MoeTar is: Moorea Dickason – Vocals •
Tarik Ragab – Bass •
Matt Lebofsky – Keys •
Matthew Heulitt – Guitar •
David M Flores – Drums •
Jonathan Herrera – Keyboards •
Describing MoeTar is no easy feat. In fact, the task is as challenging as the band’s music itself. A simplistic and accurate statementcould be “MoeTar sounds like the Beatles + Frank Zappa + XTC on Acid”. You could also try to peg MoeTar to a list of genres, but who the hell knows what a prog-pop-fusion-avant fusion band sounds like anyway?
MoeTar’s two main protagonists, lead singer Moorea Dickason and bassist/songwriter/lyricist Tarik Ragab, along with a versatile crew of musicians, including guitarist Matthew Charles Heulitt (Zigaboo Modeliste, Narada Michael Walden), drummer David Flores and keyboardist Matt Lebofsky (miRthkon), and keyboardist Jonathan Herrera create catchy, yet complex, music that attempts to make sense of our confusing world.The fact is, MoeTar’s music defies categorization and, therein, lies the band’s special appeal. Tricky rhythms and technical pyrotechnics are not in themselves anything special.
On Entropy of the Century, MoeTar expands its palette even further. The band understands the power of pop to deliver a message that sticks, but unlike most pop, uses the full breadth of the musical language to convey that message.
Entropy of the Century captures an important new band coming into its own, harnessing the disparate powers of its extraordinary musicians for a common purpose. Don’t bother trying to define the band. Just listen.
Buy Directly from Magna Carta $15.98
CD Not Shipping until August 19 [shipping/handling included within USA]
It’s a long way from his 1997 releaseBawitdaba, but it shows his music is ever changing and not stale. I give it a 4 beer “hell ya!” toast out of five, only because the intro reminds me of Bryan Adam’s “Summer of 69”. But really, how many distinct variations of 7 notes can we all do?? I think Kid Rock will continue to put out great music for many years to come. Also, you gotta give props to him for going out on tour and only charging 20 bucks a ticket in order for anyone to be able to afford to see him…Here’s an article about it. Click—>Detroit Free Press
to go to Kid Rocks YouTube page.CLick —-> KidRockVideos
First off, in the famous words of the band SAXON…”DOES THIS TOWN KNOW HOW TO ROCK?” It might be better said “Does this town still know how to rock”? Did you see the lines waiting to get into the Ford Center Wednesday night? I did. They were stretched out all the way around the building and across the street! It was wonderful! When my wife and I parked in behind the “The Center’s” parking lot I noticed several tailgate parties going on! Judas Priest was cranking on one truck’s stereo system and the guys and girls were hanging out around the truck and pre drinking and getting psyched about the show!. Not hurting no one and not driving. Just waiting for the doors to the Ford Center to open. T-shirt bootleggers were crisscrossing the parking lots selling concert t-shirts at half price. It was just like the good ole days of concerts gone by. Does anyone remember those?
This was a real Damn Loud Rock show. One that was needed in an area that is over ran with bro-country bands and too many country radio stations… Not that I am hating on country, some of it is actually well written but for the most part it’s over saturated with the same lines in every song…Lines that mention: trucks, rivers/lakes, a country road, KC Lights, some kind of alcoholic drink, a hot girl, long legs and short shorts, and either a moonlight or sunrise and don’t forget to mention a country music legends’ name like Hank or Haggard….and WALLA! And repeat…But I will leave all this for another day! Back to the ROCK SHOW!
First off though… The KickActs PROPS and ROCK SALUTES to the following!
Many props needs to go out to our ROCK radio stations! Evansville Stations 103WGBFand 107.5WABXcarried the rock torch and promoted this show relentlessly. Hell, even Pat Ballard and the WKTG93.9 gang also heavily promoted the show and had a contest using Judas Priest song titles in a story and gave away tickets too and they are located in Madisonville! So the radio stations ROCKED it!
(Rated PG from here down people)
Back to the concert. The Ford Center along with Outback Concerts presented the God Fathers of Metal, “Judas “Fucking’ Priest” along with glam rockers “Steel Panther”! Judas Priest has over 40 years of experience and 50 million albums sold under their belt. They are legends. Their material is as fresh today as it was when it was released. Back in the day, you had to have “British Steel” in your record collection. “Screaming for Vengeance” was another one. “Painkiller”. The list goes on and on. Judas Priest, the ever adapting progressive metal band, when syth guitars came into play they cranked out “Turbo Lover” and many more syth guitar rock songs on their release “Turbo”. Here in 2014, they are still releasing ground breaking albums like the newest one “Redeemer of Souls”. A world class act here in Evansville Indiana!
The opening act was LA “Calipornica” based “Steel Panther”. Boosting that they have had over 20,000 YouTube views! LOL… A band that has taken the over indulgences of the 80’s glam/rock metal bands and repackaged it and made a comedic Rated PG-13? gig out of it. The band comes complete with guy liner and over the top wigs! These guys are highly talented musicians and pretty freakin’ humorous too! The songs are spoofs like “Death to all but metal”. With the play on “butt” of course. Then there’s P****whipped, “Asian Hookers”, “Glory Hole” and one of their more popular ballads’ “Community Property” with the famous chorus line that goes ” My heart belongs to you, but my **** is Community Property”. lol…Probably not too cool and a bit much for the young kids in the audience though! I would say, think more like in the lines of the movies “American Pie”, “Porkies”, and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” type tone…You know, “dick” humor…They hit on all the clichés and poked fun at themselves along with the 80’s era. The bass player Lexxi Roxx even did a standard 80’s bass solo “called “hair solo” and just played an open E on his bass while playing with his hair! We all know bass players played more than just one string but its fun to poke fun at! Great set and I could have watched a full show from them. I get it and it’s awesome!
STEEL PANTHER
Steel Panther was a great warm up band but we all know who we came for! Judas Priest! Thanks to the internet I knew that when Black Sabbath’s “WAR PIGS” came over the front house system it was show time! I have to admit, to the 15 year old inter kid in me, hearing the crowd singing to War Pigs was touching to my metal heart! The curtain dropped and they kicked into “Dragonaut” off the new album “Redeemer of Souls”! From the word go it was a well oiled classic Priest show! They know how to rock! Are they older? Hell yes but so are we but no denying music makes us young again. I saw plenty of young and young at heart metal fans there! The Priest ripped out many of their classic hits and well as some deeper cuts. One of my favorites is “Beyond the Realms of Death” off the Stained Class album! They played “Metal Gods”, Another Thing Coming”, “Turbo Lover”,” Victim of Changes”, “Love Bites”, “Jaw Breaker” (not in that order just recalling off the top of my head)…And then…The Stage went dark…thick fog was rolling in…and then you heard it…
The Harley motorcycle started up!!! As Rob was warming up the engine on that suicide machine you could feel the tension rise! It’s loud pipes racking off the sound system and bouncing around the arena walls! As he rode it out on stage the band broke into “Hell Bent for Leather“!. Fucking A for AWESOME!
Judas Priest came back out for two encore songs! “Living After Midnight” and “Defenders of the Faith”. It was a great night for Heavy Metal!
Before the show and really afterwards, I looked around and saw many “metal heads” that I had seen at rock concerts back in the day when Evansville seemed to have a great rock show once a month. I don’t know these people as coworkers or friends per se but we have something in common. The music. We all acknowledged each other with the typical “what’s up” gesture but we’re all brothers and sisters in rock. We support the cause…The numbers were small but we were there…
The show was undersold. It’s a known fact that for some reason rock/metal shows no longer do well in Evansville. It was also on a Wednesday night but are we really too old to get out and enjoy it? I think not. Was it advertised well? In some ways yes. The radio stations I mentioned did their part if not more…
103WGBF even had a special ticket price with Ticketmaster for one day where you could get a ticket for 30 bucks! You couldn’t beat that folks! My ticket was on the floor, B section middle of the stage and I only paid 70.00 for it. So I paid 150.00 for two seats on the floor. Someone on my Facebook page said the tickets were too high… I just went to Ticketmaster and looked up Eric Church’s show. Same Ford Center, same seating area my wife and I were in. Keep in mind I paid full price at Ticketmaster for the Priest tickets…Here is Eric Church’s ticket prices for the same area. If you can’t make it out, it’s $908.00 for 2 tickets! Talk about scalping someone! Sad thing is, someone will pay those prices.
I know ad space is pricey. So let’s get that out of the way. But you have Facebook and posting daily is free. The Ford Center has a Facebook page. As of today (10/24/2014) it has 20,073 “Likes” and been visited 87,563 times. Those are great stats! Congrats! But you hosted Judas Priest and what did you do? You announced the show on July 17th and a few times after that. Then when the show neared you stopped the free advertising via posting on Facebook on your own page. From September 30th until October 16th, no mention of the Judas Priest show on your Facebook page. You posted up and coming shows like Miranda Lambert and Eric Church. Both of those shows are scheduled after the Judas Priest concert. It’s as if you guys just abandoned the show. I sent you a message asking about it on September 15th. No reply but the next day you posted about the show. I can’t tell you what to do but you know Facebook is a great free advertising tool. It wasn’t used for the Judas Priest show. I am not hating, just the facts…
Enclosing…
Denise, LaDonna, David and me…
I had a great time at the show. I attended it with my wife Denise and my brother David and his girlfriend LaDonna. It had been a long time since my brother and I attended a concert together so the night was very special to me…The thing is, yea, the guys in Priest are older. K.K. Downing has retired and has been replaced with Richie Faulkner, a younger guitar slinger that is badass. But in reality, it’s about us an individuals’ more importantly. Are we really that old in our 40’s or 50’s? Most of the guys in Judas Priest are in their mid 60’s. The Rolling Stones are in their 70’s and they are still playing. Touring isn’t easy…So what’s our excuse for not going?
If you have been blessed with good health why head for the rocking chair early? Why not play “Kick the can“. Why not live while you are alive? So what if you are up a little later one night in a year at a rock show? I saw the guys and the girls there. Young and older. We are the Defenders of the faith along with Judas Priest. Who gives a crap if your not 21 anymore? Had a couple of kids and your not 36/24/36 anymore? I saw younger ladies and MILFS/GILFS dressed up in leather or dressed nice. I saw the newer young generation metal guys taking the torch. I saw the older metal guys with a lot less hair than they used to have and maybe the standard 40ish belly instead of the “six packs showing” it’s “six packs hiding”. The leather jacket they have had for years doesn’t quite fit like it used to but… They are “Defenders of the Faith”. All of them. Every damn one of them…
Never let anyone tell you that you are too old. If they do, tell them, well just show them. Wear what you wanna wear. Grow your hair how you wanna grow it. Be you. Who the hell wrote the book on growing up anyway? Be responsible but live dammit…Just live! If its metal….Get your ass off the couch and support the shows. If it’s country you like….do the same. But do something. What did ole Red say in Shawshank Redemption??? Get busy living or get busy dying…
Anyway, I’m off the soapbox now… I posted this question on my Facebook page after the show. Please feel free to respond or comment…
I am currently writing about the Judas Priest concert last night for Kick Acts. if you attended the show “what are your thoughts”. I will use some of them in the article. Comment below or PM me.
Here are some of the replies…
It was GREAT to hear the old Preist songs but sadly…Steel Panther pushed the entertainment factor out of their reach. Singing along with iconic metal legend Judas Preist wasn’t nearly as fun for me as laughing along with Steel Panther and their refreshing approach to cock rock.
Keith AlveyMaybe they should’ve used the center instead. Just a thought not sure the light rig would’ve fit.
Allen TateOverall, I thought it was a great show. Both bands delivered. It was disappointing to see so many empty seats but not surprising. The only two places I noticed any advertising for this show was on WGBF and WABX. Maybe if they’d have advertised on the local TV stations there would have been a few more seats filled.
Kim Veazey-WoodI had tickets and sold them I won them. If it had been on a weekend I would have went but im to old to go partying at a rock concert and who did they think was gonna go see judas priest..the old rockers Just a thought
Kevin BookSteel Panther is good for what they do, but they’re basically a comic act and it gets old real quick. I just don’t have any interest in watching old rockers get up there and try to act like it’s 1976 anymore…I saw Priest several times back when they were the baddest in the world…that’s good enough for me. No wonder it was such a lame crowd.
Rodney BeasleyUh Kevin Book…If you had been there last night you would see they are still the baddest in the world. 🙂 Amazing show!!!
Charles DicusLame crowd as far as numbers, but those there were far from lame. And as for Priest being old rockers…they proved last night that old or not, they still kick ass. There’s so many factors to look at. First, this town pays to see entertainers, not legends or artists. They should of played the Center, but from what I heard, they have a contract with VenuWorks to play their establishments in various cities. So the way it was explained to me…whatever money was lost here will be made up someplace else.
I remember just years ago (2002+), Motley, Def Lep, KISS…playing Roberts to huge crowds. So what happened?
I’m always baffled by “fans” around here. I know people that travel across Europe to see their bands. Hell, I know some people here who would rather make the trek to Nashville or Louisville to see the same artist that is playing in Evansville. What does that say? If there was a Led Zeppelin reunion at the Ford Center…the place would probably sell out, with Evansville residents buying MAYBE a 1/4 of the seats (if they knew about the show). All others would be from out of town, state or country.
Doug SaulsI hate to say this Chuck but I didn’t even know Judas Priest was coming to Evansville! Like you said there are many free ways of getting the word out so I will say that a lot of people just didn’t know about it.
Benny SaulsEvansville demographics no longer support rock shows. It does not matter how long the artist has been around, it is about what demographic our area now represents and unfortunately it is no longer rock music. Country acts and more main stream artists will always do better here for that reason alone. How does that change? The people that refuse to go see the few rock shows that do come to town have to get out and support a show when feasible. Even the minor major tours that hit The Centre and The Victory.
Dave LutzThey actually advertised on TV. I saw several times and hardly watch TV. Probably would have done a bit better had they teamed JP with another Classic Metal act and not Steel Panther. SP great musicians but pretty vulgar and most people have no clue who they are. Heard JP killed it and I went back and forth on whether or not to go. Would have gone if they would have put say Lynch Mob or Dokken or Saxon or somebody like that on the bill with JP. JMO which really means……Nothing!
Karen Clayton BeasleyWell, I enjoyed the show very much but I was quite disappointed in the small crowd that showed up. I’m sure there are many reasons for the lack of fans there, including it being held on a weeknight, we are ALL getting older, the lack of a more popular opening act, and tickets were not cheap! Even though I did have a great time and I love JP, I was a bit disappointed in some of the songs they chose to perform. Of course, they had to do the songs from the new album and they did do a few of the classic Priest tunes…Screaming for Vengeance, Breakin’ the Law, Turbo Lover, You’ve Got Another Thing Coming, Metal Gods, Living After Midnight, and Hell Bent for Leather. IF they had added Diamonds and Rust, and Green Manalishi, this chick would have been even happier! I say KUDOS to Judas Priest for STILL rockin’ the stage even after 40 years of being Metal Gods. Seeing JP last night was also kind of a “flashback” to a time gone by. I enjoyed every minute of the show with my rock star husband (Rodney Beasley) and I am glad we had the chance to see yet another JP show. Horns up!!
Brad LinzyI saw Priest and Steel Panther at Louder Than Life here in Louisville. Both kicked ass. Only bands that were as good as those two were Mastadon and Limp Bizkit.
Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and where you can be found online.
Well alright then. I’m a Canadian pop artist currently based in Nashville TN. My favorite color is pink and my favorite food is pizza. My website is www.hearholly.com and from there you can find links to my Facebook page and Youtube channel and my Twitter is @hearholly. Follow me!
Who are your musical heroes and influences? Why?
Hmm let’s see. Well to start, my Father, because he’s a self-trained musician with an amazing ear. Thanks for that musician gene Dad! My brother, Freddy because he paved the way for me by first taking the leap of being an independent artist. The Beatles, because they are the best band of all time, end of discussion. Mariah Carey because of her outstanding vocal chops and unique vocal style, and her staying power.
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in the music business?
There’s obviously no instruction manual, no hard and fast rules, which is what makes it exciting and terrifying all at once. I’d say do it as long as you love it, you can’t be in it for any other reason. Develop a tough skin. Get ready for a roller coaster ride, or a walk through a maze where most corners you turn end in a big wall that says “NO”!
Out of all the advice I’ve ever got about the music business, the best I ever heard was this: it’s all bullshit. Not in a negative way, but in the way that no one has all the answers, nobody knows exactly what they’re doing. If we did, everyone would be churning out hits 100% of the time forever. Is there a certain amount of talent and experience that determines success in the industry? Yes. But it also requires a perfect storm, which includes those things mixed in with timing, luck, and a big dollop of who the fuck knows. I dunno man, just do you and if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. Follow your dreams kids!
What piece of advice did you ignore that you wish you hadn’t?
I don’t do regrets, and I take all advice with a grain of salt. I appreciate advice, and I take it into consideration. But then I follow my heart and determine what’s right for me, at the time, to the best of my knowledge, and that course can never be wrong.
Do you have a greatest gig story or worst gig horror story you’d like to share?
There was a recent summer here in Nashville where we had the hottest day on record, ever. Did I mention ever? And I had a 3-hour gig out on a patio in the middle of the afternoon, no shade, no fan, no breaks. There are few things I hate worse in life than being hot. #First world problems.
Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of peckers or boobs? Make sock puppets? Sit in the dark and eat Cheetos?
You’re giving me some really good ideas. And I’m also feeling like my hobbies are boring now comparatively. I like to play Texas Holdem poker. I actually like games in general, card games, board games. It drives my family crazy I think, it seems no one ever wants to play games as much as me 🙁
What do you think about the current music scene or lack of? Care to address that?
I’m not a get-on-my-soapbox music scene analyzer and criticizer. It’s the same as it’s always been and always will be; ever-changing, diverse, with some shit and some good shit. Each generation has their time with music, and then when that time is over you get to go “in MY day music was music, not this crap you hear today and blah blah blah” whatever.
Do you think reality shows like American Idol, X Factor and The Voice have helped or hurt the music industry as a whole?
I’m sure it’s both, who cares. I hate it when people get all high and mighty about music. Saying what’s good for the industry and what’s not, declaring who’s a sellout or who’s not worthy to be where they are. Judgey wudgey was a bear. Music is a come-one-come-all expression fest. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it, turn the channel, and let others get on with their lives. My personal opinion? I still watch American Idol. Although they are too mean in the way they produce the show and depict contestants during the audition process, and then too easy on them later during the judging process. They’ve got it backwards. As for The Voice, I wish they would make it so that the judges don’t see the contestants until the end of the season, maybe the final 3, now that would be a show!
What is your opinion of unauthorized music downloads?
I only download music that I’ve paid for, but I’m in the business so I’m close enough to know and feel the effects. It’s human nature, you may have one opinion, until it directly affects you, then suddenly that opinion changes. Is it wrong? Yes. But it’s too easily accessible and tempting for people. I have close friends that do it with music and movies too. You can debate about it until you’re blue in the face but the fact is, too late, what now?
It’s the job of artists and industry people to now figure out a new business model. Yes it creates hardship but it also creates opportunity.
Tell us something about you/each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear.
I really wish I had band members right now just so I could dish on them and tell you all their secrets. Like Billy’s an alcoholic (which fucks with our road schedule, he’s so unreliable) and everyone knows Brittany and I never got along but we pull it together just enough to record and then go our separate ways until the next tour. It would be so much more interesting…
Hypothetical situation. You’re on Gilligan’s Island and you get to hook up with only one of the survivors… Which one and why?
Dude, I love you but your references are way outdated. I’ve never seen that show. I know vaguely of the main character and the movie star lady, but if I chose I’d have to reveal my sexual orientation. We can’t have that.
If we were doing old shows we should have done Golden Girls. Oooh let’s do a “Fuck, Marry, Kill”! Okay hm, that’s a tough one. I guess I’d have to kill Blanche, because even though Sophia is close to the grave I’d miss her witty remarks. I’d fuck Rose for shock value and because she’s probably secretly a freak, and I’d marry Dorothy just for the challenge, and for the fact that she always knows the right thing to do. Okay now you go!
Do you know what a vinyl album is and have your ever purchased one? If so, what was it?
Oh my goodness what do you take me for? Yes and yes. I have a few let me check and see what I have here… Wings of Sound, that’s a good one. The Beatles, obvi. My Fair Lady, some classical stuff. Future goals: expand my collection by leaps and bounds, and release a vinyl album myself.
You’re marooned on an island with Justin Bieber. Do you choke him out the first night in his sleep or what?
Absolutely not! He’s my fellow Canadian and he’s adorable. I might slap him and say “what’s your problem? Pull it together. Don’t lose your shit now!” But seriously, when people say he isn’t talented I want to punch them in the face. Say what you want about the guy, you might not like his music, but don’t be fucking ridiculous. He can sing. He can dance. And he’s spanking most people’s asses in album sales.
But since we are on an island and we have time, I may teach him a new face to make for pictures. It’s always the same one, check it out, you’ll see.
What is your opinion of Miley Cyrus?
She or somebody in her camp is a marketing and PR genius. One day they sat in a room and said okay, what can we do to boost album sales and make everyone talk about you? Then they did it. Then you fell for it. The end. I don’t hate on Miley man. I got “We Can’t Stop” on my playlist just like I had “The Climb”. Whoever’s picking her songs is spot on. I do miss her long hair though can we convince her to grow it back out?
Which would you rather hear in concert? Lip-synching or real vocals?
REAL VOCALS. Are you kidding me? I can’t even.
Who, or what, is the next big thing?
If I knew that do you think I’d be here talking to you? I’d be all over that shit.
One artist you can’t get enough of and can’t live without is… Why?
Ugh don’t make me choose. I will say this, there is an interesting phenomenon with Rihanna. She seems like the only artist that can stay in our faces year after year without anyone getting sick of her. Has anyone else noticed this? Why is that? Think about it. I love Rihanna by the way.
Confession time. Share a secret about yourself.
Nah.
Favorite movie of all time and why?
I’m not good at narrowing down to just one thing. As you have seen I just go on and on and on. Let me say a couple: Dirty Dancing, because my Mom and I watch it every time we get together and it makes my Dad really mad. The Mummy, I don’t know why. Bring it On, delicious cheesiness. Okay how about this, favorite Disney cartoon: Hercules. Unless we’re talking old Disney movies in which case Sleeping Beauty. Okay I’m done now.
Our last question is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s where you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!
Oh my gosh yay! Anything in the whole world? Let’s talk about me! Oh I know, I’ll practice for when I do Us Magazine’s “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me.” But don’t get mad or tell anyone when I reuse them later K? Here goes:
1. My Chihuahua Chickadee is the love of my life
2. Pizza is my favorite food (you may want to insert a “spoiler alert!” in the first question now)
3. I hate running. So much. I always have.
4. I love going to the movies. No really, I go and see like every movie that comes out
5. I have a phobia of birds
6. I had a near death experience when I almost drowned as a child
7. I’m extremely close with my family and they drive me insane!
8. I believe in aliens
9. My worst guilty pleasure reality TV indulgence is Love and Hip Hop
10. I’ve always been a night owl so I wasn’t allowed to nap like the other kids in
preschool
11. I started a club in elementary school called “The Cool Cats”
12. I’ve dyed my hair every possible color there is
13. My favorite southern expression is “Bless their little hearts”
14. I’ve been guilty of gossip in my day but I’m working on it (oops there’s that confession you were looking for)
15. My favorite comics are Dane Cook (screw the haters) and Eddie Izzard
16.I try to find humor in everything and usually do
17. I’m obsessed with makeup
18. My current celebrity crush is Tom Hiddleston. Yeah Loki, work it.
19. My favorite season is winter
20. I prefer to stay out of the ocean
21. I once played Dorothy in a school production of The Wizard of Oz
22. Coming up with 25 things is harder than you think
23. Maybe 10 or even 15 things would be more reasonable
24.I really enjoyed talking with you, it was so much fun!
Recently James Lowe from Kickacts Magazine sat down with one of the very exciting artists on the scene. The following is a written interview we conducted with the artist!
Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and where you can be found at on the web.
My name is Sherrie Phillips, My band changes depending on what city I am playing!!! Here in Nashville Tennessee, I am fortunate to have Porter Howell from Little Texas ususally sit in with me on guitar , Dr. Judy Blackwelder on keys, Nick Kraski on Bass guitar from Tim Montana and the Shrednecks, Michael Walter or Dave Harrison on Drums and Stephanie Urbina Jones and Denise Yeargen on BGV’s!!
Janis Joplin was my first love, her raw emotion spoke to me in a way that has since been unmatched. I am a big fan of Ray Charles, Nikka Costa, Shelby Lynn.. Well just about anything that moves me.
I will say watching Prince perform his Purple Rain tour changed how I viewed the stage and the great intimacy you can produce and exchange with an audience
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?
Yes !! Don’t change who you are as an artist or person for anyone, any producer, label , manager. There are a million extremely talented people out there, just look at all the reality shows like the voice, x factor etc… The thing that will set you apart if you have real talent is your authenticity.PERIOD.
Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?
I really have had so many amazing shows , but the one that will forever be burned in my memory is opening for Three Dog Night, with my ex band Hangman’s Daughter. There was probably about 8-10K people in the audience… we were asked back for an oncore and received really long standing ovation!!! I sold out all of my merchandise that night, it was amazing.
On the same token as the above question. How about a “worse gig” ever story.
Yep… after 3 months in a smallish van touring the west coast.. My vocals were starting to give out. I had the flu and we were to perform somewhere up in Washington? Well we ended up in an icestorm and nearly died trying to get to our show.. We made it and a total of about 6 really drunk old people were there to celebrate our amazing survival story with us!
Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?
I love drawing pictures of boobs.. who told you!!! Oh and I am an energy healer.. that is actually a pretty cool Hobby..
What do you think about the present music scene or lack of? Care to address that?
Well I’m coming back after taking a small break to have my daughter and focus on being a mom. My initial take on this whole scene is that it is much improved!! I was just joking with a writer the other day about hanging flyers up on telephone poles.. now it is all about social media, this gives us as artists and entertainers great strength to connect to our fans on a very personal consistent basis and when we are connected we are supported.
Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that…
Well , My keyboard player is a highschool band teacher, lesbian and married to a minister.. and oh we live in the bible belt! My bass player just had a song played at the world series that he wrote with ZZ top called “This Beard is here to Party”, That is probably enough????? ha.. the rest is confidential
Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you get to hook up with only one of the girls… Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell and why?
Absolutely Ginger. This is a hookup right?
Our last question is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s were you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!
Be yourself!! Don’t let anyone change your mind, your body, your idea if you don’t want them too.
Know that this life is fucking short and this is not a dress rehearsal.Love who you want , don’t waste one more minute.Get on with it and if you are bitchen and complaining.. do something different.. Everything in your experience is a product of your own thoughts.. And don’t forget to sing.
Seth: The Beatles have been a major influence on both of us, both musically and spiritually. When we first started the project we were listening to artists like Bjork, Gang of Four, Radiohead, Talking Heads, and Gorillaz.
Jenny: I’ve always been so inspired by Bjork. She is a pure channel for cosmic creativity- always ahead of the curve and always genuine.
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?
Jenny: Believe in yourself. Develop your own unique gifts. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Seth: First of all, do it for the love. Secondly, don’t give up. Quitting won’t get you anywhere, just stick to it if you want to succeed.
Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?
Jenny: Opening up for Girltalk at Summerfest, Milwaukee was an incredible experience. The energy was electrifying.
Seth: Recently we were performing at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, Massachusetts at the Connecting For Change Conference. The crowd rushed on to the stage and started dancing like crazy during our set. I think we had about 50 people up on the stage, it was wild!
Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?
Jenny: I love photography and creating visual projections. I’ve also recently become a video editor. I’m thrilled about how “Supersonic” came out.
Seth: We practice yoga and mantra meditation. We have a growing collection of Tibetan singing bowls.
What do you think about the present music scene or lack of?
Seth: We have been focused on building our own label and musical community in New York City called NewSonic. We believe it’s important for musicians to come together and to expand opportunities rather than competing against each other for scarce resources.
Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… (Like their hobbies or something like that)
Jenny: I crochet hats and magic capes.
Seth: I love creative cooking. I want to start my own vegetarian restaurant chain.
Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you get to hook up with only one of the girls. Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell and why?
Jenny: Ginger- Love the red hair and the leopard prints.
Our last question is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s where you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”
Our new album “Euphoria” is out now. It was crowd-funded and co-produced with producers from the UK, France, Italy, Jamaica, Canada, India, Japan, and NYC. Check out the video for the new lead single “Supersonic”
Recently James Lowe from Kickacts Magazine sat down with one of the very exciting
artists on the scene. The following is a written interview we conducted with the
artist while they were working on their next CD and Tour!
Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and were you
can be found at on the web.
I have been on the stage since forever. When I was old enough to walk, I would follow my older sister up onto stage while she performed a solo in church and when I felt like it I would sing a note, when I didn’t, I’d just stand there with my thumb in my mouth…I just wanted to be ON the stage. I’ve attended Berklee College of Music for Stage Performance and been to AMTC three times. When I was in school I was in every singing group they had (girls ensemble, chorale, chorus) and I played violin for 4 years (when my parents moved us from MA to NC the
school we attended didn’t have an orchestra, so I stopped playing). I bought my first guitar (a black thin-body Martin acoustic/electric) right after I turned 18 and started taking private lessons at Raleigh Music Academy. Since then, I have
opened up for a few fashion shows and have been playing shows at live music venues in Virginia and various cities in North Carolina. My first album just released on
July 30, 2013 it’s available on iTunes, Amazon, etc\’94bittersweet.\’94,
Paramore – Hayley WIlliams has an amazing voice and their lyrics are incredible.\
Lacey Sturm – she was the lead singer for Flyleaf (she has since stepped down). i
wish i knew how to scream and sing like that, you know, and still have it sound
good..Christina Aguilera – her voice is unreal. that power, the unending range, and just
overall amazing talent, whoa!!!
Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any
pitfalls they should avoid?
stay positive – pitfalls to avoid: all negativity. the more work you put in,
the better your results.
Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?
i played a show in Chapel Hill, NC that was flawless performance-wise. the
energy was really there that night and the crowd was a lot of fun. also, i got
scheduled for a show at a big venue in Raleigh through a booking agency a couple
years back, and was given the wrong time for my set – they changed it when i got to
the venue, so i went from being 3rd or 4th on the lineup to 1st. i went on and only
had a handful of people there to watch because nobody planned on getting there until
much later. when the set time i was originally given came around, i did a little
show for people in the parking lot. that’s one of my favorite nights. the fans
really loved it and i felt good about turning the night around into something
positive.
On the same token as the above question. How about a worse gig story.
i actually just played an acoustic show and completely blew the beginning – i
forgot the words to the verse i was singing, so i moved on to a different one that
made people laugh just by the title – it was a cover by The Downtown Fiction called
“I Just Wanna Run” because that’s what I really wanted to do at that time, haha –
the rest of the show was successful from then on – sometimes all it takes is a
little loosening up
Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect
hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?
every time i go to a show, i get a tshirt. so i have a collection of band
tshirts. my aunt makes beautiful quilts and she helped me cut and design a concert
tee blanket and i love it. it might be time for tshirt blanket part 2
What do you think about the present music scene or lack of? Care to address that?
i just kind of hate that schools are cutting music education.
Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that.
Chris, drums, teaches at the Living Arts School in NC and is a black belt in
Tae Kwon Do. Damien started playing guitar when he was 14 years old and has spent a
lot of time doing volunteer environmental work. Justin has played guitar for over 15
years and likes to kayak. Anthony started playing bass when he 14 and is an avid
mountain biker.
9. Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you getto hook up with only one of the girls… Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell, and why?
i would love a vacation on the island!!
Our last question is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s were you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and ’93SHOUT IT OUT LOUD’!
keep up with what’s new on www.nikolmusik.com and check out my CD on iTunes:
It’s a long way from his 1997 release Bawitdaba, but it shows his music is ever changing and not stale. I give it a 4 beer “hell ya!” toast out of five, only because the intro reminds me of Bryan Adam’s “Summer of 69”. But really, how many distinct variations of 7 notes can we all do?? I think Kid Rock will continue to put out great music for many years to come. Also, you gotta give props to him for going out on tour and only charging 20 bucks a ticket in order for anyone to be able to afford to see him…Here’s an article about it. Click—>
First off, in the famous words of the band 
The show was undersold. It’s a known fact that for some reason rock/metal shows no longer do well in Evansville. It was also on a Wednesday night but are we really too old to get out and enjoy it? I think not. Was it advertised well? In some ways yes. The radio stations I mentioned did their part if not more…
Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and where you can be found online.
Hypothetical situation. You’re on Gilligan’s Island and you get to hook up with only one of the survivors… Which one and why?
Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?
Jenny: Hello everyone J I love life- music, art, nature, beautiful people. Seth & I run an artist friendly community-centric label called 
Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and were you
