Zeal & Ardor review

Zeal & Ardor is one of the more unique bands I’ve come across in the last few years. A mix of soul/spirituals and avant-garde metal. I saw them at Thalia Hall and wrote a review for In the Loop. Give it a read.

…And We All Die Static Age review

…And We All Die is a heavy post-punk project by Raymon Burton Estes and a rotating group of collaborators. The latest is a 4-track EP consisting of a pair of Misfits covers in two distinct music styles. If you want my opinion on stuff like that, click the link.

Drinking Boys & Girls Choir interview

My old friends from the South Korean punk scene are headlining a tour in North America. They’re returning to Chicago and I interviewed them right before they set out on tour. We talked about tour stories, food, memories from the epoch of the Daegu punk scene, and Chicago bands. Go on an check it out.

The Jesus Lizard show review

I’m happy to report that The Jesus Lizard still very much has it. Read all about their show at Chicago’s Salt Shed here.

Album Review: Follower by BEASTII

I reviewed the new album by BEASTII. It’s a killer mishmash of dance-punk, surf, and garage rock. Check it out at In the Loop Magazine.

US 'K-goth' band collaborates on trilingual song, dreams of touring Korea

A profile of sorts on the Korean-inspired goth band past self. This was another collab with Fleurette Estes for Korea Times.

Signing OFF!: Punk supergroup bids farewell to Chicago

Keeping up with the theme of LA punk band farewell tours, I saw OFF! at Lincoln Hall.

Seminal Punk Band X plays Chicagoland on Their Farewell Tour

Another show review for In the Loop Magazine. X is promoting their final album with their final tour. I got to catch them at FitzGerald’s in the Chicago suburb of Berwyn.

Album review: Stony by Precocious Neophyte for In the Loop

Precocious Neophyte is a US-based Korean shoegaze band. Stony is their latest EP. Read my thoughts on it here.

Post Punk Echo & The Bunnymen Return To Chicago For A Show At The Riviera Theatre

I got to see post-punk legends Echo & the Bunnymen and write a review for In the Loop Magazine. I was once again partnered with Fleurette Estes, who did the photography.

Daegu punk band Drinking Boys and Girls Choir returns home after N. America tour

DBGC are old friends of mine from the Daegu punk scene. The article mainly focuses on their Chicago shows. This is a collab I did with photographer Fleurette Estes for The Korea Times.

“Broken Faces”

Another Alex Damage short. This time he’s been hired as a “reverse bodyguard,” so to speak. It’s a lean 700 words. Perfect length for a squat n surf. Check it out over at Shotgun Honey.

“Brother”

Punk Noir Magazine’s September theme was “the mixtape.” A collection of stories inspired by songs. Mine was inspired by Murder by Death’s “Brother.” It’s the second story.

Korean-Chicagoan shoegaze band Precocious Neophyte celebrates LP release

A couple of Korean indie rockers from bands like Juck Juck Grunzie and Table People have moved to Chicago. Their newest project, Precocious Neophyte, had its LP release party at Sleeping Village in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago on September 1, 2023.

Say Sue Me brings Korean indie rock to Chicago

Korean indie rock band played the Empty Bottle in Chicago for the first time since December 2019. I happened to be going to the show and was asked by a friend at The Korea Times to write an article about it.

Reviews and Interviews

It’s cool to be back in bROKe in Korea. I was interviewed about TRM mostly, but have a few contributions throughout the issue. Stuff about Cats vs Dogs and Rejected Band Names. The Hongdae Fire segment of the blog I wrote that reviewed punk novels was republished here with my permission as well. The entrees are on pages 13, 25, and 17.

Crime Reads co-interview with Daniel Weizmann

Crime Reads magazine paired me up with Daniel Weizmann, author of the upcoming novel The Last Songbird, and had us interview each other. It’s a fun format. Aside from being a helluva writer, Dan’s also got history with the early 80s LA punk scene.

“Rust Never Sleeps”

In this cyber-punk sci-fi story, a moderately successful rock musician prepares to perform the first concert broadcast entirely in augmented reality.

“Moral Threat”

Another Alex Damage short. Alex stakes out Al’s Bar, a popular punk bar in downtown LA as the nature of the gig is slowly revealed.

It’s free to read as part of Mystery Tribune’s Daily Fiction.

“The Final Nail”

Introducing Alex Damage, an unlicensed private eye and fixer for the denizens of LA's infamous early 80s punk scene. When a friend's sister goes missing several days after being violently attacked, Alex and his righthand man Rad comb the LA underground for her.

You actually gotta pay for this one. But it’s worth it.

Chill Out and Warm up

A little write up I did for Elybaden Spa in Daegu, South Korea.

Check it out on page 12.

[My Seoul Story]  A Personal Tour of Korea's Cultural Past

I did a piece for The Korea Times, an English language newspaper based in Seoul, for their series on "Seoul's charms as seen by foreigners". I recounted my experience getting a tour at The Museum of Shamanism.

“Family Night”

A disturbing piece of horror-flash fiction I'd shopped around for awhile before finding the right audience with The Molotov Cocktail, who included it in Vol. 8 Issue 10 for October 2017.

Worth Its Salt

A write-up I did about a cool new bar in Daegu called Sogeum Chang-go ("Salt Warehouse" or "Salt Garage"). It's a hidden gem just off the Daegu's historic Bookseong-ro. It's on page 12. Give it a read.

Interview with Skaleton

Earlier this year I sat down for coffee with a couple members of Daegu's only ska-punk band, Skaleton. We talked about the creative process and the current state of the scene in our fair city. Check that out on page 10. I also included some of my memories of the band Yuppie Killer and the old Hongdae playground.

GREat Expectations

A short guide to signing up for and taking the GRE while living abroad in Daegu. Learn how to register, where to go, and the test day process.

Check it out on page 20.

iDios Mio! Delivery Burritos!

A review for the dine-in and delivery restaurant Burrito Factory in Daegu, South Korea.

Check it our on Page. 24

Three's Company: Canavy Trio Interview

This is a conversation with the pop-rock band Canavy Trio. I'm pretty proud of this interview for Angle Magazine. The casual tone makes for a fun read, if I do say so myself. 

It Takes a Village: NET Raises Funds for African Orphanage

A write up I did about a charity event in October of 2016. It was a mini, indoor music festival to raise money for LIV Village, an orphan village in South Africa. I helped out by booking a few bands and writing this article to raise awareness for the charity and the event.

Check it out on page 30.

Numerous bROKe in Korea #23

For this issue of Korea's longest running DIY music/underground culture magazine I interviewed the punk band Velcro (pg. 10), wrote a short how-to guide to self-publishing (pg.24), was interviewed about Cannon Fodder (pg. 25), and reviewed the album The Rad by Busan punk band Stoned (page 27). There is also a review of my book, Cannon Fodder, on page 26.

Pizza Pam Beer

A review of Pizza Pam Beer, a pizza and beer restaurant in Daegu, South Korea.

Check it out on page 8.

Volunteer Spotlight: Liberty in North Korea

Part of The Daegu Compass's series on spotlighting volunteer opportunities this article focuses on Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), a group dedicated to rescuing and resettling North Korean refugees who are trapped in China.

Check it out on page 20.

Numerous bROKe in Korea #22

For this issue of bROKe in Korea I contributed an interview with Kim MyunJin, the drummer of Daegu indie-garage band The Plastic Kiz (page 8) and reviewed a three-track E.P. by skatepunk band Drinking Boys and Girls Choir (page 30).

Jeng-iy's Next Chapter/The Plastic Kiz review

Jeng-iy is one of Daegu's oldest small live music venues and central artist hangout. It was forced to move locations in the summer of 2015. My band got to play the farewell show at the original location.I wrote about my experiences, and discussed a short history of the venue. Check it out on page 12. Also, I review The Plastic Kiz album Dancing with the Moon on page 23.

Keeping it in the Family

Daegu has a group (or "crew") called the 999 Family, there were several bands connected to the crew. They organized shows and worked to promote the local scene. I did a short article and interview with found Heo Yeong-Min (page 10). I was also interviewed about my band Food for Worms in this issue (page 11).

Don't Count Out Daegu

Adapted from a longer blog entry, this was a (now outdated) overview of the bands and venues in the Daegu music scene circa 2014.

Check it out on page 16.