Photo by Bob Hoeksema. Thanks BH!
Well what do you know? I have time and energy to actually update this thing. Overall its been a very good month and it kicked off with Max Bravo’s return after many weekends away. I had a shitty weekend in August and another shitty weekend in September. It’s difficult to deal with moody people who are stressed the fuck out and what little time I have for RnR, yeah right, is spoiled.
Dave McAnally dropped these posters and fliers by Sunday Oct 8th before I went to meet Max at the Alamos Ale House to see The Exorcist: Believer but more on that later. The December 14th show at Live Wire Lounge should be successful as it is actually a team effort with MK, Derision Cult (Dave’s band) and the superstar publicist Raquel Figlo who just might fly in from LA for the winter show.
Messy Stench posted the above pic from the photo shoot she did with Terry Mac for the cover and centerfold of MK Magazine in 2003. WOWZA what amazing memories.
I include this just because I have been overwhelmed with work, not that I mind it as I love my job, but my brain is shot after 10 hours of sitting in front of a computer all day long. And with the weather outside not inspiring enough to go for a brisk walk or bike ride I have been falling asleep most bights before the 9 o’clock news.
As I mentioned Max had returned and suggested we meet up in Andersonville to eat at an amazing place I’d not heard of Parson’s Chicken & Fish in Andersonville. It was a really nice warm autumn evening and we got a table outside on the patio. This place is so close to home and I get to go again in exactly one week from today to meet up with John aka Full Throttle from I LOVE RICH. Parson’s Chicken & Fish 5721 N Clark St Chicago www.parsonschickenandfish.com.
We ordered up the Fish Basket which is a 9 Piece Fish Fry, as well as French Fries and Cole Slaw. All that and drinks rang at just over $50, a pretty good deal. Warning, the cocktails are strong, Sailor strong so drinker beware. We had a great time catching up. Max told me all about his most recent trip to the 2023 Louder Than Life festival in Kentucky Sep 21, 2023 – Sep 24, 2023. And I shared with him my adventurous day seeing DANZIG and the not so happy experience coming home.
Max picked me up a nice golden pineapple sippy cup. (is this bit ever going to get old?) After dinner we popped by his place and I had a drink. Luckily I brought a cup of ice from the bar since Max didn’t have ice at home as he had just returned from his latest trip. MAX DOESN’T HAVE ICE!
The plan was to meet up the next day and hit a couple of Halloween Pop Up stores and try out a bar we haven’t been to in an area we don’t go to.
At 11 AM 9/30/2023 I was joined by co-pilot Greg Duncan for this episode. New music, KISS Trivia and an all new untitled game that is ANNOYING.
October Noir is a gothic/doom metal band formed in Pensacola, Florida in 2016. They have released 3 full-length albums and 9 stand-alone singles. They recently released a new collection Letters To Existence in September 2023. The band’s sound is heavily influenced by gothic metal pioneers Type O Negative, whom from they also derive much of their aesthetic and lyrical inspiration as well.
October Noir was started by Tom Noir in late 2016 and released the first album, The Haunting and the Powerful, on October 19, 2017. Drummer Daniel “Stickz” Bryant, guitarist Troy Lambert, and keyboardist Jackie “Jaxxx” Daniel would join Tom for live shows after the first album came out. In 2018, October Noir would release two singles, both being covers. “Pictures of Matchstick Men (RIPeter)”, a Status Quo/Type O Negative cover, was released on April 14, 2018, and “Lips like Sugar”, an Echo & the Bunnymen cover, was released on July 5, 2018.
On October 1, 2019, their second album, Thirteen, was released. Seven days later, guitarist Doug Lane and keyboardist Justin Thompson joined the band, completing the quartet. On January 14, 2020, a cover of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” was released, the first October Noir song where instruments were credited to each member of the quartet. They released two additional singles in 2020: “Race War”, a Carnivore cover, and “Cry Little Sister”, a Gerard McMahon cover.
On April 14, 2021, the Type O Negative cover “Love You to Death” was released to coincide with the 11-year anniversary of Peter Steele’s death. In late June 2021, keyboardist Justin Thompson left the band due to personal reasons. October Noir released their third album, Fate, Wine, & Wisteria, on September 22, 2021. One month prior, one of their tracks, “Windows”, was released as a single, the band’s first single taken from any of their albums.
Alter the podcast I was headed to Halloween shop Old Town. I got a head start and arrived at the first stop before Max.
Spirit Halloween 2838 N Broadway, Chicago Looking to dress up like your favorite movie, TV, gaming or anime character? Spirit Halloween offers the greatest selection of officially licensed costumes and decorations. From Barbie, Harry Potter and Wednesday to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Poppy Playtime and Fall Guy – there is something for everyone at your Chicago store.
Shopping at Spirit Halloween is an experience itself! Check out our exclusive, chilling animatronics in action or browse our enormous selection of spooky indoor and outdoor décor, trending and authentic costumes, wigs, makeup, props and more at your Chicago location. Every aisle and store corner is clearly labeled by theme, product type, and license, making it super easy to find the Halloween costumes and decorations you want. To top it off, our trained associates are always eager to help you.
Whether you want to peruse the store at your leisure or pop in quickly to get the goods before a party, Spirit Halloween has you covered. We offer you the option of buying online and picking up at your Chicago location, which is ultra convenient for bigger items or last-minute needs! So, what are you waiting for? Stop by your local Chicago Spirit Halloween today for an experience so much fun, it’s scary.
Proof that you can’t take me anywhere. I walked out with some really cool items include a new scary clown mask and some Ouija candles.
The next stop was Halloween Hallway Costume Store 1620 N Wells St, Chicago where we were in and out of within 10 minutes and walked around the crowded bars and sidewalk cafes which overflowed with the type of people I don’t like. You know those people that cannot wait to all wear their matching North Face attire.
We settled for the darkly lit bar the legendary Old Town Ale House est. 1958
219 W North Ave, Chicago And old hang out for the Second City actors andclassic SNL cast members“The Old Town Ale House is as close to the Old Town of the 60’s and 70’s that you are going to find, making it a neighborhood landmark, classic Chicago joint.
Bruce Elliott is a painter and the current owner of the bar. Elliott inherited the bar from a previous owner on the condition that the bar not be changed. The walls of the bar are filled with portraits of regular bar-goers and famous patrons (such as Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd—many of whom had been working at the Second City Theatre also located on Wells and North Avenue). Other paintings include lewd political satire of well-known people such as Rod Blagojevich being strip searched] Sarah Palin posing naked on a polar bear rug, Vladimir Putin dancing as a ballerina or Kim Jong Un and Dennis Rodman in handcuffs (also painted by Elliott).
The Old Town Ale House has been called “The best bar in the world that I know about” by Roger Ebert whose biographical film Life Itself contains several interviews within the bar, and ends with a portrait of Ebert in the bar that was painted by Elliott.
The place was very dark. Max referred to the patrons as silhouettes, which to a couple of older going blind guys is exactly what it was. We were going to pick up and leave but I got a text from Drew Blood the drummer for I LOVE RCH and he came to meet us. We hung out for bit and I had another podcast to do the next day and I invited Drew to jump in along with fallow drummer Jason Meudt who like myself has a long history with a band we both love, TYPE O NEGATIVE.
In the morning I was sitting out on the back porch when I saw Drew coming down the alley. Other than joining in for the interview I was hoping to help him connect with our guest, drummer extraordinaire, Johnny Kelly.
Host Alex Zander is joined by drummers Jason Meudt (Monkeys with Handguns, Emperors and Elephants, Stradlin ‘Rosie) and Drew Blood of I LOVE RICH for 90 minutes of fun and music with KISS TRIVIA and other nonsense.
Johnny Kelly joined Type O Negative in 1994 to replace Sal Abruscato nobody liked him] During an online interview, Kelly denied the oft claimed rumor he had previously been the band’s drum tech
Kelly served as a fill-in drummer for heavy metal band Pist.On on an American tour while their drummer, Jeff McManus, dealt with chronic muscle pain.
On February 25, 2011, it was announced that Kelly would be replacing Will Hunt as the drummer for Black Label Society for the remainder of their European tour. He made his first live performance with the band that night at La Cigale in Paris, France.
On March 10, 2014, it was announced that Vinny Appice had left Kill Devil Hill, and that Kelly was his replacement
On January 29, 2018, it was announced on the band’s website that A Pale Horse Named Death had recruited Tommy Spano of Corey Glover and Sekond Skyn as the new drummer, replacing Kelly. On April 5, 2018, it was announced that Kelly was once again the band’s drummer.
Kelly has been the drummer for Danzig since 2002 (with the exception of a hiatus from 2003 to 2005), and recorded drums for the band’s ninth album Deth Red Sabaoth (2010), covers album Skeletons (2015), and shared drum duty on the band’s latest album Black Laden Crown (2017).
On September 9, 2020, it was announced that Kelly had joined Quiet Riot as the replacement of then-recently deceased drummer Frankie Banali. Kelly had previously filled in for Banali on the band’s 2019 and 2020 shows.
As the “rite of passage” we had the after show meal and El Palmar. Sometimes we go before the show. This Sunday we went after and the weather was truly AMAZING!
My attorney took a hint from me and ordered vanity plates.
I had these custom KENNEDY/GABBARD 2024 stickers made. Surely to get a rise out of some “progressive” types.
Now I close out this chapter with a show I am very excited to see. I haven’t seen Lydia Loveless since before my hip surgery so it must have been 2015 at Metro. More on that in the next chapter. The concert is on Black Friday and this year I’m doing the full dinner for the first time since 1998 with Xtine Brown.
HEY BUDDY!
