Issue V Update, A Live Show Review and A True Story About Sexual Identity

Huh, it has certainly been a little while, hasn't it? Obviously I didn't quite make good on the self-imposed deadline for issue V, but that is par for the course. The issue also underwent a lot of changes in format (like pulling the plug on any outside contributions, it's just too much of a pain in the ass to keep track of that stuff). It is still in the works though and close to completion. Probably available in October for the very few that care. Just wanted anyone who stumbles across this thing to know we're still kickin'.

I also flaked on those live reviews too. Not sure why I ever bothered mentioning them, as I don't even have time for the shit I've already committed to. And I hardly get out as it is. I did see Richard Youngs on his U.S. tour a few nights ago though, so let me tell 'ya about it: Dick was phenomenal, legitimately weird and kinda terrible at the same time. Largely acapella, which is to be expected, but somehow it really caught me off guard all the same. At one point he urged the audience to vocalize the bass line from "Life on a Beam" since he didn't have a bass guitar, and stamp their feat during the chorus to recreate the drum part. Now that sounds stupid, and it was, but it was also sorta perfect. Too bad he didn't try out any of the songs from that D-Beat record he just put out! The opening band was some clown college pseudo-improv "flutter music" that sounded very, uh..."heartfelt."And utterly predictable. I skipped the second band for fear of more of the same. How's that for a review?!

After the show me and my bud Dirty D hit up a few local watering holes, as you couldn't anything into the weird chapel the show was at. We were discussing Youngs's performance at our final spot and a, presumably closeted homosexual, male sitting next to us at the bar kept leaning into the conversation and nodding and looking really creepy with his beady eyes (not creepy 'cos he was (I assume) gay, more creepy 'cos like man, leave me the fuck alone I'm just talking to my bud about something of which you have no useful input). At one point this gentlemen inserts himself into our conversation with something along the lines of "I'm not gay, but I just wanted to say you guys are really attractive and seem smart" (can't argue with him there). 

"Heh, thanks, man."

He proceeds to talk about how he's a musician and has a blog reviewing all of the records on "Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" or whatever (can't make this shit up). At one point he asks if he's creeping us out, to which we both affirm. He doesn't lay off and we leave 'cos it was really annoying and getting late anyway. He asks for D's phone number, furthering our suspicions that this man took a fancy to his wiry, twink-like frame and soft, feminine features. An easy transition for someone not comfortable in his own shoes, I'd hazard. During the walk home we questioned how anyone could make music, or any kind of art in general, if they weren't honest with themselves, such as this possibly gay man exemplified. It strongly recalled the opening lines of Youngs's set that night. He opened with "Spin Me Endless in the Universe" off his new, vaguely country-themed LP Summer Through my Mind. You make the call, friend, and never be afraid of being yourself. It's all you've got to hold onto in this hell hole of a world.