More Real Than Realism
Sacramento Theatre Experiment
If it wasn’t for the lights, I probably would have missed it. As it was, I drove back and forth past it three times, wondering if I was in the right place. From the outside, it looked more like a warehouse than a theatre, but after I parked, I saw an unlit sign on the roof: California Stage. Read more
The Sideshows of Suffering
Winter will soon be coming to an end and Spring will bring fun times in the sun and many festivities. Families will be getting together to attend events such as rodeos, circuses and fairs. At these events, you may also spot a few vegans or animal rights activists, only they aren’t there to enjoy the show. Chances are they are there to enlighten people about the suffering of animals that goes on behind closed doors.
We have read many articles and watched videos pertaining to animal cruelty, but after watching a documentary called “Earthlings,” we realized the importance of bringing forth awareness about these animals that become slaves to the entertainment business. “Earthlings,” narrated by actor Joaquin Phoenix, goes into great depth about speciesism and how humans are completely dependent on animals, all the while treating them with complete disrespect. Speciesism is discrimination against other species, a term most used by animal rights activists when referring to the way humans put animals on a lower scale of importance when it comes to their quality of life vs. our own. Vegans believe in equality for all sentient beings and don’t feel it is right to exploit or torture animals.
Growing up, you may have attended rodeos and circuses. At rodeos, most people seem to focus on the cowboys as they cling onto bucking horses for dear life and lassoing the small cows, making the cowboys appear as the skilled “heroes” of the show. At circuses, you have been amazed at the talented animals marching, standing on one leg, balancing a ball on their nose, and a number of other unnatural things you wouldn’t see if that animal were in its natural habitat. These animals are being denied their freedom and their choice to live a natural life. Instead, they are being abused and tortured to submit and learn these amazing “tricks” to get your attention and keep the revenue flowing into the hands of the people who exploit them.
This animal abuse has been documented and videotaped and can easily be reviewed on the Internet by anyone. There is plenty of footage of cowboys caught on camera, beating and shocking cattle. There are also severe injuries involving cattle who are lassoed at rodeos, as it mercilessly damages their necks and backs. Circus animals are spiked and beaten until they do as they are told. Trainers encourage new trainers to use force when the animals don’t “listen.” Surely, human entertainers such as trapeze artists and jugglers would never tolerate that sort of abuse. They have rights; the animals don’t.
Yet, animals enjoy freedom, feel pain, and experience emotions just as we do.
When most people see animal rights activists at these events, they are usually passing out flyers and providing information about the abuse these animals endure. Most people snap at them as they try to hide their children from this information, in fear that they may be exposed to the inconvenient truth. When you take your child to rodeos, circuses, or a petting zoo, your child may have no idea what is to become of these animals that fascinated them. Educate yourself on these facts. Subvert the dominant paradigm. Make the compassionate choice.
For more information, please visit RodeoAbuse.com and Circuses.com, which also provides information about animal-free circuses. Until next time, take care, and VEG OUT! –The Vegans. .
March 2008
IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW ALREADY
• Members from Monster Squad start new projects: Build Us Airplanes - has members of Monster Squad, Unalaska, Anne Ramsey and Execution Style myspace.com/buildusairplanes Pullout - has members of Monster Squad, Dcoi And Rosevere myspace.com/pulloutpunx
• Scott Weiland pleaded innocent on March 5 to driving under the influence of drugs, a charge stemming from his November arrest on a Los Angeles freeway onramp. The singer for the band Velvet Revolver entered his plea to the misdemeanor charge through a defense attorney. Weiland is free on $40,000 bail and was due back in court for a pretrial hearing on April 4.
IN & OUT OF THE STUDIO
• Metro Sunday are set to hit the studio in June to get a full length album out.
• FILTER’s new album, “Anthems for the Damned,” is set for release in May. The CD’s first single, “Soldiers of Misfortune,” was inspired by a FILTER fan who joined the U.S. military for college tuition and was subsequently shipped to Iraq and killed there.
• Korn guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer will release the debut album from his new project, dubbed Fear And The Nervous System, on August 8 via Munky’s own label, Emotional Syphon Recordings.
• Blame It On The Sex will be working with Life of Agony guitarist Joey Z. on their debut full-length.
• Repaid in Blood has completed work on their debut album Follow the Blood Trail, with a release scheduled for later this month.
OUT ON TOUR
• Formed in Orange County California in 1990, Willowtip recording artists Phobia will be heading out on tour in August and September.
• Los Angeles band OTEP announced national tour dates starting March 30th in New Mexico.
• Death Angel and God Forbid will team up for a U.S. tour beginning in May.
• Los Angeles-based noise rock quartet Health has launched a 40-day which kicked off in San Francisco March 8th.
March 2008
1. Carry The Torch - myspace.com/carrythetorchmusic
Sacramento’s Carry the Torch is a unique incarnation among the scene’s hardcore bands. They came out of thin air abruptly getting signed to Detonate records, releasing their debut cd Dead Weather and then heading across the nation for a full-on tour. With five members from eclectic music backgrounds this group seriously has the heart of a band that deserves big things. With emotional power driven lyrics to precise hardcore guitars, they have the sound of a band that’s been together for years.
2. Ugly - myspace.com/uglydaughter
Ugly is Adam McIntire-Hull (Vocals), Elvis Le (Guitar), Jonny Shidler (Drums) and Nick Kellermann (Bass/Synth). This metal/rock outfit from Sacramento has been blowing up the local scene with recognition all over the place. They won a battle of the bands in late 2007 and have received great reviews. singer Adam McIntire-Hull is formely of the local independent hip-hop group The Cawz. Bringing diversity to this metal/rock group. They recently bought their own tour bus (lucky) and plan to head out across the US soon.
3. Mind Furnace - mindfurnace.net
Based in Sacramento, this Thrash-Metal monster has left a lasting impression on the Northern California metal scene in the past three years. Formed in 2004 by former HABEAS CORPUS vocalist, the band released an album entitled A Shadow at the Gallows in May of 2007. With this release they’ve received airplay throughout the US and have a slew of shows lined up for 2008. They deliver hard, fast, old-school style metal.
4. The Disgusteens - myspace.com/thedisgusteens
Hailing from Vacaville, this young, four-piece punk group started in 2007. A good old fashioned punk band full of lewd lyrics and fast paced music. They are Derek Hazard on vocals Joe Friday on guitar, Paul Redd on bass and Adam Latrine on drums. They have some shows booked, so check them out.
5. Der Spazm - myspace.com/derspazm
From Elk Grove, this Indie rock/experiemental group has four members, with a different style of musical influence. Half estrogen with a female guitarist and a female bassist and half testosterone with male drummer and male guitar and vocals they claim, “Our music is not for the manufactured main stream, we are not boring and sure as hell don’t sound like anyone else!”
