• Garden of the Gods – Colorado Springs, CO:
  From what I understand, the park was named by a couple of surveyors in the mid 1800’s when they were trying to establish a new city and “stumbled” upon this beautiful place. The entrance to the park is free, as per the wishes of the family who donated the land to Colorado Springs in the early 1900’s. See the plaque on the face of one of the formations in the 4th photo of this gallery…
  
  Also, the 5th image in the gallery is of Father Andreas Blom, from Sweden, who was kind enough to let me take his photo. Melodi and I walked past him and I had to go back and ask him if it would be okay to snap a few shots with the formations in the background. I thought it was a rather fitting image to take considering the name of the park.
  
  Melodi and I went there after an early morning alumni soccer game and stayed for about an hour and a half. We would have hung out all day to explore all the park has to offer but we were on a tight schedule that day. Next time we’ll make sure to make a day out of it and get photos from all angles.
  
  You can read more about the park at their website…
  
  www.GardenOfGods.com

• Venue Review – 3 CLUBS:
  This was my first time going to this club… Let me back up. I really don’t like calling it a club because people might get the wrong idea. This was my first time at this cool bar. It is not a dive bar but it is not a bar for douche-nozzles either (you know who you are). Let me go on record by saying that I like dive bars and this might be considered by some to be a dive bar but it really isn’t as too much work has gone into making it simple and clean with great lighting and an attention to detail. The place is split into two rooms with a bar in each, a jukebox on one side and a stage with a DJ post in the other. I arrived early and saddled up to the bar for the ritualistic pre-show drink and the bartender commented on my Murder City Devils shirt, which struck up a conversation about the band. He quickly ran over to the jukebox and played “Johnny Thunders” followed by a Nick Cave song. Any place that has those two artists on a jukebox puts me right at home!
  
  This is a great bar so make sure you go check it out if in the area. It is located at:
  
  www.ThreeClubs.com

1123 Vine St. #1
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 462-6441

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• 1st performance: LYNDA KAY:
  From the moment Lynda walked onto that stage in her gold glitter outfit and texas-style big hair I knew she meant business! I was pleasantly surprised by this group as the songs and performance by her and the band were top-notch country. I am pretty picky about my country music and this performance did not disappoint at all. “How picky are you?” Well, let me tell you… I’ve rambled about this subject in the past so I’ll keep it to a quote by JB Beverley and the Wayward Drifters this time: “Give me a dark bar and a jukebox over that radio, yeah Toby just don’t cut it, give me Haggard, give me Coe, ’cause I’m tired of watching Nashville and its washed-up fashion show, ’cause you won’t find no country on country radio!” That was a line from their song called “Dark Bar and a Jukebox” from the album by the same name. I’ll probably quote something from Lynda’s album “Dream my Darling” on my next country band review as she is the real deal. You won’t get a “BBQ stain on mah white t-shirt” line from her. If you like the classic sounds of Patsy Cline then this album will pick up right where she left off.
  
  www.LyndaKay.com

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• 2nd performance: SIN FISTED:
  Sin Fisted is an entertainer based out of Hollywood, CA who came to this event and did a burlesque routine to two songs. The theme was the Go Go Yubari ball & chain routine from the Kill Bill movie. Lots of fun!
  
  Sin Fisted on Model Mayhem

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• 3rd performance: HELLZAPOPPIN:
  Hellzapoppin is a sideshow revue that performs pain, and sometimes death, defying acts… Well, it may be painful to most of us but these performers seem to thrive on it and have figured out a way to make art out of unthinkable acts. Just take a look at the photos above and you’ll see some of the stunts they engage in just to entertain the public. This show was short, sweet and a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed the hot dog trick by Mr. Buggles! The performers on tonight’s show were: Bryce “The Govna” Graves, Viola La La Mia, and Mr. Buggles. Go support them next time they roll into your town…
  
  www.Hallzapoppin.com

Nuff said, now go support any local performer…

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• Venue Review – 3 CLUBS:
  This was my first time going to this club… Let me back up. I really don’t like calling it a club because people might get the wrong idea. This was my first time at this cool bar. It is not a dive bar but it is not a bar for douche-nozzles either (you know who you are). Let me go on record by saying that I like dive bars and this might be considered by some to be a dive bar but it really isn’t as too much work has gone into making it simple and clean with great lighting and an attention to detail. The place is split into two rooms with a bar in each, a jukebox on one side and a stage with a DJ post in the other. I arrived early and saddled up to the bar for the ritualistic pre-show drink and the bartender commented on my Murder City Devils shirt, which struck up a conversation about the band. He quickly ran over to the jukebox and played “Johnny Thunders” followed by a Nick Cave song. Any place that has those two artists on a jukebox puts me right at home!
  
  This is a great bar so make sure you go check it out if in the area. It is located at:
  
  www.ThreeClubs.com

1123 Vine St. #1
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 462-6441

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• Band: LYNDA KAY:
  From the moment Lynda walked onto that stage in her gold glitter outfit and texas-style big hair I knew she meant business! I was pleasantly surprised by this group as the songs and performance by her and the band were top-notch country. I am pretty picky about my country music and this performance did not disappoint at all. “How picky are you?” Well, let me tell you… I’ve rambled about this subject in the past so I’ll keep it to a quote by JB Beverley and the Wayward Drifters this time: “Give me a dark bar and a jukebox over that radio, yeah Toby just don’t cut it, give me Haggard, give me Coe, ’cause I’m tired of watching Nashville and its washed-up fashion show, ’cause you won’t find no country on country radio!” That was a line from their song called “Dark Bar and a Jukebox” from the album by the same name. I’ll probably quote something from Lynda’s album “Dream my Darling” on my next country band review as she is the real deal. You won’t get a “BBQ stain on mah white t-shirt” line from her. If you like the classic sounds of Patsy Cline then this album will pick up right where she left off.
  
  www.LyndaKay.com

Nuff said, enjoy the photos and go support Lynda the next time she plays…

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• Venue Review: THE VIPER ROOM:
  I got there early enough to get a parking spot behind the venue, which was nice. Usually I have to park in the lot behind The Whiskey and walk down, which is not far at all but it’s always nice to be close. The place was not very packed at all so there was room to move around a bit during the bands but I really hate being the guy blocking the stage while taking photos so I was trying hard to stay low. From a spectator standpoint I’ve always thought it to be distracting when a photographer is constantly moving around and shooting the bands right up front so I was really making an attempt to stay clear while still getting the shots. The Viper Room is a GREAT place to see bands when the crowd-count is low but if it is packed it can be hell to even get to the bathroom; tonight was just right! Kinda sucks for the bands though… Fun place to photograph bands!
  
  www.ViperRoom.com

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• First Band: WILLEM & DAKOTA:
  Originally from Louisiana and now a part of the Los Angeles scene, Willem & Dakota play sort of a folky-rock brand of music that is very homegrown. I briefly spoke to Willem before the show and asked if it was cool to photograph the band and he gave me the okay – seemed like a nice guy. The link below will lead to a few different videos, a few of which are from this gig. Check ‘em out…
  
  See Willem & Dakota on YouTube

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• Second Band: TAP THIS:
  This was my second time shooting the band and was glad I made the trek to Hollywood to see them again. They opened with Big Bottom and tore through another 30 minutes of great Spinal Tap tunes that included Stonehenge, Hell Hole and Tonight We’re Gonna Rock You. They sounded great and left the audience wanting more. I know bands get bummed when they can only do a half hour set but I’ve always thought that bands that play in clubs should never do more than a 40 minute set. Shorter sets force the band to tear through as many songs as they can in a small window and hopefully get off on a high note, which leaves the crowd hungry. They are a fun band to see live so go support some great rock n roll!
  
  www.myspace.com/TapThisMusic

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• Third Band: SKIP DIXON:
  This band was a little refreshing as they were not the typical band one would expect to see in a lineup with nothing but rock-based bands. They were a six piece group that had deep roots in soul with a slight splash of classic Herbie Hancock piano every so often. I like my music gigs to contain a wide mix of performances and this is what I got this night thanks to this band. If you like mellow soul music then go check them out if they are in your area.
  
  I couldn’t find anything on the web on Skip Dixon so if anyone knows how to get in touch with them please let me know. Thanks…

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• Fourth Band: THE VIOLET LIGHTS:
  This was my first time seeing the band and I got the impression that this group means business as they are a no-frills, straight-ahead rock band. They are not the typical rock band that I usually go for like The Murder City Devils, Clutch or Zeke, rather they are more in the alternative realm with some hooky phrasing that will probably get them some radio play. My initial thought when I was watching them is that they would be a good addition to a Killers gig or even Rilo Kiley, although a little heavier than both of those bands. You can sample some of their music on their site, linked below.
  
  www.TheVioletLights.com

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• Fifth Band: LUZ DE LUNA:
  Straight ahead rock-n-roll. I believe that they do all their tunes in spanish… I stuck around for the first four songs but had to take off and make the haul back home but I got the idea of what they were about; classic rock en español! They have a good sampling of their music on their MySpace so give ‘em a listen.
  
  www.myspace.com/LuzDeLunaMusic

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Nuff said…

• Venue Review – PALADINO’S CLUB:
  Got to the venue around 7:50PM, which left about 10minutes before the first band went on. My name was supposed to be on a band list at the door but I made it there before the list arrived so I was told to either pay the cover or wait outside. Since I drove all the way out there and wanted to photograph as many bands as I could, I opted to just pay rather than wait out in the somewhat chilly strip mall. The paying part is not what bothered me, it was the woman at the door who was a little rude about it, kept talking on her cell phone, wouldn’t look at me when barking her instructions, and didn’t seem to offer any solution to the matter. I would have understood if I were arguing about it and holding up the line but I was the only one there and all I said was “Hello, I’m here to see AIC and my name should be on their list…” It would have been nice if she would have said something like “well, why don’t you wait at the bar and have a drink – the band will be here shortly.” Also, I could be mistaken but I think she has been working that door for some time so she should know that bands do come with guest lists and there might be a chance that people show up earlier than the lists. Rather than being nice about it she was just flat-out unpleasant. Whaaa, the lady was mean to me… I know, I know, suck it up and grow a pair, right? True, but this is my blog and I can rant and rave all I want about it in this forum. Having said that, I simply don’t get how people can treat their customers in such a manner and get away with it. If I were to treat my clients that way I simply don’t get rehired. All in all, no big deal, it just makes me wonder how people keep their jobs. Hell, maybe she’s the owner!
  
  Despite that one person, everyone else at the venue was extremely nice and personable. And by “everyone else” I mean the doorman, bartenders, servers and the sound guy. I still dig this place and am really looking forward to my next venture out there to see if the same person is working the door.
  
  The only tricky part of the evening was the stage lighting. It was really difficult to get any shots of the drummers as the lights seem to go around the kit. The stage is always very pinkish in hue except for a few spots that a band member will occasionally walk through, so I have to watch for those moments. On this night stage right seemed to have nothing but red (more like pink) gels on the cans while stage left did have a good white light illuminating whichever player was on that side. Other than that, the sound was great!
  
  Also, there were four bands on the bill this night but I left after the third because a bunch of Vagos showed up. I didn’t leave because they were there necessarily, I just wasn’t sure about accidentally getting them in photographs and how they might react to that. Call me naive but I didn’t want to risk dealing with that situation.
  
  www.PaladinosClub.com

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• First Band: THE SUGAR DADDIES:
  Not bad, pretty good actually, but not really my cup of tea when it comes to cover bands. They sounded great, were tight in their delivery and picked the not-so-usual covers but I was in the mood for something heavier that night. I have nothing bad at all to say about them and if you like blues-rock covers then go check them out. They do the originals justice! In case you are wondering what songs they do, the first photo in the galley is the setlist they worked off of that night.
  
  The Sugar Daddies on Facebook

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• Second Band: ALLISON CHAINS:
  The band has replaced two of the band members since the last time I saw them and they sounded just as good. If you like Alice In Chains then you will surely like Allison Chains. They put on a fun night of great rock-n-roll and do the band justice. Rating = The full Mano Cornuta!
  
  The band’s various websites:
  
  www.wix.com/AllisonChains/tribute
  
  www.myspace.com/AllisonChainsTribute/tribute
  
  www.facebook.com/AllisonChainsTribute

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  • Third Band: ROX:
    Rox, introducing Dean Simone, whom you might recognize from The Smokin’ Cobras. They tore through a series of covers from Hendrix, to Trower to Sabbath. Check ‘em out at…
    
    Dean Simone on facebook

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  • Fourth Band: ZEDD:
    As I stated above, I left before the Led Zeppelin tribute hit the stage – maybe next time.
    
    www.MySpace.com/ZeddRocks

    NUFF SAID…

• Venue Review – HOUSE OF BLUES – ANAHEIM:
  Staff and bouncers were all cool – no complaints. As expected though, the place was packed so it was a little hard to get around and you really had to fight to keep your spot but that is the nature of these types of shows.
  
  www.HouseOfBlues.com/venues/clubvenues/anaheim/

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• First Band: IGOR SPECTRE:
  This was my second time seeing them live and they were even better than the first time – a lot of fun. Go support them by going to their next gig.
  
  www.IgorSpectre.com

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• Second Band: CHANNEL 3:
  What can I say that I haven’t said before…? I think this is my 4th or 5th posting of the band and I have run out of original things to say about them so let’s just leave it at good! They delivered as they always do and if you like the poppier side of punk then they are right up your alley. Go check ‘em out if you haven’t already. Oh, and if they happen to call out for requests then make sure to yell out “Last Time I Drank” because they love that one (and so do we!) Also, thanks to Kimm for getting me a photo-pass.
  
  www.CHThree.com

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• Third Band: THE ADICTS:
  Even better than the last time I saw them, which I didn’t think they could pull off. I think the band was tighter, the crowd was louder and the setlist was spot-on! Thanks to Pete for letting me shoot the band again!
  
  www.Adicts.us

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• Venue Review – UNIVERSAL BAR & GRILL:
  We got there early and found a parking spot right in front so we didn’t have to search for parking miles away. This bar is okay; small, kinda divey, everyday people, not bad service, inexpensive… Pretty much everything you would normally get from a regular bar. Now, if you’re the Ed Hardy wearing and smelling type then you won’t like this place, nor will they like you. Sure, I saw a couple of douche-nozzles there but not the pretentious or Jersey Shore type – and by “Jersey Shore” I mean the TV show. Most of the people were regular, everyday people having a good time. Two Dive-Bar thumbs up!
  
  Check em out on Yelp (link below), although you really do have to read between the lines on the reviews to get an accurate rating. When someone complains that a band was supposed to go on at 9:30 and were bumped to 10:30 then it’s probably not a legitimate reason for giving a 1-star. You’ll figure it out but I would say to definitely check out this bar as long as you don’t have pampering expectations. If you like the Double Down or Dino’s in Vegas then you’ll get along but if you like to sip champagne at the Wynn Lounge then skip this place.
  Universal Bar & Grill on Yelp
  
  Their official website:
  www.UniversalBarLA.com

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• Band Review: TAP THIS:
  An all-girl tribute to Spinal Tap – very nice! I approached the drummer of the band as we were going in and asked if it was cool to shoot Tap This and she was very sweet and said “sure.” Thanks Paloma! The group definitely had the songs down, and aside for a few flubs (like The Tap didn’t have any flubs, right?) I thought they sounded good. The only part I think would make them even better is if they were to stay in character throughout the set. That film has SO many great lines that could be used it seems to be a shame to take a tribute so far and miss out on the comedy aspect that made that film so brilliant. My initial thoughts were: The opening line to every show should be “Hello Cleveland…” Also, I would love to see David and Nigel get into an argument mid-set causing Nigel to quit the band on the spot and they rip into Jazz Odyssey – of course Nigel would re-join right after that song to finish the set. And where was Derek’s foil-wrapped cucumber? I could go on and on about the different scenarios and banter they could perform, but who am I to tell a band what they should and shouldn’t do, right? The band went to the lengths of having a 18″ (to size) Stonehenge appear, wore the robes, had the mannerisms, and even dressed a little like Spinal Tap so why not take it that one more step and make it into a Comedy/Rock set as well?!? I saw Spinal Tap live MANY years ago and their songs would just not have worked on stage without the banter and comedy peppered in between them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not bagging on Tap This at all as I thought they were a lot of fun and played the songs well but a full tribute could catapult them to a new level and get them a lot of new fans. I will definitely go see them again and hopefully get the chance to photograph the band in a venue with better lighting.
  
  My rating of the band? Despite missing out on the banter I still give them the full Maloik (id est: Devil Horns, Leviathan Horns, etc.) Go support them next time they are in your area – thanks again, Paloma!
  
  www.myspace.com/TapThisMusic

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• Band Review: YIDHRA:
  Well, what can I say that I haven’t said before about Yidhra? Nothing, I suppose, other than they continually give you the following: Heavyness, loudness (decibels, not the band), doom and a great logo. Rating: The full Maloik! Nuff said.
  
  You can see other photos of the group in the FotoBlog section of this site under the following dates: 06/15/2010 and 05/21/2010
  
  Also at:
  www.myspace.com/Yidhra

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• Venue Review – BORDELLO BAR:
  My second time at this bar. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is great. It reminds me of when I went to The Mustang Ranch (outside of Reno, NV) back in the 80’s with my friend Brian… It is a long story as to why we went and not one for this section of my blog. If you haven’t been to The Bordello then you are missing out on dimly-lit red velvet and a somewhat Dante’s Inferno vibe. Two thumbs up!
  
  Check em out…
  www.BordelloBar.com

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• Band Review: THE DEL REYS:
  A lot of fun! What else can I say here about them…? They have a great sound for a night of burlesque and drinkin’ the night away. I could see their music on a regular rotation on Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show – good stuff!
  
  www.http://www.myspace.com/TheDelReys

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• Burlesque Review: MONSTEROUS!:
  If The Del Reys were a lot of fun then the Burlesque was a ton of fun! The theme was of a Halloween nature with a twist, and a couple of shakes. There were Zombies, a Vampira double, a very entertaining Bride of Frankenstein’s Monster, scary dolls and much more dancing to the sounds of Hallow’s Eve – right up my alley! I normally would review each performance but it has been a while since the event happened and I’ll probably mess up or forget parts so I’m skipping it this time. Below are the links to each performer. Next time I’ll definitely take notes and give you all specific reviews.
  

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  SCARLETT LETTER
  
  www.myspace.com/apriest

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  MISS ANGIE CAKES
  
  www.myspace.com/MissAngieCakes

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  LA FILLE DAMNEE
  
  La Fille on Facebook

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  SHAKENA
  
  www.myspace.com/LizardsAreCool25

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  MISS JOSIE BUNNIE
  
  Miss Josie on Facebook

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  KATE FOX
  
  www.myspace.com/KateFox_ubs

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  MISS HULA-LA
  
  www.myspace.com/HoopsAndFeathers

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  VESTAL VIXEN
  
  www.myspace.com/VestalVixen

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  HOLLY GO DARKLY
  
  Holly on Facebook

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  VAMP LORRAINE
  
  Vamp Lorraine on Model Mayhem

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• Venue Review – BORDELLO BAR:
  My second time at this bar. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is great. It reminds me of when I went to The Mustang Ranch (outside of Reno, NV) back in the 80’s with my friend Brian… It is a long story as to why we went and not one for this section of my blog. If you haven’t been to The Bordello then you are missing out on dimly-lit red velvet and a somewhat Dante’s Inferno vibe. Two thumbs up!
  
  Check em out…
  www.BordelloBar.com

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• Band Review: THE DEL REYS:
  A lot of fun! What else can I say here about them…? They have a great sound for a night of burlesque and drinkin’ the night away. I could see their music on a regular rotation on Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show – good stuff!
  
  www.http://www.myspace.com/TheDelReys