THOUGHTS FROM THE EVIL MIND

WHAT’S NEW IN 2010?

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 19:33:04 -0500

2009 was a great year for us here at BARE BONES! Thanks for everyone watching, listening, emailing and so much more we appreciate each of you. So what can you expect from BARE BONES in 2010? Read on.

2009 BAND & FAN OF THE YEAR:
To vote for your favorite band, just send us an email to bandof09@barebonesmusic.com or just CLICK ON A NAME FROM ELIGIBLE BANDS LISTED HERE, with the subject being: NAME OF YOUR BAND VOTE. Just tell us the name of the band you are voting for and your contact information. When you vote a band you are automatically entered into the Bare Bones Fan of '09 Contest! That's right, two contest in one but you can only vote for a band once!

2nd CHANCE ENTRY FOR FAN OF THE YEAR!
FOR A 2nd CHANCE AT FAN OF THE YEAR!
IT’S SIMPLE! Just write, draw, design, paint the name of “THE BAND” you are voting for and the words, “BARE BONES” somewhere on your body. Tattoos of bands are eligible. Snap a pic and email it to: boneshow@barebonesmusic.com. That’s it! BE CREATIVE! SO get snapping and sending!

ORIGINAL SHOWS and CONTENT
We are going to start bringing you some original programming and content. We will start off with 2 new shows: the BONECRUSHER REPORT and CUTS TO THE BONE. Both shows will bring you what’s hot in the music world. News, new releases, shows, videos, commentary and more brought to you by a multitude of hosts! the BONECRUSHER REPORT will focus on the rock and metal world, while CUTS TO THE BONE will provide all the latest from the punk and indie scene. BARE BONES will be your SOURCE for all of what’s happening and what’s new in music.

BAND SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH
Each month we will choose a band to focus on for each month. The bands will run the gamut of musical genres. Metal, rock, punk and indie music. Each will have a video that will be available for viewing on our home page focusing on the history of a band, interview clips, and more. PLUS, fans will get the chance to get their voice heard. You can nominate your favorite band! Send an email to: bands@barebonesmusic.com

“BREAKING BONES” (GET YOUR BAND LISTED)
When we started this site our biggest hopes were to reach the local market. Bare Bones then became the little show that could. Nationals and touring bands let us in and we felt we are losing touch with those who need more exposure. This is our way of getting back to those roots. This is a new feature on our website dedicated to bringing information and attention to local, indie, breaking, up and coming, unsigned, whatever you want to call it, these are some bands you may not have heard or know of yet but you should. If you would like your band posted in BREAKING BONES contact us: breakingbones@barebonesmusic.com.

All this plus we will continue to bring you feature band interviews, news, contests, commentary and everything we brought to you in 2009. Just more of it!

BEST BARE BONES VIDEO PERFORMERS OF 2009

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:32:57 -0500

Here's the list of our top performing videos for 2009. I will do my rock and metal albums of the year soon but this is what you guys have been watching on the BARE BONES MUSIC NETWORK. Click on any link and watch either our triumphs or complete train wrecks: you decide, but I’ll explain.

#10 - ‘HOPELESS ROMANTIC’ Live from THE BOUNCING SOULS
THE BOUNCING SOULS were one of the first national acts we ever interviewed with Greg (vocals) and Brian (guitar) (see #6). It was the Warped Tour 2009 and we caught up with the Souls backstage. Agent Ex got an interview with the whole band this time 'round. During their set, Agent Ex and I are in “the pit.” During “Hopeless Romantic” I noticed Greg reach down and grab a camera and start shooting the band and crowd from his point of view. I recognized the camera. This is no handycam, it’s an HD pro series camera. Agent Ex’s to be exact! I look over and he is stunned and without a camera in his hands. Greg shot the whole song and I shot Greg. Great footage, great fun and THE BOUNCING SOULS...great guys! Pete (guitar) even wore a Bare Bones shirt on stage in Chicago. It's was an unbelievable feeling to see our shirt on stage!
WATCH PROMO SPOT FOR WARPED TOUR
WATCH PETE WEARING A BARE BONES SHIRT DURING A SHOW IN CHICAGO.

#9 - ALEXISONFIRE Warped Tour 2009
Again Warped Tour, first time, first festival. We watched ALEXISONFIRE’s set which
was phenomenal and I ran backstage to grab an interview. At the time, I knew very little
about this platinum-selling Canadian band. I interviewed lead vocalist George Pettit.
Never sure of how an artist is going to perform on camera, I was wary of the outcome.
Turns out, he was one of the most fun and entertaining interviews I’ve
conducted...EVER. He threw me off guard by throwing joke after joke and having a
good time bullshitting with me. The interview was upbeat and well watched. One major
piece that hit the cutting room floor...me calling George "Greg" at the end of
the interview, in which he corrected me and I felt like the biggest moron! 
#8 - OTEP Interview
I had never been so nervous before an interview in my life. Otep Shamaya was incredibly intimidating in my mind. I had done my research and found Otep to be smart, a poet, writer, political activist, and strong in her convictions and beliefs: All the things I lack. I am terrified of fucking this whole thing up and if she would rip me a new asshole if I made a mis-step. She shows up, introductions are made and I’m sweating bullets. Once the interview started, it took literally seconds to realize that although she was all the things I previously mentioned, she was also one hell of a great person to talk to. She put me at ease right away and made me feel as if we were comrades. Otep is one of the smartest and most awesome women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. As well as one of my most interesting interviews to date.

#7 - KUSH KILLS Promo Spot
This was a promotional video we did for KUSH KILL CLOTHING in L.A. Why would this video be in the top ten? Two hot girls grinding each other with very little on other than the t-shirts! ‘Nuff said.

#6 - THE BOUNCING SOULS Interview
As stated earlier, THE BOUNCING SOULS agreed to an interview at a very small club called SKULL ALLEY. Literally: a row house with one empty room for the show the rest a tiny DIY punk store. We did the interview out back with 2 crappy chairs which was the smoking area for the club. Brian and Greg were very cool and funny. Brian was ready to go skateboard and look for a motorcycle shop. As one of our first national acts, it was a bit nerve-racking, but all went well and we have quite the fondness of The Souls. They're one of the few bands we feel like we actually made friends with. Seeing them later on the Warped Tour 2009 only helped prove that theory.

#5 - UNDEROATH Interview
Again another Warped Tour 2009 press opportunity. I knew a little about UNDEROATH going-in. I caught their live show, which was great, and met up with Spencer (vocals) afterward. All I can say is that it was overall a bit awkward. Spencer was very cool but you could tell he has had his fill of interview sessions.

#4 - WALLS OF JERICHO Interview
This was one of our earlier interviews with a national act. We did the interview in the owner’s apartment above the club with Dustin (drums) and Candance (vocals). I felt really prepared going into this interview. I’d have to say it was one of my first interviews where I really felt prepared, felt like a “pro” and got a great video out of it. Kick-ass show that night as well.

#3 - ALL TIME LOW Warped Tour Interview
Warped Tour 2009 moment #4! Alex (vocals) was backstage doing interviews and I had requested one earlier in the day. Alex was great in interviews and was showing it off by dealing with some of the most unprofessional video crews I’ve seen out there. That aside, Alex spoke with me and this was a moment I was not prepared for. I had very little info and really I was pulling this one out of my ass. Alex was, as stated, very professional and gave a great interview despite my total ignorance. I didn’t even know that their new album had just dropped and debuted at #4 on the Billboard charts. I felt like such an idiot. Thankfully, Alex pulled my ass out of the fire and made me look competent and you guys watched the video...a lot! One of our fastest videos to reach into the thousands of views in a 24 hour period.

#2 - THE AGONIST Interview
THE AGONIST was an interview I just wasn’t sure about (more like unsure of myself). Now unlike a lot of national acts who have their own tour manager, who I usually deal with prior to the actual interview, I had Alissa White-Gluz personal number. (NICE!) No, I never called her after the video was complete. But I still have that number. We ran really late on this one and Alissa was so busy preparing for the show she almost completely forgot about us. Luckily one of REVOLVER Magazine’s “Hottest Chicks in Metal” came through. We sat down with Danny and Alissa and had a long interview. We had to cut, much like we do all our videos, a lot of good shit due to YouTube’s “10 minute” rule. But I digress. This was another video where I felt really prepared and even though we had a slow start and a lot of sitting around. It turned out to be a great interview, awesome show (Alissa’s vocals live are scary good), and the band was very accommodating after the show to hang, talk, take pictures and sign stuff for us. Plus, it was our first video to break 10,000 views. All told, between the views on our channel and the ones on Century Media Records' channel, the total to date is 28,274!

#1 - SUICIDE SILENCE Interview
Coming in at #1 and still our best performer with almost daily comments and ratings - this one has been huge! It was a calculated risk. I knew a lot about SUICIDE SILENCE, they were at the time on tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and this was one of their “one off” shows as these guys are constantly given any opportunity performing live. Now I deal with a lot of tour managers and SUICIDE SILENCE’S had to be one of the coolest to date. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t encountered any "bad" tour managers. All of them, and I say this with all honesty, have been great to us. This time was just a bit beyond the call of duty. That said, Mitch and Mark came in and we set-up in an area that is literally a snack bar. It turned out not to really matter other than the fact we had forgotten a tri-pod for camera #2. We had driven 3 + hours for this show so we improvised. Going in, I felt I had all my shit together and this was one band I knew the "in’s and out’s" of. However, I was a bit hesitant about Mitch. I had read in many articles that he has severe OCD and based on many of those articles, I had it in my head this was no person to fuck with and you better be prepared. I was prepared but I couldn’t have been more wrong about my preconceived notions of Mitch. As I’ve come to learn the past year of doing this, he couldn’t have been nicer and was a great interview and one that was definitely worth our 3 hour drive. Again much like tour managers I have yet to run into a single prima-donna asshole musician in an interview. I may one day but for now the “rock-star” attitude many fear and is generally blown way out of proportion, just doesn’t exist. Honestly, the "hardest of the hardcore" are generally the most laid back in person. Mitch and Mark hung around after the interview and bullshitted with us for quite a while, signed some autographs, took photos and just had fun with the whole thing. I really liked SUICIDE SILENCE going in but left with them being one of my current favorite bands! The show was intense to say the least and they put on one kick-fucking-ass live show. Highly recommended if they ever come around your neck of the woods. Obviously, they have a rabid-fan base and it’s even sparked some heated “debates” in the comments section, some funny, some just fucking mean but for the most part just “spirited” opinions. This video continues to perform extremely well and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

To all of you that take the time and spend the 10 minutes to watch any of our videos on behalf of myself, Agent Ex and Blondie...THANK YOU! We plan to continue to bring you some of the best video features you’ll see on your favorite bands on the web in 2010! Stay tuned. It’s all possible because you watch!

MUCH THANKS AND APPRECIATION,

Remembering Legends.

Wed, 9 Dec 2009 08:15:48 -0500

A day late and a dollar short? In the case of remembering musical icons and legends I don’t think it’s possible because for serious music lovers and musicians Dec. 8th is not just one bad day in music history but something that sticks with you forever.

Of course some may not even compare the contributions of John Lennon and “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott to the musical landscape but their loss is universally enormous. Even if you were only a fan of either the Beatles or of Pantera and Damageplan. Yesterday by no means was forgotten by anyone, Tweets were made and then re-tweeted, new Facebook apps were created and everyone was listening to one or more songs from those who made it and then were senselessly taken from their families, friends and fans.

Most historians like to talk about the “Where were you when...” statements during times of tragic events. I have several of those moments. But one sticks with me more profoundly than most. I came into my “day job” on Dec. 9, 2004 and did my normal routine. Opened up my browser to see what had happened overnight and then I saw it, “Heavy metal guitarist killed during a live performance.” It caught my attention immediately and then I read further and then tried to stomach the news of the “Dimebag” tragedy. I went directly to a co-worker who was a fan of rock and metal and a musician himself and I could see on his face he had just read the same article I had.

I couldn’t shake the thought all day and as the story continued to unfold and more images and video started to spread it became more and more painful. Now mind you I am a musician but I also remain a diehard “metalhead” fan first and foremost. Pantera was “the band” that brought me from the glam, pomp and circumstance of “hair metal” into the world of metal that “Dimebag” helped shape into what it still is today. I love all metal and rock but I had always skewed to the lighter side of things. Metallica, Megadeth and Pantera were introduced to me by a friend in high school art class that said I needed to give “real” metal a chance and once I did I never looked back. Pantera became a staple in my musical collection and I still have all those CD’s I bought when CD’ were still the norm. And those will probably be ones that will remain with me much like vinyl did long ago to the half generation behind me and the digital one that still lied ahead.

Yesterday when I got home from my “day job” (same one by the way) I grabbed my mail as usual but in with the local coupon inserts and nameless bills was my copy of Guitar World with Dimebag Darrell Abbott on the cover and the thought of what happened still seems surreal that something that tragic could happen to one man who changed the landscape of what playing heavy metal meant and where it continues today and continues to be influenced by “Dime.”

I once watched the VH1 edition of “Behind the Music” of Pantera and I don’t think I could watch it twice. The ending literally brought me to tears with “Dime’s” family speaking so honestly and painfully about their personal loss. From his brother Vinnie, his father and his longtime girlfriend Rita. It was definitely too much for me watch more than one time. I’ve lost a lot of very close people at an early age in my life to tragic deaths and that’s what stuck with me. The music world lost a legend that can never be replaced but moreover a family lost a loved one and that’s the biggest tragedy of all and one that stuck with me the hardest.

I still have Pantera and Damageplan to listen to and that’s the beauty of a musical legacy. But to not have someone you love more than life itself be ripped from your heart and soul is inconsolable.

So for those who love the music and those who love the man raise a glass (a “black tooth grin” if possible) and toast a life and memories that can never be taken. One that forever changed and defined a music genre.

Things will never be the same because of one man’s life and death and nothing like this is simple or can be defined in a blog (especially mine) but the easiest thing to say is, “You are missed....R.I.P “Dime” and thank you for all you gave music and your family.”

As a side note I spoke with Dave Peters, lead vocalist of Throwdown. He spoke to me about the difficulty of going back and playing at the Alrosa Villa 5 years after the tragedy that occurred there. How it affected the band and the crew, some of which had very close ties with Dime. You can watch the interview HERE.

IN THIS MOMENT, ALL THAT REMAINS and Beyond...

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:44:45 -0500

Last post I discussed the prospects for interviewing IN THIS MOMENT in Dayton, OH. Now before I discuss that I have one thing to say on behalf of myself and Agent Ex...

OHIO HATES BARE BONES!

Now before this steamrolls into some ill conceived rant against Ohio I assure you it’s not. We seem to have a compounding amount of bad luck that travels with us through that state. We love the clubs, people and bands. They have all been great. But I shall give you just the highlights:

Van’s Warped Tour, Cincinnati, OH. - On the way to the show our van breaks down less that 100 yards from our hotel in the rain.

8KOunt Video Premiere Party, Dayton, OH. - We had planned for everything. The stage was set and we were ready to show our first music video to a packed venue. The time had come and within a matter of seconds the DVD did not work, we had given all extra copies away. The speaker system did not work. Evil G. went into full on panic mode. When we got a disc that worked Agent Ex held a mic to the external speaker, Evil G. had collapsed in fear and the band was 20 minutes late going on.

The only time any of our cameras have done a face plant on to a bar floor has been in OH. Twice.

Even though the IN THIS MOMENT interview ended up great, the stress level and the fact that it almost never happened going in was...you guessed it...OH.

ALL THAT REMAINS: we ended up in god awful Cincy traffic at 2 in the afternoon! Almost missed the whole interview and Evil G. almost caused a dozen accidents trying to make it to the show because of SHIT directions. Lucky for us ATR tour manager was understanding and so was Mike from the band.

Now granted much of this is quite possibly self inflicted, but no, we are blaming OH. We have never had such problems ANYWHERE else. But cross the bridge into the queen city and she takes us on a hellride. We don’t know when we might not escape at all.

That said, I’m sure we’ll still have plenty of adventures in Ohio since we aren’t quitters and maybe the state is just testing our metal. Time will tell.

Whoops. That did turn into a rant. My apologies. On to the good stuff. As previously stated the IN THIS MOMENT interview almost didn’t happen but thanks to ITM’s tour manager and a lot of patience he came through for us in a big way! The interview and show went great and the video will be posted Monday, Nov. 30.

ALL THAT REMAINS, despite it’s glitches, turned out really well too. Mike Martin was an AWESOME interview! Funny as hell and very candid. Good stuff and that’ll be up next week as well. You can watch the video here. You can check out photos of the show HERE.

So today we are back in our hometown for HALESTORM. Things should go off without a hitch but there’s part of my gut telling me that there is a satanic shitstorm heading our way like we’ve never encountered.

Maybe. Just maybe. Everyone hate us? We’ll find out in a few hours.

In This Moment Pre-interview

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:34:44 -0500

Tomorrow, myself and Agent Ex take the short drive north to Dayton, OH to interview Maria Brink and Chris Howorth of In This Moment. Over the past year we have had our “moments” with the band. First ITM was the first band to win the “Bare Bones Band of the Year” as voted on by fans. Next we interviewed Chris while he was on his way to a pre-Warped Tour meeting. Finally in July of this year we met and interviewed Jesse Landry (drums), Blake Bunzel (guitar), Jeff Fabb (bass) before thier show on the Warped Tour stop in Cincinnati, OH. SEE THAT VIDEO HERE.

SEE PHOTOS HERE>

Then we shot much of their Warped set so close to the stage I thought Maria may slug me. They had the crowd rocking like no other and when the opportunity came along for a crowd surfing “moment” our very own “Blondie” took to the challenge.

So it stands to reason that we have some sort of infatuation with ITM. But the truth is how can you not? ITM has been one of the most accessible and gracious bands we have ever had the pleasure of meeting since we started Bare Bones. As a matter of fact they were the first band we interviewed that broke us from local to national in one fell swoop.

When the opportunity came along to see and interview them this time on their own headlining “A Winter to Remember” tour we couldn’t just pass up the chance. Their record label Century Media has hooked us up on so many occasions it’s “sick.” So yeah we have a little more affection for this band and we are stoked to bring you not only a cool interview, live footage, photos but hopefully some free giveaways! We’ll try anyway.

But with this band there is always a chance for a great “moment” not to mention one hell of a live show.

PREPARE!

- Evil G.