MOG - donateyourweight's Posts

Saw 'em on the Old School Punk Stage at Warped Tour

donateyourweight — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:41:43 GMT

I spent the day at the Old School Stage during Warped Tour 2008 in Carson CA. Revolution Mother was admittedly not "old school" but they started off a rockin' day in very good form. I would have to say they were my favorite find of the tour. If you like hard hitting rock like Metallica, Helmet, Korn, etc, you might wanna rock 'n roll with these bad boys. To see photos, go to: Rinkrat's flickr page.

Old School Punk Reunion at Warped Tour

donateyourweight — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:49:08 GMT

It was only a few short weekends ago when I spent most of my day at the Old School Punk Rock stage. I stood near the front the entire time and saw bands like T.S.O.L., Fear, D.I., The Dickies, Revolution Mother and more at the Warped Tour in the Home Depot Center at Carson California.

My husband, Michael Zampelli had the honor of taking photos, I had the honor of writing a little piece about the show and both were published on the LAist.com. If you love Old School Punk, check it out.

I Associate with 6 Ghosts I from Nine Inch Nails

donateyourweight — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:59:37 GMT

Well, to put it in contemporary terms, when I heard 6 Ghosts I by Nine Inch Nails it reminded me of Frank Ngomba. There is something primitive about this sound that taps into an instintual part of me that understands without the need for words. This is music from and for the soul.

My Punk Rock Flashback Party Weekend

donateyourweight — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 03:15:34 GMT

This weekend was so punk that the only place I can really write about it is on Mog. I went to two gigs, both at Alex's Bar in Long Beach.

Saturday night was Krum Bums, Shattered Faith and CH3. Sunday was The Crime, Los Mysteriousos and Manic Hispanic. If you weren't lucky enough to be there, the second best way to experience it is to go to the band's myspace pages (links above) and look at the photos taken by Micheal Zampelli and posted on www.laist.com

Shattered Faith, Krum Bum and CH3 photos

Manic Hispanic and The Crime photos

Going into the weekend I was most optimistic and interested in CH3 and Manic Hispanic but surprisingly, neither of these familiar bands ended up being my favorites. My Saturday night favorite was the Krum Bums. Four guys with mohawks and explosive energy. They had some of the talent of UK bands such as GBH but they come from Austin, Texas. Something about the irony of that puts a devious grin on my face.

My second Satrurday favorite was Shattered Faith. Going into the gig, the only song of their's I thought I knew was Trilogy. But just a few bars into I Love America, The Verdict, Victims of Society and Reagan Country, something clicked in my subconscious mind, the 16-year-old in me woke up and started pogoing and singing along. That was cool.

My Sunday night favorite was The Crime they had tons of energy and attitude. I loved it that they did a cover of an Agent Orange song, Bloodstains and they played a brand new song that they had just written on tour. As much as I love old-school, I also love to see young artists carrying the punk rock torch and having a good time doing it.

Links to songs within post go to iTunes.

Mog Friends - Come warm my new home

donateyourweight — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 17:17:07 GMT

The Internet is a big place and I can only be in so many locations at once. As much as I love mog and music lovers, I decided to move all my posts to one central location so I can spend more time writing and less time cutting, pasting and surfing.

My new blog, Get Gal VanIZed is the central location I'm referring to and though it is not solely a "music blog/mog", being the music lover I am means that pretty much every blog has a music reference or music link. In fact, my first post is about how the song Galvanize by the Chemical Brothers inspired my roller derby/blog name.

Other music treats include my song of the week, submitted by Michael Zampelli (aka Rinkrat), the guy who owned Zed Records and was single-handedly responsible for supplying music lovers with punk and alternative rarities before, during and after the new wave/punk explosion of the 70's, 80's and 90's.

I also have a selection of workout playlists so you can move and groove to some kick ass tunes. Check out the Playlist to Endure a Brutal Workout or the playlist I listened to yesterday during my bike ride on the beach.

I posted about a few new bands I've discovered and enjoyed recently: the automatic music explosion, Spasms, Audible Mainframe and Fruit Punch.

I hope you'll stop by, subscribe, comment and especially share some of your musical wisdom with me. Consider this your invitation. RSVP by clicking here >>>> :).

Could Hip Hop Change the World?

donateyourweight — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:39:48 GMT

Believe it or not, I think it could.

I also believe punk rock could have changed the world (well it DID, but I think it could have been in a more meaningful, impactful and constructive way). Hip hop can pick up where punk rock left off or maybe even unite with each other (this is what I thought about when I first heard Public Enemy).

One of the biggest differences is technology.

Think about it, in the 80’s if there was a riot or a surpise concert or a raid, no one could communicate with each other and intervene. Now you’ve got texting and camera phones. If you wanted to read about underground music or even KNOW about underground music you had to live near an indie record store or hopefully have at least one cool, geek leader type in your community. If you were really hip and connected you might have tracked down an indie zine and you collected every issue. They came once a month. The news was old before you got it. Now you’ve got the World Wide Web, streaming video and blogging. In the 80’s if you wanted to discover underground hip hop you had to live in an urban area and/or be lucky enough to live on the right hill facing the right way so you could tune into the alternative radio that was available nearest you. Now you’ve got internet radio and podcasting. In the 80’s, you might have been the only weirdo on your entire block with a shaved head or mohawk. Now you’ve got YouTube and you can find all kinds of groups to belong to. You know you’re not alone. You’ve got it all babe. If you use it constructively, you can change the world.

I totally believe it.

Did not Martin Luther King Jr. change the world? He didn’t have a T.V show, a podcast, a cell phone, a blog, nada. He couldn’t contact thousands or millions of people at the push of a button. You can. You and hip hop can change the world.

What am I listening to now? DJ Rasta Root, XM Satelite radio channel 65 - The Rhyme. Good stuff.

I truly think that if you listened to hip hop non-stop for 30 days you would be a different person at the end of it. BUT not the commercialized shizzle that you hear on top 40 radio. I’m talking about the kind you hear on Ali Shaheed Mohamed’s show on XM 65 or www.hiphopphilosophy.com. Take the challenge and see what happens.

Roller Derby and Rock and Roll

donateyourweight — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:53:12 GMT

Um, it's pretty much the same thing if you ask me. I think this video says it all.

By the way, who is the first rock and roll know it all who can tell me what song they're playing in this video?

Rock on.

The Stars Aligned to Light the Highlight of My Life...Naked Raygun, Live.

donateyourweight — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:36:13 GMT

(Me and Naked Raygun drummer, Eric Spicer)

In one of my first mog posts I wrote about how I squealed like a teenager upon finding Naked Raygun on iTunes. My ears craved Naked Raygun for many years but my body starved because I only had vinyl but no record player. Still, I kept all the albums and the Vanilla Blue 45 (on a white label marbled with blue.) They waited patiently in a cardboard box on the shelf in my closet. I glanced at them from time to time as I reminisced about seeing them at Al's Bar sometime in the early 90's.

My teenage squeals were revived once again when I read an article in The District alerting me that Naked Raygun would would be playing live at Alex's Bar in Long Beach. I LIVE in Long Beach!!!

What I'm about to write next might be considered name dropping but I'm sorry, this is too damn cool to keep to myself.

I had been chatting with Naked Raygun drummer, Eric Spicer on MySpace. It started when they posted a bulletin asking for fliers from the old days. I HAD ONE!!! I had just recently pulled them out of the garage a few days ago.

I wanted to take pictures of them for a previous mog I posted (Consequences of a Music-Less Life.) Long story short, I sent the flier to Naked Raygun and they used it in the What Poor Gods We Do Make DVD.

Eric wrote me, "we're going to try and do something nice for everyone who sent us stuff."

The pieces of the puzzle all locked into place, Naked Raygun, Long Beach, Eric Spicer said he'd "do something nice".

I got on MySpace right away and practically begged Eric to put me and my hubby on the guest list. I also told him my hubby is a great photographer, can we come in and take pictures? A woman named Joy wrote me back and asked me for my cell number, within a few minutes Eric Fucking Spicer was calling me on my cell phone! I'm sorry, but that is just too damn cool. (And yes, I did add him to my phone book and yes, I do look at it an get giddy inside from time to time).

Long story short, we got in, we took pictures (they're in this mog) and I had a BLAST. Can you see the twinkle in my eye?

On top of that, I brought my vinyl and got a few autographs on my All Rise album and my Vanilla Blue 45. If I had to compare it to something it would be like seeing Sean Cassidy when I was 12 or Jack Grisham of T.S.O.L. when I was 16. I was buzzed for days. In fact, I think I still am.

(Me and Naked Raygun singer Jeff Pezzati)

Hip-Hop Revolution Happening 24-hours a day in the LBC

donateyourweight — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:46:14 GMT

For those of you who remember Hip Hop before the corporate take over, if you remember when Hip Hop made you feel hope and love not greed and hate, you'll be happy to know about two places where it's alive and well.

First off: http://www.hiphopphilosophy.com/ 24-hour hip hop without the attitude. Old skool, classic, authentic and from the LBC booyyyeee.

Read the manifesto and vision on their site. Here's a slice: "The concepts have been, and are, the evolving manifestation of man&women's revolutionary spirit (the need/desire to do something positive, and/or ‘fresh’, with one’s life, in this negative, self-destructive environment/world we live in); which is the birthplace of all forms of Hiphop." I have been jonseing for this since 1990 when the OLD K-Day AM was on the air.

Second stop: http://www.myspace.com/kamikaziairlines All I know is that some cool people I trust are involved in this project..including Dizzy Dustin from Ugly Duckling and they've got some cool tracks lined up for you to hear on their site.

Listen, these bands are big in UK but it seems USA doesn't quite get it yet. That's the way I remember punk rock to be and drum and bass and hell, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, British Rock Invasion. Why wait? Go check it out today and holla back if you love it.

Positive Hip-Hop Podcast

donateyourweight — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 19:01:59 GMT

Furia is the brains and soul behind the Positive Hip Hop Podcast (www.theskybeneath.com/podcast) If this was what you heard on the radio instead of ganster rap, the world would be a different place. Listen and choose the program for yourself.

Bum Rush The Charts Today Only 99 Cents

donateyourweight — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:52:42 GMT

Use your 99 cents at iTunes to make a statement and maybe make a difference. Go today, March 22 and purchase the song Mine Again by Black Lab Don't even worry about whether you like the song or not (I bought it and frankly, it's not my cup of tea). The point is to show the "big guys" that we have a voice and we can make decisions with our money and our time. Here is a bit about it from the Bum Rush the Charts My Space page:

"Podcasting gets little respect from traditional media. To them we're little more than a joke, than amateurs. What they don't understand is that podcasting is more than just a delivery mechanism - it's a social movement. People are sick of the watered-down, cookie-cutter content that networks and record companies expect us to enjoy. People are tired of watching friends and loved ones get sued by record labels who only care about profits and nothing else, not even the artists they supposedly represent. We want and deserve more. On March 22, 2007, we're going to change that with your help. We can do better. We can match and exceed the reach of big media, corporate media, labels, and the entrenched interests. On March 22nd, we are going to take an indie podsafe music artist to number one on the iTunes singles charts as a demonstration of our reach to Main Street and our purchasing power to Wall Street. "

Pure, Uncut, Unadultarated Dub from the 60's, 70's 80's

donateyourweight — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 21:08:52 GMT

The Dub Vortex is a podcast dedicated 100% to the straight up dub of the 60's, 70's and 80's and the host of the show has quite a collection from what I've heard so far. It has been a long time since I've heard this much good dub in one sitting. Everytime I went to a Goldenvoice show and saw G.B.H. or Peter and the Test Tube Babies, or some other crazy U.K. punk band, the music between sets would always be great dub like this. Probably a ploy to calm the crazy punkers down and get us into a groove of love. It worked...at least for me. In my opinion this is the real thing. No commercial influence, not raped by 'the man' just straight, groovin' dub and the beginning or influence of several major music trends in the U.S. including Hip Hop and R &B.

To listen, go to http://kramer.podomatic.com/ and look for the little green button with a white 'play' arrow on it. It's hard to find but worth the search.

The Best U.K. Hardcore I've Heard in Years

donateyourweight — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 23:20:31 GMT

Oh my god. I originally discovered these guys months ago on Punky Radio, they are freaking amazing. If you like System of a Down, Discharge, G.B.H, Helmet or The Melvins you will flipping love these guys. Go to their MySpace page if you dare. http://www.myspace.com/monkeyfistmetal

Hauntingly Addictive Song Takes Me Back to 1984

donateyourweight — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:06:40 GMT

It all started on Friday. Jennifer sent me an “add request” at www.myspace.com. Since she is 22 years younger than me, I spent a few minutes looking around her page to see what we might have in common. I thought maybe it was just that we were both Scorpio’s. After about 10 seconds on Jennifer’s page I knew my mission, I needed to find out about the song that was playing on her page. I didn’t see it listed anywhere so I posted a comment immediately and asked her, “What is that song playing on your page?” Jennifer’s MySpace page is at http://www.myspace.com/mymyspaceurlidk When you visit, you will hear Never Know Why by The B.O.L.T. You can also watch the video at http://www.thatbecrazy.com/video35

Never Know Why is a tragic love song that begins with a tinkling sound that reminds me of a music box or a mobile above a baby’s crib. The singer’s voice has a Robert Smith quality and the tune is reminiscent of The Cure or a mellow Flock of Seagulls tune sans upbeat synthesizer sounds. The overall impact is hauntingly addictive, at least to a Scorpio woman who was a teen in the 80’s.

If you want to check out the band’s MySpace page, it’s at: http://www.myspace.com/breathoflifeproject Sometimes they play Never Know Why as the opening song, other times they don’t. To tell you the truth, I’m not real hot on the rest of their tunes but there is a genuine spirit that shines out from all their work that allows me to tolerate ballady acoustic-guitar pieces when usually I would rush immediately to my mouse to click “pause” or “stop.”

Hockey is my Punk Rock

donateyourweight — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:06:16 GMT

On Saturday, I had the experience of a lifetime. I got to sit in the penalty box at Staples Center while the Los Angeles Kings and the Minnesota Wild had their pre-game skate. There is nothing like being eye level with the players, as they come racing toward you before gliding past or stopping swiftly. It is as live as it gets. Top that with being on the ground floor of Staples Center and really soaking in the magnitude of that structure including the incredible lighting and the massivenes of the Jumbotron.

As I hung out in the penalty box that night, I couldn't help but flash back to memories of being in "the pit" at punk rock shows as a teen. I think punk rock shows and hockey games have a lot in common.

1. A group of young men who play off each others skills and create a harmony of motion and inspiration in front of a live audience.

2. Groups of screaming, cussing, self-indulgent fans milling about the arena in world's of their own yet with a sense of common bond that is hockey.

3. From one minute to the next you have NO IDEA what is going to happen. Which leads to an unusual amount of alertness to the surroundings. Never a dull moment at a hockey game.

Before sitting in the penalty box, I knew I liked hockey but I wasn't sure exactly how to describe why I liked it. After sitting in the penalty box, I love hockey, and I know why.

To see all the pictures from that night at Staples Center go to: http://www.donateyourweight.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=245

Consequences of a Music-Less Life

donateyourweight — Sun, 03 Sep 2006 03:06:53 GMT

I'm still curious and confused about the seeming lack of availability and interest in new, emerging, underground music. Maybe I'm a rare case. Maybe music means more to me than most but here's my story of how a lack of music almost killed me.

In the 80's I was a teen and a punk rocker. I was basically on my own after the age of 16 so I went to every gig I could, some times going to live shows 2-3 times in one week. Little did I know, this constant barrage of punk and alternative music was shaping my opinions, passions and politics on a deep level. Punk rock actually gave me wings. I admired the dedication and bravery of the musicians I went to see. I realized that I wasn't the only one who noticed that some things are not right in the world.

I don't have to tell you, no one wanted to hear what the punkers had to say in the 80's. Most of the shows I went to had less than 100 people in attendance. When things got too big or too crazy, the cops were always there to break it up and take people off to jail. In some cases the riot squad greeted you as you entered the concert hall, just to let you know who's in charge. Now, here we are, 25-30 years later seeing the teens of today listening to the music of the 80's as if its something new and revolutionary.

May I interject here that the punk artists kids are listening to today aren't just entertainers, some aren't even technically musicians. Many punkers had no idea how to play their instruments when they first started. Many of them created hand-made fliers and had them photocopied free of charge on someone else's photocopy machine. Most punks didn't have contracts or agents. It was sheer grit, determination and persistence that kept the bands that you know about today alive. There are many, many other punk bands, some just as good or better than the ones you know about. The main difference is that some gave up and some didn't. Punk legends like Mike Ness of Social Distortion exist solely due to determination.

Heres my beef: if the kids of today are listening to the music of 20 years ago, where are they getting the lesson of sheer grit, determination and persistence? Who is going to carry the torch and speak about today's issues, most of which are the same as the issues of the 80's, only worse. Why are the youth of today listening to anti-Reagan songs and not anti-Bush songs?

But I digress. I still haven't explained how lack of music almost killed me. You see, when I was about 18 it was clear that my drug addiction was serious and I needed to do something about it. By the age of 21, I had been in several recovery programs and was beginning a process of wanting to change my life. For me, that meant I had to stay away from the old people and the old places. Gradually I began to slip away from my punk past and tried to be more "socially acceptable."

The compelling need to "fit in" accelerated drastically when I entered college and eventually University. I found myself completely forgetting all about punk rock and gradually went to fewer and fewer live shows and even stopped listening to most of my records and tapes. I was proud of myself for a while, maybe too proud. I was reaching my goals and moving up in the world. I got a degree, then another degree, then another. In the process, I completely disconnected with my punk past.

I tried to fit in, get the jobs and connections I wanted. I was not connected with punk in anyway. I never had the opportunity to talk to anyone about seeing GBH at the Olympic Auditorium two times in one week or seeing the Ramones every year at the Paladium. I couldn't listen to punk rock on the job and frankly, I found punk rock to be distracting to me and my goals.

Eventually music even began to annoy me. I was mad at the neighbors when they played it too loud. I saw myself turning into the cranky old drag that I encountered in most adults I met. I began running on auto-pilot. I listened to rap and hip-hop, maybe just because it was there and everyone else was listening. I was becoming noticeably depressed. I was training to be a therapist and sitting in meetings talking about "clients" who have "problems". All the clients and problems were familiar to me, a part of my past.

I believed that each of the clients I saw had potential to overcome whatever they wanted and to be whoever they wanted to be. Yet none of the 'professionals' agreed. I was shunned, not taken seriously and basically told "you're just an intern, what do you know?"

On the one hand I was offended by the callous and careless way professionals talked about the people we were supposed to be helping but often I kept my mouth shut. When I did open my mouth, there was always a consequence. I was dismissed from more than one position for having an opinion. I tried to keep my mouth shut. I became more and more depressed. I chastised myself and thought to myself "why cant you just be like everyone else? Why can't you just fit in and shut up?"

So, there I was, training to be a therapist and for the first time in my life, I found it completely necessary to take anti-depressants. I literally felt like I was going crazy and that was especially disturbing in light of the fact that I was supposed to be helping people!

Ironically, it was when I was "cleansing" my negative past that I found my soul mate and reconnected with music in a new and positive way. My husband, former owner of Zed Records in Long Beach was in the store when I brought in a stack of vinyl to sell. In the process of sorting, scanning and observing my records for their suitable re-sale potential, I sparked up a conversation with the man who would become my husband within about a year. He liked hockey, I liked hockey. He liked punk, I liked punk. We enjoyed each others company. But it would be almost 10 years before I began to realize the significance of our match and the importance of music in drawing us together.

In 1998 I experienced small reminders and nudges of who I was and who I could be but I wrote most of them off as the "idealistic, unrealistic, drug-induced fantasies" of the past. I would hear the nudging call to action in songs by Black Eyed Peas and A Tribe Called Quest but I mostly hid my love of hip-hop because fears like "what will people think, I should grow out of this, I'm just some old person trying to be cool." Hip Hop and Punk were like guilty indulgences I hid from the 'professional' people in my life.

Once I got an iPod, things really began to change. Once I was able to easily carry the soundtrack of my life in my purse, able to listen to the Buzzcocks followed by Snoop Dogg and chased by Social Distortion anytime, anywhere; I began to transform. My dreams re-awakened. Lyrics of power, being yourself and letting go of concern for what others think lifted my soul.

I began to tell people, "I used to be a punk rocker." I described my spiky blue hair and my shaved head. Some people laughed, some people said "cool", others were entirely speechless, still others said "no way" as they stood there with their eyes bugged out.

The familiar lyrics and sounds of the underground began to stir something within my soul. I began to remember who I really was. I stopped caring about what everyone thought. I started to think about what I want for my life rather than what society wants for my life. I began to realize the traps I build around myself and how the mainstream society reinforced the validity and 'rightness' of those traps. Sometimes I was pissed off. Other times I was shocked. Sometimes I was sad but mostly I was determined. I was determined to revive the 16-year-old punker in me. I was determined to take her out of the closet and say look world, here I am so $*& you!

I would have to say, the purchase of Has Been by William Shatner and seeing Yeah Yeah Yeah's live on satellite pushed me out of the envelope even more.

I could go on and on but mainly I have a deep, nagging fear and this is why I'm writing this long post. If the youth of today have no role models to show them how to be independent, to start their own businesses, to live free of corporate oppression, what on earth does the future hold in store for us? Will it be a rehash and reinforcement of the same old, same old? Will George Orwell's 1984 be a reality?

Remember, most of the popular anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medications on the market didn't even exist in the 1980's and now they are being passed out like candy to many people as a cure-all for the 'problem of depression'. Rates of depression increase in society and pharmecuetical companies become more powerful. What if the depression is from oppression? If so, all the pills in the world aren't gonna help.

Listening to music that's 10, 20 or 30 years old makes about as much sense as reading newspaper articles from 30 years ago and claiming that you are informed and educated. The time is now, with the advent of instant information for all of us to step out of our boxes a bit and look at what's new while continuing to enjoy whats old. I think we need to listen to the message under the message.

Punk is more than just a bunch of rebellious, belligerent youth with a lack of classical music training. Punk is a movement and a statement about deciding to be who YOU are not what society determines you should be. Right this moment new music is being created by new people. Some of them will be huge one day, others will fade away but if youre sitting at home listening to the same stuff your parents listened to, you're missing out on the real-time experience of history in the making.

(Me and the Black Eyed Peas in 1998. They played at a record store inside Universal Studio Walk, about 30 people were there to see them....if that. Truthfully, most people were there to see Kobe, a well-known soccer player, BEP just happened to be the "opening act." If you were paying attention to alternative radio (KCRW.com/Chocolate City) you could have been there. I will tell you this: NOBODY except me asked for their autograph and to take a picture with them. I have the Behind the Front album signed by the entire band.)

I'm so grateful that I had all the experiences I had in life and Im grateful for the opportunity to experience first-hand how plain, ordinary (and sometimes downright untalented) people say "I don't care" and go for it anyway. And guess what, it ends up that it doesn't matter if someone is good or not. As long as you are clear about who you are and don't give up, you will make it. That's the message under the message. Do you hear it?

For a constant stream of cutting-edge, topical music listen to:

Positive Hip-Hop Podcast

http://www.theskybeneath.com/podcast (explicit)

Punky Radio - Punk Rock from the UK

http://www.myspace.com/punkyradio (explicit)

For a straight and very raw perspective of current events:

Dangerzone http://www.podomatic.com/profile/member/doctormo (explicit)

and since my trusted mog: http://mog.com/saltatory, swears that he only listens to music thats under one year old, I trust him. In fact, I've purchased at least two music items he recommended and I was pleased with each of them.

In case youre wondering, I got:

Pelican - EP

Very nice, solid, full rock. Like you'd hear in a fairly average size music hall (200-300 seats). Little or no lyrics. I like to bounce on my ball with it on

The Poison Dart - Get Hot

Beautiful female singer with simple yet powerful acousitc instruments. The recording is very warm and homey feeling as if the band is playing "just for you." get it at http://www.marriagerecs.com/shop

P.S. it's also really cool packaging, a cardboard cover with a fold-out poster and 2 stickers.

P.P.S. The 'Explicit' tag on all music did not exsist in 1980.

Listening to TV OD is much better than being a TV addict

donateyourweight — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 15:45:35 GMT

If you like Punk, you'll love the single - "Warm Leatherette" by the Normal. It will make you want to pogo. Get the entire single so you can listen to TV OD too. This is fun, fast, quirky, no rules music with cool lyrics like: "I don't need no TV screen, I just stick the aerial into my skin and let the signal run through my veins". How cool is that?

I definitely don't think enough people appreciated it the first time it came along so...help make up for lost time.

P.S. for Pogo lessons go to http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/pogodancing.htm

Is New Music THAT Bad?

donateyourweight — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:10:57 GMT

I've seen and heard some things lately that strike me as odd and have me wondering, How BAD IS all new music?

When I was a teen, I listened to a lot of music created by other teens and maybe a few 20 something's. There was a flood of new music available at all times...so much so that it was hard to keep up. Here's what I've seen that makes me go HUH?

1. A boy, couldn't have been more than 13 or 15. His jacket had the following patches: Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin.

2. A pack of "punker" teens at a local high school their t-shirts say "GBH, Ramones, GG Allin, Misfits," etc.

3. I walk into a local Subway, two young guys are there (one told me he was born in '89) ...okay, I just did the math, he's 17. Um, there was no boss there and the place was empty and they were CHOOSING to listen to "Carry On My Wayward Son" by Boston? (Okay, I might be off on the exact names and I REFUSE to spend my time to get that one right). Suffice it to say, it was OLD (and in my opinion BAD) music.

4. My neighbor, 20 likes to blast his music from time to time. From what I can pick up on the bass line, it's all Bob Marley. One time I heard Minor Threat coming out of his window.

Now I understand listening to old music, I do it all the time but I don't understand why I'm not seeing kids wear shirts and patches of new bands. I also don't understand why 16 year olds aren't idolizing other young artists? Is the music scene that bad that the youth of today has to listen to music made by people old enough to be their parents...even grandparents?

On the one hand, I feel a smug big of pride that "I" got to see and hear all that stuff when it was current. On the other hand, I feel very sad for the youth because it seems like there is no innovation or creativity being pumped out...just a rehash of the same old songs over and over.

Will the teens of today be listening to music of the dead by the time they reach my age? Has corporate takeover killed the music industry or is there hope on the horizon thanks to the internet. I don't know. I'm asking you.

Me when I was 18:

Sexy Summer Samba at a Melting Pot Picnic

donateyourweight — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 05:58:26 GMT

I have been listening to this non-stop for 2 weeks. I simply can't get enough. It is so deep, so layered, so real that just when I think I've grasped a hold of it, it slips through my fingers and my mind again.

It brings back memories of late-afternoon picnics at a park in the warm heat of the San Fernando Valley, eating watermelon. All the working class people are there. We share, we laugh. We try to understand each others language. The adults eat and drink too much and the kids run around like wild animals and get into all kinds of trouble. Everyone goes home and sleeps really good.

Listening to this makes me feel alive...vibrant...a part of it all. It reminds me of street fairs and seeing live music all over Los Angeles. I reminds me of listening to Stevie Wonder in my Uncle Stevies VW Bug with the windows rolled down. You will literally be a better person after listening to this set.

The topics are so reminiscent of the 70's and the 90's. The war, relationships, families, children, love, betrayal, fear, faith. It's all there, tugging at you like a Francis Ford Coppola or Steven Speilberg flick. One minute you're rocking out like "oh yeah, this is a smooth jam", then you're thinking "damn things aren't right, and I can do something." The calculated placement of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" in the song "Loose Ends" is an example of how these guys know how to send a mass message without everyone even being able to fully grasp it right away. This is punk rock refined for the people.

I'm already overwhelmed and I haven't even mentioned the all the featured artists like Stevie Wonder, Q-Tip, Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and Jurrasic 5.

I know I've only scratched the surface here but this is the internet, not the New York Times and I'm writing all this just for the sheer pleasure of sharing, not the desire to earn something, get something or prove something. All I can really say is I would listen if I were you.

See What William Shatner Made Me Do?

donateyourweight — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 02:50:11 GMT

In my Shatner review, I mentioned that I felt like hula hooping in front of a live audience after hearing the Has Been CD. Did you think I was joking? I wasn't...and here's proof. Listen to this CD and see what it will make you do.

Wanna see more? http://www.donateyourweight.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=195

Girl from Ipanema Meets Dead Kennedys

donateyourweight — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 16:17:03 GMT

Oh how I love mash-up stuff. Who would of thought to take some sweet sounding French and Brazilian female vocalists and have them sing oldies hits from bands like the Clash, Dead Kennedy's, Public Image, Cure and Joy Division? Evidently French producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux would. (http://www.alwaysontherun.net/nouvellevague.htm)

This is a brilliant, refreshing, fun and "old fart safe" album of punk and new wave covers with a Stereo Total, Stereolab, "Girl From Ipanema" sound.

Camielle renders the lyrics of Dead Kennedy's Too Drunk to F**k in a coy, sexy, sweet and intoxicating voice. There is something very intriguing about hearing Camille giggle coyly as she delivers lyrics like "Went to a party, I danced all night, I drank sixteen beers, snd I started up a fight."

Other favorites: Eloisa singing Love Will Tear Us Apart and Camille singing the Guns of Brixton and Making Plans for Nigel with sweet and animated conviction. These young women bring a new life to old songs. The producers purposely chose singers who were not familiar with the original versions so they were able to breathe their own life and personality into each piece. It works.

P.S. Thank you Lady C (http://mog.com/LadyC) for turning me on to this great stuff.

Sunday, 6:00 a.m., Los Angeles, KPFK

donateyourweight — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 18:32:50 GMT

I have to admit, 12:00 Rock on KPFK (http://www.kpfk.org) was a prime source of music motivation for me all through the 80's and into the 90's.

During some of those years, I stayed up for the entire show, then listened to another punk rock show that came on at 3:00 a.m. Right around 6:00 a.m., Prince Dixon took over the airwaves with some kick butt gospel.

I started to look forward to Prince Dixon and became a silent fan. He had some successors who tried to keep the show alive when he became ill but it was never the same. I'm proud to say I was able to visit Prince Dixon in the convalescent home before he passed.

I wonder if he realizes all the different types of people he impacted across Los Angeles? Anyway, he kicked off my love for gospel and I know that if he was alive, he would play Deitrick Haddon. Since he can't, I will.

The track "God Didn't Give Up" is awesome. Overall, the song is about how while all us humans are busy judging, categorizing, neglecting and abandoning each other, God is ready to take us back any moment, no questions asked and without judgment. I like that idea, it works for me.

Travelled from L.A. to San Francisco just to see 'em

donateyourweight — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 14:45:52 GMT

One of the highlights of my life was driving from L.A. to San Francisco in a two-car caravan just to see Flipper. They played with Pop O Pies at some dive place I don't remember the name of. Those were the days.

What is it about Flipper? The lyrics? I don't think so. Their talent as musicians? Uh, no. It has to be their raw, unabashed disregard for the two that makes them completely mezmerizing. I will be hearing the lyrics of HaHaHa in my head for the rest of my life.

In case you don't know the lyrics, they go like this: "ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha, ho,ho,ho,ho,ho,ho,ho, he,he,he,he,he,he,he, ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha" and then there's some kind of echo effect that makes it sound like the hahahaing goes on into eternity. That must be what got me hooked.

Another highlight of my life: when I had a boyfriend in a band (Dirt Clod Fight) and during an on-stage equiptment problem, the bass player started playing the bass line from Sex Bomb. If you've heard it, you already have it stuck in your head. Well, the highlight was when I got up on stage and belted out the legendary lyrics: "She's a sex bomb my baby yeah", followed by a long, blood-curdling, spine tingling SCREAM. "Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Yeah. Woo." Oh yeah, those were the days.

Genius Has No Time Table

donateyourweight — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:30:38 GMT

I completely missed Eno in the 70's and 80's. I don't know how, because I liked a lot of stuff like this but just never really heard it until this past year, thanks to my husband. I am now a belated and happy Eno fan. It is so obvious that Eno had a major impact on modern music. Devo, David Bowie and Talking Heads come to mind immediately. I'm sure Peter Gabriel, Genesis and others are also in the mix.

Lucky for all of us, this stuff was recorded and made available into eternity. I know that someone could hear an Eno track on the radio and think, "wow, this is great" and have no clue how old it is.

I like melodic and poppy tunes like "Burning Airlines Give You So Much More" and I'm WILD for "The Great Pretender." On the other hand, there are also those extremely slow-paced, ambient tunes perfect for meditating and vegetating. In fact, I do yoga and stretching in my backyard while listening to Neroli: Thinking of Music, Pt. 4, a 57-minute track that's much more like a Zen meditation track than a pop music tune. In fact, when you search for Eno on iTunes, there's a big plug for massage music. That's one hell of a range this man has.

Shatner...Now That's Punk

donateyourweight — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 00:40:48 GMT

This is a brilliant album and such a breath of fresh air. Everytime I start taking myself too seriously I simply hum or sing "live life like you're gonna die...because you are". I admire the creativity, wit and audacity Shatner and Ben Folds demonstrate by putting out a CD like this.

Another favorite song: "Has Been". Oh, how often really talented, brilliant people have been held back by stupid remarks from people who have nothing to do but criticize. This CD makes me want to hula hoop in front of a live audience. No wait, I actually did do that after listening to this CD.

If you're sick of living by stupid rules and limitations imposed on you by others, crank up this album and lift your hands in the air. You might even feel compelled to show off your middle finger. I'm just sayin'...

Naked Raygun goes digital and I go crazy

donateyourweight — Sat, 24 Jun 2006 15:19:18 GMT

I bought all their records and saw them live in L.A. numerous times. These guys rock. I want to call it punk rock anthems because the songs are fast, catchy, fun and memorable. What I remember is being at a small LA club downtown (forgot the name) and although the club was far from full, when Naked Raygun came on, everyone was smashed together at the front of the stage and jumping around. Very energetic.

Until recently, I only carried memories of their songs in my mind as my vinyl laid stored away in my closet. But then I discovered their music is now available on iTunes. As soon as I found it I felt like I was 16 again, squealing in delight and pushing the "download now" button with great anticipation.

The only thing I didn't quite like about Naked Raygun was the album art. In fact, some of it was downright lame and frankly, I wonder if it's part of the reason they didn't become more popular. The truth is, they had it all: great songs, powerful drums and guitar, a great singer, an awesome live show and catchy lyrics. Granted, they weren't always deep or meaningful but extremely fun to listen to. In fact, some of the songs are downright motivational (New Dreams and The Envelope for example and Mr. Gridlock definitely motivated me to NOT want to work in a corporate office;). So, if you look 'em up, ignore the album art and just listen. In my opinion, these guys went WAY under the radar the first time but who knows, with this resurgence of the old stuff, maybe they'll be rediscovered?