My old punk band is active again (eee-yikes!). Here’s a like button, just in case you like this idea.
I like The Alarm song that ends with the line, “It’s a long time coming and it’s good to be back.” I had actually forgotten how much fun a band could be. Us four guys (Butch, bass; Bradford, guitar; Bob, drums; and I on what you can’t really call vocals, can you?) have remained friends all these years, hung out on rare occasion and enjoyed each others company. It wasn’t until last year’s Cornerstone involved a couple small events that a reunion began to take shape.
One was my friend Brian Behm, a fellow Austinite who volunteers as one of the festival’s video leaders. I’m not sure what his official title is, but he organizes a largely volunteer force that collects video footage for the website (be looking for video updates with current/as-it-happens action as the festival progresses), the mainstage video screens and other promotional purposes. He suggested that with the band Sexually Frustrated playing that maybe they film a segment with me (representing Lust Control) handing off the mantle of bands-that-address-sexuality to Kyle Bawinkle (who fronts Sexually Frustrated). We filmed a short little interview segment. That was the first thing that got this ball rolling.
The second thing was the conversation that ensued. Kyle invited me up on stage to sing along with them during their ode to Lust Control – “The Bigger M.” Of course, I did and of course I botched it up. In my (weak) defense, I was not familiar with the song. Kyle ran through the chorus a couple times and for some reason I just couldn’t get the “hook” or should I say “musical delivery” down. The chorus goes like this:
“It’s not good
at any rate
Don’t! Don’t
(rest)
Don’t masturbate!”
The last line has a short rhythmic rest before it’s sung and danged if I couldn’t master that little technique. There’s footage of this unglorious moment somewhere. Anyway, while Kyle and I were talking, he asked if we would ever play another show. I told him that if there was interest and we actually got invited that we’d do it.
While I have had the vehicle with which I could promote Lust Control (HM Magazine) I have pretty much refused to do it. I’ve mentioned them in passing a few times and even reviewed their first tape/album back in 1988 (back when the identities of the band members was a tight secret) and then another article when the band called it quits in ’94. Having a stage at various festivals (like Cornerstone, Sonshine and Purple Door), I’ve just felt like it would be ridiculous and cheap to book my own band. Even this past year at SXSW when we had a late vacancy at the HM Magazine Showcase I didn’t want to artificially empower or promote a band with my own thing. It’s just not the same as someone else praising you or promoting you, etc.
Kyle said he’d ask his friend Robert (of Headnoise) that books the Underground Stage about us playing the next year. This is the only stage I’d like LC to play on, because it is where the hardcore and punk bands play. It’s legit. So, it’s truly an honor that this thing got organized and booked. It’s called a double-bill with Sexually Frustrated and Lust Control. It should be fun. Really fun.
Bradford
Butch
Bob
You can keep up with Lust Control at a few places:
Facebook.com/LustControl
LustControl.com
MySpace.com/LustControl
Twitter.com/LustControl
YouTube LC playlist
I’m thinking the most up-to-date news will be on the twitter account, followed by facebook (both the HM.Magazine facebook and Lust Control Gene Bradford Bob Butch pages).
Okay, enough about Lust Control. Let’s talk about me.
I’m a freakin’ workaholic and I’ve got to change. It’s taking a toll on my family and I’ve got to change.
A typical workday will find me working at HM on my computer. If one of my kids comes up to me and asks a question (and they’re not really “kids” anymore – being 13 and 15) more often than not my face will stay turned towards the computer screen. Many things will get grunt answers and the information I “receive” will be soon forgotten. I”ve got to change. My lunch break will consist of wolfing down food as fast as I can to get back to work. Dinner. Back to work. Work. Work. Work. Go to sleep. Repeat that. It’s been that way for nearly 26 years. I’ve got to change.
While it might seem glamorous to put out a magazine and while I like seeing the finished product and I get fulfillment out of this work, it’s killing me and it’s killing my family. I’ve got to change.
Here’s my plan (in addition to all the other plans I’ve enacted in the last year): Work only 8 to 5 and then turn the computer off. Power it off. Screens off. No email checking. It’s over until the next day. No exceptions. No more “deadline excuses.”
I’ve got to change.
It’s one thing to admit, “Oh, I’ve got a problem.” Or, “Oh, I could improve in this area.” I’ve seen the results of my laser-like focus to HM on my family. It’s not good. While there’s a little bit of, “Oh, my daddy has a cool job” type of sentiment, it’s mostly been replaced with resentment.
I’ve long believed that family is more important than business. Family is more important than career. Family is more important than ministry. Family is more important.
I’ve got to change.
People say the internet is “interactive.” You can help it be interactive by holding me accountable. Send me an email some day down the road. Ask me how this “I’ve got to change” business is going. Do it. Leave a comment on facebook. Comment here. Help me.
I don’t want to be that guy that sacrifices his family for the sake of this cool music magazine. That’s lonely. That’s sad. That’s empty. That sucks.
I’ve got to change. I’m motivated. I’m scared. I hope I’m not too late.
Comments