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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today In The Mail: & Yesterday At The Record Store

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quicksand - Thorn In My Side: Video

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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