Here’s what happens when you’re irresponsible and run your own site:

You think about how you can get free shit out of it like shows so you write to a bunch of publicists, you get on their lists, you end up at shows, you take awesome pictures, they send you awesome music, you make awesome posts and the next thing you know, you’re asking, “Well, how did we get here?”

For over a year we’ve been working with some hard working bands and management who have been so helpful and kind to us but on August 26, 2011, we’re shutting down the doors on the majority of our site to hone some focus in and around literature and photography — just like we did in the beginning and let sites like Pitchfork and Fader do what they do best. We will continue to work with music but in a different capacity altogether. More on that later. Since we’ll be stripped down to our bare bones, the look will change slightly.

The good news is that we want to see your poetry. We want your short stories. We want all the stuff that you don’t want anyone else to read, including publishers. We want the work that is on the outside of everything but so inside, know what we mean? More on this as time passes along…

OH! AND THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS…EveryNightIsHalloween.net will be arriving shortly. This is a WD offshoot that you can not miss…especially if you can’t get enough of Halloween month.

Anyway, we’d like to thank all of the bands, artists, publicists and everyone else who have been super helpful this last year.

We’ll post some more info about Alexis Guerra’s Fashion Likes/Dislikes a bit closer to the date.

Thanks for everything.

Love,

WD

P.S. Don’t forget to submit your stuff!

Well, May 21st came and went without a single unusual casualty inflicted by either of the Horsemen. The epicenter of the Apocalypse seemed to be in the heart of New York City in Union Square. The wisest of the wise embraced New York City streets, dripping beer and various narcotics onto the pavement and floorboard of multiple bars. Alarms and sirens commingled with the chorus of singing Amish/Quakers/Shakers/Mormons (whatever affiliation they were) and the warnings of preacher men barking from behind the planted crucifix where people had funny photos taken of themselves. Later, a long-haired man, a blonde double of Jesus Christ from a Western hemisphere painting took to the crucifix and let his hands dangle there for onlookers to gasp at.

Foreboding clouds loomed nearby as the clock ticked closer to 6PM. It was then that I began to wonder, Which time zone is God in? Christians gathered across the street from Whole Foods and sang for Jesus while a nearby prayer station offered services for your soul…just in case. While taking pictures, a sudden creeping feeling came through to my brain and heart. People wearing colorful clothes danced in Union Square behind the Christian singers. Fake Jesus wandered near his cross, the prayer station, the preacher man, the people dressed as zombies lumbering by, and then the clouds, slowly pressing over us. My god, I thought. If the end were near, this is exactly how it would happen.

It was 5:57 pm. I perched myself on the cross, aimed my camera into the crowd to await the Rapture when a sudden chorus began counting down to zero. I realized that the end, if it was really coming, was only a few seconds away. When they reached zero, the crowd erupted into cheers:

New Year’s Eve Part II.

Osama bin Laden is Dead Part II.

The end of the world had run out of time. Perhaps deities above saved the day or perhaps the ramblings of an old man in need of some fast cash just got rich.

Afterwards, I looked for those Christians. The preacher man. Even Jesus but none were to be found. Taken by the light into Heaven? Shamefully retreated to their churches for heap loads of “what’s next?” Maybe…after all, how else is a church going to make 80 million dollars besides spreading false alarms about the end of the world? Back to the drawing board. Maybe next year they’ll bring on bigger dramatics by a hired hand from Universal Studios.

Can't make this shit up.

Once in a while, life hands you a sweet ass hail mary that couldn’t be made up. If you haven’t heard, the CDC — yes, THAT CDC — has issued an advisory of how to deal with the Zombie Apocalypse. Since the end of the world is happening tomorrow at Union Square (read more info below), we thought it’d be crucial to report this information to you.

Max Brooks’ book, Zombie Survival Guide is essential for defending yourself against the undead uprising, however the CDC wants us to know that we should treat the Apocalypse just as we should any other emergency disaster situation. Make sure you prepare the following:

•    Water (1 gallon per person per day)
•    Food (stock up on non-perishable items that you eat regularly)
•    Medications (this includes prescription and non-prescription meds)
•    Tools and Supplies (utility knife, duct tape, battery powered radio, etc.)
•    Sanitation and Hygiene (household bleach, soap, towels, etc.)
•    Clothing and Bedding (a change of clothes for each family member and blankets)
•    Important documents (copies of your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate to name a few)
•    First Aid supplies (although you’re a goner if a zombie bites you, you can use these supplies to treat basic cuts and lacerations that you might get during a tornado or hurricane)

[Find the rest of their article HERE.]

The CDC’s gag is more like a trick a parent might use to hide vitamins in their kids food. Their blog reiterates recommendations for a real disaster that would otherwise be unread unless people actually experienced the emergency…which of course would probably be too late since their power might be gone and their cell service kaput. But in the case they mean it…and they really might mean it based on some info I read recently, maybe we should take note.

The word on the street is that a zombie attack might begin at Union Square tomorrow, right on schedule, May 21, 2011 at 5PM. A group of zombies have organized a rally in response to the fear-mongering Apocalypsos trekking across the country to warn us that the time has come.

We’ve been warned. The CDC has warned us. The Apocalypsos have warned us.

Continue HERE to learn more about the zombie apocalypse rally tomorrow at Union Square. I wish I was kidding but I’m afraid it’s all too true. Some of our staff will be there to cover the event and tweet updates to keep you informed.

Another comprehensive list to help you survive can be found HERE.

The Whiskey Dregs…signing out…for the last time. Good luck, mates and don’t forget to knock out the staircase.

Yes, show us the photo.  We’ve earned it.
Show us all the dead insurgents.
Show us the dead U.S. soldiers.
Show us the thousands of civilian casualties.
Show us the collateral damage.  Show us the widows, widowers, orphans, and parents of the dead.
Show us the cost of two bullets in a head.
Show us the whole War.  We’ve earned it.

Today America celebrates. With the declaration of War in Iraq, there was a clear
split down the middle. “Mission Accomplished” furthered the rift. The election of
Obama forced half the country to question our standing in the War on Terror. But
today—today, my Friends and Countrymen—is different. All of that is in the past.
We now all join in the praise and jubilation over the death of Osama bin Laden.

Our country is coming together to rejoice. No longer must we cower in fear.
Today begins a new era where we can once again board airplanes without being
strip-searched. We will have water bottle and fluids in hand after spending
virtually little to no time in security lines. Our children can once again play
stickball in the streets, safe and sound that the Face of Terror is dead. Today we
have closure.

Humanity will see the virtue and glory in our efforts. The cheer of the crowd will
swarm Americans wherever we go. Praise and thanks will be showered upon us
for ridding the world of its Titan of Evil. Hallelujah, an Eye for an Eye!

We will no longer question morality overseas when we see a body paraded through the streets with burning American flags and the roar of the crowd.  We’ll understand.  We get it now.  It’s celebratory.  Peace, love, and empathy don’t get ticker tape parades.

So it goes.

(self portrait by Carlos Detres)

Here’s an email from one of our adoring fans, who goes by the name of “Randall Anderson.” Sometimes the bad ones are the most fun to read. Anyway, we’re sharing it with you, our dear readers.

“you are a weak artist, feeding off an unusual intrest in your useless work. Take all your underserved fame, and help ppl that need it…find the first real group that helped you to where you are and help them out. I have no intrest beyond helping others…JUST DO IT…FULL FORCE. or try to help your own life out. Good luck and God Bless.”

[this post was forwarded to "Randall Anderson"]

The Oprah of Rew York

Whiskey Dregs photographer and writer, Carlos Detres will be interviewed LIVE about his work on Rew and Who at Otto’s Shrunken Head at 5:45 on 2/16. This killer online video show is about Rew York’s musicians and  artists. He’ll be discussing his rock and roll photography as well as his hauntingly delightful art work or maybe not. Maybe he’ll discuss whatever she brings up.

This is a great show. If you haven’t checked it out yet, go to it! Here is thee link.

Watch the interview LIVE from this link.

Whiskey Dregs photographer and writer, Carlos Detres