Straight Edge Link of the Week [8.29]

krishnacore.com

Punker than Punk

Being Straight Edge is punker than punk. It's more than a commitment to yourself, it's a statement against the machine, it's a big FU to the system that drives our society. The media (Left or Right, however you see it) and the government continue to push alchohol and cigarettes on the public like drug dealers. They put out commercials and ads selling these drugs. The Government is filled with lobbyists and lawyers that care more about the money they get from these industries than they do about the people that this government was founded upon and for.

Punks and Hippies and Yuppies have more in common than they realize. They all conform to Big Business and the Government's ties and bonds with the Alchohol and Tobacco Industries. Everytime you drink, everytime you smoke, you feed the machine, you give money to the people you say you hate.

Being SxE is so much more than being clean, it's a way to boycott, it's a way to fight and be PUNK.

senseless violence poisons the mind

Anger about the world around us has been filling my mind lately. Personally I've been feeling more annoyed and pissed at the people around me, people on the streets and subways and the people that claim to be my friends.

I spent last night listening to Shelter over and over and really paying attention to the lyrics more and more, I have a friend that is a Hare Krishna and haven't thought about what that means till now. With how much this world has been pissing me off I think it's poisoning me. My closest friend just lost a brother due to senseless violence and it kills me inside. I really feel like this world won't change for a very long time, now that means I'm not about to stop trying, but I need to find a way to keep it from poisoning me.

I'm not sure how much I understand about Hare Krishna, but to me it seems far more posion free than chrisitanity or any other religion. This world has become a slaughterhouse to the victims of religous fanactics. My own country is failing prey to mindless zombie bible thumpers.

I just know, that from now on I need to figure out how to clear my mind the same way I've cleared my body of the poisons our society thrusts upon us.

Straight Edge Link of the Week [8.23]

japan straight edge

Why Punks are better people

Not exactly better in all ways, but I feel like they are more real than most people. One example is respect, now you'll say Punks aren't nice. However the point I'm getting at is not about being nice but showing respect, respect for themselves, people, the planet, animals, everything. Punks make choices in their lives that effect themselves and others in ways many people ignore and disrespect.

Choices such as becoming Straight Edge or Vegan and respecting your body. Choices like being part of PETA and Food Not Bombs that respect animals and the less fortunate. Choices like supporting Iraq Veterans Against the War (started by an ex-marine and working class punk, and my best friend Mike Hoffman)that respect our military and the world around us.

Even simple yet telling displays of respect are seen in the mosh pit. I've been kicked in the head and punched while moshing. But everytime it happened the other guy would apologize, cause it wasn't meant on purpose, shit happens in the pit. When you get knocked down in the pit, more often than not you don't even hit the ground, four people around you will scoop you back up on to your feet in seconds. That's respect.

Now to the reason I wrote this post about respect. I was in the subway this morning like most mornings, and everyone is rushing. This large guy is coming towards me and I try to make room where I can and he SLAMS his shoulder right into me like a linebacker. WTF! I turn and say "sorry" even though it wasn't my fault, cause that's just the right thing to do. He didn't even turn or utter a word. Now that is the perfect display of disrespect. That's why Punks are better people.

Tobacco Industry Violated Anti-Racketeering Laws

Finally after years of going after the bastards in the Tobacco the government has won their case. My parents both smoke, smoked my whole life and I constantly urge them to quit, they try but it's an addiction. And now the industry that lied about that addiction and the dangers of second-hand smoke must pay to help with smoking cessation programs. Sadly though the government only asked for $10 billion, when the Justice Department's own expert said $130 billion was needed for this effort. Makes me wish sometimes we can send a military strike against the Tobacco Industry with claims that cigarettes are weapons of mass destruction.

Food Not Bombs

This past Sunday I volunteered with Food Not Bombs, a great organization that helps feed the needy and homeless. I helped out in NY at ABC No Rio, but Food Not Bombs is a National Organization with groups around the country helping feed people and spread a message. In some parts of the US, city officials have actually arrested and imposed laws to stop feeding the homeless. I can't believe we live in a world that is that sick and twisted.

I had a great time helping and meeting some very cool people that also helped out as well as some nice people that came to eat. We set up at Tompkins Square Park and about 30-50 people showed up to have a healthy vegan meal. I spoke with some of them and felt like this was something that despite being just a once a week thing actually helps and makes people happy.

I plan to go back as often as I can and help out, and I hope that by reading this you too will either help to volunteer at a Food Not Bombs near you, start one in your city or find a volunteer organization that does something you feel is important to you.

Straight Edge Link of the Week [8.13]

x catalyst Records x

Fugazi-esque in Brooklyn

The North6 basement in Brooklyn was host to a damn good set by the band Gunners. Unfortunately the band that played before them almost made me want to leave. That first band Goddamit was so bad that it seemed that none of them were playing the same song and apparently had never picked up an instrument before that night.

I went to the show last night was to see Gunners. I had met the lead singer/bass player at ABC and figured I'd check out his new band. They were very tight, and sounded great despite the poor acustics of the North6 basement. You could certainly hear the Fugazi influence, but Dima was already forthcoming about sounding Fugazi-like when we spoke. And I like Fugazi so I'm certainly not one to complain, but at the same time they had their own sound as well. Their first song was great, Dima stood with his back to crowd and the three-piece shouted the lyrics without mics. They had one slowed down song that had style but I felt took away from the rest of the really well put together set.

I didn't end up staying to see the other bands, one of them on Revelation Records, but hopefully I'll have a chance again if they're good and as long as Goddamit isn't on the band list that night.

update: I just found the flyer for the show and thought I'd put it up here with the post.

Straight Edge Link of the Week

xFUCKxSELLOUTSx

You've always loved music by SxE artists and never knew it

So it's shortly after 5pm, on Thursday, work is almost completely dead. A few of us are sitting around chatting. The subject of music comes up, I talk about hardcore and the punk show I went to last weekend. And people's eyes act all funny when I bring up the word "skank." So I explain what it means. And then I'm asked to demonstrate, which of course at work would seem completely embarrassing to do. However I'm always more than happy to make an ass out of myself, (something I certainly never needed alcohol to do,) and I put on some ska from my iPod. I started out facing the wall got into the beat and started to skank for my friends.

After my recital we talked a bit more and Straight Edge came up. I told my one friend about superXcontra and he was surprised to know that there was SxE rap. I played the CD and he was blown away. I then let him borrow it. After that I told him that there were others, XReignOfTerrorX and Sage Francis. He completely flipped when he heard about Sage. He's been listening to him for a while now. What's even funnier, is that earlier that day he made a comment that he love the video Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy (something that definitely surprised me to hear) so I had to surprise him, and a few other Fall Out Boy fans at work, by telling them that Pete Wentz the lead singer was SxE.

It's very cool how musicians that my friends like and admire are SxE. I kind of wish that these artists made it more known, but that's their personal reason. But I'm glad to be able to shed this light on them, and maybe they'll think about SxE with more respect and understanding and maybe even interest next time they listen to Fall Out Boy.

I hate when people say they like all kinds of music

When I hear people say that that it makes me think think that they are either afraid to say just like one kind of music (cause they are afraid people will think they are limited) or they actually have no personal taste in music. If you have no interest in music, say so. If you're afraid to sound limited then be yourself and tell me you only like pop music, i don't care, i'm not here to judge your taste but be honest and tell me what you like.

Me, I personally love punk [Rancid, Bouncing Souls, Anti-Flag, AFI], hardcore [Youth of Today, The Promise] & post-harcore [Thursday, Hawthorne Heights] and ska [anything from Moon Ska]. With ska I tend to prefer 2nd and 3rd Wave. I also like some indie [Belle and Sebastian, Fiona Apple, Go Sailor] music and even a little hip-hop/rap [Beastie Boys, Public Enemy]. I've recently gotten into Nerd-core [mc chris] and will continue to love ska-punk [Operation Ivy] despite a lot of people lately disliking this genre mashup. I'm really into Psychobilly [Tiger Army] & Clash style Rockabilly (not the country sounding Rockabilly)

I hate country, especially the twangy country. Most rap I dislike, and I hate metal. I especially dislike hardcore bands that cross over into metal (I used to love 18 Visions, but I'm so annoyed now.) I dislike classic rock [Led Zeplin] and hate progressive rock [Rush]. I even don't like the Seatle grunge scene [Nirvana, Pearl Jam].

So there I've laid down what I like and don't like. And you're free to judge me if you want, but for me I listen to music I like and really don't care what other's think about my tastes. But I also am very open to hearing what other people like, I may not like it, but I'll at least put in the time to listen. If you hate the music I've mentioned then let me know what you like, or even if you like the same stuff still let me know what you like so I can check it out.

With that said, I'm going to throw on some Looper now.