On October 8, 1981, Mr. Epp performed its first official show. The lineup was now whittled down to McLaughlin on guitar/vocals, Smitty on vocals/guitar/alto saxophone, Todd on bass/backing vocals, and temporary drummer Randy Rubato. The group opened for Student Nurse at Queen Anne's UCT Hall, located on 5th and Aloha streets in Seattle. Darren returned as the band's drummer following the show, and Student Nurse drummer John Rubato began helping Mr. Epp produce its debut 7" EP, Of Course I'm Happy, Why?, at Seattle's Triangle Studios in March. The five-song record was released in early 1982 on Pravda Records and featured the underground hit "Mohawk Man," which charted at number one on Los Angeles' radio station KROQ's Rodney on the Rocks program. "Mohawk Man" was included on Pravda's Volume One tape, released that same year. Smitty's Dog Tapes also released the compilation The Public Doesn't Exist cassette featuring the Mr. Epp songs "Spooky" and "Genocide." That summer, the band recorded two tracks at the Morey's home with Tom Dyer producing the session. That fall, they entered TDS Studios with Dyer to record seven more new songs. Late that year, the band performed two shows, one opening for pop star Nina Hagen and the other playing at friend Verna Doherty's New Year's Eve party. Both performances were recorded and featured on the band's cassette Live As All Get Out!, released on Deus Ex Machina/Dog Tapes the following year. At the start of 1983, Mr. Epp was busy with many side projects. Smitty was involved with Doherty and guitarist Steve Turner playing in Doggs with Dreddloxx, while Todd and McLaughlin performed with Jack Klugman & the Ice Picks. These other priorities didn't keep the members of Mr. Epp from releasing new material, though. The band managed to appear on six compilations, which included New Alliance Records' Mighty Feeble early in the year, followed by appearances on Bad Compilation Tapes' First Strike, Engram Records' Seattle Syndrome II, Deus Ex Machina's What Syndrome?, Basic Tapes' Basic Sampler, and Green Monkey's Local Product. With word spreading about the group in Seattle, the band was asked to open a show at the city's Eagles Auditorium in late April for San Francisco punk legends the Dead Kennedys. This was followed by a July 15 Mr. Epp performance at Seattle's Metropolis, where the group used Dyer's Mobile Unit to record the show. That same month, the band decided to add a second guitarist, so they called upon Turner, who had performed with Smitty in Doggs with Dreddloxx. Turner had also performed with the Ducky Boys, which included future Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard. Turner was also a friend of McLaughlin, who he met in 1982 through their mutual friend Alex Vincent. The end was near for Mr. Epp though, as Darren confronted Smitty about his waning interest in the band.
At the start of 1984, Mr. Epp's new lineup was still rehearsing in Darren's bedroom, where they ran through their own renditions of the Troggs' "Wild Thing" and the Stooges' "1969" (rechristened "1984" by Mr. Epp). Although the band was practicing in Darren's bedroom, he was not at most of these sessions. Instead, Wick, who had sat in reciting his story "The Pigeon in the Fountain Bed" at the very first Mr. Epp practice in 1980, returned to play drums for a short period. On February 3, the group returned to the Metropolis, where they opened for Andy Wood's band Malfunkshun and Fang. Mr. Epp's lineup for the gig included new drummer Taylia Christian. Although she was added to the group, it was too little, too late. This was to be the final show of Mr. Epp's career.
Following Mr. Epp's demise, Turner and McLaughlin performed in a succession of bands, including Green River, the Thrown Ups, and Mudhoney. Wick, Darren, and Smitty teamed up to form the noise band Lapses in Grammar Afforded to Avoid Sexism. Following that band's split, Steel Pole Bath Tub asked for Darren's assistance on drums. As for Todd, he joined the groups Dead in Baltimore and Fred's Crashshop. Smitty re-released some of Mr. Epp's old catalog in the early '90s. His label, Box Dog, issued material from the band in the form of Tapes From the Dead in 1990 and the re-release of Live As All Get Out! and the What Syndrome? compilation in 1992. These were followed by the Mr. Epp anthology Ridiculing the Apocalypse in 1996. Turner's Super Electro label issued the disc in conjunction with Box Dog.
Acceptance
Mr. Epp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The next step is to forgive yourself
The third step is to continue moving forward
And last but not least, learn from your fucking mistakes
Don't believe that this is the end
This is only the beginning
Think of the consequences given in time
Trust yourself to make the right decision
You've gotta get yourself in the right lane
They try to distract you
They want reactions out of you
Disgusting, wasting precious time
Erase the filth out of your mind
Time to take control into your hands
Begin to fix what you can
Don't slow down, don't waste your time
It's time to unwind to the unkind of your mind
Unwind to your own mind
Unwind to your own mind
Go!
You're not the problem
You're the solution
You're not the problem
You are the solution
You are the solution
You are the solution
You are the solution
We are the solution
The lyrics to Mr. Epp and the Calculations' song "Acceptance" convey a powerful message about self-empowerment and resilience in the face of failure. The song begins by emphasizing the importance of accepting one's own failures, as this is the first step towards growth and progress. It then encourages the listener to forgive themselves, highlighting the need for self-compassion and letting go of past mistakes. The third step mentioned is to continue moving forward, emphasizing the importance of not getting stuck in the past but instead actively seeking personal and emotional growth. Lastly, the lyrics assert the necessity of learning from one's mistakes, recognizing the valuable lessons they offer.
The chorus of the song reinforces the idea that accepting failure is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new chapter. It urges the listener to listen to their own heart, consider the consequences of their actions, and trust themselves to make the right decisions. The lyrics also touch upon the concept of staying focused and not allowing distractions or external influences to deter one's progress. The song culminates with a call to take control of one's life and begin the process of fixing what can be fixed. It encourages the listener not to waste time but instead embrace their own unique mindset and unleash their potential. The repetition of "You are the solution" emphasizes the song's overarching theme of personal empowerment and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
The first step is to accept your failure
Acknowledge and come to terms with the fact that you have failed
The next step is to forgive yourself
Move past self-blame and grant yourself forgiveness
The third step is to continue moving forward
Keep progressing and advancing without looking back
And last but not least, learn from your fucking mistakes
Extract valuable lessons from your past errors and use them to grow
Don't believe that this is the end
Don't think that this marks the conclusion of your journey
This is only the beginning
This is merely the commencement of something greater
Listen to what your heart is trying to tell you
Pay attention and heed the messages your heart is conveying
Think of the consequences given in time
Consider the outcomes that may arise with the passing of time
Trust yourself to make the right decision
Have faith in your ability to choose the correct course of action
You've gotta get yourself in the right lane
Position yourself on the path that aligns with your aspirations
They try to distract you
Others attempt to divert your attention
They want reactions out of you
They desire to provoke responses from you
Disgusting, wasting precious time
Their actions are repulsive, causing you to squander valuable time
Erase the filth out of your mind
Eliminate the negativity and impurities from your thoughts
Time to take control into your hands
Assume control and responsibility for your life
Begin to fix what you can
Commence the process of repairing what is within your ability to fix
Don't slow down, don't waste your time
Maintain momentum and avoid squandering your time
It's time to unwind to the unkind of your mind
Allow your mind to relax and free itself from negativity
Unwind to your own mind
Relax and connect with your own thoughts
Go!
Take action and move forward
You're not the problem
You are not the issue or burden
You're the solution
You are the answer or remedy
You are the solution
You are the answer or remedy
You are the solution
You are the answer or remedy
We are the solution
Collectively, we hold the key to resolving problems
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Samuel Salazar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind