Boogie Bot Monthly

Matisyahu interview

2014-10-23T21:52:00.005-07:00

BBM: How’s life treating you?
Matisyahu: Uhh its okay, life is good.

BBM: What was your first major experience with music and how did you know it was for you?
Matisyahu: It’s hard to pinpoint it to one experience; as far back as I can remember music has been a big part of my life. When I was 16 I went to a FISH concert and dropped LSD for the first time. That was the moment I knew music was the core of my being.

BBM: Very cool, I remember reading about that. Then you started following them on tour. Let’s talk about your acoustic EP, what made you want to release it?
Matisyahu: Well I’ve done a lot of acoustic shows over the years and were also doing an acoustic tour. I really enjoy them. It’s a little more involved and passionate then some of the past few tours I’ve done. We enjoy them and it gives me a chance to play for the people on a personal level. The show consists of a cello and two guitars and I’ve recorded these live over the past six months.

BBM: There are a lot of great things you’re doing. Part of the proceeds of the Happy Hanukah cover song is being donated to the Hurricane Relief Fund. Where can fans purchase this song?
Matisyahu: Online at matisyahuworld.com as well as ITunes and Facebook.

BBM: Three words that describe your music?
Matisyahu: What about 3 syllables? I mean 4.

BBM: Sounds good

Matisyahu: Undescribable

To read the full interview click here

Artist Interview: KR. One

2013-11-17T15:10:00.002-08:00

KR. ONE

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

I can't complain, really. Besides some aches and pains, I'm good.

BBM: What was your first major experience with art and how did you know it was for you?

I would consider my childhood. Drawing and painting for as long as I can remember and hearing other children and teachers calling me and referring to me as an artist. When I was a kid I always thought of people like Salvador Dali as an artist. Y'know, like a really eccentric looking individual with a cap and moustache. So, my reaction was like, hmmn, interesting. People think I'm like that guy. Lol

The responses and reactions to what I was doing stayed with me and the joy I felt in the creative processes of art and music. It was a no brainer, really. I was for it and it for me.

I loved art so much that I still do it with the same eagerness I had as a child, if not more so.

BBM: Give our readers a little history about yourself:

I am a native New Yorker born in Harlem, raised in Astoria, Queens.

I come from a huge Italian family of 12 siblings. I started writing graffiti at the age of 11 in 1977 and was part of the NYC Subway graffiti movement till 1983 when I became serious about music.

Having since made music with and travelled the world with legendary NYC bands like Murphy's Law, Lords Of Brooklyn and various Heavy Metal projects all the while doing "legal" graffiti art including a bunch of successful group and solo art shows.

Read our full interview with KR. ONE AKA Louie Gasparro click the link below:

http://www.boogiebotmonthly.net/#!krone/cdc9

Model Interview: Buellher Suicide

2013-11-17T14:52:00.001-08:00

Buellher Suicide

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

BS: Great! Life and I have an agreement to be kind to each other.

BBM: What was your first major experience with modeling and how did you know it was for you?
BS: I was in a book and exhibit. It wasn't the first major gig but it was the first tangible gig. Made it feel very real. I felt very vulnerable and proud. Attending the exhibit was interesting because I could observe everyone's reactions. Modeling isn't a career for me. Its another creative outlet.

BBM: Give our readers a little history about yourself:

BS: Grew up with bikers and babes in the bay area. Not much has changed.

BBM: Besides modeling what are some of your passions?

BS: I love to paint, draw and take photos... I am a hairstylist. So that is definitely one passion. I also love to teach. I am constantly learning and teaching.

BBM: Any upcoming or recently completed shoots you’re excited about?

BS: An artist collaborative book. Babes and Monsters something along those lines

To read our full interview with the beautiful Buellher Suicide please click the link below:

http://www.boogiebotmonthly.net/#!buellhersuicide/c1hi3

Artist Interview with Clogtwo

2013-10-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

BBM: How’s life treating ya?
Pretty much tough. Taking quite a beating from projects and commissioned works but an occupied life is better than none.

BBM: What was your first major experience with art and how did you know it was for you?
When I was invited to exhibit my works at The Singapore Arts Museum.

BBM: Give our readers a little history about yourself:
I love doodling and sketching since I was young, drawing all sorts of cartoons that I saw or imagined. Soon after, I began to pick up the spray can in 2004, started off as an illegal graffiti writer for a year before I began to surface from the underground, joining graffiti competitions and from then on it became a passion and started to pursue in the art and design in school of Interactive Media Design in Temasek Polytechnic. I’ve been practicing arts for 10 years now, and now it’s more of an obsession rather than a passion. Opened up my mind, learning different mediums of art forms like traditional batik painting, art installations and new media technology. I don’t want to be labeled, but being able to explore different mediums and infuse them into a new level art piece.

BBM: You have a diverse portfolio, what would you say is your passion?
I would say, I am more inclined in graffiti, as it’s a free form, energetic platform, where you are able to move freely and let your body just stretch as far as it can. With graffiti being the art of rebellion, it’s an art form with the idea of freedom of speech and free art for the public. The origin of graffiti is always contemporary, you may never know how long it will stay, maybe it will disappear or get dissed the next day. It’s like life, you have to let go of the past and move on.

To read the full interview click the link below!

http://www.boogiebotmonthly.net/#!clogtwo/c196q

Voodou Suicide

2013-10-13T12:56:00.004-07:00

Voodou Suicide

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

Life has been pretty amazing the past few months. I just got back from living in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia for two months. It was exhilarating, fulfilling, life-changing, bliss. I spent 6 weeks of that time in Yoga school, completing my 500hr Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Upgrade. I can not begin to describe the amazing journey I had, externally and internally. From temple hopping, meditating in sacred temples, being loved and then subsequently bitten by a monkey, engorging myself on delicious food, playing in the sea, scooter rides through midnight jungle tunnels surrounded by giant bats, dancing to late night drums and laughing, always laughing. I feel that I have lived a whole lifetime in two months, and even though I am heartbroken to be back from the land of incense and smiles, the only feeling I have to convey are love, gratitude and thankfulness.

BBM: What was your first major experience with modeling and how did you know it was for you?

One of my best friends was an SG, when I met her I was very taken with how open she was about it, how confident she seemed and the virtues of SG that she extolled. I decided to give it a go. I got such good feedback, and so many wonderful compliments, it was a huge self esteem boost. I felt good about myself for the first time in very many years. After that first shoot, I haven’t looked back since. It has been a hell of a journey and I have definitely grown with it. I am very thankful for that first encounter, as I would not be where I am today, or have had the incredible experiences and meetings with wonderful folks from all around the world, if it were not for SG.

BBM: What are some of the positive and negative things about being a model?
Positives, self esteem boost, meeting interesting new people, booking fun shoots, visiting scenic new places, being able to go to events country wide. Being an SG has really been fun, I came for the boobs, stayed for the people. The community is a wonderful thing on the site.

Negatives, unfortunately there are a few. Usually girls have to keep their SG life and personal life quite separated. There is still a very big taboo attached to the idea of a woman expressing herself in that way. Families, friends and coworkers can all have negative opinions on this. Another sad reason that public and private lives have to be
kept so separate are stalkers and creepy individuals. I thankfully have not had a particularly bad experience, but I know of quite a few girls who have horror stories. Not a fun place to be, so sometimes having to juggle two separate lives, and deciding who gets to know about both of them, can be quite a task.

To read the full interiew please click the link below
http://www.boogiebotmonthly.net/#!voodousuicide/c1sio

Interview with Heidi Van Horne

2013-10-13T12:32:00.000-07:00

Heidi Van Horne

BBM: You are a women of many talents, what would you say is your passion?

Thank God I don’t have to choose just one. Film making, Photography (in front of and behind the lens), Music, Writing… I guess, ultimately, in all avenues of my life, I am a storyteller. I am passionate about telling a good story.

BBM: Influences?

Parker Posey, Bunny Yeager, Exene Cervenka, Katherine Hepburn, Wonder Woman, Bettie Page, Jaclyn Smith, Joan Jett … pretty much any badass, quirky, talented, strong females. Bonus points for brunettes.

BBM: Most memorable moment of your career?

Just one? Hmmm… Having celebrities as fans is always a surprise and pretty cool. James Woods quoting things I had said in a random online pinup interview blew me away when I worked with him. He had done his homework, I was quite impressed.

To read the full interview please click the link below!

http://www.boogiebotmonthly.net/#!heidivanhorne/c11kn

Slim Jim Phantom

2012-12-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

Slim Jim Phantom has been drumming since 1979 and is one of the fore fathers of modern day Rockabilly. He has played in many bands over the years and is most known for being the drummer of the legendary Stray Cats. He is working on a new band with Tim Polecat and Johnny Bowler called The Whammy! I can’t wait to hear more on that project as they begin recording and touring in 2013. I recently had the honor to interview Slim Jim Phantom and here’s the man himself…

www.thewhammyband.com
www.slimjimphantom.com

BBM: How’s life treating ya?
Everything’s pretty cool

BBM: What was your first major experience with music and how did you know it was for you?
I always knew I wanted to do something in music - saw it as a way to travel, see the world - i tried the drums and was pretty good at it -

When where you first introduced to Rockabilly?
We found rockabilly by back tracking the current bands and singers we liked - always liked the oldies station - got turned on to some of the original blues guys - eventually found Elvis on the sun label - it was all over after that - Straycats have made it easier for the following Mtv generation to go straight to the source - we really had to dig around - we turned out to be the rock and rollers who did homework for the smart kids

BBM: When can we expect to hear The Whammy?The whammy plan on recording in the new year - we've written some songs and are eager to put them down

BBM: How would you say your Drumming style has evolved since playing with The Stray Cats?
My style has pretty much stayed gthe same from when i first learned - i hope i've gotten better at it - good or bad, it's my style - i do own it - luckily, i hooked up with the other two and was able to make some memorable recordings just playing how i know how to -

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be a drummer?
My advice to young drummers is to play with other people as much as possible - it's very, important to practice and learn rudiments but you gotta play live

BBM: Besides music what are some of your other passions?
Survival is a good passion - i like the kids and dogs and driving around in my vette with my hot rockabilly chick riding shotgun - i'm passionate about having lunch with steve jones, too

BBM: What are your thoughts on Psychobilly?I feel towards psychobilly like everything else - the best ones rise up and are good

BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your record player?I listen to the same records as always, new ones are my friends jimmy rip, imelda may and Michael ,m des Barres have all made new record that i like - the caezars are my favorite new young band - anyone who has i tunes radio should check out venerable radio - plays only 78s - 24/7 and i've never heard the same song twice

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news and What’s coming up for you in the future?The whammy website and Facebook - future is a bunch of gigs between now and march

left to right
slim Jim Phantom, Brian Setzer, Buzz Campbell, Lee Rocker

Artist: Joshua Hagler

2012-12-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

BBM: How’s life treating ya? Like Hemlock. It’s perfect.

BBM: What was your ﬁrst major experience with Art and how did you know it was for you?

When I was in kindergarten, I had a “twin,” a classmate with whom I shared a birthday. He was a drawer of fantastic castles and I populated them with occupants, humans with fascinating powers. We knew we had something special, a yin and yang if you will, and they started an after school class at this little public school in Idaho for him and me and few other kids that year. It seemed we had artists among us. The ordainment was conferred.

(prevailing)

BBM: Give our reader a little history about yourself:

I was born to a military/working-class family on an airforce base in Idaho. A tragedy in my family lead to the death of my youngest brother and we moved to a small Illinois town a couple years later, which consisted of a library, some churches, and a few fast food joints o the famed Route 66. I drew constantly on my classwork at school and my parents were called in because it was thought I was a “morbid” child, but my parents defended me because my grades were unafected. I attended the church youth group regularly and went to church camp in the summers. I was the second in my extended family to receive a college education and got a BFA in visual communications, which is a combination of illustration and graphic design from the University of Arizona. At U of A, I did a daily comic strip in the school paper, which my church ministers didn’t much care for. This was the beginning of the end for me and organized religion.The entire world seemed insane to me at that time. When 9/11 occurred, the news media in Tucson ran stories about how terrorists might use tunnels dug by illegal Mexican immigrants to stage the next attack on American Soil here in Tucson because Raytheon, which builds missiles and other military weapons, was located there.

My parents divorced and my father went through a period of intense religious fanaticism, ﬁrst brought about by the church I had earlier urged him to attend. Shortly after, I was ostrisized by the campus Christian group Wildcats for Christ, to which I had previously belonged. When I graduated, my ﬁrst item of business was to hightail it out of the desert quick as I could, and that brought me to San Francisco, a city of freaks and searchers much like myself and the only interesting city I had spent time at that stage of my life. My would-be wife joined me a few months later.

Back then, I thought I wanted to be an illustrator, and I took what illustration and design gigs I could while working a variety of jobs to pay the rent that included a frame shop, construction for Cirque du Soleil, and participation in UCSF studies for things like pain research where I learned that given the choice between being shocked, burned, or frozen, it’s best not to pick freezing because it requires the most endurance. Whenever I couldn’t get freelance gigs, I just made my own art and was occasionally
at a club or salon or something. I was plugging away at that when, in 2007, my wife and I had an arson in our building and left us without a home for four months. I was able to borrow a studio from a friend of a friend until I could ﬁnish work for my ﬁrst real solo show. This was a period of intense focus and transformation. I think I might have made my ﬁrst good painting around this time, and soon after I was ridiculously lucky to meet a collector online who would become a patron of my work. Until then, there had never been a time when I had a cent or had anyone who believed in or supported my work. For the ﬁrst time, I was given an opportunity to make art as a way of engaging in a more authentic search than what was possible as an illustrator. I’ve continued my education on my own, which has lead to new ideas and leaps in the way I think about what is important about art making. I feel grateful to work and exhibit in various places throughout the world. For instance, last year I lived and worked in southern Italy for six months as part of an artist residency, where I had my ﬁrst opportunity to create paintings for a deconsecrated baroque church on Lecce. That was an amazing feeling. I exhibit with galleries in San Francisco, Miami, and LA, with a show coming up next year at the University of Illinois, where I’ll also give a talk.

BBM: What are some projects you’re currently working on?

I’m working on two projects at the moment: a graphic novel as part of my current residency at Alter Space in San Francisco and a series of new paintings for the U of I show entitled “The Unsurrendered.” You can read more about it here:
http://joshuahagler.blogspot.com/2012/10/introducing-unsurrendered.html.

The graphic novel is called “In the Box Beneath the City.” To create this project, I’ve been interviewing certain individuals in a jail cell in the basement of Alter Space. The building itself was once and S&M leather shop/sex club and is now an art gallery.The ﬁrst question I ask each interviewee is, “How do you plead? Guilty or Innocent?” The conversation is improvised from there. I then take parts of the conversation and rewrite and reframe them to tell a story in graphic form. The same basic process was used in my animated video projection “The Evangelists” which I exhibited earlier this year at Frey Norris Contemporary and Modern in San Francisco and the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami. Doing it in graphic novel form has allowed me to go back to the ﬁrst medium I ever fell in love with, which is comics.
BBM: Three words that describe your art? “What is religion?”

BBM: What are your tools of the trade?

Paint, action ﬁgures, brushes, blunt objects, university podcasts, books, other people’s minds.

BBM: How would you say your art has evolved since starting? It has become more complex in form and content, but more focused and self-aware as I’ve become more skillful at making it. I try to look beyond the ﬁrst available cliche to represent an idea and have been rewarded for that creatively. I’ve learned that sincerity itself isn’t enough, that in the desperate state of self expression a lazy kind of decadencearrises, one which can seduce the artist into believing himself without question. The work has become more aware of its deceptive qualities, and I try now to bring that forward, so that if the work is to be self-evidently deceptive, I at least have the opportunity to be sincere about my propensity for deception. Each new body of work responds to or even reacts against what came before it. My approach to making art has changed as dramatically as the way in which I think about what matters to me

in the world.

BBM: Funniest/ Most Memorable career moment? Everything about an art career is funny. The decision to have an art career at all is to know the absurd, and I mean that in both the colloquial and existential ways. The art world is a pack of hand-eating lunatics in wigs and high heals and the artists their trained sex monkeys. When you shoot at our feet we dance. This is an art career. Seen through this lens, almost everything that is said or transpires within the current of an art career is a farce about what happens when something created in a state of full aliveness and out of a primitive need for survival becomes academic and commercial. What I want to learn now is how to live without thinking about a career. As for what is most memorable, I would have to say that my month in Norway at the LKV residency was among the most important times for me creatively. I spent the month of December 2010, the coldest in Trondheim in 110 years, where the sun never rose above the horizon, where you had about three hours of grey or pink light each day and the rest was a dark festival of nightmystery. I was able to be present with my work in a way that was similar to 2007 after our ﬁre. I got rid of the clock, I ate and slept little, lost a bunch of weight, worked anytime I was awake, tried reindeer sausage and whale steak. Fell in love because that’s what beauty and hunger does to weak men. One has the feeling of being at the edge of the world when in Norway. Magic certainly exists there, and it squeaks at you when you pass through the snow alone on a hill in the middle of the night at 3pm.

BBM: Where do you ﬁnd inspiration in life?

David Foster Wallace said in his commencement speech to the graduates of Kenyon

College not long before he killed himself,

“If you’re automatically sure that you know what reality is, and you are operating on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won’t consider possibilities that aren’t annoying and miserable. But if you really learn how to pay attention, then you will know there are other options. It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer-hell type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on ﬁre with the same force that made the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.” Which is meant earnestly while also meant in jest. I think inspiration is like that--at once important and ridiculous to talk about.

Where I ﬁnd my inspiration is in the everyday experience of sitting alone at a table with a plate

that I’ve eaten off of a million times before but never really looked at and now see for the ﬁrst time, taking notice of its chips and cracks on the day after my wife moves out. A question or a phrase or a vague impression creeps up and I save it and it sits in my weary brain for a long time and after a while it coalesces in to a monkeyball and becomes what it will. Then I ﬁnd it in the rare genius like Wallace, who noticed something and told me about it and got the whole monkeyball rolling. Then I ﬁnd it in the fact of what he said in contrast with the fact of his short life and the largeness of it all ﬂattens me against myself. Everyday you wake up you commit at least one act of faith, and so you approach everyday, whether you like it or not, with a religious impulse. The history of religion’s driving mythologies confront us with this and tell us about any version of reality that could matter to anyone. It’s comforting to know that what matters now is what has always mattered. That makes me feel deeply human, which is how I want to feel when I make art.

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?

Better to keep it that way.

BBM: How’s the art scene in your city?

I’ve been here making art for a decade and still feel like an outsider. One key that I’ve found to understanding the scene is that the pretentiousness and cliquishness common to scenes in general perpetuate from individual and group insecurities, which I have some sympathy for. People want to be recognized for their brilliance, but don’t want to risk saying something that hasn’t already been said, which of course subverts their brilliance. I used to introduce myself to certain names and faces right away like a good corn-eating white boy who just wants a friend, but found that I startled them, the captains of culture; they were forced to regard me as a philistine because they couldn’t bring themselves out of a narrow-eyed social anxiety, which is infectious here. Now I let them ease into it, give them some room, allow for snuggle time in the safety blanket of name dropping and trailing equivocation. I used to be skeptical of the intentions of hipsters, but now realize that they aren’t usually the ones who shape the scene anyway, but rather just perpetuate certain currents already ﬂowing quite handily without them. Hipsters, as it turns out, while often the ﬁrst to know about other things, are often the last to know about art on any scale beyond the local. Who- and whatever the scene ends up favoring is rarely interesting, but that’s how scenes are. San Francisco is a strange place because there are so many opinions ﬂoating around in the political sphere, and yet to have one about art seems dangerous.

In truth there isn’t one scene here, but several. If I want to be general and reductive I can split them into two camps 1) The Dude Art Camp (Dude, that’s fucking sick! Look at those rainbow lasers!) and 2) The MFA Camp (Even though I have no particular skill set and lack experience, my thesis will explain why you should care about my art.) The in-between is hard to ﬁnd, but its there and ﬂourishing, because this is after all a remarkably creative place to live, whether or not anyone outside cares to take notice. I can satirize it because it’s busy and dynamic enough to capture my attention. All told, I think the Bay Area scenes are vibrant and healthy, if at times self-sabotaging and predictable.

I’m also excited by all the new activity taking place in Oakland, even when the crowds overwhelm. With San Francisco’s willy-nilly techno-optimist start up beat-down sensitively slapping the shit out of poor people and artists, there is compelling reason to pay more attention to the crash landing that’s happening in Oakland.

BBM: What is currently in heavy rotation in your record player?

All I can listen to over the past few days is stuff without lyrics. My friend just sent me Max Richter’s compositions of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and I can’t turn it off. Before that I was being all sensitive with Phillip Glass’s piano music. Before that I had been listening Patrick Watson, Future Islands, Exitmusic, The Dead Weather, and James Blake. Also I like me The Boss when he’s on ﬁre about something political.

BBM: What was the last good movie you saw? Holy Motors. I depend on the French for ﬁlm and philosophy.

BBM: If money was no object I would…

Pay for health care for those self-employed in the arts and humanities, contribute mightily to an organized labor movement for visual artists in eort to reverse the art world food chain, and buy a massive church and start a collective called “The Church” where we would make whatever the hell we wanted without the permission of institutions slow to catch on. When I wasn't busy ﬁnancing the revolution, I would collect art, travel, and buy a dining room table, some more bookshelves, and a bed because I need those things.

BBM: Where can fans get the latest news about you and get some prints?

I’m not so much into making reproductions of my paintings. I do make one-of-a-kind prints, the latest batch presently available from Gallery Wendi Norris in San Francisco if you go to their website or give them a call. I did a series called “The Shadow People” who were included in my solo show there earlier this year.

News-wise, you want to check out these spots:religionofprogress.tumblr.com joshuahagler.blogspot.com www.joshuahagler.com https://www.facebook.com/joshua.hagler

watch an abridged version of “The Evangelists” here: https://vimeo.com/joshuahagle

BBM: Any last words?

I’ll have an open studio at Alter Space in San Francisco occurring on 1-4-13 from 7-10. I’ll be presenting progress on “In the Box Beneath the City” and showing some new paintings. If you’re in the Bay Area, come on out.

The Black Rose Phantoms

2012-12-17T22:17:00.001-08:00

The Black Rose Phantoms are a Psychobilly band from Cali. More than that; they are a hybrid of the genre with a heavy dose of Metal and a twist of Goth music. I have been a fan for years now and I think there latest album “Among Dead Men” is there most solid recordings too date. “Beyond Purple Hills” adds some very smooth and melodic vocals and guitars and “A Sailors Tale” really brings the speed from the upright bass and metal guitar licks we have to come love. The Black Rose Phantoms are one of the few US Psychobilly bands I haven’t seen live and hopefully that will change in 2013. Keep your eyes open for TBRP in a town near you. I had a chance to interview Ozzy and here’s the man himself….

BBM: What’s your name and what do you do for the band?
My name is Ozzy and I sing and play stand up bass for Black Rose Phantoms

BBM: How’s life treating ya?
Life is amazing

BBM: What was your first major experience with music and how did you know it was for you?
My first major experience with music was at a young age my father and older brother introduced me to a lot of 1950’s Rock n Roll, Doo-Wop, Country and Metal. I always knew it was for me because I was always fascinated by the life style, image and what bands I was listening to were singing about

BBM: Give our readers a little history on The Black Rose Phantoms?
The Black Rose Phantoms started in late 2002 by our old rhythm guitarist (Grim Phantom),our original singer and myself. We recorded our first demo in 2003 and at the time of the recording our singer decided to depart from the band. So I went in a redid the vocals and took on the responsibility of fronting the band within a month or two we were invited to do our very first tour with psychobilly legends Nekromantix and its been on ever since.

BBM: How did you come up with the band’s name?
Our original singer came up with the name so I’m not to sure. But we all loved it and felt that it fit us perfect.

BBM: Tell us about the new album Among Dead Men”?
Among Dead Men is our second full length album. That just came out a few months ago. It is also our first album that we recorded as a 3 piece which is the current line up.

BBM: How would you say the sound of the band has evolved for this album? The band has a very diverse sound.
For this album we really took our time in composing the material and we really wanted to show how we have grown as musicians. We wanted to show our different influences and really tap more into them. So the metal sounding stuff sounds metal and the country sounding stuff sounds really country and of course the psycho stuff we wanted to keep it to what fans are used to.

BBM: What type of crowd do you usually see at your shows?
The crowd is always very diverse we get a little bit of everything metal heads, punks, psycho’s

BBM: Three words that describe the band?
Brutal, Epic, Loud

BBM: One reason you’re a musician?
The satisfaction of knowing that I made an impact in some one’s life through my music

BBM: Favorite Place to tour and why?
My favorite place to tour is in the Washington and Oregon area. The crowds, our friends and the weather are just awesome and the drive up there is amazing

BBM: When will y’all be in Texas?
We will be in Texas again sometime in March or April of 2013

BBM: Funniest/ Most Memorable career moment?
One time we played a show at the Keyclub in Los Angeles it was a wild night and I had to many drinks. And I forgot my standup bass at the venue. The next day when I called to see if my bass was still there the manager was like “ How do you forget a standup bass somewhere” lol

What are your thoughts on the current Psychobilly scene?
I feel that the scene is a bit different from the way it was years before. At least here in LA. The kids that are getting into psycho these days seem to be more into the traditional neo psychobilly stuff as appose to years ago they were into harder sounding stuff like Os Catalepticos and Banane Metalik

BBM: Where do you find inspiration in life?
From friends, relationships, books that I read and being on the road

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to start a Psychobilly band?
Don’t be afraid to tap into other musical roots and mess around with different sounds. Find your own sound

BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your record player?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Gaslight Anthem, Terror and Jd Mcpherson lately

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?
I don’t like roller coasters

BBM: What’s a long term career goal for The Black Rose Phantoms?
To do what we love every day. Write music, tour, meet amazing people and make a mark on people’s lives

BBM: What’s coming up for the band in the future?
We have a show with Nekromantix coming up December 21st 2012 and we will be touring out of the country for the first time next year and a lot of Us tours as well

BBM: Where can fans find out the latest news and get some merch?
On our facebook and or on our website that will be up soon. Merch can be purchased through us directly, Interpunk, Itunes, Amazon

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?

Thank you to all of you that support us

Buzz Campbell

2012-12-16T21:20:00.000-08:00

Buzz Campbell is modern Rockabilly great and future legend of the genre. Buzz plays a wicked guitar and smooth vocals for Hotrod Lincoln and his self-titled band. In the past, he has also played guitar for Shanana and the legendary Stray Cats. Another project you may know him from is his guitar playing with Lee Rocker for the last 8 years. Buzz Campbell released “Shiver’s and Shakes” and is one of my favorite albums of 2012. In my opinion it’s one of the best kept secrets of Rockabilly and hasn’t got the publicity it deserves. Buzz and Lee are also having a contest for a sweet, sweet Gretsch 6120! All you have to do is enter your email on his or Lee’s site; what more could you ask for?! I had a chance to speak with Buzz Campbell and here’s the man himself…

To enter in the Gretsch contest go to www.buzzcampbell.com

BBM: What was your first major experience with music and how did you know Rockabilly was for you?
I come from a music family and when I was 5 I would play songs on the piano by ear. I first was really moved by some old cassette tapes my father gave me. There was these old doo wop tapes and it really struck a chord for me. After that I really started to gravitate to 50’s rock n’ roll and Rockabilly.

BBM: Let’s talk about your last record Shivers and Shakes. How would you say the sound of the band has evolved since earlier recordings?
I released quite a few records with Hotrod Lincoln since forming in 1991. We’ve always had a cleaner traditional Rockabilly sound. With Shivers and Shakes I was really trying to add an edge to it. I used some distortion, Overdrive on my vocals, Hoped up a little more. I wanted to give it almost a 50’s vibe with a modern twist. The guitars scream a little Johnny Bowler joined me he’s the upright bass player of the Guano Batz. He’s definitely coming from a Psychobilly and neo-billy background. Our drummer stinky is almost a punk, buddy rich player. It brings a lot more energy and edge. I think the song writing was a lot better.

BBM: Definitely a killer album, I love the beautiful guitar licks! Let’s talk about you playing with all the original members of Stray Cats that kind of major…
It’s major, idk how much of my history you know but I’ll give your readers a brief history. I was hugely influenced by 50’s Rock n Roll, like I said from my father’s cassettes. Later I picked up a guitar and in high school I was really into Chuck Berry and the Beetles. Eventually I got into Carl Perkins, you know bands the Beetles liked. I started playing all that stuff at an early age and a girlfriend of mine said “Hey, I’m going to take you to see this band I think you’ll like them”. There were maybe 300 people there and I walked in with one expectation and walked out like wow. I dropped out of college and I was; I’m going to be that, it was that much of an impact. I met Lee Rocker shortly after my bands going got (Hotrod Lincoln) he produced my first record, which was mind blowing! Years ago Brian Setzer wrote (Blue Café) on my 3^rd record, which was a pretty major moment in my life also.

BBM: Really I didn’t know that?
The short story is I was in San Diego and he was with the orchestra in the early 90’s. We had met up a lot of times over the years and one night I was at a club and he was next door at another club. My friend told me he was there and I went to go see him. He was like “Hey bud, how you doing?” and he came next door and we got loaded. He stayed at my crappy apartment and slept on the couch. Shortly after that he called me and said I wrote you a track (Blue Café). Slim Jim Phantom was the last one I got to know he called me and I did a sub for him when he was in a trio. It’s amazing, the coolest thing in 08, I was support for the Stray Cats on a European tour. The last night they invited me to play and I played on the encore and it was such a trip to me. You got to understand, I was that kid in the front row and all of a sudden I’m playing beside Brian Setzer on stage. It was like what just happened, it’s unbelievable.

BBM: That’s amazing, so great…
It’s kind of like that movie Rock Star with Mark Walberg. He was a fan of a band and then he’s in the band. I’ve been with them for 8 years now. It’s kind of how I feel some times; I’ve been with Lee Rocker, in his band 8 years now and we’ve been friends for 20. Sometimes it’s like holy shit; I’m playing with the Stray Cats. I guess it’s good, it keeps the energy high.

BBM: I saw Lee Rocker’s latest animated video, are you still doing guitar?
Yeah anything he’s doing or goes for the last 8 years I’m on. I’m like his right hand man; for instance where going to England for a duet thing in a month or two. There’s supposed to be a cartoon version of me.

BBM: On both or your sites you have a contest going on?
Of course I’m a big Gretsch guy and they are always good to me. Email is kind of what’s happens now so to get a good collection going. We got them to donate a guitar and there’s no trick to it. It’s on the US cause there’s some crazy stipulation about shipping guitars overseas. It’s going on till the end of the year and you get entered for the free contest and we ship it to a lucky winner!

BBM: Three words that describe your music?
Roots influenced with a modern twist. Some country, heavy blues, and rock n roll and I would also like to think there’s originality I bring to it that’s just Buzz. I’ve never been one to try to copy a style, I’m a huge fan of Roots music. I always felt I have to be myself for it to be entertaining for myself and real. Whatever I’m into at the time is what I like to write about.

BBM: I definitely love it I’m really big into Psychobilly and Rockabilly. Even my wife and my little girl where jamming out to your music earlier. In 2012, it’s great to see great Rockabilly out there! Favorite place to tour and why?
That’s a good one, I’ve had some wonderful tours all over the place. In the states, idk California has always been good. There’s a great solid south California Rockabilly/ Psychobilly/ Punk scene that is very supportive of us. Especially the Social Distortion fans and it’s just fun in the East coast. The food, the people, everything is different but nothing compares to the tour’s I’ve done in Europe. Some of my fondest memories are riding a train in Europe with a beer in one hand and a sandwich in another. Riding the train’s from country to country and the people are so into it. There’s so much culture over there and they make me feel so appreciated. To pin point one country is hard to do. Too many great countries over there.

BBM: Where do you find inspiration in life?
All the early Hotrod Lincoln stuff you hear are great drinking songs! As I get older I want to write about more meaningful things. I have kids two, a 6 and 8 year old. You know you get older and aren’t drinking and chicks all the time. It’s funny, back then it was easy; I just wrote about what I was doing every weekend. I try to come up with a clever, interesting idea like with Shivers and Shakes song Time, was a song I wrote a long time ago. No pun intended kind of a happy up beat song we didn’t use. It was too tongue and cheek and not what I was going for. All of a sudden it went dark, from I want to spend time with you to creepy. A stalker love song that’s what I would call it and that’s where I like to take music. Still have an old vibe but put something modern to it.

BBM: I love that are you currently recording new material?
Shivers and Shakes was my first solo record, but I haven’t set a date to get back in the studio. It definitely is in the back of my head, I’m just so busy. Shivers and Shakes hasn’t got a lot of exposure. Or I would like to do touring for it. It’s just what it is for me right now I’m just trying to put out good music and I’m definitely doing staying to do some writing.

BBM: Yeah it’s a great album I love it! What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be a professional guitar player?
Don’t do it stay in school! I remember me and Lee Rocker where talking one time and I asked him if his son would pursue a music carrier he was really talented. Lee told me “you know as well as I do Buzz you don’t choose to do music. Music chooses you” and that’s so true for me. You don’t make a plan your obsessed with it and the only way to be a professional is to be obsessed. Just do everything you can to develop your craft. For me I took a lot of lessons and took music theory. Gig, gig, gig, put in the hours it’s the best you can do same for singing. I was a decent singer and it was pure passion, I just wanted to be good at it. Don’t let it go to your head. Everyone is going to tell you your great in the beginning. Everyone has something they can improve?

BBM: What are some hobbies?
I do a lot of eating (laughs). On tour, we love to try the food ever where we go. I like the entire tour experience and to see everything I can. I enjoy cultural different weather east, west coast, French, German’s. I love to get a vibe of new cities from 2004-2007 I worked for Shanana and I remember being at an after party in Crocket, Tx., in the mayors house. It was mind blowing, this is how people live. Then the next week, your in Chicago, such an interesting way to live…

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news?
The website is the best place to go www.Buzzcampbell.comand www.Leerocker.com I’m involved in everything he’s doing.

BBM: It’s amazing to play with a legend like Lee Rocker all the time and you’ve had such a great carrier. Here’s to many more years and I hope you come out to San Antonio some time!
Year’s ago with Hotrod Lincoln we played at the Roaring 50’s in San Antonio is was fun. Lee Rocker doesn’t go through Texas that much it, just seems like the offers aren’t there. Of course we’ve done Austin and I’d love to come back. I was also born in Dallas and left when I was 3, I consider myself a Texan. There’s also a lot of great music out of Texas…

BBM: Any Last words anything you want to add on to this interview?
I just want to thank people for checking it out and keep in touch. I like to talk with people on Facebook, it's great; I love talking to people from so many places. I’m very open and receptive and I love when people come to a show. I should say I hate when people come to a show and say I wanted to say hey but didn’t want to bother. No! Come talk to me, it’s what we do. It’s such a labor of love and I’m glad to hear what you said about the record and glad you like it. I want to get out there and do more shows. I think what has hurt us the most is the economy crashing. Right after the Shakers tour I thought I would be in Europe and I haven’t been back since. Were returning shortly just Lee and I.

BBM: Tell us about that duo with Lee Rocker?
It’s not something we do all the time there’s situations where he’s asked to perform, but he can’t bring an entire band. Last year he was doing the Million Dollar quartet show and he did a cameo for that for two weeks. After two weeks, they introduced him being in the Stray Cats and he did a tune and he said Buzz string me out and we did the morning news as a Duo. There’s a good video on his website just the two of us and it’s him clipping bass and singing and I play the guitar. People are always blown away about it. People are like, you sound great just the two of you. You’re a little more exposed that way.

BBM: Man that’s awesome. I heard about the Million Dollar Quartet but Lee Rocker and Buzz Campbell on Broadway! That’s so awesome!!
Isn’t it crazy. I was like it’s on my resume, I did Broadway…

Cenobites

2012-12-14T20:59:00.001-08:00

Cenobites have been Rockin and Rollin since 1994 and are one of the best Psychobilly bands from the Netherlands. The band has been very busy the last few years heavily touring. One of their most recent albums is “Paradise for the Damned”, which is a killer album!! Cenobites most recent tour was in Indonesia and it looked like it was a blast. If you’re not familiar with the Cenobites make sure to check them out, you won’t regret it. I had a chance to talk with Peter G. Vogell and here’s the man himself…

BBM: What’s your name and what do you do for the band?
Peter G. Vogeli, entertainer, driver, a lot of thinking, realizing our bizarre plans & bass player.

BBM: How’s life treating ya?
Nice, I consider myself a lucky guy! Nothing to complain, I have some hairspray left, my wheels are still rolling, my wife says she loves me and we have a gig coming up this weekend.

BBM: What was your first major experience with Psychobilly and how did you know it was for you?
Some guys in school said I was a psychobilly because of my haircut. I didn’t know what they were talking about as I considered myself a punk. They gave me a tape with the Quakes and the Klingonz, which stroke like lightning. I was doomed to be a teenager forever; now I knew what I was made for and what I wanted to do in live….. No politics; which bored me to death in the skinhead and punk scene, just party hard and slapping basses! Around that time I met the current Ceno-singer, with whom I went to a lot of legendary festivals and party’s over the last 20 years.

BBM: Are the Cenobites currently recording new material? If so tell us about it!
We are always busy making and creating songs, which for me, is the sign a band is still healthy. We are doing some test recordings in new studio’s we have not used before, to check if these will meet our expectations. As soon as we have found the right one, we will start recording a new album. The songs are ready but in the mean time we’ll keep on writing to see if we can get 100% hits. >8-)

BBM: How would you say the sound of the band has evolved since forming?
As I look and listen back at it we were more of a loud, voodoo, garage, out-of-tune, charming, swamp-trio which started playing faster and meaner, more guitars, steel strings on the double bass, instead of the blubbery guts-strings. All getting older with musically preferences also changing, some line-up changes with fresh metal, hardcore and grindcore blood in the band. (We used to pick out our new members only on their haircut and if we could party with them, some never left!) Evolving in what we are now. We are very proud we can say, we always did what we liked and what we thought was good, never tried to be hip or go with some sort of fashionable musical flow.

BBM: Three words that describe the band?
Rotterdam, Psychobilly , Fuck all

BBM: If I remember correctly the band broke up for a few years? What made you decide to reunite? You remembered wrong. We have never split up, going strong since 1994. There have been quite a lot of line-up changes, but we never stopped. We are not releasing albums on a regular base of 6 months, so maybe it’s quite sometimes around Cenobites, we’ve been busy with other bands at times, but we never gave up Cenobites.

BBM: Tell us about the psychonesian tour how was it?
The Indonesian tour was a real success, all shows took place, we met a lot of nice people, saw some really good and crazy bands, (I never knew there were psychobilly bands in Indonesia!). We enjoyed the weather and the food and we’d like to go back!

BBM: Any funny/ memorable moment from the tour you care to share?
We’ll I never combed my hair in a mosque! During a festival they all stopped rocking and wrecking and went praying for about 10 minutes and came back and went berzerk again.

Another strange story was; that the amplifier for the vocals broke down at a show, the signal was coming in and the speakers were connected. The lady from the bar said it was due to “the Dutch lady”. As I’ve not seen other Dutch people around, I asked where she was and why she did it.. It turned out to be a ghost from a Dutch lady who lived in the house which was colonial and who got flowers every week from the bar owner, but got the wrong flowers that week?! How psycho do you want it ?! hehehehe

BBM: Any plans to come to the US?
I heard rumors form our management of June 2013, but nothing sure yet.
If anybody feels like booking us… feel free to contact!

BBM: Where do you find inspiration in life?
Mostly from music, touring, the parties and fun at concerts we play, stupid movies, Beavis and Butthead, weekends, travelling, my wife and my weirdo friends all over the planet.

BBM: A fun fact a fan may not know about you?
I’m a teenage party freak in a body of a 37 year old dude, who turned into rocknroll so he didn’t had to grow up.

Click on Pic to go to Cenobites official site!!

BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your record player?
Toxic holocaust: An overdose of death

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be in a Psychobilly band?

- Make sure it’ll always stays fun, of course there‘ll be moments in a band you want to hang yourself, but in general it’s about having fun with your friends.

- Stick to the plan, it might take a few years but in the end they’ll know you and you will play life shows and as a wise Dutch man once said regarding playing shows: “ Bigger is not always more fun”

- Don’t try to be hip or something like that, be yourself.

- Don’t think you’ll headline a festival because all the old psychobilly hero’s first have to die before you’ll step up that ladder.

- Don’t take it too seriously, it’s all for fun!

BBM: So 2 of the members from Cenobites are in Stealers. Can you tell us a little bit about the band?
A punk band with which we will release our first album on Rebellion records 14.12.2012, the guitar player and me are playing in Stealers and receiving some good response. We can’t get enough of rehearsing and playing hehehe so most of the Cenobites members have other bands, which keeps us enthusiastic and brings in new ideas. Check out Stealers Rotterdam.

www.stealers.nl or www.facebook.com/pages/Stealers

BBM: What’s coming up for the band in the future?
As I said we are busy with new songs, rehearsing and fine tuning them and we hope to start recording beginning next year. In the mean time we’ll keep on playing and partying. We are preparing some shows in Italy in April, not sure yet if we can call it a tour, but who knows how it will turn out.

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news and get some merch?
We can be contacted via our website or facebook and we will send you whatever you want and we have left from merchandise.

www.cenobites.net

BBM: Any Last words anything you want to add?
Support your local punk, psycho & skinhead scene!

Creepin Cadavers

2012-12-11T09:23:00.001-08:00

Creepin Cadavers is a good ol’ fashioned Psychobilly band from Michigan. Other genre influences that can be found in their music are Rockabilly and Punk. The band will launch a kickstarter for their upcoming full length album “Now in 3D”. Make sure to check the page out and donate if you can! A release date hasn’t been set for the album yet, so stay tuned to Creepin Cadaver’s Facebook and website for the latest updates. As a special treat the fine folks from Creepin Cadaver's shared a band photo from the upcoming album art. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the band…

from album "Now in 3D"

BBM: Give our readers a little history on your group
Creepin Cadavers came out of the ground in the spring of 2007. When my horror punk band, called it quits. Around the same time Jeff and Al's band was breaking up as well. I was bored with the music scene in the area, dozens of bands all sounding the same. I had finally saved enough to purchase an upright bass and asked Jeff and Al if they would like to do something different. We hit the ground running and have been moving ever since.

BBM: what was your first major experience with music and how did you know you wanted to be in a band?
We as a band really started from the beginning with clear goals set and have been doing our best to achieve those goals. Touring, making new records, having people have a good time at our shows. That’s what’s most important about being in this band.

BBM: How did you come up with the band’s name?
We came up with the name one day sitting in Al’s room after practice. I think we blurted it out due to our love of classic zombie movies. It’s cheesy but I wouldn’t change it.

BBM: Three words that describe the band?
Loud Fast Melodic

BBM: Tell our readers about the new album;
The new album "Now in 3D" is a long awaited culmination of the bands evolution over the last few years. While not a complete departure from the last ride, we as a band have grown, as people have aged, and the music somewhat reflects that. The packaging we are doing is really going to be worth actually getting a hardcopy of the cd.

BBM: I love the name of the album “now in 3d” Who came up with it?
We were discussing cd layouts and artwork, and it was the first thing to pop into my head. I spent a lot of summer days when I was young sneaking into black and white horror movies, as well as some 3d Slasher movies and it’s been something I’ve always had an interest in.

BBM: How would you describe the sound of the album?
A blend of music for everyone. We have always been a punk/Psychobilly band that didn’t really fit in either genre really well. This record really goes above and beyond to have a wide spectrum of all our musical tastes. Sure, the songs may seem campy at first, but if you scratch the surface you see that the songs hold something more. The songs range from aggressive and heavy, dark and broody, to happy and upbeat.

BBM: When/where can fans get their hands on it?
It will be available on our big cartel sitewww.bigcartel.com/creepincadavers as well as itunes, and interpunk, but mainly the best place to get it is to come see us at a show! We also will be launching a kickstarter for the new record in December, which has some great rewards for anyone who wants to be a part of us making this record. www.kickstarter.com/creepincadavers

BBM: Where do you find inspiration in life?
Life experiences, and movies and books.

BBM: Favorite place to tour and why?
We have a few favorites. La, so much movie history there, we spent the day traveling to see see old movie locations. As well The great lake areas. Detroit, Milwaukee , Chicago. Over the years, we have made family with the crews and kids in those cities and we have a blast every time we head up there.

BBM: Funniest touring moment?
Too many to list, some I couldn’t say due to issues with the law. I will say. When driving through Texas and you are stopped at border patrol and asked if everyone’s an American citizen, SAY YES! They will drag you out of the van at 5 30 in the morning and search all your gear for drugs.

BBM: How’s the scene in your city?
Scene? What scene? Western mass is a difficult place to be a band.

BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your record player?

Right now I’m on a big 1476 kick. It’s a band from Massachusetts, who puts out great broody dark but upbeat music.

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?
A fun fact of our band, we listen to strung out before our set to get syked up.

BBM: What’s coming up for the band in the future? I think a tour in Texas is in order!
The future of the band is to just keep making music , as well as hit the road as much as we can. Touring is where we shine. we love being out there and meeting new people and having a good time.

BBM: Where can fans get the latest news and some merch?
You can check our website www.creepincadavers.com for new, shows and info and we have a new big cartel just opened. www.bigcartel.com/creepincadavers

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?
I’d like to add please check out our upcoming kickstarter and come see a show !

Suzi Rubbish

2012-12-08T16:16:00.000-08:00

Suzi Rubbish by Obscuri

Photo: Obscuri

Special FX makeup: Derek Mick

Suzi Rubbish is a model and artist from San Antonio, Tx. You can get lost in her images they are created beautifully with elaborate backgrounds and stunning expressions. She is all the face of Gore Noir and San Antonio’s own Creeping Beauty Inc. Best of all she is the first model to be featured on Boogie Bot Monthly :]!! Something tells me 2013 is going to be a very busy year for this bombshell. I had the opportunity to interview Suzi and here’s the woman herself…

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

Life couldn’t be better, thanks!

BBM: What was your first major experience with modeling and how did you know it was for you?
One of my friends sold vintage lingerie and asked if I’d pose in a few pieces so she could list them in her Ebay store. I had never done anything like that before, but had always wanted to model so I agreed to do it. She was already an accomplished model, so she coached me on how to pose to best show off the clothes and we basically goofed off for a couple of hours! It was kind of a jumping off point for both of us, she was just starting her career behind the camera and I was startingmine in front of it. I’m honored that I was one of the first people she ever shot. Now she’s one of the most sought after alternative photographers in the country! I got to shoot with her for the first time in years this summer, let’s just say we’ve both come a long way!

BBM: Give our readers a little history about you:
In middle school and high school I excelled in vocal performance and dreamed of being an opera singer. I also competed in Arabian horse shows and went on to win many Regional and National titles as a youth competitor. Once I got to college extenuating circumstances forced me to give up both of my passions. I was beyond devastated. There was a huge void in my life after losing the things that I’d worked so hard for and loved for so long. I had always been interested in modeling, but never really had the time between work, school, singing, and horseback riding. With my new found free time I decided to make modeling my new passion! I’m not tall enough for conventional modeling and by that time already had too many visible tattoos, so I looked into the alternative modeling community and fell in love with the artistic nature of alternative modeling.

SuziRubbish reflection by Vanessa Velazquez

Photo: Vanessa Velazquez

MUA: Creeping Beauty Inc.

BBM: One reason you’re a model?
I love to create art!

BBM: What are some of the companies you model for?
I have had the honor of modeling for some amazing local clothing designers; Jupiter Moon 3, Mikailee Alton, Aaron Garcia, and Anthony Alvarado. I’ve also modeled hair accessories and jewelry for Crypt Keeper Creations, Creeping Beauty Inc., Kitten Vixen Fashion Boutique, Pure Luck Designs, and The Kat’s Meow. I’ve participated in runway fashion shows in SA Fashion Week, Paul Mitchell hair shows, and makeup shows including RAW Artists SA events. I am currently the Official Face of Creeping Beauty Inc. as well as the Official Face of Gore noir Magazine after recently winning the title of Miss Gore Noir 2013.

SuziRubbish Misfit by Ty A. Gomez (San Antonio,TX)

Photo: Ty A. Gomez

BBM: What are some positive and negative things about being a model?
The positive aspects of modeling far outweigh the negatives in my eyes. I’ve been blessed with some great experiences overall! Like most models I have had a few negatives, I’ve shot with some creeps with cameras and gotten occasional hate mail from jerks with too much time on their hands. The best thing about modeling by far is getting all gussied up! When I was a child my Gran and I would play beauty shop together all the time! We’d do each others hair and makeup and wear her fancy dresses and high heels around the house! It was one of my favorite things to do, and I’m lucky enough to still get to do it all the time as an adult! I love the whole process of getting primped for a shoot. It’s amazing to see the art that can be made when you get the right team of people involved in the creative process. There have been times when I sit down in the makeup chair feeling frumpy and homely, but by the time I see the finished look I’ve been completely transformed. You can’t beat that feeling!

BBM: What would be your dream modeling gig?
Wow, that’s a tough one! I’d really love to start tattoo modeling! It would be a dream come true to be a featured model in Inked Magazine some day. I still have a ton of tattoo work I want to get done before I branch out into serious tattoo modeling though.

BBM: Funniest/ most memorable career moment?

SuziRubbish, AustinValentine

SidandNancy by Redrum Collaboration

Photo: Redrum Collaboration

MUA/Hair: The Vanity Makeup Studio

Corset: Jupiter Moon 3

Male Model: Austin Valentine

I don’t know that I’ve necessarily had a funniest moment, but I fall down or come really close to it at nearly every shoot I do! I am the least graceful person on the face of the planet, so shoots are always fun with me! That said I’ve never fallen at a live event, appearance, or runway show! Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself! I think the most memorable so far is a tie, this year I became the Official Face of two companies, Creeping Beauty Inc. and Gore Noir magazine! Truly exciting stuff!!!
BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your ipod?

I’m a huge fan of punk music, particularly older punk. I’ve been addicted to my “Punky Bruiser” playlist for months. It’s got some great stuff on it; The Vandals, Propagandhi, Anti-flag, Operation Ivy, Rancid, Goldfinger, Against All Authority, Dead Kennedys, AFI, The Misfits, The Casualties, The Ramones, Less than Jake, Alkaline Trio, NOFX, Against Me!, Black Flag, Dead To Me, Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, The Distillers, Bad Religion, Lagwagon… there have to be about 100 bands on that playlist, but those are some of my favorites. Oh! And Periphery, the odd men out since they’re totally not punk, but they’re so phenomenal that they make it onto EVERY playlist I create.

SuziRubbish by Redrum Collaboration

Photo: Redrum Collaboration

MUA/Hair: The Vanity Makeup Studio

Dress: Mikailee Alton

Corset: Jupiter Moon 3

Head Piece: Crypt Keeper Creations

BBM: A fact a fan many  not know about you?

SuziRubbish Eating Darbi

by Vanessa Valazquez

Photo: Vanessa Velazquez

MUA for both models: Creeping Beauty Inc.

Dress: Mikailee Alton

Female Model: Darbi

Tablescape/setting: Creep This Collaboration

I am addicted to shoes! I absolutely love them! I buy new shoes all the time and am convinced they will

eventually lead to me being poor, perhaps even homeless. The funny thing is that I have an irrational fear of feet! I know it’s ridiculous, but I’m truly terrified of them. My friends are all extremely amused by this fun little fact, and love to mess with me.

BBM: Besides modeling what are some of your other passions?
First and foremost my family, I am so blessed to have a beautiful daughter and supportive husband. I love to sing and would one day like to front a band! I enjoy making clothing and also upcycling/customizing existing pieces of my wardrobe. I paint in my spare time and have been working on a serial killer series of paintings for several months. I love Halloween and have had a lifelong passion for all things dark, spooky, and horror related! I have a killer Living Dead Doll collection.
BBM: What’s a long term career goal?
My only goal is to keep learning about my craft and to continue to grow as an artist! I actually consider modeling more of a life experience than a career. I don’t want to be a famous super model or anything. I really just want to be able to look back when I’m old and wrinkly and say that I did something for the sheer love of it!
BBM: First concert you ever went to?

SuziRubbish JM3 Corset by Raven Red

Photo: Raven Red

Corset: Jupiter Moon 3

MUA: Christine Eakin

My first concert was New Kids on the Block when I was a little kid. I was so young that I hardly remember it, so I guess it really doesn’t count. When I was 15 I got to see the Toadies at Sneakers! One of my friends had an older brother whose band was opening for them that night and he got us in. Looking back I’m amazed that we didn’t get kicked out! We were so young, didn’t even have fake IDs, and it was our first time in a bar. We must have stuck out like sore thumbs!
BBM: What was the last good movie you saw?
I’m a huge fan of Tim Burton! I love everything he does! I got to see Frankenweenie 3D a few months ago and it was totally amazing, it even made me cry!

BBM: What’s coming up for you in the future?

SuziRubbish by Raven Red

Photo: Raven Red

I’m currently working on some really exciting things for the New Year! I can’t spoil any surprises by going overboard with details, but I will be collaborating with some truly badass designers and photographers! Also, expect to see me popping up in many more publications including; magazine features, magazine covers, calendars, and even a book or two!!!

BBM: Where can fans find out the latest news?
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SuziRubbishInkfreakz: https://inkfreakz.com/users/suzi-rubbishModel Mayhem: http://www.modelmayhem.com/1095724Tumblr: Suzirubbish.tumblr.com

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?
I just want to thank your followers for taking the time to read this and get to know me! I’d also like to thank my fans for all of their continued support!

SuziRubbish by Vipanius (San Antonio,TX)

Photo: Vipsanius Photography

Corset: Jupiter Moon 3

Styling: Jessie Page Ramirez

Artist: Giuse

2012-12-06T18:53:00.001-08:00

Giuse is an illustrator based out of the Netherlands. When you look at Giuse’s work you can’t help but smile. Seeing an Eagle do a 360 flip or a Fox doing an impossible never gets old :]! He captures his childlike spirit and deep thought in his illustrations. Each animal shows great character and human features. He’s also working on a children’s book which I can’t wait to see!! Stay posted on his site as we eagerly anticipate the future of Giuse. I had a chance to talk with Giuse and here’s the man himself…

BBM: How’s life treating ya?
Yeah, well you know. Sounding all serious and stuff.

BBM: What was your first major experience with art and how did you know it was for you?
My dad for sure. He would be drawing fruits in this small notebook. Being all Italian about art. I knew it was for me the moment my brother said he was better then me in drawing. Haha, we were just kids. Me being eight my brother three years older then me. I don't really remember but my father always brings this up when he tells people what I do.

BBM: Your art brings me pure joy. Seeing an eagle skateboarding! What more can you ask for?
Thanks. Well skateboarding is pretty fun. Been doing that more then 14 years now.

BBM: Why did you choose animals?
I like to combine our modern society with animals in a somewhat surrealistic way. Not necessarily making a statement about extinction or animal cruelty. It is just for you to feel the relationship between them and us.

BBM: Well we all have an animal we can relate to.
Exactly, I can relate too many. I think my favorite animal is the bear. I mean like I said, I like many. Especially forest animals like wolfs, foxes, wildcats, bears etc. I would love to see a bear on a board.

BBM: What are some projects you’re currently working on?
Working on my own children's books. I wish I could talk about it, that would make me happy. When one of my books is done I will though.

I'm still finding myself as an artist, but I'm starting to think that will go on forever. Good thing, maybe?

BBM: Three words that describe your art?
Handcrafted, colourful, peculiarly juicy.

One reason why you create art?
To out best my brother in drawing. Kidding! Nah, it's just me. I will die if I didn't.

BBM: Funniest/ most memorable carrier moment?
Most memorable was studying abroad in Boston (AIB). I learned some traditional animation and to love and hate America. And the fact that my work goes overseas is pretty awesome.

Funniest moment, maybe the few request I got from people wanting my work as tattoo. That is so crazy that people want to carry my images on there body for ever. It's mind blowing.

BBM: Where do you find the inspiration in life?
I try a lot of things. Last night I tried jumping on the bed, but I didn't work the way it used to. But I fuel myself with almost anything, other peoples art, animations, music, nature, skating. And I have the most hilarious, crazy, talented friends whom I work with, Super Bueno, only we don't do as much as we used to.

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?
I do dishes to make rent.

BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your record player?
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

BBM: What are your hobbies?
I'm thinking on taking up ceramics. Making some pots and shit.

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be an artist?
Wow dude slow down. I'm still young! Thirty is the new twenty and I'm not there yet. But what I can say is: learn who you are and share that. Without sharing you will lose reality.

BBM: What’s a long term carrier goal for you?
Seeing one of my books getting published and make it or see it be made into an animated movie.

BBM: What’s coming up for you in the future?
I hope my previous answer. Also these skating animals printed on T-shirts.

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news about you?
The latest news would be on:

tumblr http://djoez.tumblr.com/

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/giuse_modica/

facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Giuse/258436750922433

But my official website is www.giuse.nl

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?
Well people always wonder how to pronouns Giuse and that is juicylike a drink.

Artist: Cody Schibi

2012-12-04T18:59:00.000-08:00

I first met Cody Schibi at the Austin Comic con and I fell in love with his work. There’s a raw and gritty brilliance that can be found in each of his creations. Zombies, Demons, Monsters, and Rainbow throw up, what more can you ask for? Cody can end up in any industry but one thing is for sure he has a very bright future. I had a chance to talk with Cody and here’s the man himself…

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

Swell!

BBM: What would you say was your first major experience with art and how did you know it was for you?

I remember my mom drawing outlines of Frankenstein & different characters when my brothers & I were really young, then have us fill in those blank bodies with the details: face, clothes, etc... Just the enjoyment & excitement of that has stuck with me. I knew I wanted to do art at a very young age, it just took me awhile to find out how & get the motivation to actually do it.

BBM: Give our readers a little history about yourself.

I was born & raised in Harlingen, TX then moved to Austin in 1999. Worked in film doing storyboards & conceptual art for a few years before going freelance & doing what I do now. I’ve only been doing this for going on 3 years now, so I have a LOT of learning & room for growth which is exciting. That’s never ending though...

BBM: What are some current projects you’re working on?

I just finished a painting for a local show here in Austin in December, doing a live art show in January, I’ll be branching out of my comfort zone customizing some vinyl for a show in February & I’m working on an ongoing comic called BULLMOOSE written by my brother, Lance: www.BULLMOOSEtheCOMIC.com. Between all of that are freelance jobs here & there...

BBM: Influences?

A lot of things influence me from film, music to hard working, creative individuals. I LOVE horror movies(especially from the 80s) & that can be seen in my work. Artists that rule my face are Geof Darrow, Raphael Grampa, ZeroFriends, Bernie Wrightson, Crumb, Aaron Horkey...the list goes on & on, but those are the modern day masters that blow my mind.

BBM: Three words that describe your art?

Humourous & Gracefully Grotesque

BBM: What are your tools of the trade?

Predominately ink. But I use watercolors a lot & color/clean up my pieces digitally as well.

BBM: How would you say your art style has evolved since starting?

Patience has been the key for me...not the Gn’R song, though that HAS helped me. I would sometimes rush & even get bored at times with art I created simply to get as much out there as I could. I notice that a lot when looking back at older pieces & cringe. I’m becoming more selective with my jobs as well & taking more time to create the best design or illustration I can with each one. Ask me again in a year & I’m sure my answer will be completely different though!

BBM: Where do you find Inspiration in life?

Mostly from family & friends. Motivation from those close to you is a rad thing. I like to surround myself with talented, creative people that blow me away with their craft. Looking at a buddy’s painting or hearing a friend’s new song truly makes me want to create awesome things as well.

BBM: How’s the art scene in your city?

Austin is just an awesome home in general. The people here are completely open to anything creative, so it makes it easy for artists to do their thing. It’s just difficult to get noticed with so many talented people here, but I love it. The food here is a beautiful thing too!

BBM: Funniest/ Most Memorable career moment?

I think ARTSLAM!’s SIXTH Year Anniversary Show is up there for me. ARTSLAM! is a San Antonio live art & music show created by my good buddy Rob Perez about 7 years ago. For this specific show he flew in Alex Pardee, Skinner & Lamour Supreme to do some live painting with us. We hung out all weekend long doing the touristy stuff, laughing hysterically & just having a blast. Events like that where it’s simply hanging out with amazing friends & doing art together ALWAYS top my list of memorable things for me.

BBM: Whats a long term career goal for you?

To be as lazy as I can yet still consistently produce quality art. Basically I want wires & mechanical arms connected to my brain that do all the work through thought while I eat Haribo Gummi Bears, watch movies & read comics. I think that’s an attainable goal...

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?

My karaoke version of ‘Sweet Transvestite’ is pretty stellar...

BBM: Besides art what are some of your passions?

As I stated above, I’m a HUGE fan of film. I loved working on the movies I did. Having such a large group of people all working together to make one piece of art & is amazing. I’m retardedly passionate about horror movies especially. That & music. I played here around Austin for over 10 years; recorded some albums & meet a lot of wonderful friends. I’ve since “retired” to completely concentrate & devote my time to my art at this time, but music continues to be a giant part of my life.

BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your Ipod?

When I’m at the drawing table I usually just put my music on “shuffle”. I love ALL kinds, but lately it’s been a lot of M.Ward, The Smiths, Aesop Rock, Do Make Say Think, Tool, Mastodon & a local band of kids called Residual Kid whom I just did some album art for...check these young masterminds out YO!

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be an artist?

The answer to this always sounds the same from everyone, but its true: KEEP DOING IT. Getting your work out there is super important. If there’s a certain direction you want to go, be selective with the jobs you take, but again, get your work SEEN. Also, go out to art shows & meet people. Shaking hands & making new friends opens up many possibilities, opportunites & good times.

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news about you and get prints?

Everything is linked up on my website www.codyschibi.com, but I post the most on Twitter: http://twitter.com/codyschibi & here’s a direct link to my online store if you wanna but some garbage: http://codyschibi.bigcartel.com

BBM: Any last words or anything you want to add?

The owls are not what they seem.

Ballyhoo!

2012-12-02T19:53:00.000-08:00

A rock band with punk energy and pop reggae grooves, Baltimore’s BALLYHOO! are a fun, fan-loving powerhouse. These road dogs have tirelessly toured coast-to-coast taking their music to the people. Between the road and the studio, BALLYHOO! have crafted a sound distinctly their own; fresh, fun, and embodied by the soul of the party lifestyle. Lead singer and guitarist, Howi Spangler, has a reputation for mixing slick lyrics with his smooth but powerful voice. Drummer Donald “Big D” Spangler lays out the hard-hitting beats, which are underlined by JR Gregory’s funky and witty bass lines. Scott Vandrey (aka DJ Blaze) rounds it out on the turntables and keys.

-From there official bio

BBM: Whats your name and what do you do for the band?
my names Howi Spangler and I'm the singer and guitarist for Ballhoo!

BBM: How’s life treating you?
It’s good just nice to be home. This past year we did a lot of regional touring and right now were playing locally. We’re not doing too much right now just staying home to enjoy the holidays. It’s been a crazy year…

BBM: Yeah this year has been incredibly busy for Ballhoo! It’s the first year y’all played the entire Warped Tour. How was that?
We all had a really great time and it kept us on our toes as far as self-promotion. Pretty shameless as well we had to really get out there and put our shit in front of the kids face and make them want to buy it and make come see us play on stage. It was really hot and sweaty you know a lot of sunburned it was a great experience.

BBM: Any funny or memorable Warped Tour moments you care to show?
Nothing too crazy I remember in Phoenix we all almost died on stage it was so fucking hot. The kids where dropping like flies the EMS station was behind our stage. I saw kids all day being taken in gurneys and hooked up to IV’s for hydration.

BBM: Let’s take it back a little bit. What was your first major experience with music and how did you know it was for you?
The first time I saw Rat and Poison when I was six years old. My dad took me to see the show and they were really big at that point. I don’t know what it was I just saw everything going on it was a dark arena, people screaming and singing the songs, and all the lights on stage. Big loud music and the guys where dressed up and had make up idk it just looked like a lot of fun. I felt like that’s something I want to do. My dad always had me with him and he was in bands I just kept it going from there. When I played my first show it really solidified it. We opened with a Green Day song and I was like “okay this is it!”.

BBM: Give our readers a little history on Balllyhoo! Who came up with the band’s name?
We formed in the summer of 95 and the name came from one of our good friends. He was like call the band Ballyhoo. In my head it sounded iconic, big, and colorful it kind of stuck. We had nothing else to work with and I put the explanation on our first show flier and still rocking it today.

BBM: 17 years now how would you say the sound of the band has evolved?
It started very pop punk and then about a year into that I started mixing ska and reggae into the punk. I discovered bands like Gold Finger, Suicide Machines, and Sublime and we would mess around with street rock or acoustic. That’s how we found our genre…

BBM: Three words that describe the band?
Fun, Party, Sex

BBM: (laughs) speaking of which you’re going to be on the 311 Cruise again in 2013. How was 2012’s cruise? It sounds like a nonstop party.
Pretty much whatever you thought it was that. We were down in the Bahamas and we were nowhere no self-service or internet. It was wild all the people on board where positive. Good kind heart loving people that really took us in. It really made us famous in the 311 community and it was just a really good show. A great experience all around we got to party on an island for 2 days

BBM: Lots of great opportunities have been coming up for Ballhoo! Couldn’t happen to nicer guys y’all are great. Are you currently recording any new material?
Thank you! I’m always writing but I started aggressively writing right before Warped tour. I was writing stuff in the winter this past year but it started heavy in warped tour. I was really inspired and soaked up the music just music all the time. There was a lot of down time at night so I had my Ipad and recorded demos you know.

Besides Warped Tour where do you find inspiration in life?
Just life itself man I take notice of things that happen. People let the day go by and are stuck in a routine. I’m not saying that I’m not in a routine I just take notice. I realize the routine and try to put a spin on it. That’s how I write a lot of material it makes for great stories and great songs.

BBM: The bands were around for a long time now. What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be in a band?
I think it’s a great idea for anyone to start a band. It doesn’t matter whether you want to do it for a couple of months or the rest of your life. It’s so much fun and if it’s something you want to be serious about. Take it as far as it can go that means there’s going to be a lot of sacrifice and you’re going to have to pick up a lot of things. Big house’s and expensive cars don’t come right away you have to live low and put all that many into the band. Don’t wait around the labels don’t come out like they used to in the 90’s but in a way now its all about doing it independently. Just do what you want and don’t let people stifle you go out with a positive approach.

BBM: Your favorite place to tour and why?
Florida, it was one of the first places we started going and there great shows with lots of energy. It’s warm and you can get there pretty easily where 14 hours away. The gas usage isn’t that big compared to going around the entire country.

BBM: I’m sure it was epic with the Bus?
Yeah it wasn't too bad because of a diesel engine but its going to be the gas bill for the entire year?

BBM: What are some of your hobbies when you’re not busy?
Write songs and make beats. I do a lot of artistic things I fuck around with computers I’m a geek. The other guys play Xbox…

BBM: What’s currently in heavy rotation in your record player?
Old stuff I haven’t heard in a while. I checked out the latest EP from Rome lots of good songs. I’m always stopping on UB40 and the Green Day albums.

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news and get some merch?
Facebook (www.facebook.com/ballyhoo) has all our info and www.Ballyhoorocks.com has a link to our online store.

BBM: Any other news you care to share?
Where doing the Cali Roots festival in May 2013.

BBM: So far a great start for 2013! Any last words?
Thanks to everyone supporting us over the past couple of years!!

Click on pic to go to Ballhoo! official site

Schell Game interview with CEO Jessie Schell

2012-12-02T17:52:00.000-08:00

Schell games is designing some of the most innovative and fun games for tablets and mobile devices. Tunnel Tail has been out for a few months and is a lush RPG with deep mechanics and rewarding game play. There’s no reason not to get your hands on Tunnel Tail, its completely free with no strings attached. Go download it now from the iOS App store and Google play for Android devices. Another innovative and fresh Idea from Schell Games is Puzzle Club House (www.puzzleclubhouse.com)

where you can pitch your game ideas and see them made. So many fresh and different game designs are in the works and I can’t wait to see the future of Schell Games. I had a chance to talk with the CEO of Schell Games Jessie Schell and here’s the man himself…

BBM: What was your first major experience with gaming and how did you know it was for you?
I started making video games in 1982. I was 12 years old and the first video game I played was a text based fishing game. It was one of these games that weren't very complicated and people really got into it. I was hooked on making games after that and I didn't really look at it as a really job possibility until right after I got out of college.

BBM: Tell our readers about Tunnel Tail:
It’s been an amazing project for us. We were approached by the folks at the BEST Foundation and I was immediately intrigued! I’ve always been very big on transformational games. Which are games that are designed to help change you, hopefully for the better. These guy's where very passionate about transformational games and didn’t want too take a heavy handed approach like some people do. They really wanted to make something that was great and a change but also a really health oriented project.

BBM: I really love the art style and story for the game. Everyone at Boogie Bot Monthly has really been enjoying the game so far. I know it’s been out for a little bit now how have fans been reacting to Tunnel Tail?
People have been very positive and enthusiastic about it. People love the look of it and even though it’s a simple game they have been getting hooked on Tunnel Tail. It’s all been very positive!

BBM: What’s one of your favorite aspects of Tunnel Tail?
I love the new battle mechanics and the pressure mechanic! I think it’s something totally new and innovative that we came up with. The way you have to match your attack to the intensity of the situation. It’s a new way to play strategic turn based combat.

BBM: Three words that describe Tunnel Tail:
Gorgeous, Positive, and engaging

BBM: Lets talk more about the technical side of the art style:
Sure there’s two parts too it. From the technical point it was developed with a Schell games technology called the BeanStalk Engine. It was designed to give rich 2D games and cool looking character animation. So part the art comes from the engine and a big part is we have some great animators who fought through a lot and put a lot of time and energy into Tunnel Tail.

BBM: It really does come through each character has their own distinct design and feel. What are some other projects Schell Games is working on?
Transformational and Educational games are the fastest growing part of the industry and where very focused on that. A big part of our plans is mobile and tablet gaming. That’s where we see the most growth. As far as the types of games where working on right now I can’ talk about them all. One of the project’s I can talk about is Puzzle Clubhouse I’m very excited about it. If you have an idea for a game you can submit to the site and the community is going to vote on it. Schell games will help make them into real games and ship them

BBM: That’s an amazing idea who came up with that idea and when does it launch?
Puzzle Clubhouse is an idea we have been playing with for a couple years now. We did a kickstarter back in January and it was successful we got funded. We launched it in September 1^stin a beta phase we have a few different games out now.

BBM: I can’t believe I heard about this sooner.
Yeah not a lot of people have heard about it. Where trying to keep it quiet while where working out all the kinks. Get the design and color just right, another game I wanted to mention we are doing with Yale University. It’s an anti HIV game designed for inner city students what’s interesting is theirs going to be a tremendous amount of Scientific study on the game. The goal of the research is to see if it makes a different for the kid. So there’s a lot of interesting stuff where doing.

BBM: Wow that’s very cool. A lot of different projects that are so different from each other great things being produced at Schell Games! I did want to touch back on what you were saying about tablets. There’s so much debate about the future of gaming.
I think where going to see continued huge growth from tablet gaming for a number of reasons. I wouldn’t be surprised 5 years from now every 1^stgrader ends up with a tablet. It’s. It’ just a more convenient way to get your textbooks and do your homework it’s going to be very cheap and affordable. There a lot more convenient then laptops for many people and tablets are always evolving. Look at the new Microsoft tablet that has a keyboard like a laptop. I also think tablets will make its way in the living room and counsels may be in big trouble. Once you have a tablet that you can hook up to the TV and use it to either drive the TV or play it independently. Why would you ever want to play a game counsel?

BBM: For our readers who are not familiar with your work tell us about The Art of Video Game Design:
I published it about 5 years ago. It’s similar to Puzzle club house in the entire notion that anyone who wants to be a game designer can do it. Anybody can do it if they want to. It’s designed to be very approachable and teach you what game designers do. Not a technical book at all it’s all about its very much about what are the decisions one make to make good game play. The same principles that make for good Board, Card, and athletic games are all the same principles that make for good video games. The notion is good game design happens when you look at the game from many points of view. The subtitle of the book is the Book of Lenses it breaks it down to 100 different ways to look at your game.

BBM: What are some upcoming titles your excited about?
I have such a hard time keeping up with what’s going on. I’m really interested in the Wii U and what titles launch with it. I’m always interested in anything new and different there’s an indie title called Way. It’s being developed by Chris Bell a former student of mine. It’s a really interesting game I’m excited to see it released. I got to play the Beta of Little inferno that was great.

BBM: What are some of your Hobbies besides gaming?
Well I certainly spend as much time with my family as I can. Also when I was younger I used to be a Circus Performer. It was something I started doing as a hobby in Jr. high and then I got an opportunity to perform at a local theme park. Then one thing led to another and I worked with a few different Circus troops and traveled around. I certainly learned stuff that I use every day as a game designer. Working with a live audience like that and responding to their reactions and your responding to them. With gamers you can see when there excited you can see when there board. Is my game working is my game not working.

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be a game designer?
First of all I would tell them to try out Puzzle Clubhouse you can get feedback from professionals including myself. Where here to help you get feedback about how to make your ideas better and make them reality. The main thing is too just start designing stuff you don’t have to be an programmer or designer. It certainly helps if you have that stuff but it’s not necessary. Also get started by trying to make a new card game, dice game, or board game. If you want to get more ambitious you can easily get into the world of computer game design. So many tools now out there to design games, the main thing is dive and do it.

BBM: Any Last words anything you want to add on?
What a pleasure it was for the entire team working on Tunnel Tail. It was excited to make it and see what we could do with BeanStalk and the iOS platform. It’s just been great

Click the link to go to the official site of Tunnel Tail

Review: Tunnel Tail

2012-12-02T15:17:00.000-08:00

Title: Tunnel Tail
Genre: Role Playing Game
Developer: BEST Foundation
Publisher: Schell Games
Release Date: July 30, 2012
Languages: English
Available for: App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, Android app on Google play
Cost: Free

Tunnel Tail is a gem amongst the iOS games, for a free app Tunnel Tail delivers a lot of fun and playability. Help save the mice tribes from the dark forces of the Lumini who feed on the pain, suffering and hopelessness of humanity. Rescue mice who have lost their way, and save their world and ours from the impending darkness.

The game plays like very familiar RPG's with turn based game play, character development and exploration. You get to control the mice and level them up while upgrading their weapons and equipment. A beautifully designed game with hours of game play, and play amongst your friends with multiplayer options. By training your mice, you are able to make a more formidable burrow and help convince other mice to fight on your side to take down the Lumini.

Tunnel Tail combat system is classic, you select your attack after your time bar fills and the mouse attacks the other, you can use different attacks to adjust the "tension" in the fight, some mice are predetermined to have an advantage with the different tensions. Rogue's thrive for the low "green" tensions, and fighters in high "red" tensions. Play to your advantage and the opponents disadvantage by using attacks that shift tensions into your favor, a true action strategy game.

I had my doubts with this game as it seemed like it was going to be something more like a quick play, wow was I mistaken! Tunnel Tail has so much to offer and so much I have yet to discover, definitely a game worth picking up and giving a whirl. I have been playing it for about a week and what can I say I cannot put it down. The missions are fun, and the fights are entertaining, but most of all the story is a great one!

A great game for all ages, and who can pass up something free! pick it up today on itunes or google play.

8.5 in my book!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tunnel-tail/id542027702
http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.best.tunneltail

By: Joseph "Drayno" Hijar

Artist: Billy Reynolds

2012-12-02T12:17:00.002-08:00

Grotesquely Beautiful… Two words I never thought I would use in the same sentence. That’s what came to mind the first time I saw Billy Reynolds art. Several themes and art styles can be found in each stoke of madness and brilliance. Another thing I learned is one person can never have too many boobs :p! I’m excited to see what he will create and what the future holds for Billy Reynolds. I recently had a chance to talk with Billy and here’s the man himself…

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

Life is pretty good.   

BBM: What would you say was your first major experience with art and how did you know it was for you?

As a toddler in my crib, I took my dirty diaper and spread the diaper fillings all over the wall next to the crib. This was not only my first piece of art, but it was also a mural, though I have not created another mural since then. This was the story that stuck with my family, repeated a thousand times as to how I made my first art piece. If only I could remember how fun it must have been.

BBM: Give our readers a little history about yourself:

I grew up in a large desert West Texas town without much cultural influence, but I was always good at recreating images and working with any medium I worked with. I've always been on the quieter side and had the ability to get more of a reaction out of people with the images that I create instead of the words that I say.

BBM: What are some current projects you’re working on?

For a year now, my images begin digitally, through digital photography that I take myself, and through digital imagery that I manipulate in Photoshop and on a Wacom tablet. This is has been a great experience to start digitally, vs. starting with sculpting like I did for 8 years prior. So i'm currently working on new ways to show my portrait with cutaway views of my insides. I work on about 2 pieces simultaneously. The Wacom tablet is an amazing thing, just like painting is, and you can spend hours on subtle nuances in Photoshop with a Wacom tablet and pen. But I think that final unique one-of-a-kind paintings are very important, so I can't stop at the digital image, I have to create a painting out of the digital creations.

BBM: Influences?

I'm always in awe of Francis Bacon. His figures are so grotesque, yet he's so popular and so perplexing. Any artist who has pushed the boundaries of the human figure, although the work might look perverse or grotesque, is a positive influence to me. Art is a great and safe way to test boundaries, and figurative art that tests boundaries really gets under people's skin in unexpected ways.

BBM: Three words that describe your art?

Deviant. Grotesque. Figurative.

BBM: What are your tools off the trade?

iMac, Canon Rebel digital SLR, pro color printer, lots of lighting, oil paint, acrylic paint, or watercolor paint, and therefore linen, illustration board, or watercolor paper, lots of patience, and lots of time.

BBM: How would you say your art style has evolved since starting?

One of the most rewarding components of art making is allowing oneself to evolve one's creations. I always leave open a path for evolution to occur, and when it does, exciting and unexpected results emerge. When you find yourself creating engaging things that you never planned on, that makes it all worthwhile. I used to create abstract work in acrylic for almost a decade, and feeling very satisfied in doing so. Then my first serious figurative work was simplified cartoon-based. Now as you can see with my images here, the work is quite different.

BBM: Where do you find Inspiration in life?

My art leads me to reading non-fiction about life and watching lots of documentaries on Netflix. From this, I had the deep realization that we rotate around the earth's axis at about 1,000 miles per hour (in the mid-upper hemisphere), and the earth revolves around the sun at a speed of about 67,000 miles per hour. If you think about this at it's deepest level, that's pretty amazing. In one hour, your body has moved 1,000 miles following the surface of the earth. Yet we don't even feel it. That's inspiration.

BBM: How’s the art scene in your city?

Los Angeles is a great place for art, and it's always growing. From the big name galleries to galleries promoting new and emerging artists, there is something for everyone. You have to plan a lot though, since it's a car city and the traffic will limit your ability to see everything in one day.  

BBM: Funniest/ Most Memorable career moment?

The funniest moment I think was when I was in graduate art school at the San Francisco Art Institute, and one of my first crazy paintings was of an Elmo-like head on a baby's body and one arm was a big round breast. This really got the attention of a lot of people, and it really upset all of the women. I found the whole thing funny. The painting had a lot of effort in it, the guys found it hilarious and the women couldn't handle it, and the piece sold quickly while I was still in graduate school. Then I realized that controversy is probably a good thing.

BBM: Whats a long term career goal for you?

To be an independent artist/entrepreneur and work for myself.

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?

I'm left handed.

BBM: Besides art what are some of your passions?

That's about it. After a job, art making, and going to art shows, there's only time for enjoying friends, a drink, and rest.

BBM: Whats currently in heavy rotation in your Ipod?

Eminem - the perfect paradigm for an artist to constantly find inspiration in themselves and reinvent him or herself.

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be an artist?

Invest time in making things, not just talking about making things, and invest in getting to know people and realize people are just as important as the art you make, because people decide if they want you in shows or if they want your art on the walls of their homes. And be realistic about the future - you might have amazing skills, but you also might need another set of practical skills to have a good day job.   

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news about you and get prints?

www.billyreynolds.com , Twitter: @Billy_Reynolds, Tumbler: billyreynolds

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?

Never stop! I heard somewhere, and I believe this, that the biggest breakthroughs in what you are working on come just after the point at which you are willing to give up and stop.

Epic Mickey 2 Interview with Warren Spector

2012-11-25T20:02:00.002-08:00

Warren Spector is a legendary game creator who currently resides in Austin, Tx. He is best known for creating Deus Ex one the best games for PlayStation. He has also worked on Ultima, System shock, Thief and Wing Commander. All great games that influenced future generations of game designers. Warren’s most current project Epic Mickey 2: The Power of two and Epic Mickey: The power of Illusion came out November 18^th. Both visually stunning games they offer solid gameplay, wonderful song sequences, and the best cast of characters Disney can offer. I had a chance to interview Mr. Spector and here’s the man himself…

BBM: What’s your name and what’s your title?
My name is Warren Spector. I’m the creative director and junction point studios its part of Disney Interactive.

BBM: Tell us about Epic Mickey 2.

Well Disney Epic Mickey the power of two is the sequel to Epic Mickey it comes out November 18^th, 2012. We want to do everything we did well as well or better for the second. You know a whole emotional story for Mickey Mouse as a strong hero maybe a bigger role for Oswald the lucky rabbit.

BBM: I love Oswald the lucky rabbit and I’m excited for him having a bigger role.

Yeah I know Oswald was Walt’s first character and we got to bring him back. First time since 1928

BBM: That’s history in the making

You know what’s funny even if we fail it’s like a footnote in history. This time there are two big things first of all you get to play as Oswald. We introduced a new two player co-op mode which you can play as either Mick or Oswald. The second thing is we got to give every character a voice. With the first one a lot of the characters had sounds. In the new game every characters speaks every line of dialog. So we were able to give Oswald a voice for the first time he never spoke in the past. Frank Welker will be voicing Oswald and he may be the most amazing voice artist in the world. Not only were we able to honor Disney’s past we also made history by giving Oswald a voice.

BBM: What part of Epic Mickey the power of two are you most excited about?

I think for me it’s the two player co-op. You know we made a game and one of the goals was to appeal to the kids and adults. I had a meeting with John Lasseter from Pixar early in the project for the first game and he said you know at Pixar we make entertainment for everyone. We don’t have a specific demographic and it was like a Spielberg for me you know the camera zooming and dallying back and at the same times I was warping all around me. I said why can’t a game do that and we did but then we didn’t let adults and kids play together. So this time we are trying ot make gamefor everyone again but we want people to play together.

BBM: What’s the co-op aspect of it? Can you play together the entire game or just parts?

Oswald is with you the entire game player one is always Mickey. Oswald is an AI character who’s always with you. At any point second player can sit on the couch next to you and play as Oswald. Once he’s done the AI picks back up its real true drop in drop out co-op. The cool thing is Oswald has his own unique set of abilities but in single player there only useful in certain places and certain circumstances. In co-op those abilities can be used anywhere which means you can get to places and see things that you just can’t see in single player. In order to see and do everything you have to play it at least twice. One plying through as the restoring side of it and one play through as paint thinner oriented. If you really want to see everything in the game you got to play co-op.

BBM: That’s awesome lots of replay value.

Exactly that’s what all my games are about a unique experience every time they play. Now we’ve added a second play style in the equation.

BBM: What character do you most associate yourself with from Epic Mickey?
That would be Oswald he the plucky guy forgotten and reject and has to fight for everything he gets. My favorite character is Uncle Scrooge

BBM: What are some other games fans might recognize your work from?

A bunch of games in the last 30 years holy cow! Most people are probably most familiar with Deus Ex which I made in 2000. I worked on a bunch of Ultima games back in the day and you know a lot of fantasy games. Underworld, System Shock, and The first wind commander game if you want to go way back so yeah I’ve done a lot of things.

BBM: I didn’t expect to meet such a legend today. So tell us about some of the musical features for Epic Mickey 2.
I’m a total musical geek! I have been since I was a kid and I love Broadway. I’ve always wanted to do a musical game. When you work for Disney and you’re making a game that honors 80 years of Disney creative history. People don’t even blink when you say where going to put songs in the game. Most people in the game industry say “what are you crazy?” but every once in a while in Epic Mickey 2 we will burst into song. I want to be clear about this I have a crazy vision of an interactive musical in my dreams. This is not it this is a game where I try to prove to the folks at Disney that gamers will accept songs in games. Songs are a way to communicate story and express emotion. I’m hoping gamers really embrace this so I can go to Disney and so ok get out of my way. Songs are part of the mechanics and are part of the gameplay. To be honest I’m going to do it anyway I don’t care if people like it or not but I’m hoping people really dig it. For Epic Mickey 2: The power of two Jim Dooley’s created the music Score and Mike Himelstein is the lyricist. They really did a great job and really bring the characters to life.

BBM: I’m excited just hearing about it! When you first started working on the Epic Mickey games did you feel a lot of pressure?
You know that question comes up all the time. For me it was like I get to play with Mickey Mouse. He’s the most recognized icon on Planet Earth. Everyone you will ever meet knows about Mickey Mouse. I talk to people from the Australian outback, Kids in Africa wearing Mickey Mouse shirts, People from Moscow who say (in a Russian accent) “yes I grew up with Mickey Mouse he was the symbol of imperialist capitalist repression”. The thing is were making video games where not curing cancer or bringing peace to the world were just having fun.

BBM: Just hearing about it I’m getting excited I know its going to be an amzeing game.

It really is there’s a lot there for Disney fans. Gamers can get past the fact there’s not a guy wearing sun glasses at night. With a trench coat in the middle of summer and two guns they can wrap their minds around being a mouse and a rabbit for about 20 hours.

BBM: You’re an icon of the industry what are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to create video games?

We don’t have enough time for this question. Things change they really really do. You turn your passion into your profession. You’ll really find that when you play video games you’ll sort of play them differently so make sure you really want to do it. The best advice I can give is figure out what you want to do. It’s kind of a business of specialist’s now the guy who does it all is very rare. Be the best modeler, level designer, or animator in the world. Figure out what you want to be and be the best at it. If you can find a company that makes the games you love. If you love role playing games but are working for a sports company yes you’re making games but your life is going to be a living hell. Don’t let anyone change your mind about what you want to do.

BBM: What was your first major experience with gaming and how did you know it was for you?

My life changed in 1978 when I played Dungeons and Dragons for the first time. I know its totally geeky but I was sitting around with 6 of my friends. I got really luck my first dungeon master was Bruce Sterling creator of Cyberpunk science fiction. Bruce is a great story teller great writer. A bunch of the other guys went on to write for DC and Marvel comics. We were telling stories together we weren’t being told a story we were telling our story. In the best circumstances we were screwing over the dungeon master we were refusing to do what he wanted us to do. I spend the last 35 years trying to re-create that feeling with my friends.

BBM: Where can fans find the latest info on Epic Mickey?
No one’s ever asked me that before. You can go to Disney’s Epic Mickey Facebook or go to my blog I haven’t updated it in 2 years I’m really sorry. Maybe if people start going to it I’ll update it. Were on twitter just do an online search Disney Epic Mickey 2: Power of two or Disney Epic Mickey 2: Power of Illusion. The games come out November 18 a date that is important for Disney history but I’ll people figure that out for themselves.

Any last words anything you want to add on?

Working on these games I just fell in love with Oswald the lucky rabbit and I’m hoping everyone who read this will help me make him a big star. He deserves a star on the Hollywood walk of fame he deserves to be as big as Mickey Mouse.

Artist: Leontine Greenberg

2012-11-24T16:43:00.000-08:00

Leontine Greenberg is an artist, puppet-maker and prop designer from queens, New York. The animals she creates have so much character I found myself daydreaming back-story on them! My favorite of her work is the male version of the black bird (pictured below). Prints of the blackbirds can be found on her Etsy. We also have a sneak peak of the upcoming Natural History exhibition at Gallery 1988 on December 1st. Make sure to go! I recently had the opportunity to speak with Leontine and here’s what she had to say…

For More info on her upcoming gallery please see:

http://nineteeneightyeight.com/pages/upcoming-shows

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

Pretty great, thanks! I've got a new show opening December 1st at Gallery 1988, new prints in my etsy shop, and some exciting projects to look forward to in the new year.

BBM: What would you say was your first major experience with art and how did you know it was for you?

My parents are both extremely creative people, and took me to museums and galleries starting at birth. They're also scientists, so science and art were my formative influences. I think you see that a lot in my work, actually.

BBM: Give our readers a little history about yourself.

I was born in Tucson, and had the remarkable opportunity to travel all over Europe and the Middle East as a child and young adult. I went to art school in the Midwest, and settled in New York City as soon as I could. I've worked in television, theater, and as a personal assistant to the super-rich. Now that I have a child, a husband and two cats, I get to spend all my time painting, and hanging out with them. It's spectacular.

BBM: What are some current projects you're working on?

I just finished 11 new pieces for Natural History, my two-person show with Nicole Gustafsson at Gallery 1988. For the next year, I'll be working on a solo show at AFA Gallery in New York City.

BBM: Influences?

Beatrix Potter, Walt Disney, William Morris, Lee Bontecou. Cities, gardens, Charles Dickens, the apocalypse.

BBM: Three words that describe your art?

Tiny, detailed, time-consuming

BBM: What are your tools off the trade?

Winsor and Newton watercolor and gouache. Royal Langnickel MIni-Majestic brushes. Canson Watercolor paper.

BBM: How would you say your art style has evolved since starting?

The compositions have gotten more complicated, colors have gotten brighter, and I've invented more characters. My draftsmanship has improved, but also gotten much tighter, which is not always an improvement, but probably inevitable with this amount of practice.

BBM: Where do you find Inspiration in life?

It's wonderfully unpredictable, but certainly wherever nature meets the city. Often in books. Sometimes in news articles as well.

BBM: How’s the art scene in your city?

It's New York City. We are the Establishment. That said, there is also a thriving lowbrow scene, and amazing illustrators and comics artists everywhere you look!

BBM: Funniest/ Most Memorable career moment?

Everything's gone very smoothly so far, and all the people I've worked with have been professional and lovely. Now that I've said that, I'm sure I've jinxed myself, and will have some kind of hilarious screwup to tell you about soon.

BBM: What's a long term career goal for you?

I'd like to publish a book - either a comic or an illustrated children's book. Stay tuned!

BBM: A fact a fan may not know about you?

I have neither my appendix nor my wisdom teeth. But I do have my tonsils.

Print Available on Etsy

BBM: Besides art what are some of your passions?

Politics, food, teaching children with disabilities.

BBM: What is currently in heavy rotation in your Ipod?
Aside from the usual hipster suspects? David Wax Museum, Jamie T, The TIger Lillies, Rasputina.

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would give a youth wanting to be an artist?

Focus on technique. Ignore any advice that discourages you. Whatever it is you have to say, say it well, and you will find your audience.

Print Available on Etsy

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news about you and get prints?

Prints are available in my etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/leontinemay). To find out what I'm up to, you can follow me on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Leontine-Greenberg/194847696362), twitter (@leontinemay) or tumblr (leontinegreenberg.tumblr.com).

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?

Don't forget to check out Natural History at Gallery 1988 (http://nineteeneightyeight.com/). It's

going to be a great show!

Review: Nurarihyon no Mago

2012-11-24T11:49:00.001-08:00

I am not going to say this is the most original manga but it is very entertaining. I mean come on he looks like a youthful Inuyasha he even wear a red robe. I am currently on chapter 74 and am reading this besides typing up interviews. It also starts with your average wuss peace love-in kid who turns out to have dormant powers from being a quarter Yoki and he can only use his power a portion of the day. I thought that was very good. Also his grandfather is supreme commander and he will be working his way to taking over.

I kept putting this manga off to read other things like Shaman king and Re: Birth but it is every entertaining and a worth while read. I love the Art and all the yokis with such human traits and unique ability's each of them bring to the table. As far as the Anime goes from what Ive seen the images and quality is gorgeous and worth a watch but I dont know if its much different yet Ill do an update at a later point. Anyways the only down side to the manga it gets a little dry in between action sequences and I was skimming hear and there but not major and it is very interesting and has great action. its not watered down violence and scenes are great.

I Give it 4.5 out of 5

I give it 3.75 out of 5

Update: After reading on I fell in love with the cast of Yokai and how unique each character is. Each Yokai's has a different power from what I can see so far. The villains get really cool later on. I'm on chapter 186 and don't want to have to wait for more :[[. Everyone should give this manga a chance and its a great read.

Trix 'O' Treat

2012-11-23T16:26:00.000-08:00

Trix O’ Treat is a band from Thailand and they are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands. They have a very infectious sound best described as Rockabilly with a twist of Psychobilly. Trix O’ Treat brings a fresh sound to Rockabilly and Psychobilly. As you would imagine there original songs are in Thai but they definitely break the language barrier. You can also find a number of great covers on you tube ranging from Rock this Town to Woo Hoo. Make sure to check them out and we included one of their songs "Dreams". I had a chance to talk to Tooktar and here's the woman herself...

BBM: Whats your name and what do you do for the band?
I'm Tooktar and I'm the singer and only female in this band.

BBM: How’s life treating ya?

My life right now is great! Good being busy really.

BBM: What was your first major experience with Rockabilly/Psychobilly and how did you know it was for you?

Our major experience was a few years ago, with probably more ten thousand viewers, we played on father’s day, which in Thailand is a big day off and celebration for our King. As for how we know that this is for us, would probably be because throughout our whole music life, we feel like this kind of music best suits us as we enjoy this kind the very most.

BBM: Give our reader a little history on Trix 'O’ Treat?

Myself and the bass player (Vans) left our own bands, i came from a ska band, and Vans came from a punk band. Then the both of started on psychobilly, just the two of us which went on for 4 years. Then it finally started to get serious, so we started to search for more members in the band, and we did. After having to play with everyone for 3 years, our guitarist passed away. So we kept searching for the right new guitarist but couldn’t really find anyone who could fit with us, until we finally found our current guitarist, Watt.

Who came up with the band name?

As for our band name, I named it, as for why? Basically you want trick or treat, but what I’m trying to say is Do you want to listen Or Not.

BBM: Three words that describe the band?

Three words? Hey ho let’s go!

BBM: Infuences?

Band influences, reverend Horton Heat, Mad Sin, Mad Marge and the Stone Cutters, Johnny Cash, Social Distortion, and Stray Cats.

BBM: Are y’all currently working on new material?

Currently working on our album right now actually, we'll release two new singles no later than February next year!

BBM: How would you say the sound of the band has evoloved since forming?

As for the sound of our band? I'd say over the years we've evolved in a few ways, before our first guitarist past away our sound was more punk rock, different to our current guitarist who has a more of a slight hint of country in it. Also, Our sound is improving more and more as our members are gaining more and more of our individual skills and also gives us more of a band signature.

BBM: How’s the Psychobilly/Rockabilly scene in Thailand?

The rockabilly and psycobilly scene here isnt really what we hope for. Here, for alot of people is fashion, but dont listen to the music. As for other bands, no more than three, i believe again that it’s just fashion; they come and go as trend changes.

BBM: The bands funniest touring moment?

The funniest touring moment would probably be after playing out of town, we were all pretty out and drunk, until it was really time we all had to head back home in bangkok. So we left, not knowing that all our instruments were still back there hahaa. Problem was, it isnt so close to just turn back easily, as it was another several hours long drive back, drunk!

BBM: Any plans to come to the US?

Sadly we havent got any plans to go to the US, though we'd love to make it there someday in the future, though We do have plans to go to Europe mid next year.

Where do you find your inspiration in life?

Our inspiration in life would be nothing really; we do what we want to do, not FOLLOW what we want to do.

BBM: Whats so700ething a fan may not know about you?

Something a fan wouldn’t know?! Some people dont even know that myself and Vans are a couple, which can come up really amusing at some nights hahaha another thing is some people think I’m a lesbian, though it’s understandable because I do come off as a tomboy look.

BBM: What are some of the bands hobbies?

For hobbies, myself would be currently taking jitterbug dancing lessons, and swiming. As for Vans, back home we've got a tattoo studio going on, so basically he just tattoos all day, which is going extremely well actually, and cooks. Watt teaches guitar and plays serious table tennis. Lastly, Wit our drummer, just recently had a baby son, so its taking up practicaly all his time haha.

BBM: What music is currently in heavy rotation?

Currently in rotation on our playlist right now is Sleepwalk by Stray Cats.

BBM: Whats coming up for the band in the future?

Something coming up soon would be a next new music video! So stay tuned.

BBM: Any last words anything you want to add?

Stay tuned and keep track with us! We'll make sure we'll bring you more and more in the future.

Artist: Andrew Taylor

2012-11-19T20:02:00.001-08:00

Potential was the comic I left Comic Con feeling the most excited about! I’m really digging the story and a lot of aspects of it. They were also completing commissions at Comic Con in Austin and Andrew Taylor designed a brilliant logo for us. He also completed some other works or art that can be found in the article. Images really say a thousand words when it’s Cyclops and the Jack in the Box guy punching Hitler! I expect nothing but big things from Potential and Andrew Taylor. I had a chance to sit down With Andrew Taylor and here’s the man himself…

www.Facebook.com/potentialfans

www.doctorcops.com/

BBM: What’s your name and what do you do?

My names Andrew Taylor I’m working on an original comic called Potential and within the next couple of weeks were going to be finding a publisher.

BBM: Tell us about Potential

The story follows a college student Ian Westbrook who has a theory that all human beings have the ability to possess psychic powers. There’s a chemical accident at his school and all of his friends get Psychic powers but he’s late to class that day and misses out. So the story is this developing origins story of this group of hero’s and Ian being left out of this developing super hero community becomes the villain. We see him go from this naive college student into something more and more psychopathic and the other characters become more and more heroic.

BBM: Very cool concept. When can we get our hands on it. I want to read it already!

I will be finishing the colors this Thursday. Where working on it right now our letterer should be done with it with in the week. Out first choice of publishers would be Image comics they take about a month to get back to you. After that I’m not sure how long it takes..

BBM: What was your first major experience with art and how did you know it was for you?
When I was just 3 my dad would take out these step by step how to drawings from the Newspaper and we would each draw one. When we were done I would always say his drawing was mine and my drawing was his. So I got into drawing at an early age I started doing Sonic the Hedgehog when he was brand new and I was a kid. Later I got into the X-men for a while I was into doing video game art. When I got into college that’s where I really got into comics especially Marvel, Image, and DC. I was always a fan of comics but it really never clicked.

BBM: Three words that describe Potential?Nightmarish, Dark, Tragedy

BBM: How’s comic con treating you so far?

Very well Friday I was slow Saturday I was really busy with commissions. My wrist was hurting by the end of the day. Today I got an early start with a Vamperla commission we got a lot of people to follow the Facebook page. Got a couple new likes last night and we are here because we Kickstarted I’d like to point out we had a kickstarter project for Potential. We started it around June and we hit are stretch goal to go to a Comic Con and we decided to got to Austin. It’s my first time in Texas and I’m loving it it always smells like BBQ

BBM: Can you tell us about DoctorCops M.D.?
Just did my 100^th issue last week and it’s been almost 2 years. It’s a parity of Grey's anatomy and CSI as well as a few different actors. The story follows this writer Walter Reed and Producer Max King and they discuss scripts for the TV show DoctorCops MD. Walter is very serious about this terrible show and he was all these other actors that he needs to be in it. Max hates it and criticizes it along the way but he knows they are going to make a lot of money. He has to do this even though it kills him inside a little.

I’ve had a lot of trouble advertising and getting news fans but all the fans I have really love it. A few truly dedicated fans that keeps me going when it seems ruff and it’s too hard to keep going. It doesn't constantly make money but I have a lot of fun and laugh every time I make a new one. It seems whenever I have a con we always get a lot of fans and people are really interested. It’s just getting more advertisement

BBM: Will help out as much as we can to get the word out. I did want to touch back on Potential how did you come up with the name?

It has a couple of different meanings. The main character Ian Westbrook believes everyone has the potential to possess psychic abilities. We just have to figure out our brain like any other muscle. The other meaning is the potential to do great or evil things. Each of the characters will really fulfill them. Once they have these powers some of them will discover the Potential to do justice and do a lot of good. Whereas some of the other characters will realize the only thing stopping them from being a murderer was ability.

BBM: Where can fans find the latest news?
www.Facebook.com/potentialfans and our writer James writes the blog http://potentialcomic.blogspot.com/

BBM: Make sure to stay posted on their Facebook as we eagerly anticipate the release of the first issue!!

Artist: Jason Heuser

2012-11-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Jason Heuser is the hottest thing since Slice Bread. His presidential Series has blown up all over the internet and for good reason. They show so much talent and imagination. You can’t help but smile looking at these works of art. My Favorite would be his Benjamin Franklin vs. Zeus piece. One thing is for sure the Skies the limit for him. I had a chance to talk to Jason and here’s the man himself..

http://sharpwriter.deviantart.com/
http://www.etsy.com/people/sharpwriter
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jason-Heuser/27713232096

BBM: What was your first major experience with Art and how did you know it was for you?
I really wouldn’t say I had one thing that made me go Yup this is what I’m going to do. My earliest memories are sitting in front of my mom’s chair. She sat in a recliner and I would sit and draw with this little book thing and crayons. I remember sitting there she would watch soap operas and I would be there drawing Ninja Turtles. She said I’ve been drawing since I could hold on to a pencil. From there I went to school my mom would always get a ring from the teachers. I wouldn’t focus on my assignments I would rush through them and draw. So I wouldn’t say there was a major experience it’s just a summary of a bunch of little things.

BBM: Give us a little history on yourself?
My current project I’ve been doing a lot of presidential stuff. I also work full time for a game studio kixeye out here in San Francisco. So pretty much any free time I have I’ve been drawing presidents. That’s been going really well the internet’s been eating it up. I’m getting a following from that.

BBM: I know dude I love them there amazing!
Thanks man. If I wouldn’t have had this reaction from people that I got I probably would have only done a few and moved onto the next project. I get messages from fans saying you’re so awesome you need to draw Richard Nixon doing this. So that’s what I’m doing next. Everyone has been really encouraging it’s got me drawing more stuff. I’ve been working on a graphic novel for a while. As far as character write ups and designing. I have about 35 characters each of them with a background and likes and dislikes. So I can put together a pitch at some point maybe or a graphic novel or movie. I haven’t quite got those connections yet. I figured if I’d keep doing working on this and do what I do with the president’s things and it will work out with that as well. I don’t normally just draw presidents. The project I’ve been working on called lawless I’ve been working on for the past 3 years. Conveniently the movie just came out with the same font I used for my posters a few years ago. I just saw it and was like ahhh damn it. I’m still keeping the name I don’t care (laughs)

BBM: (laughs) will touch a little more on the presidents in a little bit. I wanted to talk more about the graphic novel. What’s the art direction for it?
The character art itself will be realistic pretty much the style I did the presidents. The story takes place in the future I would say a mix between Blade Runner, Road warrior, with some time travel involved. Its 2 main characters with a lot of supporting characters. I have a lot of it worked out I just have to get everything out there so I can release it and show everyone. It’s a mixture between a revenge story and saving the world in a weird way.

BBM: Sounds really cool! I can’t wait to see it. So what was your inspiration behind the presidents? What made you want to create these Kick ass Epic scenes?
It started out when I was a security guard. I would sit and work with a friend who’s an artist as well. I say let’s start doing art jams I come up with an idea and you draw it. It got to my turn I said lets draw the most epic thing you can imagine. I came up with a Viking fight a great white shark. I posted it and it got eaten up so then I said what can I do next. I went back to the drawing board and whenever I’m drawing I’m watching something. It sounds weird to most people but when I draw I have my headphones on or watching a movie. I’m not really watching it just listening I watch a lot of documentary’s about history on PBS. I just like history and I was like alright let’s take some presidents doing something ridicules. I thought who’s the most famous. I drew George washing fighting a tiger in the Delaware. There wasn’t much thought to it I just drew it. While this is all going on I was trying to get my portfolio up to standards to get a job and no one was giving me the time of day. I was getting really frustrated and I was like I’ve been focusing on my portfolio for the last 8 months. I was really getting burned out with it and I said I’m going to draw some shit I want to draw. I was bored at work on night and I started drawing Abe Lincoln riding a Minotaur but it looked really weird. I scraped the Minotaur and thought grizzly bears that pretty mainly and at the time I was watching a documentary about grizzly bears. So I drew him ridding a grizzly bear and threw it up on the internet and it blew up. I thought to myself I draw all this cool shit and as soon as I do this it gets 5 times the hits and exposure. Seems like people really like this sort of thing. I did some more sketches here and there and did Teddy Roosevelt and I decided to make some prints and did an Etsy store with some prints.

I went to bed and woke up they were all sold out. My first two where Teddy and Abe. I really didn’t think people would buy them and I’m like shit. I’m scrambling to get this printed out and look good. I get it all done and shipped them out after that it was George Washington fighting Zombies. When I did that I was watching the Tim burns Civil war documentary the entire thing. I was drawing Ulysses S Grant I haven’t got done with him he’s kind of on the back burner. I pretty much so some research on the presidents and learn about there personalities. Like FDR he has polio and he has a wheel chair. So I made his wheel chair transform into a mech soldier fighting aliens. The devils in the details I love drawing all the little nuts and bolts and everything. I guess the rest is history as they say. After that it got me great exposure Kixeye saw my work and flew me down for an interview.

BBM: I love the stories that you made for each of them there very entertaining. You should make a comic for each of them..
Yeah that’s also a thing that I want to work on. I want to make an alternate history text book that’s on the list. Basically take a history book and create events. The Civil war fought with Mechs, Light sabers and jets

Very cool! Can’t wait to see more on that.

BBM: Very cool I Can’t wait to see more on that! Three words that describe your art style?
Ridiculous, Detailed, Epic

BBM: That comes off of everything you do.
We’ve got it up to 7 on the epic scales but we have to crank it up. I think I would work great in a Michael Bay film if he ever wants to hire me. I love Big ass robots and explosions

BBM: Tell us a little bit about Kixeye
we make Face Book Games. I know everyone’s like oh god Facebook games making Farmville. We don’t make that. Where real popular for War Commander and we make war based games you and your friends build your base and wreak havoc .It’s also free to play so go convince your friends to play with you it shouldn’t be too hard.

BBM: How you enjoying game design now?
It’s great I starting doing concepts and now do concepts and marketing. At the same time I do the art for events and advertisements. They want me to make ridiculous high res and crazy detailed stuff. It’s awesome

BBM: Where do you find inspiration in life?
My big thing I really like comedy. One thing at the end of the day that everyone can agree on is everyone likes to laugh. I figured the best way to do it is through my art. Since I’m not a stand-up comedian at the moment and may never get around to it. The thing that works best with my art is its Good, Ridiculous and epicenes and you can put my art in any of those and it would fit. People would me like holy shit this Mech looks awesome or this is so ridiculous. I guess my biggest inspiration is making people laugh and enjoy it. Just by looking at an image if I can make someone’s day. Also all of my prints you can download high res images to make your desktop background. Everyone can just have it they don’t have to buy it. I’m not one of those people you have to buy it or you can’t even see it. That’s good enough for me as long as people see my art that’s what makes me happy.

BBM: I think you definitely accomplished that you know Obama ridding a lion with a crossbow and light sabers (laughs)
Yup, Hopefully he saw that. I got a lot of messages from people and someone from his campaign office bought one. So I’m assuming he saw it I don’t know for sure. If I saw a picture of him holding it that would be the PR on the planet.

BBM: (laughs) For real. Besides are what are some of your hobbies?
I like cars I’m hoping this year to get a rally car going and get my Rally license.

BBM: You work at a game studio are you a gamer?
The last game was Halo that was pretty awesome I’m an avid battlefield player. Most people can see that by seeing the alternate of Ronald Regan. When I did that that’s when battlefield made the premium and a lot of people where upset about that that’s why I made it. I’m also a Need for Speed guy and Assassins Creed 3 obviously for the history.

BBM: What’s your console of choice?
360 I play pc as well but I’m surprisingly better with a controller. When I tell people that its like I tryied to explain quantum physics.

BBM: Most Memorable carrier Moment?
There’s been a few that would be the best question for my mom. When I get feature anywhere my mom blows up Facebook and shares it anywhere. I’ve been featured in Huffington Post, Good Morning America, and Interviewed by good morning Sacramento. I guess the biggest overall was getting flown out here by Kixeye and there like here’s your offer letter. Working solid for two years as a security guard. I took that job so I could just draw for 8 hours on my computer and after two years of struggling with minimum pay and just getting the offer. Someone giving me a chance that’s all I needed. It’s so hard to get a job people are like you have no experience. Well if I can’t get a job without any experience how am I supposed to get any. What the hell am I supposed to do? The studio hired me with Zero experience it was like this guy can blow up in our face. I’ve been there over a year and everyone loves my art. So far my best carrier event some people are like dude your on Good Morning America. I was on for like 5 seconds they showed my Obama ridding a lion print. It’s all cool and great but my main goal is get my art to people. I still work like I have to I’m constantly working I do about 80 hours a week. 40 at work and 40 drawing at home and a few games here and there.

BBM: What are some words of wisdom you would a youth wanting to be an artist?
Don’t give up or give in. You have to be stubborn you’re going to get a lot of people that are like it’s not going to work you’re not going to do that and won’t be successful. That’s how my high school art teacher was and I can’t wait till my high school reunion to see her she was so awful. You should never think your art is as good as it’s going to be. Be careful with college as an artist they only care about you art. I did the entire college thing and sunk a bunch of money into it. It really didn’t benefit me I have people contact me because I’m in alumni and they ask me for tips. I say to be honest stop what you’re doing and focus! Go live in your parent’s basement for 2 years. Take 8 hours a day to draw and constantly improve. Sometimes here and there you’ll find a teacher that will help. It’s really about self-improvement and you always need people to support you and my girlfriend

BBM: How did it work with Good Morning America did you know about it?
No I had no idea some guy bought a print and said he saw my work on there. I was like cool I don’t care and I’m always up for interviews if they want to fly me out. I’ll be on the View

BBM: Any Last words anything you want to add?
I appreciate you wanting to interview me thanks for that.