I bought some new music, let's review it!

One of the main things I go to DragonCon for in recent years (besides the scantly clad girls) is the music. And it seems every year there's more and better bands. Needless to say, I was not disappointed.

I picked up 3 CD's at DragonCon this time around - Dying and Falling from I:Scintilla, Hate Lives In a Small Town from Voltaire, and Celldweller's self-titled album.

OK, ladies first. Well at least the band that's fronted by a lady first. I was trying to explain I:Scintilla's music to my father. Normally I don't discuss music with him because to him The Rolling Stones were the greatest band that ever and will ever exist, but their frontwoman, Britney Bindrim, is related to one of my dad's oldest friends. I:Scintilla is kind of a mix of metal, punk, and electronica with rather amazing vocals. Britney has some serious pipes and the drums guitars and electronics back her up quite nicely. If you are into metal or industrial, I suggest you look them up. If they are coming to your town, I suggest you see them. They put on a good show and I actually think they sound better live than on the CD. Speaking of the CD, Dying and Falling has a rather good mix of music on it. It's a great showcase of many of the things the band is capable of. There's a mix of fast and moderate, hard and light, guitar heavy metal and electronic. While I can't find a song on it I don't like, Ammunition has got to be my favourite. Also, the album art is pretty cool too. It's all paintings by Britney Bindrim.



Next up is an old favourite that did something unexpected and it turned out pretty cool. In fact when I heard of this album I actually thought it was a joke. Voltaire's latest album, Hate Lives In a Small Town, is a country album. I was talking to him about it at DragonCon after having heard a few of the songs he posted on Facebook. I thought it was good, but not what I would have expected, then I got to thinking some of his other songs did have a country feel to them. He even said a lot of his songs actually are or can be country songs. Honestly, I hate country music. Oddly enough, so does Voltaire. However the country music on Hate Lives In a Small Town is not modern country, but more old timey country. Think Johnny Cash. Now think Johnny Cash with Voltaire's warped and spooky sense of humour. That's about what this album is like. If you like old timey country and western, you will probly like it. If you don't like that, well, listen to it anyway, you may like it as well. If you like anything Voltaire has done in the past, you will like it. I enjoyed it and like I said, I hate country.



Finally, a band I never heard of before. They have been around a while, I just somehow missed them. Celldweller is a one man act, that one man being Klayton. Klayton is a very cool, very talented and very nice guy with a pretty damned impressive resume. I'm surprised I never heard of him. I've heard his music before and probly so have you. He's done a lot of work in T.V. and movie soundtracks. My girlfriend wanted their CD after we saw their live show at DragonCon. I wasn't about to tell her no, I wanted it too. The live show was just wow. A mix of very hard rock and pounding electronics with 2 really busy guys switching between keyboard, drums and guitars, singing and dancing all the way coupled with intense visuals on 3 screens. The CD provided more of the same, sans visuals of course. I'm glad I went to their show, more so that I bought their CD. If you like your music intense and aggressive with rock and classical influences, buy this CD. Seriously. If they (should I say he?) are touring anywhere near you, go see them. This is another CD that not only can I not find anything I don't like on it, I can't even find anything I can call my favourite, it's all that good.



So yeah that about covers my DragonCon music purchases. Just another reason I'm broke at the moment. And another reason for the Perseph - A - Thon. I know I haven't been making a post every day like I said I was, but I'm going to try to make up for that this weekend. Hope you enjoyed the music. I might be back later with a rant later on, watch for it.

AngelSpit rocked St. Pete

My 2 favourite people from down under are on tour and played in St. Pete on 30/10.

I'm speaking of Zoog and Destroyx.

As if these two were not enough eye candy on stage, their modded on stage modular synths were just awesome. I have a degree in electronics engineering and I was seeing devices that I wanted to play with as well as take apart.

They sounded awesome. Better live than on the CD and I think the home made custom synths added a lot to it. Nothing annoys me more than an industrial band that sounds just like their CD's. With AngelSpit I was not disappointed at all. They were awesome on stage.

And more awesome in person afterwards. Zoog and Destroyx are 2 of the nicest people I have met and seemed quite happy to meet me once again in person. Also Zoog wanted a pic with me and Kathy, then Destroyx wanted one too. Kinda weird, usually its the fans that want pics with the band, not the band wanting a pic with fans. Not that I minded at all. I mean, I forgot my camera anyway. Was way cool to hang out with them. They seemed to be quite happy about the cup cakes, too. Hope they liked them.

It was also quite the wonderful surprise to see George and Sarah, formerly of the Cruxshadows.

The Cruxshadows may be getting some air play, here's how you can help them

From Facebook -

On The Radio- WE NEED YOUR HELP!

On Wednesday, September 30th, at 7:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time), a commercial radio station in Tallahassee, Florida, HOT 104.9, will do a short interview with me and play our new single Quicksilver. Getting commercial radio play, even in a market of only a few hundred thousand like Tallahassee, will really help the band and possibly lead to other stations "taking a chance" on CXS. It's taken us a long time and more than a few attempts to make this happen, and we really need our fans to help. They will play the song on their "Love it or Lose it" segment. If enough people like it they will play it in rotation, and if people dislike it, well... that's the end of it. What can you do? You can listen to the radio broadcast online, and vote with your mobile phone.

The address for the live radio broadcast is http://www.hot1049.com/Listen-Live/3009483. After the song plays all you have to do is text the phrase "lol" (without quotations) to the number 68255 on your mobile phone. They will send you a response with directions on how to text back your vote. This keeps people from voting multiple times- unless you have more than one mobilephone. You know you could probably vote with a family members phone too... just saying;-) There is no additional charge for the text, only your normal text messaging rate applies. Remember, this is for Wednesday evening. Mark your calendars, set your alarm... you get the picture.

I'm lacking a mobile phone so if anyone could put in a vote for me that would rock.

The new vid from The Crüxshadows is really cool

Have a look.

http://www.cruxshadows.com/cxspodcast/Podcast/Entries/2009/7/24_Immortal_Video.html

Also they have a new single being released, it's called QuickSilver and it's available for pre-order on Amazon.

And they will be at DragonCon.

I'm playing with a soft synth

Spiral synth modulator if you wnat to know which one.

Going to try to make some wicked, horrid noise. Check back, I may have done something cool.

I'm not one for Christmas music...

.... but this is some funny shit!

Santas Baby- Jackie Beat- a holiday treat!.mp3 -

Twas the night before my birthday

Who the fuck says "twas"?

Anyway, AC/DC is in town. The hotel I work at is full of people that went to the concert. The concert let out at about 10:30pm. At that point there's a shit ton of people in the lobby and calling the desk. Every last one of them looking for food. The restaurant did something I felt was beyond stupid. They stopped taking orders at 10:30. They normally close at 11pm. This becomes quite annoying for me. Part because I have people complaining to me, part because they could stand to make a considerable amount of revenue if they would have stayed open until about 1am. But what the hell do I know? They are laying off people in every department, whining about the budget, then they don't jump on an opportunity. Thankfully the local pizza deliveries were a lot smarter. So all the money the hotel's restaurant would have made went to them. Seemed like every time a delivery person was here they had 3 or 4 orders with them. And they were here more times than I can think to count.

At about midnight we had a domestic dispute. My co-worker handled that with security. Meanwhile I'm running around at the desk checking people in and taking phone calls. Just me. Total madhouse. Got bitched by one of my card people. Diamond status. He's going to complain to corporate, I hope he does.

Here's some AC/DC for ya, just seems fitting.

Highway to Hell - AC/DC

And a more fitting song by Flogging Molly

Flogging Molly

I think I'm going to get a 6 pack of Smirnoff Ice when I get off work. I need it.

I was mentioned in AngelSpit's latest Blipvert

Have a look here.

It made me feel really good to hear her answer my question. I asked "How can I be as beautiful as you?" She always looks amazing. I want to look that good, especially considering in my stage shows I've been known to work with the music of AngelSpit.

When I perform to their music (and it's been forever) I don't try to look like her. I look nothing like her and I know it. However I do try to go for about the same style. One thing I do have to say - I HATE my body. I don't find myself attractive at all. I have worn things that look good on others, but not on me. I like her advice on emphasizing one's good features and being one's self.

So when I return to the stage (after I get some things sorted out), I'm going to return with a better look. Not following trends or totally emulating those I admire but being myself. wearing clothes that actually look good on my body. As it is I'm looking to make the transition from being a typical drag queen that lip syncs and dances to being a musician that just happens to dress in drag. Think Twisted Sister gone industrial/gothic with better makeup.

And like she said at the end of the vid, check out the forum at http://krankhaus.net/forum/



Amelia, if you happen across this, thank you so much!

I'm rather pissed at the moment

I had a fun weekend with my girlfriend planned. We were going to see the Cruxshadows in West Palm Beach. That was the plan.

Then someone stole money from her wallet. In her own house! She wasn't able to get down here.

So I decided to head down and see the concert with out her. No sense canceling reservations, right? I'll still have a good time, just by myself. Or so I thought.

I went to pick up the rental car this morning. They ran a check on my lisence. It came back invalid. I have not driven in months, what could possibly be wrong with my lisence? I stopped at my mom's on the way, looked it up online. My lisence is suspended. SUSPENDED!!!!!!!!! Apparently it got that way when I took my car off the insurance and stopped driving it. I was going to sell it then, but decided to fix it first. I haven't driven in months though and had I known my lisence was going to be suspended I would have done something about it. The DMV gave me no notice what so ever.

So it looks like I get to battle with the DMV tomorrow. I don't expect to get anywhere and I get a feeling that I'm going to have to pay the $150 fee to get my lisence back.

In all this I will say that I have the best girlfriend I could ever ask for. She pointed me to a few Jeff Dunham videos on youtube that made me laugh and cheer me up.








Kathy, if you are reading this, I love you.

I'm going to actively work on setting aside time everyday

To practice on my violin. I haven't touched it in so long and I was never really that good on it to begin with.

I want to get better.

I want to play it in front of a crowd. Doesn't have to be a big one.

Going to see The Crüxshadows next month

In West Palm Beach. I haven't gone out and had a good time in too long so I'm going to use some of my vacation time and get a way for about a day, take a road trip and see my favorite band put on what I'm sure is going to be a great show. The best thing about this is that my girlfriend will be coming down from Virginia to join me. I don't think I could be happier at this moment until I see her.

Life is quite good.

Not only are The Crüxshadows my favorite band, but they did inspire me to take up the violin. Oh yeah, and the bad haircut I have is patterned after that of their frontman, Rogue.

God thinks

I was looking up lyrics for a different song by Voltaire, but this came up in the list on google as I was typing it in. Must be a sign.

Sing it along with me....

God thinks all blacks are obsolete farm equipment
God thinks the Jews killed his son and must be punished
God thinks the white man is Satan
God, they know what God thinks

God thinks we should all convert to Judaism
God thinks we must all be Christians and
God thinks we should all embrace Islam
God thinks the only true religion is Hinduism

And I
I know what God thinks
God thinks you're a waste of flesh
God prefers an Atheist

God God
God thinks all people like you are hateful
God thinks all people like you are an embarrassment to creation
self-righteous, judgmental, first to throw a ston
eand using His name for your own protection

God thinks the sun revolves around the Earth
God thinks there was something very wrong with Copernicus
God thinks abortion is murder and
God thinks everything that science gave us is wrong

God thinks women deserve it
God thinks AIDS is a form of punishment
I hate people who blame the Devil for their own shortcomings and
I hate people who thank God when things go right

And I
I know what God thinks
God thinks you're an idiot
God prefers a heretic

God God
God thinks all people like you are hateful
God thinks all people like you are an embarrassment to creation
self-righteous, judgmental, first to throw the stone
and using His name for your own agenda

God is a liberal
God is a democrat
God wants you to vote republican
never trust a man who puts his words in the mouth of god
and says it's absolute truth its lies and it smells like death
its all in a day's work taking money from the poor
Why do you think that God would need your dirty money
if he want to start a holy war?

self-righteous, judgmental, first to throw a stone
and using His name for your own protection

God thinks puppies need to die and
God thinks babies need to drown
'cause God is neither good nor bad
God is you and me
God is Everything

Horatio Lee Jenkins says it's OK to be gay

Rather amusing.

I have kind of a crazy idea.

I keep wanting to do more with music. I'm considering once I get my finances straightened out and most likely after Kathy moves in, turning the other bedroom into a recording studio. Or at least a place where I can mess around with music. I'm thinking to start out a dedicated computer, keyboard, mic, and an electronic pickup for my violin. The computer can run modular synth and drum machine software until I get a hardware synth and drum machine. I might also make some sick beats by bashing things together, distorting it, locking it in a loop. I've used a 5 gallon bucket as a drum in the past, so that's a thought as well.

It will be a start. It will keep me busy, maybe even turn into income. I'm not looking to get rich off of it.

Synchronized goth dancing

Not quite what I was looking for but it was pretty funny to watch.

Either I'm getting old...

...Or I'm becoming way too much of a music snob.

I was just across the way from the hotel at Jackson's picking up foods for myself and the rest of the night crew. The turn the place into a night club on Friday and Saturday nights. Lots of nice eye candy, but the music was just horrid.

It was modern hip-hop, which I have to admit I can't stand and most of it was the manufactured mainstream junk. No real musical integrity what so ever.

I think my sidebar from Pandora gives one an idea as to what I like.

Here's some MSI for your listening pleasure.

Sing with me

Things turned out to be as bad as I thought they would be. I was hoping for better, but not expecting it.

Still trying to be optimistic, I have this song on my mind.

Crüxshadows - Eye of the Storm

the trials you now are facing
they are not greater than your will
for there is nothing under heaven
you cannot overcome
see the door that lies before you
and know- this too shall pass
the confrontation of your fears
in strength drawn from the past
where the silent voices whisper
find the course- that is your own
and however great the obstacle
you will never be alone

for I have watched the path of angels
and I have heard the heavens roar
There is strife within the tempest
but calm in the eye of the storm.

in fragments of an instant
the chaos has returned
and all that was left to sentiment (emptiness)
beneath the banner burned
and as that voice was slow receded
into echoes, memory
my doubts were re-ignited
and fear awakened from its sleep

I believe in what I fight for
and I have paid for it with pain
i am here because my contributions
may help turn this fate away
and all who stood by and did nothing
who are they to Criticize?
the sacrifices of others-
our blood has bought their lives...

This is the moment of truth
at the point of no return-
place faith in your convictions
when boundaries begin to blur

There is no love untouched by hate
no unity without discord
there is no courage without fear
there is no peace without a war
there is no wisdom without regret
no admiration without scorn
there is strife within the tempest-
but calm in the eye of the storm...

The pages of our history
are written by the hand
with eyes and ears and prejudice
too far removed- to understand
and so the heroes of the ages past
are stripped of honesty-
and love
to make them seem less noble
and hide what we can become

this is the moment of truth
at the point of no return
place faith in your convictions
as the boundaries begin to blur

There is no love untouched by hate
no unity without discord
there is no courage without fear
there is no peace without a war
there is no wisdom without regret
no admiration without scorn
there is strife within the tempest-
and calm in the eye of the storm...

There is no love untouched by hatred
no unity without discord
there is no courage without fear
there is no peace without a war
there is no wisdom without regret
no admiration without scorn
there is strife within the tempest-
but calm in the eye of the storm...

if you find the courage within you
to face the path ahead
it matters not the outcome
if what you will gain instead
is a heart deepened in the knowing
that experience carves the soul
and the very thing that empties you
shall surely make you whole

where the silent voices whisper
find the course that is your own
and however great the obstacle
you will never be alone
for I have watched the path of angels
and I have heard the heavens roar
there is strife within the tempest
but calm in the eye of the storm

Here comes the rain again.

Song of the day it seems.



I need to learn this one on my violin.

I feel honored

On the AngelSpit Forum, Zoog was having fun with the censor filter. As we get a lot of porn spam on the forum (which I delete on a regular basis), he was taking commonly occurring words and assigning board members (mostly moderators) names to them. He assigned my name to "anal."

So Persephone66 = anal.

Or you could say I'm synonymous with anal.

Or maybe I'm just anal.

My mother will be so proud.

Here's a link to the thread.

Soul icon Isaac Hayes dies at 65

US singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes has died at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 65, police said.
Police were called to Mr Hayes' home after his wife found him unconscious. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1408 (1908 GMT).
Mr Hayes, a flamboyant, deep-voiced performer, won an Oscar for the 1971 hit Theme From Shaft.
He was perhaps better known to a younger audience as the voice of Chef from the hit cartoon show, South Park.
The cause of death was not immediately known. "Family members believe at
this point it is a medical condition that might have led to his death," a police spokesman said, adding Mr Hayes was being treated for "a number of medical issues".
Mr Hayes suffered a stroke in 2006.

He will be missed. :(

So long Mr. Hayes, you rocked our world.