Exotic Erotic @ the Cow Palace 10/22/05

[Drunk Monk]

I've been trying to think of the first one of these - when did we go to that Greg? Mid 80's was it? And Mark, when was my bad trip? '87? '86?

The Exotic Erotic is now 26 and I've been working it ever since. It moved from the Concourse a few years back, into the Palacio de Bovino, about the same time S&M&B&D arose, giving the event a decidely carnal air, since the whole place can be hosed down, intended for cow shit, but now for all sorts of excretions that the EE might produce. Legbone and I went as Jedi - it was part of a prank by the Jedi Night Krew, as we've become to be known at Rock Med - there were 4 other JNK conspirators. More people came in costume than in years past. It was actually and kinder, gentler show - almost a throwback to the carpeted Concourse daze. I didn't feel as dirty as usual after. Medically, it was very mellow. EE had been on a downward spiral, more assaults, more drunks, more violence. But this one was like a breath of fresh air in a musty $1 movie booth. That being said, the best moments included Legbone being totally hypnotized by a lap dancer for a spell - she reduced him to a babbling mess (better than bubbling, I suppose); the most erotic moment was watching a performer put her clothes back on (it was a professional act on the main stage); Legbone and I got free led light up drink glasses, not sure why those were kicked down to us exactly (LB got a beer stein, I got a martini glass); and of course, our JNK silly string attack upon one of our supervisors was spectacular fun.

Best quote of the night from a long-time RM friend, gazing at me in full Jedi gear "I've always fantasized about you like this."

Most disappointing part of the night - no light saber battles.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Didn't we go twice. I think I brought the SO of the moment. My favorite costume was of the well hung cowboy. He's the only image that really sticks in my mind.

[Drunk Monk]

That would make sense. What did we wear? Anything?

I'm thinking I've not missed very many EE over the 20+ years I've been going to them. I remember going with Mark for that bad, bad trip one, and that was prior to being part of Rock Med, which would be over 18 years ago. I'm thinking we went prior to Rock Med too, so that would be before '87. Did I go to 3 before '87? I seem to remember going with Mark and Dan Lynn one year too. It started in '79. I doubt I went prior to college ('83)... Note that I dropped out of the PhD program in '88, and those were the blurriest years. I don't think I paid for tickets anymore once I dialed into Rock Med, but I'm not sure really...

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Did we go as Ninjas? The all purpose outfit of the eighties? it had to be early eighties because I was gone in 1988. I'm thinking it was 84 or 85.

[Drunk Monk]

You don't have any pics anywhere?

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

That's a little unfair, don't you think. I still had hormones raging. Pictures came in second. Besides, you were there this week. Where are your pictures? Do i have to buy cameras for the brotherhood to solve this lack of visual information problem?

[Drunk Monk]

I've brought cameras to shows, as well as tape recorders, all sorts of technology to try to document the experience, and I've never succeeded. Maybe I'm too distracted from the work. Maybe Rock Med is an experiential process for me, one that I hate to dilute by viewing it through a camera lens. Maybe trying to slop a puke bucket in costume and wield a camera is just too much for me.

There are two pics from EE's past in my last Shaolin Trips article, see http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/magazine...rticle=593

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Two lousy pictures and most of the people are dressed. Were you dressed up as a Rock Med aid? Nice stretch.

[El Dingo]

I really wanted to go this year.

I've never seen Bow Wow Wow in concert : (

[Drunk Monk]

...I too had never seen them and they were a portion of the draw to EE for me this year, just for nostalgia's sake. But they haven't aged well, not so much their look, but their ability to play. Their performance was really disappointing. I walked out almost immediately. I checked in again later, just to see if I just caught them at a bad moment, but no. I would have rather not have seen them and kept those I Want Candy memories pristine.

[Haggis Killer]

Bow Wow Wow was one of the premiere crappy punk bands of the post-punk punk scene. The only reason I Want Candy was a hit was because:

1. it had been recorded previously by more talented people
2. the band had a producer forced upon them

If you ever attempted to listen to the songs around I Want Candy on Bow Wow Wow's album, you'd have known that they were as one his wonder-ish as you could be.

Boy, did they suck! Yowch! That they still suck suprises me not. I borrowed that album from someone back in the day and couldn't return it fast enough.

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

I'm clicking through channels at a frenetic pace and I stop on Andrew Carter doing "I want Candy"

mt021 mt019

[Drunk Monk]

I admit, I was never really into punk, but I wouldn't have classified Bow Wow Wow as punk. They were just pop to my ear - pop overlayed on some pseudo-african rhythms. Still, I wanted to check them out, just like I like to check out any has-been band when I'm working shows. Past EE's have featured Joan Jett (who can still rock in that cheap 'another dime in the jukebox way") and Crash Worship (who are in a class all by themselves and stole the show that year by throwing real blood on the audience). See, the EE isn't about the bands...

[El Dingo]

Too bad about Bow Wow Wow.

I'm more interested in them as pop history than as a fan. There was some story about the original drummers from Adam and the Ants being paired up with that singer chick by Malcolm McLaren and yada yada yada.

Adam and the Ants was one of the elite core of rock groups with 2 drummers (like The Eagles and The Dead).

Glad to hear the scene has mellowed out. The last one Dee Dee and I went to was filled with non-costumed drunk assholes starting fights and yelling obscenities. I think that was the one with Screamin' Jay Hawkins, but I could be wrong.

[Drunk Monk]

Now there's a band I'd love to see too - again for the pop aspect. Are they still alive?

It was definitely one of the best EE's I've been to in the last half decade. A minimal amount of drunk assholes. Not too many over-the-top costumes, but a lot of decent costumes, stuff people had put some amount of work into. At U2, one of our volunteers, the one who took the pic above in fact, shared his front-of-stage photos - they were hardcore porn. Guess I was looking the wrong way and missed that.