Bats in the Belfry, Cats in the Attic

It's been a decade since I first got into goth music and subculture. And, with my tongue firmly stuck to my cheek, I observe how I am  still  a baby bat! I'm young enough to still be called a "baby" at shows and club nights yet old enough to recall, with deep nostalgia, vying for a spot directly in front of the stage at my first Peter Murphy show nearly 10 years ago at a now-relocated venue in Atlanta... I also remember with fondness—and some embarrassment—writing a cliché poem for Peter Murphy, referring to him as the "original Bat." And, instead of keeping it to myself, I actually threw the typed poem up onto the stage directly following the show, hoping he'd pick it up and keep it in his breast pocket. Ah, the folly of youth! I don't recall there ever being this many bands of the goth or goth-adjacent persuasion playing in Atlanta since I got into the subculture. That's not to say there weren't plenty of bands playing this city. I only f...

Chances are, if you pay attention to goth music news, you've heard of Drab Majesty. They're the otherworldly children the goth scene never asked for but desperately needed. They've used the words "tragic wave" to describe their sound, which is ever-evolving. Their imagery is decidedly distinct and draws on many influences, most notably UFO cults (like Heaven's Gate) and Greco-Roman statues. The first time I heard of Drab Majesty was at Cold Cave's most recent tour stop in Atlanta. A woman wore a Drab Majesty t-shirt to the show, and she and a couple of others talked about their love of the band. I decided to take out my phone and search the band so I could listen later.  The first song I heard was "Cold Souls" off their second album, The Demonstration . The first thing that sprang to mind was The Chameleons because of the atmospheric, "sonic cathedral" sound. I love cold, dreamy and otherworldly music, and while "Col...

Staying in and getting more sleep is wise. I love sleep, and sleep is good for my health. But lately, the desire to bedeck myself in gothic clothing and become a creature of the night at local goth nights and shows has risen once again. Why? I love music, especially music that happens to fall under the "goth" umbrella. That's no surprise to readers of this blog. I like to dance to that music too. I'm not the best dancer (my mother once said I dance like Elaine from Seinfeld ), but I do it nonetheless. I also like dressing up in clothing that's black, creative and perhaps otherworldly. I don't get to do it all day everyday because of my corporate™ job, so I've been relishing these chances. My husband's been working hard to finish his doctorate these last few months, so I've had more time on my own in the evenings. I've been using this time to dress up and get out and even socialize with other folks in my local scene (which is relatively new to...

When I walked into the building for Ascension, a Goth/Industrial night, they started playing "This Corrosion." I was introduced to Goth six years ago when I listened to the song, so it was like the night saying "Merry Gothmas, Katie!" I'd been planning on going all week, but when Friday rolled around, I was so exhausted from spending the entire day getting a new car (my last one was totaled) and then visiting family with a long drive back. I came home and wanted to just take a nap, and after taking too long to decide, I got dressed and headed out the door. This past Ascension was the last one held at the Masquerade, a much-loved local venue, and I wanted to experience it before I left for West Virginia. I'd known about Ascension for a while. One reason why I hadn't gone before this past Friday is because of being a student and having lived an hour away. It's a lame excuse. Aside from that, I told myself for years that I wasn't a...

found on Goth Memes Ryan and I went to see The Cure this month when they came to Atlanta. They played at a big amphitheater, so we sat on the lawn along with all the other fans, including a couple who got married during the concert! People were dancing and drinking, hitting around beach balls, and enjoying the music of course. The Twilight Sad is the name of the band that opened for them. Check them out: This was my first time seeing The Cure, and I was delighted and surprised by the fact that they played over thirty songs with four encores. And, the weather was skin-melting. They talked about how it was "bloody hot" and that we Atlantans should "vacation in Greenland," ( I hope you're reading that in Robert Smith's voice) but they still kept going, taking breaks occasionally to stick their heads in the freezer. Here is a link to the concert's setlist if you'd like to take a look. I haven't been dressing up much lately. I'll us...

Earlier this month, I went to go see an exciting band called The Soft Moon. Originally, they were scheduled to open for Killing Joke. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Killing Joke cancelled the show. However, I still got to see The Soft Moon performing the new Deeper album: You can listen to the full album above. Listen with headphones and imagine hearing it live. I guarantee you will be hooked. It's hard for me to describe this band's "genre," but it reminds me of Post-punk, Dark wave, EBM, and even Shoe-gaze at times.  Also, I got really pumped when Luis Vasquez took a trashcan from the side of the stage and started playing it. I thought I heard someone behind me yelling "more trashcan!"

As soon as Lion was released in June, I went to various stores to get my hands on a copy. It was after having little luck that I turned to amazon, receiving a copy of the deluxe version in the mail (which comes with the album + a live Bauhaus set). I put the CD in my car's player and subsequently jammed out for about a week straight including on the way to an observatory trip with my lovely and handsome astronomer. With great care, Ryan had planned out our evening for when Peter Murphy was to roll up into town (7 August, 2014). I got all dolled up in a white dress, since Peter Murphy commented about no one wearing white on his Ninth tour, and I did my hair up in a braided turban wrap with a flower headband.  Ryan took me out to dinner at a place called Bone Garden Cantina ( link ), which is a Day of the Dead themed restaurant filled with beautiful paintings and sculptures. Ryan had a nice looking margarita with a taco and enchilada, and I had a couple of hibiscus (flores de ...

Last night, Depeche Mode came to town. After a long week and much time spent looking forward to this, I'm glad to say I was in attendance. Justean and I ventured off to the venue with little incident this time (meaning not getting horribly lost like before). When we arrived, we noticed what a broad spectrum of fans Depeche Mode reached. There were a lot of drunken middle aged people, but besides that, there was a range of alternative types as well as more mainstream looking people. One thing is for sure that most everyone seemed excited to be there. In fact, at one point, I almost got in an altercation with a couple who was so excited, they decided to squeeze right in front of me and cut me off! Let's just say I got them to vacate my vicinity.  It was a great night for a concert. The moon shone brightly, and looming rain clouds dissipated. As for the show itself, Depeche Mode knows how to work a crowd. They sound mostly the same in concert as on their albums. They eve...

Second Wave Compilation, Talking Heads, and SOM all purchased at a used book store Are CD's obsolete? With all of this digital downloading, most people don't even bother with them. Even vinyls (which are technically obsolete) have a vintage charm which CD's currently lack. I have a friend who jokes, "It's 2013. Who listens to CD's anymore?" while knowing full well that I still buy them. It might seem that I have luddite tendencies--I don't use an e reader either. However, I can make some very good arguments for purchasing CD's. Buying your music on compact disks nowadays is really cheap, especially if you know where to look. I tend to shop for them at Goodwill, thrift stores, and used book stores. I found Ministry's Psalm 69 (in very good condition) at my local Goodwill for only $1. Keep in mind, many people pay that much for a digital copy of one song. When I shop for them at my local used book store, the CD's are guaranteed to be i...

I made a Dead Can Dance playlist on YouTube for my astronomer, but I thought I'd share it on here for anybody who is interested.  [Here] is the link. Finals are approaching, so this will also work well as study music. I made sure to pick a variety of their songs, including my favorites. I also included the best videos I could find. Enjoy!

My family and I went out to my favorite restaurant for my birthday dinner. It's called Gumbeaux's, and it's the best Cajun place that I know of. I wanted to try frog legs, so we ordered it as an appetizer. I picked one up, and bit into it. It tasted a lot like chicken, but you could taste the lake water in some bites. When I bit into Frogger's thigh, swamp juice shot out at me. It was odd, but something I wanted to try once. I ordered my usual Jambalaya for my main meal. It was delicious as usual. I even got free bread pudding for dessert! When it came out, the waitress and customers sang "Happy Birthday" to me. froggy legs The best Jambalaya I've ever had. My lovely Grandma! Grandpa!  After we got back, I opened my presents. Finally! Skeleton-hand Hairclips. My Mom said the necklace was sacrilegious. Nuh uh, lady! Lightbulb earings! Sassy bag Psyched for Dead Poets I love this movie. It's the best b...