The Summer

Punk Rock summer means house shows and festivals and sleeping in parks and hanging out by rivers. Well in guelph at least, for me. My fantasies when I was 16 involved listening to cocksparrer, and gettting worked up at a raucus and rowdy party in a city with a river, and maybe lakes, and lots of big trees; passing out in a field and waking up to walk home the next day.
If anything Guelph has more than been adequate in that department, and I find myself riding the wave of summer, filled with shows and fantastic nights with friends and acquaintences.
If anything I think I've met more friends and punk"contacts" in the summer than any season, but I mean that makes perfect sense.
Two summers ago was Unity Fest in Montreal, which (other than the lame name) was completely awesome and I wish the organisers got their shit together enough to have another one. The Adicts are one of the best bands I've ever seen live, and I urge anyone to see them before monkey calls it quits. Any of the "old bands" who are still going should either hang up their boots, or bring their game up to the Adicts levels because there is NO EXCUSE for not putting on a lively and energetic show. This is a direct call out to THE FORGOTTEN REBELS and THE CANADIAN SUBHUMANS (The UK Subhumans were also great live), who while were awesome and really nice guys.. just never impressed me incredibly live - the energy and passion I associate with punk rock was just missing, and I felt pretty disillusioned while watching their sets.

So to wrap that up, I'll include a list of things you should, or shouldn't do, if you're an aging punk icon band, in order to keep your fans' expectations and fantasies:

1. Don't just stand there
- Get involved with the audience. Move around. Check out the stage. do SOMETHING other than awkwardly shout out the lyrics to long forgotten songs. You need to get by on more than just memories, you need to be a good band by today's status, regardless of age.

2. Don't get too drunk
- Yeah it happens, but when you're that old and some kid who's been idolizing you since he was in grade school wants to hear how the recording of the new album went, being a fucking mess is just sad. Get drunk later, stay sober for the show, and rip it up for him/her. Also, being someone's shitty deadbeat dad is exactly the reason half of us became punks in the first place: Congrats if you became something you hated, that's the BEST.

3. DO try to get the original/best lineup
- Its just cooler ok? DOA with Randy Rampage is the best lineup I've seen in years

4. Play killer gear
- If anything you can impress people with your awesome vintage guitars/amps. You kept them right? RIGHT??!

5. Don't overprice your merch
- Its just pathetic, get real jobs and let kids buy your t-shirts for $10, once again, its part of the founding principles of punk

6. Care
- Its hard to do, you can't teach it, but if you got it, you're gold.

This is all easy enough for me to say being in my early twenties, and not under considerable debt of sorts, but I guarantee if you do any of the above, and more - (plus release a new, great album) - people will give a shit about you again. We want to, just give us a reason.