Welcome back to the ROX-TV website. I would like to thank all the returning readers and anyone else who might have stumbled in the back. You could be anywhere else right now, but you’ve decided to be here…so salute. Anyway with Chapter 17’s recent announcement of JUGGALOHIO 2 being felt around the underground, we thought it was high time to re-cap the original event. We at ROX-TV are in complete agreement over the idea that this annual show will be a main stay within the culture for years to come. And why not? The torch is in the process of transfer. At least that’s the way I see it. The lineage between PSY and C17 is now in the books. The young Juggalos who came up in this culture are now leading the charge into the next era of the scene. The names are already forged…Ouija Macc…Hexxx...Darby O’Trill...Devereaux…Shaggy the Airhead…DJ Chunk…and the roster is known to all. The future is here and the time keeper is doing his job.

For those of the Juggalos who are younger, I guess putting it perspective goes something like this. There will always be reasons to not do something. Sometimes they are ok but most of the time, most of us are fucking lazy. For my own part in this story, the one thing I did do when I was younger was show up. Do you know how easy that is? To just show up. It sometimes sounds impossible, but it’s not. Literally for anything good or bad to happen, it only requires participation. If nothing ever happens to you and you seem to miss all the shit that went down somewhere else when you weren’t there…I think I have some sound advice. Just go. Buy a fucking ticket, take a chick or dude…or whatever floats the individual boats…and go. Sure it’s a few bucks, so what. That money will be spent on something else that you won’t want to rememember any way. And besides…the most important thing of all is the fact that you are making a REAL MEMORY IN THE REAL WORLD.

Someday, maybe two decades later, you will still have that memory to enjoy. Perhaps you took pictures or kept a flyer from the show. Perhaps you knew how to suck the marrow out of life and got some merch or a meet and greet. Money? Yeah it cost a little, but again…so what. Are you going to get out that hundred bucks in thirty years and show everyone who still talks to you those tired old bills? No because that would be wack. Or would you rather bust out some pictures from the show with your homies. Maybe some of them went to jail or od’d and passed on, maybe some of them got married, divorced, arrested, prison, jail, rehab, or went off to fight in a war on foreign soil. Those memories with those souls, that is forever or at least as long as you cherish the memory. Is that worth a few bucks and a little effort? Come on man. Yes.

“It sounds cool, but it’s a long drive”

“I got a lot of shit going on that weekend”

“I’ll probably see you there”

“When is it again? That doesn’t sound bad. Call me when it gets closer and we can hammer out something”

 

Now before I get stoned to death for my own call ins, I have said each of those things over the years. Shit sometimes a few hours ago. But it’s important to not lose sight of the fact that when I wore a younger man’s clothes…I got up in a big way. I went to everything I could and sampled life whenever possible. I never had a dream job, I never had a bank account, and I never became President even though my mom said I could if I wanted. That one was probably a little shaky given my nature. Own a bar? That would have been a safer bet, but even that would have been wrong. The fact is the only things I’ve ever really valued in life are my loved ones, freedom, wisdom, and experience. Now, the thing is…if you don’t do shit and never get off the couch, it’s going to be very hard to make any memories that you’ll want to take with you through life. I never got up too much, but I always valued experience, which makes me the richest man in the world even if my pockets are empty. My memories are with me at all times and I think of them often.

I think I was trying to make a case somewhere up there in that forest of words that TIME shouldn’t be wasted. Carpe Diem, seize the day, storm the gates, burn it down…etc, etc, etc. If you enjoy this culture and want to see it continue then all you have to do is go to the show. Make a memory, get fucked up, tell your kids about it in twenty years. Don’t think so? Shit. Do you know how many times I’ve told the story of going to the First Gathering of the Juggalos in Novi. I won’t even go deeper than that because I would never get to write the Juggalohio recap that brought us here.

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you”

-BB King

So in honor of the 2nd Juggalohio mob up happening in Columbus (January 19th and 20th) at The King of Blues in Ohio we are going to dip slip back in time to talk about the first ever Juggalohio that went down at Skully’s. I wouldn’t be talking about the first one if it wasn’t going to be important down the road. Pay attention. I mean, you don’t have to but you’re here so you might as well take something before you go. I offer you tonight, my experience at the first Juggalohio. Keep your fucking hands inside the car at all times and don’t stare at the clowns. You might get your wig split for old times sake (where my 9-0 Juggalos at from way back).

January 27, 2023

4:30pm

As far as the ride down was concerned…it was an average trip to O-H-I-O. I took US-23 down into the hard country and aimed for Skully’s. I was pretty excited because this was a special night. It was the first ever Juggalohio event and it was going to be live.

The roster was packed with Juggalo favorites and there was a spark in the air. If I remember correctly, it was chilly that day. A hoodie could get you a few blocks, but eventually it was going to get cold. Lady Luck was on my side though because I found a BNB about three blocks from the venue. Talk about nice. All I had to do was pull up, unpack, chill for a bit, then get moving again. It seemed reasonable enough and had worked perfectly up until that point. I was about to have the thrilling experience of being a guest of Hexxx for the show. I’ve supported Hexxx since I first got introduced to him in Detroit. I interviewed him at CRB Radio, during a live episode of Cruisin The Barrio (Rude Boy and DJ Carlito’s fly program) and it was on since then. I knew he was headed for big things after the “Demon Season” release on C17, which has collected almost 300,000 views between the ten tracks. Yeah for me that’s Juggalo Gold ya know. The day anyone can get three hundred thousand people to do anything is a good day.So where was I? Oh yeah, I had checked into the spot and took a shower to freshen up after the car ride down from the Murder Mitten. The place was nice and had two bedrooms, a dining room, decent kitchen, and enough class to make me feel good about my surroundings.

I was doing ok. Beyond that, I had a few minutes to cook up some grub. The older I get, the better prepared I become. I brought down a bag of egg noodles, two steak fillets, a box of frozen pretzels, a frozen pizza, and a bag of chips. I had cigarettes and a little smoke but that was about it. I quickly fired up the stove and made some egg noodles. I wanted to cook the pizza but time had expired. I was texting with Hexxx, who was still at the Hotel getting his braids taken care of. I told him that I was heading out shortly and would see him there. It was early but I’ve never been one to waste time, once I fully understood the value of it. It’s something I won’t do. If I need to be somewhere I’m forty five minutes early…at least. I had on my baby blue C17 hoodie, my skull cap, and some new Converse kicks. It was going to be a good night, I just didn’t understand how much at that moment. All in good time. I cruised down the block and let my mind drift for a minute. I thought about the kids coming to the shows and wondered what their nights would be like. I had been in similar situations within the Juggalo culture going back to the mid-nineties. There was nothing like going to a show, or a meet and greet. Hell, we got excited to go to the record store when a new album dropped. These were the things that we valued, and we didn’t just read about them. We fucking went. Remember that phrase.

Alive on Arrival

5:10pm

I got to the venue earlier than even I had anticipated and found myself talking to a parking enforcement cop writing parking tickets in front of Skully’s. The door was locked and I didn’t see a friendly face on the block. There were some Juggalos in the area repping that Thuggalo lifestyle. I lit up a cigarette and eased my back into a wall. I was just going to have to wait for a sign. The traffic cop asked me why I was standing in the cold without any real destination present. I told him that I had just drove down for a show at Skully’s. He asked me who was playing and I told him C17. He was either too old to know, or they didn’t tell the parking enforcement guys about selective enforcement. I figured the local cops were aware of the show. I know they were at the C17 Outpost Show (also in O-H-I-O) because they pulled me over and gave me a warning ticket when I tried to leave the city. They didn’t pull me out but they made me wait and in the end, gave me some bizarre warning ticket for not having lights even though I did. The O-H-I-O cops were cool at the show, but the traffic stop felt like a fishing expedition. It was pretty late and we had been kicking around the hotel parking lot with Hexxx, Strife, and DJ Chunk. I’m surprised the red and blue’s didn’t roust us there. Oh well. Back to Juggalohio…

So there I was, holding up the wall, until I found the next door, literally. One of the employees of Skully’s was coming through the front door. I struck up a fast conversation with him and explained that I was there for the show and a guest of one of the performers. The cat was cool and let me in out of the cold. I was thankful too because although I was ice cold in that baby blue hoodie, I didn’t want my body temperature that low. I was in, the warm air hit my face, and I knew that I was going to be alright.

I took a moment to observe Skully’s in depth for the first time. I was standing in what I would describe as a fun place to get hammered. The place had character, splashes of color here and there, and was a proper spot to catch a show. I took the short time I had alone to document the place. I knew before too long that the crowds would be streaming in, and liminal exploration would be over. The place was going to get packed, but I had no idea to what extent. It was all rushing towards me. (Author’s note: the shot of the interior is only the front bar area. The actual action was going down deeper into the building.)

C17 Descends on Skully’s

6:15pm

So once I got my bearings and some crucial pictures, I found the edge of the room and posted up. It’s what I do. I can usually be found on the border of just about anything. That’s where I live. Wherever the boundary lines are, you can find me tap dancing over the threshold. Ouija Macc’s manager Kevin arrived and was busy making shit happen. We chopped it up for a few minutes but I tried to stay out of the way. I don’t like to bother the artists when I’m in their environment, if that makes sense. Word to the wise, if you want to see cool shit, you have to go to cool places. Buying a ticket and taking the ride guarantees you a chance anyway. Can’t know if you don’t go. From there, I seen Strife over by the Hexxx merch table. He was doing his thing and I said hello but that was about it. These guys all work hard and when they are, I try not to interupt that. Big Hexxx rolled in after that, with the fabulous Macey by his side. I can almost feel the California sun off these guys when I see them. They are pure West Coast and I dig that. I greeted Hexxx and gave him a gift from Detroit. It was a 1930’s Faygo Bottle Opener. Hexxx was appreciative and then we caught up on this and that. I had been running pretty hard by then, and was about to have a six month crash before too long. Actually after Juggalohio, I went off the radar and only surfaced a few weeks ago. I got some moves out there, lots of new stuff in the works or coming out this month so stay tuned. Anyway, after the homie Hexxx, DJ Chunk rolled into the building. Then the man with the magic production, the homie Devereaux, cruised into the building. Darby O’Trill wasn’t far away, and then finally the Captain of the Ship, Ouija Macc showed up. The warriors had assembled and the night was on. Sound check was soon underway and I floated over to the side of the stage to see what I could see. Darby O’Trill and Devereaux tried out the sounds, along with Hexxx, and what have you.

 

 

 

8:30 pm

The tribe comes alive

The show was coming together, the soundchecks had been completed. There wasn’t much left to do but get down to the cool parts. The doors opened up for meet and greet VIP experiences. That means if you pay a few more bucks, you truly are leaving the show with a keep sake that actually matters. Don’t get me wrong, the merch is fucking fly and what have you. BUT…what is better than getting a picture with your favorite artist or artists? That is an actual thing that will be just as cool on Instagram or in a photo album… tomorrow or three decades from now. I’m not going to harp on it anymore. The people asleep will miss the message and shrink. The people awake will get the message and grow. Which one will you be?

There is nothing more magical or exciting than a live concert. It’s even better when it’s a vibe and frequency you understand and dig. We got word that the Juggalos were lined up out the door and it was no joke. If you don’t believe me just watch the video below.

C17 Private VIP Area

Eye in the Sky

9:55 pm

So if you can picture this…I’m on the second level in Chapter 17’s VIP Area and it’s about as dope as you could imagine. I got Hexxx and Devereaux laughing about something to my right, DJ Chunk and Darby chilling to the left. The show is about to begin and there I was. I felt in that moment, kind of like The 2nd Earl of Rochester (John Wilmont, 2nd Earl of Rochester April 1st, 1647-July 26th, 1680) partying at the Playhouse in the 1660’s. Just like the boxes that King Charles II and Lord Rochester would have chilled in to watch the grand play…so I found myself. The VIP area had a great view of the mainstage but hidden in plain sight. I can tell you one thing…after witnessing the insane mosh pit during the performances, I was glad to be high in the sky. Most of the time you never get to see the mosh pits from above, so I took full advantage of watching the colliding lights which were wrapped up in organic material. The view was breathtaking.

I have to say this before I go any farther. I was really impressed with Klokwork E. I think I had heard their name once maybe, but I knew zero about them. In my defense I get busy, sometimes fall into the smoke holes, and what have you…So I see the world in waves and for as much as rolls in, I miss just as much. I can’t describe it, other than I know which way I’m suppose to be going and little else. Divine Providence will see me through…I’m banking on that guided hand. But back to Klokwork E…they had a tough job that night, opening for the C17 Boys. That sucks because you know what everyone is waiting for. Klokwork did have fans in the crowd, so they weren’t not alone, but it was Juggalohio. You know who the thuggalos came out to see. Winning over the crowd for any opener is an up hill inch war. If you gain any ground, then that my friends is a win. So these fucking guys exploded onto the stage, crazy tin man face paint and NON-STOP ACTION. There was no standing around, no wasting the moment shit. These guys had a fucking job to do and they killed it. Nice work fellas.

But then it was C17’s turn to beat the stage. Shit was getting deep and glorious. The fucking bass grooves that these guys hit the crowd with were amazing. I like that heavy, beat you in the face type of bass. The kind of shit that sounds good through a couple of twelves in the trunk. Gangster riding music. Although Darby wasn’t signed to C17 for the first Juggalohio, he was well on his way. Even that is history. I caught one of the last shows before Darby got signed by Chapter 17. In ten years when people are breaking bread and talking about Chapter 17...I will drop it there…”Oh yes, Darby is dope, I remember right before he got picked up by C17. I caught him in O-H-I-O at Juggalohio 1. It was a few months before the signing. Those were glorious days”. NOW DO YOU SEE WHAT JUST HAPPENED THERE? I am foreshadowing the future, because I was there in the present when it happened, and now that event is enshrined in history. Every second counts. The moment is not only the moment but yesterday’s future and tomorrows past. You must be aware of the trinity of time. Once you figure that out, you never waste another day in your life again, unless it’s on purpose. When you become aware of your actions and how they shape yesterday and tommorrow, it’s a different game. Not an Instagram culture meme or whatever they call them. This is real knowledge. Pick it up.

The West Coast Wicked Shit homie Hexxx took the stage and blasted the Juggalos with a heat wave of L.A. fury. I love watching Hexxx perfomances because he is put together and knows his business. For those of you who have been sleeping or high for too long, riding the success of “Demon Season” Hexxx is getting ready to drop another hydrogen bomb on the underground. This time the nuclear fire ball maker is called “Tales of a Cursed G“. If you head over to Hexxx’s website you can see pre-order information as well as gangster dope merch. Don’t miss this drop. Buy the physical copy, invest in the future. Make the myths, have a fucking story. Needless to say, Hexxx had the mosh pit worked up like a tropical storm.

Then there was the grand finale. The best firework for last, the Ouija Macc display. I’ve been catching this guy for three years now at live shows and he doesn’t falter. This guy doesn’t do bad shows. He’s always correct and it always sounds dope. He knows the crowd and they know him. While Ouija was beating the stage into the floor, I finally left the VIP area on the second level and got backstage for a few minutes with the fabulous Macey and homie Hexxx. This was probably the most difficult move of the night because the fucking show was sold out and there wasn’t a fucking inch of ground anywhere that wasn’t taken up. I had been holding onto Darby’s backpack for him and needed to bring it backstage anyway but this is where I almost died (slightly dramatic but just as real).

JUGGALOHIO 1

Live action firsthand account

by

Me

“I knew I was in trouble walking down the stairs with Darby’s backpack. It was a decent size and loaded. The problem was the place was so crowded I had to carry it in front of me against my chest. After reaching the bottom of the stairs, I was faced with the horror of wading into a six foot tall sea of humanity. That’s all I can say. It was dick to ass, tits to chest, almost no ability to not smash into total strangers. Thank God everybody was so cool about it. The crowd pushed and pulled, without much progress. At one point the crowd surged and I found myself smashed against a lady and some guy. I was fully aware that her tits were smashed into my arm, but there was nothing anyone could do. I looked at her as if to say sorry, but it wasn’t needed. She understood just like everyone else…we were in a tough spot. I managed to get another 8 feet before the miniscule trail on the floor was swallowed up by flesh. I wanted to scream but it wouldn’t have done any good. With Ouija and Chunk dropping Megatron bombs, no one could hear anything else. During the 17th minute of dying in the sea, I started to get worried. My knees felt weak and I knew I had to move or die. I wasn’t going down in this crowd, it might have been impossible to get up (dramatic description, I’m sure someone would have helped me, but it was that live in there). Another five minutes of pushing and I reached safety”.

Irish Goodbye

Sometime after midnight

There is nothing here because I pulled the Irish Goodbye. It’s not a diss or anything like that. The Irish known when it’s time to hit the road. I dig say goodbye to a few close friends, but then it was poof…disappearing War Chief. I opted for the back door. I was out of cigarettes and paid a Juggalette twenty bucks for her pack of smokes. The air was cold and the sky was dark. The main drag was oddly still booming with life, but it’s a college town, so follow the money. I kept my head down and shuffled quickly down the sidewalk. I was tired man; life had caught up with me. I made it three blocks and hit the couch. I fired up some THC and drifted off to sleep. Like the whole night had been all in my head. It was good.

Signing Off,

Mike Shepard

Editor

ROX-TV Website