Life In A Bungalo

“To Protect and To Rock”
by Gregg Gethard

The day of the photocopied fanzine is long past, but don’t tell that to Gregg Gethard, the mastermind behind The Manitoban Liberation Front,” one of New Jersey’s finest cut and paste handouts.

Nearly a decade after the demise of MLF, Gethard returns with a zine chock full of expanded excerpts from his blog “My Amazing Personal Journey” focusing on his attempt to enter the world of Steve Perry fan fiction, and the striking criticism lashed out by the owner of the world’s largest Steve Perry fan fiction Web site www.perry-tales.com.

After a short introduction, Gethard reprints his initial three tales of Perrydom, featuring the former singer of Journey doing mundane yet oddly interesting things. He learns how to donate blood, publicly urinates, and encounters a fan in a bathroom–hilarious stories in bite-size format.

What’s even funnier is the reaction he got from Steve Perry fan fiction critics. Okay, maybe they weren’t SP critics, but they still care way too much about what people write in their blogs.

Gethard also tosses in a tale about the greatest high school degenerate he ever met, Louis Corporon, and a mammoth story about working as a tour guide in downtown Philly. To pick up a copy, drop Gregg a line at gregg_gethard@yahoo.com. Sure, most of his work is funny as hell and already available online at www.gregggethard.blogspot.com, but it’s a hell of a lot more digestible in print form. Worth it just for the cover.

Radio Birdman
“Zeno Beach”
Yep Roc Records

The return of Radio Birdman! And they’re playing New York City? All right! Oh wait, it’s after I leave the east coast… damn. Well, at least I have a new LP to keep me occupied.

“Zeno Beach,” Radio Birdman’s first album of new material in some 25 years, was released in their homeland of Australia this past June and here in the US last month. Nice packaging, 180-gram vinyl, it looks like indie Yep Roc Records is pulling out all the stops for these legends. The plastic wrapper isn’t even in the garbage before I’ve got side one cued up, and–I don’t know how to say it: I’m disappointed. Rob Younger’s voice has held up really well; the man has soul.

The new rhythm section is solid (the bottom end that’s missing from Radios Appear gives these songs a fuller sound) but the songs aren’t as fast and frantic as, say, “What Gives?” or “Do the Pop.” They’re more mid-tempo and moody. There are only two songs that really stand out: title track “Zeno Beach” could have fit nicely on their debut LP, and side one opener “We’ve Come So Far (to be Here Today).”

I try not to have high expectations for any record I buy (so I don’t sound like a clod if I wind up disappointed) but I guess I did this time. Obviously, any band together (off and on) for 30 years is going to mature and change, so maybe I shouldn’t have expected a rehash of “Radios Appear,” but…

Doesn’t Rock l Kinda Rocks l Rocks l Really Rocks

Luke vs. Monkey limited edition deck of 50 will go on sale this Friday September 22, 2006, 4:00 pm PST at www.monkeybusiness.com. This is Luke’s first production deck that the original was first seen at his opening at Gallery 1988 last year. No preorders or phone orders, online orders only. Decks will ship the following Monday.

Michael Michael Motorcycle’s Tool poster goes on sale this Thursday (9/21) morning at 11 a.m. (pacific) on his Web site. The prints should go fast. His Red Hot Chili Peppers/Mars Volta poster sold out instantly when it went on sale this morning.

Michael Michael Motorcycle’s Tool poster goes on sale this Thursday (9/21) morning at 11 a.m. (pacific) on his Web site. The prints should go fast. His Red Hot Chili Peppers/Mars Volta poster sold out instantly when it went on sale this morning.

Seemless
“What Have We Become”
Equal Vision

Jesse Leach has come a long way since leaving Killswitch Engage. “What Have We Become” is a rock and roll powerhouse. Progressing from their self-titled debut Seemless unleash a brutal assault of powerful guitars and intense lyrics.

Leach’s lyrics once again deal with hope and struggle. “In My Blood” is a slap to the face of every scenester that is bored of the metal hardcore schlock that is released every Tuesday. “What Have We Become” kicks your ass from start to finish. Tuned down, sludgy guitars provide HEAVY breakdowns and an intense groove-based rock. “Cast No Shadow” is another barnburner. Read more »

Action Reaction
“3 Is the Magic Number”
Hope Division/Equal Vision

Action Reaction is a husband/wife team from my neck of the woods in Northern New Jersey. Bella and Sal, formerly of Element 101, recruited Jason Gleason who was the former frontman of Further Seems Forever for this new project. Action Reaction is a traditional alternative rock band. There’s nothing pop punk or post hardcore whatsoever about this release. Taking a cue from the Smashing Pumpkins and Sunny Day Real Estate, Action Reaction have created a powerful rock record that sounds like it would have be right at home in 1994. Read more »

TEXAS IS THE REASON will reunite for one night, Nov. 25, at New York’s famed Irving Plaza. The band, whom abruptly broke up in early 1997 while on tour in Bielefeld, Germany, decided it would be the best way to offer closure on the whole experience — on both a personal level and for their fans. “Texas Is The Reason did everything in broad strokes,” explains guitarist Norman Brannon, “so breaking up when we did, quickly and silently, felt like an extension of that. The one thing we all agreed on, even back then, was that our last show should have been in New York City. We’ve had reunion offers in other states, but we turned them down. This show has been in the back of our minds for a long time.”

Presale tickets are available between September 22-29 online only via itishappeningagain.com or texasisthereason.org