TSOL
1980 Demos

Jack Grisham – vocals
Ron Emory – guitar
Mike Roche – bass
Todd Barnes – drums

01 80 Times
02 Superficial Love
03 You Don’t Have To Die
04 Silent Majority

I finally landed a job. I’ve been working for, just shy of, two months. Your head goes to weird places when you’re unemployed. There are dozens of things you want to do, a million things you want to buy, and you have to sit and wait until the work comes.

At my previous job I worked as a “Radio Research Director” for a company that owned 16 TV stations, and 29 radio stations. I would put together ratings sheets, promotional items, you name it.

It was a good paying job, and I was with them for about 3 years. The funny thing about this job was that two things that were most important for this job were two things I didn’t know shit about.

Number 1: the Company that owned the 16 TV stations, and 29 radio stations was Hispanic. I didn’t know Spanish. I knew enough to curse out your average a-hole, but not much more. I’d learn.

Number 2: Everything in this company was done in Microsoft PowerPoint. I never opened the program. I’d learn.

I was one of, maybe, 5 Caucasians working there. But you know what? Everybody was cool as hell. There were one or two ball busters, but all in all people were cool. Every morning as I walked in I heard the Wall of Voodoo song in my head: “I’m on a Mexican Radio . . .” as I walked past the two glass DJ booths.

The company had an in-house AM radio station, and the more popular FM station also in-house. It was always a blast to watch the various Ranchera bands come in to play live on one of the stations. They’d have their trumpets, and accordions. It was wild.

Unfortunately, when ratings dip layoffs happen. Ratings dipped I was let go.

One of the weirdest experiences of the job was meeting a famous singer from Mexico named Valentin Elizalde.

The rumor behind a lot of these singers from Mexico is that the Mexican drug cartels “adopt” these up and coming singers. On the condition that you sing about the cartels, and mention them in your concerts. They have the money to turn you into a superstar in a matter of months. But the downside is if a rival cartel likes your music, they will ask you nicely stop talking about the other cartel, if you don’t they kill you.

I met Valetin in 2006, a big hulking guy, and a few months later he was shot up in his SUV after leaving a concert. He was rumored to have started his performance by saying this is for my enemies (rival cartels), and ended the show by again saying, this was for my enemies.

If you search online the crime scene photos are all over. Valentin, and the whole SUV full of people shot up by fully automatic weapons.

Valentin was just one of many Mexican singers gunned down like this. If you’re interested, do a search on legendary singer Chalino Sanchez, and his son. It makes the Biggie, Tupac feud look like small potatos.

On to the review . . .

I came across this bootleg about four years back. I was happier than a hooker with a bag of . . . well you get the point. TSOL has remained one of my favorite bands of all time (even when Jack dislikes my Facebook posts). And I dig their early recordings. So, this one makes up my TSOL trilogy, the EP, Dance With Me, and now the demos.

The standout cuts are: 80 Times, You Don’t Have To Die.

If you can find it, buy it.

Rating: ***** Five out of five stars.

Currently:
Reading: Ham On Rye by Charles Bukowski
Listening: Everybody Out! – Everybody Out!
Watching: Grandma’s Boy directed by Nicholaus Goossen

Free & legal download of the week: Rancid – Bloodclot

Another one of the many things I got sucked into on Facebook:

OK, here are the rules. Test your memory, and your love of live music by listing 50 artists, or bands (or as many as you can remember) you’ve seen in concert. List the first 50 acts that come into your head. An act you saw at a festival, and opening acts count, but only if you can’t think of 50 other artists. (This was tricky.)

1. Freddie Jackson
2. Color Me Bad
3. Eddie Money
4. Richard Marx
5. Celene Dion
6. L.A. Guns
7. Cher
9. Duran Duran
10. Luther Vandross
11. Andy Taylor
12. Belinda Carlise
13. Beach Boys
14. Zoogz Rift
15. Earth Dies Burning
16. Sheila E.
17. Cherry Bombz
18. Chicago
19. David Bowie
20. Prince
21. Tuff
22. Warrant
23. Poison
24. Wasp

25. Suicidal Tendencies
26. Youth Brigade
27. Wasted Youth
28. 7 Seconds
29. Mau-Mau’s
30. Flipper

31. Public Nuisance
32. DOA
33. Sin 34
34. TSOL
35. Jeffrey Lee Pierce
36. Henry Rollins
37. Sebastian Bach
38. Helmet
39. Guns ‘n Roses
40. Skid Row
41. Motley Crue
42. KISS
43. The Pretenders
44. Steve Jones
45. U2
46. Secret Affair
47. Edgar Winter
48. Human Hands
49. Romeo Void
50. Pratt & McClain

Honorable mentions: Your Mom.

Currently:
Reading: Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga by Hunter S. Thompson
Listening: Everybody Out! – Everybody Out!
Watching: Ghost World directed by Terry Zwigigoff

Free & legal download of the week: Dropkick Murphys – Bastards On Parade

As you have seen on this site in the past, “punk rockers” hate everything. That’s right. If I do a review, and they agree with the review there won’t be a single comment, but if I accurately diss their beloved Beatles . . . they will light up the comments for that article. So, after my thorough investigation . . . I have concluded punks love to hate. So, I decided to cater to your hatred and come up with the top 10 things I hate. Enjoy hating this!

10. Seeking The Perfect Parking Spot
Now I’m simple like this, I pull into a parking lot. Things look full; I go to the end of the parking lot park, and walk to the store. My Wife will circle for 20 minutes looking for a spot up front. Makes me crazy. By the time we park, I could’ve already got what I wanted and been in line.

09. My Exes
‘Nuff said.

08. Bitterness
Nothing is worse than a bitter SOB. I have known women (a few guys, too), that after a decade or more they are still hung-up on shit they claim you did or said to them. Women don’t forget, so this is their forte. Years ago, before I was married, one of my exes called wanted to go out for a drink. I said sure what the hell. We go out, and now . . . I haven’t seen her in five or six years. She proceeds to tell me everything I did wrong in our relationship. Lucky me. There has to be an expiration date on this shit.

07. David Carradine
‘Nuff said.

06. Hip Jargon
Over the years I have found, when dealing with people, that proper English seems to put a lot of people on edge. So, I tend to work a lot of slang into my day-to-day jargon. But I hate it when a word or phrase that I previously hated works it’s way into my lingo. Such as, Back In The Day. I never liked this phrase, it’s stupid, but six months back somebody was asking me about the old song by The Members, Working Girl, I responded with I saw that video back in the day. Damn.

05. Music Debates
It used to be the first thing out of my mouth when I met someone, “what kind of music do you like?” Now, I never ask, because I will hate their music, and eventually be asked my taste in music, which they will hate. On this site and a few others I have been involved in a few MAJOR debates over vintage long-hair bands that on occasion have been known to blow donkeys, and after pulling facts, figures, and an occasional pie-chart, people are going like who they like. You can’t win, so let’s talk about less confrontational things like politics and religion.

04. Rape of The Culture
I stole this line from a Sopranos episode. Pauly and Big Pussy go into a coffee house and Pauly starts complaining, how all this coffee stuff was stolen from Italy, and Big Puss says “Again with the rape of the culture.” In 1981 a band called Godhead release a seven inch EP on Bemisbrain Records; in 2009 a band called No Friends released a CD on No Idea Records, again with the rape of the culture. I won’t even get into the ass-clowns who stole my old bands name, Cold War.

03. Distorted Views of Self
Without pointing fingers at specific people . . . I know many people, thieves, junkies, liars, and I have noticed they will always be the first to point out your flaws, and give advice. Try to take advice from someone who just got out of jail, smells of cheap wine, wine they just stole. See if that doesn’t pepper a little hate into your life.

02. Solitaire Issues
As petty as it seems, I can’t stand people standing over my shoulder while I attempt any kind of video, or computer game. They will always see which move you should be doing before you do.

01. Food Court Seating
Now I don’t know why this irritates me, but I hate it when I go to a food court, or any type of restaurant, where you seat yourself, and the place is dead empty. So, I stroll over to the corner, sit down, and guess what? The next dildo to walk into the place will automatically sit next to me! Why?

Honorable mentions: Your Mom.

Currently:
Reading: Factotum by Charles Bukowski
Listening: Everybody Out! – Everybody Out!
Watching: Galaxy Quest directed by Dean Parisot

Free & legal download of the week: Rancid – Dead Bodies

Dave Alvin/Boz Scaggs
The Greek Theatre
Fall 1999
Time: 8:00 PM

Back in the ’80’s, even though I wasn’t drinking, my Mom said I should attend AA meetings. Both my Grandfathers were alcoholics and my Father was also. My Mom told me I was displaying personality traits of an alcoholic. And that I should attend AA, and/or Adult Children of Alcoholics.

I didn’t know that my Grandfather on my Dad’s side was an alcoholic. I never saw him drink, and I never saw him drunk. Turns out he was a bit of a binge drinker. He’d go a year without touching a drop, then slip into a 3-month binge.

I was always aware of my Mom’s Dad’s problem. Every holiday that we’d spend with him, he’d start drinking before we got there, and by the time we’d get ready to leave he’d be slumped in his chair, almost asleep. My Grandfather had a pretty shitty upbringing from an alcoholic, who beat him and told him he was unwanted. So, unfortunately, the alcoholic gene (if that truly exists) was passed on. And then later my Uncle battled substance abuse issues. Remember the old days when Dad’s just passed on the family business?

I told you all that to tell you this, I called my one of my Dad’s old work buddies who was now a counselor at an AA meeting, and a “recovering” alcoholic. My Dad’s friend, Ed, was a really good guy. Of all my Dad’s friends he was the best. He was a trash collector in the ’70’s, and he always brought us comic books, or Mad Magazines that he’d find on his route. Cool stuff.

So, I call Ed, and he invites me to come to a meeting. The meeting is located at a Korean Church in Northridge, here in the Valley. I drive out on a Wednesday night. When I get there Ed pulls me aside and tells me that due to low attendance, they combined the AA meeting with the Adult Children of Alcoholics, and the sex addiction meeting. That was definitely a big WTF.

The meeting starts with everyone going around the room introducing themselves, and stating their “problem.” It gets to be my turn, and I say my name, and say that I am Adult Child of an Alcoholic. And everyone sits there looking at me, like I am in denial, I say I don’t drink. And at that point I hadn’t so much as had a beer in a year. No one believed me. I guess everyone comes through and says I am here because someone else thinks I should be.

Finally, we moved on. The first person to talk was some woman who was about 25 or so. She talked about fighting her nymphomania. She said that the mailman came to deliver something the week before, and how it took all of her willpower to keep her from pulling him into her house. Sad to say, she had my attention. She went on about looking him up and down, and how it had been a week since she had sex. Hell yeah!! When she was done the head counselor stated again that dating or “relationships” were grounds for being kicked out of the group. I know he wasn’t, but it felt like he was looking at me.

The next person to speak was an older guy, late 50’s, with glasses. The kind of guy that looks like a computer-tech. I remember looking at him, thinking he looks like a child molester. Then he starts talking about a court case that forbids him from seeing his daughter, and hopefully she will forgive him one day. I remember looking at him, and wanting to stomp the shit out of him. I can’t understand anyone messing with kids, and especially their own flesh and blood.

So, I stayed for the whole hour or so meeting, and as it starts to wrap up one of the guys in the meeting calls me over to the side, and says “a lot of the newcomers aren’t comfortable talking about their problems, so a bunch of us are going to meet at the coffee shop up the street for donuts, and coffee. It will be easier to talk over there, come on and join us.” I just stared for a minute, and then said “Yeah, I’ll meet you there.” Then drove on home.

I attended three or four more of these meetings, sat drinking coffee like Ed Norton in Fight Club. Then got tied up with different things and missed a month.

So, four or five weeks later I show up at the church. I walk in with a cup of coffee from Winchell’s. And everybody in the place freezes. Two Korean guys walk briskly towards me. I’m not nervous, because I know I didn’t do anything wrong, but their quick walking has me on alert.

One guy starts talking very quickly, “You go, this is for Koreans only. You go.” The other guy smiles and puts his hand on my elbow, and starts guiding me to the door. Through all of this I’m saying I’m here for the AA meeting. But the guy keeps saying, “You go, this is for Koreans only. You go.” To which I say, “AA, you know the crazy people?”

Next thing I know I’m back at my car, with my cup of Joe, and the guy is walking away still babbling, “This is for Koreans only.”

I drive back home, and my Mom says what are you doing here? I said the meeting isn’t there anymore. To which she replied “You intentionally went on the wrong night so you didn’t have to go.”

WTF, after that I didn’t go anymore. There were periods of time where I drank more that others, but my own personal paranoia about my alcoholic bloodline kept me from ever seriously taking the plunge.

But in all seriousness, if you have an issue with substance abuse or know someone who does (don’t we all), don’t wait ’til it’s too late. I’ve lost too many people this way, and one is too many.

On to the review . . .

My Wife was working at a place in Sunland back in 1998, and 1999. And her boss was a best friend with a woman who worked at Ticketmaster. Well, this woman on the day of shows used to call all her friends, starting two or three hours prior to shows starting to give away remaining tickets.

One afternoon, early evening my Wife called to see if I wanted to see Boz Scaggs, I knew his music, but wasn’t sure I wanted to see him. I grew up with his Silk Degrees 8-track playing in the family Oldsmobile 98 for years.

My Mom loved Boz Scaggs, so I called to see if she wanted to see him. No answer. So, by the time I got back to my Wife she had two tickets.

We got to the Greek, the air was ripe with the smells of weed. There was no opening act listed, so I assumed it was Scaggs. After about 20 minutes, and it was still daylight, 3 or 4 guys come on stage and do a bit of rockabilly, and a bit of straightforward rock. Me and 2 or 3 others clapped. Then he announces I’m Dave Alvin, you’ve been great, thanks. And walks off. I stand up and clap again. The rest of the crowd is feeling the weed.

Boz Scaggs comes on, and absolutely no talking. The music sounds like the record, but he is dead onstage. Nothing like the music I’m used to. Weird night.

If you can see him, see him.

Rating: *** ** three out of five stars.

Currently:
Reading: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson
Listening: Everybody Out! – Everybody Out!
Watching: Factotum directed by Bent Hamer

Free & legal download of the week: Dropkick Murphys – Fields Of Athenry

Thirteenth Love
Sugar Train EP
Released: 1995
Produced by: Thirteenth Love

Joe Esparza – Vocals
Jon Sorensen – Guitar
Tracy W. – Bass
Brad Doan – Drums

1 Too Funky
2 Ice Cream
3 Waiting
4 Flamenco Serenade
5 Hustle Time
6 Punkin’

The Time-Out Chair

The beginning of November (November 7, 2009) my Son sits down next to me, and starts telling me the events of his busy kindergarten day.

Who hit who, who said what, and who his friends are, and who his “girl” is. I’m doing the standard nod, and occasionally a “what?” or “really?” And he’s satisfied.

Then at the end of this conversation, almost out of nowhere he says his teacher put him on the time-out chair.

I asked him what happened, and what he did. He explained he was sitting on the “story” rug. The whole class sits on the rug for story time, and eyes are to be straight ahead, and no where else.

I asked if he was on the rug? “Yes.”

Were you listening to the story? “Yes.”

Then why were you put in the time-out chair?

“Because I’m funny.”

It was everything I could do not to laugh . . .

On to the review . . .

Back in ’92 I became friends with a guy named Ed. Over the next handful of years Ed and I went through everything together, and all the while created a huge booze shortage here in L.A. Sometime in. I think, ’94 Ed started managing a group called 13th Love. Great guys, and a really good live band.

I can’t classify this music. The closest thing I can think of is if Al Green sang for Red Hot Chili Peppers. Make sense? The singer Joe, had one of the bluesy-est voices I ever heard, not far behind Axl Rose.

It’s not easy to find anything by them, there is a my space page, but only 3 songs, and a few poorly converted video clips.

The standout cuts are Waiting, and Punkin’.

If you can find it, buy it.

Rating: **** * four out of five stars.

Currently:
Reading: Play the Piano Drunk Like a Percussion Instrument Until the Fingers Begin to Bleed a Bit by Charles Bukowski
Listening: Time Again – The Stories Are True
Watching: End of The Century: The Story of The Ramones directed by Jim Fields & Michael Gramaglia

Free & legal download of the week: Dropkick Murphys – Walk Away

Drunken Master
Issue: 7
Released: February 2004

Featured:
Social Distortion
The Immortal Lee County Killers II
The Slanderin
Prize (26 page comic feature)
Fake I.D.
Letters
Reviews
Destroy and Search

About a year or so back I was weeding out (not Process of . . .) the inventory of my online comic shop. Pulling out the books that were either worthless or just weren’t selling, sometimes the combination of the two.

I would then bag them up, and go down to a comic shop in Van Nuys and sell them to a guy I know. Just like most records shops, he would offer me one amount in cash, and a larger amount if I took credit. So, on this trip I took the credit.

I went through most of the shop, and then I found a box of stuff, unsorted, on the ground by the register. I asked the owner of the shop what the stuff was, and he said it was magazines, he said he had to buy the magazines as part of a collection to get several valuable comics. And that I could take any magazine in the box for a dollar each. I went through the whole box, it was mostly old Mad Magazines without the covers, a few Maxim’s with Paris Hilton on the cover, and then the last book in the box was a magazine called Drunken Master (like the Jackie Chan movies). I picked it up, saw the Social Distortion reference, I asked the owner what this book was, and he gave me a weird look, and said “I have no idea.” I took it.

Let’s talk about the book . . .

This magazine/fanzine is like no other that I’ve read before . Lucky Nakazawa is an insane artist, who is also the guy who single-handedly puts this magazine out. A couple of his blog-like stories are interesting, one in particular about a phone call with a girl who only likes Asian guys, and how the call went horribly wrong.

This feels more like a diary, and the art goes to the end of the Earth, pen and ink drawings, linoleum wood cutting, you name it.

A small interview with Tim Maag of the old band the Mechanics (he was also in Social Distortion, D.I., and the Cramps) is particularly memorable. He talks about how the Mechanics way of dressing is now used by Social D., and how their dual guitar style was later nabbed by the Adolescents and Social D. . . . also. Good stuff.

I was looking online and noticed issue eleven of this mag is out now, so I’ll try to track it down. Also, if you dig Lucky Nakazawa’s art, keep an eye out, he’s also a regular contributor to Razorcake, doing covers and full-page cartoons. His recent fart one’s were too funny.

If you get the chance, give this a read. It’s interesting!

Rating: **** * four out of five stars.

Currently:
Reading: Love is a Dog from Hell Poems 1974-1977 by Charles Bukowski
Listening: Everybody Out! – Struggle & Strife
Watching: Babel directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu

Free & legal download of the week: Dropkick Murphys – Pipebomb On Lansdowne

As we close out the decade, I’ve been reading more and more top 10 lists, so I thought I would give you my top 10 punk movies/DVD’s of the decade. So, for the whiners, I know, I know you’re going to say “Dude, I can’t believe you left off KTEL Presnts Bob’s Bung-Hole’s Video Classics, their video Parking In The Gimp Spot was a frickin’ classic!” Guess what? My list, my picks!

10. Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003)

Now, I’m aware of a directors ability to manipulate emotions through different editing techniques, and soundtrack changes, so when I watch these flicks I try not to be influenced by these things, and try to concentrate on the subject, but in this case, I don’t if it’s the directors doing or if it’s just Rodney Bingenheimer’s life – this was a sad and depressing film when it didn’t need to be. The man led a life most people would be envious of. His “girlfriend” only saw him as a friend, his family seems horribly uncomfortable around him, and his “assistant” appears to “betray” him. Sad stuff.

9. We Jam Econo – The Story of the Minutemen (2005)

This virtually a who’s who of the SST world. Even if you weren’t a huge Minutemen fan, it’s a very good film, and a nice stroll down memory lane.

8. Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten (2007)

I really love the Clash, and any and all information on these guys I eat up, but the campfire narrative could have been left out. Otherwise, very informative.

7. Punk: Attitude (2005)

This is decent flick. Unfortunately, too much time is spent on “no wave.”

6. American Hardcore (2006)

This is about the best documentary on punk I have ever seen. They put a heck of a lot of research into this, but like all things on this genre . . . things get left out, no Misfits, but otherwise a real good piece on the American Punk scene. My only real complaint is the complete bias towards Boston bands, both in the book and movie.

5. The Filth and the Fury (2000)

This was the best documentary on punk I had ever seen until American Hardcore. These guys were great.

The little commentaries from Billy Idol and Siouxsie Sioux really help create a fuller story. Good stuff.

4. End of The Century: The Story of The Ramones (2005)

Though I don’t truly believe these guys were “punk” by the definition I had growing up, they did play good stripped-down rock and roll, and the film is good. The scenes about Joey’s girlfriend being taken by Johnny, and Johnny basically saying he didn’t care about Joey were heavy.

3. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002)

If you don’t see this as a punk film, well . . . . sorry. These guys epitomized the punk vibe a few years before punk broke here in L.A. I still dig these guys (and gal, sorry Peggy).

2. Let Them Know: The Story of Youth Brigade and BYO Records (2009)

I was never a massive BYO or Youth Brigade fan, but this truly entertaining and informative. I have a new appreciation for these guys.

1. Punk’s Not Dead (2007)

What can I say, it’s great? They cover the entire history of punk, and then try to connect the pieces from the Sex Pistols to the Green Day/Sum 41 era, all without telling you what punk is and what’s not. I’ve watched it two or three times to try and absorb all the information. It’s good, and thorough.

Honorable mentions (these movies were released a year or two prior to the start of this decade, or were just not good enough to make the top 10): Fight Club, What We Do Is Secret.

Currently:
Reading: (For the first time in ages . . . nothing)
Listening: Everybody Out! – Struggle & Strife
Watching: Another State of Mind directed by Peter Stuart, and Adam Small

Free & legal download of the week: Dropkick Murphys – The Auld Triangle: http://www.epitaph.com/media/download/audio/125

Time Again
The Stories Are True
Released: April 25, 2006
Hell Cat Records
Produced by: Mike Green

Daniel Dart – Vocals
Elijah Reyes – Guitar
Oren Soffer – Bass
Ryan Purucker- Drums

01 Junkies
02 Say Again
03 Broken Bodies
04 The Stories Are True (Feat. Tim Armstrong)
05 Cold Concrete
06 Lost In Hollywood
07 Fallen Nation
08 Kenny
09 Criminals
10 Life On The Run
11 Fountain And Formosa
12 Deadly Nights
13 Streetwalker

One Sunday back in October, the family took a trip to the Topanga Mall, the Wife had to return shoes, and look for other shoes.

As my Son, and I started walking towards the play area, my Son spots Hot Topic. He grabs my hand, and pulls me towards it, and says “let’s go in, please.” Since his birth, all my response have been lifted from Princess Bride, “as you wish.”

He’s trying on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle masks, Venom mask (with tongue hanging out).

Then he’s browsing the t-shirt area, smiles and points at the Rancid shirts.

Then music in the store gets turned on, first some melancholy indie singer. You know the type, unshaven, torn t-shirt and jeans despite the million dollar record deal.

Then, like a bucket of water thrown on us, Slipknot is blaring over the speakers (cookie monster shrieking over grinding machinery). My Son looks at me then the speaker, and says “this is a monster. He’s yelling because he’s mad.”

I don’t think I could have summed it up better if I had hours to review this album.

I bought the Rancid t-shirt that afternoon. The picture on the front is of Rancid’s latest album, Let The Dominoes Fall. When I got home I pulled it out of the bag, and laid it on the bed, to keep it from wrinkling.

A couple of minutes later my Son walks in, looks at the shirt then back at me. I explain to him that these are the guys that sing “Disconnected,” his current favorite song.

He says ‘Oh’ and smiles. Then points at Tim Armstrong, and says ‘Why is he so mad?’

I didn’t have a quick answer, so I said ‘No, he’s fine, just thinking.’

On to the review . . .

There have been a few comparisons between vocalist Daniel Dart, and Rancid’s Tim Armstrong. I personally don’t hear them, but it’s not a bad guy to be compared to.

I first heard about these guys in an old issue of Loud Fast Rules, right around the time their second album was coming out. And on The Stories Are True they have Tim Armstrong on the track, it doesn’t hurt.

There are moments on this album that they are very reminiscent of ‘80’s Hardcore, then other moments where it seems forced. All in all they’re good.

I’ve included downloads for Junkies, and Cold Concrete below.

The standout cuts are The Stories Are True, and Fallen Nation.

If you can find it, buy it.
Rating: *** ** three out of five stars.

Currently:
Reading: Breakout by Richard Stark
Listening: Time Again – The Stories Are True
Watching: Crazy Love directed by Dan Klores

Free & legal download of the week: Time Again – Junkies: http://www.epitaph.com/media/download/audio/790, and Cold Concrete: http://www.epitaph.com/media/download/audio/778

999
999
Released: March 1978
United Artists Records
Produced by Andy Arthurs

Nick Cash – Guitar, Vocals
Guy Days – Guitar, Vocals
Pablo Labritain – Drums
Jon Watson – Bass, Vocals

1. Me and My Desire – 3:48
2. Chicane Destination – 2:43
3. Crazy – 3:39
4. Your Number Is My Number – 2:59
5. Hit Me – 2:56
6. I’m Alive (Cash/Days/Jon Watson) – 2:35
7. Titanic (My Over) Reaction – 3:34
8. Pick It Up – 2:44
9. Emergency – 2:53
10. No Pity – 2:00
11. Direct Action Briefing – 2:21
12. Nobody Knows (Cash/Days/Pablo Labritain/Watson) – 3:14

On October 31, 2009, I took my Son to breakfast at McDonald’s on Vanowen and Balboa. It was empty, quiet and the playground was open for him.

As a regular breakfast consumer of McDonald’s I get used to people panhandling. If I eat deeper into Van Nuys most people bypass me, thinking I don’t know Spanish, so they walk on.

I give change, or on occasion they just want my coffee cup before it’s thrown away.

On Sunday, I see a guy walk in, he looks like the mountain man from The Oak Ridge Boys. A little roughed up, but not dirty. Boots seemed clean. He didn’t seem to order; he placed his travel roll in a booth, and kind of walked around.

At this point my Son had finished his food, and wanted to play outside. So, we went to play.

After, about, a half an hour my Son was done, and wanted to head home. Right as I was starting to stand-up. The bearded Mountain Man came walking into the play area. I reached into my pocket, and pulled out a dollar. Before I could hand it over, the Man said I want you to have these. He proceed to give me two coupons for a free cup of coffee, one coupon for a free breakfast sandwich, and a gift card that he said “might only have forty cents on it, but use it to buy your little one an ice cream.”

I told him I couldn’t accept it, that he should keep it. Use it for tomorrow’s breakfast. He said, you keep it, I’m fine.

I pocketed my dollar, his coupons, and the gift card. Before I could look up, he was making his way out the driveway, pulling his travel roll. I called out to him, “let me drive you somewhere.”

He said no, I’m fine. He pointed to the bus stop, and said “there’s things I want to see.”

Turned left out of the driveway, and looked at him waiting for the bus, puzzled.

He stood looking up at the sky smiling.

On to the review . . .

In England the phone number for emergency service is 999, or at least is was when these guys chose the name. I know there have been efforts made to create one worldwide number.

999, the bands debut album of the same name, was released during the height of the British punk era, contained singles “I’m Alive”/”Quite Disappointing” and “Nasty Nasty”/”No Pity”

The album also contained “Emergency”, which was the start of the band’s more distinctive approach to their previous punk sound.

The standout cuts are Emergency, and I’m Alive.

If you can find it, buy it!!
Rating: *** ** three out of five stars.

Currently:
Reading: Breakout by Richard Stark
Listening: 999 – 999
Watching: American Hardcore directed by Paul Rachman

Free & legal download of the week: Tim Armstrong – Oh No: http://www.epitaph.com/media/download/audio/984

As we close out the decade, I’ve been reading more and more top 10 lists, so I thought I would give you my top 10 punk albums of the decade. So, for the whiners, I know, I know you’re going to say “Dude, I can’t believe you left off Bob’s Bung-Hole, their album Parking In The Gimp Spot was a frickin’ classic!” Guess what? My list, my picks!

10. Billy Idol – Devil’s Playground, 2005
I don’t care what people think of this. I dig this album, and it gets better the more you play it. Enjoy!

9. Bad Religion – New Maps of Hell, 2007
This is the first album they’ve done in 25-something years that has reminded me of How Could Hell Be Any Worse? and that is a good thing.

8. TSOL – Divided We Stand, 2003
Another good, strong album. These guys have always had great musical chops. I do miss Todd’s big booming, tribal drumming.

7. Henry Rollins – Provoked, 2008
Sorry all you Hank-Haters, but to hear him imitate Raymond Pettibon, and David Lee Roth alone is worth the price.

6. Street Dogs – State Of Grace, 2008
Another great group out Boston. Jean-Paul over at Headline insisted I buy this. He basically said everything else they’ve is so-so, but this one is great. He was right.

5. Marked Men – Ghosts, 2009
Lisa at Frontier gave me a copy of this. She thought this was the greatest album of the moment. She was right.

4. Cobra Skulls – American Rubicon, 2009
Based on my friend Jay’s accolades for this band I broke down and bought this. Good, fun-driving music. If this doesn’t decrease road-rage by 10%, you should get your money back.

3. Dear Landlord – Dream Homes, 2009
I discovered this band in Razorcake; in their top five picks (two-page spread) half of the staff had chosen this album, so I had to find out what the fuss was about. Good stuff.

2. Rancid – Let the Dominoes Fall, 2009
A great collection of songs. I think my five-year-old may like this just a pinch more than me.

1. Everybody Out! – Everybody Out!, 2008
Who did you think would end up here? Again, thanks to Curtis for recommending this to me.

Honorable mentions (these albums were released a year or two prior to the start of this decade): Rancid – And Out Come The Wolves, Whatever – Youngsters.

Currently:
Reading: A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemmingway
Listening: Street Dogs – State of Grace
Watching: A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints directed by Dito Montiel

Free & legal download of the week: Tim Armstrong – Hold On: http://www.epitaph.com/media/download/audio/940