Anymore when you go out in public and really begin to look at today’s younger population, anywhere from teens to mid-twenties, you might notice a rising population of individuals getting tattoos. While this trend isn't just something you can fade in and out of, the fact that these works of art are permanent seems to attract today’s youth into getting them.  As you may well know, society isn't nearly the same as it was when these kids’ parents were their age and neither are the things that they are interested in.  A lot of people with tattoos just simply see their bodies as blank canvases, waiting to be filled and others seem to put more of a personal or sentimental spin on every piece of work that goes on their bodies.  Many people see this as self-mutilation but is that what it really is? 

That question seems to be sinking into society as a matter of strict opinion.  Many, like young local resident and metal smith Shelly Cleveland, believe that their tattoos make them more approachable and allow them to stand out from the crowd in a positive way.  And she firmly disagrees with the notion that tattoos are a form of self-mutilation.  "I like the adrenaline rush and I like the art a lot!  It's permanent, it's mine and you can't have it, I'm going to die with it.  I just see it as a good investment." says, Cleveland. For most young people who are getting tattoos, they have to mean something and many actually find the art form to be addicting.  The young people that I had interviewed on the topic spoke of knowing someone or hearing of someone around the age of thirteen getting or already having tattoos. While that is awfully young, in some places the shop will allow the child to get a tattoo with a parent being present and willing to let their child go through with getting the tattoo.

There are the people who are for tattoos, there are people against them and there are also individuals that remain objective. Now we've all said or heard the phrase, 'How do you think that's going to look when you get older?' and the truth is, for the individuals getting all tatted up, they wouldn't have it any other way. However, sometimes people find themselves regretting some of the tattoos they receive.  "Like everything, even you don't look the same when you get older, that's just something you're not going to be able to change.  The thing about tattoos is that you can go over it, they can be fixed.  It's not like it has to look like that forever.  If you want to get touched up, that's fine." says 18 year old aspiring tattoo artist and Dupo resident, Andrew Maynard.  Often, when someone regrets getting a tattoo it ends up being because of the content of the tattoo.  Maybe it reminds them or represents someone or something that was once important to them but now has lost its importance.  For some it may be that they feel tattoos take away from a person's ability to be classy, insinuating that it makes this person less professional. But there are solutions for this problem.  There is laser tattoo removal, in which they choose different sizes of lasers that heat up to agonizing temperatures (which vary depending on where and how big the tattoo is.) and then there is the less painful option of ointment.  There are expensive creams that can extract the color and pigment of your tattoo from out of your skin.  However many find that even after the color is gone the scarring of the tattoo caused by the multiple needle penetrations doesn't go away.  Some people just choose to leave and sometimes cover up their ink.  When asked about tattoo regret Maynard replied, "All I can do is look at them and smile because when you're older memories are all you have to hold onto and that's exactly what that is."

In current media many young people's favorite stars and musicians are sporting tons of ink, which may have something to do with the rising population of people putting themselves under the gun. But still a personal decision process should take place in your mind before getting a tattoo.  Whether it's while you're looking at previous art in the shop or when you hear the buzzing of the tattoo gun ready to go.  Music plays a major role in many peoples personal art gallery.  More and more people are taking lyrics and symbols of their favorite musical artists and openly portraying them for everyone to see.  Also in many music circles and genres there are more people covered in ink than not.  This creates a definite influence on the new styles of tattooing that are taking place. People are constantly pushing the limit on the amount of art that goes on their bodies and the content of the tattoo as well.  Since this is such a personal issue there really aren't any rules as to what you can and can't let sink into your skin.

by Derek Carter

This Is Falling’ is a new addition to the hard rock scene in the St. Louis Area.  They actually seem to be doing more climbing than they are falling. This group of young, already experienced and very talented individuals has begun to make an impact on local music with only a few shows under their belt.  However, individually the members of the band have been in and out of multiple projects and groups that haven't had the appearance or generated the intrigue that ‘This Is Falling’ have obtained so quickly.  With such great talent in promotion and in music the band has constructed a sound that not only satisfies them as musicians but also supports their energetic stage show which seems to be well attended every time out. In the modern music industry it is very important to have a "look" or a “stamp” for the group. Explaining to others the professionalism of the band is without question.  ‘This Is Falling’ comes off with an appearance and attitude nothing short of rock stars.

Straight out of the gate, from the moment the first chord rumbles your ear drums, your eyes are flooded with a presence of professional light sequences and evident energy hailing from both the crowd’s involvement and movement and that of the band itself.  In the air begins a stir of riffs coming from both of the bands very talented guitarists, Tyler Wait and Sean Dothager, backed by the rhythmic precision and lower melancholy tones from the drummer and bassist, T.J. Younger and Isaac Etter. But the icing on top of this massive and chaotic treat is the gut wrenching screams which reside in the vocal chords of the band's front man, Mikey Kunstel.  While their genre of choice isn't exactly what everyone enjoys hearing, the band seems to love doing it and it's certainly what they're best at!

As many of you know, the internet has been an extremely successful tool for many things, music promotion being one of them.  On these web sites, which can be dangerous and crude if misused, a local band off of the national radar, such as St. Louis' ‘This Is Falling’, can get themselves and their music on the web for the world to hear.  With tools like these in the right hands it can often lead to what every aspiring band dreams of, a recording contract.  The more people that visit your web site and acquaint themselves with who you are and listen to your music, the more buzz it creates and in turn attracts more people and record labels to your music.  That in turn creates more interest in the local music scene and more bands and albums can be produced for everyone's listening pleasure!  So please, do your part to SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC because it's what starts locally that soon turns global!

For more information and to hear This Is Falling, visit www.myspace.com/thisisfallingband.