Concerts
Static-X @ Irving Plaza, NYC 11.5.03
This past Wednesday I went to Irving Plaza in NYC to see Static-X. It was the first time that I would be seeing them and with the band being one of my favorites, I was extremely psyched to go. It was a terrible night to go see a show, to be sure. The hard rain made for a nerve-racking trip into the city.
Three bands before Static-X - Twisted Method, Stained, and Soil, supported the show. I saw the last 2 songs of Staind and then Soil. Of what I saw, they warmed up the audience well, but it was all about Static-X this night.
Getting on about 11:15, Wayne and the boys were there to rock and party, as it was a day after Wayne's B'day. Calling for "Another shot" after every other song, Wayne was obviously enjoying himself. The crowd was into the music and what was being laid out on stage kept the energy high. The whole floor throbbed as the pit took up the entire club, people pushing and jumping and screaming Wayne's songs back to him, fist's raised in the air. Doing songs from all three discs, most of the songs performed that night were from Wisconsin Death Trip, and they did 3 songs off their newest release, overall a perfect mix of old and new. I think they placed their best songs and they all smoked. Any time they come back around, I will definitely be there! I was not disappointed and no one else was either. Great job!
Marilyn Manson – Roseland Ballroom, NYC – Oct. 22, 2003 –
Walking through the lobby into the famous Roseland Ballroom off Broadway in New York City, one could be sure that the ballroom dancers of this great halls heyday could not have imagined the scene of people gathered for modern day gothic king, Marilyn Manson. With his loyal fans in attendance, and dressed in Manson inspired fare, the faithful were there to experience the material from his latest CD, “Golden Age Of Grotesque”.
Opening up for Manson were left coast punks S.T.U.N. with their own special perspective on life and their own brand of social commentary. Looking and sounding very much like the Sex Pistols, they slowly won over the crowd with their high-energy performance and stage presence. Calling for the audience to, “Give me your hate!” the lead singer was met with a sea of raised fists and extended middle fingers as the crowd screamed and gladly filled his request. All in all, the bands set was timed perfectly and S.T.U.N. was allowed to live to play another day by Manson’s followers. Job well done.
With the house lights still on and the curtain still up on the stage, a familiar sounding dirge began playing over Roseland’s sound system, as the crowd began taking or holding their place in anticipation. As the curtain dropped, Manson could be seen on top of the highest platform as the band started playing their song, “The New Shit” from their latest CD.
From one song into the next, Manson continued to show why he is the top live performer and artist of his day, as his fans were not only there to observe but encouraged to participate, chanting and singing lines directed by Manson himself. This was clearly an audience who knew the material well and it was difficult to tell who were enjoying themselves more, the audience or the band. Speaking to the crowd in between songs at one point in the show, Manson acknowledged the controversy that constantly surrounds him by telling them that at that moment there was a group in New Mexico praying for their souls. He said the group believed that he was there to get them all to worship Satan. “Satan worships us!” he told the crowd.
Filled with props and joined by two girl dancers dressed in bra and pantyhose, the show was exactly what would be expected from the prince of grotesque. From a 20-foot inflatable Manson head to Manson in black face in Mickey Mouse ears singing, “It’s A Small World After All”, the hour and a half show had everything the audience could want.
Movies
Underworld
Unlike Anne Rice, who helped expand and define the legacy of Vampires with her brilliant story telling and her reverence to tradition, the makers of the film, “Underworld”, chose to make a mockery of not one, but two classic creations. In what turned out to be a confusing story of bloodlines and genetics, the writers of the film disregarded all the classical characteristics of both Vampires and Werewolves, and turned them into high tech, gun wielding, genetic scientists.
With an opening scene caught somewhere between “Heat” and “The Warriors”, we find ourselves watching a gun fight between a group of Vampires and Werewolves on a subway platform. At almost every scene from this point on, no respect would be given as we are subjected to the blatant disregard of age-old traditions. We are expected to suspend our knowledge of Vampire immortality as well as the mortality of Werewolves. We are led to believe that there can only be one Ancient alive at any one time, and reanimation of an Ancient (as if an Ancient would ever allow himself to be killed), can only be done by another Ancient. The world of the Vampire would shamelessly lie at the writer’s feet by the end of the movie, and nothing would be held sacred. Vampires falling in love with Werewolves, Vampire betraying vampire, Werewolves killing Vampires with bullets and fangs, preposterous ideals at every scene.
If you are in the mood for gun fights, fast cars, and street gangs, then may I suggest, “The Fast And The Furious”, but if you are like me and do not take the Vampire tradition lightly, I would tell you to avoid, “Underworld”. Instead, sit down with a bottle of Vampire Wine and enjoy “The Queen Of The Damned” or “Bram Stokers Dracula”. Tradition should not be trifled with.
Restaurants
Il Panino
- 400 New York Ave. Huntington
Reviewed by Mark A. Lyons
I was not originally going to use this forum for food reviews. After all,
we are an events company focused on Spirit. Though, after having Lunch at
Il Panino in Huntington, I find myself compelled & inspired. We went
at the behest of a good friend who has been in the food industry for many
years. Amy & I hear about cool places all the time & our schedules
leave little time for exploring new culinary terrain. Well, I am thrilled
that we embarked on this Northern Italian adventure. Though their space
is small, it is darkly lit & nicely decorated, I felt comfortable &
at ease. The staff was attentive, informative & very polite, a bit of
a novelty for Huntington as a rule. I found their service exemplary &
the food even better.
We were served the most delicious olives throughout our stay. They apparently
marinate them in house & I am in agreement with their process. I am
also an avid olive lover. The bread & oil for dipping that has become
so passé in today's italian food market was greatly enhanced by it being
extremely fresh & piping hot. Even the antipasto, a common mishmash
in most places of whatever 's hanging about was here a perfect balance of
roasted peppers & a perfect selection of meats. I love real good Prosciuitto.
I was raised on it. I know the good stuff when I taste it. The pasta was
al dente, no small miracle for a thriving restaurant. The tuna carpaccio
was amazing. Most of all, the dessert chef impressed me with a basil sorbet,
served as an apéritif, that blew my mind.
All in all, if you are looking for a new experience in Italian dining, Il
Panino is not just a departure, but an adventure.
You can look at their menu by clicking here.
Television
Mad
Mad House
Airs on the SciFi network, Thursday nights @ 9pm
Review by Amy Krinner
If you are at all involved in the Wiccan/Pagan Community, you'd have to
be living under a rock not to have heard about this new reality show. The
SciFi network is promoting is new foray into reality television as a cross
between Survivor, The Real World and The Osbournes. It was that type of
advertising that got the Pagan community in an uproar.
In case you don't know about the show, the premise is as follows. 10 guests
who are considered normal everyday people are chosen to live in a fabulous
house in LA for a couple of weeks. They are competing for a prize of $100,000.00. What's
the catch you ask? Their hosts are 5 people who actively live "alternate"
lifestyles. There's the Modern Primitive named Art who has beautifully
covered most of his body with tribal tattoos. He also hangs from the ceiling
by hooks embedded in his flesh. There's Avocado, the Naturist, who enjoys
tasty raw food treats and likes walking around in the buff. Don is the
Vampire whose room comes complete with a coffin. Ta'Shia is the Voodoo
Priestess who is always seen in ritualistic garb. And finally there's
the resident Witch, Fiona, a well-known pagan author and former singer
in a punk band. These hosts, otherwise known as the "Alts" live side by
side with the guests, teaching them about their way of life.
Each of the "Alts" gives challenges to the guests. The winner of the challenge
gets immunity from the next elimination ceremony. The "Alts" also get
to showcase their specialties. As of the writing of this article Ta'Shia
has performed a Voodoo ceremony to honor the ancestors and Fiona hosted
a ceremony to release fears. The guests are rated on their willingness
to experience new things and their open-mindedness to religions and cultures
other then their own.
As an out of the closet, certified Witch, I was leery about how the show
would depict these "Alts". I don't want my, or anyone else’s religious
practices made a mockery of. Before the show even aired petitions and
letters were flying around the internet expressing dismay about a Witch
on TV. Now that the show is on the air, I haven't heard much complaining. In
my opinion the "Alts" are treated respectfully as are their practices. In
fact, the guests are the ones that are not coming off in a good light. Hidden
cameras all over the house and property catch them talking behind each
others backs and acting childish when to much alcohol is consumed.
I think Fiona is doing a great service for the Wiccan/Pagan community. So
far she has shown integrity, compassion and service to everyone in the
house. Some might complain that her ritual attire was a little out there,
but come on folks; this is Tinsletown we’re talking about here. And bottom
line, it is a reality TV show. I’m not expecting perfection, but I am
happy about what I’ve seen so far. Minds are being opened and illusions
are being shattered. And it could be worse. I could be the pagan Bachelorette!
"Here Be
Monsters"
The Dead Zone Season One
USA Network
Reviewed by Amy Krinner HPS
The Dead Zone is a one hour drama on USA Networks. The premise is the lead
character Johnny, played by Anthony Michael Hall, has the psychic ability
to foresee past and future events by touching people and objects. In this
particular episode a little girl is missing. Johnny offers to help with
the investigation using his powers. After he tells local law enforcement
what he can tell from items at the crime scene, they thank him by arresting
him for the kidnapping. The charge they use against him is Witchcraft. Even
though the Witchcraft laws have not been used for centuries and it is a
religion protected under the Constitution, a trial ensues. The prosecution
defines a Witch as "the practice and belief in supernatural abilities,
including the divination of future and past events, conjuring illness on
another and one who gets their powers from the devil".
I continued to watch waiting for the rebuttal. Hey, it's the 21st century
right? Everyone knows that Witches are not Satanists. The Defense stood
up and said that Johnny was merely psychic and not a Witch. That was it!
I was appalled by this. With all the books and internet sites out there
to gather information, this show had the audacity to put out false information.
The climax of the show came when an angry mob tried to burn Johnny at the
stake. I thought that Hollywood came a long way in the past few decades.
Sure Witchcraft is glamorized and abilities are often blown out of proportion,
but linking Witches with Satan at this point is ludicrous. I for one plan
on never watching this show again.
What do you
think?
Submit Your Reviews Here!