Penetrating Insights

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If you didn't know, the next PANIC show is next Friday, June the 29th (with PAST CRIMES and SURINAM). It was originally supposed to be at Johnny Jackson's, but they have closed. So. The lucky new venue is Soybomb, and the occasion marks the release of SURINAM's first album cassette. Be there or die a thousand deaths.

Bonus! TOWN SHIP has been added to the bill.

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PANIC photos by Nic Pouliot for Now Magazine.

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PANIC continues to do shows, having recently played in Oshawa at Wasted Space (along with PAST CRIMES and HOLY MOUNT) and at 3030 in Toronto (with MILK LINES). Next up, on April 17, we play with BIBLICAL and OVERNIGHT at the Horseshoe Tavern, and then on May 29, we reunite with PAST CRIMES and SURINAM at Johnny Jackson.

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Our first PANIC show of the year - and our first show with drummer Sean Dignan (SUCKERPUNCH, DODGE FIASCO) - went down in the middle of a blizzard on Sunday night. We played the Dakota Tavern with Ian Blurton's PUBLIC ANIMAL, the inaugural night of a month-long residency for them there.

PUBLIC ANIMAL began the evening with a set premiering new songs, and lordy, lordy, it was loud and awesome. The band was ferocious and I encourage anyone reading this to check them out forthwith. After that, PANIC played our debut LP "Bad Fantasies" track-for-track for what may be the last time (we have new songs now). That went down swimmingly with those who had ventured out in the weather, and we had a great time. PUBLIC ANIMAL were then back to play a rocking set of older songs, covers and the like, culminating in a huge freak-out ending that left everybody reeling.

Again, see PUBLIC ANIMAL at the Dakota every Sunday this month. PANIC has a couple of shows in March, starting with an appearance at the Long Winter Festival (at the Great Hall). Hope to see you there!

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Announcing the debut of a seasonal blog I started last month, DIRTY SNOW. Plan and simple, this is a photoblog of that winter phenomenon so unheralded and forlorn, bane of roadsides and parking lots: the dirty, dirty snow.

DIRTY SNOW

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Fantastic news for Jamie Gillis fans: the Rialto Report publishes an excerpt from Gillis' autobiography "Naked In Public", and, better still, announces that they are working with his estate to publish it.

Read more here.

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A couple of upcoming shows to announce --

February 1 - with PUBLIC ANIMAL (Ian Blurton's latest band) at The Dakota Tavern.

March 13 - as part of the LONG WINTER Festival at The Great Hall.

Possibly more live dates soon.

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So, in the end, I didn't manage to watch a horror film every day of October. But I did get about 2/3rds. In reverse order, they are as follows:

20. The Devil Rides Out AKA The Devil's Bride (1968).
19. The Purge: Anarchy (2014).
18. V/H/S 2 (2014).
17. Scalps (1983).
16. Isle Of The Dead (1945).
15. The Prowler AKA Rosemary's Killer (1981).
14. Triangle (2009).
13. You're Next (2013).
12. The Loved Ones (2009).
11. Kotoko (2011).
10. King Of the Ants (2003).
9. The ABCs Of Death (2012).
8. Dumplings (2004).
7. Scream of Fear AKA Taste of Fear (1961).
6. Blood From The Mummy's Tomb (1971).
5. Equinox (1970).
4. Vampire Doll AKA Legacy of Dracula AKA Ghost House: Bloodsucking Doll (1970).
3. The Bloody Exorcism of Coffin Joe AKA Exorcismo Negro (1974).
2. The House on Straw Hill AKA Exposé (1976).
1. Die! Die! My Darling AKA Fanatic (1965).

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"Dumplings" (2004). Something more recent for a change. This Hong Kong film tells the story of the relationship between two women: one seeking to regain her youthful looks, the other with an unusual means of doing just that. It's the titular dumplings, you see -- but whatever is in them? It's a testament to this film that the answer is hinted at and suggested pretty much from the get go, without hurting the pacing or the plot. "Dumplings" also manages to somehow be sexy as well as gag-inducing. 7/10