διάρινον λείψανον

Hello...Singapore!!! Why would I get 2K hits on the blog for the last 3 months from y'all? Hmmm...ratas, sólo buscan darle un mordisco a cualquier cosa que puedan!?!? 

Remember this one, 80s folks? Times have changed and yet they haven't...

Been there...maybe we all have? As Maxwell Smart may have said, wthe old flaming fuck you trick. Reminds me of Lemmy and Ian Fraser's song, I Ain't No Nice Guy (which I have already posted somewhere in the last 50 posts)...

When I was young I was the nicest guy I knew

I thought I was the chosen one

But time went by and I found out a thing or two

My shine wore off as time wore on

I thought that I was living out the perfect life

But in the lonely hours when the truth begins to bite

I thought about the times when I turned my back & stalled

I ain't no nice guy after all

When I was young I was the only game in town

I thought I had it down for sure,

But time went by and I was lost in what I found

The reasons blurred, the way unsure

I thought that I was living life the only way

But as I saw that life was more than day to day

I turned around, I read the writing on the wall

I ain't no nice guy after all

I ain't no nice guy after all

In all the years you spend between your birth and death

You find there's lots of times you should have saved your breath

It comes as quite a shock when that trip leads to fall

I was peaking on acid for the first time, at 14, when this song came on while we were watching the movie at my buddy Roy's house in North Hollywood. I miss old Roy, don't know where he's at these, but I would certainly hope that he has his groove on.

"Get away from me fly, it's not my birthday" - Kenneth Marx (RIP)

I just realized that the song Linger by The Cranberries is about me (cause that's what everything is about...right...hahah), Dolores Mary O'Riordan (RIP) & Noel Anthony Hogan wrote the song, it's obviously about one person not being "true" to another person. In my reality, I talk to myself, in real life (don't we all?), sometimes holler, and myself has not been true to me. What I want to be and what I really am are sometimes light years apart. I don't "linger", I "languish"...

If you, if you could return

Don't let it burn

Don't let it fade

I'm sure I'm not being rude

But it's just your attitude

It's tearing me apart

It's ruining every day

I swore, I swore I would be true

And honey so did you

So why were you holding her hand?

Is that the way we stand?

Were you lying all the time?

Was it just a game to you?

But I'm in so deep

You know I'm such a fool for you

You got me wrapped around your finger

Do you have to let it linger?

Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

Oh, I thought the world of you

I thought nothing could go wrong

But I was wrong, I was wrong

If you, if you could get by

Trying not to lie

Things wouldn't be so confused

And I wouldn't feel so used

But you always really knew

I just want to be with you

And I'm in so deep

You know I'm such a fool for you

You got me wrapped around your finger

Do you have to let it linger?

Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

And I'm in so deep

You know I'm such a fool for you

You got me wrapped around your finger

Do you have to let it linger?

Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

You know I'm such a fool for you

You got me wrapped around your finger

Do you have to let it linger?

Do you have to, do you have to, do you have to let it linger?

I call my burden, my backpack full of rocks...you gotta carry it until you're dead. If some part of you ends up someplace besides the dirt, I hope for your sake it's a good existence...I don't think in my case it will be with Jesus. Great fucking tune played by a true master of his craft.

Another one from Mississippi Fred...just because...ya know...go out with some John Henry!

 

Urge? I have none

 

Panther stopped and visited me at the reliquias outpost looking for a scratch behind the ear...doesn't he just look like a mini-black panther?

Got a long sad history with this tune, but in this case it was the first one that came to mind when I thought of Panther, who was a shelter score, so he may have indeed been a stray cat at sometime. Had an all black cat when I was a kid that I named Magic. Still have the faintest of scars on my face from when he scratched to shit outta me when I saved from a dog...he was like, fuck that, I know how to save myself, let me fucking go and I will climb that tree right fucking there...hahah.

Spot keeping me company at bedtime...she's a keeper

Sleep long, sleep well

Only to awake in hell.

One day I saw a man asleep

In a doorway on the street

Through walls of sheltered inhibition

I perceived his condition.

Dying of hunger and exposure,

Food and shelter, two blocks over.

Within this place we breed and dwell

We've created living hell.

Sleep long, sleep well

Only to awake in hell.

City sleeps and pigeons flutter,

Vagrant dies in the gutter

Prideless death somehow befitting

To life spent working on forgetting.

Riding on the bus, I looked outside and thought about death

Passing cars the only tribute to his gasping final breath.

Sleep long, sleep well

Only to awake in hell.

Then I went home, to get my mind off things,

I decided to watch television.

Constant subliminal brain immersion

Subconscious death wish coercion.

Buy and consume and want and need

Never fall from the trap of greed.

I thought about the bitter pain

Of jail cells and falling rain,

I thought ahead and I looked away,

What can you do anyway ?

In sheltered youth and our pretension

Avert our eyes to divert attention

Only to see the human victims

Always there to remind us.

Sleep long, sleep well

Only to awake in hell. 

Only to awake in hell

White Magic? Black Magic? What am I to do?

Still in awe of my dog...so rad in some ways and such a dickhead in others...very human.

The perfect song for my dog, who is really just an extension of myself. I have a long history of dickhead-dom...numerous examples available upon request :)

...but my cup runneth over...hahah...right?

Heard this on Humboldt Hot Air tonight on James & Patty's Dinner Party (minus James tonight)...Monday nights from 6-8 west coast time. The other show for me is of course Jefe's, Leftoverking Smorgasbord on Friday nights from 6-8. Not only do I fucking love this music but I should have known I'd probably dig it if it came from KEXP...I haven't had time to fully explore their channel but you want a fucking solid example of some seriously captivating artists, these folks would be a great start! Good night to the real or imagined....

PUSHED

 

First and foremost, gotta say, I'm a huge fan of Steve & Amy at DiWulf Publishing House! So honored to get review requests from them and a pleasure to communicate with...good folks in a world that is chalk full of bad ones (imho). This here is from their website and reminds me that big things come in little packages...

"DiWulf specializes in publishing non-fiction books dedicated to the preservation and celebration of subculture, mostly through underground music and art scenes. We are a small company and we are dedicated to publishing beautiful, limited edition books that sometimes cost a lot. We aim to make books that are different from the standard fare; we do limited print runs of material that we are passionate about and we put all of our resources into making books that make a statement. We are not Amazon, we don't have the reach or the pull to cater to large market demands. What we do have is a dedication to celebrating and preserving subcultural movements and a desire to present the world with rare books that represent everything we are passionate about. We make the kind of books we would like to read and love to own."

Anyway...their latest "celebration of subculture" comes at you with a loud slam (a big fucking book being slammed on a table and someone telling you, "check THIS out")...the amazingly on point photography of Brian D. Garrity. If his picture of the Lunachicks (above) doesn't absolutely inspire you to go to a club and catch a live act, then I don't know what to say. Dude has seriously put in his time and seen some shit, when it comes to an underground scene and fortunately, for us, has brilliantly captured it. You feel like you're right there at the club, one of many, there to hang out and check out some live music. Plus, being a photographer has it perks, because sometimes you are allowed into an inner circle or get a view of a side most fans don't get to see....Brian has a keen eye and immense talent for capturing those moments as well (see photo below...if I'm not mistaken, Mercedes, of the band Kittie).

Page after page of great pics and like the goddamned individuals that we're supposed to be, no two are alike. I was left saying to myself, as I scrolled through my pre-release digital copy, "saw them, they were rad...really wished I'd seen them...wow, they look interesting, never heard 'em, might have to change that." Some of the more personal pics, left me thinking that I too would like to sit down with that person or those people and perhaps bend their ear. Sparklehorse (below) would definitely be a good starting place.  

A question for you and Amy (of DiWulf Publishing House)...

How did you run across Brian and his amazing work? After checking out the book several times now, I know that you two must have been on a "mission from God (Blues Brothers reference)" to get these out there....and thank you for doing so?

From Amy: He (Brian Garrity) was referred to DiWulf by Peter Davis of Your Flesh fame.  After seeing an early version of the book - we couldn't say no! 

Steve: Amy put this one together with NO help from me. She told me about the project and once I saw the layout and the photos Brian had, I was all in. 

Howdy Brian and thanx, in advance for agreeing to answer a few questions (feel free to ignore or elaborate as you see fit with these) and they are in no particularly meaningful order...

When was that moment that you decided, THIS is what I'm going to do and how would you describe what THIS is?  (I see you as a hands-on historian, you were there man)

I don't believe that there was any moment that I made any kind of decision to shoot bands. It basically spontaneously evolved from being exposed to the overwhelming talent that surrounded me at that time.

Was there ever a circumstance when you thought, I don't want to do this anymore...if so please elaborate and if not, why?

About 2006, I'd become seduced by a corporate paycheck, and basically retired from documenting the music scene then, though I did continue to play in bands briefly afterward.

Have you ever had someone or a band ask to not be photographed...and if so what was their rationale?

Only time I can recall was at Edgefest '99, when 'Hole' restricted the media participants during their performance.

I personally grew up in the 80s LA scene which could sometimes get out of hand, so to speak, any memorable moments like that for you?

Most definitely. More times than I can mention, much less, recall.

You seem like a very down to earth person, is that the way you might describe yourself?

Let's just say my motto is; if you ain't pissed off, you ain't paying attention.

I plan on posting the book cover itself along with three of my faves (based on personal taste and familiarity)...do you have that one photo that really means the most to you (your Michelangelo, your Starry Night, etc)?

Always liked the way the 'Alternative Press Magazine' cover of Tim Armstrong of Rancid turned out. Also, maybe the snarling close-up of Rollins.

Was there one in particular that gave you the most street cred as an artist (ala Edward Culver's pic of the guy doing a flip off the PAs into the audience)...the most accolades?

Doubtful. Think it was more the sheer numbers of shots I was turning out.

 

Please describe that one show that you would put at the top of the heap of shows that you've attended.

'My Bloody Valentine's earsplitting performance at First Avenue, 1991. Though, to be fair, I was on psilocybin.

I was stoked to see some of my favorite bands and the ones I hadn't heard of, I'm now interested in exploring further...got an obscure band or two you might say, scream to be heard?

Babe the Blue Ox', 'Lunachicks', and 'Sparkleborse', are criminally underrated.

Thank you Brian (and Steve & Amy) for sharing this wonderful project. As usual ole Mostaza is a day late and a dollar short...the official release date was yesterday, September 4th. Well worth a peek y'all...