but it's my blog so I can do what I want.
And I'm gonna do you the favor of posting a link to this awesome cover.
Brand New covering Neutral Milk Hotel's track "Oh Comely".
"Oh Comely" is off of one of my faavorite albums of all time, IN AN
AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA.
This rips: http://hypem.com/track/376847
Bless this mess.
Sean Pat
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Yo. If you happen to be in COPENHAGEN...
..because people randomly take trips there. Right?
Check out the first solo show in EUROPE from the dude Stephen Powers.
The dude is straight killin it, worldwide.
V1 Gallery presents:
SLEEP AND REPEAT
A solo exhibition by Stephen Powers
Opening day: November 23 2007. From 16.00 to 21.00.
Exhibition period: November 23 2007 to December 21 2007.
V1 Gallery proudly presents Sleep and Repeat, a solo exhibition by Stephen Powers. Stephen Powers is legendary on the American art scene. He has collaborated with some of the most progressive artists and curators in the States, created a seminal magazine and written two influential books. Now he is coming to V1 Gallery with his first solo exhibition in Europe: Sleep and Repeat.
In Sleep and Repeat Stephen Powers extends the fleeting everyday to a timeless state of society. Using the clear-cut symbols of the commercial world, Powers detourns the trivial daily routine in the modern Western world. The consciousness of the fact that repetition not only has an impact on one’s existence from day to day, but also from year to year and life to life, is conceived in a return to an iconography from the past and not least the use of the old fashioned hand painted enamel signs as medium.
In Sleep and Repeat the great existentialist choices are blurred by a habit-forming and uncomplicated routine: ”Wake, Work, Wait, Work, Wank, Work, Want, Wane”. However, it soon becomes obvious that under the polished surface the apparently unreflective action is problematic and claustrophobic. The weekdays are no longer called Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but Mundane, Duesday, Whensday, Thirsty, Frieday, Sadderday and Someday. Unpaid bills, cigarettes, alcohol, fast food and post-it notes interweave with anger, insecurity, hate, jealousy, longing and fear of death. Power’s paintings are full to the brim with unrealized dreams and ambitions, worries, defeats and empty advice from self-help books. And the colourful objects and people float in the works like fragments of thoughts in a pitch-black and inscrutable universe.
Stephen Powers belongs to the generation of artists that dissolved the contrast between street and gallery in the early nineties which is also the reason for his alias ESPO (Exterior Surface Painting Outreach). From the beginning of his career he has practised the power of words and the dialogue with the viewer. Powers calls his visual expression ’Emotional Response Icons’, and he has compared his artistic activity with emotional cave painting, wherein he recounts and sums up the human condition in easy-to-recall and easy-to-grasp pictures. Lately Powers has explored narrative stories in his painting installations. This is also the case in Sleep and Repeat.
Stephen Powers (f. Philadelphia, 1969) has had solo exhibitions at Deitch Projects (2005), Alleged Annex (2003) and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (2007). He has participated in group exhibitions at Luggage Store (2005), Deitch Projects (2002) and the seminal Beautiful Losers-exhibition which has toured the world since 2004. Powers’ different collaborations with Barry McGee and Todd James have been exhibited at Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, Deitch Projects in New York, The Venice Biennial in Venice and Parco Gallery in Tokyo. Powers conceived the idea for Creative Time’s project Dreamland Artist Club, in which more than forty artists (Powers included) painted signs and fun fair rides in the infamous amusement park on Coney Island in New York. And last but not least he created On The Go Magazine (1989-1997) and has written The Art of Getting Over (1999) and First and Fifteenth (2006).
Taken from the Euro Graff Monster BATES's blog over at 12oz Prophet.
Check out his blog. Quality shit, ALL DAY.
The Dude,
SG
Check out the first solo show in EUROPE from the dude Stephen Powers.
The dude is straight killin it, worldwide.
V1 Gallery presents:
SLEEP AND REPEAT
A solo exhibition by Stephen Powers
Opening day: November 23 2007. From 16.00 to 21.00.
Exhibition period: November 23 2007 to December 21 2007.
V1 Gallery proudly presents Sleep and Repeat, a solo exhibition by Stephen Powers. Stephen Powers is legendary on the American art scene. He has collaborated with some of the most progressive artists and curators in the States, created a seminal magazine and written two influential books. Now he is coming to V1 Gallery with his first solo exhibition in Europe: Sleep and Repeat.
In Sleep and Repeat Stephen Powers extends the fleeting everyday to a timeless state of society. Using the clear-cut symbols of the commercial world, Powers detourns the trivial daily routine in the modern Western world. The consciousness of the fact that repetition not only has an impact on one’s existence from day to day, but also from year to year and life to life, is conceived in a return to an iconography from the past and not least the use of the old fashioned hand painted enamel signs as medium.
In Sleep and Repeat the great existentialist choices are blurred by a habit-forming and uncomplicated routine: ”Wake, Work, Wait, Work, Wank, Work, Want, Wane”. However, it soon becomes obvious that under the polished surface the apparently unreflective action is problematic and claustrophobic. The weekdays are no longer called Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but Mundane, Duesday, Whensday, Thirsty, Frieday, Sadderday and Someday. Unpaid bills, cigarettes, alcohol, fast food and post-it notes interweave with anger, insecurity, hate, jealousy, longing and fear of death. Power’s paintings are full to the brim with unrealized dreams and ambitions, worries, defeats and empty advice from self-help books. And the colourful objects and people float in the works like fragments of thoughts in a pitch-black and inscrutable universe.
Stephen Powers belongs to the generation of artists that dissolved the contrast between street and gallery in the early nineties which is also the reason for his alias ESPO (Exterior Surface Painting Outreach). From the beginning of his career he has practised the power of words and the dialogue with the viewer. Powers calls his visual expression ’Emotional Response Icons’, and he has compared his artistic activity with emotional cave painting, wherein he recounts and sums up the human condition in easy-to-recall and easy-to-grasp pictures. Lately Powers has explored narrative stories in his painting installations. This is also the case in Sleep and Repeat.
Stephen Powers (f. Philadelphia, 1969) has had solo exhibitions at Deitch Projects (2005), Alleged Annex (2003) and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (2007). He has participated in group exhibitions at Luggage Store (2005), Deitch Projects (2002) and the seminal Beautiful Losers-exhibition which has toured the world since 2004. Powers’ different collaborations with Barry McGee and Todd James have been exhibited at Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, Deitch Projects in New York, The Venice Biennial in Venice and Parco Gallery in Tokyo. Powers conceived the idea for Creative Time’s project Dreamland Artist Club, in which more than forty artists (Powers included) painted signs and fun fair rides in the infamous amusement park on Coney Island in New York. And last but not least he created On The Go Magazine (1989-1997) and has written The Art of Getting Over (1999) and First and Fifteenth (2006).
Taken from the Euro Graff Monster BATES's blog over at 12oz Prophet.
Check out his blog. Quality shit, ALL DAY.
The Dude,
SG
Jinxed Philadelphia
My man Mike and his Jinxed label are going through utter nonsense right now, and I give the utmost respect to the dude for sticking to his guns and keepin on, throughout all this shit. Jinxed has been around far longer than any boutique and dumb wannabe trend shop. Mike was the first to take interest in the whole Mr. G project and for that I'll forever be on his side. The dude is true Philadelphia, and not one person can question that. Jinxed has it going on. Bottom line.
Here is a little rundown from the Jinxed MySpace concerning the current situation down on 4th St..
That's right JinxedPhiladelphia. Or let's hope...While we are still waiting for a response from JINX HACKWARE regarding the future of our name, we might as well start moving in another direction. We've already conceded that the name of the clothing line is going to change, we're going to have a contest for that one later.Anyway, they also told us we have to give them our website. We're fighting them on that one, but to start moving the Jinxed name away from the clothing and more towards the store is they way we're going to do this. A MAJOR site relaunch will be happening this week. We're launching it under jinxedphiladelphia.com but you'll still be able to reach it via jinxedclothing.com. We will finally be addressing the biggest complaint we've heard and putting our store on the site. You will be able to by an up-to-date selection of books, toys, shirts and more. Also, we are tenatively having a Christmas Party at The Barbary on December 18th. D.J. Opalrock and Lucky are starting a monthly party there and it would be a great way to kick it off. The Barbary is also under new ownership and completely redone so it's a good excuse to check it out.
Save the date for the JINXED CHRISTMAS PARTY!!
at The Barbary941 Frankford Ave.
PHILADELPHIAD.J.'s OPALROCK & LUCKY
Mike will be bringing a roasted pig.
Free until 10p.m. Then McRad is gonna play.
The Barbary is under new ownership and completely remodeled...
Haters eat a dick...Everyone else eat some pork!
JINXEDPHILADELPHIA.COM
Stay Gold.
SG
Here is a little rundown from the Jinxed MySpace concerning the current situation down on 4th St..
That's right JinxedPhiladelphia. Or let's hope...While we are still waiting for a response from JINX HACKWARE regarding the future of our name, we might as well start moving in another direction. We've already conceded that the name of the clothing line is going to change, we're going to have a contest for that one later.Anyway, they also told us we have to give them our website. We're fighting them on that one, but to start moving the Jinxed name away from the clothing and more towards the store is they way we're going to do this. A MAJOR site relaunch will be happening this week. We're launching it under jinxedphiladelphia.com but you'll still be able to reach it via jinxedclothing.com. We will finally be addressing the biggest complaint we've heard and putting our store on the site. You will be able to by an up-to-date selection of books, toys, shirts and more. Also, we are tenatively having a Christmas Party at The Barbary on December 18th. D.J. Opalrock and Lucky are starting a monthly party there and it would be a great way to kick it off. The Barbary is also under new ownership and completely redone so it's a good excuse to check it out.
Save the date for the JINXED CHRISTMAS PARTY!!
at The Barbary941 Frankford Ave.
PHILADELPHIAD.J.'s OPALROCK & LUCKY
Mike will be bringing a roasted pig.
Free until 10p.m. Then McRad is gonna play.
The Barbary is under new ownership and completely remodeled...
Haters eat a dick...Everyone else eat some pork!
JINXEDPHILADELPHIA.COM
Stay Gold.
SG
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Sam Flores "War + Peace" at the Lineage Gallery...
RIGHT NOWW.
I slept on the opening which was November 16th, but I did get a chance to check out the show and it was pure Sam Flores, steez. Amazing. Hurry on down to 2nd and Market and check out another great showing from Mr. Flores.
I slept on the opening which was November 16th, but I did get a chance to check out the show and it was pure Sam Flores, steez. Amazing. Hurry on down to 2nd and Market and check out another great showing from Mr. Flores.
New Years Eve, '98
It was the morning of New Year's Eve, 1998. I got a phone call that a bunch of my friends were going to go paint, Schmidt's Brewery and Daniel Boone School. Both Schimdt's and Boone were a staple to my youth, from playing "freedom" in there, to vandalizing the bulidings. I knew both buildings like the back of my hands from spending many of days in both. That morning we all met up at my house, backpacks full of paint and pockets full of markers and mean streaks. It was me, POE, KID, SES, PADE, MECA, ZEET, and TEMP. We refered to our crew as ESC, short for Every Second Countz.
We started out in Schmidts smashing everything with tags and throws. climbing around and being out of control. It was a typical day off of school for all of us. Graffitti and abandoned buildings. After a few hours and kicking most of our paint we decided to head next door to Boone and finish things up there. We were having a blast. Takin flicks, and being downright wreckless. Wrecking shit. In the mid 90's Boone was like a museum for Philly graffitti, with notable pieces on still in tact blackboards in the classrooms from Kunt, Syphi, Liquid and so many more. Ripping hands from Chicago, Duck, Praez, and CakeMix, just to name a few.
After running around like animals in Boone for quite a while my friend Tim, (who was the skitz of the crew) starts screaming that cops just came in the first floor doors looking for us. Everybody instantly scatters, runs and hides. Me breaking into a panic and thinking how bad my ass would get whooped if i got cuffed for graff, I proceed to jump from a second floor balcony on the north side of the building. The jump being about 30 feet, I wind up breaking my wrist and arm in 2 places in impact of hitting the ground. My wrist/and arm are instanly mangled. With no time to sit around and loook at it, I book up the street holding wrist in severe pain.
The whole way home I am thinking of legit excuses of telling my mom how i broke my arm. Knowing I could never tell her the truth. Luckily theyre was a light coating of snow on the ground, and i told her i slipped and broke the shit. She was infuriated, screaming at me for being a idiot....
All in all, I came to find out that the cops that were thought to be coming in was only a few bums looking for some warmth and I jumped out the window for no damn reason. Thanks Tim. And to this day my Mom still don't know the truth to me breaking it. With Scmidt's being demolished a few years ago, and Boone being turned into condos. I will never have the chance to reinact that day again...
In the upcoming weeks I will be scanning a bunch of photos from both Schmidt's, and Boone.
Soo stay tunedd..
Peace,
Your Boy.
SG
Picture of Daniel Boone School taken from: http://www.phillyhistory.org/
Friday, November 23, 2007
Ladies and Gentlemen...Robby Redcheeks
Coming up with the idea to start this blog, I brainstormed some ideas and people i wanted to interview into a sketchbook. Robby's name being at the top. Which led to me getting in touch with him...Which led to this. In this interview Robby touches on the beginning of his run with the HC scene, his love for art, photography and screen printing. Some things Ink and Dagger. And the upcoming release of his new book, a photo documentation of the Sound and Fury fest in Los Angeles this past summer. Ladies and Gentlemen...Robby Redcheeks.
SG: Robby, your are one of the OG Philly hardcore dudes. Going back, what is one of your best memories early on in your experiences in hardcore?
Redcheeks: Well going to shows was awesome back then, it was all so new to me. A whole different world. It was fun, but didn’t hold as much meaning till the friends were more a part of it than the music. It kinda made it all complete and binded it into one great thing I was a small part of. We were all real close friends, and to this day the friends I made 20 years ago, I can still call friends. Some I may not see or talk to in 5, 10, 15 years, but talking to them today is just like I saw them last night. The beginning of Philly hardcore for me really started down in Ocean City NJ in 1993. I traded a ticket to quicksand at the troc to live in a 1 bedroom apt on morlan terr. In OCNJ for the summer with 15 friends free of charge. It was all the crud is a cult, reveal, and random South NJ/Bensalem/ Chalfont dudes. I had been going down on the weekends, this just gave me an excuse to stay down the rest of the summer. We basically took over the shore and chaos was had by all. The stories from that summer could be a book in its self. We did this for 2 or 3 years. Someone would rent a house, and we would all live there. I think it was 1994 Dan and Sean went down like 2 months early for some reason, but they made these stickers “Dan Murphy & Sean McCabe OCNJ 1994- can we hang out?” and put them EVERYWHERE in OC. Plus they were down there bombing the shit out of OC. Just getting the chaos started early I guess. We used to do tons of pranks on the boardwalk, and rob soda machines to get money for food. Just dumb fun with no rules. We were all SXE kids in a dry town doing what ever we wanted. We would run over to shows at city gardens on the weekends, and to the troc or revival. The friendships that I made in those summers will last the rest of my life. I say it’s the start of Philly HC because after the summer of 1994 (I think) we all moved to a house in philly on 1335 Rodman st.. we started booking shows, cabbage collective found this little place you might have heard of “ the church”. The next year we all moved into 314 n. 19th st. that’s when it really got underway. Out of that house Ink & Dagger started, I started booking shows fulltime, contention zine, suburban zine, Tre from Deathwish lived there, Matt & Summers went on to do Shark Attack. Dan went on to do megawords…and so on. I don’t know just a lot spawned from a bunch of friends in the HC scene living down the shore for a few summers together. So I would say that’s one of my best memories. Being a part of the beginning of something great.
SG: What bands were your stepping stones into hardcore and became the most influential in your becoming straight edge and staying true until this day?
Redcheeks: Judge. They were a big part of my first years in HC. I remember cutting school to go down to Philly to get "Bringin it Down" the day it came out. They were playing in a month so we had to learn all the lyrics! Lyrically they meant a lot to me growing up. Plus is was one of the first bands I saw live. I had a hard upbringing with lots of drugs and alcohol around me at all times. When I got into being SXE in 1988 it seemed like an escape from what I thought was normal. Judge was a big catalyst for that progression. I found a different direction for my life to go. I just stuck with it since then. Basically I got lucky. Most people in terrible situations never find an escape or an alternate path to follow.
SG: It seems as if you started shooting photos in the mid 90s, stopped for a while. Then found the love for it again and picked it back up? How did that whole thing go?
Redcheeks: Well I lived with Tre at 314 in 1995 and he had this old 80’s manual cannon camera. So I bought it from him so I could teach myself. I was pretty clueless. But it seemed like a fun hobby. I was just fucking around. I would walk around the city and just take random photos. And I would take photos at a few shows. I remember it had a long ass zoom lens, but I didn’t know any better. I had to stand far away to get somewhat of a decent photo. I also had a point and shoot. One day this girl Janice Price broke it while we were in Little Petes (the hot spot of 314 tennents). She had this up to date Minolta that she sold to me for cheap for breaking my camera. From that point on I started shooting more and more. And I was getting a little better. In 1998 I moved to NYC to learn how to be a booking agent with my friend Tim. The first month I was there I sold al my camera stuff to pay rent. Sucks. I missed out on a ton of amazing things I could have shot living in NYC.
In 2003 or so, I was looking at some photos online, and I remembered I had a box of photos I took at my moms house collecting dust. I figured people might want to see them, instead of them rotting in a box somewhere. So I got them and made a crappy website for them for people to check out. People seemed to love them, so I traded records for a new Nikon. And started shooting again. About 3 years ago I started taking it a bit more serious & trying to get better at it at all times. Everytime I pick that thing up, im trying something new.
SG: Over the past few years you have became one of the biggest photographers in the hardcore scene. Seems as if your photos are credited everywhere. What are your biggest inspirations in photography?
Redcheeks: Well, first off Glen E. Friedman of course. Any punk related photographer that doesn’t say him first just isn’t paying attention. I realize he might not be the “best” in some peoples eyes, but hardcore & punk rock is less about the surface and more about the culture & content. Same goes for the reasons I use him for an inspiration. He documented a piece of time in history that can never be recreated. And did it well. I look at his books and I can feel like im at one of those shows. So I strive to create that feeling with what I do. Im trying to capture 1 second in time each time I press that button. I want that 1 second to make you feel like you are there. Honestly I am basically just pressing a button. There is no real art to that. You can be taught how a camera works, or you can teach yourself. The art is capturing that moment. That’s what makes people like Glen E. stand out. That’s what I strive for. There is a ton of current photographers that I think are doing that. Zac Wolf, Manny Marez, Todd Polak are a few that come right to mind. People should check them out.
SG: A little while back you were running a record label, Dead by 23. I loved what you were doing there. The artwork was so important to you and that is something that seems to becoming forgotten as the years pass. You don't see as much illustration/painting in record covers anymore? What was your reason for paying such close attention to the artwork and who are some of your favorite artists?
Redcheeks: Its funny that’s one of the reasons I started the record label. Well that and my obsession with limited records. I was sick of photoshopped throw up for covers. There is only a few people out there I consider artists and taking that style to another level. They also happen to be 2 of my favorite artists. Jacob Bannon & Linas Garsys. They collectively defined a large portion the past 10 years of art in the Hardcore scene. When I started DB23 the main goal was to have drawn artist covers & intense covers. I did lots of hand made, hand silk screened covers. I just loved doing it. If I was bored and thought up a cool idea I would just sit down and make it happen. I love art & I was never an artist, this was my way of expressing what I could. I started silk screening when I started the label. Its now 7 years later, and I have become pretty good at it. Its like a hobby I picked up to help keep costs down on the label. Then I ended up loving the hobby. Now I have a 2 bedroom apt with one room dedicated as a silk screen room. Im going to start silk screening Photos that I took and selling prints of them. Kinda combining 2 hobbies.
SG: To this day, some of my favorite photos of yours are the Ink and Dagger photos at Gilman St. You were a part of Ink and Daggers reign, what is one of your fondest memories on Ink & Dagger, and Sean McCabe?
Redcheeks: Its funny… That specific set of photos are why I got back into photography. Of all the old stuff I shot, that was the one set that I still love. The longer I take photos the more and more I scrutinize what I did in the past. That set still stands up my personal test of time. Probably because they hold so many personal memories. Those days were some of the best of my life. Crazy shit happened that only people that were there could understand & anyone that ever toured in a van can appreciate. It makes you closer to even your best friends.
One story that comes to mind is on Halloween one year. Trope built a coffin to carry Jenny Jamz out to into the show. We delayed the show for a while , people were up front waiting and waiting for the Dagger to start. Dudes were all set up and ready to play. The show was PACKED. So we put Jenny in the coffin outside of the show, me and 3 other dudes carried her in pushing through the crowd. People were like “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT” Im pretty sure we were all in dagger makeup also. We set the coffin down in front of the crowd. Jenny got out wearing a black leather body suit and started reciting the thing she wrote in the drive this 7”. Reciting, im sorry, more like inciting a riot. She was pushing people and yelling in their faces. I had previously prepared a batch of Dagger blood, (this was actually the first time it was used) it was a mix of 1 bottle of club soda & 1 red color food dye. We made like 4 bottles of it and perched on each side of the band for when Jenny was done. When she reached the end, dagger had already been building up feedback and noise. She finished, and they started off with the beginning to "Changling" (if I remember correctly) . Then BLAM we covered the crowd with blood. And chaos erupted throughout. Needless to say, anyone that was at that show will remember that show forever. Including me.
Sean McCabe was an unexplainable force. One of the most intelligent people I will ever have known and one of the craziest. He owned the internet before people knew what it was. He once told me this “internet” thing will someday take over the world and peoples everyday life. That was in like 1995. He was right.
SG: If you could shoot any three bands in the world right now, who would they be? where would you wanna shoot them at? and why?
Redcheeks: Honesty, it would be friends bands. Blacklisted, Cold World, & Let Down. These bands never seem to lose my attention. When im shooting them im having a ton of fun. They are great bands in there own right. They all put in 110% into their shows, and I appreciate that. Shooting them I get the feeling I did when I was at shows in the early 90’s, a constant rush. Im always singing along while im shooting. I have shot them all so much that I know their personal mannerisims when they are on stage. They all have their little personal moves. And through shooting them so much, I know whats going to come out good and what wont translate.
SG: Lastly, i hear you are releasing a book in the upcoming future? could you give us a little insight on that?
Redcheeks: Well its just starting to come together right now. Its going to be a book on the Sound & Fury fest in LA this past summer. It was 4 days of all amazing HC bands from around the world. 2 of the promoters are old friends. I had mentioned that I was going to come out to shoot the fest for a book idea I had. They instantly asked me if I was looking for someone to put it out. I was planning on doing it myself. But I was stoked they loved the idea that much that they wanted to help me out. So I flew out to LA for the week. and shot 7000 photos in 4 days. I wanted to encompass every aspect of the fest & what it was about. A sorta photo documentary of 4 days in 2000+ peoples lives. So I shot all 50 + bands, and tons of walking around random parking lot shots and such.
Being that I pretty much try to work with friends on any project I come up with. I wanted to get Anthony Symirski involved with this book. Hes one of my old friends from Philly. He has made a pretty good footprint in the book world with stuff that hes put together. I love the stuff hes done and he understands what a HC show is about, because hes a HC kid. So im pretty amped for this book. Working with friends & its some of the best photos I have ever taken. I think people will like the final product. It should be out in like 4 months or so. Shooting for a spring release.
Website: http://www.robbyredcheeks.com/
MySpace: www.myspace.com/robbyredcheeksphotography
SG: Robby, your are one of the OG Philly hardcore dudes. Going back, what is one of your best memories early on in your experiences in hardcore?
Redcheeks: Well going to shows was awesome back then, it was all so new to me. A whole different world. It was fun, but didn’t hold as much meaning till the friends were more a part of it than the music. It kinda made it all complete and binded it into one great thing I was a small part of. We were all real close friends, and to this day the friends I made 20 years ago, I can still call friends. Some I may not see or talk to in 5, 10, 15 years, but talking to them today is just like I saw them last night. The beginning of Philly hardcore for me really started down in Ocean City NJ in 1993. I traded a ticket to quicksand at the troc to live in a 1 bedroom apt on morlan terr. In OCNJ for the summer with 15 friends free of charge. It was all the crud is a cult, reveal, and random South NJ/Bensalem/ Chalfont dudes. I had been going down on the weekends, this just gave me an excuse to stay down the rest of the summer. We basically took over the shore and chaos was had by all. The stories from that summer could be a book in its self. We did this for 2 or 3 years. Someone would rent a house, and we would all live there. I think it was 1994 Dan and Sean went down like 2 months early for some reason, but they made these stickers “Dan Murphy & Sean McCabe OCNJ 1994- can we hang out?” and put them EVERYWHERE in OC. Plus they were down there bombing the shit out of OC. Just getting the chaos started early I guess. We used to do tons of pranks on the boardwalk, and rob soda machines to get money for food. Just dumb fun with no rules. We were all SXE kids in a dry town doing what ever we wanted. We would run over to shows at city gardens on the weekends, and to the troc or revival. The friendships that I made in those summers will last the rest of my life. I say it’s the start of Philly HC because after the summer of 1994 (I think) we all moved to a house in philly on 1335 Rodman st.. we started booking shows, cabbage collective found this little place you might have heard of “ the church”. The next year we all moved into 314 n. 19th st. that’s when it really got underway. Out of that house Ink & Dagger started, I started booking shows fulltime, contention zine, suburban zine, Tre from Deathwish lived there, Matt & Summers went on to do Shark Attack. Dan went on to do megawords…and so on. I don’t know just a lot spawned from a bunch of friends in the HC scene living down the shore for a few summers together. So I would say that’s one of my best memories. Being a part of the beginning of something great.
SG: What bands were your stepping stones into hardcore and became the most influential in your becoming straight edge and staying true until this day?
Redcheeks: Judge. They were a big part of my first years in HC. I remember cutting school to go down to Philly to get "Bringin it Down" the day it came out. They were playing in a month so we had to learn all the lyrics! Lyrically they meant a lot to me growing up. Plus is was one of the first bands I saw live. I had a hard upbringing with lots of drugs and alcohol around me at all times. When I got into being SXE in 1988 it seemed like an escape from what I thought was normal. Judge was a big catalyst for that progression. I found a different direction for my life to go. I just stuck with it since then. Basically I got lucky. Most people in terrible situations never find an escape or an alternate path to follow.
SG: It seems as if you started shooting photos in the mid 90s, stopped for a while. Then found the love for it again and picked it back up? How did that whole thing go?
Redcheeks: Well I lived with Tre at 314 in 1995 and he had this old 80’s manual cannon camera. So I bought it from him so I could teach myself. I was pretty clueless. But it seemed like a fun hobby. I was just fucking around. I would walk around the city and just take random photos. And I would take photos at a few shows. I remember it had a long ass zoom lens, but I didn’t know any better. I had to stand far away to get somewhat of a decent photo. I also had a point and shoot. One day this girl Janice Price broke it while we were in Little Petes (the hot spot of 314 tennents). She had this up to date Minolta that she sold to me for cheap for breaking my camera. From that point on I started shooting more and more. And I was getting a little better. In 1998 I moved to NYC to learn how to be a booking agent with my friend Tim. The first month I was there I sold al my camera stuff to pay rent. Sucks. I missed out on a ton of amazing things I could have shot living in NYC.
In 2003 or so, I was looking at some photos online, and I remembered I had a box of photos I took at my moms house collecting dust. I figured people might want to see them, instead of them rotting in a box somewhere. So I got them and made a crappy website for them for people to check out. People seemed to love them, so I traded records for a new Nikon. And started shooting again. About 3 years ago I started taking it a bit more serious & trying to get better at it at all times. Everytime I pick that thing up, im trying something new.
SG: Over the past few years you have became one of the biggest photographers in the hardcore scene. Seems as if your photos are credited everywhere. What are your biggest inspirations in photography?
Redcheeks: Well, first off Glen E. Friedman of course. Any punk related photographer that doesn’t say him first just isn’t paying attention. I realize he might not be the “best” in some peoples eyes, but hardcore & punk rock is less about the surface and more about the culture & content. Same goes for the reasons I use him for an inspiration. He documented a piece of time in history that can never be recreated. And did it well. I look at his books and I can feel like im at one of those shows. So I strive to create that feeling with what I do. Im trying to capture 1 second in time each time I press that button. I want that 1 second to make you feel like you are there. Honestly I am basically just pressing a button. There is no real art to that. You can be taught how a camera works, or you can teach yourself. The art is capturing that moment. That’s what makes people like Glen E. stand out. That’s what I strive for. There is a ton of current photographers that I think are doing that. Zac Wolf, Manny Marez, Todd Polak are a few that come right to mind. People should check them out.
SG: A little while back you were running a record label, Dead by 23. I loved what you were doing there. The artwork was so important to you and that is something that seems to becoming forgotten as the years pass. You don't see as much illustration/painting in record covers anymore? What was your reason for paying such close attention to the artwork and who are some of your favorite artists?
Redcheeks: Its funny that’s one of the reasons I started the record label. Well that and my obsession with limited records. I was sick of photoshopped throw up for covers. There is only a few people out there I consider artists and taking that style to another level. They also happen to be 2 of my favorite artists. Jacob Bannon & Linas Garsys. They collectively defined a large portion the past 10 years of art in the Hardcore scene. When I started DB23 the main goal was to have drawn artist covers & intense covers. I did lots of hand made, hand silk screened covers. I just loved doing it. If I was bored and thought up a cool idea I would just sit down and make it happen. I love art & I was never an artist, this was my way of expressing what I could. I started silk screening when I started the label. Its now 7 years later, and I have become pretty good at it. Its like a hobby I picked up to help keep costs down on the label. Then I ended up loving the hobby. Now I have a 2 bedroom apt with one room dedicated as a silk screen room. Im going to start silk screening Photos that I took and selling prints of them. Kinda combining 2 hobbies.
SG: To this day, some of my favorite photos of yours are the Ink and Dagger photos at Gilman St. You were a part of Ink and Daggers reign, what is one of your fondest memories on Ink & Dagger, and Sean McCabe?
Redcheeks: Its funny… That specific set of photos are why I got back into photography. Of all the old stuff I shot, that was the one set that I still love. The longer I take photos the more and more I scrutinize what I did in the past. That set still stands up my personal test of time. Probably because they hold so many personal memories. Those days were some of the best of my life. Crazy shit happened that only people that were there could understand & anyone that ever toured in a van can appreciate. It makes you closer to even your best friends.
One story that comes to mind is on Halloween one year. Trope built a coffin to carry Jenny Jamz out to into the show. We delayed the show for a while , people were up front waiting and waiting for the Dagger to start. Dudes were all set up and ready to play. The show was PACKED. So we put Jenny in the coffin outside of the show, me and 3 other dudes carried her in pushing through the crowd. People were like “WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT” Im pretty sure we were all in dagger makeup also. We set the coffin down in front of the crowd. Jenny got out wearing a black leather body suit and started reciting the thing she wrote in the drive this 7”. Reciting, im sorry, more like inciting a riot. She was pushing people and yelling in their faces. I had previously prepared a batch of Dagger blood, (this was actually the first time it was used) it was a mix of 1 bottle of club soda & 1 red color food dye. We made like 4 bottles of it and perched on each side of the band for when Jenny was done. When she reached the end, dagger had already been building up feedback and noise. She finished, and they started off with the beginning to "Changling" (if I remember correctly) . Then BLAM we covered the crowd with blood. And chaos erupted throughout. Needless to say, anyone that was at that show will remember that show forever. Including me.
Sean McCabe was an unexplainable force. One of the most intelligent people I will ever have known and one of the craziest. He owned the internet before people knew what it was. He once told me this “internet” thing will someday take over the world and peoples everyday life. That was in like 1995. He was right.
SG: If you could shoot any three bands in the world right now, who would they be? where would you wanna shoot them at? and why?
Redcheeks: Honesty, it would be friends bands. Blacklisted, Cold World, & Let Down. These bands never seem to lose my attention. When im shooting them im having a ton of fun. They are great bands in there own right. They all put in 110% into their shows, and I appreciate that. Shooting them I get the feeling I did when I was at shows in the early 90’s, a constant rush. Im always singing along while im shooting. I have shot them all so much that I know their personal mannerisims when they are on stage. They all have their little personal moves. And through shooting them so much, I know whats going to come out good and what wont translate.
SG: Lastly, i hear you are releasing a book in the upcoming future? could you give us a little insight on that?
Redcheeks: Well its just starting to come together right now. Its going to be a book on the Sound & Fury fest in LA this past summer. It was 4 days of all amazing HC bands from around the world. 2 of the promoters are old friends. I had mentioned that I was going to come out to shoot the fest for a book idea I had. They instantly asked me if I was looking for someone to put it out. I was planning on doing it myself. But I was stoked they loved the idea that much that they wanted to help me out. So I flew out to LA for the week. and shot 7000 photos in 4 days. I wanted to encompass every aspect of the fest & what it was about. A sorta photo documentary of 4 days in 2000+ peoples lives. So I shot all 50 + bands, and tons of walking around random parking lot shots and such.
Being that I pretty much try to work with friends on any project I come up with. I wanted to get Anthony Symirski involved with this book. Hes one of my old friends from Philly. He has made a pretty good footprint in the book world with stuff that hes put together. I love the stuff hes done and he understands what a HC show is about, because hes a HC kid. So im pretty amped for this book. Working with friends & its some of the best photos I have ever taken. I think people will like the final product. It should be out in like 4 months or so. Shooting for a spring release.
Website: http://www.robbyredcheeks.com/
MySpace: www.myspace.com/robbyredcheeksphotography
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Crumbler - Dirty Weeks
Photo by Brian Froustet
I came accross a Send Space for this album on Centerfuse a few hours ago, and after listening to it about 10 times. Which isn't hard since since the entire album clocks in at just about 9 minutes.
All 10 tracks on this album are straight up, fast and pissed off, hard rock 'n' roll. I'm never good at making comparisions but, i thought the vocals are definetly very Right Brigade-esque. Which is definetly a good thing. The guitar playing on Dirty Weeks is top notch, to go with the fast ripping riffs are some slow rockin solos, that leave you with nothing to do besides head bang. Tracks "Summer Classic", "Headaches", "Manic Times", and "Cheap Lingerie" are my favorites so far. Not knowing much about the band, I messaged Klint on Centerfuse and asked him to give me some insight on Crumbler....
And here is what he had to say....
"Basically, I (Klint) played bass, Donny & Jude from One Up played guitar, Jon Murphy from Doylestownish played drums, and Larry Epstein sang. We recorded this in March, and it was supposed to come out on Bottled Up Records. I went out to diner with Larry on Wednesday night, and we were talking. We never really play- I'm in Reign Supreme full time, Larry and Donny work fulltime, Jude is in grad school fulltime, and Jon is in some folk punk Against Me! sounding thing that he tours with on occassion. Jeff from Bottled Up is a good friend of ours, so if he put out our record, it would kind of be fucking him. He'd end up stuck with a box of shit he can't unload, kind of like the Efforts Made record he did. So anyway, Larry and I just decided that I'd post a sendspace of the record for anyone who saw us and enjoyed us, or wanted to hear it- because honestly, we all think it's a good record. It's definitely hardcore- but you can tell we were all listening to a lot of 90's Sub Pop kind of stuff. It's noisy and grungy, but not in an art school/hipster kind of way. It's still very punk/very hardcore. I'm really proud of it. As it stands, Larry might put the 7" out himself, press a few hundred, and then that'll be it. We still want to play, but shows aren't going to be often. And touring is definitely out of the question."
Take the time to download Crumbler's Dirty Weeks, you will not be dissapointed.
Here is the link, http://www.sendspace.com/file/eeamug
The tracklist is:
1. Hooker Paradise
2. Manic Times
3. Summer Classic
4. Mattress
5. Stalk with an Agenda
6. Beaver Shots
7. Headaches
8. Sweetchuck's Bag of Sorrow
9. Seniors '76
10. Cheap Lingerie
Peace and Thanksgiving,
SG
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Print I did for the "This Is Hardcore" Fest 2006
I just came across these photos of a print I did for the This Is Hardcore Fest 2006. They're remixed by Philly graffitti artists Agua, and End. On of my favorite colab pieces of art I have, so I figured I'd share them with you. The photo quality sucks, but they look great on my wall.
The Original Print
Mr.G X End
Mr.G X Agua
If anybody needs any show posters done, drop me a line.
I'm sure I'll be interested.
Peacccccccccce
The Original Print
Mr.G X End
Mr.G X Agua
If anybody needs any show posters done, drop me a line.
I'm sure I'll be interested.
Peacccccccccce
Stephen "ESPO" Powers on the cover of Juxtapoz.
The Philadelphia/New York artist extraordinaire ESPO is donning the cover of Juxtapoz this month. Growing up ESPO was similar to a super hero for me, his graffitti was so next level. From his tags to his pieces to his blockbusters, everything was completely original and inspiring.
I also, remember going into Tower Books and reading,and admiring "The Art of Getting Over". I never had enough money to buy it, so I had to take it all in while sitting on the bench. Years later, I was finally able to buy and copy and I still take it off my book shelf, and flip through to this day. ESPO is a complete graff legend.
Bottom line.
PEACCCCE.SG
50% off at Exit Philadelphia on BLACK FRIDAY
Stop by and support the dopest shop in the city. If you don't, there must be something wrong with you. Forreaall. 50% off is stupiddd. Grab your boy and/or girl something for Christmas at half the pricee this Friday.
Stay tuned for a profile on the shop next week..
PEACEEE
-SG
Monday, November 19, 2007
Interview with George Hirsch of Philadelphia Hardcore Band, BLACKLISTED
Here is an interview with Juniata product, George Hirsch. Fielding questions involving stillilladelphia graffilthy, being a road dog, the Market-Fkd Line, this globe he travels, and his hardcore band Blacklisted. Enjoy.
SG: George, growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood like Fishtown, and my Mom taking me up to K & A for clothes when I was a youngin', One thing that boldly is etched in my head is graffitti. It being everywhere and covering everything. What is the first time you can remember graffitti striking you and you wanting to be a part of it?
George: I can remember writing from around 1993/1994, Boza, Nark, Cose, Kadism, Far, they all had their names on this wall a block form my house on Erie Avenue, they were a huge influence on, I would ride my bike up to Erie Avenue and just look at their names and wonder why they did it and how I could start. I remember seeing names from the "comeback era", Seeing BX and not being able to read it, Duck and thinking it looked so simple then finding out he was from around 1977, seeing Mad and alot of the people in ICP. I met some kids in my neighborhood who were into writing and got started, We would go to kmart and one of us would go in and the others would go out back where the plant area is and they would throw paint to us over the fence, There was a factory on Erie avenue my friends dad worked at and the kid knew of a closet with all this paint in it and we would climb in the window after 6 and get cans from there just to scribble our names. I got picked up by the police not to far after that, when I was around 12 or so, and then just kind of put writing off, Kids that I hung around with when we were like 13 or so started getting into getting high and drinking, I wasnt really into that, So I started hanging with other kids, They werent into writing so for the next few years it faded in and out of my life, Then when I was about 16 I started taking the El downtown and meeting other people who wrote and I just got back into it from there. I would just ride the el all day by myself and look out the window, other times I hung with kem, and he introduced me to end, he was into some stuff I was and he also put me onto alot of good stuff as far as old writing goes, Then I met some older writers and just got soaked into it, Taking thousands of pictures, Just meeting people to the average person was just some loser who wrote on a wall, but to me when I was a little kid was somewhat of a hero. Before I knew it I pretty much grew up with writing, It outlasted most my relationships with girls, My relationships with most of my friends growing up, Any other hobbies I really got into, Its been with me since the 6th grade. My oldest friend.
SG: How has growing up in a neighborhood in the city effected you as a person? And how you look at the rest of the world?
George: I dont know that it has effected me, I dont hold growing up in a neighborhood in some high regard. Im not winning any prizes because I grew up in a row home in the city ya know? It makes me look at the world in a lot better of a light because im not stuck in some vortex or repeating cycle of neighborhood themes, I dont know who is on oxycontins or selling their perk prescription so they can buy dope and I dont want to know, I dont know who is pregnant and I dont care, I dont care who got shot or who fought who at what bar on saturday over the girl from bridesburg because her boyfriend from mayfair found out she was hooking up with some dude from feltonville. Im so far removed from that neighborhood mentality and have been for a long time(if I ever even had it) I didnt like most of the people I grew up with and I always felt like they didnt like me. I see people that grew up around me still to this day and I cross the street, or go down a different block, I walk around afraid for the most part, Afraid I might have to actually talk to one of them and they will pretend like we like each other or have anything in common besides being from the same 10 block radius. I dont want to talk to them, I dont want them to ask me how I am doing or what I have been up to. No one cared about me then, Dont care about me now, drive by me when you see me, dont stop, dont ask my friends how im doing because you dont care. Unless you are jay or steve bush, joe hxc, ferrero, mikey, matt gallagher, paul b, jude or kem, leave me alone Philadelphia. I could be anywhere in the world and I will still be me, Location has no bearing on who I am.
SG: In the past few years you and your band Blacklisted, have seen almost every major part of the world, some parts more than once. What city in the world is the most similar to Philadelphia? What city feels most like home, if any?
George: No place is like Philadelphia, Philly is the most hopleless city in the world, Its sad. Its a city that was based on industry but now doesnt have an industry, the days of the factory worker are gone and it left alot of people with no jobs and it seemed like we never recovered. It only takes one ride under the el after 10pm on any night to see what I am. People cant get jobs, or there just are none. Its like people here gave up on life, its the most depressing city, Its sounds dramatic but watching people walk around here is like watching a zombie movie, No one is happy. We have these beautiful buildings and they get turned into things like "cvs" like we need another pharmacy. Everywhere you go some new condo is getting put up with a starting buy rate of 200 thousand and up, who is affording that? No one from Philadelphia. People are just getting killed everywhere because it is a heartless city, Not because the people are bad, But for the most part because they have no choice, people have run out of options. Every person I know is scrambling to get in some union so they can atleast have health benefits and worry about living paycheck to paycheck later. Philadelphia has always been a working class blue collar city, But where are the jobs? Im all for the bettering of this city, But it seems like the city is just pushing aside the people that actually lived here and built this place, throwing them on the side of the road so all the new flock can drive in and call this place home, Its sad.
SG: Also, what city is your favorite and least favorite round the globe?
George: I love SF, Boston, Belgium as a whole, Atlanta is great, I always change my mind there are so many, I couldnt just pick one. My least favorite is the same situation, it fluctuates daily.
SG: Reading different message boards and webssites people seem to be really anticipating "Heavier than Heaven, Lonlier than God". How does that feel? It has to be an awesome feeling for people to want something you hold so dear and are such a big part of.
George: I thought it was awesome when I first started this band, But I quickly learned it is what it is. I kind of hate releasing albums because Im not the type of person that will be a martyr for the music I write, I dont feel the need to defend it, or explain it and it seems like that is what you have to do nowadays. To be honest Im not prepared or qualified to do that. Blacklisted isnt a sound, for me it is a feeling, It is a natural feeling. I dont know why I sing the way I do, thats just how I sound. My voice depends on the way my mind and body feel that day, I dont have any skill, I dont have a "voice" Im not a good or talented writer by any means. Im not prepared to explain what the lyrics mean because they arent written for anyone but me, They are like little notes to myself, Its like walking into a house with yellow post it notes all over for reminder purposes, thats what my lyrics are but put to music. Its like saying "Hey George, you dont have to carry any of the worlds weight, you can drop it and go home anytime you like". Basically blacklisted songs are written just to let me know that im not crazy and its ok that im pretty much afraid of everything on the planet. Its crazy when people judge it and are like "its not hard enough" "he sounds like axle rose or kurt cobain", because a) youre looking for hardness in me, one of the weakest people ever and b)if i sounded like either of them people I wouldnt be making this music I would make one album then just have so much money I could pay people to tell me im not crazy, and if I was ever feeling frisky and wanted to feel like I was playing in a hardcore band, I could just pay people to belittle me and pick at every little detail they can find. So that is pretty much what it feels like to write, record and release a new record.
SG: What were some of your inspirations for the new record and how does recording this record differ from the rest?
George: My inspiration was to just be free, Just do whatever I wanted, whatever bean, shawn and dave wanted. The pressure of recording this record wasnt pressure from the outside world, It was just pressure from the inside, we just wanted to make sure that we were happy, that we were writing exactly what we wanted to write for us, It sounds selfish and alot of musicians say things like "I only write music for me", But when you hear this record youll understand what I mean, Its legit in the fact that this is a Blacklisted record for Blacklisted.
SG: If you were on the El and the all the doors were broken on the train, and you were forced to ride the el from 69th to Bridge and Pratt for a whole day. What things what you hope to have on your iPod?
George: I would love it, It would be the best day of my life, I guess if I had Nas-Illmatic and some Catpower and Dinosaur jr recors that would be a bonus.
SG: What people and things have inspired you/pushed you to do Blacklisted as hard as you do?
George: Joe Hxc has always been a big influence on me, When I come home from tour he will call me and Ill be bummed and just not feeling right. Whats weird about being in a touring band is people expect you to be the same everyday, Im not that consistent, I have some really good days and some really bad days, I cant help it, Its just how I am, So I learned on them bad days ill just play and think about people like Joe or some of my other friends who I feel should be doing what I am doing, I feel like im the least talented of all my friends, I just somehow got lucky, So when I need inspiration I just think about them and it pushes it to the next level.
SG: Lastly, when you have a band that your friends with in the city for a day or two, and you become the tour guide of Philadelphia. What does a day of you showing someone the city consist of?
George: I grew up a block from Santuccis, so it consists of that and Rocky I guess, since im from Philadelphia everyone thinks I know Sylvester Stallone and and he taught me how to box or something. Everyone always wants to go look at Rocky stuff so being a tour guide is easy.
SG: Any last words?
George: this band is called blacklisted, please take care of one another, Peace.
Check out George and Blacklisted's blog at: www.imwithblacklisted.blogspot.com
SG: George, growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood like Fishtown, and my Mom taking me up to K & A for clothes when I was a youngin', One thing that boldly is etched in my head is graffitti. It being everywhere and covering everything. What is the first time you can remember graffitti striking you and you wanting to be a part of it?
George: I can remember writing from around 1993/1994, Boza, Nark, Cose, Kadism, Far, they all had their names on this wall a block form my house on Erie Avenue, they were a huge influence on, I would ride my bike up to Erie Avenue and just look at their names and wonder why they did it and how I could start. I remember seeing names from the "comeback era", Seeing BX and not being able to read it, Duck and thinking it looked so simple then finding out he was from around 1977, seeing Mad and alot of the people in ICP. I met some kids in my neighborhood who were into writing and got started, We would go to kmart and one of us would go in and the others would go out back where the plant area is and they would throw paint to us over the fence, There was a factory on Erie avenue my friends dad worked at and the kid knew of a closet with all this paint in it and we would climb in the window after 6 and get cans from there just to scribble our names. I got picked up by the police not to far after that, when I was around 12 or so, and then just kind of put writing off, Kids that I hung around with when we were like 13 or so started getting into getting high and drinking, I wasnt really into that, So I started hanging with other kids, They werent into writing so for the next few years it faded in and out of my life, Then when I was about 16 I started taking the El downtown and meeting other people who wrote and I just got back into it from there. I would just ride the el all day by myself and look out the window, other times I hung with kem, and he introduced me to end, he was into some stuff I was and he also put me onto alot of good stuff as far as old writing goes, Then I met some older writers and just got soaked into it, Taking thousands of pictures, Just meeting people to the average person was just some loser who wrote on a wall, but to me when I was a little kid was somewhat of a hero. Before I knew it I pretty much grew up with writing, It outlasted most my relationships with girls, My relationships with most of my friends growing up, Any other hobbies I really got into, Its been with me since the 6th grade. My oldest friend.
SG: How has growing up in a neighborhood in the city effected you as a person? And how you look at the rest of the world?
George: I dont know that it has effected me, I dont hold growing up in a neighborhood in some high regard. Im not winning any prizes because I grew up in a row home in the city ya know? It makes me look at the world in a lot better of a light because im not stuck in some vortex or repeating cycle of neighborhood themes, I dont know who is on oxycontins or selling their perk prescription so they can buy dope and I dont want to know, I dont know who is pregnant and I dont care, I dont care who got shot or who fought who at what bar on saturday over the girl from bridesburg because her boyfriend from mayfair found out she was hooking up with some dude from feltonville. Im so far removed from that neighborhood mentality and have been for a long time(if I ever even had it) I didnt like most of the people I grew up with and I always felt like they didnt like me. I see people that grew up around me still to this day and I cross the street, or go down a different block, I walk around afraid for the most part, Afraid I might have to actually talk to one of them and they will pretend like we like each other or have anything in common besides being from the same 10 block radius. I dont want to talk to them, I dont want them to ask me how I am doing or what I have been up to. No one cared about me then, Dont care about me now, drive by me when you see me, dont stop, dont ask my friends how im doing because you dont care. Unless you are jay or steve bush, joe hxc, ferrero, mikey, matt gallagher, paul b, jude or kem, leave me alone Philadelphia. I could be anywhere in the world and I will still be me, Location has no bearing on who I am.
SG: In the past few years you and your band Blacklisted, have seen almost every major part of the world, some parts more than once. What city in the world is the most similar to Philadelphia? What city feels most like home, if any?
George: No place is like Philadelphia, Philly is the most hopleless city in the world, Its sad. Its a city that was based on industry but now doesnt have an industry, the days of the factory worker are gone and it left alot of people with no jobs and it seemed like we never recovered. It only takes one ride under the el after 10pm on any night to see what I am. People cant get jobs, or there just are none. Its like people here gave up on life, its the most depressing city, Its sounds dramatic but watching people walk around here is like watching a zombie movie, No one is happy. We have these beautiful buildings and they get turned into things like "cvs" like we need another pharmacy. Everywhere you go some new condo is getting put up with a starting buy rate of 200 thousand and up, who is affording that? No one from Philadelphia. People are just getting killed everywhere because it is a heartless city, Not because the people are bad, But for the most part because they have no choice, people have run out of options. Every person I know is scrambling to get in some union so they can atleast have health benefits and worry about living paycheck to paycheck later. Philadelphia has always been a working class blue collar city, But where are the jobs? Im all for the bettering of this city, But it seems like the city is just pushing aside the people that actually lived here and built this place, throwing them on the side of the road so all the new flock can drive in and call this place home, Its sad.
SG: Also, what city is your favorite and least favorite round the globe?
George: I love SF, Boston, Belgium as a whole, Atlanta is great, I always change my mind there are so many, I couldnt just pick one. My least favorite is the same situation, it fluctuates daily.
SG: Reading different message boards and webssites people seem to be really anticipating "Heavier than Heaven, Lonlier than God". How does that feel? It has to be an awesome feeling for people to want something you hold so dear and are such a big part of.
George: I thought it was awesome when I first started this band, But I quickly learned it is what it is. I kind of hate releasing albums because Im not the type of person that will be a martyr for the music I write, I dont feel the need to defend it, or explain it and it seems like that is what you have to do nowadays. To be honest Im not prepared or qualified to do that. Blacklisted isnt a sound, for me it is a feeling, It is a natural feeling. I dont know why I sing the way I do, thats just how I sound. My voice depends on the way my mind and body feel that day, I dont have any skill, I dont have a "voice" Im not a good or talented writer by any means. Im not prepared to explain what the lyrics mean because they arent written for anyone but me, They are like little notes to myself, Its like walking into a house with yellow post it notes all over for reminder purposes, thats what my lyrics are but put to music. Its like saying "Hey George, you dont have to carry any of the worlds weight, you can drop it and go home anytime you like". Basically blacklisted songs are written just to let me know that im not crazy and its ok that im pretty much afraid of everything on the planet. Its crazy when people judge it and are like "its not hard enough" "he sounds like axle rose or kurt cobain", because a) youre looking for hardness in me, one of the weakest people ever and b)if i sounded like either of them people I wouldnt be making this music I would make one album then just have so much money I could pay people to tell me im not crazy, and if I was ever feeling frisky and wanted to feel like I was playing in a hardcore band, I could just pay people to belittle me and pick at every little detail they can find. So that is pretty much what it feels like to write, record and release a new record.
SG: What were some of your inspirations for the new record and how does recording this record differ from the rest?
George: My inspiration was to just be free, Just do whatever I wanted, whatever bean, shawn and dave wanted. The pressure of recording this record wasnt pressure from the outside world, It was just pressure from the inside, we just wanted to make sure that we were happy, that we were writing exactly what we wanted to write for us, It sounds selfish and alot of musicians say things like "I only write music for me", But when you hear this record youll understand what I mean, Its legit in the fact that this is a Blacklisted record for Blacklisted.
SG: If you were on the El and the all the doors were broken on the train, and you were forced to ride the el from 69th to Bridge and Pratt for a whole day. What things what you hope to have on your iPod?
George: I would love it, It would be the best day of my life, I guess if I had Nas-Illmatic and some Catpower and Dinosaur jr recors that would be a bonus.
SG: What people and things have inspired you/pushed you to do Blacklisted as hard as you do?
George: Joe Hxc has always been a big influence on me, When I come home from tour he will call me and Ill be bummed and just not feeling right. Whats weird about being in a touring band is people expect you to be the same everyday, Im not that consistent, I have some really good days and some really bad days, I cant help it, Its just how I am, So I learned on them bad days ill just play and think about people like Joe or some of my other friends who I feel should be doing what I am doing, I feel like im the least talented of all my friends, I just somehow got lucky, So when I need inspiration I just think about them and it pushes it to the next level.
SG: Lastly, when you have a band that your friends with in the city for a day or two, and you become the tour guide of Philadelphia. What does a day of you showing someone the city consist of?
George: I grew up a block from Santuccis, so it consists of that and Rocky I guess, since im from Philadelphia everyone thinks I know Sylvester Stallone and and he taught me how to box or something. Everyone always wants to go look at Rocky stuff so being a tour guide is easy.
SG: Any last words?
George: this band is called blacklisted, please take care of one another, Peace.
Check out George and Blacklisted's blog at: www.imwithblacklisted.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 18, 2007
I Wanna Be Adored
I got into the Stone Roses about 5 years ago. Since then they became one of my favorite bands ever. Ian Brown is a maniac, amazing lyricist, and super ill front man. Completely out of the blue, my Grandmom compared me to a stone rose a few weeks before she died. Actually a rose that grew from concrete which is pretty similar to a stone rose. Wouldn't ya say? Which led to me getting Stone Rose, tattooed on my wrist. In which people are constantly asking what "stone rose" means, so instead of explaining the real reason. I tell them its my favorite band.
The drawing of Ian Brown was originally done for a tshirt design that got thrown by the waist side. Maybe if I get enough people who want one I will print them. Let me know...
I'm current listening to the Stone Roses - Remix album, which is completely flawless. My favorite remix album ever. I'm not selling the Bloc Party remix jawn short, that one is quite perfect also. The DFA vs. Bloc Party track rips hard. While were on the remix album topic, where the hell is that Hail Social remix joint......I neeedd thatttttttttt!
PEACE & LOVE
SG
Interview with Fishtowner, Private Joseph Dunbar. Live and Direct from IRAQ.
For my first interview I thought my younger cousin, a best friend of mine Joey Dunbar would be fitting. Joey is a 21 year old Fishtowner, he joined the Army this past year. He finished his basic training in June, and that quick they sent him to Iraq in August. Here is an interview with one of my heros...
Pvt. Dunbar in the middle.
SG: Let everyone know a little about yourself?
Pvt.Dunbar: the names joseph dunbar, im 21 years of age, soon to be 22. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa in a big irish catholic family. Im 21 years old soon to be 22. I grew up around alot of good people and alot of bad people, but hey who doesnt. Last few years of my life been very hectic, i needed a change for myself and i decided to join the United States Army.
SG: Coming from a neighborhood like Fishtown, how does growing up in such a close knit neighborhood effect you in the Army?
Pvt. Dunbar: just like anything else in life it has its pros & cons. i learned that you cant trust everyone and anything but when it comes down to it ill give my all for you if your a stand up guy.
SG:When did you arrive in Iraq? Tell me a little bit about your experience there so far?
Pvt. Dunbar: im not gonna lie when i first arrived in Baghdad my emotions were all over the place, i didnt know what to expect,you see on tv all sorts of chaos and blood but i was ready more than i would ever be, i got the best training in the world to prepare me for this day so i was ready to get started.
SG:Do you believe in what your fighting for over there? Should we be there? Or, are you at the point where your fighting for your fellow soldiers and not so much for our President?
Pvt. Dunbar: i believe in democracy , you need a goverment for a country to be stabilized and it this point in the war thats what were over here doing, trying to get this country in order. i mean there are days when we loose a fellow brother in arms and its like damn why are we here but it our job ya know, but yes i do believe we should be here but i dont think we need the number of troops we have over here. the fighting for the president died out in 04'.
SG:What do you do to keep sane in Iraq?
Pvt. Dunbar: the family i acquired while ive been in the army, i went through basic training with some of the guys i deployed with so i know them guys pretty well and we just stick together, calling home to seapk to your loved ones is a must, they are your motivation and your fight to keep on going.
SG: How is the food? What do you eat?
Pvt. Dunbar: the food isnt too bad, i mean nothing is like your moms home cooking but it gets us by. i dont mind crubbin in the Dfac (dinning facility) they have a little bit of everything, like a college cafitiera. when we are out in sector on missions we eat out there with locals the normaly eat chicken or lamb, not bad, they could use some tom bombs honey mustard.
SG: Does being able to use a computer over there in Iraq make a bit easier?
Pvt. Dunbar: most definetly, my laptop is the key to my happiness out here, without the laptop i wouldnt be able to talk to my ol' lady or my loved ones, keeps me updated on sports & some serious ebay'in
SG:When do you come back? And what are you looking forward to doing once your back in Fishtown?
Pvt. Dunbar:ill be back in philadelphia on the 15th or 16th of febuary,im looking foward to spending much needed time with my family and my girl, ive only seem them maybe 6 times in the last year, last but not least throwin them back with my brother SPG @ the board.
SG:Any last words?
Pvt. Dunbar: for the people who dont support what we do over here, fuck you. until you can walk a day in any of our boots keep your mouths shut because you have no idea what its like to be over here in a war.
Pvt. Dunbar in the middle.
SG: Let everyone know a little about yourself?
Pvt.Dunbar: the names joseph dunbar, im 21 years of age, soon to be 22. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa in a big irish catholic family. Im 21 years old soon to be 22. I grew up around alot of good people and alot of bad people, but hey who doesnt. Last few years of my life been very hectic, i needed a change for myself and i decided to join the United States Army.
SG: Coming from a neighborhood like Fishtown, how does growing up in such a close knit neighborhood effect you in the Army?
Pvt. Dunbar: just like anything else in life it has its pros & cons. i learned that you cant trust everyone and anything but when it comes down to it ill give my all for you if your a stand up guy.
SG:When did you arrive in Iraq? Tell me a little bit about your experience there so far?
Pvt. Dunbar: im not gonna lie when i first arrived in Baghdad my emotions were all over the place, i didnt know what to expect,you see on tv all sorts of chaos and blood but i was ready more than i would ever be, i got the best training in the world to prepare me for this day so i was ready to get started.
SG:Do you believe in what your fighting for over there? Should we be there? Or, are you at the point where your fighting for your fellow soldiers and not so much for our President?
Pvt. Dunbar: i believe in democracy , you need a goverment for a country to be stabilized and it this point in the war thats what were over here doing, trying to get this country in order. i mean there are days when we loose a fellow brother in arms and its like damn why are we here but it our job ya know, but yes i do believe we should be here but i dont think we need the number of troops we have over here. the fighting for the president died out in 04'.
SG:What do you do to keep sane in Iraq?
Pvt. Dunbar: the family i acquired while ive been in the army, i went through basic training with some of the guys i deployed with so i know them guys pretty well and we just stick together, calling home to seapk to your loved ones is a must, they are your motivation and your fight to keep on going.
SG: How is the food? What do you eat?
Pvt. Dunbar: the food isnt too bad, i mean nothing is like your moms home cooking but it gets us by. i dont mind crubbin in the Dfac (dinning facility) they have a little bit of everything, like a college cafitiera. when we are out in sector on missions we eat out there with locals the normaly eat chicken or lamb, not bad, they could use some tom bombs honey mustard.
SG: Does being able to use a computer over there in Iraq make a bit easier?
Pvt. Dunbar: most definetly, my laptop is the key to my happiness out here, without the laptop i wouldnt be able to talk to my ol' lady or my loved ones, keeps me updated on sports & some serious ebay'in
SG:When do you come back? And what are you looking forward to doing once your back in Fishtown?
Pvt. Dunbar:ill be back in philadelphia on the 15th or 16th of febuary,im looking foward to spending much needed time with my family and my girl, ive only seem them maybe 6 times in the last year, last but not least throwin them back with my brother SPG @ the board.
SG:Any last words?
Pvt. Dunbar: for the people who dont support what we do over here, fuck you. until you can walk a day in any of our boots keep your mouths shut because you have no idea what its like to be over here in a war.
All Philly, All Day
Yo! This is..All Philly, All Day.
The content on All Philly, All Day will be strictly all things Philadelphia.
From music, neighborhoods, graffitti, interviews, reviws, news, food, art, bars, gossip, party nights, etc..
I chose to use the colors pink and green for the blog. Because they're used as the main colors for one of the best albums ever, London Calling by the almighty CLASH.
Updates will be frequent and the content will be sporatic.
Keep the eyes peeled, and the wax out of your ears.
Stay tuned bees and gee.
XO.SG
The content on All Philly, All Day will be strictly all things Philadelphia.
From music, neighborhoods, graffitti, interviews, reviws, news, food, art, bars, gossip, party nights, etc..
I chose to use the colors pink and green for the blog. Because they're used as the main colors for one of the best albums ever, London Calling by the almighty CLASH.
Updates will be frequent and the content will be sporatic.
Keep the eyes peeled, and the wax out of your ears.
Stay tuned bees and gee.
XO.SG
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