Nuclear Rabbit is one of my favorite bands for at least the past 15+ years. I originally found them searching for bands on the original "mp3.com" website when it was still flooded with local bands giving away free music. They have been around since 1989! Since I discovered them I have introduced COUNTLESS open minded fans of music to their sound and the majority have LOVED it. Even my girlfriend and 13 year old step daughter sing along to their silly songs. I hear people compare them to everything from Mr. Bungle and Primus, to Death and Minute Men, they have a VERY unique sound with Greg Parrish's wide range of vocals, and Jean Baudin on the 11 string bass!
After all these years and all the shows I have seen, I never had the opportunity to catch them playing live! I scoured the internet searching for live footage, and even after the invention and flooding of youtube and other video sharing sites, I could find nothing more than a couple short 30 second cell phone clips. Nothing worth hearing or watching. I could only imagine how they pulled off the songs live. About 5 years ago I moved to the bay area and hoped one new advantage would be that I have a better chance of one day catching them live along with many other amazing bands who play in SF bay area.
Due to the fact these guys just appear and play a show or two, then disappear for YEARS... It was never in the cards for me to see them in person UNTIL recently! In October I had the rare opportunity to catch Nuclear Rabbit live in Berkeley, California! Since I knew this was possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity, I grabbed my 3D camera and decided I would go right to the front and capture as much of the show as I could, to share with the world of fans who are deprived of the rabbit.. and to preserve the night for myself to watch many times over. Which I have.
I had such high expectations after all these years, and let me tell you, each member of the band BLEW me away! This is quite possibly the most underrated band I have ever had the pleasure of discovering. The combination of all 4 members is perfection, some of the best drum and bass combinations possible, and the guitar riffs are as unique as they come. Greg is all over the place vocally telling stories, and switching seamlessly from clean heartfelt clean vocals to death metal screams and then on to some doo wop all sounding like it was inspired by too many cartoons and hallucinogens.
Below is the 2d and 3d versions of the first time I ever got to see Nuclear Rabbit this past October in Berkeley. The vocals were very low due to how close I was to the stage, and it may be a bit chaotic, but I think it is well worth the watch, rare footage indeed of NR, and a mighty fine performance!
It's been a while since I posted something since I have been busy with life in general, so I thought I would post this short improvised tapping song, nice and mellow stuff inspired by Jean Baudin , Jon Gomm, Andy McKee and other percussion guitarists. This is my first ever recording of this style of playing, I just recently tried it out and am working on a composition based on this improvisation. I set up the iphone for recording video with the 8mm app (looks old school) , and here it is! Enjoy!
This video was made using footage from the recent attack on the people of Oakland at the "Occupy Oakland" protest. The music I wrote and recorded a few years ago but thought it was a good time to make a video due to the recent events.
Being involved in the "occupy" protests in San Francisco and keeping in close contact with other locations in California, it was especially disturbing to witness the attacks carried out on the people in Oakland. It was a very clear abuse of power and bad decision making. It was broadcast live and I was following along as the attacks were carried out. Video from before, during and after the attacks are fully available from all angles on youtube. In the end there was over 16 police departments involved to evict all 175 'occupy' protestors who should have been protected by the US constitution. When some of the protestors decided not to budge and participate in a common 'sit in' protest, the police opened fire on the entire group, utilizing everything from sound weapons and percussion flash grenades to 'less-than-lethal' rounds and an obscene amount of tear gas. In the end many people were injured and one Iraq War veteran was sent to the hospital in critical condition after being shot in the head with a canister by police.
This is all in the name of 'safety'? how is it this protecting the public when it has turned a simple protest which may have at worst contained possible crimes of 'vandalism' or even 'health code violations' by one or two individuals, into a complete war zone with 175 people running through the streets literally dodging bullets running possibly for their lives. This is completely un-american and police activities that should never be seen in a free society. Please share with others to raise awareness of the crimes that took place by the state.
I was driving through Los Gatos seeing all the amazing rich houses and properties on my way to pick up my guitar amp. I pulled out my iphone to capture some footage and was thinking about the Wallstreet protests and how most will never live in one of those mansions even though they work as hard or harder than most every person who does. The current system is definitely not a fair one, and one that is so full of waste its amazing our race has survived. I was listening to one of my favorite bands Menomena playing the song "5 little rooms" during this drive so when I got home I put all the footage together, Los Gatos rich homes, footage of the wall street protests, and Menomena. Enjoy!
After a long hiatus due to my back injury, 'Strangling Marilyn' have been practicing hard, added a new guitarist, and have a brand new setlist filled with almost all new songs! Since the last show I also received the amazing brainphreak v1.0 custom 8-string guitar which will make its official debut that night. Come out to the Bistro in Hayward and wear your costume for the chance to win prizes! Free band merchandise etc. Read the flier above for more details. Hope to see you there if you are in the bay area on the 29th of October!
Its been a couple months since I had one on sale, and usually I don't let them go in only colored pencil, but recently I am getting a lot of requests for "brainphreak" posters. So here is the best of both worlds, on Ebay shipped for only 75$ in the frame, 65$ without. No I am afraid Melina does not come with the drawing :)
