I'm surprised no dude has said

"man, I missed the connection of MY PENIS to HER VAGINA" or something like that.

I haven't read this thread in a while so if that does exist, just know I thought of it without provocation.

I pretty much assumed that's what this thread was about..

If it's about not bumping into people you thought you might, or arranged to.. I think I saw everyone I was meant to, plus bumped into a few random folks I had no idea where even there.. Like Jon from Rubber Factory Records. Last time I saw him was about 2005 (I think) in Cardiff when he flew all the way from Canada for an all-dayer that Frankie Stubbs was playing, then I'm standing in The Venue and he just wanders up to clink drinks with me during some band like it was the most natural thing in the world. Only at Fest..

I don't know WTF happened to the 2 British people I was supposed to pick up in Tampa.

Dang. I noticed that, too. Fortunately, I showered EVERY day at Fest. haha.

Luckily I was warned that The Kickstand was barless so I didn't bother going there at all. There were a bunch of bands i'd like to have seen, but no beers and walking? pfft..

I don't understand the not showering for weeks at a time thing.. a few days, fair enough, but it gets uncomfortable and annoying when you're boggy and grimy the whole time. Not to mention having to smell yourself stinking of ass.

i miss pointing at the crusty girls and commenting on how smelly their vagina must be. yeah sure, maybe it does make you more punk than me because you don't wash your hair and you're covered in mud, but if any brave soul dares to get anywhere near your giblets the poor fellow is just gonna blow chunks

Kickstand is byob. Next time pick up a case at the ghetto gas station on the way (and a hooker - that's their corner) and get down there for some fun.

this is a big big lie. they're just gross, nothing you wear makes you more punk than anyone else. a bunch of piercings, tattoos, a blue mohawk and a leather jacket with a rancid patch self-sewn into the back with 1000 pointy studs doesn't make you more punk than anyone else. the music and culture don't define us, WE define the culture. i don't think anyone can Fest better than me just because they smell worse.

it's just getting WAY too cool to be a 'punk' nowadays. frat boys wear mohawks, fashionistas wear torn up clothes and wafflemakers, the only 'cool' punk bands play the warped tour, and tats and piercings are made and bought in the mall, on lunch break. gosh frickin damnit, this shit has got to stop!

/soapbox, hehe

I am tempted to just say, "here here!" and leave it be, but I'll get up on my own soapbox for a moment to say this...*ahem*...

While I agree with you, getting mad about will only serve to make you bitter and jaded. Trust me. I don't wanna be all, "back in my day..." especially since I have no idea how old you are, but I used to get violently angry at shit like this all the time and I just ended up getting burned out on punk. I spent a couple years doing the whole pretentious indie-kid thing. I listened to a lot of Karate and talked down to just about everybody. Then, a couple years ago I got really into Jawbreaker and realized something...

You're right. This shit does need to stop. But, there's nothing you can really do about it. And, probably, it will go away again eventually. But, even if it doesn't, getting pissed about it is pointless. What we need to do instead is just keep in mind that (and, you are 100% right about this) punk is about the MUSIC and nothing else. Go nuts at shows, and rep the bands, labels and causes you love. Keep in mind why you loved punk in the first place. For me it was all about fun. Going to shows is FUN, buying and listening to records is FUN, meeting people at shows is FUN and exciting!

Also, some of these stupid kids just need to be shown what's what. There is a good chance that if they got turned on to real punk and the real scene (the one we see at Fest and in basements with our friends) then they might be cool instead of stupid douches! Basically, what it comes down to, is you should remember what punk is and try not to get mad about it.

Don't turn into that guy who bitches and moans about how everything was better "back in his day," and is an asshole to everyone. Keep the shit fun and positive!

Oh, and I'm not trying to be a jerk or say that you are an asshole! I agree with you! And this rant was probably uncalled for...sleep depravation and too much caffeine does stuff like this too me...sorry!

damnit, we were doing so well on this forum by NOT having the almost omnipresent 'what is/isnt punk' thread.

Agreed. I was being sarcastic

I'm sorry.

My bad.

Won't happen again.

I/we need at least a yearly dose or hardcore bitching. we're supposed to be angry youths, right???

My beef is who is the dildo that decided to intertwine music with fashion and then relate the two? Other than that...dress how you want to dress and listen to what you want to listen to. Assuming anything is still sacred is an archaic fad.

edit: I suppose to stay on topic I should say that I'm bummed I missed banner pilot due to a sizable dump I had to take--that was a long and lonely walk back to the hotel.

My band missed connections only included Chinese Telephones (*sob*) and In Defense. But, its not like I won't see them again before next years Fest, probably, and 3/4's of the Telephones gave me a lift back to Tampa for my flight...I need to talk to Dan about whether or not the Telephones are breaking up. And if I can go to his wedding. Is it uncouth to ask to go to someone's wedding if you weren't invited?