Sabot on South Street

We would like to turn our attention to another Philadelphia organization that we feel is deserving of praise and commendation. For more than 30 years, Wooden Shoe Books has been pushing the envelope and encouraging Philadelphia to turn not towards government for solutions to society's woes, but to use personal resources and sacrifice towards the common good, recognizing that what is good for the community is good for the individual.

Located at 5th and South Streets, Wooden Shoe is run entirely by volunteers and is 100% not for profit. Though not a huge space, they make the most of their walls, with floor to ceiling literature organized by general topic. Looking for books on the Cuban experience in America? Wooden Shoe is your place. Need references on ethical treatment of cattle in slaughterhouses? Hit up the Wooden Shoe. Noam Chomsky, the Black Panthers, the IRA, communism and other controversial topics abound in the Shoe. You will find resources that come from many different perspectives and their selection goes way beyond what you will find in Barnes and Nobel or Borders. They also have a computer free for all to use, dubbed "the People's Computer," and probably the only table of children's books that will educate the parents also. Also, they have the city's best selection of photocopied 'zines, from nationally recognized publications like Cometbus to much more local publications from various artists, anarchists and freak power folks.

Wooden Shoe also presents workshops, performances, readings, films etc. at least once a week. This is stuff that flies way under the radar--authors you have not (yet) heard of, films that don't even make art house theaters, but the intimate space provides an opportunity to interact with the artist(s) whose work is on display and talk to other like minded individuals. In addition to art events, there are also workshops for methods of community organizing, maintaining grassroots integrity and other ways to get directly involved in making a difference in your community and connect with those who would also help. Most events are free, but you do need to reserve space by email for more popular gatherings.

The Wooden Shoe moniker is taken from the industrial revolution when French peasants would throw their wooden footwear into machinery in order to get a much needed rest while working insanely long hours. (The French name for wooden clogs, "sabot," is where we get the term sabotage.) The infoshop (as they like to call themselves) seeks to disrupt the gears of capitalism and provide an alternative point of view for anyone who cares to listen. We urge you to at least stop in and see what may catch your fancy. You can either feed your mind or find the opportunity to get your hands dirty and get involved--anything is possible.

Wooden Shoe Books

Shhhh.....It's a Secret

Super classified, undercover show tonight starring Paint it Black and The Loved Ones. This one is purposely under the radar, since it's two big Philly bands playing a small show. Email info@paintitblack.org and Mr. Yemin and company will let you know where and when to show up. You can also email us if you prefer, 'cause we got the lowdown. No matter who you get the info from, please don't post the name or address anywhere public. It's early and all ages, so if you're leaving work, you will need to hustle that ass to get there before those young whipper snappers. Good luck!

Psychobetabuckdown at the North Star Bar, Keeping out of Direct Sunlight in Camden

Bust out the Visine, 'cause southern California's resident stoner kingpins Cypress Hill take up the stage at the North Star Bar for a super duper rare club appearance. This show is huge because it's so small. Though your brain my be sticky with resin from years of bong hits, you'd best think quick and snatch up tickets for this shindig, tickets are going to fly out the door. That's right cheeba monkeys, sell that eighth of kind, 'cause this shit's a bargain at $25. Saturday, April 10th.

On the other end of the spectrum, Green Day and AFI are going to play a show together at the Susquehanna Bank Center. This show is huge because it's so huge. As a recovering goth, Davey Havok has been overheard saying his goal is to try to get a tan on this tour of enormous outdoor amphitheaters. Plus, Green Day draw such a ridiculously large crowd, they can't be limited by places with walls and ceilings, man. Anyway, this is going to be grossly overpriced if you want to be anywhere but the lawn, and since this is a Live Nation venue, be prepared for some hefty service charges. C'est la vie. Tuesday, August 3rd.

A Sin of Omission

Feline Squeamish #1 and Feline Squeamish #2 have asked us to bring something to your attention. We let the weekend go by without mentioning Save the Florida Panther Day, the culmination of Save the Florida Panther Week. Our apologies; let us correct this immediately.

With a population count at less than one hundred according to most sources, the Florida Panther (appropriately the state animal) is a kitty that teeter-totters on the brink of extinction. Like most animals on the endangered list, the main cause of their dwindling numbers is destruction of their natural habitat and the introduction of highways (and the vehicles that travel on them) into their grounds. The interruption of the natural cycles of flora because of wildfire prevention and introduction of canals to corral the water table for development has also led to a decrease in the deer population, the Panther's major prey. Because of its severely limited numbers, the Florida Panther also suffers from the genetic repercussions of inbreeding.

Recently, Florida has put several programs into place so as to not sit idly by an let this happen. When large parts of Alligator Alley (a major east-west route across the state) were renovated in the mid 1990's, they included underpasses for wildlife to safely move from one side of the highway to the other, as well as netting and fences that encourage use of the underpasses. Alligator Alley and other highways that cross panther country have limited speed limits at dusk and dawn, when panthers are most active. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has worked with a big cat rescue facility in Texas on a captive breeding program, which incorporates, but is not limited to, cross-breeding with eastern Texas varieties of big cats. (Before their numbers were thinned, these felines regularly interacted with each other as their natural habitats overlapped. This is an effort to recreate that and eliminate some of the genetic complications from inbred cats.) Through these and other efforts, the population has increased from about 30 in 1990 to almost 100 currently. Despite this small victory, the Florida Panther remains critically endangered and continues to struggle. This year already has seen 14 panthers hit by cars and killed.

If you would like to help:
Florida Panther Net
The Florida Panther Refuge

Happy Freedom of Information Day!

That's right Squeamies! Today is James Madison's 269th birthday and in honor of the Father of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, we celebrate the government's requirement to provide, at least to some degree, transparency. Madison had this crazy idea that the size and power of the ruling body should be limited and the governed not be burdened by an intrusive federal power. As a young man, Madison defended many victims of religious oppression and became a protege of Thomas Jefferson in the Virginia legislature. Madison went on to author large parts of the Constitution, including the section that set up the then revolutionary three branch method of government and implemented the check and balance system. At first, Madison opposed the Bill of Rights because he feared that the federal government might claim any power that was not specifically limited in the Bill. When he saw that resistance was futile and that the Bill of Rights was going to happen, he worked tirelessly to ensure that they were the specific list of personal liberties that we know today and that they in no way expanded the oversight of Congress, the President or the court system. Madison fully believed that government was there to serve its citizens and not the other way around, and that it was in the best interest of the country to have an informed people. In his honor, on Freedom of Information Day, the American Library Association passes out the Madison Awards, given to those who best champion the public's right to know and access to public information.

Now, of course, there are severe limitations on what the government is willing to hand over to you, but it is comforting to know that you can't be punished for asking. For the most part, so long as it isn't a matter of national security and it doesn't fall under that hazy cloud of executive privilege, those records are open to you. So celebrate today by asking for anything that interests you. You may genuinely need the information, or it may just be because you can, but make your government work for you. It is there for your benefit and you should take advantage of it. You can find a link below to the Department of Justice which provides information on how to go about obtaining the knowledge you desire. If you are interested in state records, those fall under your particular state's own Freedom of Information Act, which may differ significantly from the federal version. You will need to search for the state information you desire; try looking under "open records law," "public records act," of "sunshine law," if you are having issues as each state has given it its own title. Good luck and have fun! Exercise your rights so we don't lose them!

Department of Justice Freedom of Information Act

Look at all the Love we've Exploited

I got an email the other day that said that Sublime had scheduled a show at the Electric Factory in May. Say what?? I thought that maybe I was delusional and that Bradley Nowell didn't die of a heroin overdose fifteen years ago. A quick trip to Wikipedia proved to me that, no, I hadn't been mistaken, he really was worm food at this point, but that the other two guys had a new singer/guitarist (Rome) and were going on tour, re-dubbed, Sublime with Rome. Wow. I consider myself a respectable Sublime fan, but before I visited their website, I couldn't even name the other two guys. In fact, I'll bet if you asked most Sublime fans, more of them could tell you the name of their mascot dalmatian than the other two thirds of the band.

It's sad. Obviously, both Bud and Eric (drummer and bassist, respectively) need to make a living, and I'm not saying that Sublime didn't have some great beats and bass lines, but really Sublime was Brad. He wrote the melodies and words, he was the face of the band and when he died, the group ceased to exist immediately. After the overdose, Bud and Eric went on to form the Long Beach Dub All Stars with other members of the extended Sublime family. It was a great tribute to their fallen brother and they played the hell out of both their originals and the many Sublime covers in their live sets. But this, using the name that is so closely associated with the frontman, just drips of pandering on the fans sense of nostalgia.

Last Thursday night, Henry Rollins went on at length about the mental breakdown of Bad Brains singer HR. Henry recalled how HR went from being one of the toughest, punkest dudes ever to almost being an embarrassment, both to himself and the band as an organization. In many senses, the HR that fronted the legendary hardcore outfit is dead, and in his place is an imitation of the original. Same with Sublime. With the new dude, Rome (who, though I am being critical, I have to admit sounds almost dead on for Brad and has the advantage of not performing like a junkie), Sublime is putting themselves out there as a tribute to the greatness that they once were, instead of embracing the greatness that they could be. Like the new version of Alice in Chains, Sublime with Rome is really just a really, really good cover band.

I guess I just can't understand how this wouldn't be better as the new version of Long Beach Dub All Stars. Sublime with Rome has been sued by Brad's widow over the use of the Sublime name. She has no issue with them playing the music, just the moniker, and I can't blame her. While I wish nothing but the best and much success for Eric and Bud, I wish that they would reconsider touring as Sublime. It just comes across as desperate that a decade and a half later they still need to cling to Brad's reputation. Let the music stand for itself, don't burden it with nostalgia.

Still, a bunch of people are going to show up for this. Sublime's music continues to be popular with the kiddies and is still in regular rotation on rock radio stations. I'm sure that this show will sell out as the actual Sublime tribute band, Badfish, plays the same venue with regularity. (And, coincidentally has a show two weeks earlier for only five bucks cheaper.) Wednesday, May 5th, $25, The Electric Factory, 7th and Willow.

Henry Rollins Stole All the Words

This review of former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins' spoken word show last night was going to be significantly longer, unfortunately there are a few less words in the world this morning. Hank's epic three hour monologue has left the universe a few phrases shorter than there were at the beginning of his set. Mic chord wrapped tightly around his palm and doing most of his performance in a similar forward lunge stance to when he is singing with a band, Rollins moved quickly from reference to reference, simile to simile, always keeping his basic topic just within reach, but not afraid to go off on a tangent at any unannounced point. Here are just a few topics that were covered:

Seeing Bad Brains with Ian Mackaye
Giving the finger to the military "chairman" of Myanmar Senior General Than Shwe
Advice he got from David Lee Roth
President Obama's over emphasis of punctuation
Reciting large portions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution from memory
Football parties and Thanksgiving at William Shatner's house
Visiting the the National Archives with Ian Mackaye
Introducing the Stooges to a fifteen year old in Sri Lanka
A gypsy music festival in the middle of the Sahara Desert
Senator John McCain's desire for soup and a nap
Requesting tour guides in China for their personal assurances for a swift retreat from Tibet
Jerking off after being a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race
Giving the commencement speech at Sonoma State University
Playing a white power motherfucker on Sons of Anarchy
Constance McMillen and her canceled prom
Being in Bhopal, India for the 25th anniversary of the Union Carbide disaster
Michelle Obama's wax statue in Madame Tussaud's

There were a lot more, but honestly, Henry didn't slow down enough for me to remember them all. He said in the beginning of the show that he believed that when an audience pays to come see you perform, you owe them a mind fucking experience where they leave in a daze. Mission accomplished. He also apologized in advance for the numb butts the audience was going to have at the end of his extensive rant. Mission seriously accomplished. So two stories about Ian and one about the Shatner makes three shots on the Henry Rollins drinking game.* However, it was a good thing almost no one in the audience was playing 'cause getting out of those pews to take a piss would have been difficult. Even though Henry went on for hours and hours, most of the crowd sat stoically (I'm sure Rollins, king of Stoicism, was proud) and listened with rapt attention to what he had to say.

No matter how motivated you are, Henry makes you feel like a sloth since you could never live up to all the shit that he crams into his days, but you have to admit, he does provide inspiration for interacting more with the world. After seeing everything that he puts himself through, all the awkward situations in which he intentionally immerses himself, you just want to feel like you are doing your part, just so that he doesn't break down your door and verbally berate you for your inactivity. Hence this post started before 7AM when I didn't get to bed until well after 1 last night. I'm trying to keep up, man, but you set the bar pretty fucking high. And PS, leave a little bit of the English language left over for the rest of us. Thanks.

*see our original post Christmas Carols are for Suckers

Happy Anniversary, Recession!

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the low point of the stock market for our current economic debacle. While stock values have recovered significantly since then, pretty much everything else remains stagnant. Now, some people will try to point out that housing sales are up slightly, but they are being propped up by the $8000 tax incentive and ridiculously low prices. Ask anybody who is actually trying to sell their home right now. It ain't easy and it's not like houses are flying off the market. Sellers have to really work and invest some serious time in getting the place sold, sometimes for considerably less than the asking price. Plus, the job market has yet to show any real signs of recovery. There again, it takes months of full time work to land a job, and you are damn lucky if you aren't taking a serious cut in pay and/or benefits. True, landing a job and selling a house were never easy, but these tasks have become downright scary recently.

All of this means that once again, it is only the rich that are really recovering. Regular people, the ones who are truly struggling, are failing to make up any ground. I guess that some good news is that people's retirement funds are recovering a little bit, but am I the only one who remembers that there was a time when your retirement money wasn't tied to market swings, but was based more on sticking loyally by your company's side and being rewarded with a pension? And people wonder why things like customer service and just a general sense of common courtesy have all but vanished from American providers of goods and services. Where is the incentive for employees to invest anything more that the minimum effort into their job? All employees are seeing these days is the cost of their insurance increasing and their coverage slashed. I'm just saying that it isn't enough that now your 401K isn't hemorrhaging money.

So what is the answer? I don't know, but it sure as fuck isn't the laughable trickle down theory that has long been a given in American economics. Why do we continue to rely on assholes who don't give a shit about anyone else? Even though investments may have recovered values, do we see any of that being reinvested in businesses? Hell no. The wealthy are just continuing to pad their pockets to that they can continue their perceived right to live in luxury. Goddamn. I have absolutely no qualifications in finance or economics and even I can see this system isn't working.

No Manziers/Bros for these Beefcakes

Ok, Philadelphia, time to show your true rainbow colors. For the fourth year running, we have the opportunity to find Mr. Gay Philadelphia, the winner of which will be our representative for the national show, Mr. Gay. However, for the first time ever, we have been chosen to host the main event. That's right, the 2010 Mr. Gay will have his coronation right here in our own back yard! Now this isn't just a bunch of Mister Sisters in tiaras. These dudes are serious; they have abs that all those breeders from your gym wish they had and a healthy dose of attitude to boot. There are four remaining rounds of the Mr. Gay Philly before the national competition in November. Hey straight fellas, don't miss a chance feel bad about your body image and have your self confidence shot down when you realize that you can never be as attractive as these men who couldn't be less interested in your lady, not matter how much she ogles him. Be a real man and get yer gay on!

Mr. Gay Philadelphia
March 11 Daly's (Can't figure out where this one is. Anyone got info?)
March 19 Stir Lounge
March 19 Shampoo Nightclub
April 17 Voyeur Nightclub

Mr. Gay
November 13 Voyeur Nightclub

Good News and Bad News

After much time and heartache, beloved Sacramento psych-metal outfit Deftones have released some new music. In late 2008, Deftones were poised to unleash a new album, Eros, when founding bassist Chi Cheng was involved horrific car accident that left him in a coma. The band retreated within itself, shelved Eros, and kept pretty quiet, with occasional update through oneloveforchi.com. Cheng remains in a semi-conscious state, but the Deftones have soldiered on with the assistance of Quicksand bassist Sergio Vega, and recorded a full new album to be released in May titled Diamond Eyes. The first single, "Rocket Skates," has been made available for free though gunsrazorsknives.com It is typical Deftones--heavy, winding bass and downtuned guitars, weird shifts in rhythm and lead singer Chino Moreno alternating between spacey singing and his almost inhuman screaming. The best part of this is that the singles are rarely the strongest songs on Deftone's albums, so this only adds to the anticipation of their new full length record.

On the sad side, Philadelphia must say goodbye to DIY, all ages and completely illegal performance space Terrordome. Located in the basement of a West Philly house, Terrordome put on 60 mostly local shows since its inception in July of last year. It is sad to see performance art spaces like these be forced out, but it is hardly a surprise. As they gain more notoriety, and eventually publicity, the neighborhood quickly tires of house parties that include three or four live (and loud) bands that draw larger and larger crowds. Let's face it, there are few concerns about alcohol consumption, capacity limits and corralling the overflow the since it is not a bar, and following the shows 100 drunk punks, metalheads and artsy types are unleashed into the streets in a residential part of the city, their hearing and sensibilities damaged. That being said, basement shows are pretty much a necessity for up and coming bands that cannot afford to play legitimate venues because they do not yet draw the size crowd needed to book a show. The Terrordome crew did do the best that they could, ending shows at a reasonable hour (10 PM) and doing their best to stay underground by not publicly announcing their addy. But as so many good things are, successful basement spots are usually short lived and we just have to appreciate them for all the good things they did do.

For more info on the Deftones and to cop their new single visit their websites. Also, Chi Cheng's family continues to need money for his on going medical treatments. Like most musicians, he is uninsured and anything you can do to support his family is greatly appreciated.
Deftones
Guns Razors Knives
One Love for Chi

To support all ages music venues, you can visit the All Ages Movement Project (a winner in the Pepsi Co. Refresh Everything program). You can either donate money or contact them if you are interested in finding out how to start/help DIY, all ages performance spaces. Also, help musicians get insured. Most artists are self employed and make a meager living and cannot keep up with the rising costs of medical coverage. There are several organizations out there to help.
All Ages Movement Project
Rock for Health
Future of Music Coalition