What We Do Is Secret
Director: Rodger Grossman
Rhino Films
Released: 2007

Shane West … Darby Crash
Bijou Phillips … Lorna Doom
Rick Gonzalez … Pat Smear
Noah Segan … Don Bolles

Punk rock has always had so many rules to follow, rules that if not followed, you’re a poser. You didn’t go to Oki Dog’s on Friday, you’re a poser. You didn’t hang out in one of the train cars, and get arrested in front of Godzilla’s, you are poser.

Well, now that I’m creeping towards my mid-forties, there is a new set of rules that I stumbled upon accidentally.

It seems that if you’re an older dude, forty plus years old, and you’re a Hollywood guy, or fancy your self as an intellectual, you have to start wearing Clark Kent glasses. It doesn’t matter how good your eyesight is, you have start dressing like Greg Hetson. I don’t make the rules, I only enforce them.

On top of the glasses you have to buy a truckload of semi-ironic or downright stupid t-shirts. A guy I used to work with used to wear his Spice World t-shirt once a week. Every week someone would ask him if he liked the Spice Girls, and he’d always flash this condescending smile and say “Oh, of course, I can’t wait for them to tour again.” In other words, buy shirts that you think are stupid, so when you’re asked about them you can ridicule these poor tools.

Now that we got that straight, the next set of rules are as follows: If you’re an older dude, forty plus years old, and you’re a rowdier guy, possibly an ex-HB punk, or fancy your self as a rough-neck, you have to start dressing as if you work in a 1950’s style auto garage. It doesn’t matter what your real job is, you have start dressing like Mike Ness. I don’t make the rules, I only enforce them.

So, if you fit into this category, this is what you need to do. Get to Wal-Mart this weekend, buy one pair of work shoes, preferably Wolverines, then four or five Dickie’s work shirts, and three or four pairs of matching Dickie’s pants.

To give yourself that worked all day in the garage look, throw some garden pebbles in the dryer with your clothes.

Now, the hard part of adopting this look is the tattooing. You have to get tattooed from chin to sack. Again, I don’t make the rules, I only enforce them.

Ask relatives to give you tattoo gift cards for Birthday’s and Holiday’s, after all it’s costly to look poor.

Earrings are no longer a necessary accessory for either of the above two “looks.” Wear at your own discretion.

Now there is one addendum to rule number two (the Mike Ness rule), if you are in your thirties, and are Hispanic you have to follow the Mike Ness rule of dress, but you have to throw in a pompadour, or a bit of a Nick 13 or Tiger Army look. I don’t make the rules, I only enforce them.

I hope I have helped all the confused middle-aged punks out there. It took me a while to figure out how to grow old and be a punk, but these fashion icons, Greg Hetson, Mike Ness and Nick 13 have shown me the way. In turn, I give you my information.

Again, I don’t make the rules, I only enforce them.

On to the review . . .

I haven’t read very good reviews for this flick, but I had to watch it. I heard about this thing soooooooooooo many years ago. They’d film, stop, and get the funds together, film again. So, it was a long time to wait. But unfortunately it’s not what I expected.

You can tell everybody tried real hard, but it still came across as a made for TV kind of movie. The grittiness of Darby’s life was missing. The drugs, the song-writing process, the homosexuality. Don’t get me wrong it’s all shown, but in a very clean homogenized fashion.

I’m glad someone went to the effort to make this. The story should be out there, but it wasn’t like I remember it.

I hear Disney is working on one called The Aristocats 2: The Greg Ginn Story. Could be good, Lee Ving could do the voice of Greg’s favorite cat.

If you get the chance to see this, give it a shot.

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

Currently:
Reading: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Listening: Marked Men – Ghosts
Watching: Yes Man directed by Peyton Reed

Keeping with the theme of the past couple of shows, this week I concentrated on one particular area. Massachusetts has a great history in punk and hardcore, and I swear this isn’t just one long Taang! commercial. I can’t help it if they put out some amazing records. If the recording this week is a bit off I apologize, after a reformat I still haven’t adjusted my microphone quite right.

Right Click To Download

Time: 64:51
File Size: 86.1MB

Tracks played:
01. Jerry’s Kids – Torn Apart (Kill Kill Kill)
02. Gang Green – Kill A Commie (Preschool)
03. The FU’s Civil Defense (Kill For Christ)
04. Groinoids – Angel (This Is Boston, Not L.A. compilation)
05. Blood Vessels – Catholic Zombies (Blood Vessels)
06. The Not – Kids Survive (Kids Survive EP)
07. Mission of Burma – That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate (Vs)
08. General Foodz – Be So Funny (single)
09. Gremies – No Surfin’ In Dorchester Bay (single)
10. Dennis Most and the Instigators – Excuse My Spunk (single)
11. The Freeze – So Long Ago (Land of the Lost)
12. Bastard Squad – Road Crew (I’ve Got My Friends compilation)
13. DYS – More Than Fashion (Brotherhood)
14. Deep Wound – Time to Stand (Bands That Could Be God compilation)
15. Siege – Conform (Drop Dead)
16. Wrecking Crew – Balance of Terror (1987-1991)
17. Impact Unit – Dead Meat (My Friend the Pit)
18. SSD – Police Beat (The Kids Will Have Their Say)
19. Negative FX – Out Of Our Minds (Negative FX/Last Rights compilation)
20. Slapshot – No Time Left (Step On It)
21. Broken Toys – Smash Some Pumpkins (single)
22. Showcase Showdown – Oi Oi Deacon (Appetite of Kings)
23. Lemomheads – Hate Your Friends (Hate Your Friends)
24. Pinkerton Thugs – Don’t Tread On Me (End of an Era)
25. Proletariot – Instinct (Voodoo Economics)
26. Bullet LaVolta – Auto Pilot (Bullet LaVolta EP)
27. Spitzz – I’m Not Alive (single)
28. Mongrel – Shut Your Mouth (Open Your Eyes) (Fear, Lies and Propaganda)
29. Vile – I’m a Punk (Solution)
30. Libyans – Welcome To The Neighborhood (EP)

Bleeding Through
The Truth
Label: Trustkill Records
Released: 2006

Brandan Schieppati – lead vocals, guitars
Brian Leppke – guitars
Dave Nassie – guitars
Ryan Wombacher – bass, backing vocals
Marta Peterson – keyboards
Derek Youngsma – drums, percussion

1. For Love and Failing -3:33
2. Confession -2:39
3. Love in Slow Motion -4:35
4. The Painkiller -2:36
5. Kill to believe -3:57
6. Dearly Demented (feat. Nick 13 from Tiger Army) -5:22
7. Line in the Sand -4:09
8. She’s gone -1:31
9. Tragedy of Empty Streets -2:57
10. Return to Sender -4:20
11. Hollywood Prison -2:52
12. The Truth -4:17

Back in High School, in 1983 when I was in eleventh grade I decided to bleach my hair out. Let me rephrase this, when my friends were high, and I had a few Heinekens in me, my friend decided I should bleach my hair.

Well, either there wasn’t enough bleach or my hair was too dark, but I walked around with hair that was the color of burnt rust. Well, this was corrected a month or so later. Two girls from school told me to pack a bag and they’d pick me up on a Friday night, and they’d fix my hair and have me back by Sunday night. Unfortunately, this isn’t the story I’m pursuing here. I’ll save that for later.

So, I’m back at school sporting yellow/white hair. Thinking I’m the coolest thing around. What I didn’t anticipate was I was now a target for every chicken hawk in the San Fernando Valley.

I told you that, in order to tell you this: One day in the summer of 1983, I’m leaving my job at McDonald’s in Reseda. I didn’t have a car, and I didn’t like waiting on buses. So, 90% of the time I walked the 1.8 miles to and from the job to and from home everyday.

One Saturday I was scheduled to work the 8:00 am to 12:00 pm shift. Perfect shift. I’m getting off of work just as all my friends were sleeping off the effects of the night before.

So, I take off my work shirt, and shuffle down Sherman Way from about Wilbur, heading towards Reseda Blvd, (a half a block from Bebop Records, and The Country Club, Reseda’s punk landmarks). I cross Reseda Blvd, and halfway through the intersection a guy in a convertible sports car honks at me. I turn and give him the pissed off look and, more than likely, throw an obscene gesture. But the whole way across the intersection he’s smiling, all the while I’m giving him the “F-You” look.

I get across Reseda, wait at the light to cross Sherman Way, and I see the sports car flip a u-turn. So, I rush across the street, ready for whatever this guy brings. Just as I get across the street, he pulls up along side me, and offers me a ride. This throws me off completely, if he was just another guy yelling “Devo Sucks!” I could handle it, but he’s picking up on me. I tell him to get lost, and book it into a rug shop. I’m hustling down one of the aisles looking for a back exit, I come around a corner, and the dude is standing there smiling. I freak and run out the front door.

As I’m running down Sherman Way, here comes the sports car AGAIN! I tell him to fuck off, and run for it. This time I run into the Reseda Newsstand. I know this place, I look for the back exit, it’s all blocked up, and they’re receiving a delivery. I’m going back down one of the aisles and here’s the smiling guy again. I charge him, knocking him into a rack of books.

Now I’m heading down Sherman Way going towards Lindley. I spot a pay-phone, I stop and call my Mom, not home, call my friend Eric, no answer, my last bit of change I call a girl from school, Sharla – answering machine.

Next to the phone was this guy from school, who was a rocker guy, hung out with the stoners. No one thought much about this guy. Then one day at school this preppie guy named David started mouthing off to him, then he broke out all this martial arts stuff, and left David with a severed Achilles tendon.

So, I hang-up from my last phone call, I look over and see this rocker guy. I think his name was Richard. He looks over at me then at the sports car approaching. The guy in the car now has a slight bloody nose from the newsstand fall. Richard nods over to the Licorice Pizza, half a block away.

I take off towards the record shop, and look back to see where the car is. It’s about a block back, and then to give Richard a quick nod.

I run to Licorice Pizza’s counter, and act like I’m dying, and ask for the bathroom, they say it’s for employees only, then I tell them I’m not responsible for what I leave on their carpet. The guy takes me back to the restroom. He leaves, I bone out the back door. The alley behind Licorice Pizza, is huge, bigger than a neighborhood block. So, I run through it, get to Lindley, and head towards Vanowen, looking back, there is nobody following me.

I see Reseda High School, and I know I’m almost home. Once I get there, my Mom’s home. I’m amped “where were you?” She just walked in, and insists on taking me to the police station to file a report. I know nothing will come of it. We file anyway, weird guy, gold convertible. Yeah, yeah, we’ll keep an eye out. I call my other friends, everyone is home now. I’m pissed. But safe.

I had never been pursued by anyone male or female like that before, nor have I pursued anyone like that. I was 17 and it tweaked me at the time,

I worked at that McDonald’s until I was 18 ½ and never saw that guy or car again. Weirdo.

On to the review . . .

Everybody I know has been checking out Tiger Army lately. I’ve had five or six people ask me if I have a copy of their song Forever Fades Away. So when I’m out and about I keep an eye out for their different releases, and I saw that Nick 13 sings on this song Dearly Demented. Unfortunately, Nick’s vocal on this song is kind of like a steaming pile of crap on a rose bush. If you can dig through the shit you can find a thing of beauty. The few seconds of good vocals can’t make up for the hour or so of horrendous “cookie monster” vocals on the rest of the album. In conclusion:

The album blows Donkey Dong!

If you get the chance to set a copy of this on fire, go do it.

Rating: * **** minus one out of five stars.

Currently:
Reading: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Listening: Henry Rollins – Provoked
Watching: About A Boy directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz

Agression
Don’t Be Mistaken
Label: BYO Records
Released: 1983

Mark Hickey – vocals
Henry Knowles – guitar
“Big” Bob Clark – bass guitar
Bruce. W – drums

1. It Can Happen
2. Brain Bondage
3. Non Person
4. Body Count
5. Money Machine
6. No Mercy
7. Don’t Be Mistaken
8. Intense Energy
9. S.A.T.C.
10. Locals Only
11. Insomnia
12. Secret Sex
13. Stop the Clock
14. Cat Killer

I read an article recently about a kid who was kidnapped outside of a grocery store, while sitting in his stroller and his Mom was shopping inside. This happened in New York during the ‘50’s. There were 10 or 15 strollers outside all with kids. I guess this was common practice.

The Mom came out and the kid was gone, huge manhunt. The boy was never found. Mom’s stopped leaving their kids outside of stores. In a way, it killed the innocence of that city.

Now, 50 years later a man emerged, and says he is that “boy” who was napped all those years ago.

It got me thinking about a time in which, I feel, my innocence disappeared. I was about 11 or 12 years old. Ready to start Jr. High, and I started to deliver a little, local, San Fernando Valley newspaper called The Chronicle. You delivered it to everybody (once a week) and at the end of the month you would try to collect. Some would pay; most would just say they threw it away.

There was one house in Reseda, on a street named Jamieson Ave., where every time I went to collect the dollar or two, the guy would tip me, like, $5.00. It made no sense, but I liked the money. This went on for a couple of months. Finally, he asked if I could do some yard work for him. Pulling weeds, shoveling dirt. I ask my Mom, gave her the address, she said OK.

First day I arrive, he lets me into the place, I had only ever been to the door before, and the walls were covered with all these strange nude photographs that he had taken. Women doing gymnastics, nude joggers, very strange to me, but I acted like I didn’t notice them.

I worked everyday for about a week, digging out planters, pulling weeds, filling trashcans, the usual grunt work. On day five, a Friday, my Mom packed me a lunch, sandwiches, yogurt, juice. So, around 12:30 the guy comes out and tells me to take a lunch break. So, I sit down and start eating, and he says come to the back and eat in the sun, so I stroll back. He tells me to take my t-shirt off and enjoy the sun, I tell him “I’m OK,” he says it again, come on, as he takes his off. I was too naïve, I should have seen the red flags, I took my shirt off.

He goes into the house, and comes back out without a shirt, and a pair of jeans that is torn up the back, and his ass is hanging out. I am getting so uncomfortable I am about to crawl out of my skin. I’m trying to act like I think an adult would, and ignore everything weird, and carrying on with my lunch. Then he breaks out a backgammon board and sets it up and insists we play.

Then three moves into the game, my Mom comes walking into the backyard. Apparently, she knocked on the door, no one answered, she walked in and saw all the porn shots on the wall, freaked-out, called out to me a few times, and nothing, ran into the backyard, me and the guy were shirtless, and his ass was hanging out. She almost had a heart attack. She initially came by to give me more juice, and now she tells the guy I have a doctor’s appointment. The guy says no problem, and that he has enough work to keep me busy for the rest of the summer. My Mom says “we’ll see, could you just pay him for his current work.”

My Mom shook the whole drive home, all 2 blocks of it. Asking me about the pictures, the ass-less pants, etc. Was I touched? Finally, a day or so later, she drove me back to tell the guy I couldn’t come back, I was going to camp. He seemed bummed.

At the end of the month I came to collect for the paper, he paid, but no tip. Sitting in his office, with the odd photos was a former elementary classmate named Dale, Bonner I think. He was now delivering a rival newspaper, the guy was now giving Dale the same speech, pull weeds, and dig, etc. He was giving Dale a big tip. Apparently, he told Dale I quit, because Dale was shaking his head looking at me like I was an asshole. I grabbed the money for my paper route, and left.

The next week when I came to deliver the paper, the guy’s home had six foot wood fencing all around the property. You couldn’t see what was going on inside at all.

I delivered the paper until the start of 8th grade. I don’t know what became of the guy or Dale.

On to the review . . .

I loved these guys on the Someone Got Their Head Kicked In comp that BYO put out in 1982. The energy, the vocals. Everything about them was hot.

A year later this album gets put out, and only half the energy is there. Something happened. Not a bad album, but it feels like two different groups.

If you get the chance to get a copy of this, go get it.

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

Currently:
Reading: Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger
Listening: Fugazi – 13
Watching: This Is Elvis directed by Andrew Solt

This week is a tribute to our neighbors uo North. An all-Canadian show you ask? Yes indeed.

Right Click To Download

Time: 61:41
File Size: 84.7MB

Tracks played:
01. Subhumans – Oh Canaduh (Death to the Sickoids)
02. Viletones – Danger Boy (Look Back In Anger EP)
03. Active Dog – Good Filthy Fun (single)
04. Gentlemen of Horror – God Knows You By Name (Sterling Death EP)
05. Down Syndrome – Solitary Confinement (Down Syndrome EP)
06. Hot Nasties – I Am a Confused Teenager (Invasion of the Tribbles)
07. SNFU – Real Men Don’t Watch Quincy (Real Men Don’t Watch Quincy EP)
08. Negative Gain – One Way Livin’ (Back From the Dead)
09. Death Sentence – Dawn Of The Dead (Not a Pretty Sight)
10. Crash Kills Five – Special School (What Do You Do At Night?)
11. Genetic Control – 1984 (First Impressions EP)
12. Neos – Life Sentence (End All Discrimination EP)
13. Sons of Ishmael – Mr. Personality (Hayseed Hardcore)
14. Bill of Rights – What Do You Say (Meltdown EP)
15. Dry Heaves – Portable (Shoot Yourself single)
16. Personality Crisis – The Look (1979-1984)
17. Forgotten Rebels – Angry (Burning the Flag EP)
18. Stretch Marks – Force Fucker (Who’s In Charge EP)
19. Diodes – Tired of Waking Up Tired (single)
20. M.S.I. – Shopping Mall Massacre (More Stupid Initials EP)
21. D.O.A. – D.O.A (Hardcore 81)
22. Dayglo Abortions – Proud To Be A Canadian (Feed US A Fetus)
23. Fucked Up – Last Man Standing (Epics In Minutes)
24. Flesh Columns – Time’s Up (Sehweigew Vor Dem Sturm single)
25. Hanson Brothers – Blitzkreig Hops (Gross Misconduct)
26. NoMeansNo – Dad (Sex Mad)
27. Braineaters – Edge (Braineater single)
28. Brutal Knights – Your Fired, I Quit (Feast of Shame)
29. Career Suicide – Saving Face (Attempted Suicide)
30. Terminal State – Your Rules (single)

Number 10
Nip Drivers

Stupid name, racial stereotype. Forgotten band.

Number 9
Tar Babies

Stupid name, racial stereotype. Forgotten band.

Number 8
The Dicks

By today’s standards the name is mild. Back in the early ‘80’s it was enough to force parents to cancel your Flipside subscription.

Number 7
The Gonads

Stupid name for the group that featured the British writer Gary Bushell, known over there as the Godfather of Oi.

Number 6
Dead Kennedys

By today’s standards the name is mild. Back in the early ‘80’s it was enough to force parents to cancel Flipside subscriptions. Statement they thought they were going make . . . missed the mark.

Number 5
White Pride

Stupid name, racial stereotype. Forgotten band from Saint Louis.

Number 4
Clitboys

Stupid name, from the band from Wisconsin.

Number 3
Crucifucks

A blasphemous name for the group from Michigan.

Number 2
Nashville Pussy

Not a punk band, but stupid, and mildly offense for no other purpose than to be offensive. Offensive in a white trash, doublewide trailer sort of way.

Number 1
Anal Cunt

Not exactly punk, but definitely offensive in a white trash, doublewide trailer sort of way

Currently:
Reading: American Hardcore by Steven Blush
Listening: Agression –Don’t Be Mistaken
Watching: WALL-E directed by Andrew Stanton (I have a 4-year-old!)

It’s an all California lineup this week. It really is amazing how much good music can come out of one state, even if limited to just the Southern portion.

Right Click To Download

Time: 65:20
File Size: 86.5MB

Tracks played:
01. Bad Religion – We’re Only Gonna Die (How Could Hell Be Any Worse?)
02. Youth Brigade – Sink With California (Sink With Kalifornia)
03. D.I. – Hang Ten In East Berlin (Ancient Artifacts)
04. Circle Jerks – World Up My Ass (Group Sex)
05. Black Flag – Depression (Everything Went Black)
06. Bags – We Will Bury You (All Bagged Up)
07. Weirdos – Destroy All Music (Destroy All Music)
08. Germs – Richie Daggers Crime (MIA)
09. Mau Maus – We All Fall Down (Hell Comes To Your House 2 compilation)
10. The Skulls – Victims (What Stuff compilation)
11. Overkill – Burn the School (Hell’s Getting Hotter)
12. Middle Class – Out of Vogue (single)
13. Wasted Youth – Teenage Nark (Reagan’s In)
14. Stains – Get Revenge (Stains)
15. Crewd – We Don’t Give a Fuck (Gather Round EP)
16. Claude Coma and the IV’s – Junkman (single)
17. The Dickies – You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla) (single)
18. Eyes – TAQN (single)
19. Artistic Decline – Andy Warhol (single)
20. Deadbeats – Kill the Hippies (single)
21. Benedict Arnold and the Traitors – Kill the Hostages (single)
22. Modern Warfare – Dayglow (single)
23. Rik L Rik – Mercenaries (Beach Blvd. compilation)
24. Channel 3 – You Make Me Feel Cheap (I’ve Got a Gun)
25. China White – Dangerzone (single)
26. Red Cross – Annette’s Got The Hits (EP)
27. Flesh Eaters – Disintegration Nation (single)
28. Adolescents – Amoeba (Adolescents)
29. Absentees – Tryin’ To Mess With Me (single)
30. Social Distortion – Another State of Mind (Mommy’s Little Monster)

Social Distortion
Greatest Hits
2007 – Time Bomb Recordings
Produced by Various

Mike Ness – Vocals, Guitar
Dennis Danell – Guitar (tracks 1-9)
Brent Liles – Bass (tracks 1- 2)
Derek O’Brien – Drums (tracks 1- 2)
John Maurer – Bass (tracks 3-10)
Christopher Reece – Drums (tracks 3-9)
Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham – Guitar (tracks 10-12)
Charlie Quintana – Drums (tracks 10-12)
Brent Harding – Bass (tracks 11-12)

1. Another State Of Mind
2. Mommy’s Little Monster
3. Prison Bound
4. Story Of My Life
5. Ball And Chain
6. Ring Of Fire
7. Bad Luck
8. When The Angels Sing
9. I Was Wrong
10. Reach For The Sky
11. Far Behind
(Some import or online versions include 1945 and/or Maybellene.)

I don’t usually do “celebrity” pieces, but something caught my eye in the papers the other day. The actor David Carradine passed away.

I grew-up not liking him, or his acting. I was a fan of the Green Hornet TV show, and loving or rather wanting to be Bruce Lee. So, being a Bruce Lee fan I was always a little pissed to find out that Carradine stole the concept for the show Kung Fu from Bruce Lee. Lee proposed it, the studios were unsure of a show starring a Chinese actor. They weren’t sure it would sell. Lee went to China and made some kick ass movies, and Carradine went out and proposed Kung Fu as his show, and it sold.

If the show wasn’t taken, Bruce Lee might not have ever made Enter the Dragon — meaning the legend might not have ever been created.

Another irony is years later when the show was revamped on channel 13, or a similar station, Lee’s son Brandon was hired to be Carradine’s trainee. Too funny.

Fast forward to 2003, David Carradine is now the star of Quentin Tarantino’s two-part tribute to all things martial arts: Kill Bill. When these flicks came out I had no desire to see them. I thought Tarantino had strayed from the initial formula of Reservoir Dogs, and Pulp Fiction with Jackie Brown (Four Rooms was OK).

Anyway, at the end of 2003, I took my two nephews to a comic book convention in Pasadena, CA. They were heavily promoting the Hell Boy, and Kill Bill movies. The creator of The Crow comic book was supposed to be there.

So, I wander over to talk to the Crow guy (the movie starred Brandon Lee), the guy standing at his table said that he had just walked off to lunch. Cool. I turn around, and I bump into a table, and sitting at that table is: David Carradine. I turn, and he’s looking at me out of the corner of his eyes, so I smile, and say “Hi.” he turns around, and starts a conversation with some guy sitting behind him. I think maybe I should comment on Kill Bill, so I say, “congratulations on the success.” Again looks at me out of the corner of his eyes, then looks back at his new friend, and rolls his eyes. I stand there for a minute, look at one of my nephews, and say as quietly as I can, “fuck you, you stupid old prick. If it wasn’t for people like us, you’d still be hawking your whack-ass tai chi DVD’s on late night TV.” Asshole. The new friend looked shocked, Carradine looked slightly bored.

So, when I read he passed a day or so back, it was weird because I still hated the guy.

On to the review . . .