Gimme yer lunch moneys!

Just kidding. But seriously, I figured since you're visiting my blog, you might like to know that I now have music and merchandise for sale. Check it out:

Music (in digital format)

Bandcamp - Not just limited to Sam Sinister stuff, this site also has a lot of other free releases from Sam's past bands, including Dead City Dealers and Bob Sagget and the FullHouse!  Solo material (Sam Sinister/Plastic Sinister Band) is purchase-only, but full albums are still slightly cheaper than if you got them via iTunes or Amazon.

Amazon - The 13 Songs! LP, now with extended bonus tracks not found on the Bandcamp release.  20 songs in all! Only $8.99.

iTunes - Same as the Amazon listing above, but a dollar more (not my decision).  $9.99.

Merchandise (shirts, stickers, etc.)

Redbubble - T-Shirts, hoodies, kids/baby clothes, stickers, postcards, posters, and more.  Prices starting at $1.92 plus shipping.

Society6 - T-Shirts, hoodies, iPhone cases, iPod and laptop skins, and more.  I also sell alot of my own artwork on this site.  Check out your options in the menu on the left-hand side of the site.

Also, for your listening pleasure, I also have the extended release of 13 Songs! available for free streaming on Spotify,MOG, and Rdio.  Listen and share!  

Oh yeah — and thanks!

Cheers and best wishes,

Sam Sinister

Rhythm guitarist/hack songwriter/visionary looking to form new band

(WARNING: This note will be filled with insane, OCD-induced lists full of slashes and/or parenthesis, and an unreasonable amount of demands and stipulations.)

Shitty songwriter and rhythm guitarist looking to start a band that is equal parts punk rock and soul music. Looking for like-minded individuals.

Band will be based in New Castle, PA. Must have dependable transportation, unless you can provide a rehearsal space at your place of residence.

Only looking to play 3 to 5 gigs throughout the year.

The Traditionals: "Steel Town Anthems"

A couple of days ago, I checked my "snail mail" mailbox, and stuffed right in there, like a well-packed sausage, was the latest Traditionals album, Steel Town Anthems!

Some thoughts...

1. I used to dress like a weird asshole to make squares nervous. I liked it, and it was fun. I just got bored with it and I was only doing it for the last couple of years I did because I'm a stubborn, contrary prick and I hate getting lectures from girlfriends and my grandmother, and doing something harmless like stabbing my clothes and safety pinning cigarette butts to a sleeveless denim jacket is spiteful and therefore hilarious. Anyway, like I said, I finally got bored with it, so I started wearing clothes that I actually like now.

2. Playing shows is nerve-racking, unless maybe I just got a bad taste in my mouth for it with the last band I was in, or maybe I'm just getting older and the general population of dingbats annoy me more than they used to. Going to shows is only fun if i know 75% of the people there, and the number of attendees doesn't get much higher than 30.

3. I don't care about scene points, credibility, drama, politics, or whether or not anyone can "vouch for me." I do like to meet new people with interests similar to mine, and even people with views slightly different from mine who can "live and let live" (in most cases). That being said, I've met some cool people from my own small involvement in "the scene," and probably will continue to until I finally die of a heart attack from eating too much greasy food and smoking too many cigarettes. I have a lot of good friends. As far as I'm concerned, that's my "scene." Everyone else can suck it.

4. I think the general concept of "unity" is bullshit. If we're down, I'll stick by you. If you're a dick, then basically, fuck you. I'm not gonna stick my neck out for someone I don't care for, just because we wear similar clothes and like some of the same bands.

5. To me, as far as philosophy or whatever goes, the only thing punk "is," is being real and speaking your mind (e.g. not being a fake). So, if you're actually "dangerous" (OH SHIT!), then go ahead and be dangerous. If you're NOT dangerous, acting like it is lame, not to mention stupid. If you're a nerd, be a nerd. A nerd can be the "punkest motherfucker around," as long as he's a nerd all the time and proud of it, and he's into punk, and calls himself a punk.

6. I personally hate the "secret society"/elitist country club attitude that some people have about punk, hardcore, Oi!, etc. I understand it, I'm just not a fan.

These are obviously just my own viewpoints. I'm not trying to sway anyone else's opinions one way or another.

NEWS | Sam Sinister and the Plastic Sinister Band

I just recently launched a ReverbNation profile for my solo project. All of the songs posted thus far are old, except for a "sneak peek" at my new song, which currently has no vocals (or lyrics, for that matter). You can download the instrumental, if you like crap like that. There's also a store, so if you have a dollar or two in your bank account, download a couple MP3s and make me that much richer. I think the transmission in my car is about to shit the bed.

VIDEO: "Neither Red Nor Racist" by Bleach Battalion

VIDEO: Laurel Aitken - "Skinhead" [live]

Alex W. Kellar (Basement Boys, Mad Minds, Boss)

Conducted via Facebook, over the course of 2½ days, while Alex was on the west coast with one of his many punk rock bands, August 4 - August 6, 2010.

How many bands are you in, anyway!?

There are 3 legitimately active bands right now: Mad Minds (bass), Boss (bass) and Basement Boys (vocals), so two hardcore bands and a punk band. I also play bass and sing in a black metal band called Dagmar which I'm 98.76% sure is broken up. I'm in the practice phase of another band playing bass, and that's all I can say about that. Oh yeah, there's also the acoustic Basement Boys side project (Basement Boi) where I play Basement Boys songs, 80s anime soundtrack songs and of course the LUMBERJAKK cover. I look like an asshole and people laugh, so I have fun.

The Dumpster Babies

Originally conducted via MySpace for Artless Nonculture Webzine, November, 2009.

For the record, please state who you are, and what you do in what band.

Dirty Dan, and I play bass in the Dumpster Babies.


Who else is in the band?

Jason Setliff (lead vocals), Dan Frey (drums), and Carlos Mendez (guitar).

Hub City Stompers

Interview with vocalist Reverend T. Sinister. Originally conducted via email for Artless Nonculture Webzine, May, 2009.

Image by Otto Yamamoto via Flickr

This is a Penn-Ohio punk zine, so most readers will be wondering what the hell I'm doing interviewing "the guy from Hub City Stompers", since you guys hail from New Brunswick, NJ. Let's clarify: Rev, where are you originally from?

My birthplace, and where I spent the first 6 years of my life, is the glorious steel city of Pittsburgh, PA. Aside from clarifying my relevance to this zine, it also explains why I walk around Jersey in Steelers gear.

The Traditionals

Interview with (then) guitarist (now vocalist/guitarist) Dave Harris. Originally conducted via email for Artless Nonculture Webzine, January, 2008.

For those who don't know, give a brief little history of the band. 

We started playing in the late summer of 1997. The original lineup was Dave and Joe Harris, Donovan, Craig and Matt. That lineup produced an unreleased demo, then in 1998 Matt left the band and was replaced by Rick. This line up released the “No Choice” LP on an independent label in Pittsburgh that folded shortly after our release.

We were in dealings with GMM Records and played the Beer Olympics in 1999 and 2000. Rob Faulkner replaced Donovan on vocals in 2001. We played the Holidays in the Sun Festival in 2002, in New Jersey. This lineup released the "Dead Society" LP in 2004 on Impact Records in Germany.