Category Archives: Spotlight

Nightbitch, Ryan Adams, Spotlight

Spotlight: Nightbitch / His Emissary

1 Comment
Spotlight: Nightbitch / His Emissary
Josh and Rick recently sent a barrage of questions to the veritable Ryan Adams (Thee Trve Ryan Adams).  Ryan currently plays guitar in the traditional black metal band Ipsissimus and the sleaze rock worshiping Nightbitch (the main focus of this particular spotlight). A man of refreshing undeviating honesty, Ryan answered the questions without pulling any punches. The result is a fun read deserving of an NC-17. 
[All questions by Josh and Rick in italics and all other words straight from His Emissary, Ryan.]
1. Nightbitch has now been around about 2 years, right? How have things generally developed and how has it been with adjusting the line-up?  Phil is a well respected presence in the left of center metal world. So, losing him as a pitch man and writer must have been a little daunting.  Expand on that.  How has the audience  (at shows and just generally with feedback online or however you read or hear it) reacted?
Nightbitch has been playing out for about a year and a half now and things just kind of happen on their own with the band.  We are like the planchette on the Ouija board, guided by Satan’s fingerless-leather-gloved hand.
We have a great chemistry between the three of us where band practice basically boils down to an hour and a half of fucking off- drinking beers, listening to Deep Purple or watching shitty old exploitation movies about nuns, satan or women in prison, next we’ll write and record a song in an hour to an hour and a half, and then we’ll hang out for another hour or so before calling it a night.  When we’re getting ready for a show, it’s the same routine – just replace the writing/recording bit with running through the set and tightening up the new stuff and the covers.

With regards to Phil, he is an awesome guy, one Hell of a singer and still a good friend to all of us in the band.  He’s actually the one who hooked us up with Psychedoomelic for the “Sex and Magic” CD and that was after he was out of the band.  Chris and I have guest appearances on the Vestal Claret “Bloodbath” LP that Cyclopean is putting out in October, which is KILLER!

After Phil left, we contemplated auditioning someone but the vibe between Chris, Mark and myself was so much killer that we decided against bringing anyone else in. At first we were a little worried, Phil not only being such a celebrated vocalist but also possessing a voice so distinct… but Chris really hits it out of the park.  Any doubts we may have had went out the window after his first show on vocals.  Phil was there and he was the first one to compliment Chris on what a great job he’d done.  We’re really lucky to have someone at versatile as Chris on board.  But all feedback that I’ve come across has been extremely positive.  All sensual menace retained!

2.  The record came out on Cyclopean (Texas, US) and sold out pretty fast and then the CD finally got a release on Psychedoomelic out of Austria.  Explain the circumstances behind both of those.
As I said above, Phil was the one who hooked us up with Psychedoomelic.  They’re a great label and the fact that Nightbitch are labelmates with Reverend Bizarre blows my mind.  Phil had also arranged the Cyclopean deal and it was an absolute pleasure to work with Jason, as I’m a big fan of his old band, Iron Age, and he’s an awesome dude in general.  I don’t think any of us expected it to sell out so fast.

3.  You’ve played a bunch in the local area, but you also have played a few pretty auspicious shows out and about including one at that Irish Festival (Dublin Doom Day).  Talk about that and being the Hour of 13 band too.
We were extremely fortunate to serve as the backing band for Phil’s also-former band, Hour of 13.  Chad Davis, the mastermind and metal brother behind Hour of 13 lives in North Carolina and played all the instruments on both records himself.  They had been getting all these offers for gigs but had no band to play out with.  Chad heard and liked what we were doing with Phil in Nightbitch and we graciously accepted the offer to join Hour of 13 for their first gig – playing under the godly Pagan Altar at Dublin Doom Day in Ireland last September.  It was a lot of work getting the 10 song, hour-long set down.  Working on one or two songs a week probably helped instill the new-song-a-practice un-work ethic Nightbitch has come to practice. But I can confidently say that we killed it.  There’s a live version of “Call to Satan” on a bonus 7″ that Earache included with the first pressing of “The Ritualist” LP and it rules.  Without a doubt, Dublin was the most amazing show experience of my life.  The crowd, the fans, the vibe… all matchless.  We have every intention of returning to sleaze and shitwolf with our brothers in Ireland again!

http://www.metalireland.com

Outside of the Hour of 13 experience, Nightbitch has been blessed to play with the recently-departed Black Pyramid, Midnight, Earthride and to open for Pentagram on only our third show.  I suppose it works in our favor playing a style that is not saturated with sound-alike bands vying for opening spots.  Not that I’d mind a handful more bands like Elder, Stone Titan, Lord Fowl (RIP) or the Stoned Ambassadors (RIP) around here.  Unfortunately, you cannot force kids to listen to Sir Lord Baltimore and watch Jean Rollin movies 🙁

4.  For a long time CT didn’t have a real metal scene.  Groups of people played metal to their friends, sure. There have been small pockets of metal here and there, but not a larger scene with shows pulling in larger touring acts.  You’ve been doing a pretty great job of pulling bands in the area and even in the larger area around CT – RI, MA, NY).  Has there been significant recognition for this and has it been rewarding enough to keep you going with it in the future?

Thank you.  I’m not really sure about recognition; it’s not something I’m looking for.  Same with you guys directing people to the hottest DIY shows in town, y’know?  But anything I do that is show-related is fairly selfish. I book shows that I want to see and usually involving one of my bands.  Which is probably why I have a lot of repeat-bookings – there is no greater sin than encouraging mediocrity and I’d rather keep booking the same ten to fifteen bands than allow poop to infiltrate.  If other people dig it, cool.  If not, fuck it – I’m enjoying myself.
It’s still a very small market for metal here in CT.  For example, 40 Watt Sun played last Sunday to no more than 30 people (we counted at one point) which is fucking abysmal.  But those who came out are the true, you know?  As for the rest… people love the taste of shit.

5.  Hovv do yov feel abovt cvrrent trends in cvlty mettle?  What are some current artists people should look out for (bigger and smaller)? 

I wish it were 1991 and bands like Liturgy would be fucking smashed and sent packing.  But everyone is either a pussy or on probation these days.  Happy to say I couldn’t tell you what’s trendy right now, though some people seem to think that bands like The Devil’s Blood, Ghost and Jex Thoth are.  But that’s the rambling of basement-dwelling career virgin buttdarts with an aversion to riffs, sigils, tits and David Coverdale.
Some bands I’d recommend are Saturnalia Temple, Omega Massif, Xibalba, Ilsa, Dispirit, Hooded Menace, Dodsengel, Inquisition, Necros Christos, Negative Plane, Sargeist, Grave Miasma, Impetuous Ritual, Craft, Disma, Acephalix, Antediluvian,  Vastum, Excoriate, Miasmal and Mitochondrion.
There are also some exceptional bands in New England that everyone should get familiar with: Nachzehrer (who are playing the Black Twilight gig @ Cherry St on September 30th), Morne, Darkwor, Cold Northern Vengeance, Witch Tomb, Blessed Offal, Lustrum, Katahdin, Stone Titan, Iron Hand, Cold Snap, Heavy Breath… just to name a few.

[This tour needs a place to crash tonight in CT and a driver for 10 days if you have no responsibilities and want an adventure: http://crepusculonegro.blogspot.com/]

6.  You also helm Ipsissimus as His Emissary which is currently in a holding pattern since your drummer, Haimatohkharmes, has left for a couple years of work in Belgium unearthing the mysteries of the past. Any status updates?

Haimatokharmes recently left us for a post-doctorate research gig in Copenhagen, but we will continue to write for Ipsissimus via skynet.  He’s such a fucking Euro.  Have you ever seen him headbang?  He was (no doubt drunkenly) emailing me from the Revenge / Inquisition show in the Netherlands and his English has already gone to shit.  We support him 100% and he is still very much a part of the band.  If all goes according to plan, we will be joining him before long for Ipsissimus’ first shows on the Continent.  We will show them how to do the Red Satan.  WE WILL SHOW THEM WHO ARE THE REAL SAPPERLOTTERZ!!!

Our brother Chris Warhead from Abazagorath will be handling live drums for Ipsissimus from this point.  However, nothing is booked at present and we will be extremely selective, bordering on fascist, with the shows we decide to play.

7.  Satanic Biskmaster?  What’s that mean to you?  Top 3 Bisque spots in CT?
Satanic Biskmaster is a tyrannical despot.  His manifold luxuries ensure the perpetual subjugation of thousands… the principle of mystical substitution reversed!
1. Sam the Clam’s when Wally is in the kitchen
2. Sam the Clam’s when Wally is not in the kitchen
3. Little Italy in Wallingford, CT. Mike the Guinea is the fucking best. If you’re in the Wallingford area and you crave some boss take-out/eat-in Gindaloon and don’t want to pay a fortune, Little Italy is your spot. (If you do not mind dropping some loot on a truly lavish sitdown, it’s Michael’s Trattoria all the way. Best eggplant parm I’ve ever had and the banana cream pie could get you laid.)

8.  Sleazy dark things. Movies. Flyers. GO!

“The Sins of Sister Lucia” just blew my fucking mind last weekend. Had NO idea what we were getting into with Japanese nunsploitation but BLESS MY FUCK!!!  Advanced sensual maneuvers are deployed by and upon the most sumptuous nubile nuns in an uber-blasphemous – and aesthetically triumphant – convent setting… And with JUST the right consensual:nonconsensual ratio. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  A Nightbitch ode to “the correction room” wouldn’t be out of place.
 “School of the Holy Beast” and “Wet Rope Confession” are lined up for Friday night’s sleazings where Dogfish and Shipyard’s seasonal offerings will be paired with Crispin Artisanal Reserves, all of these mingling with the bad kid… Cryptic, metaphysical sodomies rendered upon the Paraclete. Spiritual cuckold on the astral plane.
[Example of Ryan’s flyer stylings for a recent show.]


9.  Beyond metal, what’s really piquing your ear budz?  Umberto? Tegan & Sara?
When Ladytron’s new album leaked, so did my peepee.
New Balam Acab is pretty awesome and I’m really digging Seefeel. Gotta say I’m not feeling the new Umberto 7″ nearly as much as the “Prophecy…” LP, though.

10.  Nightbitch! Is this now your main focus and do you have any new recordings coming?   Touring?
Nightbitch and Ipsissimus are my focus.  Nightbitch will be entering Sonic Environments in Bloomfield with my friend and producer, Jeff Weed, next month to record the “Chainmaker” 7″.  Before Haimatokharmes left, Ipsissimus spent some time at Sonic Environments writing and recording two new songs and a special cover song with Jeff. Goat-willing, the fruit of this session will be made available soon.  As mentioned above, Dylan and I will continue writing together.  Touring is a possibility for both bands but it will have to be the right bands and circumstances.
This year’s PRIME SLEAZING!!!
Ruby’s II Halloween party on Sat Oct 29th. All nude. BYOB.

11.  Other projects in the works currently? Do tell.

Word on the street is that legendary Italian menswear potentate and tailor to the sultans, Nino Cerruttti, has reconciled his love of late 70’s/early 80’s afro-Cosmic Italian disco with the soundtracks of his beloved gialli.
 
 
Think Daniele Baldelli hosting a joyous powder orgy at Baia Degli Angeli with Soledad Miranda, Asia Argento, Grace Jones and a teenage Rocco Siffredi being the guests of honor, Dario Argento behind the lens and Tinto Brass calling the shots when he’s not shooting dice or drinking highballs, the old whore. That’s the vibe…
“If you didn’t hear it, you couldn’t afford it.”
Anthony Fantano, Spotlight, The Needle Drop

Spotlight: Anthony Fantano

SPOTLIGHT: ANTHONY FANTANO
Most likely if you know of Anthony Fantano it is from his work on The Needle Drop.  It began as a seedling in his college years and developed into a cross-platform media outlet for a radio show/podcast, reviews and more (I would miss out on at least one thing if I tried to list them all… uhh, like interviews for instance).
Anthony is also a local guy (living just a couple towns over from us) and has been involved in the local music scene (mostly as an attendee – don’t underestimate the power of that). We (Josh & Rick) decided to do an interview with him over email. Instead of emailing us back with answers Anthony hit record on an audio device and sent us that file back. I (Rick) then decided it would be pretty dry to just listen to that with no visual aspect so I made them into videos with some fun slide-shows over them. 

I’ll transcribe the full questions before each video (the videos contain a truncated version of each question on a title screen). 
Enjoy!

1. You grew up and still live here in Connecticut. What were your
early musical influences growing up here (bands, venues, family,
friends, friends’ older siblings…)?
2. What’s your perspective of the current local music scene? What are
some local artists you personally enjoy? Is local music important to
you?

3. Can you give us a brief history of The Needle Drop? How did you get
from Southern (SCSU) to the current all encompassing web presence you
have now?

4. You’re closing in on 40,000 Youtube subscribers and over 8 million
upload views. What’s it like being an internet celebrity? I must say,
that the fan art is not very flattering. Has anyone sent you creepy
fan-fiction yet?

5.  If you were a Cosby, which Cosby would you be and why?

6. What’s the deal with your NPR profile picture on their website?
It’s way dated!

7. Can you give us some vegan body building tips? We’re vegan, but way
too busy (making excuses) for the gym.

8.  You were involved on a panel at SxSW (South By Southwest Festival)
last year and we see you’re preparing to do it again this year. How
did that come about and how is it?  Who joins you on that panel?  How
is the general SxSW experience? Do you get to see even half of the
bands you intend on seeing before going down there?

9.  Getting recognized, it happens to you.  We’ve seen it happen here
in the store first hand.  We’ve heard second hand tales of train ride
recognition.  How is that generally for you?  Is it welcome?  Do you
get recognized a lot in CT (by fans rather than friends) or does it
happen more often at bigger events and concerts?

10.  You just crossed over at 10,000 likes on Facebook. Does that even
mean anything to you at this point?  What social media outlets do you
focus on and do you have an opinion on what the future holds for
these? Google+?

11. Are you a member of the Internet Celebrity inner
circle/illuminati/newsletter? If you were you probably couldn’t tell
us, but if there is anything you can hint at please use a series of
clicks and clacks.

12.  The future! What’s it got in store for you?  Do you have particular goals you’re currently working on both short and long term?

The Needle Drop is also in a heated contest to see “Who should win September’s On The Rise?” on YouTube – you can vote here. Hurry, it ends tonight.

Living Laser, Spotlight

Spotlight: Living Laser

1 Comment
Spotlight: Living Laser


Poughkeepsie, New York has long been regarded by myself and others as a branch on the Connecticut music family tree. Bands like Drowningroom, When Dreams Die, Robots & Empire, Dissolve, Casket Architects, etc. have always been welcomed in CT. I’m not sure if it’s some sort of northeastern suburban brotherhood or just a joint  love of the groove mosh, but it’s there.




On a recent trip to The Chance to see Dissolve’s 20th Anniversary show, we had the pleasure of catching Living Laser. I knew Living Laser had Jay, the drummer from Robots & Empire, and some dudes from Casket Architects in it, but that’s all I knew. When we caught up with him before the show we learned that he was singing and figured that would be interesting! I love to watch drummers play and Jay is one of my favorites. He pounds the living crap out of his kit when he plays. It’s unbelievably loud and half the time he’s standing up just to put more power into his hits. He’s also a slave to the groove and it always shined through in his beats.
 

When Living Laser took the stage that night, Jay was no longer trapped behind a drum set, he was a wild man! Bouncing off the walls, doing weird kicks, and jumping clean over their drummer not once, but twice! All while actually singing, not screaming. I was instantly reminded of Bad Brains, not just because of the similarities between Jay & HR, but the actual music. Tight, fierce and fast hardcore punk rock. I also felt some heavy Dead Kennedys, Leeway & Burn influence too.


Trip Machine Laboratories just put of the first release by Living Laser called, “Ragged Glory”. It’s a cassette release, limited to just 100 copies. Redscroll managed to snag a good chunk of those tapes. Word has it that the pressing is just about gone besides, so don’t sleep on picking this one up!
Spotlight

Spotlight: DJ LOKASH

Spotlight: DJ LOKASH
Loukas/LOKASH and I (Rick) go a little ways back – him following (not like a tag-along, just in sequence) me as both a music director and Program Director at WNHU while attending the University of New Haven.  He still holds down a radio spot with the same name (Bassment Beats), but now on WESU (not coincidentally where I work part time weekday mornings).  He’s always been completely legit and what you might refer to as the real deal.  A Hip-Hop DJ, but not in simplest terms.  He’s got a diverse palate.  Worldly even.  He’s been seen supporting names like Sketch the Cataclysm (Antfarm Affiliates), Mizery Crew (Cardboard City), YC the Cynic (RDAC), Seme Rock (HiCru), Left Field Rhythms, Bisco Smith (Embedded/Ivee), and Blitz the Ambassador (EmbassyMVMT).
You might also know the name DJ LOKASH from DJ’ing in-store at past Redscroll events or from this past Record Store Day when we had him do a mix for us (CD included in the goodie-bag).  If you missed it it’s still available to download on his site here.
He’s currently involved in a contest to get on a show BET is doing (Master of the Mix).
The contest voting has now ended.
Interview time (Redscroll Questions in bold. LOKASH answers follow.)

 [LOKASH]

What introduced you to DJ’ing and then what lead all the way up to teaching at the Scratch Academy?  

I’m pretty sure the television was my first introduction to the DJ as a young kid. But my first exposure to vinyl was my father. When I was an infant I used to tear up his record collection and make a mess and scratch them up and stuff. Based on the records I ruined I had developed pretty good taste in-utero. I probably would have been ill back then if I had motor skills. From that it was just pause tapes for friends and then into collecting punk/HC/metal 7”s. I didn’t actually have access to turntables and a mixer until long after that when I was living in Queens. It was there that I started playing out and I didn’t start dealing with Scratch until after that in 2004 after living out on the West Coast for a while.
What cool experiences has that also lead to?
Um. There have been a bunch. I guess the first one that comes to mind is The Campus Invasion Tour with Muse. Overall any time the crowd and the vibes are good it’s a cool experience. Especially if you’re being properly compensated and leave feeling satisfied. I really try to connect with the crowd without having to be in their ear on a mic. 
[LOKASH & Common]

Meet any heroes?  Have any fun stories about any of that?

Yeah, a few actually. I met Paul Mooney backstage at an awards event at BB Kings that I was performing at with Blitz the Ambassador, and ended up in a crazy conversation about history and culture with MC Supernatural and Abiyodun from the Last Poets. He put me on to a movie called Good Bye Uncle Tom which is a very sobering film from a few decades back about the history of slavery. I highly recommend it.

How has your interest grown from the beginning of your DJ career?   I know you have more of a diverse approach these days – trying to bring in more than just hip-hop to your sets/the crowd.

Well I’ve always had very eclectic tastes in music and I think trying to really express that has become my mission. I love hip-hop and I do a lot with hip-hop, but I think it’s important to really draw everybody in to whatever vibe you’re trying to create, and it’s hard to try and figure out what songs you can weave together that will hold everybody’s interest while staying true to your own preferences and ideals. I think also more than ever the world is coming together and I really want to touch every single person in the world with music. Creating my own music that does that will be the next big hurdle to overcome.
[Rockin’ the RSR 2009 Shirt]

You’ve also been skating since a kid – has that ever worked against you in hip-hop?  Do people group you with the old backpackers?  I know that isn’t really a stigma right now, but it was for a second.  I know you also have a skating cameo in a Blitz video so it’s worked for you at times, right?

Yeah a bit, I know I used to skate around with one (backpack) for years. So… yeah, ha. I think ever since more corporate money started flooding into the sport over the past decade, it has changed the way it’s perceived. It’s not the same counter-culture that it used to be in a lot of ways. But it’s cool that it’s growing. I think in a lot of ways I get lumped into that backpacker group because of the music I generally play on my radio show, Bassment Beats. It also happens that a lot of those artists are supported by, or come from the skateboarding community as well. I’m hoping to be able to have more of a presence in some of the events and other things going on in the skateboard community. And just counter-culture in general. Some of my favorite gigs have been roller derby bouts just because of the diversity of music I get to play.
How has growing up in CT and living both there and in NYC directed you or influenced you?  The Third Unheard?
Well I definitely got exposed to a different cross sections of life at a younger age than I might have otherwise. Both of my parents are from the Bronx so there’s always been family in the city, but also being up in CT, it’s just a different vibe and a different way of life in a lot of ways. I think I have a certain appreciation for both that other people might not have. But all of the elements of hip-hop (graff, mc’ing, dj’ing, breaking, knowledge) combined with the skateboarding & the hardcore scenes all had a huge influence growing up as did the communities that fostered them. So in addition to all of the things that came out of NYC, you had people like Stezo, Egon, Dooley-O, Bel, Cycle, Donney Barley, Tony DaSilva, Rick Pelletier (RIP), Jasta 14, 76% Uncertain, Wide Awake, added to that list of influences when I was a kid.
When you first started traveling did that open your eyes to any stark regional differences that lead to any revelations (or even long after you first started now that you’re a world traveler)?  How does SxSW compare to playing in say Pereira or Bogotá?
Absolutely. Just moving from Queens to the Bay Area for a while was crazy. I mean talk about an area that is heavily steeped in it’s own regional culture. It was very eye opening for sure since that was the first time having to navigate a scene that wasn’t mine and wasn’t really trying to hear East Coast music like that. But yeah, it’s a whole different story when you’re abroad, especially if you’re not comfortable with the language. At that point you just have to do what you do and get the people to ride with you whether they want to or not. That’s when you realize that music is truly universal when you can take a big room full of strangers and get all of them to let their wall down for a little while to expand their mind and have a good time. 
Thanks to LOKASH for the time and definitely check out all his links and keep an ear and and eye out for him playing records on your radio, computer or live p.a. in your area.  Take a second and vote for him in that competition too.  I hesitated to use those banners with the big name advertising, but let’s just think about the ultimate goal here.  CT on top!
Estrogen Highs, Spotlight

Spotlight: Estrogen Highs

2 Comments
Spotlight: Estrogen Highs
[Newer band picture, but Stefan has in fact cut his hair since this.]
Estrogen Highs is a rock and roll band from New Haven, CT.  Garage Rock.  Started by Stefan Christensen and now a full fledged band, Estrogen Highs has become a staple and anchor (possibly some other objects too – all meant in the most flattering way) in the Connecticut do-it-yourself punk community.  We interviewed Stefan about all his current workings (minus his gig as the live guitarist for Medication – another band you should get familiar with; oh yea, Medication are playing Thursday at Popeye’s with Iceage). 
 [Stefan in some Polaroid style picture that seems to get used a lot.]
Interview with Johann Stefan Gall Christensen
(aka Stefan Christ):
Estrogen Highs started in your bedroom and got off to a rather languid start and now you’ve put out an LP, a 12″ EP and a 7″ within a matter of months.  Explain how you’ve gotten up to so much speed. 
I always had a lot of songs, it just took a long time to get it all together. The first few 7″s, LP, and cassette releases were recorded with a full band or by myself, playing every instrument. Either way it was pretty time consuming to get it all done. For the 2nd LP, 12″, and new 7″ we moved into a different recording style where we were piecing tracks together a bit at a time. This allowed us to record a whole lot of material in a relatively short period of time. Currently we are working on a new LP for Trouble in Mind Records from Chicago. This record is going to be a little different. Maybe a bit more Post Punk-ish.  Were also touring in mid August – doing 12 or 13 days out through Minneapolis and back.
[Older Band Picture]
You’ve also been doing a fair amount of playing out and touring.  Any fun stories?
Yes, we drove from Seattle to Minneapolis with only one day off in between. We also did this in January, so we ended up spending 37 straight hours in the van, excluding gas and food breaks. We went through mountain passes and white out blizzards. We got stuck in a parking lot in Idaho and the locals just laughed at us for about 10 or 15 minutes, until finally one of them hauled us out of there. By the time we got to Minneapolis we were completely drained and played a terrible set.


[GRAM001 – Estrogen Highs LP]

Outside of the band you’ve recently started up a label (Gramery Records) that you released the latest E. Highs LP on; any news on that front? Upcoming releases?
I’m pressing a band called Protomartyr to get me some recordings. They are an amazing band. Estrogen Highs have been lucky enough to play with them twice in Detroit and both times they were amazing. Unfortunately they are almost completely unknown outside of Michigan. I’ve heard practice recordings and they’re top notch. The midwest’s answer to The Fall – 30 years later. Hopefully I can get some recordings from them soon. Other than that we’re working on a few noise cassette releases. We have Chemical Fruits recordings, which is 2/3s of Tiger Hatchery and hopefully we will get recordings from Dan Duglieski soon. He is in Body Morph, Uneven Universe, Cardboard Sax, and various other projects.


Beyond the band and label you also got Popeye’s Garage up and running last year with a small group of friends.  You now run it with a more streamlined group.  How’d this all come about?  How are things going now and anything of the future to report?
Popeye’s is now just run by me and Kryssi. It came about last spring when we decided that New Haven needed a DIY show spot, specifically for doing strange music that just doesn’t work in a bar. We found the space through our friend. The owner of our building has employed a number of our friends, so we spoke to him and arranged the rental of part of it for doing shows. We “closed” last year when Yale was buying the building but the day the deal was supposed to close they backed out – not sure why. We were closed for most of the winter anyway because there is no heat in the building. Now we are back up and running. We’ve been doing 1 or 2 shows a week this year. It’s been a bit slower but we’re hoping things will start to pick back up soon.