Random XVX negativity (& a Drop Dead song)

I haven't posted much here during August's second half. But one thing is for sure, in my life I'm just as adamant in my convictions and dedicated to the vegan straight edge as I have ever been. It's just that the enthusiasm about writing/blogging comes and goes in circles. It just goes like that.

Sometimes I think that doing blogs and zines is nothing but a mere cultural expression in regard to the vegan xxx cause. I mean, it hardly changes anything, it hardly impresses anyone in this forsaken, cold world. The people who are into it just want to see tattoos and Iphone fucking pix taken in the mirror. XVX patches, "Liberate" patches and all that crap. Yes, I'm kind of let down with the kind of people I've met in this scene. That's why sometimes I tend to say "fuck it" and just want to hide underground. Just keep myself pure, locked in the fight for what's right. And that, I have already.

And now take 42  seconds of crusty powerviolence, you fucks!

Chill Out Bro

This is perhaps one of the most productive but also most stressful periods in my life.

In about two weeks we are finally opening our vegan shop with my girlfriend, which is awesome, but I am so stressed about everything going right. And of course I am also busy with preparing for our record release party/show, and getting ready to leave on tour in about 20 days. It's just crazy.

So what can be the antidote to all this hyper-activity and instability? Well, just take things easy and let them roll. I am so glad I have this straight edge attitude on this; just look forward, look ahead, plan and be safe.

When I have free time, waiting for everything to come together, all I pretty much do is get busy with hardcore. Which is how I like it. Just write on my blogs, listen to new music, do the new Straight Edge Greece thing on tumblr (along with Nick from xFNx), and of course spend time with my girlfriend, cat, friends and family.

What else is there to do? Smoke weed? Fuck no! Stay safe everyone!!! XXX

Living For My Xs

Today it's like one of those days that it's the calm after - or before - the storm. I had a pretty long, hard working week, but today I just woke up when I wanted to and did stuff for myself, like drink coffee and write on this blog as well as take care of some other stuff.

Tonight we are also playing a show with MT, and I have a lot of damn energy to play that show. It's not always like that. It's like I am totally focused on my goals (to be a better person, partner, to make ends meet)... and all this creates a bunch of feelings and pent up emotions that I am ready to release through hardcore.

It has been a tough time for me recently. A lot of everyday struggle, a lot of questioning myself and what I'm even doing in this music scene -- a stranger in a strange land. "But while the struggle continues, I'm gonna live my dream!" ... and the vegan straight edge is a beacon.

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p.s. I am listening to the song "Sincerly Yours" by Omega Impure's The First in Line album. It is straight edge hip hop by the guy who used to be in DaBlueCorner and a bunch of other pioneering sXe hip hop acts. It's awesome, chilled out, melancholic hip hop with great lyrics and if you're OK with that you should definitely find this. Shit's rad.

Edge kids: Few and Far Between

Being away on holidays for a few days gave me a chance to reflect on what it is to be straight edge in this world. I was away from my friends who are edge and couldn't spend much time online checking out cool straight edge bands or listen to much straight edge music.

The reality of the matter is that this world is definitely NOT straight edge.. not even straight edge-friendly. We live in a world where the norm is to drink and/or smoke and that's that. And even though I know the aforementioned fact well enough, I always feel it more when I am out of context and away from my familiar surroundings.

Does this mean that I get jaded on being straight edge? Hell no!

What I realize is that people who are vegan and especially straight edge are really few and far between. I am not talking about the straight edge kid who does it for fashion or whatever, but about the true warriors who dedicate their life pledging to and promoting a clean lifestyle. Those who are really living it and are supporting it with passion.

I guess this is the reason why those "few and far between" people tend to create tight friendships no matter the distance or their background. If there is some unspoken brotherhood status to being edge, I am happy to claim it. STRAIGHT EDGE!

* by the way of the post's title I remembered (and listened to a few times) SHUTDOWN's awesome, super old school Few and Far Between album. Straight from the late 90s, real hardcore the way it should be played. If you don't have this classic and consider yourself a hardcore fan, do something to find this album! 

Tellem

Last night we played live our new, *straight edge* song for the first time, and got a pretty good response from the crowd (250-300 drinkers and 3 edge kids). We also had an anti-drugs leaflet and A. spoke about it briefly before we played the song. He just said a few words about the fact that there are people who actually DON'T drink. Do kids even care about that stuff any more? Or do we just piss them off with our live clean stance? What we discussed with A. after the show is that even if most kids don't dig straight edge at all (for whatever reason), at least there is a presence that represents this lifestyle, that shows that kids like us are here and we are doing our thing. We're letting them know it's here. We gotta be bold, and grab the chance to tell people! STRAIGHT EDGE!

Hang On (To Your Dreams)

Today is another sober day filled with positivity. I don't want to come off righteous or anything like that, but it feels good to be able and face the world like this. It is something I am proud of. I like doing my everyday stuff and feel the positive vibes next to me, with no headaches and no regrets.

I've been into hardcore for a very long time and I am glad that I can make decisions to shape my life around it now that I am older. Starting a vegan shop with my girlfriend, playing in a positive hardcore band and seeing new places, meeting new people, making music... All that stuff is great.

I've resolved that I will dedicate my life to doing what I love and that I will take it as far as possible. I want to dedicate my energy in to doing what I feel and know is right for me.