Wait — WHAT? Thorns of Life Will Change Your Life

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

Blake Schwarzenbach [formerly of the amazing Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil] and Aaron Cometbus [of one of my all-time favorite bands Crimpshrine as well as Pinhead Gunpowder] along with Daniela Sea [of The L Word] have started a new band named Thorns of Life.

I have no idea about the chick, but I’m sure she’ll be fine. I mean, this is Blake schwarzenbach and Aaron Cometbus. You know they’re not just picking up some hobo on the street and making a band.  Not only did Aaron make some amazing music, but he’s pretty much the guy of the zine scene, which I was a part of back in the day, as well. We’re talking high school pixie’s idols here… this is not just big - this is epic.

Reportedly, the band played a show in Brooklyn, NY last week.  And here’s what Blake has said of the band [courtesy of PunkNews]:

“I can say only that it’s loud and tender and we’re called the Thorns Of Life. whether it’s more Jetsesque or Breaker-like I honestly don’t know; It sounds like a storehouse of fond hatred from the last few years and in the now.”

And while this doesn’t tell me much, it does tell me I will like the band. I just know it. [I’m good like that. And have I mentioned the whole Blake-Aaron thing?] A little YouTube scanning got me this proof that this band is awesome and had better no go and do something like break up or not release an album, because I need to hear these songs in full quality:

My god, they’re good:

For those of you who weren’t around for Jawbreaker’s live show days [they were amazing] or if you’re like me and never got to see Crimpshrine, well… this is pretty damned amazing.  This band had better get the respect they so utterly deserve, and get an album out as soon as possible, because I’d really like that.

I haven’t been this excited about a new band in a while.  This is awesome.

The Boardlords Rule

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

We’ll step away from Max Bemis so I can recommend you listen to this RIGHT Now:

The Boardlords on 91.1 WFMU - The Pat Duncan Show. Tonight Nov. 13th @ 11pm-2am. Not in the NY/NJ area. Live Streaming http://wfmu.org/.

At Least It’s Not Jessica Simpson

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

Reports from the Max Bemis show at Rutgers last night say he dedicated “Cemetery” to his fiance, and they’d gotten engaged three days earlier. Once again, I am confused… because shouldn’t I know if I’m engaged? Does this mean my fantasy life of being married to Max Bemis is really just a fantasy? *sniff*

And so goes my attempt to write about someone/something other than Max Bemis.

Rumors are the chick is Sherri DuPree of Eisley.  Like I said, at least it’s not a Simpson….

Also, how the hell do people find these acoustic Max shows? I’ve always considered myself a genius band stalker, but the show was at Rutgers University, which is an hour from where I live. I’d easily drive further for a Max solo show… how am I missing these? Feel free to let me know, as I have just openly admitted there is something involving band-stalking that I simply can not figure out — and this comes from a girl who has pulled off incredible feats of band meetings/shows.

Rar. Of course, I then go find a photo him manhandling a bass….

Seriously, though, I hope he’s happy. if there’s anyone whose lyrics have floored me, moved me, saved me, hurt me, and helped me through this tangled life [particularly the last year] it’s Max… and anyone who writes lyrics I can relate to that much deserves to never feel that way again. Congratulations, and such, from the world’s most ridiculous Max Bemis fan site.

That’s it! I’m going to find some different news for you guys.

Max Bemis Gives Me “Tremors”

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

I think I should give up on this site being anything but the every-other-day or so post about Max Bemis. Just call it Maxim and be done with it. Oh, yeah…. That magazine exists.  There really is a ton of other news out there to write about, but I keep getting caught in these Max Bemis hazes when things like this happen:

Somebody who was lucky enough to get to go to one of those amazing Max Bemis acoustic shows that never happen anywhere I am caught this bit of “Tremors,” one of the songs that will be on the Two Tongues album. I’ve swooned, processed, and realized that Max Bemis may well be the most talented songwriter of our generations… and taht he even overtakes From Under the Cork Tree Pete Wentz. This says a lot, as I could point at random to lyrics on that album and probably be fine with having them tattooed on my body.

Max, though… there’s something about him. I’m going with the scruffy beard and lack of Ashlee Simpson. Enjoy… and wait for a post about something other than BEMIS/Say Anything/Two Tongues. It’s coming, I promise.

I Spoke Too Soon on Two Tongues

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

Guess what? The Two Tongues album has a release date, and it’s an early birthday present for one miss pixie — the album will be out February 3rd, 2009! The band features EPB’s favorite man, Max Bemis, along with Coby Linder of Say Anything and Chris Conley and David Soloway of Saves The Day. The album will be self-titled and has the lucky number of 13 songs on it. And no, their MySpace has not been updated with anything beyond “Crawl,” which we heard months ago.

Max said:
“Chris has been my favorite songwriter since I was 15. Ten years later he is now is one of my closest friends. The Two Tongues record is really an expression of the yin and yang; how two “opposite” souls stimulate and battle each other in any truly loving relationship. Chris inspired me as a mentor, hero and friend, and I inspired him as someone who truly cherishes his work that he can respect in his own right. Chris sometimes looks down on himself but is inside a very strong, almost Buddha-like centered soul; I have that whole Steven Tyler/Jerry Lewis extrovert personality onstage but I’m a totally neurotic, restless soul inside. We as two people, therefore, express two sides of a coin. Making the record, and it being the first band either of us has ever been in outside of Say Anything or Saves the Day, was sort of like falling in love for the second time; you have to look outside of yourself and learn to communicate with and trust someone who operates in a totally different manner. Ironically, while making this record I met the girl I am now in love with, so I was experiencing the same thing in the form of friendship with Chris as I was in getting to know this female person. So whether you want to look at the record as songs about two people starting a romantic relationship or this dynamic of how inspiration operates between two people, that’s your choice. We hope it functions on both levels. Either way, it’s a dream come true for me, and a true labor of love.
”

pixie said:
Why on earth can I not marry Max Bemis? Because just in case you thought the “girl he is in love with” was me? It’s not. I blame this on not meeting him during my mini-Say Anything tour in March… otherwise, that would be ALL me. Yep. Of course. Naturally. I hope she knows what she has.

I also think it’s funny that Max sees himself as “I have that whole Steven Tyler/Jerry Lewis extrovert personality onstage but I’m a totally neurotic, restless soul inside.” When I saw them in New Haven earlier this year, I was sitting on the stage at Max’s feet. It was one of the greatest moments of my life, but afterwards, I remember saying, “you can really see he’s kind of crazy when you look at him up close.” I don’t mean that in a bad way, but he’s completely in his own head. Extroverted, sure. He’s a lead singer. But the restless, neurotic and completely lost inside his own head thing is palpable. And if I may say so myself, hot. I got smacked with his microphone cord more than once and believe me, I wasn’t complaining.

I like to show off this video because I had no zoom on, and well, it’s a pretty decent representation of their Smashing Pumpkins cover. The sound is a bit weird since I was against a monitor, but hey. Not to brag, but did I mention that was no zoom?

I guess today is Max Bemis day at EPB.

I’m looking forward to the Two Tongues album — how about you?

P.S. with apologies to the straight boys on here — is that photo not simply male perfection?

EPB Site Darling Max Bemis is… Working on New Say Anything Songs

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

Oh, hi. Did you hear that sort of high-pitched squaling sound just now? That was me, upon discovering that Max is heading off to write a new album. The death moan was releated to the closing of the Song Shop, as I missed the cut off every time and didn’t get to have my own personal Max song.

Here’s what our boy had to say:

Hi guys…Max here. lot of say anything announcements coming soon, but i just wanted everyone to know we have now completed about 120 song shop songs! thank you so much for everyone for being involved with the project. however, its coming time to work on a new say anything record, so i have to delay song shop for a while. there are a few people who have paid for songs but haven’t received them yet. we appreciate you buying a song so much and WILL deliver you one as soon as possible, but i have to work on the record now.

120 songs. He wrote 120 songs for people. The vexing part is that means there are 118 Max songs floating around out there that I do not have [I managed to snag two of the Song Shop songs — and they’re amazing. Does anyone have links/copies of any others?]

This leaves me wondering what the status of the Two Tongues album is [earlier this year, word was it would be along by the end of the year and there would also be a tour — but I figured when XO announced theirs and there was no news on Two Tongues, that was off the table.] Are we meant to suffer with just one Two Tongues song?

I guess it doesn’t matter because we’ll most likely be seeing a new Say Anything album in 2009 [meaning nobody else should bother attempting to make it to #1 for the year, because we already know who has that locked down.]

Oh, Max. I, for one, can not wait for new songs from Say Anything, especially since the live videos someone caught over the summer were pretty amazing. For those who missed them:

“Cemetery”

and

“Loathing”

I will end this post saying that Max Bemis is probably the perfect man and I would like if someone would deliver one to my new house. I even have an extra bedroom, so he’d be able to escape my clutches from time to time, I swear. Christmas is coming, he’d make a nice gift.

Congratulations to Barack Obama

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

I don’t really use this site to get political, but what happened last night is more than worthy of a post. I came home from a crazy day of doctor appointments, voting, and hair dyeing to see the results trickling in. i was actually scared for a bit, wondering if all the Obama supporters had maybe become complacent, and McCain would pull it off. So many thoughts went through my head. I took a nap and woke up to see Barack Obama taking a commanding lead.

I met a friend at the bar by my house and as we sat there talking, the screen on one of the televisions suddenly said “Barack Obama Elected President of the United States.” I just looked at him and said, “my god. It happened,” as I pointed at the television. It was amazing. People sort of went a bit quiet for his speech, paying attention, realizing we were living and breathing history. I want to remember the looks on people’s faces, particularly the three black men who were having a few drinks but not even paying attention to that because they were proud. We were proud. I leaned against my friend and we sat there, feeling each other get chills at moments during the speech. Toasts were being given to our new President — people who knew each other, people who had never met before. It was unifying. In a sense, it was punk rock.

This morning, it’s hard to not check MySpace and Facebook and all of that and read the happiness and hope that so many of my friends have now. We’re living history for the second time this decade, and unlike in 2001 when we faced a crisis, we’re largely celebrating this time. It feels like we’re healing from the scars of that day, the aftermath, our country’s fall from grace in our own eyes as well as the eyes of the world. It feels like once again, we can do anything we want to — we’re Americans. This is a land of opportunity. We just watched a man with a humble background, raised by his single mother and grandmother who clawed his way to the top accept the Presidency.

How can we not be proud?

I’m getting chills as I write this. Today is a very good day for our country. I, for one, am truly proud to be an American. I was afraid I’d never be able to say that again. I’m glad I can.

It’s Never the Jerks that Die

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

Frank Navetta, a founding member of one of the most influential, and awesome, punk bands of all time, The Descendents, passed away on Halloween, last Friday. There are almost no details, beyond the fact that he became ill and died very suddenly. The band posted the following on their Web site:

“We’re very sorry to announce that founding member of The DESCENDENTS, and close friend Frank Navetta passed away on October 31, 2008 after becoming ill over the course of a few days. This is obviously a huge loss for the DESCENDENTS family. His contribution to the band, and to music in general can not be overstated. Frank will be truly missed. We will share information about memorial services when we find out.”

The Descendents are one of the first punk bands I got into when I was 12 or 13. They were one of those bands that I heard and said, “wow… these words make so much sense to me,” even  though it would be many, many years before I truly understood how someone could write a song like “Bikeage” or “Clean Sheets” and what that would feel like.  Or actually see how “Suburban Home” could play out with people I knew and loved. This band influenced so much of the music we listen to today. They were a staple of my teenage years… hell, I still keep them in heavy rotation.

I always think “rest in peace” sounds cheesy, but I’m not sure what other sentiments could be sent the way of Frank.

Save Your Pennies if You Want the $129.99 Fall Out Boy Pre-Order

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

I couldn’t make that one up. In fairness, they’re offering a lot — a wristband, a print, a t-shirt, a USB, and a hoodie, plus the CD, but… it just seems like a lot to lay out at once. [If they threw in the impossible to get in a big comfortable size Medium “Daylight is your arch-enemy” Clandestine Hoodie, we’d be talking, but I’m a whore like that.]

Pete explained all of the pre-sales on Folie A Deux in this video:

I’m honestly not that excited about this album, but attempting to keep an open mind. That said, I really, really like looking at Pete Wentz [and I think a lot of you do, as well], so I’m posting it here. This photo, too:

It was posted on FOE, with the accompanying text:

consider this
a conjugal visit. at home in the villain shirt at the end of the heatwave.

What it means, I don’t know. I’m too busy looking at that photo.

Sorry for the sporadic updates — I’m moving this weekend [again, for the last time for a while] and trying to hold down two jobs. That’s why we have message boards — but you guys better behave since Heather and I are super-busy right now. We’re still watching you. ♥

Epitaph Is Kicking a LOT of Ass Lately

Posted by pixie | Filed under Uncategorized

Okay… so first, they sign New Found Glory. Then they snap Thursday up — and promise the band all the freedom in the world to make the album they want. And today, they announce they have signed Frank Iero’s band, LeATHERMOUTH. Can we please have a few thousand cheers for this label?

As if they didn’t already have a ton of awesome bands [I Am Ghost, Our Last Night, Vanna, HorrorPops, and of course Bad Religion and Rancid] they now have two fairly huge bands and one that can’t help but be huge, even if some of LeATHERMOUTH’s fanbase is just My Chemical Romance fans who wouldn’t listen to the band otherwise. When a lot of bands are moving around or being dropped from labels, Epitaph is doing a great job of choosing who to sign.

As for LeATHERMOUTH, their album will be out sometime in 2009. In the meantime, there is a bootleg of a show at the Social from their short early autumn tour that is pretty amazing and I highly recommend tracking it down. [I’d link, but I honestly forget where I found it. The audio is from this video series, though.]

And if you’re wondering why Frank is such a weirdo between songs, I think this quote makes it pretty clear:

“For me LeATHERMOUTH is how I can vent about all the bullshit that I see going on in the world that makes me ill,” says Iero. “I try to belabor the topics people want to forget exist. LeATHERMOUTH is where I can vomit out all the aggression that has built up inside. After recording or playing a LM show I feel empty of all that hatred that’s been bottled up. It’s a pleasant, cathartic experience. I would love to not feel the way I do about certain things, and have rainbows and birds chirping in my head, but that’s just not the way I’m built. I am embarrassed by my emotions and originally wanted to keep LeATHERMOUTH anonymous…but fuck it, none of us are perfect, the world is going to shit, and someone has to say it. I think it would be worse if I hid from it.
”

This band seriously rocks. I like what he did with Pencey Prep, but this stuff is just so much more angry — it hits the spot a bit better than the somewhat nasal pop-punk of Pencey Prep. And Frank has really become quite the screamer since his early days… I hope they work some of his aggression and ideas into upcoming My Chemical Romance songs. Though who knows when those will come along?