“Salad Days” is a documentary on the DC punk scene of the ’80s. I am a sucker for punk docs. I think everyone involved with the punk scene is on some level… so many things about our lives were never acknowledged or were forgotten, and seeing people we know and bands we loved (that most people have never heard of) on the screen is a validation of our lives that we claim we don’t need but is satisfying just the same.

I would definitely recommend “Salad Days” as above average for the genre. Pretty much all the folks you’d expect are interviewed, the big bands, and the less-known bands discussed, the context explained (if sometimes in contradictory ways), and the question of why this scene is important enough to remember is thoroughly hashed out. In many ways, DC kept the best part of punk alive — the politics, the zines, the DIY ethos — and in many ways set an example for the rest of us. In fact, one thing under-examined in the doc is how un-metal the DC scene was compared to the rest of the country in the late ‘80s.

Pre-Gilman St. and post 1985, pretty much the best local show in San Francisco you could go to was Verbal Abuse/Fang. I know because I saw them play together numerous times. Now, a-little-too-metal-for-me aside, I will still defend Verbal Abuse. They were awesome live despite the expected violent crowds. Their cover of “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” was epic. Fang… well… this was before the singer got arrested for murdering his girlfriend and I haven’t listened to them or seen them since. Either way, for me, neither band could be called political or aspirational, two things that got me into punk in the first place. Neither band fed my soul and I don’t blame them for that, just writing this to say that in the mid-’80s, punk lost a lot of it’s fun for me.

It’s actually one of the problems with this movie too. While DC was a lot better than the Bay for the second half of that decade, it wasn’t a great time for punk. Contrasting the early ’80s with the mid ’80s, which a documentary that covers a decade cannot help to do, means a loss of momentum.This isn’t the filmmaker’s fault, except in choosing the timeline I suppose, but the documentary slows at this point, accurately reflecting the pause in punk of the time period.

The movie credits the way that DC set the stage for the breaking and changing of punk in the ’90s (Nirvana, Green Day etc.) and there is truth to that,beyond Dave Grohl moving to Washington state to join Nirvana. This is though, where the documentary gets into dangerous ground. To outsiders, DC punk has always had a whiff of arrogance. Some of that isn’t fair, it’s just the scuttling of crabs in a pot. I remember when setting up shows in the ’90s, locals were often annoyed because DC bands — alone amongst punk bands — always insisted on doing a sound check. While this was tough for people volunteering their time to put on shows at illegal and/or unusual spaces, I came to appreciate the fact they wanted to sound the best they could. But I guess there’s always been a fine line between taking yourself too seriously and not taken yourselves seriously enough in our world.

But the problem with any documentary that only covers one geographical area is that of course you leave out the others. There is a righteous touch of bitterness in this film that punk bands from other places got more famous than Fugazi while Fugazi made the conscious (and scene-building) decision to stay cheap, no frills, and DIY. I mean, I am on Fugazi’s side (if there are sides) on this. Their Masonic Center show and their San Jose show with The Ex rank as two of the best shows I’ve ever been to. But after a mid-’80s lull, a lot of great bands started the late ’80s resurgence of punk. DIY spaces like Gilman were arguably just as important as DC’s scene. But hey, I’m from the Bay. It’s not like we aren’t guilty of our own punk arrogance. (Punkogance?) ;)

The only real critique I have of this film is that if you are a filmmaker you shouldn’t interview yourself. It’s way too self-conscious and creates moments of summation instead of off-the-cuff memories or feelings. Be a narrator if you want to talk!

Still, this movie is a lot of fun for folks who were in or adjacent to the scene at the time. Pictures of empty urban streets and the looks of the times were evocative even if I spent no time in DC to speak of. And there is tons of great music of course.

Lastly, my favorite late-’80s DC song is probably the least punk sounding and the most punk feeling one I know. Off the “State of the Union” Dischord comp, it’s Red Emma/Lida Husik doing “Candle.” That’s a song I have listened to for years when feeling low or needing inspiration.

I do think the DC scene rightfully can say that. It gave a lot of us in the punk scene the inspiration we needed to go on. This film definitely honors that.

Hmmmm, let’s not dwell on that.

I didn’t mean not to post… I just got busy. I had to judge cheese for the State Fair last Wednesday and it threw my whole week off. By the time I was ready to put it out there, the Giants were getting swept by Philly and everything I wrote seemed meaningless.

Still, the Giants played 5 series of World Champion-quality baseball. It was the longest sustained period of good baseball since the all-star break in 2016. We still have two of the best pitchers in baseball due to return in weeks. Also, sweeping a first place time who constantly play a racist “war chant” is second only to sweeping the Dodgers on the satisfaction scale.

And, while I think the original plan is sound, the NL East has me worried. It is very possible that both wild cards will come from there. It may take more wins than I thought to make the play-offs. Still, there’s a lot of season ahead of us.

And I pulled out my lucky mug from 2010. It is cracked and on its last legs so I can’t do it too much, but I drank my morning beverage out of it on Sunday and Derek Holland looked like a legit Major League pitcher. And of course I don’t believe in it. But you know I really do. But not really… (I know you secretly do similar things. Admit it.)

I’ll be there tonight. Welcome home Giants!

Giants Record as of this writing: 20–21

It’s not just the comeback victories, though going more than a year without winning when losing going into the 9th inning was pretty painful. It’s not just that last year a two-run definict meant you might as well turn off the radio. No, there is something special going on (and I wrote these words even before the walk-off win against the Padres).

It comes down to the fact that the plan for 2018 is solid. Even with all the injuries, all the switching out parts, all the early season Dodger games… The Giants are going into May over .500, their first winning month since June 2016(!). Picture any team, hovering around .500, looking to add a player to push them into the playoffs, trying to decide what prospects to part with, and then remember this team will be adding the best playoff pitcher of all time to the roster later this year.

Things may fall apart. More injuries might happen. Pitchers may find a hole in New Mac’s swing. Panik and MadBum may take longer to come back than anticipated. But I feel — with the comebacks, the adversity, the general spirit of this team — that we are seeing something that we have only seen in this decade in SF: A team that can go all the way.

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I love Joe Panik, but Kelby Tomlinson has filled the Matt Duffy-sized hole in my heart. Maybe because he looks a lot like my wife’s younger son, we’ve been a fan of his since we first saw his thick-black-glasses covered face appear on the scoreboard. He works every at bat and he is coming through like crazy in the clutch this year. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do with more time as a regular for the next 6–8 weeks.

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Watching Pablo Sandoval pitch the 9th of that blowout loss against the Dogs was pure joy. This is the reason SF fell in love with him the first time. I know he is not what he once was, but I still have my “Let Panda Eat!” shirt and I appreciate the Red Sox gave us a free player this year.

It really is worth watching this whole half inning. Check out that curve!

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Trying to get into the Saturday night doubleheader was a total shit show. I found it surprising because I do think the Giants usually plan out the logistics pretty well. I wrote Guest Services/Security about it, in a positive way, but I actually heard worse stories than my own from other friends some of whom said they were in line for two hours or more.

We had a lot of drunk line-cutters and situations that could easily have escalated into fights so I hope if there is another split doubleheader against the Dodgers where they are giving away free gnomes they hire about double the number of ushers/security they had a couple of days ago.

We got our gnome though.

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Oh, and we got on the kiss cam again. #5!

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Giants Record as of this writing: 14–14

Giants Record when I attend games: 3–3 (3 in a row, just like the way MUNI used to be)

Kiss Cam appearances (lifetime): 5

Call me crazy, but one of my favorite parts of going to the game is Muni. No, seriously. Last week was a great example.

First we met and helped a bunch of New Zealanders navigate Muni and get to the game. Never thought we’d see them after ythat, of course, but as we waited for the train home they surrounded us and started chanting “Kiss Cam! Kiss Cam!” because, yes, we made it on the Kiss Cam again.

We helped them get back home and watched as a couple of them asked some SF State women (It was SFSU night) what they were doing after the game. Gamer Crone said, “They go to SFSU, so they are either going to their second job or going to sleep.” Which is pretty much what they got told.

But the best part was Star Trek/Giants fan.

Muni is trying out some new crowd control measures for after-game transit, probably because, as with the new sidewalk-blocking planters, they are trying to keep people from getting killed. They aren’t letting as many people as they used to onto the platform. Anyways, some guy wearing the Giants Star Trek jersey wasn’t having it. He started yelling at the transit worker who closed the rope in front of him despite, I assume, knowing what every Muni rider knows: the guy pulling the rope shut is not making the rules.

Star Trek Dude, let’s call him STD, didn’t just show displeasure, he was yelling at the guy for awhile. Then — after a train went by, the very train the Muni worker was trying to keep us from getting killed by — STD jumped out onto the track and around the rope and up the ramp to the trains.

No joke, the crowd started booing him. STD thought he had won, but E what’s at the top of the ramp: cops and more Muni workers . They had taken note of STD’s action and, as the boos got louder, they stopped him cold. The crowd starting mocking him. We lost after all, so aggressions were out there for the taking. “Sit Down, Picard!” “The Prime Directive is: don’t cut!” Not Star Trek-related, someone even started a “Lock Him Up! Lock Him Up!” chant, but people were laughing too hard to keep it going.

We all assumed that he would get released when they let the rest of us in and he’d probably still be first in line but no. the cops wouldn’t let him go in front of us, they held him until the rest of us got on the platform. For once, bad behavior was not rewarded. I think the Federation would have been pleased.

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As for the Giants, yeah, things look worse this week, it’s true. Losing 3 of 4 to the Padres will do that. Losing those games in sad, anemic ways did nothing to make us think that 2018 will be different than 2017. And don’t let yourself think too long about the fact that if Andrew McCutchen been responsible for two walk-off wins we might be 4–12 right now.

Don’t think about it because this is April. Seriously. We’ve been without our 3 best starters so far. I don’t think help is coming from the injured bullpen guys, but you never know. Hunter Pence will start hitting or someone from the minors will be up soon. And McCutchen DID hit those two walk-off hits. Chris Marrero did not get any at bats which proves 2018 is better than 2017.

Speaking of the minors, obviously, everybody is waiting for he’s-got-a-new-swing, Spring phenom Mac Williamson to get called up. I mean geez, the dude is hitting almost .600 right now. But I am still really high on Austin Slater who looked the best of any Giants call-up last year until he got injured. And I have to tell you, until Goldschmidt Goldschmitted the Giants last Wednesday, Andrew Suarez looked pretty damn good. And, I know, I just realized he wasn’t Alberto Suarez from last year’s team. I feel pretty embarrassed about that, actually.

But seriously, why be a fan at all if you are going to give up in April? .500 gets us close to a wild card, in a wild card game it’s hard to beat (assuming he’s healthy) MadBum. If we can get to the playoffs, anything can happen. That’s our strategy, and it still makes sense. Things aren’t looking great right now, but I still think adding some (old) stars rather than rebuilding made sense this year. When Cueto and Samardzija get back and pitch for awhile, we’ll see if it still does. Either way, these next series, against some of the best teams in baseball, will reveal a lot.

Giants Record as of this writing: 6–10

Giants Record when I attend games: 0–3 (Sorry everyone)

Kiss Cam appearances (lifetime): 4

One of the things that Giants fans take pride in is the front office ceremonies, promotions and events. Sure, It’s not the first thing I think about during Spring Training, but it’s nice to know that they seem to show respect to the retired players in terms of public recognition. The tickets this year — 81 different San Francisco Giants honored — are a great example of that. I think most of us assume that if a retired player isn’t involved with the Giants, it’s their choice or there’s a good reason.

So, let’s hope Sunday’s Giants/Dodgers game is an anomaly, not a harbinger of bad days to come.

I am not much for giveaways. I don’t tend to come early for them unless they are really special. But this thing:

First reaction: Who wants a “pin” this big? Here it is with my hand. My hand is not small by average hand size of a 5’11” dude. Unwearable!

Second reaction: Oh, I guess Bank of America is probably doing this in LA too and saving money by only making one pin.

Third reaction: Why the fuck would I wear a Dodgers logo?

To make things worse, ’70s Giants AND DODGERS players were honored before the game. WTF? We are not in this together.I mean, we kinda are because of moving here the same year and the whole MLB thing, but not this way. I know both teams came here at the same time, but I believe this picture still perfectly summarizes how we should feel about this rivalry.

Also, I have a bone to pick with John Shea, who I usually like. “… nary a boo was heard when they introduced Steve Garvey.” Uh no. The cheers may have been loud where Shea was sitting but I couldn’t hear them over my own booing.

I was good with honoring Vin Scully on his retirement for a couple of reasons. 1. He was employed by the Dodgers, but not a Dodger. 2. He always seemed like an honest play-by-play guy. Home-team centric, but told it like it was. 3. He was a closet Giants fan. I also stood and gave a standing ovation when Sergio Romo came back for the first time in Dodger Blue. He was my favorite Giant of his era and he earned it. But even Romo, just the once.

But introducing Steve Garvey and Giants “fans” cheering. I mean, is this what Giants fans are coming to? I have seen Dodger tolerance on a couple of Facebook groups that I no longer read, but I hadn’t really seen it in person. I beg of you Giants fans, no further collaboration with the honoring of Dodgers. Otherwise will will have Tommy Lasorda Day before you know it.

And, while I do feel like the Journey sing-a-long inning was really painful last year, this year is doing the next-to-impossible: it is making me miss “Don’t Stop Believing.’” I have hated Journey since before I started listening to punk rock. Growing up, they were overplayed on every station and I still hear “K… F… R… C…eee eee” whenever “Lights” is played. In 2010 I learned to tolerate because it gave so many of my fellow fans joy. Plus my wife, Gamer Crone, likes them.

But geez, I would rather listen to a whole Journey album than have to Sunday’s attempt at a sing-a-long: “So Happy Together” by the Turtles. First of all, NO. Second of all, this seems like another attempt, in this context, to push Dodger/Giant collaboration. “Happy together” while the Dogs fans came out in force and had taken over a section of the bleachers a day before? I don’t think so.

Front office do not force this on us. We will resist

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In other Giants news, I finally got to go to two games despite getting rained out of a third. Here are some thoughts on the 2018 experience.

1. Those new planters on 3rd Street are annoying but will probably prevent someone getting run over, so good job Giants!

2. Correct me if I am wrong but I think the Giants lead the league in only-named-this-in-Texas players with Austin Jackson joining Hunter Pence.

3. New Organic Coup stand is my closest food now! YES!

4. The rope holding up the new netting looks so DIY punk rock from my seat that I keep thinking Shotwell and Miami are stealing electricity to play a show behind the stadium.

Giants record as of this writing: 5–5

Am I bad luck or good luck? Giant record while I attend 2018: 0–2

I know this is baseball heresy, but I don’t care about going to Opening Day. I get that most folks love it — the optimism! The best line-ups! The bunting! — but I never felt so much like a season ticket holder as the first year I had tickets in my own name. The first thing we did was sell our Opening Day tickets because the money we got for them paid for four or five other games. It’s a long and expensive season.

Not that it’s solely a mercenary decision. I actually wouldn’t sell play-off tickets. And there are a few days that are always circled on our calendar regardless of opponent: educator night, Native American Heritage night, and my favorite every year tradition: Closing Day. In fact, I had so many Dodger fans contact me to see if they could buy my tickets for Vin Scully’s going away game, obviously on the last game of the season, that I had to make a facebook post to declare that first, not only do I never knowingly sell tickets to Dodgers fans, but second, that we never miss the last day of the year. We just have to say goodbye to the team

We share our season tickets because there is no way we can go to 81 games (plus play-offs!) a year. I have cheese travel and I work Saturdays. My wife has out-of-town work. Our new ticket partner Sprout Guy — we are in a very food-oriented section of the Arcade — loves Opening Day so it’s all good. I listened on the radio.

So, Giants… I had a *lot* to say after the first two games. Different things to say after the next two games. And after yesterday’s game I feel like we are right where we should be after 5 games… . completely unsure of what’s gonna happen.There are 157 games left!

But man, those first two games of the years were great. Everything I love about NL baseball was there. Both games felt like play-off games and especially towards the later innings, every pitch was intense. Plus, starting the season by beating the Dodgers twice (and Kershaw) is pretty sweet.

And I am looking forward to Joe Panik surpassing Barry Bonds as the single season HR champion. I mean nothing against Bonds, but Panik is on a pace to hit 96 or so. I look forward to watching a lot of them from our seats in the Arcade. Panik will strike fear into the opposition, at least when the bases are empty. I’ll be going to three games before my next weekly post. I think we are going to see some runs. Yes, I do.

Oh, and welcome back Brian Wilson! The only thing I was ever mad at you for was that Ed Lee campaign video.

Giants record: 2–3 as of this writing.

I’ve been a Giants fan as long as I can remember. I mourned when Willie McCovey left. I remember the glory of Mike Ivie’s grand slam off of Don Sutton. I learned to question authority when we were told that Mike Ivie was our future.* I believed in Randy Elliot. I ignored the politics of the God Squad. I suffered, along with other Giants fans, as only Red Sox, and Cubs fans suffered.**

I was as surprised as all of you to see the Giants win a World Series and I am not embarrassed to admit I cried like a baby. Then 2012! 2014! Unbelievable!

Then… 2016. One relief pitcher could have meant all the difference and we could have continued our even-year streak. And yes, I do say that to Cubs fans every chance I get. 2017 aside, this is a great era to be a Giants fan. I am starting to write here in order to have a place to regularly express my love for the Giants. Love is often mistaken, overconfident and wrong, so look for that in my writing.

Though I have written a couple books (on cheese) I decided, why not spend some time writing about the Giants, detailing the games I go to, and discussing the ins-and-outs of Giants fannage in 2018. I make no claims to sports writing, even if I did edit the Girls Sports page of my high school newspaper back in the mid-‘80s. You will not find detailed analysis of players here, because you can find that — written better — elsewhere.

Nah, I will try to write about the stuff that I know about… taking MUNI to the game, what the games look like from the Cheese Section of the Arcade, my feelings about life as a Giants fan in the 60th Anniversary year of 2018.

It’s been a rocky start already with the injuries to Bumgarner, Samardzija, and (maybe) Melancon. But hey, adversity makes us strong, doesn’t it? At least our stadium isn’t leaking sewage*** like some other team that used to play in NY, amirite?

I am actually super excited about the team this year, no hype and no joke. I could be dead wrong — I was last year! — but hey, how are you going to start a season without optimism? So many teams are supposedly tanking this year (though I actually think the hype on that is overblown) that we have a chance. At the very least, I anticipate the Giants scoring more runs this year. I feel confident when setting low bars, but right now you can’t tell me the Giants won’t make the playoffs this year. Well, you can tell me. You might even be right. But I won’t listen. Derek Holland is my new best friend.

So, assuming health department approval, the season starts tomorrow with Dodger-killer Ty Blach on the mound. Since it’s not the playoffs, we can assume Kershaw will pitch well for the Dodgers, but I think the Dogs are in for an Opening Day surprise. I mean, besides the raw sewage of course.

*In a way he was the future since we traded him for Jeffrey Leonard, one of my favorite Giants of all time.
**And Indians fans — I guess — but Chief Wahoo eliminates any feelings of solidarity I may have had with you.
***Having actually cleaned raw sewage spills, I am appalled at the lack of protective gear for the stadium workers here as well as the dudes just walking through it and tracking that mess elsewhere. UNSAFE. GROSS. DODGER BASEBALL.