The Barbershop Renaissance

Do you like the smell of perm chemicals and burning hair? Do you want some girl just out of cosmetology school, who gets paid more the faster she pumps out haircuts, cutting your hair? Do you like to listen to women chatter about who's a bitch and how crappy there poor unassuming boyfriend is? If you answered yes to these things you must hate yourself and being a man. Wouldn't you rather go to a place that is friendly, has a nice clean, fresh smell, a person that will take time to get your hair just how you like it and banter with you about things that actually matter in your life? A place that has atmosphere and won't make you lose all self respect for yourself when you walk out. My friends, this place is called a BARBERSHOP!
As a child my father took me to the local barbershop called Bush Wackers it was filled with Playboys, men drinking coffee conversing about the weather, politics, local going ons, women, and money. As I got into my teenage years I drifted away from the manly comfort zone of barbers and into a sea of confusing unisex salons chalked full of stylist who pushed unwanted advice about what haircut THEY thought would look best on me and sell me some costly product I didn't know how to use. A moment of enlightenment struck me one unsuspecting day when I stumbled upon a LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED barbershop that brought back the fond memories of the childhood shop but also maintained a cutting modern edge. The shop was filled with tattoo magazines, men's magazines, a fridge full of beer, cool band poster on the walls and a young, knowledgeable barber gracefully handling the cutting. I fell in love; so much so that I went to barber school and am entering the second year of owning my own barbershop.
Barbering is an ancient art, it goes back as far as 2000 B.C.E. even being mentioned in the Bible; it survived the dark ages and has been passed down through the generations. During the golden age of barbering, mid-1800's to the early 1960's, the barbershop wasn't just a place to get a mighty fine haircut and hot towel straight razor shave but a place to kick up your feet read the paper (or dirty magazine) and find out what was going on in town. Hair tonic and shaving soap advertisements lined the walls extensively expressing “Visit your barber every 7-10 days”. Barber chairs where quality furniture crafted from porcelain, wood, and steel. Shops smelled of spicy bay rum after shave, hot shaving cream and savory hair tonics; smoking wasn't just allowed it was encouraged even going as far as selling cigars and cigarettes in the shop! It gave off an atmosphere more like a saloon filled with story telling and knee slapping. Attracting young and old alike, it was a place a man could really relax and enjoy the company of other men.
Many people believe the fall of the barbershop came with Beatle mania - this was more of the final nails in the manly sanctuary's coffin. The barbershop down fall actually started around the turn of the 20th century when Gillette very successfully marketed the safety razor has a more economical easier way to shave rather than visiting the barber for a straight blade shave. In those days a barbers main income was the hot towel straight razor shaves. Of course they took a further blow during the Great Depression when personal spending hit an all-time low. After the dramatic decline in male population due to major wars such as World Wars I, II and The Korean War - not to mention most of western civilization being caught up in the paralyzing grip of unhygienic long haired hippieisim - the barbershop became an out dated scene. Most barbers didn't want to learn new styles or change styles during this time because it wasn't just a change in fashion but a change in society. Western religions became too confining, divorce started to become common, casual sex and drugs became the norm, life was about self actualization and freedom of self expression; the world no longer belonged to “The Greatest Generation”. When short hair came back into style in the 80's, the predominately female reared generation X'ers where ushered into over priced pricy salons or even worse, soul sucking corporate greed driven unisex chain salons - furthering the impression of barbers being old, crusty relics from a past era.*
In the past decade and a half barbershops have seen a small revival, most of which being from none English speaking and are associated with ridiculously cheap haircuts. However a small number of young men driven by an interest in their grandfathers lifestyles are attempting to restore the barbershop to it's glory days while maintaining a modern distinction. We are railing against the greedy corporate giants and overly feminized salons. We are keeping up with new style trends as well as classic retro styles - doing our utmost to provide good, inexpensive haircuts without sacrificing the tradition of the barbershop. Since barbers, for the most part, do only mens haircuts we are more inclined to know the little tricks to get mens hair in tip top shape. A barber should be able to do a clipper or shear haircut but the mark of a real barber is the ability to do a proper hot towel straight razor shave. If you have never had a barber shave, DO IT NOW! Every man should have another man hold a razor to his throat at least once, it is surprisingly more relaxing than it sounds and is great for hangovers! The barbershop isn't just a the place to get a manly haircut but a priceless place to flap your gums with other guys. On more than one occasion I've seen cars sold, houses rented, and jobs found. It really is an informal community meeting place. It is and always has been a great place for men to be men and all that entails.

The barbershop is not for everyone; if you have long hair (over your shoulders), if you are easily offended, or are so homophobic you can't have another guy cut your hair, you shouldn't go to a barbershop. I don't want to sound like an testosterone filled chauvinist but if you are interested in rediscovering the barbershop do some research on yelp, google, or ask one of your macho friends to find a local shop - you won't be disappointed.

*Interestingly enough barbershops in the African-American, Hispanic-American, Asian-American, and rest of the none English speaking world never really experienced such a ruination. Seems to only have happened in the overriding white English based community.

Ten Barbershop Tips (in no certain order)

Be specific! Just a trim, a little shorter, or clean it up are subjective terms that mean something different to you and your barber. A half inch off or left will help us give you the hair cut you really want. A quick clipper approximation #2=1/4 inch #4=1/2 inch #6=3/4 this should help you describe your haircut

Don't ask to be turned toward the mirror. We use the mirror to see if there are any dark sport left by our clippers; it's a tool
Come in with clean hair. Nothing pisses off a barber faster than stinky foot smelling matted hair

Join in. We are all here to associate with each other feel free to ad your 2 cents to the conversation

Sit Still. If you are over the age of 7 and do not have palsy you have no excuse not hold still for 20 minutes

Do not ask about, talk about or even bring up Sweeny Todd, we are trained professionals not actors in a musical and really it wasn't very funny the first time we heard it let alone the 100,000th

Just ask. We should be able to do any kind of haircut you want all you have to do is ask.

Don't tell us how good your last barber was. If they where that good why aren't you there now?

Are you sure you want it thinned out? Unless you are going for a spiky style having your hair thinned just makes it stand up straight and it's still thick at the roots so it won't be any cooler.

Trust your barber

Anthony

Ps. I know I can not spell or punctuate correctly

Young Dubliners Show Review for Submerge Mag

Whats the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the term Celtic rock? Hopefully not U2, maybe Flogging Molly but more accurately you should think of Young Dubliners. After all they are one of the most influential Celtic rock bands from the United States. After five years of skipping over the Sacramento area on tour the southern California based Irishmen brought there flavor of traditional Irish folk and modern rock to Harlows Night Club Thursday Night. I had the privilege of witnessing it first hand. After arriving a few minutes late and getting over the shock of a large portion of the crowd looking about the right age to have gone to high school with Betty White, we found the merrymaking in full swing. To fully appreciate the pub like Irish folk instrumental jam the Young Dubliners had broke into, I ordered a shot of Jameson with a Guinness back from the more than obliging bartender. Watching local Irish rockers The Black Eyed Dempsey jump and bounce on the dance floor to the guitar driven punk rock inspired song “The Foggy Dew” really gave the room a Pogues vibe. Lead singer Keith Roberts made the casual announcement that since they haven't been to Sacramento in so long they would be playing songs from all eight of there albums. Young Dubliners showed a softer side with a few heart felt acoustic ballads like “In The End”. A great deal of the lyrics off there new album Saints and Sinners speak out against how bad things have gotten internationally without losing the profound belief that things can and will get better. Traditional folk instrumental pieces such as “Ashley Falls” really allowed the well seasoned musicians space to showcase there individual talents; specifiably allowing fiddle player extraordinaire Chaz Waltz some room to show off his chops. Not since Gilles Apap has such fine fiddle work been laid down; Waltz solos are a perfect blend of classical training and folk improvisation not to mention he plays in a intense Johnny Ramone style power stance! Touring with the five piece rock n roll group was famed Uillean piper (electric bagpipe) and pennywhistle master Eric Rigler. On some of the darker power ballads he was able to make the already ominous bag pipes sound a little spookier with a slight delay on it. You might know Rigler for his work on such small movie soundtracks as Brave Heart and Titanic. The accomplished piper treated the audience to the theme song of Brave Heart which I assume is the equivalent, for people of Celtic decent, as an American watching Jimmy Hendrix shred “The Star Spangled Banner” at Wood Stock. Traditional Irish folk songs “Molly Malone” and “Seven Drunken Nights” really brought a bounty of dancers and hip shakers to the floor and ending the show with the Dropkick Murphy's-ish power song “The Rocky Road To Dublin” set the small but enthusiastic crowd on fire. After the great set and a few more Guinness I had a chance to chat with Keith Roberts. Through a barely understandable Irish accent he first apologized for coming to Northern California and having allergies. After I apologized for arriving fifteen minutes late, he assured me with a sly smile that those precious early minutes of the set where indeed the best part. Roberts did inform me that Young Dubliners planned on making Sacramento a regular stop on there touring schedule, “We are in the same freaking state for gods sake” he excitedly barked. Hopefully these words will hold true because an evening spent with the Young Dubliners is an evening well spent. Make sure to catch there next Sacramento performance and you to will fully understand what Celtic rock means.

Anthony

Ps. I know I can't spell or punctuate correctly

Silent Comedy Show Review for Submerge Mag

Photos by Adam Plantz

Do you ever feel like you missed out on an era? The era portrayed in such films as Casablanca or Gone With The Wind. Do you ever feel like you should have lived in a time when people dressed up to go out on the town and drank highballs? Well Wednesday night Shady Lady Saloon, with the help of musical guest The Silent Comedy, brought that generation back to life. Granted I saw far fewer men in full suits, women in flapper dresses and far more tattoos in the room then I would imagine the 1940's but the spirit was alive. The classic speakeasy look of Shady Lady paired perfectly with the O Brother, Where Art Thou threads of The Silent Comedy. Their digs were complete with slacks, vests, pork pie hats, and mustaches; the mustaches were so glorious a walrus would turn away in shame. Shortly after this brilliant display of fire and mixology by one of the owners, musical entertainment of the night, The Silent Comedy took the stage. These fellas didn't waste any time with the first song “The Prince”. It had dark over tones of swamp blues, an obvious New Orleans Dixieland jazz influence, matched with raspy rock n roll vocals and a stomp beat that rattled the walls. In fact, the stomping beats these guys laid down the entire night had so much power the main vocalist Joshua Zimmerman brings his own box to stand on because he “put his foot threw so many stages”. The very next song slowed the tempo way down, lead guitarist Jeremiah Zimmerman took over the microphone and played keyboard on the track. Jeremiah's vocals gave a nice Billy Joel quality while the rest of the band brought an ominous folky gospel tent revival vibe to round out the song. The rest of the night continued this way; they would “bring you down and pick you back up”. The entire saloon jumped, stomped, and danced to the original bluesy devil inspired rock roll songs such as “Moonshine”, “Poison”, and “49”. We all swayed and locked arms to the slow sad melodies of indie folk, slightly country ballads like “All Saints Day” and “Regrets”. Tim Graves, who also played guitar and shared vocals duties, brought a lot of the bluesy feeling with damn impressive harmonica playing. Implementing advanced precision harmonica technique called tongue blocking; actually using your tongue, while playing, to block out notes. The three part singing harmonies by brothers Zimmerman and Graves was magnified by the other three band members shouting lyrics in the background. Giving an exceptional two tone amphitheater texture to some of the vocals. Between songs set off a musical fire drill, they exchanged instruments and spots on stage. On any given song one of the band members might be playing; acoustic guitar, slide guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, violin, concertina (a small accordion), keyboard, harmonica or drums. Finishing off the night was piano driven gospel inspired song “The Well”. It was nothing short of the church scene in Blues Brothers. People were dancing, singing, and generally being over come by the power of the soulful music. The Silent Comedy draws from influences from across the board, time periods and genres, culminating to something along the lines of a Killers, Muddy Waters, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Django Reinhardt sound. Not to mention an intensity in their live performance that rivals some of the top punk rock bands. I highly recommend you pick up a copy of The Silent Comedy's new album Common Faults on itunes or at there next Sacramento appearance.

Anthony

Ps. I know I can't spell or punctuate correctly

The Expendables interview for Submerege Mag

To call The Expendables a reggae rock band is an understatement. They have been playing there own unique blend of music for nearly fifteen years. Growing up in Santa Cruz, California instilled many different musical influences in them; everything from reggae, punk rock, surf, and 80's metal. I guarantee you have never heard a reggae song with blast beats and an Iron Maiden style shred solo in the middle of it. According to The Expendables, “We surf, skate, party and play music”. This laid back attitude has taken them from playing frat parties to their own nationwide headlining tours to support on amphitheater tours with international acts such as 311 and G. Love & Special Sauce. The Santa Cruz locals have also had the privilege of sharing the stage with such bands as Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, NOFX, Pennywise, Fishbone, Ziggy Marley and Kottonmouth Kings. Guitar Hero World Tour even used their song “Sacrifice” off the Gettin Filthy album as a playable song. You'd think after four records and countless tours, the four piece would be ready to take it easy, but no, “idle time is not an option”. March of this year saw the announcement of their fifth album Prove It along with a nearly two month summer support tour. Paul Leary of Butthole Surfer's and El Hefe of NOFX grabbed the reins as producers on the new record, “bringing a vibe to the studio as only two punk rock guitar legends could...they dug our weirdness”. And for anyone out there that thinks The Expendables have lost there originality, they have this to say: “We are bringing something new to the table, while still staying true to the sounds that make us who we are.” I recently had the chance to chat with Adam Patterson, the back bone of any good band; the drummer.

Hey how's it going?

Pretty good, we had a night off last night, I partied pretty hard. I am extremely hung over but stoked to do this interview.

[Laughs] I understand. So The Expendables have been together since 1997

Yeah we where just 16 year old kids from Santa Cruz messing around with different types of weird music. We didn't get serious until around 2000 when we recorded our first record.

Santa Cruz is known as being one of the surf and skate capitols of the world. What was it like being a sixteen year old kid coming up in that music scene?

Oh man it was a lot of fun, there were always shows going on, plenty of good local bands to play with. It was really a great time to be a band. There was always a big band coming through; NOFX, Strung Out, Less Than Jake or 311. We actually became friends with some of those bands and have been lucky enough to tour with them. Not to mention people in Santa Cruz are super respective to all styles of music. It was really a good time.

Speaking of 311, I see you guys got to do an amphitheater tour with them last summer, how crazy was that?

It was wonderful they showed us an entirely different side of touring we had never seen before. The level of professionalism is crazy, they basically set up a musicians city everyday. The amount of preparation they do everyday just to put on a good show is amazing. It's a lot different doing our own headlining tour this summer. [Laughs] We try to carry the same professionalism but much smaller venues.

How did you guys fit recording an album into your busy tour schedule?

Actually the first part of last year (2009) and the last part of the year before (2008) were incredibly busy but we got to take the last six months of 2009 off to record the album and get ready to do some heavy support tours. We aren't used to having time off, it was kinda hard to stay focused. Since we had been writing the new record over the last 3 years we only had to take a few months off to finish it and really focus on doing the best job we could. Which is why we brought in the producers we did. And I think we accomplished that, it's my favorite album to date. I think it's our best representation of the band and what we are capable of.

I was reading the album credits and saw you had Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers and EL Hefe of NOFX produce the album

We met Paul threw Pepper, he came to a show in Austin in a few years back, and we spent the next two years talking with him. When it came time to actually get a producer he was all in, he likes our weirdness. El Hefe had contacted our label, Stoopid Records, looking to work with one of the bands and we are huge NOFX fans so we jumped on that as quick as possible. We got along well and wrote a song together, “Donkey Show”, it turned out really good. The album also features some of our friends from Slightly Stoopid as well as G. Love

The new album, Prove It sounds slightly more general rock than your previous releases

People have been telling us we lost our dub(reggae) sound. We are a guitar driven band, always have been. I feel like we did a little of everything on this record. We did a six minute metal songs, a few punk songs, a seventeen minute dub song and pretty much everything in between. We're a weird band we like to play every type of music.

Pick up you copy of Prove It at The Expendables live show May 30th at The Boardwalk or June 1st at Freeborn Hall on the UC Davis campus.

Anthony

Ps. I know I can't spell or punctuate correctly