To all the people who think that New Orleans metal is Eyehategod and Soilent Green and Goatwhore and Crowbar and Down, to all the people who think that New Orleans hardcore is nonexistent, that it manifests every six months or never—here’s a big ol’ swinging set of balls dangling in your face. Frankenstein balls, to be precise. Resurrected from pieces broken off of Katrina-killed bands like Rat in a Bucket, Cancer Patient and Scrotesque come five of the nicest, hardest working, unrelenting brahs this side of The Parish. Drummer Keith Sierra and vocalist Shaun Emmons (of Rat in a Bucket) joined bassist Ryan Pomes and the dual axemen Grant Tom (Cancer Patient) and Jason Cook (Scrotesque) to form Haarp. They recently completed a self-titled EP that captures the perfect balance between the grit and organic tones of hardcore punk with the operatic arrangements and tight execution of heavy metal. Probing the pain of consciousness much like the monster who never asked to be created in the first place, Haarp relates each pang one blood-curdling riff, one tortured howl at a time. ANTIGRAVITY caught up with Haarp one evening to discuss former lives, metal voices and true audience terror. Head bangers and thrashers alike, prepare for the new era. (more…)
April 11, 2008
“You do you, I’m a do me—and don’t come between this here.” With this simple yet profound declaration, Lil’ Doogie introduced himself to the world a little over a year ago on his website, lildoogie.com. He has since become an internet sensation, posting videos of the adventures that take him from the deepest recesses of West Bank garage hang-outs to the heart of New Orleans, even showing up during Mardi Gras on local TV network WGNO’s report from the Endymion parade. If you’ve been following him then you’re familiar with his spicy-tongued rants on all things related to the thug life. You may even be sporting his face on a Dirty Coast t-shirt that asks quite simply, “Brah, I’m real?” Well, long-time fans, you might be in for a surprise. ANTIGRAVITY was recently contacted by Lil’ Doogie because he had something “to tell them people.” We met up at the park on a nice Sunday afternoon to find out what he had to say and, as you’ll shortly find out, it was quite the eye-opener. (more…)
April 10, 2008
Gabe Soria recently moved back to New Orleans from Brooklyn, NY. In the late ‘90s, Soria worked the Wednesday shift at Oak Street’s More Fun Comics (that’s new comics day for you uninitiated folk), where the store credit he earned slinging sequential art helped balance his comic habit with his fledgling career as a freelance writer. Soria bounced between Las Vegas and New York in the early ‘00s, where his work appeared in publications like Mojo, Arthur, Film Threat and Blender. His time in New York treated him well: in addition to meeting his wife and having a son, he got to network and become friends with a veritable Who’s Who of indie comics: Dean Haspiel (The Quitter, Billy Dogma), Jessica Abel (Artbabe, La Perdida), Matt Madden (Black Candy, A Fine Mess) and Paul Pope (THB, 100). So it’s fitting that as Soria returns to the city he once helped supply comics to he’s pushing a comic of his own. (more…)
