December 31, 2008

Better Things



To all of my friends in the great expanse...
Happy New Year and best wishes for a HEALTHY, HAPPY and PROSPEROUS New Year.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Here's wishing you the bluest sky,

And hoping something better comes tomorrow.

Hoping all the verses rhyme,

And the very best of choruses to

Follow all the doubt and sadness.

I know that better things are on the way.


Here's hoping all the days ahead

Won't be as bitter as the ones behind you.

Be an optimist instead,

And somehow happiness will find you.

Forget what happened yesterday,

I know that better things are on the way.


Its really good to see you rocking out

And having fun,

Living like you just begun.

Accept your life and what it brings.

I hope tomorrow you'll find better things.

I know tomorrow you'll find better things.


Here's wishing you the bluest sky,

And hoping something better comes tomorrow.

Hoping all the verses rhyme,

And the very best of choruses to

Follow all the drudge and sadness.

I know that better things are on the way.


I know you've got a lot of good things happening up ahead.

The past is gone its all been said.

So here's to what the future brings,

I know tomorrow you'll find better things.

I know tomorrow you'll find better things.



Toonage:
David Gilmour - High Hopes (Live)
Fountains Of Wayne - Better Things (Kinks Cover)
Descendents - Hope
Bob Mould - Wishing Well (Live)
Grateful Dead - Sunshine Daydream (Live Closing of Winterland)

December 28, 2008

An Ends To A Means


In the final accounting of the recent travails of the Nomad clan:
  • Kitty Nomad is still hanging on for dear feline life. The tumor on his side has blown wide open, and while it is coverered with a shirt, we know the meds we feed him will soon lose their effectiveness. The vet says that it makes no sense to cut away his flank and sew it up, as the trauma would kill kim. For now, he is still friendly, social, and most importantly, hungry... so we pray that perhaps the 2 inch gaping hole in his side will somehow seal and he can make it through the end of year.
  • Princess Nomad is firmly entrenched with the Twilight series of books. Between that and this, she is as happy as can be hoped for while awaiting the endgame for her pet.
  • Nazz Junior is destroying all comers in Halo and Left For Dead on the XBOX 360. He has also developed an enthusiasm for Johnny Cash music, thanks in part to this movie. Nazz Junior is specifically enamored of The Man In Black's tales of murder, revenge and prison. Like father, like son!
  • The Missus is trying to keep it all together in the face of feline doom. Thankfully, the shock is past, for now the grim waiting game continues.
  • Yours truly is laid up with a bad back. Possibly this has been caused in part by the stress of work and finances. Luckily, a regiment of this and this have enabled him to combat the pain somewhat. Unfortunately, this has caused him to recently engage again in wasted posting. Oops!
On the plus side of the ledger... THE NEW YORK FOOTBALL GIANTS have got the number one seed in the NFL Play-offs.

So, along with the total consciousness the Dali Lama promised me on my deathbed, I've got it all under control. Which is nice.

Or something.

Gunga La Gunga, you mofo's!!!!!!!




Toonage:
Joey Ramone - Garden Of Serenity (live)
Johnny Cash -Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog (live)
Social Distortion - Another State Of Mind
Quickie - Medicated (Just To Get By)
The Cramps - Bop Pills

December 24, 2008

There Ain't No Sanity Clause


More job horrors on the way in '09. I get the word yesterday that the Grim Reaper will be whetting his scythe the first week of the new year. And I will be wearing the robes and wielding the death staff to a friend of mine. As I am discussing this with one of my staff, the prez of our company comes by dressed as Santa with not a care in the fucking world.

Rome burns. Nero fiddles.

As an added bonus, the real Reaper will be paying a visit to the Nomad household soon enough as our beloved cat is on his last days due to cancer. We are hoping he makes it past this weekend (and Princess Nomad's birthday) before we have to put him down.

Merry fucking x-mas.

Toonage:
Crucial Youth - Christmas Time For The Skins
Joey Ramone - What A Wonderful World
Fear - Fuck Christmas
The Sonics - Don't Believe In Christmas
The Vandals - Granpa's Last Christmas

December 18, 2008

Damn Damn Damned

The Damned Live at Coney Island High around 1999


I just got kicked in the balls so hard at work that it's only my happy pills keeping me from opening up a vein and, well, Bleedin' Out. At least I still have a job.

What's the old line about cleaning up elephant shit at the circus? Well, at least it's show-biz!

The Damned are coming to our fair town on New Years Eve .... which sucks, since I can't see em that nite. They're also playing to the north and south of N.Y.C.... hope to catch one of those!
Anyway, here are some candid pix of Mr. Vanian and the good Captain from a few years ago backstage at Coney Island High. We had a great time stealing their Jack Daniels and discussing vegeterianism with Captain Sensible.

And here's Nazz with the Cap!

The good Captain, with his pre-show beer. He had a bottle of Jack. That is, before we took it!

The Captain in his full glory. Later of course, he was bare assed naked.

Dave Vanian putting the final touches on his well coiffed personage.


That's my pal Vinnie with the Captain.


Toonage:
The Damned Live At The House Of Blues 2001 (the whole show!)


----------------
Now playing: Damned - So Messed Up
via FoxyTunes

December 15, 2008

shitFACEdBOOK


As Princess Nomad has been urgently requesting to be able to sign up for Facebook, we have belatedly acquiesced to her pleas. Negotiations revolved around us having her password, as well as yours truly joining, the better to keep tabs.

Apparently, we were the last two people in the Western world to become members, as everyone and their Uncle Bob is on as well.

After a couple of weeks of tinkering, I have already become somewhat bored of yet another timesuck. However, the lure of pissing away hours on the site and looking up people I haven't seen in years has proved alluring. On the other hand, as I do not use my real name, no one can find me, unless they know my "nom de cyber". Which works fine.

I have investigated old acquaintances from High School and College, and I am amazed at how old THEY have all gotten (as they post their pix). Often, they post em of the wives and kiddies too. I have no urge to contact any of em, as I figger I would have made the effort years ago if I had any interest in re-connecting. In fact, whenever I get Alumni pleas for $$$ or reunion info, I always mark the envelopes "Return to Sender- deceased".

Anyway, one thing that has happened a couple of times to me is the phenom of "wasted posting", in which I have commented on friends "walls" on Facebook whilst hammered.

This apparently happened last nite, while under the influence of a heavy duty sleeping aid. I had no recollection of it, until I got an email today from JW expressing outrage over what I posted. And I had no idea what it was, until I was informed of the moronic utterings I had deemed fit to cyber-post. I also posted some bizarre shit integrating a hallucination involving a classic rock legend with an 80's alt-rock icon.

So, the lesson to be learned is, put the keyboard away when your "under the influence". Because the Internet is forever. or something.


Toonage:
The Damned - Silly Kids Games
Iggy Pop - I'm Bored
Black Flag - Wasted
Ciccone Youth - Into The Groovey
The Cynics - Waste Of Time

December 12, 2008

Ride Johnny Ride

Still doing the car dance, but here's our version of the Misfits classic Bullet fromthe A7 reunion. Get yer moshing shoes on and Ride Johnny Ride!!!

December 10, 2008

Buying A Car Blues


Talk about bad timing... I am in the market to buy a car. I have a leased auto that expires in January and my choices are to:

a) - buy the car outright (but it will cost me almost as much to buy it used as a new car would)
b) - buy another car (yecch... major $$$$)
c) - lease another car (cheapest option, but then I will be doing this again in 3 years)

In this economy, the last thing I want to do is spend money, as who the hell knows if this will turn into a full blown depression. Better to be the ant these days, than the grasshopper.
I was hoping that the local crooks (ie car dealers) would have better deals since no one is stupid enough to buy a car these days. But it's the same old song and dance. Bait and switch, high pressure, absurd offers. I have been doing this as much as possible via e-mail, but unfortunately, facetime is required.

I know this isn't life or death, but it is a pain in the arse!

Speaking of life or death... here's the only known footage from our performance at the A7 reunion at Knitting Factory this past weekend. DV rocked the vox and geetar, J-Lo was the beastmaster, and your humble narrator tried to remain standing and not drop the 4 string.

Warning- video was shot on a cell phone, so the sound is pretty poor. Plus, it's our ballad!

The place was packed, and I spoke to peeps who had come in from as far as California for the show. By midnite, the street was littered with drunken Punks trying their best not to puke on themselves.

Rock n Roll!



Toonage:
Dictators - I Live For Cars And Girls
Cramps - Sado County Auto Show
Angry Samoans - Hot Cars
UK Subs - I Live In A Car
Panther Burns - Once I Had A Car

December 3, 2008

NYHC Lives! (again)

(nope, we aren't on the flyer!)

A7 was THE place in the early 80's to get your real hardcore punk rock fix in New York City. The club itself was a little shithole across from Tompkins Square Park in Alphabet City in Manhattan. Unlike clubs like CBGB's and Irving Plaza, A7 pretty much was all hardcore punk, all the time. Bands like the Beastie Boys (yes, they started out Punk), Ism, Kraut, Reagan Youth and Heart Attack (Jesse Malin's old crew) would play there, along with whatever outta town bands were in the area.
I don't think the place could hold more than 50 people, but they'd pack em in. I dimly remember a dog (a German Shepherd?) present often as well.
Anyway, the place closed 'round '84; but there is a huge show at the Knitting Factory this Saturday that will be a reunion of sorts with many survivors of the old scene scheduled to play. Of course, many participants no longer have to shave their heads, as Mother Nature has seen to make em natural skinheads!

Well, yer Uncle Nazz is actually playing this show! My bro DV and Caterwauller-in-Arms J-Lo are The Betrayed, and we will be going on somewhere between 11 pm and midnite. We'll be playing all your favorite Betrayed toonz too!

I am really looking forward to seeing some folks that I haven't seen since the 80's!
Big fun! ~ (or something!)


Toonage:
ISM -A7
The Betrayed - Betrayed By You
Misfits - Bullet
Beastie Boys - Riot Fight
Bad Brains -Big Takeover

----------------
Now playing: Black Market Baby - Potential Suicide
via FoxyTunes

December 1, 2008

Meme Meme Meme Meme Meme


I have been challenged by our friends at The New Disease to complete this Meme. I am a virgin to these types of things, but here goes, I'll try anything once!

1. Five names you go by:
a) Mr. ********
b) Rico
c) Nazz
d) Dad
e) R***

2. Three things you are wearing right now:
a) Black Men's Button down dress shirt (covering a ...)
b) Joey Ramone Black T-Shirt
c) Black fake Dockers pants

3. Two things you want very badly at the moment:
a) Terrorism to end
b) My cat to get healthy. He's got a nasty tumor that is not going to get better.

4. Three people who will probably fill this out*:
a) Zooma (but I think he's pissed at me for my Pro-Bama rantings!
b) Mark at Pig State Recon
c) My pal Just Watchin'

* But I do not put an onus on them to do so, though I'm sure their answers would be better than mine.

5. Two things you did last night:
a) I shaved after debating whether to grow my goatee out to a full Rabbinical student beard for the winter as has occasionally been my custom.
b) An Ambien so I could get some sleep and not worry about the hellish work week ahead.

6. Two things you ate today:
a) Blueberry Low-Fat Yogurt for breakfast
b) A mixed salad with tofu, grape leaves, egg white, beets, chick peas and kidney beans for lunch.

7. Two people you last talked to on the phone:
a) Mrs. Nomad (making sure I haven't jumped out a window)
b) Princess Nomad (she wants an iTouch for her combo B-day/Holiday present)

8. Two things you are going to do tomorrow:
a) Practice for our SHOW AT KNITTING FACTORY THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!
b) Give the "Come to Jesus" talk to a couple of my staff whom seem a bit ungrateful to still have a job.

9. Two longest car rides:
a) Florida to New York the day after the 9-11 attacks
b) NY to Boston one July to see the Grateful Dead. The "trip" (draw your own conclusions) due to holiday summer traffic took 7 hours!

10. Two of your favorite beverages:
a) Guinness Stout
b) Bourbon (and I am not very choosy!)

And finally, a clip from a favorite movie.
The life of a Repo Man is NEVER boring!



Toonage:
The Who - I Don't Even Know Myself (Live at Leeds)
Run DMC & Living Color - Me, Myself, My Microphone
Aha - Take On Me
Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - All By Myself
Bowling For Soup - Sick Of Myself (Matthew Sweet cover)

November 17, 2008

Weird S.I.N.s Inside The Graveyard

"It's not the years honey, it's the mileage"
...Indiana Jones

For reasons that I will divulge soon, gentle reader, I made contact with an old friend last week.

I haven't talked to the guy since my wedding day; a score ago. But catching up, he's got a helluva book to write. It's funny what bits we had heard of each other over the last couple of decades, funnier that it's all the kind of stuff that would generally be dismissed as bizarre rumors, and yet in both of our cases, the information was true!

Unbelievably, the people he asked about on my side are all deceased, as are counterparts on his side. Suicide, jail and divorce abound as well. We're not old men either, I don't think either one of us is on the back nine of life expectancy.

I don't want this to sound like whistlin' past the graveyard, but the pressing thought I conveyed was how lucky the both of us are to still be walkin' this mortal coil. There but for the grace of the Grim Reaper (or the police) coulda been either one of us.

Growing up as an oblivious punk jerk-off, I always thought that the danger we put ourselves in wasn't as life threatin' as it really was. After all, we were immortal. Those that fell by the wayside were just unlucky, right? But looking back on the drunken driving, the chemical and agricultural products, the violence and the irresponsibility of the situations we placed ourselves in; well, it makes we shudder.

How I am able to communicate this to Nazz Jr. and Princess Nomad remains to be seen.

But, as we are still not A Diet For The Worms ... All the more reason to rock the fuck out whenever possible, I 'spose!

Bookage:
A Few Seconds Of Panic - Stefan Fatsis

Toonage:

The Mob - 101
Social Distortion - Another State Of Mind
Gram Parsons - In My Hour Of Darkness
The Soft Boys - Only The Stones Remain
Exene Cervenka and Henry Rollins - Wasted (Black Flag cover)
----------------
Now playing: The Only Ones - The Happy Pilgrim
via FoxyTunes

November 13, 2008

And A Storm Is Threatenin'

One of the advantages AND disadvantages of being Management is that you find out the magnitude and date of when the bomb is going to be dropped. While the names of most of the soon to be extinguished may not be divulged, the knowledge of what's soon to come makes one crawl into that bottle of whiskey without much haste.


My industry is in dire straits currently (and NO, I am not in the stock market). Serious cuts will have to be made for us to survive.


Everyday brings more horrible news about companies cutting hundreds and sometimes even thousands of jobs. The most current news is that 1.2 MILLION Americans have lost their jobs in this latest (don't call it a) depression. 240,000 lost their jobs last month! And 300,000 more are projected to lose their jobs in November.


Anybody wanna buy an apple?



Toonage:

Big Star - Holocaust (demo)

Minutemen - This Ain't No Picnic

Soul Asylum - Never Really Been

The Jam - Smithers-Jones (non lp version)

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Let's Make The Water Turn Black




----------------
Now playing: Grateful Dead - Bertha > Good Lovin' 5/5/78
via FoxyTunes



November 10, 2008

Attn Fates: No Hubris Enclosed!



This is a posting that I am terrified to write.
This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday.
I hate my birthday.
I hate acknowledging that I am that much closer to the finish line than the starting gun.
I hate thinking of mortality and celebrating myself.
And I hate being the focal point of all of the above.

Years ago, I banned acknowledgment of my b-day in my office. Everyone respected my wishes. They probably all thought I was a dick (still probably do), but they still left me alone... in fact for many years, I just took the day off. This week, I actually brought doughnuts into my department... and sent out a "Happy Birthday to Me" e-mail inviting folks to partake.

Mrs. Nomad and the Nomad children are always stymied, as I tell them I want nothing. They always do OK by me... this year I got a neat Johan Santana Mets jersey, and some really cool homemade t-shirts --- mine says Hall Of Famer and the kids made ones for themselves that say "My Dad is a Hall Of Famer". And I got a really cool old school NY Giants baseball cap. And the missus made a kick ass cake (with banana pudding and vanilla frosting and NO chocolate!) mmmmmm.

Well, I also went to see these guys the other nite. Tasty show, too.

Last nite, Miz Nomad and I dined at a brewpub (dunkelweiss and smoked porters). Double mmmmm.

The bottom line is... I really don't need anything. I really have all the material stuff I need/want/desire.

As long as everyone is healthy and no one has any school/work/personal drama... what more could I want (aside from world peace, $30 million bucks, etc)?

These daze, I am pretty even keeled.

This is a pretty big departure in mindset for old Nazz, since before my chemical conversion of 11 weeks past, I was pretty damn miserable and on the edge for the preceding few months.
In fact, the last 2 months have brought the well known horrors of the economy, bad tidings at work with regard to job cuts (I'm safe, but others will not be), and some deaths and illness's in the extended family.

I dare say, that if not for Nazz's little helper, I would have either been in the "laughing academy" by now, or thinking of jumping off a ledge everyday.

All of which is a long way of saying that maybe I've turned a corner. If so, the best birthday present I gave myself was coming to my senses and hitting old Dr. Benway back in the summer for a 'scrip. I am sure that they were holistically effective (I scared myself straight- if I have to take something for medication other than recreation, that's a powerful incentive!)

And Obama being elected was a great gift too!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday To Me indeed!

Now that I said that, I spit on the ground, knock wood and pray that the fates do not see this post as hubris and conspire to destroy me!!!!!!!!!

In fact, why is my back starting to ache big time?


Toonage:
NOFX - Happy Birthday (You're Not Special)
Husker Du - Birthday (live 3.1.84)
The Vandals - Happy Birthday To Me
U2 - A Celebration
Mudhoney - Brief Celebration Of Indifference

November 6, 2008

A Caterwaul, Indeed


We came, we played, we kicked ass.

Caterwaul Of Sound played in hipster Williamsburg in Brooklyn USA Wednesday nite.
Our first show. In fact, the first show ever performed by our rhythm guitar player and our singer! As reported before, we were on a bill with a bunch of metal and goth type bands. We, of course, are neither.

But, dare I say we acquitted ourselves nicely. There may have never been a band anywhere that had as much fun playing as we did on Wednesday nite.

People even came to me after the show and told us we were really good! And they weren't even our friends! In fact, our friends even said we were good (and our friends would've definitely told us if we sucked!). And, we had the biggest crowd. It was sorta like a reunion of sorts for a bunch of us folks who have drifted apart. So it was nice to get everyone together again.
Lots of photos taken and a pro (2 camera video) with sound from the board is being mixed and will be ready next week. Maybe I'll even post some up!

There were some very strange "surgically enhanced" gals walking around in bustiers and whatnot, they ended up doing back-up vocals for my friends' band Guns Religion And Money (they were the ones who set up the show).

Unfortunately, we were promised a 55 year old "Betty Page" type stripper; and that failed to materialize.

Highlites included our lead singer falling down and doing a faceplant on the steps leading to the stage, the lead guitar getting kicked in the head, and yours truly tripping over his cord several times.

The setlist:
nervous breakdown (black flag)
surfin bird (ramones)
in and out of grace (mudhoney)
too much junkie business (johnny thunders)
celebrity skin (hole)
the jeffersons theme song - movin on up (dedicated to obama) >
interstellar overdrive (pink floyd) >
highway to hell (the short dudes from australia) >
the ballad of kurt cobain (stormtroopers of death)


Rock n Fucking Roll.
Toonage:
Redd Kross - Star Lust
The Soft Boys - Rock n Roll Toilet (Demo)
Nick Lowe - They Called It Rock
Superdrag - Sucked Out
Mott The Hoople - All The Way From Memphis
Rolling Stones - Star Star (live 1978)
The Hookers - Rock n Roll Motherfucker

November 5, 2008

True Sounds Of Liberty



We have hope. Last night, watching Obama's acceptance speech, I felt a surge of pride in being an American. We will change the direction of this country. This election was not about race. It was about change. 8 years of insanity and greed will soon be a grim memory.


I know that I get quite a few visitors on this blog from overseas. Please watch the above video. It's an exerpt from Obama's acceptance speech last nite.
It is inspiring stuff. The United States of America is back!


And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world ? our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down ? we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security ? we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright ? tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America ? that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

--------- President Elect Barack Obama - November 4, 2008 --------

Toonage:
Obama's entire speech (streaming video)



November 4, 2008

October 30, 2008

Caterwaulin' Towards Gory Glory


Hey cave katz and kittenz. We have a gig!!!!

Wednesday, November 5 @ 9 pm !
Yeparoo... if yer in the NYC environs... COME ON OUT AND EXPERIENCE THE ...

CATERWAUL OF SOUND!
We are playing at a really nice place in Brooklyn on 70 North 6th street (right next to the music hall of williamsburgh) called Public Assembly (it used to be Galapagos). Frankly, it's a little TOO nice!

But we're treating it like an Obama victory party. And if the unthinkable happens and Geriatric John and Caribou Barbie are elected, well then, it'll be ground zero for the oncoming revolution! Dope, guns and fucking in the streets (or something)!

We're gonna be playing in the best traditional of yer fave garage bands... heavy on the three chords (you all love the "A" chord, right?) and lots of noise. Combine Johnny Thunders with Syd Barrett with Angus Young and yer gettin' close!

It's gonna be alot of fun, there are 5 or 6 other bands playing too... ranging from goth to cookie monster metal to rollins like fury.
And it's only $5 (cheap!). There's gonna be raffles for craptastic treats too!

So, come see yer Uncle Nazz do things to a bass gee-tar that are illegal south of the Mason Dixon line!

We're trying to make it a special nite and hope you will share it with us!

Hey, it's Halloween!

Here are some trick or treatin toons!

Toonage:
The Damned - Dead Beat Dance
Big JohnBates - Goo Goo Muck
The Cramps - I Was A Teenage Wearwolf (live CBGB's 1-13-78)
Misfits - Halloween
Dead Kennedys - Halloween
Elroy Dietzel - Rockin Bones



----------------
Now playing: Ramones - The KKK Took My Baby Away
via FoxyTunes


October 25, 2008

We Are Everywhere!



Due to a family event, my west coast cousin A. came to town. My cuz was a Grateful Dead insider from the start of the band when she attended the Acid Tests through the 80's. I don't often get to see her, being that she's been a left coaster for many years and I reside in Noo Yawk. As she is a couple of decades older than me, we never had that much in common, aside from an interest in the same band and a free spirit. And I spent much of my life not associating with most of my extended family aside from weddings and funerals (and luckily, there weren't too many of either!)

Anyway, I was aware over the years that she knew the band. For example, her son went to Wavy Gravy's camp and Phil Lesh's wife baby sat for him when he was a young pup. I never capitalized on that relationship (when I think about the years I could have exploited that connection, I want to hit myself in the head!). I went to tons of Dead shows and man, a little bit of balls on my part coulda made for a lot of interesting times. On the other hand, my times were plenty interesting and dangerous enough!

So, my cuz is telling me stories about playing double solitaire with Pigpen and hanging out with Owsley Stanley and told me how she only recently stopped wearing a necklace that Bear had given her many years ago.

She told me a story about how, once at a concert in NY, her friend had made some sort of pills out of Cocaine and THC and how she had given one to Garcia before a show. Garcia later told her that he could barely play and how it was an amazing dose.
I can't be sure, but it might have been this show. You can download it here.

All of this kinda reinforces a couple of things.

1) You never know what your blood might have been up to.
2) We are everywhere!

Bookage:
Grateful Dead Family Album



October 23, 2008

Weed, Whites, And Wine



I been warped by the rain, driven by the snow
I'm drunk and dirty, don't ya know,
And I'm still willin'

Out on the road late last night,
Seen my pretty Alice in every head light
Alice, Dallas Alice

I've been from Tucson to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
I've driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed

If you give me: weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign
I'll be willin' to be movin'

I've been kicked by the wind, robbed by the sleet
Had my head stoved in, but I'm still on my feet
And I'm still... willin'

Now I smuggled some smokes and folks from Mexico
Baked by the sun,
every time I go to Mexico

And I been from Tuscon to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonapah
I've driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
I've driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed

And if you give me: weed, whites, and wine
And you show me a sign I'll be willin' to be movin'


Bookage:

The Road - Cormac McCarthy


Toonage:
Little Feat - Willin'
Lowell George w/ Linda Ronstadt - Willin'
Phil Lesh & Friends - Willin' (live 10-22-99)
Uncle Tupelo - Willin'
Steve Earle - Willin'
Black Crowes - Willin'



----------------
Now playing: The Clash - Straight To Hell (unedited version)
via FoxyTunes

October 21, 2008

Tell That Girl To Shut Up


Wow. Now I see how Sarah Palin is a maverick! She has followed her hollow heart to break against McCain on the number one issue concerning all Americans... GAY MARRIAGE!

Apparently, Missy "Family Values" wants a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage; whilst Granpa McCain is for letting the states decide.

A last desperate ploy to get the cavemen voters to come to the dark side?
Aaaah, in two weeks, Palin will be back to opening hockey rinks in the great North West and Regime Change will finally be here!



Bookage:

William S. Burroughs - Queer: A Novel


Toonage:

Holly And The Italians - Tell That Girl To Shut Up
Pansy Division - Smells Like Queer Spirit
Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (to be loved by you)
Isaac Hayes - Lay Lady Lay (Dylan Cover)
Beck - Sexx Laws



----------------
Now playing: Elvis Costello - Pads, Paws And Claws
via FoxyTunes

October 17, 2008

F#ck The Kids

"What are you? Fifteen years old?
You fuckers don't even deserve Punk Rock"
Fat Mike/Nofx 10-16-08 NYC

I ventured out to see one of my favorite bands last nite. NOFX was playing what is now called The Fillmore, but what will always be to me Irving Plaza in Noo Yawk Citee.


(actually this is from a couple of nights before in Montreal)

After a 10 hour day full of mortifying meetings at the veal pen (you may not have heard, but the economy is bad and companies are taking a scalpel to everything), I need the PUNK RAWK.
And of course, NOFX didn't disappoint.

More than 25 years ago, I started going to Irving Plaza. Back then, I saw bands like Minor Threat, DOA, The Slickee Boys, Bad Brains, Johnny Thunders, The Replacements and Husker Du. I rarely get there anymore (before last nite, the last time I was there was 18 months ago for Paul Weller; but man, did the memories come back. We positioned ourselves on the railing on the second floor and watched a few hundred kids mosh and have a great time beating the shit out of each other below. I'd say 90% of the attendee's were male.(The Moshing at NOFX)
NOFX were great of course. Not as drunk as usual. They played some new stuff, alot of old stuff (including many songs from their classic album Punk In Drublic) and every now and than one of their hybrid mariachi/reggae numbers. Hey, any band that can contradict themselves with songs like "Drugs Are Good" and then "Whoops I OD'ed" and "Don't Call Me White" and then "Kill All The White Man" are my kinda guys.

The interesting thing for me was how some things have changed and yet some haven't. Many of the folks at the show (it was all ages) weren't even born when NOFX started. And many were in diapers when Punk In Drublic came out in the early 90's. NOFX are in their 40's at this point and gazing out at the crowd, you could feel that they must have been thinking "what have we wrought".

Because NOFX are the real thing. They were doing before the days of Hot Topic. And Punk rock is so easy now, as it's both big business (and NOFX certainly live very nicely off of their profits) and an acceptable part of music and fashion culture. None of those kids had to worry about getting crap in school for being Punks like NOFX (and I) did. Shit man, I shoulda been in NOFX!

So when Fat Mike was yelling at the kids how they didn't deserve Punk, I understood it. Is the crowd into the music? The politics (NOFX certainly are as political as any punk band, especially Fat Mike)? The fashion? The culture? I guess it doesn't matter as everyone had a great time. I'm just happy Punk is alive and well. And I keep trying to turn Princess Nomad and Nazz jr onto it. And that day will come (they both wear my old punk shirts all the time).

Back in the day (I hate that phrase), I woulda been one of the teeming masses, getting slammed around. Last night I was content to see a great band play and watch the melee from afar. It also might have been my first show ever at Irving Plaza where there were no intoxicants ingested (not even one lousy little beer).

Life gets weirder every day.

Bookage:
American Hardcore: A Tribal History - Steven Blush


Toonage:
NOFX - Punk Guy (Because he does Punk things)
NOFX - All My Friends In New York
NOFX - Fuck The Kids
NOFX - Last Night Was Really Fun
NOFX - Drugs Are Good

October 15, 2008

The Home Stretch



The home stretch. Less than three weeks before we get to vote for regime change. I can't wait.

How will the Repugnikkans steal this one? Voter fraud? Pre-programmed voting machines? Armed guards preventing voters from getting in? The possibilities are endless!

Whatever. Nevermind. As long as we still have rock n roll, how bad can things be? Oh yeah. Bad. Real bad!

But today was one of those days when the right batch of tunes came over the mp3 player on the commute in. The kind of songs where you get that feeling of "holy shit, I forgot what an awesome song this is". And then you hit reverse and play the fucker again and again, singing out of tune and messin' up all the words as the people around you think you're insane.


Yeah. Rock n Roll.

Toonage:

X - Poor Girl

King Khan And His Shrines - Land Of The Freak

Ramones - Pet Semetary

Run DMC - King Of Rock

New Bomb Turks - Chip Away At The Stone (Aerosmith cover)



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Now playing: Social Distortion - Playpen
via FoxyTunes

October 13, 2008

Plenty Of Nothing


In the throes of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, the Dow jumped up over 900 points today. What's it all mean? I have no idea. I don't even look at my 401K since I can't touch it anyway until I'm too old to get any enjoyment out of it!
I am no economics expert, but here in NYC, the restaurants are emptier than Sarah Palin's soul and there seem to be less turista's too. A friend of mine in the service industry says that her bar was pretty barren this weekend.

There are definite signs of massive corporate lay-offs in the next few weeks (just in time for the holidays, Ebenezer).

I guess it was a really good time for me to stop drinking! Those $6 pints sure add up.

We're not recovering from this anytime soon, fellow travelers.



Toonage:
The Kinks - Get Back In Line
The Damned - Lovely Money
Led Zeppelin - Money (live 1980)
Grateful Dead - Money Money (studio outtake)
Nirvana - The Money Will Roll Right In




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Now playing: AC/DC - Money Talks
via FoxyTunes

October 6, 2008

If The Thunder Don't Get You...



Hey kiddies, here's some advice from yer Uncle Nazz.

Don't take your sleeping pills until AFTER you get home!

Unlike what I did last nite, which was to pop an Ambien before I began my drive home from band practice. I figgered it would kick in right after I got home.
However, I did not take into account my empty stomach OR traffic. Which resulted in me driving the last highway stretch with one eye shut tight since I was seeing double! Additionally, I overshot my driveway and knocked over some flower pots. This morning, I was picking flower petals out of my car's front grill.

How ironic that now that I am on the straight and narrow, I still can't avoid these types of mishaps. At least I used to have the excuse of booze and other things that warn you to stay away from large machinery.

These days, it's nothing but good intentions.

I have been sober for 5 weeks and 2 days. That's 37 days with nothing but Dr. prescribed meds coursing through my bloodstream. No booze. No nothing. And that's despite being in several environments with open bars as well as band practices where intoxicants have been known to flow freely. And I haven't felt the urge to partake at all. No meetings. No higher power. No soul searching sessions. I just say no. Yeah, that's it. Just say no.


Do I feel better? Well, I certainly have gotten my shit together with-out the "self-medicating". I've (as the experts say) "levelled-out". The difference in my personality is certainly apparent to my family and co-workers. Between what's going on in work, and the country as a whole, this past month would have had me normally on the bender from hell. Can you say "nu-cu-lar"?
And I am down close to 20 lbs due to the lack of alcohol and a serious loss of appetite.
It still bothers me that I had to make such a major change in my life... but I find I respond better with "all or nothing" decisions better. As my buddy said "you were a professional for decades, it's time to retire and let the young ones play".

Or something.
We'll see how this goes...


Bookage:
Iggy Pop - Open Up And Bleed


Toonage:
NOFX - Getting High On The Down Low
Crucial Youth - I'm Straight
Jeff Buckley - Grace (Live WNEW radio)
Buzzcocks - Boredom (Live 1977)
Minor Threat - Straight Edge (demo)



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Now playing: The Fuzztones - 1-2-5
via FoxyTunes