Dear Friends,
I guess I am a little excited about our upcoming excursion to the south. I kinda wish we were leaving today, but I’ll manage. I enjoy the beach towns and look forward to seeing them again. There is also a brewery in Kittery (pronounced “Kitt-ree”) that has four different NA beers on tap. I have to check this out.
As for today, though, who knows? I’m hoping for a hike. It’s been so damn humid, though, that the idea of being out in it exercising is daunting coming off this sinus infection. I felt a lot better yesterday, though, and I was somewhat active despite the muggy weather.
*****
Yesterday I was also reminded that being a dad is not a job that you can ever take for granted or feel like you have it all down. It’s more of a rolling learning experience that you have to embrace. I learned a few things yesterday about myself and my relationship to my children that gave me hope for the future.
One of the kids shared something with me that was pretty profound. I wasn’t surprised about it because I knew it was coming, but it was great to see this particular child handle their business in a way was mature and strong. I played a part there, but can’t take credit for it, obviously, and also want to celebrate their decision internally so that nothing is jinxed.
Parenthood is learning to exist in the spotlight and backstage at the same time.
*****
There was something else I wanted to share, too, but for the life of me, I can’t think of what it is.
*****
As a fan of LSD, it was not hard for me to shell out the dough for RKL’s Greatest Hits record in 1989. The cover is all sheets of acid. I guess it makes sense for a bad called Rich Kids on LSD.
I had seen them in Chandler at Prisms in 1986 and holy hell, what a great show. We endured a ride out there in a car that was so packed that people were sitting on the laps of people who were sitting on laps.
Punk rock shows like RKL in 1986, though, were worth a little discomfort.
I used to have this on both CD and vinyl, but like my Eyehategod CD, someone decided that I didn’t need this one anymore. I’m pretty sure I know who it was, and my CD probably lives in Portland now, but it is okay. I hope it brings you joy (person not named Steve. Steve probably had his own. It was another person all together).
I hope that made sense. I am, in no way, blaming my friend and constant reader, for the disappearance of my RKL Greatest Hits CD sometime in the early 2000s. It could not possibly have been my friend, Steve. Different letter in the alphabet completely.
Okay, I’m done being an idiot.
But maybe not because one of the things that RKL celebrated as well as anyone was getting fucked up and acting in an idiotic way. The show they recorded was in Germany and it was bad ass. I saw them a couple of times back in those days and they absolutely ripped. Just recently, they played in Las Vegas for Punk Rock Bowling and I heard it was excellent.
RKL was fast and furious back in the day. One of the things that is amazing about this record is how ferociously they sped through their songs and played them seemingly perfectly. The guitar leads and bass runs throughout the record are bad ass.
They were on top of their game at this point. I don’t know how long they had been in Europe, but they were definitely firing on all cylinders and the energy stays up throughout the recording. “Lies” and “Hangover” start things off with a goddamn bang.
If you aren’t already interested, though, I have to insist that you put the record on right now. My stupid words don’t really do this thing justice.
A couple of standouts for me back then were “Pothead,” of course, and “Drink Positive.” The latter, of course, was originally known as “Think Positive.” It’s a ripper, like most of their songs, and is one of the greatest all-time Nardcore songs.
“Pothead” shines on this record, too. This would also be extended to “Feelings of Hate.” The opening bass line is pretty fine indeed. I’m a fan of the way they mixed this one, too. It really shows how tight the band was at the time.
“Sargasm” is another favorite…but goddamn, I can’t do this right now. I’m going to listen to this record and just enjoy the hell out of it. Punk rock saved my life, and this record saved me back in the early 90s. I listened to it a LOT. You should, too.
*****
See you tomorrow.
Sargasm by AI
Just have the vinyl. Never had the CD. And I think I know the Steve you're talking about.