The Old Firm Casuals
The Old Firm Casuals
Released 2011
Oi! The Boat Records

Lars Frederiksen (Guitar & Vocals)
Casey Watson (Bass & Vocals)
Paul Rivas (Drums & Vocals)

1 Old Firm (D.M.S.)
2 Lone Wolf
3 Apocalypse Coming
4 Casual

I picked up this 7 inch EP about a month or so back, for a couple of reasons, mainly for the Rancid connection, mainly, and the fact that these guys are so bloody prolific. I honestly think Tim Armstrong writes in his sleep. Unlike many of their peers the guys from Rancid will play with anybody and juggle a hundred bands, and still come back and make great albums (how many times did I use the word “and” in this sentence?).

This EP is a very cool tribute to the Cock Sparrer style of oi. An enjoyable tribute to the beginnings of the genre.

If you get the chance give this one a listen, it’s a good album, hell, go out and buy it.

Rating: ** * two out of three stars.

On to the story . . .

A few years ago I wrote an article about how the older punks (those of us still alive and kicking), ended up looking very cookie-cutter.

I would say about 90% of them have either aped the Mike Ness look, kind of like you work as a 1950’s auto mechanic, or the second most popular look is the Greg Hetson look. You know the “I just got fired from The Geek Squad, and now I have to wear these Clark Kent glasses because I’m homeless.” You know the look.

And with women there is pretty much just the one look, Bettie Page. Its seems like there are only slight variations on these looks, sometimes a bit more Goth, other times a bit more pin-up.

Well, there is a new trend that is annoying as fuck. A majority on the older punks (forty plus), seem to do nothing but sit around on Facebook all day and post political and religious posts.

The thing that is truly annoying about this is that unlike in the early eighties when we actual thought pissing and moaning about Regan and his politics would accomplish something, these guys are doing nothing, but jerking-off on Facebook.

Here’s an example: One fairly well-known old punk posted a link about Obama either botching up a budget plan or his health care reform, the text the “punk” wrote was “The big disappointment.”

Now, I’m not here to say if Obama is a good or bad president, all I’m saying is these constant links on Facebook are meaningless, and are not accomplishing shit.

Another lump of crap that was posted was an issue with either the Boston or Polish Catholic church. Now we know the church has been an easy mark for any comic or inbred worth their weight in dog crap, but for those who take the time to study this know that the molestation cases in the Catholic Church are minimal compared to the Mormon, Jewish or run of the mill Christian Churches. The difference is if a Rabbi molests someone whom can you blame or target? Whereas if a priest in some drip water town rubs your butt, you immediately blame the Pope, and rally to have the Vatican demolished.

So this posting from this vintage punk rocker has the text “Evilest Pope Ever.” Oh lord. As I have said before, if you are going to carry on about politics, and religion, do something about it. Go on marches, petition, run for an office . . . or better yet, shut the hell up!