The neat thing about my phone is that there's a timer on it showing me how long I've been on. Currently I've been on hold for 19 minutes after a customer service rep left me hanging to go look into why the online system won't allow me to file a claim for the box of merchandise UPS lost. That's in addition to the ten minutes I spent on hold the first time I called when I didn't even get as far as an actual human.
The value of the merch is just under $200. I need that money back. UPS seems determined to make me jump through so many hoops while they put so many obstacles in my way that I eventually decide that my time is more valuable than the merch and give up. Which I'm sure I'll eventually do. At which point I'll write and YouTube a song about the whole experience.
Lemons out of lemonade.
23 and a half minutes and counting...
Invasion USA is getting a warm reception for which I'm very grateful, but the Holy Grail of skyward thumb is the coveted positive review from N.B.T.'s Lindsay Hutton. Good morning indeed!
I did some press HERE and HERE and with Jim Testa of Jersey Beat HERE (there's Screeching Weasel talk in the last one too).
Also, one last reminder that the Riverdales release show for Invasion USA is this Saturday at the Majestic in Madison - you can buy tickets HERE. Hope to see ya there!
Riverdales - Invasion USA 14 song LP out today!
And while you're at it you might pick up my live album, The Brain That Wouldn't Die
Second Floor East has just got the Invasion USA skateboards in. Limited to 51. I'm not a skater but this board looks pretty bad ass! $55 PPD. Check 'em out HERE
Check out the Second Floor East MySpace page HERE
It's three years to the day since my last cigarette. I've quit before - once for almost a year - but I never thought it would stick. I'll breathe a little easier at the five year mark but these days I only want a cigarette about 3-4 times a week which isn't really all that bad in my book. I don't like thinking about all the money I wasted on nicotine patches only to discover the only way that worked for me was cold turkey but ho hum. Three years. I'm going to go pat myself on the back.
Check out The HellZippies, comrade!
There's a NSFW photo on the player so if that's a problem in your cubicle you really ought to find some other way to listen to "Hawaiian Girl" by The Marxmallows from Paris. What a great tune! See, France is good for something after all!
House Boat is the unfortunately named band formed by Grath Madden and Ace from the Steinways after that band imploded. If the last Steinways record left you a little cold, check these songs out, especially "My Life Hurts."
Single day tickets for Screeching Weasel, Sunday, October 11th at the Congress Theater in Chicago are available HERE for $25. The show is part of the 5-day Riot Fest. Also on the bill are the Alkaline Trio, Pegboy and the Arrivals - I'm really looking forward to sharing a bill with all those bands. Plenty more bands to be announced.
Also, tickets are still available for the Riverdales record release show in here in beautiful Madison Wisconsin on Saturday, July 25th with the Jetty Boys and Shot Baker. Invasion USA is out on Asian Man Records on July 14th and we'll be playing plenty of new songs plus all the old favorites. This is the last Riverdales show of the year. You can buy tickets HERE