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Grrr

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May 9

Grrr commented on President Obama Murdered Ambassador Stevens Just Like He Murdered Vince Foster.

Jon Stewart opened last night's episode by addressing this topic. As usual, he destroyed.

Mar 11

Grrr commented on Sparks to Make Seattle Live Debut April 22 at Neptune.

Fuck. I'll be out of town when this happens.

Mar 9

Grrr commented on Here's One of My Punk Stories, Now Share Yours.

Punk in The Philippines in the 80s was about protest in the most visceral sense. I was more into Crüe and Van Halen, but the radar was also up for punk because of the overreaching dissatisfaction with the Marcos regime. American foreign policy was also partly to blame for propping up a then 20-year long dictatorship. The music from the likes of Betrayed, The Jerks, Urban Bandits, etc were mostly being released by the Twisted Red Cross label. Compilations from that imprint had bands that talked about oppression--by parents, by schools, by government and their death squads, and by Reagan and Bush I. As a teenager you couldn't help but make politically charged discourse even at 14 years old. This was partly fueled by the music and the life. Themes like joining riots at the bridge leading to the presidential palace were commonplace.

Many years later, the old punks that still play now hold a mirror to society and ask their listeners what they've done to change society after overthrowing Marcos. It's still good to hold the public as accountable as the government with where a country or society is going.

It was all about community for me then and now, whether it's inspiration also derived from The Clash or Sleater-Kinney's One Beat that continues to challenge me to be a better person and a better contributor to my community, even after moving halfway around the world o Seattle.

Post script: it's not until recently that I realized that quite a number of the kids that played in those punk bands in The Philippines were related to the oppressors running the government back in the day.

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Mar 6

Grrr commented on In 3,228 Words John Roderick Tries to Kill Punk—In 30 Words He Validates Its Existence Instead.

I was in the same boat as #3 while reading the article over lunch today. Thanks for pointing out what made it so, Megan.

Feb 22

Grrr commented on Slayer Fires Dave Lombardo?!?.

Maybe we can at least get Fantomas going again, I hope.

Feb 8

Grrr commented on Republicans File Bill to Fulfill State's Paramount Duty to Arm School Teachers.

Will the teachers also be required to provide their own firearms and bullets? They already buy school supplies for their students these days.

Feb 5

Grrr commented on Brilliant Segue Alert: MBV's "If I Am" > Medicine's "Time Baby III" on KEXP.

Shot Forth Self Living is one of my personal favorites ever. I was so stoked that the band finally released a reissue in time for Record Store Day last year. They were so underrated. One More as an opening track alone is worth the price of picking up the album.