On a sentimental noose

Ok this post really hit me sideways. I was reading a great Ottawa blog OTTAWA EXPLOSION
and their most recent post introduced me to something mindblowingly awesome. BACK PORCH VIDEOS a cable access show from Michigan that ran during the 80s. They were live for 3 hours every week and played music videos, showcased live bands and played records. On top of that the entire staff was comprised of HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. Just seeing them go really makes me think of what I want Youth Anthems to be and evoke. Just a love of music and having fun all while being motivated by and maintaining the fire and vigor of youth. I have spoken to some friends about taking Youth Anthems to public access television and seeing this really amazes me. That being said they had a million dollar studio being backed by a famous DJ and they were around when video was just blowing up. Still though, one can dream. I think the concept of having a bunch of kids hang out and talk about stuff in an interactive setting and integrating listening to music and music videos could work. You know talking celebrity gossip, politics, cheesy issues like aids and sweet arguments about sports. MTV Canada's aftershow has the hanging out aspect now just merge that with the old school and I believe it would attract kids back to the television set. Have a live online chat at the same time and you're set. dreamjob!

Ok. I will play some videos from BACK PORCH TV that were made when they didn't have a video for the song. Starting with anti-racist Welsh skinhead band THE OPPRESSED with SKINHEAD GIRL. The hosts just seem to be having so much fun. I am thinking about shaving my head bald just to see how warped by skull really is and to truly appreciate the hugeness of my dome. I would have to wear suspenders just to not look like I have cancer.



Next up is THE MISFITS with ASTRO ZOMBIES you should already know what it is. One of their only non static age good songs. You can really feel the punk kid nostalgia oozing out of this clip. It makes me so sad/happy...



Finally we have a video that is CRUSHINGLY nostalgic for me. Because the song already makes me long for another time A NEW ENGLAND by BILLY BRAGG. That and the kids just seem so beautiful and lucky at this crossroads of their lives. Kinda like when you see the future C.E.O., the future convict, the future sad old lonely man in a an old highschool year book just going crazy and having fun together during a lunch time activity or chilling outside in the parking lot. A perfect moment frozen and preserved forever in photography after which the crashing waves of time will destroy those innocent hearts... sigh. Wow, I can't believe I wrote that. Fuck I'm a loser, haha. Enjoy the amazing song bitches!

i: there's fuckin beauty in life zach, never forget that. z: word, god.

This post is influenced by some douchebag on a message board bashing my birthplace. The city (or former city) of Vanier a working class/poor and predominately French neighborhood. People bash it a lot and it pisses me off. These asshole kids are far removed from the areas they bash and forget or don't care that people live there, people with stories! My point is that a very significant portion of the world's best art comes from areas like Vanier. Shit, another place that gets a similar bad a rap is the state of NEW JERSEY. We've all heard the jokes. One thing though is that the state of New Jersey alone probably produced more awesome/important music than all of English Canada. Woops.

Now let's start with the most obvious of Jersey's glorious sons. Everybody loves him too no question about it. The beautiful stories he conveys could have very well taken place in Vanier. This is the type of inspiration you just can't get in the Glebe yo! Giving you one of his most popular songs which is ironically about yearning to leave Asbury Park.

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Uploaded by jpdc11

Next up we have another one of the most critically acclaimed and universally loved artists of recent times in Lauryn Hill. Although I'm going to put up a Fugees song cause I feel like it. Praz and Wyclef were Haitian immigrants (HAÏTI!) and hooked up with jersey native Hill to create one of the most important hip hop groups of the 90's. One thing I love about this era was that every hip hop video had the artists in a secret agent mission type scenario. Vanier 2 - Westboro 0.



Finally we have what can be considered as my favorite band of all time, Lifetime. A seminal melodic hardcore band who's influence can be heard across a lot today's mainstream music. Not really working class and more crappy suburb influenced but 10000% jersey. This song is called Theme Song for a New Brunswick Basement Show. Much like Springsteen, Lifetime makes an ordinary event happening to ordinary people into an epic story. In this case just sitting down next to a girl at a shitty punk show. I saw them live at a reunion show in 2005 and I wish I had a clip from that show but this is pretty close they are playing the Stone Pony (a legendary Jersey venue). K.O. Vanier wins.



BONUS FEATURE!

And we have a bonus! The dark lords of suburban jersey the danzig era MISFITS! Unfortunately like so many awesome groups they inspired a lot of shit (any band that wears makeup that is not them). Whatever. This is a video from what I believe to be is a Detroit area public access show. Quality sucks but the interview is awesome.