Authority Zero on tour for 30th Anniversary

Arizona punks Authority Zero are hitting the road to celebrate their 30th anniversary, with dates in Canada and Europe lined up.

The US leg kicks off in September 2024, culminating in a performance at Viva Ska Vegas in November alongside Mad Caddies, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Buck-O-Nine, and more.

Frontman Jason Devore recently discussed the tour in a press release, saying: “MAN do I love this. To the core of my being. All of this. The highs, the lows, and above all, the what’s next, nobody knows. Brass tacks, it has been a radical and emotional $h@! show of awesome for 30 years.”

Authority Zero Tour

Here are all of the dates that have been confirmed for the tour:

30 Year Anniversary Shows

w/ The Corps through June 21

w/ Belvedere, Melonball Sept 11-22

Jun. 17, 2024

Banff, AB

Rose & Crown

Jun. 18, 2024

Calgary, AB

Broken City

Jun. 19, 2024

Nelson, BC

The Royal

Jun. 20, 2024

Kelowna, BC

The Distrikt

Jun. 21, 2024

Vancouver, BC

The Wise

Jun. 27, 2024

Ysselsteyn, Netherlands

Jera On Air

Jun. 28, 2024

Freudenberg, Germany

Green Hell Festival 2024

Jun. 29, 2024

Tábor, Czechia

Mighty Sounds Festival 2024

Jun. 30, 2024

Zwiesel, Germany

Jugendcafé

Jul. 1, 2024

Munich, Germany

Backstage Halle

Jul. 3, 2024

Vienna, Austria

Chelsea

Jul. 4, 2024

Zdunska Wola, PL

Miejski Dom Kultury

Jul. 5, 2024

Goniądz, Poland

Rock Na Bagnie 2024 – GONIADZ, Poland

Jul. 6, 2024

Berlin, Germany

Reset Club

Jul. 7, 2024

Lille, Belgium

Sjock Festival 2024

Jul. 9, 2024

Stafford, United Kingdom

Redrum

Jul. 10, 2024

Manchester, United Kingdom

Gullivers

Jul. 11, 2024

London, United Kingdom

New Cross Inn

Jul. 12, 2024

Paris, France

Glazart

Jul. 13, 2024

Wermelskirchen, Germany

AJZ Bahndamm

Jul. 14, 2024

Essen, Germany

Don’t Panic Club & Pub

Jul. 16, 2024

Wiesbaden, Germany

Kreativfabrik Wiesbaden E.V.

Jul. 17, 2024

Stuttgart, Germany

Goldmarks

Jul. 18, 2024

Bole, CH

Parabole Festival

Jul. 19, 2024

Sankt Georgen Im Attergau, Austria

St.Georgen Im Attergau

Jul. 20, 2024

Tholey, Germany

Backside Soli-Fest 2024

Sep. 6, 2024

Tulsa, OK

Vanguard

Sep. 7, 2024

St Louis, MO

Blueberry Hill

Sep. 8, 2024

Chicago, IL

Reggie’s Music Joint

Sep. 12 – 14, 2024

Sainte-Thérèse, QC

Music 4 Cancer

Sep. 12, 2024

Québec, QC

Envol Et Macadam

Sep. 13, 2024

Saguenay, QC

Le Délüge

Sep. 15, 2024

Ottawa, ON

The 27 Club

Sep. 16, 2024

Kingston, ON

The Broom Factory

Sep. 17, 2024

Toronto, ON

Horseshoe Tavern

Sep. 18, 2024

London, ON

Rum Runners

Sep. 19 – 21, 2024

Timmins, Ontario

Heart Of Gold Fest

Sep. 20, 2024

Hamilton, ON

Vertagogo

Sep. 22, 2024

Barrie, ON

The Rec Room

Sep. 23, 2024

Buffalo, NY

MOHAWK PLACE

Sep. 25, 2024

Indianapolis, IN

Melody Inn

Sep. 26, 2024

Cleveland, OH

Grog Shop

Sep. 27, 2024

Ferndale, MI

The Magic Bag

Sep. 28, 2024

Grand Rapids, MI

The Pyramid Scheme

Sep. 29, 2024

Des Moines, IA

Lefty’s Live Music

Nov. 2, 2024

Lake Las Vegas, NV

Viva Ska Las Vegas 2024

5 Lies I Told Myself About My Chicken Parm Addiction

Through my recovery at New Horizons Chicken Parmesan Treatment Facility, I was able to get an entirely new lease on life. The community there gave me the courage to envision a Chicken Parm-free lifestyle. My eyes were opened to all different kinds of foods that didn’t include chicken, sauce or mozzarella at all. Even better, my old life was waiting for me the second I got out of rehab.

There was still a lot of anger to deal with when I got out of rehab. Anger at myself, for letting things go so far to begin with. Why had I wasted so many years as a slave to John BarleyParm when all it did was make me miserable and sluggish?

“I’m Shy And I Need To Eat Chicken Parm As A Social Crutch.”

Eating Chicken Parmesan to manage social anxiety is all too common. I always thought my nerves were settled when I had that first bite but it always made things much worse. The amount of times I ate too much Chicken Parm and vomited in the middle of a restaurant are too many to count. Oftentimes I wouldn’t even remember doing it because I was in a sauce out. The embarrassment I felt was far worse than any social anxiety I felt. I can look at myself in the mirror today because I realized my actions were a result of my parming and not a reflection of who I was as a person.

“I’m Funnier When I’m Eating Chicken Parm.”

Sure, eating Chicken Parm lowers your inhibitions so people around you are more likely to laugh. Parm-fueled comedy is often hard to get right and many times my attempts at humor completely bombed. I ruined my best friend’s wedding because I thought it would be funny to pour a scalding hot plate of Chicken Parm on my head. I had third degree burns on my scalp and an ambulance was called. In my recovery I realized I’m funny because of who I am, not because of the harmonious balance of marinara, breaded chicken breast and mozzarella.

“Everyone Eats As Much Chicken Parm As I Do, If Not More.”

I ran with a wild crowd in college. You name it, we ate it. Chicken Parm, Chicken Parm Sandwiches, Chicken Parm with Rigatoni. One time I tried Veal Parm but it wasn’t for me (thank god). After college, my friends moved on and started families. They were about to enjoy one, maybe two orders of Chicken Parm in a night. For me, the party never ended. I thought my behavior was completely normal and under control. At my rock bottom I was putting back eight orders of Chicken Parm in a night. One day my Mother found me sauced out in a roadside Olive Garden and asked me “Is this really how you want to live?” Right then, I knew I had to change my ways and get help.

“All Of My Heroes Ate Chicken Parm.”

The allure of eating Chicken Parm had an enormous effect on my impressionable young mind. I would see pictures of Mick Jagger, Val Kilmer or Chef Boyardee eating Chicken Parm and think that if I only ate Chicken Parmesan I could be as great as them. My heroes were able to achieve success in spite of eating Chicken Parm, not because of it.

“If I Quit Eating Chicken Parm I’m Going To Lose All Of My Friends.”

For decades eating Chicken Parm controlled my entire life. All of my friends ate Chicken Parm, my dating history was fueled by Chicken Parm. It felt like I didn’t even have my own life. I feared that if I quit eating Chicken Parm everything would vanish and I would be completely alone. Not only was this categorically untrue (my friends who do still eat chicken parm have been nothing but supportive,) but thanks to New Horizons Chicken Parmesan Treatment Facility I have new friends who understand and relate to my struggles.

If you’re feeling like your Chicken Parm eating is getting out of control, please remember it’s never too late to get help. I did and I’ve never been happier.

MEST Releasing NEW Album ‘Youth’ On June 21

Beloved Chicago pop-punk band MEST will release the new album ‘Youth’ via SBÄM Records on June 21.

The new LP Features Guest Appearances By Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup and Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills.

Read More: Bands Like Propagandhi: Who To Listen To If You Love The Punk Legends

Tony Lovato talkks new album

Founding member and frontman of MEST Tony Lovato recently discussed the new album via a press release:

“The drives to the studio were about an hour and 20 minutes long. A lot of my inspiration for this record was found on those drives. I would just listen to all the records that I grew up listening to. Which brought back a ton of memories. It would just put me in another state of mind.

“The majority of “Youth” was written up in the hills of Los Angeles where I recorded a bunch of our early records. I would get random flashbacks seeing spots I hadn’t seen in years. But as much as I love all the memories and stories of the past, I’m not one to think that the best days are over.

“I’m creating new core memories and living my life now so that in 20 years I’ll look back fondly. The same as I do now. These songs are a cheers to the past with a here’s to the future.”

New Mest Album Tracklist

Here is the tracklist for the new album:

1. WHEN WE WERE YOUNG

2. HATE YOU SOBER

3. BARELY HANGING ON

4. EMPTY ROOM

5. WAS IT WORTH IT

6. THAT SATURDAY

7. PARKING LOT

You can check out the video for ‘Hate You Sober’ below and via this link:

Band Launches “See Original Lineup Before One of Them Dies” Tour

LOS ANGELES — Citing the ever-increasing reality of their impending mortality, members of the iconic punk band Broken Tongue announced the original line-up was getting together to tour one last time before one of them croaks, sources report.

“I’m turning 60 and, to be honest, I didn’t think I’d live this long to begin with,” frontman Benny Timor reported. “I’ve been smoking two packs a day for god knows how long, I drink like an Irish sailor, and I’ve pumped just about any drug you can think of into my system. I’m not long for this world. Even though I said it’d be a cold day in hell before I played with any of those pricks again, we feel we owe it to the fans to let them see us live one more time before the inevitable, which, if you’ve seen our guitarist, is probably any day now.”

“Plus, I just refinanced my mortgage and the interest rates are killing me,” he added.

Fan reaction to the impending tour was mixed with some expressing interest while others were more skeptical.

“Something about this is a bit fishy, like is one of them actually dying,” a longtime fan asked. “My moral compass is pretty much non-existent, but pretending you’re on death’s door just to make a few bucks is pretty low, even for me. At the same time, while I’m not trying to encourage this kind of behavior, ever since Grant Hart and Steve Albini died, I feel like I should just throw aside my ethics and pay the $75 bucks to see them since I may never get another chance to do so.”

Scene experts note that many of these bands brought this situation on themselves by diving fully into the “rock-n-roll lifestyle.”

“Look, I don’t want to sound like an asshole, but these guys made their own bed, now they need to lie in it,” said zine editor Shane Dagan. “Punk isn’t about self-destructive actions, so I won’t be indulging this cynical cash grab. Nobody forced these guys to smoke ten packs of cigarettes a day and the amount of alcohol these guys drank was legendary. If they had tried the tiniest bit of moderation then they wouldn’t have to worry about dying of lung cancer or cirrhosis at 50. Look at Fugazi. They live healthily so they can continue to dangle the possibility of a reunion in front of us for decades to come.”

Reached for further comment, the band announced the tour was delayed pending results of the bassist’s prostate biopsy.

BITE THE HAND sign with Wiretap Records, prepare new album

 

Emotional Hardcore band BITE THE HAND have announced their signing with SoCal-based indie Wiretap Records.

The band will be releasing their upcoming album “Conned Out Of Life” later this summer. The announcement comes just weeks before the band prepares to release another song from that album, a track called “Smile Baby,” which is out on Wednesday, June 26th on Wiretap.

Ahead of the release, the band discussed the move to Wiretape in a press release: “When we went into writing ‘Conned out of Life’, everything just clicked for us. We all have so many ideas individually and it felt like everyone could bring their own personalities into the writing process and still have it shine cohesively.

BITE THE HAND talk new album

“This is us, a little weird, a little sad, definitely pissed off but totally here to make sure everyone is seen and represented. We will never compromise the integrity of who we are; a bunch of punks, hardcore kids, and elder emos putting our heart into our art.

“We want everyone to feel represented and seen on this record in the same way we make sure everyone feels seen at our shows. When we first met with Rob at Wiretap, we knew we had found a home for this record because he shares the same passion for pushing boundaries outward that we do (it’s incredibly apparent listening through the roster).

“It was important to us to find someone who shared the same DIY punk spirit as us but also celebrates the diversity of the genre across so many different subgenres to grow together. We are elated at the opportunity to partner up with Wiretap, especially on their ten year anniversary as a label, and we can’t wait for you all to hear ‘Conned Out of Life’ this summer when it drops.”

Read More: Bands Like Propagandhi: Who To Listen To If You Love The Punk Legends

The Hard Times Real News

Yes, The Hard Times have a real music news section now, but you don’t need to freak out because we aren’t changing any of the ‘normal’ satire content. We’re just adding an extra element to the site’s content, which you can check out if you want to.

Make sure you check out more of the content we have via our /realnews/ section and if you happen to be a pro wrestling or combat sports fan you can check out my site FightFans!

Read More: Metallica Album Covers Ranked (From Worst To Best)

25 Father’s Day Presents From Spencer’s Gifts That Will Make Your Dad Say “That Place Is Still Open?”

The abacus. The dodo bird. The shopping mall. It’s natural for aspects of everyday life to become extinct. Luckily, your father refuses to shop online, citing Biden and “his 5G agenda,” of course. This means you end up visiting the local cavernous empty mall with him approximately once a year to wander around and observe the moribund shops still somehow open. On a recent trip, you couldn’t help but notice that Spencer’s Gifts is still in business. While your dad took a lap to inspect empty storefronts for signs of hoarding, you have plenty of time to sneak in and select a primo Father’s Day gift for the man whose semen morphed into the shitheel known as you.

Lava Lamp

There is a certain generation that grew up with a lava lamp in their room from Spencer’s Gifts. Bring your dad back to the late ‘70s with this groovy addition to his nightside bed stand, riddled with WWII books and tchotchkes from his travels. Let the psychedelic glow distract him from pressing personal issues like “Why do men carry tote bags? What’s wrong with this generation?” Allow the flowing colors to distract him before he asks “You got this at Spencer’s Gifts? I thought that place closed ages ago.”

Ceramic Pot with Boobs

Allow your father to cultivate his passion for gardening alongside his ultra-1980s obsession with the tanned female figure. Your father watched ‘Porky’s’ and ‘Weird Science’ along with all those other ‘80s teen sex comedies, and has never really matured since. This gift will undoubtedly elicit a laugh. He might even cop a feel. “Nice,” your dad says. “Oh yeah.” Once you tell him this is from Spencer’s Gifts, he’ll find new reasons to stop by. Perhaps too frequently.

Oversized ‘Rick and Morty’ T-Shirts

Remember when Pickle Rick was all the rage across America? Spencer’s Gifts remembers! They have that one hilarious Pickle Rick shirt, plus tons of large-font, broad design ‘Rick and Morty’ t-shirts for your father to rock on the golf course. Cufflinks, kinky underwear, polo shirts, jorts – it never ends. Of course he has no idea what this show is, but once you explain that it’s a ‘Back to the Future’ riff, he’ll be more amenable. “I like that Rich and Marty,” he’ll say.

Ass of the Day Calendar

It doesn’t come classier than this: a calendar of 365 rear-ends, stacked in a lovingly-designed deskside mini calendar. Your dad jokes, “Guess I’ll never miss a court date again!” while flipping through photos of cheeks with severe tan lines. “Is this from the same Spencer’s Gifts that you used to visit in middle school?” You solemnly nod, realizing that their humor has now skewed and inclined towards this infantile 64-year-old man.

Penis Martini Stirrers

Now normally these would be for a bachelorette party, but your dad has a long-running poker night with his college pals Mitch Kenney and Mike Rigby. And he can’t wait to see the look on their faces when he serves drinks with these flesh-colored stirrers, the tip poking up from the drink like as if the ice itself is excited. Your dad marvels at the pack, asking “You get it? It’s a stirrer, with a dick! It’s a dick where it’s not supposed to be! Who would ever think of this?”

Black Light Pink Floyd Poster

Your dad is suspicious of rainbows. Nothing homophobic, he just feels self-conscious. But like any quirk of imagination for men of a certain age, if it’s co-signed by an English classic rock band, then there is literally no problem whatsoever. In this case, the ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ poster will don his garage “man cave.” The black light will not only make this poster pop with vibrancy, but reveal just how dirty your dad’s garage really is.

Fake Dog Poop

Comedy. Gold. Your dad loves the prank section of Spencer’s Gifts. He will pick up random items, like the fly stuck in an ice cube, or the Groucho glasses, and just chuckle away. “They really get wild here,” he’ll say, but wait until you show him the fake dog poop. You place it around the house and watch him react, a loud happy howl each time he discovers the hollow brown plastic. A much more positive reaction than when you glued a quarter to the floor.

Snoopy Cock Ring

You have no idea how or why the Charles Schultz estate signed off on this new line of erotic Snoopy merch, but you will certainly be able to find it at Spencer’s. Your dad will get the idea as soon as this begins intensely vibrating. Best part: this comes with a remote control. Your mom can activate the Snoopy Cock Ring with a handheld device in the shape of a red doghouse. Charlie Brown would blush. Good grief!

Inflatable Woman

Let the jokes fly. “Hey, I wonder if I should take her out for a date!” your dad will cry, hugging and squeezing the inflatable blonde plastic doll. Her smooth, featureless torso also acts as a flotation device in case of emergency. “So you got this at Spencer’s. Spencer Gifts? The one in the mall? I had no idea that place hung around for so long!” your dad will say in between deep passionate kisses with his balloon beau.

‘The Office’-Branded Bong

Nothing says 420 like a workplace comedy that ended in 2013. All of your favorite characters are etched into the bong: Dwight, Michael Scott, “that one guy” which is your dad’s fond nickname for Jim. Unfortunately, your dad stopped smoking weed because “that shit nowadays is way too strong,” but he uses ‘The Office’ bong as a vase for the garden. You’re just happy that he’s exploring his creative side.

Elvis Coasters Paired With ‘Invader Zim’ Shot Glasses

Sure, why the hell not? The swinging hips of Elvis with the twitchy ‘tude of Invader Zim. “Do shot glasses normally come with coasters?” your dad will ask. When you explain that it’s a special combo exclusively available from Spencer’s, he’ll immediately understand. Party decor with miscellaneous branding is your dad’s entire aesthetic. He regularly wears Tommy Bahama leisure suits in a Jim Morrison t-shirt. Nothing is sacred in this house.

Naked Man on a Grilling Apron

Très risqué! Your dad will be the life of the barbecue with this life-sized naked adult cartoon man etched onto a long, white apron. While your dad debates over the benefits of charcoal versus gas, he can at least disarm the argument by making everyone at the party laugh. “It’s a real conversation piece,” he proudly says. It’s one of his favorite gifts. Sometimes he just wears it around the house.

Chutes and Ladders Board Game (Dick Edition)

Here’s the twist: it’s all dicks. Everything in this game is a penis. It’s Spencer’s, what were you expecting? The ladders are cocks, so are the chutes. It’s actually confusing, the board is difficult to follow. Your dad can bust this game out at parties and look around for any reaction whatsoever to his wild sense of humor. Maybe nudge him toward a simpler game, which unfortunately means he’ll take out the Butthole Checkers Set (of course, also from Spencer’s).

Goth Makeup Starter Kit

Your dad has expressed a passing interest in The Cure, which is why you’re setting him up with an official Spencer’s Got Makeup Start Kit™ to satisfy the darkest depths of his soul. While your dad only mocked you for your goth phase, he’ll wholeheartedly embrace this new identity. You might even catch him singing “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” while vacuuming the car floor mats or watering the cement.

Handpicked Edgy Greeting Cards

Included in this selection are some of the most crude and problematic jokes you’ve ever seen, taking into account absolutely zero sensitivity toward any identity, occasion or decorum. Your dad will absolutely love these. “See, these cards say what you just can’t say anymore! When did we get so woke?” your dad will ask at Spencer’s while laughing at a somber Sympathy Card featuring topless nuns.

iPhone Case with Boobs

If there’s one thing Spencer’s is good at, it’s putting anatomical parts on everyday household items. In this case, the firm and supple grip end of the iPhone case is instead a replica of breasts. However, your dad has feedback. “Isn’t this just gonna feel weird in my pocket?” your dad complains. You thought this would be a slam dunk, but he seems more drawn to the WiFi Router with a Vagina (‘Spongebob Squarepants’-branded, naturally).

Incense Sticks

Nothing special here, just good old-fashioned incense. Your dad’s hippie roots take hold whenever he lights incense in the house. Plus, you’re always running out. It seems like he’s trying to hide certain smells. He’s smoking weed non-stop, the garage is filling up with smoke. When you ask him to open a window, he just lights more incense. Good thing the incense you picked up is from the line of Spencer’s Official Branded Scents™: Rockin’ Cinnamon, Cosmic Cardamom and Playboy Bunny Sage.

Horror Icons Hoodie

Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, Ghostface, the dang Babadook – the whole gang’s here, on this fast-fashion, hastily-stitched hooded sweatshirt. Your dad loved horror films as a kid, though now he’s in his documentary phase. “Do they have a Ken Burns sweatshirt? I’d buy two of those,” your dad enthusiastically says. Note this idea for Father’s Day next year, or see if Ken Burns will make your father a Cameo.

Cubic Zirconia Bart Simpson Belly Button Ring

Don’t have a cow, man! That’s right, America’s favorite bad boy, chiseled into a diamond-like mineral, made to dangle from your dad’s stomach. “I don’t have much use for this,” your dad will utter, before discovering a more sensual side by discreetly seeking a naval piercing at the far end of the mall. Lucky 8 Tattoo and Piercing is still around, right next to the food court. That awkward lump on your dad’s gut under his polo shirts? Only you know about his special ‘The Simpsons’-branded belly button ring, as any good son should.

Darth Vader Mask with a Ballsack

Come on, Spencer’s. What is going on here? Why would anyone wear this? Even your dad is confused. “I don’t remember this from ‘Star Wars,” he’ll say, before blurting out that he half remembers “Princess Leana.” Surprisingly, this is their best selling item. It speaks to multiple consumer quadrants: fulfills classic costume needs, is an item coveted by ‘Star Wars’ nuts, while also inviting the coveted Spencer’s demographic of 14-year-old boys.

Totoro Plush Toy With a Dump Truck Ass

Your dad may have little interest in this item, but Father’s Day has always been about strange crappy gifts and meaningless gestures. “What movie is this from?” your father will ask, casually tapping at the weighted, hefty cheeks hanging from mischievous Totoro. When you explain the film, he’ll make the perfect dad joke: “Well, that ain’t my neighbor!” followed by a firm slap to Totoro’s rippling ass.

Slim Jim Lubricant

People are willing to shell out for beef jerky lubricant, charged for whatever the market will bear. This is a competitive space: Jack Link’s Lube is recalled for causing rashes, while Spencer’s simply no longer carries Oberto-branded lube. Perhaps deliver this to your dad discreetly since you’re willing to discuss popular meat snacks with him, but perhaps not how he plans on putting this specific Father’s Day gift to the test.

‘Adventure Time’ Lingerie

This is more a gift for your dad to present to your mom. Although she’s never heard of the show ‘Adventure Time,’ she’ll be distracted by all of the characters sewn into the threaded patterns of the brassiere and panties. Try not to think of your parents in coitus, or your dad ogling your mom with a Jake the Dog pattern imprinted onto her soft skin. If your dad needs to return this item for any reason, explain that they can exchange this for other “hilarious underwear” with sarcastic phrases or emojis.

Boobs Pillow

Your dad will fall into a deep REM sleep with this pillow, crafted in the shape of anatomically correct breasts. In fact, you begin to worry about your dad. He’s not leaving the bedroom, just sleeping all day. You have the dinner set, with cold beer in the fridge, ‘The Equalizer’ ready to play, everything prepared for Father’s Day. Instead he’s holed up in his bedroom with all his new Spencer’s Gifts swag, shoving his face into his boobs pillow with a mouthful of bong smoke and blasting Sublime, ready to defy “the man” another day.

“Makin’ Copiiieees” And 15 Other Classic SNL Skits You Can Quote With Your Dad Instead of Having a Real Conversation

Well, it’s summertime again and that means it’s time for sun and fun and reminiscing about actually having the summer off where every day doesn’t feel like a dreary Groundhog Day-like trudge to the grave. It is also the time of year to head out to your parent’s house for the weekend and avoid the pitfalls of dysfunction while trying to not lose your grip on sanity.

One of those pitfalls (and a major one) is spending time with your dad and carrying on a conversation instead of just sitting in uncomfortable silence. After talking about the weather, and his long list of health ailments what else is there to talk about? Politics? That’s a non-starter right there. Sports? You can only nod along for so long before asking what sport it is that he’s even talking about. Las Vegas Raiders? That’s a real team?

One thing you can always count on for a last-ditch effort to have a conversation with your dad is quoting one of his favorite SNL skits. Sure, he has complained about every host, musical guest, and skit in the last 25 years but he still watches religiously and knows all the classic lines by heart. Here are the top skits to quote with your dad instead of having a real conversation with him.

15. The Californians

Once you get to your parents’ house and your dad asks “How was the drive?” Put on a ridiculous California accent and say “Aww not bad, I just headed down the 405, then hooked a right at the Baja Fresh near Mulholland to Tarzana.” Then later when your brother arrives you can throw out a “EWWWWHATTARRREEYOOOOUDOOINGEEERRE?” He won’t know what you’re talking about but you and your dad will have a laugh at his expense. And isn’t that what getting together with the family is really all about?

14. Cheeburger Cheeburger

When your dad is frying up something on the ol’ propane grill and you’re both standing there in silence watching your cancerous slab of tortured flesh being prepared, throw out a “Cheeburger cheeburger.” He’ll be sure to reply with “No Coke, Pepsi.” Sure, it’s a little dated and feels vaguely racist but you could keep this up all afternoon.

13. George Bush Sr.

Politics are going to come up, it’s just unavoidable. In all likelihood, there will be a TV in the background blasting totally reasonable and nuanced takes from a sentient cologne bottle on Fox News all day long. You’ve tried your best to not engage with any of the talking points your dad has parroted so far but at some point, you need to respond. Just throw out a “Not gonna do it… Wouldn’t be prudent at this juncture.” Right-leaning people like your dad are ok making fun of George Bush Sr. because compared to the ghouls in office now he’s basically Noam fucking Chomsky.
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12. Celebrity Jeopardy

You may be able to convince your dad to turn the channel from Fox News to something else but apparently, the only other thing his TV gets is non-stop episodes of Jeopardy. Luckily this is your chance to break out your subpar Sean Connery impression. (Oh God, remember cable? Why are there so many commercials? This is still a service people pay for? Why is the TV so loud? What the fuck is happening?)

11. Matt Foley

Probably one of your dad’s favorite SNL sketches. He especially loves the part where Chris Farley makes fun of David Spade for saying he wants to be a writer and that he uses his writing paper for “rolling doobies.” Of course, “living in a van down by the river” is now actually a thing most people your age want to do in their #vanlife $250K Sprinter Vans but don’t ruin it for him by mentioning that.

10. Mr. Bill

If your sister is there with one of her little demon spawns take one of their toys and make it fall off a chair or have its head get stuck in a door jam then do the “Ooooh nooo, Mr. Billll” thing. Apparently this was the height of comedy in the ‘70s. Your dad will think it’s hilarious and so will your brat nephew. The person who won’t find it funny is your sister and she’ll uninvite you to little Jaxon’s birthday party. Win/win!

9. Church Lady

You’re sitting around the dining room table and your mom is going on and on about how your cousin Jessica who is in college just got pregnant and may want to get an abortion. Break the tension in the room by turning to your dad and saying “Well, isn’t that speciaalllll” while making that face that Dana Carvey would do. It may distract him long enough to not start talking about the Liberal agenda.

8. More Cowbell

There will come a point in the day right around the time your dad has had his fourth Miller High Life that he’s going to put on some tunes. Since he’s feeling good it’s probably going to be something like Joe Walsh or Thin Lizzy. You know, something he can air guitar to while biting his bottom lip. Try saying “This song is good, but it could use a little more cowbell.” He won’t hear you though because he is having a moment really jamming out to the guitar solo in “The Boys Are Back in Town.” It’s ok, you tried.

7. Two Wild and Crazy Guys

Your dad will want to show you some project he’s been working on like a new downspout for the gutter or that old car in the garage that will never actually get fixed. As he is explaining to you what a carburetor is or whatever your mom may ask if the two of you would like another beer. A great response is “Why not? After all, we are…” (and here your dad will join in) “TWO WILD AND CRAZY GUYS!” We don’t get it either but we think it’s basically like Borat for boomers.

6. Buckwheat

On second thought, no. Don’t even attempt this one. Of course your dad wouldn’t be offended but there’s a good chance your brother will film you doing it and will share it with everyone you know and then BLAMMO! CANCELED!

5. Choppin’ Broccoli

Your mom will probably start making dinner around 3:30 in the afternoon and your dad sure isn’t going to help. You should probably help her out despite ostensibly being a fully grown adult all your meals entail pouring hot water into a cup with noodles. As your dad breezes by to ask what you’re doing in the kitchen you can sing “Choppin’ broccoli… choppuh bruhculehhh..” Just be careful and make sure you don’t get into it too much because you have no business using sharp cutlery.

4. Debbie Downer

Your sister might go on a real rant about how your dad shouldn’t be drinking so much in the middle of the afternoon, or shouldn’t be eating so much red meat, and that he definitely shouldn’t be leaf-blowing the roof right now. Turn to your dad and just go “Womp womp!” and make that Debbie Downer face. He would laugh if he could hear you over the sound of that 18V cordless Ryobi he’s cleaning the gutters out with at the moment.

3. Coneheads

Honestly, this one is a gamble since even your dad might not think these skits were funny. It’s surprising anyone thought this was ever funny especially that movie they did in the ‘90s – Yeesh. In any case, your dad will probably have some orange traffic cones lying around that he uses to keep people from parking in front of the house. Put one on your head and say “I am Beldar, we come from France.” If you get no response it means it’s time to go home.

2. Wayne’s World

“Wayne’s World! Party time! Excellent!” is just a great thing to throw out there at any point there is a lull in the conversation (and there’s going to be a lot). Then when your mom asks if you want to see pictures of your cousin’s toddler you can say “Shaaw right, I’d love to look at those… NOT!”

1. Dick in a Box

By this point you are probably pretty close to being fully wasted and have run out of any other SNL references you can think of. Just start singing “Dick in a Box” and see what happens. Worst case scenario you’re asked to leave. Best case scenario you are still asked to leave. And honestly, all of this will be forgotten anyway by the time your dad sits down to watch Hannity.

Boomer at Restaurant Can’t Wait to Tell Server How Much He “Hated” His Dinner

TUCSON, Ariz. — Local 68-year-old Glen Darrington reportedly couldn’t wait to tell his server how much he “hated” his dinner while dining at the Cracker Barrel early last night, confirmed sources.

“Oh boy! When the server clears my plate, I’m gonna tell ‘em that I absolutely despise my meal. But guess what? I actually loved it,” said Darrington before asking a server if his dinner was free since he didn’t see a price on the menu. “See? Look at my clean plate! I ate the whole damn thing! Get it? That’s top tier, Jay Leno-level comedy. I really think I should pursue a career in stand up. I mean, how hard could it be? I’ve been making people in the hospitality industry almost laugh for 30 years and if that doesn’t make me a comedian, I don’t know what does.”

Darrington’s wife simply had enough of her husband’s self-proclaimed “comedic genius.”

“Do you know what he does? He practices his restaurant material in the car on the way to the establishment. He tries different phrasings, different voices, different deliveries—it’s unbearable,” said Dana Darrington. “He regularly uses the phrase, ‘I don’t need sugar for my coffee. I’m sweet enough.’ And he still opens the bill while saying, ‘What’s the damage?’ and then saying something like ‘Woo boy, do you want my arm or my leg as a payment?’ I usually just try to guzzle a couple of bottles of chardonnay so I can black out before the end of the meal. My therapist OK’d it, I think.”

Cracker Barrel server Anna Granger is reportedly quite experienced in the “hated my meal” joke arena.

“Ya know how they say that every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings? Every time I hear this joke, a little part of me dies inside. Actually, A big part of me dies. Yeah, I’d say I’m dead inside,” said Granger halfway through her 12-hour shift. “But hey, I’m a pro. And the pros know that the only way to get a good tip is to pretend to laugh your ass off. So yeah. I go full Jimmy Fallon on dudes like this. Boomers just eat up jokes that everyone has heard a million times before. It’s almost like they have no clue how jokes work.”

At press time, Darrington decided to leave zero tip on his tab despite it being “one of the best meals of his life.”

Six Songs We’re Listening To This Week While Desperately Trying To Keep Conversation Surface Level With Our Dad

Father’s Day is here again, which means you’ve likely had to endure classic rock for all the parts of the day you weren’t teaching the old man how to use his Bluetooth speaker for the thousandth time. There’s nothing wrong with classic rock, per say, but at one point you heard ‘Knights In White Satin’ five times in a row because your dad didn’t realize he had pressed the ‘repeat’ button on the track. Moral of the story is, you need new music fast and we’re here to give it to you. Read on to learn what our staff has been listening to this week, and click here to listen as you chain smoke behind your mom’s garden shed.

The Black Dahlia Murder “Aftermath”

Two years after the tragic passing of their legendary frontman Trevor Strnad, The Black Dahlia Murder are pressing onward with cofounder Brian Eschbach on lead vocals. While the decision to carry on was one of love and healing, that doesn’t mean the band has stopped writing their standard deranged material. Their latest single, ‘Aftermath,’ details a post-apocalyptic world in which the living have resorted to cannibalism. Though fictional, it still feels a bit topical.

IDLES “Mood Swings (Little Simz cover)”

Little Simz might be one of the most criminally underrated acts in hip-hop at the moment, so it’s a great thing to see someone other than our nerdiest staff member recognizing that fact. IDLES recently added a touch of their signature style to her excellence with a cover of ‘Mood Swings.’ It’s worth the listen even if it’s just to hear frontman Joe Talbot’s inexplicable rendition of Peaches ‘Fuck The Pain Away’ multiple times throughout the arrangement. It’s two covers for the price of none.

High Vis “Mob DLA”

You might not be aware of this, but there are several UK post-punk bands that aren’t IDLES. Shocking, innit? Some of them are pretty great, even! High Vis is one of them, and they’ve just dropped a new single. Like all good post-punk songs, ‘Mob DLA’ blends a bevy of conflicting genres with a lyrical dash of economic and existential dread. Just try to remember that your cockney accent needs some work before attempting to sing along.

Hinds “En Forma”

Indie rockers Hinds are set to release their new album ‘Viva Hinds’ later this year. It’s their first full-length album since the departure of their longtime bassist and drummer a few years back, and it doesn’t seem the duo is lacking any of their characteristic punch despite that fact. Their latest single ‘En Forma’ is a frenzied indie-pop earworm, complete with shout along hooks and jangly as fuck guitars. Despite being based and founded in Madrid, it’s also their first ever track sung entirely in Spanish. We figured we’d give you a heads-up since we know you flunked that class in high school.

Doubt “The Hard Way”

There are few things certain in life: death, taxes, and the fact that Baltimore’s hardcore scene will likely survive the impending nuclear apocalypse. The latter is extremely evident when listening to newcomers Doubt, who have just released an absolute ripper with ‘The Hard Way.’ With a ninety-second runtime and a tempo change that will make you feel like you could fistfight a shark, you have literally no excuse to get this one on your ‘break shit’ playlist immediately.

Molchat Doma “Son”

The eerie new single, ‘Son,’ from the even eerier dark wave trio ‘Molchat Doma’ dropped this week, along with the announcement of the band’s forthcoming record ‘Belaya Polosa.’ If you have six minutes to spare and are tired of listening to your 80’s industrial playlist but still want the same vibes, this one’s for you. The track is a heady rumination on never being able to return to your past self. It’s a good reminder considering you’ve only recently stopped texting your ex.

Psst. Looking for more? Of course you are. These are desperate times. That’s why we’ve hand crafted a playlist for you. It doesn’t just have these songs on it, either. It has every song we’ve ever written about this year, and will continue to grow until it becomes so long and disorienting that it develops sentience and tells you to get a job. You can click here to check it out unless you’re a coward who hates great music.

Amazing! This Man Plays Acoustic Guitar for His Newborn Every Night Because The Baby’s too Young to Say No

Is there anything more beautiful than a father’s love expressed through music? If there is, we don’t want to know about it. Meet Jay Graham, a father who serenades his newborn child with a different song on his acoustic guitar every night. And the best part? The baby still hasn’t learned to talk so she can’t do anything to stop it.

“When my wife told me she was pregnant, I immediately went to Ebay and purchased the most expensive acoustic guitar I could find and started teaching myself how to play. It was just really important I do this for my daughter. Sure, it was a lot of hard work these past 9 months, but my wife didn’t mind painting the nursery and putting together the crib while I perfected ‘Everlong,’” said father-of-the-year candidate. “And now that the baby is here, it’s so great I get to share my gift with her. And she doesn’t seem to mind crying it out on the floor while I try to get the tuning right for ‘Pink Moon’ either.”

Now you might be saying to yourself “where is the mother in this scenario, why wouldn’t she step in to stop this awful behavior?” The fact of the matter is, she’s doing her best to juggle everything in the household.

“Yeah, he’s a selfish dipshit. But I still don’t have the heart to tell him that the baby isn’t smiling because he nailed ‘Hotel California’ but because she just loaded up her Pampers with some brown mustard newborn poop,” explained the new mother. “Jay keeps insisting that someday the baby will really appreciate all this time he spends locked in the basement watching YouTube tutorials and perusing guitar tabs. But this is of course assuming that our marriage even survives and I let him see the kid in the future.”

Child care expert Dr. Edmundo Sosa pointed out the danger of acoustic guitar for young children.

While it is true that many studies have shown exposing your children to music has tremendous positive effects on their development, other studies have demonstrated a correlation between the negative effects of music exposure and a parent’s rudimentary acoustic guitar skills,” said Dr. Sosa. “I personally have worked with several children who took up vaping and growing wispy, creeper mustaches following years of exposure to butchered versions of the ‘Fade to Black’ intro.”

While reporting on this story we decided to call Child Protective Services on Mr. Graham after we determined that forcing a child to listen to “Santeria” by Sublime equates to child abuse.