To me, I have the heart to be on the road and live a life different than many of my peers.  Punk rock and what I believe is its ethics has fueled me to continue doing it even after so many people I have known have “settled down”  or given up due to desperation.  My band may not be playing bar chords and flying as fast as we can.  We may not be dirty and uncoothed, and we certainly are not fashioned after a punk ‘look’.  We don’t play breakdowns and stand behind watered down lifestyle ideas.  We do what we want and we are good people.

I think that it defeats the spirit of punk, to merely emulate what has already occured to the point of monotony and mediocrity.  This is our music.  In the spirit of Do-It-Yourself, we forge our own rules, both musically, socially, and business wise.  I do not intend to pursue music for the purpose of capitalism, I just merely want to be able to keep going.  This does not mean selling myself out and selling us short.

Refused proclaimed “we want the airwaves back!” and in that spirit, we struggle in order to maintain control until the end.  In today’s musical climate, it is easy to do that in theory, but there are so many bands that are not creating music from the heart. It seems to me that a trend has come to where do it yourself is so easy even bands that don’t deserve anything at all have become popular.  It saddens me to see this night after night.  Its marketed and fed into the myspace generation like cheap candy and energy drinks.

I see kids claim straight edge who do it solely for the shirts and friends.  People become Christians or wear upside down crosses or get fucked up all the time just because someone told them to.  We need to wake up and take a do it ourselves think for ourselves approach and unify under THAT idea instead.

It is my belief that no matter how many friends you have or plays you receive on a social networking site on the internet, or what magazines your band gets recognition or advertising in, it has to start in the hearts of true music lovers.  It has to be real to last.  It has to have significance. I wish for success but success is measured individually.  I am not happy pumping out 500 mediocre songs.  I am not happier squeezing every ounce of my heart dry and sharing that with everyone, even if they don’t get it!

To all of you musicians out there, trust me when I say you will feel more fulfilled if your heart is in the music you create.  I feel you will be happier and smarter if you are open to different styles and horizons.  You don’t have to be defined by a genre or style.  Punk is not a genre.

There is also the other side of the coin: many bands and fans are elitist and arrogant.  There are a lot of bands who are so underground they think their shit doesn’t stink and that they are on some more hardcore edge than the rest.  I have news for you:  You can touch more people with empathy.  I am a firm believer in unity and positivity in the underground, but these bands, who are good, by the way, who do nothing but put themselves into cliques and do only for themselves, have done nothing good for me or anyone.  They may ask my band to open for them in our town.  They may talk big talks, but in the end most of these bands are in it for themselves and only themselves.  THAT IS NOT HARDCORE PUNK. THAT IS NOT THE SPIRIT OF DIY HANDED DOWN! As is the motto.

It is a problem.  I thought doing it ourselves was something that would unify us, regardless of the genre.  I am a strong observer in the history of punk and hardcore, and it did not die when black flag and minor threat broke up.  Bands kept the spirit and ethic alive past that era of music, and the ones that pioneered it kept it alive, even without the clique sound.  Things have become cliche, and everyone and their brother knows the hardcore of today and takes it only at its face value.  I wish more people knew the history and realized the only way to keep from monotony and boredom is to feel the change and to feel it in their hearts.

One thing I urge music lovers and show goers to do is remember that YOU also build DIY and the Underground by what you are buying and supporting.  You choose the success rate of your favorite music.  If something sucks, don’t support it.  If you feel it and know its real… help push these bands as far as you can.  Show up to their shows when they come through your town, even if that means going out on a Monday night So they don’t die out like refused did!  Don’t support shitty promoters and venues.  Don’t let violence destroy your communities. Stand together because this is for all of us.  This is for everyone.  Not just male dominant crowd killing pricks and elistist hipster snobs.  Be real men and women and be active.  This is grass roots. We have the right and responsibility to keep this world alive.  Lets do it ourselves! The Spirit of punk is not dead yet!

For days and weeks I made the parting call.
I cupped my hands, my mouth an “O.”
I shouted saying,
“Brothers, hold my fading arms in the air, I am weak!”
They just faded there,
My voice was gone.

Who will rescue me from this body, not the arms, the fingers still? yes,
They feel what they touch as well,
Cut the cords.
Let the ancient Adam go.
I’ve been dancing with this corpse for nineteen years.

And when I said,
“Who will shave my head, and on that might, reveal me in my skin?”
All the secrets of fitness:
all the fitness He requires is to feel your need for Him.

In my room, in my room,
in this gospel I have made, salvation is a broken cistern in a handmade frame.
I cut the sheets into a flag,
paint it red,
self-pity hangs over the doorway in. From seven times seventy scraping knees,
blood lets, deficiencies,
these are the layers of bandages, protection from the sting.
In this great lacking,
I’ve found a way.

And when I said,
“Who will shave my head, and on that might reveal me in my skin?”
All the secrets of fitness:
All the fitness He requires is to feel your need for Him.

Who will rescue me from this body, not the arms, the fingers still? yes,
they feel what they touch as well,
cut the cords.
Let the ancient Adam go.
I’ve been dancing with this corpse for nineteen years.

But most of the time I have confidence in my beliefs and can’t truly imagine a creator living somewhere waiting for us to join him after our deaths. Many artists I listen to express my same beliefs or non-beliefs if you will. To me, if someone is open enough to share their opinions on this subject is truly someone who is not afraid of sure criticism. Lets be honest most people view atheist as a word with a bad connotation and to me that is not the case at all. Musicians who are not afraid to stand up for their beliefs and are still successful are the people I strive to be most like. I tend to find myself being weary about writing lyrics that I think people will use as a “judgment call” against me. Staying true to your own beliefs is something I struggle with whenever I want to write a song about religion and its effects on our world, but staying true is what makes a musician.

As Cities Burn is another one of my favorite bands and after a loss of a best friend their faith is challenged and I think they say it just right in their song entitled “Timothy” after their dead friend…

It’s not the cold making my legs shake,
It’s Timmy’s ghost taking his place in our hearts forever.

It’s not the sound keeping me from sleep,
It’s what Jesus said about hell underneath.
I think I’d rather believe it’s some imaginary place,
Made up to make children behave,
So our souls are safe to wander off,
Wherever they might please.
Your soul is safe wherever you might be.

Come now, sleep.
Come, now sleep.

Tell me I’m only dreaming.
Tell me he’s just sleeping.
And when morning comes,
We’ll both wake up to see the sun,
And love that’s enough to keep our friends alive.

Phone call.
I pull my car to the side of the road.
No, it’s not the cold making my legs shake,
It’s someone I love being taken away.
A ghost taking his place in our hearts.

Where inside he moves from room to room.
But sometimes he climbs our spines,
To remind our grieving heads,
That in this way he hasn’t left.

Tell me I’m only dreaming.
Tell me he’s just sleeping.
And when morning comes,
We’ll both wake up to see the sun,
And love that’s enough to keep our friends alive.

The lines that I think describe the Christian religion as well as most religions perfectly is the first real verse where he talks about it all being put in place to make children behave and to make us feel better about dying. Most people can’t just accept being buried and nothing happening to our bodies after except rotting so Heaven really is a great alternative.

Other stand up comedians have mastered this style as well; Demetri Martin is another favorite of mine. Demetri Martin is most commonly seen on Comedy Central where he has several stand up shows on rotation as well as his own show. Important Things with Demetri Martin is his show on Comedy Central and the name says it all. The show consists of Demetri essentially ranting about things that he deems important. I am not a huge fan of his show but his stand up and work with the Daily Show I think are terrific. His show and standup are both full of him playing the guitar as well as the piano this on top of his extremely dry sense of humor make for some hilarious entertainment. Here is one of my favorite clips of his… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoCRmfJP9kU&feature=related

I think that my favorite comedian who includes music into their skits would have to be Zach Galifianakis. A lot of people know of him now because of his role in the recent comedy movie “The Hangover.” His standup is where he shines in my book. He also has a pretty dry sense of humor but his work on the piano is amazing. He plays intricate pieces all well telling hilarious jokes and plays the piano without difficulty. That’s the part for me that makes Zach stand out above the rest is his true musicianship. I’ll put a video in later but instead of just playing chords or simple melodies with one hand, Galifianakis plays parts that put shame to anything I could write and you can really tell he is very talented. It’s amazing how these comedians can be so original and really expand their artistic creativity outside just standing up in front of a microphone telling jokes. This is one of my favorite examples of this from Zach… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0plTVyzjLY0

The last group of comedians I will talk about is the “gang” of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. First off let me just say that if you have never checked out this show and you are into comedy television shows I highly recommend it. Danny Devito is a very funny crude old man in the series and plays a real no holds barred kind of character that he pulls of incredibly well. Already one of my favorite shows but a recent episode sent it over the top, it was the season finale of last season.  The episode is called “The Nightman Cometh” and it’s all centered around a musical that one of the characters has written to win over a girl’s heart. Devito plays a troll who holds a young boy as a slave high up in a tower and sells him for sex to The Nightman. I know, I know sounds ridiculous and crazy but it truly is hilarious as the “gang” interprets the script in their own ways and completely blow the show. Here is some of the live version I couldn’t find anything from the actual episode, but again adds a whole element to the comedy but making it a musical…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftbzkTxlwSQ&feature=related

By: Scott Ebo

Nirvana was one of the first bands I had ever listened to…… Ok, I lied it was between System of a Down and A.F.I. but Niravana is only band for which I have all of their cd’s…Ok, I lied again. I pretty much own all of B2k’s cds. ( B2K were the black peoples N*Sync) Maybe I should start over.

Nirvana was one of the first bands I had listened to and became obsessed with. Yes, obsessed but it was completely innocent. It all started with the song “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. I know, I know that the song is over played but when you are coming from a household that mostly played Michael Jackson, The Isley Brothers, Anita Baker, and many others, Nirvana is as fresh as new underwear. I had heard of the band before but never took the time to actually listen to them. I’m glad however that I have an amazing BFF, who just so happen to have one of their albums (Nevermind) on her computer. I waited patiently as she burned a copies for me. I enjoyed the smell of permanent marker as she wrote the name of the band on the disc. It was a very golden moment. I walked home and put it the C D right away. After I listened to “Smells like Teen Spirit” a million times, I finally let the disc play from start to finished. I was completely shocked about how many songs I actually have heard before and had no clue it was Nirvana. Songs like ” Lithium”, “Come as You Are” and ” In Bloom” seemed very familiar. Maybe I had heard the melody in a commercial or maybe they played it on MTV. Whatever it was, I wanted more. I then used any gift certificates that I earned and tried to buy all of their albums from Amazon. ( Amazon.com is freaking amazing!) I was able to buy Bleach, Incestide, In Utero, and MTV Unplugged in New York cd’s for about 3 dollars plus shipping.

When my obsession started, I was trying to figure out what the songs meant. For Example, here are song lyrics from the song Mexican Seafood:

Ah, the itchy flakes, it is flaming
To, the gels and creams, it is pertaining
To, a fungus mold cured by injection
Hope it’s only Ah, a yeast infection
Oh well it hurts when I, hurts when I pee
Oh well it hurts when I, hurts when I see

Now I vomit cum and diarrhea
On the tile floor, like oatmeal-pizza
Fill my toilet bowl, full of a cloudy puss
I feel the blood, becoming chowdered rust

Oh well it hurts when I, hurts when I pee
Oh well it hurts when I, hurts when I see

Roll into my bed, which does consist of
Lice, bugs and fleas and yellow mucus
Stained, dirt vaseline, toe jam and boogers
Stomach acid worms, that dance in sugared sludge

At first, I thought the song written just to see how many nasty things could be put together, but after I had done extensive independent research about the band and borrowed a book at Kurt Cobain’s idea notebook, I realize that it had meaning to Kurt and it didn’t matter it I got it or not. He hated when critics tried to make sense of his songs. In the song On A Plain( Which is one of many favorite songs by Niravana), there are a couple lines that addressed this issue:

Somewhere I have heard this before
In a dream my memory has stored
As a defence I’m neutered and spayed
What the hell am I trying to say?
It is now time to make it unclear
To write off lines that don’t make sense
I love myself better than you
I know it’s wrong so what should I do?

Compared to a lot of bullshit that is on the radio, I love the lyrical freedom that this band possessed. (However I do believe this song is about his pain stomach ulcers.) After that, I bought the Live! Tonight! Sold Out! video album on VHS and absolutely loved how they performed for their audiences. It was truly like nothing I had ever seen. Nirvana was not only a heavy grunge band, they were revolutionary.

Their renditions of  David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” and Lead Belly “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” are haunting and beautiful.

As I started to get into the whole generic genre of “Rock” and “Alternative” music, I laid of Nirvana for a while. I always find myself going back to them and rediscovering my love for the band. One day I will finally wear my Nirvana shirt that is hanging in my closet. When I finally do, I will with a smile and maybe met fellow Nirvana lovers.

* Blank Stare*

This story begins with my friend Candice, myself and my mp3. While in photography class in high school, Candice(who is African-American) asked to listen to my mp3. I said,  ”Sure “, without any hesitation. After the mp3 left my hands, however, an internal alarm went off. I then realized that the first song on my mp3 was Floyd the Barber by Nirvana. I just KNEW that she wasn’t going to enjoy the piercing screams of Kurt Cobain and the amazing drumming of Dave Grohl. From this point on everything was in slow motion. I watched her put in the left earphone and then the right. Or was it the other way around? Then I watched as she fumbled with my mp3, almost dropping it to the floor. My heart was about to…to..to.. * Explosion*

At this moment she asked: “What do you have on your mp3? What songs are on here?” My breathing changed, my eyes widened, and my throat became dry. I truly thought I was going to pass out but what came out of my mouth sounded like a challenge. “Just turn it on and listen. You might find something you like.” She picks it back up and ask me to show her how to turn it on. My hands were trembling as I pressed the on button. She turns it on. I stare at her face for a response. She looked like she just saw a naked clown doing cartwheels with confetti blowing out it’s ass.  She automatically turns to the next song, and then the next song, and then the next song. Nirvana, System of a Down, 30 Seconds to Mars, Justin Timberlake….after passing these songs, she stops the mp3. She had NO idea about my musical taste. “I didn’t know you listened to rock music.” My response, ” Why yes I do. I listen to almost anything that catches my attention.” Her next question would spark a flame that soon would become uncontrollable.

* Drum Roll Please*

“Do you have any Black People music on here?”

I stopped and look at her. I can’t believe she just asked me that. I turned next and looked at a classmate. They found the question highly amusing and started to laugh, then looked at me for some kind of reply. ” I’m sorry but did you just ask me if I had any “BLACK PEOPLE MUSIC?! Really?! ” The angry started to swell inside of me like Mentos being dropped in Diet Coke. This wasn’t the first time someone had asked me this question. I was always considered a “weirdo” or “strange” because I didn’t dress and talk a certain way. I had always been fine with that. Weeks before this event, my step-father told me to watch for people who wear all black, and listen to metal because they are like the kids that shot up Columbine. He explained how I should stay away from those Goths or just be really nice to them. He said this statement AFTER I told him that my best friend died her hair and invited me to a punk rock (Tiger Army) concert.The frustration from this boiled over and I asked her this question, ” What do you mean Black People music? Can you give me examples?”

The following are names of artist that she gave: Soulja Boys, Usher, Dey 26, Lil Wayne, Beyonce,  and Pretty Ricky. * More Blank Stares*

I was expecting a better list of artist than this. Don’t get me wrong, I listen to and have all of those artist on my I-Tunes but she didn’t really answer my question. She dug the knife deeper by then addeding the statment , ” You know black people music. REAL music.” WHAT?! Real Music?! So other genre’s don’t exist. Are they not real? As an African American, am I not allowed to listen to things OTHER than Hip-Hop, Rap, and R&B? Was there some hidden amendment that said “All Negros must listen to “Booty Meat” by Soulja Boy and shake-ith there asses to the beat.” I was beyond disgusted by then. I went on to explain how rock music IS black people music because it evolved from the blues. The blues evolved pretty much from gospel and gospel evolved from slave hymns. I tried so hard to get her to see my point. Eventually she gave me back my mp3 and told me to calm down. But since that day I have always wondered why it is taboo for someone of color to listen to other genres. Music is universal and mostly free so why not enjoy it. I think what would solve this problem is to have more black heavy metal bands and hope that kids would catch on.

*sigh* If only….

This, in my opinion, amusing video known as  Crazy loop (Mm-Ma-Ma) by Dan Balan the ex member of O-zone who some might know by the song  Dragostea din tei or more commonly know as “The Numa Numa” song which was made famous by a young man who sat in front of his computer singing to the song and for a while you could see the video everywhere but I digress. As interesting and amusing as this video is it does have a deeper meaning behind.

The video starts with a fashion show where the audience looks bored and rather tired as they watch the stiff models walk down the runway. Dan Balan, who is playing a pizza boy, who is delivering a pizza to a famous fashion designer who is in the middle of a fashion show. The designer takes a bite of the pizza but doesn’t like the pizza and spits the bite he took into the trash. A few seconds later the fashion models walk past the designer and Dan, who tries to follow the girls out on stage. The designer holds his arm out to stop Dan and pushes him away and then he himself follows the girls out. With no one around and wanting to try anything to follow the girls Dan begins to search though the clothes that are near and picks up a pair of sunglasses and a suit out of the trash. Next it cuts to a shot of Dan walking out on the stage with the girls, once in the middle of the stage Dan stops and begins to sing and dance as the girls around around him. The designer looks out horrified that the pizza boy has gotten on stage and is ruining his show. The audience seeing the tone of the show changing as they watch Dan dance around on the stage bring life back into the dull fashion show begin to look up though not sure of what to think. Some look horrified as the designer others just trying to figure out what is going on. The designer meanwhile is pushing the girls out trying to keep the show running.Then it show this older man who appears to be a VIP is surrounded by quite a few people who seem to be looking at him for his opinion. He pulls off his glove to reveal a golden thumb which he uses to give a thumbs up to the show.

Once everyone sees that the man likes it the whole feeling everyone is giving off of confusion or distaste changes as people begin to clap and the designer runs in back to grab clothes out of the trash. The clothes that he grabs he begins to use to dress the girls in wild and crazy outfits. Such as the girl carrying the giant swordfish or the girl wearing the pizza carrying the pizza that Dan had tried to deliver throwing the pizza to the crowd. The girls become more interactive with Dan such as the girl who dancing on him (not gonna lie pretty jealous of her, lol). The designer at the end of the video walks out in front of the happy audience and presents Dan a bucket of popcorn which he throws up. At the very end of the video it shows the fashion show on the cover of a magazine basically showing that the show was a huge success.

Now this video might seem silly with Dan dancing around on the stage in the middle of a fashion show in sunglasses and a suit or the girls at the end coming out in the crazy outfits but it has a point to it. This video is basically picking at the fashion industry and how that they are all cookie cutouts of one another with there mainly formal elements. In this video he is trying to show people that they should be more expressive and not just try to be a cookie cutout of one another. That the reason we wear cloths and stuff is to express ourselves whether it is a “punk” who is being a rebel or an “Emo” kid who thinks the world is out to get him, that people have the right to and should express how they feel. That is what makes life interesting, being able to be unique and expressive.

I would highly recommend for everyone to watch the rest of his videos. They are all quite unique and always funny and interesting. I would suggest if you look up Dan Balan to look up “Joanna Shut up” Or his new video, though I warn you it has a different feel to it but I guess artist are always changing and trying new things, “Chica Boom.” I hope you enjoyed this video of the interesting Romanian Dan Balan.

Blink didn’t “stay together for the kids” but they defiantly did get back together for them.