What Is Freedom?

I've been writing an absurd amount lately, none of it really makes sense. I took some of the more cohesive parts of probably 5 or 6 pages of writing and tried to make them into something. I read an essay by some dude named Emerson for my philosophy course. He talked about a struggle against conformity and consistency as something that is necessary to be free. I tried to write this to come across as saying I'd rather live a struggle than be dead inside.

I looked you in the eyes and felt so alone
You left me to struggle on my own
I know the only ones who can see this through
Are the ones who believe in not settling for second best

Second best is all you’ll ever be
If you’ve taught me one thing
It’s that in order to fit into this world
You have to give your life away
Tie your lifeless body and let the vultures pick at the decay
Now I’m glad that I cant’ see your face
Cus I refuse to sell myself short
Assimilate, conform and waste away

If I can’t stand up under the weight of these burdens, if I don’t struggle
I’ll end up just like them
Like the ones who came before me
Who gave in and didn’t second guess
The ones who couldn’t teach me
Because they didn’t know themselves
The ones that I refuse to follow
Cus I’m sick and tired of letting aspirations fade into tomorrow

To the ones who won’t conform
To the ones who wont give in
Don’t let this world bring you down

Cus I don’t want to have to look you in the eyes one day
And see that you no longer hope because your soul has decayed
I don’t wanna have to be the one to say
“Your time has come, turn around and walk away”

Modern Life Is War/Blacklisted/Some Girls/Converge In Buffalo

This show was alot of fun i went down to Buffalo with a guy named Peter, whom i hadn't met before this trip. We both wanted to go to the show and had no one to go with so we decided to rent a car and go down together. Buffalo is a sketchy place. Border security was really funny, on the way into the states the guy asked us a ton of question, searched the trunk, wore a bullet proof vest, and seem paranoid beyond control. Getting back into to Canada was hilarious, the dude looked at our I.D's for maybe a couple seconds each and then looked at us and said "have a good night" and let us through. He really didn't care.

Anyway we got to the venue, in an older area of town, pretty run down but the venue was reasonable. First thing i did was check out the merch, i got a Blacklisted T - shirt with a guy hanging from a noose on it, it looks cool. Then i picked up MLIW's Wintess on clear purple vinyl, its a new colour they just got on the tour. And finally i picked up a MLIW hoodie for my friend Etienne who couldnt make the show.

First up we're Blacklisted, i really dig this band on record, they played ok but were sloppy at times and the singer seemed disinterested. Maybe becuase it was nearing the end of the tour, but i still expected to see more energy. Overall they had some good parts, played the songs i wanted to see, so im not upset.

Then MLIW came up, pretty much the only reason i came for this show. Jeff had alot of energy as always, they played all the songs i wanted to hear aside from "By the Sea". Highlight was probably kids losing it when the played "D.E.A.D Ramones". There were bodies flying everywhere. Also when they finished with "First and Ellen" it was amazing the last minute of that song makes everyone go insane. The dissapointment was the crowd only responding to certain songs, there was a good amount of kids into every song but it seemed like the crowd only really got moving when they played their more well known songs. I think the last song Off of Witness (hair raising accouts) is amazing, especially the last two minutes, its sort of similar to "First and Ellen" in that way. Anyway i lost it when Jeff screamed "what will you do when the war is all around" no many others did, so that sucked. Overall though it was alot of fun, one of the better times i have seen them play.

Some Girls played next. Didn't like them. Wes from AN/GUTG is super weird now, the dude is on some powerful drugs im guessing. Their last song the frohawked bass player played another set of drums. and proceeded to play the same pattern for at least 5 or 6 minutes while the bass player yelled"hey" into the mic constantly and Wes just stood their glaring at the crowd until he decided to get a bass drum of his own and start beating it. Really weird and almost certainly drug induced.

Converge was up next. I'm not really into Hardcore that is that metallic. But i enjoyed their set. they had alot of energy and really got the crown into it, so that was good to see. Much respect to those guys their very good at what they do and Jacob Bannon seems like a really stand up guy, besides being an amazing artist.

I'll Post pictures later if i can find them.

We've Been BETRAYED!

From what i've seen Aram is one of the most stand-up dudes in hardcore, everytime ive seen him perform live, whether it be with champion, betrayed, or the first step he always has so much energy. It was nice to see him front betrayed, he always had something promising to say in between songs or whenever he had that chance.

here are some videos of Betrayed last weekend of shows with TFS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krr1klQGKOw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wchPrGQov1U (this one is amazing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh_h70L9gLM (so is this one)
The First Step
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7ZOe4HNQF8

West Coast Love

The new Shook Ones record is amazing, if you like Kid Dynamite, Lifetime, or hardcore punk in general you'll like this. The vocals are so raw, in my opinion there some of the best vocals in hardcore. www.myspace.com/shookones




Set It Straight is a band i couldn't get into, the vocals seemed constrained and the music was mediocore. They released a new album recently, i was a little hesitant to check it out, but i did and i was really impressed. The whole Northern California scene has been producing some great bands lately. Like Allegiance and Killing The Dream, whose vocalists both make guest appearances on this record. www.myspace.com/setitstraight



Theres been alot of really good stuff coming from the west coast in general lately. Most notably for me is Go It Alone, this is one reason why:

Go It Alone - Inheritance

In generation after generation the seeds of submission find fertile soil. They poison us with pride while the truth remains behind locked doors, sequestered in the minds of those who have been ignored, silenced, and pushed aside. The voice of truth is hushed before it reaches our ears so we inherit the lie. For generation after generation whitewashed "facts" masquerade as reality. Can you smell the bullshit? It lingers in history texts on highschool desks and on our leader's breath. Pushed aside, neatly swept under the rug. The voice of truth is hushed before it reaches our ears so we inherit the lie. This is our inheritance. Keep puffing your chest. Keep bursting with pride. Keep waving your flags. Keep closing your eyes. Close your eyes

If you havent heard this band, check them out: www.myspace.com/goitalonehc

Fakes Like You.....

Modern Life Is War - Fakes Like You (Make Me Sick)

This is a lesson in letting your guard down. Sometimes open arms are an invitation for disaster. So next time, I’ll trust my fucking instincts. next time you come around, all you will get are cold stares & cold shoulders. I’ll be crouching with my fists clenched in the corner. I can only hang on so tight for so long. I’m letting you go. I will be just fine on my own. You can’t come in. I’m leaving you out in the cold because there’s no room left in my heart for fakes like you.

I think this is the first Modern Life Is War song i heard. The lyrics are great, i'm sure most people can relate to them in one way or another. It's true though, some people never learn. They stay the same and no matter how many times you open up, no matter how much you care, they'll always be fake. It hurts to see but you have to let go and the next time they come around trust your instincts.

Solitude

"What can we do when the war is all around? The veins are constricting. The pressure is coming down." - Modern Life Is War

This band is pretty inspiring, you can take one line and it can mean so much. This is how i would answer the question posed above.

Walk into the storm

Walk into the rage

Walk alone and free of pain

Turn your back on the world

It's fighting to keep you dead inside

The thing that scares them most

Is your will to be alive

It seems everytime you try

You fall just short

Of taking a breath

That deosn't eat away at your soul

Walk away

Without hate, without fear

Walk away and the shame will dissapear

Take comfort in being alone

Becuase it's the only way that you can tuly live

The only way that you can give

Back to a world

That tried to take it all away

Walk with a clear mind and open ears

Walk with eyes that see the truth

And a heart that beats to its own rythm

A heart that's no longer subject to abuse.

Overcome the only thing that scares you

So the next time you try

You'll breathe a breath of defiance

And you'll know what it feels like to be alive.