Personality Cult, NEW ARROWS (Dirtnap Records) No slight against this band, but the first time I listened to NEW ARROWS, I didn’t see how I was going to write about it. That’s on me. And that, along with the fact that the music sounded great, is the reason I listened to it again, and again, … Continue reading Personality Crisis-NEW ARROWS
Category: Society & Culture
Variables and Votes
I’ve heard a worrisome number of liberals and progressives say that they’re not voting in the 2020 elections. They don’t vote. Both parties are the same. There’s no difference among the candidates. I would genuinely like to know why. Do they really believe that both parties and all candidates are 100% alike? And if they … Continue reading Variables and Votes
Sentimental Saturday
Here's one from TWO THOUSAND AND FUCKING SIX! One poem, I mean. Enjoy, poetry junkies! A Sing-Songy Thing (With Which to Sing Along) At a point there’s a story and at some point the story begins. There are things you do (do you see?) and I see them. I saw you gawking when you saw … Continue reading Sentimental Saturday
Types
There are several types of people who visit my blog. Most are curious randoms. Some come for (now) incendiary band interviews, record reviews and recommendations, and other music-related contact. Many more come for the poetry, including followers I've had for a decade. I really appreciate that. Others come here for the mental-illness angle, some of them … Continue reading Types
INTERVIEW: SIDEKICK KATO
My first band interview is with a band. They're The Sidekick Katos. SIDEKICK KATO was a major entity in the Chicago punk scene in the 1990's, bringing their own brand of hardcore emo and indie rock to venues across Chicago and its suburbs. They developed a passionate, Budweiser-soaked cult following, releasing their first album, First Class … Continue reading INTERVIEW: SIDEKICK KATO
NICE COPS-EP
Nice Cops, EP Nice Cops! Ha! Great name. Although maybe in Winnipeg it’s not ironic. But this is a punk band, at its core at least, so it probably is. Piano! Clean piano features on (I believe) 2 of these 3 tracks, and that extra layer makes their sound all the more rich. This is … Continue reading NICE COPS-EP
Humble Drips
High productivity and sleep problems persist. It's Practice Day (guitar and bass), so I may not do any reviews, but probably will by midnight CST. You know me. Wrote the chorus for a new song today, and the poems keep coming. High anxiety, but I'm managing it. Punk rock (Al Quint's Sonic Overload) and writing. Donate … Continue reading Humble Drips
Throwback on Saira’s Birthday
HARD TAR The cicadas are perfect they sound like they belong here now Past exhaustion and passed by by hundreds on highways Sweat up and down stairs Ice wasting on hard tar Powdered paychecks swollen necks my word what is this weather? Hard tar encrusted desks busts of Pope John Paul the Second (II) eating … Continue reading Throwback on Saira’s Birthday
Poem for Truckers I Knew
MICHIGAN I talk religion at work, walk away when I’m done, and Archie has the worst breath I’ve ever sniffed. Lou wants trips to MI, where lives some “broad” he’d like to give a poke. Too much on the plate. Jersey is clogging the arteries, pornography plugging up the arsenal. Some days you wanna stick a … Continue reading Poem for Truckers I Knew
Brainflakes: Someone, Somewhere
BRAINFLAKES, Someone, Somewhere (Hidden Home) I talk about the weather a lot. I know it. Perhaps it’s a Midwestern thing, a Chicago thing, or just me. People balk at “talk about the weather” but really it’s something we all experience in common. And you can’t deny it’s a factor when it’s extreme. Brainflakes makes emo … Continue reading Brainflakes: Someone, Somewhere
Mood Swingset
My bipolar's in full swing. Yesterday was a very odd, off kinda day. I swear, Mondays are the same anywhere; it doesn't matter if you work a 9-5 or not. I'd gotten a decent night's sleep, then got some (more!) good news in the morning. I had plenty to do, but I was feeling irrationally … Continue reading Mood Swingset
RATIONAL ANTHEM: It’s Only Permanent
RATIONAL ANTHEM, It's Only Permanent (A-F Records) “Pop punk born in Florida, Midwest living.” Oof, that’s rough. But this Iowa City trio nails Midwest living. Though their songs are ostensibly, mostly about girls, as with so much pop punk the “songs about girls” are just a medium. I listened to this first on its release day, … Continue reading RATIONAL ANTHEM: It’s Only Permanent
DJUNAH: Ex Voto
DJUNAH, Ex Voto Goddamn, this is rad! This is the first (and second) time I've listened to Djunah before. Right off the bat, this Chicago two piece is pounding and shredding away. This is noise rock with an emphasis on rock. Most people hear “noise” and think right away of noodling, but no; Djunah has … Continue reading DJUNAH: Ex Voto
Redemption?
Ahoy, mates! Your old pal has bucked up a bit, and I wanted to post a revised poem to make up for my ranting earlier. Enjoy! TOO MANY NEIGHBORS Come at last full circle, horizontal. One rogue vertical blind sways perpetual, pendulum-like. Somewhere near: a party. Above: the creak of 2 AM feet. I put … Continue reading Redemption?
I Don’t Wanna [Insert Undesirable Activity]
Hello, neighbors! I look like like shit right now. I'll own it. Well, technically that was on Halloween, when we got a snowstorm here in Chicago. HO HO HO. In any case, I'm gonna launch into Whiny Adolescent Mode, because I need to vent, and that's the easy way to do it. This is why … Continue reading I Don’t Wanna [Insert Undesirable Activity]
Anxiety Blisters In The Sun
I have bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder (and one or two other disorders.) The anxiety is the worst, and most consistent. I'm also a night owl. I feel better at night; my anxiety is highest during the day. So I was wondering: could this be biological? Are some people … Continue reading Anxiety Blisters In The Sun
CHOKED UP-Dichoso Corazon
CHOKED UP-Dichoso Corazon (Independent; cassette release through the wonderful Get Better Records) I’m gonna make this easy: this fucking rocks. That won’t surprise anyone familiar with Cristy C. Road, Choked Up, or the Homewreckers. Road is a veteran of the DIY scene, seasoned in zines, comics and great fucking punk rock. She also did the amazing … Continue reading CHOKED UP-Dichoso Corazon
American Draft Returns!
AMERICAN DRAFT, Rescue American Draft first formed in 1999, an undersung stalwart of progressive, instrumental music, which wasn't in at the time. The band is comprised of four dudes who have been friends for even longer than that; former or current members of Volta Do Mar, Tongues, and OR, all of whom you should check out. … Continue reading American Draft Returns!
Notes of A Mad Blogger
Welcome! If I may repeat myself, I recently (as of 10/25/2019) repurposed my old, basically dormant blog (fka WAR DURING LIFETIME) to be a (mostly) music blog. I have a large archive of stories, poems and essays here, for now at least. But due to my obsession with music and my proclivity for writing, it … Continue reading Notes of A Mad Blogger
Halloween ’19 Pt. 3
Gigillas, "Boys" (Single) From their Facebook page: "gigilla - is a fruit of love of GG Allin and chinchilla (oh, what a nightmare!), a pretty little thing who bites someone she loves cause you might be a damn cutie Pretty girls - shitty songs" A fun little poppy punk tune reminiscent of The Go Go's, … Continue reading Halloween ’19 Pt. 3