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eLitter
for the virtual floor!!

“I
grab this mic, I spike it to the ground. The lightning’s bad but at least its
not loud”
THE NEUS
SUBJEX #68
June &
July, July 2006
(.2)
with Mang, The
Cincinnati Suds, Viva
La Foxx, Desdemona Festival Coverage, Muddy
Rivers, 24 Hour Flu, Clause
83, GD Mills, Def
Leppard, Grandma’s Boy, Trudell,
RAM Coverage, More John Haywood, Night
Dude’s, Apollo Up!, Sinks
of Gandy, Crimewave, Hats Off,
By products of America, Gazelles
Reunion?, The Libertines, Alleys, Adam
Wesley is Misunderstood (again), Buffalo Killers,
Dead Flowers, The
Hypochondriacs, and more Dead French Prophets than you can wave a
‘Dont Tread on Me Flag’ at...
(.1) with
1000 Arms . Meow
MotherFucker . Rumble Records. John
Haywood . Blue Velvet .
Toys That Kill . Grizzly
Man. Minor
Disturbance . Wussy . My
Latex Brain . David Turbow.
Wolfgang Bang . 12 X100 . Stealth
Bovine Walk. Mall of the Dead plus LESS THAN
YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE

"Talking
Chaotic Boredom"
(.2) N E W S
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Awoogah!
Awoogah! New Band Alert! New Band Alert!
Rich
Wasson of 16 PIECE BUCKET announced that his new band is called CLAUSE 83 and
features himself on guitar and vocals, Ralph Parker on drums and Andy Leahey on
bass. They are out there playing shows, which musicians call "gigs",
around the greater Eight valleys area. Check them out.
Clause
83
24 Hour Flu CD Release...
Joe Thompson from HILLTOP DISTILLERY and 24 HOUR FLU contacted the NSX
to say that 24 Hour Flu will have a CD release show on Friday, September 15th at
Newport's SOUTHGATE HOUSE... that is if the Bird Flu don't get us first... Might
not be a lot of people there, because they will be DEAD and piled in mass graves
for burning in desperate hopes to stop a pandemic!!! With a band name
having ANYTHING to do with a flu, I would tread lightly.
24
Hour Flu
Buffalo Killers News
It’s already going out in blanket e-mails as you read this, THE BUFFALO
KILLERS will release their debut CD soon... Stay tuned to the NEUS SUBJEX for
their CD to be featured in the STORY BEHIND THE SONG feature...
Buffalo
Killers
Here Comes GD Mills and
his Negative Space!
Greg D. Mills (aka “GD Mills”) recently stopped me before ingesting a
Comet Burrito to tell me that he is realizing a one-sided record titled GD MILLS
& THE NEGATIVE SPACE. The Entire A side of the record features a recording
with him on every instrument on every song, sounding similar to the DECISIONS
stuff he did with DATAWASLOST and the entire B-Side will be blank, or
“Negative Space” as GD puts it. GD said something about trying to get a
“real” band together for a few shows, so maybe we all can look forward to
that AND his record. If memory serves me correct, that DECISIONS stuff was
fucking amazing, but still not as amazing as his thin, well manicured stash!
GAZELLES! Reforming?
Yeah, someone comes up to me and tells me that the Gazelles are reforming...
with members of THE VIRGINS filling in the vacant spots. I have heard firsthand
that JJ Lixx, ex-Gazelles Guitar, said he is doing a new project with Ross
(Virgins Guitar) but not in any way, shape or form is it a rebirth of Gazelles!
If it is, and those guys let it out of the bag, and I had to hear this from the
source I have, then I will STOP doing any sorts of news items in the Neus Subjex
online edition or otherwise! At this moment, if the case be as it may, and the
gazelles are reforming using Virgins members to fill in spots, the Neus Subjex
has CEASED to be a reporting element of any kind... Cause the Neus Subjex has
been with the Gazelles from the start... and it would be a grand betrayal for
them to do such a thing behind my blood slippery back.
Gazelles
defunction page
R.ebel A.gainst M.usic
David Hilshorst, leader of R.EBEL A.GAINST M.USIC (RAM) sent the NSX an
e-mail loaded with news concerning his various projects. DAVID WILLIAM
CONFIDENTIAL just released a new CD entitled "Vacant Premises" which
RAM describes as "Dark, droney, ambient and atmospheric" and goes on
to say the disc would do right by those who like "deep listening, harsh or
ambient" sounds. This release is available at SHAKE IT RECORDS or contact
RAM directly (rebelagainstmusic@hotmail.com). David William Confidential will be
teaming up with R (squared) for a number of projects. The first of which is the
Hagen and Dismount project, RAM describes this as a "chill out, late
night" affair. The two also have a death metal/black metal project in the
works and also, possibly, a hip hop project too with all of it to be represented
by the RAM label. A new addition to the RAM team is INFOTUBE, a two piece
composed of Peter D. Pricks and B.B. Grounde. Who RAM representatives said
represent a sound close to that of Throbbing Gristle, Negativland, Swans and
Nurse With Wound complete with samples, turntables, effects, vocals, kids toys,
keyboards, and more... You can check it out at www.myspace.com/infotubecincy.
INFOTUBE have plans to release a CD-R on RAM. More
info
Despite just
releasing a new CD, a time when many bands would be out and about, MEEOOW
MOTHERFUCKER has just entered a self-imposed hiatus due to Henry's constant leg
cramps and misplaced razor. Their debut CD is still available at Shake It
Records
|
“I
Will Walk (Behind You) In the Line of Fire”
VIVA LA FOXX along with THE CINCINNATI SUDS 06/17/24 @ THE COMET
Viva la Foxx are on it right from the get go. Loud. Brutal. Attacking.
It’s how I like my rock and/or roll. Ordered, delivered. I sign the invoice
and return it to the shipping and receiving clerk. He looks pissed off that I
get all the good assignments and he gets the bad ones. That guy’s a dick
anyway. I remember that time he gave me pictures of a car show to look at... for
some odd reason. It was picture after picture of old “fix’em up”
show-quality automobiles. Different styles. Different Models. Different years of
production. I call all old cars 57’ Chevy's to save myself from memorizing all
the different ones. People love to correct me when I call a 34’ Ford a 57’
Chevy or whatever, but that’s their deal. When this guy handed me his car
pictures, he didn't realize it, but pictures from his attempts to get a decent
profile picture for his dating website picture were in there too. I liked the
one that showed the most of a Bald Eagle picture on the wall behind him even
though he wasn't wearing his cowboy hat in it....

I start snapping pictures right away when Viva begins playing. I started the set
a lil’ pissed off because any other time I seen VIVA, Amy (Vocals) had a Les
Paul strapped on. I kept waiting and waiting for her to grab a guitar but she
didn't. I had even asked her something along the lines of... “Hey, better get
your guitar ready” but she told me that for certain shows, she doesn't use a
guitar. So this sort of pissed me off. I mean, Amy is a great guitarist, as well
as vocalist, and to not give her a guitar would be to half-ass things I felt. I
said something along those lines to her too but she just got ready to do her
thing... You could already hear a bassline in the distance and Rueben (Guitar,
Vocals) was whipping his sound up... By time the official set began, I had
forgotten all of my misgivings like a goldfish. I took my last breath of human
air and dove in.

I heard a story from some river folk one time from the Withlachoochie river area
in Citrus County Florida. These kind, gracious river folk told a tale of a
gigantic alligator, something along the lines of 14 foot long... that lived in
the river and surrounding canals that was rather large, and old, and had
devoured several house pets. The river folk, became concerned for their young
with this gator being on the loose, so despite alligator season being far off, a
bunch of them got together one night and set out to rid their community of this
newfound nuisance.
Sort of like how Frankenstein was hunted by the surrounding villagers. I
imagined how the scene must have looked... With River Folk carrying torches in
boats and such... Carrying pitchforks... But that would all just be me picturing
everything in my head, because I didn't see the ensuing struggle to capture and
kill this alligator. All I had seen was the riverbank where the struggle took
place. I had asked what they were building there in that spot that looked as if
a bulldozer had cleared trees and shrubs, you know, all the usual stuff that
borders a river in the subtropics, and that's when I was told the tale of this
alligator. Because the clearing that I inquired about was the area where the
river folk had captured this alligator... then killed him. His dead body was
taken away and all that was left, was this destroyed area. I gave this alligator
several minutes worth of thought. The battle must have been amazing to watch...
He had the power of a bulldozer.
This is what Viva la Foxx’s sound reminded me of. This story. I went crazy
snapping pictures during their set, and all the time, imagined that I was taking
snaps of this alligator putting up the fight of his life.

Rueben, with his guitar would be the tail of the beast. Whipping around
ferociously. Back and forth. The tail of the alligator not only helps it
maneuver, but can whip around prey to its mouth. This is Rueben.
Danielle (Bass, Vocals) is the scariest part of the band. Brutal from the start,
her bass lines are vicious and dangerous . The alligators massive jaws and fangs
are her bass lines. They will tear and rip you apart if you get to close.
Don't let the short legs of the gator fool you. They represent maybe the most
underestimated part of the gator, allowing it quick (but short) bursts of speed
putting it into striking distance without a moments notice when on land. A new
edition to the band, Billy (Drums) can be represented by this pounding unknown
dangerous element to Viva la Foxx. He plays hard. He hits hard. Several times
during their set, brave souls would try to restrain the drum set from moving
away from him. The drum set was trying to escape! Nothing worked, the drum set
feared Billy and tried its escape for the entire set.
Amy is the brain of the gator. Its command. Pure instinct itself. Using all of
the separate parts of the gator in their most efficient ways, to hunt, capture
and kill. When a gator grabs a hold of its prey, it will drag it down into the
water. Take a bite and twist, to tear a bit off for itself. The technique of the
alligator is Amy. Reaching out, attacking. People veer away, as they should!
The set was pure magic. But you have eyes, look at the pictures. See the power
of the living bulldozer that is the end result of a hunt for Viva la Foxx.
Before moving on, I must say a few words for their new CD. Rueben shared one
with the NSX, so please consider what you have read, and these next couple of
lines, a review for the release...

Much like their
live show, this CD is brutal, loud and dangerous. I see a tad bit of LED
ZEPPELIN and YYY’s in there... It's short, just shy of 25 minutes, but well
worth it. One song is a cover from TEDDY AND THE FRAT GIRLS “Clubnite” as I
had reported in past issues of the NSX. Excellent production, everything sound's
awesome. Everything has never sounded better. The ‘hit’ is one of the last
tracks, a tune called “Doctor” which does the trick and has a nice bleed
into the cover... A middle one is also my fav, “Leftovers.” It has a
tremendously flagitious riff that gives me belief that I can walk through solid
matter. I am really impressed with this CD, except the usual gripes of overall
length are still in effect. I can't help that selfish side of me... Always
wanting more of a good thing.
Viva
La Fox Shake
It Records
|
|
THE
CINCINNATI SUDS took The Comet's “stage” area secondly. They
ushered in their experience with a band-wide toast of cheap bourbon that
stings the back of your throat, like you just swallowed a piece of
charcoal right from the fire. “THE” fire. The fire of LIFE. That taste
is the sour taste of cheap bourbon. That’s also what disappointment
taste like. Its also the taste of satisfaction. Only a lit cigarette or a
sweaty brow can decide which is which.
I was born on the tail end of ’Nam but that doesn't mean I don't
understand desperate measures. I make no attempt at trying to say anything
in my life even closely resembles that war, but I get the feeling that the
night the Suds hit the Comet, when I was watching them toast each other
and a close ally of the band, a certain Patrick Jody (young brother of
Andrew Jody, bass and Vocals of Suds), I was seeing a recreation of a
Marine forward Recon unit’s traditional drink before boarding the
choppers back to the bush. 1 Adam 12 (Vocals, Guitar and Point man) told
me earlier that where he lives in Louisville, this certain restaurant that
he calls his employer has made him a manager and now he is getting karma
type pay backs for the way he treated Big Jack (Dixie Trash) when Jack was
his boss man. But a quick mention of fulfilled prophecy and the arrival of
a certain Mark Zero arriving to the Comet ON SKATEBOARD (yes, SKATEBOARD)
knocked us all for a loop. Especially Tim Ebben (Guitarist) who quickly
ran to the phone to call Channel 12 who dispatched Emily Longnecker to get
the scoop. 1 Adam 12 was wearing a Reds baseball hat. He is the eternal
fan. Through thick and then... He also said that he has began saving up
for a playoff game ticket. He prophesied and said La Rue’s days as a Red
are numbered, and this I believe because I can see how he believes in me.
That reciprocating belief in each other is something that men don't share
enough with each other. Go right now, leave your computer and tell someone
special that you believe in them... then come back and read more... that's
not an order, because I am not the ordering type, that is a request my
friend.
For a band that isn't really a band again until a few days, or even hours
before their next show, The Cincinnati Suds are fucking amazing. Like a
good Flamin’ Groovies record... Rockin, and rollin’, and rockin’
some more. Plus, the band is a true collection of all-stars. Tim Ebben,
from The Hypochondriacs trades off solo’s with 1 Adam 12. They point to
each other and graciously allow each to take the point. Tim is known for
many things but his simile is proly the last thing you would expect to
hear from me. Tim has a nice smile. Tommy Tombstone, “The Kid” is the
youngest and newest addition to the band. He plays keys and something
called the “spacebox” ask Tommy and he will tell you that his youngest
brother is a genius, but if you ask me there is something about his whole
family that makes them ALL geniuses. Tommy is always there with a kind
word. I admire him. Tommy's brother, Tim, was a longtime member of WACO A
GO GO and remains active in numerous bands like THE GNASDELLS and NEW
PENTECOSTAL GIGOLOS where Tommy is also member. I mentioned the Incredible
Andrew Jody before, but this guy is truly the spirit of the
Cincinnati music scene. He has been in more bands than he has fingers and
toes and has given each of them 110%. He plays bass in The Suds, and this
is odd for him because its the only band he has been in that he isn't
behind a drum set. I know firsthand, from one of his past bands, that Andy
is so fucking talented that he deserves a career in the music industry if
anyone does. He can do anything. Guitar, drums, bass... He even sings in
The Suds! Andy is the total utility player. Ready to pick up any weapon in
any fire fight and get to business. Last but not least in this unit, is
the Third Templar of LASTING, Sean Morrissey. If Andy is the Spirit of the
Cincinnati scene, then let Sean be its blood. Halfway to ninety (plus a
couple) Sean plays drums and there is NOTHING that he hasn't seen with his
own eyes or done with his own hands. He is the veteran of the unit. The
noncommissioned officer Sergeant that holds it all together. Sometimes,
when he is playing drums, it looks as if he is crying... or maybe like he
is in pain... either way, I would like to think that IF there are tears,
they are tears of appreciation, admiration and thanks... Sean sings a few
ditty's throughout the night and his voice is amazingly good... A real
classic country sound that adds depth to the band. His voice can bring a
tear to your eye. He sings what he means. He is that sort of guy... and
last but never least... 1 Adam 12, the point man of the group. He is a
natural leader. Charismatic. Funny. The sort of guy who expects nothing
out of anything, Just thankful to get a moment of shine with fellow man.
He claims that he is a red head but looks blond to me. He makes sure he is
the last guy on the chopper, so he is the first to hit ground and get shit
going. He wears his Fender high above others' sling-spots. At a moments
notice, he erupts into spasm of movement collapsing to the floor in a held
note that he loops all together for a grand solo. I am snapping a pic
every 30 seconds during the Suds' set because I’m seeing some good
shots. I’m seeing the real deal. I’m hearing the real thing. Songs of
desperation, despair, flood waters, heartbreak, fear, freewheeling,
taintless and tenderness, anger and absent mindedness. Watching the
Cincinnati Suds is like drinking a 12 pack. The more you listen, the more
you don't realize that you have been drawn in for the long haul. Those
cold beers are tasting better and better. In fact, you don't even know if
the beers are in fact cold. You no longer can tell.
The Cincinnati Suds are quite honestly one of the best rock and roll band
I will ever see in my entire life. This I know for a fact my friend. Their
songs both make me want to cry on demand, and smoke a cigarette even
though I have never smoked. I want to drink until I cant remember who I
am. I want to never sleep again when I hear one of Adam's solos. I want to
levitate and listening to the Cincinnati Suds, I swear, I can if I can
just try hard enough. If I just drink enough... The Cincinnati Suds are
about possibilities. Just listen to what is just underneath the top.
That's where you have to be. And Listen to Adam, and buy him a beer. He
deserves it the same way Patton deserved to be understood about his past
lives.
The
Cincinnati Suds |
|
“This Muddy River Loves, Respects
and Takes Care of Us!”
DESDEMONA FESTIVAL June 23,24,25th @ Sawyer Point Park (Cincinnati,
Ohio)

Day 1 “That Muddy, Deadly River!”
Internet advertisements advertise that a three day pass gets you over 21 hours
of amazing performances which turns out to be just 80 cents per band! I don't
think that they take in account that some of these bands' inflated rock-star
egos, that takes them past their designated time slot... but predicting what
musicians will do on stage is an unknown technology and very unprecise... Worse
than predicting new species in dark, humid depths of communities named from
regions of the German confederacy.... None the less, NSX personnel meet upriver
at 9AM in the parking lot of Oswald Industries, a French importer of wine to the
tri-state area, who agreed to donate skid’s for NSX personnel to make a raft
that we could float down the Mighty Ohio river and land on the banks of Sawyer
Point Park... That was the first part of the plan. Evading admission fees, no
matter what kind of deal! Were going IN... UNDER the wire! From there, we would
set up a base camp, organize our supplies of cheap beer and all the ‘send
back’ French wine (also donated from Oswald Industries) and then commence to
rocking out. We spent the previous evening making our raft. With the we being
myself, The Brightone, David Fishwick and an employee of Oswald industries named
Pierre. We named the raft “DISCOVERY IV” in honor of the boat from
the movie, INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS, which looking back now in hindsight, was a
terrible idea, but none-the-less, followed though with. I, Shawn Abnoxious, was
the over-all expedition coordinator. David Fishwick was named raft Captain
because 1) He knew the difference between a raft and a boat and 2) His last name
had something to do with water (‘FISH’ of ‘Fishwick’). The Brightone was
in charge of supplies, our trusted quartermaster. Pierre was in charge of
establishing and maintaining all aspects of our base camp which he said would be
dubbed “Camp Somewhere.” Pierre had spent time in the first Gulf War in a
French artillery unit for the French Army there until he was overheard by allied
commanders talking about a battleplan (that came to him in a dream one night) to
some fellows in his unit. One thing led to another and after a meeting with the
joint General’s staff, his ‘Dream Plan’ turned out to be the final battle
plan for all allied forces in that war. So, he is some sort of strategic genius
that turned down this latest gulf-effort so he could work as a laborer for
Oswald Industries. We loaded up the raft and were en route by 10 AM. By 11 AM,
Pierre and all our provisions were missing after some White-Hat jock jackass on
a jet ski came up close to check us out and wasn't paying attention to what he
was doing and rammed us. Pierre went overboard. The River claimed him. Moments
before we launched DISCOVERY IV, Pierre had given me an envelope to
hold on to just in cast anything happened. As SOON as it happened. I thought he
was nuts. I wanted to turn back immediately, but I remembered his note, and
after David and I fished the Brightone back out of the water after he dove in
trying to locate Pierre, I opened the note. It told me to call the Coast Guard
with my phone and report him missing (which I did, but my first three attempts
got the Coast Guard Recruiting office)... Then to keep going and finish the
expedition. His letter also talked about how he knew this was going to happen,
and it was destiny. So, David, Brightone and I did exactly as Pierre asked, we
continued onward! By 2 PM our deteriorating raft washed up on the shore of
Sawyer Point Park. According to intelligence reports, provided by, and using the
French intelligence connections Pierre had established prior to the mission’s
launching, we were well within the fenced-off borders of the event and hadn't
paid a cent!
Pierre was lost. Our supplies were gone including our sleeping gear (tens,
sleeping bags, etc.) Our raft had seen better forms as forklift skids at Oswald
Industries. The Discovery IV wouldn't make the Day Three night jaunt from
our established base camp to the Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg as planned in its
current shape... We would have to spend time rummaging material for repairing
the raft, taking time from band viewing. That is, if we decided to push onward
with the original plan... We seriously considered scratching the expedition and
calling my Mom to come pick us all up and take us to White Castle and get us
some grease cubes with fried sides, when all of a sudden we were greeted by a
small group of partially naked, spear wielding hermits that at first appeared to
be frequent shoppers of various downtown businesses, but upon closer inspection
found them to be reclusive members of a secret society. The leader of the small
group, who proclaimed himself the “Leader Some-Bitch” referred to
himself and his companions as “The Pointless Ones”, a group of about 20 or
so “outside society misfits” that lives in the heavily wooded banks of the
Mighty Ohio River’s Sawyer Point Park. The Leader Some-Bitch said two days
prior a man with a French accent approached him and handed him a letter that
told of the arrival of David, Brightone and I on the very spot we were standing.
That Pierre! Pierre even told the leader Some-Bitch that nearby the spot, 30
paces to the East, three pornographic magazines would be found discarded.
Brightone saw these and recovered them. He placed them in his mission bag, next
to his sun block. The Leader Some-Bitch said that in this letter, he was to meet
us, and provide fresh matches from which we could start a campfire and assist in
repairing our raft, the Discovery IV... With the ability to make a fire
being the bare necessity of any base camp, and the much needed help getting
Discovery IV in working order, our expedition had seen new life! Thanks, of
course, to the Leader Some-Bitch and his Pointless Ones. Needless to say, we
spent the remainder of the evening, well into the sundown, establishing the
tattered remains of what sparse equipment we did have remaining into our base
camp. The fire that came about from the matches of the Leader Some-Bitch, was a
warm one. We named our camp, “Camp Pierre” over the original plan of “Camp
Somewhere” in honor of our fallen friend. I fell asleep thinking of Pierre and
wondering what I would write in the letter to his family.... Something about
being brave, and strong. Like the Vietcong.... My last look around base camp,
before sleep calmed my troubled eyes, was of David and Brightone looking at the
mysterious pornographic magazines that marked our arrival on the shores of
Sawyer Point Park to the Pointless Ones and their Leader Some-Bitch.
Day 2 (actual coverage) plus “The Battle of Camp Pierre”
I slept late into the next day. I was awoken by the smell of something cooking
over our open fire. David had rustled together an improvised meal of Grass Soup
(cooked with river gravel on the bottom for additional flavor) and a side of
freshly cut (with a pair of rusty scissors borrowed from a Pointless One)
Dandelions. Dave prepared this meal in a deep old hubcap he found near the
waters edge right next to Pierre's beret that had washed up on shore sometime in
the night. We were quiet while we ate... We spent the remainder of the time
until the days festivities began in two separate groups. I went to the waters
edge, sat and looked out over the beautiful river that claimed loyal Pierre,
while David and Brightone continued their pornographic viewing. How many times
can two guys look at the same three magazines?
We ventured out from Camp Pierre, after placing his beret on top of our
makeshift flagpole made from a thick tree branch that supported our ‘Don't
Tread On me” flag, to catch CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY playing on the main
stage. Not only did one of their members have a PIXIES shirt on, but they ended
up playing a Pixies cover... Needless to say, they DID NOT cover “La La love
You”, opting instead to play “Where is My Mind” which is a good song, no
wait, a GREAT song, but also very PREDICTABLE. Mostly this band was a bore. They
sounded like they belong on the O.C. Soundtrack. Like I could walk into a
HOLLISTER store and see their CD on sale. Teenagers would pick up this CD,
glance at it. Read the First and last song titles, and then put it back down
because they think the Bitch/Fag behind them is trying to cut. To Captain of
Industry, I say GOOD LUCK.

Captain of Industry
APOLLO UP played on a stage under an arch that was the support for the Purple
People Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that they now allow you to get dressed up in
a flashy uniform, put on a headset and climb all over for a hefty price. the
price is a bit more for sunrises and sunsets, so plan accordingly. And it's
this, CLIMB THE PURPLE PEOPLE BRIDGE thing that this city is so ranting about
while the rest of the artistic community is like “WHAT?” Combine this bridge
climb with some American Gladiator style batons. Two teams set out from opposite
sides of the bridge and it's fucking winner take all. Then they could at least
sell tickets.... Well, Apollo Up were definitely a plus for me personally
through the day. Their set was tight and rocking. I enjoyed them very much.
About playing in the arch, they thought at first they were playing in a cave...
But I pointed out how it was more like a tunnel because it was open at both
ends. Apollo Up have a new CD out, it should be reviewed in this update in a
later section.

Apollo Up
A band that I have really made an effort to get into is MATES OF STATE but it
hasn't happened in listening station encounters at Shake it Records, or finally
here, in a LIVE setting. This was their last chance with me and they fucking
blew it! Everyone screams about how they are minimal this and minimal that and
shit. I rushed to catch them and tried to get into it, but it ended up sounding
like really medicated, unfinished Beach Boys songs. Yeah, melodies and
harmonizing... I didn't feel it. Also, I seen this really cool looking guy
walking around, and asked him to have his picture taken with me. He got all
pissy and shit, and said “Why?” to which I responded “Why not?” I
totally blame Mates of State too. It's all their fault. This pissy snob needed
to smoke a J and fucking chill out. I didn't really see what the big deal was...
So naturally, since Mates of State were playing, I blame them!
Our expedition split up in three parts. David went to check out FORGET CASSETTES
(look at the pictures he took) and Brightone followed him there at first, but
left a bit into it to take random crowd photos. The whole deal with the pissy
guy got him riled up! I contemplated seeing Forget Cassettes, but I got to
Mulling it over in my head, and when faced with something I had seen before
(Forget Cassettes) and seeing something I had NEVER seen before, well, I went
with the unknown. And I was glad I did.

Forget Cassettes
I passed by Camp Pierre along the way to check on things. Everything was still
OK. The leader Some-Bitch had issued several workers for our raft, as the letter
to Pierre had suggested, and set up three guards to watch our camp. I asked who
I thought might have been the leader of the dispatched repair/Guard unit why
there was armed protectorates present, and he told me “Just in case THEY
came.” I didn't know who ‘THEY’ were, but whatever it was it couldn't have
been good. The description didn't really make any sense, Suits... Mechanical
pencils... Real vague. Also, concerning the Law of Groups & Gatherings,
every group and/or gathering has an ANTI group or gathering to counteract it.
THEY must be the eternal enemies of The Pointless Ones. I left the repair
dispatch and guard unit to continue its work. I paused briefly to look a the
yellow ‘Don't Tread On me” flag, with Pierre's beret. I pulled my cap down
close to my eyes, I didn't want the Pointless Ones that were helping us to see
me cry.
I got to one of the auxiliary stages where COUSIN was suppose to play early.
I forgot which number the stage was and don't feel like looking it up. For the
record, I'm listening to Proletariat while I write this, and I don't feel like
doing extra cause it just isn't worth it. I sat there and called preprogrammed
Funeral Homes from the contacts list on my cell phone to ask what they had going
on. It is a hobby of mine. The Brightone showed up a few moments before Cousin
played to regroup and show me some pictures that he had been randomly snapping.
It was around this time, as Cousin began their raucous set, that he began taking
pictures of photographers taking pictures. It was sort of cool in a way. I was
enjoying him doing this. I enjoyed Cousin's three piece rock and soul attack,
and even got their CD when they were finished, and the CD is cool, but does not
do that band justice! The live sound of Cousin is nothing close to what the CD
captured. The lead of Cousin said something about them getting a new CD out
soon, I’m interested to say the least, and THAT is saying something.

We all reunited to watch STELLASTARR*. They played a pretty good set. I can say
that I even enjoyed listening to live versions of their latest songs from their
latest effort, “Harmonies for The Haunted” which is a release that I haven't
been able to get into like their debut. David got into them pretty bronze... He
talked to band members afterward and relayed some sort of information that the
DESDEMONA festival was one of Stellastarr’s few engagements over summer. The
last time I saw Stallastarr* at The Southgate House, the singer was complaining
about loosing his voice due to having the flu or something, this time he was in
top form. They played a good set, but still, I haven't picked up
“Harmonies..” with the vigor that I was hoping for since then.

Stellastar*
After Stellastarr* we all returned to Camp Pierre for a quick snack. The
Pointless Ones work crew had finished their raft repairs to a degree that would
enable us to finish our planned expedition as originally conceived, but had
consumed the remaining portion of Grass Soup. The remaining attachment of
Guards, a new shift of four since the ones I encountered earlier, apologized on
behalf of the previous repairmen and guards, but David, Brightone and I wouldn't
dare let them think that what they did was wrong. The Pointless Ones had helped
us beyond any payment of Grass Soup as a meal, and we tried to make them see
that, but they still felt embarrassed. I excused myself to catch a quick meal of
Feathered Fries (French Fries, with Pigeon Feathers sprinkled on top like
cheese) with The Brightone snapping pictures of everything at my side. David
remained behind to prepare a meal for the embarrassed Pointless One’s guards
of Pepper Soup and Taco Shells with peanut butter. Once again, when faced with
the chance to see Enon, a band whose CD I had, but liked only marginally, and
seeing ACTRESS, a band I had never seen, I chose Actress! Brightone hung with
me. David went to ENON...

Actress/Enon sandwich.
Actress didn't do anything for me. They came off as another OC band. Some tight
moments in some of their songs. Good work with delay pedals, I always appreciate
a band who knows how to work a delay, but for the most part, Actress was too
disco for their own good. I mean, FUCK! I appreciate band like RADIO 4 and all,
but Actress were just ANOTHER one of those, rather than being pioneers, they
were one of a league that at best, could possibly make it into the Hall of Fame,
but would proly just end up getting busted for buying beer for 14 year olds
somewhere down the road. There was tight moments, and they had a mannequin on
stage with them that was all lit up with their band name across its chest, but
the mannequin didn't have any clothes on and its bulge was sort of offensive for
this conservative crowd. A bunch of Young Republican looking youths decked out
in their power suits started gathering in back... and they began chanting....
and throwing mechanical pencils.... The Brightone and I took off in due time
just as they were approaching the stage. If I only made the connection between
what the Pointless Ones had told us earlier about their enemies, the THEY, and
what was going down at the stage with Actress playing, I would have sent an
emergency flare up to get David’s attention and boarded the Discovery IV to
get the fuck out of there... But fear not for Actress Neus Subjex readers, I
later found out that the band was saved from the attacks of the Young
Republicans due to the fact that they had JACKETS on, even in the sweltering
summer heat that is Cincinnati’s own!
The Brightone and Myself took the trail of evolution to the same stage under the
Purple People Bridge’s arch to reunify with David and catch the tail end of
ENON who ended up doing an encore. The Encore sounded pretty cool at least.
David didn't have much to say about them. No sooner had we told Dave about the
follies at Actress with the dudes in suits, and mechanical pencils, that we ran
into what we each would consider SPIES for this group who we now thought were
those that the Pointless Ones told us about earlier, the THEY, bitching about
how Cincinnati was lame and wanted to know where they could find some Pussy and
some Drugs and how they drove down here from new York to watch Enon and how lame
Cincinnati was...
Then it was pointed out to them how THEY had actually driven the 800 Miles or
whatever it is, to come from New York. New York (the city so nice, they bombed
it twice) to see a band play under a pedestrian bridge in Cincinnati, Ohio. And
to maybe think about what is actually lame.

FUCKING NARCS.
The three of us were tired, and craving more Feathered Fries (they were a hit)
but wanted to catch a bit of ANNIE because everyone and their fucking
grandma’s were talking about how good THEY were going to be.... Like it was
the second coming of fucking ABBA or something, but it ended up sounding like a
Norwegian version of BRITTANY SPEARS. It was comical really, You put on a tape
of SLAVE 4 U (a song Spears wrote about enslaving the Human Race, because
according to the hot sheets, she is an alien) and everyone is like YUCK! EWW!
and THIS IS, LIKE, LAME-O! But you take the same thing and give it a North
Carolina accent, and package it in some tight clothes and ay its from fucking
Norway and BAM! Everyone's got their fucking mouths open wide waiting for you to
put the airplane in the hanger... And if you don't buzz the spoonful of fucking
shit around in a loop a bit making airplane engine noises and play with the
recipient before you land the final payload, they will be pissed off because
they didn't get a show.
We left Annie's air-show for the confides of Camp Pierre. We found our camp
ransacked. There had been a battle. Bodies were scattered here and there, both
fallen warriors from The Pointless Ones and members of the group that we had
seen attacking Actress earlier, members of THEY as we had come to know them...
Apparently the force of THEY were beaten back, but at a dear cost. The THEY dead
outnumbered the Pointless Ones fallen but to a group numbering in the low
twenties, a loss of 8 warriors was detrimental. A battered Pointless Ones
warrior did an owl call from a bundle of nearby bushes to get our attention. The
surviving Pointless Ones had hidden our raft under some loose brush away from
the attention of THEY. The mortally wounded, but still in command Leader
Some-bitch told us if we were to survive, we would have to launch immediately
for our final destination. THEY had momentarily retreated to regroup and
retrieve reinforcements and would be back at any moment to finish off the
remaining Pointless Ones and destroy us as well. We did as he said and boarded
the raft immediately... The leader Some-Bitch handed The Brightone the beret of
Pierre and the DON'T TREAD ON ME flag, David took the rudder of the raft in
command... I was still trying to persuade the Leader Some-bitch to escape with
us along with as many as would fit onto the raft. He refused. We were no more
than 10 feet from the shore when there was a massive attack and the remaining
Pointless Ones sprung into action. The Leader Some-Bitch took out three THEY
warriors in one fatal swing of his spear, but THEY had the far superior numbers.
One THEY broke through the remaining line of The Pointless Ones and tramped into
the river to reach us. The Brightone took one of the porno magazines from his
mission-bag , rolled it up into a stiff tube, and threw it at the THEY, hitting
him squarely in the head, rendering him unconscious. The THEY warrior slipped
beneath the rivers surface. By time the last Pointless One had fallen, we were
well within the safety of the rivers current for them to catch up. Just before
we each lost view, the last thing we seen was THEY ‘s leader, coming forward,
drinking a BUD LIGHT, high fiving all of this fellow warriors... and I cant be
sure from that distance, but we each thought their leader was the same fellow
who rammed our first raft which sent Pierre and our provisions overboard... We
drifted and eventually fell asleep. All three of us. Not necessarily a safe
thing to do on such a large and dangerous river, but none-the-less, we did.
Day 3 “Mission Acomplished!”
We awoke, mysteriously enough at our destination, as planned. The Argosy Casino
Riverboat in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The raft was largely intact, the Pointless
Ones did an excellent job of repairing and altering our craft, as Pierre had
seen in his visions that the wrote about in his letters....
Pierre, Sweet, loyal Pierre. Always smiling. Always a pleasure to be around.
Him, and the Pointless Ones... Apparently The Brightone had awoken earlier than
David and I. He had retrieved large containers of orange Juice and Power-bars
for us to share for breakfast. We sat there on the raft that we would soon
abandon and talked of our adventure. All we had gained, and all we had lost.
When our talk had turned quiet, and all we could hear was the Mighty Ohio River
gently lapping against the shore, I stood up and took the beret that had been
Pierre's, and threw it with as much force as possible, sending it a flight like
a frisbee, with the beret landing about 40 feet from our location. I was
awarded a compliment of “Good Throw” from both David and The Brightone.
David and The Brightone had joined my side, standing looking at the beret in the
water. The river current had already began to take it on another adventure. Just
about that time, we seen four figures on surf boards who were jovial and rather
loud. David, Brightone and I were perplexed! Surfboard in the Ohio River? The
four figures took turns standing on the boards and attempting to ride the wakes
from passing boats, each cheering the attempt of the next. Closer inspection
would reveal that these four, would in fact, be the members of CAPTAIN OF
INDUSTRY. The Brightone and David and I all shook our heads in disbelief.

So, our DESDEMONA adventure turned violent, and short. Steeped in tragedy on
many different levels. But it was fun while the fun lasted and we will
never forget the sacrifice of Pierre and The Pointless Ones. One day we plan to
honor our fallen comrades from the site that was Camp Pierre... But there is
this downtown boycott thing going on... and we wanna be troopers for the
cause... So next year, will Desdemona return? Will we build a new raft and
repeat the expedition? we haven't talked about it.... But from the whole
experience, one question still remains.
What the fuck is a ‘Desdemona’ anyway?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Desdemona Photo’s taken by Shawn Abnoxious, The Brightone and/or David
Fishwick.
Past/Future information:
www.DesdemonaFestival.com
|
|
“My Day of Liberty”
BY PRODUCTS OF AMERICA with THE LIBERTINES July 14th @ The Northside
Tavern (Cincinnati, Ohio)
I
don't really feel as though I should write a bit about this show. I mean,
FUCK! Just look at the size of this update! Since the inception of the
ONLINE NSX, updates seem to be getting bigger and bigger, much more to
talk about these days. If the print edition of the NSX was still around,
each issue would be as big as a fucking novel... Each update is pushing
somewhere from 10,000-14,000 words. This is about how many words was in a
regular issue... Don't forget that these updates are coming about every
2-2.5 weeks... So there's some major coverage going on here. But alas, I
must say a few words about this memorable night. A Night where I found
solace in the populations of the seedy alleys of Northside. Drinking beer,
sweating because its nearly fucking miserable across the Eight Valleys,
and just being together. Me, the recluse, the refuse... and some broken
glass from an unknown struggle. Home. As always, any appearance of BY
PRODUCTS OF AMERICA could be seen as a learning experience. I am just
totally blown away by everything they do... Wide eyed, I cant take my ears
off of what they do. Everything is PERFECT when they play. I wouldn't
change a molecule. I arrived from my comfortable, yet uncomfortable alley
just as “Jump Into The Fire” was on. That is my song! My anthem for
noticing things I hadn't seen before... of course the crowd was still
riled up. That includes me. THE LIBERTINES had just gotten done playing...
and despite the kids that had shown up thinking it was the UK Libertines
playing the tavern, there wasn't anything funny about the night, despite
the fact that everywhere you looked everyone was smiling... The Libertines
did a great job in reemerging onto the local scene. They sounded great,
even better than any recorded effort. A vicious 2 guitar attack. A dual
impressive clean, out there, up front sound. Hitting it where it hurts.
Loud, deep bass by Cheek (never sounding better), tight with the drums
provided by new Libertine addition, Todd Witt who was once again at the
top of his game in what he does. I must say that I am impressed at
Cheek’s ability to smoke a handless cigarette while he plays bass... He
lights one, smokes it, handless, throughout the song, then MAYBE he will
ash when the song ends... I haven't seen piloting of tobacco
products like that since the days of Mark Zero in The Syphilitics. Maybe
it was the heat of the day and its thick humidity and the sweat it brings
on that thrust everyone into some vision-quest sort of sweat lodge indian
thing, but The Libertines played a rather mystical set. It was back and
forth from the alley to Northside Tavern all night long. I swore that I
could have stayed awake all night drinking Bohemian beer in that alley and
watching the street and the thick night that was upon us all. I made a
snack of Outdated Snack Foods and for that, for everything I was thankful.
And I knew at this/that moment how perfect everything can feel. I felt
what my nations forefather’s felt. July 14th is MY day of liberty.
BPA
could stand for Binary Proficiency Absent or some one please make them a
website!
The
Libertines
|
| “I
Had to Remove Myself”
THE HYPOCHONDRIACS and DEAD FLOWERS (Neus Potluck) July 15th @ The
Warner House
Here’s
another one of those obligations that I feel I have... After all this
event came about as people taking initiative... members of THE NEUS
SUBJEX MESSAGES OF THE BORED get together and plan an event open to all,
not just people from the Message Board, where faces can be put with
names and a bond can grow between people who may have never met... or
that’s what the CONCEPT of the event is. Everyone isn't obligated to
bring a dish, but many do. Food, music, spirits for all the “ghostbusters”.
Just an all around good time. In the basement THE HYPOCHONDRIACS play
first and it was sweet. It was nice to hear some new material that
really plays up to the leads that Tim and Aaron deliver with relative
ease. Before the show, Tim had changed from his camo shorts to jeans in
the kitchen of the Warner House, right in front of the food and
everything... He wasn't even ashamed about his skid marks on his
underwear either! Sure, its summer. Times are tough in the big, hot
city... Shit happens... But Tim didn't hide any of it. He’s REAL like
that, and even though I lost my abrasive, never ending appetite, I
respect Tim for his realness! When asked why he was changing out of his
shorts to jeans he responded “I cant play Rock and/or Roll in
shorts!” Just for memory's sake, later that evening Tim played a
SECOND show as a member of THE CINCINNATI SUDS where 1 Adam 12 (Suds
lead) was wearing nothing other than... You Guessed it! Shorts! and he
was doing just fine reopening the wounds he and fellow Suds left in the
Comet weeks before... But The Hypo’s were great. Jenny never sounded
better. Jimmer was consistent on his Drums and Pussy Steve, looking
dapper in a Aqua-Blue suit, didn't get a concussion this time.... I had
never seen DEAD FLOWERS before. This was my first time... And I write
this while FOREIGNERS “Feels Like The First Time” begins to play on
my stereo... Ironic. Anyway, Dead Flowers are quite possibly one of the
best band I have ever seen in my entire span of ‘Punkdom.’ I put
their sound as something in-between, or mixing thereof, CANNED HEAT and
THE PATTI SMITH GROUP if each of them were in love with three chord
rock. They say funny shit in-between songs like “Let’s kick this
Motherfucker.” But the three things that I fell in love with the band
first was 1) How they take, display and then leave a dead, dried up
flower at every show 2) When tuning, Ian (bass) eventually got bored
tuning and said ‘Good Enough!” then dis-attached the tuner to ready
himself for their first song and 3) Sara (vocals) complaining about how
she has a habit of turning off the microphone she was to sing out of
when she is using it. I suggested to her to leave the mic in the on
position and put a piece of tape over it. She then reached down to her
shoe to grab a morsel of duct tape from her shoe! I was a believer in
Dead Flowers before they hit a first note! These last two instances
happened back to back, just seconds from each other. Halfway through
their set I had to go upstairs to the kitchen to get some Pineapple
Soda... I had to take a break from the band because it was too perfect
for me to take. I could have died from the songs Dead Flowers were
lashing at the crowd... Tim (guitarist) said that we (meaning
listener/fans/devotees) of Dead Flowers can expect a CD in September.
Currently, I am PATIENTLY waiting. I’m looking out for the TWO of us.
I hope we will be here when they are through with us...
The
Hypochondriacs
Dead
Flowers
|
| The Hypochondriacs |
 |
 |
| Dead Flowers |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
STORY
BEHIND THE SONG:
Behind
every song is a story.... So, in hopes of further exploring a bands songs for
meaning and purpose, exposing a funny story, hidden truth or funny story or
maybe just some "fun-fact" associated with the song itself...
THE NEUS SUBJEX feature STORY BEHIND THE SONG is designed to give you a
closer relationship with bands song(s). Beyond JUST a title, beyond JUST the
music and lyrics themselves... STORY BEHIND THE SONG is a liner-note type song
to song breakdown intended to act as an accompaniment to a bands release.
MANG "The Sequential
Displacing of Flesh" CD+DVD
2006 CENTSLESS PRODUCTIONS (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Answers by: Mark S. and Andy
Bonus Questions By: Shawn Abnoxious
So, what exactly is a 'Mang'?
(Mark) Bill Reidy from the Twerps e-mailed me yesterday saying there were no
less than 8 other groups called Mang. Metal, bluegrass, a capella, latin,
punk… bummer! I saw an East German movie crediting a bunch of gaffers, and a
techniker with the last name of Mang. But I think we would concur that it is an
acronym meaning Bowling Professionals of America.
(Andy) Mang was a mango flavored version of the dry drink mix, Tang, that was
only test marketed briefly during the summer of 1974 in Butte, Montana. It
was quickly pulled after several kids developed excruciatingly painful leg
cramps coupled with the trots. Even with the internet, it’s hard to find
out any information about it, because Kraft Foods keeps a tight lip on such
subjects.

Between the DVD and CD, which do you think better represents the band?
(Mark) I think the videos are pointing in a visual direction that both of us are
excited and somewhat unfamiliar. I come from a static visual background
(painting, drawing, sculpture, multimedia, and some video) and Andy is a film
buff and photography enthusiast. The audio part has always been a self trained
kind of thing, where we both come from punk bands. I think Andy is more virtuous
when it comes to playing stringed instruments, but I can play a lot of
instruments poorly. One guy is better at one thing and the other another, but
the excitement usually comes from what you don’t know. We may be making
sculptures, or doing some multimedia performance next we meet. So the term band
is probably a bad way to refer to us. And when we get to thinking about what
represents us… well that is what we should be trying to kill in the next
project.
(Andy) Mang is a very painful process that shouldn’t be represented by
anything. It centers around Mark and myself seeing who can annoy the other
into submission. Everyday, I pray to nonexistent gods that it will all end
silently and without remorse.
What’s the meaning of the CD name "The Sequential Displacing of
Flesh"?
(Mark) The title references our first CD “Fake Flesh and other
Misconstructions” which was a play on the imagery of flesh verses the pixels
delivering the fleshy imagery on the cover. It was a commentary about
representations of flesh in the digital realm. There is an evolving title
throughout the packaging of this CD, that title being one of several others,
“The Disturbing Sequel to Flesh”, “The Disruptive Flesh Sequel”, “and
The Disruptive Flesh Sequence”. Some titles are reserved in their stylistic
appearance as not draw attention to themselves, where the main title “The
Disturbing Sequel to Flesh” is going for a Herschell Gordon Lewis like
splatter style. The titles get at some of the lyrical and medium readjustments
taking place in representation throughout the CD. I’ve had an interest in
Marshall McLuhan
‘s The Medium is the Message and the follow up The
Medium is the Massage
(Pun), which refers to new technologies (mediums) asserting a massage like
affect on cognition. Not so much the content being carried in/on the medium
affecting thinking, but the medium itself delivering the real massage. Societies
change with these new mediums, perceptions change; they are massaged into the
culture and the way the culture perceives. It is important to point out the
construction of a medium, to play with the seems (pun again), to acknowledge the
bits. Rene Magritte’s painting of a pipe juxtaposed with the phrase Ceci
n’est pas une pipe “This is not a Pipe”, gets at the games between what is
said, how it is said, what it means, and what it actually is. I often reference
representation in songs that I pen, that I speak, that I type, that I binate, so
these flesh references are about the flux of meaning or the flux of
representation.
(Andy) It is the confusing alignment of our internal organs with the seminal
cinematography of a foul memory. I don’t think that I need to elaborate
any further…
MAN IN THE HARDHAT
(Mark) On my way to Andy’s house I saw Raymond Thunder Sky at the Penn Station
by the railroad tracks on Edwards Ave. Thunder Sky was this artist/local
character who wore a clown suit, hardhat, and carried a lunch pail. At a bus
stop some years earlier he showed me some off color pictures from his lunch pail
art gallery. I started thinking about an abstract character based on these
eccentricities. That evening, after finishing the song I picked up Andy’s City
Beat and read Thunder Sky’s obituary. I really like the guitar on this; I have
no idea how I did the effect or how to reproduce it. Maybe Andy did it?
(Andy) It’s all cashew cans and delay function abuse merged with
Cincinnati’s version of a John Wayne Gacy lookalike.
MONOLITHIC MIRTH IN MAN
(Mark) Andy wrote this! I think he was trying to do some Bob Dylan Subterranean
Home Sick Blues lyric thing.
(Andy) It’s the sound of a futuristic government falling apart under the
weight of one being.
DAVID AND JENNIFER THE PROJECT
(Mark) David and Jennifer aren’t actual people rather computer voices
generated from typed lyrics transposed from an argument.
(Andy) The bass line in this song is the beaten heart of matrimonial discomfort.
A win-win situation can easily be labeled as a lose-lose defeat. In the
background, I comb my hair with a spiral notebook.
SATURN V
(Mark) Recently Andy confided he had no idea the rocket used to launch Apollo
missions was known as the Saturn V rocket. So I thought this song went in one
direction lyrically and he conceived it as going in another. Of course my
direction was misguided; however it’s a better song if you insert the Saturn V
rocket idea.
(Andy) The lyrics to Saturn V are based on a science fiction movie that I once
saw and one that I have yet to watch and a book that I have yet to start.
OBSOLETE OCPU
(Mark) My nephew was working on an organic computer (OCPU) for IBM. I had an
interest in the design limitations of sensory receptors (eyes, ears, nose,
mouth, touch), especially where the mind has exceeded the quest for knowledge
available from its senses. I started playing around with speech recognition
software, which had to learn how to hear my voice inflection, then would use a
speech tool to play back what was spoken or typed. I had the choice of selecting
a digital version of my own voice, or the default setting called Microsoft Sam.
(Andy) On this, Mark sounds like he’s announcing to the world that he’s very
unemotional and lacks both sexuality and style. I only added the doom and
gloom.
REQUIEM FOR THE INVENTION OF THE CONCEPT OF A GOOD FRIEND
(Mark) You know those shitty type people that invite you in to their lives then
discard you without even the consideration of an explanation. Well this isn’t
about that.
(Andy) I really don’t think that this means anything to me. I think that
I must have slept through the recording, or maybe I was reading a “how to”
manual. The drums at the climax are extremely tight and must have been
played by a guest musician.
SMOKE'EM ROGER
(Mark) Part of the audio was appropriated from a website showing an American
helicopter attack on Iraqis. Andy took video of us watching a Bengal’s’
game, where we are cheering and doing other culturally male type things. At one
point Andy is talking about some guy’s neck tattoo, it appears he is making a
slashing motion. Good ole Chance Operation!
(Andy) Sometimes the suspicion is more personal than private.
PILOTS FROM SAN FRANCISCO
(Mark) I saw a story where fighter pilots were guiding unmanned planes from
California.
(Andy) There’s nothing under the radar here, or electronically derived.
No one ever seems to mention the gigantic influence that Jefferson Airplane had
on the Velvet Underground.

SOMETIMES I GIRL
(Mark) I am echoing the notes that a 1 year old is playing on keyboards. In the
background some R&B song which I have yet to identify is playing on the T.V.
# If anyone can identify the song we would be most grateful. So, we tried to
transcribe a garbled verse from that R&B song, and every time we tried to
transcribe the words a new verse was created.
(Andy) This contains proof that people drag their procreation's into places that
they don’t belong.
FREE CLINIC DROP OFF
(Mark) My least favorite Andy lyric. I’m not big on insanity songs.
(Andy) I can’t really remember what bullshit that I fed Mark about these
lyrics to make him think that they’re intellectual. Mark’s guitar
playing at the end is quite impressive and expansive.
HE'S IN THE BATHROOM
(Mark) You ever have someone screaming at you while you take a shit. The door is
shut as you calmly flip through your magazine of choice. You don’t have to
react, because facial expressions are not required in this interaction. You
don’t even have to say anything because society acknowledges that you are
busy. Maybe I watched too much All in the Family when I was growing?
(Andy) Geez, in retrospect, this seems like a parody of some Lee Ranaldo solo
stuff.
A BOUQUET OF SOLDIERS
(Mark) This was influenced by a feverish 105 degree nightmare, where the
flowered wallpaper in my bedroom came to life and shot me with fire. The fire
actually hurt! Not that I was trying to write a literal illustration of a
hallucination. The same sort of disjunction between someone sitting in their
house one second and the next finding themselves underneath a pile of ruble
seemed to fit the switch between what is real and what is perceived, what is
literal and what is mythical.
(Andy) Somebody dropped off that Residents DVD at my house, and it didn’t do
any good at all.
PHOTO OBSOLESCENCE
(Mark) Andy brought out rolls of tape and drums for this. I was in a car wreck
sometime around that period, broke my nose and didn’t remember much about the
song. I couldn’t find the lyrics and Andy mixed the vocals pretty quietly, so
I have no idea what the song is about. Thus no liner notes on the CD.
(Andy) It’s an amalgamation of pulled packing tape and air pumps.
ASSIMILATION OF A NORMAL MORNING
(Mark) Andy and I co-wrote the lyrics on this one, first half me and the second
evil half, Andy. Andy found a bunch of morning bird samples on the internet.
Andy has a thing about people wasting his time, especially in management
meetings. Look at Juvenile Jack Asked “Is it Time To Go?” on the first CD.
(Andy) I believe that this is the nauseating sound of a hangover coming on too
quickly.
FINALITY SQUARED
(Mark) One of us was switching mikes and instruments on and off while the
other was playing.
(Andy) If you give a retarded man a microphone with an on/off switch, he’ll
try to play it as instrument and give you an organ solo in the middle.
AIMLESSLY GAZING INTO YOUR SKIN
(Mark) Nothing like the warped perceptions of white guys riding a bus
through Walnut Hills.
(Andy) Here’s another one that’s sounds quite cold and sexless.
UNIQUE
PORTRAITS OF CHILDREN
(Mark) My wife keeps on dragging us to Sears to get family portraits. I used to
carry my brother’s 2nd grade portrait in my wallet. On his first day at a new
school he got a black eye for being dressing as Little Lord Fauntleroy.
My mom hadn’t got the idea that boys in a working class community should
reflect the values of that community.
(Andy) This is about kids and drugs, but since Mark seems opposed to tried and
true rock and roll song topics, it’s about how Mark dresses like a sixty year
old, retired schoolteacher.
HUSBAND LOVE MOTHER GUN
(Mark) My wife had a dream about her mother.
(Andy) Parking garages are also quite cold and sexless especially if you’re
alone within the dreams of your relatives.
I'VE GONE SHOPPING
(Mark) We had just finished our first CD, where the rule was we couldn’t use
instruments, which morphed into not using instruments in a traditional manner.
This was the first song on our second CD and Andy wanted real drums. I played
some DEVO like rhythm thing. Andy played bass. I don’t know maybe he wanted to
rock out. It was nice doing something a little more direct and tactile. This CD
became more electronic and synthetic using those rock and roll instruments from
which we rebelled in the first CD… the return of the dreaded guitar and bass.
[About the video] Andy had the idea of going to a local mall to shoot some
footage. He fashioned an inconspicuous video camera as not to bring security and
unwelcome stares upon him. The footage just didn’t have the umph! and movement
for which Andy was looking. So we added some products, strung a honey bear up
from some fishing line, grabbed a flashlight, did some rhythmic editing, sexed
it up with Andy in his underwear, and colorized the mall footage. Luckily Andy
shot the underwear scene on his own.
(Andy) This is a minimalist pop, junkyard version of the American dream.
Or if you listen closely enough, it’s a musical joke about the White Stripes.
I'M SO LONESOME WHEN I'M WITH YOU
(Mark) Andy came across some notice where they were looking for country music
submissions for a movie soundtrack. With lyrics like “You remind me of my
insignificance, in the totality of it all” how can you not say yay haw! We
never heard back from them.
(Andy) It’s bar closing time at the Mang honky-tonk. I tried to get Mark
to yodel on this, but he could not. This was submitted for inclusion
in a movie called, Dead Horse. They wanted alt country, and we gave it to
them. They didn’t even have the common courtesy to send a simple
rejection response. They probably thought we were a joke or terrorists!
SECRET ART SHOW WORLD
(Andy) There’s a split second in here where I poke fun at how art
galleries are so disorganized. They always want you to come to their
events, but they lack the brainpower to successfully disseminate enough
logistical information to get you there. Therefore, it’s a secret.
For more information, like where to obtain this CD, visit the Centsless
Productions website: http://www.centslessprod.com/
"The human name doesn't
mean shit to a tree" - Grace Slick
(.2) R E V I E W S
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
APOLLO UP! “Chariots of Fire” CD

Apollo Up has had my attention since their first release back in 2003 with
“Light The End and Burn it Through” that was 11 songs from a new band that
hardly anyone had heard of. But the times are changing... “Chariots of Fire”
is proof of this bands staying power and creativity to develop new and interesting
music that grabs the attention like no other. Apollo Up has given a second
offering of their somewhat different style of ROCK'n ROLL. With this
release, they've taken things to a new level/standard of how independent music
is making it's way to the masses for those ready to try something new and
exciting and steering away from the mainstream, but keeping an open mind on what
the future might have for independent bands. Apollo Up is no exception in
proving that you do not need to be a big named band to have that big band sound.
Like the first track, “Walking the Plank” would be the anthem of this
release, but there is plenty more to discover with 9 songs remaining. Personal
favorites would be “Situation: HOT” and “Custom Critical” that gets the
blood flowing and your feet moving and leaving you wanting more! Trust me when I
say that you will be hearing more about this band in the future. Check them out!
-Dave Fishwick
www.apolloup.com
www.theory8records.com
HATS OFF “Accumulation” CD

Early recorded efforts of this band reminded me of a reunion version of THE
LEWD and I think I may have even put that in print somewhere... or maybe I just
thought it. Anyway, I just got it in print there for a first, or second time...
I’m not really up to doing research on my own writings right now... Well, that
comparison to The Lewd is still true, but maybe to a bit lesser of degree on
this CD. The Hats Off sound on this CD is a refurbished one, representative of
the big punk sounds you would hear on Epitaph or Fat releases. Like I stated, I
can still hear some of that LEWD in there. I like it, but now the sound is like
that of a mixture of SOCIAL DISTORTION’S newer stuff, LAG WAGON and (you are
going to flip when I say this) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN! Yeah, you heard me right! The
Boss! I see promise in songs like “Wait To See”, “Mr. Fuckface” and
“Searching for Identity” which are all bunched up together in the middle of
the release which makes me wonder why...-Shawn Abnoxious
www.HatsOffRock.com
www.MySpace.com/TheRealHatsOff
SINKS OF GANDY “Trust Damage” CD
Sometimes I feel like some bands try to hard to make something great in a studio
instead of just letting the music be what it is. This is no exception! Sinks of
Gandy play all original Rock'n Roll filled with plenty of talent, but have took
things to far with vocal effects...ON EVERY SONG! I don't mind being a little
creative with effects once in awhile, but when it's mixed with a MOOG keyboard
things start to not sound good anymore. I can't believe that a band with this
much talent would ruin things on purpose, the music is fantastic all the way
till the effects bleed through and through saturating the mix making it hard to
understand. My advice would be not to try to be something that your not and just
let things happen naturally, then maybe add effects as needed. Please guys..you're
much better than this. Put down the megaphone! -Dave Fishwick
www.myspace.com/sinksofgandy
www.tiberiusrecords.com
DEF LEPPARD "Yeah!" CD

Finally, Joe Elliott gets the album he's been dying to construct since his
earliest days as an NWOBHM punter. On-stage collaborations with Ian Hunter
and versions of SWEET and MICK RONSON tunes on the Retro Active odds 'n' ends
collection were tasty teasers, but Def Lep pay full tribute to their rock 'n'
roll heroes this time around. "20th Century Boy" (T. REX) finds
guitarists Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell straining their voices on the
"big girlie vocals," but South African singer Stevie Vann-Lange quells
the soreness. Elliott tests his pipes on "Little Bit Of Love"
(FREE) and does Paul Rodgers proud with the right amount of gritty aplomb.
"10538 Overture" (ELO) conducts the ooh 'n' aah procession by waving a
CHEAP TRICK/ENUFF Z'NUFF-like baton. Taking leave from his job as a
Freddie Mercury impersonator, Justin Hawkins from THE DARKNESS mimics the
drunken loon part of Steve Priest on "Hell Raiser" (SWEET).
"The Golden Age Of Rock 'N' Roll" (MOTT THE HOOPLE) morphs Collen into
Steve Jones and reveals "where the 'woah ho' stuff in 'Photograph' and 'Foolin'
' and a lot of our 'call to arms' choruses really came from." The
lone American track, "Hanging On The
Telephone" (THE NERVES or BLONDIE -- pick a caller), speed-dials the
youthful exuberance of TSAR's first slab. Others worth shouting about are
ROXY MUSIC, BADFINGER, THIN LIZZY, and some dude named JOHN KONGOS. In toto,
a better noodle dish than G N' R's. Bite it, Axl. -Gunther 8544
SAMURAI DREAMS #3 ZINE
"To highbrow intellectual film snobs, this movie is the antichrist, but to
seekers of lost celluloid garbage, this movie is the lost Holy Grail floating
flamboyantly in an ocean of raw sewage." The quotation accurately
sums up Samurai Dreams' general purpose of spotlighting fringe films on the
tossed-off VHS format. Five college buds from Massachusetts wax cinematic
about their finds from thrift stores, trash cans, and public libraries.
Forrest Gump decoding Da Vinci? Off the shrimp boat with that shit.
These best actors include real-life enlistees getting ready for Vietnam, a demon
named Ratspit, and silver guys who hide in Nintendo cartridges. Selected
stills accompany the well-written blurbs. Most bizarre is the shot of
Nukie -- an E.T.-like creature with a mucous moustache resembling elephant
tusks. Reviews are brush-stroked with stars, but don't miss out on
comments like "Killing Machine is a really shitty movie. Seriously.
Willie Aames is in it." However, if Buddy and Charles are in charge
of you, don't hesitate on giving any of these films a private screening. Despite
the "No Stars" rating (or maybe because of it), I'd step on GAS-S-S-S
for the sole reason of FF-ing to "an onstage cameo by Country Joe and the
Fish where the singer is interrupted by God and told that he left his car lights
on." -Gunther 8544
samuraidreamszine@yahoo.com
CRIMEWAVE #5 DVDZine

I’m damn glad to see somebody’s doing something like this. I
remember way back whenever, way before the internet, when you’d read about
bands, but they’d never make it out to your town or break up after five
minutes of existence. Everyone snatched up those Flipside and Target
videos so that they could see what all of the fuss was about. Well,
here’s some nice video documentation from, I believe, the burgeoning Arizona
area scene. Like everything good in life, it varies from top notch quality
to the gutter. Dairy Queen parking lots to what looks like the Warped
tour. Contains both edited videos (music, trailers, films, and animation)
and straight up live shots featuring SHARK PANTS, SWING DING AMIGOS, RIVERBOAT
GAMBLERS, NO BUNNY AND HIS FABULOUS FLYS, PARTS AND LABOR, 50 MILLION, and
CHANGO MALO. A good fun watch! Keep it up. - B1
www.crimewavemagazine.com
GRANDMA'S BOY DVD

After a careless roommate blows months' worth of back rent on Filipino hookers,
video game tester Alex (Allen Covert) is forced to find new living arrangements.
He turns to his dope-dealing friend Dante (Peter Dante), but this conflicts with
the arrival of a lion that will "protect the shit" and keep the
taekwondo-practicing monkey at bay. Luckily, co-worker Jeff (Nick Swardson)
offers Alex the use of an air mattress for the night, but an accident involving
Jeff's mom and a sticky substance puts the vagabond out the door again.
Shelter's answer comes in the form of Grandma Lilly (Doris Roberts), who shares
her quaint home with two elderly ladies. Bea (Shirley Knight) dines on
pills with syrup for breakfast and licks paintbrushes. In between
wisecracks, Grace (Shirley Jones) is a perpetually horny GILF who has
"given Charlie Chaplin a handjob" and "69'd Don Knotts."
At first, Alex is handed a laundry list of household chores, but the gift of an
illegal cable box satiates the women and gives him the opportunity to work on an
upcoming title (Eternal Death Slayer 3) for Branasium. Overseeing the
project is Samantha (Linda Cardellini), who name-drops Super Mario Brothers and
has big mushroom eyes for Alex. This power-up makes a jealous Bowser out
of J.P. (Joel David Moore) -- a Marilyn Manson-cum-Urkel prodigy who created the
game currently demanding the company's attention. Not being invited to an
impromptu party that showcases Samantha singing Salt 'N' Pepa, he spins 'n' sobs
a story to Alex about "wanting people to like him." Tears and
snot wiped away, J.P. extends help on a non-Branasium game Alex has been
developing for years. Problems with EDS 3 and the Samantha situation lead
J.P. to claim Alex's work as his own at the unveiling. Can Alex use the
secret weapon to slay the dragon and get the girl?
-Gunther 8544
TRUDELL DVD

There is something to be said about living one’s life not hearing about a guy
like Trudell until you are 33 years old. Especially when you understand, and can
site examples of, the governments cointelpro attempts... It’s weird really,
before this movie, I don't ever recall hearing anything about, by or from
Trudell. In some ways, I guess you can say that ‘THEY’ are winning... or at
least scoring a lot of points! Trudell is a spirit of protest. A big part of the
American Indian Movement (AIM), he has lived THE life of protest, standing up
for what he believes in time after time, no matter what the cost may be. No
matter how steep. Onward! I can't really go too much into explaining Trudell,
because in doing so I would really ruin the good parts of the movie. The parts
that got my blood boiling. The parts that make me wish that I had the intestinal
fortitude to just say “Fuck it” and go the route of the warrior. The parts
that made me sad, mad and enlightened all at once... but I’m not as strong as
Trudell. Even a small amount as strong as that guy. I wanted to be REALLY
inspired by this DVD, like the way I was after watching BUKOWSKI: BORN INTO
THIS, but ultimately, I wasn't... Since Trudell is still alive and active, I
feel his story has yet to reach its climax. Trudell's story is one still being
written and his life has yet to reach its full potential. But yet, this DVD did
leave me with the feeling that I am not doing enough as a person, I need to do
more! And even though I am a lil’ bit late to get to important things of life,
I am still getting there... I have now found Trudell, and I can now keep an eye
on him. A watchful eye. An eye of admiration. I HIGHLY recommend this DVD, so
put it on your list. Right next to BORN INTO THIS if need be. I would love to
see a movie like this be MANDATORY viewing for anyone, anytime in their life. I
don't see how anyone could watch this and NOT be moved in some positive way...
But that is my idea... and my ideas are shit in so many ways. This, I now
realize, CAN be. So maybe it is. -Shawn Abnoxious
(.2) i O N a R T
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
John Haywood
I met
John as part of a band that I would come to rave fanatically about, GREEN
FORMICA TABLE of which was also a band that ended before its time.... He sang
and played guitar for that effort... Then, hanging out after a show one time he
approached me and asked if I would feel comfortable if he did a painting of me
based on a a picture that he had... I felt honored, but more surprised because I
didn't even know he was into art. I told him he could paint whatever he wanted
but at that time John ceased just being a cool as fuck guy in a band that were
the saviors of a movement yet to be defined, John became and artist to me and
from there, one of the few people that I can say fully inspired me to do
more myself... So, this iONart, is a new segment, especially designed for the
NSX online experience... Designed to explore the artistic side of the morbid
media beast that is The Neus Subjex. Keep an eye on art because when you least
expect it, it will get you in your back with a dull, rusty knife... Always
ready for the attack. This is the second installment featuring John’s work.
Two more examples, and a bonus question.
Dixie Darlin'

CITY
LIFE BLUES 1
City Life Blues 1 was actually the last City Life Blues Painting that I did. When
I first got to the city I got aggravated at how hectic the place was, and how
work and life was all run by things that are completely unnecessary. I mean,
people bust their asses just to have nice things, like fancy toasters, and
kitchens with a hundred cabinets etc. I'd say this was my reaction to suburbia,
because I first lived in a poor trailer park in Oldam county that was surrounded
by rich subdivisions. I just despised it all you know. That's why I moved to the
old beat down house downtown where all the addicts are.HAHA... But you know I
wasn't real fond of those paintings so I gave them away. But you could say that
those are the first real mature paintings I ever did.

DIXIE
DARLIN'
I'm Glad you like this one. Hopefully the imagery is clear enough. It's
about an out of work stripper. In Southern Louisville, down Dixie Highway,
there is a chain of stripjoints in a desolate area that is overwhelmed by these
huge cancerous smokestacks that are part of a Louisville Gas and Electric Plant. It's
the kind of place you want to hold your breath when you're going through there. But
I heard tales of these homely strippers that worked in these stripjoints. I even
met a couple from one of these places who came into the tattoo shop I work in. They
said they were strippers and I thought SICK! WHO'D PAY MONEY TO LOOK AT YOU ALL!
I could even imagine their nakedness. Well one day I was on my way to work
driving down to FOrt KNox to tattoo some soldiers when I noticed that the strip
club was up for sale. I suddenly felt pity on those soon to be out of work
strippers. And of course, I did some drawings that set around forever a till I
finally said Ok time to paint this. I really kind of almost made that
stripper look pretty in the end you know.
Lookin
gback in hindsight concerning your involvement in GREEN FORMICA TABLE, would you
say you are left with more positive or negative feelings? and why?
Positive definitely because I'm still best friends with everybody from GFT.
Hell I play music today in a band with 2 of the 3 other members. Did you
know Green Formica Table have a My Space Page? GFT was the perfect band where
everybody had a hand in all the creative aspects of the songwriting. Somebody'd
come in with a basic structure and then everybody else would butcher it.
But it always came out sounding pretty good. It's funny though GFT is long
gone, but I hear alot of it coming through in other bands from around. I'm not
saying that certain bands were even influenced by us, just that sometimes I hear
a band and they remind me of GFT. Like the new Puppy Vs Dyslexia, I mean
hell they almost did a U-turn from there foam days to this more weirdo crazy
thing. I feel like I hear alot of GFT in bands like Lucky Pineapple here
in Louisville, who I don't even know if any of them came to any of our shows.
But I also have to credit GFT with my interest in old time music and the
decision to start playing banjo. In GFT we didn' focus on chord
changes, we just focused on the sound and rhythms and melodies. Old time
music is the same way just a little simpler. Which is probably part of why
GFT is no more. As our music got more and more complex,
I kept longing for a more stripped to the bones kind of sound. We talk about
playing all the time again, but I don't think it will happen. Musically,
I'm really focused on working on material for my new group Ponty's Camper.
What made you get into doing art?
I've just always done it you know. I could think of hundreds of instances where
art has really lifted me up. I was the skinny geek in an extended family
of football baseball and basketball players, so I was always getting picked on. Art
has been the only thing that has gotten me any attention I guess. Most of
the time it was bad when I was a kid cause I got in trouble once for drawing a
naked girl, then I got in trouble for drawing all over my desk. I would
even draw up my textbooks. And it wasn't all pretty stuff you know, it was
skulls and mean shit. It's just like its something that I was given you know
like a gift from God. So I feel that I have to use it, I don't know
everybody hopes that their art or music or whatever will have a major impact on
people. It's my voice and that's all I really know to say about
(.2) L A S T :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
“The
Original Night Dude”

NSX
Templar MARK ZERO enjoying an adult beverage after arriving at THE COMET by
means of skateboard! yes, Skateboard! He rides with his arms out-stretched from
his side, “no hand” style and has the NSX vote for Tri-State Free-Style
Champ 2006. Keep shredding Oh, sweet Templar...
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::BUT
never LEAST
Back
to the top!
(.1)
1000 Arms . Meow
MotherFucker . Rumble Records. John
Haywood . Blue Velvet .
Toys That Kill . Grizzly
Man. Minor
Disturbance . Wussy . My
Latex Brain . David Turbow.
Wolfgang Bang . 12 X100 . Stealth
Bovine Walk. Mall of the Dead plus LESS THAN
YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE
I N T
R O ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hello
everybody, and welcome back to This, the second installment of an online version
of THE NEUS SUBJEX... You fucks.....
And water has chosen me to be the subject of its life, its message, its NEW
promise. To be the bearer of its message, that its time will once again rise,
despite whatever promises have been made. It will consume you a second time
before another element consumes you for a first time. That, it wanted me to tell
you. So, how is everyone out there? Enjoying this online NSX are you? Well, you
don't really have to answer that, because your opinions don't matter.
Everything is in place for the NSX online to travel on in electronic foreverness....
I don't really have to much to say in this intro that I already haven't said in
any of the bits that I have written. I guess that I could say something about
looking for more contributors. Someone to write about events and news pieces
would be nice. More analytical, “correct” writing would be nice to offset my
power of “out-there”... Another reviewer too... Bringing on Gunther 8544
with NSX #67 was a big boost I feel to everything, and I would like to see
more... This first installment of NSX #68 is a big one... Have fun reading it, I
think there is a lot of good shit in here to get out and flush down your
throat. So, without further adieu, scroll down on this fucker and get into
the girth of the issue... Look for an update as needed. In (.2) expect to
see some Cincinnati Suds and Viva la Fox Coverage and a story behind the song
with MANG! Hold on, cause its a good one! All of this (and less) is
my promise to you, as like water's promise that I mentioned earlier.
Thanks everyone for reading, and I ask you to (NEVER “order” you) have some
fun, you're a beautiful, natural person and you deserve it.
-Shawn Abnoxious
General
Let Down
(.1) N E W
S ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

A Rumble in Covington.
Traveling from the safety and perfection of my suburbs, with gas
prices BE DAMMED, I took a moment to travel to a new phenomenon located on Main
Street in Covington, a place called RUMBLE RECORDS. This was during the same
week as their grand opening, a good time to check them out, and to see what they got
to offer. It was a good trip despite any attempts of any greek myths to ruin my
day with their old magic and evil ways, but hey, FUCK THOSE GUYS! Before my
visit to RUMBLE RECORDS, I couldn't ever recall visiting Covington’s
“Mainstrasse Village”, which I suppose is just a fancy way of saying all the
odds and ends shops located within a one block area of Covington’s Main Street
area... Basically, that's what it was, but I’m not knocking it, don't let me
give you the wrong impression. Like I said, I live in the suburbs.
Cincinnati’s NORTH suburbs to be exact. A place called Fairfield, and its
depressing to see what they call a ‘Village Greene’ out in these parts... or
worse yet, what they call a mall. It felt good to be on the road. With a
mission. Away from the normal stuff I look at. It felt good to travel across a
bridge and have a destination, a goal. I know its JUST across the river, but I
don't get over there much, and when I do its usually to the Southgate House and
all of its lit up periphery involved with that thing. Since hearing of
RUMBLE RECORDS earliest amebic forms, I had been psyched about the whole deal
and regretted not going to opening day festivities due to the obligations of
employment. But it's all good because as I battled with my regret, the way I
remember a brave sailor battling skeleton warriors with round shields and curved
sword’s from a movie that I always thought was a true story.... I was thinking
that I was doing to right thing by having my first visit to a new place
such as this record store to be on an unexpected off-peak day. Friday afternoon
was MINE. All mine! Skeleton’s and myths be dammed! Gas prices be dammed!
After all, I felt like I was “covering the story” for this new online NSX in
a way, so it was like I was “on assignment” or some shit like that. The way
I see it, they (meaning Rumble Records) can make it look good on opening day,
but to get a real feel, go there AFTER all of that. When the fun is over and the
job looms over each of your days. When FUN evolves into an obligation. Here I
am, a handful of days after all of that opening stuff... including a live set by
the fully NSX endorsed BUFFALO KILLERS, to see them and judge them when they
least expect it. So despite my newness to the area, I didn't have a hard time
finding Main Street from the interstate, or Rumble Records, once I found Main
Street. Dare I say that I actually had a fun time looking around... I parked a
couple of blocks north and walked a bit to the store. Looks like some
interesting restaurants are around... Lots of tables on sidewalks. An
interesting bookstore.... I seen an elevated train bridge. That, coupled with
the various pubs and stuff reminded me of Dayton Ohio’s Oregon District a bit.
Those pubs look decent, pricey maybe (as most places, not just these) but
that’s sort of to be expected. I seen a few places to get coffee, a baseball
card collector place, and two tattoo parlors. I spent some time trying to
remember which one my brother said he got his tats from, but couldn't, because
they both sounded familiar. Then I thought about some tales that I have heard of
Oktober Fest and Mardi Gras celebrations that are always boasted about
concerning “Mainstrasse” and I imagined all of my friends getting tickets
for public urination. This is a reoccurring story for some reason with me when
someone tells me about Mainstrasse Village.... I looked around, en route to
Rumble Records, and I was imagining my friends in every nook and cranny, every
potted flower or shadow, holding a beer in a plastic cup in one hand, and the
other aiming their piss-spitter, and all of them, I imagined, laughing the whole
time. Right up until the ticket is dispensed, then continuing to laugh. I have
some warped friends, but then again, I imagine that I may be the worse of them
all, because here I was going to a record store, to “cover” it and all I was
thinking about was my friends and their funny stories about pissing in public
when I should have been focusing on my self-ordained task at hand and figuring
out my angle in the piece I was to write about the store or at the very least,
what CD’s I was currently looking for. Yeah, perhaps I was the worse of the
bunch. The Prime Rotten apple that ruined the batch. For that I take
responsibility and REFUSE to apologize... So despite what the name of RUMBLE
RECORDS would imply, that one would walk into the store and be instantly
accosted by Teddy-Boys dressed in suits and pointy shoes looking to fight and
prove themselves in an act of street fury, all I remember was that everyone in
the store had facial hair. Not really everyone, I don't have a mustache or
beard... and I think one of the cash register pilots didn't either, but, about that day,
I do
remember facial hair, because later, on the NSX MESSAGES OF THE
BORED, there was talk of facial hair coupled with recognition. I remember it
because every beard I see, every mustache I spy, I let loose the insect of envy
and would waste any Genie given wish on impressive facial hair. I dream of
handlebar mustaches and long beards like the commies. But it wasn't in my cards
(I have a pretty poor hand) so I wont complain, because the boys in the league
office told me before when I bitched and moaned: “Be happy with what you got
Shawn Abnoxious” and after repeated hits on the head with fist holding lit
cigars, I now listen to them. So, I introduce myself and get to lookin’.
Everyone is nice and the selection isn't half bad. I buy a lot of music. oodles
and oodles. I would say though that RUMBLE RECORDS is comparable to a store that
would be like a mix of SHAKE IT RECORDS when it first opened, in look and
organization with a feel, of a kind, that I felt in VINYL ASSAULT when it existed
in Norwood... There were signs up and explaining how they are getting
constant restocks and orders in and to be patient... and all of that is fine,
but really no apology is necessary. If I lived in Northern Kentucky, I
would just be happy that a store like RUMBLE RECORDS existed on my side of the
muddy river. So, I bought a few CD’s, including the new one from MISSION OF
BURMA and all was good. Like comic books when I as a kid, every time I look at
that MISSION OF BURMA disc, I will think of RUMBLE RECORDS, the place where I
purchased it. I told the store patrons that it's in my belief that the basics for
every good scene is decent places to find the music to be inspired with. The
people of the Eight Valleys thrive on the existence of SHAKE IT RECORDS in many
different ways. RUMBLE RECORDS will be a focus point of the same power sometime
soon. And the greater Eight Valleys region will have ample power for the coming
battle... I left the store with a promise to return, and that is not a lie. As I
found a flower pot near a quaint outdoor restaurant, and proceeded to water
their plants with my piss-spitter, I smiled and laughed, just as I imagined my
friends did earlier in my street dreams. I had found my angle on the Rumble
Records store to write about, and managed to find some CD’s despite those
bothersome street dreams from earlier.... MISSION (of Burma) ACCOMPLISHED...
With the swish of a plane landing on an aircraft carrier, and the presi-dent
giving a thumbs-up! My mind thought about the future... Some other day, when I
feel up for a journey and feel the urge to damn all gas prices, I will go buy
music made from plastic that is made from the same oil, and feel how it feels to
support THREE major industries at once, and still feel cool when I wear my three
row stud bracelet and wear all black.
RUMBLE RECORDS is located on 644 Main Street in Covington. Get on I-75 South, go
across a muddy river. Get off at one of the exits marked ‘Covington’ then
drive around until you find it. www.myspace.com/rumblerecordsstore
Show of Note
I just love those CD release shows you go to when the admission price gets you a
CD of the band who is having the release show... It's like you get a bonus,
even if you pay a lil’ bit more... Well on Saturday, June 24th Phratry Records
presents BLUE VELVET in support of their new four song CD (review this
update, read on) along with 24 HR FLU , COVINGTON (the band, not the
entire city on that ample, but still too small for an entire city silly ape,
stage) KNIFE THE SYMPHONY which has members from THERAPHOSA and AMPLINE
and who are also currently in the studio recording their debut effort with some
help from Mike Montgomery and is scheduled for release later this summer
(according to, and “on” Phratry Records) and last but never least, a band
called PIGLET who are from Chicago. The show will be at THE MAD HATTER (620
Scott Street Covington, Ky 41011) starting around 9 PM and with the admission
price of $7 you will receive a FREE copy of Blue Velvet's new EP... Remember,
The Mad Hatter is all-ages, all the time. Get there even earlier than 9 PM, get
a bucket of Chicken from LEE’S next door, wait about an hour after getting the
chicken, then take it into the show with you. They’ll love that one...
with ‘They’ meaning the boys in the league office...

06/10/06: Happy Manatee’s, Drinking to the
end of Modern-Modern Art with Jesse Alexander, The Stealth Bovine Walk
I spent the entire day getting rained on in one form or another. The Cincinnati
Zoo. My company's annual picnic. Rain. It didn't hamper my spirits as one may
imagine, and as much as everyone else was bitching and moaning..I like the zoo.
I like animals. But as always, each visit of the zoo brings about a pinch of
sadness, because, as expected, many animals don't seem happy. I understand why,
totally, and it must be a bummer to live around so many fake rocks all the
time... But I understand how my zoo trip that rainy day promoted further
incarceration of animals, and that’s MY guilt that I will live with... but I
remember hearing somewhere that the Cincinnati Zoo was awarded some special type
of recognition concerning their animal displays. Now, I’m not pretending to
understand any form of Zoo Habitat scene or anything, but the basic ingredients
found in any display of a larger animal, can also be found in 90% of the other
displays for animals despite whatever region the animal may be from... Fake
Rocks. Fake Trees. Shrubs. Backdrop paintings (inside) showing scenes that the
animals will never be able to reach and be a part of... But I was really taken
back by the Manatees. These things actually looked content and happy. They were
having a blast in their tank. Manatees are creatures that I am always looking
for when I fish the Crystal River Flats on my summer vacations in Florida, but
also creatures that I have yet to see in the wild. Apparently they have a long
migration track to Central America or some shit like that, so I’m thinking
that maybe this is one of the factors that make Manatees so fucking happy at the zoo.
From what I understand, the Manatees migration is really dangerous with all the
boats and such, so maybe these dudes at the zoo have the attitude like "man,
they feed us all day long, and we don't have to swim to Honduras anymore, this
RULES.” I spent the better part of the day at the zoo before I got sick of
being rained on and left. It was like Chinese Water Torture. I can better
prepare for a steady rain, and accept all the uncomfort that it may bring, but this
off and on rain, with varying intensity was torture. But everywhere I went, it
was this way ALL DAY LONG. Even in the evening when I got to the art gallery known
as JUNIOR to see Jesse Alexander’s 12 X 100 exhibit. It was a nice display I
liked it a lot... This guy, Jesse Alexander who is currently working with Tokion
Magazine, got some of his friends, three rolls of black paper and poured
homemade white paint onto the ocean, and unraveled the paper and let the waters
waves and slight current drag the paint onto the paper. As you can imagine, the
display was gigantic and there was a lot to look at. There was a display of how
the procedure was done showing on a TV, which garnered the attention of me and
my company, but only three seats were provided for its viewing and those seats
were occupied with talk of electrical friends and their worth therein... But I
was sort of invited to this gallery to see this exhibit and I felt inclined to
look around... In the back there is a pretty cool “store” that also serves
as a kitchen for a living s
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