Souvenirs

My pass from the 2006 Groezrock Festiival in Belgium, a physical souvenir I have kept.

In July, I went to see the Massachusetts premiere of my former business partner Seth Abrams' new documentary about the healing power of heavy music. Seth's story is one of constant inspiration for me and I highly recommend you check out the Heavy Healing trailer here. A few weeks after the screening, one of the musicians in the film sadly passed away; Lou Koller, the singer of hardcore legends, Sick of it All.

As a fan of the band and someone who saw them numerous times during my music industry days, I got into a deep dive listening to their songs and sharing random memories, like Seth and I seeing Lou eating in an empty diner before one of their shows.

Since high school, music has been a constant inspiration for me. Both consciously and subconsciously, I've always been drawn to songs because of the lyrics. Music was a direct inspiration in me venturing into reuse. The Sick of it All song, "Souvenir," is no exception and revisiting it after various life events over the past few years, it hits different. And I certainly pick up on the theme of escaping the waste of time, something I talk about a lot. As a result, the song has been on regular rotation in my mind and ears for the past few weeks.

Here's the song to check out if you're interested. And being a constant sharer of music, I know it might not be my everyone's cup of tea, so I put the lyrics below, with some key lines highlighted. Thanks for the continued inspiration, Lou.

I found a souvenir

In things I collected

The effect it had on me

Turned out distressing

Instead of focusing on my past rejoicing

It just reminded me of awkward emotions

Thoughts of my innocence

Like alienation

No self identity and massive confusion

I wanted desperately to think of the good times

Guess I remember too much

Guess I would rather look at

The path in front of me that's holding something new

Does it really do the trick when you're reunited

Does it make you stop and think

Things weren't meant to click

Does it really do the trick to be taken back

Does it make you stop and think

Of all the things you lacked

Time can give and take away at will

Don't look back and don't stand still

Cause time will bleed you dry

A little sympathy please for the petty bastards

Who feel their glory days are behind them

So far behind them

The person that they thought made such a difference

Isn't even who they are now

And they refuse to see how

Everyday's another chance to mend a petty life

Does it really do the trick when you're reunited

Does it make you stop and think

Things weren't meant to click

Does it really do the trick to be taken back

Does it make you stop and think

Of all the things you lacked

Time can give and take away at will

Don't look back, don't stand still

Because time will bleed you dry

Bled dry

Bled dry of motivation

Bled dry of motivation

Bled dry

A desert of ambition, a desert of ambition

Bled dry

Discarded by the wayside, discarded by the wayside

Bled dry and left for dead