Forever in utero…suspended...a tantalizing taste of the greatness that coulda been. Started in the Summer of Slum 2001, FR ran for four issues. Homemade. Raw. Real. The majority the people involved in FR were in the front lines at local shows getting the pictures, drinking the beers, and remembering the moment for everyone. And I was the one cutting and pasting it all together. I don't really recall every Monday night I spent at Chicho's in Virginia Beach…but overall I’d have to say I had a fantastic time, much influenced by cheap drafts and hot, sweaty rock 'n' roll. I wouldn’t trade it for perpetual richness.

The first issue was all me—weird and a little awkward. Second issue, I started working with Kim and Stevie Baise—beginning to take shape and more centered. Kim took most of the live band pics and Stevie knew all the bands that were playing, while I did most of the writing. Kim and I would toil together over layouts many nights at her place out in Ocean View. By the third issue the gloves were off. Gunther 8544 and John A. began mentoring me in the art of guerilla zine publishing. Bands were rolling through town on the reg. Things were just off the hook in general—it was like a big, wet, rock 'n' roll dream, complete with ruby red lips whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I really felt like the third issue was the best issue in terms of entertainment and sustenance. Stevie was nice enough to make a CD comp to give away of bands he was producing at his recording studio Steveland. Featuring The D4 (New Zealand), The Tinglers (Detroit), The Dirty Fingers (RVA), The Bombpops (NYC), The Jetboys (Japan), and Nancy and the Knockers (RVA) the Six-Pack-to-Go comp was a superb offering of rock 'n' roll coolness.

By issue four, I had a bevy of contributors including Gunther 8544, Josh Rutledge, Vic Demise, and Kenny Andrews. My main goal at this point was to be the drunkest zine editor around. I never meant to hurt anyone's feelings but I am pretty sure I did. It was fun while it lasted. I don't know why I stopped doing it, but I just remember thinkin', "Fuck this! This is too much!" It was a lot of work. So FR ended in the summer of 2002 and life moved on.

I am grateful to have been so intimately involved with this scene. I thank Kim and Stevie, Gunther, Josh, Vic, and Kenny for delivering the goods to me.

I've tried to stay involved in what's going on. It's frustrating. Not enough venues or shows. I've been taking live band photos under the name Miss Demeanor Images since fall 2010. A picture is worth 1,000 words. Like me on the Facebook.

[issuu width=420 height=325 showHtmlLink=false documentId=110413043734-65ef96453a8d48b7be0d532af2a6da8b name=fresh_rag__1 username=hardcorenorfolk tag=fresh unit=px id=e87668f7-29dc-f175-33db-1b83804f24d8 v=2]

[issuu width=420 height=325 showHtmlLink=false documentId=110414233340-691b3e469f1a40d293c8d5b6902fbce1 name=fresh_rag__2 username=hardcorenorfolk tag=fresh unit=px id=6ee5c681-1ef0-c5a9-9bb9-a6865a8b04d1 v=2]

[issuu width=420 height=325 showHtmlLink=false documentId=110415002923-4f99d31d0d364693884a71f8e14de4e3 name=fresh_rag__3 username=hardcorenorfolk tag=3 unit=px id=447cefd7-f519-a64e-1eb9-8da082d1cb3e v=2]

[issuu width=420 height=326 showHtmlLink=false documentId=110415013150-5f64937ad2444819b04f841aa204a326 name=freshrag4 username=hardcorenorfolk tag=4 unit=px id=4379e86d-e0b3-3c05-0cbd-0ed63d6aad2f v=2]