Sam Metrigueye delivers scifi music with a story to tell

Sam Metrigueye as The War Doctor, checking out a "friend."

When an attorney branches off into science fiction themed music, a stage name may be in order. Enter “Some Metry Guy.”

With the often slurred pronunciation of the New Orleans suburb of Metairie, the artist was born. Facebook wouldn’t let him use Some Metry Guy as a page name, so he eventually became Sam Metrigueye, singer/songwriter and artist. Sometimes called “That Metry Guy” and sometimes simply “Metry Guy,” his label varies as people try to describe him. His music, however, is a constant – a constant delight, that is. A blend of rock and roll, techno and folk, his tunes sound deceptively simple, even as the clever lyrics transport the listener into fantasy world.

Sam has performed in various venues over the years, including the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus’ annual Chewbacchanal. Armed with a guitar, he brings original lyrics infused with science fiction references, such as “Drunken Nerd Blues.” He’s adaptive, as well, with such alternatives as “Drunken Nerd Blues (Space Cadet Version).”

In the single song, he celebrates the franchises of Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Doctor Who, DC Comics and more. Over time, he’s rewritten lines to accommodate changes in the scifi world, such as updating the number of Doctor Who regenerations. He acknowledges that he gets a thrill when an audience sings along with him on the signature number.

In addition to his Youtube channel, his music is available on his Bandcamp page, NumberOneMusic, iTunes and Spotify.

Besides his music, he expresses his creative side with handcrafted items in his Etsy store. From wall décor to costume pieces for role play, he offers a variety of items for fellow members of scifi fandom.

The multitalented Some Metry Guy provides listeners with thought-provoking music and art, even if they aren’t too sure about his name.

Originally appeared 06/10/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/sam-metrigueye-delivers-scifi-music-with-a-story-to-tell

Art contest to celebrate anniversary of Bad Wolf Bar and Grill

When two scifi-loving people purchase a neighbor bar and grill, a name change may be in the stars. For Timothy and Alicia Dardar of Marrero, LA, the choice of a new name took time. They put together a list of potential nerd-related names and finally settled on Bad Wolf Bar and Grill.

The name creates an instant connection with Doctor Who fans - an “oh, THAT Bad Wolf” reaction, says Alicia Dardar - but it doesn’t exclude people who aren’t Whovians. The Dardars liked the accessibility inherent in the name.

They will celebrate two years as proprietors of the restaurant and bar on July 1, 2016. As a part of the anniversary celebration, the Dardars have announced a contest to design a new logo for the business. The deadline has been extended to June 13. The couple will choose a group of finalists and put the designs on Facebook for the final selection. They will adopt the design with the most “Likes” as the logo going forward.

More than simply a neighborhood bar and grill, Bad Wolf offers a place where nerds and jocks can coexist, according to Alicia. A group in one corner may be discussing the latest Star Wars news while another group is debating the Saints’ upcoming season. The décor features both worlds as well, with an array of nerdy and sports art and decorations.

Another feature of the establishment is the frequent special events put on in conjunction with Nerd Love NOLA, a local event planner specializing in parties with a science fiction flavor. Game nights and mini-cons appear on the calendar regularly. During “down” times, the restaurant offers the use of three pool tables, two dart boards and video poker.

While there are hamburgers, hot sausage and chicken sandwiches on the menu, other selections have themed names, such as The Bad Wolf (a burger with hot sausage, egg and cheese) and C-3PO (chicken, bacon and Swiss cheese). Tacos come as Chocobo Tacos (chicken and bacon tacos with housemade ranch) and Anorith Tacos (shrimp tacos with horseradish aioli).

Because the establishment serves alcohol, the staff enforces an Over-21 Only rule. The bar offers specialty mixed drinks (with fanciful names like Serenity and DHARMA Initiative) as well as a long list of available beers. The full menu can be found on their Facebook page.

With the contest entry extended through June 13, artists over 21 years of age have a chance to win a nice prize as well as have their work highlighted throughout the business’s signage and print materials. Check out the rules and submit your design to Bad Wolf Bar and Grill.

Bad Wolf Bar and Grill

5601 4th St

Marrero, LA

(504) 265-0738

Originally appeared 05/31/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/art-contest-to-celebrate-anniversary-of-bad-wolf-bar-and-grill

The Consortium of Genius creates blend of scifi and music and fun

Photo courtesy Lewis D'Aubin

When Lewis D’Aubin saw his first episode of Doctor Who in the early 1980s, he was hooked. He was so intrigued that he even remembers the title of his introduction to the Time Lord, The Stones of Blood.

A few years later, he found a group named The Companions of Doctor Who and joined them. He acknowledges that he was a bit of an introverted tinkerer. He built his own version of the Doctor’s robot dog, K-9, among other bits of fan gear and got involved with local conventions.

By the late eighties, he got into music and started working with local bands. D’Aubin learned to use a synthesizer and a drum machine, as well as learning recording techniques.

“The music and the fandom sides of my personality didn’t crossover immediately,” he says. He and a friend began to work on their own material. They wrote their own “silly songs” which they recorded for practice. By 1996, the practices had grown into The Consortium of Genius - aka COG - a group of mad scientists and lab assistants creating off-beat, original rock music as well as covering genre music. Their fearless leader Dr. Milo Thaddeus Pinkerton III is portrayed by D’Aubin.

Now celebrating their twentieth year of rock music science (or is that mad scientist rock music?), the group has gone through several incarnations as some members left to pursue other things and new members joined. Drumbot, the video droid on drums, was added to the group, as well.

“The members of the band are all a bunch of big geeks, too,” D’Aubin chuckles. He notes that, although they don’t make a lot of money, they do have a lot of fun. They dress in lab coats and other wildly scifi costumes.

The group plays at conventions, as well as special events throughout the region. The COG channel on YouTube (under DoctorPinkerton) offers a peek into the crazy, fun world of COG.

D’Aubin hasn’t stopped growing as a musician, however. About four years ago, a Victorian-garbed group premiered to play Dixieland, jazz and ragtime, rather than the heavy metal and rock sounds delivered by COG. Like the old novelty tune “I am my own grandpa,” he portrays Professor Milo Reginald Pinkerton (grandfather of MTP III) in a second band, The New Orleans Steamcog Orchestra. Billing themselves as a “Dixieland/Ragtime band with a difference,” the group includes Cogsworthy, a clockwork drummer.

With changes in radio broadcasting, novelty and comedic music has become more difficult to find, according to D’Aubin. With COG and the New Orleans Steamcog Orchestra, listeners lamenting the lack of such delightful music have an outlet. Both bands have videos on YouTube and albums available for purchase.

Originally appeared 05/30/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/the-consortium-of-genius-creates-blend-of-scifi-and-music-and-fun

Support your local comic book shop during Free Comic Book Day 2016

The annual Free Comic Book Day, a program created to celebrate comic books and readers of comic books, is scheduled for Saturday, May 7, 2016. The comic book industry offers a select group of comics to independent comic book stores at low cost so the stores can give them away for free or as a charitable fundraiser. The organization behind the event states millions of books have been given away around the world since the event began in 2002.

Besides the free comic book distribution, many stores feature in-store guests—local cartoonists who are willing to come in and meet the fans (and make future fans) of their work, gamers or cosplayers. The interaction permits a greater experience than simply purchasing comic books. Better than a big box store or convenience shop, the indie comic book store connects buyers and artists as well as others in the creative community. Other events may include games or prizes for attendees or raffles. Special activities vary by store.

The regularly issued monthly version of a comic book was first released in 1922, although individual bound books had been released as early as 1837. The modern comic book grew out of these early volumes. The industry has grown to sales in the millions of dollars, according to Comichron with 2016 sales of comics and graphic novels through the end of March estimated at more than $129 million.

Find a participating comic book store through the Free Comic Book Day locator or call your local comic book store to determine if they will participate. One of the options for Gulf Coast comic lovers is Three Alarm Comics at 15210 Lemoyne Blvd., Biloxi, MS. The store will feature comic artists such as Andy Childress of BubbaWorldComix and Kevin Hayman of Everywhen Comics, Whovians of the Gulf Coast and many additional guests.

Roscoe (left) and Andy Childress at Three Alarm Comics

Originally appeared 05/05/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/support-your-local-comic-book-shop-during-free-comic-book-day-2016

Characters take center stage as Eric Bedell appears at MobiCon 2016

Dalek Eric, The Petit Four, Adric, Syndrome…what do these characters have in common? 

The Petit Four and Dalek Eric

Cosplayer Eric Bedell plays them all, and more-a pretty big accomplishment for a dimpled twelve-year-old. With these scifi/comic/fantasy characters under his belt, Bedell has been named as a featured cosplay guest as the 2016 Mobicon under the title Aspie Spice Costuming.

Bedell began his cosplay adventures when he was only eight years old. His first big role came as a full-sized Dalek in a mobile suit built by his grandfather, Jimmy Scates. As Dalek Eric, he found himself liberated by the costume, hidden from the eyes of those who might think of him as different.

“When I got inside the Dalek, I could open up,” he says with a chuckle. Young Eric makes no secret of his autism, rather he celebrates the joy of life as a science fiction fan/cosplayer.

Although he can’t quite fit as comfortably in his mechanical alter ego anymore, he still participates in the world of science fiction/comic conventions. He’s shown up as the Petit Four, a pint-sized version of Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor Who, and as Adric, a companion who began his journey with Baker’s Doctor and continued with the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison. In his Whovian costumes, Bedell appears on collector cards distributed by Krewe du Who.

His Jawa costume has been approved by the Galactic Academy, and he also plays Sokka from Airbender. As part of his appearance at Mobicon, he will introduce Syndrome from Disney/Pixar’s “The Incredibles.”

Bedell describes conventions as a place where he can be himself and he’s sharing the experience with others. Through an appearance at Geekonomicon in 2014, he met Dr. Mark Yeager of TEAAM, an autism awareness group in Mississippi. Since then, Bedell has been a part of the group, making appearances and letting people on the spectrum know they are welcome in the convention community. He also works with the Metro Whovians of Jackson, MS.

All this touring requires props as well as costumes. Scates built a second dalek, Dark Smalek, as an 80% scale, screen accurate remote-controlled version of a dalek.

“He’s 100% evil, 80% of the size,” laughs Bedell.

“And 20% less packaging,” adds Eric’s mother, Carleigh S. Bedell.

Bedell will appear at Mobicon during Memorial Day weekend, May 27-29, 2016.

Originally appeared 05/14/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/characters-take-center-stage-as-eric-bedell-appears-at-mobicon-2016