Jeff Drew

Riding a musical pegasus

First of all, I want to apologize for writing a technical article that's admittedly directed toward professional musicians. I've been playing excellent music for what many people say seems like an eternity.

Dear Albuquerque Goth Scene,

We need to talk. I know it’s hard for you to tell how I'm feeling sometimes. I know you've grown used to pretty much constant stylized moodiness. But that's just the problem—you're self-absorbed and I'm tired of waiting for you to change. This is a very one-sided relationship. You never think of my wants or needs. You always listen to the same generic four-on-the-floor music ... and I know you do it in a sad attempt to attract impressionable 18 year-old girls.

I need change and variety in my life. I want to have good conversations and be introduced to new things and ideas. But your idea of change is resurrecting the 300-year-old corpse of the Marquis de Sade once a month. It's not fresh and subversive; it’s the same old chips, dips, chains and whips. You talk about the same old topics ... dungeons and dragons, and that VNV Nation concert you went to six years ago. You repeat the same stale party ideas when you feel the need to spice things up.

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Gothsgiving

This year give thanks for black vinyl pants, blue Manic Panic, German expressionism, legalized absinthe and Peter Murphy. Retro’s (1410 Wyoming NE), typically thought of as a mod affair, goes unpop tonight with DJ Sparquis and DJ Twig playing tracks culled from a variety of Gothic subgenres. This dark, 21-and-over holiday event is free. (Jessica Cassyle Carr)