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Draplin Design Co., North America

Spent my Friday night with Floyd, cruising around the Dekum/MLK area looking for Ubick’s band’s house party. It was like high school again, “searching for the bash.” Being the dipshits we are, we both forgot the directions, and well, came up empty handed. We rounded the night out with a stop off at a sketchy little Mexican restaurant for hamburguesas. Good conversation was shared, as well as some general shit-talking, which is always good to set things straight.

On the way back to the ranch, I took an available right, which took me over the Willamette river and into downtown. I parked and made my way into Dante’s to catch those Drive-By Truckers.

Good stuff. Sinister Southern smiles glaring, those rebels offered up a big ol’ slice of swampy tales of backwoods justice, firewater and loose women. The stuff has good a good sound to it. One part Skynrd, another part Lynyrd. They had a good time beltin’ out the tunes. Not being one for the encore thing, I left just as they were finishing up a rambling version of “Heathens.”

There is something about girl bassists that well, just plain ol’, “Gets us.” We enjoy a Gigantic Crush™ on this little DBT southern belle. (The blonde one, to clarify.)

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Interesting things are posted at Ben Schneider’s site. Ben’s an old friend from Traverse City, living and working in Chicago as a graphic designer. Poke around, you’ll be sure to find good music links and interesting thought. Ben and I have never shared one coarse word. He was always good to me, so he’s got our backing in all matters, digital and otherwise.

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Songs about Michigan. Lots of pride is felt here.

Just buy the album, okay. Speculation is for those weak in spirit. Beautiful liner notes and artwork alone, are worth the purchase. Recorded in Petoskey.

From “Sleeping Bear, Sault Saint Marie”

“Oh Sleeping Bear!
Ran to the top and got scared
of what I could see.”

I am from Michigan. My parents are from Michigan. I was born there and will die there. And well, like a cool breeze off Lake Michigan, that’s just how it is.

There Are 5 Comments

Just ordered that goddamn Michigan album, I’d get it for the cover art alone. And it’s nice to support a brother like that doing a good thing. BigCity Holland-dayz Ryno might be curious to read this excerpt from that fine site:

10 Largest Cities: (1999 populations) Detroit (965,084), Grand Rapids (185,009), Warren (141,008), Flint (130,853), Lansing (127,716), Sterling Heights (124,571), Ann Arbor (109,750), Livonia (100,160), Dearborn (88,215), Westland (86,369)

That’s right, Holland ain’t one of ‘em. That fucker tried to tell us that it was the third-largest city in MI now or something, just about ready to edge out Grand Rapids and Detroit for the lead…bullshit. Strip malls and sprawl are everywhere, but that’s not exactly “growth.” Thanks for the hot tip, Drap.

Posted by: Paw Paw Chmiel on 02/14/04 at 12:51 PM

I’ll give ya a hot tip.

Posted by: Draplindustries Public Relations on 02/14/04 at 2:47 PM

Michigan Pride is strong. Potent stuff. Things are going well here on the other side of the lake. Thanks for pointing folks to my site. Hope your weekend was relaxing. On top of Valentine’s Day, I’m dealing with my gal’s birthday…TODAY. Double whammy. But with a cool, pleasant demeanor and a couple thoughtful gifts I should resurface on the other side unscathed. Whew.

Posted by: ben s on 02/15/04 at 2:01 PM

Those shitholes are all Detroit suburbs, you fucks. They don’t count.

The disc is great.


Fuck you both.

Posted by: Ryno on 02/17/04 at 8:32 PM

Thanks for the bit of nostalgia…I am originally from Onekama (just how many field trips can one take to the Sleeping Bear Dunes???) and now I call Portland home as well. Ben S directed me this way - a friend by way of Kendall College and it just so happens he’s great friends with my cousins Jeremy and Ben. The world shrinks some more…

Posted by: Sara on 02/19/04 at 12:14 AM
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