Title. Expanded.

wlfbkr = wolfbiker

I might decide to mention this in the next couple postings in hopes that it might stick. But that has yet to be determined. Both if it will stick and if I remember to reiterate this point to you.

Either way, lets not stray too far.

I wanted to title this blog (or at least make the web address) "Wolfbiker" (dot blogspot dot com) but it was taken. To get around this I used the same word but took out the vowels. Easy enough. Wolfbiker. No vowels. Wlfbkr. If you look at it and try to prounounce it, it still sort of sounds like my intended word. My favorite word. Probably. I hope that sticks for you like its sticking for me.

Wlfbkr.

Being as this is going to be a blog about music, let me explain my title.

I listen to a lot of music. It may not be a particularly wide variety, but I know what I like, and for the most part I think I know why I like it. Strangely enough, I'm pretty confident in saying that this word, "wolfbiker", pretty much embodies a lot of what I like in the music I listen to.

"Wolfbiker" is actually the title of the most recent record by a band I really enjoy called Evergreen Terrace (named for the street the Simpsons live on). This band, if you were to listen to them, would probably sound about as raucous as...something really raucous. (I haven't quite decided how explicit to make this blog, but the analogy I was thinking of going for involved a cheese grater and something that would make a horrible sound when said kitchen appliance would be used on it...) I think I would classify this band as some mix between hardcore punk, metal, and metalcore. A blend of fast paced, screamed verses, occasionally melodically sung choruses with more screaming in them, and crunching, percussive breakdowns...probably with more screaming. To the layman's ear, it would probably sound terrible. And I don't blame you, layman. But I've been listening to this "garbage" for a little while and have moved past the "noise" of it all and revel in all it's musical glory. There are complex rhythms based around straighforward time signatures that give the music a simultaneous simple and intreguing feeling. There are feelings behind the screaming that speak to me. There's a really awesome duality to the music that presents itself when the clarity of the singer's voice cuts through the distortion. There is a very tangible energy of sorts that's translated through to me. It's in the tone of the guitars, it's in the way the eq on the kick drum mic cuts through the mix, its in the balance of the singing and screaming, it's in the way the bass guitar is barely audible but it's grain beefs up the sound. When you hear can it, you feel it.

Beyond the musical aspect of this word, the record, the song, and the band, there's a whole other attitude that "wolfbiker" has. This band, Evergreen Terrace, described the meaning of this word in the following way:

Say theres this girl/guy youve been crushing on. You like em, but are hesitant to approach them to ask them out on a rollerskating date, or out for some mini golf and a John Cusack movie.

Then your bff looks at you dead in the eye and says, "Wolfbiker, bitch."

At that moment, you reply "You're right. Wolfbiker."

It's ridiculous. By the sound of it, "wolfbiker" is really just the combination of two of the hardest, most metal, ridiculous things they could think of: wolves and bikers. Then combined it. It's funny. You watch these guys on stage and what you're watching is a tight-knit group of buddies having the time of their lives playing music they love to make. The make jokes between songs, goof around while playing, title their tracks silly things like Bad Energy Troll, Rip This!, New Friend Request, and No Donnie These Men Are Nihilists (a quote from The Big Labowski). They're just normal dudes having a blast. And I can dig that.

So that's what "Wolfbiker" really means to me. It's the melding of really really stupidly heavy things with the profound understanding that what its being heard is not serious at all. It's fun(ny).

I hope that clarifies why I chose this word as the representation of the things I'll be writing.

Dude, bro...Wolfbiker!