Hell City Tattoo Festival ‘09: Let it Bleed
May 29th-31st, Killumbus, OH
Hell City, the tattoo festival mentioned heavily in my article on Durb Morrison recently, rolled through Columbus this past weekend. I’ve been going to the festival since its premiere back in 2002. During its early years Hell City was fresh, new, and exciting. It quite literally changed the landscape of what convention goers expected out of a tattoo convention. First and foremost, it was one of the first festivals to really capitalize on the transfer of the center …

Insane Clown Posse Presents: A Family Underground DVD
Psychopathic Records
0/10
Who the fuck sent this to Racket? If you and I have a solid working relationship, I am sorry for what is about to occur. But, on the other hand, I think you sent this to me because you hate me.
This has got to be one of the worst things I have ever seen in my life- but in the amazing, now-you-feel-better-about-yourself kind of way. Thousands of people in face paint, white contacts and shitty flat-tops turned into braids prevailed …

Nico Vega and Gavin Rossdale Live
June 7th House of Blues, Anaheim CA
Gavin Rossdale and opening act Nico Vega turned the House of Blues into a red-hot firestorm. The former Bush frontman brought back their 90’s hits and even covered an acoustic version of a Stevie Nicks classic. Rossdale and company made their final stop on tour in Orange County to a raucous crowd in Anaheim who witnessed downright rock n’ roll drum-kit destroying mayhem.
Los Angeles trio Nico Vega kicked off the festivities. Lead singer Aja’s vocal chops pierced …

Miss Leota
May 29, 2009
Slidebar
Fullerton, CA
I didn’t know what to expect when I jumped in the car to see Miss Leota play at the Slidebar in Fullerton. I did know that one of the members was friends with Jimmy the Robot and Ricky Fitness from the Aquabats, but that was it. So, I bought myself some Barton Vodka and off we went. Turns out Miss Leota is a Death Metal/Hardcore band. Or, as they call themselves, “BusinessCore; the art of skipping the nonsense, gimmicks, clichés, and getting …

There are only two words to describe the past week in Hollywood: hot mess. The most shocking and astonishing event was the unfortunate break up of Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt. If those two can’t stay together, I just don’t believe in true love anymore. They seemed so perfect, amid all their 3 a.m. screaming fights and basically public fornication. Well, at least Doug will have something to remember Paris by-all the STDs he contracted from her. Now, those will last a lifetime. It didn’t take Paris long to …

Ooooooh! Racket received this juicy bit of hatemail. We loved it so much, we decided to reach out to our new fan and address her concerns.
On Jun 7, 2009, at 3:07 AM, heavensharlot69 wrote:
[From Racket’s About Us:] “’When we review a CD, we don’t care how much heart and soul went into it, we tell you if you should bother shelling out $15 for the thing, or if you’re better off spending that money on Drumsticks and Dr. Pepper for a week. If it gets a decent review, it’s …

Brittan’s Amebix is one of the first bands to blend anarcho-punk and heavy metal music. Formed in 1978, and split in 1987, they recently reunited as of 2008.
Crusties both young and old packed the Trocadero venues to capacity for the legendary hardcore punk band Amebix, uniting to go on tour for the first time in twenty-two years. This was a dream come true for punks young and old who have wanted to see the glory that is Amebix live.
The heavily influential sound of Amebix laid the foundation for crust punk. …

Up
Disney/Pixar
10/10
Pixar sets a new high with its latest animated feature Up which rises to the occasion and proves to be as funny and thoughtful as it gorgeous to look at. The movie follows the adventures of a cranky old man stuck in his ways, mismatched with an over enthusiastic youngster whose intentions seem to always overshoot his abilities. Right from when the film first launches off, you know that this is going to be something different and special.
What could have been simply a light hearted kid’s …

Bang Camaro rocks my balls off. And then rocks so hard I grow a new pair bigger and badder than the last. From 80’s rock riffs to lyrics that were literally made for singing along, Bang Camaro has successfully created a new spin on a genre long since established. From 12 year old gamers to my dad (who, at one time told me that White Snake was “the gods of metal”), Bang Camaro’s offer of a good time entices just about everyone. Maybe not Aunt Judy who hates anything but …

[Emperor's note: This is by far the longest interview we have ever conducted. If you are a fan of the band, you are in for a treat. - The Emperor]
It’s been murder, but after two years Julien-K finally released Death to Analog. During a media day in West Hollywood, band members Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh sat comfortably in their London Hotel suite to talk about shooting their x-rated video, creating new material for the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen soundtrack and so much more cool shit. Let’s check in …

I’ve spent a few brief moments in past posts on the whole “green” movement. While I cannot say that I am exactly an environmentalist, I can say that if you want to get involved in it, you have to be careful. Companies have discovered that words like “natural,” “environmentally-friendly,” and “green” are on most peoples’ minds at the moment, and it doesn’t take a fool to recognize what a great marketing opportunity has arisen from them. Unfortunately, it also doesn’t take a fool to get swindled by these marketing practices. …

Nobunny
Love Visions
1234Go!
10/10
Pretty sure this guy played at the Delta Tau Chi Fraternity House in National Lampoon’s Animal House. Okay, so he didn’t. But he should’ve. This is raunchy, sloppy, fuzzy, stripped down, punk ’n’ roll. There is a noticeable Cramps and Ramones influence. Like those two bands, Nobunny plays songs that sound like a lo-fi punk homage to Chuck Berry and early rock and roll. In that regard, I would say Nobunny shares a few similarities to The Underground Railroad to Candyland as well.
Plus, this guy constantly tips his hat …

Pepper/Pennywise
w/ Authority Zero, Big B
Fox Theatre in Pomona, CA
5/28/2009
I will not even pretend that I wasn’t more attracted to the prospect of seeing the new Fox Theatre than any of the bands, but Pennywise has never let me down in their live show, so it wasn’t like I was seeing a particularly shitty show just to scope the new kid on town.
I came in during opener Dubluva, who was exactly who I didn’t want to see at a show. These are the same shirtless white kids who listen to Bob …

Marcio Local
Says Don Day Don Dree Don Don: Adventures in Samba Soul
Luaka Bop
8/10
Is it just samba or is it world music? Brazilian artist Marcio Local makes it a little bit of both with his record entitled Says Don Day Don Dree Don Don. He also acknowledges Rio predecessor Jorge Ben by working with producer Armando Pittigliani, who happened to work with Ben in the early stages of his career in the 1960s. In the end, Local gives listeners a fusion of the lively sounds of samba and bossa nova with …

Mike Hale
Lives Like Mine
Suburban Home
8/10
Lately I’ve felt like an aging punk, preferring comfortable quiet versus aural anarchy and feel soooo lame. Then shit like Mike Hale’s album Lives Like Mine comes out and makes me feel like I am not alone in enjoying non-punk things like, you know, production value and pianos. Lives Like Mine is beautiful, meaningful and depressing as hell. This is the equivalent of sonic Quaaludes. Gorgeous finger-picking arpeggios and slow, minimalistic piano harmonies compliment and enhance Hale’s heartbroken vocals. “Losing Ground” is a perfect example of …

Yonlu
A Society in Which No Tear is Shed is Inconceivably Mediocre
Luaka Bop Inc.
9/10
Brazilian artist Yonlu leaves a lasting impression on his first and unfortunately last album. Vinicius Gageiro Marques aka Yonlu (internet screen name) took his own life at the age of 16 and after he passed away, his parents found this record. Even though nothing overshadows the tragic loss of this soft-spoken artist, Yonlu’s legacy lives on through his music.
Give the lad a lot of credit for being a talented artist beyond his years and despite his life being …