After a string of crappy days and weeks, last night my computer (that has very little music on it) decided to commit suicide. It refuses to turn on and the several things I've tried haven't worked a bit. I'm erasing the hard drive and re-installing its old operating system as I type this. Thankfully I'm only losing a few things that might have been important or irreplaceable, but yeah. Fuck.

This morning I woke up to repeat banging on my front door. What joy, who the fuck does that? Apparently the local police department looking for somebody. This process took a lot longer than it should have. By the time they were convinced I was not housing a criminal, I was awake and once again aware of my computer situation.

After dicking around with it based on internet recommendations, I came to the conclusion that it was time to find the install disc... which was in a box in my closet. This ended up involving me having to fix my closet door. It hasn't opened in a while thanks to a heavy, twisted around box preventing the door from sliding open. I hadn't even had breakfast yet and I was already pissed off. Anyway, I fixed the door and took out the box, as well as the fucking install disc.

All repair options either came up empty or didn't work. So, after spending nearly all of my morning and a portion of the afternoon on it, I finally decided to start the fuck over. Erase, reinstall.

While waiting, I went on facebook and discovered...

Kyuss Lives is coming here after all. November 21st at the Roseland.

Nope, doesn't make up for anything. But that's good to know.

It looks like California outside today.

I'm feeling...

Because I...

I'd like to...

and I wish for...

But since it's not going to happen, I guess I'll keep my...

And wait for...

I've known 1000mods for as long as I've had a music blog (almost four years) and they still sound great. This song is off their upcoming album, apparently to be released in September. I'm looking forward to it. In the meantime, this song sounds horribly familiar in regards to the higher guitar... is that Brant Bjork I'm hearing (not just in the tone of the song itself)? Another 1000mods song? My collection is not with me now to check. Regardless, yay for stoner rock.

I've listened to practically no music this last week! My headphones broke. Among other annoying things that happen.

Here are some random things, though, that may be of note.

First, NPR chose an odd time to have their first compilation dedicated to the 2010s Northwest rock/noise/metal scene run, being that it's virtually identical to The Obelisk's very recent podcast. Over-saturation boggles the mind of the newbie. Hopefully it's a good thing, though. These bands are deserving of a more comprehensive audience, all in all... and for the artists these compilations DON'T share, yay! New music!

I also learned of another podcast you may want to check out if you're interested in the music business or behind-the-scenes in whatever capacity. This week discussed bands and booking and plenty of other things with a quartet of Portland local folks who help to put on shows and sell music. It's a long listen, so I recommend having something to do to keep your ADD in check as you listen, but it'll be rewarding and inspiring nonetheless.

And, this looks interesting:

There are a bunch of documentaries and even a TV series coming up catering to my/"our" breed of music. Besides this, Blood Sweat and Vinyl, there's Slow Southern Steel, the Ministry documentary, a documentary about women in punk music called From The Back of the Room, and a tv series about the evolution of metal by Sam Dunn who did Metal: A Headbanger's Journey and Global Metal. There may be one or two I'm forgetting. Either way, this next year or so promises to be rewarding in terms of music documentaries. Hell, even Beavis & Butthead are coming back - sure, they probably won't be as musically focused as they were in the 90s, but who cares? 12 and 16 year olds just getting into music don't know the difference and might be inspired to check out their older stuff and therefore Monster Magnet.

And of course, that serves me.

Speaking of television when I was younger, I am boggle-eyed dumbfounded at the recent resurgence of reruns from shows like Clarissa Explains It All, Fraggle Rock, Doug, and Jem... or even remakes like My Little Pony. Yeah, these are mostly girls/kids shows for my own example, but it's so weird to see them on tv again. It's an awkward reminder of how old I am and how "far" I've come since the last time I saw them on tv. I don't know whether to soak them up or run screaming for the sake of my adulthood. How come nobody told me that Saturn returns were going to be like this?

When I was about eleven years old, a friend of mine started singing this song as a joke and somehow got me singing it, too. While I'd seen this show a thousand times, it hadn't sunk in til that moment. Now and since, at random intervals, the song that doesn't end snaps back into consciousness and demands retribution for the weeks or months it had, in fact, ended.

Fuck you, Charlie Horse.

This time last year I wrote a several-part blog post about Portland area bands and my progression through them. Today this year, I see that many of those bands have been added to a podcast by The Obelisk. It's hard not to endorse. If you're behind on Portland (or Eugene and Seattle) heavy rock and metal, you should check it out - whether or not you live anywhere near the Northwest. The tracklisting alone should lead you in good directions.

And while you're at it, go listen to the new YOB: NPR is streaming it.

Scott Reeder has joined Kyuss Lives. The first Reeder-involved gig was yesterday. This is amazing and I'm officially fucking jealous of every Kyuss Lives show that's happening everywhere but here.

I dare you to sit through this song and not emotionally react to it. Including facial expressions.

First reaction: what the fuck?

Second: this sounds like Grayceon meets Slipknot.

Third: or was I thinking Coal Chamber?

Hesher: Primarily a cry-about-existence drama but there are some comedic elements... and lots of old Metallica.