Hello music lovers! Sorry I skipped my column in March, I just had a lot of bullshit going on and really didn't feel like writing it. I know my readers missed me...my apologies to both of you.

We checked out our lads Kingsnake and Weed Is Weed with A.P.F. and Wasted Theory on March 2 at Lallo's in Knoxville, Md. We got a bit lost on the way, which wasn't good news for my bladder. Seeing as we were near Blair Witch country, why not stop on a very dark, very quiet road in the woods to take a piss? As I assumed the squat position, with everyone in the car yelling at me, I heard a crack in the woods. This gave me instant stage fright, and I started to imagine a scene from Friday the 13th Part...whatever. Finally we get there, and I quickly emptied my bladder and got a beer. The owner threw some kind of bitch fit about some outside beers that had made their way in to see the show too, so he threatened to pull the plug. I mean have you ever played a gig without your own booze? Not I. That Jager soothes the old vocal chords, mate! Anyway, I thought I would try to help the situation, as I so diplomatically know how. I explained to one of the door guys that, if any band leaves, we all leave, so your beer money just went down the crapper. Now don't be silly and let's get on with the show! Jesus!

I really liked the first band A.P.F. and was unable to buy their CD, as we spent all of our cash on beer already, duh (what a shitty music supporter I am), but if they would like to send me one, I'll review it for the magazine. Wasted Theory were...not much to write home about; Kingsnake, of course, were awesome and so was the mighty Dave Sherman, captain of Weed Is Weed! He's one of the funniest dudes I know, and I played my very first gig with his band Wretched when I was about 19. He is one of the OG doomsters of Maryland. In our house, we have "Sherman quotes," and you must do it in the "Sherman voice," (very gruff, spacey and lovable). One of RQ's faves from the Sherminator is "DUDE! All of the songs in Weed Is Weed are about Weed, except for this one which is called Eating Pussy!" I will interview him one day, but I'm gonna need at least three spare days for all of the stories he has.

Next up, I surprised RQ for an overnight stay in Atlantic City to see Deftones at House of Blues. I got to photograph the show again, which was a super bonus. Big thanks to Jill at Warner Bros. for always being so accommodating. Now, you know how much I love my Deftones, so I'm not quite sure who had the problem, but for one of my favourite venues, the sound was kinda' shitty. It sounded very muddy, but was still a cool show. What was especially cool was that our friends Ave and James (singer for Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience) secretly came, too, and surprised RQ for his birthday. James gave him a signed drum head from Jason, which was like the icing on the cake!

So yeah, being a full time Mum, musician and artist and writing for the magazine makes for limited down time. Trying to check out live music all the time is tough, but I do what I can. My son is about to join a band, so now I can add "roadie" to my list of titles and responsibilities! Remember to check out those kids Bad Seed Rising from Cam's Rock School in Frederick, Md. They've been opening some pretty huge shows lately.

Things That Bug The Shit Outta Me – Part 3

BANDS! Come on now, I know you want to come off badass, hardcore, wicked cool, etc., but let me give you a little advice. I can't stand complicated, nearly unreadable font and design for your band name. It may look all fancy schmancy, but trust me, if I can't read your band name, it takes me about two seconds to lose interest and move on. In fact, I have no interest at that point in what your name is or what your music sounds like! Do yourself a favour, be bold and direct — if I don't need to decipher a secret code, it will be recorded in my brain a lot easier. No more piles of spaghetti-looking bullshit for band names!

Cheers, AQ!

Are we still here? Check one, two — hello? I will not know until Friday, as today is Dec 19th, so here goes! Yes, I am four days past my deadline, and Vince would like to kick my arse, but damn, please, when can I get some clones? 2012 was pretty fucking awesome, and I can't wait to see the shows, interviews and reviews that 2013 will bring. Especially Quicksand in January!

So, coming up for Side Stage –

I'll be in DC at the Black Cat right after Christmas to cover Salad Days. Read all about it in our February issue.

Jan. 12: Baltimore's own Eva Jade Landon is having her EVALUTION CD (Klassick KliQ Records) Release Party at The Sidebar, presented by Flock Baltimore and hosted by yours truly and our own Mikey Rocha. Should be a fun night! Make sure you come out to support! Also playing: Frenamie, Victims of Experience and More AM Than FM.

Jan. 18: Velma and 10Blade at Café 611 in Frederick, Md. – I saw Velma at Noise in the Basement, and I really dig them. 10Blade is Shockwave's Rio Hiett's band, and I have not had the chance to see them yet.

Jan. 26: Our buddies from Pennsylvania, Kingsnake, will be playing at Empire in Virginia with King Giant and Fire Faithful. I'm not the biggest fan of "Jaxx," but you definitely do not want to miss this show!

Jan. 29: I can't wait to cover QUICKSAND at Black Cat DC! They are one of those bands that, when they broke up, you were so sad, it fucked up your whole week!

After that, I will be working on a story about School of Rock. They are all over the country, and in my opinion, the best place you could send your musical child.

I'm adding a new section to my column called, Things That Bug the Shit Outta Me. I have so many random thoughts floating in my head that sometimes I've just gotta rage about it a little bit, to get it off my chest. All in good sarcasm and comical style of course, but I find it funny to post these random pet peeves I have on Facebook and see people go to town with their seriousness. People really need to lighten up, take a joke, and chill the eff out! Anyway, I see mainly a lot of stuff posted on Facebook, etc., that I file under "sheep." This is stuff that I think is lame, or just don't like, and the "sheep" share these things because it makes them feel like, "Oh, I guess that is cool, and I'm supposed to like it." It's ok guys, you don't have to conform to what everyone thinks is cool, funny, wonderful, blah blah blah. It's okay to be a leader and have your own opinion, whether it be music-related or not. So, I do respect all of my friends for their beliefs, "likes" and opinions, because guess what – supposedly it's a free country; but not voicing your opinion because you're a follower who is afraid to piss someone off is ridiculous. I always say, if you don't like what I say, write or do, then you don't have to know me, simple as that. If you don't "get" me, that's your problem, and I really don't give two shits! For example, there was some kind of all-star music jam on TV, and we were watching Bruce Springsteen, and I thought, goddamn, what a boring bastard! I'll bet some people would equate that with pissing on the American flag, but guys, come on! In the past month, there have been a lot of videos posted of frigging FLASH MOBS with comments like, "This made me cry." I effing hate flash mobs; they make me cry, too, because they are so cringe-worthy. I would never be part of one, and if I were at the mall when one started up, I would get the hell out of there, quick-like! See? I feel better now. Flash mobs are in the same lame category as stick figure families on minivans and those awfully pretentious signs that people have in their houses that say some bullshit like, "LOVE Much, Laugh Often, Live Well." Man, those really burn my ass! I don't need a frigging sign to remind myself to do that shit, or to hang on my wall because my neighbor has one. Anyway, just for shits and giggles, if you have a rant you'd like to get off your chest, I would love to hear about it and will gladly put my favourite ones in print each month. You can remain nameless if you so wish. Email me at sidestage@shockwavemagazine.com Hey, for the best speakers of the truth, I may even give away some prizes! Vent away!

I take an honest, lighten-the-eff-up approach to life because we are surrounded by so much horror. Appreciate what you have, hug your kids and tell them you love them every single day; there's enough bullshit in this world to be serious about. Wow, listen to li'l old me getting all sappy! I'd better sign off before I make myself cry!

Cheers, AQ!