Old neighborhood news: Danbury's formerly crappy Empress Ballroom has been turned into the Heirloom Arts Theatre. And they're having a "punk rock flea market" there in April. And Neil Hamburger is playing! And the best part is, it's part of a two-day fest called...the Not Brooklyn Fest. How cool is that? So many bands are just basically using the word "Brooklyn" these days to get signed. It's so ridiculous. Just because some kids move from Wisconsin to Brooklyn, start a band that's "slightly weird" and grow their hair "slightly long" and keep it stylishly "slightly unkempt," doesn't mean they're any good. In fact, it assuredly means they're full of shit and copying someone else. It's good to see anything in the music community come right out with an anti-Those People message. (Though I'm sure when I go there, the bands will all sound the same and the kids will just be those same Connecticut teens who are about ready to move to Brooklyn.) But it's the thought that counts--and Neil hamburger seals the deal for me. Plus, I'll get to see a lot of my old friends. I already told my girlfriend about it so she could get Stella Marie into the flea market. Should be fun.