“Poems About Love And Punk Rock” By Joe McNally

Let’s cut the noise for a second. We all know the legendary stories of ’90s punk, the stadium tours, the multi-platinum records, the endless, chaotic energy that seemed to define a couple of generations. But what happens when the volume finally drops? What happens when the tour van breaks down for the last time, and you’re left with a thousand bad decisions ringing in your ears? That’s the messy, beautiful, and honest territory that Joe McNally steers in his book, Poems About Love And Punk Rock. McNally, a guy who actually lived that life (Voodoo Glow Skulls, Green Day and The Offspring touring member as a trumpet player, and many more bands along the way), delivered a book that goes beyond the typical band memoir. It’s about the life behind the gigs, about addiction, chaos, and the long recovery that led to sixteen years of sobriety and a second act as a teacher and writer. This book is a collection of short stories and poems written over the years, but they originated as spoken-word performance pieces. They were literally hammered out on stage and at open mics, designed to be read aloud, read in a way that a simple, smart, and honest man would tell a story to a friend. You feel that intimate connection on every page. The style just crackles with the energy of a verbal delivery. It’s brutally honest at times, wildly impulsive and sentimental at others. It reads like a conversation over a few late-night cups of coffee.

The poems are truly small stories in themselves, and each one carries its own distinct message, a sharp piece of pain, a dose of joy, or a quiet plea for hope. Because the stories are short and punchy, designed for maximum impact at a reading, they paint these incredibly vivid images into your mind, and let me tell you, not all of these images are pretty. McNally doesn’t flinch when talking about the dark side of touring life, the stuff that was, unfortunately, standard punk rock fare back then. He pulls no punches on tales of suicide, the struggle with drug addiction, street fights like the one that earned him a Rolling Stone feature with bandages on his head, and the heartbreaking trail of relationships destroyed by constant motion and chaos. He captures the essence of a life where hope and self-destruction were often locked in a death match. Despite the rough content, the stories are painted with a sympathetic tone towards the positive side of life. the search for hope and redemption. McNally is documenting the fall, but he’s also celebrating the fact that he got back up. The whole collection is weighted by the perspective of a person who has survived the trauma and found clarity.

The stories are centered around the ’90s punk scene and the zaniness of the touring life, the shared stages with legends like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Green Day, The Offspring, Rancid, NOFX, and Sublime, but the true heart of the book deals with universal, fundamental human issues like love, friendship, hope, and the long, winding road to redemption. It’s a book about addiction and recovery, chaos and the quiet power of choosing clarity. It’s about the life that exists when the stage lights are off, and the crowd noise is gone. This book is designed to be read in bits and pieces, which is perfect for a modern attention span. You can absorb a simple, exciting story that was told countless times verbally over the years and now finally exists in a permanent format. It’s a book you leave on your bedside table or toss into your bag, it doesn’t demand a massive time commitment, but it rewards you instantly with raw, genuine insight. Poems About Love And Punk Rock is an essential document for anyone who has ever loved punk rock or struggled to find their footing in the world. It’s a bridge between the reckless legend of the ’90s punk scene and the hard-won wisdom of adulthood. If you want the real, behind-the-scenes truth of what it takes to live a life fueled by noise and eventually find peace, you need this book. It’s fantastic. Head to Earth Island Books for more info about ordering.

#book #books #greenDay #joeMcnally #literature #music #nofx #poems #poetry #punkRock #reviews #ska #sublime #theOffspring

“Poems About Love And Punk Rock” By Joe McNally

Let’s cut the noise for a second. We all know the legendary stories of ’90s punk, the stadium tours, the multi-platinum records, the endless, chaotic energy that seemed to define a couple of generations. But what happens when the volume finally drops? What happens when the tour van breaks down for the last time, and you’re left with a thousand bad decisions ringing in your ears? That’s the messy, beautiful, and honest territory that Joe McNally steers in his book, Poems About Love And Punk Rock. McNally, a guy who actually lived that life (Voodoo Glow Skulls, Green Day and The Offspring touring member as a trumpet player, and many more bands along the way), delivered a book that goes beyond the typical band memoir. It’s about the life behind the gigs, about addiction, chaos, and the long recovery that led to sixteen years of sobriety and a second act as a teacher and writer. This book is a collection of short stories and poems written over the years, but they originated as spoken-word performance pieces. They were literally hammered out on stage and at open mics, designed to be read aloud, read in a way that a simple, smart, and honest man would tell a story to a friend. You feel that intimate connection on every page. The style just crackles with the energy of a verbal delivery. It’s brutally honest at times, wildly impulsive and sentimental at others. It reads like a conversation over a few late-night cups of coffee.

The poems are truly small stories in themselves, and each one carries its own distinct message, a sharp piece of pain, a dose of joy, or a quiet plea for hope. Because the stories are short and punchy, designed for maximum impact at a reading, they paint these incredibly vivid images into your mind, and let me tell you, not all of these images are pretty. McNally doesn’t flinch when talking about the dark side of touring life, the stuff that was, unfortunately, standard punk rock fare back then. He pulls no punches on tales of suicide, the struggle with drug addiction, street fights like the one that earned him a Rolling Stone feature with bandages on his head, and the heartbreaking trail of relationships destroyed by constant motion and chaos. He captures the essence of a life where hope and self-destruction were often locked in a death match. Despite the rough content, the stories are painted with a sympathetic tone towards the positive side of life. the search for hope and redemption. McNally is documenting the fall, but he’s also celebrating the fact that he got back up. The whole collection is weighted by the perspective of a person who has survived the trauma and found clarity.

The stories are centered around the ’90s punk scene and the zaniness of the touring life, the shared stages with legends like Voodoo Glow Skulls, Green Day, The Offspring, Rancid, NOFX, and Sublime, but the true heart of the book deals with universal, fundamental human issues like love, friendship, hope, and the long, winding road to redemption. It’s a book about addiction and recovery, chaos and the quiet power of choosing clarity. It’s about the life that exists when the stage lights are off, and the crowd noise is gone. This book is designed to be read in bits and pieces, which is perfect for a modern attention span. You can absorb a simple, exciting story that was told countless times verbally over the years and now finally exists in a permanent format. It’s a book you leave on your bedside table or toss into your bag, it doesn’t demand a massive time commitment, but it rewards you instantly with raw, genuine insight. Poems About Love And Punk Rock is an essential document for anyone who has ever loved punk rock or struggled to find their footing in the world. It’s a bridge between the reckless legend of the ’90s punk scene and the hard-won wisdom of adulthood. If you want the real, behind-the-scenes truth of what it takes to live a life fueled by noise and eventually find peace, you need this book. It’s fantastic. Head to Earth Island Books for more info about ordering.

#book #books #greenDay #joeMcnally #literature #music #nofx #poems #poetry #punkRock #reviews #ska #sublime #theOffspring

Glam, New Wave, And Punk: Melbourne’s COMEDY Emerges With Bold Debut Single ‘L.A. Perfume’

Naarm/Melbourne four-piece COMEDY has emerged with their bold debut single, ‘L.A. Perfume,’ the first half of an upcoming double A-side 7-inch. The track introduces a distinctive sound, cherry-picking elements from ’60s rock, glam, new wave, punk, and alternative music. Guitarist Andy Campbell sought to create something “strident, confident, large and a bit dangerous,” while the lyrics address the heady, apocalyptic insecurity of living life filled with desire in Los Angeles.

#alternative #comedy #glam #indie #indieRock #music #newWave #news #punkRock

Glam, New Wave, And Punk: Melbourne’s COMEDY Emerges With Bold Debut Single ‘L.A. Perfume’

Naarm/Melbourne four-piece COMEDY has emerged with their bold debut single, ‘L.A. Perfume,’ the first half of an upcoming double A-side 7-inch. The track introduces a distinctive sound, cherry-picking elements from ’60s rock, glam, new wave, punk, and alternative music. Guitarist Andy Campbell sought to create something “strident, confident, large and a bit dangerous,” while the lyrics address the heady, apocalyptic insecurity of living life filled with desire in Los Angeles.

#alternative #comedy #glam #indie #indieRock #music #newWave #news #punkRock