“The best part about being alone is that you really don’t have to answer to anybody. You do what you want.”~ Justin Timberlake
For those of you in the United States of America and celebrating today, then Happy Thanksgiving to you!!
For those of you who are all by yourself, far from or without family and/or friends to celebrate with… you are not alone.
This year’s Thanksgiving holiday was probably one of the most stale and most low brow holidays a single person could ever have. Not to say that it was the worst day of my life, because no it wasn’t that. It was just stale and boring.
Even though our apartment complex had their annual holiday celebration YESTERDAY… it prevents me from saying that I never celebrated it at all. That plus the fact that I’ve got a big assed turkey (almost 12 pounds/5.19 kg) thawing in the refrigerator right now and that my sister and her children will drop by later in the weekend to do the celebration thing again, just like it was done last year. Therefore, there cannot (or should not be) any complaining.
However it still becomes difficult the day OF a holiday when you are sitting all alone in your home with nobody around and practically nothing to do. Being bored really stinks. I had my fill of professional football presented by the NFL. I choose to skip the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade ever since I figured out their lip syncing scheme and their juvenile performances. It just isn’t for me.. ever.
I even attempted to lay back down and go back to sleep. I tried. TWICE. Nothing worked. I found myself learning way too much about the Travis Alexander murder trial. You know, Jodi Arias and all that?? Yeah, I’ve seen some things with those crime scene photographs that I’m must ready to poke my eyes out with rusty old barbed wire, and make sure to scrape and scoop out everything inside the sockets.
I’ve seen death and autopsy photographs, but damn!! What Jodi Arias did to that guy…. I cannot believe or imagine.
Nutjob hoe much??
But as it approaches midnight. And the”four day weekend” looms on for only its second day. I am thankful for a lot of things and people that I have in my life. I may be single, and I may often times get the feeling of being lonely, but I am not truly alone.
I was overwhelmed earlier in the day today when I saw a brand new post in “Frothtonomy.” I wanted to say something that would make it relating to current situations, but I honestly did not wish to impose. Come to find out, that I was (at least in some small effort) an inspiration for the post. Even if it was the smallest, most tiny thing ever on the planet.
I strongly urge you all to read it and challenge yourself to answer the question: Are you listening or are you just going along with the beat of other people??
Stay strong dear Disciples. Together we will make it through the rest of this year.
“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.~ Roger Miller
So guess what? NANCY SILVA PROJECT returned!
Also returning was the rain. And the trials. And the tribulations.
Damnit.
I think that our area yesterday’s 24 hour rainfall totals were 3-4 inches.
And I was out in it, just trying to get on a bus to go see NANCY SILVA PROJECT play locally again.
I had been to the Gypsy Lounge before to see Poc Nation. But it was a miserable experience. And here I am complaining about rain? Yep. That’s me.
Thankfully I still had that umbrella from long ago when I got caught in an unexpected rainstorm and some guy came to me and handed me his umbrella. I brought it with me. But the bone chill was already setting in. No matter how I held that umbrella, some part of me was getting soaking wet.
Upon flagging down the next bus like an idiot, I had hoped that by the time I reached the club that the rain would at least let up enough for me to manage the quick jog over to the venue from the corner.
It did, but then it didn’t. I was sitting in massive puddles of rushing raining water, praying that lightning wouldn’t strike me. For whatever reason, it was a real concern I had until I knew that I was safe from the elements.
Gypsy Lounge for those of you who are keeping score has an outside stage and a rather intimate and small indoor stage. I’m not sure what their capacity is inside, but outside there’s a full on stage for bands to play live music. However, the rains got to it before anyone stepped foot on there to play. They attempted to cover up the outside venue but from what I heard from some of the other musicians there to play, was that it wasn’t enough and everything was soaking wet.
I was greeted by someone who said I had been contacting him through Facebook. I did send a message, warning them of my arrival that night and they needed to be keeping an eye out for my accessible needs. The guy gave me a free beer and I was then set in the corner. Along the walls were several art pieces. I didn’t know what was going on inside. And inside was not where I wanted to be, I wanted to be outside because that’s where the music was supposed to be. But the guy said that they were making a decision as to whether or not to hold the music outside or inside.
Why it took so long is beyond me. A band called “Celeste’al Descent” was supposed to kick things off at 9:30. Then NANCY SILVA PROJECT at 10:30… then I had to make a decision either to wait out the rain or attempt to leave and get back home at an earlier hour and potentially face the storms again.
Then I saw someone that I recognized from Nancy Silva’s group of people. He went outside and then brought inside for me to say hello.
It was at that point that she told me the horrible news that NANCY SILVA PROJECT was not going to be playing.
Celeste’al Descent
Needless to say that it was disappointing. The planning, the time spent being drenched in the rain, the struggle was real. And there was not to be any “Lift Me Up” or “Yesterday.” DANG!
Finally, the decision was made to have the music brought inside. And the art pieces surrounding the intimate sized stage were to be lifted away. And at last, Celeste’al Descent was ready to get it started. A very cleaver play on words as the lead singer’s name is Celeste.
She appeared to be quiet and shy as she prepared to sing on stage. Then when the drummer counted them in, she exploded like a ticking time bomb had gone off and she never slowed down until the end of their set.
That was a surprise. Considering that she didn’t have a lot of room to move around in. But she covered it all I think.
I was sitting up front of the stage so hearing her voice even without the use of the microphone was surreal. But usually I am up towards the front any way, so it really shouldn’t be much of a surprise to me. But to hear that is a cool thing to experience.
As their set went on, it started sounding better and better and better and better.
Come to find out, they are from San Antonio as well. Just like NANCY SILVA PROJECT.
Why do they always have to come from out of there or Houston? Why?? Ugh… I digress.
I was happy to see that Nancy Silva had made the decision to stay for the rest of the music even though she wasn’t going to be performing. She was probably just a few feet behind me. So yeah, I’ll take it.
Trashy & The Kid came on stage next. The band who was celebrating their album release.
Evidently, their Kickstarter project had collected enough money that they were able to offer that the night be free from a cover at the door. They earned that much money!! I think from what I researched, more than $1,000 than what they were looking for. So yeah, the show was free.
Trashy & The Kid
I did not have a problem with Trashy & The Kid. Although how they had six musicians up there on one stage at one point, I’ll never know. And then meanwhile I kept getting smashed in the back with a Gucci bag that was being worn on a woman’s shoulder.
I really did think about throwing an elbow, hoping to deflect the expensive purse the other direction. But the woman had drinks in both hands and I thought better of it.
Upon the ending of Trashy & The Kid… the place just DIED. Nancy Silva even said that they were leaving, and going home instead of staying the night.
There wasn’t much left for the last band of the night.
My intention was to return home as well, but every exit from the place either had huge steps or the side door was blocked by musical equipment. Nope. It wasn’t cool.
I had to wait for the entire night to be finished before I could leave. Meanwhile, I kept myself occupied talking to these girls who were walking around in underwear that was being sold by Trashy & The Kid. Basically just underwear, fishnets, and high heels. After that adventure I was able to get out of there. The rain had stopped. The night was somewhat peaceful.
Flagging down a taxi took some doing but I got one. And then I lost my shoe.
Incredible!!!
I hear someone has it. Who, though. I don’t know. But I came home without it. Of all the things to lose at a rock show.
2:00 AM is when I arrived home. Frustrated, yet somehow content. How that is- I don’t know.
I’m thinking that members of NANCY SILVA PROJECT kind of owe me for all the crap I went through just to get to that show. I don’t know what exactly, but they do. They even admitted through a text message that they said that they would make it up to me… yeah, right. We’ll see!! They have to come back here first.
If ever Celeste’al Descent come to town… I’m there!! Maybe they can do a show with NSP……………. ahh, heaven!!
“Revenge is an act of passion; vengeance of justice. Injuries are revenged; crimes are avenged.”~ Samuel Johnson
And there it is, ladies and gentlemen… boys and girls.
Management staff have finally fired BACK against the revolting, whining residence of this place with regards to Food Pantry and how it its distributed.
Throughout this entire blog, if you searched for the words “food pantry” you will find a number of blog posts through time in which I have written about the avarice of the residents of this place.
For as long as I have been living here, there has always been a handful of people who have complained about the current system and how it works. If you’ve read all the posts I am referring to above, then you know I once was involved in the selection of people. But that was taken away from me because people were bitching that I was cheating. The TRUTH was that they didn’t like how things were going — which was not “their way” and so they complained. Since then, I’ve been forbidden to “help” out.
And now this notice from management comes today. Several years in the making. It should have been handed out so many years ago, and written just like this!!! If you don’t like it, then get out!
Its basic human nature one would think: If you don’t like something, you don’t do it. If you don’t like drinking alcohol, you’re not going to drink. Same thing should have been applied here. If you don’t like how things are being ran for Food Pantry, then don’t come to the Food Pantry.
I honestly feel that this should take care of many of the current problems that we have with it. At least for a short period of time. I don’t think that this will be a final fix though. There’s always going to be someone who is going to bitch and moan and complain. For those who do, they need to be shown this notice. I think that this notice needs to be hung up in the hallway by the door of the food pantry as a constant, ever-present reminder to those who wanna complain.
This particular notice has come about because last month, one of the residents sat there in the building crying like a 5 year old having a tantrum for not getting his way. I love the fact that its added that you will be turned away if you are exhibiting poor behavior. So this basically has given other members of staff the power to remove or kick out anyone being stupid or acting like a child. Over something that is never promised to us and is, in a sense, a bonus to this community. The NEED for Food Pantry is cut and dry. What these people do, do not show a NEED. They will be cut off and pushed away.
And what makes this even funnier to me was that the manager asked me to look at this notice and asked if it was too harsh or not. I laughed and said that the only thing that it was missing was a few crucial F bombs. Which, he would not be able to include to begin with but he got the point.
So I finally applaud management for doing something RIGHT for once. This should have happened years ago, and management does acknowledge that. Let’s hope it sticks longer than any other plan that has been put in place.
But then what was done by management that was NOT right was that only a few apartment buildings had been delivered this notice, then management had to go retrieve food FROM the Food Pantry and left the distribution of these notices to the REST of the complex to someone who hasn’t done it yet. So at this hour, some people know about this notice, others have no idea. People are going to collide into one another. Those who know will run into and bump heads with those who have no clue and more BS and drama will appear. Way to go there!!!
Eventually though, those notices will appear, to everyone.
Let’s also hope that this is the last time I write about Food Pantry problems in this blog.
“I always want to learn but I am sure on my dying day I will feel like I left something in the bucket.”~ Tim McGraw
This blog post I am more than happy to write about. So many wonderful things happened and I didn’t bother to screw any of it up.
I have recently talked about the invitation that I received from Red Vamp she was planning on visiting the area and she wanted to meet up. I was shocked at first because it was she that was asking ME about it. But I accepted and had a few weeks to prepare for it.
I’ll spare you the long drawn out details of the weeks that happened and skip right to the point of the blog post today. A band named “Iris” was having a CD Release Party at Elysium. Red Vamp and her husband were planning on attending. They live out of town a few hours, so I could tell that this would be a big deal for them. So I agreed and pushed all other plans aside to make this happen.
This was probably more exciting for me than for anybody else. I mean, I knew Red Vamp back in her modeling career when that was pretty hot. I tried to keep myself on the level with her, treating her like another human being because from the comments of other people, they were just concerned about hitting on her or flirting with her… hoping that it was catch her attention.
I can only guess that the attention it brought up was the wrong kind.
Then I started my Bucket List. Meeting Red Vamp in person was #9 on the Bucket List. So you can tell this was pretty much a long time ago for being at the beginning of the Bucket List.
Well now as of last night, the 15th of November 2014, I can scratch that totally off the list.
Before Iris was Mr. Kitty & NITE. Not sure what to think about Mr. Kitty, other than it is just not my style of music that I listen to. That’s more computers than human beings. But then again, I guess you have to be pretty smart to know how to use a computer to make what they call music.
NITE’s performance wasn’t bad at all. But their music sounded more 80’s than techno or electronic. Still, they had some good vocals. It is explained to me that there’s a set of twins in that band. Two brothers. So I thought that was cool.
Then when Iris got on stage, the entire club just erupted. It was very clear that these people were here for Iris. Red Vamp apparently felt bad for leaving me behind as she and her husband approached the stage. But as I have complained before that Elysium just isn’t wheelchair accessible for anyone. I mean, if you have to go to the club next door just to use the restroom… there’s something wrong! SERIOUSLY WRONG!!
When Iris was done, I had taken about 70 or more photographs. I was sure to take photographs WITH Red Vamp because honestly… I had been bragging this meeting was going to happen. And only a hand full of people believed me. The rest just thought I was messing around and joking.
I was actually a little flattered that Red Vamp’s husband did talk with me. I honored our conversations that we had, no matter how small they were.
When Red Vamp walked by the wall of local legends, I took a photo of her. I doubt she was prepared. In my mind, it was fitting. Considering all these years I’ve wanted to meet her in person and now I have had that opportunity.
It was a glorious visit, and the music didn’t suck across the board so that was plenty of bonus.
My obvious purpose was Red Vamp and the Bucket List. Now I have that. My star struck attitude probably only lasted 10 minutes.
But I do hope that we all can do it again. Her living a few hours away makes it difficult. It would mean so much to me to have a second visit.
Check out Iris, see if whether or not its something you fancy. If so, you’re welcome. If not, then at least I tried.
Until then, I’ll forever hold these memories so close to my heart, knowing that nobody can take that away from me.
“Well, my brother says Hello. So, hooray for speech therapy.”~ Emo Philips
I made it out to Dirty Dog Bar tonight and back in one piece. And even though we are experiencing what seems to be our first freeze of the winter months, which honestly doesn’t happen until the first week of December, I made it out and came back and I was more than happy to have done so.
Another show. But one last hurrah for FEAR CONTROL at least for 2014. And I battled whether or not I was going to go to begin with but lead singer Kash Sarkaria talked me into it, mentioning that it would probably be the last time FEAR CONTROL played live in Austin for the year.
Most recently, my adventures saw me going to the last live performance of CASKET OF CASSANDRA, it made sense to go to FEAR CONTROL. Plus hey, I love FEAR CONTROL!
I think that going back, that I have gone to see FEAR CONTROL play live the most out of any other musical acts in the state of Texas in the year of 2014. I’ll have to go back again and just count, but I know its more than just a couple.
The weather however was very much threatening to be a serious factor which dictated just how late I would be able to stay downtown before having to come home. And yet it came to be that the headlining band, 36 CrazyFists, is actually from Alaska. So if they were going to be out, then certainly Texans could come out to the show.
So I rolled out into the streets to get to the bus stop, not really knowing just how long I would be dealing with the elements first hand. I did dress in layers and was quite warm. I even took a shot of whiskey for good measure, and everyone who reads this knows I don’t really “drink” so… that was that.
To my personal dismay, the southbound bus stop was engulfed in construction. I had to go north just to get turned around and go south so I could head downtown. It took me an extra fifteen and about three miles extra before getting put in the right direction.
My biggest concern was the descending, colder temperatures as I spent the evening with music that I can appreciate and enjoy. Thankfully there was no precipitation expected.
I rolled on inside at the Dirty Dog Bar and had been kicking back for about fifteen before I actually and literally got kicked OUT.
It was 6:15 PM. Doors were posted to be 6:00 PM. And I’m being told I had to go back outside. Back into the cold. Back out into the impending darkness. What the hell, people?!??!?!?
I saw then on the doors that they had printed a time of 6:30 PM for the doors to be open and the show starting promptly at 7:00 PM.
I’m getting really sick and tired of these times getting screwed around. I’m tired of sitting outside- for no good reason- when door times are posted at a certain hour. I do not know who’s fault that is… but if I ever find out, LOOK OUT!!
So then FEAR CONTROL hit the stage as the second scheduled act.
FEAR CONTROL has new material, new songs. And through the sharing of privately marked YouTube videos, I was able to get a taste of the new stuff when others were not able to. I was excited. Their new song, “Masks” rocks to the center of your core. I was thrilled and pumped up to hear it live.
But I had to get inside first. That didn’t happen until about ten minutes before seven. Absolutely stupid and retarded.. I swear!!!
FEAR CONTROL took over on stage and kicked it into overdrive. I mean, it was expected to happen but you never really know just how far Sarkaria is going to take things.
Guitarist Frankie Rodriguez allowed himself into consumption with the metal gods as he wailed on his instrument.
The band just compliments one another to bring forth the entertainment in heavy metal music as one has never seen before. They do so well with one another on stage.
“Masks” was played live early on. Its in the beginning stage of becoming one of those tunes that sticks with you to the end of time. Much like “Off With His Head” has done with me. I really cannot wait for their second appearance inside the recording studio to hear what these new songs are to be like. Its one thing being played live, its another when its recorded.
One thing that I have come to know about and admire about FEAR CONTROL is that they play with the same level of energy and passion no matter what the size of their audience is. It could be a packed venue or a filled up parking lot or it could be about fifteen people inside the same building and they still come at you hard and strong.
But going back, “Masks” was an absolute treat for me personally. I cannot wait to hear it more and more and more.
FEAR CONTROL is one of these bands that I stumbled across.
Ever since then, I’ve been stuck and surrendered to their invoking metal powers.
I found myself just lost and not really caring much about the cold and bitter outside world that was just a few feet behind me through the double doors which led to Historic Sixth Street.
Needless to say that I have never been disappointed with FEAR CONTROL. Even when they got snipped at to cut things short and they played a shorter version of “Off With His Head” at the end of their set a few months ago, it still was entertaining and fun for me that I just melted away from the world just for a little while.
What was rather amusing was the impromptu game of “Let’s Fuck With The Time Keeper” as they were told that they had time left for one more song and they fully intended on playing “Off With His Head” but would it be the shortened version or the full on seven minute epic version?
The band blazed through and Kash Sarkaria kept his eyes peeled and what happened can only be described as the “speed metal version” of “Off With His Head” which was performed from beginning to end in its entirety but instead of taking a little more than seven minutes, it took just under five.
The brotherhood of FEAR CONTROL off the stage is through the roof and phenomenal. I dare say: off the chain. It honestly hasn’t taken very long since I first saw them play live at SXSW 2014 to the point where I’ve had the opportunity to know the members of the band personally. It is awesome, awesome stuff.
“Masks” and “Off With His Head” are going to probably end up being those two great songs that can identify the band as their journey continues. My younger brother and I still believe that they have the sounds of Death Angel and both my brother and I still believe that FEAR CONTROL needs to contact Death Angel to get together and do some work together whether that is a tour or whatever.
If you like Death Angel, you’ll like FEAR CONTROL, hands down. No second guessing.
But as I had feared, the outside weather and temperatures were dropping like it was hot. Er, cold.
So I left, almost ditching their merch girl Sam as I was hanging out with her after the set. I’m not sure if that will prove to be a mistake and if so, if it will be fatal. One moment I am there, the next moment I am out the door without saying much at all in the ways of a farewell. Sam was looking quite fetching!!! That could have spelled DANGER for those who can’t handle it!
Thankfully my journey across downtown led me to the bus stop and I didn’t really have to wait long at all before I boarded the bus heading back up north and got home before 10:00 PM. Nice!
Just a couple of days shy of the very intense event of my highest honor of meeting fetish model, Red Vamp, as she will be in town. I did write about it briefly in a previous blog post. I’m trying not to flood this blog with my nervousness and excitement about it before it even happens.
So chalk up another show for me and FEAR CONTROL. I cannot wait to see what they will bring to the table in 2015!!!!!
“In the film world, we can all be heroes. In the real world, where heroism can cost you your life or the life of the ones you love, people aren’t so willing to make those sacrifices. When they do, they are set apart from the rest of us.”~John Rhys-Davies
Time to let out my inner nerd!!!
This day in history, for giant monster film fans and for fans of the Godzilla film series.. The third of November in 1954 was the release of the “kaiju” film GODZILLA.
Now sixty years later, Godzilla fans rejoice with their top of the line Blu-Ray edition of the film or special edition DVD’s that have been sitting on shelves for the past several years are becoming unwrapped and played for the first time ever in order to watch this Japanese classic.
Like many others, I grew up watching these bad boys during my wee youth. I can recall getting excited every time “King Kong vs. Godzilla” was on television. And even before the age of ten, I kept cheering for Godzilla to emerge victorious from the ocean during that film. Even though it was King Kong that came through the waters and Godzilla was never on screen again during that epic battle ending. I remember every time I watched that movie, wanting… begging… wishing for a different ending. But it never came.
As I grew older I realized that the movie had actually called the match a stalemate and a tie as NEITHER creature won. I still contend to this day that King Kong was getting his ass kicked. But that’s for another day.
I can even remember being terrified of watching “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” or “Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster.” Having a foe that deadly was a huge risk, even for Godzilla, in my own opinion. To this day I believe that I have not watched that particular film all the way through from beginning to end.
And now there are 28 films in the franchise. On top of that, you have your two American made films. Godzilla (1998) and the Gareth Edwards film Godzilla that came out this year in 2014.
I remember as a fan being super pumped up for the American version of the film in 1998. It was every where according to merchandising. Taco Bell got on board as well as other brands. And then sitting in the front row at the movie theater practically breaking my neck looking straight up at the screen to what would ultimately be such a shock to my system as I became one of the millions of extremely disappointed fans and movie goers. And this year with Edwards version of the film, I was much more relaxed and content with what I saw than I was way back in 1998.
Although I did go back and watch the 1998 version again recently and it was not a bad film. In fact, it was a decent movie. The problem was that it just was not Godzilla.
But a BIG NOD to the G-man today. Happy 60th, big guy!!! May there be even more films to put into the franchise as we go along.
Dambreaker 