Rag Magazine Issue 2
Hey Punk, are you on the rag? Your pal Creature here welcoming you back to Rag Magazine. We have a new website at ragmag.club. Spread the word. As always, we're a group of mostly Southern New England based punks, artists, musicians, filmmakers, tattooists, freaks, hockey enthusiasts and general weirdos looking to spread the word about our local underground sub-culture through writing, reviews, and event listings. We are always looking for contributors and events to list, so let us know. See ya next time, now read below for some of our regular columns. This issue Lindsay is back with Lost and Found interviewing Coco Roy about finding her favorite pair of underwear, Wasteland Chick reviews another punk classic (Discharge!), Medium Regular - Horoscopes by your old friend Dottie, and of course Creature’s Double Feature.
Art by Salty Dave (ed. note. go get a knoblin tattoo from Salty)
What's up world, it's your old friend Dottie. I know we’re living through a shit storm but lucky for you I’m connected to the stars , and I ain't talking celebrities!. I’ve been hitting the baileys and staring at the moon and have some cosmic advice for you this month - enjoy
Capricorn Dec 22 - January 19
The line between reality and fantasy is beyond blurred and you’re just trying to make it through the day. Hun, I get it. I faked my own death once to get out of a relationship. Do I regret it? Absolutely not! But I did learn that sometimes we need to harness our escapism and deal with reality though hard as it may be. This month look around and appreciate some little things that make you happy to be here. Also don’t forget to dream.
Aquarius *Jan 20-feb 18
Aquarius are known for being aloof and somewhat detached which makes me wonder if the phone operator from the health insurance company I was speaking to was also born between Jan 20- Feb 18. ANYWHO, this month try to engage and help someone around you. Especially if your name is Nancy - PS I am still on hold.
Pisces Feb 19- March 20
You’ve been dazed and off your game lately. Focusing is extremely hard . Maybe it's because you lost your Job and no longer have access to mental health resources but who’s to say. Take this time to do something nice for yourself. Whether it's taking a walk, calling a friend or drinking that 8th cup of coffee of the day.
Aries * March 21- April 19
Your love life is messier than a group of bros drinking in the seaport on a friday night - loud, chaotic and likely to commit murder. It's hard to find love when we’re also not loving ourselves. This month slow down and masterbate 5 times a day. Also why are you hanging out at the seaport?
Taurus * April 20 - May 20
You’ve been smoking menthols against the dumpster behind Friendly’s for the past 2 hours and you feel like you’re having an outer body experience. It could be the lack of oxygen or maybe you are really cruising down that astral plane. Sometimes there's so much going on it's hard to keep ourselves rooted in reality. This month try to find something positive to focus on that you find grounding. Hopefully it's not smoking by the dumpster.
Gemini * May 21- June 20
You’re stuck in mind numbing traffic on 93 so you start speeding down the breakdown lane blasting “ Radar Love” by Gold Earing which is only making you go faster. Though I like your style , it sounds extremely dangerous for everyone involved. Traffic blows but like anything in life sometimes we have to learn to be patient.
Cancer *June 21 - July 22
Maybe it's all the climate disasters or the rise in fascism and not being able to afford to live but you’re feeling pretty blue this month - winter am I right? This month try to set some time aside for yourself whether it's meditation , a nice walk or just staring at that crack in your wall for way too long. Remember it's okay to take a moment for yourself.
Leo July 23 - Aug 22
Leos are known for being dramatic and performers and you are FLAUNTING it this month (but honestly hun , that top looks great on you). You feel like the world is trying to put you down so you gotta turn it up! So, turn it up baby!! Unless you are in the waiting room , then kindly turn the fuck down some of us are here for therapy.
Virgo Aug 23- Sept 22
You’re known to be a bit judgemental and my house is a JUDGEMENT FREE ZONE!! I’m talking about no bra liquid lunch judgment free like drinking the cooking wine by mistake judgment free - GOT IT?!? So why don’t you calm the fuck down??? Some of us are just trying to live.
Libra Sept 23 - Oct 22
Like many of the current MBTA trains, your life is going off the rails. It may not always be bursting into flames, but you are feeling off course. Maybe it's the shuttle buses or the never ending inflation but it feels like you can’t get ahead. Take some time for yourself this month you deserve it , and remember as hard as it feels we can’t control everything.
Scorpio Oct 23 - Nov 21
I dated a scorpio once - YIKES. Let's just say I got stung. Maybe it was their nature but it sure as hell wasn’t mine. Sometimes we think we’re in love and sometimes we make big mistakes. But honestly hun, messing with me is a bigger mistake.
Sagittarius Nov 22 - Dec 21
You’ve been hooking up with strangers in the local coffee shop bathroom and you’ve begun to wonder if life is all just hand jobs and glazed donuts? Sometimes these realizations lead us on a path to change ourselves for the better. So, get outta that bathroom , get some fresh air and try to pursue positive change. Ps please wash your hands.
Wasteland Chick
So true. Hey fellow wasteland chicks, to explain today’s meme, I, if you could not already tell, really love Mad Max, and just spent a while playing the 2015 video game with my dad, so this has been on my mind for awhile. Anyway, today I’m reviewing the song “State Control” by Discharge. Overall review: I give it an 8.2 out of ten, the song itself is pretty good, very vibe-able and cool. The melody and music beats are kind of just a lot of guitar and drums, but the instruments themselves sound good, like a song your dad’s band practices in your basement, though that might just be me, I don’t know. It overall sounds pretty good and cool. The lyrics are another matter. I love the lyrics! I have always loved punk songs that talk about capitalism and state control! And this song is just that! The lyrics speak the truth, kind of like the song “The Sound of the Police”, which I should probably review at some point. Anyway, my final review: The melody and music are a bit repetitive, but vibe-able, but the lyrics are the icing on the cake, speaking truth in each verse. Would listen again.
Signed, WASTELAND CHICK
(Also I think I need this sticker)
· Tell us about the item you lost (or found)—what’s the backstory?
I found my favorite pair of underwear on tour.
· Where and when did you realize the item was lost (or found)?
· It was coming back to New york. So , the tour was about 2 months long. At one point we must have done some laundry at someones house and somehow I ended up with the PERFECT PAIR of black underwear. Like did an angel craft these for me? They were sewn for my body. I thought maybe they were my friend Emilys and somehow I got them but since they had become very close to me both literally and figuratively i felt like they should be best returned when we got back home and they were properly washed.
photo by Mary Dolan - exhaling with the comfort of comfortable panties
· Was there a specific song or moment in the show when you think it got lost?
· No, but we were listening to that GG Allin record “ Always was , Is and always shall be” a lot in the station wagon. So GG and his underwear was constantly in the back of my mind so maybe cosmically these underwear were a sign.
· What’s the weirdest or most interesting thing about the venue or gig where it happened?
· So, since I’m not sure where I acquired these its hard to say we slept on a lot of floors. But for some reason Olympia feels right. We played in someone's basement and nothing was grounded. The mic stand was a busted high hat stand with the mic taped to it. I fell on the ground with it and got zapped so fucking hard , like shaking feel it in your heart hard. So that's memorable. Oh, and I thought it would be funny to start the set singing that Hole song “ rockstar” by going “ when i went to school in Olympiaaaaa–aaaah” I was met with DEFENING silence hah. OH! We played with this band who had been around forever and maybe was in their mid 40s then? I was in my 20s so its hard for me to gage. But anywho there was this woman bass player and we hit it off talking music history and bands - she was really cool. And she said to me “ the most important scene, is the one you’re in , the one you’re a part of.” and it sounds silly but it hit me and its something i think about all the time.
· If you could give a message to whoever found (or lost) this item, what would you say?
· To the person that lost these black panties, I am truly sorry for your loss.
· What’s the most sentimental or irreplaceable thing about this item?
· I’m a weirdly very superstitious person since I was a kid. Like if something good happened and I was wearing X I would have to wear it again ect… So, these underwear became that. For the longest time they were my “ show underwear" so I can guarantee if you ever saw me play in the past 14 years I was definitely wearing them at some point . .
· How would you describe your relationship with this item before it got lost (or after you found it)?
· I finally felt how it feels to play music without a wedgie, and am forever in debt to the person who I mistakenly took these from.
· If the item could talk, what story would it tell about your time together?
· I think these undies would reflect on how many amazing shows we have played together. We’ve played all over the country. Been on big stages , basements on countless movie sets. Yes, thats right these underwear have stood next to the likes of Bette Middler and Kyle Maclachlan. Do you think they realized they were near such heavenly fabric? Oh, and I would like to apologize for bleeding through them so many times.
· What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever lost at a show?
· My fucking mind man! Well, this wasnt me but friend Emily and I were at The Stooges “ Raw Power “ anniversary show and a guy was rocking so hard his glass eye fell out and he wiped it on his shirt and popped it back in. I know thats more like witnessing a loss but its still worth mentioning and come to think of it you should interview him.
· Did finding this item change anything about how you experience shows now?
· Yes! Now , I’m always hoping the second best pair of underwear will be thrown on stage at me - preferably washed.
· If you could trade this found item for something else you’ve always wanted at a show, what would it be?
· Wow thats tough…. Maybe a bra that not only makes my boobs look great but helps them from not hitting me in the face.
· Has anyone tried to claim it back yet (if found)?
· NO! So, when we got back from tour I went to the laundromat and washed everything and was gonna be like hey, I have your underwear. ( Also , at that point I should have just bought her a new pair , why was I insane in my 20s) So, I told Emily about how I ended up with her underwear and she just looked at me and was like , um those aren’t mine! So, I have no idea where they came from ha. I think I got them somewhere on the west coast, so maybe there were missing posters all around the neighborhood but who’s to say.
photo taken during the filming of the “Hot Cream” music video
Creature here with another double feature - an interview with DJ It’s Casual of Maximum Horror Video - a fun horror movie screening night in East Providence, RI and a Guide to Ways to Resist. The fascist piss babies are trying to strongarm their way into a dictatorship and it’s up to resist. We can’t just rely on the fact that what they are doing is illegal or unconstitutional, because they already know that. Fascists seize power by overreaching their power and seeing what we give up willingly. Well, I ain’t willing to give up shit. Also, as usual, going to give a twofer of record recommendations and my soul song of the day. Music and resistance. Solidarity forever. Solidarity worldwide.
RM: Hey, it's DJ It's Casual, the host of everyone's favorite horror movie night in Rhode Island. What's the deal with Maximum Horror Video? IC: Maximum Horror Video is a monthly chill movie screening hang at Myrtle East Providence. It’s free and easy, a bunch of people hanging out, enjoying drinks, and watching a fun horror movie. I make a small batch of limited edition buttons each month for those who attend. RM: My fave part of these nights is your pre-movie sizzle reels. Where do you get your inspiration for those? IC: It’s a way to add a little bit of extra fun to the night, make it a little bit more of an event. Each one is created and curated by me. I like to try and keep it, at least vaguely, related to the theme of the night, related to that months movie. I really enjoy editing footage so I have fun making these. I’ll think of a gag, sometimes it’s something slight or only funny to me, and run with it. RM: What/where/when for the next movie night? IC: The next night is Tuesday Feb 11th at Myrtle East Providence. We’re showing The Thing (1982)! Movie starts at 8pm and is FREE! RM: Anything else you want to get off your chest? IC: I’m psyched to be able to host this night. The bar is fantastic, fine people who are friendly and open to creating a weird and interesting space. The vibe as this night is very chill. I make a small batch of free buttons for each film and that’s fun. I hang out after and spin records for a while and there’s a good pizza place across the street and you can grab a pie to eat while you watch the film. It’s casual!
Creature’s Guide to Resistance
It feels exhausting just to exist in the world right now and fascist piss babies are trying to seize dictatorial power of our government. It seems overwhelming and what can I do, it’s so easy to feel powerless. The main lesson I’ve learned from the civil rights movement is that two things are true, the nonviolent protests as embodied by MLK were necessary to gain the support and have the bills written and our demands clearly laid out. But at the same time, it only passed because of violent protest and burning down cities. Both are necessary for change to occur and you should only participate with what you are comfortable doing. Don’t get bogged down in infighting, that is what they want. These piss babies have every goddamn excess in the world and they still want more. Here’s some simple ways you can resist these fuckers.
- Call your local and state representatives. Demand action.
- Volunteer with local community aid organizations.
- Commit petty vandalism against tesla owners.
- Make protest art and paste it around town.
- Disrupt these fuckers lives. They flipped the fuck out that they couldn’t go to dinner without being protested during the first administration. They have names, addresses, and families. Disrupt them at their homes, where they get coffee, at the gym, at church. Make it untenable for them.
- Bring “normal business” to a halt. Only do the level you are comfortable with. Whether you just do work slowdowns or lead a general strike. Economic resistance by withholding labor.
- Sell your stocks. Fuck wall street. Tesla and X don’t even make money but musk is a billionaire because a bunch of other billionaires gamble that maybe it will turn a profit someday. Fucker is going after the Department of Labor because he violates labor laws in all his factories. Take away their wealth any way we can.
- Give a hot cup of coffee to that guy you see standing at the bus stop who looks cold.
- Boycott. Delete instagram, facebook, and all that bullshit.
- Protest. Get out in the streets.
- Protect your neighbors. Watch out for ICE.
- Try to be kinder to yourself.
There are a million more ways to resist, but all I am saying is do what you can. Not all of us can make a protest at noon on a workday because you have to pay rent. And that is fine. Show up when you can. And for all the misinformation floating around about protests on social media, the question I keep seeing asked is “who is leading this"?”. The answer is simple. It’s you. It’s me. It’s us. Show up and you are the organizer. No one is here to do it for us, we have to do it together. Here’s some links to some community organizations supported by contributors to this here mag. We also have a growing list on the website for this very mag. Send some links our way, let us know who is out there helping out.
Support the unhoused through solidarity:
Links to help with the LA wildfires.
https://www.freshstartfarmsnh.com/our-story/
Immigration Resources:
Records of the day for your ol’ friend Creature are a late 90’s swedish dbeat banger from Uncurbed - peacelovepunklife…and 2020’s a quien le echamos la culpa? by Peruvian punks Morbo. In the words of uncurbed, “I am a fucking Rock’n’Roller-rocking for our freedom Freedom and understanding-peace, love and happiness.” Couldn’t have said better myself. As for morbo, my spanish is a bit rusty but its catchy as hell and has me pogoing around the living room singing along as best I can. Check em out!
Creature’s soul song of the day is the legendary Bettye Swann’s - don't you ever get tired (of hurting me). “ Baby, you make me cry all the time. You′d be the happiest man alive if you could drive me…Stone out of my mind”
That’s it for another issue of Rag Magazine. If you ever wondered what Creature gets up to on a Friday night, here’s a link to a recent Friday night making noise with the ol’ guitar. Also, see some flyers for upcoming events (send us yours!). Up the punks!
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