Cape gets bloody and the Fists grow up

Cape Girardeau has been baptized in blood.

It's a phenomenon that would make the members of Dethklok proud -- the city is now brutal.

Now you might be saying, what the hell are you talking about Sanders? Well if you don't know by now, it's just too late.

In January this fair city, a place known for practicing the utmost in civility (we did drive the town's only strip club out, after all) hosted two events designed to give spectators a healthy dose of violence -- mixed martial arts events.

You know, kind of like the Ultimate Fighting Championships.

For two straight weekends, the blood-crazed Cape crowds got to see guys, and girls, trying to beat each other senseless. And who else would OFF send out to bring you the story but our very own Richard Cason. Armed with a pen and a VIP ticket, Cason recorded every detail of the experience so that you, our loyal reader, might live vicariously through him.

Hope you enjoy.

But fighting wasn't the only thing going on in Cape last month. For instance, take the story of Tatmandu, the Cape tattoo institution that came very close to going out of business.

Tatmandu and owner Karl Ketchum are still there, still inking people up, if you're interested.

Loyal devotees of the music scene probably know this already, but the great Doom in the A.M. is no more. Davis Dunavin will provide you with an account of their last show, but you have to go to our Web site to get it. Sorry, folks.

But as Doom exits the stage, another band with a much longer tenure in Cape is growing and changing. Most people know Fists of Phoenix as the band that rocks out for the kids at the Enchanted Forest, and one of the best acts at last year's City of Roses.

The guys in Fists want you to know they're not kids anymore, and their new music shows. Read more about it on page 10.

That's just a taste of what we have in store for you this month. As the continual march of time goes on, we offer you yet another edition of OFF Magazine. Just don't use it as toilet paper, please.