Besides being awesome new (to me) enjoyable punk rock, I feel like it served as some sort of cosmic reminder, warning, or inspiration. Not only to me, but to everyone who happens to read this.
Not feeling a bunch of paragraphs today, so I will hit you with a bulleted list.
Don’t ever let anyone tell you “no.” Don’t let anyone else set your limits. You can do whatever you set your mind to, and tell them to shove it.
Don’t let anyone put you in a category. If you feel like you’re different because of your gender, race, orientation, religion, or a disability… own it, don’t let it own you.
A little railing against convention, society, or any set standard is good for everybody. Punk rock can be all about a healthy expression of primal aggression.
Learning about the lives of others who have things differently than you is incredibly enlightening.
Someone with special needs like Down Syndrome or Autism with different abilities ought not be an object of derision. They have thoughts, feelings, and aspirations just like you. They get pissed off just like you. They rock just like yo
Shattering expectations is the most badass thing you can do.
I’m sure there’s more, but you get my point. Notice little things like this in life. Be thankful for your insight. Be thankful that there are others out there reminding you to put forth your best effort. Learn something or learn about something often. Make some noise that gets heard.
At first I found this amusing, but the more I read, the more the author seemed like an arrogant prick. Sadly, I agree with a bunch of the points on bad band behavior and have had similar rants as the person trying to organize a show or simply having to put up with the antics of another band.
#21. It shouldn’t hurt to ask.
#22. I think you meant “you’re.”
#23. You’re too cool to have a conversation with someone who may just be bored that they’re there with their kid’s band and they’ve heard all the songs 8004 times?
#35. If you use the R-word, you’re an A-hole. If you use the R-word twice, you’re a double A-hole, and you must shit in stereo.
#36. “Load-In Time.” If it’s a local band and they have a 6:30 load-in time, chances are they’re not going to get there on time. Unfortunately a lot of local musicians have day jobs that have a quitting time of 5:00 or later. Getting to the gig by then may be impossible.
To reply to an overall arc of the list… In general I understand clubs need to have people come to shows or they don’t make money or can’t pay the bands. I understand that a band needs to promote its ass off via word of mouth, flyers, classified and event pages in local rags, social media, and any other way it can… but clubs can do some of that too. I can’t get my head around being a draw. I’ve been in a handful of bands over the years that are generally and sometimes wildly well-received when put in front of a crowd… but have found it difficult to predict a draw or to become a steady one. Sometimes I have brought a crowd, sometimes I couldn’t draw if I had a bucket full of crayons and a stack of paper. How does one gain a steady and loyal following, oh great bringers of so much musical knowledge?
I have played many shows with no pay. I have been paid more than what came in the door at shows. I have bought T-shirts and CD’s from bands who were on tour knowing that was probably the only way they’d eat before they get to the next stop.
Things you missed:
Setup/Breakdown – Set your drums up before you get on stage. Take them off, then break them down. Don’t take longer to set up your amp and pedal board than it takes to play your terrible set.
Tune silently.
Watch the other bands, asshat. Also, don’t play first then take your crowd with you. Hang out, buy drinks, catch another act. Don’t hang out in the parking lot while the other bands are playing then swoop in like a rock star when it’s time for you to play.
Don’t complain about the monitor mix after every song, or blame equipment for your epic lack of awesome.
Also:
I should have blogged this, but didn’t think I’d rant that long. Ha ha.
You all know I’m a Batman fan. You might not know that I’m not really a Superman fan. In this instance, I am indeed a Superman fan. I’m not sure if this is real, in fact the only part that makes me doubt it is the fact that it says it’s a true story. I’m generally not so sappy or philosophical here, but this just hit me for some reason, & I thought I’d share.
I’m not sure why it was on Lamebook, & not sure if it’s even real. Even if it’s not real, we can all get a little inspiration from it (I hope). Please pardon my blogging equivalent of email forwards. I hope this isn’t like the Fred Rogers was a Navy Seal rumor.
I get a few things from it that I’ll share afterwards:
Superman (lamebook.com)
Superman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So, this is what I got from it:
Someone’s always watching you. You’re setting an example for people around you even if you don’t know it.
You can get an inspirational or emotional lift from someone when you least expect it. It can be form someone you wouldn’t expect, or even some one you’ve never met.
Don’t be afraid of those who are different than you.
While it’s great to be humble, it’s OK to be someone’s hero every once in a while.
You read my post about naughty words & the “R-Word”, right? Well, to help you stop using the r-word(since I know my post convinced you to take the pledge), I’d like to try to put together a list of alternate words. I’m really gonna need your help in the comments. Let’s get ridiculous. I want so many alternatives that are more fun to use that we won’t even remember the word we’re trying to replace. If you’re easily offended by potty-mouths & naughty-bits, you might want to skip this one… or even better suggest some of your own substitutions. You can go funny, you can go high-brow, you can go low-brow. Just give me what you’ve got.
Anus (I say this way too much. It makes you cringe more than any other word for it… especially if you preface it with “puckered”.)
Scoundrel (This one makes you sound badass & elegant.)
Fishmonger (Didn’t you pay attention to Shakespeare?)
Ass-monkey (Ass-clown, Ass-hat, Ass-face, this could go on forever until you get to Ass-ass then it’s like meeting yourself in the Back to the Future movies.)
Dingleberry
Bunghole, Dillhole, Fart-Knocker, or anything else you learned from Beavis and Butt-head.
Butthead.
Peckerwood
[Expletive]-nugget. (Any of your favorite swear words will work there. Try a few!)
Borrow from our friends across the pond: Tosser, Wanker, Fart in a Jar, Twit, Todger, Tosspot, Arsehole, Toe Rag, Gobshite, etc.
Lowlife
Miscreant
Maggot
Dastard
Vagabond
Wretch
Good-for-nothing
Ne’er-do-well
Bad egg
Nitwit
Fool
Jackass
Bonehead
Penis-wrinkle (Again, using the “actual” word for a body part is sometimes more shocking than anything else.)
There are times when I have the vocabulary of a proverbial sailor or trucker. I don’t talk like this all the time. I try to use “colorful” language for emphasis. I understand that there is a time & a place for such things.
Sometimes it comes out more when on stage with the band, due to the nature of our music & lyrics. I generally don’t write offensive words here in my blog or on social media like Facebook & Twitter. Being involved in Church & camp, there are words I don’t use that could be considered offensive to religion. I usually don’t swear in front of my mother or ever in front of my grandmother. Sometimes I use words that are incredibly foul in one long string just because some single words aren’t foul enough to express my frustration, and I even try to make up new ones. (This is usually behind the wheel of car, just ask my wife.)
We all probably have our own rules about what others might consider foul language. I can turn it “off” without a problem according to the company I’m with.
My point?
It’s easy to turn it off.
Most swear words refer to a bodily function or body part that we somehow collectively decided to find offensive. I say that when you need to express anger or want to make people giggle, use those words until your heart’s content. Everyone understands what you mean when you use those words.
On the other hand, there are some words that we should try to never say, like “the N-word” and any other racial slurs(except “cracker” — that will always be funny), like words that are offensive to homosexuals (the other “F-word” & calling things “gay” in a derogatory way), and the focus of this blog: “The R-Word“
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not perfect. I have used all of these words offensively… but I have cleaned up my language as far as those last few go. I’m not someone who tries to be politically correct or anything, I just know what I feel is right or wrong. It’s definitely wrong to use the word “retarded” to describe something, or to call someone a “retard”. It’s killing me just to type those words.
For the last several years at our summer camp, I have been working with Jr./Sr. high age kids, and my wife and mother have been working with special needs adults. We’ve all become directors of our respective camps that happen at the same time at the same facility. The camps get together for several activities like crafts, skits, or singing at meal times & around the campfire.
We have met so many wonderful people that might get ignored or avoided by society because people are scared of what they don’t understand or scared of someone that’s so different. Some people are just scared that they might react in a bad way.
These are some of my friends. (Living Waters - Jr./Sr. High Camp & Recreation Camp - July 2010)
It has brought me to tears to see the joy that all of our campers have when the groups are interacting. I don’t tear up easily, but seeing those kids spark when they help or learn from the special needs campers… or seeing the special needs campers’ joy in the simple fact that a group of kids wants so spend time with & sing with them… it makes a guy that tries to be a hard-ass punk rocker into a big blubbering mess.
My friend Tom has Down Syndrome. Tom taught me sign language for “chicken” when he was calling me one at a wave pool on a field trip. He knew I didn’t know sign language. He knew his fellow camper friends did. After I told him that the water was too cold, he started making the sign at me and laughing. Some more of his friends did too. Finally I got someone to confess the meaning and I of course had to go into the cold water streaming down from one of those goofy mushrooms. We all laughed, and Tom patted my back to let me know that he was just joking around. Tom is not stupid. People like Tom aren’t stupid. Don’t use the R-word when you mean stupid or dumb.
You can come at me with all 7 dirty words or any other ones you can think of and I won’t blink an eye or be offended.
When you use the R-word, it’s offensive to Tom, people like Tom, Tom’s family and friends, and me. If I hear you say it, I might correct you or shoot you a dirty look. This is your warning.
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