I've been busy, these records took up some time....

Holy shit I have not been on here much, you know that last post where I say that I am super busy and should have time? LIES!!! I had none to little time, work, DJing, a few shows, and trying to make time to listen to records, and I apologize for this thing taking a back seat, to records, Eldridge, going to shows, and oh yeah the old lady too…Anyway, while I was doing most of those things I was buying and listening to records…here are a few, first with the one I am listening to the right now.

Dead To Me “African Elephants”.

I am not one of those guys who finds not out yet records on the interweb to download and listen to; I am just not that internet crafty. But, this record “leaked” I guess, and then Nate played me the myspace leak of it, and it’s great, in my top ten of the year. The week the record came out; they played Yucca, and holy fuck! They are without Jack, as I am sure you heard, but god damned! To quote a die hard One Man Army friend, “I am glad Jack left, because they wouldn’t have made this record with him in the band”. And that shit is so true, I love this record, get it, listen, and let it absorb, listen again, and go see them.

When I was talking about shows, I meant I booked a couple, one of them, emphasized why I do shows, to have my friends play that are in bands I love…And good god do I have a few records from one of that show. First Ready The Jet on Asian Man Records. Let me explain a little back story. Matt (guitar, vocals) and Jay (drums, my old roommate) were in a band together back in CT that I loved, Mi6. When they both ended up in LA they formed this band. Think Husker Du and replacements, yeah you know I love it! Anyway, this two song 7” is amazing, I suggest you pick it up…..

Ready The Jet also did this great split 7” with Japanese Monsters, if not alone, then certainly one, of my favorite local bands. Not only do both sides of this record have some of the sweetest mother fuckers playing on it, but also this slab has four of the best songs. If it were up to me, then both of these bands would play every show I went to, to ensure that the night would kick optimal ass!!!

On the same bill was Andrew Jackson Jihad, who as well are some amazing motherfuckers from good ‘ole Arizona making great music. This is without a doubt their greatest record. This makes me proud to have them in my hometown! Good dudes, who give great hugs!

My ears have a crush on Pretty Boy Thorson and the F’n A’s! I have played their 7”s over and over, and I finally got the LP, and seriously I listened every morning before work for at least a week! Great record, amazing live. I have told anyone who would listen how much I love this record! Makes days start better with a couple listens!

Kris Kristofferson writes the best songs. I go months were I hear his songs in my head. He isn’t just the Hollywood face in the Highwaymen.

Tim Barry. Do you personally know me? They you know my love of Avail. If you don’t know me, well I love Avail*. Tim Barry was in Avail, he now makes beautiful solo records. He has a leg up on anyone else on the Revival Tour. Have yet to listen to the flip side, and I like Frank Turner, but he isn’t Tim Barry.

Slayer, I have bought ever record they have put out from and including Seasons In The Abyss the day they came out. Exceptions, God Hates Us All, it was September 11th, stores did not open. And this one, I was broke. It had to wait 11 days till I had $$. It is great, about on par with Christ Illusions, except better produced.

If this band was called the Steve Version I’d still like it, but as it is it is called The Tim Version, and it contains the elements I love about Jawbreaker, Leatherface and Gram Parsons. This is the latest of their records I have obtained. If anyone associated with the North Park Awesome fast is reading this, next year, please?

There was more I was going to write, and such, but as it stands I am about to go eat and go bowling, and computers can’t hold a match to burritos and rolling some heavy ball, sorry! Here are some pictures of other records I like…..




That one is Eldridge on his Birthday!

*=Seriously, Avail is not only the greatest thing ever, but Tim Barry played my backyard one, it was sort of like how the Pope feels about god...

Broken Records

Our lives are like broken records*...... I fucking hate replacing records, I have not re-purchased stolen records, because I'll feel like I already did, and somehow hope that it'll turn up, or the person who "borrowed" it will give it back. There are so many records I want at all times, that re-buying them pains me, it's like paying for parking. The same thing apply to broken records, which some of the examples below is understandable, they still play, or may no longer be as readily available. But even a damaged beyond repair record is very painful to purchase again. I hate it, even if I didn't pay for it to begin with. Granted I have some record bowls (1st Teen Idols lp) that were made post replacement, or even some that I have bought again (my entire Still Life collection suffered a warping in the car one careless summer day of 1997). But here are few for whatever reason I have not replaced and I still keep around.

This first group I call the Stevens group. When I first got him, he was a kitten and chewed a couple of his Daddy's 7"s. The Mighty Purple When Kingdoms Fall 7" was the most damaged.


I played in a very early version of this band, so I have always held on to it, never replacing, cause well, I also don't really listen to that much.
But this Fastbreak 7", oh man, I was bummed at the little guy for this one. The Where It Lies 7" was LTD to 250, this one #145.


At one point this 7" fetched a pretty good price, not that I would ever sell it, but you know there is a little pride to keeping a rare record in good shape. As you can see the damage isn't too bad, and obviously is still playable, but it does bum me out a bit. As a result my cats are always locked out of record room these days if I am not in there with 'em, and one them even if I am.

A year or so before the Stevens Incident, there was the annoying fucking upstairs crack addict water leak incident. They were really annoying and one day while no one was in my apartment, they let the bathtub run all day(what the fuck? who does that?) it flooded and water leaked into my room down a wall right where I had some 10" records sitting. There was like 10 of them that got soaked, and nearly all of them are still playable, so that was at least good, here are a couple.


This Face To Face 10" was awesome, I think (typical of Face To Face records) all of the songs were on other records, but these versions were better in my opinion. Green vinyl is fine, but I don't think this record is too common, and as I said, I really hate buying records I already own.


The Coalesce record was something else, as I think I have every version of 002 and A Safe Place on their own. I really liked that band a lot back in the 90's, would buy anything they put out, and would drive all over to see them, so when this 10' of those two (not nearly their best, but still I loved them) came out, I had to have it. Crack heads living above you be warned, some crazy shit can happen to your records.

Those examples were probably lessons to what I could have done to better protect my records, but shit I am not Dr. Dre and I do not have a fire proof basement in LA to house my records. But this one was just kind of shit luck. I stumbled into a used shop and found a few old Straight Edge 7"s for really cheap, one was this LTD to 300 Chorus Of Disapproval 7".

I had loved some of their other records, and knew this one to be a gem. I was excited to bring to my DJ night and give it a whirl. No lie former Straight Edge kids at the bar love it when you play old SxE records, when I throw on Project X, oh man....Anyway, as so as I took it out, It crumbled, this chip popped out and became many small pieces, the one piece there was the largest, so I kept that too. There was a tiny hairline crack in it then I hadn't noticed at in the store, although I probably still would have taken the chance even if I did....Bummed me the fuck out, esp as Full Circle Stop, the 1st song was gone, and it was the best on the record in my opinion. Heartbreaking....

This last one isn't a broken record, just a huh????? The Clash made this amazing three record album on the heals of the amazing double London Calling. Sandinista was no London Calling, and was poorly received and reviewed upon release, but I love it. I think each side creates a great feeling, and judged side by side rather then a scattered, all over the place album, you really see some great songs as well as experimental. But what's puzzling about this is simple, where the fuck is my lp one? I have side three, four, five and six, but one and two? No idea. It would be easy to blame this on DJing drunk, as I am know to do, but I am fairly certain that this mishap happened pre regular DJ work. I have even looked through all my other records to see if it is in another sleeve by mistake, no it isn't. That shit is in the Bermuda Triangle, in a grave with Jimmy Hoffa or back home with E.T. And no I have never re-bought it, because I own two thirds of it, why spend all that $$ on one third of an album?? Damn, I feel like Charlie Brown, what a blockhead....
*Taken from song Broken Records by Jasta 14

Don't bury me, I still not dead.....

Sorry I have not kept up with new posts, I have not given up on this, I have just been swamped with work and shit. I should be able to get to some post soon, in fact I have a few ideas already, will be up as soon as I have the time, and if you have the money then I've got the time....

Great show tonight...Awesome Fast never ends....

All of these bands are great, please come out to this awesome show, $5. Week day shows are the best!!!!

Rob Gordon Style NPAF top ten list #4

Man, day three was the best day of NPAF for sure! Here is just a little of what took place...Not stoked on the drive home....
#5 After Off With Their Heads, we got burritos, Nate bought some bling! George, crazy dude gave us a ride to the next shows. Informed we were "floating in his load" awesome, thanks George.
#4 Ready The Jet dudes, love those guys, they played an awesome set. Nate wondered off. Spent the next hour or so rying to find him. Ready The Jet Japanese Monsters 7" came out too....
#3 Dead To Me, no Jack, but sounded great anyway. Good set, Talked to Chicken for a bit, he insisted I take a shirt...
#2 After all the shows, sat with Matt in our room talking Willimantic, 158, ECSU, Charlie, records, can't wait for Ready The Jet to play AZ in October!
#1 Walked a lot, rocked a lot, drank a lot, meet new people a lot, had a great fuckin' time, hope to do this all again next year, I suggest you get tickets next year and do his with us.....

Rob Gordon Style NPAF Top Five list #3

Spent much of day two recovering from night one. Got ready for rocking just in time for the shows...Highlights from day two...
#5 Danny got stung by a stingray, Nate got beat up by waves. Ocean 2 Arizonans 0.
#4 God Damn Doo Wop Band, fuck, sounded awesome, couldn't see them, low no stage.
#3 Ray's Mexican. Vegi Supreme Burrito fuckin' killed! Go me over night one.
#2 I have found a heads up penny every day I have been here. Good luck indeed!
#1 Shang A Lang! That is it, Shang A Lang!

Rob Gordon Style NPAF Top Five list #2

Day one is over, everyone went to the beach, I am going for a burrito in a bit...Here are Top 5 of day one....
#5 Yelling "fags!" out the window at Mikey and Danny as we pulled up to the hotel.
#4 Killer pizza after long walk, Sicilian Pizza I think is what the place was called.
#3 Half of Underground Railroad To Candyland, catching nearly all of Tiltwheel.
#2 Arizonans down the hall, I think they stuck us all together.
#1 Nate's, ummm thing, and Mikey snapping a picture of it...that will haunt him.

Till next time....

Rob Gordon Style NRAF Top Five List #1

Top Five Bands I am excited to see this weekend.
#5 Tiltwheel. Amazingly, I have neve seen them.
#4 Gateway District. Just heard their LP last weekend, reminds me of Discount.
#3 Dead To Me. Just the see if Jack is going to be playing, I am sure not.
#2 Re-volts. The reason for #3 applies, but also I fuckin' love their 10".
#1 God Damn Doo Wop Band. Love their cd and 7", excited to see how it transfers live!

BANNED! Tonight, many NPAF bands being played...Have a good Labor Day Weekend!

As I am sure you've heard this weekend is the North Park Awesome Fast. I am very glad to be attending, planning on a weekend of drunken nonsense, watching bands, swimming in a pool, eating some burritos and other hi-jinks...I am planning (planning, not promising) on posting updates from NPAF in Rob Gordan Top Five stylee...Stay tuned, I am sure some drunken postings that maybe funny, or may not make sense will occur. Anyway, come out to BANNED! Tonight, I'll be playing many NPAF bands..and if you aren't going and I won't be seeing you, have a great Labor Day weekend.

North Park Awesome Fast This weekend....

This weekend Is Awesome Fast in San Diego. It's going to be awesome, I guess hence the name. Anyway if you are stuck in AZ and not able to attend, you still can see a great deal of the bands. In fact tomorrow there are TWO pre Awesome Fast shows, this early one all ages with Off With Their Heads and all the Phoenix area bands that are on NPAF...

Then this later 21+ show with cheap beer...Which also says Monday Sept. 2nd, but in fact is Wednesday Sept 2nd, and Tylurking is not the Tyurking, at least I think he isn't, but who knows?

The day after NPAF there is even a great post show. Pretty Boy Thornson and The F'n A's are so good, you will be in for a treat! I am pretty stoked for Drunken Boat and will get to see them twice. Parkway you know rules, and the other two I am not too familiar with, but all the bands on NPAF are great I am sure they are too!

Man I am stoked for all of this, and no doubt on Thursday @ BANNED I am going to play tons of bands from NPAF, so it going to be a great labor day weekend....

Those other record sizes...

When you put a record on, they are usually 12" or 7". Sure there are those 10"s becoming more and more common, but there are those other, cool, odd sizes. Today at work during a pretty slow point (much of the day honestly) I was thinking about my favorite 10"s, and there are some great ones, a little further down I talked about the Radio Crimes 10", which is amazing with some great packaging. A couple of times at BANNED we did an all 7" night called "Singles Going Steady", but I always wanted to do an all 10" night, maybe "Check Out My Big Ten Inch....Record" after the old blues song. I am sure it would't go over nearly as well. Anyway, after those thoughts I started thinking about the other sizes that I also love. Maybe they are gimick-y, you ever hear about the Spazz 1"? I guess they are toy records that they made labels, covers and fake song titles for, LTD to like 20 or something, now that is rediculous...Anyway, onward to some of my favorites of the other sizes....
The 5"s

The famous Converge 5", or infamous! Hand numbered and LTD to 1,000, the plates were even said to be smashed afterwards, acording the liner notes anyway. I have heard that they numbered a bunch of them 666! I am pretty sure I have seen like three on ebay. Also I had heard that there was more white vinyl then black, making my copy more rare then the more saught after white...or I am just convincing myslf of that to make myself feel better. Either way great two track record, one of which was a Vio-lence cover! The other, Downpour was said to be only for this release, I have never checked, I kind of lost interest in Converge records along the line. But I have a bunch of rare shit from them, including the 1st 7".

I love the Vindictives! Honestly I think it's because my friend Jud played them a lot when we did a radio show together. I think I like their covers more then originals, and that is the beauty of these little records you don't have to take them too serious, and can do whatever. Here you get two Sex Pistols covers. I always thought they had great songs most of the time done better by other people. I love the Vindictives!

Spazz made a lot of records, I love some, others I could care less. Honestly I haven't listened to this is years, many years. I don't like it too much, but hold on to, it's a picture disc, so that's cool. The back says the songs (10 of 'em) were written and recorded in an hour, so maybe that gives you an idea of why I don't listen to it. Also I sort of hate the label, they put out some terrible records, but they put out the 1st From Ashes Rise 7" so they sort of get a pass....next.
8"ers...

Still Life. Fuck I love this band. I have something from this record tattooed on me, that's how much I love this record, which I am pretty sure was my 1st Still Life record. I used to have the insert tacked to my wall, they always made amazing records, great artwork, great lyrics, and emotional power that was fuckin'.....I don't even know. They used to be called emo, but that word has had many meanings since revolution summer, so whatever. Three songs on here, and I swear that at a warehouse show in Hamden I begged them to play all three, and I am pretty sure they did. The only thing, is that the vinyl is very thin, and flimsy. It's almost like they did that on purpose so you can't listen to it everyday, cause you'll kill yourself if you did. Go with a more durable record, like their 2x12", wait that one is dangerous too! I seriously love this record, LOVE it, all of their records really. I wonder if they are still around??

Assholeparade "Lhighve", live get it? Anyway 90's power violence, thrash whatever the fuck. For the longest time (maybe still??) this was the only Assholeparade I owned, it's awesome, I think it was recorded from a radio station,(it probably says on the inside, but I am lazy) very good, folks in Florida loved this kind of shit back in the day, as did I.
10"? 9"? Either way....

Blueprint Acoustic Flexi!!! That's right a flexi! Three songs from these one time split partners with Jimmy Eat World. This was a great band whom I am fairly certain didn't last too long, but managed to put out some great records. This one isn't so great on vinyl,so you can't really get a great feel on the songs. I remember liking one of them and including it on some mix tapes, but I haven't played it in a while due to it's lack of durability. But pretty cool. I was going to put out a flexi 7" comp to go with my zine but once I saw the cost, decided on a 7", then when my car brokedown, the whole thing was shelved, but that's another story....
The HWM other sizes....

I just realized this whole blog is on 90's bands, weird. Do I buy less irregular records, or are they just less common? Anyway, nothing says 90's punk rock like Hot Water Music! I was apeshit about HWM after seeing them for the 1st time @ the CT Bike Exchange in like 95 with Assuck. I think they were best when they had the beards. Don't get me wrong I like the Epitaph releases, love the Draft, Chris + Ship Thieves record is great, and I love Chuck solo (listening to his new one now, great as well!) But man when HWM were bearded they put out something fierce. This 9" split with Clairmel is them in their prime as is....

...This 11" split with Tomorrow. I am fairly certain that all of these HWM songs were on more common sized pieces of vinyl, but these were great versions, and just cool records to have, I played the HWM sides to death. Remember when I said in a previous blog about splits? No? well I tend to only listen to one side, my fault, I know, I remember digging both of these one word bands, but when I reach for these records, the side I love seemed to get played, then I would want to listen to more of them and would head toward another HWM record, except of course the Leatherface split...oh and the Alkaline Trio split. Remember this simple point from Uncle JV, you lose a little of your edge each time you shave.
Okay, lets not make this a total 90's blog, keep up with some of today. And man I will find a way to bring up.....

Rumspringer!! I love these dudes, seriously, my public statements of my love for them are known. Esp. Mikey Wretch! That dude is fuckin' gold. This record is going to be in my top 5 for the year, right now it looks like #3, Riverboat and Dear Landlord are in good company. See them, buy all their records, give 'em hugs.

Now I have a mission, to find more odd sized records that have come out in the last ten years! Anyway, post a comment on your favorite odd sized record. Man it's 10:45 on a friday night and I am "blogging" listening to records, even Eldridge is out, maybe I am a dork....Time to flip the record and get another beer....

(The Gym Is) Neutral Territory

Today's blog is simple, the record below is my favorite of all time, if you've never heard it, or it's been a long time, go check it out. If you have, and love it as much as I, listen to it anyway....

Tons of shows this weekend in the Valley....Check some out...

I am DJing the Bro-loaf show tonight, come out for a good time indeed...



Tons of shit on Saturday...Man I'm gonna try and bounce between a few....






Chippy back to Valley Fever this weekend on Sundday, always a good time...

Some records that I am digging these days...

Originally I was planning for this to be mostly record reviews, hence the Johnny Volume Record Time title. Granted it may in time turn out to be so, but for now, about a week into this blogs existence, not so much. I remember reading somewhere from like David Coverdale or someone, that writing about music is like singing about basketball. Lester Bangs may have not agreed, but either way, here are some pictures with a few words about those records, that I am digging....enjoy!



I am sure many of you here in the valley are very aware of one of Tempe's greatest bands, Grave Danger. In fact they are one of the first bands I saw when I moved here, and it was the first time I had ever been to Long Wongs (RIP). This is actually their first vinyl releases, and you get two great GD instrumentals. Amazing. PS If anyone has an extra copy of Valley Of Scum w/ the 2nd part of the Kevin Daly interview, send it my way....




BOATS! Awesome 4 song 7" on May Cause Dizziness Records. Think Stitches mixed with Briefs. Amazing, young band from Sacto...I am not going to even attempt to soil the greatness of this record with words, just get it, you won't regret it!



Now this band can't be described! Lenguas Largas! Issac from Shark Pants/Swing Ding Amigos latest project, and my favorite. This 7" is so good, but nothing compared to the live show. See them get the record, on Tic Tac Totally records.




The God Damned Doo Wop Band! Just what the band name may suggest, this is a bunch of punk rock folks doing doo wop. I have been playing this 7" @ BANNED, and the cd is pretty much the only one getting played at home. I don't think they tour much, so go to Awesome Fast to see them. Oh wait that's sold out, hope you got tickets....




You knew I'd get some Rumspringer in here! THE best band in the PHX area, that I have gone on and on about for so long already, but fuck the split 7" is amazing! Honestly the Dude Jams side has been played twice, once at BANNED! and once right when I got it.



Keepin' it in AZ with Andrew Jackson Jihad! This is a great 8", each side has the same song, once acoustic, once electric, and the grooves for each track are next to each other arther then one following the second. So once you drop the needle on the edge you get one version, and bump it and it's electric. I have seen AJJ play electric a few imes, and honestly, so so, I'll take acoustic. But on this the electric version is tops! Never played the other side, no offense to Mischief Brew, just haven't due to the AJJ side being so awesome. I promise when I do, I'll post it here....




Another May Cause Dizziness release! Radio Crimes, the newest project from Mr. Alex Empty! MOD style punk rock, that you can tell is still Alex! Did you like the Half Empties? This is the grown up version of that. Mr. Empty is moving back soon, so go get tattooed by him, congratulate him as he'll be a dad soon...Until then get this record!



This record is going to be hard pressed to be beat as record of the year for me! AMAZING! No other words....



An older record (1996) I have been listening to a bit lately. Prema's second and last record with a long poem like title, a few years before Fiona Apple, commonly called Drivel. These guys 1st record was a Krishna hard core record that was ok. But here I think they were doing drugs and got noisy. Great spastic, catch screamy punk rock ala Ink & Dagger, Icarus Line....

Anyway, here are a few of the records I am into at the moment. Stay tuned I am sure I'll have some more for you soon, and with more words, think of these as more like visual list rather then reviews. Stop by BANNED! Thursday, see below for what we've got going on, I am excited to hear what records Tyler brings...thanks.