This past Saturday night we planned to have a typical band practice at Slam One Down Headquarters. After practice we planned on seeing our friends in Will Killmore and Egokill and show some support to the local metal scene. Two seconds before we ripped into the newest track, "Cut Me Down," our singer Bobby got the idea to play the show instead of go to it. So he picked up the phone and he asked our friends in Will Killmore if we could jam. They were all for it and instead of having a true band practice, we played at a local bar in Pearl River, NY.

It was totally cool because there was a good 75-100 metal heads there showing support to all of the bands. Beers were like $4, which is good for any NY bar and there were really hot chicks there, courtesy of Slam One Down.

However, there is nothing worse than playing in a club/bar and there isn't any sound system. There was like a microphone for vocals and that was it. Actually now that I think about it, playing in a shit hole with no sound system and getting your fellow metal heads to scream and dance along is what it is all about. That is what makes metal real. That is what makes metal heads so unique and wonderful. We will go anywhere just to hear newest and most extreme underground music. I bet guys like James Hetfield, Kerry King, Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul, etc. remember the days playing in those shit holes so vividly and probably would say that they miss those days. It is for us and was for them the days that the music was the most important thing. All the glam, money, hot chicks and success is always second to the real music. When we get all the glam, money, hot chicks and success, I will remember this past Saturday.

J.R.
Slam One Down

We have to work harder

Really cool trip to see the underground metal scene in Vegas. All my fellow metal fans were totally cool. There were about 75-100 people that showed up. The bands that played were excellent as well, but we have to work harder!!!

As a band we consider ourselves part of the New York underground scene which truly incorporates NY and NJ. The reason I bring that up is because when I go to a heavy metal show either in NY or NJ and see a popular metal band like, Metallica, Lamb of God, Slayer, Megadeth, etc. there can be as many as 30,000 people showing up to the show and sometimes even two nights in a row. Now, most bands are not of that caliber, but in a city like NY, there is no reason why we cannot get at least 500-750 people to an underground event every time (at least on the weekends). Weeknights should have at least 300.

The point is that we have to work harder as heavy metal fans. We need to go to every underground show that we can. We have to prove to the local bars and nightclubs that when you book a metal act, that place is going to make money through attendance and/or the bar. Through Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter, we can communicate with each other instantly. We have to start picking up that ancient thing call the "phone" and making each other go to shows and supporting the local scene. If there are 4 bands a night playing and 4 members in each band; each band member should bring 5-10 people. Thats anywhere from 80-160 people right there. And promoters need to really go the extra mile and get people to come to shows.

I guess what my question is what can we do to grow the underground scene?

Bobby's Lyrics

What's up everyone...this is J.R. from S1D and wanted to tell everyone to go to www.myspace.com/slamonedown and download Bobby's lyrics and read them. These are some of the best Heavy Metal lyrics I have heard in years. I want everyone to comment back and give some love for Bobby for keeping it real and being true to his soul and sharing it with the world. My personal favorites are Hell Doesn't Want Me, To Live Forever & What I've Done...What are yours?