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....