Call Me An F-U-tarian
In this day and age there seems to be more and more emphasis put on concerns about what others may think of us. Being vegan is especially difficult when trying to explain to the ever-nosy stranger why we don’t eat or use animal products. For this issue we’d like to address some common stereotypes and misconceptions of veganism.
To the general lay person, the term “vegan” in itself is unknown, but as soon as we say “vegetarian” the likely reply is “oh, so you don’t eat meat?” It’s almost as if “vegan” is perceived as an artsy abbreviation to make one appear “cool.” This, of course, is not the case. After some brief explanation, the uninformed questioner will either blow it all off as a fad or begin the drilling and snide remarks.
When coming across the few who know the basis behind our beliefs, there’s a whole new array of judgments and accusations. The first of many assumptions thrown our way is the preconceived notion of vegans being militant animal rights activists who force their opinions onto others. PETA also comes up often and is looked down upon as an almost terrorist-like organization. Of course, there is always a degree of truth behind a stereotype. After all, that’s what makes a stereotype in the first place. But, lest we forget, a stereotype is also made up of fabrication and unfounded falsehoods.
Speaking for ourselves, and the very few vegans we know or have met, we don’t push our beliefs onto people. We’ll answer questions and provide information when asked out of curiosity. The vast majority of our friends and family are not vegan. We accept each other. We go out to eat together. We live and work together. Life goes on as it does for each of us. It would be nice if we could save every animal and help lead others to this lifestyle, but we are realistic in understanding that we cannot change the world. By no means does this mean that we won’t try to a certain extent. We do support animal rights, but we won’t get in your face unless you want us to. And by that we mean don’t confront us with your intolerance and concern for what we don’t eat or wear. We don’t judge you for being Christian, a non-drinker, Republican or homosexual. Everyone deserves a right to be who they are and to coexist.
As vegans, we don’t necessarily fit into the general consensus. There are no straight-edge, tree-hugging, only-organic health nuts here. We listen to metal, watch horror movies, drink until we black out and eat as much vegan junk food as we possibly can. We don’t all have pasty white skin (well, maybe Chris) or eat nothing but tofu. If anything, this here couple would more likely have horns and eat your children. This alone should be a primary example of not judging one solely by their beliefs or convictions. You never really know who it is you’re meeting until you actually take the time to get to know them and understand their personal views on life.
Empathy is a trait we should all try on once in a while.
So until next time, take care and VEG OUT!
September 2008
This feature in Fringe is just a little spot to read up on some local scene news. If you have some news e-mail it to charlie@fringemag.com
IF YOU DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW
• Sacramento’s Kennel Club had some drama and some rumors went out that the shows booked for the club were all cancelled. According to an email I received from a booker/promoter
“The owner did not consider them cancelled.
In short the kennel club is still doing live music, bands who are scheduled from Sept. on who aren’t listed on ad’s or have touched base with me (Mary Caria) are urged to contact us now so they can retain their date! ” So if you have a show call Tom (Kennel Club owner) or Mary.
• VFW Hall in Orangevale is shutting it’s doors to live shows this month.
• A brand new old one, Club Bisla is the new name of the old Cattle Club/Library/Bojangles and will be opening soon. The new booker promises live shows and great things for the scene!
IN AND OUT OF THE STUDIO
• Mastadon is currently in the studio recording their new album and I heard from a reliable source that the new stuff is “amazing!”
• Bleeding Through’s new album DECLARATION will be released Sept. 30.
• Reunited California-based metallers D\étente - featuring vocalist Ann Boleyn (Hellion) and guitarist Michael Carlino (Fear Of God) alongside original D\étente members Dennis Butler (drums), Caleb Quinn (guitar) and Steve Hochheiser (bass)
will release “History I” a CD containing the original four-song demo from the band plus the demo from the post-D\étente band Catalepsy on Sept 30.
• Reunited progressive metallers Cynic - whose 1993 album “Focus” is regarded as a landmark release in the field of technical/progressive metal - will release their new album, “Traced In Air” on October 28 via Season of Mist Records
• Alice In Chains will enter the studio in October to begin recording its first all-new studio effort since 1995’s self-titled third album.
ON TOUR
• Sacramento’s Will Haven have headed over to Europe to tour with My Own Private Alaska.
• Riverside based extreme metal quintet Suicide Silence will embark on a massive headlining tour this fall, dubbed the “Cleansing The Nation” tour.
LINE-UP CHANGES
• Santa Cruz, -based death metallers Brain DrilL have announced the addition of drummer Joe Bondra from Pennsylvania to the group
Tribe Of Levi
Tribe Of Levi consists of Sacramento residents POOR, NON, MIC JORDAN, and DJ FILTH. Unsatisfied with the current state of the art, these purists have taken it upon themselves to make the music they wish they were hearing: technically advanced raps about meaningful subject matter, spit over dope beats. TRIBE OF LEVI strives to bring hiphop back to an era when reputations were built on live shows, when only the best rappers became superstars, when an MC was more concerned with his craft than his image, and when it was still considered wack to bite.
A Borrowed Life
A Borrowed Life honed their aural attack with their debut album ‘My Love, The Enemy’, in (2006) produced by Joe Johnston (CAKE, Team Sleep, Deftones, and Papa Roach) which sold 2000 units whithin 14 months with limited marketing and distribution. It is currently out of print but the band is considering re-releasing it in late 2008.
Members include Josh Robinson (vocals) Geoff Eckert (drums) Anthony Pellerin (guitar & back-up vocals) Clint Cargill (bass & back-up vocals) and Bill Hughes (guitar & back-up vocals. They have a few shows lined up and a new cd in the works.
Coldcokt
Raw beats, raw lyrics and a live show that will have you rushing the bar to acquire a frosty beverage to cool down, that’s what happens when you are Coldcokt by this Sacramento trio. Three emcees with varying styles and the common ability to rock a mic with energy and passion; C-Dope, Big D, and the Rooster can be found at your favorite venue or watering hole carving their names into the base of the Northern California music scene. Three years in the the making the group will be self distributing their debut album later this year
Falling To Pieces
Beginning in 2004, Falling to Pieces hit the Nor-Cal scene strong. After a handful of line-up changes, and a hungry DIY attitude, FTP has constantly won over crowds with a unique blend of thrashy, melody laden, brutally epic songwriting. After releasing an EP after the band’s conception, and a full-length in 2007 entitled “Left To Rust” to much acclaim, the band acquired vocalist Nicci D., providing the most amazing screams and beautiful cleans around. They are currently finishing new material before entering the studio to record another full-length, due out by the end of the year. With hundreds of live performances under their belts, FTP never disappoints.
Con Of Man
Emerging from Woodland, three years ago, The Con of Man look, sound and act like a true rock ‘n’ roll band. The Con of Man has created powerful sound that has earned them a great deal of praise and attention in the Sacramento area. 2008 will be a pivotal year for The Con of Man, as they have plans to release their first EP by Spring and tour the West Coast throughout the year. They already have major performances booked at the Crest and Colonial Theatre, and they are working to fill up the year as many live shows as possible. This is a band that should be caught now, because with a charismatic lead vocalist, impassioned drum beats, thundering bass lines showing inspiration from Peter Hook (Joy Division) and Simon Gallup (The Cure), and diverse guitar riffs ranging from dreamy to caustic, it is certain that the Con of Man will not remain a local band for long.
WWW: MySpace
Primer of Tubes, Pt. 1
I want to thank those who noticed the Gear Geek column was missing from the August issue, and called me about it. We have my recent hand/wrist surgery to thank for the interruption. It’s that kind of feedback that assures me you are reading Gear Geek.
This month will be the part one of a primer on tubes. If you are like most musicians, you have already decided that there is nothing quite like the sound of a warmed up, slightly overdriven vacuum tube amplifier. But, do you really know the basic characteristics of the tube amp and the tubes? Do you know what the numbers stamped on the side of the tube represent? If you needed to substitute a tube, would you know what you could use?
We know the typical all-tube amplifier is separated into two sections. These would be the Preamp section and the Power Amp section. We will focus in on the preamp.
Typically the preamp circuit tubes are the smaller tubes. You will typically find anywhere from one to three preamp tubes per channel. Each tube contains (2) individual circuits that allow for a variety of configurations. Usually this means (3-4) gain stages per channel and maybe something for spare. Preamp tubes usually use a 12 volt heater, hence the first number stamped on the side, as in 12AX7. In an amplifier with a real spring reverb, you will also find a driver tube. This will usually be the last preamp tube in the series. In most cases, it will also be a 12 volt preamp tube (such as a 12AT7 or 12AY7), but with much less gain than the signal tubes.
Here’s a little field trouble-shooting tip! If you have an amplifier as I described above
(With a driver tube and a spring reverb unit) and think that you are having problems with your preamp section, here is a possible solution. But, first, remember that tube amplifiers hold voltage in the large filter capacitors and it is enough voltage to KILL YOU!
Now, shut off and unplug your amp. If you can identify the tubes by position, normally the driver tube will be the last small tube (V4 in many cases). Pull the driver tube. If you find a 12(XX) 7 number on the driver tube and the other preamp signal tubes (V1-V3) are also 12(XX) 7 tubes, you now have an interchangeable test tube in a pinch. Your amplifier should run just fine without the driver tube installed. Obviously, the best way to go about this is to identify the tubes in advance and have a known good set or at least a test tube with you.
Note: (XX) in the tube number 12(XX) 7 means there could be a variety of letters inserted. The letter variations identify the gain of the tube. For example a 12AX7 has more gain than a 12AT7 or 12AY7.
In the next Gear Geek, I’ll break down all of the preamp tubes in order of gain, the optimum substitutions for each and optimum combinations in typical amplifiers.
If you have any specific questions email Bob at cs-rocinstruments@sbcglobal.net.
The Girlfriend Factor
Girlfriends and bands mix like oil and water. Depending on the type of girlfriend, they tend to not be soluble.
I am at a disadvantage with being romantically involved with my drummer. Because my significant other is IN THE BAND, our interests are the same, and I’m not very understanding when someone else’s significant other gets in the way of the bands’ progression.
I’ve heard horror stories of one band member’s girlfriend sleeping with another band member, or one guitar player’s wife having an affair with another band’s bass player. I’ve also heard of girlfriends giving ultimatums to their guys of “It’s the band or me!” None of these situations end well.
I’ve been lucky enough to not have these types of girlfriend situations occur during the life of my band, but I have silently watched as some pretty lame situations have occurred, which affected my band.
There was once a couple of members whose girlfriends were former best friends, and would do everything to avoid each other at shows, while still supporting their respective guys. Like Sweden, I tried to stay neutral, but soon became a spy sending each messages from the other. I’m not one that usually likes petty nonsense, so as soon as I realized that it was none of my business I stopped, and let them ignore each other from across the clubs we played.
Some girlfriends are completely soluble and totally understand how the band/girlfriend mixture work. We had one band girlfriend who came to our shows and worked the merch booth for us, completely professional, and we didn’t have to pay her. We had another band girlfriend who takes amazing photos take over as our band photographer and neither situation affected the band negatively.
At the beginning of a relationship the girlfriends want to be at the band’s practices, at the shows, and all the band business so they can see their guy at work (or to make sure the hordes of groupies don’t steal their man away). There’s nothing wrong with silently watching or silently admiring, but the minute a girlfriend’s opinion or presence starts to hinder the work of the entire band, that girlfriend becomes a thorn in the side. And, eventually, the band member will either realize the effect she’s having, or the band will have to speak up and that never ends well. Most girls who date band members like the guys BECAUSE they’re in bands, but then something clicks later on down the road and they can’t handle the dedication or the amount of time they spend with the band and they get jealous and want to be the center of their guy’s world.
So I guess the point I’m trying to make is this: if you’re a non-soluble oil type of girlfriend who can’t handle silently admiring your boyfriend’s band or being away from him a couple hours a week so he can practice, or if you can’t handle not being the center of his attention, then don’t date a guy in a band. You should read the disclaimer before you buy the product.
Girl In A Coma
Before They Were Gone
Music fans in Sacramento were recently treated to a performance by a special band that is creating a buzz in the industry. That band is Girl in a Coma, a three-piece, all-female act based out of San Antonio, Texas. Made up of sisters nina and Phanie (guitar/ vocals and drums) and Jenn on bass, these girls have quite the amazing story to tell.
Huge fans of the Smiths and Morrissey, best friends Phanie and Jenn had tried putting a band together for a long time, but nothing ever panned out. But, wouldn’t you know it, along came little sister nina with Phanie’s guitar. She played the guitar and sang a song, and the other girls were completely blown away. They named their band Girl in a Coma, after the popular song from the Smiths.
Now fast forward a few years, and their music catches the attention of Joan Jett, who promptly signed the girls to her record label. not only that, but their music was also heard by a member of Morrissey’s live band, and the girls were invited to open for Mr. Morrissey himself on a European tour. Sometimes dreams do come true.
So what was it like being able to tour with a singer you’ve admired for so many years?
“it’s one of those things that you never expect would happen,” Jenn explained. “it was pretty amazing. on the last night of the tour, in Paris, Morrissey came in and sat down with us in our dressing room. He sat next to Phanie, and she was freaking out. He was really sweet. He even gave us a present, and we talked about music and stuff.”
“Our dressing room was a total mess,” nina added. “i wanted to say, ‘you know, if we knew you were coming, we would have cleaned up a bit.’” Success came quick for the girls. Was this something they had always wanted?
“It happened really fast. We knew that this is what we really wanted to do full time, and we’re lucky that we get to do it,” Jenn said. “We didn’t have jobs or anything, and we stayed with friends most of the time.” and what is touring like?
“You mean describe the smell?” Jenn asked, laughing.
Nina laughed. “Yeah, it can get pretty bad. We all have our own little corner in the van. My corner is off limits to everybody. and i have to pee all the time.”
Phanie added, “Yeah, that’s true. it’s like every 10 minutes on the road, ‘we have to pull over!’”
“I can’t help it, I drink a lot of water,” Nina explained.
Phanie is the main driver of the van, as she is the only one brave enough to drive it. “I make her drive the van,” Nina said, “because I don’t want to die.”
“Touring is the best thing in the world,” Jenn said. “Once you learn to deal with the traffic in the big cities and stuff, and get over the worries of where we’re going to park and stuff, it’s so much fun once you realize you can actually do it. I encourage every band to go on the road. It’s a great experience.”
Girl in a Coma has been on a U.S. tour for the last six months, in support of their debut CD, “Both Before I’m Gone,” a CD that has been getting the girls a ton of attention. Their sound has been described as a cross between the Smiths, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and the Pixies, which is pretty close to the mark. Nina’s singing style has been compared to Morrissey’s on more than one occasion.
“I think it’s because my singing style is similar. But, I guess if I have to be compared to someone, it’s nice to be compared to him,” Nina explained. “I kind of just feed off what I’m listening to at the time. I was listening to a lot of Morrissey at that time. Right now I’m listening to a lot of other stuff, so the next album might sound different. I’m listening to a lot of Sonic Youth and Jeff Buckley, so we’ll see what happens, if any of that comes out or not.”
“We listen to a lot of ’50s music, like Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash,” Nina added, “and a lot of new indie stuff too.”
After another short tour with Tegan and Sara, Girl in a Coma will record their second CD.
“We have two weeks booked in the studio,” Nina said. “We’ve got the songs written, and we’re pretty much going to be in there 24 hours a day to get this done. We’re pretty much going to be living in the studio.”
Keep an eye on these girls, as their new music is quite amazing, as displayed at their recent show at the Fire Escape in Citrus Heights. For those of you who missed it, shame on you. They’ll be back soon though, as Jenn gave me her pinky-promise. Until then, pick up a copy of “Both Before I’m Gone” and just enjoy it!
