Posts by graniteeagle41

I’m putting myself out there for anyone looking for new friends—doesn't matter if you're male or female. 🙂
Since I'm in my twenties, I think we'd probably hit it off best; we're in the same stage of life. We can start with some decent conversation and maybe grab a coffee or something sometime. I'm open to any topic, love a good discussion, and I'm a solid listener if someone just needs a sounding board. 🙂

Shoot me a DM!

Just loaded up my account for the Powerball. If only I could reach a point where money didn't matter to me. 🤣

granitepuma said:either the author comes up with a fresh label for them or we just call them "lesser-known rockers." Because a legitimate, mainstream rocker like Zelet (🤣) can stomach hearing about bands that actually have some grit, but damn, they're just too "underground" for him. 🤮

There have always been labels; my dad used to get his hair cut on street corners and they called those guys "shaggy types." 🤣 Nowadays, that just makes me think of cookies. 😁 Maybe one day these "alternative" kids will be associated with something leftist. 😂

What's your problem with Zelet 😁 even if his ego is bigger than a Dallas Cowboys owner's? Look, like Goran Bregovic once said— —"a band that plays a hundred days a year." You rarely hear that kind of commitment from a rock band these days. 😉

Getting back to the point: personally, I never get why EVERYONE is constantly obsessing over "promoting the scene" or "lifting up the scene." They talk about promoting these MASSIVE bands that nobody has ever heard of because they're local, acting like this constant "support" thing is some grand mission. It's all fairy tales.

Why should I sit around writing about some random band for some website? I can just leave a comment and be done with it. A band's goal is to promote themselves and actually make something happen. Look, man, if you know how to command a decent paycheck for a gig, then you better know how to push your way into the spotlight yourself. Everyone wants everything overnight these days. There's no more "who cares, it's the weekend, if nobody pays us, we'll play for a couple of beers"... people will just walk all over you. Maybe someone who actually has capital will hear you. That doesn't exist anymore. Nobody's willing to bleed for rock and roll. 😁

I don't mind buying an album if a band puts it out, I don't mind buying a magazine, and I don't mind paying for concert tickets. But what's with all this volunteer work lately? I'm genuinely curious about your logic. Generally speaking, I hate volunteering and it honestly turns my stomach. Modern youth have been brainwashed into thinking volunteering is great, when in reality, it's often just an excuse for people not to pay a young professional what they're worth. It's garbage.

Wouldn't it be much better if, say, ten of you (including the thread starter, maybe an editor) started a serious magazine that people would actually buy and respect? You could earn some real money and reinvest it into quality until you hit a level where you actually matter. I've had enough of this "promoting" things for nothing. Fine, you love it, whatever. But sometimes, someone will read something, and that's it. It's not like it's being pushed by major media outlets. I agree that some people don't want to leave the underground, though I doubt any punk would find it hard to demand a decent stack of cash for a show or a spot on TV. This whole "underground" concept sounds stupid nowadays; for God's sake, everyone is on the internet. Forget the underground. 😁

In this supposed alternative scene that heavy metal fans won't shut up about, kompletan novinarstvo boils down to a handful of fans scribbling stuff down, and nothing more.

To make anything happen, you have to sink massive amounts of capital into a project first. Only after that investment—combined with the actual blood, sweat, and tears of the musicians—will you see any results. Until then, you've got nothing.

She could have at least given it a bit of a rough treatment and made it look used... or maybe just capitalized the A. 🤣

When it comes to rock music, there’s a serious lack of talent and fresh ideas. It isn't a media issue. The reality is that nobody is willing to put in the actual work. Zele hit the nail on the head when he explained this earlier—. I wouldn't call myself a fan of his, but he's making a valid point here.

The American Metal/Rock Portal definitely carries weight within the scene, especially among fans of the genres they cover. This isn't some fly-by-night blog that popped up yesterday; many massive bands owe their huge breakout success to the promotion they received there.

ruggedjackal68 said:Some of my all-time favorite rockers who unfortunately broke up were Black Feather. If you haven't heard them, they’re a band worth your time—killer lyrics, absolute masters of their instruments, just a top-tier group...
Another local band I know that also split up, and man, they were incredible, was Erection of Mind. Those guys absolutely crushed live shows; it's a shame they aren't playing anymore...
Then there's that band from Los Angeles worth noting; they have one album out and a second on the way called Ultimatum... great stuff, solid rockers too.

Check them out and let me know what you think.😉

I listened to Black Feather back when they were active. I actually read an interview yesterday on your Metal/Rock Portal. But like you can see, the guitarist mentioned it was mostly tension because they weren't local to each other, and it's hard to secure enough funding for major tours. The band released maybe two symbolic albums—not much money went into them, but plenty of ideas did. I dig them. However, that's a band that hasn't been active for a long time and probably never will be again. You can't really count them as part of the current rock scene.

I'm listening to Erection of Mind right now, and damn, they are good.😁 Okay, they're a great gigging band, but as you said—they don't play anymore.😁 How many of them can we even include in the modern rock scene?

Ultimatum has a killer vocalist; the guy honestly blew me away.

For instance, I thought Cota G4 was amazing with their first album; I played that constantly. Then, after the lineup Change, I couldn't stand them because they took a different direction, and now I don't even know what happened to them. Not that I care—I just spin the first album every once in a while.🤣

Following those guys, for example, the crew from the Bad Mushrooms band could probably be at the top right now.😁 The new lineup sounds great——and the Czech guy from Strawberry has a solid band going currently—. There are still a few other groups playing similar music, but it's all pretty weak. There are no albums, so there's nothing substantial to actually listen to.

It's pointless for you to list and comment on these old bands; we've all heard them years ago and everything has already been said. What's lacking are fresh names and songs. As far as I know, 😁

I’m trying to get a handle on the local rock scene here. People talk up these incredible bands constantly, but I’m honestly flying blind—I don't know much about them. I know a few decent acts that kill it with covers and throw in an original track now and then, but that's about it. Can anyone point me in the right direction and fill me in?

The online portals are great, but I really miss having actual fanzines and physical magazines around. Koox was a top-tier publication; it's a damn shame it didn't stick around.

Ronald Jones said:That is precisely the issue; they don't attend social gatherings without alcohol involved. 😁 😁 They might show up for a coffee, but that is about it. 🙂

Why is there this obsession with attending every single social gathering?🤷 Years ago, I used to go to the local zoo with a friend every Sunday; I’d just buy two lollipops and we'd watch the monkeys. Every afternoon was perfect.

Ronald Jones said:I am not constantly in contact with them, really; I maintain a much smaller circle of people I actually get along with. This is just a group from college, and this crowd will likely drift apart eventually anyway. I don't consider any of them to be my best friends. Unfortunately, my closest friends aren't here in Washington, D.C., and one cannot simply exist solely with oneself and university coursework... one needs some semblance of a social life while living in Washington, D.C. They aren't terrible people, but they aren't anything special either. Nor is the rest of my class particularly noteworthy, so I certainly make no plans to seek out a new social circle at school. 😳 😳

My greatest regret is that my best friends aren't here in Washington, D.C. Of course, we speak every single day and see each other quite often, but certainly not nearly as frequently as if we were all living together in Washington, D.C. 😳 😳 Their company and their way of thinking are truly the only ones that suit me... 🙂

If you say they aren't all bad, then try engaging with those you actually get along with. Try motivating them toward activities that actually suit you. Invite someone somewhere where there's no alcohol or smoking—things that bother you—and lead by example to show them there's another way to have a good time.

Ronald Jones said:The environment. 😳 😳

Then change your environment. 🤷 What exactly is the problem here? What would you have done differently?

Ronald Jones said:I have a question regarding the topic in the title.

To illustrate my point, let me offer a few examples.

a) Suppose we attend a social gathering where, naturally, one is expected to drink something. What is the purpose of this, truly, if I am already aware that I don't enjoy it? In fact, I find the very notion of being obligated quite distasteful. Why is it that people succumb to this pressure, have a few drinks, and then subsequently expect that individual to actually get intoxicated? 😳 🙄 It is quite the same situation with cigarettes. 😳 😳

b) Furthermore, why is there such an obligation to be in a relationship right now? Is there something inherently wrong with me if I am single? Am I supposed to simply abandon all my standards and settle for the very first person who happens to be somewhat attractive? 😳 🍿 Yet, I observe that a vast number of people simply give in to these societal expectations. ☕ ☕

Where is this "must" coming from? You don't owe anyone anything. You simply say "no thanks" with a smile and stick to it. That goes for a single glass of sparkling cider, too. If you take even one, you risk people nitpicking you, saying, "Oh, look, they've been sipping that one glass all night." Just don't drink, and that's that. This happens constantly because groups lack any actual common ground for conversation, so they resort to being mindless. There are no shared interests; instead, everyone is just horny and looking for a hookup, using alcohol as a crutch to facilitate interaction (they'll just blame it on being drunk tomorrow, of course). Or, some people genuinely rely on alcohol just to tolerate their own existence.

Relationships work the same way—it is entirely a matter of personal choice and necessity.

I don't understand what is bothering you about this. Is it yourself, or the environment around you?

Jessica Gomez5 said:This comment is completely nonsensical... you're telling me not to think about my own future, my family, or my children, and instead just focus on everyone else? For how long? What's even the point of that?🙄

It isn't senseless. It’s actually logical, rational, and perfectly sound.
I didn’t say you shouldn't think about your future; I said stop ignoring the present. Look at your life right now. Do you have a partner you can actually build a family with? No, you don't. So where is this sudden obsession with kids coming from? You can't dream about a family when there isn't a single person by your side to share that vision with. Right now, your brother is your primary support system. He is your family. Instead of rushing headlong into the idea of starting a household just because you think it'll magically fix your problems or make you happier, lean on him. Realize that a family isn't a band-aid for loneliness. It won't change your fundamental reality.
The whole point is to lead by example—to actually act like a son or a brother. When things get heavy, you don't just whine on an internet forum about how you "should" have been able to provide for your grandkids. That’s easy. What matters is being there right now for the people who are still standing in front of you. You can't just ignore them and keep acting the same way. Until recently, you were nothing but a selfish jerk who lived only for yourself. Now, you're pretending to feel some guilt and claiming you want to make amends, but let's be honest: you're only doing it so *you* can feel better about yourself. It isn't about being there for your family; it's about your own ego. My friend, you've got it completely wrong.

Jessica Gomez5 said:I really appreciate everyone’s thoughtful responses, thank you, but I can't shake this heavy sense of guilt. It weighs on me that at least one of my parents might not live to see their grandkids, and my children will miss out on having an aunt or uncle around—things that usually just happen naturally over time. Everything hit me all at once instead of happening in stages. While I totally agree that financial stability is a massive advantage, whenever I see those happy families who don't have much money but have every single family member present and connected, I find myself wishing I could trade places with them in a heartbeat. I know no family is perfect, but from where I'm standing right now, that's just how it feels.

You are mourning a reality that doesn't exist. What "children" are you even talking about? Focus on your brother. He needs someone in his corner right now more than anyone else. Stop being so self-absorbed with your own guilt and start looking at what you can actually provide for the people standing right in front of you, rather than obsessing over people who aren't here or won't be.