Montreal QC, May 23rd to 26th - This festival is the crème de la crème of North American industrial electro festivals featuring the best in class from across the broad spectrum of alternative electronic music worldwide. 2013′s four-day event is really the hot ticket and could be sold out as we write. Those lucky enough to grab a pass will enjoy near twenty acts including headliner performances from Suicide Commando, Project Pitchfork, and Aesthetic Perfection. The festival is in its sixth year, this year being billed as a mini-fest (version 5.5) due to a scaled down venue and line-up; but judging by the bill, this year will be as kick-ass as earlier festivals, no doubt! If you are feeling lucky and think you can snag a ticket, go to their website or check out the festival Facebook group.

- Hangedman

Somerset NJ, April 26-28 – The last weekend of April welcomed a new mistress to the bowels of New Jersey. A new festival/convention called The Twisted World emerged, produced by Red Falcon Productions, and it promised to bring a couple of different forms of entertainment to its attendees. This year’s theme was simply, “Divine Decadence”. The festival was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset, NJ. The vendors were plentiful, offering everything from bottled scents to hair clips to intimate toys for couples. Attendees were able to sit in on panels discussing various themes in literature (such as vampires) to interactive storytelling to personal BDSM sessions with a dominatrix. If the panels weren’t your thing, you could stumble upon a fire show by the team, Hubris, to one of the many musical artists performing throughout the weekend, such as the industrial rock act, Ego Likeness or the Bela Lugosi-themed lounge acts of Baron Misuraca. If you were in the mood to see some flesh, then The White Elephant Burlesque Society had plenty of burlesque performances throughout the weekend, as well as hosting a meet-and-greet.

Overall the variety of different panels, shows, vendors, and activities gave one a very fun-filled weekend, but being a first year festival hurt the attendance, since attendees usually plan months to a year ahead in terms of budgeting their finances and freeing their weekend schedules. Having spoken to a few vendors and performers, the common worry among them was many felt the festival wasn’t well-advertised, which also led to the low number of attendees. Hopefully the second year, the theme of which will be, Villains and Vixens, will have an easier time getting the word out now about the festival’s existence.

- Phil (Knightmare6)

photos : Knightmare6

Our April/May 2013 Issue release party is this weekend! It will be in LA at Bar Sinister on Saturday May 18th! If you are near LA, don’t miss our release party this weekend!

Hosted by Kent Kaliber (Auxiliary’s June/July PinUp).
Numerous contributors from Auxiliary’s past and present will be attending!
Plus, the night will include a performance by Black Cat, a mysterious ethereal gothic act from LA’s underground Black Cat Gallery!

Saturday May 18th
10pm to 3am / 18+ plus event
Bar Sinister / 1652 N Cherokee Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028

Our February/March 2013 Issue release party is this weekend! It will be in LA at Bar Sinister on Saturday March 9th! If you are near LA, don’t miss our release party this weekend!

Hosted by Kent Kaliber (Auxiliary’s June/July PinUp).
Numerous contributors from Auxiliary’s past and present will be attending!
Plus, Modified By Man and Shotgun Radio will be performing live!

Saturday March 9th
10pm to 3am / 18+ plus event
Bar Sinister / 1652 N Cherokee Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028

The 13th annual Edwardian Ball held in San Francisco at the Regency Ballroom left us wanting more. Spanning three rooms and two evenings, The Edwardian Ball is unforgettable in spirit and size. Edward Gorey would be proud of the ballroom, museum of wonders, and obscure vendors who have paid him tribute for a lucky thirteen years.

AUXILIARY ONLINE CONTENT
[ additional images not seen in the February/March 2013 Issue ]

photos : Arthur Koch

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New York NY, January 17 – Arden Leigh, author of the book The New Rules of Attraction and our Ask Arden relationship advice columnist, has brought her power and beauty to the world of music! Her new band Arden and the Wolves hit the stage for the first time at RBar on Bowery in NYC on January 17th. Her stage presence was enthralling. The best thing besides the music is the band’s look, Arden is very fair, like a Snow White, and her band members are very rock and rough (I mean rough in a good way boys!). Band members include lead guitar Gabe Mera, rhythm guitar Mick Royale, bass Percy Trayanov, and drums Matt James.

Arden Leigh took a few minutes to answer our questions!

What made you want to start singing?
Arden Leigh : I can remember wanting to sing for as long as I’ve been alive. I would sing at recess in school and the other kids would tell me to shut up. I spent most of my adolescence and early adulthood singing in theater, but that got old. I started writing acoustic singer/songwriter stuff in my early 20s, and then later decided I wanted to take advantage of my higher range. Indie pop rock bands (Paramore, Anberlin, The Classic Crime) have always been the kind of music that gets under my skin, and that’s what I wanted to put out there.

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Anaheim CA, January 24-27 – The NAMM Show is the biggest gathering of music retailers in the world. It’s so enormous it would be impossible to see everything in just four days. No matter what aspect of music creation you’re interested in, there’s bound to be an assortment of vendors with gear you’ll lust for and professionals with sage advice for you.

Like other conventions, the four-day event is crowded with insiders and enthusiasts in search of the very latest goodies. The booths featured musician signings, professional demonstrations, pretty girls, cutting edge technology, and the unveiling of the 2013 models.

Vendors often employ the showmanship associated with traveling salesmen of old. The Pioneer booth featured several DJ stations with different set-ups that allowed professionals and hobbyists alike to experience their new products. Orange Amps constructed a wall of amps that would make anyone who has ever played guitar swoon. Coffin Case presented a 3D video of guitarist John 5 so lifelike it made the 3D technology in movie theaters seem like child’s play. ESP Guitars brought in dark artist Sam Shearon aka Mister-Sam who designed their new Vampire Biotech series to chat up attendees.

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San Francisco CA, January 18-19
Dust off your spats and slap on your favorite corset and bloomers! The 12th Annual Edwardian Ball is this weekend, January 18-19th at the Regency Ballroom in beautiful San Francisco. Auxiliary Magazine will be there with bells on to report on the event’s acts, vendors, and mingle with fabulous ball goers!

Los Angeles CA, February 23
There is also a one day edition taking place in LA on February 23.

For more information and details check out their website www.edwardianball.com.

- Jessica Jewell

We Are RadaR is closing! So sad! Another great brick and mortar gone. Today is their last day open and they are having a huge sale! So if you’re in the Toronto area, stop in before the chance is gone forever. Pick up some great clothes and accessories and pick up a copy of Auxiliary while you’re there. They have our current issue and many back issues in stock.

Plastik Wrap, the clothing line from the owners of We Are Radar is still alive and strong. They are just closing their physical store front. But it is still sad news for a scene that needs a better sense of community, not a lessening one. Brick and mortars, club nights, festivals, and other places you can see people face to face are what started the goth/industrial scene (and all its offshoots) and the internet cannot replace that.

So go out and support We Are Radar today if you’re near Toronto! And make sure you support the brick and mortars in your area.

For a quick break down of what Plastik Wrap deals you can get today… all skirts will be between $35-100, men’s tops as low as $30, and sleeves and arm warmers starting at $10. Winter coats are all 30% off. Women’s pants between $50-100. All Embody in the shop will also be on sale at 25% off. All Missy Industry silver jewelry on sale at 20% off.

Read more about We Are Radar in our Brick and Mortar spotlight in the August/September 2012 Issue.

- Jennifer Link

A little late, but better than never, our December/January 2012/2013 Issue release party will be in LA at Bar Sinister on Saturday January 19th! With the holidays keeping everyone busy for most of December and for the first week of January, we decided to hold out on the release party for a bit. If you are near LA, it’s time to get out again and start off with our release party this weekend!

Hosted by Kent Kaliber (Auxiliary’s June/July PinUp).
Numerous contributors from Auxiliary’s past and present will be attending!
Plus, Rockett Queens and LA Vice will be performing live!

Saturday January 19th
10pm to 3am / 18+ plus event
Bar Sinister / 1652 N Cherokee Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028