Lets get this out of the way, since I imagine one or two of yinz might ask:
Q.) What the fuck does P.R. stand for?
A.) Post-Retirement.
I played hundreds of shows “pre-retirement,” but now it feels a little different. I’ll try to explain.
See, a few years ago I was quite the mess. I wasn’t doing so great mentally, and I used alcohol, lots and lots of alcohol, to mask my problems.
I always kind of knew I had a problem with booze, but it wasn’t until after the news came in about my childhood best friend committing suicide that I realised I was a full-blown alcoholic. I spent the next few years destroying most of what was decent in my life - music, friendships&relationships, work.
This is also around the same time that I proclaimed “I’m retiring from playing punk rock shows! Fuck this bullshit!” This was the second time I pulled this bit.
Eventually, after being ripped out of a black-out slumber by seven cop, I decided to sober up. I kept to myself, and started the slow climb towards recovery. I didn’t play any music or spend any time at DIY punk shows. It felt right to stay away, and honestly, I thought that I might stay away from that world for good. How naive of me…
About a year-and-a-half into my sobriety, Shawna who plays in that rad feminist hardcore band, War on Women - www.waronwomen.bandcamp.com - asked me if I would be able to fly out to Portland, OR to help her and Brooks (guitarist of War on Women) drive from Portland OR to Pittsburgh PA… very swiftly.
I drove and sold merch for them on their west coast run with Propagandhi (look out, name dropping all over the goddamn place!) in February 2014, and even though my head wasn’t in a great place, it was quite the time. I mean, Propagandhi is literally my favourite band, so getting to see them every night for a fistful of sold-out and wild shows was beyond incredible. Getting to watch WOW do their thing on stage and then shoot the shit with them every night was also quite exceptional..
I wholeheartedly agreed to fly out to Portland and help with their epic journey east. They also wanted to play a few acoustic shows along the way home. They asked me to play, too.
Sure. Why not! I haven’t even looked at a guitar in months, let alone play one. I didn’t practice, at all, so when we eventually arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, after battling through a snow storm atop the Rocky Mountains, I was totally ill-prepared to perform. So it goes. Shawna and Brooks were awesome, so I didn’t feel too bad about giving such a hack performance. I mean, anyone that was at that show was their to see them and not ol’ man Ghostwrite anyway!
After ripping from Portland OR to Omaha NE in about a day-and-a-half, a decent night’s sleep was very welcomed. After showers and coffees we rolled out of that hotel. We were back on the road. Away to Iowa!
We would be playing a house show that my friend Noelle, who plays in Rational Anthem - rad pop punk - www.rationalanthem.bandcamp.com, set up. House shows are my jam. Kate (Lipstick Homicide), me, and WOW acoustic played. The rust disappeared, and everything felt comfortable and right behind that acoustic guitar again.
I don’t know what it is, but every time I’m in this town I have a blast.
Governor’s Mansion: Iowa City IA
From here, after being fed and housed over at Kate and Noelle’s place, we were off yet again.
The drive from Iowa into Pennsylvania is pretty miserable, so when the city appeared from behind those mountains I was both excited and relieved. We did it!
I don’t know why, but I thought this show was going to be much better than it was. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a fine show. However, I assumed more friends would be out to show support. I guess when you disappear for a few years everyone forgets. So it goes in this breakneck modern world.
Mr. Roboto Project: Pittsburgh PA
And that was that. I enjoyed the trip. Shawna and Brooks are good fucking people, so any time I get to spend time with them it’s a real treat.
I put my guitar back on the shelf, and said, “Yeah, I guess it’ll be fun to revisit this every few years or so, for a couple days at a time, when the opportunity is there.”
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