Kurt Russell @ Carabar, 4.14.2009

Rock ‘n’ Roll Prom

Who wants to go to Bloomington? We’re planning to leave early Saturday and come home late Sunday. We’ll split gas and you have a place to sleep. Call me or leave a comment if you want to come along.

Old-ass BMXers

Here’s a trailer for the documentary “I Love My Bicycle: The Story of FBM Bikes.” I have a bad obsession with collecting BMX videos (probably over 200 by now), and I couldn’t be more excited to learn about this release. 

I’ve been riding an FBM for almost three years (used to switch frames every two years), and I can say I’ll never ride another company. Should have always rode their products because Albert Street was the first video I saw. Seriously, stop what you’re doing and click here to watch this.

Another link that relates (to this post and how I’ve been feeling lately) is this one about old-ass BMXers.  Are Milfs the new ramp tramp?

Faggot @ Carabar, 4.12.2009

I’ve lived in the heart of the Short North, wandered the streets of Provincetown summer after summer, and once saw a burlesque show in New York that featured a gay man in a wedding dress get married to a dildo. When it was time for the groom to kiss the bride he deep throated the sex toy. At the end he turned around with “I” written on one butt cheek and “do” on the other. He then preceded to bury the dildo up his ass on stage. I guess that represented the honeymoon.

Last night’s performance by Faggot at Carabar, however, was by far the gayest thing I’ve ever witnessed. Shocking, perverted, vulgar. Everyone seemed to be into the performance. I was surprised some regulars or average joes walking in off the street weren’t mortified to watch local musicians turn into sex slaves (one with the words “cum dumpster” written on their chest) crowd surface on top of naked, smelly and sweaty men or dancers gyrate around stage dry humping and grabbing at anything vaguely resembling a penis.

A pretty brunette that had been making eyes at me during their entire set finally leaned in with her lips near my ear. Had the blatant acts of sexual freedom inspired her to make a move?

“This is the most fucked up shit I’ve ever seen,” she said turning back  to take in the scene wide eyed.

New Kids on the Block

The Other Paper’s review of the New Kids on the Block concert in Columbus is incredible. From pregaming to the after party this is one of the best reviews I’ve read in a while.

On a side note, think of the $ Jimmy Buttons could make if he made 6″ punk buttons like they had for NKOTB when they came out!

Quick reviews on softer shows

I was getting a little burned out photographing so many shows and left the camera at home for these singer-songwriter ones. Since I still went, figured I might as well do some mini reviews. The one underlining theme: All artists were legit in that they were not some hipster cashing in on a new/old trend.

Josh Small/Austin Lucas/Tim Barry @ The Legion of Doom, 4.12.2009

Josh Small

Like his name suggests, Josh is a little guy, and like all little, cute things Josh is infinitely likable. From Virginia he’s not overly Southern sounding (like someone from say Georgia) and not fake like some Midwesterner trying out a guise.

Small’s greatest attribute is his multi-instrument talent which he used to crank out sorrow-filled, bluesy rock. Lyrics didn’t grab my attention and make me want to by an album, but you can’t help nodding your head and tapping your feet to a real deal.

Austin Lucas

Keeping it in the family Austin played with his sister and dad (probably the oldest dude I’ve seen in the Legion basement). They winged it, due to a broken banjo string and not practicing prior to the set, which was nice: sometimes a group so well polished is suspect.

Again, I enjoyed this set, but nothing really hooked me and refused to let go. This is the type of music I want to be a staple on my play lists, but just can’t get too enthusiastic about. Not sure what it is. Maybe Austin keeps his guard up too much?

Tim Barry

Like his best known work with Avail, Tim is hit or miss. The good songs are incredible, some of the best songs I’ve seen performed recently, but the bad ones are a little bland and preachy in the once-roughed-it-and-now-I’m-enlightened kind of way.

Still, after one song I felt comforted knowing he’ll be a professional musician until he dies.

If you get the chance, see Tim live. His stage presence feels like a rowdy Southerner drank a little too much and played an impassioned performance in your living room just for you. Now if we could just weed out some of the filler songs.

Bill Callahan (AKA Smog) @ Used Kids, 4.13

I had never heard Smog, but stumbled upon his show listing at work. After reading a few interviews (can’t really listen to music on the clock) I decided to give him a chance. A big part of that reasoning was Used Kid’s free pizza on Monday, but it was gone by the time I arrived.

Old Bill really packed them into the best record store in town, but I left after two songs. Simplistic music and uninspiring lyrics just aren’t my thing. I wanted to bludgeoned him with used LPs just to stop the never-ending droning that came from his lips and his guitar.

Was this suppose to be outsider art? What about a weird phase resulting from a mid-life crisis? Sure longevity counts for something, but that’s about all Bill had going for him last night.

Infernal Death @ The Last House on the Left, 4.11.2009

So Infernal Death is a Death cover band. I’ve never listened to them before, but everyone (including myself) loved their set.

Locusta @ The Last House on the Left, 4.11.2009

Lately most of the shows around town have featured amazing hardcore bands, but it was nice to see an all-metal DIY show that left many wondering the next day why their necks were so sore. Epic sets by all.

Seizure Fist @ The 15th House, 3.4.2009

Fuck, my friends are savages. Yet another Columbus hardcore band worthy of watching.

Nuclear Family @ The 15th House, 3.4.2009

Sometimes I feel like there’s too many women in my life – at work I’m vastly out numbered and in a house of six I’m the only guy – but, it was great to see not only every band at this show be female fronted but also kill it. Hell, even the mosh pit was predominately female.

Combine that with Panty Hearst (all female and my favorite new Columbus band), Constance playing solo and in Fuck It Factory, Reda’s addition to Ignorant Motherfucker, Mickey fronting a few bands, Val, Carrie and Connie playing accoustic sets, and a decent amount of other woman performers, and I would say this is by far the best time I’ve seen in Columbus for women’s punk.

Well, not just women’s punk, but punk in general. Sure, there’s more we can do to make our community less male dominated, but I’m excited the ways things are headed. In 8.5 years of living here this is the best era for punk I’ve seen and that’s thanks to the women.