Chaos in Tejas. 2009.

So it’s been about a month since Chaos in Tejas. I can still feel traces of inspiration and energy flowing through my veins from that epic weekend in May. Upon arriving home I was so disillusioned, kept wondering, “Why can’t all the days be as good as these?” Reality failed to creep in for about a week upon being back home in Minneapolis. Dream world, living the days and nights over and over again in my mind. It's a month later now, still I'm thinking about how incredible the bands were and how inspired and motivated I was after each night.

It’s amazing how many people I reconnected with, no to mention how many new friends from all over the world were made. I got to see some of my favorite bands of all time, and discover new ones! There was an average of 3 shows per day, 3-4 hours of sleep per night/morning, and endless cider and vodka being consumed consistently. Hanging out with like minded individuals in the perfect setting of non stop punk rock madness.


After sitting on a plane ride for 2 hours with ANNIHILATION TIME, I arrived on Wednesday with Skell, and awaiting our arrival was one of the greatest humans I've had the pleasure of knowing, Chris.


He took us to a DRIVE-THRU liqour store!


We met up with Ashley, and then hung out at the Red 7.

Skell. Ashley.


Me. Martina, and Chris. Reuniting with drinks at the Red7.


Truck rides back to where we were staying...



Day Two. Thursday. Was spent impatiently waiting for the arrival for some Germans, and also. . . CRUDE!

We ate at a great Mexican restaurant and enjoyed avocado margaritas. Also, went to a liqour store the size of a fucking grocery store.

Oh vodka, how I love you...


ALAS.... NIGHT ONE OF ABSOLUTE MADNESS...

Annihilation Time:



CRUDE:


































Friend CHRIS, from UNIT 21 joining CRUDE for an encore!






















Crude were absolutely AMAZING!


CrippleC & Martina during the show.


Un-Kraut & Flo!! On the way home.

Day3. Friday, was spent wandering the streets of Austin and hanging out before the show at the river with friends.



Doomsday Hour & FUK.


Un-Kraut.


Stopped in for a slice at Death Metal Pizza! They had loud, terrible music blasting from this place.



Hjertestop: (Denmark)









Destino Final: (Spain)





NickCaught taking a picture of Destino Final.








PsychicTV rocking out!






Me. Un-Kraut. Guitar player from Crude.(I'm terrible with names...) & Chris.



COCK SPARRER:
Imagine over a thousand punks, skins, crusties, and everything in between singing along, arm in arm to the same band. This show over-sold 400 tickets! YOU COULD NOT MOVE!
This was one of the most brilliant live performances I've ever seen in my life. They sounded BETTER live than their 'Shock Troops' LP, is that possible?
They played many classics, including "Where are they now", "Working", "Running Riot", "Got your number", "Sunday Stripper", "Argy Bargy", my personal favorite: "Watch your Back", and
they ended with "England belongs to me" followed by "We're coming back."


Started off in the back...











SO GOOD!
And then there was MORE!
Following this show, an after show at the BROKEN NECK with WORLDS BURN TO DEATH and AI!

World Burns to Death:









AI:
(Another on of the top acts from the weekend...) SO FUCKING BRUTAL... Non stop energy. Punk AS FUCK! Koide is a great front man.


Set list.









































EPIC!!!

After the show outside the Broken Neck.


Mandapocalypse & Nick Caught.


Dude from AI & Heio.


Me. Tosh, from the Business, & Un-Kraut.


Me & Koide & other dude from AI I can not remember his name...

This taken just after on of the most beautiful punk rock moments I've experienced...

I was introducing Koide to Tosh, and Koide sort of took his hat off and did a little bow and handshake, Tosh replied with, "Don't take your hat off to me mate, we're all the same."

Brilliant.






Saturday.


Martina & Chris.


Flo in my vest.

Went to a pre-show at Beerland.

Porkeria: (Super fucking good)






DOOMSDAY HOUR:








This was a band I didn't even know existed before this fest. Turned out to be one of my favorites from the weekend. Raw, in your face, punk as fuck. So much anger. Frustration. Lot's of fucking soul. Brutal. Excellent musicians not to mention rad dudes and incredibley fun to party with. Cheers to them!
Someone put out an LP!!!


Goofing off before the show at Emo's.


Jimmie.


Jimmie & Heio.


Martina & I.


Un-Kraut & I.






Nerd love!



Smug Banter. Mandapocalypse. Assault. Un-Kraut.


Smug Banter. Dumpster Christ. Mandapocalypse. Assault.

AI:


Heio Holding Koide. (AI) Hehehe.




Ran over to the Red7 for a minute to catch The Business:










Ran back to EMO'S, just as Judgement were playing their opening riffs....
JUDGEMENT:




















SO FUCKING GOOD!!!!!!!!



This was the 3rd for me time seeing...
AMEBIX:

So crowded!




Jimmie rocking the fuck out!


Jimmie & Candice.


Happy drunks singing along to Amebix!

More drunk truck rides home....




Sunday.

Show at the Parlor. There were hundreds of punks who couldn't fit inside the place standing around, mostly hungover, sweating incredibley.






Trying to take pictures of Annihilation Time through the window...





Hanging out with friends...



Un-Kraut & Assault.



Me & Assault!


Show outside at the Red7.


Friends of UNIT21, who fucking RIPPED.











CRUDE!!!!!!!!!!!! For the 2nd time this weekend!



















More silly pictures with friends...



Nick Caught. Un-Kraut. Singer from JUDGEMENT. Me.




Me & NickCaught.



Chris Van Damme & Assault in the background.


Me & Jim Martin!


Partying back at Chris's house for one last night o' fun.


Mandapocalypse. Against//Empire.



Hanging with FUK & Doomsday Hour.


Chris & me.



MONDAY.


Woke up feeling super hungover and sad to leave....


Goodbye breakfast with friends.......



And a plane ride back to Minneapolis......

The 'Germs'.

So! I saw ‘The Germs’ last evening.
My curiosity overruled any sort of fucked up feeling I had towards this. And so I went.

The age I actually sat down and listened to The Germs last was probably 16 years. My Monday volunteer shift at Extreme Noise was the perfect time to listen and refresh the memory. After about 6 songs, Diamond Doug could take no more and turned on some metal. Fair enough!
Left a bit early and biked on down to the Triple Rock Social Club, excited to see so many old friends there.


16 year old Manda. Notice the shirt!



Before they played I got to talking with Mr. Don Bolles.
He was totally insane and we got along great! We talked about doing acid, time travel, and traveling in general.
I asked him how this Hollywood actor was getting along “Oh, he’s just fine, but kind of dumb, definitely not as brilliant as Darby was.”

Didn’t realize he was making the vulcan salute til’ reviewing the pictures this morning! RAD.


Lorna Doom was shy and sweet. Met her backstage before they went on.



Me, Johnny Sox, & the shoes of The Germs.


Skeptical, but not expecting much… The opening minutes I had the strangest smile on my face, turning my head couldn’t stop thinking WHAT THE FUCK!?!?? Kept shouting that thought aloud, too.
The energy of this show was incredible. After a few songs, it was in that moment I thought, to hell with thinking! and just went with it. Rocking the fuck out, singing along, spitting on Shane, heckling them, and even joining some friends; Skell and Norman on stage for a brief sing along and then a dive at the end.
Lorna Doom had the brightest smile on her gorgeous face the entire show. Pat Smear had a glowing air about him as well, sick guitar player too! Shane West surprisingly sounded a lot like Darby. He was awkward, even. Crawling into the corners of the stage, only to explode forward with the microphone wrapped around him flailing into the crowd. He definitely did not project the vibes of a Hollywood actor, not that I’ve ever known a Hollywood actor personally or anything. :p

Fun? Lively? Entertaining as hell? Yes.


Shocking? No fucking way.



Shane and I got to talking quite a bit after the show.
I was busting his balls all night. I think when we first met I asked him “So, what does punk mean to a Catholic, Hollywood actor?’
Much to my surprise he got to telling me about his life, apparently both his mother and father were in no-name punk bands. He assured me he’s not in the band, nor are the rest of the Germs for money. In fact, they aren’t making any money, according to him. He simply loves traveling and music. He was in some ‘punk’ band for 8 years and as we were talking he definitely did not seem clueless. I showed him my Germs burn from when I was 14, he grabbed my wrist and traced the spot it was ‘actually’ supposed to be. He definitely studied up on Germs history.

He was rather personable and very affectionate. Laughing, and joking, getting serious and personal, I had quite the pleasant time hanging out and talking with this dude! And then again, I can get along with just about anyone. Humans, fascinating creatures, yes.


If they would have been cocky-arrogant-big-headed-rock-stars clearly my view of them and the show would be much different..



Did I believe in it? Nah. Did The Germs ever mean a lot to me? Not really. Did I have a total fucking blast? Yes.
Novelty shows like these are meant for laughter!
A great night of fun entertainment was definitely achieved.



On a side note, it wasn't a completely happy ending. A mystery shot was sent my way, and after consumption vaugley I remember stumbling to my bike and SOMEHOW making it home. Passing out on the couch for about 20 minutes, only to wake up and intensely vomit in the kitchen sink for about an hour with cold water running over my head. NOT FUN!
I had to work at 10AM, but managed to be only 40 minutes late. Haven't had this terrible a hangover in a very, very long time. Fucking hell, it's taken me nearly an hour to write this rubbish! My brain = mush. No alcohol for me tonight!