Dj Artistry & NoNeedz’s new record "Give Us The Food Money EP"

He's currently doing an preorder of his new record "Give Us The Food Money EP". As with all NoNeedz records if you pay 5$ to his paypal account rytops1@yahoo.com You get the unmastered version now and then you get the mastered version for free later.

Heres the tracklist:

1 - Sick and Twisted

2 - Obstacles

3 - Haters In My Background

4 - City Sorrows

5 - Flows Like Hose

6 - A blurred Mind

7 - Stay Dry

8 - Straight Jacket

To preview some NoNeedz’s tracks check out www.soundcloud.com/noneedz

Check out this youtube video of NoNeeds (A favorite of mine)

Interview: Live@Subs

My interview with Sub from Live@Subs. Straight outta Australia this bands got some great stylee and all of their albums are worth checking out.



What artists/bands influence your sound? Eric Clapton/Cream, Hendrix, Sublime, any good dub, Alice In Chains, Beasties, RHCP's...list goes on! Wing and Deef listen to a bunch of different stuff but we def share a bunch of common influences.

How did Live@Subs get started? We all went to school together, Wing and I played guitar, Deef played drums...Wing started playing bass, we had a band! We used to jam every chance we could for years...Deef and I played in a bunch of other bands, I toured the US for 2 years back in '97 &'98 playen in an Aussie Blues/Funk band... When I quit we started taking L@S a bit more serious...just a bit...!

Whats the Australian music scene like and how do you guys fit into it? Its a pretty small scene...I dont know if we fit in it or out of it??...depends what day it is!

Who do you guys like sharing the stage with? Theres a couple bands we play with a bit out here, Feed Ya Munkie are a young band recording a new record rite now, Direct Influence and The Lowdown are another couple we play with when we can...other wise any of the 63 bands Mudd plays are always cool!

How do your songs usually start out and how do they end up getting to point were you record them? We all write together and separately, either by jams or individual ideas...We don't want just one opinion contributing to our song writing.

How did you get your start with Long Beach Records? I met Mudd over the net and sent him some music. He liked it, and then he came out to Australia just around the time Slightly Stoopid came out. We opened up for them and Mudd hung out. He then came out again not long after and we did an East Coast Tour with him on drums, we been good buddies ever since. I just had my family out staying with his in August this year.

Tell me about your recordings that are currently out? Dam we got a few...We got 4 EP's, Memoirs of an Ashtray, Holiday In Japan, The Subs EP, & The Game. Then we got 3 full lengths, Live@Subs Self Titled, Transpacific(w/Glue Factory) and Hecho En El Norte which we havnt really even released yet!! Its a project that Mudd started. Like Transpacific it was recorded half in LB Cali, and half in Melbourne. Everything is up on Itunes and at LBR's website. We also have it all for sale at www.longbeachrecords.com.au but we are currently rebuilding the website so its not up atm!

Transpacific is probably my favorite rite now, its got Mudd playen drums and guitar, Randy Bradbury from Pennywise plays bass on a couple tracks, Mike Davis from Secret Hate and Glue Factory, and Todd Forman from Sublime fame plays sax too which is cool!...

Are there any new recordings in the works? Yeah we are currently writing our asses off...we have a shit load of ideas demo'd we just gota get them structured a bit better....We been talking to some producers and playing them what we got to see if they get a vibe...but we need to get more songs outta our jams!
Mudd, Mike Long(Capitol Eye), and I spent a few days recording in LB back in August, so we got a few ideas down, we spent a day with Mike Happoldt and drank beers and did a dub medley just for kicks...was good fun!

But yeah we just in the process of releasing Hecho En El Norte thru LBR. Hit them up at www.longbeachrecords.com to get a copy...I think its on Itunes too...

I see you travel to the USA what is it that you like about the USA verses Australia? There are simply more people to play too, and its a newer audience to play our music too.... Its not that one is better, we just want to expand and not limit ourselves solely to Oz! That and we got a bunch of good friends we have made via playing music!

If you could play live anywhere where would it be? Man I don't know...thats a pretty big question...L@S like playing snow shows and beach shows, so beach or mountains, flip a coin...we aint too picky.

What is it that you like most about music? playing it live. And the people I meet thru playing music.

Whats your favorite cd and why? we still have cd's these days?

Any local Australian music acts people should check out? Same as above, Feed Ya Munkie, The Lowdown, Direct Influence, & AUD!

If your drinking than what are you drinking? Beer when its day, Scotch and Coke when its night.

What have you been listening to lately? Old Rolling Stones and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Whats the next move for Live@Subs? Finish writing our record, and record it with a good producer!

Anything you want to say to your fans people out there? support live music, get out there and go see a band at your local, when ever you can!...Cheers!

Check out some of their tunes right here
http://www.myspace.com/liveatsubs

Buy there albums from the source right here
www.longbeachrecords.com

Notable Mention: Pasadena

Their album "Sick And Tried" is high on my list really worth checking out.

You can hear samples of the album "Sick And Tried" right here

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pasadena

Interview: KnowledgeBorn07

My interview with Knowledgeborn07. I've been a fan since I was a kid. He released a new album for free this year so naturally I had to interview him.

How did you get your start with music? When I was a kid we were the only house on the block with a basketball hoop. Neighbors from all around would throw games in our back yard....bust out the gold spray painted ghetto blasters ....people carving jordan and nike symbols in their hair and blaze some Rob Base...Run DMC...all the good stuff while us younger kids imitated ...tryed to jump in...then eventually just watched and rapped.....When I would go to school I would rap on the playground to my friends and the girls of course...then around junior high one of my friends had a little project studio in his basement where he recorded punk songs. We dug the beastie boys...RATM dropped Freedom....it was on from there...........

Whats been your biggest influance? My biggest influence in life are my kids. If I didn't have them I would be a sad MOFO...haha...I am a sad MOFO but...."I got my kids" ....sorta........nah but family is a huge influence...not only my own but just families and seeing that connection of love and compassion.........also culture influences me......any kinda of art....creativity....life....love....definatly other peoples music...Music has shaped me into the person I am today for the most part.

Whats your music writing process like? Sometimes I write a paragraph of how I'm feeling at that moment...i put it away....it eventually makes its way back to me when I'm blocked and i try to form it into a song......other times I pick up the guitar....find a melody on one string.....figure out the chords....sstrum and see what comes out.....write it down....get a ruff recording...then it my transform into something good...or take a back seat in which I only bust it out when some friends are over and I laugh in embaressement. Other times someone will send me a tune and I'll sit and write to it. Or I'll just go into the studio and record some random stuff...write stuff on the spot and perform it. It all really depends. Everyday is a new adventure in writing and I hope that never stops. Countertops....napkins....boxes....smartphones.....my hands...or i'll call someones voicemail and leave a message of a melody in hope that it won't get lost....

How do you feel about the current state the music business is in? I love it! I think there is so much good music out there and its just an endless see of new bands out there. Music makes me high! It's not a competition to me its a koalescence.

What are you drinking? hmmmm.....last night I drank Svedka and Grapefruit juice with a splash of lemon gatoraid....that was pretty tasty actually and gives you a little boost...haha....I like Scotch on the rocks brother.....straight to the point...and micro brews.......

Whats been your best moment in music? I think my best moment was recording this last album and collaborating with some great people/artists.

How do you feel about mainstream music? I like Lady Gaga.....but not until I saw her interview.......

I see you callab with alot of artists. Who have you liked collabing with the most so far? My favorite artist that I have colaborated with so far besides Johnny Cosmic would have to be Zack Walters of 3rd Alley. Dude's just a bad mofo.

Cosmic Knowledge is one of my favorite albums of 2010! What was the major message for the album? The major message was that it doesn't matter where you come from or who you are ...we are all the same at the end of the day when the lights go out.....it was an album thrown out into the wild web like a message in a bottle floating in an open sea.......sunshines and storms ....regardless....just hoping someone will find that bottle(album) at the time in their life when they need it most and it can help them thru their own struggles because I was bleeding in that album......everything that has gone on during that recording process was seeping out of me....but thats how an album should be....heartfelt and true....sometime I felt like my guts were being tornout but now im healed and stronger.......The message inside that bottle is different for everyone that desides to grab it and open it and actually give it a whirl....it's for everyone......

Whats the next move? Next move is grab some Frankies Ribs tonight...hahah.....nah ....just trying to get that free album (www.knowledgeborn07.com) into as many hands as I can while moving forward with music and expressing myself musically.....i'm working on my next album and also have a collaboration album in the works with some friends of our old band Roots of Kreation and some guys from the legendary Ways to be Worse crew....so look for that ......The art work was done by chris dyer....an amazing artist from Brazil....there is a documentary coming out about him and one of our songs off the album with be on that documentary so stay tuned and check out http://www.positivecreationsmovie.com/ .............Peace and Blessings......

KnowledgeBorn07 - 27 Miles

Interview: Dan Sherrill

Interview with solo singer/songwriter Dan Sherrill hailing from Wyoming. Dan's shared the stage with so many bands/artists it would take half a page to list them out. (Note: This is one of the first interviews I wrote out so the questions are kinda on the short side.)

So Dan how did you get your start in music? My mom is a long time musician/music teacher (she still plays piano/organ for wedding, church, etc.) So I got into music at an early age (voice and piano right away). Then in 5th grade, I started the good ol’ 5th grade band program playing the trumpet, and still actively play it today. Guitar came a few years later in 7th grade or so, and I haven’t looked back yet with the axe..

Whos has been your biggest influences in music? I’d have to say my mom for sure. Music teachers I’ve had through the years. My high school choir teacher, Mr. Swann did alot for my voice. My college music proffs – Dr. Royer and Mr. Parker were huge as well....

Then as far as “influences” in the big scope of things, I’d have to say Mishka, Brad Nowell, Dennis Brown, Slightly Stoopid, Johnny Cash, and Miles Davis to name a few.....

Have you been in any bands before going solo? Oh yeah. Got my first good experience in high school – playing with my homies in a band called Beta Caroteen. This was in Watertown, SD. As far as a high school garage/grunge/punk band, we were pretty good. It was a vital step in my music “milestones”....

In college then, my bro Tony Speiser (who I played in Beta Caroteen with) and I moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota and started the MMB (mighty moose band). We were pretty darn popular in South Dakota and put out on full LP entitled “get loose with the moose”, in which is now out of print. When I moved to Wyoming to start a family and new teaching career in 2004 -- is when I went solo. Since then, I’ve sat in with bands here and there, played with a 2 piece acoustic rock band, but most significantly – I’ve played guitar, sang, and tooted my trumpet on countless shows and cities with my good bros SLAUGHTERHOUSE ROOTZ out of Denver, CO. So much fun and it gives me the “full band” adrenaline that a person digs ha ha..

How is it balancing being a family man and be an actively touring musician? It’s hard man, but yet it flows and fits well. First of all, you gotta have a good....I mean GREAT woman by your side. She believes in me, supports me, and allows me to tour and play lots of shows....but I still make time for the family in which is essential. Unfortunately, I’ve seen too many musicians “fall” or “get grounded” so to speak from the road because they don’t have an understanding and supportive woman by their side. You can’t be selfish, you gotta give and take a little – do the best you can to make it balance.

Whats the Wyoming music scene like and how do you fit into it? Well Wyoming itself is the smallest (population wise) state in the Country. We only have 500,000 people in the whole entire state. There really isn’t much of a scene compared to surrounding states like Colorado and Utah. For the most part, the demand for entertainment in Wyoming is Country and or Western.... Casper seems to be the hub of the state and I have done pretty dang well up there. There’s a fair scene there. Jackson Hole (ski area) is cool as well, and Laramie (U of Wyoming) is pretty good.....I’d have to say for a “cowboy state”, Casper probably holds it down the best.

How do you feel about the Reggae Punk music scene these days? I like it. But it’s starting to get kinda saturated with the same ol’ stuff, generic stuff if ya get my drift. A lot of it sounds the same, a lot of us have talked about this particular issue. Overall though, more exposure is good exposure so I can’t complain.....

Whats been some of your most memorible times on the road and jamming? I’ve had some killer times traveling/playing with Slaughterhouse Rootz. Heck, we just played a couple of weeks ago in Minneapolis on the Slightly Stoopid bill w/ Jon Wayne and the Pain as well as the Collie Buddz. That was sick. Tours to California have been great, love heading that way. I’ve made 6 tours in the past 4 years and they’ve always been great. Great friends out that way. Going back to South Dakota (my old stomping grounds) is always crazy. Great crowds, good friends and peeps gettin’ down to the Wyoming Reggae ha ha...

Who do you like to share the stage with the most? Jon Wayne and the Pain really hit me with a good vibe when I recently hooked up with them in Denver. Since then, I’ve played another show with them. They are awesome. Playing with SHR on the Mishka Bill was a dream come true. I’m a huge Mishka fan/influence as I mentioned earlier. Of course Slaughterhouse Rootz is always exciting to play with. Mike Pinto, Ballyhoo, and B-Foundation, Fayuca, Tatanka are sick to share the stage with. Great fellas, great musicians, real peeps, so rad.

Check out his myspace at

http://www.myspace.com/dansherrillrootsrockreggae

On The Spot Interview: Jon Wayne And The Pain

My late night facebook chat interview with Jon of Jon Wayne And The Pain.

Me- So Jon how did you get started in music?

Jon- I started taking guitar lessons when i was 9 and first played songs by the doors and other rock and roll classics like stairway to heaven and other top 40 picks. Love me two times was the first song I sang in front of people

Me- Nice man. I've seen interviews were you talk about being a former addict how does it influance your music and do you have any advice for the peoples out there trying to get clean?

Jon- Being a recovering drug addict does have a big influence on the music. The inspiration i once got from those drugs turned out to be the thing that nearly took my life and ultimately left me uninspired. Now that i look back on it, the main thing that helped me get clean was seeing that I didnt have to live that life anymore if I didnt want to. I saw other people who had similar stories to me change their life through taking different actions and gaining contact with a power greater than themselves.

Me- Some pretty strong words of inspiration. What is it that you like most about music?

Jon- I like how, when the Im feeling either our music or someone else's music. I can leave the surface of the earth and find myself completely content in the present moment. I have found that being in the present moment is the most wonderful place to be, even if things appear to be going bad. I have no control over the past or future, but have complete control over my life in the here and now. Music has brought me to that place more than anything else

Me- I hear you on alot of that. Do you still see racistism is a problem today?

Jon- Not as much in the groups that i surround myself with usually. But, when we play in smaller communties, that have been extremely sheltered from other cultures and races i do see it more. I dont respond well to Racist people. I usually loose my composure and say something that I regret. So i usually turn the other way and leave a conversation if It gets a racist tone to it

Me- What was the major thoughts behind your first record? I've listened to it many times. Theres alot of great tracks on it and tracks that make you think. A couple that I think alot of people can compare to there own lives.

Jon- Yeah Im glad you can relate to it. I think that having a struggle in your life and moving past that struggle is something that a lot of people can relate to. Even if it hasnt been drugs or alcohol, we have all had tough parts in our lives and being able to move past it is a unifying theme.

Me- So Jon do you have any other hobbys than music?

Jon- Yeah, I really enjoy Longboarding around the neighborhoods and chillin at home here in Uptown Minneapolis. We're on the road so much that its just nice to not be in a moving vehicle. I also enjoy fishing, but dont make it out very often.

Me- What did you change on your new record what was the major influence behind it? How was recording it?

Jon- We had progressed more as a band when we we went into the studio for our latest album and had more of a complete idea of what we wanted than on the last album. My personal influence of most of the songs had come from me getting excited about life again. Getting back in the swing of living, realizing that life doesnt have to be a series of self inflicted pains. The recording process was tedious, but we ended up getting a pretty good album out of it. Im altogether pleased with the outcome of our new effort.

Me- I wanna personally thank you for doing this interview, Do you have anything you want to say to your fans/peoples out there?

Jon- We have found so much support from our fans that we will keep up the hard work. You people have made it worth while to play all these shows in all these cities. We wouldn't be Shit without you. Thank you for everything. If you believe in us, help us spread our music to people who have never heard it.

Check out their Myspace at

http://www.myspace.com/jonwayneandthepain

Also check out the bands website at

http://www.jonwayneandthepain.com/

Interview: A Bear With A Car On Top

A Bear With A Car On Top answers some questions I had for them about their starting up and their new album thats gonna drop soon.

So first thing first I gotta know what the names all about guys? Brian Whipp - The name is pretty random it's an object you can pick up on one level in the japanese video game "Katamari Damacy." We always make up and hear new versions of it though. The other day we were introduced as "A Beer On Top Of A Car." I think that's the most hallarious one yet.

When and how did you guys start playing? Brian - I was trying to start a band in college and none were really coming together until I met Brendan and Alex Lurhman my sophmore year. I was starting to write reggae songs instead of just punk and Alex really kinda guided that transition. He was this crazy kid from Spain who eventually got kicked out of school and went on to take classes in Santa Barbara and work at a cannibis collective. He was hella good at guitar and we wrote a few songs together and would jam. He pretty much taught Brendan to play a reggae beat. Since then we've just been playing alot and getting alot better and things have been going really well since we got Jeff on bass. Our playing is super solid and things are going really well.

Jeff - Ive been playing music since i was in 3rd grade and when i moved out to cali from AZ i had played with numerous bands off and on until i met brian and brenden and we hit it off, the jams were Dope and are evolving into some really heavy shit. Our live show is where its at, we love the energy and the improv.

What are your guys influances/inspirations musically? Brian - My biggest influence and musical inspiration is Bradley Nowell for sure. I'm pretty much always listening to sublime. I am also really into Tim Armstrong and Jack White. I think Michael Jackson should definitely get alot of props. Led Zeppelin. Eminem.

Jeff Laos - I would have to say for bass it would be Aston Family man barrett and john frusciante all around. i love Fat Freddy's drop, flea, omar rodriguez lopez and the mars volta, Passafire, Salmonella Dub, minus the Bear, dub trio, lee perry and king tubby, madlib, oh and tatanka im really digging their shit. there are so many i love music as a whole, it inspires me.

How does the song writing usally go down? Brian - Songwriting could happen any way. I would say most of the songs we play started with a Jam. We develop it a little an come up with parts then we record it and I kinda freestyle and skat around some lyrics,

Jeff - Improv Jams for the most part for sure. we jam it out to get the vibes right and usually the more you jam and feel it out it will just come together naturally. but i think its best to approach song-writing in every way possible.

Brian - other times me or Brendan or Jeff will just come to the table with a full song done that we had written on our own with all the parts and then teach it to the other guys or have them add to it.

Whos been your favorite band and best spot to play shows with so far? Brian - I love playing at Kilkenny's. It's cool because you can go get crazy beers at Najas, then check out Andy Walo next door, and get some crab for dinner or some live sea urchin. Some bands I'm always down to play with are Meet Me At The Pub, Stinky Pinky, Ease UP, Seedless, and Sand Section.

Jeff - Yea Kilkenny's on the redondo pier is always dope cause i live right up the street and get to make good use of the free drink tickets, haha. i still dig to play the house partys, its just good vibes, we played a dope pool party in the hollywood hills with the sickest view of all of LA. I really dug playing with seedless, those dudes killed it, as well as the movement, Stinky pinky, and the homies Ease up.

What have you guys been jamming lately? Brian - Been jamming Sublime, and Bob.

Jeff - ive been jamming Fat freddys drop for the past 3 years as well as tatanka big shout outs to them, minus the bear, passafire, flying lotus, madlib, classics

Pipes or Blunts? Brian - Pipes and Blunts!!!

Jeff - Whatevers Clever, Vaporizors!!

So I hear you guys are about to drop your first full length album soon? Brian - The album! Yeah I'm psyched for it. I've been working for the last week on the album and we are doing alot of planning for the album release. We started this project in March 2008! It's the longest I've ever worked on anything in my life and its gonna be awesome to see it finished. Its been quite a struggle. Here is a preview of our album art, i have been working on it for the past week, check it out

Jeff - Be on the look-out for it, its a sick record. its not gonna be your typical reggae rock release. Lots of hard work put into it and its only the beginning. Im really stoked to be apart of it!!

How was recording the album and did you guys run into any challenges while recording? Brian - We lost our bassist pretty much right after we started, and Brenden got sick with some strange stomach syndrome and went home to Deleware for like 6 months. At one point I was living out of my car and I found out we hadn't paid rent on our practice studio in a month and a half, which had all our equipment in it. But we've come a long way and I think all the time we put into it is really gonna pay off.

Jeff - Yea there is alot of heart in this album, you can hear it. i was really stoked that right after i joined the band i got to get right to work in the studio.

Whats the next move? Jeff - Tour, tour, tour

Brian - Next move is touring/partying!

Anything you wanna say to your fans/peoples? Brian - Come to our shows!!!!

Jeff - We got love for you, come out to our shows and kick it with us. and check us out online @ www.rastabear.com and www.reverbnation.com/abearwithacarontop

Interview: Matt Irie and Ethan Grooms of Erosion

Matt Irie and Ethan Grooms of Erosion answers some of my questions about whats going on with their band Erosion

I wanna start this off By asking where the name for the band came from? Matt - Basically, going through a few different options and with about every thing under the sun being taken, we realized Erosion would be a good fit.

Ethan: yeah, we threw names around for a little while an we didnt want anything to cliche, erosion fit.

How did you guys all meet? Matt - Nate and I met years ago at one of the local bars and had alot of the same interests in the same music and clicked from there. Come to meet Ethan and Joey last year at one of the shows Nate and I were doing as a duo, few days later came over to jam and everything came together.

Ethan: Me an Joey have known each other since about middle school. We grew up through high school playing in different bands an stuff. Me an him were in a band for a while an it kind of became stale for us an everyone kind of went separate ways. We had a mutual friend that kept telling me an joey he had some friends that we should get up an play music with. So we go check matt an nates duo show one night an the rest is history.

Who has been your biggest inspiration so far? Matt - I would say my family, of course all the guys in the band, and all the cool people I have met so far doing this.

Ethan: Life, an the people around you.

How has your music evolved since you first began playing music as a band? Matt -Came quite far, with every rehearsal we take some time and jam out for a bit to get a vibe for a new song and take it from there. One thing I can say is we take it a step further everytime, not to be defined a certain genre. While still sticking to the reggae sound though.

Ethan: Its been reggae from the get go, but everyone has a bit of a different style they bring to the table that gives it a different feel.

So far how have the shows been? Matt - We have done 1 show as the band with Pasadena down in Myrtle Beach. We do plan on taking this out to the masses though. Looking to get the most energetic and fun live show we can together to make sure everyone remembers the name. Gonna be a good time.

Ethan: Like Matt said super fun. Have got to meet some cool people. Were ready to start doing more shows an get the name out there.

What has been your biggest challenge so far? Matt - In my opinion it's been everything, but in a good manner you could say. With the band you take in that everyone voices there idea for how something should grow. With this being the first run for myself in a stable musical setting, it's been really cool to take all of it in and just keep building.

Ethan: I wouldnt say ive personally had a challenge yet. Im getting to do what i love..play bass, hang with good friends, and overdose on reggae music!!

Hows the recording going on the debut album? Matt - We have alot of ideas brewing up, I had a few solo tracks we have worked on that never got released, and like I said before, every rehearsal we have, we develop so many new ideas for songs. Got some good stuff coming for sure in the form of an EP I believe.

Ethan: Good, taking our time. Its hard, everytime we get together an jam theres always something new we play or learned an want to incorporate into a song.

How do you guys feel about the current state the music business is in? Matt - In every genre of music you have a certain level they say you can reach. I believe this reggae\rock genre is starting to make a bigger name for itself with all the groups who are doing bigger things. The rising bands making a name for themselves as well. It's all about unity in my eyes. You have to get out and network with everyone you meet. Keep it fresh in the eyes of the fans,friends, whoever is taking time to give their support. This is not a business for the lazy,or weak minded that is for sure. Much support to those doing it up.

What are you guys drinking? Matt - GENNY LIGHT, IPA,Jager,Miller,Bud Light,Liberty micro brew,Ethan drinks alot of Christian Bros. Brandy as well. E Dubb Whiskey,and a ton of Sailor Jerrys.

Ethan: Brandy, alllll day.

Whats the next move? Matt - Taking it one stride at a time for the moment being, many things to come for sure. Erosion is a name you will be seeing for awhile, so get used to it haha. Got some cool things in the works we are keeping wrapped up till its time. You can keep up to date on the facebook "Erosion" and the myspace as well at www.myspace.com/erosionmusicnc

Ethan: Bass & Beer store

Notable Mention: Louie V

I have listened to Louie V for many years now. His albums have always been solid. His recording and production work is nothing short of amazing. His track "On The Freeway" is one of my top favorite songs. Go and give it an listen!

http://www.myspace.com/louiev