Happy Halloween! Celebrating 10 years today. “Amongst the Dead” EP by Ductape Halo. Dan Victor (vocals, guitar and bass), Shamari Rocka (keys), and Stevie Kings (drums) played on this album, which kicked off a musical relationship with Steve for many projects and years after. Michael Benham joined on bass soon after. It was recorded at Steve’s apartment in Bushwick at “The Castle”, right next to the band called U Say USA. It was a 5th floor walk up and he lived at the top floor. All we did was play music, smoke weed, drink coffee and beer. The album release was at Spike Hill in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Halloween 2010.
It was the Potion Collective days and there was an open mic at McKibbon Lofts like no other. It had a full backline and there was a speakeasy bar with PBR, shot of bottom-shelf whiskey or a dime bag. Filled with amazing art and creative minds. I met people like Alec Stephens III, Chris Carr, Worm, Bill Bartholomew, Eve Blackwater, Catie Taylor and Jessie Richardson, just to name a few. Alec, Steve and I would go on to play in I AM THE THIRD a few year later. It’s wild to see what we have all accomplished over the last ten years.
There was something magical at that time, instant nostalgia. It was the beginning of something. Occupy Wall St was still a thing, unemployment lasted years, and jobless even after it ended. Best and worst of times. Really got to make a documentary or something. Through adversity we find our strength. It is still true today. You can find the EP on Bandcamp.