Flaming Pablum

COVID Comes Calling

Hey all. Apologies for the relative slowdown, but … as might have been inevitable, depending on which news source you give your patronage to … the Flaming Pablum household has been touched, this week, by the sickly tendrils of the coronavirus.

Fret not, we’re all fine, but safety protocols have dictated some emergency measures involving half the family staying put and the other half temporarily sequestering elsewhere. The afflicted party had previously been vaccinated and boosted. As such, they are a bit fatigued and mildly congested, but should be perfectly fine. The other three are testing regularly and remaining vigilant. It’s more of a logistical hassle than anything else.

It’s real. You should probably expect it.

I’ll be back when life calms down, a bit.

A Handy Reminder

As we approach the one-year anniversary of January 6, here's a helpful synopsis of the facts.

Happy New Year?

This is normally around the time I’m filing out that stupid end-of-year survey (which I already did a couple of days back) or shamelessly dusting off way too many photos from my Istagram feed for a “My Year in Pictures” post, but I can’t really get excited about that, at the moment. If you’re curious, you can check out those photos via my feed (or you can ask to follow, I guess). My favorite photo of the year was probably the one above, but it doesn’t really matter.

2021 had its promising moments, but then took a swan dive back into the shitter. I can’t complain, though — myself and my immediate family all stayed healthy, my wife and I managed to stay employed and earning and my kids are continuing to both do well in school. Not sure what the future holds, but the next few weeks seem to be promising to be arduous and equally fraught. I’m not feeling wholly optimistic, if I’m being honest.

In any case, if I’ve left enough of an impression on you to keep coming back to this blog, I thank you again for your time and enthusiasm (even if you’re just pointing out discrepancies, highlighting typos or lambasting my opinions), and urge you to keep coming back.

Here’s wishing you & yours a happy, healthy, smart & sane 2022 … if that’s at all possible.

Doin' the Pandemic Pogo with The Wind-Ups

A couple of weeks back, I composed one of my somewhat annual “favorite music of the year” posts, prefacing it with a long, laborious preamble about how my personal tastes, listening habits and preferred means of “consuming” music have (d)evolved in manners pointedly at odds with the times. Put simply, not only do I sneer at the majority of contemporary popular music, but I also refuse to dutifully suck at the slimy teats of Spotify to satiate my listening needs. This doesn’t mean I don’t check music out on platforms like YouTube or on the excellent Bandcamp, but whenever possible, when I’m so motivated, I prefer to obtain the compact disc. Obviously, pursuing this particular option has become incrementally more difficult with each passing year, and let’s not even delve into my dogged insistence on still using iPod Classics. I tread a hard, stubborn road, in this capacity.

In any case, as detailed in that previous post, much as with years prior, I did indeed discover a clutch of brand new songs, albums and artists that I latched right onto. The list of my 2021 favorites, however, was fairly brief, give that, as I also pointed out, a lot of the music I’d warmed to this year was technically released before 2021. Of the bona fide “new releases” that I got excited about, however, my top three were Crawler, the fourth album by IDLES, Dark Matters, the 19th (and possibly final?) album by British Punk stalwarts, The Stranglers and, finally, Live - Friday March 15, 2020 by the Art Gray Noizz Quintet, the new-ish noise-rock “supergroup” helmed by former Lubricated Goat frontman, Art “Stu Spasm” Gray.

Indeed, all three of those releases are fucking excellent, and you should all go snap them up at once. I feel remiss in not also citing Virtual Control, the debut long-player by erstwhile Killing Joke drummer Big Paul Ferguson, which I wrote about more extensively here. I practically lived inside that record during most of the late spring and early summer, but those seasons already seem like a century ago here in the gloomy throes of 2021’s death rattle.

But just when I'd figured it was high time to blithely toss a funeral wreath on the concept of new music of 2021, I heard something new that just about blew me off the porch, so to speak.

Randomly discovered by the timelessly excellent This Isn’t Happiness, The Wind-Ups are a lo-fi blitzkrieg of old skool, stripped-down punk rock with a COVID-conscious mentality for our troubled new age. As I rapturously evangelized them on Facebook, they sound like Joey Ramone playing Modern Lovers covers backed by the Jesus & Mary Chain. They are fucking perfect.

Here’s a quick taste…

Fuckin’, RIGHT?

Anyway, as it turns out, The Wind-Ups are not so much a “they” as a “he.” The cooped-up, pandemic project of restless rocker Jake Sprecher, otherwise known in indie circles for his membership in outfits like The Shankers, 24 Satellites and several other names I’d never heard of. Sprecher also plays in Jonathan Richman’s band, so my Modern Lovers call was spot-on. The Wind-Ups, meanwhile, were birthed after Sprecher was gifted an 8 track mixer/recorder right as COVID was coming down. Shut inside indefinitely, Sprecher channeled his boredom and restlessness into Try Not To Think, a full (albeit breathlessly stealthy) album of non-stop guitar trauma that is equal parts exorcism, catharsis, primal scream and barbaric yawp. While indeed flecked with cheeky references to the pandemic (“Lockdown,” “Drinking Bleach”), the album’s eleven tracks buzz by in a manner that is shamelessly retro-leaning, but somehow not in a nostalgic dad-rock sorta way. I mean, while songs like “Much to Do” could easily be mistaken for outtakes from Rocket to Russia, there’s still a bracing, contemporary quality about them.

Anyway, if you’re curious, you can read a great interview with Jake Sprecher here, download the album from Bandcamp here and/or order it on vinyl here.

IT ROCKS! GO GET IT!

Merry Christmas!

While not exactly what anyone was hoping for, it’s Christmas Day, all of a sudden.

Despite all the overarching strife, confusion & concern, I’d like to wish everyone a merry and *SAFE* holiday.

Cheers.

Goodbye, 2021, You Cruel Bitch!

I normally do these annual surveys a little later in the year, but being that this is (once again) not the usual Christmas season, all bets are off. I’m doing my damndest to sustain any remaining semblance of holiday spirit, but suffice to say, events of the day, so to speak, are making it very hard to stay optimistic, let alone cheery. We are making the most of it and — god willing — getting through it unscathed, but we’re ultimately taking it day by day. Let’s get to it, then...

What did you do in 2021 that you'd never done before?

Well, I had a long-overdue colonoscopy. That sure was fun. And now, I get to have one every year. Oh joy.

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t have an excellent track record with keeping resolutions, but since the pandemic first landed, I’ve been battling the tenacious “fuck it, it’s the end of the world” impetus that allows for overeating and over-imbibing. I’m hoping to step up efforts, in that capacity, come the New Year, but I’m not making any resolutions about it.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, my sister-in-law had another little boy about four months back, and one of my sister’s daughters-in-law gave birth to a little girl.

Did anyone close to you die?

The mother of a dear friend of mine from high school passed away very recently. Beyond that, a few friends of my parents died. No one in my immediate circle, mercifully.

What countries did you visit?

For a hot second, we were thinking of traveling to Montreal, but events of the day forbade. Maybe next year?

What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?

An end to the pandemic.

What date from 2021 will remain etched upon your memory?

Well, gosh, January 6 was certainly pretty memorable. Fuck Trump.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Staying healthy, getting my kids vaccinated (although Oliver’s not eligible for a booster, yet) and staying productive and appreciated on the work front.

What was your biggest failure?

There are things I wish I hadn’t done or said, but that will always be the case. I am human.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

I have thus far managed to continue to dodge COVID-19, but that won’t be the case for long, if the news is to believed. Beyond that, however, I have been grappling with a host of unsavory travails that come with aging, ranging from the discouraging results of the afore-cited colonoscopy to graduating up to a proper pair of “progressive” lenses, which is a gentler way of saying “bifocals.” I’m also now on blood-pressure meds, occasionally experiencing “visual auras” (which are linked to migraine headaches, allegedly) and have a hammertoe problem that’s kind of a bitch. Sorry you asked?

What was the best thing you bought?

I honestly haven’t the foggiest idea.

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Beyond the medical community and essential workers, everyone who got vaccinated and boosted and continues to adhere to COVID protocols for the benefit of the collective.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Trump supporters, anti-vaxxers, science-skeptics, conspiracy theorists and SantaCon participants.

What did you get really, really excited about?

A few months back, things seemed genuinely like they were getting better. Life opened back up. Things were getting re-scheduled. Options were appearing. Live music was back. So much for all that.

Where did most of your money go?

We spent a lot on prospective college visits.

What song will always remind you of 2021?

As with 2020, I can’t say that I’ll want to be reminded of 2021.

Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?

At the moment, I am worried and depressed.

Thinner or fatter?

Can’t say that I’ve been keeping track, but probably fatter.

Richer or poorer?

About the same as before.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

Oh crap, who knows? I worked quite hard this year and got to spend a great amount of time with my wife and kids. I have no regrets, on that front.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Stressing out about COVID.

How did you spend Christmas?

It hasn’t happened yet, but we’re *PLANNING* on spending it here at home, then leaving Christmas Day to go visit my mother out in Quogue. After that, we *MAY* go visit my sister-in-law’s family in Pennsylvania, but this is all contingent on a number of fluid factors.

Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Colleagues from work.

Did you fall in love in 2021?

I have been married for 20 years and remain very much in love.

How many one night stands in this last year?

See above.

What was your favorite TV program?

I’m inclined to again cite “Succession” as the best thing we watched this year, although I’m invariably forgetting some of the other shows we watched.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Well, hmmmm.. I still vehemently hate everyone in the Trump Administration and those that continue to support the cause of Trumpism.

What was the best book you read?

“The History of Bones,” the memoir of John Lurie.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

I already devoted a post to my favorite albums of 2021, although I was remiss in not adding both Big Paul Ferguson’s debut LP and the debut album by The Wind-Ups.

What did you want and get?

Joe Biden sworn in as President, albeit not without a lot of friggin’ idiotic fallout.

What did you want and not get?

Donald J. Trump being arrested, tried, convicted and imprisoned.

What were your favorite films of this year?

I quite enjoyed both Apple TV’s Velvet Underground documentary and “Belfast.” I saw “Spencer” with Kristen Stewart, and that almost put me off movies for good. Yes, it was that bad.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 54 and had a few friends over to ring it in. Overall, very low-key.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Reports of Donald J. Trump being vigorously and repeatedly molested by his fellow inmates in federal prison.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2021?

Face masks are the new black

What kept you sane?

Who said anything about being sane?

What celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I think Dua Lipa is quite striking, but to say I “fancy” her would be inappropriate and repugnant.

What political issue stirred you the most?

If you had told me, during the scariest moments of 2020, that there was going to be pronounced pushback upon the arrival of vaccines, I would have scoffed, but Americans are stubborn, selfish and fucking stupid.

Who did you miss?

President Barack Obama

Who was the best new person you met?

Ummmmmm…. probably my new little nephew.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2021

Don’t put off a colonoscopy.

Song lyric that sums up 2021

History shows again and again How nature points out the folly of men - Blue Oyster Cult

Status Report

Image/concept courtesy of This Isn't Happiness.

Omicron & On

I can't speak for where you are, but here in New York City, events are falling off the calendar again. Lines are long and winding for COVID tests. We're hearing of breakthrough cases. It's starting to feel like March 2020 all over again.

I mentioned as much on Facebook, earlier this week, and a former colleague weighed in with the following….

It's December 2021. Vaccines and booster shots protect against severe illness. We have masks that work and can wear them everywhere. We'll never wipe down our groceries again or be afraid to bring in the mail. It pisses me off and it's unnerving but it's not March 2020.

My response was that while we do indeed have vaccines and boosters and masks and protocols, not everyone adheres to them, because they’re stupid, selfish and stubborn, allowing the virus to concentrate and spread. There is confusion and misinformation and division and fear. It’s just like March 2020.

In the last two days, I have heard of three separate friends/acquaintances of mine -- all otherwise responsibly vaccinated -- that have contracted COVID. In the wake of one of these instances, we thought it would be smart to get the kids tested, which we did yesterday at a nearby Urgent Care center. We got on the line at 11:30 am. We didn't make it to the front of the line and get tests until 5:00 pm. Everybody mercifully tested NEGATIVE, but the amount of uncertainty in the air is palpable.

Stay smart. Stay safe.

Catching Up with Stu Spasm/Art Gray

The great RB Korbet posted the video below on Facebook the other day, and it dates back a few months, but I figured it was well worth sharing here.

Regular readers here might remember a couple of posts I dedicated to the band Lubricated Goat here back in 2016 and 2019. In a nutshell, the band – led by the inimitable Stu Spasm – were Aussie ex-pats and NYC contemporaries of favorites of mine like Cop Shoot Cop and Foetus, even sharing members from personnel of both endeavors here and there over the years. As mentioned in this recent post, meanwhile, after a comparatively brief stint in a band called Crunt in the `90s with his then-wife Kat Bjelland of Babes in Toyland and, following that, another iteration of Lubricated Goat in the early 2000s, Stu – who now trades under the nom de guerre Art Gray -- has since channeled his musical impulses into an outfit called the Art Gray Noizz Quintet, featuring “Bloody” Rich Hutchins of Live Skull on drums and Ryan Skeltonboy of the band Woman on bass. They make a glorious racket, but seem to only release their music on vinyl and …er… cassette. Check out their site here, and their YouTube channel here.

Suffice to say, however, Art Gray’s musical oeuvre enjoys the adoration of an audience that can be best described as niche. Coupled with the crippling compromises put on touring musicians by the pandemic – let alone the artist-hostile, streaming-dominated music business of today – Art has sought out other ways to make ends meet. Boasting a distinctive aesthetic and keen eye, Stu/Art had always handled the design aspects for his musical projects and has since embraced studio art.

Check out what he’s up to these days…

Happy Thanksgiving & Pass the P.M.A.

Hey all. It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and life is busy, busy, busy. We’re doing college application stuff with my daughter, work is fairly demanding right now and I’ve got some medical issues I’m trying to nip in the bud, so to speak, before the looming Christmas holidays. I probably won’t have much else to post here prior to Thanksgiving, so I thought I share these two items and wish you a happy Turkey Day.

The first is the flyer above, which I believe dates back to this date in 1982. The mighty Bad Brains played at CBGB a ton of times in 1982 — some of its famously on video, but not this show, as far as I could glean. In November of 1982, I would have been a sophomore in high school — the same age my son is now. I was not, however, at this show. While I was certainly aware of Bad Brains, by this stage, I would not have been in a position to be venturing down to the Bowery during Thanksgiving week, although I know I couple of folks who were probably there.

The video below, meanwhile, is not from the show in question. This is some genuinely amazing footage from 1979 that looks to have only been uploaded as recently as this past October, and it’s really a striking document of the band’s earlier incarnation. The crowd is comparatively sedate -- more "pogo" than "pit," but you can see where Bad Brains were headed. 

Please enjoy and remember not to spar with your relatives about politics, this Thanksgiving. It’s simply not worth it. Stay safe, smart, healthy and keep that Positive Mental Attitude, as Bad Brains would say.

ADDENDUM: Right after I posted this entry, I emailed it over to my friend Glen E. Friedman, who'd recently discovered that ancient Minor Threat video. As if by fate, I ended up once again running into Glen the next day on University Place, and we did our usual chinwag wherein both of us start multiple narratives and rarely finish any of them. In any case, in the course of discussing this Bad Brains video, he mentioned that he'd recently put one of his own photos of Bad Brains up for sale in a limited run on high quality paper. If you're familiar with Glen's work at all, you know he very rarely does this sort of thing. In any event, if you're interested in buying one, details and ordering information can be found right here.