Today The Hard Times Celebrates Eight Years of Comprehensive Reporting

Posted on by The Hard Times Staff

The Hard Times launched on December 14, 2014, and since then we have continued to bring you the most hard-hitting, unbiased reporting in the entire world. To celebrate this momentous occasion we compiled the first five articles we ever posted. Go ahead and revisit them, give them a read and see how much we’ve evolved over the years.

Henry Rollins to Start Third Black Flag

Read the full article here…

Bandmates Confused After Straight Edge Singer Brings Podium to First Practice

Read the full article here (and yes, we know it’s a lectern)…

 

Police Sketch of Suspect Matches Every Skinhead in Existence

Read the full article here…

 

Punk House Surprisingly Clean

Read the full article here…

Band Pretty Sure It’s Safe To Park Van Here Overnight

Read the full article here…

 

Harvey Danger Inducted Into Rock and Roll Hall of 15 Minutes of Fame

Posted on by Bobby Korec

SEATTLE — The newly established Rock and Roll Hall of 15 Minutes of Fame announced that they were inducting ‘90s alternative music sensations Harvey Danger as part of their 2022 inaugural class, sources who were admittedly not sick but also not well confirmed.

“It’s just nice to get recognition for something other than being ‘that band with that one song that was in a movie that came out 25 years ago,’” said singer of the band Sean Nelson while adding the achievement to his LinkedIn profile. “This actually means more to us than that other more mainstream rock and roll one, which weirdly only recognizes bands that had a lasting impression. Who wants to be a part of that? As a band, your goal should be to write one hit, have it do numbers on the charts, and then vanish into the night as if it never even happened. We’ve been living the dream this whole time in complete obscurity.”

Members of the public were happy for the band.

“You just couldn’t avoid ‘Flagpole Sitta’ during that brief moment in time,” said Jules Headthrows, who knows all the words of the song against her will. “Believe me, I tried, but the radio and MTV had other plans. They also played it in grocery stores, commercials, pubs, parties, bar mitzvahs, and every funeral I attended that year. Then all of the sudden, the band and the song seemed to disappear completely right out from under our ears. So yeah, I can’t think of a band that deserves this more.”

Reginald Dellingware, director of the Rock and Roll Hall of 15 Minutes of Fame, had a lot of special surprises planned for the ceremony.

“Not only is Harvey Danger scheduled to play that one song a handful of times, but the band is also going to be inducted by none other than the singer of Marcy Playground and the bass player for Candlebox,” said Dellingware. “Sure, we’ve been getting a ton of flack online for allegedly snubbing Semisonic, and there was a strong case to be made for Blind Melon, but I assure you there’s plenty of room for all your favorite late ‘90s short-lived stars to be included in the future.”

At press time, the band received more great news when they were informed that the Grammy’s were giving them an Almost Lifetime Achievement Award.

“U Up? And Curious About Transparent Overdrives?” Texts Lonely Sweetwater Rep at 2 A.M.

Posted on by John Danek

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Lonely, depressed Sweetwater sales engineer Hank Grenell texted a former shopper to see if he was awake and curious about pedals, according to transcripts.

“Hey man, u up? We got some new transparent overdrives from MXR called the Duke of Tone, curious to try one out?” stated the disturbing early morning text from Grenell, who is one of the music retailer’s longest-serving employees. “I was just thinking about you and that K&M telescoping boom mic stand you bought a few months ago. How’s it working out? Do you have a band? I’d love to listen to any demos you have. If you’re near Fort Wayne, Indiana, you should come over. I miss you. I miss us.”

Mark Thompson, the former Sweetwater customer and recipient of Grenell’s upsetting messages, is weirded out by the whole experience.

“It’s such a bizarre customer service strategy—you buy one mic stand and they start calling you like you lived in a college dorm together,” said Thompson, who barely plays guitar anymore. “I used to get annoyed at how standoffish Guitar Center employees could be. But I much rather have some elitist dickhead ignore me than call when I’m home eating wings or text me in the middle of the night. Also, why would I want a transparent overdrive? I fucking suck at guitar, so I need a Boss DS-1 or Big Muff Pi to mask my mistakes. The world does not need another boring transparent overdrive.”

Sweetwater’s chief marketing officer recently unveiled plans to unleash even more invasive customer retention strategies.

“Sweetwater is about to disrupt the music gear customer service experience yet again,” explained CMO Dorothy Taffer. “Our plan is to have undercover sales engineers move next door to our highest volume customers and start bands with them. They can then suggest new gear daily—our valuation is going to go through the roof. You’re going to miss the days we only called and emailed you, because now we’re going to be at your daughter’s Bat Mitzvah.”

At press time, Grenell was reportedly offering unique Sweetwater coupon codes to Tinder matches.

Top 5 Ways To Make Your Partner Oi! During Sex

Posted on by Yancy Lee Crawford

Relationships are tough, and with all the butt stuff going on now they’ve only gotten trickier. So, the sexologists at the Hard Times are here with the top five ways to make your partner Oi! during sex!

This is the talk your parents were too square to have!

Use your husky, working person’s voice to whisper about the corruption of Parliament directly into their ear
If there’s anything guaranteed to get your partner going, it’s whispering about the British Parliamentary system during sex. If you have nothing but your working-class ideals and blisters from a hard day’s work, huskily whisper your mistrust of power and feel your lover melt beneath you.

Click the heels of your work boots behind your head
Contorting your body into a uniquely uncomfortable sexual position is one of the quickest ways to make your partner Oi! so loud Boris Johnson’s hair moves. The clickety-clack of those boots, dirty from hours and hours of hard labor, will have them squealing “Oi! Oi! Oi!” until it’s time to clock in for their next shift at the factory on the other side of town.

Start a band instead of doing anything meaningful mid-pump
Starting a band instead of joining your own workplace union or providing meals to striking workers picketing for healthcare mid-stroke will drive them CRAZY. Plus, it will definitely get the word out about working-class struggles better than boring volunteer work.

Lock arms with a bunch of strangers right before the chorus of their favorite Cock Sparrer song
A good sex playlist is a must, and somewhere between Ginuwine and John Mayer, you need a cache of Cock Sparrer, Sham 69, and the 4-Skins songs. When the chorus of their favorite Cock Sparrer song starts, lock arms with all the sweaty weirdos that were drinking in your closet! The more people you bring out, the louder and more intense your partner will Oi!

When they aren’t looking, steal their wallet
Nothing could be sexier than reminding your partner that the two of you just met and that your name really isn’t Jon Dansbury of Stratford-upon-Avon than stealing their license, credit card, and old Subway Club punch card while they quake in the balm of fornication.

If you follow these helpful tips, you’ll have your partner Oi’ing every night! And always remember, if your Oi sex lasts 4 minutes or longer, call a doctor.

Review: Citizen “Youth”

Posted on by Joe Rumrill

This week we’ve decided to take ourselves a gander at Michigan and Ohio’s own Citizen and their debut album “Youth.” We figured who better to expose an LP named “Youth” to than a cafeteria full of senior citizens at the nursing home a short drive from our headquarters. We did just that, and here’s what they thought:

Herman Kleinschmidt, age 91: “Why, I haven’t heard a voice this full of pith and vinegar since Maurice Chevalier belted out ‘Auld Lang Syne’ on top of the Sears Tower to ring in 1945!”

Glenda Rupp-Simmons, age 79: “Oh, dear, I can’t hear anything without my doohickey turned up. And I simply just don’t want to turn it up, you see?”

Ronald Wrillingsly, age 80: “(unintelligible muttering, but to be fair, he seemed like he was searching for his dentures.)”

Ethel Jane Manillawicz, age 98: “I mean, I don’t usually go for post-hardcore, emo-y stuff like this, but I saw them at Riot Fest the year this came out and they were actually pretty solid. Great stuff to skate to, trust me.”

Herman Kleinschmidt, age 91: “Hey, what’s the big idea walking away from me like that? I got more to say on that night I saw Chevalier! Why, there was nary a dry eye in all the Windy City that New Year’s Eve.”

Chad Lazenby, age 14: “Please, please, PLEASE don’t tell the staff here my real age. It was either run away to this place, and wrinkle up my face every morning, or join the circus…and have you ever actually tried to join a circus? These days you have to have a damn PHD in juggling before they even talk to you!”

Ronald Wrillingsly, age 80: “Ah, got my teeth in, snug as a bug in a rug. Now, where was I…oh yes, (blows big, performative raspberry)”

Herman Kleinschmidt, age 92: “Hey look at that, it’s my birthday! I almost forgot! Anyhow, what’s that? Maurice Chevalier?? Never heard of him!”

Francine Vivaldi, age 95: “Psst, hey kid! If I pretend to keel over dead, will you drag me out of here and I can make my getaway? It’s the perfect crime, c’mon.”

After that, we got a little freaked out and left. Boy, the lengths we’ll go for free pudding!

Score: Every last one of them dozed off before we could ask. It was wild.

 

Spotify Sells Every Bright Eyes Listener’s Data to BetterHelp

Posted on by Audrey Vieira

OMAHA, Neb. — Streaming giant Spotify reportedly sold the data of over one million Bright Eyes listeners to online therapy platform BetterHelp, depressed sources confirmed.

“Waking up to an email from BetterHelp offering me a free month for being in the top 0.001% of Bright Eyes fans felt like a personal attack,” said longtime listener Bella Rowe. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not canceling my subscription over this until I’ve had enough time to listen to all of the new companion EPs, but it really sucks to get sold out. Everyone knows that it’s only okay for Spotify to use your data for cool shit like Wrapped and exclusive presale codes for certain tours. At least I have a free month of therapy to talk to someone about how violated I feel.”

Casual Spotify user Jenna Walmsley was similarly confused as to why the streaming platform shared her personal information with BetterHelp.

“Selling out the top fans is one thing, but handing my very-not-dedicated-fan data over to BetterHelp is so wrong,” Walmsley said while deleting yet another promotional email from the therapy platform. “I don’t even like Bright Eyes. Minus the one time I dated this pretentious English major who bragged about owning a ‘Fevers and Mirrors’ vinyl in his Tinder bio, I’ve never listened to them. Okay, I’ve cried to a few of their older albums during vulnerable moments, but only with private listening enabled. That shouldn’t count.”

Despite the outcry from Spotify users, BetterHelp marketing coordinator Madeline York doubled down to defend the purchase.

“All parties involved, willingly or not, are going to benefit from this deal in the long run,” said York. “Spotify gets more money to put towards another alpha male podcaster, we get an influx of new clients, and Bright Eyes listeners finally stand a chance at getting the therapy that they desperately need, so long as they can find someone on our platform with the right credentials.”

At press time, BetterHelp landed in hot water once again after leaked emails alleged that executives sold audio recordings of clients’ therapy sessions to Conor Oberst for use in future Bright Eyes songs.

Photo by Madeline McCarty.

Punk Advent Calendar Has Half-Smoked Cigarettes Behind Every Door

Posted on by Amanda Russel

MANDAN, N.D. — A new queer punk advent calendar became immensely popular when it advertised the fact each door contains a partially smoked cigarette, customers with mullets and nicotine addictions report.

“We at Have A Fag have four different customized options for our calendars — smoked cigarettes, half-smoked cigarettes, just the cigarette butts, and a grab bag combination of all three,” said Beth Mortimer, Have a Fag CEO. “You’ve got that disgusting knowledge someone else has smoked half your cigarette, and the delicious knowledge that you’re about to smoke the other half. It’s totally a win-win. Queer punks love that shit. I’ve got the market cornered and it’s an easy as fuck sell.”

Calendar recipient Anna Rott is overjoyed by her new holiday tradition.

“It’s the fucking best!” gushed Rott excitedly. “Every day in December I open one of the little doors and I know I’m about to be treated to one of life’s great luxuries, tobacco and lots of fucking additives. It’s my only and favorite holiday tradition. It’s always a different brand, and sometimes they’re smoked a little more or a little less than halfway, but it’s always a rush to open it up at breakfast and then right away run outside to smoke the other half while I’m finishing my coffee and whiskey. They pair perfectly with cold pizza, too.”

Hallmark representative Tony Whittaker was deeply insulted by the very concept.

“This is an insult to the very spirit of Christmas and the holiday season,” huffed Whittaker, angrily pulling at the collar of his button-up shirt. “I don’t know what Beth Mortimer thinks she’s doing here, but it’s disgusting. Of course I’m not worried about the competition. I can’t fathom what kind of weirdo would rather have half-smoked cigarettes every morning instead of festive, holiday-shaped chocolate candies. These are the same people who like ‘purposefully bad’ music, I’m sure.”

When pressed about who smokes the first halves of the cigarettes in the calendars, Mortimer became visibly uncomfortable and immediately changed the subject.

If There Isn’t a War on Christmas Why Was I Just Arrested in Santa’s Village for Indecent Exposure?

Posted on by Doug Kolic

The lamestream media will try to convince you that the War on Christmas is a bunch of made-up right-wing propaganda meant to stoke political division and societal fear. Okay Sherlock, if that’s the case then how do you explain the fact that I was just arrested in Santa’s Village for simply celebrating my Christian faith? And also for something the cops referred to as “indecent exposure.”

I’m sick of having to hide my religion in order to cater to the woke mob. Jesus died for my sins for a reason: so I can proudly commemorate the season by visiting the local mall totally buck naked because that’s my right as a God-fearing patriot.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt unwelcome simply for expressing my beliefs while screaming at the top of my lungs in the middle of a public place, totally nude. I should be able to honor my Christendom any way I want and that includes entering Santa’s Village or Target the same way little baby Jesus entered this world, absolutely bare-assed.

This country was better off when we all embraced J-Christ, the one true king. Now a bunch of bureaucrats are forcing shopkeepers to market to all religions at the expense of mine, the only one sanctioned by the Heavenly Father and the beautiful angels on Fox & Friends.

If we want our kids to enjoy the same traditions we had, we need to stick together and fight the lefty fascists the best way we can: with the bible’s sacred gospel and our glorious Christian schlongs exposed and shining brightly for all the world to see.

We Look Back at the Iconic Nirvana Album “The Best of Nirvana”

Posted on by Rob Steinberg

It’s hard to believe it’s been twenty years since the release of the groundbreaking album, “The Best of Nirvana.” Otherwise known to diehard fans as, “Nirvana: Self Titled.” The album was released in 2002, a brief time after the tragic death of Kurt Cobain and 9/11.

2002 was the last big hurrah for Seattle. Not only did the city lose such an iconic singer so recently, but its infamous radio personality Fraiser Crane was on his way to leaving the airwaves as well. Luckily, Kurt and the Nirvana gang left us with one of the greatest albums to exist.

This was their first album since 1994 so you can tell they were spending those eight years trying to perfect this. It’s really quite shocking how many of Nirvana’s best songs were on this record. The album begins with the track, “You Know You’re Right,” a song about reassuring their fanbase that their personal opinions are the only right ones. It features guest drumming by Dave Grohl from Tenacious D.

One of the songs featured on the album is their classic hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” There’s also that one song that goes “Hey, Way, I Got Bills To Pay.” I forgot which track that is but skip around and look for it. It’s a real banger. This album rules!

Half the songs on the record appear to be recorded live complete with audience clapping. This feels very inconsistent but who are we to judge this form of experimentation? As this is an album from 2002, it naturally has songs that greatly reflect the state of America at that time. Titles such as “Dumb” and “All Apologies” clearly reflect how Kurt and the gang felt about George Bush’s America.

The final track on the album, “The Man Who Sold The World,” is left as Nirvana’s final song for the listener to ponder. According to the credits, it was written by a man named David Bowie. Who this world-selling man could be is up to interpretation, if he’s even real at all.

Fans Horrified to Learn The Killers Tricked Them Into Enjoying Mormon Rock

Posted on by Audrey Vieira

LAS VEGAS — Self-proclaimed Killers fan Tyler Blakeslee was horrified to discover allusions to frontman Brandon Flowers’ Mormon faith hidden within the band’s biggest hits, equally stunned sources confirmed.

“I was just looking up the lyrics for ‘All These Things I’ve Done’ when I saw an annotation about Mormon themes behind the song, which was funny since I thought those guys were too cool to associate with those doorknocking dorks,” Blakeslee said. “But now that I know Brandon Flowers is one of them, I just can’t look at him the same way. He’s so flamboyant and handsome that I never thought anything of the religious references when I first got into The Killers. Oh God, does this mean I like Mormon music? I feel like I might need to sit down.”

Frontman Brandon Flowers denied accusations that The Killers deceived fans about their lyrical content.

“As a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my faith often influences my songwriting. That doesn’t mean my band is Mormon rock,” said Flowers while ironing his temple garments. “We make glamorous indie rock and roll that just happens to honor God. When people make assumptions about The Killers having a religious agenda, they ignore our real agenda of influencing impressionable young kids to learn ‘For Reasons Unknown’ on drums. If I wasn’t so busy with touring, I would go door to door with sheet music and proselytize about the joys of percussion myself.”

Dr. Lucille Elliott, a professor of Religious Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, observed The Killers are neither the first nor last band to surprise its fans with ties to organized religion.

“Even the brightest theological scholars fall to their knees upon noticing subtle religious themes in songs they thought to be secular. I’ve seen this phenomenon unfold with everyone from U2 to early Underoath, but The Killers’ fans are especially vulnerable,” said Dr. Elliott. “They’re too busy lusting after Brandon Flowers to realize how often he sings about his faith. It’s one thing for them to realize their favorite band is Christian, but Mormon themes are another level of shocking.”

At press time, Blakeslee was found curled into the fetal position after Googling his second favorite band, Flyleaf.

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