Something Found, Something Lost

For some the idea of a hardcore being a conduit for radical thought might sound obvious and pointing the finger to bands for doing so may seem asinine, but in the modern era of hardcore to me at least, it is still refreshing to hear. Regional Justice Center is clear in their message and how adamant they are about their mission is nothing less than inspiring. Putting emphasis on concepts beyond what we maybe be thinking about everyday out in front of people in lyrics and imagery is something hardcore bands have been doing since the beginning and those bands like Regional Justice Center who have used emotion to show struggle instead of just spelling it out for people are the ones that have the most lasting impact. The 12" test press below was something I didn't think I would ever be able to snag off the popularity of the band alone, but I couldn't be more excited to add it to my collection. Regional Justice Center seems to clearly have grown beyond a project with this 12" and Ian Shelton who fronts, plays (on the recordings at least) and writes a majority of the music also plays in Self Defense Family, the band the other records in this post became.

The 7" test press in the photo below is a split between End Of A Year from Cohoes, New York (any fan of this blog should be very much aware of them or my love for them) and the band Kids Explode who hailed from Freiburg, Germany. Though this is a split and I can't say any band End Of A Year (of Self Defense Family) has done a split with is bad, they are not one of the best, or at least the songs on this side aren't their strongest. It could be the End Of A Year track on their side, entitled Audrey Kishline. It is one of my favorite End Of A Year songs being one of the handful named after a real person with lyrics in a way touching on that individual or their beliefs but exploring it through Patrick Kindlon's personal lens. With this record being as limited as it is, I never thought I would be able to get one but here it is. 

Regional Justice Center - World of Inconvenience (Test Press) (Out of 30) (Adagio830 Records, Forever Never Ends Records, Straight & Alert Records, To Live A Lie Records)
End Of A Year / Kids Explode (Test Press) (Out of 3) (Narshardaa Records)

Even more than the last two, this record has been my white whale. Not for rarities sake as over a hundred of this particular version exist but because I have had such bad luck trying to get a copy. As far as Discogs goes only one has sold per year for the last six years, always before I had a chance to snag it, but that isn't the worst of it. Back in August of 2008 I emailed someone who had the only copy listed in their HowsYourEdge trade list. They messaged me back and a deal was struck, one Frostbite shirt size XL for the tour version of End Of A Years first solo 7", We Understand Europeans Are A Sexual People. I sent out my part immediately and in October of 2008 a package arrived from Germany with a version of the 7", but not the correct version. I remember being super disappointed and after checking the email I was actually nice and didn't really fight the guy on it. I think over time I got more and more bitter about it (can you blame me thought it did end up taking eleven years for me to get a copy). But here it is, in all its glory.

End Of A Year ‎– We Understand Europeans Are A Sexual People (Tour Version) (Rainbow) (Out of 110) (Blacktop Records)

And Throw Me To The Wind

For the second time, on another side of the country I had the pleasure of booking my favorite band, Self Defense Family (the first time they were still called End Of A Year). I won't go into the details of how this show got fucked and how I ended up doing it but it did well and I'm happy about it. Very happy about it. Below is tbe flyer and a live shot. Before that I want to take a moment to talk about Goodtime Boys. The only band who's song on a split with SDF/EOAY I liked more than the flipside. They might have been some of the nicest and most sincere people I've ever met. They killed it when they played too. I'm glad I got a chance to book them also and I really hope I get to see them again and maybe someday go over to England again and hang out with them there. Cool dudes, backed hard.

A cool picture of Self Defense Family playing from the show.

Interview with Patrick Kindlon from End Of A Year

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

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...

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

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?"

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: Double Locks On All Of Our Hearts

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: Last Week

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

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)

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

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.

Forget The World And The Rules

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).

Crashed Against The Rocks I Have For Brains

*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

*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.