J Ballz The Barbarian
@jballzthebarbarian.bsky.social
Social studies teacher, former punk/goth/emo/etc, vegetarian, liberal, lover of horror movies, Anglophile, Cormac McCarthy makes me cry, Baltimore born and bred, dad, veteran, and music obsessive. Lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival 2025. I had a great time as I have every single time I have ever been to a Ren Fest.
October 26, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival 2025. I had a great time as I have every single time I have ever been to a Ren Fest.
Fuck yeah! I picked up Revolting Cocks at the flea market. I was obsessed with this album 35 years ago or so. It still goes hard.
September 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Fuck yeah! I picked up Revolting Cocks at the flea market. I was obsessed with this album 35 years ago or so. It still goes hard.
How can I be 49 years old, a lifelong anglophile and post-punk fan,and have just discovered Sad Lovers & Giants in the past six months? It's crazy how so much incredible music missed my radar until recently (Chameleons, The Sound, Teardrop Explodes, early Simple Minds, Killing Joke as well)
August 7, 2025 at 3:04 PM
How can I be 49 years old, a lifelong anglophile and post-punk fan,and have just discovered Sad Lovers & Giants in the past six months? It's crazy how so much incredible music missed my radar until recently (Chameleons, The Sound, Teardrop Explodes, early Simple Minds, Killing Joke as well)
Picked up Depeche Mode- Speak and Spell off Marketplace for $15!
August 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Picked up Depeche Mode- Speak and Spell off Marketplace for $15!
Shhhhh don’t tell anyone but I’m getting my grand baby into horror already.
July 5, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Shhhhh don’t tell anyone but I’m getting my grand baby into horror already.
I was feeling a little Gothy today and picked up the 7 inch for one of the greatest songs of all time “This Corrosion” by The Sisters of Mercy. I will never ever get tired of hearing this song.
June 29, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I was feeling a little Gothy today and picked up the 7 inch for one of the greatest songs of all time “This Corrosion” by The Sisters of Mercy. I will never ever get tired of hearing this song.
It’s about time I picked up Bowie’s Lodger which has some really fantastic songs on it. It’s a weird and wonderful record.
June 19, 2025 at 1:58 PM
It’s about time I picked up Bowie’s Lodger which has some really fantastic songs on it. It’s a weird and wonderful record.
No Kings. Impeach Trump. Make America America Again. I took place in today’s peaceful national protest against fascism. In Essex, Maryland approximately 200 wonderful people showed up to make our voices heard. We received overwhelming support from the community.
June 14, 2025 at 5:11 PM
No Kings. Impeach Trump. Make America America Again. I took place in today’s peaceful national protest against fascism. In Essex, Maryland approximately 200 wonderful people showed up to make our voices heard. We received overwhelming support from the community.
I was feeling edgy yesterday I suppose.
June 4, 2025 at 12:17 AM
I was feeling edgy yesterday I suppose.
Watched Alvvays open up for Halsey last night. Alvvays were great as ….always. Halsey put on a helluva show as well.
June 1, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Watched Alvvays open up for Halsey last night. Alvvays were great as ….always. Halsey put on a helluva show as well.
It’s a Soft Cell kinda night.
May 26, 2025 at 9:58 PM
It’s a Soft Cell kinda night.
Saw Reggie and the Full Effect live for the first time in 25 years. So happy to see James sober, telling stories, and doing what he does best.
May 24, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Saw Reggie and the Full Effect live for the first time in 25 years. So happy to see James sober, telling stories, and doing what he does best.
I have been slimed by my grand baby.
May 21, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I have been slimed by my grand baby.
I picked this up at The Chameleons show a few weeks back at The Filmore, Silver Spring gig.
May 15, 2025 at 11:14 PM
I picked this up at The Chameleons show a few weeks back at The Filmore, Silver Spring gig.
I take the world’s worst photos but no one is looking at them anyway. That being said, my legs felt like jelly last night after doing my old man version of dancing to Die Krupps, Nitzer Ebb, and Ministry. A fantastic triple bill!
May 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I take the world’s worst photos but no one is looking at them anyway. That being said, my legs felt like jelly last night after doing my old man version of dancing to Die Krupps, Nitzer Ebb, and Ministry. A fantastic triple bill!
Almost 49 years old. I’m not sure how this happened.
May 9, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Almost 49 years old. I’m not sure how this happened.
The Chameleons, Twin Tribes, Vandal Moon show last night was a great time. Second Skin might be my favorite Chameleons song now. I loved the tribute to Mike Peters of The Alarm as well as the Bowie lyrics sprinkled in. Powerful stuff.
May 5, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Chameleons, Twin Tribes, Vandal Moon show last night was a great time. Second Skin might be my favorite Chameleons song now. I loved the tribute to Mike Peters of The Alarm as well as the Bowie lyrics sprinkled in. Powerful stuff.
Picked up this sweet #jesusandmarychain 12 inch during Spring Break!
April 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Picked up this sweet #jesusandmarychain 12 inch during Spring Break!
#Civilwar #Gettysburg Being a card carrying member of the #Satanictemple and a social studies teacher, this photo pretty much sums me up.
April 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
#Civilwar #Gettysburg Being a card carrying member of the #Satanictemple and a social studies teacher, this photo pretty much sums me up.
This is craziness…..
April 9, 2025 at 10:41 PM
This is craziness…..
Just got this #thesound ep in the mail today off Discogs. Every single track is quality. I still can’t believe that it took me more than thirty years of listening to post-punk to “discover” these guys.
April 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Just got this #thesound ep in the mail today off Discogs. Every single track is quality. I still can’t believe that it took me more than thirty years of listening to post-punk to “discover” these guys.
I really love this new #JapaneseBreakfast album. I think it's their best. I love the shoegazy Honey Water build up, Picture Window sounds like an A tier Wilco song, and Men in Bars is so good. I'm obsessed with how great the duet with Jeff Bridge is.
March 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
I really love this new #JapaneseBreakfast album. I think it's their best. I love the shoegazy Honey Water build up, Picture Window sounds like an A tier Wilco song, and Men in Bars is so good. I'm obsessed with how great the duet with Jeff Bridge is.
I am embarrassed that I didn’t know how incredible this album was 30 plus years ago when I was a pre-teen watching 120 Minutes and stealing my older brothers cassette tapes. Julian Cope is up there with any other 80s indie songwriter there is. #Juliancope #Teardropexplodes
February 4, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I am embarrassed that I didn’t know how incredible this album was 30 plus years ago when I was a pre-teen watching 120 Minutes and stealing my older brothers cassette tapes. Julian Cope is up there with any other 80s indie songwriter there is. #Juliancope #Teardropexplodes
Man oh man. I drove to DC. today and picked up some incredible original pressings from a pretty cool dude; Jesus and Mary Chain, Ministry, Yaz, ABC
January 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Man oh man. I drove to DC. today and picked up some incredible original pressings from a pretty cool dude; Jesus and Mary Chain, Ministry, Yaz, ABC