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Oi! The Texas Comp
Various Artists
May 2013
TXOI Records
1. Avenue Rockers – In The City
2. No Resistance – Can’t Reach Me
3. Sniper 66 – I Know It’s True
4. Rusty Bishops – Trying To Live Right
5. Stand Alones – All For One
6. Second To None – All The Answers
7. Brewtality, Inc. – Face The Enemy
8. Razorburn – Saturday Nights
9. Ballistics – Lonely Scotsman
10. Blood N Beer – Oi! The Mattress
11. Roots Of Exile – No One Likes Us
12. No Resistance – Sanctioned & Proud
13. Dog Company – Not Dead Yet
14. Stand Alones – Streets Of Violence
15. Brewtality, Inc. – Old School
16. Second To None – Victory
17. Rusty Bishops – Street Lessons
18. Avenue Rockers – 10,000 Miles
19. Blood N Beer – Drunk Tank Blues
20. Ballistics – Religion Is War
21. Razorburn – Can’t Change Me
22. Roots Of Exile – Fall Of A Victim
23. Sniper 66 – My Brother
24. Dog Company – Sean Flynn
A long time ago Sue Sin of TXOI Records posted something about needing artwork for an upcoming comp that she was putting out. I think it may have been late 2012, I’m not sure. Anyway, I sent her a version (or maybe two). She liked it. Then I kind of forgot about the project. She emailed me and said once it was released I’d get a few copies. Then one day I get this big envelope in the mail and low and behold, not only did Sue get the comp released, but it was a great packaging job. Super slick and professional. This shouldn’t be surprising, but I’ve seen a lot of shitty CD’s come through my mailbox. OK, enough praise for Sue . . .
Let’s talk about the actual music. I honestly was not aware that there were this many bands still active and playing authentic Oi! TXOI offers up twelve different bands and each band get two chances to reel you in.
I popped the CD on and the first song In The City by Avenue Rockers came one and I popped the CD back out, looked at it just to make sure this thing wasn’t really an 80’s re-release, nope – all brand new tracks and current bands.
All the bands definitely bring their “A-Game,” every one of these songs should definitely be heard. If I ever get off my ass and promote a show this CD is going to be played between bands. I don’t know if this is TXOI’s first release, but if it is – they hit a homerun.
If you don’t own it go and buy it, stop reading! Go buy it.
Stand-out tracks: Dog Company – Not Dead Yet and Avenue Rockers – In The City
Rating: ** * Two out of three stars
On to the story . . .
I haven’t done this in a while, so I decided I’d throw a two-part fiction piece atcha . . .
Barney Part 1
2003
Barney stands looking down at an old unkempt tombstone.
He holds a paper bag in his hands. A small bottle of Gilbey’s Vodka that he purchased for $3.49. Barney wishes he didn’t drink, but he needed something to take the edge off. Virginia would be mad.
1997
Barney is a physical therapist. He is building a promising career. He has eight clients from the NBA, six from the NFL and two from the NHL. So far no one from MLB has come knocking. But they will. Once a week Barney gets together for an hour or two for drinks and/or dinner with the same five guys week after week that he roomed with at the college frat house. When Barney stops and thinks about it, which he rarely does, he isn’t sure why he still meets up with these guys. They’re all nice enough, but he feels no connection. The guys in the group feel this, he’s been pegged as a workaholic, OCD and Roger suggested a low level of Autism, maybe Asperger syndrome. Because Barney is there, but he isn’t there. That is until the drinks get poured. Barney buys the drinks; he’s the first to drink, last to stop and usually the first to be asked to leave.
1998
Barney’s practice is booming. His Thursday night buddies have been pestering Barney to settle down and get married; for a couple of reasons, one: he’s got the business, the money, the house, everything. Two: a focus in his life will, maybe, distract him from the booze.
Roger, now married, says he will set Barney up with his wife’s best pal. Barney, only one cocktail in, doesn’t respond. Roger stares.
“What?”
“My house, Friday.”
“Yeah, sure. Why?
“I’m going to introduce you to Virginia; you’ll fall in love and live happily ever after.”
“Oh, OK. Friday, this Friday? I’ve got this thing . . . “
“Give me a break Barney. You’ve always got a thing.”
Barney shows up five minutes to eight. In a bag he brought two bottles of his favorite wine, Aubert Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay. He bought them for $389.00 each, hoping to make a good impression.
Roger opened the door. Over his host’s shoulder Barney sees Virginia in the kitchen with Roger’s wife. The average man would’ve been taken by her beauty. Barney on the other hand thinks, “She’ll look good on my arm at this year’s Sacramento King’s Christmas Party.
Roger grins, “I see you spotted Virginia.” Barney nods. Roger nudges him along, “Let’s get introduced.”
2000
Barney is standing outside Saint Charles Borromeo just outside of Los Angeles in North Hollywood. There is a carriage with two horses behind him; they will cost him about $800.00 for two hours. The coachman said that he will release doves as Barney and Virginia exit the church. Barney doesn’t care, Barney is drunk. Barney has been this way since he met Virginia. He tells himself he needs something to calm the nerves. Barney is what some would call a high-functioning drunk. He works, he makes money, but he smells of booze.
A week before the wedding Virginia called everything off.
Last week Barney had his bachelor party. A big three-day affair in Las Vegas. Roger swore it would make The Hangover look like Mary Poppins. Every thing went according to plan, with one little hitch . . . Barney disappeared the night they were to fly home.
Barney woke up in a rundown motel a half a mile away from an Indian Reservation. Looking over on the nightstand there was a brochure that read, “Welcome to New Mexico.”
After three rings Barney forces himself up to search for his cell phone. The phone usually sits in the inside pocket of his Brooks Brothers suit jacket, but on the white plastic lounge chair in the middle of the room is only a bathrobe and a pair of Bermuda shorts. No time to wonder about the suit, the Rolex, the wallet. Get the phone.
Barney looks at the screen. Forty-Three missed calls. Twenty voice mails. Fuck.
On the fifth ring Barney grabbed the phone and answered.
“Hello?”
“Hello?”
“Where are you Barney?”
–
“Barney?”
“Hey honey, glad to hear from you?”
“Where are you Barney?”
“About to come home from this convention?”
“Convention?”
Next week I’ll post Part 2
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Born Frustrated is coming, Summer 2015: http://goo.gl/n9ofGb