Are You A "Crate Digger?"

Crate Digger: An Obsession With Punk Records

by Bob Suren

Available on June 9th - Trade Paperback, 192 Pages - $14.95

An insider's account of the last 30 years of punk rock and vinyl records, 

including new information on many punk luminaries. 

Oh how fondly I remember "crate digging" - it was so much fun, I would go to the Tower Records once a week and find out what new vinyl I could buy, punk included. Yes, I was and still am a Punk Rocker!!!

Bob Suren spent more than 30 years immersed in punk rock. His obsession with punk music, culture, and especially record collecting began with a loaned mix tape in a small town in Florida when he was a teenager and slowly took over all aspects of his life.

He started a record label and distribution company, opened a record store, managed a thriving bootleg merchandise empire, published a magazine, promoted shows, and traveled the world with his own band. He mentored generations of younger punks and built a movement that put Florida on the map. He stayed a step ahead of all the ups and downs of the music industry, always pioneering.

Join Bob as he hangs out with punk luminaries like Jello Biafra, The Meatmen, Raw Power, Black Flag, The Dead Boys, Millions of Dead Cops, Rattus, and more. He relates his (mis)adventures breaking his curfew to see the Dead Boys' last show, almost getting arrested after seeing the Ramones, touring with his bands in Egypt, Ecuador, Brazil, and more.

As Jeff Nelson of Minor Threat said, "Really brings to life the early days of the American punk scene as it spread slowly across the country, through turntables, fanzines, and word of mouth. His vivid vinyl recollections illustrate how good record stores and adventurous college radio stations were so essential in bringing startling new music into the lives of many previously isolated kids. It follows the trajectory of a kid-turned-concert-promoter as his passion for music became all-consuming." 

Then one day it all fell apart. He'd built up his life like a record collection, but it didn't satisfy him anymore. He sold everything, dropped out, moved far from home to start fresh... and wrote this book.

Crate Digger is written in short spurts tied to actual records. The result is real, heartfelt, and deeply informed by the music of the last thirty years. It's a basic piece of your punk history collection. 

"Bob Suren delivers some great punk rawk history through anecdote and wit, intermingled with personal stories of love, loss, the characters that have come and gone and that elusive hunk of vinyl that's just around the next corner.... All spanning 30 years of Bob's life." 

- Ami Lawless, Voetsek 

"More than just your typical "record guide," Crate Digger allows us to accompany Bob on his passionate 30+ year punk rock journey. The anecdotal approach reminds us that, for the passionate music fan, there's a personal connection to a particular record that often conjures up various memories, both good and bad." 

- Al Quint, Suburban Voice magazine and Sonic Overload Radio. 

Purchase:  http://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/5296/

Punk Princess Ariel Beesley "Hits The Ukulele"

Punk Princess Ariel Beesley
Photo: Jaesung Lee

"Just learned 'Violet' by Hole on the ukulele....seriously loving life right now" - Ariel Beesley 

Resident "Entertain Me" Punk Princess, Ariel Beesley continues to astound with her astute ear for music and poetic ability to write lyrics. 

Seriously who could learn the abovementioned song on the ukulele by ear but her?!

Ariel a Wilhemina Model by day, gets her punk on whenever the mood takes her, which is quite often.

Check out Ariel and her current video for her song "Boys Like You" Directed By, Aris Jerome. This girl is the real punk deal...!!!

"Boys Like You" Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_S_EdO_hS8

Ariel on Band Camp: http://arielbeesley.bandcamp.com/ 

And Instagram: http://instagram.com/arielbees

Rock Out With Your C#ck Out! It's "All Downhill From Here"

For all of you who love something other than pop music, myself in particular, this is the book for you. 

It's February 1st 2014, I wonder if the groundhog will see his shadow tomorrow? If he does...It's "All Downhill From Here!" 

In 2003, the AFI message board spawned a new webzine called Scene Point Blank. AFI were at the top of the charts, The Blood Brothers and The Locust were making waves in hardcore, and a young folk-punk band called Against Me! released As the Eternal Cowboy. The times have changed, but Scene Point Blank is stronger than ever, celebrating 10 years with All Downhill From Here, a new book that highlights some of their favorite material and includes insight on the wide-ranging cast of writers behind some of the webzine world's longer reviews.

Curated from 4000+ reviews and 200+ interviews, Scene Point Blank has put together some of their most popular items, some of their favorites, and their most memorable pieces into three formats: Kindle, eBook, and print, retailing from $7-15 depending on platform. Content includes interviews and features with Ian Mackaye, Henry Rollins, Larry Livermore, Evan Dando, Jacob Bannon, and many more. 

Scene Point Blank isn't limited to punk and hardcore... They're proud of their varied content, ranging from blackened death to drone to hip-hop and even prog. They feel that music shouldn't be limited to genre and, in fact, discussing it in those terms is far too limiting. Their focus is on heavy, independent music, both the well-known and those just getting started. 

After 10 years of online coverage, Scene Point Blank now offers All Downhill From Here to the public on a format they can carry with them and share, 

Available now at:

http://www.scenepointblank.com/ 

http://www.scenepointblank.com/book/

The Horror: Richard Bates, Jr. "Excision"

Ever so often a film comes along that catches this writer by surprise, such is the case with "Excision" which I caught at Screamfest in Los Angeles, CA.

"Excision" is one of the most disturbing, yet honest horror films about misunderstood adolescence to come along in quite some time, with two great leading performances by Annalynne McCord as "Pauline" and Traci Lords as her Mother "Phyllis".

With an ending that leaves you speechless. Here to discuss "Excision" is the man behind the vision Richard "Ricky" Bates, Jr.

MS: After seeing "Excision" I really wanted to speak with you, I was not expecting what I saw, I was really blown away by it. The trailers lead you to believe it is more of a gore fest than it actually is, it's  actually a very intelligent movie.

RB: Anchor Bay who bought the movie said that selling it as a horror film was the only way to market it. I have not had any input in marketing it, other than the poster I did with Annalynne where she looks sort of like a Queen, Anchor Bay deemed to artsy for the DVD cover.

MS: Well the movie isn't exactly not horror, but the horror element is more psychological/disturbing than anything.

RB: Honestly 78% of my film influences in the movie are horror filmmakers.

Ricky (far right) and the cast of "Excision"

MS: One of the things that is fascinating about the film is Annalynne's character "Pauline" comes off as a misunderstood teenager in the beginning, she does not come off vile right away like she does as the story progresses. Traci's character comes off like a total bitch in the beginning and is someone you gain sympathy for as the story progresses.

RB: Yes, it really interesting watching this movie with parents and their children, it's like before you have children and see a Mom yelling at her kids and you think "God what a bitch". Then you have kids and you see a Mom yelling at her kids and you think "What did that little shit do"?

MS: I love the way you did not make "Pauline" an outright evil character.

RB: What I tried to do was balance her, I didn't want her to be too bad. I pulled her back a little bit, because I didn't want it to be a "F#$k You Mom" movie. I tried to make her confused about it all. Hopefully that translates.

MS: It did for me, and what's great about the ending is you do see it coming at some point, but it still has a strong impact.

RB: Yeah, it's not like there is a twist ending (laughs) it was the only way for me that the movie could end. It's funny when I made the short, the people who saw it were excited about the feature, they were like "I can't wait to see it, finally we get to see what happens after the garage scene". I'm thinking: "you are going to be sorely disappointed". (laughs) That's it, that's the end of the movie.

MS: In my opinion the ending was perfect.

Good Times

RB: Truly I would not know what to do past that, for me that's the end of the story. Traci and Annalynne really brought it that day. I think it helped that we shot that scene near the end of the shoot and they were so on the verge of killing me at that point. (laughs)

MS: Another interesting thing about "Excision" is how you cast everybody against type. For example I never thought Annalynne was a bad actress, but I did not know she could deliver the kind of performance she did as "Pauline".

RB: Yes, it's funny you should say that, so I told my Mom there was this actress, Annalynne McCord who wants to be in the movie, she said "The girl from 90210? Let me watch it and tell you what I think". she calls me the next day from West Virginia and says "Now honey I just don't know if she can pull it off". But I had seen interviews with Annalynne and spoke with her and knew she could do it, my goal was to cast against type, take a chance on actors since they were taking a chance on me. Plus I'm a young director and wanted to make a ballsy a statement "they're actors, it's not their job to be one type". It was a crazy experience dude shooting this thing, you have no idea.(laughs)

MS: Oh, I think I might. (laughs)

Ricky & "Excision"

RB: Dude, you know what I didn't tell you? Do you remember the cotillion scene when Annalynne sits next to that girl with the black glasses?

MS: Yes.

RB: That girl with the black glasses is the decoy girl on "To Catch A Predator". She is actually 28 years old and looks like she is 16! Annalynne and I were on her getting her autograph and grilling her about the show. She was the only one we were star struck over.

MS: That's funny! What inspired you to write "Excision"?

RB: I tried to make the most personal movie I could about growing up. When I was in the eighth grade I saw this movie called "Happiness" that inspired what I wanted people seeing "Excision" to experience as many extreme reactions as possible while watching it. Half of this movie is super personal kind of stuff about growing up in Virginia, me wanting to be a filmmaker and "Pauline" wanting to be a surgeon. I actually did have to go to cotillion with a cold sore on my face like "Pauline" did too, that was straight out of my life, but she does what I wanted to do, I wanted to kiss the chick, like she did to the guy with a cold sore on my mouth. This whole movie is very therapeutic for me. (laughs)

MS: Well Ricky you have a lot to live up to, what are your plans for a follow-up?

RB: I'm shooting it in March and right now it's called "The South Will Rise Again". It's a horror comedy , it's about a kid who moves to the big city and then has to move back home to the house he grew up in and live in his parents basement, but the house is now haunted. So, he, the punk rock chick from the bar and all the town weirdos get together and try to solve this mystery, it's like the "Goonies" on crack. (laughs)

Got something you want "excised"? Go to: http://excisionmovie.com/

For Immediate Release: Shonen Knife - "Ghost Train"

SHONEN KNIFE RELEASES "GHOST TRAIN" - 2ND VIDEO FROM THEIR LATEST "POP TUNE" ALBUM

On the heels of their North American "Pop Tune Tour 2012" Japanese Pop Punk 

Princesses "Shonen Knife" have released their second promotional video from their latest album release "Pop Tune" (Good Charamel 2012).

 The video is for the track "Ghost Train"  shot at The Osaka Pangea and Shibuya O-Nest in Japan, it was produced by by Mike Rogers and Ken Nishikawa. 

After a brief break from touring Shonen Knife returns to promoting the "Pop Tune" album with a European tour and an "Osaka Ramones" (their Ramones tribute alter ego) appearance in their hometown of Osaka.

Check out the new "Ghost Train" video  below ...

www.shonenknife.net

For Immediate Release: "My Career As A Jerk"

Being a big fan of the movement in music known as punk, I am entirely looking forward to this...Have a terrific weekend everyone ! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:    Circle Jerks "My Career As A Jerk"  To Be Released on DVD September 25   I was a participant on a very long musical adventure through all the fun and miserable times and thinking about this I don't know if i'd change any of it!  - Keith Morris  From the beginning, LA punk band the CIRCLE JERKSwere rooted in controversy. Formed by ex members of Black Flag and Red Cross (now Redd Kross) in late 1979, the band came to encapsulate the image, sound and energy of California Hardcore Punk.  Filmmaker David Markey (1991: The Year Punk Broke, The Slog Movie) mixes in-depth interviews, rare live footage and historical perspective to illustrate the story of one of the most influential bands in the American underground.  "I was at many of these shows, and let me tell you, there wasn't a tighter band in Los Angeles at the time," said Markey. "Making this film reminded me just how truly great they were." My Career as a Jerk follows the band from their early days and classic debut to navigating the independent label and touring scene of the 80s to the addictions, fights and injuries that forced their break up.  Of course the story doesn't quite end there... Features interviews with members Keith Morris, Greg Hetson, Lucky Leher. Earl Liberty, Zander Schloss as well as J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Henry Rollins (Black Flag), Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Bad Religion), and more. Bonus Materials include: Deleted Scenes and Bonus Interviews  Purchase Item: http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD5457D #  #  #

R.I.P. - My Personal Encounter With Susan Tyrrell

Oscar nominated for John Huston's "Fat City" Susan Tyrrell should have won...that being stated the cult actress who was never a household name, career was best described by her Mother to the LA Weekly where Susan recounted her statement: 


“The last thing my mother said to me was, ‘SuSu, your life is a celebration of everything that is cheap and tawdry,’” the actress recalled to writer Paul Cullum, who penned a 2000 profile of Tyrrell for the LA Weekly. “I’ve always liked that, and I’ve always tried to live up to it.”

And live up to it she did! With roles in John Water's "Crybaby" as Johnny Depp's Mother and my personal favorite as "Queen Doris of the Sixth Dimension/Ruth Henderson" in Oingo Boingo's "Forbidden Zone". 

SuSu was one of a kind. Oh, and "yes" I did have a personal encounter with this unique and passionate human being. SuSu was friends with Brian Grillo lead singer of the late great homo hardcore Los Angeles based punk/rock band, "Extra Fancy". 

One night my friend Brittney and myself strutted out to a now defunct club, "Temple" in Silverlake, CA to see our "Fancy" guys when what to our wandering eyes did appear standing next to us..."yeppers" Ms. Susan Tyrrell!


We were both bouncing around and loving on the music, when out of the blue, SuSu grabbed me by the collar and said, quite sincerely I might add: "I'm going to chain you down puppy" !


Susan was a lover of life and that will always be my memory of her, hey SuSu, I know you are somewhere amazing ..! 

10 Seconds With: Bonded By Blood

Bonded By Blood

Southern California has become a hotbed of talented thrash metal acts in recent years, however only one band has the chops to stand out above all others. Only one band has successfully taken the risks necessary to rise above the rest. From Pomona, CA, that band is “Bonded By Blood“.

Here to crack that thrash metal whip is “Bonded By Blood” bassist, Jessie Sanchez!

MS: Growing up did you like metal music a lot?

JS: Yeah, I grew up listening to a lot of punk and thrash metal. A lot of industrial music, I used to be really big into industrial.

MS: Oh really? I really like industrial too, what are some of the bands you are into?

JS: I’m a product of the MTV Generation, I like “Ministry” and “Rammstein” a lot. “Marilyn Manson” was probably what actually was my introduction to industrial.

MS: Musically I like a lot of “Marilyn Manson” but I can’t stand them live. They toured with “Hole” one time was the reason I even saw them.

JS: Oh really?

MS: Courtney Love would just stand on stage with her guitar and be magnetic, and Marilyn Manson did all these theatrics and I was bored out of my mind. It’s funny when I saw you on stage you were great, you are so kick back normally, but on stage!

JS: It’s like an on and off switch. (laughs)

MS: Yeah, it’s called performing, the way you whipped your hair around I kept thinking about that awful Willow Smith song about “whipping your hair back and forth”. (laughs)

JS: (laughs) Well it’s part of the work uniform that’s for sure!

MS: You guys are a good balance on stage. Talk about the “thrash metal revival”.

JS: The first album was a lot more “thrash” then the albums started to get more technical. And now with “Aftermath” which is our third album we are starting to sound more mature. The album coming out is pretty much the debut of the re-vamp of the band, it’s my first time on a “Bonded By Blood” record.

MS: Congrats!

JS: Thanks. The writing process was a different one this time around than the band was used to. It was a lot more laid back, this time, we were really honest with each other if we did not like something. We jammed out riffs and tossed ideas back and forth until we came up with something that we were all satisfied with. I don’t think the group has had that kind of honesty before, people weren’t as comfortable as far as communicating with each other. With the new line-up changes everyone is more comfortable, as we are all approachable people, and not afraid to be honest with each other. As a result of this we have a new record that there is nothing on I would go back and change. I think the whole band is satisfied.

Get "Bonded" at: http://www.facebook.com/officialbondedbyblood
"Aftermath" drops July 3rd...!

For Immediate Release: Shonen Knife Is Back !

SHONEN KNIFE Announces New Studio Album “Pop Tune” (Out June 6)

And Upcoming North American Tour

Check Out the Tour Video at

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBL7VdmAmpY

Osaka Japan’s legendary Pop/Punk Pioneers “Shonen Knife” continue their 30^th Anniversary Celebration with 30 newly announced shows in the US/Canada as well as the release of a brand new studio album called “Pop Tune”!!!!

“Pop Tune” was recorded in Osaka in early 2012 after the bands wildly successful “Osaka Ramones” World Tour in 2011.

“Pop Tune” will be released World Wide on June 6^th (on Good Charamel Records in North America) and their 2012 North American tour will begin in Philadelphia this July (dates listed below).

Check out the tour video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBL7VdmAmpY.

7-19 Philadelphia, PA- Johnny Brenda’s*

7-20 Asbury Park, NJ –Asbury Lanes*

7-21 Brooklyn, NY- The Bell House*

7-22 Hoboken, NJ- Maxwells*

7-24 Providence, RI- Providence Social Club*

7-25 Portland, ME - Space Gallery*

7-26 Allston, MA- Great Scotts*

7-27 Rochester, NY – Bug Jar*

7-28 Long Lake, NY – Mt. Sabattis Pavillion*

7-29 Bethlehem, PA- Levitt Pavillion Steelstacks*

7-30 Detroit, MI- Lager House -*

7-31 Great Rapids, MI- The Pyramid Scheme*

8-2 Chicago, IL- Empty Bottle*

8-3 TBA

8-4 Minneapolis, MN-The Entry

8-5 Fargo, ND- The Aquarium

8-8 Seattle, WA- Tractor Tavern

8-9 Portland, OR- Dante’s

8-10 San Francisco, Ca- Bottom of the Hill

8-11 San Jose, CA- Blank Club

8-12 So Cal. - TBD

8-13 So Cal - TBD

8-14 Tucson, AZ- Club Congress

8-16 Austin, TX- Red 7 -

8-17 Dallas, TX- Club Dada

8-18 Little Rock, AR- Stickyz Rock’n’Roll Chicken

8-19 Nashville, TN- Exit / In*

8-20 Cincinnati, OH- Taft Theatre*

8-21 Cleveland, OH- Beachland Ballroom*

8-22 Toronto, ON- The Quadrangle / Hart House

* w/ opening band White Mystery

http://www.goodcharamel.com/
http://www.shonenknife.net/
http://www.whitemysteryband.com/

Ariel Beez: "Snow White" Goes Solo

Ariel Beez formerly of “Snow White & The 7 Slutz” is now flying solo - ya know, the usual band disbanded for various reasons sort of thing.

This weekend she has a gig at “Hillbillyhip” in Topanga, CA, Saturday February 25th 2012, let’s check in with the now Slutz- less “Snow White”.

MS: So what happened to the Slutz?

AB: Well, our bassist moved to Orange County, and I kind of wanted to pursue solo stuff.

MS: Cool, so are you still going to be doing punk at your upcoming gig?

AB: Yeah, the upcoming show is like a punk/folk show - my part, I’m not really sure how to describe it, I play ukulele, I am opening for a big band on the punk scene called “Ramshackle Glory” It’s a good opportunity to be opening for them. Part of the show is electric and part of it is acoustic.

MS: I love acoustic! Do you remember me from your childhood at all? It has been a while.

AB: Were you in Uncle Phil’s (Esposito) acting class?

MS: Yes, I was that is how I met your Mom (Nina Savelle- Rocklin).

AB: Vaguely, I was really little.

MS: I’ve actually met your Dad too (Matt Earl Beesley, Producer on
“Revenge“) and “Revenge” is one of my favorite shows.

AB: Oh, that’s awesome!

MS: Speaking of Phil, you, like myself, love tattoos and your first one was honoring him, tell us about it.

AB: Phil was very important in my life, he was like a Father Figure, he and his partner Joseph. The tattoo I got to honor him is on my forearm, it’s an infinity sign, but I had it done like a vine, and it has his birth date written in the infinity.

MS: Very nice.

AB: Also I have another quote tattooed on my back, it’s from “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” the quote is “It’s the truth, even if it didn’t happen”. It has to do with my past and the fact that I’m a writer. So to have such an amazing piece of literature on my body by such an amazing author like Ken Kesey is really important to me.

MS: Obviously you write all your own songs.

AB: Yes, I do.

MS: That is awesome! So other than acoustic what can people expect from your show this Saturday?

AB: All around the show is going to be an amazing time, because it is so many different groups of artists. One of the bands is my boyfriend performing with a friend of mine and an accordion. My music? I wouldn’t really know how to categorize it, I wouldn’t call it punk, it’s more quirky and a little bit whimsical. Folk/Punk is something I really like, it’s fun to take punk subjects like: Drugs, Sex & Rock-N-Roll and then put them across in a folky way.

MS: Sounds Great! I am making a point of being there Saturday.

AB: Thank you so much for this opportunity, hope to see you there!

Get hip this Saturday: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002517776293