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Cash Rules Everything

Submitted by jgervasi on

Currently Reading: 
Electric Eden - Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music by Rob Young
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower #7) by Stephen King
Today's Playlist: 
Dulcimer Music by Plinth
Paink - French Punk Anthems 1977-1982 by v/a
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980 by Dickon Hinchliffe
s/t by Taskerlands
s/t by The A. Lords

Last night I presented the live version of L!F!P! for the final time. It went over very well. The added bonus of not only Ruin live footage from their Labor Day 2013 reunion show, but also the presence of three members of the band along with Dennis McHugh, guest "White Rabbit" guitarist Frank "Blank" Moriarity, and director Andrew Geller only made it that much more of a night to remember.

I have a few more L!F!P! t-shirts and Karen Kirchhoff has a good number of L!F!P! books. I have at least one shirt in every size from small - XL. You'd need to get the books directly from Karen, but if you write to me I'll put you in touch with her. For the shirts, drop me a line if you want one and we'll work it out. I can ship all over the world and since I'm engaged in shipping every day with my Diabolik DVD business, I can assure you that it will ship fast.

More Sean Is Never Enough!

Submitted by jgervasi on

Sean Gustilo portrait by Karen Kirchhoff
Sean Gustilo portrait by Karen Kirchhoff
Sean Gustilo and Joseph portrait by Karen Kirchhoff
Currently Reading: 
Electric Eden - Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music by Rob Young
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower #7) by Stephen King
Today's Playlist: 
Avifauna by Fauna

Here are three bonus shots of Sean Gustilo by Karen Kirchhoff from the session featured in the just-posted interview.

These were shot outside St. Francis Fountain in the Mission District of San Francisco, CA, on November 16, 2013.

Sean and I were born on the same day, one year apart!

More Sprouse

Submitted by jgervasi on

Marin Sprouse portrait by Karen Kirchhoff
Marin Sprouse portrait by Karen Kirchhoff
The Martin Sprouse "chick magnet" button
Currently Reading: 
Electric Eden - Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music by Rob Young
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower #7) by Stephen King
Today's Playlist: 
Close To the Edge (5.1 blu-ray edition) by Yes
I Am the Center - Private Issue New Age Music In America 1950-1990 by v/a
Original Album Series boxset by Otis Redding
Paink - French Punk Anthems 1977-1982 by v/a
Palepoli by Osanna
Why There Grieve? by Zyanose

I just put up the Martin Sprouse interview. 

Here are two additional portraits by Karen Kirchhoff, one featuring Grady and one of the two of us together.

Cheers to Martin for talking to us and being such a swell fellow!

"Chick magnet" addendum (November 21, 2013): I had hoped to post a photograph of my own Martin Sprouse chick magent button I was sent by a Bay Area friend many years ago, but I think it's back at my parents' house in a drawer. I need to dig it up next time I visit them. For now, I have a quote from Jennifer Cobb, the woman who pulled the prank on Martin. This comes from a correspondence between Sprouse and Cobb that he showed me and granted me persmission to reprint. 

Jennifer Cobb: "I can't remember what you did but I do remember you announced that there was no way I could possibly out do you. So then I had to. I made the screen at school (I believe Mike Kirsch and Bill Schneider were in class with me at the time) and printed them in my garage. Cammie's cousin Dorna helped me hand them out at Gilman. I remember Ian [MacKaye] refused to take a shirt as he was worried it would upset you but Guy took one, Walter, etc. I couldn't hand them out fast enough. I did the buttons at school too and it was more or less all free. Can't believe any of it still exists though."

"Chick magnet" addendum #2 (November 29, 2013): Whilst visiting my parents in NJ yesterday for Thanksgiving, I found the Martin Sprouse "chick magnet" button now pictured on this blog entry.

Rob Fitzpatrick: The Unused Photos

Submitted by jgervasi on

Portrait of Rob Fitzpatrick by Karen Kirchhoff
Portrait of Rob Fitzpatrick by Karen Kirchhoff
Portrait of Rob Fitzpatrick by Karen Kirchhoff

Here are three photos of Rob Fitzpatrick of the bands Witch Hunt and Sickoids that I didn't use with his interview that just went up today. His is the first of three interviews I conducted while in the San Francisco Bay Area for a few days.

The photos are by Karen Kirchhoff.

Newsworks Article and the SF Show

Submitted by jgervasi on

Joseph blabbing at the L!F!P! live show on SF, CA on 11/16/20013
Jesse Townley/Luscious at the SF, CA show of 11/16/2013
Currently Reading: 
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower #7) by Stephen King
Today's Playlist: 
Close To the Edge (5.1 blu-ray edition) by Yes
Palepoli by Osanna
s/t by Mythos

Peter Crimmins of Newsworks.org (part of WHYY 91 FM) did a piece for radio and interview about the L!F!P! project. The piece features bits of the interviews with both Rodney Anonymous (Linderman) and Jessie Bird as well as words from me. It aired a few times on the radio today and now appears in text form on the WHYY/Newsworks.org website. It's right here. You can hear the original radio broadcast in this entry in the Press section.

I'd like to extend my thanks to all the folks who put on the San Francisco L!F!P! live show on November 16, 2013 at the Emerald Tablet. It was great fun and I think it went over really well. My love to all those who came out for the show (especially the Philly ex-pats), Lapo of the Emerald Tablet, and #1 guy Jesse Luscious/Townley.

I hope to see many of you this Friday for the last-ever live event in Philly. Some tickets remain and they can be had right here. I'll have what may be the last of the t-shirts for sale at the show and Karen will be selling the book version of L!F!P! (which looks AMAZING!).

Emerald Tablet show photos by Karen Kirchhoff.

Veterans Day

Submitted by jgervasi on

This holiday is a fine occasion to point out, as I've pointed out before, that the lightning bolts in the L!F!P! logo are emerging from the Liberty Bell, not into it. From a symbol of democracy bursts forth great emanations of power. These bolts are comprised of many components. Free speech, untethered intellectual discourse, racial/economic/gender equality, and social/political engagement are just a few of those many components.

Those who put their ass on the line to protect this country are deserving of high praise. Take to task politicians if you've issues with the wars they send our young men and women to fight. Many of these politicians have never heard a shot fired in anger. They may not have "skin in the game," meaning their own children, likely the products of wealth, may not be in service and under threat of death and disfigurement. All vets deserve respect and a place of honor in our society. Reserve a special place in your heart for those who fought in the "upopular" post-WWII wars. They don't often get Hollywood stars and the like singing their praises as "The Greatest Generation."

There are many battlefields in the war for a better and more inclusive democracy. Sometimes they're half a world away. Other times they're as close as Selma, Alabama or Philadelphia, Mississippi. Today is the day for those who fought overseas, and to them I extend, as I do every day, my gratitude for their service.

It's Ryann Casey!

Submitted by jgervasi on

Ryann Casey portrait by Karen Kirchhoff
Currently Reading: 
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower #7) by Stephen King
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Today's Playlist: 
Bells, Boots & Shambles by Spirogyra
Clever Clever by The Love Triangle
Fragments of Light by Sensations Fix
Satan Is Real Again... by Joint D≠
Why There Grieve? by Zyanose

After a little over a month, there's a new interview up in the audio interviews section of the site. It's with Ryann Casey, who was an absolute delight to talk to.

Here's a bonus photo by Karen Kirchhoff of Ryann.

Things are happening! The San Francisco show at the Emerald Tablet is coming up on Saturday, November 16. The last-ever live event will follow this in Philadelphia on Friday, November 22 at PhilaMOCA. See the events sectiont score advance tickets.

I'll be selling the last of the L!F!P! t-shirts at the two live events. These likely won't be re-printed. If you want one and won't be at one of those shows (or want to be certain to score your size), drop me a line.

Finally, Karen's 'zine version of L!F!P! will premier at the SF show. I've been doing some copyediting work on it and I've seen the final design. It looks stunning! You are absolutely going to want one of these.

Geekadelphia Interview

Submitted by jgervasi on

Currently Reading: 
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower #7) by Stephen King
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
Today's Playlist: 
1971-72 by T2
Pour Pauwels by Guy Skornik
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980 by Dickon Hinchliffe
s/t by Haxan Cloak
s/t by Relatively Clean Rivers

The Geekadelphia site just posted a new interview about the LOUD! FAST! PHILLY! project's past, present, and future.

The article features some shots of past interview subjects Chuck Treece, Bryan Lathrop, and Chuck Meehan by Karen Kirchhoff that don't appear here on the site.

Give it a read here.

 

In Honor of Halloween I Bring You ...

Submitted by jgervasi on

Misfits cover band circa 2006
Currently Reading: 
Song of Susannah (Dark Tower #6) by Stephen King
Today's Playlist: 
All Is Lost OST by Alexander
Daughter of Darkness boxset by Natural Snow Buildings
Piccadilly Sunshine Parts Fourteen and Fifteen by v/a
We're Here Because We're Here by Anathema

 ... a Misfits cover band doing "Skulls" live at Firehouse Bicycles in West Philadelphia in 2006.

The band featured (L-R in the photo): Josh, Bull (my brother), Derik Moore, and Matt Grosse.

I contributed guest vocals on this song only.

It also featured what could be the worst PA for vocals.

http://vimeo.com/992162

Tapewrecks Updated

Submitted by jgervasi on

Joe Genaro and Joseph A. Gervasi photo by Karen Kirchhoff
Currently Reading: 
The Sea Watch (Shadows of the Apt #6) by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Today's Playlist: 
Fetch by Melt-Banana

In late August, 2013 Tom Quinn of the Tapewrecks blog wrote an extensive piece on the "fictitious years" of The Dead Milkmen. He used some quotes from my interview with Joe Genaro. It was neat for me to see some of the interview transcribed into print and used as research material. The article has now been updated with quotes from my interview with Rodney Liderman (aka Rodney Anonymous). You can read it right here.

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