News From the Pit

By Eddy Metal

Hi aye ayeeee! Greetings my snowbound, cabin fever-crazed friends. I hope you are all doing ok! I've been living life, getting out more, and rockin' this bitch like there is no tomorrow. ‘Life goes on’ is my new motto! And that is an understatement! It sure does.

Life under this bullshit quarantine is retarded. Somebody please explain why it’s perfectly ok to have 25,000 people all up on each others necks at the Superbowl, but we can’t have concerts? Or even kids in school? Seriously? What kind of Double-Standard horseshit is this? Disgusting. I’m sooo over this nonsense double standard crap that I can’t even begin to elaborate. No major concerts to review, and as a veteran musician I only played two shows all last year! You all know me pretty good, and you know how much that shit has thrown the proverbial monkey wrench into my music life, and the work that I do to help you bands and rock/metal fans. It sucks ass! Will we ever return to shows? Having fun with friends? Being able to play music out? And when can we take off these damn masks? I do not know. But we are three months into the year, and not that much has changed just yet. One good thing is that there will be a Louder than Life! You know I'll be covering it again! Always a good time! I'm ready to rock n' roll people. Bring on the shows! I will be a reviewing, pic taking, schmoozing bastard this year. So keep me informed if you want me to review something. I can't help you if I don't even know about the Mfer!

Back in mid January, God decided to be good to me once again with the gift of forgiveness and strength, and as of a week or so ago, a new job! After a very short stint of deep depression in early January, I came to realize once again – rather fast – that I will always be fine. I will never let anything unworthy destroy me as it does to so many weak-minded others. Quoting the famous line in the movie The Help “you is smart, you is kind, you is important.” I sure is! I am all of these and more! I am just a bit more intolerant/leery of people these days though I guess, because of life experiences, and I fully admit that. I know no one is going to be perfect! Hell, especially me! I’m just not in the mood for anything overly negative. I will f**king run for the hills, be it friend, family, or lovers. I have no time for negative. Life is too short.

It does feel really good to be able to say that after a while of not having a decent job w/ benefits, I have now eliminated that issue, as I have vowed to do. I’m feeling good about myself in several different ways. It makes my heart sing! Nothing motivates a man more in life than being wrongly labeled by the ones he loved. Going to the gym has been very therapeutic in itself. I gotta say, its nice to be able to finally fit into clothes sizes I’ve have not been able to get into in a long time. Even my size 36 bloomers are getting a bit loose. And I can once again wear leather jackets that were too small for me! I love it!

I've gotten out several times recently (see band reviews below) and went on a few more dates (and was even kinda seeing a new girl for almost a whole month! Aye aye ayeeee!) , and we went out and reviewed quite a few shows: Two Pump Chump again, The Graveyard Romeos and The Black Sabbath Experience at Billiard's and . then I went and saw the 80's cover band Wicked Sensation at TK's, a place I haven’t been to in forever, it seems. I had fun each and every time I went out. It's been good seeing all you people out and stuff! Oh, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the kind uplifting words about my 'Closure' remarks in last month’s column, but that has been completely remedied. I really appreciate the heartfelt gestures though. It's nice to have so many good folks in your corner.

I am just glad I was able to defeat the negative shit and come out of it the way I have! Many others I have noticed are not as lucky or as strong as I am. My willpower and pride is absolute! And don't you dare feel sorry for me, for if you really truly know me, you know I am usually 'good to go' in a pretty short time. My friends growing up always used to say “Dude, you could meet a girl walking in the Sahara desert 1000 miles from nowhere!” It's true though, I've got some great stories! Once I met a hot girl that I dated after she ran her car into our car in an ice storm! After we had our fun, I found out she dated some big monster Jock, too. Brock the football-playing Jock! He wanted to kill me when he found out about me! Once, I met a girl in the drive-thru window, and went out with her later that night! I even got free food! Once my redneck friends were making fun of me at the Fair about the clothes I was wearing! They stopped some cute chicks walking by and said to them “Can I ask you ladies a question!? Doesn't my friend here look like a fag for wearing these clothes and black eyeliner?” The girl then replied “No I think he is cute!” We ended up hooking up that night, and dating a bit!!

So yeah, I may be f**king ugly, but my fun, outgoing, humorous and witty personality, and good heart, has always seen to that! I am definitely in no rush to be with anyone. Relationships are something you should never rush into. I have made that bad mistake a few times before, let me tell you!

We all get burned at some point. We are all broken somehow. It's how you pick yourself up after you get burned. It's about being able to consistently come back with a heart of love, hope and compassion, despite your imperfections as a human being, and what you've been through, with the goal of not letting shitty people ruin you.

That will never happen. I have seen to that 100%.

Honestly, I am just looking forward to warm weather, cruising my Wrangler and Challenger, drive ins, hiking, canoeing, reviewing shows, and living life to its fullest! Possibly buying a new expensive $3000 guitar soon! Maybe even plan a future trip somewhere! I hear at my new job that we are having a plant shutdown in July and at Christmas so I will be going somewhere nice, probably both times! I got the cash and you already know my traveling ass is ready. I do hope to have someone special right beside me for those trips though. We shall see! I would much rather have one good pretty girl, rather than ten naughty hotties.

But if not, I'll live! I'm free and ready to have fun regardless!

After all.

You only live once.

The Metal Grapevine

Blisskrieg Interview and Album Debut: I figured it was about time to talk to the Blisskreig (formerly Days Of The New/Tantric) guys about the new project. I got in touch with drummer Matt Taul, who is also Musician Of The Month for this month, about life, music and whatnot! His band just put out a new album. So I thought we'd take some time to delve into the makings of that wonderful endeavor! Let's holler at ol' Mattster.

Eddy: Sup mang. How did this new band Blisskrieg come about? We all know it's the DOTN/Tantric guys minus the singer. But who is your new singer? What's he about?

Matt: Donald Carpenter is out of Texas he had previous bands submerged and I Empire. Todd had been a fan and contacted him to play and write together. The pandemic actually brought everyone together to write with down time from our daily adult lives.

Eddy: So you guys just released an album, but you have no record label. That's crazy, and BADASS! I'll be honest, I've always been scared to death of signing any musical contract. So you may have just done an incredibly smart thing by doing that! What was your thinking when this came into play? How will this be better for you? Could it hurt any?

Matt: Todd has an awesome studio and engineering skills. After 25 years plus of playing music together we already knew what needed to be done. We have an established fan base, so that's a blessing alone. We have contacts and we self funded. We shall see if it hurts or helps but its our creation, our baby.

Eddy: Describe Blisskriegs Music. And how have you all grown musically, and as people, from those wild Southern Indiana cats that used to play the Toy Tiger.

Matt: Well we have all grown up and have families so that slows the fast life down, but we still rock. Alot of our songs are quite heavy these days.

Eddy:Where/when did you record the album? And how was it being in the studio again with these guys? Did everything go smoothly? I know I get stressed AF in the studio! Got any good studio stories for us?

Matt: We recorded in Todd's studio, and did it In like no time, man, it happened quick, only a couple of sessions.

Eddy: You said

leather jacket, cross necklace, SG guitar with cross inlays and everything. His solo's and tone were right on point, maybe even a lil' more modern sounding than what I expected. Sonic though! Dude was ripping up those leads! Killing it. A good choice for a sabbath tribute. Bassist Greg St Charles was Geezer as good as anyone could be for real. He had the look, and the Lakland basses that geezer even plays, in hand. Drummer Elmer Monk held his own as he pounded away at those classic Bill Ward drum parts. Excellent. And what can you say about singer Michael Duncan? Such a versatile professional musician, and awesome singer. He really fits well into what these Ohio guys are doing. They lucked out finding Mike. Not too many guys can pull off what Mike does. It is a good mixture of talent

that works out for everybody! They mixed up the Ozzy and Dio days pretty good, touching a wide range of material. They played “Children Of The Grave” “Snowblind” “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” “Fairies Wear Boots” “NIB” “Electric Funeral” “Sweet Leaf” “Mob Rules” “Neon Nights” “Heaven And Hell” and they closed out with “Paranoid.” I've seen a lot of Sabbath music live, and I love that shit. I'm a little burnt out on it to be honest because growing up, thats pretty much what all the stoners in my hood played for years! But I do love me some Sabbath, and if you love Sabbath too, then you will want to see this fine Black Sabbath Tribute when they return to Louisville Billiards on Saturday May 15. Seriously, don't miss it this time!

They jam!

Opening the night was Lexington's Graveyard Romeos.

What a great 80's cover band from Lexington! I can see/hear why this band gets so much love in central KY. My date and I really enjoyed their set. These guys are pro's and always put on a good show, and have even won awards for their performances. I really like their choice of songs they play. They aren't the typical cover band for sure! The play stuff like Motley Crue, WASP, Iron Maiden, Skid Row, Van Halen, Dio, Pantera, Guns N Roses, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Alice In Chains and White Zombie. It's these oddball covers that make me like them way more than an average cover band. How often do you see a cover band playing Judas Priest “Touch Of Evil” or Skid Rows “Monkey Business” or Iron Maidens “The Trooper.” Not very. Guitarist Pat Gibson is a beast as he laid down the solo's all night. You can just tell that this guy loves what he does. Bassist Steve Nall is one of the nicest cats around, and a very capable bass player. He was killin' that Steve harris galloping shit on “The Trooper.” Steve and Pat are quite the duo at entertaining. Vocalist Shawn Hatchell is a great singer, having the highs to be able to get the job done correctly. I've seen him sing before a few times and he never does let anyone down. He takes his stuff seriously and works hard to hit every note he can. Drummer Jeff Frohlich is a hard hitter who does a fine job as well. Together these lexington cats are quite powerful, and their choice of songs makes it even better. I want to hear songs that not every cover band plays! If I hear “Bulls On Parade” once more by a cover band, I'll hurt somebody. Be original! Take a risk. My bet is that it pays off. I respect these guys being different and taking that risk! There is also a lot to be said about these central KY muscians in general. I have found them to be very nice, non egotisical, easy to work with, and very talented. Louisville has way more musicians, but 90% of us Louisville rockers are not quite as talented as some of these guys honestly. I wish Louisville rockers behaved more like these guys do. So major props goes out to the central KY musicians like The Graveyard Romeos', Mike Duncan, Mark Spencer, etc, etc. Those people got it going on, and have not let that immense talent go to their heads the way it does to so many others. If you like 80's riffs and badass vocals, and songs you wouldn't normally hear a cover band play? Check these guys out!

Wicked Sensation Review at TK's (pics by me) : Spandex, Bandanas, Puffed up aquanet hair, and Bc Rich guitars were the order of the night this night! I got all dressed up n' pretty sporting new slimmer tighter duds, and went out to see Wicked Sensation again after a long time. It's been years! And I finally got to see them with new singer, and an old friend of mine from way back in the mid ninties Inhuman/Pownd show days, Mike Duncan. Mike is just a total vocal pimp these days, playing as much as he can. More power to you bro! If I had those ridiculously awesome vocal pipes, I would too. Now everyone knows I love 80's rock, so it's not that hard to impress me when you play in an 80's cover band like this! I hadn't been to TK's in probably 4-6 years or so. So me and a very sweet petite blue eyed blonde went out for some 80's entertainment, and we got to see some good music. Guitarist Frank Campbell is a beast on guitar and we talk quite a bit online about guitars n' such. That guy actually buys n' sells more guitars than me, if humanly possible! Frank was killin' on those BC Rich guitars he loves so much. Such excellent tone from those guitars too! Frank is one of the top dogs on guitar in town in my opinion.

He knows his stuff, does Frank! On bass guitar, Tom Dawson proved why he is perfect for the bass guitar duties of an 80's cover band. Him and his lime green Bc Rich Warlock were in fine form as he ripped it up bigtime all night long. Many bassists are content to sit in the shadows and be buried in the mix, but not ol' Tom. Tom had that rare old bass pumped up, jacked up, and boosted to the core, to where you could hear every nuance to his playing. You could hear it as good as the guitar riffs, maybe even better. He was pumping through that PA system. Surprisingly, the house PA at TK's sounded really good. You could hear everything clearly with no hum or droning noises. Phil Osbourne was a great drummer as he pounded that shit perfectly. They even have a keyboardist, Rob Scheu, who brought an extra element to the whole 80's thing. The band is tight, and performed very well indeed, almost too good! At times, you were like “damn they are really good” as they waded through songs like Night Rangers “Sister Christain”, Triumphs “Lay It On The Line”, Europes “Final Countdown”, Bon Jovi “Runaway” and “Living On A Prayer”, Van Halen “Jump”, Journeys “Seperate Ways” and “Faithfully”, Ozzy “Bark At The Moon”, Skid Row “Youth Gone Wild”, Def Leppard “ Photograph” and Black Sabbath “”Heaven And Hell.”

The Journey and Ozzy stood out to me as the best of the night.