Thursday July 22

We headed to central Oslo to check out the local flavor and exchange some currency before hitting the road for Gothenburg. The city was really nice, so we did some push-ups and snagged a few postcards before heading back to Sweden. Grzeg drove hard and made good time so we could arrive in the city on time for food and to help get things get set up. The evolve guys took a bus four hours from Oslo to Gothenburg just to play this show, leaving at 9am and arriving in the afternoon. In the states, that would never happen, likely due to infrastructure problems, but also the car culture we’ve created. Over here, it seems that the backline is static and the kids go back and forth however they can with their drum breakables and guitars. It’s totally awesome that kids are willing and able to attend shows without the need for huge vans. It’s all based on community and sharing of cabs, drums and sometimes amps.

Speaking of sharing, Staffan who did our show, set us up with an entire backline and drums, sparing us the time and effort of setting up. When we arrived at the venue, a community center in Gothenburg, there was a three-course meal of salad, pasta and vegan goulash, bread and brownies. It was entirely vegan and we, once again, got too full for our own good before playing. We got a chance to hang out with Evolve, and had a great time chilling around town before the show. The show started with a couple good local bands, both of whom covered SSD. Evolve played next and were once again, super tight. The energy when they play is through the roof, and they were for the second night in a row, a tough act to follow. We played a quick set, both in speed and duration, and then proceeded to watch the world’s most efficient load-out occur. Stefan and his crew, including John from Malmo, seriously had the backline out and loaded in 15 minutes. While Grzeg took the backline to the storage spot, we chilled with Evolve and the gentlemen who helped with food and most of the night’s duties (sorry we forgot your name!). He loaded us up with leftover food and upon the van’s arrival and packing, we bid our farewells.

We stayed with Staffan, and he took great care of us. A purebred hardcore kid, we were once again treated like kings. The man even shared his own bed with us—that’s generosity.

Crime City Redux...

Tuesday 20 July 2010

We awoke to a great spread of eggs, tofu, fruit, oatmeal, crackers, jam, fruit and coffee that Clara and Tijana had prepared. Robert got his Soppo, a local Odwalla-like fruit drink that is rare elsewhere in Europe, and I got my caffeine. All was right with the world at that point, and it was about to get more right.

We had decided to go swimming on Monday, so we packed our trunks and walked across town to the beach.

After a few dives off the breakwall, we settled into the grass at the dog beach with Clara and Doris, Clara’s cocker spaniel.

We did push-ups, got sunburned, and found out that tops are optional on the beaches of Scandinavia. This has both good and bad points; you can use your imagination to figure out what we mean. Several hours, layers of skin and dives later, we grabbed the bus back to the practice spot and reloaded the van for the trip to the venue.

We loaded into the venue, a sick downstairs by a parking garage that comfortably fit 50 (it fit 100tonight though) and then headed around the block to Clara’s where we ate another amazing meal full of vegan crepes, strawberries and vegan crème. Too full to play, we went back to the venue and set-up merch just in time to catch Self Abuse’s first show. Self-Abuse is a band comprised of Alex (Clara’s boyfriend) and Kalle (Balance) and two guys from a Swedish band on Feral Ward. Since my Swedish is terrible, I can’t remember their names, but they left a lasting impression on me as a band. They were totally tight, discordant punk rock in the vein of 1982. I think they pull some pages from Dead Stop’s playbook, and their hometown crowd was certainly pulling for them.

Self Abuse was a tough act to follow, but we did our best to end the night playing our fastest and hitting our hardest to match Self Abuse and please the totally rad crowd. We had some technical difficulties including a bass drum spike breaking, so people took turns sitting in front of the bass drum. Andy, Robert Refuse, Andreas from San Diego (USA!), Patricia (Beyond Pink/retired ballerina/push-up champion), and a guy who sent five text messages during one song all kept the kick in place tonight. We ended with an encore of Our World, and I proceeded to load the van in my underwear since we’d soaked through our clothes and all of mine were back at Clara’s place. The locals were both surprised and delighted by this turn of events, and in the end, we have some pictures fit for the cover of our next record.

We grabbed another cheap and delicious falafel and parted ways with Gzeg guarding the van and the rest of us sleeping at Clara and Tijana’s spots. Thanks for the great show, great company on the stage and great hospitality Molmo! The scene here is great so be sure to stop by if you’re ever in this region of the world. And like I said, check out Beyond Pink, Self Abuse and Balance.

Calling all photographers...

If you happen to have any photos of Right Idea--any, at all--no matter the resolution, format, etc, then please send them our way: xjohnmillinx@yahoo.com



We lost a machine, and with it you know, pictures, layouts, etc. RIP John's computer. The only pictures we have left are these of Chuck:


Coincidentally, you can get this same picture emblazoned on your favorit white t-shirt at our webstore. Thanks in advance for any photos y'all might have layin' 'round.

It's tax season...

If you're getting loot back from the fed this year, please consider those who are missing the most basic of necessities, wherever you might live. I highly recommend a donation in lieu of a merch purchase.

http://www.ampleharvest.org/

http://www.clevelandfoodbank.org

This Valentine's Day...

Get ya special someone somethin' nice...

The Gang's All Here

Thanks again to EVERYONE who came out yesterday for back-ups for the new record. Here's a little pic from the day courtesy of Jeff Grey. Partly visible are 3 members of Right Idea and about a dozen of our closest friends. Not pictured are the other 10 or so crammed into Negative Space studio in Cleveland, Ohio!

Thanks so much for lending us your throats for shout-outs, sing alongs, and good times.

Once we have some samples to pass along we will!

Here's to everyone who has the Right Idea in 2010!

Get your foam fingers, popcorn and drinks...

...and this here slab of wax from our top dude, Robert Refuse of, not Reduce, reuse or recyle but Refuse Records.

We're closing out the items you see here and then loading up with new shirts and a new 7". Get. Pumped.

Peep the official Right Idea webstore here.

These TITS are (holding a) 'Zine!

This Zine is T.I.T.S.!

Yo so I did a zine and just started selling them this past weekend if anyone is interested email me at lookingbackrecs@hotmail.com -- THINK IT THROUGH SUCKAHS! 

The focus this first issue is on newer bands (Seeker, Balance, Face Reality, Clearsight)and artists, even features a slick color insert of some top notch core graffitti by Inflammable! Also, a nice obscure reprint of a Judge int with lots of quotes that will have you chuckling at school or work. Pics and artwork throughout the zine. Check the cover art up top done by Slaba, one of the three featured artists this time around. 

Artists, photographers, bands, zines, labels feel free to get in touch regarding your work appearing in, interviews, ads or just general inquiries.