This CD-R speaks quite a bit to me, mostly because the more I get to know Erick, the more our musical tastes align. I felt like we would've exchanged many of mixes if we had known each other in our earlier years. Erick was working towards a new chapter of his life when I first became introduced with him, so we only had about year of knowing of each other's existence and living in the same state before he moved up north to the Monterey / Santa Cruz area. We initially met when I attended my first collective meeting at Bridgetown. I made a lot of lasting friendships by showing up to that meeting, so it's a bit of a testament to me that you can't wait for the experiences to come to you; you need to step out of your comfort zone and get yourself in opportunities to find those experiences. Erick also had a hand in booking the show where Fugue played with Darto, who easily became one of my personal favorite contemporary artists. So there's that.
Rather than being another band guy, Erick expresses himself by pen and paper, by zines, by stories from his personal life and from those around him. Erick's passion for literature as definitely inspired me to breach the surface-level for reading and really work on being an ever-ending student. Knowledge, perception, and self-expression are tools that are easily being shelved due to the instantaneous technological and informational age we find ourselves occupying, so it's easy to just get on your phone and read an article someone posted via their feed instead of doing the work and research of becoming immersed through reading and recording your thoughts and feelings. Feelings can live much longer and have a more profound effect when recorded and expressed through word and music. Memories of the past, discontent for the present, and hopefullness (or lack thereof) for the future can be immortalized when written down. Erick is someone who recognizes this, and has devoted part of himself to this cause ever since I've known him. It's definitely something I really admire, and I'm grateful he and I are able to exchange quick messages to each other about bands and zines. He is without a doubt a fan of music, and knows of the feelings and memories specific songs can evoke. In his own words:
"These are some songs that are very nostalgic. They represent nights, days, places, people, etc. etc. Some are bands I hardly listen to anymore on purpose, but if it came on I’d crank it up and sing along. Some of them are still in rotation on those endless nights when I’m drinking beer and reminiscing. They represent different eras of my life, time periods that are shaped by much more than just songs but are co-dependent on them. I’m not sure what makes music nostalgic, and I think it’s easy to get overly poetic about this stuff. Let me start again…Here are some songs that remind me of lots of different people and places. Hope you enjoy."
As always, individual tracks are below for non-streamers.
1. Joan of Arc - I Saw the Messed Blinds of My Generation
2. Loma Prieta - Trilogy 1 "Sick Cities"
3. Unwound - Envelope
4. Unbroken - In the Name of Progression
5. Minor Threat - Filler
6. Songs: Ohia - Cabwaylingo
7. Propagandhi - Back to the Motor League
8. Born Against - Well Fed Fuck
9. Funeral Diner - Direct Hit
10 . Since By Man - The Enemy
11. Cursed - Head of the Baptist
12. Converge - Locust Reign
13. The One AM Radio - I Think This Is My Exit
Erick has most been a contributing editor to Cheers From the Wasteland, an online journal series started by his partner Leslie Patron. Cheers is described as "a place-based online journal featuring writing and art from contributors who have at least one thing in common: a tie to San Jose, California," where Erick now resides. He will also be launching a zine series in April called "Saplings", so keep your eyes out for that in your little feeds.