Oh What a Month - My Rock Star Awards

Another day .....another dollar....., "The Highway Song" from 1970's band Blackfoot echoed through my head as I completed yet another day working for a psychologically abusive boss in an environment foreign to me, an alien lost in a world where chaos ruled over clutter and menial tasks ranked higher than actual accomplishment.  I felt a beer and a steak, shared with an accomplice in this insanity, satisfied a need to plant a stake acknowledging the end of another chapter in the days of drudgery. Yet unfortunately I asked this treasured friend to help with a small task at home and in return I'd spring for the night's tab.

"Please help me change out this ceiling fan in the vaulted family room, my friend, and food and drink are on me", I boldly proclaimed only hours before destiny met reality.  I asked my colleague only to steady the 18' ladder as I undertook the simple task of removing the old worn out and presumedly installing the more elegant and efficient new cooling mechanism.  I shut off the power supplied from the breaker, cautiously climbed the ladder, removed the screws from the decorative cap, and untwisted each of the three wire nuts to allow the easy dis-assembly of the old, rusted unit.  Nothing difficult, I thought, as I pushed the fan up and over the mounting hooks, enabling what I assumed an easy feat to lower each part to the ground.  Surprised by the weight and slightly disabled by my awkward vantage, the fan motor let loose without warning and struck me violently across the face, knocking me backward off the ladder and onto my friend before my head and left shoulder slammed impetuously into the tile floor. I only faintly remember anything from those first few minutes as I sat stunned, gasping for breath and fading in and out of consciousness.

I refused my friend's plea to call for an ambulance and attempted to gather my wits as an oblong pool of blood formed around me.  Clutching my chest fearing heart failure, I found breathing nearly impossible.  I quickly realized that blood poured from the back of my head and left temple and one side of my body remained nearly paralyzed.  I witnessed my friend also bleeding and clutching his right arm and realized neither of us fit to drive to the hospital. In a brief moment of clarity, I dialed my cellular and asked my inamorata to please pick us up as quickly as possible for transport to a medical facility.  She arrived promptly and rushed us to the emergency room as we soiled her car seats with blood.

After ten hours in the emergency department, my friend, and now lifesaver, as I realized that my death had been prevented by his breaking of my fall,  paid the price by fracturing his right arm, an awful predicament for a graphic designer.  Suffering a deservedly worse fate myself, I spent, in a shared hospital room, the following week diagnosed with severe lacerations to the back of the head and face, four broken ribs, a fractured clavicle, and a partially collapsed lung.  The attending physician assistant in the ER placed fourteen staples behind my left ear, stitches across my face, and suture glue across my nose.  I found myself, a week after discharge from the hospital, returning to have an orthopedic surgeon install a titanium plate to reconnect the broken portions of my left clavicle.

An eternal optimist, seeker of the half full glass, and believer in making lemonade from lemons, I quickly recognized this blessing in disguise. Lying virtually incapacitated, relying solely on help from others, forced me into distancing myself from a horrific work environment and allowed me ample time to pursue my dreams of freelance writing, in which I quickly earned blogging notoriety. This accident also enabled me time to learn about the sophisticated network behind electronic social media.

I published many articles, learned how to effectively use Twitter and Facebook, enjoyed the company of new found friends, established solid business relationships, and ticked off a famous celebrity.

Please allow me this opportunity to recap November's blogging highlights from my perspective and award those who deserve special recognition. Today's sophisticated internet technology enables easy evaluation by recognizing the number of readers of each particular article.

I composed and published over 20 individual pieces and a few stand out deserving a renewed highlight, not for my accomplishment but by the actions of those I chose to write about.

So..........drum roll...........Please allow me the opportunity to recognize:

PATRIOT OF THE MONTH - J.J. McCOY
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/ep-review-jj-mccoy-redneck-white-blue.html
Nothing I've seen recently epitomizes the heartbeat of the heartland, and encourages one to accept pride in Americana like J.J.'s new EP, "Redneck, White, and Blue", particularly the tune "Sunshine State" which paints a glorious yet bittersweet picture of life from the perspective of a soldier overseas anticipating his safe return home.

SPINE CHILLER OF THE MONTH - LISA PROULX
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-king-of-shadows-by-lisa.html
I witnessed horror personified deeply in the plot of Lisa's newest novel, "King of Shadows", a disturbing tale of a young boy raised by the demonic spirit of his deceased father.  This month, Lisa re-releases her first novel, "Puncture", a vampire story that I plan to digest and review early next week.

CONCERT OF THE MONTH - NIGHT RANGER
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/night-ranger-at-cape-coral-coconut.html
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/99x-mas-ball-2011.html
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/fort-myers-music-walk-november-2011.html
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/eddie-money-plays-ballyorney-irish-pub.html
Nursing my wounds, it's hard to imagine the number of concerts that I had the privilege to attend.  The fiery skull bat backdrop during Avenged Sevenfold's set amazed all and the genre bending skill displayed by Hollywood Undead seemed impossible, while Eddie Money forced the reminiscing of high school days.  With a more than ample budget, few could attain the hype of A7X, particularly when fortified by strong lyrical content accompanied by guitar virtuosos in harmony, except the heavy presence of security at Germain Arena dampened the overall effect.  As a result, the crisp, clear, heavy metal presented outdoors at the Cape Coral Coconut Festival by 1980's rockers Night ranger captured this award.  Few guitar players rank with Brad Gillis and Jack Blades is both a talented and entertaining front man. And I'd like to give a special thanks to Tristan Avakian who filled the shoes of Joel Hoekstra while he tours the holiday season with Trans Siberian Orchestra, an event that I will feature later this month.


 BREAKING NEWS OF THE MONTH
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/at-1115-this-morning-lee-county.html
Although I fancy myself a journalist, the only real event that I captured live exclusively before other media was an evacuation of the Lee County Courthouse after a prisoner in transport smacked an overhead sprinkler triggering the alarm.  I felt especially amazed that my new titanium clavicle did not trip the metal detectors upon entering the facility.

HOLIDAY OF THE MONTH
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/in-honor-of-our-vets.html
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-blessing.html
Fortunately, we celebrated two in November, Thanksgiving and Veteran's Day.  I refuse to allow either a day celebrated eating turkey and watching football with loved ones, or a day in which we pay respect for those who gave their best so we may enjoy freedom, to outrank the other so please consider this one a tie.

RECORD OF THE MONTH
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/kore-ionz-world-war-free.html
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/ep-review-jj-mccoy-redneck-white-blue.html
I reviewed many audio recordings during November so with it too close to call, I declare another tie between the peaceful, loving, Pacific reggae smoothness of Kore Ionz "World War Free" and the hard hitting, emotion evoking EP by J.J. McCoy, "Redneck, White and Blue".

LEAST AFFECTED BY ME
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/album-preview-nickelback-here-and-now.html
Regardless of my opinion, Nickelback's "Here and Now" will hit platinum although I did notice increased readership of them from fans in both Russia and Turkey so hopefully sales in those remote markets increased slightly.

PRIMA DONNA OF THE MONTH
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/ep-review-brian-howe-emotions.html
During my brief career as a freelancer, I encountered many classy, polite, professional entertainers from the music, acting, comedy, and writing industries and only observed one big cry baby, Brian Howe, formerly of Bad Company, and now a solo artist claiming retirement. Although I displayed complete respect for Brian, he attacked me publicly, sicced his British publicist on me, and "unfriended" me on Facebook, all in reaction of what he considered a negative review by me of his grand finale, "Emotions". I clearly see why Ted Nugent and Bad Company both fired him. He just doesn't play well with others.  So, sorry to say this Brian, but just pack up your toys, leave the sandbox to us big boys, and go home and cry to your mommy.

ROCK STAR, PROFESSIONAL, and MAN OF THE MONTH - KALEB BROWN
http://ramblingsofjohn.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-big-m-by-kaleb-brown.html

Kaleb, a nine year old diagnosed with autism, displayed more maturity than many of those more chronologically advanced.  Kaleb's first book, "THE BIG M" , soon to be be an animated series just all out ROCKS.  I'm proud to be associated with such a consummate professional. God Bless You Kaleb and enjoy a long and prosperous career!

99X-Mas Ball 2011 with Avenged Sevenfold & Hollywood Undead

Although security appeared en masse to banish inappropriate behavior (come on, we're at an Avenged Sevenfold show), camcorders, and to maintain a tight rein and limit on moshing, I believe that most still enjoyed a very pleasurable and unique experience at this year's 99X-Mas Ball. Whether due to poor marketing or a horrible economy, the crowd appeared more sparse than pevious years as the cavernous Germain Arena remained one third empty throughout the evening. With only VIP parking and no back stage pass, I felt somewhat handicapped in my ability to cover the event.

Arriving late still nursing my fractured ribs and clavicle, I must apologize to Black Veil Brides for missing their entire set. As a consolation, at some point in time, I will reach out for a more in depth interview and feature article or review.

Normally, the attire of the crowd hints heavily toward the night's headliner so most fans were decked out with long black hair, dark eye make-up, skinny, tight jeans, and sleeve tattoos much different than the spandex, fish net and teased hair that I encountered at July's Motley Crue show in Tampa.


I walked onto the floor of Germain arena just as the emotional screaming from Asking Alexandria's lead singer, Danny Worsnop erupted. Hailing from York in the UK, this bands displays a brash, fresh, roots level brand of what I would describe as hardcore although I see others decribe their style as metalcore. I know I'm splitting hairs to some degree but I personally don't feel that their muscianship is technically precise or skillful enough to be labelled metalcore. I believe that Asking Alexandria, although energetic, falls one echelon below those playing metal. Personally, I also find it a tad distasteful hearing the enormous amount of expletives emanating from the singer's mouth between songs, primarily based on the fact that he's performing in a genre founded and dominated by Christian acts, although they are not overtly apparent. August Burns Red, Underoath, and Emery will find little competition for record sales from this arrogant bunch of British posers.


After a very brief set and quick turn around, Hollywood Undead took the stage bedizened in over sized rapper hoodies and gaudy Halloween masks based on hockey goal tender designs. This extremely orginal and unique sounding band performs a bizarre mixture of rap, hardcore, screamo, and metal in a formula that ultimately works. After a sweaty three tunes in the costumed adornment, the band stripped down to t-shirts and bare faces and continued to rock the crowd. Mesmerized fans swayed to the groove, butts gyrating and feet stomping as the talented Californians entertained the masses. For those unfamiliar with the sound of Hollywood Undead, they compare to Linkin Park but with a lot more edge and way less bubblegum and whinyness about lost love.

Hollywood Undead finished an enthusiastic set and after an extremely long band turnaround causing much of the crowd's energy, fervor and passion to dissipate, Avenged Sevenfold finally took the stage at approximately 10:30.

Over the past 10 years, I've enjoyed many Avenged Sevenfold shows and I've watched them mature over the years from the Warped Tour Orange County hardcore band to the now more technically flowing, tight licked harmonious guitar wielding, lengthy song writing, pictorially graphic, trend setting metalcore favorites. I watched both Atreyu and Avenged Sevenfold emerge almost simutaneously from the Orange County, California metalcore scene and while Atreyu, as accomplished as they are, stagnated, A7X continued to blossom, grow, and flourish. I never tire of watching them play. They produce a high level of energy, backed up with amazingly gifted musicianship and lyrics provoking poweful imagery.
Last night proved no exception as they pumped out tune after tune of harsh yet melodic metal with their trade mark skullbat backdrop spitting fire from it's eyes. I'm continually astonished every time I see or hear guitarists Zacky Vengeance and Synster Gates tear into a long, technically difficult, dexterous, masterful solo in perfect harmony. How do they do it? In my opinion Synster Gates reins as one of current rock's most explosive and talented guitarists. While heavily tatted and muscular singer, M. Shadows fails to astonish with his vocal prowess or aptitude, he captivates the crowd with a high level energetic delivery and proves himself an extremely capable entertainer. Bassist Johnny Christ embellishes the sound with tight low end punchy drive that weaves into the crisp, clear technical savy of the two guitar players. Since the last time I saw the band, original drummer James "The Rev" Sullivan passed due to a deathly mixture of oxycodone and alcohol and I offer my sincere condolences to the remaining members and the Rev's family.
Due to my inability to interview last night, I could not ascertain who filled in on drums last night although I do not believe that it was former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy. Whoever pounded the skins though, no pun intended, did not miss a beat.

I found the 2011 version of 99X's Xmas Ball an extremely entertaining and enjoyable night out primarily influenced by the diversity among this year's line-up. Prior years, many of the bands sounded so similar it was difficult to differentiate between them.


I'm pleased to observe that Avenged Sevenfold's shows continue to improve somewhat as a result of being able to afford incredible stage effects and lighting.

Enjoy the clip below, a collage of music from Hollywood Undead and Avenged Sevenfold, although it is a bit choppy due to some security guard harrassment.