Tags Matching: aj

Stop and Think

By jbil | Published 01/12/2011

Wow this shirt from drewtilldeath1986 hasnt even been up for 24 hours and its already at $26 and rising. This is the first Stop and Think shirt in the first colorway. I dont remember what gig it was but I remember buying this direct from AJ outside of CBGBs. Stoked I still kept this and all my other Stop and Think shirts. Still need the shorts though.

You Better Stop And Think

By b. murphy | Published 06/13/2010

I was lucky growing up in and around Boston. Granted, I officially grew up in Maine, but in hardcore terms, my growing up occurred in Worcester, MA. I spent some of the best years of my life rolling around Worcester, from age 18 to 23. This was a good time for Massachusetts hardcore. 1998 to 2003. Boston Straight Edge Still On Top. It also didn’t hurt that I rolled with a very active crew. For years, I lived with dudes who would go on or had already been in some big bands or record labels. I was just that guy who got to ride the wave with them. Lugging guitar heads, selling merch or just riding in the van. The roommate/housemate members of list is pretty cool. Converge, Bane, Knockdown, CBP, Deathwish Inc Records, The Dialtones, Barrit, Relm, The Sheist, Only Crime, The Life Recording Company, Incite, fortydaysrain, Cannae and of course, Stop And Think.

During the summer of 98, I rolled to many, many shows with AJ. At this time, AJs roommates were doing their own thing, not core related. Hallee was hanging with the FTC crew in SF, Blair was whining about girls. I was living rent free in Hallee’s room. Running everyday, and going to shows with AJ after he got out of work. We’d roll to The Space or down to Connecticut. Whether it was to the Tune Inn for a Tenfold reunion or The Met Cafe for the Rev Tour, we were down to roll. Summer 98 was one of the best and AJ was to thank for a lot of that.

Fast forward 3 summers. AJ had moved into Boston with a bunch of dudes (with an even great lineage than the one I listed above, probably). He was starting a band with his roommates and I got a chance to see them play out. I heard some of the early recordings and was around for a lyric critique. It was a cool sight. Next thing you know, they are playing Mass Art and the crowd is going wild. AJ would mosh on stage and flip into the crowd, all without losing the mic. It was impressive. Now if Mental would just release a new record, we could get another Stop And Think show. Someone set that up.

Grey Area

By b. murphy | Published 03/12/2010

I remember when this album dropped. AJ picked it up from Newbury Comics in Shrewsbury, and we all gave it a listen.

It was obviously different than anything we were expecting.

But you know what?

I was into it. It wasn’t hardcore but it had plenty of rock. Obviously more Token Entry than Warzone, but much more rocking than Token Entry ever was. Get into it.

Saves The Day Sorry I’m Leaving EP

By b. murphy | Published 12/04/2009

I know this isn’t a tee but if you were desperate, you could always wear the sleeve as a loin cloth.

Funny story.

I think it was this show.

January 17 1999 @The Space Worcester Mass: Kid Dynamite, Saves The Day, Piebald

I rolled to see Kid Dynamite (mostly) but the other bands were still doing stuff I enjoyed. Kid Dynamite was AWESOME that night. I have the video at home, and it’s super chill. I think I also have the STD set. And I’m not positive, but I think this is the set where they went from the Brian acoustic jam to a Cro-Mags cover. Kids were definitely stage diving for Saves The Day. I’m guessing that isn’t the case anymore …

My friend AJ picked up the Sorry I’m Leaving EP for our friend Mitch who couldn’t make the show. He put the EP in his car after the gig, and all is well. Sadly, he forgot to take it out of his car the next day. It sat in his car in a very sunny parking lot.

You can imagine how that worked out. By the time Mitch got the EP, it had a serious 2″ warp in it. Great look.

I guess that’s what happens when you skip gigs for work.