live show at Churchill's Pub. In the next few years, the band would, in
an act of practicality, drop the Spooky Kids suffix, get signed to a
major label, and go on to change the makeup-smeared face of pop culture.
If you got into Marilyn Manson after 1994's Portrait of an American Family or Antichrist Superstar, you missed the crazy fun of the Spooky Kids.
Focus was quickly drawn to hate-vocal singer Manson (née Brian Warner) as
he began taking himself too seriously -- this does not work for "shock
rockers." In the process, his backing band, the ones responsible for the
actual music, became a stepped-on footnote. Fans and band members
realized that all the psychedelic delight had gone the way of the local show
flier and the Walkman. Today, the Spooky Kids is an idea more than a name
or a style, the name representing appreciators and creators of any
sound that is pure and uncorrupted by malaise, hype, fame, or fortune.
As the October 29 "Let Your Ego Die: A Tribute to the Spooky Kids" event at Churchill's Pub approaches, here are five reasons the night is unmissable.
5. Let's do the time warp... AGAIN!
Event producer Dangerfun Sideshow knows how to put on a show. When I saw the show "Bruises Are Back in Style: A Tribute to Jack Off Jill" (local band kin to Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids) this past June, it was pleasantly surprising: no irony, no mockery, and no inclination of stagnation. I was convinced any production by this troupe would be one of quality.
3. Location, location, location.
The legendary locale will be decked out all weekend haunted-horror-house-style by Miami musician and style aficionado Buddha Gonzalez. There will also be noncontest prizes, memorabilia, and rare-music giveaways.
3. The family jams.
Talent featured will be Kill Miss Pretty and also Armada! (Feat. Brian Blitzkrieg)
Fuck Yeah! (Ian Michael, Saul Good, Xela Zaid, Kenichi), Rat Bastard
Chris Rey, Nick Ladas, DJ Casey Baldwin, DJ Skidmark, DJ Elyse,
and DJ Dracula's Daughter... circus sideshow performers and burlesque babes inside and out.
2. Cool off.
The über-indie-yet-very-cool-despite-the-presence-of-hipsters Sweat Records is architecturally attached and will be open most of the night.
1. You get to see the O.G. play.
Original guitarist and composer Scott Putesky (AKA Daisy Berkowitz)
wrote most of the tunes and hasn't played any of them live since 1992...
and may never do so again.
-- John Carr