Welcome back to the newsletter! Below are some things I’ve been checking out lately, and also what’s new at the blog. I’m fiddling with the format again, so hopefully the content below is compelling.
Virtual metal festivals have been appearing in the time of the coronavirus. The first one I watched was the Isolation Festival, followed by Slay At Home, and then Metal Stream of the Year. I’m looking forward to more. Loudwire has put together a calendar of more events.
The National Independent Venue Association or NIVA has released a report that details the dire situation music venues are in because of the pandemic (h/t Metal Injection).
Headbangers is the name of a heavy metal playlist on Apple Music and it’s got some good songs on it.
Melt-Banana is an awesome, quirky band from Japan. The group has a Patreon page.
Triac was a band I played in for a while when it was starting out. I’ve been taking VHS tapes to get digitized lately, and was able to put one of the shows I played with Triac on YouTube. It was a nice trip down memory lane!
Maryland Deathfest live photos are something I’ve been piling up over the years of attending the festival. I’ve been tweeting some of them with the hashtag #mdfphotos.
Voivod is one of my favorite bands, and the guys are putting out a new EP called The End of Dormancy next month.
Nine Inch Nails, like many bands (mine included), had to cancel shows because of the coronavirus. The band has put merch they were going to take on tour in its merch store, and all of the profits are going to charity.
What’s new at the blog:
Interesting merchandise: Test Dept’s Total State Machine
Vio-Lence interview with Phil Demmel: From The Vault
Bookogs database features ‘zines and fanzines
John Peel Sessions that are posted to YouTube have been cataloged
A look back at Maryland Deathfest in video
Catching up with metal band Tranquil Terror
Misery Index live video From The Vault
Friday promo roundup: May 29, 2020
Get It Or Die! with Pete Ponitkoff of Benümb
“John Lydon Quarantine Party” event for The Public Image Is Rotten
Marc Rebillet is doing a drive-in theater tour
Helpful tips for musicians in the COVID-19 era
His Hero Is Gone live video From The Vault
Friday promo roundup: June 12, 2020
Anodyne video: full live set From The Vault
