Well, like that irritating rash, WE’RE BACK!!! We at Bleach Bangs Radio are exploring out options to infiltrate your ear holes and burrow into your brains. This time we decided to discuss some bands and their lifespans. Should they pull the plug? Should the defibrillators be hooked up to them? Check out the show right here:
Afterwards let us know your thoughts. Pay attention as well because you just might have your chance to participate in an upcoming Bleach Bangs show yourself!!!
Had a blast hanging out and talking with Sworn Enemy! Thanks to Mike Araiza for camera operations a nd editing the video! Here the conversation with the guys:
Thanks go out to Sal, Matt, Mike, Jeff, and Taykwuan of Sworn Enemy, and Tom George for hooking this up!
First off I want to thank you all for the overwhelming response to last nights Bar Bands post. I was however, reminded of a few more things regarding bar bands and I am addressing them now.
Promoters, you need to do just that. I have seen an unfortunate trend as of late with putting up an event page on social media sites, dusting off your hands and calling it a day. I am sorry that is not good enough, period. I cannot tell you how many times at the last minute I get a message “hey you coming to the show tonight?” and because of the lack of show promotion this is the first time I hear of the show. Shame on you, shame. You are doing the band a complete disservice to say the least. EVERYONE should know about a show you put together.
Club owners, pay the bands a decent rate!!!!! These guys are traveling on their own usually on limited means throughout the country. Club owners wake up because you know they are talking to each other about clubs to play in and which to avoid. Imagine if you treat a band decently and they spread the word and you have bands knocking your door down to play your venue. Word gets around, locals will see the bands are dying to play your venue and will be beating your door down to attend.
Promoters and Club owners, ADVERTISE!!!!!! There are usually on most towns several means of advertising the show. If people don’t know, they wont go!!! If you work with the advertising outlets I am sure a bond can be made and some kind of deal can be made.
Lastly, remember these bands are providing us a service and we should be thanking them.
Recently a couple of people have made disparaging comments about bar bands. One person in particular made it known that bar bands were beneath him and a waste of time. Well I am here to tell you that most bands you have heard of and listen to today got their starts in a bar somewhere. Ok, ok there are those few anomalies out there I’m sure who jumped immediately into arena gigs.
The Doors, Motley Crue, the Beatles, Guns N’ Roses, the list goes on and on. These bands played to small crowds at first and honed themselves into arena machines.
Now, in today’s world, arena bands are mostly extinct so the return of the bar/club band is more important than ever. There are several bar/club bands that live in my heart these days. They are there because I have insight as to the blood,sweat, and tears they exude. Their craft is important to them and they are willing to go that extra mile to give their all to their fans. I wish to personally thank the following bands/performers in no particular order: Dellacoma, Nomada, Skulldron, Throw The Temple, Scattered Hamlet, Darken The day, Wulf, Beard, Ragdoll, Crowned By Fire, Mike Araiza, and many, many more. I salute you all for being the warriors you are and for flying the Rock N’ Roll flag high. All you other local bands, STEP UP!!! And to you naysayers out there, I’ll debate you on camera anytime, you know how to reach me.
Throw The Temple from Albuquerque, NM is an eclectic band. Not afraid to embrace the world in their own creative way they have managed to continually impress me. Throw The Temple has decided that instead of waiting for the world to discover them, they are gonna head out and start kicking doors in. They are currently in the running to play at the Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands Floodfest 2015. I am asking you to vote for these hard working rockers who are not afraid of themselves or the Rock N’ Roll world. You can vote right here:
I was doing my best to stay out of the “Grammy bashing” posts, but alas, I find myself jumping in. If we as music lovers and consumers are unhappy with the situation we need to speak up. If everyone who has made a statement would take the time to make their thoughts known to the right people we might make a difference. By flooding the radio stations with emails, phone calls we might make a difference. By writing and emailing the Grammys and telling them your thoughts we might make a difference. Lastly, by PURCHASING the music you love and telling others about it, and going to shows and supporting the music you love we WILL make a difference. – the Hellion
Matt DiRito called me up and we were able to have a discussion about the Star Treatments organization. We were able to talk about how it all came together and what you can do to help this great cause. Thanks for listening. Here’s the link:
Thank you Matt, you are an honorable man. Here are the page links:
Here at the Hellion Rocks we are all about taking care of each other and helping those in need of help. Our friend Matt DiRito from Pop Evil has stepped up and is giving back in a big way. We are proud to share this uplifting plan with all of you – the Hellion
For those who don’t know me, my name is Matt DiRito. I play bass guitar in a rock band called Pop Evil. I’ve grown up seeing a lot of rock and roll bands using their names for less than admirable things. For example, you may hear stories of people pushing their weight to get free drinks or admission to an event by using the line, “Don’t you know who I am?” I believe in breaking these cliches. I am trying to deflect that attention we receive and focus it on people who need it. It has become clear what I want to do and how to use that “power” of my name, and I encourage other public figures to do the same.
I have always wanted to work with kids. Children have no control over the circumstances they grow up in. They ALL deserve to be healthy and happy. In recent years of touring I have met an amazing family with a little girl who overcame cancer. Even more incredible than her triumph over cancer, was watching the way her family handled her recovery. They put an emphasis on having fun and lifting her spirits. Part of her recovery process was to FEEL good. Once she had the right mindset, her body seemed to follow. They often brought her and her sister to our concerts where I would play outside with them for hours. We’d doing things like skip hopscotch, blow bubbles, draw with sidewalk chalk and just act goofy. Being a part of this process made me want to reach out and help more kids in her position…. I started brainstorming ways that I could help families like hers and incorporate what I do for a living.
I started thinking about all of the out-of-pocket expenses they had on a regular basis. Families will often times throw fundraisers to help offset the cost of their large medical bills, but what about the smaller ones? All of the out-of-pocket expenses from day to day could potentially drown a family already struggling to get by. What happens when the nearest Children’s Cancer treatment center is 400 miles away? Things such as the cost of gas back and forth, a car breaking down, or even taking time off from work could make things very difficult. The last thing anyone should worry about is being able to get their child safely to the care they deserve.
Along comes “Star Treatments.” This idea, in its most basic form, is designed to take care of transportation needs to and from these facilities. Additionally- the child would receive the “Star Treatment” on the way to their chemo treatments. A family will have a tour bus pick them up at their front door, take them to the hospital and then back home… Simple right? Keep in mind that these tour buses are very accommodating. If the child is feeling sick after their treatment they can use the restroom on board or lay down in one of the beds. Without being restricted to the drivers seat, the parents are free to tend to their child during the lengthy trip.
In addition to comfort, we want to keep the element of fun too! The inside of the buses will have things such as kids movies, video games, coloring books, various toys and healthy snacks. Part of the “Star Treatment” means that the children will get care packages from different bands. Each time the the child gets picked up they can look forward to t-shirts, posters, CDs, or maybe a signed teddy bear from a different band. Even a 10 second video of the band saying something like, “Stay strong! You can get through this! We believe in you!” Anything fun or creative that these artists can think of. There will always be something for them to look forward to as they experience this very special way to travel. The idea is to have the children get to the hospital with a happy heart, instead of being overcome with nerves and anxiety.
With this transportation in place (and driver included), it is possible for other people to chaparone trips. If it lands within the work week, the child’s grandparents can opt to ride along. Having options like this could help these families retain a sense of normality or keep the parents from having to take too much time off from work. There is enough room on the bus (typically 12 bunk beds) that the child could have a few schoolmates ride along for support and company. This could be fun over summer break! Each trip could be something a little different.
I am starting by finding bus companies to work with. If they own 12 buses and only have 10 leased out, I can offer them a tax write off for a bus that would otherwise be sitting. Most drivers (in their downtime) are very willing to write off a few drives. My goal however, is to own a bus that has only ONE purpose, and is always stocked up and ready. Then, a fleet of buses, all in different regions of the U.S. to continually pick up and drop off these families. They could use the hospitals as hubs and make multiple runs each day. I can already see a bus pulling up with the words “StarTreatments.org” written down the side of it! I want to get bands, artists, athletes and even celebrities involved. I think it’s a fantastic way to take the spotlight that’s on them and divert it in the direction of someone who really deserves it. Giving them the star treatment, helping their families financially and keeping their attitudes positive will all greatly impact the healing process. I encourage all of you to share this with your friends, families, communities, celebrities, or anyone you feel could help! Thank you for taking the time to read this.
~Matt DiRito- Founder
There you have it, you can find out more online at:
I’ve been feeling a little “groovy” lately and wanted to share a few stoner/heavy psych fuzz rock/sludge/doom bands I’ve been checking out. So “indulge” yourself and get your groove on with these four bands you might not have heard of.
Founded in 2006, Face on Mars combines heavy rock with elements of psychedelic rock, desert rock, doom, and southern sludge. Hailing from the birthplace of rock n’ roll, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the band remains as the area’s active force in keeping heavy rock and roll alive. At first, the band gathered most of its influences from the fuzzy grooves of Kyuss, the oddball heaviness of the Melvins, and the brutal onslaught of Electric Wizard and High On Fire. By the summer of 2008, a passion for 1970s rock emerged. Guitarist/Vocalist Drew Kern began to inject the soulful wailing of Mountain and Grand Funk Railroad, while the music was laced with traces of Pentagram and Deep Purple.
During the summer of 2011, “Jump the Gun” was released on a 7″ split record with Mississippi punk legends, Before I Hang. The song was also featured onStonerRock.com‘s Compilation Vol. 9. Maximum Rock N Roll Issue #347 labeled it “a mindbender…tweaked out stoner metal.” For the past 8 years, Face on Mars has remained active and played shows alongside many touring artists such as Before I Hang, Stellatone, Emerald Heavy, The Stovebolts, Cooze Hound, Royal Thunder, Slo Poke, Mothership, Bass Drum of Death, Cough, Dark Castle, Dax Riggs, The Unnaturals, Dummy Dumpster, Smoke & Feathers, Haarp, Vorpal Hand, That Yellow Bastard and many more.
In 2014, the long awaited, self-titled debut album was produced and self-released by Face on Mars. Engineered and mixed by Mark Black and mastered by Chris Goosman (Greenleaf, Mos Generator, Dixie Witch), the album showcases the band’s diverse range of styles in the hard rock realm. The album is highly influenced by 70s rock (Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd) as well as the modern take on heavy fuzzy rock (Fu Manchu, Queens of the Stone Age, Truckfighters).
Snow White is a band, proud to be out of Longview Washington. We are experienced professionals and are available for all of your parties and puke fests.
RoadkillSoda is the reflection of the 70s American hawk, of the dusty Dodge, ragged T-shirts, tattoos, beards, booze, naked chicks and good vibes.
The group started off as a jam session between Mihnea’s guitar and Para’s drums in the winter of 2010-2011, in a cold, dimly-lit room filled with smoke and music blasting through the walls.
And so, the stoner, sludge, psychedelic and rock’n’roll sounds fusion would become RoadkillSoda, a fresh, intense and unconventional project. Vava, Mihnea’s brother form the same mother, promptly took the, often underestimated, role of the bass player, adding a dirty bass sound that does not go unnoticed.
As spontaneous as the entire project, the debut EP “A Fucked Up Trip Gone Bad” pops up, basically live recording from the rehearsal room and was released in 2011, via Asiluum label.
In 2012, Sebi joins Mihnea, Para and Vava in their journey. The band consequently assumes, without compromises, its ideal form and color – a metamorphosis fuelled by the sound, atmosphere and by the people on stage and in front of it.
In less than a year, the band wrote, recorded and produced the first official album. “Oven Sun” embodies the experiences of a man who wakes up in the middle of nowhere, bound to wonder and to take in both the good and the bad. From mirages and oasis to the burning sun and the endless desert, the album envisages RoadkillSoda’s metaphor of life. The “happy-end” is depicted through sorrow, despair and bleak scenarios carried out with a mask displaying a caddish grin, an attitude that fittingly sums up “Oven Sun” by one line – “F**k’em with a smile”.
Thunders of Wrath is an **unsigned** American rock band with a 11-song debut vinyl in post-production.
Described as “old school rules with a new-fangled yet reverent rock swagger”. Others have said “refreshingly classic”. To put it simply, we make rock, it’s who we are what we love and what we do.
School chums Mason Flippin and Cooper Farris form the rhythm core, meeting in junior high and growing up together as musicians. Guitarist Joe Papen joins in January 2012. Tom Vekakis joins on vocals in August 2012. Jake Fouts joins on keyboards in July 2014.
Ages 21-24, all born and raised in the Tacoma/Puyallup area, currently recording original music and playing shows to audiences along the west coast.
We strive for a sound that is timeless, yet always in the moment… all-killer, no-filler. ROCK GROOVES.
Released first EP – The Grand Alliance in August, 2013, available digitally on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and other digital services, and in our favorite indie record stores all across the pacific NW.
Music Video for “Lighting the Lantern”, Nov 2013 on YouTube (SD), Vimeo (HD) and Facebook.
Played 54 shows in 2014.
Self-produced holiday special December 2014 previews the videos and mini-sodes in production for 2015 album release.
Full length album recorded 2014, currently in post, to be released around March 2015.
There you have it! Some new bands for ya earholes. Help a band get heard!
the Hellion Rocks 