Parasitix & Blanks 77
Record Release Show
at the Phillipsburg New Jersey Mall
July 2, 2016
Yes, Parasitx and Blanks 77 played at Spin Me Round Records https://www.facebook.com/SpinMeRoundStore/ to celebrate the release of their split LP/CD on Jailhouse Records https://www.facebook.com/Jailhouse.Records/ . Spin Me Round Records just so happens to be in the Phillipsburg Mall, right across from Auntie Anne's Pretzels.
I hope you enjoy the photos I took. Recently got a new camera and have been trying to figure it out. This was the first show I attended where I actually had any kind of success with the photos. So I now share with you many photos from a great day!o
I hope you enjoy the photos I took. Recently got a new camera and have been trying to figure it out. This was the first show I attended where I actually had any kind of success with the photos. So I now share with you many photos from a great day!o
The Phillipsburg Mall was pretty vacant. The downturn in Malls is well documented but this place was d-e-a-d. Walt called it perfectly... The Mall was VERY empty, except for spiky punk rockers. Dawn of the Dead - punk version.
Aeropostale looks like they are going out of business..
Not one person was working out at Golds Gym (wish I belonged to a gym like this)...
These photos were taken at 7:00 PM... on a Saturday night...
Johnny Generic (oops, now Johnny OG, aka JOG, aka Johnny Up To No Good) was ruler of the mall.
Chaotic Meltdown got things started off.
Appropriate thrash and metal to warn off any curiosity seekers. The volume could be heard down the corridors of the P-burg Mall. This was a perfectly classic way to start the night off!
J.O.G. guarding the pizza and H2O
Next up was Washington NJ based Vengents https://www.facebook.com/vengentsband/
The punk and metal influenced band proved to be the perfect soundtrack for my record purchasing and browsing at Spin Me Round.
Picked up the Blanks 77 / Parasitix split LP, The Gee Strings "Arrest Me" LP (I already have their excellent LPs "A Bunch of Bugs" and "Alternative Losers"), The Ink Spots "10 of the Best Ink Spots Hits" (my son actually turned me on to this band via the video game Fall Out 3... the Ink Spots were active during the 1930s and 1940s) and The Allentown Band LP from 1985 "Our Band Heritage" (I actually worked with a guy who plays trumpet on this LP... he also frequents Double Decker Records). Very successful vinyl shopping trip at Spin Me Round!
Wall full of Blanks and Parasitix at Spin Me Round
The Parasitix have been one of my favorite punk bands over the last few years. Their shows are typically over 21, heavy drinking events. Vocalist Paul Wilde found it difficult to remember the last all ages show they played. As they got started with their raucous set, I wondered how their obscenity laced drunk punk wouldn't get someone arrested today, but then I remembered there was no one in the Mall to offend.
Drummer Josiah gave a pre-set, emotionally charged love speech to everyone who helped leading up to the release of this split record with Blanks 77. He almost cried.
The Parasitix ruled as usual. Punks were singing along, pogo dancing, circle pit skanking, fists raised, hardcore moshing and EVERYONE was smiling!
It was also a great opportunity for those who do not frequent the bars the Parasitix typically play to get to see the band... and bring along the kids. Lots of babies at this show. Lots of parents and grandparents too.
Johnny OG making sure the band stays hydrated
Lots of items went flying during the Parasitix set. Including a pair of glasses that Paul Wilde thought belonged to Milo Aukerman. But this very un-Milo Parasitix fan demanded they were his glasses!
Glasses relinquished with a smile.
The Parasitix set list:
If you didn't know the lyrics to their songs so you could join in on the festivities of singing along, I suggest you head over to their bandcamp page and download (for free you "jabroni") their 2013 recording "Pogo on a Politician". And of course buy the new split with the Blanks 77...
By the way, I had to use the Urban Dictionary to get the definition and meaning of "jabroni":
jabroni
A slang term in professional wrestling first used by the Iron Sheik and then again later by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. It is derived from the word jobber, which is someone who routinely loses, or "does the job".
The Rock says, "Know your role and shut your mouth, jabroni!"
As Paul seems to take on the Iron Sheik persona, I am assuming this is his reference.
These definitions also seem to apply:
Jabroni
A punk/idiot. Someone who you try to avoid. Someone with no redeeming qualities.
Oh hey look it's Pauly c! What a jabroni. We should probably leave.
Jabroni
A Jabroni is someone who sucks. Jabroni's are often inferior in skills such as light-sabering, dancing, or playing video games. Jabroni's can not make decent cocktails.
Our roommate is such a Jabroni.
I have been a fan of Blanks 77 https://www.facebook.com/Blanks-77-256493316808/ since before their members turned 35 (see a great interview I did with the band in FOE zine issue #29 at this link http://www.foe.firstpress.net/blanks77.pdf - read it to find out many things about the Blanks 77 - such as who was stripping for guitar & amp money, the time they beat up a bouncer at City Gardens and how much money, booze and speed it will really cost you to book Blanks 77).
Blanks 77 started out in 1990 and were a great influence on the Parasitix.
The Blanks 77 never fail to provide for an amazing time. I don't know how many times I have seen them over the years, but I love them every time.
Blanks 77 Bassist's father came out to the show... and was in the pit...
Can you spot his Dad in the pit? By the way, I need/want one of those walker/chairs...
Mike doesn't trust open bottles of water from the crowd...
This guy loves open containers!
Lost "bullet" in the pit... in a mall... yikes...
Blanks 77 set list
TURBONEGRO!!!
Life affirming gig for sure.
Cheers
Frank FOE
PS I was thinking... since malls like these are going downhill... how cool would it be to turn an entire mall into a food/bar/band performance area... Friday and Saturday nights with each old out of business storefront turned into a club... different genres, different food stores... open on Fridays - Sundays like the farmers markets... except it is all food, live music, record stores, music equipment stores, related specialty stores ("Studs and Suds Shoppe" - where you could buy leather jacket accessories and beer Etc...), ... swap meet space, recording studios, band practice rooms... you could just show up and there would be all varieties of music playing in each store on a Friday night... say the second band sucks, you could go for a walk in the mall corridor and get some food or check out a band playing in the next shop... Hot Topic could stay... oh wait, Phillipsburg Mall doesn't even have a Hot Topic!
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