Vancouver Island is beautiful. I have a friend who lives out there. Glad you dig Phane! They will have a new album out soon. I used to think "Goodbye America" was a joke. Nope! I can't play the accordion so I don't know where to start. "Ring of Fire" sounded pretty dope though!
Aww, man. Super bummed to have missed it (even though it was on a cruise ship, which is all sorts of ick.)
Anyway, I hung out with L7 backstage before and after a show at some tiny Midwest club back in the day. Had to have been in '98 or '99 or so. Donita couldn't have been cooler...they all were, obviously, but Dee is the real deal "rock star" in my heart, though. I may or may not have had a crush on her. Good times from the before days when our knees didn't creak.
That’s the most interesting take on a boat cruise I’ve ever read, I’m with you on the wifebeater rockabilly kooks, I’m a great admirer & consider Johnny TwoBags a great friend & musician, but the trend that follows the popularity of Ball & Chain is cringeworthy, to say the least & I have very fond memories of early L7 shows that make their abilities to rock hard indelibly imprinted in my psyche forever, at risk of being redundant…I still can’t bring myself to board a cruise ship, tho, it’s a bridge too far for my PTSD at this stage, but it was a great read & a Varukers cruise would be epic…
Thanks, Razor! I have a lot more to say about how the staff handled people with mobility issues and other disabilities in the LA Times piece, but I was really impressed.
I saw Johnny Two Bags do a free solo show in Fullerton, jeez, like 10yrs ago, and it was one of the best things ever... and was reminded I saw him with Cadillac Tramps circa 1987, opening for the Vandals .. advertized as "with Stevo on vocals.." Also, one o the best things ever .. in Long Beach.
Meeting Mike Ness and Dennis and John and Chris in the early 90’s didn’t change my life but reaffirmed my choices ( a few of them, anyway). Then they gotta bigger, attracted the type of fan you describe and caught tons of hate. And my thing ( while acknowledging the new fan base was not my favorite) was that if they were still playing 1945 or rewriting 1945s people would still be hating on them, just at smaller venues. You’ll note that NA doesn’t write new material to complement the standards Brannon wrote in 81/82 and have been touring on for a decade. But he has Easy Action to vent out different material while Ness does not.
I guess I’m glad to see the OGs making a living making music. I don’t have to love everything new Social D writes to still respect Mike. I’m rambling when I should be listening to Phane.
I have too many things to say after reading this!
1. I'm from Vancouver island and haven't heard Phane. Now I need to see them live. They rip.
2. I haven't listened to the Unseen in a lot of years and now I have "Goodbye America" stuck in my head.
3. I am learning the accordion and am quite keen to start learning Social D covers. Which one should I learn first?
4. I want to be on a cruise with a bunch of punks
Vancouver Island is beautiful. I have a friend who lives out there. Glad you dig Phane! They will have a new album out soon. I used to think "Goodbye America" was a joke. Nope! I can't play the accordion so I don't know where to start. "Ring of Fire" sounded pretty dope though!
I feel like ring of fire is doable! I love the island. The only way I’m leaving is when it sinks.
Aww, man. Super bummed to have missed it (even though it was on a cruise ship, which is all sorts of ick.)
Anyway, I hung out with L7 backstage before and after a show at some tiny Midwest club back in the day. Had to have been in '98 or '99 or so. Donita couldn't have been cooler...they all were, obviously, but Dee is the real deal "rock star" in my heart, though. I may or may not have had a crush on her. Good times from the before days when our knees didn't creak.
Donita is a real one for sure! And I don't disagree with you about the cruise ship.
Wild, man. I could have never even conceptualize such a thing in the 90's.
I think John Doe is still processing it!
I heard he owns a bar in Austin, TX. Do you know if it? That's where I'm currently shacked up and I'd like to check it out.
I can find out.
Loved this
Thank you, Sally!
awesome journalism, Jim. really fabulous.
Thank you, Darryl! Much appreciated.
That’s the most interesting take on a boat cruise I’ve ever read, I’m with you on the wifebeater rockabilly kooks, I’m a great admirer & consider Johnny TwoBags a great friend & musician, but the trend that follows the popularity of Ball & Chain is cringeworthy, to say the least & I have very fond memories of early L7 shows that make their abilities to rock hard indelibly imprinted in my psyche forever, at risk of being redundant…I still can’t bring myself to board a cruise ship, tho, it’s a bridge too far for my PTSD at this stage, but it was a great read & a Varukers cruise would be epic…
Thanks, Razor! I have a lot more to say about how the staff handled people with mobility issues and other disabilities in the LA Times piece, but I was really impressed.
I saw Johnny Two Bags do a free solo show in Fullerton, jeez, like 10yrs ago, and it was one of the best things ever... and was reminded I saw him with Cadillac Tramps circa 1987, opening for the Vandals .. advertized as "with Stevo on vocals.." Also, one o the best things ever .. in Long Beach.
Thanks for those reminders!
De nada and thank you! He's a phenomenal player and super grounded as a person.
Meeting Mike Ness and Dennis and John and Chris in the early 90’s didn’t change my life but reaffirmed my choices ( a few of them, anyway). Then they gotta bigger, attracted the type of fan you describe and caught tons of hate. And my thing ( while acknowledging the new fan base was not my favorite) was that if they were still playing 1945 or rewriting 1945s people would still be hating on them, just at smaller venues. You’ll note that NA doesn’t write new material to complement the standards Brannon wrote in 81/82 and have been touring on for a decade. But he has Easy Action to vent out different material while Ness does not.
I guess I’m glad to see the OGs making a living making music. I don’t have to love everything new Social D writes to still respect Mike. I’m rambling when I should be listening to Phane.
Right on, Jimmy! I like a lot the newer stuff and very intrigued by the new album in the works. He says it's done.