I'm back from evacuation. God that was worse than Sitting through Katrina!!! Back to the subject, CLUTCH, Murder By Death, Dust For Life. I always have liked the off the beaten path music. I have MC 900ft Jesus CDs, VAST(Visual Audio Sensory Theater)one man band here. I think The Mars Volta's new stuff is good, but Deloused in the Comatorium is their best.

Tool has some really weird shit. Like more art than music. Couple things spooked me.

We look for oddball stuff to record in the studio. The more offbeat the better. Not that we get a lot. (Mostly little metal heads.) But we do ocassionally get something worth listening too. Ledbeater was a fairly recent group. Kind of punk-a-billy with a harmonica and a lead singer in the Elvis vein. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the group and the music. What I mean is that when you have a close association with the people making the music, some of their "personal wierdness" spills over into the project, so we get a better insight into what they're trying to do.

Outside of that? I really like Hayseed Dixie & Dread Zeppelin. While they don't write their own music, their take on covers is what makes them stand out.

I love Tool's art and music. If you get into the meanings to everything, they actually have very positive ideals. I used to think they were pretty f'd up until I actually studied up on them. They are into esotericism and shamanism. You should read up on AlexGray.com, or COSM.org there Danno, or whoever is interested. I went there, New York. It's one of the few sacred temples I have visited that I actually felt the peace that people talk about. Chappel Of Sacred Mirrors.

there is a local band here, foddershock. they do some pretty wierd stuff. i like them because it is a mix of rock, country, and bluegrass, and has some very true but comical lyrics.