G-FEST: Godzilla + Kaiju Fans Unite!
July 10th, 2019 by chocko
G-FEST, the 26th annual gathering of the kaiju community is happening in Rosemont, Illinois from Friday July 12 to Sunday July 14 featuring special guests, a huge dealer room, artist alley and round the clock programming. This year’s guests of honor include Akira Takarada (actor), Shusuke Kaneko (director and screenwriter), Peggy Neal (actress), Yoshikazu Ishii, (director and assistant special effects director) and Takuji Yamada (award-winning diorama modeler). If you’re in town on Thursday July 11, you don’t want to miss the double double feature at the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, IL with Godzilla’s Revenge, Ghidorah The Three-Headed Monster, The X From Outer Space and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack. Check out some photos of monsters and guests and video clips from last year’s G-FEST XXV.
Tags: 2019, cosplay, g-fan, G-FEST, godzilla, kaiju, Keizo Murase, Kenpachiro Satsuma, Megumi Odaka, model kits
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Yuen Woo-Ping Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at NYAFF 2019
July 9th, 2019 by chocko
Last week, the New York Asian Film Festival was in full swing featuring an award ceremony for the legendary Hong Kong action choreographer and director Yuen Woo-Ping. Yuen directed Jackie Chan in his first two movies, Snake In The Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master. Yuen went on to make a ton of movies starring kung fu heavyweights such as Sammo Hung, Donnie Yen, Yuen Biao, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh. Many years later, American audiences would know him for his work in the Matrix movies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kill Bill. Back in the day when Mr. C and I collected kung fu VHS tapes on our trips to NYC, if Yuen Woo-Ping’s name was mentioned somewhere on the box, we knew that the action scenes were going to be off the hook with jaw dropping choreography! Yuen was awarded The Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the Walter Reade Theater in Lincoln Center. Yuen graciously accepted the award and said a few words which you can see in a video below.
The award ceremony was followed by a screening of Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy. The movie is an excellent spinoff to the Ip Man series which features Max Zhang back in the role of Master Z. After his defeat to Ip Man, Master Z looks to live a quiet life running a small grocery store and taking care of his son. Drug dealing gangsters put an end to the peaceful life for Master Z and sure enough, it’s back to kicking and punching in the Hong Kong streets. I wasn’t aware of the stellar cast in the movie but there is Tony Jaa who plays the mysterious Sadi the warrior, David Bautista as a restaurant owner and Michelle Yeoh as the leader of an organized crime gang. The action in the movie is some of the best in recent years especially a sequence above the streets and among the neon signs. I highly recommend the film to fans of the genre and you best believe I’ll be seeing it again soon and hopefully in a movie theater packed with kung fu movie fans. Yuen Woo-Ping came back after the movie for a Q&A moderated by Samuel Jamier of NYAFF.
If you are interested in seeing more of what the 18th Annual New York Asian Film Festival (June 28 – July 14) has to offer then check out http://filmlinc.org or http://nyaff.org for more information.
Tags: 2019, cinema, kung fu, lincoln center, movies, new york asian film festival, new york city, nyaff 2019, yuen woo-ping
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Back To The NYHC Roots at A7
June 13th, 2019 by chocko
Last Sunday The New York Hardcore Chronicles and NYHC Comics put together a Matinee show at A7 which is now Niagara (112 Avenue A) in The Lower East Side in New York City. This edition of “The Back To The NYHC Roots Music Series” featured the bands Antidote, Murderer’s Row, Ache, End Of Hope and Crippled Earn performing in the space which is known as the birthplace of New York Hardcore. Antidote headlined the show with a lineup that featured Drew Stone on lead vocals, Tristan D’Graves on bass, Matt Gray on drums and founding Antidote guitarist Robb Nunzio! Anybody catch their entrance music? It was the funky Main Theme from the famous Bruce Lee movie “Enter The Dragon” which foreshadowed all the punching and kicking to come later in the pit. Most of Antidote’s set list was comprised of songs off the classic 1983 “Thou Shalt Not Kill” 7-inch which is a classic New York Hardcore slab of wax. Other tunes such as the fist-pounding set opener “Conspiracy Of None” came from the 2012 Antidote album “No Peace In Our Time” which features Drew Stone who formed a NY hardcore band in the early 80’s called The High & The Mighty. Interestingly enough, a High & The Mighty song which was later rerecorded by Antidote, “Time Is Right, Ready To Fight” was performed in the set. The crowd was in for a treat because, lurking in the shadows, well actually sitting patiently on the back window sill, was original Antidote singer Louie Rivera who jumped on stage towards the end of the set for a double dose of OG Antidote with “Real Deal” and “Foreign Job-Lot” which went right into Drew back on the mic for “Rise Above” by Black Flag. The show ended with a combo Minor Threat punch to the jaw with “filler” and “I Don’t Wanna Hear It” with some help from some friends including Josh of Urban Waste. Looks like Drew got clocked by a fist of fury at the end of the set. Protect Ya Neck!
I’ll admit to being lame and missing the first three bands but I did catch Murderer’s Row from Troy, New York. The last time they played New York City, CBGB was still open and after more than a decade, all is forgiven. They put on a killer set of hard rock n roll tunes inspired by punk rock and booze. Murderer’s Row lead guitarist Sick Nick was missing in action but the band played on to a crowd digging their songs about “boozing, brawling, working class pride and patriotism.” Their Cock Sparrer cover of “Watch Your Back” got the crowd fist pumping and stomping. Check out some videos of Murderer’s Row and Antidote playing Niagara below!
Back To The NYHC Roots series continues at Niagara (112 Ave A) on Sunday , July 14, 2019 (2PM) with Darkside NYC, The Last Stand, Combust, The Ice Cold Killers, Dead Crew and Necrotic Society. Then get ready for Sunday, August 4, 2019 (2PM) at Niagara with Leeway, Gilligan’s Revenge (Reunion), Enrage, Beyond and Born Sinner. Both shows have DJ Sid Da Kid spinning tunes at the bar and both shows are FREE! Come on down to the legendary A7…trust me, they don’t make shows like these anymore. Come support the bands and see you in da pit!
Tags: a7, antidote nyhc, hardcore punk, live music, lower east side, murderers row, new york city, niagara, nyc, nyhc, punk, punk rock, punk show
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Godzilla Invades Kinokuniya USA
May 31st, 2019 by chocko
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is now playing at a theater near you and to celebrate, Kinokuniya Books is selling exclusive Godzilla merchandise. The following cities are participating in the kaiju pop-up shops: Chicago, Carrollton, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Edgewater, New Jersey. When we got to the New Jersey store, the pickings were slim but we were told to keep checking back for more merch in the next couple of weeks. Below are some photos of the products at the Edgewater store, which included art books, stickers, figures, flip flops, pins, postcards, and pens. The only other place where you can find this stuff is the official Godzilla store in Japan. Be sure to check your local participating Kinokuniya for availability because supplies are limited.
While in the are of Kinokuniya in Edgewater, fill your belly with some delicious Japanese food at the Mitsuwa Marketplace. Also check out the store Little Japan next door to the book store for more toys and Godzilla merchandise like the mini Godzilla figures you can purchase with tokens from a vending machine, large Bandai figures and a Godzilla bank which features great sound effects and a tiny version of the King Of The Monsters that pops up and takes your change. A great deal for $20!
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Tags: edgewater, godzilla, kaiju, king of the mosters, kinokuniya, merchandise, new jersey, toys
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Chiller Theatre Halloween 2018
April 25th, 2019 by chocko
Hey misfits, cretins and crustaceans! It’s Spring again and with rain showers and buckets of blood, comes Chiller Theatre time once again..a Spooktacular gathering of all things horror, sci-fi (shout out to Forrest J. Ackerman!). It is the one toy, model and film expo you don’t want to miss and it only happens twice a year so get kraken. Mark your calendars for the weekend of April 26-28 and get over to Parsippany, New Jersey for some spooky collectible shopping, celebrity autographs and photo ops. Once again, Chiller Theatre has a great list of ghoulish guests including Linda Blair (The Exorcist), Shi Kosugi (Enter The Ninja), Tony Danza (Who’s The Boss) , Cheryl Ladd (Charlie’s Angels), and Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills 90210). I’m excited to see Carole and Paula of The Magic Garden in their first convention appearance anywhere. Here’s a look back at our visit to Chiller Theatre Halloween 2018. Hope to see you there!
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Tags: chiiler theatre, expo, halloween 2018, horror, horror convention, new jersey, nj, sci-fi
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A Blast From The Past: Puke Island at Tompkins Square Park 2013
March 29th, 2019 by chocko
It’s Flashback Friday and Chocko dug even deeper into the dark abyss and found some crustified photos and videos of a punk rock show that happened at Tompkins Square Park in the Lower East Side NYC almost 6 years ago! Puke Island (that is not a typo!) was masterminded by Chris of the metal/punk band ICONICIDE and his evil henchmen. There’s a little more about them in the previous post but they are releasing a new album soon and if you can reach down deep into your linty pockets…click on their gofundme to assist with what is sure to be an awesome, heavy, balls to the walls punk album. Be sure to check out the videos below and check out the Iconicide side-project, an underground hip hop group DABUMRUSHKREW busting out a stanky Geto Boys cover of “Mind Playing Tricks On Me.” The other bands were killing it so be sure to support and see them play live, buy their records and merch or check ’em out online – The Minor Cuts, Damn Broads, The Graveyard School and Cojoba!
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Tags: cojoba, dabumrushkrew, damn broads, iconicide, new york city, nyc, puke island, show, the graveyard school, the minor cuts, tompkins square park
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Upcoming Punk Shows at Tompkins Square Park
March 27th, 2019 by chocko
(Chaotic Meltdown at Tompkins Square Park)
Now that Spring has sprung and the flowers are blooming, it is a time for renewal and rejuvenation and this time of the year makes me think of all the punk shows coming up at Tompkins Square Park. Here are a few photos that have been sitting under some dust in the Planet Chocko vaults…Puke Island 6 (not to be mistaken for Punk Island) which went down at Tompkins Square Park way back in 2016. My goodness how time flies! Puke Island shows are brought to you by the fine folks in the band ICONICIDE and their tag team partners, New York’s only underground newspaper THE SHADOW! Look out for Iconicide’s new album, Engine Of Apocalypse which is in the works. If you can help them out, they have a gofundme to assist with costs in putting out their album which will be comprised of brand new material and live recordings of Iconicide featuring members who have passed away in recent years.
Here’s a dude with a busted foot in a wheelchair and his buddy decides to hop on the back. Spoiler: the wheelchair with occupants flipped over.
The photos above feature THE DECEIVERS…a scary bunch of creepy, punk zombies singing about a few of their favorite things: hookers, handguns and heroin. Intense, angry stuff featuring lead singer Mike Denied from the band The Denied and formerly The Murder Junkies.
Former MTV VJ Jesse Camp soaking in the Tompkins vibes and tunes
New York hardcore was represented well with WE ALL DIE pictured above.
Cancel your lower east side brunch plans and see you at the park for some upcoming shows:
MayDay in TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK
Sunday April 28, 2019 at 2 PM – 6 PM featuring performances by KALEIDOSKOPE + SUBVERSIVE RITE + SCALPLE + FLOWER + MIEDO
Plus: Political speakers, artists and other performers
WASTECREW party and Memorial show for the late Kenny “Waste” Ahrens
Saturday May 25, 2019 at 2 PM – 7 PM featuring performances by Skum City + Cherry Pop + Hot Blood + Full Scale Riot + Caught in a Trap + The Undead + Urban Waste
Tags: hardcore punk, iconicide, live music, lower east side, new york city, nyc, punk, tompkins square park
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Lions, Tigers, & Dragons in Chinatown NYC
February 17th, 2019 by Mr. C
Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu schoolWe’ve missed the last couple of years of the Lunar New Year celebrations in NYCs Manhattan Chinatown. But on Saturday, we made a triumphant return to Super Saturday, a day in where Kung Fu schools, youth organizations, benevolent associations, community organizations, & traditional dance troupes in the New York city area all come out to perform traditional Lion Dances in the streets going from storefront to storefront collecting red envelopes and to welcome in the new year with prosperity & health to all the businesses! The term Super Saturday was created by the NYPDs 5th Precinct in Chinatown as they helped the community to organize the lion dancing including street closures and police escorts for each group without causing too much cluster fucks and possible violence breaking out amongst all the rival schools and organizations and in the 1980s, there were plenty of turf wars amongst our own. Thankfully with the gang wars behind us since the Giuliani regime, peace has been the main theme! This year’s participants include some familiar names & suspects: Yip’s Dragon Style Kung Fu, Norman Chin’s Jook Lum Gee Tong Long Pai (Southern Praying Mantis), Luen Hing, Shaolin Kung Fu Institute, Yee’s Hung Ga, United East Athletic Association, Golden Lion club, Staten Island Lions, New York United Lion Dance Troupe, Chinatown Community Young Lions, Chinese Freemason Athletic Club, & Fong’s Hung Ga!
Tags: chinese new year, lion dance, lunar new year, lunar new year 2019, super saturday
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Ghostface Killah @ The Wellmont Theater (Montclair, New Jersey)
January 24th, 2019 by chocko
Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan performed at Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey last month. Ghostface stepped on the stage and started his set with his verse from the Bad Boy remix of “Special Delivery” then performed classic Wu-Tang and solo tracks which spanned 25 years in the rap game. Ghostface rocked the stage with a little help from Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna and affiliates Killah Priest of Sunz of Man and Ghostface Killah’s son, Sun God who also did an excellent job opening up the show. Holding it down behind the turntables was Technician The DJ. The crowd ate up every track played off Wu-Tang’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Wu-Tang Forever and Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. My favorite part of the show was Ghostface Killah doing “Protect Ya Neck” with volunteers from the audience doing Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Method Man’s verses. Check out a video of that song we recorded down below. New Jersey represented with some grimey Shaolin techniques on the microphone especially the young lady doing ODB’s lyrics like she was about to get into a fist fight after some drinks at Cuban Pete’s. You can catch all the rest of the surviving members of Wu-Tang Clan form like Voltron at upcoming reunion shows in Philadelphia and NYC to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their debut, 36 Chambers. Hip Hop fans in the UK can see Wu-Tang Clan in May when they embark on a 3 day Gods Of Rap tour with DJ Premier and Public Enemy on the 30th Anniversary of It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back and De La Soul on the 30th Anniversary of 3 Feet High And Rising. London, Manchester, Glasgow. You’ve been warned!
Tags: ghostface killah, hip hop, live show, montclair, new jersey, rap, wellmont theater, wu-tang clan
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Easy Mo Bee spun at Turntable Lab
January 12th, 2019 by chocko
Legendary producer Easy Mo Bee made an appearance last night at Turntable Lab in New York City, a pristine and well organized record store in the East Village. As soon as I saw them announce the in-store, I mentally prepared for the grueling commute from New Jersey to the Motherland smack dab during rush hour on a Friday night. By the time I got to the store, Mo Bee was already full swing into a mind melting, all vinyl (mostly 45’s) soul, funk and dance set. Just a quick bio on Easy Mo Bee for those not familiar with him…this DJ turned producer worked on Big Daddy Kane’s 1989 album “It’s A Big Daddy Thing” which got him work on Cold Chillin’ Records producing singles for The Genius and Prince Rakeem who the world would know later as GZA and RZA of The Wu-Tang Clan. Mo Bee then worked with Bad Boy Entertainment to work with an up and coming artist named BIG (he wasn’t Notorious yet!). That song was “Party and Bullshit” off the 1993 “Who’s The Man” soundtrack. Mo Bee went on to produce 6 of the tracks off Notorious B.I.G.’s debut album, “Ready To Die” which dropped like an elbow off the top rope in 1994. The songs on that slab of wax which got blessed with Easy Mo Bee beats were the following: Gimme The Loot, Machine Gun Funk, Warning, Ready To Die, The What, and Friend Of Mine. During this time, Mo Bee also produced the monster smash “Flava In Ya Ear” by Craig Mack. Mo Bee also produced tracks on 2PAC’s 1995 album “Me Against The World” along with the long list of artists he would work over the years such as The Lost Boyz, Busta Rhymes, Zhane, Mos Def, Sean Price, Alicia Keys and Miles Davis…it is clear that Mo Bee has been putting in the work!
I soaked in the tunes for an hour…lots of songs that would later get sampled heavily in hip hop, furiously funky and obscure gems and after 7PM he was going more into a dance and house direction. Peace to Easy Mo Bee for letting me interrupt the set and get some CDs signed while geeking out and quoting lyrics from the time he was in a rap group, Rappin’ Is Fundamental. I brought their 1991 CD with me along with the “Who’s The Man” soundtrack , “Ready To Die” and Biggie’s double album “Life After Death” which featured two Easy Mo Bee tracks on that…”I Love The Dough” and “Going Back To Cali”. Another album I threw on the pile was “Now Or Never: Odyssey 2000”. Follow Easy Mo Bee on twitter and instagram to see what he’s up to. Peace to Turntable Lab…hope they have more cool in-stores and if you’re in the area, stop in and check them out at 84 E 10th St, New York, NY (between 3rd Ave and 4th Ave).
Tags: easy mo bee, hip hop, in-store, live dj set, new york city, notorious b.i.g., nyc, record store, turntable lab
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Mickey The True Original Exhibition
January 1st, 2019 by chocko
So, if you don’t know by now…Mickey Mouse turned 90 in 2018 and part of the celebration of The Disney True Original is an immersive 16,000 square-foot exhibition in New York City. There are 12 rooms to explore featuring art and installations by nearly 30 artists paying homage to everybody’s favorite rodent. There are also old collectibles on display along with an interactive game show where everybody wins a prize. Sharpen up on your Disney trivia but don’t worry, your game show host and Mickey will drop you lots of hints. You get a collectible enamel pin if you complete the game which is better than nothing! Along the exhibition you’ll also run into some free ice cream samples, so if you get a rumbly in your tumbly, diabetic shakes or just need a break, you will get some sugary sweets to get you right on track and ready to check out art and take selfies. One of my favorite exhibits is a screening of “Steamboat Willie Redux” which is the classic 1928 Micky Mouse debut “Steamboat Willie” side by side with a modern interpretation using all sorts of animation techniques and abstract re-imaginings. Another must-see is Kenny Scharf’s Cosmic Cavern which is a room filled with all sorts of neon objects from floor to ceiling with speakers blasting music to shake whatcha mama gave ya. On the way out, be sure to stop by the Mickey’s Maker Shop where you can purchase collectibles or design your own shirt.
https://partners.disney.com/mickey-the-true-original-exhibition
You can’t just walk up and buy a ticket at the door, so click the link above to get tickets in advance and schedule your visit. Not exactly cheap…at $38 before fees that’s a whole lotta cheddar! The entrance lobby for Mickey The True Original Exhibition is at 60 Tenth Ave. in NYC which is at the corner of 10th Avenue at West 15th Street. Hours are Tuesday – Sunday from 10 AM – 8 PM. If you just want to come down and shop for some Mickey Collectibles, the Mickey’s Maker Shop is open Tue – Sun from 10 AM – 8 PM and you don’t need a ticket to get in. Oh, Boy! The last day to check out the exhibition is February 10, 2019.
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Tags: disney, exhibition, mickey mouse, mickey the true original exhibition, new york city, nyc, things to do, walt disney
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a soprano like christmas!
December 23rd, 2018 by Mr. C
We’ve seen some crazy, over the top festive Christmas light decorations but this one might take the cake! Who ever heard of a lit-up spinning concrete mixing truck all decked out in led lights and blaring out Christmas tunes while a snow machine shoots out artificial snow!? Tonight we went to an ice cream shop in Little Falls, NJ called Sip N Swirl to witness just that – a New Jersey, Soprano like Christmas! Hey ho – ho ho ho!
Salomone Brothers Inc. of Wayne, NJ – a company that provides Redi-Mix concrete services to residential & commercial customers as well as provide construction contracting, plowing and of course, Christmas decorating – are the ones responsible for dedicating two of their concrete mixing and delivery vehicles to help brighten the holiday season for the residents of northern New Jersey while also visiting the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson and special needs homes.
We only saw the bigger of the 2 trucks and it was lit! The most coolest thing was that the barrel of the cement truck was able to rotate along with the lights without getting tangled up! Brilliant!
The kids in the crowd seemed to have a great time jumping around admiring a larger than life tonka toy with all its LED lights with music blasting and snow coming down!
We all know New Jersey gets a bad rap sometimes but there are great people and great companies like the Salomone Brothers who are doing wonderful things for the community, free of charge. It certainly brings a smile to everyone’s faces who are lucky enough to witness something as simple as this! The Salomone brothers’ decorative concrete trucks go from place to place so check their facebook page to get the latest update on where the vehicles will be at next!
We salute you – Salomone Brothers for spreading holiday cheer and good vibes for everyone and especially for the less fortunate! Next time I need concrete poured, I know who to call!
Salomone Brothers
17 Demarest Dr
Wayne, New Jersey 07470
Tags: concrete truck christmas lights, new jersey concrete, salomone brothers, sip n swirl
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