The Manic Times

Domesticated Wild Animals

2011-12-20T11:07:00.000-08:00

Still Alive. Des Moines. In Love. Cats. Apartment. DJing Soul, Funk, Blues, Reggae, Rhythm & Blues, Punk, Garage etc. under Moniker DJ Eight Ten in a strictly vinyl roots revival style. Hanging with 515 skins and my Dead Last Crew. No band yet, contact me if interested...I'm not done screaming. Working thankless worthless jobs (still) to pay the bills. Going to work towards teaching certifications in 2012 in my first ever whole hearted attempt at something resembling a career. Turned 30. Still Skateboarding. Enough life has been lived and I need to start writing again in a serious way. Still doing my best to fight the good fight and live the good life.

Jammin

2010-01-24T18:47:00.000-08:00

Delroy Wilson - Feel Good All Over
This is a perfect album. Rocksteady.

Paintbox - Trip, Trance & Traveling
So detailed that it's going to take me a for more start to finish listens to take it all in.

Fresh Meat - Leather Daddy 7"
Well this is one of the strangest things I've liked this much in a long time. Uncomfortable, haunting and wild as hell.

Off With Their Heads - From the Bottom
Been sleeping on this band for a while. In the Minneapolis tradition of gritty poppy punk. Undeniably honest. Great songwriting.

Dunebuggy - There is way too much fucking bullshit happening right now calling itself "lo-fi" as an excuse to be shitty. I was fully prepared to hate this, but find myself loving it....because it is really good. It pretty much just sounds like the Stax Records house band on Crack with shitty equipment and a weird girl singing. It's a hazy summer day sound which is nice to listen to when everything is frozen and miserable.

Two of the best

2009-12-08T19:32:00.001-08:00

always running, never looking back

2009-11-21T13:39:00.001-08:00

Make a trip to Des Moines for this one!

Please take a look at this.

2009-11-19T17:57:00.000-08:00

Just wanting people to be aware of this. They are friends of mine. I have known them to be activists since I met them and also two of the kindest and smartest people I've met. I just found out about this tonight and I plan on looking into this much more. I do feel like if I was in this situation it would be of at least some comfort knowing that a lot of people are aware of what is going on and it's not just something happening under the radar. The website lists ways you can support them if you wish to do so. The link is below and then a brief description of what is going on. Thanks.

http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com/

Carrie Feldman and Scott DeMuth are activists from Minneapolis, MN, who were subpoenaed to a federal grand jury in Iowa investigating animal rights vandalism from 2004. They are refusing to cooperate with the grand jury, and are in jail now for civil contempt of court. As of 11/19, Scott has been indicted for conspiracy under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. Read more about Carrie and Scott here.

Moonchild

2009-10-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

Playlist:
NoMeansNo
The Housemartins
The Quakes
Wayne Hancock
Hedwig sndtrck

A Classic and Must Read Article...

2009-10-13T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Problem With Music

By Steve Albini

Whenever I talk to a band who are about to sign with a major label, I always end up thinking of them in a particular context. I imagine a trench, about four feet wide and five feet deep, maybe sixty yards long, filled with runny, decaying shit. I imagine these people, some of them good friends, some of them barely acquaintances, at one end of this trench. I also imagine a faceless industry lackey at the other end holding a fountain pen and a contract waiting to be signed. Nobody can see what's printed on the contract. It's too far away, and besides, the shit stench is making everybody's eyes water. The lackey shouts to everybody that the first one to swim the trench gets to sign the contract. Everybody dives in the trench and they struggle furiously to get to the other end. Two people arrive simultaneously and begin wrestling furiously, clawing each other and dunking each other under the shit. Eventually, one of them capitulates, and there's only one contestant left. He reaches for the pen, but the Lackey says "Actually, I think you need a little more development. Swim again, please. Backstroke". And he does of course.

Every major label involved in the hunt for new bands now has on staff a high-profile point man, an "A & R" rep who can present a comfortable face to any prospective band. The initials stand for "Artist and Repertoire." because historically, the A & R staff would select artists to record music that they had also selected, out of an available pool of each. This is still the case, though not openly. These guys are universally young [about the same age as the bands being wooed], and nowadays they always have some obvious underground rock credibility flag they can wave.

Lyle Preslar, former guitarist for Minor Threat, is one of them. Terry Tolkin, former NY independent booking agent and assistant manager at Touch and Go is one of them. Al Smith, former soundman at CBGB is one of them. Mike Gitter, former editor of XXX fanzine and contributor to Rip, Kerrang and other lowbrow rags is one of them. Many of the annoying turds who used to staff college radio stations are in their ranks as well. There are several reasons A & R scouts are always young. The explanation usually copped-to is that the scout will be "hip to the current musical "scene." A more important reason is that the bands will intuitively trust someone they think is a peer, and who speaks fondly of the same formative rock and roll experiences. The A & R person is the first person to make contact with the band, and as such is the first person to promise them the moon. Who better to promise them the moon than an idealistic young turk who expects to be calling the shots in a few years, and who has had no previous experience with a big record company. Hell, he's as naive as the band he's duping. When he tells them no one will interfere in their creative process, he probably even believes it. When he sits down with the band for the first time, over a plate of angel hair pasta, he can tell them with all sincerity that when they sign with company X, they're really signing with him and he's on their side. Remember that great gig I saw you at in '85? Didn't we have a blast. By now all rock bands are wise enough to be suspicious of music industry scum. There is a pervasive caricature in popular culture of a portly, middle aged ex-hipster talking a mile-a-minute, using outdated jargon and calling everybody "baby." After meeting "their" A & R guy, the band will say to themselves and everyone else, "He's not like a record company guy at all! He's like one of us." And they will be right. That's one of the reasons he was hired.

These A & R guys are not allowed to write contracts. What they do is present the band with a letter of intent, or "deal memo," which loosely states some terms, and affirms that the band will sign with the label once a contract has been agreed on. The spookiest thing about this harmless sounding little memo, is that it is, for all legal purposes, a binding document. That is, once the band signs it, they are under obligation to conclude a deal with the label. If the label presents them with a contract that the band don't want to sign, all the label has to do is wait. There are a hundred other bands willing to sign the exact same contract, so the label is in a position of strength. These letters never have any terms of expiration, so the band remain bound by the deal memo until a contract is signed, no matter how long that takes. The band cannot sign to another laborer or even put out its own material unless they are released from their agreement, which never happens. Make no mistake about it: once a band has signed a letter of intent, they will either eventually sign a contract that suits the label or they will be destroyed.

One of my favorite bands was held hostage for the better part of two years by a slick young "He's not like a label guy at all," A & R rep, on the basis of such a deal memo. He had failed to come through on any of his promises [something he did with similar effect to another well-known band], and so the band wanted out. Another label expressed interest, but when the A & R man was asked to release the band, he said he would need money or points, or possibly both, before he would consider it. The new label was afraid the price would be too dear, and they said no thanks. On the cusp of making their signature album, an excellent band, humiliated, broke up from the stress and the many months of inactivity. There's this band. They're pretty ordinary, but they're also pretty good, so they've attracted some attention. They're signed to a moderate-sized "independent" label owned by a distribution company, and they have another two albums owed to the label. They're a little ambitious. They'd like to get signed by a major label so they can have some security you know, get some good equipment, tour in a proper tour bus -- nothing fancy, just a little reward for all the hard work. To that end, they got a manager. He knows some of the label guys, and he can shop their next project to all the right people. He takes his cut, sure, but it's only 15%, and if he can get them signed then it's money well spent. Anyways, it doesn't cost them anything if it doesn't work. 15% of nothing isn't much! One day an A & R scout calls them, says he's 'been following them for a while now, and when their manager mentioned them to him, it just "clicked." Would they like to meet with him about the possibility of working out a deal with his label? Wow. Big Break time. They meet the guy, and y'know what -- he's not what they expected from a label guy. He's young and dresses pretty much like the band does. He knows all their favorite bands. He's like one of them. He tells them he wants to go to bat for them, to try to get them everything they want. He says anything is possible with the right attitude.

They conclude the evening by taking home a copy of a deal memo they wrote out and signed on the spot. The A & R guy was full of great ideas, even talked about using a name producer. Butch Vig is out of the question-he wants 100 g's and three points, but they can get Don Fleming for $30,000 plus three points. Even that's a little steep, so maybe they'll go with that guy who used to be in David Letterman's band. He only wants three points. Or they can have just anybody record it (like Warton Tiers, maybe-- cost you 5 or 7 grand] and have Andy Wallace remix it for 4 grand a track plus 2 points. It was a lot to think about. Well, they like this guy and they trust him. Besides, they already signed the deal memo. He must have been serious about wanting them to sign. They break the news to their current label, and the label manager says he wants them to succeed, so they have his blessing. He will need to be compensated, of course, for the remaining albums left on their contract, but he'll work it out with the label himself.

Sub Pop made millions from selling off Nirvana, and Twin Tone hasn't done bad either: 50 grand for the Babes and 60 grand for the Poster Children-- without having to sell a single additional record. It'll be something modest. The new label doesn't mind, so long as it's recoupable out of royalties. Well, they get the final contract, and it's not quite what they expected. They figure it's better to be safe than sorry and they turn it over to a lawyer--one who says he's experienced in entertainment law and he hammers out a few bugs. They're still not sure about it, but the lawyer says he's seen a lot of contracts, and theirs is pretty good. They'll be great royalty: 13% [less a 1O% packaging deduction]. Wasn't it Buffalo Tom that were only getting 12% less 10? Whatever. The old label only wants 50 grand, an no points. Hell, Sub Pop got 3 points when they let Nirvana go. They're signed for four years, with options on each year, for a total of over a million dollars! That's a lot of money in any man's English. The first year's advance alone is $250,000. Just think about it, a quarter million, just for being in a rock band! Their manager thinks it's a great deal, especially the large advance. Besides, he knows a publishing company that will take the band on if they get signed, and even give them an advance of 20 grand, so they'll be making that money too. The manager says publishing is pretty mysterious, and nobody really knows where all the money comes from, but the lawyer can look that contract over too. Hell, it's free money. Their booking agent is excited about the band signing to a major. He says they can maybe average $1,000 or $2,000 a night from now on. That's enough to justify a five week tour, and with tour support, they can use a proper crew, buy some good equipment and even get a tour bus! Buses are pretty expensive, but if you figure in the price of a hotel room for everybody In the band and crew, they're actually about the same cost. Some bands like Therapy? and Sloan and Stereolab use buses on their tours even when they're getting paid only a couple hundred bucks a night, and this tour should earn at least a grand or two every night. It'll be worth it. The band will be more comfortable and will play better.

The agent says a band on a major label can get a merchandising company to pay them an advance on T-shirt sales! ridiculous! There's a gold mine here! The lawyer Should look over the merchandising contract, just to be safe. They get drunk at the signing party. Polaroids are taken and everybody looks thrilled. The label picked them up in a limo. They decided to go with the producer who used to be in Letterman's band. He had these technicians come in and tune the drums for them and tweak their amps and guitars. He had a guy bring in a slew of expensive old "vintage" microphones. Boy, were they "warm." He even had a guy come in and check the phase of all the equipment in the control room! Boy, was he professional. He used a bunch of equipment on them and by the end of it, they all agreed that it sounded very "punchy," yet "warm." All that hard work paid off. With the help of a video, the album went like hotcakes! They sold a quarter million copies! Here is the math that will explain just how fucked they are: These figures are representative of amounts that appear in record contracts daily. There's no need to skew the figures to make the scenario look bad, since real-life examples more than abound. income is bold and underlined, expenses are not.

Advance:	$ 250,000
Manager's cut:	$ 37,500
Legal fees:	$ 10,000
Recording Budget:	$ 150,000
Producer's advance:	$ 50,000
Studio fee:	$ 52,500
Drum Amp, Mic and Phase "Doctors":	$ 3,000
Recording tape:	$ 8,000
Equipment rental:	$ 5,000
Cartage and Transportation:	$ 5,000
Lodgings while in studio:	$ 10,000
Catering:	$ 3,000
Mastering:	$ 10,000
Tape copies, reference CDs, shipping tapes, misc. expenses:	$ 2,000
Video budget:	$ 30,000
Cameras:	$ 8,000
Crew:	$ 5,000
Processing and transfers:	$ 3,000
Off-line:	$ 2,000
On-line editing:	$ 3,000
Catering:	$ 1,000
Stage and construction:	$ 3,000
Copies, couriers, transportation:	$ 2,000
Director's fee:	$ 3,000
Album Artwork:	$ 5,000
Promotional photo shoot and duplication:	$ 2,000
Band fund:	$ 15,000
New fancy professional drum kit:	$ 5,000
New fancy professional guitars [2]:	$ 3,000
New fancy professional guitar amp rigs [2]:	$ 4,000
New fancy potato-shaped bass guitar:	$ 1,000
New fancy rack of lights bass amp:	$ 1,000
Rehearsal space rental:	$ 500
Big blowout party for their friends:	$ 500
Tour expense [5 weeks]:	$ 50,875
Bus:	$ 25,000
Crew [3]:	$ 7,500
Food and per diems:	$ 7,875
Fuel:	$ 3,000
Consumable supplies:	$ 3,500
Wardrobe:	$ 1,000
Promotion:	$ 3,000
Tour gross income:	$ 50,000
Agent's cut:	$ 7,500
Manager's cut:	$ 7,500
Merchandising advance:	$ 20,000
Manager's cut:	$ 3,000
Lawyer's fee:	$ 1,000
Publishing advance:	$ 20,000
Manager's cut:	$ 3,000
Lawyer's fee:	$ 1,000
Record sales:	250,000 @ $12 = $3,000,000
Gross retail revenue Royalty:	[13% of 90% of retail]: $ 351,000
Less advance:	$ 250,000
Producer's points:	[3% less $50,000 advance]: $ 40,000
Promotional budget:	$ 25,000
Recoupable buyout from previous label:	$ 50,000
Net royalty:	$ -14,000
Record company income:
Record wholesale price:	$6.50 x 250,000 = $1,625,000 gross income
Artist Royalties:	$ 351,000
Deficit from royalties:	$ 14,000
Manufacturing, packaging and distribution:	@ $2.20 per record: $ 550,000
Gross profit:	$ 7l0,000
The Balance Sheet: This is how much each player got paid at the end of the game.
Record company:	$ 710,000
Producer:	$ 90,000
Manager:	$ 51,000
Studio:	$ 52,500
Previous label:	$ 50,000
Agent:	$ 7,500
Lawyer:	$ 12,000
Band member net income each:	$ 4,031.25

The band is now 1/4 of the way through its contract, has made the music industry more than 3 million dollars richer, but is in the hole $14,000 on royalties. The band members have each earned about 1/3 as much as they would working at a 7-11, but they got to ride in a tour bus for a month. The next album will be about the same, except that the record company will insist they spend more time and money on it. Since the previous one never "recouped," the band will have no leverage, and will oblige. The next tour will be about the same, except the merchandising advance will have already been paid, and the band, strangely enough, won't have earned any royalties from their T-shirts yet. Maybe the T-shirt guys have figured out how to count money like record company guys. Some of your friends are probably already this fucked.

Steve Albini is an independent and corporate rock record producer most widely known for having produced Nirvana's "In Utero".

I wish I could be everywhere I want to be

2009-10-08T23:48:00.000-07:00

all at once

Some Thoughts about some music

2009-10-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

Beat Strings - Fang in Rain
Just found the lyric book to this and gave it a few listens. Some of the better abstract poetic lyrics I've ever read. Still ranking this among my favorite albums of all time.

Bouncing Souls - S/T
First song I ever sang in a practice was "Say Anything". The short tour we did with them is a highlight of my life. The diversity of songs on this album is great and I wish more punk bands around today could have that fun and adventurous spirit.

Lewd Acts - Black Eye Blues
Really getting into this. Tyler's vocals are intense and remind me of the guy from Leatherface on Steroids. I wish the track "Who Knew The West Coast Could Be So Cold" would have been a little more fully realized and not just an idea/transition type track. Anyways, this album is a ripper and has a true punk spirit to it. If I'm not mistaken Tyler Mate from Spanish Bombs throws down some vocals on this.

Touche Amore is on tour!!! Go see them!!!
www.myspace.com/toucheamore
http://toucheamore.blogspot.com

sharks keep moving

2009-10-04T01:39:00.000-07:00

Teenage Bottlerocket - Warning Device
Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonacologist
Tape Beatles - The Grand Delusion
Negativland - Helter Stupid

I Love Chicken

2009-10-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Now My Heart Is Full

2009-09-27T05:04:00.000-07:00

Goodbye L.A.

Culture. Alienation. Boredom. Despair.

2009-09-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

I saw the Manic Street Preachers last night for the first time ever. They exceeded all my expectations. After listening to their albums endlessly and looking at pictures of the band it was a thrill to see them in the flesh. James Dean Bradfield is an incredible guitar player and vocalist and had me captivated throughout the entire set. I can't say enough about how much I appreciate this bands existence and what they represent. Here's what I can remember of the set in no particular order...

Motorcycle Emptiness (opening song)
Let Robeson Sing
La Tristesse Durrera
From Despair to Where
Peeled Apples
Jackie Collins Existential Question Time
Send Away the Tigers
This Joke Sport Severed
Your Love Alone is Not Enough
You Stole the Sun From My Heart
If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next
Me and Stephen Hawking
Little Baby Nothing
Everything Must Go
Small Black Flowers that Grow in the Sky
This is Yesterday
Faster
Motown Junk
You Love Us
A Design for life (last song)

Goin' Out on a Friday Night...

2009-09-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

...We know how to live!

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

2009-09-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

Were so good last night!

Jim Carroll R.I.P

2009-09-13T23:33:00.001-07:00

I look out on the big field...on the big field...as it opens...like the cover of an old bible...

Everything is Changing Again

2009-09-07T01:40:00.000-07:00

Manic Street Preachers - Journal For Plague Lovers
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - S/T
Slowdive - Souvlaki
Jonathan Richman - Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild
At the Drive In - In/Casino/Out
Lewd Acts - Black Eye Blues

August, 16th 1977

2009-08-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

Rest in Peace.

Trapped Under Ice - Secrets of the World

2009-08-15T18:31:00.001-07:00

Everything I was hoping it would be and more.

www.reaper-records.com

Sunny Land

2009-08-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

Slim Harpo
Elmore James
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
Son House
Teenage Head

I wish I could go to this!

2009-08-06T02:35:00.000-07:00

Why am I up this late?

Today I jammed the TEENAGE HEAD self titled record pretty much all day.

G'nite.

Cool'n Out

2009-08-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

Reading:
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
and revisiting The Outlaw Bible of American Literature

Listening:
Phil Alvin with Sun Ra and His Arkestra and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Unsung Stories
Yusef Lateef - Eastern Sounds
Charles Mingus - Mingus Mingus Mingus
Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery - Dynamic Duo
Cannonball Adderly - Somethin Else
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

Diggin' Deep

2009-07-31T21:59:00.000-07:00

Ravi Shankar - Live at the Monterey International Pop Festival 1967

Django Reinhardt - The Best Of

Charlie Christian - Genius of the Electric Guitar

This Town is Too Hot

2009-07-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

Quicksand - Slip
Quicksand - Manic Compression
Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People, Lazers Do
Thee Midniters - "Whittier Blvd"
Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang

TheWorldTurnsToADesertWhileYouPrayForRain

2009-07-23T16:18:00.000-07:00

Playlist:
Mighty Diamonds - Live at Dub Club
Dillinger Four - Every Fuckin' Album
Samiam - You Are Freaking Me Out

Can't wait to get my hands on new records from Trapped Under Ice and Death Before Dishonor tomorrow night.

See ya in the pit...

Heat Stroke Blues

2009-07-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

http://heatstrokeblues.blogspot.com/

When the right time comes...

2009-07-22T17:23:00.001-07:00

Joe Coffee - When the Fabric Don't Fit the Frame

2009-07-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

This album is fucking awesome and you should check it out. Features Paul Bearer (ex-Sheer Terror) on vocals. Great Melodic Rock and Roll with wild gravely Vox and some truly great lyrics. Recommended for fans of Hot Water Music, Dillinger Four, The Hold Steady. Would love to see this come out on Vinyl and would love to see this live.

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

2009-07-19T23:11:00.001-07:00

Saturday Night:
Funky Sole DJ's

Sunday Morning:
Hank Williams

"I'm old enough to know the score, but I'm young enough to want more more more."
-The Blasters

I took a trip down memory lane

2009-07-13T23:13:00.000-07:00

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colors
Cream - Disraeli Gears
Patti Smith - Radio Ethiopia
Sid, Ben & Brooks live in St. Anthony, Iowa
Screaming Blue Messiahs - Gun Shy, Peel Sessions & Bikini Red

See ya in the pit...

2009-06-26T21:04:00.001-07:00

Keeping The Faith

2009-06-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

Playlist:
Paintbox - Singing Shouting Crying
Flower Travelin Band - Satori
Man Or Astro Man

Dave Bullock Photography

2009-06-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

http://eecue.com

Check out his stuff. I especially like the six part "June Gloom" series focusing on the L.A. river, Graffiti, Scrapyards, Bridges, Etc.

smooth criminal on beat breaks...

2009-06-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

never put me in your box if your shit eats tapes.

Turn Your Volume Up!!

2009-06-14T21:44:00.001-07:00

Just added music to The Manic Times. Enjoy.

Saturday's Kid

2009-06-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

Cock Sparrer - Here We Stand
Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall
Aggrolites - IV
Spanish Bombs - Brown Bag, S/T, Beasts: Man Is God
Los Lobos - By The Light of the Moon

Retaliate - Record Release Show

2009-06-10T21:47:00.001-07:00

Family

2009-06-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

Photo by The Motorcycle Boy

Next of Kin to the Wayward Wind

2009-06-04T23:03:00.000-07:00

playlist:
Gene Vincent - The Country Side
Rancid - Let the Dominoes Fall
Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio Hour
National Public Radio
Patsy Cline - Showcase
The Trouble - Nobody Laughs Anymore
Cruel Hand & Cro Mags - Live in Anaheim and Hollywood

Secrets of the World

2009-05-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

ENTER THE DRAGON!! Saturday 5/30

2009-05-23T00:39:00.000-07:00

Ramp Party & Show in Echo Park...Friday 5/29

2009-05-23T00:32:00.000-07:00

Let's skate!

www.myspace.com/notthegovernment

TRAPPED UNDER ICE - "Stay Cold"

2009-05-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

I listened to this over and over again tonight and it's hell of a record. The sound is comparable to early Sick of it All, Madball, Cro-Mags etc. That being said, the songwriting is very creative and the musicianship is top notch...which is rare for bands working within that framework. Every single song has at least one "oh Shit!!!" moment that makes you want to lose your shit and break something...and often times you don't even see it coming. The vocals are great...creative phrasing, tons of style and a controlled restrained frustration that you can't fake... no matter how hard a million suburban dorkwads may try. My favorite lyrical moments are as follows...

"I feel the worst things in my soul, and if I never make it home tonight the streets have swallowed me whole" from the song -HALF A PERSON

"because the cost of drugs outweighs, The supply of the jobs, and the minimum wage, and we still want more, murder in the streets of baltimore" from the song -STREET LIGHTS

The song STREET LIGHTS as a whole is lyrically great as a portrait of their crime and violence riddled city of Baltimore. I spent a month there a while back...so I was get visuals in my head throughout the song.

You guys now that I'm always listening to some weird shit and rarely go out of my way to recommend a hardcore records...so Go buy a copy of this one or go see em in a city near you. Their new LP "Secrets of the World" is coming out this summer.

www.reaper-records.com
www.myspace.com/underdaice

Excuse Me, while I do the boogaloo

2009-04-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

This is what I've been jamming, motherfuckers.
Grandmaster Flash - "The Adventures of Flash on the Wheels of Steel"
Rufus Thomas - "Itch and Scratch"
GG Allin - "Dead or Alive" "Carmalita" & "When I Die"
Fania All Stars - Latin. Soul. Rock.
Ray Barretto - Senor 007
Warzone - Don't Forget the Struggle, Don't Forget The Streets
Abyssinians - Satta Massanga
Quick Fix - Rat Race 7"
V/A - Sun Rockabillies

the need for speed.

2009-04-25T19:40:00.000-07:00

Today I woke up and went to Echo Park to bomb some massive hills with my friend Clayton. There is no better feeling than going fast as hell...feeling the concrete through my wheels through my trucks through my deck into my feet and all through my body. Complete freedom.

GHOST DANCE

2009-04-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

6.9.09

2009-04-23T21:41:00.000-07:00

PLAY THAT FUNKY FIRE!!!

6.2.09

2009-04-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Here comes the summertime!

DeeJay 810

2009-04-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

www.myspace.com/bossdeejay810
Add Me!

ALL RATTLE AND DUST

2009-04-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

www.myspace.com/allrattleanddust

Some of the best music you will ever hear.

If you don't like it, move to Russia

2009-04-14T18:09:00.001-07:00

Waterloo Sunset

2009-04-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

Drinking in the Desert

2009-04-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

I took a weekend trip to Arizona to work on some songwriting with Chris with the hopes of getting a new band together in the near future. Had a great time and came up with some great stuff.

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free

2009-04-08T20:10:00.000-07:00

A View from The Cabin

2009-04-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

My friend T.Q. is full of suprises. His most recent was his purchase of a 60- 80 year old all-wood sailboat for 200 dollars. Let's just say it's a fixer-upper. Anyways, we took it out today and started learning. We got the sail up and we're cruising along pretty good for a while and we made it back safe and dry...so i think that's pretty good. We stayed in the bay of the marina...not quite ready for the open sea. No motor yet, so paddling in and out of the marina where we were too close to other boats to have the sail up and man, my arms are burning right now. Lots of people on giant expensive boats we're looking at us like we were crazy. Some even took pictures. They probably think we are rad and wish they could be like us.

Hey Mom...

2009-04-02T23:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks for sending me all those records from back home!

Playlist:
The 5th Dimension - SToned Soul Picnic
nina simone - Sings the Blues
9 Shocks Terror - Zen and the art of beating your ass
New Bomb Turks - Information Highway Revisited
Midnight Oil - Diesel and Dust
Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood - Nancy and Lee
Kinship - S/T 7"
Conniption Fit - Bombs Away 7"
Trapped Under Ice - Stay Cold 7"
Joe Strummer - Earthquake Weather
Rolling Stones - Decembers Children, Aftermath, Between The Buttons, Out of Our Heads
Ken Boothe - A Man And His Hits

I have been reunited with most of my record collection after 8 months and I am a happy man.
Just starting to dig in. Lots more music talkin' to come...some more in depth thoughts when I find the time.

Bronson Banks: Boneless

2009-03-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Down the drain!

Playlist

2009-03-19T19:18:00.000-07:00

Cock Sparrer - Here We Stand
Operation Ivy - Hectic EP & Energy LP
Ray Barretto - Senor 007
Prince Buster - FABulous Greatest Hits
Touche Amore - LP
Rotting Out 7"
Adolescents - S/T
Zero Boys - Vicious Circle
Funkadelic - Let's Take it To the Stage
Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio (thanks cam!)

L.A.H.C.

2009-03-19T19:13:00.001-07:00

Touche Amore and Rotting Out fucking rule. Good to have some rad local bands to get wild to. Someone send me a picture of the giant hole in the wall of the garage caused by this show!

Skatin'

2009-03-19T19:09:00.001-07:00

Highland Park Pool. Photo by Mitch!

Last TWo Nights...

2009-02-28T23:24:00.000-08:00

Went to this last night. The Cool & Deadly: This band is amazing and should be 10x bigger than they are right now! I think I just got lucky enough to catch them early in the game and they will be blowing up soon. Everyone should check out their new album RUDEBOY'S REVENGE or try to catch them live. NYC heads that are sleeping on this band are insane! get with it! I wish they were based here in L.A.

This little bar was packed the fuck out!! A great sweaty crowded night. I love HC.

CHALICE IN THE PALACE

2009-02-23T23:50:00.000-08:00

Someday soon I will put something here more interesting than a playlist. But not today. I think I am talking to myself anyways. Just always dig looking back at playlists so I'm gonna keep throwing em down.

Wilson Pickett - Greatest Hits
Los Lobos - How will the wolf Survive?
Los Lobos - Kiko
Cal Tjader - Latin Kicks
Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse
U Roy - Dread in A Babylon
William Elliot Whitmore - Animals in the Dark and Live in Los Angeles
Sioux City Pete and the Beggars - Live in Los Angeles
The Cool and Deadly - Rudeboy's Revenge
El Chicano - Instrumentals
Genius/GZA - Liquid Swords
Wu Tang Clan - 36 Chambers
Mobb Deep - The Infamous
GhostFace - Supreme Clientelle
Gangstarr - Moment of Truth
Repo Man Soundtrack

SEVEN SONGS

2009-02-02T23:24:00.000-08:00

Johnny Thunders "Pipeline"
Robert Plant and Allison Krauss "Gone Gone Gone"
Skids "into the valley"
Sick of It All "Locomotive"
Naked Raygun "I Don't Know"
SubHumans "Dying World"
Pogues "The Sunnyside of the Street"

Recent Jammings

2008-12-23T19:53:00.001-08:00

Killing Joke - S/T
45 Grave - Sleep in Safety
Joy Division - An Evening with Joy Division (live in amsterdam)
Crosby, Stills and Nash
A Touch of Hysteria - 1982 Demo
The Cool and Deadly - Rudeboy's Revenge
The Good, The Bad & The Queen - S/T

This Week

2008-12-10T23:55:00.000-08:00

m83 - Saturdays = Youth
Benga - Diary of An Afro Warrior
Sinead O'Connor - The Lion and the Cobra
Mose Allison - "Young Man's Blues"
Son House - "John The Revelator"

I'M LOST IN A WORLD BEYOND THE LOST CITY...
...I'M LOOKING FOR A BONE...
AND I CAN'T FIND ONE.

Joe Strummer - BBC Radio Show "London Calling"

2008-12-03T15:01:00.000-08:00

I-tunes has all of Joe Strummer's BBC Radio Show for free download. You'd be a damned fool not to go grab these and spend some time with our dear departed Punk Rock Warlord and his eclectic record collection.

On the Turntable...

2008-12-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

Cold Heat (compilation of heavy funk rarities)
Nina Simone - Silk and Soul
Gil Scott Heron - Conversations at 125th and Lenox
Chuck Berry - One Dozen Berries
Muddy Waters - Rare and Unreleased
Rites Of Spring - S/T
Fugazi - 13 Songs & Red Medicine
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
The Holy Ghostriders - Fast Track Heartattack
Deathcycle - Prelude to Tyranny
Prince Buster - Wreck a Pum Pum
Cruel Hand - Prying Eyes

Devil's Night 2008

2008-11-02T01:43:00.001-07:00

Feeling Good

2008-10-31T01:27:00.000-07:00

through the light of the world.
through the night of the world.

Swallowing Culture

2008-10-30T23:51:00.000-07:00

Being a longtime reader of THRASHER magazine...I was more than excited to see my friends TRASH TALK featured in the mag. If you are a person with too much energy, pent up aggression or perhaps you just harbor a general hatred for the world...you just might love their new S/T album and chances are they will be your town soon. www.trashtalkhc.com

I have become a regular reader of Kris Missions blog WORLD MOVES FAST. Here you will find the latest news including what he had for breakfast, new sneakers for sneakerheads and tons more awesomely irrelevant news. www.worldmovesfast.org

I have found an amazing bookstore in Los Feliz not far from my house called SKYLIGHT BOOKS. www.skylightbooks.com they also have a blog you can read. If you live in this area, stop by as their anniversary party is this weekend and they will be having free treats and good deals on books. They have a storefront specifically for graphic novels and picture books where I picked up Tim Lane's graphic novel ABANDONED CARS. I also finally got a copy of Ferlengetti's poetry collection, A CONEY ISLAND OF THE MIND.

Do you enjoy the sound of the Hammond B3 organ and need some new tunes to relax to? Then look no further than JIMMY SMITH's classic BACK AT THE CHICKEN SHACK. I've been working like a madman and also trying to get myself into shape and this record helps me wind down every night for the last week or so. Goes great with a glass of cheap red wine.

Check out DEATH/TRAITORS new fall line at www.deathtraitors.com These clothes will get you laid and make your parents mad. Two rights don't make a wrong.

Famous Lithuanian motherfucker MAXIM RYAZANSKY has a new photo feature up and you'd be a fool not to dig this talented young man's brutally real photographs. www.maximryazansky.com

SPIDERGHOST PRESSGANG up in Norcal is always releasing good vinyl and zines for us outsiders. www.spiderghost.net

Fans of American Hardcore Punk Music might want to purchase a copy of a this new book...RADIO SILENCE: A Visual History of American Hardcore Music. www.radiosilencebook.com They made it possible for me to see the quasi CRO MAGS live in L.A. Thanks guys.

DILLINGER FOUR - CIVIL WAR came out last week. The long wait was worth it. These guys may like to clown around and drink a lot, but they write some of the best lyrics I have ever read in my life. So many people sleep on this band. The LP comes with a card for a free digital download.

Also out now on vinyl....FUCKED UP - THE CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE. This one also comes with a free download card. THis is a serious package 2 x 180 gram Gatefold LP with a spine so fat, you can read the name of the record from halfway across the room.

I finally picked up a copy of the first FUN BOY THREE record (S/T) and all I can say is wow. The creativity and catchiness of this record is unreal. How did this one get lost in time? I never hear anyone talk about this band. Anyone else into it?

www.rickygervais.com is where you can keep up with my favorite British Funnyman, Ricky Gervais. His new movie GHOST TOWN is in theater's now and getting rave reviews everywhere. KARL PILKINGTON HAS A HEAD LIKE A FUCKING ORANGE.

Damian of THE EXPLOSION and PANIC is doing a radio show and the kid has got real good taste so you should check it out. it's called PEER PRESSURE... http://www.eastvillageradio.com/modules.php?name=evrshow&showid=40

My favorite comic book BLUE MONDAY shall resume after years of waiting this NOVEMBER 19th with a new series entitled "THIEVES LIKE US". I plan picking this up, stopping at 7-11 for a giant slurpee and then finding a tree to read it under about 10 times over and then getting really pissed that I have to wait so long for the next issue. I also got word straight from the artist herself, CHYNNA CLUGSTON, that her assumed ill-fated comic STRANGETOWN that mysteriously disappeared after just one issue will see the light of day in the form of a Graphic Novel. www.onipress.com

That's all I got for now, folks.

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

Don't forget to go cast a vote for John "Blinky" "ShortArms" McCain. We Can't afford another four years of a president with regular length arms and normal blinking intervals.
My name is Jeffrey Eaton, and I approve this message.

Three More Reasons to Love L.A.

2008-10-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

1. Wednesday - CroMags / Violation
2. Thursday - Aggrolites @ The Roxy
3. Friday - Blackeyed Soul Club @ Medusa Lounge

Tomorrow These Albums Drop:
Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

Next Tuesday:
Dillinger Four - Civil War

the movie called THE WIZARD

2008-10-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

is soo good.

"california" -jimmy

"I love the powerglove." -lucas

"put it on the passline sparky, the PASSLINE!" -Hailey

I had a dubbed vhs of that and used to watch it all the time. thank you to the person who commented and reminded me where I knew that song from.

I went to Rancid / TSOL tonight.

Jack Grisham is a giant.

Death is the only deadline.

Absolute Beginner

2008-09-30T01:36:00.000-07:00

I worked late and work early and need to be sleeping but it just doesn't seem to be coming to me tonight...so I thought I would write a brief update of my little life.

I quit Juice Magazine after two weeks. I won't go into the nitty gritty details...but it just wasn't right for me. In a lot of ways I pulled the rug out from under myself, but if I know anything it's to trust my instincts and keep my ideals.

A long and horrible job hunt followed this. Does anyone else find job hunting to be a very demeaning task? Please sir, let me do something any child with half a brain could do for a wage too small to live off of.

I am working some menial type jobs...at an Italian Restaurant as well as a clothing store...just some things to pay the rent and put food in my belly. I am a fan of the food as well as the clothes...so I'm content with patching together a living between the two for the time being.

After many topsy turvy weeks...i finally have a solid place to rest my head at a great house in East Hollywood (Thai Town) with two great young ambitious guys. There is a record player and no TV in the living room and I am just as happy as a pig in shit. I can reach outside my bedroom window and touch a big tall palm tree, which is very exciting for me. I am also a stones throw from the site where Charles Bukowski spent his hollywood days. Check the poem "hard times on Carlton Way"

Music and Writing projects are in the works but don't hold your breaths on anything because I am going to be taking my sweet sweet time and doing just what I want to do to entertain and challenge myself....so you may think the end results are crap anyways!~

Skating earthquaked sidewalks is a blast. I'm a cracked sidewalk surfer.

Live Your Dreams. Death is the Only Deadline.

MUSICAL Soundtrack to runaway days and runaway nights in Los Angeles:
Opals - "does it matter?" - this is the most played song in the living room! everyone loves it!
U Roy - Version Galore LP - The most played LP in the living room. Deep, Chill and Essential.
Prince Far I - Under Heavy Manners LP - Voice like thunder!
Max Romeo - War Inna Babylon LP
Real Life - "Send me an Angel" (can someone tell me what 80's movie this song was in?)
P.I.L. - "Rise"
INXS - "Don't Change"
Seaweed - "Start With"
John Holt - "hooligan"
Alton Ellis - "I'm still in love with you"
Pure Filth / SMOG / L.A. Dubstep
Fun Boy Three
Santo and Johnny
Surf Instrumentals
The Moth - Live at King King (Storytelling competition...check out the podcast)
Part Time Punks Radio Show
Fania All Stars - Live LP (Brazil!)
Brooks Strause - The Misanthrope and His Doubtful Faith
Fishbone - S/T
Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Bug feat. Warrior Queen - Live!
Percy Sledge - "At the Dark End of the Street"
Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life (this is so goddamned good. Hats off. NME cover!)
Velvet Underground & Nico
Middle Class - Out of Vogue 7"
Spanish Bombs - Beasts: Man is God
Ben Driscoll - "Sinkin my Lincoln" and "Long Shallow Dive"

L.A. Playlist

2008-08-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Tapper Zukie - Live in Los Angeles
DJ sounds live from Dub Club, Rocksteady Lounge, Punky Reggae Party, Funky Sole
Spanish Bombs - Beasts: Man Is God & Live at Sound and Fury
The Cool and Deadly - EP and Live in Los Angeles
Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life
Ceremony - Still Nothing Moves You
Trash Talk - S/T
Pregnant - 2 song demo
Annihilation Time - III
Cro Mags - Age of Quarrel
Wanda Jackson - Best of

Marshalltown to Los Angeles

2008-07-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone...
Just wanted to let you all know that I made it to L.A. and things are going great so far. I packed up my little car with the few things I need and did the 30 hour drive all by my lonesome. It's something I've dreamed of for a long time and it has not been disappointing yet. Right now I am looking out onto the city skyline from the Juice HQ in the Hollywood Hills. I am jumping in headfirst and working hard. Trying my hardest to believe in myself and not be overwhelmed in an overwhelming place. The rumours are true...these people drive like fucking lunatics. But I have already met some great people amongst the crazies and glitz and glamor types.
If you've got a band or a record label with a recent release I am handling the music reviews section so check out the website and send your stuff over to me so I can hear what you guys are creating and possibly get you a review in the mag.

Love and Respect,
Jeffrey

2008-06-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone. So I will be moving to California in a few weeks and I am so excited about it. I am going to be working for the magazine up above there. www.juicemagazine.com I was planning on moving out there and just winging the whole thing but this seems really promising so hopefully everything will work out. For me, life is all about following your passions no matter what it means. Can I hear a hell yeah!? It's funny to think about my dad taking me to buy my first skateboard nearly 20 years ago...I'm still not too good on the god damn thing...but it's like you get bit by that bug and you just can't shake the obsession. Anyways, if you do the prayer thing...pray for my small town ass in the big city...haha

"I am a skateboarder and a punk rocker"
-Duane Peters

The Playlist:
Spanish Bombs EP (They are back in action, you know!)
Alice Cooper - "generation landslide"
Trash Talk - Plagues 7"
Skids - Scared to Dance LP
New Bomb Turks - Information Highway Revisited LP
Christian Death - Only Theatre of Pain LP

CAN'T WAIT
for the new TRASH TALK LP
and the new DEATHCYCLE LP
I am gonna review them both on here as soon as i get my hands on them.

Over and Out...
Jeffrey

Back To The World

2008-05-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

So the band is over...big fuckin' deal! Seriously though, those six years were very interesting and i would change a goddamn thing. I have no reservations or bad feelings about leaving it behind.
Thanks to everyone who came out to the last show. It was one of the best nights of my life...but also one of the strangest. There were at least a hundred people in that room that I could have spent the whole night talking to...my head was spinning the whole time trying to at least say hi to everyone and trying to take it all in. 700 people at the moose lodge in Marshalltown, Iowa. DIY. As crowded as it was I felt no violence, no hatred and no snotty attitudes. We brought it all back home that night and words won't do it any justice. Thank you to everyone who was a part of it.

The tour was fucking rad. I don't feel like going into all the details right now. There are tons of live pictures at www.myspace.com/modernlifeiswar

Onto more important issues...I finally made my long awaited visit to Graceland and Stax Soul Museum in Memphis as well as Apollo Theatre in Harlem. I also bought a fuckload of records on tour. If you are into jamaican music...you have to pay a visit to Deadly Dragon Sound in Chinatown NYC...incredible amount of great records in a tiny shop with an extremely knowledgeable staff. Also support Reptilian Records and Celebrated Summer records in baltimore, Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis and Ear X-tasy in Louisville. Here's the rundown...

Angelic Upstarts - Never 'Ad Nothin 7"

Bad Manners - Ska'n'B LP

Harry J Allstars - Liquidator LP

Trash Talk - Plagues 7"

Skull Snaps - LP

Congos - Heart of the Congos LP

Sinead O Connor - The Lion and the Cobra

David Axelrod - Songs of Innocence LP

David Axelrod - Songs of Experience LP

Skids - Wide Open 12" EP

Midnight Oil - Diesel and Dust LP

V/A - Soul Feeling LP

V/A - Soul Explosion (stax) LP

Keith Hudson and Chuckles - "Satan Side" / Don D Jr. - "evil spirit" - 7"

Cornell Campbell - "Let the Music Keep on Playing" / "My Baby Just Cares" - 7"

...funny thing just happened. I heard a HUGE SMAAAASH out my bedroom window...heard angie scream at me and ran down the stairs and onto main street and see a car smashed into into the back of the mliw van. His car was taken away on a towtruck and is definitely FUCKED. the van, is probably also fucked. the kid was 17 and pretty rattled. He had two girls with him and one of em had an AFI shirt on. AAAnd...back to the records list..which is almost done...

prince buster - "prince of peace" / "faith" - 7"

Trapped Under Ice - "stay cold" 7"

Dead Tired - 7"

Rites of Spring - "all through a life" 7"

Supersuckers - "born with a tail" 7"

Babyshambles - "you talk" / "revelations" - 7"

Deep Sleep - "manic euphoria" 7"

Deep Sleep - "you're screwed" 7"

Iowa Beef Experience - "trailercourt" b/w..the best songtitle ever... "dope smoking rednecks from cedar rapids trapped in an alternative reality" (produced by steve albini) 7"

And while we're on the subject of records...I am going to start a records/music blog very soon. I will be strictly talking about music that I love or am interested in or excited about. I am not a music critic and don't wanna be one. I will put a post here when i get it started.

Another thing...Amongst other post band-life projects...I am starting a management and booking company called DEVIL'S CORNFIELD. I will be helping out some kick-ass iowa motherfuckers like Beat Strings, Brooks Strause and Sioux City Pete and the Beggars and Helmer as well as doing some booking for some bands on Organized Crime records out of Chicago. The reason why i mention this here....I am looking for someone to make a website for me. I do not have the necessary knowledge/skills. I am HOPING to find someone who would be willing to do it for free or cheap. Maybe someone who is in school for it or looking to build a portfolio? I would of course cover the costs. I just need something real simplistic and functional. If you are this person....please get in touch!!!

Ok...so since the dinner guest thing got so much response. 1 dream show. Up to 6 bands/musicians...but it can only be one if you want. There is no time period restriction.

Mine goes down in a small smoke filled bar in iowa with a small stage on a hot summer night. I am 16 years old and the lineup is....

The Clash (have I ever told you that I think that Paul Simonon in his prime was one of the sexiest rock and rollers of all time?)
Robert Johnson (not many people got to experience this)

Screamin' Jay Hawkins (you know this crazy voodoo man can put on quite a show)

The Ramones (obvious)

The Stooges (iggy would cut himself with glass and locals drinking at the bar would be yelling "faggot" at him)

Nina Simone (..that voice.)

oh fuck this...this game is too hard. There are about 10 more acts i feel like i can't leave off the list. I originally was going to say 3 bands...but 6 is the lowest i can possibly go.

you wanna get extensive? OK, i ain't scared. setlist time. what songs do you have to hear that night?

THE CLASH

I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.

Complete Control

Career Opportunites

Hate and War

white man in the hammersmith palais

the call up

bankrobber

police and theives

Garageland

London Calling

Rudie Can't Fail

Spanish Bombs

Lost in the Supermarket

The Guns of Brixton
The Card Cheat

I'm not down
Train in Vain

In the Pouring Rain

Stay Free

All the Young Punks

Safe European Home

Charlie Don't Surf

Know your rights

should i stay or should I go

Red Angel Dragnet

Straight to Hell

Ghetto Defendent

Innoculated City

Death is a Star

ROBERT JOHNSON

Cross Road Blues

Walkin' Blues

Come on in my kitchen

Terraplane Blues

Love in Vain

Hellhound on my trail

Ramblin on my mind

Stop Breakin' down blues

Last Fair Deal Gone Down

THE RAMONES

today your love, tomorrow the world

blitzkrieg bop

cretin hop

Now I wanna be a good boy

I just wanna have something to do

bad brain

it's not my place (in the 9 to 5 world)

pet semetary

Something to beleive in

I wanna live

R.A.M.O.N.E.S.

Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment

California Sun

Now I wanna sniff some Glue

She's the One

Judy is a Punk

Sheena is a punk rocker

Why is it always this way?

beat on the brat

pinhead

rock and roll high school

rockaway beach

teenage lobotomy

surfin bird

NINA SIMONE

Mississippi Goddamn

Funkier than a mosquitos tweeter

save me

The Pusher

Mr. Bojangles

I loves you porgy

I put a spell on you

Four Women

Pirate Jenny

Break Down and Let it all out

Don't let me be misunderstood

THE STOOGES

I Wanna Be Your Dog

No Fun
(the entire Funhouse Album)

Search and Destroy

Gimme Danger

Rich Bitch

Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell

I need somebody

SCREAMIN JAY

I put a spell on you

I hear voices

I love paris

Frenzy

You Made Me Love You

Constipation Blues

Feast of the Mau Mau

Do you Really Love Me?

Alligator Wine

Little Demon

I gotta work early tomorrow. Over and out.

Just a playlist.

2008-03-05T21:23:00.001-08:00

I've got the iowa winter fucking blues. ready for spring. ready to skate. ready for tour.

Suicide - S/T
...if you stand outside on a windy winter day listening to this it's scary as hell. Everyone should at least hear this. One of the weirdest punk records if not the weirdest. redundant electronic pulsing that is almost calming with detached cold commentary and storytelling that jumps into characters for breif moments/screams. Frankie Teardrop is a fucking unreal song.
Suicidal Tendencies - S/T
...I think "i want more" is my favorite on here. I like the melodic chorus. This is a feel good record and makes me want to wear neon t-shirts and skate a pool. I don't have a neon shirt or a pool to skate.
Dangerhouse Records volumes 1 and 2
..."trouble at the cup" is a fucking crazy song. i love it. the intro and outtro to "survive" by bags is killer. Lots of raw and creative stuff here.
The Stooges - Funhouse
this is a record that i think of as being HEAVY. I think young kids into shitty metal, hardcore or screamo stuff that describe something as being heavy don't know what that word means when it comes to music. The riffs and the way the band plays makes this heavy. It has nothing to do with downtuning, digital recording tricks, 10 amps or any of that shit. This is by far my favorite stooges record as a whole. My favorite stooges song is "I wanna be your dog".
Joykiller - S/T
I think this record never really got noticed but i really like it. It's jack grisham from TSOL and there is kind of that horror punk vibe but much more open and romantic. It's just a really cool record and i never run into anyone that knows it or likes it. I see copies of this on vinyl for cheap everywhere. Buy one and check it out.
Spoon
I think i like these guys. they are so simple.

I like simple music. I think that music and skateboarding are the same. Doing cool tricks that are difficult to do doesn't really matter if you don't have style, true meaning and true aggression.
Flying V's suck. Small wheels suck.

just songs:
Leadbelly - Goodnight, Irene
R.E.M. - losing my religion
Big Country - In a big country
Gun Club - Run through the Jungle
Robyn Hitchcock - I often dream of trains
Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray - Citizens Bop
Bobby Rydell - Volare
Nico - Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
Cranberries - Dreams
Patti Smith - Because the Night
Paul Simon - Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard
Sweet - Teenage Rampage
Alice Cooper - Generation Landslide

I can't wait to....
hear the new Deathcycle record.
dig sioux city pete and the beggars live.
dig old scratch revival singers live.

I think i am regressing. All i can think about is music and skateboarding. I used to think about what career i might do someday and other serious things. I need to build a launch ramp. Why is old man winter fucking with me? All i wanted was a sunny dry day and he wouldn't give it to me. He said "you're on drugs" "no i'm not, i just wanna skate."

Juice Magazine is the only good skateboarding magazine.

Wax Poetics is my favorite magazine to learn about new music. I like Mojo but they devote too much space to artists and bands that everyone already knows about.

1 in every 100 americans is behind bars. I saw that on the front page of the paper and had to do a double take.

My mind is shit right now.
I like your comments. If you are out there reading my nonsense let me know. My question to you is...name three people you would want to invite to a dinner and drinks. Past or present.

Mine:
Ira Glass (must be the best conversationalist ever)
Jean Seberg (just would love to meet her)
Cresa Watson (this would feel very mysterious! i don't even know if she's black or white.)

And yes, i would actually pick these people over jesus and ghandi and everything.

AND ON THE DANCEFLOOR BROKEN GLASS...
Jeff

The Chase is better than the Catch

2008-02-21T22:25:00.009-08:00

Burn that motherfucking piano to the ground. The snow and pigeon shit is melting and dripping from the steel framework of the gymnasium ceiling where country boys used to play basketball. Jerry Lee Lewis is sitting sedated in his easy chair and me and my friends are rocking and rolling.

soon...Modern Life Is War will be no more. The last tour is March 28th to April 26th. My head is spinning but i feel confident that this is the right thing to do. There are decisive moments in life and sometimes they just hit you. If the long hard road is the one your heart tells you to follow and you listen it will define you one way. If you take the easy way cause it's the easy way that will define you in a different way. I am a long ways from finished and in many ways i feel like i have just begun.

Reading:

What is the What

Lipstick Traces

Nausea

digging:

The life of Joe Lewis

Jean Michel Basquiat

Salvador Dali

watching:

Bonjour Tristesse

Eastern Promises

Jamming:

Rich Kids - "ghosts of princes in towers"

The Clash - Hell W10

US Bombs - Live

English Beat - Live

Una Mae Carlisle - "Oh, I'm Evil"

Ethel Waters - "organ grinder blues"

Valaida Snow - "caravan"

Chuck Berry - "havana moon"

Billy Bragg and Wilco - Mermaid Avenue

T-rex - Electric Warrior LP

This American Life (national public radio)

2007-11-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

So I got a text from my friend Joe Hardcore with a link to his blog. It motivated me to start writing on here again. Check out his shit! www.joehardcore.net That Mid-EVIL fighting stuff he does is wild.

Anyways...
It's been a crazy year of writing, recording and touring. For now I am back in Iowa working and getting my shit together and spending some quality time with my family.

I am digging some awesome music. I got into some classic country that I really love. Find these songs if you are curious...

Tennessee Ernie Ford - "Sixteen Tons" (This song is so good. Wow.)
Hank Snow - "I've Been Everywhere" "Moving On" "Ninety Miles An Hour (down a dead end street)"
Kitty Wells - "Heartbreak U.S.A." "Making Believe"
Brenda Lee - "I'm Sorry"
Tammy Wynette - "Stand by Your Man"
Marty Robbins - "el paso" "ghost riders in the sky"
Hank WIlliams - "lost highway"
Eddy Arnold - "make the world go away"

Band News:
+MLIW is in the new spin magazine (with Bruce Springsteen and some goofball on the cover) we are in the "top ten songs to download" for F.T.S.P. along with Lil' Wayne and some other cool cats. Pick up a copy! Or don't!
+Lots of people seem to like our new album MIDNIGHT IN AMERICA. but apparently not many people actually bought it. Go buy one ya fucking jerks! The layout is next level by Iowa's own QOJAK. And it's got lyrics. And it sounds better on a stereo than on your laptop!

Hmm..what else. It's almost bedtime.

Some Great Shows I saw this Year...
Career Criminal (awesome streetpunk band from texas. with Iron Cross at a Roadhouse Saloon outside San Antonio.
Billy Bragg (mark that one off my list. He was fantastic.)
Social Distortion (first time I ever saw them. great great show.)
Against Me

Ok. more soon. goodnight.

Jamming...

2007-08-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

people always ask me what i've been listening to and i always draw a blank. here's whats been on in my room since i've had a little time off between tours.

Joe Coffee - When the Fabric Don't Fit The Frame
English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It / Wha'appen? / Special Beat Service
Ted Leo - Living With The Living / Shake the Sheets / Hearts of Oak
The Cramps - Songs the Lord Taught Us / Smell of Female
Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life
Aggrolites - Reggae Hit L.A.
X - The Unheard Music DVD
Pete Doherty - Who the hell is pete doherty? DVD
A Gun Called Tension - S/T
Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets Rockers Downtown
Lee Perry - Super Ape / Return of the Super Ape
Suicidal Tendencies - S/T
Manic Street Preachers - Generation Terrorists

Some Random MLIW pictures.

2007-08-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

Live at the Satyricon in Portland, OR

T.O. riding that train.

Sjarm and his mighty bottle of beast.

Left to Right: Tim, Jim and Tom

THis is what happens when your electric clippers die on you mid-haircut.

T.O. Flexes his art muscle. John Eich portrait. Check ebay.

me watching the legendary iowa scumbag Brooks Strause in indiana, pennsylvania.

He sings on the title track of the new Modern Life Is War record "midnight in america".

February Tour W/ The Geeks and Ambitions

2007-08-23T20:50:00.000-07:00

Some short wrap-ups of our shows with The Geeks (Seoul, South Korea) and Ambitions (Connecticut)

2/17/07 Kansas City @ The AnchorThis place is rad. A little space in an industrial district. Ran by punks. Skateboard ramps. I'm guessing about 100 kids. Good vibe. Geeks killed it with ultra energetic straight edge youth crew hardcore. Ambitions also got a really good reaction for being a new band that has never been to the midwest before. We played 3 new songs from our upcoming album. There was a semi trailer parked in an alleyway and spraypainted on it about 5 feet by 5 feet was "NUKE GAY WHALES FOR JESUS." That's some politics I can get behind. Afterwards we went to waffle house with everyone and I sold some veteran with shaky hands a twitchy eyes a Modern Life iS war CD. All 3 b ands stayed in a huge house in some ghetto neighborhood. In the morning on my walk to get a cup of coffee i got yelled at by a drunk lady sitting in a wheelchair sitting out in front of an abandoned christian scientist church but i didn't hear what she said cause I was rocking some Jackie Wilson in my headphones.

2/18/07 Saint Louis @ Lemp Arts CenterLemp Arts is a home away from home for us. They made us delicious pizza and salad to eat and we drank some Tallboys from the Convenience Store/Cop Shop down the street. The show was pretty packed and two good local bands played...Civic Progress (early 80's style catchy hardcore punk) and Humanoids (Pop punk like d4 and other good non-shitty pop punk bands). A good time was had by all.

2/19/07 Chicago @ Beat KitchenI love the beat kitchen cause it has good sound and they serve the touring bands good food. 153 paid at the door. Expired Youth from Chicago played one of their last shows or something. The Geeks are totally becoming our boys by this point. They are very sweet and positive and energetic. Not jaded whatsoever so i think it's a real breath of fresh air for everyone to see a band so completely fucking stoked just to be playing a show. We could all learn something from their attitude. Go get tattooed by Bill Smiles at Family Tattoo in chicago sometime...i'm going to real soon hopefully. After the show we stopped our shit off at our crashpad across from the fireside bowl and walked to the Green Eye to drink. A lot of friends came out and some girls tried to take Harm home. We got shredded and walked home and went to sleep. I woke up and felt like i hadn't had a drink of water in weeks.

2/20/07 Indianapolis @ Some Former ChurchA good show. Walked to the liquor store and almost died on the ice 100 times. Drank Screwdrivers to burn out my sore throat and it totally worked. Drove to Dayton, OH that night.

2/21/07 Dayton @ The WaterfrontThis is our second shitty show at this place...both times plagued with power/fuse/equipment problems. The kids were cool enough and definitely no disrespect to the promoter or anything l ike that. but I hate it soo much when equipment fails again and again and i just stand there looking like an asshole. When we did eventually get playing...it sounded like hot garbage. Every once in a while you have one of those nights where you just want the set to be done ASAP and this was one of those nights. Sorry Dayton. We will try again....at a different venue.

2/22/07 Mt. Clemens @ Hayloft Liquor StandThis was a rager. Bane was headlining and it was good to see all those dudes and hang out a little bit. Sadly...our last night with Ambitions and The Geeks. We had a good set and i was really finding that soul during it. The Bane set was like a total fucking circus. They bring a vibe unlike any other band in the world. It really does transcend band/audience/scene etc. Quite something to watch. I guess i got used to it on that tour we did with them...but after not experiencing it for a while it was really something to see. After the show we went to the ridiculous resturant known as Buffallo Wild Wings with the Geeks and Bane and Shredded some Spicy Chicken Wings. Fucking sad to leave The Geeks. We're gonna go to South Korea. Drove a little ways after that and got a motel 6.

2/23/07 Beloit, WI @ Beloit University W/ Deadtown Revival, Nakatomi Plaza, Decibully, TullycraftThis show was real cool cause we got a huge dinner and got paid well AND the show was free and all ages. The line-up was very diverse and so was the audience. We definitely pissed off the sound guy by being "way...WAY too loud!!" I think most people were into our set and we had a blast playing. We're trying to get that liberal psuedo-hippie college girl market cornered and I think we converted at least a few with this show. A Blizzard raged outside throughout the night. We spent over an hour getting our van stuck in snowdrifts and digging it out again and again in attempt to load our gear out. We stayed in the lobby of a dorm building and I saw some weird girls and some people puking.

The Ruts!

2007-08-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

These two singles by this fantastic UK band were released in 1980 and stand toe to toe musically and lyrically with their contemporaries and two of my favorites: The Clash and The Jam. Both of the A sides "West One (Shine On Me)" and "Staring at the Rudeboys" are dark melodic punk songs with a hard edged pop feel. While the B-sides show the bands reggae/dub influences. "Love in Vain" is a more straightforward dub reggae song with melodic vocals throughout. "The Crack" is absolutely fucking crazy...opening with indecipherable chanty vocals, then the dubby reggae fades in...then back out to more crazy vocals..and repeats...one time going into a fast paced ragtime piano jam...then more chanting and even some animal screams. The Ruts have quickly become one of my favorite bands. I am looking for "The Crack" LP as well as any of the singles so if you are interested in selling or trading any of their records hit me up.

Happy New Year!!!

2007-08-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

This is my beautiful neice...Avery Hope Jones.

Pictures from 538 Johnson

2007-04-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

There was definitely magic in the air in brooklyn that night. One of those shows that make all the bullshit worth it and proves that this music is still as powerful and relevant as it ever was.

The New Year is Here

2007-01-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

The Manic Times 2007
http://21381.blogspot.com

See you there!!

The Good, The Bad and The Queen

2006-12-18T22:10:00.000-08:00

Check out this new band with Paul Simonon, Simon Tong, Damon Albarn and Tony Allen. (members and ex-members of: The Clash, Blur, The Verve, Gorillaz)
MP3's are available at www.myspace.com/thegoodthebadandthequeen
Official Fansite: www.goodbadqueen.com

Their debut album comes out Jan. 22nd

I am digging this shit.

Their is a 3 song 7"/CD available at Interpunk that i just ordered. Will probably be posting a review once i get it.

nyhc day in m'town

2006-12-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

todays playlist while me and harm ate pizza and counted t-shirts:
warzone
GB
youth of today
judge
Agnostic Front
SOIA

Story:
So i am in the basement of CBGB's somehow having a beer with Vinny Stigma and two guys from new jersey. Stigma looks at me and goes "hey maan, where U From?" and i reply "I'm from Marshalltown, Iowa" and stigma looks at me funny and then goes "marshalltown iowa?? I wanna BE THERE!"

100% true.
life defining moment.

recommendations

2006-11-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

Some awesome Free Podcasts from I-tunes Store that i've been jamming:

Big Mikey Dread Reggae Radio Podcast
this dude played with the Clash and plays great tunes. Big Mikey Dread Buss Up Dee PLace.
Sacred Dub Transmissions
Newer dub creations...seemless hour long mixes...great stuff.
World Passport Podcast
Some great world music...Afrobeat, Cuban, mento, calypso.

Movies:

BRICK
Teeny Noir? I don't know. This shit is awesome. Just watch it.
V for Vendetta
I know I am late on this one...but if you haven't seen it yet...it is incredible.

and last but not least....check out this weird fetish...
www.carstuckgirls.com
hahahahaha

Glory Days

2006-11-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

all pictures from the inkspot gallery in Jackson, Mississippi. Jason Thomas is the tattoo artist and a damn good one.

The first two days of tour.

2006-10-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

10/26/06

We left home yesterday and played the American Legion Hall in Sioux Falls, South Dakota last night. Before we played, Harm, Chris and I walked over to the Bar across the street. Harm described it as a "twin peaks style bar" which I guess means that it’s rural and unassuming yet creepy. Halfway through our first beer this haggard 70 year old lady walks up to us and goes to Harm... "where you from? England?" And then launches into her life story...how she drove a semi-truck for half of her life and then moved her whole family to South Dakota and bought a ranch and cows and horses...how she has 29 cats and 1 dog...and how "You can have a really good time at this bar. We party. We party hard." I bailed to go sell T-shirts and after I left she gave Harm her regular number and here "private line" and told him that they have big parties at the ranch and they do some wife-swapping so he should get ahold of her. Keep in mind...70 years old and Haggard...and 29 cats.
The show was great. We played on the floor to roughly 60-70 kids and got a warm reception especially considering the fact that it was our first time in Sioux Falls. After the show talking to the promoter Steven I found out that he runs INIT RECORDS www.initrecords.com who put out a number of records for Ten Grand from Iowa. He has a crazy record collection including some things that I am very jealous of...namely a bunch of Jawbreaker and Dillinger Four 7"s.
We stayed up late hanging out and drinking beers and shooting the shit with local kids and the guys from In The Face Of War from Indiana who also played last night. Topics of conversation included Superman VS. Batman, Will Smith’s career and other deeply important issues.
I had already had a great time in Sioux Falls...and then the coolest thing happened just when I thought all the fun had been had...it was around Noon....everyone was getting up and around...showering...loading sleeping bags into the van...etc. I had just sold Steven a T-shirt and got into the van which was parked across the street from his house to put the ten bucks into the band fund when I look up and a Cop car is squealing around the corner and slamming on his brakes in front of the house. There is one kid from Indiana standing outside having a smoke and everyone else is inside. The cop jumps out of the squad car and pulls his gun and starts running towards the house pointing his gun at the kid screaming at him "PUT YOUR HANDS UP....GET ON YOUR KNEEES!!!" Obviously the kid is in total shock...puts his hands up and lays down on his stomach. By this time another motorcycle cop has pulled up, pulled his gun and is running through the yard. The first kid gets his hands cuffed behind his back. Another kid from Indiana comes out of the house....guns pointed...on the ground and he’s handcuffed too. I’m in the van thinking "holy shit...the Cops are raiding this house!" Cops keep pulling up...I think there was four cars and 6 cops or something like that...all pointing guns at everyone. I think 5 people ended up face down in handcuffs including 3 indiana guys, Chris from MLIW and Steven who lived there. The whole time everyone is asking what the hell is going on but the cops won’t explain. Steven keeps telling them that he lives there and that his Driver’s License is in his back pocket. They finally get it out and look at it and go "Yep, he lives here." And then they start uncuffing everyone and the situation finally chills out. As the cops are all leaving...this high school kid walks over and we realize whoever called in the "ROBBERY IN PROGRESS" named the cross streets but not the specific house. This kid’s grandparents were on vacation and he went over to there house and went inside (with the key they gave him) to use the computer. I kind of feel like I should go on some "fuck the pigs" rant....but no one got shot and I think it really made for an exciting morning. So thanks to Sioux Fall’s Finest for getting the wrong house, pointing guns, handcuffing innocent punx and then realizing your mistake and leaving without ever checking out the house that was supposedly being robbed. Hahahahaha.
I got lots of new music for tour...check it out...

Exploding Hearts - Shattered (demo, 7" and comp. Tracks + alternative versions and mixes)
The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America (fuck yeah! It sounded great on first listen)
Rollins Band - Do It
Rollins Band - Lifetime
X - Under The Big Black Sun
Mark Lanegan - I’ll Take Care of You
108 - Creation. Sustenance. Destruction

Check out this Link...it’s got Archived downloadable files of Henry Rollin’s Radio Show....
Http://www.rollins-archive.com/blog/

10/27/06

Last night in Fargo, ND at the VFW blew my mind again for the third time. The innocence and enthusiasm of the young kids that come to shows here is contagious. We played our new song "Useless Generation" and i think we played it well. Pictures and the flyer will be posted when i get a chance.

CONTEST

2006-10-19T17:50:00.000-07:00

Go to www.crimescenemerch.com or www.scenepointblank.com you can design a T-shirt for cool bands like INTEGRITY, KILLING TIME, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, THE KILLER, and of course MODERN LIFE IS WAR. If your design gets picked you win lots of free shit. Check it out!!!!!!

Ya'll Ready For This?

2006-10-13T00:49:00.000-07:00

Spanish Bombs EP out today!!!

2006-10-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

Recommended for fans of punk music...
www.chunksaah.com order that shit!!!

FOREVER OUTSIDERS photos by Maxim Ryazansky

2006-10-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

...to find more like these go to www.maximryazansky.com

Let's Talk About Music

2006-10-06T10:26:00.000-07:00

These are a couple friends of mine and I've been listening to their new stuff a lot...check it out...
Brooks Strause - New Solo Songs www.myspace.com/brooksstrause
Ben Driscoll - New Solo Songs www.myspace.com/allrattleanddust

I discovered some Joe Strummer songs i never knew about on the soundtrack to a movie called "Permanent Record" The group is Joe Strummer and the Latino Rockabilly War and there are four songs "Trash City" "Baby the Trans" "Nefertiti Rock" and "Nothin' Bout Nothin"
Also...the Joe Strummer late career documentary DVD is out and it's called Lets Rock Again! Mostly on the road stuff with the Mescaleros. If you are a clash fan and haven't given the mescaleros a fair chance you really should. Rock Art and the X-Ray Style, Global A Go Go and Streetcore are all amazing unique albums.

I just watched the cult classic The Commitments which is a story about a white soul band from Dublin. I got re-introduced to some great soul classics like Percy Sledge - "Dark End of the Street" and Otis Redding - "Mr Pitiful"

I've also been watching the showtime series Weeds is smart and hilarious and has a great soundtrack...prompting me to download Marion Black - "Who Knows" and Rilo Kiley - "With Arms Outstretched" RJD2 sampled that Marion Black song for "Smoke and Mirrors" on his debut Deadringer.

I really like the new My Chemical Romance song "Welcome to the Black Parade" and i downloaded an album preview where the band talks about the new record and plays short clips of all the songs. That song has 167 tracks!! ridiculous!! They said that the album is influenced mostly by Pink Floyd - The Wall, The Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band and Queen - A Night At The Opera. I liked their last album too but this one is sounding quite a bit more musically ambitious and lyrically conceptual and I'm looking forward to sitting down and listening to the whole thing.

I am excited to get my hands on the new Hold Steady - "Boys and Girls in America" and of course Spanish Bombs - "S/T" (chunksaah/lifeline).

A-F Records re-released INQUISITION - "I think it's called inspiration" its a classic jam and i highly recommend it for fans of melodic hardcore punk music.

Other Shit on Rotation:
Avail - Over the James / Dixie
Social Distortion - Sex, Love and Rock and Roll
Tom Waits - Alice
JD's Pub Jukebox

into the james

2006-09-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

Woke up in Richmond today and did my laundry at a laundromat in the ghetto. When I got back I went to a rope swing attached to a railroad bridge on the James River with Max and John. It was the only date of this tour warm enough to swim so I'm glad we made it happen.
I love the way richmond looks and feels. Bricks and mortar and ramshackled together tarpaper roofs and cute alleyways and everything with character and bits of broken glass.

There is never an overarching feeling at the end of a tour or a theme song that comes on in the background. I remember only the things I want to remember the way I want to remember them and the bottom falls out on everything else. Add some new pictures and flyers to my box of things to keep. Another notch on your belt of things you've done.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

2006-09-06T05:32:00.000-07:00

90 years and still young at heart!!!! Happy Birthday Gram!!
Sorry I had to be away for your party...I hope you had a great time.

Modern Life Is War ... New Website up now!!!

2006-08-25T13:42:00.000-07:00