Author Archives: Andy Nystrom

Looking Back — and Forward — with The Last’s ‘Look Again’ Album / Joe Nolte Interview

There was a time in the 1980s when Joe Nolte from The Last lived just a block away from my family in Redondo Beach, Calif. We lived on Steinhart Avenue and Nolte resided on Goodman Avenue in the north area … Continue reading

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Talking X’s New Release ‘Alphabetland’ with DJ Bonebrake

By Andy Nystrom. Originally posted on There’s Something Hard in There. As droplets of rain plunked down upon my car’s windshield and the dreary sky became further shrouded in darkness, I waited and wondered what another pandemic day would toss … Continue reading

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Revisiting Redd Kross’ Scorching Debut EP with the McDonald Brothers

Text and Photos by Andy Nystrom. originally posted in There’s Something Hard in There. Redd Kross’ debut Self-titled EP will be reissued on Merge Records on June 26. (Courtesy of the Merge Records website) It was fun, horrifying, exciting and … Continue reading

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Interview: Alice Bag Discusses her Upcoming Album ‘Sister Dynamite’ and her Punk Roots

Written by Andy Nystrom; Photos, Cat Rose. This post originally appeared on the blog, There’s Something Hard in There. Alice Bag and her band busted down the proverbial door from the get-go. First song, the Bags classic punk rager, “Babylonian … Continue reading

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Interview: Discussing Just about Everything with Milo Aukerman of the Descendents

Written by Andy Nystrom. Originally posted on “There’s Something Hard in There January 7, 2019. The young man who was so shy that his eyes were fixated on the floor during most of his early performances is now leading the … Continue reading

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We Remember Steve Soto August 23, 1963 – June 27, 2018

Last night it was announced that Steve Soto, founding member of OC punk band The Adolescents had passed away in his sleep. He was 54 years old. Here his friends and fans remember him… Andy Nystrom. This post originally appeared … Continue reading

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Interview: From The Dils to Ford Madox Ford, Chip Kinman is Keeping it Real

By Andy Nystrom. Originally posted in There’s Something Hard in There Be real. Be honest. Be glad you weren’t a fuck-up. Those are words of wisdom that Chip Kinman has to offer at age 60 while reminiscing about his uncompromising … Continue reading

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Photo Essay: A Very Weirdos Christmas by Cat Rose

By Andy Nystrom. First posted in There’s Something Hard in There. A blast from the past — and a proper kick into Christmas and the New Year. That’s what we grasped onto with The Weirdos, Saccharine Trust, The Great Sadness … Continue reading

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Photo Essay: Burger Boogaloo

Last week the annual Burger Boogaloo hosted by Burger Records outdid themselves, and once again scored the coolest MC ever — John Waters! Mosswood Park in Oakland with the addition of some cool, gigantic, cartoony backdrops provided the perfect place … Continue reading

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Book Review: Life as a Circle Jerks Bassist and Beyond: “The Prodigal Rogerson”

By Andy Nystrom. This post first appeared in There’s Something Hard in There At the age of 14, I first encountered the Circle Jerks at the Starwood in Los Angeles. It was a night I’ll never forget. As we entered … Continue reading

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