Archive for April, 2009

In case there are any doubts of my ability to rock, LOOK AT THAT FACE.

You’d think it would be enough for me to play in a real rock band (As Yet Unbroken, for those not paying attention). But no, because of my insatiable appetite for filling my days with more stuff to do than time allots, I’ve signed on with my friends Scott and Cynthia and my brother Joshua to compete in a Harrah’s Entertainment-sponsored Rock Band competition. Our group, called SP7.3, will be performing Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” as well as whatever mystery track the judges choose for us on Tuesday, April 14, sometime around 9:30 p.m. at the Carnaval Court just outside the Harrah’s Las Vegas hotel & casino.

Why is the group called SP7.3? Well, Scott and I, along with Brian Henry, formed a group called Side Project Seven (SP7) a few years ago. After Brian dropped out, my former bandmate Ryan Couevas (guitarist in Rahne and keyboardist in Morgana Athena) temporarily joined, entering the genesis of SP7.2. So, logically, our latest endeavor — which is not really an endeavor at all — is verson 3.

Also, I haven’t owned or used a video game system since the late 1980s, when my family had a Sega Genesis. So I’m pretty out of touch with gaming in general. But Scott’s house (where I used to dwell as well) is something like a distraction wonderland, with multiple gaming systems, giant TV, pinball machines and plenty of liquor, so inevitably, if you’re hanging at Scott’s house, you’re playing games (and probably drinking). Thus my entry into the world of virtual music groups.

I’m not great on Rock Band guitar or bass (I have too short an attention span for matching colored dots), but adequate on drums (you know, like I am in AYU) and ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL on vocals. I will be ready for either. So come cheer us on, buy us drinks and sing along if you’re in Las Vegas next Tuesday. Or just laugh at our expense. It’s sure to be good times either way.

It makes sense that my two stories in this month’s issue of Six Degrees Las Vegas are published back to back in the magazine (pages 44 and 46). The Killers opening the new Joint concert hall at the Hard Rock Hotel ties in directly to the Vegas-spawned quartet’s headlining of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, as both events take place the same weekend, and not by coincidence.

One great side effect of Coachella’s relative proximity to Vegas is the visits by a number of bands and artists scheduled to play that three-day festival in Indio, Calif. right here in Sin City the same weekend. This year, all three headliners are performing pricey (and mostly sold-out) shows: The Cure on Friday, April 17 at the Pearl inside the Palms resort, Paul McCartney on Sunday, April 19 at the Joint, and the aforementioned Killers show opening the new-and-improved Joint, also on Friday.

Of course, I’ll be going to none of the above shows. I’ve seen the Killers enough times to last me a few years, Cure tickets were mind-numbingly expensive and Sir Paul … those tickets went in the blink of an eye. Really, there are a number of concerts I’d love to hit that are coming to Vegas soon, including Depeche Mode and the once-in-a-lifetime (since Lollapalooza) combo of a fully reunited Jane’s Addiction and Nine Inch Nails. But ticket prices for these shows (both at the Pearl) have been so exhorbitant ($95 at the low end for JA/NIN and $200 on the high for DM) that no reasonable person, especially not in this economy, can afford them. But given that they’ve been selling briskly, there are apparently a lot of unreasonable people out there.

Oh man, you guys, I really love your enthusiasm and support. I really do. However, while a few of you sniffed out the fishiness abound in my April 1 post, not nearly enough of you connected the dots on this one — which is fair, as I kinda targeted the announcement about my alleged forthcoming Marvel Comics series, Iron Man: Agent of A.I.M. to my friends in the comic industry.

But really, I think the problem is, the punchline of the post was this “one-page preview” image which apparently few visitors clicked to view:

Click to April Fool's-size it!

Yes, readers of my old geek-in-review blog will recognize this as a page from A.I.M.2: Power Corrupts, a graphic novel I wrote and drew when I was, um, 15 years old, a project I found going through some old files last year and mockingly reviewed over a few posts on the Pop! Goes the Icon blog. It’s funny stuff, if you’re into that sort of thing.

The truth is, yes, I actually AM working on a few comic book pitches, but they’re what we call “creator-owned properties,” and not of the mainstream, spandex-clad variety (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). I’ve been pretty secretive about this stuff because, as mentioned in the April Fool’s post but actually fully sincere, I don’t like to publicly air details on projects that are not absolutely done, ready-for-press deals. But I will say this: The main project I’m shopping right now is something like the mash-up of 24, Heroes and the Bourne series of films. If that sort of super-powered, fugitive, espionage, secret government agency type of stuff is up your alley, well then my friend, hang tight and save your pennies.

Otherwise, a heartfelt “thanks” to all my friends and visitors who so robustly congratulated me on “news” delivered during an April Fool’s blog post. As I lamented on Twitter that day, you really can’t trust a single news story, headline or blog post with an April 1 date anymore. Really.

Oh man, you guys, I really love your enthusiasm and support. I really do. However, while a few of you sniffed out the fishiness abound in my April 1 post, not nearly enough of you connected the dots on this one — which is fair, as I kinda targeted the announcement about my alleged forthcoming Marvel Comics series, Iron Man: Agent of A.I.M. to my friends in the comic industry.

But really, I think the problem is, the punchline of the post was this “one-page preview” image which apparently few visitors clicked to view:

Click to April Fool's-size it!

Yes, readers of my old geek-in-review blog will recognize this as a page from A.I.M.2: Power Corrupts, a graphic novel I wrote and drew when I was, um, 15 years old, a project I found going through some old files last year and mockingly reviewed over a few posts on the Pop! Goes the Icon blog. It’s funny stuff, if you’re into that sort of thing.

The truth is, yes, I actually AM working on a few comic book pitches, but they’re what we call “creator-owned properties,” and not of the mainstream, spandex-clad variety (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). I’ve been pretty secretive about this stuff because, as mentioned in the April Fool’s post but actually fully sincere, I don’t like to publicly air details on projects that are not absolutely done, ready-for-press deals. But I will say this: The main project I’m shopping right now is something like the mash-up of 24, Heroes and the Bourne series of films. If that sort of super-powered, fugitive, espionage, secret government agency type of stuff is up your alley, well then my friend, hang tight and save your pennies.

Otherwise, a heartfelt “thanks” to all my friends and visitors who so robustly congratulated me on “news” delivered during an April Fool’s blog post. As I lamented on Twitter that day, you really can’t trust a single news story, headline or blog post with an April 1 date anymore. Really.

As many of you know, aside from the usual freelance journalism, rock ‘n’ roll drumming and internet self-promotion in which I immerse myself to fill up every nook and cranny of each day, I’ve also been working on pitching a comic book series or two to various publishers. And as you also likely know if you’ve been following my exploits for a while, I keep things under wraps until they’re confirmed and ready to announce. So today I’m pleased to pull back the veil on the latest fruit of my labor. It’s a four-issue limited series for Marvel Comics, a deal I just signed the faxed contract on yesterday, and can now share. The title?

Iron Man: Agent of A.I.M.

If you’ve been reading Marvel Comics for the last year or so, you’ll know that after the end of Civil War, Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, became not only director of S.H.I.E.L.D., but also head of the 50-state Avengers Initiative. But after a nearly successful invasion of the Earth by the shape-shifting Skrulls, Stark was not only excommunicated from the Avengers and fired from S.H.I.E.L.D., but also effectively became a fugitive.

Well, in Agent of A.I.M., Iron Man takes over Advanced Idea Mechanics, the multinational weapons developer and supplier of destructive devices to the super-criminal community. Why? Covertly, to take on the new head of S.H.I.E.L.D. replacement agency H.A.M.M.E.R., Norman Osborn (also known as Iron Patriot), and dismantle A.I.M. from the inside while doing it. This tale of intrigue, deception, romance and over-the-top action culminates in a no-hold-barred final showdown between Iron Man and Iron Patriot!

It’s coming this summer to a comic shop near you, and as soon as I have more details, I’ll post exact dates and what not. For now, satiate yourselves with this one-page preview from the first issue. Excelsior!

As many of you know, aside from the usual freelance journalism, rock ‘n’ roll drumming and internet self-promotion in which I immerse myself to fill up every nook and cranny of each day, I’ve also been working on pitching a comic book series or two to various publishers. And as you also likely know if you’ve been following my exploits for a while, I keep things under wraps until they’re confirmed and ready to announce. So today I’m pleased to pull back the veil on the latest fruit of my labor. It’s a four-issue limited series for Marvel Comics, a deal I just signed the faxed contract on yesterday, and can now share. The title?

Iron Man: Agent of A.I.M.

If you’ve been reading Marvel Comics for the last year or so, you’ll know that after the end of Civil War, Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, became not only director of S.H.I.E.L.D., but also head of the 50-state Avengers Initiative. But after a nearly successful invasion of the Earth by the shape-shifting Skrulls, Stark was not only excommunicated from the Avengers and fired from S.H.I.E.L.D., but also effectively became a fugitive.

Well, in Agent of A.I.M., Iron Man takes over Advanced Idea Mechanics, the multinational weapons developer and supplier of destructive devices to the super-criminal community. Why? Covertly, to take on the new head of S.H.I.E.L.D. replacement agency H.A.M.M.E.R., Norman Osborn (also known as Iron Patriot), and dismantle A.I.M. from the inside while doing it. This tale of intrigue, deception, romance and over-the-top action culminates in a no-hold-barred final showdown between Iron Man and Iron Patriot!

It’s coming this summer to a comic shop near you, and as soon as I have more details, I’ll post exact dates and what not. For now, satiate yourselves with this one-page preview from the first issue. Excelsior!