Bright colors, brutal skulls, blood! I'm talking about eye-popping band merch, of course. As a member of a band, I'm constantly trying to think of super sick logos to put on our patches and pins, but I usually fail. We've been using the same logo since day one, so, out of sheer jealousy, I will give a three-count list of my favorite band logos and what puts them above the rest.

This concludes the most awesome, accurate account of the best three band logos ever in the world. Maybe you agree, maybe you don't. Let us know what you think in the comments. Thanks for reading, Tunage loves you!


Written by Laura Sullivan


-Tunage

          So there I was, out on the open road. The windows were down and the wind was forcefully, yet elegantly whipping through my hair. My road trip had begun, the only thing missing was some good down home rock and roll. However, I switch on the radio and what do I find? Disappointment.

        I recently went on an 800 mile road trip, mainly travelling through Ohio. I said to myself, “Laura, how about you write an article on the local rock radio stations you pass through on your trip? BRILLIANT.” There is something I didn’t know about Ohio, though. They don’t have rock radio stations... At all. When I turned on my car stereo, I got six stations. They went something like this: static, country, hip hop, country, country, static. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have anything against country. I quite enjoy it sometimes, but I enjoy modern hip hop about as much as I enjoy empty static noises. So, instead of writing about what I had planned to, I’m going to write about a list of bands I ended up listening to that all came from my personal music collection that saved my road trip from a horrible fate of becoming boring nothingness.

          Old Crow Medicine Show- I listened to their self-titled, Big Iron World, Eutaw, and Tennessee Pusher. There is nothing like rolling down the highway and letting some good old bluegrass pick away your stress with banjos and mandolins.

          Koffin Kats- I popped in Straying from the Pack and, I’m going to be honest, I don’t know if listening to them on the interstate is a good idea. I don’t condone speeding in the slightest, but I had a hell of a good time!

         Joan Jett & the Black Hearts- I Love Rock-n-Roll made me feel like I was a woman warrior drifting through obscure towns like I was on the run… Like I was a straight-up badass.

          Circle Jerks- I put in my all-time favorite, Group Sex, and again, not something I’d suggest listening to if you want to follow laws, but hey, a high speed car chase sounds hypothetically very tempting…

Last, but certainly not least-

         Credence Clearwater Revival- Listening to their greatest hits on a country road with the breeze blowing and the sun shining is one of the most wonderful feelings I’ve ever felt. Just that alone is a good enough reason to take a trip somewhere. I’d do it over and over if I had more places to visit.

          So, my dear friends, as much as I had hoped to inform you about some small town rock radio stations, I’m glad to at least provide you with a little list of awesomely unforgettable tunes to consider next time you head out on the road. Each one of these will make you feel unstoppable, if not a little bit reckless. Drive carefully, fellow vagabonds, and keep the tunes cranked!

Written by Laura Sullivan

- Tunage

          I've got a few big influences myself, without which I would have a completely different take on music. Queen has made an incredibly huge impact on me. That was a dream team of musicians. Freddie Mercury's amazingly versitile voice accompanied by Brian May's distinct and elegant guitar playing was a pair unmatched by any other in musical history. Queen greatly influenced multiple members of Guns n' Roses as stated by Axl Rose and Slash in interviews in mid 1980's. Guns n' Roses was an amazing addition to 80's and 90's rock and metal and I don't want to know what they'd be like without the influence of classic rock.

          Black Sabbath is another band that inspired me in the ways of my musical explorations. They practically single-handedly invented metal. We all know Ozzy Osborne and Tony Iommi are elders in the clan of classic rock, but we mustn't forget Bill Ward and Geezer Butler, the second half of this incredible four-piece. Butler is hands down one of my top 3 favorite bassists of all time, and Ward's drum style dug a pathway for many drummers from then on. Metallica has stated that Black Sabbath is an influence of theirs, and seriously, the formula of inspiration that creates Metallica's music is something of perfection and any difference in that is unthinkable.

I know, you're probably saying, "Come on, Laura! The only bands influenced by classic rock are 25-year old metal bands!" I say NAY! at age 14 I saw The Dresden Dolls at Soma in San Diego, CA. They covered "War Pigs", by Black Sabbath. Needless to say, I nearly soiled myself with excitement. I got a chance to speak to the lead vocalist and pianist, Amanda Palmer, after the show and I thanked her for covering a Sabbath song and she said, "Of course, they're my favorite band!" Boom.

So, next time you go to a show and get a chance to meet your favorite band ask them, "Who influences you in your music?" You might be surprised by their response. To sum things up, I request that you respect the gods of rock, such as The Who, The Rolling Stones, Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, Sabbath, The Doors, Rainbow, Rush, and so-on, even if you don't listen to them. They're likely a part of the recipe of music that changed your life.

          If I had to pick one favorite activity ever in exsistance it would have to be going to punk shows. I love everything about them, the music, the crowds, the moshing, the sweat, blood and spit... All of it. There is one thing, however, I see at many shows that I don't like. Something that frustrates me, that grates on my nerves so bad that vains in my forehead begin to pulsate. Kids who don't understand the pit.

          Now this is purely common sense, but if you don't want to partake in the moshing of the pit, do not stand in our around the pit area. PURELY. COMMON. SENSE. Some people don't quite understand this concept, probably because they are simply half-wits who try to open doors on the hinged side and don't look for cars before crossing the street. At a show that my band played once, a nice gentleman was having a good time moshing around tried to get another guy in the pit to join the fun. This guy didn't understand what was happening and in turn put the gentleman in a choke hold. I threw down my microphone to break up the situation. This guy was standing right on the edge of the pit and should have known that he was going to get knocked around, but in stead of responding like a normal human and just backing away, (or not standing near the pit in the first place) he created unnecessary ruckus in the middle of my set. Unsatisfactory.

          Another situation that some don't understand is in the process of the moshing. When a fellow mosher falls, you pick him/her up immediately to avoid any trampling or tripping. This, I thought, was another common sense-type piece of knowledge but, again, I have my doubts about the amount of common sense kids these days have. Some will get in a pit and trample like they're leading a heard of evil elephants. Don't f***in' do that. Don't do it. I don't want to see that. If I see you do it then I'll trample you. With cleats on. And I'll do it in front of your friends as to add embarassment. I hope I'm clear.

          The final thing, yet another piece of common sense: Moshing is for fun, not for pain. Knock people around and have a good time but don't throw fists or bows. If you go into a pit intending to cause someone significant physical pain then I would recommend taking some boxing lessons in place of show-going. At least for a little while until your angst subsides, you little angerball, you. 

           This concludes my segment. Having fun while moshing starts with common sense. Don't be near the pit if you don't want to be involved, always pick up the fallen, and don't cause injuries to others... At least not on purpose. As I said before: PURELY. COMMON. SENSE. Thanks again readers, tune in again for more babble!

- Tunage

Written by Laura Sullivan

         We all know that rock and roll is the best, most amazing, perfectly awesome genre of music to ever be discovered. Naturally, it's the most popular music to play when you want people to buy something from you. I mean, when I hear some badass guitar riff come out of the speakers of the TV when a commercial comes on I think, "WHOA, DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT I FREAKIN' WANT IT," and with that thought, I'd have to agree whole-heartedly that their marketing tactic is definitely working. Although, there are songs that are played so often on television that some people just can't take it. Some songs are used so much that whatever product, movie or television show it's playing for is probably continually losing ratings and popularity due to the excessiveness of these songs. Read on and you and I will have a very one-sided discussion about this topic.

          Car companies love to use rock and roll. Literally! Cadillac used "Rock N' Roll", by Led Zeppelin in one, if not several of their ads. Honda used "Crazy Train", originally by none other than the prince of darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, but the actors in the commercial played the song using horrific noises that came out of their mouths which frankly just slaughtered the song and momentarilly ruined my life. Nike used "Dream On", by Aerosmith. It's a very inspirational song, but I've heard this song used in many sports equipment and car company ads and the inspiration is slowly being sucked away from this wonderful song. Knock it off, marketing department. "I Want to Break Free", by Queen was used in a Coca-Cola C2 commercial. Sweet heaven. As a die-hard Queen fan, I was so excited when I heard this song come on the TV I came running from the other room and then, suddenly, disappointment rushed all over my body. Coca-Cola C2? Seriously? You played a favorite band from my childhood over a diet soda commercial? I'm offended.

         Now that we've gotten over the basics, let's get down to the nitty gritty. "I'm Shipping up to Boston", by Dropkick Murphys, has appeared in The Departed, Brave, The Pirates! Band of Misfits,and has been used in multiple episodes of at least seven different television shows and documentaries. I love this song, but hearing it everwhere, knowing that Boston punk rock is becoming a well-known genre just because one song is being spread so thinly around American pop-culture, makes me want to cry and kill a man all at once. The music in this song straight up fuckin' rocks, and the harmonized yelling gets me all roiled up but this, my friends, is not a song that can sum up Boston punk rock in a nut shell. This sole song, all on its lonesome, cannot carry the weight of the extreme badassness of the perfectly raw, Irish-inspired riffs that reverberate out of that northeastern metropolis. To the studios in Hollywood and to all the television production corporations; EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS FOR THE LOVE OF DIO! That is all.

         Ad companies and the marketing departments of corporations are obviously just lazy theives who steal good ideas until they're no longer good ideas. This must be stopped... Somehow...

PS: When I typed in "Dropkick Murphys Shipping up to boston" on Google Images, this photo came up.

Thanks for reading! Keep freakin' doin' it!
- Tunage

Written by Laura Sullivan

          Hey, you! Get that sewing kit off the closet shelf! Ya know, the one filled with band patches and studs that you bought online but never had the oomph to do anything with? Yeah, that sewing kit. You go from excuse to excuse for reasons why you ignore that poor little dust collector. "I'm tired, it's too time-consuming, I'll prick my fingers..." Shut up, ya big baby! You're going to start sewing, and I ain't taking this sewing machine crap. You're going to use your hands, like a man! I'm giving you a multi-step guideline that's going to give you that oomph to finally put the "Do" back in "Do it yourself"!

          Step Uno: NEEDLES! If you're anything like me, you lose needles like it's hip. Always buy big multi-packs. They usually come with several different sizes, and you'll use different sizes depending on the delicacy of the fabric. Personally, I don't typically sew delicate fabric because... Well... I don't wear delicate fabric. I'm usually sewing canvas patches to denim or altering cotton t-shirts. I prefer using larger needles because it's easier to poke through denim. Also, the larger the needle, the larger the eye, or hole, and that's convenient for those who don't want to fight with the thread. There are needles that have clasps that open at the eye that make it easier for you to thread the needles, but seriously? Don't be lazy.

          Step Deux: THREAD! I'm not partial to any particular brand of thread. In fact, I know some people who don't even use thread. They use dental floss! It only comes in white, and you have to remember not to get the mint-flavored kind, but it's ten times as strong as regular thread. So, when you are moshing and crowd-surfing and getting knocked around at a show, you're more likely to keep your clothes intact! Although, personally, I use thread. To make it stronger, I double up so I'm technically sewing with two strands. I like to have variety in color when I alter my clothing, especially if I want the thread to be hidden. It's really difficult to hide white floss on a bright green shirt. Try it. You'll probably fail.

          Step Drei: TOOLS! Of course, you should have your sewing kit staple tools, such as sciccors, marking tool, measuring tape, and a pin cushion (complete with pins, silly). Aside from the usual, you should have a few special items.  I cannot tell you how much I love my seam ripper. It's this terrifying miniature sickle that's 100 times  as sharp. It cuts seams open like buttah, aswell as your finger, so watch out! Another tool you'll be glad to have is a thimble. Sometimes you'll try to shove a needle through tough, thick frabic and end up having the end with the eye come out the back of your finger. Thimbles make life so much easier. Also, if you're one that likes to use studs on leather, have a box cutter around. Cut marks where the studs go; it makes it significantly simpler to put the studs in place. You could use a seam ripper, but leather is a little too rough and tumble for the flimsy handle that equip seam rippers.

          Step uhh... Four: TECHNIQUE! Everyone likes to use different techniques when sewing patches and altering t-shirts. Some like the criss-cross style that's shaped like an X, and some like the in n' out style that goes from the inside of the frabic to the outside, or what I like to call, the dolphin style. Get it! 'Cause the thread looks like a dolphin. Going in and out... Of... Water... Ahem. Anyway, I prefer criss-cross. For me, it keeps the fabric together better than the dolphin style sewing, but try them both out and see which one works for you.

         Step V: THE BIG BANG: Now, when you sit down with your needles, thread, tools and piece of clothing that needs altering, you can feel a little overwhelmed. I know it's hard to know where to begin when you're looking at your objective in scraps. Just remember this: measure, measure, cut, sew. Just like in carpentry, measure twice, cut once. You wouldn't want your clothing to come out too small or too large so measure TWICE, cut, then sew. That doesn't seem so difficult, right? Measure, measure, cut, sew! You could even make a song out of it!

           With these few simple steps, I hope to give you the confidence to do the sewing you've been putting off. Don't ignore your sewing kit anymore. It's super simple and sometimes fun! Now get that sewing kit out and sew like a man!

- Tunage


Written by Laura Sullivan

          There you are, standing in front of your bathroom mirror, putting the finishing touches on your already perfect look for the show you've been anxiously looking forward to for weeks. You're in your favorite band tee that's been cut, sewn, tied, and re-cut. It took you two hours and you still have scraps of sleeve scattered about your room. You have on your favorite pair of jeans with casual holes in all the right places and your roughed- show-going shoes with all their glorious badges and battle scars from the many concerts prior. As you should, you feel confident, secure, and ready for the night of your life, but that's not what this is about. I'm going to tell you about the people on the other end of the spectrum. The ones who don't think about their incredibly awful wardrobe decisions and what they should have done instead.

          Setting: The House of Blues, San Diego, CA. The year is 2006, and I'm 14. I'm tagging along with my cousins to see Cartel (good band, though I'm not a huge fan, just happy to go to a concert with my super cool, older cousins.) After some ticket issues due to lousy venue employees, we finally get inside to find a well-oiled machine of a crowd being fueled by the speakers. Excitement consumes me and I leap into the crowd like a pig in a mud pit. People are crowd surfing, drunken college guys are shoving each other, little teeny-bopper girls are falling on the floor; everything is going as it should be when suddenly... WHACK! I'm hit with a stiletto right to the noggin. Some 20-something girl thought, "Oh, show at the house of blues? Good thing my 5-inch heels are polished! I can't wait to crowd surf and cause someone severe head trauma!" After stumbling around in a concust daze for a few moments, I pull myself out of the crowd to find the culprit. Standing near the bar, flirting with her long-lost margarita, is the woman that came within an inch of stabbing my brain. As I stared at her in her dress, heels, dangling earlings and ten pounds of make-up, all I could think was, "Why?!"

          Now ladies and gents, as a band member, aspiring model, skateboarder, and avid show-goer, I, with great confidence, will tell you that there is definitely a time a place for ever outfit. I'd never go to a photoshoot without my pumps, but you'd sure as hell never catch me riding down Main St. on my cruiser in a friggin' ball gown. Needless to say, this lipsticked glitter girl should have gone a different route with her wardrobe that night. Let's break it down and correct her "Yikes"-evoking choices.

          There are a few factors that need to be considered when deciding on the proper show attire. First of all the venue. This is probably the most important factor. Is it indoors or outdoors? Is it sitting or standing room? In this case, The House of Blues is, of course, indoors and standing room only. The next factor is the type of music/fanbase. Heavier or faster music usually tends to have a rougher crowd. Cartel's music and fanbase indicates a light to moderate mosh pit. You may be bumped around quite a bit but nothing back-breaking. Although, the venue serves alcohol which can alter the violence and coordination of the fans in the pit so I'd say this night was a slightly rougher than moderate crowd due to the amount of drunken fist-swingers. Now that we've established our show factors, let's move on to little Miss Thing's mistakes.