I drooled veraciously over the Vamps and Tramps gothic goodies I stumbled upon during the Comic-con in Pasadena

Vamps and Tramps-

           “Hi!” I said shaking the vendor’s hand, while still shooting the dark, delectable treats before me.
            “I’m Sin.” He smiled back, shacking my hand tightly, a man who resembled me much too closely.
            “I am so loving your stuff!” I told him, shooting  EVERY portion of his offerings, like his erotic Evil Pin-up Girls, posters, his industrial jewelry, his wearable ammunition, the choice of women models and carful poses, the colors. Even the SMELL of the noir fabric was overwhelming to my visual & olfactory senses.
           I mentioned to Sin how much I adored his merchandise wanted to shoot industrial bands, perhaps even chronicle the gothic/industrial scene here in Hollywood.
“I have bands and clubs you can shoot.” He told me, smiling like a joker in the deck.
“I’m there, Sin.“ I smiled back. “Just tell me where.”

            As I arrived at the Dragonfly for the August 14th BatCave, I felt myself very much

at home, especially after hitting up every kink, sex, punk, biker and alternative (above and below ground) club between here and Berlin. I didn’t much remember much from the endless inducements of party favors. I did recall, however the remarkable talent that appeared as a backdrop to my inglorious nightmares and how I wished to enjoy them…naturally. The last time I was at the Dragonfly I was walking around as a methed-out dominatrix vampire, mourning the expected demise of Johnny Cash and the unexpected cardiac blow-out of John Ritter. The doorman says he remembers my face, seven years later…as a man.
            I cleaned up and I disappeared from the scene for a few years, but vowed a clean and healthy return, and someday  even document these extremely talentedand colorful people.

8-14-2k10 BatCave Medical Night Grand Re-Opening @ The Dragonfly
            Someday happened 8-14 at the Grand Re-opening of the BatCave’s Medical Night:and I couldn’t have picked a better return to the club scene with the most friendly people

     After my lame,  half-assed intro, I initially stumbled upon body-artist, Brim Leal and his lovely subject Heather Wolf, who gave me a splendid interview of BatCave shows and how different they were from other venues. In time, I ould understand why. The BatCave shows are diverse in that they offer not only EXCEPTIONAL musical talent, but brilliant visual artists, wall to wall with eye-candy and industrial fantasia.
My first recorded band for the BatCave was the spectacular, yet enigmatic Vanes performing “Bleeding for Nothing.” dedicated inextricably to Charlie Manson, “simply because he didn’t kill anyone.” Their second song was the fear-based, and splendidly riffed, “Dreaming of Drowning”.  I also had

the fortune of catching the melodic and thrashy “Tears of Blood.”, performed with Dinah Cancer, which I liked very much.

            The addictive and hard-hitting 45 Grave, with their gold-plated punk credentials, put on a hell of a show. I would have to call them the consummate and fundamentalist punk/thrash artist, grinding

melodies reflective to the early rebellious years of its rotten roots. As they banged out waves upon waves of mind-crunching melee, I found myself imagining a nasty little threesome with Dinah Cancer and Patty Smith and t wasn’t pretty. The show was intense and addictive. As I look over the clips I took today, I find myself pouring over more and more info and music from 45 Grave’s early days.

9-11-2k10 BatCave w/ Spadra & Digital Sex Slave

            This date is always an emotional one as we paid or tribute to our fallen bretheren and sisteren on this fateful day.
            My second Batcave show was nothing less than spectacular, as well. This time I brought a shit-load of people: Tomika Smalls (no relation to Biggie) Burbank’s Rocko Star and from Noho 5656, Jamie Gatewood. Right off the bat, Sin and his entourage made us feel right at home and found us a table as Skummy of Skum Love greeted us with BatCave hospitality.

           The action started early as Spadra hit the stage with an eerie, but effective remake of Depeche Mode’s “The world though my eyes”. Spadra’s grinding riffs was non-stop and deliberate with traces of Nine Inch Nails and harsh punk tones that meshed together rather well! As we sat, mesmerized, by Spadra’s dynamic and pulsating sets, we came to appreciate the quality and talent before us.
            I stumbled around getting more interviews, such as Mina DeSade, Rhythm Coffin, Sarah Seltzer, Natasha Boyle and Miss Elizadeath and slew of new friends that would stay with me forever. Recording the beautiful ladies of Hollywood was exhilarating and enthralling, giving the outsider a rare glimpse of current trends and fashions…not to mention the naughty up-skirt action!
            As Digital Sex Slave took the stage with their spazz-electronic tunes, I found myself, floating  within a transcendental nebula cloud, my eardrums pulsating with every beat, angry, Punk, thrash, rhythmic and grindy metal sound.

           The evening floated along slowly as the ladies of my party and the club meshed

together in a community “dirty-dancing”, and human hormonal lust-fest.

10-9-2k10 BatCave Blood on the Bayou with Igor Spectre & Rhythm Coffin

            One of the most colorful events I have attended was the 12-9 BatCave pre-Halloween event with Igor Spectre & Rhythm Coffin,
            By the time Igor Spectre reached the stage, most people were on their third or fourth round of booze and became more malleable as the night went on,

giving Igor Spectre a more wilder and more vocal audience. Whether it was booze or enthusiasm, this band rocked my socks off with an explosion of rockabilly and theatrics complete with vivid costumes and severe attitude. Spectre delivered that much-needed punch of dark-folksy tonnage that rang well throughout the Dragonfly and my head. They jammed with the Rhythm Coffin ladies, drank (absolutely real) poison on stage granted me a quick interview and perhaps invited me to hang out at Denny’s after the show…I think.
Mary Sonic Woo, Braxis Veims & Robert James make up Igor Spectre, and I was lucky to catch them on their last leg doing their 10th Anniversary tour. Songs like “Dandy Boy” among many others,  gave us a glimpse into their musical prowess, diversity and outstanding talent.
            Some kind words from G. Gory:

Hey CJ,

Hope you had a great time at the show. We appreciate you posting our set online, and the interview as well. What a fun fucking night eh?!?
Maybe we can cross paths again somehow.
All the best,
-G Gory-
(Bassist)
IGOR SPECTRE
            Some have noticed that I have placed Igor Spectre before Rhythm Coffin on the site (and here), which appears a bit deceiving, since the Coffin’s appeared first that night. I do this because The Rhythm Coffin received much more press and chatter than Igor Spectre and I try to jeep things balanced…especially since I have much more footage of the Coffins before and after this particular event.
    One of the most charismatic and Halloween-oriented bands seen to date would be the Rhythm Coffin,

complete with their skeletal-tailored costumes, make-up and ghoulish act, made them a bona fide death-rock band. But their songs were cheery and uplifting like, “The Zombie Whatoosie”, “Monster Mash” the “Cemetery Carousal, and the “Tombstone Twist” interacting with the audience, giving them an edge. Their hard-stomping, smooth grinding melodies could only be matched by their warm and friendly personalities. Their Finale, “ The Over-achieving Undertaker” had us all bouncing off the walls, immersed in their fun rock, suitable for the whole family…well at least mine. The Rhythm Coffin experience was truly a memorable experience and I wouldn’t mind having them as my own personal band!

Some kind words from Gruesome Gereg of the Rhythm Coffin:
Hello CJ , Saw the video on blogtv Fang You Fang You Fang You Sooo Much !!! It was such a ghoul cool night & now we can share it & see it ourselves  Digging IT like a Grave , Gruesome Gereg from ~ The Rhythm Coffin ~
One of my favorite interviews with Sean Dietrich was at the Bayou show, giving us insights of his art and his soul.

            I also managed to catch the beautiful Heathyr Wolfe, giving us her legal and career rundown, as we admired her wonderful makup, outfits and sheer energetic dancing energy. Truly, she is  a gifted woman.

12-11-2k10 BatCave Frightmare before Xmas with Rosemary’s BillyGoat & their 20 year anniversary show
            Saving Rosemary’s Billygoat for last was like saving a musical desert with a cherry on top of the 20 foot tall banana split with whipped cream.
            “Time to Die. Time To Die” opened the show ominously, whispering softly, then delivering evil laughter.

I’m not sure but I think they sang a song called “Hell is for Children”., an old Pat Benatar song. “She got Hobbit Feet” an almost top 40ish debut, and definitely catchy! The Pepperoni Pentagram” were just some of the songs performed by a band using alien skull with laser eyes, A goat’s head,  a flaming guitar, sparklers and various props meant to toast small animals and boy scouts.

Their outlandish garb and gear were only enhanced by their superb musical talent, including Metalica-type licks and nerve-shredding solos by their lead guitarist,
I chatted with amiably with Ann from their merch display, coveting their splendid crafted belt buckles and jewelry.

I have at least two more interviews with Corpsey of Girls and Corpses Magazine, but this particular clip complete

These were the best of the best Hollywood had to offer and we were all blown away with the energy and the sheer electricity of the gatherings. If this is only the beginning of the BatCave shows, they can count on me to chronicle and cover whatever beautiful madness they have in store for me!