Tuesday, February 19, 2008

2 Days In A Row?

Ha ha...Guess I am done slacking...

Just added a couple of new reviews...they are in the November section of the blog...

Also, there is a pretty cool Immolation/Rotting Christ show review located at Metal Temple in which we were mentioned...the writer mentioned some incorrect songs, but he must have been using our my space for reference...Either way, he had some great things to say about us...Cheers and thanks for the review!!

Also, some very big news will be announced soon...Regarding both Cardiac Arrest and Convulsions...Just think back to 1983...

Monday, February 18, 2008

Rotting Christ/Immolation Show Review

Well, our first show in the Chicago area since September...And it was a great one!!

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We had to be at Logan Square at around 2pm. Show started at 7pm. I really did not mind this at all. When playing shows, I like to get there early, just basically to unload and then relax...I am usually very crabby on the day of a show, until I get to the venue and everyone else in the band is there and accounted for...then I tend to chipper up...

I was the first one there, and the touring bands were there as well. They began unloading, and I offered to help. Why not? They are people too and did not have a crew, so I figured they would be grateful to have an extra set of hands...which they were...

Anyone familiar with Logan Square Auditorium knows that there are stairs...lots of them...three flights to be exact...and no working elevator. It was tough, but we got the job done. With lots of huffing and puffing and laughter. It is kind of cool though when people take a shitty situation and make the best out of it...

I was kind of worried about this show...not about our performance, but Logan Square is a huge, well, square room that reminded me of a high school gym...sound bounces around all over the place...I remember seeing the Vader/Destruction show there and all of the opening bands sounded like shit because of the room...And because of this, we decided to play a majority of our mid paced songs...Amsterdamn suggested that last week, and it worked out to our benefit!!

Another great thing was that the touring bands were sharing the backline...this really saves time in set up/tear down and make the show run efficiently.

We all kind of split off after load in...I more or less hung around, the other guys went to grab food...I did find a bar and had a beer...Came back and listened to Rotting Christ's soundcheck...Keep in mind what I mentioned above about the room...it took them a while, but it seemed to get dialed in. Of course, that could all change when people are in there...I talked to Sakis after their soundcheck...we used to write each other back in the late 80's early 90's...I have a few of their demos, which I always liked, but I lost touch with them and never did keep track of them after that...But, Sakis seemed to remember me and asked how all was going, where I disappeared too after all those years, etc. Very nice guy...

We were up for soundcheck so we got everything loaded on stage and did a couple of songs...did a majority of Underworld Hate...it sounded real muddy on stage, but it was workable...Jim asked for a couple of tweaks and we did some of Make Them Die Slowly...everyone seemed satisfied, and people were starting to get in at this point...We were ready to go...

So we took the stage a little before 7pm...which was fine by me, because we only had a half hour to play...and while our set was just under a half hour, sometimes shows don't run smoothly and bands get cut short on time...Here was our setlist for the night...

The Inevitable
Cadaverous Presence
The Haunted Remnants
Beyond Trauma
Beast Among Many
E-Viper-ate
Stiffs In The Basement
Carnage Your Fate

We were able to play our whole set...all went off without a hitch and we had gotten a great response...Thanks to everyone who got there early to catch us...

Tear down went fairly smooth...I missed most of Adverse Seferia's set because of loading out...they are a black metal band. I don't know too much about them as the first time I heard of them is when we got announced on the show two weeks ago...

Belphegor was up next...another band I am not real familiar with. I did see them back last year when they toured with Unleashed. They do that death/black metal cross...it is not bad, but the way the room was, everything sounded like a blur...

Immolation was up next...I really used to be into them, but have not kept track of them...I have one of the newer albums, and it is just kind of there for me...but nonetheless, they put on a great show, and they were cool guys. No ego bullshit or anything like that.

Rotting Christ was next and again, I have not kept up with them over the years, so I was clueless to every song they played. But they did sound really good and the crowd was into them.

I basically was working the merch table all night. Which I like doing. Lots of people will come up and talk and hang out. Nowadays, shows are all about the hanging out and bullshitting with people for me...It sounds bad, but many times I could care less about bands that are playing...it is all a social thing for me...

A couple of disappointments though...Um, Logan Square really sucks on beer prices...$5.00 for a domestic bottle...Ugh. I tried to get some freebies, but of course, I get fucked again and it did not happen. Oh well...Thanks to the few who bought me beers that night. Much appreciated!!!

Timing is everything...and that is why all ages shows really suck for me...a lot of people missed us, which I totally understand...For an every day working stiff, it is damn near impossible to get to a show when it starts...all ages shows have to be done by curfew, so you can't really win either way. But anyways, I just want to thank everyone who talked to me and apologized for missing our set...Hopefully you can catch us the next time, whenever that will be...

Back to merch...we are officially sold out of Morgue Mutilations T Shirts...I don't know if we are getting any more, since now, all of our focus will be on Cadaverous Presence...And speaking of CP, we will be doing the DJ thing at The Exit on March 2nd. Hopefully more friends will come out for that...

I ended the night up at Metal Haven...took a little ride to hang out with Mark, have a few beers, and let him know how the show went.

Thanks to Frank and FM Entertainment for putting us on the show. And also, thanks to his crew, Mike and Adam, for all the assistance throughout the night. You guys are all top notch in my book!! You run shows the way they should be run...And we can't wait to work with you guys again!! Thanks also to everyone who caught our set and got into us!! And for all the folks who bought stuff from us that night. Thanks to everyone who left the great comments on our My Space page as well!! We really appreciate the support!!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Slacking Off

Yup...did not bother to really keep this thing current...lots of stuff going on...

I'm still a bum...no change on the job front...and I had to get rid of my truck...seems that in this neighborhood, a disabled vehicle is a target and an open invitation to fuck with it even more...So I junked it...Got $150.00 for it...It was old (12 years) and had 200K on it, so I wouldn't have got much for it anyway...My other vehicle (a 93 Saturn) is getting repaired as I type this...it has been sitting in my old town since I left as I really didn't need it at the time...so I will have wheels again soon...

Very busy on the band front...

The new Cardiac Arrest album, Cadaverous Presence, should be out in March sometime...The master is ready and in our hands and I am told it sounds great (I have only heard a sample track) so looking forward to getting that tonight. We are just waiting on final layout stuff and it will be off to the label right away. Keep your fingers crossed for a quick turn time in printing...Also, we got a call last week to open for the Rotting Christ/Immolation gig in Chicago...Our first Chicago show since September...and maybe our last one if I have anything to say about it...We will also be doing the DJ thing at The Exit on March 2nd...We were hoping to have the album in our hands by then, but sometimes things don't go as planned...So, we'll be teasing that night...Lots of shows planned for the year...mainly fests...With the big ones being LA Murderfest in April, Mayhem in May (KY) in May, and Central Illinois Metalfest in July. Should be a fun year...We also have begun writing again...2 new songs with a third in the halfway point...

Severed is going once again. Our CD is completed and we have began practicing again. Regarding the CD, we have no idea what we are going to do with it. Our goal was basically to record everything we had since 1995, just to have it...We wanted to release a free promo, but I really like the way it turned out. There are still a few tweaks that need to be made, but overall, I am very happy with the end product...We may pick a few songs to do as promo, but I may end up shopping something...We have a show in Milwaukee on March 1st...playing with No Slogan and Speed Freaks...should be fun!!

Gangulated Pus does not have much going on...we put one of our songs on the My Space page and it has gotten pretty decent response...we have another one that is done for the most part, but I'll be damned if I remember it...lol Gregg and I plan on getting together at some point...But busy time is coming, so I'll see...

Convulsions...Yes, Stevo (Impetigo) asked me to be a part of his new project, Convulsions...I am stoked!! We have been friends for a long time now, but I never thought I would be in a band with him. This will be a work in progress...from what I know, I will be getting stuff sent to me to learn...where it goes after that is anyones guess...but I am so looking forward to doing this. Here is the Convulsions My Space.

Now on to some of the live shows I have been to...and mind you, it has not been many as I am trying to lay low and save some cash. Plus, I am just getting sick of all the damn drama going on...

Deceased @ The Double Door--This was a pretty great show. It was Mike LeGros' 40th b day, so he threw a kick ass show featuring all of his bands (Hell's Corspe, Disinter, Earthen, Metallian) and had Half Gorilla, Dead For Days, and the mighty Deceased on as well...Adam played in Hell's Corpse and they played 4 tunes that night. It was strange seeing Adam in a different band, but it was also really cool. He had a blast and learned them tunes pretty quickly...sounded great. Deceased was a highlight for me...this was the first time seeing them live. I have always missed out for one reason or another. But they did not disappoint...Played quite a few from Luck of the Corpse, which made me happy. They were super tight and flawless!! Not to mention cool...I finally met King after all these years. We used to write each other back in the day, but never met personally. So that finally happened!! Great show, great night!!

Anal Blast @ The End Zone--Their farewell tour. I have known Don for a number of years, and his health is in pretty bad shape. So he is calling it a day and doing one last tour. I actually wasn't going to go to this show, but changed my mind at the last minute. It was all the way in Aurora and I don't really like driving far anymore. Plus, I thought there were too many bands on the bill. Makes for a less memorable show experience...I can't keep track...But AB kicked ass as always. I'm glad I went.

Superchrist @ The Brauerhouse--One of my favorite bands. Take old Iron Maiden meets Motorhead and you pretty much got it. They played a great set and there was a decent turnout. I picked up their new 7" (on blue vinyl no less) and hung out with Chris most of the night. Can't wait to see them again.

Jungle Rot @ Reggies--Pretty fun night although the turnout was disappointing. Jungle Rot kicked ass as usual...they never disappoint and are one of my favorite bands in the scene. I have not seen most of the guys in awhile, so it was a nice little reunion. Another great band on the bill was Infinite Missiles...great crossover thrash in the vein of DRI without sounding gay, like many of these beer drinking zombie thrash bands that are out there today...I suggest checking them out...

Well, that about covers it for now. I'll try keeping this up to date more. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to type...