#everything destroys you tour 2023

[thexhostess]

[sadismancer]

Deathstars @ Rebellion Manchester, 9th Nov 2023.

Taken by my friendo: Lunarcera

I didn't take pics. I was too enthralled by the show!

[soisaidfine]

Bruce Springsteen / Ethel Cain: 'Our story'

Bruce: 'I fought my whole life, studied, played, worked, because I wanted to hear and know the whole story. I wanted to understand in order to free myself' Hayden: 'Everything in my whole life has been leading up to finishing this record. I like to think of this album as a cautionary tale of what would happen if you don’t free yourself'

They are daughters of Cain, and Bruce Springsteen got a date with the preacher's daughter.

Ethel Cain wearing a Bruce Springsteen T-shirt:

audiobook, Bruce Springsteen:

Bruce Springsteen: “I fought my whole life, studied, played, worked, because I wanted to hear and know the whole story. My story. Our story. And understand as much of it as I could. I wanted to understand in order to free myself of its most damaging influences, its malevolent forces, to celebrate and honor its beauty, its power. And to be able to tell it well to my friends, my family, and to you. I don’t know if I’ve done that, and the devil is always just a day away, but I know this was my young promise to myself, to you. This, I pursued as my service. This, I presented as my long and noisy prayer, my magic trick. Hoping it would rock your very soul and then pass on, its spirit rendered, to be read, heard, sung and altered by you and your blood, that it might strengthen and help make sense of your story. Go tell it.” (Born to Run, 79)

Hayden / Ethel Cain: “Ethel Cain is kind of my dark, evil twin. She’s not evil, per se, but we have both been through similar situations. If I didn’t choose to heal and forgive and forget, I would be ultimately destroyed, which is what happens to her. She is the mirrored version of what my life would be like if I chose not to get better. It’s this all-American girl who crumbles under the weight of God and country. The American Dream is unachievable — being a perfect daughter, a perfect Christian, all of these weights that are put onto young American people are impossible. I like to think of this album as a cautionary tale of what would happen if you don’t free yourself from these imaginary chains, in terms of religion, family and expectation. Everything I have done has been working up to this album. Everything in my whole life has been leading up to finishing this record.“ (Billboard)

Terrence Malick: 'You are just like I am. Can’t figure your life out? Can’t put the pieces together? Just like me. A pilgrim on this earth.' (Knight of Cups / The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan)

Photo: polaroid of Hayden (Ethel Cain) from back in may 2023, by @/bgoldmanphoto. Wearing a Bruce Springsteen Shirt 'Born in the USA World Tour '84-'85’.

[confirmeddead]

Here are my ramblings regarding the Interview With The Vampire Season 2 finale

This will be broken down into 3 sections:

Overall episode plot thoughts, character thoughts, and season 3 setup.

The way the episode was set up was fantastic. I went into it thinking I’d know what to expect. Paris Louis destroying the coven, Daniel uncovering Armand’s plotting, Loustat reunion.

I couldn’t be happier with how it all unfolded. The parallels with Louis and Paul, the fight between him and Santiago, Lestat in Magnus’ tower. I was absolutely enthralled with everything in Paris- it was so exciting.

When I tell you my palms were clammy when we go back to Dubai? I was a little confused (due to my excitement), did Daniel bring up those questions or were those planted by the Talamasca? I know the Talamasca gave him the real script but I was hoping Daniel did the extra legwork. This actually made me very excited for the Talamasca show (good job, AMC and IWTV writers) because of Rashid, RJ, and freaking Sam!

I really want to know what happened after Louis left Dubai with Armand and Daniel, but I’ll save those thoughts for later.

The NOLA reunion was everything I could have hoped for. I audibly laughed at Louis’ driver because it reminded me of my NOLA trip in 2023- the people of New Orleans are so charismatic and talkative! And the night tour? I didn’t attend one but I thought it was adorable seeing Louis attend one.

The actual Lestat/Louis reunion was fantastic. The young vampire taking him rats like in the book? Siri? Sam’s acting? I was taken aback with how different Lestat was and I think that was a peek at the “real” Lestat. A little more subtle with his movements, still charming, and brutally honest. This was the only part in the episode that made me cry, specifically when they talked about Claudia. Grief wasn’t something I had to face ‘til last year so I found my brain comparing the two.

The rest of the episode is a blur and I could probably make a whole post regarding that ending. I’m really curious what other DM fans thought… but I’ll say this one thing:

Louis saying Armand turned Daniel out of spite was a punch to the stomach. I actually yelled “Out of spite??” At my tv. Louis’ words, yes, but that paired with Daniel’s “asshole” comments on Armand made me collapse. I need to know more… and am praying those are just Louis’ words, nothing more, and there’s a lot more to the story.

Characters-

Louis: Oh Louis! My gosh, I was hurting for him real bad. Like I said, the Paul correlations were aplenty. The mad ramblings in the mausoleum, the actual acting on Jacob’s part (makes me wonder if he went back to 1x01 and copied Paul), the imaginings. I love how the episode ended with Louis calling for all those vampires to come to him because I totally (think I) know where the writers are going. Lestat’s gonna have that to have that performance ready earlier than expected!

Lestat: Ugh, I could not get enough of him this episode. Definitely Sam’s best episode (for me). The facial acting in Magnus’ tower, Louis pointing out the shackles, etc. Can’t wait for that to be revisited in season 3 both in the 18th century and 40s Paris. Again I really thought Sam’s acting in NOLA was a standout. The subtle changes to his character were so in my face (in the best way). Can’t wait for next season!

Armand: So… lot’s of thoughts. It was very interesting that they changed it that he had intentions of killing Louis. Does it make sense? Technically speaking, yes. I understand the reasoning that he wasn’t going to throw away a coven for someone whose heart was with another. All that being said… how does the viewer, who is already villainizing Armand, come out of this just not hating him completely? Killing his daughter and fledgling AND wanting to kill him?

Look, I know we the book readers have Anne’s writing telling us how she felt- she never saw these vampires as villains. I mean everyone says it, but it does kind of hurt seeing not one but two storylines regarding Armand changed so drastically. But I’ll let the tale seduce me, sorry. (Really, I will!)

Armand wanted and saved Louis out of selfish reasons. Armand turned Daniel out of love. Both changed, from our perspective. But the turning of Daniel is still up in the air, all we have is Louis’ words “out of spite”- oof.

Daniel: Like I said before in the plot analysis, I’m really hoping Daniel did a lot of the heavy lifting when it came to Armand’s plotting because he’s a Pulitzer Prize winner! Anyway, the ending… what to say?

I’ll admit it- I was wrong. So many people guessed it would happen but I didn’t think it made any sense. And can I say it? It didn’t make any sense. Technically speaking, the reveal was fantastic! But otherwise I just can’t help but think it was all a bit too much. “Out of spite” keeps ringing in my head in the worst way. I know they were Louis’ words, I know, but if they change this one thing about Armand I might scream. I want to let the tale seduce me but with them having changed what happened in Paris, it scares me to think of what they might have changed with Armand and Daniel.

So let me take the “tale seducing” out of here for a second, please.

Armand, after 500 years, turning someone out of spite is character assassination. I’m sorry!!! And you know what? Lemme call bullshit. I think he turned him because he really finds him fascinating now and, I don’t know, was seeing his own life flash before him and wanted someone to call his own. And do we think Armand would leave his only fledgling alone? Daniel was thriving! He’s confident, he’s happy, he’s strong! If Daniel resented him for it, truly, he’d be miserable- but he isn’t. And I’ve read a few takes regarding this and I think it can make a lot of sense if we really look at who Armand is as a person.

And since I’m always wrong and hope the writers prove me otherwise, I don’t think the Chase is gonna happen- in the 70s/80s or post-Dubai. I think it’ll be changed to Armand “chasing” Daniel’s love.

I just really need something more that will tell me this is all gonna be okay akksdjjd

Others: Superb acting by Ben Daniels my gosh! Rashid totally being body-swapped or working for the Talamasca made me so happy- I’ve loved Bally this season and hope to see him again. Them making Sam’s character a DJ was so funny- will he be performing with Lestat? His opener? LMAO

Season 3 setup-

I’m both excited and a little disappointed for their setups for season 3. Louis calling the vampires to him was badass and I think will lead Lestat to break out of his NOLA “stupor” and burst onto the music scene and draw everyone to him instead.

With Louis’ words to Daniel regarding a second book, I would say I don’t think Daniel would take his advice and not make a second book but that’s not who Daniel is. I think he’ll hear that and say yes to Lestat and interview him for his book.

So who did they leave out in regards to a season 3 setup? Armand. Yes, we know he turned Daniel but we didn’t even see him? Hear from him? Anything? Maybe it’s asking too much but it bothered me that they left it as “he turned Daniel out of spite” and that’s it.

[kindestofkings]

a mastermind [2]

ryan mcmahon x reader

faceclaim: phoebe bridgers

authors note: happy friday everyone, proud of you for making it through the week xx @orangeinecstasy here you are <3

2022

yourusername just added to their story!

replies:

trumanblack wow WOW what happened to the deep seeded commitment issues??? WHAT ABOUT THE HATE FOR ALL MEN

↳ yourusername I KNOW I KNOW OKAY but matty he was so nice and I had so much fun 😭

charlixcx wow girl when are you back in london! I need to you to chat me up !!

↳ yourusername I'm home next week xx and of course we may or may doing something tomorrow... just the two of us 👀👀

lucydacus the drummer???

↳ yourusername the one and only 😍

julienrbaker we let you go on ONE solo trip and this happens....

↳ yourusername im sorry!!! he was even dreamier in person 😔

yourusername

liked by elijahhewson and others

yourusername pints with the lads 💪💪💪

new friends unlocked! a band, with a nepo baby lead singer... do I have a type? and where do I leave back the old model

view all other comments

bobbyskeetz josh man you're giving that pint some look 👀

joshjenkinson_ the look of love what else?

inhalerfan1 FINALLY my manifesting worked, now you and ryan should fall in love xx

rass75 well I know for a fact you didnt just call us older right? RIGHT??

(liked by trumanblack,bedfordanes75 and adam1975)

yourusername hehehe oh heyyy ha ha about that..

trumanblack heyyy no fair I was your first.

ynhealytruther WOW okay y'all fuck then yourusername FIRST NEPO BABY wow get your head out of the gutter bestie 😀

yourusername

liked by ryanmcmahon_15

yourusername no words to describe how I'm feeling rn.

view all other comments

ynfan1 ahh this HUGE!

taylorswift counting down the days already !

swiftie1 what a service you're both doing for us sad girlies <3

yourusername I see you, I love you and I am a your fellow sad girlie <3

charlixcx taking over the world one day at a time 💅💅

ryanmcmahon_15 🔥🔥

ynhealytruther no comments from the 1975 lads, whats going on 😔

ryanmcmahon_15

liked by yourusername and others

ryanmcmahon_15 some shows in new york.

view all other comments

lewevans hey no paps please xx

inhalerfan1 sooo excited for you guys to go on tour fully again🕺

yourusername v rockstar v cool

ryanmcmahon_15 second nature at this point 😎 inhalerfan2 ariana what are you doing here? inhalerfan1 shes friends with the lads!

2023

yourusername

liked by julienrbaker and others

yourusername heyy its been while sorry! unplanned mysterious retreat but I've busy writing, busy recording with my fellow geniuses and busy rehearsing!

so heres a slutty soft launch as an apology for being gone ?

comments are turned off

taylorswift

liked by yourusername and others

taylorswift nashville you have been WILD. it's always special getting to share the stage with another artist but when its with the genius/baby angel face yourusername it feels extra special!!!!

view all other comments

yourusername you can say things like this and not expect me to cry 😢😢

yourusername you are my hero thank you thank you everything <33

swiftie1 nothing new destroyed me in the best way possible

ynfan1 it was incredible witnessing yn's pinch me moment !

yourusername

liked by ryanmcmahon_15 and others

yourusername GUYS GUYs please please please don't kill me but the next single is..... a TOTAL LOVE SONG WITH ALL THE HAPPINESS. AH I know how dare I?? but I mean im in love, deal with it. (please please)

anywayy gold rush is yours at midnight friday <3

view all other comments

trumanblack ew love

yourusername have they found a cure yet?? my profession of writing heartbreak songs is on the line god dammit !

ynfan1 I can't believe the love of my life is in love with someone and its NOT me

ynfan2 how can you write scott street and then go write a love song??

yourusername ik the whiplash is real. you're gonna love it tho! I hope..lol!! ynfan2 wait of course I'm gonna love it, every thing you write is magic <3

ryanmcmahon_15 with yourusername

liked by bobbyskeetz and others

ryanmcmahon_15 with yourusername welll we (one of us, defo not me) had planned a long softlaunch stage which was VERY detailed, but an eagle eyed fan caught us out ! big thanks to them cause theres cool pics to post :))

view all comments

yourusername my love <33

yourusername am kinda heartbroken soft launching was fun !!

bobbyskeetz my boy is all grown up 😢

joshjenkinson_ feels like just yesterday he was crying listening to waiting room.. yourusername no stop im too soft for it all !!

elijahhewson my matchmaking skills never fail 😎

ryanmcmahon_15 yes thank god for your very elaborate organising of pints <33 elijahhewson hey less is more sometimes ynfan1 wait this is soo cute

inhalerfan1 I KNEW IT I KNEW IT, I knew i could sense the vibes

yourusername girl you were mad for that, you called it before we even met ! im getting witchy vibes xx

taylorswift the detailed planning feels like my fault a bit.... y'all are SO adorable tho

lewevans man what is going on you have the taylor swift in your comments.. ryanmcmahon_15 man I've stopped questioning it, i've the taylor swift in our gaff for monthy wine nights 😂 swiftie1 those two are such icons (taylor and yn) (liked by ryanmcmahon_15)

yourusername

liked by ryanmcmahon_15 and others

yourusername just before I retreat into my home for the holidays and eat nothing but minced pies and never get out of my pjs, I thought I'd leave you guys with a parting gift from my family to yours. so much wine is a craft of love and is everything I think of when I think of the holiday season, theres some oldies, some newbies, some saddies and some friends !

a big thank you to dirtyhit as usual and the genius producers that are trumanblack, bedfordanes75 and rass75 ( all who jumped on a track also)

other friends who graced these records, taylorswift, lucydarcus, hozier and julienrbaker thank you thank you <33

also someone stepped away from the drums for a hot second and made his vocals debut, which I feel honoured about and so proud!

go listen and enjoy <333

view all comments

ryanmcmahon_15 the album and you are a work of art <3

yourusername stfu imma cry 😢

ynfan1 you write melancholy so beautifully, love it all so far!

inhalerfan1 ryan with a vocal debut?? christmas came early

inhalerfan2 obsessed with both of you, you are my parents

elijahhewson thankful everyday sir ryan chose drums or I'd be out of a job..

bobbyskeetz theres still time yet!

joshjenkinson_ thanks for inviting us onto the album!

yourusername it was my PLEASURE sir jenkinson

trumanblack always a pleasure making stuff together bedfordanes75 xx

yourusername we are such a powerhouse of a trio, like the powerpuff girls or something ! ynfan1 not 😭 the 😭 powerpuff 😭 girls 😭

-finished-

Ahh what was that you ask?? can ryan sing?? All important questions! I dont know entirely, all my fics are self-indulgent but this one was particularly bad hahah hence the all over the place plot, also im in a festive mood lol. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THO, as always let me know what you think and come chat <33

[mika080]

GaaSaku AO3 2023 Yearly Wrap Up

List of Fanfiction COMPLETED in 2023, on Archive of Our Own.

[I'm trying something here. Tell me if you like.💞]

Prank War by GrimmoftheQueen Gaara walks into Naruto's apartment to find Sakura planning to shove cheese and bologna under Naruto's sheets and now he's got a front row seat to the pranks the two of them play on each other. He starts helping Sakura prank Naruto and ends up hanging out with Sakura more than he thought he would

Broom Closet Diplomacy by AviumR The first time Haruno Sakura manhandled the Fifth Kazekage into the nearest broom closet, she almost caused an international incident. Or: How Sakura chipped away at the Kazekage’s self-control, one broom closet at a time.

A small Help by Carnagebrattish Sakura e Gaara tomando banho juntos numa banheira e tendo momentos doces sozinhos após ajudar Sakura. [Not English]

Secret Love Song: The Sequel by Hina5enpai Idol AU (Direct sequel/picks up right where the first book left off) Endgame: SasuHina GaaSaku NejiTen SaiIno I just want to issue a warning: This story is significantly darker than the first book. It may seem like it won't for the first half, but it WILL have a happy SasuHina/GaaSaku ending. Thanks for reading! After fainting onstage during the last concert of their first tour, Hinata feels too guilty to face her bandmates. Unfortunately, something awful happens before she can speak to them again. Left with no choice, Hinata agrees to give up everything: Sasuke Uchiha, her friends, and even her career. Despite being asked not to interfere, Sasuke refuses to sit by and watch her give up. Even if she ends up hating him, he vows to fix things. Rated M for a reason!

Morning After by FallenInDreams After a night of debauchery, he fell asleep with her in his arms, slept tangled with her in the sheets, and woke with a stupid grin on his face. Gaara was not a morning person, but this, he could get used to. Written for GaaSaku-Fanfests Month 2023 on tumblr. Prompt: Day 22 | Morning After

Demon of Desire by EmmaLouiseLovesFanfiction She just wanted to have her deepest desires fulfilled. Can't blame a girl for trying, right? Even if she didn't think it would happen. Even if she didn't believe in such things. They still seemed to believe in her. He was a figment of her imagination. Until he became real. And his desire for her was only matched by hers.

the living cage by Binxxx Konoha falls to Suna during the Chunin exam invasion, and in the aftermath, Sakura discovers who her soulmate is. Now a prisoner, Sakura laments the day the universe gifted her the idyllic nightmare she calls her soul mate, who is more a labyrinth and beast than he is a man. But he is hers, all the same. The universe gave him to her for a reason…right? AU of "Words that Tie, Ties that Bind", or a "What if Gaara had successfully kidnapped Sakura after destroying Konoha during the Chunin exams?" ↳ Written for GaaSaku FanFest 2023: Day 21: soulmate/soul bond, “what will this cost me?” Day 25: sex pollen, scent/senses, “you smell so good”. Day 26: ptsd/mental illness, bad guy wins, “save me”.

Helping Each Other by QueenHimari Gaara and Sakura have phone sex to help them endure until they can see each other again. Written for GaaSaku Month 2023, Day 8: Long-Distance Relationship.

The "Q" Word Curse by NightingaleFlow Never say the "Q" word within the walls of the hospital. You will regret it.

No More Goodbyes by RiverOfTheSand She watched them saying goodbye for the umpteenth time, wondering how dense Gaara had to be to not notice Sakura's feelings for him. The way Tsunade saw it, she had two choices: get drunk on sakē for the rest of the day, or force Sakura into confessing her undying love to the Kazekage... decisions, decisions. *post-war*

A One Month Bet by Olly_BaaBaaChan A slow-burn, AU Shippuden-era romance. Sakura is sent to Suna to train the medical team, but the Kazekage is skeptical. They make a bet to see if Sakura can single handedly improve the entire unit, but the medic team's skills are not the only thing that blossom during her stay in Suna. Rated M for a variety of reasons. Come for the heavy petting, stay for the drama of a decently crafted plotline. GaaxSaku

Consequence by RiverOfTheSand AU GaaSaku. After three years they were finally over. She was finally free to find someone who deserved her. She just wasn't quite ready for the consequence of that decision. Rated M just in case.

Reason to Breathe by RiverOfTheSand AU GaaSaku. The train stopped suddenly and she fell into his arms. Her panic had disappeared, only to be replaced by a far more pleasant sensation; and she was falling all over again.

Sandbox by mika080 A haiku of undeserving love. . Sand swirls and flowers bloom. Friendship enduring through the sands of time. Kind, serene, acceptance of love.

Dreams of Sand by mika080 Warm fingers touched him. He could still hear her through the screaming.

Phantom of the Opera by mika080 A Phantom of the Opera inspired GaaSaku retelling.

Secret Love Song by Hina5enpai SasuHina/GaaSaku IdolAU COMPLETE WITH SEQUEL IN THE WORKS! Warnings include but are not limited to: Language, Underage-Consumption, Smut, Violence, Abuse Hinata gets the chance of a lifetime with a music contract. Placed in a 4-person idol group, she's on the road to living her dreams. She foresaw an adjustment to her lifestyle. What she didn't expect was to fall head-over-heels for her bandmate: Sasuke Uchiha. ENDGAME SasuHina GaaSaku (short-term pairings throughout) MAJOR Mature Themes/Complete with a sequel in the works!

back on the run (back to the blue) by SafelyCapricious Sakura is on a diplomatic mission to Suna when the coup happens. 

[shesacarver]

On November 23rd, 2023, a video titled “ Ned’s Cozy Fireplace - 10 Hours of Relaxing Twenty One Pilots Mixes “ was uploaded to the Twenty One Pilots YouTube channel. I need to talk about it.

This post will be disorganized— as there can’t be much structure to an observation of something non-linear— though points will be ordered from most to least relevant.

OVERVIEW

[ Link to Ned’s Cozy Fireplace ]

For most of the 10 hours, Ned is prominently displayed in his little cave from the Chlorine MV. References to past MVs/items ( the Funko pop is canon…. ) are displayed throughout. The monitor on the far right of the screen will infrequently play videos related to whatever song is currently playing.

TIMESTAMPS & RELEASE DATES

At several points during the video, Ned will wake up, and/or get up and walk away. One of these timestamps stands out: 5:17:00.

At the five hours and seventeen minutes mark, the monitor in the room turns on, and Tyler can be seen in his studio. Ned also opens his eyes.

As others before me have pointed out, 5:17:00 can be read like a date; 5/17, or May 17th. May 17th, 2015 was the release date of Blurryface, making May 17th, 2024 it’s 9th anniversary. Due to the symbolism of the number 9, of Blurryface, and of cycles/“the cycle”, I believe that the next album will release on May 17th, 2024.

NED’S EYE

In the reflection of Ned’s eye, a reflection can be seen:

It appears to be black, white, and blue. None of the colors present in his eye could be reflected from his environment— Everything has undertones of red and purple due to the fireplace, and Chlorine is teal, not defeat-core blue.

The image, I believe, is meant to showcase the blue door. It appears to be opening up from the ground, similar to the way it did during the Icy Tour.

The concept also reflects the Blurryface eye shutting / Trench eye opening teaser.

ANAGRAM

Also discovered by others before me, Ned’s Cozy Fireplace may be an anagram for something bigger, similar to SCALED AND ICY = CLANCY IS DEAD. Several keywords can be plucked out of NEDS COZY FIREPLACE, and one of the strings that can be formed is:

CLANCY SEIZED OR FPE

This may represent an internal question asked by the Banditos, if FPE is taken as Few, Proud, Emotional. They haven’t seen Tyler or the Torchbearer in years, so they’d be unaware of any psychokinetic powers. CLANCY SEIZED OR FPE could essentially be the question of “ How did Clancy destroy Dema? Was he seized by Blurryface, or is he free? Is it one or the other, or is it both?“

‘ JUST LIKE KEONS SED ‘

On the same note as the anagram, a note can be found on screen. It reads:

“ NED, SAW CLANCY N TORCH BERER JUS LIKE KEONS SED. HOPE YOU AR WELL. NED. “

This could be referencing the actual bishop Keons, if he were a secret Bandito-ally ( the term ‘ Rebel Red ‘ from Chlorine may allude to that ), or it could reference The Outside’s MV. The significance of either option has yet to be truly seen.

CONCLUSIONS

I think that Ned’s Cozy Fireplace holds answers to certain questions, but also poses certian questions that will be answered with later releases. I believe that new-content releases will begin in January, and constantly lead up towards a May release date.

[suedesongs]

These Are The Suede Songs 002: Be My God/Art

The first dedicated post of this project, and the de facto first Suede single. Only 500 copies were produced, and the majority of these were destroyed, as the band weren’t at all happy with the result.

In fact, According to Dave Thompson, Justine Frischmann recalls keeping one copy for nostalgia’s sake. One side had “Fuck Fuck” written on it, and the other, “Double fuck”. It’s not hard to see why they might have disliked the overall result, but to destroy the majority of available copies seems slightly extreme, when you consider that these might be the first Suede songs that are actually…good? 

Be My God/Art was recorded on RML, barely a label, and one that has absolutely no online trail. Mat Osman remembers it was the endeavor of a well-to-do schoolmate down in Haywards Heath who most likely had some money to throw around, and so financed bands at his rural studio. This was most likely Curtis Shwartz, who shared some photos of this session to his Instagram in 2020. Apparently, Brett was most diligent with tea-making. Videos of these sessions are also briefly featured in the BBC Rock Family Trees: The Birth of Cool Brittania documentary from 2022, which is available on YouTube and highly recommended! 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Curtis Schwartz (@curtisschwartz)

Gone is the drum machine for these sessions, and up to the drum kit strode midlander Justin Welch, later the drummer for Elastica, and more recently of Aircooled, who were given a support slot on the Scottish dates of Suede’s 2023 Autofiction tour. Brett Anderson recalls Justin playing ferociously, and driving even more so, almost killing them by spinning out his car on Bethnal Green Road on one occasion. He has clearly been forgiven, as eagle-eyed fans will spot he’s been driving for Suede on their last couple of tours. 

Welch’s tenure with Suede was to be short-lived. As drummers tend to be, he was in several other bands, and left amicably to join Crawley outfit Spitfire. 

‘Art’ is quite a nice, groovy track. Anderson’s vocals begin to show confidence and, and there’s a certain snarl he’s adopted by this point. It’s an entertaining, catchy listen. Still erring into baggy at points, there’s a little more edge this time around, even if the lyrics remain rather empty. 

I do, genuinely, seek this track out sometimes, when I’m on the bus, or sitting at my desk at work. It’s the first Suede song that could really be described as danceable. My main gripe with this one, however, is those vari-sped vocals. This, as any Suede fan knows, isn’t the first time they’d make this mistake. 

‘Be My God’ on the other hand, is slow, and again the baggy influences are stronger, but this time, it’s actually good. This feels like everything Natural Born Servant should have been. 

This song is often mislabelled on bootlegs as “C’mon C’mon C’mon” due to the repeated refrain, and it’s probably the first Suede track that can be considered…sexy. Anderson breathing “c’mon, have me” is undeniably sensual; an auditory come-hither. The BDSM imagery is less restrained, too, as he pants “I’ll be your dog/be my god”. Despite it hinting at becoming Venus In Furs at any moment, it’s sadly a bit too slow, plodding and musically simplistic to fulfill this wholly, and it still suffers from the virginal feeling of other earlier tracks. Dave Thompson describes this as “a ‘your place or mine’ invitation that slid sex back into the warped equation of “drugs and rock and roll”, which is a fantastic description, though I feel this does, unfortunately, lack all three key elements of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

[graffitiplanet]

When I first listened to Vice Grip, I was shell-shocked. Jaw to the floor in complete awe. Not because it was good. It was the worst music I had ever heard in my life, and I listen to 100 gecs. "Surely this can't be the precursor to the hit indie/alternative rock band Joywave?" I thought to myself. This godawful collection of "music" sounded like it came straight from a GarageBand mixtape on a burned CD, played through your family PC's shitty built-in speakers. Which was probably how it was meant to be played anyway.

Once I got over the initial knee-jerk reaction to catapult my headphones straight through the nearest window, I found myself listening to the small handful of tracks for a second time. Why would I subject myself to such cruel punishment? There must have been something in the water that fateful day, because each time I re-listened, it sounded better and better…

Something about it… captivated me. Was it the screeching, autotuned vocals that caught my attention? The vapid and childishly crude lyrics? Or the over-mixed drums and mp3 fuzz that proved its authenticity (and lack thereof)? Izzy Sparks was speaking to me from the faraway, ancient year of 2007. He had taken my heart from the lockbox, so to say. I began to understand.

Taken at face value, Vice Grip's discography contains objectively, the worst songs ever written (save for one*). But we need to go deeper. To truly comprehend the beauty of Vice Grip, one must understand the concept of:

Somewhere in 21-year-old Daniel Michael Armbruster's mind, there was a great plan stewing. If his eccentric mannerisms, cynical lyricism, and off-putting tweets of today suggest anything, it is that Daniel is no stranger to satire. His devilish plan to create the perfect caricature of 00s synthpop was never meant to be anything more than a one-time joke. How (un)fortunate that Vice Grip was conceived at the height of the second boyband craze, leading to international success and an active fanbase. Their faces were on TV around the world, and even in magazines. Vice Grip even eclipsed the popularity of the Hoodies, their completely 100% sincere pop-punk effort.

Perhaps this non-band came too early. Were they ahead of their time? It seemed Vice Grip had become the very thing it swore to destroy. Fittingly, the band self-destructed after releasing their final album: The Vice Grip Anthology (2320 H.D. - 2009 A.D.). Causes for the breakup include drug addiction, sex addiction, pornography (both producing and consuming), cannibalism, food addiction, feudalism, and college classes.

Eventually fading into obscurity and surpassed by newer satirical bands like Joywave and KOPPS, Vice Grip's genius went unappreciated for the next 15 years. The full Vice Grip Anthology was lost to link rot and Web 1.0's decay. The search for this holy grail was further crushed when former band members revealed that not even they possessed a copy. I mean, can you blame them? It seemed that Vice Grip was nothing more than an unpleasant memory, preserved only in the minds of the ex-emo millennials who had nothing better to do at Warped Tour 2008.

Until one fateful day in the year 2023. The Anthology had at last been uncovered, dug up and dusted off by one of the few fans who had the indecency to pay $9.99 on iTunes for it, all those years ago. It was subsequently transmitted all the way from Pluto to every deviant computer in the world, and is now freely available to all mortals that can withstand the sonic assault on their eardrums.

Everything on the internet does indeed last forever, much to the chagrin of Armbruster FKA Sparks. In his own words, "[The Anthology] is 31 tracks of complete and utter bullshit, presented in chronological order." But for the five or so Vice Grip fans that still exist on this planet, it was worth its weight in gold and then some (so I'm told). It truly is the most amazing album we will ever hear.

I am now at the point in my Vice Grip journey where Holly & Emily is a welcome guest on my shuffle play, rather than a dastardly scourge to make me cringe into the 4th dimension. This presents some difficulties when playing my music in a car filled with more sensible people than I. But they simply have not yet been mind-blown by the frequencies that Vice Grip has to offer.

The true artistry of Vice Grip hides behind the superficial. These are not songs meant to be loathed and detested by their audience. These are songs crafted with love. These are love songs. Because we love it.

Vice Grip truly is the greatest band the world has ever freaking seen.

*Thriller 2 is the best song Daniel has ever made.

[satoshi-mochida]

Pizza Tower now available for Switch - Gematsu

Tour De Pizza has released a Switch version of fast-paced side-scrolling platformer Pizza Tower via Nintendo eShop for $19.99.

Fangamer will also release physical standard and Collector’s editions of the Switch version. Interested users can sign-up at the special website to get notified when pre-orders become available.

Pizza Tower first launched for PC via Steam on January 26, 2023.

Here is an overview of the game, via Nintendo.com:

About

Pizza Tower is a fast-paced 2D platformer, with an emphasis on movement, exploration and score attack. Peppino Spaghetti, a surprisingly agile and powerful fat balding italian, is on a mission to destroy the titular Pizza Tower in order to save his restaurant from annihilation. Follow him through his rampage across the many wacky floors of the tower, collecting toppings and beating up monsters!

Key Features

Play as Peppino Spaghetti, the supersonic Italian middle-aged man! And sometimes Gustavo.

Explore up to five floors leading to many levels, discover all of their secrets!

Fight some monsters and other weirdos!

Destroy everything in your path, including those stupid rats.

Become the Pizza Tower!

More Features

Weird crazy characters and animations!

An insanely energetic soundtrack!

An unusual platformer formula!

Play like you want! Go for the highest score or explore at your own pace!

Watch a new trailer below.

Switch Launch Trailer

[goodbysunball]

Title lost

A coupla hitters for your end of Novembs—

Body Void, Atrocity Machine (Prosthetic)

I caught Body Void on their massive tour with Primitive Man, Mortiferum, Jarhead Fertilizer and Elizabeth Colour Wheel last year, and they stunned me with their singular-minded approach to make music as heavy and seething as possible with a guitar-bass-drums trio. In the live setting, they reminded me of bands like Fistula (the riffs) and Indian (the vocals), but for me, Body Void's recordings didn't stack up. Now, having augmented their setup with heaps of abrasive electronics to fill every space on Atrocity Machine with glass, rust and asphalt, I can definitely say they've captured the power of their live shows. The first two proper tracks, "Human Greenhouse" and "Flesh Market," are similar in spirit to their old tracks (slow leaden riffs, maybe a fast part, less concerned with structure than texture), albeit trimmed in length and twice as caustic. It's "Cop Show" that really announces the band's arrival, a nauseating see-saw whirr accompanying every downstroke, grinding the listener down for over six minutes until a slightly different version of the riff comes back for the pile-driving finish. The flip features two songs stretching over 10 minutes each, again recalling earlier recordings, but made whole with electronic noise. As exhausting as "Divine Violence" might seem halfway through, it's an agonizingly slow build to a blinding finish, and you'll be inadvertently headbanging throughout. The title track closes the record out in similarly smothering fashion, electronics whipping up sand storms while the band hammers out a riff swinging ominously like a pendulum, everything except the drums eventually ceding to the painful electronics over the final minutes. This is admittedly a tough sell in an oppressively bleak world, in a society intent on destroying itself, but it's a feat to make music this physically and psychologically punishing. As suffocatingly dense as the sound can be, it's no surprise that when Atrocity Machine ends, you're exhausted; but when it's on, and you're immersed in their onslaught, you don't want it to end, either.

Lewsberg, Out and About (12XU)

If there's a sound that will evoke memories of summer/fall 2023 for me, it's gonna be the warm drone introducing "Angle of Reflection," the opening track on Lewsberg's latest record Out and About. Anyone hoping the band would return to the comparatively uptempo self-titled and In This House LPs will be disappointed, as last year's In Your Hands proves itself to be more than a transitional record. At the time, that record seemed intentionally pared down to reflect the group's ranks shrinking from four to three, but the approach appears to have been instructional for the band in some sense. Everything on Out and About feels intentional, very little left to chance, not a hair out of place. Yet even with such a seemingly calculated approach, the band played one of my favorite sets I've seen this year, covering most of Out and About with equal parts precision (Michiel Klein stock-still delivering the searing solo on highlight "An Ear to the Chest") and an infectious enthusiasm. I'm not sure if that enthusiasm bleeds into the record for anyone who hasn't seen Lewsberg live, but I think I've come to prefer this refined version of the band, prone to roomy, sparkling guitar lines, simple floor tom accompaniment, and softly delivered vocals. It is very much a pop record, one that works as social or background music, but there's enough going on under the surface to satisfy a close listen or 20. Shalita Dietrich's rich bass line on "A Different View," the vocal interplay between Dietrich and newest member Marrit Meinema on "Without a Doubt," and Ari van Vliet's violin on "Canines" show a band that is very much buttoned-down, professional and yet still finding new spaces within a well-worn pop framework. Yes, I can do without the precious spoken word of "There's a Poet In the Bushes," but I'm glad they took the swing; this band is nothing if not outwardly bookish. The lyrics across Out and About - funny, pensive, never maudlin or self-pitying - point to a more complicated humanity behind it all, of course, and Meinema's contributions in that department fit right in. It's clear that Lewsberg have transcended the VU influence and have grown into their sound, and they arrive fully-formed on Out and About. One of my top favorites from this year, and easily my most listened to record of this year.

Jef Mertens, No Mathematics (Feeding Tube/Kraak)

New solo album from Jef Mertens, a bastion of the noise/drone scene in Belgium and abroad. Not sure what hipped me to this release - maybe the Kraak newsletter, because who can keep up with Feeding Tube's release schedule - but in any case it's a keeper. Mertens is on guitar and shruti box, both of which give his droning compositions a warm-yet-metallic feel, a sound reminiscent of artists like K-Group. He's accompanied by Nickolas Mohanna on a few tracks, contributing "electronics, rhythmic pads and treated zithers," giving a track like "Metal" an almost rhythmic backbone, pushing Mertens outside of the meditative circles he tends to run on his own. There's more than a hint of Pauline Oliveros' influence evident, on "Hapering" especially, where it's easy to become immersed in the majestic repeating pattern. No Mathematics instills an eerie calm on record, and I imagine Mertens is similarly able to silence small concert venues across Europe easily with his gently welcoming yet powerful pieces, soothing the most frayed of nerves, or at least getting folks out of their heads for a few minutes.

Emily Robb, If I Am Misery Then Give Me Affection (Petty Bunco)

A welcome return from Emily Robb, following up How to Moonwalk with a more introspective, yet no less sizzling record. If I Am Misery Then Give Me Affection comes with a promise of "high-minded celebration of guitar and sound and tone and string and amp," and that's about the gist of it. No Yngwie Malmsteen-style pyrotechnics here, just a detailed investigation into the instrument, channeling a cozy scratchy knit blanket ("Hermit's Cave"), providing a generous two-track dissection of "Black Angel Death Song"'s violent instrumental ("Dispenser" and "Slowing Singing Bathing Shaving") and sometimes just capturing in high fidelity an interesting noise ad nauseam ("Bells," an admittedly strange favorite). There are, of course, some more straightforward bits like "A Kiss" and "Solo In A" that should make most musicians want Robb in their band, but I find the tracks that mine the exploration of the guitar and exploit the possibilities of the studio to be the most compelling. There is a patient, calm feel to the record, best exemplified by the stunning lonesome electric blues of "There It Goes Again" and "First Grow a Gold Plant," that has been a perfect accompaniment to early mornings. It's rare that I don't flip the record straight over after the smoldering "Rolling Electric Ball" finishes, not wanting to leave the orbit of If I Am Misery, and that's not something I can say about many instrumental records, guitar-based or not. I'd say I can't wait for what's next, but I'm perfectly content when this one's on.

[01turnkill]

2024 Media Post Time - Master

1. Total Drama Island (2023) and Total Drama Island (2024)

I would personally consider Total Drama as one of my first "fandoms". One of the first times I went into the online community and talked to people... I had a DeviantART account which I made as an Ask Account for one of the characters.. Only answered about 2 asks before I stopped. I made image collages on a website online and posted those too. All before I found out how to download art programs as a kid..

It's been a long time since I watched those but sometime 3 years ago I did actually rewatch the first Total Drama Island and Total Drama Action, but stopped at World Tour and definitely didn't touch Revenge of the Island or All-Stars.

This new season is very obviously taking inspiration from the original, going back to the classic style with the characters and the challenges. Chris is back, even! There are a lot of characters in Reboot that feel like pieces of TDI put together. Though, I mean this in a good way, they feel balanced and different but not too exaggerated. Realistic but exaggerated at the same time.

When the characters were introducted I thought Ripper had the funniest intro of all time honestly. In the rest of the show he was amusing but that fart episode man. I also found Zee hilarious almost every time he spoke and Wayne too. I just laugh.

The Reboot introduces Homosexuals for the first time which is pretty cool, I won't lie. I thought it was amusing the gay guy Bowie's whole personality is just being gay and also being a bit of a petty gossip girl antagonist, but then there's Raj who is not so explicitly gay- his personality is being a stupid hockey jock (but not too stupid). It was good but I feel like the season, while it does focus on the characters interpersonal relationships, doesn't have nearly enough down time or conversations between characters in their cabins or at breakfast.. Just during challenges.

After becoming a hockey fan this hit harder and funnier to me than it could have before. Plenty of hockey references and jokes. They have the character Wayne who is a hockey jock but also stupid and since Raj is the gay one, Wayne is just really stupid and that's all he has got going on. I thought he'd maybe put his physical strength to use or something but no. He does get battered and bruised every other episode though..

I think I and a lot of people really did not enjoy Emma and Chase. Chase in the 2nd season was really funny but he wasn't there long and the whole rest of his and Emma's time on the show was a little irritating. Funny at first but as it went on ... man. I don't really care much for the romance elements in the show. Even the gays though I did appreciate it and this was kind of cool like, I think I would have been more on board if Emma stayed sadistic whether or not she liked or hated Chase at the moment and didn't keep flip flopping but I don't know what kind of a message that sends haha.

There was also a farting episode and a massive vomit scene with coloured vomit and it's like... hey now. You are gonna give people fetishes so deep in their head it won't crawl out until they're 20 and it's going to be vicious.

Could say more but yeah I love stupid shows like this every so often. I am good at laughing at everything, especially kids shows. I know how to be shocked every time something odd happens even though this is a cartoon and enjoying the same joke ten times.

Edit adding:

Wayne mentioning his Sidney Crosby rookie card gets destroyed story. Me shedding a tear 'I actually know who Sidney Crosby is..' How it feels finally knowing who a celebrity is in a TV reference... Not to mention I'm a card nerd.

[bellestarot]

Disclaimer: My readings are not set in stone. This is supposed to be fun as it is for me and I hope for you too.

Taylor's Reading

June 09, 2023

Right Now

She's having fun. She is having contact with other people on an intimate level but I don't see it becoming something serious, in fact what she just wants is to date, she doesn't want a serious relationship so soon.

I see that she may be getting involved with a water sign or air but it's really shallow, she doesn't have feelings and she doesn't feel like looking for someone or choosing between many options.

She's working a lot putting a lot of effort in and she's getting a lot in return and that's something she's really proud of, where she is in her career. But I see that as much as she makes an effort and receives the fruits of it, it's as if it was in vain for her, as if everything she built was somehow taken away from her or it wasn't the way she expected the emotions about it.

She tries to move on because she has a lot going on in her life and she tries to show people this perfect character, but the reality is that she feels that a lot of things are not enough.

Love Life

It's like the whole world is watching her every move with every person she's involved with and it's somehow destroying what she's built, or something she maybe wanted to have one day with someone. I see that she doesn't see the world or how the media pays attention to her in a positive light on the issue of her love life.

She's paying attention to other guys but it's hard for her because she's still attached to her past relationship, she's still trying to move on.

There are two guys she is having contact with. One might be younger than her and the other might be older the same age, but it's all messed up. She doesn't know what to do, it seems like she's lost control of her personal life in a way.

I see that she is having contact with an older man who is giving her advice, trying to help her but she still has a lot of hurt inside. And she's with other people to plug a hole she has now.

Career

She's really excited about how her career is going right now, the new things that are happening. She is happy that she can speak and give her opinions and that she can talk to the people who work with her to develop new ways and maybe improve something in production or work.

At first she was scared of how good things came to her, with the positive results and now I see that she is very happy and has been very important in her life.

There is a bit of a issue on traveling. I think she's had to make some decisions and it's been a little difficult. The other people on her team who are on tour, something may had happened along the way of travel that has made her tense.

But she is very passionate about traveling, venturing out and discovering new places.

Family

Her relationship with her family is not the best right now. There are fights, lies and a lot of anger towards each other.

She remembers someone in the family that she was open with and she didn't see that person being faithful to her in the end, so she carries a lot of memories towards them.

There are some people in the family that she can barely talk to because they are just hard to talk to.

Before, she was able to be more affectionate with these people or with this specific person and then it just got difficult, they barely see each other and she doesn't trust this person because when she was feeling bad they just slammed the door in her face.

In the past she was close to several girls in the family and later it became difficult to be close to these people, she doesn't trust and feels it's fake. In a way she sort of bankrolls some family members, but a lot of people only talk to her or treat her well because of the money.

There is someone in the family with whom this person is not doing well in life and I think they may have personal issues and she's trying to protect her energy or not being close to this person, not having contact with them but I think she's having difficulty in this because this person also seems to be moving to change their behavior.

Friendships

She has a pretty satisfying number of friends she can count on now. She has a male friend who is in the industry too, this person seems to be very creative and connected to music like her but she feels a little intimidated by him because sometimes he is a little impulsive or does not control what he is going to say very well, so she never really know what to expect from this guy no matter how much she likes him.

There's another man that Taylor is very friendly with only she doesn't know that this person likes her more than a friend. Number 18 can be important in this connection and also blue color can represent something in this relationship.

She also has a younger friend who also seems to be in the industry and there is a very long distance between them or maybe the two of them are also estranged and it's not about physical distance but about emotional distance from each other.

She has two friendships with men who she feels she can trust, they are more mature than she, so it seems to be older and these friends she has fun with them but it's also about respecting each other's space and talking about what's really going on between their life. So I think she trusts certain people to go into deeper issues.

I think she has a couple of friends that she's very close with and I can only think of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in that situation and who she has a lot with contact with i see that it is the woman of the connection. She seems to be more empathetic and emotional just like her partner but she seems much more mature than him.

Future

There is a chance of her getting into a serious relationship in the future but I see that she is not going to be happy with this person and I see a lot of stress, insecurity and anxiety coming to the fore for her. She will continue to have a constant dream of having a family and having a normal life.

There's going to be a male figure in her life who she's going to plan something really big with that person, it could be an artist, it seems to be things related to her work specifically and I see that being a huge success for her career.

She may get involved with someone in the future but I see conflicts and eventually not lasting this relationship.

[vulturereyy]

Rey's OC Masterpost!! (as of 5/29/2023)

I realized I've never done one of these, like ever, anywhere, so. Maybe now is the time to change that! My OCs are from various fandoms and genres, and some are used more than others. General rules for them are as follows: Asks about them, questions, comments, all okay! If you do fanart I think I am legally obligated to marry you LOL, but really no pressure! Please do NOT use my art of them or their exact character for your own use. You are welcome to be inspired by them, and welcome to include them on references for commissions like 'I want hair like this character' etc so long as you credit me for the art! But please do not take their stories and images 1:1.

Please do not kin my characters. It makes me exceedingly uncomfortable and you will be blocked. Without further ado... Get ready to see some gay little bitches!!

Sorbet Lemonbalm

My beloved. My wife. My husband. She's been divorced three times. She's left the altar twice. She's never been married. She's my weed smoking girlfriend. She's in a polycule with a kobold barbarian and the Moon God.

Sorbet is my most recent D&D character, played during a homebrew campaign that I cannot wait to get back to. She's a Firbolg, Oath of the Ancients Paladin/Lunar Magic Sorcerer multiclass. DEVOUT follower of Selune, the moon goddess, and currently her champion, even if she frequently feels like she is not up to the task and the responsibility is slowly crushing her. Accidentally became the Fey King of the Summer Court during one of our final battles with our phase 1 BBEG, when our bard used modify memory in a very cool (and very homebrew) way against the corrupted fey queen. (She does NOT want to be fey king and has tried to pass on the crown to almost every other fey they've met since). Most recently, she 'GET DOWN MR. PRESIDENT'D' her own goddess and tanked a rival god's magic bolt, destroying her tower shield in the process and giving her those necrotic scars down her side. But this bitch survived with 1 fucking hit point!! I'm trying to keep these short, but I could write an essay on Sorbet. She's the first D&D character I've really gotten into, even doing a REAL ACTUAL CHARACTER VOICE FOR HER (shout out dimension 20 a crown of candy for making me feel like I could), and everything!! I love playing her SO so much and I hope that she can wreck shit in Astora again soon. Our sessions are all recorded, maybe one time I'll get a clip together and be brave enough to share.

May'la Sugarfoot

May'la is my sweetest khajiit Elder Scrolls Online OC. She's from a moonsugar farming family in Khenarthi's Roost, though she took on a path of becoming a chef in Mistral after she found she was unable to really help as much as her sisters in the sugar fields. May'la eventually worked her way all the way up to being one of the head chefs in an Alik'r merchant house, though her real passion will always lay in baking. May'la dreams to have her own bakery one day, though she also has a far larger dream of becoming a member of the Antiquarian's Circle.

May'la's mother, Dra'tarrina, is a senche-raht pit fighter and former member of the Undaunted, who toured in Dragonstar Arena for years. When May'la was just a nosy kitten, she found her mother's old armor and shrine to Boethiah -- still strangely well-tended. Unable to curb her youngest daughter's incessant curiosity, Dra'tarrina began telling May'la tales of her time in the arena, and her quiet worship of Boethra, the khajiiti aspect of Boethiah. Boethra worship was all but wiped out with the Riddle'thar epiphany, and as such, May'la has secretly made it her life's goal to find and preserve any scrap of Boethra worship and lore she can. She wants to eventually present to the Antiquarian's Circle so it can continue to be passed on.

Devotion (Llewyllyn) and Gytha (Hollow Knight) (I reuse names)

Devotion is my current main Hollow Knight OC. She's a tall, toned dragonfly knightess with an extreme, well, devotion to the White Lady. She served in the Queen's Guard for years, but eventually succumbed to the infection. Terrified of hurting her fellow knights or her queen, Devotion threw down her shield and nail, and fled all the way to Kingdom's Edge. She sealed herself off in one of the many caves, and essentially... Rotted by herself in that horrible, blinding light until the Radiance was finally defeated 😭. The infection took most of her memories with it, but she had repeated her oaths to herself until her voice gave out. Everything is hazy for her post-infection, but she remembers a White Lady -- and remembers that she is dearly devoted to her service. Devotion is currently in the Colisseum of Fools, attempting to train herself in mind and body again, before she feels she can make the journey back to Hallownest. And besides, it's the only place that offers free room and board right now... So long as she puts on a good show. Gytha, The Thorned Bulwark, is the knight that trained Devotion as a squire. She's brash, boisterous, and unafraid to speak her mind, even if it is directly against her King or Queen. Gytha and Devotion were very close, though Gytha retired from knighthood long before the infection swept Hallownest. I'm not quite sure what I'll be having her doing, but I do think she traveled to the lands beyond the kingdom. She would be the type to try some grand adventure, even if it would be her last. You can learn more about Devotion and Gytha here, in the app I made for an RP server :) (including a way too long backstory lmao)

Thimble!

Thimble is my Grimm Troupe OC, fitting in with @grollow's wonderful setting! Thimble is a skittish but good-hearted little butterfly from a kingdom in its death throes, and after said kingdom's total collapsed, he sailed for the Troupe on a whim in hopes that he could find a place among them. He certainly did, and more than a few friends to go along with!

Thimble starts out as general help, far too anxious for the limelight, but after watching Ashe's OC, Mist, perform aerial Cyr Wheel, he gets struck with an inspiration he's never quite experienced before. Thimble learns Cyr Wheel and eventually performs a couple nights a week in the troupe after years of practice with Mist, and encouragement from the other troupe members :)

Thimble is based on a long-tailed skipper butterfly, a frequent visitor to my backyard.

Kindlepitch the Pardoner

Oh... Him.

"Do you not feel it? the burning, seething hatred that seems to permeate this wretched nest? Wouldn't it be best to have that feeling be done away with entirely? So much pain, so much death -- let this era rest. Let us rest, laid down upon a bed of sins inconceivable. Only in Her merciful light shall we find ourselves absolved, at last granted release from the torment the False-King inflicted upon us!" — Kindlepitch

Kindlepitch is. He's a whole lot. Scorned by the moth tribe after he refused to forget the Radiance, and boy is he deep in the orange juice. Kindlepitch believes that Hallownest's downfall was the shunning of his good lady, and that it is only her light that can finally bring peace to the atrocities of this world.

You can read more about Kindlepitch here!

Amaashaa Phykiish

Amaashaa is my main Star Wars OC. Daughter of a senator and a senator later in her own right, this gal has had. Enough. I haven't played her recently so I don't have as much to say sob, but I do love her dearly. Amaashaa served as a field medic in the Clone Wars, and later a lead surgeon on the Ord Cestus Medical Station when an injury removed her from the field. Amaashaa's life can be defined by passion; enough to burn away injustice, but also herself. After the Clone Wars, she eventually went into politics alongside her father, and was often the cause of many a fight in the senate chambers.

A barely-failed assassination attempt is what finally drove Amaashaa away from the senate, at her father's behest. They planned to lay low and 'make quiet trouble' for the empire in the meantime. Amaashaa was placed upon an off-radar scrapper crew of the Spicer (created by @rabiezcore, if I draw her with other characters they are likely Rabiez') and has since learned that... Wow, she can actually exist as a living person and not just a vessel for service. There's a lot to unpack there, but she's had a lot of character development. Amaashaa does eventually rejoin the rebellion when it reforms, and serves as a medic among them for a while, before injury does finally force her into retirement for realsies. Then she gets to live out her dream of living with her mando definitely-not-boyfriend and having loth cats of her own at last.

Lullaby Heartstrings

Lullaby Heartstrings was my sheep-flavored Minotaur Barbarian for a D&D 5e Lost Mines of Phandelver campaign.

Towering over her party at a grand 7'2" tall and nearing 500lbs of wool and muscle, it's not surprise that Lullaby is an intimidating figure, even despite her coloring and innocent sounding name. This journeyman member of the Emerald Enclave is a frequent sight in Neverwinter and the various northern Moonwoods, most often called upon by pilgrims looking to traverse the Lurkwood or caravans in need of mercenary guards. Despite her affiliation with the enclave, Lullaby's relationship with nature is far more akin to respect between warriors than the reverence a druid may possess. She believes nature to be a cruel, unyielding mistress who cannot be tamed, but also takes her challenges with silent honor, knowing they make her stronger in the long run.

Lullaby is generally quiet, softspoken, and has been called 'grumpy' by those who take her as a guard, but she is not unkind. Those under her protection will often find her aiding in setting up their tents, ensuring everyone has a decent amount of food and water, and always taking the first shift of watch. Her preferred method of communication is through gestures and actions rather than words.

Lullaby was originally born into a circus troupe, the Heartwood Heartstrings, but an incident involving her debilitating stage fright ended with her running away from home as a young teen. She's been with the enclave ever since.

Lullaby's greataxe is made out of two Axebeak beaks; one that she hunted herself, and the other that a mentor killed.

(WIP below)

[concerthopperblog]

Pierce the Veil - The Jaws of Life Tour

With a slammed house (of blues), the lights dimmed and the Destroy Boys came out. Alexia Roditis first hit the stage and turned up the energy. Destroy Boys reminded me of why bands were formed in the first place, to play music and have fun. There was no shortage of jamming out, nor a shortage of smiles. Even once Violet Mayugba dropped the guitar, Violet was all smiles while screaming into the mic. The Destroy Boys is a band that is taking over the scene and I’m pumped to see them soar to new heights.

If you’re looking for a band with some powerful vocals combined with heavy lyrics that move you emotionally, then search bo further than Dayseeker. The whole set was full of a feeling that’s difficult to describe. It moved me. When Rory began discussing how the song “Neon Graves” was about his father who passed from cancer, it really resonated with me. My father had also passed from brain cancer a few years back and the performance of the song gave me a new sense of peace about it. Needless to say, Dayseeker has been playing nonstop around the house and is especially perfect for late-night drives.

Dayseeker is a post-hardcore band from California that formed in 2012. Their sound reminded me of when rock meets a small amount of synth wave, but only in the best ways. Dayseeker definitely has a bright future ahead of them!

L.S. Dunes wasted no time coming out swinging. With being a supergroup comprised of members from the gnarliest bands of the early 2000s, Coheed and Cambria, Saosin/Circa Survive, Thursday, and My Chemical Romance, it’s no wonder why they’re a true supergroup. Anthony Greens’ energy was never-ending, I assume he drank some of Frank Iero’s Hallowed Grounds coffee from La Paisa Bonita Coffee before the show. He was bouncing left and right and never slowed down. If Frank wasn’t burning down the house shredding, then the other members were. It was nonstop action delivered by each band member and a true success story of why supergroups are called such. These veterans of the scene were one of the best bands that I’ve ever seen.

Although the bill was stacked full of talented acts for support, once Pierce the Veil took the stage, it was obvious that’s who the crowd was pumped to see. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was in the year 2023 anymore, because the crowds attire was that of 2005. Your MySpace top 8 would have been proud. It was pretty awesome seeing young faces dawn on the emo/scene kid styles of the Millennial youth. Kicking off the show with confetti cannons and CO2 blasts, Pierce the Veil wasted no time giving the fans what they wanted. High kicks, high jumps, and a sold-out crowd made an unforgettable night. Even after a few songs had played there was still a veil, or curtains, draped over half the stage until a mid-song pickup dropped them down revealing the band’s banner and unleashing a newfound excitement from the crowd!

Pierce the Veil is an American rock group that was formed in 2006. Their sound has been widely described as metalcore, scene, post-hardcore, and about everything else under the sun. Today, they are still jamming hard and don’t appear to slow down anytime soon with the remaining tour dates below and accompanying Blink 182 next year on tour as support.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of their tour at these remaining dates and locations!

November 21 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway 25 - Reading, PA - Santander Arena 26 - Columbus, OH - KEMBA Live! 28 - Chesterfield, MO - The Factory 30 - Chicago, IL - Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom

December 2 - Des Moines, IA - Vibrant Music Hall 3 - Minneapolis, MN - The Armory 5 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Criterion 7 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl 8 - San Diego, CA - Viejas Arena

[hollymbryan]

Blog Tour Spotlight: THE LIBRARY OF BROKEN WORLDS by Alaya Dawn Johnson (w/ #giveaway)!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the Rockstar Book Tours blog tour for The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson! I’ve got all the book and author details, plus an excerpt, for you below; there’s also a giveaway so be sure to read to the end!

About the Book

title: The Library of Broken Worlds author: Alaya Dawn Johnson publisher: Scholastic Press release date: 6 June 2023

A girl matches wits with a war god in this kaleidoscopic, thought-provoking tale of oppression and the cost of peace, where stories hide within other stories, and narrative has the power to heal -- or to burn everything in its path -- from World Fantasy Award–winning author Alaya Dawn Johnson.

A girl and a god, alone in communion...

In the winding underground tunnels of the Library, the great peacekeeper of the three systems, a heinous secret lies buried -- and Freida is the only one who can uncover it. As the daughter of a Library god, Freida has spent her whole life exploring the Library's ever-changing tunnels and communing with the gods. Her unparalleled access makes her unique -- and dangerous.

When Freida meets Joshua, a Tierran boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into the Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future.

With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives -- if he doesn't destroy her first.

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About the Author

Alaya Dawn Johnson is an award-winning short story writer and the author of seven novels for adults and young adults. Her most recent novel for adults, Trouble the Saints, won the 2021 World Fantasy Award for best novel. Her debut short story collection, Reconstruction, was an Ignyte Award and a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist. Her debut YA novel The Summer Prince was longlisted for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, and the follow-up Love Is the Drug was awarded the Andre Norton Nebula Award. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, most notably the title story in The Memory Librarian, in collaboration with Janelle Monáe. She lives in Oaxaca, Mexico. 

Connect with Alaya: Linktree | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Excerpt

By the time Samlin left me three weeks later, I felt like a blindfolded animal: confused, disoriented, ready to bite. I cried for days and sent him increasingly desperate messages until I realized he would never respond to me again. Nadi told me I’d forget about him, that everyone had to fall in love for the first time, that it would get better. I wanted to believe zir. But I was shivering, growing into ice, drifting into an empty sea. I didn’t know how to say what I was feeling. I hardly knew how to feel it.

Nadi had little time for me in those days. Ze was sequestered at a diplomatic round table with the Mahām leadership to address recent protests about their Treaty-condemned occupation of the Miuri moon. I didn’t push. The thought of telling Nadi precisely what had happened or not happened in that nanodrop made my guts twist like wet rope and my head fill with cotton. Better Iemaja, I decided. Better a god who barely understands the minutiae of human affairs and only speaks in communion.

I walked inside her because I had seen myself in Samlin’s deep eyes and hated that reflection. Freida the sweet. Freida the beautiful. Freida, once an excellent find but now inconvenient, twitchy, withdrawn, and desperate. I was beginning to see myself as they did, all those who stared and stared and saw nothing behind my eyes but a dark mirror. What was my heart, what were my bones, what were my constellations of synapses firing, lighting up my soul? Nadi insisted I was human, but even so, I had been left to freeze out in the ocean because no one thought I was worth any more. I was afraid, Nameren, so very afraid that they were right.

I had begun in Kohru, the artery of childhood and discovery and, in some ways, rebellion. But I was now in unknown capillaries. Some passages were so narrow that I had to get on my belly to pass through, the stone warm against my exposed skin. Sometimes the crystal would crack and water would bubble through the seams and I would slurp it down. It tasted of moonlight and copal and stillness. I told Iemaja that I loved her. The water then bubbled with her laughter and tasted of rose petals. It grew thick and slow with sugar. I lay in that soft, sticky womb for a while. The sweetness had been made to balance the salt of my tears. She is kind like that, Iemaja.

I told her about Samlin. I told her how helpless he had made me feel, not in my body, which he’d left untouched, but in my spirit. My tongue was heavy, as though it belonged to someone else. But still I spoke, until I reached the end.

Excerpted from The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson, Copyright © 2023 by Alaya Dawn Johnson. Published by Scholastic Press

About the Giveaway

One (1) lucky winner will receive a finished copy of The Library of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson! This one is US only and ends 19 June 2023. Enter via the Rafflecopter below, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Tour

Here’s this week’s schedule so you can follow along!

Week Two:

5/28/2023 - celiamcmaahonreads - IG Review 5/29/2023 - thealylifestyle - Review/IG Post 5/30/2023 - travelersguidetobooks - IG Review 5/31/2023 - Jaime_of_gryffindor - Review/IG Post 6/1/2023 - @get.outside.and.read - IG Post 6/2/2023 - Book-Keeping - Spotlight/IG Post      **you are here! 6/3/2023 - More Books Please blog - Review/IG Post