Heroes And Heroines

  Yep, there's me with my music hero, Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM. And below, me with KMFDM's resident hottie, Lucia Cifarelli. I'll have the pics up from the show soon, I promise. Meanwhile, drool over me drooling over Lucia hugging me...

Posted by Eric @ 11:34am, 10-30-04

Who's A Happy Boy?

  I am, I am!

  Excuse me for a moment while I geek out, fanboy style: OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!111one KMFDM ish teh r0x0rZ, d00d! KMFDM pWnZrZ j00! Alright, with that out of the way... Holy hell, that has to be the BEST concert I've ever been to. My musical heroes, KMFDM, took the stage last night at Mr. Small's Theater in Millvale, PA (outside of Pittsburgh), and they most certainly did not disappoint. In fact, they did more than any fan of any band could expect.

  DJ?Acucrack too the stage first. These guys are from Chicago, and their brand of music is quite the potent mix. Alot of Drum and Bass influence, but plenty of other stuff, including some funky rhymes. I didn't think it'd be much to listen to, but it certainly kept me bopping in the beer line. I'm going to have to pick up their stuff (my money was for KMFDM merch only last night) at the next available oppertunity. Make the kids jealous when I jam it in my car stereo and it sounds 10,000 times better than the crap they're listening to...

  Once KMFDM took the stage, though, I was through with the beer line and right up against the stage. There's no way I'm missing such an oppertunity to check out one of my all time favorite bands up close. From the word go, Sascha, Lucia, Steve, Jules and Andy put together one hell of a high energy show. Strum Und Drang, Megalomaniac, DIY, Sex on the Flag, A Drug Against War, Godlike, UAIOE, Waste... 20 years of KMFDM's best in one spectacular run. With the exception of the usual "crowd asshat who likes to spice up the mosh pit" and a terribly flaming gay weirdo, I had the time of my life.

  Thanks to Pit Asshat, it sortof became my job to defend the two chicks next two me. At the time, I was taking pics left and right (a gallery will be up soon, and they're being submitted to [kmfdm.net]'s [tour photos]), and a guy asked me if I'd send them to him. I said I would, and tossed him my email addy while the band was still going. Gotta love this guy, his T-Mobile phone took a serious beating at that show. His name was Rob, and it turns out he's from Altoona. He also adopted the job of "Pit Edge Defender" and we rocked out for the rest of the show.

  After the show, the band came out and, though they were obviously beat from performing, still signed autographs, posed for pictures, and took time to talk to those of us who stayed after the end of the show. Know what? I don't know many bands who will do that these days, and it's sad. All the so-called "class act" lamers like Timberlake and Usher can't ever hope to have the kind of "Band and Fan" relationship that KMFDM has. Sascha and Lucia even endulged the jerk in me by each leaving a voice mail on a certain ex's cell phone. Said ex likes KMFDM a bit, and I'm sure she'll get a kick out of the messages.

  I want to thank everyone on KMFDM's tour squad, including DJ?Acucrack, for putting together such a kickass show. It was my first KMFDM show, and now it will most certainly not be my last. Thank you so much for coming to Pittsburgh on the 20th Anniversary Tour. Thanks for going above and beyond in giving the fans what they came for. You guys rule. Here's to Two More Decades of Conceptual Continuity...

Posted by Eric @ 5:10pm, 10-29-04

...That Has Been Used Up In Your Sin

  I can't sleep. Obviously. Hell, I'm so excited, I started writing this entry in the [october archive] code...

  The fuel for my excitment? An email I got from a random KMFDM fan who found my blog via [google]...

Last week I went to see KMFDM in Moncton and St. John in Canada, I was blown away by their performance. I've been a fan for years and I've finally been able to see them, as it's been 7 years since they've toured Canada I think. I've been keeping up with Lucia's live journal of their tour, which is totally cool and I've been riding the KMFDM wave full force since seeing and meeting them. This evening I decided to check out which town they were playing in and did a few searches on google to see if there were any excited fans that would be at the show and found your site.. I was reading your blog and came across this: "One of the biggest things I've noticed, though, is that when I tell people I'm going, and how excited I am, they can't imagine why. How has this band been around for 20 years and none of them noticed but me? In my little microcosm, I'm one of maybe three or four people who have spent any time listening to KMFDM, and out of those, I probably have heard them the most. I've been a KMFDM fan for about 10 years now. Outside of my little niche, I'm sure there are alot more fans close to home. But within my circles, I'm on my own..." I can totally relate with you here. I had been mentioning the show 3 weeks prior within my circles and I found few could appreciate the true awesomeness of this upcoming experience. Luckily I was able to find 1 other who shared the same views I did about this revolutionary band, we took another newbie along and headed off to a really great experience. We ended up meeting the band and were actually put on the guestlist for their second last location on their Canadian Tour! That show turned out to be 10 times better and the energy between the crowd and the band was unimaginable. I just wanted to write to let you know that you're not alone, seeing and meeting them was a life changing experience and I can only hope other fans experience anything close to it. Right now you're probably right smack dab in the middle of it and rocking the f**k out. Hope you had a great time. Keep KMFDM alive, K.Bulman.

  Bulman, I totally plan on having the time of my freakin' life down at the show. Thanks for letting me know that I'm not the only one out there who's "blessed" where others are not...

Posted by Eric @ 3:50am, 10-28-04

Television, Religion, Social Destruction

  In 24 hours, I get to go home. Back to my city for the first time since last year's trip to see [a perfect circle]. Any foray (except for the last one, I think) into Pittsburgh is good for me, because it lets me reconnect with a time when my life was a little happier.

  Yep, time for me to go see [kmfdm]!

  I've always missed their tours, finding out about them too late, and being unable to travel the distance necessary to see them live. Then came the initial "break-up" of KMFDM in 1999, and I thought I wouldn't get to see them at all. Then came MDFMK, and after one album, Sascha announced that he would be reforming KMFDM. Two albums later, we've arrived at the present. And this time, I'm ready in a big way.

  One of the biggest things I've noticed, though, is that when I tell people I'm going, and how excited I am, they can't imagine why. How has this band been around for 20 years and none of them noticed but me? In my little microcosm, I'm one of maybe three or four people who have spent any time listening to KMFDM, and out of those, I probably have heard them the most. I've been a KMFDM fan for about 10 years now. Outside of my little niche, I'm sure there are alot more fans close to home. But within my circles, I'm on my own...

  In other news, it's time for a change. Time to dive headfirst into something new. New things are always good, right? Well, not really. But trying them is better than saying "Meh, nevermind." This new thing, though, I think it could be very good for me. Of course, trying new things means letting some of the old things go. Not an easy road for me to travel, but one I think I need to at least walk down a bit.

  Saw [ladder 49] this week. EXCELLENT fire flick, even better than Backdraft with a genuine sap story attached to it. Jaoquin Phoenix is turning into the next Mel Gibson, sans-Passion...

  I'll see you all on Monday. Hopefully, by then, I'll have had enough time to recover from the weekend's insanity...

Posted by Eric @ 9:20am, 10-27-04

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

  Well, I've managed to take one particular week, extend it by one day, and basically turn it into something of a vacation for myself. Sure, I'll still work most days that week(+1), but hell. I've got some cool stuff on deck that week.

  For starters, I'm 10 days away from the penultimate concert event of my life, short of Ozzfest 98: [kmfdm]'s 20th Anniversary Tour! Yeah, sure. Most of you don't know who KMFDM is, and 90% of those people won't even bother to take a listen. But for the past 20 years, the've managed to stay lightyears ahead of everyone else. If it weren't for KMFDM, there would be no Manson, no NIN, no Linkin Park, no Disturbed, no Fear Factory... You get the idea, I think.

  I put my name in for the FanCam at the Pittsburgh show I'm attending, but I doubt I'll get it. But they encourage fan photos, so rest assured I'll be taking some sweet pics, provided Justin lets me borrow his camera. He let Butler take it to Disney, so it shouldn't be too hard to wrangle.

  After that little excursion, I come home to celebrate All Hallow's Eve... One day early. Seems that Saturday is the day to throw your party, and I've been invited to several. The easiest for me to attend is at the Avenue, where [simon sez] will be kicking ass all night long. Downside? I don't qualify for the costume contest as an employee. There are several parties going on among my chat circles, but they're not that interesting, really. And then, there's one I got invited to just a little while ago. It's near Allentown (!), three bands I've never heard of, and one unbelievable girl doing the inviting... As Spock would say: "Fascinating, Captian..."

  After Halloween, I have exactly one week to recover before the bash of the year: My birthday. And Angel's birthday. And Joker's birthday. And other people's birthday, too, if you can believe it. Yep. So many birthdays falling on or around November 5th that we've decided to have one huge party during Karaoke at the Avenue. This one's an open party, so feel free to attend. People are booking motel roomns already, so if you don't wanna drive home and have the cash, get one. We might get a group rate...

  There's one thing, though, at the heart of my thoughts tonight. Something I haven't had the chance to spend much time with lately. Something that haunts me every day. Something that I hope I'll see again, very very soon...

  Enough for you, Derreck? :P

Posted by Eric @ 3:00am, 10-18-04

Make Some Noise 2004

  Because I, too, burn with a hatred for George W. Bush and his idiocy. Because I also believe that John Kerry is equally as bad, but less moronic, yet still not fit to lead. Because Ralph Nader is simply a joke. Because of all these things, I Pick The Chimp...

Posted by Eric @ 12:18pm, 10-09-04

I Am Your Apocalypse

  Yep. I gone and done it. Here's me with SHORT hair. No more hippie Eric...

Me in the DJ Booth, days after the chop.

  What's worse, I've cleaned up my act a bit. This was taken last night...


Me at the bar last night, actually wearing Old Navy...

  End of the world? Or maybe it's a message to someone? Discuss amongst yourselves. Comments welcome...

Posted by Eric @ 4:45pm, 10-07-04

When You Were Here Before...

  Sad news. April didn't make the Q94 Calender. Screw that. So some old tart works at PSU and can get a university behind her. Perfect example of money=resources=happy. Oh well. We're proud of our little digital grassroots campaign for April, and we'll gladly do it again at the drop of a hat for nil. April, you deserve that spot on the calender...

  This Sunday, I'll venture into uncharted territory for me. For years, I've been playing all sorts of card games for the hell of it. From Blackjack (at which I rule) to Spades (at which I don't rule as much) to Up and Down the River (at which I usually puke), I've played alot. But this card game is a little different.

  If you watch TV at all, or at least channel surf, at some point you'll come across it. If you surf the web at all, you'll at least see an advertisment for it. Blog surfers will see the trend, I'm sure. It's the latest card craze, and I'm going to dive headlong into it all with reckless abandon... And one of the most deadly playing styles ever conceived.

  Yep. No Limit Texas Hold-em.

  Show of hands: Who gives a rat's arse about poker? Not many of you, I'm sure. But to me, poker is a sort of metaphore for my take on life in general. In my view, life is one giant case study in people and how they interact, as well as how you interact with them. Poker is life in a microcosm.

  Picture yourself for a moment, sitting in a darkened room, no bigger than your living room. At the north end of the room is the only way in and out: a single, plain oak door. The only light? The dim, hanging fixture that looks like something out of an interrogation room scene in a Noir classic. The table is oval in shape, covered in green felt interrupted only by the occasiona chip racks and drink holders. Around the table sit chairs, each an individual oddity in their own rights.

  The other eight people in the room each have their own story to tell. The dealer, hassled because he has to stay late after work to oversee some backroom gambling. He imagines himself a 1930's gangster pawn, forced to stay late in the Don's speakeasy while his fiance is at home alone, praying for his safety. Nervously he shuffles the cards, wondering if the next deal will be his last if it angers the wrong player. Anything he can think of to make the night more interesting as he waits for his chance to catch the last bus home.

  There's the Introvert, someone who abhors social interaction, but the cards bring something out from deep within him. When he's sitting at the table, he feels like he's in control. He has mastery over his opponents, all based on how the cards fall. He'll always pay to at least see the flop, never doubting for a moment that he can use his superior wit and intellect, well-honed in his years away from society, to bluff the living pants off of the fish sitting around him.

  The Maverick Twentysomething. Here's a kid with big dreams and little direction, cock-sure but green in the ways of the wider world. He daydreams of making it big at the tables, the dealer turning just the card he's looking for to complete his straight flush on the River. He lives for the thrill of that moment, and all the adrenaline coarsing through his veins as it approaches. Bad turns don't phase him, though, as the thrill of catching his card is too great.

  Sou-Fry, short for Southern Fried. This guy has Texas Cowpoke written all over the cheap rhinestone Tom Mix shirt and Dingo boots he's wearing, but his phoney accent gives creedance to his Northeastern roots. He was raised on country music, and tried desperately to live the life the simple men and women sang about in their simple songs. Now past his prime and nearing 60, he's lived his dream to a T: two failed marriages, three kids grown up and long since gone... All he has now is his pick-up truck and his Hank CDs. Now, he's wondering if Kenny was right, and if he has it left in him to know when to hold'em...

  As the game draws near this weekend, I might finish this little nugget of joy. Poker fiction. Maybe I can do that, right? I already have four good characters to work with, and four more to come, plus the central character from who's perspective we see the game.

  I'm thinking about taking Derreck's advice and learning something new. The Ranch needs to evolve from it's plain old HTML foundations and move into the now. Besides, I need a comment system. No time like the present to upgrade the skills... And yes, I've deleted all prior entries from the main page and banished them to the [archives]. With the Poker Blogging starting, I want to start fresh. Besides, this entry is rather lengthy in its own right...

Posted by Eric @ 5:50am, 10-01-04