Even The Losers...

...Get Lucky Sometimes.

And I did.

To Mrs. Nomad... a very Happy 21st Anniversary. Our marriage is now legal!




Toonage:
Ramones - I Want You Around (demo)
Cult Hero - I Dig You
Replacements - If Only You Were Lonely
Hermans Hermits - White Wedding (Billy Idol cover)

Introducing Nazz Whitman (or is that Nazz Longfellow?)

A friend of mine informed me that she is a "published poet". I am proud of her. However, I cannot tolerate anyone being more successful than I am. And, technically, once this becomes a live post, I am published as well.

So I humbly offer...

The Poetry Of Nazz Nomad:

ZOSO

on the 7:24 listening to Stairway To Heaven
too many beers for daylight
Robert Plant is really old
and it makes me wonder.
---------------------------------------------------------

Of A Feather

pigeons are vermin.
rats with wings.
just like me.

---------------------------------------------------------

Neighbor

sitting on a train
I could put my headphones on
but
I would rather listen to you
talking about your boyfriend.
slut.
---------------------------------------------------------

Twitter

Who cares if you washed your clothes
And if people did care
what does that say
About your laundry?
---------------------------------------------------------

Stars...they're just like us!

star jones is 47
I THOUGHT THAT MEANT 47 STONE!
it didn't ...
it was her age
I don't care, she's still fat.

Dancing To The Organ Grinder

As a corporate executive whore, I have attained a certain level of assumed expertise in my chosen industry. There have been some nice awards and recognition, which have undoubtedly resulted in continued employment; if not the financial rewards that I should have received by this point.

However, in these uncertain times, in which my industry has been hit especially hard, employment is a very, very, very good thing.

The trade-off is that occasionally I have to involve myself in being interviewed for trade magazines, and participate in conference panels. These events go against my inherent anti-social, unfriendly and negative attitudes.

Most of my discomfort is due to the old "self doubt" gremlin, whispering in my ear. The "emperor has no clothes" feeling, that I'll be exposed for the fraud that deep down, I know I am.

To wit:

A few months back, I sat on a panel of industry leaders (I was the joker in the deck) for the Keynote Address at a conference and spoke about my business.

Here's some advice: It's probably not a good idea to use the term "corporate overlord" when speaking to a group of, well, corporate overlords.

While some at my place of business might feel that I am Mr. Executive Douchebag; I was blown away and exposed as a little twerp. I am pretty sure that the guy sitting next to me was wearing a suit that cost more than my car did. These guys were movers and shakers, and I was pretty much shaking the whole time.

It was an extremely long 90 minutes; and I noticed in the Q & A that no one was askin' me anything! Or coming up to me afterward. The moderater thanked me and told me I did a fine job. Yeah. Sure.

The really scary thing is that I keep getting invited to speak at these things!

So, today, I have another one to do. I'm on a panel with a couple of people that can run rings around me in knowledge. They'll be a couple of hundred people in attendence. I am expecting a disaster.

But you know what? I am totally relaxed about this one. It might be the certainty that, at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter if I crap the bed or not. Or, I might FINALLY realize that I might be a moron, but that doesn't neccessarily mean that everyone else in my field isn't a moron either.

We're in such trouble in our industry, that we're all holding on for dear life.

I'll do my shpiel, it'll be over, and I won't look back on it.

I hope!

Toonage:

New York Dolls - Don't Start Me Talkin'

Lagwagon - A Feedbag Of Truckstop Poetry

Ween - What Deaner Was Talking About

New Bomb Turks - Bullish On Bullshit

Weird Scenes Inside The YouTube

Sometimes, Youtube can be a treasure trove of musical stuff that you couldn't even make up high on Acid.

Here are a few:

Patti Smith singing "You Light Up My Life" on a Saturday Morning kids show:


The Seeds on a cheesy 60's sit-com lip syncing Pushin Too Hard:


The Grateful Dead on Playboy's "After Dark":


The 5678's on Ghoul A Go Go:


and last, but certainly not least, The Standells covering The Beatles on The Munsters!:


strange daze indeed.

Barbed Wire Love

They take away our freedom
In the name of liberty
Why don't they all just clear off
Why won't they let us be
They make us feel indebted
For saving us from hell
And then they put us through it
It's time the bastards fell

Don't believe them
Don't believe them
Question everything you're told
Just take a look around you
At the bitterness and spite
Why can't we take over and try to put it right

- Suspect Device... Stiff Little Fingers

As it's St. Patricks day, we at Bleedin Out pay humble tribute to the greatest of all Irish Punk bands. With all due respect to Thin Lizzy, The Undertones and U2; our money is on STIFF LITTLE FINGERS.
No other band combined political commentary on "The Troubles" with such a kick ass emotional (not emo!!!!!!) punk attack.

Certainly, comparisons to The Clash, from topical matter to a heavy dabbling in Reggae and Ska ("Roots, Radicals, Rockers and Reggae", their cover of The Specials ""Doesn't Make It Alright") can be made. SLF also penned "Strummerville" in honor of Joe Strummer when he passed.


Gravel voiced singer Jake Burns growled his way through topics ranging from Military Conscription ("Tin Soldiers", "Wasted Life"), Nationalism ("Fly The Flag"), prejudice ("White Noise") and violence ("Suspect Device").

SLF could even show a sense of humor with a song like "Barbed Wire Love"

I met you in No Man's Land / Across the wire we were holding hands / Hearts a-bubble in the rubble / It was love at bomb site

And, of course, they recorded the definitive version of Bob Marley's heart wrenching "Johnny Was"; transitioning the original's locale of Jamaica to Ireland.

SLF still tour occasionally (recently, original bass player Ali McMordie came back to the fold, replacing The Jam's Bruce Foxton).






Here are a couple of shows. The first is a compilation of the performances SLF did on the John Peel show, the second is a live show from their heyday.

GO FOR IT!

Toonage:
Stiff Little Fingers - The Peel Sessions
Stiff Little Fingers - Live At The Keystone, Berkeley CA 10-8-80

Whatcha Drinkin' ?

I was really happy for a few hours yesterday. Of course, it was right after I had knocked off a six pack of this.
Today, I am not so happy. Because I did not repeat yesterday's behavior.

Yet.

One of the problems with sobriety is the realization of how much happier one is when NOT sober.
in fact, sober as defined:
Marked by seriousness, gravity, or solemnity of conduct or character.

who the hell needs that these days?

Let's party like it's 1929. Or something.


Toonage:
Replacements - Beer For Breakfast (outtake)
Husker Du - Whatcha Drinkin' (demo)
The Cramps - Dames, Booze, Chains and Boots
Three Aces And A Joker - Booze Party


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Now playing: Silver Jews - Punks in the Beerlight
via FoxyTunes

Law Of The Jungle

Nazz jr is a good natured kid. However, when provoked, he's got quite a temper.

As he is now in double digits, and starting a new school next year, I have been ruminating on teaching him how to fight.

While I do not advocate violence, I think it's important for a kid to know how to defend himself. I was a small kid and got picked on (at least till I hit puberty). Despite my dad's best attempts at sending me to Karate school and Boxing gyms, I never had it in my heart to fight back...unless I was really messed with. Than the eyeballs would roll back and I would go for the throat. But that wasn't very frequent. I would have been a happier kid had I the balls to respond violently before that "all of nothing" rage kicked in.

Once I hit 16, i was big enough that no one was messing with me. Over the years (largely thanks to Punk Rock and Alcohol), I've had my share of mosh pit hijinks and pre/post minor altercations; but only a few (thankfully) real knock down drag outs.
But the confidence that I don't have to go running from them should they present themselves has made me a lot more secure.

This mindset has possibly led to more trouble than if I would have remained more passive. But on the other hand, the aggressiveness might have helped me in business as well as personally.

So, my dilemma is whether I should teach the kid some martial arts so he is prepared for the inevitable schoolyard brouhaha, or to let him just work it out himself.


Toonage:
New York Dolls - Stranded In The Jungle
Bob Dylan w/ Tom Petty - It's Alright Ma (live 1986)
Martha and The Vandellas - Love (makes me do foolish things)
Elvis Costello - In The Ghetto








----------------
Now playing: U2 - Moment Of Surrender
via FoxyTunes

Kiss Me Deadly

I prefer...

The greyhound's rocking out tonight
To maximum rockabilly
When two punks chose to risk the subway
For a tube to Picadilly
The Zephrys stir fast gangs for glory
Another dumb casualty
Having fun
In South West six
Hidden flick knife flicks
Kiss me, deadly, tonight

Another battle was won and lost
Down The Bishops End last night
Spotlights pick the kids in triumph
With a thousand scarves in flight, see how they run
Spring from the terraces in black and white
Young and old into the fight
Having fun
In South West Six
With violence for a fix
Kiss me, deadly, tonight

Seven o'clock they stand in rank
For the thirty bus uptown
And later in a downstairs room
She pulls her lover down
In ecstasy but they can't make a sound
Case her mother might come down
Having fun
In South West Six
Discovers teenage sex
Kiss me, deadly, tonight

The Snooker Hall is empty
Cause they're all out playing pool
Hustling down the Fulham Road
Doing deals with Mr.Cool
Well they're on the waterfront now instead of being at school
Too old now, even to dig pinball
Having fun
In South West Six
Having fun
When a hidden flick knife flicks
With violence for a fix
Discovers teenage sex
Tried shooting up for, kicks
Kiss me, deadly
Kiss me, deadly
Kiss me, deadly
Kiss me
Kiss me, tonight

Or you may prefer the film:


Or, Lita Ford:


Or the original Mickey Spillane classic:



Toonage:
Generation X- Kiss Me Deadly(studio)
Generation X - Kiss Me Deadly (Live Sheffield 1978)
Lita Ford - Kiss Me Deadly



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Now playing: Adolescents - Kids Of The Black Hole
via FoxyTunes

Don't be surprised if a crack in the ice...

... appears under your feet.

and Good-Morning, Smithers-Jones,,,


At some point, the realization comes that maybe there's something better. Loyalty is great, and as they take turns shoveling the dirt onto your box the pretty words are spoken. But who's the sucker? You are, of course. Because you always give more than you get. And you're always a line item on an entry pad. And don't forget it. The orchestra on the Titanic didn't get any extra props for going down with the ship, did they?

The struggle continues, but maybe the weight pulling you down gets a little (or a lot) lighter somewhere else. Sure, you lose all that built up good will and credibility. But sometimes the long run has a more attractive finish line.

One thing is for sure, sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel ISN'T a train coming at you. Sometimes, it's a better way out.

So, do I feel lucky, Punk?

Do I?


Toonage:
The Kinks - Rats
Fleshtones - I've Gotta Change My Life
Hot Water Music - Clampdown (Clash cover)
Bad Religion - You've Got A Chance



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Now playing: Dead Kennedys - Life Sentence
via FoxyTunes