Season 2: Destroy Everything

Like any great reality series or semi-reality blog series, Season 2 always has some character and element changes. I have been kidnapped by a different set of rockstars this time and we are taking our traveling freak show across the pond. This next series will Hatebreed and me, as we travel to the Ukraine, Ireland, United Kingdom, Belgium, and Israel.

Season 1 relied heavily on the hijinks of Misha, Buske, and Martin, and ignored the existence of everyone else in the band. Hey, when stars are developing, you have to run with it. I am unsure who will be prominently featured at this point, we will have to just wait and see who does the dumbest things first and then most frequently.

Character introduction is key to any new reader, so let me introduce the Cast and Crew of Hatebreed’s Destroy Everything UK 2007 semi-reality-blog:

Frank “3 Gun” Novinec – Frank is Hatebreed’s newest member, and resident rager. He earned his stripes by playing in 2 of the greatest Cleveland Hardcore bands ever; Ringworm and Integrity. He simultaneously worked at National Tire and Battery, evaded the IRS, sold weed, raised a child, and spent $10,000 on the 1996 Kiss reunion tour. Later, he joined America’s 3^rd favorite hardcore band; Terror. He is a personal hero and close friend.

Beattie – Some people are known by their last names only. They are mostly high school football players that push you into your locker. Beattie isn’t a high school football player, but he will push you into your locker.

Wayne Lozinak – Wayne is Hatebreed’s original guitar player (Demo, Neglect Split, Under the Knife) and now he is Frank and Beattie’s tech. Weird, right? Before Wayne started teching last summer, he owned and operated a coffee truck that preyed on weak minded individuals on their lunch break. Wayne has a tendency to get completely drunk with his Bridgeport, CT. brother, Beattie. This has ended in disastrous results, most notably, Wayne attempting to fight a gang of 10 Turks on the first day of Hatebreed’s fall Euro tour. When Beattie attempted to intervene, he had his wrist broken in the melee. Wayne was sent home from the tour, Carl from First Blood (ex-Terror/Sworn Vengeance) was brought in to replace Beattie. Wayne has since been forbidden to drink alcohol on tour and is now quitting Hatebreed to tech for Rihanna. You know, “S.O.S” Rihanna. Wayne is going from sweaty dudes to a ripe Barbados teenager. That my friends, is an upgrade.

Sean Martin a.k.a. F.Sean – Hatebreed guitarist since 1999. Sean has shown me that anything is possible. What other neckless, convict looking, hardcore guitarist gets into the rap game at age 35? Sean makes power moves, people. He is producing half of Cage’s upcoming album, owns Brass City Tattoo, and is the mastermind behind the heavily hyped bands; X.O. Skeletons and House of Blow (alongside Darryl Palumbo). Look for Sean to do big things in life and the Cockblockin’ blog.

Matt Byrne – Matt is an amazing human. Not only was he an ex-member of All Out War, he can sing Joe Walsh better than anyone except Joe Walsh. Matt is the king of harmonizing at the front lounge I-Pod party.

Jamey Jasta – What can be said? Jamey is an absolute mad scientist. Founder of Stillborn Records (who released Death Threat’s “Last Dayz”), Devastation Management, and well….Hatebreed. He has recently formed 2 side projects, Icepick (w/ Lord Ezec) and Kingdom of Sorrow (w/ Kirk from Crowbar), and is also the well publicized host of “MTV 2’s Headbanger’s Ball.” Jamey and I will be filming our new reality series; “Stillborn Records: The Condo” this coming fall.

Danny – Hatebreed’s European Soundman. Danny is one of the nicest humans ever and has done sound for Dropkick Murphys, Sick Of It All, Leeway, and Madball amongst countless others.

Marcus Schlumpf – Hatebreed’s European Tour Manager since their first trip in 2000. Marcus hails from Berlin, Germany, has face tattoos, and rivals Beattie and Sean in pure sketchiness.

Jedi Mind Tricks with Sean Price

I ventured to the Grog Shop last Wednesday in an all out blizzard (yes, a blizzard in April; this is Cleveland, OH) for an evening of underground Hip-Hop that featured Jedi Mind Tricks with opening act, Sean Price.

Price started the night off by performing tracks from his newly released album, "Jesus Price Superstar," which is certified Platinum in the Terror tour tour van. He rapped alongside frequent collaborator, Rustee Juxx and they did all they could to get the crowd of 200 cold Ohioans warmed up from the weather outside and for Jedi Mind Tricks who would follow. Price would often stop the beat and rap A Capella which helped all in attendance see how complex his flows are, and how effortlessly he executes them.

I went to the show expecting Sean Price to wow me but it was Jedi Mind Tricks who really dominated the card. They were the headliner for a reason and they got everyone jumping and singing along immediately. Vinnie Paz was accompanied by Crypt The Warchild (1/2 of the duo; Outerspace as well as a member of the Hip-Hop super group; Army Of The Pharaohs) and they were a great tandem. They had such great chemistry, it appeared like they were a group themselves.

Rumors of a Terror and Jedi Mind Tricks U.S. tour have been circulating for some time, and this night showed me that this tour might just work. Everything that is present at a Terror show was present on this night. There were drunken idiots, people "moshing" (lollapalooza '92 style), girls beating up guys, guys beating up guys, bands stopping and threatening to beat up people who were beating up people, bands telling people to stop beating everyone up because they are the ones that get banned from every club and get the bad reputation from it. Wow, It was such deja-vu that at times I felt like I was back at work slinging cotton for America's 3rd favorite Hardcore band.

Jedi Mind Tricks performed material from the majority of their albums as well as a few tracks off of the recent Army Of The Pharaohs group release. A visibly intoxicated Sean Price even came out and did his guest verse that was featured on 2004's "Legacy Of Blood", although Price forgot most of the lyrics, it got the entire crowd and Vinny Paz laughing. After 1 encore and plenty of memorable moments, the show concluded around 2 a.m. Immediately following their set, Jedi Mind Tricks greeted the fans by the merch table and closed the night by drinking all the remaining alcohol in the bar.

300

What can be said about this movie that has not already been said? The film lived up to the hype and is an absolute fanboy masterpiece. It has the requisite gruesome violence, wart covered inbreds, and Spartan era doggystyle sex that makes sitting in a theater for 2 hours enjoyable. I have seen the movie 3 times, in 2 different states, and once on an IMAX screen, which made Queen Gorgo’s tits appear bigger than my house. I must say though that the first time I saw the movie was the most enlightening, because after the movie had ended, the two young African-American gentleman sitting next to me exclaimed, “My Nigga Leonidas, was gangsta!” Indeed he was, fellow Countrymen, indeed he was.

Cockblockin' approved.

Mr. Slow Flow

Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) just dropped his debut; "The Weatherman LP." It is definitely worth picking up. Here is the first video from the release:




http://www.myspace.com/evidence

Clipse - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA - 3/1/2007

It was such a low key event; that I had no idea that the Clipse were about to perform, until the lights came on and Pusha T and Malice were standing onstage in all their Bathing Ape and Ice Cream glory diving directly into “Momma, I’m So Sorry.” The Clipse don’t fear Tubbs and Crockett and neither did the Pittsburgh crowd of about 300 on this evening, as they loudly finished the chorus for the group.

After only 1 song, I knew that the Clipse were about to deliver the best Hip-Hop show that I have ever witnessed. No flashy lights, no annoying hypeman, no drawn out introduction; just 2 dudes, with 2 mics, giving a 45 minute intricately spit ode to cocaine.

The group focused primarily on their new "XXL rated" album, "Hell Hath No Fury." They did delve into some older material off of the "We Got It For Cheap" mixtapes and a few tracks off of their previous LP, "Lord Willin." They brought out Re-Up Gang member, Ab-Liva, to perform his verses on "Cot Damn" and "Ride Around Shining," the former being one of the best received songs of the evening.

They didn't spend too much time talking, but they did thank the fans who have supported their "Eastcoast lyric driven cocaine rap" throughout the years. They said Lil Wayne "wasn't shit" and called him a "kissing cousin" (due to his affinity for kissing his "father", Baby.) They also released a brief statement to their current record label by saying, "Fuck Jive!"

The set went by all too fast, but I was able to truly grasp what I was witnessing: greatness. I will stress again the simplicity of the performance, but that is what made it special, because these are two rappers who are not only great on wax, these are two people who haven't forgotten the long lost art of the Hip-Hop live show.


Setlist:

Momma I'm So Sorry
We Got It For Cheap
What Happened To That Boy?
Keys Open Doors
Pussy
Ride Around Shining (Feat. Ab Liva)
Cot Damn (Feat. Ab Liva)
Chinese New Year
Virginia
Grindin'
Wamp Wamp (What It Do)
Mr. Me Too











P.S. They didn't have merch. I had heard great stories about how they used to sell CLIPSE aprons at their shows. Wait, why would you need a CLIPSE apron? Oh, I get it!

"Creepin On Ah Comeback!"

This year marks the major label return of Cleveland's biggest hip hop group, Bone Thugs N' Harmony, and a new album from the almighty Ringworm;Cleveland's longest standing hardcore unit. Both of these releases are equally important in the quest to make this city known as more than the "mistake by the lake."

Ringworm have never gotten the true respect that they deserve and have always lived in Integrity's shadow in the eyes of many. Unlike Integrity, Ringworm have NEVER put out a bad album, their last one actually contained moments of sheer excellence. Ringworm has been a band for the 2nd time longer than most bands are for the first time (9 years)! The Human Furnace is actually more evil than Dwid and has eaten his own dog's shit before. Frank "3 Gun" came back to help with the writing process for the new album and early reports say it sounds like Ringworm mixed with a heavy Suicidal Tendencies/Kreator influence! Ringworm will never be "jocked" and they will never sell a lot of records. What they will do is drink all of your beer, be the biggest cult band in hardcore, and continue to write modern crossover classics 16 years after their original incarnation first took the stage wearing John Wayne Gacy makeup. Look for their new album, "The Ninth Circle," on Victory Records this summer.

Bone Thugs N' Harmony have sold over 35 million records and won a Grammy Award in 1997. They need no introduction. Actually, they might! They have been out of the limelight for quite sometime and the only time you hear about them is when Bizzy Bone (no longer in the group) is on Texas radio speaking in tongues. Although the loss of Bizzy will certainly affect the group, Bone's are true pioneers of many of the styles of hip-hop that are in heavy rotation today, and here is to hoping they can once again make people take note of the Midwest.

Cockblockin' wishes both groups a successful 2007.


Below you will find the new music video of Bone Thugs N' Harmony's new single, "I Tried" that Universal Music Group doesn't want you to see...yet.

Terror Tour 2/17/2007

Buske and I stayed at Martin’s and slept on the couch with his strange array of cats. He isn’t a “Cat Guy” yet, but he is close. My aunt is a “Cat Lady.” It’s sad that the only thing anybody knows about her is that she likes cats and alcohol and all her birthday or Christmas presents are restricted to those two categories.

My cousin got shot once and tried to cover it up to protect his friend (the shooter). My aunt was interrogating people, following people, showing up unannounced at homes, until she eventually found the shooter herself and got him arrested. She was on the local news and they called her, “Marshall Mom.” My cousin actually served more jail time than the shooter because he initially lied to the police and said "a black guy" did it.

All good things must come to an end, and on the 17th day of the 2nd month of the calendar year of 2007, The All For Revenge United States Tour did just that. The final show was completely sold out and held at the Showcase Theatre in Corona, CA. There couldn’t have been a better finale to a great tour.

War of Ages kicked off the show with some technical difficulties forcing them to play a short set. They will be back soon as part of the Facedown Festival at the Glasshouse. Terror can’t play at the Glasshouse. I’m surprised Terror can play anywhere with their past history of “riots” and their current trend involving Fat Jugs Hernandez threatening promoters and large security men at every other show.

Stick To Your Guns really showed that they are an on the verge of something major with their performance. The sing-along to the only Stick To Your Guns song that people know was DEAFENING.

All Shall Perish once again played over their set time. When Fat Jugs Hernandez went to rectify the situation, he was assaulted by their female stage potatoes. They threw him off the stage and repeatedly kicked him in the penis and testicles. When he went outside, more drama ensued. I am not really sure what happened because I was upstairs dealing with young, sweaty, impatient children attempting to buy concert memorabilia, but I heard it was quite interesting. In a Dekalb, IL barn circa 1991, “Mean” Steve Murad once said, “Equal rights mean equal lefts.” You can read Martin’s thoughts on the incident at www.guttermagic.blogspot.com.

I personally don’t have a problem with any bands with the exception of Chiodos and Trivium. I really don’t even have a problem with them, I just say it to look cool and make it look like I am involved in some sort of “rock beef”, in hopes that it will spike my own album’s soundscan when it drops. I didn’t mind anyone in All Shall Perish. I don’t really know what happened. The only thing that bothered me about them was that their guitar player took his guitar into a shopping mall and proceeded to play wailing solos in the food court. Seriously.


The Warriors played an inspired set that really got the crowd fired up. This band really grew on me throughout the tour and I expect big things out of them. I appreciate the fact that they really bring something different to the table yet are still undeniably hardcore. Everyone in the band looks completely different and appears that they should not be in a band together. It reminds me of high school when you would occasionally see a group comprised of jocks, burnouts, and preppy girls. What could possibly bring those groups together? Drugs, of course.


Marshall is a complete tweaker. He isn’t a tweaker in the traditional sense where he snorts homemade “Scat” from a pen and later uses it to thwart an alien attack, he is just a weirdo who has accompanying hand gestures for every statement he makes. His hand gestures remind me of an older kid on the back of the school bus trying to show a 7th grader how to properly fingerblast a girl. If he, Scott Wade, and Misha were ever drunk in the same room, my head would implode. Javier is a man-child with strange hair. They used to call Shawn Kemp a man-child when he first started in the NBA. Then his scoring average dipped while his illegitimate children average rose. Of course, that happened when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Can Cleveland ever catch a break?

During Terror I realized that most people don’t know how to stage-dive. They get onstage and have to run all the way to the back of the drum riser to have a huge running start before they eventually jump. On their way, they always seem to knock into someone actually playing a musical instrument knocking it out of tune or breaking it. It's obviously not important for the band to actually be able to play, what sense would that make? I see why Frank 3 Gun always wanted to play with 15 foot barricades separating him from the animals. On this day some jack-off ran into Buske’s bass smashing it against the wall. Sick. All you need to do is get on stage, take one step, Jump and in midair twist your body. It's actually a pretty dumb thing when you think about it, so maybe you shouldn't even do it. You like a band, so you go to see a live exhibition of their music, you get so inspired by their rock songs that you stand onstage next to the band, and then proceed to jump off of the stage onto other concertgoer's heads. Yeah, weird.

The show ended, no one got beat up (except Fat Jugz, by 2 girls), and everyone had fun (except Fat Jugz because he got beat up by 2 girls). We loaded out, said our goodbyes to the bands we just toured with, and Buske and I headed back to Martin’s house for another night of cats, Celebreality, and high speed internet.