This is Bat Country - An Introduction

*Edited and re-posted on the 4th of February, 2024

When I first started this blog a year ago, I struggled to write the first post. I eventually sat down and started writing an introductory post, essentially spilling out a few paragraphs about how I wanted to get into music journalism and share my love of all things artsy and cultural. Though I still very much want to be involved in the world of music and culture, I've since decided that my initial post didn't adequately explain my motivations for starting this project, and I'm not entirely satisfied with it as an introduction to the blog. So, here is the new "This is Bat Country" intro post, which will hopefully be a better articulation of what it is I aim to do with this blog and where my interests and motivations lie.

So what is this blog all about? This is basically a place for me to share my thoughts on music, live shows, albums, books, films, and anything else in that vein. Over the last few years I've spent so much money on music-related endeavours that I figured I might as well document the journey. At the moment, all my posts so far have been gig reviews, but I intend to branch out into other types of articles as well. I've read quite a few rockstar autobiographies and other music-related books lately (Slash, Dave Mustaine), so perhaps some book reviews will make an appearance in the near future. I'd also like to write more about some of the music venues and characters I've come across in the last few years, as well as the documentaries, concert films, and miscellaneous music history I've picked up over time.

What's with the bats, you may wonder? The title of this post is a reference to Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, one of my favorite books (the movie adaptation is also a favorite of mine). Since watching the movie a few years ago, Thompson has become one of my personal heroes, particularly when it comes to documenting the culture of his time and pursuing a truly free and adventurous life, on his own terms (and lots of drugs). I aspire to live a life as wild and interesting as his - though hopefully I won't end up shooting myself at 67.

Apart from the Fear and Loathing reference, the blog title "Release More Bats" is just a natural continuation of the username "Release the Bats" which I've used for quite some time now. There's nothing much to it - I just like bats.

Thompson is not the only journalist who has inspired me. Whilst writing my dissertation on rock music in the Soviet Union, I relied heavily on articles written by Artemy Troitsky, a Russian music critic and journalist who promoted and shed light on many of the most notable Soviet bands of the 70s and 80s. I'll probably be posting some excerpts from that dissertation at some point; I'm proud of it and enjoyed the research it involved. Another figure I came across during this time is Joanna Stingray, an American singer/producer who helped introduce the hidden world of Soviet rock to its counterpart rock fans back in the US. At one point she was even married to one of the members of Kino, probably the biggest of the Soviet rock bands to emerge during the 80s.

Artemy Troitsky

Joanna Stingray

Taking inspiration from people like Thompson, Troitsky, Stingray and many more, I hope to provide my own insights into the world of music and popular culture, shedding light on some of the bands, albums, books and places which have most resonated with me.

Finally, a bit more about myself: I'm originally from New Orleans, but I went to university in the UK and have been living in the North West for just over a year. I play guitar and go to lots of gigs in my spare time. My favorite genres of music are heavy metal and classic rock, but like most people, I enjoy a wide range of music - from 70s funk and disco to electronic dance music. I love exploring the rich cultural histories of different places around the globe, and I aim to use this blog as a way to document my journey through the musical world and share this passion with others.

Welcome to Bat Country - I hope you enjoy my posts!