Today’s post features special guest commentary from Cinapse’s Liam O’Donnell. He and both do this “watch a shit-ton of horror in October and write about it” thing, and so we’ve decided to team up on a few films this month. His column his entitled “Journal of Fear,” and you should totally read it. He also does a podcast called Cinepunx with Joshua Alvarez, and it’s super-fun. Go listen. On to the film …
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Halloween Horror Marathon: Nightmare City (with special guest!)
Today’s post features special guest commentary from Cinapse’s Liam O’Donnell. He and both do this “watch a shit-ton of horror in October and write about it” thing, and so we’ve decided to team up on a few films this month. His column his entitled “Journal of Fear,” and you should totally read it. He also does a podcast called Cinepunx with Joshua Alvarez, and it’s super-fun. Go listen. On to the film …
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Halloween Horror Marathon: The Fall of the House of Usher (with special guest commentary!)
Today’s post features special guest commentary from Cinapse’s Liam O’Donnell. He and both do this “watch a shit-ton of horror in October and write about it” thing, and so we’ve decided to team up on a few films this month. His column his entitled “Journal of Fear,” and you should totally read it. He also does a podcast called Cinepunx with Joshua Alvarez, and it’s super-fun. Go listen. On to the film …
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Podcast #114, “Back From Holiday”
And we’re back. Not only has it been a hot minute since the last podcast (May?! Really?), the site’s been kind of dormant. I mean, it’s 100% my doing — we’ve had some scheduling switches at work, the wife and I’ve been doing a bit of traveling, and I’ve been knocking out a lot of writing for other places.
I’m going to consider myself a vaguely-successful writer, being as how I’m too busy writing for other people to have anything left for this little corner of the internet. Check out reviews and interviews at The Fast Pitch, The Runout, and Starburst Magazine — there’s everything from pop-punk to local television to film scores. It’s a blast, but I’ll try and get some more book stuff and vinyl coverage here as I can.
The Folk Alliance International Conference starts today in Kansas City
Rock Star Journalist has been suffering a little lately, as I’ve been working a lot of freelance for the Pitch in advance of the Folk Alliance International Conference. It’s a five-day conference taking place in Kansas City this week, starting today, and running through Sunday. I had the fun job of interviewing some of the showcasing artists in order to help promote it, and that’s pretty much sucked all of my energy lately. However, I’ve gotten to speak with people like actor / musician Ronny Cox about the new Robocop remake, ask BR5-49’s Chuck Mead about his work on Broadway, and so much more. You can check out all my interviews (sans one, which hasn’t run yet) after the jump, as well as details of how to attend the conference.
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Check out “Memories of a Jughead”
Former member of Screeching Weasel, the Lillingtons, Even In Blackouts, et al, John “Jughead” Pierson, started a blog last month called Memories of a Jughead, and you really ought to start reading while it’s new. There’s not a lot of stories up there, but the ones there are detailed, insightful, and introspective.
It’s this rambling, slightly discombobulated style that makes it so readable. There’s no filter between mind and keyboard, it seems, and Pierson’s stories are full of asides and details that give you the sense that he’s really looking to make you feel like you’re part of the story.The three-part tale of “To Geek or Not to Geek” (part one here), regarding he and his girlfriend Paige’s adventures meeting Patton Oswalt, Kyle Kinane, and Brian Posehn might be the most heartfelt tale I’ve read in months.
So, yeah — check it out. Here’s to hoping it leads to another book. Failing that, it’s probably the best punk rock blog this side of the Bad Sandwich Chronicles (also from a Chicago pop-punk artist — small world).
Cosplay pictures from C2E2
You can check out all the attractive ladies who were kind enough to let me snap their photos over at the excellent website, Geekbauchery, where Mr. Geekbauchery’s audience is far more suited to salacious things than we crate-digging, book-reading dorks at Rock Star Journalist.
Look for the rest of our C2E2 coverage tomorrow, where we’ll talk with Tom Brazelton about the future of Theater Hopper and how he plans on wrapping that up. C2E2 was a blast and a half, and the wife and I have already made plans to attend next year when it’s back at McCormick Place on April 26-28.
Where the hell have I been?
The Devil
The Middle of the Map Festival is where I’ve been. Thursday through Saturday in Westport — something like 80 bands, of which I saw a quarter. Then, the band for which I yell played its first show Sunday night, so it’s been four straight days of holy fuck. Don’t expect much this week, as we’re kind of in a holding pattern until the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo this weekend. That’s right, kids — Rock Star Journalist is covering C2E2. Look for lots and lots of pictures, stories, and the like Friday and Saturday and Sunday. In the meantime, hold tight and check out my coverage of Middle of the Map over at Wayward Blog: the kick-off party, day one, and day two.
Wherein I talk with some people you might know
Over at the Pitch‘s Wayward Blog, I get to use the nature of a major metropolitan free weekly to speak with all kinds of people who are slightly more well-known than the people with whom I speak over here. That’s not to say that anyone’s better than the next person – just that the people whom I interview for the Pitch are probably gonna garner a few more hits than the indie bands and label heads here at Rock Star Journalist. In the interest of making my writing work for me twice, here’s a brief compendium of folks from the past few months.
* Valient Thorr’s Valient Himself on politics, bad flicks, and Thorriors.
* Director Gorman Bechard on his Replacements documentary, Color Me Obsessed.
* Bryan Cox talks up Soft Lighting’s debut, Slow Motion Silhouettes.
* The State‘s Kevin Allison takes a Risk with his podcast.
* The Pharmacy want you to Dig Your Grave.
* Omaha’s Conchance on the trials and travails of indie hip-hop.
* KU’s Paul Laird addresses the racial and gender politics of South Pacific.
* Alive Records founder Patrick Boissel on his label’s new compilation, Where is Parker Griggs?
Podcast #46, “Drinks At 8”
After a rather hectic start to the week, it seemed like a good idea to play some cocktail lounge music. Call it space age bachelor pad, call it exotica, call it what you will, it’s a very nice respite from the hurley-burley of my week thus far.
Sunday night saw a Fake Problems show interrupted by the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death, followed by not a lot of sleep and a full day of work. On Monday, the wife and I saw Jay & Silent SMod at the Midland, came home, and got not a lot of sleep. A similar thing happened on Tuesday, only it was Social D at the Beaumont, and I mowed the lawn and did the laundry instead of working the day job.
We’ll be back next week with the usual punk and rock cavalcade, but I think the regular switch-ups in the podcast make it a little more entertaining than a non-stop parade of “1-2-3-4!,” y’know?