Molar Monster

I'm all doped up on painkillers and seriously considering performing dental surgery on myself. I will return to posting as soon as I get my tooth fixed. Until then, enjoy this sketch I made of the Molar Monster.

Interview with Beth Balousek

Autumn is upon us and I have a variety of chemicals to make my rotting tooth bearable. You may or may not have noticed the distinct lack of Wednesday yesterday, but we will chalk it up to ridiculous levels of pain. I'm sure you'll understand.
Tonight I have for you the long awaited interview with Beth Balousek of Scarecrow.

Casket Case: The NY area seems to have been darkly fertile in the early 80s. What was your wildest experience in the scene?

Beth Balousek: 80's on the Lower east side were a BLAST - seems as if everyone was 18-25 years old, all of us high school rejects (or at least, none of us were the homecoming king/queen.....) wildly artistic. Felt like we were running the show for a while - the uptown-ers would come downtown to check out our art/music/clothing. Great fun. Not just that, but we helped each other out - supported each other's art, had rent parties...we had phone hot lines that could rally up hundreds of people for everything from Victor Bruno's renegade parties to instant demonstrations to help keep the building squatters safe from the police. Safety in numbers -

CC: How was your relationship with the guys in the band?

BB: Still talk to Joe and Ron - known Ron since 1980 - met him in Ann Arbor. We had a band then - used to play the Detroit/Ann Arbor scene before we moved to NYC. Had even crazier times in Michigan - hanging out with Niagra/Ron Ashton/Mike Davis - Destroy All Monsters and entourage.

CC: Who were your biggest influences at the time, and how has your opinion of their music changed over the years?

BB: Big influences - Siouxsie, Patti Smith...Iggy. I am a Detroit girl. Give me a fast car and a stack of Marshalls....yep, still.

CC: What is you opinion of the current goth/deathrock revival?

BB: Like hearing that the old stuff is still getting played...funny that folks think goth is some new thang -

CC: I've made out a good deal of your lyrics and it's obvious that you neither skimp out on the startling imagery nor go for the easy rhyme(a personal pet peeve). Being a poet, how important do you feel lyrics are in a song? What role do they play in the music in the context of personal expression as well as the 'public consumption'?

BB: Lyrics? Gawd! Can't sing without them!

CC: What is the writing process like for you?

BB: Writing process is very bumpy. Sometimes it comes. Sometimes , not. Right now I'm in a "not" phase and hating it.

CC: Your thoughts on the business aspect of music?

BB: Must say, I don't think I've ever had any thoughts on the biz end of music - being on stage was always more a matter of performance art, not a job.
Was in a couple bands before Scarecrow and before that I was a performance artist on my own. It's always been about the mood a performer can set. the image on stage and the twists that image makes. Don't know if that's gonna make much sense...

So, the words/poesy/lyrics play into the performing/persona

That's that kids. Hope you enjoyed it.

Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday

It's Free-Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday and I've managed to once again deliver the ghoulish goods. This EP by The Four Roses will keep you in stitches. I know I've found a new classic for my Annual Halloween Playlist. The Halloween Ep by The Four Roses: Get it here. Pay special attention to the first track.

There are always two sides to every story. Mine is always right.

As Wednesday has informed you, she recently caught her tail on fire. What she neglected to tell you was that yours truly was on the scene to immediately snuff the flame. She didn't even know anything happened until she came across the burnt fur while bathing herself. How does she repay me? By hacking up a hairball in my coffin at the ungodly hour of 7 A.M. I had to change the lining before returning to my eternal rest. I digress......still digressing......ok.

Alright witches and warlocks, it's contest time! I suggest you start conjuring because I want to see The Most Disgusting Display of Halloween Spirit before the Month of October. Send in pictures of yourself as Halloweened up as you can possibly manage with a date stamp proving the photo was taken before October. Or just lie to me because I'm very trusting. The freakiest fiend with the most spirit will be awarded the very prestigious and very not fake Most-Disgusting-Display-of-Halloween-Spirit-before-the-Month-of-October trophy. Photos can be sent to the Casket Case by way of my plot tender at wessmith84@hotmail.com

That's all of me you get for now. Don't forget that tomorrow is Free-Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday. Also, you are officially one day closer to death. Sweet dreams.

Wednesdays with Wednesday(Aflame with Rage)

If that lumbering lummox that calls himself my owner isn't more careful, I'll rip out his jugular. Can you believe he actually caught my tail on fire? Then he has the nerve to blame it on me for getting too close to his candles. It's bad enough that he makes me watch Dracula 24/7; now he's attempting to incinerate me. He has the balls to refer to himself as the King of Cats....I'd like to see just how many lives he has. Never fear though, I left a hairball on his bed this morning.

Now that I've vented my considerable spleen, I suppose you'll want me to get on with the column. Typical humans! You take and take, but what have you ever given me? I will, however, forgive you as you are the inferior species. Be grateful.

Today I've decided to grace you with the master of horror himself: Edgar Allan Poe. Project Gutenberg has a wealth of Poe, but don't forget who gave you the links.

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe:

Vol. 1 here or here for more options

Vol. 2 here or here

Vol. 3 here or here

Vol. 4 here or here

Vol. 5 here or here

That should keep you busy for a while. Until next time, remember that you're only human and I am so much better than you that it physically hurts.

Last Year's Pumpkin Carving.

Last year's pumpkin carving festivities will soon be put to shame, but first let's take a look back.

The pumpkin was the head of the tax-man. The knife was a knife.

He had it coming. (God I love that woman.)

The Casket Case isn't proud of this piddly pumpkin, but there's always next time.

The Ghoulfriend really showed me up.

Fire makes everything better.

Pestilent, Perverse, Palpitating, Putrefying, Pumpkins!

The ghoulfriend recently left a comment asking for jack o' lantern stencils. What a wonderful example of masked support: her way of giving me ideas without 'giving' me ideas. That being said; sharpen the blades, turn down the lights, and get ready to mutilate some defenseless pumpkins. I've been hard at work with my pick and shovel unearthing some of the internet's finest stencil sites. Behold the results:

Paid Sites
www.zombiepumpkins.com
Tons of creepy cut ups for those of you with actual money.

www.pumpkinlady.com/pattern.htm
Nice variety at decent prices....not free, but still decent.

http://www.jamminpumpkins.com/
Some non-traditional patterns including comic heroes, video game characters, and Rankin/Bass classics!

http://www.stoneykins.com/
Killer designs with a large selection of freebies.

Free Sites
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/mpatterns.htm
A hellish handful of simpler stencils.

http://www.celebrating-halloween.com/pumpkincarving/index.shtml
Scream-worthy shapes.

http://www.hersheys.com/celebrate/halloween/fun-stuff/stencils/
Not the largest selection, but very family friendly.

http://www.fantasypumpkins.com/free-patterns.htm
Unbelievable images for the advanced user.

http://www.biosci.missouri.edu/liscum/halloween/pumpkin_03/pumppatterns.html
The single greatest collection of pumpkin stencils with instructions for making your own out of any image. I will be attempting some of these during this year's festivities.

http://www.bhg.com/holidays/halloween/pumpkin-carving/pumpkin-stencil-maker/?psrc=mb07
Frightfully fun virtual carver. After you've perfected your putrid pumpkin, print off a stencil and brink it to unholy life.

Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday

It's Friday and the boneyard is rocking. I've just returned from a small slaycation complete with murderous mayhem and detestable debauchery. Fortunately for all, I have returned in time for Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday. In my searches through the sonorous sarcophagi, I've managed to once again uncover something that should never have been disturbed. I fear that I've brought down upon myself an unshakable curse - the curse of the catchy chorus. If I were a brave man, I would endure this curse alone, but I have no spine. Seriously, graverobbers got to it. Think ill of me if you will, but I'm sharing this week's free download with you in spite of it's spellbinding qualities. The song is Grave Robber at Large by Creature Feature and if it doesn't get your toes a-tappin', sew them back on and try again. Download it here and suffer the consequences.

Wednesdays with Wednesday(Finally Alone)

Finally, I have the crypt to myself. The Casket Case is out of town this week and you know what they say....ofcourse you don't know what they say, human. The saying goes, when the moron's away, the kitty will play. I may have overdone it a bit on the catnip last night, but I've still come through with the goods. Even hung over, cats are the essence of class and culture. What do I have for you this week, you ask? None other than a little story many consider to be the first gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto. Written in 1764 by Horace Walpole, this tale is wickedly surreal and every bit as enthralling as we've come to expect our melodramatic gothic literature to be.
Read it here, or here for more details.
You'll forgive me if I don't stick around to demean you more, but I have to return to the party. Good night, pissants.

There are no words to describe this, fiends. There are no words. Go to the man's website(listed on the bottom of the video) and tell him how incredible he is. If you don't, I will break into your home and eat your toes.

Is that your wife? What a lovely throat.

Boxes and boxes of Halloween decorations! That is what your favorite frightful freak is wading in, my precious little peons. There are only 24 hours in a day and the sun ruins half of them....What's a boil to do? Fear not though fiends, I've some clabbered and clotted cultural content cooking in the cauldron. Expect to be demoralized, dehumanized and possibly demagnetized in the weeks to come. There's an axe-clusive interview with Beth Balousek of Scarecrow in the works, and don't forget Wednesdays with Wednesday and Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Fridays.

Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday

Alright ghosts and goblins, it's that time. Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday is upon us. Dr. Crypt has been digging deep among the dirges to bring you a startlingly fresh act from the 80's New York Goth scene. Scarecrow were a 4-piece powerhouse of frozen lamentations and raw tribal energy. Throbbing bass, stellar skinwork, cold, angular riffs, and a possessed deathrock queen channeling Siouxsie Sioux made for one hell of a combination, and we're fortunate enough to live in the internet age where nothing is ever truly lost. Frontwoman Beth Balousek has even been so kind as to agree to an interview with yours truly. Look for that axe-clusive interview in the days to come. For now, boils and ghouls, acquaint yourselves with Scarecrow.

P.S. Keep in mind that most of these songs were recorded live and the sound quality is not your standard, billion dollar, Britney Spears garbage. This is raw gothic rock from the days when the scene was still very, very young. This, my fiends, is authentic.

You're all my children now!

Little ones, little ones, you should know you've got a fiend in me. Your ghostly garçon of gourmet gothica is hardly at work preparing to serve you with some of the finest cuts of crass culture you'll find this side of the grave. Remember that tomorrow is Free Delightfully-Deadly-Download Friday, and get those Halloween decorations out of storage because the sooner you decorate, the longer you can piss off your neighbors. Also there will be a contest including prizes for the most deleterious domicile. Prizes may or may not be imaginary.
We're cutting it short tonight children. Very short. It seems the shrews have made their way inside!

Wednesdays with Wednesday(Kitty Culture from the Crypt)

That's right, I'm gorgeous; get over it. That ridiculous human of mine is out terrorizing the countryside looking for 'spare parts', so it looks like it's up to me, Wednesday, to educate you dim-witted bipeds. This blog is redolent of B-grade humor and Renfield worthy madness. I swear, sometimes it's like living in a world run by children. Wipe that look off your face you hairless ape--It's not my fault cats are superior.

We'll begin our gothic cultural training with a short novel by a lesser known author of the late Victorian period. The Lost Stradivarius by John Meade Falkner is the tale of a cursed violin and one very unrestful ghost. I have no doubt this story will haunt you for some time to come and perhaps you'll glean a bit of cadaverous culture from it.

Read it here, or here for more options.

Speaking of cadaverous culture, Thirty years ago this month saw the release of Ozzy Osbourne's debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz, The Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, and David Bowie's smash Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). Ok, so I'm not all Lady Grey and opera glasses. Sue me. That just about wraps it up for this week cats and kittens. I'll be back to insult your intelligence and look down my furry nose at you next Wednesday.

Wednesday