The Return Of Metal

Okay, here goes...

This weekend was a full one. Saturday, Aubry and I bellied up to the counter for breakfast at our normal Saturday AM spot. From there we went out to make the first real, hands-on preperations for our trip to Jackson Hole at the end of this month. I dropped my snowboard off for a wax and edge. Aubry is in the market for a used pair of skies so we hit up a used sporting good store. In the end, she didn't make the jump and we were off to races. We had tried to get up in time to eat and catch an early movie but couldn't get out of bed. So, we were speeding to catch a later showing of The Golden Compass.

I was not that impressed with the film, but didn't really have a great deal of faith going into the theatre. It looked good, but what got me into it was how much flack it had received from the religious right (reich?). I really didn't see what they were talking about, but to each his own.

Last evening was spent in the loving arms of a heavy metal mosh pit care of Rob Zombie and the NorVa (thenorva.com). For anyone who has never seen Rob Zombie or has never seen the inside of the NorVa, allow me to paint you a picture. Rob Zombie is known for his elaborate and over the top visuals to accompany his music which has similar characteristics. The first time I saw Zombie was several years ago at a large festival show with a huge stage to hold all his exploits. There were explosions and fire shooting out of ever nook and cranny. Dancers shaking their money makers all around and at the center of it all, a wall of heavy, fuzzy noise that made my bones shake with joy, like few others have since.

Now, the NorVa is a small venue with a big reputation. They list the stage as 4.5 ft. high, 36 ft. wide, and 26 ft deep. The club itself holds 1500 of your closest friends on two floors. The main floor is where I usually reside but there is a balcony that surrounds the main floor on three sides.

That being said, Rob Zombie in that small space was incredible. No fire or explosions but a good time non-the-less. I would like to mention something that has started pissing me off at shows over the past couple years. How everyone thinks they need to take a pictures with their cell phones throughout the entire show. Along with the asthematic and/or prissy girls that line the front rail, its almost impossible to get to the front or see the band from the pit. I have no problem with girls in the pit. In the late 90's, when you started seeing more girls rubbing elbows in the sweaty mass, I was glad to see those brave and strong women down there. But now, the pink-wearing girly-girls have started getting to the show well before doors open and bringing their gym rat boyfriends to try to hold off the tide so they can hold up their cell phones and take pictures all night. This is a call to arms against people that have no business on the rail! It must end! Oh yeah, and making out with your clingy, needy, hicky-giving girlfriend before a metal show... this guy has to go too.