Category: Alternative Rock

"DEER GOD RADIO 89: ALICE IN CHAINS" LIVE TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

3/29/2020

parodies by nacrowe

tonight's new episode of DEER GOD RADIO at 8PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC is focused on the phenomenal music from both acts of the career fo SEATTLE ALTERNATIVE ROCK icons ALICE IN CHAINS.

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!

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BOOK REVIEW | "ACID FOR THE CHILDREN" BY FLEA

3/9/2020

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photo by nacrowe

ACID FOR THE CHILDREN (GRAND CENTRAL, 2019) by legendary RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist FLEA is a poetic, thoughtful memoir that looks back on an unconventional childhood and attempts to make sense of how such influenced his life path. structurally this book is connected by a series of brief vignettes which adroitly mimic the fractured manner in which we carry our memories and define our self perception. i think for an artist that is celebrated for both his musicianship and his sensitivity, this was a good choice in that it allowed him to express his life in brief impressionistic chunks that don't necessarily need to relate to one another, but in totality relate a unique perspective on the author.

one prominent theme is the idea of parenthood. his conception, particularly of fatherhood, is complicated in that his mother leaving a conservative but principled husband for a bohemian failed jazz musician presented to contradictory models for manhood, both of which informed his self-perception.

this push and pull of discipline versus expression is seemingly everywhere in this book. jazz versus punk rock. his sensitive nature versus acting out without consideration for others. in a previous review (linked HERE) of bandmate ANTHONY KIEDIS' memoir SCAR TISSUE (HYPERION, 2004) i railed against him being an arrogant egoist who essentially mooched off his supremely gifted rhythmic section. at the close of this book, FLEA puts his dear friend in proper perspective, explaining that his non-musicianship provided the proper context to showcase the lightning in a bottle nature of their creative spark. it were these very qualities that i seemingly misread that unlocked their potential in that it forced them to come up with their music from a new angle, a different perspective. and i respect that.

reading this memoir, which again only dealt with his childhood up to the first RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS gig, made me consider my own similar upbringing as a THIRD CULTURE KID. though the term is never uttered in this book, to me the whole thing screams it. his constant search for a surrogate family is a common experience for those who move all the time, as FLEA surely did in transferring from AUSTRALIA to upstate NEW YORK to LOS ANGELES. his need for connection through the arts, first as a listener and furious reader and then as a musician and thespian, in a sense shows the fruits of his pursuit to find an extended safe zone. THIRD CULTURE KIDS are famous for being able to make connections and despite his insecure trepidations initially in each new locale, he found connections through basketball, music, mischief and (unfortunately) drugs.

ultimately this memoir is artfully written in a way i had hoped for as a fan of his music. my hope is that he follows this up with another one that takes us through his experiences with the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and the 90s ALTERNATIVE ROCK explosion.

one can hope.

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

2/16/2020

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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!

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"DEER GOD RADIO 81: DANIEL ASH" LIVE TONIGHT AT 9:30PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

2/2/2020

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parody by nacrowe

make sure to catch the latest streaming episode of DEER GOD RADIO TONIGHT at 9:30PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC. it's dedicated to the awesome textural majesty of POST PUNK / GOTH ROCK guitarist DANIEL ASH and his celebrated work in BAUHAUS, LOVE AND ROCKETS, TONES ON TAIL, POPTONE and his solo work/collaborations.

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!

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"DEER GOD RADIO 70: MIKE PATTON" NOW AVAILABLE

1/25/2020

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parody by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO dedicated to the enigmatic, wide-ranging career of the singular musical talent of MIKE PATTON, easily one of my all-time favorite musicians for his work in FAITH NO MORE, MR. BUNGLE, TOMAHAWK, FANTOMAS, PEEPING TOM and his various other collaborations over the years. this playlist really only scratches the surface of his impact and legacy.

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!

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CHECK OUT THIS ARTIST | MARK LANEGAN

1/24/2020

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photo manipulation by nacrowe

MARK LANEGAN is a national treasure. i feel bad comparing artists sometimes when they are both great, but for my tastes (as i explained in a recent DEER GOD RADIO episode dedicated to 4AD RECORDS) LANEGAN is the equal if not superior singer to his celebrated SEATTLE contemporary CHRIS CORNELL of SOUNDGARDEN.

first off, i love them both. in fact i have a whole DGR episode dedicated to SOUNDGARDEN. what separates them to me is the depth of feeling that LANEGAN seems to drive from. there is something primordial, immediate and just dark that comes off in his singing, like he is channeling some deep inner pain in the best tradition of BILLIE HOLIDAY. when i listen to CORNELL i admire his abilities as a lyricist foremost and his range second, but its like comparing ELLA FITZGERALD with BILLIE HOLIDAY. one has better range and diction and the other has the voice that is suffering incarnate.

if you are unfamiliar with LANEGAN or his work in SCREAMING TREES, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE or his solo work and collaborative albums, i highly suggest you check the dude out. definitely worth the effort.

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"DEER GOD RADIO 69: BECK" NOW AVAILABLE

1/15/2020

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parody by nacrowe

check out HERE this recent streaming video episode of DEER GOD RADIO complete with a playlist celebrating the enigmatic, shapeshifting career of 90s postmodern ALTERNATIVE ROCK icon BECK.

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!

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"BOOK REVIEW | "SCAR TISSUE" BY ANTHONY KIEDIS

1/6/2020

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photo by nacrowe

in the 80 and 90s with maybe the exception of scene favorites JANE'S ADDICTION and FISHBONE, the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS were the de facto definitive ALTERNATIVE band from LOS ANGELES. incorporating disparate elements of PUNK aggression with off-kilter FUNK feel and time signatures, their sound was unique in an era where originality was a virtue. their revolving door of guitarists (HILLEL SLOVAK, JOHN FRUSCIANTE, DAVE NAVARRO) and the foundational core of FLEA and CHAD SMITH provided one of the great rhythm sections of all-time.

but this is ANTHONY KIEDIS' memoir and i'm not gonna lie, he's the weak link in my opinion. i'll just say that up front. even on their best releases, his word-salad approach to lyrics and frat-boy demeanor and general public womanizing was something to be tolerated and not applauded (this is even more problematic given the later accusations that have come about in recent years way after the publication of this book).

getting my bias out of the way, SCAR TISSUE (HYPERION 2004) by ANTHONY KIEDIS and LARRY SLOMAN is mainly about the three major relationships of KIEDIS' life up until this point: his father BLACKIE DAMMETT, his best friend and bandmate FLEA and drugs, specifically heroin. for as much as this book is about his unconventional nomadic upbringing and later numerous trysts and relationships over the years, which all seemed pretty boring quite frankly, in the end I foung this book to be about an extroverts need for attention in a community only too willing to grant such.

i can only imagine what growing up with a failed-actor, drug-addled father would do to a young psyche. the messages spoken and unspoken about one's self-worth in a HOLLYWOOD community that trades on humans like they are commodities. not to mention how women were treated as arm candy in an ambitious arms race for fame and notoriety.

I found KEIDIS to be pretty shallow on most subjects in the book with the exceptions being his thoughts on those three relationships and how they informed him as a person. in some ways this book feels like a celebration of his friends and the LOS ANGELES artistic community that challenged and supported his band. for that I applaud him, but it doesn't alter the fact that on some level he's a LARS ULRICH-like impotent mouthpiece where his talk is supported by the actual talent and virtuosity of those around him.

or maybe i am too hard on him, this was written during a renaissance in his career after two successful reunion albums with legendary guitarist JOHN FRUSCIANTE. maybe he was coming to terms with the fact that he was a chauvinistic douche. i doubt it.

if you are fan of KIEDIS, definitely check out this book, if not do yourself a favor and listen to a FAITH NO MORE or MR. BUNGLE record. When is MIKE PATTON gonna put out a book, anyway?

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CHECK OUT THIS BAND | TORCHE

1/3/2020

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photo manipulation by nacrowe

one of the things that always turned me off of METAL and ALTERNATIVE ROCK in general were the fans. i don't think i'm all alone in that. too often the atmosphere at ROCK shows seemed to cater to some dumbed down, conservative mindset that wasn't inclusive of women or multiple varieties of masculinity. in fact, i can remember going to OZZFEST years back in high school, pre 9/11 and feeling this weight of all the total right-wing bullshit that was flying around both on-stage and from the crowd. had these people never read OZZY's lyrics to "War Pigs" or maybe the better question is could they read those lyrics.

TORCHE is a powerful, anthemic modern STONER ROCK/SLUDGE METAL outfit from MIAMI whose members had previously played in respected underground bands FLOOR and CAVITY. for me their music hits that emotional sweet spot that splits the difference between the brutality and advance technicality of modern METAL while also indulging in sustained feedback and looped harmonics that are indicative of SHOEGAZE. seems almost besides the point (and really, who cares?) to mention that vocalist/guitarist STEVE BROOKS is one of the few openly gay men in METAL. much like ROB HALFORD before him, my hope is that this increased exposure will end this common denominator, caveman-like posturing that has plagued METAL shows forever. has no place now unless you live in TRUMP country. in that case, drag you knuckles away.

TORCHE is a tremendous band and their new album ADMISSION just takes it all to another level. highly recommended.

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DOUBLE-HEADER DEER GOD RADIO TONIGHT AT 8PM EST ON MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC

12/22/2019

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parodies by nacrowe

tonight starting at 8PM on MAKERPARKRADIO.NYC there will be another double-bill of two separate DEER GOD RADIO episodes showcasing NEW WAVE OF BRITISH HEAVY METAL bands and maverick shapeshifting 90s icon BECK!

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!

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