There is no discussing The Cello Goblin with a straight face.
First, there’s that name. Then, you’ve got a trained cellist who performs with the hysteria of someone hopped up on speed and Primus. It’s as crazy as it sounds. It’s also way sicker than you can possibly imagine.
Behind all the freaky mania of Rushad Eggleston’s alter ego is a deeply accomplished string master whose career includes being a member in revered alt-bluegrass band Crooked Still (alongside local celeb Aoife O’Donovan), string supergroup Fiddlers 4, and Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings.
So what you’ve got is an avant-garde wildman unafraid to blend seriously legit string chops with kazoos and Angus Young-esque showmanship. In other words, a guaranteed and total show.
Of all the 1990s redux happening right now, smart punks should be most pumped about the reunion of NYC post-hardcore heroes Orange 9mm.
Officially reforming last year after nearly a quarter-century, the groundbreaking band are back live to bring their progressive fury — which boldly spans punk, metal, rock and rap — to a whole new generation and, of course, their cool dads who were there back in the day.
Opening will be youth-crew legends Bold alongside a Florida punk division that includes Day by Day, 0 Miles Per Hour and Watch List.
’Twas the night before Halloween, when all through Conduit, many creatures were stirring, even a … punk-rock Frankenstein’s monster?
In a truly frightful fashion, haute couture taking on campy horror films and eerie classics is exactly what’s in store for audiences with Ednah’s Gorey and Glory Fashion Show this Devil’s Night. Leaning far askew from the typical runway show, each model will embody a hybrid of alternative subculture and horror, whether it be a hapless victim or a creepy doll.
The mind behind all of this madness is Ednah Miller, executive producer and creator of the show. The idea came together after one of Miller’s many “what if” contemplations. As an avid lover of horror and drag, Miller says she didn’t simply want to put on a fashion show.
She wanted to create an experience.
“I want to inspire people. I mean, yes, I kind of want to gross people out a little bit, but it’s the same thing that a film director would want to do,” says Miller. “Stephen King is a good example for horror movies. They don’t want to just make you have a jump-scare a little bit. No, they want to tell a story. And that’s what I’m doing, telling a story.”
The show is comprised of two separate acts, a murder category and a monster category. In the murder category, the models portray people who have died in mysterious and unbelievable ways. If you’re a real horror fan, like Miller, you’ll be able to catch all the references intertwined within the art. The monster category features high-fashion takes on iconic creatures of the night, paired with intense music and flashing lights.
“There’s a total shift in the vibe. You go from feeling bad for the person that you’re seeing in front of you to, like, extremely scared. Which is the point,” says Miller. “I wanted to give a very dominating, intimidating vibe with these characters.”
Despite her involvement in numerous fashion shows and projects throughout the years, the Gorey & Glory show will be Miller’s first time acting as an executive producer. Though she majored in business at UCF, her love for fashion started while watching her grandmother put together intricate and color-coordinated outfits before going out. It also came from an early obsession with the art of drag she saw on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Miller says that one of her biggest influences in creating the show has been drag — specifically, the ability of drag performers to tie seemingly clashing pieces together and turn something that might look insane into something beautiful. Considering horror to have this same strange type of beauty, she wanted to bring that into her fashion show.
“I was just so inspired by how creative the girls always have been. Like they were given a challenge of, ‘OK, make this out of a shower curtain,’ and then somebody would walk the runway in a gown made out of a shower curtain,” says Miller. “That type of creativity, even when you’re on a budget, is just so inspiring. And it makes you feel like, dang, if they can do it, I could definitely do it too.”
Besides high-fashion frights, Miller is looking to provide a creative space for a spectrum of young local artists like herself. With an all-student team of models, designers, makeup artists, creative directors and photographers, the show is giving a boost to many new faces.
Another UCF student involved with this show is designer and model Anne McGrath, who got Miller involved in her first modeling gig after recruiting her for a magazine project. Besides copious amounts of frilly lace, McGrath’s design for the show involves a chic look inspired by the Universal classic Creature From the Black Lagoon.
Although it’s completely volunteer-based, McGrath says the show offers a space for several artists to show off their work for the first time. McGrath posits that a lot of the models are not what might be considered “conventional” runway stars.
“Maybe they’re not tall enough, maybe they’re too short, maybe they just don’t fit the bill for what a modeling company might sign or what a modeling company might recruit for a show,” says McGrath. “We tried to recruit those people to get their foot in the door with modeling.”
Indeed, Miller wants her models to be fully themselves on the runway and not feel they have to fix in any sort of outmoded aesthetic box.
“This show allows me to let everybody be themselves,” says Miller. “Someone’s walking down the runway as Frankenstein, but it’s more than just being in a costume. It’s genuinely self-expression.”
Knowing how hard it can be to get a foot in the fashion industry door, Miller says she wanted to counteract closed-minded casting on the runway.
As a Black, alternative, queer creator in the Orlando area, she feels it’s important to give people from marginalized communities a proper shot at the spotlight.
After three months of planning, sourcing and modeling meetings in campus parking garages, the countdown for the show’s premiere is nearly over.
Miller says she’s excited to see the audience’s reactions when the looks are revealed and the hard work of all her amazing designers and makeup artists is on bold and bloody display.
“People normally aren’t that excited for a fashion show unless their friends are personally in it, but even then, they’re excited to see their friends and not the show as a whole. I’ve been getting DMs from people telling me that they’re so excited about this show, and that is exactly what I want,” says Miller.
“That’s exactly the vibe that I want to exude to people, that positivity, that excitement, because they know that they’re about to see some creative people in their element, and that’s exactly what makes all of this worth it.”
So come to Conduit … if you dare.
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I say this with both love and honesty, but heavy metal is one of the most hilarious music genres. It’s an inherent truth on which the best metal parody acts play.
Italian goofballs Nanowar of Steel, for example, take the total piss out of metal’s unique juxtaposition of intense self-seriousness and ridiculous subject material. Yes, they’re juvenile as fuck, but so is much of heavy metal’s premise.
As for NYC opener Tragedy, their metal renditions of Bee Gees hits will both keep the party rocking and prove my long-held personal belief that passion for hard rock and the Brothers Gibb are not mutually exclusive. Succumb to the absurdity.
Joey Belladonna pays live tribute to Ronnie James Dio
The iron-lunged Anthrax vocalist Joey Belladonna always stood out among his thrash peers both for his impressive range and the unerring commitment to melody in his power-metal inspired vocals. Belladonna is currently out on the road solo, playing tribute sets to legendary belter Ronnie James Dio.
The much-missed Dio was a singular force in metal, with seminal stints in Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and solo [“Holy diivaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!”]. The evening will see Belladonna and wife Krista leading a crack tribute band through his best-known numbers on this four-date Florida run.
Promised are “Holy Diver” and “Rainbow in the Dark” and “Neon Knights” and “Man on the Silver Mountain” and “Long,” among other anthems that would frighten parents and clergy … get those devil-horns ready.
Adventures on Tap hosts tabletop gaming for charity
For the past three years, Orlando gaming enthusiasts have gathered regularly to roll dice, drink beer and raise money for local charities.
Nick Larson and Cami Wooley co-founded event company Adventures on Tap in 2021 after realizing tabletop roleplaying organizations in their area tended to emphasize profit, not community.
“We say we’re here to do good, not well,” Larson said. “The RPG [roleplaying game] space as a whole seems to be heavily monetized, and we wanted to do something different.”
The self-proclaimed “beer geeks” and “game geeks” had a vision: inclusive events where players could drink beer, play tabletop games, buy crafts from local artisans and raffle on baskets for local charities.
Today, Adventures on Tap hosts three to four events per month at a rotating roster of local spots including Oviedo Brewing, Conduit in Winter Park and Ten10 Brewing. It raises about $1,200 to $1,200 monthly for exclusively local charities. Beneficiaries have included nonprofits like Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando and Child’s Play Charity, which donates video games to pediatric hospitals.
“We never send the money out … we always make sure it’s local,” Wooley said.
Adventures on Tap specializes in “one shot” gaming sessions, or single adventures completed in a few hours, like a sold-out Dungeons & Dragons event at Conduit on Saturday, Aug. 3. But it also offers miniature painting lessons, including one happening Monday, Aug. 5, at Twelve Talons Beerworks on East South Street, and ongoing campaign meetups.
At each one-shot session, the company holds a charity raffle. Prizes range from crafts that Adventures on Tap buys from local vendors, like dice bags and homemade shirts, to tickets to Kissimmee’s Medieval Times. Proceeds go entirely to charity.
But ticket sales, which equal about $20 per player, go to internal funding — including paying the dungeon masters, or DMs, responsible for organizing each game.
“We’re one of the only D&D [Dungeons & Dragons] groups in town that pays our DMs,” Wooley said. “We don’t pay them a huge amount, but we do make sure that they’re not out for their supplies and travel and beer.”
One of the most popular draws is Dungeons & Dragons, a popular fantasy game first published in 1974. But players also have the opportunity to try out lesser-known games. Those include the Harry Potter-esque “Kids on Brooms” or sinister “Blades in the Dark” — Wooley and Larson’s respective favorites.
Larson said he also hoped to bolster another community: local breweries, which he said suffered after the pandemic. Adventures on Tap has a “symbiotic relationship” with the restaurants where it hosts events, the former service industry worker said.
“We want to put butts in seats for six hours and have them buy beer,” he said. “And we’re not going to charge the brewery anything, and the brewery is not going to charge us anything.”
Adventures on Tap holds most of its events during time spots when breweries are traditionally “absolutely empty,” like midday on Sundays.
As far as the interaction between beer drinking and gameplay, Wooley said the combination affects each player differently.
“If somebody says, ‘I want to do something,’ and they describe it and it sounds dope, One Beer Cami is more likely to be like, ‘well, let’s try and maybe think about that,’” she said. “Five Beer Cami is like, ‘yeah, that sounds awesome, let’s do it.’”
Both Larson and Wooley hold day jobs, as an engineer and software marketer, respectively. They consider Adventures on Tap a “labor of love” that they’ve enjoyed seeing grow from a small, one-event-per-month group to a company hosting three to four events per month as far north as Mount Dora and Sanford.
Larson and Wooley have tried for the last two years to register their company as a nonprofit, but without the money to pay for legal assistance, they haven’t been able to navigate the “legal rat’s nest” required to do so, Larson said.
But Larson said he still looks forward to seeing the group expand and encourages those looking for community to give it a try.
“If you have any experience whatsoever, you’re overqualified,” he said. “We’re not here to make a million dollars … we try and keep everything open, welcome and cheap.”
As mentioned, Saturday’s Dungeons & Dragons event at Conduit is sold out, but tickets are still available for its September campaign session Sept. 14 at Ten10 Brewing on Virginia Drive. There are also some spots still available for Sip and Paint at Twelve Talons at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5. Tickets are available through Adventures on Tap’s website.
Watch Flagman light it up (figuratively) at Will’s Pub on 4/20
Yes, you could spend your 4/20 at home, partaking and zoning out to Wizard of Oz synced to Dark Side of the Moon or whatever strikes your fancy, but given that April 20 is a Saturday this year maybe hit the town and take your chances. You’ll be sure to find kindred spirits at concerts, so here’s a rundown of four possibly very 420-friendly shows on the big day that are sure to have you blissfully nodding your head along to the music. Wait, what were we talking about again?
Reggae Day at Boxi Park Noon, Boxi Park, 6877 Tavistock Lakes Blvd., $20-$25 Reggae and 4/20 go hand in hand. Especially if both of those hands are rolling a doobie. But seriously, marijuana and reggae have a longstanding harmonious relationship, far predating even the immortal lyric from Bob Marley’s 1971 record Kaya where he sings “I’m so high, I even touch the sky.” The second annual Reggae Day at Boxi Park sees Lake Nona mellowing out and getting into the 420 spirit in earnest. The mini-fest is headlined by Jemere Morgan, grandson of reggae legend Denroy Morgan. Morgan formerly fronted New York City reggae act the Black Eagles, but now he’s a solo artist performing and recording both covers and original music. Plus, Orlando locals Shamanic Rootz will bring the infectious energy and good vibes. Shamanic Rootz have established a devoted fanbase locally and internationally due to their impassioned lyrics and devotion to reggae music. Rik Jam, Dal-Wayne, King Tappa, NostalJah, EarthKry, and Jah Sun fill out the bill ably. The music won’t stop until midnight, with DJ Crossfire and DJ RED spinning between bands.
420 Fest 4:20 p.m. (cough), West End Trading Co., 202 S. Sanford Ave., Sanford, free West End’s first-ever 420 Fest is a free street party and celebration of 420 with a lineup of reggae bands starting at — but of course — 4:20 p.m. This fest is hosted by actor Greg Runge, from The Cops Did It or Extinction Level Event. The lineup features familiar Florida faves The Intracoastals, Oklahoma Stackhouse, Smyrna Erb, Inity Rebel Music, Neverless, Vibes Farm and Root Sea. Guests can grab a famous Sunshine State Bomb at the West End and take in the sights of West End Live and the Wild Wild West End, then do it all again — no one’s judging if you’ve forgotten which spots you’ve hit. Keep the good vibes rolling at the new weed-themed concept The Joint at West End and try their new pre-roll wraps, blazed wings, dope sliders and more. Festivalgoers can also take the high road over to get a medical card exam from Cannabis Card Orlando. An outdoor party means it’s that much easier to light up outside, and the clouds of smoke no doubt billowing from the stage will provide much-needed cover. Sounds dope!
Stoned Mary 6 p.m., Conduit, 6700 Aloma Ave., Winter Park, $15-$20. To quote William Shakespeare, what’s in a name? Well, plenty, if you happen to have the word “stoned” in your moniker and are playing Orlando on April 20, when these Tampa rockers play a live and loud bill of Central Florida acts that lean toward the heavier side at Conduit. Despite the name, Stoned Mary are neither a stoner-rock band nor a jam band. Instead, they whip up a hooky storm of Paramore-esque serrated pop grooves, which … you know what? You’re already in the door, you’re feeling suddenly very agreeable, so you might as well stay. Also appearing on the bill are Burial Joy, Nailwound, Fiends, Werewolves and NOT, who may or may not kill that buzz. You can’t smoke inside Conduit, but you might be able to furtively light up in the smoking area out front. (That’s on you, space cowboy. Security might want a word.) Post-show or between sets, the nearby two-fer of Subway and Fratello’s should ease any and all cases of the munchies, regardless of palates.
Flagman 7 p.m., Will’s Pub, 1042 N. Mills Ave., $15 Orlando freakout rockers Flagman evoke the unhinged musical adventurism of Primus, Faith No More and Tool — and you’d best believe those FFOs are music to any dual stoner/music head’s ears. If you’d like to stick around the Mills 50 area and have your psyche duly fried, this locals-heavy show is the move on Saturday. Also appearing on the bill are Elders, Space Corolla, Cloutchasr and Sky Navy. You can take your chances in the Dirty Laundry patio out back, but we’re not suggesting anything. (Though Big Tree Park at night seems like a gorgeous spot to … stargaze.) Tako Cheena being close at hand should provide you with any munchie-related sustenance you need.
Leatherette return to Orlando for one night at Conduit
This stacked lineup surrounds an excellent touring band with some of Orlando’s best new underground talent.
Deliciously dark Atlanta headliner Psychic Death are a dire post-punk mix of death rock and new wave.
Chicago-based but Orlando-born Leatherette are singularly famous for their junkie-punk blues and exhilarating performances. This will be a rare and welcome homecoming show for them.
Rounding out the bill will be the Velvet Underground-esque rock primitivism of Tiger Beat and post-punk revivalists the Synthetics.
