Slew 07 -- The Show  //  The Pics 1. Dead Milkmen: Smoking Banana Peels - Smokin’ Banana Peels E.P. (Enigma, 1988) The Dead Milkmen are the ultimate joke punk band to some, and others think they are high-art, original, and also punk. They are all of this to me. Filling my head with hilarious stories and images, but at the same time they play some damn fine music. The song Smokin’ Banana Peels is a great example of how to take the hippie generation trippy, dippy shit and give it a punk attitude. Well Done, sirs. They are still playing shows. Go see them if you can. "Take Elvis for a walk and shut-up." http://www.deadmilkmen.com/ 2. The Cramps: Drug Train - Bad Music For Bad People (I.R.S, 1984) You ever rode a train? You ever rode a train on drugs? You ever rode a drug train? Sounds fun. You don’t need me to tell you about The Cramps. No, what you need is to get on board. Although I did just now learn that Bad Music For Bad People is a compilation from previous studio recordings. Go, Internet! "You put one foot up. You put another foot up. You put another foot up, and your on board the Drug Train." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Music_for_Bad_People 3. Sloppy seconds: Somebody Else's Pills - The First Seven Inches (Alternative Testicles, AT-001, 1987) In their heyday, this band was the “other” band full of fat guys. The primary “fat guy” band at the time was Poison Idea. These guys couldn’t have been/aren’t more different than Poison Idea. Ramones fueled punk with great hooks and funny lyrics, Sloppy Seconds built a career on songs about porn, comic books, booze, drugs, and girls. “Why don't you swallow a handful of someone else's pills? It will solve all of my problems and cure all your ills” http://www.myspace.com/kingsofjunkrock 4. Dwarves: Drug Store - Drug Store EP (Sub Pop Records, SP-081, 1990) Very few bands match the history of the Dwarves. Fifteen minute rock shows similar to riots were the norm. Stories of Blag getting into punching matches with the audience. I have distinct memories of watching He Who Cannot Be Named shove is finger up his ass. Drug Store is just one of the umpteen perfect songs they’ve written on the subject matter. “Goin down to the drug store Gonna buy a box of Romilar Goin down down down Gonna have me some fun”http://www.thedwarves.com/ 5. Boris The Sprinkler - Drugs and Masturbastion (Mutant Pop records, MP-03, 1995) I saw Boris The Sprinkler play a bunch in the early days of the band and they were so goddamn fun (most of the time) that it just served to reinforce how awesome it was to grow up in the Fox River Valley (not that I knew it then). Rumor has it the singer Norb is a video game designer, Paul #2 was captured by a drum playing chicken and is being held hostage in Door County, Ric #6 is working in feminine hygine, and Paul #1 is who knows where. Enjoy their myspace page, they haven’t looked at it in years. “Other people are not like me and I don’t like them very much.” So true. http://www.myspace.com/boristhesprinkler 6. Didjits: Dear Junkie (Sub Pop, SP241, 1993) Rick Sims has been writing great rock songs since he started The Didjits back in the mid-eighties. The Didjits broke up in the late nineties and Rick went on to form the Gaza Strippers who kept the torch alive for a few more years. The last thing the Strippers put out was in 2002 and I have no idea what he’s been up to since. “I’m on my way back home....”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Didjits 7. SQRM: White Rabbit - White Saints EP (Abscess Records, AR01, 2010) SQRM, a MA based band plays a dirty, noisey, depraved version hardcore punk that does not disappoint. This disorienting rendition of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" makes me think more of meth than psychedelics, but whatever. “And you've just had some kind of mushroom And your mind is moving slow”http://www.ihateyouthattack.com/pages/interviews/sqrm.htmhttp://www.abscesstrax.com/ 8. The Dickies: Just Say Yes - Just Say Yes b/w Ayatollah You So 7” (Over