On Friday, March 4th, the bastard child of NYC and shock rock savant Kore Rozzik came to the Epic Live Event Center in Cincinnati to charm loyal followers with over the top theatrics, props, personality and animated antics. Part Alice Cooper, part Nikki Sixx and all rock n’ roll showman. He brought the smoke, steam and moolah giving a big show embrace to the venue. He toured with Nita Strauss last year, and when you work with Father Cooper’s band you always bring your A Game.
Support came from the areas punk pushers ATTN: Deficit Squirrel, ‘80s experts The New Machine, and pumpkin, non-spiced, themed Pagan Holiday w/a ghostly comedian, with glasses perfect for Halloween scares. Vendors on hand included Gray Skull Collectibles, Departed Souls Paranormal with gear on standby and gem and rock merchants.
ATTN: Deficit Squirrel began the evening with a namesake that could be stapled on the brain or head like a dirty boot print from a circle pit playing a spread of originals and covers including a track about a closed door activity all the guys instantly liked.
If you’re a fan of New Found Glory, Green Day or Jimmy Eat World you might eat up the originals and emotional struggle of “Fine By Me.” “Inside” felt warm and friendly, while “Slowing Down” had a little more rock guitar spunk to it.
Everyone’s gonna do it sometime but eventually we all gotta be “Callin’ In Sick.” They polished off the set with some Papa Roach, this was their last resort.
The New Machine may have similarity with an Overkill tune but played plenty of ‘80s glam and rock n’ roll groove with nary a thrash summons.. Ray McLaine Bounds played the strings like it was MSG with full venue carte blanche. While Tony Nickol sang with wide eyes blazed open running amok taking over the furniture and sound system while McLaine played into the crowd entertaining fans and supernatural dancers.
The pioneers of ’80s sleaze got opening love on “Red Hot”, while the Godfather of Metal got second/shotgun dibs aboard the “Crazy Train,” “Somebody Save Me” brought out the Night Songs and glam golden slippers. However the leather clad beasts from the east screamed a little louder in anger over “Another Thing Coming.”
They jumped forward several decades but that “Crazy Bitch” is a truly timeless tale. They didn’t play in the round but did induce some Hysteria walking into “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” Blasting hair and blasting pyro was on order and ain’t “Nothing but a good Time,” Tonight was too loud for spiritual awakenings and roses. Journey got some love, “Anyway you want It.” They finished giving a double shot to the British blokes “Living Afternoon Midnight.” . .
It was the closest thing to Halloween in March as southern Ohio’s Pagan Holiday hit the stage under the moving trickery of spooky changing lights complete with stand-in scarecrow. The stage had never looked more haunted ready for a unique, peculiar and spooky mix of Misfits, goth noir and Wednesday 13. The heavy riffs of “When Shadows Fall” planted lyrical/musical shovels sharply into desecrating mother earth while the winged predators flew above the night sky stalking prey shadowing a haunted ending on “Murder of Crows.” Most would probably prefer the Black Crowes version of angelic activity though the Pagan way is way more metal via “Torched by an Angel” with its cool retro key strokes and ‘80s vibe.
A ghostly white apparition appeared on stage, sporting a killer sheet with reading glasses. Some jokes came our way. Some from the surface, written by the living with others channeled from the grave. You can’t keep a silent breathing shape down. Whether the weapon of choice is a knife or mic stand.
Whether it’s a straight jacket POV, chained to a wall, comatosed or waiting for a full moon, it was still a dark, cold “Room with a View.”
Depending on what’s being resurrected and in what necro-manner, “Sex, Drugs and Formaldehyde” might be the best laid brew. Though rock n’ roll has been known to conjure the dead forwards and backwards.
During the end their mascot made an appearance providing an ‘Eddie’ moment. Not nearly as colossal, though still very entertaining and mobile, the masked fiend covered ground quickly, tuned a few strings, singing along worshipping band and music.
Kore Rozzik and crew emerged through the shooting shadows of smoke playing nine numbers to the crowd bringing the big time rock n’ roll vibes. It was time for Cincinnati to step up, and go loco. With flavors of Rob Zombie, Disturbed and Father Alice they performed several tunes from Vengeance Overdrive.
The lights went down to immediate “Overdrive” with guitars hammering and screaming announcing MC Rozzik’s arrival. Energy, movement and adrenaline were immediately established. Things went a bit dark and solemn early with the almighty, unholy “Mistress” outstretching her black cloaked arm beckoning with gothic, melodic promise. The manipulating, mind-binder could tie your emotions in knots dragging you down the hall. Rozzik stalked the stage preaching the congregations ear off. Run clear of this damnation-clad damsel!
Smoke poured up, filling the air as faces, bodies and guitars were engulfed and buried looking other-worldly as vision cleared. Staying in theme, a “Dirty Little Secret” rang out twisting and contorting the truth and story they were sticking to. “Guilty as Charged” thumped the floor with neck heavy cranking, in windmill fashion.
“Vengeance is not Enough” took to the streets, playing mob rules as Rozzik brought out the briefcase to do business, coveting the attache’d prize. Don’t be a wise guy or you’ll be taken care of family-style, though in the end he showed himself to be a generous made-man.
Paranoia stretched back to the ‘80s in the era of big brother and pre-internet privacy when you felt like, “Somebody’s Watching Me.”
A black trench also came into play with a questionable hammer headed tool that ‘appeared’ clean and unmarked.
“Spellbound” roared and revved with Rozzik performing in early Alice-like attire. There’s nothing wrong with a style nod to the master with creepy ginger dead doll in tow, giving new meaning to, say hello to my little friend.
The bastard son of New York ended things divinely with a blessed (we hope) aspergillum sprinkling holy drops, anointing those most devoted.
Images by Mike Ritchie
