Join the Gun Club!

What a great band! Originally I was a little bit frightened by them… but I learned to love. Please check out this link for more information, and check out the videos for music goodness!

Goodbye Gary Gygax…

It’s a sad day for role-playing history… One of the co-creators of the Dungeons and Dragons has passed away. This man inspired many. I would even go as far as to say that he should be partly attributed to the creation of Second life.

Co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons Gary Gygax died at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Gygax was 69.

Gygax, who is generally regarded as the father of role-playing games, was one of the original creators of the pen-and-paper, dice-based Dungeons and Dragons game, which in turn spawned an entire genre of tabletop play.

The Dungeons and Dragons core rule-set would eventually inspire and influence some of the most popular video games ever made, including BioWare’s Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights series of titles among numerous others.

Gygax had been suffering from health problems for years, but ran weekly games of Dungeons and Dragons as late as January. He is survived by a wife and six children.

He did not mean… To BLOW your mind…That thing happens…. ALLL of the time!

Michael Angelo Batio… the fastest guitar player ever! And one of the corniest/funniest dudes I’ve ever seen (through youtube) perform. Of course, this is just a matter of opinion, but the guy is just hilarious!

Skilled to the max, and totally credible, Michael Angelo is honestly pretty phenomenal… There’s just no way in hell I could take him seriously…

He’ll give you! The keys to the Lamborghini! Haha, that’s pure diamond gold! Equipped with a 29 fret guitar, Michael Angelo is here to blow minds! I would expect nothing less from a man with the name Michael Angelo; he’s got some pretty big shoes to fill! You can be sure that this guy’s amp goes to eleven! Please, please, please check out these videos!

Speed Killzzzzzz

Double Neck!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS!!!! WHATS UP!!

FOUR NECKS??!??! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!! – sweet explosion effect!

 

It was all whirlwind, heat, and flash…

Layers of guitar, whirling puzzles of melodies, tonal bliss, subdued vocals, alteration after alteration of effects… I love shoegaze… and how could you not? With the ever-droning riffs, and the non-stop wall of sound smashing against your body, and mesmerizing your mind! I’ve never felt more encompassed by a sound then when listening to powerful shoegaze.

Of course, watching them play live is usually as fun as watching bread rise, but I honestly believe that that’s not why you go to watch them. You’re not going to watch, you’re going to feel, and experience the creation of slab of sound that’s going to ram into your body like a 400 pound undulating mass of human flesh running towards some Cheesies.

It really is a shame that they never got the exposure they deserved… but really, I can see why… have you ever watched an interview with Kevin Shields?

Shoegaze came about sometime in the early 1980’s around the Great Britain area. Unfortunately, because it really was a scene the celebrated itself, shoegaze basically died in the England area. At that time Brit-pop started to become increasingly popular, and basically built criticisms towards shoegaze. Because Brit-pop soon became the dominant music structure in the England area, there was not much else the shoegazers could do but remain under radar, and eventual fall to its death. Just to clear up any confusion, they were labeled as shoegazer bands, because for most of the show they were huddled over their effects pedals and playing with enormous passion…

I’ve heard many of my friends say that at concerts such as Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky, they’ve been so moved by the experience that they will go as far as to compare it to a religious experience…. Shoegaze would provide mine…

So, to end off my post for today, I’m going to allow you to indulge in some shoegaze sweetness…

 

The Telescopes – Flying – Off of their album “# Untitled Second”

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Just like Honey – Off their 1985 release “Psycho Candy”

My Bloody Valentine – You made me Realize – From their 1988 Ep “You made me Realize”

My Bloody Valentine – Feed me with your Kiss – Quintessential shoegaze! Off their 1988 LP “Isn’t Anything

Ride – Leave them All Behind – From their 1992 LP “Going Blank Again”

Others you may want to check out: Chapterhouse, Lush, Slowdive, Swervedriver, The Swirlies, Spaceman 3, the Cocteau Twins, Even early Dinosaur Jr.,