The first humans were born not only into an ice age, but also a world filled with worse air pollution than our cities have ever produced. (This has to do a giant meteor striking the Earth, but there isn’t time to go into that now, okay!) Now, I’m not saying this must have been a fun time to live, but our existence now is proof that humans pulled it off. So, where are humans at now? Obviously a lot more comforts in the world now. Also a lot of scary nasty stuff going on and a lot of people freaking out that in just 2 years we’ll be thrown back to the stone age. Maybe. But that would be quite an amazing turn of events to have the privilege of living through.

In the meantime, there is this very small portion of human reality called DIY music. For most musicians in this DIY world, the stereotype of “struggling artist” is both comically and tragically more real than ever. Thats okay though. It is nice to do what you like and not be working for “the man”. And while the survival tactics of your DIY musician may not be exactly the same ones that we’ll need when we’re all hunting wooly mammoths again, there is a certain spirit of bravery going on here that shines a light of love we will always need in this world.

Universal Studios Florida (aka USF) currently face one of these moments where they must shine their light and see if it is strong enough. Long time XXJFG will remember these guys for Orb-like brand of chillwave that they were doing long before that silly word existed. At the moment though, they can hardly make a sound. Sadly, all their gear was stolen from their practice space. But they got strategies, a love lamp, and that caveman spirit. They are raising money for new gear by selling two songs from their forthcoming album The Spray via bandcamp. If you got $2, maybe form a clan with them and help out? Either way, they are also sharing a 3rd new song for free.

Universal Studios Florida – Branss

Another form of DIY bravery is no shining light of love. It is more like a thorny seed pod that lays on the forest floor fending off hungry critters to make sure a new tree is born. A tree with thorns all over its trunk, with leaves that scream in the wind, “Fuck you! Trees can be punk too!” Considering that the spirit of rebellion, the well needed voice of dissent (esp in this evil world of corporate interest wars and hate-driven local politics), is often mocked by the very people it aids, it takes a lot of bravery to do the right thing. So, to all those people that like to act offended by the name AIDS Wolf, you can eat my thorny pod. Meanwhile, I’ll be letting the comforting sounds of chaos wash over my body while sitting back on the tropical shores of Fuck It. In other words, since when is art not the safe place to confront dangerous ideas? Oh well, at least it is nice to know that some bands can still actually be punk even in the age of Hot Topic.

AIDS Wolf – Teaching to Suffer

from the forthcoming album March To The Sea.