Get off the internet!
Get Off The Internet!
But, if you feel like ignoring our best advice, here are some interesting,informative sites from bands, organizations, people and record labels that we support or find inspiring...
National Conference On Organized Resistance, www.OrganizedResistance.org.
This annual conference held mid-January in Washington DC has become a KTMWQ staple. Each year a collective of activists brings together organizers and speakers and strategists working on a wide variety of social issues to network, educate and agitate. Each year, a large, diverse underground music concert is held on one or two nights of this conference. In the past groups such as Most Secret Method, Q and Not U and others have played. For the past three years KTMWQ and North Carolina's Zegota have performed together at the conference. This year, 2002, will see that tradition continue January 26th with Zegota's last show in the United States before moving collectively to Sweden. Come out! Organize!
Del Cielo,www.exoticfever.com/delcielo/index.html
Aside from being an impressive indie punk trio, boasting an attention for melody and danceable flare, Del Cielo is also a group of three women active (conventionally and on their own terms) in the punk and activist scenes in Washington DC and Richmond, VA. They are one of the most fun bands to play and/or travel with! In addition to a 4-song demo CD, Del Cielo will also be featured on a split 7" with SinDesiresMarie on Ed Walters Records this Spring.
Exotic Fever Records, www.exoticfever.com
A unique and inspiring record and fanzine label from Washington DC run by Sara Klemm, Bonnie Schliegel (formerly of Bald Rapunzel) and Katy Otto (Bald Rapunzel/Del Cielo). Recent releases include a split 7" between Homage to Catalonia and Andrea Lisi (of Del Cielo), "And Literacy and Justice For All...," a CD compilation benefiting the DC Area Books To Prisoners Project--songs from Zegota, Virginia Black Lung, Flashbulb Memory, The Assistant, etc. combined with a thick, intense zine of personal writing and prison-related stats and info. Expect a full-length from RVA's Light The Fuse And Run soon!! Check out the January issue of SEVENTEEN magazine for a label profile... or, better yet, toss the magazine in the trash and get in touch with them yourself.
R5 Productions, www.R5Productions.com.
As underground music becomes increasingly influenced by the money and machinery of "rock as usual" attitudes and industry, the alternatives created by those who attempt to work outside that model are all the more precious. Sean Agnew is a longtime friend of KTMWQ and a reliable, honest and highly efficient concert promoter. What's more, Sean operates his shows and his R5 Production company in a completely autonomous, independent manner. For a listing of upcoming events in Philadelphia, or to learn more about R5, check out this page!
The Great Clearing Off, www.angelfire.com/punk3/clearingoff.
This five-piece Philadelphia band has alot to do with Philly's punk scene being on an exciting and intimate upswing. The band currently has a self-released demo CD with impressive packaging, with a split 7" with the Sound of Failure out soon on Ed Walters Records and a full debut 7" EP out soon as well on an as-yet-unnamed label from Philadelphia.
The Independent Media Center, www.imc.org
Considering what passes for journalism these days, and the fact that
most
publicists are total fuckwads, an independent, grassroots network of
news and
debate is very important. No one does it better than the IMC.
Soft Skull Press, www.softskull.com
An independent, radical publishing company, Soft Skull has released
numerous
books including Fortunate Son--a controversial biography of George W.
Bush,
William "Upski" Wimsatt's Bomb The Suburbs and No More Prisons, as well
as
Mark Andersen's Dance Of Days: 20 Years Of Punk In The Nation's
Capital.
On-Line Anarchist Infoshop, www.infoshop.org
You don't have to be an anarchist to make use of the oodles of
information
and resources accessible through this site. But, the FBI will still
probably
start tracking you.
The Sound Of Failure, www.angelfire.com/sd/failure
A website for one of Philadelphia's best and most sincere punk bands.
Heartattack compared them to John Henry West and This Machine Kills,
but we
know they get jiggy in their own special way.
Ebullition Records/Mailorder and HeartAttack Fanzine,
www.ebullition.com
Ebullition is probably one of the largest hc/punk labels and mailorder
distros in the world. It maintains fair, reasonable prices and
reliable,
efficient service. HeartAttack is a monthly 'zine published by some of
the
people involved in the label, and some who are not.
Drop Dead, http://loa.com/~gauze/dropdead
Rhode Island's Drop Dead have been around for over 10 years turning out
blistering grind/thrash records with unwavering political lyrics.
Fuck Mike McKee,http://hometown.aol.com/swizzkid/myhomepagefaith1.html
Mike sings for KTMWQ. This is his website he made while goofing off at
work.
It's worth a peek for its controversial "friend reviews," which made
everyone
angry.
Ed Walters Records,http://members.tripod.com/~edwalters
This is a small record label run by our friend Mike Dailey. He has
released
records by Midvale, Passenger Train Proposal, a Soutek
Conspiracy/Murdock
split 7" and is working on a pro-Bicycle series of split 7"s with
several
noteworthy bands.
Rawkus Records, www.rawkus.com
Okay, so, even before Lyricist Lounge 2, this label has seem bent on a
cash-money turn for the worse. It's still the home of Mos Def and Black
Star.
75 Ark Records, www.75Ark.com
An independent hip hop record label boasting releases from Del the
Funky
Homosapien, political raptivists The Coup and one of the world's most
accomplished producers, Dan The Automator.
Dischord Records, www.dischord.com
We're not going to argue that the label made a slight "aesthetic shift"
somewhere between the S.O.A. 7" and Smart Went Crazy. Still, Dischord
Records
is a threat by example, and has released some amazing music while
making a
strong case for regionalism and innovation. Don't blame them for "emo,"
they
had no idea at the time.
AK Press, www.akpress.org
Radical/Anarchist publishing company popularized mainly by its
sweet-looking
shirts and the wide-selection of its titles peddled by sweet-looking
book
dealers like Rich The Roadie and Carolyn from San Francisco.
Books Through Bars, www.booksthroughbars.org
This non-profit, grassroots organization sends free, educational
reading
material to prisoners and works to raise awareness about the prison
industrial complex as well as resources and support services for
incarcerated
persons. They meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month in west
Philadelphia to fill requests and mail out packages of books to
prisoners.
This site also provides links to other books to prisoners programs in
other
cities.
Witch Hunt, www.witch-hunt.cjb.net
This female-fronted crust punk band hailing from NJ/PA is a trio of punks worth checking out. If you are in the NYC/NJ/PA/MD/DE area, or if you see them coming to your town, reprezent reprezent!
Chumbawumba's Webpage, www.chumba.com
We might not agree with every decision the band ever made. And we might
not
ever want to hear "Tubthumping" ever again. Still, this UK band has
pulled
off a lot of crazy and good things in and outside of 'the system,'
working on
their own terms. The site is pretty good natured and provides some
great info
and links.
Act Up, www.critpath.org/actup/
Act Up (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power) has been active in Philadelphia for well over 12 years now and remains one of the most intense grassroots groups focusing on HIV/AIDS issues (prevention/education/treatment/prejudice/legislation,etc.). Working closely with the queer community and various communities of people of color (disproportionately effected), Act Up's site provides many informative links and several heads-up about upcoming demos/actions.
