Midnight Hour Clothing Review & Haul

Midnight Hour


Being rather introverted, I have historically not gotten out too much. Well, I decided that maybe it was high time to pursue the things in life that make me happy, and that might entail , gasp, leaving the house. Going out use to be part of my weekly routine: record shopping, coffee, hanging out with friends and my absolute favorite pastime, concerts, and other live music events. Like everybody else, things came to a grinding halt in 2020. Well, maybe selfishly, I decided that I’m going to make it my mantra that in 2023, I’m gonna do me!






As I commenced joining the outside world again, it began to dawn on me that being locked down and over indulging in Door Dash and Hulu, had definitely taken it’s toll. I may need to invest in a couple of new articles of clothing as yoga pants outside of the gym just isn’t my style. I get it, if one can dress as if they are going to a funeral even when they are not, in the name of Goth, who am I to say that one cannot dress as though they are going to yoga class when clearly, they are not, in the name of comfort. I am all about “to each their own.” It’s simply not my style.

Well, what’s a Goth to do? In my incessant scrolling’s on Facebook, I have noticed more than a few ads for clothing. One in particular had caught my eye. There was one with a white skirt in the posting. Now white is not usually my color, however, this one had bats on it. Ooooh, bats! And mushrooms! I clicked the link and wound up on the web site “Midnight Hour.”


Now, straight up front, I could see that they were certainly on the pricey side. In fact, I put off my purchase for quite some time. But the need for some wardrobe updates and the alure of that white skirt brought me back.

After perusing the predominantly good reviews and reading their story. With their commitment to quality clothing that is made to last and mostly manufactured in Los Angeles, my home town. Coupled with the 10% first time costumer discount and rewards program, I was in.


The first item in my bag was “The” white skirt. Which I learned was called the “Dark Forest Split Skirt.” Next, I decided I needed a top to go with it, so, in the bag went the “Embroidered Snake T-shirt.” Next, I deemed it too cold to wear a skirt with nothing under it so in the bag went two pairs of leggings along side my justification that, hey, I’m getting 10% off and they are nothing like yoga pants, because yoga pants don’t go under skirts. I had room in my budget for one more item (I had been saving up for some time now.) I decided on the “Velvet Fringe Dress.” I checked out, and waited for my order to arrive.


In about a week my order came, and I hurriedly tried on my clothes. Upon my inspections, everything appeared to be in good quality and condition. I slipped on my first pair of two leggings, the “Velvet Leggings” felt comfortable, and I knew they would be a staple in my wardrobe. Next up, the “Snake Floral Legging”, again, super comfy and I really like pattern on both legs as they are not the same. The material is thick enough as to not be see through, very important to me. Both leggings are true to size in my case.


Now for the “Velvet Fringe Dress.” I really like this dress and I feel it is also going to be a new core part of my attire. It’s stretchy and cozy. I’d wear it with a pair of leggings underneath as it’s a little short for me, personally. It has a seam at the waist that gives you some definition. It would also be super cute with a belt or corset. It has a dart in the front that helps with fit should you have a bit of a larger bust. It fit me true to size.

I couldn’t wait to try on my next piece, the “Dark Forest Split Skirt.” Now, from reading the reviews, I was not surprised that it was “Dry Clean Only” or that I might want to go up a size. What I was surprised about was how soft it was. The pattern is pretty and I can spend probably more time than is normal looking at it. I was glad I went up a size. This was garment that brought me to “Midnight Hour”, and I’m so glad it did. I would buy from Midnight Hour again. I am of the “Quality over quantity “school of thought. So far, from what I see the quality is there. 

Sam Broadcaster : DDJ-FLX4 mixer : Rock Stars & Icons : Bands in Town - March 16, 2023

Here are a few things I have to discuss! 

  • Sam Broadcaster Tech Issues
  • DDJ-FLX4 mixer
  • Rock Stars & Icons
  • Bands in Town
  • My Playlist


Sam Broadcaster Tech Issues:

My radio show seems to be going fine. Seriously, a few kinks are still there, but my trusty Engineer has me all setup, and worked out many of the problems, however Sam Broadcaster needs to give everyone who bought their product the patch for Windows 11.

If the Windows patch came , then I believe the occasional drops during broadcast would end, and I would be much more comfortable using my DDJ-FLX4 mixer as opposed to using the DJ features within Sam Broadcaster itself.

Anyway, my Engineer for years worked in software development and Greenfield projects, so he explained in “waaaay” too much detail the meeting that happen between vendors concerning updates, labs, virtual labs etc.…. He will explain server placement from here to mars. Get confuzzled!

Rock Stars & Icons:

This week I decided to do originals and the covers done by Gothic, and or industrial bands, and ask who did it better? Did the bands that covered the song make it their own, or just basically “cover” it! When you hear Cinnamon Girl, then the cover version by Type O Negative, or Gimme Shelter covered by The Sisters of Mercy, their versions sound very different than the originals (Neil young, Rolling Stones). However, with Bauhaus while their cover of Ziggy Stardust is awesome, and prefer it, it is not much different than the Bowie’s original version. I know, kill me! Listen, I am a Bauhaus, and Peter Murphy fan, and have seen them both, so no offense meant to the offended.

Well, I thought the playlist worked well, and I was asked by a listener to-do it again with another set of originals vs. covers. I know several bands have covered the Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, and Christian Death, so the search begins.

This leads to my trusty Engineer. The guy is related to just about everyone. Being Ukrainian, you would think how and the hell is he related to Bowie’s son, or James Dean. Curiously, like many people he has an English ancestor that ties him to many famous movie stars, musicians and oddly politicians! Honestly, too many to mention here. However, and as strange as it seems he is very closely related to David Bowie’s son and a little more distantly to James Dean. It’s funny because people have always said he resembled James Dean. Spooky Spooky!  Oh, and he’s related to Disney… Enough, I could go on, and on.

Well, I have some book reviews I am working on, and take a look at my Midnight Hour clothing review. I have saved enough money to start buying some new clothes!

Anyway, catch me at Wedzday’s party this week.

Ville Valo is coming to San Diego, The Mission to Los Angeles, Placebo to Los Angeles (I will miss this one), Covenant will be at Bunker and 69 Eyes will be in San Diego too!

My dance card is full……

 



 My Playlist March 16, 2023

Band                                                 Song Title 

  1. The Doors                                      People Are Strange
  2. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young         Cinnamon Girl
  3. The Rolling Stones                        Gimme Shelter
  4. The Beatles                                   Dear Prudence
  5. David Bowie                                  Ziggy Stardust
  6. Kate Bush                                      Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
  7. Joy Division                                    Love Will Tear Us Apart
  8. Joy Division                                    Dead Souls
  9. New Order                                      Blue Monday
  10. Depeche Mode                               Personal Jesus
  11. Cocteau Twins                                Wax and Wane
  12. Depeche Mode                               Stripped
  13. Chris Isaak                                     Wicked Game
  14. Pixies                                              Where Is My Mind?
  15. Echo The Bunnymen                      People Are Strange
  16. Type O Negative                             Cinnamon Girl
  17. The Sisters Of Mercy                      Gimme Shelter
  18. Siouxsie & The Banshees               Dear Prudence
  19. Bauhaus                                          Ziggy Stardust
  20. Placebo                                           Running Up That Hill
  21. Swans                                             Love Will Tear Us Apart
  22. NIN                                                  Dead Souls
  23. Orgy                                                 Blue Monday
  24. Marilyn Manson                               Personal Jesus
  25. Deftones                                          Wax and Wane
  26. Rammstein                                      Stripped
  27. HIM                                                  Wicked Game
  28. Placebo                                            Where Is My Mind

Skinny Puppy Musing

   Skinny Puppy Musing



This appears to be Skinny Puppy’s last tour; I asked my trusty engineer if he was planning to attend as he had seen them way back in 1987. Certainly,  he would want to catch them one last time, but no.  I guess seeing them long ago was enough, he just just wanted to remember the time he saw them years ago, and really wasn’t interested.  He had an interesting story, here goes.

 

My Engineer’s Skinny Puppy Story:

Well, I always went up to Marilyn’s, Screams, Peanuts and Knotts as a teenager. All these places played Deathrock, New Wave, (yes Knotts Berry Farm had a Goth crowd), and I would meetup with my friends and hang out at one of these spots. Screams, or Peanuts if I remember correctly required an ID, so my pal Eric, his brother took us to a check cashing place to get fake ID’s, you could get away with this then, as long as you didn’t push it. Screams always played the more hardcore underground industrial, the crowd to me anyway, seemed older ,and looked so different than my friends. I mean, here I am a high school student, and this guy like 50 is walking around with these strange gadgets on his hands dancing, and he has super long hair, everyone just reacts differently, or so I thought. I don’t know, I was really too young to be there, but I was with older guys, and whatever. Anyway, from here I started meeting people from the West Side, and I always had to work for my father up in North Hollywood, so after work, I would walk over to Melrose hit the shops, hangout then catch the bus home. So, I had high school friends, and all these club friends, and these much older friends.

From hanging around Screams I started to get into the dirge-like big beats, you know like Cabaret Voltaire, I really loved them, listened to them always. I think, I was my in my sophomore year when I discovered Skinny Puppy. Anyway, the owner of Vinyl Fetish told me if you like Cabaret Voltaire you will love Skinny Puppy. I don’t remember if he sold me a demo, you see he had a  wall of demo tapes, and years later he sold me a London After Midnight demo tape, which I sent to a friend in Germany. I think you might remember him selling me Suicide Commando, and This Ascension .

The early Skinny Puppy  blew me away, to me they sounded influenced by Cabaret Voltaire , but much harder. A few of my friends liked them but, for the most part the group I hung with did not like them, or Cabaret Voltaire. Nothing against their tastes, I wasn’t much of a Smith’s fan, I just wasn’t.

So, in my senior year, I believe one of my friends found out Skinny Puppy was playing in downtown Los Angeles, and Vinyl Fetish was selling the tickets. If I recall, I think three or  four of us had to ride the bus after school up to Melrose to buy the tickets. The owner, I cannot remember his name now sold us the tickets. I Remember him telling us, the day after the show, Skinny Puppy would be there signing autographs. The tickets, I still have the stub, the show  costs  12.50$. Imagine the prices now? Wow!

  Anyway, after school the night of the concert, none of our parents would take us, so again we had to ride the bus to Los Angeles to the concert. The show took place at the Variety Arts Center, I think there must haver been 300 hundred people there, but for the most part older people, well to us high school students they were older people.

Edward Kaspel opened ; this older British guy stood with us the whole time explaining The Legendary Pink Dots. Really, I just wanted to enjoy the show, but whatever….

Skinny Puppy came on, and they were really harsh, I had been to other concerts, but Skinny Puppy was totally different, the singer was really throttling the microphone, the whole stage show just blew me away, even the fake shooting at the end threw me off. Anyway, we had to wait till morning wandering downtown until we could ride the bus back home.

Next morning, we got up, and somehow made it up to Melrose, and got all our posters signed, and were able to speak to the band, this was really before they were well-known. It was super cool, and we were able to speak them forever (well it seemed like forever). I don’t know, we were just dopey high school kids, but it was really a high, lots of fun!

 

Well, that’s his story.

 

The playlist March 15, 2023

 

  1. Skinny Puppy                                     Thieves/Dig it
  2. Cabaret Voltaire                                Blue Heat
  3. Gary Numan                                       My Name Is Ruin
  4. Night Club                                           Dear Enemy
  5. Omnimar                                             The Matrix
  6. And One                                              Killing the Mercy
  7. Ministry                                               Thieves
  8. KANGA                                                 Going Red
  9. :Wumpscut:                                        Crown of Thorns (LP Version)
  10. Nine Inch Nails                                   Closer to God
  11. Nitzer Ebb                                           Getting Closer
  12. Armageddon Dildos                           Intimidated
  13. Vosh                                                     Bleed as One
  14. My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult       A Daisy Chain 4 Satan (Acid & Flowerz Mix)
  15. Elektroklänge                                  Heimkonsole (Mehrsprachige Version)
  16. Apoptygma Berzerk                          Non-Stop Violence
  17. Kant Kino                                            Children in the Park (Sinna Acid)
  18. Combichrist                                        Monster: Murder: Kill
  19. Faderhead                                          Dark Water
  20. Zombie Girl                                        Panic Attack (Venal Flesh Mix)
  21. Project Pitchfork                               Rain
  22. Covenant                                            Dead Stars (version)
  23. Ministry                                              Stigmata

 

...

RodeCaster Pro: My Review

RodeCaster Pro Review – Updated!

A friend of mine mentioned I should purchase a RodeCaster, they were using one to do Podcasting, and they used the recording features to make voice recording for Fiverr, so I watched him use it, and of course, there are several videos on YouTube that explain the various features. Wow – I had to get one!



After saving for a few months, I checked a few online sources, but I decided to purchase my RodeCaster Pro at Guitar Center. The package deal included Proline Mic Stands, Sterling Mics, Sterling Headphones and they threw in some pop screens. 


Seriously, I tried to find a similar deal online, but Guitar Center’s price beat them all, and if I had purchased all this equipment separately, the price would have been terribly more expensive. 


Let me add the support was awesome from Guitar Center too! I had an issue with my drivers on Win 11, and a USB-C cable, and a reversal of some unneeded drivers corrected the issue with Microphone shutdowns that halted all sound through Sam Broadcaster (the software I use for my radio show).


Honestly, If I did not have a Radio show to broadcast there really would be no need to plug the RodeCaster Pro into my Laptop, but the call-in features eliminate echo associated with plug-n-play headsets. Running the Microphones from the RodeCaster Pro through my laptop via Sam Broadcaster has allowed for a really professional sound, much superior than connecting with a USB microphone. Also, I have avoided using the Sam Broadcaster effects, choosing instead the programable sound effects on the RodeCaster Pro. I have the ability to record my own using the RodeCaster controller, or  I have ability to drag and drop professional wav files created for the show.


Another added benefit, I’m able to record the entire show with the microSD card. It’s pretty simple to use, and  allows for editing later; either cutting content, or providing additional content for my YouTube and Podcast . Another benefit, I can develop my library.


Other great features, ability to add 4 Microphones to the RodeCaster Pro. Again, you can record without a laptop using the microSD card , recording yourself, or several guests.


It’s portable too, making it possible to interview a band in any location, any studio and the WIFI feature is awesome.










WenzdaysParty : My Playlist : Midnight Hour : Drones : RodeCaster Pro : Cattle Dogs : March 9, 2023

Things I have to discuss! 

  • Playlist for WoodyRadio.com March 9, 2023
  • Wenzdays Party
  • Midnight Hour - New Dress/Coming Review
  • Drones
  • RodeCaster Pro - I bought one/Review coming
  • Cattle Dogs!

Here's the new Playlist for Today on WoodyRadio (see Below). 

Techies issues are getting better, and I am getting used to speaking on the mic, as oppossed to speaking live (oddness), anyway Djing with Sam is a struggle, it crashes, and the company keeps promising a fix.

One awesome thing, I saved money to purchase a Rodecaster, this is the saving grace of my life, besides my pupper Mathilda. I will write a proper review on this wonderfully terrific ASAP!

I had a terribly fun night at WenzdaysParty, lots of dancing, lots of exciting people. Saw 
some friends, and made a few new ones. I had some drinks with friends over in the bar for a while, then headed over next door to the dance floor. Seriously, I must do this this every week.

Anyway, I got the chance to wear a new dress I purchased Midnight Hour (I will write about this later), it was so cold though, I wore thick leggings, it was even colder when I left. Good lord thankfully I parked right across the street! Cold Cold Cold in the H!

Well, I got home safe, walked the Mahilda dog. Cattle Dogs are high energy puppies, and you must give them walks, and a job. Otherwise, the couch, the pillows, the carpet, socks will become items for destruction. I love these dogs, I've had them my whole life. Matty is a horrid little girl, her parents come from Australia, she's a bossy little pup, always trying to herd me. They are just companions to have if you are responsible - love them! 



Seriously, did I mention a guy saw me before leaving to Hollywood (
Wenzdays Party)
and came up saying he was droning my home checking out my solar. Oddness squared! He did say my house was very nice, and engaged me in conversation for a while. I think they should ask me, frist, but ok, whatever!

We sleep in peace for another day! 


1.       Sirenia                                        The Path to Decay

2.       Cocteau Twins                            Pitch the Baby

3.       Ryksopp                                     Oh, Lover 

4.       In Strict Confidence                    Mercy 

5.       Hocico                                         Broken Empires (Radio Version)

6.       Amanda Palmer                          The Killing Type

7.       Dead Lights                                 The Raven

8.       Night Club                                   Bad Girl

9.       Arcadia                                        Election Day

10.   Placebo                                        Protge Moi

11.   The Human League                     Fascination

12.   Ashbury Heights                          SmAlLeR

13.   Dead Can Dance                         Cantara

14.   Calling All Astronauts                   Rapture

15.   Depeche Mode                             Master and Servant

16.   Eisfabrik                                        Wait for a Sign

17.   Switchblade Symphony                Dollhouse 

18.   Exsect                                           Public Disfigure

19.   :Wumpscut:                                   Deliverance 

20.   The Psychedelic Furs                    The Ghost In You

21.   Dvngeons                                      Ego

22.   Massive Attack                              Teardrop

23.   Dvngeons                                      Distortion

24.   Orange Sector                               Angstmann 

25.   Rasputina                                      1816, the Year Without a Summer




















March 8, 2023Franco American Band Faux Real , Playing Delerium's new song, Seabound - Germany's Answer to Depeche Mode.

 













Midnight Vespers on
WoodyRadio.com Wednesday
March 8, 2023 at 7 PM to 9 PM PST.

Come chat with us at WoodyRadio.com.

ARTIST                               TITLE

1.    Delerium                       Coast to Coast (feat. PHILDEL)
2.    The Birthday Massacre Precious Hearts
3.    Faux Real                      Come Thru
4.    Ashbury Heights            Glow
5.    Chromatics                    Shadow
6.    Marsheaux                    Can U Stop Me? (Extendead)
7.    Garbage                        Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go)
8.    Razorback Hollow         The Sanctity of Your Temple is Ruined by Your Inability to Cope
9.    Beyond Border              Jump Into the Fire
10.  Chelsea Wolfe               The Warden
11.   Das Ich                          Destillat
12.   Sextile                           Disco
13.   Solitary Experiments     Wonderland
14.   Ayria                              Why Aren't You Dead yet?
15.   Exsect                           Punishment Inflicted
16.   Faderhead                    All Black Everything
17.   Grendel                        Severed Nations (Ludovico Technique Remix)
18.   Seabound                     Everything
19.   Suicide Commando      I'd die for you (Assemblage 23 Remix)
20.   Miranda Sex Garden    Peep Show
21.   Xmal Deutschland        Mondlicht
22.   mind.in.a.box                Unforgiving World
23.   Ego Likeness                Aviary

 

May the 4th, more to come  ARTIST                     TITLE 1.         The Birthday Massacre Blue 2.         Snog                       Hoor...