The show must go on...

It's been a month since my last post, and yes like always lots of things happend in that time. As far I can remember the spot lights were, having a family weekend... maybe the first in many years.... many years. My brother came down from Jersey with his wife and 2 kids who are real fun to be around with, since they are into retro video games too and are just.. crazy. We all met along with my other brother and his son, my mom, my girlfriend and last but not least my son. It was a great experience, I jsut hope it happens again here is a pic of me and my son and nephews:


The moments were unforgetable but I won't recount them now. Besides that I went to an 80's party were I dressed.. not so different of myself actually but my theme was SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, and my girlfriend tried a Cindy Lauper / Madonna thing:


And besides that... another thing was that the guitar player of my band got a hold of a warehouse and he managed to get a Vert RAMP there for skating and I went there and I just felt like back in high school, felt intimidated by the ramp drop but after some half ass runs I got it. I jsut can express how good it felt to be on that free warehouse with punk music on the background and some other band memebrs around just talking and others skating along... it was priceless.

I know I wnet to a birthday to the restaurant EAST, it was one of my friends/co-worker birthday... it was a nice surprise for her... we all ate there and the master chef cooked for us in front of us. Later we went to a place I really like.. DRUMS I talked about it on some earlier blogs, but it was ok... many things happend. It was good.

Besides collecting other consoles like Gameboy Color, and the NES... something kind of fucked up happend... one member of my close family was shot dead at his house. The reasons? Are many, considering his is a Director of Planning at the City Hall and had many people who envy him. The situation just took me and the whole family by surprise. I t was a really sad stituaion, it filled me with sadness, anger and just awareness because we live on a fucked up society where you need to be always on alert and be ready to defend yourself. My brother is the most affected by it, since he was the person closest to him, its sad taht situations like this need to happen for the family to get more united and stronger... we arent made forever... even thou I have plans of how I want to die which is fighting a Giant Squid... I never know what might happend.. now... tomorrow or the next day after that. Dont feel like writting anymore... many projects on my mind... wanna make a video game fanzine.website and other stuff.... for now I did something with my website...
www.rexcartagena.com oh well gonna go now.. the show must go on.

First Father and son theater movie matinee

This post is not about video games (although I will mention one) neither of me talking sh!# about something, instead, this post is about the first time my son and me went to the movie theater. You might say, "why the hell do I care?", well there is a red x on the top right corner of the browser, click on it, and go fuck yourself hilariously to death.

It is hard to remember, but I think the first movie I went to see on the theater was either Conan The Destroyer or Robocop, not sure, I know my dad took me, I could ask him but he is dead right now, so I might try my older brother 'cause I think he went too. But, I think it doesnt matter, after that first movie day, we created a ritual that like every other week we went to the movies on a Sunday Matinee show, and it was perfect, my Dad always took me to see cool action movies, only once we went to see a crappy one, The Little Mermaid, maybe it was my idea, very stupid, not a bad movie thou, but I remember I left my jean jacket, and my dad called so he could pick it up later on. Besides that there area other memories of it, very special ones, considering the short time I spent with my dad, and I may outlive him, since he died young.

Now, I started that ritual with my kid couple days ago, he is 3 years old, doesn't have that sitting on a whole movie calmed attention span just yet, but he is getting there. We went together to this familiar movies, little empty, old looking, easy to access no fancy shit. Pretty good. Well my kid gave the money to the ticket girl and she gave a ticket to my son and me, I want my kid to have responsability on handling things, like money and tickets. He did pretty good, he didn't ate the ticket or something, as a matter of fact after the movie I collected both tickets as memento, I'l show it to him in like 15 years or something, since it was a special day. The movie we bought the ticket for was "HOrton hears a who", a children movie, is not bad, but is not excellent either. Is just ok. It didn't grab that much attention of my kid on some parts, so after couple minutes playing with the seat, he felt asleep midmovie. It was all right, until he started snoring outloud. He is a cool kid for real, I cant be more proud. After the movie, he woke up, and we went to hte arcade upstairs, and played air hockey and then later on we played Mario Kart on the Arcade, its nice to see Mario Kart on the arcades since it always had that entertaining potential for an arcade room, and by the way, the game even had a built in camera so the player could take a picture to be displayed on the game with the resemblance of the character you picked... my son selected Bowser as his first choice, so if you played mario you know Bowser looks like a demon... so here is the picture I got with my cellphone:

Thats Niko my son, all evil and stuff.

Later on we took some pictures as Mario but it sucked. Anyways we had plenty of fun, after the movie people usually go to the ice cream store next door, but my kid ate a bag full of Kisses, so he had plenty of chocolate and sugar on his system. I can't wait he grows up so we can see Indiana Jones 5 (joke), or the other Lord of the rings related movies. As a matter of fact, I do remember the best movie I went to see with my dad, and it was WILLOW, fucking great movie, he even bought me the Willow figure, and I don't know where the hell I put it, but I will find it. Now thinking about it, I am in no hurry for my son to grow up quickly, that child phase is the best.

I think thats it for, its all good man, its all good.

The zero tolerance to the amazingly stupid FAKE MOHAWKS

Ok this is going to be quick and to the point.. FUCK FAKE MOHAWKS and the FAKE people who wear them.

Its all fashion everything is fashion we copy stuff, for example I have dreadlocks, doesnt mean I am Rastafarian.. I listen to thrash or crust music, and they have dreadlocks too.. are they rastafarian fuck that shit.. no, they have mohwaks cause their life style of wearing spiked hair with strong gel eventually tanlged their hair and since crusty punk dont shower that often its evident that their hair locks forming dreadlocks. My dreadlocks were formed naturally, I mean I helped but it was because I used to go to the beach a lot and one time I used this strong gel and tangled my hair, then I did some braids and locks started to form.. since I listened to a lot of crust bands and it was a similar style then dreadlocks was ok for me, I still have it. See I have dreadlocks..not half assed fake dreadlocks. About Mohawks, they go back hundred years in time before the punks who were the ones who would have a mohawk on their head. Why Punks used mohwaks? Because back the it was a sign of rebellion... (remember I said back then), then after couple years people would would eventually have mohwaks but they didnt had the same purpose anymore.. but still wasnt socially acepptable because it was still from the punk culture that wasnt commercialized just yet until couple years ago thanks to fucks like Hottopic.
Hottopic took everything what punk was and jsut made a profit out of its fashion. PUnk is fashion now. So mohawks slowly started to pour in as socially acceptable. As proof... lets say 10 o 12 years ago you couldn;t work at a store or some place having a mohawk.. unless it was an indy rock store or something related. With Hottopic taht were located at the mall, mohawks was like a pre-requisite to have or something like that. I think I can deal with that.. its fashion and those people with mohawks of fake hawks (they wouldnt dare to have a real mohawk because still they can be rejected by society) at least were into the punk music. Whats a fake mohawk of faux mohawk or a fake hawk? well its people jsut combing their hair like a mohawk and use gel to sustain it... still they dont shave on the sides... I mean its a hair style... but dont say to people "HEY CHECK IT OUT I HAVE A MOHAWK.." because no.. man you are lame. You are jsut trying to have a mohawk and ended up with a fake one. So be it. That is one thing.. but what really bothers me is that now EVERYONE uses mohawks or fakehawks.. and they can be Salsa or Merengue singers or rap singers and they use Mohawks... I mean MR. T had a Mohawk and wasnt punk.. but at least he was a thug a badass... but not like these candy asses fuck heads... they have fake hawks and want to be socially acceptable etc. Just gets on my nerves... now the punk fashion is not even a specific fashion anymore.. everyone wants to copy rebelion... rebelion sells. So its like you see a person at the mall (usually) looking all punk and then he listens to fucking...lets see whats lame... he fucking listens to I dont know.. something stupid. Anywyas the point is I know its a fashion and is for everyone to choose.... BUT people that talked shit about punk and its fashion, now have mowaks and wear punk accesories.. its like.... WHY YOU TALKED WHIT ABOUT PUNK IN THE FIRST PLACE ? TALKED SHIT ABOUT THE LOOKS, ABOUT THE MUSIC! Now you dont listen to the music but you look like you do. And now they all have a fakehawk a little more real... so I can call it hald assed mocrap. Or something... it jsut stupid. I see all this people that hate rock, metal punk, becuase they are into regueton (the stupidiest music genre in the universe) and they have the hawks... its like man... get your own style..get your own fashion. Also I hate when parents do MOhawks to their kids... its like.. they see some real punk with a mohawk and they are liek "LOOK AT THAT HOW HORRIBLE" but then their children gets one... and everyone is life "OH HOW CUTE... HE IS SO HANDSOME LOOKS GOOD", waht looks good is my boot in your eye socket... stupid... Anywyas this was a hate post. Fuck you.

The Unchained Olympus

God of War - Chains of Olympus (PSP)

I want to start this with, if you own a PSP you must get this game. Buy it, cheap bastard, dont just dowload it for free on a hacked psp. To complement my previous blog, if you think you are not stealing, answer this then: Many people download games illegally into their hacked system because they think the games are expensive and they rather get them like that instead of paying for it.... so if you need a car, and you dont have the money, you going to steal it? Of course not, even thou the size of the product is different, still is stealing, you are getting something without paying for its actual prize, you are cheating and stealing, so FUCK you. Pieces of fuck like you destroy the video game industry. Try doing something for a living and then find out someone is making illegal copies of it, AND that someone is making more money than you... by stealing your creation.. doesnt feel that good now right shitfart?
Now getting back to the game, the game is good, the game can be finished by ANYONE on easy mode. I know many casual gamers finished the first and second God of War with ease. Because its like... trial and error, you just keep restarting on the area you died, its like... people will eventually do it sooner or later... so in that part, is not really of a challenge after all, because just anyone can do it, even if they dont play video games, and that its my only complaint about the God of War series, is more as a interactive action adventure story telling than a real challenging game. But still, its a great game, the original God of War is on my top ten games of all time, because its a well designed and produced game, its very motivational. Now, this PSP version of God of War, all I can say is... is a more watered down, bite sized version of the previous 2 console God of war games. If the first 2 are easy to play, this one is like a boot camp for those games, like a training ground for the real deal. But, dont get me wrong, this PSP version of God of war has visuals that equal the console version, everything looks amazing, the lighting, the backgrounds, the models its all good. I think ofr myself this is hte most visually impressive game I've seen on the PSP. Also the sound track couldn't been better, orchestral greek period type of music, its just awesome. With the game controllers, having in mind that with a psp you have some limitations, I htink they really pulled it off greatly, still its kind of confusing sometimes becuase you need to press some buttons simultaneously to perform and action, and if not pressed correctly you will eventually execute another action, like the shield button combined with others you can do couple of stuff but still, you can get the hang of it... even thou I was near the end of the game and had some button press confusions... but I blame it on me I guess. Moments ago I was talking to Jolge my friend about the game, he never played the earlier versions of GOW but had an Idea of waht was waiting form him, and yeah he did like the game but hated the combat system, since he got the chance to play other games like Conan were the combat system had more depht. I jsut told him that really GOW specially the psp version is simple, and yes it borrows the same engine as the others, and they didnt really messed up with the combat system.. is good as it is for what it is. The focus of the game even thou you have plenty of combat options like special attacks and combos, the central idea is the epic action adventure story telling and puzzles (in which in this case..arent really puzzles). We both agree that is a good game, but I wont complain much about hte combat system as it is, I played the earlier games and liked it, so yeah its cool, except the fact that you really cant cancel combos leaving you an open target for the gorgons stoning magic..in which a hit means instant death.

On the story department I am glad David Jaffe contributed with it because he created the GOD OF WAR and I htink he should decide the outcome of his character. So about hte story I kind of find it a little rushed like, and that it could've been more complete, for an exmaple you never face MOrpheus, he is one of the main reasons of the conflict and he jsut..dissapears, unless I didnt geti t right.. but still. And the last boss, doenst look that evil at all, I mean its evil but is not impressive, and it osunds more like a cry baby character than having a real reason for the evil unleashed. I dont know... but there is some impressive elements in the story like.. hte Titan Atlas, and it explains the fate he had in GOW 2, it explains a lot... and I thought it was a really great piece of story, it really impressed me. But besides that... I think it could've been better. But overall is good as it is, having in mind that is a portable version of the game and they need to make it the less dependable of the other GOW games. The idea is to expand the audience and have a easy to access version of a GOW game to all those casual gamers that own a PSP, so it makes sense that they did a Prequel instead so the story didnt require to know about the other games. I dont know the total hours I played to finish this game but I know that I got the game like last thursday and finished it like at 3:00 am today tuesday, so its a really short game ocnsidering I only played couple minutes between sittings, but I did enjoy it.To finish this, its a good game if you want to know about GOW for the first time, but if you really want the best impression of God of War play the versions of GOW and GOW 2 for PS2. Good games, very similar to each other but good, lets hope on GOW 3 they keep the same vibe but with newer stuff, like a better combat system and more hardcore puzzles. SO DONT FUCK WITH THE GOD OF WAR!

Games piling up

I think I mentioned before I am into video game collecting and I am becoming quite obssessed with it. I think I buy a new game every 5 days or something, it can be for any system, cheap or expensive, I just buy one and most of them are games I do really want, I just dont buy any game. My main sources of getting games are:

1- My local GAMESTOP in which is really cool to pay a visit because one of the employees was a student of mine, so he gives me cool extra stuff, like demo games, accessories, discounts, etc. It is awesome. Most of my PSP and PS2 games I get them from there. And sometimes I end up talking to other employees or confused customers about games.

2- PLAY N TRADE, this store is a little further, and I usually go on weekends or during lunch break at my job, since form my job the disntance is less. In this store I only pursue retro games specially Super Nintendo and Genesis games, from this store I had gotten some really good deals on games and systems that sell really high on the internet. Its my favorite store, I always get something when I go, and the best of all is that is really cheap, I can get couple good games for less than $12.

3- EBAY, I spend most of my video game collecting budget on Ebay, since sometimes the games sell expensier (it is justified because they are hard to find) and the systems are more abundant there, than waiting for a call from Play n Trade for a newly arrived system. But, Ebay has its high and lows, for an example I bough a 3DO system but when it came and I tested it, the cd tray didint open... and doesnt play any games.. the seller said it was working, and then I found a big dent on the box it came... so its hard to see whos fault was it... the mail or the seller ripping me off... oh well I had no choice to accept the system and some day take the time to fix it my self, even though a guy in Play n trade told me they fix systems.. any systems... but when I told him about a 3DO that needed to be fix he was like "Are you Crazy? That is old." and I am like.. "Ok so dont tell me you fix any systems... go and fuck your aunt side ways.". Anyways... I also bought last week a Turbo Grafx 16, I was really hyped baout it until when it came... the controller was missing a plug pin, so it was useless, and the system signal was weak... at least I told the seller about it and he will get me a new controller... I hope. So its all about risking your budget for something that might not work at all.

So now, doing the math, I have plenty of games, and I havent finished the 85% of them, so I have plenty of material to not get bored during my lifetime for now, considering some of the games need over 40 hours of gameplay to be finished. I mean, to enjoy a game I dont need to finish it, I am satisfied by just palying couple of levels and getting the idea of it then I move on, but eventually after a couple of months (or years) I get back to the game and decide to finish it. I wish I had a picture of the room where I have my video game collection because you could see controllers on the floor, game guides on the sides, a notebook with passwords, some video game cases on the table and some old school video game magazines. I should get a couch or something so I can relax when playing instead of using the computer chair. I dont know.

The point is my video games keep piling up, but I like that, I see it as an investment for a future, I iwll have games for years to come, and if somehow I get tired of it, If could sell the collection for thousand of dollars. I must be dying or something. Many people tell me why pay for that when you can get emulators or ewven worse... flash cards of games. All I can say about that is that I hate vidoe game piracy, Im ean I use emulators for things that are virtually impossible to find.. like some Arcade games i use MAME, for some Neo Geo (which I htink is over priced) I use an emulator, but my next console to buy is a Neo Geo system, I am jsut waiting for the right price. And about doing piracy with a Nintendo DS or PSP.. its fucking degrading, if you reaaaallly love video games, the last thing you want to do is steal games fomr the net and play them for free. I mean, I do understand video games are not cheap, but that doenst mean you can downlaod them for free and play them for like 2 minutes and downlaod some more.... you know.. people work doing video games... if you dont buy the product the company loses money, and eventually stop producing video games... and no more video games. Many parents buy their kids a Nintendo DS then they get this stupid card where their kids can play 50 something donwloaded DS games... its like NICE WORK PARENT GOOD EXAMPLE.. same as getting illegal dvd movies copies. THe kid will think everything will always be available and the kid wont appreciate the game, he knows DADDY can get more. FUCK THOSE PARENTS really. That kind of people are going to kill the video game industry, I know some people use those cards as an advantage, but htey eventually own the real game cart, and they jsut downlaod an extra copy for space purposes. They shoudl put htose games online and people can pay for them when they download them, like some MP3 stores, that will be convenient. But many people are cheap. And to clarify I am not rich, I just very passionate of what I collect and I know how to support it.

I might sound as a commercial capitalist asshole, but no man, If I was a game developer (actually I am) and I put time on a game and make a good game, of course I will want some compensation of that time spent because thats job, some one is working their ass off so you cna have something to entertain your child while the parents are having alcohol or fucking a neighbor... support video games.

MY TOP TEN VIDEO GAMES

I always wanted to do a top list of my favourite games, they don't exactly mean they are the best games out there and others might question my list, but hey, its my blog and I do whatever I want, and this is my list till this date. I might add that maybe some games I just forgot and were left out of the list for the moment being, but if I remember them I will add them later on,in a broader list, at least these are the ones that came into my mind.

TOP TEN

These are games I consider that must be played because of their overall experience, fun gameplay, longevity, and that just give me a nostalgic moments. I consider them the best.

Not in order.

1- Twisted Metal 2 (PSone)

The 2D comic style artwork and animations, the stories, the characters, the simple yet amazing gameplay, the secrets, the 2 player mode, everything. This makes it the best Twisted metal yet. Even thou Black and Head on Extra twisted ec. for PS2 are amazing, Twisted Metal 2 is still on another level.

2- Streets of Rage 2 (Genesis)

Maybe it was the timing when it came out, but the music, 16-bit glorious sprites, the characters, the scenenary, and the straight to the point beat em up; makes this game the best on its category.

3- Mortal Kombat 2 (SNES)

Yeah arcade the arcade version is better audiovisuallly, but this 16-bit home console port is the closes as it gets plus extra features and secrets, and yes the infamous glitches, makes this THE Mortal KOmbat; the (how it supposed to be) digitized photo graphics, the characters, the backgrounds and multiple finishing moves makes it unforgettable.

4- Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)

With many good Castlevania games like Portrait of Ruin and Aria of Sorrow, this was a hard one, but I needed to make a choice, and this one is the winner by far. This game is a best buy, not only you are playing a remake of one of the best castlevanias, but the original, Dracula X, is unlocked within this game, and the other best castlevania Symphony of the nights is unlockeable too. The different paths, the soundtrack (might be the best on a video game), the hidden elements, the secrets, the character design and artwork is classic Castlevania enhanced at its peak. The only game that could top this is a remake of Castlevania 3 (but it has to include SOTN again, which won't).

5- Super Mario Brothers 3 (NES)

It was almost a tie with Super Mario World, but I had to pick one so this is the winner. Everything in this game was a big hop from its 2 previous games, the level design, power ups, enemies and stories plus it secrets made it the most played super mario when I was a kid. When I was a kid early Saturday mornings were spent playing this game, before eating some hungry jacks pancakes.

6- Gradius V (PS2)

Gradius is a great game and this one is like the ultimate Gradius, borrowing elements from all its previous versions and modernizing the graphics to 3D but yet on a 2D gameplay, remixing the sound this game is a must for Gradius or 2D Side scrolling shoot em ups. The game is hard but yet easy to progress (eventually), I just can't stop playing, very intense. Konami and Treasure one of the best in classic shooting action joined forces for this; extra 1,0000 points for that.


7- Contra III: The Alien Wars (SNES)

Even though Contra 4 for Nintendo DS and Contra Shattered Solider from PS2 borrow
elements from this game and Hard Corps from Genesis, I still think they it couldn't
surpass this one; Contra III: The Alien Wars. The story was straight to the point, the gameplay simple run and shoot, the graphics one of the best in the SNES days, the intense action, boss and level design makes this game THE Contra at its peak. When I was a teenager I spent many summer days playing this game before going skating.

8- Ikaruga (Gamecube)

I see this game as an arcade at home, simple press start and play, music score,
direction, design, subliminal story, gameplay concept (in which you switch colors to
absorb bullets), everything in this game makes it perfect. I could spend hours just
replaying the first level alone, trying to have a perfect score. Also this has one of the most dramatic endings on a video game. For me, this is the best shoot em up game out there. Treasure did an amazing job.

9- Super Bomberman (SNES)

When the term multiplayer is discussed, this game is the first to pop on my head. I
rented this game so much from Blockbuster years ago that I might have as well bought it.Back on those glory days the 4 player connector that came along with it made it the best game for a sleep over with friends and house parties. The gameplay was simple and fun; blast your opponent away (which meant the computer or your friend). I still prefer this game over the Saturn version still.

10- God of War (PS2)

This is THE game for greek mythology lovers. The audiovisuals might be the best in the PS2 generation, the story direction mixed with animated comic style and amazing rendered 3D movies is just amazing. The puzzles and some in game elements makes this game stand above others, even its sequel. Its one of those games you jsut can't stop playing until its over. And still you will want to play it again because of the challenges and unlockables.

TEN to 20

These are games I consider highly re-playable, with interesting graphics or character designs, simple but innovative concepts (at its time), great gameplay experience or just plain fun.

11- World of Warcraft (PC)
12- Super Gunstar Heroes (GBA)
13- Battlefield 1942 (PC)
14- Tenchu: Stealth Assassin (PSone)
15- LOADED (PSone)
16- Guitar Hero II (PS2)
17- Odin Sphere (PS2)
18- Resident Evil 4 (Gamecube)
19- Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War
20- Road Rash 32bit (PSone)

Contrast nights of total opposites.

This post will vary and not be about video games... at leat for now. It will be about an experience I had and made me see (again) the contrast of 2 different lifestyles, and how they criticize each other. So I will just give my opinion about it and start with this:

WTF?

Seriously, ok this picture (which my girlfriend took) was at the ladies room from a night club, won't same the name because its relevant, its the same as others from around here; big space, big screens, small tables, bars, plenty of birthdays, bad food (for real), and a cliché cover bands included. And of course.... the crowd.

Night Club (friday)

Anyways, I am going to talk about the picture for a second... just look at it, its a fucking iron.. to make the ladies hair straight.. I mean, its like... you pay $2 and you start fixing your hair there.. because of what... because is not straight enough or you might look bad to the sex craving guys outside? I mean I am not against woman fixing their hair... but the point of putting it on the bathroom just completed the superficial essence of that place altogether. The company that did that, they really know how to exploit some situations and trends. I've seen condoms machines in the gentlemen restroom and made me realize the following... in the ladies room the ladies get pretty so they could attract the males that are buying the condoms in the other restroom to fuck their brains out. Genius! Fuck you.

Am I against that? No, is just things that give away the idea of those places and how superficial is everything, like the people... "having a good time", how can we have a good time if we can't speak to each other because of the loud total mainstream club music pumping out of the speakers. Its all fake to me, everyone is just standing around, (with beer or drink in hand of course, check), looking all glamorous, talking (if its possible) about who knows what and then dancing to the stupidiest music on my music taste spectrum. Just hate it. Here is a picture of me:

Fuck your bloodline.

Yeah, thats me saying hello to the people overthere, and thats Josue the husband (HUSBAND!) of my girlfriend's 1st best friend (woman always have more than 1 best friend), he didn't wanted to be there either, even thou he likes drinking and party, he told me that place... was just not for him anymore, and I understand, he is married he works hard everyday, and he appreciates rest more than a fantasy room for alcoholics and sex maniacs. This place is not for me, but still I went because of a birthday party of my girlfriends 2nd best friend (told ya), did I have fun? Yeah, because I was looking around and all my points and theories were proving upon my eyes.. all the cliché and predictable situations were coming true, I felt happy because this was never part of my lifestyle, I wont talk about all those things that usualy happen in that kind of palces because I will never end.. but I do want to mention the classic OH YOU MADE IT! HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE, YOU LOOK GOOD MMM...fuck you. Thats the classic then a girl is talking in a group, then they see someone they know arrive, then they put their arms up then start walking faster not lifting their high heel shoes (yeah high heels or platform is a must on those places...fucking stupid) making short fast paces with a whore smile on the face and wiggling the head sideways with the ironed straight hair moving, and then the classic kiss and whore hug, and of course the guy takes adtanvage as a dog. And yes I predicted that weeks before (I told my girl about it) and it happend, rest my case.


That happend on a friday night, in a way it was cool since my girlfriend urged to do something different and go to her kind of places (actually not anymore but still likes it), and we shared with her friends, so wasnt that bad, and I am happy for her friend she turned 25, so good for her. Now, on Saturday is a whole different story.

GRAF fucking ORLOCK

Hardcore show (saturday)
My band was an opening act for Graf Orlock a cinema grind core band from California, and yes they are brutal, fast and heavy, pretty much the music I listen too, nothing too special even thou many people labeled them as the best band ever heard... its like waht? what you listen to? Korn? Atreyu? its fucking grind core, its all the same and good. Anywyas yeah I think they were pretty good, but they aren't the best if such thing really exist.
Well this show took place on a small venue kind of close to where I work, so it was a nice drive overthere, and yes I went alone, I didn't want to exposure my girlfriend to that atmosphere which I love, but I know she woudl freak out... why?
In those shows, you don't stand around like a asshole, you are part of the action when the band is playing, people start to bounce, slam agaisnt each other very hard, throw punches in the air, kicks, getting hurt, jumping from stages etc.. its all good, I mean if you are not into it you will think is crazy and stupid...yeah in a way it is, but people are having real fun and having real adrenaline rush without the excess alcohol or sex tension as a night club. People can really talk between bands, see other bands merchandise, help each other carry the equipment, ets its a good atmosphere of really sharing. The girls in those places, they don't bother using revealing dresses, or stupid high heels or platforms, they are happy as they are and they even look prettier than fake woman on night club, because they look real, not from a THE HILLS Mtv crap. I will not deny that is really a violent place sometimes, there are fights and hitting etc, at least they don't shoot each other. I htink the fights come about, becuase of hte hard dancing I mean, I am against violent dancing because one thing is dancing and bouncing against each other, but hitting directly to another person thats a fucking assault. But if you aren't related to those type of shoes and someone bounces against you really hard and fall, DO NOT get up and assault the person, he didnt did it in purpose or a personal way he was jsut dancing his anger out and happen to stumble against you. So the thing is if you assault someone becuase he accidentally hit you, you might get your ass kick back to a fucking night club. Its a place of adrenaline, you never get bored watching the band and pretecting your nuts at the same time...its really brutal.
And that is my kind of place, thats the type of music I listened to since I was a kid, and I am damn proud about it. In this show like I said my band LA VIRGEN DEL POZO was the opening act, and people danced to us, so its pretty cool, they liked it a lot, I even broke a bass string (yes jolge I can brake bass strings reather easily) and kept palying, they even let me borrow another bass but I kept mine the the last remainig strings re-tuned to fit the missing one, it was crazy here is a pic:

VIRGEN ROCK!

See, 3 strings, and guess what...I was happy, enraged and happy at the same time, crazy right? But yeah, in this palce I can talk to anyone about bands and zines or records, and not about my job, and other nonsense as a night club crowd.
I want to mention that in that show, I jsut saw a guy get his nose busted by a really fat guy. The fat guy just turned and threw a punch in the air, but this kid happen to be on the perimeter of the punch and got hit. Blood started to flow, the other guy didnt even realize about it. I was like, man are you ok? And he was like its all right he is lucky he is my friend. I was like BRUTAL ... that was a friendly assault.

THE VEREDICT:
In the night club which was kind of boring I did felt I did something different with my girlfriend and I know she likes that style, not mine at all. But yeah I think it was allright, even thou I had to spend more than $40 in enrance fee, food and drinks (for her). While in the Hardcore show the entrance fee was free because I was in a band, and only spent like $11.50 in which $8 was from a 10" vinyl record of Graf Orlcok, $2 was from a fanzine that comes with a cd, and $1.50 for a bottle of water. And yes It was the best fun I had in a while, because it was a real experience and not a sueprficial one. Can't wait till this friday were I play again. Rock out with your cock out. PEACE.