http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/ Insane in the Ukraine (Feb. 2011) Amongst all the hecticness, we managed to have time for a posed photo. I still don't know who took this pic. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820580 145820580 This was the back of the van that transported us everywhere. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820581 145820581 My first thought was, "AAAHHH, no shower curtain. This could get messy!" http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820582 145820582 I believe I was testing my flash for this pic, trying to make sure that my camera could function in ungodly frigidity. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820583 145820583 This was the first pic I took immediately upon landing and walking out of the airport. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820584 145820584 Three bands were staying in one cozy hostel. These were some some our companions. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820585 145820585 Pavel Glumin (event organizer) and Joe Dan (Severance) pose for a congenial display of foreign relations. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820586 145820586 I (JP) manage to scrape the ice off my momentarily paralyzed body to take a pic with Pavel. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820587 145820587 As a lover of carbs, I was quite pleased with our new experience with Ukrainian food: noodles, potatoes, bread, etc. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820588 145820588 I just wanted to capture a sign written in the Cyrillic alphabet. I don't know what it says, but here it is. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820589 145820589 We didn't realize until several hours later that we (Severance) were the only ones with our shoes on indoors. After seeing this, we did our part to follow the area's custom. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820590 145820590 Inferia, Parental Advisory and Severance were staying in one hostel. This was one of our new friends displaying our "shoe asylum". http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820591 145820591 This was probably a photo taken inadvertently; I am sure my uncontrollably trembling hands pushed down by accident. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820592 145820592 This reminded me of the Hemisfair tower in San Antonio, so I brought home a visual. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820593 145820593 I got a better angle of this and decided to retake the pic. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820594 145820594 Another sign in the Cyrillic alphabet, this one giving directions to certain areas in Kiev. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820595 145820595 The busy nightlife in downtown Kiev. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820596 145820596 I found myself taking many pics of some of the structures in Kiev. This was one of them. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820597 145820597 A cold evening in the Ukraine. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820598 145820598 After a bit of walking, we decide to stop for a bit. I believe Abel (bass) took this pic. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820599 145820599 Here I am almost losing my life while posing for a photo. I don't think the reversing car saw me. I could already see the newspaper headlines, "Krushed in Kiev!!". http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820600 145820600 Although this looks posed, we are all actually frozen in place and can no longer move. Those facial expressions are actually gestures of pain and submission to the elements. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820601 145820601 This made me feel fortunate that we were on foot. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820602 145820602 More Kiev action... http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820603 145820603 This was pic taken from our hostel window the morning of the performance. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820604 145820604 Some say the Beatles has a secret 5th member, well so does Severance. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820605 145820605 Another consequence to holding a camera in one's hand in the cold. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820606 145820606 A few leafless trees do their best to conquer the elements. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820607 145820607 They say a picture is worth 1000 words, but I don't really submit to such unnecessary wordiness. One word is sufficient: COLD! This is what -16 degrees Celsius looks like. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820608 145820608 At this point I remember thinking that sticking myself in my refrigerator at home would be warmer than walking the streets of Kiev. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820609 145820609 Club Bingo is where the fest took place. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820610 145820610 Here we begin to unload our things and prepare for an evening of pandemonium. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820611 145820611 Time to unload. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820612 145820612 I wasn't too sure what lighting would be best in the venue. Although a bit dark, the stage is still visible. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820613 145820613 A better shot of the venue/stage. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820614 145820614 An empty stage soon to be a pedestal for insanity. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820615 145820615 Before the crowd was permitted entrance, all vendors, including yours truly, began setting up shop to disseminate their madness/products. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820616 145820616 About an hour before hitting the stage, one of had the brilliant idea of going outside to take a pic. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820617 145820617 Severance standing before Club Bingo. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820618 145820618 The requests for autographs came even before the first band played. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820619 145820619 Let's just call this "jet lag". http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820620 145820620 More "jet lag". http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820621 145820621 Here is a pic of some leftover food and some Kool-Aid in cans (!) before cleaning up. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820622 145820622 Our little dining area. This was all of it. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820623 145820623 Our kitchen corner at the hostel. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820624 145820624 Uhhh, more "jet lag". http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820625 145820625 A "jet lag" burrito. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820626 145820626 Roughly 15 of us anticipate our performances for the evening on our way to the venue. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820627 145820627 A familiar sight for Ukrainians... http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820628 145820628 This is a partially frozen body of water under the main bridge that joins two sides of Kiev. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820629 145820629 I took pics of any structure that I felt has unique architectural design...this was one of them. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820630 145820630 I believe this was a university in Kiev. Very unique in color. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820631 145820631 I nice photo of a historical edifice. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820632 145820632 I was blown away when we got on this escalator that took about 5-7 minutes to get to the top. It was ridiculously steep; you had to angle your body forward or backward (depending on whether you were going up or down) or you would fall on your ass. I will forever associate Kiev with this unique escalator. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820633 145820633 The was a street musician in Kiev. Joe Dan ended up paying him some money for giving us a pleasant experience and a taste of the Ukrainian culture. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820634 145820634 If heaven were a food, it would be this Belgain waffle (topped with caramel) that I voraciously devoured in seconds in between breathes of euphoria. Once I smelled it, I knew I had to tear this up. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820635 145820635 I thought this was pretty neat. Don't know what it is, but it looked interesting...so here it is. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820636 145820636 These buildings seem to capture the essence of the area's history. You feel taken back a century or so just by looking at them. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820637 145820637 Ukrainians go about their daily business amidst the weather. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820638 145820638 I liked that I could see through this building and onto the street on the other side. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820639 145820639 More of downtown Kiev. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820640 145820640 I soon realized that I wasn't in many of the pictures I was taking, so I quickly remedied that. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820641 145820641 One more pic for the memories.. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820642 145820642 I took this pic while in the van driving, hence the blurriness. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820643 145820643 Mike (Severance) and Pavel...the brotherhood of metal. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820644 145820644 This was an aquarium in the Kiev Airport that I photographed before boarding our return flight. The fish were looking at me weird (probably because I asked for ice with my room-temperature orange juice). http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820645 145820645 After taking this pic, I felt a little "touristy" for taking a picture of a no smoking sign in the men's restroom at the Kiev Airport. It's all good. http://www.severancemetal.com/apps/photos/photo?photoID=145820646 145820646