Name: John Toriello
Age: 55
Occupation: Unemployed

What do you think about your face?

I would like to be a little better looking than what I am - you know, boxing and everything. When you get plastic surgery they don’t do the right work. I boxed for three years at the Grammarcy Club in Manhattan. It’s a hard business. You take punches, and sometimes you got to go home after the fight and put a towel around your neck.

In the fight that I broke my nose in I had the guy out, but I made a mistake. I dropped my hand, and he caught me. I broke my nose in ’73, but didn’t get it fixed till ’80-’81. I went to this doctor Reeding on Park Avenue, and boy, he did a job on me! He got a hammer and chisel and rake and this and that… I say, "Oh, jeez, at least it’ll come out…” Well, I – ahh… I wasn’t that happy with it, so I went back a few weeks later, he says, “I can’t make it any shorter” - because they measure the distance from your chin to the tip of your nose - and he says, “It fits your face, what do you want”?
I wanted it smaller. I wanted a Tom Jones-type of nose; you can barely see the freaking thing. I just was always very, very self-conscious about my nose before I started boxing. I’m Italian, and you know; you’re born with a Roman nose, and I hate it.

People say I make more out of it than what it is. I say, “Fine, would you like it”? and they say, “ … um, no thanks”. I’ll be honest with you - I lost almost four million dollars in real estate. Since then I’ve been taking antidepressants, so I don’t concentrate too much on… the nose or anything like that.

Name: Robert Sheehan
Age: 37
Occupation: Professional Dog-walker

What do you think about your face?

I think my face is kind of harsh sometimes. I think a lot of people probably would look at me and think I don’t look like the friendliest person in the world, but: When you live in New York City that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The people that you want to approach you will approach you. The people that are sort of put off by the way you look - those are the people I would like to filter out anyway.

I think I know when my looks intimidate people. I can turn that on, and I can turn it off. When I’m on my way home on the subway I don’t necessarily want people talking to me. So I turn it on. If I go out, on the other hand, my facial expression changes, and I’m much more approachable. It’s kind of what a lot of people in New York do. They respond according to the given situation.

Take this neighborhood. You don’t want to be here and look like you’re not really from around New York. Because a lot of people would see that, and then you’ll become a victim of a crime. I used to live in Williamsburg. This neighborhood is further out on the outskirts, it’s a little sketchy, so you don’t really want to give the impression that you’re in any way vulnerable. You want to sort of look like you belong here; you know: Don’t fuck with me.

I was mugged when I moved here from Canada 12 years ago. I was very naïve back then. There was a lot of things I didn’t know.

Name: Rhoda Lukin
Age: 75
Occupation: Political writer

What do you think about your face?

Essentially I would say I have made a drastic change the last three years. Age caught up with me. Good times caught up with me. Wild parties caught up with me. And what I see now is a truly aging woman. I no longer see the spontaneous, witty, charming… I see an elderly woman. And I find that difficult, but in a way very freeing. I don’t have to be the life of the party anymore, and I can talk to charming people like you and not have to feel that I have to flirt with you. I’m much, much freer although considerably sadder getting old.

I’m a writer, and I’ve been a writer through all sorts of times. Journalism and creative magazines, news etc. It’s very difficult for me to sit back and watch as opposed to be the active force. And yet I think that if I stick it out I will discover a way of aging that involves anything that is different from doing crossword puzzles. Keep your mind active, you know? I got fit with gym, but I can’t do that anymore, and I don’t want to pretend.

Publik Parking

Publik Parking, formed in 2003,is an ever-evolving alternative/metal band that has recently signed with Revolution Music Records. Monica’s sultry melodic to growling vocals has set Publik Parking ’s style away from the rest. All the while, Neiko’s strong, complimenting backup vocals along with his aggressively, gritty guitar riffs, and Tucker’s highly energetic guitar style and rhythm lends itself well to the musical mix. Tim’s vigorously enthusiastic bass style to Erik’s precise backbeats, resonates the power within Publik Parking’s musical creativity.

The inspiringly, creative collaboration that takes place between members drives them to produce each song as unique and complex as the next, using their own individual talents to complete the tie that binds them together not only as a band, but as a family of musicians with one goal. Each live performance is a dynamic stage show that keeps people coming back for more.

Publik Parking has had the distinction to be 1 on MySpace’s metal top 10 indie label bands in Michigan and 7 on the MySpace’s progressive metal top 10 indie label bands in Michigan. Publik Parking has also been the featured artist on various websites including, www.therevolutionmusic.com, www.musicforte.com, www.bandtube.com, www.skyrock.com, www.michiganartists.com, www.michiganbands.com, www.stolenmixtapes.com, not to mention plays on numerous podcasts, online radio shows and local radio and college stations across the country, and also on 105FM in Europe where they were in the top 10 of unsigned bands receiving airplay.

Publik Parking has had the pleasure to share the stage with Smile Empty Soul, Caroline’s Spine, Buckcherry, Program the Dead, Bile, Loudness (world tour 2006), Jocaine, Bret Michaels of Poison, Five speed, Broadzilla, and Pownd.
Publik Parking’s discography includes: New full length album, Pavlov’s Dog released on New Year's Eve, produced by Fire Hyena Studios.

Tension Head

Formed in 2003, Tension Head from Saginaw, Michigan explode onto the stage with the ferocity of a hurricane. Led by leather lunged vocalist C.P. Rossio and backed by the thunderous bass of Anthony Garcia, the vicious guitars of Sean Griffin and the propulsive percussion of Jo Jo Jimenez, these straddlers of the fence between hard rock and metal take no prisoners with their energetic live performances and blistering recorded material.

Tension Head are more than ready to take over an unsuspecting worldwide audience, in a excerpt from Robert E. Martin’s (Review Magazine) glowing review he even went as far as to say, "The sound of Tension Head is incisive, all consuming and impossible to ignore. Be prepared for the trip of your life.“

As the dust settles in the aftermath of the fallout for a once blossoming musical landscape, all that shall remain is Tension Head.

Silverspork

The inception of Silverspork began in November of 1998. Traversing through differing styles and genres of music, Silverspork delivers an intensely unique brand of sound that captures both a new and old style all the while maintaining their own personal originality. Their influences draw heavily from the likes of Tool, Faith No More, Helmet, Fugazi, and many more. The lineup currently consists of Carl Abila on guitar, Brian Gretzinger on vocals, Mario Salcedo on drums, and Jay Burk on bass. The two founders and only original members (Carl and Brian) consummated this quartet with the addition of Mario and Jay.

Silverspork's live shows are nearly unmatched. This quartet delivers an inspiring array of emotion and energy that is delivered with the utmost level of intensity. It is with such intensity that they continue to expand their fan base and draw new listeners in.

Perseverance has been one of the more key terms in describing their nearly eleven year history. They have won numerous awards over the years and countless amounts of battle of the bands including being one of the top 16 out of nearly 3000 for Bodog music in it's first year.

Milligram Smile

Based out of Mid Michigan, Milligram Smile delivers a raw, thick, driving punch with dramatic, emotional highs and lows backed by a steady, solid, attention grabbing beat.

Their lyrics are about everyday emotions and display feelings that can be easily related to by others. These characteristics are displayed by their high-energy presence that they deliver on stage.

Milligram Smile has received many honours including Review Magazine’s Best Album of the Year in 2007 and Best Rock Band of the Year in both 2007 and 2008.

Hokori

Hokori was officially formed in the fall of 2004,when lead vocalist, Kenn Frank finally joined the band. The act performed it first show, with the still existing line up, March 23rd of 2005 at Flint’s fabled Machine Shop! Their first offerings were a crud, slightly blemished eclectic mix of the five members’ individual tastes. Two years went by before the self release of their first album, “Mortal Wasteland”, a nine track collection that shown the expanse of their multiple tastes.

Shortly after the release of their first album, a decision was made to find a signature sound that was their own, unique, but still mimicking the styles and genres they had come to know and emulate. With that the current sound of Hokori was born. While not an overwhelming technical display, it provides the feelings and emotions many metal heads have come to know. Guitars tuned down, played to perfection in a sluggish pace at first, then pushed to the breaking point. Drums that were once simply a melodic and rhythmic beat have held that same sound, yet have increased in speed and ferocity. Finally, the turning away of the proper vocal, and a deviant display of various metal signature sounds uttered from one man. This is what has come to be known as their self titled brand of “Bay City Brutality”.

These “Jehovah’s witnesses of death metal” have made it their pledge to push forth in a genre filled with innovators and god’s to make their own name. Soon their second release will bring their travels full circle, “Murder Rd.”, set to be released via Revolution Records, is a 13 song assault on the metal world.