Ian MacKaye famously sang, "I don't like parties, they avoid the truth." But if we want to make it to the end of another year, we're going to need joy as a survival strategy.
AM has been key in reigniting my joy in hardcore (and life!) and I thank you immensely for your thoughtful words. Here’s to even more hardcore and joy in 2024!
After years of dabbling in returning to playing music I found myself in 2 bands this year and reading AM has really helped me reconnect with a lot of important facets of modern punk and hardcore that I think I forgot about when I "dropped out" in the early aughts. I really appreciate all you do, Norman. Thank you so much.
"Anger is how we fight, but joy is how we survive."
Love this. I was literally just talking with my wife about joy this morning as I was making breakfast for my kids and dancing around the kitchen to The Pogues. It can be really to become consumed with anger these days. There is so much to be disgusted by in this world, but it really is so important to find times for joy amongst those you enjoy spending time with.
Thank you for doing this, Norman. Here's to a joyful 2024.
Very happy to have this back in 2023, in fact, I finally subscribed after thinking about it since you announced. Your job hunting experience is not unique - I have a friend who has been looking for remote work and it's much of the same. She had one offer that was literally "how much work would you do for $500/month?" Anyway, can't wait for more!
just wanted to say that you, this zine, and titr have been important parts for me in my life this year. as a fellow queer, reading about your own experiences with that and how you became part of your own scene really resonated with me. thank you for everything you do norman. please please please never stop doing this <3
This was a really wonderful piece - and all of your work on AM in 2023 has been too. It’s helped me reconnect with music and art that is drifted away from, and I’m hugely grateful for that. Thank you so much.
Thank you for AM. It's been so amazing to have in my inbox, even when I have to play catch up. This year I think has been hard for so many, but it isn't without bright spots. Your zine has been one of them. Have a wonderful break, and can't wait to see what happens next year.
AM, along with HardLore, has been instrumental in renewing my interest in hardcore as well and thinking about how it is still part of me, even well out of my youth, as well as giving me something to look forward to on Thursdays. There's probably a "Thursday" joke in there somewhere but I'll let someone else make it. Thank you so much for all you do.
Thanks for all of the thought provoking prose and interviews Norm! (And for helping me re-discover hardcores place in my identity). Happy Holidays my man!
Norman, that was a great piece to end the year. Being that you were a former real estate agent, I thought you might find this interesting, (being that in America there is a housing crisis) “Japan has some 8.49 million akiya, or unoccupied homes, according to the government's Housing and Land Survey in 2018. The survey is conducted every five years. Many of these homes have been abandoned as Japan's population shrinks and ages, and are typically spread out across rural areas.” Weird! But anyway keep on rocking in the free world. (Being that Ian mackaye usually has insightful comments he did an interview with Huck where he said that ‘life doesn’t have a narrative arc’ which I don’t believe agree with. Life definitely has a narrative arc and anti-matter substack proves that, being able to comment on your posts is definitely a life moment for me.)
Thank you for not liking real estate Norman! The world is better served with you producing your art! I wish it was as lucrative. I myself am very thankful for you bringing this zine back. It's something I truly look forward to each week! I am thankful you joined Thursday as well I really love your playing and what you bring to the band live.
I heart skipped a beat whilst reading the End of Year short article and I came across the following words:
“repressing the Anti-Matter book and/or the compilation record, and I promise you there is forward motion on both those things.”
I had to reread it twice, and then my inner fan girl let out a few shrieks of pure excitement! OMG! Seriously can’t wait! Thank you so much for doing this! 🖤🖤🖤
I am sure no one wants to be put on a pedestal but... You are a role model Norm. The mirror you hold up to us with Anti-matter is so incredibly valuable (and valued). Thank you.
AM has been key in reigniting my joy in hardcore (and life!) and I thank you immensely for your thoughtful words. Here’s to even more hardcore and joy in 2024!
After years of dabbling in returning to playing music I found myself in 2 bands this year and reading AM has really helped me reconnect with a lot of important facets of modern punk and hardcore that I think I forgot about when I "dropped out" in the early aughts. I really appreciate all you do, Norman. Thank you so much.
"Anger is how we fight, but joy is how we survive."
Love this. I was literally just talking with my wife about joy this morning as I was making breakfast for my kids and dancing around the kitchen to The Pogues. It can be really to become consumed with anger these days. There is so much to be disgusted by in this world, but it really is so important to find times for joy amongst those you enjoy spending time with.
Thank you for doing this, Norman. Here's to a joyful 2024.
Very happy to have this back in 2023, in fact, I finally subscribed after thinking about it since you announced. Your job hunting experience is not unique - I have a friend who has been looking for remote work and it's much of the same. She had one offer that was literally "how much work would you do for $500/month?" Anyway, can't wait for more!
just wanted to say that you, this zine, and titr have been important parts for me in my life this year. as a fellow queer, reading about your own experiences with that and how you became part of your own scene really resonated with me. thank you for everything you do norman. please please please never stop doing this <3
This was a really wonderful piece - and all of your work on AM in 2023 has been too. It’s helped me reconnect with music and art that is drifted away from, and I’m hugely grateful for that. Thank you so much.
Thank you for AM. It's been so amazing to have in my inbox, even when I have to play catch up. This year I think has been hard for so many, but it isn't without bright spots. Your zine has been one of them. Have a wonderful break, and can't wait to see what happens next year.
AM, along with HardLore, has been instrumental in renewing my interest in hardcore as well and thinking about how it is still part of me, even well out of my youth, as well as giving me something to look forward to on Thursdays. There's probably a "Thursday" joke in there somewhere but I'll let someone else make it. Thank you so much for all you do.
Thanks for all of the thought provoking prose and interviews Norm! (And for helping me re-discover hardcores place in my identity). Happy Holidays my man!
- written in my freshly delivered AM hoodie
Norman, that was a great piece to end the year. Being that you were a former real estate agent, I thought you might find this interesting, (being that in America there is a housing crisis) “Japan has some 8.49 million akiya, or unoccupied homes, according to the government's Housing and Land Survey in 2018. The survey is conducted every five years. Many of these homes have been abandoned as Japan's population shrinks and ages, and are typically spread out across rural areas.” Weird! But anyway keep on rocking in the free world. (Being that Ian mackaye usually has insightful comments he did an interview with Huck where he said that ‘life doesn’t have a narrative arc’ which I don’t believe agree with. Life definitely has a narrative arc and anti-matter substack proves that, being able to comment on your posts is definitely a life moment for me.)
Thank you for not liking real estate Norman! The world is better served with you producing your art! I wish it was as lucrative. I myself am very thankful for you bringing this zine back. It's something I truly look forward to each week! I am thankful you joined Thursday as well I really love your playing and what you bring to the band live.
Here's to a fantastic 2024 for us all.
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Anti-Matter v. 2023 has honestly been one of the highlights of this past year. Thank you for all you do, Norm.
I heart skipped a beat whilst reading the End of Year short article and I came across the following words:
“repressing the Anti-Matter book and/or the compilation record, and I promise you there is forward motion on both those things.”
I had to reread it twice, and then my inner fan girl let out a few shrieks of pure excitement! OMG! Seriously can’t wait! Thank you so much for doing this! 🖤🖤🖤
I am sure no one wants to be put on a pedestal but... You are a role model Norm. The mirror you hold up to us with Anti-matter is so incredibly valuable (and valued). Thank you.
Well... maybe not role model! But I understand and appreciate the idea! : )