That quick flavor turning in a hardcore kid's eye

Interview with Patrick Kindlon from End Of A Year

2011-07-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

A long time ago (Febuary, 23rd 2010) I asked Patrick Kindlon who is the singer of End Of A Year a few questions. I was going to use this for a zine, but obviously that never worked out and I was looking through old emails and found this. Enjoy. Oh and if spread it around if you know anyone what would be into it.

HEAD2WALL - First of all, what kind of band would you call End of a Year? I was introduced to you guys as being a "Revolution Summer" band, and I see that, but I always thought of End of a Year as an unconventional (non-boring) hardcore band.

PATRICK KINDLON - That's always how I've seen us as well. Within the band, we don't talk about what sort of band we are very often. We grew up playing in hardcore bands and I think we always just presume, on some level, that's what we're doing. But then we'll play with some awful diarrhea-breath unoriginal hardcore band and we'll say "We're not this. I don't know what we are, but we're not this." So I guess I'm as confused as the listeners on this question. Maybe we're a hard indie band? But then we'll play with indie bands and feel no connection to them either.

H2W - I've heard you talk about your songs during your sets, and you often mention lust and greed as central themes. Would you say that these are a common fixation in your life? Do you feel that they're covered enough in hardcore and punk?

PK - The only theme in my life. My dad never touched my dick and I don't enter a pit of depression when a woman leaves me, so what else is there? Politics? I don't understand the appeal. So when I'm singing, I'm typically talking about things that are active in my mind all the time, and that's mostly a weird compulsion to have more than I've been told I can have.

H2W - End of a Year has a new LP coming out this year. What topics will we find you covering on the new record? And I know you have a lot of other stuff up your sleeve... What can you divulge?

PK - It's a bunch of smug assholes celebrating how much we love ourselves. 100% that's what it is. The name of the record is YOU ARE BENEATH ME and I think people can infer something from the title. I tried singing on the record and it was an abject failure, so that will have to wait until next record. I still sound like a tuneless asshole. The band sounds good though.

H2W - Would you rather play with hardcore bands, pop punk bands, indie bands, ska bands, or other types? At what shows do you think you have had the best reaction?

PK - We like playing with anyone who plays tight and serious. No one in the band aside from me is into heavy stuff aside from me, but when we play with Reign Supreme we're all on the side of the stage. That's because they are tight and serious. Same with Cruel Hand. Goofy dudes off-stage, but when they play they play serious. When we get offers for tours, the only question the band has is "can they play?" Hard to say where we get the best reaction. I'll try a ska show. At this point, I'm willing to play anything. I think we're on show 220 or some nonsense, the vast majority of those shows being hardcore shows, so any variety is fine with me. Ska city, here we come.

H2W - hat kind of interaction would you like to have with the crowd? What do you think they will take home with them after seeing End of a Year?

PK - Ideally there would be a bunch of beautiful women in the front row trying to rip my clothes off and throwing their motel room keys at me. But as things are, I would be content with people watching and taking it into their heads and liking it or disliking it.

H2W - How long have you been going to shows, and have you been in any bands prior to End of a Year?

PK - I think I went to my first show sophomore year of high school, so I guess that would make me 15 at the time? I have no memory for that sort of thing. Kids want to talk to me about shows from years ago and I can only give a vague "they were good" or "that band sucked." I have memory problems. I was in a hardcore band in high school that sounded like apes playing Pantera and I borrowed all lyrical inspiration from 108. I've been in other bands while I've been in End of a Year and some of those have been more popular locally. Kids from hicktowns south of Albany come up to me and tell me the mosh band I was in with lyrics about burning down venues full of people was the "best fuckin' shit ever" man. Weird life.

H2W - How long have you been straight edge, and what does it mean to you?

PK - Since I was 16, I think. I can get all heavy about it, but I think it's best explained like this: My thoughts are jumbled and I'm not the smartest guy. But I want things. So putting shit in my way to make life more confusing seems like a jackass thing to do. People typically describe me as
"happy" and I think being straight edge is part of that.

H2W - Could you tell me some things you like about yourself, and some that you hate?

PK - I like that I don't remember bad things. Some people carry shit around with them their whole lives. I'm grateful I don't wrestle with memories. I'm not sure I hate anything about myself, but I wish my brain was more efficient. I don't understand even basic math.

H2W - What would you say is the best show you have ever seen?

PK - I saw Lungfish in Brooklyn and it really knocked my socks off. My first or second show was Warzone and that probably started this whole thing for me, so that's big. And I always reference the time I saw Sick of It All. I think it shaped me to a large degree.

H2W - Do you have any go-to hardcore records? On the other end of the spectrum, what would you say is a guilty pleasure band that you find yourself only listening to when you are in the mood for that artist?

PK - Out of Step by Minor Threat; Destroy the Machines by Earth Crisis; Constructive Semantics by Endeavor. Those are probably the three I tend to fall back to every few weeks. On the "why the fuck do I listen to this?" end of things, twice a year I'll listen to late-period Orange 9mm.

H2W - And finally what is your idea of Misery?

PK - I don't know exactly. I work hard at turning miserable shit into constructive shit as quickly as possible. The thing that scares me the most is having a kid and working a straight job.

Feed the children

2011-07-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Still working like a madman, still booking shows and over extending like normal. The Head2wall print release will most likely never happen, I'm way too distracted by other things. But Head2wall Records is in full swing, well as much as it can be with me working so much. Forget It will have an eight song tape out sometime in the near future, A new signing and demo tape out for that band in the next month, A tape compilation and hopefully our second 7" release by the end of the year (a spoken word 7" for the singer of End Of A Year). Here are some pictures to feed your eyes I guess...

Tonight is the night

2011-04-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

The first Head2wall Records release come out tonight!!!! I couldn't be more excited. And the Forget It tape should be coming in the next two weeks. I am going to start uploading a ton of Columbus/Ohio/Good demos, here is one to start you guys off.

Triceratops - Demo

I am going to try to get scans of the covers to most of the other ones I will be uploading but figured this one couldn't wait. Keep the faith.

Head2wall Records News 1.0

2011-04-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

The Triceratops 7" was picked up today and was sent off for screen printing on the b-side. It will be back and available for their April 23rd reunion show in Athens Ohio. The show is a pre-show for Forward Ohio Fest that will also take place in Athens Ohio on May 21st. The record is limited to 100 with almost no chance of repress. Also this will most likely be your last chance to see the original Triceratops line up, so don't miss out.

The Forget It Demo tape repress order was also placed today and should be in by the end of the month. It is also limited to 100.

Ringworm Flyer

2011-03-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

Myself and the amazing Scott Niemet booked this show. People came and bands slayed. Mind Crimes is from Zanesville, where I live now.

It has been a long time coming

2011-01-19T15:57:00.001-08:00

I've been working like mad, booked a bunch of shows (A few good and some total flops) and just all around have been lazy as hell. Well thats all over a lot of big things coming soon from the Head2wall camp. A big show. A second much larger pressing of the Forget It Demo (Head2wall Records 0.5) Head2wall Records first vinyl release. And the first Head2wall print release. GET SIKED!

And to not leave you out of the loop here is what I have been doing/seeing in my world since my last post.

Today In The Mail: A389 Forever

2010-04-21T09:26:00.001-07:00

The other day I got a pretty decent sized package from A389 Records. I pretty much order every record this label puts out. I'm sorta playing catch up though on a few of the older ones (I'm going to have start hunting on ebay for the really early releases I missed). This order though brought me the last piece of my Gluttons collection (for now), 3 Gehenna records (including one split), a 7" for a band called The Love Below (outkast reference?) and the first press of the Integrity - To Die For 10" I had missed with a special bonus inside. I thought the order its self was going to be the special part for me but when I opened it up I noticed my 10" had a 7" slid inside. I was so excited because I had been broke when the pre-order went up and when I finally did get money I had missed the last few copies by an hour or so. Luckily some were put up the A389 webstore a few hours before the next set of pre-orders went up.

Gehenna - Negotium Perambulans In Tenebris (Self Released)
Gehenna/California Love (Red) (Out Of 250) (A389 Records)
Gehenna - Hope Guzzo Bootleg (Marble) (Out Of 250) (A389 Records)

Gluttons - S/T (Clear) (Out Of 150) (A389 Records)
The Love Below - Reproductive Rights (Pink) (Out Of 250) (A389 Records)

Integrity - March Of The Damned (A389 Records)
Integrity - To Die For (First Press) (Blue) (Out Of 500) (A389 Records)

Also in the past few days I got a copy of Bridge Nine's repress of Underdogs - S/T 7". Its a GREAT fucking repress only a few minor changes that were either to fix things wrong with the original press or to put the b9 logo on their (but they still left the new beginning logo in the insert!!!)

Underdog - S/T (Red) (Bridge Nine Records)

The return of?

2010-04-14T22:40:00.000-07:00

For some reason I do not update this blog enough, I've also let the mix blog fall to the wayside... though it was hard to keep up with from the beginning. And at this point I'm spreading myself very thin, from trying to start school, to working 40 hours a week, going to every show I can (and that means traveling for most of them), writing, organizing my many collections and trying to gather things together for two zines. But I promise to update more and in the next few weeks I should have some random pictures to post and hopefully logs of found objects I've collected.

Today In The Mail: FIRST EOAY TEST!!!!

2010-04-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

Today when I came home from work/hanging out with my girlfriend I found a wonderful package waiting for me!!! It is my first End Of A Year test press, it is for the More Songs About Transportation and Intercourse on Hex Records. Strangly enough that is who I won it from on ebay haha. Also included in this package was the Hex Records - Ten Years Of Putting Out Records zine with a cool comp CD. Today RULED!!! And hopefully this is just the first of many.

End Of A Year - More Songs About Transportation and Intercourse (Test Press) (Out Of 15) (Hex Records)

Today In The Mail: "You Sell A Million Records?"

2010-03-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

Today I got a package with three copies of the same record in it. The record is End Of A Year's More Songs About Transportation and Intercourse and does not just have a Talking Heads rip off cover but they do a cover of Talking Heads song Wild Wild Life. The rarest color was to be clear but do to the plant running out of this color they had to switch it to green. I fucking love green vinyl, so I am more then siked and as soon as I read the note detailing this I quickly flipped through to find this lovely green record instead of the clear one I had thought I was getting. Now another thing that I noticed was different was the color of the black copies sleeve and as I pulled it out to take a picture I noticed that its even on different paper (much heavier paper). Weird.

Also a few weeks ago I did an email interview with Patrick the front man of End Of A Year that I should be putting into a zine soon... I might post it on here eventually too. It came out pretty well I'm excited for 5 people to read it.

End Of A Year - More Songs About Transportation and Intercourse (Green) (Out Of 100) (Hex Records)
End Of A Year - More Songs About Transportation and Intercourse (White) (Out Of 200) (Hex Records)
End Of A Year - More Songs About Transportation and Intercourse (Out Of 200) (Hex Records)

Today In The Mail: The Last Week + My Last Week

2010-03-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

So in the last week I've been to a few shows in a few states and celebrated my 24th birthday. I saw Cro-Mags, Killing Time, Inmates, Set To Explode and Praise in Baltimore, Maryland and I saw Blacklisted, Gods And Queens, The Rival Mob, Give and Salvation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both of these were the first times I had seen shows in these cities and both seemed to have a large local draw though I'm sure a lot of people traveled to Cro-Mags. Also Both shows were really great and well worth the money that went into the trip. Honestly seeing Blacklisted play that set would have been worth the money. I could go on and on about the shows but I'll just shorten it to this... 1st show... Cro-Mags played a set full of all the hits and a cover of Minor Threat doing a cover of Wire, Killing Time played a great mix of Old and New songs that I really enjoyed, and Inmates didn't get the reaction they deserved. 2nd show... Blacklisted ended their set with my favorite song by them and all the new songs come off amazing live, Rival Mob was real real good and Give was the other stand out at that show and I would love to see them again. I HIGHLY recommend people checking them out.

And even after all this fun mosh and traveling thousands of miles (thanks to my flights having to go to Nashville and Chicago also) some of the best times I had all week were with my girlfriend she made me a wonderful dinner of ribs and potatoes, gave me a really cool Shook Ones shirt (Descendents rip off) and took me to see a real cool exhibit of one of my favorite living artists, Chihuly. So all in all I've been having a good time records aside.

Now onto my mail, as I was gone I got 4 packages 2.5 for me and 1.5 as presents for my girlfriend. I like how it was my birthday and almost half the stuff that came in the mail was for her. I got her a Panic Shirt (that I am super jealous of) and a copy of a zine that I had also received a copy of for myself. The zine is very cool, its full of poetry and photos and information on how it can be ordered can be found here. The other two packages were records. The first package was a order from a distro that has taken over distributing these records (that had come out a few years ago). It included a copy of Over My Dead Body's Lp Sink Or Swim and Piece By Piece 7" Written In Blood both are pretty rare and the latter was one of only 3/4 that were this darker grey that is more like a green/grey. Also I ordered a record that this label put out for a band I had seen in California last year that really surprised me, Mourningside. Now I guess they are called Mourningside AD I was very happy with my order they even through in 3 free CD's. You can pick up these records and more at Hard Press Records Bigcartel. The other package was a record from a b9er that I've been trying to get (off them and in general for years). Hollywood's 4/20 cover version of their record Brave Sounds. I am pretty sure this was the record release or something along those lines for this record but either way its out of 20 and now means I'm only missing tests and I'll have a complete collection for this band.

"Half Empty" Zine
Hollywood - Brave Sounds (4/20 Cover) (Out Of 20) (Keepitcore Records)
Over My Dead Body - Sink Or Swim (Blue) (Out Of 159) (Takeover Records)
(I forgot to take pictures of the other records so this is all you get)

Today In The Mail: A Reason To Smile

2010-02-28T11:09:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I was doing my rounds of ebay looking up bands I have been enjoying as of late, surprising enough I listen to music other then Blacklisted. When I looked up Fury Of Five two records came up and one happened to be a buy it now for 12 bucks it was even listed as 90's rock. The seller clearly had no idea what they had. I felt my heart skip a beat as I quickly clicked the buy it now button and felt like the luckiest man on the Earth.

Fury Of Five - No Reason To Smile (Green) (Out Of 200) (Gain Ground Records)

Today In The Mail: Panic Day?

2010-02-22T21:23:00.000-08:00

Today I got three packages in the mail today. Two held Panic items and one held a bands demo who had perked my intrest by saying they sounded like Panic on b9. The shirt was from Ebay, the two Panic 7"s (and the other 7" were from a b9er) and the tape was from said band, Overlooked. I am now only missing the Back To School Jam cover for the Panic - S/T 7" and tests for both.

Overlooked - 2009 Demo
Panic - S/T (White) (Out Of 200) (Bridge Nine Records)
Panic - Dying For It (Blue/Yellow) (Out Of 400) (Bridge Nine Records)
Empty Promise - S/T (Self Released)

Today In The Mail: With All The Stones I Throw

2010-02-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today the other half of my Blacklisted - Eccentrichine order came from Six Feet Under Records, this was the record half. I've already listened to this 7" quite a few times through and I couldn't imagine a better complement to the new LP (No One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me). The record has two new songs and two that are from other records, these rerecordings are A full band version of P.I.G. from No One Deserves This More Then Me and an acoustic version of Wish from Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God. I really like the reversal on these songs, seeing as they both appear the opposite ways on their respective albums. Now onto the two new songs, Stones Throw is a great build up to start the record out. I am very into the duel vocals on this song, and on the new record I really think her voice goes very well with his. The other new song is the title track to the record, its a bit faster song with real repetitive feel to it but again its great. I never feel like they take it too far and I think a lot of people think Blacklisted has become some sort of copy of other bands, I personally think they have just grown into the band they have always been progressing into. Oh and this blog is mostly about what the shit looks like and what ones I got so I guess I should talk about that... the records themselves are all really awesome looking. I think the colors they chose really complement the art of the record perfectly. As you can see in the first picture I got another record today, It is the New Found Glory / Dashboard Confessional split 7" I was very excited for finally hear this the other day after waiting forever and having twitter confirmation forever ago that New Found Glory was to cover one of my favorite Dashboard Confessional songs, Saints And Sailors. The other cover they did, Swiss Army Romance is pretty good also. The only thing that surprised me were the Dashboard songs, they were rather slow I hadn't realized they sounded like that now. Either way I am really glad I got a copy and didn't have to pay 17.00 bucks with shipping. Ha.

Blacklisted - Eccentrichine (Dark Red) (Out Of 606) (Six Feet Under Records)
Blacklisted - Eccentrichine (Beer With Red Splatter) (Out Of 305) (Six Feet Under Records)
New Found Glory/Dashboard Confessional (Pink) (Out Of 500) (Epitaph Records)

A. Side and...

B. Side of..

Blacklisted - Eccentrichine (Cream/Green With Red Splatter) (Out Of 103) (Six Feet Under Records)

Today In The Mail: Added Bliss

2010-02-03T16:04:00.000-08:00

From the first time I heard the New Blacklisted album (No One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me on Deathwish Inc) I knew it was going to become one of my favorite records of last year. I was never that big on Blacklisted before this record, I liked them and dug a few songs a lot but never to this level. And I guess its one of those things, something makes you look at the whole collection under a different light. I find myself semi-obsessed with this band. Listening to the new album somewhere around 100 times since I first heard it in mid December. And the rest of the discography quite a bit. They have been my top artists for almost every week since mid December, achieving as high as 500+ plays in one week alone. Now me having no job, and nothing really to do I am sure is helping this but its something strange to think I can not get bored of this record even listening to it 20+ times in a row (as I have on more then one day). I guess I am just stuck on this record. The day it went up for order I wasn't too sure how it would be so I slacked on ordering it so I guess Ive payed the price (but not too bad I would think). Now onto todays package, I picked up this record (on the second rarest color) for only 26 bucks off ebay. Now I just have to find the other three versions, to satisfy my lust.

Blacklisted - No One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me (Orange And Green Mix) (Out Of 319) (Deathwish Inc Records)

The other package that came today was a Print, I've realized a lot as of late how much I like prints. I only have a few and would be very into getting more. This print that was designed and printed by Screenin 4 A Change and goes with an EP called Eccentrichine on Six Feet Under Records that goes along with the Blacklisted record I had come in the mail today. Perfect timing I guess, but timing off since as I said it goes with the EP and it didn't come today. I've been waiting for a month to hear these songs. And not so much as being impatient to have the records but really wanting to hear the songs. 2 of them are from the same sessions as the LP, one is a full band version of a song already on the LP (The P.I.G.(The Problem Is G.)) and lastly an acoustic version of Wish from their last LP, Heavier Than Heaven Lonelier Than God. We can only hope tomorrow brings this to me.

Blacklisted - Eccentrichine (Print) (Out Of 103)

Today In The Mail: In The Last Week(s)? who knows

2010-02-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

I've been doing just about nothing so I have no Idea why I have not updated. Whatever, who cares. The first record I got in the last few weeks was Panic - Dying For It on Bridge Nine Records. I've always liked Panic but it seems in the last few months I've had a spurt of interest in collecting them and tracking down different versions of the records. I lucked into this on ebay for cheap, and when I say cheap I mean I won this for under 3 bucks. Must have been my lucky day. I almost missed the auction too but luckily I woke up to an email about it.

Panic - Dying For It (Green) (Out Of 150) (Bridge Nine Records)

The second package I got in the last week was my Six Feet Under Records New Years Sale grabs. All are records I was meaning to buy (The Mongoloids records lower on that list), and I couldn't pass them up for 3-5 bucks a pop. Most of these are decently rare too so it was a pretty good score for around 20 with shipping.

The Mongoloids - Assorted Music (Black/White/Grey) (Out Of 254) (Six Feet Under Records)
The Mongoloids - Time Trials (Mustard Yellow) (Out Of 708) (Six Feet Under Records)
Justice - Live And Learn (Grey) (Out Of 175) (Six Feet Under Records)
Mother Of Mercy - III (Red/Black) (Out Of 325) (Six Feet Under Records)
Dean Derg - ...Raus (White) (Out Of 310) (Six Feet Under Records)

Today In The Mail: Double Locks On All Of Our Hearts

2010-01-13T16:07:00.000-08:00

I figured both of these were a few days off so I didn't budget myself much time to update today. The two 7"s are both from Reaper Records. This is the second copy of Trapped Under Ice's - Stay Cold I have picked up this one comes with a limited cover (it is a black and white version of the Pre-Order cover). I was really into the art and it made me more bummed I didn't get it right when it came up so I really was siked when I saw this up for order. The other 7" is a band from Syracuse called Violent Side, they feature members of Black SS and Forfeit. Real good straight forward hardcore. "Violent Side Bust" part will have you moshing for sure and the record is limited to 148 and with nothing saying about another pressing I would say go grab yourself a copy!

The other package I got was a CDR demo I got off ebay for one of my favorite bands, End Of A Year. I had the pleasure of seeing them for a third time in Cleveland last week, they were fucking great as usual. I am very excited for the new LP on Deathwish inc. If I get my shit together I should have an interview with their singer Patrick relatively soon (for either a print zine I am trying to do or maybe just for this blog). But back to the CDR, it killed me to have to pay $8 bucks for a burned CD but I am collecting the band so I guess I can give myself a pass.

Trapped Under Ice - Stay Cold (4th Press) (Limited Cover) (Out Of 350) (Reaper Records)
Violent Side - S/T (Out Of 148) (Reaper Records)
End Of A Year - Warm (Demo)

Today In The Mail: The First Time I Saw A Man Die

2010-01-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

I got this shirt the other day off ebay for $2.oo. I really don't know what to say in this post other then this band is hard. This shirt is hard/silly. And I'm really glad I got to finaly see them last year (at The Great American Hardcore Fest).

Front

Back

Today In The Mail: Repress Day

2009-12-28T10:15:00.000-08:00

Today I awoke to a package from Revhq, in contained to records. Both represses and both containing some of the best hardcore songs ever written. The First I pulled out was the Unbroken - Crushed On You 7" on New Age Records, and in a way this is a double. This happens a lot when you get as many records as I do. Luckily this is not a true double since this is a repress and on another label then my first version, but since I am not trying to collect all the versions of this record I wouldn't have bought more then one. One weird thing about this record is its title, on Revhq and on the labels website it is listed as being called "Crushed On You" (also the name of one of the members of Unbroken's new band, who I love). The original version of the record is called "Circa '77" on ThreeOneG, and both versions of record say this on the front. Either way Unbroken is amazing and this record is amazing (Absentee Debate is one of my fave hardcore songs of all time). The other record I ordered was the main goal of the order, it as of right now is already sold out again on from Revhq and Deathwish Inc has yet to put them up for order so I don't know how rare this record is. It has some packaging differences (Deathwish Inc on the back instead of Malfunction and is not a gatefold like the first two presses had) but is still a great score. I've been debating getting one off ebay but they have been going for around $50 for almost a year (all versions) and Its hard for me to spend that much on a record.

The Hope Conspiracy - Death Knows Your Name (White/Gold Mix) (Deathwish Inc Records)
Unbroken - Crushed On You (Circa '77) (New Age Records)

Today In The Mail: Christmas Came Early 2.0

2009-12-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

As this is the day before Christmas I didn't think any packages would find their way to my door (or at least any for me). When I came back from breakfast with my mom, Sister and her husband I found a wonderful package waiting inside for me. It was from Dom (from A389 Records, Pulling Teeth and formerly of Day Of Mourning). I had won these off him on ebay last week and he had them out to me in record time. I was surprised at the low amount both of these went for, only a bit over $20 each. This I'm sure had to do with the Ringworm and Integrity Tests he was also selling. Either way I am super excited to have these records. The Day Of Mourning - Your Future's End LP came with a printed out version of the original cover of the CD (one of the many reason I wanted this because I have never seen it bigger then a thumbnail). And included with it was a Day Of Mourning sticker. The Gluttons - S/T 7" has a pretty cool Venom Rip-Off cover. If you have not heard either of these bands the normal version (and even a few rare colors) are still available from A389 Records so pick em up.

Day Of Mourning - Your Future's End (Test Press) (A389 Records)
Gluttons - S/T (Test Press) (Out Of 10) (A389 Records)

Today In The Mail: Forever And A Day Later

2009-12-21T13:25:00.000-08:00

This was ordered in August of 2008, and it was well worth the wait. Rot In Hell is a hardcore band from the United Kingdom. So many details, so many things screened and so many cool extras. And all of this was well worth the 50 bucks I spent on it to have such a rare batch of records. They only did 35 of these and sure it took them ages to put it all together. So many pieces. FUCK. I thought today would never come. When I ordered this it was only to have a copy of each of their records (at the time three). But a shirt/patch/button combo made it. What I ended up with blows my mind. I'll just list off all the items in the box (and post some pictures) because I fucked up and undid the rope before taking a picture of it all together (check here for what I'm sure is a better treatment for this beautiful boxset).

I'll start with a list.

4 Records
1 Shirt
1 Patch
1 Button
1 7"x7" Print (black on black version)
1 CD with the Black Omega 7" on it
1 Zine/Lyric booklet
1 spay painted stenciled poster
all in a pretty cool spray paint stenciled box

One of the first.

Patch/Button and the other side of the stenciled poster. (Also stenciled duh).

Spay painted stenciled poster.

Front of the zine/lyric book.

Back of the zine/lyric book.

Shirt.

Today In The Mail: Yesterday In The Mail Vol. 3

2009-12-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

After a hellish day in the mail a few days ago I got two packages in the mail. First Dom/A389 Records hooked me up with another set of the records that had been destroyed by the united states postal service. I would like to start by saying how great every part of The Promise repress looks. From the cover (gatefold) to the insert insert and of corse the vinyl they all look beautiful. Its one of the best represses I have ever seen. The Gluttons 7" which was the other pre-order looks great and sounds even better. This band is another one of Human Furnace's sideprojects (he is the singer of Ringworm to any of you newbz) and as it says on A389's site it sounds like a cross between Discharge and Motorhead (though I hear a lot more Motorhead). This record fucking jamz. Included in this was a Pre-order package only repress of the Ringworm - Demo 7". I picked up the original press (that included Bloodbook zine issue number 4) from Phonographic Arts at few months back. This also looks great and includes the lyrics that I can say if I remember the original including.

Ringworm - 1991 Demo (Out Of 300) (A389 Records)
Gluttons - S/T (A389 Records)
Ringworm - The Promise (Gold/Red) (Out Of 300) (A389 Records)

The second package a record that was slated for release sometime last year I believe and the label that had pressed it ended up folding (dude ran off with everyone's money but still bothered to press it). It's a copy of Memorial's - The Creative Process/Berlin. I am super happy about finally being able to hear this and I the label Photobooth Records bought up the copies and sold them through their webstore (some are still available so get a copy for yourself). The package included the handwritten lyrics to July by Mineral on the back of a registration card to a college and a coupon for a select Ocean Spray product.

Memorial - The Creative Process/Berlin (White) (Out Of 300) (Photobooth Records)

Today In The Mail: Broken Records

2009-11-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

I don't have much to say about this, other then it sucks. When I picked up the package I knew its contents would be destroyed. Ringworm's The Promise is one of the greatest hardcore records of all time. I've already emailed the picture to Dom (Who runs A389 Records) and he has said he is gonna send another my way. The Gluttons 7" was also bent to all hell. Fuck.

Today In Pictures

2009-10-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Today was pretty fun. I went some places got some things but mainly I just chilled out. I might start doing this a lot actually.

Thrift store find.

Random find at Half Price Books.

Punisher Skull shirt where the logo is made out of Punisher Skulls. HARD.

Corbans new teeth.

Mango italian ice.

Today In The Mail: Hold On To Your Friends

2009-10-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Today came a pre-order that I had been waiting on for a bit now. Two records, great records. Foundation is a Straight Edge hardcore band from Atlanta, Georgia. Over the past year and a half I have seen them play three times, and they have only been getting better. This new record shows a lot of growth for them musically and lyrically. Pegasus is a band featuring members of Cold World, Mind Eraser and Rzl Dzl. They have a very very different sound, the comparisons to Eddie Suttons (Leeway) vocals is a very on point. "Melodic singing over metallic hardcore" perfect description. Really wish it would have come with a digital download like the foundation record did.

Foundation - Hang Your Head (Brown With Black Splatter) (Six Feet Under Records)
Pegasus - S/T (Out Of 200) (Six Feet Under Records)

Get Down - S/T 7" Inches

2009-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Its been a long time since I updated my blog. The reason for this was mainly because this is the 100th post and I was waiting for something good to come up. Also I'm lazy and have been out of town for shows a lot lately.

Get Down was a band that featured members of great hardcore acts such as American Nightmare, In My Eyes and Panic. Their first 7" came out on Painkiller Records in October of 2003. Their second 7" was to come out in 2006 on Mosh Camp. Now as far as I can tell this record was pressed and covers and someone is just sitting on most of the copies somewhere. Now I have deduced this from some people having this listed on their howsyouredge lists and a whole lot of people saying they have never recieved it. What sucks is the record is very good. Not the kinda record that should rot in someones closet. The first 7" is long out of print so I've uploaded them both. Get into this band.

Get Down - S/T 7"

Get Down - Second 7"

Burning Fight/Chicago Trip

2009-05-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

Last October rumors were flying, then in November tickets went on sale and finally earlier this month it finally happened. I got to see one of my favorite bands, a band who I never thought I would get to see. Unbroken. I got to see a lot of friends from all over and I got to hang out with two of my favorite people from Columbus (Lukas and Scotty) and got some much needed chill time with (one of my best dudes and sleeping bloger) Peter. I got to see a lot of bands, meet a lot of new people, eat amazing vegan food (and non-vegan taco bell ha) and of course by lots of records (and shirts). I get kind of emotional thinking about it (I know real lame right), but this was important, this was life changing and this is what hardcore really is all about. Emotion, caring and standing for something. I can't say I wont take somethings for granted but It made me appreciate things a lot more. Sorry about this being a short post. Maybe I'm just being lazy or maybe I had too much fun but this whole weekend was a blur. Also if I went into detail about the over 20 bands that played this post would be monstrous and boring. But hey... Here are some pictures from the weekend so enjoy.

This really reminds me of Token Entry.

This is where Peter and I stayed. An Art Gallery, how punk is that!

Scotty showing off his water.

Peter aka OG Vegan Straight Edge Ebay Warrior.

OH and second to seeing Unbroken the most important thing about this weekend was it was also the first time I had Falafel.

My First Car

2009-05-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know a long fucking time coming but fuck it.

5/20/09 - The Effort and Take Control

2009-05-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

Straight Edge is still alive and so is hardcore in Columbus.

*Flyer art by my boy Corban.

Today In The Mail: The Past Three Days (Attack Of The Pre-Orders)

2009-05-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

So I've been a decently busy person the past few days. Hanging out with my girlfriend and trying to the see the most of some of my friends before they move away (shit sucks bro). And of at a time like this its only obvious my mail box would start filling up with packages. Three days ago the first two came flying in. The first I opened was the "Youth Crew 2009" compilation featuring Ohio's own Right Idea (among others like True Colors, Mindset and Fired Up +more). Great compilation, I'm pretty sure its a repress of a European compilation from last year called "Youth Crew 08" but with a Right Idea song thrown on and a Times Together song taken off. Weird but cool. Also my Record is on Gold out of 100 and mine has some black in it (super rare transition version ha). Oh and they tossed in a copy of the labels first release, a split between Lighten Up and Big Ups. Both bands are pretty good so I'm siked. The Second Package was also Youth Crew related, The First Step - What We Know Sessions. This record makes me bummed I missed that last little tour they did, I only got to see them once (Posi Numbers 2004) and they were great. Hand numbered out of 100, pretty sure this cover is the Pre-Order only one. Love the design.

Youth Crew 2009 (Gold) (Out Of 100) (Upside Down Records)
The First Step - What We Know Sessions (Pre-Order Cover) (Out Of 100) (Bottled Up Records)
Lighten Up/Big Ups (Blue) (Upside Down Records)

Yesterday my Capitol Pre-Order came. On this record they have two new songs and a cover of a Dag Nasty song. The other records that came in this package are random grab ups one being Irony of Lightfoot (a band featuring members of Sons Of Abraham) and the other a split between Neglect and Cleanser. So basically I was just catching up on Long Island Hardcore past and present.

Capitol - Blind Faith (Pink) (Out Of 100) (Iron Pier Records)
Irony Of Lightfoot - IBEX (Wreck-Age Records)
Neglect/Cleanser (Exit Records)

And today my long awaited Anchors Aweigh order came. This contained the second press of Dead Swans - Southern Blue and a Gold Kids shirt. This came all the way from Italy (very quickly when it said it was shipped). I am most likely going to make another order from them soon since I know they can be trusted unlike another Dead Swans related label.

Gold Kids - Grave (Out Of 40) (Purple) (XL)
Dead Swans - Southern Blue (Half Black And Half White Splatter) (Out Of 200) (Anchors Aweigh Records)
Dead Swans - Southern Blue (Green Purple Haze) (Out Of 300) (Anchors Aweigh Records)

Today In The Mail: Last Week

2009-05-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Being in Chicago this weekend for Burning Fight made this post come a little late. But another post (or posts) will come from it. I left Friday morning so I missed a package from Deathwish Inc Records that came Friday afternoon and on Saturday a package came from Bridge Nine Records. The Deathwish package contained the first End Of A Year offering on Deathwish Inc Records (all versions of course) and an End Of A Year shirt. The other package was my Bridge Nine Mystery Box. In the comments section of the order you were to list your three favorite Bridge Nine bands, I said American Nightmare, Mental And No Warning. In my Mystery Box was two No Warning patches, No Warning Sticker, Bridge Nine Sticker, Bridge Nine Singles Collection Volume 1 CD and the gem in the box was a screened poster. The poster was for a show at CBGB's (Rip) the bands playing were Reach The Sky, Mouthpiece, Bane and American Nightmare.

End Of A Year - S/T (White) (Deathwish Inc Records)
End Of A Year - S/T (Clear With White) (Deathwish Inc Records)
End Of A Year - S/T (Clear With Black) (Deathwish Inc Records)
End Of A Year - S/T Pre-Order Shirt (Black) (XL)

Print from my Bridge Nine Mystery Box

Life, Love, No Regrets

2009-04-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Two shows booked, flyers coming soon. One more in the process. Oh and I started a new tattoo yesterday.

Today In The Mail: Yesterday In The Mail Vol. 2

2009-04-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

After work yesterday I found the new Pulling Teeth LP "Paranoid Delusions|Paradise Illusions" waiting for me on my bed. I knew this was going to look good, but not this good. This has to be one of the neatest looking records I have in my collection. The art to begin with is amazing but the holographic cover takes this version to another level. If you get the chance to pick up this record, Do it. This band with every release jumps leaps and bounds.

A close up of the record.

Pulling Teeth - Paranoid Delusions|Paradise Illusions (Paranoid Delusions Version) (Hologram Cover) (Out Of 333) (A389 Records)

Justice Replaced By Revenge

2009-04-04T12:03:00.001-07:00

Last night I went to see Ruiner, Ringworm and Agnostic Front. It was the best time I have seen Ruiner play so far (This was my fifth time seeing them). Ringworm fucking killed it and the only shirt I got at the show was for them (See below). And Agnostic Front played a great set, even though security was being very lame. They opened up with The Eliminator and and I felt like I was at Posi Numbers 2004 again... Its shows like last night that remind me how much I love hardcore.

Today In The Mail: All Hail The Kingpin

2009-04-03T09:42:00.000-07:00

The other day I picked up all three of the Leeway full lengths on tape for $8.25 (with shipping). Born To Expire is one of my favorite hardcore records of all time. And Desperate Measures and Adult Crash are very very underrated records in their own right.

Leeway - Born To Expire (Profile Records)
Leeway - Desperate Measures (Profile Records)
Leeway - Adult Crash (Futurist Records)

(Those are Cassette Tapes not bootleg DVDs ha.)

Today In The Mail: Holy Terror Kind Of Day 3.0

2009-04-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

Two packages came today the first was my Compact Disc version of the new Pulling Teeth album Paranoid Delusions|Paradise Illusions came. As I was one of the first 300 people to order it I got a copy of the newest edition to the Witches Sabbath 7" series. Of this series I am only missing the first one (that was also put out by Deathwish Inc). The second package was from Hellfish Family and is another Integrity shirt, I think this makes four ha. Can not wait to wear it.

Integrity - Free Charlie (Brown) (XL)
Pulling Teeth - Paranoid Delusions|Paradise Illusions (Deathwish Inc Records) (CD)
Pulling Teeth - Witches Sabbath V (Out Of 300) (Deathwish Inc Records)

More Pictures From The New York/Vermont Trip

2009-03-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

Can't wait for next month to go upstate again (twice).

One Justice

Hopefully The Back Of A One Justice Shirt With Lyrics Around It Ha

Born To Expire

Born To Expire Again

Pat And Paul

Chris And I

Pictures From Cleveland 10/12/08

2009-03-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

Just a few pictures from Have Heart, Ceremony, Blacklisted, Let Down And Convicted show from last year. Mad Minds also played, band rules. I just got the camera developed ha.

Convicted

Mad Minds

Mad Minds with Spyder jumping on everyone

Blacklisted

Today In The Mail: You Cost What You're Worth

2009-03-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

Today I woke up to at almost 2:00 PM somehow. My plan was to update my blog twice in a row and then spend the rest of the day with my Girlfriend (looking for a cat and taking a cute walk). But a third blog has popped into the equation. When I woke up I saw this package waiting for me and my Mom handed me an envelope. Inside of it was a check for $56.99 from a class action lawsuit against the Airbourne Corporation. Awesome because I have so many trips coming up (three to New York, two to Cleveland, one to Chicago) in the next two months. The package is one I've been waiting on for almost two months, my Glassjaw - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence (Double LP) and a long out of print Painkiller Records release for a band called Wound Up (Ex Punch In The Face and Unit Pride). Today rules.

Wound Up - S/T (Painkiller Records)
Glassjaw - Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence (Roadrunner Records)

First Of Many Trips This Year

2009-03-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

The New York/Vermont trip was great fun, and a great bonding (and friendship building) excursion. This trip was Paul, Ben And I (And the Vermont portion had the added bonus of Mike and Nick). Both the trip their and the trip home were long and late. We came up Auburn, New York for one show and ended up getting to go to three shows. The Show we came up for was to benefit show for my dudes dude (who I got to meet in Vermont).

Here is the flyer (Unit 731 canceled, and Knuckle Dragger jumped on).

Some solid Edgemen put us up for our New York three night stay. They would be Chris, Nick And Sean. One of them (Sean) had a collection of all the Animorphs Books.

On Friday we went to Syracuse and saw two shows. The first show was Knuckle Dragger And Born To Expire (Both bands are great check them out). It had the added surprise of Undergang. Band is weird but I'm into this kinda shit so I was siked to be able to catch some of their set. Then we hustled over to a small bar and I got to see Unholy. This band is fucking awesome, can not wait to see them with Earth Crisis in May. The next day after A trip to a huge mall in Syracuse, was the show and the reason I came on this trip (other then to just get out of Ohio). One Justice opened up the show and were great. They played one of their songs and the rest of the set were Sacred Pledge songs. This was mostly done as an homage to the singer of Sacred Pledge (who the benefit was for). Knuckle Dragger were great again. Backtrack played another amazing set (Best dudes, Best band). Their weekend tour mates Incendiary also were great. Better live then recorded I think. Born To Expire blew me away, I hope this band gets big. The last band that played were called Path To Misery, they are from Pittsburgh. Not my cup of tea but I can see why people were into it. After the show we drove straight to Vermont. This portion of the trip was a lot of chillaxin and watching movies. I did eat two Little Caesars pizza's in ten hours. That was cool. On the drive home I actually started using my camera ha...

So here are some pictures from that.

On the way home we stopped at...

Mike did a lot of these two things on the trip...

Ben, Paul And I

This is how Paul sleeps...

And this is a picture of the sky ha...

I will have more pictures from it as soon as I can get my disposable camera developed (and other pictures).

PS. Though it was a really fun trip, it was hard being away from my girlfriend for so long. Hopefully we will be able to get a trip going of our own this summer and take lots of cute pics on it.

Today In The Mail: It Felt Like It Would Never Come

2009-03-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

Today my Roses Never Fade 7"/T-Shirt bundle finally came, FUCK. So happy to have it, but sadly I can't throw it on till I get back. Yes get back, today I leave on a 5 day trip to New York and Vermont. This will lead to fun updates when I get back I'm sure. Also today came Victory Style One (Cassette), Integrity - Cat Skull (Banner), And Perspective Fanzine (With Compilation CD). Today rules.

Roses Never Fade - The Man They Wanted To Hang (Out Of 100) (Rock Vegas Records)
Roses Never Fade - The Man They Wanted To Hang (Black) (XL)
Perspective Fanzine #1
Victory Style (Cassette)

Not pictured
Integrity - Cat Skull (Banner) (4' x 4') (Out Of 500)

See you guys on the other side.

I am 23

2009-03-05T12:20:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of the best year of my life.

Most Likely The Best Show I've Done

2009-02-19T12:01:00.000-08:00

I didn't make a post about this show. I did not want to make a post about how disappointed In the Columbus hardcore scene I am/was because this show tanked. But fuck it by far it did not. This was my first show at the Legion Of Doom. And I am excited to be doing another one there in May. DFTS DFTS. Check out www.myspace.com/whereitends (great band, great dudes). I'll post up the flyer just cause it rules just like the show did.

Flyer by Bteen Productions.

Today In The Mail: Testing Testing

2009-02-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

This came yesterday but it came when I was running out the door so this post was delayed till today. As soon as I saw the envelope I knew what it was (My Vegas/Moutheater Test Press). It came all the way from Belgium only eight days after I won it. Thrown in with the record were some stickers, a Sledgehammer record and a Vegas embroidered patch. I hope to win more records from the man himself, everything about this transaction is perfect.

Vegas/Moutheater (Test Press) (Out Of 10) (Thrashed Records)
Sledgehammer - Your Arsonist (Gold) (Specimen 32 Records)
And bonus HT goodies

Today In The Mail: I Wouldn't Know Where To Begin

2009-02-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

Today I woke to have two packages thrown on top of me. One (the Lp) was a from Interpunk, and all the 7"s were from a order I made at Painkiller Records. As the title says... plus I am very tired and don't feel like going depth why everyone should own "Something To Write Home About" or that Mentally Challenged 7". Enjoy the pretty pictures though.

The Get Up Kids - Something To Write Home About (Purple) (Out Of 2000) (Doghouse Records)
Underdog - Live From Asbury Lanes (Self Released)
Restless Youth - State Of Confusion (Red) (Out Of 285) (Painkiller Records)
Look Alive - Both Feet On The Ground (Off White "Yellow" Transition Color) (Lockin Out Records)
Mentally Challenged - Doctors, Lawyers, Cops And Priests (No Label Records)
Hatred Surge - Isolated Human (Out Of 150) (Painkiller Records)

Gatefold of "Something To Write Home About"

And I Wonder

2009-02-16T10:36:00.000-08:00

Best Valentines day ever. Oh to be in love.

Friday The Thirteenth

2009-02-13T20:38:00.000-08:00

13 dollar, 13th anniversary, 13 tattoo on Friday the thirteenth. Thrill Vulture Tattoo, Westerville, Ohio.

Today In The Mail: Every Answer

2009-02-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

Today was a great day, I woke up and was whisked away to Cracker Barrel for a great breakfast. Then the girlfriend and I went back to her place and cuddled for a hours and hours before we went to the mall and then got a dinner. Perfection fallows us, every day with her is the best day of my life. But I'm missing the true point of this post, the mail. As I was dropped off at my house I found a package waiting for on my bed. It held my first (received) piece of Dead Swans merch. The package also held 4 copies of the new New Found Glory single. The packaging for it is great, and three of them came with posters (with the package also came a cool H2O/Dropkick Murphys tour poster and a Defeater poster). Oh and did I mention I ordered this three days ago.... shipping like that is insane.

Dead Swans - Photocopied Repeater (Black) (XL)
New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends (Clear) (Friends Press)(Bridge Nine Records)
New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends (Red) (Bridge Nine Records)
New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends (Blue) (Bridge Nine Records)
New Found Glory - Listen To Your Friends (Translucent White) (Hot Topic Version) (Bridge Nine Records)

Today In The Mail: A Great Way To Start The Week

2009-02-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

I got out of work a bit early, and it was made even better by the fact I found two packages waiting for me. Both of these contained records I have been hearing of other people getting for a week now. The first one I opened was my Swamp Thing - In Shame Pre-Order. I saw this band last year and they opened up with a great Unbroken cover (Absentee Debate to be more specific), and the rest of the set were fucking great. Band rules. The second package was the long overdue Brick - S/T 7". I was so impatient waiting for this record I bought the tour version at the show in January. They really impressed me the first time they played here and were even better the second. The are featured on the new Reaper Records compilation 7" most def a band to keep your ears on. (The package also contained a zine and a two trail stickers).

Brick - S/T (Brown Silk Screened B-Side) (Out Of 100) (Panic Records)
Swamp Thing - In Shame (Stamped Labels) (Out Of 100) (6131 Records)
At Both Ends #7
Trail Stickers

We've Got Too Much Heart - Cave 9

2009-02-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

Cave 9 is a D.I.Y. entity in Birmingham, Alabama. It's the kind of venue bands talk about loving playing. A place where people who care made a home for so many different scenes and they made sure they all could coexist. The only non-corporately owned, Non bar, totally all ages venue where some huge hardcore superstar act (Terror and Agnostic Front just off the top of my head) or other bigger band would play on their tour. I used to date a girl who lived down there, I have a handful of friends in (or from) the area who attend shows there and it is the farthest away from home I have ever seen shows. The place holds a part of heart and what was going on with it was always something I kept my ear to the ground about. I'm not sure of its status right now but either way this is an important thing to watch (I'm reposting this on my blog from Jimmy's). Places like this are important, the things that happen inside them are important. It shouldn't just be a memory.

Part 1

Part 2

Today In The Mail: Kobe Bryand Lifestyle

2009-01-31T09:36:00.000-08:00

The Mind Eraser portion of this post came yesterday, I was just too lazy to post it up. The record took forever to come, even though it was a pre-order. I got the most rare color but I was just sick of waiting for it (RevHQ and online distros were selling this, I even saw a copy on Ebay). I guess its not that bad because about a week ago I found the mp3s up for download. Band is not slipping one bit. But the actual "Today In The Mail" portion is Rotting Out - This Is Just A Life 7". This is one of my favorite "new" bands. I say "new" because the A side of the record is their 2007 Demo. The B side is five other songs, not sure when they were recorded but two of them are covers. The first is "La Girl" origionaly by The Adolescents and the second is "I Love Living In The City" originally by Fear. I fucking love this record. I need to find the mp3s so I can jam more then just their five song demo in my far. For a free D/L of the demo click here. Also be on the look out for their 6131 Records debute 7" in the spring. Oh and I'm going to a show tonight with Peter, Eric and Jakob so I might post about that later.

Rotting Out - This Is Just A Life (Red) (World Won't Listen Records)
Mind Eraser - The Prodigal Son Brings Death (Orange) (Out Of 200) (Youngblood Records)
Youngblood Records Sticker

Today In The Mail: On To Greener Pastures

2009-01-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

I didn't have to go into work today (because of this snow/ice storm), but luckily I got three packages today in the mail to entertain me. The first I opened was a book called Salad Days by Charles Romalotti. RevHQ (where I bought it and Eric's girlfriends copy from) described it as this "A coming of age novel centered around growing up during the 1980's hardcore scene. Now in its fifth printing, this is a small press literary bestseller!" This copy is actually from the seventh and last printing. Can't wait to start reading this. The second package I opened had three Rotting Out shirts in it. They had a merch sale going at their webstore and I had to take advantage of it. I've realized this after looking up bands I flaked on buying shirts for on Ebay and the prices can be discusting. And the last package as you can guess seeing its been eleven days since my last A389 Records package that another would come. This of course holding another copy of the newest Integrity 7" and another copy of the Trapped Under Ice/Dirty Money Split (this being the European press that came out on Dead And Gone Records). Hardcore lives.

Rotting Out - LAHC (Black) (XL)

Rotting Out - Positive Views (Blue) (XL)
Front

Back

Rotting Out - This Is Just A Life (Black) (XL)
Front

Back

Integrity - Walpurgisnacht (Second Press) (Clear) (A389 Records)
Salad Days - Charles Romalotti
Trapped Under Ice/Dirty Money (Red) (Out Of 665) (Dead And Gone Records)

Today In The Mail: The Lights Begin At The Burn Of Day

2009-01-26T14:07:00.000-08:00

Today when I woke up four packages had already come for me. The first package was one I have been waiting on since October. Its the Adult Crash photo book with covers 7". The record was what held this package back for so long but it was well worth the wait. The pictures are cool to see because they are great but not done by a dude who calls himself a photographer even. Sometimes to me the flashy (not a pun) and glitzy side to band photography throws me off and annoys me. That could be part of the excitement I feel as I flip through this book. It reminds me of zines. It reminds me of the types of photos I take, where some can turn out great but more are just captured moments in their purest forms. No light tests and no photoshop affects. Photos aside (I know its a photo book) the writes ups are just as diverse by the bands being covered. I mean reading through you can find quips and real heartfelt write ups by the likes of Paul Bearer, John Joseph and Tim McMahon. If you have an extra 12 bucks lying around buy this. Support Six Feet Under Records.

The next package I opened was 3 records that were old Deathwish Inc restocks that I had to grab up and one fresh from the pressing plant. They were the Killing The Dream - I Rewrote It 7", Terror/Ringworm Split 7" and the Horror Show - Holiday 7" (that is not photoed because it is only for a trade). And the other record that was so fresh was the Internal Affairs - Evil Egyptians 7" (this order was held back a week because it was a pre-order for this record). This record is a 7" version of the Internal Affairs X Dalek 12" that came out Fall of last year and sold out very quickly. So I'm sure this record was pressed so that others could get copies and so they could have something cool to sell on their last tour (that is going on now).

The third package was a soft one so I knew it held no records for me. Its the Withdrawl - Tarot Longsleeve I have been waiting on for ages now. I guess they are working on a 7" and should also have a crew neck up soon with a design by Stephen Kasner (you may know him as the guy who did most of the darkest Integrity's artwork for records and shirts). Super siked on both those. Stop sleeping on this band.

The last package was three records I got off Ebay the other day. One is my second and far more rare copy of The Promise - My True Love 7". The other two are versions of the Terror/The Promise/Plan Of Attack - Live Split. The first copy of this record I bought was way back in 2003 in Cleveland at Hess Fest 2003 (Bane, Terror, Throwdown, The Promise, Suicide File, and Others). Me and my main man Eric each bought a copy from The Promise (and I picked up a longsleeve that randomly disappeared that I would kill to have another of). That night as The Promise drove down to Alabama for Furnace Fest their van burned with all their copies record that they had not sold the day before (not many) or the ones that Organized Crime Records had held on to (not many I'm sure). Over the years I got Eric's copy, the mailorder version on purple marble and the normal press on gold. One of the two I got today was this on green, Its the Plan Of Attack Version Out Of 100. The other was another of The Promise's copies but this one is a much more green blue then any I have ever seen. On further inspection of my other two copies I realized I they are a good representation of the color variations of this incredibly rare version of this record. The proof is in the pics.

The pictures kind of jump around but I'm sure you guys are smart enough to figure it all out.

Adult Crash - Photographs By Dave Brown (Six Feet Under/Vicious Circle Records)
Adult Crash (White) (Out Of 150) (Down To Nothing, Cloak/Dagger, Kill Your Idols, The Slumlords) (Six Feet Under Records)

Internal Affairs - Evil Egyptians (Coke Blue W/ Multi Splatter) (Out Of 409) (Deathwish Inc Records)

Terror/Ringworm (Clear) (Out Of 1500) (Deathwish Inc Records)
Killing The Dream - I Rewrote It (Gold) (Out Of 1300) (Deathwish Inc Records
The Promise - My True Love (Grey) (Out Of 384) (Deathwish Inc Records)

Withdrawal - Tarot (Red) (XXL)

The top two are the ones I got today, the left one is The Promise version as you can tell it is a transition version between the Green (of the right Plan Of Attack version) and the bottom two are the ones I have had for a while. You can see that the right one is another yet version of this as it is much darker. The green one is numbered out of 100, as are the others but as you read above who knows how many actually exist.

Dead Swans Signs To Bridge Nine Records

2009-01-22T12:03:00.000-08:00

This is not going to be a thing I do very often, but Dead Swans are one of my favorite bands going right now. Their sound is somewhere between American Nightmare, Right Brigade and The Final Plan and they hail from the United Kingdom. Them signing to Bridge Nine is wonderful it means merch and records actually being available in the United States.

Today In The Mail: A Great Day

2009-01-22T10:44:00.000-08:00

Today three packages came, two of them are things I ordered/won this weekend. Its weird how other things that are not pre-orders or have "shipped" end up taking longer then some other things coming from much farther away... The first package I opened was the Delay and Tin Armor singles that Art Of The Underground put out. The Delay one has been out of press for at least a year and a the Tin Armor one came and went in the last few months. The second package was the Riff Raff - Lowlifer test press I won on ebay the other day. This is number one of ten that exsist. I would have done anything to see this band play a show but alas I missed all the less than 10 shows they played. And the last package started in Hong Kong went to Denmark then to New Jersey before finally coming to me. Its a set of ten Lego men. Yeah I know I am a dork.

Riff Raff - Lowlifer (Test Press) (Out Of 10) (Eating Rats Records)
Delay - Single Series Volume 25 (Out Of 350) (Art Of The Underground Records)
Tin Armor - Single Series Volume 32 (Out Of 350) (Art Of The Underground Records)
Lego Men

A better picture of all my new Lego friends.

I Stay Cold Forevermore

2009-01-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

Last night Columbus rolled deep to a out of town show (for once). I road down with Sypder, Dave and two girls. And back home with Aaron, his roommate and Alex.

We got to the show right as Dirty Money was starting, band is so awesome. Suicide Pact and Full Blown Chaos got me moshing with classic covers (Integrity and Madball respectively). Reign Supreme set was between Suicide Pact and Full Blown Chaos and played the best show I have seen them play thus far. Trapped Under Ice headlined the show. This band gets better every single time I see them and define this time of my life and things going on around me.

Dirty Money/Trapped under Ice (Out Of 40) (Yellow) (XL)
Trapped Under Ice - Stay Cold (Third Press) (Clear) (Reaper Records)
Dirty Money - No Escaping This (USA Tour Cover) (Dead And Gone Records)
Reign Supreme - RGN SUP (Sunglasses)

The Boundless Light Of A New Day Dawning 2

2009-01-20T10:28:00.000-08:00

Today all those "Not My President" shirts are finally true for Americans.

Today In The Mail: & Yesterday At The Record Store

2009-01-17T12:49:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting a long time for this order from A389 Records (the Pala record was a pre-order). The Living Hell and Pulling Teeth/Frightener split are both records I have slept on getting. I have the Lockin Out Records version of the Living Hell 7" but wanted to have both and was lucky enough to get such a rare version (I guess Dwid threw together the art for this). This is also the third version of the Integrity - Walpurgisnacht record that has come in the mail for me (A little bit overboard but the record is that good ha). And lastly Pala, this band is very diffrent and I am very very into it.

Living Hell - S/T (Demo Cover) (Out Of 25) (A389 Records)
Integrity - Walpurgisnacht (Green Trash) (Out Of 100) (A389 Records)
Pala - S/T (Out Of 300) (A389 Records)
Pulling Teeth/Frightener (Grey) (A389 Records)

The second half of this post is about what I snagged up at Used Kids. It was not my best day there but I snagged up a few gems (all the records have mainly black covers, weird). The Notwist are amazing you should check them out if you already don't worship them. Them and Wire really helped me open my eyes to different music in my early teens. Conflict is a Anarcho Punk outfit from the UK that with Crass and a few other bands made their own little niche in the whole Punk/Hardcore world. If you don't already hate the government this music just might make pump your fist at cops, judges and normies alike.

Clockwise-
The Notwist - Torture Day (Zero Hour Records)
Case Of Emergency - S/T (Red) (Out Of 100) (Controlled By Plague Records)
Reproach - Is What It Is (Deep Six Records)
Conflict - The Serenade Is Dead (Mortarhate Records)
9 Shocks Terror/Devoid Of Faith (Grey) (Gloom Records)
The Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers (Owen, Joan Of Arc) (Polyvinyl Records)

Today In The Mail: I Don't Feel I Blend

2009-01-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when I first hear a band I latch on hard, Tears Of Frustration is one of those bands. From the first time I heard them I was hooked. Patriotic hardcore, with leans to youth crew, old school and even Oi! (Aka the perfect band for me). This record was snaked away from me out of a distro forever ago by Reflects singer Tall Rob, but the day of my last Cleveland trip one popped up on ebay for buy now of $5. I could not pass it up. Now I'm only missing a 7" comp and one more split to have all their vinyl releases.

Tears Of Frustration - No Retreat No Defeat (Out Of 1000) (Age Of Venus Records)

The other stuff in the pictures are things I have picked up at Urban Outfitters in the last week (minus a great shirt my girlfriend got me). They are a Fred Perry Wallet, two Bamboozoo toys (Kidrobot) and a Wind Up Owl (Nathan Jurevicuis).

Today In The Mail: I've Learned More From Headphones And Records

2009-01-08T13:47:00.000-08:00

I couldn't pass up the chance to grab up a copy of the Year One record release version of their demo 7". This is a band way too many people are sleeping on right now. Also included was a free copy of the Altus - All The Way Down CD. Altus is a great female fronted band drawing influences from lots of great bands but I can't really compare them to anyone. Seafoam Recordings is well on their way to becoming one of my favorite smaller labels (they have a free two song Altus EP up for download CHECK IT OUT).

Year One - Demo (Record Release) (Clear) (Out Of 50) (Seafoam Records)
Altus - All The Way Down (Self Released)

Today In My Stomach: MMM.com

2009-01-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

On my day off, a day of pure relaxation I decided to make myself two Boca Burgers. Its a quick and tasty meal that was needed on a day like today. They both have swiss cheese on them and a bit of french fried onions (I'm really all over Europe with toppings today). All I have been doing all day is sat around resting and listen to the yet to be released Morrissey album "Years Of Refusal".

Boca Burgers (All American Flame Grilled) (Swiss Cheese) (French Fried Onions)
BBQ Ruffled Chips

A Burning Living Driving Will

2009-01-06T23:50:00.000-08:00

I have been working on this post for a few days now (aka slacking and working). So this post now is coming on the one year anniversary of this blog. Thanks to my friends and a few random people for reading this and commenting (rarely). I hope the next year brings great mail days and even better shows. Now to the original post...

So sorta early last Saturday (01/03/09) my friend Mike and I took a trip to Cleveland, America. The goals; Clothes, Records, Show and of corse Brotherhood/Camaraderie. All goals were of coarse achieved. First stop on the way up (after Wendy's) was Medina, this was to pick up Nick and Pat and then we were off to the Strongsville mall. Where both Nick and I found some cool swishy jackets and I grabbed up some sweaters. After that was Crocker Park where a lot time was wasted but not a lot of clothes were copped. Then after Pat giving awful directions we found our way to Clif from My Luck's record shop, Phonographic Arts. This place is a gold mine, if you are Cleveland this is a 100% stop you have to make if you even sorta buy records. I spent a bit of change, but not too much because everything I got was golden (or at least stuff I have been looking for). Then with Clif in tow we headed to Taco Bell to meet up with some Red Bull girls Pat and Nick know. I partook in some Grande Soft Tacos and a Red Bull and then we were finally on our way to The Tower (2012) for the show. Of course by this time we had missed Force Fed and Poison Planet. Both bands I wanted to see. As Good As Dead, Face Reality and Mindset were all really great. Kinda wish I would have grabbed up a copy of the Mindset 7" so I don't have to wait on the one I Pre-Ordered (but I was trying to hold a bit strong after buying all those records earlier). And lastly Right Idea played, the set was mind blowing. Covers perfect... included in these was a Committed song, with the singer of Committed. I swear Right Idea gets better every time I see them. After the show we all went to a place called My Friends that might also become a Cleveland stop for most trips from now on.

Turning Point - It's Always Darkest... (Second Press) (New Age Records)
Pist-N-Broke - American Drinking Songs (Out Of 1000) (Vulture Rock Records)
Stars And Stripes - Shaved For Battle (Taang Records) *
Mouthpiece - What Was Said (New Age Records)
Mental - Planet Mental (Blue) (Lockin Out Records)

Top-
No Warning - S/T (Seconds Press) (Out Of 800) (Martyr Records) *
Tears Of Frustration - Last Of The Few (State Of Mind Records)
Tears Of Frustration/Step 2 Far (Guillotine Records)
Middle-
I Hate You - Seven Inches Of Hate (Tied Down Records)
First Strike - S/T (Sta Press Records)
Ringworm/Cold As Life (Blue) (Out Of 500) (Stillborn Records)
Bottom-
Horror Show - The Holiday EP (Red) (Out Of 1000) (Deathwish Inc Records) *
Step Forward - S/T (Out Of 418) (Painkiller Records) *
Rancor - Never Hold Back (Clear) (Out Of 220) (Youngblood Records)

Our War - If You're Not Now (Red) (Blank Labels) (Deranged Records) *
Quicksand - S/T (Revelation Records) *
Face Reality - Demo (Out Of 75)
Force Fed - Demo CDR
Region Of Ice - Issue 2
Region Of Ice - Issue 3
Region Of Ice - Issue 4
New Nothing - January 2009
Disconnected - Isolated (Out Of 100) (Sonic Seppuku Projects)

Top-
Agnostic Front - Livery And Justice For... (Combat Core)
Chain Of Strength - The One Thing That Still Holds True (Revelation Records)
Better Than A Thousand - Just One (Revelation Records)
Ignite - Past Our Means (Revelation Records)
Dirty Rotten Imbeciles - Def-I-Ni-Tion (Rotten Records)
Middle-
Agnostic Front - Cause For Alarm (Combat Core)
Inside Out - S/T (Revelation Records)
Judge - Bringin' It Down (Revelation Records)
Fugazi - Repeater (Dischord Records)
Ten Yard Fight - Back On Track (Equal Vision Records)
Bottom-
Bold - Speak Out (Revelation Records)
Weezer - S/T (Blue Album) (Geffen Records)

*Means they were on my Howsyouredge want list.

Today In The Mail: God Is Dead Already

2009-01-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

Today I came home from a bit of shopping (where I bought myself a very nice Vans watch), to find two packages waiting for me. The first was from Organized Crime Records this could only mean one thing, the new Harms Way record has shipped. The record is heavy as fuck and I know its lame to say but its brutal (that will probably be the only time i use this seriously to describe something so enjoy that). The second package was the Year One - Demo 7" and Baseball Tee. Band is really good (if you are into Lifetime or Descendents you should be into this band). Seafoam Records (their label) seems to be doing some pretty cool things so keep you eye on them also.

Harms Way - Reality Approaches (Red) (Out Of 100) (Organized Crime Records)
Year One - Demo (Clear) (Pre-Order Version) (Out Of 50) (Seafoam Records)
Year One - Demo (Out Of 200) (Seafoam Records)
Year One - Pre-Order (White With Blue Sleeves) (XL)

Also pictured are my new ChristmasVans and the box with my new Vans watch in it.

Today In The Mail: Holy Terror Kind Of Day 2.0 + Lie And Wait Kind Of Day

2008-12-29T15:58:00.000-08:00

The first package I opened was chock full of Holy Terror related items (It was from Holy Terror Records). Super siked. Each record is hand stamped and very limited. The Vegas Cd is something I have slept on buying for a bit now. And the Withdrawal - Demo CDR is also very limited (I love how my collection of Withdrawal related items keeps growing). The second package I opened was the Rhythm To The Madness record left out of my Backtrack - Demo 7" package I got earlier in the month. And last (but not least) was a package with one of each of the Lie And Wait 7"s I didn't have. Still can not get why people are not more into this band.

Moutheater - Lot Lizard (Holy Terror Records Version) (Out Of 15) (Thrashed Records)
Vegas/Moutheater (Holy Terror Records Version) (Out Of 15) (Thrashed Records)
Integrity - Walpurgisnacht (Holy Terror Records Version) (White) (Out Of 15) (A389 Records)
Vegas - Never (Frequency Deleted Records)
Withdrawal - Rough Demos (Out Of 10)

Lie And Wait - Awakening (Black/White/Yellow) (Out Of 300) (Triple B Records)
Lie And Wait/Overdose (Red/Grey) (Out Of 400) (Triple B Records)
Lie And Wait/LMF (Teal) (Out Of 50) (Wormhole Records)
Rhythm To The Madness - Soul Doubt (Out Of 425) (Powered Records)

Second Collaborative Show

2008-12-27T21:54:00.000-08:00

The last time these to bands played in columbus they were on tour together and this time they both just happened to be coming through on the same date. Perfect timing if you ask me. Both bands also have demo 7"s out (or coming out soon (Brick)). And both are the rare, good bands/good dudes. Backtrack and Brick both play straight up hardcore in the vein of other bands from their areas but with their own flair. Oh and Empire will of corse kill it. I am excited for this show for me. I'm not gonna say I expect to see people out, because most likely Columbus will just let me down like usual. But its a Friday so who knows.

One Of My Best Days

2008-12-24T16:22:00.000-08:00

Last night was the culmination of my girlfriend and I's Christmas celebration. It started the night before when she picked me up and we had a sleep over and ended this morning when she dropped me off before I had to go to work. Yesterday was also the day I finally got my owl finished.

After that we went back to her place, I took a shower and she made chocolate cake and cupcakes. And as I got out she started making lasagna (with fake meat), and I played Razor Freestyle Scooter for the Nintendo 64. And by the time the lasagna was ready to go in the oven our deserts were ready to be decorated.

The lasagna was great, and then we started to open presents. I got a pair of Van's Eras, Radio Silence, A flannel (that did not fit me as well as I would have liked) and a stocking with toiletries (so i can have stuff there because its my "second home," (I would say its my first)). Then as the roads were too icy to drive another sleep over/cuddle fest took place.

I am so happy I have someone who I can never see enough, who keeps my head on straight and is the positive driving force in my life. Most days I feel like I am dreaming, but I guess I am just living the dream.

Today In The Mail: We All Want Everything

2008-12-22T17:26:00.000-08:00

Today is the the day of days. I've been watching copies of this record on Ebay for over a year, and a bit over a week ago I was finally able to snatch one up. The record is perfect, the bonus track is perfect (and included on a mix I put up in my other blog). Also, the bonus track was included on the B-Sides And Rarities I posted up a few days ago. This is what all these Quicksand and Walter related posts have been gearing up for. I present Slip.

Quicksand - Slip (Polydor Records)

Walter Schreifels - Society Sucker

2008-12-19T05:41:00.000-08:00

This is Walter Schreifels video for his awesome cover of Agnostic Fronts - Society Sucker.

Quicksand - Thorn In My Side: Video

2008-12-18T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite Quicksand video, the song is from their album Manic Compression. You can also check out them playing this song live on Jon Stewart Show.

Quicksand - S/T

2008-12-17T10:37:00.000-08:00

The record is long out of press (and RevHQ is sold out of the CD), so I thought I would post this up. Quicksands first offering, and their last on a hardcore label. Oh and half of the songs only appear on this release.

Quicksand - S/T

01 - Omission
02 - Clean Slate
03 - Unfulfilled
04 - Hypno Jam With Dan

Download

Quicksand - B-Sides And Rarities

2008-12-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

These songs are another preview of something I coming in the mail. They are (as the title says) b-sides and rarities, so only a few are on the albums you are likely to have heard by them. Songs "All In Your Head," "Requiem," and "Hostage Calm" are stand out tracks (in my opinion).

Quicksand - B-Sides And Rarities

01 - How Soon Is Now
02 - Divorce
03 - Shovel
04 - Chelsea's Going Under 1995
05 - Instrumental
06 - All In Your Head
07 - Requiem
08 - In The End
09 - Constant Tension
10 - Hostage Calm
11 - Weed It Out
12 - Chelsea's Going Under 1998
13 - Dine Alone (Demo)
14 - Can Opener (Demo)
15 - Worlds Fastest Car (True Manic Demo Version)
16 - Knee Jerk Reaction (True Manic Demo Version)
17 - Bug Collector (True Manic Demo Version)
18 - Baphomet (Live With Vocals)
19 - Clean Slate (Live CA)
20 - How Soon Is Now (Live At CBGB)
21 - Super Genius (True Manic Demo Version)

Download

Slip Into Quicksand

2008-12-15T20:33:00.000-08:00

I found this pretty cool, but I love Quicksand (so that is a big duh). This is also a preview of something that is coming soon (in the mail).

Today In The Mail: More Shirts Then Records

2008-12-12T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today I woke up to find four packages for me, went to work for three hours, had a CD player put in my moms car and came home to find another package waiting for me. The first package I opened was my Backtrack - Demo 7" pre-order pack. (Aaron and I will be doing Backtrack's second Columbus show on January 2nd, 2009 (look for a flyer for this soon)). The package was one record short though because with the pre-order I ordered a Rhythm To The Madness 7" (super bummer I was excited to hear it). Second was a package was from Canadian Holy Terrorists Withdrawl. It was two shirts (And three huge vinyl stickers) they sent me to fill the void until the long sleeve I ordered comes in (its been 2 months since I ordered it). I am super excited about these shirts though (even though one has boobs on it). Then I started opening up two small packages that were rubber banded together. They contained three cassette tapes (each of them demos) by Some Kind Of Hate, S.O.S. and Breathing Fire (I've been trying to get a copy of this tape forever). The last package was a copy of the Ray And Porcell 7" that I have never heard. And in the end this haul was so big I had to take two pictures to do it justice.

Some Kind Of Hate - Demo
S.O.S. - Demo (Lockin Out Records)
Breathing Fire - Demo (Painkiller Records)
Backtrack - Demo (Pre-Order) (Clear Orange) (Out Of 90) (Flatspot Records)
Backtrack - Demo Cover (White) (XL)

Ray And Porcell - S/T (Revelation Records)
Withdrawl - Pray As Lamb, Lamb As Prey (Black) (XL)
Withdrawal - Glory (Black) (XL)

Life That's Already Passed Me By

2008-12-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

At around 4 AM December 15th 2007, Reid (Driver), Anthony (Co-Pilot), Tucker and I (Weighing down the back) made the six hour drive to Chicago. Our goal was this:

We made it their early so we ate at a Quiznos for breakfast, found a mall (where tucker got an Orange Julius) and Reid and Anthony were too big to ride the carousel.

Then we made our way to the venue (all of this in a semi-blizzard). Everyone else could go straight in but I had to wait for my ticket to get there. When I finally did I had missed almost all of Regret's set, bummer. Convicted played next. This was my first time seeing them but not hearing them. My dude Rob (of Reflect fame) had burned me a copy of their demo and I was almost as excited to see them as The Suicide File and The Hope Conspiracy. After these two the line-up gets a bit iffy in my memory. Ill just skip over Damnation A.D. and Turmoil I've never really been into those bands and I was busy looking at distros and catching up with friends. Blacklisted played one of the best sets I have ever seen them play, it changed my mind about this band. Bernies sound had ruined them for me for a long time. Next was The Killer, who I had never heard before played a pretty decent set. I beleive Ringworm was next and they played one of the best sets I have ever seen them play. People were losing their minds and crushing each other. Now The Suicide File and The Hope Conspiracy, both bands played amazing sets. It was a long long time ago so I don't really exact songs they played but I do remember both bands killing it.

After the show we drove for what seemed like forever (I kept dozing off so I have no idea how long we really drove), and we found a hotel to stay the night. We slept a good amount of time and then hurried into the city. I remember the drive in because It was also the first time I heard the Darvocets. Our targets in the city were all on or around the Chicago Ave. Of course records were on the list but Reid had his own goal, toys. But pizza was to be the catalyst of the day.

Then came the first record shop we hit up, it yielded a repress of the Alone In The Crowd - S/T 7" for me and a random Oi! record. Then we hit up this toy store. Its called Rotofugi and blew my mind. I had no idea anything like this was going on. Artists, independtent designers and toy companies making inventive and very design oriented toys for collectors and normies alike. And blind box toys, fuck my mind was blown. It to me was a throw back to collecting cards as a youth. You never know what you are going to get, weather its going to be some amazing and different new thing or just a double you can toss to the side and hope you can trade off one day. I only bought a few things that day, but toys ever since have become a big interest in my life. Reckless Records was our next stop, and we all found some gems here. Now mine might not seem as mind blowing to you but to me they were amazing. First was a Catch 22 - Washed Up 7" for two bucks. Then came a Bloodpact/Varsity split 12" out of 100 for 3 bucks. And on a whim I walked to the back section and I found a H2O - S/T cassette tape for one single dollar. After all this fun and walking (Reckless was about a 20 minute walk from the car). We drove tucker to the airport so he could fly to Alaska to see his family, and we made our way home. All and all it was one of the most fun trips I have had with my friends. I am very glad I finally got this disposable camera developed so I could relive these memories and get siked for Reid and I's trip to Chicago in May. Peter get siked.

It sucks that my recollection of events is a bit off but its been a week short of a year (And 11 months since I promised to make this post). Maybe some day I'll make a post about the stop we made on the way and were Tucker got a handjob from at a truck stop Asian massage parlor. Ha.

Today In The Mail: Yesterday In The Mail Vol. 1

2008-12-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

Well I wasn't home yesterday to open this package so it basically came today. I was waiting for what seemed like ages for this to come up for pre-order, and it came pretty quickly once it was. This tape has exclusive tracks from Hollywood, Moutheater, Feed and The Effort (and a few other bands I have no heard of). Also a few tracks of Thrashed Records related bands such as Lone Wolf, Die Young, Lie And Wait, The Recluse, Kintaro and Hostage Calm. If you have a tape player I suggest buying this, or at least checking these bands out. Oh and to check out mp3s from a few of these band's and some other great bands check out the Thrashed Records Winter Sampler 2008.

Thrashed! Records Mixtape Vol. 1 (Red) (Out Of 50) (Thrashed Records)
Thrashed! Records Mixtape Vol. 1 (White) (Out Of 150) (Thrashed Records)

Today In My Stomach: Yummies

2008-12-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

Today was a long LONG long day at work, that started far too early. My lunch was as usual greasy unhealthy crap. So I wanted to eat something a bit better for dinner. The choice was easy, its been a bit since I gorged myself on humus and I still love it. And the coke was a no brainier. A great meal to eat alone as my parents went out to eat for their anniversary (40 years). So I'll just sit here and eat this and enjoy watching The Wedding Singer on Comedy Central. Oh and this won't be an all the time thing, but how good does that look. Fuck I really wish I had more pitas.

Athenos - Roasted Red Pepper Humus
Mini Pitas From Whole Foods
Classic Coke

Today In The Mail: Eight And A Half Feet Of Hardcore

2008-12-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

Today two packages came, one was very heavy (from Six Feet Under Records) and the other very light (A389 Records). 8 days ago I made an order on Six Feet Under Record's Black Friday Sale. I have been thinking about making a big order from there for a while now and the deals just sucked me in. I am most excited about picking up the Think I Care - Mongrel 10" (I am pretty sure Six Feet Under is the only place that has copies of this left). I am also very excited to finally hear a new Pressure Point record. Now to the smaller package, last year I saw Pulling Teeth and a band from the UK called Frightener. This band blew me away but I was flat broke at the time so I couldn't pick up a shirt or a record. I ordered this with Pulling Teeth - Vicious Skin CD and Witches Sabbath 7" and it got left out, but today it came and added some extra heavy to my record collection.

Clockwise:

Pressure Point - Resist And Riot (Green And White) (Out Of 103) (Six Feet Under Records)
Dead Nation - Passing Phase (Blue) (Out Of 98) (Six Feet Under Records)
Frightener - Guillotine (Screen Printed Cover) (Black Skies Across America 2007) (A389 Records)
Think I Care - Mongrel (Red) (Out Of 500) (Walk All Night Records)
Dead Stop - S/T (Third Press) (Red) (Out Of 300) (Six Feet Under Records)
Trash Talk - Walking Disease (Clear With Purple Splatter) (Out Of 1028) (Six Feet Under Records)
Bitter End - Climate Of Fear (Brown) (Out Of 520) (Six Feet Under Records)

Today In The Mail: WTF No Records

2008-12-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today I got an envelope in the mail with a random assortment (or a grab bag if you will) of stuff I saw the last time I was looking at RevHQ. I've been needing something to read and I have been wanting to pick up a copy of Jeff Lasich's Start Today Hardcore Fanzine so I picked up the two issues they had in stock. Also I got a tape of the bass play from Chain Of Strengths band Statue, I have never heard this band but it was a buck so you can't go wrong there. The End Of A Year poster was a big duh, I didn't have it so I needed it.

End Of A Year - Sincerely (11"x17")
Start Today - Hardcore Fanzine #5
Start Today - Hardcore Fanzine #6
Statue - Filter The Infection (Revelation Records)

I'll Breathe Every Breath As A Free Man

2008-12-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

One Sweet Day

2008-11-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

After a 13 hour work day and Dugg trying to eat my mail (see post below). I drove 15 minutes south to see my baby girl to help her get a project done for art school and get some lovin.

Oh yeah if you haven't checked it out yet... I made her an amazing mix. I love life.

As always great things coming in the future of the blog. Even those long awaited pictures from Chicago last year and that Cleveland show the other week, tons of stuff coming in the mail, another show in early December, uploads and the life I lead.

Today In The Mail: Dog Day Afternoon

2008-11-28T18:41:00.000-08:00

So I come home from work today to find one my packages torn open by my brother's dog, Dugg. Luckily he only crushed the Cd case (which was an easy fix, all I had to do was switch the case out). I would have been very annoyed had he hurt the Pulling Teeth - Witches Sabbath IV record seeing that it is decently rare. Only other problem with this package was an LP I ordered with it was not included at all. But that's how it is sometimes and I've only had one problem before so I wont blame it on Dom. I just hope it gets to me somehow Im assuming with the next batch of pre-orders they are doing for the Pala, Oak and Rot In Hell records coming out pretty soon.

Pulling Teeth - Witches Sabbath IV (Out Of 300) (Chainsaw Safety Records)
Pulling Teeth - Vicious Skin (Chainsaw Safety Records) (Weird I bought a CD)

Still Crossed - Unreleased Material

2008-11-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

Still Crossed was one of my favorite bands to see back in 2004. They put out a demo and one full length CD (on Indecision Records). It always bothered me that their CD "Love And Betrayal" never came out on LP. These songs were intended to be on a split with Against from Brisbane, Queensland (Thats in Australia newbs).

Still Crossed - Unreleased Material

Download

(Still Crossed's drummer Robbie is now in several great bands including one spotlighted in this blog already, Black Dove).

Today In The Mail: There's Only So Much Time

2008-11-24T14:56:00.000-08:00

A package and an envelope today both brought me great joy. The package was A Kind Of Like Spitting 7" I won on ebay the other day for a very fare price. And the envelope was the No Tolerance demo tape. This tape was just a random buy when I saw it on the Painkiller Records webstore, and boy am I happy I bought it. The demo has a very SSD, Last Rights and DYS feel (so it makes a lot of sense they are from boston). Probably one of the best demos I have heard all year. If you get the chance to buy the tape, do it.

No Tolerance - Demo (Edge Day Records)
Kind Of Like Spitting - Birds Of A Feather (Out Of 1000) (Grand Theft Autumn Records)

Recap Of End Of A Year/Defeater/Steel Nation Show

2008-11-24T11:27:00.000-08:00

I am not going to get into how much the Columbus hardcore scene is a joke or how disappointed I am in most of my friends. I would rather just focus on a great show that far too many people missed. Reflect opened up, and as usual they were awesome. A lot people sleep on this band or are forced to do so. This was their first time playing at Bernies and Rob's stage presence was great. Empire played next and killed it. When I watch them play I still can't believe they are not huge. Hopefully their tour with Backtrack in January will help that. Unreal City dropped off. Defeater played next and they were awesome. They just got signed to Bridge Nine Records, who will be rerelasing their cd "Travels" on LP I hope I get a chance to see them again soon. Next up was Steel Nation, I have not seen them since they kicked their singer out and became a four peice. They have a very 90's feel now, very Biohazard/Life Of Agony-esque. I am very into this turn for the band. End Of A Year closed out the night and I feel very strongly about this band. They did not let me down one bit, the music live was spot on. I am very happy to have been part of making this show possible.

I finaly was able to get an End Of A Year shirts. I love it because nowhere on the shirt does it say their name, just a live shot. And I picked up a pretty cool Defeater shirt.

Today In The Mail: Today Was A Good Day 2.0

2008-11-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

Today I got another package from A389 Records. I love ordering from this label (other then me never getting my Gehenna shirt) I ordered this 4 days ago and its already in my hands. This was just me picking up some cheap records that I have either lost on ebay or flaked on picking up before. The Aloke LP was just a random purchase and from the A side I am into this record. Defenetly weird stuff.

H20 - It Was A Good Day/I Want More (Blue) (Side One Dummy Records)
Redemption 87 - Spidey Sessions (Blue) (Out Of 500) (Breakout Records)
Our Times - S/T (Big Hole) (Out Of 400) (Headcount Records)
Aloke - One Day We Will Kill You (Red) (Gatehouse Anchor Records)

Today In The Mail: The Modern Dogma Is

2008-11-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

Another record I have been waiting on for what seems like forever. And its not even the version I ordered first. This Is the Record Release version (the first copy I ordered was a normal version of this but some sort of problems with the covers has it delayed). Arms Aloft is a "punk" band from Wisconsin, and I'm pretty sure at least one of the members was in Regret (a band I couldn't see enough of that just dropped off the map last year). Their music is like faster Jawbreaker/Hot Water Music with the vocal styling's of some of the better Hellcat Records artists (sounds weird but the band is great).

Arms Aloft - Comfort At Any Cost (Record Release) (Grey) (Out Of 25) (Dead Format Records)

This record also came with lots of stuff. Dead Format pin, patch and sticker. Two other Dead Format related stickers (Profanity). And A Arms Aloft sticker and patch. Plus the cover has a sweet cloth Obi and splatter on it that make the whole presentation awesome. You can download their demo off their website. Buy this record from Dead Format. This is easily one of my favorite 7"s that has come out all year. Do not flake on this band.

Forget The World And The Rules

2008-11-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

Flyer by Me.

This show seemed like it was ages away, and now its flying up faster than any other. This is the best show I have been apart of doing so far. Its two tours colliding, End Of A Year/Defeater and Steel Nation/Unreal City. And then its two of my favorite local bands Reflect and Empire. This is by far one of the best shows in Columbus all year, and I'm sure the turnout will be great (for once).

Watch Me Sink Like A Stone

2008-11-13T10:54:00.000-08:00

For the second time this week I went out of town and saw Have Heart, Ceremony, Blacklisted, Let Down And Convicted. This Show was in Cleveland, Ohio. The local opener for this show was Mad Minds. Oh and two posts in one day, weird.

Now the write up for this show is going to be shorter than the one for Monday's. Convicted opened and this time I didn't miss any of it. Band only gets better every time I see them. Mad Minds played next and even though they're are dudes I never really got into them when I saw them. This time though they were awesome. This was to be their "Record Release Show." Sadly due to something or other they didn't have the records to be released. You can pre-order it HERE (along with the Triceratops LP). Let Down played next, they once again we're really good Kids were moshing hard having lots of fun myself included (durring them and Convicted I really bruised up my forearm). Blacklisted played next and as usual killed it. And now I take back what I said about Ceremony, at this show they were pretty tight and played an amazing set. At some point I allegedly elbowed some girl's face in. Have Heart closed out the Night again. They once again did a great job and played some decent tunes I wanted to hear. All and all the show was great.

This is the first Blacklisted shirt I have ever purchased (for myself). And it has a kitty on it, so I love it.

Today In The Mail: Christmas Came Early

2008-11-13T10:53:00.000-08:00

I have skipped over several packages that have come in the past few weeks. Out of pure laziness. But I think this one deserves a post. This sold out in less than a week and that was a week before I even saw it was up for order so when I saw that RevHQ had copies I ordered one for me and one for Reid (He Loves David Bazan/Pedro The Lion).

David Bazan - Jingle Bells (Red) (Out Of 400) (Suicide Squeeze Records)

Been Livin' In The Dark Since April

2008-11-11T11:18:00.000-08:00

Last night myself, Jakob and Aaron (Plus two girls) took a trip down to Cincinnati (Covington, Ky) to see a show. The show was one of the biggest/strongest hardcore tours I've seen in a while, and with a added bonus This Is Hell and support (Gravemaker) was added.

We got there late And missed all but one Convicted song. I was very bummed. Its been over 5 months since I saw them last (with Blacklisted) and I was hoping to get my mosh on (ha). Im pretty sure Gravemaker played next they were alright, I just wasn't paying to much attention to them (I know Aaron was into them). Now its been 3 and a half years (+) since the last time I saw This Is Hell. They were awesome. I like the band a lot but don't know their catalog as well as I should but they still ended up playing 3-4 songs I knew pretty well. Oh and I was taller then the guitarist and bassist when they were on the stage (something I found to be very amusing). Let Down played next, this was my third time seeing this band this year. No show will ever compare to the insanity of the Tower show (And they were pretty decent when I saw them in Romeo Michigan with Swamp Thing). But they played a good set. Stage banter was pretty good at points and I love the way they just say their name with straight edge as it goes hand in hand. Also I picked up the Tour version of their LP We're In This Alone (Six Feet Under Records) out of 80. Blacklisted was up next which surprised me because I thought they were bigger then Ceremony but that's a mute point. They were fucking awesome. I think this band gets better every single time I see them. People were losing their minds, it was great. Ceremony played next and though I do enjoy this bands earlier offerings I'm not to impressed by their last 7" and LP. They play sloppy angry hardcore. And at this show it came off very sloppy. Have Heart ended the nights festivities. I like this band. I don't love this band. A lot of people at this show LOVED this band. They were going nuts. So many people on stage singing along. The new record is really good. The last record was really good. Its very understandable why this band is so big. This show as a whole was amazing. I got to see some of my friends for the first time since I moved back from Louisville. A lot of my Cincinnati dudes. And had the pleasure of meeting a few new people. Wednesday I will be seeing this show again, and if In not lazy Ill grab up a disposable camera and snap some pics for the blog.

Oh and I picked up this awesome shirt.

Gorilla Biscuits Vinyl Figure

2008-11-07T13:28:00.000-08:00

"We're getting close to the release More info soon. contact me at Alex@super7store.com if you're stateside and are interested in getting one. That's it for now!"

Vote

2008-11-04T10:43:00.001-08:00

A lot of people around here at least seem to think that Obama and voting are a bandwagon to be jumped on. A cool thing to throw on a shirt (the H2O shirt was too good to pass up ha) or to put on their myspace. Well I woke up early and went to a church (yuck) a few miles from my house and cast my vote. I've always felt voting is one of the most important rights we have and a lot of Americans like to just shrug it off to the next guy. A lot of my friends are doing this today. I just hope everyone who reads this voted, and pray that cracker loses.

Crashed Against The Rocks I Have For Brains

2008-10-24T09:11:00.001-07:00

*My End Of A Year Collection

Im only missing the two European tour versions of the "We Understand Europeans Are A Sexual People" and of course test presses. Also the great thing about this collection is I only had to get two of them off Ebay (both of those being pre-order versions I missed out on). The rest came from webstores and trades.

And the overview

7"s

End Of A Year - We Understand Europeans Are A Sexual People (Grey/Clear) (58) (Blacktop Records)
End Of A Year - We Understand Europeans Are A Sexual People (Grey) (Out Of 330) (Blacktop Records)
End Of A Year - We Understand Europeans Are A Sexual People (Clear) (Out Of 525) (Blacktop Records)

7" Splits

End Of A Year/Adorno (Out Of 520) (Existencia Records/Pine Records)
End Of A Year/Fire Team Charlie (Out Of 500) (Sticky Translucent Glue Records)
End Of A Year/Kids Explode (Out Of 500) (Narshardaa Records)
End Of A Year/Three Fifteen (Green) (Out Of 200) (Slave Union Records)
End Of A Year/Three Fifteen (Out Of 250) (Slave Union Records)
End Of A Year/Three Fifteen (Grey) (Out Of 550) (Slave Union Records)
End Of A Year/Red Tape Parade (Cobra X Records)
End Of A Year/Red Tape Parade (White) (Cobra X Records)
End Of A Year/Red Tape Parade (White With Green Splatter) (Cobra X Records)
End Of A Year/Shook Ones (Pre-Order Version) (White With Black Splatter) (Out Of 100) (Runner Up Records)
End Of A Year/Shook Ones (Black/White) (Out Of 210) (Runner Up Records)
End Of A Year/Shook Ones (Green/Clear) (Out Of 210) (Runner Up Records)
End Of A Year/Shook Ones (Grey/Clear) (Out Of 210) (Runner Up Records)

12"s

End Of A Year - Sincerely (Pre-Order Version) (Seafoam Green) (Out Of 100) (Slave Union Records)
End Of A Year - Sincerely (Blue) (Out Of 400) (Slave Union Records)
End Of A Year - Sincerely (Out Of 460) (Slave Union Records)

First (Of Many) Collaborative Shows

2008-10-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

*Not the official flyer. (Bteen Productions Version).

For this show, I have lost my mind. And its a big duh on why. End Of A Year is by far one of my favorite bands right now, and I'm beyond excited for this show (and helping put it on is siking me up even more). Now away from me nerding out over them (I'll save that for a post later this week (If the mail gods favore me)).

This as I said is a collaborative show between Aaron (Xbowz) And I. This "flyer" you see above is actualy a CD cover. I burned 30 CD's with 2 songs each by the bands playing the show (except Unreal City and Reflect who took to long or didn't send songs at all). Now I don't know if this will at all help people come out to the show but Fucked Up is playing in Columbus tomorrow and a lot of diffrent kids (the kind that don't come out to a lot of Bernies hardcore shows) will be there. And passing them out at this show might get some new faces out for once. When in doubt I just wasted 5 nights of my life putting all this stuff together. Big Woop. I've wasted a lot more time on a lot more things.

To Walk Ahead And Leave The Pain Behind

2008-10-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

Being straight edge really puts a damper on trying to distract yourself from your problems and the day to day horror of this world. I can't just have a beer or get high and forget about things for a while. Not to say I would ever want that. I would rather work at my life and try to make things better in it. And for the last few months I have been focusing on myself, my work ethic and filling the void I created, with records. Now maybe this is not a new void, but it has grown over time to take the place of almost anything else in my life (other then my friends) that made/makes me happy. I have come to a point here though where I can go no further with this filler. I have to mature and calm my spending.

Since I have moved back home I have bought somewhere around 250 Records. This picture shows around 200 of the 7"s I have bought (10"s and 12"s for another time maybe). Check out some of those gems on top. I have also bought Dozens of shirts, Tapes and some other random hardcore related items (Patches, Pins, Sunglasses, Posters).

Now this does not mean the "Today In The Mail" portion of this blog is gone. I am still waiting on about 15 packages and I'm sure those will stagger in. What this does mean is, other people might find good records at used kids other then me. And I should have my own car by mid December (Yeah I'm 22 Its about time). And maybe down the line my own place. Fuck I need a second job.

Today In The Mail: Holy Terror Kind Of Day

2008-10-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting on these records for a while, A long while. So the fact that only one of the many packages came today Isn't that big of a deal.

Clockwise:

Pulling Teeth - Witches Sabbath II (Out Of 300) (A389 Records)
Integrity - Walpurgisnacht (Red) (Out Of 300) (A389 Records)
Trapped Under Ice/Dirty Money (Blue) (Out Of 300) (A389 Records)

Today In The Mail: Today Was A Good Day

2008-10-06T20:09:00.001-07:00

With today's other update comes this one. A new edition for the blog, but an old favorite of mine. Everyday I come home from work (or peek out to my mailbox on the few and far between days I actually have off) I hope to find treasures waiting for me. Today was a great fucking day. 3 packages.

Clockwise:

Ruiner - Japan Tour (White) (XL)
H2O - Water Drop Shirt (Off White) (XL)
Pressure - Beasts (Red/Black) (Out Of 900) (Burn Bridges Records)
Have Heart - 2003 (Last Press) (Out Of 100) (Bottled Up Records)

I have the next three days off, so both my blogs should get a bit more attention. (But I can't promise anything).

I Wish This Was Seamless

2008-09-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

One of my most recent purchases Smorkin Labit 10-inch (Kidrobot X Kozik). My toy obsession is slowly being fed by Rivet Gallery (Columbus, Ohio's best stop for designer toys). I am very pro-distractions as of late.

Spin Off

2008-09-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

My blog has a son. This will still be my main blog, this new one is just for mixes.

Check it out...

Things I Can't Say

Black Dove - December 2005 Demo Tape

2008-09-15T21:49:00.000-07:00

This was Black Doves first release, they just had a LP come out on Solar Funeral (No Future, No Fate). The demo was crushing and is out of press. Pick up the LP if you get the chance, I flaked way hard and just picked on up the other day. Bang your fucking head.

Black Dove - December 2005 Demo Tape

01 - Why Do Babies Cry
02 - Necrobutcher
03 - Hordes Of Lampadas
04 - Savage Children
05 - Black Doves

Download

(This Post is just the beginning of a new direction for the blog. Inspired and in honor of my man Peter Check out his new Blog and listen to Leeway or pose hard.)