Thank you, President Bush

Whatever your many and countless faults, failings and mistakes, we have not been attacked since 9-11-01. As a New Yorker, whatever steps you have taken to keep my family and myself safe over the past 8 years are greatly appreciated. And Good Riddance!

Godspeed to President Obama to do the same (and fix our economy, restore our world standing, end the war, etc).

Toonage:

Beatles - Goodbye (rare outtake)

Ramones - Glad To See You Go (live 1976)

The Methadones - Say Goodbye To Your Generation

The Muffs - Saying Goodbye

Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye (live 1995)

(Un)Comfortably Numb

Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness

- Richard Carlson

So, is it better to feel nothing or to be affected by things to the point that it's personally damaging? Sometimes the self medicating just isn't effective.

A friend of mine explained to me that "some things are just bigger than you and it's nothing to be ashamed of". I'm not so sure about that. But it is certainly worth trying to pick curtain #2 rather than always selecting curtain #1. Maybe there's something better than canned squid behind it.

Bookage -

By The Book - Joe Paterno

Toonage:

Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb (Demo version)

Big Star - Feel

The High Numbers (The Who) - Dance To Keep From Crying (Live Marquee Club 1965)

The Methadones - Antidote

Ramones - I Don't Care (demo version)

Children of the Ramones

The Ramones basically invented what has come to be accepted as Punk Rock. That’s a given. They were the tree by which all of the other branches grew from.

Here are some bands that prove the apples don't fall far from the tree. These are bands that emulate the Ramones extremely closely in style, sound and lyrics. In fact, if you close your eyes…

Screeching Weasel – Fanzine writer Ben Weasel & John Jughead started Screeching Weasel in 1986, after seeing a Ramones concert in Chicago. A lot of latter day Punk bands (including Green Day & Blink-182) have cited Screeching Weasel as influences. Weasel’s whiny vocals and the musical adherence to the one-two-three-four musical groove of the Ramones make Screeching Weasel come off as the Ramones’ snotty little brothers.

The Riverdales – Ben Weasel formed The Riverdales in the mid 90’s during a break from Screeching Weasel. More of the same. Even poppier and more Ramonsier! In other words…Great!

The Queers- Joe King (ie Joe Queer) started up The Queers in New Hampshire back in 1982. They’ve had a revolving roster of at least 25 members over the years (including members of Screeching Weasel. Still touring, check em out!

Methadones- Formed by Danny Vapid of Screeching Weasel, The Methadones stray a little from the direct Ramones sound and incorporate more of a diverse and harder sound. You can even hear traces of bands like Husker Du in their chorus’ and strong structure.

The Huntingtons –

Hailing from Maryland/Delaware, and actually releasing a cover version of a Ramones album and calling it Rocket To Ramonia, the Huntingtons (Cliffy Huntington: Guitar/Vocals, Mikey Huntington: Vocals/Bass, Mikee Huntington: Drums ) showed these guys were on it. When you call another album File Under Ramones, there’s no misinterpretation. The Huntingtons also were used as Joey Ramone's backing band a couple of times in NYC.



Toonage:
Screeching Weasel – Jeanie’s Got A Problem With Her Uterus

Screeching Weasel – Cool Kids
The Methadones – I’m About To Crack
The Methadones – Stuck In My Head
The Riverdales – Getaway

The Riverdales – Party At The Beach

The Huntingtons – Jackie Is An Athiest

The Huntingtons – No Pool Party

The Queers – She’s A Cretin

The Queers – If You Only Had A Brain

Buy The Queers Music

Buy Screeching Weasel Music

Buy Methadones Music

Buy Huntingtons Music

Buy The Riverdales Music