DAVID MELILLO
I went down to the bar but they would’nt let me near
They said “Son your’e much too young to be hanging around here”
So, I went down to the park but they soon turned me away They said “Surely you’ve got better things to do with all your days”
You see I’ve tried to find a place between the boys and men Many have tried and few have survived or been heard from again
I had no such luck,
So I just light one up,
As I watch life pass me by.
It always burns, no matt what.
Your esophagus feels like its on fire, and you can’t help but wince and pound your fist on the table.
Why do we put ourselves through it then?
I’m not entirely sure but I’m guessing it has something to do with rights of passage and all of that high school bullshit that I say I don’t believe in …
I don’t do it much, if at all anymore, because there isn’t anyone around to impress and I know that if I’m drinking its only to forget about things that should be dealt with in a fashionable manner…
Never mind that last comment; its way too pretentious and I’m really trying to avoid that kind of thing.
What I’m trying to get at … what am I trying to get at?
I’m actually trying to fill out the hours of a car ride into Connecticut with some nostalgia that was conjured up by the weather this time of year in upstate New York.
Back in Florida we don’t have seasons, only palm trees and humidity.
This apathy just doesn’t help at all
And now this barricade has turned into a wall
But, honestly, what can I do?
It makes it much harder when they’re laughing at you
Everyone around me seems aware
Of a secret that they do not care to share
But oh, I dare not speak out
For if they know that I am weak I’m down and out
So I’m making a name
I’m staking in a claim in what I knew was mine all along
I’ll fake it for fame
I do not know shame and I would sell my soul for a song
TIM McILRATH
Rise Against
babygirl
i don’t know your laugh
i don’t know your cry
and sometimes your face is a memory
through my fingers you slip
again, but like the first time
it stings like a needle sewing right through me
but we were in love!
i remember it well
and they can’t ever take that from me
day after day and night after night
i wake up; my arms still empty
oh babygirl, has it really been this long?
oh babygirl, i’m coming home.
a voice on the phone
a face in a frame
a postcard from thousands of miles away
a breath that I hold
in fear that one day
i’ll be met with a blank stare on her face
but we were in love!
for a moment at least!
i swear to God she knew me
words I won’t hear
and things I won’t see
the steps you took; but not to me
oh babygirl, has it really been this long?
oh babygirl, i’m coming home
oh babygirl, when did your hair get so long?
oh babygirl, i’m coming home.
MIKE MADRUGA
Fear Before the March of Flames
Owl Farm
To all who witness, tip your cocktails in honor
As the ashes bleed into the clouds
And bite your lip and tremor in horror
As the body parts rain down
Something great has died today
Left its marking on the wall
Every outlaw in line is in disarray
The shot sent the owls afoot from their trees
And echoed the valley with a terrible blast
All who heard knew what had come to be
And feared their hero did not last
Can’t you see the season is over
No point in existing
He screams fire with breath
Of whiskey, gun powder, and mescaline
Owl Farm seems much quieter now
And all ascend the cliffs to see
The empty valley where the fist rises with power
Cursing all who doubt with reprieve
LUIS DUBUC
The Secret Handshake
Last Day Alive
What could I do?
Feeling free. Do I try to make my peace?
Do I spend the time with my family?
One more day to make love to you.
Did I leave my mark on the world?
Did I learn to fly? Did I live out my dreams?
Did I change anyone’s life?
Am I happy?
I feel a sense of calm come over me.
It’s just after sunset and I’m feeling sleepy.
I’ve climbed to the highest point in this damned city.
I never really liked it much, but I’m afraid I’m going to miss it.
Hold my hand as I look at the stars one last time.
My whole life I struggled to find my voice and now it’s almost gone.
It was a good game, we had fun. We tried our best, it’s my last day alive.
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Rich Balling’s foundation as a professional musician began with a five-year stint in the ska/indie rock group RX Bandits, whose influence has had an immeasurable effect on their respective realm of independent music. After releasing three albums with the band (and playing on countless other projects, including a multiplatinum album with The Bloodhound Gang) Balling sauntered into other aspects of the music industry, dabbling in a slew of progressive side projects and spearheading the collaboration of the much-anticipated progressive rock groups The Sound of Animals Fighting and Cowboy Communist. Balling acted as editor and contributor to the band poetry anthology Revolution on Canvas, Volume One. Balling’s extensive knowledge of music, combined with his raucous and raw accounts of the road, the industry, and the subtle threads that bind the network of modern American music, lend to the bold and purposeful dynamism of his professional demeanor. He lives in Texas, and is also a bit of a hypochondriac.
ARTIST CONTACT INFO
KELCEY AYER
www.cavilatrest.com
RICH BALLING
www.thesoundofanimalsfighting.com
AARON BARRETT
www.reelbigfish.com
AARON BEDARD
www.banecentral.com
SAL BOSSIO
www.envyonthecoast.com
M. S. BREEN
www.thisisemanuel.com
BRENDAN BROWN
www.thereceivingendofsirens.com
JOE BROWN
www.astaticlullaby.com
TRAVIS BRYANT
www.goodbyetomorrow.com
AARON CHAPMAN
www.nursesmusic.com
CHI CHENG
www.deftones.com
STEVE CHOI
www.rxbandits.com
SCHUYLAR CROOM
www.heislegend.com
BOBBY DARLING
www.gatsbysamericandream.com
DAMON DAW
www.nursesmusic.com
JARED DRAUGHON
www.classiccase.net
LUIS DUBUC
www.thesecrethandshake.net
BRENDAN EKSTROM
www.circasurvive.com
LUIS DUBUC
BRENDAN EKSTROM
www.circasurvive.com
STEVE ELKINS
www.theautumns.com
MATT EMBREE
www.rxbandits.com
DIA FRAMPTO
N
www.meganddia.com
MEG FRAMPTON
www.meganddia.com
CHRIS FRANGICETTO
www.daysawaymusic.com
COLIN FRANGICETTO
www.circasurvive.com
ERIC FREDERIC
www.facingnewyork.com
JASON GLEASON
www.actionreactionmusic.com
ANTHONY GREEN
www.circasurvive.com
SHAWN HARRIS
www.thematches.com
ALEX HOVIS
www.papermodelsmusic.com
KIRK HUFFMAN
www.gatsbysamericandream.com
RYAN HUNTER
www.envyonthecoast.com
ELGIN JAMES
www.elginjames.com
EVAN JEWETT
myspace.com/workbeebuzz
JERRY JONES
www.trophyscars.com
JERRY JONES
www.trophyscars.com
REBEKAH JORDAN
www.rebekahjordanmusic.com
BEN JORGENSEN
www.armorforsleep.com
MATTHEW KELLY
www.theautumns.com
ALEXANDER KENT
www.sayanythingmusic.com
JESSE KURVINK
www.hellogoodbye.net
STEVEN LEFEBVRE
www.sophiarock.com
STEVEN LEFEBVRE
www.sophiarock.com
DAN LYMAN
myspace.com/halosband
MIKE MADRUGA
www.marchofflames.com
MIKE MADRUGA
www.marchofflames.com
NICK MARTIN
www.underminded.com
JONAH MATRANGA
www.jonahmatranga.com
TIM MCILRATH
www.riseagainst.com
PORTER MCKNIGHT
www.atreyurock.com
DAVID MELILLO
www.davemelillo.com
ROBERT MORRIS
www.thehushsound.com
DANIEL MURILLO
www.lorenedrive.com
BOB NANNA
www.bobnanna.com
JOHN NOLAN
www.straylightrun.com
DUANE OKEN
www.socraticmusic.com
CRAIG OWENS
www.chiodos.net
RICH PALMER
www.purevolume.com/buddah
ADAM PANIC
www.adampanic.com
RICH PALMER
www.purevolume.com/buddah
ADAM PANIC
www.adampanic.com
JOSH PARTINGTON
www.firescapeband.com
JUSTIN PIERRE
www.motioncitysoundtrack.com
BRANDON RIKE
www.dead poetic.com
MARK ROSE
www.spitalfield.net
CHRISTOPHER JAMES RUFF
www.kaddisfly.com
CHRISTOPHER JAMES RUFF
www.kaddisfly.com
GRETA SALPETER
www.thehushsound.com
GABE SAPPORTA
www.cobrastarship.com
DANNY SMITH
www.thecitydrivemusic.com
BRIAN TASCH
myspace.com/boyarmageddonrulez
JARROD TAYLOR
www.inreverentfear.com
JARROD TAYLOR
www.inreverentfear.com
NICK THOMAS
www.thespillcanvas.com
JOHN TRAN
myspace.com/j2themotherfuckingtran
RYAN TRASTER
myspace.com/smalltownsburnalittleslower
KERRY TRUSEWICZ
www.roydenstork.com
RYAN TRASTER
myspace.com/smalltownsburnalittleslower
KERRY TRUSEWICZ
www.roydenstork.com
JON TUMMILLO
www.follynj.com
ADAM TURLA
www.murderbydeath.com
KENNY VASOLI
www.startinglinerock.com
ERIC VICTORINO
www.stratadirect.com
SCOTT WALDMAN
www.thecitydrivemusic.com
PETER WENTZ
www.website.falloutboyrock.com
BRANDON WRONSKI
myspace.com/eyealaska"
PERMISSIONS
“Annalisa” copyright © 2007 by Justin Pierre; “Speech to Text, Thought to Action” copyright © 2007 by Jonah Matranga; “I am right-handed.” copyright © 2007 by Rebekah Jordan; “About Me:” copyright © 2007 by John Tran; “Of ritual and habit I opened my mouth” copyright © 2007 by Brendan Brown; “Letter to a Gypsy” copyright © 2007 by Schuylar Croom; “Lao-tzu and a Friend Play a Game of Marbles” and “Dali” copyright © 2007 by Vincent Reyes; “For the first time, this sickness …” copyright © 2007 by Meg Frampton; “Hospitals Always Smell Like Decaying Hair” copyright © 2007 by Dia Frampton; “27 Hours” and “Orchids” copyright © 2007 by Josh Partington; “New York City Vampires” and “Human Error” copyright © 2007 by Jared Draughon; “The Study” copyright © 2007 by Colleen Napolitano; “Einstein on the Beach” “Werner Herzog” “Sarah Kane” “H. P. Lovecraft” “Calvino” and “Celine” copyright © 2007 by Rich Balling; “For the Day” “It May as Well Have Been March 21, 1982.” and “If Humans Have Heartbeats, Do Robots Have Heartbeeps?” copyright © 2007 by Jason Gleason; “A Short Clip from ‘The Unlikeliness of Counterpane’” copyright © 2007 by Alexander Kent; “A Young Mother’s Medicine” copyright © 2007 by Jarrod Taylor; “The Big Reveal” copyright © 2007 by Ben Jorgensen; “Do What You Need to Be Happy” copyright © 2007 by Rich Palmer; “Come tell me old man” copyright © 2007 by Porter McKnight; “My apartment was muggy when I awoke” copyright © 2007 by Kirk Huffman; “Never Forget Her” copyright © 2007 by Alex Hovis; “You are the moon” and “New Year’s Eve” copyright © 2007 by Greta Salpeter; “the mess i’ve made for you” and “the sinking of some great ship” copyright © 2007 by Rob Morris; “Is Bette Midler a True Star?” copyright © 2007 by Scott Waldman; “Hesperia” copyright © 2007 by Danny Smith; “save the boy” and “missouri” copyright © 2007 by Travis Bryant; “I spoke with GOD last night …” copyright © 2007 by Aaron Chapman; “Musicalism” copyright © 2007 by Damon Daw; “My Flaws Get Along” copyright © 2007 by Kenny Vasoli; “I was eight years old when …” copyright © 2007 by Elgin James; “One Summer Knight” copyright © 2007 by Aaron Bedard; “Auditions with Our Heavenly Father” copyright © 2007 by Ryan Hunter; “My heart is pounding the whole way there.” copyright © 2007 by Sal Bossio; “Tonight we lie in a city …” copyright © 2007 by Peter Wentz; “Dramatic Monologue” copyright © 2007 by China Soul; “Roll Up My Sympathy” copyright © 2007 by Matthew Roskowski; “Which Way?” copyright © 2007 by Matthew Clegg; “Vocals/Guitar” copyright © 2007 by Mark Rose; “feeding bob potter” copyright © 2007 by Steve Lefebvre; “The Death of a Family Guilt” and “Murder, Prostitution and Other Forms of Democracy and the Institution of Marriage” copyright © 2007 by Chi Cheng; “Progress in Part” “Sand in Context” and “Kodiak” copyright © 2007 by Brandon Wronski; “Hello me.” copyright © 2007 by Adam Panic; “I Might Be Wrong” copyright © 2007 by John Nolan; “My Doe” and accompanying artwork copyright © 2007 by Shawn Harris; “Death Rattle” copyright © 2007 by Ryan Traster; “This Is Exact What It Doesn’t Feel Like to Be in Space” copyright © 2007 by Jon Tummillo; “Success” and “It’s Warmer in the Basement” copyright © 2007 by Gabe Sapporta; “Lola and Gus” copyright © 2007 by Joe Brown; “Purge” and “Blah” copyright © 2007 by Steve Choi; “Well it’s coming down to it” copyright © 2007 by Matt Embree; “The Museum” copyright © 2007 by Bobby Darling; “with your legs spread …” and “my anapex.” copyright © 2007 by M. S. Breen; “Tastes Like Christmas” copyright © 2007 by Aaron Barrett; “Spring #1” copyright © 2007 by Adam Turla; “we live in shadow, we grow immune” copyright © 2007 by Chris Frangicetto; “One Central Fire Against Two Craters: Part One” copyright © 2007 by Ste
ve Elkins; “Purgatory at the Jersey Shore” copyright © 2007 by Daniel Barron; “Jerry and Jerry Go for a Drive” copyright © 2007 by Jerry Jones; “We Are Vultures” copyright © 2007 by Brandon Rike; “I’m committed to safe driving” and “Drugs VS. The Patriot VS. Paris” copyright © 2007 by Nick Martin; “loss of a squirt gun—” and “lost keys—” copyright © 2007 by Evan Jewett; “Honorable Discharge” copyright © 2007 by Duane Oken; “Galaxy Eater” copyright © 2007 by Nick Thomas; “Stray Bullet Effect” copyright © 2007 by Eric Victorino; “tonight” copyright © 2007 by Brian Tasch; “This is what I do …” copyright © 2007 by Bob Nanna; “when i sleep …” copyright © 2007 by Craig Owens; “I love you and I miss you all the time” copyright © 2007 by Jesse Kurvink; “The Heat Lamp” copyright © 2007 by Kelcey Ayer; “Loud bang at the window.” copyright © 2007 by Dan Lyman; “Sometimes I Travel to You” copyright © 2007 by Kerry Trusewicz; “Waves” “The Calm of Calamity” “Osmosis” and “Alone as a Tree?” copyright © 2007 by Christopher James Ruff; “For the Rest of Us” copyright © 2007 by Daniel Murillo; “’HUMILIATING SOBRIETY’ and the MISSING LIMB (a godless prayer)” copyright © 2007 by Colin Frangicetto; “Look—Look” copyright © 2007 by Anthony Green; “…” copyright © 2007 by Brendan Ekstrom; “hands are lightbulbs” copyright © 2007 by Eric Frederic; “The Pale Antechamber” copyright © 2007 by Matthew Kelly; “I went down to the bar …” “It always burns …” and “This apathy …” copyright © 2007 by David Melillo; “babygirl” copyright © 2007 by Tim Mcllrath; “Owl Farm” copyright © 2007 by Mike Madruga; “Last Day Alive” copyright © 2007 by Luis Dubuc.
THIS IS THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE REVOLUTION ON CANVAS SERIES