Another Sunday Afternoon

Last night we got a treat. After leaving our friend's graduation party (which was fun, though it was odd to be around a bunch of college kids discussing, well, college), we rushed over to Magnetic Field to catch Live Fast Die. The treat? Memphis Mike sat in on drums and, as usual, kicked ass.

It was one of those weird nights where you get somewhere and know almost everybody, or it seems that way. Everybody's already really tipsy and acting goofy, and you fall right in. It was good.

We ended up talking baseball with a lot of different people, which was kinda fun, too. Aaron of LFD was unapologetic about his love for the Braves. This chick we met is a huge Cubs nut and bitched about going to the game with girlfriends who chat away about girlie stuff rather than, duh, watching the game. I think eventually we stumbled upon a fellow Mets fan but I can't remember who he is at the moment. Yeah, I was plenty drunk by the end of the night, too.

Well, not much else to tell. Yesterday I took some pics in the backyard. I'm extremely excited about how beautifully the lilac bush I planted last year is growing. It's starting to blossom, and of course smells amazing. That has to be my all-time fave scent, a live lilac bush. I always recall the incredible one our next door neighbor, Mrs. Volkert (a woman who seemed 100 years old for as long as I knew her) had. When it blossomed in the spring she'd let me go around the back and cut some to bring home. I hope ours gets that big.

Me 'n' the Curly Mustache Guy

If yer among the unlucky chumps who haven't gotten the chance to check out a Saturday afternoon Passout Records show, this may be yer big day. Pee Wee 'n' the gang are puttin' up video clips of shows on their site now (well, MySpace for now and eventually their new site).



Anyway, last Saturday Live Fast Die played a great set, including a bunch of tunes they never play because Ethan's band never knows half his songs. He seems to like it that way, too. I guess it adds to the whole fuck-it-all charm of LFD. They played one of their best, "Pissin' on the Mainframe," along with a couple other ditties that made it into the clip. I'm actually visible toward the end of the last tune, "Troglodyte City," but my annoying "yeahs" and "whooos" are audible throughout. I'm standing to the right of the dude with the stupid curly mustache.

Punk Rock Kitch Picks of '06

I don't expect anybody to agree with my fave records of '06, but maybe I'll turn ya onto to somethin'. The following bands and records were in my head for months on end this year, so this isn't just stuff I kinda like; it's stuff I was addicted to in '06. It's in alpha order, 'cause, honestly, I can't put one above the other in most cases.

I will, however, single out one Top Pick:

Bandana Thrash Record, Live Fast Die

Others no less worthy:

eye-cons 7", Imaginary Icons

A Matter of Life and Death, Iron Maiden

Pissin on the Mainframe 7", Live Fast Die

Obliterati, Mission of Burma

From a Compound Eye, Robert Pollard

Normal Happiness, Robert Pollard (Stream the album).