Rag Mag 43

What's up punks? Happy Pride. As a protest sign I saw at a recent punk show said, Queer liberation not rainbow capitalism. Thanks for coming out to the Rag Mag party and flea and making it a fun afternoon. We also raised several bags of food and cash donations for the RI Food Bank which is really needed right now. - Creature

Thanks for everyone for coming out to our Rag Magazine party last week! Extra special thanks to Tommy and Natalie of Myrtle for hosting us! Have you been there yet ? Why Not ? Have you seen their newly decorated back yard ? Why Not?

Anywho , we had a ton of fun and raised some money for the RI Foodbank which was cool. I had a blast on stage with my ladies Francesca and Mary in Whyte Lipstick and we were lucky to share the stage with Cigarette Camp , Sherman and Tigers on Vaseline. DJ It’s Casual was spinning records keeping us dancing between sets. Sherman did an insane drag / striptease while balancing on a giant spindle. Jaan played guitar with a beer can.  It was cool.

Also thank you to Gut Rut , Lexi’s Tree Fort , Alchemy Hair , Stabitha Bitckley, Trash Bop , Jacob and Knucks for all vending. As you can tell by reading this it was a JAM packed day. Stay tuned for our next event. Till then stay cool and Happy Pride. - Coco

This week we have The Fight Report with Chessy Renee, Hooked on Sonics with Velvet Deluxxx, Wasteland Chick, and Creature's Double Feature.

Soundtrack to this week's issue: Still busy, so still grabbing from the unsorted/ unfiled now playing/ recent(ish?) arrivals 45s boxes (plus one double LP of solo guitar music because Bill Orcutt put it out): Olaf Rupp - Fuzzy Logic 2xLP (as artist described this zoner of a record, "But unrootedness is also a power, a gift, a way."), Voragine - Panico 7", Mega City Four - Awkward Kid and Cradle (Cigarette Camp namechecking them in a recent interview reminded me to pull this one out), Action Swingers - Bum My Trip 7", Vansuut - Mari E.P. (please hip me to wear to nab their first 7" cuz this is killer), Soft Boys - Wading Through a Ventilator -7", Ferocious X - Med Vilken Ratt - E.P., Tiikeri - Punk on Tarkeaa e.p. (thee best), Early Grave - Sewer Baby Eaten by Worms 7", No Fucker - s/t 7", and No Fucker - Annihilate Your Desperation.

Hit us up at ragmagclub@proton.me with flyers, art, feedback, column idea, or just to say hi and let's talk about PUNK! We archived columns and music reviews on the new site (rag-mag.ghost.io), so check it out.

Happy June everyone. In honor of pride I wanted to share some queer loves songs throughout the month. This song is definitely in my top 5 love songs ever.  It's hard to not move to this song , and on a personal level it reminds me of me and my best friend Casey dancing all throughout our 20’s at house parties. Its beautiful , its heartbroken its “ Ever fallen in love ( with someone you shouldn't've ) by The Buzzcocks. Pete Shelley wrote it in 1978 in a van outside a post office in Edinburgh.  Guys and Dolls had just been on in their hotel room and taking inspiration from a line in the movie and personal experience the song was born. Shelley was openly bisexual so the lyrics never reveal the lovers gender just adding another layer to the song.  Who hasn’t fallen in love with someone they shouldn't've ? I LOVE this song , its hard not to. If you’ve heard it a million times play it again and send it to someone that doesn’t know it. If you’ve never heard it , well you’re in for a treat.

“You spurn my natural emotions

You make me feel like dirt and I'm hurt

And if I start a commotion

I run the risk of losing you and that's worse……”

The Fight Report by Chessy Renee

Focusing the fight - working across differences and tearing shit down TOGETHER. 

Greetings from the trenches, dudes. Today’s fight report’ll be quick - get into it: I’ve had a lot of conversations in the past few days about how to move forward with other people who you hate or who hate you - And mannnn oh man, not easy shit. I’m working on this sort of grassroots campaign and yesterday I spoke to an ex about troubleshooting a big ol’ brat who we know (against our wills) and who is fucking up the dynamic of our group. We might be completely fucked if we don’t come up with a plan, but also we haven’t spoke in like over a year. Tricky dicky. We are both willing to work together though, because regardless of our issues with each other, or our baggage within our relationship, we know that we need to move forward or else… well, we’ll be totally fucked, honestly. 

That’s the thing - sometimes your allies in a fight are gonna be those people who you hate or vice versa. And how do you deal with that? I mean it sucks, right! It would be so much easier if you could just organize with your friends and people who you are cool with. But that’s not the way of the world, you guys. OH WELL! Tough shit! You still gotta get the important things done! 

What I am learning too is that the paradox of building power, especially when you are trying to do something collective with people who are really different than you and different than each other - is that if you just bow out and say “fuck this, I’m out of here” when you get POed - then those people who you disagree with are probably gonna get to run shit, and maybe run it into the ground. 

So, like, sometimes the movement needs YOU and YOU SPECIFICALLY. Because each of us brings our own little special blend of whatever to a situation. And your bullshit might be the exact right type of bullshit to bring people together - who knows? Gotta put yourself in the mix to find out. 

So - go out there and do some good - build power with people - even if you wanna fight them!! Do both! Fight them, and also FIGHT THE POWER! 

Hope y’all are eating well, and sleeping at night - doing what you can to enjoy every day of the harrowing reality that is 2026 on planet earth. 

Check out these fights to join below: 

Boston residents - city funding for youth jobs is at stake due to budget cuts - Info about contacting city counselors here 

Also people are organizing around boycotting Citizens Bank because of their support of private prisons that are operating ICE detention centers 

And, as always, help get people fed around you! check out Food Not Bombs, Community Fridges in your area, or the Greater Boston Food Bank, or the Rhode Island Food Bank or another one wherever you are.

Alright punks, see you guys out there on the streets!!!!!

wherever you are.

Wasteland Chick

I stand by this firmly. Greetings and Salutations, fellow Wasteland Chicks. Welcome back and happy pride month! Sorry my pick today is not very gay or supportive, but Heathers does not take lesbians serious enough to be mentioned a third time. Today we’ll be reviewing a movie I swore I reviewed before, “Better Off Dead”! I absolutely love this movie, so let’s get to the general point fast: We start off with an introduction to Greendale, California, and all of the weirdos who live there, including our main character Lane Myer: A typical teenage boy who wears socks in the shower (?) and is almost J.D.-level obsessed with his girlfriend, Beth. Beth, unfortunately, does not reciprocate and definitely wants to dead girl walking the high school ski team captain, Roy Stalin (?, again). We also meet Monique, a French foreign exchange student played by Diane Franklin from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (that movie I know I reviewed), living with Dan Schnieder of all people, and having some ~foreshadowing~ about her love of baseball.

Anyways, because a summary takes too long and I’m not in the mood, so I’m just gonna do what I did in my Top Secret! Review and mention my favorite parts in some kind of order. Sound good? Okay, anyways, we cut into Beth breaking up with Lane (I’m lesbian and even I know that that’s a dumb mistake) and into the film’s main schtick: Lane’s attempts of suicide. Fortunately, this first time around, he comes to his senses and talks himself out of it, heading to school while the radio keeps playing songs about breaking up with someone. Bitter irony (sad trombone sound). Oh no, those weird doordash ads are coming for me! Whatever, anyway, we head to Lane’s school with his good, perpetually almost-high friend Charles DeMar. They attend a math class with this weird guy teacher who for some reason, also wants to date Beth now that she’s free, and ends up ACTUALLY DOING SO. Apparently Charles has been going to this school for 7 years, and accidentally pushes Lane into a garbage truck, with an iconic line from two workmen of: “It’s a damn shame folks be throwin’ away a perfectly good white boy like that!” which is incredible. Anywhoozle, I’d just like to give a shout-out to the Paperboy kid who REALLY wants his two dollars. Seriously, this paperboy kid chases Lane through a SKI TRAIL MOUNTAIN AND EXPLODES, then stalks him and Monique at Dodger’s Stadium?!

Moving on, one of my favorite jokes in the Jesuschristmas section of the movie is after Beth screws Lane over again at Christianslatermas, Lane tries to kill himself in his car while holding a tiny teddy bear keychain he bought for Beth, and says to it, firstly: “Why are you so small”, and then when he gets out of this mindset: “~WAit a minute Mr. Bear, this is cRaZy, I’m sure I can get her back.” Granted he’s high out of his ballsack, but I still love it. Finally, let’s quickly discuss the cutest part of this movie: Monique and Lane’s romance! And the stop-motion burger thing, which is literally me when I’m listening to music and making food or something. Anyways, firstly, I love how even when Monique masquerades not knowing English to hide from Ricky Smith, Lane excitedly talks to her and they both have a good time. I really love people like that!

Also, when Roy Stalin comes up to them in the cafeteria and talks shit, Monique sprays a coke can in his face, and then when Roy starts making fun of Monique, Lane ONLY THEN stands up to him and challenges him to a ski–off. Also, I love how concerned Lane gets when Moniques says that Ricky has been rubbing his testicles on her, and then is immediately relieved when she clarifies with octopus. And, their ADORABLE date at the pig burger place where they eat TV Dinners and Lane quietly comes up behind her and starts saxophoning away. Finally, I love that after the ski competition thing, Lane wins but goes back and goes with Monique, recognizing her as the girl who loves him and they go to Dodgers Stadium together. I love this. I give this movie a 9 out of ten, and this review is way too long somehow! In life, fellow Wasteland Chicks, go your own way really fast, and if something gets in your way turn! Bye!

Sincerely and Dearly, Wasteland Chick

Starting to feel like summer, the world keeps getting more and more insane, but at least we got punk music. Ain't got much to say, but was glad to be able to get out of the house to catch Fentanyl at A1. Fun set and everyone moshed hard. Rest of the evening was a little more 'core than my tastes, but the kids were dancing all night. Openers Conduit had the rare dbeat singer/drummer and they ripped. The lung capacity of youth...damn. Rag Mag party was a blast and I caught a few photos of Sherman, Cigarette Camp and Whyte Lipstick. Plus Brian from Uniformed Service gave me this sick new sticker and a flyer for an upcoming show. Hoping I can make it up cuz that demo rips.

Rallizes Corner

Anyone who talks to me about music has probably heard me go on endlessly about the greatness of Les Rallizes Denudes. With so many bootlegs, live tapes, and now a seemingly endless stream of legitimate releases coming from former bandmates, you'd think we would have heard it all, but this new one is a revelation for me in its clarity. Read the lengthy liner notes for all the details, but this was culled from studio and live recordings in 1976 with basically the same lineup as '77 live for a proposed 4th album that never came to be (hence the title Disque 4). Hardly the blown out affair you may expect, this is a clear document showcasing their hypnotic simple rhythms, with the guitar noise cutting over the top with a delicateness not heard often in their catalog. have probably had this less than a week and listened at least a dozen times. Fucked up and naked indeed

Records of the Week

No brainer record of the week for me is the first vinyl pressing of the Substitute CD by legendary Japanese punks Defiance of Shit Bastards (D.S.B.) on General Speech. Ripping Japanese hardcore of the highest order, I bought their first ep off Wedge when I saw 9 Shocks in like 96 or 97 with Buzzoven (90s were we and it was always a favorite. When they came over for shows in 2003, they blew everyone away (and almost crushed mittens to death with a monitor). They recorded this back in Japan and it is a crushing set. Totally essential. Radical Punx Never Die! For a bonus, here's a pic of the collage/poster from a zine by Dave Hyde I have had up on too many walls to remember.

https://generalspeech.bandcamp.com/album/substitute

Next up is the second album by The Sleeveens - National Anthem on Goner Records. Tuneful catchy pub/punk rock and I can buy the undertones meets reigning sound comparison even if I hear more Clive Culbertson and lyrics too biting and punk to be RS. Fantastic album start to finish, this one knocked me out. It isn't too often I dig modern bands going for this style, but great songwriting, killer musicianship, and prescient, political, and just saying what I feel as a middle aged punk watching the world descend yet again into genocide and authoritarianism. Really glad I got the chance to see them, and hope they can make it back this way again.

https://thesleeveens.bandcamp.com/album/national-anthem

Soul Song of the Day

Still listening to the small stash of records from a thrift store trip with Mr. Mittens last month. By far the rarest (and most in need of a deep clean) was Cody Black - Because you first loved me on Groove City Records. Popular with the northern soul crowd, this one makes me wanna dance.

That's it for this week's Rag Mag. Here's some flyers and keep sending stuff in (ragmagclub@proton.me).