Producers are artists in their own right, able to mold someone else’s idea into exactly what the artist envisioned. Artists that sometimes need an extra little push, know how important the right producer can be. If the chemistry is there, then the magic surely follows and a great song will likely ensue. Eugene Shakhov is one of these talented producers who is able to do it all, from string arrangements to laying down a perfect vocal track, to polishing a mix, to writing a symphony for an entire orchestra. He’s a musician in his own way. You are very picky with who you work with, can you explain that to us a bit?

Artists are the ones who create the future. Artists are the ones who dream the dreams that becomes a reality so it’s important to me what this future is going to be like. My purpose as an artist/music producer is to change the current culture for the better.

Would you like to live in a society full of drugs and violence? Would you like your children, family and friends to live in it? I don’t think so. So this is why I’m ” selective” with whom I work with.

I’m not an idealist though. Don’t get me wrong. If you need to say “f@$k”, say it, but when the entire message of the song is “getting high on dope” or “shaking your bootie” well… then my kids would be living in the world where you can buy crack in a grocery store and the moral values would be something like “how many girls you can screw in a week.”

I work FOR the artist. I am there as a tool to get their ideas clearer, their music better and, eventually, to make their dreams come true, whether it’s sign a record deal or impress their girlfriend, whatever their dreams might be.

In your bio, you cite Dr. Dre as being the main influence from switching from classical music to hip-hop, what was it that stood out about Dre?

Dre is real. He talks about things for what they are. He’s no fake. Dre brought street culture to the masses and made it commercial, but mostly what makes him so incredible is that he did terrific music productions. Terrific. Stunning. Timeless.

Even after 10 years, I still consider Dre’s 2001 album as one of the best hip hop productions and I can assure you, it will be that way 10-20 years from now and will continue to be that way afterwards. He also had a brilliant eye for new talent and it is mainly because of him that we now have Snoop and Eminem. One of these days, I’m going to produce an album with Dre to create another classic for my grandchildren to listen to for a long time.

As a producer you work with many artists, who has been one of your favorites?

Each and every artist that I personally have worked with. Some are easy to work with. With others it could be troublesome sometimes or pain in the ass, but each and every one of the artists I worked with has inspired me in many ways and I always learn from them, always.

Vocals are a huge deal for you, what techniques do you use to get the best vocals out of a singer and what programs do you work with?

First off, I work with an artist in the studio, trying this and that, asking him to do this and that, coming up with new ideas and finding other ways that their performance could be improved.

The next step of the production would be vocal editing. Sometimes I use over 10 different takes to compile just one line, to make sure it sounds just right! Everything is important, delivery, pitch, pronunciation, clarity, communication, etc. And of course, I work separately on pitch.

The funny thing is, that at the very end the artist usually never knows how it was done. Everything sounds just right to him/her and he/she thinks that this is exactly how he/she performed it! Lol. But that’s the beauty of it.

I mainly work with Logic Pro. But for vocals I use Melodyne. Honestly, without Melodyne it wouldn’t be possible. The German engineers who created this program are simply geniuses. Hats off to them. Well done and thank you guys.

The video “Alien Love” was for a song you did. Tell us your involvement with that project.

This song has a very interesting story. Once upon a time I created a music track for a song. Then I thought, why don’t I do a contest where I would just offer this track to anybody who is interested in basing a song on it. So, I did a post on Craigslist about it, offering free music production and a free music video to the winners.

The response was overwhelming. I received over 180 requests from the artists to whom I sent this track to. 32 of them sent me their demos back and out of these 32, I chose the best 3 songs. One of them was “Alien Love” by The Trade.

I picked this artist because of the way he flows and because of his creativity with words and delivery. I also finished another song for this very same track. It’s called “Cash Out” and I am in progress of creating a music video for that song as well.

To my regret, I still didn’t get to finish the last song that I’ve chosen. The good news is that this artist contacted me recently saying that she played this song for Snoop Dogg’s manager and they said they are interested in it, so I guess I have no choice now but to complete it It’s called “Single, single.” You’d love it if you heard it! Well…when I’ll manage to finally complete it!

In your opinion, how can an artist make a song great?

Be sincere and honest as an artist. Be real and be yourself. Then add interesting and memorable lyrics and interesting and memorable music.

If you can’t sing the song after you just heard it or whistle it, then it’s usually not a great song. But also, what’s very important as well is, did you get anything out of the song? Did you learn something new? Did you experience some emotion? Did it move you? Did it make you go and do something? The list could go on, but I think you get the idea

Besides Dr. Dre, who do you think is one of the greatest producers out there today?

There are many great producers out there—many. I’ve gotten the opportunity to work with some. The one who I didn’t work with is Quincy Jones. Yes, I know, he’s not as active today as he was, say, 20-30 years ago, but nevertheless, his productions still stand out today. Out of the ones that I did work with is Emanuele Ruffinengo who is one of the greatest and most talented guys that I’ve met.

If you happen to need a producer, visit Eugene here or on Facebook.

Hey, it’s Jeremy from the Fingertips web site and I’m back this time with a two-month digest of the best songs featured on Fingertips since the summer started. This time I’ll pick out three songs from each month, to give you a taste of what I’ve been charged up about. If you want some background on what I’m doing here, check out the May edition, in which I more fully introduced myself.

From June:

“Dear God 2.0″ – the Roots
You don’t have to be a hip-hop fan to sense the glory in this performance, which is a reworking of a song originally recorded by the Monsters of Folk. Jim James can still be heard, but the song centers on Black Thought’s weary, rumbling, tumbling rap. (Read the entire review.)

“Here Sometimes” – Blonde Redhead
Elusively appealing song from the veteran NYC trio, with a characteristic mix of dreaminess and electronics. (Read the entire review.)

Orange Yellow – the Spires
Jangly guitar rock, with a nod to the Velvet Underground. The band is from Ventura, however, so it bounces with more of a SoCal than a downtown groove. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured in June included Simian Ghost, Sea of Bees, and Sambassadeur.)

From July:

“Zorbing” – Stornoway
Bursting with melody and innocence, as invigorating as a bright blue puffy-clouded day. In a better world than this one, this is the song of the summer of 2010. (Read the entire review.)

“Alouette!” – Tallest Trees
Gleeful, skewed, clattery pop from a Nashville duo. Electronics are used with good humor, and the entire arrangement is great fun. (Read the entire review.)

“Noisemaker” – Two Hours Traffic
Nothing more or less complicated than brisk, sharp power pop. No summer should be without this one either. (Read the entire review.)

Other artists featured in July included Lost in the Trees, Like Bells, and Saadi.)

How to make a diverse band: start with an ex-choir nerd and mix in a piano-playing former missionary, toss in a wannabe metal rocker, add a rhythm guitar songstress (an absolute must) and a marching band drummer boy, then BAM! season the whole thing with a bass player who has an affinity for prescription sunglasses, and voila! You have Good Morning Milo. Bands that lack diversity suck, luckily Good Morning Milo is not one of them. They make the kind of music that slyly evades a perfect genre classification, in other words, they make the best kind of music, music that moves forward.

Who are some of your collective influences and what draws you to them?

Anberlin for their dynamics and killer melodies, they have a way of doing both softer heartfelt songs and edgier stuff that makes them very versatile; Muse, they have such amazing stage presence and musicianship; Paramore for their melodic use of the guitar as well as incredible drum writing; Death Cab For Cutie, Ben Gibbord is an incredible lyricist and also writes some of the most interesting bass lines; and we have to mention The Anniversary for influencing Johnny’s synth style so much.

I hear that you perform acoustic sets to support organizations. Can you tell us what causes you support and how you got into that?

The cause we have dedicated the most support to and that really must be mentioned is Invisible Children. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the war in northern Uganda and are a voice for the children who are abducted daily and forced to be child soldiers as a result of this war. More than just an organization, they are really a family, which is how we were able to get involved in such a great cause. The mission of our band is to write good, uplifting and inspiring music for good people. We’ve always felt it’s important to give our audience more credit than the music industry typically does. And that’s exactly what Invisible Children does; they call people to action in a way that expects more from them as human beings. It’s an honor to be able to offer them our support.

Your songs have some interesting titles, who thinks them up and where does the inspiration for them come from?

Well Milo thinks them up, of course, he is really all the inspiration we need.

One of your songs is called “Pickup Lines,” do you have any good lines that actually work?

Well, we have plenty of lines, but none of them work.

How is it being a part of the San Diego music scene?

Really the true joy of being a band in San Diego comes from our fans. We have an incredible group of fans who always seem to make it to every show we play. We’re very blessed that way.

Ren, what is it like being in a band full of dudes?

This seems like a loaded question haha. But in all honesty, I love it. These are a great group of guys, and musicians for that matter. I’ve always felt like I fit right in, I’m just one of the guys which is so much fun. They’re like brothers to me in a lot of ways. We poke fun at each other and sometimes I find myself rolling my eyes. But the most important thing is that while we have our moments, in the end we all work extremely well together and have a lot of respect for one another, which is just so crucial to a good writing and performing atmosphere.

Since you’re from San Diego like Anchorman Ron Burgundy, if you were all newscasters, what line would you use as your sign off in place of “Stay Classy San Diego?”

Peter Says “Stay sexy San Diego!”
Ivan says “Uhh I thought you we’re gonna pick me last I can’t think of one.”
Dallen says “Can’t the new drummer answer this question?”
Weston says “Probably an everyday phrase I could trademark and make money off of.”
Ren says “Stay in school San Diego.”
Johnny says “You be good San Diego.”

Check them out here or on Facebook.

One of the things that define summertime is music. No other season has so many memories attached to specific songs and it makes sense.  Summer is the time when you’re outside, grilling, lounging poolside, driving to the beach or taking road trips. Whether you’re at a backyard barbecue or a summertime wedding, the music of today and yesterday sets the tone for the occasion.  There are and endless amount of songs about summertime, that reference summertime and even a great number of songs that have the word summer in the title.

What makes a good summertime song?
It can be from any genre of music, but regardless of its origins all summertime songs need to follow the same criteria: an up-tempo beat, a catchy chorus or hook, and lyrics with light, fun content that call to mind summer parties, summer flings, romance and the fun of warm weather.

Beach Boys – “California Girls”
For listeners young or old, the influence and timelessness of bands like The Beach Boys cannot be denied.  Their song “California Girls” is one of the most classic summertime songs of all time.  The West Coast sound, the cheery vocals and the youthful lyrics make this a summer classic that has stood the test of time.

Martha and the Vandellas “Heat Wave”
The same can be said about “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas. This legendary Motown track has a beat that makes you wanna get up and groove, great vocals for singing along and is perfect for driving down a sunny highway on a summertime road trip.

Sly & The Family Stone’s “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
Another classic is Sly & The Family Stone’s hit “Hot Fun in the Summertime”.  The title says it all, and the mellow music with a slightly more upbeat chorus make it perfect for lazy afternoons and evenings by the barbecue.

Surfari’s “Wipe Out”
Nothing conjures images of beach blankets, bikinis and summertime breezes quite like Surfari’s 1963 hit “Wipe Out”.  What it lacks in lyrical content it more than makes up for in guitar riffs and drumbeat that are as seminal a sound of summer as anything in recent memory.

DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince “Summertime”
Recent memory, however does call to mind some more contemporary musical hits, such as “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince.  One of the most instantly recognizable beats of the 90s this song was the summertime anthem when it first came out and thanks to it lyrics about cruising with friends, trying to meet girls, hanging out in the backyard and just generally keeping cool in the heat.

Prince’s “Little Red Corvette”
Another summertime song with reference to cars was Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” While certainly only a euphemism, there’s something about songs that reference cars and cruising that calls to mind bright sunny afternoons.

Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do”
Hot on the heels of “Summertime” was Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do” a dreamy, catchy tune celebrating the lazy shiftlessness that we all give into a little bit during the summer months.  There’s nothing difficult to understand about why this song was so popular.  Years later the twangy guitar and bluesy vocals still hold up, creating a mellow dreamy summertime vibe.

Skee-Lo’s “I Wish”
From the hip hop world in the mid 1990s came Skee-Lo’s “I Wish”. While this song may not have explicitly reference summer or summertime, it certainly had a summery energy. Lyrics about a guy too short, too poor and too uncool to get the girls topped the charts and was the soundtrack to many a backyard barbecue or evening joyride.

The Formula
It seems like the formula for a successful summertime playlist is to find songs with a great beat, a catchy chorus, lots of references to girls, cars, parties and the beach, mix well and play over and over again until September.

So did I miss any? If so let me know in the comments below.

About the Author:

Vern is a music fanatic, and is always inspired to write about music. From opinionated pieces about music reviews to informational posts about learning to produce cell phone ringtones for struggling musicians, his writing style covers a wide array of industry topics.

As some of you may or may not know that on top of running Musicgoat, I am also a musician myself. Last May I had an video idea for my tune “Minnesota Got Colder.” I figured that you guys might be interested in checking it out and maybe even providing some feedback.

My Idea

Since the song is about remembering and since Memorial Day was on its way, I shot out an email to everyone on my email list and on the official Corey Koehler Facebook Fanpage offering friends and fans the opportunity to take part in the process. I ask them to send in pictures of deceased loved ones that they would like to memorialize.

Along with a good response , I had the help of my sister, her video camera, her Mac and the gorgeous scenery surrounding where I live (Winona, MN).

Check It Out

It was our first shot at making a video but I think that my sister  and I did alright. What do you think?

Facebook Video?

If you are wondering why I embedded from Facebook its because it is a higher quality version than the one I posted on YouTube. We didn’t really know what we were doing at first and we had to convert it to a format suitable for YouTube. And since I was in a hurry – because I slacked a little early on and had to press to get it out before the end of Memorial Day – I didn’t pay attention to the obvious lack of quality (see for yourself on the YouTube version).

Anyway, hope you enjoy it. Oh, and I almost forgot (Duh! still getting used to this promotion thing lol), if you like the tune you can pick it up on my BandCamp page , iTunes, Amazon or CDbaby (i’m everywhere).

HEY! Let’s be friends! Hook up with me on my YouTube Channel, on my Facebook FanPage or on my official site, PlanetCorey.com.

For music mavens and alternative rock junkies, there is really nothing worse than going to a wedding. That Israel Kamakawiwo’ole cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow for the bride’s dance with her father. The young couple who just has to have Lil Jon’s Get Low. And what kind of wedding wou—oh come one! Is that the Electric Slide?! You’ve got to be kidding me!

What is the most surprising is that these weddings are for your friends. The same people you hang out with every week, who listen to the same podcasts as you, watch the same TV shows, appreciate the same music. What happened to them to suddenly be okay with the Chicken Dance and Y.M.C.A. piping over the loud speakers?

3 Reasons Why Your Wedding Will Have Terrible Music

1. The DJ takes the reins. A wedding DJ is an artist. You may not think so, but he or she most certainly does. And as an artist, the DJ believes he has the right to certain liberties that can be unexpected for the bride and groom et al. You may have had your playlist perfected, but if the DJ sees the dance floor lagging, he is going to throw on his sure-fire, never-fail, always-gets-people-moving mix and take it from there. If that special DJ mix happens to include the lyrics “my lip-gloss is cool, my lip-gloss be poppin’” … well you’re just out of luck.

2. You’re just too tired to plan anymore. Sure, picking out the music for your wedding sounds like fun (you do have excellent taste in music, after all). But after you’ve survived the battlefield that is finding a wedding photographer that doesn’t cost $4,000 and spent sleepless nights wondering if sashimi really was a reasonable choice for a first course, designing a wedding playlist is just about the last thing you want to do. Leaving it to the experts is just so tempting. I mean, a DJ is a DJ for a reason, right? It’s his or her job. They must know what they are doing.

And suddenly, you’re loosening your tie or hiking up your skirt and mouthing the words to Katy Perry. “What happened here?” you might wonder. “In what feasible reality would I have ever let this through?” But by then it’s too late. You’re music is in the hands of another, and there isn’t anything you can do about it – or your reputation.

3. Not everyone at the wedding shares your musical preferences. If you and your significant other are one of those couples whose entire reason for existence is one band (say you met at that fateful Pearl Jam Riot Act tour) it may be tempting to dedicate the bulk of the reception’s playlist to one band’s repertoire.

Don’t get me wrong: Pearl Jam is great. Eddie Vedder lives in the same town I do, and I would be lying if I said that I didn’t scope out discrete coffee shops on Sunday mornings to see if I could spot him ordering an espresso. But more than one Pearl Jam song at a reception means instant wedding doldrums. The only way a PJ-overload is going to fly is if the vast majority of your wedding guests knows every song. And hates dancing. Because you can’t dance to Pearl Jam (you look like an idiot trying) and people like things they can sing along to.

What choice are you left with other than to slip in a couple of the choice, superior songs you love, and flood the rest of the dance floor with weird, radio hip-hop and those dance songs where they instruct you on your next move: One hop this time. Two hops this time.

Wedding Songs to Make Everyone Happy

Don’t worry, you future brides and grooms with intense indie urges. There are songs that exist that meet both dancability and elitist expectations. Use these as a guide.

Little Latin Lupe Lu, by the Righteous Brothers It’s groovy, it’s retro, and if you don’t know it, the words are pretty easy to figure out.

Shout, by The Isley Brothers I will acknowledge that this one is a little controversial, especially for music snobs who don’t want to have any song from a soundtrack at their wedding (even if the movie is Animal House). But I guarantee everyone – EVERYONE – will dance to this song. They will even get down to the ground when they get softer now, and bring it back up as they get louder now, and it’s the most fun you’ll ever have.

Jump Jive & Wail, by the Brian Setzer Orchestra Okay, okay. So it’s 90s. And it’s swing-y. But it gives the older folks a chance to show off their moves while at the same time gets the youngster’s toes a-tappin’.

Something sort of PG-13 rated from Girl Talk The great thing about Girl Talk is that he mixes all sorts of danceable gems together into a giant, glorious mashup. The downside is that 2/3 of said gems boast vaguely suggestive content. Try “Bounce That.” It’s hot and only says “hoes” 3 times.

Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, by Michael Jackson It might be too soon for some, but it’s a dance floor masterpiece

You Sexy Thing, by Hot Chocolate Let’s take it down a notch and get some slow grooves in there. Because everyone at a wedding is sexy, and it’s a miracle.

Remix to Ignition, by R. Kelly Just kidding.

Do you have your own favorite wedding dance hits? Share ‘em – but you should note that any references to Journey or Bon Jovi automatically disqualify you from the cool list.

About the writer:
Rachel Smith a writer based in the Pacific Northwest. She writes for Storkie Express about wedding invitations and all things wedding related. She has phenomenal taste in music.

Betty Navas is one of the lucky working musicians who doesn’t need a day job. Playing music is her day job. Betty began with piano and singing in the Miami’s Children’s Chorus and eventually directed her dedication to the guitar. Since then, she has made a career out of performing at casinos, getting to play every night and doing what she loves. See…art can pay. To further follow her passion, Betty has released her own album Superqueen to inspire other people, especially girls, and show them that a career as a musician is possible, without the struggling part.

Superqueen is the name of your album. Why did you choose that name and how does one become a Superqueen?

“Superqueen” is the second song on the CD. The song describes a woman who feels that on every level she is in charge of her own life. She (Superqueen) feels that she can be, do or have anything that she wants.  She has a sense of complete freedom and there are no limits to her choices or directions in life. A Superqueen, by my definition would be one who feels and moves in the direction of independence and freedom.

Who are some of your biggest music influences?

I listen to a wide variety of music everything from E.S. Posthumus to Eric Clapton. Being a guitarist, I love listening to guitar-oriented music and that is my biggest influence. I am very influenced by guitar-driven groups and artists like Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix and Foo Fighters.

According to your MySpace, you are constantly on the road, what is your favorite city to play?

I don’t have a particular favorite, but if I had to pick one it would be Ontario, Canada. It’s closer to my home in L.A. and the people there are really great.

A lot of your events are in casinos, what has been your biggest win to date?

I don’t gamble in the casinos. My biggest win so far is achieving my goals as far as becoming a professional musician full-time.

You made a music video for the song “Love Is,” what’s the story behind that song?

I wrote that song while I was taking a course on Protools. As part of the course, we had to learn how to add music to video and film clips. I wrote the song and soon after shot the video in short segments around L.A. I came up with the idea to write the song after reading books on metaphysics. The song is about love in a universal sense that states compassion and forgiveness are acts of love too. I wanted to encompass more perspectives about love from an expanded point of view rather than a purely romantic point of view.

Which of your songs is the most personal to you?

If I had to pick the most personal it would be “Stay in My Skin.” That songs describes my personal thoughts and feeling about genuine self-acceptance.

If you could have anyone to start a band with, who would be in it?

If I could have anyone, it would be Dave Grohl, Dave Matthews and Josh Homme to name a few. I really love their singing and playing.

If you could have any special power to use inside of a casino, what would it be and what else would you use it for?

I would use my special powers of focus to win a large jackpot and teach others how they can do the same thing! : )

Check her out on MySpace or on Facebook

When you were growing up, was there ever that kid in your class that was good at everything? Good at school, good at sports, good with the other kids, and good looking? Well, if that kid grew up to be a musician, he’d probably be like Julian Shah-Tayler who switches from songwriter to producer to performer to DJ with the greatest of ease, talent unwavering.

Already Julian has worked directly with Joaquin Phoenix, JC Chasez, and Violet Flames to name a few.  As a sonwriter, he co-wrote the smash hit “Wrap It Up” which has been featured in Whip It, GTA 4, Sopranos, Kyle XY and CSI Miami. He has also remixed a number of artists and DJed in clubs worldwide from the from The Razzmatazz in Barcelona, the Maria in Berlin, Death Disco/Kill All Hippies/Transmission/The Queen is Dead/The Secret Door in London, Happy Endings in New York, and Standard Hotels in Los Angeles. Do you see what I mean? Julian Shah-Tayler is an artist to watch for his versatility,musical integrity and sophisticated artistry.

You have been in a number of bands over the years, how you feel about having a solo project?

It feels great. I have been writing with a solo project in mind before, during and after the time I was in bands. It would be fair to say that in a lot of the bands, the songs were tantamount to solo efforts anyway. Finally because I play all the instruments and produce the songs as well as sing them, I get to do exactly what I want with them now.

What inspired the lyrics to the song “Wetter”?

Ha ha. Strangely I wrote the backing track for JC Chasez (*NSYNC) because I was working with him on some other projects. When I thought of the “naughty” lyric, it just stuck, and I decided to finish the song myself. I read a lot about Prince in my youth, as I was a huge fan. I think that using provocative lyrics does not necessarily denote a lack of subtlety across the board with the rest of the oeuvre. It was only ever intended to be a fun song, and it has certainly proved itself a favourite with my live audiences and radio stations.

You have a full length coming out at the end of the year entitled Coito Ergo Sum, what does that mean and can you expand on it?

Coito ergo sum is a corruption of the Descartes maxim: “cogito ergo sum” which means “I think therefore I am”
Coito, however means “I procreate”…….. The idea is that the use of latin is a little highbrow, but the message is quite cheeky really. I think that meeting of highbrow and lowbrow culture and intent reflects the content of my music nicely. I am quite serious, but irreverent and silly at the same time. Think perhaps of CNN presented by Monty Python…..

How does making music in the UK differ from making music in the United States?

My methods do not differ in the slightest bit between the US and the UK. I think the way it is perceived is the chief difference. Los Angeles is obviously a far cry from London, but my process is the same. Filter life through art and make it sound as interesting as possible….. Repeat.

You have collaborated and/or produced a number of other acts including JC Chasez, Joaquin Phoenix, and Whitey, who was your favorite to work with?

My favourite collaboration is the ongoing one I have with Scott Fairbrother in “adamandevil”, although the experience of working with Joaquin was the most “unusual” as he is a self-confessed non-musician, articulating himself most often in sensate terms. He’s quite brilliant as a producer actually, as he could take the musicians out of their comfort zone into a non-musical paradigm. This creates a very specific mood which helps create an idiosyncratic sound.

What role do you prefer, producer, songwriter, or DJ?

I am most definitely in my element as a singer/songwriter which comprises certain production things as well.

I read somewhere that you write between 50-70 songs a year and put out a new EP every few months, where do you get all this inspiration?

The songs are cathartic. I guess I am writing my diary/autobiography in song form, I guess you could say. Any emotional baggage can be offloaded in musical form.

You were once in a band called Drink Me, so if you were a vampire and could blend any 3 celebrities’ blood into a drink who would they be?

Shannyn Sossamon, Prince, (it would be purple) and Sigourney Weaver (for that added zing).

Find him on Facebook and keep an eye out for his label Impossible Things Records.

Image via Wikipedia

It is not often that I comment on anything but Indie music here on the Goat, but, this 80’s metal rube couldn’t help himself. I originally planned on just Tweeting about it and sending out a Facebook update but I couldn’t say everything in 140 characters or less, so I figured I’d start the conversation here.

I was listening to The Rock And Roll Geek Show (highly recommended) where the host Micheal Butler was doing a track by track review of the new Vince Neil CD “Tattoos And Tequila”. I was readying myself for another throw away release from an aging rockstar from my youth – and the always honest Butler to call him on it – but I came away impressed.

Impressed enough that not only did I take time to write this review but I bought the CD. Proving once again, as they said on the show and on many others, podcasting does indeed sell.

A Few Thoughts…

…Not crazy about the title track so you’ll have to make up your own mind.

… “Another Bad Day” is the better of the only two originals on the release. It has positive vibe and could

…He covers “Who’ll Stop the Rain” by CCR and pulls it off nicely.  I’ve been a Motley Crue fan since “Too Fast For Love” and he sounds just as at home on this classic as he does on “Ten Seconds To Love” (I  can’t believe I used those two songs in the same sentence). There is a lot of sincerity in his performance that I didn’t expect. Great song, classic songwriting!

…I always liked the clean chunky riffs of The Hollies “Long Cool Women” and Vince and the band do a solid job. The big eighties distortion lends itself nicely.

… Elvis anyone? Viva Las Vegas gets a solid update.

There are more very solid covers to mention – like stuff by the  Scorpions, Sex Pistols, Elton John (seriously) and more – but I’ll let you figure out what you think on your own (Then share in the comments below).

Oh and I didn’t get the bonus track “Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers”(ZZ Top) that I heard on the RNR Geek which kind of sucked but I’ll just have to wait for the CD.

Anyway, I guess what I am saying is you should go check it out. You can listen before you buy over at Amazon or check out Micheal Butler’s review. But if you want to dive right in, you can pick up the CD and download OR his $99 merch lovers dream package over at VinceNeil.net.

Your thoughts below.

Musicians And Promoters…

I, as a musician always looking out for good marketing and sales tips, thought it was interesting to see how the smooth the site sales process went. From what I can tell Topspin is doing everything- kudo to them.

Although I am not a big enough fan to lay down $99 bucks for the big merch package he is pimping, I bet there are plenty of people who are. Another example of how some of the more traditional artists are picking up on some marketing ideas forged in the indie realm and a sign that it works.

I signed up for the mailing list.  it will be interesting to see what kind of stuff Vince will be sending out – that is if he is gonna be the one doing it (somehow I doubt it but we’ll see).

Only thing I might have done differently was get more samples of the new tunes on his site. Had to go to Amazon to find those. Why make it hard for potential customers to hear everything the CD has to offer?

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I’m not much of a cook. I’m a bit more of an eater and I really love it when I get to eat something, (that I’ve eaten a hundred times before), and it has a fresh, new and interesting taste. This is what Dogs and Bones does. They are seasoned musical “cooks” and know just how to serve up traditional genres with some added spice to take the music to new places. They take some good old-fashioned classic rock and throw in some blues, rockabilly, motown and psychedelic influence and create something truly timeless…and delicious.

What is the story behind your band’s name?

Phil: Our original bass player, Liberty, said about a friend was “hounding” a girl and he was acting like a dog without a bone.  Perfect name for this band.

If you were a dog in real life, what breed would you be and why?

Greig: I’d be a poodle.  They don’t shed.

Phil: A boxer, lovable, a mug and aggressive when necessary

Why did you choose to use an Andy Warhol inspired photo on your CD?

Phil: The band stylistically and musically is more akin to ’60s bands than contemporary groups. An icon of the ’60s like Warhol is representative of us, our taste in music and in art.

Greig: Andy Warhol is timeless like us.  Many different colors of the same image.  We have taken basic blues and colored it to match our vision.

I am told that your drummer, Phil, shares lead vocals, how did you learn to multitask like that?

Phil: Being a drummer since I was a kid, I had to be able to multi-task to even play drums. (You know, pat your head and rub your tummy).  Adding vocals is simply a matter of remembering to breathe.

What song that you play live seems to be a crowd pleaser?

Greig: “Leave Me Alone” seems to be a crowd favorite.  Although it’s about a woman who was obsessive, people always come up to us and say, “that song is soooo pretty.”  Go figure.

Phil: “Rescue Me” always gets the crowd moving.

What is the band currently working on?

Phil: We’re currently in the studio recording some tunes we’ve been playing for a while, as well as writing and arranging some new ones. We’re also planning on getting back in front of a live audience this summer.

Greig: Taking over the world!

Dogs and Bones have a song called “Sometimes It’s Better Not to Know,” can you give use a real life situation where you have thought that?

Phil: Check the third verse of the song.  The truth can be a bitch. So was that woman.

If you could have any guest artist play on your next record, who would you choose?

Greig: Wow, Elvis Costello maybe since he’s the whole package.  He can sing, dance (no not dance), write, play guitar.  Plus maybe he’ll put us on his show.  I met him once.  Jesse Dylan introduced me to him.  Does that count?

Phil: Stevie Winwood, that soaring B-3, those ethereal vocals.

Check them out here or on Facebook.