FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
Have you guys been following this at all? A handful of these newly-elected NDP MPs are university students, including one who’s only 19! Considering that I’ve already earned my degree, I feel that I’m adequately qualified to represent some rural Quebec riding in the House of Commons as a New Democrat. They might even make me an opposition critic.
When I went down to Cleveland last October to see Accept, I did so on the assumption that it would be my only chance to catch the reunited lineup in action. After all, they were never as big in North America as they were across the pond, so I didn’t think that a more extensive N.A. tour was in order. I’m glad I was wrong. While I had a good idea what to expect going into Wednesday’s gig at the Mod Club, I’m happy to say the Teutonic Terror exceeded expectations.
April 15, 2011 was the day the music died. At 6:45 pm, without any warning, CKLN 88.1 fm was taken off the air, ending 28 years of community radio programming–five and a half for yours truly.
I should mention that the station continues to broadcast online, and will do so for the foreseeable future (which might not be too long). And while I’m pretty convinced that I’ll be walking away, I’ve got some unfinished business to attend to first. Tonite is the 100th episode of Smokin’ Green, est. 2008, RIP 2011.
Here is what was played on the April 10, 2011 edition of Hellbound Radio
Three signs that it’s April:
1) Time to pay the taxman!
2) Start of the NHL playoffs (or as the Leafs call it, golf season)
3) The Acid Mothers Temple is playing at El Mocambo
Here is what we played on the March 27, 2011 edition of Hellbound Radio
Just before heading down to SXSW this year I bought a new Kodak Sport handheld camera to document some of the bands I saw. Here are some videos that I made of bands that I saw on my first day there, Thursday, March 17th
Fortunately, we won’t hafta wait as long this time around, since the band will be releasing its second opus tonite at The Garrison before heading off on a European tour with their ghastly label mates. Support comes from Blizaro–a psychedelic side-project of Rochester doom titans Orodruin–who’ve had their name misspelled on many a gig listing, including the venue’s.
“It was SXSW in Austin, so hell, we just decided to party. While hanging out on 6th Street, we were encountered by a rapper pushing his product. It’s normal for independent artists to either talk up, give away or sell their music at SXSW, but this chap obviously lacked common sense by trying to interest us in his rap project. Granted, people like all kinds of music nowadays, but did it really make sense for a rapper to approach a group full of dirty long-haired or head-shaven guys wearing metal shirts? I suppose my friend unintentionally baited him by somewhat loudly talking about Watain, the satanic Swedish black metal band. But that’s not what rap dude overheard. “Wu-Tang? Did somebody say Wu-Tang?”
Watain. Not Wu-Tang. We tried to correct him, but he interrupted us. “If y’all like Wu-Tang, you’re gonna love this!” I have his promo copy somewhere, and I’m sure it’ll make for a great coffee coaster once I find it.”
The second and final installment of Jay H. Gorania’s recap of the 2011 edition of the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas
If the cataclysmic, earthquaking rumble beneath Japan was felt stateside, it was surely through Yob’s bottom-heavy, Sabbath-via-Cathedral-and-Sleep riffs. Their music and vocals and presence were passionate and ritualistic. Because of the repetitive nature of the riff-driven madness, the songs stay with you long after they’ve finished playing, bouncing around from synapse-to-synapse in your tenderized gray matter.