M A L A B O L G I A

    Fresh off the tarmac after Winnipeg Fringe Fest I had a chance to chat with Vancouver comedian Mark Hughes about some upcoming events. Right around the corner is the  Victoria Fringe Fest  which will offer a chance to see his solo show  Tragedy + Time Served = Comedy . For show times and ticket info click  here . Based on true life events, Hughes makes light of addiction and spending too much time in jail. If you're easily offended save yourself the aspirin and stay home. Dark subject matter is perfect fodder for comedy, especially for someone whose lived it. After all, if you can't laugh at your own pitfalls life isn't worth living.     Hughes is co-creator of the Comedy Shocker series which will be seeing it's fourteenth show this October and featuring a lineup of filth that is surely not for the squeamish. For up-to-date information check in on their Facebook page  here  or follow along on  Twitter  for the kind of...

    At long last this is finally going to see the light of day! In February I tracked down Dan Von Thrash and we had a chat about the birth and developement of Arctos while it was a somewhat top-secret project lurking in the shadows. Since we chatted Arctos has taken the stage and released their album: A Spire Silent. Catch up with them on their Facebook page for updates, or get a copy of their album through Bandcamp . Dan: Hello there. A Spire Silent DK: Hey! How's it going? Dan: Not to bad. This is Imo---? DK: Yeah, close enough. Dan: Ah, ok. I figured I wasn't gonna get that one on the first go. DK: No one ever does. It's all good. Dan: That is your real name? DK: Yep. That gibberish that appears on my social media is, in fact, my real name. My parents were alcoholics.  Dan: That's fantastic! Even the weird part? DK: Yep! So, Arctos, how is that pronounced? Dan: Pretty much as you said it. I believe it's Latin so we're not ...

    The Rickshaw theater is magical. Located in a shitty, piss-soaked part of Vancouver it is home to some of the best heavy metal to float through BC. Formerly a Shaw Brothers movie theater it still has the cool layout and great acoustics that give live sound the shape it needs to thrive. Welcome to the Rickshaw.     When I went to see Asphyx recently I didn't know what to expect. The original bill included Skeletal Remains but with a bumpy tour schedule which included multiple border crossings it came as no surprise that they were denied entrance back into Canada. Disappointment! Regardless, ticket sales were largely driven by Asphyx as it was their first time in Canada. The other acts were AHNA, Graveolence, and Konform.     Having never heard of the opening act, Konform, I didn't know what to expect. It seemed like more fun to not look them up and be influenced by what others had to say. Listed as being crust punk surely they would be fun. Cert...

Okay, "vacation" doesn't really apply unless you're a fan. Nim Vind and Argyle Goolsby will be touring like hell through Europe this summer. More dates will be added for both so check back for more info as it comes up. Monday June 5th @ Wave-Gotik-Treffen  This will be an early show so get there while the sun is still up! Friday July 14th @ Mighty Sounds Outside of Tabor in the Czech Republic Nim Vind will be sharing a stage with Argyle Goolsby and Cock Sparrer for the 10th anniversary of Mighty Sounds. For full line up and ticket info click here . To see a documentary about one of the biggest concert festivals in Europe go here .    Thursday July 22, 2017@  River Side Festival In Neckarinsel near Esslingen, Germany.  Friday August 18 Argyle Goolsby and The Roving Midnight will be at The Cove Music Hall in Worcester MA, USA. Saturday September 2, 2017 @ Wreck 'n' Roll Attack If you're going to be i...

    Cryptopsy. We all know and love Cryptopsy for the crushing swell of metallion death that is delivered with every album. At the moment they're on the road with the Devastation On The Nation tour which wraps up June 11 th . After that there will be a short pit stop in Clisson, France for opening day of every metalheads dream: Hellfest. Also playing that day will be Belphegor, Behemoth, Ministry, Marduk, Obituary, Rancid, In Flames, and about a million others. Immediately following Hellfest is the kickoff for None So Live MMXVII Europe Part I, celebrating 21 years since the release of one of the most iconic albums in recent music history. With such an intense schedule we were pretty happy to be able to catch up with Chris Donaldson for a short chat. DK: Yo! Thank you for finding some time to chat. How's the tour going? CD: Good. Very busy. Touring and producing bands is extremely demanding. Just finished         mixing one from the West,...

      This was one of my favourite episodes of Married With Children. Originally airing  on December 17th, 1989 this is the trash tv interpretation of the 1946 Christmas film, It's A Wonderful Life. Instead of Clarence the compassionate angel showing our depressed hero the value of his life we have Sam Kinison. How I love Sam Kinison! Our tv hero, Al, the Dad-of-Dads, is down in the dumps at Christmas. After his best efforts at giving something to his much-hated family he wonders what life would have been like without him. After seeing how much happier everyone would have been had he not been born he decides to live.       One of the highlights of this two-part episode is during one of Al's last-ditch efforts at earning some money to buy his family Christmas presents. He has agreed to babysit horrible children in the shoe store while their horrible mothers go shopping. While the kids are tied up with festive garland they demand entertainment. Al r...