Greetings from still occupied Minneapolis,
While we have accomplished meaningful victories, our struggle continues. The headline-grabbing brutalities have stopped their constant frequency, but ICE continues to abduct and disappear individuals, only now their efforts are focused on the smaller cities and rural towns around MN, and not here in the Twin Cities, where we have effectively beaten them back. We don't know exactly how many agents remain: our Congressional reps were told there were less than 500 when they came to inspect their MN headquarters, but on the same day, Homan the bribe taker was in the news saying there were 1000 agents left. ICE told our Congresspeople they had no detainees at the Whipple, then released 4 detainees within 2 hours after our Congresspeople left. They do nothing but lie, at every juncture.
Our own observations and intel give all sorts of mixed messages: large-volume deliveries of new cars, new office spaces rented out, fresh agents arriving claiming to be "the advance team", but there has been an overall slowdown in the absolute volume of ICE activity. At least as far as we can tell.
But this is the message we want to communicate to the rest of the world:
ICE is still here. We are still occupied. Our struggle is not over.
When does it all end? When we've returned to the original staffing levels of ICE here in the Twin Cities? When all ICE agents have left? When ICE is abolished? When there's justice for the 8 killed by ICE here, and the many more grievously injured, and the many many more aggressed and victimized? When ICE is held accountable for the laws they broke?
I guess I think everyone has to decide for themselves, what they think the end goal should be for their own involvement. I think I know where my endpoint is, and I imagine it's different than for a lot of my comrades in the trenches, but ultimately, for better or worse, I don't consider myself a "politics" person, I consider myself a "punk" person. I have my own sense of what I'm obligated to do by virtue of being punk, of being a member of a community, of being a good person, and where that ends compared to being "a political activist". I think about this as different groups invite me into their fold: when this is "over", I'm not moving on to the next protest topic, I'm returning to band practice, watching anime, and my social life LOL. I want to do my part, but I want to live my own happy life too.
In any event, at the moment I write this, our "Week of Action" is just kicking off, and I'm helping with some events, participating in others, and taking yet more time off work to get out in the trenches. For me, the most incredible part of this horrifying experience has been witnessing and participating in the development of sophisticated decentralized and autonomous resistance efforts, to see so much develop so quickly and so thoroughly, I can't really describe it in words but it's inspiring and powerful. And a lot of the Week of Action revolves around inviting out-of-towners to come and witness it all first-hand and learn from us directly. At first, I was a little skeptical of this event, because in general I am skeptical of the notion of outsiders arriving in your space and throwing their weight around....but when I look at the agenda, see the complete buy-in from our local groups, I'm really moved, and I can't imagine a better way of pushing the resistance forward.
I made this point on my podcast recently, but if you want to support our efforts in Minneapolis, in my opinion the best thing you can do is pay it forward and get ready in your city. Build the connections and community, think about what you envision your role to be, what you think you'd want to and could commit to, get familiar with the techniques and strategies and best practices, so that when things start happening, you're ready to hit the ground running just like they will be. I've started to use a term "the ecosystem of resistance", from the blades of grass to the apex predator, everyone has a role to play in creating an environment where ICE cannot function effectively.
(or, get out on the streets before you get surge'd and fight back against the DHS warehouses, which are extremely disturbing and need to be fought tooth and nail immediately, don't give these bastards an inch. Remember that Nazi Germany didn't happen overnight: it was 7 years from the Beer Hall Putsch to Auschwitz opening its doors. It's a gradual process, one little step at a time, one little step that could be explained away, could be ignored, could be irrelevant....until it's not, until it's your fuckin country and your life. We need to fight every battle every time, I'm more convinced of this now than ever.)
What all this means for you all that buy records from me:
I am SO FUCKIN BUSY, I am so desperately behind in everything. It's taken me like 2 weeks just to update the webstore and write this e-mail. I'm spending so much time and energy on anti-ICE stuff, everything else in my life has been on the backburner, including everything BIP.
Thank you for the patience and understanding that everyone has extended to me so far, and I ask that you please keep extending that patience and understanding in the short term, because I am still out on the streets most days of the week.
When the dust settles, every e-mail will be responded to, every package will go out, I've been in the game for almost 20 years, I'm not out there ripping people off or whatever. Just, please give me some grace. Thank you.
-Dan
--------
FEBRUARY NEW ARRIVALS
This time, the e-mail subject is real! LOL.
We got Swedish d-beat reissues! The biggest winner for me is the Crudity collection LP, a long-awaited official vinyl release for this kvlt favorite of Swedish hardcore, a Mob 47 side-project in 1985 that resulted in one demo tape and one live show and decades of collector adoration.
But I'm also particularly keen on this Oral LP reissue. I didn't know Oral prior to the FOAD reissue last year, and this newest reissue of their 1994 CD-only release finds Oral with a meaningful metal bent that must set the stage for brutal Swedish kang bands like Skit System, Wolfpack, Acursed, etc. This is a style of punk I came up on, and didn't always appreciate so much, but hearing this Oral CD now, I find it refreshing and exciting.
Along similar lines, can you believe I've never sat down and listened to Scandinavian Jawbreaker LP from start to finish before?? What can I say, when someone says "this is their most mature and heavy and musically accomplished release in their discography".....it's generally a major turn-off for me LOL. I'll stick to the 7"s, thanks. But I did give this beautiful Anti-Cimex reissue LP a proper listen and I like it sooooo much more at 39 than I would have at 19 or even 29. "I get it now" LOLLLL. Is this growing up?? LOLLLLLL.
Following up from Swedish d-beat, we got all manner of Japanese and American d-beat and raw punk shit. Ferocious X new LP would certainly approve of Crudity LP, and the entire Disclose discography reissued on 2xCDs would probably agree with me that Anti-Cimex 7"s are best LOL. Like a lot of people, bands like Ferocious X and Disclose are what I came up with, the focus of my passions and obsessions for a good chunk of my life, I cannot recommend this shit enough. Very "this is what punk means to me". I'm sure No Fucker would agree with me, so we got copies of all the recent No Fucker 7"s. I haven't really paid attention to No Fucker since their proper return to action, but these 7"s are GREAT, tasteful and powerful, perfectly executed d-beat records, just as good as anything from their original run.
Speaking of Scandinavian Jawbreaker LP.....I have a new appreciation for Nightfeeder/Verdict split 12" after really digesting that LOL.
In addition to Japanese raw punk, we got a proper dose of Japanese hardcore too! I think after we did the LP, everybody here knows Confront, and this Confront comp tracks collection CD is more of their powerhouse traditional style Japanese hardcore. This is the sort of thing I'm still living, breathing, and dying for LOL.
I haven't had a chance to listen to new Demolition CD yet, but given the rest of their discography, I expect this to be another fantastic attack of metalcharged Japanese hardcore darkness evil. A personal favorite.
Another personal favorite, that is a super deep cut, is the debut Good Morning CD. The new band of SAAG guys, but a totally different direction. This should be filed alongside your Paintbox CDs, Judgement - Just Be CD, Mikazuki-Bakuondan and Bring Arrow CDs. It's very ROCK, it's very catchy and tuneful, it's very dynamic. I'd say, within this list of CDs, it's arguably the least hardcore sounding.....but what can I say, I am a total sucker for this sort of thing so I can't stop listening to it, and if you're like me and I've just listed off your favorite CDs LOL, this gets a big recommendation.
Also want to give a shout out to Thirsty LP. Very limited debut album from this Japanese hardcore band that leans a bit more into fast hardcore execution and USHC undertones. More on this band later...
We got the world's power-pop! Oh, hey, what I actually listen to LOL. I cannot get enough of each and every one of these records. The debut Lulu LP is full of smash hits, songs like "Lulu" and "En Reve" get my heart pumping. I was already a big fan so I knew I needed a new Sekunderna LP, but I was taken by surprise by this Kaikki Turhat Haaveet LP, never heard of this band but "Kilpipiilea" came on and I turned to my partner like "Lisa listen to this piano, this horn, that's how you know this song is a banger!" LOLLL.
More of the shit I'm most thrilled by, we got healthy stacks of Polish punk reissues. I'm SO FUCKIN PUMPED for this LP version of Delicje CD, I remember when this came out but I didn't manage to get one and it was always a minor want of mine....now it's on the collector's choice of formats and I'm finally hearing it, YES, this is my shit!!! Straight from the Post Regiment school of Polish punk (El Banda, Wirus, Morbus, Antidotum, Utopia, etc). Speaking of Wirus.....did you know there's a new Wirus LP?? I actually didn't until recently LOL, fuck, so I got a stack. My kind of punk, great shit.
From the same region, I'm pumped on this reissue of Proces/Stengte Dorer split 7". Personally I'm more here for the traditional Norwegian hardcore of the Stengte Dorer side, but lately I've been thinking a lot about the Proces side, how that influences modern bands like Indikator B (who's touring USA soon, so on my mind).
And when I said "and more".....I really meant it! There's so much more! LOL.
Enjoy your crust as fuck existence with some terrific new crust split 7"s.
Get up on the hype train with this phenomenal debut Ayucaba LP, stick with an old classic like the legendary debut Ratos de Porao LP, dive into an unexplored obscurity like this new Causehate CD (the crew from Banish Arms doing Conflict-style hard anarcho-punk, this has me on the edge of my seat).
Maybe you want to rock: new Massgrav LP is a raucous great time, at this point it's a little like imagining Brody's Militia as a Swedish d-beat band instead of an American power violence band. Super cool and fun.
Maybe you do not want to rock: Sore Throat LP reissues are a legendary noise-not-music bombast.
The stuff that interests me the most:
Revolucion X discography LP, radical 90s Mexican hardcore obscurity that's well deserving of a quality and complete discography release. I love their raw and primitive 7"s.
Persevere collection CD, splendid 00's attack punk from Hiroshima Japan. To be filed with all your Last Survivors and Skizophrenia stuff. A big love for Scandi PUNK like Lama, EATER, Kohu-63, Bristles, etc.
Excrement of War demos LP, never heard this demo material before but I love hearing Excrement of War's brutal crustcore at its most raw and nasty.
-Dan
next:
some Minneapolis demo tapes
Gudon USA tour announcement
more More MORE
While we have accomplished meaningful victories, our struggle continues. The headline-grabbing brutalities have stopped their constant frequency, but ICE continues to abduct and disappear individuals, only now their efforts are focused on the smaller cities and rural towns around MN, and not here in the Twin Cities, where we have effectively beaten them back. We don't know exactly how many agents remain: our Congressional reps were told there were less than 500 when they came to inspect their MN headquarters, but on the same day, Homan the bribe taker was in the news saying there were 1000 agents left. ICE told our Congresspeople they had no detainees at the Whipple, then released 4 detainees within 2 hours after our Congresspeople left. They do nothing but lie, at every juncture.
Our own observations and intel give all sorts of mixed messages: large-volume deliveries of new cars, new office spaces rented out, fresh agents arriving claiming to be "the advance team", but there has been an overall slowdown in the absolute volume of ICE activity. At least as far as we can tell.
But this is the message we want to communicate to the rest of the world:
ICE is still here. We are still occupied. Our struggle is not over.
When does it all end? When we've returned to the original staffing levels of ICE here in the Twin Cities? When all ICE agents have left? When ICE is abolished? When there's justice for the 8 killed by ICE here, and the many more grievously injured, and the many many more aggressed and victimized? When ICE is held accountable for the laws they broke?
I guess I think everyone has to decide for themselves, what they think the end goal should be for their own involvement. I think I know where my endpoint is, and I imagine it's different than for a lot of my comrades in the trenches, but ultimately, for better or worse, I don't consider myself a "politics" person, I consider myself a "punk" person. I have my own sense of what I'm obligated to do by virtue of being punk, of being a member of a community, of being a good person, and where that ends compared to being "a political activist". I think about this as different groups invite me into their fold: when this is "over", I'm not moving on to the next protest topic, I'm returning to band practice, watching anime, and my social life LOL. I want to do my part, but I want to live my own happy life too.
In any event, at the moment I write this, our "Week of Action" is just kicking off, and I'm helping with some events, participating in others, and taking yet more time off work to get out in the trenches. For me, the most incredible part of this horrifying experience has been witnessing and participating in the development of sophisticated decentralized and autonomous resistance efforts, to see so much develop so quickly and so thoroughly, I can't really describe it in words but it's inspiring and powerful. And a lot of the Week of Action revolves around inviting out-of-towners to come and witness it all first-hand and learn from us directly. At first, I was a little skeptical of this event, because in general I am skeptical of the notion of outsiders arriving in your space and throwing their weight around....but when I look at the agenda, see the complete buy-in from our local groups, I'm really moved, and I can't imagine a better way of pushing the resistance forward.
I made this point on my podcast recently, but if you want to support our efforts in Minneapolis, in my opinion the best thing you can do is pay it forward and get ready in your city. Build the connections and community, think about what you envision your role to be, what you think you'd want to and could commit to, get familiar with the techniques and strategies and best practices, so that when things start happening, you're ready to hit the ground running just like they will be. I've started to use a term "the ecosystem of resistance", from the blades of grass to the apex predator, everyone has a role to play in creating an environment where ICE cannot function effectively.
(or, get out on the streets before you get surge'd and fight back against the DHS warehouses, which are extremely disturbing and need to be fought tooth and nail immediately, don't give these bastards an inch. Remember that Nazi Germany didn't happen overnight: it was 7 years from the Beer Hall Putsch to Auschwitz opening its doors. It's a gradual process, one little step at a time, one little step that could be explained away, could be ignored, could be irrelevant....until it's not, until it's your fuckin country and your life. We need to fight every battle every time, I'm more convinced of this now than ever.)
What all this means for you all that buy records from me:
I am SO FUCKIN BUSY, I am so desperately behind in everything. It's taken me like 2 weeks just to update the webstore and write this e-mail. I'm spending so much time and energy on anti-ICE stuff, everything else in my life has been on the backburner, including everything BIP.
Thank you for the patience and understanding that everyone has extended to me so far, and I ask that you please keep extending that patience and understanding in the short term, because I am still out on the streets most days of the week.
When the dust settles, every e-mail will be responded to, every package will go out, I've been in the game for almost 20 years, I'm not out there ripping people off or whatever. Just, please give me some grace. Thank you.
-Dan
--------
FEBRUARY NEW ARRIVALS
This time, the e-mail subject is real! LOL.
We got Swedish d-beat reissues! The biggest winner for me is the Crudity collection LP, a long-awaited official vinyl release for this kvlt favorite of Swedish hardcore, a Mob 47 side-project in 1985 that resulted in one demo tape and one live show and decades of collector adoration.
But I'm also particularly keen on this Oral LP reissue. I didn't know Oral prior to the FOAD reissue last year, and this newest reissue of their 1994 CD-only release finds Oral with a meaningful metal bent that must set the stage for brutal Swedish kang bands like Skit System, Wolfpack, Acursed, etc. This is a style of punk I came up on, and didn't always appreciate so much, but hearing this Oral CD now, I find it refreshing and exciting.
Along similar lines, can you believe I've never sat down and listened to Scandinavian Jawbreaker LP from start to finish before?? What can I say, when someone says "this is their most mature and heavy and musically accomplished release in their discography".....it's generally a major turn-off for me LOL. I'll stick to the 7"s, thanks. But I did give this beautiful Anti-Cimex reissue LP a proper listen and I like it sooooo much more at 39 than I would have at 19 or even 29. "I get it now" LOLLLL. Is this growing up?? LOLLLLLL.
Following up from Swedish d-beat, we got all manner of Japanese and American d-beat and raw punk shit. Ferocious X new LP would certainly approve of Crudity LP, and the entire Disclose discography reissued on 2xCDs would probably agree with me that Anti-Cimex 7"s are best LOL. Like a lot of people, bands like Ferocious X and Disclose are what I came up with, the focus of my passions and obsessions for a good chunk of my life, I cannot recommend this shit enough. Very "this is what punk means to me". I'm sure No Fucker would agree with me, so we got copies of all the recent No Fucker 7"s. I haven't really paid attention to No Fucker since their proper return to action, but these 7"s are GREAT, tasteful and powerful, perfectly executed d-beat records, just as good as anything from their original run.
Speaking of Scandinavian Jawbreaker LP.....I have a new appreciation for Nightfeeder/Verdict split 12" after really digesting that LOL.
In addition to Japanese raw punk, we got a proper dose of Japanese hardcore too! I think after we did the LP, everybody here knows Confront, and this Confront comp tracks collection CD is more of their powerhouse traditional style Japanese hardcore. This is the sort of thing I'm still living, breathing, and dying for LOL.
I haven't had a chance to listen to new Demolition CD yet, but given the rest of their discography, I expect this to be another fantastic attack of metalcharged Japanese hardcore darkness evil. A personal favorite.
Another personal favorite, that is a super deep cut, is the debut Good Morning CD. The new band of SAAG guys, but a totally different direction. This should be filed alongside your Paintbox CDs, Judgement - Just Be CD, Mikazuki-Bakuondan and Bring Arrow CDs. It's very ROCK, it's very catchy and tuneful, it's very dynamic. I'd say, within this list of CDs, it's arguably the least hardcore sounding.....but what can I say, I am a total sucker for this sort of thing so I can't stop listening to it, and if you're like me and I've just listed off your favorite CDs LOL, this gets a big recommendation.
Also want to give a shout out to Thirsty LP. Very limited debut album from this Japanese hardcore band that leans a bit more into fast hardcore execution and USHC undertones. More on this band later...
We got the world's power-pop! Oh, hey, what I actually listen to LOL. I cannot get enough of each and every one of these records. The debut Lulu LP is full of smash hits, songs like "Lulu" and "En Reve" get my heart pumping. I was already a big fan so I knew I needed a new Sekunderna LP, but I was taken by surprise by this Kaikki Turhat Haaveet LP, never heard of this band but "Kilpipiilea" came on and I turned to my partner like "Lisa listen to this piano, this horn, that's how you know this song is a banger!" LOLLL.
More of the shit I'm most thrilled by, we got healthy stacks of Polish punk reissues. I'm SO FUCKIN PUMPED for this LP version of Delicje CD, I remember when this came out but I didn't manage to get one and it was always a minor want of mine....now it's on the collector's choice of formats and I'm finally hearing it, YES, this is my shit!!! Straight from the Post Regiment school of Polish punk (El Banda, Wirus, Morbus, Antidotum, Utopia, etc). Speaking of Wirus.....did you know there's a new Wirus LP?? I actually didn't until recently LOL, fuck, so I got a stack. My kind of punk, great shit.
From the same region, I'm pumped on this reissue of Proces/Stengte Dorer split 7". Personally I'm more here for the traditional Norwegian hardcore of the Stengte Dorer side, but lately I've been thinking a lot about the Proces side, how that influences modern bands like Indikator B (who's touring USA soon, so on my mind).
And when I said "and more".....I really meant it! There's so much more! LOL.
Enjoy your crust as fuck existence with some terrific new crust split 7"s.
Get up on the hype train with this phenomenal debut Ayucaba LP, stick with an old classic like the legendary debut Ratos de Porao LP, dive into an unexplored obscurity like this new Causehate CD (the crew from Banish Arms doing Conflict-style hard anarcho-punk, this has me on the edge of my seat).
Maybe you want to rock: new Massgrav LP is a raucous great time, at this point it's a little like imagining Brody's Militia as a Swedish d-beat band instead of an American power violence band. Super cool and fun.
Maybe you do not want to rock: Sore Throat LP reissues are a legendary noise-not-music bombast.
The stuff that interests me the most:
Revolucion X discography LP, radical 90s Mexican hardcore obscurity that's well deserving of a quality and complete discography release. I love their raw and primitive 7"s.
Persevere collection CD, splendid 00's attack punk from Hiroshima Japan. To be filed with all your Last Survivors and Skizophrenia stuff. A big love for Scandi PUNK like Lama, EATER, Kohu-63, Bristles, etc.
Excrement of War demos LP, never heard this demo material before but I love hearing Excrement of War's brutal crustcore at its most raw and nasty.
-Dan
next:
some Minneapolis demo tapes
Gudon USA tour announcement
more More MORE
The murderer Jonathan Ross told his neighbors he was a botanist,
because he was ashamed of being an ICE agent.
They can wear a mask to hide their face,
but the mask will never hide their sins and their shame.
SEEK FORGIVENESS FROM YOUR GOD, ICE AGENT.
YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE IT FROM ANYONE ELSE.
