Muggsy's Rock Pick: Soul Asylum

The real Soul Asylum

FRIDAY, 12/28
Soul Asylum, Honey Dogs, Dead Man Winter @ 1st Avenue, 701 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN.

Naw, they couldn't play While You Were Out in its entirety or Say What You Will or Made to Be Broken or even Hang Time. They're gonna play Grave Dancers Union? The whole thing? They're even gonna play "The Sun Maid"?  Frustrated, Incorporated.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Parquet Courts

Muggsy is taking a holiday (as my good friend Dunc the Punk would say). So instead of my daily Rock Picks this week, I'm doing one to last you until Friday.

Stoned but not starving. (Photo by Heather Strange)

THURSDAY 12/27
The Gizmos, Parquet Courts, The Yolks @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Parquet Courts earned the distinction of having recorded Muggsy's favorite record of 2012 (Light Up Gold [Dull Tools] which is going to enjoy re-release early this year on What's Your Rupture?). P. Courts are young guys who get it. They have just the right mixture of my favorite aspect of 70s punk, 80s post punk and 90s sense of not-taking-shit-too seriously. They write catchy, punk flavored tunes with enough humor and wit and intelligent lyrics to allow me to forgive any hint of being derivative because, let's face it, rock is played out—has been for centuries—but Parquet Courts gives an old man hope for the future generations. I recommend this show, or at the very least, I suggest you tell Santa you want a last a minute stocking stuffer called Light Up Gold.

Reglar Wiglar Blog of the Year Award

The Winner of the "Reglar Wiglar Blog of the Year Award" goes to (drum roll) the Reglar Wiglar Blog!

Thank you so much Reglar Wiglar. We do it all for you!

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Arcwelder

The original arc welder.

SATURDAY 12/22
Arcwelder, Stnnng, The Yoleus @ Turf Clu, 1601 University Ave. St. Paul MN

Back in the 90s, our bands had tough one-word band names, often inspired by construction equipment/materials and tools, like Helmet, Pavement and well, Tool. And Arcwelder of course.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony

Mr. Boneses

FRIDAY 12/21
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Immortal, Redsta 44, 1Fifty1, @ The Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI

You know what Bone Thugs-n-Harmony brought to the rap game in '93? Harmony. Playa, holla, holla!

Video: Bone Thugs-n-Harmony "1st of the Month"

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Thrill Jocky 20th Anniversary Party

Tortoise performing in Union Park, 2009

THURSDAY 12/20
Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, Man Forever @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Yay, it's the Thrill Jocky 20th Anniversary Party at the Empty Bottle! There will be cake! And sea too, so please stop by if you can.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Lasers and Fast and Shit

Your light bulbs, sir.

WEDNESDAY 12/19
Lasers and Fast and Shit, Tight Phantomz, Shapers, Nones @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Muggsy and rock pick and shit.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Heavy Times

TUESDAY 12/18
The People's Temple, Heavy Times, Uh Bones @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Your uh bone is connected to your oh bone and your oh bone is connected to your no bone.

RELATED BLUB: What's It All About, Heavy Times?

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Screeching Weasel

The Screech

MONDAY 12/17
Screeching Weasel, The Queers, The Manges, They Stay Dead @ @ Reggies Rock Club, 2109 S. State St., Chicago, IL

Both Screeching Weasel and The Queers play a brand of Ramone's worshiping punk rock that really grates on Muggsy's last, frayed and tattered nerve, but I give them props for sticking around so long. I guess.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: What Made Milwaukee Famous

"I pledge allegiance to Packer Nation."

SUNDAY 12/16
What Made Milwaukee Famous, Canoe Canoe, The Brown Bottle Flu @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

What made Milwaukee famous is the same thing that's made Muggsy McMurphy infamous: lots and lots of beer. Parking lots of beer.

Video: Yeti Beats, "Worldwide Construction"

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Kool Keith

SATURDAY 12/15
Kool Keith, Sharcula, Luck of the Draw, Sam I Am the MC @ Reggies Rock Club, 2109 S. State St., Chicago, IL

More like Weird Keith.

What's the Point, Heavy Times?

WHAT'S THE POINT?
Occasionally, Reglar Wiglar Magazine asks a band, artist or musician: What’s it all about? What's the point and why go on? This week we ask Chicago corpulent time keepers, Heavy Times:

What’s it all about?

December 18th at Empty Bottle with some other bands or something.

What's the point?

Two new singles, which should be out any day now. One on HoZac Records, one on Windian.

Why go on?

We have a new LP called Fix it Alone that will be coming out early 2012, also on HoZac. It's got 14 songs about alcoholism, drug abuse, and the desire to end one's own life. We'll probably do some sort of touring around it.

TUESDAY 12/18
The People's Temple, Heavy Times, Uh Bones @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

"I'm Single" 7" HoZac Records

Live Pix: Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas @ The Hideout

Photo: Joni Kat Anderson

Photo: Joni Kat Anderson

 Joni Kat Anderson Photography

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Drugs Dragons

Drugs can lead to blurred vision and unbuttoned shirts.

FRIDAY 12/14
Disappears, Football, Drugs Dragons @ Cactus Club, 2496 S. Wentworth Ave., Milwaukee. WI

Muggsy used to roll with Drugs Dragons. Wait no, Muggsy used to roll dice with Dungeons & Dragons. That's it.

Pictures of Dope Ass Unicorns

SNAP! Check out that rainbow! Yo, respect, G!

Taste the Rainbow, son!

 See more pictures of Dope Ass Unicorns. And more!

Pictures of Dope-Ass Unicorns

Naw. Uh-uh. This unicorn is too fly! Check out that mane, dog! And that tail is just too dope for words!

This shit is crazy right here!

See more pictures of Dope Ass Unicorns. And more!

Pictures of Dope-Ass Unicorns

Yo, man! Check out this picture! That is one dope-ass unicorn, man!

This shit is dope right here, check it out.

See more pictures of Dope Ass Unicorns And more!

Can You Stand It?

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Fjords

THURSDAY 12/13
The Pharmacy, The Delphines, Fjords @ River West Public House, 815 E Locust st. Milwaukee, WI

Q: Why did the Norwegian fisherman leave the bay after not catching any fish.

A: He was bored out of his fjord?

Zine Review: Travel On #4

TRAVEL ON #4

Travel on #4, according to its author, David Solomon, is a “perzine consisting of fictional stories, personal letters, nonfiction ramblings and a personal list of accomplishments loosely related to David’s temporary job killing plants for the National Park Service.” I love it when someone does all the work for me. I could end this review right now because, between that description and the zine's subtitle ("Six Months in South Carolina"), my work is done. However, let me add that it’s in digest format with a double saddle stitch. In addition to those particulars, I learned from reading this zine that David is very passionate about his beard, he loves working out of doors (when it's not raining too obnoxiously), he enjoys writing letters and  short stories (some very short) that may or may not contain a plot or any point whatsoever.  Buy Travel On #4 at David's Esty Store why doncha'—Chris Auman

Song for today...

Muggsy's Rock Pick: King Dude

The Dude.

WEDNESDAY 12/12
King Dude, Energy Gown, Spooky Moon @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Muggsy is the original King Dude, just so you know.

Music Review: Hot Lunch s/t

HOT LUNCH
Hot Lunch LP (Who Can You Trust? Records, Germany)

Hot Lunch sound at times like an upside down cross between 60s acid rock and 70s heavy metal with short bursts of what I can only describe as something that might have shown up on an SST record in the 1980s. They stick to the hard rock genre for sure, but they cover a lot of the subgenres within (and by subgenres I just mean other hard rock bands—yes, Black Sabbath and Motorhead are subgenres unto themselves. Are too). And who doesn't appreciate a good hot lunch anyway? (The brown baggers, that's who.)

But anyway... what was I sayin'? Oh yeah, lot's of different influences goin' on with The Lunch. They're not afraid to go after a little bit of fantasy metal with "Lady in the Lake." "Handy Denny" get’s all Rob Tyner and MC5 on your ass. "Killer Smile" (released earlier as a 7" inch single on WCYT Records) gives me a Budgie vibe (and maybe a wedgie as well). "Ripped at the Seam" goes for a Sabbath riff but faster, and "She Wants More" channels Lemmy's "gimme-some-throat-nodes" approach to vocal delivery. The whole record is heavy from beginning to middle to end. It's just fuzzy, loud, blown out rock and roll with nasty vocals and equally nasty subject matter. Just like Mom used to make!—Muggsy McMurphy [Hot Lunch]

Read more reviews, and always...always read Reglar Wiglar! 

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Psychostick

TUESDAY 12/11
Psychostick, Screaming Mechanical Brain, Ten Count Junky @ 7th St. Entry, 701 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN

MUGGSY'S WARNING: Not as funny as S.O.D.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Killswitch Engage

"Muggsy is HILARIOUS, right guys?"

MONDAY 12/10
Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Acaro @ Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL

Muggsy doesn't always listen to bands that are described as "metalcore", but when he does, he wishes he could engage the killswitch.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Cairo Gang

SUNDAY 12/9
Cairo Gang, Nude Sunrise, Double Morris @ The Burlington, 3425 W Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL

Ironically, Muggsy was once jailed in Cairo (pronounced Kay-roh) for providing an unsolicited "nude sunrise" to a group of motorists whilst hitchhiking through Southern, Illinois. I don't think this show is about that though.

What's the Point, The Pharmacy?

Occasionally, Reglar Wiglar Magazine asks a band, artist or musician: What’s it all about? What's the point and why go on? This week we ask drug store cowboys, The Pharmacy:

What’s it all about?

Honestly, it's all about the music. It's life, it's blood, pumping through our collective heart, to our collective dick, making it hard, making it easy, just making it!

What’s the point?

The point is to open people's eyes, wake them up, shake them awake and say, "You are fucking alive man, walk upright, be a human being, have a dream. Live it, man!"

Why go on?

I don't think we've got a choice man. We're obsessed, we're chasing that ghost train.

THURSDAY 12/13The Delphines, Fjords @ River West Public House, 815 E Locust st. Milwaukee, WI

FRIDAY, 12/14 
The Pharmacy, Bes Monde, Fire Retarded @ Mickey's, 1524 Williamson St., Madison, WI

Anders Nilsen @ Boneshaker Books, Minneapolis

Boneshaker Books
Drawn & Quarterly

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Six Organs of Admittance

SATURDAY 12/8
Six Organs of Admittance, Blues Control, Scott Tuma, Mike Weiss @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL

Muggsy generally likes to pay no more than 5 organs for admittance, but tonight, he will make an exception.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Silversun Pickups

How 'bout mowin' the lawn while you're back there.

THURSDAY 12/6
Silversun Pickups, Morning Parade @ The Barrymore Theater, 2090 Atwood, Madison, WI

Muggsy would rather see the Goldenmoon Putdowns, but he'll take what he can get.

Muggsys' Rock Pick: Public Enemy

Yes, you all.

WEDNESDAY 12/5
Public Enemy, @ House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL

Believe the hype! Muggsy knows what time it is! Yeah, boyeee! Bring the noise, etc!

E-Book Review: The New Death & Others

THE NEW DEATH & OTHERS
by James Hutchings

The New Death & Others is an e-book which collects forty-four stories and nineteen poems by James Hutchings. It’s what Hutchings himself describes as "dark fantasy" but containing "no sparkly vampires.” While there are a few vampires mentioned in the book, perhaps they do not qualify as “sparkly”. What New Death does contain is dozens of short (some very short) satirical tales, fairy tale parodies, creation stories, humorous legends and fantastic fables. There are also poems about cats, the moon and various Gods. Interesting, if not completely captivating and entertaining, if not enthrallingly so, The New Death seems like it was probably a lot of fun to create and possesess a certain charming sense of humor.  I can't help but to wonder, however, if perhaps this collection wouldn't be better served as an illustrated book in printed form that could occupy a permanent space on a shelf or a table and be periodically returned to for a quick fix of fantasy, maybe with a cup of tea on a dark and gloomy day. One gets to wondering when one reads this sort of thing at any rate—Chris Auman 

[The New Death & Others on Smashwords]

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Reignwolf

TUESDAY 12/4
Reignwolf, Londres Grand @ The Frequency, 121 W. Main St., Madison, WI

Muggsy's seen it rain cats and dogs, but have you ever seen it reign wolf?

(Yeah, I picked Reignwolf yesterday too. I'm lazy. Sue me.)

Book Review: Beyond the Music

BEYOND THE MUSIC

Joe Biel (Cantankerous Titles) 

Subtitled, “How Punks are Saving the World with DIY Ethics, Skills & Values," Beyond the Music collects interviews with dozens of movers and shakers in the punk scene—and not the safety-pinned, mohawked, vomity punk bands of legend either. No, we're talking about the printers, publishers, artists, writers, and organizers—real, everyday folks who are out there trying to create, produce and contribute to the world using their own set of ethics, guidelines and principals. Collected between 2008 and 2012, with some pieces previously published elsewhere, editor Joe Biel focuses on the individuals in the punk community who have made a lasting committment and contribution to promoting the aforementioned "DIY ethics, skills and values". Such luminaries as Todd Taylor of Razorcake, Ian Mackaye of Dischord Records, Chris Clavin of Plan It X Records, zinesters Urban Hermitt, Al Burian, and Robnoxious, and a whole smattering of punks from vegan chefs (Joshua Ploeg) to polarizing pundits (Ben Weasel) are given a forum to relate their stories and philosophies. Some may be unfamiliar to you, some may be household names in your home, but there's something to glean from all of them, be it inspirational and/or informational—Chris Auman 

Read more reviews, and always...always read Reglar Wiglar!

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Reignwolf

MONDAY 12/3
Reignwolf, Crooked Saws @ 7th St. Entry, 701 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN

Reignwolf is supposedly  a one-man-band but Muggsy swears that sounds like Meg White on drums. Oh well. I wonder if he'll play "Purple Reign" tonight. Here's hoping.

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Kreayshawn

SUNDAY 12/2
Kreayshawn, Rye Rye, Honey Cocaine, Chippy Nonstop @ The Varsity Theater, 1308 4th St. SE Minneapolis, MN 

Muggsy would rather watch Honey Boo Boo rap than whatever all this is.

Video: Rye Rye featuring MIA, "Sunshine"

Muggsy's Rock Pick: Band of Horses

SATURDAY 12/1
Band of Horses, Jason Lytle, @ The Barrymore Theater, 2090 Atwood, Madison, WI

Um, not to be a dick or anything but a group of horses is called a "herd". Just sayin'.