www.radioradiox.com August 2020 Vol. 2, Issue 8.

VICTORY SOUL ORCHESTRA Two’s company, and three’s a crowd. But eleven, in the right key, can be magic. 14 THE BOBBY LEES Empires were built out of garag- es, and this young group of players are set to go out and explore the wild frontier. 18 Free! ART MUSIC CULTURE Sponsored by August 2020 Page 3 Music Art Culture Revolution

victory soul orchestra of notes and measures marks Victory Soul Orchestra’s musical mission. You’re invited. Page 14 Undercover Kick-Ass Ensemble The We grill Under the Den’s Madison Lewis beneath the heatlamps with boiling oil... Wait; that was our chicken. She was much cooler. Bobbyre brandLees this Passion and fi Under the Den (l-r) Madison Lewis, group of players as they By liam sweeny Jason Nowak, Benjamin Zoleski, John Nowak. Photo provided. ready themselves to set upon the land, crowd by crowd. Page 18 overing the greats is a hard ML: From the first time we played ML: We don’t really have a specific gig, and even harder is doing together we all seemed to feel a process; we work together, have fun C that while putting out your connection or shared vibe, we get with it, and allow the chemistry in the own songs. But some bands pull it off, along very well which made working room to guide us, that way each voice, and when that happens, fans get the together easy and fun, but after so to speak, is heard in the material. It’s less about having a specific Observations best of both worlds. We talk with writing, “Let’s Go to Paris (the World and Ramblings...... 12 Melanie Lewis from Under the Den Ends),” we all knew we had not just direction we want a song to go, and about that balancing act. something worth committing to, but more about letting the song go where it RRX: When the band started, there also something worth hearing. wants to. was a spark; there always is. Other- RRX: There’s no one way to write a RRX: Under the Den sings origi- wise, why play? So take us to the song. Even putting paper to pen is nals and covers. Which is a versatile where, where it first happened. Was it giving way to sending yourself the thing, because you never know what instant, or did it grow? If you had to in texts. But everyone is trying kind of gig you’re going to get. But are come up with one thing you all took to put down a sound that people can there also drawbacks? Do you ever do home that day that told you that you hear, and know right away who’s doing shows that were a mix between had something worth pursuing, what it. What do you think it takes to get originals and covers? Are there places was it? that kind of sound? Continued on Page 5... Page 4 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution

perience Monthly

Art Fredette Publisher

Liam Sweeny Editor-In-Chief Creative Director

Kit Haynes Associate Editor

Dick Beach Staff Geek

Contributors Rob Smittix Josh Reedy Amy Modesti Stephanie Bartik Dawn Grimmick

Sassy Auburn

Jeff Spauling Under the Den. Photo provided. Jetta Intelisano

Melody Morris

Vito Ciccarelli Contents

Ed Conway 3 • UNDER THE DEN Balancing the Old and the New 6 • BIG SANDY @ HIS FLY-RITE BOYS Honoring 8 • MATT DONNELLY Composition and Songwriting Ace Contact

35D Saratoga Avenue, 10 • HEATHER BELL Poet on the Heart of Separation Waterford, NY 12188 (518) 326-1673 14 • VICTORY SOUL ORCHESTRA Converging in Sharps and Flats [email protected] Published by Imperial Broadcasting 18 • THE BOBBY LEES Garage Rock Guzzling Hi-Test. in conjunction with RadioradioX. com. 22 • BUMPING UGLIES A Fandom that Loves Like a Family 24 • DAVID GREENBERGER The Power of a Conversation August 2020 Page 5 Music Art Culture Revolution

Continued from Page 3. ML: The boys love their gear, and process, encompassing both the question I didn’t ask. What exactly is you’d wish to do originals in, but they can be very particular about it - Ben is creation and marketing of your Under the Den? How many times have only want covers? kind of a tone master and loves using product, but as a band we have always you had to play “Mustang Sally”? ML: Covers were always more an his Line6 Helix to create the right been most concerned with making the Educate, enlighten, emote – the floor opportunity to have fun, or kind of live sound on his Moniker , Jay loves product because we feel it speaks for is yours. as another musician for a minute. We his Truth kit like it’s a part of him, and itself. ML: As far as our cover act goes, we wouldn’t say there are drawbacks to John loves his Baby Blue. RRX: We’re the paper-bastard feel like if you’re going to be a cover doing covers, but it has its challenges, RRX: It’s tough to ask business child of an online radio station band you have to do it well, but you chief among them being the trap of question at any time, but we don’t shy (Radioradiox.com) and so I have to also need to make it fun. We always being viewed as a “cover band,” which from tough. Music is not a business, selfishly ask, what does your discogra- had fun with all our gigs, but our cover can be difficult to avoid. All of our but playing it enough is. Even if you phy look like? Have you been able to oriented gigs were more a means of cover gigs were always a combination aren’t trying to make “day job” money, get in a studio at all, or even your making our EP a reality and after that of covers and originals, though, and you’re still trying to get out there. home studio? And if not, do you think goal was accomplished we decided to fortunately the originals were consis- What does Under the Den do to it becomes more or less easy right now transition our focus to original shows. tently received well by both venues promote itself? Where can we find out to put tracks together from remote? Not to say we won’t do a cover gig, we and audiences. more about you? ML: We have our EP, “All That really love performing so we will likely RRX: Gear isn’t everything, but ML: Most often we use social Talk,” which we recently made avail- always do a few now and then, but this unless we’re in the shower, we media platforms like Facebook, and able on Spotify, and currently we are project was always about putting our need it. And we have a relationship word of mouth has actually served us working on finalizing some new own sound into the world so that’s with our gear, people varying between well. We also like making handbills so material for our second EP. We’ve where we want to focus our energies exploring new frontiers because of the person has something tangible to done pretty well working remotely, but now that we are getting back at it. As that pedal, and getting frustrated that connect with, and we all love coming there’s no replacement for in-person far as our original act is concerned, an amp buzzes. Do you all have any up with the next great t-shirt design. jam time so we were all very excited to we’re just like any other band gear that you have strong feelings We realize music, as a career, has get back to it last month. - ourselves. about, either way? become a much more involved RRX: This is where you answer the

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lthough we haven’t seen a new is a double 45 vinyl release, Big Sandy release of original music from and His Fly-Rite Boys Sing and Play A our west coast pals, Big Sandy “The Songs of Freddy Fender”, on Fender & His Fly-Rite Boys, it doesn’t mean Baldemar Records. they haven’t been busy. In a normal The quality of the sound is very year, they spend a great deal of time good, which is expected from a crack Remembered on the road traversing the US, or backing band such as the Fly-Rite heading to Europe on one of their Boys, their skill and feel are second to Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys Cover Freddy several tours a year. Band leader and none. Lead guitarist, Ashley Kingman Fender. writer, Robert Williams also has been has been with the band for about 30 known to go out on tour with such years. Bassist Kevin Stewart, who has By Ed conway notables as The Reverend Horton been a Fly-Rite for several years as Heat. So it’s not surprising there is well and blends smoothly with Kingman to form the classic sound that the band is known for. Drummer Kip Dabbs fills out the rest of the band. While this line-up can make anyone sound good fronting them, Big Sandy himself has such a smooth as glass soulful voice that I can’t think of anyone else who could do these songs any better, with maybe the exception of Fender himself. Of course there are the mega hits Fender is known for, “Before the Next Tear- drop Falls” and “Wasted Days And Wasted Nights”, there are also two lesser known, but equally powerful tunes, “Holy One” (featuring Uncle Ernie Vargas, Alex Vargas and Li’l Ernie Vargas on doo-wop Mary Anne Sweeny backing vocals) and “I Can’t Remember When I Didn’t Love You.”

(l-r) Big Sandy, Kevin Stewart, Ashley Kingman. Photo by Ed Conway. While each song has the feeling and love for the original solidly, the little time to hit the studio. One of his highlight for me is the verse in pet projects, however, was doing a “Wasted Days” that Williams sings in couple of Freddy Fender covers during Spanish that brings the full emotion of the last few years live on stage. This the song to me, although I don’t naturally led to an idea to do a cover necessarily understand the words. It’s record of some of his songs. The result impossible to not feel the love for the August 2020 Page 7 Music Art Culture Revolution song, specifically, and the performer in recorded a Spanish language 45 with general that Williams brings. Anyone Los Straitjackets - my first collabora- who is familiar with the band, knows tion with them. The B-side of that EAT IN TAKE OUT DELIVERY how Williams’ projects emotion into record was a Freddy Fender song each of his tunes at live shows, but called “Que Mala”. This current release engineer, David Irish captures this is sort of a long overdue follow-up to quite nicely on the recordings. that. I asked Williams a few questions RRX: I noticed you chose two of his regarding how he came to music in most popular tunes, but what was it general and Freddy Fender specifical- about the other two? ly. He graciously sat down and RW: Well, I always wanted a chance responded while he had some time. to record “Wasted Days...” and “Next Although he hasn’t been touring, he Teardrop...” his two most well-known has been co-hosting some Live songs, so I thought that it’d be cool to Streams, such as The West Coast do versions of a couple of his lesser Ramble where the hosts have inter- known B-sides. “I Can’t Remember viewed many stalwarts in the Rocka- When I Didn’t Love You” was the flip billy, and Western Swing world. side of his original non-hit version of Unfortunately, these are currently on “Wasted Days...” in 1959, and “Holy hiatus, but you can check out previous One” was another late 50s song of his editions on their YouTube channel. that is in more of a Doo-Wop vein - a 49 3rd Street Troy NY 12180 RRX: What kind of music did you genre that was one of my first musical listen to growing up? loves. (518) 326-0630 RW: I grew up in the 60s and 70s RRX: What’s next for Big Sandy & but mostly listened to the music of the The Fly-Rite Boys? 50s. Both of my parents had kept their RW: I’m trying to figure out what’s teenage record collections and that’s next for me and the boys after we get what I spent my time listening to. past this unusual period of time. Gig 16 Beers and Generally it was 50s rock & roll and a and tour-wise, everything that was on lot of doo-wop and rhythm & . the books for this year is being moved Cider on Tap RRX: When did you know you to 2021. Of course, it’s a situation that wanted a career in music? keeps changing day-to-day, so we’re RW: As a kid I would always keeping a close eye on that. During the Award Winning daydream about being a singer in a lockdown I’ve been able to move quite band but never really thought that I a few copies of the Freddy release, and Burgers and would ever be able to do it. Later as a I’ll be investing the income from that 2016 teenager, I saw James Intveld play and into our next record, which we’ll was in awe of the reaction that he probably be recording before we even Wing Wars would get from the crowd. That’s what get a chance to head back out on the really drove me to pursue a career in road. In the meantime, I’ve been Winner music. working on new material, but we RRX: What was it about Freddie might be doing a volume two of this Fender’s music that made you decide release. to do a double 45? This double 45 release is available RW: I’ve always been a fan of at BigSandy.net, but hurry, they Freddy through his records and from already sold out their first batch and the experiences I had as a youngster are working on their second. It is also tagging along with my parents to see available as an extended play CD. him perform. I’ve always had thoughts 41 112th Street, Troy of covering a song or two of his but for some reason, I never did until I (518) 235-4141 Page 8 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution Matt Donnelly has a long history with Sweet Days songwriting and the performing arts, and the proof is in the listening. for Composition By stephanie bartik

Matt Donnelly. Photo by Stephanie Bartik.

ho would have thought, the that end, I have interviewed a few of lines between rock, jazz, blues, soul, we did for Robert Frost, Samuel Taylor last normal day we had, our local music legends. Today, we talk funk are constantly being played with. Coleridge or Sylvia Plath. I believe W would be on a Friday the to Matt Donnelly. I recently went to see Snarky Puppy in poetry is the compression of meaning 13th? RRX: Do you see yourself as an Boston. The level of composition, through words. It’s more than 1+1=2; That was the day our lives became artist or an entertainer? playing and energy was just off the it’s 1+1=3+. “Gravity” by John Mayer uncertain. We had to change our way MD: Probably both. When I’m charts! Fred Tripp (drummer) and I or “One” by are good of life. Isolate ourselves from friends playing in a club setting or a party, I run a blues jam every Thursday night examples. and loved ones; leave our jobs; miss think of myself as an entertainer (or at (Pre COVID days). We’ve had a RRX: What got you to write songs? proms and graduations. No more least try to be) In the studio or when number of teenagers come in and just (childhood trauma, happiness, strolling around the malls, no more in a setting that allows all original blow the doors off the place. They money?) basketball in the park---and, NO composition, I feel more like an artist. study Stevie Ray Vaughn and Led MD: I’m not a lyricist, but I love to MORE LIVE MUSIC! In those instances, I’m not trying to Zeppelin like it was part of their create instrumental music. I’ve had Living in an area so rich in local sound like a recording, I’m trying to school curriculum, I wish I had their the opportunity to participate in music, classic venues, and great bars sound like me. I have been very talent and discipline when I was their many, diverse recording projects and pubs, this hit our community with fortunate to have opportunities for age. including with Bob Warren and even a a punch so strong, it would leave both. RRX: Who are your examples and movie score many years ago. I was Rocky Balboa on the mat. RRX: Do you consider rock as a inspirators? motivated by the beauty of the sound. But there comes a time when we music style as alive and vibrant as MD: I used to teach a unit called I love applying my imagination and have to not dwell on the darkness ever? “Songwriting as Poetry” and we creativity to the musical form. around us. Take a break, maybe find MD: Absolutely! There are exciting applied the same principles to under- RRX: Can you remember the first out a bit about the local musicians…to things happening in music and the stand my students’ favorite songs as time you wrote a song? Describe it to August 2020 Page 9 Music Art Culture Revolution me. songs for her and she always made MD: In the ‘80s two friends and I sure I had a to play on. wrote the soundtrack to the movie, RRX: What do you feel like when “Brain Damage”. Following that you play one of your songs and people project, I was offered an opportunity applaud? Is it an affirmation or an EMENT to submit a musical plan for another irritation? L feature film called Frankenhooker. I MD: Again, song writing is not a C huge part of my life today, but I still feel the same thrill in the music that I Frame Shop & Art Gallery did when it was just to play music. A Tradition of Quality for Over 60 Years Whether it was arranging for march- ing band or drum and bugle corps or working with Bob Warren to help him reach his vision, it just makes me feel 201 Broadway amazing to be a part of the sound. RRX: Tell me about a time when Troy, NY there were equipment issues that (On Monument Square) occurred during the middle of a song. What was the situation and how did you react? MD: The Yes tribute band, Alice Tuesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm Frost was just getting ready to play at the Charles Wood Park a few years To schedule a special appointment, ago. The entire beginning of the show call during business hours was on me. I played the intro music as a sample and then a huge synthesizer crescendo leading to the beginning of “Siberian Khatru”. The soundcheck was perfect, I was ready to go. When I really put everything into it developing hit the trigger for the intro music, s ‘prospectus” of themes for the film. nothing happened! I freaked and tried From a composition standpoint, I restarting the computer, checking my think it was probably my best work. In connections…everything I could think the end, they went with an award-win- of. I decided the USB sound interface ning composer, the same guy that was bad and I took the long headphone wrote the score for Child’s Play and extension and plugged it into the The Buddy Holly Story. I later got to headphone jack in the computer and meet him, and he told me he listened the other end of the direct box. to my tape and stole some of the ideas. Success! It took my half of “Siberian” I was flattered, but he didn’t offer me to get my heart out of my mouth! any money. RRX: Tell me about a time when RRX: Who gave you the support to you had to handle an unruly audience keep writing in the beginning? Who member. did you play the early songs for? MD: I was playing at a bar in MD: My mother was the person I Ticonderoga, a fight broke out and the played for in the beginning. She loved entire bar emptied into the street. Our jazz and big band music, so I grew up soundman kicked someone to get listening to Billy Eckstine, Sarah them away from the stage and broke Vaughn the Stan Kenton Band and the guys rib. I thought that would be it Glenn Miller. I learned songs for her like “Tenderly”, “God Bless the Child” Continued on Page 26... and “Misty”. I was always trying out Page 10 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution The Fork that Splits the Heart Poet Heather Bell Talks Verse, in Two emotion, and changing the BY Liam Sweeny story in the middle.

e join author Heather Bell, justice but also this diary of pain. who’s book, Regret or Along the way I met my current Something More Animal, is partner Dan, who is a large furry bear W Regret ouit in stores now. sort of man. He’s the sort of person Heather Bell’s book, or Something More Animal, RRX: I’m a fiction writer by trade, who quietly picks you up off the floor is available at CLASH which means I spend my time trying when you are crying and asks no Books to put emotions, including pain, into a questions until you are ready. The life. But I’ve recently had time to write poetry about him felt like a nest, a about something painful in my life. place to put my brain when it needed Your book, Regret or Something More to feel goodness. Animal, is a poetry book about love, I wrote a lot in my marriage alone divorce, and the road between. Can and at night as it was such a conten- professors in my brain yelling about Do you think societal expectation is a you tell us about your time on this tious act. Now, I usually can even lineation and structure. Also I tend to “third partner?” road? write quickly on my phone while write off and on. Through turbulent HB: Yes, I think we romanticize it. I HB: It’s generally hard to think having conversations with people. It’s times or turns in which I feel deep am unsure if I will ever get remarried. about, but what else do we do when we like being in a cave, lost, then sudden- emotions, I write constantly. When I Both my partner and I were married face hardship but to write our way ly someone removes a boulder block- am stagnant or have no “new” issues previously and it ended in divorce. I through it? I was married for ten years ing the entranceway and you are free. in my life, I won’t write for months on know our children would like it, but I to an abusive man. I have two kids And freedom is hard to deal with when end. Which I have always found feel like it’s only because they also see from this marriage and it got to a point you’ve been locked away so long. So interesting: my periods of absolute joy that societal expectation. As though a where I knew his behavior would yeah, write your way through it. It’s create no writing. My periods of piece of paper and a different way to affect my children as they got older. where the clarity lives. absolute sadness, shame, even new do your taxes solidifies love. However, It’s a big squiggly mess, if you had to RRX: I’ve always marveled at how love- I will create. That doesn’t mean I have been blessed that they (I have draw it on paper. After my divorce I poetry can at the same time bring out new love isn’t joy, of course, but there two kids and he has two kids) on their fell down the stairs in my new house I deep truths to the reader while being is a deep contentment in a settled own have expressed that they feel they was renting. And I clearly recall presented in forms that take hold of relationship wherein I simply allow the are siblings and we are a family. crying, not so much from pain but language and, basically, twist it into a beauty to happen rather than try to Maybe I am cynical, but that piece of from the knowledge that no one was balloon animal. How do you balance decipher it through writing. So you paper never made me more loved or going to hear that tumble and come the form of the art and your own could say I am perhaps at my worst, happier when I was married, so I know see what the sound was. expressive need? emotionally, if I am writing. it won’t now. It helps with clarity- that Poetry was always a contentious HB: My need for? I mean, when I RRX: Marriage is so ingrained in love is a choice regardless of whether divider in my marriage as he felt I write I usually sit with a phrase or idea our society as an ultimate life goal, you say a couple words in front of a wrote and published awful things for a bit then just work it out. For me I like a thing to check off – house, good crowd. Whenever I make choices now I about him. But what else is there to hear the sounds in my head and job, car, marriage – like a sign that think to myself what would my write? I used to wonder. Do better and determine placement and such but I you’ve come into the real world from children think of these choices? And I’ll write better things. In my CLASH also have my undergraduate degree in the fantasy of youth. Yet almost fifty am I showing them the way to find book, I often see it as this harbinger of writing so I of course also have my percent of marriages end in divorce. themselves and find how to love in this August 2020 Page 11 Music Art Culture Revolution world? They all joke around that at the mix? How can our readers keep up about midnight every night I sit down with Heather Bell? and we have story time. I tell my HB: I have done a short fiction stories, they tell theirs. We all listen. chapbook in the past but it’s no longer And by “stories” I mean tell me available. To keep up with me I anything you want. I’ve learned a lot suppose just google my name and and I think they have too. They will poetry? I write sort of on and off ask for stories about my partner, again, so nothing very consistent. which they usually find hilarious (he’s I feel like we all artistically have a silly sort of man!) but also quite other interests. I love plants, my serious when I tell them about how he house is covered in them, the outside protects me from anything that I was of my house is covered in them. They hurting from. They, in turn, tell me bring me solace when the world is so stories about things they have recov- easily changeable. ered from, have experienced, etc. And As for non-fiction: isn’t that also my because we are a blended family, I poems? Maybe sometimes. We all always learn a lot as I know I am not write our way through disaster as best always around. Stories are how we get we can. Long form never works too to poetry. Poetry is how we translate well for me. I tend to think of a book love. of poems as my long story. RRX: So let’s look into the past and I’m a writer and I’ve always been the future for a second. What else by attracted to horror (although writing it your hand exists? And what is on its is another thing altogether!). Just the way to existence? Are you strictly idea that darkness is always at the poetry, or is fiction (or non-fiction) in corner of your vision. Page 12 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution Observations and Ramblings of a Cranky Old Guy BY Jeff spaulding elcome back to the topic of the month, from a man W facing reality, and yet I feel turn 65, is a massive pain to endure. life options are starting to lessen. my knowledge just one AM station in while you may not identify with the Once the government knows you’re (Point of reference, I once LIVED the Capital Region who has been topic now, you will, sooner or later. hitting that mark, your mailbox gets on government cheese, and with a around that long. And frankly, it sucks. filled with more junk than weekly little spicy mustard, it ain’t all that That was/is the cherry on the top, This issue, we focus on two parts of grocery store coupons and bargains. bad.) to “end” a career at a joint with THAT my name, cranky and old. Everyone who wants to sell you So, you look at what is ahead of you much cred. As I mentioned earlier, I have been Medicare Supplemental insurance is and think “Well. It’s all over sailor, if I My next goal is financial, again, if I involved, professionally, which means waiting outside your door. accomplished what I set out to do can last, if I stay working till 70, I get a the fools actually paid me, in the world Your boss tries to be subtle and decades ago, you can now start bonus from Social Security. of broadcasting, since 1977. keeps asking how you’re doing and if planning to spend your days in small Final, FINAL goal, if I can last, stay That’s a pretty long time. you’re feeling ok. claims court watching trials, or mall in the business, even part time, till age Doesn’t mean I have gotten good at Your kids are starting a pool to find walking (as long as you bring your 71. it, it’s just that they haven’t caught me out when they’ll get your stuff, what mask), and going to sleep with Pat and This is personal, at 71, I will have yet. they will get, and how much more will Vanna. been in the business 50 years. Like many other careers: musician, they get in their share than their You ask then “How will YOUR life Ain’t getting nothing for it, it’s just bartender, pimp, I consider what I do siblings. end up oh Cranky Old one? a round number. to be much more like a paid hobby Without warning, your body starts Two words, Thuck Fat! After that finally, retirement. (notice I did not say WELL paid) than hurting in little ways you never (Only way I can get them to print Wish me luck. a job/career. noticed before. that) Be hearing you. I love what I do, and have gotten You take notice to commercials My wife thinks I am crazy, my well versed on many different aspects about stool softeners. employer is a little scared, my friends of the career, and at any time I am (Okay maybe that’s just me but the are putting Vegas odds against me, but ready to always learn. body really starts to change/deterio- I am NEVER without a plan. Fortunate that I have been doing rate once you hit your sixties.) (Call it a bucket list to the final what I do, with the exception of a few Now, if you are younger than I am, degree.) “unfortunate” situations, and I each decade brings new questions/ In two years, at 66, if I can last, I controlled my own destiny during said statements depending on your age. plan to still be at my current radio career. In your twenties, the world is your station when they hit 100 years of Format changes, new owners, crap oyster. broadcasting. ratings, lawsuits, saying dirty words In your thirties, you start to (No names please, but there is to on the air, I got through them all. conform to society, cuz you think you This time however, my back is can’t function without doing so. potentially getting pushed to the wall. In your forties, you hope you did Medicare. the right thing in life up till then. The possibility of retirement. In your fifties, you still think you I turn 65 in January. have time to “make it.” Can it be so long ago, as a young In your sixties, you’re stuck 21-year-old snot nosed punk that I was between “I’m immortal” to “I can learn ready to conquer the world? to like government cheese” to “I am SO That was yesterday, many screwed, maybe it’s time to try the yesterdays. homeless lifestyle.’ I ain’t ready to hang it up yet. Again, I ain’t ready to hang it up Turning 65, or rather prepping to yet, but day by day I find individual August 2020 Page 13 Music Art Culture Revolution

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have been spinning Victory Soul Orchestra on Orchestra? Introduce us. my show at RadioradioX since I started here. The JY: First off, thanks for the kind words! It’s cool I music is fun and undoubtedly danceable. I hate to know that we’ve reeled some people in over the comparing groups to others but I certainly intend years. Now onto, “Who is Victory Soul Orchestra?” this to be a compliment, VSO has the talent of The The easy answer is that we are a group of Capital Roots with more brass instrumentation. And… to District musicians who won’t stop going to the club top it off bringing in JB aka Dirty Moses on vocals to play music. We have jazz heads, a classically was genius. So I am grateful to be speaking today trained singer, a rapper, jam band vets and Albany with Joel Yannuzzi of VSO. rock staples. I started writing music for this band RRX: VSO has quickly become a favorite for me. and realized I’d need a ton of great players. I was For those who are just now discovering your music, listening to a lot of afrobeat and soul and wanted to tell us about yourselves… Who is Victory Soul bring a full band into tiny little places. When we

Victory Soul Orchestra Quality Musicians in Quantity Who knew that combining talent, genre, and showmanship would wow the crowds? A certain orchestra does... Victory Soul Orchestra. Photo by Bryan David Lasky. August 2020 Page 15 Music Art Culture Revolution

started, our regular shows were at The celebratory. It was really close to set together which will hopefully lead Lowbeat and Pauly’s. The lineup that George Floyd’s and Breonna Taylor’s to recording some more. With the we could fit on those stages was Sarah murders and we had marched with our timeline as murky as it is, maybe it Clark, Justin Fuld, Ben Fedak, Joe friends that week. My hope was that will be the reverse. Record first then Paparone, Ryan (Devo) Devine and we were respectful of that holiday and play shows? What I can say is that we myself. Eventually, we added conga/ maybe gave our friends on Lark Street love the Capital District and plan on percussionist Nick Palazeke, tenor an hour to dance and enjoy playing as long as there are audiences player Chris Russell, trombonist Dave themselves. who still enjoy live bands. Don’t get Paul and rapper JB!! aka Dirty Moses. RRX: So how many pieces do you me wrong though, we want everyone I know... this is an absurd amount of have in your group? Ha-ha clearly to mask the hell up and keep their musicians on stage, but it’s insanely doing it for the love of music. I respect distance so we can do this the real way fun to play that a big that. When I was in a 4-piece band it again someday. Dancing six feet apart group can rip on. was hard enough to get everyone to a just doesn’t feel right. RRX: With the state of everything still so very up in the air. How has the band been keeping busy? “There are sometimes eleven JY: To no one’s surprise, this has been a stressful time. We all have our members working to put on a struggles, but know that we are really lucky to be healthy and relatively sane. show. These guys have day jobs, We tried our best to stay active this spring with writing. We did a collabo- kids, dogs and turtles, so ration with Josh Mirksy of Foster efficiency is key.” House Studios and Jamel Mosely of ~Joel Yannuzzi Mel E Media to record a studio session called Live @ Foster House w/ Victory rehearsal, how do you do it? RRX: It really doesn’t feel right. It Soul Orchestra and JB!!, right before JY: Organization my friend! There feels surreal if you ask me. Well one quarantine. So getting this out to are sometimes 11 members working to thing I am sure we can all agree on people was a high priority. I also had put on a show. These guys have day musicians are writing like crazy. This some new songs that I wrote for a jobs, kids, dogs and turtles, so efficien- world has given us so much inspiration singer and it wasn’t until we met Dali cy is key. Charts have to be written and I can’t wait to finally hear what Soto-Carruzzi that we were able to get before rehearsals because there’s not everyone is working on. Thanks again them rolling. When we do get back to enough time to figure it out on the for speaking with me today and we (as the stage (glass half full) you are going spot. Don’t get me wrong, there are in everyone) are anxious to see VSO to love her. some talented mf’s in this town that live again. RRX: So very few of us (musicians) can play any song top to bottom after For more on Victory Soul Orches- have had the chance to do any real live hearing it once. Personally, I have to tra: www.victorysoulorchestra.com performances in months, VSO howev- have it written to be able to manage @victorysoulorchestra on er, had the opportunity to perform at and fine tune during that time. We all instagram Lark Hall on Juneteenth. How did it love playing to a packed house, so facebook.com/ feel to be at the groundbreaking for we’re going to put in the time to earn victorysoulorchestra/ our brand new holiday? How does it those listeners. If we don’t work on a youtube.com/channel/ feel to be a part of something bigger set, it’ll feel unnatural and audiences UC3kmnBqjP_BOVBaB-dp8OSA than just the music? don’t want that. Playing a bad show is [email protected] for JY: Juneteenth came together so a letdown for us. We’re doing it for the booking quickly that I barely had time to think experience too and want to milk a about it. We loved playing in that huge room for that good stuff… that sweet old room on that beautiful evening. I spot where listeners are happy and think we were all feeling in love with moving with you. We live for it! the idea of playing a show too. At the RRX: So anything on the horizon? same time, that holiday didn’t feel JY: We’re all in with putting a new Summer HEAT Making the most of it!

Making the Most of it! Page 18 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution Garage Rock Needs a Passport and a Go-Bag The Bobby Lees are an up-and-coming band from Woodstock, and they have their sights (and volumes) set on global conquest.

The Bobby Lees are an uncompro- mising garage-rock/punk band from Woodstock, New York. In a recent socially distant interview, the band wrote in to describe their recording

process, their new upcoming record, L-R: Nick Casa, Sam Quartin, Macky Bowman, Kendall Wind. Photo provided. and some interesting encounters at shows. RRX: Obviously, everyone is still interviews while bands are stuck in and positive towards your local struggling in the time of COVID-19. quarantine. What have you guys been underground scene? For the past three issues, I’ve done doing to combat this and stay creative SQ: We quarantined together the August 2020 Page 19 Music Art Culture Revolution first couple weeks so we wrote a bunch SQ: TIME!! We always want more Dead Kennedys fused with some early over 60 US tour dates booked for this of new stuff. Took lots of walks, time but we haven’t been able to afford 2000’s rock. Is this a fair assessment/ spring/summer and our first Europe- cooked, puzzles, stayed pretty posi- that yet in the studio. We had to rush, what would you say are some of your an tour booked in France, Belgium tive. We’re now trying to set up some get all the songs recorded in a couple biggest influences? and UK, all that got cancelled, so at outdoor shows at drive-ins/social days and mixed in a couple days, that SQ: My favorites are Little this point just hoping to play shows distance shows with our friends’ was a challenge. I’m hoping that for Richard, Bo Diddley, The Gories, again, rebuild the tours. For the US it’s bands so hopefully we can get those the next record we can get an extra James Brown, Patsy Cline, Elvis, I also just us doing it, so it was like six going soon. few days. really like the 2000’s bands like the months of work, hoping it will be a MB: Drawing still lifes while sitting MB: The main challenge is how White Stripes, The Hives, My Chemi- little easier the second time around. on the toilet so as to keep my mind expensive recording is. I can’t speak cal Romance is one of my all-time RRX: I heard that you guys are sharp while supporting the scene of for the others, but I’d say the other favorites, the rest of the band makes from Woodstock, which is a nice town. the underground septic tank beneath largest hurdle of recording is being fun of me for it. Describe the local scene out there and my house. forced to stare headlong at my lack of KW: Garage rock seems to be the some of your favorite venues. NC: I’m nothing but a shell of a prodigious skill in the face of my most accurate genre for us, but it’s SQ: The Colony in Woodstock, BSP human now (Nicks having a tough inaccurately preconceived talent. hard to say because I’ve never had an in Kingston, and right now they’re time right now) KW: We record on tape playing live easy time describing the sound/ rebuilding a place called the Bearsville RRX: I notice you guys have very so it’s usually a quick process where influence. Theater which will host bigger shows. recently released a new track. What’s each song gets only two to three takes RRX: I heard you semi-recently One of my favorite places here was a before we move on. We signed to Alive Naturalsound Records; Chinese restaurant that had a stage, worked with Jon Spencer congrats! What’s it like actually being they’d let bands play while people ate of the Blues Explosion on signed and how has it affected your Chinese food. That was our first show, our new record, and he music? but the restaurant/venue closed last opened our eyes to lots of SQ: it’s been nice ‘cause they can year. different recording get our music to places we weren’t able RRX: Are there any other local techniques, as well as to with our first record, like all over bands that you guys have bonded with experimenting with new Europe and stuff. It’s also nice to have over your career? Is there anyone you instruments and sounds. someone help with costs and printing want to give a shoutout to? His input enhanced the of records etc. I don’t think it’s affected SQ: My favorite local band is songs a lot. The biggest our music? They signed us when we Hairbag, they’re just the nicest dudes. challenge with new had already finished recording this In Ohio - Rat Motel and Radattack, In content is exposure. , they heard it and wanted to put Detroit - The Stools, those are my RRX: I see you have it out. favorites so far. an album planned for KW: There’s some good and bad. It MB: There are some fantastic release later this month, has helped a lot with exposure, as well bands up here, but if I had to pick the is there anything you as having more people to consult with bands that we’ve played with that I want to say or promote about business decisions. But because listen to most...it’d probably have to be about your upcoming more people are involved, you have to either Rat Motel or Bundy and the release? learn to compromise and listen to Spins both from Ohio. MB: Buy it. You will different opinions. Alive loved the NC: HAIRBAG HAIRBAG get limitless sex and record when they first heard it so our HAIRBAG money. music has not been affected which is RRX: Sometimes, it feels as NC: please just try it great. though there is a cynical mindset out, everything hurts RRX: What are your hopes for the surrounding the survival of a genre right now and it would future? Obviously it’s hard to make like punk-rock or garage-rock, with really help if you’d give it plans in a time like this, but do you some people going as far as to say a try guys have any big future tour plans to these genres are dead. What are your RRX: Listening to promote your new material? feelings about these sentiments? Do your latest single, I hear a MB: Make enough money playing you feel that punk is thriving recording like for you guys? What are lot of early 70’s punk/blues influence music so we can support ourselves currently? some challenges you face putting out along with elements of garage rock. solely by playing yet more music. SQ: Definitely. I think anyone that content? Parts of the song remind me of the SQ: Playing shows again! We had Continued on Page 28... Page 20 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution Powers Park Rocks! Western Massachusetts, Southern By vito ciccarelli Vermont, NYC, and Western NY, with park favorites Renee’ Lussier, and Al remember the day well in 2004, Bruno always bringing a solid crowd of when Troy Deputy Mayor Dan their enthusiastic fans yearly. Being I Crawley called me into his office we had an ever growing waiting list of and said, “Dude, let’s get something excellent bands trying to get the going up at Powers Park this summer.” opportunity to perform at the venue, Dan was one of the architects of the the decision was made two years ago Brunswick Summer concerts, and to get some new blood into the series. INSIDE SEATING AVAILABLE wanted to bring something similar to Since then, 14 of the 16 bands booked, his old stomping grounds in had never played the series. Happily, Monday through Wednesday: Open @ 4pm Lansingburgh. the crowds have given us a positive Thursday: Closed Working with Councilman Mark response to the new direction we’ve Friday and Saturday: Open @ 4pm Wojcik, we put together two August taken. Sunday: Closed shows for a trial run. We booked Kim I’m extremely excited to now have Buckley for the first concert, and only RadioradioX.com on the team as the Daily Drink Specials! drew about 40 people, with the second official media sponsor for the event. show (Vehicle), getting rained out. For Radio coverage is such an important Patio Seating - Takeout and Delivery Available. season two, we did a six week sched- part of getting the word out, and ule, adding food vendors, and Adiron- nobody does it better than we do at the 33 Saratoga Ave, Waterford, NY 12188 • (518) 326 - 2739 dack Sound Systems into the mix, X. Being we’re now playing up to 30 drawing about 200-300 per show. hours per week of 518 music, teaming Needless to say, the response we got up with the concert series was a no ARTCENTRIC MARKETPLACE from the community was encouraging brainer. To keep everyone safe at the enough for the city to build us a 20’ x shows, we ask that you bring a mask Hours 30’ stage to replace the splinter factory for when you’re walking around the Thursday - Friday: 12pm - 6pm we had. For season three, we planned venue to the food vendors, or bath- Saturday: 9am - 5pm an eight week schedule; I decided to do rooms. You are not required to wear Sunday: 10am - 3pm our first country show (North 40 one when sitting at your seat or Band) to kick things off. It was one of standing in your own space, providing Appointments available. those, ‘Let the games begin’ moments, you are social distancing. Hand Retro Furniture Vintage Decor with almost 1,000 hard core country sanitizer will be made available, and fans filling the park. From there on in, we encourage the use of it. These rules Troy-themed Items Unique Gifts it was off to the races with the series. will be enforced, as we’re not looking 266 River Street, Downtown Troy, NY (518) 691-0007 As its popularity grew, radio to get shut down in the middle of the stations began approaching me to season. Those who do not comply will become involved as media sponsors, be asked to leave. and the concerts then became a So join us from August 1, through Look Sharp for the Holidays happening of sorts, due to the radio September 12, for a rock solid lineup reach with the advertising. Keeping with some of the top entertainers from james magur with the original plan to showcase the the local music scene. Most important- Master Barber & Proprieter incredible talent within the 518, some ly, for up-to-date information on the 205 River Street of the top area acts were brought in, series, listen to the official radio Troy, NY 12180 and the crowds just kept getting bigger sponsor for the 17th season of the (518) 328-6077 and bigger. Groups like the Refrigera- Powers Park Concert Series, Radiora- tors, Skeeter Creek, Vehicle, and diox.com – playing [email protected] Emerald City brought in folks from #MusicThatMatters. www.troygroomingco.com August 2020 Page 21 Music Art Culture Revolution

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Bumping Uglies in concert. Photo provided. August 2020 Page 23 Music Art Culture Revolution him if he would give a shout out to biggest party of the year, The Uglie 100 songs written, 10 years in, in a shows is the camaraderie of the BU Kate on the next live stream, and Sweater Party at the Baltimore sound genre they don’t fit in” as noted in the community, everyone is smiling, Brandon wasted no time in expressing stage. song, “Radio” off Beast from the East. buying each other drinks or sharing a his sympathy and said he will call her We embarked on the five and a half The Uglies began the set with little of the flower between friends. I out for sure. hour trip to Baltimore as a last minute Brandon coming out solo with his encountered no drama or ill will Right before my wife went into her birthday present to my wife. We let all guitar and the beginning of “City by whatsoever, despite the heavy flow of surgery, I messaged her and told her to of UN know we were coming. We were the Bay”, a melodic, happy song about lager and Jameson whiskey. I finished tune in to Uglies Nation for the live excited to connect with all the people their hometown area of Annapolis off the evening by the merch table bar stream, as I had a surprise for her. we see online, in person. We arrived at MD, followed by the rest of the band sharing Jameson shots with the front After a few songs he played a deeply the venue just in time for the middle joining in. It was standing room only, man for the opening band, Joint emotional song called “End” featured set with fellow East Coast Beast, Joey and as we navigated the crowd Operation. Josh Lewis is fellow on the acoustic album Go Folk Your- Harkum, another amazing Maryland attempting to get to the bar for a much Baltimore native as well, with their self. The lyrics went on… “You, you local and former lead singer/guitar for needed beverage everyone, including newest single titled, “Banish” coming will not get, you will not get a single the powerhouse band Pasadena. The myself, was belting out the lyrics back off their new album Scuffed, which is a tear, instead here’s a pint of blood, presales for the venue were already to a smiling Brandon Hardesty. wide array of rock, reggae and melodic spread with a pen throughout 16 bars, over 650 tickets sold earlier that day, Throughout the entire set the crowd vocals and guitar. Finally, after a few my knees are weak, I’m seeing stars.” and by the time we arrived, over 750 participation was amazing, nearly the solo songs by Mr. Hardesty, the band Right after the song he wished my wife plus strong at The Baltimore Sound- entire crowd was singing along to their closed out the night with an epic well for all to hear on UN. This hit us stage. Everywhere there was a sea of favorite songs, such as “Yin and the rendition of “Hard liquor” with hard and solidified my connection horrendous and hysterical ugly Yang”, “All in Stride”, as well as a members of the other bands getting up with the band. sweaters, roughly 90 percent of the special treat of Brandon’s solo work as on stage and spitting a few bars. A Now, I tell you all this so you can crowd participated as B-Hard pointed well. There was not a person standing fitting end to the amazing night. understand why BU means so much to out with joy in his eyes. This was also still in the sea of faces at the Sound- their fans, and thus began our mecca the largest headlining show for them stage from the beginning to end. to the Mid-Atlantic for the BU’s to date, culminating “10 years in with One thing you will notice at their

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David Greenberger. Photo provided.

The Duplex Planet A ‘zine created by artist David Greenberger brought life to some, including itself.

By liam sweeny

he Duplex Planet was a ‘zine created by artist Davis Green- Tberger in Boston in 1979. In its thirty-year span, it had captured an oft overlooked experience – that of the elderly. Its quirky nature endeared in to many, and the characters created in the Duplex Planet carried over into other media, such as books, comics, and spoken word. We have been given permission by David to relay a portion of his TED than I thought - I got a little bit lost Talk. Which is a first for us, but we’re - and the entire way there, Arthur was adventurous, so let’s all have fun with giving a sort of running commentary it. on skirt lengths and billboards and “The first funeral I ever went to was bad directions, and all the while, he in 1979. I was 25 and I was working as was monkeying around with his an activities director at a nursing hearing aid. that would fall out of his home in Boston. There was a man at of time. But he was 96, had lived a long was the one who wanted to go. His ear onto the seat, and he would jab it the home by the name of Arthur and healthy life up till then. I asked name was Arthur Wallace. with a pen in some kind of a repair Brown. One day, he took sick, was around to see if anybody wanted to go “So the two of us set off to go to this ritual and put it back in. It would fall taken to the hospital, and he died to his funeral, and there was another graveside service. I borrowed a car. On out again. And the entire time he had a shortly after that - all in a short span man at the home who wanted to go; he the way there, it took a little longer cigar that was not lit but was wet on August 2020 Page 25 Music Art Culture Revolution

probably be a state someday.”; “I’m “Conversations are a way for two people going to get me a fly, and I’m going to keep it in my room.”; “The most to be in the same time and place as one important thing of human behavior is don’t be terrorizing anybody.”; “I heard another. And we extract the data from it, a knock at the door, and I hung up on it.”; “When you rake the yard, you rake and we’re left, then, with an emotional the yard with a rake.”; I love that one… “I can speak five languages, and I can memory of somebody.” also blabber.”; “The weatherman says it’s going to be cold tonight, so around. both ends. So this is who I was in this friends of hers, the Feitlers. And Herb midnight, I’m going to cook up a pork small container with for the time it Feitler and I spent the better part of a chop in the moonlight. Doesn’t cost took to find the cemetery. day. sort of palling around. We went in too much to cook in the moonlight.”; “Finally found it, pulled in. There his car. to flea markets in surrounding “My shoveling days are over, Davy were a couple people standing by one desert communities out there. And I baby.”; “I’ll smoke another cigar, by grave site. I parked the car and helped just had a fantastic time. When I got and by.” And these became the basis Arthur out. There were a lot of leaves back home to Boston, in considering for a publication I started. called “The on the ground - it was November - and this fantastic time I had, I realized Duplex Planet. I walked him across the leaves over to that what made it unique was that it “I didn’t know exactly where it was where these people were standing. was the first time I sort of had made going, and in fact, I set aside painting. There were a couple of elderly women friends with somebody who was I felt like if this was to be something who were distant relatives of the significantly older than me but wasn’t that I was to find my way in, I deceased, and then there was a in my family. And I liked that, and I shouldn’t have any other outlet that minister. And when we were through thought I would like to do that again. I would allow that. I got the first issue Photo provided. with these brief introductions, the had just graduated from art school together and gathered all the residents minister then said a very short service. with a degree in painting, and I together one afternoon and handed who were going through that, and I At the end of that, he asked if thought there was something I could out a copy to each one of them. Within came to see that they ended up not anybody else wanted to say anything. do that would be better for me than about two minutes, they figured out making sense. having made the same And Arthur Wallace, who I brought scooping ice cream and delivering that I wasn’t also passing out cake or sense that we all make when we make along, wanted to say something. So he flowers. So I heard about a job at a refreshments or something and most sense. If that makes sense. stepped forward from where he was nursing home as an activities director of them wandered away, discarding “I’ve had about a quarter-million next to me, and he said something like that somebody I’d gone to school with these. However, that night, copies that conversations in my life, and I’ve this: “Arthur Brown was a good man was doing and was going to be leaving made it home with me roommates and forgotten almost all of them. Conver- but funny thing was he didn’t like the job. So I went there and applied, friends saw, and I instantly got that sations are a way for two people to be bananas. Now when his lunch would and I got the job - for 50 cents an hour this was for everybody but the people in the same time and place as one come up on the tray, if there was a less because I had no prior experience. in it. Had it been more traditional oral another. And we extract the data from banana on it,. he’d give it to me. I like a But I started then, right away. It was in history, it would have been a keepsake it, and we’re left, then, with an banana. I like a banana okay. A a residential, tree-lined neighborhood of sorts for the residents, but this was emotional memory of somebody. I’m banana’s my number two fruit. My in Jamaica Plain, in Boston, and it was something else: this was characters an artist, and I’m also somebody in the number one fruit’s a big, mild pear.” an old, converted duplex house, hence springing to life on the page. So I got second half of my life, well into it, and And then he stepped back next to me. its name, the Duplex Nursing Home. to know all 45 of these residents; it I think I’ve learned as a human being That was the first funeral I ever went “And as soon as I set foot into this was an all-male nursing home, this and grown as an artist from continu- to. environment, I was just captivated place. Some were talkative; some were ing to meet people who are living the “So I should now tell you. how I with it. It was just filled with riveting not. Some were agitated; some were last years of their lives. The differences came to be working in a nursing home bits of conversation that I had to write calm. Some were very articulate about between us are obvious, but it’s the in the first place. About a year before, I down, here being some examples: “I all manner of things, and some didn’t things that we have in common that was on a cross-country trip and keep smoking, but what I really want really make a lot of sense in expected are the most fulfilling to me. That’s stopped in Palm Springs where my to do is drive around in a stick-shift ways. And it was those latter ones who where you find the surprise and the grandmother was spending the winter. car.”; “If a crow would see my picture, I was most interested in. I felt fortu- mystery and the truth.” I met a couple who were lifelong the crow would fly away.”; “Mars will nate to be in close contact with people Page 26 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution DOGS • SAUSAGES • BURGERS Live Entertainment AUG 06 Jake Juran AUG 13 Jake Juran AUG 21 Steven Stewart AUG 22 Tom Farkus Dinner and a Movie Nights August 1st and 15th

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195 River Street, troy Page 28 August 2020 Music Art Culture Revolution Matt Donnelly (Cntd.) The Bobby Lees (Cntd.) Continued from Page 9. Continued from Page 18. for that club and that weekend. I He said you only have to answer two says it’s dead isn’t very alive them- societal norm that you think deserves started to pack up the band, but the questions, “Can you play today?” and selves. It’s nine plus out there if you to be deconstructed. Therefore punk owner pleaded with me to play the “Can you play tomorrow?” You keep wanna look for it - The Stools from will always exist in some form or next night. We were all desperate for doing that until you answer no to one Detroit are a pretty amazing new punk another, it just won’t look or sound like money so we all reluctantly agreed. of them. So far, yes and yes. blues band I found last year, they have the or the The next night a huge and dangerous RRX: Is there anything else you a live album/tape where the MC is because the Sex Pistols and the looking guy, rumored to be recently want to add? about to announce them and he says “I Ramones already came along and out of prison came in and demanded MD: I play for the love of music. It hear a lot of people say, ‘ made that aesthetic badass enough to to know who broke his brothers’ rib. will always be a part of me. I have is dead man’, you know what I tell be mainstream. I know that excludes As I tried to calm him he explained been given incredible opportunities to them? I tell them to FUCK OFF. Come us from the genre of punk, but that to me that he wanted to shake some- play with fabulously talented people up and smell The Stools!” doesn’t really bother me all that much. one’s hand for finally putting his and in a wild variety of styles. I would MB: I think that people are too RRX: What role do you believe brother in place. like to thank all the people that caught up with the aesthetic of any politics play in modern punk/garage Lesson learned… sometimes the support music, live and recorded. I given genre while not caring so much rock? What is your opinion on music toughest guy can be your best friend if am a truly fortunate guy. about the context that it’s made in. having a message? you treat them with respect and they Garage rock will always be a thing MB: I suppose to continue the last want their brother hurt for some because people will always have piece of guff that I said, the entire reason. garages and rudimentary musical point of punk is to be political. Music RRX: Walk me through the typical ideas that can flourish into something that masquerades as punk that lacks setup, warm-up, and break down beautiful. The entire point of punk any kind of message contextual or procedures for your gigs. rock is to rebel against some kind of otherwise is not punk. MD: I show up 2 hours or more NC: I swear to god if another thing before a gig. Unlike musical theater gets wrapped up in politics I’ll start where there is lots of warming up and the revolution myself. I DONT CARE pre-show green room preparation, it WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT AMERI- seems like I am putting in the last plug CA OR POLITICS JUST FORGET just as we need to start playing. I love ABOUT LIFE FOR AN HOUR AND places like Café Lena where most of DANCE the production is handled by their staff SQ: I don’t really care if there’s a and you get a cookie! message or not, it’s more if I believe Honestly, I hate setting up and the music or the person singing. If it tearing down, I wish I could play at a feels honest and real, or like it has level where a production staff handled some pulse or electricity to it, I’m all that. Earlier this year I played on usually into it. the Sandy Beaches Cruise, run by RRX: Describe the funniest show Delbert McClinton with the Bluz you guys have ever played (a standout, House Rockers I literally could leave weird/funny moment from a show). my cabin, walk around the corner and SQ: probably our first ever show at on to the stage where we played. All of the Chinese restaurant. Only one the backline gear was provided. Now, person showed up. He sat at the bar that’s nice! eating noodles and watching us. RRX: Where do you see yourself in KW: When we played in Canton, the next year, three years, five years OH, there was a teenage girl that and beyond? carried around a really big stick all MD: I once asked Hank Soto of night and was dancing with it in the the Stony Creek Band how much audience like she was a part of some longer I could expect to keep playing. sort of ritual. It was very bizarre. August 2020 Page 29 Music Art Culture Revolution

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