Thursday, April 14, 2011

YUCK IN OC WEEKLY




This interview with British band Yuck was tricky because I'd never had to call London before. It was also the first time I set up my recorder at my new digs and I forgot how to do that.

But I'm a pro and everything worked out well.

Don't believe me? Fire away right here.

REST IN PEACE PUBLISHED AT HAGGARD AND HALLOO

Haggard & Halloo, why do you treat me so well?

POEM PUBLISHED IN MODERN DRUNKARD MAGAZINE

I got this new phone that lets me check email. It's pretty cool, except when it buzzes in the middle of the night. Like a jackass, I always look at it although nine times out of 10 it's just Target telling me patio furniture is on sale.

So I had a bad day (week? month? year?) and the phone buzzed. With eyes half opened, I looked to find an email saying my poem would be in the next issue of Modern Drunkard Magazine. This woke me up real fast for two reasons: No. 1 -- I was having a poem published. and No. 2 -- I knew I hadn't submitted anything for a loooooooong time.

When I woke up officially (around noon), I searched my Gmail archives (God, what a great feature) and discovered that I submitted this poem in January. Of 2008.

Scroll to the middle of the page (by clicking here) and you'll find "Sure, One More."

THREE DESCENDENTS STORIES IN OC WEEKLY




Ok, so the Descendents are my favorite band ever and there was no way anyone else was going to write these things for the OC Weekly. Like, no way.

The only bummer was having to drive to the Long Beach Arena. It took me 20 minutes to get from the bridge to the arena. For those who don't know, with normal traffic, that would take two minutes. As I sat stuck in my car, I was reminded of how I used to take the bus to the Arena, then walk home. But those days are behind me. Hopefully not for long, though.

PS I'd post the picture of me at age 16 with Milo, but I can't find it. My best guess is it's in a pile of stuff in my old garage, which means I'll never get it back. Needless to say, it's a pretty awesome picture.

Click here for the Descendents family tree.

Click here for the interview with Milo.

And click here Ryfor the review of the show.

PS Photo credit to Chad Sengstock.

TOP 5 V DAY BREAK UP ALBUMS IN OC WEEKLY

The day I submitted my Top 5 Break Up Albums for Valentine's Day story for the OC Weekly, interim music editor Danielle Bacher called me to apologize. I wasn't sure why. It went something like this.

Me: "Hey." (That's how I answer the phone.)
Her: "Ryan, I am soooooooooooo sorry."
Me: "Why?" (In keeping with the one-word answer motif.)
Her: "I just realized that I assigned you a story on break-up songs right after you broke up with your girlfriend."
Me: "It's cool." (There goes the streak.)
Her: "Seriously, I should have known better. I should have thought about that. I shouldn't have asked you."
Me: "It's cool."
Her: "You sure?"
Me: "Yep."


In all honesty, this was a pretty fun one to write, all things considered. I don't do these list type things very often and when I do, I never feel like they come out as I intend them to. This one, I think, hits the mark and then some. So I guess I owe Ms. Bacher a thank you for that.
Point your mouse in this direction to find out what they are.

DAVE WAKELING IN OC WEEKLY




Full disclosure: I didn't know much about Dave Wakeling or his band the English Beat before I interviewed him. Such is the nature of this business. Of course I knew "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Save it for Later" but beyond that, not really.

Anyway, in more full disclosure, I can honestly say Wakeling was a super nice guy. Like the kind you talk to for five minutes and want to get a beer with. Maybe that's a British thing, I don't know. Whatever it is, I'm now a fan.

Find out why here.

MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO IN OC WEEKLY




Funny story about this one.

My ex and I broke up a few days prior to this, but I was still sleeping on the couch. Needless to say, it was awkward. I needed to get out and there's no better place to be when your mind is warped than a Meat Beat Manifesto show. Problem was, I had no cash and no ticket.

I tried a contact of mine, but that didn't come through. Then, as luck would have it, I talked to a publicist who I'd never worked with before. It was for a totally different story. After we set up the interview, he told me some of the bands he worked with. Once he mentioned MBM, I got excited and told him how I wanted to go see them that night, but didn't have a ticket.

Three hours later, I'm in the doors. Sometimes it pays (not cash) to be a journalist.

Click here to read a review that has nothing to do with what I just said.

PARKER MACY IN OC WEEKLY




I never heard of this dude Parker Macy before I interviewed him, but once I did, I deemed him a pretty cool dude. He opened a record store in Costa Mesa, which in 2011 sounds like a death wish to me. If anyone can pull it off, it's this guy.

When he's not slangin' records, he's playing the blues. And not the lame kind either. The good stuff.

Here's more info on the store.

DRAG THE RIVER IN OC WEEKLY




Note to self: When you're going through the break-up of an 11-year relationship, listening to and interviewing members of Drag the River ain't the best medicine.

I learned the hard way.

MEN AT FINGERPRINTS IN OC WEEKLY




I gotta admit: Life was kinda hectic when this one went down. As I re-read this review of Men doing an in-store at the new Fingerprints in Long Beach, I can tell. Even though I think it came out ok, I still apologize.

Click here to see what kind of bummer mood I was in.

SKA PARADE 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN OC WEEKLY




Ska Parade head honcho Tazy Phyllipz has always done me right. You see, I used to play in a band (that won't be named). No one liked us. Seriously. No one. Except Tazy. He let us play his radio show and used to talk us up to lots of people. I still can't figure out why, but he did and for that I am forever grateful.

I hadn't spoken to Mr. Phyllipz in nearly a decade, so when the opportunity arose to interview him regarding the 20th anniversary of his radio program The Ska Parade, I skanked at the chance.

Check it out here.

HEAVY METAL THUNDER IN OC WEEKLY




Katon De Pena is not only a Long Beach icon, he's also a metal icon. And a really good dude. About once every five years, he throws this bash at the Pike called "Heavy Metal Thunder." Basically, dude plays classic metal and even has cool events like drinking contests. Naturally, I had to write about it.

Click here to see what you missed.