Music Reviews: Bakotopia

ASR Studio Specials... SAVE BIG!

The Iron Outlaws wanna Thank Ye!

We'd like to thank every person that came to our cd release at Fishlips last night as well as Fishlips itself. Shawna, Andrew and Sean: you guys seriously kick ass.

To every person that bought a CD or merch: THANK YOU ! We appreciate the support and plan to have more items soon.

To Karling Abbeygate, we love you. Thank you for braving the fires to make the trek to our town. We hope we treated you well and hope to share the stage with you again soon. To Fattkatt: thank you for closing out the night with true style.

Once again: THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US. we hope to see you on December 13th at Sandrini's. Rock on.

The Iron Outlaws

The Iron Outlaws: Loaded

The Iron Outlaws: Loaded
Local band prepares to release long-awaited debut with a bang at Fishlips, Nov. 15.

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia Editor

The Iron Outlaws country ruckus could easily be labeled “Bakersfield Sound” - but let’s refrain from name-calling for now.

Instead of dropping them into another Americana pigeon hole, take a closer look and listen to what this real rockin’ roots band has to offer.

Preparing for a rowdy night of gun blazin’, punk rockin’ mountain music at 9 p.m. on Nov.15 at Fishlips, 1517 18th St. - these local bandits want to smuggle out their debut CD, “Take It or Leave It.”

“The name of the CD has a double meaning,” said lead vocalist and guitarist, Danny Garone. “Either you like it, or you don’t, but for the fans - we want you to take it,” he laughed.

<CHECK OUT DOCUMENTARY - "THE LAST BAND"!

Forming out of the ashes of Garone’s former band, Moonshine Deathbed, that also featured drummer Cesareo Garasa, Garone knows the difficulties that come with trying to form a band in Bakersfield where the average lifespan is often two gigs.

“Moonshine Deathbed broke up in November of ’06, and I got a call from a friend who needed a band to open up for Bob Wayne & The Outlaw Carnies at Fishlips that following January,” he remembered. “I called Cesareo and ‘AJ’ (Alex Lopez, bassist), who just got a stand-up bass. We learned a few songs so we could do the gig.”

Danny Garone

Local musician Steve Nuckles was a member of the original Outlaws line-up, but subsequently moved on from the band to pursue other musical projects.

As the January show neared, Garone and mates would run into multi-instrumentalist, Geoffrey Dyer, who also happened to play “lap-steel” - a common sight with country bands but rare among the hybrid groups that line country sub-genres. The band and Dyer soon clicked, but that wasn’t the “end o’ the line-up.” Enter violinist Paul Cartwright and banjo player, Peter Shubert - the final missing links. Both musicians subsequently became permanent members of the band, completing Garone’s vision.

After numerous local opening slots and headlining shows of their own throughout the following year and a half - it was time for the studio.

“The more we played, it just all came together,” said Garone of the long jam sessions that would eventually shoot forth the songs that would make the CD’s 11-track listing.”

Directing the conversation back to the title track, Garone went on to explain his personal commitment to the music, and like a true artist - the sacrifices and decisions he’s had to make in the process.

“I wrote that song to the band,” he said. “Do you want to punch a time-clock or leave with the band and go all the way?”

Above: The Iron Outlaws - l to r: Peter Shubert, Geoffrey Dyer, Danny Garone, Cesareo Garasa, Alex 'AJ Lopez', Paul Cartwright. Photo by Julie Marie Cartwright

Fans of Flogging Molly and classic Cash, will find themselves right at home with The Iron Outlaws’ new CD. Tales of rainy days and long highways, songs like “The Weather” and “Die For Love,” follow in the tradition of the masters like David Allen Coe.

Above: Banjo player - Peter Shubert records inside the legendary Buck Owens studio in Oildale, Ca.

But it’s not all tears and beers, the disc is a barnburner. Check out “Left For Dead” with thumping-bass and lead vocals by bassist Lopez. Drummer Garasa provides a solid beat throughout, while Cartwright Shubert, and Dyer add the hillbilly creep, much to the delight of their local fanbase - a mix of tattooed “Betties,” gearheads and Latinobillys.

“We’re kind of a weird band,” smiled Garone.

Recorded during the last days of the legendary Buck Owens Studios in Oildale, under the direction of local sound-dog Nick Forcillo, Buck’s spirit seems to have blessed their efforts. Before the studio closed in April earlier this year, the Outlaws were embroiled in a controversy over “who was the last band” to record in the house that Buck - and KORN (if you wanna get technical) - built.

“We were the last band, but it’s not that big of a deal,” said Garone of the experience, which was also part of a video documentary titled “The Last Band” by NL Belardes and was featured on YouTube and at Bakotopia.com. “It was cool recording in there.”

After their CD release party on Nov. 15, Garone plans on playing as much as possible - especially away from the coziness of Bakersfield, to build their name on both the alt-country and punk circuits.

“We’ve done pretty good around here,” he said. “But it’s time to travel.”
“Take It Or Leave It” can be purchased at all Iron Outlaws shows, and will soon be available in local stores.

On the web: www.bakotopia.com/users/garone

The Iron Outlaws CD Release Party
-w/ guests: Fatt Katt & The Von Zippers and Karling Abbeygate
- Saturday, Nov. 15
- Fishlips, 1517 18th St.
- $5 /9 p.m. / 324-2557

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 41, 11-13-08

Dead Aisling at Jerry’s on Nov. 9!

Dead Aisling at Jerry’s on Nov. 9!
Local band prepares big party to release its new CD

By Megan Trihey, Bakotopia.com contributor

It’s not every day Bakersfield hosts a CD release party for one of the industry’s most promising new sounds in cross-genre music.

But on Sunday, Nov. 9, Jerry’s Pizza, 1817 Chester Ave., will be the only place you can hear live new tunes from Dead Aisling. Though the band is native to Bakersfield, it prides itself on providing fans with music they’re not used to hearing in the Central Valley. For that reason, Dead Aisling decided to opt out of releasing its debut CD in Los Angeles where its fan base is substantial, but not familiar.

“I’m happy we’re doing it close to home because we do everything ourselves and all my friends can check us out without having to drive two hours,” said drummer Luke Richmond.

“There are a lot of reasons that led to the decision to do the show here,” said Adam Richmond, the band’s creator. “But at the end of the day, it’s closer and I wanted a laid-back environment for the show.”

The Richmond brothers make up the band’s only stationary members, with Luke on the drums and Adam belting out personally dark and honest lyrics that remain unmeasured in the area. The band recruited Bakersfield musician Tommy Duncan to play the guitar, and use a variety of moonlighting bass players.

But that’s not what you’ll hear if you pick up the self-titled album. Adam and Luke are the only musicians on the eight-track album. It was a recording process that took about four months, but the brothers are happy with the outcome.

“It sounds very organic even though there are a lot of layers,” Adam said in an interview back in August. “It was really inspired by a lot of the post-punk/Goth bands from 1982 on.”

But Dead Aisling’s success is mounted on more than the ability to write and play influential music. Adam’s entrepreneurial attitude and determination has helped the band carry out its full potential thus far. His fortitude also accounts for the uniqueness of the band’s debut album, both in content and presentation.

Above: Dead Aisling

“I could’ve just burned some CD-Rs and said, ‘Ok there’s the album, enjoy!’” Adam said in August. “But I spent a long time writing it and four more months recording it, and I wanted it to be represented in the best way possible.”

The band will also play two never-before-heard songs that are not on the album. Dead Aisling will share the stage with MPDQ, Tragic Bridge Accident, and Lucid Chaos starting at 7 p.m. and costs $10 at the door. All ages are encouraged to attend.

On the web: www.myspace.com/deadaisling

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 40, 10-30-08

LIVE Review: Rocky Na$h Band

LIVE REVIEW: ROCKY NASH BAND 9/27/08 - VINNY'S BAR, BAKERSFIELD, CA

I have been waiting a long time to see this band perform live.

Being a mom to youngsters, it is never easy to slip into the Bakerfsield night life to experience some good rock and roll. The Rocky Na$h Band have been on my radar for quite some time. So, finally, I was able to catch them live at Vinny's Saturday night.

Thankfully, my good friend, S, was able to share this occasion with me. From the get-go, I was surprised at how well this band resonated through the walls of this little bar in Rexland Acres.

Mrs. Rocky Nash herself is no slouch in the vocalist department. Hearing her competency in the vocal department is such an inspiration to female musicians, such as myself, that I am actually smiling throughout their set.

Preston Nash, the drummer, is a powerful presence on the drums. One of the best in Bakersfield, no doubt. Barring technical difficulties, this was definitely one of the best local rock shows I have experienced in a long while.

I hope nothing but the best for this band. For it has proved that females DO have the power to rock any stage anywhere, anytime. The Rocky Na$h Band is a musical force to be reckoned with. Thank You for a great night of kick ass rock and roll!

READ ABOUT THE NASHES!
(CLICK ON COVER BELOW TO READ NOW!)

Conversations With Cube

Conversations with Cube
Bakotopia goes one on one with Ice Cube backstage at The Fox on 8/27/08

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia Editor
Photos by Holly Carlyle

Bakersfield gave rapper Ice Cube a royal welcome this past August 27, and as promised in our last issue (9/4/08), Bakotopia did get some personal access to the star of stage and screen.

Hanging out with his crew backstage at The Fox, the scene was as mellow as the west coast flow he’s mastered since his days with NWA, as a solo artist, and as a member of Westside Connection.

And just like his character Craig from the movie “Friday,” Cube was more than happy to have a seat and give some insight into what’s really going on in the life of the Westside’s most wanted.

Q. The new album “Raw Footage” talks about the “Pyroclastic Flow,” explain that concept?
A. Every MC claims their flow is hot. I claim mine is hot, too. It’s hotter than fire, or hotter than anything they wanna spit, you know? It comes to hot and tearing up anything that’s stands in its way.

Q. One of the album’s tracks, “It Takes a Nation,” takes jabs at big radio - Clearchannel, Viacom, and the “sell-out” mentality. What’s your message behind the song?
A. I feel corporate influence has crippled the art that we put together in the ’80s and in the ’90s. In the 2000s it started to come apart. If you look back and see all the corporate influence on hip hop now - it’s the reason you have all this watered down rap.

Q. How independent of an artist are you?
A. As independent as it gets - if I don’t pay for it, it doesn’t get paid for.

Q. You recorded with KORN, and performed on The Family Values Tour in ’98. How was that experience?
A. That was cool. I got turned onto KORN, and had a chance to meet them. I thought what they were doing was real innovative - hard metal, with the hip hop undertones to me is what I like about them. They had these breakdown beats, and the fusion between rock and hip hop. I think they were the band who did it the best.

Above: WC & Ice Cube do the gangsta boogie on 8/27.

Q. You received hip hop awards, platinum records. Would you ever go after an Academy Award?
A. I don’t think you should try to get an Oscar. You should just try to make good movies. It’s like trying to go hit a home run. You just go out there and try to make contact and see what happens from there. I do usually make my movies geared towards the hood, but that won’t stop me from doing those films that may be considered “Oscar worthy.”

Q. How does it feel to look out into the audience and know that everyone has some of your works in their collection?
A. It feels good. I mean, that’s what you’re in it for - to gain love, respect, popularity, get a little money along the way. It just feels good that people respect what I do, and not just dismiss it - they’re true fans, who are into my career, what I’m into, what I’m doing, and paying attention. I cherish that.

Q. Your latest film “Longshots” was directed by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit. How was it working with another musician behind the lens?
A. It’s just another way of showing the world what we’re all about. Working on a movie like that shows the world that we’re not all about just hard-core stuff - we can do well-rounded stuff that everybody can get into. We’re just true artists that are doing what we love to do - and taking it to the big screen.

Q. What are the chances of ever seeing an incarnation of NWA recording again?
A. You never know, it’s all 50/50 and really on the will of Dr. Dre. He has to produce a project like that for it to be a true NWA record.

Q. Barack Obama has clinched the Democratic nomination for president. If you had a one on one meeting, what would you ask him?
A. There’s nothing really to talk about right now - until he becomes president. He has his own way of doing things, I got mine.

Ice Cube’s latest CD, “Raw Footage,” is available now.

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 37, 8-19-08

A Crowd Review at Millionaires 9/12

Millionaires truly delivered in their performance on Sept. 12. They were full of energy and obviously played their hearts out for Bakersfield fans. My huge complaint is to the audience.

It began with the crowders. People began to crowd and stand on the stage. They were in everyone's way and blocked the performance of Big City Kids. At the end of their set, the stage manager told everyone to move back to make room for the crowders in front of the stage. I was glad to see that no one moved. Who has more of a right to stand in front of the stage: people who crowded or people who stood in their spot for at least an hour. It is unfair to the people who wanted to see Millionaires up close.

There was no respect for the anyone in the crowd. To the people blocking the view of the stage, to the people yelling ridculous request to have real fans move back. My friend was pushed to the floor about 3 times. There was no respect to a person.

The most appaling display of disrespect occurred during Millionaires' set. Millionaires are known to allow fans to jump on stage. People rushed to the stage the moment their first song started. What they did was push people to the ground in order to jump on stage for about two seconds. My sister wasa nearly trampled and is bruised because people pushed her to the ground. Its a terrible thought that people would hurt each other just to jump on a stage for such a short period of time. The men that were there showed no respect towards the girls of Millionaires. They groped them and that was such a disgusting act by them. I will be very surprised if Millionaires will ever come back.

The Local Celebrities clear the air!

The Local Celebrities clear the air!
Fantastic foursome to host all-ages, ‘mesh music’ party Sept. 20 — join the crowd!

Above: The Local Celebrities, L to R: The Show, Meneace, Decadez, and B.C.

By Brett Caraway, Bakotopia.com contributor

For the story of these four artists to fit on paper, it might take a lifetime.

The members of the Local Celebrities consist of DecadeZ, Meneace, The Show, and B.C. It’s clear why their music is out of the ordinary. With a gift to avoid cliches, Local Celebrities are definitely a breath of fresh air in a somewhat polluted domain for modern day hip-hop music.

When describing their style of music, it's hard not to use the words “catchy,” “unique,” and “ambitious.” From theirs song titles alone, you can tell that The Local Celebrities do not follow normal linear hip-hop trends. Tunes such as: “Tonka Truck,” “Clark Kents,” and “D.I.T.A.,” all have aims towards a unique twist on similar topics. The first single to their album is called “Name Brand.” They also have a smash hit with the controversial song and video called “S.D.W.B.,” or Super Duper White Boy, which has already reached over 100,000 views on MySpace Videos.

In a hip hop world where anything that isn’t cliché is frowned upon, The Local Celebrities are coming at you with their own brand of “mesh music.” One may be prompted to ask, what is mesh music? It consists of all the influences between hip hop, R&B, pop, techno, and rock mixed into one sound.

As a group, their influence can be felt through their stage presence alone.

Having done shows from the Los Angeles area to the Bay, back to their hometown of Bakersfield, it is clearly shown that their style is marketable and accepted by the masses. With the key ability to work with almost any type of crowd, The Local Celebrities have performed in venues along with the Ying Yang Twins, The Pack, Paul Wall, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and Vogue In The Moment (this was a complete rock show ... yet they still rocked the crowd).

When The Local Celebrities perform, it’s been said by fans and media that it is sure to be a big event, with The L.C. drawing in crowds of 300 to 500 every time they perform.

Even more amazing, the group has not even released a album yet and already have a serious buzz, but on Sept. 16, they will release “Almost Famous.”

A celebration to mark the release of their debut CD — an all-ages event — will be held on Sept. 20 at Screwy’s Night Club in downtown Bakersfield.

This will not only be the beginning of “The Local Celebrity Movement,” but the beginning of a new sound and local hip-hop scene the world has yet to hear or see generated from one of Bakersfield’s very own.

The Local Celebrities CD Release Party
-Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
-Screwy’s Nightclub, 902 19th St.
-All ages / 301-4135

www.thelocalcelebrities.com

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 36, 9-4-08

Bakotopia’s ‘Back To School’ Bashes!

Bakotopia’s ‘Back To School’ Bashes!
Bako has the remedy to save you from the blahs Sept. 11-13, 2008

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia Editor

Distraught over the end of summer? In need of just another week of partying?

Well, never fear!

Bakotopia and Tim Gardea Presents have three huge “Back To School Bashes” to help you get back in gear! Mark your calendars and get your friends in check!

<<HEAR OUR RADIO COMMERCIAL!

Above: New Found Glory

Thursday, Sept. 11: 6 p.m., $15, ALL AGES at The Dome, 2201 V St.: Pop-punk/emo vets New Found Glory kicks off their “Easycore Tour” with special guests ISHC, A Day To Remember, Four Year Strong, and Crime In Stereo! It’s been awhile since NFG have graced our local stage, but with a hot EP — and an appearance by their alter-egos ISHC (International Superheros of Hardcore) — the floor will be moshtastically berzerk!

Above: Millionaires

Friday, Sept. 12: 6 p.m., $10, ALL AGES at The Dome: Things will really get out of hand as Bakotopia cover girls The Millionaires — Melissa, Dani, and Allison — make their triumphant return to our city. This is the girls’ first show back in town following their crazy Rockin’ Roots show back in May, a sold-out nationwide tour, a live performance on MTV’s TRL, a bidding war by the major labels, and if that’s not enough - their keyboardist is Bako’s own Intruder Alert! Whew! Hopefully this time the stage will hold all the crazy fans who rushed them at Rockin’ Roots Special guests will be Intruder Alert, Big City Kids and The Penny Royalties.

Above: Monte Negro

Saturday, Sept. 13: 7 p.m., $10, at Narducci’s Cafe, 622 E. 21st St. Bakotopia caps off the 3three-day party by moving on over to Narducci’s with roc en español newcomers Monte Negro, plus Velorio, No Mames Guey, Vanity Avenue, The May Fire, and Astra Heights. Narducci’s is a smaller venue than The Dome, but what you get is an up close and personal experience to satisfy your need Latinized rock n’ ska madness. Monte Negro was a newcomer to Rockin’ Roots back in May, and judging by the local response, we all knew they’d be back soon. With songs in English and Spanish, consider yourself more than welcome. Local heroes Velorio and Vanity Avenue will also be in the house to make you move, so don’t front!

Get your tickets today for all shows in Bakersfield at: The Dome (office), World Records, Wavelengths SBI, Going Underground Records, Mainland & Impact (Valley Plaza), The Stuffed Pipe, Outer Limits, Stockdale Music, T-Mobile & Fusions (East Hills Mall) & Midnight Music (Oildale) 661-477-6099.

ENTER TO WIN FREE TIX TO THE SHOWS!
(CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW!)

Q&A Quickies:

Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory
NFG’s lead guitarist never tires of touring, starting at The Dome Sept. 11

B: Why kick-off your tour in Bakersfield, not we’re complaining?
Chad: Why not? Bakersfield is a town we know well, and we’re hitting a lot of smaller places — not LA or New York. We also rehearse in So Cal, so it all works out cool.

B: How does it feel to be a pop-punk music survivor?
Chad: We were lucky to come out before things like MySpace and all the Internet stuff. Now there’s just so much music being thrown in everyone’s face all the time. Scenes have changed, but New Found Glory has managed to stay true to ourselves. We’ve never cheapened ourselves to try to sound like what was cool at the time.

B: Will you be addressing the 9/11 tragedy during your show in Bakersfield?
Chad: I feel like people use Sept. 11 to their advantage now. I don’t want to make it a charade. It’s serious. We may bring it up, and people obviously remember.

We were on tour with Blink 182 the day that it happened. We saw the second plane hit live, and we didn’t know what to do - should we play? Kids didn’t know what to do, but we still showed up at the venue and talked about it. It was emotional.

B: Will you be performing any songs off the new CD you just finished with producer Mark Hoppus (Blink 182)?
Chad: One song. We’ve never toured with the EP “Tip Of The Iceberg,” so we’re going to play a lot of harder songs to go along with the theme of the tour.

B: Any message for your Bakersfield fans?
Chad: We’re psyched to play Bakersfield again, it’s been a long time. Get ready to mosh it up.

----------------------------

Melissa Marie of Millionaires
After a taste of the road, member of party trio is ready for more - at The Dome Sept. 12

B: What a year it’s been for Millionaires, how’s it going?
Melissa: It really hasn’t sunken in that this is actually happening for us. We were one of the headliners at the Audio Overload Festival, and it was just crazy — all the kids. Things couldn’t be better.

B: A sold-out tour all over the US. How is it to experience that your first time out?
Melissa: We never thought things would be so big. We sold out the pre-sale at the Knitting Factory L.A., the first show, and then we were hoping to just have good shows on the west — those were all sold-out. But once we started we started making our way to the east coast, we had no idea how many fans we had. None of us had ever been there. It was amazing, every night was sold-out.

B: Did you tour around in a small van the whole time?
Melissa: A 15-passenger van. For girls, it’s different than guys, though. We had to stay in motel rooms, because there was no way we could stay together in that van longer than one day together.

B: How was performing on MTV’s TRL?
Melissa: It was the first week of tour, and we had cancel a couple dates. They flew us over to be on the show. I mean to have your video on TRL is pretty dope, but to actually perform live is such a crazy experience. For us to be unsigned and not even together for a year!

B: Any wild tour moments?
Melissa: It was the last show of the tour. It was the best show, then all of a sudden these kids just rushed the stage. I got hit in the face with an elbow, and I had blood all over my face and clothes.

B: How was touring with our Jarod Palmer on Keyboards?
Melissa: He was amazing. We had never performed with him until the first day of tour. By the end of the show, he would know every song by heart.

B: Your Rockin’ Roots show in May was out of control, what can Bakersfield fans expect this time?
Melissa: Craziness. Hopefully the stage won’t look like it’s going to collapse (laughs)!

For more information on all three shows, visit:
www.timgardeapresents.com

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 36, 9-4-08

Fan Review: Ice Cube concert 8/27/08

I first heard Ice Cube when I was little. First song was, 'A Bitch is A Bitch', with Too Short.

Loved the song right from the get go. I admit I didnt care to much for Too Short then, but after listening to his calm flows and bad ass beats, I began to like him. But there was something about that song that clicked in this white boys head. I don't know what it was, and I didnt go around calling girls the B word either.

I had bought the tape(yes tape, so you can predate how old I am :P) from the Fair one year. When that song came on I was rolling. I had never heard anything like it before. For the longest time I never listend to any other rap or bought anymore tapes. Why? Because I was little. I still dont know how I managed to buy the tape in the first place. I guess the people didnt care at the Fair that year. Lucky for me right?

It wasn't until I moved to Las Vegas and met a friend who had more of his albums. Lethal Injection, Predator, and Death Certificate. After listing to those, I was hooked on rap music. Right around then I was exposed to Dr.Dre as well. A great man in his own right, but Ice Cube had more albums out. Did I buy the albums for myself? Nope. I couldnt. I wasnt of age yet to buy that great stuff. I never asked my parents to buy them either and I don't know why. They had given me so much freedom to explore my interests. Hell I even listend to NIN(The Downward Spiral) and I had got that from the BMG music club.lol My friend was nice enough to let me borrow them whenever I wanted to listen to them.

To make a long story short because I'm drinking right now and thinkin' back about my childhood, I got to see Ice Cube in concert for the first time. What's even more great is I won the tickets from this website(Bakotopia!!!)because I had been trying to buy some but since I get off work late, the box office is always closed.

You have to see him live! The next time he is here in Bakersfield, you need to go. HAVE TO GO. You will not regret it!

One World Many Mics

Frost & The Natural Movement
Keeping Bakersfield rap on the rise

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia Editor
Photos: Holly Carlyle Photography

Being a hip-hop head in Bakersfield isn’t easy.

Local emcees Frost and The Natural Movement can attest to that.

With collective minds full of beats and rhymes, these local talents draw from real-life experience to continue the tradition of B-boy storytelling.

“Bakersfield is a sleeping city that hasn’t fully woken up,” said Frost, who by day runs his own tattoo shop — Pain Is Beauty in downtown Bakersfield.

“The Bay Area had the ‘hyphy’ movement, Texas had the ‘screwed up’ movement, but Bakersfield has something, too.”

That “something” may not be as defined as the two aforementioned rap/dance styles made famous by artists like rapper E-40 or DJ Screw. Bakersfield’s musical “rapscape” is almost as difficult to decipher as the business of hip-hop itself.

“The only way to get more out of the business is to push harder,” explained Frost, whose personal story has the makings of a real-life 8-Mile type “rapumentary.”

Frost

The product of a broken home and rough schooling via various California correctional facilities through adolescence, Frost, 30, is full of attention grabbing stories. Cool, calm and polite, the successfully independent artist/musician is serious about survival.

“I started rapping about ’94 when I was in CYA (California Youth Authority),” he said. “I used to write raps and making fun of people – clowning on them.”

Describing the nightly “open mics” before lights out at CYA as a teen, Frost draws an outline of the dining hall and to show how guards would line up other residents around a podium — that’s where Frost would make a name for himself.

In between CYA stays, Frost also began recording, developing and upgrading the process along the way.

Frost

“Rapping became a passion for me,” he said. “I eventually started recording myself on cassette tape, then to karaoke machines, but now I’m using ProTools.”

While his passion for words was fierce, he still struggled with the realities of his surroundings. After a few more setbacks with the law, Frost
decided he’d had enough.

“I had grown up doing what I saw happening around me, there were old people in jail and I didn’t want to end up like them,” he said. “So I made it a goal to get a job and keep it.”

Frost set his eyes on opening his own tattoo shop. Like many others with similar backgrounds, Frost took his tattooing skills he honed behind bars and turned them into a business – opening his first Pain Is Beauty shop in June 2006.

His business would move twice over the course of a couple of years, eventually making its way to its current location at 1518 18th St. During this time, his love for rhyming and music making was still buzzing and surfacing by way of underground self-produced releases: 2006’s “Col Piece of Work,” “Unwritten,” a collection of undocumented freestyle recordings, among others under his own music label — Battle Field Records.

Frost

Combining the most potent areas of his life – tattoos and rap, Frost has managed to make a long list of allies. From California to Georgia, the
independent talent roster is impressive.

“Being a tattoo artist has allowed me to guest spot on other recordings and meet a lot of people as I travel,” he said.

Like most music genres, Frost’s rap style comes complete with its own sub genre — West Coast hip-hop, helped made famous by Compton, CA rap legend, DJ Qwik, whose easy-going flow has helped spawn a million imitators.

But it doesn’t stop with Qwik. The list of West Coast hip-hop influence on his style is deep. Frost names some of his faves, including those who made the East Coast famous, but unfortunately died just as their careers were taking off.

“Tupac, Mac Dre, Biggie, Pimp C, Big Pun …Those rappers inspired me a lot,” he said.

Frost’s individual flow is smooth enough for the West, with a strong southern influence. Listening to his older works, it might be easy to hear similarities between tracks, but get to know the artist and you’ll find his heart speaks in rhythm with his family close in all dealings, even outside the home.

His young daughter Aija, has all ready made a guest spot on a new track, “I’m On That Paper Route,” and wife Brandi helps keep it all together.

“My wife is the brains,” he said smiling. “She comes up with good ideas and manages the money.”

Looking forward to the upcoming release, “Who’s Ready For War? Vol. 1 Mix Tape”, in September, Frost has big plans for the future with plans on helping other local independent artists get the word out about their music — a job he feels is often more important than having a hit track in their possession.

New CD drops in Sept. '08

“A lot of people have product, but don’t know how to get it to the public,” he explained. “I like being consistent, and I can help other artists to promote and get people to listen.”

In addition to help with distribution, Frost also offers graphic design and of course, tattoos, for those with a need to take their game to the next level.

Backed by a close-knit group of friends and associates that include: DLOC, Jon Com, Coach Ali, The Beat Boyz’ DJ Editt, and Big Anthony (Cash Only Entertainment,) among other local and out of state brothers in arms, Frost’s goal for growth looks attainable.

When asked about how he deals with competition and those who wish him failure, Frost said he looks to poetry for guidance, courtesy of his favorite Japanese proverb that speaks of patience in the face of adversity.

“‘If you sit by the river long enough, you will see the body of your enemy float by,’ is my favorite,” he said. “I’ll stay focused, and when the problems move on, I’ll still be successful.”

FROST can be reached at:
Pain Is Beauty Tattoo, 1518 18th St., 661-861-8282

---------------------------------------------------------------------

THE NATURAL MOVEMENT

Above, from left: Nerd Guy, DJ Kwizz, Hype Man Garvey

Change is always in the air at a Natural Movement show.

Four friends on a common mission to entertain and educate, harkening back to the day when rap was young.

But this isn’t a revival, this is progress.

“I love hip-hop, but this whole thing is bigger than that,” said Natural Movement’s Nerd Guy during a recent sit-down at Fishlips in downtown Bakersfield. “I call it Afro-centric Latino music.”

Crossing paths to bring conscious rap back to Bakersfield, the quartet of Nerd Guy, Hype Man Garvey, DJ Kwizz, and producer Art The Influence have a grassroots mentality that complements their easygoing style.

“We grew to get into this type of music,” explained Garvey. “We didn’t always have this sound.”

Nerd quickly decides to share a bit of the group’s history to explain:

“We used to write lyrics about drinking, girls, high school stuff,” he said with laugh. “Jazz music changed us.”

Above, from left: Nerd Guy, DJ Kwizz, Hype Man Garvey

Taking a cue from Gang Starr’s DJ Premier and ‘90s acts known for sampling vintage jazz beats and creating loops, Kwizz searched for the origins behind his favorite rhythm tracks.

“I was listening to groups like De La Soul and I noticed the beats came from somewhere else,” said Kwizz in his soft spoken tone. “I started listening to artists like Herbie Hancock and Bob James. Hip-hop got my attention, but jazz opened my eyes.”

Friends back in their hometowns of Lamont and Arvin, CA, it was Kwizz and Art who started making music before meeting Nerd, becoming a loose trio of part-time collaborators.

“I met Kwizz back in ’03 at BC (Bakersfield College), and he used to bring his 8-track sampler to school,” said Nerd. “We’d sit there and just make beats and experiment.”

Kwizz remembers Nerd as a familiar figure at house parties, rockin’ the mic when available. Adding Hype Man Garvey into the mix for crowd involvement, the group was ready to make their live debut at Downtown Records in Bakersfield, the Old School way.

“Kwizz had to play the beats himself in the beginning,” laughed Nerd. “We didn’t have music yet.”

Getting inspired after their in-store performance in front of a few friends, The Natural Movement continued to write, make music, maturing musically and lyrically.

Garvey, who had attended UCSB as a philosophy major from ’02-’05, returned to Bakersfield after a brush with the law, and what he calls “ignorance of reality.”

“On and off campus, I saw a weird interaction between the upper, middle, and lower classes,” he said. “Some students would have ‘Bloods & Crips’ parties off campus, like it was something funny, and use the ‘n’-word freely to each other and to me. I got involved in protests against stereotypes that were being perpetuated around the school and helped with financial aid outreach programs.”

Back in Bakersfield, Garvey hooked up with Nerd, and instantly felt the message in their music.

“It was nice to know that this group was into many of the same things I was into,” he said.

Conscious-rap is a rare sight on the rap charts of today, but that hasn’t deterred them from their original goal of making good music for those who want to listen.

One of the group’s signature tunes, “Casual Fridays,” has become a crowd favorite with its light groove and catchy chorus.

“There was guy at a show who said he plays that song every morning to get his day started,” said Nerd. “That’s pretty cool to hear, especially when people in the audience know the words to your songs.”

Hitting the road and experiencing all the ups and downs of bad promoters, cancelled gigs and no money, The Natural Movement’s gig resume is impressive. Recently opening for such legends as Rakim, KRS-One, Hieroglyphics, Afro-Man, and an upcoming show with The Alkoholiks, these B-boys are making moves with the majors.

“We gotta get a manager and start booking some tours,” said Garvey.

The group agreed that while producer Art The Influence couldn’t make the interview (he’s attending Chico State University majoring in Music Business), he is well deserved of personal praise for his creative contribution.

“We like calling him the ‘Suit,’ smiled Garvey of Art’s attitude for creative perfection in the studio. “Nothing is ever right to him, and always has to be done over.”

Nerd laughs in agreement.

“We’ll ask him if he likes something, and he says, ‘Naahhh!’”

Constructing a long-term plan to record, produce and perform, The Natural Movement is one of the strong threads that help keep the Bakersfield hip-hop movement from losing sight of rap’s original message.

“Music is an art form that black people use to change things,” said Garvey.

From hype man to DJ, Kwizz echoes his lyrical partner.

“Our music is based on life experiences, and we’re always looking to improve it.”

For more info on The Natural Movement:

THE NATURAL MOVEMENT AT BAKOTOPIA.COM

E-mail: thenaturalmovement@hotmail.com

STORY ALSO PRINTED IN BAKOTOPIA MAG, ISSUE 35, 8-21-08

Bakersfield Awaits Cube’s Arrival on Aug. 27

Bakersfield Awaits Cube’s Arrival on Aug. 27
Bakersfield is hyped about Ice Cube’s visit on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008 at 7 p.m., at The Fox and the official after party at The Nile downtown.

Tix also available at: www.vallitix.com

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia editor

Ice Cube never stops making moves.

From NWA to movies, and even making music with our homeboys, KORN!

NWA

This artist is never out of touch with his young and old fans - he just keeps getting bigger.

We all know the movie “Friday” from back in ’95.

Scene from 'Friday'

His character Craig, along with Chris Tucker’s Smokey, became the new Cheech & Chong, and the hit soundtrack you’ll find in every fan’s collection.

Scene from '08s "Longshots" - in theaters 8/22/08

Cube’s crossover appeal from gangsta rap icon and comedian to family-friendly moviemaker, make him bonafide triple threat to the entertainment industry.

His new album “Raw Footage” just dropped on Aug. 19, along with his new movie, “Longshots,” hits theaters on Aug. 22. The movie is directed by Limp Bizkit’s Fred Durst. As questionable as that collaboration sounds, rest assured Cube has quality control on lockdown.

LIKE WE SAID - Bakersfield is hyped about Ice Cube’s visit on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008 at 7 p.m., at The Fox and the official after party at The Nile downtown.

Tix also available at: www.vallitix.com

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 35, 8/21/08

Local Rap Group emerges from out of the BLAKMIST

Local Rap Group emerges from out of the BLAKMIST

BLAKMIST:
• Frank Plascencia a.k.a. Krome Corleone (artist, head producer)
• Carlos Plascencia a.k.a. Verbal Assassin (artist, producer)
• David Plascencia a.k.a. Jahi (manager, executive producer)

<<CHECK OUT THE LATEST VIDEO BY BLAKMIST!

What’s the story behind the BLAKMIST collective?

BLAKMIST is a group of God fearing, honest, hardworking, determined individuals who, since 19995, had a dream and a goal to make melodic, rockin’, head bobbin’ hit songs!

We work hard in the studio, never losing sight of the objective. A trio of 3 cousins, partners and business men who diligently work and respect each other in order to complete the project and bring this piece work to the world.

Q: Who came up with the concept of the group?
A: Krome Corleone came up with the concept. BLAKMIST is like the mist — dark, mysterious, and unknown.

Q: When did you decide to pursue a hip-hop project?
A: It was always a hip-hop work in progress. Over the years, we would sit in a group at the park and recite rhymes, and piece the verses together to map the sequence to a song.

Q: Who are some of the artists who have influenced your art?
A: N.W.A., Dr.Dre, Ice Cube, Nas, Wu-Tang, Biggie Smalls, TuPac, Quincy Jones, James Brown, Nirvana, LL Cool J, Bob Marley, Gangstarr, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Outkast, Too Short, EPMD, Boz Scaggs and more!

Q: Who are some of the artists you’ve shared the stage with?
A: Black Eyed Peas, Psycho Realm, Dilated Peoples, The Baka Boyz, B-Real of Cypress Hill.

Q: How much recording has the group completed?
A: Besides “Da Rap Game” album, BLAKMIST has recorded two albums worth of material, available in the underground.

Q: What have you learned about the business?
A: It’s all about who you know and how much money you have to pay radio stations to play your music!

Q: What motivates you to stay involved?
A: Hope — meaning, I hope to run into someone with real busine$$ interest who knows and can identify what good music and talent really is. Then, and only then, can this project really take off. Modestly speaking, this album contains all the elements that a #1 record should have — hit songs tight rhymes, smooth deliveries and bangin’ melodic tunes.

Q: How do you deal with the competition?
A: Having better beats, tighter flows, and a much cooler image.

Q: Are there other groups you’ve aligned yourself with?
A: Not at this time. But, if we met the right group we could work something out.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: To remain optimistic, and get more exposure. We need radio play to reach more people.

Q: How was it self-producing the video (also included in the CD-ROM?).
A: “Where there’s a will, there is a way” should be the motto of the BLAKMIST. We’ve been able to do amazing things by the grace of God. We made this album and videos all self-taught. Talk about a learning curve — our will, diligence and determination helped us to not give up, even when it’s been an uphill battle!

Q: What would you like people out there to know about BLAKMIST that we don’t know?
A: We would like people to know where they can purchase their copy, the CDBaby.com website and YouTube link to view the video.
We are all cousins and closer than brothers, and the best of friends. We spent years in a room together creating this piece of work. We do everything together. We can practically read each others mind. This has been the hardest, most challenging, painful, exhausting and fun experience of our lives!

Q: When is the group’s next show?
A: To be announced pending group meeting and strategy.

On the web:
-www.bakotopia.com/users/blakmist
-cdbaby.com/cd/supermac
-www.youtube.com/user/BLAKMIST12

ALSO PRINTED IN BAKOTOPIA MAGAZINE, ISSUE 35, 8-21-08

ON THE COVER: Jarod Palmer of Intruder Alert!

ON THE COVER:
Jarod Palmer of Intruder Alert! Soda-free & on tour with Millionaires

By Matt Muñoz, Bakotopia Editor
Photos by Joseph Gomez

Armed with a laptop and keyboard, musician Jarod Palmer has been giving his ever-growing fan base more than just a one man show.

Under his stage moniker — Intruder Alert! — Palmer, 22, blew out this summer’s Rockin’ Roots fest at Stramler Park, and now joins previous Bakotopia cover girls and MySpace phenoms, Millionaires, on a sold-out national tour as their keyboardist.

Thanks to the wonders of e-mail, Bakotopia caught up with Palmer — somewhere between Portland, Ore., and Utah, on 7/31/08.

Jarod Palmer

Q: How would you describe your one man musical jam?

A: Intruder Alert! is something that was never meant to be.

After taking a music tech class at CSUB, I used all of my college money to buy a studio set up for myself. I wanted to better learn how to master songs, so I began writing songs of different styles to practice mixing down and mastering. Eventually those songs came together to form my first album, “In Seconds or in Lifetimes.”

Q: How long have you been performing as Intruder Alert?

A: My first show as Intruder Alert! was at Backstage July 13, 2007.

It was my CD release show and was intended to be the one and only. I quickly realized the potential Intruder Alert! possessed and started playing shows every opportunity that arose. I have Sarah Fiske, Pete Madera, Codie Boy and The Dome to thank for my early exposure.

Q: What’s it like touring with Millionaires, and how did you get hooked up?

A: Touring with Millionaires is the only way to go! haha...

The girls are extremely nice and are always fun to be in the presence of.

Their fans are very supportive and every show on the tour so far has been sold out. If you haven’t been to a Millionaires show, you are definitely missing out on a huge dose of life. The shows are a party and we usually end up with a stage-full of kids by the end of our set.

I met Millionaires for the first time on a mini-tour I did with Brokencyde in March. I must have made a lasting first impression with my performance because a few months later, I got a text from Melissa Marie from Millionaires asking if I wanted to be the new keyboard player for their first nationwide headlining tour.

I happily accepted the offer, and now I’m living life on the road with three amazing girls.

Click on cover below to read the Bakotopia interview with Millionaires!

Q: Any bizarre stories to speak of while on tour?

A: I was on tour with Kill Paradise and we just finished our show at Club Retro with a local called Vyncent Flaw.

We headed to Taco Bell for a bite and chilled in the parking lot while we ate. I noticed a man sitting up hunched over in the front seat of his car and I joked to everyone, “Dude, this guy is deadskie.” After an hour of inactivity from the body curiosity grew, so we walked over and knocked on his window.

The guy didn’t even a flinch. So my drummer took a firecracker and tried to toss it near his car to see if he would react to the noise, but it ended up exploding on his window! It wasn’t until Max from Vyncent Flaw broke out a mega-phone and began talking in his Monty Pythonesque voice, “Excuse me sir ... are you dead ...”

The man finally looked up and that’s when we peeled out and bounced.

Q: What can Bakersfield fans look forward to from Intruder Alert?

A: I’ve been blessed with being able to hang out and tour with some of the greatist artists in my genre. I’ve been exposed to a vast array of new musical styles and flavors. Expect all my recent experiences to influence my new material, which I’m working on at the moment.

My current album, “In Seconds or in Lifetimes” will be on iTunes within the next couple weeks worldwide! Watch out for a full line of new merch — along with a new twist to the live show.

Jarod Palmer

Q: Any bizarre factoids we should know about you?

A: I haven’t had a drop of soda, lemonade, raw tomatoes, or raw citrus fruits and juices for about six years.

Back during my junior year, summer vacation in high school, I drank tons of 7-up everyday. Near the end of vacation, I started getting terrible stomach pains that made me feel like I was on fire from the inside of my stomach. After having the doctor put a camera down my throat, we discovered that I no longer had a stomach lining!

So I slowly learned what I could and couldn’t have. In some ways, I’m glad that it happened. I’m a healthier person because of it.

All in all, I end up saving roughly $950 a year on soda …Think about it.

Get tour dates and music at:

www.myspace.com/intruderalert

Story also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 34, 8-7-08

INTERVIEW: Anthony Green of Circa Survive

Circa Survive
An interview, a show, and some Semi-Constructive Criticism

By: Chase Brockett, Bakotopia staff
Photos by Emily Becerra

I’ve always hated telephones.

Not the technology; the technology is great. But you lose so much in conversations when there is no countenance to ground certain phrases with sincerity. The subtle cues in face-to-face dialogue can mean the difference between giving credence to someone’s words and calling ‘bullshit!’ on them.

In written word especially, you still cannot always pick up the intent or the legitimacy behind some of the things musicians say. Imagine the difference between reading the phrase “I’m not in this for the money” (hypothetically) from somebody like Bob Dylan and then somebody like 50 Cent.

My point is, just saying something doesn’t make it so.

So it should be understood why, when I was being led down passed the microwave, couches, beds, and random luggage toward the back of their tour bus, I was skeptical about the authenticity behind the notes and philosophies of the musical endeavor that is Circa Survive.

But you do get the feeling that someone has to be doing it for the love of the music when they begin recalling their previous show in Bakersfield by saying “Part of me wishes we were here right now playing Jerry’s Pizza”

Bakotopia: And uh… which part of you is that?

Anthony Green: The awesome part of me wishes we were playing there.

B: I’ve got to say, that’s the first time I’ve heard any band say they wanted to play at Jerry’s again.

AG: Dude, that show was retarded! The people are fun, it’s up close and personal – I had to get them to strike the barricade tonight so everyone could be up against the stage. Having a barricade is just more of a risk for me to fall, you know what I mean? As a dude who moves onstage, I don’t like barricades. Not just because you’re disproportionate with the audience, but because I’m gong fall in and hurt myself.

B: So you have the audience there to catch you if you fall. That’s actually happened?

AG: Yeah. All the time! Especially at shows like this tonight. I rely on them to be there with their hands up, keeping me safe.

B: That’s very poetic…

AG: ::laughs::

The show being referenced was the one on May 26th, 2008 at the Golden State Hall featuring Pelican, Endless Hallway, and locals Vogue in the Movement, located inside (you guessed it) the Golden State Mall on Golden State and F Street.
And aside from the grossly mishandled setup for the show which nearly resulted in stage lighting crushing concert goers, an unsecured barricade that almost led to the entire sound system being demolished, and a number of asshole concert-goers who could care less if there are smaller people suffocating because they just couldn’t get close enough to the stage, (really guys, where’s the respect for your fellow man?) I’d have to say it was one of the best shows I’ve witnessed.

Seriously. The amount of intensity put into that show was amazing, which reinforced Anthony Green’s comments during the interview before the show.

Bakotopia: Why should people want to see you guys perform?

Anthony Green: There are a lot of bands that I really like and enjoy seeing live, but it bores me. We’re not a boring band. We might sound like shit sometimes, but we’re not boring. If I’m not singing well, I’m not going to be able to enjoy myself, but if I can’t move, I’m not going to be able to enjoy myself either.

B: You guys seem to have a more philosophical approach to your music. At least from the outside, that’s what it kind of gives.

AG: We consider ourselves artists – first and foremost. Art should be revitalizing. It should be refreshing. For me, the most effective art has ever been in my life when I was young and I needed something to come and shake my fuckin’ world up. And we want this band for each other that is constantly challenging. And if you’re going to take part in it with us, and you’re going to take your role in it as whatever your role in this band is, and everybody’s role, you know, we want to share that with everybody that’s going to be involved. I think we want to keep the people that are really open-minded and really sensitive and really interested in finding new ways of dealing with their life and dealing with each other. We really want to keep those people really close. It’s not our gimmick.

B: Yeah, there are a lot of bands that use it as a gimmick and then you talk to them and it’s kind of like… meh…

AG: You can tell. You can tell with those people, because you can’t fake it.

B: What is it about interviews that you don’t like?

AG: It seems like when anyone wants to interview us, they want to talk about this irrelevant stuff. I can understand why you as a dude who listens to the song wants to know what the song is about but I don’t see the relevance in disclosing anything about my personal life. With music and with art it’s not about…this band’s not about me. Even the songs that I write are not about me. They’re not my songs, they never were. Music is something that is not farmed, and if you try to farm it, good fucking luck. That gets a whole other thing. I have no disrespect for those people, that’s a whole art form in itself, if you want to raise music for money that’s your own thing. Its fun for me, it’s a lot of fun for me. And it’s also a very therapeutic thing for me.

B: I think it’s that way for a lot of people who listen to your music…

AG: And that means a lot to me, because it wasn’t my goal, it wasn’t my intention to get people to like or identify with my songs. I wanted to identify with my songs; I want to write stuff that I can understand. And I think it’s difficult when you do a lot of interviews and people are asking you about this band, or this shirt, or what you wore here, or why you said this. It just doesn’t matter. I don’t matter. I can say anything right now and it wouldn’t change the band that exists. It wouldn’t change who I am you know? I’m the same as every dude that you know. And I like to avoid interviews where people like to elevate normal people or poets or artists or whatever into these things that they aren’t so they can put that freedom out of their own reach, like some self-defeating thing. And it’s not, it’s within your reach and everybody can do it, everyone can be free you know? And it’s not like a hippie thing, haha.

B: Well, I think for a lot of kids too – even though I don’t agree with the whole ‘elevating’ thing – I think what it is though, you’ve got the musicians, especially those they identify with, they are able to articulate what those kids can’t, in a better way and in a way that makes it easier for them to not do it themselves.

AG: Bob Dylan was being interviewed once and they said “Why do you sing the songs that you sing?” and he was like “Well, I’ve got a lot of ideas in my head, I’ve got a lot of feelings, and I like to get them out, and I guess a lot of people have a hard time getting them out and its for those people why I do what I do” and I always thought that was awesome.

B: Yeah, and I’ve always thought too that the bands who try to do it for themselves, the bands that are, not really egocentric, but more, like you said, you just do it for yourself, its more honest so I think you get more fans who connect more to the authenticity of that.

AG: We’ve been very fortunate in that people have liked our band and people who have chosen to identify with my lyrics or the sound or whatever, we have no disillusions about who we are as a band or what our place is.

B: You guys completely turned down the major label thing right?

AG: We’ve had so many meetings with so many major labels and it was such a nightmare. We finally decided it doesn’t matter what we end up doing as long as we end up keeping the freedom and shit that we have; that is the reason we started the band, we want to hold on to that wherever we go. So I think if we ever end up getting in bed with a major label, it will be our label, it will be an imprint. If there’s a label that will win us over, they’re going to have to give us our own label and 100% freedom and take a huge risk, and if they’re not ready to do that, we’ll do it ourselves. It’s definitely difficult when you are getting married – I’m getting married – and it’s a very different situation from when you’re like, 20. And I like doing this for a living, but I’ll do whatever, you know, if I can’t do this the way I want to do it I’ll do something else. I’ll never stop making music, but maybe I’ll stop making money from it. But I don’t give a fuck about that shit.

B: Congratulations on the marriage! So, your album art and the art you have surrounding your band – where does that come from? Or what inspires it? Because it’s definitely a little more unique for what it is.

AG: There’s this artist from NY name Esao Andrews that we’ve all admired for a long time and Brendan specifically brought him to the table and said “Yo, check this guy out!” Hopefully he’ll do the next [album] too. I think its cool to have a running theme with the artwork.

B: So is there anything else you want to add to this? Anything you want people to know.

AG: Listen to music not people!…that doesn’t make any sense

*After the interview, myself and those with me were fortunate enough to hear Anthony Green perform an acoustic version of a song he had begun writing a few days prior, so for those of you who couldn’t be a part of it, we will try to get a clip up soon.

Story also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 34, 8-7-08