How record shopping turned into a Christmas Miracle!

It's been a while since we've done anything here. Adult Crash has been busy with the family over this holiday season and I've been busy with work. Neither one of us has done much of anything for the last two and a half months. Getting old sucks. For Crash, that trend continues. For yours truly, things got interesting yesterday.

My girlfriend and I were planning on seeing Star Wars last night, but I convinced her to go record shopping with me beforehand. We stop by Crooked Beat and I found a copy of the Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine - Enhanced Methods of Questioning LP. Solid find for our first stop.

After that purchase, I drag her up the street to Smash! to see if I can find something else and lo and behold, I found the newest pressing of the Turning Point Discography by Think Fast Records. I've seen a lot of people talking about this release being killer, but I had no idea why? Well, as it turns out, there's more songs on here. Awesome! At this point, my girl is giving me the, can we go now look. Okay fine. I pay up and we're on our way to geek out over Star Wars.

BUT WAIT! What do I see out of the corner of my eye as we walk out the door? This flyer...

    

Now, I've already got plans to see Star Wars with my girl after the record shopping, but Fuck You Pay Me is in town! They played Baltimore some time ago and I missed it, but I couldn't pass this up. I mean they were less than 10 blocks away and the doors had already opened. I proceed to beg my girlfriend to delay our Star Wars plans. I even reverted to child-like begging with something along the lines of "if you let me go see FYPM it can be my christmas present and my birthday present for this year! She was less than thrilled about it, but she agreed. Certain details were hammered out and away we go!

She drops me off and I walk in to a packed house of people. Apparently, the show had a late start so I didn't miss anything! First up was Nuclear Age? I question this because at the end of their set the singer said they were Heatwave. Maybe a name change? Who knows? Anyway, they sounded pretty good. Nice mosh and they got a good response from the crowd. Wouldn't mind seeing more of them in the future. Their set was too short, but I still have to see Star Wars with my girl who is waiting sooooo. Next band please!

Next band up was looking like a reunion of The First Step. I was never a big fan of them. I know they were huge, but they just didn't do it for me. I ask a guy at the bar if it was supposed to be a reunion and he says "no, they're a new band called Union of Faith." Interesting.

They come on and I have to say that they sounded pretty good. People were losing their minds and moshing away. I think they had like 6 songs and I was impressed. However, I only saw cassettes for their demo which was disappointing. They finish their set with a Minor Threat cover of Betray. Great song, but I wish they hadn't done it. Not because they didn't do it justice, but because my girl was texting me asking if I was ready to go yet?

Finally, I see FYPM setting up and I'm getting excited. Before I go any further, let me tell you all how much this show is costing me. I have a girlfriend that is annoyed with me for delaying our visit to the movies to see Star Wars. She went off to a coffee shop to kill time while I wait for FYPM to come on. This great injustice is going to cost me about $250 for some place called Red Door Spa. Ouch...

Well, the band is ready to go and I move up a little closer so I can get a picture before retreating to the back again. You see, I also had to promise my girl that I wasn't going to emerge from this show a sweaty mess. She guaranteed that my gift certificate to her spa was going to cost me more money if she had to sit next to me in a theater smelling like a sweaty mess.

Well, they got things started with my favorite song, Fuck You Pay Me and the place went nuts. The band sounds great live and Erba is officially one of my favorite front men. His banter and lack of filter was priceless. He was interacting with people that were just standing around and just getting in your face for sing alongs through out their set. He's like a combination of Raybeez, Jimmy Gestapo and Jello Biafra all rolled into one. A little political with some funny banter and crowd control. Unfortunately, their set had to come to an end, but they left an impression on me. I immediately went and purchased their new LP and took off for my date night.

There were still a few more solid bands that played afterward, but there was no way I could blow off the entire night for a hardcore show. Not unless I wanted to be in the dog house for the rest of this fiscal year. I can only assume that the other bands tore that place up too.

Props to my girlfriend for giving me a playful jab when I got into the car and thanking her for her patience.

Her: You happy you got to see your show?
Me: Yeah, thanks babe. You're the best.
Her: Oh yeah? Fuck you, pay me!
Me: Well played...

D.C.S.