Cherry-Veen Zine would not exist without TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb Rock N’ Roll Murdershow. My (Veen) very first friend date with Cherry was this very event, 4 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was dressed as a Hershey Kiss, she was dressed as Wednesday Adams. We laughed, we danced, we had a fucking great time. This year (on 10/26 at Johnny Brenda's)marks the TENTH (!!) anniversary of this spectacularly spooky event, and we got the inside scoop for ya from the mastermind behind the whole event, Dan Bruskewicz (TJ Kong, himself)!!
“The idea was always to throw an enormous party that brought different local scenes together,” Dan explains. We are obviously huge proponents of bringing the Philly community together, so we love that this was the goal all along. We’re aware of the frustration that comes with being pigeonholed into a specific genre. It’s pretty easy to end up playing the same gigs with the same bands at the same venues. Dan wanted to do something that would break everyone out of that mold. And DAMN did he do it. “we set out to do a once-a-year celebration of Philly bands that threw normal booking "rules" out the window and was just a fun rager.”
"We set out to do a once a-year celebration of Philly bands that threw normal booking 'rules' out the window and was just a fun rager."
Over the past decade, Dan has certainly given Philadelphia fun rager after fun rager with plenty of memorable experiences. “Ugh God playing on top of their van. The very very early days of Underground Arts when it wasn't a bar or a venue but just an enormous dark basement with a black stage in the back. Purples dressed as Sesame Street. Manterial Girl voguing in the crowd. Lantern and their huge homemade genitals. Ali Wadsworth as Fartman. Red 40 and the whole crew as Baywatch. Kirby Sybert as Picasso's blue period.” This year, Dan is shaking things up a little and moving on over to Johnny Brenda’s. JB’s is one of our absolute FAVORITE venues in the city, and Dan shares this sentiment, “Johnny Brenda's has always been our favorite Philly stage. We wanted to make sure and do at least one Murdershow there and we thought number 10 is probably the best time to do that. We love Underground Arts and the early murdershows were so connected to that physical space. It was a bittersweet move for sure but you can expect some very special performances that incorporate the entire building at Johnny Brenda's, I'll just say that.”
"you can expect some very special performances that incorporate the entire building at Johnny Brenda's, I'll just say that."
This is pretty intriguing to us, and we can’t wait to see what Dan has in store for us to celebrate ten years of Murdershow-ing! Honestly, if this isn’t enough to entice you (you stone cold fox, you), come out for the INCREDIBLE talent that will be performing. “Ali Awan and his band are truly catching fire and to be able to combine a bill with them and Ali Wadsworth WITH Aramingosmith playing ONLY Aerosmith cover songs is something you won't see ever again. PLUS we have some pretty special Kong surprises designed just for Johnny Brenda's and our set. It's gonna be a good one.”
I can personally attest to these shows, I look forward the the 10th Annual Murdershow and all the tricks and treats it will bring!! One last thing to note: “COSTUMES ARE A MUST!” Dan let us know that it doesn’t matter if you bought it, made it, found it, stole it. Show up in costume and add to the Halloween festivities! Grab your tickets here! And check out the facebook event for more details here!