Mayhem Media...music, monsters, mayhem...

Welcome to the Wordpress Zeitgeist

I've been debating this for a long time, and finally decided before I really get up to my neck in this blog, I need to switch to Wordpress and host it myself. The only reason I hadn't done it before was, honestly, I couldn't figure out to work the damn thing at Wordpress, but found a customizable theme even I can use, so there you go.

The new blog can be found HERE. Please update your bookmarks and feeds. Thanks!

Git in the van

You would think with my interest in music, I would have this vast knowledge of a range of genres, but actually, nothing could be further from the truth. I grew up in a small redneck town in Indiana, down thar close to Kentucky. I only had top 40 radio and classic rock at my disposal until I went to college. I didn't even have MTV, which was just starting out and actually still played...music.

So you have to excuse me when I discover bands for the first time many of y'all have known about for years.

But then, some of you may not know about The Gits, except in passing references. Last night I watched the documentary about the band, chronicling perhaps one of the greatest tragedies in rock and roll, when lead singer Mia Zapata was raped and murdered July 7, 1993.

I remember the whole "Home Alive" movement, but honestly never sat down and listed to The Gits till last night. Hell, I had it in my head it was Stephanie Sargent of 7 Year Bitch that had been killed...but she was another rock and roll overdose.

The great tragedy was the loss of Zapata's life, no doubt, but that doesn't minimize the loss of all the songs she would have written, and all the great performances that never were. And how the members of her band were on the verge of living their dream on their first national tour and signing to Atlantic Records. Or how her murder ripped apart more than a Seattle music "scene," but a family built around the "Rathouse" they all shared.

The love -- and pain -- for those who knew her is palpable in this documentary. Even after all these years, Selene Vigil of 7 Year Bitch is visibly shaken talking about the murder, and about how she and so many others are haunted by the fact that she was beaten so brutally and the suffering she endured in her last moments.

The other thing that is palpable is the raw energy and commanding voice of Zapata. This is a film that makes your heart heavy, but will inspire you with the pureness of a group of people who really loved what they were doing, and really loved Zapata.

As her father said in the film, I only had her on loan for a short time, now she belongs to all of you.

Stevie Nicks shows the little girls how it's done

I have nothing against Taylor Swift -- cute kid -- but Stevie Nicks should never, EVER be referred to as her "backup" singer. No one puts Stevie in a corner.

Stevie Nicks Sings Backup for Taylor Swift at Grammy Awards.

If you do not own Belladonna, you need to buy it. Right now. I'm serious...right NOW.

I damn near wore this record out. In fact I am ordering a cd right now since I have parted with my vinyl collection. This is a 1981 release, and when I went to get a link for this post, it was ranked #1551. There's a reason for that. Trust me.

"Gold Dust Woman" is, technically, a Fleetwood Mac song. But let's face it, Fleetwood Mac was Stevie's backup band. There I said it. Sue me.

And no one compares to Stevie in style, either.

Konniption Fit CD release 1/30/10

Hey guys, come out and celebrate the cd release of "Ballistic" from Detroit's Konniption Fit at TNT's Bar and Grill January 30. Konniption Fit is a great pop punk band that proves we are not all about gloom and doom here in the Motor City, and can still have fun. And they're good people to boot. Come out and support them and get some cool raffle prizes from Coffin Case. And of course, pick up their new cd, with photography by yours truly...but hey, when you have good subjects, how can a girl go wrong? Supporting acts include: Potty Mouth Sissys, Panic Trigger, The Pilz, and Maceri.

OFFICIAL CD RELEASE PARTY FOR KONNIPTION FIT’S FULL LENGTH CD “BALLISTIC”
Date: Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: TNT’s Bar & Grill, 35101 Harper Rd., Clinton Twp., 48035 (Phone: 586-792-1435)
Details: All Ages, Admission $5.00

Gore Galore this weekend...

 

Gorevette has cd release shows tonight and tomorrow night:

The Park Bar in Detroit on Friday, January 29th w/ Easy Action
2040 Park Street, Detroit Doors and Ticket Price TBA

Goodnight Gracie Saturday, January 30th w/ Silverghost and USL
 Ann Arbor Doors 9pm – Tickets - $7.00

And perhaps the best Gore-fest on the planet, the After Dark Film Fest is this weekend, debuting the "8 FIlms to Die For" series. Check your local listings...

For Detroiters, check it out at

Emagine Canton

39535 Ford Road, Canton, MI - (888) 319-3456

A is for Australia, AC/DC...and Airbourne

Is it just me, or is this band the heir apparent to AC/DC? I have to admit when I saw the over-the-top, rock-star-posturing photos, I almost thought this was a parody. Ah sure, they sound an awful lot like Brian Johnson-era AC/DC , but hell, most of AC/DC's songs sound a lot alike too, and we don't mind because they kick ass, and it looks like these guys do, too.

I wanna party with these guys. For real.

I have a feeling Airbourne is a band one needs to see live. If you are Canadian, you can catch them opening for Motley Crue till Feb 5.

Wanna be featured on this blog?

There are several ways to get my attention, and some of them don't even involve blood, gore or sacrificing your first born.

A) If you are a label or PR agency, add me to your mailing list. For individual bands, this could get a bit overwhelming, so larger entities representing multiple artists only please. Unless say, you're Rob Zombie or something. Rob, you can feel free to email me to your heart's content.

B) See that little gray "dropbox" on the right? Use it to send me tracks or albums to feature on the blog and possibly be reviewed (full length cds/eps only for review)

C) Send me the actual cds for review

D) Send me your films to review

E) Send me cool memorabilia, music, dvds or tickets to give away

That's not so hard right? Right!

My Alexa rank* is dropping faster than a virgin's panties on prom night, so get in at the ground level before this sucker makes it big.

(*Alexa measures traffic rankings to websites, and the lower the number the better. It's dropped about 10 million in the last 10 days.)

PS. Email link is to your right under the dropbox.

Calabrese video for "The Graves," opening this weekend

This is horror punks Calabrese's video for the film "The Graves" opening this weekend as part of the 8 Films to Die For series. The film and the video are directed by Brian Pulido. Check it out:

And if you love the brothers Calabrese (and how can you not?) they are pre-ordering for their new album, "Calabrese III: They Call Us Death." The pre-order includes a set of about the coolest postcards of the guys I have ever seen.

 

These are only available as pre-order! And the guys are getting ready to come cross country, where they are even making a stop here in Detroit at Small's in Hamtramck, March 30. Seriously, this is a must see show and a rare appearance in these parts. Come out and support them so they keep coming back! And preorder the album:

It's only rock and roll but I like it...

(I was wandering through the wasteland of my painfully neglected photography blog and saw this post, which I thought I should bring out where someone might actually...read it. So it's a bit dated. But always relevant...)

Okay, I know I have another blog for my band work, but to not mention it on this one would be leaving out the very thing I love most and am most known for. Now, lest you think I'm some young, tattooed hipster, I'm a chubby 42 year old woman. I look so not rock and roll. Nor do I dress like a teenager -- I've already told people if I ever become one of those women who try to dress and act half her age, to shoot me. Please.

So imagine how odd I look at these shows. And how odd I often feel. Or used to...I've gotten pretty comfortable with being the old fart in the crowd.

So, anyway, part of what I do involves getting in the pit. I get my ass kicked. A lot.

And one thing I've learned out in Arizona, is those kids from the Rez are crazy in the pit. For reals. So I knew when I went up to Window Rock, NM with my boys The Koffin Kats, it was going to be rough. An audience entirely of Rez kids, on their own turf (at Day's Customs, an auto body shop.)

This is what the boys had to work with -- a flatbed trailer for a "stage."

 

I love behind the scenes shots and catching candids of guys offstage. Especially the Kats. They're great guys and have three very different -- and QUITE interesting -- personalities.

Food run (Tommy's hair before he fixed it.)

Tommy's hair after he fixed it.

Hell yes! A new Chop Tops cd coming soon...

The Chop Tops are one of my favorite psychobilly bands and if you get the chance to see them live, do not miss them! They are coming out with a new cd April 2, "Deadly Love." Never fear, I'm already touching bases to give you a preview a little closer to release date, but this is one of those bands you get giddy over when you hear there's a new record coming out, so I couldn't wait to put some buzz in your ear.

And I haven't even seen them since Brett (Three Bad Jacks ) took over on bass for The Chop Tops . I'm hoping he still sets that thing on fire...literally.

PS. For those who don't know my photography work, psychobilly is near and dear to me. You can check out my portfolio here: