Show Me What You’re Made Of

Posted on May 7, 2015May 7, 2015 by Mike

What a ride it’s been for Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe over the last few years, huh? He’s been through hell and somehow avoided a lengthy prison sentence for the death of a fan during a concert in Prague back in 2010, having been acquitted in 2013. I know I wasn’t the only the only one to be relieved for him when the news came that he would come home. I personally put the blame on the security guard and the fan himself. I don’t do moshpits but if I were in a Suicidal Tendencies show or a LAMB OF GOD show I sure wouldn’t be drunk because I know I’d have to be VERY aware of all the other jackasses ready to clobber you.

I was well aware of his upcoming prison memoirs Dark Days, set to be released this July, by the time my girlfriend, Courtenay, told me that she was invited to his photography exhibition Show Me What You’re Made Of at Sacred Gallery in Manhattan this past Saturday, May 2nd. Whoa, wait. Randy Blythe? Photography? I already knew that he’s ridiculously intelligent, and I’m so looking forward to buying his book. But taking pictures too?? My girlfriend HATES Lamb of God so much but was so happy that he was able to come home, and was interested in seeing his work. I, of course, LOVE Lamb of God AND was so happy he came home. The kicker? My girlfriend was issued a permanent VIP pass by Kevin Wilson, the manager and defacto owner of Sacred Tattoo and Sacred Gallery, and therefore we could get in an hour ahead of everyone else. Of course we were going!

While waiting on line that night we met a college kid named Alexander, very nice…very talkative. Well, either that or he was trying to avoid the two seventeen year old dumb fucks in front of him on the line. In fact if you check out Metal Injection’s coverage of the exhibition you’ll see they even interviewed him during the halfway point of the story. I just wonder if when the reporter was trying to go somewhere else this guy still wasn’t done talking!

Around 7pm we were able to go in for a private viewing thanks to Coutenay’s VIP pass and need less to say I was absolutely blown the fuck away. He’s a natural! Randy has been apparently taking pictures for years, maybe a year or two before the Prague incident; he found the time to explore the surroundings of whatever city or country he might’ve been in a the time and just capture some breathtaking shots. Not to blow smoke up the guy’s ass but he definitely has a knack for timing, which is all too important when you shoot moving images.

Notice that the frames are a little…old looking? A little beaten up? Maybe…even old as fuck…like it was a piece of something else a long time ago? Well, you’d be right! These frames are courtesy of Frames by Greta. Greta Brinkman, a carpenter turned frame builder takes old pieces of wood and turns them in to picture frames of all sizes – rather than just throwing them out. She also happens to play bass for stoner metal band Druglord from Richmond, Virginia – Randy’s hometown.

I actually spoke to Randy for a few minutes and I tried to get him to explain to me how he edits his shit because it was so good and he told me that there was no real editing involved. Most people would yell “arrogant prick!” but he didn’t come off to me that way at all. I was almost offended again when he just ditched me but I understood he was getting pulled away because some couple bought a picture. While there I ran into my friends Jimmy and Peter Pallis, the singer and guitarist from Brooklyn based metal band Anaka. If you’re in the NYC at all you should check them out when they play the Gramercy Theater on Saturday, June 27th.

…and just like that you now know what I look like. Don’t get any ideas.

Everything was cool until some lanky 6 foot 8 fucktard arrived. I had a feeling he looked familiar, especially after everyone sitting on the couch next to mine began taking pictures on their cellphones. Then I heard him talking – loud as fuck – like some surfer stoner shithead with this gay looking red hat and this long, doofy looking jacket. My first reaction: “This motherfucker’s still alive?!” Remember Jesse Camp everybody?? The first MTV I Wanna Be A VJ contest winner from 1998? This was him and man he looks like SHIT.

He turned his head as my camera was taking the shot but he looks a lot older than 35. Drugs are a bitch, eh? But aside from that he was acting the same, talking the same, the STOOPID hand motions. Oh yeah. He was doing a video on the exhibition and he was interviewing Acey Slade, who was the DJ for the night. I’m not a fan of anything Acey played that night but man it was way better than ANY of the bands he’s ever played in.

I tried to get a picture with Randy before Courtenay and I left when I noticed a funny scene where someone trying to take a picture with Randy couldn’t get the camera to work. I found it so amusing I even made a video of it:

This video was taken right before I finally got a picture in with him. Funny guy. I went for the selfie pose when Randy decided “Ok that’s way too close. Here!” He then takes the phone from me, reaches as far back as he could with his lanky ass arms and takes a really good picture. “And…walla! There’s your picture!”, he said before he went off to take more pics. The smart ass style of the way he said almost pissed me off – again. But then I remembered “Oh wait! I probably would’ve done the same thing!”. That Randy, funny guy.

Workout Song of the Day

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Mike

This will drive anyone to lift heavy or just fight some guy and just not stop – even if several cops are trying to rip you off the guy you’re beating the shit out of! Ironically this is also the very first Testament song I ever heard back when I was in high school. Metal. As. Fuck. \m/\m/!!!!

Angel Vivaldi Live at Dingbatz

Posted on April 22, 2015April 22, 2015 by Mike

See this guy? Nice guitar! Also looks metro as FUCK, right? I would know. The night I met him he pointed at my forehead and told me “You have great eyebrows!” Well, for those of you who haven’t a clue who he is – because I sure as fuck had no idea until last summer/fall – this is former VeXt and Black Market Hero guitarist, 7 string guitar GOD and current YouTube sensation Angel Vivaldi and he can bury you and even every single one of your idols on guitar. As I said, I had no idea who he was until last summer when I met my girlfriend…who happens to be this guy’s best friend. So of course I learned a lot about the guy. All there really is to know though is the guy’s is absolutely IN-FUCKIN’-CREDIBLE! His aggression and his attitude on the guitar are unmatched. His creativity as a songwriter and as a soloist? Second to none. Below is the link to his latest music video from his latest album released late last year, Away With Words Part 1:

So this past Saturday Courtenay and I went to go see him play at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, during an all day festival, where he was playing a makeup gig since he injured his hand a few months back. We both showed up a minute or two apart from each other by chance and as soon as he saw me, “Eyebrows!”, he proclaimed before hugging me a tad too intently. Okay…

I had to take a picture of the Deception Theory sticker on the wall there. I used to work at Home Depot with their drummer, very awesome guy. I wonder how he’s doing.

I was starving so before we went inside we went to Dingo’s across the street. I’d say it’s like what Lucky 13’s was before they were able to relocate and feature bands again, a cool rock themed bar.

I’ve just got to hear what these guys sounded like!

So after leaving during one real shitty band we came back in time for an instrumental metal band called Oraculum. We saw them the last time we were there when they were filling in for Angel after his injury. They were ok when I first saw them but this time they were better, especially their lead guitarist. All that his millions of solos need is the attitude to go with the speed and aggression that’s already there and he’ll be going places.

And while they were on we caught this hipster looking fuckface.

This guy’s dumb head was constantly getting in the way once I began filming Angel’s set and I wanted to choke him so fucking badly.

Anyway, Angel Vivaldi had a one hour set. One hour. To obliterate everyone who went one before him. Here are the opening two songs from the set:

I do apologize for the sound quality. I hope to get a real camcorder soon so I don’t have to use the phone anymore.

The most people showed up just to see him, I know it, because I didn’t see a lot of people when I came in. Also, it was so nice out that unless Alice In Chains were playing a secret show at this place I doubt many people would have been there for anything. Just a year or two back no one would’ve given a shit about Angel Vivaldi or how hard he worked to get where he is and now he’s about to go on tour for his latest album. His entire band were so on point, so tight, so badass. Jake Skylyr had this amazing looking Carvin double neck 6 string bass, one neck with frets the other without. His single neck bass is the reason I couldn’t post my other video. That shit just ROARED over the whole band! Also, Bill Fore is a BEAST of a drummer. I swear he could play any style of metal…I’m pretty sure I heard them all that night. Jason Tarantino is an awesome guitarist, very capable of keeping up with Angel. I also heard him rip a few licks of his own that surely kicked my ass.

It was an awesome show and if he ever comes to your town I’d totally recommend you get your asses down to wherever he and his band are playing. I see nothing but a bright future for him.

As we were leaving I had to take this picture. As I was getting my phone ready some jackass opened the door, hit my head and had the dumbest look on his fuckin’ stupid face when asking me if I was ok before walking away like a retard. Some people are just dumb motherfuckers.

Here are some links to Angel’s music:

http://www.youtube.com/user/AngelVivaldi

http://www.facebook.com/angelvivaldi

http://www.angevivaldi.bigcartel.com

$haron ruins everything…again.

Posted on March 28, 2015March 30, 2015 by Mike

Over this past week Sharon Osbourne proved once again why she’s an out of touch, clueless, money hungry piece of shit. Five days ago she released a short promotional video announcing that Black Sabbath will be playing their final show when Ozzfest goes to Japan in November. There’s a lot wrong with this picture already.

Now before I go into that I’d like to quickly acknowledge that just maybe this was a decision made by Tony. The poor guy’s been fighting Lymphoma for three years now and I’m sure that it’s got to be taking it’s toll on him lately, especially when you factor in the touring schedule, how often he has to fly back home for treatments, and of course, the man is 67 years old. Therefore, I have no choice to respect that, that is if this was his decision. He’s the godfather of Heavy Metal – no one else can say that, I don’t care what anyone thinks. Without the sound HE created there is no Heavy Metal and he deserves all the respect in the world. I’ll forever be grateful to Tony Iommi. He was one of my biggest inspirations as a guitar player because he was and is as real as it gets.

Now for what I hate about this! It all boils down to the fact that their final show is to be at the very festival bearing their burnt out lead singer’s name. If that alone isn’t an ego play on Sharon’s behalf then I don’t know what is. There’ve been many times where I felt Sharon did certain things to Sabbath just to spite them for firing her future husband back in 1979. She helped Ozzy’s solo career take off and many of his solo albums in the 80’s surely outsold Sabbath’s post-Dio output without question. So therefore she must feel she has the upper hand against Tony and Geezer and she’ll do anything to rub it in their faces every chance she gets. And of course, Ozzy’s so burnt that he’ll do anything his puppeteer wife tells him!

Next….Japan?? Really? Really?! Some of you might think “hey good for Japan. They get to see Sabbath’s final show ever!” Me? Fuck that! I say a band like them, with a legacy as incredible as theirs, should be playing a home coming show in Birmingham, England, where the band was born. It’s only fitting. It started there? They should end it there. This is where they came from, that tough as nails steel town where four kids with no hope got the fuck out of there and accomplished things far beyond what they could’ve ever imagined! Yeah, they did a few Birmingham shows in 2012 while Tony was beginning his Lymphoma treatments but so fucking what? This is supposed to be the end this time, right? This is the good thing about Motley Crue – and no I’m not a fan of them. They all chose to end their tour – and career – at the Whiskey A Go-Go, where it all began for them back in 1981.

Now let’s talk about this Ozzfest lineup, since this last show is already set. In the video announcement for Ozzfest Japan, moneyb – oops, I meant Sharon – also mentions that Korn are also on the bill. I’m not against diversity in music or festivals; but Korn are the originators of the entire shitty nu-metal movement that DESTROYED real heavy metal for a long time. As if it wasn’t bad enough that those assholes are still breathing – why would anyone put them on a bill with BLACK FUCKING SABBATH, a band who’s one guitarist with two missing fingertips can wipe the floor with Korn’s two seven string guitarists, who bend down so low when on stage that they look like they’re sucking their own dicks?! And most importantly it just doesn’t fit musically. Sharon and her son Jack are notorious for pushing really bad, trendy, sound – alike bands on Ozzfest in the past. I think they only time they got it RIGHT was in 2004 when the co-headliners with Sabbath were Judas Priest featuring a newly returned Rob Halford and the next year when they took Iron Maiden with them. That was fucking awesome!

What really made me laugh was when Ozzy said recently that after Sabbath splits he plans to go back to his solo career. Ozz…please…let it go. You used to have an incredible voice; but that was a long time ago and it’s gone now. Oh wait – you can’t do that because $haron won’t let you. I’m guessing this is all revenge for that time you got drunk and tried to kill her. Whoops! That bitch is gonna work you until you die and then STILL make money off you when you go. If I were you – and if you still had a mind of your own! – I’d call it quits after the last Sabbath show. Buddy I’ve seen clips of the band playing “Children of The Grave” at the Barclay’s Center and you alone were AWFUL.

It’s a shame, really. It’s a fucked up way for Black Sabbath, the band that invented the music I love so much, to go out. I feel like it’s a royal slap in the face to their entire legacy. No, this is not their first Ozzfest, not by a long shot. But this is their FAREWELL. Sure, they’ve said this before; but I feel like this really can be the end for real because of Tony’s health problems. They say the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree…that’s the fucking truth when it comes to Sharon Osbourne. She’s just like the one guy she hated the most in her life – her father!

Introduction to a jerk

Posted on March 17, 2015January 11, 2016 by Mike

I never thought I’d start one of these things. I did a wordpress blog back in 2007 for some fucking worthless Advertisement course I took in college, despite the fact that it had absolutely nothing to do with what I originally wanted to do with my life. Again…worthless. So why am I here again…and why now? I’d like to think it’s because after years of curbing my thoughts and opinions as to avoid issues with those who can’t handle them I decided just recently that it’s about time I said what I had to say. My name’s Mike. I’m 30 years old and I’m a weightlifting, guitar raping (Yeah I said it!), sarcastic as fuck, ranting, rambling, angry metalhead. I’ve been a metalhead going back to the late nineties/early 2000’s, when it was so uncool to be a metalhead. Yeah, I went through shit that early. See, when my musical taste began darkening the “in” thing, depending on the year, was faggot ass Rap Metal shit like Limp Bizkit and Korn, or Pop Punk like Blink 180-suck. When nearly everyone I knew was listening to Weezer, Mudvayne and Emo I was the one guy taking the bus to Zig Zag Records on Victory Blvd buying the REAL classics. I’m talking Slayer’s Reign In Blood and Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying by Megadeth. That place was amazing and I miss it. After high school HELL I joined my college radio station. I won’t say what station because they don’t deserve the attention thanks to the few jerkoffs from back in the day that are STILL there like the losers they are. I was an assistant engineer and within a few months into my 2 plus year run there I began DJing. I began calling myself Metal Mike after a joke my then guitarist, Chad, made one day when I told him I was getting my own show. I don’t know that I was a local celebrity but I do know that when I began playing shows with my band a few people knew me as Metal Mike, which I thought was crazy. I’d also gotten phone calls from some strange motherfuckers. Trust me, I’ll get into that one day. During these years I became very opinionated in terms of music. I don’t know if it had to do with the fact that I wanted to be a journalist for a brief time, or that I used to write reviews for the CDs I played at my station, or I somehow developed extremely high standards of what Metal is and should be in my eyes. I also had become very opinionated about society and the morons surrounding me. I hate people and I’m extremely selective with who I hang with for many reasons. That’s not to say I’m friends with “just” metalheads because even THEY are so fucking cliquey it’s ridiculous! What the fuck happened?!?! I intend on using this blog for a few things. You might see my ramblings of the day, my takes on the bands that ruined me for life, surviving as a metalhead in the outside world, etc. But it’ll always be honest as fuck. You’ve been warned.

Confessions of an Angry Metalhead

Tag: “Guitar”