There was hype beyond what was normal for a casino, for the “New” Rio Casino resort located a mile off the famous strip. The flashy advertisements bragged about total refurbishments, loose slots and a new management team guaranteed to make your stay memorable. The wife and I bought into the hype like moths to a flame.
Our entrance was more of a Circus/Circus type atmosphere than an elegant one because the food court greeted us with hotdogs and pizza. After a long walk, which is standard for casinos, we made our way through the slot machines to registration. The four o’clock check-in and the ten o’clock checkout, which shortens our stay by six hours, is basically the reason to book a two-day stay. Just another way a casino will “nickel and dime,” their customers.
As we soon found out, the Rio has two towers and only one had been refurbished. Not our room. The carpet had stains and the bathroom vent looked like it had been there since the Bush administration, the older one! You can typically tell the modernization of the casino hotel room by their technology. The push button phone and the tv was from the last millennium. A room that hasn’t been refurbished since the invention of the cell phone.
The heavy curtains used to block out the sun was inadequate and the flat screen tv looked like an ad on. From inside the shower a small glass window was blocked off, as if they were too cheap to either take it out, or do the drywall so you can see through it as was originally intended. The AC was adequate but considering the 100 degree weather conditions outside, it did its thing. By 4 Am it was cold in the room that overlooked the massive pool.
Overall it was a fun experience with the usual “sex, drugs and rock and roll” two day stay with the smokin’ gamblin’ dancin’ and eating that comprises a Las Vegas stay. Off the strip means just that. Without an uber you’re basically stuck at the resort. The Palms was close, but considering the heat, it wasn’t worth the trip.
The Rio? I’d give it only 3 out of ten. The bait and switch tactics worked on us, but now were more savvy than ever before. New management? Maybe, but we couldn’t tell. Refurbished? Maybe, but not in tower we stayed in. The oldest and worst casino hotel on the strip? By most accounts, Circus/Circus which was featured in the James Bond movie Diamonds are Forever, way back in the 70s! The Rio is basically Circus/Circus with a paint job and a hyped-up advertising campaign.
The best rule when considering a Casino/Hotel in Las Vegas? When it was built. The Rio was built in the 70’s and still looks like it. Without a fantastic deal, $29 a room, which when adding in the deceptive resort fee and taxes comes out to $100 a night, try a newer hotel.
The Dive Bar…4110 South Maryland Parkway is the best dive bar in Nevada, if not the world! Conveniently located in a strip mall on the corner of Flamingo and Maryland Parkway, is the epitome of a perfect dive bar. The huge sign out front makes it perfectly clear, in bold letters it reads DIVE BAR!
Walking in the place you get instant rush of the perfect bar, dark, cold and with decor including a full stand up bar guitar on the wall, guitars, skull and cross flags and the posters you’d expect in a dive bar. The bar is located on the left with an Elvis lamp and past band sticker everywhere, and to the right is a stage big enough for Led Zeppelin.
The bathrooms are clean and what you’d might expect from a more expensive casino. The bar is scattered with video poker machines and the loud jukebox screams The Sex Pistols just loud enough to be enjoyable. The place is cold, which is a great surprise considering the 100 degree weather outside and the bar stools and table tops are comfortable.
Smoking, drinking, dancing, gambling are all par for the course in the heaven of a hidden gem dive bar. The best I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying a lot since my band, The Buzzz.. has toured the world!
Seeking the owner/manager, I’m lucky enough to meet Angie, a tattooed, sandy blonde beauty with the body of a Goddess. Her bf/husband/beau/partner, Nate is sitting on a bar stool next to her. A big bearded handsome guy with, what the Beatles would sing from the Abbey Road album “He’s got to be good looking cause he’s so hard to see.”
BZ: “I’m looking to write a club review, I write for Lost Anarchy Magazine. I love your bar, can I interview you and write a club review,..if you have ten minutes?
Angie/AG: I’ve got about ten minutes I can spare, will that be enough time? BZ: So, how long has this dive bar been in business?
AG: For over twenty years at this same location! Don’t you need a pen and paper to conduct this interview?
BZ: No! I’ve been doing this for years and I have an excellent memory! Can you name some of the bands that have performed on your stage?
AG: Of course I can, hundreds of rock/punk bands, too many to mention, Fear, Voxx, Lucifer, Noise Complaint, Turbo Lover, Das Clowns, GOB Patrol, Three Bad Jacks, Liquid Red, Crash Karma, Unhinged, Bong, Circuit Benders,…the list goes on and on!
BZ: Nick Mars, of Motley Crue has a dive bar in Florida named Dr. Feelgood’s, is it true you were going to name this club Diver Down after Van Halen’s second album, but you shortened it?
AG: No, it has always been named The Dive Bar.
BZ: What is this place best known for?
AG: Except for the loud rock and roll, I’d say, the $4 16 ounce PBR and the best pizza in town, We have an Italian restaurant right through that back door! Not to mention smokin’ drinkin’ gamblin’ dancin’ and basically a great dark dive bar.
BZ: The Buzzz… has played here three times now, do you remember any of the songs in the set?
NT (Nate): I like “Party at the Dive Bar,” and of course “Pizza and Beer!”
BZ: Ha! The perfect segway.. You, or should we say, your establishment, has the best pizza in town! I should know, I’m a self professed pizza expert having worked at Domino’s for years. Your Italian restaurant menu is fantastic! And the prices are more than reasonable.
NT: I’m glad you like it. We have tasty chicken wings, great hamburgers and a complete menu, plus we’re open late!
BZ: Your decor is fantastic. Is there a story behind that piano?
NT: Liberace played the piano and it is rumored the ghost of Elvis haunts the place. BZ: Is this the home of any celebrities you can name, besides the ghost of Elvis?
NT: Ron Jeremy hosted a Christmas event for years, Sebastian Bach hangs out here and Mark Wahlberg has been seen gambling, plus Kid Rock has been known to visit when he’s in town, or so the rumor goes.
BZ: What are your best nights?
NT: That depends on the booking, but as is typical with most drinking/gambling establishments the weekends pack the place. But, since this is Las Vegas, and millions of tourists visit here every week, the week nights can be epic, even on a Tuesday night.
BZ: Is this place open 24/7?
NT: That was the original idea, but we close sometimes, depending upon the circumstances.
BZ: I can’t get over your ice cold beer specials or your pizzas. A 16 inch one topping pizza for pick up for $16.99? That amazing!
NT: I’d call it a loss leader of sorts, not a lot of people pick up the pizza and leave with it. Once a customer orders the pizza, they tend to stay, smoking and gambling. Repeat business is the golden goose of retail establishments.
BZ: Is cigar smoking allowed?
NT: Fuck yeah! We have an excellent ventilation system. And, it’s still a little bit of the wild west, none of that California rules and state closing of bars at 1:30 bullshit!
BZ: I’ve been to/played other dive bars in this town, but this is my favorite. Any trade secrets?
AG: They’re called trade secrets for a reason! They’re secret! But, the key is to attract and keep sexy ladies. Once the the ladies discover this place, the guys will follow. Keep the bathrooms, immaculate, give them great service and make sure the bands play dance music.
BZ: OK, thanks for your time. Is there any other things you want my readers (mostly from LA) to know about your dive bar?
AG: We’ve got the best AC units of any club, we book the best bands, and we have the best Pizza and Beer. You’ll have a late night experience that will bring you back for more!
BZ: You threw in that Pizza and Beer plug just to make me happy, didn’t you? AG: Maybe, maybe not!
Las Vegas, the top travel destination in the world! Sure, millions of people visit the strip, the casinos and Fremont Street, but if you want a real experience you’ll never forget, with nice bartenders, rockin’ live music, great food and a sexy crowd, don’t visit Las Vegas without a stop at The Dive Bar, the perfect combination of original rock bands, cover bands with a sprinkle of tribute bands. You want hard drinks, a fun time and of course, Pizza and Beer? The Dive Bar is your kind of club.
Now that fall is quickly approaching, it is time to dive into the topic of this year’s summer heavy metal festivals that happened…or not. One very missed festival that the US was putting on for years until the pandemic forced its rath on to it, is Psychofest, Las Vegas. This was 4 days of rolling out of the hotel bed, taking the elevator downstairs to the casino where there were four or five stages of metal to explore, including the pool stage. Dubbed the “luxury” festival because it is mostly indoors away from the brutal August heat, moshpits in pools were allowed, and you’re basically living in the festival with a shower and bed instead of a tent and some mud.
Sadly, festivals of this caliber, specifically in the US, are not without their problems. For one, after four days of smoke filled Casino dry air, your vocals turn to a shriveled up, scratchy throated old man level. Psychofest did have a great mix of metal genres from black metal to stoner metal, along with alternative sounds such as psychedelic rock and hip hop, to name a few. Normally, festivals with schizophrenic lineups have problems with fights or just difficulty avoiding the lame bands swimming in between the good bands. Psychofest was all love, and metalheads taking over an entire casino for a weekend was a comical adventure for the normies. Tragically and official to this year, Psychofest is no more. There are many factors as to why, but it definitely has to do with it not being cost effective anymore. This, in turn, is due to the greedy mongers that are taking huge fees for literally everything, and now are replacing these types of fests with the new money grab trend of throwing one day cram fests with over 40 bands from your favorite decade spread across too many stages in heat stroke inspiring weather. The exorbitant fees of getting European bands over here, among other issues, have destroyed the small but mighty fun festivals so that all metalheads can no longer have fun at well put on festivals in the US.
Now, let’s discuss another decent festival that is also in the US that, in this particular year, was a shitshow with how it was run. Maryland Deathfest is always a great lineup of extreme metal from the US and all over the world. This year, the original lineup featured England’s gothic doom band My Dying Bride. Then, due to some unforeseen circumstances with the band, they couldn’t make it happen. The lineup still had some greats, including Aura Noir, Primordial, Archgoat, Bloodbath, etc. The problem here was that you had to pay ridiculous prices to see all bands at all of the stages, even for one day. You could buy a day pass that only gives a person access to 2 of the 5 stages and a cool local bar, Angel’s Rock Bar, that sits within the festival grounds. Then, on top of that nonsense, you have to cross a large street intersection to get to two of the 5 stages. This involves drunk metalheads playing in traffic, annoying the locals, locals annoying metalheads, and nonsensical suffering at the outdoor stages because they were not allowed to take any beverages, including water from one side of the street to the other. Of course, the bands were one after another from one side of the street to the other, not to mention all the overlaps. So, either slam it, stay dehydrated, or miss a band were the only real options.
The location is part of the problem, despite it being cool back in the day to be close to the harbor and right in the heart of the city of Baltimore. Now, Baltimore is, unfortunately, a shithole in most areas, and the backdrop of this area is a dilapidated, half wrecking ball destructed building that could ironically be a great backdrop for a death metal album cover. As someone who doesn’t follow rules blindly, I opted to ask the festival security organizers why we had to do this. At the end of the day, city liquor laws or not, they got at least 3 times the money on booze than they would have if we could carry our drinks around the fest like modern civilized adults. Even at Psychofest, in the city where you can drink on the streets and in an Uber legally, they kept toying with telling the festival attendees that they couldn’t bring their liquids from one venue to the next which we’re all inside the same goddamn casino!
Like the open-minded and forgiving person I am, I’ve already planned to go to MDF next year. This time, all venues are included, and the price, at least for a 4 day American festival, is acceptable. The lineup being “too damn good” gets me every time. That’s why sheeple flock to these “While We Were Young,” “Sick New World,” and friends’ one day slam cram festivals to, by default, make rich, greedy, all gendered business people successful at the expense of the bands and fans. They get good lineups and cash in on the old acts that, some of which, are on their last legs. They overcharge for everything and don’t ever think about what would make fans more comfortable during the grueling experience of running around in high heat for 20 min sets, and with not enough water or shade available. They know the older fans probably can afford the insane VIP prices that are the only way to almost enjoy the experience without 50 plus year olds dropping dead like flies.
So, having experienced this festival treatment for years, I’ve branched out to at least one European festival per year lately. It has changed my life for the better. In Europe, the festival grounds are usually much more appropriate and accommodating to the needs of the fest attendees. Everything is spaced out well, not too far apart, and in a tranquil location. Then, there is the fact that the organizers think about the peoples’ comfort and well-being, which in turn draws more crowds and more peace in general. This year was my 2nd time at my favorite festival Steelfest, in Finland, which is primarily all black metal for 3 days. It’s 2 stages that you can walk to and from in less than 3 minutes, plus no bands overlap set times. There are also large picnic benches conveniently placed at both the indoor and outdoor stages to sit, rest, and socialize. There are plenty of bartenders, bathrooms, food, cool merch, shade, and amazing bands to calmly entertain yourself with. If there were any downside to this absolutely peaceful festival, it would be that they tend to run out of most hard liquor the last 2 or 3 hours of the last day of the festival. This probably is because everyone has more fun than anticipated, and drinks are normally priced for Finland rates. They don’t charge too much for the festival itself either. It’s run so well that one day I brought a zip lock bag of supplements into the fest by accident, and security wondered if I was selling drugs. I explained, and he held on to that bag all day and gave it back as I left late that evening. In America I’d probably be escorted out in handcuffs with my vitamins confiscated as if it were crack.
Consideration for others, quality of life, and treating others how you wish to be treated is the real key to success at these festivals. More happy metalheads can also lead to more money and more pleasantries for everyone involved. Just because America has some idiotic laws that are pure biased and subjective, it doesn’t mean that festival organizations can’t think about the human basic needs to make everyone experience something 100% positive. Live music is the best therapy, and it would be nice to enjoy a 4 day binge of it without the bullshit and chaos. Get it together, USA, and I’ll see you in the pit!!!
We’s baaaack w/ Ivan Bernard Jackson Hruska the Croatian Canadian (or is it Canadian Croatian) and here’s what he’s gots to say…HOW ARE YOU?
IBJH: I’m great actually. I feel like the band has finally cemented itself in Hollywood. We‘re like a tourist attraction on the Sunset Strip. Just waiting for the city of Hollywood to give my ass landmark status. Im also a bit nervous. I’m currently in the process of obtaining my visa. So if we need to cancel Nikstock… that means they kicked my Croatian Canadian ass outta the country.
ARE YOU EXCITED TO PLAY NIKSTOCK?
IBJH: You bet your sweet ass I am!! It‘s going to be the furthest away this band has ever been from home. Also the first time we ve ever played on the east coast. So this is definitely a new experience on all ends. And it absolutely fills me with pride n joy to be representing our lil town of Hollywood. If anything means something to me – its that!
WHICH PROJECTS ARE PLAYING NIKSTOCK?
IBJH: Hollywood Apocalypse. I think my other projects are too poppy n old timey to be playing a metal festival. Lol
ANY OTHER GIGS HAPPENING BEFORE/AFTER NIKSTOCK FOR US TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
IBJH: we re booking a lil tour right now but i cant confirm anything just yet. Im also trying to make a show happen in California for the 24th of June to celebrate 2 years of our debut album -53 Minutes of Fame-. That record never had a proper release party. The day it came out i was stuck in Germany feeling suicidal. I think we need to give that record a proper party! Its a good one. So many classics we still play to this day.
ANY MUSIC VIDEOS TO LOOK FOREWARD TO?
IBJH: we re so behind on music vids its dumb. But we still got a full blown pink balloon video in the works. Also i wanna shoot a video for kitty pow pow at a cat shelter n at cat foster homes where the band just hangs out with kitties. N we blend in cats that are up for adoption n need a home. There‘s so many strays n cats that need homes in LA. I really wanna help em out. Make the world a better place for felines. If your a foster or work at a cat shelter… pls reach out HOLLYWOOD APOCALYPSE LIVE AT THE WHISKY EP? Yes! That’s happening!!! That show was fucking awesome n kinda life changing. It was really a milestone show. I wanted to make it be a gift from the band to our hometown… So we‘re putting this one out for absolutely free. All streaming services, youtube, insta… u name it. We‘re gonna call it Unfucked at the Whisky as a tribute to one of my favorite bands -The Bates- who called their live album Unfucked. Its a fun play on words to Unplugged records.
I’ll give ya a tracklist
1) From the Piss Puddles on Hollywood Blvd
2) Tomorrow‘s Only Make Believe
3) Rain in LA
4) Be(e)
5) They
6) Little Psycho (Hollywood skyline version)
7) Bird on Fire Pink Balloon 9) Kitty Pow Pow
‘N YES! Thats 2 previously unreleased tracks n a new version of Little Psycho. Yes! Little Psycho has 3 versions. That whisky show almost had me have 3 seizures n 2 heart attacks. Spooo much work in making the live EP happen. Like Fuck!!!! But it payed off. That lil ep is alotta fun. It’ll be produced by Daniel Munoiz of Guiltily Strangers n 45 Grave.
WHAT’S GOING ON W/ DEATH OF A NIGHTINGALE?
IBJH: Death of a Nightingale is on a hiatus right now. Emily got a bunch of life changing opportunities n needed to move to New York. But we are alive and well. I talk to her every day. She’s doing great. And we are super eager to record our debut album -Healing miserable-. Like we can’t wait. I miss her sooooooo much! I’m sure as soon we are reunited new songs will be coming out like there’s no tomorrow.
WILL IT EVER STOP?
IBJH: Never! I think my ghost is gonna keep making music when i die. I’ll haunt viper whisky n the rainbow in rotation.
DO YOU WANT IT TO STOP?
IBJH: NEVER!!!!
ANY LAST WORDS FOR OUR READERS OUT THERE?
IBJH: Just alotta gratitude. I’m just really fucking grateful to be a part of this community. Its been a dream of mine since i was like 9. I’m grateful for the wonderful people i make music with: Lisa, Celinda, Sky, proto, Roland, Emily n omg Elaine!!! All the places we play.. and yes I’m fucking grateful that it never stops.
Well, here’s Thad Law (a multi talented man in his own right), here’s what he gotta say…
THAD: Well, my friend, I am doing quite well. We have all our ducks in a row for Nickstock 2024, and are planning to hit the bookings hard, for the two bands, starting February 2025 after NAMM. Thank you for asking!
So ya have two bands to promote today…Who are they and what are they about?
THAD: Yes, the band I have been working with the longest is Breaking the Law, which is a tribute to classic Judas Priest. We have a large catalogue, and I have found some of the best musicians and industry professionals I know, to help me. The lineup changes depending on where in the country we play. The act involves video support, which is synchronized to the music, and gives a full experience of the 80’s Priest nostalgia. Very cool. The newer band, Coloradicals, does punk covers, and we are based in Northern Colorado. This is a home grown bunch of rogues that live near me in Colorado, and we have turned it into a social club, where friends, family, and neighbors can come by the studio, and get rowdy with us.
You playing Nickstock with both bands. Could ya tell us more?
THAD: We are actually all traveling to Nickstock together, and everyone gets along really well. Each band will play a a set on both Friday the 19th, and Saturday the 20th of July. We really enjoy hanging out with all of our friends from Syracuse and such. We are going to have a couple of trailers near the stage at Nickstock, and anyone who goes, can hang with us, and get a free Coor’s beer, plus T-shirts and stickers.
Any gigs lined up after Nickstock?
THAD: Breaking the Law has a couple of other shows in Colorado this July as well, but we are really taking the time to get the 2025 calendar filled, starting with some shows with Nick at the Bow, and Universal Bar and Grille, in NOHO.
Who are your influences?
THAD: My biggest influences are the classic metal bands like Priest, Maiden, Sabbath, Whitesnake, Van Halen to name a few. Anything that is guitar rich, and with higher pitched vocals, as opposed to the lower growls. My parents got to listen to them all the time, as I practiced playing guitar in my bedroom during middle school years. My Coloradicals friends are all Army guys, who grew up on punk bands like Rancid, Bouncing Souls, and Pennywise. The energy and angst of the punks stuff has grown on me, and I had the opportunity to sing and play, which I am grateful for.
What makes you tick?
THAD: I am a complex creature, my friend, and my existence is equally complex. That would be hard to summarize, but probably the biggest common denominator is many layers of perpetual unsettled anxious drive, neurotic rituals, and worry about the future. I am a practicing physician, which definitely lends itself to this type of personality profile. I am very proud of my accomplishments in medicine, and will continue to practice for many years. Working, traveling, and playing with bands is a good way to offset the stress of that life, and it shares the burden of keeping me busy, active, and engaged in something mentally stimulating. The tough part is switching from one to the other quickly, as they draw very different bandwidths of effort.
Recording anything with Coloradicals?
THAD: Not in the true sense. We have our practice studio set up for live video shoots, which we will use for local promotion, and the audio is not too bad.
Who the hell is Mrs. Valdez?
THAD: I was hoping that she would be the booking agent, that I have always dreamed of. I am looking for someone who can help me with next year’s calendar, and who can work with venues in multiple states.
Any last word for our readers?
THAD: Just that I am really looking forward to spending a couple days in Norwich NY for Nickstock, and catching up with those folks that I get to see once a year. If you get the opportunity to come out, please consider it. These are two awesome bands, and it will be a great time. Otherwise, keep your eyes peeled for Breaking the Law and Coloradicals!
Today we are going to do something really interesting. Something you never imagined or wanted to imagine..
Today we are going to study Islam but not in a way. You usually hear about it. We will also not study in any scholarly manner..
We will study it in a mystical manner in a manner which will help you connect to the universe..
We are going to explain a different perception of God here, a perception of God, which is probably a way of seeing the goddamn thing you never encountered. So let’s start..
We usually imagine God as a progenitor of dogma progenitor of oppression And repression we imagine God of religions as a subject of political control. We imagine it as something which limits the modern man limits the modern world..
We imagine it as something, which is absolutely the opposite of freedom, the opposite of liberation and self-expression. However if I tell you that there is a group of Muslims with things much differently and which sees God as a way of expressing themselves, you will probably not believe me and consider main same..
Tonight we are going to talk about that aspect of Islam..
We are going to talk about the Divine names and how to use them, how to experience them and apply them.
In order for the concept of the Divine names to be understood, the concept of God should be understood in this framework.
Within Sufi mysticism God is supreme consciousness. The unity of being the unity of all the religious laws are not legal constants. They are instructions. You are free to break them if you wish. You have absolute freedom to do so breaking. Some of them will have destructive consequences, but you are free to do whatever you wish. It is a form of Islam which is much more paetic and liberating..
Within that context man is free. You are free. You are free to use those Divine names however you wish.
Tonight we are going to study a specific Divine name. Usually utilized for destruction but can also be used for protection and spiritual empowerment. Use it as you wish. I honestly would like you to use this technique I show you in the article only for moral reasons bot you are free as I said.
You will start this ritual by visualizing energy coming into the top of your head and filing your entire energy body with energy visualize energy coming into the top of your head and filling you up with energy energizing you
As you hold this visualization, you should breathe in and breathe out, but focus on breathing really, really slowly. Don’t count the breaths. Simply breathe as slowly as possible. It is recommended to do this in the dark.
After you charge yourself with energy in this manner, you should start chanting Ad Darr
Over and over again as you chant You should focus on energy coming out of your mouth. When you start feeling the energy, you can start directing it By verbally saying what you wish.
Your request could be related to destruction of enemies, protection from harm of you and your loved ones. Or you can request from God to to empower you and open your spiritual senses.
This Divine name means :
God who is bringer of distress.
Ad Darr
It should be used with caution. The requests you asked for will be manifested but they will happen in a distressful manner.
Chants Divine name on a daily basis
For a thousand times a day as instructed until what you requested happens, being disciplined with this simple practice can bring extraordinary results.
Thank you for watching and reading and talk to you soon..
Screaming Soup stars Deadwest, a gas guzzling, ray gun slinging skeleton cowboy, who reviews obscure fright flicks from yesteryear in a condensed format popular among YouTube audiences. A kaleidoscopic cast of original characters rides along with our animated horror host for episodic adventures that bookend quick-witted commentary.
Synopsis:
Screaming Soup is an animated web series that follows the adventures of Deadwest, a horror host who reviews B-movies he thinks horror fans need to know about—and sometimes avoid. Joining him is his sidekick Billy, a lovable goat from hell, his ghostly girlfriend Mandy, and a delightfully dysfunctional gang of parody-style monsters. Currently in his 6th season, with 54 episodes and counting, Deadwest’s antics have ranged from big top bar brawls with evil clowns and quick draws with scarecrows to epic crossover specials with legendary B-movie companies like Full Moon Empire.
Quotes:
“Four stars!” –Joe Bob Briggs, Shudder TV’s The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs
“Fresh!” –Svengoolie, Svengoolie
“Filmmakers should be honored to be reviewed by Screaming Soup!” –Charles Band, Full Moon Empire
“Toxie luvs Screaming Soup!” –Lloyd Kaufman, Troma Entertainment
“A terrific way of reviewing horror. Funny, entertaining, and intelligent.” –Robert Davi, Maniac Cop 2-3
“No one does horror hosting better than Screaming Soup! They created the Citizen Kane of Killer Tomato retrospectives.” – Costa Dillon, Creator of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
Awards:
Silver Bolo Award – Awarded by Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder’s The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs (S3E1 2021)
The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards: Best Website – Nominated 2022
The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards: Best Documentary – Screaming Soup! Presents the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Retrospective – Nominated 2023
From series creator Dan Fowler:
Horror hosts were always my favorite part when watching scary movies on TV growing up. These charismatic showmen—and women—gave perspective to the pictures they featured, validated my opinions on questionable filmmaking, and always made me feel like I was part of an exclusive club of fun-seeking cinephiles looking for bizarre entertainment. Nowadays, horror hosts aren’t as prevalent as they once were in the traditional sense, so I felt compelled to apply my love of horror to keeping this artform alive and become a host myself. My goal isn’t just continuing this American tradition, but to aid in its evolution for 21st century audiences as well.
Screaming Soup is essentially the horror host show I always wanted to watch and wished existed. Best described as Space Ghost Coastto Coast meets MonsterVision, it condenses full-length features into highlight reel reviews that are most popular among YouTube audiences, and Deadwest is front and center providing humorous Mystery Science Theater 3000 inspired commentary the whole time. As an artist looking for a unique niche, I decided to break new ground with this being the first fully animated horror host show, allowing Deadwest to review movies of yesteryear while on wild weird adventures influenced by my love for retro video games, Saturday morning cartoons, and indie superhero comics.
We’re here with Screaming Soup! creator Dan Fowler, and here’s what he’s got to say … HOW ARE YOU?
DF: WHOA! Didn’t see you there! Um . . . I’m currently caught between the turbulent fringes of creative cackle fests while grounded by the hair-standing nirvana of superbly made grilled cheese sandwiches.
What was the inspiration for Screaming Soup! (what was the genesis as it were)?
DF: As an artist who grew up on horror flicks, action-packed cartoons and surreal funny books, I always struggled finding the right way to channel my creativity; I wanted to do everything—draw comics, make movies, write novels—I’m interested in all of it. When my love for horror hosts was reignited around 2010, I finally found a vehicle that could satisfy my creative drive and let my imagination run wild. To save our garage from becoming a permanent studio set with me in costume, my wife suggested it be a cartoon series, and that’s when it all came together for history’s first fully animated horror host show.
I decided the host would be based on a dead cowboy costume I threw together for Halloween around that time and just kept building this nutty kitchen sink kind of world around him, adding ghoulish and hopefully laughable characters in a fantastic limbo dimension where anything could happen. What ultimately inspired me to make Screaming Soup! a reality, however, was the rise of late 2000s web influencers, who proved it was easier than ever to get content in front of people and have great potential for success.
How long has it been around?
DF: Screaming Soup! is in its 10th year now, believe it or not! Funny thing is, I thought I’d reach my goal of 100 episodes by now, but the production time behind each episode has gradually gotten more involved as I continue developing my animation skills. While I initially started the show with the intent to produce something quick and simple like Adult Swim’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,”I outgrew that approach to animating after the first two seasons and have been steadily improving the show with more kinetic camerawork, dynamic edits, and backgrounds full of scope and depth. It’s crazy to see how far I’ve come between season one and season six, and I’m getting more ambitious with each episode!
How have you not been flagged by YouTube’s censorship addicted algorithm?
DF: . . . a lot of dumb luck so far! I’m sure the fact that I didn’t monetize certain content helped me fly under their decency radar, but that trick is definitely getting tougher the more advanced YouTube’s AI programs become.
Are you doing the convention circuit this year?
DF: As much as I’d like to spread the news far and wide that Screaming Soup! is the world’s #1 animated horror host show, I tend to stick close to homebase. The best place to catch me promoting the show is at Retro Toy Con in Greenville, SC, every November, where I’m a regular guest and emcee. All weekend, toy and cartoon enthusiasts get to hear Deadwest make regular announcements, take pictures with his life-size prop, and see me host the celebrity panel discussions. It’s always a great time!
What makes you guys tick?
DF: Laughter. While I do my best to entertain viewers with some action/adventure punctuated with a little shock and awe each episode, my biggest goal is to be funny every time.
Who, what, where, when, how are your influences?
DF: I like to think one of the things that separates Screaming Soup! from so many of its contemporaries is its outlandish storylines and seasonal story arcs; that is directly influenced by my lifelong love for comics—especially the indie titles! “The Tick,” “Scud: The Disposable Assassin,” “Flaming Carrot,” “Sam and Max: Freelance Police”—all these off-the-wall characters facing the most outrageous situations absolutely influence the brand of misadventures I want my characters to have.
Any future crossovers to look forward to (hint, hint, we wanna collaborate, damn it)?
DF: While I already have scripts completed through episode 100, I’m always open to collabs and cameos so long as they can be organically worked in without upsetting the show’s storylines. Most of my friends and contemporaries in the horror community, as well as a few fans (known as Scream Freaks) have become regular extras in the backgrounds, but sometimes I manage to write in more significant crossovers like when Charles Band allowed me to animate Deadwest going toe to toe with his Full Moon characters for an entire season . . . what an unbelievable experience! Our sixth season has fellow horror host Dr. Wolfula dropping in to help wrangle an out-of-control Frankenstein, and movie buff influencers Joe and Sean from “Movie Dumpster” got to see cartoon versions of themselves watching a couple of their own monstrous creations fight a cage match against some of Deadwest’s gang. These collabs are just born out of the moment, so who knows who’ll pop up next?!
Who the hell is Mrs. Valdez?
DF: She’s the embodiment of that tickle in your elbow nerve that warns of pending judgment.
Any big projects coming up?
DF: Having just completed the be-all, end-all “Screaming Soup! Presents Attack of the Killer Tomatoes Retrospective”(free to watch on YouTube, by the way) featuring over three hours of exclusive interviews with nearly every creator, cast and crew member involved with the franchise from its movies to its short-lived cartoon series, I’ll be shifting my focus to developing more Screaming Soup! merch for fans. Thanks to generous contributions via the Screaming Soup! Patreon page, I recently started selling the Scream Freak Fan Club Kit through ScreamingSoup.com. It’s a sweet little treasure trove of Screaming Soup! stickers, trading cards, coasters, mini-posters, and buttons. Profits from the kits will fund even more merch, helping me produce additional trading cards, Billy dolls, a miniseries of comics, replicas of Deadwest’s laser and my dream goal: a Screaming Soup! toy line!
Any last words for your fans?
DF: Never stop singing in the shower, out of sight/out of mind doesn’t apply to invisible threats, and if you’re looking for a new spin on horror hosting like you’ve never seen, give Deadwest and his gang of rowdy hellions a watch at ScreamingSoup.com, home of the web’s #1 animated horror host show! We truly appreciate our Scream Freaks and are always looking for fellow horror fans to join us.
If you have further questions or want to request an interview, feel free to email me at ScreamingSoup@gmail.com.
Losing someone who was a prominent fixture of our goth scene is never easy, but the loss of Laurence Timothy Johnson aka Tim Sinn really hits home. At only 55 years old, he passed in his sleep at home around March 12th. His roommate Christopher Grey found him, and has been a blessing since to those that loved Tim. We all knew about his struggles with alcohol addiction, but some of us saw his great fight to overcome it all as well. Whatever got him in the end, definitely took him too soon. Regardless, he will live on through his art and photography, as well as in our hearts. He was a native of California, and he hopped around to different schools in and around LA, finally attending Hollywood High School. As most of us remember, he was an artist and photographer for Bar Sinister/Boardners by La Belle in Hollywood for many, many years. Though many photographers have come and gone since his departure, none have lived up to the magic that Tim would expel into the world. The color swirls on his photographs left a fun and pleasant aura that will last a lifetime. I personally met Tim Sinn on my first day living in Hollywood in October 2010. It happened to be my birthday as well. I met him at the local bar Powerhouse back when it was a true dive bar. He would often stop there before heading over to Bar Sinister, among other local watering holes to see his friends. It just so happens that my first day living in Hollywood I ended up with a black eye because I stood up to an Amazon meth-head female that was harassing my male friend. She got really aggressive and threw 1 beer glass and 2 beer bottles at my face and back of my head, I ended up with 3 cuts around my right eye, and she apparently cut up her hand. Since it was my birthday at midnight, I decided to get a towel with ice for my bloody eye and another drink, after I had to sit in the ambulance for 40 min making sure I didn’t have a concussion. Long story short, the next day I had a small birthday gathering at the outdoor backyard of my new apartment. Tim came with a friend (I believe it was Sue Wood), and he brought me a little talking vampire doll. Then he jokingly mocked me for wearing eyeliner even though I had a black eye. He was really kind to me, and not judging of what happened, other than to say I was a badass. He had a sweet charm to him that I instantly made a connection to. We became casual friends for many years after. On Sunday, April 21st, 2024 at Boardners, they held a memorial for Tim. It was a somber gathering with attendance and speech by owner Trisha Labelle, a performance and speech by Human Drama, Tim’s former roommate gave a speech, and Jeffery Damnit, Adriana Vega, plus many more were in attendance. I was unable to make it that day, but I will say this, I know that everyone who knew Tim Sinn has at least one good story to tell about him. While Tim was a staple of the Hollywood night life, he also branched out to other places like the Rainbow Bar And Grill on occasion, where he got to know Mario Maglieri and friends. All in all, Tim Sinn was an empathetic human being who struggled with being overcome by his deep heartfelt emotions in such a desolate and volatile world. It is a tragedy to know that he will not be shining his light on the living from this realm anymore, however, his light definitely will shine on us from the beyond. Even though Tim was not working at Bar Sinister in the months prior to his death, it is still an inevitability to think about him, and to feel his presence when entering that outdoor corridor leading into Bar Sinister. RIP to another great and talented soul, Tim Sinn.
Out of approximately 200 countries on the planet, why does the United State of America have an electoral college system that determines who becomes President, when all other countries use the popular vote? If we used the popular vote system wouldn’t Hiliary Clinton be our current President? Haven’t there been times when the electoral college was abandoned?
Cedric Ross:
This legal question involves our Constitution! A document designed to protect us from our government. Way, way back in the 1700’s our founding forefathers wanted an election system that didn’t turn our President into a dictator. They couldn’t decide on whether Congress should determine on who should be President or the people decide using a popular vote. They reached a compromise, the electoral college!
Every state has elected representatives and two senators. Thus, a large state such as Texas has 36 politicians elected to the house of representatives plus two senators, for a total of 38 electors. A state such as Vermont, with small population with two politicians in the House and two senators for a total of 4 electors. If a candidate wins Florida by the smallest of margins, (See George Bush), that candidate gets all the electors!
A total of 535 electors and three for the district of Columbia leaves a total of 538 electors. A simple majority of 270 electors wins the most powerful job in the world! Awesome, hua?
Without the electoral system Hiliary would be President. Yes! And the world would be a different planet. And this isn’t the first time! There have been other Presidents who didn’t get the popular vote but became President, i.e., John Qunicy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, George W. Bush and Donal Trump; all became President without a popular majority vote.
If the electoral college had never existed, Bob Dole would have become President, and it is likely the USA would have never invaded IRAQ. A very different world, indeed. There have been attempts to abandon the electoral college system. In 1816 there was a movement to ditch the electoral college, but the Southern states blocked it. In 1969 there was such a movement which passed the House but again was blocked by the Southern states. Thus, the electoral college system is with us today. It would take an amendment to the Constitution to make the change.
I hope this explanation gives you some clarity into the system that only exists in the USA. Is it good? Is it bad? That’s for you to decide!
The world of metal music is a subculture unlike any other. It’s loud, wild, and unapologetic. And in the midst of this chaos, there are always new bands vying for recognition and fame. One of the biggest opportunities for up-and-coming metal bands is the Battle for Heck, a battle of the bands event that promises a spot at one of the biggest metal festivals in Mexico City. But what many people may not know is that these battles are not just about the bands competing. There is a whole production behind it, with judges and hosts working tirelessly to pick the best band to represent their region. And one of these judges was none other than our very own fearless leader, Mojo El Diablo. Mojo recently gave us a glimpse into his experience as a judge and host for the Battle for Heck, and let me tell you, it was quite an adventure. For those who may not know, the Battle for Heck (we’ll just call it what it really is – Hell) is a series of battle of the bands events organized by the legendary punk rock band Holy Grall. It all started back in 2002 with the first ever California chapter event held at Que Sera and The LBC. And since then, it has become a highly anticipated annual event, drawing in metalheads from all over. But getting back to Mojo’s journey as a judge, it all started with him donning the infamous Judge Death helmet. For those unfamiliar with Judge Death, he is a character from the British comic series 2000 AD. He serves as the antagonist of Judge Dredd and became a favorite among metal fans because of his dark and twisted persona. So there was Mojo, in his Judge Death helmet, ready to bring some serious metal judgement. And the first band up was Massacre Rage. While they had a cool-looking singer, they ended up sounding like a generic version of Slayer. But what was even more disappointing was the fact that they didn’t have a bass player. As Mojo put it, “by default, they’re not winning.” Next up was Coatl, a band that Mojo described as the “chemistry of Sonic H but death metal.” They had a male and female singer who switched off and brought the most people to the event. They were definitely the standout band and hands down winners in Mojo’s book. But the next band, Dogs Are Cool, proved that it’s not only about the music. They were a pop-punk metal band that didn’t really fit in with the heavy metal vibe of the event. However, they had some connections at The Whisky and ended up bringing in a good crowd. Plus, they had an inflatable dog that they threw into the audience. Now that’s something you don’t see every day at metal shows. The last band of day one was a typical thrash band similar to Megadeth and Slayer, but they didn’t leave much of an impression on Mojo. Day two kicked off with Glue Balls, who delivered a “kick to the nuts but in a good way” according to Mojo. They were followed by Kings versus Gods, who had an Anthrax vibe going on. The third band of the day was a metalcore band that had some OC hardcore vibes and brought in a lot of hot chicks (because we all know women love good music). But as Mojo pointed out, this is where things start to go downhill – “that’s why the whole world sucks now because women took over.” The final band of day two was Weaponized, led by Nightmare Nick (shout out to these awesome bands mentioned!). They brought the house down and were declared the winners by a landslide. Day three saw the battle move to Santa Barbara, and Mojo arrived a little late (oops…we’ve all been there). But he made it just in time to witness some seriously hardcore bands. The first band had a gothic Deftones with some Orgy and Stabbing Westward mixed in, while the second band was a thrash three-piece who made a joke about “Pantara on more meth.” The third band was an all-female group who seemed to be trying too hard to be goth, but didn’t quite hit the mark. And then came the final band of the evening – the ultimate winners. Not only did they have a badass helmeted dude (shout out to the chick singer, Rian Jude from ShadowVessel!), but they had great stage presence and theatrics that blew everyone away. Plus, they were just plain awesome. In conclusion, Mojo’s journey as a judge for the Battle for Heck was one wild ride. And it just goes to show that there is more to these battles than just deciding who plays the best music. It’s about bringing together a community of metalheads, supporting new bands, and having a hell of a good time. So here’s to metal, mayhem, and mentally ill judges – may they continue to rock on forever.
Pink Balloon 9) Kitty Pow Pow
