Merry sXe-mas

When I pick up mail from the GR store, I usually divide it between catalogs and samples for Eric, bills for Cate, and review stuff for the mag big. Today I found mysterious package addressed to me. No clue as to who it's from. Amazingly, it was full of straight-edge 7" singles from the '80s and '90s!


First off, YOT's farewell 7" from 1990, with "Disengage." Ray of Today went on to form Shelter, work with the KC, become a MMA enthusiast, and contribute to GR. Also, one of YOT Walter's other bands, the highly regarded Quicksand. Nope, not the white vinyl version, but I don't care too much about that sort of thing.


Not that I'm against colored vinyl or don't think it's cool that my benefactor gave me not one but two colors of Blackspot's Check Out The Helmet EP. The thanks list includes "Irvine Orientals"!


You have to be pretty knowledgeable about the straight-edge scene if you are familiar with Mouthpiece and Outspoken. Both on New Age records.


411 was a great band. I saw Dan O'Mahony and company open for Fugazi at the Palladium. House of Suffering... yet another great band named after a Bad Brains song, with links to Amenity and Inside Out.


The NYHC must have been bummed that they misspelled the final word of "Shall Be Jugded" all over this awesome release. Judge--yet another Porcell (YOT) band with the man lending guitar and production.


You knew straight edge was over when guys were leaving to play on major label projects like this or CIV's solo stuff...

Thanks to the someone out there for the hookup. Merry sXe-mas, and don't let anyone spike your eggnog!