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BOOK REVIEW | "TEN WAYS NOT TO COMMIT SUICIDE" BY DARRYL MCDANIELS

2/17/2020

photo by nacrowe

it must be a special breed of curse to be celebrated for something that you felt little ownership of in creating. such was the case with DARRYL "DMC" MCDANIELS of the legendary NYC HIP HOP group RUN-DMC as detailed in his memoir TEN WAYS NOT TO COMMIT SUICIDE (AMISTAD, 2016) where he details how allowed a situation to foster where his voice was not respected or given attention, which led to drowning out his frustration in alcohol and long fugues of intense depression. his story is one of coming to terms with himself and establishing parameters in his life through the support of family.

speaking of family, one interesting aspect of this memoir is his coming to terms with learning that he was adopted as an adult. at first this was a cutting revelation that cut to the core of his identity, but over time he learned that he only gained a new family. with his voice in tatters due to an unusual congenital defect in his larynx and his relation with REVEREND RUN nonexistent, this new information freed him to learn about himself through advocacy and charitable work associated with orphans, adoptees and foster children.

for me what was interesting about this book was his self-expressed nerddom as a child being interested in reading and comic books and school. the RUN-DMC thing happened as a lark that turned into a career wavering to the expectations of record companies and yes-men that didn't have his interests at heart. the fact that HIP HOP stardom was something that got in the way of his original pursuits in college is beyond interesting.

ultimately he concludes that being of use to people and helping others is what he values in his life, not chasing fame or record sales or reality television. one other thing, REVEREND RUN comes off horrible in this memoir. he seems very much like someone focused on chasing money and uses those around him to that end. even his spirituality is called into question due to his association with a prosperity ministry which basically is made of televangelists using him for his clout with the urban community. makes sense but seems sad nonetheless that RUN would be so susceptible to being involved in such a cult. be apparently he is.

if you are a fan of DMC and appreciate brutally honest memoirs, the healing power of music, and the redeeming power of family, this book is certainly for you. if you like your nostalgic vision of classic RUN-DMC unscathed and untarnished, definitely look elsewhere.

"DEER GOD RADIO 84: NEW ORDER" LIVE TONIGHT AT 6PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

2/17/2020

parody by nacrowe

tonight's new episode of DEER GOD RADIO at 6PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC is all about the legendary SYNTHPOP band NEW ORDER who famously emerged from the ashes of POST-PUNK icons JOY DIVISION. this show has been a long time coming and i can't wait.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD RADIO 83: BLUR" LIVE TONIGHT AT 930PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

2/16/2020

parody by nacrowe

tonight's new streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO at 930PM EST on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC is all about 90s BRITPOP / INDIE ROCK outfit BLUR. soooooo very much looking forward to gushing about my admiration for DAMON ALBARN and GRAHAM COXON, who i first heard when visiting a relative in ENGLAND back in the mid-90s. hopefully i wont go on too long but this band basically is my childhood!

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

"DEER GOD RADIO 82: DOMINO RECORDS" LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

2/16/2020

parody by nacrowe

tonight's new streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO at 8PM EST on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC is focused on the influential BRITISH record label DOMINO RECORDS and their expansive yet highly eclectic roster of notable artists over the years.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

NEW "MAKE HER SPACE" EPISODE WITH GUEST JACKIE BLUE AVAILABLE NOW

2/15/2020

pattern by nacrowe

watch the latest streaming episode HERE of MAKE HER SPACE as MAGIE and JEN welcome JACKIE BLUE, manager of NITECAP MEGASTORE, the self described "biggest, cleanest, dirtiest" sex store in STATEN ISLAND. this is an episode for the ages so enjoy.

past episodes of MAKE HER SPACE as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like DEER GOD RADIO, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

NEW "SYNTHESIZER SHOW" EPISODE AVAILABLE NOW

2/14/2020

cover by nacrowe

click HERE for the most recent episode of THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC where Reed and Vince present another stellar playlist made up of electronic music by friends, colleagues and artist on the VERY RECORDS label, and maybe even a sneak preview at a new ERASURE track.

as always, you can access all past episodes of THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW via the DEER GOD website as well as those of MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, DEER GOD RADIO and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

CHECK OUT THIS BAND | CSS

2/14/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

i came across the SÃO PAULO-based INDIE ROCK band CSS in the early 2000s when i was reading culture BRITISH magazines like DAZED AND CONFUSED and SLEAZENATION (remember that one?), both of whom were celebrating the rise of ELECTROCLASH and NO WAVE-inspired INDIE acts on both sides of the pond.

what i loved about CSS (who sadly haven't released any new material since 2013 in the wake of member changes) was their decidedly amateurish, carefree danceable sound that was both goofy and infectious. their music is just fun. and their front-woman LOVEFOXXX is joy personified.

definitely check them out.

"DEER GOD RADIO 74: 4AD RECORDS" NOW AVAILABLE

2/13/2020

parody by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO dedicated to the influential BRITISH independent record label 4AD RECORDS.

past episodes of DEER GOD RADIO as well as other MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC shows like MAKE HER SPACE, NOWHERE FAST, THE SYNTHESIZER SHOW and CLASSICAL-ISH WITH NUTMEG are available here at the DEER GOD website.

and if you haven't done so already get the FREE PHONE APP for IOS/ANDROID and enjoy listening to MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC 24/7 at your convenience!

THROWBACK THURSDAY | THE EASTERN CONDITION "OFF THE M" LIVE PERFORMANCE

2/13/2020

photos by nacrowe

back in the winter of 2019 when we were engaged in the filming, mixing and editing of our live performance video series OFF THE M we came across THE EASTERN CONDITION, which was the POST-HARDCORE/METALCORE house band (of sorts) at TRANS-PECOS. this would prove to be the last one we made and although it is short in length, it punches bigger than its weight in overall brutality and visual effect chaos.

looking back, this series was a blast to make and it was cool getting acquainted with rising bands in the local scene of various genres. looking forward should the opportunity arise again to do something similar.

SPOTLIGHT | JAMES DEAN

2/12/2020

photo manipulation by nacrowe

i always find it interesting how as a child you are able to identify quality in the art you are taken by without regard for things like context. as a pre-teen having just arrived in NIGERIA, i saw NICHOLAS RAY's iconic REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (WARNER BROS, 1955) and, like everyone else for several generations, was immediately hooked on JAMES DEAN and his emotional performance as a troubled young person attempting to find his way in a hostile new environment.

it felt like my situation. in the world of REBEL the locale was SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA hooliganism with knives, fast cars and macho posturing. for me it was living on a remote compound surrounded by the racist redneck offspring of TEXAS and LOUISIANA oilmen where the weapons were words and micro-aggressions against our AFRICAN hosts. it was hard to deal with.

after watching REBEL i quickly sought out ELIA KAZAN's cinemascope epic retelling of JOHN STEINBECK's CAIN and ABEL-inspired EAST OF EDEN (WARNER BROS, 1955) which similarly found DEAN's character a trouble miscreant in search of identity. the film finds his character seeking out his mother, the owner of a gambling-and-lord-knows-what-else establishment on the wrong side of town, who is the polar opposite of his preaching, holier-than-thou father, only to be rejected.

what i found compelling about the work of DEAN, then and now was his ability to capture the emotional integrity of a scene. in true METHOD ACTING fashion his acting was more about being, it was more about reacting. i appreciate tons of other actors that have followed his lead over the years including JOHNNY DEPP, DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN, SEAN PENN, EDWARD NORTON, JOAQUIN PHEONIX and DENNIS HOPPER as well as his peers like MARLON BRANDO and MONTGOMERY CLIFT. what separates those two perfect touchstone performances was his intensity.

because of that he has been my favorite actor since childhood.