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Archive for June, 2023

Edgar Camacho–Super Trash Clash (2022) translation (2022)

Posted in Edgar Camacho, Eva Ibarzabal, Graphic Novel, Huh?, Humiliation, Parenting, Top Shelf Productions, Translation, Video Games on June 3, 2023| Leave a Comment »

SOUNDTRACK: hiatus.

[READ: June 2023] Super Trash Clash

This graphic novel reminded me of Scott Pilgrim, but more for the drawing style than for the video game connection.

I have to admit I was a little confused in the beginning.  A young woman is walking down the street and she sees a video game in the window of…a pawn shop?

I misunderstood the jump cut.  Obviously, the woman is now opening a chest, but I read it as a dumpster–that she had found this video game in a dumpster.  This seemed further confirmed when she plus the game in and her initials are there.

Okay, so I misunderstood, but that’s more on me, I think.  Because the entire rest of the story is the flashback to her having the game in the first place.

We see Dul (for that is her name) saying she can’t go to the arcade wit her friend Misa because her mother needs her.  When he mother gets home, Dul reminds her (again) that it is her birthday coming up and she really wants a new video game because she mastered Italian Bros like a thousand times.  Her mother reminds her that she is not made of money. (more…)

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Panchiko / Horse Jumper of Love / LSD and the Search for God (Brooklyn Bowl, Philadelphia, PA, June 2, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Brooklyn Bowl, Horse Jumper of Love, LSD and the Search for God, Panchiko, Philadelphia, PA on June 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 2, 2023] Panchiko / Horse Jumper of Love / LSD and the Search for God

The story of Panchiko is absurd.

The band first received public attention in 2016 when their 2000 demo EP D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L was discovered by a 4chan user in a charity shop in Sherwood, Nottingham and shared online. The EP’s status as lost media led to a dedicated cult following and a community devoted to tracking down its band members. This was unbeknownst to the band until 2020, when Davies was found and contacted by a fan through Facebook.

Panchiko has since released two compilation albums remastering their older music: a reissue of D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L combining their first two EPs and Ferric Oxide (Demos 1997-2001). In December 2021, the band performed their first show in over twenty years in their hometown of Nottingham, after which they embarked on their first tour in the United States.  In November 2021, they amassed over 10 million streams on Spotify.

I mean, not to mention that the word they are talking about is actually Pachinko.  But whatever.  I listened to the EP back in 2019 or so and liked it.  I considered seeing them when they came around in 2022, but it fell through for some reason.

I didn’t actually hear about this show until a few days ago and it was too late to make plans to go. I haven’t even really listened to the new music to know if I wanted to go, so no big deal.

Back in 2021, when I looked up Horse Jumper of Love, I discovered

They play downbeat, rather depressing mope rock.  With occasional flares of noise attached.  I’d hope they’d be more lively in concert.  But I doubt it somehow.

LSD and the Search for God are pretty interesting.  I listened to a few of their songs and really liked them. And then, just as quickly, I got tired of them.  Drugs, huh?

LSD and the Search for God hit the Northern California coast in 2005–seemingly from another space and time–dosing San Francisco’s underground psychedelic music community with hypnotic live shows built upon swirling guitars, otherworldly drones, fuzzed-out pop hooks, and youthfully flirtatious male/female vocals.

I suspect they’d be very good live.

 

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Mike’s Dead / The Haunt / Crucial Device / Death Valley Dreams (Warehouse on Watts, Philadelphia, PA, June 2, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Death Valley Dreams, Mike's Dead, Philadelphia, PA, The Haunt, Warehouse on Watts on June 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 2, 2023] Mike’s Dead / The Haunt / Crucial Device / Death Valley Dreams

The only reason I know about this show is because my friend Ryan Williams is in Death Valley Dreams.  He’s a great guitar player who has been bouncing around with bands for a while.  I’ve never actually seen him play live, and this was one where I thought I might be able to make the show.

But a Friday night show one very short notice (I found out two days ago) was really hard to secure.  So it didn’t happen.

I have never heard of Mike’s Dead.  His bio says:

Combining elements of legendary industrial/ hard rock groups such as Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails, & Limp Bizkit with modern trap/ electronic elements,  American rapper & producer, Mike’s Dead, has paved his own lane as a multifaceted artist.

Had I gone to this show, I probably would have left during this set.  Or, maybe he pulled it all together in a way I might have liked.

I have seen The Haunt open for The Hu and frankly I’m surprised that they weren’t the headliners.  But maybe they’re not that famous.  About that 2021 show,  I wrote

The Haunt, formerly known as AnastasiaMax are from South Florida. The band consists of siblings, Anastasia Grace Haunt (lead vocals), and Maxamillion Haunt (vocals, guitar and production).

Anastasia has an amazing voice–really power and diversity.  Max sang lead and harmony vocals and their voices sounded fantastic together.  The set was great and I felt like they really won over the audience.

Crucial Device is a ‘synth-punk’ band formed in 2022 by Steve Saputelli, leader of the 90’s industrial-cyberpunk originators Punch Drunk.  According to his bio, he is an active multi-instrumentalist and production enthusiast, he also built and performed with his own animatronic, signal controlled band members!

I’d totally want to see them if t here were animatronic players!

I only found out that Ryan was in Death Valley Dreams a few days ago.  I hadn’t even heard of the band before that.  Their bio (from before Ryan joined–I think he’s just a touring keyboard player at  the moemnt) says

Death Valley Dreams combines haunting guitar textures, infectious melodies, dark and thought-provoking lyrics, pulsing grooves, and almost nostalgic-sounding synth atmospheres. As one fan described, “It’s as if The Cars got David Bowie to sing and played something that could have been on The Lost Boys soundtrack.” The sound is familiar yet fresh and unique.

That Cars/Bowie thing is pretty accurate actually.

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Silversun Pickups / The Backfires (Xcite Center, Bensalem, PA, June 2, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bensalem, PA, Silversun Pickups, The Backfires, Xcite Center on June 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 2, 2023] Silversun Pickups / The Backfires

Silversun Pickups were doing a four date mini-tour and I was sure I could finally get to see them.

I’d have preferred to see Silversun Pickups at Parx (even though I’ve had some really bad experiences there lately) because it is easier to get to.  But tickets there were $30 more than at Starland.  So the hell with that.

Anyhow, I have thought about seeing Silversun Pickups a few times and it never materialized.  They have two songs that I love and a few others that I like quite a lot.

I bought a ticket for NJ so I wasn’t likley to go to Parx as well.  Even when I didn’t go to Starland.  Alas.

The Backfires are a band from New York (and the lead guy lived in London for a few years).  They are a rocking alternative band in the Arctic Monkeys vein.  I enjoyed most of their recently released EP.  Word has it that they are going to be the next big thing.  Let’s find out.

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Silversun Pickups / The Backfires (Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ, June 1, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Sayreville, NJ, Silversun Pickups, Starland Ballroom, The Backfires on June 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: June 1, 2023] Silversun Pickups / The Backfires

I tend to dislike Starland Ballroom, primarily because it can take forever to get into the building.  I missed an entire opening act while waiting online outside.   I’d have preferred to see Silversun Pickups at Parx (even though I’ve had some really bad experiences there lately) because it is easier to get to.  But tickets there were $30 more than at Starland.  So the hell with that.

Starland has acknowledged their shitty check in process by now instituting a $15 VIP/skip the line ticket.  So, reward them for being shitty at their jobs.  No thanks.

Anyhow, I have thought about seeing Silversun Pickups a few times and it never materialized.  They have two songs that I love and a few others that I like quite a lot.

This show was during a week that I had no other shows and during which nothing big was going on.  And, my friend Brendan was going to be there.  So I waited until the day before the show to buy a ticket.

Then I got home and life caught up with me and I had things to do and couldn’t go.  Alas.

The Backfires are a band from New York (and the lead guy lived in London for a few years).  They are a rocking alternative band in the Arctic Monkeys vein.  I enjoyed most of their recently released EP.  Word has it that they are going to be the next big thing.  Let’s find out.

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