“Alien Rock” Elvis Presley, David Bowie and John Lennon Make Contact With UFOs
By Sean Casteel
space.” Luckman’s personal interest in the subject of UFOs and the aliens inside them began when he was a child himself, in the 1950s, and first saw the sci-fi classic “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” with Michael Rennie as the benevolent alien sent to scare a little peace into us. By 1971, Luckman was teaching a college-level course about rock and roll, the first in the country, at the New School For Social Research in New York. Around that same time, he also published an alternative newspaper called “The New York Daily Planet,” intended to compete with “The Village Voice.” Luckman’s newspaper featured a department about UFOs, which helped him make connections with some of the major UFO organizations at the time. “There was a lot of very interesting material in evidence,” Luckman said, “and I was especially struck by the existence of so many photos, even back then, that pointed to the reality of the subject.” The parallel tracks his career was taking led him to realize that for a long time many rock musicians had written songs about UFOs and aliens as well as having had sightings and other experiences of their own.
“Alien Rock” Feature Part One Elvis Presley, David Bowie and John Lennon Make Contact With UFOs By Sean Casteel This article (and Part Two to follow in the December issue of “Rockstar”) deals with the UFO/alien presence and its influence on rock and roll music. Part One is based primarily on an interview with author Michael Luckman. * * Among the many stories that Michael Luckman likes to tell about the connection between rock music and the alien occupants of the UFOs deals with the birth of Elvis Presley. “Elvis, to me, was totally wild,” Luckman said in an interview conducted by phone. “To have one guy, namely the guy who popularized rock and roll, be so closely involved with UFOs – he had contact when he was a kid with cosmic beings of light that communicated with him and
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showed what his life would be like in the future, onstage as a performer. Elvis would have a lot of sightings throughout his lifetime. He was told, and actually believed, that he was from a blue star planet in the Orion Constellation. “This is quite amazing,” Luckman continued. “And of course there’s the story about the blue light. The moment Elvis was born, there was apparently a blue light over his family’s small, two-room shack in Tupelo, Mississippi.” One immediately thinks of the Star of Bethlehem that preceded the birth of Jesus Christ and wonders whether Elvis might be more on an even footing with Him than most of us mere mortals. Which begs the question, does Luckman feel rock and roll came from outer space? “It’s a legitimate question,” Luckman replied, “particularly based on Elvis and the blue light story. But I still don’t think that rock and roll came from outer space, no. But I think it’s been INFLUENCED by forces or beings or intelligences from outer
“But I never imagined,’ he said, “that the subject cut as deep as it does and involves so many musicians. I never imagined, for example, that there were a great many rock stars, not just a couple, but at least eight with recognizable names, who have had classic UFO abduction and missing time experiences.” The many years of research resulted in a book called “Alien Rock: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Extraterrestrial Connection” (VH-1 Books, Pocket Books, 2005), which offers many, many anecdotes about rock stars and their fascination with, and even participation in, the UFO phenomenon. Luckmans’ research involved everything from combing through CDs and older record albums to voraciously reading books and magazines, as well as many hours spent searching the Internet. He also personally interviewed several rock stars, their management people, associates, friends and, in some cases, their wives. There are, as Luckman rightly claims, a surprisingly generous number of rock star encounters with the UFO phenomenon in the book. “I particularly like the one about David Bowie,” Luckman said. “In the earlier part of his career, when the
he was touring the United States doing concert appearances, he bought a telescope and had it mounted on the rooftop of his limousine. And he would go out looking for aliens between stops on the tour. This was almost like an all-consuming passion on his part. “But I would have to say,” he continued, “that David Bowie has in recent times played down the reality factor of UFOs. He’ll say on the one hand that he believes in extraterrestrial life, but on the other hand he’ll say that his use of aliens and UFOs in his songs were ‘just imagery,’ and weren’t meant to suggest hardware. But the fact was that in the 1970s he was very heavily involved with it. He had a thousand UFO and related books, had a telescope, had his own sightings, and, when he was a teenager, he edited a flying saucer magazine in England. He had sightings both when he was younger and also during the filming of ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth.’ So to me, Bowie’s one of the most interesting stories in the book.” The late John Lennon also had his share of alien encounters. “There are two accounts about John Lennon,” Luckman said. “The first is one that a few people know about, which is when he saw a UFO from the rooftop of a penthouse he was living in with his then girlfriend May Pang. They were both naked, as it happens, and John saw this thing outside. He went out on the roof naked, and he sees a large flying saucer that he said had lights around its rim and a red light on top. He said it was capable of holding two human-size passengers. It was just hundreds of feet away. It really got his juices flowing. He had subscribed to ‘The Flying Saucer Review’ in England for many years, and here he was seeing one face-toface. He was very excited. He said he yelled, ‘Stop! Take me with you!’ Because he was all prepared to go.”
The world-renowned psychic Uri Geller related another Lennon anecdote to Luckman. “Shortly before his assassination,” Luckman went on, “there was another UFO encounter that involved some beings – now this is according to Uri quoting John – that were presumably grays that came into the Dakota, where John lived at the time. John saw a strange light coming through the door and the small beings came into his apartment. They had some kind of telepathic communication, then they left him with a small, eggshaped, smooth object that John passed along to Uri. “And Uri still has it,” Luckman added. “It’s never been analyzed, but if it’s real, that is, if it’s extraterrestrial in origin, then presumably there would be something in the metal that would not be on the periodic chart of elements when they do an analysis on it. But Uri has kept it and hasn’t chosen to have it analyzed, although I’m pressing him to do that because it could really be the ultimate evidence of UFO visitation.” [End of Part One. Look for Part Two in the next issue of “Rockstar Magazine”!]
THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC by Richard Whymark put on free panels with experts in different fields discussing various aspects of the business for about 150 attendees. In the past, they’ve talked about How To Get On Radio, The Art of Recording, Healthcare, How To Get Booked at a Music Festival etc… On Wednesday November 20th, they will host a TALA Event – Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts. Basically, this is free legal advice. Artists or managers can show up with simple legal questions and get advice one-on-one with an entertainment lawyer. The Good Music Club speaks withAustin Music Foundation for Rockstar Magazine November 2013
The Good Music Club sat down with Kellie Goldstein and Alex Vallejo to talk about AMF.
THE BUSINESS OF MUSIC
GMC: SO, WHAT DO YOU DO?
by Richard Whymark
I’m sorry to say that if you’re trying to make it as a band, then you’ve started a Small Business. But the good news is that help is at hand. The Austin Music Foundation has been around for over a decade but it’s in the last few years that they’ve really hit their stride. They are a team of music industry professionals who are here to help any Austin musician work out how to do what they set out to do. They also show how to avoid the pitfalls, management sharks, one-sided long term contracts and waste-of-time tours. And they can offer some of the best advice because – by their own admission – they’ve been at both ends of the spectrum. In addition to this counselling, they
AMF/Kellie:The Austin Music Foundation is a non-profit designed to strengthen the Austin music industry through business education. It’s really about the business side of the music industry. How do you make a living as a musician? AMF/Alex: I sit down with the artists for consultations. We’re brain-storming in the think tank, bouncing ideas off each other… We have a lot of resources and offer some sense of direction – some inspiration.
GMC: WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE? AMF/Alex: Everything from actually starting a band, writing songs, gathering material to building a website and releasing an album. Once you release the record – you’ve got 1000 CDs sitting in your garage. How do
you get rid of them? AMF/Kellie: It really depends on where the artist is. If they’re new, they need that sort of help. If they’re more experienced, they may need help with licensing. That’s a whole different conversation. AMF/Alex: Learn as much as you can about the business. Learn what the roles are. What does a stage manager do? How do you read a contract? What does a road manager do? Be aware. Ask questions. We (Vallejo) didn’t ask questions and we learned the hard way. We put our trust in people who were looking out for themselves. I was the guy in the band who was always asking questions. “We’ve sold 250,000 records, why haven’t we seen a check yet?” Follow your instincts. Work with people who you do trust. You’ll feel better knowing you’re working with people who are looking out for you.
GMC: HOW DO YOU KNOW A BAND HAS MADE IT? AMF/Alex: AMF has been involved with bands like Quiet Company but a lot of credit goes to them and their manager for working it themselves. The one thing that’s awesome is when we see our artists in the Chronicle or Texas Music Magazine… That’s when we can see the impact. When we (Vallejo) were touring, the label was the machine. Now the bands are the machine. The bands with the best social media, the best videos, the clever ideas – they’re winning the battle now. It’s a slow chipping away at the stone. Throughout your career you’re only as good as your last record or your last publicity photo. What makes you better than all the other 1000 bands here?
GMC: HOW DO BANDS MAKE MONEY NOW? AMF/Alex: The thing we preach is “A bunch of little checks make a big check.” The music business is more of a hustle. “Here’s my t-shirt, here’s my CD, here’s a download, here’s a ticket to my show. Here’s a bundle package with ticket, t-shirt and VIP…” Alternate revenue streams – licensing and publishing. Getting your songs on television shows and movies is what we call mailbox money. Not just having the blinders on saying, “I booked a
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show at Emo’s and I don’t have to do anything else.”
GMC: IT MUST BE DIFFICULT IF YOU’RE AN ARTIST TO SUDDENLY HAVE AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET OF CONTACTS AND NUMBERS AND FIGURES. HOW DOES THAT WORK? AMF/Alex: If you’re not interested in the business part of it, try to find someone in the band who is. Or a friend who can help with that stuff. But the total entertainment package is entertainment, business and being clever in selling it creatively. Some of the greatest bands in the world have never been heard. Some of the crappiest bands have a plan so they end up on Top 40 radio. Some of the greatest bands who didn’t have a plan end up unheard of. Success can be defined differently between different bands, though. Money and fame does not mean success for everyone. Success can be consistent income and – if you love music – playing music and making a living at it is success.
GMC:YOU’RE A PRIVATE NON-PROFIT. HOW ARE YOU FUNDED? AMF/Kellie: Funding comes from several grants. The Economic Growth and Development Dept of the City of Austin. And Don Pitt’s office in particular… The ATX Music Office have been awesome. They realize the importance of what we do and actually come to our events and realize
how important it is. We have about 150 people come and listen to these panels – it really is the community.
GMC: DO YOU OFFER ANYTHING FOR NON-MUSICIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY FOLKS? AMF/Kellie: We have the MIC program – the Music Industry Collaborative. That’s an application process and people submit their applications if they have small music businesses or they’re managers - not musicians. We’ll work with them to pair them up with mentors and meet once a month for six months.
GMC:ANY LAST THOUGHTS? AMF/Alex:To me, the epitome of the community working together is everyone talking. Bands talking to venue managers…What’s cool about AMF is that all these things are healthy for the community. Everyone trying to find a better way to work together. If the band starts doing well, the venue starts doing well, the parking garage starts doing well. It’s a trickle down effect, which is part of building the community. The most important part is to keep the artists working – and pay them! More info at: www.AustinMusicFoundation.org
League of Extraordinary Gz
by Richard Whymark
LOEGZ: Lowkey: Yeah it’s our first full-length original album. A lot of blood sweat and tears went into it.
GMC: Who guests on it? LOEGZ: Reggie: the homie Slim Gravy from add+ (from Dallas) came thru the league house one day and wound up jumping on “Intercourse”. Seemed like a good fit stylistically. We got a song with Dead Prez on there too; those are the homies. They took us on tour with them in 2011 and it was an honor to get to work on some music with them boys. Then of course we got our big brother Bavu Blakes on the song “Smile.” He’s been kind of like our mentor through our careers and we felt like he would fit perfectly on that track, and he actually helped us get Grupo Fantasma on that song and “I’m Alive.” They did the horns on there and it was crazy to get to work with some Grammy winners on the album.
The Good Music Club speaks with theLeague of Extraordinary Gz! One of Austin Texas freshest new Hip Hop Talents. Check out www.loegz.com
GMC: So – who are we talking to here? LOEGZ: Reggie Coby, Lowkey and Greezo of the League of Extraordinary Gz .
GMC: Where have you guys come from? It seems like you’ve suddenly arrived! LOEGZ: Reggie: “We’ve been making music as a group for 4 years now but even before we were 3 separate smaller groups all performing and recording in Austin Texas”. Lowkey: Yeah to our newer fans outside of Austin that just caught on to us in the last couple years it might seem like we came outta nowhere but it took years of grinding locally and throughout Texas to get to this point, we definitely paid our dues .
GMC: Is it a good thing to be from Austin in the hip hop world? Surely Houston would be a better home? LOEGZ: Greezo: Houston is cool; that’s like our second home but Austin has its own feel to it which I personally prefer....and while nobody has “blown up” yet there’s definitely
a dope hip-hop scene here. Lowkey: I think it’s harder to get that recognition as a rap group being from Austin cuz people don’t see it as a “hiphop city”, and it’s like some people don’t want to give the music a chance if it’s not coming out of Houston, but we’re here to change all that. There’s so much talent here we just need people to look in our direction.
GMC: Tell us about this new album.
GMC: What are some of the tracks that stand out to you? LOEGZ: Greezo: Billie Jean and Smile. Lowkey: My favorite songs on there are “Space Kush” and “4 Dolla Blues.” I jam those a lot.
GMC: How much is autobiographical? LOEGZ: Reggie: at least 95% of this shit we talk about either has, is, or is about to happen. We been coined as “reality rap” because what we say
comes from a real place and I think it shows when you listen to the music.
GMC: You seem to have had some dreadful luck with group members’ illnesses. How has that affected you? LOEGZ: Greezo: It’s made us more health conscience. We quit smoking squares and such. Just try to stay healthy man. Lowkey: Really, losing Tay (Esbe) and then Tiny, that should’ve been our wake up call that the way we were living needed to change but the truth is it took Reggie almost dying to really make us wake up for real. We gotta be around for these babies.
“At least 95% of this shit we talk about either has, is, or is about to happen. We been coined as “reality rap” because what we say comes from a real place and I think it shows when you listen to the music.”
GMC: Will you be doing a benefit concert for APD anytime soon? LOEGZ: Lowkey: Mann , don’t even get me started haha.....me and the APD have a real hate/hate relationship Greezo: They killed innocent people and get away with it. Oh and they lie about it. Fuck them.
GMC: Can you give us a primer in ATX hip hop? Who should folks be paying attention to? (apart from LoEGz of course!) LOEGZ: Greezo: V.I.P. LNS crew, Riders Against the Storm, posion boyz and die s.l.o. Lowkey: There’s so many dope cats out here.....Gerald G, PIE, Smackola, phranchyze....ATX is really about to pop right now…
GMC: Anything else you’d like to add? LOEGZ: Reggie: Just stay tuned to www.loegz.com for all updates...... we’re just getting started.
LOEGZ: Reggie: It’s our first full length all original project and we’re very proud of it. I’m totally biased but I think it’s one of the best hip-hop projects to come out of ANYWHERE in recent history. The lyrics are on point and the production is stellar (if I may say so myself haha!). The styles vary from song to song because of the diversity in the group but the album as a whole is cohesive. I think it’s a classic.
GMC: How did it spawn? LOEGZ:Greezo: We’ve done a few mixtapes and we did the Plug EP with the homie Shane Eli out of Cali, so it was just time to put the album out there. We’ve been working on it since we first got together. It’s actually been erased (more than once!)
GMC: Is it your first?
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CHASCA Rockstar: Welcome to
Rockstar Magazine CHASCA!!
CHASCA: Yay!!! Thanks for having us!
Rockstar: : How are you guys? Been a year or more since we did an old Weird Magazine interview.......
CHASCA:
We’re all gooey and great! We’ve had lots of adventures since we last spoke. In fact Junior had a wacky time when he got lost in a wardrobe and ended up in a snowy land filled with mystical creatures.
It went south for him, though, when he asked this faun if there was a bathroom and was told that sons of Adam were welcome to use the facilities there but sons of Ham, well, might be better off going back the way they came.
Rockstar: How lovely.
Before we talk about the new CD BEDTIME FOR BEDLAMITES; Introduce the members that make up CHASCA!! CHASCA: Alright, well, we have Sean Hannon on guitar and Junior Scott
on Bass and Sean Palmer on Keys and Ian Brooks on drums and J.T. Martin sings and flutes.
Rockstar:Tell us about the new
album.... I am trying to get my grubby hands on one.....
CHASCA:
We’re all squeals about the new album! It’s a humdinger man. It’s an EP with five of our juiciest songs. We recorded it at The Bubble in Austin and it was produced by the legendary Chris “Frenchie” Smith. It was a thrill to work with him and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results! We’re also all a-flutter about the packaging. The photos were taken by that maestro of the lens, Bad John Paul. The packaging was done by our own Ray Flowers. So, from top to bottom, the whole thing looks and sounds like the record we always wanted to present to the world!
Rockstar: How did you come up with the name for the new album,BEDTIME FOR BEDLAMITES? CHASCA:
That’s the lyric in the chorus of the first track on the record, “Tom O’ Bedlam.” We thought it had a certain je ne sais quoi about it as a name. It kinda’ rolls of the
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by Russell Dowden
tongue and onto your shirt…much like a good crab bisque should do.
Rockstar: BTW, how was the CD Release Party? Sorry i had to miss that. CHASCA:
They were great! We had two such events: one in San Marcos at Triple Crown and one in Austin at Red Eyed Fly. We were thrilled with how they both went.
Rockstar: What can we expect from this new Album? CHASCA:
You can expect to find that rock is not dead! You can expect whimsy and beauty and pathos and absurdity and beasts and bravura and tragedy and triumph and passion and hope and despair and howling guitars and whistling and giggles…Oh yeah. Not a bad lot of expectations for five bucks!
Rockstar: Tell us why a live CHASCA show Rocks!! CHASCA:
It rocks because we insist that it does. Every gig we take a moment to remind ourselves that the way to put on the best show we can is to have fun and put all of our heart into it. We’re like the Rocky III of rock-n-roll. It also helps that our fans ROCK! The people who come to our shows give off amazing energy!
Rockstar: The music is fresh,
clean, and yet distinctively familiar. At least for me. . . JT, what makes CHASCA so unique?
CHASCA BEDTIME FOR BEDLAMITEs CHASCA:
Because we steal from a different cadre of artists than most other people do. I’m not sure that makes us “unique.” Maybe crafty is a better term…or shameless.
Rockstar: : I really want to book you
this month for a show with One Eyed Doll. You still Game?
CHASCA:
Oh you know it!!! We love One-Eyed Doll! We had a blast playing with them at Weirdfest a couple of years ago. You tell us when and we will be there in full glittery glory!
Rockstar: The human race has been invaded by hostile aliens from space. The only thing that can save all of humanity . . . A SONG By CHASCA!! What is will that song sound like???
CHASCA:
I think we’d just do an endless cover of “Suspicious Minds” until the spacemen put us out of our misery.
Rockstar: What do you think about a Cartoon Music Video for Chasca?
CHASCA:
I like it. I think one with anthropomorphic animals having sex and doing drugs would be out of sight.
Rockstar: Can I still request your cover of “Maybe I’m Amazed”?
CHASCA:
You bet! We might even throw in a version of “Uncle Albert” for good measure.
Rockstar: CHASCA is an experience! More than a band......Am I warm?
CHASCA:
Muy Caliente amigo! We’d like to think that folks walk away from our shows and records and go, “Wow, that was real swell!”
Rockstar:Final thoughts to readers to recap booking info or upcoming shows.
“Because we steal from a different cadre of artists than most other people do. I’m not sure that makes us “unique.” Maybe crafty is a better term…or shameless”
CHASCA:
: Find us at www.chascamusic.com or go to our Facebook page. We play at The Blackheart in Austin on November 22nd and Triple Crown in San Marcos on November 23rd. We’re also doing the big New Year’s Eve bash with our great friends Scorpio Rising and Superfoot at Triple Crown! As for final thoughts, let’s see, ummm, here’s a real pearl from Wesley Snipes, “A lot of the cats I grew up with in the South Bronx found themselves in sticky situations.” Read it-heed it-live it people.
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Fortunate Youth by Greg Phive FY: Good Question! We think there needs to be more of a crossover between the European/Jamaican Artists and the U.S. Reggae Artists. There needs to be a true unity between all of the Artists and then we will see a larger movement in the rest of the world. RM: Collectively, is there a Reggae artist/band that has influenced FY more than any other? FY: Collectively, we really don’t think so, because our influences span over multiple genres and various artists to say one has influenced more than the other. Rockstar Magazine: Howzit fellas? Welcome to Rockstar Magazine!
2009 and had our first show 2 days later opening for The Abyssinians.
Also the rapid growth we’ve seen, we thank the fans for that.
Fortunate Youth: Yo Rockstar, thanks for having us, We’re fresh off the road of the Automatic Tour with Iration!!
RM: Do you remember your first show in Austin, TX?
RM: Where do you think U.S. Reggae will be in 10 years in regards to its global contribution to the genre?
RM: So tell our readers a little bit about Fortunate Youth. How did you meet? How long have you been playing together? FY: Most of us have know each other since high school. We picked up Jordan(drummer) along the way. We’ve been a band for almost 4 years now. We formed at our Manager’s birthday party in
FY: Friday July 30, 2010 at Encore Nightclub with Eleven Finger Charlie. Dont remember much more than that.... Epic Night! RM: So tell us about a recent accomplishment that the band is most proud of. FY: “Trav-i Bongo”- Getting out of the Country in Sept 2012 and having our Album hit #1 on both Billboard and iTunes Reggae Charts.
FY: We hope to see it at the forefront of the Reggae Movement. It’s hitting the US right now and we can’t wait till it becomes more apparent globally. RM: It isn’t a secret that most major radio stations ignore positive Reggae music as a whole. With that said, how do bands like Fortunate Youth market themselves and reach new fan base? FY: We mainly take advantage of Social Networking to market ourselves. But really it’s our fans, they help us spread the word the most. Thank you again Fans, you’re the best! RM: Why do you think the popularity of Reggae music in the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world?
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RM: In one sentence describe Fortunate Youth’s message to the world... FY: Peace, Love, and Unity RM: Is there an up and coming Reggae band that you would recommend to our readers? FY: The Expanders. Thank us later. RM: There is so much trouble in the world right now, a lot of it right here in our own backyard. What do you think are some of the biggest issues our youth face right now? How can these hardships be overcome?
FY: We think that it all begins as a Youth and what you take in while a Youth. By cutting out Music and Art Programs in school, it leaves the Youth with no chance to expand creatively. We need to find new ways to expose the Youth to Music and Art at a young age. RM: In the North American Reggae scene it seems that a lot of artists/bands want to make a move to California at some point in their career. What advice would you have for them? FY: We heard Denver’s nice :) RM: Where can our readers follow Fortunate Youth (online)? FY: Instagram: @FortunateYouth310 Facebook: www.facebook. com/fortunateyouth Twitter: @FortunateYouth RM: Big respect for taking time
out with Rockstar Magazine to answer these questions. Would you give any shout-outs or leave our readers with anything? FY: Shout to our fans and Family. Also, big shout-out to Iration and Tribal Seeds for taking us out on Tours this year. Also all the other bands who are grind-
Gear & Tech by Francois Larosa
Lips playing with a set. Its more attacky…In your face. FL : Did you just say attacky? JS: They’re sharper. They are as notorious for their attack as they are for their stunning crystalline looks. It’s more of a Chest punch than a Gut punch. Vistalite acrylic drums make a solid sonic and visual statement in live concert performance. Manufactured under strict guidelines to retain shell integrity, today’s Vistalite delivers pure, round tone through a fully-stabilized shell and dual reinforced seams; without succumbing to the cracking that plagued the kits of yesterday. Back in the seventies I saw a band by the name of Led Zeppelin, the Drummer John Bonham was on stage playing with this Acrylic style of Drums that have never been seen before. At that time I believe it was from Ludwig Drums U.S.A. (Yes… Made in the U.S.A.) After that everyone wanted one. They called it the Vistalite drum. At that time they only came in one or two different colors, like Blue & Olive. Now, they come in 4 colors: Amber (47), Blue (55), Yellow (56), and of course Clear (38). Now Musicians put LED Lights and get more Tech gadget with them.
I got a chance to touch base with Jack Mason & Jacob Schulze (who also plays with the band Moonlight Towers) from Strait Music Company and chatted alittle about The Drums. Francois Larosa(FL) - Hi Guys , What’s the deal… Are the Acrylic Drums making a comeback? Jacob Schulze (JS)- It looks cool, I remember seeing Kliph Scurlock from the Flaming
Vistalite acrylic drums make a solid sonic and visual statement in live concert performance. Manufactured under strict guidelines to retain shell integrity, todays Vistalite delivers pure, round tone through a fully-stabilized shell and dual reinforced seams; without succumbing to the cracking that plagued
the kits of yesterday. FL: Who are the Musicians buying the Drums? JS: Those who seek High-volume live performances, where projection over loud instruments is paramount. I’d say those in Hard Rock & Heavy Metal.
Jacob Schulze-Strait Music Company Consultant.
You’re not hardcore! Unless you live hardcore! by Francois Larosa
These are easy to mike up, come try it out at the store, this set is easy to load & go.
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Achieving Your Tone by Christopher Jordan
Achieving Your Tone – chApTer 2: AmplificATion By: Christopher Jordan Last month we began our journey to find the ever-quested tone that every guitarist is searching for by examining exactly what to look for in the instrument you choose to play. Now that you have found the instrument you like and it feels right to your fingers, we have to figure out exactly what amplifier we should invest in. I could say “buy” or “purchase”, but the word “invest” is chosen here for a very specific reason. Groceries, batteries, even strings are purchased or bought; they are commodities that are made to wear out and be replaced. This should most definitely NOT be the case when it comes to one’s means of amplification. This is just like any other “investment” you make, be it a house or a car, you wouldn’t just go out and buy a car that you know you are going to drive every day for the next ten years without researching some information first. You will want to know things like, “what is the gas mileage?” . . . “is it rated well for safety?” “ Will it carry my whole family?”…and not to mention my super sweet new amplifier. These are some of the things you would want to know when investing in a vehicle. “So exactly what should I know about the amplifier I will invest in?” you may be asking yourself. Well here are the basic decisions to start off with and we will get into each in detail. • Tube vs. solid-sTaTe • Combo vs. amp & CabineT • WaTTage needed • speaker size
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Let’s start at the beginning, tube “valve” amplification versus solid-state amplification. A tube or “valve” is basically a fancy word for an electronic amplification triode which consists of three electrodes inside an evacuated glass envelope: a heated filament or cathode, a grid, and a plate (anode) allowing you to amplify the voltage of an incoming signal. With a tube amp there are a couple of steps to starting up the amp itself. You start by turning on the amplifier power with the amplifier in standby. Once your power light comes on the best thing to do is wait a few minutes, tubes actually sound best when they are nice and warm from being on a while. Once a few minutes have passed, which oddly enough should give you just enough time to get your guitar and accessories plugged in, you then take the amplifier out of standby mode and rock the night away. This full analog style of amplification sounds warm, thick and is the heart and soul of any, and yes I mean any, vintage guitar, bass or even organ sound. You can tell tube amplification by the distinctive “sag” that occurs behind the notes, they tend to be a little less harsh in tone and not as brittle as its digital counterpart, but at the same time they tend to be a little noisier, more prone to stray frequencies live such as neon lights and dimmer packs and the biggest difference, they are heavier...much heavier. In solid-state amplification there is no down time. You flip a switch and you’re ready to rock. This is because instead of using a series of triode tubes to amplify the signal, solid-state amplifiers use operational amplifier circuits also called “Op-Amps”
to take the incoming signal and up the outgoing voltage to rage the eardrums of all around you. Whereas an average tube is quite large, approximately the size of a medicine bottle, in comparison an op-amp is approximately the size of an average piece of Chiclet gum. This allows for the same amplification potential in a much smaller circuit size thereby allowing for not only a smaller, lighter amplifier but one that runs considerably cooler. These are all desirable qualities of regularly used stage equipment. However as opposed to the distinctive “sag” that occurs with an analog tube amp, with a solid-state amp there is no sag. The effect on notes is immediate. Especially when dealing with distorted or overdriven sound. This can make an extremely percussive quality that is very noticeable, especially in music that incorporates staccato rhythms such as heavy metal and hard rock. Now that you have a bit of an understanding of what type of amplification you will want, it is time to choose the configuration of your amplifier. There are basically two options when it comes to this decision, an amp head and cabinet configuration or a combination a.k.a. “combo” amp. The differences between the two are immediately visible. In an amp head and cabinet configuration the amplifier is either contained in its own housing or is a rack mount style piece of equipment that will sit atop or on the side of the cabinet that contains the speakers, usually in a configuration containing anywhere between 4-8 speakers. This is the quintessential rock star guitar rig. From the likes of Jimmy Page to the stage jumping antics of Eddie Van Halen this is usually what people think when they think Rock & Roll. Amps like this are the reason bands have roadies…well that and fetching beer. On the flip side of this coin is the trusty combination or “combo” amp. This is usually what people have in mind when they think guitar practice or church. But don’t let the compact size fool you, though a combo amp may only contain literally one or two speakers they can shred and blow ear drums with the big boys. Amps such as the Fender Twin, Gibson G-50 and Peavey Bandit are famous for their size to sound ratio. These amps are perfect for the regularly gigging musician. While they are easily moved and carried up stairs they offer enough range of volume to play anywhere from a sound delicate fine dining jazz gig to a rowdy bar full of frat kids until
2am. If you are shredding metal under 5,000 watts of strobe lights a combo amp may look a little out of place, but so would a Marshall full stock if you put it in the middle of an R&B stage. The decision of amplifier configuration ultimately comes down to questions of function, form, preference and style. Once you have decided what type of amplifier and configuration you are looking for it’s time to get down the business of power. The power of an amplifier is rated using the electrical measure of watts. The more watts you have the louder you can go…pretty simple right? Well initially yes, but as with everything involving music there are nuances. If you are going for loud clean sound for rhythm guitar or straight bass then sure just a plain old big amp around 100 watts or more will do the trick just fine, all you need is on and up. However if you are a lead guitar player and you want your sound to
“break up” when you start to lay into a lead line or want to have a bit more crunch to your chords then you are probably going want to stick to a midrange wattage of around 50-75 watts. “But I wanna wail my solos man!” you say…well no worries my finger flinging friends, here’s the reason. If you have a smaller amplifier it is easier to make the circuit produce natural harmonic distortion which gives you the signature “break up” sound that most guitarists are craving. This is especially true with tube amplifiers. If you are looking for amps for practice and small venues and rehearsal a wattage range of anywhere between 25-50 watts is usually desirable. Remember the more wattage the pounds you get to carry, particularly with tube amps. Finally we get to speaker size. This is the final part of the amplifier tone equation. When you think of speakers in your amplifier you must think
about a few things.
Austin Hot Mods by Christopher Jordan
speakers are usually used in practice amps because they are typically small wattage and used in close quarters and low volumes, it’s much easier to get the range of tones desired with a smaller speaker if you have low wattage.
What is the amp being used for and do I have to move the amplifier or cabinet. Speaker sizes in amplifiers range from 8-10 inches in practice amplifiers to 10-15 inches in combo amps and speaker cabinets. As mentioned before the amplifier depends a lot on the purpose. I have a
30 watt amp solid state in my studio for practice and a 50 watt tube amp for live performance, both of which have a 12 inch speaker in them. I like 12 inch speakers in cabinets because it has a bit more bite in the mid-range and just enough low end without getting “woofy”. 8-10 inch
10-12 inch speakers tend to have a bit more high-mid to low-mid tonal range while 15-18 inch speakers handle much more low end frequency and frequently seen in bass cabinets as well as the bottom sections of full stack guitar systems. Materials of course make a difference, there is everything from traditional paper to Mylar and even Kevlar impregnated fabrics and Hemp woven cones. All have a bit of difference to the discriminating ear but the main difference here is durability gig to gig and longevity over the lifespan of your amplifier. This of course comes down to a matter of personal taste and as any good stage musician and gear head knows…bragging rights. There’s nothing quite like that feeling of
knowing your fellow musicians froth at the mouth when you start rattling off your amplifiers vital statistics. With all of these basic factoids in mind remember that you are investing in vital equipment to further your art. Don’t skimp if you don’t have to and don’t let a sales guy rush you into a decision, the last thing you want is three months down the road to wish you would have gotten an amp with one 12 inch speaker and 50 watts instead of one with two speakers and 50 watts. There is
nothing worse than that empty pit feeling while you play knowing that your sought after tone would be that much closer had you only taken a bit more time to try different options. And with that we wish you happy gear hunting and until next time keep your cables wound tight and don’t fall off stage. Christopher Jordan has been a live audio engineer and recording artist for over 15 years and owns AustinHotMods.com an Austin,TX based pedal modification company.~
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Wizard Wolf Wizard Wolf: It was a process really, Me and my bro Miguel A. Chavez moved in together in the summer of 07, and instantlly started improv stoner jams, then eventually performing for the first time as a 2 piece in 10, so i would say officially we have been together for about 3yrs
RM: Describe the sound of Wizard Wolf? Wizard Wolf: I would say its somewhere in between early Bathory and late 90’s RadioHead, not comparing myself to either one, but definitely taking influences from both, and equally as well. We were also just recently compared to Cathedral and a “slower” version of Dillinger Escape Plan.., that was pretty rad, and last year someone said, Iron Butterfly/Voivod/The Doors, so I guess whatever you can take from that.
RM: Welcome to Rockstar Wizard Wolf.
RM: Introduce the members of the band and what instrument you each perform.
and do the main vocals, as well as create and compose all of the music for Wizard Wolf, I’ve worked with some great musicians, including my younger brother Miguel A. Chavezdrums, b-vocals, Stevie Ray Mejia-synth,keys, b-vocals, and Mega Mark-gutiar Fx,..
Wizard Wolf: Well, my name is J. Franco Chavez, I play guitar
RM: How long has the band been together now?
Wizard Wolf: How’s it going, thank you for having me
RM: Who are some of the bands influences? Wizard Wolf: Influence?..shiii, I obviously can’t put all of them, so let me choose just 40, haha... na..uuuh, Megadeth, Radiohead, The Dears, Tori Amos, Thin Lizzy, BLACK SABBATH, Iron Maiden, 70’s Genesis, King Crimson, Camel, Moody Blues, Brian Eno, Bathory, Venom, Enslaved, Emperor, The Zombies, Weezer, Hunk, shiit...alot
RM: How did you guys come up with the name Wizard Wolf? Wizard Wolf: Well, I came up with the name for a couple of reasons, one being I’ve always felt I have had wolf blood in me, having Mex/Indian decent and a kindred spirit with animals, especially dogs, ...The wizard aspect comes from my strong belief in Wiccan/ and Satanic power, that might not make sense to a lot of people, but it feels like a perfect
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marriage to me.
RM: OK. Where are you guys performing in November or December? Wizard Wolf: We will be performing in Austin Nov. 29th at Club 1808 . I’ll do some solo “acoustic” shows in Dec. all over Texas. Check on the Wizard Wolf-Mago Lobo - Facebook page for updates.
RM: Describe the songwriting process for Wizard Wolf. Wizard Wolf: The process 90% of the time is I’ll work out riffs and lyrics on my own, usually going through them x amount of times, then showing the other guys once I have somthing semi solid.
RM: Have you guys recorded in the studio yet? Wizard Wolf: As of now we have one E.P “An Experiment in Hiding”... which was officially released early this year on Soundcloud, Wizard Wolf will,
however, release that same E.P with 2 bonus tracks, for whoever purchases a T-shirt, which also includes a patch for $16 Shamelss promotion..haha...The band will go into the “studio” in Feb or March, if all goes well.
RM: How can readers look up your music or hear you guys online? Wizard Wolf: Facebook, and we also have a small variety of live footage on youtube, some of it pretty good quality.
RM: Look forward to hearing you for the show on the 29th of November. Wizard Wolf: Yup! The 29th at Club 1808 on East 12th next to the Legendary White Swan in Austin. Also Thank you very much, appreciate Rockstar Magazine’s support ...and like always,... PEACE,LOVE,TOTAL SATAN!
Eric Tessmer Band Rockstar: Is there a new album out ? Heard you guys were recording.
ETB:
New material is coming together, lots of ideas in the works. Looking to have a new release early spring of 2014. The new stuff has been getting some awesome responses at the shows.
Rockstar: Congrats on the 2012-2013 Austin Chronicle Music Awards. Have the accolades helped the band a notch or two in the last year?
ETB: Eric: Absolutely, the more people hear or read your name on a consistent basis, the more people will take notice. Not just fan-wise, but also in the music business. At the same time, it’s surreal to know you have enough loyal support to get to that point. Rockstar: Welcome to Rockstar Magazine!
ETB:
Eric: Thanks! Rob: Thank you for having us. Gian: Welcome to the Eric Tessmer Interview
Rockstar: Caught your show at the Saxon Pub a while back after ACL. Great Rocking Sound! Had a blast hanging out with you guys!
Rockstar: What is your most memorable show in recent months?
ETB: Gian: It was one of the first Saxon Pub shows I played with the band, back in June I believe. The crowd response was incredible, lots of energy. Rob: We had the privilege of opening for Monte Montgomery in Dallas at the Granada Theater. What an incredible show, not to forget an amazing after party show.
members.
Eric: The Monte show WAS pretty badass, and like Rob said, the after party was amazing. Alan Haynes and Monte Montgomery jammed together. It was nuts. Another one of my favourite shows was when Malford Milligan got up and sang “Little Wing” with us for my birthday, that was CRAZY!
ETB: Well, I’m Eric, I play guitar loudly and sing poorly. On bass is Mr. Gian Ortiz and on drums is Mr. Rob Williamson
Rockstar: How often is the band on the road these days?
Rockstar: Eric you have performed
ETB:
ETB:
Thank you for coming out to the show. We had some fun that night, from the pieces that I remember...
Rockstar: Introduce the band
all over the place and many festivals ; tell us about the band’s roots. Where are all of you from? Born and bred Austin?
ETB:
Eric: No, actually I grew up in rural Wisconsin and left for Austin after high school to pursue music. I love it here. Gian: I’m Colombian by birth, but all American now! Mostly Texan. Rob: I have lived in a few places growing up but originally I am from southern California.
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Eric: Fairly often, but never enough for us! Gian: We have shows every week and try to stay busy. We were just recently in Colorado in the beginning of September. Rob: We have been regulars around the Texas region all year. We are in the working stage of adding the rest of the U.S. and a European appearance for next year.
Rockstar: Name some of your influences?
ETB: Gian: For me it is Hendrix, Beatles, Cream, Deep Purple, Benny Hill, to name a few. Eric: Jimi Hendrix for sure. I grew up listening to my dad’s records. A lot of Hendrix, Cream, Beatles, Pink Floyd, Zeppelin, Deep Purple, etc. Then I started getting into blues. Got into Albert, Freddie and B.B. King, Albert Collins, Elmore James, Stevie and Jimmy Vaughan, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Son House, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, I could go on for hours. Rob: Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Nirvana, a little newer of a band but still influential to say the least is the Foo Fighters. Huge Dave Grohl fan.
Rockstar: How has the music business treated you over the years? Is there a key to being a successful blues band?
ETB: Gian: I feel that you get what you put into it. If you work hard, you get more work. It is up to the Artist to move forward. Rob: To add a little to what Gian mentioned, be adaptable and have a constant drive to keep going even when things look tough. Eric: I think the secret to being suc cessful at anything is to have a plan, work your ass off and be able to think on your feet. Or maybe it’s all about having great hair/cleavage. It’s hard to say, so I’ve always just stuck to the first theory.
Gian: I am the new guy, but I’ll take it!! Rob: The press really helps spread the word. We are very thankful to our loyal fans that help support our music.
Rockstar: How old were you when you began playing guitar Eric?
ETB: Rob: You can catch us at The Saxon Pub. We also have an upcoming discovery series show at Threadgill’s onWednesday November 20th. Rockstar: Where would you like to see the Eric Tessmer Band in 1 year? 5 years?
ETB: Eric: In one year I want to be on the road and finishing up another album. In five, I’ll be celebrating the five year anniversary of our Rockstar Magazine interview while on the road somewhere in Europe!! Gian: Budapest Rob: Touring as much of the world as much as we possibly can.
Rockstar: How can readers book you for a show or get in touch with you online?
ETB: Rob: You can reach us through our website erictessmerband.com and also through our booking agent Amelia Harvey at Tape Deck Productions. Amelia can be reached at amelia.simplemusic@ gmail.com
ETB: Eric: I was eight years old, I think. My dad got my brother a guitar when he was 12 but he didn’t really get into it so I took it over. My dad and grandmother and great-grandparents all played guitar, so it’s always been around. Sort of a family tradition.
Rockstar: Thank you guys for stopping by to say hi to Rockstar Magazine.
Rockstar: Where are you performing this fall? Seems like we can always catch you at the Saxon about once a month.
ETB:
See you soon at the Saxon pub! And at Threadgils on Wednesday Nov 20th.
Eric: Thanks, can’t wait! Gian: Looking forward to it! Rob: Thank you for having us. See ya at the shows.
The Music Ranch Fall Season
by Staff at Music Ranch
The Music Ranch since the beginning. He is a valuable member of The Music Ranch Family.
Tmr: WhaT role have you played in developing Tmr? GZ: Throwing shows here. I organized and booked the first official show here, it was Raising Hell for Rot back in 2011. We gonna be hosting the 4th annual RHR June 6th and 7th 2014. I drove my motorcycle on stage and sang my ass off.
Tmr: hoW did you meeT gino
THE MUSIC RANCH PRESENTS Fall is funkin awesome at The Music Ranch. The cold weather didn’t stop our loyal fans from coming out and getting freaky at the HORROR MOVIE AND LIVE MUSIC WEEKEND. Nosferatu lit up the big screen while great bands lit up the stage. On Friday, Mr. White, Nova, Hammerdog, BLANK_ _SPACE and Sciborg and the RoboPimps played on the main stage and on Saturday, The Soul Jackers, XXX. We ended the month of October with the Brutal Halloween Beatdown. Chaos ensued while, Bearded Ox, Pernicious Phenom, BLANK_ _SPACE and Bury the Rod played until the mosh pit was bloodied. We started up November hosting,YOU SCARED THE FUNK OUT OF ME, 2 nights of epic funk music. On Friday; Ugly Elephant, The Hair farmers, KaBomba!,FUNKOTRON and Transcontinental Trip rocked the ranch until sunrise, while a massive bonfire lit up the night and warmed up funk lovers.
On Saturday; Otonana Trio,( straight from Japan) Loose Leaf, Sheer Khanand the Space Case, Henry and the Invisibles and Calliope Musicals played the main stage. When it came to dancing, resistance was futile. Then on November 10th we had Big Lou’s 2nd Annual Birthday Party. Everyone came out and there was an open BBQ pit with BYOBBQ. On November 30th Come on out to the Illumignarly Apparel & Design Co. fundraiser and kickstarter video shoot. It will be an all out skate or die mosh fest. Dont forget to watch out for upcoming events in 2014. We’ll be holding our National Grand Opening party next summer. For halloween, we’ll be burning The Pumpkin Man. The Music Ranch will be featuring one of it’s staff members each month to introduce all the people that have made The Music Ranch possible. The Music Ranch Metal Liaison, Gabe Zapata, has been with
and beCome a parT if The musiC ranCh family?
GZ: I was doing a show at a smoke shop and it was their grand opening, a mutual friend approached me and told me about The Music Ranch. He convinced me that I should contact Gino on facebook, and he invited me to visit. We hit it off immediately. I saw how it all started and it was all by word of mouth. Everything that goes on here and all the connections that have been made were through word of mouth. Even our shows are through word of mouth. When we go national next year that will change.
Tmr: you have hosTed many evenTs aT Tmr as The meTal liason, if you Could make an annual shoW ouT of one, WhiCh shoW Would you piCk? GZ: Definitely Bloodstock 2012, during SXSW. It’s our anti SXSW show because no one has to have a badge. You can just show up. I provide food and refreshments to say thank you to all the supportive fans. All the bars and clubs downtown
want to charge for everything but we want to give back to the people who keep these musicians going during the year. It started in my dad’s backyard. My dad and I built a stage expecting a couple bands and 50 people. Instead, 6 bands showed up and 500 people. The whole neighborhood showed up after word got out and Lone Star Beer sponsored a party the following year. They donated 50 cases of beer and I shared it with all the bands and fans to show appreciation for their support. It’s been 5 years since then. The last three Bloodstocks have been at TMR. So I hope I keep that tradition alive
Tmr: WhaT’s going on WiTh The video shooT Coming up?
GZ: On November 30th we’re doing a fundraiser and video shoot for Illumignarly Clothing Company. We want to buy equipment, advertising, merchandise and everything it takes to run a legitimate clothing line. We picked a reasonable amount that we thought we could raise. This show, like all of the shows I host, is to provide a good experience for the bands. At TMR no ones on top of each other and everyone can do their thing and the bands have nothing but respect for each other. The Music Ranch provides the atmosphere for everyone to express themselves freely.
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Tmr: Who Would you like To see play Tmr in The fuTure? GZ: Oh wow! Everyone. There’s just so many. Upon a Burning Body would be one, Goliath from California. And definitely The Black Dahlia Murder. When we go national next year, hopefully it will be possible to pursue these bands and other acts.
Tmr: hoW are you involved in The fuTure developmenT of Tmr? GZ: SlaughterBash in 2014 is already being planned for June on TMR’s 4th birthday.
Tmr:Tell me abouT hoW you goT invovled in The meTal sCene and WhaT led you To your CurrenT Career? GZ: It’s not a career. It’s really just what I like to do. I have a regular job. It started in my backyard with Bloodstock and I loved it. I was also in a band that got on the radio. I’ve always been into music and I’ve been involved in the metal scene since I was little and I guess I finally got the chance when I threw that party. When I was kid, it was just about getting into trouble. Now my main goal is to provide for my family. TMR has actually provided the opportunity for this to be my career. facebook.com/Themusicranchatx
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One Eyed Doll RockstaR Magazine: : i Just
checked out the “be My fRiend” video it is nicely pRoduced.
Junior: Thank you! It was directed by Patrick Kendall who also made our “You’re A Vampire” and “Committed” videos. He’s the real rock star. He’s made videos for Megadeth, Incubus, Theory of a Deadman, and just recently shot a video for Sevendust. We’re big fans of his work. We’re also grateful to Waylon and Jeffrey Nothing of Mushroomhead for their cameos in the video! Kimberly: Patrick is a genius! #1 fan right here! You’d never believe how quickly he put it all together. It’s huge for us to have the opportunity to work with someone of his caliber. Super nice guy, too.
RockstaR Magazine: so hoW have
both of you been? you guys have been on the Road a lot this yeaR.
Rockstar Magazine speaks with One Eyed Doll’s Kimberly & Junior in a break betweeen tours. We booked them Nov 29th at Infest!
RockstaR Magazine:WelcoMe to RockstaR kiMbeRley and JunioR!
wedding! Apparently the tour went well, because it’s being extended. We’re really honored to have been asked to continue on the December run with the Mushroomhead crew! We’re going to try to get home between now and then, but we’ll see. Our bus is still in Chicago! Eek!
Junior: Hi! Kimberly: Howdy!!! Thank you so much for having us!
RockstaR Magazine: hoW has the touR been so faR this fall?
RockstaR Magazine: WelcoMe back hoMe to austin fRoM the Road. aRe
Junior: It’s been amazing! Mushroomhead puts on one of the best shows in rock today. They’re like an evil Blue Man Group. Perfect for a Halloween tour. Most of the shows have been sold out and we’ve been playing some large venues. Sometimes over 1000 people. And even though Mushroomhead fans are very loyal… and brutally honest, Kimberly wins them over and has them singing along every night.
you guys on a bReak With youR touR With MushRooMhead?
Junior: Yes, we spent September and October touring the East Coast, South and Midwest with Mushroomhead. We have a couple weeks off, and then we’ll be hitting the West in December. Kimberly: We’re actually not home just yet. We were guests at SAE Institute in Chicago a couple of days ago with Martin Atkins and are now in Florida to play at a
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Kimberly: We’re just thrilled to be touring with such nice people, and the crowds have been amazing!
Junior: We love staying on the road. It’s actually a bit more comfortable than it has been in the past. We have a fancy tour bus and can afford a crew (roadie, merch girl and driver). So things are really going very well for us. We actually live in the tour bus now.
It has a nice kitchen with a gas stove, a real oven, fridge, sink and freezer! A nice shower and bathroom etc. It’s pretty comfy. Kimberly: I feel great. Every show is a blessing, and we’re just really lucky and happy to have the chance to play almost every night in a new town. We’ve had a lot of fun this year building our stage show up a bit and having our friends on the road with us. I’m grateful to stay so busy with our music! Not every musician has that, and I know how precious it is. It’s exhausting at times and comes with its sacrifices, but I wouldn’t trade it.
RockstaR Magazine: My last
inteRvieW With you guys Was tWo yeaRs ago in WeiRd Magazine foR the WeiRdfest in 2011! that Was a fun night! Junior: Yeah, that was great! We dressed up as Jack O’ Lanterns! Kimberly: Thanks again for having us out for that! We loved Weirdfest! Being on your TV show was a blast, too. You’ve been such an amazing supporter. We love what you do and are excited to see your project growing!!
RockstaR Magazine : has one-eyed doll Released anything neW since diRty? i still JaM that cd and My bReak albuM.
Junior: Last Halloween we released a compilation of songs that we’ve made for the online game AdventureQuest Worlds. It’s called “Something About A Dragon”. We are also releasing a remixed and remastered version of our 2008 album “Monster” called “ReMonstered.” It’s way heavier and sounds a million times better. Even our die hard old school fans agree. It also features a cover of Yngwie Malmsteen’s “I Am A Viking”. This is where you’ll find the new version of “Be My Friend” from the video. If you preorder the CD you can get an instant download of the album. Go to music.oneeyeddoll.com to order! Kimberly: We’ve recorded lots of new stuff that no one has even heard yet, too!
RockstaR Magazine: Well, With any luck dollheads aRe in foR a Real tReat. i’M hoping to book you guys foR infest on nov 29th!! all ages shoW! Ready to JaM?
RockstaR Magazine: What can We expect fRoM youR cuRRent set list? Junior: We actually never have a set list for a show. Kimberly plays whatever she feels like and I have to keep up. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear “Committed” and “Be My Friend” though.
Junior: We would love to! We’ll need to coordinate with our booking agent and make sure we’ll be in Austin at the end of November. Fingers crossed! Kimberly: That’s so cool of you to invite us! I hope we can join the fun!
RockstaR Magazine: What else is
neW With you guys? i saW a video gaMe coMpany, RevolveR aRticle, and kiMbeRly you WeRe hottest chick in haRd Rock on RevolveR Magazine last yeaR. hoW does one eyed doll stay so fResh and cuRRent?
Junior: Well we are completely DIY so it can be hard to keep up. We just try to
stay on the road and in the studio at all times! We’re very honored to have some recognition from great magazines like Revolver, Guitar Player… and of course Rockstar ;) Kimberly: We do what inspires us, and sometimes people take an interest in it. Sometimes people are even awesome enough to interview us and write about us, like you! You’re keeping us fresh and current by doing this, Russell.. and we thank you!
Kimberly: I’ve been really into playing Plumes of Death live lately. I have so many favs that it’s hard to pick. It depends on our set time and how many songs we can manage to squeeze in to a show. I’ve been playing a lot of Committed, Break, Be My Friend, Plumes of Death, Fight, Monster, Nudie Bar sometimes.. Managed to play Scorpion Death a couple of times on this tour - and Pao! I think UFO happened once or twice, too. We’ve been sticking to the faster songs lately. It’s fun!!
Junior: Well we’ve definitely taken the slow road to where we are. And we still have a lot of room to grow. It’s been hard work and we really appreciate our fans and those in the press and on the business side of things that are supporting One-Eyed Doll. I can see how a young band that shoots to stardom might take these things for granted, but we cherish every fan and are grateful to be out here playing music for a living. Kimberly: I’m always so surprised and excited when anyone likes my music. I think knowing what it feels like when no one cares and starting from scratch can stick with a person for life. It makes me grateful for what I have. I don’t think of it as humility or some kind of a virtue. It’s just being realistic. It’s not like we’re hugely successful, anyhow. We’re still just working hard and grateful for any support we get.
Rockstar Magazine: Final Thoughts to Austin Doll Heads this FALL? Junior: We hope to see you soon! It’s been far too long!!! Kimberly: I hope our hometown fans know how special you are to us. Tour after tour, we’ve done our best to spread our love of Austin around the USA. We’d love to party with you all as soon as possible and hope to bring some of what we’ve learned on the road back to our home stage.
Rockstar Magazine: Final Thoughts to Austin Doll Heads this FALL? Junior: Fingers crossed! Kimberly: I hope so! Let’s see if we can make it happen.
RockstaR Magazine: i can’t Wait to be dRessed up like a
doll head again kiMbeRley! lol . . . .
Kimberly: The pleasure will be all mine. ;)
RockstaR Magazine:you guys
seeM to be doing Well and having MoRe success. yet both of you aRe alWays Really gRounded When We talk and hang out. hoW has one eyed doll handled success?
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Ian Moore Rockstar Magazine speaks withAustin Icon Ian Moore with an update about his music carrer and fall showdates here in Austin.
RockstaR Magazine: big fan of youR WoRk ian, foR Many yeaRs.
hoW is life tReating you these days? Ian Moore: Life is good. Lots of
traveling, lots of songwriting, playing, recording. I wanted a crazy big life and I got one.
RockstaR Magazine: i gReW up on youR Music in the eaRly 90’s heRe in austin. used to catch you at Wednesday night fRee shoWs on auditoRiuM shoRes, oR the steaMboat on 6th. you Will be peRfoRMing foR the austin fan fest this Month and RetuRning again in deceMbeR foR acoustic shoWs at stRange bReW on dec 6th. do you Miss austin?* Ian Moore: Austin is, and always has been, a huge part of my life. I think in living in another area (Seattle) I have become more of a Texan. I really see where I come from and i find myself seeking out other Texans. I still tour out of Austin, so I am down here all the time. I actually am flying down to Texas 5 times in less than a month.
RockstaR Magazine: have you
RecoRded anything since the Release of the fiRst thiRd?
Ian Moore: I have an acoustic based EP called Aerie that i will
Interview
release right before the Strange Brew show. I am doing a soul EP in Austin the Winter, and then flying up to Toronto to start work on what will be the next Ian MooreLossy Coils record. I am in the studio about 8-10 hours most days!
RockstaR Magazine: you’ve opened
foR Many gReat acts oveR the yeaRs, the Rolling stones, bob dylan, zz top and MoRe Recently Jason MRaz. is it nice to play With otheR aRtist once in a While?
Ian Moore: The Jason gig was playing as a sideman, which was a really great, educational experience. I got to step way out of my comfort zone, and actually was mainly a harmony singer, which was a new one for me. I’m actually playing with Jason, as well as CSN, Shawn Colvin, and many more, in a couple of weeks in Seattle. I enjoy the diversity, and I like taking things that can make me a better player. I really enjoy playing the guitar as a non front man, so i moonlight in some local Seattle bands. It really helps my playing
RockstaR Magazine: hoW has youR
song WRiting pRocess evolved oveR the yeaRs? Ian Moore: I’d like to think that my voice has evolved quite a bit since i first started. In my early years it was 24/7 guitar playing, but i had the good fortune to be around a lot of good song writers and i knew that i had a long way to go. I am quite a bit more diverse in narrative, and form, and have had
some years to dig into the great ocean of songs and get my toes wet a bit.
RockstaR Magazine: youR style has alWays been veRsatile, and
you have suRvived a loyal fan base foR 20 yeaRs. What do you attRibute to youR success in Maintaining all this tiMe? Ian Moore: have fought tooth and nail to keep my identity. There was such a huge push early in my career to make me a clone, and I like to think that I traded in some fans for the loyalty of the people that have followed me since. I feel like the only thing one has is their vision and if that is compromised too much, you have nothing left
RockstaR Magazine : i naMed My second son afteR you in 1995 by the Way. zachaRy ian. as We’ve gRoWn oldeR and have faMilies. hoW has youR faMily influenced youR Music in Recent yeaRs? Ian Moore: I care less about what anyone externally says. I want to make music that I am proud of, and something that has a legacy. I think the humility required to have a family is really healthy for an artist. ultimately i have to provide a good inspiring place for my kids to grow up in. All of my aesthetics fly out the window. It ups the BS meter quite a bit, and i work 1000% harder than I did in my 20’s.
RockstaR Magazine:ian one
of My favoRite songs of youRs Was “oRdinaRy people” fRoM luMinaRia. What inspiRed this tRack?
Ian Moore:Thankyou. That sense of entitlement that some artists have. I’ve been partof so many scenes in my life, and especially in younger crowds, there can be such a ridiculous sense of entitlement and hollow purpose, that friankly gets in the way of anything of true meaning. I’ve fallen into those at times, and its amazing how blinding the self righteous light can be. I
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guess i was self skewering a bit, but also taking a bit of a shot at some other things around me.
RockstaR Magazine: you’ve been
living in the noRthWest a While noW. WheRe do you like to go eat heRe in austin? you knoW you have to tRy soMe Mexican food oR bbQ While youR heRe.*
tRy saM’s bbQ on east 12th! Ian Moore: People know where to find me. There are a couple of mexican restaurants in Austin that are jokingly known as “my office”. I grew up with the family that owns Sam’s, so i have had many a great meal there. I am a big fan of Ruby’s bbq, as well as Coopers. I still think the best carnitas in town are at the Piedras Negras taco truck, which stands where the old Dos Hermanos was. Greasy and perfect!
RockstaR Magazine: Muddy Wa-
teRs Was the gReatest blues Man of all tiMe. tRue oR false?
Ian Moore: Muddy did a lot for bringing the music to a lot of people, and many great players came through his bands. He was definitely a giant, and has very few people ever that walked at his level, but there are a few greats. I’m really grateful that i spent my youth seeing these guys while they were still around. I try to carry a bit of that spirit and legacy, in my music.
RockstaR Magazine: Who WeRe
youR influences in high school oR childhood that gReW you into the Musician We have all coMe to knoW and love?
Ian Moore: My parents and their friends were huge. I had so many interesting poets, artists, musicians, monks, intellectuals, etc running around as we were growing up that i can’t imagine doing anything else. I had three teachers in middle/high school that were monumental as well. Mr Warren, Ms. Cohlmia, and Mr. Kinney, all of whom directed me at key times. I had so many people who helped me along the way. Obviously CLifford Antone, but Denny, Derek, Mel, Stevie and Jimmy, John Reed, Marcia Ball, Delbert, Doug Sahm, Roky. Frankly, the influences could be a book. Everyone was so gracious to me growing up, and i try to do the same.
RockstaR Magazine: last yeaR
you got togetheR With the old band Mates and played soMe shoWs (6) and a festival oR tWo. i Missed that season of Music. any chance you get togetheR With Michael and the guys . . . again?
Ian Moore: It was great playing with the guys, and it really was a great band. We had some great shows, made a lot of people happy, and enjoyed the time. No plans to do any more shows
Rockstar Magazine: Thanks for your time Ian. I look forward to seeing you here in Austin thisNovember 16th at the Austin Fan Fest and again December 6th at Strange Brew . Ian Moore: I’m quite excited to be able to show two pretty divergent sides in such quick succession. Two very different shows. Its been a great year. Thanks for the interview and see you down the road!
Toxic Holocaust Chemistry of Consciousness Relapse Toxic Holocaust Chemistry of Consciousness Relapse by Brian No Funeral Joel Grind is at it again. The prolific mastermind behind Toxic Holocaust has been mixing classic 80s thrash (think Exodus and early Slayer) with the crusty English d-beat sound (Doom, Discharge, English Dogs, etc...) since 1999. On Toxic Holocaust’s fifth LP Chemistry of Consciousness, Joel Grind achieves the impossible. His music is evolving without losing any of the rage and angst of the early work. Sometimes it’s one or the other. Usually it’s neither, so this is a rare case. For those already familiar with Toxic Holocaust, Chemistry of Consciousness is more of the same, only bigger and better. The new record echoes the greatness of past works like Evil
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Never Dies or Hell On Earth but without sounding like a retread. I chalk up the difference to Joel Grind actually performing and recording with a permanent rhythm section. Check out the song “Rat Eater” for an example of what I’m saying. For the uninitiated, think of Toxic Holocaust as similar to Municipal Waste but less party-centric and far more concerned with the fall of mankind. The punk influence is stronger in Toxic Holocaust than it is with the majority of new-school thrash bands. What separates them from the pack is those driving, d-beat rhythms (similar to Tragedy, His Hero Is Gone, and From Ashes Rise) laying the foundation for riffs that would make Testament drool. Toxic Holocaust is currently touring the Northeast with Ramming Speed and In Defence, so no Texas dates are on the books for now. However, I’d take the
Vegas odds that the band will be here in time for that festival thing that happens here every year during Spring Break. If you saw the 2012 Chaos In Tejas show with Midnight, then you know how neck-breakingly awesome Toxic Holocaust’s live show is. My advice is to buy a copy of Chemistry of Consciousness and then to patiently wait outside of Red7 for the band to arrive.
Brian “No Funeral” Cook lives in Austin where he runs the No Funeral blog. Originally from Houston, Cook started covering extreme underground rock music while a student at Sam Houston State University and has freelanced ever since. He started writing for ROCKSTAR Magazine after learning that the new Slayer album will be delayed until 2014. Got to do something in the meantime...
by Brian No Funeral
UTOPiAfest
- by Travis Sutherland
During the few brief moments I was able to pause and look at what was going on, I could hardly believe my eyes. All around me were my closest friends and family, among friendly strangers, all beautiful and creative people pouring out their souls through art and music. Kindred spirits creating lifelong memories and bonds. This was a festival unlike any other. There were no fences, no lines, no assholes, no obtrusive commercialism. Nothing but smiles, laughs, hugs, high fives, and dancing. The many crews and organizations worked together seamlessly. The crowd blended harmoniously. Encompassing it all was an ideal setting and perfect weather. It was, in a word, utopia. When inviting my friends out to the ranch to play some music back in the summer of ‘09, I couldn’t have imagined what would result in a few years. Out of what I consider my darkest years came a merging of my life experiences and relationships to create UTOPiAfest. I can’t begin to describe all the amazing ‘coincidences’ and incredible connections that have lead to its creation. I can only claim credit for getting the ball rolling, because many others in my life have taken the idea and run with it. From my mom and step-dad who, among many other things, built the Arrowhead stage, to my uncle’s mowing, pulling out stuck tour busses, and other tractor work, to the hard work and sacrifices of my friends in Onion Creek Productions, so many have come together to produce this event.
Disc golf has become a key part of the experience. More than 70 participated in the tournament, and hundreds more played the course, thanks to Zac Tolbert who has designed the course every year, and was finally satisfied with the layout. I hope to place permanent baskets soon! We also had great activities and workshops ranging from Seedbombs by Food is Free Project, to Fossilpalooza led by my cousin Lauren. Graham Wilkinson played his kids set for many of the numerous children, who also got their faces painted, and slipped and slided thanks to Circus on the Moon. The COTM crew also brought glow paint and sticks for the late night shows. Kids of all ages also jammed on The Music Bus Rocks, who returned for the second year, and did double duty rocking the silent disco via TransContinental Trip. Austin Silent Disco kept the party rolling with a sizable enthusiastic dance party till the early morning, as it was solidified as an integral part of the experience as well. Full bands performed on the Arrowhead Stage, while DJs brought it from the ‘eagles nest’ above the front of house. It was a blast.
reunited. I will never know the extent of resulting ripple effects, including friendships, business partnerships, and at least one marriage which began at the second fest, and was proposed on stage at the fifth. I feel like the fest has found its niche and place amongst a much bigger festival family that participates in many incredible events throughout the year, such as Art Outisde, Fun Fun, Psych fest, all the way to Bonnaroo and ACL. Many thanks and much love to everyone who’s become a part of it, whom I call UTOPiAns. See you September 11-14, 2014! -Travis Sutherland, Chief Experiential Architect ‘for tickets and more information, visit www.utopiafest.com’
The art aspect of the fest also grew, starting with the amazing tents and Cypress stage brought in by our friends at Art Seen Alliance, who’ve been crucial to our growth and success, and who just put on an incredible fest in Art Outside. They also brought a mural and commissioned beautiful performers. Topher Siphes digitally painted some amazing stuff on one of the tents at night. Woody built his awesome ‘bee hive’ sculpture that had room for a few people inside, and made it into Kevin Curtain’s Chronicle review. Ben brought some really awesome dyed ‘Get Lost” tents to provide additional shade and hangout space. Carina painted signs and the fence by the Arrowhead Stage, and created awesome totem creatures for the food forest. Molly designed and painted an amazing backdrop for the Arrowhead Stage. It might not have been a smashing success by business standards, but it was in every way that mattered. Such an incredible outpouring of love and positivity. Everyone participated in their own way. There was an unmistakable feeling of freedom and ease. It’s so humbling and rewarding to hear many people say the fest was the best weekend of their year, or life. All I’ve hoped for since year one was to make it a bit bigger and better ever time, and it ‘s happened exceedingly. A new, larger family has emerged out of many. Each year, people are joyfully
Back in that September weekend, the fifth annual UTOPiAfest arrived under threat of rain, just like the fourth. Also like the year before, the crew and crowd faced it bravely and enthusiastically, and allowed it to enhance the experience. And like the year before, it cleared by Saturday, which turned into a beautiful day. I had heard enough encouragement to start the party on Thursday with my band, the Bellmen, to a much appreciated warm response, followed by my friends My Russian Princess, Holiday Mountain, and EOTO. The ‘pre-party’ grew significantly from last year’s, and really set the tone for the weekend. Many have remarked at how bands really bring it out there on the ranch, and it shows. Every band gave their all, and I was exceedingly happy with every performance. A few of the standouts for me were Oregone, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister, Robert Ellis, and Bernie Worrell with Brownout on Friday, and Residual Kid, Sucka Please, Lucius, Blackalicious, and Wheeler Brothers on Saturday. I missed !!! while setting up an extra intimate show for Lucius on another part of the ranch, which started from a conversation I had with Jess (one of the singers) at Bonnaroo earlier this year. This resulted in one of the most memorable and timeless moments that the lucky few who made it and I ever had. Meanwhile, I heard !!! absolutely killed it and capped off the fest right. Music has always been the central focus of UTOPiAfest, but I was happy to see growth in other areas this year.
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