Ghoulection 2012: Transmission Eight

Just three weeks had passed by since we finished the GWAR tour. We left the van in Richmond, VA with our stalwart new merch/monster Jim. While we were away, he took the van to get checked out, and there were no issues other than a busted lock. It appeared we were in the clear as far major mechanical failures were concerned. The costumes were left clean, the gear ready to go; basically we jumped back into a tour that was already organized, packed, and ready to go.

We flew pretty cheap outta San Jose and got to DC where Jim met up with us. Three weeks of our personal lives had pretty much just flew as well. The flights in and out of the East Coast for five of us ended up cheaper than trying to drive back and forth across the country. It was a wise move and way easier.

HOT ROD DOD MOD: FX90 analog delay

The holy grail of sound seems to be analog. Why? Because it holds more clarity? Hardly. Because it more accurately captures sound? Nope. Is it because your brain wants to hear all those pops, muddiness, and fizzles? Precisely. Effects are kinda the same. Though diligent programmers have been able to model digital delay and echo in every conceivable form with astronomically long delay times, there is still a demand for the old, limited use, barely functional analog delay effects for making music. Just look at eBay. The prices are high for what is ostensibly outdated technology. And what can I say, I'm one of those jerks who totally goes for it.

The DOD FX90 analog delay is not one of those delays one would call coveted, as it sells used for fairly cheap... why? I'm not sure. I like the delay sound on it. With some coaxing, it will run away and self-oscillate with the best of them. Likely, it's not that coveted because there are many available. In the after-market for discontinued effects, if it's rare, it must be AMAZING!

The actual circuit creates makes for a pleasing, warm and dark analog delay, but the construction of the pedal itself is sub-par. I scored a couple for cheap. That is to say, I found them left behind in our jam space and no one claimed them. They didn't work, so I set out to get 'em going again. 

Gorenography: visiting the Slave Pit, Inc.

After being entranced for so many years by some of my favorite space mutants, it could be considered sacrilege to see the men behind the curtain. Ah, fuck it. I'd been on tour with these folks for some time. I'd smelled their poos and farts. There was no more disillusionment to be had. The day after our tour ended, we headed to Richmond, VA (not Antarctica) over to see the real headquarters of GWAR: the Slave Pit.

It was an unassuming enough building from the outside. It looked like an little old office or shop of some sort. Now, it is a little fucking shop of horrors full of gorenography!

Ghoulection 2012: Transmission Seven

The final stretch, the final act, the big ending, the showdown, the finish line, the curtains drawing, the... end of euphemism. As we drove out in the morning from Poughkeepsie to Hampton Beach, our touring with GWAR was drawing to a close. Our brakes are squeaking and burning just a little, but there's just no time to take care of it. We have to hustle for there are faces to rock off.

Before we got to Hampton Beach, I was warned that it was the Jersey Shore of New England. That was fairly apt, as the lunacy was there, the bawdily attired women (despite the temperature), and the attitude. It was hard to count the number of drunken fist fights, one of which was concluded by a member of the staff who looked more like she should model for American Apparel rather than be throwing down like Tyson.