Hey Rockers...The Cat has new digs! You will find all new posts at www.catsdoghouse.com! This way I only need one site to post all my blogs. Please hit the follow button on the bottom right of my new page to keep up to date with any new posts.
I've linked my posts here on the Cat's Litter Box page and have posted a new post featuring Cincinnati rockers Life After This! Please come by ..... ; )
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Sunday, 4 May 2014
Live at The Cambie - 3rd Weekend in a Row
Friday night I found myself back at the Cambie for the third weekend in a row. I had to go to catch a couple of my favorite guys performing as Clear the Coast. Also on the bill was Deluge, indie punk band from Calgary, Alberta; Sharks! On Fire, power pop punk band from Vancouver, playing their second last show EVER; and Nanaimo's favorite hardcore band Trace the Sky.
As I mentioned, the two young men that make up Clear the Coast are two of my favorite guys. Blake Deal is the lead singer of metal rockers Carry the Storm and his brother Cody Johannessen is usually at my side rocking out with me at every Carry the Storm show I make it to. I know both these young men personally and knowing the talent that each of them possess, I knew I was going to like their newly formed project.
What took me by surprise was how impressed I was by Clear the Coast. This isn't your ordinary run of mill acoustic duo. Both have hard rock/metal roots and somehow that comes through when they perform acoustically. The only possible way I can think to describe it is to compare it to Nirvana unplugged. Not that these guys have a sound like Nirvana but like Nirvana's unplugged album, even when they slow it down and unplug they still fucking rock...y'know? Their collaboration in song writing is outstanding and prolific. I hope they pursue this project further, get some touring under their belts and record their tunes because I truly believe they're going to appeal to a very wide audience. When they do, I'll share and prove to you all just how unbiased my opinion of their talent is!
Next up was Deluge! Traveling all the way from Calgary these boys were made to get the fucking party going! Their energy and fun songs are what's needed to get any girl to shake their ass. If bands like Jimmy Eat World, The Fray and Weezer are your thing, you'll get your rocks off to Deluge as well. I was happy to donate to their A & W fund and pick up their EP The Quiet Things. You can pick up yours at deluge.bandcamp.com.
With the crowd warmed up it was the perfect setting for Vancouver's Sharks! On Fire to take the stage and really get us jumping! Playing their second last show in Nanaimo, these guys were giving it all they had! It's always bittersweet for me to discover another talented band only to find out they're fucking breaking up. After being together for eight years (we won't discuss the drummer issue) AND obviously tight together AND obviously good friends, I couldn't understand why they were calling it quits.
I had my chance to ask Dan Hum, vocalist and guitarist for Sharks! On Fire after the show. Apparently, it's all his fucking fault! I'm just kidding....sorta. Truth is, Dan has moved back to Kamloops from Vancouver. He assured me that music is still in the future for all the band members, each are getting involved in new projects, including himself. That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how they evolve with their new bands. In the meantime, let's not forget the awesomeness of Sharks! On Fire....
Wrapping up the night was Nanaimo's own Trace the Sky. Now y'all know how much I fucking love these guys...I've written about them a couple of times in previous blogs. Not only is their music incredible but they are just so much fun to watch. Matt Harder is not only a wicked bass player and lead vocalist, he's fucking funny too! Their music rocks hard and it's not unusual for a mosh pit to break out at any given time, yet at the same time they manage to pull off a heavy power punk sound. This creates a draw of metal, hard rock and punk fans. It's the perfect blend and was the perfect end to another awesome night at the Cambie. They ended the show with my personal Trace the Sky favorite Lessons Learned, but I've shared that one with you before. This one is another favorite of mine and I know you're gonna love it too. Here's In Time....
As I mentioned, the two young men that make up Clear the Coast are two of my favorite guys. Blake Deal is the lead singer of metal rockers Carry the Storm and his brother Cody Johannessen is usually at my side rocking out with me at every Carry the Storm show I make it to. I know both these young men personally and knowing the talent that each of them possess, I knew I was going to like their newly formed project.
What took me by surprise was how impressed I was by Clear the Coast. This isn't your ordinary run of mill acoustic duo. Both have hard rock/metal roots and somehow that comes through when they perform acoustically. The only possible way I can think to describe it is to compare it to Nirvana unplugged. Not that these guys have a sound like Nirvana but like Nirvana's unplugged album, even when they slow it down and unplug they still fucking rock...y'know? Their collaboration in song writing is outstanding and prolific. I hope they pursue this project further, get some touring under their belts and record their tunes because I truly believe they're going to appeal to a very wide audience. When they do, I'll share and prove to you all just how unbiased my opinion of their talent is!
Next up was Deluge! Traveling all the way from Calgary these boys were made to get the fucking party going! Their energy and fun songs are what's needed to get any girl to shake their ass. If bands like Jimmy Eat World, The Fray and Weezer are your thing, you'll get your rocks off to Deluge as well. I was happy to donate to their A & W fund and pick up their EP The Quiet Things. You can pick up yours at deluge.bandcamp.com.
With the crowd warmed up it was the perfect setting for Vancouver's Sharks! On Fire to take the stage and really get us jumping! Playing their second last show in Nanaimo, these guys were giving it all they had! It's always bittersweet for me to discover another talented band only to find out they're fucking breaking up. After being together for eight years (we won't discuss the drummer issue) AND obviously tight together AND obviously good friends, I couldn't understand why they were calling it quits.
I had my chance to ask Dan Hum, vocalist and guitarist for Sharks! On Fire after the show. Apparently, it's all his fucking fault! I'm just kidding....sorta. Truth is, Dan has moved back to Kamloops from Vancouver. He assured me that music is still in the future for all the band members, each are getting involved in new projects, including himself. That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how they evolve with their new bands. In the meantime, let's not forget the awesomeness of Sharks! On Fire....
EVERYDAY, THE SAME DREAM
Wrapping up the night was Nanaimo's own Trace the Sky. Now y'all know how much I fucking love these guys...I've written about them a couple of times in previous blogs. Not only is their music incredible but they are just so much fun to watch. Matt Harder is not only a wicked bass player and lead vocalist, he's fucking funny too! Their music rocks hard and it's not unusual for a mosh pit to break out at any given time, yet at the same time they manage to pull off a heavy power punk sound. This creates a draw of metal, hard rock and punk fans. It's the perfect blend and was the perfect end to another awesome night at the Cambie. They ended the show with my personal Trace the Sky favorite Lessons Learned, but I've shared that one with you before. This one is another favorite of mine and I know you're gonna love it too. Here's In Time....
IN TIME
Now you would think three weekends in a row of great live music would be enough for any rocker, but no fucking way! I'll be there again this coming Friday to catch Aviator Shades' return and get more merch! Fuck I love rock n roll............ ; )
Y'all know how much I like to spread the love....here more links for you to check out....
Like on Facebook
Clear the Coast https://www.facebook.com/clearthecoast
Deluge https://www.facebook.com/Delugecalgary
Sharks! On Fire https://www.facebook.com/sharksonfire
Trace the Sky https://www.facebook.com/tracetheskymusic
Cat Hennebury https://www.facebook.com/CatHennebury
Follow on Twitter
Sharks! On Fire https://twitter.com/SharksOnFire
Trace the Sky https://twitter.com/tracetheskyband
Cat Hennebury https://twitter.com/CathyHennebury
Buy on Bandcamp
Deluge http://deluge.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-things
Sharks! On Fire http://sharksonfire.bandcamp.com/track/sharko-polo
Trace the Sky http://tracethesky.bandcamp.com/album/messages
Subscribe on YouTube
Deluge https://www.youtube.com/user/DelugeCalgary
Sharks! On Fire https://www.youtube.com/user/SharksOnFireOfficial
Trace the Sky https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6kSvX9pqyigBNskjRlS6YA
Y'all know how much I like to spread the love....here more links for you to check out....
Like on Facebook
Clear the Coast https://www.facebook.com/clearthecoast
Deluge https://www.facebook.com/Delugecalgary
Sharks! On Fire https://www.facebook.com/sharksonfire
Trace the Sky https://www.facebook.com/tracetheskymusic
Cat Hennebury https://www.facebook.com/CatHennebury
Follow on Twitter
Sharks! On Fire https://twitter.com/SharksOnFire
Trace the Sky https://twitter.com/tracetheskyband
Cat Hennebury https://twitter.com/CathyHennebury
Buy on Bandcamp
Deluge http://deluge.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-things
Sharks! On Fire http://sharksonfire.bandcamp.com/track/sharko-polo
Trace the Sky http://tracethesky.bandcamp.com/album/messages
Subscribe on YouTube
Deluge https://www.youtube.com/user/DelugeCalgary
Sharks! On Fire https://www.youtube.com/user/SharksOnFireOfficial
Trace the Sky https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6kSvX9pqyigBNskjRlS6YA
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Live at the Cambie
The last couple of weekends found me at the Cambie Bar, my favorite haunt in Nanaimo....yeah, that's right, I was on the wrong side of town and let me tell you rockers...they were fucking doing it right! A week ago I was there for Carry the Storm and Under the Mountain and this past weekend the rock continued with SplitTRACT, Soundstem and Nanaimo favorites and home boys No Operator!
Last week Carry the Storm opened the night with their unique brand of metal. It doesn't matter what kind of metal you're into, Carry the Storm has created a sound that seems to blend them all together! They're my favorite local metal band and they fucking rock the place to it's foundations everytime they play. Oh, I should also mention that they were the judges favorite at the VIU (Vancouver Island University) Battle of the Bands and actually got paid! I hear their winnings are going into the artwork for their upcoming EP! I can't wait for that release!
Under The Mountain are the fucking hard rockers that took home honors at this past year's Cambie Battle of the Bands and they never disappoint....though I'm really starting to wonder if Steve (lead vocals and guitar) knows how to play without a hangover...everytime I catch them he's well, under the weather, let alone under the mountain. Doesn't seem to fucking matter....they kill it everytime! They too are promising an upcoming EP release!
This week the I was treated to Vancouver's SplitTRACT and was fucking blown away by the incredible talent of this band. Hard Rock is their style and man, they are fucking tight! I'm not the only one noticing either...local radio stations have picked up on their sound and have been sending it over the airwaves. I highly suggest you pick up their EP while it's still dirt cheap...these boys have the makings to make it big and it won't be long before their merch goes up in price - and rightly so! And dare I say...not hard on the eyes either. Oh fuck it, check them out for yourself....
Next up was another Vancouver band, Soundstem, and what a great set! Randy...killer bassist for SplitTRACT did double duty and played bass for this band as well! I feel I know Randy well because after every song he played (for both bands) an enthusiastic fan (I believe his name was Geoff - don't know if that's how he spells his name, he just struck me as a Geoff with a G...) yelled out "I love you Randy" ....not in a gay way (not that there's anything wrong with that) but in a drunken friend at 2:00 am way. Well I fucking agree Geoff...I fucking love him too! This band has been around for a while and played originals off both their CDs as well as a covers of Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive and Billy Idol's Rebel Yell! One of the originals they played is Erase and also the first track on their CD Tomorrow can Wait....check it out rockers....
Headlining the show was No Operator and also what drew me to the Cambie for a second weekend in a row. These guys are fucking amazing! I missed their show a couple of months back and was heartbroken....stupid winter weather...and there was no fucking way I was going to miss this one! There's a reason these guys are the fucking beaus of the ball in Nanaimo! No Operator has managed to find the perfect blend, a clean sound that appeals to rock fans yet hard enough for metal fans to throw their horns in the air and start a mosh pit. And oh yes....there was definitely a pit! Their high energy is contagious and they had the joint jumping! Goes to show you don't need a large stage to move around because these boys used every bit of that small stage and put on a show like no other!
There is something else I need to share with you about No Operator. These boys are just more than pretty faces! I've had the opportunity to really dig into their latest CD Weather and War (not a hard feat considering I own it) and not only am I impressed by their incredible talent as musicians but also by their intelligence. Their songs are rife with political opinions and they're using their gift of music to not only open ears, but minds as well. I have to admit, I had a hard fucking time trying to choose just one of No Operator's songs to share with you! I chose this one because it's just so fucking hauntingly beautiful.....
These bands fucking rocked to a packed house and I have to congratulate Amber McGrath for a job well done in bringing talent like this to our appreciative ears! But that's not all I'm congratulating this awesome chick for! Saturday marked the 150th show she's brought to Nanaimo's Cambie Bar and I for one am grateful for her dedication and support of live local music. The Cambie has been an awesome venue for local bands to stretch their stage performance muscles as well as gain new fans...good job Amber! Yeah, yeah....I know....I still expect to pay the cover..... ; )
Last week Carry the Storm opened the night with their unique brand of metal. It doesn't matter what kind of metal you're into, Carry the Storm has created a sound that seems to blend them all together! They're my favorite local metal band and they fucking rock the place to it's foundations everytime they play. Oh, I should also mention that they were the judges favorite at the VIU (Vancouver Island University) Battle of the Bands and actually got paid! I hear their winnings are going into the artwork for their upcoming EP! I can't wait for that release!
Under The Mountain are the fucking hard rockers that took home honors at this past year's Cambie Battle of the Bands and they never disappoint....though I'm really starting to wonder if Steve (lead vocals and guitar) knows how to play without a hangover...everytime I catch them he's well, under the weather, let alone under the mountain. Doesn't seem to fucking matter....they kill it everytime! They too are promising an upcoming EP release!
This week the I was treated to Vancouver's SplitTRACT and was fucking blown away by the incredible talent of this band. Hard Rock is their style and man, they are fucking tight! I'm not the only one noticing either...local radio stations have picked up on their sound and have been sending it over the airwaves. I highly suggest you pick up their EP while it's still dirt cheap...these boys have the makings to make it big and it won't be long before their merch goes up in price - and rightly so! And dare I say...not hard on the eyes either. Oh fuck it, check them out for yourself....
ALONE
Next up was another Vancouver band, Soundstem, and what a great set! Randy...killer bassist for SplitTRACT did double duty and played bass for this band as well! I feel I know Randy well because after every song he played (for both bands) an enthusiastic fan (I believe his name was Geoff - don't know if that's how he spells his name, he just struck me as a Geoff with a G...) yelled out "I love you Randy" ....not in a gay way (not that there's anything wrong with that) but in a drunken friend at 2:00 am way. Well I fucking agree Geoff...I fucking love him too! This band has been around for a while and played originals off both their CDs as well as a covers of Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive and Billy Idol's Rebel Yell! One of the originals they played is Erase and also the first track on their CD Tomorrow can Wait....check it out rockers....
ERASE
Headlining the show was No Operator and also what drew me to the Cambie for a second weekend in a row. These guys are fucking amazing! I missed their show a couple of months back and was heartbroken....stupid winter weather...and there was no fucking way I was going to miss this one! There's a reason these guys are the fucking beaus of the ball in Nanaimo! No Operator has managed to find the perfect blend, a clean sound that appeals to rock fans yet hard enough for metal fans to throw their horns in the air and start a mosh pit. And oh yes....there was definitely a pit! Their high energy is contagious and they had the joint jumping! Goes to show you don't need a large stage to move around because these boys used every bit of that small stage and put on a show like no other!
There is something else I need to share with you about No Operator. These boys are just more than pretty faces! I've had the opportunity to really dig into their latest CD Weather and War (not a hard feat considering I own it) and not only am I impressed by their incredible talent as musicians but also by their intelligence. Their songs are rife with political opinions and they're using their gift of music to not only open ears, but minds as well. I have to admit, I had a hard fucking time trying to choose just one of No Operator's songs to share with you! I chose this one because it's just so fucking hauntingly beautiful.....
WITH ALL SIDES
These bands fucking rocked to a packed house and I have to congratulate Amber McGrath for a job well done in bringing talent like this to our appreciative ears! But that's not all I'm congratulating this awesome chick for! Saturday marked the 150th show she's brought to Nanaimo's Cambie Bar and I for one am grateful for her dedication and support of live local music. The Cambie has been an awesome venue for local bands to stretch their stage performance muscles as well as gain new fans...good job Amber! Yeah, yeah....I know....I still expect to pay the cover..... ; )
Where can you find more info on these bands? Well, let me help you out!
If facebook is your thing:
Carry the Storm - https://www.facebook.com/carrythestormmetal
Under the Mountain - https://www.facebook.com/UndertheMountainband
SplitTRACT - https://www.facebook.com/splittract
Soundstem - https://www.facebook.com/Soundstem
No Operator - https://www.facebook.com/nooperator
If you like to tweet:
Under the Mountain - https://twitter.com/UnderThMountain
SplitTRACT - https://twitter.com/SplitTRACT
Soundstem - https://twitter.com/Soundstem
No Operator - https://twitter.com/NoOperator
Random links:
Carry the Storm - http://carrythestorm.bandcamp.com/
Under the Mountain - http://www.reverbnation.com/underthemountain
SplitTRACT - http://chriswitoskimusic.com/splittract/
No Operator - http://www.nooperator.com/
Monday, 14 April 2014
Red Dragon Cartel
Hey rock fans....I heard a new tune by Red Dragon Cartel this past weekend that blew me out of my fucking shoes for a couple of reasons. One ....well, simply put, Redeem Me is a fucking rocking tune. Second it features my girl Sass Jordan.
Red Dragon Cartel is the new band featuring Jake E. Lee, prior guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne. Bark at the Moon...remember that little ditty? Well, though the writing credits went solely to Osbourne, Jake E. Lee and Bob Daisley were major contributors to the composition of that song in addition to the performance of it! Jake E. has been a contributor to many projects since those days with Ozzy and they all lead to the awesomeness of Red Dragon Cartel.
Montreal, Canada's own Sass Jordan is not a member of Red Dragon Cartel but an outstanding featured guest vocalist! I was blown away to hear Sass's incredible vocals featured on this album mainly because, though a Canadian icon, many of my American friends haven't had the pleasure of hearing her. Not surprising really...not many of our Canadian talents break through into the American music market...shame really...you guys don't know what you're missing. So, in doing some research of the incredibly talented Jake E. Lee, I found Sass isn't his only Canadian connection.
Beginning with the obvious his current drummer in Red Dragon Cartel is Vancouver, British Columbia native Jonas Fairley. I also learned that the first tune Jake E. learned to play on the guitar was The Guess Who's No Time....some of you may remember The Guess Who, that little Canadian group from the 70s and 80s (understated....fucking super group!!).
The Red Dragon Cartel is made up of Jake E. Lee, Ronnie Mancuso, Jonas Fairley and Darren James Smith and in addition to Sass they've featured some awesome guest talent on their first album including vocalist Robin Zander from Cheap Trick; Iron Maiden original vocalist Paul Di’Anno; former bassist from Pantera, Rex Brown; Slash’s Conspirator’s, Todd Kearns and Brent Fitz; and Five Finger Death Punch's Jeremy Spencer. Just released earlier this year if you haven't had a chance to check it out...you can take my word for it - Red Dragon Cartel's self-titled first album is definitely worth your listen! Pick it up and commence rockin out! Pure rock and fucking roll baby......... ;)
Check out more by Red Dragon Cartel and order their album at > reddragoncartel.com
Red Dragon Cartel is the new band featuring Jake E. Lee, prior guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne. Bark at the Moon...remember that little ditty? Well, though the writing credits went solely to Osbourne, Jake E. Lee and Bob Daisley were major contributors to the composition of that song in addition to the performance of it! Jake E. has been a contributor to many projects since those days with Ozzy and they all lead to the awesomeness of Red Dragon Cartel.
Montreal, Canada's own Sass Jordan is not a member of Red Dragon Cartel but an outstanding featured guest vocalist! I was blown away to hear Sass's incredible vocals featured on this album mainly because, though a Canadian icon, many of my American friends haven't had the pleasure of hearing her. Not surprising really...not many of our Canadian talents break through into the American music market...shame really...you guys don't know what you're missing. So, in doing some research of the incredibly talented Jake E. Lee, I found Sass isn't his only Canadian connection.
Beginning with the obvious his current drummer in Red Dragon Cartel is Vancouver, British Columbia native Jonas Fairley. I also learned that the first tune Jake E. learned to play on the guitar was The Guess Who's No Time....some of you may remember The Guess Who, that little Canadian group from the 70s and 80s (understated....fucking super group!!).
REDEEM ME
The Red Dragon Cartel is made up of Jake E. Lee, Ronnie Mancuso, Jonas Fairley and Darren James Smith and in addition to Sass they've featured some awesome guest talent on their first album including vocalist Robin Zander from Cheap Trick; Iron Maiden original vocalist Paul Di’Anno; former bassist from Pantera, Rex Brown; Slash’s Conspirator’s, Todd Kearns and Brent Fitz; and Five Finger Death Punch's Jeremy Spencer. Just released earlier this year if you haven't had a chance to check it out...you can take my word for it - Red Dragon Cartel's self-titled first album is definitely worth your listen! Pick it up and commence rockin out! Pure rock and fucking roll baby......... ;)
Check out more by Red Dragon Cartel and order their album at > reddragoncartel.com
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Shotgun Rebellion
What are friends for if they can't turn you on to new things that you're gonna love? Maybe a girlfriend lets you know about a great sale on shoes, or a buddy tells you how to pirate the blacked-out game. Well, my friends tend to turn me on to great new music and then I, being the fucking awesome friend I am (as I'm sure you will attest to), share it with you. That's the case this week, because my friends Red and Jay from the podcast We're Right, You're Wrong turned me on to Shotgun Rebellion and let me make myself clear, I am fucking turned on!!
Shotgun Rebellion has created and named their unique brand of rock and roll as Outlaw Metal! I fucking love it! It fits! Combining elements of Southern Rock, Country, Hard Rock and Metal they have brought it all together to create a sound that's new and retro all at the same fucking time. Don't believe me? Check out their newly released video for Roll On....
Nowhere near a one hit wonder, Shotgun Rebellion has become an easy and fast favorite of mine and for good reason. If you need another reason, maybe you should check out more. Here, let me make it easy for you...
Comprised of Rick Davis - guitars and vocals, Wes Wallace - lead guitar, Johni Walker - drums, and Jon Parr- Bass, I have definitely found 4 rock n roll outlaws to fucking crush on! I hear Shotgun Rebellion and I close my eyes and imagine these bad-asses rolling into town on steel steeds, long hair and tattooed, and not only do I get thirsty for whiskey but also for .....well..... that might be a story for The Cat House...... ; )
You can get their tunes here > iTunes.... best fucking 10 bucks you'll ever spend. And you can stalk 'em on Twitter, Facebook, ReverbNation and YouTube. You might even find me hiding in the bushes!
Shotgun Rebellion has created and named their unique brand of rock and roll as Outlaw Metal! I fucking love it! It fits! Combining elements of Southern Rock, Country, Hard Rock and Metal they have brought it all together to create a sound that's new and retro all at the same fucking time. Don't believe me? Check out their newly released video for Roll On....
ROLL ON
Nowhere near a one hit wonder, Shotgun Rebellion has become an easy and fast favorite of mine and for good reason. If you need another reason, maybe you should check out more. Here, let me make it easy for you...
TRAIN OF PAIN
Comprised of Rick Davis - guitars and vocals, Wes Wallace - lead guitar, Johni Walker - drums, and Jon Parr- Bass, I have definitely found 4 rock n roll outlaws to fucking crush on! I hear Shotgun Rebellion and I close my eyes and imagine these bad-asses rolling into town on steel steeds, long hair and tattooed, and not only do I get thirsty for whiskey but also for .....well..... that might be a story for The Cat House...... ; )
You can get their tunes here > iTunes.... best fucking 10 bucks you'll ever spend. And you can stalk 'em on Twitter, Facebook, ReverbNation and YouTube. You might even find me hiding in the bushes!
Monday, 24 March 2014
....Of Tortured Faustian Slumbers and the Rivers of Grue
Okay boys and girls....I know what you're thinking and yeah...I was thinking it too, how fucking cool a heavy metal band name is Rivers of Grue? Well, it would be if it was a heavy metal band name, but even cooler, it represents a group of "grue"some story tellers I've recently had the pleasure and good fortune to meet. This post is a little different today...I'm not speaking of my great love of music but of another great love and fascination - the macabre!
I've always had a fascination with horror and in my earliest writings it showed. In grade 11 we were required to write a poem for English....mine was titled "My Nightmare" and was vivid with fire and pain (oh by the way, I don't mind spiders and snakes but fire scares the fucking shit out of me). I got an A.
In grade 12 we had the option of taking English electives, where for 3 terms (every 2.5 months - the 4th term was basic English that you were required to take) you had your choice of 4 different electives. Is it any wonder I took "Evil" (no shit, we read Stephen King's Salem's Lot for fucking school credit!), Crime and Punishment (I swear I didn't fucking know it was Dostoyevski's Crime and Punishment....fuck that was a hard fucking book to get through) and creative writing? In class during the "Evil" elective, we were required to write a short story...come to think of it, I'm pretty sure we were required to write short stories in all the electives...I can't even remember what mine was about but I do remember not holding back - the elective was "Evil" after all. I also remember the teacher (I'm sorry, I don't remember his name), after reading mine asking me - the new girl, the shy, cute blonde who sat in the back of the room - if people knew this about me...I just smiled. Yeah, got an A on that one too.
Although I took a very long break from writing anything, my love for horror has never faded. I won't say I've kept horror in my life as a daily thing but I did, and still do, love to read and watch it every chance I get. Well, I'm not sure whether it was fate or just good luck that caused C William Giles to follow me on twitter and send me a link to a review of his book, .....of Tortured Faustian Slumbers - riversofgrue.com - but whatever it was as soon as I read the review I was intrigued enough to buy the book. Okay...perhaps it didn't hurt that C William Giles looks like this...
I've always had a fascination with horror and in my earliest writings it showed. In grade 11 we were required to write a poem for English....mine was titled "My Nightmare" and was vivid with fire and pain (oh by the way, I don't mind spiders and snakes but fire scares the fucking shit out of me). I got an A.
In grade 12 we had the option of taking English electives, where for 3 terms (every 2.5 months - the 4th term was basic English that you were required to take) you had your choice of 4 different electives. Is it any wonder I took "Evil" (no shit, we read Stephen King's Salem's Lot for fucking school credit!), Crime and Punishment (I swear I didn't fucking know it was Dostoyevski's Crime and Punishment....fuck that was a hard fucking book to get through) and creative writing? In class during the "Evil" elective, we were required to write a short story...come to think of it, I'm pretty sure we were required to write short stories in all the electives...I can't even remember what mine was about but I do remember not holding back - the elective was "Evil" after all. I also remember the teacher (I'm sorry, I don't remember his name), after reading mine asking me - the new girl, the shy, cute blonde who sat in the back of the room - if people knew this about me...I just smiled. Yeah, got an A on that one too.
Although I took a very long break from writing anything, my love for horror has never faded. I won't say I've kept horror in my life as a daily thing but I did, and still do, love to read and watch it every chance I get. Well, I'm not sure whether it was fate or just good luck that caused C William Giles to follow me on twitter and send me a link to a review of his book, .....of Tortured Faustian Slumbers - riversofgrue.com - but whatever it was as soon as I read the review I was intrigued enough to buy the book. Okay...perhaps it didn't hurt that C William Giles looks like this...
How fucking heavy metal is he!! Anyway...ordered the book along with a couple of others. To my later dismay, I left ....Of Tortured Faustian Slumbers to sit at the end of my reading list. When I did pick it up a couple of months later, I couldn't put it down! I fucking LOVED how this guy wrote! His descriptions vivid, his characters, even the most sinister, were believable. I ate up every word greedily like the twisted little horror junkie I am.
I will be absolutely honest with you, as I neared the last 30 pages of the book I started to worry. I really didn't know how it was going to end but knew it must....the final pages were in sight....and I was so afraid that after keeping me captive throughout the whole book, the ending was going to be fucking lame and ruin the whole experience for me. But not one to be of a weak constitution, I faced my fears and read all the way to the end. One word..... Bravo!!! I fucking LOVED the ending!! Brilliant!!
I immediately found Craig (C William Giles) on twitter to gush about how much I had loved his creation and how sorry I was that it had to end! He happily fed me more by sharing more of his writing through his blog, In Darkness & Fire > cwgimmortal.wordpress.com. In particular a series he had collaborated with the Keeper of the Crimson Quill (the reviewer whose review had convinced me to give ....Of Tortured Faustian Slumbers a try in the first place) which featured one of the more evil, twisted characters in his book, Severin Frost.
I, being the witches familiar that I am, the cat that prowls the night, ever watchful and sly managed to slink between the bars of the gate that hold back the fires of hell to discover that Craig was a part of a creative group, led by Keeper and his blog, The Rivers of Grue > riversofgrue.com < it is here where you will find offerings from all. Since my discovery I've been moving from one to the other, rubbing up against these dark angels, feeding from the morsels that drop from their fingers through their keyboards.
Yes, I am a happy Cat (in the darkest of senses) with this incredibly talented group of writers and I confess, I do have a favorite. I have an adulation for Keeper that outshines all others (even my love for the King of macabre, Stephen King). Keeper, through his writing has made me laugh, he's seduced me and has scared the fucking shit out of me. Oh yes, he is THE master and nothing would make me happier than to one day settle in his lap, to rub against him and purr as he strokes my hair, hehehehehe...... ; )
Tuesday, 18 March 2014
Kyng - Burn the Serum
Eddie Trunk fucking rocks and because he does I listen to Eddie Trunk Rocks every week. For those of you who don't know who the fuck Eddie Trunk is, well, let me tell you....Eddie Trunk is a huge supporter of metal and kick ass rock music. Syndicated radio DJ and co-host of That Metal Show on VH1, Eddie keeps the classics alive and yes, sometimes even introduces us to new up and coming music.
Last year (2013), Eddie put in a lot of effort to back the Winery Dogs (you gotta fucking check out the Winery Dogs) and the last couple of weeks I've noticed he's been playing another relative newbie band. If Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age had a baby it would sound just like Kyng. Kyng is about to release their second album Burn the Serum and judging from what I've heard so far, it's going to fucking rock!
Last year (2013), Eddie put in a lot of effort to back the Winery Dogs (you gotta fucking check out the Winery Dogs) and the last couple of weeks I've noticed he's been playing another relative newbie band. If Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age had a baby it would sound just like Kyng. Kyng is about to release their second album Burn the Serum and judging from what I've heard so far, it's going to fucking rock!
ELECTRIC HALO
Burn the Serum is set for release on Razor and Tie on April 15, 2014, so we don't have long to wait to hear the rest of what these kick ass Los Angeles rockers have in store for us. In the meantime, you can order their first single Electric Halo from iTunes and pre-order bundles (includes hoodies, t-shirts, cds, etc) at kyngband.com.
Thanks again, Eddie, for sharing the rock! Keep those horns up high baby....... ; )
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