’80s
Gardner & James’ Synergy Surges in Cincinnati
On Friday, November 19, rock n’ roll veteran and ‘80s Vixen Janet Gardner came to the young, burgeoning Epic Live Event Center for an evening of loud, energetic hard rock. Support came from singer Amy Sailor and southern Ohio’s thunderous Counting Stars, a group that could meld straight into the sunset scene as much as modern day metal. Gardner accompanied by headbanging partner and husband Justin...[Read More]
Gardner & James – An Eternal Synergy Burns
Interview conducted pre-show at Epic Live Event Center Janet Gardner is probably a household name to most metalheads that stayed up late watching Headbangers Ball in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Back when the hair was almost bigger than the pyro and the actual women were sometimes a challenge to pick out in the crowd. The MTV era was very good to Gardner and her all-female band Vixen, though in rec...[Read More]
Savini’s Smoke & Mirrors – Uncloaking a Horror Icon
Since the mid-70’s Tom Savini has left his mark on everything he’s been associated with. From stuntman, makeup genius, monster maker, director, photographer, etc, the Godfather of Gore has earned his front-runner spot on the blood-stained slab of horror’s most influential people behind the scenes and on camera. Making ‘80s zombies come back to life and stalk shopping malls, blowing up everything i...[Read More]
Voorhees Assembles Slashing Franchise Cast for 13Fanboy
For years, it’s been a fan’s dream to see different, multiple Friday the 13th cast members from different films appear in the same movie. All it took was the woman with the chilling and ki-ki-ki-killing namesake of Jason to do it. Deborah Voorhees of Friday the 13th: A New Beginning was herself a dream warrior of sorts, writing and directing her ideas to the screen along with an array of actors sp...[Read More]
Bret Michaels Brought Nothin’ but A Good Vibe to J.D. Legends
Friday, August 20 Bret Michaels returned to Franklin to a house ready for the Poison front man and a damn good time. Covid postponed the original date but live music’s doing its best to stay active, though it’s still getting racked and gut punched by the evil C word. An all-ages crowd watched the ‘80s Sunset staple perform a 10-song set, in a best of Poison show with a cover or two. While one or t...[Read More]
Richrath Project 3:13 – Honoring the Richrath Speedwagon
REO Speedwagon’s known for many things including arena filling ballads, ‘80s anthems and the wailing sounds of former guitarist Gary Richrath. In the early days, there’s no Speedwagon without him, putting his stamp on classics “Take It on the Run,” “Golden Country,” and “Ridin’ the Storm Out.” Though he passed in 2015, his music and influence continues to carry through generations. Keeping the mem...[Read More]
Lita Ford Kisses Columbus Deadly
On Saturday, July 24, the reigning queen of metal, Miss Lita Ford, came to The King of Clubs in Columbus bringing a full career-spanning set of classics, crowd favorites and MTV staples. The former runaway moved and posed like a true metal maiden, sporting the eternal rebel rocking spirit she started with and can still say she was an MTV featured artist, played on Headbangers Ball. She’s also one ...[Read More]
Hairball Brings Arena Rock Tribute Show to The Fraze
Thursday, July 8 arguably the greatest tribute band on the planet Hairball came to The Fraze Pavilion in Kettering. They packed the place treating the crowd to two hours of ‘80s megahits, dipping into ‘70s classics with fist raisers and a few ‘devil horns’ here and there. It was an arena rock show in scale, grandiose and big budget from the lighted stage to the five large screens flashing cool ima...[Read More]
Tiffany Casts Seductive Shadow Over Cincinnati
On Thursday July 8, ‘80s pop icon Tiffany brought her Shadows tour to Cincinnati performing a loud, rocking but intimate show at the Ludlow Garage in Cincinnati for an all-ages group of energetic fans. It was an underground show, literally, and an evening of nostalgia and new music with Tiffany singing the classics along with new tunes from this year’s Pieces of Me and the upcoming Shadows album. ...[Read More]
MR. Speed – Kissed by Dynasty
The following conversation took place pre-show on site at MR. Speed’s May 18 performance at J.D. Legends in Franklin, Ohio. On May 18, Cleveland KISS tribute band MR. Speed returned to Franklin’s J.D. Legends for their first non-distanced, unmasked show. What was originally scheduled as an outdoor event on the big stage was moved indoors to the secondary stage due to weather and safety conc...[Read More]
Sacrilege – Supernatural Suspense Done Pagan Style
Warning: Review contains spoilers. David Creed’s 2020 tale of a group of young women going on a weekend trip to a mini-castle estate, ending up at a pagan festival is part old school horror, and a bit Blair Witch with characters facing their fears. Using familiar ingredients like creepy and quiet locals hovering around, a local townsperson warning them to stay away and leave before its too late an...[Read More]
My Summer as a Goth – Director Interview – Tara Johnson-Medinger
Warning: Interview contains spoilers. My Summer as A Goth is a modern day coming of age, romantic comedy-drama with elements of the ‘80s while addressing the timeless issues of alienation, fitting in, personal growth, manipulation and dealing with major loss. Directed by Tara Johnson-Medinger, the films the product of a 10 year vision finally coming to dark life with help from a terrific mu...[Read More]