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

When I first started interviewing golf professionals, I had no idea how much fun it would be. Every time I sit down to research a pro, I learn something not only about them but about the game of golf. It’s both fun and educational for me to be researching all of these guys. The guy I am sitting with today has been around the golf industry for a long time. He is one of only 31 teachers in the world to have a Doctorate in Golf Stroke Engineering and finds himself on the top 100 year after year. Some even call him the “teacher of teachers”. That, and he’s a riot… I could talk to this guy for hours. He has endless stories to tell. I am looking forward to seeing him down at the PGA Merchandise Show. Enough from me… it’s my absolute pleasure to introduce you to one of the best instructors in the world… Chuck Evans.

Thanks for taking the time to do this interview Chuck. I appreciate it buddy. Let’s start from the beginning… how long have you been playing golf and when did you know that you were ready to devote your life to the game?

I started playing when I was 10 years old and like a lot of other kids played all other sports as well. As I got older I actually was more interested in football and was a 6’2″ 225 pound running back. In those days the average lineman was around 190 so I kind of ran over people rather than around them! It was quite fun!

One year we made it to the state finals in football and baseball. We lost both finals rounds because someone else did not do their job and that was the end of team sports for me. I realized that even if I did my job the outcome could still be determined by someone else so I dropped all other sports to focus on golf.

Wait a second… you have a “Doctorate in Golf Stroke Engineering”. What does that mean? How does one get something like that? (That’s very rare by the way. Only 31 people have one!)

This honorary degree was bestowed by The Golfing Machine. There are actually 3 levels of authorization, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate. Each represents a different level of knowledge and contribution to the game. During the time I was with TGM I was the Director of Instruction and Education until Mrs. Kelley sold out to a group that I put together. My job was to train, evaluate, and test out potential AI’s.

You are one of the top 100 teachers. What does being on that list mean to you? Do you get more lessons because of that? Are you able to charge more being on said list?

Being nominated and recognized by your peers is very rewarding for all of the years of hard work. It is not an easy process, like some would think. First you have to have a minimum of 15 years teaching with 1,500 hours on the tee every year.  You also need to produce books, videos, training aids… anything that helps/gives back to the game of golf. To be truthful it doesn’t help much in the way of driving business to someone; you already have a successful business of you wouldn’t have made it through the nomination process. I personally don’t charge any more than I did before being inducted.

There are a LOT of tracks out there where you live… but does it ever get too hot for you in the desert?

It can be pretty toasty here in the summer and like the old saying, “If you can’t take the heat get out of the kitchen!” I normally stay here year around but I’m inclined to take this summer and hit the road again like I’ve done in the past. Back in 2000-2001 I traveled 270 days a year, different city every day, and conducted teaching workshops and clinics. In that time we saw a little over 200,000 players!

We had a full crew that traveled together and looked like a rock concert when we would come to town…it was awesome!

I’ve always done traveling schools and those are usually set up with another coach at their facility with their members/guests. Once the school is complete I tell the attendees that if they want to stay on track then their pro is the guy/gal to see.

I remember seeing commercials for the Medicus years ago. Never owned one myself, but I am willing to bet you have a few around the house. Tell me a little bit more about your affiliation with that training aid.

About 6 years ago we merged my company with Medicus Golf.  We had a very successful golf school and they have the training aids and one of the most recognized brands in the industry. Together we wanted to form a company that would encompass a total experience for the golfer. Training aids, performance equipment, coaching, and education.

Medicus Golf actually has numerous training aids and not just the Hinge Club. You can see them all on the site, http://medicuscorporate.com

My role is the coaching and education portion as well as researching new ways to help players develop, and sustain, their swing “patterns” more rapidly. We have been very successful in our approach to helping find their own pattern with a major emphasis on repeatability.

I get dozens of training aids a year from people around the world for evaluation and to be quite honest the majority of them just don’t do what they are designed to do! But once I have put them through their paces with players of all handicap levels I then forward to our Director of Product Management and Development, Gene Hoch, for him to test further. From there we have processes in place to determine if that product makes it to market or not.

You do a lot of public speaking. When you speak, what do you talk about? Are you actively looking for those, or do they sort of just come to you?

I do a LOT of speaking, everything from 1 hour to 2 days! The 1-2 hours are usually at PGA sections/chapters and or golf clubs for members and guests. The club speaking is more of a “golf talk” scenario where there is a lot of Q&A going on.

The full day, or 2 days are normally corporate events and quite a lot of the PGA section workshops. Of course most of the time the topics are about golf but I have done many events that have ranged from team building to building and branding your business.

Most of these events are handled through my agent but occasionally if I am out on the road he will solicit another event to fill any gaps in my schedule. I love the travel and speaking but to be quite honest I am not interested in traveling as much anymore so I limit these days to 5-7 days a month now. My schedule fills out very quickly and right now I’m booked until July 2012. We do however book back-up days in case of cancellations but events are rarely cancelled once they have signed the contracts.

My goal when doing these is to make sure the attendees have fun, learn a little something that can help their game or business, and to get them motivated! There’s nothing more boring than going to a seminar and listening to the keynote speaker in between dozing off!

You also do a lot of corporate outings. When someone calls to book you for one of those, how are those rates set? Do you charge the same fee for everyone or does it vary from one event to the next?

I’ve done outings for Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Proctor & Gambel and Fortune Brands just to name a few.

The rate depends on what they are asking me to do. If I am just the keynote speaker and it is a couple of hours then the charge is “X”.  But if it is speaking at a dinner, then a clinic the next day on the course that is a different fee. Let’s just say it ranges from $1,500.00 to $5,000.00 plus expenses.

There are a LOT of great golf courses out there. But what is your favorite?

By far and away Seminole Golf Clue in Florida. Bandon Dunes would be a distant second.

You were the Northwest Florida Player of the Year in 2010. Does that mean you have to play a lot of golf? Speaking of that, how much do you play?

Actually that was one of my juniors that was NW FL Player of the Year! I don’t have the opportunity to play much anymore. I think I teed it up 6 times last year.

It seems like you keep busy… do you still find time in there to give a lesson?

Unless I am traveling I am on the tee every day! My day usually starts around 4:30 AM. I answer tons of email, check a few website and groups that I belong to, have online meetings with people back on the east coast, a quick workout and then, at this time of year, am on the tee by 8:15. I only work on the tee 6 hours a day now after having been out there sun up to sun down 7 days a week for 40 years.

When I am traveling, and this is the part that people say, “Man that has got to be fun, almost like a vacation.” Well, it’s even MORE work and far from being a vacation!

For example the upcoming PGA Show. My day starts the same as usual except that it normally runs to around 11 at night. I have meetings, video shoots, media days, booth time. I do get to see people that I see only once a year, usually at the show, but it’s very rare that I have more than a few minutes to spend with friends there.

You are using Twitter and Facebook to promote yourself. You also have a nice website. Out of all the marketing you do, on and offline, what works the best for Chuck Evans?

We use any and all marketing types whether it be social media, print, infomercials, and direct response. It all works but after this many years, this year marks my 42^nd year of teaching/coaching, it is mainly word of mouth.

Let’s say that I want to book a lesson with you. What does that first lesson look like?

First and foremost, what are YOUR goals?

Once those are established I then take you through a series of assessments; physical, mental, short game, and long game. I’ve been doing physical and mental assessments since 1980. Now you and I know what you can and cannot do physically, what you are thinking, how you most effectively learn, and how your short and long game compares to others in your handicap level as well as the best players in the world.

From there we move forward to your stated goals. I might add, that the first time I see someone it is for a 3 hour minimum. I personally do not believe that anyone can help a student in 30-60 minutes the first time they see them. They may be able to give them some sort of “band aid” for nothing for long term development.

Peter Kessler and I have become close over the last few months. You were recently interviewed by him. He is a riot on and off the air. Do you still keep in touch with Peter?

I’ve known Peter for a number of years and I see him every year. We don’t get to spend any time together between our schedules but I always enjoy talking golf with him. He is a wealth of information and a great guy.

What would you be doing if you were not teaching/playing golf? Can you imagine a life without the game of golf?

I have imagined a life without golf. In fact when my students ask me what I am going to do when I retire I say, “I guess I’ll get a real job!”

I have a couple of things on my “bucket list”.  First, go to Katmandu; the highest place on earth. Next, and this one might prove to be a little difficult, I would like unlimited access to the Vatican Archives for one week! Who knows what I could find down there!

Ever had a hole-in-one?

I’ve had 3 hole in ones and 9 double eagles!

Your work has been featured in Golf Magazine. When you write an article for them, do they tell you what to write about or do you have some creative freedom?

I’ve had a number of articles in Golf Magazine as well as other major publications. Generally, you come to an agreement of what the reader is looking for and then write the article. Other times, I may call and say I’ve got an idea for an article and they will say yes or no and then sometimes they will call me for input.

Tell me a little bit more about howtobuildyourgolfswing.com.

http://howtobuildyourgolfswing.com started out as a blog of sorts because it was much easier to post updates then the static website. The original website http://chuckevansgolf.com hasn’t been updated in 6 years now and it is something that is on my project list for 2012.

You utilize V-1. Do you think that is a sign of things to come with technology in the game of golf?

Video has been around for a long time. When I first started using it the late 70′s the camcorders were huge. I had to run a wire from the camcorder to the TV to see the video. Then I would use dry erase markers to draw line and such. Before that I used the old “graph check” cameras.

I think today’s technology, in all aspects, is a tremendous tool for both the coach and the student… if used properly! If not it is a huge distraction! What I mean by that is if the technology is used to measure certain aspects of the body or the club to find a starting point then I think it’s fine. But if, on the other hand, the student/coach become so dependent on it that they can’t teach or hit a ball without it then I believe it’s a detriment to the learning process.

At the end of the day are we teaching people how to PLAY golf or how to play golf swing?

Speaking of technology, how has the Internet changed the way you operate? Does it make things easier for you as a professional or more difficult now that everyone is on the same level?

The biggest drawback with the internet is that ANYONE can now be an “expert”… just ask them!

Once again, it is a medium that has tremendous rewards for marketing.  You can reach out and touch someone in China, for example, whereas before we were limited by our region and area of influence.

Junior golf is the future of this game. How involved are you with junior golf?

Medicus Golf is very involved with junior golf. We have been a sponsor for the AJGA as well as on a local basis with different state junior golf associations and junior golf tours.

What is Swingology?

Swingology is a term we use at Medicus to describe our training. All we teach is based on science but we present it in a way that the average person can relate to and understand.

Starting with your driver, and working your way through the golf ball, what’s in your bag?

Callaway driver, 3 wood and hybrid. Piranha irons, SCOR wedges and Medicus Over Spin Putter.

Tiger isn’t getting any younger. In your honest opinion, do you think he will break Jack’s record?

I thought he would a couple of years ago but now I’m not so sure. Tiger has shown the innate ability to win with whatever swing he’s using at the time. But mentally I don’t think he’s there anymore and that’s the edge he had on everyone else.

Since you went to Florida State, do you still root for them? I love their logo by the way!

I do… go Noles!

What’s the best round of golf you have ever played?

My best round was 64 back when I was playing competitively. Now it’s usually around par… a couple over, a couple under.

I know we talked a little bit about the top 100… but in your opinion, who is the best teacher in the world? Is it even possible to pick a “best” considering how many different types of swings there are out there?

I’m not sure there is a best coach in the world. I think there are MANY great coaches today. But the key is not the coach it is the player/coach relationship. Some coaches have a “method” that works with some players and not with others.  Some coaches “coddle” their players and others don’t.

So while the information may be great that is coming from the coach, the player may not buy into it for some reason or another or their differences in personality keep them communicating.

It’s a new year… what does 2012 look like for you?

We are making some pretty big announcements at the PGA Show this year and will expanding into several countries outside of the USA as well as growing our Instructor base here in the US.

Chuck, thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me. That was a ton of fun. In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

I appreciate the opportunity Ricky. It’s always my pleasure to be able to do what I love to do. I would recommend to all of the young coaches out there to take time away from this business and spend more time with their families. I know we all start out the same way… we want to set the world on fire, teach all day long 7 days a week and to make a difference in players lives.

You can make those differences and still have time for a life! But do not take for granted those close to you that support your mission and your love of golf. My advice, and believe me I have made ALL of the mistakes one can make when it comes to this business, set time for your loved ones each and every week. Do something NOT golf related with them and do NOT answer phone calls or emails on that day.

Make THAT day special for them!

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Until my friend Anton mentioned this band to me, I had never heard of them. I loved the name, and when he told me they won the 2011 Battle of Birdy’s, I knew they had to be good. Battle of Birdy’s is an event that happens every year that features some of the best talent in the Circle City. The Battle gets a lot of attention too, and tends to pack Birdy’s year after year. When these guys are on stage, the stage is packed too… there are nine of them. Needless to say, they make a lot of noise. What’s weird is that when you listen to them, you would never know there are so many guys in the band. They are very polished. It’s my pleasure to be sitting with and to introduce you to Phoenix On The Fault Line.

I love the name. Mainly because I love Arizona! Where did you guys come up with that band name?

When I joined the group they were trying to call themselves Kung-Fu Grip. I hated that name. I talked them into changing it and we underwent two weeks of tossing ideas on our white boards. When I got to practice one day Phoenix On The Fault Line was on the board. I knew that was it. A week later we voted, and here we are today. We all have different ideas of what it means. To me it means… brotherhood.

I also like the logo. Who designed that?

We currently have two logos floating around. One designed by Liegh Miller and the other by Dan Mecca at Bleeding Media.

You guys have some pretty mature lyrics. Who writes all of the lyrics?

Thank you! I write all of the lyrics. Sometimes the guys come up with the song titles though. On this last album I would say 80% of the titles were the original working titles for the songs. I just make it fit in with the mythology.

Your sound is very polished. It seems you have a pretty professional setup. Do you guys practice a lot to nail that down?

Yes we do. I am also very fortunate to be in the room with eight other extremely talented musicians. Separate we would have all taken different paths through this musical odyssey but together we form something much bigger than ourselves.

Where did you all meet?

Johann and I met playing in the band REBUILT several years ago. The rest of the guys have known each other for years. Some since childhood. When they first began this project, a mutual friend of ours put us together. I loved the sound and camaraderie so I stuck around.

There are a LOT of guys up there on stage… As you said, nine of you. Does it ever seem crowded up there?

Hell yes. Our combined weight is a little over a metric ton. It is kinda like a mosh pit, but on the stage. I collide with people and instruments nightly. I know better than to spill Jon Ball’s beer though. And if I do, I promptly get him another.

What’s with the nicknames… The Prospect and “Big” Andy?

Well sir, thats a long story. The name Johann 51 aka “Nate Gray” had to do with an incident involving an android on one of our adventures. The details of that incident are currently being scribed by our guitarist, Chip Strohs. He is our resident historian/journalist. Ocho was the eighth member. Big Andy and The Prospect are giants (and really brothers). Hence the “big” in Big Andy. The Prospect was our prospective final guy. Once he earned his way into the fraternal order that is POTFL he decided to keep that name. It’s a right of passage really. Once you are reborn into our brotherhood you choose your name and your numbers. Darby is just Darby. I don’t know if that is his first or last name. His wife calls him Darby so that’s good enough for us.

Why do you guys say 3317 A.D.?

I believe it has some sort of numerological value that has not been determined yet. The date itself was an accident. I was only trying to push us ahead by three days and well… I am not the mathematician of the group. Poof! We had gone too far. Time travel is an exact science with many coordinated factors. I, however, believe that everything happens the way it was destined to, so sometimes we just spit whiskey and go, go, go! It took us about a year to get back home but it was an awesome adventure that brought us all closer together.

Original rock in the city of Indianapolis is rare. How do you guys raise the bar night after night?

We tell our stories with the conviction of a dictator leading his troops to war! People seem to like the escape from reality that we provide them. Yes, we are talking about spaceships, zombie robots, and time machines but like in any good sci-fi experience, sometimes those things are just metaphors. Today’s music is a sad state of affairs indeed. Too much carbon-copied, mainstream media manipulation and over-processed corporate consumer nonsense. We don’t wear our sisters jeans, and we don’t use auto tune.

What’s your favorite venue to play in Indy?

I personally love The Melody Inn. We don’t quite fit in there anymore, but I love that place. There is a nostalgia that is thick in the air of that bar. Lots of blood, sweat, and whiskey tears have pushed through that place over the decades. I am glad we have gotten to be a part of it.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played for? The smallest?

The biggest show we have played so far was when we opened for Clutch last year. It was a sold-out show and an amazing opportunity and experience. I’d say the smallest show was when we traveled to a festival in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I think there were five people in the bar. The promoters messed that whole experience up. We still had a good time though.

The horns are so unique. What made you want to add horns to the band?

I don’t think we have ever had an intention of adding any instrument. We all just came together like the gravity of a collapsing star. Jon Ball was already part of the show when I walked through the doors. He was the reason I felt that we were on to something special. What he was doing with that baritone sax was not something I have ever heard being done. It was like the band Morphine had a bastard child. It made the sound they were creating unique. We added Darby about a year in and The Prospect jumped in last year. It’s not my lyrics that give us that sci-fi sound. It’s them.

I see you are whiskey drinkers. What’s your favorite whiskey?

I am a Kentucky bourbon man myself. James and Chip seem to like the Irish stuff. Darby is fond of Canadian sipping whiskey but I can’t speak for the rest of the gentlemen. With nine guys, favorites are never a cohesive thing. The consensus, however, is that whiskey is a good thing.

I want that logo on a shirt. What kind of merchandise do you guys have?

We have shirts, hats, hoodies and more. We are currently working on making a LOT more of a variety too. We are a DIY kinda group.

Really digging your website… what content management system do you use for that?

Thank you again! If you asked any of the guys what content management system is used they will tell you it’s called Tony Ferreira. I think they are under the impression that I manage the site with the power of my mind.  It is just bits and pieces of code I have collected and modified to meet our current needs.

P.O.T.F.L. is being featured on the X103 tribute to Nirvana. What does being a part of that project mean to you guys?

It was an honor to have the opportunity to cover one of the greats. Like them or not, Nirvana changed the game. With that respect in mind we tried to make the song our own.

You don’t play a ton of shows in Indy. Are you branching out of the Circle City and playing in other Midwest markets?

We traveled a lot at first but for the last year we have been at home building an army and finishing our new album, “Basement Of The Coliseum”. We will be branching out a bit in 2012 and even more in 2013.

Tell me a little bit more about your relationship with Shoot The Hostage Records.

Shoot The Hostage Records aka STH Media & Publishing is our label/company. We own and operate it. Our mission is to create a legacy of entertainment for the masses of this new interconnected society. Back ten to fifteen years ago you needed to sign with a label to get advertisement and distribution. Now the business model is totally different. I can make quality products and distribute them electronically to all points on the globe. Harnessing social media for advertisement purposes cuts out the millions I would have had to spend getting us out there into the eyes and ears of the world. Social media is the game changer. If you can overthrow governments with it, then you can build empires too.

Where do you guys practice?

We built a bunker in an undisclosed location. I could tell you where, but the Men in Black would undoubtedly show up at your door. I assure you they are not as fun or as witty as Will Smith portrays them to be. The bunker is pretty awesome actually. There are lots of fun electronics, a lab, music room, and of coarse a Jon Ball custom bar. There are NO time travel devices allowed at the bunker though. We learned that the hard way. I keep that stuff locked away safely out of Ocho’s idle hands.

You have a couple of albums under your belt. What have you learned along the way from one album to the next?

We have three now and a fourth one under construction. Through the process of making them we have learned how to work as a unit. We have also learned to check your ego at the door. We don’t hold each others hands through the writing process. I can make a suggestion, but ultimately if it’s your part, you make the decision of what to do there.  Newton’s first law of motion also applies. We keep charging forward with writing new songs. We have to keep that fire alive.

Do you guys have jobs outside of music?

Yes. We are swords for hire. We are basically like a time-traveling A-Team. If you can find us…. you can hire us.

I haven’t seen you live… yet. What can someone who hasn’t seen you perform expect from a show?

Exhilarating adventure! We take the listener on a journey. I expect to see you in the front row soon, sir!

You are getting a lot of radio play. You have been featured on stations here in the United States as well as overseas. What was it like the first time you heard your work on the radio?

Words can’t describe it really. We had not even released our first album yet and it was being played on the air. The best is when I am driving and I randomly catch us being played. It’s an awesome moment. Makes me proud of what we have accomplished and it never gets old.

I have to thank Anton Swartz for introducing me to you. How do you guys know him?

Anton and I used to work together at a tech company here in the Indianapolis/Carmel area. I have not been able to prove it, but I am pretty sure he is an extraterrestrial alien. I think he may be a little touchy about that subject, though, so I don’t push it. I will say this, though… if I am in a jam with my website, I call him.

I LOVE the “Basement of the Coliseum” album cover. Who designed that? What’s the meaning behind that image? It’s pretty powerful.

The original art work for the album was done by Faith Mullins. She also happens to be the sister of Jon Ball. She read the lyrics to a song off our album (SteamPig) and that is what she saw. Josh Smith (who also did the graphic design work on our first album) did the design work around Faith’s art. My favorite part of the picture is the two old men in the corner with their ale glasses held high in salute to the ship. The name of the ship is Parsifal. That is our salute to three extraordinary inventors. Hammond Van Ocher, Thomas Birks, and Joachim Jensen. They designed and built the first steam-powered flying pig and named it Parsifal. It is an amazing feat of engineering, truly. It is an even more amazing feat that Birks and Jensen have convinced people that it is just a  piece of art when really it is one of the most powerful airships in the galaxy. You can read more about them at steampig.com.

Are you familiar with rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks? I would love to chat with you guys about getting you on a bill.

I am indeed familiar with that idea, and we are totally down to rock out with you.

What’s 2012 look like for you guys? Got anything big planned this year?

We plan to release another album, hopefully in October. It’s a concept album tentatively titled “Dethiachi”. We are also hoping to work with a local film company doing a short film of the same name. I can’t tell you much about the concept behind the album but I’ll tell you this much. If Danny Trejo had thirty minutes of zombie killing to do this is what he would want to be listening to while he did it. We also have the novel that Chip is writing about our ridiculous adventures through space and time. If I get my way, there will be graphic novels too. Other than all that, we just plan to rock as much as we can all over Indiana and the Midwest.

When it’s all said and done, what’s the P.O.T.F.L. legacy? What do you want people to remember you for?

There is a lot of irony in asking a time traveler what he wants to be remembered for, don’t you think? We want to be remembered as game changers and adventurers. We take a lot of risks just being us. I want to always look back on what we have created and smile.

Thank you so much for taking the time to sit and chat today. I appreciate it guys. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Thank you so much for the interview, Ricky! I only have a few things to say and I’ll be on my way. Please support local art and music. We have a ton of exceptionally talented people in this town. With your support, we can make Indianapolis an epicenter for creativity in the years to come.

I would also like to tell any would be time travelers out there one extremely important bit of information… avoid 2217. That is all.

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Header photo compliments of Liz Nicol of 110db.

As most of you know, I don’t pay for apps. I have had an iPhone since the day it came out and an iPad for a couple of years now… and I refuse to pay for apps. It seems like everything I want my devices to do I can accomplish with free apps. I use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Netflix (I pay for the service, but the app is free), Shazam (I got a premium version of that when it was free during a promotion) and several other apps on a regular basis.

Earlier today I was reading this article on apps… it was the “5 new apps worth downloading now”. Let’s take a look at said apps:

Shazam Player (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad: Free)

I love this app. I use this app all the time. I will be driving home from work and hear a song on the radio, and pull this app out to learn more about the song. The app provides the song, the album, the artist, lyrics, and tour info… more than you would ever want to know about a song.

If you have this app, pull it out during the Super Bowl. You will be able to Shazam commercials. I am sure this will be beneficial to the business, but unless it offers exclusive content, not sure I see the value. But they are getting some media attention for it.

Path (iPhone, iPod Touch and Android: Free)

Sheryl loves this app. I have it, and I use it from time to time. I am obsessed with foursquare, and I use that to track my location. But this app lets you track your location, who you are with, and basically becomes a personal journal of your travels. The interface is pretty sweet too. Like I said, I use it… but I am not hooked.

 NBA Game Time 2011 – 2012 (iPhone, iPod Touch, Android: Free)

I don’t watch sports, so this app doesn’t appeal to me. But the NBA is back and basketball is huge here in the Hoosier State. This app allows you to follow your favorite teams, with updated scoring and stats. If I had to pick a favorite team I would say… who does Shaq play for? Maybe he retired… I don’t know.

Wolfram Words Reference App (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad: $0.99)

This app isn’t free, so count me out! But the app is great for people who have time to kill. The article said it is a game like Scrabble and Words With Friends. I don’t play that either. I did, but I could see it taking over my life. I walked by my buddy Zach’s desk today and he was playing it… it’s a drug! Sheryl plays that game too.

Jimmy Fallon’s Wake Up Call (iPhone, iPod Touch: $0.99)

This app isn’t free either… and based on the name, why would I download even if it was free? Jimmy Fallon waking me up is not a good idea. Oh but wait, it comes with 10 customized ringtones and 17 different messages from Jimmy himself. 17… I wonder why they picked that number. Oh well, I don’t need a late night TV show host waking me up.

I did download the Pretty Lights app the other day. Pretty Lights is a popular DJ that doesn’t charge for his music. His entire collection is on his website for free. The app is free, and has access to his discography. He’s also GREAT live. If you are into electronic dance music, check out that app.

What are some of your new favorite apps?

My good friend Mary Baker introduced me to this band. I hadn’t heard the name, and was confused with the name at first. Then I met the band, and it all made sense. I bet you would never guess where the name comes from. I was immediately impressed with their personalities, and how professional they handled themselves both on and off stage. The first time I saw them perform was at the Chatham Tap in Fishers, Indiana and even though the sound wasn’t that great (blame the venue, not the band) I was still pumped to see a performance. I liked them so much I asked them to play on the next rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks. We are still a few months out from that, and I can already tell you I made a good decision by asking them to be on that show. Anyway, the band is fairly new but is serous about making things happen. They have a ton of talent and before long they will be a household name. It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to BellJar.

Let’s start with the name… bells and jars don’t really go together. Is there a meaning behind that? Where did the name come from?

BellJar is actually a Sylvia Plath reference. We had to read it as an English AP project. I don’t know if you know much about her, but it was released under a pseudonym. It talked about struggles and depression that a lot of novelists hadn’t dealt with. Her novel changed the landscape of literature. I hated that novel. I hated reading it. It was very depressing; it was hard for me to stick with.

What I walked away with, years later, was what she accomplished and what she was doing. It was our expression of our struggles and us succeeding and failing… what we have been through. We are just trying to connect with people just like she did with her readers. We want people to relate to that and understand that they are not alone. BellJar just seemed like a fitting title.

Did you need her permission to use that name?

The book is The Bell Jar; they are separate. I just took bell and jar and put them together. From what I have seen, bands have used song titles and sections for years. Godsmack stole Alice in Chains. It wasn’t trying to be infringement.

I haven’t seen you guys live before… really looking forward to it. For those out there who have yet to see a show, what can fans (or potential fans) expect from a live performance?

I think they should expect a lively show with sound that drives people to dance. We have a similar sound in all our songs, but they are all in a different style. It’s very upbeat. It’s not real heavy, but it’s not soft either.

We take a lot of pride picking our setlist. We don’t just pick a song to do it. We like to give it some flavor and not take away from the original writer, but try to give our interpretation of what it means to us. We put our own spin on it. We took Dansik’s song Mother and turned it into a guitar piece with a fiddle behind it. That’s one of the covers that we have done that people have raved about. It makes our originals stand out; we take a lot of pride in what we are putting forth. We want to be playing songs for ourselves, but for the people.

So do you need permission when you cover a song?

You are ASCAP certified as musicians. They cover that. Most places cover that too. Playing out and doing a cover song, you pay forth a certain amount and that gives you the right to use their music. There is protection for the artist.

What is your favorite cover song to play?

Can’t You See is a great jam. It sounds great with the drums and the fiddle. It’s a fun song that a lot of people do know. It’s a great jam song you can progress eight measures easily and not know where time goes.

We also like doing Billie Jean, the Chris Cornell track. It’s a great cover. We love Far Behind too. We like it because it’s old school. It makes me nostalgic and a state of euphoria kicks in. We really do spend a lot of time picking our covers. We figure it out and what we can do with it as the artist. They are fun, but our favorite songs are the originals.

SOPA is a big issue in Washington right now. What are your thoughts on all that? Should we #killSOPA?

Speaking as one who has material out there, I think the idea of the act is valid and good. My concern is having them force it without creating a freedom of speech and a freedom on information. There needs to be a way that we can search for information that we need, yet those of us who have a collection of material are protected.

I think the enforcement will be a problem.

Your name is Brandon Cannon. There is a Benjamin Cannon in Indy too. Are you guys related? (He’s also in a band.)

I do have a brother. My full name is Brandon Benjamin Cannon. BBC! My brother is Nathan. I started Facebook in college. I don’t know what year, but I was in college. Everyone was doing it! I did it the wrong way. I added everyone as a friend… half the people I didn’t know. Most I didn’t talk to. Then I had all these friends, but it never added up to anything. I got to a point where it was easier for me to just delete the FB page and go about my own life. I really didn’t need to.

I was required over a year ago, from a job, to open a FB page. I liked the way the company used FB to market their brand and their name to reach out to a community to make themselves known. I found a new way to use it. It allowed me to stay friends with the friends I do see and do talk to. It provides the ability to promote my music and my band. I wanted to strengthen what seems to be an ever-shifting platform. So my Facebook page is more of a business.

Do you have a job outside of music?

Yes, I do.

I dig your logo… who designed that?

Justin Foxworth. He did our logo, and our shirts. He is doing the album cover too. I can’t speak more highly of him. None of this happens without him and his support. To be a staple in a community, we can’t do it without his talents. He is helping our image and is helping get us out there.

We talked a little bit about Facebook… and I see you are also using Twitter to promote the band. What others ways do you promote BellJar?

Right now, Facebook and Twitter. We are using our friends, family, and other musicians to help spread the word. We are building a website and getting into other areas of networking. They take more time and a lot of effort. I know a lot of bands see a positive thing on MySpace. I don’t think there is anything wrong there, but now there is the ability to put music on Facebook. I would rather build a website more than anything. That’s the goal.

Our focus is our EP due out early in 2012. Our focus is on that, and everything that we have going into that. We could have a nice website and a great FB page… but without a good EP that doesn’t help me push my music and book shows. The strength is putting out a quality album. The best marketing tool is word of mouth… and it’s free.

Are you originally from the Circle City?

He’s from Kokomo. Holly is from Fortville. Hancock County boys… represent!

(Brandon) I’m from Bloomington. My folks went to IU.

Where do you guys practice?

In the pink room. We started practicing in a room that was ALL pink. Now we have evolved. Now we practice downstairs at Keith’s house. A lot of coffee and a lot of good music is what it is. And a lot of laughter. We laugh a lot.

In your opinion, how has the Internet changed the way people absorb music?

In the beginning, it became so much more accessible… all of it was at the tip of your fingers. It’s gotten back to where bands are playing more shows; go see the live atmosphere. Maybe on some level we got tired of being able to download so fast, we forgot the originality of a live show.

(Keith) I think it’s amazing. When you had to buy a CD, you couldn’t just run out and buy a CD from some local band. You can just jump online and check them out. That makes me want to see the bands more than anything. I want to hear them before we see them.

(Holly) I love the ability to connect with people and make more songs accessible. There is something to be said with sharing an experience, and if you can share it with music… it makes it even better.

Your friend Mary Baker first introduced us. From the start I was impressed. How do you know Mary? Is she your biggest fan?

She is most definitely one of our biggest fans. She is an inspiration to some of our songs. I met Mary a few years ago. I was doing some DJ spot at the Fox and Hound, and her and her friends go to the one on 82^nd street all the time. We became good friends, and I ended up hanging out with her group of friends. We became close, had similar tastes, and inspirations. We felt like we both looked through a similar set of glasses.

There are a lot of bands out there. Who are you listening to these days? What is your favorite genre of music?

(Brandon) Wow… I grew up listening to the band Cream… Neil Young and today I find myself unable to put down a Ray Lamontagne. I am impressed with bands like 30 Seconds To Mars and Chevelle… they impress me with every album. I just really enjoy music that I can relate to, no matter the style.

(Keith) I don’t know who any of those bands are. Literally… I know one. But I think that’s what plays into our sound. I have Sevendust in my car.

(Holly) Bruce Cobern, Marty Jones, Joni Mitchell… I love 80’s alternative and 80’s pop. How can you not? I love Megadeth… Aretha Franklin. My spectrum is very broad as far as music goes.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

Birdy’s Bar & Grill… 300+. We opened for Parabelle. The majority of the crowd was our first big outing as a band.

The smallest?

Locals Only… we did a pickup gig. I feel so bad but this band had a show at Locals Only. It was 9 hours before the show and we went and did it anyway. We had our immediate family there to support us. There were no more than 20 people there, if that. It was a fun night, nonetheless. It was a good stage experience. We got a chance to work on our set!

Who writes all of the lyrics?

We share that responsibility. I came in with a few songs; stuff I had been working on. It was the original concept I was working on. Now that I have the musicians to work with, we had three or four of mine. Keith added a few of his. We pretty much write our songs together now. Holly, when she comes to our practice, she adds as well. She helps us stand out. We are really trying to reach our full potential.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you on stage?

Holly has played on stage more than me. But at Locals Only, my guitar didn’t work. I left my tuner on. That was pretty embarrassing. I plugged in, and wasn’t getting sound. They setup a microphone for me to play into. It was pretty embarrassing.

I bet you are a beer guy. What’s your favorite beer?

Smithwicks. But I’m actually a scotch man. Glenlivet 18 years is my favorite scotch. I can afford the 10-year Laphroaig, but the nicer stuff I can’t afford. The 18 is about as high as I can go.

You went to IU? I went to Purdue. Can we still be friends?

No.

Well… it’s a New Year. What does 2012 have in store for you?

We have our EP coming out. We are finishing up with the recordings, and early next year we are going to release it. We have a few shows already booked. We are doing the USO event on April 18^th downtown. We have some shows down in Bloomington… and we can’t forget about six4six. It’s going to be a big year for us. I see us playing out a lot, and playing to a bigger fan base with that EP.

When it’s all said and done, what do you want to be remembered for? What’s the legacy of BellJar?

That’s a good question. We have come so far… I want to know that the day we walk away that we connected with someone. We want to make a difference, and that everything we put into these lyrics… these lyrics, these shows… that it was built into something bigger for someone else. That’s what it should be about on any level.

What’s a typical Friday night look like for you?

Holly, what do you do on Friday night?

(Holly) May through October I am usually playing music. Right now is a slow season.

(Keith) Putting my kids to bed. Drinking. That’s what I do.

(Brandon) I like to spend my Friday nights with friends and family. Whether dinner or game night, even having a couple of cocktails I want to surround myself with the people that I love. They are the reason I am here today and the weekend is a good time for that.

I feel like I could ask you questions all day long. Thank you so much for doing this. I should stop… you have a show to play! In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

My mom told me something years ago that has stuck with me, and I think the best way that I can live my life. We are here for one reason. It is to be loved and to love. This band is founded on that. Our music is inspired by it… and it’s definitely what we would like to leave behind. We want everyone to know that they were loved, and that’s the most important thing.

Click here to “like” BellJar on Facebook.

Click here to follow BellJar on Twitter.

Global sensation Tiësto has revolutionized the world of electronic dance music with his incredible live shows and timeless productions. Now he’s poised to explode onto the fashion scene with his new clothing line CLVB LIFE, that was released earlier this month at Kitson (LA) and Atrium (New York and Miami). CLVB LIFE launches with a collection of high-end tees catering to club culture. This line represents the first time the electronic dance music movement has been given a voice in the fashion world

The tees are influenced by the key elements of Tiësto’s performances – light, color, and symmetry. The cutting edge graphics appear on fine cotton tops for both men and women. CLVB LIFE apparel promises to set off the next major shift in contemporary fashion, and demonstrate the influence and power of the millions of fans of both Tiësto and electronic dance music. Tiësto says, “the launch of CLVB LIFE clothing is something of which I’m really proud. Alongside music, fashion is a great love of mine and as I travel the world I pick up inspiration everywhere. I have been working on this collection for a while now and I think it perfectly embodies the attitude of the CLVB LIFE experience worldwide.”

Recently voted “The Greatest DJ of All Time”, Tiësto plays to millions of people a year, with over 200 shows annually, from Rio to Ibiza, Vegas to London, transcending musical genres and appealing to a broad global audience.

Click here to “like Tiësto on Facebook.

Click here to follow Tiësto on Twitter.

Click here to watch Tiësto on YouTube.

The amount of talent in the city of Indianapolis amazes me. Every time I turn around I discover a new band that I never knew about… and that I can’t get enough of. This band lives right down the road from me in Noblesville, Indiana. Their lyrics are incredible, the vocals are amazing, and the sound is very “jam band” friendly. There is a difference from a jam band that just gets together to play for their friends… and a band that has potential to make it. These guys have all the potential in the world. The sky is the limit for these dudes. I love the name too. They really have the whole package. My good friend Eric Roesch introduced me to them. I’m glad he did. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Tax Brandywine. (I told you they had an awesome band name!)

The name… I love the name. Where in the world did that name come from?

I hate paying taxes, but I love drinking a good brandywine.

Thank you very much Ricky! One cold, rainy January day in 2007 I was visiting Chicago, Illinois with my old band mate to visit his cousin who was interning to be a surgeon. We went to hang out at the hospital while he was there, but we weren’t allowed to be inside any of the operating rooms, so we were stuck wandering around this hospital. It was a crazy, long, boring day! But while we were occupying an empty hospital room, we started to discuss new band names. We were under fire for our last name which was repealed by the US government copyright office for being too similar to another name. Anyway, I wanted to create a name that sounded professional and organic at the same time. I remember looking outside the hospital window looking at the bay and I put together those words and I thought, “I really like that, it reminds me of a mafioso name.” I always remembered that name, and decided to make it my alias and band name a few years later.

You guys have a great logo. Who designed that?

Thank yo! My girlfriend Kaley designed it.  She has a great eye and is talented in the graphic design process. We were going for a natural look that was bold.

Where are you guys originally from?

We all graduated from Noblesville High School, but our families migrated to Indy from different parts of the country in our lifetimes. All of my family is from the northern California area, and that is where I was born (Roseville, California).  Johnny C was born in Indianapolis, but has moved to Ohio and New York before moving back. Laus was born in Berlin, Germany where his mother and father lived at the time. (His father still lives in Hamburg, DE) They moved to Illinois and Zionsville, Indiana with his mother before settling in Noblesville.

You guys call your sound “last wave”. Can you tell me a little bit more about what that means?

Yes… this name actually started as a spoof and then it stuck! The joke started off of an original song that I wrote called Last Wave of Warmth back in senior year of high school. This was the first song that changed my style of song writing from pop/blues/hard rock, to a more pop-rock/reggae/folk style. We used to joke that this style was the last “new wave sound” before the ultimately inevitable end of the world and Mayan calender in 2012. It was Last Wave Rock, then just “Last Wave”; it stuck, and that is what we are trying to do… be the godfathers of the last new wave movement until the Earth blows up 2012. Get ready.

You recently had a show at the ES Jungle in Broad Ripple. Do you like that room? It’s REALLY small. Of course, it is all ages.

You really do not play the ES Jungle because of the room… The organization that puts on the shows is called Piradical Productions, and they have been really great to us. Especially Stephen Zumbrun. He believes in us and puts us in front of a great crowd. The ES Jungle is in a great location in Broad Ripple, but because it’s in a church and the audience cannot technically leave and come back in from smoking or to get fresh air even. I think that really turns people off from that venue. But, they have a new venue that we are going to be playing at on December 16th in Indianapolis (Fountain Square) called the Hoosier Dome. Check it out!!

Loving the blog. You are using WordPress for that. What made you start using that content management system over another?

I’m glad you like it. We are going to continue to use that format for news updates, but it is a means to an end for the official website. It’s too hard for the public to navigate through and doesn’t offer enough media outlets. We started using it for the purpose that we could update it easily and wouldn’t need a web designer. But, we have found a new outlet that lets us do everything we want and more, and it is designed for the use of a band. It’s called bandzoogle.com and ours is going to drop soon… so get excited!

The band is also on Facebook and Twitter. Who manages all of these social media efforts?

(Pierce) I do. I like connecting with the fans, and also being the voice and face of the band. Twitter especially allows you to create your own world where people can follow feel connected to you. The music is not enough these days!

The whole rock/reggae sound seems to be pretty popular these days. Do you find there is a lot of competition in that scene?

I really don’t. It has been almost rare to be hooked up with any of these types of bands because they tend to be “really reggae” and not quite as diverse. I have yet to find too many bands with this, but I expect that to change!  Then of course you have Bruno Mars doing pop-reggae and Sublime With Rome making their comeback but nothing that is new or “last wave” about it.

Really digging the lyrics for Monday the 13^th. Who writes all of the lyrics for the band?

Thanks man; I wrote those lyrics. I write the majority of the lyrics for the band, unless Laus sings, then he usually writes them. He wrote the lyrics for Marilyn, which is an example of me singing his words but they are usually mine.

When you guys practice, do you stay focused or just jam? I could see you guys just getting in there and jamming for hours on end!

(Laughs.) That’s interesting… but when we practice we are very focused. We will jam sometimes to get warmed up, but usually we are perfecting our songs!

You have a new EP coming out. What are your expectations with the new release?

Yes, we are very excited. This is going to be a 5 song EP that are all older and more poppy types of songs all lead singing by myself. Some of these tracks were re-recorded from our 215 sessions in Nashville that were never finished, so we thought we would get these out there and move on to recording our newer material for the next project. I expect this will be an interesting turning point in the band, and where our music is headed. We will get much more press from this EP than our last album, “Atrocities on the Highway”, which had a more of an indie sound. But overall I know people will want to get the new stuff!

During your first tour, your tour van was stolen. Please tell me you caught the guy… did you get that gear back?

One of the saddest moments in my life was walking around the corner of the hotel parking lot and doing the “double-triple” take of “where the hell is the van?” We never caught the guy, even though he was on camera. “The Buckeye” was found broken and mostly empty by the Atlanta police a few days later. This was a total catastrophe to get access to the van again because it was held in a city junkyard, and I had to sign the dotted line to see what was left inside. Therefore, I had to pay $500 plus gas to and from Nashville and Atlanta twice. The good news is that the guy left all of our “Atrocities” albums intact and there were clothes left inside. Whew!

Tell me a little bit more about the production of “Atrocities on the Highway”.

“Atrocities” was SO much fun to make. We were living together in a house in Nashville for over a year and this was the pinnacle of our accomplishments together for that time period. We were working everyday with engineer/producer/musician Grant (DatHobo) Husselman who is attending Belmont University there. Grant is also from Zionsville, Indiana and grew up with Laus, so the connection was made. Everything that you hear on the album was recorded in the main room in that house. We started by recording about 20 songs, and they eventually faded into a cohesive (in our minds) 12. It was mastered at my father’s home studio. All of the artwork, besides the logo, is also from Grant.

Do you get the chance to play outside of the Circle City very much?

Absolutely. We make it a point to travel as much as we possibly can. We play Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Chicago, Bloomington, Muncie, and Louisville as much as possible.

Do you have jobs outside of music?

Laus and me are currently unemployed. We have jumped through countless part-time work since moving back in June. We are looking for work! Johnny C is working at Guitar Center in Castleton. He’s part-time at the moment.

Where does your inspiration come from? Not just with music… but with life.

God is a huge inspiration in my life. We are all very politically inclined, and stay as informed as much as possible on news and events around the world. We are also huge sports nuts! My team is the San Francisco Giants, Johnny’s is the Cleveland Indians… and Laus likes the Indianapolis Colts! I also draw inspiration from my dogs, including our band mascot Tosh! Over-sized vehicles and trains also inspire me.

Since you are in similar to that genre, does that mean you go to a lot of jam ban shows? There seems to be a ton of them in the area lately.

I do attend the occasional jam band show. Johnny C attends more than I do, and Laus isn’t 21 yet so he doens’t attend hardly any shows! I’ve seen Max Allen, the Twin Cats, and others that come through like Papadosio and Shaggy Wonda. I would definitely not consider us a jam band, but more a “pop rock band”.

What would you be doing if you were not performing?

I would love to be producing other musical acts in the studio. I would also like to be a hemp farmer someday.

You were invited to record at Studio 215 by Randy Peterson down in Nashville. Tell me a little bit more about that experience.

Sure, we were invited by Randy who was a co-worker of Johnny C’s at Guitar Center to come and make a demo for free in this studio he was interning for. He needed some experience behind the desk he was about to be working on full-time.  We narrowed about 8 songs, and got about 2 solid sessions in, but it was very difficult for Randy to find the time to have me come in and finish the final tracks. So it inevitably was tossed to the side and tried to pursue the songs again, and this is what “Welcome Home” is. Randy Peterson was great to work with, he was very patient and was a rad dude. I would love to work with him again!

I have not seen you guys perform yet, but what can someone expect from a live show?

You can expect to see some people skanking (ska dancing), some hippies, some rockers, some moms and dads, and lots of little girls too! You might also see little green men from all the hype. There will always be the die hard Tax Collectors (Tax Brandywine fans) that will be wearing our hand-made tie-dye and spray painted shirts. The best shows are the ones where everyone is going nuts of course, so you might expect some screaming and wailing and an overall awesome time.

What’s the biggest crowd you have ever played for?

Our biggest crowds have been around 200+ people for Tax Brandywine. I have played an event before with my high school band that played to about 600 people, but I have yet to do it again with Tax. It will definitely come with time though.

You guys have some pretty cool concert posters. Who designs those?

The all talented Grant “DatHobo” Husselman designs all of our posters. He has a certain wonk about him that is undeniable, and we like his touch on our media. Here is a peak to some of his music that also inspires us. It’s so filthy its ridiculous.

Let’s look to the future for a second… where are you guys in five years?

(Laughs.)  Okay… we are in a sweet tour bus touring around the entire country with a decent opener constantly making albums and touring! I would also be taking tours in Canada and Europe. I definitely want to be a worldwide band. I’m not sure if we will be signed by then… I’m not sure we will need to be. I’m letting it roll and build.

It’s almost Christmas… what’s on your Christmas list?

Merry Christmas to you Ricky, and all the Tax Collectors reading this. The only thing I am asking for are gift certificates to Guitar Center because I want to pile them into getting a Zoom R-16 recorder. Check it. It has 8 simultaneous XLR imputs for recording and you can use it as an interface on the computer. Gear jargon… oh well, i’s awesome and affordable. The only other things I asked for is anything San Francisco Giants and I’ll be happy.

Jam bands tend to play longer sets. What’s a typical set time for you guys?

If we are hosting our own show, we typically will play two hours. We will play an hour or 45 minute set most other times. We don’t have lots of time to jam if we don’t play at least two sets!

Tell me about your relationship with Thorny Tree Productions.

Thorny Tree Productions is the limited liability company that I own and created for myself and all of the entertainment groups that I am head of so that I can file taxes and protect my bands rights and whatnot. Right now Tax Brandywine is the only project that I am managing under my company, but I expect to add more once I get Tax Brandywine more established.

There are only 3 of you… Ever think of adding more members?

That’s a good question. We love playing as a three piece, but I am not opposed to adding another member someday. They would need to be an all around musician playing keys, slide guitar, singing, and more! But we are not pursuing anyone as of right now.

In your opinion, how has the Internet changes the way people absorb music?

Well luckily, we never had to rely on physical albums being sold because we started selling music in the midst of this revolution. But it has definitely changed the industry in the sense that now we (the independent artist) are in control of selling music from our own online store.  It has empowered the artist to grab fans from emails and networking trough sites like Facebook, Twitter, ReverbNation and others to be a part of their own online world. It is very interesting and we will all be riding the waves of the technology revolution! I think that it will also spark a revival in vinyl records as well for the real “music enthusiasts”.

Speaking of the Internet, are you guys using Spotify? I noticed that your tunes weren’t on there yet.

We are not on Spotify yet… or even iTunes. We are going to get all of the arrangements ready to go by the end of the year to get our music on these major sites. I recently found Spotify and it’s incredible. We are no longer required to store our own music on our devices anymore. It’s awesome, and I hope people pay for the physical version of music again soon now that they don’t have to illegally download music anymore.

When this is all said and done, and Tax Brandywine is no more… what do you want to be remembered for? What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

I want to have a great brand developed with great songs to back it up. That includes making great records that will outlast my body, and a presence while I’m here that will spark peoples attention all around the globe.

Thank you guy so much. I could ask you questions all day! In all of the interviews that I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.

Thanks Ricky for the awesome questions man; this was a lot of fun to participate on your blog! Please check out our new EP available for download December 31 titled “Welcome Home”. Also check out our website for the latest updates and I hope all of you have a great and safe holiday season! Goodnight and keep it wonky.

Pierce Duncan – @taxbrandywine

Johnny C – @johnnylongboddi

Laus – @laushatman

Click here to “like” Tax Brandywine on Facebook.

Click here to follow Tax Brandywine on Twitter.

Earlier tonight I met some of the bands appearing featured on the next rickyleepotts.com presents six bands for six bucks. We talked about the show, signed contracts, and just chatted about music. I always like talking tunes, and to do it with so many great local bands… it’s nice. We met at a Starbucks on the north side, and I hadn’t even sat down yet and in walks Jon Beaty. Jon is in Jeremy Johnson & the Bleeding Keys; they played on the last six4six. Anyway, he was there to meet my good friend Andrew Newport. Long story short, Jon asked me MONTHS ago to introduce him to Andrew. A few months later they finally nailed down a time to meet… tonight! Andrew hadn’t been there for but a minute, and in walks Mary Baker. (I was expecting her, but still.) She was there to deliver the contract for The Kathy’s, as the lead singer lives in Chicago and couldn’t make the meeting.

After Mary walks in, next is Coty Leffingwell. He is the drummer for the Bleeding Keys, but still! He was there to meet with Andrew as well. Then came Dean Rebhorn. One after another the bands showed up and I got to see some friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time. (Here’s looking at you Tyler McCord!) Anyway, it was just a weird night running into so many people. Moving on… one of the bands on the next six4six is The Holland Account. These guys have been tearing up the Indianapolis rock scene booking shows with one big band after another. A few months ago they released a video for their single March of the Lost. The video is amazing… and from the second I saw it I knew it was going to be big! I was right. The video has over 15,000 views on YouTube.

The meeting was over and I stopped Nick Ramey, the lead singer for The Holland Account. We talked for two hours! Apparently we both work for Live Nation. I had no idea. He actually works at TOURDESIGN CREATIVE, a firm that designs concert posters and does graphic work for Live Nation tours. I applied there a few years ago. Just such a small world. Anyway, we were talking and pretty much agreed with each other on all points. He is busting his butt trying to promote his band, and doing all the right things. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this band.

I just wanted to share this video with you guys. It’s such a great video, the song is awesome, and I love the lyrics. Match that with the passion that these guys have for producing rock and roll and you have a perfect storm for the next big thing from the Circle City. Let’s rock people!

Receiving a perfect score of 10 and named the “money shot release” in the new issue of Mixmag, “The Low FreQuency Pureland EP” marks DJ/producer FreQ Nasty’s re-entry – with a vengeance – into the world of boundary-pushing music.

“I specifically avoided making dubstep on this EP as my modus operandi has always been –”look which way the crowd is moving and run in the opposite direction,” FreQ Nasty says. “Having said that, the crunkstep vibe of 1000 Buddhas… was made with that 100 “BPM-808-Hyphy Hip-Hop” sound in mind, but then other influences snuck in there too. And in the end my tunes never turn out quite how I imagine them to. So I don’t know what genre you would put these tracks in specifically. Not dubstep? Post dubstep? It doesn’t really matter at the end of the day as new genre’s often start in one physical location but very soon spread to anywhere you can get a half way solid link to the internet. This EP dropped out of AT&T’s broadband network somewhere between London and California. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed getting back in the studio.”

Digging into the tracks, Warm Dark Place is a glitch-hop and drumstep hybrid of equal parts West Coast glitch hop and UK tear-out. The influence of FreQ Nasty’s time in the US Bass heaven of California is obvious with a haunting melodic refrain offsetting the hefty bass pressure. 1000 Buddhas of the Pureland of Bass is a crunkstep roller that takes the uptempo hip-hop beats of the Northern Californian Hyphy movement and welds them to seismic 808 bassline. FreQ Nasty played this across the summer of 2011 and the 808 bass solo in the middle gets them screaming every time. The Heart of Definitive Meaning is a journey into the more reflective side of bass music. Swathes of guitar over a backdrop of distant chimes and revolving chords all served on a bed of deep sub bass. It evolves slowly with an almost subliminal drop into angular stabs of low frequency voltage.

Born in Fiji, raised in New Zealand and formed musically in the dance music revolution of London in the late 90s, FreQ Nasty started his career on the seminal UK label Botchit & Scarper, moving to SKINT Records in 2003. He went on to release a slew of cutting-edge records, collaborating with and remixing a diverse range of artists including Fatboy Slim, Kelis, KRS One, Roots Manuva, Rodney P, and reggae legend Junior Delgado. 2008 saw the release of Creator, his crossover hit collaboration with MIA producer Switch and NYC hipster Santogold, and the ground breaking FABRICLIVE 42 mix CD, which was picked as DJ Magazine’s compilation of the month. He is one of Burning Man festival’s most loved DJs, where he brings his signature mix of drumstep, glitch-hop, dubstep and all things Bass heavy every year. 2011 saw the release of Dread at the Controls on California’s Muti Music, which launched the 17-city Monsters of Bass tour with Marty Party and Opiuo. With the cutting-edge redesign of his website, launch of his new label, FreQ Nasty Recordings, and worldwide release of his new EP, supported by online, blog, and international press coverage, FreQ is making a powerful entry into 2012.

Click here to “like” FreQ Nasty on Facebook.

Click here to follow FreQ Nasty on Twitter.

New York’s hottest New Year’s Eve ticket just got even hotter. AVICII NYE, the event that crashed ticketing servers and sold out in minutes recently announced an increase in capacity and therefore more tickets. Those tickets are sold out too! On December 31, Pier 94 will become New York’s biggest nightspot ever, as it plays host to the planet’s most in demand DJ and producer; AVICII! When the first round of tickets went on sale at the end of September, tens of thousands of Avicii fanatics missed out as the golden passes sold out in record-breaking speed! After negotiations with the authorities and a bit of production additions, there is a further limited release – don’t miss out!

Regarding the line-up… Joining the Swedish sensation are none other than the prodigal “trouse” wiz kid – Arty, devastating dub-house twosome – CAZZETTE, Eastern Europe’s biggest house trio – Swanky Tunes, and 25 year old Toronto legend – Glenn Morrison! With no expenses spared on production and a mammoth set from the man himself, the party is shaping up to be nothing short of extraordinary.

The lineup will be:

• 9:00 PM – Glenn Morrison
• 10:30 PM – Cazzette
• 12:00 AM – Arty
• 1:30 AM – Avicii
• 4:30 AM – Swanky Tunes

Celebrating the imminent re-release of the epic video game classic “Syndicate” this February 21, 2012, EA Games has commissioned a series of remixes from the dance music world’s elite. The second remix by Digitalism, along with the first remix by Skrillex, is available now from the Syndicate Facebook page. When asked to get involved, Digitalism was happy to oblige. “Syndicate is a game classic which is now being brought back to life. For us as electronic music lovers who grew up with games and love soundtracks, there was no way around re-interpreting the Syndicate theme!”

The esteemed production due then took to their lab and set about creating a remix worthy of the legendary parent track. “(We) imagined being in the game, creating a fast-paced atmosphere, turning all the compressors up and mixing classic soundtrack elements with techno. We wanted to make sure it sounds dangerous – et voila, here we go.”

It’s been quite a year for German electro authorities Digitalism. After successfully headlining this summer’s HARD Festival, the duo, consisting of Jens Moelle and Ismail “Isi” Tufekci, will kick off a 10-date North American tour this November to showcase their sophomore album, “I Love You, Dude”. Influenced by Commodore 64 game soundtracks of the 1980s and French house of the early 1990s, Moelle and Tufekci have certified themselves as two of the most creative producers in the scene. Their funk, hip-hop, and post-punk infused tracks have been categorized as pop, but the duo states they have never been restrained by genres, they focus on top notch sound and music.

Leading up to the February release date, there will be more free remixes available from some of the world’s best electronic music producers. Stay tuned to the Syndicate Facebook page for more details.

Click here to follow Syndicate on Twitter.

Click here to “like” Syndicate on Facebook.

Click here to watch Syndicate on YouTube.

Photo Credit: Richie Carver