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Here's my monthly column from the July 2005 issue of AMP Magazine (www.ampmagazine.com):

Young and Dumb
This is a tough column to write because it’s being written about a lot of disappointment and frustration I’m having with this thing of ours, this “punk” “scene.” I’m trying my best not to sound bitter, because although I’m pissed and exasperated, I haven’t given up on our thing, our cosa nostra. I think I’m partly writing this about my embarrassment for being connected with a scene that talks a great talk but can’t pull its head out of its collective ass long enough to put its great ideals into action in the non-punk world.
I’ll back up. Last year I ran a serious campaign for local office. 5-10 of my friends from the music world volunteered, and many more donated money or played fundraiser shows. Still, the majority of my volunteers were not from the extremely political punks with whom I have a long history. Of course, the national presidential race took precedence over every local race, so I’m not too surprised. This spring, I worked for another local campaign in Oakland. The candidate is a conscientious objector from the Persian Gulf War and she’s been active as a teacher, a military counter-recruiter, and as a Green. All she needed was the musical background and she could’ve fit into any indie/underground music scene. Since there was no other high-profile political activity going on in the area during the campaign, I figured that I’d see some familiar faces volunteering to put an independent, intelligent, and fearless progressive onto Oakland’s corrupt City Council. We even had some paying positions towards the end of the campaign that I offered specifically to the punk community.
Lonely Fool
You can guess who showed up from the punk scene. No one. It actually shocked me because there’s tons of punks and political music fans who are happy to support electoral politics who I hang out with all of the time. A lot live in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. When we talk politics we all agree that local politics is the place where we can actually make honest-to-goodness change.
So where were we? The campaign had non-punks show up from as far away as San Diego and Sacramento (500 and 120 miles away, respectively), yet Oakland and Berkeley punks couldn’t be bothered to ride their bike 5 minutes to put their time where their rhetoric was. We had things to do at all hours of the day and most nights, 7 days a week, so opportunity was not an issue. As I mentioned, there was even some “paid volunteer” positions ($40 for 4 hours of work in the early evening). Scheduling flexibility and financial incentives were freely available.
Paper Dolls During the last series of People’s Park riots occurred (1990-1992: The Volleyball Years), there were only two other members of the punk scene who I knew I’d see at most demos for the park. I shouldn’t be surprised that the same strain of self-indulgent laziness- oh yeah, “nihilism” or “apathy”- survives in today’s music scene. It’s still annoying as all hell, especially after all of the sound and fury about last year’s national election.
15 years ago, I chalked it up to people having different opinions about People’s Park, but with this latest example of punk “apathy” I think it’s something more. We’ve always been an insular scene, very concerned with creating our own reality/punktopia and denying the authority of the outside world over our hopes and dreams (and musical output!). I think this insularity, crossed with a world that’s more and more about instant gratification uber alles, gives us exciting radical and progressive events that include zero members of the local radical and progressive music scene.
Caught In A Dream
We have to ask ourselves- do we really give a fuck about imperialism or gentrification when it doesn’t threaten something right in front of our faces like 924 Gilman or ABC No Rio? When I write about voting with my wallet- shopping at independent stores, not eating meat- I mean it. Do you? Are the lyrics tattooed on the inside of your skull just aural wallpaper or do they have meaning in your life? If the latter, prove it.
Talk the talk, walk the walk. The kids united, will never be divided. Or, closer to home, unity, unity, you’ve heard it all before, this time it’s not exclusive we want to stop a war. Unity as one, stand together unity evolution’s gonna come!
I wouldn’t expect some L-7 normal to stand up for what s/he believes in, since they aren’t self-defined as do-it-yourselfers or as independent thinkers. I do expect at least a few of the crowd chanting political slogans at the local punk show to stand up. College graduates, school teachers, engineers, alcoholics, professionals, blue collar workers, all are part of the punk scene. None could tear themselves away from their colored vinyl and debates about $5 doors to work with people who think Black Flag is a bug spray and that the Ramones work at the bodega down the block. The squares showed up, with varying levels of political understanding. Where were all of the vegan political warriors who can quote Kent McClard and Dick Lucas by heart? The squares clearly had the right idea- volunteering for an honest grassroots candidate who isn’t a corrupt pawn of the system.
Surprise Surprise
So I’m not bitter. I’m still slightly surprised but more realistic about my “scene.” There’s a lot of big talkers and very very few doers. Pretty fucking pathetic for a scene that claims to “do it yourself.”
I’m not bitter. I’m optimistic in the face of my friends apathy that this will change soon. We don’t have a choice. Eldridge Cleaver said it best: “You are either part of the solution or part of the problem." Come on down next time, it’s a blast realizing that the normal looking people agree with your funny-haired self, and even better, that working together you can actually kick some big-money, fascist-wannabe ass when you bother to show up.
Child Eaters
Here’s some great new music releases: Brain Failure “American Dreamer” (Thorp), M.I.A. “Arular”, Retching Red “Get Your Red Wings” (Bleeding Bitch), Alkaline Trio “Crimson”, Paint It Black “Paradise” (Jade Tree), Chickenhead/Los Canadians “Mutiny in Miami” (Scam), Knights of the New Crusade “My God Is Alive! Sorry About Yours!” (Crusade Now), Whiskey Sunday “Maldecido” (1-2-3-4-Go!), David Dondero "Live At The Hemlock" (Future Farmer), Street Dogs "Back to the World" (Brass Tacks), The Letters Organize "Dead Rhythm Machine" (Nitro), V/A "Slam Bush" (Hard Knock), Blowfly “Fahrenheit 69” (Alternative Tentacles), and The Eyeliners “No Apologies” (Blackheart Records).
Turbohund East Bay, ruff!
Product placement- The Frisk are proud to have donated an unreleased tune to the “Rock Against Bush Vol. 1” compilation on Fat Wreck. We’ve got a track from “Audio Ransom Note” on the latest Amoeba Records compilation. There’s also a live acoustic version of “Leech” (on the just released “This Just In” benefit compilation for Indymedia on GC Records. There’ll be information about these releases as well as upcoming Frisk shows very soon (maybe even by the time this is printed) so check our site at www.thefrisk.com today!
Stay strong, stay true, and always read between the lines!
-Jesse Luscious

THE CRIMINALS last record, "Extinct," is available again through Alternative Tentacles Records! Featuring the final version of THE CRIMINALS, "Extinct" has 4 new songs, 3 re-vamped and tougher versions of old songs, and 1 cover. Also, our final full-length, 1999's "Burning Flesh and Broken Fingers," is still available from the fine folks at Adeline Records. Our split 10"/cd with AGAINST ALL AUTHORITY on Sub City/Hopeless Records is also available. The split is a benefit for the needle exchange program at the Berkeley Free Clinic. Personally, I wish we had began as a band with these three recordings because they all are what we really wanted to sound like, but hey, bands are bands...

Speaking of bands being bands, all of the recorded output of BLATZ and FILTH have moved to local label Life Is Abuse from Lookout Records. This means the BLATZ "Cheaper Than The Beer" ep, the FILTH "Live the Chaos" ep, and the BLATZ/FILTH "Shit Split" lp/2xcd are re-released on Life Is Abuse now!

The decision to leave Lookout was multi-faceted, and the split -up occured with minimal friction. Many thanks are due to Lookout for their years of support and for their recognition that it's time for the two bands to move on to a different label.

Click on the Life is Abuse link below for more information.

For a cool BLATZ site, check out http://www.geocities.com/dlc2.geo/

For buying either of the 2 THE GR'UPS 7"s, try the remains of the No Records site at http://www.geocities.com/norecords/ or search http://www.gemm.com for used copies. These 7"s are pretty much unavailable new, so used is your best bet.

News Flash: I'm selling a bunch of Blatz, Gr'ups, Criminals, and various other music-related items in my eBay Store: http://stores.ebay.com/Jesse-Luscious-Presents-Punk-n-More_

THE FRISK new CD "Audio Ransom Note" is out on Adeline Records. We just finished a rad month+ tour of the US and are looking forward to more shows and out-of-town shows in 2004! Thanks to Naked Aggression, Swindle, Toys That Kill, Rancid, The Dwarves, Teflon Dons, Kickstand Booking, Crawlspace Booking, and a ton of other great bands and people for showing up and rockin out. There are shirts and music and mp3s on the Adeline Records site that's linked to The Frisk site below, and patches, pins, and keychains on Interpunk.com.

Check out my monthly column in AMP (American Music Press) either in stores or on-line. I'm still writing record reviews in Shredding Paper and book reviews in Maximum Rocknroll. My Hit List column bit the dust along with that magazine. Now if I could just crack Punk Planet and Heartattack!

Finally, I'm producing "Soap Box Derby", KALX's call-in talk show Thursday nights 9-9:30 PM. You can tune in at 90.7 FM (live webstreaming at http://kalx.berkeley.edu). Due to FCC equal access rules, I am not going to be back on the air as a dj until after the November election. I can be on the City Council and be on the air, I just cannot be a candidate in the middle of an election cycle and be on the air.

Broadcast on KALX 0600-0900 1-31-03

Andrew W.K.-She Is Beautiful/ Faith No More-Naked in Front of the Computer/ Hell Toupee -King of the Jungle/ Helmet -Repetition/ Ted Leo and the Pharmacists -Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone?/ Fakes -Fake Country Song/ Stompin??? Tom Connors -Tilsonburg/ Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Boys -Loser's Blues/ Asskickers -Cocaine Keeps Me Regular/ Country Beat -Je To Zej// Monty Python -Every Sperm is Sacred/ Fang -Hair of the Dog/ DOA -I am Canadian/ Decals -One More/ Donnas -Please Don't Tease/ AC/DC -Deep in the Hole/ Chevy Chase -Wild Thing/ Fischerspooner -Emerge/ Trio -Anna/ Ms. John Soda -Go Check/ Los Straitjackets -Feliz Navidad/ Biz Markie -Just a Friend/ UTFO and Anthrax -Lethal/ Peaches -Rock Show/ Cherrie Blue -Cyber Sex Man/ Princess Superstar -Bad Babysitter/ Woody Allen (comedy)/ Damned -Neat Neat Neat/ Subincision -1983 Teenage Car Crash/ Bitchin -So Much Water So Close to Home/ Feederz -1984/ Dropkick Murphies -Road of the Righteous (live)/ Anti Flag -America Got It Right [split with Bouncing Souls]/ Redd Foxx (comedy)/ Orange Monkey -Osama Bin Lazy/ M.C. Paul Barman -Paulaluluah/ Har Mar Superstar -Power Lunch/ Barrio Chino -Dame La Luz/ Mano Negra -King Kong Five/ Aztecs -Smoke and Stack [Board Boogie compilation]/ Playboys -Sabre Dance [Board Boogie compilation]/ Siderunners -Just Nuts/ X -I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts/ Woody Allen (comedy)

Here's the playlist from one of my DJ shows on KALX. 4-24-01, 6-9 AM, "*"=new release, 7"=7-inch ep

Rose Tattoo "We Can't Be Beaten" Van Halen "And the Cradle will Rock" Black Flag "Annihilate this Week" Rollins Band "Burned Beyond Recognition" Babes in Toyland "Right Now" Texas Terri and the Stiff Ones "Women Should Be Wilder" * Kip Addotta "Big Cockroach" Tone Loc "Funky Cold Medina" D.J. Fury "Da Bomb Drag" * Liquid Liquid "cavern" (from "Disco Not Disco" compilation) * Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five "New York New York" Ducks Breath Theater "Ask Dr. Science" The Living End "Roll On" * Bottles and Skulls "First Love, Then War" * 7" Seven Seconds "Walk Together, Rock Together" Bombshell Rocks "21st Century Riot" * Selby Tigers "Droid" * Verbal Abuse "V.A. Rocks Your Liver" Testament "Over the Wall" Halford "Jawbreaker" * Atom and His Package "Hats off to Halford" Bobby Joe Ebola and the Children Mac Nuggits "Everyone's Got Skin Cancer" * Adele Givens "Had to Do Something" (from "Queens of Comedy" compilation) * The Pinkos "Pirate Song" * 7" Eddie Def "Bad Trip" * David Allen Coe "Willie, Waylon, and Me" Waylon and Willie "Pick up the Tempo" 86 "Unidentified Fiddling Object" * Kip Adotta "Wet Dream" Vandals "Urban Struggle" Fear "Lost in Los Angeles" * Raw Power "State Oppression" The Lab Rats "Not For Me" * demo tape M.I.A. "I Hate Hippies" Sick of It All "Step Down" Jello Biafra "Become the Media" * D.Q.E. "Halloween Song" * B.S. 2000 "New York is Good" * Ramones "Rock and Roll High School" Queers "Born to do Dishes" Motorhead "We are the Roadcrew" Dropkick Murphies "Legend of Finn Maccumhail" * Sick Pleasure "Let's Kill the Muni Driver" Clash "Washington Bullets"

This review appeared in MaximumRocknRoll in 1999:

bolo'bolo, by p.m.

192 pages $7 Semiotext(e)

522 Philosophy Hall NY, NY 11211-0568

bolo'bolo was originally published in 1983, and author "p.m."'s realistic utopia fired the imaginations of anti-statists world-wide. After 6 German editions and translations into English, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, and Russian, the author has added an updated introduction for the 1995 edition. It examines the past 13 years and the huge changes in the international scene (most specifically the fall of the Eastern Bloc) and apoligizes for being too optimistic in the book's original timeline: By 1988 the utopian world-vision (bolo'bolo) was to have been achieved. Now p.m. suggests 2001 as the year "to dance on the ruins of the planetary work machine."

What's "the planetary work machine?" Read on: The Planetary Work Machine, simply put, is us. It's "society" (cops, religion, bosses), it's capitalism/communism/socialism/fascism/whatever-ism, it's the marginals on the left and the right (the punx, the hippies, the nazi skins); we are all a part of it. "It" is not some shady Trilateral Commission or the C.I.A. (though those might have some control, world events have gained their own momentum to the point of making such sinister forces practically moot). We force ourselves into whatever image the Machine allows us- whether it's the picturesque rebel (corporate-beer swilling gutterpunk or isolationist gun nut) or society's respectable business(wo)man. The first 27 pages explain this and the different "deals" open to different sections of the world- basically white-collar (the A deal), blue-collar (the B deal), and the third world (the C deal). p.m. dives into the general downward spiral of human existance and somehow emerges with a solution: bolo'bolo.

The route to bolo'bolo is dysco [disinformation (world-wide contacts & bolo'bolo propaganda)/disproduction (sabotage)/ disruption (riots, squatting)] involving all 3 deals (ABC-dysco)- Such classless unity is inevitable because of the worsening conditions of the 3 deals. Eventually ABC-dysco becomes bolo'bolo. To avoid cultural associations, p.m. invents terms, which I'll put in parentheses: 15-30 people (ibus) form a large household (kana), 20 kanas form a bolo, 10-20 bolos form a township (tega), and so on to a very loose confederation/association of regions (sumi). Each bolo is sacredly autonomous in its cultural and social identity (nima), yet bolo'bolo allows for inter-bolo barter (feno) and gifts (mafa). bolo'bolo also covers energy production and use (pali), water use (suvu), health care (bete), food production (kodu), world-wide communication and (self)education (pili) [the Internet would qualify], and much more. The individual (ibu) has a social contract (sila) with all bolos (bolo'bolo- the all-encompassing form) that includes a cyanide pill (nugo: "Every ibu comes outfitted with a return ticket."), a 50cm x 50cm x 100 cm box for private possesions (taku), 1 day of automatic hospitality (gano), and the option to settle conflicts by duel (yaka).

bolo'bolo goes into a lot of detail (in simple english) that really shows the author's extensive, non-dogmatic (a.k.a. realistic) thinking that raises bolo'bolo far above any utopian vision based in one political -ism or another. Although there are weak links (the ABC-dysco thing gets a bit hazy at times, but isn't the start supposed to be the hardest part?), the rush of optimism that maybe, just maybe, there's some realistic hope for a positive future illuminates this book.