Message says, 'Hell has frozen over'

Phone call from the Lord says, "Hey boy, get a sweater right now"

As I was writing my previous post last week, New Orleans experienced its biggest snowstorm in 130 years. We got 8-10 inches of snow in a day which for New Orleans, the closest you can get to a true tropical city in the lower 49 besides Miami, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Talking to my parents about it, I’m reminded how dull a topic “snow” can be for people who have lived through blizzards dumping 30 inches in a day but for me it was unreal.

I was born near Denver though I don’t have any memories of the snow like my parents do. My dad says I was born on a snow day and Mom remembers walking me through the snow to go dip in the hot tub the Colorado house had.

We moved to the South for my dad’s work when I was about three years old and stayed there the rest of my life (mostly in Florida). I don’t remember the snow or the hot tub really. I just have stranger fabricated after the fact memories from old photos my parents took.

Last week I spent as much time as I could taking pictures and staying inside editing those photos. But as this corner of the country was freezing over, the discourse surrounding Trump’s first week in office was heating up. It’s inescapable right now.

Although it's a bit too late, I’m glad folks realize that the tech oligarchs and other billionaires are a problem. I’m seeing a lot of “rich vs poor” sentiment going around which I think is good. The more class-conscious the average person is the more likely we are to have some kind of radical change in this country.

I really don’t want to keep writing preachy political-type stuff in these weekly blog posts. Trump’s in office. The news will be like this every week. Fascists will be emboldened and they’ll hopefully be met with leftists doing their part to protect their communities.

I have a life to live and I’m glad I went outside to play in the snow. What else can you do when hell is frozen over?

Here are some of my favorite shots:

Orbiting Punk Picks

Lambrini Girls - Who Let The Dogs Out

This record’s been getting a lot of hype since before its release a couple of weeks ago but after sitting down to listen to the whole thing, I can say it’s lived up to it. A Brighton, UK punk band, Lambrini Girls delivers energetic, melodic punk with head-piercing hooks. Their vocalist Phoebe Lunny commands attention with her raw voice and caustic lyrics using popular modern buzzwords and phrases like “big dick energy,” “cunty” and “nepo-baby.” Self-described as “party music for gay angry sluts” and also labeled as riot grrl (even being interviewed by Bikini Kill and Le Tigre frontwoman Kathleen Hanna), they’re spinning the genre with modern (and very British) sensibilities on the same old problems— gentrification, men in general, capitalism and the rest.

Fat Dog - “Peace Song”

Fun, dumb dance-punk with just the right hint of melancholy. They’re 2024 album, WOOF. didn’t impress me as much but this particular track oozes energy and lust for life. This track had yet to fail at brightening my mood with its innocent lyrics and childlike chorus. Also the music video fucks, like a fever dream fusing Power Rangers and Doctor Who.

Midwife - “Autoluminescent”

A quiet, ethereal track gently submerges with beautifully layered guitar and effects cut by Madeline Johnston’s hush voice. Perfect for a snowstorm.

Meryle Streek- “If This Is Life”

A bratty Irish punk with a simple message, “real life” sucks and things could be so much better than this— like a world where homes are affordable or where making a living and making art aren’t mutually exclusive. I also particularly like the pitched-up looping guitar line.

Doseone - “No Cops”

I enjoyed this feature on Bandcamp Daily and went down a rabbit hole exploring the different chapters of New Mexico rapper Doseone. This track on his new album stood out to me with its looping horror scream and Doseone’s menacing flow. Rich lyrical content, a hallmark of this kind of hip-hop (a la Open Mike Eagle), explores everything from Greek myth to modern-day fascists/cops for a sharp commentary on human suffering.

Subtle - “I Heart LA”

Another Doseone project, “I Heart LA” is a cryptic acoustic ballad that can have a few different interpetations. Is it about drugs consuming your life? Or maybe depression doing that instead? Or maybe it’s about the tantalizing offerings and ultimate trapings of living in a big city? Either way I love the line, “I think what's wrong with the world has to do with those who fell in love with New York or Los Angeles or Paris and Jerusalem and me of course.”

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