_________________________________________
The Misadventures in the Land of Decay:
The story of what happened on the 04/22/03 and review of Empire Hideous and Torn Paper Dolls at CBGB's
It all started on March 21, when by shear force of incident and accident we ended up at QXT's. There I proceeded to get distastefully slushed on drinks every one were getting for me (in all truth it only took 3) Attacked the DJ for playing things that suck (he actually was just playing goth stuff, I am just a bully).
Demanded he play deathrock, Was joined by MR Prozac while we made home made flyers for the upcoming NY Decay show on napkins, terrorized the locals and had a good laugh.
Next night adventure continued, we ended up at CBGB's for the Empire Hideous/The New Years/Infidel/Bastion/Five Star Dive/Torn Paper Dolls show.
Ru the friendly (?) NY Decay bartender and SaraBeth were doing a jig while DJ Mange was surrounded by Japanese photographing him with enthusiasm. Old friends were there,and the racking crew from previous night. Some were incognito.We missed all the early bands, that we were told "rocked". So I headed over to the Lounge to drop of some flyers for the 4/18/03 Show. It was nice loungy space (harry har harr). Got some flash backs about the parties Althea use to run there.Ahh the good old days. Nice place to make out. Back to the CBGB's proper. Mange , Ru and SaraBeth were still up to no good and mr. Prozac was making every attempt to avoid the camera.
Empire Hideous Came on. Stylish skulls on the drum set and a long long dramatic intro built up a mood of anticipation and spookiness. While Mike Hideous and co. went on stage. Quiet surprised by a truly gothic sound and clean performance with a lot of distortion I was pondering mikes hat (it turned in to a beret, wow) Then the hackling began. At first every one looked at me (Why? I mean I do hackle but it wants me this time) The hacklers were two clueless frat boys. They were loud and not funny at all. I thought that I could of done a much better job hackling although I was enjoying the band. Mike and co seemed completely undaunted by the rude out-breaks and continued on with grace.
I decided to make a stop over at CB's gallery, there Betty Pages of all shapes and sized were doing "it" for the hot and bothered crowd of miscreants. Saw DasKreestof who was trying to avoid going blind from a fat striping betty page exposure. By the time I came back one of the hecklers was being hurled outside and it seems abut 8 guys were swarming over him. The other heckler got away Scot free.
Next on were Torn Paper Dolls. Cute girls I though before I heard them. And then they blew every one out of the water. God Damn that band is like current 93, Rasputina, evil Tory Amos some one said in my ear, and I don't know. The point is they were fucking great! Two girl singers alternating with a dash of synths and guitar, with life drummer and pleasant almost experimental but melodic flow. Surreal but very sexy ."are they singing about penguins ?" some one asked me. Hmm I am not sure but the lyrics were totally appropriate to my mood" i hope that someday you will live in Antarctica with all the polar bears & the penguins/please send me a postcard when you arrive/not that you came home at night when you were alive" I guess they were singing about Penguins. Well I though I wanto see them again. Todd nodded in agreement so selfishly we booked them for the 4/18/03 NY Decay show at CBGB's lounge. AHA now they will come to me!!! As it should be. After all the cherio and tootle pips, some purchased Mike Hideous Book and we proceeded to get some Pizza.The Streets were littered with Passes for our nex show. Yes this was indeed a good night.
Ghouly yours r. bad Luck
NY Decay Zine
March 2003