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Review by Aiden
 For
days, they poured into the The Big Apple. From sun-drenched
LA; Hurricane drenched New Orleans and Florida: Texas;
Germany; the UK; France; Italy; and everywhere in between.
For four nights, a corner of The City That Never Sleeps
pulsed with underground music while Deathrockers, Pychobillies,
Goths, Punks, and more mingled around the dim stages and
hallways, ebbing and flowing along with the scheduled
bands and DJ's of the largest Horror themed festival in
the world, Dop Dead III.
I thought nothing could surpass Drop Dead II last year.
But I was wrong. Drop Dead III, held at the Knitting Factory
and Avalon Club/Limelight on Octobber 28-31, 2005, was
even better! Produced by the indegable Polina and her
staff at NYDecay, Drop Dead III was a virtual Who's Who
of the international Deathrock, Psychobilly, and Horrorpunk
scene. Drop Dead III eatured over 65 bands and DJ's. The
three floors of the Knitting Factory were filled with
bands, DJ's, vendors, and fans. On friday night, we saw
Entertain-ment, The Sixteens, Nins Hagen and Shiva Night.
This was my first look at Dead Fly Assembly, which was
even beter than I anticipated! Finally, the night ended
with the classic The  Naked
and the Dead!
Meanwhile, the Dr. Caligari floor RAWKED with Psychocharger,
Six Gun Republic, Sasquatch and the Sickabillies, The
Wrecking Dead, and more hard-driving Psychobilly. We saw
old friends like Andy of Bella Morte; DJ Cavey Nik, who
spun his usual excellent sets; DJRickbatts; DJ Carlos
St. Germain; Brad; Lucas and his lovely girlfriend; Anastasia
and D.F. Lazarus; and many others who. We were thrilled
to meet Tony Havoc and Johann of Scarlet's Remain's, John
from Pins and Needles, and Reverend Doom!
On the second night, we regretted that we couldn't see
all the bands, but we tried our best....
Highlights included the Funeral Crashers, Scarlet's Remain's,
the Brides, Cult of the Psychic Fetus, Rezurex, and the
phenomenally talented Cinema Strange. Meanwhile, downstairs
was a horror-filled lineup which included Crimson Ghosts,
Malice in Leatherland, a rousing performance by Lugosi's
Morphine, DNR, and The Young Werewolves.
Sunday, we spent a wonderful afternoon with fellow staff
member and friend Rosie. Sunday night, I should have taken
notes because everything was a blur. Highlights included
Kastle Grayskill, a characteristically dynamic performance
by Bella Morte, a furious onslaught by Blitzkid, and Psychobilly
legend The Coffin Nails. Downstairs Tony Havoc turned
us on to the great post-punk of Pins and Needles. Deathrock
bands Bohemien and Undying Legacy held sway, and Frank
the Baptist filled the floor to capacity.
Halloween in NYC was like no other. Luck was with us,
as we quickly hailed a cab and headed for the Avalon.
The Avalon is a converted church, which lent an atmosphree
of ethereal gloom. Wandering through the cloister-like
maze, we browsed the many wonderful vendors, lingered
on the dancefloors, and admired the spooky decorations
painstakingly assembled by NYdecay. The night was a blast,
with appearances by Bohemien; Rezurex, who blew us away;
Frank the Baptist, and another fine performance by Cinema
Strange. Nina Hagen put on an amazing preformance that
would have taxed many a younger band! It must have been
exhausting, yet she was kind enough to speak with us after
her show.
Somehow we managed to find time to shop at St. Mark's
Place; visit our favorite pizzeria, and take pictures
at CBGB's. On Tuesday morning, we sadly checked out of
the Pioneer at Soho, and began the trip back to the doldrums
of South Florida. But I have over 300 pictures, a boxful
of music, and the memories to last the long year until
Drop Dead IV.
I would like to thank Polina and NYdecay, the bands,
and the many wonderful people we met, for the experience
that can only be Drop Dead.
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