10 Songs That Mattered (and Still Matter) to Me

I am exploring 10 punk rock songs that mattered to me and still do.  These songs encompass much of what I liked about punk rock when I first discovered it back in 198(?).  Enjoy!

(These are in no order, it's just 10 songs)


10.  GENERATION X - Kiss Me Deadly

One of my earliest punk rock memories would have to be watching the documentary "D.O.A. - A Right of Passage" by director Lech Kowalski on videotape.  This was very hard to track down in the 80s when I bought it and apparently has yet to be released legitimately on DVD.  Amazon currently lists 2 copies of "D.O.A." for sale with the least expensive checking in at $168.00!  I think I paid all of $20.  Videotape becomes useless after many years and it would be nice to finally see this great movie again, even without DVD extras.

Somehow I discovered Generation X prior to seeing this movie and had very little idea as to what they actually  looked like.  It was cool to see them and the other incredible footage of X-Ray Spex, one of Sid & Nancy's final interviews, Dead Boys, Rich Kids etc., it was truly a life altering experience.   Billy Idol has performed "Kiss Me Deadly" frequently on tour and it was always great to hear that live because it seemed that would be as close to seeing Generation X as I'd ever get.  The rest of the band moved on to Empire (Derwood Andrews and Mark Laff) and Sigue Sigue Sputnik (Tony James).  Who knows if there will ever be a proper Generation X reunion aside from the one-off they had a few years back on Idol's "Cyberpunk" tour in London, but it would be pretty cool if there was.   On a side note, Idol's Christmas song is a great addition to the plethora of holiday tunes we must endure year after year.

9. X-RAY SPEX - Oh Bondage, Up Yours!

Early in 2011 the world lost one of the more unique personalities to emerge out of the early punk rock movement.  With only one proper LP and a few singles, Poly Styrene and X-Ray Spex left an indelible mark on music for decades.  X-Ray Spex influenced as many bands as Poly herself did.  She was a groundbreaking artist who didn't realize the impact she had until many years later.  At least she and guitarist Jak Airport were aware of the accolades long before they both passed away.

I can thank "D.O.A. - A Right of Passage" for showing me X-Ray Spex in all their glory and I can also thank Ken at Main Street Records (it was an actual store back then, not a website) in Northampton MA for taking my $75 and handing me this incredible single back in the 80s too!  You couldn't get "Oh Bondage, Up Yours!" or the flip side "Iama Poseur", on the original "Germ Free Adolescents" album, which was out of print at the time anyway.  Of course it has subsequently be re-issued a few times, but something about having the needle hit the original slab of wax is extremely cool.

8.  THE WAITRESSES - Square Pegs/I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts


Fortunately or unfortunately depending upon your train of thought, the 80s will never be replicated.  There will be attempts, but it's really hard to capture what was really going on at that time.  Even watching early John Hughes' movies kind of comes close, but then also misses too.  The television program "Square Pegs" was such a great short-lived show that it always brings back fond memories of growing up.  Similar to the also short-lived "Freaks & Geeks" and "Undeclared" shows of recent years, "Square Pegs" spoke to me and to many of my contemporaries and if Hollywood was writing about people like this, we certainly weren't alone.  The characters were so clearly defined and I could relate to many of them in some way or another.  The show also featured cameos from Father Guido Sarducci, Devo and The Waitresses.

I love The Waitresses, they had the right amount of Times Square sleaze combined with CBGB's attitude who's sound was truly unique.  They got some radio airplay, not as much as Blondie, but enough to get them on the then-final Gang of Four tour, which included a stop at Williams College in Williamstown MA!  This was my first punk show ever.  The Waitresses and Gang of Four in a hockey rink and let me tell you, it was as my eyes had been opened like never before.  Whenever I hear "Christmas Wrapping" (one of my favorite Christmas songs), I get nostalgic.  Not only is it a great song, it's one of the better original Christmas songs of the past 50 years.

They didn't play "Square Pegs" in Williamstown, but they did play "I Could Rule the World If I Could Only Get the Parts", so enjoy this one, I like it just as much.

Sadly, lead singer Patty Donohue passed away due to complications from lung cancer in 1996, she was only 40 years old.

7.  GANG OF FOUR - To Hell With Poverty

In the days before the Internet made everything easier and probably a bit less fun when searching for things, the only way you could hear about bands was by reading about them, catching them on TV or in a movie.  I had read about Gang of Four prior to seeing them with The Waitresses in Williamstown and found out that their current tour was to be their last (fast forward years later and they've reunited twice).  Jon King and Andy GillWilliamstown.  College radio was very different back then and students listened to quite a diverse selection of music thus justifying this appearance.  I don't know who convinced who to book it, but I'm forever glad they did.  Back then they had Gang of Four and now they have the Gym Class Heroes.   Sara Lee, who eventually went on to perform with Ani DeFranco, was playing in Gang of Four at that show.

 

I picked up the Another Day/Another Dollar EP on cassette at Strawberries on North Street, they had only one copy.  No band photo, just money on the cover, no liner notes (as was common with cassettes)....no detail on who this band was.  The EP remains one of my favorites.  It's so good.  Gang of Four were so clever and mysterious when I asked how many people are in Gang of Four, my then-friend said "well, how many words are in their name?"  I always felt that to be pretty cool.  It wasn't accurate, but I have always wanted it to be.  Just like believing the Ramones were all brothers.

While I'm thrilled Gang of Four is making some money from that current X BOX 360 commerical, it still kind of bums me out that the choice of song isn't really promoting modern day consumerism.


6.  BLACK FLAG - Rise Above

I'll never forget the day  I purchased "Damaged" on cassette in New York City because when I unwrapped the tape, put it in my Walkman and pressed play, my life was changed.  Black Flag sounded like nothing I'd heard before that moment, "Rise Above" is the first track and it's pissed off angry tone resonated with me then and has continued to do so whenever I hear it now.  The entire album was just what I needed, but "Rise Above" remains the song that changed the scope of my punk rock spectrum.

My friend who had been supplying me with punk rock mix tapes had neglected to include Black Flag on anything he'd given me.  He also neglected to bring me with him to the Black Flag shows in Berkshire County during their final years as a band.  I've never forgiven him for that.  Even though Black Flag had a few lead singers, I've always preferred Rollins because that's who I heard first.

Of course, the local connection to Black Flag is quite hilarious:

Henry Rollins: Mitch Bury was Black Flag's road manager and very close friend of the band and myself. His family still lives on Crandall Street and I've just had a long friendship with Mitch Bury and to this day still see him, keep in contact with him and keep up my tradition of thanking Mitch Bury from Adams, Mass., on everything I put out. 

5.  BAD BRAINS - Sailin' On

Bad Brains' infamous cassette-only album on ROIR remains one of the most essential punk rock releases of all time.  Their career was frustratingly rocky for anyone following the band and not all of their releases were as solid as their self-titled 1982 release.  This was my first introduction to anything so fierce, raw and intense.  To this day I find that 90% of punk rock and hardcore holds up the test of time and this album is no exception.

"Sailin' On" is the first track and certainly one of my favorites from this pioneering band who, over the years, tried to distance themselves from the punk and hardcore movements.  This was one of the issues that caused a rift within the band throughout their career and was one of many reasons why they broke up so many times often reforming with different singers and drummers.  The one time I saw them live I was forever disappointed and I haven't been back since.  I have the "Live at CBGB's" DVD and really, that's all you need to experience the band at the top of their live performance game.


This is just the beginning, there are more songs to be added to the list!

Thanks for reading!

Rebel Sound Comedy Returns on Sept. 23! Come Laff Your A** Off! There's Even A Magician Too!

It's going to be an evening of firsts, returns, magic (yes magic!) and some actual funny people! Rebel Sound Comedy returns for a fun-filled evening of stand-up comedy featuring some of the funniest knuckleheads this side of the Housatonic! The drinks at the VFW flow very cheaply so this will enhance the humor, trust me, they'll need all the help they can get!

$7***all ages****DOORS at 9pm so we don't disturb the master thes...pians upstairs or the bums sleeping in the gutter!

****People start telling funny stuff at 9:30pm, so drink up at the bar, it will be funnier that way!

Limited seating is available, advance reservations to any of the performers is encouraged and hopefully effective!

**while this is an all-ages event, it's for mature audiences, it's hard to make R-rated material PG, trust me, not everyone is that clever!**

Scheduled to appear:

*Mark Jagiello (Hostess with the Mostess) - Mark has appeared all over the region grocery shopping, buying gas and even performing comedy in upstate NY, NYC, VT, MA and in the office for all of his co-workers! They told him he was funny AND NOW look at him!

* Lance "Picnic Table" Madewell - "PIcnic Table" is making his stand-up comedy debut, please no throwing of rotten food at him! (after a severe beatdown, you will be cleaning it up!) While you get to hear bits and pieces of his wit on WTBR's "The Bad Medicine Show", this forum will give Mr. Table the opportunity to shine uncensored by the FCC!

*Colby Durand - Colby is a pure "Eastern Masshole" through and through who also happens to be funny! He's back after killing us softly at the last RSR comedy night back in 2010. He was recently beat out 3 other guys to win the honor of "Hottest Stand-Up Comedian at MCLA Who Happens to Be From Malden MA Who Was Born on April 3, 1986"!

*Andy Poncherello - Unfortunately Andy remembers 1986 all too well. In 2010 he vowed to perform a stand-up set "one time and one time only!" Clearly, like The Who, he doesn't know when to quit, however he put his differences aside and decided to reunite for this very special comedy event.

*Sharkee Katz - This kat is once again leaving his digs in the Pioneer Valley to head over the hell....er...hill to bring the funny! You've seen him on the FBI's Most Wanted List and if you've gotten lucky with Sharkee, you've seen his infamous Hartford Whalers tattoo! While he has been accused of having a mid-Western accent, he's not from Minnesota!

*Johnny Mystic - He's magical! He's funny! (we hope) He's magical, that's for sure! Mr. Mystic is making his Rebel Sound Comedy debut and he's been wowing audiences throughout the region for over 2 decades. He's bringing his unique blend of entertainment to this rather odd gathering of lunatics! It's either perform tonight or he stays home and stares are the wall.

Dead Aces new CD Ain't That Bad Unless You Believe MRR

Older zine readers, punk fans or what have you probably remember the day when a review or mention in Maximum Rock n' Roll (or even Flipside) was a badge of honor.  Over the years there have been many changes including the homogenizing of the scene in general, the closing of Flipside and the death of MRR founder Tim Yohannan.  While MRR soldiers on into yet another decade, it seems that the hipster mentality has crept into the hallowed pages of this once mighty and influential zine.  Reviews are overly negative and unless you have some kind of weird basement show street cred, play The Fest or reside in Bay Area, you're almost certain of getting either quick afterthought one sentence review or an extremely bad review.

All 3 of Rebel Sound Records' most recent releases have been blasted by MRR and it's almost to the point that I expect to read that the bands RSR has chosen to work with plain old suck.  I usually advise the bands I'm working with to not bother sending MRR anything because they'll most likely trash it.

Troy NY's Dead Aces spent quite a bit of time with Don Fury at his upstate NY recording facility and you know what?  Their record is good, so good in fact it surprised me.  Some of the songs from their previous demo appear here and they've been updated to the point that they kick the demo versions out of the pit.  Fury managed to capture the band at their best as would be expected, but I still think recording with him can be a gamble.  What good does "produced by Don Fury" mean if you've recorded really bad songs?  You're only going to sound as good as the source material and if your songs aren't good he can only use so much polish on a turd before it becomes an expensive historical document.

13 tracks is a perfect amount for long time fans and new fans alike.  You can sing along to most of these songs and they sound familiar while still sounding fresh, which isn't easy to do.  For me personally, Oi! is a very British/European style and it's always been hard for American bands to get it right.   On "Best of Luck in Your Future Endeavors" their Oi! influences show without sounding cliched and are elevated above bands who rely too much on following a particular formula when they write.  Throw in some punk, hardcore and even rock n' roll to give you a good idea as to what Dead Aces sound like. It's a solid album and after 4 years of performing and writing, it's nice to hear someone actually get it right for once.

Michael Vick, I Hope You Rot

Pictures are worth a thousand words and this one may be worth at least 10,000....maybe more.

Mighty Mighty Bosstones & Dropkick Murphys live in Fenway Park!

If you missed the Dropkick Murphys on their minor league ballpark tour in 2008 or at Punk Rock Bowling this past Memorial Day weekend, then definitely make your way to Fenway Park on September 8th and 9th for special concert event!  Joining the Dropkick Murphys will be hometown favorites the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, who we really don't see enough of quite honestly.

Fenway Park, one of the last remaining parks that hasn't been renamed in some corporate sponsorship tomfoolery, will have a special stage in place over the right field bullpen for this event.  Check out the details here and tickets will be on sale July 5 for fans (and July 7 for people who know DKM from The Departed and the Bosstones as that band from Clueless or frontman Dicky Barrett from the Jimmy Kimmel Show), use the code MIGHTY when purchasing.  This will be the first time for the Bosstones at Fenway, but DKM has been here before most recently for the NHL Winter Classic.

Show Attendance: Answers to the Question "Why Isn't Anyone Here?"

Many years have passed since promoting my first Rebel Sound event at the long gone Woody's Roadhouse in Washington MA, a venue owned by what many report to have been a borderline crook.  Woody's still stands and it is in fact in the middle of pretty much nowhere on route 8 where it hasn't moved for decades.  During the heydays of the (for better or for worse) 80's music scene in Berkshire County, Woody's was a destination of sorts somewhat centrally located (30 minutes from Pittsfield, about the same distance from Great Barrington and about an hour from parts of northern Berkshire County).  The distance to get there never seemed to phase anyone because the parking lot always seemed to be full with professional partiers who basically showed up regardless of who was playing, drank heavily and would attempt to drive home.  True, this was the golden age of cover bands, change the name of the band, the heads of the players and you have the same band playing night after night.  All of this was fine and good, frustrating too, but at least people left their house.  When I booked Woody's for an exhausting (but great) 13 band event I faced challenges right up to and during the show which are not related to the subject at hand.  At that time, there really weren't other shows to hand out fliers at or establishments willing to post fliers for much of anything other than benefit events.  A few places remain in the area that to this day are friendly to posting of fliers for random non-benefit gigs.

Times have changed and now in 2011 there are so many distractions, it's extremely difficult to not only promote shows, but to also get people to leave their house to attend them.  Promotion almost isn't a key factor any longer as people either ignore invites or postings on the internet or the classic their-dog-ate-the-flier-you-handed-them-on-the-way-to-throw-up-on-their-homework-it's prom night-the-carnival-is-in-town-I-feel-sick-I-had-to-go-to-a-picnic-I -am-camping classic excuse is used as to why they didn't show up.  Suddenly driving to other parts of the county is too far, but driving hours to Boston, NYC, (insert name of festival here) or elsewhere is not only okay but can become a mission of life or death for some unknown reason.  Handing out fliers/posting fliers has almost become as pointless as opening a store in a day and age where people can effortlessly steal what you're trying to sell them in 10 seconds online.

Is this directly anyone's fault?  Not really, but the bands playing shows are almost as guilty as the people who aren't coming to see them.  In most cases, people follow by example.  All individuality is thrown out the window if there is even the slightest chance that someone may go to a show alone, not know anyone and feel awkward.  I get that and I've done that very same thing.  I don't let it bother me and you shouldn't either.

"Why Isn't Anyone Here?"

This very difficult to answer with a simple one sentence response (sorry) but I'll try.

1) BAND RESPONSIBILITY It is no one's job other than your own to promote your show to your friends, family and co-workers.  Bands with more than one musician really should be promoting the show to as many people as they can via internet or in person.  Just because your drummer is promoting it to all of his friends doesn't mean you share the same friends and maybe, just maybe you should promote it to your friends too.  Odds are you have different friends unless you're a psychopath and start to dress, act and speak like your drummer.  Technically in a band of 4 people there should be on average 600 people getting an invite or reminder of your show.  Out of that 600, figure maybe 1/3 of them are common friends among the band and the remaining 2/3 are unique to each band member.  If the singer isn't notifying their friends but the drummer is notifying their friends, the friends of the singer will be left out and won't know about the show you're playing.  If the entire band doesn't promote the show, it's the entire band's fault regardless of the amount of promotion involved.

2) TELEPATHY DOESN'T WORK/BANDS YOU'RE NOT THAT GOOD  Wishing and hoping people will come to your show if you've hung or distributed fliers or told a limited amount of people is really unrealistic.  Odds are an excuse will come into play, so you can't rely on them.  You have to rely on people you don't really know all that much.  If you're from out of town, you have to hope that the local band did their job.  If the venue has other events close to your event, it's best to go to them, hand out fliers and talk to people.  If they don't know you or haven't met you then why should they care you are playing?  The fact that you're playing in Berkshire County should also be considered because people usually assume local means it's not good when it comes to music.  Regardless how good you think you are and what your friends tell you, to most people who don't know you, you're not a good band.  They don't care.  They've never heard of you and unless you're playing something they're familiar with they're not going to waste their precious time to come see you.  They're not going to drop everything and stop their lives to sit and watch you.  Sucks, but it's true.

3)  SUPPORT OTHER LOCAL BANDS  This goes without saying and goes beyond saying "yeah, I like them, I've seen them once."  If you are in a local band, you have to lead by example and go to as many shows locally as you can.  The bands should notice this and in turn will come to your show if you ask them.  I see this kind of behavior quite a bit where local bands (unfortunately) do not support other local bands.  Even if you're not a fan of the band but are friends with the band, it's best you support them whenever they play out.  It's more important than you'll ever know.  Which leads me to point 4.

4)  CLUBS ARE NOT PROMOTERS  Just because a club booked your band and created an event page, doesn't mean you can lay around and not promote your show.  Don't rely on the clubs to do it because again, they will know different people than you do and most of the times have such a diverse list of people they reach that it's almost like they are not helping you promote at all (and they shouldn't have to).  They booked you and that's the end of their job until day of the show.  The band has to hustle to get people there.  If the best band in the world plays to an empty club, the club will think long and hard about having you back.  It's nothing personal, it's just business and they have to make ends meet over and above the band getting gas money.  Without the club, there will be one less place to play.  Fair is fair.  The club is providing for you a place to play, the potential to draw an audience and have a great time.  Without the audience it becomes a glorified rehearsal and while the time can be utilized in that manner, it's not worth the time it took to get there for a simple rehearsal that could've been done at your practice pad.

5)  PEOPLE FOLLOW BY EXAMPLE  Set one and hopefully people will come see your band wherever you're playing.

eBay Hall of Shame

If you made this list, congratulations, you suck as a human being.

EBAY USER ID:  vynillvillain is a total and complete whiner cry-baby.  Andrew Cooley is based in Australia, works at the Grand Central Hotel in Lithgow and generally only buys stuff from the Hard-Ons.  Beware, if he doesn't deem whatever you sell him to be in the condition he believes it to be, he will threaten negative feedback.  Even after refunding him in full (including shipping), he'll deny receiving it and then still leave negative feedback.  At this time, he has less than 55 feedback points, meaning he's only been on eBay for a short time.  While those of us who have 5500+ feedback points are left at the mercy of his whim. UPDATE:  Here's more from the thunder down under and I've posted both his initial rant and my response.  I am finding this rather amusing.

Dear vynillvillain, This is over seriously, you got your money, a free record, the satisfaction of calling me a liar and thief, questioning my business practices. If I had purposely mislead 5000 + people, how could I even sell on eBay? Are you that new to this that you would really think that? What more could you possibly want? More money? - vinyl-pops

                     

Dear vinyl-pops, Talk about having a whinge & a whine yourself WANKER! LIST YOUR SHIT RECORDS ACCURATELY IN FUTURE! 10 YEARS TELLS ME YOU ARE MORE THAN COMPLACENT, YOU DELIBERATELY TRY TO MISLEAD PEOPLE. YOU'RE THE ONLY FUCKWIT THAT GIVES EBAY A BAD, BAD NAME. GROW UP YOURSELF YOU FUCKING CHILD. - vynillvillain

EBAY USER ID:  streetwiseg is anything but streetwise, this eBay bidder is another glorious example of a clueless newbie.  Less than 25 feedbacks and instead of bringing a minor issue to my attention, he leaves negative feedback.  I almost hopped a plane and flew to Greece to punch him in the face myself.  Georgios Papdopoulos is apparently a common or possibly a made up name, similar to that of "John Smith" according to my friend in Athens.  Not only did he get 2 rare pressings of a terrible LP, but he managed to successfully leave negative feedback over a truly minor issue.  He buys truly shitty American hardcore and won't file with eBay to remove the feedback.

EBAY USER ID:  gorgstein702 aka R Brunty lives in Las Vegas and I was just there, I should've checked on the so-called family emergency that caused him/her to be unable to pay for a $10 record plus shipping, maybe it was only an $8 record....?  In any event, I've heard these random mysterious excuses before "family emergency, dog died, I died, my dog ate my money....etc."  I mean, whatever absurdity he/she thought I'd believe, they've since managed to buy (and pay for) a few things since.  Again, another relatively new eBay member with under 45 feedback transactions.

Sellers cannot leave negative feedback on eBay, which is truly one-sided and rather ridiculous.