The Semester Review is a pop punk band from Chandler, Arizona formed in August 2011. The current lineup consists of Josh Rockett (lead vocals/lead guitar), Gabe Hernandez (guitar/backing vocals), Cole Stevens (bass/backing vocals), and Austin Cooper (drums). All of the guys come from previous bands that are now defunct. While many of the bands in Arizona focus on the punk aspect of pop punk, the Semester Review's sound is very reminiscent of the early 2000s era, with catchy guitar riffs and vocals focusing on girls, friends, and hanging loose. Even though the music sounds very early 2000s-like, the Semester Review's use of breakdowns evens out the new age of pop punk that many bands toy with today. Although none of the four members are even in their twenties yet, they have shared the stage with bands such as the Story So Far and Man Overboard. Their most recent EP, How to Get to Third Base was released on December 23, 2012 and is available for free at
Emerging onto the Southwest music scene arrives an acoustic hip hop groove band with music as original as the band members themselves, THE WILEY ONE , blend of Acoustic, Hip Hop, Reggae, Blues and many other styles that fill the soul with a fun and relaxed vibe. Established in 2007 and rooted in Arizona, The Wiley One has evolved into one of the most impressive bands in the Southwest. Their unique bouncy-bluesy string style riffs combined with creative lyrical poetry have attracted audiences far and wide from Los Angles to New York - Seattle to Miami.
The Wiley One have been featured in many ad campaigns, TV shows, theme music for featured projects, as well as several local and national publications including Billboard Magazine's Green Issue in 2010. The band is well known for taking a powerful stance on spreading environmental awareness, working with many prestigious environmental companies and organizations such as Zero Hero, ACE Alliance for Climate Education and Disney's Planet Challenge. Their music can be heard through numerous platforms around the world including a variety of College and West Coast radio broadcasts, television networks and Web Sites. The Wiley One's first album "No 7 Kid" and their new single "Never Bored on a Board" have recently attracted the world of entertainment and many of their songs have been featured on Television channels such as Fuel TV and ESPN.
The Wiley One has shared the stage with many artists from around the World. Over the last two years they have toured around the United States performing on Main Stages for Major Music festivals as well intimate venues for select groups and parties. Whether they are performing on top of a Bio Diesel Bus, playing acoustically at local bars, small music venues, big theaters or Major Festivals, The Wiley One performances are exciting, fun and interactive.
"The Wiley One is a great band with real talent and something to say. They give me hope and faith in the new generation of Ecologically responsible bands." - Gardner Cole - Multi Platinum Producer (Madonna, Glee, Brittany Spears,)
"Wiley's guitar-playing harks back to the hard pick-and-pluck style of players like Nick Drake (minus the morose vibes), but all the songs here are driven by springy reggae beats and positive panache" -Niki D'Andrea - Phoenix Newtimes
Check out a some of their key performances over the last few years:-
* NFL Network Super Bowl Party - 2008 - Scottsdale, AZ (Main Stage Hotel Valley Ho)
* Winter X Games - 2008 - Aspen, Colorado (Main Stage X Fest)
* Summer X Games - 2008 - Los Angeles, CA (Kroq Stage Home Depot Center)
* Jocks That Rock Super Bowl Party - 2009 - Tampa Bay, Florida
* New York Songwriters Circle 2009 - New York, NY (Bitter End)
* House of Blues 2009 - Las Vegas, NV (Mandalay Bay Hotel)
* Hempfest - 2009 - Seattle, WA (Headliner, Main Stage) - 80,000 people in attendance
* Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers - Circus Mexicus - 2009, The Marquee Theater Spring 2010 St Patties day 2012
* The Dirty Heads - Spring and Summer 2010 - Tempe, AZ (The Marquee Theater)
* Surf Roots Tour 2010 with Anuhea, The Green, Tamarama, Stranger (The Roxy)
* Connect The DOT's Bio bus Tour 2010 - California Coast performing on a Bio Fueled Bus with Solar Powered Performances
* Summer X Games 2010 - Kids Day Co- Host - Los Angeles, CA (Coliseum) *Guinness Book of World Records - Largest Field Trip
* Authority Zero - Fall 2010 - Tempe, AZ (The Marquee Theater)
* Flogging Molly - St Patties Day - 2012 Tempe Beach Park (15,000 in attendance)
* Coast To Coast Tour Presented by Guinness Black Lager California Coast to New York and Connecticut Feb-March 2012
* Phochella Music Festival - Sail Inn With TMI on KWSS 106.7FM April 2012
* KJACK DAY Music Festival - Heritage Square April 2012 Flagstaff, AZ
* The Growlers - June 2012 The Orpheum Theater - Flagstaff, AZ
* Oak Creek Music Festival - Sedona, AZ July 2012
* Apache Lake Music Festival 2012 - Tortilla Flats, AZ October 2012
Press Links:
Album Review Kill It With Love - Java Magazine
Album Review Kill It With Love - Echo Cloud TV
Album Review No 7 Kid - Phoenix Newtimes
Go Green - Phoenix Newtimes
Never Borred On A Board - ALLI Sports
You can hear The Wiley One's music on these Radio Stations:
Kwss 106.7FM
KUKQ
KJACK
Modern PRoblems Radio Show
Roots 1 Radio
Surfroots Radio
Last FM
Pandora
Sam Wiley- Lead Vocalist / Guitar / Piano
Jay Nottingham - Slap Funk Master Bass Guitar / Vocalist
Josh Montag - Drums & Percussion Specialist
Phelan Parker - DJ, Saxophone
Band Interests:
Spreading the love and having fun! Writing, recording and performing original music. Creating environmental awareness. Supporting the arts and music in schools.
Artists We Also Like
A Life of Science, MC Criterion, Identity Crisis, Katastro, Catfish Mustache, Kush County, Sublime, Rome, The Beastie Boys, The Dirty Heads, G Love and the Special Sauce, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, Zee Avi, Mason Jennings, Matt
Jennings, Keeton Simons, Decker, Fayuca, The Veragroove, Banana Gun, What Laura Says, Mergence, Kongos.
8 Minutes To Burn is a regional band in the Southwestern United States that has been nominated for multiple Tucson Area Music Awards (TAMMIES) in the last several years while experiencing a recent surge of popularity with a #1 ranking by ReverbNation in the Jam category.
8 Minutes To Burn is a funk based jam band with a deep love for New Orleans Funk and roots in The Grateful Dead, Blues, Rock, and Reggae. Our musical style distills those sounds into a lush original product that certainly gets people dancing. We add depth to our music with conscious and poignant lyrics and we have shared the stage with many big name acts including Junior Reid, March Fourth Marching Band, Delta Nove, The B-side Players, Josh Fischel of Bargain Music, The Super Villains, B-Foundation and many more.
The Band has popularized two festivals in Arizona; The FaR OuT Band & Fan Jam and SouL'D OuT Festival both in Northern Arizona. These festival projects along with successful tour runs in California and radio appearances in LA helped the band to recently land an invite to the upcoming 7th Annual Tucson Gem & Jam Festival that features world renowned artists like Alex Grey, Random Rab, and VibeSquad.
8 Minutes To Burn is currently working on studio and live albums, which are planned for release later this month, that will include a number of collaborations with nationally known artists, as a follow up to our first 2009 album release, GIANT MASTER CONTROL KNOB.
Mel Mason from the Tucson Weekly, the local arts tabloid, said "8 Minutes to Burn epitomizes a genre that is under represented here in Tucson, and they do it smashingly well. For fans of reggae with bluesy departures and bits of spaced-out rock, this is the real deal."
8M2B is Ray Clamons (Drums), Kevin Wayne (Vocals), Chucacabra (Keys), Randy Clamons (Guitar), Troy Tuggle (Guitar), LIFE (Percussion), Brian Green (Bass), and Danny V (Artist).
The Distortionists from Tucson AZ consist of three people (caucasian males) who play music in the vein of "garage punk". Whatever that is. These 3 caucasian males used to play in some other bands that aren't around any more and play the following instruments: 4 string electric bass guitar, 6 string electric guitar and trap set. All three members sing at various times, although they do perform instrumentals. The lyrical content is primarily light hearted parodies of real life experiences. Clever. Many who hear The Distortionists for the first time say they have enjoyed some of their material. Many comments include the following phrases: "fascinating" "... really good" and "oh wow". They play out frequently. Mostly at night. I have enjoyed them live on several occasions and have found that i like them. Some people who have seen them have said that they were just ok.
"The Love Me Nots have evolved into a powerful, seductive, melodic rock outfit. The garage doors are now open." -Rolling Stone (France), "The Love Me Nots: Band on the Run" (June 2011) "The Love Me Nots are tough and grimy as all get-out." - Billboard "Critics' Pick: Best Frontperson of 2010, Nicole Laurenne of The Love Me Nots." - Arizona Republic “One of the few garage rock revivalists that ranks with its storied influences.” -LA Weekly, “Music Pick of the Week” "Enthusiastic as hell. Novices should be conquered automatically." - Rolling Stone (France) "The Demon and The Devotee: A magnificent accomplishment, in technicolor. FOUR STARS." - Rock & Folk (France) "The Demon and The Devotee is the band's best record to date…something to drink to but also something to think to." - Phoenix New Times, "Eight Best Local Records of 2011 (So Far)" "Stunningly feverish. One of the most exciting acts of the moment. DETROIT: Disc of the month." - Rolling Stone (France) "The Demon and the Devotee represents a sizable sonic leap forward for the Love Me Nots, proving their undeniable relevance as a modern band." - Flagstaff Live! (cover story) "This Phoenix quartet turns a garage schtick into white heat." - SPIN
Based in Phoenix and produced in Detroit by Jim Diamond (White Stripes, Electric Six, Dirtbombs), The Love Me Nots feature the purrs and howls of singer-organist Nicole Laurenne, the raunchy guitar work of Michael Johnny Walker, rock-solid bass lines by Kyle Rose Stokes, and the furious pounding of Jay Lien. Bassist/guitarist/singer Sophie Opich recently joined the touring lineup and adds yet another layer of vocal, musical, and visual energy on stage. Formed in 2006, the DIY quartet has released four full-length albums, gone into heavy rotation on Sirius Radio, charted in the CMJ Top 100, had tracks placed on television shows (Rescue Me) and compilations (The Coolest Songs In The World), performed live on American radio (KUPD, WFMU, KEXP, etc), saw the re-release of its entire discography on Europe’s Bad Reputation Records imprint, and was featured in a four-page cover story in Rolling Stone (France) this year. The Love Me Nots regularly tour in Europe and the United States. www.thelovemenots.com www.reverbnation.com/thelovemenots www.facebook.com/thelovemenots www.facebook.com/the-love-me-nots www.twitter.com/thelovemenots www.myspace.com/luvmenots http://soundcloud.com/the-love-me-nots/sets/the-demon-and-the-devotee/
Formed just over a year ago, The Electric Blankets have quickly gained admiration among live-music fans in Tucson since their debut performance in July of 2010. They take a simplistic approach to songwriting to craft a brand of garage-rock/pop evocative of sounds ranging from past to present: The Animals and The Kinks, to Grizzly Bear, Smith Westerns, or The Black Lips. Rounded off with a healthy 'desert' influence, their music has a truly fun and unique inclination.
Logan Greene is an alt-country/folk/pop singer-songwriter from Tucson, AZ. He's been playing solo around the southwest for the past five years and is continuing to challenge himself in both music and in life. Logan is constantly on tour with one of his many projects including Logan Greene & The Bricks, Doctor Dinosaur and Gashcat. Formerly, he was in Tucson bands such as Boogie Nazis, The Devil's Sideshow, Shotgun Royale/Bonegun plus many more. He spends between 100-150 days of the year on tour and in his spare time he is booking local Tucson shows for touring bands. Locally, he runs Low Gun Booking which is a NO-profit booking company that books touring bands in Tucson.
Logan Greene helps coordinate Brootal Sun Fest in Tucson that is going on its third year. Artists of past years include Andrew Jackson Jihad, Peachcake, Kind Of Like Spitting, Watercolor Paintings, A Billion Ernies, The Wild and TONS more. Recently, started a local record-label called Diet Pop Records out of Tucson. Artists on this roster include Logan Greene & The Bricks, Gashcat, Ex-Cowboy, French Quarter and more. Currently he is working on a new 2-piece alt-country project called Tumbleweed & Jackalope.
mp3:
You can download the song "Don't Wanna Break" from Logan Greene & The Bricks here: http://www.mediafire.com/?4m7tj3394odww8j
Big Treat is an Alternative rock band that started in June 2010 as just a thought in the minds of Connor Norris and Chazz Straziscar, two fifteen year olds living in the suburban city of Gilbert, Arizona. Having a love of punk rock music, these two guitar players decided to start a band that goes against the dominant screamo scene of Arizona. With the addition of Austin Cooper on drums in September 2010, the guys played their first show on January 15, 2011 to a good turnout at the world famous Nile Theater in Mesa, Arizona. Even though they were the only band on the bill that wasn't a screamo band, they managed to keep the audience's attention and take it for a ride through the rock and roll world. Throughout the next couple of months, Big Treat's sound would slowly change from the initial punk rock mood they wanted to maintain, to a more alternative rock type of mood, as the band was now taking up a sound influenced by 90's grunge bands such as Nirvana and the Pixies. Over the course of 6 months, Big Treat has played at many music venues around Arizona, including The Clubhouse, The Nile Theater (twice), Chasers, and Skrappys. The three have also played with known local bands, such as Rook, Johnathan Sakas, and Born From the Sea, as well as national acts such as The Queers, The Apers, Danny Secretion (of The Secretions), and Dun Bin Had.
"We don't like you. We have been urban for about two months now. We went to a doctor for it. We want to grow up to be circus clowns. We all reside in the Gilbert/Chandler area of Arizona. We don't have a bassist-we got a mini fridge instead. However, the glory of amp settings allow Chazz to mimic bass on recordings. We are poser punks. We used to be punk, and by "used to be," I mean back in January/February. Ever since then, our sound has been slowly changing. I mean, sure, we do have some punk ethic to us, like the DIY method we use to record our songs, but as for our sound, the vibe has been changing. We used to have a good punk vibe and feel, but, like I said, it slowly changed. Then it was like SNFU, you know? Where you could still be classified as punk but not actually sound punk. I guess you could call us alternative, but not the kind that has these poppy songs. I personally think our songs are good, but not like alternative rock would want. Screw it, we're a metalcore band."
Big Treat's music can be found at www.facebook.com/bigtreat
Phoenix, Arizona based-band, What Laura Says' Bloom Cheek is the group's second full-length record. Quite a bit more focused than their patchwork debut record, Thinks and Feels, Bloom Cheek plays out as a layered, lush and vibrant journey from start to finish. The album was released in July, 2010, on Raleigh, North Carolina-based label Terpsikhore Records - creation of indie darlings, the band Annuals and run by bassist Mike Robinson.
What Laura Says Thinks and Feels was the original tongue-in-cheek moniker created in 2003 by founding band members James Mulhern and Danny Godbold. The acoustic duo played for years at coffee houses and house parties in the Phoenix area until 2006, when they joined forces with the accredited rhythm section of Mitch Freedom and Greg Muller, as well as like-minded multi-instrumentalist Jacob Woolsey.
This combining of friends and forces resulted in a full five-piece American band in the truest sense. What Laura Says' layered song writing and instrumentation melds together the sounds of psychedelia, pop, blues, Americana, and indie rock delivering a fresh sonic experience both vintage and contemporary in tone.
The band has toured nationally with Annuals, Dear and The Headlights and Jessica Lea Mayfield playing the stages of The Bowery Ballroom (NYC), The Orange Peel (Asheville), The Parrish (Austin), The Troubador (LA), The Doug Fir Lounge (Portland) - and is a familiar friend in Austin at SXSW Music Conference. They have also shared the stage with Dr. Dog, My Morning Jacket, Lou Reed, Yo La Tengo, MGMT, Yeasayer, Delta Spirit and White Rabbits to name a few.
"The fast-paced, playful pop songs from the Arizona-based band What Laura Says are utterly infectious, full of quirky vocals and banged out piano chords." - NPR
"[WHAT LAURA SAYS are] amazing musicians, have zero boundaries and their music is full of so many surprises, not just from song to song, but within a single song. I love this band" - Devendra Banhart
"What Laura Says and the music it makes tends to feel like a bundle of nerves and agitation and apprehension that cannot be reasoned with, just witnessed, almost as a voyeur. It feels as if a lifetime's worth of passion and real living is getting crammed into these pieces of time that they put together around an idea or a phrasing of an idea." - Daytrotter
"That wasn't what I thought it would be." -Azoverload.com
Having just broken free of the spring thaw, Phoenix's What Laura Says pops up with TALK, a brand new four song record the band hatched in their home state with Bob Hoag at Flying Blanket Studios (The Ataris, The Format, Dear and the Headlights, Gospel Claws) and freshly mastered in Los Angeles by none other than esteemed audio legend Bernie Grundman (THRILLER, The Chronic, Aja, Purple Rain).
Conjuring the spirit of the Valley’s soul – the drummed-up blues of Chico Chism, the dusty funk of Michael Liggins, Dyke and the Blazers, and “Mighty” Mike Lenaburg – the band chipped off a small chunk of their expansive body of work and took to the studio for a marathon week of recording during the sunny Phoenix winter. The result is this budding new take on the same well-worn eclecticism that has shaped What Laura Says from the very start.
Songs from the band’s first two records, Thinks & Feels (2008) and Bloom Cheek (2010) are starting to take hold in the American mainstream, the latest testament being a placement of their rollicking blues-dirge Keep Running Shoes Special in the Showtime series Shameless (http://www.find-songs.com/2011/03/07/shameless-season-1-episode-8-its-time-to-kill-the-turtle/).
June 11th The Compound / Phoenix, AZ June 13th Dickies Sounds In- Studio Performance / Dickiessounds.com June 13th The Bootleg Theater / Los Angeles, CA June 15th The Standard Hotel / Hollywood / Los Angeles, CA
We will be announcing more dates soon.
TALK is available for ORDER now at http://whatlaurasays.com
Hailing from the hot desert of Phoenix Arizona ‘Isle of Essence’ is a melting pot drawing from such styles as funk, rock, jazz and blues. With this soulful approach, they’ve fashioned a groove uniquely their own. It’s hard to imagine such a distinct and powerful sound is produced by only four musicians: Duane ‘Doc’ Wissler on bass, Aaron ‘Iron Clad’ Moore on drums and vocals, Jeremy ‘Sunstone’ Perreira on vocals and guitar and Richie ‘FingAZ’ Russo on keys. Only in sharing such a complete understanding & love for one another’s music could produce such intense melodies. When you see them perform live you are drawn in by their obvious love for their craft. Every new face that sees them never forgets them. With a strong belief in the message carried in their music, they simply wish for an opportunity to share it with the world.
I have tried to stay away since the move (over a year ago), but it's been hard. Hopefully, I'll see more of you in the days to come.
The site is about 4 years old now, and it WAS looking pretty sad; so when a friend offered to create a banner for me, I got really excited.
You'll notice some changes around here. While I'm still working on it, I wanted to take a moment to thank the incredibly talented Steven Novak for all of his help.
I love the banner!
Steven is not only a graphic designer and illustrator; he's an incredibly talented author. Some of his projects include the Forts series of young adult novels, The Bad Guys web comic, and Choose or Die--he organized, coordinated, designed, and continues to write there. Also, as a co-founder of the Literary Underground, he spends even more time creating marketing material, book covers, websites, and even book trailers!
This is one busy guy, and I can't thank him enough for taking the time to create something so awesome for us.
Check him out! I have taken the liberty of linking several key words above. You can also find him out on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
~2
*Note to Derrick: if a shitty word leaves your mouth, I will happily knock your ass out next time I'm in AZ :-P
So if you haven't noticed...we've been on vacation. We'll be back in April. New video series. A new look. Maybe a new network. New kidney? See ya in April.
We're probably going to get sued for doing this....
Awful Truth, a four person punk band, was formed in 2005 in the sun-blasted urban wasteland of Tucson when local burnout Damon Pillsbury (guitar) recruited longtime friends James Roop (bass) and Dave Stine (vocals) to do something really stupid. The idea behind this ill-conceived venture was the desire of these social pariahs to play music that would be "truly awful" (hence the name). Eventually, Damon's brother Aaron was blackmailed into playing the drums, and the band began playing house parties, bars, all-ages venues, and even the occasional roadtrip through through the barren highways of rural Arizona. In 2008, the band released their debut album "Kill A Cop For God" to universal fanfare and acclaim, with many people considering it to be the greatest punk rock debut in the history of the universe. Surprisingly, they were sued only once and received only a few death threats and a judge's undying hatred (the band is still legally barred from using the original cover art). Undaunted, the band continued their wacky hi-jinks, often fishing without a license and drinking wine before it was time, until the 2011 release of their highly anticipated followup album "The Tucson Strangler." Here, one can hear the band's clear regression from "truly bad" to "even worse" as the band chose to plumb the depths of artistic indecency in an attemp to live up to the promise of their creed. Despite fistfights, drunken shenanigans, arrests, and general ostracism of their local community, Awful Truth continues to play their "music" anywhere that people who don't know any better will let them. Enjoy...
Kirkwood Dellinger was formed in 2006 as a recording project by Brian Dellinger and Elmo kirkwood. A full band was formed in august of that year. Kirkwood Dellinger are monkeys who generally pretend to play instruments, as they arent very skilled they tend to switch up a lot both live and in the recording context. signed to DC Jam records in 2009 the next summer saw the release of their label debut "Gold".. Current line up includes both kirkwood and dellinger, as well as Brian Boyer and Noah Tallman <3
Mark Holdaway is an expert kalimba player whose efforts to promote the kalimba through YouTube videos and over two dozen instructional books and recordings has brought him world renown. He commits a lot of time to community performances in elder care facilities, a few for children and developmentally disabled adults, and a lot of holiday performances in December - all gigs that emphasize the beautiful, soothng, and healing nature of the kalimba...
His future is looking towards an interest in collaborating with artists making techno, electronic or alternative music, to integrate the sound of the kalimba into a more progressive musical style. Here's to the future!!!
I'm a lifelong resident of AZ, and have been playing in bands here for the last twelve years. The two most notable (although not really notable) would be The Divebombers, which featured one Elmo Kirkwood, son of Curt Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets. The other being France Vs. France, which didn't actually include any rock-star offspring, but people seemed to like us anyways! After the demise of France Vs. France, I basically decided I was gonna try being a one-man band for a while. So I learned to record myself from home and got to work. On the album, I wrote everything (with the exception of Electronic Counterpoint, which is essentially a re-interpretation of Pat Metheny's re-interpretation of a Steve Reich tune) and played all instruments. As trite as it might sound, my vision for the album was to create something that blurred genre and focused purely on retaining a tangible mood throughout. I drew inspiration from mostly non-musical sources that are referenced by several of the song titles on my album: Beta Minus=Brave New World, Companion Cube=Portal, Teamocil=Arrested Development, etc. I then learned to master, mastered the album, learned to write html, built myself a website, tracked down a photographer on the internet and convinced him to let my use his beautiful artwork as my album cover. The album is free to download on my website, with an option to make a donation in the amount of the visitor's choosing, half of which I will then donate to the ASPCA. So far, my efforts have garnered me a few album reviews ( I can supply links to those if you like) and a little tiny bit of buzz on some blogs/message boards here and there on the internet.
That's it for me and the album, I guess. I would certainly appreciate your consideration. You can download the album in mp3 form from my website at: www.brentapetrie.com/download.html
Started in 2005, Gaza Strip has consistently melted every face set in front of them. They've placed in the top 3 in several "battles" including the acoustic BoB, the Emergenza fest, and their video for the song "Ophelia" won the 2009 Tucson Music Melee. They self released their first full length album "all about the lincolns" in late 2008, with a small pressing of 500 discs. They sold out. They have appeared at almost every rock venue in Tucson including (but not limited to) Club Congress, Plush, The Chicago Bar, and even 2 appearances at the illustrious Rialto Theatre. Recently they were interviewed and featured in an article in Hustler Online. http://www.hustlermagazine.com/features/band-interviews/gaza-strip-from-desert-to-fame And at any given time they can be found rocking out, and shaking asses at least once a month in any venue in the Tucson area.
“I’m not that naughty, but I’ve got a dirty smile” The Blue Rose Band emerged from the depths of southern rock n roll with a front porch, whiskey and rye core of the blues. Formed in 2006 when longtime friends, guitarist Jimmy Rose and drummer Trevor Hammer were inspired by the talents of the sassy and sexy vocalist Amanda Peachey. In 2008, bassist Mark Blades brought his gritty yet refined barrage on the rhythm section to complete the lineup. With influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Black Crowes, this Arizona based band has an original, down home, rock n roll sound to compliment an energetic live show that will keep you moving and always wanting more.
The Blue Rose Band’s debut album “Home” was released in the late summer of 2008. “Home” was engineered and produced by four time Grammy nominee and Double Platinum Award winner, Ralph Patlan (Jamie Foxx, Megadeth, Brian “Head” Welch among others). This album has a guitar driven, swamp boogie flavor with soulful lyrics and an in your face rock n' roll edge. The combination created a vintage sound with a modern day twist that will make you want to savor it for years to come. “Home” is “a unique blues and rock album with a classic feel,” says KWSS 106.7FM’s Rob Fowler. “Home” is currently distributed worldwide through Itunes and CD Baby.
In the great tradition of tongue-in-cheek satanic Tucson bands like Molton Leather and Helldriver, comes another… meet B4skin.
Hail Satan.
It may be a sin to name the true identities of the two members of B4skin, after all, the male/female duo have performed their first two performances in identity-obscuring costumes. But lets just say that the band is the evil lovechild of the man that is the force behind electroshockbox (and is also a member of George Squier Orchestra) and his trampoline bouncing, masked partner in crime.
And by the way, B4skin has a back story, which is something along the lines of this (those who are sensitive to poking a little fun at religion, please leave the room) – God was seeking an earth girl “to give Satan a better name.” His plan was to, “find this girl, seek her out, and have her create a band to make happy music about Satan.”
So I guess you could say the duo are Satan’s cheerleaders. And occasionally, they even sound a bit like the long gone, little known, garage-surf-sleaze band, Satan’s Cheerleaders.
Speaking of their sound, it ranges from upbeat indie pop, to electro-infused to downright spacy. In fact, they do a surprisingly dreamy, slow version of “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones. It’s purty. Oh, and there’s a Theremin. And it’s attached to the guitar.
Additionally, the songs are augmented by an Echoplex and a pile of effects pedals. You’ll hear everything from slide guitar to techno dance beats and ‘60s pop to piano and a little bit of everything in between. You know… all the musical elements that a good old-fashioned Satan worshipper loves.
Live, the male half of the duo (whose face is obscured by a welder’s mask) handles guitar duties, but a good chunk of the music is prerecorded, including beats. This frees up the female member to bounce on the mini trampoline, hand out CDs and glow sticks and dance with members of the BBQ Gang, when she isn’t singing.
The costumes make them look like an evil harlequin and a tattooed, preppy welder (sorry, but an Izod is the most un-Satanic type of clothing that I can think of, even if it is red). There are projections and a screen behind which a dancer undulates sensually. And there is the aforementioned trampoline and BBQ Gang girls. No, there is no dozing off at one of these shows. Especially during highlights like the perky “Go, Fight, Win!” in which cheers were shouted whilst the harlequin bounced on the trampoline. And you can’t argue with song titles like “Jesus Christ, Your Daddy’s Got a Temper.” You just can’t.
Hail Satan.
Over the years I have enjoyed many a band that has dedicated most of, if not their entire, repertoire to singing praises of dark forces.
There is even a newer group, also called Satan’s Cheerleaders, who a group of Austin women who do just that – dress up in vinyl cheerleading outfits and shout rhymes in praise of the Beast. There’s Gwar, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, The Cramps, Satan’s Pilgrims, countless gothabilly bands, a staggering number of metal bands, ¾ of the bands that come out of Finland and Norway, a handful of Tucson bands and the list goes on and on.
Why is this a theme that keeps drawing musicians into its dark, ironic web? Why is it so entertaining and enjoyable for musicians to pretend to/want people to think they worship the devil? What’s so cool about Lucifer?
God only knows.
Back to B4skin… It’s almost as though they had some powerful force on their side. As though they had I don’t know, say, sold their souls in exchange for quick success.
Hail Satan.
B4skin need MySpace frienemies, so join the dark side by going to www.myspace.com/b4skin. Once again, hail Satan
In the beginning.
In the year 2006, I was visited by an angel in my dreams for a period of forty nights. In those dreams, the angel, who wore white and emanated bright light from his eyes but otherwise resembled an ordinary man, told me every night that "the time is nearly at hand" and that I must prepare myself. So, in preparation for whatever religious crisis was about to befall me, for surely, I assumed, these dreams are some kind of cry for help from the depths of my subconscious mind, I visited my shrink. She fully agreed with my diagnosis and suggested that I reconsider my atheistic beliefs by revisiting the church of my childhood. I happened to have a business meeting in the area of that church on what happened to be the forty-first day of my visitations, and I went in among the stained glass and crucifixes and sat in the back. The priest who was there came to me with the cup and plate of the Eucharist, and he blessed me as I ate and drank. After I sat a moment and gave praying a go, I wandered off into the forest. I thought I'd have a peaceful moment to consider whether my inner self felt satisfied with the experience, when the angel from my dreams came and led me to a clearing. In the mist I saw what appeared to be a man on a red horse, but the light that shown from his eyes differed in magnitude from the eyes of the angel with whom I was acquainted. I asked the angel, "Who is this?" and the angel replied, "Which of these men do you mean?" I opened my eyes again and there were others there whom the angel called Sons of God. One of them was in the act of burying a heavy scroll, while another called the snakes of the forest to inhabit the clearing to prevent others from entering. Another answered my question, saying, "We are they who were sent by God to walk the earth to and fro and up and down." Then the one who sat on his horse overseeing the events called me to him by the name Mortal. I was afraid, because my mortal mind knew him already. Seeing my fear, he dismounted and led me to a stream where we sat on rocks. After a moment he said to me, quite comfortably, "You've got me all wrong." He said, "Since the advent of man's consciousness, the angels of the earth have been the eyes of God, walking the earth to and fro to monitor all God's creation, and rarely do we raise God from his holy habitation to judge, but that time has come again, and for you, God has a message." I sat in disbelief. He continued, "You weren't the easiest mortal to find, mind you, considering that in the Book of Names, you are the only soul without one." "Why don't I have a name?" I asked, and he replied, "Because you are not worthy of being named, which brings us to the point at hand. Your soul, being so very unworthy, will not be granted the bliss of eternity unless you diligently obey the voice of God. The commandments written for you, who will now be known as He Who is not Worthy of Being Named, you will find buried in the center of the clearing. You are to read them, put them to heart, and then bury the scroll where you found it. The snakes will persist until the scroll is buried again, at which point you may leave to carry out the work of God." I closed my eyes to consider the fact that I was being persuaded by the devil to make a deal, and when I opened them again we were back in the clearing. As he mounted his horse, he said, "All that is written in the scrolls and the salvation of your eternal soul will come to pass, as long as you obey the words thoroughly." With the blinking of my eyes, I was left alone in the clearing with snakes circling all around. I immediately began digging with my hands in the fresh dirt and found the scroll. I opened it all the way and read it, and as I did, time seemed to stand still. The text began with a blessing, and then a warning. It essentially said that the message is intended for the eyes of one who is not worthy of speaking the words of God, and promised eternal damnation should I ever transcribe the words therein verbatim. However, in an effort to record the events that have taken place to now, as prescribed in my message from God, I will briefly paraphrase its contents. The text described a scene at God's holy home on the eighth day of the earth's creation. The angels came, and Satan was there as well. God said to Satan that he needed him to lead a legion of angels on Earth to watch over man and to guide them. Satan expressed his concern, that man would be unkind to the messenger, so to speak, and rightly so, because we have been. So God told him that a time would come when the world would appreciate Satan, and when that time is near, He will send a messenger, a woman, ahead to sing his praises, and the people will listen, acquire the truth, and learn to love Satan as they love God. The prophecy section of the scroll addressed current events, beginning with the angel who visited me in dreams and the tasks assigned to me who am not worth of being named. Once I'd finished reading, I buried the scroll, and as I sprinkled grass over the disturbed earth, the snakes retreated and disappeared. I left the forest and went to find the girl--she was exactly where the text said I'd find her--and I led her back to the clearing in the forest, where there was a sword growing out of the ground where the text had been. She took the sword, and since that time I have been guiding her along her path in God's work, enabling her to sing praise for the Dark Lord and show others the light. At the risk of losing my eternal soul, I leave you with these words: Let the one with understanding solve the secret of the text, for it is the number of a man.
Conjuring visions of fast cars, black leather, sweat and sin, all-female rock trio The Green Lady Killers (GLK) unleash electric charged garage rock that embraces 1970s American pre-punk style and delivers a loud, fast and sexy ride.
Evoking the maniacal elements of The Cramps, inventiveness of The Pixies and the bad girl attitude of The Runaways, GLK's sound is one part sultry, one part menacing and all parts rock 'n' roll.
Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, The Green Lady Killers consist of Lady Van Buren (vocals/guitar), Cherrybomb (drums) and Annie Venom (bass/vocals).
The Green Lady Killers debut full-length album, "Just Fine", recorded at StudioCat Productions with Jamison Weddle (Dave Grohl, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soulfly), was recently released September 24, 2009, during their West Coast Tour.
The Green Lady Killers first began turning heads in summer 2005, when they were featured on the Van's Warped Tour Shiragirl Stage, the first stage in Warped Tour history dedicated to women in rock. Their smash hit "Psycho Ellen" was selected for the Shiragirl Stage Crew Compilation (2005 Play-a-Grrrl Productionz), distributed nationwide.
The Green Lady Killers self titled EP, also recorded with Weddle, debuted in 2007, and includes singles, "Psycho Ellen" and "One & Only". "One & Only" was recently selected to be featured on a Gearhead Records compilation to be released later this year.
Known for their versatile sound, booty shakin' beats and striking image, the captivating threesome have recently shared the stage with Nekromantix (Hellcat Records), new wave pop rock pioneers, Missing Persons, legendary garage rocker, Sky Saxon of The Seeds (Global Universe), The Detroit Cobras (Bloodshot Records) and Dex Romweber Duo (Bloodshot Records). In February 2010, The Green Lady Killers had the pleasure of performing live in studio on legendary Jonathan L's 'Lopsided World of L' nationally syndicated radio show on 98KUPD.
The Green Lady Killers have built a loyal fan base by performing live throughout the Southwest and West Coast United States. The Green Lady Killers music is available for purchase on iTunes.com and CDBaby.com, and is also sold at all live performances. Stay tuned for 2010 U.S. tour dates.
The Green lady Killers are sponsored by: Fender/Gretsch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOisVBeSSu0
Instrumentation Lady Van Buren - vocals/guitar Cherrybomb - drums Annie Venom - bass/vocals
Discography 2009 "Just Fine" (self-released) 2007 "The Green Lady Killers" EP (self-released) 2005 "Psycho Ellen", Single, Shiragirl Stage Crew Compilation (2005 Play-a-Grrrl Productionz)
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