rickyleepotts.com | a voice of rhythm, reason, & reality

I am sitting with a guy that I first saw in an issue of Disc Makers. What immediately jumped out at me was the graphic design work that was done for his album cover. Then, after venturing to MySpace to hear his music, was hooked immediately. He brings a European pop sound to the stage with polished instrumentals and an experienced feel in his lyrics. Sit with me as I am proud to introduce to you Ronald Rip.

What is your first memory of the guitar?

I used to watch videos and hear Steve Rothery from the legendary Scottish band Marillion play awesome riffs on his strat and get lost in some of the guitar patterns, when I heard that guy playing I understood the power of that instrument.

How long have you been playing?

Not for so long, maybe 4 years now, I’ve played drums since I was 14, I consider it my main instrument but being in the front puts me on the spot of playing guitar and I love it!

When did you realize that you wanted to make a run at this?

Honestly it was like a message from God, I left the music scene for a while to focus on producing events in Miami, then I received a divine call or something, a very interesting voice inside of me said I needed to go back to the art of creating music and writing songs

Do you have a job outside of music?

Yes! I work producing and promoting events in Miami Beach’s club scene

What was it like working with Disc Makers?

It was awesome! The staff is very friendly and efficient , I even sent a personal e-mail to all the people that were involved in my project to say thanks because it was a great experience.

How did all that come about?

I really wanted to have a CD recorded and manufactured, I heard Disc Makers was the best option to go and that they provided and excellent costumer service, it was all true!

Have you seen increased numbers at your shows because of it?

Yes! People like to have an image and a product they can touch, they buy my EP and they enjoy having in it on a physical format

I have to know whom did your graphic design work for your album cover.

I knew that! (laughs) Honestly image is everything for me, you won’t believe it but to find the perfect image for the album cover was a very difficult task. I returned the design several times , I was not satisfied at all, then I contacted my friend Cindy Jimenez who is in charge of all designs on my promotions and in one single day she created the concept so well I couldn’t complaint at all. She did a great job

Where are you originally from?

I’m originally from Caracas, Venezuela.

What is the largest crowd you have played for?

I’ve played for a crowd of approximately 400 people

The smallest?

1

What is your favorite venue?

The next one

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you go?

London!

Is Ronald Rip your real name?

Rip is my nickname created by my childhood buddies. They called me Rip because of “ripping the waves”; I used to surf a lot on my teenage years! Ronald is my first name and yes I have a last name!

Do you write all your own lyrics?

Yes I do.

Where do you get inspiration for a new song?

On the act of swimming into my instincts.

Have you ever co-written with anyone?

“Tales On An Airplane” is the only song I co-wrote with the guitarist of my old band Single Dot Howard Garrao, he provided the lead guitars and those great riffs, we created the music together and I wrote the lyrics.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

My influences are mostly from UK, being Mr. Peter Gabriel the first one on the list followed by bands such as Coldplay and The Cure, although I always wanted to create my own sound. I think that I still can (laughs).

What was it like working with MASIVA?

Masiva is the record label I created to record my own material and work with some DJ’s and new artists in the city of Miami, we are doing very well!

Do you have any thoughts on a nation wide tour this year?

I’m making contacts with some people up in New York I travel a lot finding deals with booking agents and hopefully by the end of this year I will be touring the United States.

Do you always play solo or do you have a band as well?

I’ve been playing solo most of the time, always wanted to put a band together and create a collective consciousness in music creation but I think life took me to this path of creating music by myself.

Where can I get some Ronald Rip merchandise?

At the moment we have not work on merchandise but that’s coming for sure I will let you know.

What are your thoughts on MySpace?

Undoubtedly, MySpace has been a way for the indie musicians to show the world about their talents, I admire the way new artists promote themselves and I believe new music and should be heard in every corner of the world and MySpace has showing us how to do it.

Are you on Twitter?

Oh Yes! http://twitter.com/Rtwitt

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself more involved in the process of music creation collaborating a lot with new and big artists sharing musical ideas and touring touring and touring.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is all said and done?

I’d like to push new artists to show their talents and pursuit their dreams in music. Impossible is nothing!

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

I’d like to thank Indycocerts.com and Ricky Potts Jr. for giving me the opportunity to express myself on this interview, and to help artists grow in the industry. These sites are necessary for people who love music and to help to make human kind come back to earth and to appreciate music as one of the most sublime arts of all time. I also thank you “the fans” for reading the words I say here, and to hear my music. You can visit my page and take a listen www.myspace.com/ronaldripmusic, I’m in the process of recording an entire album after the release of Premiere. Keep rocking!

Boy am I am glad that I found this place. Had I not have discovered this facility I would have no where to store my Ferrari. (OK, maybe I do not have a Ferrari, but if I had one, I would be storing it here.) Within these four walls that can withstand category five hurricane winds, lies an automatic retrieval system with the ability to store anything from sports cars to wine collections. This place caught my attention immediately with it’s impressive design and unheard of technologies. The facility is located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and is scheduled to open the first part of June.

The facility that I am talking about is RoboVault. It is a high tech storage facility that can most be compared to that of a maximum security prison. RoboVault is an automated storage facility that can store anything you think of in its thick, guarded walls. Have a baseball card collection? What about a collection of rare red wines? Maybe you have a fancy sports car that you do not want to risk damaging. Never fear, RoboVault is here! But do not think you will have immediate access to your goods. You are not even allowed into the facility itself. The folks at RoboVault are cutting down on the risk of damage and theft in every way possible. To gain access to even your own goods you have to go through quite an extensive process first. This includes retinal eye scans, personal pass codes, and finger prints.

The facility offers various storage spaces ranging in size. And for that wine collection, don’t worry, the rooms are controlled of that of a wine cellar for those expensive bottles of liquid goodness. But the most impressive thing to me is the sheer size of the building and how it all has come together. A man by the name of Marvin Chaney developed the facility and has been working in the storage business for many years. But he had never worked with something quite like this. It literally is the first high-tech, robotic self-storage facility in the world.

On their website, which you can get to by clicking on the image (did you notice who developed this website?) you can view information about the facility and even see a video of how the German based crane will retrieve your valuables. You can contact the facility directly and even set up a tour to see how all of this works. (I want to tour this place so bad!)

The main reason I am so impressed, again, is the concept behind this. With funding from BankAtlantic you begin to wonder how much this place cost to build, let alone the cost of the crane and the security system running through this place. With what does not seem like an over whelming number of employees, RoboVault is set to open from literally the ground up.

(On a side note, let’s just say that you have a car stored here. Your flight lands and you do not want to go through the process of retrieving your ride. You can simply call in and have your car ready for you when you arrive at the facility. Talk about customer service.)

What does this say about the future of not only storage, but parking garages? What about banks? I even can see this leading to something even more simple; automated grocery shopping. We are replacing cashiers with computers. We are replacing restaurants with touch pads. We are replacing Blockbuster with RedBox. So why not replace parking garages with RoboVault?

Take a look around the website. There is a lot more content that you will be seeing in the upcoming months. The facility is not even open yet and I already want to take a vacation to see the impressive structure. This says a lot about modern day architecture too, as this entire building has a certain feel to it. I just look at mock up drawings and computer animations and I already want to buy a space in the facility.

I wonder if they can protect my Beanie Baby collection.

They were wrong. They were all wrong. Cleveland definitely does not rock. I would like to welcome you to the third installment of the recent surprise weekend get away that my girlfriend and I took. Today is Saturday.

We get up, after having had nearly twelve hours of sleep, and decide it is time for some breakfast. Sheryl walks herself down to the breakfast nook (I want a nook) and grabs some waffles and cinnamon rolls. They were the cold and hard variety, but tasted like cinnamon none the less. She brings it back to me in bed and basically tosses it on my to get my sleepy butt up. (OK, she did not toss it on me. But she did want me to get up and eat.) So we have our breakfast, get ready to leave for the day, with me still having absolutely no idea where we are going or what we are doing.

We jump in the car and I mention to her, “The next time we are close by we need to go to Cleveland.” We had recently been near Cleveland a few weeks prior for a wedding and did not make the trip. And she gracefully replies.

“What is in Cleveland my dear? What would we do there?”

Duh! Cleveland has several pro sports teams, the rock and roll hall of fame, a science center, and China Town. That is also where the house from A Christmas Story can be found. So yeah, Cleveland rocks.

We turn onto the highway and only mere moments later do I see a sign that says Cleveland. Yes! We are going to Cleveland. Sheryl surprised me with a trip not only to Cedar Point and luxurious Sandusky, but also to Cleveland. And it is not that long of a trip either. We got there in under an hour. And guess where we were going? That’s right, the rock and roll hall of fame. And the hall happens to be right next to the Browns stadium and said science museum.

So when we finally get to Cleveland we get lost. We miss our turn, rather our turn was blocked by cones and police men, and we ended up somewhere in the middle of the ghetto. I have no idea how we got that deep that fast, but thanks to an iPhone and GPS (the little blue dot, we managed to drive right into the hall of fame. Well, not actually into the hall of fame, but you get the idea.

So we park, walk through the ground floor of the science building, and head over to the rock and roll hall of fame. We walk in, tickets in hand (my baby bought a pass that got us into both the hall of fame and Cedar Point) to the entrance only to be told that our tickets were not actually tickets, that we need to get tickets. So we walk upstairs only to wait in line. And when we get to the ticket counter to give our tickets to get tickets (stay with me here) Sheryl gets a little irate with the guy behind the counter. Long story short he couldn’t care less and we walk back downstairs. Then we are told, to boot, that we need to check our cell phones due to the fact that they might have a camera in them. No, not happening and did not happen. We took plenty of photos.

We walk around all six floors, and finally make our way past the wall and into a video that was a good half an hour of all the inductees into the hall over the years. It was pretty interesting to see all the greats, one hit wonders, and the requirements for being accepted into the hall. All was good except for the blind lady sitting next to me that seemed to know every word to every song.

After that all we could think about was Chinese food. So we make our way to China Town only to see store after store either closed or closed down all together. The city was a ghost town. Nothing was open and when we finally did find a Chinese buffet (because you can only eat Chinese from a buffet) they were not serving the buffet on the weekend. So we make out way back to the car to find a Chinese buffet in some random strip mall between Cleveland and Sandusky. (Why is that all the good Chinese places are either named New China Buffet, China’s Best Buffet, or Super 8 Buffet? What is the trend there? And what does that 8 stand for? 8 cats per every ounce of chicken? They all have red lettering as well. But that is for another time and another post.)

And we did succeed in finding a Chinese buffet on the way home. It was just in time as well since we needed gas. And the buffet, even though was more than we wanted to spend on what we considered lunch, was quite good. I told Sheryl that I was going to eat my weight in food (that would be 500 pounds) and after four plates full (one plate was sushi) I was finished. So I did not quite make my 500 pounds of food but I came close.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel to get rested up for the next day! It was almost coaster time. Stay tuned as in part four I will talk about twists, turns, and the Indy 500. (Yeah, we watched it on TV.)

So once we finally get through the swings for the other team desk clerk we made our way to our room. And God forbid the lady that told us how to get there actually explained how to get there. She talked to fast that I had no idea what she said. Glad we had a map. (By the way, this entire post will explore my bitterness with the hotel. This should prove to be a good post due to the humor that will flow from my fingers. But yes, I am mad through about 99% of this.)

So we get to our room and we walk in to our surprise there are tiles all over the entryway. Before we could even turn the light on I knew what this meant. We were in the “presidential suite”. We flip the lights on, walk over to see the bed, which was a king size by the way, and notice there is a bath tub in the middle of the room. But upon further inspection it was not a bath tub but rather a jacuzzi. We get a king sized bed and a jacuzzi in the same room? You have got to be kidding me. Plus, you could see the TV from both locations. Did we even need to leave the room?

So we head out to grab some adult beverages at the gas station, because in Ohio all gas stations have the ability to sell alcohol, and enjoy an evening just relaxing. (You can also buy alcohol in Ohio on Sunday. Which is something that I will never understand why the state of Indiana will not commit to. It is a day of rest, sure, but I want to rest with a beer on some hot summer days, not a diet Coke. Although diet Coke is good.) And when we get to the Speedway and walk in there was something that pulled my camera right out of my pocket. We were starring at the Speedway Beer Cave. I am not even kidding you it was the largest part of the gas station and included beers from all over the place. You had your selection of 40 ounce beers, six packs, and even full cases of beer. All at 34 degrees or lower! How cool is that?

So we grab a couple of drinks and head back to the hotel. We pop a bottle, flip the knob to turn the water on in the hot tub, and nothing. The water did not work. The hot water was out. The cold water was out. Even the button to activate the bubbles was out. Was this some kind of joke? Did I have to insert quarters somewhere? Or was this just for show and tell? So I head over to call the front desk (not sure what I was going to get accomplished at two in the morning) to complain about the situation at hand. And when I began speaking to the man that answered the phone my IQ dropped ten points.

He was telling me stories of how the tub in that room did not work (as if I did not already know that) and that we did not order a room with a jacuzzi, just a king sized bed. He stated that there were no other rooms and that he had no control over the jacuzzi actually working. Of course unless we wanted to pay an additional fee per night to have access. So we bicker back and forth for a few and I realize that nothing will come of it so I hang up. Moving on.

The next day when I was getting ready to go God knows where I noticed something. The bathroom was covered in rust. There was rust on the toilet paper dispenser, the Kleenex dispenser, the shower head; it was everywhere. I am glad that I did not get any infections while I was there. So I deal with that. What else could go wrong, right? So I hope in the shower to take a rusty colored bath (it was not rust colored nor did I take a bath) and I notice the shower head had options to go from a calm flow of water to a harder, more direct flow. You have seen these shower heads. They have seven or so different patterns of flow for the water to come out. I always like to play around until I ind one I really like! But guess what? That did not work either.

After my shower all I want is a nice cup of coffee to start my day. So I have one cup. Moving forward in time to the next morning, and the morning after that that cup of coffee was the only one I would get. They did not refill the coffee at all in our stay. Also, on top of that, the coffee pot had not been washed from the inhabitants in the room prior to us. The coffee pot was dirty and had evidence of use. But we got one cup out of the trip.

Now, while Sheryl is getting ready, let’s check my mail. But of course, when I open my lap top to do so the free, promised wi-fi does not work. Not once during the entire trip was I or my girlfriend able to connect to the wi-fi. On the second night she even called customer service to get a technician on the line to fix the issue. The first person she talked to knew less than the bed we were sitting on. She was sent to a level two tech and he was shocked that she was running Windows 7. So from the very beginning I knew where this was going to end. After about a thirty minute phone call he states that he is going to call her back with a solution. He never called.

About this time I was having some fun of my own. Instead of letting the jacuzzi bother us all weekend we decided to head to Walmart and improvise. We purchased a ten foot garden hose extension. This extension went from the bathroom to the hot tub. I held one end while Sheryl held the other. We had purchased bubble bath to add some ambiance to the evening and sat back and waited as the tub began to fill! After about thirty minutes or so we had a full bath of bubbles. But, not to mention the leak we had in the bathroom from the water spilling everywhere. We could have had two pools to play in.

The only good thing I can say about the hotel (and yes, this is the only good thing) was the water was always hot. It never once went cold in the entire time that we were filling the hot tub. And that came back to bite us in the butt, literally, when we tried to enter said tub. The water was so hot that I was unable to sit in it for more than a couple of minutes. So I blew out the candles (yes, I was trying to be romantic) and laid in the bed with the AC turned on full blast. (By the way, every time we left the AC on it would be off when we returned to the room.)

So besides the fact that we had to stare a hot tub that we could not use, eat crappy unorganized breakfast food (that is a blog post in itself), suffer without wi-fi for three days, have zero caffeine from the dirty coffee pot, and watch scrabbled (nearly every one) TV channels, it was a pretty awesome hotel. The front desk wanted nothing to do with it. They kept trying to send us back to hotels.com. But do you think a website will answer a phone call and make your jacuzzi work at two in the morning?

Are there any good things about the room? The bed was comfortable. There were plenty of pillows. The door locks worked. And that is about it. (Did I forget to mention that the toilet paper roll was half gone when we got into the room? That is just gross to me.)

I would never suggest nor recommend a Comfort Inn to anyone. The outside looked amazing and the reviews were decent. The price fit both our budgets and we got a great deal close to the park. But the quality of the staff, the service that was shown to us, the fact that everything went wrong one thing after another (did I tell you that the pool did not have any water in it?) makes for a pissed off blog post and a story to tell you all.

So the next time you are faced with a crappy hotel and you are trying to fill your hot tub at two in the morning give me a call. I have a solution for you!

About a month ago or so my girlfriend told me that I needed to make sure that I had the entire Memorial Day weekend free. It was a day off work and we had from Friday night after work until Tuesday morning off. No books, no pens, laptops, mouse pads, div tags, or code for an entire three day weekend. She said that she wanted to plan a weekend getaway. And based on her ability to plan the Valentine’s Day getaway, which was only a normal two day weekend, I figured why not give her a chance. So I told her that I would leave the weekend open from meetings and activities and let her plan what she wanted. But all the while I figured she would plan it and then tell me. I was sadly mistaken.

In the weeks leading up to it she told more people than I can count. One of those people was gRegor. (yes, that is spelled correctly. Do not ask me why he spells it that way.) He knew and he rubbed it in that he knew. Then one night he cracked. He told me. He said, “OK, Ricky, I will tell you where you are going. You are going to Weiner Dog Land.” Hence the picture. (That is an absolutely adorable picture too. I want to take that dog and cuddle all night!)

So that did nothing but make me mad. I kept bugging Sheryl to tell me where we were going but I got nothing from her. She would not give me a hint other than that it was within two and eight hours by car. So that excluded Vegas, which would have been awesome, New York, anywhere in Florida, and even Mexico. (You know how much fun a night in Tijuana is? If you do please let me know; as for I do not.) I figured since we had discussed it before that Nashville was the only solution. We had time to drive down there and see everything we both would want to see and we could enjoy our time. But when we hopped in the car, after my twenty minutes of flirting with the Speedway attendant (she was cute) we headed north. So Nashville was out.

We kept driving and driving and driving and were starring at nothing but billboards and corn fields. I was so confused that the only thing that I thought it could mean was a trip to Chicago. But when we started to head East I knew that was out too. About four hours in we pass through a town called Defiance and I was pretty sold that she was either lost or she was going to slit my throat. Who names a town Defiance? (There was a road named Independence Road in the town of Defiance. Ironic?) This was the kind of town that people do not shower daily, or weekly, and that wear wife beaters because they think they are in fashion. The hillbilly I am dating my sister type.

So we decide to stop in Defiance at a gas station. It was a chance to have a bathroom break and to let me drive. Let me drive? Are you kidding me? This is not an episode of Dexter here; I do not want to drive to my own death. But surely enough we got through Defiance and onto some major lane highways. When all of a sudden I see a sign that says Cedar Point next right. Immediately I went to from confusion and frustration to excitement and glee. This is where she finally admitted that we were in fact going to Cedar Point. But not until Sunday.

So it is Friday night and we are driving to the hotel when she tells me that she is not out of the woods yet. That she was not going to tell me where we were going on Saturday either. So I went back to the frustration mode. The only thing that kept me sane was the thoughts of front seat Millennium Force. So I kept my patience and just put my trust back in the hands of the passenger. (Why was I driving again? This was her surprise trip.)

We finally make it to Sandusky and pull into our hotel which was quite nice; from the outside. Please stay tuned to part two as I discuss the overall census of the hotel experience.

It is rare that I have to visit the DMV (or is it BMV?). I had to go when I was sixteen to get my license. Then again when I was 21. (I actually was headed into a bar for some sports on the big screen and peanuts on the table when I was told that I was not allowed in as my ID was expired. Apparently even though they knew I was twenty-one years old, an invalid driver’s license makes me only eighteen.) So I went again, this time in Fishers, to get my ID switched yet again. Then I had to do it again last year when the state of Indiana decided to change its license. We went to a new look and a more identifiable design. This time if you are under twenty-one years old your license goes in a vertical format where as those old enough to consume alcohol legally have the regular old horizontal passes.

But apparently the state of Indiana joins three other states on a new fad. If you are due for that five year upgrade to your license do not plan on being in a good mood when you get your photo taken. Indiana is now requiring all new license photos to have plain, blank, and boring faces. You can not smile, grin, wear a hat, or make out with the lady standing next to you like you used to be able to do. But why? Apparently this is to help with fake IDs and to avoid having to look twice when carding someone.

But do you think that a blank stare really makes that big of a difference? I mean, when I smile I look the same as when I frown. Well, not the same, but you know it’s me. You do not have to stare at me with a blank stare to know that I am who I say I am. And especially if I am obviously over the age of twenty-one. (I was carded numerous times this past weekend in Ohio. By the way, you will be getting a blog post soon talking about all the fun and trouble that we got into.)

So why are there only four states that have pitched in for a frowning America? Why are more states not taking the bait? Why can I go to California and be happy but stop by Iowa and have to frown? Is it a Midwest thing? Is it because of the weather?

The only cool thing about this entire situation is that there have is technology involved. The DMV’s that have taken this approach are getting new high tech camera that can sense any motions in the face just in case you try to smile at the last second. These camera are also used for facial recognition in case of the case of the fake ID. This is just one more staple in the future of this country. I can just see it now. In our lifetime there will be the ability to install a chip somewhere in the human body that will allow daily functions. Say you want to change the channel to Fox News from CNN. All you will have to do it think where you want the TV to go and it will go there. (Who knows. Maybe we will think where we want to be and we will just appear there. The sky is the limit on this. And maybe even beyond the sky with these million mile satellites.)

What do your license photos look like? Are you happy? Are you sad? Is our license fake and you are lying to everyone that lets you into a bar?

So this weekend, and what might be the first since I have been in the real world, I have a three day weekend. I get the usual Saturday and Sunday off, but Monday of this upcoming week is Memorial Day. This means no school for the kids and no work for the adults. (Why do the adults never get a day off work when the kids are in school?)

And for this Memorial Day I will be leaving town. I will be going somewhere that is so much fun that I can not even tell you about it. I doubt that I will end up where that photo was taken (I might) but I am going to be traveling by car anywhere between two and eight hours from Indianapolis. But where am I going you may ask? I have no stinking clue.

My girlfriend has planned a weekend get away for the two of us. She will not tell me where we are going, what direction it is in, or where are staying. All she has told me was to pack comfy shoes, some casual clothing, and to give her $150. So tomorrow night when we both get off work we will be leaving to go only God knows where (and I am not even sure He knows) on a weekend vacation.

We actually did this once not too long ago over Valentines Day but it was only for a Saturday and a Sunday. We did manage a lot of site seeing and got the chance to visit museums, casinos, and St, Louis’s version of Little Italy, so I can only imagine all that we will do in this three day weekend.

But what really gets me (no honey, I am not mad) is that gRegor knows where we are going. His answer is Weiner Dog Land. And as excited as that would make me to be able to be surrounded by weiner dogs all day long, I have a feeling he is lying. She even told a guy she met for dinner the other night (should I be jealous) where we are going. But she will not tell me anything. The only thing I know is that it takes more than two hours and less than eight to get there.

I just hope that once we do get there she does not tell me to get out of the car and either A. leave me, B. cut my throat and leave me for the wolves (there are wolves within eight hours of here) or 3. get us lost like we did when trying to find the casino. All we have is a bleeping blue dot.

But my mind is open (unless we are camping) and I am ready to see what this weekend will bring me. But I swear to God if we go to another modern art museum like we did in St, Louis she is never planning a trip again.

I like food. (Shut up to every single one of you that made a comment and or laughed when you read that.) I enjoy food so much that when I eat it is more about the enjoyment of the food and the experience of eating it, the setting in which I consume it, and the company that I keep while I am nourishing my body. I enjoy food so much that I will spend less money on necessities (even though food is second to water in that category) just so I have enough money to spend on a nice dinner. There is nothing wrong in my eyes in spending upwards of $100 on a meal if you have the entire package.

But what does that entire package include? Well, it all starts with the excitement leading to the meal. You do not walk into the food court at the mall and spend $100 and enjoy it. Even though the Chinese people make some mean bourbon chicken. So it begins with a reservation. You get ready to go out and you dress nicer than a normal Friday night and get to your destination early to enjoy a pre meal cocktail in the bar prior to sitting down. (Why do nearly all reservation required restaurants have the ability to transfer your drinks from the bar to your table but nothing below an Outback steakhouse can figure that concept out?) You finally get seated and your server arrives with some glasses of ice water and some crackers or bread to snack on while you gander over the menu.

By the time he or she comes back to the table you have decided on a nice wine for the meal and are ready to throw an order in for an appetizer. You will not see the server again, outside of a refill on your Merlot (and there are usually other servers that will handle this element of the night) until you are finished with your app and ready to order your main course. And when you order they hit every key element on the head. Most places will cook the steak or burger, and in some cases even pork and chicken, to taste and to temperature. Add the sides and continue your conversation.

You see where I am going with this. Then comes the meal, dessert is offered, and you are off to the check. And when I wrote for InTake Magazine a long long time ago (where I could theoretically say I met my girlfriend as she was a writer as well) I posted an article on what to tip. Most places say 15% is considered the standard. And of course, there are the people like my step dad who think that a dollar a person is enough. But in a place where you spend an entire evening, and half your pay check on dinner, you should be expected to tip between 25-30%.

So you can see that I like to eat. And lately I have been covering most of what I eat whether it be chicken, a burger, fish, or even spaghetti (don’t knock it until you try it) with Sriracha. This is a red hot sauce from Thailand that has been making it’s way through American popularity. The sauce can be found at pretty much every Chinese buffet and I would like to suggest much caution when you put it on your dinner. This sauce hits a whole new level of hot. Have you had Tabasco? If you have, that is nothing compared to this sauce. Sriracha will point and laugh at Tabasco. It is really that hot.

I put this sauce on everything. But the most delicious creation that I have come up with happens at any good Chinese place. You head to the roll up station (where you have tortillas and meat to make a taco style dish) and grab the shell and nothing more. Throw a good layer of Sriracha on that before you place any meat inside. Then, after the meat is on the shell, toss some more sauce on there and roll it up. Give it a few moments to settle into the meat and then have your glass of milk and sour cream ready. (What is it that makes milk products able to cure a hot throat? Water actually makes it hotter and extends the amount of heat your mouth feels. That is sort of like when you are warm and you wave a newspaper or a magazine to cool you down. Did you know that when you are doing this you are actually making yourself more hot? Your body is in motion, and sure, the cool moving air feels good; until you stop.)

But what makes a sauce like Sriracha so popular? Why was it not popular before now in the world of cooking? Is it because of all these chefs having reality TV shows and using this sauce because they really do know what they are talking about? Or maybe it is because people are looking for cheaper alternatives to ketchup and mustard and it just caught on. (This stuff runs under $2 a bottle at Walmart. You can get one bottle and it will last you for months.)

So the next time that you are trying to spice up your dinners toss some Sriracha on top. But don’t say I didn’t warn you about the heat level.

The guy that I am sitting with today is a singer and a songwriter that was brought to my attention from a coworker of mine. He was on vacation and saw this acoustic guitarist on the beach singing his heart out. Getting the chance to see this man play one last time before heading back to the Midwest he made a mention about Indyconcerts.com and how I was a writer. Long story short after getting to hear his music I immediately wanted to speak with this talent. So, after a few shared emails, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, Jordan Ross.

What is your first memory of the guitar?

My grandfather gave me my first guitar, when I was about 13. It was a Harmony with an orange sunburst. Of course, I immediately gutted it an painted it ice blue because the band I joined was called Deep Blue Hero. We were awesomely bad but that’s what it was all about in those days.

How long have you been performing?

Officially, I’ve been performing since 1998. So, a little over 10 years. That would put me as a freshman in high school. My first band, Deep Blue Hero, was Mark Winkeljohn (singer/drummer) and myself. I never sang. I didn’t have the chops. I barely had the chops to play guitar, but I did it anyway.

Do you write all your own lyrics?

Absolutely. Writing music is sort of sacred to me, because I had to write really bad material to learn what not to do. I wouldn’t shy away from a collaboration, but at this point I’ve been around someone long enough to collaborate. I’ve been moving too often. Am I off the point? Lyrics are what should drive the song, in my opinion. After all, words are the only ingredient in a song that can be fully understood (or in the case of Bush, misunderstood).

Where do you get inspiration for a new track?

Life experience is always a good start for me, but I tend to wander off the beaten life experience path more often now than I used to. When I wrote Anywhere USA I was in a state of transition, living in Hilton Head and going to school at Miami of Ohio. It’s an album about all kinds of different things seen while living that lifestyle.

Have you ever co-written with anyone?

I’ve not, but I’d love to eventually. I think for me now, it’s about finding my voice. Once my voice is established for me, I can feel comfortable writing with another voice. It’s a lot like being in love. You can’t truly be in love with someone if you don’t know yourself, or what you’re capable of. If I know what I ‘m capable of lyrically, I can let those emotions fly in a session with more contributors.

Do you have any thoughts on a nation wide tour this year?

Not this year. I tend to stick locally. Eventually, I’ll consider a regional tour, or perhaps an East Coast Tour. But until then, I’m finding my voice and establishing some key players for an eventual band. Then the touring can begin.

What is your favorite venue to play?

It may be touristy, but my favorite venue by far is the Tiki Hut. It’s right on the ocean. The atmosphere is electric most nights. In fact I’m playing there tonight. Hurray!

What is it like living on the beach?

It’s pretty laid back. My wife and I live about 30 min from the Hilton Head beaches but we definitely jump at the opportunity to hang out there. Hilton Head is a magical time warp of a place. I highly recommend it.

Is that gorilla your logo?

It was, and is still. It was for the promo for Anywhere USA, and it kinda stuck. We did a show in my hometown high school auditorium (Rockford, OH. Population: 1,000) and sold T-shirts and stickers with the logo. It’s still alive.

Who does all your graphic design?

John “Sketti” Kleinoeder designed the gorilla logo, with a contribution from Nick Zoffel. Both of these folks were friends of mine from Bowling Green, OH where we lived for a little over a year. The logo inside the gorilla was the work of Nicole Schweiterman, which is the official Jordan Ross logo.

Where can I get some Jordan Ross merchandise?

The best way to get Jordan Ross merchandise is to ask for it. I know it sounds dumb, but all I have is stickers. I used to have t-shirts with the gorilla logo in it, and they were the best, but I sold out and haven’t had enough interest to make more. So, if anyone really, really wants a t-shirt with the gorilla logo, all the have to do is contact me via my website www.jordanrossimport.com or on Myspace at /jordanross.

What’s your favorite song to play?

My favorite cover to play is still Elton John’s “Rocketman”. That song is rangy, it’s ballsy, its quiet, it screams, its every song balled up into one package. If I could play a one song show, that would be the song of choice. My favorite original right now is “Alison” off of Anywhere USA. It’s a song about how I felt about my wife when I first met her. Those feelings sometimes are hard to capture when you first meet someone, but for me those emotions were so strong that I couldn’t deny the song. It was there the whole time.

Is there any song that you play in every single set

I make it a point to play a new song of mine “Better Year” at the end. It’s about taking the rough patches and turning them into a positive. I like to leave the audience with hope.

Do you have any pre show rituals?

Not necessarily, but I do notice that I have an alter ego. It’s wild, but I’m usually a pretty quiet guy around the neighborhood. Then, when I get to a venue, I’m a chatterbox. I can’t control it. I think after years of performing, the mind can switch to a mode that it knows is most suited to putting on a good performance.

Pepsi or Coke?

Water. Also, living in the south taught me that Pepsi is unacceptable, and the choice of Yankees.

If you could live anywhere besides Hilton Head where would you go?

Denver. No doubt. That city is magical. The atmosphere seems so alive and primed for anything. And you’re next to the Rockies! What could be better?

Was that the first time that you met Peter Hart?

Yes. He was in attendance of a couple of my shows down here.

Do you play any instruments other that the guitar?

I do. I play the piano, bass, drums (I was in the percussion section throughout my school days. Read: I was a band geek), harmonica (does that count?). I did all the instruments on Anywhere USA except for the violin on “When I Met You” which was performed by Titus Monteanu, the drums in “Against the Ropes” which was performed by Justin Thomes, and the guitar solo in “Alison” which was performed by Lumen Sivitz.

How does someone make it to your top friends list?

They have to either be a close friend, someone I respect, or someone that can write great music.

Ever shared the stage with someone famous?

Kind of a long story, and I don’t know how famous he is, but here we go.

A friend (Justin Steel) and I traveled to Athens, GA to see Seven Mary Three perform. At the time we were both working at a venue in Hilton Head called Monkey Business that was having Seven Mary Three two days later, so we figured we’d go to their show in Athens to actually enjoy the show. After a blistering set, they came to their bus, and we were standing out front and introduced ourselves. They were on their way to Hilton Head that night, so we told them if they really wanted to have something to do, they could catch one of my shows at a late night club the next night. So, thinking that there’d be no way they would show, I began the gig like any other, and lo and behold there they were. All of them. Even the tour manager and bus driver. So, after a set, I asked the lead guitarist Thomas if he would join me onstage. Of course, I told the audience he was my cousin, and he grabbed my guitar and played “Lucky”. I sang the song while Jason, the lead singer, watched. It was an amazing experience.

Do you have a job outside of music?

I had odd jobs for a couple years, but I’m now fully at the mercy of the populace. I couldn’t see myself being truly happy doing anything else. I’ve tried, but nothing comes close to the feeling of being on stage and sharing thoughts with strangers.

Who are some of your biggest influences?

I’m a huge fan of Paul Simon, as well as Oasis. Their attitude is what got me to really want to play guitar. Paul can write about anything and make it sound appealing, poignant, and essential.

What is the best concert that you have ever seen?

Man, that’s a hard decision. I’d have to say Angie Aparo in Columbia, SC on Aug. 18, 2005. There were about 30 people there, and Angie brought down the house. That was also the night I proposed to Alison.

So not staying single out there on the beach?

There was a time when I was single here, and it was fun, but I’m very happily married to a wonderful woman. In fact, we celebrated our 3rd anniversary yesterday. Being married has made me a better writer, and a better person. I have perspective now that I never had when I was starting out.

Tell me about the guys that are behind you when you are playing full band?

When I’m with a band, I would pick from a lineup that would include Titus Monteanu on violin, Julio Appling on bass, Mark Poseler on drums, and Lumen Sivitz on lead guitar. Of course, these guys are living throughout the US, but when I decide to do a tour, these are the go-to guys. Titus is Romanian-American living in Bowling Green, OH that is the most phenomenal violinist I’ve ever heard. In fact, he’s so on point that he nailed three part harmony on “When I Met You” without missing a take. Julio is a great bass player living in Portland, OR with impeccable timing and great hair (fro-type deal). We played together for awhile when he lived in BG. Mark is a steady drummer with good vision for where the song is going, and is a good guy to have around. Lumen is an old college friend that can absolutely wail on the guitar. That and he’s crazy. Controlled crazy is paramount to a great live show.

What is the biggest challenge of being a singer and a songwriter?

I’m not quite sure how to answer that, because I’ve never just been one or the other. But I will say the rub is you have to allow for people to remember you somehow. Whether it be a lyric that they can’t forget, or a melody that’s stuck in their head, or a performance that was spot-on. It’s not the easiest job in the world, and I don’t recommend it to anyone looking to make a quick buck, but it is by far the most rewarding occupation I’ve ever tried.

What are your thoughts on the Jonas Brothers?

Disney. Cookie-cutter songwriting. Kiss-ass live shows! I don’t know. I’ve never really heard their music, but if they are within 50 yards of being on a Disney-type label, they don’t get to write many of their own songs. That’s how I judge an artist. If they don’t have the gall to write and perform their own material, they are karaoke performers. Lots of people are sweet at karaoke, right?

Where can I get a copy of your album?

iTunes would be the easiest bet for anyone outside of the Bluffton/Hilton Head area. You could also go to CDBaby if you wanted a hard copy, but there’s only 4 left of my first demo (spoiler: it sounds like a demo). You could also just cruise on over to my website at JordanRossImport.com and order from Big Cartel, which is a company that allows me to ship directly from my hands to yours. I handle the shipments. So, if you want a hard copy of Anywhere USA, do it that way.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

As happy and as healthy as I am now. Hopefully, we’ll still be in this area of the world. I will have three more albums out (I have two ready for market now…just binding my time). Maybe have a beard.

What do you want to be remembered for when this is said and done?

That I knew what I was doing, and that a song of mine helped someone through a hard time in their life. I don’t want to be famous. I want to be happy. Fame very rarely equals happiness. I do what I love, and love what I do. I want to be remembered as being the songwriter who wrote good music and lived a long, happy life.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

I have a third album releasing soon. It’s a coin flip as to which album I will release, but when it does I will let everyone in my world know. I’m very excited about the projects. I may just release them as a double album. I’ve yet to decide. Look for hard copies on my website at www.jordanrossimport.com as well as digitally on iTunes when they become available. Also, I’ll be releasing an EP of harder rock exclusively on iTunes very soon. Look for those announcements in the coming months.

Today I am taking a step in the world of hip-hop and R&B as I sit with Gregory Thomas Humrichouser, also known as Hum V. I have known Greg for a long time and used to do work with him before he made his push as a solo rap artist. Having seen him numerous times both solo and with others on stage supporting him, he always brings a packed house and has an MTV sound. His lyrics could be mixed with some of the industries best. Let’s welcome Hum V.

So your name Hum V comes from your full given name, Gregory Thomas Humrichouser. Why the change? (Laughs)

First of all, Thanks for choosing to interview me Ricky; I’m honored and grateful. You’ve definitely been supportive of my career over the years, and I don’t take that for granted. Hum.v just developed from my last name (which NO ONE can pronounce correctly), and has always been what people called me. I guess it just stuck. People have always called me Hummer, Hum, or Hum.v, and I liked Hum.v the best. The V stands for volatile, ha. Plus, I now have this crazy huge buzz so changing my name is not an option.

So I remember the days of the Cleptoz. Are you still working with that project?

The Cleptoz are and always will be one of my main focuses in music. I love to look back and look at what we’ve accomplished together. There is a lot of hating and lack of respect in this Indianapolis hip hop scene (which is why no one has really made it), but at the end of the day, what we’ve achieved is undeniable. The following we’ve consistently had, the buzz, the radio love, the opening slots, the money we’ve made, the fans we’ve touched, and the two incredible albums we’ve released. Most groups dream of accomplishing the things Cleptoz have done with their career, and we did it. We didn’t talk about it, we went out, worked our asses off, and did it. We didn’t sit and talk shit about other groups, we didn’t listen these jealous local schmucks, we stayed focused and worked harder than anyone. We’ve been talking about dropping our third album “Trifecta”, and have recorded a few songs, but its just so hard to keep everyone organized. It’s the real world man, we are busy with real jobs and personal lives. It will come eventually.

Where does your motivation come from in your songwriting?

My real life experiences 100%. My father.

What would you be doing if it weren’t music?

Coordinating Logistics, which is what I do now as my day job. I’m sales manager. I love it.

Have you written or recorded with anyone outside of Indianapolis?

Yes, I’ve recorded music with people from all over, but I like to keep it local as much as possible.

Do you think that being from Indianapolis has helped or hurt your career so far?

Good question, I hear people say all the time “why don’t you move to LA or NYC? If you really wanted to make it, you’d move there”. People who say that are complete morons. Why would I move to a place where there is 10 times the competition? I can understand moving if it was 1985, but with the internet, mp3s, and email, I can reach all those record execs just as easily from here.

Any plans of getting out of the city?

Well not only have I played shows everywhere from Miami to Chicago, and everywhere in between for over 5 years. My single, Look In Your Eyes, is now syndicated on 10 stations, including Nashville, Louisville, Columbus OH, Lexington KY, and Cleveland. The Cleptoz and I have played more shows in more places than most folks only dream about. Milwaukee, Columbus OH, Bloomington, and Lafayette to name a few. I’ve definitely been getting ‘out of the city’.

I have seen your video where you are hanging out in a locker room. Tell me what it was like recording a video.

A lot of fun. Not only did we record that video at Butler University with Butler students, but the two kids we had playing us were awesome to work with. Did I mention that BC from the Cleptoz is one of my best friends ever? Love that dude. Pure fun doing anything with him. I love that song too.

Where can people see that?

MySpace, YouTube, the usual.

What’s the largest crowd you have played for?

We opened for Twista at the Egyptian Room, Opened for the Roots at Clowes Hall and in Milwaukee @ the Rave, Played with Common, Jurrasic 5, Gym Class Heroes, Radio Now Taste of Broad Ripple, and a slew of others. Basically, we’ve played Huge shows that I’ll never forget. However, for every huge show we’ve done, we’ve played two smaller one’s at hole in the wall dive bars across the midwest. I’ve played in front of 10 people before. We still kept the show good though☺

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Being successful and working hard. I know that sounds cheesy as hell, but that’s the truth. I’m always going to pursue my music career, that’s a given. Its in my blood. Regardless, no matter what I do, I’ll be happy and I’ll work harder than anyone else. I just got married, which is exciting. I love my job. I love my music. I can’t complain.

How do you handle being white in an overly saturated African American genre?

Well, I don’t think twice about being a ‘white rapper’, but apparently Capitol Records does. That’s one of the reasons the A&R Research Dept gave me? I see Grey. Its 2009 so I hope people are just judging music on music you know?

When did you first realize that you were going to do music for a living?

There were a lot of things that have happened throughout my career that have led me to take my music so seriously. When I first heard my song on the radio. When Capitol Records and Universal both called me in a two month span. When the Cleptoz and I started touring the midwest in college, and rapping basically became my only income. Lots of

What are you drinking on stage?

Anymore, I’m just drinking beer or water. Not real picky about that. Depends if I’m getting drunk or not I guess. I’m growing up now Ricky, so I don’t get smashed for every show like I used to….Ha.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My Father. Hands down. My father is the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. He taught me that you can make positive music and still be effective. He also taught me that hard work is pays off, which is has. He taught me that the worst thing in the world is being lazy and unmotivated. He showed me that you have to constantly be setting new goals in life. He taught me to stay true to myself and not to think twice about people trying to bring me down. Also, that people trying to bring me down, are simply envious. I love my father more than anyone could ever know. May he rest in piece and look down on me with proud eyes.

You are headlining at Madison Square Garden. Who is your opener?

My opener is an artist who’s worked their ass off, but never been given
the opportunity. My opener is an artist who is grateful for the opportunity and is a great person inside and out. Its anyone who makes

MySpace; good or bad?

I think MySpace and all that shit is dumb, but useful. I haven’t checked my own MySpace in ages. I hear Facebook is where its at, but I honestly would not know. I’m way too busy to be on computer networking sites.

I always let the artist get the last word. Go.

All these jealous haters in this City need to realize that they just fuel my fire with their talking. Seriously, I think its so funny when I hear or read about someone new talking shit about me. I’m like “do they realize that they all know my name and I have no clue who they are? I’m obviously doing something right? I get paid to rap and they play for peanuts. I have a fan base and they play in front of family friends and spouses every show. I write hit songs that people outside of my circle of friends are actually going to listen to. Oh, you think I’m too pop and I write sell out songs? I write songs that I like. Songs that are catchy, clever, and well written. I like pop music and I’m not afraid to admit it. Most people who ‘hate’ on songs and artists on the radio, hate because they don’t have the talent as a writer to make a hit pop song. They also don’t have the networking ability to make it happen. I do. I’m so proud of the things I’ve accomplished with my music its crazy. If you would have told me that my songs would be spinning on 9 major market stations as an unsigned artist, I would have never believed you.