Lookout! Records

I learned earlier this year that Lookout! Records closed their doors. Spin magzine aske Dr. Frank to compile the Top 20 songs from Lookout!'s catalog.  Top 20 Lookout! Songs   I remenisce about one of the music labels I truly adore. Based in the Bay Area, Lookout! brought punk rock to the masses especially a young, depressed kid in a small town in Utah.  The likes of Green Day, Operation Ivy, Rancid, Mr. T Experience, The Donnas (Mmmm... The Donnas, truly a favorite of mine.), Groovie Ghoulies, The Queers, Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, Crimpshrine, The Lookouts, The Smugglers, The Hi-Fives, and Cub are all bands I love still to this day. 

I started my record collection when I was fifteen years old and went go to Deseret Industries with Bernie a lot.  He'd look at books, and I went to see what record section had in store for me.  I absorbed what my brothers Dave and Doug (Chopper) and thier friends (mine as well) Chris and Rich did in Salt Lake, panning for hidden gems amongst  the Mo Tabs, Christmas, and country music.  One day early on in my collecting, I was at the old DI in Logan where my hard work paid off; I found Twisted Sister LP and a Green Day 45.

I hit the jackpot.  Who would give this up?  Who cares, it's now mine. (Still is.)  From that day, I started eating up all the Lookout! Records records I could find. I discovered the Ramonescore of The Riverdales after I found twos 45s at the Graywhale in Ogden. I found Crimpshrine, Ductsoup, LP.  I came to learn quickly that if it was on Lookout! it was for me.  I trusted that they put out awesome punk rock.

The first CD was The Ramones It's Alive, but my second was Operation Ivy.  This purchase proved to be critical for me.  I then was intorduced to Rancid and Epitaph Records. I listened to that a lot.  It made me feel alive; it rose me from the dead.  I'm pretty sure I was the only one listenting to this at Bear River High.  It gave me the strength to endure.  It's not that high school was all that bad for me; I wasw depressed every day I walked through those doors.  Lookout! got me through those tuff times. I just remember coming home and turning this album on and escaping for just a little time.

Thank you Lookout! Records. You brought me the comfort I sorely needed. You shaped me into the old man I've become. You will be a part of me as I move forward.  You may be gone, but never forgotten.

My Exploits (April)

In April, I beheld two great shows within a week of each other.  They were the Revival Tour (Brought to me by Lee jeans.) and The Naked and Famous.

First the Revival Tour. This is a group of men wandering the earth playing great accoutic music.  I've seasoned in my old age and learned to love some of this stuff.  It's a great change of pace to my usual. The cast of characters changes every year.  This years line-up included Chuck Ragan, Laura Jane Grace (formally Tom Gabel), and couple of others.  Chuck and particularly Laura were super awesome. Thanks to Ingrid for helpin' me out.

Next, The Naked and Famous at The Depot. (Sorry under 21s) Holy SH!T! They blew me away.  I've been listening to their album for some time now (Thanks, Lin!). They were as every bit as amazing as the album.  They sauntered out on stage and started off with All of This. This might be my favorite off the album. Great! The whole set was Passive Me, Aggreeeive You except for one new song. My new fav...

Thank to Mandilyn and Mel for having the fun with me.

See you all in the future...