All, NO ALL! My experience with the Descendents.

In 1991 or 92, I went with a friend of mine to the Scrapyard in Buffalo to see the band ALL. I really didn't care for ALL that much, as a girl I really liked had the "She's my ex" cassingle in her car and it would play on repeat over and over and over. I probably hated the band because she payed more attention to that tape and that song than she did to me, but this blog is more about my experience with music than it is with girls. ANYWAY, he promised. "they'll play Descendents songs." So without hesitation, I went.

I thought ALL's set was boring, But the 8 or so Descendents songs they played were the highlight of the show. The energy of those songs spoke volumes and the mish-mash of skaters, hardcore kids and punkers singing along and getting into those songs specifically showed that those were the songs they truly came to see.

I don't remember when I first got into the Descendents. I know I liked a song here or there from hearing on WBNY and eventually bought "Somery" their "best of" collection. But when did I actually decide I liked them? Searching my mind and the soup that resides within it, I have decided that at some point in the mid 90's, when after girl after girl shot me down, I LOVED THE DESCENDENTS. Sour Grapes, Clean Sheets, Silly Girl, Hope... Not to mention scores of other great songs that had little to do with girls! The Descendents are one of the few pop punk bands where I believe what they're selling me and not trying to make a quick buck before stating college and a career. It always has the honest sound of guys just being themselves.



Eventually, The Descendents got back together after a long hiatus and returned with the album "Everything Sucks." Which, at the time, I hated (I have since changed my mind on that) and when they came around to Buffalo on the tour supporting the album, I never bought a ticket to go. I was working at Radio Shack at the time and decided after work, on the night that the show was in town, to go. On my arrival in full button up shirt, tie and sweater vest, I found out the show had been sold out for WEEKS. Out front was a collection of kids who were hoping to get in and we struck up conversation. They were all bummed that they couldn't gain entry even though they had more than enough money for tickets(had they still been available) but all attempts to convince the door guy to let them in had failed.

Now, every now and then, luck and absurdity come into our lives and we must seize what they give us. That night was one such night when the owner of the club, Pete, walked out front and asked if any of the 20-30 kids out front were "over 21." I was 22 at the time and chimed up. The conversation went like this:
"How much money do you have?"
"Five Bux."
"Do you plan on drinking?"
"Well, I don't drink, but I may buy a few for the ladies."
"Ok, give me the five bux."

Just like that I was in. He either wasn't paying attention to the fact that I had just given him my last five dollars, or thought I was lying to him to have more money to spend on the aforementioned "ladies." Either way, that's how I got in and saw the Descendents. Their set was awesome and the place was definitely oversold by A LOT. But, my friends, luck is a double edged sword; as that night, for their encore, they brought up Scott Reynold's to the stage and performed "She's My Ex" as their encore. Damn the luck.

Bad Brains, Soul Brains, Cro-Brains, Brains No More

In 1989 I heard the Bad Brains for the first time after seeing the video for the song "Soul Craft." I was intrigued by the song's unusual sounding style and the fact that it seemed like the singer threw off his, uh, "rasta hat" like 50 million times throughout the video. Looking back now, this only occurs twice and more than likely I liked this video because of HR and Dr. Know's striped button up shirts. ANYWAY, I liked it and when the 1991 Caroline reissue of "Rock for Light" came out, I added that to my collection, which already contained "Quickness," the album the aforementioned Soul Craft appeared on.



Another Bad Brains milestone in my teenage life took place in 1991. The Bad Brains were going to play a show in August with Zero Tolerance (Gasp!)at the "New Pink Flamingo" on Main St in Buffalo. I don't remember if it was coincidence or by design that I wore my "Introduce Yourself" shirt by Faith No More to the show but, I know that Chuck Mosely, who was in FNM for their first two (and my favorite) albums sang for the Brains on that tour.

At some point during the show, I was approached by a drunken Chuck Mosely, who hugged me and told me, "Every little bit helps." With FNM's commercial success just starting I wonder if it burned him the band he was thrown out of was doing so well? I don't know if it would concern me too much if I was singing "I against I" with Dr. Know's blazing fret work behind me, but I'm not Chuck Mosely, so I'll never know. Also, this was the show where I bought ZT's "Fuel The Fire" cassette ep. I passed on a Bad Brains tour shirt because they all had marijuana depicted on them. Aside from the "funk metal" opener Lucy Brown, the show was one that I wished I could see every night.

In 1993, the Brains released "Rise" and toured with yet another singer, Israel Joseph I. I didn't like the record and I thought the show was kind of lame. I mean, a band I regard to this day as terrible, Prong, as well as what I viewed as local light-weight amateurs No Joke both opened, what a let down. Hearing Rise for the first time in literal years it's not as bad as I remember but compared to what's going on with music nowadays, even some Prong might sit well with me.



Fast forward a few more years and the re-united "Soul Brains" were playing shows. Apparently the band wanted to drop the negative connotations associated with the term "bad" and get on some weird Jah vibe. What they should have done is dropped their association with singer HR, because it was one of the lamest and bizarre performances I have ever witnessed by a band. The rhythm section is raging and HR is in outer fucking space talking the lyrics to songs. Give me back Chuck Mosley! FUCK, I'll take Israel Joseph I even... ANYTHING but HR. I can't describe properly the disappointment. It was like watching some weird challenging performance art. I longed for something better from the Bad Brains and thankfully they were up for something different down the line too.

In February 2006, the Bad Brains played two shows at CBGB's with John Joseph Bloodclott from the Cro-Mags singing. Leeway opened. It was a great fucking show, even though I rolled my ankle during "Right Brigade." My friend John referred to the musical moment in which my ankle suffered as a "dangerous part." My friends, I can attest that it truly is, as my ankle swelled to a proportion previously unknown to me.



So I feel like I've gotten my money's worth 1/2 of the time I've seen the brains. the other half, I felt a little cheated. But that's how it goes when something with our favorite band's keeps on changing in unexpectedly weird ways. The Bad Brains were innovative and inspiring at one time, but now it's been long gone, lost to mental illness and age. I'm glad I got to experience what I did and the 14 year old Jeremy thanks Mackie, J.J. Bloodcott and Chuck for giving me something HR just can't anymore... Passion.

Judge and quick thought about reunions.

I remember buying the Judge "There will be Quiet..." ep on cassette when I was in 11th grade, shortly after it came out. "Forget this Time" opened the ep up with some serious bite and although I was already a fan, it drew me deeper into my love of all things Revelation Records had to offer in 1991, but this entry isn't really about that.



One thing I like about Judge's legacy is that there has been no reunion and I totally respect that. Mike Judge was "over it" and that was that. There's something to be said about bands who don't want to spoil their run and just let their records and short time together speak for itself. I think I may want my memory of Judge to stay in 11th grade, listening to that tape on the bus ride to school over and over again, not some 40something men playing at a nostalgia trip. I type this now knowing full well if a reunion ever came, I'd go.

I've flown all over this country to see reunion shows of long dead/ inactive band and I don't feel too bad about it. I had my fun and it seemed like the band's I flew out to see enjoyed themselves as well. Today I heard that Articles Of Faith were doing a reunion show and and a new record. Although I love the band, I have to ask, "why?"

Sometimes bands should reunite: maybe because there's new found interest in their back catalogue, or because band members have recently reconciled; overcoming past differences. Sometimes bands get back together to benefit a friend or family member who has died or taken ill. Some bands just get back together for the fun of it, or the big evil "money." Some bands pull it off, some bands don't, but I think the biggest mistake these bands can make is attempting to write and record new music.

Gorilla Biscuits tried this and failed, Turmoil came back to obscurity, nobody liked Lifetime's new record. Let me think of more... The Misfits, Turbonegro, Antidote, Adolescents, Bad Brains and I could continue citing, but I'll spare you and in doing so, spare myself the pain of remembering ruined legacies. In fact, the only good "reunion" album I can think of is Celtic Frost's "Monotheist" and metal bands are notorious for getting back together and turning up the SUCK.



Another Chicago favorite of mine, aside from AoF, Naked Raygun, did recent ep's after reforming a few years ago. I am nearly terrified to hear these records. I don't know if I will ever order them, I am afraid it would just ruin it for me, like when your favorite restaurant changes the ingredients to your favorite dish, it's never the same again.



So, Judge, hats off to you for staying quietly dead, even when your nice remastered discography came out a few years ago. I'm glad we can rely on somethings to stay just how we remember them. But you know, if you ever do get back together, call me up so I can buy a ticket, but please, for the love of Pete, don't record anything new.