Three new brutally frank and honest song reviews are up now in the Starpolish Critics Corner! This week’s victims include Blink 182 wannabe’s Sowatt, Steely Dan-influenced NYC singer/songwriter Noam Weinstein and “debauched doo-wop group” The Faint of Heart.
Gail and Birthday Boy Al Jourgensen in 2003
Ministry brain trust Al Jougensen was born on this day, October 9th in 1958.
Drummer John Bonham of Led Zeppelin passed away on this day, September 25th, in 1980. I can’t believe it’s been over three decades since the tragic passing of one of the greatest and most influential rock drummers of all time. Bonham’s Zeppelin rhythm section partner, bassist John Paul Jones, has created a lovely little tribute/memorium to John which you can view before entering the Led Zeppelin official web page. Check it out and remember the greatness that was Led Zeppelin.
I’m a big fan and supporter of Myspace. I appreciate getting the love and props from all my friends of varying degrees just as much as anybody on one of these online networking sites. But let’s face cold hard facts: some things are just getting way out of hand around here and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.
Continue reading What Not to Leave as a Comment on My Myspace Page (A Brief Rant)
It’s CMJ week here in New York City and that means…well not much to me, actually. I’m bypassing the convention/ panels/ parties/ endless-showcases-of-lame-bands -enjoying-their-five-seconds-of pre-fame this year in favor of attending just a few choice shows. Last night was my designated “Night of Rock,” despite the fact that my Quest for Rock Action meant I would miss the debut of Survivor: Guatemala. Sometimes we must make sacrifices in order to rock.
The first event on my evening’s agenda involved a pitstop at downtown hard rock landmark, Don Hill’s, where Munsey from Skateboard Marketing was holding his own version of a Metal Mania Party, featuring a performance by my favorite band of scary guys with facial hair, Fear Factory.
Burton Bell of Fear Factory
This is a picture of Fear Factory singer Burton Bell. He is my very favorite heavy metal front man at the moment. Though Burton is not traditionally “hot” in the pop star sense — being kind of scary looking on stage — he is nevertheless unbelievable sexy, outrageously charismatic and has the best voice for the kind of somewhat melodic aggro metal Fear Factory does. I also love his tattoos. Burt, like me, is an Aquarius and that is probably why we get along. We had Mexican food together once, but that is another story.
It was so crazy to see Fear Factory in a teeny tiny club like Don Hill’s because they play huge venues like Roseland these days, and that ‘s part of the reason their set was so mind blowing. They were so tight and so loud and so fucking metal. My ears still hurt. Have you heard their new CD, Transgression? It just rules; a perfect mix of eat-your-face-off aggressive metal and heavy melodic rock. They remind me what Nine Inch Nails could be if Trent had any balls and wasn’t completely self-absorbed. Before their set, I had the chance to talk to Raymond Herrera, FF’s drummer, who I’ve interviewed a couple of times for Modern Drummer Magazine. He is amazing and completely hilarious to talk to.
Munsey’s party was a total blast because I also met up with some of my metal scene friends who I had not seen since winter, or in some cases over year or more, such as Jon Paris, Liz Ciavarella, Felix Sebacious, Rachel Martinez and Steve Prue. It was rad.
Next I jetted over to the Continental for the Liquor and Poker label showcase featuring two of my favorite bands in the Universe:
Crash Kelly
and The Black Halos
And I will get to that part the evening soon, but now I have to catch a train . . .more later involving much rocking, very cute rocker boys and lots of hugging and sweatiness.