My son's ear-pummeling dark metal band has changed its name from Blood Omen, which was a bit too morbid and obvious for them, to Mr. Rogers Neighbor, which is sufficiently droll. More than a year after their public debut, I still can't get over how good they are, playing extremely tight and pricise originals with the power to melt faces.
Chris Olsen, who plays bass, is almost 18, a super kid and senior honor student in high school who happens to beat the hell out of his instrument with like-minded lads for fun and sometimes even profit. They practice religiously twice a week at their own rehearsal space and are impressively serious and adult about it all.
They play out at least monthly at the no-kidding adult rock clubs of Northeast Ohio and are tonight opening for Strapping Young Lad at Cleveland's legendary Peabody's Down Under, although I am displeased to find them not listed on the bill. BAD Peabody's.
Nonetheless, if you are in the area and enjoy having your viscera rearranged sonically, you could do worse than to check in on my son and his compatriots tonight. I can't go because it's a school night and stuff, but I saw them in the same setting last month and was mightily proud, strutting out of the joint telling everyone who would listen that was my son up there.
Article comments
1 - Al Barger
Sounds like a bunch of no-goodnik rock and roll hooligans to me.
2 - Eric Olsen
exactly, piercings and whatnot
3 - Al Barger
"Don't you boys know any NICE songs? I have children sleeping here."
4 - Eric Olsen
they were wise to find their own rehearsal place - we really do have babies sleeping
5 - Scott
do they have a website or someplace where I/we can hear them? I'm interested...
I myself was once in a band (One Step Back) and we did fairly well for ourselves...touring, recording, getting on a record label. You seriously don't make ANY money (and I mean zero dollars, when we got home from tour all of us went home empty-handed) but it was some of the best times of my life.
6 - Al Barger
I heard that Mr Rogers Neighbor worships Satan and performs animal sacrifices on stage.
7 - Eric Olsen
but in a nice way
8 - Dawn
It seems Al was at the latest show. Got any extra farm animals you need slaughtered?
9 - Eric Olsen
Scott, they just went through a difficult period where they didn't have a practice space, they had to replace their singer, and started all over again with new material. I have strongly encouraged them to get a reasonable recording to me that we could make available and to get a website up. They will get to it I'm sure
10 - Scott
Sounds good. I'm looking forward to it.
11 - Eric Olsen
your interest is much appreciated