Rag Mag 49
What's up rag mag? End of the summer, and everybody is WAY too busy. Reminder that early voting is open in Providence for the primaries and that is the real election here. Even if you aren't registered for a party, you can still vote in the primary so go do it even if you think it doesn't matter. If it doesnt matter, why not do it. Vote now or on the actual day of by September 9th (go Morales!). This week we have Medium Regular with Dottie, The Fight Report by Chessy Renee, and Creature's Double Feature.
Soundtrack to this week's issue: While in Maine, I found a bunch of Hawkwind LPs in a junkshop (along with a ton of cheap 45s) so blasting those, plus the first Dogs (France) LP inspired by a record of the week and some Mutha's love.
Hit us up at ragmagclub@proton.me with flyers, art, feedback, column idea, or just to say hi and let's talk about PUNK!
Whats up cosmo freaks ? I'm back and easing out of the fiery leo season I know well. We've landed back down to earth pun intended while entering Virgo season. I went out to dinner with a Virgo once. They body shamed me so I left them with the bill. Let that be a lesson. Never shame someone while they're eating its rude and you never know who might just go to the bathroom and never come back. ANYWHO let me bestow some spiritual guidance upon you.
Its been said that Virgos are some of the most careful people within the zodiac, and honestly would have loved to come across more of you guys when I merged onto 93 this morning - know what I mean ? You are also known to be a bit judgement and to that I say lets friggin relax alright ? Yeah maybe this top isn't the most flattering but keep it to yourself some of us are just trying to live. On a positive note you virgos are also known for your patience , which again would have come in handy in the merging situation. This season take your neurotic , nitpicky self and throw caution to the wind. Experiment ! Don't read warning labels ! Eat recalled food ( don't actually ) blow through those red lights ? This is all probably super bad advice but the point is try to be open up to chance .You can't control everything and you have to accept that. Sure this is all intense and might make you feel anxious but have another cup of coffee and forget about it ! Booze in coffee does wonders for the nerves - give it a go!
Anywho the point is leave your judmental ass at the door and be open to change. You ain't a mystic ( too bad ) and can't predict the future so just learn to accept what comes in. Also please don't cut me off in traffic.
The Fight Report by Chessy Renee
Pokemon-Go-ing to the polls
Yo dudessss - it’s time for the Fight Report!
So Massachusetts primary elections are coming up on Tuesday, and as cynical as I am about politics in general, I’m still voting!! Personally I am registered as “Undecided.” I don’t know if that counts as independent, or if it’s different - but I do know that it means that I always have the option in a primary to get a republican ballot. I like this because it means that, given the right circumstances, I could fuck up the options on that side of the aisle.
I remember when I was waiting tables in the summer of 2016. I remember standing at the door with the rest of the servers during a slow weekday lunch. Playing sudoku and waiting business yuppies and their foreign associates to come in order whatever and then not eat it and leave a 10% tip. Specifically I remember at least one day when the lazy meandering of conversation with coworkers took a brief political detour, and one girl who I worked with bringing up the republican candidates as she only had considered voting republican. She was a Kasich devotee. I didn’t know who the hell that was, but I wasn’t really concerned about it - I was more focussed on the exciting prospect of Bernie winning.
Crazy to look back and remember the hope and possibility in regards to America. But also we have to get back to that. We have to sniff out the people who are actually rad and rally behind them. So with that - I’ve looked at the rec’s from the democratic socialists of america for the upcoming primary elections: Massachusetts on Sept 1, Rhode Island (source 1 & 2) on Sept 8, and New Hampshire (sources 1 & 2) on Sept 8 as well.
And while I was poking around the DSA pages, I found some articles on the Upper Valley (NH and VT) site. Including this one about tactics for leveraging labor organizing to fight deportations.
Which reminds me: if you’re in Mass and don’t already know about LUCE, get into it. And in case we don’t say it enough - FUCK ICE!!!
Alright punk, smell ya later.
End of summer is always a bummer, but fall in New England is the best so looking forward to some apple cider donuts (and slushies with a nip in a graveyard - who's in?). Been avoiding the news propaganda cycle for a couple week's means I am trying to figure out what the fuck Lake America is, what a fucking joke we are. pathetic greedy losers desperately clinging to their dreams of the golden age that never actually existed, nostalgia is the death drug. Everything back then was better when all you remember is the good times, the danger/pain of the bad times isn't as immediate. Fuck, I dunno. Learn from the past, but what punk artifacts taught me was that it was fucked in 1977, 1984, 2004, and it's still fucked in 2026. Remember the past, but embrace the now.
So to be a total hypocrite, now I'm just going talk about one of my all time fave comps - MRR's Welcome to 1984. Check out this sick spread from the April 1984 MRR issue - hardcore punk is the best. I found this record at the local punk record shop when I was 16 or 17 and the international scope of it blew my mind. Ended up naming a record label after a song on here, played it a million times, and I ain't gonna listen to it for this because it's perfect in my memory (just kidding - it still rips!).
And fuck it, here's an interview with Greg Sage because the Wipers are the best ever.
Interview with Greg Sage/The Wipers from MRR #13 1984
Speaking of celebrating the new, send us some flyers or a scene report. Here's one for Rhode Island.
Records of the Week
Up first for record of the week is Fantasy Lane's Hwy 38 LP. Absolutely killer motorcharged rock n roll punk. Reminds me of Inepsy if they shredded solos too much. Nothing new here, but who needs new when you wanna bang your head and spill your beer pogoing in the basement. Hope they tour, I bet they rule live.
Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 4, 2024
Next up for records of the week is a reissue from a few year's back on Reminder Records (run by one of the guys from Sing Sing Records). Dogs - The Melodies Massacre Years. Classic punk rock (emphasis on the rock). Compiles their first 45 and 12", two classics that were out of print for far too long. While I have a soft spot for the first LP as my fave (see soundtrack to this issue), this is the punkest the Dogs got and it rules.
mistahben
Soul Song of the Day
Speaking of nostalgia and something new, maybe we should just listen to Joe Tex and Hold What You've Got.
That's it for this week's Rag Mag. Here's some flyers and keep sending stuff in (ragmagclub@proton.me).
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