So there’s a benefit show tonight for the worst magazine falling on hard financial times in 2009, Paste Magazine. I know, I know. In 2009, we should be celebrating anybody that’s willing to put out a piece of printed material. I mean, look who you’re talking to, fer chrissakes!

But no, I can’t lock step with people that endorse shit. I’ve fought in the punk rock trenches too  long to let this sleeping dog (or rather dying and/or decaying dog) lie. Fuck. That.

Two years ago, back when their coffers were flush with money from Fat Possum and Luaka Bop ads, we shot across their bow. And sure, we live mere miles from their headquarters. I don’t care. And sure, their boat is sinking, but I’m firing across their bow again. Fuck it. This bitch has got to sink.

And let me say right now that if you’ve ever been a follower of Paste Magazine (other than for research purposes or morbidly curious reasons) and also read Chunklet, I don’t want you as a supporter of our endeavors. If you’ve never read Paste, you’re a lucky person and/or somebody that’s never been stuck at the Memphis Airport. Either way, you win.

Furthermore, I’m not hiding behind a computer when I write this. I am making an open challenge to anybody from Paste Magazine to a debate about their merit versus the merit of Chunklet. It’d be the ultimate spectacle. Editorial morons versus a Moron editor. The fight of the century. We’ll charge at the door and kick the money towards the winner. I’ve already picked out the curtains I’d like to buy with the winnings! Ooooh! Am I picking a fight? Well, sure, I guess I am.

So without further ado, and with complete credit going to my friends on Facebook, here’s a new revised list. *COUGH*

Q: What’s the difference between a bucket of shit and Paste Magazine?

A: Nobody’s dumb enough to have a benefit show for a bucket of shit.
There is none.
A free CD.
The staples.
A bucket of shit doesn’t ask you for money.
Most people won’t open a bucket of shit.
There is an off chance that a bucket of shit might contain nuts.
A bucket of shit can tell you more about what you like.
A bucket of shit doesn’t like crawl up Ryan Adams’ ass and set up camp.
In five years people will still know what a bucket of shit is.
More work goes into a bucket of shit.
If someone has a bucket of shit under their arm you might think they’re crazy but you don’t instantly hate them.
A bucket of shit doesn’t try to convince you to buy a Jack Johnson CD.
A bucket of shit only requires one asshole, not a building full of them.
The bucket of shit just might have a well designed cover over it.
A bucket of shit has substance.
At least flies are attracted to a bucket of shit.
A bucket of shit has staying power, especially downwind.
A bucket of shit doesn’t have lofty aspirations.
A Fat Possum can’t carry a bucket of shit.
I’d donate money to save a bucket of shit.
A bucket of shit grew weary of Uncle Tupelo a long time ago.
A bucket of shit has potential.
A bucket of shit doesn’t have a specially designed logo that always reminds me of the edgy lust for life present at the salad bar at whole foods.
A bucket of shit represents spoils of a fruitful effort.
A bucket of shit has useful fertilizing possibilities.
A bucket of shit is most definitely not insipid.
A bucket of shit never tried to rip off NME.
It’s possible for a bucket of shit to have been made by a talented writer.
You can’t use the discounted media mail rate when shipping a bucket of shit via the USPS.
People who stare at a bucket of shit are far better informed.
A bucket of shit knows more about typography.

Now seriously, Paste. Die.

So what I know about Squirrel Bait is merely what is on the internet and from maybe a couple eyewitnesses. That’s it. Seems like Louisville’s Squirrel Bait, albeit popular in retrospect, wasn’t nearly as documented as some of the heavier hitters on Homestead in the mid-80’s. And you know what? I’m okay with that.

Over the years, I’ve been looking for live recordings of Squirrel Bait with very little success. The Motorola Cloudburst demos seem to be out and about, but screw that, I want to know what they were like live! And finally, I hit paydirt.

Squirrel Bait’s David Grubbs

What I’ve includes is what I’m guessing is a recording that is from Minneapolis. I mean, how many references to Man Sized Action and Brian Paulson can one band muster in a set? The performance is fantastic, and I’m still a bit stunned that these guys are all my age. Fuck, in 1986 I was still in high school! Unbelievable. But yeah, enjoy it as I’ve been doing for the past couple months. Enjoy!

The Bait live!

And with this posting is one very modest offer. Chunklet contrib (and dude that saw SB in Kentucky!) Billy Carter gave me a legendary "I HATE THE BAIT" t-shirt. Yes, I know! I had only seen a photo of Bob Weston wearing it when he was in the Volcano Suns, but to think I’d own one?! Oh, man. I’m indeed a lucky boy. However, with what I hope is the band’s blessing, I’d like to make a small number of this shirt available to the die-hard fans. I’m hoping to make perhaps ten "I HATE THE BAIT" shirts to anybody that contacts me directly at henry (at) chunklet (dot) com. The only thing that’ll be different from the original is that they won’t be such beefy t-shirts and rather just thinner shirts. In all the time I’ve done this site, I like doing these offers of charity every so often in the hopes that the band in question is into it. So with that said, I’m only making a handful of this shirt and charging cost. Yeah, I know. Hard to believe.

Anyway, that’s it. Enjoy the Bait. Good god, they’re so criminally underrated it hurts.

the proposed “I HATE THE BAIT” t-shirt

Squirrel Bait – Virgil’s Return

Squirrel Bait – Thursday

Squirrel Bait – Tape From California

Squirrel Bait – Sun God

Squirrel Bait – Rose Island Road

Squirrel Bait – Kid Dynamite

Squirrel Bait – Hammering So Hard

Squirrel Bait – The Final Chapter

Squirrel Bait – Choose Your Poison

I’d love to think that THIS was the final straw that broke the moose’s water? Probably not. But,…finally a Palin who knows how to pull out.

(Place your bets now – in the comment section – as to the “media” reason, then the real reason).

CUT & RUN.

34-year old Bobby Ubangi (neé Benjamin Jay Womack) passed within the last couple hours. He’d lost all motor control and could only communicate with grunts. As sad as I am right now, I’m heartened to know that Bobby’s done suffering. It’s rare that I well up with tears while writing, and that’s what I’m doing right now. Not that you should care.

Bobby was full of life and a funny, funny fucking guy. Always quicker than anybody in a room to take the piss out of a situation and always the first to lend a hand. I feel like a significant part of the Atlanta scene has just died with him. And we will all miss that.

Chunklet is continuing to take donations (which have already exceeded $2400!!!) to cover his burial costs via paypal at xxxxx@xxxxxx.com *

It’s a sad night, people. Rest in peace, Beej. You deserve it.

*UPDATE (from 5JUL09): Due to overwhelming generosity, we have achieved Beej’s funeral expenses. So unless you’d like to contribute to the hospice that took care of him in his final days, we will respectfully decline future donations.

So I’m never one to make this website a place for charity, but I feel really strongly about this, so please take this seriously.

Here in Atlanta, there’s a guy named Bobby that’s in the final stages of his battle with cancer. I’ve known this cat for years. Years. And has never been anything but a sweet, fun, awesome guy. Read the whole story here.

So with that out of the way, now there’s the not-so-delicate point of telling you that neither he nor his family are rich. Furthermore, everybody in town wants to abide by his dying wish which is to have a "green funeral" near Conyers which’ll cost around four to five grand. I know, dying ain’t cheap.

Anyway, if you’ve ever cared about the Atlanta music scene, please donate. If you’ve ever bought a Lids album, please donate. If you wonder why Deerhunter, Carbonas, Black Lips and every other band in town cares about BJ’s well being, please donate. Even if you have only a few dollars to contribute, please donate.

Paypal funds are easy and remind me a lot of play money because you never really miss it if it was never in your pocket, so what are you waiting for? Send paypal funds to henry@chunklet.com and we can all bury BJ together.

That is all.

(Addendum: A reprint of "UBANGI" t-shirts are available on ebay with all profits going straight to BJ. Click here.)

*UPDATE (from 5JUL09): Due to overwhelming generosity, we have achieved Beej’s funeral expenses. So unless you’d like to contribute to the hospice that took care of him in his final days, we willrespectfully decline future donations.

(Postscript: Criminal Records has offered an mp3 of Bobby and the Midnights performing at the store which you can download below.)

Bobby And The Midnights – Can’t Get Her Off (Of My Mind)

Throw in a shitty Big Black drum machine, and your cat can get booked at F Yeah Fest.

What have you done with your life?

I lived in Athens for a majority of the 90’s, asked tons of old time locals and nobody could ever give me a straight answer about Limbo District. In the movie "Athens, GA-Inside/Out," they stand out as the one band that’s the most enigmatic. Shown in a Victorian style carnival movie shot by the legendary art teacher/film maker Jim Herbert, what you see is what you get of them in the movie. People gushing about them and a fraction of some of their abstract tunes. That’s it.

Limbo District from a Red & Black article

I’ve been scanning eBay for the better part of five years for anything by Limbo District. No dice. I have the band in my Google searches. Nothing. It seems like every attempt to find out about them ends up with a dead end.

However, this past week I stumbled upon the film by Jim Herbert that has been encoded in its entirety. Finally! Something!

I also ripped the audio from the movie and (with help from Sloan) edited the audio into four separate tracks for listening enjoyment.

Limbo District poster

Seeing as how this website has served as a clearing house for solving some nagging questions about releases or bands in the past, I’m hoping that such will be the case with Limbo District.

Tom Smith stated that Limbo District were the only Athens band that his band Boat Of ever identified with as being kindred spirits. Take that as you will.

I’ll open the comments up to anybody that might have any information, anecdotes or, hell, more recordings or insight as to what Limbo District was all about.

Limbo District set list (from the collection of Tom Smith)

Limbo District – A La Maison

Limbo District – Daydreaming

Limbo District – Rhythm Forward

Limbo District – Those Devil Eyes

Well, I’ll start by saying that, in a word, it was incredible. Absolutely. An absolute blast. Chunklet was put in a unique position to curate a stage at NXNE in Toronto, be flown up to enjoy it and then spoke on a panel. I mean, what’s the problem with that, right?

The first day I was there, I was interviewed for the Eye Weekly (read the embarassingly name-drop-heavy interview here) over a mountain of nachos (literally, not figuratively) and then swept up in record shopping (‘natch!) with comedian/Brutal Knight Nick Flanagan. It was all a blast! I went back to the hotel to clean up and then hopped over to the Chunklet showcase at the Bovine Sex Club, yes, that’s it’s name. Would you believe it might’ve also happened at Rancho Relaxo? Simpsons reference anybody? Hello? Anybody? Is this thing on

Chunklet showcase emcee Nick Flanagan with poster!

Sadly, I missed the So So Glos because I got lost on my way from the hotel to the venue, but was fortunate enough to see The Homosexuals who took over the slot of Prizzy Prizzy Please who were slated to play but had to cancel. And I gotta tell you, I was really impressed. I missed all their sets at this last year’s SXSW, and I’m glad I finally got a chance to witness their truly flighty, arty skronk. Really enjoyable.

Towards the end of their set, the Easy Action guys showed up and I drifted to the back room to visit with them during The Coathangers set who are from my hometown, so I’m sure they understand that I was pulled away from the action. Tyvek (who I’m surprised haven’t yet been sued by DuPont) were great and spazzy in the same way I’ve seen them in the past.

By this time, I had been talking with John Brannon about the Laughing Hyenas for the better part of an hour with Graham Williams helping in the nerd department. Amazingly, he told me that the only time people ask about the Hyenas is when he’s on the west cost which, I hate to say, I don’t believe. I mean, it’s the Laughing Hyenas we’re talking about here! I give it a few years when interest in hardcore will dwindle and people will discover late 80’s/early 90’s noise rock and the Hyenas will get their due. Mark my words.

Easy Action at the Bovine Sex Club

Easy Action were in terrific form and, after their technical difficulties during the first song, played a set heavy on new material. What new material? Well, tracks from the new single on Shake It for one. And….*cough*…..new tunes from the next Shake It single. Isn’t that right, Billy?

By the time EA were off stage, the Bovine was packed to the rafters with people vying for a good spot for Youth Brigade. At that point of the night, though, I wasn’t feeling like being crammed in that madhouse. It was just inhumane. After convincing a doorman who had turned about 50 punk rockers away, I went up and told him I wanted to close my tab and that I would be back outside momentarily. The 30-foot trip to the bar took ten minutes. Brutal.

My second day at NXNE was pure pleasure. I met up with Damian Abraham, his charming bride and their new bambini for breakfast hamburgers before jetting over to the hotel where the panels were. The panel was really fun as the moderator just let go of the reins to let us just go nuts. Buddies Sean Carlson (Fuck Yeah Fest) and Michelle from Panache Booking (along with myself) talked about the Phil Collins song "Against All Odds" for about an hour and then took questions. On my way out, Grant Lawrence (of the legendary Smugglers) interviewed Damian and me for Sirius radio which was awesome. In the lobby we also got this goofy Flight of the Conchords photo taken. Cute, ain’t it? And after that bit? Non-stop record shopping until sunset. I swear we walked 4 miles and I had my suspicions reaffirmed when I had a cab drive me back to my hotel which cost $17!

I think next year’s Chunklet showcase will be tempered by experience, but I gotta tell you, it was a blast. Thanks, NXNE! I’ll see you jokers next year!

Damian & yours truly let our hair down….

From my bestest buddy Garth who’s been in China for the summer:

"I thought you’d enjoy this canvas tote bag that I saw multiple places in Nanning.  I’m 99.9999999% sure that the people that I saw carrying this around had no idea what it said or meant.  Maybe this is their NPR premium around these parts….I’d totally be into that."

To quote Garth: "God bless the Chinglish!"

Indeed.

To see who first names their band Dead McMahon.

And………..go!