The Roof Is On Fire

We don't need no water—

Let the motherfucker burn!

Burn, motherfucker, burn!

21st Century Digital Boy

Armageddon must be around the corner- I just got a MacBook Pro. Hey, my company wanted me to get a laptop (and footed the bill), so why not go for it? I'm making dick money, might as well get a perk.

Now I am truly a tethered 21st centruy boy- I got the 'droid phone, the desktop and the laptop. I might as well get one of those tracing collars for around my neck and the RFID chip embedded in my forehead.

Of course, with 2012 breathing down our necks, I'm rootin' for the apocalypse... when all these toys will be worth little but scrap metal.

Biohazard covering Bad Religion??? WTF?

For my pal Jon from Poetry Is For Assholes

I'm a sucker for group harmony's.

And this is Punk as fuck!

I Am A Huge Fan Of Bad Religion

So sayeth Fat Mike and NOFX.. and Yeah- I dig em. I like the NOFX song too. What's not to like about Bad Religion? Great lyrics. Anti-authority. Great chorus's. I love the harmonies. They're old and pissed, just like me. And I learn new words when I decipher their songs!!

They've got the punk rock cred (and that's not even taking account Greg Hetson's Circle Jerkdom and Brian Baker's Minor Threat service). When did How Could Hell Be Any Worse come out? 1938?


Besides, I took Princess Nomad to see 'em when she was 13 and she actually loved it. And Nazz Jr has been known to wear a Bad Religion shirt to middle school!

Punk rock!

Here It Comes!

By Friday afternoon the world will be in the midst of a full scale economic crash. By Monday, the rioting that occurred in the UK this week will be known as "the calm before the storm".
This is NOT a test of the emergency broadcasting system!

Wheeeeee!!!!!!!!

Youth Will Be Served

The princess and I attended the Warped Tour at it's local stop over the weekend. Note how I did NOT say that we attended it together. I was dumped at the gate. The princess is 15 years old now and feels she does not need her old man to cramp her style.

Of course, she DID need her old man to gain her entry, as I was granted a couple of press passes, gaining me access to said festival. So, she hung out with me long enough to get a press pass, and off she went, with the vague promise of texting me occasionally. She was supposed to be meeting another 15 year old friend, whom we knew,; but instead she scampered off with a 19 year old girl (thank the lord), who was wearing a bikini top and tattoos.

In other words, she bullshitted daddy-o. I'm so proud. She did stay out of trouble, and did check in periodically. And stayed away from the weed and alcohol (and boy! scenes) Plus, her press access got up her close and personal to some bands she dug, as she was able to sidle up to the stages in the photo pit and take pix and even interview some bands. Her faves? Bayside, Meg & Dia, and a whole host of bands that I could be the father of.

This is Meg, of Meg & Dia. Or it's Dia, of Meg & Dia
(photo courtesy of princess nomad)

Meanwhile old Nazz repaired to the beer tent (pretty empty, due to the youthful demographic), venturing out to see his faves like NOFX and Bad Religion and avoiding the scream-o bands whenever possible.

My favorite foursome of the Warped Tour

Yep, Warped Tour is a party for the young (like the princess), not the crusty old punk crew (like myself.

Punk rawk has sure changed since we invented it!

Toonage:
Minutemen - Party With Me Punker
Meg & Dia - Setting Up Sunday (live 3/23/07)
NOFX - Fungus/I'm A Huge Fan Of Bad Religion
Bad Religion - Latch Key Kids

Don't be surprised if a crack in the ice...

... appears under your feet.

and Good-Morning, Smithers-Jones,,,


At some point, the realization comes that maybe there's something better. Loyalty is great, and as they take turns shoveling the dirt onto your box the pretty words are spoken. But who's the sucker? You are, of course. Because you always give more than you get. And you're always a line item on an entry pad. And don't forget it. The orchestra on the Titanic didn't get any extra props for going down with the ship, did they?

The struggle continues, but maybe the weight pulling you down gets a little (or a lot) lighter somewhere else. Sure, you lose all that built up good will and credibility. But sometimes the long run has a more attractive finish line.

One thing is for sure, sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel ISN'T a train coming at you. Sometimes, it's a better way out.

So, do I feel lucky, Punk?

Do I?


Toonage:
The Kinks - Rats
Fleshtones - I've Gotta Change My Life
Hot Water Music - Clampdown (Clash cover)
Bad Religion - You've Got A Chance



----------------
Now playing: Dead Kennedys - Life Sentence
via FoxyTunes

"Repent, Harlequin!" Said the Ticktockman

"The mass of men serve the state thus, not as men mainly, but as machines, with their bodies."

...Henry David Thoreau - Civil Disobedience

Bookage:
The Essential Ellison - Harlan Ellison


Toonage:
Misfits - We Are 138 (live w/ Henry Rollins)
Bad Religion - Voice Of God Is Government
Joe Jackson - Got The Time
The Hives - Introduce The Metric System In Time
Mudhoney - Where Is The Future

America, Fuck Yeah!

Coming up on the Fourth of July. Despite all of our problems, America is still the greatest country on the planet.
Is that blatant nationalism? Fuck yeah!
This weekend, raise a glass to our founding fathers, who devised an experiment that has proved successful even 232 years later. We can differ on the direction of the country and other political matters. In fact, we should differ.
But, we should all be able to agree that the U.S.A. still kicks ass.
(Deity of your choice) Bless America!

Toonage:
Team America - America, Fuck Yeah
Elvis Presley - An American Trilogy (Live Madison Square Garden)
Simon & Garfunkel - America (live Hollywood Bowl 1968)
Bad Religion - American Jesus (Peel Sessions 1993)
John Wayne - The Good Things

Warped - Thirsty But Not Miserable

Hey, Kevin Lyman and the entire Warped Tour organization... suck my hot, parched balls. It's 100 degrees and you bastards are selling water for $5 a bottle! You greedy motherfuckers. Especially as you limited people to bringing in one bottle. And your water truck by 3 pm resembled a scene from a Save The Children ad. And then they ran out of water.

Aside from that atrocity, the Warped show in NY last week was just lovely... thousands of teenagers having a good time with no fights and no real hassles.

Observations:

There is a no punk political movement. I guess suburban kids are happy and docile. One booth had anti-Bush stuff. That's out of about 100 booths.

There were alot of environmental and vegeterian booths - good!

There an awful lot of bands who seem to have Cookie Monster as their lead singer.

People should learn to pick up their garbage. It was disgusting to see trash just thrown on the ground when there were bins everywhere.

Bad Religion still kick ass.

Paramore are gonna be huge.

Coheed and Cambria are the second coming of Rush.

Tiger Army were rockin' and are much better live than on record.

Parents should not let their kids out of the house without either proper clothing or sunscreen. By 4 pm, it looked like a lobster convention. Kiddies- there's no ozone layer anymore! And skin cancer ain't cool.

Apparently, every girl over the age of 14 has a pierced belly button.

Best T-Shirt of the day "Hail Seitan, Go Vegan"

And most annoyingly... dozens of kids were holding up signs stating "Free Hugs". This was supposed to be Punk Rock, not a Phish concert.

Damn kids don't know the difference!

Toonage:

Guided By Voices - Hot Freaks

Down By Law - Punk As Fuck

Dead Milkmen - Punk Rock Girl

Pennywise - Kids In America

Bad Religion - Fuck Armageddon, This Is Hell

Replacements - Cool Water

The Who -Water

Old and in the Warped

I officially cross over a Cultural line tomorrow. I am taking my 13 year old daughter to The Warped Tour. I have been to several of the Warped shows over the years, but me and my droogs were always the drunken rowdy mofo's. Now, I have to be the voice of responsibility.
But it's a small price to pay as I continue to lead my little girl away from the Britney and High School Musical fodder and into Rock N Roll (or what passes for it these days). At least Bad Religion is playing; they're as ancient as I am!
Warped was great for a couple of reasons- The tremendous volume of bands playing (at any given point there would be something decent to see) and ... THE BEER TENT!
The Beer Tent? Yeah! When 99% of the attendees are not of legal drinking age, the Beer tent is empty. Which means, no lines and the opportunity to piss away tons of money on shitty beer. But, since it's hot out, shitty beer does the trick.
So, as I escort my daughter, I will be eschewing the beer (do they even sell beer at Warped anymore?), holding off on the hidden bottles of vodka, and turning away from the aromatic herbs. And, of course...no pit and no moshing either.
Yep, I'll be the old guy in the Husker Du T-shirt. Gee, what did YOU do in the war, daddy?
And if any of those little whiney emo kids even glance at my little princess, I will wreak havoc upon them!


Toonage (of the "OLD SCHOOL" variety)

Bad Brains - Pay To Cum
Bad Religion - We're Only Gonna Die
Social Distortion - Lude Boy (demo)
Husker Du - Eight Miles High (live Trenton NJ 1985)
Descendents - I'm Not A Loser
Minutemen - Party With Me, Punker
Suicidal Tendencies - Institutionalized
TSOL - Code Blue

America part 1

THE BILL OF RIGHTS
Amendments 1-10 of the Constitution

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Toonage:

MC5 - The American Ruse

Black Flag - American Waste

Bad Religion - American Jesus (live John Peel show)

The Clash - I'm So Bored With The USA (Rude Boy)

Pearl Jam - Know Your Rights (Clash Cover)

Monster Magnet - Freakshop USA

Friday Grab Bag - Home Improvement

It's Spring and a not so young man's thoughts turn to...Home Improvement. We are currently involved in a kitchen demolition and remodeling which has rendered our eating area uninhabitable and our pockets empty.

I learned long ago, that whatever the contractor tells you it's gonna cost, add another 20%. And however long he tells you it's gonna take, well, the 20% rule isn't a bad idea for that either. We've been living in sawdust and plasting sheeting for the past week. After that, I get to paint three rooms (which ain't bad, cause at least I can drink beer while I do that!).

It's not like we're flush with cash. We simply decided that it's easy to spend money when you don't have it! Besides, the world's gonna end soon enough!
As Bobby D sang "when you got nothin', you got nothin' to lose".


Horray for debt!



And you're all invited over for a pool party when that gets installed next week!!!! Oh yeah, where do we live? Right over by The Big W!



Toonage:
The Doors - Break On Through (Live)
Descendents - Suburban Home
Mudhoney - Fix Me (Black Flag Cover)
Adolescents - Rip It Up
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache
Bad Religion - The Hopeless House