Metal, Metal || Your Life is a Mess || Caravan Series

Now I am not the biggest fan of metal, let alone Death Metal or Thrash Metal completed in substandard forms, however I am a fan of free, live entertainment (substandard quotient adjusted).  And, thus, I found myself at the Caravan again on a Friday night, listening to the moody tunes of a couple of Bay Area metal bands.  All  aural pleasures were free and the beer was cheap.


We showed up at the witching hour and missed the first band, Crooked as Fuck.  I was a little bummed out about it because with a name as adolescent as that; it was almost a guarantee that they would bring the attitude.  The next band that came out of the gates was, Ladies Night.  Talking with Murray Bowles (all photos courtesy of Murry, also more available here) before their performance he had mentioned that he wasn't sure if these guys had even played a show before.  He hadn't seen them, but he must have heard of them because he was there to shoot some film.  They were okay, and I mainly blame the venue on this...yeah, I know you get what you pay for!  They all seemed like competent players and screamers, they definitely brought a crowd too.  So, it was a fun event, but with so much powerful noise exploding in front of me, I needed more balance.  Definitely not enough balance.  Check out for yourself:




Next up; Nihlotep....worth the price of admission.  We saw them putting on their face make up at the end of the second band's set.  I am just like Putty, and I am a big fan of face painters.  I wish I had enough cojones (or whatever it takes) to put make up all over my face before a performance.

Needless to say, face painters are full throttle.  There is no half stepping face painting....and if there is, then it is kind of funny.  However, Nihlotep take their craft very seriously and LOVE death metal.  And the fans of death metal who were at the show loved Nihlotep.  I mean what can be better; face painting, crazy ass Metal font on a crazy ass metal name, and a two song 45 minute set.  The dual guitar driven band was on.  They had their licks dialed in.  But the prize must go to the badass drummer.  The guy was insane.  With honorable mention definitely going to branch-carrying lead singer.  The guy had a set of pipes and could really let out a cackle.  Mad props to Nihlotep.  Enjoy the partial vids of their two songs (sorry arm got tired):

Mixed Nuts Night || December 2, 2011 || Caravan Series

The name says it all. It was definitely a bag of mixed nuts last night at The Caravan. Then again this is the reason that we love this bar so much. And every once and a while those nuts taste so damn good...almost as good as the the vices that we were also there for.  It started out with a small chat and hello to bouncer Phil.  He is the one who inspired the headline.  "Hey, Phil!  How's it going?  Who is playing tonight?"  He appropriately replied, "Well it is kind of a mixed bag tonight."  He was sure right about that.

We paid our admission of one flash of the i.d. for a stamp and atmittence into the bar.  They had a decent early crowd with just a few regulars.  The first band was already playing.  My guess was that it was a newly formed band called  Bottle Kids.  They were competent enough.  The guitar player had a good tone and as many agree, not enough female singers out there in the scene, so it is always nice to see a women chiming through with her natural pipes, which sounded good.  Too many covers though.  They probably just need to spend more time writing and recording.  A good opening to the evening though.

Next up to the plate were the old time punks, Five Fingers of Death.  Now I don't know how long that these guys have been doing this, but it sounded like they had been at it quite a while from all the quirps and rips about being old and rumors of breakups and what not.  Let alone, their sound placed me smack dab right back in the 1985 punk scene.  They were tight, with the exception of the drummer, John Surrey.  I don't think that was his real name but it was last night.  The bass player was full of stage banter and classic punk ribbing that had me in tears I was laughing so hard.  A couple of the better rants were, "Hey we have a celebrity in the audience tonight.  Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce you to Roberta Gonzales of the Channel 5 News Team.  She is hiding right behind Rob Zombie."  It wasn't them, but damn near close. 
 
The two veterans up front really let the drummer have it.  He took the brunt of the humor, but they were damn right about the goofy look on his face as he played in time to the punk beat.  All three looked like they were having fun and they sure were entertaining.  Plus who cannot love such hits as "Lick my Balls", "Fat Bitch" and "The Drunk Side of the Moon".  I concur that I had not seen Five Fingers of Death before.  I would've remembered the schtick.  I will see them again.

Last, but not least, were the newcomers to the scene, Loose Cuts.  Don't have a clue what the name means....sometimes its better that way.  Shit, these kids came out blazing.  First off, I dig the young, hipster humor.  The drummer in cutoff red pants, headband and a Bob Marley shirt with a portrait of Hendrix on it.  Though they may be young they steal all of their swagger in the likes of Mick and the boys circa '64.  They are basically a tight blues band with a rippin' guitar sound.  The guitarist has some licks and it is easy to do when he had a great rhythm section backing him up.  The vocalist sounded very similar to Jeremy Powers of Red Planet and once he gets the confidence behind him and starts strutting like Howlin' Pelle Almqvist these guys will really become contenders.  Like I mentioned, they came out blazing however the set got a little weak toward the end.  Typical of a young band.  My only other constructive criticism would be for the guitarist to keep the Fender Blues Jr. in the bedroom and get a higher wattage amp for clubs.  The tone was fine, it just wasn't in balance with the rest of the band.  I will be on the lookout for these guys in the future.

Mixin' up the genre's.  All and all another great night of good bands all for the cost of some liquor at the Caravan.  If I am able to find any pictures from the show I will post too.

Red Planet || The Laws of Tonnage || Hidden Rock'n'Roll P.8

Technically they would loved to be known as a San Francisco/East bay (by way of Alameda) band, but these boys roots run deep in the Santa Clara Valley.  Red Planet is/was (??? Not too sure of their current status) an amazing band that as the rumor has it met while attending Santa Clara University. I heard they were part of a small allegiance of tribesmen working at the college radio station attempting, once again, to resurrect a flailing southbay scene.  I don't know much about them except this was another Jeff Okubo find during his all-too-short tenure at Zero Magazine.  He was really diggin' the bands on the Gearhead Records label when he got his hands on "Let's Degenerate", which happened to be the sophomore full length effort by these local boys and it definitely their best.  This genius production is loaded with sniveling adolescents that creates a masterpiece of an album .  The sheer energy in which they go through the line up of tracks turns this whiner-fest into attitude packed fist punch to the face.  I love it.  Through and through.  They run the gamate for straight ahead punk rock to Van Halen & Cheap Trick inspired licks and solo's that firmly place Chris Dunn into the "master-craftsman" status of noodling together loose riffs into a powerhouse of rock and roll.

To see the live show is to really believe the magic.  My introduction came by way of an 80-something toyota corolla hatchback and Sylvain Sylvain.  Colin Kutch was an intern at the now defunct Zero Magazine.  He had offered (maybe forced into) giving his co-worker and I a ride up to San Francisco's legendary The Pound to the Sylvain Sylvain show where he got to take care of us.  Red Planet opened up the show and just blew down the doors.  I heard it was the first show of a tour across the U.S. with Sylvain Sylvain and you could tell they were pumped up on what lay ahead.  You could feel the energy they were soaking in from the hometown crowd.  I immediately tried to see them again when the tour was completed and they were opening up for The Epoxies at the Bottom of the Hill.  I learned my lesson and had to listen to RP from the stoop of the entrance due to it being a sold out show.  Next, I tried to catch them at The Starry Plough in Berkeley.  By this time family obligations led the drummer, John Messier, to leave the band.  This is unfortunate because John is a tasty drummer and his chops would be missed (as luck would have it I had the opportunity to jam with Mr. Messier out in the east bay way back when.  An honor bestowed upon my little consciousness).  The Starry Plough show would falter with a broken bass drum and an unenthusiastic motivation to move forward, soon after brought the band to a halt.

Where are they now?  Good question.  I believe Jeremy is still rocking with The Parties.  I hate to say it, but it is a luke-warm power pop band that I caught once.  Chris Dunn is behind the board engineering albums from The Parties as well as taking part in Trevor Childs & The Beholders along with Gordon Evans.  John Messier did a stint with The Police cover Band, Stung and now it looks like he is getting paid with PopFiction.

I understand that their was personal differences of opinion in the band, but I truly believe that this line up mentioned above was definitely a "sum of the parts" making one of the most energetic live shows to come out of the bay area.  Heck, even Lennon and McCartney didn't get along all the time!  I think they owe it to the fans to reunite plays some more shows.  Or at least, if they have old video footage put it up on Youtube.  Their is very little video out there on the web. 

And I am not the only one that thinks so highly of this band.  I found this little jem of a quote on the web about the boys in RP,

"But the crowd, the rock & roll crowd, wants more. They need closure. Red Planet has to take the stage. Yes! That sound! Those songs! It's only rock & roll. But, oh, it is such a show! Punk rock energy (if they could afford it, you just know Red Planet would smash stuff), smoke bombs, and tin cans full of fire. An audience member holds up a bottle of Jack Daniels; the band passes it around. How very rock. How very roll. All the time, Scotty Bruno--the manager--sits behind the stage, chain smoking, and looking like a Brit-pop music mogul. Right here in San Francisco! Can you believe it"-Melinda Whitehouse, Posthoc

Please reunite forces and conquer the world!


While researching for this article, I came across this video.  Looks like the boys played a "one off" gig down in L.A. back in August.  This is really positive to see.  Please enjoy!

Ron Thompson || Still Slidin' || Hidden Rock'n'Roll p.7

One summer evening in 2010 my family and I stumbled the short distance over to Poor House Bistro.  Little did I know that my mind was about to get blown away by one, Ron Thompson.

I had no intention of seeing live music on the patio.  My only intention was to go for a walk with the family, have a beer and maybe a bite to eat.  I proceeded to go back the next four Wednesdays to catch the weekly hump day act of Ron Thompson (I did not see him "in a row" because one week he was wisked off to Poland to play in a blues festival).

Channeled through the powers of the internet, I was able to find out more about this guy.  He is local by way of Newark, CA and at one time was the band leader for Johnny Lee Hooker in the 70s as well as a musical collaborator with Mick Fleetwood in the early 80s.  He put out several Albums under Ron Thompson and the Resistors, and has been a mainstay on many local blues festivals for the last 40 years.  With a resume that includes Big Mama Thornton, Tina Turner, Booker T., Percy Mayfield, Etta James, B.B. King and Jimmy Reed....simply put, he is a legend.

That initial night was magic.  When I saw him go into a slide riff on a song, it was the first time I had ever heard something "live" that was reminiscent of a sound that I would hear on recording from the likes of Muddy Waters or Son House.  This dude has that sound.  He has the blues.  I don't know much about his personal life (however I did overhear him say "man, after what I went through last year, I'm lucky to be here), but this dude is living the blues.

RT is also a master at the keyboards and usually tends to go into a blues/ boogie woogie piano jam for a few songs.  This is good, but it is no comparison to what this guy can do on the guitar.  The guitar is where he really shines.


If you ever want to catch him in the 408, he usually plays every Wednesday evening from 6pm to 9pm  at the Poor House Bistro (down the street from the shark tank).  This is a wonderful venue that lets anyone who has interest in the slide guitar to check out some real, blues action up close and personal.

Here are some pictures of Ron through the years...

Ron pasted on a blues club bathroom wall somewhere in Lincoln, Nebraska

Ron with Chris Issak

Here a couple of videos of the master at work

The Disciples || Summer's End || Caravan Series

I love the Caravan Lounge.  Last night was another reaffirmation that would make Jack Handey proud.  It turned out to be a special night due to the fact that my main partner in crime for late night bike rides down to the Caravan was moving out of the city to an undisclosed location.  Ol' Jeff Okubo is leaving the million plus city after a ten year run.  Bummer.

I thought I might not get the call last night with the impending move and all.  Sure enough a text came in somewhere during the 9 o'clock hour and the kid made his way on by my pad for one last cruise into downtown.  First on our agenda was to go check out our buddies, The Gillbillies, who were playing at Johnny V's.  I hate going to Johnny V's because there never is a crowd and dealing with him in the past about booking shows and getting paid is total bullshit and has forever left a bad taste in my mouth.  However, I felt somewhat responsible about them playing there because I tried to connect them with The Bloody Hollies, who were making their way through the bay area.  BH booked this show and I connected them with the Gillbillies, then I guess they cancelled on it.  Bummer.

The Gillbillies seemed hotter than ever.  They are really getting their setlist dialed in.  These boys need to hit the road and go "wow" some music fans in other states.  Just like the kids that like live music in San Jose; the kids across the rest of the nation will love them too.  Personally, I think they've been using the bar circuit in San  Jose as practice.  They have just been practicing, getting tighter and tighter then, Ka-pow...this will be the stuff of history.

all pics courtesy of Jon at Delta Pop Records

On our way to Johnny V's we rode by the Caravan and it was looking pretty hoppin'.  Both Jeff and I were thinking the same thing, "What surprise lay in store over there tonight?"  There have been many hits and many a' miss at the old Caravan but you can always count on something different; be it crowd or be it performance.  Last night we lucked out.  Turns out The Disciples had come to town.  Jeff and I showed up just in time to grab a beverage and a front row seat, in which we were later swamped in by the crowd that generated closer and closer to the band.  The Disciples were seasoned pros.  You don't get that too often at the Caravan but it is a treat when it comes around.

I had never heard of them before last night, but a little diggin' it looks like they are longtime band out of the Northbay.  The lead singer is the show.  The dude works it up there and you can tell that he is enjoying every minute of rockin' out with a tight-ass band behind him.  They tore through a blistering set with all the passion that defines true rock and roll.  My only complaint is that it was all too short.  But as Iggy used to do with The Stooges is leaving them wanting more.

What a great night at a great bar all for the price of free.  As long as the beer is cold, no complaints coming from this corner.  Good times!

EVENING UPDATE:  After diggin' not too much deeper.....shit, this is the Sammytown dude.  I watched that whole documentry of the lead singer of Fang a long while back.  As you can see my punk rock creditability is limited.  It is good to see him still kicking ass with a mic in hand.

This song is called "Bring It On".  A big thank you goes out to Jon at Delta Pop Records for taking this video

Beachkrieg || From Some Other Time || Hidden Rock'n'Roll p.6

Who is Baron Von Krieg?  Let me tell you my opinion.  It reminds me of watching the director's narration of Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and what Amy Heckerling said about Sean Penn, "...he was Spicoli.  He showed up and teased the women, got high, and played the part perfectly on and off the set."  Some say that the Baron is really just the alter ego of one, Andrew Pejack, however I beg to differ.  I think that the Baron is his own individual that has somehow intermittently stolen the soul of Mr. Pejack and appears time to time with Sgt. Pfeffer (Guitar/Uberboard) & Peter Dresden (Drums) in the wonderfully creative outfit, Beachkrieg.  In this day and age it is hard to get people to go out and see live music.  One needs a shtick.  A show.   Just like the name implies, Beachkrieg delivers on all fronts. 

If you are/were fortunate enough to pick up their first album, Surf! you would understand the tales of Beachkrieg.  It's a fable of a submarine crew from World War I, stranded on a deserted island.  With all this idle time they discover a love for surf music.  I cannot think of a more beautiful sequeway into the liner notes of Beachkrieg's debut.

But it is not the album that I want to talk about here.  It is the live performance of these guys that will really get you definitely not  kicking yourself about about missing that re-run of Entourage on the WB.  They dress the part; spiked helmets, medals and Farfisa organs.  They do not speak much, expect to ask for more beer in their german pewtered steins and to tell an occassional French Joke or three.

What to expect?  Great music, no singing but there definitely is some chanting.  French Trivia contests, plastic army-men being flung from a homemade catapult into the audience, a tuba and many a moment of people going "what the hell was that?"

They are secretive.  They don't play out a lot, but they sure are a hell of a lot of fun.  So when you do see their name on a bill, I'd advise you to go see what all the hubbub is about...

NOTE: Don't watch the videos if you are not hip to the schtick. These guys are badass. Pre-admit that fact to yourself before watching these videos; you will enjoy them a lot more!





Here they are on Creepy Kofy Movie Time KOFY TV 20:

This is such a bad ass video. And here I thought The Pinks were all original and what not having it sung in Korean....


Another Gem...

Touch My Rash || More Than Just a Name || Hidden Rock'n'Roll p.5

I first met frontman, Colin Kutch, of the legendary Touch My Rash shoved in back of an old Toyota Corolla hatchback on the way up to San Francisco to see Red Planet open up for Sylvain Sylvain at the Pound.  I don't know if I ever thanked him for the ride, but it sure was worth it (great show!).  Years later, I heard that Colin got himself together a tight little punk band, called (snicker, snicker) Touch My Rash.  I knew that they were going to be my speed due to the long conversation, that I can barely recall, about music we had while driving up to that show in SF.  I knew he was a big fan of The Ramones, a lot of Lookout Records artists as well as a semi-groupie of The Donna's (see him in one of their videos).  So I knew that it would be loud, snotty and in your face.  Throw on a name like Touch My Rash and you will never be forgotten in the San Jose Music scene.

TMR came about when Colin, Olga Safronova and Dave Sokh were all in College at San Jose State.  Bored and looking for an outlet they decided to start a band.  Hey, if the Ramones could do it with three chords, why not three kids from San Jose.  Colin had fooled around with a guitar, with 4th grade do-re-me classes and what not, but Olga and Dave had not played a lick.  They all started getting together in 2002 to "practice".  Turns out that the initial practices consisted mainly of watching T.V. and goofing around.  "Very little playing was involved with our practices for the first three years."  Move ahead to 2005 and they decided to actually try to finish a song, which they did.  This led to a 4 song E.P., that eventually led to them to record, mix and master their full length debut, "Doomed From the Start". It is a fantastic debut with fast, punchy tunes all in the 2 minute range, the way a good song should be!

Looking for work led Dave off to Reno before the recording of their debut album.  However, in came Hong Lam to hold down the low end of the trio.  When  "Doomed From the Start" came available to the public in 2008, this trio played all over & around the bay area clocking over 50 shows in a short time-span.  Playing live this much will make you a better musician, however when prompted to see how Colin feels about his own playing ability the answer I received was, "I still just mainly stick to three chords.  If the Ramones could make a career out of it, I am fine with following that."

So what is on tap for TMR?  Personally, I haven't seen them on many bills as of late.  Turns out that they are deep in the confines of their studio working on their sophomore effort.  Hopefully to be recorded in the fall and ready for public consumption sometime in the beginning of 2012.

Why write about TMR?  Well, first off they are a totally cool bunch that wants to keep with the tradition of DIY maximum rock'n'roll and they aren't caught up in a lot of bullshit that comes with the music scene.  They are real people playing real music.  One of the greatest scenes that I have ever witnessed at the Caravan (of a long list of cool memories) was seeing Colin's Mom sporting a Touch My Rash T-shirt and helping him load out his gear by carrying his Fender amp out to the car.  I loved it.  Everyone has to have a little support.  Why not one's own Mom?  Anyhow, Touch My Rash should be setting up to play a lot of shows coming up this next year.  Be on the lookout and go get entertained.

Here is their video for "Single by Choice"


This song kicks ass live. Beautifully entitled, "Slit our Wrists"

Them Slack Jawed Sons of Bitches || Drinkin' Music || Hidden Rock'n'Roll p.4

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Who would of ever thought that Them Slack Jawed Sons of Bitches original nucleus was formed out of a short-lived band project called Fart-Pod Five?  Imagine that?  When prompted where the original band name came from the only answer I received was, "just put it this way, you wouldn't of wanted to be in the practice studio with us."  I think I got the message.

The formation of this icon of the San Jose drinking scene started between Jeff Okubo (formerly of Platinum Head, Two Headed Turtle & Denial) and Steve "aka Stevil, aka Pickle, aka Sweet Pickle" Laflen (The X-Old Ladies, The Booty Chesterfield Trio & Tropical Leather).  These two men met through a mutual friend who was a friend of both these lads ex-girlfriend (yes, they dated the same woman, allegedly at different times).  They were not sure of what the exact vein of music they wanted to tap into, but their roots kept pulling toward a country sound.  See, Jeff's father grew up on a farm in the southbay area and the family car was always dialed into KEEN, the southbay's country station.  Through transfusion of trips to the corner market, 70s country was infused into the young mans psyche.  Now, Sweet Pickle is from Tuscon, Arizona.  The state where guns laws are loose and outlaws are still hiding.  Country was the way he came out of the womb.


With the addition of Eric "Magnum" Burchfield on bass the 3 played out and about as a trio for sometime.  They still felt that something was missing.  They auditioned banjo players, harmonica players, female vocalists, you name it....but it wasn't until the seasoned pedal steel player, Mr. John Vaughan (former guitarist for The Mind Garage who was famously known as the band who put on the First Christian Rock Service on March 10, 1968 and infamously declined to play Woodstock the following year), came into the mix that the SJSOBs became a complete unit.

From there they just about became the house band at the Caravan Lounge in 2009 and '10.  They played there just about every other week.  Rachel, the main bartender booking bands, took a liking to their raw, upbeat country sound.  With all that playing underneath their belts a pretty tight little quartet formed and started getting local gigs elsewhere and up in the city.  When and nice array of original songs, they went into the studio in 2009 and recorded their debut album "Whiskey and Waffles", which became a local favorite.  When I asked a local fan what draws them toward them SJSOBs he replied, "it is just good toe-tapping music."

This band is definitely a sum of the parts.  There is no doubt that Stevil takes the leads on the musical attributes as well as the amazingly precise and rocking guitar picking.  Still, with out Jeff's steady beat and backing vocals (as well as in-between songs antics), the songs would not be the same.  Then you have Magnum keeping the low end, steady and minimalistic.  I'll never forget the bass-player of Huntinanny saying, "God, I love the way you play.  How do you avoid so many notes?  I feel like I noodle way too much when I see you play."  And last, but not least is the pedal playing on John.  He does a wonderful job of throwing in a layer of tone into the songs that makes them really have a life. 

They are a fun band to go and see on a weekend at your local watering hole.  My advice go grab a cold beer, maybe a shot of whiskey and check them out at a dive by near you.

Here are some videos to further let you know what Them Slack Jawed Sons of Bitches is all about:

Classic Caravan footage:

This is from the now defunct Checkered Flag:

Here they are opening up for Wayne "The Train" Hancock at The Blank Club:

The Demonics || Has the Drag Race Stalled? || Hidden Rock'n'Roll p.3

The Demonics: Best Band Ever!  That is probably not the case, still for some weird reason deep in my brain that phrase harkens life every time I think about this band.  Why?  Because they kick ass, or is it kicked?  This is another classic Jeff discovery.  Back when he was in between jobs he worked for a short while at Zero magazine.  They would get piles and piles of CDs and Jeff said obviously there was great music always playing out of the the company stereo (now that is rock 'n' roll.  I wouldn't get shit done in that environment!)  One of the band of discovery was The Demonics.  He burnt me a copy of Demons on Wheels.  It was a short album on a great label, Man's Ruin Records, but most importantly it kicked ass from soup to nuts.  They just landed on my "gotta see live before I die" list...and the wait was on.

Several years into the wait they showed up on a bill at Thee Parkside is SF along with Gashuffer.  I had seen this early stage Seattle scene band at a dive bar in Chico back in the day and I was impressed.  I was even more impressed when the Demonics no-showed.  Fuck!  Still had Gashuffer tho'


Then probably not a year after that experience they showed up on a bill at the Blank Club. I bought tickets ahead of time.  I had to, they made my list...  I don't know what to say except that they delivered.  They burned through their setlist firing off one sweet rocking gem after another.  I went right over to the swag table and picked me up a T-shirt designed by none other than Dirty Donny.  A lot of the times if a show is good enough I go right over and support the band by acquiring merchandise.  It's the quickest way to put money in a bands pocket along with a hardy "thumbs up" seal of approval.  During the acquisition from the drummer I called her out on Thee Parkside "no show" and she said something like there was this psycho dude that was threatening to kill Russ or somethin'.  I said, "If you wouldn't have rocked so hard tonight I would've been pissed."  They fulfilled my quota of a kick ass show indeed.  And I was double stoked because Pickle for some reason bought me their latest, Hot Rod Pussy.  The model for the album was at the show....oh the memories.

A couple of years ago I asked them to play a show with my band because "why not?"  They declined.  Bummer for all.  If this group decides to put the machine back together I am sure that they would have a heavy following on street cred alone.  My vote: Let the people here the machine.



Here is some stuff I have gathered from online about The Demonics:


Jeff of SJSOBs enjoying the show...


Setlist from the show...









And now some videos....



Here is a pretty badass homegrown skate video to a The Demonics tune...


I cannot find any live footage besides some recent footage put up on their Facebook account.  If anyone else has any live footage, please post!

Here is also a good article on Russ' true love, his 1969 Super Bee.

Meat Hammer || Who the Fuck are These Guys? || Hidden Rock'nRoll pt.2

One Friday night back in the fall of 2007 Jeff and I decided to task the risk and just head down to The Caravan to see who was playing.  Our reservoir of live music needed to be filled.  To our luck this group Meat Hammer was about to go on.  Simply put, we were stoked before one amp was turned on due to the psychotic look they had on their faces.  It had nothing to do with the fact that they were all wearing butcher outfits and were cover in fake blood.  Then they plugged in.  Fucking classic speed metal.  It was awesome.  The crowd was loving it.  I was loving it along with them.  They were in total character the whole time even when were packing up their things and heading for the door.

Not much is online with these guys.  They have a myspace page but haven't checked it in 6 months.  I haven't heard about them playing.  Several years ago I thought that I had heard that they had broken up.  I hope it is not true.  The only other tidbit of info I have on them is a dude who was working for Century Stereo told me (I think...memory is sometimes foggy and I like to take the liberty that a free writer gets to take) that he used to work with one of them at Best Buy.  Either way, check 'em out if you can.  They are a great show.

Here is the best of what I could find online.  Enjoy!







This is a happy crowd. 
























I couldn't find any videos of them.  If anybody has some, please let me know. I would love to post them.

oh yes, One final thing.....Jeff loved these dudes performance so much he dressed up for work as one of them that year for Halloween!