Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Deep Ellum, Texas

I've been depressed lately. There I said it. And with depression comes all it's nasty symptoms... Sad, empty, tearful feelings; loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable; difficulty sleeping; agitation; reduction of physical movements; fatigue; loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt; poor concentration; difficulty making decisions...well, you get the point. Despite all these side-effects, which would make it seem obvious to one's self what was going on, it's hard to realize sometimes that you're actually suffering from depression. Like so many nights before, I was up all night last night for no apparent reason at all. Growing increasingly tired of my situation, around 7 AM on this particular morning I had decided to do something about it. I needed to get out, explore the city, and collect my thoughts. I scrounged up enough change for bus fare and headed toward my favorite place in the city, Deep Ellum, an arts and entertainment district near downtown in east Dallas. You see, I'm originally from the middle of nowhere Texas and in the country, things are slower...much slower. But the pull of the big city has always been there. In my young, adolescent mind Dallas was a woundrous place where anything could happen. Where opportunities were around every corner. There was an exciting energy in the air. It's what brought me here, and more specifically to Deep Ellum. It's a place that has always seemed to attract creative and adventurous people. When walking the streets one can expect to see artists, musicians, bikers, skate-boarders, photographers, and many other variations of interesting people. But it's not just the people here. As I'm walking the streets on this day, my surroundings beckon me to take a closer look. Every nook and cranny of this place has a story to tell. You would be hard-pressed to look in any given direction and not see a mural or a sculpture or a painting of some kind. As my mind's eye takes in the sights, and I begin to take note of the hidden messages on the walls and sidewalks, I'm reminded not only of why I fell in love with this place; but what's really important to me in life. I begin to snap photo after photo...and eventually become completely immersed in the task at hand. I couldn't stop. And it doesn't take long for one to realize just how much beauty is actually here! It's really quite remarkable. Like any unique destination, this place has had its ups and downs. But for better or worse, Deep Ellum has always been, and will always be a magical, culture rich blip on the map that continues to attract and inspire the creative masses. I have so many fond memories from this area; the shows I've played here, the art galleries I've attended here, all the bands I've discovered here, the great places to eat, the tattoos I've gotten here, the friends I've met, and so much more. For me there is no place like this anywhere, however for those reading this who have never experienced Deep Ellum I am sure there is a place in your life that continues to draw you in and inspire awe. If you haven't been to that place in a while, I encourage you to revisit. If you haven't made it there yet, I implore you to seek it out. You may just find what you've been looking for, or possibly take in a fresh breathe of inspiration. (I have included a video I put together of all the pictures I took that day down in Deep Ellum. Enjoy!) THE ART OF DEEP ELLUM VIDEO
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Lambgoat users provide loads of lol's...

The metal head, the scene kid, the hardcore kid, the punk, the goth kid…No matter what the label, they all have one thing in common; aside from being some of the most passionate and die-hard music fans on this planet, they are all part of the most scrutinizing and fickle groups of music fans out there. Here’s a small example: Nickelback. There are a slew of bands that look and sound exactly like them, and yet they continue to sell albums and garner success and fans…The fact that there are hundreds and possibly thousands of bands who look and sound exactly like Nickelback, doesn’t deter more generic carbon copies from spawning and, unfortunately, gaining success of their own. But a metal band wouldn’t dare try to wear masks on stage for fear of being ripped to shreds by fans of Slipknot and Mushroomhead. (and possibly Gwar too) There are countless metal bands out there and the fact that 2 of them have lots of members on stage and wear masks causes drama and bitterness between their fans, even though their music is like night and day! Fans of metal music can be brutal. It would make sense though, wouldn’t it? Metal music is hardcore and so are the fans… This can best be represented in the user postings of a heavy metal news website called Lambgoat.com. The website was launched in 1999 and has quickly become a leading resource for heavy metal news, however the site itself has been overshadowed by it’s own users. This doesn’t mean that Lambgoat isn’t great at what they do, it’s just that more people visit the site nowadays to read what the Lambgoat users are saying about the latest band news and the latest press releases. If you haven’t visited the site then do yourself a favor and click over immediately. Not only will you be informed on the latest happenings in metal news, the latest signings, the latest album releases, etc. etc., but you’ll also get a good laugh at what the witty and sometimes idiotic Lambgoat users are posting in response. A Lambgoat news post will typically be followed by a few morons vying for the first post, which they will declare with a simple “first post.” Another common sight is the “no care” response. But some of the more brutal responses often seen are ones like “vanflip”, wishing death and devastation on a band they may not be particularly fond of. Then there’s just the classic “this band sucks” and “no they don’t” arguments that break out almost without fail. Vist Lambgoat.com today and you’re sure to find some exciting news, discover a new band, or witness pure internet dim-wittedness in it’s purest form. Enjoy!
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Nu Metal/Industrial Picks





The late 90’s and early 2000’s was a glorious time for Nu-metal and Industrial metal fans! In my case I was an impressionable young 18 or 19 year old at the time, and the music scene was completely overrun with Korn knock-offs and Rob Zombie wanna-be’s…however shameful it may be to admit I was into this craze, I was. Music fads come and go and this will be a time in music I will always be quite fond of. Don’t get me wrong. I was, have been, and always will be a fan of the old-school. Thrash, Death, and Power metal have always been my absolute favorites. But there was just something about this sound that took a hold of me! The groove oriented riffs based on syncopation were ultra catchy! Bands associated with nu metal derive influence from a variety of diverse styles, including electronica/electronic music, funk, glam rock, gothic rock,grunge, hardcore punk, hip hop, industrial rock, jazz, post punk and synthpop.  It wasn’t just the sound of Nu-metal and Industrial metal that was turning heads, but their looks as well. From the costumes and masks of bands like Slipknot, Mushroomhead, and Crossbreed; to the make-up and extreme fashion statements of Marylin Manson, Godhead, and Nine Inch Nails. Spikey hair-cuts, piercings, dread locks, tattoos, eye-liner…the look of these bands alone was getting them massive exposure within the metal community. I can remember being at Ozzfest one summer, approaching the second stage, and seeing Motograter. They all had their tribal war paint on, and there was so much going on up there; I was blown away! I can also remember walking through the isles of my favorite local music store and spotting the Mushroomhead disc XX. I had never even heard of the band before, I just bought the album because I thought they looked cool and I ended up loving it! I guess I have always been a fan of bands with an image like Motograter, Mushroomhead, and Slipknot; and I’ve secretly always wanted to be in a band like that. I guess that’s why my first professional tour I ever embarked on was with the band Pinhed (leather mask, spiked-armor wearing blackened death metal band); we opened up for Mushroomhead every night and it was honor to meet those guys and tour with them considering I was such a huge fan of the band growning up. I played it cool, but my inner fan boy was screaming! I have compiled a collection of my favorite bands from this time in music and have included links to some of their videos and songs. Check ‘em out!!!
SWIMMING WITH SHARKS ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS:
THE BEST NU-METAL AND INDUSTRIAL METAL BANDS. EVER.
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