• Blog,  Conventions

    My GalaxyCon 2019 Experience

    I spent the day in Louisville, Kentucky at GalaxyCon Louisville.
     
    I met wrestler/actor Dave Bautista!!
     
    I’ve been a fan of his since 2007 when I saw him wrestle The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 23 (not in person unfortunately).
     
    He’s now an actor, most famous these days for playing Drax in the Guardians Of The Galaxy movies and a few Avengers movies.
     
    He’s also starred in many other movies like Stuber (very funny), Blade Runner 2049, Marauders (very cool heist movie shot in Cincinnati), Escape Plan 2 and 3 (with Sylvester Stallone!!), Bushwick, and others.
     
    He’s a very cool guy.
     
    I was able to ask him a question at his Q&A (about Stuber) and he appreciated it.
     
    He talked about upcoming movies, including one on Netflix, Dune remake, maybe a Gears Of War movie in a couple of years (once the script is truly ready he said).
     
    He said he probably won’t do any more Avengers movies and probably not a Guardians 4 movie.
     
    This is because he’s in his 50s now and physically he’s not sure he’s up for them.
     
    But he did say he wants to hopefully do the third one and “finish what he started with the cast and family he loves”.
     
    I had only seen him wrestle in person at a wrestling house show in 2008 (wrestling CM Punk), but had never met him. I’m glad I did!!
    Love this guy!!
     
    I also met George Takei (Mr. Sulu of Star Trek) and got his autograph!!!
     
    He was the last surviving cast member of the original Star Trek that I needed to get an autograph from.
     
    He was nice too but he jokingly gave me crap about my Star Trek shirt (that only shows William Shatner and Sir Patrick Stewart).
     
    He told me “I’m here right now. Those captains are only here in image”.
     
    I said I’m sorry that I didn’t have a Captain Sulu shirt. But again, it was all in good fun.
     
    I also met wrestler Arn Anderson!!!
    I’ve been a fan of his for over 30 years.
     
    When I told him that, he didn’t think I was old enough to be a fan of his for that long.
     
    I also told him he was one of my favorite wrestling villains growing up, and that even when I hated him, I loved him. He said “well that means I did my job”.
     
    And before I left him, I told him he is my favorite member of The 4 Horsemen, too. He said “Good call”.
     
    I also met The Incredible Hulk himself, Lou Ferrigno!!
     
    That was very cool.
     
    He still looks to be in great shape.
     
    I attended his Q&A and he talked a lot about fitness, getting fit, and staying fit.
     
    I seriously needed the motivation because I’m soooo out of shape. I don’t expect to look like a body builder, but I need to lose between 30-50 pounds. But anyway, it was great seeing Lou!!
     
    I didn’t meet them but I went to the Q&A of actors Cary Elwes and Chris Sarandon, who both starred in the movie The Princess Bride.
     
    That was a lot of fun. Lots of fun stories. Cary said that movie is the gift that keeps on giving.
     
    I didn’t meet them but I saw many other celebrities such as actor John Cusack, Star Trek The Next Generation actors Michael Dorn (Worf) Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Brent Spiner (Data, who I met in September in Cincinnati), Star Trek Deep Space Nine actors Terry Farrell (Dax) and Armin Shimerman (Quark), Brett Cullen (who recently starred in The Joker and many other movies), Wrestlers Ric Flair (who I’ve met a few times), Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, Christian (who I met earlier this year in Lexington), and Mark Henry, and others.
     
    Very busy, but fun filled day.
     
    I never have enough money for these events but I did ok.
     
    One more event this year (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation screening/Live Chevy Chase Q&A in Columbus, Ohio (I wanted to go to the Charleston, WV one, but it sold out).
     
    Then I may be done with events until March.

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)

  • Blog,  Concerts

    Last Slayer Show I See? Slayer/Primus/Ministry/Philip H. Anselmo And The Illegals Concert Review

    I saw another fun concert.
     
    Most of the bands I had not seen before.
     
    And the headliner I saw for the 7th and final time because in 3 weeks, they are done. Apparently.
     
    First up was Philip H. Anselmo And The Illegals.
     
    Phil is most famous for being the singer of Pantera.
     
    Lately, he and his band have been doing nothing but Pantera songs, which for me, is phenomenal.
     
    Because sadly, I never saw Pantera and sadly never will. That is my biggest concert regret.
     
    But having said that, hearing Phil singing those songs made me feel good, and took me back to the time when Pantera were one of the most important bands in my life.
     
    And his band does a good job playing them.
     
    He was in great spirits and dedicated the set to all the veterans.
     
    Next up was Ministry. Very loud, heavy, but also electronic band.
     
    Main man Al Jourgenson has been doing this a long time and it was great to finally see him and his band.
     
    After that was Primus. Musically, they really stick out like a soar thumb on this tour. But, the crowd loved them and they were fantastic.
     
    Lead singer/bassist Les Claypool is one of the best bassists in history.
     
    The entire band are phenomenal.
     
    But again, musically, extremely different than say the headliner.
     
    And speaking of the headliner, for the 7th and final time, I saw one of my favorites Slayer!!!
     
    They’ve always been great live and this time was no different.
     
    I love that they have never compromised, unapologetic on the music they’ve made, and have always been great.
     
    They hung around longer than I’ve seen them do at the end, so I think that’s their way of saying goodbye.
     
    Tom Araya, singer/bassist of Slayer, ended by saying “Thanks for hanging out. Thanks for coming. Thank you for being an important part of my life. Goodnight. Adios”.
     
    Throughout it felt like another regular Slayer show, but seeing that brought some finality to the situation.
     
    If they are done in 3 weeks, they’ve had a great career.
     
    If they change their mind like everyone else does, then that’s fine too.
     
    Slayer!!!!!

    Slayer Set List:

    1. Intro (Delusions Of Savior)
    2. Repentless
    3. Mandatory Suicide
    4. World Painted Blood
    5. Postmortem
    6. Hate Worldwide
    7. War Ensemble
    8. Stain Of Mind
    9. Disciple
    10. When The Stillness Comes
    11. Born Of Fire
    12. Payback
    13. Seasons In The Abyss
    14. Jesus Saves
    15. Chemical Warfare
    16. Hell Awaits
    17. South Of Heaven
    18. Show No Mercy
    19. Raining Blood
    20. Dead Skin Mask
    21. Angel Of Death

    Primus Set List:

    1. Intro (Clown Dream)
    2. Those Damned Blue Collar Tweekers
    3. Too Many Puppies
    4. Sgt. Baker (with Too Many Puppies Reprise)
    5. Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver
    6. The Seven
    7. Cygnus X-1 (Rush cover)
    8. Mr. Knowitall
    9. Mr. Krinkle
    10. Welcome To This World
    11. Professor Nutbutter’s House Of Treats
    12. My Name Is Mud
    13. Jerry Was A Race Car Driver

    Ministry Set List:

    1. The Missing
    2. Deity
    3. Stigmata
    4. Supernaut (Black Sabbath cover)
    5. Just One Fix
    6. N.W.O.
    7. Thieves
    8. Jesus Built My Hotrod

    Philip H. Anselmo And The Illegals Set List:

    1. A New Level
    2. Becoming
    3. Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit
    4. Strength Beyond Strength/Goddamn Electric (part of it)
    5. This Love
    6. Fucking Hostile
    7. Walk

    Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)