Mandrake: "Hypnohalluco" Video
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Let Captain Petey be your guide through the wonderful, rarely-seen adult world of lighthouses. From vomiting down a spiral staircase to the simple pleasures of getting drunk on the beach, Captain Petey shares memories you won't easily forget. Created by Francis DiPietro, author of over a dozen novels. They all contain both mature and immature content. Mr. DiPietro's current whereabouts are unknown, due to a faulty tracking tag.
Francis DiPietro: "Drink the Summer Sky"
A soft and reflective song that can sometimes change your mood, like a good dose of valerian root. Images evoke memories in a fine, kaleidoscopic mist. Thoughtful vocals and a simple tune allow the listener to paint additional pictures, and hopefully find something personal and meaningful within. Created by author Francis DiPietro (Mandrake, thatword.com).
Forged by a demon. Foretold by a wizard. Found by a king. This is a "psychological fantasy," with dark and brooding characters and a wry levity. Very much in the storytelling traditions of Robert E. Howard and Roger Zelazny. A sweeping, morose fantasy whose thoughtful elements are heightened by an eventual maudlin comedy. First true fantasy to fully incorporate a gay, "brokeback" wizard. From the demented mind of author Francis DiPietro.
Francis DiPietro: "A Baker Is a Friend"
I wrote this while contemplating the theory (and oftentimes the futility) of war. In a larger sense it speaks against the philosophy of conflict as a facilitating means, and I'm sure plenty of my idealistic sentiments get wrapped up in there as well. You can also stream the audio in higher quality broadband through download.com music. From my 2005 3-cd set entitled "Closer to Gone". For more free music, videos, stories, general silliness, and over 400 interesting links from around the world, visit Francis DiPietro's site thatword.com
Sage Francis began rapping when he was 8 years old. Hidden in a closet in his parents' Rhode Island home, he'd rhyme into a cheap tape recorder for hours on end. By age 12 he was sneaking out to battle other Providence emcees, entering talent contests and learning the finer points of showmanship, if not the sizeable advantage that, well, size offers where confrontation is concerned. The kid had a calling, and he wasn't going to let anything---shitty equipment, stature, homework---slow his roll. Today, at 27, the man has a reputation. Several, actually. You might know him simply as a battle emcee or a spoken word poet. Heart-draining confessionalist or Old School revivalist. Political dissident, DIY business expert, friend, asshole, or one-time ice cream server. Hell, you might even know him as hip-hop's doom. Or the art form's redemption, for that matter. Sage Francis is many things to many people---and probably even more to himself---but if there's anything he isn't, it's quiet.
In the summer of 1998 ? brought together by a slew of disparate-yet-alluring musical reference points ? high school friends Eddie Baranek (vocals/guitar), Mike Trombley (drums), and Mark Leahey (bass/vocals) formed The Sights. The trio began playing around their hometown of Detroit shortly thereafter, around which time Trombley, founding drummer, headed to California for what would come to be a three-year respite from the band and also the impetus for a revolving door of drummers, bassist and keyboard players. Undaunted , The Sights took to the studio and began recording their debut album, Are You Green?, at Jim Diamond?s Ghetto Recorders in Detroit . Originally released in June of 1999, Are You Green? was picked up by L.A.-based Fall of Rome Records and re-released the following year. Never big on rest, The Sights went to work on their sophomore album, Got What We Want (released in 2002). With this, the band?s freakishly precocious ability to blend frenetic garage rock, Motown and 60?s pop into something equal parts classic and catchy got them noticed. Got What We Want was released in the U.K. a year later, garnering them some very nice words from both the British press ("Got What We Want is a revelation - a treasure trove of sparky and wildly immediate songwriting." --NME) and the not-so British press ("At last - a new Detroit-garage band that comes in colors." --Rolling Stone). The Sights hit the road for a year of touring both countries, including a 10-week stint sleeping inside the group?s 1991 Ford Econoline van and stealing bagels for sustenance. In the spring of 2004, The Sights - now including relative newbie Bobby Emmett as organist/bassist and Keith Fox as drummer- caught the ear of ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, who signed them to his own Scratchie Records ( an imprint of New Line Records). And with that, the band headed back to Ghetto Recorders to record their self-titled third LP, The Sights, due out in April 2005. No small feat, the album combines the unobtrusive honesty of The Band with slivers of influence from The Sights? own personal record collections: Ike & Tina, Solomon Burke, Everly Brothers , Bob Seger, Tim Hardin and all manner of raucous songwriting. The end result is an album that?s classic, not derivative?filled with swagger and deference?and ridiculously catchy. Really.
Lampfall: "Victim of the System"
I don't wonna be a victim of the Babylon system...This song is talking about the political situation in the world.
Verizon brings out BREW phones
Summus Vice President John Maxwell and correspondent Melissa Francis demo new file sharing software that enables users to exchange photos, and excel and word documents over cell phones.
Raging Speedhorn: "How Much Can a Man Take"
Raging Speedhorn first came to be in August of 1998. The forming of the band was a result of the combination of the bands 'Soulcellar' and 'Box'. Guitarist Gareth Smith, drummer Frank Regan and bassist Darren Smith from 'Soulcellar' met up with guitarist Tony Loughlin, vocalist Jon Loughlin and drummer Gordon Morison from 'Box' to form Raging speedhorn. Frank Regan, formerly a drummer then changed to vocals along with Jon Loughlin to make an outstanding team. As the songs began to flow, Speedhorn recorded demos, and got a few good giggs, getting strong reviews in important magazines like Kerrang! and Metal Hammer.Their first big break came when they supported the legindary 'Ministry' at the London Astoria. From then on they never looked back, and have got stronger and stronger. Speedhorn have now recorded about 20 songs in just over a year together, and they play live regularly, with some great acts. Easily their biggest gig so far was at the Ozzfest UK, along with the likes of the mighty SlipKnoT and Amen.They have also been touring regularly, sponsored by Kerrang! and Metal Hammer. Their first demo song [selling over 800 coppies], Thumper, has since been released on Metal Hammer's December 1999 cover mount CD. Ian Camfield has also given Speedhorn plenty of airplay on his Xfm show. All this has built up to the release of their debut album, entitled 'Raging Speedhorn', which was released in the spring of 2001. After the success of their debut album, Raging Speedhorn kept up the tough schedule and started working towards a new album. Touring the country regularly, as well as trying to maintain part-time jobs meant that time to write was limmited. However, two years on from when we were first greeted by the din of Speedhorn, 'We'll Be Dead by Tomorrow' is set for release in the summer this year. 'The Hate Song' is the first single from this album, and was released on June 24, 2002. Appearing on the main stage at the Reading Festival this summer, as well as having more than one headline tour is sure to give them the publicity they deserve. And so, my friends, the story comes to an end... for now, anyway.
Pela is an American rock & roll band. At a time when the word 'America' has never been more fraught with meaning, songs that speak to our basic feelings and emotions about life could never be more resonant. Lost amongst all the geo-political tumult are the stories of every day America; the aches and pains and the beautiful possibilities. Yet amidst all the turmoil and uncertainty, new stories are being written and told by a new generation of American bands. Pela is clearly one of those voices.
