Morning News to Keep You Ranting - August 5th, 2012

     That was Jill Stein at Occupy Fannie Mae in Philadelphia on Tuesday and this is Morning News to Keep You Ranting!

Presidential Politics:

Gov. Gary Johnson

Gary Johnson Gets 19% In LASPAC Nationwide Poll

Read about it here.

Libertarian Ticket Endorses Gay Marriage

"August 4, 2012, Toledo, OH – Libertarian Party Vice Presidential nominee Judge Jim Gray today urged Ohio voters to place the proposed Freedom to Marry amendment on the 2013 statewide ballot and to approve it. Gray endorsed the measure on behalf of both himself and presidential candidate and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson."

Read about it here.

** Both the Libertarian Party and the Green Party platforms say they would legalize gay marriage. The Green Party is the only viable party in the United States to even discuss Gender Identity in their platform. The Democratic Party is slated to put it in their 2012 party platform. **

Music and Festivals:

Lollapalooza

"Lollapalooza founder takes it up a notch" - CNN.com

"From 1991-1997, Lollapalooza was a touring festival. It went on hiatus in 1998, returned for one year in 2003, then resurrected itself as a single location event in 2005. It has been an annual fixture in Grant Park ever since. In 2011, Farrell expanded the brand to Chile and Brazil, and will be making a big announcement about Lollapalooza's plans for expansion this Sunday. (Hint: It's not a Lollapalooza cruise.)"

Read about it here.

Lollapalooza's last day in the U.S.. for 2012 is today, Sunday August 5th.

Lollapalooza will hit Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel August 22 & 22, 2013.

Lollapalooza will hit the Jockey Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 29 - 31, 2013.

Lollapalooza will hit O'Higgins Park in Santiago, Chile, April 6 & 7, 2013

Warped Tour

Today the Vans Warped Tour will hit the Rose Quarter Riverfront in Portland, OR for it's last date of the 2012 North American Tour.

The Vans Warped Tour will do a one off in London on November 10th at Alexandra Palace.

You can find more info about the UK show here.

And more info about the last U.S. show and other goings on, here.

Mayhem Festival

Today the Mayhem Festival will hit the Comcast Theatre in Hartford, CT for it's last date of the 2012 North American Tour.

The Mayhem Cruise will go from December 7th - 10th. You can find out more information at the website, here.

Looking at this you may feel like the summer is coming to an end as all of these great summer festivals prepare to close up shop and focus on their winter plans, but there are still great festivals/tours going on.

Summer Slaughter

Today the Summer Slaughter tour will hit The Trocadero in Philadelphia, PA.

Trespass America

Today the Trespass America Festival will hit Jacob's Pavilion at Nautica in Cleveland, OH.

The All-Stars Tour

Today the All-Stars Tour will hit the Rainbow Ballroom in Fresno, CA.

Meat Loaf

Meat Loaf played yesterday, August 4th, but will be off until August 15th, when he'll play Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL.

** If you have any festivals or tours you think I should cover, please feel free to email me at longhairedpoet@gmail.com or tweet me @JAFThrasher **

Following the Money:

"Pro-LGBT Businesses’ PACs Help Bankroll Anti-LGBT U.S. Representatives"

"Last month, ThinkProgress identified seven U.S. Representatives — all Republicans — who have sponsored or co-sponsored the most anti-LGBT measures in the current Congress.

Reps. Todd Akin (R-MO), Dan Burton (R-IN), Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Tim Huelskamp (R-KS), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Donald Manzullo (R-IL) have received a combined $664,894 from ten business PACs — five from otherwise strongly pro-LGBT companies and five from trade associations — since the start of the 2009-2010 campaign cycle."

Read it @ ThinkProgress.org

"All the Anti Gay Companies You Fund When You Spend $5.25 On a Chick-fil-A Sandwich"

"If we’re going to talk about Chick-fil-A, let’s talk seriously about why President Dan Cathy is being criticized for being anti-gay. This is about more than just rhetoric: it’s about money. In 2010, the most recent year records are available; Cathy gave almost $2 million to anti-gay organizations through the WinShape Foundation, Chick-fil-A’s charitable arm. At $5.25 for a Classic sandwich, that $1,974,380 would buy roughly 376,072 sandwiches. Let’s follow the money to see where they’re all going."

Read it @ PolicyMic.Com

Candidate of the Day:

Today I will feature two candidates. One running for State House in Pennsylvania and one running to be a County Commissioner in Georgia. Both are Libertarians.

David Moser For Pennsylvania State House District 95

David Moser, the chair of the York County Libertarian Party in Pennsylvania decided to run when it was announced that the Democratic incumbent was running for both his seat in the State House and for State Auditor. David Moser believes that 1.) The people deserve a choice and 2.) It's wrong for his opponent, Eugene DePesquale, to run for two seats, risking a costly special election.

Read more about it here

You can follow David Moser on his Facebook.

Tim Nelson - Lee County Commissioner, District 4 - GA (Libertarian)

Tim Nelson's campaign for District 4 of the Lee County Commission is simple, less taxes and fees. That and he wants to literally bring the government to the people, saying that government offices need to be moved closer to where people actually live in the county.

He has lived in Lee County for nine years and is a probation officer with a Bachelor's Degree in Science.

Tim Nelson's Website

Band of the Day:

Today I will feature two bands with very unique sounds. One from Pakistan and one from South Carolina, both Heavy Metal.

Dionysus

Dionysus is a Heavy Metal band from Lahore, Pakistan. Their sound is eclectic, including influences from genres like Death Metal, Doom Metal and Black Metal. They currently have an EP available for free download. The EP is called "A Hymn To The Dying".

Dionysus Facebook

Dionysus Youtube

Dionysus ReverbNation

Compel

Compel are a Doom/Sludge Metal band from Summerville, South Carolina. On their Facebook page they label their sound as 'Swamp Doom.' Their self-titled EP is available for free download.

Read my review of the EP here.

Morning News To Keep You Ranting - 7/31

Primary Day!

     That's right all my fellow Georgians! Today is the day that we get to vote on T-SPLOST, and in my voting area, a handful of other things. Make sure to get out there and have your voice heard! You are you're only way to change, my friends.

Now, onto the morning news!

Transgender News

Stop Forced Institutionalization of Eleven-Year-Old Transgender Girl

"11-year-old Alex Kaminsky was identified male at birth, but she has lived as a girl for as long as she can remember. She is accepted and treated as female at school, and her mother considers her to be a girl and treats her as such. However..."

Read about Alex's struggle and sign the petition here.

American Psychiatric Association Officially No Longer Considers Transgender Individuals Mentally Ill (From InstinctMagazine.com)

Presidential Politics

Green Party

Sometimes the best man for the job is a woman: Green Party candidates Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala

As the Republicans and Democrats fight it out during the Presidential race, you may not be aware that amongst all the blustering, canvassing, and fundraising, there is a third party contending for the highest office in the land.

You can read about Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala's bid for the White House here.

Green Party Will Hand in Pennsylvania Signatures a Day Early

Read about it here.

Political Analysis – A Special Visit From Jill Stein – 07/17/12

This is a wonderful and passionate interview. One you're going to want to listen to and share with your friends.

Listen here.

Jill Stein on student debt and the environment

This is a great three minute clip of Jill Stein talking on student debt and the environment.

Libertarian Party

Gary Johnson Hits 1 Million on Google – The Social Ballot

Read about it here.

Candidate of the Day

Asher Platts

Asher Platts is running on the Green Party for the State Senate of Maine in the 8th district. You can read about Platts and his platform here.

** If you would like a candidate featured, please feel free to email me at longhairedpoet@gmail.com and let me know **

Band of the Day

LowDown - Kingston, Georgia

LowDown are a Heavy Metal band from northwest Georgia and you can get the lowdown (okay, okay, I couldn't resist) on them here.

** If you would like a band featured, please feel free to email me at longhairedpoet@gmail.com and let me know **

Tours & Festivals

Here's where all your favorite tours and festivals will be today:

Mayhem Festival

Today Mayhem will be hitting the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. After that it will be off until the 3rd. Then it will only have three straight days of touring left.

You can find out more about Mayhem, get free music and join in the Metal conversation on their website.

Warped Tour

Today Warped Tour will be hitting the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, OH.

You can find out more about Warped Tour, get free music and join in the conversation on their website.

Summer Slaughter

Today Summer Slaughter will be hitting the Revolution in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

You can find out more about Summer Slaughter and join in the conversation on their Facebook page.

Trespass America Tour

Today Trespass America will be hitting the Ford center in Evansville, IN.

You can find out more about Trespass America Tour on their website.

All Stars Tour

Today the All Stars Tour will be playing a pre-season date at The Conservatory in Oklahoma City, OK.

You can find out more about The All Stars tour on their website.

Meat Loaf

Today Meat Loaf will be playing the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, MA.

You can find out more about Meat Loaf and his tour on his website.

** If there are any tours or festivals you would like me to cover, please feel free to email me at longhairedpoet@gmail.com and let me know. **

That's all the new to keep you ranting this morning of July 31st! Keep active, keep hopeful and keep ranting!

J.A. Fisher

@JAFThrasher

longhairedpoet@gmail.com

My Take on Mayhem Festival 2012 Atlanta

On July 14th, 2012, I woke up at 3:30 in the morning. I had worked a twelve hour shift the day before and I was preparing to work as long as a ten hour shift on that day.
     I ended up only working six hours, and by two or three o' clock I was heading towards Atlanta with my cousin. After a long ride that didn't go the way I had planned/hoped, we got to Aaron's Ampitheatre at Lakewood and got our tickets. Actually, we had a way to walk and I've been hobbling. I don't know if I'm just sore from work, or if I hurt my foot or toe. Either way, we got our tickets. I had ordered mine online and my cousin was buying his at the box office.
     Now, I'm used to Warped Tour, so I booked it to where all the Warped Tour stages are at the ampitheatre only to find a locked gate with trucks on the other side.
     I don't know if this is true of all dates or just Atlanta, but Mayhem's battlegrounds is Warped Tour's parking lot and Warped Tour's battlegrounds is Mayhem's parking lot.
     So, my cousin now taking the lead, we booked it over to the other gate, hoping to find some booths, some tents, some music, some METAL! And we did. The first band we came across was The Devil Wears Prada rocking at the Jagermeister stage.

   

     Now, I'm not trying to annoy any fans out there, but I wasn't impressed. Now in full disclosure, while I own Plagues and I enjoy it, I'm not a big fan of TDWP. What I caught of their show didn't impress me. I didn't witness Mike Hranica using any crowd control, which I'm a sucker for. And sure, you could argue that  crowd control isn't the job of the vocalist or anybody on stage (has any band ever had just a crowd controller?), but still, bunches and lots of lead singers, especially lead singers that are popular and famous (even if just in their scene or genre) are utilizers of crowd control.
     But then again, as I said, I'm no big fan of TDWP.
     So we went off to check out all of the booths. At the Century Media booth they were offering a free download card, which I accepted. At the Whitechapel booth there was no one I recognized, shirts I couldn't afford and a donation box (dude just got married). It was Clown or Slipknots booths, or both, that had a HUGE line, so I guess it was a good thing I didn't want to buy anything or get anything signed.
     After some time had passed, we went to the Sumerian Stage, wondering what that had in store for us, not recognizing the band, a Upon A Burning Body.
   

     Simple put. It was killer. All the elements lined up right. Sumerian Records had a small and intimate stage, there was room to mosh and headbang and all of that good business, Upon a Burning Body was loud and hard and Danny, the lead singer, used some great crowd control. So we rocked out to that set. Jumping up and down, throwing up horns and headbanging all while trying to avoid pits. Metalhead as we are, neither my cousin or I have ever felt a desire to thrash in the pit.
     We stayed till the very end of Upon a Burning Body and then I pulled out the program. Next was Anthrax closing the Jagermeister stage. We headed back that way. I was curious. I've always considered myself a thrash fan - I like Slayer, Testament, Exodus - And Anthrax is supposedly considered one of the Big Four of Thrash, coincidentally I don't like three of the four of the 'Big Four.' Still I was curious and there were no other bands playing, so we checked them out.
   

     And they weren't bad. Maybe a little stuck in the 90s, but they weren't bad. Me and my cousin ended up bailing a little early because I wanted to grab a drink and see the local band before heading over to the main stage.
     After paying almost an hours worth of work for a bottle of water we headed back over to the Sumerian Stage, I was curious and hopeful, I wanted to see a local band, a band I could see again and for cheap, a band I could cover and talk to, bring it HARD at Mayhem. I sat down across from the stage to rest my legs and feet before the show (remember, there is pain/discomfort coming from that region and I'm trying to go as hard as I can as long as I can).
     When the crowd starts to build and my cousin sees people getting on stage, we hurry over to get up close to the stage. I wouldn't know this until the end of their set, but they were Eyes of Torment, and they brought the show down.
   

     Their lyrics and the way Will presented them were mindblowing. This was the type of metal show that turns your bones into adamantium and your skin into mithril. I know I'm not only listening to metal but feeling METAL when my face scrunches up into a kind of cross between a scowl and 'something stinks.' You know it's a Metal show when you're stomping around your little piece of dust like you own the place and that's what Eyes of Torment did for me. They had me windmilling so hard and so perfect that my glasses flew off my face.
     And I wasn't the only one who liked them. When they got finished with their set the whole crowd was chanting 'One More! One More! One More! One More!' But whoever was running the Sumerian Stage wouldn't give it to them, or to us, even though they earned it and we deserved it.
     So, after having been slighted (but brought back up by reassurance from the band) my cousin and I went over to the Main Stage where As I Lay Dying was wrapping up their set before Motorhead came on.
   

     Motorhead was good. I remember one absolutely wicked drum solo. They are classic and they will always be classic. Those MotherF*ckers probably remember jam bands and remember Woodstock. I kind of felt that in their show more then anything.
   

     And Slayer brought it. They got the crowd going. They were definitely the appetizer and the foreplay in my opinion though. (NO DISRESPECT TO SLAYER)
     To be honest I spent most of their set sitting or laying in the grass, somewhere between conscious and unconscious.
   

     But then Slipknot came on, and after I forced myself to get up and take some pictures from the Ampitheatre (I'd bought an actual seat, but decided to only enter the ampitheatre to take pictures, I felt better/more comfortable on the grass) I knew I'd have to stay on my feet and rockin' for this show or I'd regret it. I felt it in my bones. And I was right. Slipknot brought it all home for me. They played a lot of good songs - Psychosocial, Wait and Bleed, Stomp It Out, People = Shit, Before I Forget, Snuff - I mean, the set was amazing and Corey Taylor, talking about crowd control, I remember when Bruce Dickinson said you have to shrink the whole arena, the whole ampitheatre and make the person in the back think you're talking to them (I think it was in Sam Dunn's documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey) and that is EXACTLY what Corey Taylor did to/for me at Mayhem Festival this year. Eyes of Torment baptized me in the Metal, but Slipknot, Slipknot said to me, you are one of us, you are with us, stand proud and tall with us, and we will never fail you.
     And that is part of what Metal had always been about for me. Even though Slipknot didn't play my favorite song - Pulse of the Maggots - they still killed it, and over all, I had a spectacular time.

Thank you to all the bands and fans who came out. To all the organizations and things.

To Kevin Lyman & John Reese

And to my cousin, even though he never reads my blogs. He is my Brother in Arms and my best friend. We've grown up together, fell in love with metal together and these types of shows and events are only half as fun without him.

Long Live Metal!

Rock Hard!

A Look Back at Mayhem Festivals Past

     The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival is still young, but it has taken the American Metal Scene by storm. If you have forty bucks and like heavy metal, then most of the time, Mayhem Fest is your choice (But then again, for thirty bucks you can go see Summer Slaughter, and in a more intimate setting). A great thing that Mayhem Festival does is it always brings on a local band in each state.

     Mayhem Festival started in 2008 and was assembled by Kevin Lyman (of Vans Warped Tour fame) and John Reese (who had been Lyman's partner on the short-lived Taste of Chaos tour). It happens annually every summer across the U.S. and Canada. It's most prominent sponsor (as its namesake suggests) is Rockstar Energy Company. Other sponsors include, or have included Revolver Magazine, Hot Topic and Jagermeister. Along with these different sponsors, the festival also always brings on the freestyle motorcross team Metal Mulisha.

     There have to date always been three stages at Mayhem Festival: The Main Stage, The Jagermeister Stage and a third stage, which has had a different sponsor almost every year. 2008-2009 was Hot Topic, 2010 was Silver Star, 2011 was Revolver and 2012 is Sumerian Records.

     Mayhem Festival also has not shied away from social activism. From bringing Keep-A-Breat on tour, to boycotting BP oil in 2010, to this year recruiting volunteers to clean up the festival grounds, Mayhem Festival brings a bit of activism and awareness to town with it.

For current Mayhem Festival new, for tickets, and to weigh in on what bands should play in 2013, please visit the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival website at: http://www.rockstarmayhemfest.com

Below are the line-ups from each year as well as the local bands from each date:

2008 Lineup

Main Stage

Slipknot
Disturbed
DragonForce
Mastodon

Jägermeister Stage

Machine Head
Airbourne
Five Finger Death Punch
Walls of Jericho
Jägermeister Opening Band

Hot Topic Stage

Underoath
Black Tide
Suicide Silence
36 Crazyfists
The Red Chord

2008 Local Bands:

Drown Mary
Vengince
Stigmurder
Sixx
V engince
Six Ounce Gloves
Mower
Psychostick
Switchpin
Continent Ash
Conquest
Powderburn
The Destro
The Autumn Offering
Epoxy
Hemlock
Kingdom of Sorrow
Ray Street Park
Soil
Colossick
Dead Broke
Beyond the Scar
Unbroken
Stuck in Kaos
Stemm

2009 Lineup

Main Stage

Marilyn Manson
Slayer
Killswitch Engage
Bullet for My Valentine
Mushroomhead (filling in for Bullet for My Valentine on 7/31, 8/1 and 8/2)

Jägermeister Stage

Trivium
All That Remains
God Forbid
Jägermeister Battle of the Bands winner (one per location)

Hot Topic Stage

Cannibal Corpse
Behemoth
Job for a Cowboy
The Black Dahlia Murder
Whitechapel

2009 Local Bands

Skinlab
Corrupt Absolute
Madlife
Northwest Royale
Hemlock
Switchpin
Continent Ash
Seasons After
Swingshot
Ascend Through the Depths
Dirge Within
XFactor1
Mobile Deathcamp
Lost Chapter
Know Lyfe
STEMM
Property
Beyond the Star
Soul Made Visible
Saint Diablo
Must Not Kill
Gollum
Negative 263
Adakain

2010

Main stage

Five Finger Death Punch
Lamb of God
Avenged Sevenfold (July 25 and 27 only)
Rob Zombie
Korn

Silver Star Stage

Atreyu
Norma Jean
In This Moment
3 Inches of Blood

Jägermeister stage

Hatebreed
Chimaira
Shadows Fall
Winds of Plague*
Jägermeister Battle of the Bands winner

Note: Despite being announced as performing on the Jägermeister stage on press releases, Winds of Plague performed on the Silver Star stage on most of the tour dates.

2010 Local Bands:

Sangre
Vengince
Drown Mary
A Balance of Power
Hostility
Switchpin
Psychostick
Ascend Through the Depths
Hemlock
Stemm
His Name Was Yesterday
Soil
Xfactor1
Mobile Death Camp
Gollum
Saint Diablo
Tension Head
Waiting for Never
Art of Destruction
Must Not Kill
Catalysis
Brotherhood
Upon a Burning Body

2011 Lineup (2011 brought about the advent of the rotating Main Stage)

Main Stage

Disturbed
Godsmack
Megadeth
Dethklok (replaced Megadeth on 7/09

Rotating Main Stage openers

Machine Head
Trivium

Revolver Stage

In Flames
Testament (headlined 7/09-7/10, replacing In Flames)
Suicide Silence
All Shall Perish (cancelled July 24, replaced by The Athiarchists for that date)
Straight Line Stitch

Jägermeister Mobile Stage

The Athiarchists (headlining in place of In Flames after 7/30)
Trivium (headlining 7/09-7/20)
Unearth
Kingdom of Sorrow
Red Fang
Jägermeister Battle of the Bands winner

Nihilist
Valdur
Drown Mary
A Balance of Power
Back from Ashes
Until Chaos
Switchpin
Psychostick
Mobile Deathcamp
Dead Season
Hell Within
Dr. Acula
Lost Chapter
Silvertung
Beyond the Scar
Saint Diablo
Gollum
Seven Year Existence
The Surface
Texas Hippie Coalition
Powderburn
Uncrowned
Catalysis
Must Not Kill

"If history is violence and sex, I'd rather not pay my respects. If I've caused offense, I'm just trying to talk sense. Forgive me if I'm too direct or politically incorrect." Jon Foreman

Mayhem Festival Atlanta 2012 Photo Album

On July 14th, 2012, I went to the Atlanta Mayhem Festival. It was pretty rad. Below are the pictures I was able to get. I hope you enjoy them : )

So on the way down we saw this Red Bull car. I'm not sure where the driver was going, but I thought it was pretty cool

When we finally got there, The Devil Wears Prada was rocking the Jagermeister stage.

This guy was rockin' at TDWP with us, and I loved his shirt. Shout out to the guy with the DIY Slipknot lyric shirt. "What have you got to lose, except your soul?"

Do people mix those? (Too young to know)

Giant Rockstar inflatable. I was so thirsty I would've drank the whole thing!

The Sumerian Records Stage before Upon A Burning Body came on

Danny from Upon a Burning Body Opening the set HARD!

Anthrax at the Jagermeister stage

The Whitechapel Tent

Slayer!

The Slipknot tent

Back at the Sumerian Records Stage before the local band - Eyes of Torment (CHECK THEM OUT!) took the stage.

Representing the Georgia Metal Alliance

Me rocking my 'Too Much Metal For One Hand' Horns in the ATL heat.

The crowd at the ampitheatre at the opening of it.

Motorhead!

Crowd during Motorhead

SLAYER!

Slipknot

I'm not done covering Mayhem yet this summer. But this ends a chapter, for sure. I was tired, beat and exhausted. I had woken up early, worked a shift and then went to Mayhem. And it was worth it!

"If history is violence and sex, I'd rather not pay my respects. If I've caused offense, I'm just trying to talk sense. Forgive me if I'm too direct or politically incorrect." Jon Foreman