At the meeting of the minds, reading of the times, open the blinds to our complicated lives. We all need some kind of creed to lead us to light. - Greg Graffin, Bad Religion
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love heavy metal. The metal scene has always been a part of my life, beginning with the days that my dad and I would watch Beavis and Butthead when I was 8 years old. Ever since then, I have made metal a part of my daily life. I picked up the bass and have played in seven metal-influenced bands since I started playing. For three years, I also hosted a radio show that played nothing but metal through the airwaves of Harrisonburg, VA. The metal scene has introduced me to some of the most talented and technical musicians on the planet, and it has been my best outlet to cope with the emotions and feelings experienced through every day life in a positive way. Although I love all types of music, metal will always be at the forefront of my musical tastes.
Dallas Coyle (right) and Byron Davis of God Forbid
What I do not agree with is the negative stereotypes that have been associated with metal over time. Too many people perceive the metal scene to be corrupted with drug abuse, demonic worship and wasted lifestyles. While this might be true for some bands, it is certainly not the case with many others. Nowadays there are metal influenced bands that are straight edge (Earth Crisis, Bleeding Through, Throwdown, etc.) and some that embody their religious beliefs in their lyrics (Zao, Living Sacrifice, Norma Jean). However, an even more ridiculous stereotype that I am not OK with is the perception that metal is a "whites only" scene. This is something that has been perpetuated in the media throughout history, mainly because the more well-known metal bands have featured only white members in their lineups. There have been other factors that have contributed to this stereotype such as bands that featured the word "white" in their name (e.g. Whitesnake, Great White, White Lion, etc.) as well as the misinterpreted "White Pride" speech by Phil Anselmo of Pantera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxQk3DC3gL0). Yet, looking at the bands and people who have shaped the metal scene, it is clear that this stereotype is completely wrong. And quite honestly, the metal scene has been home to MANY talented musicians of all colors, cultures and creeds. In recognition of January 16, 2012 as MLK Day, I am going to examine some of the black musicians who have had very successful careers in metal.
Jimi Hendrix
Going all the way back to the origins of metal, the style of music was born from rock 'n roll, which has arguably been credited to be developed by Chuck Berry - who I must mention was black. Rock 'n roll evolved constantly during the 1960s, giving way to many legendary bands. However, in the late 1960s, rock music saw a great shift from a simple fast paced and energetic genre to a much more rebellious and intense style. They called the style "heavy metal," and bands such as Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath led this shift with music that focused on louder instruments, more intricate and prominent guitar parts, and lyrics that centered on heartbreak, drug use, and social ills. One musician that stood out in this scene was a guitarist named Jimi Hendrix, an African-American singer and songwriter who revolutionized the sounds that were made from the electric guitar. As a lefty, he played his guitar upside down, and he even played his guitar with his teeth. His lyrics were controversial, but music listeners all over the world explored the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Although his life was cut short in 1970, Hendrix became a symbol of a generation that was going through political and social turmoil as well as losing an entire population of young men to the Vietnam War.
Thin Lizzy
After Hendrix's death, the metal scene did not see very many prominent black musicians during the 1970s. There was one band, however, that stood out in many countries around the world. They were called Thin Lizzy, and perhaps one of the most interesting things about this band was that their lead singer/bassist was not only black, but he was also Irish! But in the long run, this didn't matter as much as the band's memorable songs. "The Boys Are Back In Town" is probably one of the most well known tunes in rock music and has probably been overused by advertisers in commercials all over the world. As the 1980s rolled in, metal took a more cheesy and over glamorized style which was made mainstream by the launching of MTV. These years saw the likes of spandex suits, eye liner, big hair, and a lot of bad bands. However, in 1984 there was one band that emerged that took on a harder edge. Living Colour made a name for themselves by the late 1980s, led by singer Corey Glover (who also appeared in the movie Platoon). They didn't sing about girls or parties; they sang about political and racial injustice, things that many other bands chose to ignore. And what defined them even further: every member of the band was black. However, they did not let this characteristic separate their identities from their fans. They sought to unite everyone through their music, regardless of the color of their skin.
Sepultura
The 1990s saw the death of mainstream metal as grunge and alternative rock took over the airwaves. Metal then became a genre that was kept in the underground, and the styles moved away from melodic singing to more guttural growls and more technical song structures. Bands began combining the styles of metal, hardcore, and hip hop to bring an even harder edge to the scene, which was displayed prominently in the movie Judgment Night with the union of Onyx and Biohazard (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoQ9XBAvy7Q&feature=related). By the late 1990s and early 2000s, metal saw a reemergence into mainstream rock radio, and interestingly part of this reemergence was led by a few black musicians. The band Sevendust from Atlanta featured singer Lejon Witherspoon, whose singing style ranged from soft RnB influenced melodies to monsterous screams. The infamous Family Values Tour in 1998 saw musicians such as KoRn and Ice Cube share the stage. In fact, some bands that were on the verge of ending their careers were virtually saved when they recruited new singers, some of which happened to be black.
Sevendust
Sepultura went from nearly committing career suicide to becoming a newly revived and even heavier and darker metal band thanks to the powerful vocals of Derrick Green; ironically, the same success can not be attributed as much to former lead singer Max Cavalera's band Soulfly. Killswitch Engage saw a similar revolution in their career when singer Jesse Leach was replaced by frontman Howard Jones. Since then, the band has had huge publicity, particularly with their music being featured in the Underworld movie franchise. Bands like God Forbid and Suffocation, which feature multiple members of black descent, has seen similar success, touring alongside many legendary metal bands around the world.
Killswitch Engage
So, from looking at the history of metal in this short blog entry, two conclusions can certainly be made. First and foremost, black musicians have been able to achieve great success in their musical careers through the metal scene. However, this is only elementary compared to a more important takeaway, which is that the metal scene is not defined by the races of its musicians. Metal is made by all musicians regardless of their color, culture, creed, or national origin. When you listen to any metal record, you will never know what the guitarist looks like or what the singer looks like, and with some bands they might not even be human (e.g. GWAR, Lordi, etc.). Metal does not discriminate. It is a scene that welcomes extraordinary musical talent and virtually anyone who is willing to give it a chance. It is a scene that will change your life. As Randy Blythe of Lamb of God put it best, "it's all metal!"
When a few small bands invade a town full of college kids and are able to nearly sell out a relatively large venue on a Tuesday night, that's a pretty big deal. This past week, I was able to leave the books and studying behind for a few hours and head down to the Aggie in Old Town to see the Fall Harvest Tour with AWOLNation, Middle Class Rut, and Twin Atlantic. The show was probably the strongest I've seen at the Aggie since I moved to FoCo back in August.
Around 8:45pm, Middle Class Rut took the stage with a lone guitar and drumset. The band opened with the lead track "Busy Being Born," which has appeared on a few of their records over the years. Zack Lopez's guitars and screams sounded gritty and rough, accompanied by Sean Stockham's vocals and aggressive beats. The band seemed larger than life on the open stage, and the low, heavy tones sounded louder than ever off the walls of the Aggie. The band played several songs from all of their records, with some tracks dating back to the Blue and Red EPs. Top tracks played during their set were the sludge rock driver "Dead Set," the radio friendly "New Low," the classic rocker "All Walks of Life," and the final closing sonic assault "USA." Middle Class Rut never fails to disappoint. The most amazing thing about the band is that they are only two guys creating a wall of sound powerful enough to move a mountain. The only criticism I would have of them is their inability to generate some of those sounds live using only one guitar and drums. If they can find a way to pull that off, they would become a live force that could not be matched.
Around 10pm, AWOLNation took the stage with neon lights and reflective suits. The huge spotlights resembled traffic lights, while the drummer's trapset was laced with psychodelic Christmas lights. As the smoke cleared, AN took the stage and immediately dove into their mix of electronic indie pop rock. The band kept the crowd active, with lighters in the air and hundreds of young girls crowd surfing throughout. Although I'm not familiar with too much of AN's music, their music was undeniably catchy and easy to initiate a good head bob to. Notable tracks that stole the set were the melodic sing along "Jump On My Shoulders," the fast paced indie-electro-pop groove "People," the Led Zepplin-esque "Guilty Filthy Soul," and of course the hit "Sail."
With Zack Lopez of MC Rut
If there is a major criticism I have of AN's set, it has nothing to do with the music. It has more to do with the overall stage presentation and surprisingly the lighting. The entire time, I could not see anyone's face due to the lack of lighting towards the stage, as well as the damn fog machine that seems to be so popular these days. The concept of seeing who I am listening to reassures me that I am not just watching an empty stage or even worse a machine. Call it personal preference if you will, but I think that for a band to create an identity with its fanbase, it's necessary to be able to see who they are. Otherwise, the forefront of the show is lost, and you're stuck surrounded by people just listening. Or as the lyrics go in "Sail," you could just "blame it on my ADD."
Overall, great show in such a small venue. I wish I had the opportunity to see Scotland's Twin Atlantic's set last night, although I did have a chance to talk to the drummer for a bit. And getting pics with Zack and Sean from MC Rut as well as an autographed CD was pretty damn cool. Not too bad for a Tuesday night, eh?
"The first step of the writing process is...to write."
The famous line spoken by Sean Connery as William Forrester from the now probably unknown movie Finding Forrester resonates even further with me now as I shuffle through mountains and mountains of research articles and attempt to form my own academic research papers. For me, that line defines my writing style: write exactly what comes to you at the moment. Let the passion and emotion play itself out onto the document. Don't worry about who's going to read it or whether it's good enough to be an A paper; write what you want, and do it like you mean it! I once heard another similar line in one of my classes in grade school that said, "Writing is easy. Just sit down in front of a typewriter and open a vein." I will address the first part of that quote. Although the typewriter is obsolete in our world today, the beauty in modern media is that everyone has virtually full access to expressing their thoughts and opinions through writing in just about any context. If I'm on top of Imperial Mountain at Breckenridge, I can take a picture of my view, then post it on my blog through my smartphone and then boom! The whole world can see it. Pretty simple in this day and age. Regarding the second half of that quote, the thought that all ideas and content come directly from the writer is a pretty important one. As writers, we are the ones who make this art what it is. We're getting to a point now where technology is making the process easier, but it's not controlling us...yet. The writer will always be the one in control, and the only limits are what is self-imposed. There might be a great talent inside of you; you just need to discover it and embrace it. It's in your blood - share it with the world.
Now when it comes to the rest of the process, hehe... when you get to a point where you're uttering Herman Cain's famous line, "I don't have the facts to back this up," a little research of sources of knowledge might be required. It is the legal and moral thing to do when it comes to giving credit to those who said it before you, as well as to make sure you're not speaking crazy thoughts that only make sense to you (unless you're the only one reading it). Other things like audience analysis and proofreading continue the writing process, and will eventually make your product a more complete and presentable one. However, the most important thing is to write. When you find yourself staring at a blank white page and you don't know what to do next, open your veins and "punch the goddamned keys!" Let yourself go, and see where it takes you.
"You're the man now, dawg!" (this line probably led to his retirement)
Welcome back everyone. It's been many months since I have written anything worth reading in this blog. Now that I have begun my studies at Colorado State University, my view of the blog has changed. It is no longer a forum for posting random jokes and stupid thoughts. It is now a center for intelligent conversation, open discussion with direct feedback, and possibly some "art" (what?!). I am approaching this blog with new intentions and more open minded expectations. In an essence, I am starting over with this medium.
It is ironic that with this, I am starting over in more ways than one. I have left my full-time career for now to pursue the academic lifestyle once again. I don't have the spending money I used to have, but then again I never was a big spender to begin with. I am meeting many new individuals in my community who have diverse viewpoints on life. Some are more traditional, while others are very progressive and left of center. With every week, I am learning constantly, and essentially becoming a new person. I think that the idea of starting over has had many benefits. It has made me humble again, yet I am still able to draw from past experiences to positively affect my environment.
The idea of starting over is something that can be applied not only to individuals, but also to entire societies. I am inspired by this idea based on my recent observational experiences. This past summer, I visited my homeland, Washington D.C. (well, not exactly my homeland, but as close to a home base that I can get with my lifestyle). I visited the DC zoo and took a particular interest in studying the behavior of the primates. I looked at their mannerisms, facial features, and the ways that they interacted with one another. I noticed that they were really no different from children, with the exception that there was no verbal communication. In fact, seeing many of the apes stare back at me was almost like looking at a real person. The irony with these observations was that a few days later, I watched Rise of the Planet of the Apes and saw a very similar yet different perspective on the primate world. It introduced the notion that a race of beings can become more intelligent through medicine. In this case, that medicine produced brilliant effects for the primates, but it caused death and suffering for the humans. The end result was a race of primates becoming intelligent enough to band together and form their own union, which essentially was the birth stages of a new civilization. On the flipside, the humans would be infected by a highly contagious disease and would eventually be extinct from the planet - all because of the medicine that a few smart minds developed which they thought would help society.
The point to all this madness is that I see the same notion happening in our modern day society. Our civilization has become too complex and too enslaved by the broken systems that rule it. We have become a race that expects everything to fix itself because of the expectation that someone or something else will do it for us. Be it technology or the leaders in charge of our government, we have become reliant on so many other factors that we cannot help ourselves. A perfect example of this is the situation our country is in right now. Every day I log onto my preferred news websites, I see story after story about the budget deficit, the debt crisis, the economic downfall, and how Sarah Palin wants to rule the world. The leaders we have elected to our Congress and our Executive branch seem to spend most of their efforts pushing their political ideologies rather than getting anything productive done. It is a travesty that is seen by most Americans, one that is a very clear threat to our society. However, an even bigger threat is the concept that most average Americans are doing very little at their level to positively affect the turmoil. We are instead more concerned with our personal interests which are becoming more and more consumed by technology and social media. We are worried most about what movie is next in our Netflix queue or what our favorite celebrity tweeted 5 minutes ago rather than providing our input to fix the system. I have yet to see any protest or active grassroots movements that have developed to combat this clear and present danger. Is it because we're too preoccupied with things that don't matter, or is it because Washington won't listen anyway? No matter what point of view you choose to take, the real danger with all this is when the shit really does hit the fan and we have mass death and suffering, we are not going to band together and do something about it because we expect someone to do it for us. And that's when the apes take over and start anew...
Now I'm not trying to put down humankind as a whole. Although I am a fan of the band Shai Hulud, I still think there is some hope for our civilization. We I really think would help is for our country to start over. We need to go back and reevaluate what our goal and purpose is as a society. We need to look at why we were founded in the first place. Are we a place where people can come and pursue their goals and dreams, or are we trying to be a superpower looking to change the rest of the world? What is it that makes our point of view right over everyone else's? Is there another system that would work better than our current one? Perhaps the best way to really purify our civilization is to go by the example of the apes. We make everything simple again - totally deconstruct our society to relieve all the stresses we have induced upon ourselves; no high speed technology or world influence, just simple human interaction. I know this sounds a little far fetched to make into a reality, as it seems that our society has reached the point of no return. And perhaps with this, the only way we can really purify is through mass disease and unyielding survival of the fittest. But I digress...
The bottom line is we as a race of beings must get our act together. And if we can't do it ourselves, this guy might do it for us:
Joe can never remember what time to be in formation, yet he always remembers what time chow starts.
Joe has a room in the barracks, yet he spends his base pay living off post with his buddies
Joe has all his furniture provided to him, yet he buys a recliner that takes up his entire room.
Joe lives right across from the motor pool, yet he still drives to work.
Joe has a commissary available to him, yet he pays twice as much for groceries at the shoppette.
Joe has a Dining Facility to provide him with meals, yet he chooses to pay out of pocket for lunch at Burger King.
Joe has a washing machine, yet he just buys new socks when his current ones get dirty.
Joe has a clothing allowance, yet he complains when he has to buy his own rank for his promotion ceremony.
Joe can get by with a used car, yet he buys a new car.
Joe can get a reasonable loan from his bank, yet he goes to the PayDay Loans office to get financing at 18%.
Joe can't pass a PT test, yet he's recognized as the star player of the Post Basketball team.
Joe gets a profile to get out of PT, yet he goes four-wheeling with his buddies on the weekends.
Joe complains about having to pay 20 bucks for a company t-shirt, yet he spends 20 bucks every weekend on booze.
Joe will wipe off the outside of his weapon and say that it is cleaned.
Joe buys extra gear at the Blackhawk store only for his First Sergeant to tell him he can't wear it.
Joe knows the Army's tattoo policy, yet he still gets a tattoo on his head.
Joe has a high school sweetheart back home, yet he marries a local stripper.
Joe had the choice of joining the Air Force, but instead he joined the Army.
The famous words of Ralph Wiggum ring the essence of an activity that is instinctive of humankind: that act of sleep. It is the action of powering down every system in the body in order to recharge and recuperate for the next day of life. It is an activity that is valued but neglected by many in modern society. It is something that if embraced will ultimately lead to a greater quality of life.
The toughest part about sleep, for me at least, is that I live in a world that does not embrace it. Based on the way many of my friends talk about their schedules, it sounds like this is the way it is for most Americans. We live in a society that has put sleep on the back burner and has replaced this void with insane work hours and social events. The average amount of sleep has reduced from ten to eight, and nowadays from eight to a mere five. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2008 that over one in ten Americans do not get enough sleep over a given month's time span. If the quantity of sleep has reduced this much across the nation, you can only imagine how badly the quality has become as well. People are no longer focused on rest and relaxation, but instead are worrying about what time they need to wake up in the morning. Thus, the mind and body never really relax but rather go into a standstill until that alarm clock sounds. Such is a common case among a majority of working Americans and ultimately leads to stress, crankiness and bodily breakdown as the systems never fully recuperate.
In my experiences, the military is probably one of the most notorious organizations when it comes to sleep deprivation. Waking up at 5 AM each day for PT and working 12 hour shifts afterwards is enough to take its toll on a reasonable person. Add the additional duty of the staff duty desk, and you have a majority of troops and junior leaders staying awake for 24 hours at a time multiple nights of the month, something the body is not naturally built to do. Let's not forget all the "hooah" schools like Ranger and Special Forces, where students are known to obtain only one or two hours of sleep a night while they prepare for their next patrol or reaction to contact. And this is only in Garrison as well; it doesn't get any better while deployed... The constant patrols, force protection, battle tracking and Tactical Operating Center (TOC) operations will keep all soldiers awake anywhere from 14 to 20 hours a day, regardless or rank or position. Multiply that by three months then by six months, and you naturally develop an endless cycle of anticipation for the next waking hour. Admittedly, I never experienced the reality of being shot at constantly for days on end, but there were nights when I could not achieve a single consecutive hour of sleep as I thought of my friends at remote combat outposts (COPs) who were going through hell every night and how I could not help them. It got bad enough to a point where I had to retrain my body to go to sleep. I did not make contact at all with my mattress unless it was for the purpose of rest; no reading, movies or video games, just shut-eye. Of course, this could never compare to the kind of sleep deprivation experienced first hand through getting struck by mortars or RPGs at dawn. Our enemies know the value of sleep, and they will exploit it anyway they can to ruin our lives.
So aside from the deployed environment, I wondered why so many Americans back home are nearly as sleep deprived as us? When it boils down to the mental motivation, I think it is really very much related to one of the same factors: the anticipation for what is next. Everyone anticipates reaching success in life. To be successful, any working person will naturally focus their energy on performing their job better and for sustained periods of time. Especially in today's economy, being the top performer is more important than ever. That means working longer hours, staying mentally focused on the task at hand, and answering to the call of duty at any given hour of the day. It doesn't just end with work either. One must reach success socially as well, which will involve meeting up with those important people at the bars and clubs, exercising for two hours a day to achieve the perfect body, and staying out with that special someone with hopes of making them your spouse and starting a family. Do all these things, and you might achieve success. Now where does sleep fall into this equation? It does not. SLEEP IS A WASTE OF TIME!
Well, I have chosen to look at the flipside of this equation and determine that sleep is not a waste of time. It has taken me 26 years to realize this, but just because you need to sleep does not mean you are wasting your life away. Aside from the physiological benefits, there is really no point in depriving yourself of sleep for pure anticipation for the next day. You cannot control everything that will happen around you, so why worry about waking up to affect everything? All you can control is you. And who is it to define what success is? Success is not being a workaholic or a socialite. Success is not having a mansion with three cars and a family portrait above your desk. Success is doing what makes you happiest in life. It is being able to dream of whatever you choose and to wake up each day ready to live life to the fullest.
It is a true rarity when I discover a band on mainstream radio, and I like their sound so much that I am compelled to purchase their compact disc (a dying medium in this day and age) and listen to it all the way through. I'm glad this band is so worthy of that rarity...
Hailing from Sacramento, CA, Middle Class Rut is made up of two men: vocalist/guitarist Zach Lopez and vocalist/drummer Sean Stockham. Formed from the ashes of the late 90's band Leisure, the duo have been playing as MC Rut since 2006, releasing several 7" and EPs throughout their career. "No Name No Color," released in October 2010, is their first full length record and proves to bring an innovative wave of assault into a lackluster modern music scene.
From start to finish, "No Name No Color" display's MC Rut's total ability of surviving on the bare minimum. The first track "Busy Bein' Born," which was also the title track off their 2008 EP, crescendos into a world of newfound power through its crunching guitars and deep drums. Musically, the duo show true versatility in their use of only guitar and drums. Lopez is able to generate a wide range of distortion, melody and effects similar to that of Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello. Some might think that there's a bass on a few tracks, but don't be fooled - it's all guitar. Stockham utilizes various tones of drums on each track, but manages to keep every beat simple while belting out a strong vocal performance. Together, the band crafts a style that fuses indie rock, punk, blues, and even country into 54 minutes of angst and musical journey. Faster tracks such as "USA" and "Lifelong Dayshift" blast a sonic explosion that can compete with any indie-punk band, while slower and heavier tracks like "Sad to Know" generate a wall of sheer force not to be reckoned with. Lopez and Stockham's combined vocals create a rugged yet tightly woven harmony of signing and shouting, resembling that of Sparta and 30 Seconds to Mars. Lopez's screaming over Stockham's melodic vocals leads many of the choruses throughout the album and is a tough one for many bands to achieve. In some cases, Lopez and Stockham's lead vocal parts sound almost identical, as if they are the same person. But perhaps that's the whole point...
On the lyrical side, MC Rut lives up to it's name, exploring those deep dark issues that make the middle class tick: loss, depression, broken friendships, social separation, and political oppression. The radio hit "New Low" might sound like the Pixies' "Where is My Mind" at first, but after a closer listen it walks into the lives of two men who are spiraling into an unknown black hole, one that they were led to through the mistakes of their past lives. One of the more political songs "One Debt Away" delves into the decay of the American Dream, illustrating a society controlled by taxes and bills that essentially leads all people to "being glad to be home." The track "Dead End" burns bridges with past friends and lovers, while the sludge rock anthem (and arguably the best track on the album) "Thought I Was" shouts of frustration and ultimately liberation from a world on autopilot. The album closes with the tongue-in-cheek tune "Cornbread," a catchy come-on sung from the point of view of an outcast searching for his own identity.
Clearly, MC Rut have proven themselves on this record as a diverse yet simple duo of die-hard musicians that are not afraid to push themselves in any direction they choose. They are an example of how less equals more. It doesn't take three, four, or nine musicians to make a strong, emotionally charged record that can be recognized among the mainstream heavyweights. In fact, the only criticism I have of this band is the question of whether they can pull of the same kind of sound on stage. There are some songs that clearly require two, sometimes three guitars in order to generate the same effect, unless Zach Lopez is able to create multiple tones through his effects pedals. I have yet to see these guys play live, but based on the sellout shows that they have been playing on their last two tours, I'm sure they are delivering a show that is unlike anyone else out there. I will have to see it to believe it though... Bottom line is that MC Rut are setting a new standard for rock music, and hopefully they will continue to expand the walls of sound they have already created (not to mention keep making great music for riding the slopes to).
