Is there some sort of Power Pop University where young musicians go to learn the art of the art of the addictive guitar riff? Do students brainstorm hooks and scribble lyrics in Lisa Frank notebooks over peanut butter sandwiches and ramen? Is this possibly what was going on at Bill and Ted University in the beginning of Bogus Journey?

If such a learning institution existed, Cincinnati band Vacation would have graduated summa cum laude. The tightly-knit four-piece opened for Don Giovanni label mates Screaming Females last night at The Empty Bottle, barely exchanging glances in the brief pauses between songs before ripping into another perfect song with just the right interplay between guitars, crunch, and punk aggression.
Missed the show last night? Luckily for you, they’re playing TWICE today: once in just a few hours at Bric-a-Brac with locals Earth Girls (who COMPLETELY RULE and don’t play very often) and Bow and Spear. They’re also playing later tonight with Screaming Females at Sub-T, giving the 17+ crowd a chance to join in the fun.

Have plans already for today, maybe for the Dick Dale show, or checking out what kind of band names themselves Bukkake Moms over at Emporium? You can get your in-store fill tomorrow over at saki, where Spirit of the Beehive and Carbonleak are playing. I can’t tell y’all how important instores are to me, and how cool it is that we’re so blessed with so many supportive record stores here in Chicago. Bring a beer, listen to some free music, pick up some 7″s or earplugs or whatever.

Bow & Spear, Vacation, Earth Girls
Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles, 3156 West Diversey Avenue
5:30pm on Wed, July 29/ AA / free

Spirit of the Beehive, Carbonleak
saki, 3716 West Fullerton Avenue
6:00pm on Thu, July 30 / AA / free

Congratulations to Jessica for winning our very first Punk or Bunk trivia challenge! It turns out that NO ONE got the answer right, so we’re giving the tickets to you for being the first to email.

For those playing along at home, here’s the answers:

1. Peggy O’Neill and Danny Kroha of The Gories met when they developed mutual crushes on each other in high school.

TRUE. As revealed in the recent Detroit Punks documentary on The Gories, Peg was obsessed with The Who and mod culture as a teenager, and Danny was running around on a scooter with a fishtail parka. They met through their similar interests, and briefly dated – a relationship that dissolved long before The Gories did.

This was actually our readers’ #1 Guess for which one was a lie! Sometimes the truth is strange, y’all.

2. Lester Bangs once published a piece that claimed to expose the “rock culture FAGGOT MAFIA” in Creem magazine.

FALSE. Ok, so this is from the era of swaggering macho rock journalism that I couldn’t care less about, but it’s linked to early transgender punk pioneer Jayne County, which is how I know about it. Inspired by an infamous incident where Jayne County tried to brain Handsome Dick Manitoba of The Dictators with a mic stand when he heckled her at CBGB’s, Bangs wrote a rambling, incoherent screed that did in fact threaten to expose the “rock culture FAGGOT MAFIA.” However, it was slated for the pages of Punk Magazine, and Bangs requested that they not run it, worried that it would hurt his freelance career, something I can totally identify with as a fellow freelancer, albeit one who can edit myself a little better.

3. Iggy Pop’s favorite drink is Kahlua and milk.

TRUE. Iggy’s preference for hard drugs and weak drinks is mentioned several times in the classic oral history of early punk, Please Kill Me.

“We’d get to Memphis, the newspaper has my picture on the paper, with the headline ‘Vice Squad to Attend Concert Tonight.” I get to my hotel, I’m nervous, so I take all my per diems and buy twenty Kahlua and milks, because I’m nervous, but I only like pussy drinks, right?”

-Iggy Pop

Even if you didn’t win, you can try your wits next time, and you can still go see the show for a measly $7! It’s way cooler than Pitchfork, and I’ll be there, swigging from a pitcher and doing really pathetic bowling moves.

Blizzard Babies, Squish, Boots, Pink Bathroom
Fireside Bowl, 2648 West Fullerton Avenue
17+ / $7