Friday, April 12, 2019

Universal Orlando revealed their first original content Haunted House for the 2019 Season of Horror Nights.

The Haunted House will be called Nightingales: Blood Pit. Which will take guests on a horrifying journey complete with a grisly race of creatures. Guests will be transported to Ancient Rome where they must escape the gladiator arena, or suffer the fate of bloodthirsty nightingales.

For more information on Nightingales - you can click here

Original article: Promotehorror

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Record Day 2019 in Chicago - what to buy and where

Bucket O'Blood Record Store in the Avondale Neighborhood

With so many options available on Record Store day where do you even begin? I've seen articles where their worst of was actually better selections then what they had on the buy list

The Crow would be a great album to pickup. The Soundtrack has never been available on vinyl - and for $35 not a bad price

Ramones - Live at The Palladium

Recorded in New York City in 1979 at The Palladium, with audio sourced from Tommy Ramone’s original cassette of the console recording, it features blistering performances of “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Rockaway Beach,” and “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker,” along with several songs from Road To Ruin: “I Don’t Want You,” “I Wanna Be Sedated,” and “I Wanted Everything”. This will be its first release on vinyl, and it is limited and numbered.

40th Anniversary Edition of Motorhead's Singles Overkill & Bomber.

Dr Who - Desiny of Daleks

a narrated full-cast TV soundtrack adventure starring Tom Baker as the Doctor, pitted against his arch-enemies the Daleks and their wizened creator, Davros. Pressed on 180g red vinyl with blue splatters. 1000 copy limited run

Woodstock 50th Anniversary Release. It is Mono - however if you're old school like myself - it's a great rewind back to music as it once was

The Black Parade is Dead - My Chemical Romance

This was originally released as a DVD, it features My Chemical Romance's final performance as "The Black Parade" from the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico on October 7, 2007. The album features three bonus tracks on side D that were not included in the initial release. This is the first time that this project has been released on vinyl.

Pinups - Bowie

David covers songs that influenced him in the 60s. Excellent tribute to Syd Barrett

Now certainly these are not the ONLY record store day deals - just a few listings. There are way too many releases to list here - some alternatives are Mastodon covering Zep's Stairway, Green Jelly, Rush, Alice Cooper, if you're a dance fan - Robyn.

And of course Industrial Accident - Wax Traxx Records.

Full list can be found here

And where to buy?!

Our friends at The Reader compiled a nice listing of record stores and a map for the area - can find that here. Some incentives include free beer, pizza and white castles

We are also fans of Blue Village Vinyl in Westmont, if you find yourself out in the burbs. They are hosting live performances and a book signing by Mitch Michaels.

Sony Creates Horror Lab to help Film Directors

With the possibility of increased profits in the Horror Movie genre, Sony wants to create their niche.

Partnering with a company called Ground Control to launch Horror Lab, they will produce “horror genre proof-of-concepts”, which are essentially are short films that can be tweaked into a possible full length feature. As reported by Deadline: Horror Lab “aims to collaborate with burgeoning filmmakers to produce horror shorts with the primary goal of developing new, original content into feature films.”

Horror shorts have become a huge source for feature films in recent years. Oculus, The Babadook, Mama, Lights Out and more all originated as short films before being adapted into full-length scary movies.

By developing the shorts themselves, Screen Gems will be cutting out the middle man, so to speak, and already owning the concept. With this plan, Horror Lab can likely release the shorts online first, see which titles gain traction and go viral, and then go from there.

Scott Glassgold, who is the founder of Ground Control added: “With proof-of-concept emerging as a reliable source material for feature films, the aim is to work with filmmakers at the incubation stage to help actualize their concepts and grow the material organically through the development process.

“We are providing a one-of-a-kind launch pad for horror filmmakers and films of tomorrow.”

This sounds like a great way to open doors for Indie film makers, and very exciting. As a fan, this would be a fantastic opportunity to see ideas that may likely never cross over - Yet on the flip it can create so many possible issues.

Let's hope Sony has the best of intentions - it will be very interesting to see their impact on a new age of Horror.

New Dungeon Attraction at Alton Towers

Alton Towers announces a new ride called the Dungeon. Alton Towers is home to the first vertical drop roller coaster Oblivion

If I were to go overseas for an attraction, Alton Towers would likely be the reason. The Alton Towers are a 17th century castle that is stated to be haunted - what a perfect location for an amusement park.

The grounds themselves were opened to the public in the 50s, and what started as a small railroad has exploded into a major theme park.

Rides like The Wicker Man have not only sinister names, but use effects like real fire, screens and mist to provide a realistic experience

Picture: BBC

Their new attraction - The Dungeon - transports you back to Staffordshire's darkest history, that will see you laugh and scream your way through - including a boat ride down the black river if you dare...

Sounds like a fun time along the back drop of a haunted castle

Here are some promo videos for the Dungeon:

If you're like me, and enjoy the details of what goes into build, setup and how things will operate - here's a sneak peak into the attraction. I love the guide ~ does an excellent job at pulling in to the story.

So what do you think? Would you check out Alton Towers? And ride the Wicker Man or Oblivion? Let me know in the comments! Also - give me a sneak peak at what your ideal attraction could have for this season. I'm dying to know! ~

Friday, April 5, 2019

Green Day is Releasing a Handbook for The Rebellous Woman

Photo Credit: Matt Salacuse

Green Day is Collaborating with Cartoonist Frank Carusso for a Co-Authored book called "Last of The American Girls".

Named after the song off the album, 21st Century Breakdown, the book is described as “an inspiring homage and handbook for the rebellious every woman who refuses to capitulate" by the band's publisher, who continues that the book "is a celebration of True Rebel Girls" - song reference to She's a Rebel on American Idiot.

Billie Joe Armstrong told Blunt Magazine that “Last of the American Girls” was originally about his wife. “Then I started getting into more of my own beliefs — anything from a little book of conspiracies to playing vinyl records or something,” he explained. “It’s sort of about an empowering, sort of subterranean kind of lifestyle, but at the same time there’s a new era coming in with the way we all need to live.”

Caruso has previous illustrated Bruce Springsteen's book "Outlaw Pete" and was the art director for Wilco's "Dawn on Me" Video.

The book will hit October 29th, and will be available through Dey Street Books.

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Greg Nicotero to Direct Creepshow Episode Gray Matter

Adrienne Barbeau & Tobin Bell to feature in the episode

Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, today announced initial casting for its upcoming horror anthology series, CREEPSHOW, based on the iconic 1982 film written by Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero.

Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog), Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), and Tobin Bell (Saw) will star in the Stephen King story “Gray Matter,” adapted by Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi (The Commuter) and directed by series showrunner Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead).

“I feel I’m in great company getting the opportunity to direct a story written by Steve,” said Nicotero. “Between Salem’s Lot, Pet Sematary and The Stand, I’ve always found his stories rich in relatable characters forced into supernatural situations beyond their control—the everyday person’s primal fears. To visualize ‘Gray Matter’ for CREEPSHOW with the help of Adrienne, Giancarlo and Tobin was about as good as it gets for a horror fan from Pittsburgh!”

In “Gray Matter,” Doc and Chief, two old-timers in a small, dying town, brave a storm to check on Richie, an alcoholic single father, after encountering his terrified son at the local convenience store. The story, first published in 1973, is part of King’s best-selling 1978 collection, Night Shift.

For Barbeau, “Gray Matter” represents a return to the CREEPSHOW franchise more than 25 years after her unforgettable portrayal of “Billie” in the 1982 segment, “The Crate.” Barbeau also serves as the host of the Shudder Original podcast, She Kills.

“I was thrilled when Greg asked me to join the CREEPSHOW world once again,” said Barbeau. “And then working with Tobin and Giancarlo, with Greg as our director, well, that was the icing on the cake — no, not that cake. Oh, you know what I mean.”

The DNA of the original movie is firmly embedded in the new series: in addition to Barbeau and King’s return to the franchise, fans will recall that writer Joe Hill (who has also contributed a story this season) played comic-book-loving “Billy” in the film’s wrap-around segments. John Harrison, who was 1st Assistant Director on 1982’s CREEPSHOW and composed its iconic theme, is back to direct several segments of the series. And executive producer Greg Nicotero visited the first film’s set as a teenager, and contributed make-up effects to its 1987 follow-up, Creepshow 2.

With “Gray Matter,” Shudder has confirmed eight of the twelve segments that will make up CREEPSHOW‘s six-episode season. Previously announced segments include “By the Silver Water of Lake Champlain” by Joe Hill, “House of the Head” by Josh Malerman (Bird Box), “The Companion” by Joe R. Lansdale, Kasey Lansdale, & Keith Lansdale, “The Man in the Suitcase” by Christopher Buehlman, “All Hallows Eve” by Bruce Jones, “Night of the Paw” by John Esposito, and “Bad Wolf Down” by Rob Schrab. Additional titles and casting will be announced soon. The series is scheduled to wrap production later this week in Atlanta, GA.

Shudder’s CREEPSHOW is produced by the Cartel with Monster Agency Productions, Taurus Entertainment, and Striker Entertainment: Stan Spry, Jeff Holland, and Eric Woods are executive producers for the Cartel; Greg Nicotero and Brian Witten are executive producers for Monster Agency Productions; Robert Dudelson, James Dudelson and Jordan Kizwani are executive producers for Taurus Entertainment; Russell Binder is executive producer and Marc Mostman co-executive producer for Striker Entertainment. Creepshow will premiere on Shudder later this year.

Editorial Credit: Shannon McGrew

Ghost and Nothing More Announce Tour

Picture Rae Lemeshow - Barooshian / Grizzlee Martin

Ghost have announced that they will be touring with Nothing More for six weeks. The Ultimate Tour Named Death makes a stop in Green Bay, but no joint listing for Chicago just yet - we'll keep an eye out for that ~ Of Course you can see Ghost here in Chicago at Open Air Festival on May 18th.

Am excited about Nothing More being added to this lineup. Formed in 2003, they have spent 15 years creating a band on their terms. By steadily growing a fan base, perfecting their sound and financing everything on their own.

"When we first started live, no one knew who we were. So we were forced to find a different way to connect with people. It’s allowed the art to really slow cook and mature and develop into deeper, more timeless concepts rather than flash in the pan," Vocalist Jonny Hawkins explained. "And it turned out that a lot of our fan base reacted to that - they connected to that depth. It creates more of a lifetime fan rather than someone who likes your band at this phase of their life. [The songs] can actually become a part of their life and a part of their journey and their story. I think a deeper record equals a deeper fan."

Their self titled album in 2014 was a turning point. It hit the top 40 of the Billboard 200 on it's debut. Four Singles were released, including Don't Stop - featuring a cameo by Papa Roach Singer Jacoby Shaddix - and Go to War which are both powerful song creations addressing the world that we live in. Their songs cover topics such as mental health, addictions, empathy and materialism.

Their follow up - The Stories We Tell Ourselves - released in 2017, sold 20,000 copies in it's first week, debuted at #15 on the charts and earned the band three Grammy nominations.

"I think that if you would have asked us years ago, we all would have wanted to press the speed it up button as quickly as possible. But, looking back, there’s a big part of me that’s thankful that it’s taken us the long road," said Hawkins of the group's path. "We’ve gotten to see firsthand now what people mean - whether it’s fame, power, money, success - a lot of those things, if they come too quickly, [can mean] you either don’t appreciate things fully or you get a little lost from reality. I think it’s been a good road for us.”

Tour Dates:

Sep. 13 - Rabobank Theatre, Bakersfield, CA

Sep. 14 - Reno Events Center, Reno, NV

Sep. 16 - Theater of the Clouds at Moda Center, Portland, OR

Sep. 17 - Toyota Center, Kennewick, WA

Sep. 19 - WaMu Theatre, Seattle, WA

Sep. 20 - Pacific Auditorium, Vancouver, BC

Sep. 21 - So. Okanagan Events Centre, Penticton, BC

Sep. 24 - The Corral, Calgary, AB

Sep. 26 - Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA

Sep. 27 - Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID

Sep. 30 - Budweiser Events Center at The Ranch, Loveland, CO

Oct. 01 - Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO

Oct. 03 - Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD

Oct. 04 - Scheels Arena, Fargo, ND

Oct. 05 - The Armory, Minneapolis, MN

Oct. 07 - Resch Center, Green Bay, WI

Oct. 14 - DeltaPlex Arena, Grand Rapids, MI

Oct. 19 - Cross Insurance Arena, Portland, ME

Oct. 21 - DCU Center, Worcester, MA

Oct. 22 - The Oncenter, Syracuse, NY

Oct. 24 - GIANT Center, Hershey, PA

Oct. 25 - Cure Insurance Arena, Trenton, NJ

Oct. 26 - Cool Insuring Arena, Glens Falls, NY

editorial credit: Jim Ryan