|
|
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
| |
12:38 am
|
Rob from Backstage With JBJ just sent me a couple of pix of me in the photopit from the Bon Jovi Summerfest show.
( Click for pix... )
current mood:  good
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
| |
11:51 am - USA
|
So much to do so little time. I got back home from the US yesterday. I flew over there last Wednesday. Went to Milwaukee for Summerfest. Bon Jovi were headlining the opening night and were supported by Soraia. I met up with Chris of The Get Go the afternoon/eve I arrived, who was kind enough to drive me around to find a new suitcase since mine got broken in transit. Don't you hate how those baggage transporters don't care about breaking your suitcase or items? Part of the handle had gone from it when I picked it up at the baggage carousel! Thanks for that, people! I managed to find a new cheap one in Target though, so that's ok... although these baggage handlers ought to get billed, I think!
So next day was the show. I picked up my pass and met up with Rob and Darren of Backstage With Jon Bon Jovi, the official Bon Jovi fan club. Heard the awful news that Michael Jackson had died. :-( I've put Bon Jovi photos up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/bonjoviphotos.htm. Soraia have also put a few of my pix on their myspace page - http://www.myspace.com/soraia
The Bon Jovi show finished just after 10.30pm and at that time Rise Against were still playing on one of the other stages, so I got over there and caught about 45mins of their set. I have never seen so many people at a Rise Against show. It was pretty cool - and they played all my faves at the end - 'Ready To Fall', 'Give It All', 'Prayer of The Refugee' etc. I then walked back to the bus stop and managed to get the bus just before midnight back to my hotel which was by the airport. I got to bed at 2.30am and had to set my alarm to wake up at 4am as next day I was flying to San Francisco.
AirTran are awesome. I will admit I was slightly worried about the airline prior to flying with them as I'd never flown with them before and was nervous incase my baggage got lost or the flight got delayed (you read horror stories for some airlines if you search online). Thankfully everything was perfect - and even better, you can get inflight internet with AirTran! I have never been on an aeroplane that had inflight internet so I was in heaven! It only cost $12.95 for the duration of the flight - and my flight was about 4 hours long - so that was uber-cheap I think. Although I didn't realise it was for the whole flight so I only went online halfway through (I was editing my Soraia pix first). The flight was awesome, free drinks and all that stuff for a super-cheap price. You can even pay with Paypal! I would definitely give an A++ to AirTran and recommend them to everyone.
So I found my cheap hotel in San Francisco. I was staying in the Mission District (not to be confused with the band of the same name, but back when I booked the hotel I thought it was pretty cool - since The Mission District are an awesome band! What is spooky is that back when I was researching for my Mission District interview a few months back one of the first websites I stumbled across was for the Mission District area in San Francisco. This was before I decided to go to San Francisco - so when I ended up searching for hotels and this Mission District one looked like the best bet it was pretty spooky. It was almost like someone, somewhere knew that I'd be ending up in the Mission District - back before I'd even decided to go to the US.)
Marko of Sugarcult was doing two DJ gigs that night. I decided to try and sleep for a couple of hours before walking over to the one place. I got there before he'd arrived though, so ended up walking around a bit before decided to go to a vegan restaurant instead. It turned out to be about 5mins walk from my hotel and is called Herbivore (http://www.herbivorerestaurant.com). Lots of great food. I had a veggie burger and fries and soya hot chocolate and brought away a vanilla shake, donut and chocolate cake for breakfast next day. I was too tired to go back to see Marko DJing so I just went to bed. Sorry Marko! My hotel has a loud disco Friday and Saturday nights which kind of put the dampeners on me getting much sleep though, since I was on the floor right underneath!
Next day was Warped Tour and I set my alarm to wake me up at 5.15am. Found my way to the venue, Pier 30/32, with ease. Gave out some Black Velvet flyers, picked up my press/photopass and headed in. I've put photos up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/warpedtour2009photos.htm
Went to say hi to Madina Lake who were doing a signing at 2pm. I think they were surprised to see me over there. On the way out at the very end I bumped into Marko and family who were just arriving. A San Francisco Warped Tour report will be in the next Black Velvet, along with a Bon Jovi Summerfest review.
I flew home yesterday, and was happy to finally get more than 3 hours sleep last night. Now I need to get my Warped Tour report and Summerfest review laid out and the next issue completed, so it can get off to the printers.
Couple of my fave pix:
current mood:  chipper
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
| |
12:47 pm
|
|
| Monday, June 15th, 2009
| |
7:00 pm
|
Had a hectic but fun Friday-Sunday at Download festival. I don't do camping so a friend (thankfully) drove from my house and back each day. Managed to get only 2 1/2 hours sleep on Friday night (due to finding out the M42 was closed on the way back and then getting stuck in a traffic jam on a motorway we didn't want to be on!) and about 4 or 4 1/2 on the other days. So dead now...
I had a second/third/fourth stage photopass. There are always so many photopass requests for Download and they can only have a certain amount in the main stage. Since Black Velvet's not as big as some of the big national mags and papers, or agencies, this meant getting a second/third/fourth stages pass. Thankfully most of the bands I really wanted to take pix of were on the second and Tuborg stage. Would have liked to have taken pix of Billy Talent on the main stage but you can't have everything! Of course Def Leppard and others would have been cool too - although I love Go:Audio who were headlining the Tuborg stage at the same time on the last night.
I'm going through photos now (although think I'm gonna do a few hours of non-Black Velvet work for a bit now). So far I've put Steadlur, The Prodigy and Steel Panther photos on the Black Velvet site. The links are in the Black Velvet MySpace blog. Keep checking that blog out as I will just put the links there or via Twitter as I'm so busy: http://www.myspace.com/blackvelvetmagazine or http://www.twitter.com/blackvelvetmag
A Download 2009 report with more pix will be in the next printed Black Velvet. (Order in advance to save money, from http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/nextissue.htm)
current mood:  exhausted
current music: Hardcore Superstar
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
| |
3:03 pm
|
Anti-Flag's new album, The People or the Gun, has just been released and the boys have done a new ad for peta2. More info can be found at: http://peta2-blog.livejournal.com/423723.html
I'm thinking of starting my own cruelty free/vegan/veggie website as a friend suggested I should do one. I'm stuck trying to think of a name though. All the best names have gone. I wanted fakebacon.com but that's taken. Even starswithhearts.com like the small section of the same name that I have in Black Velvet is taken. Today I thought of nowhey.com and nowheyjose.com - but guess what? Both are gone. Gah! Anyone good at thinking of cool names? Send me your suggestions.
Also, yesterday I did an interview with Nick Baldrian of Two Side Moon Promotions. If you've ever wondered what goes into having your own press company - or are a band who wants to know more about the significance of a good press/promotion company, read http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/tsm.htm
current mood:  okay
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Saturday, May 30th, 2009
| |
5:08 pm
|
Travis of We The Kings has posted a couple of my pix in his http://www.whoistravisclark.com blog. :-)
I just wish the lighting hadn't been so crap at the venue so I could've got better pix and put more online.
current mood:  happy
current music: We The Kings - We The Kings
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Friday, May 29th, 2009
| |
8:43 pm
|
|
| Thursday, May 28th, 2009
| |
2:59 am - So much for my early night
|
I was so tired all day after going to bed at 3.30am or something last night and then getting up for work early today. I was gonna try for an early night tonight. Try being the operative word. It's now 3am and I haven't got there yet. On the plus side I got my Black Stone Cherry interview typed up this evening - and I've now put 12 pix of Nickelback (cropped, since we were far away from the stage) up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/nickelbackphotos.htm
On the minus side I've probably got 20 more wrinkles.
Review and different pic in issue 61 of Black Velvet.
current mood: exhausted
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
| |
2:23 am
|
|
| Thursday, May 21st, 2009
| |
12:12 am
|
It's quite interesting that yesterday I should go to a cemetery - and then today I would interview Ben of Billy Talent. There's a link there somewhere - you need to read my interview in the next issue to figure out the link though. I went to the cemetery as the local photography club were going there to take photos. I haven't been to photography for about 3 months (maybe longer) as I've been so busy, but I figured I'd actually like to get some cemetery photos - so I went along. I've put a few pix up at http://www.shariblackvelvet.com/photography19.htm
So this afternoon I interviewed Ben Kowalewicz on the phone. I typed up the interview this evening. I'll work on making it into an article tomorrow night. No rest (in peace) for the wicked. The interview of course will be in issue 61 of Black Velvet (out at the end of July). Make sure you also get 'Billy Talent III' when it's released in July.
current music: Billy Talent
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
| |
2:32 am
|
Today was Madina Lake day in Birmingham. Had a slight panic before leaving the house when my favourite old tape recorder that I've had forever seemed not to be working properly. Cue frantically opening a new boxed up and never used tape recorder, quickly shoving in some batteries before rushing out the door. Left the house to discover I'd forgotten to put flyers in my bag to give out to everyone in the queue... Never mind. I did later see a penny on the floor so I picked it up in the hope of some good luck (plus being a starving zine editor I do need every penny I spot on the floor! lol). Took some more copies of Black Velvet 60 to Dale News, chilled out for a bit on a park bench and then at 6pm went for my interview. Did a cool interview with Matthew (Leone). Things had been running behind schedule with them not getting back from the signing at Blue Banana until later than planned, so by the time I'd finished my interview (and got a coupla pix) doors were open and my friend was getting worried outside wondering where I was.
A few live Madina Lake pix are up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/madinalakephotos.htm
My interview with Matthew will be in issue 61 as will a review of the gig.
Tired now, shoulder blade's aching and need sleep.
current mood: exhausted
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
| |
10:50 pm
|
I've just been inspired to go and flick through some of the earliest Black Velvet back issue master copies. I spotted a few pix of bands with Black Velvet in some of them, although of course half of the bands have sadly split up. I decided to scan this couple though. Remember - this was back in 1994, 15 years ago, when Black Velvet was really bad! Back before I even had a computer, back before digital cameras took over the world, back when I drew a really bad logo on the front cover! Back when all things were pastel pink and photocopied (badly). Ah, the good ol' days!
Pepsi Tate (Tigertailz) - RIP - with issue 3 of Black Velvet
Jyrki of The 69 Eyes (I forgot I even had Sebastian Bach on the cover of an issue!):
And here's Jon Bon Jovi with a copy. Ok, you can't tell it's Black Velvet since he's not holding it up, but it is! I should probably ask him for a proper pic with an issue sometime... (Unless you do first. ;-))
Make sure you enter Black Velvet's Photo Competition. Take a cool pic of some Black Velvet back issues, either somewhere cool, or with someone cool, or just as a swish artistic and creative pic. The winner will get a bunch of merch as listed in Black Velvet's MySpace blog.
PS. Congrats to Bon Jovi for being inducted into the New Jersey Hall Of Fame this weekend.
current mood:  nostalgic
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, April 30th, 2009
| |
10:01 pm
|
I'm quite excitable at the moment. Went to Steadlur's MySpace page today only to discover that they've put a nice pic of the front cover of Black Velvet on there (along with other mags that have featured them). Wasn't expecting to see that so it made my day. Yesterday My Passion, today Steadlur, who's gonna make me smile tomorrow? (Probably no-one, actually). We love Steadlur. So far their debut album (not out yet, kids) is probably our fave of the year, and they are definitely our fave new discovery. http://www.myspace.com/steadlur - make sure you read my 2 page interview with Philip in the current issue of Black Velvet. Can't wait for these guys to do some shows in the UK. Methinx they need to add a Birmingham date to the ones they've got listed so far though.
But not only that, I just discovered that the legendary Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath is VEGAN! As an animal lover you know discovering new veggies and vegans makes me superhappy. Of course he's not a 'new' veggie/vegan... He's been meat-free since the age of 8! How amazing is that!? *Shari bows down to the mighty Geezer*
Check out the article on Geezer on PETA's site: http://www.peta.org/feat-geezer-butler.asp?c=weekly_enews
Oh and while I'm here, I've been reading the fan reviews of the premier of Bon Jovi's 'When We Were Beautiful' documentary at last night's Tribeca Film Festival in New York and it sounds awesome. I hope we get it over in the UK soon. I can't wait to see it.
current mood:  bouncy
current music: Steadlur
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
| |
8:31 pm - Black Velvet Photo Competition - Enter & Win
|
So since Black Velvet is celebrating its 15 year anniversary we've decided to have a cool competition. What's more we're gonna let everyone enter, not just Black Velvet readers. Mind you, it helps if you HAVE been (or are) a reader.
We have some awesome merch from the equally awesome http://www.punkrockshop.co.uk to give away (Punk Rock Shop stock Black Velvet by the way, go order some issues now!). Punk Rock Shop are an awesome (excuse the over-use of the word 'awesome' but it's true) online store that sell all things punk rock related. They sell CDs, clothing, footwear, hair products, posters, accessories and more (not forgetting Black Velvet). They've been kind enough to send us the following merch which you can win:
Fall Out Boy T-shirt (size M)
The Distillers T-shirt (size XL)
Pennywise T-shirt (Ladies size L)
NOFX T-shirt (size L)
Descendant T-shirt (size M)
Various patches including Black Flag, Discharge & Bauhaus.
And I'm going to throw in a Black Velvet black velvet long sleeved top and maybe a couple of CDs and anything else I can find when it actually comes time to pick winners and send the prizes out.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO WIN:
is take a pic of yourself with some Black Velvet back issues and email the photo to editor@blackvelvetmagazine.com
The best pic will win. If there are a couple of good pix I may split the prize so there are a couple of winners.
Be creative - maybe take a pic with some Black Velvets in a cool place (on a gondola in Venice would be pretty funky for example!), with a cool bandmember (first person to get a pic of Jon Bon Jovi holding a copy will definitely be in with a good chance of winning! I may even give you an extra year's subscription to Black Velvet if you get a good pic of Jon with Black Velvet! Yeah, I know, over the years you'd have thought I might have got one myself, but I haven't...) - or take a pic with as many Black Velvets as you have - like the pic I have just taken, below (you haven't lived until you've read a copy of Black Velvet upside down while lay on a bed of Black Velvets!).
Start taking those pix NOW!
current mood:  busy
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| |
10:12 am
|
Me likes the blog that My Passion posted about being in the new issue of Black Velvet (take note other bands, you should do this too!) with a link to Black Velvet's MySpace page. They wrote:
BLACK VELVET INTERVIEW & REVIEW
HEY!
WANT TO READ THE MOST INTERESTING INTERVIEW SO FAR FROM LAURENCE RENÉ
THEN YOU MUST BUY THIS ISSUE OF ALTERNATIVE MAGAZINE BLACK VELVET. ALL QUESTIONS REVOLVE AROUND THE WORD "DAY" HOOKING UP WITH A DAY OF THE BEES THEME...
THERE'S ALSO A THANKS FOR NOTHING REVIEW IN THERE TOO.
TO GET YOUR COPY VISIT
http://www.myspace.com/blackvelvetmagazine
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY IT
X
BLACK VELVET MAGAZINE
Me especially likes the 'most interesting interview so far' bit. :D
And I do agree, it's a really cool and very interesting interview. You ought to read it if you haven't already.
I should give them a link back to their page from here in reply, methinx. http://www.myspace.com/mypassion
current mood: good
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, April 23rd, 2009
| |
11:07 am
|
Finally got a banner made for the new issue.
My alarm woke me up at 8am today. I got up, opened an energy drink, drank a quarter of the can, brushed my teeth, checked emails. Then noticed it was 06.15 and not 08.15. No wonder I felt tired (I went to bed at 02.30). Went back to bed, although I think it took me about an hour or an hour and a half to get back to sleep. I guess I got about 4hrs sleep in total. Still tired. Just opened another energy drink. I'll probably be wide awake at 2am again.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
| |
12:35 pm - London People - Meet me this Sat
|
I will be in London this Saturday and just had an idea that if anyone in London wants to buy a copy of the new Black Velvet you can buy one off me in person on Saturday by meeting me at Hyde Park. I should be there between midday and 1pm.
I will be there for the World Day For Laboratory Animals march. Everyone is meeting at Reformer's Tree near Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. There will probably be 1000 people or more there - but I'm sure you'll spot me. I'm fairly distinguishable so I've been told! lol. If you are interested in meeting me to buy the new Black Velvet let me know. I will need to know how many Black Velvets to bring with me - and we can arrange it a bit more.
Black Velvet is only £2 if you buy it off me in person. I might even give you an extra discount for making the effort!
You don't have to stay for the march - of course that would be nice - but obviously feel free to get Black Velvet and leave. The march will be awesome though. More info is at http://www.wdail.org - if you love animals and hate how they are abused for vivisection, consider coming on the march. I have such a great time when I go on one of these big national marches. Everyone is so friendly, there are some inspirational speeches, some stalls to check out with things to buy (vegan food, merch etc), it's good exercise - and you're doing something by standing up for the animals who are cruelly tortured. You will feel great at the end of the day that you have done something worthwhile!
So come and meet me in Hyde Park. Go home straight away if you want - or stay and march if you want!
If you can't get to London order Black Velvet from one of the online stores linked from our page, from one of the retail stores listed or from Black Velvet direct with Paypal.
http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com for more info.
And if you're further away but interested in going down for the march, contact the people at www.wdail.org - there are special coaches being put on from all around the country going to the march (and back). Contact them and ask if there's a coach going from your town. I'll be on the Redditch/Birmingham/Coventry coach.
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
| |
1:18 am
|
So after unleashing Black Velvet 60 to the world, I went to Birmingham this evening to see The Mission District. Saw them with Simple Plan late last year and was impressed so I arranged to interview them in Birmingham. We ended up doing the interview after they'd played, as they were on first - and went and sat on the pavement by the tour van/bus. Ended up getting home super-early - which was good as it means I've got live pix up sooner. I have come to the conclusion that the Barfly's lighting is ten times better than Birmingham Academy. My Mission District pix are much better than Saturday's Papa Roach pix, I think. Methinx the Academy ought to follow in the Barfly's footsteps and set their lighting up with the lights more to the side shining on the band than shining right into your camera lens from the back of the stage. Then all our photos would be way better.
Live pix of The Mission District are at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/themissiondistrictphotos.htm
The Mission District with Black Velvet (issues 60 and 59):
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Monday, April 20th, 2009
| |
11:37 am - Issue 60 of Black Velvet Out Now
|
Interviews with Metro Station, Madina Lake, Hey Monday, Papa Roach, Seether, My Passion, Steadlur, Lights Resolve, Theory Of A Deadman & TGL.
Heaps of concert reviews including Boys Like Girls/Metro Station/Every Avenue, Staind/Seether and Shinedown, Alkaline Trio, The All-American Rejects/Oh No Not Stereo and Rise Against/Anti-Flag.
A Q&A with Download Festival promoter Andy Copping.
'Can You Hear Me Now?' Column by Marko 72 of Sugarcult
'Me, Me, Me & My Rock CV'. If you have a music related job you get to tell us what you do and why you do it. This issue featuring Define The Meaning zine editor Karen Mitchell.
Tons of album, single and demo reviews including Madina Lake, Steadlur, Papa Roach, Faster Faster, That Was Something, Falling Red, Remedy, Theory Of A Deadman, Bruce Springsteen, Eyelash, Space Cretins, Crucified Barbara, The Pussybats, Backyard Babies, Skatch, Lauren Harris, Young Guns, Voodoo Johnson & heaps more.
All the usuals such as Fanzine Reviews, Books & DVD reviews & Supersonic Future Superstars (featuring Famous and From Jupiter).
Advertisers this issue are: Famous, Bristol Vegan Fayre 09 , My Son The Bum, Brand Your Band, Oort Records, Crop Circle & RecyclingCDs.com
Visit http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com for more info or order directly online from:
(UK)
http://www.fourdogsmusic.co.uk
http://www.ethicalwares.com
http://www.punkrockshop.co.uk
http://www.word-power.co.uk
http://www.beeunique.co.uk
(USA)
http://www.atomicbooks.com
http://www.quimbys.com
http://www.theeshop.com
(AUSTRALIA)
http://www.waterfrontrecords.com
Or go to one of the retail stores listed on our page.
Or send paypal directly to Black Velvet. Order directly from our page.
current mood: good
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, April 19th, 2009
| |
3:41 am
|
|
| Monday, April 13th, 2009
| |
10:10 pm
|
15 Years Of Black Velvet
An Interview with Shari Black Velvet
By Si Roddam of Eighth Wave
Back in 1994, Black Velvet Zine was born. 15 years later and editor Shari Black Velvet is still hard at work reviewing CDs, gigs, interviewing bands and living life the Black Velvet way. Black Velvet comes out quarterly and with the arrival of issue 60 will celebrate its 15 year anniversary. To mark the occasion we decided to turn the tables – and rather than Shari interviewing a band, we got a band to interview Shari. Meet Eighth Wave, an upcoming UK band that impressed Black Velvet when they opened for Go:Audio recently. With a debut album now on sale entitled ‘Last Night’s Hero’ (produced by Andy Giblin and Steve Rushton, ex-Son Of Dork), frontman Si Roddam became hero of the day coming up with the below questions. Check out Eighth Wave at http://www.myspace.com/eighthwave for more info - and make sure you order issue 60 of Black Velvet. Better still subscribe and have every issue of Black Velvet delivered direct to your doorstep. Keep up to date with all the best bands, interviews, reviews and more, via Black Velvet’s printed pages. There’s now even a new ‘advance order’ offer where if you order in advance you can save money. UK readers can now get the issue delivered to their house for only £2 in advance. So... what's stoppin' ya? But without further ado, here's Si of Eighth Wave to ask Shari a question or two.
Si Roddam: How did Black Velvet Mag come about?
Shari Black Velvet: When I was at school I loved writing and started writing letters to penpals. This was way before the internet took over. I began going to concerts and getting into signed and unsigned bands. After discovered a band in the US that were unsigned, I figured they were so good that I should do something to help them – and ended up writing a zine for them for two years. Through this I got in touch with a few other UK zine editors who on occasion asked me to write an article for them. When the unsigned band split up, it made sense to start an all-round rock zine – thus Black Velvet was born.
SR: When was the first issue launched and can you remember who was on the cover?
SBV: I can definitely remember who was on the front cover of the first issue. It was none other than Jon Bon Jovi – the band who really got me into rock music and who I still love to this day. It was 15 years ago, May 1994, that the first issue of Black Velvet came out.
SR: What bands do you most like writing about?
SBV: Bands that inspire me, pretty much. As long as I love the band’s music – and can get in touch with their press officer – I’ll write about them. I mostly love catchy rock/pop-punk songs with good vocals, melody and good playing.
Read the rest of the interview at:
http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/bv15yranniversary.htm
current mood: good
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, April 9th, 2009
| |
10:04 am
|
|
| Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
| |
9:46 am - Royal Mail Postal Increases
|
Just found out that due to the rise in UK postal prices (thanks Royal Mail, grr!) it's now going to cost an extra 20p to mail a Black Velvet to USA/Canada/Japan/Aus/Rest of the world and 10p extra to mail a Black Velvet to UK readers.
I will probably have to add 10p to the total UK price of Black Velvet. I'm going to keep the price for overseas orders the same as it was before.
Ebay sales I will have add the 20p on to the postal price for overseas and 10p for the UK for all items listed from now on.
I hope this won't put anyone off buying Black Velvet. Of course with our new advance order/subscription deals (only £2 including postage and packing for one issue and £8 for a year's subscription), it's cheaper (you will save 70p per issue) so you should order in advance or subscribe to save money.
current mood: contemplative
current music: Sugarcult - Lights Out
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Monday, April 6th, 2009
| |
8:03 pm
|
I'm researching for interviews at the moment for issue 61. Had another idea for another interview today, although I'm not working on that one yet...
I just had to stop though to make time for a little rant about horse racing and the Grand National. You can read my rant at: http://blackvelvet.tumblr.com/ (also known as Shari's Rant Blog! Ranting mostly about animal issues and other things I read about that urge me to fume!)
Please go read - and if possible avoid betting on or paying any attention whatsoever to cruel horse racing events.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| |
3:09 am - Black Velvet's 15 Year Anniversary Offer!
|
Since the next Black Velvet (issue 60) symbolises Black Velvet's 15 year anniversary, I've come up with a cool deal for everyone (the things you think of at 3am, eh!?).
Order Black Velvet IN ADVANCE and get it cheaper!
I'm knocking 50p off the price for anyone who orders Black Velvet in advance. Instead of paying £2.50 you can now get Black Velvet for ONLY £2 (if you're in the UK) if you order the next issue in advance.
This will apply to every issue from now (until I change my mind and decide I'm losing too much money!) - but please note, this is only when ordering an issue in advance.
If you are in Europe, you will save 0.50 Euro if ordering in advance. Instead of paying 5 Euro, you can get order the next issue in advance for 4.50 Euro.
If you're in the US or the rest of the world, you can order the next issue for $7 instead of $8. A saving of $1.
I repeat - This only applies to advance orders. If you don't order in advance, you will pay £2.50, 5 Euro or $8 when ordering the current issue at any given time.
Order the next issue NOW by going to http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/nextissue.htm
Subscriptions
I'm also lowering the UK subscription price from £9 to £8 - to coincide with the 'advance orders' offer. So any time you order a subscription in the foreseeable future, it will be £8 if you are in the UK (Europe, US & rest of the world subscription prices will remain the same).
To order an annual 4 issue subscription (issues are out every Feb, May, Aug and Nov), go to:
http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/subs.htm
Issue 60 out at the end of the month includes interviews with (in no particular order, although feel free to try and guess who's gonna be on the cover!): Seether, Madina Lake, Papa Roach, Metro Station, Theory Of A Deadman, Hey Monday, My Passion, Lights Resolve, Steadlür and TGL - and heaps more.
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Friday, March 27th, 2009
| |
10:57 pm - BV55 Interviews Online
|
Since issue 55 (Feb 2008) of Black Velvet is pretty much almost sold out (I have 2 copies here, although I think a few of the online stores may have a couple too), I've decided to put up a bunch of the interviews on the Black Velvet website, so those that didn't get the issue can read them. You don't get to see all of the pix, or the full size pix, and the way it was laid out, but you can at least read the text.
The interviews I've put online are:
Madina Lake - http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/madinalake.htm (by me)
You Me At Six - http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/youmeatsix.htm (by me
Fightstar - http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/fightstar.htm (by Anne Green)
Holy Ghost Revival - http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/holyghostrevival.htm (by Anne Green)
Motion City Soundtrack - http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/motioncitysoundtrack.htm (by Jadine Wringe - it's under my first interview with them)
theSTART - http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/thestart.htm (by Suzanne T.)
Mindless Self Indulgence - http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/mindlessselfindulgence.htm (by Laura Fitzgerald)
Go check them out if you haven't read them in the printed zine. Thanks of course to those of you who DO buy the printed zine. YOU RULE! Be sure to get each issue of Black Velvet as it comes out. If it's not in a store near you, you can always order it online and have it delivered straight to your house.
Or if you know any stores near you, whether they are newsagents, music or rock clothing stores or any other stores, tell them it's time they stocked Black Velvet!
If you happen to want to get a proper copy of the printed issue 55 before it's completely, 100% officially gone forever, check the online stores linked on our page - or go to http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/backissues.htm
current mood: busy
current music: Steadlur - Steadlur
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
| |
5:19 pm
|
Someone just wrote to me about the next Black Velvet as they thought it should have been out by now. It's not due out until the end of April. It's urged me to write a list of what I do though!
Publisher
Editor
Proofreader
Chief Interviewer (7 of the 10 interviews in the next issue are by me, plus 2 non-band Q&As) & In-depth researcher
Chief Photographer
Reviewer (of concerts, CDs, books, zines and DVDs)
Online website editor & in charge of all networking site pages
Designer & Layer-Outer (lol) of the whole mag
Distributor
In charge of mail order, subscriptions and all online sales, including Ebay seller
Online blogger (LOL)
I also have 2 part time day jobs (Monday to Friday, working on average 30 hours a week) and write reviews for Backstage With Jon Bon Jovi when required, and do some voluntary proofreading for 2 organisations.
Sometimes I try to sleep but there's not much time for that!
I'm sure I do other things too, but I'm wasting time just trying to think what they are.
Unfortunately Black Velvet cannot become more frequent than quarterly (unless millions of people suddenly decide to subscribe) because of most of the above factors. Unlike monthly mags Black Velvet does not have dedicated arts editors, features editors, online editors, blah blah blah. I am all 10 editors in one. This means that it takes a bit longer to get each issue completed.
Issues have come out every Feb, May, Aug and Nov since Black Velvet's inception back in 1994. Black Velvet is celebrating its 15 year anniversary with issue 60.
I do of course have some great contributors who provide some CD reviews, and the occasional interview.
In other news, a stool I ordered for when I do photoshoots at home arrived today. Not that I have any time to do photoshoots, but...!
current mood:  stressed
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Sunday, March 22nd, 2009
| |
5:35 pm - I wish I was in LA for this show...
|
World Week for Animals Starts in LOS ANGELES, CA
between APRIL 18th - 25th, 2009
Each year, twenty-three million animals are pointlessly hurt and killed in the name of research. Dogs, cats, monkeys, rabbits, pigs, and birds are just a few of the victims who have screws driven into their skulls, their spinal columns severed, their eyes sewn shut, and their bodies filled with toxic chemicals. Frequently, these procedures are done without anesthetic, and almost invariably without concern for the animal’s pain and misery. Virtually every one of these animals suffers in lonely agony before it is finally killed.
The biological and cellular differences between species are often too great to extrapolate experimental results from test animals to humans. Medications, proven safe in animals, are frequently withdrawn after being found unsafe in people.
Regulation of animal research laboratories is minimal, at best. Federally operated labs are exempt from oversight. The USDA, the enforcement arm for Federal legislation, lacks the manpower to provide even cursory reviews of most labs. Even when their investigators find violations, labs often receive a simple reprimand.
World Week for Laboratory Animals is a global effort to bring awareness to the plight of animals in labs and promote alternatives to vivisection. The goal of our Los Angeles group is to educate the public about unnecessary animal research both in the University of California system and elsewhere, the gross waste of funds paid in support of dubious research, and to open dialogue between legitimate researchers and animal welfare groups in an effort to promote the humane treatment of all animals, reduce the number of animals used, and to eliminate and / or replace vivisection to the greatest extent possible.
official site: http://www.worldweekforanimals.com
on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/worldweekforanimals
(Cut n' pasted from Cyndee's post on the AR community)
(PS. RIP Jade Goody)
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, March 19th, 2009
| |
11:54 pm
|
Just finished typing up this evening's phone interview. I did a phone interview with Philip of Steadlur at 8pm and have just finished typing it up. Their debut album's not out until mid-May but you should take my advice and save your pennies and order it in advance or buy it on the day of release. This is one of the best debut albums I've heard in a while. These guys kick ass and you will just be wanting to crank up the volume and rock out with them. (Well, unless your taste in music sucks...)
http://www.myspace.com/steadlur
My interview will be in issue 60, out at the end of April/beginning of May.
current mood: chipper
current music: Steadlur
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
| |
7:43 pm
|
Today's been an awesome day. This week's been a great week. I'm half waiting for next week to completely suck just to bum me out. But anyway, I got confirmation yesterday that I could go to the Madina Lake live acoustic session at Kerrang! Radio today. Got the train up there, managed to get a bit lost on the way (I've never actually been to Kerrang! Radio before), but still got there early. Nathan and Mateo played a handful of acoustic songs in front of a crowd of competition winners. Matthew and Dan were at Kerrang! Radio but didn't actually perform. At the end the quartet did a signing for everyone who was there. I waited until the end and got a band photo to go with my interview with Nathan that I did on Monday, which will appear in issue 60 of Black Velvet.
A few pix of the acoustic set are up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/madinalakephotos.htm
It was Mateo's birthday so everyone sang happy birthday to him and he was given a birthday cake.
Mateo blowing out the candles, after being handed his cake by Kerrang! Radio DJ Loz:
current mood: cheerful
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Monday, March 9th, 2009
| |
7:15 pm
|
I did an awesome interview (phone) with Nathan Leone of Madina Lake this afternoon. Madina Lake's new album 'Attics To Eden' is due for release on April 27th, and you need to get it. I've just started typing the interview up but thought I'd come and post on here. I can't wait to see the band play live in the UK again. It's been too long. Get your tix for their April/May tour now! The interview will be in issue 60 of Black Velvet.
In other news, I've had nightmare computer problems this weekend. The program I do Black Velvet in started crashing for no reason Saturday night. The good news is that I can still open it if I go into the 'admin' account rather than my 'Shari' one, and I've just set up a new user account so I can open it in there too (so I managed to finish getting my Hey Monday interview laid out, as well as a page of albums and made a few pdfs). The crap thing is that all the fonts and all my documents are in my 'Shari' account, so it means transferring everything across to the new user account. I'm just hoping that if it was a font that caused the crash, it won't start crashing again.
Also, I've started a second job. I'm going to be doing two jobs as well as Black Velvet. I'm going to be doing less hours at my usual place of work in order to do a second job which I can do working from home. I'm liking the idea of getting up, sitting at my computer and doing work without having to leave the house. Plus it's flexi-time so if any Black Velvet related rockness occurs I can go and do that and catch up with dayjob work later - without having to specifically ask for time off work. How cool is that? A big thanks to my friend Jaq for recommending me for the job. The new job will keep me busier though so if I don't reply to emails as quickly as I used to you'll know why.
current mood: busy
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Thursday, March 5th, 2009
| |
12:50 am - Oh No Not Black Velvet!
|
|
| Monday, March 2nd, 2009
| |
8:45 am
|
I feel so ill. I think it's time my cold went away. I was good and got lots of sleep at the weekend (well, except for last night, because I never sleep on Sunday nights) but no, my cold is holding on tight (no pun intended). Saturday night I did a phone interview with Mike of Hey Monday and I was worried I might have a coughing fit or would be sniffing like crazy throughout the interview. Thankfully, for 35mins my nose and throat were quite behaved. I sucked on Ricola cough sweets throughout the interview to keep a coughing fit at bay and thankfully it worked. I didn't even tell Mike 'I have a cold so if I cough, just bear with me'. I was considering it, but decided I'd see how things were, and I was ok through the interview so that was good.
I typed the interview up yesterday and need to lay it out tonight - before doing research on my next interview. No rest for the wicked.
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, February 27th, 2009
| |
9:27 pm
|
|
| Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
| |
11:19 am - New York, New Jersey, JBJ & other good stuff
|
On Feb 20th I took to the skies for my annual visit (or so it seems) to New York City. Arriving at midday (after a nice flight which saw me watching 'Camp Rock' featuring The Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato – a fun film with a sweet ending, and The Family Man – well, except for the last 10mins as we reached our destination half an hour ahead of schedule), my friend and I did some shopping, went to Viva Herbal for a vegan cheese pizza and then went to Highline Ballroom (I sense a Ballroom theme for the weekend...) for the 'Catwalk Tragedy Tour' – a sort of alternative modelling competition which saw guys and girls strut their stuff on the catwalk in alternative clothing. A couple of bands played in between rounds including one called Suicide City, who had quite an animated frontman. We got bored midway through the final round though as it dragged on a bit so left before the end meaning we missed finding out who won.
Suicide City:
Next day we shopped some more, went up the Rockefeller Center to the 'Top Of The Rock' to catch the view and take some pix, met up with a couple of my friends in the evening and went to Kate's Joint for a vegan meal before heading to Angels & Kings (Pete Wentz's bar) for a diet coke or two. On Sunday, we made our way to Curly's Vegetarian Lunch, a cute veggie/vegan diner on E. 14th Street and had some more awesome vegan food and one of the best soya hot chocolates I've ever drank. The place is small and we had to queue for a while to get seats but the wait was definitely worth it. Eventually it was time to head down to New Jersey where we met friends before going along to Elements, the lounge owned by Matt Bongiovi (Jon Bon Jovi's brother) in Sea Bright. The lounge/bar was packed and fun was had by all.
Curly's Vegetarian Lunch:
Monday Feb 23rd was Jon Bon Jovi & Friends show day. Jon was playing a special fan club only show at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ, a tiny 2000 capacity venue that looked smaller than Nottingham Rock City. I've written a review for the fan club which you can find on the www.backstagejbj.com's news page if you're a member. The show was awesome with lots of rare and different songs being played – going as far back as The Power Station years.
JBJ @ Starland Ballroom:
Speaking of Bon Jovi, on the flight home I read a little bit more of the 'Bon Jovi Encyclopaedia' by Neil Daniels. Although I like the style of the book (ie. the A-Z format) – and of course my Black Velvet bit – I've noticed there are a lot of typos. Too bad Neil or Chrome Dreams didn't ask me to proofread it before it was printed! Page 54 for example says 'Ticco Torres' instead of 'Tico Torres'. :-/
All in all, I had a fun few days. Now I just need to get rid of the jetlag before tomorrow night's gig. If you see me out and I look tired, you'll know why.
current mood: exhausted
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, February 19th, 2009
| |
12:54 pm
|
Neil Daniels' new Bon Jovi book arrived at Black Velvet HQ today. According to Amazon, it's not out until May (check http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bon-Jovi-Encyclopaedia-Neil-Daniels/dp/1842404644/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235048383&sr=8-1 for more info). I'm going to save it for my flight to the US to read on the way, so have only had a quick look inside, so as not to spoil the surprise. The book is set out in A-Z style though, with a variety of topics, people, places etc chosen for each letter (and photos scattered throughout). Black Velvet is actually in the B section, with a pic of the early (and now embarassing-looking) issue 16, which featured Richie Sambora on the cover, as well as quite a big quote from me, talking briefly about my fave Bon Jovi shows. Neil's called me Shari Black though, instead of Shari Black Velvet! I'm quite excited to be in a Bon Jovi book even if it's unauthorised. Ross Halfin has given his seal of approval for the book at: http://www.rosshalfin.com/diary/february-2009/diary-february-2009.php
I'm looking forward to reading the whole thing, and will write a review that will be in issue 60 of Black Velvet (out at the end of April).
current mood: chipper
current music: Papa Roach
|
|
(1 comment | comment on this)
|
| Sunday, February 15th, 2009
| |
4:51 am
|
|
| Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
| |
3:48 pm
|
|
| Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
| |
7:11 pm - It's February, and this means...
|
Apart from all us single people wanting to stab people in the eyes on Valentine's Day (just kidding...), it's a new month to vote for Black Velvet in the Vegan Environmental Awards.
Black Velvet needs your votes.
We just saw the results for January, and boy, you guys suck with the voting!!
Who voted? I know one of you did on my friends list. Was that all!? Come on people!
Ok, we're not last! But we're not doing very well...
So please vote. You can each vote one time every month until May 30th. If you have multiple email addresses, I'm sure you can vote with each of them! ;-)
If we can't win, at least vote to keep Black Velvet from being last! LOL.
Show the Vegan Environmental Awards that rock rules! If you don't like Black Velvet, at least vote for the rockingest mag in the media category.
VOTE FOR BLACK VELVET IN THE BEST MEDIA CATEGORY
http://www.bristol.veganfayre.co.uk/awards-vote
You can also find a little bit of info on all the nominees, including Black Velvet, at: http://bristol.veganfayre.co.uk/awards
current music: madina lake
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Friday, January 30th, 2009
| |
10:03 pm
|
|
| Thursday, January 29th, 2009
| |
2:03 pm
|
It's been a busy week so far. Aside from the new issue coming up (I haven't had chance to promote it fully yet, anyone want to do it for me!?), I've had 3 gigs in the last 4 days.
Sunday was Staind & Seether at Birmingham Academy. I went to interview Seether in the afternoon. Here they are with Black Velvet 58:
I've put a few Seether live pix up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/seetherphotos.htm
Monday night was Boys Like Girls / Metro Station / Every Avenue at Birmingham Academy 2. I interviewed Metro Station before the show. Black Velvet reader/friend Laura told me that Boys Like Girls drummer John Keefe bought her copy of Black Velvet 59 off her since Boys Like Girls are on the cover. Bless!
I've put a few BLG photos up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/boyslikegirlsphotos.htm
And here's a pic of Blake, Mason and Trace of Metro Station with copies of Black Velvet:
Tuesday night I really wanted to go to my local photography club, but I was feeling kinda busy, so I decided it might be better for me to miss it - and so I stayed home and wrote a review of the concert instead.
Last night I went to Manchester to see The All-American Rejects and Oh No Not Stereo. One slight bummer was doors opening 15 mins late and Oh No Not Stereo having to get onstage really soon. By the time I'd got into the venue they were on the third song. :-( I took photos for songs three and four though. Too bad they weren't the middle band on, and The Upwelling hadn't been first band on.
I'll be putting a few Oh No Not Stereo pix up later/tomorrow. I've just gone through my All-American Rejects pix and put a few up at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/aarphotos.htm
On the way out at the end of the show I gave copies of Black Velvet 59 to Sky and Mykul of Oh No Not Stereo who were taken aback that they'd got two full pages in the new Black Velvet! Hopefully they like their article when they read it properly. Make sure you check Oh No Not Stereo out because they're pretty awesome.
Next on my agenda - writing last night's gig review, putting more pix online and transcribing my two interviews.
current music: Sugarcult - Lights Out
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Monday, January 26th, 2009
| |
12:18 pm - Black Velvet 59 is out now!
|
Black Velvet 59 with Boys Like Girls on the cover (and 4 page interview inside) is out now.
More info is at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com
If anyone's going to the Birmingham Academy 2 show this evening, you can get it from the newsagents right by the venue (Dale News) - if it's not sold out already!
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| |
12:01 pm - Black Velvet 59 Out Now
|
Issue 59 of Black Velvet Zine is out now and includes:
Interviews with Boys Like Girls, Anberlin, Simple Plan, The All-American Rejects, You Me At Six, Stone Gods, My American Heart, The Pink Spiders, Oh No Not Stereo, Sherwood and Underride.
Heaps of concert reviews including Fall Out Boy/Boys Like Girls/You Me At Six, Kill Hannah, Hanoi Rocks, Disturbed/Shinedown, Go:Audio, Less Than Jake, Army Of Freshmen, Simple Plan, Funeral For A Friend, Attack Attack and Elliot Minor/Anberlin
Tons of album, single and demo reviews including Anberlin, The Pink Spiders, Hate Gallery, Chaos Days, Reemer, Less Than Jake, P!nk, Sevendust, Underride and many more
'Me, Me, Me & My Rock CV'. If you have a music related job you get to tell us what you do and why you do it. This issue featuring press officer Ian Cheek.
Competition to win Oh No Not Stereo CDs, T-Shirts, Badges & Stickers
All the usuals such as Fanzine Reviews, DVDs & Supersonic Future Superstars (featuring Mako, Rosematter and Car Crash TV).
Advertisers this issue are: My Son The Bum, Brand Your Band, Oort Records, Falling Red, Underride, X-ception Alternative Accessories & Damien Zygote.
How To Get Your Copy Of Black Velvet 59:
IN PERSON: Go to one of the shops that stock Black Velvet. Visit www.blackvelvetmagazine.com/shops.htm for a list of shops that stock Black Velvet
MAIL ORDER FROM BLACK VELVET: UK £2.50. USA $8 cash, Canada $9 cash, New Zealand $10 cash, Europe 5 Euro cash. All other countries please send either US$8 or 7 Euro cash. P&P/shipping included. UK only make cheques payable to Black Velvet. Black Velvet can ship anywhere, so no matter where you live, you can get Black Velvet delivered to your house.
TO: BLACK VELVET, 336 BIRCHFIELD ROAD, WEBHEATH, REDDITCH, WORCS. B974NG. ENGLAND
CREDIT CARD/CHEQUE: You can order Black Velvet online at:
(UK)
http://www.punkrockshop.co.uk
http://www.word-power.co.uk
http://www.fourdogsmusic.co.uk
http://www.beeunique.co.uk
(USA)
http://www.atomicbooks.com
http://www.quimbys.com
http://www.theeshop.com
(Australia)
http://www.waterfrontrecords.com
These online stores ship worldwide so you have no excuse not to own Black Velvet! Click the link to go to their site and order online. Some accept Paypal as well as credit cards, cheques etc.
*If it's not on a store's site it will be very shortly - as soon as they update their sites!
*Subscriber and advance order issues are being mailed out today and over the next few days.
More info is at http://www.blackvelvetmagazine.com
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
| |
12:17 am - VOTE NOW!
|
Please vote for Black Velvet in the Vegan Environmental Awards.
Voting is now open and you can vote at:
http://bristol.veganfayre.co.uk/awards-vote/
Tick the box by Black Velvet in the Best Vegan Media section.
I know we won't win, but I would really appreciate any votes!
And you can vote once a month for the next 6 months. Bookmark the page and vote every month! ;-)
current mood: hopeful
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Friday, January 9th, 2009
| |
8:25 pm - Be in The Pretenders' Video
|
REPOSTED FROM PETA2'S BLOG:
One of the animals' greatest friends (and one of my heroes), Chrissie Hynde wants you to be in a new Pretenders video.
Ever the activist, Chrissie has found a way to promote animal rights issues—specifically, what happens to animals killed for leather—and promote her new song at the same time. The Pretenders are looking for one lucky fan who also happens to also be an animal lover to appear in the official fan video for their new single "Boots of Chinese Plastic."
To enter, all you have to do is make a YouTube video for the song and show them your "boots of plastic" while you sing your little heart out. Pretty easy, huh? Click here to get all of the details from the woman, the myth, the legend herself.
current mood: impressed
|
|
(comment on this)
|
| Thursday, January 8th, 2009
| |
9:47 am - Vegan Environmental Awards 2009 - Nominees Announced
|
I gave you the heads up a week or so ago. All the nominees in full of the Vegan Environmental Awards 2009 have been announced.
Black Velvet is in the Best Vegan Media section.
You can see all the nominees of the Best Vegan Media and all other categories at http://www.yaoh.co.uk
You will be able to vote from January 21st - so expect another post then. ;-)
Vote for Black Velvet!
You may also want to vote for John Feldmann (Goldfinger) in the Best Vegan Celebrity category. ;-) Although of course Chrissie Hynde and all the other vegan celebs in that section rule too.
current mood: hyper
|
|
(10 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, January 6th, 2009
| |
10:27 am
|
Anyone use http://www.tumblr.com? I've started a blog there which is primarily a rant blog. I will rant when I'm inspired by news that I read in the paper that annoys me. Mostly animal issues but sometimes other things too. I may post the odd other thing that I feel like posting, but primarily I will be ranting.
If you're on there add me and let me know so I can add you too. If not, feel free to read anonymously.
http://blackvelvet.tumblr.com
I like this Secret Asian Man cartoon that peta2 posted so I decided to repost it.
Marko of Sugarcult sent me a new column for Black Velvet today. He's missed the deadline for issue 59, but I'll print it in issue 60...
current mood: chipper
current music: From Jupiter
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
| |
3:25 pm - End Of Year blog
|
Everyone seems to be posting 2008 look-back posts since 2009 is nearly upon us and while I have a pile of Black Velvet work to do so don't want to spend too long looking back on 2008 (what's the point in looking back anyway?), I figured I'd at least post something small.
Firstly, I have a feeling 2009 is gonna be awesome. I don't want to jinx it, but I'm feeling happy and I'm hoping 2009 brings good times to everyone (even those too evil to deserve it... Well, ok maybe not them, and not anyone into animal cruelty). I am a bit perturbed to hear that the Queen mentioned 'animal rights extremists' in her speech this year... something about cracking down on them. Of course I'm against anything illegal, and I don't really know what she means by 'extremists', but I was hearing that they are arresting people for just protesting outside a store in London. That's crazy. I do think you should be able to protest outside a company office/shop/official work place. That's definitely not 'extremist'. If people can't protest, how else is the world to become a better place? How are people supposed to know when something is wrong? We seriously don't NEED to test on animals. We don't NEED to wear real fur. We don't even NEED to eat meat. If more was done to stop the shops selling real fur then people would not need to protest outside them. If vivisection was banned and money was put into humane research, people against animal testing would not need to protest against animal labs. The government, and the Queen, needs to think about this. Seriously, who needs a dead fox on their back? And why do you keep testing over and over on animals when the tests don't work?
That said, at least the Queen added 'My government will also introduce a bill to improve standards of animal welfare and increase the penalties for abuse.' I hope this works, because too many animals ARE abused, and animal welfare does need to be improved.
But anyway... 2008... When I think back to 2008 the things that stand out in my mind were all the fun shows I went to... of course Bon Jovi are always a highlight. Seeing the band in Anaheim, California, in April and then going to Bamboozle Left the next day, was fun, hanging out with pals in LA and Huntington Beach... flying over for the free Central Park show in July, getting off my flight, checking into my hotel and heading off to Central Park with no sleep from the flight or the night before... and getting interviewed (briefly) for TV... the Stuttgart show is embedded in my memory since Jon played 'Any Other Day' for me at the very end of the show... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qA6VZOkuuo)... Other highlights were being on Ditto Music Live - even though I was so shy and nervous I could barely speak (and told Lee and Emma not to ask me much), and of course being 'Zine Of The Year' in Big Cheese. I chose some awesome bands for the cover of Black Velvet in 2008. The first issue of the year saw Madina Lake on the cover (can't wait for their next album), then The Audition, City Sleeps, and most recently Goldfinger. John Feldmann putting Black Velvet's cover (and still having it) as his default pic on MySpace was supercool - as was his email to me when he got the issue (it's SOOO nice when someone appreciates coverage and loves what you've done. Thank you John). I did lots of other awesome interviews including Boys Like Girls, probably my 'discovery of the year', and my most inspiring interview - the Stephen Christian/Anberlin one (read it in issue 59 out at the end of Jan). What else? 2008 was the year I started going to a local photography club, and I've enjoyed my nights there (although I'm too busy to go every week); I'm hoping to learn even more next year and become a better photographer...
I wonder if I've missed anything... Probably... I guess that is just skimming the top.
Of course the crap part of '08 was the recession. I hope something works out in 2009 because too many jobs are being lost, and it's becoming too stressful for all of us. (If anyone wants to employ me let me know! I still have a dayjob at the moment, but I'd love to do more in the music/journalism field, so am open to offers!).
I hope you all had a good 2008 and I hope 2009 is amazing for you.
current mood: grateful
|
|
(6 comments | comment on this)
|
| Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
| |
5:58 pm
|
I just received an email from Tim of Yaoh. He wrote:
'You will be glad to know, no doubt, that you have been nominated for an award in the 2009 Vegan Environmental Awards in the Best Vegan Media category (up against Off The Hoof!) this is because of your animal friendly policy towards covering bands out there, therefore hugely encouraging young people to view the vegan veggie lifestyle as super cool! well done!!
Voting starts online late Jan aand you can vote every month from Jan until May 30th - results announced at the Bristol Vegan Fayre!'
Now I'm sure Black Velvet has absolutely NO CHANCE of winning. I don't even think Black Velvet deserves to - because the other mags in the category will be dedicated vegan/veggie mags - which are much more worthy of a Vegan Environmental Award than Black Velvet. But hey, it's cool to be nominated, and I'll (try and remember, with my bad memory, to) remind you to vote for Black Velvet when voting commences in late Jan. Would be cool if Black Velvet did get some votes. ;-)
current mood: good
|
|
(2 comments | comment on this)
|
| Wednesday, December 24th, 2008
| |
4:18 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
blackvelvetmag's journal
hot
tired
sick
