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Ryan Dunn Random Hero Celebration

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Ryan Dunn

Ryan Dunn Random Hero Celebration

Featuring CKY, Mushroomhead & Bam Margera w/Fuck Face Unstopable At Agora Theater Cleveland, OH

Writen by Josh Drespling:
Photos by Jason L. Nelson:

Ryan Dunn

Ryan Dunn

In 2011 I was working for a newspaper as a graphic designer. I was going about my daily duties and figuring out what glorious design I could release on the unwitting consumer who did not yet know they wanted to buy a car or have a pizza delivered. Then one of the girls from the editorial staff came to my desk and asked “You’re a Ryan Dunn fan aren’t you?” I thought this was an odd question to be asked at 8 am. I kind of gave her a weird look and said, “Ummm yeah, why?”

She told me that it just came across one of the news wire services that he was killed in a car accident. At first I thought she was joking or even mistaken. We both went downstairs to the editorial floor and stood staring at the text scrolling on the wire service screen in disbelief. Gradually the details of his death were trickling in to our newspaper as many of us realized the magnitude and significance that his passing was. We were silent and heartbroken to say the least. We spent the day watching YouTube videos of Ryan and showered the internet for any bit of information we could find about what had happened that gruesome night.

BAM-03

Bam Margera w/ Fuck Face Unstoppable Photo by Jason L. Nelson

 

Fast forward five years…
I’m standing on the floor of the Agora Theater in Cleveland Ohio with a group of friends and hundreds of complete strangers. We have all gathered in a city that, thanks to the Cav’s NBA championship has become a beacon of hope for the underdogs, the blue collar guys, the skaters, the punks, the freak, the ones who would rather rot and die than become a suit and tie guy. We are here to reminisce about, cherish, and fondly remember one of our own, Ryan “Random Hero” Dunn.

From the across the room I caught glances of Brandon Novak, Jess Margera, Bam Margera, and I swear I even saw Jesse Camp of “Wanna Be A VJ” fame. Black Cowgirl took the stage and delivered a quick set of backroad, guitar driven, stoner rock. Backwoods Payback followed with a sludgy and more distorted sound.

Fuck Face Unstoppable with Bam Margera drudged through a set of grimy songs that lasted way too long. Bam vocals were awful. He had zero mic control and the stage presence of a sloth that was slowly transforming into Don Vito. It was actually embarrassing watching him try to make jokes and be funny. He might as well had the mic down his throat because nobody could understand a word he said. Aside from the train wreck upfront the guitar player was shredding through some amazing riff while the keyboard player added unique flavor and depth.

Fuck Fack Unstoppable: Photo by Jason L. Nelson

Fuck Face Unstoppable:
Photo by Jason L. Nelson

They were joined on stage by an Australian violinist along with Brandon Novac, who stated to tell the story of how they met as he was traveling and asked the violinist to give him $500 for narcotics. Of course he refused, but later sent “an Asian man-boy” to his hotel room. Bam interjected “transvestite”. Novac went on to explain that he figured “what the hell”, but unfortunately he had too many Percocets and couldn’t “get it up”. Bam said, “What he really had was a little dick. Thus beginning the chant of “Little dick, little dick, let me cheat”. Novac and the band joined in to perform the best song of Fuck Face Unstoppable’s set “Little Dick (Let Me Cheat)”. They followed with the song “I’m Fucking” and wrapped up their set with the song “All My Friends Are Dead”.

CKY Chad Ginsburg; Photo by Jason L. Nelson

CKY Chad Ginsburg;
Photo by Jason L. Nelson

Next up was the most anticipated set of the night. A revamped CKY took the stage for the first time in over 5 years. With Chad Ginsburg on guitar AND vocals, Jess Margera playing drums, and Matt Deis holding down duties on the bass. Before they played a single note Jess Margera approached the front of the stage grabbed the mic and said “We lost one of the coolest mother fuckers five years ago, we are gonna rock for him tonight”. And they did!

The 3-piece CKY tore through a set that included “Sporadic Movement,” “Flesh Into Gear,” “The Human Drive,” “96 Quite Bitter Begins,” and “After Worlds” with chants of “C…K…Y…” between every song. Before diving in to the next track they announced ‘This song is about Ryan, It’s call “Emerald”’.

Over all it was a solid set considering their line-up changes and long absence. Chad did look a bit uncomfortable in front of the mic. The few moments that he did step away to concentrate on his guitar playing let him show his strong points.

The headliners of the evening were the hometown heroes of Mushroomhead. I have had the privilege of seeing Mushroomhead countless times, but realized that this was the first time I would watch them on a full sized stage. I always managed to catch them in a small club, which produced amazing shows, but to see their full stage set was going to be a treat.

As the intro music rumbled through the Agora, J-mann took to the mic and said “This is for one on my best friends on this planet, Ryann was an amazing, humble and sweet human being. Lets do this for him!” and the building shook with the fury that is Mushroomhead.

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Collective Soul “7EVEN YEAR ITCH” Greatest Hits 1994-2001 Vinyl 

Ron

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I’ve always been a big fan of Collective Soul and have been lucky to have seen them a few times. This band has always been in my music mixes since the 1990s.

The vinyl release is exactly what you would want for a greatest-hits album. All the best songs that collective soul had from 1994–2001 If you were a teenager or an adult in the 90s, you can’t tell me that you didn’t jam out to songs like “Shine,” “Gel,” and “December.”

With other great songs like “Heavy,” “Run,” “The World I Know,” and “Forgiveness,” This greatest hit album sounds amazing on vinyl as well. Craft Recordings has done a really great job of keeping the magic and sound of these amazing songs.

The sleeve cover has some cool photos of the band throughout the years. This vinyl just came out in Collective Soul fashion in December, and is ready to be part of your vinyl collection, and just brings you back to a great time in life. 

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Otep – Hydra 10th Anniversary Vinyl

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I received a copy of the album, and when I first opened it, the artwork struck me first. Otep has always been a great visual artist, with her amazing drawings and characters. I even have one of them tattooed on myself. When you see the artwork on this vinyl release, you will really be drawn in and appreciate the artistry.

The sound of this vinyl is amazing. It’s been years since I’ve listened to anything on vinyl and forgot how much I loved the sound of the medium compared to CDs and digital releases. I love the songs on this album because, as with all Otep albums, it has such raw power and emotions, mixed with the anger and beauty of Otep’s poetry. Otep is one of the greats.

The album starts off with the track “Rising,” and this initial song sets the tone for what you’re about to hear from the balance of the album. The standout tracks on this album have to be “Necromantic,” “Apex Predator,” “Voyeur,” and “Feral Game.” Over all, the album as a complete piece of art is amazing. I would encourage you, if you’re a fan of Otep or a collector of vinyl, to add this vinyl to your collection.

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WEDNESDAY 13: Performs Muderdolls Lititz PA Show Review

Ron

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Wednesday 13 came into Lititz, PA, on November 18th, bringing the music, or The MurderDolls, with him. Continuing the legacy of Joey Jordison and Ben Graves.

Wednesday 13 is on a tour now; that’s all MurderDolls. 21 years have passed since Beyond the Valley of the MurderDolls came out, and 13 years have passed since Women and Children Last was released. Wednesday and his bandmates are sharing the stage with Infected Rain and Gemini Syndrome on this tour.

The show was amazing; this was our first time covering a show at Mickey’s Black Box. The venue, the staff, and our media contact were so hospitable. The venue was amazing, with a cool balcony on the second floor to watch the show as well.

We got to hear a full set of 20 MurderDolls songs, which was pretty much every song on both albums. There were some songs I haven’t gotten to hear in a long time, like “Grave Robbing USA”, “Drug Me To Hell”, and “Summertime Suicide”. Of course, it wouldn’t be a MurderDolls show if they didn’t play “I Love to Say Fuck” and finish the night with “Dead in Hollywood.”

It’s always a blast to see Wednesday 13 in concert, and I was so excited for the band that a lot of these shows were sold out. It was also a special night because it was my GF’s “50th” birthday and my buddy’s GF’s birthday the next day. We got the MC of the show, Don Jamieson, to give them a little birthday shout-out.

Although it’s sad that Joey and Ben are no longer with us, I’m sure Joey is loving that Murderdolls is still kicking ass after all those years, and I know that Wednesday 13 is so appreciative of what MurderDolls has done for his career.

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