Distort and Destroy

Any blog with a content warning is alright in my book.

Trashbar

Growing up near Youngstown, the Nashbar outlet store was our little secret for the most insane deals in cycling. Their mail order was always the cheapest, but the amount of strange and cheap items in their outlet store went unrivaled. It was better to cycling than Columbus Camera Group is to photography.

After checking my debit card transactions lately, turns out someone affiliated with the company has been using my card without permission under the disguise of several different websites. Read more about this scam here.

The moral to this post is boycott Nashbar. I am not an isolated individual and the fact that this scam has gone on for years makes the company a willing partner.

More info here.

Yaehoos @ the Punk Porch, 6.27.2009

Delay and Cocaine Summer Splash @ The Punk Porch, 6.27.2009

1-3 – Delay

4 - Cocaine Summer Splash

Black Rainbow @ The Punk Porch, 6.27.2009

I love being able to see bands outside and how the Punk Porch is a no bust. Great location pick, Chad (pictured crowd surfing). For Ivy there’s no disco balls to worry about crashing down on her head.

Gallery Hop must see

Gallery hop is usually pretty lame and I know the punks don’t like it, but head over to Roy G Biv, 997 N. High Street, this Saturday and check out “James” Payne’s work. He’s Columbus’ greatest punk flyer maker and second best collage artists.

Does anyone know when the gallery is open if you can’t make it Saturday?

Stay Close

This post is for those who let friendships slip away. Don’t think that just because someone lives eight blocks away, or even downstairs, that this can’t happen to you.

By this point Clint and Toinette are in New England, not sure if it’s the “Live Free or Die” or “Freedom and Unity” state. I didn’t know her that well, but I did Clint. From Zanesville to Columbus, Ohio never could tame him and now he’s off to live on a farm in a new world.

The only similarity will be the perfect partner. Based on my own experience this time will only strengthen your relationship.

I’m optimistic and excited for your future, but I regret not staying close these last two years.

Upon moving back to Columbus you were my best friend in a city that was no longer familiar. It didn’t matter that we drank too much which resulted in an arrest I’d rather not discuss, one of the craziest nights of my life (see “Welcome Home, Bret” in the third issue of The Black Cloud zine), and you pulling a knife on me in my own apartment.

Friendships like this never die and I have a feeling our paths will cross again, probably even soon, but it doesn’t make me feel any better for squandering the time we already had.

DIY shutdown in Athens

I’m a week late, but just read about Athens trying to shut down their house-show scene. Yeah… not getting a lot done today at work.

Combined with the city’s frat culture (that makes OSU’s greek system look like a bunch of uncoordinated faggots), fights, nonstop porch insults, sidewalk puke that seems to be everywhere, loud and lame music (even by college standards), and lack of entertainment not associated with binge drinking, this shutdown is another reason why Athens is the worst place in Ohio.

I mean, the city always looks like the reptiles have escaped from their cages, got wasted on Natty Light and whatever cheap liquor they could get their claws on, and now it’s time to procreate. The worst part is these monsters never tire.

Occassionally, it’s worth braving these deplorable conditions to visit the punks and skatepark, so is there anything that can be done to help?

Should we be concerned here in Columbus?

Stay tuned…

Local journalism

The Big D kicked ass today with some interesting local copy. Thought I’d post it here since many Black Cloud fanatics probably don’t read the newspaper (sigh).

Top 10 fattest

Battling with Austin again (read the interesting first comment)

Everyone wants the tax increase

Also:

Antioch updates (don’t jeopardize your brain cells by reading the comments)

A rad photo of someone being saved at a low-head dam. Punks, don’t fuck around with the one near the Punk Porch.

While their punk coverage was terrbile (so much that I’m still raging about it), I agree with The Other Paper being recognized as the best non-daily alternative newspaper in Ohio.

Rag Rage @ The Punk Porch, 6.27.2009

New name, just about everyone from the same great band. I liked the variety of Panty Hearst’s dual-vocalist setup better (remember, I’m a lyricist and not a musician), but this is still one of Columbus’ greatest current bands.