Go Ask Alice!
Does Image Really Matter?
Through the years we have seen images come and go, and with the new
wave of computers and social networking, images are faster and in more
places than ever before.
In the 70′s we had bands like Kiss, Alice Cooper, Molly Hatchet, Meatloaf, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd.
These were bands that knew what image was all about. Music and imagery
go hand in hand, and these people knew it! Would any of these bands be
as popular as they were, if they didn’t have the images that went along
with the music they were writing? Imagine seeing Alice with no makeup…Imagine Pink Floyd with no laser show….Imagine Molly Hatchet or Meatloaf without those epic album covers., We all know the difference between Kiss with makeup and Kiss without it. They saw right away that they had to bring it back. Black Sabbath was born through scary images. Ozzy saw very clearly that people loved to be scared to death. He saw a line around the corner to see Boris Karloff’s ”Black Sabbath“… and the rest was history. Taking on such artist’s as Boris Vallejo to put the art with the image.
In the 80′s things changed dramatically. No more theatrical makeup. We traded that in for the more 
traditional
manner in which makeup is used…for beauty. All of a sudden all these
bands wanted to look like girls…and it worked. These guys got the girls!
Everyone was doing it…there are bands that started out with makeup that
I’ll bet you didn’t even know, did. Pantera is one…Gun’s and Roses are
another. Although these bands
changed their “image” drastically along the way, don’t forget where
they started. The true curators of the glam image has to be Poison. They may not have created the look, but they sure perfected it. Countless other bands soon followed suit. Motley Crue, Ratt, Enuff Znuff, Warrant, Cinderella….just
to name a few. The glam image went out just as quickly as it came.
There were other bands that set the tone for the next wave. Metallica, Megadeth, Testament,
all proved you could get up there in just jeans and a t-shirt and still
blow their minds, but their album art is primarily what got them where
they were. Pushead is another great artist that deserves a mention here.
The turn of the century didn’t bring much change to the scene. It seemed to take a page out of previous eras for it’s inspiration. White Zombie turned into just Rob Zombie, and took off like a rocket! Branching off to do theatrical imaging in movies and such, Rob Zombie has carved himself a nice little groove in the history
of rock! Other artists have stepped up to the plate when it comes to art. Marylyn Manson has definitely taken a page out of Ozzy’s book of tricks. Rammstein too, sort of. Tool has written a page of their own, with their videos and album art. Let’s not forget the king of marketing and imagery Kid Rock! This guy knows the value of an image.
Now
in 2013, there are so many photos being taken, and so many places to
share these images, that it has over saturated the market. There are
still some bands that are taking hold of this strategy. Witch brings me
to my point. Here locally there are a couple of groups who stand at the
forefront of imagery and art. These bands bring together art and music
in such a way, they can only be compared to the likes of Alice, or Gwar.
2 In the Chest. Formed in July of 2011, 2 In the Chest have made quite a name for themselves already. When you go see a show it’s like pushing open the batwing doors of some eighteenth century saloon, bellying up to the bar, and listening to stories from the old west. Everything the band does is part of that story. The characters, the clothes, the vibe…all are pieces to the incredible puzzle that this band has put together. From beginning to end their set is a journey through the past, and just like any good western…it is always entertaining. They have a great eye for art and how to tie it in with the music that they write. Fronted by
Reverend Blackjack McBride, this trio makes every show well worth the cover to get in. Both audibly and visually…you will not be disappointed. With Dr. Dagmar Jordanson on the bass, and Velvet DeBlonko, on the drums 2 In the Chest know
how to put on a show! With their hard driving sound and their ghostly
theatrics, they are sure to entertain. Their much anticipated EP , Dirt Nap,
is due out later this year, and I am sure that there is a lot more to
come from this band. Check out their website for a closer look at 2 In the Chest! www.2inthechest.net. Be sure to listen for a full interview with the band on ourcityradio,
