventually I will be warm, and then I’ll be more active. Activity would be nice.
Oh, also, as of this year, Iceman went to a lottery, meaning that the slots for the race don’t simply go to the attentive that sign up when it opens. The nice thing was that the lottery was open to teams as well, meaning that if you signed up as a team, and one name was drawn, you all get to go. And this year, Team Angry Monkey made the cut, so we’ll be heading up to Zillaville once again!
I want to ride my bike. We made it so far as to plan a ride on Sunday, but at zero hour it was decided that going to breakfast would be more prudent, so as to not risk an icy accident on the trail and start out the year with a fractured clavicle.
Later that day, after attending B’s second birthday and showing a pair of toddlers how to perform medical procedures on a cat (it was stuffed, and part of a children’s pretend-we’re-a-vet kit) we were driving home and saw an ambulance loading up a cyclist who spilled on an icy sidewalk. It reaffirmed our decision.
Sometimes I make the right decisions regarding risking injury.
Kimya Dawson makes me happy, even when the world is frozen.
I feel like this winter simply isn’t planning on ending for us. Ever. The winters that are cold, yet relatively free from snow, here in the Southwestern Michigan Tropics seem like they have never happened, as we keep getting pummeled by snow to the tune of 3-4 inches per week (that may not seem like much; but it’s more than enough to grind this city to a halt due to our lackluster city services and people who, despite living in the Motor City, show a certain reluctance toward driving like a sentient being.)
I think this general cold is causing a general malaise as well for me, as it regards things like writing. And physical activity. And anything that would require any level of ambition or motivation. I really just want to hibernate.
At least there is only a week left until I head out to SXSW, and I am really gearing up for it. I will wear sandals, and I will go swimming, and I will sit outside in shorts and a t-shirt and I will be warm and happy.
Wonderful moment worth recapping as of late:
Last week, down in Greektown on a rare, sunny day, scoping out the gallery where TFN will be hosting a solo exhibition of her works in May, we stopped into a little convenience store. We bought Cokes in glass bottles, and the Greek man behind the counter opened them with his bottle opener, smiling and saying a thickly accented “Just like old times, ah?”
Walking through the streets of Detroit on that rare sunny winter day, glass bottle of Coke in my hand was a total flashback to childhood Saturdays, and as we went by Comerica Park, what did we see? People taking photos, sightseeing in our city! That felt good. Even if Detroit’s mayor is corrupt, and won’t resign despite being discovered to have committed perjury on the stand regarding using city money to facilitate an affair with his chief of staff, and despite the fact they are still investigating his possible connection in the murder of a stripper… yep, this is all going on… at least people are still sightseeing down here, and maybe one day it will recover.
OK, one more from Kimya.
“They think we’re disposable. Well, both my thumbs are opposable.”
So that’s where I’ve been lately, I’ve been cold. Eventually I will be warm, and then I’ll be more active. Activity would be nice.
Oh, also, as of this year, Iceman went to a lottery, meaning that the slots for the race don’t simply go to the attentive that sign up when it opens. The nice thing was that the lottery was open to teams as well, meaning that if you signed up as a team, and one name was drawn, you all get to go. And this year, Team Angry Monkey made the cut, so we’ll be heading up to Zillaville once again!
I want to ride my bike. We made it so far as to plan a ride on Sunday, but at zero hour it was decided that going to breakfast would be more prudent, so as to not risk an icy accident on the trail and start out the year with a fractured clavicle.
Later that day, after attending B’s second birthday and showing a pair of toddlers how to perform medical procedures on a cat (it was stuffed, and part of a children’s pretend-we’re-a-vet kit) we were driving home and saw an ambulance loading up a cyclist who spilled on an icy sidewalk. It reaffirmed our decision.
Sometimes I make the right decisions regarding risking injury.
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