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Conference napalm::heavy_metal

Title:HEAVY_METAL - Talent Round-Up DayDay
Notice:Rules-2.*,Directory-7.*,Roster-3.*,Garbage-99.*
Moderator:BUSY::SLABB
Created:Thu May 05 1988
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1238
Total number of notes:65616

973.0. "Dark, The" by IMTDEV::COOP (Love will conquer all) Sun Sep 26 1993 16:58

    Wow.  Jeff and I went to check out a local band called the Dark
    last night.  They are hot.  I believe that they won't be playing
    the local circuit for long.  If you are in CO, you need to check
    these guys out asap!
    
    We actually started out our evening going to check out Zen Radio
    (who are good also) but had a hard time making a good judgement
    on them because our jaws were hanging wide open from "The Dark"
    
    I compare them to Dream Theater, with a kind of funky Chili Peppers
    beat.  Definately heavy.  Great guitar work.
    
    I purchased their four song demo last night, if anyone wants one,
    I'll be more than happy to get one for you,  you *won't* be
    disappointed!
    
    The Dark are:  Christian Mercer, vocals; Randy Lotus, lead and rythm
    guitar; Junior, Drums and background vocals; and Travis LeRoy, Bass
    and background vocals.   Two of the band are from Denver, and two
    are from Colorado Springs.  They are managed by Asherton Fine Arts
    Corp out of Los Angeles.
    
    cj
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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973.1Buck, Rob - Read on - These guys are SMOKIN!!KDX200::COOPERTesting my new personal nameMon Sep 27 1993 18:1227
    Yeah, The Dark fackin' ripped.  My jaw was on the floor during the
    whole set.  Really set me back in my seat.
    
    The guitarist played custom ESP's anna Gibson (swapped guits a LOT),
    thru an Mp1/QuadraVerb based rig, with a monster soldano power amp,
    and a pair of ABC custom made snake-skin covered 4x12's (celestions).
    He used a Cry Baby a lot too, but tastefully.  The guitarist 
    was also a major wild man, ala Zakk Wylde.
    
    The Drummer "Junior" was technical, with a lot of flash, and very
    solid.  Lots of time signature changes, dynamics and showmanship.
    
    The bassist also had a rig from hell - Trace Elliot stuff, Ibanez
    bass etc...  The guys mike was at his belt level.  He poses/performs
    like Hetfield, with his feet about 6 feet apart.
    
    The similarity to Extreme ends at the singers voice, IMHO.  He sang 
    a lot like Gary Cherone, but the rest of the band was ALL OVER
    Extreme...   I only felt like these guys needed a tad of seasoning;
    they acted REAL hungry on stage, and I wonder if they weren't trying
    just a little too hard(?).
    
    Anyway, Musical style is more technical an less "Pop" than Extreme also. 
    I'd say a cross between Pantera, The Chili's and Rush/DT.  Technical
    and heavy!! 
    
    jc (Who was amazed, and will return to their next show!)
973.2KDX200::COOPERTesting my new personal nameMon Sep 27 1993 18:132
    Oh, the drummer also played keys quite a bit - neat!
    
973.3Bad Name ChoiceTECRUS::ROSTKeef RiffhardMon Oct 04 1993 19:135
    They better change their name.  There is a Boston band called the Dark
    from the early 80s that just reformed, and they put vinyl out long
    ago.
    
    							Brian
973.4IMTDEV::COOPLove will conquer allTue Oct 05 1993 14:525
    I believe that these guys have been together for some time also.
    
    And what is vinyl?  :-)
    
    cj
973.5I could be wrong, but I thought I heard...GOES11::HOUSEDid it. Done it. *WHAP* owwww!Tue Oct 05 1993 18:045
    I seem to remember that the Colorado "The Dark" has only had that
    particular name for about a year or so.  They played for quite awhile
    under another name, if I remember right.
    
    gh
973.6Can't wait to see a good band!CSC32::B_TURNBAUGHWed Oct 06 1993 19:5111
    
    
      A guitar playing friend of mine (Tommy Gunn) from Denver (who plays
      
      eight hrs a day for the last 15 years....he doesn't work a real job)
    
      just told me he takes lessons from the dude in the Dark.  Wow the guy
    
      must really be hot!!!  Can't wait to see them next time they are in
    
      town.       skip 
973.7KDX200::COOPERTesting my new personal nameThu Oct 07 1993 16:262
    They ARE hot dood!!  The guitar player SLAYS!
    
973.8Definetely a band to be lookin for!COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Sat Oct 09 1993 01:198
    Well I'll just reinterate what Coop and cj have said.....
    
    They ARE _INCREDIBLE_! In fact they have a sponsorship deal with
    Miller.  I'd go on but I already put a great review of them in the
    Colorado Springs Bands topics WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY back in the beginnining
    of the year! ;-)
    
                    Rat
973.9KDX200::COOPERTesting my new personal nameSun Oct 10 1993 04:021
    Someone should sign these guys...
973.10COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Sun Oct 10 1993 22:372
    Actually I believe they are in the process now of getting signed but
    I'm not sure with who or what the whole scoop is on it.
973.11KDX200::COOPERTesting my new personal nameMon Oct 11 1993 03:198
    I *know* that any DT fans would get off on The Dark.  It's about
    fackin' time that they got signed, IMHO.  I would've probably seen 
    them sooner if they weren't playin' the lame-O Colorado Originals
    scene.  I mean Zen Radio (mediocre) and The Hill Cats (mega-lame-o)
    opened for them...  The *should* be pumping out an album and touring
    their asses off!!
    
    jc (who has had a few beers and wants to reak havoc with his privs...:)
973.12IMTDEV::COOPLove will conquer allMon Oct 18 1993 02:355
    Nope, they are not in the process of being signed, they told me that
    they were having "management" problems.  They are trying to get signed
    though.  :-)  
    
    Cj
973.13KDX200::ROBROrange squares suck.Tue Oct 19 1993 05:015
    
    well.... i heard their taspe.  all i can say is EXTREME.  Totally
    EXTREME.  But a bit more boring :').  Great sound though and good
    chops.
    
973.14POWDML::BUCKLEYlead us still, as thou hast lead..Tue Oct 19 1993 15:137
    >I *know* that any DT fans would get off on The Dark.  
    
    No way, dood!  Rob lemme hear their tape, and I thought it blew 
    chunks.  Definitely a bad Ex-Dream rip=off band!!  
    
    So they get signed, so will Flesh ... and all of a sudden you have the
    market flooded with bad Extreme clone bands ... one is bad enough!
973.15CSLALL::PLEVINETue Oct 19 1993 15:464
     I thought the tape was really good, heard a little Extreme but not
    much. Good grooves, tight, good songs. Thanks for the tape CJ! 
    
    Peter_who_enjoys_Extreme_clone_bands   ;*)
973.16this one was a GOOD extreme rip-off band :')KDX200::ROBROrange squares suck.Tue Oct 19 1993 18:146
    
    hey buck, im not sure what tape youre talking about that i let you
    hear, but it wasnt the dark.  coop brought it along last night and
    played it for me.
    
    
973.17IMTDEV::COOPLove will conquer allWed Oct 20 1993 02:039
    You're all wrong.  :-)  The only thing that makes these guys sound
    like Extreme, is the funky beat they have, kind of mix metal with
    a funky beat.  Geeesh.  :-)  They also remind me a little of the
    Chili Peppers, mixed with DT (talent wise).  They are a lot heavier
    than Extreme.  
    
    Did I do a good job Peter?  :-)
    
    CJ
973.18funky metal holiday...KDX200::ROBROrange squares suck.Wed Oct 20 1993 03:067
    
    nope, they have extreme style riffs (right down to the nuno guitar
    licks), extreme style harmonies (though not nearly as good), extreme
    style beats and composition.  these guys ARE extreme, but with less
    bubblegum sound (closer to old extreme - the stuff that never hit the
    albums).
    
973.19CSLALL::PLEVINEWed Oct 20 1993 09:587
    Fine job CJ, AS USUAL....    :^)
    Rob, i'm gonna have to go back & check it out...at first listen
    i didnt hear Extreme...yeah maybe some Chilli pepper...maybe DT, but i 
    missed the Extreme stuff altogether....
    -<funky metal holiday>- showing your age...Rob    ;^)
    
    Peter
973.20rock-a-bye-baby... :')KDX200::ROBROrange squares suck.Wed Oct 20 1993 15:436
    
    i did hear some rhcp, even a bit of linear (remember them?!?!?  :')),
    but definately no dt.  they were really, really tight and had a great
    sound for an 8 track recording.  i myself just don't get into that
    sound.
    
973.21Yeah Buck, what ARE you talking about?KDX200::COOPERTesting my new personal nameThu Oct 21 1993 15:417
    Maybe RHCP/Dokken/Tesla (with good vox).  Definately not much DT, cuz
    their tunes are too short and too easy, but the guitarist is IN there
    with the chops...especially live.
    
    They'll get signed...No fear there.
    
    jc
973.22GOES11::HOUSEDid it. Done it. *WHAP* owwww!Thu Oct 21 1993 15:476
    Is it just me, or do a lot of these bands you guys are comparing them
    to sound completely different?  I'm confused about what this band is
    supposed to sound like?  (Where's that tape you were gonna loan me,
    Coop?!)
    
    Gh
973.23oops, my him didnt delete...KDX200::ROBROrange squares suck.Fri Oct 22 1993 02:214
    
    
    greg, they sound like extreme.  dont listen to himcoop :').
    
973.24ESKIMO::KLOdon't get me wrongFri Oct 22 1993 16:363
    Do they play Worcester sometime when they gonna play there?
    
    KL
973.25GOES11::HOUSEDid it. Done it. *WHAP* owwww!Fri Oct 22 1993 18:104
    As far as I know they haven't played outside of Colorado yet, they're a
    local band.
    
    gh
973.26Those were pretty far off comparisions.COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Mon Oct 25 1993 07:225
    Well I think you're all WRONG!!!! They don't sound like Extreme
    (puhleeze!) nor RHCP, nor Dreamtheatre!!! 
    	They sound like a band that's trying to be O*R*I*G*I*N*A*L with
    their own style!
                    Rat
973.27the dream::extreme:the dark::extarkKDX200::ROBROrange squares suck.Mon Oct 25 1993 11:143
    
    they'd better keep trying...
    
973.28COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Wed Oct 27 1993 00:352
    
    ppffttt......
973.29COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Mon Dec 20 1993 04:069
    Well I got to see these again Sat. night, I swear they get better
    every time I see them!!!!! It was also really nice to see some fellow
    noters supporting them! :^)
    
    Rat
    
    p.s for those who were there and were wondering WHY Jr. had his drum
    set backwards he said it was to give the audience the 'driver's-side
    perspective'....... hey don't adk me thats what he said! :^}
973.30KURMA::IGOLDIEBite the hand that feeds you...!Mon Dec 20 1993 05:486
    David Lee Roth once said that they(Van Halen)were going to play with
    their arses to the crowd then it would look like everyone had a
    backstage pass. 8)
    
    
    					ian
973.31COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Mon Dec 20 1993 07:181
    I wasn't overly impressed..... :^}
973.32KURMA::IGOLDIEBite the hand that feeds you...!Mon Dec 20 1993 07:377
    what with?
    
    
    the comment or the drummers back?
    
    
    					ian 8)
973.33CSC32::B_TURNBAUGHMon Dec 20 1993 15:306
    re 29.
    
    
           rat, next time they play here why don't you anounce it
    
           so I can go check them out!?!?!?!?  Skip/bob
973.34IMTDEV::COOPLove will conquer allTue Dec 21 1993 00:4211
    Skip, all you have to do is ask!  :-)
    
    I *hate* that club.  It is a 16+ Mosh Pit.  I couldn't even enjoy
    the band. Some dude with a chick on his shoulders kept slammin us
    metal heads down front.  Needless to say, there were some very
    *upset* people who didn't feel like moshing with immature 16 year
    olds.  The Dark aren't even a "moshable" band imho.
    
    geesh.  ;-)  (I must be getting old!)
    
    cj
973.35KDX200::COOPERThere's a moon in the sky!Wed Dec 22 1993 14:049
    Yep - they were good.  Not as good as the last time I saw 'em,
    but still smokin'!  That opening band SACKED!
    
    Punk - Hey man, you tore my shirt!
    Me - You're lucky you have teeth!
    Punk - Oh...Sorry.  
    
    jc (Who came this ("") close to pummeling that little shimit-head
        but had to rescue the puke from the wrath of Cindi)
973.36I plead the fifth! ;-)COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Wed Dec 22 1993 15:5311
    >    the comment or the drummers back?
    
    
    :PpPPpPPPpPpPpp!!!!!!
    
    re. skip
    
    I didn't know until Fri. when I checked the paper......but I'll let
    everyone know next time!
    
    Rat
973.37But not otherwiseGOES11::HOUSEYou sick little monkey!Wed Dec 22 1993 16:096
>    -< I plead the fifth! ;-) >-
    
    If you drink a fifth of something, even *I* might sound good playing
    music.
    
    gh
973.38WMOIS::MAZURKASon_Of_FabioThu Dec 23 1993 13:371
    Do I hear Maybe A Quart???   :_)
973.39COMET::MARTINNokay,now what?....Sun Dec 26 1993 21:362
    Hey!!!!! I don't need to drink a fifth for them to sound good.....they
    ARE good! :P
973.40GOES11::HOUSEYou sick little monkey!Tue Dec 28 1993 20:475
    I was speaking only of my own playing, no extended implications were
    intended.
    
    When they say "Primus sucks!", it's an inside joke.  When they say
    "Greg sucks!", well...you know...
973.41COMET::VERMETTECConfusion will be my Epitaph ... Sat Jan 01 1994 22:267
    is that like how green jello say they suck? B*)
    
    it's kind of funny to watch the band members say that and get the
    audience chanting with them....
    
    chris
    
973.42GOES11::HOUSEYou sick little monkey!Sun Jan 02 1994 17:396
    Yeah, sounds like the same type deal.  But I think Primus was doing it
    first.  
    
    "Hi, we're Primus and we suck"   - Les Claypool from their first album
    
    gh
973.43COMET::VERMETTECConfusion will be my Epitaph ... Mon Jan 03 1994 00:534
    yea they were the first but you have to wonder if it helped out either
    of the groups more than just saying nothing....
    
    chris
973.44GOES11::HOUSEYou sick little monkey!Mon Jan 03 1994 01:127
    I don't have a clue about Green Jello (except that they don't seem to
    be drawing a big following), but I do know that Primus's fans have been
    pretty dedicated and have enjoyed the joke with the band.  I think, in
    their case, it has helped establish the character of the band and their
    music, so it was different (better?) then saying nothing.
    
    Greg
973.45where were jc&cj last night? :^)COMET::MARTINNTalk Hard!Sun Jan 23 1994 21:5011
    Went and saw these guys again last night........
    
    	they were having some sound problems and really having an off
    night..... it didn't seem they got it together until the last two songs
    which they kick @ss on! But it was still good to see them again.
    
    Assassin came on after them and they really kicked some major @ass!
    These guys are way heavy and very impressive!  So all co noters go
    check them out if ya get a chance.
    
    Rat
973.46COMET::MARTINNTalk Hard!Mon Jan 24 1994 04:394
    And I had *great* company! :^)
    
    	DYHIW you can't write them to tell them so cuz their friggin acount 
    	is full! :^{
973.47"The Dark Was Assasinated"COMET::LAURICHMon Jan 24 1994 19:428
    
    
               Well if people would stop sending me their junk mail
    my account would'nt be so full, the again maybe that's not such
    a bad thing;^)
    
                                      Jeffy