Misfits Monday - Live Hitsville Passaic NJ, 1981

I recently discovered Toxic Swamp's killer YouTube channel, just full of old Misfits live show recordings from the late 70s through the early 80s. They even go a step further, creating outstanding cover art for each show, made to look like the classic old Blue Note jazz record covers from the 50's and 60s (this particular cover features great photos of Jerry and Glenn with devilock mohawks, which I had never seen before)!

Cover art courtesy of Toxic Swamp (YouTube).

The standout is the classic Hittsville Passaic, NJ show, recorded on Christmas night, 1981. It's easily the best sound out of any of the other live shows, and it features everything a killer punk show should be. Totally raw, totally rowdy, and totally fun! Glenn and the boys are really on it for this show, with great interaction with the crowd. It's easy to see why this live show has been bootlegged to vinyl, as it's one of their best live shows (except if you're their ex-guitarist, Bobby Steele...).

It looks like you have to go to the Toxic Swamp YouTube channel to watch it, but if you're even just a casual Misfits fan, it's totally worth it. Enjoy!

LISTEN TO THE MISFITS HITSVILLE PASSAIC, NJ HERE.

  

Ghost, Live in Pittsburgh 2-14-22

Seeing the band Ghost will never get old to me. Yes, they have become more mainstream, but the band continues to deliver their trademark style of pop satanism with their unique and catchy metal sound.

On Monday night, Mrs. Highbury and I spent Valentines Day with our favorite Swedes over in Pittsburgh. It was nice to get out and get to a concert again, and Ghost, along with Volbeat and Twin Temple, made for a most welcome return!

As always, Ghost put on a really great set, including an opening number from their upcoming release, Impera. Incredible lighting and pyrotechnics, confetti, elaborate costuming and super-tight musicianship made for one hell of an experience. This show marked the sixth time we’ve seen them live and each time they have put on an incredible show.

They are still out on the road on their 2022 North American Imperatour, so go check them out if they're playing a city close to you. It's worth every penny!

Enjoy some of my photos from the show...

Here is the video I shot at the start of the set. This song, Kaisarion, is from their upcoming release Impera...

And after all was said and done, I had grabbed a few Sister Imperator bucks from the confetti drop AND I caught TWO Ghost guitar picks that were thrown out at the end of the set!! I had never managed to snag a pick at any of their other shows, so I was really happy with that. I also grabbed a cool Ghost tour shirt to put an exclamation point on another amazing show and incredible evening...

  

Halloween Kills

I'm pretty excited for tomorrow's release of Halloween Kills, the second second part of, err, the ninth part of, uh, the second Halloween II but on a new timeline of, or...

Regardless of where it falls within the Halloween franchise timeline, it's supposed to be pretty dark and brutal (like any good second act of a trilogy should be). And anything starring Michael Myers will instantly put me into Halloween mode (holiday OR movie, I guess?). So I'm pretty amped to see it.

Outside of being a huge horror film fan, I'm also a HUGE horror film soundtrack fan. I'm always adding to my vinyl record soundtrack collection, and there is something absolutely iconic about John Carpenter's amazing, and instantly recognizable, score to this franchise.

I just got my first copy of the Halloween Kills soundtrack and I am pleasantly surprised. A darker twist to the original that hopefully sets the tone to the new film. I'm not going to reveal any spoilers to it, but be sure to tune in tonight at 7 pm EST on John Carpenter's YouTube channel for a live Listening Party and Q+A with soundtrack composers John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies. This should be pretty cool!

 

Arktau Eos - Unworeldes

I discovered Arktau Eos, the Finnish ritual/dark ambient project, a few years ago and immediately connected with their sound and visual presentation. 

New Halloween costume idea, anyone?

I have always believed that the greater dark ambient genre was a perfect match with the desolate fall season, and more directly, Halloween night. And I tended to seek out those projects whose dark, atmospheric sounds could translate to use in home or pro haunt settings.

One such release is Unworeldes, from 2012:

I have been listening to this one quite a bit lately (and still searching for a rare copy of this on vinyl - wink, wink). The dark and foreboding sound really puts me into the needed headspace as I work on everything leading up to Halloween night.

And as an added treat for your eyes, could you imagine attending this Arktau Eos live presentation? One part concert, one part dark performance art. Completely mesmerizing...

 

P.S. - Only 21 more days until the big night. Are you ready??

 

VANIK - VANIK III Album Release Show

I have a full day of prop building planned in the garage, so no longwinded posts today! Instead, how about some straight up Cleveland horror metal to power you through your day, too?

VANIK just released their third record, III, and on October 2nd they streamed a live record release show direct from the studio. Featuring Vanik from the band Midnight on guitar and Ed from the band Ringworm on bass, this band is no joke.

Watch this killer set and then go pick up VANIK's newest release here. Enjoy!

Cities Last Broadcast - Stay At Home Concert

A couple of people have asked me to do a "stay at home concert". I am not much for live streaming
so I decided to do it like this instead. What you are about to see is a man trying to enjoy his morning coffee
while the world falls apart.



From Pär Boström, the composer behind such famous dark ambient acts as Kammarheit and Hymnambulae, comes a quarantine performance from another of his acts, Cities Last Broadcast.

A perfect, 30-minute live set, direct from Boström's living room table. The dark ambient audio is a bleak yet beautiful, melancholic atmosphere that encompasses the ongoing tension of our global quarantine.

Stay safe. Stay inside. And enjoy.

Ghost, Live in Youngstown 10-10-19

Seeing the band Ghost will never get old to me. Yes, they have become more mainstream and yes, concerts have become much more expensive, but the band continues to deliver their trademark style of pop satanism with a twist of humor.

Last night, I made it show number five when Mrs. Highbury and I travelled to Youngstown to see them play at the Covelli Centre. It was nice to see them playing in a larger venue, but we were still able to get close to the stage with our floor tickets.

It was also nice to get in with my trusty camera, and as soon as the band hit the stage, I started snapping.

As always, Ghost put on a really great set, spanning music from all of their releases. Lots of costume changes, Cardinal Copia's comedic wit, incredible lighting and pyrotechnics, confetti, and super-tight musicianship made for one hell of an experience.

They are still out on the road on their North American 2019 Ultimate Tour Named Death, so go check them out if they're playing a city close to you. It's worth every penny!

Enjoy some of my photos from last night's show...

  

Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias - "Kill"

How insanely rad is this live clip from the 70s English punk band, Alberto Y Lost Trios Paranoias!? Snarling, leather-clad vocals that flow and crack like a whip, guitarists with strange zombie skull masks and makeup, an eye-gouged drummer with a machine-gun beat, and whatever that one guy was doing to the guitarist's "midriff area" right after that blistering solo...

They don't bring it like this any more! Kill!

The Jam - "Funeral Pyre"

Down in amongst the streets tonight

Books will burn, people laugh and cry in their turmoil

(Turmoil turns rejoiceful)

Shed your fears and lose your guilt

Tonight we burn responsibility in the fire

We'll watch the flames grow higher

But if you get too burnt, you can't come back home

And as I was standing by the edge

I could see the faces of those who led pissing themselves laughing

(And the flames grew)

Their mad eyes bulged, their flushed faces said

The weak get crushed as the strong grow stronger

We feast on flesh and drink on blood

Live by fear and despise love in a crises

(What with today's high prices)

Bring some paper and bring some wood

Bring what's left of all your love for the fire

We'll watch the flames grow higher!

But if you get too burnt, you can't come back home

And as I was standing by the edge

I could see the faces of those who led pissing themselves laughing

(And the flames grew)

Their mad eyes bulged their flushed faces said

The weak get crushed as the strong grow stronger

In the funeral pyre

We'll watch the flames grow higher

But if you get too burnt, you can't come back home

In the funeral pyre

We'll watch the flames grow higher

But if you get too burnt, you can't come back home

In the funeral pyre

We'll watch the flames grow higher

But if you get too burnt, you can't come back home

In the funeral pyre

When I feel so young, well I just can't grow up to meet the demands

When I feel so old, when I feel so young

Well, I just can't grow up to meet their demands

Well, I just can't grow up to meet their demands

37 years ago today, The Jam cranked out this classic live. And oh, that bass line...

Red Fang, Live In Cleveland 9-24-18

Last night I made it up to the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland to check out Red Fang, Big Business and Dead Now.

We showed up late and missed Dead Now, caught the first half of the Big Business set from the bar (although we spent the second half glued to the stage - amazing two-man band!) and then planted ourselves at the front of the stage for Red Fang.

Another great set from Red Fang and I was able to snap some great shots. Here's a couple from the ol' Instagram page. Enjoy!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Highbury Cemetery (@highbury_cemetery) on Sep 25, 2018 at 7:15pm PDT

And yes, Red Fang blew the doors off by ending their set with a total classic...

Midnight Syndicate: Conspiracy of Shadows

Ahh, just what I need. Another amazing event to try and get to in an already overstuffed Halloween season! Open every weekend now through October 28th, Midnight Syndicate make their glorious return to Halloweekends at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio.

After a 4 year hiatus, Midnight Syndicate return with their live music stage performance. I was able to see their first show back in 2014, and if this one is anywhere near as cool and entertaining as the original, I will be making room in my schedule to see this one.

And if like me, you live anywhere close to Cedar Point, do yourself a favor and get to the park to see it!

  

Slayer - "Raining Blood"

Off to see Slayer on their final world tour tonight! Slowly getting excited for this show...

RAINING BLOOOOOOOOOD!!

Haunters Hangout - Here We Go Again. Again!

So whatcha doin' this Thursday night?? How about come hang out with me and some other amazing haunters during this week's live episode of Haunters Hangout! And did I mention that you could win a slew of amazing prizes!?!?

See everyone this Thursday night at 9pm. Watch for the live link on the Haunters Hangout Facebook page. Simply watch the live show on the YouTube link and post some questions for me and the rest of the guests on the Haunters Hangout Facebook page, and you'll be eligible to win some seriously cool haunter prizes.

Thursday night. Be there or be square!

Slayer Announces Final World Tour

So I have an embarrassing secret to reveal. I have never seen Slayer live. I don't even know how that is possible, as I've had numerous occasions to go see them over the 28 years that I have been listening to them. And they tour all the time! I guess I've always had something else going on when they came to town, always thinking that I could go see them "next time."

Well, "next time" is finally here, because after 37 years of creating some of the most iconic brutal thrash metal, Slayer are calling it quits after one last world tour. For me, it's now or never, so I'm grabbing a ticket for their June 7 show in Cleveland (technically Akron, as the venue is only 10 minutes from the Cemetery). I know about 20 of my friends will be going too, so it is shaping up to be one hell of a bash to celebrate the legacy of one of the best.

And if they can bring even half of the energy and aggression from the clip below to this show (I know, I know, no Dave Lombardo or Jeff Hanneman (RIP)), my heart may actually explode. I've been a fan for a long time and it's time to pay a proper homage to the masters.

Slayer's final world tour starts May 10 in San Diego. Check the current list of tour dates (with likely many additional dates to come) here, and I'll see you in the pit on June 7!

  

Happy Birthday, John Carpenter!

(Image courtesy of George Wilhelm/Los Angeles Times)

The master of horror (who is still very much alive) turns 70 today. Don't ever stop, good sir! In honor of his birthday, here is a live video that I shot of Carpenter performing the title track to his 1983 film, Christine, at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit, Michigan back in November, 2017.

John Carpenter Live at the Majestic Theatre, Detroit 11/10/17

I was a bit surprised when I saw that John Carpenter was heading back out on the road for another tour, this time in support of his newest release, John Carpenter Anthology (Movie Themes 1974-1998).

When I saw the tour schedule, I noticed that again like last year, he was not stopping anywhere in Ohio (what the hell, John!?!?). The closest stop was Detroit, a nice three hour drive from the Cemetery. And after going back and forth, I eventually decided to check it out again, this time with Mrs. Highbury along for the ride. We don't get out to that many shows anymore, but for John Carpenter, we would make an exception!

We both hopped into the car and made the quick-ish drive over to Detroit, ready to experience an amazing show. We arrived at the Majestic Theatre 30 minutes before the doors opening, only to have to sit outside in frigid temperatures for over an hour. And furthermore, my camera was denied access to the show, so I could only shoot with my phone.

But even with all that, the show was incredible and we had an amazing time. Carpenter and his band came out and flawlessly cranked through his massive library of iconic horror film soundtracks and even included a few of his original compositions from 2015's Lost Themes.

Of course, if you have seen my post from last year's show, you'll quickly notice a LOT of similarities between that show and this one. A lot of the same songs and accompanying film clips that played behind the band played on this tour, too. But honestly, hearing live versions of utter Carpenter classics like Halloween, The Fog, Escape From New York, Big Trouble in Little China, They Live and especially Ennio Morricone's epic title track for The Thing is an opportunity that I just couldn't pass up...

And with a painfully steady hand, I was able to film the final track in their incredible set...

We really, really enjoyed this show. And even though it was very similar to last year's tour, I'm still glad I went, especially so that Mrs. Highbury could experience it. And she loved it, too. We were both happy that we made the journey.

And of course, we couldn't make it through the whole show without a stop off at the merch table. I ended up picking up a John Carpenter autographed vinyl copy of his new Anthology (Movie Themes 1974-1998) and an INSANELY cool Escape From New York shirt. And then I had to go back and buy an Anthology screened tote bag to carry it all in...

I've been spinning Anthology nonstop since I got home, and I highly recommend picking up a copy! Especially for that slightly more guitar heavy version of The Thing and for Christine. And obviously for Halloween and Assault on Precinct 13. And definitely for The Fog and In The Mouth of Madness. But mostly for They Live and Escape From New York. Yeesh.

Carpenter's Anthology Tour continues on, heading toward the East Coast, so get out and see him if he's playing near you. Or even if not! It is well worth the trip!