The urge to pick up an instrument – Kill Everyone and Arktika

I quit Arktika in 2010 and, although we never officially announced our disbandment,  amodestproposal played their last show in 2009. And ever since that time, not counting one very brief stay in Mannheim, I have not picked up my instrument again. Things happen and it just wasn’t meant to be, it seems. Do I miss it? Not really, at least not on a constant basis. It’s not that I feel bad about things. But in flashes, in short moments, the urge to pick up my bass and play some patterns and chords, returns. Those short flashes usually come from a record I’ve been listening to. Or maybe a movie I’ve been watching. Both happened it the past few weeks.

“Don’t miss the train” – Goodbye, Tony Sly

It’s always a strange feeling when somebody passes away. It’s terrible, when it’s a person close to you. It’s kind of weird, when it’s someone you only knew through records or as a performer on stage. Yesterday evening I stumbled across a terrifying tweet by Fat Mike of No FX, which was followed by another one by Fat Wreck Chords verifying the terrible news that Tony Sly, lead vocalist and guitarist of No Use For A Name and solo artist, had died.

John K. Samson @ Gebäude 9 / Greg McPherson @ Rubinrot – Canadian Weeks in May

I haven’t written anything in a long time. Somehow everytime I tried, something else got in the way. Well, things happen, so this will be yet another story which already feels a bit old. Way back in May the great John K. Samson (of The Weakerthans fame) came to Cologne to promote his new solo album. I had to check this one out, not only because I know John since I interviewed him in 1996 while he was still with Propaghandi. And to make things even better, a few days later fellow Canadian Greg McPherson came around for a visit. Which, as you can tell by the title of this post, were the Canadian Weeks in May.

A Day At The Recordstore (XI)

There’s records you have been waiting for since the day their release date was announced. And then there’s records you just stumble on. They happen to cross your path while you flip through some letter or the new arrivals. And then there’s records that give you the feeling like, after all those years, you met a friend again. Not a close one, but someone you always liked when he or she was around. Back in the days. Those memories feel good, even today. And the two records I bought last weekend represent all those things.

Dead Swans + Horror Show + Hangin’ Tough @ Underground, Cologne

It seems to have been about six months since I last went to a show, but it definetely feels longer. I hadn’t heard about this one and if a friend of mine hadn’t pointed my attention to it I might have just stayed at home for yet another weekend. Turns out the show itself wasn’t that great, but meeting up with friends I hadn’t seen in a long time was worth the trip. The “Underground” might have played a part in my overall impression as it was as horrible as always. Still some things never change. Especially at hardcore shows.

A Day At The Recordstore (X)

The last time I posted an article in this section … heck, that was almost 2 years ago. Lots has changed since then. One thing that’s very important is that I moved into a new flat and now I finally have space for new records again! Which is why I went on a shopping spree the other day and this is what I found:

There’s magic in the final seconds of a game…

…or in the final outs, for that matter. Boy oh boy, what a night. The Tampa Bay Rays took the final American league playoff berth in a fascinating way. Now I have witnessed quite a few last minute comebacks in football, but this was simply ridiculous.