tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75904422871871693192024-03-14T05:53:33.415-07:00NOTHING IS IMMINENToccasional outbursts of unrequested opinionsSamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-44889997480958303382015-04-03T06:23:00.002-07:002015-04-03T06:23:28.110-07:00Books for saleTo help finance Dim Shores and other related endeavors, I am selling some of my books. Thomas Ligotti, Caitlín Rebekah Kiernan, Stephen King, Joe Lansdale, Robert McCammon, Bentley Little, Brian Lumley, Philip José Farmer, more. Many Subterranean Press hardcovers. Also a set of 7 mini-comics from Adrian Tomine (signed) and an original Raymond Pettibon zine from 30 years ago.<br />
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If any of that sounds good, <a href="http://dimshores.apps-1and1.com/for-sale/" target="_blank">please take a look</a>. Thanks.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-42966539249761126352015-03-19T13:44:00.004-07:002015-03-19T13:44:31.592-07:00DIM SHORES<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoDAxnUFVq3pQunqut3O9_w8VAhRnWnH-9K3TAF2nlYg69OU72wVl_gC5YdKzVwRfsNF_R1Hf1HFifRx5ms2rL9GIB57HTN3RaOAZU7I2EF-eO8i_wQo5Pxn_cldGUAkanSYw3wcFXlo/s1600/dim-shores-temp_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoDAxnUFVq3pQunqut3O9_w8VAhRnWnH-9K3TAF2nlYg69OU72wVl_gC5YdKzVwRfsNF_R1Hf1HFifRx5ms2rL9GIB57HTN3RaOAZU7I2EF-eO8i_wQo5Pxn_cldGUAkanSYw3wcFXlo/s1600/dim-shores-temp_small.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am starting up a micropress to publish chapbooks. I am very excited about this. More information will be at <a href="http://dimshores.com/" target="_blank">DIM SHORES</a> as it becomes available.<br />
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<br />Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-43561889947624146022015-01-04T18:13:00.000-08:002015-01-04T19:40:17.094-08:00Scott Nicolay's ANA KAI TANGATA<style>
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<i><b>NOTE</b>: as mentioned in a <a href="http://nothingisimminent.blogspot.com/2013/12/necronomicon-2013-providence-exhaustive.html" target="_blank">previous blog post</a> here a year or so ago, Scott Nicolay was my room mate at NecronomiCon 2013. He was a great roomie but that is not why I wrote this. ANA KAI TANGATA blew me away, and I want more people to read it. Fully disclosed, here is my take on this top-shelf bottle of Weird.</i><br />
<br />
+++++++++++++<br />
<br />
While Scott Nicolay’s stories had previously appeared in a
few places, I was unfamiliar with his work until I read “Eyes Exchange Bank” in
the excellent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ligotti" target="_blank">Thomas</a> <a href="http://www.ligotti.net/" target="_blank">Ligotti</a> tribute anthology <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Grimscribes-Puppets-Joseph-Pulver/dp/1937408019/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1420414938&sr=1-1" target="_blank">THE GRIMSCRIBE’S PUPPETS</a> (<a href="http://www.miskatonicriverpress.com/products/gp.shtml" target="_blank">Miskatonic River Press</a>, 2013),<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>winner of the <a href="http://www.shirleyjacksonawards.org/nominees/" target="_blank">2013 Shirley Jackson Award</a> for
Best Anthology. A dense cloud of confusion, dread, and decay lazily drifted up
from his words, and it was one of my favorite stories in a TOC stacked with
some of the best names working in the weird/horror field today. (The book won
that Shirley Jackson Award for a reason.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdR1D_H05lHUJBH-RBeFSTgqbN6nm6KqXAx1kwAwOTuWHB6b2xwTXjVQtkFnbFWwPsHsBr9fpw5xVOGO2oxIuqIe6BGI7G5SBMFTom74hQ5QmTT0W6rgkU3D5iiMy8aV31l6OlybhZEc/s1600/grimscribes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdR1D_H05lHUJBH-RBeFSTgqbN6nm6KqXAx1kwAwOTuWHB6b2xwTXjVQtkFnbFWwPsHsBr9fpw5xVOGO2oxIuqIe6BGI7G5SBMFTom74hQ5QmTT0W6rgkU3D5iiMy8aV31l6OlybhZEc/s1600/grimscribes.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful cover by Daniele Serra. I think this is my favorite book of any sort for 2013.</td></tr>
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Scott had already had stories in <a href="http://lovecraftzine.com/" target="_blank">The LovecrafteZine</a> (“<a href="http://lovecraftzine.com/magazine/issues/2012-2/issue-16-july-2012/in-the-tank-by-scott-nicolay/" target="_blank">In The Tank</a>,” July 2012) and <a href="http://www.strange-aeons.com/" target="_blank">Strange Aeons</a> (“You Are What You Eat,” <a href="http://www.strange-aeons.com/store_10.html" target="_blank">Issue 10</a>). They were shorter and written earlier then “Eyes Exchange Bank” but
I still found them compelling, a cut above standard genre writing. I put a tick
mark next to Nicolay’s name in my mental catalog.</div>
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In early 2014, Nicolay published a chapbook through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DunhamsManorPress" target="_blank">Dunhams Manor Press</a>, THE BAD OUTER SPACE. Later in the year, he had an entry
(co-written with his son) in the outstanding <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laird_Barron" target="_blank">Laird</a> <a href="http://lairdbarron.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Barron</a> tribute anthology <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Children-Old-Leech-Carnivorous/dp/1939905079/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1420395559&sr=1-1" target="_blank">THE CHILDREN OF OLD LEECH</a> (<a href="http://wordhorde.com/" target="_blank">Word Horde</a>, 2014). Their story “Tenebrionidae” closes out the book and
again, it is one of my favorite things in a thoroughly superior collection
loaded with heavy hitters. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FuOJseh9S-ZzGd3R93vZaVGUp02oHOGM1HTvZvL5xjVZMqShCbJt5AjGuwzqHLM5Je9GhbBXaRwyCItaHFVeWXT_pePiXR-5Y1Unue_4IDwmAXMZb_zv_l6YyLYjW0am3GYC3tpcRk4/s1600/bad_leech.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2FuOJseh9S-ZzGd3R93vZaVGUp02oHOGM1HTvZvL5xjVZMqShCbJt5AjGuwzqHLM5Je9GhbBXaRwyCItaHFVeWXT_pePiXR-5Y1Unue_4IDwmAXMZb_zv_l6YyLYjW0am3GYC3tpcRk4/s1600/bad_leech.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">THE CHILDREN OF OLD LEECH is out in paperback and Kindle now too. Good luck getting your hands on THE BAD OUTER SPACE.</span></td></tr>
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And then he dropped <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ana-Kai-Tangata-Damned-Doomed/dp/1878252089/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420395614&sr=1-1&keywords=ana+kai+tangata" target="_blank">ANA KAI TANGATA</a> (<a href="http://www.fedoganandbremer.com/" target="_blank">Fedogan & Bremer</a>, 2014) on us. The book is comprised of eight substantial tales, four original
stories and four reprints. Of the four reprints, “Eyes Exchange Bank” and "alligators" can
easily be found elsewhere. "Eyes Exchange Bank" is in THE GRIMSCRIBE'S PUPPETS, and “alligators” was published in the little-distributed
and currently defunct magazine <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phantasmagorium-October-2011-Issue-1-ebook/dp/B007085CEY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397131020&sr=8-1&keywords=phantasmagorium" target="_blank">Phantasmagorium</a>, now available as a Kindle edition. The other two stories are nearly impossible to find. “Ana Kai Tangata” appeared in the
almost-mythical anthology <a href="http://aklopress.bigcartel.com/product/aklonomicon" target="_blank">THE AKLONOMICON</a>, a very interesting book with a sad history that was
never properly produced. The fourth story, “The Bad Outer Space,” was printed
as that chapbook mentioned above, in a very limited print run (50).
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAdg_H8mOBkSNRfFn0a_WjJXlmoCAPc7ds7LibZOZjUdaWTdo313LIR6Bj3kQQYcYjsOLjGLMLZecx9Ogc6gW-mFTGKT60_3sNOu7mGSjxXsa93jmAy-vgD4U6kg0s2sRK_Hm8Cp3J60/s1600/akt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAdg_H8mOBkSNRfFn0a_WjJXlmoCAPc7ds7LibZOZjUdaWTdo313LIR6Bj3kQQYcYjsOLjGLMLZecx9Ogc6gW-mFTGKT60_3sNOu7mGSjxXsa93jmAy-vgD4U6kg0s2sRK_Hm8Cp3J60/s1600/akt.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous, nicely constructed volume. The deluxe edition comes in an embossed slipcase with an extra chapbook.</td></tr>
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So, coming in to the book, I had read two of the eight
stories. (I managed to snag one of those 50 chapbooks, yay.) Based on “Eyes
Exchange Bank” and “The Bad Outer Space,” I was expecting a very good book.
What I read ended up being one of the best single author collections I came
across all year, right up there with <a href="http://strantzas.com/" target="_blank">Simon Strantzas’</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Burnt-Black-Suns-Collection-Hippocampus/dp/1614980837/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1420395989&sr=1-1" target="_blank">BURNT BLACK SUNS</a> (<a href="http://www.hippocampuspress.com/mythos-and-other-authors/fiction/burnt-black-suns-by-simon-strantzas" target="_blank">Hippocampus Press</a>, 2014), <a href="http://johnpaullangan.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">JohnLangan’s</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wide-Carnivorous-Other-Monstrous-Geographies/dp/1614980543/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420396176&sr=1-1&keywords=the+wide+carnivorous+sky+and+other+monstrous+geographies" target="_blank">THE WIDE, CARNIVOROUS SKY</a> (<a href="http://www.hippocampuspress.com/mythos-and-other-authors/fiction/the-wide-carnivorous-sky" target="_blank">Hippocampus Press</a>, 2013), and <a href="http://nathanballingrud.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Nathan Ballingrud’s</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/North-American-Lake-Monsters-Stories/dp/1618730606/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420396593&sr=1-1&keywords=north+american+lake+monsters" target="_blank">NORTH AMERICAN LAKE MONSTERS</a> (<a href="http://smallbeerpress.com/books/2013/07/16/north-american-lake-monsters/" target="_blank">Small Beer Press</a>, 2013), itself a Shirley Jackson Award-winner. Yes, those last two came
out in 2013 but I just read them this year, so, technicality.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMLQI0UCIktRWTa1rsHIorl-5JY8OB9mjPf-EjRT3am3AZ67lTWvWISzJRARzoa3d3Koa_5wlwQyVuY3z3zuNPcXfvZdhCkfNTsCc03PPsz_pHh5Qa_SqFpiFiuGXnkgLkbGytyVKej0/s1600/burnt_american_sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMLQI0UCIktRWTa1rsHIorl-5JY8OB9mjPf-EjRT3am3AZ67lTWvWISzJRARzoa3d3Koa_5wlwQyVuY3z3zuNPcXfvZdhCkfNTsCc03PPsz_pHh5Qa_SqFpiFiuGXnkgLkbGytyVKej0/s1600/burnt_american_sky.jpg" height="202" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't believe I got to read all of these collections in the same year. Spoiled.</td></tr>
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The stories in ANA KAI TANGATA have a number of textures and
tones, but whether the protagonist is a young child (“The Bad Outer Space”),
Jersey punk (“The Soft Frogs”), or doomed cop (the harrowing “Tuckahoe”),
Nicolay excels at portraying their individuality while maintaining a consistent
voice. Nicolay grew up “amidst the toxic waste dumps and devil-haunted swamps
of New Jersey” and moved long ago to New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. His stories are
filled with the people you might run across in these places. Life is not easy
for many of them, even before they have to deal with an incursion of The
Outside. Nicolay has a strong grasp of the everyday mechanics of living life
near or below the poverty line, and is sympathetic to the down and/or
out (see the subtitle of the book). In AKT, he adeptly infuses his real
experiences into fantastical stories that we all should be very, very glad are not so real.
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While it is hard to pin down an absolute favorite, I’ll go
with “Tuckahoe,” the 100+ page story that closes the collection.
Nicolay has plenty of time to lay the foundation before things go awry and the
space suits him well. Even his shorter stories are somewhat slow-burners, and
while I enjoyed every single story in this book, it is the longer pieces that
really stayed with me.</div>
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Mention must also be made of <a href="http://www.davidverbagallery.com/" target="_blank">David Verba's</a> beautiful cover and interior artwork. It has an abstract yet organic feel that fits in well with Nicolay's stories.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFwHMt6Ra3zcOkkL628CyiZ-6eCDtJ_VlBwniieFvwXfIOpmuyoAN4-dbIM2sYeP0-dxGckKsHmbHoppctNpHcZidXmi6ZnPmyAUv2xMeirSEIrP25R6mLv0UlImbR7Itv2NBrhFYntg/s1600/david_verba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFwHMt6Ra3zcOkkL628CyiZ-6eCDtJ_VlBwniieFvwXfIOpmuyoAN4-dbIM2sYeP0-dxGckKsHmbHoppctNpHcZidXmi6ZnPmyAUv2xMeirSEIrP25R6mLv0UlImbR7Itv2NBrhFYntg/s1600/david_verba.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interior illustration. There are a bunch of them, and they are quite striking.</td></tr>
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If you are still on the fence about reading this book, go
back and look at the other authors mentioned here. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=thomas%20ligotti&sprefix=thomas+l%2Cstripbooks" target="_blank">Ligotti</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=laird+barron&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Alaird+barron" target="_blank">Barron</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=simon+strantzas&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Asimon+strantzas" target="_blank">Strantzas</a>,
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=john+langan&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Ajohn+langan" target="_blank">Langan</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nathan+ballingrud&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Anathan+ballingrud" target="_blank">Ballingrud</a>… Nicolay’s style is his own, but if you look hard, you might
find, for instance, the rugged action-horror of Barron sharing space
with the quieter terror of a Strantzas story, featuring a protagonist who would
feel right at home with one of Ballingrud’s hard-luck characters. If you like
any one of those authors, there is a good chance you will like Nicolay.</div>
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If you are unfamiliar with those other names, I weep for
you a little bit, and urge you to check them all out as each and every one has
much to offer. Strantzas and Langan appear alongside Nicolay in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17252349-the-grimscribe-s-puppets?ac=1" target="_blank">THE GRIMSCRIBE’S PUPPETS</a>, and Langan is also in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21948649-the-children-of-old-leech?ac=1" target="_blank">THE CHILDREN OF OLD LEECH</a>. In fact,
both of these books are excellent samplers of the current weird fiction scene,
easily obtainable and more than worth their cover price. Though they are both
tributes to specific authors, the stories inside function perfectly
well without the often tenuous connection to the source.</div>
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Bringing it all back home, "Eyes Exchange Bank" was chosen to appear in the inaugural edition of a new anthology series, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Years-Best-Weird-Fiction-1/dp/0981317758/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420415516&sr=1-1&keywords=year%27s+best+weird+fiction" target="_blank">YEAR'S BEST WEIRD FICTION, VOLUME ONE</a>, edited by <a href="http://www.undertowbooks.com/about/" target="_blank">Michael Kelly</a> and Laird Barron. Kelly will bring in a new co-editor every year, with <a href="http://www.kathekoja.com/" target="_blank">Kathe Koja</a> lined up for 2015. This looks to be another amazing collection of diverse strangeness, one I am very much looking forward to reading.</div>
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It sure seems like we are in the midst of a <a href="http://weirdfictionreview.com/2014/09/interview-years-best-weird-fiction/" target="_blank">Weird Renaissance</a>;
thanks in large part to the internet and print-on-demand books, more authors are able to more
easily get their stories out to readers. There has been a huge influx of
humdrum, rehashed, or just downright poorly-written chaff because of this but
there is also an ever-growing pile of wheat. <a href="http://www.fedoganandbremer.com/products/ana-kai-tangata-deluxe-limited" target="_blank">ANA KAI TANGATA</a> lies very near the
top of that grainy heap and it fully deserves a couple inches of your
bookshelf. </div>
Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-10361967752747544462013-12-12T20:00:00.000-08:002013-12-12T20:00:19.928-08:00NecronomiCon 2013 Providence: an exhaustive and exhausting personal accountOn Tuesday, August 20, I made a 14-hour trip from my home in California to Rhode Island to attend <a href="http://necronomicon-providence.com/" target="_blank">NecronomiCon Providence 2013</a>, a convention dedicated to the life and works of one of America's most important horror authors, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._P._Lovecraft" target="_blank">H.P. Lovecraft</a> (1890-1937). I checked in to the Providence Biltmore on Wednesday, and stayed there until Monday, when I flew back home. The intervening five days were like an alternate reality, a skewed and superior variation of my normal life and my normal self. I felt a strong connection with my fellow attendees, a sense of inclusion that I rarely find in my everyday existence.
It was also a revelation to share physical space with so many people who
I had formerly known only as names and avatars on the internet, and/or
through their published works. A rarefied atmosphere seemed to hang over Providence during that time, and I had such an amazing experience that I have found it hard to leave behind.<br />
<br />
To preface, I should say that I don’t do things like this very often. NecronomiCon was only my second convention as an adult. I attended <a href="http://www.whc2012.org/World_Horror_2012.html" target="_blank">World Horror Convention 2012</a> last year in Salt Lake City and had a blast. I met a lot of great and interesting people, and had a lot of fun. It energized me, and spiked my love for the weird and horror to new heights. I was hoping for a similar experience at NecronomiCon; my hope was met, then far exceeded.<br />
<br />
Also, this is a personal account of the convention, not a comprehensive overview. I ended up missing most of the major events, and never even saw a number of the featured guests. <a href="http://www.arkhamdigest.com/2013/09/well-always-have-providence.html" target="_blank">Other folks</a> <a href="http://weirdtalesmagazine.com/2013/10/24/high-unholy-days-in-providence-by-darrell-schweitzer/" target="_blank">have posted</a> <a href="http://tentaclii.wordpress.com/category/necronomicon-providence-2013/" target="_blank">excellent recaps</a> <a href="http://griffinwords.com/page/2/" target="_blank">covering more</a>. This post is mainly for my friends and family who were curious and/or concerned about me traveling 3,000 miles from home to do odd things with odd people...<br />
<br />
<b>TUESDAY 08/20</b><br />
<br />
The trip out was a little rough. My itinerary was changed a couple of times by the airline, and the original nine-hour trip blossomed into 14 hours when they gave me a four-hour-plus layover in Phoenix. I found a bar with somewhat comfortable chairs, settled in, ordered a couple of beers, and continued reading my current book. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grimscribes-Puppets-Joseph-S-Pulver/dp/1937408019/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386374921&sr=1-1&keywords=the+grimscribe%27s+puppets" target="_blank">THE GRIMSCRIBE’S PUPPETS</a> is an anthology tribute to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ligotti" target="_blank">Thomas Ligotti</a>, one of my favorite authors. A number of the authors featured in the book would be at NecronomiCon, and I had a good time just sitting and drinking and reading.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3hwLtBTDWHqUVRspU-xmSQ8_kdxh4TgguLv4pgRfddjCGAt7eNyGPpl0TqyEeGM9fNnFYJDZdB9R0UonUizix0lYskGaGocNYq1Xs-ZLJDw6A3zjeEOGsTlisV_-Btd0QbrFxfljepM/s1600/++photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3hwLtBTDWHqUVRspU-xmSQ8_kdxh4TgguLv4pgRfddjCGAt7eNyGPpl0TqyEeGM9fNnFYJDZdB9R0UonUizix0lYskGaGocNYq1Xs-ZLJDw6A3zjeEOGsTlisV_-Btd0QbrFxfljepM/s320/++photo.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great book that will become significant later in the narrative, promise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>WEDNESDAY 08/21</b><br />
<br />
I arrived at TF Green Field in Providence on Wednesday morning filled with bad food and high hopes. While waiting for the shuttle, I made the first of many new friends. Filmmakers <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hellbendermedia?fref=ts&ref=br_tf" target="_blank">Edward Martin III</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/katrina.l.martin.9" target="_blank">Katrina Martin</a> of <a href="http://www.hellbendermedia.com/" target="_blank">Hellbender Media</a> shared the shuttle with me, and we talked movies, books, and InDesign during the drive to downtown Providence. Off to a good start.<br />
<br />
I was very early arriving at the hotel, so I left my bags at the bell desk and went looking for real food while I waited for an early check-in. As soon as I walked out of the lobby, I saw author and editor <a href="http://thisyellowmadness.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Joe Pulver</a> with <a href="http://lady-lovecraft.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lady Lovecraft</a> in front of the hotel, talking to a small group of people. I recognized them both from Facebook and the <a href="http://www.ligotti.net/" target="_blank">Thomas Ligotti Online</a> web forums, but did not want to interrupt their conversation to introduce myself. I hoped I would run into them again at some point over the weekend. Little did I know…<br />
<br />
I had marked a nearby Irish pub during the shuttle ride, and had no trouble locating it. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/murphysprovidence" target="_blank">Murphy’s</a> took good care of, pouring proper Guinnesses and serving up a big bowl of macaroni and cheese with ham. Waitress Becca was familiar with Lovecraft and very excited about the fancy dress/costume ball happening that Saturday night. In fact, I would come to find out that many bars had “Lovecraft specials” that week. The convention was fairly big news, and Providence probably hasn’t seen that much black clothing in one place in quite some time.<br />
<br />
The hotel called -- my room was ready, a good three hours early. Thanks Biltmore! I walked back, and a number of notable people were now milling about the lobby. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/misanthropemike" target="_blank">Mike Davis</a>, publisher of <a href="http://lovecraftzine.com/" target="_blank">The Lovecraft eZine</a>, and artist <a href="http://www.nickthehat.com/" target="_blank">Nick “The Hat” Gucker</a> were there, along with a few other people I would meet later.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVupGRU2X21w507OQZXHqLl-GbxKGVah3T57Nci_Jvr-DsCpMW8-3OHejKVrz5kH4zuR2_U5-PC9SDv7zOew2nhr4x_0cq4e867UFh5J-Kkkyaj9ousEWRQUyDDVeVqpFfNrKKVK0OrUk/s1600/2013-08-21+11.46.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVupGRU2X21w507OQZXHqLl-GbxKGVah3T57Nci_Jvr-DsCpMW8-3OHejKVrz5kH4zuR2_U5-PC9SDv7zOew2nhr4x_0cq4e867UFh5J-Kkkyaj9ousEWRQUyDDVeVqpFfNrKKVK0OrUk/s320/2013-08-21+11.46.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My swanky room. It had a big plasma TV, happy to say I never turned it on. I did request a mini-fridge though. For, um, food, Yeah, food.</td></tr>
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<br />
I took it easy for most of Wednesday afternoon, resting and reading in my room. That evening, I walked a few blocks to a small theater to see some short films, including one I had backed via Kickstarter (<a href="http://deadhousemusic.com/" target="_blank">Mars Homeworld’s</a> “<a href="http://transcendentfilm.com/" target="_blank">Transcendent</a>”). I was a little early, but fortunately there was a bar nearby. While knocking back a couple of pints, I made the acquaintance of stylish raconteur <a href="https://www.facebook.com/darkerstranger" target="_blank">Matt Black</a>. I drank beer, he drank rum, then we went next door to watch the films.<br />
<br />
The films were of varying length, and on the whole very good. Standouts include “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkrtfchAu3o" target="_blank">Stay At Home Dad</a>” by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18841.Cody_Goodfellow" target="_blank">Cody Goodfellow</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/john.skipp.7" target="_blank">John Skipp</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/andrew.kasch" target="_blank">Andrew Kasch</a>; the aforementioned “Transcendent” (well, at least what I saw of it – the DVD was scratched, and the movie cut out before it was over); and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bryan.moore.142" target="_blank">Bryan Moore’s</a> adaptation of “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-H-P-Lovecraft-Collection-Volume/dp/B0006HCT3S/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1386376172&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=cool+air+bryan+moore" target="_blank">Cool Air</a>.” The closer was the hilariously insane “<a href="http://vimeo.com/24961909" target="_blank">Frank DanCoolo: Paranormal Drug Dealer</a>.” Bryan Moore was there, and talked to some of us afterwards about his projects. Bryan introduced me to his friend and fellow film maker <a href="http://www.sultandarmaki.com/" target="_blank">Sultan Saeed Al Darmaki</a>, who had traveled from Abu Dhabi to be there. Sultan has a new venture, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DarkDunesProductions" target="_blank">Dark Dunes Productions</a>, dedicated to making horror, SF, and fantasy films. Their first co-production, "<a href="http://atthemansionofmadness.blogspot.com/2013/10/lord-of-tears-2013.html" target="_blank">Lord of Tears</a>," just came out and looks fantastic.<br />
<br />
This was also my first spotting of one of the convention organizers, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/niels.hobbs" target="_blank">Niels Hobbs</a>. Niels is a marine biologist, as well as a founding member of <a href="http://necronomicon-providence.com/about-us/" target="_blank">Lovecraft Arts and Sciences Council</a>. He showed up, made sure things were running smoothly, then disappeared into the night. I would see Neils many times over the next few days.<br />
<br />
It was almost midnight, and I made my way back to the hotel. I was bummed to find that there was no food available, although the desk clerk directed me to a nearby food truck, <a href="http://havenbrothers.com/" target="_blank">Haven Brothers Diner</a>. I got a bacon cheeseburger with fries, and left to devour it in my room. When I returned to the hotel again, I stumbled upon a newly-arrived <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._H._Pugmire" target="_blank">Wilum Hopfrog Pugmire</a>, a delightful man and fantastic author whom I have known online for a few years. He was sitting alone in an overstuffed chair, writing. I was hesitant to interrupt, but I did, and found him to be just as kind and gracious as his video blogs and forum postings would indicate. (When I first joined the TLO forums in 2009, Wilum sent me one of his books with a flyer and hand-written note, just because.) We talked for a few minutes, then I went upstairs to eat my food and let Wilum write in peace.<br />
<br />
My initial experience meeting Wilum played out numerous times over the course of the convention. I would see someone I knew from the TLO forums or with whom I was “friends” on Facebook. I would introduce myself, and the person would seem to actually know who I was. The person would be unbelievably nice and down to earth, no matter their place in the genre food chain. I would see the person again multiple times, and they would remember me and seem to actually enjoy talking to me.<br />
<br />
<b>THURSDAY 08/22</b><br />
<br />
I woke up fairly early Thursday morning and ventured out to find coffee. The hotel had a Starbuck’s right off the lobby, but I try to consume as locally as possible when I can, and since I had time, I wandered around a bit until I found <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee-King/255310284515020" target="_blank">Coffee King</a>. One large black coffee and one bottled water later, I headed back to the hotel.<br />
<br />
This time there were even more people in the lobby. Standing right in the center was one of the convention’s two Special Guest Authors, <a href="http://lairdbarron.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Laird Barron</a>. As should be obvious from <a href="http://nothingisimminent.blogspot.com/2012/05/croning-by-laird-barron.html" target="_blank">my review of THE CRONING</a>, Laird is one of my favorite authors working today. He wasn’t currently engaged in a conversation, just sort of hanging out and soaking in the atmosphere. He must have seen me gawking at him, as he made eye contact and smiled. I introduced myself, and the routine described above kicked in. We talked for 10 or 15 minutes, and somewhere around this time I also met Joe Pulver and Lady Lovecraft; a number of authors whose work I admire, including <a href="http://griffinwords.com/" target="_blank">Mike Griffin</a> (with his charming wife <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lena.m.griffin" target="_blank">Lena</a>), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.thomas.71" target="_blank">Jeffrey Thomas</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peter.rawlik" target="_blank">Pete Rawlik</a>, and <a href="http://miskatonicriverpress.com/" target="_blank">Miskatonic River Press</a> main man and author <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tlynch999" target="_blank">Tom Lynch</a>. At some point I ran into <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justin.steele.100" target="_blank">Justin Steele</a>; Justin does <a href="http://www.arkhamdigest.com/" target="_blank">The Arkham Digest</a> review blog, and turned out to be one of my good con buddies.<br />
<br />
At 11:00, I went down to the lobby for a special event. I had backed the hell out the convention’s Kickstarter, and so was entitled to a picnic with Wilum Pugmire and certain other backers in the burying yard at St. John’s Church. When everyone was assembled, Wilum led us on a roundabout walk to the cemetery, taking us past a number of Lovecraft landmarks and explaining the significance of each. (I touched “The Shunned House” house!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNgN6yDP6WXRu-EMj4qkYJiFOVeZaEiJaijV3752tUpyABeYQnNNvdLtK-Xf-05kwfQ9r8Ey3goaQQXt3xrehge6_WtBTVJWN5jET-9iZkbMucHFMjzxQ6wLpFvO7ebgr60Hu7am2AzU/s1600/1237349_10200509476075428_1760810972_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNgN6yDP6WXRu-EMj4qkYJiFOVeZaEiJaijV3752tUpyABeYQnNNvdLtK-Xf-05kwfQ9r8Ey3goaQQXt3xrehge6_WtBTVJWN5jET-9iZkbMucHFMjzxQ6wLpFvO7ebgr60Hu7am2AzU/s320/1237349_10200509476075428_1760810972_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We special Kickstarters on our way to St. John's with ye Hopfrog front and center. Picture courtesy of the redoubtable Matt Carpenter.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
We arrived at St. John’s, and sat down on the grass near the headstones. Some picnic food was already there, and then Niels Hobbs showed up with a basket of more food. Both Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft had frequented this graveyard during their lives, so Wilum read us some appropriate poems, including one by August Derleth. I’m not an expert by any stretch, but I think it is safe to say that Derleth is a controversial figure in Lovecraftian circles. He did much to ensure Lovecraft’s work remained in print, but his own authorial contributions have been divisive. Wilum playfully told us not to tell his friend and pre-eminent Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi about the poem, as Joshi detests Derleth.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V4Mkky8eyKupBx46a0OHGXrt3vcrLJ84_X2Dv2Ru6SbzmfPZWqdbInPc-mbJUYllGXzeSQmx269XoLGQLb4eUix9CxuLtb54aKaSIDn9a8col0EVY8VeGRKYG-X_Sk2rRzO-KmQB1pc/s1600/1149390_10200509478875498_1891439956_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6V4Mkky8eyKupBx46a0OHGXrt3vcrLJ84_X2Dv2Ru6SbzmfPZWqdbInPc-mbJUYllGXzeSQmx269XoLGQLb4eUix9CxuLtb54aKaSIDn9a8col0EVY8VeGRKYG-X_Sk2rRzO-KmQB1pc/s320/1149390_10200509478875498_1891439956_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me soaking in the atmosphere with Wilum. Picture courtesy of the intrepid Matt Carpenter.</td></tr>
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<br />
We began composing a group poem, an acrostic in honor of Lovecraft. Then, as a group, we posed for pictures on a large tomb slab where Lovecraft once sat and wrote.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDg-EuZh1aSfo2nZooDpyoWHeU_x7H_JuxtsA4NpBLdclfCNpwmhxeMx-ary6xzkeeQX7JFzsL9cSEs4ZbL6equJ1MvfxcwuYs17QawGHqwvNfrMVMpVmQJhYZhr5G-Kk0bwCdNalNxw/s1600/980214_10200507700751046_1024131478_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDg-EuZh1aSfo2nZooDpyoWHeU_x7H_JuxtsA4NpBLdclfCNpwmhxeMx-ary6xzkeeQX7JFzsL9cSEs4ZbL6equJ1MvfxcwuYs17QawGHqwvNfrMVMpVmQJhYZhr5G-Kk0bwCdNalNxw/s320/980214_10200507700751046_1024131478_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather is growing ominous, as evidenced by my wild hair. Picture courtesy of the right honorable Matt Carpenter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f1EtqirT2zhQLEc9rk3GaEPxhppA3UuH6cbDNQOMiw1W0B1eSYuoXvGfDlB5C5IP6AxrcolJ7lEHc6jAfTGrPVIfIrTbyoGheXsXHPxGmkElgKqnmUnTuZsgRC6L4XFYFbcI88yFKoA/s1600/2013-08-22+11.52.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6f1EtqirT2zhQLEc9rk3GaEPxhppA3UuH6cbDNQOMiw1W0B1eSYuoXvGfDlB5C5IP6AxrcolJ7lEHc6jAfTGrPVIfIrTbyoGheXsXHPxGmkElgKqnmUnTuZsgRC6L4XFYFbcI88yFKoA/s320/2013-08-22+11.52.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovecraft and Poe both wandered these paths. Some headstones are so old as to be unreadable.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bzZVpMQuVQJnJwHA1xFySSKZLFY45qbsV65G-hadazilvUDE7CGasw5r6V2ag_tAZIOJj58A7i_ha2DgHkEWiLu3b-8qM6fD7t8BAxNg00go1DZcEiz1AkXf73ADkFuGvKpj1yBDbik/s1600/2013-08-22+11.56.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bzZVpMQuVQJnJwHA1xFySSKZLFY45qbsV65G-hadazilvUDE7CGasw5r6V2ag_tAZIOJj58A7i_ha2DgHkEWiLu3b-8qM6fD7t8BAxNg00go1DZcEiz1AkXf73ADkFuGvKpj1yBDbik/s320/2013-08-22+11.56.00.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not an alternate cover for the first Black Sabbath record, just St. John's doing its eerie thing.</td></tr>
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<br />
About this time we heard the first peal of thunder, and the picnic wound down. Wilum and some others continued walking around the College Hill area, and some of us (including me) headed back to the hotel. By the time I made it to the lobby, rain was pouring, thunder was booming, lightning was arcing, and I was soaking wet. Over the next couple of days, Wilum’s room was robbed (while he was in it!) and he fell off the stage at a panel. I don’t believe in curses, but I also will not be reading any Derleth poems at hallowed Lovecraft sites any time soon.<br />
<br />
After changing into some dry clothes, I made my way back down to the bar. The afternoon passed in conversation and solitary reading before the evening really started picking up. I had offered to watch the Miskatonic River Press vendor table for Tom Lynch while he participated in a few panels the next day, and I must have a trustworthy face because he took me up on it. That being the case, I was included in the great MRP dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, a McCormick and Schmick’s seafood place. This is how I came to find myself dining with Jeffrey Thomas, Mike and Lena Griffin, Joe Pulver and Lady Lovecraft, Pete Rawlik, Tom Lynch, Mike Davis, and a few other folks I was happy to meet for the first time: David Rankus, Vince LaRosa, and Blair Leggett. Way too many appetizers were ordered, drinks were drank, food was eaten, and good conversations were had. Thanks to Tom for a great time, and for picking up the check!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I08_usSX9HtWyCun2MU5VKtwg3XSb3PV-mKlyiKPO7-YwUanZVGmLmxFZqm2ktdH8yLjcjKCfJ4jLAzBQF9GioYvBwKbM3lNOt-EgVT3Hfuy6T6v5LQrjKwJ21hos7ATUs9AWrHWVA8/s1600/ms-dinner-ladylovecraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I08_usSX9HtWyCun2MU5VKtwg3XSb3PV-mKlyiKPO7-YwUanZVGmLmxFZqm2ktdH8yLjcjKCfJ4jLAzBQF9GioYvBwKbM3lNOt-EgVT3Hfuy6T6v5LQrjKwJ21hos7ATUs9AWrHWVA8/s320/ms-dinner-ladylovecraft.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, who let the red shirt guy in? That's me, David Rankus, MRP honcho Tom Lynch, Joe Pulver, Jeffrey Thomas' arm, and Mike Griffin. Photo courtesy of lovely Lady Lovecraft.</td></tr>
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<br />
MRP is the publisher of THE GRIMSCRIBE’S PUPPETS, and I had my copy at
the table (I am rarely without a book). I am normally not an autograph kind of person, but this was
too good to pass up; by the end of the convention, 10 different contributors had
signed my copy. Of special note, Mike Griffin said it was the first time
he had been asked to sign anything, so that was cool.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSFKbXLEGJie_IFwHIYQGuZS42D9Sfn120tAmKw4dK_iV9qjc_55FZJM-dt-bsEY30eeIS7uA-DkXSUdqK0IfvyxZgCOYqsXDK5Kc4HIFCrykx3Ik-QRlfCOF0zvoCPGYhiZg8PNH8jg/s1600/ms-dinner-samcowan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSFKbXLEGJie_IFwHIYQGuZS42D9Sfn120tAmKw4dK_iV9qjc_55FZJM-dt-bsEY30eeIS7uA-DkXSUdqK0IfvyxZgCOYqsXDK5Kc4HIFCrykx3Ik-QRlfCOF0zvoCPGYhiZg8PNH8jg/s320/ms-dinner-samcowan.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can Mike Griffin never have signed anything before? Lucky me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There were some special events scheduled for that night, including a private party at local bar <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/THEE-RED-FEZ/196446478871" target="_blank">Thee Red Fez</a> for convention guests and Gold Key and Silver Key holders; Gold and Silver Keys were the top two tiers of convention passes, pricier but with special perks like this party. I had a Gold Key, and accompanied much of the dinner crowd on the short walk to Thee Red Fez. Justin Steele was with us by this point, and I spent a good deal of time hanging out with him over the next few days. Photographic evidence says Nick Gucker and <a href="http://inanetitter.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Alex Houstoun</a> were there in varying degrees too, and we slowly shambled our way towards the party.<br />
<br />
From out of nowhere, I looked to my right and saw noted author and scholar <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darrell_Schweitzer" target="_blank">Darrell Schweitzer</a>
walking next to me. We spent a few minutes discussing the selling of
t-shirts at conventions (this man is a wide and deep reservoir of all
sorts of arcane knowledge), then he just as mysteriously disappeared. <a href="http://www.stjoshi.org/" target="_blank">S. T. Joshi</a> also made a brief appearance, but did not accompany us to the bar. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4FG11hiEUekwgGzoV5mQOnBNTtHfAyG4aYyQTly7JfByZgR3dh-ZIeRX9KXo-23VnHXE3soZ5VHAUuyXhvGEuhNZXBCqnZ8rT0EbePQR5bG7xAVtrqcOLZICxZFnK01AwfvQ3vsPogU/s1600/thegathering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4FG11hiEUekwgGzoV5mQOnBNTtHfAyG4aYyQTly7JfByZgR3dh-ZIeRX9KXo-23VnHXE3soZ5VHAUuyXhvGEuhNZXBCqnZ8rT0EbePQR5bG7xAVtrqcOLZICxZFnK01AwfvQ3vsPogU/s320/thegathering.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Providence, beware! From left: Lena Griffin obscured by a pole, Justin Steele looking coquettish, Alex Houstoun cold busting a move, Joe Pulver patiently indulging my slack-jawed questions, and Darrell Schweitzer in conversation with a barely-visible S. T. Joshi. Behind Mr. Pulver and myself is Kelly Young and Brandi Jording of STRANGE AEONS magazine talking with a completely hidden (even his arm) Jeffrey Thomas. Nick Gucker lurks somewhere off frame... Photo courtesy of the stunning Mike Griffin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Red Fez turned out to be crowded to the point of ridiculousness. A small place to begin with, there was barely room to stand or walk, let alone any place to sit. Still, I can be quite determined when important things are on the line, and I grimly made my way towards the bar. It took a few minutes, but I soon had two pints of IPA and a shot of something in hand; one pint was for me, and I figured someone in our group would appreciate the other drinks. I quickly ascertained that the rest of the group had left Thee Red Fez, and I couldn’t really blame them. I ran into <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyteth" target="_blank">Anthony Teth</a>, another convention organizer, and he gave me my Gold Key pin. I downed my pint, and left the other drinks in his capable hands.<br />
<br />
There was another bar up the street we had seen on way to Thee Red Fez; <a href="https://foursquare.com/v/mcfaddens-restaurant--saloon/4bb7e2bbb35776b0bd58c801" target="_blank">McFadden’s</a> was much more spacious with only a small crowd, and as I figured, the rest of the group had convened there. I think this is where I first met <a href="https://www.facebook.com/patrick.mckitrick.3" target="_blank">Patrick McKitrick</a>, another guy I saw numerous times over the course of the convention. We had some beers and talked about Thomas Ligotti, a very good time indeed.<br />
<br />
After that, it was time for bed. All this, and the convention hadn’t even officially started yet.<br />
<br />
<b>FRIDAY 08/23</b><br />
<br />
I woke up nice and early Friday, and may have even eaten breakfast. I went down to the lobby and officially checked in with the con as Gold Key member, then headed to one of the vendor areas to find Tom and the MRP table. Vending was split between a number of connected suites on the 2nd floor, and a more open space on the 18th floor. An odd arrangement, but no doubt necessary given the Biltmore’s layout and the number of vendors present.<br />
<br />
The MRP table was up on the 18th floor, located right next to The Lovecraft eZine table. I settled in, and spent much of the day there slinging books. This may sound like work, but it was honestly a very fun experience.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G73PJspSg8ndxhp3DH57bsyzxS9RH7varZNZ3Vgz6eeax8y7oJt4xzKMU1TEFlFp8vFBcVGuTj47QPJAscbc9i9THORDo5sEWkc8OCZ4vgSzpc8oERuZkrMxf-kXFxjlonyu_fCOgQc/s1600/2013-08-23+08.49.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G73PJspSg8ndxhp3DH57bsyzxS9RH7varZNZ3Vgz6eeax8y7oJt4xzKMU1TEFlFp8vFBcVGuTj47QPJAscbc9i9THORDo5sEWkc8OCZ4vgSzpc8oERuZkrMxf-kXFxjlonyu_fCOgQc/s320/2013-08-23+08.49.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lord loves a working man, don't trust whitey, see a doctor and get rid of it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I talked with many different – and different types – of people, some of whom were much more socially awkward and shy than myself. You wouldn't know it from my behavior at the convention, but I am a very introverted person and I generally try to keep interactions with strangers to a minimum. This was different. Not only was I surrounded by other oddballs who shared my love for all things dark and weird, but I will go on record as saying the attendees and guests of NecronomiCon were, as a group, the most polite, respectful, and kind collection of 1,000+ people I have ever seen. I had a ball talking with people from all over this country, and quite a few from others. Besides England and Australia, I met a handful of people from France, and saw Sultan again.<br />
<br />
Another perk of being a junior book salesman was the fact that many of the authors at the convention have connections with Miskatonic River Press or The Lovecraft eZine, or both. The upshot is that over the course of the day, almost all of them stopped by the tables to sign books or just chat. In addition to seeing Laird Barron, Wilum Pugmire, Joe Pulver, Mike Griffin, Jeffrey Thomas, and Pete Rawlik again, I also met <a href="http://paultremblay.net/" target="_blank">Paul Tremblay</a>, <a href="http://www.prostheticlibido.org/" target="_blank">Michael Cisco</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cody.goodfellow.5" target="_blank">Cody Goodfellow</a>. Paul, Michael, and Cody signed my copy of THE GRIMSCRIBE'S PUPPETS; by the end of the convention, that book was signed by no less than 11 of the authors featured in the book. Dang.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVphpxAt2zAy1vETiDdMDtxDNsyRPuM3SJ8zZ2Ti08a_VDJdFdxsFgHs5ifR59xTkLSfCzwBSHprr5Ebx0Dr4EXnKb3YW1MDRsxWFfj9WViai8ZmxdI5hkpP5MnZxKRLjXeXfmndgUT-Y/s1600/2013-08-23+14.51.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVphpxAt2zAy1vETiDdMDtxDNsyRPuM3SJ8zZ2Ti08a_VDJdFdxsFgHs5ifR59xTkLSfCzwBSHprr5Ebx0Dr4EXnKb3YW1MDRsxWFfj9WViai8ZmxdI5hkpP5MnZxKRLjXeXfmndgUT-Y/s320/2013-08-23+14.51.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laird Barron signing some random books for unsuspecting future customers, Paul Tremblay, Alex Lugo making me feel even older and out of shape than I actually am, Lady Lovecraft and Joe Pulver, and the back of Justin Steele's head making a break for it.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpnjE4yZxCq4HaBrjGEdcoFpG26hnFDbrGAsJHG5Bk9FYfDMuaZ1f0eZCv7MkpI0YKlYxGee6jf0OfT48IoB6ZmsdX441JDXe_X7lPQVtkAk8bE1g1gjM3hRb-mQ0ON8UjgVCTESo-wY/s1600/1097091_234873699997968_1982429844_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpnjE4yZxCq4HaBrjGEdcoFpG26hnFDbrGAsJHG5Bk9FYfDMuaZ1f0eZCv7MkpI0YKlYxGee6jf0OfT48IoB6ZmsdX441JDXe_X7lPQVtkAk8bE1g1gjM3hRb-mQ0ON8UjgVCTESo-wY/s320/1097091_234873699997968_1982429844_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lovecraft eZine table! Pete Rawlik selling and signing copies of his new book REANIMATORS, while eZine main man Mike Davis looks on with author Brett Talley and the first of many people whose names I will shamefully forget. A bifurcated Tom Lynch also makes an appearance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Later that day, I was privileged to attend the wedding ceremony of Joseph S. Pulver, Sr. and Lady Lovecraft. <a href="http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/" target="_blank">Robert M. Price</a> was dressed as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_in_Yellow" target="_blank">King in Yellow</a>, and if you know Joe and his work, you’ll appreciate that. It was an amazing site, and even got me a little teary.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw3hjQV-xcJZCpIMfcDjp-xfWfOfFwEX434nwCE1A_vQN4UL0ngws0rK7gPuRxMWVkPpv0JUurGWoXOkOVZLTwk8b6GQeSy0Mbzb9rxhgn-M1Kib-2YH3xilL6Zfyo1DIjdGUO6jrQAM/s1600/2013-08-23+17.46.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw3hjQV-xcJZCpIMfcDjp-xfWfOfFwEX434nwCE1A_vQN4UL0ngws0rK7gPuRxMWVkPpv0JUurGWoXOkOVZLTwk8b6GQeSy0Mbzb9rxhgn-M1Kib-2YH3xilL6Zfyo1DIjdGUO6jrQAM/s320/2013-08-23+17.46.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Griffin walks Lady Lovecraft down the aisle.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl1s0g6XMdc_pXHnTuXxANRBi_IPOKNzgndx8VUOC87-MDHg1X7gEYVpPrD1g0YT0x0Eqhy7TgmXTfvuxYNgZAr3wswVDM9nnacV6pz3VDbZwc2tYss7SgvgaswUpG5ztJBastQi87M0/s1600/1262503_234853559999982_593941792_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl1s0g6XMdc_pXHnTuXxANRBi_IPOKNzgndx8VUOC87-MDHg1X7gEYVpPrD1g0YT0x0Eqhy7TgmXTfvuxYNgZAr3wswVDM9nnacV6pz3VDbZwc2tYss7SgvgaswUpG5ztJBastQi87M0/s320/1262503_234853559999982_593941792_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great shot of the almost-married couple, courtesy of the ubiquitous Matt Carpenter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
This led into the special reception for Gold Key holders and invited guests of the convention; hors d'oeuvres were served and small bar appeared, thankfully serving bottles of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sierranevadabeer" target="_blank">Sierra Nevada Pale Ale</a>. That afternoon I also met my room mate, author and renaissance man <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scott.nicolay.9" target="_blank">Scott Nicolay</a>. Some people back home had questioned my judgment in sharing a room with someone I had never met in person, but it worked out fine. Scott was there Friday and Saturday night, and even though (or perhaps because) he doesn’t drink, he stayed out much later than myself both nights, and was careful not to wake me up when he came home. I awoke each morning with all internal organs intact and accounted for, he paid more than his share of the room, and he gave me a copy of <a href="http://www.strange-aeons.com/" target="_blank">STRANGE AEONS</a> magazine featuring one of his stories (issue #10, to be precise). Scott is a good guy, and an exceptional writer.<br />
<br />
Friday night was The Eldritch Ball, where a costume or semi-formal wear was requested. I dressed as I seldom do, complete with tie and wingtips, and attended with Justin Steele and Scott Nicolay. We hung out towards the back and discussed varied topics of interest. The Biltmore’s Grand Ballroom is indeed a beautiful place, and the crowd was both large and lively. I ran into Matt Black again, as well as Wilum, and a couple I had met at the movie screening whose names have fled my brain. The line for the bar was long and I’m not much of a dancer, so after a little while I decamped for more hospitable environs.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1ErtNClDdcsFbCQ_tGbvQ80iaH1-NyI_eGSUlGOnfSvoWDx-x25e3eaQDSYhQk2V_xoCCJFwww8y3pD8tCVAN28dzpjAxJ4fd2oqQPVe79EuJsXURQCga8NZj-Ip0wei38TYFbsg7Eo/s1600/2013-08-23+20.04.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1ErtNClDdcsFbCQ_tGbvQ80iaH1-NyI_eGSUlGOnfSvoWDx-x25e3eaQDSYhQk2V_xoCCJFwww8y3pD8tCVAN28dzpjAxJ4fd2oqQPVe79EuJsXURQCga8NZj-Ip0wei38TYFbsg7Eo/s320/2013-08-23+20.04.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All dressed up with somewhere to go!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrhJOCXvwwrKnYQhtYf6G_S6x5Al4drZcD-yz2tTEkSZUQ2ri4CJEgJBloQ3qyYMmksNmU1p8KD-5lHGExo7a_H5fQzYuRgxo0yz7aCf0u-oKLSaXR72O9GFKzeoMFpCUIU9fHTOd8ic/s1600/2013-08-23+22.02.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrhJOCXvwwrKnYQhtYf6G_S6x5Al4drZcD-yz2tTEkSZUQ2ri4CJEgJBloQ3qyYMmksNmU1p8KD-5lHGExo7a_H5fQzYuRgxo0yz7aCf0u-oKLSaXR72O9GFKzeoMFpCUIU9fHTOd8ic/s320/2013-08-23+22.02.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilum Pugmire and reptilian friend making the Ball scene. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Justin and I ended up in a booth at the hotel bar with Jeffrey Thomas, and I had one of the best conversations in recent memory with these two fine gentlemen. Jeffrey is not only a fascinating guy, he is also one of the nicest people I have ever met. (Later on I met his brother and fellow author <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scottgargoyle" target="_blank">Scott Thomas</a>, and while I didn’t get to talk with Scott very much, he was warm and friendly, and also struck me as a kind soul.) One more pint, then it was time for bed.<br />
<br />
<b>SATURDAY 08/24</b><br />
<br />
I expected Saturday to be the busiest day of the convention, but it was about the same as Friday, at least as far as crowd size. The convention in general was well-attended, boding well for future events.<br />
<br />
The day started with another quest for coffee. I walked back to Coffee King, only to discover it closed on the weekends. Damn. I kept walking, and came across Murphy’s again, which was open. I figured they would have coffee so I went in. Once in there, I decided to enjoy a different dark brown liquid instead (you are allowed to do this when away from home), and ended up having a few pints with breakfast.<br />
<br />
I hustled back to the Biltmore for the first big event of the day: Joe Pulver and Laird Barron were reading at 9:00. This my first author reading of any sort, ever, and I was surprised at how small and intimate the space was. I found a seat in the second row and settled in. Newlywed Joe was up first, and he read an as-yet unpublished short story/poem riffing on “At The Mountains of Madness.” It was a treat to hear him reading his own story, and I let the words just sort of wash over me, my usual approach to reading Mr. Pulver. Some of his stories are quite experimental, and rather than follow the plot lines, I like to just soak in the atmosphere and let his art bring on different feelings and moods.<br />
<br />
Then it was time for Laird Barron to read, but – what! – these two gentlemen changed the program. Laird and Joe are both established writers in the weird literary arena, and they had decided in advance that they wanted to spotlight some up and coming talent. They called up a surprised Mike Griffin to read from his story “Diamond Dust” in THE GRIMSCRIBE’S PUPPETS. This is one of my favorite stories in a volume absolutely filled with very worthy tales. “Diamond Dust” takes an original concept and runs with it to its mind-bending end (the <a href="http://www.neubauten.org/" target="_blank">Einstürzende Neubauten</a> references are a nice bonus).<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7PEnvlwIbbLy3f-GkIfDhJfgabOUCeUhN10VMqIM3GYSBqu7a6fIm6rP30m_-zQyxFNsWKnaSKKQMpr2eqrVt3Deiw6o1ytO0IT4C-lXUn84QF5OgLaeC6T4Yb3lj-KaExQrlnN5twM/s1600/2013-08-24+09.18.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7PEnvlwIbbLy3f-GkIfDhJfgabOUCeUhN10VMqIM3GYSBqu7a6fIm6rP30m_-zQyxFNsWKnaSKKQMpr2eqrVt3Deiw6o1ytO0IT4C-lXUn84QF5OgLaeC6T4Yb3lj-KaExQrlnN5twM/s320/2013-08-24+09.18.27.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike reads from his story while Lena Griffin and Joe Pulver look on. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After Mike had read for 10 minutes or so, my roomie Scott Nicolay was tapped to read from his story “Eyes Exchange Bank” in that same volume. Scott’s story is another home run, bringing the creep while laying out the little details that will be familiar to anyone who grew up in the bottom half of the economy. This book may be the widest exposure these guys have had yet, and their other work is definitely worth seeking out.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NDOXay6hbggIHHwc91whwIGCpV-_V9Eh6kGvbBQQBMUahJUWe9wmpHgxFKL67alT_I1kUeKPbAaaV_kPAR4gQpKayeY72z_Gqwv2lJaGP5swYLapxo1bJYeArQ_hx09UFqWjxhROFR8/s1600/2013-08-24+09.26.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NDOXay6hbggIHHwc91whwIGCpV-_V9Eh6kGvbBQQBMUahJUWe9wmpHgxFKL67alT_I1kUeKPbAaaV_kPAR4gQpKayeY72z_Gqwv2lJaGP5swYLapxo1bJYeArQ_hx09UFqWjxhROFR8/s320/2013-08-24+09.26.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blurry Scott reads from his story. (Scott usually appears in higher resolution.) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Laird then read his story “D T” from another Miskatonic River Press book, <a href="http://miskatonicriverpress.com/products/asic.shtml" target="_blank">A SEASON IN CARCOSA</a>, this one an anthology centered on the King in Yellow stories of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Chambers" target="_blank">Robert W. Chambers</a>. I had not read this story, and I still haven’t read the whole book, although I did pick up a copy. “D T” involves a fictionalized take on genre legend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Edward_Wagner" target="_blank">Karl Edward Wagner</a>, and is appropriately surreal and slippery. I liked what I heard, and look forward to reading the words myself.</div>
<br />
After the reading, a bunch of people were hanging around outside the reading room, and I finally met <a href="http://www.strantzas.com/" target="_blank">Simon Strantzas</a> and <a href="http://www.richardgavin.net/" target="_blank">Richard Gavin</a>, as well as <a href="http://jplangan.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">John Langan</a>. I am a huge fan of the work both Simon and Richard have produced so far, and despite Simon’s reputation, they both were warm and open folks. I have only read a couple of John’s stories so far, but both were spectacular. He also has one of the more infectious laughs I’ve heard in a while, and struck me as a great guy with whom to go drinking. All three have stories in THE GRIMSCRIBE’S PUPPETS, and were kind enough to talk with me and sign my book.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pLpTL8ksg98Y-a-T3ZLTspMdigqdeeW6lLBioi5MLtgBhyphenhyphenzTsjH9lqzeyv4IOzQdgwuFwm2IlgQvofvVYUDfz2kO6Kvh7wI-ywiqksDjxzLlNm5F-uJYgM6Njr-1_JB3O-kf_VkfGbc/s1600/2013-08-24+11.14.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pLpTL8ksg98Y-a-T3ZLTspMdigqdeeW6lLBioi5MLtgBhyphenhyphenzTsjH9lqzeyv4IOzQdgwuFwm2IlgQvofvVYUDfz2kO6Kvh7wI-ywiqksDjxzLlNm5F-uJYgM6Njr-1_JB3O-kf_VkfGbc/s320/2013-08-24+11.14.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much talent in such a small space. From left: Mike Griffin, John Langan's backside, Scott Nicolay, Richard Gavin, Simon Strantzas, and Jeffrey Thomas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Taking a break for some refreshments, I retired to the bar before grabbing a seat at the first and only panel I attended. “The New Weird” was moderated by <a href="http://www.jasunni.com/" target="_blank">Jason Brock</a>, and featured no less than Peter Rawlik, <a href="http://www.loisgresh.com/" target="_blank">Lois Gresh</a>, Joe Pulver, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2846021.Jonathan_Thomas" target="_blank">Jonathan Thomas</a>, Laird Barron, and Richard Gavin. It was a lot of fun to watch, especially as everyone seemed to really dislike the category New Weird, and agreed that it was all just Weird. Excellent.<br />
<br />
I had a couple of hours to kill, and wandered the vendor tables for a bit before settling in at the bar. Another perk of being a Gold Key was receiving ominous black robes and marching in a torchlight procession at Providence's public <a href="http://waterfire.org/" target="_blank">WaterFire</a> event. I had to be at a safety meeting at 5:00 for the torch handling, and proceeded to very badly misjudge just how far I had to walk, and actually in what direction… After a half hour of being completely off course and starting to wander into a different neighborhood, I realized there was no way I would make the meeting. I emailed organizer Anthony Teth, then gave up.<br />
<br />
Quite liberating, actually, and gave me time to prepare for another event I was very much anticipating: a concert featuring a rare live set from dark ambient master <a href="http://www.lustmord.com/%E2%80%8E" target="_blank">Lustmord</a>, and headlined by a band I first saw 25+ years ago, <a href="http://www.neurosis.com/" target="_blank">Neurosis</a>. Starting life as an angry metal-tinged hardcore punk band, Neurosis have taken their dual-vocal heaviness to new parts of the map and pioneered a distinct territory of the doom/post/rock empire. I hadn’t really listened to them in 20 years or so, but after a buddy loaned me their current release “Honor Found In Decay” (thanks Harrison) and I listened to it a couple of times, I bought it from iTunes. I met up with Justin Steele and young buddy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alex.lugo.5" target="_blank">Alex Lugo</a> outside of the theater, and then ran into a bunch of other folks in the lobby, including Mike and Lena Griffin, Richard Gavin, Nick Gucker, and Scott Nicolay.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_1IYEPo-FHYzjVa0pafdv-pfzdmHw5p2gIJ-O_rD2IfsXZObdcdU4vT_aqhti94KblbmImKRPTMeJACEG2JFtqZ85e7xTzS4MkI1ODi_VEBSiM1c6tpbjmAzxW0bK23gDjxo7za1l0/s1600/7847_10101190437600414_230921575_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k_1IYEPo-FHYzjVa0pafdv-pfzdmHw5p2gIJ-O_rD2IfsXZObdcdU4vT_aqhti94KblbmImKRPTMeJACEG2JFtqZ85e7xTzS4MkI1ODi_VEBSiM1c6tpbjmAzxW0bK23gDjxo7za1l0/s320/7847_10101190437600414_230921575_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Lugo, Richard Gavin, me, and Justin Steele. Photo courtesy of... someone. I borrowed it from somewhere.<br />
</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ1Z-LfHc3dULlSFNWhwOKqWV7BXjfT0fnit1cqyTBvVkf65LGKrT6Hwv04B908HNiMNx_-mZYIocomm5bJRNCy5iz55imBuXrjd6zzQLsbmU00hyphenhyphenJ4QUVoJ_D3nZeowMtrPUgMCr8ac/s1600/2013-08-24+19.44.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ1Z-LfHc3dULlSFNWhwOKqWV7BXjfT0fnit1cqyTBvVkf65LGKrT6Hwv04B908HNiMNx_-mZYIocomm5bJRNCy5iz55imBuXrjd6zzQLsbmU00hyphenhyphenJ4QUVoJ_D3nZeowMtrPUgMCr8ac/s320/2013-08-24+19.44.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Nicolay and Nick "the Hat" Gucker.</td></tr>
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<br />
I grabbed a $9 beer, then headed upstairs to the first row of the mezzanine, where Justin and I experienced Lustmord. One guy with a MacBook Pro and lots of peripherals, conjuring dark and beautiful and heavy sounds. A huge screen behind him showed shifting, abstract visuals, combining with the sonic landscape for an almost hypnotic effect. I’ve never seen that kind of music played live before, but it worked. The high volume, with bass notes you could physically feel washing over you, really adds to the feeling. I eventually just closed my eyes and listened, and was surprised at how relaxed I felt. That was pretty amazing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfRMHbTqfvLem0w1KisAfrVmHGMwYd3ZYt4CrkA26vYla77CK5__r80WPOIxBLmUAPK_o11Qyr7hDzwBHSjycYTHtLTvxcNCJlX_e9nB0POoH5eBMMg9cyaoqgtMAV8zZIpmgnf3c6GU/s1600/2013-08-24+19.26.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfRMHbTqfvLem0w1KisAfrVmHGMwYd3ZYt4CrkA26vYla77CK5__r80WPOIxBLmUAPK_o11Qyr7hDzwBHSjycYTHtLTvxcNCJlX_e9nB0POoH5eBMMg9cyaoqgtMAV8zZIpmgnf3c6GU/s320/2013-08-24+19.26.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lustmord preparing to hijack my brain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Between bands, we went downstairs to the main level of the club. I bought a can of local beer, Narragansett something-or-other (blech), and talked with good people. With no introduction or any words at all, the house lights went down and Neurosis started playing. I broke off my conversation with a rude haste, and hurried down on to the floor. I picked a spot somewhat close the stage but not so near as to be smashed or pummeled. I spent the next hour or so rocking out and really enjoying myself and the music. This was the first club show I’d seen in 13 years.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZs2yn5YlMGB3izWBc4I2W6lRks8L6vMZccLDvv8zdwLWS2CiJoQgSKCkXnC0tnRVGi-wKFoFHoVgvf7iziwPa2TEIALORLc74M2MdewsWW_Ho_ipNE_nP-AajsTQLngvr83IcJFrWGA/s1600/2013-08-24+20.02.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZs2yn5YlMGB3izWBc4I2W6lRks8L6vMZccLDvv8zdwLWS2CiJoQgSKCkXnC0tnRVGi-wKFoFHoVgvf7iziwPa2TEIALORLc74M2MdewsWW_Ho_ipNE_nP-AajsTQLngvr83IcJFrWGA/s320/2013-08-24+20.02.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neurosis!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After the show, I was at the merch table and ended up talking with Paula, Neurosis’ tour manager. Paula was in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitboy" target="_blank">Spitboy</a>, a raging Bay Area hardcore band I remember fondly from way back when. She introduced me to Neurosis bassist Dave Edwardson; he was happy to meet an old-time fan from the Bay Area and we talked for a minute. I also said hello to singer/guitarist Scott Kelly, but he was clearly tired and not into it so I let him be. I have to say, my taste is more for the first couple of Neurosis albums that are in the hardcore vein, but I do genuinely like the newer stuff too. All in all, a spectacular event.<br />
<br />
Now it was time for one of the highlights of the convention. WaterFire was happening in conjunction with NecronomiCon this month, and lots of cool things were scheduled for the evening. Had I made it to the safety meeting, I would currently be walking in formation with a couple dozen other people, all of us wearing our hooded black robes and carrying flaming torches. Something would be lit on the water, then Cthulhu himself was expected to make some kind of appearance. After that, costumed Lovecraftian rockers <a href="http://www.thickets.net/" target="_blank">The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets</a> were scheduled to play a set on the outdoor stage. I have been a Thickets fan for years, and was looking forward to seeing them live.<br />
<br />
My poor navigation skills once again led me off track. WaterFire events happen along multiple parts of the waterway that winds through Providence, and I was never able to find the area where all that cool stuff was happening, although I probably could have tried harder and walked further. I decided to call it a night, and headed back to The Biltmore. I saw some of my new acquaintances there who also had trouble locating the WaterFire event, so at least I wasn’t the only one. One final stop a the hotel bar, then it was up to bed. I had be alive and alert early in the morning for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-H3N9LMwU4" target="_blank">Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>SUNDAY 08/25</b><br />
<br />
Going into the prayer breakfast I was pretty anxious. Another Gold Key perk was not only attendance at this popular event, but being part of the Infernal Choir, a group of robed figures led in parody hymns by Darrell Schweitzer. I was nervous about being up there in front of a ballroom full of people, but at least I was robed and surrounded by other similar folks. A church organist accompanied us as we sang from lyric sheets Darrell had printed up, each song a humorous Lovecraftian take on a popular hymn. (I never went to church and was unfamiliar with them, but that didn’t really matter too much.) Robert M. Price got behind the lectern and delivered one of his sermons. In addition to being a Lovecraftian author and prolific editor, Bob is a former Baptist minister and has a doctorate in theology, so he knows what he’s doing. Peppered with jokes and funny stories, Bob’s sermon went on for a while, then the choir sang a couple of songs songs. Next up was Cody Goodfellow. Bob and Cody do a lot of these prayer breakfasts, apparently, and Cody launched in to an energetic performance. And this is where some intrigue comes into play…<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiVWjVE6zb89eh31H-JY57XRamrMWoMDXKsqMyudLo2DqfZYIoKR4mH1ab6iRGmN2njuRSyRGaRgmAxNLyQRYMCZmb3FlhNzfJrMZujDCBUPIj-3ajFLiIWcyc47Bjmxyf4Jk7rgzU24/s1600/1238971_10201209820582145_1789732724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiVWjVE6zb89eh31H-JY57XRamrMWoMDXKsqMyudLo2DqfZYIoKR4mH1ab6iRGmN2njuRSyRGaRgmAxNLyQRYMCZmb3FlhNzfJrMZujDCBUPIj-3ajFLiIWcyc47Bjmxyf4Jk7rgzU24/s320/1238971_10201209820582145_1789732724_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conferring with co-conspirator Tom Lynch. Dig those crazy robes! Photo courtesy of the delightful Lady Lovecraft.</td></tr>
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<br />
On Saturday, Cody had asked Tom Lynch and myself to be his undercover minions, as he had a surprise in mind. He gave us awesome <a href="http://skurvyink.com/temple-of-yog-sothoth-shirt/" target="_blank">Temple of Yog-Sothoth</a> t-shirts (now available for purchase from <a href="http://skurvyink.com/" target="_blank">Skurvy Ink</a>) that we wore to the breakfast under our other clothes. We also had strategically cached bubble wands and bubble fluid near at hand. As Cody began his talk, I moved to the back of my robed compatriots, crouched down, and hidden from audience view, I took off my robe. I readied my bubble wand and waited for Cody’s cue. Just as Cody declared a schism in the church, breaking away to lead his own Temple of Yog-Sothoth, Tom Lynch and myself took up positions on either end of the speakers’ table to guard him, and invoked the form of Yog-Sothoth with our bubble wands. Mine had dried out, however, and this first attempt produced no bubbles. I got more fluid, and waited for the next bubble cue. This time, bubbles. Thankfully. I was pretty stiff (and terrified) up there, but Tom was a natural, leaping around and making a wonderful spectacle of himself. Cody’s speech was emphatically manic, and utterly hilarious. Cody finished, and the choir sang a couple more songs.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhootXnMX4CeWwbj4uI-lcZpR30mnLLHiU_LHfLjAretaDp5uWYJpdxvRPRlLbFwopGys-9TH2Vag0wXItuyVX2xa3HTuEjE55nGFjsErA4OL1mf4kCocCwtuei9tqIRsDX8EQEnabnz1s/s1600/bubbles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhootXnMX4CeWwbj4uI-lcZpR30mnLLHiU_LHfLjAretaDp5uWYJpdxvRPRlLbFwopGys-9TH2Vag0wXItuyVX2xa3HTuEjE55nGFjsErA4OL1mf4kCocCwtuei9tqIRsDX8EQEnabnz1s/s320/bubbles.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Lynch properly invoking Yog-Sothoth. His wand worked fine, and as such he did not have to endure the totally mature and not at all inappropriate jokes lobbed at the other minion. Ahem. Photo courtesy of the unstoppable Lady Lovecraft.</td></tr>
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<br />
Author Lois Gresh was the final speaker. She performed as a male rabbi, complete with beard, and gave what turned out to be her first prayer breakfast address. Despite some rough spots, she was funny too. A couple more songs from the choir, and that was it. I had been too nervous to eat before, and the buffet stations were broken down with admirable speed so I missed the breakfast part of the prayer breakfast.<br />
<br />
This was the last day of the convention, and as it got later, more and more people were leaving. Wanting to squeeze every last little drop out of this experience, I wasn’t leaving until Monday and was able to enjoy the final day in a leisurely fashion. I ate, drank, wandered the vendor tables, and spent some time talking to local artists. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/therealgunsho" target="_blank">James Quigley</a> works under the name <a href="http://www.gunsho.us/" target="_blank">Gunsho</a>, and makes cartoonish dayglo weird art. Once again, he was very cool and we discussed our mutual appreciation for the art of <a href="http://www.theartofskinner.com/" target="_blank">Skinner</a>. Michael Bukowski is a talented illustrator whom you might know from <a href="http://yog-blogsoth.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Yog-Blogsoth</a> or his beautiful zine <a href="http://www.lurkerspath.com/2013/04/04/michael-bukowski-yog-blogsoth-the-illustro-obscurum-journals/" target="_blank">Illustro Obscurum</a>. We chatted, and I picked up a couple of neat things from him. I also talked with <a href="http://erinsoule.com/" target="_blank">Erin Soule</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62044085@N04/with/5644724296/" target="_blank">Chris Potenza</a>, two locals who comprise <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/HOUSEoGOZER" target="_blank">The House of Gozer</a>. I bought a small print from them, and then talked one last time with Nick Gucker. I bought a sketchbook from him, neat to see his process and the evolution of different pieces.<br />
<br />
That afternoon was the final big event (at least for me), another reading by Laird Barron and an unknown special guest. Apparently science fiction and fantasy author Alan Dean Foster was going to be a surprise headliner, but at the last minute something came up and he couldn’t make it. I ran into Laird just before the reading, and he told me that his friend Michael Cisco would be reading instead of Foster. He also told me to make sure I didn’t miss Cisco, as his readings were extraordinary. I have a mixed relationship with Cisco; I had read a few of his short stories, but they were so nontraditional as to be difficult for me. While intriguing, none of them had made a lasting impression, mostly because I felt like there was a lot that I just wasn’t understanding or getting about his words. Curious, I grabbed a front row seat and enjoyed a beverage, then it was time to start.<br />
<br />
Laird talked a little bit about his writing, then read a section of the novella “The Men From Porlock,” one of the anchors of his newly-released third collection of short stories, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16000349-the-beautiful-thing-that-awaits-us-all" target="_blank">THE BEAUTIFUL THING THAT AWAITS US ALL</a>. I first read that story in <a href="http://www.haresrocklots.com/" target="_blank">Ross Lockhart’s</a> excellent 2011 anthology <a href="http://thebookofcthulhu.com/about/" target="_blank">THE BOOK OF CTHULHU</a>, and even after reading it twice there and hearing Laird read a chunk at the convention, I still very much enjoyed when I read it for a third time on the plane ride home, it’s that good. Laird read a particularly grisly passage, and it was quite enjoyable.<br />
<br />
Michael Cisco then took a seat, and gave an incredible reading of his story “My Father’s Friends.” Actually, it was more of a performance than a mere reading. Dressed in black, with glasses and a head of dark curly hair, the intense Mr. Cisco emoted, glared, gesticulated, and seemed as much a Beat poet as the accomplished academic that he is. (In addition to being an author, he is an English professor and translator.) I’m still not sure if I’m smart enough or tuned to the right wavelength to truly “get” him, but I am now making an effort. I bought some of his books, and this article at <a href="http://weirdfictionreview.com/2013/09/101-weird-writers-29-michael-cisco/" target="_blank">The Weird Fiction Review</a> helps with some of the big-picture ideas and other stuff I miss.<br />
<br />
After the reading was over and folks were milling about, Laird gave me a copy of his new book and signed it for me. I had pre-ordered a copy many months ago, but due to business problems with publisher <a href="http://www.nightshadebooks.com/" target="_blank">Night Shade Books</a>, Laird’s book and a number of others were delayed for months while things were worked out. Ironically, the copy I had ordered finally arrived while I was out of town at the convention, so I was very happy to have a copy to read immediately.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-HiluLyzmjxG_0qVcbDfYG6hT324yUoNUET1elZGQIp245FrJC5NewEXZgWejazbuOI0HUIXtlkQWG3Z8w-pBSstxXDAKGaxgYehWkqKquvG7pVR0wLyVUMYIWUn4cEdIoLE4lj27k0/s1600/2013-08-25+10.42.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-HiluLyzmjxG_0qVcbDfYG6hT324yUoNUET1elZGQIp245FrJC5NewEXZgWejazbuOI0HUIXtlkQWG3Z8w-pBSstxXDAKGaxgYehWkqKquvG7pVR0wLyVUMYIWUn4cEdIoLE4lj27k0/s320/2013-08-25+10.42.47.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only picture I asked someone to take, me and Laird Barron.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
At some point I met up with mystery man <a href="http://jordankrall.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Jordan Krall</a>, author and force behind publisher <a href="http://dynatox.storenvy.com/" target="_blank">Dynatox Ministries</a> and its many imprints. He sold me his last copy of <a href="http://nicolecushing.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Nicole Cushing’s</a> chapbook <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18374512-the-choir-of-beasts" target="_blank">THE CHOIR OF BEASTS</a>, and as a bonus included his own book <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17255571-nightmares-from-a-lovecraftian-mind" target="_blank">NIGHTMARES FROM A LOVECRAFTIAN MIND</a>. Added to the other stuff I had already bought and/or received from generous folks, I made quite a haul.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oNvfgwLqyBmxRZ_t2nkSiSx4wxRybfxGgSsjw8I-FsOSOWouSb2NuMT19iVqjm6AwwXNCc-WY8mE9L4yMQbHFcLkOaeXVf-HFT0juHzA69O3Nqxrq22VWoUF9lOv3hvK4qzhgAJkuYE/s1600/2013-08-28+18.21.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oNvfgwLqyBmxRZ_t2nkSiSx4wxRybfxGgSsjw8I-FsOSOWouSb2NuMT19iVqjm6AwwXNCc-WY8mE9L4yMQbHFcLkOaeXVf-HFT0juHzA69O3Nqxrq22VWoUF9lOv3hvK4qzhgAJkuYE/s320/2013-08-28+18.21.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory convention haul photo. Includes previously unmentioned cool ambient CDs from Hypnos Recordings courtesy of Mike and Lena Griffin - thanks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I retired to the hotel bar to eat, drink, and read, and passed a
pleasant afternoon. By this point the bartender, who was there every
single time I visited the bar regardless of the time of day, recognized me, and
he began referring to me as Trouble. An ironic nickname to be sure... <br />
<br />
That was pretty much it for the actual convention. I milled around the hotel and talked with a number of new friends on their ways home, and just generally took it easy. I read a lot, thought a lot, and tried to enjoy every waning minute of this unique trip.<br />
<br />
<b>MONDAY 08/26</b><br />
<br />
I woke up pretty early, had breakfast, then decided to do a little walking. I had to catch my airport shuttle at 12:00, but that left a few hours for sightseeing. I had not yet been to see any of the <a href="http://necronomicon-providence.com/ars-necronomica/" target="_blank">Ars Nerconomica</a>, an art exhibition happening at three different venues around town and featuring a number of Lovecraftian works. Two of the venues were closed at 9:00 on a Monday morning, but I resolved to visit the Cohen Gallery on the campus of nearby Brown University. I walked the mile or so uphill to the college, and marveled again at the beautiful old architecture, as well as how terribly out of shape I had become.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSdm5X04EmFgoQ1f8x7ZzX_ky4r2A8ENYOv8JtpKFl3UCRdqUTdFl3_deZ3gWbJ0PNJHR-Y7dVUwQWPktu0CBWG6VqiBRgVHEjMSI52Jo262UFjj9rD8rucLSzQPedZyfc_O0_p4Loig/s1600/P1010194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSdm5X04EmFgoQ1f8x7ZzX_ky4r2A8ENYOv8JtpKFl3UCRdqUTdFl3_deZ3gWbJ0PNJHR-Y7dVUwQWPktu0CBWG6VqiBRgVHEjMSI52Jo262UFjj9rD8rucLSzQPedZyfc_O0_p4Loig/s320/P1010194.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilum informed us that this is where the service was held for Lovecraft when he died. I was really captivated by that weird tree.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1owC02u7zbXdGC9M23aRnvE6RMpSnTy4ds4sqKSipEiP_GOH8iKc8NzmMUqlqW5uEjolag5M6qhtOK52dS2nkbQipxmtp4N-vFAvlrVqZudCBi-_pr0vwnAcmp9Zf-PoHRJLIahAdJw/s1600/P1010198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1owC02u7zbXdGC9M23aRnvE6RMpSnTy4ds4sqKSipEiP_GOH8iKc8NzmMUqlqW5uEjolag5M6qhtOK52dS2nkbQipxmtp4N-vFAvlrVqZudCBi-_pr0vwnAcmp9Zf-PoHRJLIahAdJw/s320/P1010198.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just don't see stuff like this back home. Beautiful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When I finally located the small gallery, I had the nice surprise of having it all to myself. Everything was interesting, with standouts coming from the reliable <a href="http://www.johncoulthart.com/" target="_blank">John Coulthart</a>, as well as a couple of folks who were new to me, <a href="http://www.vberkvlt.com/pages/selected_pieces" target="_blank">Justin Bartlett</a> and <a href="http://www.workhardened.com/" target="_blank">Paul Romano</a>. But the main event, the reason I was determined to make it out here, took up most of my time. I have been a fan of <a href="http://www.outsiderart.co.uk/blinko.htm" target="_blank">Nick Blinko’s</a> music and art for over 25 years, and on display here were five original pieces of his unbelievably detailed pen and ink drawings. The two smaller pieces are actually aerial views, from very high up, of the “nightmare city” mentioned in the Lovecraft’s “At The Mountains of Madness;” at first they just looked like black ink washed on to a white canvas, but the more I looked, the more vague patterns and hinted geographical features I could see. Like all of Nick’s work, seeing it in a printed version is much, much better than any digital representation. Nick is one of two prime movers of legendary UK anarcho/weirdo punk band <a href="http://www.pissinapod.com/" target="_blank">Rudimentary Peni</a>, makers of strange outsider music since 1981. He is utterly fascinating and deserving of a lengthy article himself, but I’ll just point you <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Blinko" target="_blank">here</a> if you are unfamiliar. With time winding down, I walked back through Providence to The
Biltmore, passing the newly-created H.P. Lovecraft Memorial Square along
the way.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoYVObFArhKQRSx4lUKNiON8TbdXZcnZ_bK8KLmPOQndj3EB_CAVqiRBbtXowEuSUfWXWwEKCEPDsxsbx49Tje7HDsfLopxt1Kk471xVpatfK9ihVUX3mhIRJYyEfU9RW3sFBWKv3new/s1600/brownjenkinnickblinko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoYVObFArhKQRSx4lUKNiON8TbdXZcnZ_bK8KLmPOQndj3EB_CAVqiRBbtXowEuSUfWXWwEKCEPDsxsbx49Tje7HDsfLopxt1Kk471xVpatfK9ihVUX3mhIRJYyEfU9RW3sFBWKv3new/s320/brownjenkinnickblinko.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sightings of Brown Jenkin the Furry Blasphemy" by Nick Blinko, an
original ink drawing made for this show. There is no way a JPEG can do
it any sort of justice. Picture borrowed from the NecronomiCon Facebook
page.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fr4m-xa79nWYhsRjSbTQwFsFyLm4w9VbosAfk-IDhz_Na3ZtZbABE9yVI1nMQFbjlxIvxQhc1rP23U71B-99it6Ka-PqsSdKtecWv-6NsRfhWR4_XOUMc6M9RaR62XroVwAAEI8Pk4Y/s1600/2013-08-26+10.39.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fr4m-xa79nWYhsRjSbTQwFsFyLm4w9VbosAfk-IDhz_Na3ZtZbABE9yVI1nMQFbjlxIvxQhc1rP23U71B-99it6Ka-PqsSdKtecWv-6NsRfhWR4_XOUMc6M9RaR62XroVwAAEI8Pk4Y/s320/2013-08-26+10.39.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some hometown love for ol' Howard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I ran into Joe Pulver and Lady Lovecraft getting ready to depart, as well as Bob Price and later Wilum Pugmire. I checked out, boarded the shuttle (really just a minivan), and started the trek back to T.F. Green Field. The shuttle stopped at another hotel and picked up none other than Edward and Katrina Martin, the two people I rode in with back on Wednesday. Small world! We talked all the way back to the airport, and after a short security delay, I was en route back to California.<br />
<br />
Due to layovers and time zone changes, it was about 8:00 PM when my wife picked me up at the airport. I was starving, so we stopped at our local pub and I had a large mug of Guinness to go with my steak and mashed potatoes. I tried to relate all of the amazing things I had just seen and done, but it came out rather disjointed and probably not a little nonsensical.<br />
<br />
<b>AFTERWARDS</b><br />
<br />
I had taken the next day off from work as well, and I’m glad I did. It took me literally days to come down from the unique high of NecronomiCon Providence 2013. It took weeks before I was able to start writing this account, and months to finish it. This post is very late to the party, but in addition to assuring my family and friends that nothing untoward occurred out there, writing it has helped me deal with and examine the experience.<br />
<br />
It occurs to me now just how little of what I did and how few of the conversations I enjoyed at this convention dedicated to Lovecraft were explicitly about Lovecraft. An enthusiasm for this strange man born over a century ago was shared by everyone, and the bulk of the convention was of course centered on his life and writings, yet these were not the things that drew my attention. I did not hear the keynote speech on Lovecraft's life given by S. T. Joshi. I did not see the unveiling of a bronze Lovecraft bust at the Providence Athenaeum Library. I did not attend any of the multiple panels specifically about his philosophy and ideas. <br />
<br />
I consider myself a fairly hardcore Lovecraft fan, having read and re-read his work for over 30 years now. However, it was not the past, but the present and the future that drew my attention and made this such a powerful experience. As much as I enjoy and admire Lovecraft's stories, they are a finite and well-trodden path I have walked for decades, and I know where that path leads.<br />
<br />
It is the living and productive authors and their stories that excite me more than
Lovecraft himself. The 21st century is proving to be something of a new golden age for weird fiction; print-on-demand books and thriving internet communities make more and more varied fiction available to wider audiences, giving authors who may have had small or non-existent followings through traditional publishing wider exposure. Many of these immensely talented and interesting people already have numerous stories that I have yet to read, and who knows what they will produce in the future.<br />
<br />
This is not history, this is happening now, and I find it terribly exciting.<br />
<br />
There are plans to put on NecronomiCon in Providence every other year, and while I doubt any future iterations will have quite the same level of impact on me, I will do whatever I can to go back. I hope my new friends will be able to do the same.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-86097981653280509342012-11-04T16:45:00.001-08:002012-11-04T16:47:00.099-08:00Neo-noir(?)* booksI recently took a break from my steady diet of horror fiction to read a couple of noir-ish works. Admittedly, I am a complete novice when it comes to crime/noir/thriller books. I haven't read any of the classics, and I haven't even seen any of the classic movies. I'm a little hesitant to explore further, as I already buy more horror and speculative fiction than I can read. With a whole other genre to obsess over, I'm afraid I would never get anything done, nor save any money for my impending old age. Still, these two books - one a novella and the other a full-length novel - were so enjoyable that I may have to venture out into that wide, dark world after all.<br />
<br />
Also interesting, and somewhat new for me, is that both of these books are only available in Kindle format - no print versions. (Although one looks to be heading that way, see below.) I am a steadfast physical book fan; I think e-books have their place, and I do indeed own a Kindle, but I can't see myself ever preferring an e-version over good old wood pulp. Yes, you can argue for the democratization of publishing and the convenience of a lightweight device that holds dozens of titles. To an extent, I'll agree with you. But as a print production person by day and book lover by night, my loyalties lie with the increasingly archaic world of media that exist in hard reality instead of electrons stored on a high-tech device. And get off my lawn, dammit. <br />
<br />
Anyway, on to the stories...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WUXYud-3L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-53,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WUXYud-3L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-53,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IGX7OW" target="_blank">DEATH MATCH</a></b> <br />
<i>(Jason S. Ridler, 2012)</i><br />
<br />
Punk rock, pro wrestling, and mystery… Yes! This was a ridiculously fun book to read. Fast-moving, and a real page-turner. Many interesting plot twists, leading up to a truly bizarre climax that had my jaw literally dropping. (That does not happen very often.) Nicely played, <a href="http://www.jridler.com/" target="_blank">Jason S. Ridler</a>.<br />
<br />
In DEATH MATCH, former punk musician and current local newspaper journalist Spar Battersea, newly sober, is barely scraping by in his hometown of Dismas, living with a local indie wrestler and trying to drag his own cranky ass into adulthood. When his roommate is killed in the ring, Spar sets off on a twisted journey through the gutters and back alleys of Dismas, searching for the truth while getting deeper and deeper into the city's sex- and drugs-fueled underworld.<br />
<br />
I finished this book a while ago, and a number of the characters are still tumbling around in my brain. Recovering alcoholic Spar Battersea is fleshed out nicely, and is flawed enough to be a real person. Past-his-prime wrestler The Bullet is slightly reminiscent of Mickey Rourke's Randy the Ram, although even lower down and harder up. Human freak show Johnny Silent (aka Mime Boy) makes a deep impression without any dialogue, and is one of the creepier characters I've come across recently.<br />
<br />
Lots of recognizable archetypes from punk rock and related scenes, including a straight-edge drug dealer (!) and psychobillies who are truly psycho. Also a couple of prostitutes with a surprising connection, a nasty biker gang, a crooked promoter, print journalists, and other assorted rough trade. (I kid, I kid.)<br />
<br />
I really got a kick (so to speak) from all the wrestling terms and indie-league stories. I watched a lot of Ring of Honor and ECW back in the day, paid for membership to a great wrestling news site (PWInsider.com), and I occasionally drop in on WWE to see what is happening. (Spoiler: it is still 95% crap.) Still, you don't have to be a wrestling fan to like this book, or even understand the lingo; Ridler explains a few terms, and the rest can be picked up easily from context.<br />
<br />
There are two other Spar Battersea books (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/CON-JOB-BATTERSEA-THRILLER-ebook/dp/B0083JDZYS/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352075389&sr=1-9&keywords=con+job" target="_blank">CON JOB</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/DICE-ROLL-BATTERSEA-ROLEPLAYING-ebook/dp/B009BI792E/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kstore_3" target="_blank">DICE ROLL</a>); I bought CON JOB before I was halfway done with DEATH MATCH, and I plan to read DICE ROLL too.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ciemSljKL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-67,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ciemSljKL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-67,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007QM9N44" target="_blank">CATCH MY KILLER!</a></b> <br />
<i>(Ed Kurtz, Abbatoir Press, 2012)</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://abattoirpress.com/" target="_blank">Abattoir Press</a> launched a new novella series in April with "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007QM9N44" target="_blank">Catch My Killer! The First Sam Truman Mystery</a>." Each Sam Truman book will be written by a different author, and first up is Abattoir main man himself, <a href="http://edkurtzbleeds.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Ed Kurtz</a>. Hard-boiled noir meets sardonic horror, with wildly entertaining results. <br />
<br />
Hard-luck gumshoe Sam Truman has lost his PI license and is one small step above outright homelessness. While stopping a robbery at his buddy Clu's diner, he plugs the perpetrating punk; this is enough of a problem for Sam to begin with, especially given his particular relationship with the local cops (and the fact is not allowed to have a gun), but it gets worse when the corpse shows up at his door and asks for help… The corpse, of course, is actually possessed by the spirit of a murdered woman, not the hood Sam shot. She makes the titular request, and we are off to the races.<br />
<br />
Very real concerns, such as having enough money to pay for a meal or an extremely limited number of bullets for your gun, are just as important as the reanimated corpses and black magic rituals. Kurtz does not skimp on the little details that ground the story in almost-reality, nor does he hold back on the blood-soaked undead action when it's clobberin' time.<br />
<br />
As mentioned, this is currently available as an e-book only, but rumor has it that an omnibus edition of the first three Sam Truman books - "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007QM9N44" target="_blank">Catch My Killer</a>!" (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ed-Kurtz/e/B004UEU6WE/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Ed Kurtz</a>); "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00830WSNG" target="_blank">The Last Invasion</a>" (Brandon Zuern); and "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GMB3LO" target="_blank">Soft Kiss, Hard Death</a>" (<a href="http://tobinelliott.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Tobin Elliott</a>) - will be published next year on real paper. Even though I have the Kindle edition of the first two books, I will undoubtedly pick up the physical book when it is available. These stories are too much fun, and nothing beats the experience of reading an actual physical book. The fourth book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009VGQVYI" target="_blank">Bound By Jade</a>" (<a href="http://www.brain-tremors.com/" target="_blank">Adam Cesare</a>) was released for Kindle a couple of weeks ago.<br />
<br />
*I may be using this term wrong, not sure. Please correct me if necessary.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-22463791931991982252012-08-05T09:25:00.000-07:002012-08-05T09:25:40.245-07:00"American Idol" by S.C. Hayden<style>
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I finally bought a copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/American-Idol-S-C-Hayden/dp/0983377324/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" target="_blank"><b>American Idol</b></a> (<a href="http://downwarden.com/blackbedsheetstore/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=81_110" target="_blank">Black Bed Sheet Books</a>, 2011) by <a href="http://www.schayden.com/" target="_blank">S.C. Hayden</a> at this year’s World Horror Convention, something I have been
meaning to do for a while. I had read part of it in manuscript form last year
as a submission to <a href="http://montagpress.com/" target="_blank">Montag Press</a>; I liked it enough to enthusiastically
recommend publishing it before I was even halfway done, but was chagrined to
find that <a href="http://www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheet/" target="_blank">Black Bed Sheet</a> beat us to the punch. That being the case, I vowed to
pay real American dollars for the final version in book form, and I happily did
so at WHC. (Full details of that trip, including meeting S.C. Hayden and Black Bed Sheets honcho Nicholas Grabowsky, can be found <a href="http://nothingisimminent.blogspot.com/2012/04/so-i-went-to-world-horror-convention-in.html" target="_blank">in an earlier post</a>.)</div>
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I have since read the whole thing, and yeah, I really liked
this book. It is one of the more unconventional and straight-up fun, and often
funny, books I’ve read in a while, bristling with irreverence – literally, as
Hayden mocks every major religion I can think of and goes after the very notion
of organized religion itself. </div>
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<b>American Idol </b>tells the story of two friends and
a sister who revive the practice of idolatry, not because they believe in it as
a spiritual system, but purely for profit (and maybe a little provocation too).
This simple premise sets the stage for commentary on many aspects of our modern
culture, primarily faith and commerce. And Hayden certainly has a lot to say.</div>
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A few surprising plot twists really change the tenor of the
story as it unfolds. The general mood ranges from hilariously anarchic tweaking
of values and beliefs to more somber and emotional passages, before arriving at
a decidedly surreal climax. Hayden starts many chapters with quotes from
religious texts like The Bible and The Koran, as well as relevant quotes from
folks as diverse as L. Ron Hubbard, Nietzsche, and Tom Waits. A number of the
quotes had me thinking they must surely be a joke, but every time I Googled
them, I found they were authentic. Wow.</div>
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Hayden has a laid-back and conversational writing style that
is well-suited to the story and its multiple digressions. At times I was
reminded of the great <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Illuminatus-Trilogy-Pyramid-Leviathan/dp/0440539811/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344183219&sr=8-1&keywords=illuminatus" target="_blank">Illuminatus!</a></b> trilogy by Robert
Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. Faith, loyalty, synchronicities, and strange numerology as well as
shifting perspectives and voices figure into both works. <b>American Idol</b> isn’t
nearly as Byzantine or completely over the top as <b>Illuminatus!</b>, but the
parallels are there, I think.</div>
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My only real complaint is with the physical book itself. As
with so many small press books, there are a number of typos throughout. Nothing
that makes passages unintelligible or anything like that, but as a layout guy,
these things are hard for me to ignore. If you are not an editor or designer, you
probably won’t be distracted by them, and they certainly shouldn’t impede your
enjoyment of the story. </div>
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It probably goes without saying, but this is not a book for
the easily offended. Hayden’s targets of parody and scorn are many, and odds
are you or someone you love falls into at least one of the many groups within
his sights. Hopefully you can take a joke, because this is a book worth
reading. There is a great deal of interesting ideas and thought-provoking
commentary to be found in these pages, along with an enjoyable and engrossing
plot involving well-written characters. A book that can’t really be pigeon-holed
in a distinct genre, <b>American Idol</b> should appeal to anyone with a sense of
humor, an open mind, and an interest in the absurdities of modern American culture.</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-82902798422672695142012-05-07T06:04:00.000-07:002012-05-07T06:04:37.097-07:00"The Croning" by Laird Barron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Ih52WQAmcsBY5QwsWcsg0_Rc89XNMBBDDSBTGgfWcB8YNU3rj1MRd2g835L_JH-ICG0Q6jXSoooJnoaTXOWtKGbPzhIDiWU4QefS5EITRCK3nJTUO_xkobIxCMgTnM_F2NbFi1TxBo/s1600/TheCroning_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Ih52WQAmcsBY5QwsWcsg0_Rc89XNMBBDDSBTGgfWcB8YNU3rj1MRd2g835L_JH-ICG0Q6jXSoooJnoaTXOWtKGbPzhIDiWU4QefS5EITRCK3nJTUO_xkobIxCMgTnM_F2NbFi1TxBo/s640/TheCroning_large.jpg" width="417" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.nightshadebooks.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=236" target="_blank"><b>The Croning</b></a> is a stellar book, in many senses of that word. Firmly implanting the cosmic in "cosmic horror," <a href="http://imago1.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">Laird Barron's</a> first novel takes a number of threads started in his short stories and weaves them into a stunning gallows rope. <br />
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If you've read any of Mr. Barron's short stories -- many of which are collected in <a href="http://nightshadebooks.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=23" target="_blank"><b>The Imago Sequence and Other Stories</b></a> (Night Shade Books, 2007) and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Occultation-Laird-Barron/dp/1597801925/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1336227552&sr=1-5" target="_blank"><b>Occultation and Other Stories</b></a> (Night Shade Books, 2010) -- then you know he can rapidly set a mood and get down to hallucinatory, nasty business. His first longer-form story was <a href="http://www.miskatonicbooks.com/THE-LIGHT-IS-THE-DARKNESS-by-Laird-Barron-Limited-Edition-Hardcover.html" target="_blank"><b>The Light is the Darkness</b></a> (Infernal House, 2011), a novella published in a very limited edition last year. It is a gorgeous, exquisitely produced volume, and features a story that is just as much weird action pulp as horror. It hits some different beats than his shorter works, but is still unmistakably Barron.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1a_9-LDTRhcOoOqJ2s3rb7FbVnjacm-SwgnLCFu2FS5VqQCMD-PclWQk2COL9IaiupRJmixZIJerN_UxS_zsBo3iu_Onib7E0MWEOuZ-2ZQXizCR7T237XO6-NdQlgwmnnGVZsInFdQ/s1600/TheLightIsTheDarkness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1a_9-LDTRhcOoOqJ2s3rb7FbVnjacm-SwgnLCFu2FS5VqQCMD-PclWQk2COL9IaiupRJmixZIJerN_UxS_zsBo3iu_Onib7E0MWEOuZ-2ZQXizCR7T237XO6-NdQlgwmnnGVZsInFdQ/s400/TheLightIsTheDarkness.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leather bound with an amazing debossed cover in a custom tray case. Yes, I have a copy.</td></tr>
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Having read his short stories multiple times and then the novella, I was confident Mr. Barron would make good use of the longer novel format to further inflict his vision upon the reader. I was not wrong. With <b>The Croning</b>, he has the space to lay out a deep back story and slowly simmer his nightmarish stew, as opposed to the microwave oven necessitated by the short story form.<br />
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<b>The Croning</b> tells the story of aged geologist Don Miller and his anthropologist wife Michelle Mock. Jumping around between three different periods in their shared life, we meet their family and associates, as well as government agents and the ancient cult of Old Leech, familiar from some of Mr. Barron's previous stories. Unfolding for the most part in his familiar Pacific Northwest locales, the strange family histories of the Millers and the Mocks slowly but surely crystallizes into a soul-shattering fugue of doom and unthinkable horror.<br />
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Mr. Barron includes enough of the mundane and the familiar in the story to give it a good grounding. To his credit, the settings seem very real, even when very unreal things are occurring. As the tension ratchets up and the story starts moving faster and faster, the little details and realistic touches from earlier in the book lay a nice groundwork for the creeping dread and awful realizations to come.<br />
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According to a recent interview with Mr. Barron over at the excellent <a href="http://cosmicomicon.blogspot.com/2012/05/tc-book-review-interview-laird-barron.html" target="_blank">Cosmicomicon</a>, most of his stories take place in a shared reality, and he does a good job of reinforcing that notion with small details; names, places, and a small black guide book make repeated appearances in a number of his tales. Especially relevant to <b>The Croning</b> are his stories <i>The Men from Porlock</i>, available in <a href="http://www.nightshadebooks.com/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=201" target="_blank"><b>The Book of Cthulhu</b></a> (Night Shade Books, 2011), and both <i>The Broadsword</i> and <i>Mysterium Tremendum</i>, published in <b>Occultation and Other Stories</b>. I'd suggest reading all of those before <b>The Croning</b>, although that is certainly not necessary to enjoy the novel.<br />
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Mr. Barron's central theme strikes me as an alloy forged from classic Lovecraftian cosmic horror, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Ligotti" target="_blank">Thomas Ligotti's</a> idea of The Darkness, and his own unique rare-earth minerals. This overarching mythology has been teased and hinted at in previous stories, and here it is laid bare. If I have any quibble with this book, it would be that the concepts underlying the "Barronic Mythos" (to quote T. E. Grau) are almost <i>too</i> illuminated. The story features some nice twists and reveals right up until the end; when that end is reached, it appears there is little ambiguity left regarding the story of Old Leech and related entities.<br />
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Still, at this point I trust Mr. Barron implicitly. I have liked or (more frequently) loved everything he has written to date, and he is a well-reasoned and seasoned writer of exceptional quality. He has another short story collection in the works, and is apparently working on a crime novel. Given that his existing horror fiction mines many noir and pulp tropes, I am excited to read his full-blown take on the genre.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqIMBC27hOl-UrLfVEOuibfFerWw2yDLPmF3ceDrLBVeCdjg0VLI2k1zJONKxJTTxS4LKxz_HXfCvyFKsFLt1VZx49SHFfRDxh0f66u-EtdmMXUV10kxH5UYpm-78_0XF7IgN76v5YqM/s1600/Laird_Barron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqIMBC27hOl-UrLfVEOuibfFerWw2yDLPmF3ceDrLBVeCdjg0VLI2k1zJONKxJTTxS4LKxz_HXfCvyFKsFLt1VZx49SHFfRDxh0f66u-EtdmMXUV10kxH5UYpm-78_0XF7IgN76v5YqM/s400/Laird_Barron.jpg" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The man himself.</td></tr>
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Along those lines, Mr. Barron's personal story is fascinating to the point of almost seeming like good fiction itself. Growing up in poverty in rural Alaska, losing an eye as a young child, training and racing sled dogs, fishing the Bering Sea… Read the aforementioned interview at <a href="http://cosmicomicon.blogspot.com/2012/05/tc-book-review-interview-laird-barron.html" target="_blank">The Cosmicomicon</a> as well as this <a href="http://www.centipedepress.com/opinions.html" target="_blank">revelatory column on the Centipede Press website</a> for more. His hard-earned experience informs his writing to a degree that can only be achieved by living the life. <br />
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<b>The Croning</b> is one of the best novels I have read in quite some time, horror or otherwise. Beautiful and brutal, with genuine skin-crawling moments shuffled in with scenes of wide-eyed wonder. I predict you will see this book on many Best of 2012 lists and awards ballots… Laird Barron has proven, definitively, that he can write long stories that are just as effective as his short fiction, and I'm looking forward to reading more, much more, of this unique man's singular and haunting vision.Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-23516619872614781582012-04-03T06:41:00.002-07:002012-05-07T06:19:33.183-07:00So I went to the World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City<div style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I just flew in from the <a href="http://www.whc2012.org/World_Horror_2012.html" target="_blank">World Horror Convention</a> in Salt Lake City, and boy is my shoggoth tired. But
seriously, folks… This was my first WHC, and my first con of any sort in at
least 25 years. It was quite an experience: exhilarating, exhausting, excellent.
I attended both as a fan and as a representative of <a href="http://montagpress.com/" target="_blank">Montag Press</a>, a publishing
collective based in Davis, CA. Our first book should be out in early summer (<a href="http://montagpress.com/2012/03/23/connor-interview/" target="_blank"><b>Tree Black</b></a> by <a href="http://montagpress.com/2012/03/25/interview-with-connor-debruler/" target="_blank">Connor de Bruler</a>),
more details on that when the stars are right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I met so many nice and
wonderful people at WHC. Some I had known
from online financial transactions; <a href="http://www.hippocampuspress.com/" target="_blank">Hippocampus Press</a> and
<a href="http://www.centipedepress.com/home.html" target="_blank">Centipede Press</a> have seen some action from my bank account over the
years, and it was great to finally meet Derrick Hussey and
Jerad Walters. I had a nice talk with Derrick about <a href="http://www.eldritchdark.com/" target="_blank">Clark Ashton Smith</a> and
<a href="http://sesqua.net/" target="_blank">Wilum Pugmire.</a> I
didn’t get to talk with Jerad too much, as his absolutely beautiful books were
attracting a lot of attention (and customers).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Another vendor acquaintance was Paul Anderson of <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Arkham-Antiques" target="_blank">Arkham Antiques</a>. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I bugged Paul repeatedly about all the amazing Lovecraftiana
he had for sale, and he was very patient with me. I thank him for that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Since I was there repping
Montag, I took some author pitches – the first time I’ve ever done anything
like that, for sure. I found out a couple of days before that I would be
sitting on a pre-pitch panel session, not the kind of thing I usually do… Still,
Friday morning at 10:00, I found myself sitting at a table with six established
horror publishers and editors, facing a standing room crowd of around 50
authors. I acquitted myself OK, and later took pitches for three hours from a
number of promising writers. Another guy tracked me down the next day and we
had an impromptu session, so in all I talked seriously to seven different
people. For an introvert like me, that was quite an experience. Thanks to
fellow panelists Kim Richardson of <a href="http://damnationbooks.com/" target="_blank">Damnation Books</a>, Nicholas Grabowsky of <a href="http://www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheet" target="_blank">Black Bed Sheet Books</a> (more on him later), Steven Booth and Norman Rubenstein of
<a href="http://geniusbookpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Genius Publishing</a>, Don D’Auria of <a href="http://www.samhainpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Samhain Publishing</a>, and RJ Cavender of
<a href="http://cuttingblock.net/" target="_blank">Cutting Block Press</a> for the advice and camaraderie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">While I truly enjoyed taking
the pitches, the highlight of the con for me was meeting all of the other small
press folks who were there. I was pleasantly surprised – stunned, really – by
just how friendly, open, and supportive they all were. My badge did say Montag
Press, and I figured the other presses would be a little wary or guarded. Boy,
did I misjudge this community. Every single press I talked with was happy to
share information and discuss the field. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.darkregions.com/" target="_blank">Dark Regions Press</a> brought
many of their books that are on my master To Read list, so I picked a few up
from Joe Morey in person. What a haul: <a href="http://www.darkregions.com/nightingale-songs-by-simon-strantzas/" target="_blank"><b>Nightingale Songs</b></a> by <a href="http://www.strantzas.com/" target="_blank">Simon Strantzas</a>,
<a href="http://www.darkregions.com/products/Charnel-Wine-by-Richard-Gavin.html" target="_blank"><b>Charnel Wine</b></a> by <a href="http://www.richardgavin.net/" target="_blank">Richard Gavin</a>, the brand new <a href="http://www.darkregions.com/gathered-dust-and-others-by-w-h-pugmire/" target="_blank"><b>Gathered Dust and Others</b></a> hardback by
<a href="http://lovecraftianhorror.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">W.H. Pugmire</a>, the dark poetry book <a href="http://www.darkregions.com/products/Shroud-of-Night-by-G.O.-Clark.html" target="_blank"><b>Shroud of Night</b></a> by <a href="http://pwp.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=381191&ck=" target="_blank">G. O. Clark</a>, and <a href="http://www.darkregions.com/products/The-Engines-of-Sacrifice-by-James-Chambers.html" target="_blank"><b>The Engines of Sacrifice</b></a> by <a href="http://www.jameschambersonline.com/blog/" target="_blank">James Chambers</a>. Mr. Clark and Mr. Chambers were both at
the booth, and graciously chatted and signed my books. Joe threw in a copy of <a href="http://www.darkregions.com/pain-by-harry-shannon/" target="_blank"><b>Pain</b></a>
by <a href="http://www.harryshannon.com/" target="_blank">Harry Shannon</a> for free and we made a nice deal. Thanks Joe!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.postmortem-press.com/" target="_blank">Post Mortem Press</a> had a nice
selection of their wares. I hung around with publisher Eric Beebe and author
<a href="http://thebeerchroniclesbook.com/default.aspx" target="_blank">Scott Lange</a> for a while. Later, they let me sit with them at the Bram Stoker
Awards banquet. Thanks guys! We also spent some time together in the Radisson
bar. Genuinely nice fellas. I bought a copy of
Scott’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beer-Chronicles-Tales-Paddy-Rodriguez/dp/0615444121" target="_blank"><b>The Beer Chronicles</b></a> – with a name like that, how could I not?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Beebe and Scott Lange</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RFJ6xb4cxLa154B7uW_YQUwOkc-FZbJmQky8rWm_Q6ma99DY5HzT2h7AJF_GY5UqP76goIbjZqkrdgZGlksRR1KsaQinz-Ahg-JC14puq226HcdSzh3uipgoNUGjERfU-E_XsUzawHE/s1600/SeanScott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RFJ6xb4cxLa154B7uW_YQUwOkc-FZbJmQky8rWm_Q6ma99DY5HzT2h7AJF_GY5UqP76goIbjZqkrdgZGlksRR1KsaQinz-Ahg-JC14puq226HcdSzh3uipgoNUGjERfU-E_XsUzawHE/s320/SeanScott.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the bar with S.C. Hayden and Scott Lange</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://chizinepub.com/" target="_blank">ChiZine Publications</a> from
Toronto was there, and I got to meet publisher Brett Savory and his wife Sandra
Katsuri. I picked up a copy of <a href="http://chizinepub.com/books/katja-punk-band.php" target="_blank"><b>Katja From The Punk Band</b></a> by <a href="http://www.coldandalone.com/" target="_blank">Simon Logan</a> and
talked with them for a while. ChiZine had a room party Saturday night; I know I
was there and I think I donated a few remnant
beers I picked up when the Stoker party shut down, but then it gets a
little fuzzy. Ahem.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSgE2YfeX7FZMEfB9M_z_sA5GcxVi72o6henjiQSgbBfEzXIJh8pmYNehCv_e5h85N8Paxg6ZwUCUl7Uo96O8hpohcClfM3rhMWQFdHSCZhoqWpQSjUg4OeSMGR6WMU6tmyq05-QUhXY/s1600/Stokers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSgE2YfeX7FZMEfB9M_z_sA5GcxVi72o6henjiQSgbBfEzXIJh8pmYNehCv_e5h85N8Paxg6ZwUCUl7Uo96O8hpohcClfM3rhMWQFdHSCZhoqWpQSjUg4OeSMGR6WMU6tmyq05-QUhXY/s320/Stokers.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Stoker Awards banquet. See all the formal wear?<br />
Now guess which doofus wore army pants and a t-shirt. Oops.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Over the course of the three
days I was there, I also had some good conversations with a number of other fascinating
people. Lori Michelle and Max Booth of <a href="http://www.darkmoonbooks.com/" target="_blank">Dark Moon Books</a>, Ed Kurtz of <a href="http://redrumhorror.com/books/" target="_blank">RedRum Horror</a>,
Roy Robbins of <a href="http://www.badmoonbooks.com/home.php" target="_blank">Bad Moon Books</a>, Hollie Snider at <a href="http://eviljesterpress.com/" target="_blank">Evil Jester Press</a>, and last but
not least Blake Casselman of <a href="http://www.rarelegend.com/" target="_blank">Rare Legend Films</a> stand out the most. I even
briefly met Ross Lockhart, managing editor of <a href="http://www.nightshadebooks.com/" target="_blank">Night Shade Books</a>, one of my
favorite imprints. That was seriously cool.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp-5H7SsqR6iTXZqRceGf89NqCEJccL7Knelqod2mrnaY3WUg8AvGwdqnFSoM141Oy8laAdNIjx_o8ppZNpzosmIR_ABrnVpZgNbjMxQfRixVge4F4oNfNjhh_-IZkZko8KIaHpJDOzQ/s1600/EdKurtz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUp-5H7SsqR6iTXZqRceGf89NqCEJccL7Knelqod2mrnaY3WUg8AvGwdqnFSoM141Oy8laAdNIjx_o8ppZNpzosmIR_ABrnVpZgNbjMxQfRixVge4F4oNfNjhh_-IZkZko8KIaHpJDOzQ/s320/EdKurtz.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed Kurtz</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And then there was the <a href="http://www.downwarden.com/blackbedsheet" target="_blank">Black Bed Sheet Books</a> posse: publisher and author <a href="http://www.downwarden.com/homepage.htm" target="_blank">Nicholas Grabowsky</a>, and authors
<a href="http://www.schayden.com/" target="_blank">S.C. Hayden</a> and <a href="http://www.alexanderberesford.net/page/home" target="_blank">Alexander Beresford</a>. I met them on the first day, and ended up
spending a good deal of time talking and drinking with them in various locales.
In one of those “it’s a small world” moments, it turns out Nick lives just a
few miles from me, hah. I had read the first half of Sean Hayden’s <a href="http://blackbedsheet.goshopper.net/i/213644/american-idol.htm" target="_blank"><b>American Idol</b></a> in manuscript form, and loved it. When I found out another press was going
to publish it, I stopped reading the manuscript and promised myself I'd buy the book
when it came out. I’m happy to say I finally did that, really looking forward
to reading the final version in its entirety. I have also added Alex’s new book
<a href="http://blackbedsheet.goshopper.net/i/257229/charla.htm" target="_blank"><b>Charla</b></a> to that To Read list mentioned above, hearing good things about it. I
sincerely hope I haven’t seen the last of these rogues, we had too much fun.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtEXa290-Vp5FUTTnSGXNUgcNGRycVi1MaUhyphenhyphen3b3M-7IA2_tpRTK9C09J6X2ZbNV7y_yt4j909iazl2Hv1XJ28lj-h6-PmjoaQACnbFRDDVcbW_S-8ehBp8sFhWJPJoZlHju2RU0jMi4/s1600/NickAlexSean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtEXa290-Vp5FUTTnSGXNUgcNGRycVi1MaUhyphenhyphen3b3M-7IA2_tpRTK9C09J6X2ZbNV7y_yt4j909iazl2Hv1XJ28lj-h6-PmjoaQACnbFRDDVcbW_S-8ehBp8sFhWJPJoZlHju2RU0jMi4/s320/NickAlexSean.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicholas Grabowsky, Alexander Beresford, and S.C. Hayden</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I also want to mention
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Zombiance" target="_blank">Zombiance</a>, who played a free show in the convention suite on Thursday night. I
only caught the last few songs of their set, but really enjoyed it. They have a
hard/punk rock style, with songs exclusively about horror topics. Not content
with mere corpse paint, these guys and girl have costumes that include make-up,
latex and prostheses, very well done. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy2ChRiETCcIIq-sIIrKA4gpyzpSg943y_7lQmvFBeqArPQA4qgk64TOK45bp4nUx35yGPE-HWLPdidoYQLAXUigjDSaB0GeqdsHGPLNCC1_ADff4XbtUyQYqrduVzkiDF-887OPD7X4/s1600/Zombiance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy2ChRiETCcIIq-sIIrKA4gpyzpSg943y_7lQmvFBeqArPQA4qgk64TOK45bp4nUx35yGPE-HWLPdidoYQLAXUigjDSaB0GeqdsHGPLNCC1_ADff4XbtUyQYqrduVzkiDF-887OPD7X4/s320/Zombiance.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zombiance and small, well-behaved punker audience</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I had to leave on Sunday and
missed the last day of the con. Almost missed my check-out time too, as I
apparently returned from those Stoker and ChiZine parties pretty damn late.
When I got to the airport, my plane was delayed, everything was crowded, the
food was bad, the whole thing. But it didn’t matter. Those three days that came
before were worth any travel hassles, without a doubt. This was my first
professional convention, and I get the feeling there will be many more. Hoping to make <a href="http://killercon.com/" target="_blank">KillerCon</a> in Vegas later this year, fingers crossed.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zJ7Hdlq8et5oglUUTWhdZXXh-bIvxiUtMkXbhjwIkMbWYDlwhcjtX0P9bxKeKevEnYrAa3tqfTcL8sBwj4hZGuIVa-M-E0EiO_ma4uT89b5DTvYUupAsBQj2pkzPOdMUEYaOvj-0RCI/s1600/SLC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zJ7Hdlq8et5oglUUTWhdZXXh-bIvxiUtMkXbhjwIkMbWYDlwhcjtX0P9bxKeKevEnYrAa3tqfTcL8sBwj4hZGuIVa-M-E0EiO_ma4uT89b5DTvYUupAsBQj2pkzPOdMUEYaOvj-0RCI/s320/SLC.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this picture of a deserted SLC at 3:30 <br />
Sunday morning. I'm sure I had a good reason.</td></tr>
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<br /></div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-11235625716153508892012-03-25T15:54:00.000-07:002012-05-07T06:27:45.221-07:00Surgery (the band, not the hospital thing): a personal history<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
In 2012, AmRep rockers Surgery are long gone. No retrospective box set, no articles about their place in and influence on the post-hardcore scene, not even a proper live recording of any of their songs. This is a shame. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R (I think): Scott Kleber, Sean McDonnell, John Leamy, John Lachapelle</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdAc6zGDpc82MIhtUa7WWtHGpqJpx1vikALOd_H5gAx_p-8L_FFUgkIElcKhVKzPpZDRft9SPJ3gTkyfsgFKJdbiXo_1Zud1lII2mWCgt5iOfKzkm0cUxGvieveo4pkSJCpiaz3YCwlc/s1600/surgery_band_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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Surgery dropped my jaw back in the early 90s. An excellent blend of rock, noise, punk, and smarm, they had just the right concoction to go straight to my little black heart. A four-piece with the same line-up for their entire recorded career, they went from Syracuse to the unknown zone of Lower East Side NYC to a major-label deal that unleashed one album on the world before singer/guitarist Sean McDonnell died in 1995.</div>
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The majority of their recorded output appears under the auspices of the splendid <a href="http://www.amphetaminereptile.com/" target="_blank">Amphetamine Reptile Records</a>, home of other kindred spirits busy spiking the post-punk punch with incongruous elements. They have a track ("<i>Action Candy</i>") on the third installment of AmRep's legendary <b><a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Dope-Guns-N-Fucking-In-The-Streets-Volume-1-3/master/6584" target="_blank">Dope-Guns-'N-Fucking In The Streets</a></b> compilation series, released in 1989. I bought a cassette tape compilation of the first three volumes in 1989; with the exception of <a href="http://www.subpop.com/artists/mudhoney" target="_blank">Mudhoney</a>, all of the bands on the tape were new to me. At this point, Surgery didn't really leave a lasting impression in my mind. <a href="http://www.helioschrome.com/" target="_blank">Helios Creed</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cows" target="_blank">Cows</a>, and <a href="http://www.grunnenrocks.nl/bands/h/haloofflies.htm" target="_blank">Halo of Flies</a> grabbed my attention more then the others, and I started buying just about anything I could find on AmRep. (To my shame, I did not have a working turntable at the time, and was only buying cassettes and CDs.) </div>
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Here is Surgery performing "<i>Action Candy</i>" from the <b>Ugly American Overkill</b> video, a document of the 1990 AmRep European tour featuring <a href="http://www.helmetmusic.com/" target="_blank">Helmet</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/godbullies" target="_blank">God Bullies</a>, Surgery, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar_%28band%29" target="_blank">Tar</a>.</div>
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Also in 1989, Surgery released their first 7" under the AmRep imprint ("<i>Not Going Down</i>" b/w "<i>Blow Her Face</i>"), as well as a the vinyl-only mini-album <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Surgery-Souleater/master/149609" target="_blank"><b>Souleater</b></a> (on Glitterhouse in Germany, and Circuit Records in the USA). Both chunks of solidified petroleum swagger and lurch, taking a leisurely stroll down the art-noise trail on their way to the rock mountain.<a href="http://s.dsimg.com/image/R-1125860-1194116811.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Not Going Down"</i> b/w <i>"Blow Her Face</i>" front cover</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJJiiIHlFfBXWkbrAEpf5cgrHveTfmJVFXsnGKT5CNBqHktqC-NNJdwWoblcF69CsTrd5KW1IurWeF3UhgtpuIN98fTc7N033miPklxuncT21rwxa93Im_H4MDRQCYy-bjwgnx9UBTIE/s1600/souleater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJJiiIHlFfBXWkbrAEpf5cgrHveTfmJVFXsnGKT5CNBqHktqC-NNJdwWoblcF69CsTrd5KW1IurWeF3UhgtpuIN98fTc7N033miPklxuncT21rwxa93Im_H4MDRQCYy-bjwgnx9UBTIE/s400/souleater.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Souleater</b>, front cover</td></tr>
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In 1990, Surgery released another 7" on AmRep, "<i>Feedback</i>" b/w "<i>Fried</i>". Still lots of noisy art-rock leanings, but their distinctive guitar was really starting to crystalize. But back then, I was out of the loop on all three records. They completely flew under my radar and I wouldn't hear them until some years later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZsrSZI-mdRtGgz7ThaW6kT9VEMfBcb8lDAw0pYVnjEdGQhEK3Kdp7MDKloWkFZqY6-OpIP6pMA7P9aRBagSsXb3zgigedgHdbxpzsZQjgC1iIt6FP11TeqMfmEgsuCFnhQzBEqv5h3U/s1600/FeedbackFried_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZsrSZI-mdRtGgz7ThaW6kT9VEMfBcb8lDAw0pYVnjEdGQhEK3Kdp7MDKloWkFZqY6-OpIP6pMA7P9aRBagSsXb3zgigedgHdbxpzsZQjgC1iIt6FP11TeqMfmEgsuCFnhQzBEqv5h3U/s400/FeedbackFried_front.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Feedback"</i> b/w <i>"Fried</i>", front cover</td></tr>
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Then, in 1991, Surgery dropped their first full-length (if you can call 31 minutes "full-length") LP and CD on AmRep, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nationwide-Surgery/dp/B000008LAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332703962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Nationwide-Surgery/dp/B000008LAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332703962&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><b>Nationwide</b></a>. I was hungry for a music fix, saw the CD, and figured hey, it's on AmRep, how bad could it? <b>Nationwide</b> changed everything for me. Only nine songs, and just over half an hour, but what a statement...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBusB-2EIzGOwGurvaUTqJzDMu9iR3GP2goZgD4UykhnelhqYiw95iYykxrw5xp6T6Qyj3vjEzNT_40gLzEN5bMJevgWYwbNOg1b1Fxii6U6rkUs2cqTR618wBrD54GM6UUQKoiJhEOk/s1600/Nationwide_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBusB-2EIzGOwGurvaUTqJzDMu9iR3GP2goZgD4UykhnelhqYiw95iYykxrw5xp6T6Qyj3vjEzNT_40gLzEN5bMJevgWYwbNOg1b1Fxii6U6rkUs2cqTR618wBrD54GM6UUQKoiJhEOk/s400/Nationwide_front.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nationwide</b>, front cover</td></tr>
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At first, I wasn't sure what to make of it - while definitely loud and somewhat angry, it didn't really sound like <a href="http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=black_flag" target="_blank">Black Flag</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_Idea" target="_blank">Poison Idea</a> or even the other AmRep bands I was already digging. So much unapologetic r-o-c-k, and what can only be described as "boogie" guitar. Like most of my favorite records, it took a few listens before I was convinced, but once I understood it, I became certain that this was one of the best rock records ever recorded. 21 years later, I maintain that belief.<br />
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Here is an actual music video for "<i>Maliblues</i>," the second track from <b>Nationwide</b>. This is taken from <a href="http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6300165" target="_blank"><b>Dope Guns & Fucking Up Your Video Deck Volume I</b></a>. You get a minute or so of build, then watch out for the falling rock.</div>
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<b>Nationwide</b> has joined a small group of albums that I have played a ridiculous number of times, where I am intimately familiar with every single second released for public consumption. It is in good company with classics from <a href="http://www.slayer.net/us/home" target="_blank">Slayer</a>, <a href="http://publicenemy.com/" target="_blank">Public Enemy</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Flag_%28band%29" target="_blank">Black Flag</a>, <a href="http://www.blacksabbath.com/" target="_blank">Black Sabbath</a>, and <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/The+Makers/Howl" target="_blank">The Makers</a>, amongst others. I became obsessed with releases by all of these bands at one time or another, and I still listen to them all now. I'm not sure, but I think I have listened to <b>Nationwide</b> more times than any other album I own, and that covers a lot of ground.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68HO_I7jHtkE6G85nEMGpKrm9OD4n2E__KL0BKUwwzj4aTF8ImH53odD9p1bSElFqgX2aMczdMjl6eDEgzmgZoo5jvuRuD8azcGEsVISKD5QvkzKaL4gfAAoxr_yTYZnWymB-E3YPbIM/s1600/Nationwide_inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68HO_I7jHtkE6G85nEMGpKrm9OD4n2E__KL0BKUwwzj4aTF8ImH53odD9p1bSElFqgX2aMczdMjl6eDEgzmgZoo5jvuRuD8azcGEsVISKD5QvkzKaL4gfAAoxr_yTYZnWymB-E3YPbIM/s400/Nationwide_inside.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of CD insert, <b>Nationwide</b></td></tr>
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Anyway, Surgery next put out a phenomenal 7"/CD-EP, <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Surgery-Little-Debbie/release/992463" target="_blank"><b>Little Debbie</b></a>, in 1992, also on AmRep. Just three songs and 14 minutes (on the CD, only two songs and eight minutes on the 7"), but it is damn near perfect. "<i>Little Debbie</i>," "<i>Queen to Queens Level Three</i>", and "<i>Exquisite</i>" are so, so good. Full-tilt art-damaged rock-n-roll savagery, vaguely menacing and menacingly vague.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s.dsimg.com/image/R-992463-1181734996.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="395" src="http://s.dsimg.com/image/R-992463-1181734996.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Little Debbie</b> CD-single, front cover</td></tr>
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And here is another actual music video, this time for "<i>Little Debbie</i>," taken from <a href="http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6300165" target="_blank"><b>Dope Guns & Fucking Up Your Video Deck Volume II</b></a>.</div>
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Next up was 1993's <b>Trim, 9th Ward High Roller</b>, once again on AmRep. This one also didn't immediately grab me, and is still feels a little different. Not to say it isn't good - it is a damn fine rock record. As with most things like this, the more I listened to it, the better I liked it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Trim, 9th Ward High Roller</b>, front cover</td></tr>
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Here is that song "<i>Maldia</i>" from that record. I don't think any further music videos were made after "<i>Little Debbie</i>", so you can just stare at the record cover while you listen to it.</div>
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Even way back when, I liked this record enough to go see Surgery when they toured behind it. On May 28, 1993, Surgery played the infamous Kennel Club in San Francisco, with <a href="http://www.chokebore.net/" target="_blank">Chokebore</a> and <a href="https://www.myspace.com/todayistheday" target="_blank">Today Is The Day</a>. As usual for most bands I have seen, their live set was faster, sloppier, and funnier than the studio stuff - they were great! I bought a t-shirt (which I still have) and asked the guy at the merch table if any live releases were planned. He stunned me by saying that it would be up to Atlantic - Surgery had just signed a major-label deal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCQfmkwHiVTWisrxTlzU7tqTTP-dBMkXoVMsC3J2hpnULgp0gEPs112G5Rgro7ga2Ss6rRQhOsGabIP1gxv55hG14VkKuByuzt4Ny0JN73k0ZzUK24RFMv1tUifEXZ9cZge3mVXeMvEE/s1600/surgery_band_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCQfmkwHiVTWisrxTlzU7tqTTP-dBMkXoVMsC3J2hpnULgp0gEPs112G5Rgro7ga2Ss6rRQhOsGabIP1gxv55hG14VkKuByuzt4Ny0JN73k0ZzUK24RFMv1tUifEXZ9cZge3mVXeMvEE/s400/surgery_band_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The band, circa 1993</td></tr>
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Wow. The Nirvana thing was still in effect I guess, and a lot of indie bands were still getting snapped up by the majors. I held my breath and waited, and in 1994 we got <b>Shimmer</b>, Surgery's first and only major-label record, complete with PMRC tattoo...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bCbS1oLsbWa9PNdUobJZlWtpmEDVv1oEXlHlWiH5ydIc-T35smUBp-SKC1MdCr7uw-Q83El3VZwvjEvhxS36Dh47AV3Bpf_RgM62flcUSh-ljvlJ44VmT0GrcAHxu6o6Raj_XeDu2Rw/s1600/surgery_shimmer_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6bCbS1oLsbWa9PNdUobJZlWtpmEDVv1oEXlHlWiH5ydIc-T35smUBp-SKC1MdCr7uw-Q83El3VZwvjEvhxS36Dh47AV3Bpf_RgM62flcUSh-ljvlJ44VmT0GrcAHxu6o6Raj_XeDu2Rw/s400/surgery_shimmer_1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Shimmer</b> is an odd mix of their old boogie-noise-punk with newer and seemingly more radio-friendly tracks. The lead single was "<i>Off The A List</i>"; Atlantic obviously hoped this would be a hit with those crazy alternative-rock kids, but it wasn't. I have read references to a music video being made for this song, but have not been able to scrape it up online. I'm kind of glad if that is the case; this is very far from my favorite track by the band, and certainly not my favorite track on <b>Shimmer</b>. It's a nice little ditty, but barely hints at the ferocious intensity the band was capable of exhibiting. </div>
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Here, listen to "<i>Off The A List</i>", then we'll listen to another cut from the same record:</div>
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Not bad, right? You could imagine hearing that on your local "cool" commercial rock radio station, nestled in between Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Now check out "<i>Bootywhack</i>". More swagger and old-style Surgery boogie-down rock, even if it is noticeably cleaner.</div>
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My favorite songs from Shimmer aren't even on YouTube in any form. "<i>Vibe Out</i>" (complete with weirdo organ breaks), the rollicking "<i>Mr. Scientist</i>", and the low-key "<i>Gulf Coast Score</i>" are nowhere to be found. But you know what? You can <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shimmer-Surgery/dp/B000008LAT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332710653&sr=8-1" target="_blank">buy <b>Shimmer</b> used on Amazon</a> for a goddamn penny (well, plus shipping), maybe do that if you are curious.</div>
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So, <b>Shimmer</b> was not then, and is not now, my favorite Surgery record. I was underwhelmed by the new, more commercial direction and cleaner sound. Worse, I was young enough to be indignant that one of my favorite bands had made the unforgivable sin of selling out. This just wasn't punk, man!</div>
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Still, the album had some catchy rock songs, and now that they had sorta belly-flopped with the first major-label release, I had hopes that the next record might be a more "back to our roots" kind of thing.</div>
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Sadly, it was not to be. Outside of a couple of CD-singles taken from <b>Shimmer</b>, this was Surgery's last release.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0iKyRZvncKnNUU6-KBW3z8b70NeRqB8NtiT2sBRDEzI1Z88ynRl0D9Ds_MANtEv2uYwBoPSo-cj-7IKqqMYkkcAGzVtBfK7uyVi1gvKCz2hx7pAnX6aQGkv0BVnKxrDvRlC-NDM0pCo/s1600/surgery133292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0iKyRZvncKnNUU6-KBW3z8b70NeRqB8NtiT2sBRDEzI1Z88ynRl0D9Ds_MANtEv2uYwBoPSo-cj-7IKqqMYkkcAGzVtBfK7uyVi1gvKCz2hx7pAnX6aQGkv0BVnKxrDvRlC-NDM0pCo/s400/surgery133292.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Off The A List</b> CD-single (promo only), front cover and CD</td></tr>
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Early in 1995, singer/guitarist Sean McDonnell died from complications due to, of all things, asthma. He was 29. According to <a href="http://yourfleshmag.com/" target="_blank">Your Flesh magazine</a>, for which Sean used to write, his death was due in large part to "a missing medicine bottle", which seems all the more tragic. While apparently a party-hearty dude, his death appears to have little to do with rock-n-roll excess. Years later, a guy from whom I bought a 7" on eBay claimed that the asthma attack was just "code" for a heroin OD. I can find no other references to this, and I am disinclined to believe Random Internet Dude.<br />
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<a href="http://yourfleshmag.com/your-flesh-magazine-back-issues/your-flesh-31/" target="_blank">Your Flesh #31</a> features a memorial section about Sean, including some wicked and/or hilarious reviews he wrote for YF, and Sean's eulogy from Surgery drummer John Leamy. This is actually how I found out about it - in those pre-internet days, I got most of my music info from zines like Your Flesh, <a href="http://zinewiki.com/Fiz" target="_blank">Fiz</a>, <a href="http://www.flipsidefanzine.com/FlipsideFanzine/Home.html" target="_blank">Flipside</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Thora-zine-Issue-rare-Melvins-Flexi-Disc/dp/B001BM2LG2" target="_blank">Thora-Zine</a>, stuff like that. I was floored.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Your Flesh</b> #31, front cover</td></tr>
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Afterwards, the band broke up and that was that. In doing some research for this article, I found that drummer John Leamy went on to play with <a href="http://mastersofreality.com/" target="_blank">Masters of Reality</a> for a few records. I knew nothing about that band, so I checked 'em out real quick. Seems kinda like Hawkwind-lite, not really my thing but I'm glad to see Leamy is still an active musician.<br />
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As for Surgery, there is one <a href="http://www.myspace.com/surgery69" target="_blank">fan-made MySpace page</a> that features four tracks from <b>Shimmer</b> and nothing more, very bare-bones. (I didn't make it. If I had, it would be better.) No real website, nothing else except a few blog mentions from other music dorks, and thankfully a few live video clips uploaded to YouTube. The following three videos include about 43 minutes from a live show in NYC, May 20, 1992:</div>
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Songs: <i>D-Nice</i> (<b>Amphetamine Reptile Peel Sessions</b>, later on <b>Shimmer</b>); <i>A.K.</i> (<b>Trim 9th Ward High Roller</b>)</div>
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Songs:<i> Exquisite</i> (<b>Little Debbie</b>); <i>Maliblues</i> (<b>Nationwide</b>); <i>L-7</i> (<b>Nationwide</b>)<br />
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Songs: <i>Brazier</i> (<b>Souleater</b>); <i>Little Debbie </i>(<b>Little Debbie</b>); <i>Caveman</i>
(<b>Nationwide</b>) (w/extended jam or...?); <i>Queen to Queens Level Three</i>
(<b>Little Debbie</b>)</div>
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And here we are... Another awesome, important band is relegated to the tiniest margins of underground culture, and people continue to get up and go to work every day without knowing or caring. Such is the way of the world.</div>
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<b>End Notes</b><br />
Surgery shows up in a few places not listed above. These I know for sure, maybe there are more?</div>
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<li>One track on <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Crunchouse/release/1300149" target="_blank"><b>Crunchouse</b></a>: "<i>Dance</i>" (Glitterhouse, 1989) </li>
<li>One track on the <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-Endangered-Species/release/466837" target="_blank"><b>Endangered Species</b></a> 7" box set: "<i>Losida Slide</i>" (Glitterhouse, 1990)</li>
<li>One track on <a href="http://www.discogs.com/Various-From-Twisted-Minds-Come-Twisted-Products/release/1534567" target="_blank"><b>From Twisted Minds Come Twisted Products</b></a>: a cover of "<i>Knocking on Heaven's Door</i>" (Noiseville, 1990)</li>
<li>Two tracks on <a href="https://beautifulnoise.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/amrep-a-z-compilations-on-other-labels-amphetamine-reptile-peel-sessions/" target="_blank"><b>Amphetamine Reptile Peel Sessions</b></a>: "<i>Dear Sweet Laura</i>" and "<i>D-Nice</i>" (Dutch East India, 1992)</li>
<li>One track on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Last-Drop-Jabberjaw/dp/B000004AW3" target="_blank"><b>Jabberjaw: Good to the Last Drop</b></a>: a pretty straightforward cover of "<i>Little Girl</i>" (the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Girl-Stereo/dp/B002ZMOO62" target="_blank">Bluesbreakers song</a>, not the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA8tUUrSTIw" target="_blank">Syndicate of Sound song</a>), apparently recorded during the <b>Shimmer</b> sessions (Mammoth, 1994)</li>
<li>Amphetamine Reptile put out a number of sampler LP and CDs over the years with non-exclusive tracks from the current releases of different artists, and Surgery appeared on a number of them. Nothing you can't find on their proper releases, as far as I know.</li>
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A quick word about MP3 blogs… Most of Surgery's output can be found and downloaded for free from MP3 blogs. I am not sure what to make of this. <b>Nationwide</b>, <b>Trim 9th Ward High Roller</b>, and <b>Shimmer</b> can be purchased as CDs or MP3s through Amazon, amongst others, so downloading these releases from some guy's blog is pretty pirate-y. Listen to the songs via YouTube, or even the previews at Amazon if you are desperate. If you like the music, go legit and buy it. I have no idea if any money from new CDs or MP3s makes it way back to AmRep or the band members, but it's the principle that counts, right?</div>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-61160691999459293332010-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:42:04.393-07:00"Spray Paint The Walls: The Story of Black Flag" by Stevie Chick<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabZRGZBAixrLD_3ZUc2dUjHdv4Yq-WbRn1_nwQkXyHU_9_W3DWod3eL96-uUOkgc-H53hdz57Ns3VUbw24WPbO-6R7-OeTkAHJN4aXmyqQbG3DELAdIPOVvcxwFK1YJ0JKrcqAHiDF1E/s1600/SPTW.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 199px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabZRGZBAixrLD_3ZUc2dUjHdv4Yq-WbRn1_nwQkXyHU_9_W3DWod3eL96-uUOkgc-H53hdz57Ns3VUbw24WPbO-6R7-OeTkAHJN4aXmyqQbG3DELAdIPOVvcxwFK1YJ0JKrcqAHiDF1E/s400/SPTW.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533166229712959810" border="0" /></a>I just finished this book, and found it to be readable and engaging, although certainly not prefect.<br /><br />One thing to realize going in: this book is just as much about <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.sstsuperstore.com/" target="_blank">SST</a> as it is about <a href="http://www.ipass.net/jthrush/rollflag.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Black Flag</span></a>. If you cut out all of the not-Flag-specific text, the book would be probably half as long as it is. The two were pretty intertwined, so I have no problem with the inclusion of that material.<br /><br />"Spray Paint…" makes heavy use of the books that came before, but Chick also conducted numerous interviews himself with many of the principal players in the Black Flag/SST scene. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Keith Morris</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mike Watt</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Joe Carducci</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tom Troccoli</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mugger</span> and especially <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chuck Dukowski</span> really help to round the book out with interviews conducted in 2009. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Brendan Mullen</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kira Roessler</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ron Reyes</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dez Cadena</span>, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mark Arm</span> (among others) were also interviewed and have generally interesting and relevant things to say.<br /><br />Main Flag man <span style="font-weight: bold;">Greg Ginn</span> was not interviewed, although I'm sure Chick tried. Instead, he pulls quotes and information from probably every interview Greg ever gave to a fanzine or newspaper to shed some light on his interpretation of events. As someone who has not read any of the previous Flag books besides "<a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://henryrollins.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=14511_14538&pc=1HAM13" target="_blank">Get In The Van</a>", I found these snippets to be very useful.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henry Rollins</span> was also not interviewed for this book, but fortunately his take on things is well documented, and Chick draws from a number of Rollins books and spoken word performances for background and details. And Chick dutifully cites almost every direct quote in the book - many come from the interviews he conducted, but when he does take something from another source, he gives the title or in many cases a full URL. This is much appreciated.<br /><br />I do have some quibbles with the book, though. Besides referring to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Misfits</span> as a California band, Chick credits Henry Rollins' first post-Flag project to "Henrietta Collins and the Wifebeaters" when it is, of course, "<a href="http://www.myspace.com/henriettacollins" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Henrietta Collins and the Wifebeating Childhaters</span></a>". And he repeatedly refers to Huntingdon Beach instead of Huntington Beach. These may seem like minor annoyances, but getting such basic and easily-verifiable information wrong casts some doubt over the information presented in the book as a whole. There are also a few typos (where is Irag?) and what appears to be at least one errant paragraph inserted in the wrong place.<br /><br />Then we have the age-old problem of "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Chick spends a lot of space describing Black Flag's music track by track, especially Ginn's guitar playing, and the descriptions get repetitive after a while. And no words can convey the emotional impact a particular song might have on you… You can hear previews of almost everything Black Flag ever released at the iTunes Store or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=black+flag&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">Amazon's MP3 section</a>, among other places.<br /><br />One last piece of criticism. The front cover features a giant photo of Henry singing, but his name isn't even mentioned for the first 200 pages. Greg Ginn, the only constant member and focus of much of the book, is shown in a much smaller photo on the back cover. This was obviously done for marketing purposes, but could be a little misleading for folks who don't already know something about Black Flag.<br /><br />Having said all of that, I did like the book. The most interesting part, for me, is the early biographical details of these folks, where they came from and how their lives intersected. Again, Rollins' story is fairly well known by this point, but I enjoyed reading about the others.<br /><br />An index would have been great, but Chick does include a full bibliography. I would recommend "Spray Paint The Walls" to someone interested in Black Flag and/or SST; even if you have read the other Flag books, the new interviews alone may be worth the trudge.<br /><br />BONUS: Check out this infographic, <a href="http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2008/04/black-flag-hair.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Black Flag Hair: A Timeline</span></a>. Ha!Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7590442287187169319.post-51881369161214804822010-09-23T13:51:00.000-07:002011-08-11T21:54:21.536-07:00The Flesh Eaters - "Forever Came Today"OK, you can find people who are much more learned than I expounding at length on this band and this record, its not hard. I'm just a fan and not a scholar, nothing too highbrow here, so take it for what it is.<br />
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My introduction to <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flesh_Eaters_%28band%29">The Flesh Eaters</a> came many many years ago via their classic first full-length record, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minute-Pray-Second-Die/dp/B00004YLBF/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1285275225&sr=1-1">A Minute To Pray A Second To Die</a>" (1981, Ruby/Slash). To this day, I still think that is one of the creepiest records ever. There are a couple of songs I don't really like, but the ones that work, work very well. The marimbas and sax really add to the swampy voodoo-roots-punk vibe and absolutely captivated me. "<span style="font-style: italic;">River of Fever</span>" still gives me goosebumps all these years later.<br />
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Years after, I bought a later record, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sex-Diary-Mr-Vampire-Flesh-Eaters/dp/B000008FNG/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpt_1">Sex Diary of Mr. Vampire</a>" (1992, SST). Except for leader Chris D., the band was completely different and it sounded different. I was not amused. In fact, I hated it for not being more like "A Minute…" Subsequently, I gave up on The Flesh Eaters, content to replay their one undeniable classic over and and over. (Even more years after that, I am revisiting "Sex Diary…," and I find it to be enjoyable in its own way. A different sound to be sure - the swamp has been left behind, but it is still rootsy with a punk rock vibe. Plus I'm sucker for electric slide-guitar.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm-GiHxLxE5th7c-DW1YYm6hf4Jf7zhwZQjm0gHuINycXuB0MbPXeWsez3MzghjeC85mKVlYIdXXqW2-i9strGSWE8h8WVM4InIQtRHM1AdRxQMicDb0-uHFItRdTvdHIiYW79Ahvo8Q/s1600/foreverlp_sm.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm-GiHxLxE5th7c-DW1YYm6hf4Jf7zhwZQjm0gHuINycXuB0MbPXeWsez3MzghjeC85mKVlYIdXXqW2-i9strGSWE8h8WVM4InIQtRHM1AdRxQMicDb0-uHFItRdTvdHIiYW79Ahvo8Q/s400/foreverlp_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520277146613511874" border="0" /></a><br />
As it turns out, The Flesh Eaters put out a lot of good material in the intervening (and preceding) years. "<a href="http://www.discogs.com/Flesh-Eaters-Forever-Came-Today/master/263607">Forever Came Today</a>" (1982, Ruby) is their second full-length, and what it lacks in bayou atmosphere it more than makes up for in straight ahead punk-infused rock, with saxophone still intact. You still get slow-burners like "<span style="font-style: italic;">Secret Life</span>" and "<span style="font-style: italic;">The Rosy Hours</span>" but they are juxtaposed with full-on ragers like "<span style="font-style: italic;">Shallow Water</span>" and "<span style="font-style: italic;">Drag My Name In The Mud</span>."<br />
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Even though it only comes a year after "A Minute To Pray…" the line-up is completely different except for Chris D. and sax-man Steve Berlin. You may recognize Steve's name from his future bands <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Blasters</span> or <span style="font-weight: bold;">Los Lobos</span>, bust rest assured, The Flesh Eaters are very different from either of those groups. In fact, in the early years, The Flesh Eaters' revolving cast featured such future stars as John Doe and D.J. Bonebrake of <span style="font-weight: bold;">X</span>, and Dave Alvin and Bill Bateman of The Blasters, among others.<br />
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"Forever Came Today" is a monster of blues-inflected, doomed and rootsy punk, from when punk meant "something different and daring and a little unsettling." It is also the only major record from The Flesh Eaters that has never been issued on CD… Yep, this is vinyl only, folks. And that is a damn shame. It is a ferocious juggernaut, just begging to lay waste to today's cookie-cutter mall-punk.<br />
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Their next record, "<a href="http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&albumid=10372324&artistid=17972190">A Hard Road To Follow</a>" (Upsetter, 1983) amazingly has the same line-up as "Forever Came Today" and is also a left-of-center rock monster. It was reissued by Atavistic, who also gave us the killer "<a href="http://www.atavistic.com/albums.php?id=59">No Questions Asked</a>" (Atavistic, 2004) collection of singles, compilation tracks, and demos. Both of these CDs are well worth your time.<br />
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C'mon Atavistic, scrounge up the rights to "Forever Came Today" and re-release it on CD already! And to MP3 devotees… The vinyl features the lyrics to all of the songs, not always easy to make out while they are being sung. And you do want to know the lyrics, they are often mind-boggling and beautiful and a little disturbing, all at the same time. Even if you think you know the words, you probably don't. Chris D. practiced that crazy William Burroughs cut-up method for lyrics, which makes sense when you read them. Often confusing for poetry neophytes such as myself, but sometimes absolutely transcendent.<br />
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Chris D. also has a few books under his belt. "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Double-Snake-Bourbon-Chris-D/dp/B000GLE0SG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285276059&sr=1-1">Double Snake Bourbon</a>" (1989, Illiterati Press) is out of print and pricey; it contains a lot of poems, dreams, and lyrics from early Flesh Eaters songs (but not all of them). A newer book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minute-Pray-Second-Die-Collection/dp/0615331254/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1285276089&sr=1-1">A Minute To Pray A Second To Die</a>" (2009, New Texture Books) is much easier to get your hands on. As far as I can tell, it contains all of "Double Snake Bourbon" plus a lot more. Certainly worth it if you are a fan.<br />
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"Forever Came Today", along with "A Hard Road To Follow" and "A Minute To Pray A Second to Die" make up an extremely compelling trilogy of dark, aggressive music. There is also a worthy live record, titled simply "<a href="http://www.discogs.com/Flesh-Eaters-Live/release/2115429">The Flesh Eaters Live</a>" (1988, Homestead) that is worth your attention. I can't really speak to the post-1990 output as I don't have much of it and I need to listen to what I do have more before rendering my oh-so-important judgment, but these four full-lengths and the "No Questions Asked" compilation are all excellent additions to any gritty music collection. So, so highly recommended.<br />
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This is a video for the first song on side two of "Forever Came Today," enjoy...<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/woVjL-KIcXo?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/woVjL-KIcXo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>Samhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13170971251255083371noreply@blogger.com0