My views on the current hardcore scene

I was going to type a complete response to the current hardcore scene and their macho attitudes but they probably aren't going to see this blog post.  So I will keep it short.

I am going to pick a couple bands that started hardcore and relate the song to current hardcore kids.

I think this song is probably 10x more relevant today than back in 1984.  This song is about the kids who come to shows to hurt people, and be seen for social reasons.  They say they care about the music and the message but in reality they just go to the shows to be seen and to be cool.  They also start fights all the fucking time.  It makes me want to vomit.

Lyrics:

You're beatin' up on your friends,

'Cos you're so insecure,
You wanna be the toughest,
But we all know for sure,
You thrash because you know
You're gonna start another fight,
But maybe when it's too late,
You'll finally see the light,
(Chorus)
You're tough, you fight, you win, so what! (x2)
You listen to the music,
It's the coolest thing to do,
But you don't ever listen
To what it says to you.
Your boots don't make you bigger,
Your pose is nothing new,
Someday it's gonna happen
When we watch you fuckin' lose

Now, this song relates to current hardcore kids and how they dress to impress.  Hardcore kids are more worried about what band t-shirt they have on, and how high it can push their hardcore credibility.  You see these kids in their basketball shorts and fitted hats.  You all look the same.  These kids miss the point of "fashion" in the hardcore punk scene.  The "fashion" (I hate using that word) was a reflection of their beliefs.  These kids didn't go out and purchase a $100 pair of nikes or fitted caps.  They did it to separate themselves from the ideologies of the Reagan administration.  Spending all that money to look "hardcore" is foolish and pointless.  You are just looking for the next cool thing and once hardcore is gone you'll move onto the next.

Lyrics:

I'm not a punk, how can I be?
Show me the way to conformity
Try to be different but it's always the same
End up playin' someone else's game
I'm just a square goin' nowhere
I'm just a square goin' nowhere
You used to walk by my side
Now you see me comin' now you hide
I see you here I see you there
I can see that you don't care
I'm just a square goin' nowhere

Now I picked this song because I didn't feel like using a Minor Threat or another 7 seconds song.  And the reason why I picked this particular song is because it covers Straight edge.  A couple years ago, many hardcore kids I talked to claimed to be edge.  Most of these kids aren't any more and that is their choice.  But the ones that pissed me off the most were the ones who claimed edge, tattoed edge all over them, then a month later broke it because it wasn't cool.  Can you be more of a tool?  I could name names but that wouldn't be right.  They know who they are.  If you stayed straight for a couple of years and decided you didn't want to be edge any more then what ever.  But if you claimed edge, and depending on who you were around decided on weather you drank or didn't then you can go jump off a cliff.

Lyrics:

We're in touch
Cause we're fuckin straight
They beat us now
But we can't wait
We'll be a force
And they will pay
As we will have our fuckin say
Won't drink their booze
They'll smoke the pot
They'll take the pills
See kids can't be bought
You say they're good
I can't explain
Drugs can't help
They make you tame
When you gonna realize
They fuck you up
Allowing them to shut you up
Your excuse is boredom
I can't understand
When you're wasted
You're like putty in their hands
Always looking forward
To the next high
Ignoring any problems
Letting them just slip by
Why not be different
From all the rest
We'll have the straight edge
And authority can have the rest
Why not be different
From all the rest
We'll have the straight edge
And they can have the rest

In Closing,  New hardcore kids are completely clueless as to what hardcore is about.  They'll spout the generic "family" and "respect" but then they'll start fights at shows.  It's stupid, the macho shit in hardcore needs to stop.  Here are a couple other bands that were a key in creating hardcore.  Without these bands you wouldn't have your stupid little "hardcore family".

Here are some newer hardcore bands that don't get the recognition they deserve:

So you think I need to grown up?

     Ok,  as many of you know I am straight edge.  This means I do not, nor will I ever take part in drinking, drugs, or hooking up with random girls.  A comment I get all too much is "Why don't you grown up".  Who gives me these comments?  The people I went to high school with.  Now I know you're probably saying to yourself "what is this about?"  Well I am going to rant a little here so hang on.  It will all come together in the end.  I spent most of my high school days being an outcast because I was a punk kid.  I hung out with punk kids,  I had a punk girlfriend,  I went to punk, ska and hardcore concerts, stage dived, slamdanced, etc, etc... but I never drank or took part in parties in high school.  The reason for this is simple.  My punk lifestyle went beyond fashion.  It went beyond spikey hair and bondage pants.  I became a punk because I wanted to separate myself from the people I went to school with.  These kids were seen as "the ones most likely to succeed!"  These kids were also the ones who spouted homophobic remarks at me in gym class for not being good at sports.  Words such as "faggot", "homo", and "queer" were spat at me on a regular basis.  On a side note,  I am guilty of calling things gay in my high school days.  I never meant for it to be used in a demeaning manner.  I just used it because in those days it was just another word for me to describe things I thought looked stereo typically "gay". I was young, and didn't really think about it.   But as time went by, I learned why you probably shouldn't call things gay.  I hardly, if ever used it towards someone to put them down because I never felt that being gay or lesbian, or transexual was NOT a bad thing.  What does this have to do with straight edge?  Well,  I became straight edge because it was a great way to distance myself as far as possible from these morons.  I hated them sooooo much.  I did what ever it took to distinguish myself from them as much as possible.  Because of this,  I was also made fun of by my teachers, mostly my 10th grade english teacher Mrs. Wright.  So to sum up this part of the rant, the kids that were looked upon as good people were the ones that went to parties, had sex with drunk girls, beat up people like me, and constantly spat out racist and homophobic remarks at anyone who wasn't like them.
   
      In present times, when I run into someone from high school, they usually ask me what I am doing with myself.  I say "Well, i'm still in college, trying to get my degree, playing in a band, and living at home with my parents."  What I get back as a response is "Wow,  still living in the high school days."  First of all, Fuck you!  Second, what the hell do you do with your life.  You have a kid, you're married, probably didn't finish college but you are making enough money to support yourself.  Ok, I can see where we are different and why you would say something like that to me.  But, lets analyse this a little bit.  When I go on your facebook page, and look at your pictures, what are you doing in most of them?  DRINKING!!! JUST LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL! You still play beer pong, your get black out drunk, and you are telling me I still live in high school?  I spend my weekends, hiking, biking, playing in my band, traveling with my band, and hanging out with my friends.  You drink your lives away just like in high school.  You pretty much admit to me that all you do is work all week, then spend your free time at a fucking bar!?!  Let me repeat that... You work 8-10 hours a day, then go to a bar and drink until you want to go to bed.  And that is almost all that you do.  What a great life you lead fine ladies and gentlemen.  Glad to see that you have such a great personality to come up with all that fun shit!  Who is the one still in high school now?  I feel that people are conditioned to think that a part of growing up is partaking in "grown up" things like drinking at bars.  In reality, this is just a childish way for people to feel that they are grown up.  Sure I still walk around the mall, but walking around the mall is a great way to get exercise, and it is the perfect cure for boredom.  I could sit in my house, lay on my bed, watch tv and be bored.  Or I could walk around the mall and be bored.  What sounds better?  At least I don't spend my free time "mingling" at a god damn bar!  Your grown up standards make me want to vomit.  Why don't you take a look at your own damn life instead of basing what is "grown up" around some stupid moral standard that you are taught from birth.

     To sum everything up,  I DO NOT have a problem with people who drink.  If you want to drink that's fine!  That's your choice!  I DO have a problem with people who don't think for themselves.  That goes for punk kids who dress punk, or drink 40's, and wear leather jackets when it is 100 degrees outside too.  You're just as bad as the kids from my high school.  Think for yourself.  Do what YOU want.  Not what is expected of you.  And last but not least, live your life because you can only do it once.  (cheese fest)

     I hope this made sense.  I am too tired to proof read and I really don;t care that much.  Here are some pics of me in high school. enjoy!

The Pod People!!!

So I am sitting in my room, by myself, watching Pod People... Without the MST3K commentary.  Believe me,  it is PAINFUL.  This is a 1982 film, Originally called The Unearthing, that was supposed to be a violent, alien loose on earth film.  Halfway through production, E.T. hit it big in theaters, so the producers of the film ordered script changes to include a child and a baby alien.  The end result is a film muddled by curse words that they silenced out instead of reshooting the dialogue,  some dead people with glowing dots on their heads, and a very stupid alien befriending an even more clueless stupid kid.  I suggest you find the MST3K copy of this pile of shit.
Here is a scene from this... umm... movie.

Also,  I just recently started listening to The Dickies again.  They are one of the oldest surviving punk bands.  I think theyve been around since 1976 and haven't broken up once.  If you listen to Green Day, Blink 182, Simple Plan, or Good Charlotte, then you have this band to thank,  

And if you are interested, here are some bands that I was really into during my high school days.  These bands open up a whole new world beyond any of the mainstreme punk stuff.  Even though I don't listen to these bands that much anymore, they still hold a very special place in my heart as the bands that made me who I am today.

So I went a little apeshit with the videos, if you're looking at this then you must have the time to watch them.  Also check out 9 to 5 records on facebook and look for the next More Faster ep which might come out on 7 inch vinyl!

Anywho, time to be sick for the next 4-5 days.  See you then!

It's been a while

Nothing much has been happening, just the same old garbage.  Chemo, sickness, feeling fine, repeat.  In other news though, I am playing this awesome show this weekend, the 24th with The Mad Conductor.  It's rap music that incorporates dub, ska, and punk so it should be fun to watch. I used to love his old band, No Cash, in my high school days.  Besides that awesome show, I also found out that two of my favorite Fat Wreck Chords bands, Diesel Boy and Bracket, are making new cd's.  Now both bands need to do a tour out to the east coast so I can see them.  Oh, and Samiam is releasing a new cd as well.  The only different between Samiam and the other two Fat Wreck Bands is that Samiam has the cd recorded and set for release while Bracket and Diesel Boy are still in the writing process.  I also have tickets to see The Descendents with H2O and The Suicide Machines in september with my buddy Craig and Chelsea.  That'll be an awesome show.  Here's some music from the bands I mentions to make you smile.

Treatment delayed again

My treatment is delayed till Tuesday so at least I can enjoy my weekend!  I went to see Bad Teacher with my girlfriend and it was pretty funny.  She didn't like it too much because Jason Segal wasn't in it more.  As for plans for the 4th of July, I have none.  Just cleaned my room and moved some posters around.  As for music,  I just listened to the Houseboat Lp The Delaware Octopus.  If you haven't listened to this band yet you are missing out.  Also,  I was able to play two concerts this weekend.  My next concert is July 24th with Mad Conductor,  probably one of the best rappers in the past 10 years.  He was the lead singer for No Cash, but since they broke up, he's been doing the whole rap shenanigan.  So... if you want to buy tickets for that from me then let me know.  They are $10.00 and the show is at sounds asylum.  Have fun!!!

2nd Day Post Chemo

Seems like day 2 will be the worst day after my chemo treatments.  The nausea is horrible, the heartburn is uncomfortable, and the lethargic feeling my body feels is sometimes overpowering, but that didn't stop me from going out with my family for fathers day.  We went to some German restaurant called Black Forest Inn.  The food was ok, but it did NOT sit well in m stomach.  After we ate, I went home and took a 2-3 hour nap.  When I awoke, it felt like my stomach was filled with air but I didn't have to burp.  I've never felt anything like that before.  Besides that, I bought some awesome "legal" dvds this weekend at the flea market ;).  I purchased Hall Pass, which my girlfriend and I are watching right now, The Hangover 2, and Paul.  I think Hall Pass is going to be the winner for the funniest out of the three.  The Hangover 2 was funny, but I am glad I didn't pay to see it in the theaters.  In closing, here is an awesome song to listen to...

Waiting and Waiting...

So, Wednesday I was supposed to have my second dose of chemo but my white blood cell count was really low.  When it's as low as mine was, they aren't able to give you your treatment.  This is because if your body doesn't have enough wbc you can get infections very easily.  To fix this problem they have been injecting me with Nutrogen which stimulates your bone marrow to produce white blood cells very fast.  It is now friday, and I am sitting here, waiting for my blood work to come back.  If the wbc count isn't up I will have to wait till next week to receive treatment.  This worries the hell out of me because I don't want my cancer to progress.  It's all ok though because I trust that I am in good hands.  They will fix this problem and get me right back on track.  Anyways, my band recorded a cd.  You can listen to it here The Punk Rock Polka Experience.  I am going to warn you that It does have profanity which probably isn't that acceptable to people who aren't familiar with punk music.  I'm not talking about Blink 182 and Green Day profanity.  Anyways,  We will see if I receive treatment today.

UPDATE: RECIEVED TREATMENT, READY FOR THE SICKNESS!

Fighting Cancer by going to a T.S.O.L. concert.

Last night, my girlfriend Chelsea, Patrick Bradford and I went to go see a once in a lifetime concert.  We headed out to The Chance to see T.S.O.L.!!!!!!!  It was awesome, I had been wanting to see this band since I was in the 9th grade.  The reason I say it's a once in a lifetime concert is because when a band has been around for 30 years, you just don't know when or if you're going to see them again.  For all I know, the singer could drop dead within the next month (lets hope he doesn't because I'd feel responsible).  Anyways,  it was muggy as a windowless room full of fat people breathing heavy, but that was ok.  The played all the songs I would want to hear.  Thankfully none of their hair metal stage material was present.  They, obviously, closed with their hit song Code Blue.  Code Blue is THE song that probably first exposed you to T.S.O.L. if you were getting into punk in the 90's because it was featured on the Punk O Rama 2 comp.  Those comps slowly got worse and worse as the years went on but that's a whole different story.  Now, at this show I danced a little... probably shouldn't have but I did and It sucked.  I was tired after the first 10 seconds of each little dance or sing along session but I wasn't going to miss out on the fun  because of cancer.  T.S.O.L. wasn't the only highlight of the show though.  I saw my old friends from Soul 4 Sale, Justin from You And What Army, and Mike from Problems so it was an all around good show.  It all ended with me buying a t-shirt with profanity on it (up the punx <== Sarcasm), and going to sleep around 12:30.  Here is a nice little video of T.S.O.L.  It's terrible quality but I think i represents the energy they play with perfectly.

All About Me! (Kinda like the first day of school)

     My name is Brian, and on May 10th I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma subtype Nodular Sclerosis. Lymphoma is a cancer that forms in the lymph nodes and usually affects people ages 15-35 (I think).  I am a 26 year old man, current'y attending college to become and Physical Therapist Assistant.  I love playing music.  Infact,  I love playing music soooo much that I play drums in 3 punk bands, The Naked Citizens, More Faster, and Picture Day.  I collect horror movie vhs tapes and punk/ska vinyl.   I have since received my first chemo treatment about 6 days ago and haven't been feeling great since.  This is what I am going to have to accept as feeling "normal" for the next six months as my body is pumped full of toxic drugs for the next six months.  Many people ask me, "what does it feel like"? Well,  while you are sitting in the hospital during treatment, you don't feel much of anything.  I didn't start feeling sick till later that night.  It started as a little bit of nausea and a little bit of exhaustion, but by the 2nd day I was feeling stomach cramps, extreme nausea, and the worst case of exhaustion I have ever felt.  Since then, I have begun to feel better, slowly regaining my strength and eating a lot more, but I have not fully recovered yet.

     Now that all of that is out of the way, I can explain what I am going to do in this blog.  I will post updates on how I am feeling for my friends as well as other things I enjoy, such as, music, movies, and eating.  Right now I am getting ready to head out for some chicken parm pizza from Mezza Luna.  Hopefully the mail will be here by time I get back.  I am expecting some movies.  In closing, here is a song from one of my favorite bands Dustbox!  They are pretty much a Japanese Blink 182 (Pre Enema of the state).  Enjoy!