OHAI! I HAVE PLANS FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND

(screen cap courtesy of Metal Insider)

Nothing to say, as of now.  It’s months away.  I’m stoked as fuck, of course…and I’m pretty sure nothing could make this better.

Oh wait…

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HARDCORE….NO MORE

Straight off my missed connection with Walter Schreifels, Vince from MetalSucks has done posts on Walter bands TWO days in a row.  Once for Rival Schools, and the other time for Quicksand.  I was happy to see such a good response to these posts, since, most MetalSucks commenters flip a shit if they’re not talking about something totally br0000000tal.  After all, there is more to life and heavy music than just Slayer and Iron Maiden.  I’m a big fan of some good solid post-hardcore.  Walter has definitely been an icon in this realm, and the man’s had a very diverse career.  As I’ve noted before, hardcore dudes like him tend to go soft after a while.  With every new project Walter came out with, he slowly became less and less heavy.  It happens a lot.  People just stop being angry, I guess.

Recently, I was revisiting a post-hardcore band I was into a few years ago called mewithoutYou.  I interviewed them once for my college newspaper and was super stoked at how nice they were.  I feel like not that many people in the metal world ever knew about these guys.  Probably because they’re Christian.  But they’re not one of THOSE Christian bands…they just really like Jesus.  It’s cool..whatever.  mewithoutYou definitely have a lot of Quicksand influence….as well as a little At the Drive-In and Jawbox.  It’s really solid stuff.  Singer Aaron Weiss has a unique shout/sing style that tends to make people love or hate the band overall.  But I like it.  It’s very authentic.  Aaron seems like a really passionate guy, so it works.

But over the course of just a few years, mewithoutYou underwent quite a transformation from hardcore/post hardcore wonder to something that quite resembles a “kumbaya” sing along.  We see changes in artists of every genre, but to watch a band emerge from the hardcore bubble as a happy-go-lucky bunch is something that I find really fascinating.  For those of you who have never heard mewithoutYou, here is a brief overview:

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DAUGHTERS MAKE BIG GIRLS CRY

Blood and Shutter recently brought these limited edition Daughters t-shirt designs to my attention, and they are creepy as hell.  They all feature a different girl crying…tissues and all.  You can purchase them on the Hydra Head online store.  Their new self-titled album (which features similar art) is out today!

I often wonder how my mother would react if she saw merch items like this.  I remember back a few years ago when I had this tote bag with a picture of a bloody Marilyn Monroe on it and my whole family thought it was the most gruesome thing they had ever laid eyes on.  Since then, I’ve made sure to avoid wearing anything around them that might cause them to make annoying comments.  Band t-shirts, shiny black leggings….I’ll even cut down on the black altogether.  I don’t even own anything THAT bad…nothing all that bad at all, actually.  (No unreadable logos for me, thank you). But that’s how we whiney “tribe” families tend to operate.  My mom even thinks my Tom Jones tee is weird.  Seriously.

Do any of you also tone down your “style” when you’re with your family?

-Elise

STRAIGHT OUTTA DETWAT: SILENT BUTT DEADLY

There is nothing funnier in the entire world then farts. Besides poo, which I tend to lump (pun intended) into the same category. When I’m old and begin to lose my bowels on an hourly basis, I will be laughing too hard at the sounds coming from my asshole to really care. Speaking of farts, this video has everything to do with just how potent one simple pass of the gas can be, and absolutely nothing to do with metal:

THIS WOMAN FARTED SO HARD, SHE PASSED THE FUCK OUT. Oh my god, what did she eat? What on EARTH needs to get out of your body so bad that it literally causes you to fall unconcious? Was it the smell, or the shear movement of the gas? Honestly, I’m IMPRESSED. What does this video have to do with metal? Well…

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PARTY ON, GET CRUNK, WHAT WHAAAT

I’m chiming in quite late about this…but there’s been lots of talk about Andrew W.K. in recent weeks.  Is he or is he not the same guy he was when 2001’s I Get Wet was released?  Is Andrew W.K. just some “personality” dreamt up by some record company?  And who the hell is STEEV MIKE??  Well, Andrew was put through the ringer at a recent Q&A here in New York when these very topics came up.  I cringed at how much the guy was stuttering.  It’s so sad.  Obviously he is legally bound and can’t quite reveal what exactly is going on.  So why badger him?  Bottom line…I love I Get Wet.  That album, to this day, is still my JAM.  Andrew W.K./Steev Mike/whoever he is, made pretty much the most epic party album EVAR.  So let’s just appreciate it for what it is and move on.

So now I ask this question… What is your ultimate party album?  As in GET CRUNK / TAKE SHOTS / MAKE OUT WITH YOUR COUSIN ON A SLIMY COUCH kind of party.  Besides AWK’s masterpiece, I’d have to go with Every Time I Die’s Hot Damn!.  That album is so “college” for me.  What about you guys?  Pick one.  Only one.

-Elise

THE BR00TAL TR00TH - HENRY ROLLINS

That’s right- HENRY ROLLINS. And yes, he’s still angry. Fortunately he wasn’t too angry to take some time from his VERY busy schedule to answer a few questions for Reign in Blonde. I’ll be at his performance at The Westcott in Syracuse on the 27th, but perhaps you see him when he comes to your town. Or don’t go, cause it ain’t gonna hurt his feelings. Here’s what the legend had to say:

Do you ever read the comments on your Vanity Fair articles?  Or do you try to keep away from internet trolls?

I have not read them. I send them writing now and then. Whatever anyone posts about what I post is protected speech and long may it wave.

Do you have any thoughts on Andrew W.K., who also started in music and now does motivational speaking?

I don’t know anything about the guy really. I have heard some of songs of his many years ago but don’t know anything about him. 

How is performing for our troops different from performing in front of regular civilians?

It’s not. They are cool and happy to have something different in front of them than the usual. 

How do you define patriotism? Is there anyone in the hard rock/metal community that fits your definition? If not, who are some people that fit your qualifications?

For me, patriotism is abiding by the Constitution as best you understand that and looking out for your fellow Americans. I don’t know who does that, I don’t look at people that way. I don’t like calling someone’s patiotism into question unless they do mine. When they do, I am more than happy to analyze theirs. I don’t like Ms. Palin excluding me from what being a “real American” {is} but it’s for her to say, it is protected speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution. 

While many artists, rock and otherwise, write lyrics about their dissatisfaction with the US government and our military industrial complex, it seems to me that more often than not, it’s all lot of talk and very little action. Do you agree? How have you managed to break this mold?

Who says I have? What is a mere mortal to do against a multibillion dollar industry? If good songs could stop wars, Dylan and Marley would have stopped them. 

Peanut butter: Crunchy or creamy?

Crunchy

-Julia

I HATE JASMIN ST. CLAIRE

UGH. Seriously, gag me.

Some moron apparently told Jasmin St. Claire that she was famous enough to write (note: I’m using the work “write” loosely here, who knows if she can ever read) a memoir of her life. For what it’s worth, at least it’s appropriately titled:

What the Hell Was I Thinking?!! Confessions Of The World’s Most Controversial Sex Symbol

That’s a great question indeed Jasmin, er Rhea or whatever the hell your name is. First of all there are far better examples of controversial sex symbols than you (does Marilyn Monroe ring a bell?). Second, just stick with the porn and wrestling. It’s pretty out of character for me to outright slam someone on the site, I try my best to be open and accepting of all sorts of people and things (after all, I’ve never met a completely normal metalhead) but I just think she’s a disgrace to the community and a poor representation of what metal stands for; especially women. Ladies, I don’t know about you but I don’t want some porn star known for her gang bang scenes acting like she knows more about metal than Lemmy himself.

Enough. I’m sure you catch my drift.

-Julia

JULIA HAS A QUICKIE WITH SCOTT AND NATE OF SKELETONWITCH

February 18th, 2010. Twas a wonderful night indeed. Before they jumped on stage to rip the faces off of the many little heathens in the crowd, Scott Hedrick and Nate Garnett sat down with me to have a little chat about boozin’, sandwiches, why they’re such an awesome band, and of course- Demi Lovato.

Instead of a long interview to read (which would be silly, this is called a “quickie” after all), we’re tryin’ something new here at RiB: AUDIO! So, if you want to hear what was said, exactly how we said it, just go ahead and press play, sit back, and chill for 15 minutes. And try not to make fun of my incessant laughter, k? ENJOY!

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THIS VIDEO IS FUCKING AWESOME….ON MUTE

No, seriously…don’t unmute it.  You’ve been warned.

Enjoy!

-Elise

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY ATTEMPTS TO BREAK AIR GUITAR RECORD

Normally I do not approve of silly things like air guitar competitions, but my own alma mater has been on a roll with breaking world records over the past couple years.  In 2008, the Rutgers University World Record organization broke the record for largest gathering of people dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and in 2009 it was the record for largest gathering of people dressed as Where’s Waldo.  And this year….

Rutgers University (in New Brunswick) will attempt to break the record for largest air guitar ensemble this Friday @ 8 pm at the Louis Brown Athletic Center.  Admission is $5, and some air guitar champions will be in attendance….if that means anything to anyone.  Details can be found over the the World Record website.

If you’re anywhere near NJ, be sure to get on out and support the cause.  I won’t be there, however.  I got my fill of air guitar of Major League Dreidel.

All in good fun, but go pick up real guitar, kids.

-Elise