The Dissident Times

God's Othello Set

2016-03-14T16:10:00.001-04:00

Flying over Kansas and Nebraska, the patchwork of farmland below looks odd. Lots of squares and the occasional circle. Reminds me of the old board game Othello with the black and white tiles laid out.

8,000 miles and counting

2016-03-11T07:46:00.001-05:00

This has been a busy year for me as far as travel. Even though it's only March, I've already logged around eight thousand miles in the air. I'm using a website called openflights.org. It's pretty neat because it tracks your distance, airtime and flight segments. It's great for plane spotters or just regular people with OCD like myself. Next week will probably put me over 10,000 miles for 2016 since I'm going to Rapid City, South Dakota. It makes me tired just to think about it. I've already spent over one entire 24 hour day in the air and who knows how many hours sitting at airport gates waiting to board. Ironically, I still enjoy travel.

No Mud Wrestling in this Debate

2016-03-10T23:32:00.001-05:00

A Republican debate is like a WWE event or a Monster Truck rally. It brings out the ugly in all of us. Tonight was a disappointment though. The RNC must have slipped a tranquilizer in their water glasses. They looked like Middle School boys trying not to be Middle School boys. Where were the dick jokes? The booger eating? Mark my words, the ratings will drop.

Trump Products?

2016-03-10T15:02:00.001-05:00

Could a person really buy Trump steaks? Or maybe his magazine? Looks like the infomercial from the other night was a farce. Websites as diverse as NPR and the Blaze agree on this. How anyone can consider voting for this man is unfathomable. I guess the George Carlin theory was correct,. Think how stupid the average person is. Now, half the people are DUMBER THAN THAT. Depression.

Rancid on tour withTranspants

2013-05-13T19:56:00.001-04:00

For those lucky enough to be in the path of this hurricane, get out and see this great band. Limited dates in the US and UK. What Rancid album is your favorite? I toggle between" Life Won't Wait" and Rancid (2000). Check out the website for dates.

2013-05-11T16:48:00.000-04:00

Just gave a listen to the new outing from Jeremy Porter and the Tucos, Partners in Crime. They will be coming to the Rudyard Kipling here in Louisville on June 7th. Here are the details:
Jeremy Porter & The Tucos
w/3 on the Floor and 3GC
The Rudyard Kipling - LouisvilleFriday June 7th - 10PM - $5.

What I hear is a nice mash-up of power pop and alternative country. I can hear a little Guadalcanal Diary from the "Jamboree" era. What did I ever do with that cd? I have lost so many greats. Jeremy's voice has a honesty and earnest quality reminiscent of John Doe or Paul Westerberg, not following the temptation to drown in a fake southern accent as some are wont to do... There is a great jangle of pop guitar emanating from the Gretsch hollowbody, piled up atop the bedrock of Fender bass and tight drums. They have more punch than your typical alt country band, more reminiscent of Gin Blossoms and Bob Mould post Husker era. "Little Miss Awesome" could be Bob except the vocals are better.
So you owe yourself a listen to this cd. I do a lot of driving in my day job, and will put this cd in heavy rotation on the Bluetooth. There is a nice balance of material here and it is all moving forward. Great production value, lovingly crafted pop-tinged jangle that defies easy classification. Mature songwriting and well crafted tunesmanship. "Wedding Day" has a beautiful bell-like guitar rhythm backing and nicely layered vocals. Solos are tastefully done, simply playing the notes that fit the song well. "Pizza Girl" has a Byrds "Mr. Spaceman" feel to it. "Barely All the Time" has the lonely feel of Steve Earl playing "My Old Friend the Blues" before kicking in the afterburners. This is the kind of stuff they would be playing on pop radio if there were any justice in the world...
Check them out in the intimate setting of the Rudyard Kipling. The venue is like the band, a mix of the folksy and the urban, artistic but not pretentious.
www.jeremyportermusic.com

Great new walking path in Louisville

2013-02-19T18:31:00.001-05:00

The Waterfront Development Corporation has opened the path over the Ohio River via the abandoned Big Four RR bridge. This bridge was built in the 1890s and has been a silent ghost of the days of the robber baron era for many years. The bridge is a wide and comfortable path and can accommodate walkers and cyclists with ease. If you are a cycling enthusiast or just enjoy the historic you will love this path.

A punk fan looks at 50.

2013-01-20T00:51:00.001-05:00

So many people my age are content to listen to the same crap they heard in high school. I guess I do to but mostly punk from my college days.
I am looking for the new and interesting bands as well... If my musical tastes stopped in 1981, I would have missed out on so much great tuneage. Yes I love the Clash. Black Flag. Fear. But new stuff comes around all the time. So in the second half century of my life I vow to keep up the search for the most interesting and vital sounds around. Maybe I can start a great punk band when I retire from my day gig. You have to stay young.

Time to move beyond Assault Weapons

2013-01-09T23:43:00.001-05:00

In light of the murder of 20 children in Newtown now is the time to ban assault weapons and large capacity magazines. These serve no purpose for sporting or self defense. We need a realistic view of the Second Amendment. Now is the time.

ThePolkaholics- Still Rule the World!

2013-01-05T13:06:00.001-05:00

ThePolkaholics-0674, a photo by PolkaSceneZine (Vera Gavrilovic) on Flickr.

Sitting here eating breakfast and listening to some old Polkaholics. I had forgotten how much fun their tunes are. A mix of punk attitude and polka from Chicago. Keep rockin' it guys!

Back at Ya!

2013-01-03T21:18:00.000-05:00

Back at ya!
I have been posting all my stuff on facebook for a while but it has become increasingly boring. As Steely Dan would say, "the dreary architecture of your soul". Still on there, but not the place for music or politics. My friends and old school mates are too conservative and negative about those sort of things. They are stuck in their classic rock and Republicanism. That's ok. Still good people. Anyway, looking forward to firing up the old blogger again!

The Kelly Richey Band - Fast Drivin Mama! Featuring Jyn Yates on Drums!

2013-01-03T21:15:00.000-05:00

The Eyes Have It: Farewell to Michelle

2012-01-04T23:32:00.001-05:00

The Eyes Have It
Originally uploaded by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

With great sadness I learned that Michelle Bachmann is out of the race. First Herman Cain, now Michelle. Gone are the comical weekly debates. Gone are the assinine statements and misabuse of the English language. Gone are the "Gotcha" questions and funny mis-facts. Gone are the outrageous claims of this crazy but harmless candidate. Now we are winnowing down the pack to just the serious and boring candidates. This has been a fun season of Republican "eat your young" implosion, and I will relish it for a long time. So goodbye Michelle, and Rick, and Herman. You mad a great summer replacement show, but now it's over.

Henry Rollins - Occupants

2012-01-04T04:26:00.001-05:00

Henry Rollins tank - detail
Originally uploaded by giddygirlie

Early 80's punk was like a tornado. It sucked up everything in its vortex. Some people were destroyed. Others were picked up where they stood and spit out, lives forever changed, in a radically different spot. Take the journey of Mike Watt, Bob Mould, Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, myself. Henry was sucked into THE vortex. Black Flag. He entered the crucible as a suburban punk like so many of us and was spit out of the beast a full- blown Renaissance Man. Author, writer, photojournalist, humorist, punk. His new book is entitled Occupants, and it is a photo journey across the world with fascinating essays in amongst the pictures. One man's take of this insane world, trying to search for humanity, and seeking an understanding of the people, beyond culture, politics, geography. Henry finds interesting people and places,striking out at the inhumanity and finding the common chord that ties the people together as what we are: fellow occupants of planet earth.
It is tempting for me to see Henry as the Black Flag Henry. Prowling the stage like a dangerous animal. "My War!" Henry of the shirtless, black shorts, vicious early days. "Standing here like a loaded gun, waiting to go off..." The cacophony that was Black Flag stays seared forever in my brain.
Fast forward to the modern Henry. He is an articulate spokesman for we aging punks. We still have the fire, the passion. Passed on to the next generation and those to follow.
Check out Occupants by Henry Rollins. Buy it, borrow it from your library or shoplift it at the Barnes and Noble. Just don't download it on a Kindle. That wouldn't be very punk.

Rhino UK Releases the Complete Smiths!

2011-12-18T16:17:00.001-05:00

Morrissey
Originally uploaded by etchasketchist

Yes, I was a punk rocker. Yes I liked the Smiths. No, I was not a mopey teenage girl, but somehow I was drawn to these guys. The interesting lyrics, the great guitar work by Johnny Marr. I now know what I want for Christmas. This compliation includes the studio albums, a live album and the compilations. All have been remastered by Johnny Marr. Just in time for Xmas, as they say...

The State of Jazz in the Crescent City

2011-06-29T00:34:00.000-04:00

Just recently spent a couple of weeks in the Crescent City. New Orleans. First of all, it is HOT. I mean like 95 degrees and 80 percent humidity. I ate enough seafood to singlehandedly ressurect the Gulf Shrimp industry. They say it is safe to eat. I hope so. I am counting on it. Anyway, aside from all of the culinary delights, another thing that is great to see post- Katrina is the music scene coming back to life. Katrina forced so many to flee to safety. Musicians included. That would have broken the back of many a city, but the good folks of NOLA have perservered. As tourism has come back, and businesses have reopened now six years on, the music scene is alive and well. I enjoy how "in your face" jazz is in this place. In an ordinary city, the aficianado must seek out his jazz fix. Not so in New Orleans. It will track YOU down... Much good jazz on the FM radio as well. Hey, where else can you hear Zydeco on the radio as well. You can't keep good folks down. From the time you touch down at Louis Armstrong Airport, you will feel the jazz vibe EVERYWHERE. Keep up the good work folks!

The Bastard Son of Johnny Cash: Check this guy out!

2011-04-20T19:22:00.000-04:00

His name is Jesse Morris. He appears to be from San Francisco according to his myspace page. He does punk songs in the the style of Johnny Cash. Here is his version of "Six Pack", the infamous old Black Flag tune. I would buy this guy's record if there was one. Black Flag and Johnny Cash both had that "in yer face" attitude to their music, and Jesse mixes them together very well here. I would like to see him tour with Hank III, Wayne Hancock and Big Sandy. Now that would be a great show.

Check out "A Mild Form of Madness" from Rob Rimsky

2011-04-19T20:51:00.001-04:00

Madness
Originally uploaded by One Drop

Chicago has a long history of gritty cinema verite style writers. Studs Turkel to name one. Rob Rimsky has just released an interesting book via Walton Street Publishing entitled "A Mild Form of Madness". In the true punk DIY spirit, he took the punk mantra of "start where you are, use what you have" to get this book published. An interesting portrait inside the mind of the one against the many, Rimsky paints a vivid portrait of the sights, sounds and smells of the City of Broad Shoulders. Google it under "Walton Street" or "A Mild Form of Madness". Rob is a free thinker, a free spirit and an excellent wordsmith to boot. Check it out.

Elvis Costello on the Road Again!

2011-02-20T12:07:00.001-05:00

So Elvis Costello and the Attractions are going out on tour again. This man has influenced my musical tastes and life in general in ways I cannot describe. My musical directions and taste in eye wear fashion have all been touched my Mr. McMannus. I was excited to hear about his new tour this spring. He will be bringing out the game show wheel to allow fans to spin and choose the songs the band will play. There will be other surprises as well. I have heard rumors of an onstage bar also. There will be 40 possible tunes on the wheel for the band to play. As I sit here on this overcast day here in Louisville and listen to some hot jazz featuring Barney Kessel on some A Train, I look forward to the possibilities of checking out the Elvis tour when it hits Cincinnati (the nearest venue to me). Check out his website for dates and venues in your area!

More Smashed band names you seek, hmm?

2011-02-17T18:49:00.001-05:00

Cyclists: Wear a Helmet!
Originally uploaded by Lady Wulfrun

Steve Earle the Pearl Jam

The Billy O'Shins (I always listen to Billy Ocean on St. Paddy's Day).

Mojo Richard Millhouse Nixon

Lorretta Lynnmp Biscuit

The Judds Heath

The Flying Burrito Brothers Johnson

Earth, Wind & Pharcyde

Chet Atkins Diet

Nirvana Stick

Cheap Trick or Treat

Glen Campbell Soup

The Four Tubes Tops

Marvin's Gay

Pink Floyd (Cramer) Tillman

Jimmy "U ain't seen nuthin til ya down on a" Ruffin

Tears for Zamfir (pan flutist extraorinaire)

Belly Idol

Celine Dion DiMucci (Dion sang the Lawyer anthem, "Runaround (n) Sue")

Neil Diamond Rio

Elvis Abbott & Costello

Steve Miller Highlife Band

Vanilla Icehouse

The Who Doo Gurus

WhamBone

Sponge Bob Dylan

smashed banana: the Pigman mashes up his favorite imaginary band names.

2011-02-17T18:41:00.001-05:00

smashed banana
Originally uploaded by bananas of seattle

Short List of imaginary mashed up artists and band names:

Rascal Flatulence!

Do White Pokem?

Gerth Brooks N'Done

Toobee Keith Burpin

Keith Urban Dictionary

Boy George Straight?

Stingk

Duflush Commode

Edgar Allen Police

Uriah Carey

Goat Finger

Ted Newgentry

New Skids on the Block

Talking Header

Brett Michaels' Jackson Hole

Cracker Jacks N' Feivel

RUSHer

Jimi Hindrance

The Beotch Boyz into Menz

The Buzzed Cox

Chrissie Hinder

The Beeagles

The Accounting Crows

The Black Scrotes

The Indigo Squirrel(s) Bait

Tom Love Jones

Government Cheeses Lizzard

Ari M. & M.

Animal Collective Soul Asylum

The Bee Fifty Two Gee Fugees

The Bejesus Anne Murray Allison Krause n'Chains

The Screaming Treatise

Rich Little River Band of Horses

Santana Clause

Screeching Weasel Celebrates a Milestone!

2010-12-14T19:33:00.001-05:00

Screeching Weasel at Hard Rock Live
Originally uploaded by REAX Music

From the Fat Wreck Chords Hotline!
4:17 PM (3 hours ago)
*Screeching Weasel*'s announce 25th Anniversary!
Screeching Weasel have announced plans to celebrate their 25th Anniversary with a killer weekend in Chicago! The festivities will kick off at Reggie’s on Friday, May 27th with a slew of bands performing over the 3-day weekend. Ben Weasel gave a rundown of the event below, enjoy!

"2011 marks Screeching Weasel’s 25th anniversary. To celebrate, we’re playing Reggie’s in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend, and we’re pulling out all the stops on this one, my friends. Screeching Weasel will be playing Friday, May 27th and Sunday the 29th (a different set each night), with the Riverdales playing our only North American show of the year on Saturday the 28th. Tickets will be on sale this Saturday, Dec. 18th at noon CST here. Right now we’re only selling tickets at the package price for the whole weekend – single day tickets will go on sale January 1st. In the meantime, check out the line-up! We’re still working on our 2011 show schedule, but I wanted to let you guys know about this one now because it’s too good to wait."

FRIDAY MAY 27th
SCREECHING WEASEL
TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET
ZATOPEKS
SHOT BAKER
CHINESE TELEPHONES
THE JETTY BOYS

SATURDAY MAY 28th
RIVERDALES
CHIXDIGGIT
KEPI GHOULIE
KURT BAKER
THE VISITORS
THE SUGAR STEMS

SUNDAY MAY 29th
SCREECHING WEASEL
THE QUEERS
THE MANGES
THE SOVIETTES
(TO BE ANNOUNCED)
THE STEVE ADAMYK BAND

The shows are all 17+. I wish we didn’t have to restrict it but with this many bands on the bill every night we’re going to need to go later than the curfew would allow for an all ages show."

"Vapid and I will be doing a DJ set one of the evenings in the lounge after the show, and people from some of the other bands will be doing them the other nights. See ya there!" Don't just sit around in your Walton Street flat... Get out and ROCK!

The Pigman Talks about his Tribe

2010-12-14T19:22:00.001-05:00

My Tribe
Originally uploaded by mollyeh11

A genetic Am uh ree kuh o' d future.
Work with folks from all over.
Muh hood was diverse when I moved in, pert near ten years ago.
Lotta Indians moving in; of the reservation continent India.
Not necessarily a bad thing; my next door neighbor is an awesome human being.
But it precipitated a thought that by the time my kids retire, this changing
country will further morph.
And so, genetically thinking into the future, the oft-used term
"Caucasian-American", will lose its prominence in vocabulary and journalism.
Folks, we will soon be and as we are soon becoming, if not already, we are:
Blackasiandiahonkey
Redyellowblacknwhitey
CrackerNawordasian
AfricanasiaNancaucasianAmerican
Slimjewstian
Icouldgoonandonadinfinitum

Ciao 4 now; gotta go bro.

the Pigmon

Pigman talks The Weepies, Deb Talan, Steve Tannen and theDecemberists/REM Connection

2010-11-25T13:20:00.002-05:00

The Weepies, Deb Talan, Steve Tannen
Originally uploaded by picksysticks

Is it me, or does the guitars in the new Decemberists hit sound like REM?

Mash up the Decemberist's "Down by the Water" with REM's "The One I Love".

Saw the Weepies live last Wednesday night down in Little Five Points; Been a
big fan for a couple of years. Very cool and laidback show. Imagine seeing a
band at the Vogue Theatre.

Ciao main.

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead

2010-11-16T18:05:00.001-05:00

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead
Originally uploaded by vhf

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead will be releasing their seventh full length on February 8, 2011. The record is titled Tao of the Dead and will be the second on their own imprint, Richter Scale Records. The album comes almost exactly two years after the February 2009 release of The Century of Self .

The band will of course be touring in support of the new album, kicking things off in Europe at the end of March on a co-headlining tour with Rival Schools and then heading out in the US at the end of April – dates to be announced shortly.