Smoke & Mirrors

The Bride of Dracula!

When a drag queen says her biggest inspiration comes from every Dracula film she's ever seen, and that she styles her eyebrows after Nosferatu, I know I have to support her in all her endeavors. I first became aware of Sasha Velour during the 2017 season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which she won with a gaggingly beautiful and inventive performance of "So Emotional" by Whitney Houston. Since then, she has continued to refine her strikingly original style and innovative shows through a monthly nightclub gig here in New York, and now a one-queen show called Smoke & Mirrors that she is taking on tour this month!

I was lucky enough to catch a performance of that show last spring and was blown away by the artistry of her costumes, projections, and props that turned a simple stage into a living tree, a chorus line of many Sashas, a rainy day complete with puddles, and so much more. Here she is at her monthly "Nightgowns" show in Brooklyn performing Annie Lennox's "Love Song for a Vampire" from the soundtrack to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Can't you feel the rhythm of that trembling heart?

Black #1!

I see a skeleton and I want to paint it black!

Yesterday's post about seeing Carpenter Brut open a show for Ministry has me wanting to relive the entire ear-bleeding glory of that amazing night last fall. When we last heard from Ministry on this blog (in 2014!), I thought I had missed my chance to ever see them perform. Their lead guitarist died of a heart attack onstage in 2012, and lead singer Al Jourgensen said the band wouldn't regroup again. 

Well never is a long time, and Ministry is not only back on tour, but they also have a new album out: AmeriKKKant. True to most other Ministry albums, it's a brutal assault on our current political landscape, so maybe a little too scary for our purposes here. Instead, we're going to hear from a 2010 album of remixes and covers called Everyday is Halloween: Greatest Tricks. On it, they put their rude and crude industrial disco stamp on such unlikely targets as "Rehab," "Sharp-Dressed Man," and today's song, "Paint It Black." While I'm not a huge Rolling Stones fan, when it's Ministry telling me to paint anything that will stand still long enough black, I'ma grab a brush. 

Beware the Beast (Inside Your Heart)

The characters in the video for today's song look like they could be 1980s time travelers from Return of the Living Dead, but shockingly "Beware the Beast" is a recent song by a French group that formed only a few years ago called Carpenter Brut. Clearly these guys did a lot of American horror movie homework, though, because they have perfected the synth-y sounds and gritty, neon-soaked look of about a hundred 80s films. Even the band's name pays tribute to John Carpenter! I was lucky enough to catch them in concert last fall when they opened for Ministry and was blown away by their expertly-crafted blend of horror, metal, and electronic music. 

This video gives a bit of a false impressions of what they're like live--the actual guy who is Carpenter Brut isn't a monster-faced hair metal dude jumping around the stage, but a stoic, bearded fellow who spends most of his time behind a massive keyboard setup. But the real focus in their shows isn't the band members anyway, but the meticulous videos playing behind them that they've tailor-made for each song. Every song is like its own little horror film being scored in real time! If they come your way, make sure to check them out.

Do the Dead!

Hang loose!

It's October 1st, but with temps still in the 80s and 90s it feels like a great day for surfing! With a corpse, of course. Since The Cramps were the original inspiration for this blog, the first post always belongs to them. "Surfin' Dead" was featured on one of the best horror rock soundtracks ever put together, 1985's Return of the Living Dead, which includes not only The Cramps, but classic songs by The Damned, 45 Grave, and Roky Erickson as well. If you're looking for a great movie to start your October Halloween viewing off right, you couldn't do better than the silly, goopy, surprisingly well-written fun of this quasi-sequel to Night of the Living Dead. It was the brainchild of the guy who wrote Alien, so no wonder it's so good. Forget eating brains, have a sample of this to help make the pain of being dead go away:

Happy Halloween!

Like the past couple years, this has been another sad one for losses in the musical world. None leaves larger shoes to fill than Aretha Franklin. Her powerful voice, piano skills, and willingness to stand up for civil rights are unmatched. Thanks to her gospel-fueled upbringing, every song she sang was like a trip to church (in a good way), whether its subject matter was religious or not. And while she didn't record many songs that could be considered Halloween-worthy, today's is an exception. It not only fits the bill of this blog, but also covers one of Aretha's favorite subjects--female empowerment. In "Evil Gal Blues," she wants her fella to provide caviar for breakfast, champagne every night, and a midnight snack for any other man she might invite. And if her guy doesn't like it? Well, he can't say he wasn't warned.

Check out Aretha performing "Evil Gal Blues" in 1964, a couple years before her signature song and first smash hit "Respect" was recorded. She's evil and proud of it!

It's the greatest day of the year, so let's join Aretha in singing its evil praises! Here's hoping I see at least one Ms. Murphy out there tonight tearing up the trick or treat trail. Until next year, Happy Halloween!

Turn on the pumpkins!

The highest highlight of 2018 for me was seeing the original Misfits play on their homeground of New Jersey. I have loved them for almost thirty years and never thought they'd reunite, let alone in a place that's only a short train ride away. The show was everything I'd hoped for--they played all my favorites, the stage looked like a Halloween explosion, and even the crappy sound hearkened back to the lo-fi recordings all Misfits fans have loved and subsisted on since the original line-up broke up in 1983.

The band makes all concert goers put their cell phones in a locked bag at the door, so precious few photos or videos exist from that wicked night. However, the original line-up has already scheduled another show in Chicago for next April, so maybe there is hope this will become a regular occurrence? Since the reunion itself already proves that hell has frozen over, perhaps it's not too much to hope that a live album/video could materialize in the near future. Or even new songs?!? We will probably have to join forces in doing quite a few extra deeds for the devil in order to make that happen, but I'm willing.

Since there isn't any new Misfits music on the horizon yet, today's song is the newest one available, which came out in 1997. "In the Doorway" appeared nineteen years after it was first recorded, on a reissue of Static Age. The lyrics are a bit inscrutable (no B-horror films get name-checked like in many other Misfits songs), but I think it's about the ancient problem of vampires needing an invitation before they can go through a door. Remember: if you're cold, they're cold. Let them inside.

If you like, Jack the Knife.

Saturday's post was the first time Judas Priest has appeared on this blog, which is embarrassing, unjust, and probably criminal. To remedy the situation, today we're going to span the Judas Priest spectrum. Saturday's song was from their most recent album, so today's will come from a much earlier time: 1976's Sad Wings of Destiny. 

Judas Priest had only released one album prior to Sad Wings of Destiny, and they hadn't yet found any commercial or critical success. Nor had they solidified their sound--the chunky, singalong hooks of "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" were still a few years away. The slower and sludgier influences of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple were still coming through loud and clear, as were the more operatic leanings of Queen. Rob Halford has called Freddie Mercury his ultimate hero, which makes sense considering their similar vocal talents. Today's song is one of Judas Priest's most Queen-like. "The Ripper" chugs along with heavy guitar riffs and layered vocals, but the fact that it's told from Jack the Ripper's point of view gives it Judas Priest's definitive stamp.

"The Ripper" became a fan favorite, so he still rears his evil head at many of Judas Priest's concerts. Check them out performing it just last year! Forty years may have passed since they first recorded it, but clearly Judas Priest's metal superpowers have only increased with time.

(Still) living after midnight!

None more metal!

A few months ago, Judas Priest released their 18th album of bludgeoning new songs, Firepower. Although they've been hammering out slabs of pure metal since 1974 (!!!), their chops and talent haven't aged a bit. Firepower is not only a great Judas Priest album, it's a great metal album. It combines the hard-hitting power of classic Judas Priest with modern production, plus Rob Halford's Metal God voice still reaching those low growls and high howls. Considering the beating this guy has given his voice for years on end, how does it still sound so freaking fantastic??

The most Halloween-worthy song on Firepower doesn't yet have an official video, but I highly recommend checking out the videos for "Lightning Strike," "Spectre," and "No Surrender" to get the full aural and visual assault of Judas Priest. But first infect your ears with the unholy metal majesty of the Necromancer!

Master of Menace

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the passing of Vincent Price. It's hard to imagine what Halloween and horror films would be like without his sinister contributions--just his "Thriller" monologue would have been enough to make him an icon, yet he left his indelible stamp on dozens of fun and terrifying films as well. 

I was lucky enough to see his daughter Victoria Price speak twice this week about her father's legacy and the role of horror films in people's lives. On Monday she gave a talk at the United Palace of the Cultural Arts, which was prefaced by an adorably amazing "Thriller" dance routine performed by zombie children. Tonight she hosted a triple feature of her father's films at the Quad Cinema: The Oblong Box, Madhouse, and one of my favorites, Witchfinder General. The thing that struck me most about her take on the enduring appeal of her dad's characters and films was the innate kindness that is so detectable even in his nastiest portrayals (which definitely includes Witchfinder). She believes that is what draws people to her father and his films, and I would have to agree. We can feel safe in the clutches of a Vincent Price movie because we know that whatever scary things happen, there is a wellspring of kindness behind that maniacal cackle.

Today's song is Deep Purple's 2013 homage to the Master of Menace, simply called "Vincent Price." The video conjures scenes from several of Vincent Price's classic films, as well as classic monsters in general. It does such a good job of capturing the look, sounds, and atmosphere of those films that it left me hoping for a sequel. Dr. Phibes rose again, so can't Deep Purple's Vincent Price homage do the same?

Vincent Price was a friend to Deep Purple and even appeared in a concert performance of bassist Roger Glover's album The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. Here he is narrating "Magician Moth" in 1975:

Since "Thriller" is almost as ubiquitous (or maybe even more so these days) around Halloween than "The Monster Mash," I've been reluctant to include it on this blog, but check out Vincent Price performing his "Thriller" monologue live on The Tonight Show!

Mind of Metal

Last year we heard quite a bit from various Wicker Men, but not directly from the OG Wicker Man firestarter, Christopher Lee. With his rich operatic voice, he did what any such gifted person should do when they are approaching their 90s: begin a career as a heavy metal singer. He started out providing vocals for Rhapsody of Fire and Manowar, but moved on to fronting his own project with the release of 2010's Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross. The album delivers Christopher Lee's own brand of symphonic metal that tells the story of Charlemagne, from whom he was (of course) descended. 

Hail Dracula! May you shred in peace.

Proving himself a legend in any art form he attempted, Christopher Lee's first metal album won high praise, including a Spirit of Metal award from Metal Hammer. It also engendered an even metal-er follow-up album: 2013's Charlemagne: The Omens of Death, with arrangements by Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest. An EP of metal Don Quixote songs came after that, as well as annual metal Christmas singles. If you seethe at the encroachment of Christmas decorations onto the Halloween aisle earlier and earlier every year (get out of our month, Santa!!!), then do yourself a favor and download Christopher Lee's "Jingle Hell" and "Darkest Carols, Faithful Sing" to blast from your home, car, and clip-on blue tooth speaker each Christmas season.

It seems Christopher Lee only made one video for any of his metal albums, so that's what we're going to see/hear today. "The Bloody Verdict of Verden" is from his first Charlemagne album, and features an old and young Charlemagne dueting from across the ages. The production is fairly lo-fi, but who cares, Christopher Lee is in it! And after a minute or so of symphonic build-up, this song truly rocks. Raise those devil horns and hail the king!

 

Before Christopher Lee found metal, he experienced a short but fun disco phase. Check out his back-up work on Kathy Joe Daylor's "Little Witch"!

Barfly #2

This gem is streaming on
Prime, check it out!

Yesterday the world lost one of its most special inhabitants when poet/DJ/punster/environmental activist/concert promoter/campground proprietor/wild-haired mountain man Jim Webb (a.k.a. Wiley Quixote) passed into the next realm. I met Jim in 2007 at a meeting of the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative, and looked forward to every interaction I had with him thereafter. He was funny, kind, strange in the best way, and always unforgettable. Among his many claims to fame (or infamy?) was a small speaking part in a Troma film called Invasion of the Space Preachers. Upon request, he would proudly recite his one line from the film: "Not getting enough sleep lately, Charlie?"

His voice was probably best known as the long-time host of "Ridin' Around Listening to the Radio" on eastern Kentucky's excellent radio station WMMT. His eclectic tastes favored folk, Americana, and classic country and rock, with the occasional oddball track thrown in. Today's song comes from one of the oddball groups he liked to play--a rock 'n roll accordion band called Those Darn Accordions. To keep things in the Halloween spirit, check out their love letter to Japan's loveliest monster, Mothra. Mothra has a loving heart and always fights fiercely for her land and people, just like Jim did. Rest well, friend. 

Creepy Crawlers

Last year we heard a couple versions of the theme song to the movie Spider Baby, which at that time I said was criminally under-seen. That's probably still true, but in the months after that post there were screenings of it at three different theaters in my immediate vicinity! Hopefully that means Spider Baby is finally getting the love and devotion it deserves. It was certainly a treat to see it on the big screen, and hear Lon Chaney, Jr.'s demented delivery of the theme song pumped through theater speakers.

In last year's post I mentioned a Spider Baby musical that came about in the early 2000s. Although it seems to have been a small production comprised of a few runs at small California theaters, the cast recorded an album which is available in its entirety on Spotify. There are also a few YouTube clips of various parts of the show, so we can get a visual reference of what songs such as "It's Not Nice to Hate" and "Good to See the Family Carry On" look like on stage. With those titles, and considering the murderous yet fun-loving nature of the Merrye children, I imagine this play was a rollicking good time. Check out the opening song below, which is to the tune of the Spider Baby movie theme but with lyrics a little more specific to the characters and storyline.

Forgive the fuzzy audio--the visuals are cool, and you can hear a pristine version on the Spotify playlist. Here's hoping the Spider Baby road show comes crawling out of dormancy one day soon...

The night HE came home.

Although we heard the Halloween theme last year when Trent Reznor released his version of it, it's worth revisiting because the master himself, John Carpenter, has reimagined it for the new Halloween movie that debuts tonight! In fact he did the whole score, so we know that at least that part of it (as well as any scene Jamie Lee Curtis is in) will live up to the original. This track is appropriately called "Halloween Triumphant." It incorporates the simplicity of the beloved 1978 version with synth-y elements that echo many of Carpenter's 80s scores. I can't wait to hear this and the rest of Carpenter's work blasting out of theater speakers!

 

Also check out the lo-fi version that John Carpenter (sort of) plays on a Nintendo Labo:

Dance, or else!

Cha cha cha!

As we eagerly await tomorrow's return of Michael Myers in the new Halloween movie, another beloved horror icon wants to take a fresh stab at our eardrums. Back in 1987, Freddy Krueger was at the height of his fame--he'd starred in three successful Nightmare on Elm Street films, and a fourth was in the works. With such a delectable speaking voice, it seems only natural that Freddy would want to try his knife hand at a recording career. The result was Freddy's Greatest Hits. If you've ever thought 60s classics like "Wooly Bully," "In the Midnight Hour," or "All I Have to Do Is Dream" could be improved by adding some Freddy Krueger voice-over, then you are in luck! Earlier this year, Strange Disc re-released Freddy's Greatest Hits on vinyl, so this gem is once again readily available.

Today's song is a cover of the 1965 hit that inspired a dance craze, "Do the Freddy." Even Gomez Addams dug the Freddy enough to do it in an episode of The Addams Family! Freddy's version is basically an 80s pop song with a few Freddy cackles and screams thrown in. He's like his own hype man--who needs Lil Jon when you've got Freddy Krueger?!?

In the spirit of Freddy's Greatest Hits, check out the Glove and Boots puppet version of Freddy singing "Dream A Little Dream of Me." Take it easy on the ice cream, pizza, and burritos tonight if you don't want all your worst nightmares to come knocking!

Ballad In Bruges

The pinnacle of horror movie viewing for me this year was finally getting to see my favorite horror film, 1971's Daughters of Darkness, on the big screen. And hosted by Joe Bob Briggs, no less! His show MonsterVision was a formative part of my B-movie education in the 90s, so hearing how much he also loves this film was a very special treat for my inner 15-year-old. 

Although the film print I saw that night was faded and scratched, its High Goth glamour still shone through. How could it not, with Delphine Seyrig vamping around in a gown that looks like she just killed a disco ball and is wearing its skin? The story is somewhat in line with other lesbian vampire films from the time period, in which a mysterious woman and her lovely companion stalk the countryside for prey. This one is artier than most, however, and has a slightly different sensibility. Delphine Seyrig was an ardent feminist, so the exploitative vibe that pervaded many other lesbian vampire movies of the 60s and 70s isn't present. Not to say that her love for her vampire companion is wholesome, or even really love, but whatever it is, it isn't there to turn men on.

DoD booty!

This year was extra-exciting for Daughters of Darkness fans because the soundtrack was not only released for the very first time, but in fancy packaging and on blood red vinyl! I already got my copy (of course) and can promise it's worth the money for anyone who loves this movie. Today's song is the opening to the film, and its languid, mournful tune also serves as the leitmotif throughout. This version has lyrics, which are missing on the soundtrack and on many DVD copies. The vocals are credited to Lainie Cooke, but sound so much like Delphine Seyrig it's hard to believe it's not her. I choose to think it is her, and she's still out there running somewhere, not letting the day catch her.

Who do you think I am, some kind of ghoul? A vampire?