Even the Beatles are celebrating in the streets with the death of the Iron Lady. Hats off to her as so much of what I listened to in the early 80s would not have existed without her.  She was something to bitch about but I’m sure if she hadn’t of been there we would have found something else to bitch about.  We’re all just bitches.

You know on top of being a burnout, I’m a little mental, or as one of my internet buddies called me, neurotic. I have to state that every once in a while for people who deal with me, like the warning label on a bottle of pills. In this internet age, I’m still getting used to email as a means of communication. I do much better in person, still not great and still mental, but at least I can read tone, facial expressions and body language. When I send out an email, it’s like an invitation and if I don’t hear back right away, I start second guessing myself. Well why haven’t they written back, did I piss them off, am I being a pest, am I asking too much, etc. Then I’m driven, almost forced by cosmic forces to write back and apologize without knowing what I’m apologizing for. I don’t take into account that a person has a life full of goings on, and they get to things as they get to it, pretty much like I do. Hmph…mental. I don’t think I’ll ever get it.

Here’s something to get mental over, let every asshole in the world have access to where you’re at and what flowers you have planted in the pot out front over at Show My Street. It seems cute, but big brother really is watching you. I’m in the country enough though, that they don’t give you a street view, it’s just that birdseye, satellite deal.

My internet buddy Sean of the famed, yet deceased, Damaging Noise blog (he has experienced my neurosis) turned me onto some classic mid-80s metal (\m/) the other day, by a band I had never heard of, thought I’d share their bitchen-ness…
Samhain – Plague Of Messiah

While on a metal tip (the main band in this post was as metal as it gets), discovered this Russian forum called Metal Area…tons of listening to bands that you would have otherwise never heard of (or maybe you’re in the know and I should say that I would never have heard of). Tons of shitty stuff too, but it’s worth it to go through and do some listening. Here’s some highlights of my wanderings..
Moss – The Bleeding Years
Heaving Sun – Solar Flare Blastpoint
Blade of the Ripper – Cast Me In The Fire

Ahhh, yes, Tyrranicide (the mid 80′s bay area one), been searching for this one forever and finally found it at the above site…I only wish I had this cassette. The last band I was in, Grout, had the pleasure of having Ty on bass, who had, several years earlier, been the bass player for Tyrranicide. Our drummer Steve and Ty were from the fabulous town of Pleasanton. I was told back then that Ty had been in the aforementioned band, but that meant nothing to me and until the other day I had never listened to them. Ty was an incredible bass player and a solid human being, never had a bad word to say about anyone. I left Humboldt before he did, and as we all did, he settled down, had a family and last I heard, is a chef in Napa. Tyrranicide is your proto-typical, mid 80′s, thrash/speed metal band, with political lyrics and heavy shredability. Nate at the legendary True Punk & Metal blog had the demo up (and I know it gets old saying this) but the link is dead. Of Tyrranicide he says, “they were writing social/political songs, playing with punk bands, while still waving the flag of long hairism.” I’ll leave it at that and give you a chance to listen…

Hiding Under White

Summoned To Die

Facing Reality

Epilogue

Cripple’s Revenge

A buddy of mine put this one up on FB and I was completely blown away. Omar Souleyman is the shit. Just love the singing and noodling music, reminds me of the stuff my Mom was listening to in the late 60s, early 70s, going to the Intersection in the Rampart district of LA. Times were different then. Upon reflection, it makes me angry, the religious extremists of the world, the fundamentalists, the religious right, fascist theologians…this is the dilemma of the present and the bane of the future across the world. I love seeing people freely enjoying their music, celebrating, dancing (and I’ll be damned if that shoulder dance thing in this vid is not the coolest move ever).

My third book review up for ya, the first punk rock memories, the second being a European hardcore biography and this time it’s a New York hardcore (plus) collection of recollections and poems. My buddy Freddy over at Wardance Records put this thing out and was kind enough to send me a copy. I have to thank him first and foremost, because this was one hell of an enjoyable read. Written by Lewis Dimmick of Our Gang (check out their discography and bio at Stormy’s epic Blogged and Quartered site) and most recently of My Rifle (check out my epic [hahaha] review of their Self Titled 7″). I really like this guy Lewis, just based on his music and most definitely on his book.  Even though I haven’t actually met him, I can really relate to his insights and figure his friends must really value their friendship.  He’s just a year or two younger than me, so we’re about the same age, grew up in the same era, enjoy writing (he’s the real deal of course, I’m just dabbling) and have a love for music that inspired us to play music.  It’s interesting, that we were on different coasts but the scenes weren’t so different.  The way he puts it, “The audience is beside themselves; they are in a state of rapture; they, in their individual awkwardness, attempt with their bodies to illustrate the music; their movements celebrate the self; they dance like asylum inmates; they improvise a response.”  A guy who’s been there can intimately identify with that.  You can tell he was there experiencing these moments with all of his senses, taking it in not just physically but spiritually.  It came to be a part of what defined him, who he hung out with and his responses to life.  On a side note, I like too that he was a long hair in a scene dominated by bald headed guys.  He wasn’t just observing, collecting data, but a part of what was going on, taking it all in.  Talking about Roger Miret of Agnostic Front, “I was intrigued by his street look, his street existence.  I never thought I would inhabit a world where tattoos are as common as white underwear.  Today even pop stars look like punk rockers, but punk rockers that have undergone the full spa treatment.”  The book is a quick read, which left me wanting more.  I’m just a junkie when it comes to something like this, I can’t get enough…so I read it again, this time paying a little more attention to the details. Once I started reading it, there was no way I was going to put it down, leafing through the pages was as easy as eating ice cream on a hot summer day.  And then you end up sitting back and reflecting on your own similar experiences.  GREAT fucking book.  The artwork for the cover, is pretty snappy and punctuates the whole vibe.  This thing is available now for pre-order and will start shipping out on April 22nd.  You can get it at Wardance Records.  Thanx Freddy and Lewis for a fantastic read.

Time for a real kick in the ass. Back in about July of last year, I had the great honor of reviewing some killer shit in the form of the band Zebras (if you missed that, get your ass back there and give them a spin). Well Vincent, who plays in Zebras (and also Those Poor Bastards, a band I hope to feature here at some point), sent me a message the other day and told me that he had been involved in an industrial type band about 10 years ago and that they were starting to do some shit again. They go by the name The Smunn, aka Logan 5 (or is it Logan 5 aka The Smunn).  Here’s what he had to say, “The First album was released on vinyl in 2001 but most of the original copies were destroyed. Since we are starting to do shows again this is available on vinyl again. Only 200 available and selling it for only $7.00.  The other download is for the other two EPs and a couple demos. Tracks 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 are from the 2002 EP “Only To Reptiles”. Tracks 4-9 are from the 2004 EP “As We Become The Smunn”. This was the last thing recorded before the project was abandoned. Tracks 12 & 13 are from the first demo tape “Germ Warfare” (2000) and Track 14 is a 1999 version of a song that was re-recorded for the self titled LP.  All of this stuff was recorded on an 8-track cassette recorder and went straight from the tape to the vinyl / cds.”  They have a Bandcamp where you can listen to all their recorded stuff and pick up that LP, for, as Vincent said, a measly $7.  There’s also a Facebook page where you can follow current events and chat with the band…I have been using that function.  In fact I was telling Vincent, that I had been listening to over 4 decades of Industrial music, in it’s many forms/sub-genres, over the past two weeks worth of nights and weekends (my old lady works nights and weekends).  I wouldn’t say I’m an expert, but I have impeccable taste and I would stack these guys up against any of those bands, putting them smack dab into those four decades.  They have a variety of sounds and while they are definitely industrial in general, they could also find themselves in several of the sub-genres.  There’s that harsh angry kind of stuff you might find on SPK’s “Auto Da Fe” and then there’s that danceable almost techno kind of thing.  In my explorations, that danceable stuff is called EBM or Electronic Body Music. Regardless of what they’re doing, it’s done extremely well…these guys are no apprentices, they’re masters.  These first two tunes are off the 2001 LP that has been reprinted and up for sale…
Ancient Slumber
Dying Inside

These two are off the CDR of demos and EPs, that is just available as a download at this time…
Escape
Judging Hour