Straight Edge Documentary in Theatres Now

Edge the movie is out now in theatres. Check the schedule on their site to see if it's playing in a theatre near you. It's playing this Saturday, October 3rd, in NYC. I'm hoping to make it out, I just moved to Long Island so it's a bit further of a trek than previously.

Have Heart Call it Quits

I'm pretty saddened to hear that Have Heart have decided to call it quits. They are one of today's best Straight Edge bands with profound lyrics and a great hardcore sound. I hope that some of the members decide to form other Straight Edge bands in the future. They plan to have one last show on Edge Day (October 17) in Boston along with Bane and other bands, some edge and non-edge.

The song "Something More Than Ink" was always special to me and made me feel a connection to the SxE community. It will continue to be an important song to me. If you don't have the album "The Things We Carry" then I suggest that you get it now, it is amazing and really speaks to what it means to be committed to Straight Edge and to live a posi life.

Back to School

It's that time again when kids head back to school. It's a time that can be quite stressful for kids whether your in middle school or college. Everyone wants to fit in somewhere, even if you say you don't you probably do. Not that fitting in is the most important thing but having the right group of friends is important. They have more of an effect on what you do than you could ever imagine.

It's even more difficult at times if your going away to college. I remember my first semester away and making friends was a little hard for me, I'm not the most outgoing guy. When I was in college I did drink, I hadn't claimed Edge at that point, and I did it to mostly fit in. So what I would like to say here is that if you are Edge or not (but you don't want to get caught up in the whole drinking to fit in thing) then you need to make sure to find friends that either don't drink or respect your choices. Sure that might sound not so easy, but there are definitely enough kids at any school for you find those that are like minded. Do a search on the internet and look for groups at your school. Many colleges have groups now that aim to create alternatives to drinking. If you are the outgoing kind of person, maybe you can start your own group.

I'd like to start a list of groups at schools and colleges that support non-drinking events if they have links and stuff. If you belong to such a a group or find one please comment here with their info.

And if you're Edge then show your pride with merch and maybe you'll find some other Edge kids around when they see XXXs on your hoodie or shirt. I always speak to other Straight Edge people at hardcore shows when I see them wearing a SxE shirt cause it gives me something to start off the conversation with easily, so I'm sure it would work just as well on any campus.

Stay Posi.

Bleeding Through - On Tour

Bleeding Through are going on tour this year and will play in NY just 3 days before my birthday! I'm very excited about this. I think it should be an awesome show as I'm impressed with how they've grown and the fact they are still all Straight Edge. Over on Straight Edge Lifestyle is a good interview with Brandon, the lead singer.

Tour Dates:

8.21.09 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock

8.22.09 – Farmington, NM – Gators

8.23.09 – Las Vegas, NV – Red Electric

8.24.09 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Downtown Brew

8.25.09 – San Jose, CA – The Urgency

8.26.09 – Roseburg, OR – Riversdale Grange

8.27.09 – Sparks, NV – New Oasis

8.28.09 – Orangevale, CA – The Boardwalk

8.29.09 – San Diego, CA – Epicenter

8.30.09 – Anaheim, CA – Chain Reaction

9.25.09 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar

9.26.09 - Norfolk, VA- Norva

9.28.09 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade

9.29.09 - Orlando, FL - The Club

10.1.09 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live

10.2.09 - Dallas, TX - The Door

10.3.09 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit

10.5.09 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater

10.6.09 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theater

10.7.09 - Pomona, CA - Glasshouse

10.8.09 - West Hollywood, CA - Key Club

10.10.09 - San Francisco, CA - Slim's

10.12.09 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater

10.13.09 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon

10.14.09 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Rickshaw Theater

10.16.09 - Salt Lake City, UT- Club Sound

10.17.09 - Englewood, CO - Gothic Theater

10.19.09 - Mokena, IL - The Pearl Room

10.20.09 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's

10.21.09 - Toronto, Ontario - Opera House

10.23.09 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium

10.24.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero

10.25.09 - New York, NY - The Fillmore @ Irving

10.27.09 - Montreal, Quebec - Club Soda

Edge the Movie

A new documentary about Straight Edge called "Edge the Movie" is circulating the film festival circuit mailings. So it might appear at a local film festival near you soon. I do want to see this one as it appears that will at least have a more positive look at SxE despite the fact that they mention they will talk about the negative aspects as well. I do feel though that it isn't that necessary to even discuss these aspects at all. Enough has been documented about those that claim Edge and are violent and ruin the scene and name for the rest of us. That would be like doing a movie about Christianity and saying well we have to talk about the Crusades and the Spanish Inquistion, not if you focus on the positive aspects as your documentary. I feel like the iea of doing an unbiased balanced documentary can be lame as a proper focus on the positive aspects can be just as important and fullfilling in a documentary. I'll keep my official judgement quiet until I see the film though.

They do plan to do a DVD release so even if you can't catch it at a film fest or local independent theatre, you can still watch it at home.

Doing Too Much at Once

I find myself sometimes doing way too much at once and never getting anything done. At work this seems like a boon and since I'm constantly getting tasked by other's to get things done on pretty crazy schedules I find it easy to switch gears from one task to work on another. But at home I see myself skipping around a lot with out schedules and getting very little done.

I'll start to fold laundry, then remember I needed to take out the trash so I'll do that, then I'll rearange somethings that were cluttered and then realize I forgot to finish folding the laundry and go back to that, get bored and do something else, etc... It goes on like that a lot.

Lately I keep feeling like I may have ADD (Atention Deficit Disorder) but I'm 32 so I'm not sure what can really be done at this stage in my life. I want to be a little more sane when it comes to getting things done instead of switching around all the time and not comleting a lot of tasks that should really have my full attention. Surprisingly I can sit still and write a blog post without much internal distraction, although from what I've read about ADD and ADHD that's common as well. You can hyper-focus on things you truly enjoy or find important. That leaves other things to flounder that have less importance.

In the end it's helped my career, I think my ability to jump from task to task works to my advantage there well. So I wonder if I ever did anything to affect how I am would it make me less productive at work?

The Past The Present 1982-2007: A History of 25 Years of European Straight Edge

Another cool book is out about Straight Edge over a 25 year period in Europe. I'm actually quite interested in this book as it follows five Dutch bands through the various periods of SxE. I am quite amazed at how worldwide Straight Edge is and that it has become something that can bring people from all over together with a single philosophy. I'm very excited about all the books that are coming out lately that cover Straight Edge.

You can check out more info on the book from this blog and you can order the book from Refuse Records. I realize I'm a tad late on this news, but better late than never.

Burning Fight: The Nineties Hardcore Revolution in Ethics, Politics, Spirit, and Sound

I recently found out about a new book about hardcore culture. I haven't picked it up yet, so as soon as I get it I'll post a review. The book is called "Burning Fight: The Nineties Hardcore Revolution in Ethics, Politics, Spirit, and Sound" and it's by Brian Peterson. The book is supposed to cover where 80s hardcore left off and discuss the culture that embraced straight edge, animal rights, D.I.Y., and spirituality into their lives and hardcore.

I find the concept of this book rather interesting by the fact that the author was into hardcore in his teens in the 90s and now is a writer and high school English teacher. Just because you're a punk as a kid or even listen to hardcore as an adult does not mean that you can't become whatever you want in life. Hardcore isn't a barrier to life and you can live your life as an adult outside of the scene and still enjoy the music and culture.

I think that too many people see subcultures like hardcore as a dead end. It's whatever you make it, it's not a beginning or and end, it's part of life and a means to get some enjoyment from the world around.

HATEBREED: For The Lions

The new Hatebreed album For the Lions is out in stores now. They have some wicked covers on there. I love the Judge cover! Here's the Track Listing:

1. SLAYER - Ghosts of War


2. CRO-MAGS - It's The Limit


3. SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - Suicidal Maniac


4. SEPULTURA - Refuse/Resist


5. METALLICA - Escape


6. BAD BRAINS - Supertouch/Shitfit


7. MISFITS - Hatebreeders


8. D.R.I. - Evil Minds


9. MADBALL - Set It Off


10. SICK OF IT ALL - Shut Me Out


11. BLACK FLAG - Thirsty


12. NEGATIVE APPROACH - Sick Of Talk


13. CROWBAR - All I Had I Gave


14. MERAUDER - Life Is Pain


15. AGNOSTIC FRONT - Your Mistake


16. JUDGE - Hear Me


17. OBITUARY - I'm In Pain


18. SUBZERO - Boxed In

Question? Have you ever lost friends because you claimed Edge?

Let us know and tell us why, post your answer.

Thanxxx.