LATEST NEWS

04.28.08: No Whey...
An update only one month later? You're kidding me. I happened to be on this page for some updating, ie, deleting of a band I was once a part of that I no longer wish to even associate myself with... and decided to update this. Well, there you go. It's updated.
ON a serious note...FUNERAL will be held in the beautiful city of Santa Monica at the famous "14 Below" -- the CBGB's of the Wesside. OOps, West Side. I say "famous" because WHEN EVER I've answered the question "so when is the next FUNERAL?" I say "14 Below in Santa Monica" and they reply "Oh YEAH, I know that place, I saw....play there." After that date, I'm giving FUNERAL a rest for a few months so I can focus on my two bands, THE CHASTE and my new Siouxsie tribute NOCTURNA. The next venue should be in West L.A. but I won't say where. nyah nyah. NEXT FUNERAL IS FRIDAY MAY 30. See ya there...

03.02.08: I have a new song idea...
How about something like "MySpace killed the website star! MySpace killed the website star!" Yeah, sing it to the tune of "Video killed the radio star.." I could put something to the effect of "mention this passage and get in for free forever and ever..." and nothing would happen. Pourquoi? you ask me incredulously in French, dropping your salad fork on your china plate. Well, because NOBODY READS FUCKING WEBSITES ANY LONGER!!! It's all about getting your info quicker and easier on MySpace! Holy FUCK I had NO idea it was going to be this insane. I've held on to the domain BUBASTIS.COM for 8, 9 years? And ever since the advent of MySpace, I feel like I'm shouting in a large gaping hole in the universe. What's that..a black hole? How appropriate.
I myself have fallen victim to this incredible invention. I love MySpace, I really do. I neglect my own domain because honestly..who notices? Really. All anyone seems to care about now is an email in there inbox or a bulletin on MySpace so... "MySpace killed the website star". I visited myself here to discover I hadn't updated the news in 9 months and hadn't updated the next event which is less than 2 weeks away. Well, it's updated now. Much has changed since my last update...but, FUNERAL has been a continuously evolving animal in constant flux as it is. IT's the nature of my well-built beast. Now I suppose I could "blog" all of this and get more attention? I suppose I could add live journal links, etc. etc...I don't know. I think it's quiet around here, but I like it, actually. Shit, now that I think about it, I don't even think my boyfriend Andy reads this. (baby, email me if you do...HAHA!! gmk!)
Hmm. Come to think of it. I will blog this....but you'll only read the below message here on bubastis.com. So, ha. SO yeah, mention this itty bitty rant and get in for life for free for being an avid reader and believer-in websites. LOL. Oh and happy new year and sorry for not updating this section for 9 months. LOL (part deux). Au revoir! And see you at the next FUNERAL: Friday March 14.


06.29.07 TO: All my beloved Baby Bats...I miss you :(
I truly am so very sorry for the age change at FUNERAL. It has been heart-breaking reading your touching messages about it. Please believe that I am always striving to bring back ALL AGES again...truly. It was the very idea that spawned FUNERAL to begin with 5 years ago. I have not and will not lose sight of that... I have watched so many of my lovely little teen fiends grow to graduate High School, grow to be of legal drinking age, grow and keep the true soul of GOTHIC alive...I'm feeling a bit like your Fairy Goth-Mother. ;) I have not forgotten any of you...and I do hope we can see each other soon. Just for the time-being, FUNERAL is 18+...but I am wanting every year's new gen. of GOTHICS dancing on my floors.. Soon.. til death do us part, VERONIKA SORROW xox

05.24.07 FUNERAL IS REOPENING AT A NEW LOCATION!!
FUNERAL will be reopening the tomb gates this Memorial Day Weekend: Sunday, May 27. We'll also be welcoming one of my heroines, Gothic Rock Legend GITANE DEMONE with The Crystelles. This is an amazing band..do NOT miss her performance!
Yes, unfortunately for my tiniest Baby Bats, FUNERAL, for the time being, will remain an 18+ over club until a venue that allows all ages is conjured up (trust me, we're always on the look-out!! and hell, if you've been to a venue that allowed all ages, let us know!). So, keep your eyeballs peeled for us...
FUNERAL will be open on national holidays only...with no work or school the next day! So on the 4th of July, come light up some "fireworks" of your own accord at the bar (not literally). Next FUNERAL events:
Tuesday July 3 (Independence Day),
Sunday September 2 (Labor Day),
more holiday dates to be confirmed soon...
NO SCHOOL OR WORK THE NEXT DAY FOR ALL THESE EVENTS!

BURIAL has also returned! This is a 21+ club being held at the Old Towne Pub in Pasadena starting Saturday June 16...and open the 3rd Saturday of every month thereafter. Gothic, 80's Darkwave, Deathrock, Old Industrial. Visit: http://www.bubastis.com/burial for more info.
We're all very excited about these new changes and events...so we shall see you all very soon!

01.19.07 THE 4 MONTH UPDATE: FUNERAL IS MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION...
Hopefully this year is shaping up to be a better year than that blasted 2006 for you all! '06 brought many good things, it seems, but at the high cost of blood, sweat and tears. And keeping with the march of Time and Evolution in this dark, cold new year, along comes a change for FUNERAL....
It's true! Friday January 19 will mark our final night in Pomona. It comes as a shock to us all as we had no idea the property was being sold. Luckily, we all enjoyed over a year and a half of hauntings at this great venue, but alas, time marches forward and apparently the building will be destroyed in order to make room for "condos." Quite literally a crying shame.

SO WE'RE MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION! The owners have opened an all new club much closer to many of you AND us. They have graciously invited us to keep FUNERAL open. We won't disclose the when and where we're opening up until late. But please make sure to come out then and bid us a farewell from our old stomping ground. And if you HAVEN'T joined FUNERAL yet, now's the time!

One last thing that I am having a difficult time absorbing: in order to maintain our nights and all that FUNERAL has been providing for over 4 years, we are being asked to be an 18+ nightclub. When we reopen, we will no longer be ALL AGES. I know this closes out a few of our devoted FUNERAL fiends and the upcoming legions of baby bats to follow (and honestly goes against some of the principles behind WHY I started FUNERAL to begin with), but I can only offer my deepest apologies. I have weighed my options: I just don't want to stop FUNERAL in order to scour L.A. for a venue that is COOL enough to allow us ALL AGES with a FULL BAR for the 21+ ghouls. It is extremely difficult for our crowd; and with new laws being passed all the time, it's becoming trickier, stickier and quite possibly illegal (think back to the police raid on FUNERAL in 2005 where I was almost arrested)! I would like to keep FUNERAL going STRONG. Still, I will talk to the owners and see if they will allow ALL AGES if accompanied by a parent or adult: there is still a glimmer of hope...we shall see!

So on behalf of the FUNERAL Skeleton Crew, we will see you all there on Friday January 19 as we BURN THE HOUSE DOWN one last time in POMONA!!!!

Til Death Do Us Part...



08.10.06 THE 4 MONTH UPDATE...
Does anyone really go to websites any longer? Truly! MySpace has taken over the internet...it's not a complaint at all, but I see the way of the future today...and it begins and ends in MySpace! So, creep on over and join the Official FUNERAL page on MySpace! http://www.myspace.com/clubfuneral

HAS IT REALLLLLY BEEN OVER A YEAR ALREADY?
Where the f*ck does time go? Eh? FUNERAL has been held at the lovely Tiki Room now for over a year now. It's mind-boggling, really...this year (2006) will also mark the 4th year for FUNERAL..and what a long and interesting journey it's been. And in the wink of an eye...4 more months have flown by and I haven't updated the FUNERAL news section becuase, well, honestly, I'm not really all that convinced that no more than 2 or 3 of you out there in the dubya duby dubya really read club news. The only news that matters, FUNERAL NEWS! (okay, I don't really believe that, just being silly as I should be asleeeep by now). Yawn.

What is THE CHASTE?
Why, that's the musical project of your FUNERAL director Veronika Sorrow, along with Andy Smith AKA DJ sPlit! Visit THE CHASTE on MySpace (lovely Myspace): http://www.myspace.com/chastemusic You will have the opportunity to catch them LIVE at FUNERAL on Friday August 18...don't miss it!

04.18.06 UPDATES and OH! SO MORE...
Hello there! Have you noticed? FUNERAL has a new schedule and admission fee...
1. FUNERAL is now open on the 3rd Friday of the month ONLY.
2. FUNERAL is now open from 10pm til 2am for all you fashionably late...
...make a sticky-note of it and put it on your monitor.

BURIAL...buried?
Thanks to everyone who made FUNERAL's sister BURIAL a smashing success in Pasadena. However, due to the extremely uncool nature and unbelievalble unprofessionalism of the owner of Terrace (Joseph Lee: you're a joke), we are looking for an even better 21+ spot for BURIAL. So for now, the coffin lids are closed...We WILL NOT be gone forever and eternally...so stay thee tuned!

WHY, KISS ME THREE TIMES: IT'S ROBERT SMITH'S BIRTHDAY!
This Friday April 21, our beloved Father of Mope, our Creepy from Crawley, our Messiah of Angst is turning 47. That wheel in the sky keeps on turning, but The Cure's music is immortal. Come help celebrate at his FUNERAL PARTY with partners in the most atrocious of musical crimes THE LAST DANCE. Jeff & the boys are also doing a little Cure song to welcome our "Robert Smith" on stage for a club-wide "Happy Birthday"...you don't wanna miss this event. Til then, I hope you have that Journey song permanently implanted in your head for the rest of the day like meeeee!!

01.25.06 HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Lots of changes in the new year of 2006 abound. The new year is my Spring Cleaning, a winter cleansing, if you will. Time for change, time for action. With this, I have decided to change around some things for FUNERAL. I cannot say what just yet, but it will definitely be a date change and an admission change! ALSO..a brand new DANCE EVENT is coming! All the gorey details are coming...soon...

FUNERAL on the Women's Entertainment Network
Last November, the WE channel came by FUNERAL to film for a show called "I can't believe I wore that!". When they contacted me, I was highly skeptical and asked to speak to the producer. I made clear that in order to grant them permission to film, that this show would NOT be a mockery nor a spoof of what the Gothic subculture does. I was not going to subject everyone (and myself) to another media circus resulting in more closed minds and more ridicule. The producer was very understanding and ASSURED me I had no worries despite what the show's title may have suggested.
I am very, VERY pleased to report that the spotlight on FUNERAL was FANTASTIC. It was based around the fact that Gothic fashion became more widely known and trendy in the 90's with the surfacing of our subculture into the mainstream. It then went on to explain that for most, it wasn't merely a trend, but a lifestyle...that of course, needed to be cloaked at times for conformity-at-work's sake. They interviewed me, and several other FUNERAL goers. If you were unable to catch it, check your local cable listing for the 90's segment (there were about 4 segments dealing with fashion thru the last 4 decades); they have been re-running the program since the original air-date. We'll have it on-hand at the merchandise table at FUNERAL, ask the Beast, Sal, if he has it...he'll pop it in for ya.

TO BE UNDERGROUND, OR NOT TO BE UNDERGROUND? That is the question. When I began FUNERAL over 3 years ago, it was meant to stay underground, ie, low-key, possibly flirting on the edge of illegality. The reason being, having all ages allowed in an establishment that had a full bar was a very tricky business. I have since come to learn that it IS possible and very legal depending on the venue. It is in fact a matter of permits.
It all came to a head last year in May when Eva O.'s show was interrupted by the El Monte Police Dept. citing the hall and myself for lack of "proper permits": something we both were actually unaware of at the time. Now that FUNERAL is entirely not in danger of being shut down, does this mean we are no longer "underground"? Was it this dance with disaster that made us underground? I question this myself. But I come back to the same idea: the essence and spirit of FUNERAL is quite in-tact. The only real change has been your FUNERAL is NOT in danger of getting RAIDED BY THE COPS. I think we'll all sleep safely, dance soundly and enjoy the bands we're watching KNOWING this. Long Live the Underground spirit. Viva le FUNERAL.


11.04.05 COLLECTING YOUR SURVEYS: NO INDUSTRIAL!
Last FUNERAL we put out a box to collect surveys left out at the request table. FUNERAL wants to know your opinion on..well, FUNERAL! The good, the bad, the ugly. Essentially, we asked about what you like, what you want, and what you don't. We were happy to find surveys choking the box with ideas and thoughts. Fortunately, 99% of the surveys were rational and expressed a ideas, thanks, musings and thoughts...

General Positive feedback:
"The music is perfect: gothic, deathrock, some punk and old 80's...Thanks for having Funeral...Thanks for all ages...You don't play Industrial...Decorations are creepy...Sound is great...Venue is beautiful...". (Thank you! We'll definitely keep up the good work for each of of you all. This is everyone's home.)

General Negative feedback:
"Less blacklights...play FUCKING INDUSTRIAL...play BLACK METAL". (We're working out something with all the blacklights tomorrow night! I think we'll all like it. Now, as far as ever playing Industrial, sorry: the deepest we'll ever swim is summoning some oldschool classics in brief blasts, but ripping into a long set of techno/hardcore/ebm industrial, we just will not. Myself and all DJ's at FUNERAL stand firm on this. FUNERAL is NOT a "Goth-Industrial" club! When we had an extra room to play with, we created a side INDUSTRIAL room to keep it out of the Main Dance Tomb. Now that there is only one room, we're just not playing Industrial. Goth and Industrial were never lovers meant to marry...no matter what they tell you. Black Metal?! That's doomed for divorce. Won't hear that here either.)

Thanks everyone..we'll keep the surveys going and update here often...see you tomorrow night for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD..with my good friends Demonika & the Darklings performing. It's also my birthday (egads!), so I'll be joining them on stage for one song. Can't wait...
Don't miss out! See you then...


10.14.05 HOW ABOUT SOME BLASTED NEWS?!?
Hellllllo! It's been about 3 months since the last FUNERAL news update...Let's see...

The Tiki Room has been the best home for FUNERAL thus far. The owners, Bob and Marie, are just about the coolest folks and venue owners we could hope for. They've been running blues clubs for years and are no strangers to Rock N' Roll..and all it entails! We were graciously welcomed to stay for as long as we wanted.
I've been asked why FUNERAL has moved to Pomona countless times...easily put: legalities. As most of you know, I was almost arrested last May in El Monte because of some unknown "permits" the city decided we needed after a year of shows. You can never tell when the police and the city are going to get a bug up their arse and come running after you. The closer to Pasadena and/or Hollywood FUNERAL is, the more difficult it has been to obtain the proper permits for the type of event FUNERAL is, was and will always be: ALL AGES with a FULL BAR for 21 over. Thankfully, the Tiki Room has all the permits we need to have a safe and LEGAL home. It's about time!
We're set in the Artist Colony in OLD Pomona. It's clean, picturesque and antiquated. FUNERAL is right across the street from the world famous Glass House...any given night there are bands jamming, performing, music coming from all directions with artists on the street. It's the best musical community FUNERAL has been involved in and we're honored to be a part of it.

The FUNERAL Skeleton Crew, street team and myself are always working our asses off on this side to bring you the best events an underground club can. FUNERAL has never strived to be a Hollywood-esque club; if we wanted that, I would have moved it there long ago. We never try to compete with other events or clubs. We've always marched to the beat of our own drum, with our own unique vision in mind. We invite fiends of all ages out to where aesthetic meets passion, where music, dance and fashion rule, and where integrity and sincerity are king and queen. If you ever have a question, suggestion or idea...share it with FUNERAL. We need ALL your input (good bad and inbetween), all the time. Don't be a shy, make your voice heard and email us tonight..

Next Friday October 21 is the MASK MURDER BALL. It's also FUNERAL'S birthday...we're 3 years old (scary!). You're invited to wear (or paint on) your best mask to this very special event..costumes are also encouraged (even though everyday is Halloween)! Guest MC Count Smokula will be awarding genuine COFFIN CASE goodies to the BEST MASKS up on stage. MASKS COME OFF at Midnight! Be there for the unmasking and all the Fun...this will be one hell of a night.

Thanks for reading. See you soon!

07.03.05 FUNERAL HAS FOUND A NEW PERMANENT TOMB!!
I want to thank the couple hundred ghouls that crept out for our debut night on Friday, June 17 at the Tiki Room in Pomona...you made it smashing success! Funeral will now be held there permanently on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month...

On FUNERAL, Friday July 1:
Everyone was out of town, but we still managed to pull in a successful and fun night. I haven't danced that much in a while. I've temporarily taken over as Go-Ghoul Dancer on stage til Steve Skeletal is able to make it out (get better soon!!).

At any rate, I opened my email client this morning and found a gorgeous letter. It said everything I would have said if I didn't run Funeral. It says what I would say even now, actually. The letter shared the same passion and understanding for the PURPOSE of Funeral. It touched me deeply, so I need to share it....

"I wanted to lavish the praise you earned upon you for tonight's work. Holy shit. Just... honestly, that was the best musical set I have ever had the blessing to hear. I take my dancing pretty damned seriously - to me it's art- and while I LOVE to dance, I won't dance to a bad or over-played song- there's simply nothing to dance about. Tonight, I danced and danced so hard I had nothing left but the inner resonance of the music left in my body and ears. Songs I knew and loved- but what's more, songs I heard for the first time, and songs I never EVER *dreamed* a DJ would actually PLAY- you PLAYED them!!! (No comment on how much floor time Lycia typically gets- yeah, you know what I mean).

I thought it would be an impossibility to hear that kind of music in a place where younger people could "get back to their roots"- too many DJs only focus on "dancefloor population and gyration"- thank you for caring enough to play what's good, important, and what's new. I don't want all my favorite hits when I go clubbing- I want my DJ to educate me in my chosen field, so I go home with a new "favorite hit" at the end of the night. I heard several songs for the first time and several I even just adored.

It was so beautiful, I'm crying. Thanks so much, Veronika and Andy. Damned sure I'm coming out again- and if you charged double I'd still pay it and say "Thank you" while handing it over.

The Gothic Subculture- our ethos, our music, our fashion, our language, needs these lifepumps, if for nothing else than context- I'll always be goth, but I also want a place to say "Here is goth, and here am I". Without context, all is lost.

Goth's Undead!!!!

Thank you- ..."

And Thank YOU....

06.07.05 FUNERAL IS REOPENING...FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY?
The cool ghouls down at the TIKI ROOM in the gorgeous ARTS COLONY in Pomona, have invited FUNERAL in for ONE NIGHT: Friday June 17. This creeptacular dark venue is to DIE FOR! We invite you to creep on down and see what we've done to the place...Again, this MIGHT be for ONE NIGHT ONLY...so you absolutely CAN NOT MISS THIS EVENT! It's also our 3rd Annual BLOODY PROM NIGHT: King & Queen will be coronated at midnight...the more blood, the merrier!
Scare ya there!

05.11.05 SO..WHAT HAPPENED AT FUNERAL AT THE EVA O. SHOW??
FUNERAL. We're not a huge corporate entitely. Hell, we're not even a small corporate nothing. FUNERAL is simply an independently run, underground event that we try to hold peacefully twice a month. We choose not to hold it in Hollywood. We choose to rent out halls, theatres and other cool venues. It's a home away from home for myself, my loved ones, the FUNERAL skeleton crew, you and many others.

On what was to be our first official night at Knights of Columbus, at roughly 12:30am, FUNERAL was shut down by El Monte police. I was personally pulled out of the club by two cops and frisked (for possible "weapon-possession"). The "code enforcement" officer explained to me that he had visited my website and "realized" we were lacking 2 proper permits and we were going to be shut down...

Hmm. That's odd. Isn't this up to the HALL OWNER, ie, the person I give good money to to rent out Knights, to INFORM me of said permits? Apparently, the owner of Knights did NOT know about these permits and was supposedly cited as well. Oh did I fail to mention I was given a big fat ticket? Yes.

FUNERAL couldn't get a warning. FUNERAL couldn't receive a nice head's up for lacking the permits. No. The police opted to make a big fucking scene and shut us down over half-way through the night. Make sense to you? It certainly doesn't make sense to any of us.

I want to thank every one of you who made it out to see Eva O. She was incredibly understanding of the whole debacle (considering this was something that went on constantly in the 80's). Good news is that she promises to RETURN TO FUNERAL and play another show for you all!

THANK YOU for your open-minds and support. Without it, what would our scene become?

We WILL see you all again very soon...

Devoted,

Veronika & the FUNERAL SKELETON CREW.

04.23.05 FUNERAL IS MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION AND NIGHT...TEMPORARILY... It's true..on Saturday April 16, FUNERAL bade farewell to The Elk's Lodge. That was in fact, our last night there. This was an untimely and unexpectedly abrupt ending. The reason given to us that night was that the Elk's building was sold and events were no longer being booked. We were only informed of all this AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, so we apologize for any misdleading information...we wish we had known beforehand.
So, after nearly a year of amazing nights at the Elk's, FUNERAL must secure a new tomb elsewhere. HOWEVER, we already have some delicious new prospective tombs for FUNERAL and are negotiating now...fear not! Your FUNERAL WILL CONTINUE!!

NEXT FUNERAL IS ON FRIDAY MAY 6
For one night only, on Friday, May 6, FUNERAL will be held at the Knights of Columbus. This is the great lodge right across the street from the Elk's Lodge. FUNERAL has been there twice (when we were unable to be at the Elk's). We will be welcoming the amazing EVA O to the stage this night...this is one historical FUNERAL not to be missed! See you then...

03.10.05 FUNERAL LOVES JEZEBEL
I walk over to Michael Aston at the bar, who is lovingly sipping down yet another Corona with lime I bought him. His guitarist, Switch, snaps a photo of Michael and I ('holy hell..I just took a photo with Michael Aston!!'). "You ready to go on at 11:15?" A couple of songs later, they're up on the red-lit stage. "YOU CAN'T KEEP FUNERAL DOWN!!" And an introduction, GENE LOVES JEZEBEL...the set was intense, passionate, sometimes comical, but always entertaining. These were Legends. I was beside myself with awe. Impromptu go-go dancers, more Coronas, a broken mic clip, peacock feathers, audience participation, a pool of Corona, a few wise cracks at twin Jay Aston, some of our beloved favourites, and next thing you know..it was over. It was real. And real fun...Thank You Boys! And thanks to the HUGE crowd that came out for our first Saturday night in El Monte! Also, Thanks to Mark Splatter for the great set.
...but what was that? It wasn't at the Elk's Lodge? it was across the street at Knights of Columbus? Ahh, explain, Veronika...explain:
As is always the story with FUNERAL...
to keep FUNERAL true to the nature of Underground...in order not to "sell out" and subscribe to all that rapes the music and scene of it's integrity (what's left)...in order to keep FUNERAL ALL AGES with a full bar (!)...I choose to hold FUNERAL at Halls and independently run Organizations and Club Houses. With that, you run many risk factors. One is, you never know when "one" or "two" of the "powers that be" of said organizations may not "like" what we're doing at FUNERAL (not that we're doing anything "wrong"). DESPITE contracts being signed, handshakes and (most) rules being followed (by the book) at said organizations, there's always gonna be that "special someone" to TRY and piss on your parade. Our parade is called FUNERAL!! Luckily, the Club House, K of C, right across the street from the Elk's took us in for the night. It was only a matter of pointing lovely FUNERAL fiends across the street..walking distance.
But, why didn't anyone know beforehand? Ah, good question. Easy answer: I barely found out about our forced need to find an impromptu venue at 1pm that afternoon!! But we managed. We did it. Roll with the punches.
So, we're hoping to remain at The Elk's Lodge with Iron-Clad contracts being drawn up. I'll update the website of any foreseen (and unforeseen?) changes. However, we'll most likely be looking for a new venue after all this...
Thanks to my Skeleton Crew for making Saturday a reality...without your support and dedication, this would be an extremely difficult task to endure (Mikey, Andy, Sal, Pat & Phil). Also thanks goes out to all the faithful FUNERAL devotees..we love you. THANK YOU FOR MAKING SATURDAY A COMPLETE SMASHING SUCCESS AND MEMORABLE NIGHT! See you soon...

..oh, and thank you God.

YE OLDE NEWS GRAVEYARD