September 14, 2002

I just watched “Vanilla Sky”. Man, did that movie suck. It was really horrible. But I have to say that I liked the movie the first time – when it was called “Groundhog Day”.

“Burn. Hollywood. Burn.”

Thea and I went to the East Side today. I had a very difficult time keeping it ultra light at Beachwood Mall. I found myself wanting curse all of humanity straight to hell but could not because of my ultra light pledge. I ended up keeping quiet more than I wanted to and trying to play nice with the rest of the world. What a bore. What a drag. I tried, but making every effort to keep with the spirit of ultra light, to discuss topics of importance to me with Thea. It is hard to say I want to conquer the world in an ultra light fashion. It is impossible to say I will bury them while being ultra light. It was weird. I felt happy and, maybe even a bit lighter, but still it was weird.

What was more than weird was that I am on this hippy diet where I am only eating all natural foods and I told Thea that I was sick of the all natural food and wanted some false dieting chips – the kind that fat people eat because they absolutely have to have a snack on their diet – and Thea did not drop the hammer on me. What is up with that? Any time somebody requests false dieting snacks, they must, without question, be mocked. And Thea did not mock me for openly requesting false dieting chips. What is up with that?

It is different but the same from the “U.S. Rocker”:

Queens of the Stone Age
Disengage
Euclid Tavern
Rocktober 21, 1998

I did not know there was an opening act for this show until I got to the Euclid Tavern. I would have been there earlier but I fell into the black hole that is the life of Doug and made it to the show only minutes before Disengage's set began. I am sorry.

I like Disengage. They are a solid band with a tight sound. Their songs are good and groovy. It is several days after the show as I write this and the riffs of Disengage are still chugging through my head. This band is easily one of the more professional sounding outfits on the scene and I could easily see them taking their band to that ever illusive next level. I could also see Disengage being known as the sound of Cleveland. I have seen this group a number of times and I have never been disappointed. I would, however, like to see them thrash out once as their songs are primarily down tempo. A burst of blazing speed from Disengage every now and again would complete their package and then, look out universe.

The poorly named Queens of the Stone Age, basically Kyuss without singer John Garcia, took the stage next. I never was fortunate enough to see Kyuss live but am very familiar with theirs and Queens of the Stone Age's records for comparison's sake. Queens of the Stone Age is deliberately not as heavy as Kyuss. There songs have a garagey feel that is not as earthy as Kyuss. Queens of the Stone Age is more consciously artsy and certainly more rock - n - roll than the heavy metal bomb that was Kyuss. It is weird. Although not as produced as a Kyuss record, Queens of the Stone Age seem more deliberate and staged much like modern garage bands trying to be some sort of "thing" instead of rocking at what comes naturally.

Live, Queens of the Stone Age were much better than their records. Josh Homme's voice is a lot stronger in person and the songs were longer allowing for more guitar solo/noodle work that was the calling card of Kyuss. Also, Homme is easily one of the straightest looking dudes in rock. I would mistake him for a narc or family member of one of the opening bands had I not known what he looks like.

Queens of the Stone Age performed many songs that I recognized from their records well as a unit. They are a together band and seemed in tune to what the other was doing on stage - important. As enjoyable as this band was, I would recommend trying to get a little soul into the mix. Many of these heavy/stoner/sludge rock bands are too white. The need to get in touch with the rhythms of the black man in order to get some boogie in their music.

(1998)



Nebula
Red Giant
Nucleon
Euclid Tavern
October 26, 1998

As a fan a hard rock and a frequent patron of local music, I have seen Nucleon on several occasions. They are a band who plays the heavy/psych rock with many spacey overtones. The perfect combination of influences for a band, as far as I am concerned, is Black Sabbath and the Spacemen 3. Nucleon is well versed in the stylistic touchstones of both of these bands. I appreciate what Nucleon is trying to accomplish musically, think they have good songs and can feel their rock. I would make one recommendation to them, however: slow down. The riffs of Nucleon are great but 'a slower tempo might make them stand out more.

Red Giant is slow enough, that is for sure. This night's set opened with a couple of numbers from their latest record and then Red Giant proceeded to redefine sludge, attacking several of the longer songs from their first album. Woah, man. I stood in amazement at the immense volume blasting from the stage. If I hadn't gone half deaf years ago, I would have been seriously concerned for the health of my ears.

Having hopefully resolved the rotating bass player slot that has been a question for the last few months, Red Giant seem to be picking up steam with the latest addition to the group. He appears to have a genuine feel for the music - very important. Red Giant is an amazing band. At their worst, they are a talented Sabbath influenced hard rock band with enough flashy guitar pyrotechnics to make even the most jaded shredder take note. That is at their worst. At their best, their potent combination of volume, riffs, doom and space makes them one of the best bands in rock today.

Nebula had a tall order to fill, as far as I am concerned, following Red Giant and they rocked - no doubt about it.

Nebula features former members of Fu Manchu. Nebula sounds exactly like Fu Manchu - not necessarily a bad thing. They played several songs from their twelve inch. Everybody was into it. They were good.

That said, I did have a little bit of a problem with their whole thing. The sound and look of Nebula is deliberately dated and that is what is bothersome. There is nothing that I would hate more than to see some sort of seventies hard rock revival happen. I would puke at the sight of rampant bell bottoms. I do not want to see Blue Cheer have anymore of a following than they already have. In short, I do not want to see stoner/sludge rock turn into the next rockabilly, ska or swing.

I got a real vibe of some sort of fucked up nostalgia trip happening with this type of rock while watching Nebula. I don't want to see this turn into a retro fashion movement. We live in nineties. We love rock. We have got to put the two together.

(1998)

posted by Thea at 10:29 PM

September 13, 2002

Today was a sad day. It has taken me almost eight years to recover from the last time a me plus ten years left me behind at the office. Today, just when I was about fully recovered from the last time, it happened again. Chuck, who was almost definitely me plus ten years, left the office today for the last time today. He is not coming back. He spent his last days at the office pranking me and telling me to keep in touch. I will but you know it won’t be the same. Forty plus hours is a lot of time to spend just down the hall from somebody. Like the other guy who I worked with who was me plus ten years, I learned much from him, enjoyed a couple of years of friendship and now I will have to wait for almost another ten years before the pain goes away. Goodbye Chuck.

The only thing that might make me forget how sad I am is reading this column and remembering the time I met Black Sabbath. I met Black Sabbath. I also recant my criticisms of Nebula right here.


from the "CSU Cauldron"

The ultimate week of rock in Rockfreakingtober started off great. The Queens of the Stone Age/Disengage show was everything that I hoped it would be and so much more. The anticipation of more rock fueled my drive home from the show. I went to bed with my hands locked in the devil's horns and woke up the same way four hours later. Visions of Black Sabbath danced in my head while I slept. Things could not get any better for me.

The Black Sabbath autograph signing was awesome. My party of seven got to the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor an hour before the start of the event. A couple of us dutifully fell into the estimated 4,000 plus line. Two of my brothers in rock, Charles and Druggie Dougie, took off in search of some better connected peeps and those coveted guest passes. Scored. They got two passes from some people who will remain nameless but eternally appreciated and we proceeded to get out of line in order that we might abuse our privileges. We got to walk right into to the store a couple of times each. I felt bad for the people who had to stand in that cold wind for several hours waiting to meet the masters of reality. But not bad enough, if you know what I am saying, to keep from switching those two passes around us for an hour getting many items signed in the process.

What was it like to meet Black Sabbath? What was it like to stand in the presence of greatness? What was it like to hear Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi entertain stupid questions from starstruck fans with grace, kindness and genuine humbleness? What was it like to shake Bill Ward's hand and tell him that he was the reason that I play drums? What was it like to hear him say thank you? What was it like to watch Ozzy struggle with the concept of what planet he is on up close and in person?

I have to tell you, it was pretty cool. I was floored by the whole experience. I now own a signed copy of “Volume 4” (Warner Bros., 1972) a.k.a. the greatest album ever made and I have memories that will last a lifetime. I met Black Sabbath. I still can't believe that I am writing that.

The ultimate week of rock got better on the drive home. I got turned on to a new favorite record store, Ultrasound, in Mentor. They had a copy of the out of print “Come to Grief” (Century Media, 1994) LP by Grief that I have been looking for awhile. Bands do not get much slower, more angry or heavier than Grief. Check them out.

The bottom fell out Friday at school. That is the problem with taking four classes, working thirty hours a week and rocking out daily. It takes its toll on a body that is not a kid's anymore. I still have more energy than any person I know but it is fading. I did not go to the all Ohio rock off in Columbus because I was too tired. I know that is lame but that is the truth. I heard it was a good show from unbiased third parties so I will chance that it was.

It got worse on Saturday. I write for a free monthly, “U.S. Rocker”. I spent over four hours Saturday at the office writing my stuff for that paper. I went home for a nap and called one of the editors of that rag to find out if I was on the guest list for the Sepultura/Vision of Disorder/Earth Crisis show that night. He said that he was pretty sure that I was but was not certain. Like an idiot, I still went down to the Odeon in the flats on a Saturday for the show.

I fought my way through the W. 6th valet parking zone and found a free space near Tower City. I walked through the warehouse district and down the hill encountering many delightful drunken losers and young urban professional assholes along the way. A fan of humanity, I am not.

I was shut out at the door of the Odeon and missed the show. Somebody screwed up. I was not about to pay eighteen dollars for any show so I went home rock free. The part that really sucked, aside from being in the flats at all, was that my younger brother had dragged his kid all the way to my house in the middle of the little guy's night in order that my wife might watch him since my brother's wife is a night shift nurse. It was an incredible pain in the ass for nothing. I have yet to get to the bottom of this one. I am looking forward to some confrontation.

Sunday. No rest. No relaxation. No air guitar. Because I am a student, I had school work to do. Please wake me when I graduate. This is getting silly.

I was dragging ass all day yesterday. I moved in slow motion. Somehow, I made it to the Euclid Tavern for the Nebula/Red Giant show. I have seen Red Giant many times now and yet I am still amazed at how powerful this band is on stage. To say that they are deafening is as an understatement as saying that Big Billy Pork Chop the Rock - n - roll Fat Man is a little on the plump side. I do not think that there is a heavier band playing music today. They played all of their most bone crushing numbers in one big dirge and left me with my mouth agape. Can you hear that? It's my skull. Red Giant rocks.

Nebula, on the other hand, left me wondering aloud what is the point? On record, the band plays perfectly acceptable and quite enjoyable brand of seventies influenced hard rock. They are a good band live but their whole thing reeks of retro bullshit. I do not live in the past. I am all about the future. Do I think that rock – n - roll has a place in the future? Yes. I just can't stand it when music is reduced to some sort of half assed fashion statement. A lot of these so - called stoner rock bands are treading dangerously close to novelty act. Yesterday's rockabilly is today's swing revival is tomorrow's sludge rock movement and I am having no part of it. Forward ever. Backward never. Progress is what is all about. Tomorrow.

(1998)

posted by Thea at 7:47 PM

September 12, 2002

Real quick. I just got back from the Sleepy Kid gig at the Beachland Tavern. They were excellent. Sir Andrej debuted some new tunes that were killer. I was blown away by the first song of the evening. I will always be amazed that this guy keeps amazing me.

I was mocked by a dubious ruffian while running earlier tonight. I wanted to go into the difference between dubious ruffians and urban sophisticates but I don’t have the time. I will get it to it later, though. I do have time to say this: fuck you asshole. I will not be mocked by dubious ruffians.

from the "CSU Cauldron"

As far as human beings go, I am just OK. I realize my limitations and doubt that I will ever have serious impact or consequence on the world around me. I was not the best son growing up. I disappointed my parents more times than I care to think about. I am no genius as far as academics are concerned. I have been at the same job for over eight years because I am too lazy to do anything else. I will never be a captain of industry, that is for sure. As far as husbands go, I am a pain in the ass. My poor wife could write a book about living with a high maintenance man who needs constant attention. I don't have any friends. I don't reach out and touch anybody. When I finally meet my maker, what I am I going to say? What did I do with the one chance I had? It is shameful. I don't do much of anything.

I do have a ringer, though. If St. Peter asks me if I rocked, I have got it covered. Chris - a piece of shit human, a waste of carbon of carbon based matter, a customer, double zeros - did you rock? Why, yes, I did.

When it all comes down to nothing - I rocked. "He was not much of a person but, yeah, he did rock," they will say at my funeral. I can look myself in the eyes and know that I rock. That is something and, just think, that might be my only thing.

To illustrate, this is a preview of my week - the ultimate week of rock. I write my stuff every Tuesday morning so this might be out of sync with you reading this. I am sure you can put it together. Note: they don't call it Rocktober for nothing.

Tues. Rocktober 20. Black Sabbath – “Reunion” (Epic). My second favorite band of all time releases this double live concert record today. I woke this morning at 0600 and commenced rocking at top volume. Take that asshole neighbors. Sorry honey. The record is one show, Dec. 5, 1997. It was the first time that all four original members of Sabbath have performed a full set in nearly twenty years. The record is supposed to be a warts and all document of this historic event. The performances are what I would expect from this group of golden agers. Ozzy used a teleprompter to help with lyrics and drummer Bill Ward (my hero) has lost some of his magic touch. The set also features two new studio numbers that are both pretty rocking. I only hope that I can keep it up like Black Sabbath when I am that old. Ask this question. Do I really need to hear another version of "Iron Man"? If you answered no, stop reading this because we are wasting our time.

Wed. Rocktober 21. The dudes formerly known as Kyuss are making their Cleveland debut at the Euclid Tavern tonight. Queens of the Stone Age (bad name/ good band) just released their self titled debut album last week on Stone Gossard's Loosegroove Records. Queens of the Stone Age are not as heavy or monolithic as Kyuss and guitarist Josh Homme does not have the voice of John Garcia. His guitar playing may suffer a little because of his attention to additional vocal chores but the record is still pretty kick ass. It rocks in more of a psychedelic fashion and still gets somewhat heavy. This show should be good with local rockers Disengage opening the evening.

Thurs. Rocktober 22. Black Sabbath will be at the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor signing autographs. Let me repeat that. Black Sabbath will be at the Great Lakes Mall in Mentor signing autographs. I am going to meet Black Sabbath and then I will be, like Biggie, ready to die.

Fri. Rocktober 23. The best all - Ohio gig of the year takes place tonight at Bernie's Bagels and Distillery in Columbus. Cleveland's the Revelers and Quazimodo will team up with the Greenhorns from Cincinnati and rock the Buckeye state capitol. I am making close to my hundredth trip down 1﷓71 for what promises to be a great show. These rock – n- -roll purists are like the last hope for rock – n - roll in this country. When these bands go, so will the chance that rock will ever rise again. It's only a two hour drive for the rock - n - roll faithful.

Sat. Rocktober 24. Roadrunner Records is sending three of its heaviest acts on the road to support their recent releases. Vision of Disorder, Earth Crisis and Sepultura will be at flats watering hole (I am stressing the word hole) the Odeon for a evening of heavy rock. I always regret going down to the flats on a weekend as I hate people. This night will probably be no different but this bill is too strong to pass up because of an aggravating crowd. Wish me luck and pray that I leave the gun at home.

Sun. Rocktober 25. Rest. Relaxation. Air guitar practice.

Mon. Rocktober 26. Red Giant. Euclid Tavern. Red Giant is opening up for Nebula who feature two former members of Fu Manchu. “Let it Burn” (Tee Pee Records) is the rocking debut ep from Nebula. This outfit is heading in more of a classic rock direction while the aforementioned Fu Manchu is trying to update stoner rock for the nineties. Nebula wins of the two but Red Giant crushes both of them. The last time that Nebula and Red Giant played together a few months ago, I left before Nebula's set because I was convinced that any effort that they made to outrock Red Giant would be wrought with futility. I am going to force myself to stay for Nebula this time because their record is pretty strong but I am not holding my breath.

Next week: the ultimate week of rock in the past tense.

(1998)




posted by Thea at 11:58 PM

September 11, 2002

My life is a walk on the fine line between an overwhelming blinding cynicism and a passionate desire to brutally mock any earnestness or emotion that is not mine. Can you see where September 11th would be a tough day for me? It is not easy to bite your tongue all day long. Trust me. I did it – almost.

I used to care much more about music than I do now. This column from the “CSU Cauldron” reflects what I was trying to do with my music writing when I cared about music and music writing.

Burning Witch – “Towers...” - LP (Slap A Ham. P.O. Box 420843. San Francisco, CA 94142). This is a vinyl only album with four songs. The songs are all tuneless dirges. Burning Witch's nonmusical doom can be compared to Grief and Corrupted. There is hardly an ounce of blues in this music. It is post hardcore slowed down to where it is barely moving at all with a ton of screaming on top of it. Rocks.

Bob Dylan – “Live 1966 - The Bootleg Series Volume 4. The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert” - 2XCD (Columbia). Disc one of this set is all acoustic. The more famous disc two is an electric set by Mr. Dylan and a group that would be soon known as the Band. Mr. Dylan had started to incorporate rock - n - roll into his act in 1965. This May 17, 1966 show was part of a British tour that was met by a loud opposition from his purist folky fan base. Columbia Records was on hand to tape this show and the performance was bootlegged shortly thereafter. The bootlegger mistakenly labeled the illicit record as a concert from Royal Albert Hall - thus the name. My bootlegged copy of this show is called "Bob Dylan and the Hawks Play Fucking Loud" based on a command that Mr. Dylan makes to the formerly named Hawks to play "fucking loud" to silence the protesters. Mr. Dylan is also audibly called "Judas" during the electric set. This is probably one of the more historically significant rock records of all time. Rock –-n- - roll, for better or, more probably worse, became a serious art form thanks to Mr. Dylan's 1965 - 1966 output. Rocks.

Electric Wizard - "Supercoven" b/w "Burnout" - 12"ep (Bad Acid Records. P.O. Box 3123. Poole. BH 17 9YU. England). This over thirty minute single finds Electric Wizard shying away from the blatant Black Sabbath rip off to a more droning psychedelic mix. They are still sufficiently heavy and the record is worth the nearly twenty bucks I had to pay for it as an import. Don't tell my wife. Rocks.

Eric B. and Rakim – “Paid in Full: The Platinum Edition” - 2XCD (4th & B'way/Island). This is a reissue of Eric B. and Rakim's 1987 classic debut. This record should be retitled Eighties Rap 101. These lessons need to be learned by any would be hip hopper. In addition to the original album, you get a nicely annotated bonus disc of all of the British and American remixes. There are two mixes of "Move the Crowd" and the title track plus three mixes of "I Know You Got Soul". I do have soul. I do. Rocks.

Fu Manchu – “Return to Earth 91 – 93” - LP (Elastic Records. P.O. Box 17598. Anaheim, CA 92817). This album is album is a cheapo repackaging of all of the tracks that Fu Manchu recorded for this tiny label. All but one of the songs is easy to get on singles that are still in print. Elastic must need the money. This collection predates any of Fu Manchu's albums which is to say - before they got real good. These songs represent a band that was still a work in progress. The music is still rocking but these songs are not why Fu Manchu is the leader of the new doom movement. Buy this to listen to the band crawl before they walked. Rocks.

Meshuggah – “Choasphere” - CD (Nuclear Blast. P.O. Box 43618. Philadelphia, PA 19106). A confusing very fast death metal record. As soon as I would catch a groove, the record would do an 180 degree turn. I could not get into this. The record is too hectic. Does not rock.
Metallica - “Garage, Inc.” - 2XCD (Elektra). It is official. Metallica has changed its name to MainstreamRockica. Disc two of this set is the only one you need to worry about. It contains all of the covers that Metallica ever did - mostly import B - sides and the long out of print $5.98 e.p. “Garage Days Rerevisited” (Elektra, 1987). The addition of four live Motorhead covers make this disc almost passable to the longtime fan who has everything. It, at least, is a complete collection on one disc. Disc one is a horrific collection of new covers. MainstreamRockica covers Bob Seger's "Turn the Page" - quite possibly the worst song ever, on this disc. They also did a cover of Black Sabbath's "Sabra Cadabra" that is so bad that I was forced into cleaning my ears out with Drano after one listen. Does not rock.

Method Man – “Tical 2000: Judgment Day” - CD (Def Jam). This record, which has been delayed for well over a year, finally saw the light of day. Method Man has the voice. The record is good and I was temporarily able to put aside my tiredness of the RZA sound to enjoy this it. I listened to it while typing stuff for school and stopped a few times in mid sentence to do the Cabbage Patch in my chair. Rocks.

DJ Nabs – “In the Lab with DJ Nabs - The Live Album” - CD (Columbia). With this record, you get the experience of the club without the cigarette smoke in your eyes. Unlike most DJ records that try to create a different composition from several vinyl sources, this is strictly a mix record for you to dance along at home. DJ Nabs, formerly the DJ for Kris Kross, mixes several old school records including "I Know You Got Soul" and "Make the Music With Your Mouth Biz" with ample toasts by Big Daddy Kane, Puffy and Kurtis Blow. This record is pointless but fun. Rocks.

DJ Qbert – “Wave Twisters” - 2XLP (Wave Twisters Fan Club. P.O. Box 280092. San Francisco, CA 94128). Unlike the Nabs record, this is experimental turntable work - not just dance tracks. I am not going to discuss the merits of either. This record contains many unidentifiable sampled records. Some of the tracks are kicking head bouncers and others are just plain weird space age noise beats. The record, as well as the M.O. of the entire Invisibl Skratch Picklz crew of which Qbert is a member, has a science fiction bend that I find a little goofy. Rocks.

Raise Hell – “Holy Target” - CD (Nuclear Blast). I am growling this review like the singer of a death metal group. Indistinguishable/No difference from other/Death metal bands/Picture of band/Shirtless/Covered in blood/They would kill you in Florida/Raise Hell are posers/This record stinks/Nuclear Blast/How the mighty have fallen. Does not rock.

Roachpowder “Viejo Diablo” - CD (The Music Cartel. 106 West 32nd Street, 3rd Floor. New York, NY 10001). This record is yet another twist of the new doom. I love this stuff. The record was recorded by Thomas Skogsberg at Sunlight Studios in Stockholm Sweden. His previous work includes awesome records by the Entombed and the Hellacopters. This guy knows how to make a record rock. The production, unlike most metal records, is totally raw and rocking. Metal dudes are a gearhead bunch. They buy every recording gadget they can get their hands on and load the production of their records with effects, slicking up the sound and ruining the record. Skogsberg, on the other hand, records the pure sound of the instruments capturing the live sound of the band on tape. When the guitarist solos, the rhythm guitar track drops out leaving the booming bass alone as you would hear in reality. Most of the songs on “Viejo Diablo” sound like a really heavy Mudhoney. Roachpowder sound like a straight metal band going doom as opposed to majority of the current crop in this genre who are punkers trying to get slow and heavy. Rocks.

Pete Rock – “Soul Survivor - CD (Loud/RCA). The single off of this record, "Tru Master" (previously reviewed here), is the best track off of this album and that song is not as good as "Go with the Flow" from Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth's debut ep, “All Souled Out” (Elektra, 1991) or "The World is Yours" from Nas' Illmatic (Columbia, 1994). This record has vocals by around twenty rappers. You do the math. There is no clear vision on this record. I liked it better the second time around but not enough to like it. Does not rock.

RZA - “As Bobby Digital” - CD (Gee Street/V2). A single vision is not this record's problem. The problem is that the vision is blurry or something. The production of this record, the scarcest of beats with many different electro keyboard noises, is great. RZA, like me, is all about the future. The problem is that he stole too many pages from the book of Kool Keith. This record could be called Dr. Octagon part two. RZA's rhymes are fast paced dirty ditties. His monotonous drawl got on my nerves. He said "Bobby Digital" seven million times. This is not the official RZA solo debut and it is a pleasant break from the Wu - tang's typical apocalyptic verses. Unfortunately, the Bobby Digital character (callous playboy) has been done to death Does not rock.

Rob Swift - "The Ablist" b/w "All That Scratching" - 12"ep (Asphodel Ltd. P.O. Box 51, Chelsea Station. New York, NY 10113). This DJ record is the perfect mix of the Nabs style and the Qbert style. It is experimental and adventurous without losing the move the butt factor. Rocks.

Vader – “Reborn in Chaos” - CD (Pavement Music. P.O. Box 50550. Phoenix, AZ 85076). An excellent reissue of Vader's first two eps from 1989, "Necrolust", and 1990, "Morbid Reich". Is it any good? Three words: Polish death metal. Rocks.

(1998)

posted by Thea at 10:21 PM

September 10, 2002

Yesterday, I wrote a haiku about the illusion of freedom. It was good – damn good. Today, I started a longish poem about my dreams of a solid middle class life. The dreams involve snacking at will and watching as much sports on television as my job where I wear a short sleeve shirt and a tie will allow. I have dreams. They are not too complex and many of them contradict themselves in their simplicity. I have many dreams. One of which is to never hear the song “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor again. Or maybe just a dream of a single day where I don’t have to hear the song “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. I dare to dream that dream but, alas, that dream was not to come true today for I heard the song “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor while washing the dishes. Perhaps tomorrow. I can dream, damn it. And I will dream. I think that this poem I am writing about my solid middle class dreams is going to be nails. I like to write poems, Ernie. Yeah? Writing poems makes me feel good.

from the "CSU Cauldron"

"There is a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can't take part; that you can't even passively take part, and you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people that own it, that unless you're free, the machines will be prevented from working at all." - Mario Savio 12/2/64.

This statement was made by one of the leaders of the free speech movement at Berkeley. I became hip to this quote while taking Prof. Chas Smith's Roots of Rock and Soul class this summer. The class is an excellent introduction to all things rocking and how they relate to the whole of contemporary thought. Prof. Smith, a long time Cleveland rocker who was in the Radio Alarm Clocks, played keyboards in the Pagans and is currently in Einstein's Secret Orchestra, is very enthusiastic about the subject of rock and a good teacher. He spends a good amount of class time trying to introduce today's student to some alternative ideas. Most of the philosophy that Prof. Smith kicked was rooted in the sixties and the Woodstock era. I had a difficult time relating to most of the spiels that we watched on videos in the class since they were primarily delivered by hippies. Hippies, beatniks and freedom rockers do not have much credibility in my book. I have a difficult time taking anybody who uses the word "man" so much seriously.

"Hey, man, if we just turn on the pigs than maybe we can all groove together," said the pothead as I kicked him in the teeth, bumming his mellow.

Of course, most of the ideas that were cooked up over bong hits during the summer of love are certainly valid. I just have a problem with the source, not the content, of the message. That was until I saw Mario Savio step up to the mic. Here was a young man, dressed in a suit and tie, speaking with such passion and conviction, free of slang, that chills went up my spine. Those words had a more powerful effect on me than any other that I have heard in all my years of college.

We are all gears in the same horrible machine. This country is so mired in bullshit that I wince in pain every time that someone mentions the state of the nation. I have done a good job hiding my head in the sand where all of the mess of the United States is concerned but this Clinton fiasco has caused me to pull my head out for a minute and look around. What is wrong with America? How can this man call himself a leader? Why aren't we raiding the White House? I hardly think that marital infidelity is such a huge issue these days but how can any of us sit by passively while a man with almost zero integrity perches in the highest office in this land. What makes me even more sick is how forgiving the rest of the power Democrats have been. If I were a congressman, I would hang Bill Clinton out to dry. The only problem is that nobody wants to stick their neck out for fear that their own screwing around will come to light. Mr. Clinton, you have been caught in a lie. Stop pretending that you are innocent. That is more disgraceful than any lie you could ever deliver.

We are all guilty of letting ourselves be pushed around by the same evil system. This system smashes us down on a daily basis and we say thank you. I am ashamed that I have let myself be led by the nose for so long. The promise of a summer home at Put - in - Bay and a RV to drive me there is not enough for me to take it anymore. The Clinton/Lewinsky affair is just one example of the constant untruth of the system come to light. I am threw being lied to and every day that I let myself be controlled by the system is another day of living a life that is nothing more than a giant lie. I am going to throw my body on the gears of this corrupt machine. I am going to destroy the machine or die trying.

(I apologize for being so angry this column. Sometimes even the most lighthearted of entertainers get heavy for a minute.)

Mario Savio's speech can be heard as a lead - in sample to the title track of Phobia's “Means of Existence” (Slap A Ham. P.O. Box 420843. San Francisco, CA 94142 - 0843). I still get chills each time I listen to it. The music on the album is the latest platter of extreme hardcore from the purveyors of the forest in "power violence", Slap A Ham Records. If you like hardcore lightening fast, you can not go wrong with any release on Slap A Ham. Most of the bands on this label play a little slower than pure white noise. Phobia is no different.

“Means of Existence” is the soundtrack to my most antiestablishment days. Songs like "Rape, Theft, Murder" - sample lyric: "Rape, theft, murder/ There's your American Dream" and "State and Enemy" - clue: they are the same, are just a couple of the blasts of anger that will shred the speakers of the stereo in your den or rec room.

Phobia, very fast and intense, play non - metal hardcore with a singer who has mastered both the guttural growl and the blood curdling scream. The music is good and the Savio's speech should be heard at least once so buy this record or take Prof Smith's class.

Also, Earth Crisis will be playing at the Euclid Tavern this Wednesday, Sept. 23 in support of their new album, “Breed the Killers” (Roadrunner Records. 536 Broadway. New York, NY 10012.) The album is Earth Crisis' first after putting out many records on the popular Victory label. “Breed the Killers” is politically bent hardcore of the metal variety that will not disappoint fans of the genre. The record is a little more mainstream sounding than Earth Crisis' previous efforts with less harsh vocals and more metal clichés but it is still enjoyable.

(1998)

posted by Thea at 9:35 PM

September 8, 2002

This is a favorite review of mine from the “U.S. Rocker”. It is a loving tribute to the death of the word longhair. It was edited from the original as published and the original is long lost. I have a few more “U.S. Rocker” reviews to BLOG. I know that there was more than what was BLOGGED but this is all I have without going to the permanent archives that are sealed for posterity and, therefore, too much of a hassle to get at – maybe my wife will BLOG the lost reviews after I am dead. Yeah. I wish.

I am always working in order that I will have nothing to do so I can stop working.

Warrior
Ancient Future
Metal Blade Records.

I puzzled over the title “Ancient Future” for several days before listening to this record. “Ancient Future”? That is like saying modern past or jumbo shrimp. It don’t make no sense. I think that it must be some sort of riddle or something. Hopefully, the recorded contents of the CD will reveal the answer because I am so confused.

The only thing keeping Warrior from being dismissed as a lame ass cock rock band is the subject matter of their lyrics. Warrior sings about battles, honor, fighting, power and riding. The guys in Warrior are a bunch of long hairs from L.A. who chose to ignore the oft-mentioned “out on the streets” or “little girl hustling” type songs that Poison and Fashion Police popularized in the eighties for some tough guy hard rock/classic metal. They mention Vietnam in a couple of songs that also feature the Nordic scream segue-into bitching guitar solo. Manowar, in a no-holds barred, anything goes death match, would certainly kick the shit out of Warrior.

I have no idea who would buy this record. Do guys who play Dungeons and Dragons listen to epic symphonic power metal? Maybe Rush fans? This record is weird, mystic, fantasy metal that is out of step with rest of the world by at least a decade but doesn’t seem to fall into the hypertechnical wankery that seems to have a following. If you bought this record, contact me c/o the “U.S. Rocker” so that we can party. As a postmodern ironist, I can appreciate this album on many levels, but I do need some input from the fan/consumer, so get in touch.

The title track to “Ancient Future”, in perhaps one of the cruelest jokes played out on record, is an instrumental; so I still don’t know what that title means. Somebody, help me, please.

(1998)


posted by Thea at 3:49 PM