Morgan(tician)

Big Trouble

2011-10-13T10:18:00.001-06:00

I set up a blog for my band Big Trouble. Check it out here:

http://bigfuckingtrouble.blogspot.com

Bike Finished (for now)

2011-08-27T19:44:00.009-06:00

Okay, the bike is done and running. Finally. Here's some pics of it all done (and a video), but I'll start it off with how it looked when I got it, plus right after I shaved off some weight, but still pre-chop.

Still plenty to do...

2011-06-27T20:53:00.001-06:00

But I was able to ride it around the block.

Such Is Progress

2011-06-12T00:38:00.001-06:00

Frame, battery and electric boxes, license plate bracket and seat pivot are painted and re-assembly has begun. As daunting as wiring is to people it's what I'm least intimidated by...I suppose being an electrician helps.

My secret to avoid getting overwhelmed (both in and out of bike building) is making lists. Now nearing the final push, I've upped the ante by putting it in order.

I'm almost as excited about getting this done so I can ride as I am getting it done so my garage isn't a disaster. It's like that episode of the Simpsons where Marge makes everyone clean and they walk into the kitchen exhausted and by the time the door swings back around it's already filthy again.

My wall of inspiration.

Final Mock Up

2011-05-22T20:36:00.001-06:00

Today I finally finished (well...probably 99% of) the fab work for my bike. This is a big time budget build, and I'm stingy. I mocked it all up and took some pics before I start tearing it down for finish welding and paint before I start reassembling.

Here's a couple of the things on here:

-Pipes are homemade from the TC Bros XS650 kit (some ugly welds, but they'll be wrapped anyway)
-Bars are homemade out of GRC electrical conduit
-Found the headlight at a garage sale
-Got the grips and throttle on sale for $15
-Electronics/fake oil tank is made from a piece of 4" electrical conduit
-Battery box was made out of scrap metal
-Tail light and license plate bracket is made from scrap, which I shaped with a hammer around an empty welding tank - the tail light was $7 from autozone
-Mids are made out of a couple passenger pegs given to me, and I cut down the original peg brackets to re-mount
-Tank is a new peanut/sporty replica from eBay for $70
-Hardtail by TC Bros

Best tattoo?

2011-04-17T21:40:00.002-06:00

I nabbed this from the Grimm Brothers MC blog. Possibly the best tattoo ever tattooed.

Exhaust Pipes

2011-04-07T21:57:00.001-06:00

I just finished mocking up my pipes I built from the TC Bros kit. I think I like what I've done here. It's a little frankenstein-y, but they'll be wrapped anyway.

Second Mock Up

2011-03-26T04:57:00.001-06:00

Frame welded, engine mounted, tank fitted, dummy bars, seat and fender just sitting.

Lachie Dancing

2011-03-10T19:49:00.001-07:00

We bought a flipcam basically with the sole purpose of catching moments like this.

Handlebars

2011-03-06T19:27:00.001-07:00

In an effort to keep practicing my welding skills I decided to do something with the pair of buckhorn style handlebars that originally came on my xs650.

Here's how they began life:

Here's now they look now:

First Mock Up

2011-02-24T20:26:00.001-07:00

I just got my welder fixed via my buddy Timmy, and am finally at the point where I can begin the hardtailing process on my bike. I'm a novice welder at best, so my plan was to get it in place (it's a TC Bros hardtail), tack it, and then have someone with a TIG finish the welds since I'm not as confident in my welding yet.

Well, I got everything in place, did several tacks and did my first mock up this afternoon.

I was so high on the excitement of making progress with the bike (it's been sitting completely unassembled since late December) that I said fuck it, and started finishing the welding with my MIG. I think it went pretty well though. I got about 70% of all the welding done and began grinding late this afternoon.

The combination of the TCB hardtail and a peanut tank isn't the most original combination as far as Yamaha choppers go, but I'll be damned if it isn't beautiful simply because it's mine.

Canadiens

2011-02-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

Lapse / Birth

2011-02-11T18:22:00.001-07:00

I haven't updated because this guy showed up:

Progress

2011-01-24T16:48:00.001-07:00

Obie Trice & 50 Cent VS. Supertramp

2011-01-24T10:09:00.002-07:00

Mp3 version here: OBIE TRICE & 50 CENT vs. SUPERTRAMP

Rza & Gza VS. Booker T

2011-01-19T22:38:00.003-07:00

This one took a bit of work to sound right. It's still a weird match. Whatever. Rza and Gza doing "Third World" and Booker T & The Mgs doing "Comin' Home Baby". As with all the others, the beat and extras by me.

For just the mp3 version, go here.

Vids

2011-01-19T22:27:00.002-07:00

Here's a couple YouTube videos of a few of my thingies. Feel free to pass the links around if you care.

Ol' Dirty Bastard VS. Kelis Mash-Up

2011-01-18T10:37:00.001-07:00

This is a mash-up of ODB's "Baby I Got Ya Money" and Kelis' "Milkshake" (working title: "Baby I Got Ya Milkshake"):

OL' DIRTY BASTARD vs. KELIS

Recyclone VS. Acrid Mash-Up

2011-01-18T10:32:00.004-07:00

This is a mash-up of two of my favorite Canadian musical entities. It contains Recyclone's "Slow Rot" and Acrid's "Swimming In The Lake Of Bile" (from the "Corroding The Cellular Engine" and "Eighty Sixed" albums, respectively). The original tracks can be heard here and here.

RECYCLONE vs. THE HIDDEN HAND

Jay-Z VS. The Hidden Hand Mash-up

2011-01-18T10:28:00.002-07:00

This is a mash-up of Jay-Z's "U Don't Know" and The Hidden Hand's "Spiritually Bereft":

JAY-Z vs. THE HIDDEN HAND

Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire Remix

2011-01-18T10:25:00.002-07:00

Remix of a few CTTTOAFF songs (all originally appearing on their "Alpha Drunk On The Blood Of Omega" and "Songs Of Ill Hope And Desperation" albums):

CTTTOAFF REMIX

Bosnia Remix

2011-01-18T10:21:00.002-07:00

This is a remix of my own band, Bosnia. The riff originally appears on the song "Sanctuary Arson" off of our 2006 demo.

BOSNIA REMIX

The original song can be heard here.

Mayhem Remix

2011-01-18T10:17:00.003-07:00

Here's a remix based around Mayhem's "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas":

MAYHEM REMIX

Note: As with all of my beats/mash ups/remixes/etc, this is an unmastered mp3. For best listening turn your volume UP.

Anniversary/Halloween

2010-10-31T19:37:00.001-06:00

Six years of marriage in the bag. Happy Halloween, hosers.

3D Ultrasound

2010-10-31T19:36:00.001-06:00

We had a 3D ultrasound done of our little boy.

Also in an unsurprising turn of events, he worships Satan from within the womb.

Ride

2010-10-31T19:30:00.001-06:00

I went for a great ride the other day out to the plains east of Denver.

Salem and I

2010-10-31T19:27:00.001-06:00

Halloween Costume

2010-10-26T12:30:00.001-06:00

Skating

2010-09-27T14:56:00.000-06:00

I think I need to start skateboarding again.

Churches Chicken + Draft

2010-09-05T20:37:00.001-06:00

Here's me during my NFL fantasy draft.

The Graduate

2010-08-29T19:14:00.000-06:00

In the last two days I put about 25 miles on this beast in a parking lot in West Aurora:

After I did that, I got this:

Goodbye Pontiac

2010-08-28T20:58:00.000-06:00

I left this little time capsule under the stairs on Pontiac Street.

Envision Vids

2010-08-28T20:46:00.003-06:00

Here's some videos that just surfaced of Envision. I'm drumming in all of these.

From 2000, in Halifax. Chain Of Strength song. If you look close you can see most of the members from Good Clean Fun in the audience as this was one of a handful of dates we did with them in Atlantic Canada.

From 2000, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

From 2001, in Halifax, opening up for Propagandhi. The sound guy really knew how to make my snare drum the focal point of the performance. And apparently I've gained some weight since then.

BBQ

2010-08-24T19:19:00.001-06:00

One of the only things I like about Summer.

Uneasy Rider Show

2010-08-24T19:18:00.001-06:00

Saw some awesome bikes last weekend. The ones that impressed me the most were the home builds out on the sidewalk.

I didn't win the Panhead though. Bummer.

Last Night On Pontiac Street

2010-08-19T22:45:00.001-06:00

This is how 5+ years in an East Denver house comes to a close.

17 Weeks

2010-08-19T21:11:00.000-06:00

Here's Krista at about 17 weeks.

It's a boy, by the way.

Flea Market Finds

2010-08-15T17:37:00.000-06:00

...I wish. Found the tent set up by Speed Metal Cycles at the Mile High Flea Market and got my raffle ticket for the vintage chopper show next weekend.

Yard Salin'

2010-08-14T09:04:00.001-06:00

The Rat Bike (and Sammy)

2010-08-12T17:39:00.001-06:00

Back?

2010-08-12T17:24:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I haven't really posted here since my last bought of unemployment, which basically just found me ripping old shitty cassettes to mp3s and posting them for everyone (read: no one) to listen to. My short lived enthusiasm for it could only be matched, in quantity, by most other people's unenthusiasm.

I digress.

I'm going to start posting here more. Sometimes, I feel wordy...but moreso lazy. I figure I'll take advantage of the technology I spend lots of money on and at least post pictures from my phone in quick, easy to swallow glimpses into my life.

My life is about to radically change and I figure I should have some sort of steadfast, albeit lazy, record of it.

I'm going to be a Dad come the new year.

Also, I've developed a healthy obsession with motorcycles, which I will also be touching on heavily.

So less music. More fatherdom, motorbikes, and badassery.

The Juveniles - Brand X Sucka

2010-05-03T12:06:00.002-06:00

I had nothing to do with this band or recording, but it was a great tape in '97, and it is now too. 15 songs, only 4 or which are over a minute. Fast punk, straddling the line between hardcore and "skate" punk. I always liked this more than their first tape because it has an awesome blown out recording. This band was amazing live, led by a little guy singing named Khanhthuan (pronounced "can-toon"). They were one of the first bands I saw who would do song after song with no breaks in between.

http://www.mediafire.com/?xzdg0omwxwd

Mr. Bread (?)...

2010-05-03T10:18:00.003-06:00

...or otherwise known as the Selwyn, Lachie, Lionel and Morgan project.

This was another sub-one off project, but which had more potential than 90% of all the bands I've ever been in.

I believe it was somewhere around 1997 or 1998 that it started. It was Selwyn Sharples on drums, Lionel Stanley and Lachlan MacDonald on guitar, and myself on bass. The plan was, that since all of us had alot of experience as frontmen, we would all sing and essentially lead the band at different times. It was Selwyn's brainchild as he wrote the skeleton of all the songs, but each of us added to our own parts.

What made things so difficult was that even though Selwyn lived in Halifax, Lachie still lived in Cape Breton, Lionel still in Charlottetown, and me (being 15/16 years old) still lived with my parents a half an hour outside of Halifax. Selwyn and I had brainstormed alot about the band - planning on breaking the mold of the average hardcore band at the time in many aspects (lyrically, musically, and how an audience would watch a band). Now saying that, it sounds awfully conceited, but that was the plan. I spent many evenings on his living room floor learning the songs so when Lachie and Lionel would come into town, we would be ready to go.

These four songs were the only output to exist out of the band. It was recorded on a boombox in the corner of the room at one of two practices we had with all of us there. It was recorded on a Saturday morning around 3 or 4 am (don't ask how I remember this) in the community practice space we had shared.

Stylistically, it's hard to classify. I-Spy was a big influence in the songs, but I think it ended up alot more melodic than that. We hadn't worked out vocals when this was recorded, so it's only instrumental, which is a shame. Following this, we played one show. At one of Ian Hart's basement shows at his parents house, we played our four songs, but only as a three piece - Lionel couldn't make it into town. After that, the idea dissolved and was never touched again.

We had never decided on a name, and I don't know how "Mr. Bread" was attached. I'm guessing that it was said during that one live show and was easier to say than "the Selwyn, Lachie, Morgan and Lionel band". It's a stupid name, but the only one anyone remembered us by, apparently.

This will be of little interest to anyone besides the band members and maybe a few people who saw that one-off show.

It's a real shame that nothing else happened with the band, because listening to these songs again, it's very creative and could have been something really special.

http://www.mediafire.com/?a4jwgyiggzm

The Incoherent Comp

2010-04-30T14:26:00.004-06:00

In 1996 Gerry Hubley, Steve Mannette and myself started a local fanzine in Halifax called Incoherent Crap. It was a black and white photocopied 8.5x11 folded over format. Though the first issue or two was mainly the three of us writing show and record reviews, Gerry did most of the leg work on organization, layout, and spearheaded the editor's notes.

By issue #3 it had become a Halifax collective. We started getting reviews, editorials, comics, ads and rants from all kinds of people in our tiny, secluded scene. Most, if not all, focused on local happenings with bands and eventually branched out into politics and subsequent arguing. The amazing thing was that, in this pre-internet savvy punk world, so many people began to use IC as a means to air out dirty laundry in both a positive and negative way, we all still managed to get along. Maybe it was the fact that we were all teenagers stuck in a city right on the Canadian coast line hours and hours from anything resembling a "big city", we knew we had to keep the peace and be progressive about our little punk scene.

With IC quickly becoming the essential scene report for most of Maritime Canada, by issue #4 it was time to do more. Gerry began putting the word out to any and all local bands that we'd be taking submissions for a compilation to accompany the new issue. Using a basic cassette 4-track, we got an immense amount of help from Derrick Hiltz in recording several bands who would have otherwise not been able to be included on the comp. The result was 28 songs from 15 bands from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The cassette came free with IC #4, which I believe was sold for just a dollar. Due to Derrick's volunteering his time to record bands, and several people donating old tapes to be dubbed over, costs were kept low enough so that everyone was able to get a copy of it this cheap.

Because all the copies were dubbed over existing tapes (most were intentionally left with the label of what was once on it - mine has Sarah McLachlan: Solace on it with a single line crossing it out) the quality ranged from decent to shitty, depending on the age of the tape and how many times it had originally been dubbed. But the quality didn't matter. This was the humblest of efforts just to give small bands from a small town a voice, even if for just a fleeting moment.

At the time, we had never dated anything with a year. Though proud with our efforts in all of our ventures, I think we assumed that all we did had a shelf life - that we wouldn't look back on it past short term memory.

The Incoherent Comp came out in late 1997 or early 1998. Upon listening to it, I'd be dumbfounded to find someone who would love listening to it who wasn't there to experience it. There's some real stinker bands (and I should know - I was in two of them), and some great bands with just poor recordings.

But nonetheless, this was a snap shot of punk rock in Eastern Canada in the mid to late 90's. It's truely a piece of history that could remain one of the best kept secrets Halifax ever produced. And looking back, now 13 years later, I can honestly say it's one of my proudest moments in punk rock to have been a part of it.

http://www.mediafire.com/?tjtyy3t5ztd

In an attempt to maintain the grit that was our time and place, all of the songs are mostly a direct rip without much EQing at all. I wanted to keep the same quality as an indicator of the honesty of the recordings - a time before digital recording, before any of us had the money to produce anything the least bit "slick" sounding. I wanted to maintain that undeniable indicator that this was truely by the punks, for the punks.

Shrine Of American Martyr

2010-04-30T11:01:00.002-06:00

Shrine Of American Martyr was one of the best bands I have ever been in. This was recorded in 2000 on analog 8 track by Mike Catano (from North Of America, The Plan, Thrush Hermit, The Holy Shroud, etc) in his parents basement. We were writing stuff while the "screamo" wave of the late 90's and early 00's was still really strong. Bands like Orchid and Majority Rule were good beginnings for comparison, and then throw in alot of post-punk/hardcore influence.

These songs were a great collaboration between our four minds. If I could reunite one band from my past it would be The Shrine, for the mere fact that we burned so hot for a short period of time, and then broke up too soon in my opinion. One day I will have this released on vinyl.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zyaynjmhi00

Persist - 15 Songs

2010-04-29T16:25:00.004-06:00

This was my first dabbling in "side projects" - Persist. I played guitar, drums and sang and Steve Mannette played bass and recorded on a rented 4-track. The whole thing was written and recorded in an afternoon in my bedroom at my parents house in 1997.

It's pretty hard to listen to as I was still cutting my teeth at song writing and playing instruments, but in hindsight it's not so bad. My pubescent vocal chords couldn't quite pull off the gutteral screaming I wanted, but it was a good effort. I'm surprised my drumming is as decent as it is seeing as how I was doing blast beats with a single pedal only about a year after starting drumming. Albeit, not very well, but still...the effort is there.

This was recorded and became absolutely nothing. I'm sure my copy is the only one that exist.

http://www.mediafire.com/?imnwnl2o2yx

Useless Solution - March

2010-04-29T16:21:00.003-06:00

This was the second tape released by my main band during the late 90's, Useless Solution. The band consisted of basically two eras, each with a different sound and lineup. This marked the tail end of the first era.

HeartattaCk zine reviewed this and said it sounded alot like His Hero Is Gone, which is 100% accurate. We had a bit more melody and metal influence on this recording, but that "dark hardcore" sound from the late 90's is still definitely there.

This was recorded in 1999 by Jon Hutt and was release #46 on Ant Records only on cassette.

http://www.mediafire.com/?dygmngemigy

Snot Party - 627 Days

2010-04-29T16:15:00.005-06:00

Here's a link to download the second tape by my old band Snot Party.

Snot Party existed for 627 Days (what a coincidence!) and played fast thrashy punk in the vein of bands like Heresy, Charles Bronson, etc., but very stripped down. Lyrically/conceptually it was the stupidest thing I've ever had a hand in. Basically a band based on a dick and fart joke. And yet, I was the lyrical mastermind. I'd like to remember myself in an Andy Kaufman sort of way, but I actually thought it was hilarious. We were well liked and put on a live show never to be forgotten.

This was recorded in mid 1998 by Ian Dares in our 6'x10' practice space.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ukyidmnlbtm

RECORD WANT LIST

2010-02-05T16:17:00.008-07:00

Here's my vinyl pipe-dream of a want list. It'll be an ongoing thing.

There are a few titles on here I once had but sold or traded out in a moment of youthful, misguided stupidity that I want to recapture, but most are things I was just never able to get my hands on in the secluded frozen shores of Eastern Canada.

I don't have anything to offer in the way of trades (I hold onto most everything). So, monetary gain is all I have to offer you. If you're a friend or a stranger with something on here that you'd let go of, email me at callitwhatitis [@] gmail [dot] com

Thank you!

A

Abandoned Hearts Club - The Initial Confessions Of 7"
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Honky Reduction 10" (original, not LP + 7" reissue)
Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Frozen Corpse Stuffed With Dope LP
American Nightmare - Background Music LP (only the NIGHTMARE copies, no other names)
As The Sun Sets - Each Individual Voice Is Dead In The Silence LP
Assfactor 4 - Sports LP
Assuck - Anticapital LP
Assuck - Blingspot 7"
Atom And His Package - A Society Of People Named Elihu LP
At The Drive In - Relationship Of Command LP
Avail - 4AM Friday (Lookout!)

B

Black Flag - Damaged LP (original pressings on MCA/SST with the Unicorn Dist. logo and "Anti-parent" sticker)
Backstabbers Inc - Kamikazee Missions LP (preferably w/ the handscreened cover)
Backstabbers Inc - Theory/History 7"
Bikini Kill - Pussywhipped LP
Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! - The Record 7" (compilation - Slap A Ham)
Son Of Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! 7" (compilation - Slap A Ham)
Blood Brothers - This Adultry Is Ripe LP
Bongzilla - Gateway LP (Modus Operandi)
Born Against - ALL (except The Rebel Sound Of Shit And Failure)
Botch - We Are The Romans LP
Boy Sets Fire - The Day The Sun Went Out LP
Braid - Frame And Canvas LP
Brutal Truth - Machine Parts 7"
Brutal Truth - Kill Trend Suicide 10" or LP
Buried At Sea - Indignation LP
Burned Up Bled Dry - Kill The Body, Kill The Soul 7"
Burning Witch - Towers LP (Slap A Ham)

C

Capitalist Casualties - Disassembly Line LP
Capitalist Casualties - Raised Ignorant 7"
Capitalist Casualties / Slight Slappers - split 7"
Capitalist Casualties / Man Is The Bastard - split LP
Carcass - Heartwork LP
Catharsis - Samsara LP
Cattlepress - Hordes To Abolish The Divine LP
Cattlepress / Agoraphobic Nosebleed - split LP
Cave In - Beyond Hypothermia LP
Cave In - Until Your Heart Stops 2xLP
Charles Bronson - Youth Attack LP (clear vinyl w/ metal cover)
Chixdiggit! - s/t LP
Chokehold - Prison Of Hope LP
Coalesce - 0:12 Revolution In Just Listening LP
Copyrights - Mutiny Pop LP
Copyrights - Nowhere Near Chicago 7"
Corrupted - Se Hace Por Los Suenos Aesinos LP
Cursed - Two LP (Canada pressing on Goodfellow)
Creation Is Crucifixion - In_Silico LP
Crossed Out - s/t 7" (Slap A Ham pressing only with long gaps between songs)
Crossed Out - Discography LP
Crossed Out / Dropdead - split 5"

D

Dag Nasty - Can I Say LP (original press)
Dahmer / Suppression - split 7"
Danzig - I LP
Darkest Hour - Mark Of The Judas LP (Southern Lord)
Dead Kennedys - Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death LP (orig. press on Alt. Tenacles, preferably with the extra flexi!)
Deadguy - Fixation On A Coworker LP
Death From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine LP
Deathspell Omega - Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice LP
Devoid Of Faith / Counterblast - split 7"
Dillinger Four - The Kids Are All Dead 7"
Dillinger Four - Higher Aspirations: Tempered and Dismantled 7"
Dillinger Four - More Songs About Girlfriends and Bubblegum 7"
Dillinger Four / The Strike - split 7"
Dillinger Four / Pinhead Gunpowder - split 7"
Discharge - Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing LP (orig. press on Clay Rec.)
Discordance Axis - The Inalienable Dreamless LP
Discordance Axis / Capitalist Casualties - split 7"
Disembodied - Diablerie LP (on Lifeforce, not the Ferret reissue)
Disembodied - If God Only Knew The Rest Were Dead 10"
Doom - Fuck Peaceville LP
Dropkick Murphys - Do Or Die LP
Doughnuts - Age Of The Circle LP
Dropdead - ALL (except the 1994 discography LP)
Dystopia - Human = Garbage LP

E

Econochrist - Skewed 7"
Econochrist - Ruination LP
Electric Wizard - Dopethrone LP
Elliott Smith - Either/Or LP
Entombed - Wolverine Blues LP
Entombed - DCLXVI: To Ride Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth LP
Excruciating Terror - Expression Of Pain LP
Eyehategod - In The Name Of Suffering LP (orig. press on Intellectual Convulsion)
Eyehategod - Dopesick (orig. press on Century Media)
Enemy Soil / Reversal Of Man - split 7"
Enemy Soil - The Ruins Of Eden 10"
Enemy Soil / Agoraphobic Nosebleed - split 7"

F

Face To Face - Big Choice LP
Fiesta Comes Alive! - compilation LP (Slap A Ham)
Fifteen - The Choice Of A New Generation LP
Floor - s/t LP (on either grey, clear or dark red vinyl)
Frail - ALL
From Ashes Rise - ALL (Nightmares only on color)
Funeral Mist - Salvation LP

G

G.I.S.M. - Detestation LP
Gasp - Gnome Triler Of Puzzle Zoo People LP
Gayrilla Biscuits - Hung Queens Can Suck It 7"
GO! - ALL
Godbelow - Painted Images With The Blood Of LP
Good Clean Fun - Shopping For A Crew 7"
Good Clean Fun - Who Shares Wins 7"
Grindcrusher - compilation LP (Earache)
Gorilla Biscuits - Start Today LP (orig. press w/ the embossed cover)

H

Harvest - Living With A God Complex LP
Haymaker - ALL
Hi-Fives - Welcome To My Mind LP
Hickey / Fuckface - split 7"
High On Fire - The Art Of Self Defense LP
His Hero Is Gone / (Union Of) Uranus - split LP
Hope Conspiracy - Cold Blue LP

I

Ice Nine - Psychology And Extreme Violence 7"
Infest - ALL (except the Mankind 7")
Ink And Dagger - The Fine Art Of Original Sin LP
Ink And Dagger / Le Shok - split 7"
Integrity - Humanity is The Devil 10"
Integrity - Septic Death Karaoke 7"
Isis - Mosquito Control LP (original mix - first 3 pressings)
Iron Lung - Life. Iron Lung. Death. LP

J

Jesuit - ALL (except the 7" on Hydra Head)
Jud Jud - No Tolerance For Instruments 7"

K

Khanate - Things Vital LP
Kylesa / Memento Mori - split 7"

L

Lack Of Interest / Slave State - split 7"
Leatherface - Mush LP
Lagwagon - Hoss LP
Left For Dead - Live LP
Left For Dead / Chokehold - split LP
Left For Dead / Ochre - split 7"
Less Than Jake - Hello Rockview LP (either pic disc or seven 7" set)
Less Than Jake - Slayer 7"
Leviathan - Massive Conspiracy Against All Life 2xLP
Limbonic Art - Ad Noctem Dynasty Of Death LP
Lifetime - Jersey's Best Dancers LP
Lifetime - Hello Bastards LP
Locust - s/t LP (on purple swirl vinyl)
Los Crudos / Reversal Of Man - split LP (mistake pressing, ROM side with Spitboy label)
Los Crudos - Canciones Para Liberar Nuestras Fronteras LP
Lucero - The Attic Tapes LP (with silk screen/watercolor cover)

M

Marduk - World Funeral LP
Man Afraid - Uphill Struggle 7"
Man Is The Bastard - ALL (except Uncivilized Live 7", Cap Cas/Bleeding Rectum split sides, and splits with Agathocles and Locust)
Mars Volta - De-Loused In The Comatorium LP (on silver)
Mars Volta - Televators 10"
Matt Skiba / Kevin Seconds - split LP
Melt Banana / Three Studies For A Crucifixion split 7"
Mental - Planet Mental LP
Merzbow - Pulse Demon LP
Millencolin - Life On A Plate LP
Mine - Tetanus LP
Minor Threat - First Demo Tape 7"
Minor Threat - Out Of Step LP (orig. presses)
Misfits - ALL (pre-Graves era, orig. presses except Legacy Of Brutality, Evilive, and Earth AD)
Monster X / Human Greed - split 7"
Morning Again - As Tradition Dies Slowly LP
Mr. T Experience - Love Is Dead LP
Mr. T Experience / Goober Patrol - split 7"
Murder City Devils - Empty Bottles Broken Hearts LP (orig. press on pink)
Murder City Devils / Botch - split 7"
Murder City Devils / At The Drive In - split 7"

N

Nasum - ALL
Napalm Death - Scum LP
Napalm Death - From Enslavement To Obliteration LP
Neanderthal - Fighting Music 7"
No Use For A Name - Let Em Out 7"
No Comment - ALL
Negative Approach - Tied Down LP
Negative Approach - s/t 7"
Neurosis - Times Of Grace LP
Neurosis - Through Silver In Blood LP
Nirvana - Nevermind LP (UK pressing)
NOFX - ALL (except Punk In Drublic, War On Errorism, Heavy Petting Zoo, They've Actually Gotten Worse Live, and Coaster)
Noothgrush / Corrupted - split 7"
Nothing's Quiet On The Eastern Front - compilation LP (Reservoir)

O

Off With Their Heads - Hi Five For The Rapture 7"
Off With Their Heads - To Hell With This And All Of You 7"
Off With Their Heads - Fine Tuning The Bender 7"
Offspring - Smash LP (orange vinyl)
One Eyed God Prophecy - s/t LP
Operation Ivy - Energy LP (orig. press)

P

Pig Destroyer - ALL (except Orchid split)
Pinhead Gunpowder / Dillinger Four - split 7"
Pinhead Gunpowder - Fahizah 7"
Panic - Dying For It 7"
Portraits Of Past - 01001011101000111001 LP
Propagandhi / FYP - split 7"

Q

Queers - Move Back Home LP
Queers - Grow Up LP

R

Radiohead - The Bends LP
Rancid - ...And Out Come The Wolves LP (first pressings w/ old Epitaph logo on back)
Rancid - Let's Go 2x10"
Rancid / NOFX - split LP (on orange or green vinyl)
Rise Above - compilation LP
Reversal Of Man - s/t 7"
Riverdales - Storm The Streets LP
Ruination - Dead Horse 7"
Ruination / They Live - split 7"

S

SOA - No Policy 7" (preferably green)
Screeching Weasel / Born Against - split 7"
Saves The Day - I'm Sorry I'm Leaving 7"
Septic Death - ALL (except for "Now That I Have Your Attention What Do I Do With It LP)
Severed Head Of State - one-sided LP (on Lengua Armada)
Slapshot - 16 Valve Hate LP
Slayer - Reign In Blood LP
Song Of Zarathustra / Spread The Disease - split 7"
Spitboy - True Self Revealed LP
Spread The Disease - We Bleed From Many Wounds LP
Spread The Disease - Sheer Force Of Inertia LP
SunnO))) - The Grimm Robe Demos 2xLP
Spazz - s/t 7"
Spazz - The jeb 7"
Spazz / Toast - split 7"
Spazz / Charles Bronson - split 7"
Spazz / Slobber - split 7"
Spazz / Floor - split 7"
Spazz / Rupture - split 7"
Spazz / CFDL - split 7"
Spazz / Subversion - split 7"
Swingin' Utters - A Juvenile Product Of The Working Class LP

T

Teenage Bottlerocket - Warning Device LP
Teengenerate - Audio Recording LP
Teengenerate - Get Action LP
Tiger Army - II: Power Of Moonlite LP (yellow)
Today Is The Day - In The Eyes Of God LP
Tragedy - s/t LP (orig. press on Tragedy Rec, black and white cover)
Tragedy - Can We Call This Life? 7"
Tragedy / Desobediencia Civil - split 7"
Tragedy - 2004 UK Tour 7"
Tragedy - To The Dogs 7"
Trap Them - Cunt Heir To The Throne 7"
Twilight - s/t LP (black/white swirl)

U

Unearthly Trance - Season of Seance, Science Of Silence LP
Unearthly Trance - Eleven Are The Voices 10"
Undying - Whispered Lies Of Angels LP
Undying - This Day All Gods Die LP
Union Of Uranus - Disaster by Design LP/2x7"
Union Of Uranus / His Hero Is Gone - split LP

V

Venom - Black Metal LP
Venom - Welcome To Hell LP

W

Weekend Nachos - s/t 8"
Weekend Nachos - Torture 7"
Weekend Nachos / Chronic Bleeding Syndrome - split 7"
Weakerthans - Fallow LP
Weakerthans - Left And Leaving LP
What Happens Next? - Standfast Armageddon Justice Fighter LP
What Happens Next? / Life's Halt - split LP
What Happens Next? - Hollow Victory 10"
Wolfpack - A New Dawn Fades LP
Wolfpack / Skitsystem - split 7"
Wolfpack - Allday Hell LP
Wolfbrigade - In Darkness You Feel No Regret LP

Y

Yacopsae - Tanz Grosny Tanz LP
Yacopsae - Fuck Punk Rock...This Is Turbo Speed Violence! 10"

Z

Zozobra - Bird Of Prey LP

Cadillacula Video / French Regrets

2010-01-17T17:08:00.002-07:00

Upon watching the masterpiece of Inglorious Basterds, I'm overwhelmed with regrets that I hadn't stuck with my french studies in high school.

Here's some videos of a Cadillacula show from the start of this month. The second and third turn into a spotlight on my drumming after a power failure.

2009 and 00's Best Of Picks

2009-12-31T19:33:00.003-07:00

For no other reason than my own eventual nostalgia, here's my best of picks for 2009 and the 00 decade. What a ride it's been:

2009:

10. Agoraphobic Nosebleed - Agorapocalypse
Having been a long time fan of the band, I knew a long lapse in their releases would equal great success or total failure. Figuring it wasn't hard to write 45 second grind songs led by a drum machine, it'd be easy to repeat the same formula for this as the last 400 songs they had written and the whole release end up as an exercise in monotony. Nay. Trimmed down to 13 songs (most breaking 2 minutes), much more technical ability, a new singer, and one of the best cover illustrations I've just about ever seen - I'd say it was a breakthrough most were hoping for. Though, this probably only means there's even less chance they'll play live.

9. Cave In - Planets Of Old
Years on hiatus following commercial failure, they turn out this gem. Brodsky made an amazing go at a solo career that'll probably warrant him more success than Cave In ever brought, as such I was expecting a mellower, dare I say stoner-esque sound on this EP. Nay again. Channeling the same ghosts as they did on Until Your Heart Stops they re-found the volume knobs on their amps and tuned back down. Could be a front runner for one of the best releases of their catalogue.

8. Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
Propagandhi is one of those bands that I keep expecting to hit a high note and not be able to get back over that hump for several albums. Potempkin City Limits was an amazing leap forward for them that appeared to have alot of thought and practice put into it. I didn't think they'd be able to top the quality they were able to achieve on that one, but here's Supporting Caste. They added a second guitarist, wrote more thrash riffs, churned up the same idea(ologie)s and re-packaged them to make them still as valid and thorough, and even managed to write a song about Hockey and put a political spin on it. Nice one, my hosers.

7. Teenage Bottlerocket - They Came From The Shadows
I didn't dig the Skate Or Die single that prefaced the album, but they trumped it with the remaining songs, somehow making the similar hooks and harmonies sound better than they last made them sound. What it might lack in originality (save for "Fatso Goes Nutzoid") it makes up for in sheer song writing talent and pop sensibility. It still baffles me that these guys come out of Wyoming. I guess there's one reason that state doesn't completely blow.

6. Tombs - Winter Hours
What seemed like out of nowhere, this three piece drops a behemoth of an album (and on essentially the biggest heavy metal label in the world right now, no less). Combining all the best elements of doom, black metal and post-metal these guys simutaeously made me love them and hate them for doing exactly what I was trying to do with my own band.

5. Cobra Skulls - American Rubicon
A band who ingeniously combines elements of musical genres that usually destroy the credibility of a band, these guys mash in equal parts rockabilly, pop punk, and singer/songwriter-esque sensibilities. I was as turned off as most at first listen, but after a valient effort I couldn't find a song on the entire album I didn't like. Even the upbeat piano balad has me hitting repeat over and over.

4. Ringers - Hurry Up And Wait
I bought this without ever hearing it, or even hearing the band. The note on the front said they sounded like Rancid, so I bought it on a whim. Well, they don't really sound like Rancid. It's more like a combination of the Minneapolis pop punk sound and Boston street punk grit. The singer sounds like he's about to die of throat cancer, and yet still hits all the right notes. If it were longer, it would have been closer to the top of the list.

3. Rancid - Let The Dominoes Fall
Fuck the haters, Rancid has always been amazing. This is about the best line straddling of real punk and commercial success I've heard. Tim Armstrong must have gotten all his reggae-rap desires out during the Transplants, because the cheesiness of past songs seems to be gone. Or at least less noticeable. They haven't done an album this good since ...And Out Come The Wolves.

2. Hoots & Hellmouth - The Holy Open Secret
Here's my oddball. The first time I heard these guys is when I saw them open for William Elliott Whitmore this past year. Four guys, two acoustic guitars, a mandolin, a stand-up bass, and three part vocal harmonies abound. This is just boot stomping good fun. The musicianship on this is damn near baffling, and seeing it done live is even better.

1. Dear Landlord - Dream Homes
A fucking homerun. I shouldn't have really expected less combining guys from The Copyrights, Off With Their Heads, and The Gateway District. Everything about this record is spot on, and it lacks any and all pretentiousness to ruin it. Oh, and did I mention it's their first album?

2000 - 2009 (in no particular order)

World Burns To Death - Totalitarian Sodomy (2006)
So many crust punk bands talk about educating the listener - but nobody can hold a torch to how these guys do it. In addition to one of the best crust records of all time, this thing comes with a goddamn novel to read. They flex their muscles in musicianship and world history at every turn.

Tragedy - Vengeance (2002)
Though forever in the shadow of His Hero Is Gone in my eyes, nobody does d-beat/crust better than Tragedy. They're becoming legends without a lick of self promotion besides simply playing shows. Though some of my favorite Tragedy songs come from their first record, I thought Vengeance felt much more cohesive and powerful. I can still remember exactly where I was the first time I listened to it.

The Copyrights - Make Sound (2007)
Even if pop punk hasn't progressed, The Copyrights are proof that you can make the same song sound great album after album. Make Sound, despite a few quarrels I have with its production, is an amazing blend of pop savviness and punk rock. The hooks never end and I think every song on this record has been stuck in my head for days at some point.

Converge - Jane Doe (2001)
One of the best hardcore records of all time. I don't call it a breakthrough album, because they did some amazing records before Jane Doe, but this is a peak they'll never pass. The music, production, lyrics, and artwork all flow together like fate itself constructed it. They showed the experimentation that other hardcore bands were afraid to dabble in at the time, and hit a homerun on every song in it's own way.

Unearthly Trance - Electrocution (2008)
This band just sounds like it comes from a dark place. But, not dark as in Satanism, but more so I picture this is what the inside of Aleister Crowley's head sounds like. They just have this occultish ambience about them that is so intriguing. Electrocution is an exercise in all things heavy. Combining doom, black metal, and crust punk, they show their chops in everything from melody to sheer power, and don't let on to a shred of pretention or cheesiness.

Cursed - One (2003)
Thank god that Left For Dead, The Swarm, and Countdown To Oblivion were in the 90's, otherwise Chris Colohan dominate half this list. When these guys broke out they ended up being nothing of what I expected and was incredibly thankful for it. Colohan trumped his past lyrical efforts, and this album features one of my favorite guitar tones of all time. It sounds like it's literally about to explode at any minute.

Marduk - World Funeral (2003)
I was so into black metal for the first part of the 00's I had to throw in my favorite black metal record of the decade. World Funeral is regarded as many to be one of Marduk's worst, but I love its versatility. They can either speed up or slow down and do both perfectly. Plus, they make a song out of the opening music to Clockwork Orange.

Entombed - Uprising (2000)
I'm one of about three people in the world who likes Entombed's death 'n roll style more than their traditional death metal stuff. Uprising is the pinnacle of that style in my opinion. It has a much grittier production than their other albums and it makes everything sound really organic, which compliments the riff storm all over this thing.

Death From Above 1979 - You're A Woman, I'm A Machine (2004)
Before the hipsters discovered them, they were the pride of Canada. One of the best bass tones I've ever heard.

Off With Their Heads - From The Bottom (2008)
I can't ever get enough of this album. Every song is a sing along, despite some downright depressing lyrics. After seeing them live, I think this captures the same energy they have on stage. I think 20 years from now it'll be regarded as a punk rock classic.

Big Trouble/Brainhammer

2009-11-18T17:28:00.002-07:00

Haven't touched this in awhile. Here's a fair way to catch up:

Iron Lung

2009-10-15T17:21:00.001-06:00

Awesome Iron Lung video.

"He's dead...so don't fucking laugh."

Bosnia Review

2009-09-01T16:49:00.003-06:00

I just found this review of 'Nazarene Hallucinations' online. I thought it was a very descriptive way of reviewing us...

Jasper: If you have just become a dad like me, dirt has a rather negative connotation. The house should be clean, poopy diapers thrown away, the little critter should be scrubbed like a maniac at least three times every week, even the dog should be raised better, because god forbid if that hairy rodent dares to slobber our little princess with his slime bucket...All this considered 'Nazarene Hallucinations' by the American dirtbags Bosnia was a huge shock for our little household. Because if there ever was a goddamn filthy rancid bunch of dirt clods, it is this crusty sludge band.

Think High On Fire, FaceDownInShit, Tragedy, and Buzzov-en, and raise the filth-factor by twenty. On 'Nazarene Hallucinations' all subtelties of more progressive sounding bands like Kylesa and Mastodon are left far behind and replaced by gallloping drums, hammering basses, and buzz-saw guitars. At times Bosnia sounds like the even hairier brother of Tragedy, while if they step on the brakes immediately the green smoke clouds of stoner sludge hell take all fresh air away. Like the last act at a squatter party, after which the whole place is torn to the ground and levelled. Sometimes a fan of sludge metal just wants to fucking sit back and enjoy some pretentiousless mayhem like Bosnia. This band does not need to entertain intellectuals, or storm the heavens with some Pink Floyd or King Crimson influences. Fuck that shit, as long as your little homestead is turned into a big pile of swine shit after this record stopped in its own filth. Oh well, a bit of vileness is good to build up some resistance for those little pests, not?

Bosnia Comeback Show

2009-08-31T17:45:00.002-06:00

Here's some video from the Bosnia comeback show last July. I only got the first three songs before my battery died.

Couch To 5K - Week 3

2009-08-31T16:20:00.003-06:00

COUCH TO 5K - WEEK 3 - Hosted by Gary Busey and some guy from the first Resident Evil movie

Playlist:
1. The Aggrolites - Hot Stop
2. Alkaline Trio - The Poison
3. Born Against - Janelle
4. Dear Landlord - Lost Cause
5. Off With Their Heads - Until The Day...
6. The Methadones - Getting Older/Losing Touch
7. Riverboat Gamblers - The Gamblers Try Their Hand At International Diplomacy
8. NOFX - Jeff Wears Birkenstocks
9. Propagandhi - Fuck Machine
10. Gaslight Anthem - High Lonesome
11. The Hi-Fives - Love You Better
12. Flogging Molly - If I Ever Leave This World Alive

http://www.mediafire.com/?v3xwgnyyztg

Couch To 5K - Week 2

2009-08-31T15:50:00.003-06:00

COUCH TO 5K - WEEK 2 - Hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger and the earless cop from Reservoir Dogs

Playlist:
1. Black Flag - Nervous Breakdown
2. Calabrese - Death Of Me
3. Dag Nasty - I've Heard
4. Dead Kennedys - Straight A's
5. Discharge - Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing
6. Green Day - Burnout
7. NOFX - The Quitter
8. Hanson Brothers - The Hockey Song
9. Rancid - Warsaw
10. Ramones - Rockaway Beach
11. SNFU - Bobbit
12. The Offspring - Killboy Powerhead
13. Falling Sickness - Face The Clock
14. Face To Face - Disconnected
15. Fifteen - End Of The Summer

http://www.mediafire.com/?1tyjltwt2zi

Couch To 5K - Week 1

2009-08-31T15:26:00.005-06:00

My better half and I have been doing this running program called The Couch To 5K. Essentially it's supposed to take you from being a couch potato to being able to run five kilometers non-stop in about 10 weeks. It rotates between jogging and walking to build your body up to running more consistently. To track this, I've been making weekly podcasts (which are essentially just half hour long mp3s).

It's all punk rock (or some very closely related variant), intended to keep the running upbeat and fun. I'm going to post the podcasts from each week for download, in case anyone is looking for cool motivation to get in better shape, or just wants a good punk mix to listen to. If you intend to run with it, each week is comprised of a 5 minute warm up, 20 minutes of alternating jogging and walking, and a 5 minute cool down.

On each podcast I included signals to start and stop running (which you'll recognize as a "GO!" or "STOP!"). Each week I use different markers who act as the host of the podcast. You'll notice the songs to run during have a faster tempo, and the walking songs have a slower tempo, intended to help you control your pace. The song lengths are chosen specifically to match the run/walk times for that week. If you miss the signal, you know to change to running or walking when the song changes (except for the 5 minute warm up and cool down). If you need more info on it, click here.

COUCH TO 5K - WEEK 1 - Hosted by dudes from Man Is The Bastard and Spazz

Playlist:
1. Lifetime - Young, Loud And Scotty
2. The Hextalls - Welcome To The Record
3. Dillinger Four - Doublewhiskeycokenoice
4. Bad Religion - The Positive Aspect Of Negative Thinking
5. The Copyrights - Sleepwalker
6. Dead Kennedys - A Child And His Lawnmower
7. Dear Landlord - Lake Ontario
8. Gob - Centipede
9. The Methadones - Six Degrees Of Seperation
10. Propagandhi - Nailing Descartes To The Wall...
11. The Queers - That Girl
12. Teenage Bottlerocket - Bottlerocket
13. Tongan Death Grip - Werewolf
14. Brutal Knights - U.B.B.C.
15. Chixdiggit! - The Toilet Seat's Coming Down
16. Cobra Skulls - Muniphobia
17. Descendents - Sick-O-Me
18. The Distillers - Bullet And The Bullseye
19. Dillinger Four - O.K.F.M.D.O.A.
20. Off With Their Heads - S.O.S.
21. Pinhead Gunpowder - Big Yellow Taxi

http://www.mediafire.com/?znjtkmjhwyy

Exercise

2009-08-17T20:52:00.000-06:00

I just jogged at night during a thunderstorm. How exhilarating!

Band Progression

2009-08-12T20:46:00.002-06:00

Here's some haps:

I quit Black Sleep Of Kali.

Cadillacula, after a half year hiatus is practicing again and revamping our sound.

I started a new band that I've been dying to start for about two years - Big Trouble. It's me and members of Brainhammer, Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire, and regional air guitar champions. It's power pop/punk rock. And I'm singing.

And I'm not joking.

Post Bosnia Show Wrap-up

2009-07-18T09:48:00.003-06:00

The first Bosnia show in over a year was amazing. It was great to have a fond welcome home after such a long absence.

Out of curiosity, I googled us and our CD and realized there are tons of distros carrying it, and you can even buy it on Amazon. Though we're still wallowing in the shady depths of obscurity, I've never actually experienced a band that was "accessible". At least Amazon accessible.

With Steve and Adam now heading back to their new homes and beginning our next period of what a regular band calls inactivity, I'm realizing we need to keep this train rolling however we can.

Another poster

2009-06-23T20:55:00.001-06:00

This one is going to be screen printed and for sale at the show.

Sorry for the silence...

2009-06-19T12:12:00.000-06:00

The Boz returns.

Hickey

2009-06-01T10:29:00.002-06:00

Hickey was a punk band out of San Francisco and one of the best bands I've ever forgotten about. I only ever owned their split 7" with a band called Fuckface*, which was either lost, stolen or traded sometime in the mide-late 90's. Around that time, both Hickey and Fuckface toured all the way to Halifax - a feat very, very few bands ever did, especially back then when booking, promotion, and exposure for a punk band had to be done without the internet, and a band's survival rested solely on the band's ability to tour, produce records, and word of mouth to other like minded punks.

This is the first song off of that record which is, in my mind, their best and possibly one of the best melodic punk songs ever written.

CLICK HERE and then follow along below:

will we look back and laugh at our twisted path
or will we drive on mindlessly,
asleep at the wheel, too numb to feel
the weight of the gravity that’s holding us here?
wasting away, lookin’ for a new cause to die for
or a reason to live another day,
what would it take to make it worthwhile,
to make all ya’ll smile, and say: hey hey hey, everything will be okay

Also, read their Wikipedia article and scroll down to the part about Voodoo Glow Skulls.

*Here's a funny story about Fuckface: Probably around the time I was 15 or 16, my long time friend Ian Hart gave me a Fuckface t-shirt he never wore. Besides their name, it didn't have anything offensive on it. After moving out of my parents house when I was 17, I would leave the city every Sunday afternoon and go back to the country to my parents house to have a family dinner, do laundry and prove to my parents that I was still healthy (or as healthy as a vegan 17 year old could be anyway).

As I'm sure many loving mothers would do, my Mom would often do my laundry for me. Probably around the time I was 18 or so, I couldn't find my Fuckface shirt anywhere and chaulked it up to it being lost or stolen as I moved in and out of various punk houses. When I was 20, about 3 weeks before I moved to Denver, I had to move back in with my parents as my apartment lease was up and had to stay somewhere in the interim to get all my stuff sorted out to ship to the USA.

After I had UPS'd all of my worldly possessions (including most of my clothes) to my soon-to-be Denver address, one afternoon I agreed to help my Dad with some yard work. Not having any clothes I wanted to ruin, I went up to his room to borrow and old t-shirt to wear. There rolled up tight in the back of his t-shirt drawer was my Fuckface t-shirt. My blood boiled when I saw it and realized that even as a (albeit, young) adult, my parents still did what they could to discourage what they saw as improper. I grabbed the shirt and stuffed it in the bottom of my suitcase on the floor of their spare bedroom.

I've since lost the shirt again. Maybe I should check my Dad's t-shirt drawer next time I'm home.

Making punk happen

2009-05-11T02:09:00.002-06:00

I just spent about two hours looking at the personal myspace pages of guys from punk bands I've idolized for years like some fucking fanboy.

Went to the Denver slot of the Napalm Death tour yesterday. Escaped the high door fee thanks to the charasmatic Ryan McKenney. Was able to spend a good chunk of time talking to him at the show. I ended up befriending him last year when Bosnia and Trap Them played together at the late Monkey Mania and I'm lucky enough to have kept in touch with him since. Another good example of punk idolization right there, though I suppose I've been able to lift myself from the ranks of "fanboy" to the esteemed "peer".

Trap Them killed it by the by, and despite opening the show to a dwindled crowed it was the highlight of the night after meatheads packed the floor during ND and crowded me into a spot where I could barely see the stage. About half the way through ND's set I said fuck it and left. I had literally been waiting to see them since I was 14, and now that the day finally came, I couldn't even enjoy them due to constantly being on gaurd from the greasy cavemen parading around the floor. I remember thinking "this is no way to watch a band" as I stood cramped behind a speaker. Every time this happens I'm reminded why I love small DIY shows so much.

After leaving, I got about a block and got pulled over for not using my turn signal to change lanes. The cop was nice enough to let me off without a ticket for the signal, but since I didn't have my insurance card with me, got a ticket for that. So now I have to go to court to contest that I had insurance. I'm sure it'll be cleared, but it's a nuisance (that was my fault).

I have some serious, non-fatal bad luck when it comes to being behind the wheel. I've never been in a bodily harm inducing accident, but it seems like whenever I drive I'm like a giant beacon for cops. I suppose it's my fault for putting myself in the situations, but still. At least I have the common sense to never risk driving when I'm drunk.

Oh...and I might buy a house tomorrow.

The Gaslight Anthem

2009-05-07T18:44:00.000-06:00

Here's a little record review:

The '59 Sound was one of the best records of 2008. It had one of the best combinations of punk and classic rock in modern music without it sounding contrived. But, that being said...

I had only had it downloaded until buying the LP just the other day. And let me preface this by saying that I'm the type that takes in an entire record. The music is about 70% of the experience, but I put a lot of weight into the lyrics and presentation. Maybe that's why I still buy vinyl - I have to take the whole thing in. The music, the paper the jacket is printed on, vinyl color, the vinyl weight, and especially the cover art.

This album contains 11 pictures of the band including the one on the cover. 11. I know they're going for the whole old school record cover thing, but they could have applied a little more creativity visually to what is a great record audibly. What's worse is the pictures are so contrived looking. Its an obvious situation where an underground band has "made it" and the label sent them out with a photographer to take candid shots of them, but they're not used to that, so it ends up being unnatural pictures of guys trying to look natural.

Plus...11 pictures? C'mon. Put in a pic of an old house, or your practice space, or something equally as unoriginal but still making it so you're not looking at the same awkward faces over and over.

The hand written lyric sheet is nice though.

But, the worst part of the record is my pet peeve. They printed the name on the spine upside down. The biggest faux pas in vinyl in my opinion. Did your accountant sister-in-law do the layout for free? This mistake should not be happening. Ever.

And then I found out in an interview that the singer/song writer is super Christian. I'm sorry, but that's a bummer. Fuckin'sue me.

2009-05-07T00:20:00.001-06:00

Kill the bosses
Kill the priests
Kill the shepherds
Save the sheep

Gnaw Their Tongues

2009-05-04T03:57:00.003-06:00

Furthering my obsession with one man black metal projects, I've recently discovered a band called Gnaw Their Tongues from The Netherlands. Coincidentally, they are on the same label which just released the Bosnia album.

Now I love obscure black metal, but this is truly something special. Adhering to almost no trends within BM, this is some of the most frightening music I've ever heard. Extremely slow and dissonant song structures, combined with what sounds like movie scores create a really disturbing combination. Somewhere between black metal and noise, this guy has created a beast that really has to be heard to fully understand.

Most of his music is available for free download on his blogspot, or at least free preview tracks from each of his extensive catalog.

http://www.myspace.com/gnawtheirtongues
http://gnawtheirtongues.blogspot.com

Truly inspiring. Just saying the name gives me the heebie jeebies.

Physical Media

2009-05-04T02:22:00.005-06:00

Semi-recently, I bought a copy of the Pink Razors' record Leave Alive. I hadn't really heard them that much, but I knew they were a semi-popular pop punk band, so I took a chance. The record is pretty good - it reminds me of a more East Bay influenced version of The Ergs!. With the record was a code for a free download of the album, as most people are doing these days.

Along with that code was a thank you note for supporting physical media. I kind of wanted to write them and say "you're welcome, and thank you for acknowledging it". I guess it's really sinking in that the music industry is becoming something that doesn't exist in the physical world. Maybe I just have trouble letting go of my upbringing in music, but it seems ludicrous to put all this work into writing songs, spending money recording them, touring them, promoting them, and then simply have it released as mp3s (or equivalent). It feels really strange, and makes me miss the days of only finding out about bands from shows, merch tables, tape trading, and record bins. All of the effort has been taken out of music finding with the internet, and now you can barely get something to hold in your hands when you find someone you really like.

I'm a fool to resist it though, as this is basically a zeitgiest. I'll admit I download a ton of music (and don't pay for any of it) but I still avidly support buying physical media. I've given up on CDs, but still can't resist vinyl.

For those who haven't seen it, check out NOFX's new album Coaster (or the vinyl version, Frisbee). It's largely a statement on the music industry, and the titles are direct references to two useless objects, much like physical media has become.

In fact, here's a video of them talking about it:

NOFX on their new album "Coaster"

Also, the same night I got that Pink Razors record, I did something I haven't done in awhile. Now and then, I'll buy a record by a band I've never heard (or heard of) based solely on the cover art. If something strikes me as really cool looking, or creative, or mysterious, I'll give it a shot on that alone. My first success with this was at Rotate This! in Toronto during the Spring of 2000. I bought a record by a band called Suicide Nation because of this cover. They ended up being one of my favorite bands of the early days of hardcore/metal fusion in the 90's. That record stands out from the rest of that era because it is actually still valid (it's not some melodic Christian shit). It's dark and blackened, and the guys in the band were crust punks who were apparently literally homeless for awhile (thus giving no contact address on their split with Yaphet Kotto).

But I digress.....I bought a record by a band called Black Dove called No Future, No Fate because of the cover. It's hard to see, but all the print on the cover is in foil stamping. It looked so ominous, I couldn't resist. It turned out to be dark, dirty crust punk, with bits of power electronics interspersed. I chaulk it up to another success.

Photoshop

2009-05-03T02:17:00.001-06:00

HHIG again

2009-05-01T04:52:00.000-06:00

Fifteen Counts Of Arson was released 13 years ago (!) And it is just as valid now as it was then.

I can say with as much conviction as I could when I was 14 that His Hero Is Gone were, are and always will be my favorite band.

BSoK / Pirates

2009-04-28T03:22:00.000-06:00

Had a good Black Sleep practice tonight, invigorating me on the band once again. We wrote a song in one shot and began brainstorming for a short tour this Summer. The frustrations of getting the CD released are finally behind me as I finally came up with a design that everyone would agree on. Though CDs are basically useless now, the band will have copies available within a few weeks with the hopes of someone soon after being interested enough to release it on wax.

Is anyone else amazed that there's still pirates...on boats?

The Marked Men

2009-04-25T03:33:00.001-06:00

I can't stop listening to these albums by The Marked Men (and neither should you):

Fix My Brain
Ghosts

4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile

2009-04-25T01:09:00.002-06:00

Spent the afternoon helping Taylor finish a room in his basement by installing the electrical stuff.

Ended up falling asleep during the first 20 minutes of 4 luni, 3 saptamâni si 2 zile (Four Months, Three Weeks And Two Days). Woke up wide awake around 11:30 and restarted the movie. It ended up being really good. The whole thing had a really dry creep to it.

Format Change

2009-04-24T01:25:00.000-06:00

In an effort to avoid large lulls of inactivity, I'm going to start making (semi) daily entries shorter in length in a more un-filtered, stream of consciousness type manner, rather than sinking large amounts of time into long winded ramblings. Though those may still appear, this will be more of a point form execution of thoughts, opinions, experiences and observations delivered according my current mood. The result, I believe will be a more accurate account of my time and place at that moment that I can later look back on.

So here goes...

I struggled to get up at 4:00 pm this afternoon after a draining night shift at Cherry Creek Mall (where the company I work for is replacing the sound system).

Arrived at school to take a test I was unprepared for, but due to the close proximity of summer break, didn't fucking care.

Though I cheated and looked at a neighbors test on a few questions, I managed to pull off a perfect score. If our grades actually mattered at all as to whether we passed, I'd be proud of my score or ashamed of my cheating, depending on the circumstance.
To kill time while waiting for when we're allowed to leave class, I did as I usually do - followed the bread crumbs of wikipedia articles reading on subjects and moving on according the links within each one. I tried to ignore the constant chuckles of the cro-magnon men who happen to be my classmates while they watched porn on a PSP six feet away.

I found myseld intensely reading GG Allin's biography and manifesto. This put me in a mood where I continued on to read about famous murderers, specifically Chapman and Berkowitz, which poured over into where I arrived back at work for the night and ignored my duties to read Wikipedia on my phone. Furthering my mood to intrude on eclectic personalities, I started listening to obscure black metal.

After that I wished I had a home recording setup so I could capture my own musical abilities in a strange diary fashion and hope it intrigued someone enough to want to analyze me and what I had to say.

Lucid Media

2009-04-04T00:37:00.002-06:00

I'm a contributor to Lucid Media now. Since you know I have extremely distinguished musical tastes, it's no surprise that you're rushing over there to download everything I tell you to.

More Old Pics

2009-02-24T16:44:00.004-07:00

Found another online storage place that I had lots of old pictures stored in:

Krista and I in a photobooth, I can't remember where. Probably around 2006.

During the snowstorm of 2003, me, Krista, our roommate and his girlfriend build an 8 foot dick out of snow in the middle of the street while the roads were inaccessable.

"The Abortion Picture" that made waves in my first semester at photo school, 2002.

The first flash sheet I drew while tattooing full time.

Me and Krista's first pet - Tupac the hamster. RIP, 2002 - 2002.

Our second hamster, Hammie. He lived longer. Probably from 2002 - 2004. Both of his eyes literally exploded before he died, and the vet couldn't tell us why.

Our futon mattress floor bed we utilized for a year. Also, our old cat Selma.

My suspension, September 2003.

Right after my suspension (much less gory than you'd expect, no?)

I was skinny and British once.

Playing live with Jennifer. I had Leatherface painted on my bass drum but nobody could tell what it was.

Jennifer again, same show.

Every year Krista and I go pumpkin picking right before Halloween. This was a picture I took of her the first year we went.

While I was working on as a piercer, I did some big thing on the other piercer. He ended up bleeding alot.

The day Krista brought Salem home. Here he is trying to eat a hamster.

Photo I took of The Blood Brothers, 2002.

Our Halloween costumes, 2002.

Halloween, 2002 again. I actually wish I could pull this off day to day.

Another Jennifer picture. Colorado Springs, 2003.

My first time going into the high country, 2002.

My first real tattoo I did, on myself - 2003 or 2004. Currently awaiting cover up.

Playing dress up for The Monsters Of Mock show, 2002.

My friend Austin's dog, Maggie. I shot this with a toy camera, 2003.

Something I painted in 2002. It now belongs to Gerry.

My first cell phone, 2002. The thing was huge.

Photo I took of Coheed And Cambria, before they were huge.

The first car I ever bought, 2005.

Eventually, this is how I stretched my ears. 2002.

Another photo of The Blood Brothers, 2002.

A cool photo I took for school, 2004.

My Doyle impression. Colorado Springs, 2003.

90% of all band photos are bullshit. This one is no exception. Jennifer, 2003.

My first tattoo machine. Badass.

Old Pics

2009-02-24T09:44:00.005-07:00

I was just going through our photobucket account and found a bunch of old pics I thought I'd share.

My college graduation.

My portfolio showing at graduation.

Krista and I on Valentines Day 2005.

Chris Watts and I on Valentines Day 2005. Nice mohawk, eh?

Krista and I in Times Square.

Krista and I at Becky and Matt's wedding, New Haven, CT, 2005. Krista got wasted and found a cop hat.

Chris and I playing guns. Now I'm wondering if I should bring the mohawk back.

Apparently me sleeping, waiting for a knuckle bump.

The first amp I bought when I started focusing on playing guitar again. It didn't sound very good, but it does make me want to get a Marshall again. That cab was way oversized too. Check out Sammy sleeping next to it for size reference.

Krista and her Dad on the train on the way to a Broncos game. Check out his O face.

A guitar setup I had for Bosnia at one point.

Sam and Franks going swimming in our yard on Dahlia Street, 2005. I miss having a yard with grass on it.

Krista and I on the waterfront of the Halifax Harbour, 2006.

Krista doin' stuff on Lake Dillon, CO, 2006.

Bosnia live, right around Halloween 2006.

Me drumming for Jennifer, Colorado Springs, 2003. I remember I set up my drums sideways for some reason at that show.

My parents, Krista and I around my birthday, 2007.

Krista and I in a photo booth in Madison, WI, 2001.

Me being vegan at Krista's parents house, 2001.

Krista and I in a photo booth in Halifax, 2001. Look at our turtlenecks. We had just got off the plane from Paris, and were on way to discuss 17th century German existentialist literature while enjoying croissants and a fine glass of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Krista penetrating my ear canal with some sort of vibratory device. Halifax, 2001.

One of the best pictures ever of Krista. Our wedding day, Ray-ray Mysterio.

Gettin' hitched.

Another guitar setup I had at one point.

Amps.

Another guitar setup for Bosnia. The last one I used for the band.

Krista and I, probably around 2003.

Me when I was actually doing photography, Colorado Springs 2003.

The best shirt design I have ever done.

Me playing with an old band, 1998.

Me in Minneapolis airport, 2005.

Me, Krista, Kelly and Chris giving a surfs up at my graduation dinner, 2005.

HHIG

2009-02-11T16:41:00.002-07:00

I check just about every month to see if someone put the labor into ripping old VHS tapes of this band, and found a few gems.

When I was 14 they became my favorite band and I modelled my voice after Todd's. Now twelve years later they're still my favorite band and my voice still sounds like his.

I suppose you kind of had to be into them at the time to fully appreciate the intensity of this set though. Every video I've ever seen of them, he's screaming with every inch of guts inside him. It's amazing he can still talk. It's inspiring, really.

Warcry

2009-02-11T16:12:00.003-07:00

This video of Warcry is awesome.

Crust punk fashion is funny. It's all about anti militarism, yet if you just saw the clothes that goes along with it, you'd think the opposite. I like the current trend of wearing those big utility/ammo belts. I'd never be able to pull it off/justify wearing it, but goddamn it if it doesn't look cool.

MM

2009-02-10T17:01:00.002-07:00

Marilyn Manson's cover of "Tainted Love" is one of the best songs I've ever heard.

Help For Frankie

2009-01-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

I have a 5 year old miniature dachshund named Frankie. Two days ago we were informed that he has a serious spinal injury that will be requiring surgery and hospital stays (where he is currently). We are not 100% on the issue yet, but will at the beginning of next week. The expected total cost of his operation will be $4000-6000.

Krista has set up and is updating daily a blogspot on Frankie and his condition. We are asking for anyone who has met Frankie or has the same soft spot for animals that we do that is able to make any kind of small donation, it would be greatly appreciated.

Read all about his condition, updates on him, and info about donating here:

http://frankiefund.blogspot.com/

This post will stay on top of this blog for awhile. For updates, scroll down.

BSK stuff

2009-01-21T18:44:00.002-07:00

Since I took the day off to savor the fruits of a braceless existence, I figured I'd be productive. Here's a shirt design I did for Black Sleep Of Kali (the top thing is Russian for "Black Sleep Of Kali"):

And to top it off, I did some patches too:

Straight Teeth

2009-01-21T18:22:00.006-07:00

Today I got my braces off. For those not in the know, I've been doing orthodontics for the last (almost) two years. For those even less in the know, my teeth were pretty crooked my whole life. It was the only physical insecurity I ever really had (or at least the biggest one) and would often get over-sensitive when teased about them as a kid.

In 2007 I finally decided to do something about it and sought out an orthodontist (I had been told I needed braces since I was 11 or 12 years old). After talking to a few different doctors, I decided on the one who would do my procedures mainly because he would not remove teeth, and told me it would take less time than traditional methods. Even though he was more expensive, I wanted to keep all my teeth and wanted this shit over with as quickly as possible.

I wore palette expanders (essentially retainers with a hinge in it that slowly widened my upper and lower jaw over the course of a year) which spread out my teeth. After that, on went the braces - my arch nemesis.

It wasn't the inconvenience of wearing them (well, most of the time...okay, about half way through I really started to get sick of having a second meal stuck in them after I was done eating) but I really don't like how braces look. So the vain side of me was embarassed of them. Eventually I got used to it and didn't think about them.

After a mere 8 or 9 months (but what seemed like much longer) here I am. Teeth fixed, confidence restored.

Here is, literally, the first picture I have ever publicly shown of my teeth.

After not being able to eat certain foods for a long time, I celebrated my emancipation by eating a Snickers bar.

Flesh Made To Suffer

2009-01-12T17:35:00.002-07:00

As I mentioned in a previous post, after getting in touch with the guys - some of which I hadn't talked to in years - it looks like Flesh Made To Suffer will be playing a show this May when I make my first trip home in three years.

Details to come.

Football

2009-01-03T21:41:00.003-07:00

Words cannot express how much I despise the San Diego Chargers.

Also, if you mispell the URL while going to this site and accidently type http://blogpsot.com/, it takes you to a Bible "mega site". These vultures claim in the first paragraph that "a few minutes reading this page could PROVE to you the Bible is true".

If god actually existed, he probably would have sent a half decent web designer your way.

Also, if god existed, San Diego would be a fucking CRATER.

Download Site

2009-01-03T12:17:00.003-07:00

I just discovered this download blog this morning and downloaded about 20 albums in a half an hour. Mostly all mediafire links, and big on late 90's/early 00's hardcore (I mean real hardcore, not mosh metal) but with modern releases thrown in.

http://getalifedoodmedia.blogspot.com/

Cadillacula

2008-12-30T14:56:00.002-07:00

My first show went well. Now we need a bass player replacement.

Got my old camera working

2008-12-30T14:53:00.004-07:00

It's really only good for snaps (and taking those is a chore), but it's got a little wider of an angle than our other one.

Holiday tattooing

2008-12-18T20:53:00.002-07:00

I tattooed my friend Randy last night. I lined and shaded a good sized (whole top of his forearm) cowboy themed piece. On top of paying me - even after I told him he didn't have to - he gave me a couple cigars and this:

I'm not a regular whiskey drinker, especially good whiskey, so I thought this was really cool. Note the wax dipped bottle neck.

I thought it was a really considerate thing for him to do and I really appreciated it, and it made me feel really satisfied since he really liked how his tattoo came out. I only really hang out with him when I tattoo him (like many friends) but I always end up wanting to spend more time with him. I'll add that to my new years resolution list.

Furthermore, tomorrow night is Krista's company holiday party. I, along with my adoring wife, and probably everybody else there will end up blotto, but rather than it being from my new bottle of whiskey, it'll be a result of the open bar at Maggiano's Little Italy.

Hiiyyyyooooooooo!

Shows

2008-12-12T11:58:00.004-07:00

I'm playing some shows in the next few months:

December 29th @ Old Curtis St. Tavern
ROUTINE SCHEME
ST. FALL APART
CADILLACULA

This will officially be my first show with Cadillacula.

January 10th @ Larimer Lounge
BLACK LAMB
SPACE IN TIME
BLACK SLEEP OF KALI
DYSDERA

February 4th @ Blastomat
THE ABOMINABLE IRON SLOTH
BLOWUPNIHILIST
CLINGING TO THE TREES OF A FOREST FIRE
BLACK SLEEP OF KALI

Luck

2008-12-07T20:02:00.002-07:00

Last night at the Xmas party for the company I work for, Krista and I won a 32" lcd TV in a raffle. That was pretty lucky. I wish I had bought a lotto ticket for that night too.

Denver Hardcore?

2008-12-07T19:57:00.003-07:00

I have no idea what this is, but somehow Bosnia is credited to making an appearence in this incredibly lame looking documentary.

I have no idea how we have anything to do with this nonsense (though I'd probably point the blame at Steve) but I would probably shit my pants and eat it if I found out any of the guys behind this or featured in it sincerely liked us (or have even heard us).

Flesh Made To Suffer/Nick Oxner

2008-12-05T14:12:00.002-07:00

All of my copies off the Flesh Made To Suffer (band I sang for in 2001 & 2002) CD are scratched and unplayable, so I googled it to try to find mp3s online. The closest I found is below, in case you as well would like to hear:

http://www.purevolume.com/fleshmadetosuffer/albums/173058

Additionally, for those who didn't read my way too long band history, FMTS originally had a guitar player named Nick, who died in early 2002. I found a couple old links that I thought would be appropriate to post.

Here is a show review of the show we played just a few days after he died. It was the closest thing to a funeral/wake Nick got. Scroll to the entry on February 9th, 2002.

Here is a messageboard thing that was put up right after he died for people to put up goodbyes, memories, etc.

Now after reading all this, I am going to try to organize a reunion show for next year.

BSK Recording Journal

2008-12-03T15:39:00.001-07:00

I shot some video while we were in Salt Lake City. I edited it together into two parts.

Travel finished

2008-11-30T21:18:00.002-07:00

Got home tonight, ending my week of what seemed like not stopping moving. In the last seven days I've been in Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Colorado. Not too bad for not being in a touring band.

The midwest was nice. K and I went to a Thanksgiving thing at her grandpa's house, and made our becoming usual day trip to Milwaukee and Madison. Picked up the new D4, a Conquest For Death test press/tour LP, and the World Burns To Death "Human Meat...Tossed To The Dogs Of War" 7" on clear. It was a really quick trip, and we had to make the whole 13 hour drive back to Denver in one shot today. We caught the Broncos beating the Jets on AM radio though, so that was stupendous.

I've got a bunch of pics from the BSK trip to upload that I'll show on here. Plus some video once I get it all edited down into something watchable.

Thanksgiving Travel

2008-11-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

Black Sleep Of Kali got back from Salt Lake City on Monday. We played a great show with Gaza and Invaders, and recorded a record with Andy Paterson. Taylor got sick and lost his voice, so we both held off on doing vocals. We'll finish them in Denver and send them to Andy through the power of technology.

Also, surprisingly, none of us died by the hands of another member.

Now, a day and a half after getting home, Krista and I are driving to the midwest for Thanksgiving. We'll be going to a family function, and then heading up to Milwaukee to scope out the city some more. The only shitty part of the rest of the week should be the shitty drive through the heartland. If god existed, Nebraska wouldn't.

Next week will bring about my first time performing with Cadillacula on Friday, December 5th at The Continental Club in Denver on Sante Fe Blvd.

This was all written from my phone. Technology, man.

Guns N Roses is back...

2008-11-20T14:50:00.002-07:00

Chinese Democracy fucking sucks.

If any of you douche bags who hated on the new Metallica actually like this, you deserve a kick in the balls. The Offspring should have stolen the album name when they were threatening to.

Band Resume, 1995 - Present

2008-11-19T16:43:00.003-07:00

For mostly nostalgia's sake, here is every band I've been in from 1995 (when I started playing music in a group setting) to 2008.

This is a long one, folks. Kudos if you read the whole thing:

Sugar High, Summer 1995
My first foree into playing music with people, but not really a band. I met two guys who were a year or two older than me who were trying to start a band, Jerry (who played guitar) and Steve (who played bass). There was no drummer. I had just started learning how to play guitar, so since I wasn't very good, they made me singer (who still wore a guitar around his shoulder but rarely played). I think we practiced twice, and each time we really only played 2 cover songs, which were probably Green Day or The Offspring or Nirvana. I never really liked Jerry, so I stopped going over to his house. Years later he became a white supremacist, and then a drunk punk. Funny how the world works.

Ritlan, 1995 - 1997
My first band. Me and Steve from the previous band decided we actually wanted to write our own songs and be in a real band. I got better at guitar and they made me keep singing (in retrospect, though I really sucked at the time, it made me a frontman, which I've been 90% of the time since). So we found this guy Myles, who was a year younger than me to play drums. We were all going to the same Junior High at the time. In trying to think of a name, someone I believe suggest "ritalin" because we were really excited about the band and were probably overly hyper. None of us really knew how to spell it correctly, so this is what came out. I think we decided on "Ritlan" so we could draw a circle around the A in our logo. Oh god.

Myles to this day is still one of the hardest hitting drummers I've ever played with, and he was only 12 at the time. We started out writing stuff that sounded like Nirvana, and kept getting more and more "punk" as time went on. The three of us were at that age where we were trying to find our own identities, both as a band and as people. In the beginning we were writing three chord punk songs, would play shows completely drunk and high, and were basically living the "punk" life as best our 13 year old brains could understand. I even played in front of my entire Junior High School population drunk off Golden Glow (a Canadian malt beverage...tasted like fucking piss, but was the largest, cheapest alcoholic thing you could get at the time...it was big with the punks) I had been drinking in the bathroom at lunch hour.

Skip to the following year, and we're straight edge (ha). We started listening to hardcore, so our writing went more in that direction. I wrote some songs about being straight edge, and they would be the only ones I would ever write in the ensueing 9 years of edgedom. We only ever played in Halifax and the outskirts, because that's as far as our parents would drive us. We eventually lost interest and split up. Very few people were ever at our shows, including our last.

We self recorded a bunch of tapes that we released. One was a glorified practice recording done early on, which would probably be like absolute nails-on-a-chalkboard for me to listen to now. Hopefully it has been destroyed. In early '96 we recorded "What's Going On Here?" on a 4 track we rented for the day. As well, probably long gone. Later that year we had a live recording done which was limitedly released as "I'm A Living Joke". In '97, right before we broke up, Derrick Hiltz recorded one song for the Incoherent Comp (a comp compiled and released to accompany a local zine I used to help do called Incoherent Crap), which accompanied one song off of the "I'm A Living Joke" recording. This was really the only time anyone heard us.

Unstable Society, Sometime in 1996 or '97
This was an offshoot from Ritlan. One time at practice while taking a break, Steve picked up my guitar and started playing a hardcore song he wrote on the spot. Myles kicked in on the drums, and I just screamed and rolled around on the floor. It eventually went somewhere, and we wrote a few songs and did "Wake Of Deception" by Dropdead. We played once at the end of a Ritlan set. I think people enjoyed it more than Ritlan. We had plans to get a bass player and be a real band. Mackenzine (Mac - you'll read more about him soon) came out to a practice one time, but we lived so far outside the city that it was the one and only time. The band fizzled out when Ritlan did.

The only thing ever recorded was a practice recording, which is long gone. I believe I still have a live recording of Ritlan doing the Dropdead song though.

Persist, Sometime in 1997 probably

This was kind of a one off thing. While Steve and I had the 4 track rented for a Ritlan recording, we decided to write two grindcore songs on the spot in my bedroom at my parents house. On this, I played drums, guitar, and sang, and Steve played bass. It was extremely primitive grindcore, ala Enslavement era Napalm Death. We were so pleased with how it sounded, we rented another 4 track a few months later and did some more. I think we wrote 15 songs on the spot. The second time around it was alot more like Excruciating Terror (which, yes, is like Enslavement era Napalm Death).

Neither recordings were ever released, and we never assembled anything to play a show. I still have the tapes though.

Snot Party, 1996-1998
Once Ritlan ended, Steve and I decided to roll with him on guitar and me just singing as we did in Unstable Society. By this time Steve had moved on to High School, leaving me a grade behind and in another school. There, he met a fellow named Lance who played drums. We got a guy named Gerry to play bass who lived in the city that Steve and I had met from going to shows. He'd take the bus for about an hour just to come practice.

Our premise was to dumb ourselves back down to fast, short punk songs. Combined with a taste for ridiculous and lewd humor made this one of the funnest bands I've ever been in. We got our name from a Simpsons epidsode.

Right from the get go, we would dress up in costume for every show. We'd each come up with something different for each show, and we'd never match with each other. Gerry would often end up naked - in fact, one time Lance's Dad drove us to Fredericton, NewBrunswick to play a show and Gerry's costume was a plastic bag taped over his dong, which was removed during the set, and we were basically run out of town by rednecks. We weren't very good, but our antics made us controversial and a big hit with the local crowd. We also spanned what I consider a generation gap in Halifax punk: we got our start playing at Cafe Ole (Halifax, and Canada's first completely all ages club), survived through it being forced to shut down, the ensueing dry spell of punk shows for nearly a year afterward, and the opening of The Pavilion (another all ages club started by the guy who ran Cafe Ole).

This was the first band where I started regularly playing in other provinces and getting outside my comfort zone. Gerry and I became best friends during this band. We all began to get involved with other bands and our interest eventually faded, so we decided to end it. We did a reunion show during the Summer of 2000 and because of a falling out, we didn't invite Steve to play at it. Derrick Hiltz filled in on guitar.

In mid to late 1996, our first demo tape was recorded by Derrick Hiltz in a variety of houses and apartments on a 4 track. Entitled "Please Hammer Don't Hurt Us", it featured the intentional longest thanks list of any demo tape ever made, in leiu of a lyric sheet. My lyrics were so fucking dumb, it didn't matter anyway. A few live recordings exist, but were never released. A couple songs made it to the Incoherent Comp I believe. In '98, we recorded and released "627 Days", our second tape. It was recorded this time by Ian Dares, and again on 4 track. The mix was totally blown out and raw, and it matched our eventual thrash sound excellently. It was the first time a Big Muff was used on a recording I was on, and Gerry's bass tone was amazing. The cover of the tape had the 80's SPEED METAL log on the cover, and actually featured lyrics this time. I remember seeing people read them and literally laughing out loud. This was one of the only bands where I felt accomplished when people openly laughed at what I was creating.

The Master Bakers, 1996 on and off until about 1999

The Master Bakers were formed one night after some band cancelled at a show all the Snot Party guys were at, minus Lance. SP were asked if they could fill the spot, but since we were one man down, we said we'd do something anyway. I played drums, Steve played guitar, and Gerry sang. It was all total improv grind/punk for about 40 minutes. By the end of the set Gerry put his head inside the bass drum while I was still playing, and he was still singing. I remember him saying he had quite a headache after.

From then on, since we literally went to just about every punk show in Halifax, we were the on site spot filler. Eventually it caught on, and other people started coming on with us to play various instruments. At one show I believe we had 6 or 7 people on stage, all trying to play a made up song on the spot together. Imagine two guitar players and two bass players trying to keep up with me on drums, with no direction whatsoever. I think once we even had someone playing a bass that wasn't even plugged into an amp. It was either amazing or annoying, whichever way you look at it. This was all done during the Cafe Ole days.

Incarnations puttered out until 1999 sometime when Gerry and I pulled it out at the newly opened Pavilion. This time only featuring me on drums, Gerry on bass and both of us singing. We did a Spazz song that night I remember.

It was always 100% improv and never recorded. Thankfully.

Falling Out, 1998, maybe into early '99

After Snot Party ended, the combination of Steve and I would make one last go. In the height of the straight edge scene in Halifax, we decided to pledge a band to just that. This time around, Steve would be frontman and just sing, I played guitar, Lance played drums, and some new friends Nathan and Keith, would play bass and guitar, respectively. In hindsight, the songs were bland, generic 90's hardcore. Even then, I was kind of the black sheep because even though I was straight edge, I wasn't one of those STRAIGHT EEEEEEEDGE guys. My contributions to the band were alot of Ebullition records-esque parts that didn't really match, but we played anyway. We did "Impact" by Chain Of Strength, which was really my favorite song to play with the band.

Ironically, Steve and I eventually had a falling out and I quit the band. Steve's personality traits also grated the nerves of a few other members, and I convinced them to leave the band as well and start a new project with me...

We recorded a demo tape sometime in '98 I think. I think it was engineered by Philip Clark using the equipment at The Pavilion. I had nothing to do with its release. The covers were fucking ugly. And it said straight edge all over it.

Useless Solution, 1998 - 2001

On the heels of the "falling out", Nathan, Keith and I decided to start a different kind of hardcore band. This time with Nathan on drums, his musical birthright, Keith and I played guitar and Gerry came in on bass. We all loved His Hero Is Gone and decided that's who we would emulate. We were all talented musicians and song writers, especially for our ages (15 through 18). We gelled insanely well when we were both writing and playing, and it was probably the only time I've been in a group where every member brought both ideas and riffs in on a regular basis. We were all extremely into what we were doing and really were best friends in the process. For the first little while we all sunk all of our energy into the band and we all felt like it was really paying off.

We made small accomplishments such as getting on national and international comps, getting on the Halifax On Music festival (which, for a few years, is what the legendary Halifax Pop Explosion festival became), and for the first time building a fan base outside of Nova Scotia.

After the first year or so, we hit rocky times. Keith was also playing in local band Led By Regret which took preference and eventually pushed him to leave Useless Solution to focus more on. At his last show he said he had just gotten a job at Pizza Hut and needed to focus on that (though, at the time, Pizza Hut was the scene hangout). Shortly after Keith left, we enlisted Ian Hart as his replacement. Once Ian was in the fold, our writing started to go more on the metallic side, and our songs got longer. Ian and I were listening to alot of Morning Again and Cave In at the time, so we wrote similar stuff. Though Ian did a great job, we never got the spark back that the original line up had. We played some good shows, and eventually Nathan decided he wanted to leave as well. Nathan found religion and it's still debatable whether he wanted to focus more time and attention to that, or he just didn't want to associate with athiests as closely anymore. From then on, our (he and I) friendship was never the same again either, though now I still see both Nathan and Keith as great guys and still consider them friends, though we only talk on occasion.

What followed was a long hiatus of trying to find drummers who could play fast and solid enough. We had the curse of spending a few years playing with a phenomenal drummer who left some big big shoes to fill. Eventually, in 2000 Gerry, Ian and I decided to overhaul the band. We went full on in the metal direction, incorporating black and death metal stuff. A friend, Gerald, agreed to play drums thankfully, as he was really the only one in the city we knew who could do blast beats other than Nathan. At this point, I switched to just singing, and we played one show in the basement of an art space as a 4 piece. Soon after though, long time friend of Gerrys, Mike Day, came in to play second guitar. Mike sold drugs and it made Ian uneasy, which was funny.

We played with this lineup for only about 8 or 9 months before it was time to stop beating a dead horse. We played some shows, wrote some good songs, but Gerry and I both knew that what the band had become was nothing compared to what we were with the original lineup. Our last show was dubbed "The Funeral" and everyone was encouraged to dress in black. I had poured so much in to the band over my mid to late teens, and it had gotten me through so many rough times that when it was gone, I felt like there was an immeasureable hole to fill.

We only recorded with the original lineup. We did our first demo, during which we also did "Like Weeds" by His Hero Is Gone. After that, we did two songs specifically to go on comps. One went on the "Violent Core Attack Volume 2" 7" comp put out by Tabacco Shit Records out of Montreal. The other was going on a comp by a label out of North Carolina, which I have no idea whether or not was actually released. My friend Mackenzie did guest vocals on the one that was probably never released. Then we did our "March" cassette. This got a good review in HeartattaCk zine. Also, the night after finishing the "March" recording, we did a live set on CKDU radio in Halifax, which was recorded, but never released. I still have it though. I had lost my voice earlier in the day so my diaphragm would only open to scream, but when I talked nothing came out.

Sadly, the second generation Useless Solution stuff was never recorded. Though I have ripped off several of the riffs from those songs over the years.

I'd still like to do a reunion show with the original line up, now almost 10 years later (!!!) as it is one of my fondest memories of my adolescence, and as a musician.

Envision, 1998 - 2002

I guess even though I wasn't one of those STRAIGHT EEEEEDGE guys, apparently one straight edge band wasn't good enough for me. Spear headed by long time (and still) friend Ian Hart, I was the guitar player in the original lineup, with Hart singing (as always), Ian Dares on bass, and Gerald Smith (second drummer for Useless Solution, and who was never straight edge) on drums. In the beginning it was traditional '88 style youth crew. We were a band who prided ourselves on good covers, so Envision started a long line of different cover songs. Ian had comprised a list of them here.

After our first show, we went on nearly a year long hiatus after all the members left except for hart and I. We couldn't find a drummer, so I switched over to drums and we got people to fill in on the stringed instruments. I can't even remember who though. We played one show with that linup, and then another year long haitus took in. I can't remember exactly why, but I know we had more lineup problems. For the first 2 years, it was basically just Ian Hart and I and a revolving door of people filling the spots. Eventually we got to what I consider to be the "classic" line up, which was me on drums, Hart singing, Ian Dares back on bass (I think he had moved for awhile and then came back), and Derrick Hiltz on guitar. We meshed really well and were always on the same page. Rarely did we have to sit down and learn a cover because we always picked stuff all four of us knew.

For the longest time I resented Envision because it was generic straight edge stuff in the beginning and was continually cursed with problems, but during the last year I really came to love it, and was bummed when I had to leave (because I was moving to the USA). I played just under 30 shows with the band (as chronicled here) before moving, and even though there was a big age gap between me and the three other guys, we got along really well and never had problems.

Sometime in late 1998 we recorded our demo tape, which mostly just Hart and I played on, I think. The gang vocals were done in a kitchen, and one of the guitar players from Canadian emo giants MONEEN was in the crowd. I don't even remember who recorded it. Later we recorded four or five songs with Philip Clark at a weird studio in the ghetto. It didn't sound too good and it was never used. The Summer right before I moved we recorded 5 songs for a split 7" with Sean McGillvary at the studio in The Pavilion. That 7" never came out though, but it was definitely our best stuff.

Envision was one of the only bands to ever continue on after I left. They are still together, surprisingly, and apparently recently completed their first recording in 7 years.

Excitebike, Briefly in early 1998

This was a very short lived band featuring who would be future friends and bandmates Mark Black and Scott Leighton (who would later be the bass player for Shrine Of American Martyr). I don't even remember what we sounded like, and I was kind of an afterthought. The band started, and shortly after their bass player was ousted, and I came in to fill the spot. I can only remember playing one basement show, but never remember actually practicing with the band. I think activity with the band started before a name could be established so "Excitebike" became a placeholder - then the band fizzled out before anything actually happened.

Mr. Bread, Briefly in early 1999

This band never actually had a name, but at the one show we played, dear friend Mark Black christened us Mr. Bread(I think). It was the only real band (if you omit the above) I ever played bass in, but it was insanely fun stuff to play. It was sorta melodic hardcore, kind of like I-Spy or Assfactor 4. Selwyn Sharples was the brains behind the operation, writing all the songs, but playing drums in the band as well as singing. Guitar duties were by Lachie MacDonald and Lionel Stanley. We practiced only once or twice as a full band, and the one show we played (which was a basement show at Ian Hart's parents house) we played without Lionel.

We only had four songs and they were only recorded during the one full practice we had. That tape may still exist at my parents house.

Coleridge, 1999

This was another sorta melodic hardcore band, this one with me playing drums. Also in the band was Lionel (from Excitebike) on guitar, Erin Greeno on bass, and this dude Noah singing. I didn't really know Noah, but he had full sleeves, which at the time I thought were SOOOO cool. We didn't really do much though. We only played a handful of shows (only one of which I can remember for sure) and covered "Resist Control" by Born Against.

We broke up quickly and I can't remember why. Nothing was ever recorded.

Shrine Of American Martyr, 1999 - 2001

Shrine Of American Martyr, or The Shrine as we came to be called: this was in some ways a super group at the time. Making up the band was me and Mac Ogilvie on guitar and sharing vocals, Lance Purcell (from Snot Party and Falling Out) on drums, and Scott Leighton on bass. At the time Mac and Lance had alot of notoriety for being in The Plan (Halifax math rock/post hardcore giants), Mac had just come off of singing for influential Halifax hardcore band Equation Of State, and I was doing Useless Solution. Scott was just a hermit.

We combined influences from the emerging "screamo" scene - bands like Orchid, Page 99, and The Locust, and combined them with moodier stuff of the 80's like Joy Division and The Cure...though the result was all power. Mac and I traded off vocal lines which created a really interesting dynamic between our voices. The hardcore trend of wearing shirts and ties while playing hadn't really exploded yet, so in the beginning this was something we did at every show. Our shows were always super chaotic and intense, and sometimes that superceded the music. I felt that Mac and I made a really good combination on stage, both musically, lyrically, and visually when we were playing.

We had set up a short eastern Canada and east coast US tour sometime in the winter of 2000, and in turn every show got cancelled a week before we left but one show in Boston, MA with Orchid. At the time, we were still all obsessing over that band, so decided to drive down to play it anyway. We rented a van and loaded all of our gear and made a 3 day trip out of it, only to arrive to the house the show was at in Boston and find out that Orchid wasn't playing. In fact, they were never even asked to play - a friend of a friend of the promoter said he'd ask them and forgot. We still played like hell, and got to play with Eulcid, got paid very little, and called it a fun weekend trip.

If I remember correctly, near the end Mac and I started butting heads a little, both wanting more creative control of the band, in combination with a weird love triangle thing which is another story all together. As well, I think I was jealous of the success Mac and Lance were having with The Plan (national/international releases, touring Europe, etc.) and their priorities on that. We kinda fell apart for awhile, and then eventually played a ho hum last show. I used Gerry's guitar amp during the show and it literally caught fire. Mac and I later totally patched things up.

We recorded a four song cassette and self released it at (I believe) our first show. It was recorded by Mike Catano (of The Plan, North Of America, The Holy Shroud, Thrush Hermit, etc.) in his parents basement. Mac and I went in with no lyrical structure, and the result was amazing. The fact that it was recorded in 8 track analog made it really powerful as well. Eulcid had bought a bunch of them to sell while they were on tour, so these actually exist somewhere outside of the east coast, and Canada at large. I'd like to meet someone who actually still has one to this day. I also have plans that when I finally start my own record label, to give the tape an official release on vinyl.

Existench, 2000

I was part of what seemed like a never ending line of guitar players in this long standing grindcore band. In fact, when I told people that I had joined, not one person was surprised. Existench was dirty grindcore, mixed with crust punk. They had a ton of releases and splits under their belt when I came into the fold. The original lineup when I joined was Gerald Smith (of Useless Solution and the OG lineup of Envision) on drums, Amanda Smith (Gerald's wife) on bass, and Derek MacElhone (of ever Halifax crust band ever) singing.

I was straight edge at the time, so I was already the black sheep when I joined. They just knew that I was way into grindcore, so my turn at guitar came up after about 6 or 7 guitar players before me. I had a good run though - we played some awesome shows and fests in Halifax. I don't think they were crazy about my guitar style at the time (I was listening to alot of Dahmer, so I was doing alot of single note picking when they wanted me to be doing power chords) but they were too polite to really say anything. I was also WAY younger than everyone else in the band - I think there was about 12 or 13 years between me and Derek.

At the time, I was doing about 5 other bands at the same time, with varying degrees of activity, and basically just showed up when I was told for practice and played shows. I was bringing in riffs now and then but not writing a ton. Eventually they got tired of this, and just stopped calling me for practice. They later said they assumed I wasn't really into it (though I was), and they were too nice to kick me out. But, there were no hard feelings. I'm not sure if they eventually found another guitar player.

I never recorded with them, but they were a band to keep releasing the same recordings on splits and whatnot so a bunch of stuff came out around and after me though they weren't super active.

The Shotgun Solution, 2000, possibly into 2001

This was the brain child of Gerry. He was listening to alot of Murder City Devils at the time, so he assembled a band accordingly. The were around for about 6 months before I joined. Making up the band was Gerry on guitar, Tim Kirkwood (who you'll hear more about soon) on drums, Tim (from Led By Regret) singing, Erin Greeno on keyboards, and Jon Samuel (of local band Slight Return) on bass. Gerry wrote all of the songs, and probably the lyrics for the band. It was definitely HIS band and we were all kinda hired guns, but that was okay. I remember for their first show, Gerry had made me official band photographer, but I missed the show because I had fallen asleep (this was also during the first time Krista had flown out to see me, so I think he thought I had blown him off just to have sex or something...but I really, honestly did fall asleep). I did feel pretty bad though because I knew I let him down.

But, all was amended obviously because about 6 months later he was talking about wanting a second guitar player and before a Useless Solution practice one evening I was playing guitar while waiting for everyone to show up, and I guess I did something to impress him because he said "you're the new guitar player for my band now, okay?". You can't really argue with an invitation like that.

Now, one of my traits as a band member is I'm often either all in, or barely in. Meaning, I either take a really aggressive approach to composition and image, or I'm passive to the point of what seems like disinterest. If I'm in a band, I always want to be in it, but when someone else has the reigns, I don't try to take them. This was the case with SS. It was definitely Gerry's deal, and he had a vision for it, and I didn't really want to interrupt that. I learned the songs and played guitar, kinda like everyone else did in a way. They were good, solid rock songs, but I think the lineup was a bit wrong for what Gerry really wanted to do. I think some members were always really holding back (or just weren't equipped for that style) and it held everything back. I think if Gerry reinvented that band again and I was in it, I'd now know how to approach it to help make it something really special.

I remember the practice space we used had like a 5 and a half foot ceiling, so I hated practicing because I'd always leave with a bad neck cramp.

We never recorded (at least with me), and I don't remember the circumstances of a last show or anything. I think Gerry just got kind of fed up.

I did however use one of the song titles as my AOL screen name for years.

Tim, Jon and Gerry went on to start The Clap, which became Oh God in 2002 or shortly after, which probably beat the shit out of SS.

Falling Short, briefly in 2000

Falling Short was a traditional hardcore (like early 80's DC style hardcore) band that eventually adopted some mosh metal stylings. They were around for a few years as a five piece, and I watched as a spectator and liked them. They weren't amazing, but they were good. I was pretty good friends with some of the guys in the band and I think that's more what made me like them. One time at a show in 2000, I filled in on guitar for that one show because somebody couldn't make it (I can't even remember if it was Matt or Jason). So I practiced with them a few times (which meant a terrible bus ride out to Sackville, NS) to learn their songs. Shortly after, Wayne the bass player quit, so they asked me to take over on bass. I accepted and begam practicing with them again. I learned most of the songs, including one they had started to write around when Wayne quit, and before I was able to play a show, they just decided to break up instead.

Wayne came back and played their last show, but I got to come in and play that one song that he hadn't done with the band.

I suppose realistically, I wasn't totally in the band...but I'm going to say I was just to justify the amount of time I had to spend waiting for and riding buses just to get to practice.

Three Fine Days, 2001

Three Fine Days was an emo/hardcore band consisting of Ryan Greeley on guitar, Matt on guitar, Wayne on bass (both from Falling Short), Oke singing, and this dude Mark playing drums. I never liked Mark - he was a chad who fell into liking hardcore and got people to accept him. He was friends with my room mate (Greeley) and would always walk into our apartment without knocking. Eventually, everyone else got sick of him too and kicked him out.

I jumped in as the drummer. I remember them having a bunch of shows planned, so I kind of had to hit the road running. Mark was a better drummer than me, so I was trying to do everything he did, but couldn't totally pull it off. I probably looked pretty sloppy for it, in hindsight.

We played some shows, and then about a half an hour before we played a set in Charlottetown, PEI Oke told us that he was leaving the band and that this would be his last show. It kind of put a damper on things, and we broke up after the show. A few months later they reformed the band, with Mark back on drums, and with a new singer. In retrospect, it almost sounds like an elaborate prank just to get me out of the band...but oh well. There's no grudge.

I never recorded with them, but I did some of the artwork for their CD that they put out before I joined the band.

Flesh Made To Suffer, 2001 - 2002

I had been saving this name for a band for about 2 or 3 years before this started. It was initially brainstormed between abhored scene guy, Nick Oxner, and myself. We wanted to combine discordant hardcore like Buried Inside or Zao, and combine it with black metal. The original lineup was Nick on guitar, Ryan Blakeney on guitar, Tim Kirkwood (of Shotgun Solution) on drums, and Matt Hameon (of Falling Short) on bass. It took us months to organize and plan everything but we wrote a handful of songs, and covered a Misfits song, and snuck our first show onto the New Seen Fest on New Years Day, splitting the headlining slot that Envision had.

The following February, Nick committed suicide in his apartment. Less than a week after this, we had a show scheduled, which we played because all of us agreed that it was what Nick would have wanted us to do. Knowing him, he was someone who didn't want to be overly grieved upon, or have people's lives interrupted. In hindsight it seems a little cold of us, but his parents refused to have a funeral or a wake (which was probably his wishes), but I still felt a public service for him was in order. So, I felt this would be appropriate. We played as a four piece, and handed out candles to create somewhat of a memorial vibe. I spoke about him between songs and so did some other people. It was probably the most emotional show I've been a part of.

A few months later, the band re-tooled, deciding to continue on. Matt switched over to his common place in guitar, and my longtime roommate Ryan Greeley came in to play bass. Matt and Blakeney together wrote some amazing riffs and we churned out some really good music. In hindsight, if I heard it today after the big metalcore explosion, I probably wouldn't give it the time of day, but I thought it was amazing at the time. At a show we played with Bleeding Through, the singer Brandan told us that we were the best band they had played with for the whole tour. I was ecstatic about hearing that at the time...though now I couldn't give a shit less.

In the Spring of 2002 we recorded a full length CD and self released it. It was recorded by Sean McGillvary at The Pavilion's recording studio (the same guy and place who did the last Envision session I played on). I was, and am, proud of myself for how I sounded on that recording and the lyrics I had written.

I eventually left the band right before I moved to Colorado. FMTS will always hold a special place for me because of the lengthly amount of time I put into it with Nick, even before we actually played a show, as those were the best times I shared with him. The band as a whole was some of the best music I've been a part of playing, and some people told me that after seeing me sing for it, despite all of the various positions I've held in bands, that being a frontman with just a mic was what I was best at.

After I left, the band attempted to continue on. Ryan Blakeney left shortly after me, leaving the band a four piece after recruiting Wayne (of Falling Short) to sing. I guess they played a show or two before sputtering to a halt.

Jennifer, 2002-2004

Skip to a few months after Flesh Made To Suffer, and I find myself in a new country with no friends or band leads. Eventually I found a full band looking for a drummer to play more metalcore stuff. Not having a drumset of my own, they borrowed one for me to play from a friend of theirs so I could try out. It went okay...it didn't have the same spark as stuff I had done in Halifax, but I was playing music again, and that's all I really cared about.

I eventually bought that drumset from their friend, with the financial help of one of the guitar players who owed that kid money anyway. I didn't think their singer was very good, so I pulled a jedi mind trick and convinced the other guys to kick him out. Though I made the mistake of bringing in a new singer. So, making up the lineup was me on drums, Austin Michel on bass, Ben Donnelly on guitar, Chris Papp on guitar, and the infamous Mark Alive singing. We began playing a fusion of hardcore and tech metal - sorta like Botch meets Black Dahlia Murder.

We practiced in Broomfield, CO which meant that I had to spent an hour and a half on three buses just to get there every week since I didn't have a car. We practiced in a shed with a goat pen on one side, and a chicken coup on the other. It was nice in the summers that you could spend 2 hours playing metal and then walk outside and see a baby goat. The stringed instrument players made our "band colors" white and pink by painting all of their cabinets those colors. Gay, in retrospect.

In the summer of 2003, we recorded with Dave Otero at what was then Hellion Studios in Boulder (now Flatline Audio in Denver). It was the best recording I've played on...too bad the music kind of sucked. Well, it was okay I guess. We self released the five song CD at a show with God Forbid at Cerventes Ballroom, which to this day, is the biggest venue I've ever played.

We played lots of local shows, but never played outside of Colorado. We were born into a bad reputation because of Mark's history of being in bands, not to mention his personal history, some of which we refused to believe at the time. I think the beginning of the end was at a show at a warehouse in downtown Denver, where Mark decided it'd be a good idea to spray lighter fluid all over the concrete floor and light it on fire. Then proceed to keep spraying the fire to make it bigger. I eventually had to throw my sticks at him to get him to stop. His idiocy that night made me realize that I was a part of something I really didn't wanted to be doing.

Not too long later, Austin had enough and decided to quit. Some of the members had brainwashed me into thinking he was an asshole, when really he was the most honest one of the bunch. Mark spray painted all over Austin's cabs before leaving our last practice (at Austin's house) because he had to work late that night and couldn't make it to practice. It was in pretty bad taste and Austin is still pissed about it.

That would prove to ultimately be our last practice, as we never found another space. We played a few shows without a bass player, and eventually I had a falling out with Ben and told them I was quitting too. I showed up to our last show to find that they had found a new bass player (some Christian douche) who was going to play with us. We waited until almost 2 am to play, and by then I was so annoyed that everything Ben did pissed me off even more, and I eventually threw my bass drum at him...it didn't hit him though, and I don't even think he realized my malicious attempt.

I didn't talk to any of those guys for awhile after. I made good with all of them, only to un-make good with Mark after he put a permanent bad memory on my first day of marriage, and then shortly after was convicted of sexual assault. I haven't talked to him since.

Objects Held And Thrown, 2004

After Jennifer, I eventually started talking to Austin and Chris again and we decided to take the grindier side of Jennifer and roll with that. Chris and I wrote about 15 grindcore songs over the course of a few days - they ended up being a combination of the Pig Destroyer-type riffs he wanted to play, and the composition of Discordance Axis songs that I wanted to play. While we retained the same positions we had in Jennifer, they called in their friend Logan to sing, who was a character to say the least. I got our name from a photoset done by Joel Peter Witkin. Nobody really got it or could even remember what we were called.

We played one show at The Junkyard in Commerce City, CO. We were told the wrong time, so we showed up late and had to wait until the end of the show to play. Actually though, we got what I consider to be the ideal slot on any show (second to last). We played and people loved us. Logan wore a cat costume and planned to puke on on somebody during the set, but chickened out.

After what we considered to be a successful show, we never practiced or played again for really no reason in particular.

Bosnia, 2005-2008/Present

In 2004 I began tattooing full time, and me and Chris Watts (the other artist at the shop) continually planned out a band we were gonna start. I wanted to move back to guitar after focusing on drums for the last 5 years. We found Steve Zahren to play drums, who had previously played with xFallen Altarx, with whom I almost joined as well. Phew.

Chris, Steve and I practiced a few times, intially writing fast thrashy hardcore songs, ala Tragedy, but way tuned down. Eventually we found a bass player in Adam Wheeler (who fought the position on bass for a long time saying he'd only play guitar), who joined with it being his first real band. With Adam in the band, we began writing longer, slower songs to which Chris couldn't figure out how to sing over, so he quit the band. Seeing as how I hadn't known Steve or Adam very long, and they didn't know of my history as a frontman, I told them I would sing for awhile, and if they weren't into it we could find someone else. Not long after, I was officially the singer and I had settled back in to the band position I was most comfortable.

Bosnia soon turned into a stoner rock/doom band, writing long, slow songs drenched in feedback. I was able to nurture my love for guitar gear, as Adam and I kept adding to the pile, never playing through less than two seperate amps each. For a long time I played through two full stacks, each with 100+ watt head running it. I even did this while playing in a basement in Colorado Springs. Ouch.

We had some great opportunities as a band, especially with getting on shows with big touring bands that came through Colorado. We got alot of great exposure that way, and made friends with bands I look up to. Though we never played outside of Colorado, I think our reputation expanded past the state's boundaries as we were selling shirts to various states, and got international label interest.

We recorded our first demo CD with Tanner Olson in the summer of 2006 in his house in Denver. We did 5 songs on reel-to-reel 8 track which made the sound really big and organic. We self released the CD, and made an unknown amount. The following year, we began tracking a new album, again with Tanner, this time in digital format. It took months and months to finish due to Tanner's gear issues, and shortly after finally finishing the vocals, Tanner's outrageous temper got the best of him on two seperate occasions. The first over my un-enthusiasm for the sound quality, the second taking place between him and Adam, which effectively ended Adam's role as bass player in Tanner's band, Across Tundras. My bad taste for him still there, we just decided to abandon the recording, which had taken upwards of 7 months to do, for the mere fact of not giving Tanner any recognition.

Less than a few weeks later we started re-recording the same album with Ben Rahmstahl at the audio studio on the Metro State College of Denver campus. This was the biggest studio I have worked in. Ben was incredibly gracious and patient, and made the whole process much easier than originally done. Once finished, we dubbed it "Nazarene Hallucinations" and released it at our "last" show.

Bosnia came to a halt in June 2008 right before Adam moved to Portland, OR and Steve to Los Angeles. We decided to not officially break up, as we'd like to do what we can when we can, though nothing has since happened. Though, Paradigms Recordings out of London, England has decided to officially release "Nazarene Hallucinations", which will hopefully be out in early 2009.

Black Sleep Of Kali, 2008-2009

Only 3 days after Bosnia's last show, I had my first practice with my new band, later dubbed Black Sleep Of Kali. I began talking to Taylor Williams (guitar and vocals) who had moved to Denver from Salt Lake City and had songs written with a drummer he had found - it was stoner rock stuff, along the same lines as Goatsnake or High On Fire. I went into it expecting to not be into the music, but was pleasantly surprised. Taylor and I got along on many levels and he made the executive decision to have me in permanently as second guitar player and singer as well. The drummer he was working with, Matt (I never even learned his last name), was extremely light handed and had a wishy washy personality. He was also Christian. I pulled the same jedi mind trick I did in Jennifer and got him booted from the band, though Taylor was sick of him already anyway.

In Matt's wake, I called in recently made friend Gordon to play drums. Gordon is probably one of the best drummers I've ever had the opportunity to play with, but is still relatively young and hadn't had the opportunity to play in many bands who stayed consistently active. Once Gordon was jumped in, I asked my longest Denver friend, Austin (from Jennifer and Objects) to play bass. Though the stoner rock type stuff we were playing wasn't his first cup of tea, he saw the merit in it and joined.

So far the only snags we've hit have been personality differences which we've moved past, and are travelling to Salt Lake City to record and play this month (my first outer state show with any band since moving to the US).

Cadillacula, 2008-2010

Chris Watts (original Bosnia vocalist) started this band not too long after leaving the early inseption of Bosnia. Rolling hard on his Danzig worship, he found similar guys who wanted to write and play songs that sound like the Misfits. They wrote and recorded a full length album with their original lineup entitled "Curse Of The Hearse" and self released it. After running into a few problematic drummers, they asked me to play drums mid way through 2008. Expecting it to only be a passive role in the band, I've been contributing alot to composition and song structure, while Timmy (guitar) brings in all the riffs.

It's also the first band I've been in where a stand-up bass is used. It's an interesting new change.

We're planning on playing my first show with the band in the next month and recording a new record early next year.

NOFX

2008-11-13T17:03:00.002-07:00

NOFX have been one of my favorite bands since I first got into punk rock about fifteen years ago. For any band who has been together as long as they have, it's extremely hard to still stay relevant and interesting in comparison with changing trends, scenes, etc. This video is one of the reasons they are still one of my favorite bands.

Here's Fat Mike sitting in on a bible study group for all the 18 year old, melodramatic Christian douche bags in some of the modern "punk" bands during Warped Tour.