posting old photos since i finally got a scanner
all phots by me unless noted
all over this town photos
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
for those who fear tomorrow
just picked up this limited edition INTEGRITY shirt from Hellfish.
Front is a take off on the stupid Obama "hope" shit
back is an awesome quote from Charlie
you can pick one up, alont with a Hellfish / Holy Terror poster and an exclusive BLEEDING THROUGH shirt at
www.hellfishfamily.com
Front is a take off on the stupid Obama "hope" shit
back is an awesome quote from Charlie
you can pick one up, alont with a Hellfish / Holy Terror poster and an exclusive BLEEDING THROUGH shirt at
www.hellfishfamily.com
until the ink runs out
yeah, i was in 18 Visions. its been 8 years since i set foot on stage with them, and people still ask me about it all the time.
i dont mind talking about it. it was a good time in my life.
AJ, over at Path To Misery asked me to talk about Until The Ink runs out. i wrote something about it, which kinda turned into me talking about how i left the band. in it, he says i quit. thats not entirely true.
i hit up Keith about writing for this piece. i said "hey, this kid wants to write something about UTIRO. do you want to write something about it?"
his response- "what kid"
i wrote him back "its just this kid AJ who wants to write about one of his favorite records. you dont have to be a dick about it. nice response"
check out AJ's blog. hes into heavy music, but needs to post about more good bands. ha.
i also sent some cassettes of 18V playing live from 1998 to Justin at XSTUCK IN THE PASTX so keep an eye out for that.
i dont mind talking about it. it was a good time in my life.
AJ, over at Path To Misery asked me to talk about Until The Ink runs out. i wrote something about it, which kinda turned into me talking about how i left the band. in it, he says i quit. thats not entirely true.
i hit up Keith about writing for this piece. i said "hey, this kid wants to write something about UTIRO. do you want to write something about it?"
his response- "what kid"
i wrote him back "its just this kid AJ who wants to write about one of his favorite records. you dont have to be a dick about it. nice response"
check out AJ's blog. hes into heavy music, but needs to post about more good bands. ha.
i also sent some cassettes of 18V playing live from 1998 to Justin at XSTUCK IN THE PASTX so keep an eye out for that.
Black Cat Music
January 2002. My friend D was really into this band Black Cat Music, and as I hung out with her every day, I became a fan as well.
I had just returned home from a winter Throwdown tour which I had ditched out on in NYC to hang out with friends and get drunk. Appropriate as many of Black Cat Music’s songs were written about intoxication and a certain girl who had since moved to NYC (and who I would later go on a what-I-assumed-was-a-date with. Still not sure on that one.).
Regardless, back in California Black Cat Music was playing at the Garage in L.A. and D wanted to go. I’d been there once before for a Snapcase show sometime in the late 90’s (‘97/’98?) Strife may have played as well? We drove up in the pouring rain, walked into the club, and realized we were the ONLY people there. Well, not the only, but the only paying fans. Another band played. We didn’t care. Black Cat Music took the stage and laid into it. They were killing it. Playing their hearts out to literally two people, plus whatever roadies / friends / girlfriends were hanging at the bar. D and I didn’t care so we stood right in the middle of what would have been the pit and enjoyed ourselves. It was raining so hard that water was coming through the roof and falling onto the band as they played. They finished their proposed set and were ready to leave the stage, but we weren’t satisfied. D hadn’t heard her favorite song and, drunk, was adamant about hearing it. For some reason the alcohol didn’t translate into her vocal chords so she asked me to yell it out. Sure, OK. “Wine In A Box” I yelled. The band, obviously surprised, looked at each other and nodded. They played “Wine In A Box” to the two most satisfied people in Los Angeles. Top 5 shows I’ve ever been to for a lot of reasons.
Later that year, I spent a few months in New York City where Black Cat Music was the semi-soundtrack to our lives. We saw the band play at Southpaw in Brooklyn and ended up having a good time with them later that night. I’m told the drummer recently passed away. Weird fact –- before Black Cat Music he played for Hatebreed. Rest In Peace Denny.
I had just returned home from a winter Throwdown tour which I had ditched out on in NYC to hang out with friends and get drunk. Appropriate as many of Black Cat Music’s songs were written about intoxication and a certain girl who had since moved to NYC (and who I would later go on a what-I-assumed-was-a-date with. Still not sure on that one.).
Regardless, back in California Black Cat Music was playing at the Garage in L.A. and D wanted to go. I’d been there once before for a Snapcase show sometime in the late 90’s (‘97/’98?) Strife may have played as well? We drove up in the pouring rain, walked into the club, and realized we were the ONLY people there. Well, not the only, but the only paying fans. Another band played. We didn’t care. Black Cat Music took the stage and laid into it. They were killing it. Playing their hearts out to literally two people, plus whatever roadies / friends / girlfriends were hanging at the bar. D and I didn’t care so we stood right in the middle of what would have been the pit and enjoyed ourselves. It was raining so hard that water was coming through the roof and falling onto the band as they played. They finished their proposed set and were ready to leave the stage, but we weren’t satisfied. D hadn’t heard her favorite song and, drunk, was adamant about hearing it. For some reason the alcohol didn’t translate into her vocal chords so she asked me to yell it out. Sure, OK. “Wine In A Box” I yelled. The band, obviously surprised, looked at each other and nodded. They played “Wine In A Box” to the two most satisfied people in Los Angeles. Top 5 shows I’ve ever been to for a lot of reasons.
Later that year, I spent a few months in New York City where Black Cat Music was the semi-soundtrack to our lives. We saw the band play at Southpaw in Brooklyn and ended up having a good time with them later that night. I’m told the drummer recently passed away. Weird fact –- before Black Cat Music he played for Hatebreed. Rest In Peace Denny.
M.I.T.B.
I was lucky enough to see Man Is The Bastard a lot. The first Goleta Fest w/ Enewetak, Disembodied, Endeavour, Guyver One, etc; H.B. Library w/ Mens Recovery Project (and Clikitat Ikatowi?); Showcase w/ Neurosis, Dead America, and Bloodlet; Koos w/ Assuck, Swing Kids, and Still Life. I'll detail these stories later (hopefully with flyers).
For now, I'll discuss my first experience with the legendary M.I.T.B.. I think it was the Fall of '94? Josh (later the drummer for Gehenna) and I drove out to Santa Ana's Koos Cafe in my '67 Mustang to check out M.I.T.B. and Lack Of Interest. At the time I think we just knew them as the band that had a split with Born Against. Man, were we in for a treat. M.I.T.B., as I would later learn quite well, was absolutely crushing. I have no clue what songs they played, but I was impressed enough to become a lifelong fan.
As inferred, M.I.T.B. would quickly become one of my favorite bands, especially live. I hear a lot of talk of crushing live performances, "heavy this" and "heavy that". I can honestly say that Coalesce is probably the only other band that ever held a candle to M.I.T.B. on this level. I've heard stories of Infest shows, and it sounds like a similar experience. Maybe it's a true West Coast Power Violence thing. I don't know.
On the way home, my car broke down at that Chevron next to the 5 freeway entrance. It was pouring rain, so Josh and I took shelter at that donut shop next to the gas station. Some bum came up and tried to sell us an answering machine in a plastic bag. I think we may have actually purchased it out of charitable concern. Eventually, I crawled under my car in the pouring rain, fixed the problem, and we were on our way.
Oh yeah, I remember nothing about the Lack Of Interest set.
Pointless story? Sure. A nice memory for me? Absolutely.
For now, I'll discuss my first experience with the legendary M.I.T.B.. I think it was the Fall of '94? Josh (later the drummer for Gehenna) and I drove out to Santa Ana's Koos Cafe in my '67 Mustang to check out M.I.T.B. and Lack Of Interest. At the time I think we just knew them as the band that had a split with Born Against. Man, were we in for a treat. M.I.T.B., as I would later learn quite well, was absolutely crushing. I have no clue what songs they played, but I was impressed enough to become a lifelong fan.
As inferred, M.I.T.B. would quickly become one of my favorite bands, especially live. I hear a lot of talk of crushing live performances, "heavy this" and "heavy that". I can honestly say that Coalesce is probably the only other band that ever held a candle to M.I.T.B. on this level. I've heard stories of Infest shows, and it sounds like a similar experience. Maybe it's a true West Coast Power Violence thing. I don't know.
On the way home, my car broke down at that Chevron next to the 5 freeway entrance. It was pouring rain, so Josh and I took shelter at that donut shop next to the gas station. Some bum came up and tried to sell us an answering machine in a plastic bag. I think we may have actually purchased it out of charitable concern. Eventually, I crawled under my car in the pouring rain, fixed the problem, and we were on our way.
Oh yeah, I remember nothing about the Lack Of Interest set.
Pointless story? Sure. A nice memory for me? Absolutely.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Keith Barney Poll
The "Favorite Keith Barney Band" poll turned out about as I expected:
Adamantium - 37%
Death By Stereo - 7%
Eighteen Visions - 11%
Throwdown - 44%
Monument To Thieves - 0%
No surprise that the race was tight between Throwdown and Adamantium. I voted Throwdown as they long ago purchased my everlasting devotion in WaWa Peach Iced Tea and by naming a chapter of their DVD after me. Jerks.
Thought 18V might get a few more votes, but then again, it's an un-arguable fact that their best album ("Yesterday Is Time Killed") was made before Keith joined the band. No fault of Heavy K's, just the way life goes.
And while Death By Stereo has lost my attention at this point, the album Keith was on "If Looks Could Kill..." is a beast, even to this day.
Wonder what would happen if I made a poll pitting Eighteen Visions "Yesterday...", Bleeding Through "Dust to Ashes", Throwdown "You Don't Have to Be Blood...", Adamantium "From The Depths..." and Death By Stereo "If Looks..." against each other. Would the results be closer?
And, yes, I know I didn't list xRAINx or N3V3R 3NOUGH as options. I only included bands that released a vinyl record.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
My Record Collection - Vol. 1
I own a lot of records (I'm sure most of the reader's of this blog have this in common with me). And similar to most of you, I have my favorites and most prized, which is not always based solely on monetary value, but usually based on affinity for the band, back-story of acquisition, or perhaps sentimental value.
One of these records is Blackspot's "Check Out The Helmet" 7" on purple vinyl.
"Check Out The Helmet" was one of the first 4 or 5 hardcore records I owned. I picked it up, along with the Function 7", Mean Season 7", NYHC "Way It Is" LP, and YOT's BDTW (Rev pressing), at Lido Skateboards in Newport Beach when they used to sell records in the back. They also played the 2nd hardcore show I ever attended. Needless to say, I've had an affinity and soft-spot for the band ever since.
Come the late 90's, I found myself living in Santa Cruz, CA and hanging out with Blackspot's drummer Sean, who was living there at the time, on a regular basis. We even tried to form a band at one point with Casey Watson of Yaphet Kotto (later Look Back and Laugh, Never Healed, etc.), but my lack of vocal abilities and lackadaisical attitude towards actually writing lyrics probably had a lot to do with the project going nowhere. I think that band eventually became The Anasazi, although I could be totally wrong about that? Anyway, hanging out with Sean on the semi-regular finally afforded me the chance to pick his brain with Blackspot fanboy questions that had been lingering in my brain for half a decade. The most pressing of these questions obviously related to the vinyl discography. As Sean remembered, when the Blackspot 7" was pressed on black, clear, and orange vinyl, the pressing plant decided to screw around and make a few random colors. When the band received the records, they pulled out these random colors for themselves. It amounted to something like 1 on green, 1 on pink, 1 on purple, etc. As an avid Blackspot fan and record collector, these elusive "one-offs" fast became the holy grail for me. But how to get one? The band members owned them all and seemed in no mood to give them up. I filed this information away in the back of my mind and moved on.
Around 2000, Jav called me up with some insane news. He had been shopping at Vinyl Solution and came upon a Blackspot 7" on purple vinyl, which he promptly purchased. I told him that I flat-out did not believe him, knowing very well that Sean wouldn't sell his purple copy. He swore he had one and was would give it to me, as Jav and I have that type of friendship where if I have something I know he'd like more than me, it's his. And vice versa.
Next time I saw Sean I told him of my score, and of course he didn't believe me. "No way, dude" he probably said. He was convinced they removed all the weird colors from the boxes. Obviously, they overlooked this one, which is understandable as it's a light non-opaque purple, which could have been easily confused for a clear pressing. Either way, I now owned one and was stoked.
Of course I had to give Jav something he'd value in return. It so happened that during the Throwdown '99 Summer Tour, we had played a few shows with NYC's legendary 25 Ta Life. One show was in New Jersey and was notable (to us at least) for 25 playing "Strength Through Unity" multiple times during the set along with Warzone's "As One" a couple times as well. This show was also the first time Schieppetti sang for Throwdown, as Keith wasn't feeling well (eventually leading to Sheep doing vocal duties at other shows, then starting Bleeding Through...). The other show was at some total s**thole in Connecticut, possibly with Sworn Enemy? This show is notable for Rick Ta Life breaking out a box of t-shirts from the trunk of his car. Keith and I furiously dug through size XXL after size XXXXL looking for something remotely our size. Keith scored a sweet kelly-green joint, and I grabbed an awesome baby-blue with white ink one. Oh yeah, Throwdown got paid in change that night. Straight-up, a handful of quarters, CHANGE! I'm not joking.
Anyway, I knew Jav was a bigger 25 Ta Life fan than me, so it was that baby-blue 25 shirt that he received in return for the Blackspot 7". A great trade from both sides, if you ask me. I wonder if he still owns it?
One of these records is Blackspot's "Check Out The Helmet" 7" on purple vinyl.
"Check Out The Helmet" was one of the first 4 or 5 hardcore records I owned. I picked it up, along with the Function 7", Mean Season 7", NYHC "Way It Is" LP, and YOT's BDTW (Rev pressing), at Lido Skateboards in Newport Beach when they used to sell records in the back. They also played the 2nd hardcore show I ever attended. Needless to say, I've had an affinity and soft-spot for the band ever since.
Come the late 90's, I found myself living in Santa Cruz, CA and hanging out with Blackspot's drummer Sean, who was living there at the time, on a regular basis. We even tried to form a band at one point with Casey Watson of Yaphet Kotto (later Look Back and Laugh, Never Healed, etc.), but my lack of vocal abilities and lackadaisical attitude towards actually writing lyrics probably had a lot to do with the project going nowhere. I think that band eventually became The Anasazi, although I could be totally wrong about that? Anyway, hanging out with Sean on the semi-regular finally afforded me the chance to pick his brain with Blackspot fanboy questions that had been lingering in my brain for half a decade. The most pressing of these questions obviously related to the vinyl discography. As Sean remembered, when the Blackspot 7" was pressed on black, clear, and orange vinyl, the pressing plant decided to screw around and make a few random colors. When the band received the records, they pulled out these random colors for themselves. It amounted to something like 1 on green, 1 on pink, 1 on purple, etc. As an avid Blackspot fan and record collector, these elusive "one-offs" fast became the holy grail for me. But how to get one? The band members owned them all and seemed in no mood to give them up. I filed this information away in the back of my mind and moved on.
Around 2000, Jav called me up with some insane news. He had been shopping at Vinyl Solution and came upon a Blackspot 7" on purple vinyl, which he promptly purchased. I told him that I flat-out did not believe him, knowing very well that Sean wouldn't sell his purple copy. He swore he had one and was would give it to me, as Jav and I have that type of friendship where if I have something I know he'd like more than me, it's his. And vice versa.
Next time I saw Sean I told him of my score, and of course he didn't believe me. "No way, dude" he probably said. He was convinced they removed all the weird colors from the boxes. Obviously, they overlooked this one, which is understandable as it's a light non-opaque purple, which could have been easily confused for a clear pressing. Either way, I now owned one and was stoked.
Of course I had to give Jav something he'd value in return. It so happened that during the Throwdown '99 Summer Tour, we had played a few shows with NYC's legendary 25 Ta Life. One show was in New Jersey and was notable (to us at least) for 25 playing "Strength Through Unity" multiple times during the set along with Warzone's "As One" a couple times as well. This show was also the first time Schieppetti sang for Throwdown, as Keith wasn't feeling well (eventually leading to Sheep doing vocal duties at other shows, then starting Bleeding Through...). The other show was at some total s**thole in Connecticut, possibly with Sworn Enemy? This show is notable for Rick Ta Life breaking out a box of t-shirts from the trunk of his car. Keith and I furiously dug through size XXL after size XXXXL looking for something remotely our size. Keith scored a sweet kelly-green joint, and I grabbed an awesome baby-blue with white ink one. Oh yeah, Throwdown got paid in change that night. Straight-up, a handful of quarters, CHANGE! I'm not joking.
Anyway, I knew Jav was a bigger 25 Ta Life fan than me, so it was that baby-blue 25 shirt that he received in return for the Blackspot 7". A great trade from both sides, if you ask me. I wonder if he still owns it?
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