Young fire

last night I went to Antwerp again. the same guys who did Jeniferever almost 2 weeks ago, set up another show. first band was The black heart rebellion. they're a Belgian band, greatly influenced by instrumental bands like Red Sparowes and Mogwai, combined with the dark atmosphere of bands like Cult Of Luna and Isis and the screaming intensity of bands like Amanda Woodward. I never saw them before, I even never heard something from them. I was looking forward to see them, to say the least! they surprised me, in a good way. they managed to build there songs up very well. they played only 4 songs; 1 brand new, 1 from the split with Amen ra, 1 from the split with Adorno and 1 I don't know. I guess their own album. while I was waiting for Suis la lune to go on, I picked up Pianos become the teeth - Old pride on 12". eventually it was time for Suis la lune. I've known them for quite a while now. I don't listen to them very often but it sure was nice to them. they played a good set. headliner for the evening was Pianos become the teeth. I've only known them for a few months now, but I was really looking forward to seeing them. say what you will, I think they have very unique sound, or I missed a whole lot of bands that sound like them. anyhow, they were awesome. they played a lot of songs of Old pride, and even a brand new one, that will appear on the new record, which comes out somewhere at the end of the year.

not the best of pictures but here are my RSD purchases, from top to bottom:

The devil wears prada - Zombie EP 10" (clear vinyl - came with comic)

Regina Spektor - Four from far 7" (blue - RSD exclusive)

Lady Gaga - Telephone 7"(picture disc)

Lady Gaga - Born this way 12"(picture this - RSD exclusive (?) - #/5000)

Record store day

conceived in 2007, to celebrate the unique culture surrounding independent record stores in the US and hundreds of similar ones internationally. because nothing beats the feeling of holding the physical copy of an album in your own hands. preferably after you spend quite some time flipping through records. you flip, and you flip, until you discover that one record you've been dying to get. we've all been there. record store day is accompanied with exclusive releases. going from RSD exclusives to very rare records. it sure was good to out today, and see so many people in the record stores. usually there are about 3 people and that's it. maybe it's because I go when others are working, or it could be people are taking the easy way out and buy albums online (or download them). it's important to keep buying them as well. artists put so much effort in writing, recording, ... not to mention the money they all put in it. I'm guilty of downloading as well, but if I really love the record, I buy it. hell, if I could I would buy almost every record I have in my itunes. my point is: keep supporting record stores. go out once in a while, and buy a few records.

I hope everyone had an awesome RSD. I know I had! can't wait for next year.

Ring out the grief

yesterday I went to Antwerp, to finally see Jeniferever. they were here once before, but I couldn't make it back then. I managed to get at the venue right in time for Wild dogs in winter. I'd never heard of them before but they were pretty cool. I saw somebody describing them as "a mix of shoegaze, folk, postrock and ambient". as I far as I know something about those things, that's exactly what I would call them. once they were over I went over to check out the merch. I didn't plan on buying anything but I bought myself Jeniferevers Spring tides 12". they quickly set up their gear and after 15 minutes they finally started. what can I say? it was really intense. they really can get you in a trance, and then it's just you and the band playing. they mostly played songs of their new record, and a few of their first two. they ended with Hearths, the closing track of their new record. best ending there could possibly be.

Proud to be

I've been straight edge for over 3 years now and I don't think there's any other topic that's as much discussed as straight edge. it's getting ridiculous. later this evening I saw somebody complaining about a guy who put "straight edge 4 lyf" on his facebook. has it really come this far? that you can't let others know that you're proud about it? it's not like he's doing any harm with that. as long as he didn't attack non-straight people personally for smoking/drinking/whatsoever, there's nothing wrong with letting people know you're straight edge.

“if you’re straight edge, be proud of that. if you’re not straight edge, be proud of the person you are and the things you’ve accomplished.”

yes, I feel self doubt sometimes, it courses through my veins. second guessing my direction and questioning each step I take. and yes, yes I feel the pressure too but I have faith in myself, and I made a choice. and everything you said, was it meant to just change with the wind? you see the world through jaded eyes and thats not the way I want to live. proud to be, yeah I’m still proud to be. I made a choice and my choice is to stand. stand fucking hard. yes, as the years pass by I feel the loss. so many people slip away and it hurts, it hurts, but I still know what I’m about. And I’ll say it again, I’m proud to be, that’s right. and everything you said, was it meant to just change with the wind? I thought we shared the same ideals, but now I barely know who you are. proud to be, and you know it. proud to be. I still wear an X on my hand and you know that I’m still proud to be.