I figured I'd give a low down on my recent concert experience.
Murderfest is one of those fests that is similar to other fests scattered about the United States like CIM, Michigan Death Fest, MDF, etc... I believe this was the second or third year it was held and it was completely sold out.
The day started early as "The Gore Crew" assembled at my friend Bob's house. Our plan was to leave around 12:30 PM, head into Los Angeles, and grab a bite to eat at this popular Armenian restaurant. Three of us were at the pad and we were waiting around for three more that eventually showed up 30 minutes late. Our driver, Septi-Gore Erik was a little annoyed but we persevered and wound up on the road a little after 1:00 PM.
About an hour later we were in downtown Los Angeles and eating at this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Around this time my muscle relaxer started kicking in. I had really strained myself at the gym a day or so previously and figured some expired muscle relaxers from the bowels of my medicine cabinet would help the pain. Well it did a little, but I almost fell asleep in my falafel. The beer didn't help either.
Anyhoo, we arrived at the Knitting Factory in Hollywood (Mann's Chinese Theater is only about a block away) and parked in this awesome underground garage filled with metal heads and startled Asian tourists running the opposite direction. At the entrance to the venue, we met up with some more friends that we knew from Orange County and L.A. and our group of six swelled to about 15. Our small Gore Crew was turning into a Metal Horde!
After pounding fists, doing some "bro" hugs, and slapping asses we finally inched our way into the club. The Knitting Factory is a dark sweat box folks. Luckily it wasn't too bad since the weather was mild, but later on as people started piling inside, it was like this one big sweaty human sauna filled with the exotic smells of beer, vomit, and body odor. There were merch booths set up all over the place but unfortunately I had spent a majority of my cold hard cash on food and a ticket so couldn't buy anything. There was a lot of treasure there and we were all salivating over the vinyl, cds, shirts, and patches that were for sale.
I wiggled my way out of the merch room and made my way to the main stage to watch my buds from the group Gravehill begin their set. They do old school death metal, spit blood, and are covered in spikes which made watching them even more interesting. A word of warning just in case anyone catches this group: don't stand too far up front or you'll get a face full of theatrical blood. On their final tune they were joined by Kam Lee of Massacre fame and he helped belt out some grunts and growls OG style.
As the day wore on, some of the more local bands didn't make that much of an impression on me. I remember some memorable stuff from Abysmal Dawn and Epicedium though so it wasn't a total loss. Really, I was waiting for later that night when the major hitters would be out in force.
So by the late afternoon, a lot of people were liquored up, the club was filling up, and my pain started coming back. More in my back because there wasn't a place to sit which annoys the hell out of me about that place. Sometimes I'd just sit against the wall in misery until the next band came out. Denial Fiend jumped out in a fury of metal as Kam Lee once again took the stage with his new band. They were pretty ferocious but by the end, I'll honestly say that a lot of the material was forgettable. A one-off Morgion set took stage and delivered a slow, doom-death vibe which was cool but was missing something...oh yeah, the original members. Who the hell were those guys up there anyway??
I kicked myself because I had to step outside and take a breather and all the while Impaled were ravaging the audience on the front stage. I don't consider it that big of a loss though since I've seen them before and they'll more than likely be around here again. While outside taking my breather, I ran into a number of other people I knew and we chatted up metal, smoked, joked, and all around had a drunken "I love you, man!" session with the smell of Mary-J floating in the wind. Good times!
I went back in and caught the classic Monstrosity from Florida which definitely brought back memories for me. Very nostalgic to see some of these old bands. Next up was Anal Blast which were frickin' horrible. After their first obnoxious tune, I decided to step out again and catch another breath of fresh air.
As I stepped outside this time, the fire alarm went off. A high pitch wailing that had some people on their knees. Luckily I had earplugs. Hah! Suckers. Security finally shut the alarm off and not a minute later, a big bouncer is dragging my drunken friend out of the club, and onto the sidewalk. The bouncer proceeds to rip the entrance wrist-bands off of his arm and throws him out! We all stood there in amazement as our Gore Crew pal weaved his way down Hollywood Boulevard screaming "f*** YOU!!!" We learned that, in a frenzy of unadulterated metal while watching Vital Remains on the front stage, HE was the one who had pulled the fire alarm!
On the main stage, Kam Lee once again took the stage with Massacre. They crushed of course and the pit spawned many a fight which abruptly turned into love fests as the testosterone settled. One minute guys wanted to kill each other and the next they were hugging. Metal does crazy s*** to people I guess. Or could it be the booze? Hmmmm...
Entombed headlined and I remember bits and pieces because by this point I was in physical pain, popping pain meds, and wandering around in a drug-addled haze feeling up breasts. Unfortunately some of those breasts were big fat Hispanic dudes who didn't like to be touched. I told them they looked like big fat Hispanic chicks which didn't go over well and it was agreed that our night should end after only a few Entombed songs. Luckily I got to hear a couple from Clandestine and Left Hand Path which was all that mattered to me.
There was still another day of this damn thing and I wanted to see Extreme Noise Terror, Ghoul, Cardiac Arrest, and Today is the Day, but Sunday was total recovery for me. I was dead to the world.
All in all, it was a pretty good damn time. Good music, friends, beer, and drama! Who can ask for anything more??
EDIT: I forgot to mention I saw Repulsion nestled in there somewhere.
Monday, May 12, 2008
I got hammered! (Book Review)
Looking for a rousing post-apocalyptic yarn (I'm a sucker for that end of the world fiction jazz), I stumbled across various reviews of Lucifer's Hammer. A lot of people recommended it so why not give it a shot?
Like most who have reviewed Lucifer's Hammer, the first quarter of the book drags slightly. I attribute it to the fact that I was just impatient and doggonit, let's see that comet hit already! But I have to say that as the comet drew closer to earth, I found myself glued to the book, waiting...anticipating. And when it hit, I wasn't disappointed. The book picks up steam after that and sends you on a rollercoaster. The highlight for me was the mailman and his little adventure. Out of all the characters and sub-plots throughout, this was the one I related to the most and "made" the book for me.
I'm not going to pretend that I'm some scholar looking for how dated the text is or the other numerous morale ambiguities that litter the story. I found myself giggling at several reviews which suggested that the authors are sexist, racist, or were other varying unflattering terms. The fact of the matter is, when civilization dies, everything that was, is no more. There is no more women's lib, racial equality, or democracy. There is only the will to survive.
My complaints are few. The ending seems rushed and a major plot point was glossed over in only a few pages. I felt extremely disappointed that the authors didn't feel that certain point needed an adequate dramatic resolution. Several random characters that could have been interesting protags or antags were killed or never heard from again. In fact some of them seemed more interesting that the characters that actually lived.
All in all, a good read and I couldn't put the book down from the moment the comet actually hit.
Like most who have reviewed Lucifer's Hammer, the first quarter of the book drags slightly. I attribute it to the fact that I was just impatient and doggonit, let's see that comet hit already! But I have to say that as the comet drew closer to earth, I found myself glued to the book, waiting...anticipating. And when it hit, I wasn't disappointed. The book picks up steam after that and sends you on a rollercoaster. The highlight for me was the mailman and his little adventure. Out of all the characters and sub-plots throughout, this was the one I related to the most and "made" the book for me.
I'm not going to pretend that I'm some scholar looking for how dated the text is or the other numerous morale ambiguities that litter the story. I found myself giggling at several reviews which suggested that the authors are sexist, racist, or were other varying unflattering terms. The fact of the matter is, when civilization dies, everything that was, is no more. There is no more women's lib, racial equality, or democracy. There is only the will to survive.
My complaints are few. The ending seems rushed and a major plot point was glossed over in only a few pages. I felt extremely disappointed that the authors didn't feel that certain point needed an adequate dramatic resolution. Several random characters that could have been interesting protags or antags were killed or never heard from again. In fact some of them seemed more interesting that the characters that actually lived.
All in all, a good read and I couldn't put the book down from the moment the comet actually hit.
SUNSHINE, a rich, but flawed science fiction tale...
I just recently watched "Sunshine" on DVD and didn't know what to immediately expect. I like Danny Boyle's previous work so I knew that carried a little weight when deciding whether to pick it up.
I won't go so far and say I'm a sci-fi "geek". I do like sci-fi up to a certain point. I love "Alien" and "Aliens". I love "Event Horizon". Hell, I can even put up with "2001: A Space Odyssey" if I have enough LSD running through my veins. So explaining that and knowing that I don't have a degree in science fiction physics (as apparently some of the fanboys at Amazon.com or other various sites have), I can honestly say my disbelief was suspended and I enjoyed the reasons the crew of the Icarus II had for journeying to the sun.
"Sunshine" does not build up with pre-launch shots of them back on Earth. Instead, a soothing voice tells us that the earth is freezing and what the crew's mission is. Good enough for government work I say! While the characters do lack a bit of flesh (figuratively), it still does not detract from the fact that I latched on to a couple and was disappointed when they were killed.
There were flaws of course. One of the bigger ones was knowing that when the oxygen garden flared up and was destroyed, I knew immediately that none of the crew would ever make it back to Earth. Occasionally little glimpses of hope showed. For example the fully functional oxygen garden on Icarus I or the little plant found growing in the ruins of Icarus II. These were quickly snuffed as just when things look like they will go right, they just as quickly go wrong. So before we are even halfway in, we know this crew is doomed. Of course that makes you think as well about facing your own death much sooner than your biological clock thought which is one of the things I liked. So I guess it's kind of a love/hate thing going on with me on this point.
Another flaw was the introduction of this psychotic, burned up ship captain of the Icarus I who shows up 2/3 of the way in. The movie jumped into cliched horror movie mode and visions of "Event Horizon" floated before my eyes. While not a fast-paced film (until the last third of course), I wonder at the screenwriter's choice of including this element to the screenplay. It threw off the rest of the story in my opinion and turned an interesting, intelligent sci-fi picture into a slasher flick.
I did enjoy "Sunshine" and I would recommend seeing it despite the flaws. It's pretty to look at, creates a great since of claustrophobia laced with a sense of awe at the raw power of the sun, and builds upon deep seated fears humans have about life and death.
I won't go so far and say I'm a sci-fi "geek". I do like sci-fi up to a certain point. I love "Alien" and "Aliens". I love "Event Horizon". Hell, I can even put up with "2001: A Space Odyssey" if I have enough LSD running through my veins. So explaining that and knowing that I don't have a degree in science fiction physics (as apparently some of the fanboys at Amazon.com or other various sites have), I can honestly say my disbelief was suspended and I enjoyed the reasons the crew of the Icarus II had for journeying to the sun.
"Sunshine" does not build up with pre-launch shots of them back on Earth. Instead, a soothing voice tells us that the earth is freezing and what the crew's mission is. Good enough for government work I say! While the characters do lack a bit of flesh (figuratively), it still does not detract from the fact that I latched on to a couple and was disappointed when they were killed.
There were flaws of course. One of the bigger ones was knowing that when the oxygen garden flared up and was destroyed, I knew immediately that none of the crew would ever make it back to Earth. Occasionally little glimpses of hope showed. For example the fully functional oxygen garden on Icarus I or the little plant found growing in the ruins of Icarus II. These were quickly snuffed as just when things look like they will go right, they just as quickly go wrong. So before we are even halfway in, we know this crew is doomed. Of course that makes you think as well about facing your own death much sooner than your biological clock thought which is one of the things I liked. So I guess it's kind of a love/hate thing going on with me on this point.
Another flaw was the introduction of this psychotic, burned up ship captain of the Icarus I who shows up 2/3 of the way in. The movie jumped into cliched horror movie mode and visions of "Event Horizon" floated before my eyes. While not a fast-paced film (until the last third of course), I wonder at the screenwriter's choice of including this element to the screenplay. It threw off the rest of the story in my opinion and turned an interesting, intelligent sci-fi picture into a slasher flick.
I did enjoy "Sunshine" and I would recommend seeing it despite the flaws. It's pretty to look at, creates a great since of claustrophobia laced with a sense of awe at the raw power of the sun, and builds upon deep seated fears humans have about life and death.
Southland Confusion
First off, Sarah Michelle Gellar was as beautiful as ever.
Unfortunately, that's the only good thing I can say about this film. Disjointed, confusing, bad dialogue, horrible acting, no plot (if there is one, please, someone explain it)...basically, you name it, that's what was wrong with this waste of time.
I rented Southland Tales on a Sunday. It took me three days to get through. On Sunday I watched 10 minutes and turned it off. On Monday I decided to try again and that time I got through 30 minutes before I became nauseas. On Tuesday I started from that 30 minute mark and finished it. Every time I was hoping it would get better but it got progressively worse and confusing.
I'm one of the few people who didn't like Donnie Darko but it was ten times better than Southland Tales. I don't mind David Lynch style films. I love Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Lost Highway. But Richard Kelly is no David Lynch. Probably the only thing Kelly has going for him is the screenplay for Domino which wasn't that bad.
I digress. My review isn't that constructive but it's hard to be constructive when everything about a film is wrong. Southland Tales should have never been made.
Unfortunately, that's the only good thing I can say about this film. Disjointed, confusing, bad dialogue, horrible acting, no plot (if there is one, please, someone explain it)...basically, you name it, that's what was wrong with this waste of time.
I rented Southland Tales on a Sunday. It took me three days to get through. On Sunday I watched 10 minutes and turned it off. On Monday I decided to try again and that time I got through 30 minutes before I became nauseas. On Tuesday I started from that 30 minute mark and finished it. Every time I was hoping it would get better but it got progressively worse and confusing.
I'm one of the few people who didn't like Donnie Darko but it was ten times better than Southland Tales. I don't mind David Lynch style films. I love Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Lost Highway. But Richard Kelly is no David Lynch. Probably the only thing Kelly has going for him is the screenplay for Domino which wasn't that bad.
I digress. My review isn't that constructive but it's hard to be constructive when everything about a film is wrong. Southland Tales should have never been made.
AoD Genesis Part 5 Shelved
It's been a while since posting and unfortunately it starts off with bad news. I had to shelve this project back in March due to varying personal reasons. I've disappointed a few people but I wish them well on their future endeavors. Of course these people don't particularly care for me anymore which really doesn't bother me as much as you think it would. I'm thinking of submitting the short script to Shriekfest. I think it will have a good chance at being accepted. If anything, the time spent on writing it won't be such a waste. That's about all I have to say on the subject.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
In the Works: AoD Genesis Part 4
Alright, lots of stuff to report on how the short film is coming along.
First off, the title may change. The other producers and I have discussed it a little bit and it may be for the best. Mainly because the script is pretty intense and the title may throw people off as being something campy and comic when the story actually is at the other end of the spectrum. It's not that big of an issue now so it has been put on the back burner.
Second, money. We need money. Right now $3000 of this is coming straight out of my own pocket. I have no problem with this as it's pure capital. What I don't want to do is resort to my credit card, especially since I've managed to eliminate a majority of my debt (I have one credit card with a little bit on it, but nothing that isn't manageable). I've tried to put the call out for people to visit https://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-01-14.0727455053 and donate a little bit to the movie but that seems to be going nowhere. Two good friends have pledged some cash but that's about it. Unfortunately, if I don't reach my monetary goal by the end date on this Web site, then all pledges are returned to the contributors. Good for them since they don't spend any money, bad for me because it's just another outlet that isn't giving up the goods. Several options are on the table now. One, my two other fellow producers still haven't given a ballpark estimate of what they will be able to contribute so that will be a little extra coming from them. Two, my good friend Joel Wear at Exemplar Films, LLC is willing to contribute a bit to the budget, but I will definitely have to LLC my production company beforehand. One of the producers is working on it, but I haven't heard any updates. I'll get those this weekend. Three, I have several untapped monetary resources in various family members. But I'm extremely hesitant about asking them. I probably will, but I want to get things more in order before approaching. So yeah, money. It's a big pain. Hell, there are still several options open to funding but I won't list them here. This paragraph is be enough as it is.
Third, we NEED locations! This has been another thorn in our side as we have hit several dead ends and we'd really like to nail them down ASAP. Another producer is pursuing this and I'm hoping he'll have some leads by the end of the week.
Speaking of the end of the week, the Director and I have several interviews with potential Special Effects Supervisors this weekend. I'm excited about it because there are some people with great talent and skill that have submitted applications. The trick is to nail down someone who knows what the hell they're doing and can do it on the cheap. We'll see how that works out and I'll keep the two of you updated.
Our tentative shoot date is looking like the end of March and/or the beginning of April. Hopefully we can get our shit together and pull this off. I know that we can, but like Mel Brooks says, hope for the best but expect the worst.
First off, the title may change. The other producers and I have discussed it a little bit and it may be for the best. Mainly because the script is pretty intense and the title may throw people off as being something campy and comic when the story actually is at the other end of the spectrum. It's not that big of an issue now so it has been put on the back burner.
Second, money. We need money. Right now $3000 of this is coming straight out of my own pocket. I have no problem with this as it's pure capital. What I don't want to do is resort to my credit card, especially since I've managed to eliminate a majority of my debt (I have one credit card with a little bit on it, but nothing that isn't manageable). I've tried to put the call out for people to visit https://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-01-14.0727455053 and donate a little bit to the movie but that seems to be going nowhere. Two good friends have pledged some cash but that's about it. Unfortunately, if I don't reach my monetary goal by the end date on this Web site, then all pledges are returned to the contributors. Good for them since they don't spend any money, bad for me because it's just another outlet that isn't giving up the goods. Several options are on the table now. One, my two other fellow producers still haven't given a ballpark estimate of what they will be able to contribute so that will be a little extra coming from them. Two, my good friend Joel Wear at Exemplar Films, LLC is willing to contribute a bit to the budget, but I will definitely have to LLC my production company beforehand. One of the producers is working on it, but I haven't heard any updates. I'll get those this weekend. Three, I have several untapped monetary resources in various family members. But I'm extremely hesitant about asking them. I probably will, but I want to get things more in order before approaching. So yeah, money. It's a big pain. Hell, there are still several options open to funding but I won't list them here. This paragraph is be enough as it is.
Third, we NEED locations! This has been another thorn in our side as we have hit several dead ends and we'd really like to nail them down ASAP. Another producer is pursuing this and I'm hoping he'll have some leads by the end of the week.
Speaking of the end of the week, the Director and I have several interviews with potential Special Effects Supervisors this weekend. I'm excited about it because there are some people with great talent and skill that have submitted applications. The trick is to nail down someone who knows what the hell they're doing and can do it on the cheap. We'll see how that works out and I'll keep the two of you updated.
Our tentative shoot date is looking like the end of March and/or the beginning of April. Hopefully we can get our shit together and pull this off. I know that we can, but like Mel Brooks says, hope for the best but expect the worst.
The New Age of Fratricide
Wow. It has been a while hasn't it? Well, I hope I still have my legions of adoring fans reading this. Actually this is a great outlet for me to let off steam and rant. Frankly I could give a damn if anyone reads this blog.
So onto relevant news from the Fratricide camp.
It has been about 5 1/2 months since the Prayers for an Apocalypse EP was released. Fratricide has received a couple of glowing reviews from Noose of the United States Black Metal Sect (USBMS), Belle and Blackmetal Jim from Black Belle Webzine, as well as a cool review and interview with moi from the almighty Septi-Gore Zine which is published exclusively in hard copy form.
Several line-up changes have happened. Some smooth; some not so smooth. Rob (aka Hellfire) has a distinct vision in mind for Fratricide and usually when he sets his mind on something, it is definitely going to get done one way or the other. This has worked in his favor but also to his detriment. A former member didn't like the way he was fired from the band. Admittedly it was rather sudden and informal which took me by surprise--Rob at least acknowledges it could have been handled differently but sticks by his decision. Of course the former member is very bitter about it (again, understandably) and has decided to mock Rob and carry on a venomous campaign to discredit the band.
I've tried to stay out of a majority of it. Afterall I wasn't there and didn't know the dynamics of what was going on. All I knew was from the e-mails I received both from Rob and the former band member. I actually thought things were fine.
So I guess I'm just trying to get the perspective of the former band member right now. He's bitter, pissed, and full of vinegar. I get that. I've been fired from bands unceremoniously (as well as Rob) and know the feeling very well. I've talked shit and the band has talked shit, but in the end, shit settled and that was it. That was the "grown up" thing to do. You can't harbor negativity for the rest of your life. It will just eat you up inside causing mental and even physical problems.
But what do I do when I see harsh things continually said about a band I helped establish? Obviously the former band member has some issues he needs to work out. This isn't all about Fratricide and if it is all about Fratricide, then that's even more disturbing. But to fuel the fire with responses just as mean as his is nonproductive to the band itself. Unfortunately this guy will more than likely be forever bitter about the experience and I'm truly sorry for that. I hope he can eventually move on and turn that anger into some brutal heavy metal music.
As Fratricide proceeds into 2008 and pushes past all the vitriol, new and exciting things have appeared on the horizon. An incredibly fast and skilled drummer (Warmachine) has joined the ranks as well as a talented new bassist (Cudgel). They form, along with Akula (guitarist) and Hellfire, the foundation of the New Age of Fratricide. A new lead guitarist will be found eventually but until then the boys are starting to write new material and are focusing their efforts on injecting a fresh new voice into the Black and Heavy Metal scene. I raise my beer to their success and hopefully I'll see them at a live gig in the future. Screw the drama, ignore the haters, and raise the horns high!
So onto relevant news from the Fratricide camp.
It has been about 5 1/2 months since the Prayers for an Apocalypse EP was released. Fratricide has received a couple of glowing reviews from Noose of the United States Black Metal Sect (USBMS), Belle and Blackmetal Jim from Black Belle Webzine, as well as a cool review and interview with moi from the almighty Septi-Gore Zine which is published exclusively in hard copy form.
Several line-up changes have happened. Some smooth; some not so smooth. Rob (aka Hellfire) has a distinct vision in mind for Fratricide and usually when he sets his mind on something, it is definitely going to get done one way or the other. This has worked in his favor but also to his detriment. A former member didn't like the way he was fired from the band. Admittedly it was rather sudden and informal which took me by surprise--Rob at least acknowledges it could have been handled differently but sticks by his decision. Of course the former member is very bitter about it (again, understandably) and has decided to mock Rob and carry on a venomous campaign to discredit the band.
I've tried to stay out of a majority of it. Afterall I wasn't there and didn't know the dynamics of what was going on. All I knew was from the e-mails I received both from Rob and the former band member. I actually thought things were fine.
So I guess I'm just trying to get the perspective of the former band member right now. He's bitter, pissed, and full of vinegar. I get that. I've been fired from bands unceremoniously (as well as Rob) and know the feeling very well. I've talked shit and the band has talked shit, but in the end, shit settled and that was it. That was the "grown up" thing to do. You can't harbor negativity for the rest of your life. It will just eat you up inside causing mental and even physical problems.
But what do I do when I see harsh things continually said about a band I helped establish? Obviously the former band member has some issues he needs to work out. This isn't all about Fratricide and if it is all about Fratricide, then that's even more disturbing. But to fuel the fire with responses just as mean as his is nonproductive to the band itself. Unfortunately this guy will more than likely be forever bitter about the experience and I'm truly sorry for that. I hope he can eventually move on and turn that anger into some brutal heavy metal music.
As Fratricide proceeds into 2008 and pushes past all the vitriol, new and exciting things have appeared on the horizon. An incredibly fast and skilled drummer (Warmachine) has joined the ranks as well as a talented new bassist (Cudgel). They form, along with Akula (guitarist) and Hellfire, the foundation of the New Age of Fratricide. A new lead guitarist will be found eventually but until then the boys are starting to write new material and are focusing their efforts on injecting a fresh new voice into the Black and Heavy Metal scene. I raise my beer to their success and hopefully I'll see them at a live gig in the future. Screw the drama, ignore the haters, and raise the horns high!