3.31.2004

Is there a chance of us getting together?

I'm sure some of you out there remember the band Braid. Some may remember but never listened because they dismissed Braid as just another emo band. That would've been easy, because their fans were typical emo kids for the most part. I had the good fortune of having a former roommate who was a fan, and he sat me down and made me listen to their album "Frame and Canvas." This was interesting. They used different instrumentation like trumpets, they jumped all over the place with time signatures (some songs are completely arhythmic, and the phrasing of vocals was really different). It slowly became obvious that this band was unfortunately pigeonholed as emo. So, I've established that Braid was progressive for it's genre. Hell, they were progressive for any genre. The band broke up a few years ago and mainly split into two different bands: Hey Mercedes and the Firebird Band. Hey Mercedes kept going on in a direction very similar to Braid. However, the Firebird Band was different. If any of you out there have heard "Roses in the Car" from Braid, you'll have a better understanding of the Firebird Band's sound. It's mainly Chris Broach. Lots of drum machine sounds, sequencers, dirty analog synth, and regular band sounds. Broach started up Lucid Records, which is where he releases all of his various projects (and other bands). Most recently, he's heavily involved with the new Firebird Band album. He's also on L'Spaerow, Firebird Suite/Project, and Life at Sea, all available through Lucid Records. It sounds typical from me these days, but I'm at a loss to describe these bands. They're all logical progressions from Braid. Although Braid is reuniting for a tour this year, but I don't think they're recording anything new. The Lucid Records discography is all loosely linked by Chris Broach's music mentality. He's not in all of the bands, but he's involved. What's important is that all of these bands are good, and you'll especially feel that way if you were a fan of the more downbeat, less hyper stuff from Braid. Life at Sea, one of Chris' many bands is playing tonight at Small's in Detroit. Go check it out. Doors are at 8pm.

lips and whiskey kisses

3.28.2004

The Blue Tide

Today, while having brunch with my friend Tony, I heard about a new psychoactive drug. I've always been fascinated with drug culture, and I'll admit, I've tried a few things but nothing too heavy. This one does, however, intrigue me. Tony said it's supposed to be concentrated sage, but I found that it's something different. It's latin name is Salvia Divinorum. This is meant to be purely a meditative and spiritual drug, not recreational. I went to the information site, Sage Wisdom, where there is plenty of info for those who are interested. Apparently, the drug can be taken in a variety of ways, including smoking the leaves, chewing fresh leaves (the preferred method), and ingesting a liquid made from the leaves.

When Tony was telling me about it, all I could think of was when William Burroughs wrote about being in the Amazon ("The Yage Letters"), and encountering a tribe of natives who took a drug to achieve spiritual enlightenment. The drug is commonly known as Yage, but a more proper name is ayahuasca. The stories surrounding both drugs are similar, involving shamans and healing and divination rituals. In "Deposition: a Testimony Concerning a Sickness," Burroughs likened it to Soma, or the Blue Tide, which is a somewhat mythical psychoactive drug that has been written about in many ancient Vedic texts (Hindu, Krishna).

So, Tony and I were discussing this, because, damn, is it interesting. For most users, the main effects of the drug (the Salvia Divinorum) only last for about 15 minutes, and the onset is quick. According to the website, after the first fifteen minutes, most users still feel some effects of mood relaxation and extra-sensual perception for a few hours. Some feel these after-effects for days. So, what would it be like to have an insanely intense trip that only lasts for fifteen minutes? Most LSD trips last for 12 hours, and many users are able to 'keep it together' while tripping, because the effects aren't too intense. Supposedly, Salvia provides complete detachment from self for these fifteen minutes. Imagine that: complete, and total detachment. Would it be like sleep-walking? Would your unconscious mind make you want to get up and go somewhere, or get in a car, and try driving? Almost everything that Timothy Leary has written about 'experimenting' with LSD involved very strong and high doses (with the intent of spiritual and introspective enlightenment) recommended a 'spirit guide', someone who's there to keep you focused. The underlying fact is that the spirit guide was also there to keep you from hurting yourself. It's like being the one person at the party who isn't tripping and has to talk someone down from a bad trip. Yeah, I've been there (the one who isn't tripping), and it's not easy. Now, if a typical acid trip lasts for twelve hours, imagine all of that packed into fifteen minutes. That means that a Salvia trip could be twenty -four times more intense than any acid trip!

I think it's important to consider that the point of consuming drugs like Salvia is for spiritual enlightenment, and if you are good at focusing your mind and body, you probably don't need it. Seek out a method for meditation and try that first. Drugs like these are not regulated by the FDA, and are not to be considered completely safe, regardless of all the positive reviews available at Sage Wisdom.

*NOTE: for some extra-curricular reading, go here to read "Deposition: Testimony Concerning a Sickness." In later editions of "Naked Lunch," this was tacked on to the end of the book as a prologue. It definitely helps one understand a little more about heroin, and the "algebra of need," as Burroughs called it.


"the face of evil is always the face of total need"

Hearts of Oak

A few days ago, I wrote about the Ted Leo & the Pharmacists show at the Magic Stick (4.24.04). I was at a loss to truly give a good definition of their sound. I said earlier that they sound a bit like the Jam meets late Stiff Little Fingers meets early Wire. Let's take Wire out of the equation. I don't know what I was thinking. The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers (all time periods of both bands) are definitely touchstones, but something else is at work here. I've had a few days to really let Ted's latest album sink in. The night of the show I bought his latest album, "Hearts of Oak." Again, this came highly recommended, which is why I bought it. I certainly wasn't let down. I bought the CD before I even saw the show. After the show I was very happy because I could listen to this great artist any time. I'm still at a loss to explain his sound. Suppose that the Jam's Paul Weller didn't go on to release many albums of rootsy blue-eyed soul and blues. Suppose that instead he made pop records. Then, suppose that the Stiff Little Fingers didn't fizzle out in the mid '80s. That brings us closer to explaining Ted's sound. At the show, the band's last song was a smokin' cover of "Suspect Device," the Stiff Little Fingers' first single from 1979. The cover was apt, considering that while I was blown away by the set, the sound of Ted Leo & the Pharmacists is a suspect device. I can't put my finger on it, but this is one time where I don't have to, I just know it's good. Go check it out.

you didn't think they could hate ya, now did ya?

3.27.2004

Agile, Mobile, Hostile

Last night Andre Williams played the Magic Stick. Not familiar? Andre Williams is a dirty old man. Seriously. He's probably in his '70s. While he is from the South, he recorded quite a few singles for Fortune Records (Detroit) in the '50s. For those of you who don't know, the Detroit Cobras' first record probably would not have been what it was if it wasn't for the early singles from Detroit's own Fortune Records. Fortune was releasing r'n'b singles back when r'n'b was really just dirty soulful rock n' roll. Where did r'n'b go wrong? I don't know, that's for another post (actually, I do know, but I'm not telling you). Back to the story. Andre had some success in the '50s and '60s, but his music was not radio-friendly for the most part, so he faded into the proverbial obscurity. For most of the '70s and '80s, he spent his time as a pimp, hustler, and a dealer. At some point he was homeless, too. Due to the popularity of the Detroit Cobras' first album and Gories-style garage, he found new success. He released an album with Danny Dollrod (Gories, Demolition Doll Rods) and Mick Collins (Gories, Dirtbombs) a few years ago. Of course, many of Detroit's garage rock elite were on this record. It was released by In the Red records (Detroit-lovin' Californians). The record was called "Silky," and appropriately had a woman's naked backside (Margaret Dollrod, I think) with a wrinkly-African-American man's hand reaching out to hold the cheeks. Yes, that's Andre. Some of the highlights from this album include "Agile, Mobile, Hostile," "I Wanna Be Your Favorite Pair of Pajamas," which is my favorite, and "Pussy Stank." Yes, he is a dirty old man. So, last night, he had a full five-piece band who were all dressed up in suits. The Man himself was wearing some sort of military officer's jacket. He looked slick. He was also very agile in a rock n' roll kinda way, considering his age. At some point he asked all the men in the audience to raise their hand if they like pussy. It was funny to see the guys who were with their girlfriends sheepishly raise their hands, or not raise their hands at all. All of the hits were taken care of, and the crowd was good and enthusiastic. I missed the opening band, the Peelers, but I bought the CD, and it's good in a dirty rock'n' roll kinda way. The second band was Detroit's very own Cyril Lords, who played a rockin' set as usual. It's too bad the crowd was a bit small, but that's to be expected when you have the Sights and the Waxwings playing a show elsewhere...

I wanna be your favorite pair of pajamas

This is the end, my only friend, the end

In our alienated and isolated society, there are streets we drive on everyday without really knowing where they go. Is there a busy avenue you drive everyday, but have no idea where it begins or ends? In Detroit, there are several main streets. I know that Michigan Avenue starts downtown, and ends in Chicago. I'll save that roadtrip for another day. Gratiot Ave starts downtown, and ends in Marysville, MI, about 50 miles north of Detroit and less than a mile from the house where I grew up. But, what about Woodward? Woodward Avenue was the first paved highway in America. Detroit's east and west sides are divided by this street. All Detroiters know that Woodward originates at Jefferson Ave in downtown Detroit, but where does it go? Today, my friend Naheed and I set out on a quest to find out. When going north on Woodward (from my house), you first pass through Highland Park, then Detroit again, then Ferndale, then Royal Oak, then Birmingham, then Bloomfield Hills, then Pontiac. At some point in Pontiac, we saw a sign that told us we were on the business loop of highway 24. We stayed on it and didn't stray. We followed all signs to stay on Woodward. Somewhere out past Pontiac, I saw a coney island called "Bloomfield Coney Island." I asked Naheed, are we still in Pontiac? Where are we? She wasn't sure. So, we keep driving, and the road starts getting kinda hilly. Suddenly, I see a sign for Hickory Lake road, then I see Long Lake Rd. I said, "that's weird, we crossed those streets earlier." Then I saw the entrance for Cranbrook. We had already been there! Somewhere in Pontiac, Woodward loops around, and takes you south again. Apparently. I'm not really sure. All I know is, all of a sudden, we were back in Bloomfield Hills, then Birmingham, and we were going south. We were hoping for something revelatory. We were hoping that Woodward would take us somewhere we hadn't gone before. Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

Pontiac sucks

3.26.2004

It's Time to Testify

This is the first in the series Adventures in Rock, which will not be told in chronological order.

Many of you may not realize this, but there is a fervent and impassioned rock and roll scene in Scandinavia. Especially in Norway and Sweden. I'm not talking about that black metal bullshit, I'm talkin' 'bout real balls to the wall rock n roll. The standouts are the Hellacopters, Gluecifer, Turbonegro, the Flaming Sideburns, and the Backyard Babies.

A few years ago, my roommate Mike and our friend Eli and I went on a road trip to Chicago to see Gluecifer play. At that time, they had only played a handful of shows in America, and this tour wasn't going to Detroit. Of course we were driving five hours to see them. Why wouldn't we? Mike had just gotten a 'new' car. New to him, anyway. It was a late '80s Buick sedan. I think at least two hours of the trip on 94 involved us going 80 MPH in a blinding rainstorm. I still don't know how we're alive. But we got there in record time, so that's a good thing.

We went straight to the neighborhood of the show. It was at the second Lounge Ax, which was on Lincoln (it has closed since then)(this one was owned by Jeff Tweedy's wife). Our first act while in Chicago on that trip was to go sit down in a bar and have a beer (at 4pm). This set the tone for the whole night. We went and found a hotel, then walked back up to the area where the venue was. The other bands playing that night were the Gaza Strippers and Easy Action. Luckily, Easy Action are from Detroit, and Eli knows Harold, so we found him, and got on the guest list. Then we went in search of more pre-show drinks. If you've ever been there, you know the bars in Lincoln Park in Chicago are lame. Sports bars, all of 'em. We finally picked a lesser of ten evils, and walked into some bar that was all about U of M sports. Then we ran into two acquaintances from Detroit.

Surprise, surprise, we actually know these women. Becky and Jill were regulars at the Garden Bowl, where Mike and I worked at the time. So, we eventually left that bar together and went back to Lounge Ax. That was the night that I learned how much Chicagoans like Maker's Mark bourbon.

(most bars have a 'well' where they keep the most popular liquors like Jack Daniels and Absolut and then also the really cheap liquors - in Chicago, Maker's Mark is in that well. It's not like that in Detroit)

I quickly learned that just like any other rock n' roll bar I've been to, tipping well on your first few drinks will help you greatly in your not too distant future. Mike and Eli loaded up on Labatt's Blue, while I started in on the Maker's and Coke. Lounge Ax was a really cool bar. It was long with the bar running along the side. Across from the bar, there was an elevated area that had nasty couches (where of course you end up sprawled later when you're too drunk to care). The very end of the room had the stage and an area in front of it. While waiting for the show to start, we met three guys who were all wearing the same Hellacopters T-shirt. They drove in from Phoenix! Apparently, they were following the band for a few shows, because Gluecifer wasn't playing many dates in the West.

That night, Easy Action put on one of the best shows I've ever seen from them. Covers included "If There Is Something" from Roxy Music and "Desperado" from Alice Cooper. Singer John Brannon sings with an effects pedal on his mic, so he sounds menacing as hell. He sounds like pure evil, in fact. The Gaza Strippers played next, they were alright that night, but I've seen better shows from them since then. During their set, I stepped outside (by this time, I probably had about a pint and a half of bourbon in me). Outside, I met Steve Albini (Big Black, Shellac) and David Yow (Jesus Lizard, Scratch Acid) who were wondering what this Gluecifer thing was all about. I wanted to tell them, but I felt that my inebriation would hinder me from bringing forth my occasional bouts of eloquence regarding music.

Gluecifer comes onstage finally. Mike and Eli are double-fisted with Labatt's Blue, I've got my Maker's and Coke. All is right with the world. They go through all the hits, everyone's happy. Yes, they have hits, as far as fanboys like us are concerned. After what seems like only a few songs, but was actually over an hour, they finish up. The Lounge Ax was a 3am bar. So...Jill and Becky talk us into going to Delilah's with them, which is also a 3am bar. Keep in mind at this time it's only about 2:30am. Eli and I were all about it, but Mike was tired. For reasons still unknown to the five of us, a decision was made that Mike will drive. This was Mike's first time in Chicago. He was also so drunk he could barely talk. The rest of us were in no better shape, but we had been to Chicago before. So, he drives, and we make it to Delilah's, which wasn't too bad, because it's just up the street from Lounge Ax.

It seemed like we were only there for a few minutes before they were yelling out last call (okay, it was only a few minutes). Mike and Eli and I were told by the girls that this place was a lot like the Garden Bowl in Detroit. More like it wished it was. It was all perfect and clean looking. All of the people looked like they just stepped outta Hot Topic at the mall. I didn't like it all that much. So, eventually we left.

Yet again, Mike is charged with driving. I have no idea what bar we were trying to find, but apparently, it was downtown and open til 4am. We drove around forever. Totally lost. Asked a few people walking by if they knew where this place was. No one knew, Mike was getting pissed, everyone was yelling. Looking back it was really funny, but no one was laughing then. Finally, we find something and it's down in a basement. Of course it had a wide staircase of very short steps going down to the basement where this bar was. I don't know what it was, but there was a wedding party of some sort going on, and one wall was all mirrors, so in my severly intoxicated state, the room seemed a lot bigger than it really was. I remember the last drink I ordered was a Jim Beam and Coke and I looked at my watch which said 4:30am. Where the hell were we? What was going on? How was I ordering a drink long after the legal last call time? I don't know.

Like every other rock n' roll roadtrip I've been on, I spent a minimum of time in the hotel. I don't even know how or if I slept or how I got up in time for checkout at noon. All I know is that I witnessed one savage night of rock 'n' roll debauchery.


I'm a rock n roll asshole...

I'm a Lazy Leech



3.25.2004

Respect the Rock, America!

Coming soon, adventures in rock 'n' roll, the series. Watch out for it!

wait, where are we going?

Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?

Tonight, for the first time, I saw Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. My friend Amy is a big fan, and I trust her, so I went and checked it out. I know that he was the singer for Chisel, and I kinda liked them, so I thought, hey, why not? Maybe I'll like it. Like it, I did. They had a great opener, too. It was Saturday Looks Good to Me, from Ann Arbor. I swear, they get better every time with their Motown meets the Beach Boys sound. Originally, Radio 4 was supposed to also play, but they had to cancel their tour. I would've liked to have seen them, but I'll deal with it. The show was all ages, and generally those are annoying, but this one wasn't too bad. Lots of cute girls with Xs on their hands. Also lots of local musical luminaries at the show. I saw members of Thunderbirds Are Now!, esQuire, Ko of Ko and the Knockouts, members of the Tiny Steps, at least one former drummer from the Sights, a former guitarist from Bluesong, and I'm sure there were more who I didn't see or recognize. By now, yr prob'ly asking "how was the band?!?" I'll tell you. They were fucking great. I don't know how to explain these guys, but that's why I'm writing this, so I guess I'll have to. Imagine the Jam meets Stiff Little Fingers meets early Wire. That's the closest I can come to a description of Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. They're fun, Ted was sweatin' his arse off, and the bass player's white-boy 'fro had a purple halo of stage-lighting. Rock and roll.

first to finish, last to start

3.24.2004

Hips, Tits, Lips, & Power

Knowing me, and a title like that, you're probably expecting a rant about women and my problems with them, right? Sorry, I ain't going there today. Some other time. This is something different.

This morning, I was going through some CDs, trying to find something to listen to in the car, and at the office. I picked up "The Truth Will Out" from Pigface. It's a live record with some of their earlier 'hits' on it. Pigface doesn't really have any hit songs in the traditional sense. You'll never see "Sick Asp Fuck" on Billboard's Top 40 chart. But, for fans of industrial music, they have some favorites.

For those not familiar, Pigface is an industrial supergroup. The core member is Martin Atkins who in his earlier career, played drums with Public Image Limited, Killing Joke, Murder Inc., and more currently with the Damage Manual. The latter two are also supergroups in a sense. Pigface is based loosely around a core of musicians who originated with Wax Trax Records (Chicago) in the '90s. Others have been involved, too, like Andrew Weiss from the Rollins Band, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and David Yow from the Jesus Lizard. Of course, the elite of modern industrial have been involved, too, like members of Ministry, KMFDM, Psychic TV (which includes Geneseis P-Orridge formerly of Throbbing Gristle), and Skinny Puppy. Yes, there was also a short time when industrial demigod and whiner Trent Reznor was a member. He wrote what is probably still their most famous song, "Suck." Then he went and re-recorded it and put it on a NIN album ("Broken") as a hidden track.

Industrial music seems to be a hazy thing these days. Originally, one could say that Kraftwerk or Throbbing Gristle were industrial. This is true in the original and most basic definition of the genre: mechanical-sounding electronic music. That original definition has changed radically since the early days of those wacky Germans. In fact, most people probably think of Nine Inch Nails or Orgy or something when they think of industrial. Back in the late '90s, there was a bit of a revolution in industrial music. Industrial music became dance metal. You don't believe me? Go listen to Ministry's album "Psalm 69, the Way to Succeed, and the Way to Suck Eggs." Or, better yet, go listen to any of the past four KMFDM albums. Industrial has become dance music with metal guitars and drums.

Now, we have bands who are walking the lines of industrial. For an example, the Faint could easily be compared to Duran Duran, but there is definitely a Slayer influence in there somewhere. Radio Berlin are often compared to Interpol or Hot Hot Heat, but that's bullshit. If anything, they're the 21st century's Bauhaus, but they use drum machines and sequencing. Locally, there's Thunderbirds Are Now!, who are like a punk rock industrial new wave band. Maybe I'm going too far with categorizing, but hey, it's the easiest way to describe a band to those who don't know.

Bands like Ministry and Pigface are still around, but they've evolved so far from where they began that they're unrecognizable. Ministry has gone more of an electronic ambient route, while Pigface has looked more to world-beat rhythms. It's interesting, but it's not as fun as it once was. There's nothing like watching Lesley Rankine (Silverfish, Ruby) screaming out "Hips, Tits, Lips, Power!" along with a rocking band vamping endlessly behind her. Pigface was always different, though. They brought elements of hip-hop and punk rock into a generally soul-less genre. Ministry will never be the same, either. Every show they've played in Detroit has resulted in a noise complaint. They're loud, and Al Jourgensen's (singer/ringleader) a crazy junkie.

My point is that industrial used to be fun and interesting, and now it's just bland and boring. The music that is specifcally labeled as industrial blows. Music that reads between the lines and goes above and beyond the call of duty (the Faint, Radio Berlin) is like the new industrial. The spirit of Kraftwerk is alive and kicking, it's just taken on a whole new form.

just one fix

Know Your Enemy



3.20.2004

Drumline

Your humble narrator, the RocknRollScientist lives in the city of Detroit (if that isn't already obvious). Specifically, in the shadows of Northern Senior High School. Literally. I can go to my front porch and watch football practice. Today, it's marching band practice. At least, it's the drumline. I haven't heard any wind instruments, just quads, snares, and bass drums. When we first moved to this house four years ago, we would hear the band practicing, and they would be playing songs from Dr. Dre. That kinda freaked me out, because I was used to marching bands playing old classic rock when they played pop music. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I was a band dork. I started playing the trombone in fourth grade and never found a good reason to quit. If, like me, you were particularly shy throughout grade school, band was a good place to meet people. It was also a good way for me to get exposed to music that I wouldn't normally hear because there were people from all the grades in the band classes. I went to 8th grade and the first half of 9th grade in Mt. Pleasant, MI, which is a college town. Central Michigan University is there. Marching band is a reaalllllly big deal at CMU, and at the high school. When I was in 8th grade, I was already playing in the high school marching band because they didn't have enough trombones, so they asked me to play with them. (those kids over at Northern have no concept of rhythm. I'm ready to go over there and insist on helping) Being in marching band is also a way to get out of taking gym class at most high schools. That was probably the second biggest reason I stayed in it, right behind the fact that I liked playing in band. It's so easy to refer to people who were in band as band geeks or band dorks, but honestly, most of the people I know who were in band in high school are much more well-adjusted individuals than those who weren't in band. Now, I'm not saying you had to be in band to be normal after high school. I'm just saying that some people need a creative outlet when they're younger, and if they don't get a chance to express themselves, they could become very uptight adults. Band was a good thing, that's all there is to it.

proud former band dork

3.19.2004

It's Piss and Moan Time!

Got a complaint? Maybe you don't like something I have to say. Maybe you do like something I have to say. Either way, here's your chance to talk back to me. Go to the list of links over there on the right, and click on "MESSAGE BOARD." There you can piss and moan or compliment me to your heart's content. Thank you, and have a nice day.


3.16.2004

Detroit: I Do Mind Dying*

Today's reading assignments:





*a book on the study of urban revolution, you can find it here. Also, check out The Algiers Motel Incident, which discusses the events at the Algiers Motel on the first night of the 1967 riot in Detroit (which is an analogy for the whole racist system that was in place in the Detroit Police Department at that point in time).

3.14.2004

What do I get out of this? I always try, I always miss*

So many things I should be venting about right here. So many rants waiting to be written, but as usual, these are the personal things that get to me so much. These are the things that are not for public consumption, so I'll let it go, and deal with it where it needs to be dealt with. In the meantime, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

*taken from "Subculture" by New Order

3.12.2004

I saw a screaming skull in the bottom of a bottle

...and it said to me "Jeff, what are you doing?"

I had the day off today because of some medical tests that I needed. So, I got done with all that, and I was by a mall, so I decided to go and check out some clothes. Normally, I don't mess with malls. They freak me out. But, some clothing requires you to get up close to inspect it, and see if it's what you really want. I can't find everything I need online or in a thrift store. So, I walked into Marshall Field's, and I went to the men's section. I was looking for ties. Specifically, solid-color ties. I wanted to pick up a black one, a red one, and hopefully a white one. Who knew it would be so difficult? I kept looking, couldn't find what I wanted, and finally a salesperson came over to see if he could help me. Keep in mind that I probably didn't quite look like I belonged in there. I probably looked pale as all hell considering I had just squirted out several vials of blood back at the hospital. This guy came up, and I asked him if he had any solid-color ties. He said, no, but that I should try Lord & Taylor, because they carry Christian Dior, and Christian Dior makes solid-color ties. WTF? I don't need high-fashion, I just want a fucking white tie. Is that so much to ask?!? Then I walked into the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet hoping to find some deals because, hey, it's an outlet store, it's supposed to have deals, right? I guess $60 is good for a Calvin Klein shirt, but not for me. Fashion blows.

maybe I should just start shopping at Shopper's World

You're the one for me, punk rock girl!

I'm 28 years old. When I was 12, in 1988, I had a lot of things going on musically. In fact, that was all I had going on. My friends were really just a bunch of guys who beat up on me 'in fun'. I didn't care about school, or girls, didn't really care about anything except music. We had cable, and I would watch MTV incessantly, hoping to glimpse something more outside of the small town I was living in. I would always watch MTV 120 Minutes late on Sunday nights. This is where I first heard the Dead Milkmen. I barely knew who the Dead Kennedys were, and here was a band making fun of their name. But I loved it. It was the video for "Punk Rock Girl." I had a paper route back then, and made hardly any money doing it, but I spent all of that money on cassette tapes. As soon as I had some money saved, I went to the mall and bought the Dead Milkmen album "Beezlebubba." I knew that some people didn't consider them to be a credible punk band, but that's nonsense. By the time I wore out that tape, I had a CD player, so I went and bought it on CD. I listened to it at least once a week for a few years. The rest of their albums never did much for me, I just loved "Beezlebubba." Over time, I kinda forgot about them. I would pull it out once in awhile, but then it would quickly get replaced in the rotation, because let's face it, I've got a multiple-personality disorder when it comes to music. I never really thought about what happened to them. Until yesterday. I was reading Fark, like I do almost every day to see what's going on in the world besides war and strife, and I saw the article. Dave Blood, the Dead Milkmen's bass player killed himself sometime Tuesday night. I felt sad. Mostly because I had forgotten about the band. The music that I listened to from the beginning, up until maybe the age of 20 seriously affected my life in many ways, and I feel like these bands are my friends, whether they know it or not. So, yesterday, I went and found some interviews with Dave. He was one seriously intelligent man. Beyond the joking attitude of the Milkmen, he was very educated. In one of the interviews, he was talking about Saddam Hussein and our government, and he just cut right through the bullshit. He understood. Apparently, his mother died in January of this year, and he hadn't been handling it very well. It's easy to say that suicide is a coward's way out, but I think for some people, if they feel it's their only option, who are we to say what's right or wrong? Reading all of the articles and interviews with him, I could tell that he was an individual who 'thought too much'. When we say people are crazy or insane, it's because we don't understand them, but they understand everything, perhaps too much. It seems that Dave Blood saw it all, and didn't like it. You will be missed, sir.

when my friend and i were done we went to rest upon the sun cause life takes from us the things we love and it robs us of the special ones and it puts them high where we can't climb and we only miss them all the time and we sing: life is shit, life is shit the world is shit, the world is shit this is life as i know it this is life as i know it this is life as i know it this is life as i know it this is life as i know it

3.07.2004

His head was a faucet leaking love, laughter and lies: all his secret wishes, all his world famous sighs*

For those paying attention, I'm sure its obvious the RocknRollScientist has had some issues as of late. I'm noticing that many of my issues are common for someone approaching the age of 30 in the early 21st century. Or maybe it's just my friends all have the same issues because we're all around the same age, and we're of the same or similar mindset. Hell, that's why we're friends in the first place. We're getting close to the time where we need to make big changes: trim away the fat literally and metaphorically. First up are fair-weather friends. There's no use for these people. See my post back in January on what friends really are to see how I feel about that. In fact, this may be the most important change of all for the Generation X-in-conflict. The fair-weather friends are the people who reinforce our negative opinions of society, so just get rid of 'em. Next, it's time to get healthy. Beer is not your friend. Neither is McDonald's. Start a routine, go for a walk everyday, get in a little bit of exercise everyday, even if it's for 10 minutes. Stop eating fast food, I've lost 10 pounds since I quit eating fast food everyday. The next step is to reinforce the positive friendships. These are the people you must keep in your life. It may be work sometimes, but they're doing the same thing, so quit whining. Now, you have to keep yourself aware. Know what's gong on in your world. For chrissakes, don't even bother watching the local news, because it's really just "Entertainment Tonight," with a couple of blurbs about local crime thrown in to keep up the veneer of being a serious news show. Go and buy an actual newspaper. Or, better yet, read the news online (see the first 14 or so links on this page). Online news is updated much more often, and content tends to be more cutting edge than print or TV. Finally, the most important thing we need to do is start thinking of ourselves more. We need to make ourselves happy, because that's what's most important. Sounds selfish or self-centered, but really it's not. For a long time, I was afraid to think of myself too much, and it's hard to stop trying to help everyone. You have to help yourself first, that's all there is to it.

*from "Ambulance vs. Ambulance" from the Blood Brothers album "Burn Piano Island, Burn"

I'm a lonely planet boy

3.06.2004

I Bought the Largest Most Expensive Bottle I Could Find With a Cork*

Tonight was my one and only encounter with the Hamtramck Blowout 2004. I did not go out all week, because I needed a break from the drinking, and the debauchery, and the mayhem. Tonight, I went out. I went with Angela, Jay, and Chris. We went to the Belmont Bar, because in my humble opinion, that was the only worthwhile lineup. There was talk of going over to see the Fondas at the Holbrook Cafe, but there was no reason to leave behind the solid lineup at the Belmont. We're talking Hairshirt (downbeat Brit-pop type stuff), Tiny Steps (rockin' power-pop), Thousand Times Yes (indie rock that sounds like Rainer Maria, but better), and Thunderbirds Are Now! That exclamation point is intentional. It's part of the name. I have not been this engaged and excited about a band in awhile. I don't know how to explain. About a year ago, a band called the Blood Brothers got some underground notoriety. They seemed like a hardcore punk band, but they had much more going on. They had melodic breaks, and unusual instrumentation, like harpsichords. It was interesting, not just the usual crap. This is close to what TAN! are doing. It's like if the Rapture were a punk band. That's the only way I can come close to accurately describing them. Afterward, we ended up at the Senate Bar, which has to be one of the strangest places on earth. Without a doubt. I'm sorry if anyone's offended, but really, the place is just plain strange.

*courtesy of Timothy Christopher, with bottle in hand

if I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?

3.05.2004

Get Smart

Today's reading assignments:




(Yours truly once lived near these turbines, and it is truly a site to behold for a 6-year old)





scared of the coming ice age

3.03.2004

Paranoid Android

I hope you're doing well, Snow White, because I do miss talking to you, and we will talk again soon.

subterranean homesick alien

Private Eyes Are Watching You

Tonight, I ran into a friend. An old friend, we're talking 23 of my 28 years. If I have an "inner circle" of friends, then she's in it. We started talking, and found that we're both encountering the same problems lately. Her situation is significantly different than mine, but I think it's possible that the cause of our problems are the same. She was telling me how she feels like she has no friends in Detroit. I told her how I've been feeling very isolated lately. Her situation is unique to mine in that she has a family, and she's a graduate student. My problems are similar, but related. I've always felt isolated. When I was younger, my grandparents (surrogate parents for my latchkey childhood) liked to take me out for rides in the country. They liked to go out and look for deer. They're birdwatchers, too, so they always enjoyed the trips. I was probably between 6 and 10 when I would go out on these rides. A boy that age should be allowed to get out and enjoy the countryside instead of watching it roll past. That wasn't what bothered me. What bothered me was how isolated I felt from the trees and the cornfields. I was worried about not knowing what it felt like to stand on the corner of Range Road and Rattle Run Road. Why was I worried? I didn't know. Now, I can't drive on a highway without feeling concern. We drive so fast trying to get to school or work or whatever that we don't think about anything besides the cars in front of us who don't know how to use a turn signal. Do you know your neighbors? I do, because growing up, I didn't know my neighbors, but I had yet to figure out how much it bothered me. Now I know how important community is for us. Yet, I do still feel isolated. My friend said she wants to know what it would be like to be a settler, to start from scratch. What if we took away the email, and the cell phones, and the cars with power-steering? What if we all had to work with our hands to survive? You would have to grow your own food, and learn to conserve for the winter. Imagine having no guns or surface-to-air missiles and not having a need for those things. Imagine no bio-, eco-, chemical-, or nuclear-terrorism threats. Henry David Thoreau's book "Walden" is all about living outside of the modern world, and what one can learn from it. That book either changed my life or ruined me forever. A road traveled by car is not a well-traveled road, it is a quickly traveled road. We need to slow down. Get outside of the car, and walk a mile down a road you drive on every day. Notice the houses, and the yards, smell the flowers if there are any. Life is not about working to live or living to work. Get up early, one day, and take the long way to work. Talk to your neighbors, invite them over for dinner one night. Plant a garden, and take good care of it. I'm not talking about some kind of 'getting back to nature' hippy-drivel, here, I'm talking about living in this world, not just working in it. I think my friend and I have the same problem: we need to slow down, and stop thinking so much about everyone and everything else, and start thinking about ourselves and the world we live in, and our relation to it. You're here on this planet, don't waste your life making a corporation richer or letting everything pass you by like so many cornfields.

Private eys are watching you, so go make something of your life in this world

You Are Under Surveillance


3.02.2004

We have all the pleasures of the world to win, and nothing to lose but our boredom

I've been bad. A friend pointed out today that I've had a rebellious upsurge in my drinking habits lately. She is so right. Everything I did this weekend centered around alcohol or recovering from consuming too much alcohol. It has to stop. Being single and bored in Detroit is not a good combination. I need to lose the boredom. The first step is to set a serious goal for each week. Something that isn't work-related. I'm working on my computer this week, fixing it so it will go faster. The second step is to see at least one film in a theater every week (or weekend). Detroit desperately needs a mainstream theater downtown. The third step is to just not go to the bar. I was good for awhile, but then I let some personal issues drag me down. Those issues have been (mostly) squared away, so I should be good to go again. I'll be so glad when it gets warmer out, so I can ride my bike before work, that will help, too.

If anyone's interested in going to see a movie this week, let me know.

"I'm living in this movie but it doesn't move me"