So you’ve made it through another year. We can’t believe it either. But it’s not over yet. The Gatecrasher is dedicated to bringing you the most current show info with some light, witty banter, and there are a couple of more days left in the year.There are some really good looking New Year’s Rockin’ Eve shows, so without further adoo… (ED.NOTE: Yes, we know Nick misspelled ‘adieu.’ But he does stuff like that deliberately, just to get our goaht.)

CHARLESTON: Dec. 31
Jubal Kane @ The Empty Glass. This guy has come to Charleston’s historic East End several times this year, and will make a stop to help ring in 2008. It doesn’t sound right, I know. Call for cover, but you can imagine this will be a popular show… It being New Year’s Eve, you may want to get there before midnight!

Shorthrow w/Freak Tent @ The Blue Parrot. A couple of local bands who frequent the Blue Parrot will likely pack the place to help kick off the 2008 Primary season. Who will win? Diamond Joe Manchin for Prez ‘08!

HUNTINGTON: Dec. 31
Bud Carroll & Jeff Ellis @ The V Club. You may have heard us talk about the Southern Souls and/or Ellis and GCW this year. Well, all will be THERE to help us forget about 2007 and how much it may or may not have sucked. Two of our favorite local acts, so pay what they tell you to and tell them the Gazz sent you. But don’t expect any favors for that. (Warm up for Ellis with this cool music video of his song about the Iraq War)

MORGANTOWN: Dec. 31
The Love Me Knots, Slop Models, and Big Ass Manatee @ 123 Pleasant Street. Three acts definitely worth checking out. The Love Me Knots are one of our faves; BAM is kind of killer alt-electronic from what we’ve heard. And Slop Models? Just go to the show on NYE!

WHEELING: Dec 31

Yes, Wheeling is in West Virginia. Check out Yesterday’s if you’re up there.

We’re like most reputable news-affiliated organizations: we’re only as good as the information we get. Unless we go out and get the information ourselves over this new invention called the Internet. We got clued into the goings on at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship building in Charleston (520 Kan. Blvd. West — past Magic Island) Thursday Dec. 20th, @ 7 p.m. This is an excerpt from a note we got from Chris w/UUC: (more…)

Here at the Gatecrasher blog, we sometimes use the Weekend Watch series to clue you in to shows in other areas of the state. For this installment, you only need to write down one town, one bar: Charleston and the Blue Parrot. Well, Charleston and Wheeling — the town some say should still be the seat of our fine state. (They’re crazy.) Oh, and Milton. MILTON???

But this weekend’s schedule will have even the laziest local music bloggers off their cans and out at a show…

FRI., Dec. 21
The Concept, The Renfields, VOA, and Brain Trauma @ the Blue Parrot, Charleston
So you have no clue what bands we like? If you’ve been checking in at all over the past year or so you’d know the first two bands are the wind beneath our blogging wings. The Renfields are coming to town for their first show after having some jackbooted gendermes shut down a show at the Corner Pub back during the summer. Thanks to Dave for getting the Renfields booked. Starts 10 p.m., $5
LET’S GO!!

Shorthrow @ The Sound Factory, Charleston
Looks like the Sound Factory is having some shows scheduled in December. They have Shorthrow playing with “TBA” — one of our favorite local bands, TBA. Check this show out if yer out on the Boulevard… (more…)

To celebrate The Renfields coming to Charleston, we decided to check in with frontman Vincent Renfield to pick his brain about his favorite horror movies. Here’s what he had to say…

This list changes from day to day… but these are my favorites today!

The Burning
There were a ton of stalk n’ slash summer camp films in the 80’s but The Burning is by far the best. Mean spirited, well acted, and featuring the most brutal slaughter scene in any slasher film period! Add to the mix some amazing Tom Savini gore FX and the perfect 80’s synth score by Rick Wakeman. I’ll take a hedge-clipper-wielding burn victim over a hockey mask wearing mongoloid any day of the week! This film receives multiple viewings at the weekly Renfields movie night.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2
The most underrated film of Director Tobe Hooper’s career! While the first film has a very gritty documentary feel to it, Chainsaw 2 is a surrealistic, manic, black comedy. Everything about this film is completely over the top. This film features an amazing cast of characters, including a hyper-religious, justice seeking, hymn singing sheriff played by Dennis Hopper. Not a single Renfields practice goes by without someone quoting a line from this film. So bizarre it manages to weed out most bubblegum horror fans! (more…)

It’s not Christmas just yet, but we do have some nice gifts for you this week. Gifts in the form of news nuggets about rockin’ shows in the area. And guess what — if yer not satisfied you get our Gatecrasher 100% no money back guarantee!

THU, Dec. 13
The Flying Hellfish, False Profit, New Clear Future, Death Rides a Horse, and Revisionist @ 123 Pleasant St., Morgantown
Do you go around telling people you’re “way more punk” than they are? If so, you’d better get to this show. We haven’t heard of the last two bands on this bill, but if the first three are there then it makes it all worthwile. The Flying Hellfish and False Profit have been favorites of ours for a while, and New Clear Future has a new song “Liberal Till I Die” that fits nice with our political agenda here @ Gatecrasher. Bring money, punx. 10 p.m.

FRI, Dec. 14
Rubber Soul @ the Empty Glass, Charleston
Do you wish more bands sounded like the Beatles? Maybe played their songs in a cover band? You should swing by the Glass then and check these guys out. 10 p.m., bring Ameros.

Treasure Cat, Hyatari, and Let The Guilty Hang @ Marley’s Doghouse, Huntington
So, let’s say you’re in Huntington and you’re looking for some rock, but you’ve never been to Marley’s for some reason. Make tonight the night you go. Not “tonight” when you read this — “tonight” meaning the 14th. 10 p.m., bring extra cash. You may want to buy a CD.

SAT, Dec. 15

Little Victories Benefit @ V Club in Huntington w/Bud Carroll and 40-Pound Snapper.
If you hadn’t already figured it out, Saturday is the 15th this month. And this is our “Pick O’ The Week” as far as shows go. Not only do you get the bands, you get to support a good cause; Little Victories No-Kill Animal Shelter in Ona. If it’s good enough for Dave Peyton and the Dig-Its, it’s good enough for us. Seriously, if you don’t go we may send you to a PETA-2 sensitivity crash course. You don’t have to go as long as you aren’t running an interstate dogfighting gambling ring, strangling, drowning, or electrocuting dogs. Pfft. Cover is $5, but you can give more if you want.

Underdog Blues Revue & Sean Sydnor @ the Blue Parrot, Charleston
We’re only as good as the information we’re given. And we got clued into this show from Chuck Biel himself! He’s apparently pretty high on opener Sean Sydnor as in ‘musical phenom’ (no, it’s not Snydor), and that beats being high on other illegal stuff. $5, 10 p.m.

Timeless Memory CD release w/LTGH, Premature Burial, Hands Bleed Hope, and Brink Of Oblivion @ Nitro Community Center (2nd Ave. & 21st st.).
Metal show. Nuff said. You may wonder how we get all this information. Forget about it. 6 p.m., $6 cover.

L-R: Jaymee Lee Renfield, Vincent Renfield, Dr. Herbert Von Renfield III, and The Fiend rock Devine’s in Morgantown

Got a good pic of The Renfields from Blaine Fordyce Jr. Turns out he’s the brother of DangerKat’s drummer. This pic is from earlier this month at Devine’s.

It’s The Renfields!

“I don’t get to go and watch too many of their shows, but I really enjoy the shows I get to see,” Blaine said of the Transylvania pogo-punk outfit.

photo: Blaine Fordyce Jr.

Unknown Hinson @ the Glass will probably jam the joint this Friday.

Here at Gatecrasher, we believe in information. Putting that information into your hands is something we feel strongly about. That’s why we’re so against the “War on Libraries” that is sweeping the nation. You come to the blog to see what is going on re: live music around here - and boy, December is a joyous month for shows. We got the information right here: (more…)

“I have an old school Shure 55 series mic tattooed on my left calf with ‘Holden Caulfield’ in a banner over it. I met my wife Brooke because she wanted to play bass for us.” — Dana White of the band Holden Caulfield

IF YOU GO: Holden Caulfield performs along with Lex Vegas, Beyond All Hope and The Nightmare Affair at Huntington’s YWCA (633 5th Ave.), starting 6:30 p.m., Saturday Dec. 8. All-ages, $7.

One of the first acts we came across when we started blogging about local bands was Huntington’s Holden Caulfield. We got hooked up with their last CD “Can’t Stop Now” when it came out and talked to singer Dana White. They were kind enuff to hook us up with a copy of their new 5-song EP “…And Never Will” and they have a show this Saturday, Dec 8 at the YWCA in Huntington. We decided to check in with Dana to see what’s been going on…
—–

GAZZ: Last time we talked for “Can’t Stop Now” you were a bachelor. How’s married life been treating you?
DW: It’s been amazing. It took a long time, but I found the best person in the world for me. We’re best friends and a great couple. It’s just been a lot of fun. We don’t even argue or anything. Both of us worry so much about making the other happy that it’s been nothing but smooth sailing.
—–
GAZZ: How do you feel about Holden Caulfield as you move forward without your original guitarist? (more…)