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Review by Aiden
Following the success of Drop Dead I in 2003, Drop Dead
II was the largest international Horror and Deathrock
festival and party which featured Deathrock, Psychobilly,
Horror Punk, gothic Rock, and Horror Surf.
Produced by the incomparable Polina of
Nydecay, Drop Dead II featured over 50 bands and twenty
DJs from across the globe. Headlining the festival were
the classic batcave bands Ausgang, appearing exclusively
for DD2, Skeletal family, and Cinema Strange. Other bands
covered the spectrum from pyschobilly to deathrock, including
Bella Morte, Holy Cow, Radio Scarlett, Sixth Chamber,
7 Shot Screamers, The Brides, Lugosi’s Morphine,
Undying Legacy, Cult of the Psychic Fetus, and many more!
DJ’s included Mark Splatter, Cavey Nik, and DJ Bad
Luck herself! Along with the music, there were vendors,
performance art, fashions, giveaways, and even an afternoon
horror moviefest.
The entire staff of Midnight Calling attended Drop Dead
II, arriving a day early, just in time for the pre-festival
party at CBGB’s. Luckily, our hotel in Soho was within
walking distance of all the events. The next three nights
at the Knitting Factory were filled with seeing many great
bands and meeting other people who shared our musical
tastes. Deathrockers, Punks, and Psychobillys all mingled
together at the vendors’ booths and bars before dashing
off to the next stage. I was fortunate enough to talk
with Lucas of Cinema Strange, Karl and Claire of Skeletal
Family, Matt Riser of Fear Cult, Brad of Club Repent,
Cavey Nik, Mark Splatter, and many other interesting people!
I hadn’t seen Cavey Nik since attending Dead and
Buried last year. Rosie is an absolute sweetheart! Alex,
Polina’s inexhaustible assistant, seemed to be everywhere
at once! Mark Splatter, Cavey Nik and other top DJ’s
spun in the downstairs bar area, which was a haven between
bands on the very hectic nights of the festival.
What would New York be without shopping? And shop we
did. Walking from our Hotel in Soho to St. Mark’s
Place, we visited Trash Vaudeville, Saints Lounge, and
many other clothing and music stores. We also visited
Screamin’ Mimi’s vintage store where Cyndi Lauper
used to work. On the day after the festival, we saw Siouxsie
Sioux perform, and then stopped by CBGB’s for the
official after-party. After a few hours sleep, we boarded
our taxi for the airport, and headed back to Florida.
Drop Dead II was the ultimate Deathrock experience! We
look forward to attending Drop Dead III in October, 2005!
Don’t miss it!
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