Chris Casali's Top 5 Wishingwell Records shirts

I guess everyone has that one thing that they are into a little more than anything else, and for me it is Wishingwell merch. At this point I have over 50 different items with no duplicates. I think part of the attraction to Wishingwell is the staggering number of designs that were produced. The Dubars were not afraid to mix things up, that's for sure.

We are going to be starting a running feature on TeeTillDeath.com called "What Hardcore shirt has stood the test of time for you?". This feature was completely inspired by the similar ongoing one here at Double Cross (What HC/Punk album has stood the test of time for you?). Tim asked me to share with you my top 5 Wishingwell Records shirts in order to kick things off right. - Chris Casali (TeeTillDeath.com)



#1 - Wishingwell Records Test Print shirt

I first heard about this shirt from my friend Ritter (LOJ, Trash King Records) who had seen John Coyle, the singer of Outspoken wearing it during their reunion set in 2003. When pictures finally emerged from that show, I knew that I had to track it down. All my favorite Wishingwell prints on one shirt? Yes please! After several emails with John from Outspoken, it was clear that my search was going to be more difficult than originally thought. It seems that a European Outspoken mega-fan had flown in to see them play at this reunion show. After the set he was talking to John and had commented on how much he liked the shirt. Apparently John took it off his back and gave it to the dude as an appreciation for coming all the way out to see them. Great.

That turned into a hunt for a mysterious European dude with no name or country. I was finally able to track down this guy after a few months, and after several YEARS of emails, we were able to work out a ridiculous trade for it. Let's just say that I traded many amazing records to bring this baby home. I am not sure if I am recalling this story correctly as the email has long since been deleted, but I recall Jae telling me a little story about this shirt. Apparently he had gotten this shirt from Pat Dubar and had cherished it for many years. One time he wore it to a show, and Courtney Dubar got in his face and demanded to know where he got the shirt as he figured he must have stolen it. Apparently they only made a couple for friends. Pat Dubar swooped in to set the story straight before the discussion went any further. This is the cornerstone of my collection, and is the same shirt featured in the Radio Silence book.





#2 - black BL'AST! Wishingwell 4 sided

OK so I'm sure many of you out there would like a Bl'ast! shirt (or tattoo, what up Dan Cav!). I have a few variations of the red 4 sided shirts, including one that belonged to Matt Bold, and one that belonged to Kev INSTED. As if my sickness wasn't bad enough, someone had told me long ago that they had seen a black 4 sided Bl'ast! shirt. Never having seen one in person myself, I added it to my want list where it sat lonely for many years. As with most things people collect, if you wait around long enough you will find what you are looking for. I was doing my usual cruise through Ebay land and BOOM this shirt was listed. Sure it is beat up, cut up and faded gray, but there in front of my eyes was a real black Bl'ast! 4 sided. I'm sure it's because of the condition, but I was able to grab this for pretty cheap money. If anyone reading this has one of these, or any other variation of a Bl'ast! Wishingwell shirt, you know where to find me.





#3 - Insted Bonds Of Friendship 3 sided longsleeve

This Insted shirt popped up out of nowhere on ebay as well many years ago. I had never seen one of these before, and I knew I needed to add this to my collection. The seller was based out of NYC, and he told me he picked this up when he saw them on tour in 1988. As with most old shirts, the original owners have amazing memories associated with them, and it often takes years to part with that. This seller had kept this shirt even after selling off all his other shirts and records. I was able to work out a deal with him, and proudly added this to my collection. I traded this away a few years later, only to have it again in my possession. I have not seen another one of these pop up for sale yet.





#4 - Wishingwell Records 4 sided shirt

Sometimes people list things on Ebay without properly checking the spelling of the items listed. This particular shirt was listed as a "Wishignwell" shirt. I watched and waited for 7 long days before I placed my bid at the last second to scoop this up. I was surprised that there was another bidder on this shirt, especially with the misspelling. Only after winning did I figure out that the other bidder was Brian Murphy who had just started Howsyouredge.com with Jim Connelly and me. He has never forgiven me for outbidding him on this, but many years later, we are still working together - even though I can't bring it up.





#5 - Uniform Choice 4 sided red and blue

I have a whole slew of Uniform Choice "straight and Alert" shirts, all with different colors and prints. This one stands out as one of my favorites because of the blue writing on the front. I feel like I need to strap on a pair of 3D glasses before I look at it. Sure this thing is beat to all hell, but it has found a home here with its brothers.

More Pagan Babies

Pagan Babies - "Last" trailer

Posh Boy Records poll wrap up, by: Jon Roa

To wrap up our Posh Boy Records Poll, we went to California legend of all things Hardcore: Jon Roa. While Jon didn't actually vote for one of the bands we listed in the poll, we found his quick history lesson worth posting. As for Tim and me, we went with Agent Orange. When I think of Posh Boy, I immediately think of Agent Orange for "Living In Darkness" alone. Either way, lots of crucial punk records in that back catalog. Thanks to Roa and thanks for voting! -Gordo DCXX

First, I thank Double Cross for asking me to contribute anything.
Gordo has kindly asked me to list my favorite early Posh Boy band. I have seen all of the bands on the list (all with Ryan Hoffman of Chain of Strength I might add) and even though my vote choice goes to TSOL, my absolute favorite Posh Boy release is one not listed: The Stepmothers “All Systems Go EP” (12", EP) 1981.



The Stepmothers released a single, an EP and one LP "You Were Never My Age" on Posh Boy records as well as being on "Rodney on the Roq, Vol. 2." They are best described as a state-side Generation X.

The reasons I love this short five-song burst of energy of a record are many but here are a few of them: The band is from of my area of upbringing-the 909! They borrowed so many genre influences that they were never really accepted by any one group: too metal for the punk crowd and vice versa. I saw them in Chino, CA in 1980 at a hall that they rented and it was a great shock to see a local band that good. The members were totally cool and supportive of this fat, bald kid with braces who lied and said he had a band (me). But above all, their lyrics were great.

I think you all should seek out the CD and listen to the words to “Don’t Kill The Beat” which are still strong today:

“So you have been into the scene for a month or two.
But that kid there, there is something wrong with you.
You spike his face so he fears for his life.
You forget pretty quick what your first night was like.”

I hope all you Double Cross people track it down and listen to the song, “IF I WERE YOU” as it is a great one. Let the world know what you think.

I think it is fantastic. - ROA XXX

Chris Lohman - Blackspot, Collateral Damage, A.C. Silk Screen

Chris Lohman with Blackspot, 3/22/2009, Photo courtesy of: Lohman

For those of you that might be unfamiliar with Chris Lohman, he's been a mainstay in the Southern California Hardcore scene since the mid 80's. Getting his start in Blackspot, currently doing a band called Damage Season and going full force with a screen printing company that's been doing all the latest Cro-Mags merch, I thought Chris would make for a good read. As Chris would say, he's… "No one to step on, no one to take your shit, who will you have to fuck with?". -Tim DCXX

First off, tell us who you are, where you're from, what bands you've played in, etc.

My name is Chris Lohman, and I'm from Huntington Beach California. I grew up here in Huntington, and have lived here my whole life. Huntington Beach has always had strong roots in the punk scene, and for lower income and broken families, punk rock was the escape. I grew up seeing the punk culture around me, and knew kids whose brothers were listening to punk rock. In the 6th grade I asked for a Clash tape (Combat Rock) for Christmas. I got it, and I was drawn to that kind of music...it wasn't long after that that I got a guitar, and wanted to play in a punk band.

It wasn't until my Freshman year in High School that I really did start to play guitar. I can't remember which friend it was...I want to say Mike Murphy...but they told me about a band called Uniform Choice. They were a Hardcore Straight Edge band out of Orange County...I had heard of Minor Threat, but UC was from around here, and I loved it. I would sit in my room and try to play their songs, and one day, while playing guitar with my cousin, it started to come together. I was hooked for life, I knew then that I wanted to be in a Hardcore band.

Bands were kind of slim pickings for me in High School. I had some great friends that I played with, but I wanted to do a real Hardcore band. A year or so after high school, I surprisingly hooked up with some guys from high school, and started a band called Blackspot. Greg Brown, Scott Lytle, Sean Fader and I were doing a full fledged Hardcore band. Blackspot for me was a dream come true. We played our first show with Insted, Dan from No For An Answer put out our 7", we went on tour, and played with bands like Sick Of It All...it was what you were suppose to do in a Hardcore band.

As Blackspot started to run its course, I found that I had an interest in singing. So, a few friends of mine and I started a band called Collateral Damage. The band was politically charged, and had a very heavy sound to it. It actually started off as a project, but quickly moved into a full time band. Collateral Damage got to play a lot of great shows, and we were on New Age records, which at the time was a premier label. After Collateral Damage, I continued to play music...and in 2000, Dan O'Mahony and I started a band called JOHN HENRY HOLIDAY. The idea was to capture the sound from the 80s and let people know that that music is what inspired a lot of people to be who they are today.

I have never given up on Hardcore... I still play it today. I'm currently doing a band called Damage Season with Brian Manery (Mean Season), and Jae Hansel (Outspoken), and it's one of the best band I have ever done.



Who are some of your favorite Southern California bands and why?

Uniform Choice, No For An Answer, Insted, Outspoken, Unity, Mean Season, Ignite, Don't No, Social Distortion, and every band that I have been in.

Uniform Choice was the band that started it all for me...I still love and listen to the first album. It's the music that just resonated with who I am, even today.

No For An Answer was the band I got to see from their first show to their last. I got to follow them, and see their progression, and be part of it. I knew what shows they were playing and when their records were coming out. I was knee deep into the scene, and they were the front runners around here.

Insted...everyone liked Insted...you had to. The guys were cool, they had a great sound, and they were the staple of Orange County.

Outspoken, just sound good...and their live shows were awesome. I was always so impressed with the songs they wrote.

Unity was one of my favorites...I just love the sound of that 7". It reminds of skateboarding with my friends, and going to shows. We would always listen to that on the way to shows...and SNFU on the way home. Never did get to see them.

Mean Season...I always wanted to play guitar as good as Manery...still can't by the way.

Ignite brought Hardcore back to Orange County in the 90s. When I heard that record that Zoli sang on I was more than impressed. They still sound great today.

Don't No just plain scared me to death...they were an HB local band that had the scariest crowd I have ever seen, but they really know how to play their intstruments. Great band.

Social Distortion...it's a county law that you have to like Social Distortion if you live here...even if people say they don't like them, they really do.

For all the bands that I played in...I have to like all the bands that I played in or what would be the point?


Chris Lohman with Damage Season, Photo courtesy of: Lohman

What are some of your favorite memories from going to shows in Southern California?


When I first started going to shows 80s, there was Fender's Ballroom. The Olympic Auditorium was the big punk place to have shows, but they were stopping shows there, and Fender's was the new place. It was in the heart of downtown Long Beach, in a gang infested area. It was about 30 mins. away from Huntington Beach, but back then it seemed like hours. Once inside Fender's, the gang problem didn't stop. You had the Skinhead/Punk gang, The Lads, you had the Suicidals...enough said. You had SOS, the Samoans, and to top it off...Circle One. If you kept your head down you were OK, but if you got out of hand, one of them would handle you. I remember feeling scared when I first started going, but the music kept me going back. Once I got the hang of things, I really loved going to shows.

Thinking back, all the riots, and gang fights is what made that place so fun. It was like a movie, and when you were on your way home you felt like you escaped death. In a way you kind of did. There was so much brutality it didn't seem real, I'm glad kids today don't have to deal what that so much anymore, but you had to really want to be at one of those shows. The friends I had back then I still have to day...they feel like old army buddies. We went through something great. Things people today wish they were there for, band that people will never get to see again, and we got to see them. Cro-Mags, 7 Seconds, Youth Brigade, Youth Of Today, COC, SNFU, Agnostic Front, Bl'ast!, Exploited, RKL, No For An Answer, Black Flag, Descendents, TSOL, No Mercy, Beowulf, Suicidal Tendencies, X, Bad Religion, Uniform Choice, Insted, MDC, Stalag 13, IllRepute, Circle Jerks, Chain Of Strength, Scream...these are the memories I think of most often. I love playing shows...but what inspired me to play was going to those shows.


Workshed Records ad for the Blackspot EP

How did you get started with your screen printing company and what bands have you been printing for?

A long time ago, I use to print for Mike Hartsfield at New Age. I only did it for a short time, but I enjoyed it. Two years ago when the recession hit, I was a longshoreman...and the work stopped. I spent about 6 months trying to figure out what I was going to do. I was watching TV one night, and I saw one of the guys from TAPOUT doing a commercial for self-help CD...I think it was Tony Robbins. He mentioned how much TAPOUT was making and I just keep thinking about that...I never bought the CDs or anything like that, but it did get me thinking about starting my own business. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it, and I had a family to think about.

A few weeks later a friend of mine mentioned that he knew a person that was selling some screen printing equipment, and if I knew anyone who would want it. I told him I did, and I knew that's what I wanted to do, be my own boss, and work hard for myself for once instead of someone else. A couple of weeks after that I got a call from the Cro-Mags asking if I knew anyone who could do merch. Ever since then it has been great. I've done merch for tons of local bands: Colors, All Your Might and more popular bands like Ignite, and Nations On Fire. I've done some re-issues from older local bands as well...and out of state bands like Fathom Down of course the Cro-Mags. Clothing companies and skateboard companies make up a lot of my business as well. I never realized how many people I know who need shirts...It's awesome.


Criag Ahead, John Joseph and Chris Lohman, Photo courtesy of: Lohman


Let's talk Cro-Mags. How did you get hooked up doing all their west coast merch? Who does the designs? Any classic Cro-Mags shirt you'd love to re-print? How's JJ been to work with?

One day, when the Cro-Mags were coming to California to play some shows, they called me to ask if I knew anyone who did merch. I told them I did, but I had literally just started to screen shirts. I was about 2 weeks into it when they called. The designs come from either John or Mackie, they have friends that will do their artwork. Fans sometimes will send those guys some art, and they will use that as shirts too...only if the people say it's cool. I finally got them to do the black and white AOQ shirt this last tour. I loved that shirt, and so did a lot of people. I keep getting asked by everyone if they were going to have it on this tour, and I finally got to say yes.

The other one was the original AOQ shirt that they has back on the Motorhead tour...we got to do that one too for this last tour...that one's rad. Working with John Joseph has been awesome. He has to be one of the nicest people I have ever met, he truly cares about people. He's written a book called Meat Is For Pussies, which should be out in April 2010, and he wrote it to help people understand about the foods they put in their bodyies. He truly has respect for the human race. When I've gone on tour with them John always sits in the front with me, and he makes everyone in the van die of laughter...the stories he tells are crazy. He has been around for a long time. One of my favorite stories is when he went to see Fear on Saturday Night Live.



What are some of your memories from seeing the Cro-Mags during the Age Of Quarrel era and or the Best Wishes era? How does seeing the 2010 version of the Cro-Mags compare to the original versions?

Well, I haven't missed a Cro-Mags show in Southern California since 1986 when they played with Motorhead. Back in '86...seeing the Cro-Mags was the greatest thing in the world...John Joseph was going crazy, and it seemed like they played the whole album from start to finish. I wasn't too up on my music chops back then, but they seemed to play really good. When I saw them on the 1990 "Down But Not Out" Tour, Harley was the lone singer, and it didn't have the energy that they did in '86, but the sound was awesome. Everything was dialed in and perfect.

Now that I'm older, and I know my way around music, I can say that the 2010 version is the best version to see. With Mackie on drums, it sounds exactly like AOQ...and John Joseph acts like he has more energy now then he did back in the 80's (the way John Joseph eats, he just might have more energy...Vegan). With AJ from Leeway on guitar, there is just no one better to play Cro-Mags songs...and my main man Craig form Sick Of It All on bass...and we know how good he is. With all 4 of them together it has to be the best version of the Cro-Mags so far.



Favorite track off Age Of Quarrel and favorite track off Best Wishes and why?

We Gotta Know...Just the rhythm of the sticks counting at the beginning will make me go crazy. I can never get sick of that song...it has all the elements a Hardcore song needs. The best intro in the history of intros, and then the song speeds up to a perfect rhythm to mash around to. The lyrics fit exactly with the song...what else could you sing about with that song..."Struggling in the streets just trying to survive, searching for the truth is just keep us alive, gotta break these shackles gotta break these chains..."

Crush The Demoniac off of Best Wishes...that ending of the song is out of hand. When he's yelling, "Got to kill, got to fight got to crush the demoniac"...I love that. I feel that song could have been on AOQ.


Anything you want to get out there regarding the screen printing company? Contact info, etc.?

If anyone wants to get shirts printed, by someone who knows about Hardcore...I'm your man. If you have any questions at all, you can call me, text me or e-mail me. You can also contact us on Facebook, and myspace: AC Silk Screen.

A.C. Silk Screen
Chris Lohman
(714) 801-9055
Cldamage@aol.com
www.myspace.com/Americanclassicsilkscreen


JJ and Lohman, Photo courtesy of: Lohman

Maturity: A Tribute to Endpoint, By: Brian Peterson

Rob Pennington with Endpoint at The Wetland's, NYC, 2/13/1994, Photo: Angela Boatwright

I still remember the first time I heard these lyrics:
“Standing alone, feeling the dark, screaming so loud my throat goes dry. Clawing the dirt, pawing the door, the path so hard to find. Feel the fire burning inside of me. Taste the pure desire of the need to be free.”

“Remember” by Endpoint somehow described every ounce of my very being as a teen. My glasses were a little too big, my clothes a little too baggy, my personality a little too awkward. I had recently graduated from high school but was completely uncertain about my future. I had moved to my town in Illinois from North Dakota a couple years previous and missed my childhood friends. I had no one to confide in, no one to take advice from. I felt utterly alone.

I took some college classes, worked at a local ice cream store, and went to see as many bands as possible at our area coffeehouses and VFW Halls. I was staying afloat, but was directionless. And I didn’t want to keep going.

I never went as far as trying to end my life. I certainly thought about it, but I was just as afraid of death as I was of life.

In 1994 I met a group of friends who were to become like family. They embraced me for who I was – with all of my insecurities and frailties. We were brought together by hardcore and it was the most exciting thing in the world. I started playing in a band with some of them. I suddenly had a social life. We did everything together – went to shows, practiced, helped each other deliver newspapers, watched videos of old-school pro wrestling pay-per-views. We were inseparable, and I was starting to feel like I belonged.

The oldest guy in the group of friends was sort of our “hardcore mentor.” He made us this (now classic) mix tape that we all dubbed from one another. We all had sought out hardcore on our own and had already heard many amazing bands, but this guy (Greg Thompson) was like the hardcore Quentin Tarantino. He had every record, knew seemingly every word to every song (no matter how cliché or inane). His record collection was like a gold mine!


Duncan and Chad hair it up with Endpoint, Photo: Chris Bennett

One band I remember hearing on this important mix-tape was Endpoint. I remember asking Greg, “Hey, what’s with the singing?” I guess I had become used to hardcore vocalists who just screamed. He just smiled and passed me a copy of their album, Catharsis.

“Give it a chance,” he said.
I did.

I took it home and put on my headphones. I was riveted. Those surging, rapid-fire opening chords to “Caste” and Rob Pennington’s vocals were like an alarm clock inside my brain. It awakened something inside of me.

Then came “Remember,” the song quoted above. As I followed along I noticed feelings I’d never felt building inside of me. It was strange. Normally I kept everything bottled up inside. Suddenly, I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I could completely identify with the lyrics.

Looking back, a lot of my misery was my own fault. I allowed life to happen to me instead of making life happen for me. For whatever reason I felt helpless and hopeless. But as I heard this song, something inside of me changed.

Someone out there understood, and things were going to be okay.

I played the rest of the record and was enthralled. The music was really unique: a blend of emotionally raw punk rock, melodic, Dischord-style post-hardcore, and a multitude of other musical influences, many of them stemming from their experiences in the extremely diverse Louisville music scene. What came out of their amps was as inspiring as it was abrasive. The emotion was practically dripping off the sleeve of the record.


Rob with Endpoint at The Wetlands, NYC, Photo: Angela Boatwright

Many talk about the times they saw people cry at Endpoint shows. Perhaps this has been a bit exaggerated over the years? Only those who were there know the truth. Whatever the case, I can understand why these feelings were evoked. They played music with their hearts and spirits torn wide open. When you reveal that much of yourself to others, you’re bound to inspire empathy – especially when you have such genuinely kind people playing the music.

Greg mentioned that Endpoint was from Louisville, KY. I’ll be honest, my first thought was, “Wow, these hillbillies can play some really great hardcore.” I know, I know. What’s a guy from North Dakota got on Kentucky, right? Admittedly it was a stereotype. But it was one I was ecstatic to have shattered.

As I continued to listen I noticed that song after song addressed social and political issues, but they did it in such a compassionate way. These weren’t diatribes - they were creating a personal dialogue. Some of the more militantly political bands of the time did such a great job of awakening people to so many important issues. But sometimes these bands failed to do one thing: You have to recognize the humanity in people before expecting them to change. Endpoint spoke about these important personal and political issues, but they measured the anger, sadness, and frustration with a healing salve of understanding and serenity.

Maybe most importantly, Endpoint showed me (and many others) that it was okay to hurt, but that we should take that pain and learn from it, grow, improve, and forgive (both others and ourselves). I hadn’t learned to do that yet, but perhaps Catharsis was my first lesson.

What sealed the deal for me was hearing “Maturity.” I’d already run the gamut of emotions listening to the record, but the following lyrics triggered something else:

“Deep inside is a soul, you haven’t felt for years. Open up and feel the warmth that dries away all the tears. Don’t be scared of growing old, just grow towards the sky. Don’t waste time lost in yourself or life will pass you by.”


Endpoint at Club Pandemonium, Newtown PA, Photo: Adam Tanner

I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It was as if someone pulled me up by the back of my shirt, gave me a big hug, and pointed me in a new direction.

It was time to put my life together.

From that point on I still wrestled with lots of ups and downs, as anyone does. But I finally realized I had the power to not allow life’s occasional pitfalls bring me down. I also now had a second family to lean on when the times got tough, which they surely did (and still do) over and over again. But I was now somehow stronger, braver, more aware of myself.

As the song says, I matured.

Fast-forward about 15 years…
My life, again, took a strange twist. The woman I loved for the past decade told me she doesn’t love me anymore.


Rob with an Endpoint sing along, Photo: Dave Mandel

The day she told me her feelings I went for a walk. The cold winter breeze chilled me to the bone. Freezing, I went to my car to take a break for a moment. I instinctually turned on the ignition and “Strings” from The Last Record burst out of my stereo. Tears formed when I heard these words:

“Nothing’s simple when you’re broken, strings are twisted, eyes are stolen and when I feel like dancing, there’s nothing left of me today. Nothing matters when you’re voiceless And nothing gets through this hardwood skin. And when I feel like dancing, there’s nothing left of me today. And it’s so hard to pick myself up, and it’s oh so hard when your strings are twisted And I sit here waiting to be untied. I sit here waiting...”

This has been the hardest experience I’ve ever gone through. But I know I’m strong enough to move on. I know that I have the choice: either lie down passively and wallow in sadness and fear or pick myself up and, tenderly, take some steps forward day-by-day.

How am I so sure I can make it? I’m reminded of “Inside” and suddenly feel like I’m soaring:

“Melt the ice that has so long bound you, for your life has just begun Youth for you was oh so hard; I wore a mask to hide the scars. It took so long for me too see. I don’t want you to hurt like me. The truth is so damn hard to find. I spent my days lost in my mind, but now I reach toward the sky. So soar little boy, soar so high. Spread your wings, learn to fly, set your soul free before you die.”

Music has been like school for me. It has helped change my personal and political outlook; it’s caused me to empathize, learn, progress, reflect, and grow. It’s helped me realize who I am and who I aspire to be.

Rob, Duncan, Chad, Kyle, Lee, Pat, Jason, Rusty, and anyone else who played in Endpoint: Thank you for allowing me to take your class. I never would have graduated without you.

Endpoint is playing reunion shows to benefit their good friend Jason Noble (Rodan, Rachel’s, Shipping News) on May 14th and May 15th at Headliner’s Music Hall in Louisville, KY.


Duncan with Endpoint, Photo: Dave Mandel

What one hardcore/punk album has stood the test of time for you?

Ajay goes for a dive during Enuf's set at Scott Hall, Photo: Ken Salerno

Ajay James - Enuf

Kind of surprised that it wasn't on here yet, but I have to say for me it was the Bad Brains and their Bad Brains album. I remember when I first heard punk music back in '83, and then I started working at the skate surf shop Freestyle in Woodbridge mall. I heard it on the Rutgers University radio station, didn't even know what punk was. I used to listen to KRS One and Kool DJ Red Alert, but this was so dope.

I remember when I bought my first walkman type device, a Mura Hi Stepper, and I used to listen to punk through the late hours of the night. Then I remember the movie After Hours came out, and it was a wrap for me, because they used Pay to Cum in it. That basically cemented punk as my music of choice, although I was still heavy on the rap, ska and reggae as well.

Another major factor for me was that they were a strong influence for me as a West Indian growing up here, because of the reggae influence, and also, there weren't any other all black groups doing this genre of music at this time. Of course it was huge for me, and that I believe for me is what got me interested in doing Enuf with my bruddah Andy White.


Token Entry promo photo, Astoria Park, Astoria NY

Johnny Steigerwald - Token Entry

Out Of Step by Minor Threat never gets old. I listen to the album now and it seems to have such a natural flow to it. Ian still had the anger and passion that carried over from In My Eyes. Brian Baker jumped from bass over to guitar to team up with Lyle Preslar and Brian’s influence came through, giving the band a new element. I love the fact that they experimented a little more with rhythm and tempo changes - even kicking back and getting a laugh with “Cashing In.” Twenty seven years later I’m still blown away by the overall sound of the album. The production is clear and precise but it still has a lot of grit. I think it’s one of the best hardcore albums ever made, and it still stands tall today.