Our first night there we attended a a night club party put on by Sony Online Entertainment. They will be releasing some new online games including an online only Star Wars trading card game. Think Magic The Gathering but for Star Wars. While there I saw G4’s very own Adam Sessler.

One really noteworthy panel I attended was Mystery Science Theatre 3000’s 30th anniversary. Look out for new DVD releases from them including video of the Comic-Con panel. If you are aching to hear them rip into more current films be sure to head over to rifftrax.com and download audio commentray to play in sync with movies such as Saw, The Sixth Sense, Cloverfield, I Am Legend and many many more. Also, they still apologize for the movie Manos, The Hands of Fate.

On Thursday we got a look at the new Stargate movie, Stargate Continuum. It was a star studded red carpet premiere aboard an aircraft carrier in the bay. I am not a big follower of the whole Stargate universe but even as an outsider looking in, the movie was entertaining and left the crowd feeling overjoyed.

The Con was also filled with plenty of zombie related fun with appearances and signings by Max Brooks and other zombie related authors and comic creators. If you were around downtown Saturday evening, then you may have caught the horde of zombies wreaking havok, including my owner.

That pretty much sums up my time at Comic-Con. As for upcoming events, I plan to see Mindless Self Indulgence  at the Grove of Anaheim on October 1st. I will keep you posted on anything else

It’s just a few weeks left until Comic-Con International in San Diego and information as to panels and appearances is leaking all over the place. I plan on covering the convention as best as possible.

There are a few events taking place outside of the convention that should be noted too. Those attending should make sure to check out the zombie walk on the 26th which meets at the corner of 4th and Broadway at 5:30pm. There is Also AWESOMECON, hosted by Comedy Central’s Tim and Eric at Embarcadero Marina Park from 12 -3pm that same day and that night is the LAST EVER Comedians of Comedy show at Sprekles Theatre! Don’t miss Brian Posehn, Patton Oswalt, Zach Galifianakis, and Maria Bamford as they put on a hilarious final show.

I know some of you are thinking “What’s a Dethklok?” Allow me to explain… It is a band from Adult Swim’s animated show, Metalocalypse. So we were essentially going to see animated characters put on a black metal show! The TV show started out poking fun of metal, and that’s one reason I liked it so much. I’m not a huge fan of the genre but I liked the show. They tend to only do small bits of songs in the show but for the Dethklok album and tour, they put together full length songs complete with music videos. These music videos would play behind an actual band, which included show creator and voice actor, Brendan Smalls. I enjoyed seeing this seemingly normal guy belt out lyrics in a deep, scary voice.

There were opening bands that I didn’t care for as much but maybe that’s because I couldn’t watch cartoons during those bands? Most likely. Mosh pits ended up randomly forming while Dethklok performed, even when we weren’t close to the stage. Definitely a fun show.

While I’m on the subject of Adult Swim shows, be sure to watch Fat Guy Stuck in Internet premiering June 16th at 12:15am! It’s Gamberling’s latest show. I know him mostly from MC Chris album skits. The show itself is not animated but here is an animated plug that MC Chris made.

Francis: Ok, we are here with O.E. from The Birthday Massacre. How’s it going today?

O.E.: Howdy, how’s it goin?

Francis: Doing good. Since being from Canada and all, is there a difference between your Canadian fans and your american fans and how they react or view music?

O.E.: Yeah, there’s a difference. The American fans, there’s a lot more of them. Canada is quite a bit smaller you know and Toronto is a decent music scene but not for all genres. So we find when we come out here people are a lot more receptive and as well when we go to Europe people are a lot more receptive. Which is fine, I don’t mind at all doing the odd show in Toronto and just leaving it at that cause it’s really cool to travel around and see different places.

Alyssa: I just saw “The Looking Glass” video recently. Can you tell us the concept behind that?

O.E.: Yeah, it was like you saw, it was all set in a classroom atmosphere and it’s just a little bit of a comment on the whole underlying quirky part of the story of how the teacher was somewhat brainwashing the kids. Not to say that that’s what happens in schools but it was just a play on some kind of horror movie/school play.

Alyssa: The video is pretty interesting. That and “Blue” was a trip. Are they different directors cause they seem kind of similar?

O.E.: No, it was the same director, Dan Ouellette. We liked him a lot the first time around so we called him again. This time it was a bit more of a production. There was a lot more people involved. That school Dan found was filled up with a bunch of people so it was all kind of hectic. We just kind of sat around the first day cause it was all filming the kids and the extras and all that. It was cool. It was good working with him and it was fun to do.

Francis: Also you guys entered the video for MTV. Like a contest. Was it a contest?

O.E.: I’m probably not the best guy to ask about that. I think people were talking to our manager, Terry. I think basically because we just came out with that video it would be nice to get some play with it, right? So he was talking to some people at MTV and that just came out of it and got like a really really impressive response from fans. I guess they were all emailing MTV. We didn’t end up getting the spot that we were up for but somebody was in touch with them and they said it was such an impressive reaction and so many votes that they still want to put that in rotation or whatever so it was totally on our behalf I think it was a total success.

Alyssa: I totally could have seen it blowing up and taking people away.

O.E.: I heard there was a really good reaction to it so we’re all happy.

Francis: You still get some of those fans that are very anti-MTV, anti-mainstream or whatever you want to call it. How would you respond to them saying, “Oh, well you’re going to the Evil Empire” or that kind of thing?

O.E.: Um, you know.. everybody’s got their own opinion but as a band it is in our best interest to get in front of a wider audience just in terms of making one more step forward. It’s hard to keep doing what you do if it stays at the same level all the time. Stuff needs to grow or else it just dies. So in terms of that we’re all happy trying to make that step forward and some people don’t like it but you can’t please everyone.

Alyssa: I don’t think it changes you guys as a band. You guys are trying to make money and get by…

Francis: Also you guys came out for the E.P. “The Looking Glass” you guys had the “I Think We’re Alone Now” cover. How did that come about?

O.E.: Chibi is just fond of that song. I think during the last tour we did through the states she one day during sound check she just kind of mentioned it not even in a serious manner just in passing and then it ended up just coming together. It really was not planned at all it just kind of happened and then we had that E.P. coming out so it made it on there. So yeah, it was kind of just a fun thing to do.

Francis: Do you guys have any choices that you have on the back burner..

O.E.: Everybody’s got their own idea of what a cool song would be but it’s kinda gotta be a cohesive decision.

Francis: We were gonna see, are you ever gonna Rick Roll your audience?

O.E.: We’ll see, we’ll see. We’ll keep you guys guessing about that.

Alyssa: What’s it like touring with MSI currently?

O.E.: It’s great! We love it. They’re all really cool people. We’re super lucky to be on the tour because their crowds are amazing, their fans are amazing. We’re really well received by everybody that comes out to see MSI so it helps us. In terms of them as a band, I’ve been a fan of MSI for years and I’m pretty sure I can speak for the whole band when saying that we’ve been listening to those guys for a while now. So it’s a huge deal to be on a tour where we’re all fans of the band that we’re supporting. And it’s like.. Man! we get to see an awesome show for free every night. We get done with our work and we stand on the side of the stage and watch their work.

Alyssa: What would you say is the craziest band you’ve toured with. Like do they have crazy antics or groupies or?

O.E.: Ummm, wow! Craziest band.. Schoolyard Heros are crazy but they’re not at all. They are very down to earth normal people but their shows are crazy because it’s so soo fuckin’ good! Have you watched them play?

Alyssa: No.

O.E.: They are just insanely talented musicians and you just kind of watch them with your mouth open because it looks like they’ve been practicing the same set for like the last ten years. They are so tight and so almost possessed on stage. So, in terms of crazy bands, they’re one of them, yes.

Francis: Of course being on the road, you’re gone for months at a time. Is there anything specifically that you think you can’t live without on the road?

O.E.: Yeah, definitely. Coffee. Showers. Things that we can’t live without on the road.. Man, we’re all kind of computer crazy so it’s good to have computers on the bus. They gave us wireless internet this time so it works out that way. Odor Eaters is one.

Alyssa: Febreze, baby!

O.E.: Yep, Febreze. What else? I dunno. Like I could keep you guys here for the next 12 hours explaining all the essentials.

Alyssa: Are there any bands that you want to tour with in the future?

O.E.: We’re big fans of Nine Inch Nails. We’ve always wanted to tour with them. We’ve got friends in Toronto that have toured with them before but um. I dunno. Like other bands that we’ve met that we really like. We met Gerard from My Chemical Romance on this tour and he’s like a super cool guy. We’d love to go on the road with them. If the rest of the band is as cool as he is it would be a great tour.

Francis: For songs or maybe whole albums, how does that creative process work for the band? Is it just you guys have instrumental then go to lyrics or lyrics then instrumental?

Alyssa: Or how do songs get written?

O.E.: Well, the last album was kind of weird in terms of the way songs would come together because it depends on who picks up the idea originally. Like Rainbow would have like a drum and synth part or Mike Falcore would come up with like a guitar part and he’d carry the song from there. I wrote like a vocal part and took a song from there. So it’s just kind of where an idea stems from. Usually you just kind of take the skeleton from there and then everybody adds their own input, you know. So it kind of depends on who originally starts the idea and then we all kind of throw in our own two cents from there.

Alyssa: Since you’ve played both drums and bass at some point for this band, which would would you say you prefer to play more?

O.E.: I love drumming. It’s a super fun instrument to play but I think I prefer bass. It’s just more melodic. They are both really rhythmic instruments and that’s something that appeals to me, you know but um, I prefer playing bass.

Alyssa: What are your other interests when you’re not recording or playing?

O.E.: If it’s not writing for this band I always end up recording at home for something else or for fun or whatever. I dunno, song writing is a pretty consuming interest. It’s not like I have to make myself do it. Ideas come pretty freely so I’m happy about that and I’m happy that I have a thing at home that I can work on them on.

Francis: I think we touched all our bases. Anything you want to say to your fans out there?

O.E.: Oh man, just keep listening. Everybody’s been so supportive so we appreciate it a lot. They help us as much as some people think we help them. It’s a nice little community we got goin on.

The venue was really intimate. We were seated and got dinner. The first to go on was Greg Behrendt and his band. They were an all instrumental band. I’d initially thought he was a dumbass cause I didn’t care much for what I’ve heard about his book He’s Just Not That Into You and his short lived talk show even though he was a consultant for Sex and the City. He totally redeemed himself with his music and his funny stories. My owner even talked to him after the show and he was a nice guy and commented on her Strokes pin and patch saying how he loved them too.

He kept saying he had a surprise for us once he was done telling his funny story. They started to set up 2 mics but I thought nothing of it. Then he said, “Since you all were good, here’s Flight of the Conchords!” The audience went crazy and so did we. We didn’t expect that at all! They played one song but I was just in awe the whole time trying to pay attention to the jokes within the new song. Earlier that night we were talking about how we were sad that their upcoming show sold out so fast but we got to see them after all and just a few feet away from our table!

There was another surprise after that when Greg then introduced Janeane Garofalo. Now I’ve seen her twice and each time it’s been a surprise. She started complaining about how the zombies in 28 days Later and 28 Weeks Later were running. I turned to Francis after that and said how she was wrong and those weren’t zombies at all but human beings infected with rage, not dead zombies. When Patton Oswalt came out, that was the first thing he addressed. I’m glad we are both on the same page, Patton! She tried defending herself but Patton ruled. He asked if there were gonna be anymore surprise people that he should follow before he finally came out.

After the show we was standing around and decided to go meet Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords. Then I noticed Jemaine was walking towards Alyssa. He said “Happy birthday” cause Francis had told him to say that. He was going to walk all the way over to my table as a surprise if she hadn’t gotten up. He was sooo nice! We told him how we met Rhys Darby a while back and got a picture. It was surreal to see him after recently watching the show again and watching Eagle Vs. Shark. He’s so tall.

It’s also surreal seeing Patton. We were sitting at our table to finish paying for dinner. He was sitting talking to some people at a table right next to ours. He got up without provocation to shake our hands and thanked us for coming. He then sat back down. That was such a nice gesture.

Last week I made it there with owners and friends. Aside from theSTART I really enjoyed Looner, one of the opening bands. They are a husband and wife duo who really caught the crowd’s attention. I don’t usually find myself putting my email on mailing lists for opening bands but I made an exception.

Chibi, the singer of The Birthday Massacre was in attendance as she is visiting from Toronto. She remembered me from the last time we met and I got another picture with her. I can’t wait to see her band play with Mindless Self Indulgence at The Wiltern. 

MC Chris was wearing a Knott’s Berryfarm hoodie since he hit that place up earlier this week before his San Diego shows. I was stoked that he was finally playing one of my favorite songs, “Robot Dog” but halfway through the song he forgot the words. He kept backing up the track and trying again but eventually gave up and skipped to the next song. It made me a sad little turkey.

After the show we got pics with him. My owner handed me to MC Chris and he thought I was a gift at first. I would be a pretty crappy gift in the eyes of most people in my opinion… He then realized that I just wanted a picture with him. I didn’t stay for Pinback. I meant to at least watch one song but I guess we were all in a strange daze after seeing and talking to our nerd leader, MC Chris so we headed out. There’s always the Avalon show on the 21st.

Ended the night with hot dogs/chili dogs at The Hat and then the comedy of Patton Oswalt on DVD.

Rhys Darby hit the stage right after that. His mouth-made sound effects combined with his style of story telling had the crowd captivated. I must say, I have a new found respect for him. He will be at the Improv in Irvine through Sunday night. They are giving away free tickets through their MySpace page.

I had a pretty rockin new year’s eve. Alyssa, Momo and I traveled down to San Diego for an adventure of sorts. We were greeted by our gracious host, Jennifer who was throwing a party consisting of booze, yummy food and karaoke. I can’t forget the fun we had meeting the neighbors on the patio. One of them was passed out and his friends drew all over him Garden State style. He declared us better than his friends.

Alyssa, Momo and left us for a short while to dance with their musician friends but that party could not have been better than Jennifer’s so I stayed behind. I was really happy that I rang in the new year with some of my best friends. Pictures are now in my picture section.

Anyhow, I now have a more extensive photo page for you to enjoy. You can also head on over to the Ask Turkey section and ask me questions that you are dying to know. Also, note my Flickr group page which has even more photos and is open for anyone to join and add to.