Zen And The Art Of Breaking Everything In This Room.

I first heard the World/Inferno Friendship Society on the Leftover Crack track "Soon We'll Be Dead". I listened to some of their records and didn't know quite what to think.. I certainly wasn't sure about the vocals. It wasn't until I saw them live at the Engine Rooms that it clicked. About 10 of them came on stage (including some kid on guitar who couldn't have been over 11 and some fat accordion player with a perfectly styled moustache) and could barely all fit on it. Jack, the frontman, had this creepy energy about him and told some pretty funny stories while downing his bottle of red wine.

Basically, they sound like Dexy's Midnight Runners mixed with circus and gypsy music and punk "whoahhs". They're playing at the Prince Albert on July 21st and it's gonna kick off..

Their latest album is a concept album based on the life of Peter Lorre, the Hungarian-Austrian actor made famous in 1930's horror film M.

(2007) Addicted to Bad Ideas (Peter Lorre's Twentieth Century)

Hard Times.

Back before the Cro-Mags started making shitty hair-metal, they released an album that would eventually be regarded as one of the best hardcore punk albums of all time: the Age of Quarel.

This is the kind of record that sets hardcore nerds on jizz frenzies at it's sheer mention. Whilst most hardcore bands in the early days had been suburban bored teenagers screaming bollocks about angst and alienation, the Cro-Mags were violent New York street kids who didn't know how to fake being angry and aggressive. The were generally fucked off at everything.

John Joseph, who was on microphone duties before Harley took over and ruined everything, has just got about to releasing a book about his troublesome youth, in which he narrates some of the most insane stories you could imagine. Abuse, violence, drugs, prison, the Hare Krishna: he's seen a ridiculous amount of crazy shit. This book, The Evolution of a Cro-Magnon, is also available as an audiobook. You can download the whole thing below.

John Joseph - The Evolution Of A Cro-Magnon

The Negative Health Implications Of Etch Bath.

Always read the instructions!
Hopefully this will put him off graffiti for life.

From some toy's Flickr

DIY Tattooing.

DIY or "stick 'n poke" tattoos are fun, unhygienic, irresponsible and punk-as-fuck.
Here's a simple guide on how to inflict regrettable words and pictures on your friends' skin.

What you will need:
- A few friends who don't really care what they look like
- Some Indian ink
- A brand new sewing needle (for each willing canvas)
- Some thread
- Alcohol (this is optional but will probably make for a more interesting session)

First off, wash your hands with some soap - you really don't wanna give someone an infection. Take the needle out the packet and heat it on a gas stove or with a lighter until it is glowing red. Tie the thread round the needle up until about an eighth of it then tie it off - the thread will soak up the ink. Pour the ink into a seperate pot and dip the needle into the ink. Push the needle into the skin - this will leave a black dot. Basically, you need to connect the dots to create lines. Use a clean cloth or tissues to wipe away the excess ink from time to time. If your mate is really fucked, consider convincing them into getting something really stupid.

When you have finished, wrap the tattoo in clingfilm to minimise the risk of infection. Voila!

Here's an example of how you probably shouldn't do it but hey, it's all part of the learning process..

Ghetto Yoots.

Epic video..

Gluttony.

Competitive eating has been practised for well over a century. It takes the form of organised contests in which contestents, sometimes known as "gurgitators", force as much food as possible down their throats within a set time limit. What better way is there to pass the boring reality of weekdays than to watch your friends nearly make themselves sick trying to digest a stupid amount of greasy food?

Eating Contest #1: The Sing-Li Challenge
Jack Deeks Vs. David Murphy
Monday 7th April 2008

Sing-Li is a Brighton fish 'n chip shop, just up the road from the station, that is stuck in some bygone age where cans of coke are 50p and the food is equally as cheap. To complete this challenge, the contestant must finish all the following items of food:

- 1x Large haddock
- 1x Large cod
- 1x Large portion of chips
- 1x Buttered roll
- 1x Large battered sausage
- 1x Battered burger












Their pure determination is evident



It all gets a bit too much for Mr. Deeks


WINNER: David Murphy


Eating Contest #2: The KFC Challenge
Tom Cater Vs. Conal Thomas
Tuesday 8th April 2008

For this contest, the challengers must eat a shitload of dirty chicken, supplied by London Road's bright and harmonious KFC outlet. They must completely demolish the following:

- 1x Family bucket of chicken
- 4x Large portions of chips
- 1x Large portion of coleslaw
- 1x Large portion of baked beans






Mr. Thomas dips into the pure bliss of KFC coleslaw





Conal buckles under the pressure



Cater finishes his last piece of greasy chicken..



..And the rest of his cold chips

WINNER: Tom Cater

Coming To Recruit Your Rebel Children..

Mischief Brew is the brainchild of Philly anarcho-folk singer Erik Petersen. They play a dirty mix of folk, punk, jazz, swing and country - it basically sounds like a bunch of alcoholic crust punks playing fast gypsy music and working-class acoustic numbers. Erik's voice ranges from quiet folk singer to a Tom Waits-style gravelly growl and his lyrics cover everything from the invention of the printing press to punks getting over the hill, plus the usual shit about pigs, the state, blah blah. If you ain't heard them, I recommend getting Smash The Windows first before getting the other stuff.

(2003) Bellingham & Philadelphia EP
(2003) Bakenal EP
(2005) Oh Sweet Misery 7"
(2005) Smash The Windows
(2005) Live At Coyle Street Collective Apartment
(2006) Songs From Under The Sink

"New Boy! New Boy!"

Out Of Control is a powerful BBC film that was shown on TV a few years ago. It's a harrowing and ultra-realistic piece of British drama, centred on a 15-year old kid who is thrown into a young offenders institution for robbing a car. Being vulnerable and unable to hide his fear, he is bullied by another inmate eager to assert his authority on the wing. The acting in this short film is really good, and the film does well to explore the relationships between the different characters. In particular, the way it portrays Sam as a fragile product of his environment and not just a vicious bully makes you almost feel some empathy for him.

It's missing the first few minutes but you can watch it on YouTube in six parts.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

Seriously..

Who the fuck makes these films!?

Canadian Scum

So I went to see Fucked Up last night and they were fucking good.

I missed the first support band but caught the second one, The Dresdens, who were just a very boring, generic punk band with some arrogant, indecipherable bass-player who kept "rocking out". Did not like.

Fucked Up came on and Damian started the set by smashing a coke can and the mic on his already bruised skull, which as I gather he does at most of their gigs. It looked pretty fucking painful. Punk rock theatrics aside, Fucked Up played a long, energetic set interrupted frequently by Damian's jokes about 14 year-old Gallows fans and his eating habits.

The crowd was pretty random - there were quite a few middle-aged people, as well as a group of 15 year-old European girls wearing glowsticks who looked really out of place. Damian spewed coke on them a few times.

Hellingly

Raised At Gunpoint Version 2

So I've rolled through on minimal amounts of beer and strong coffees.. Going to head off to Hellingly mental asylum in less than an hour to take photos. Will update later if we don't get caught. Fuck the eclipse - Brighton needs more random excuses to get a bunch of wankers drinking and making unnecessary noise on the beach.