I thought it was a joke, but ATP has never been known to joke about these things.

May 2009. Minehead. I would be there regardless, but yes, now I’ll be there front and center. And Sleep’s reuniting? Fuck me.

I was lucky enough to see The Jesus Lizard A LOT, but once Mac split, I kinda lost interest. My only hope is that The Jesus Lizard’s reunion doesn’t turn into the endless Slint reunion which eventually lost momentum and, yes, eventually bored everybody to tears.

*ahem*

Dear ATP, more bands I’d like you to reunite: Codeine, Bitch Magnet, Bastro, Spaceman 3, Tar, Rapeman, Floor, The Fix, The Necros, The original line up of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Swans…..oh god, the list is endless…..

Yow and my hat, Baltimore ’92

While I’m away getting fat in Louisiana over Thanksgiving, let us compile a list of other notable bands that ATP should get to reunite.

And as an added bonus, I’m including a Jesus Lizard radio session from ’91 in Cincinnati. I’m sure Billy will dig this, but the rest of you? ENJOY!

The Jesus Lizard-Dancing Naked Ladies (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)

The Jesus Lizard-Pop Song (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)

The Jesus Lizard-Zachariah (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)

The Jesus Lizard-Nub (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)

The Jesus Lizard-Seasick (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)

The Jesus Lizard-Monkey Trick (WAIF, Cincinnati ’91)

So the fourth annual Asshole Santa appearance at Criminal Records was this weekend. Another endurance test for this non-drinking, non-smoking, asocial douchebag.

Asshole Santa with an honest-to-god steam punk!

I think more than a few photos are still missing, but you can check out the photostream here.

Asshole Santa (and elves) with Eagles of Death Metal

Personal highlights? Having Jim Goad’s newborn Zane take pix (and he and his parents were a delight), two bangin’-assed stripper types taking multiple photos with their you-know-what’s in my face, Eagles of Death Metal and meeting a steam punk for the first time which made me laugh!

And hey, we raised money for PAWS Atlanta. Thanks to everybody at Criminal Records (especially Eric and Lillian), Dookie and Crappy the elves, and also to everybody that came out!

Asshole Santa with an honest-to-god tranny!

So the last month has been pretty busy. I traveled all over the country to promote the book and then came home to various shows I was putting on or arranging and then the odd friend coming into town and then I turned forty on Friday.

Thanks, Kevin…..

There’s an interview with me on the Onion AV Club that I had a lot of fun doing. Of course, I was a smidge excited to talk to Josh and man, the AV Club’s comments section is nothing short of hysterical.

More news shortly including local shows with Fucked Up, Patton Oswalt (!!!!!) and Les Savy Fav (!?!?!??!).

I bring you puppy cam!!!!! Just rocked Baltimore and Philly. Right before that was Chicago, Cincy and St. Louis.

I even got my first craigslist "missed encounter"! While playing Guitar Hero! My wife was so jealous!

Me at Atomic Books in Baltimore….

Yet another linking of H20 & myself. We both share the great pleasure of living in cities that will host this most awesome of events. Who else could we, dear Chunklet site readers, put on that bill to make it really, really, extra freedomy? You report, we’ll decide.

***It seems some folks thought that I made this "event" up out of whole cloth? Sadly that is not the case. Below is a thankfully brief clip of the 2006 get down. The blurry jarhead in the golf shirt singing(?) is Hannity himself. Makes perfect sense, as I’ve felt super, extra, freedomy these last 2 years. Still not sure what Ollie does?

Perfect for X-mas, lousy for Hanukkah!

Had breakfast with good buddies Pdex and Stephen Sowley in Chicago on Saturday morning while I was on my way to promote the Rock Bible all over the midwest.

I jokingly said I’d run into somebody I knew within an hour. It only took ten minutes and it was former Pennsylvanian and current Blue Man Noah Leger (bad ass drummer from the criminally underrated Hurl and criminally insane Thee Speaking Canaries).

Over coffee, pancakes, bagels, I found out that a certain Chicagoan owns a PT Cruiser which made me bust a gut. Guess who it is and win a Zach/Ted Leo 7". No foolies.

Choice wheels, brah….

Would you believe I bought barely any records in Chicago, but loaded up with an entire crate in Cincy? I also had the score of the month in St. Louis with a handful of rare versions of Drunks With Guns and Strangulated Beatoffs 7"s. Damien from Fucked Up chatted with me earlier today and said "That was YOU that bought those?". Apparently he was at Vintage Vinyl mere hours after me and was told by the staff that somebody (me) had just cleaned them out. Score!

And yes, this is in the city I live.

After putting on my fair share of Mastodon shows over the years, it still is completely exciting that I was able to put them on with Brian Posehn at the 40 Watt as the birthday party for Chunklet. A total rush.

Me bringing Mastodon on stage @ 40 Watt, c Mike White

I was able to bring Mastodon up by getting the capacity 40 Watt crowd to whisper "Mastodon" as they came on stage. It was really incredible to do that.

Mastodon @ 40 Watt, c Mike White

Mastodon‘s entire set was old material in an effort to discourage internet leaks. It’s a real pity as their new record is such a masterpiece.

However, they closed with "The Bit" by the Melvins which I’ve linked to from YouTube. Check it out.

Mastodon @ 40 Watt, c Mike White

Day 2 was one of the most surreal days of my life. Getting one of my best buddies (Brian Posehn) to play with another group of best buddies (Mastodon) was a dream come true! And at the 40 Watt? One of the best clubs on the planet? Come on. That’s a no brainer.

It’s Casual @ 40 Watt, c Mike White

First up was LA heavy hitters It’s Casual who flew in just for the occasion. I have Billy to thank for turning me onto them, but holy mackerel, were they a blast!

Brian Posehn @ 40 Watt, c Mike White

Seeing as how I had Brent for the entire weekend, I had him do a set before  Posehn and it went well. Brian was recording his set to use for his next record and it went super well! The crowd was, for the most part, very rowdy and supportive.

Brian Posehn @ 40 Watt, c Mike White