Rock The Bells Hip Hop Fest Confirms 2013 Locations & Lineup.
The Rock The Bells hip hop and rap traveling music festival is back for it’s tenth addition and has quite a lineup to boast!
Having made stops in San Bernadino, Mountain View, and New Jersey in 2012 with a lineup headlined by Bone Thungs-n-Harmony, the 2013 edition looks to grow with a stop in Washington, DC, in addition to the three previously mentioned sites.
Rock the Bells‘ 2013 lineup is an interesting one, as it flaunts Bone Thungs-n-Harmony once again, plus the likes of Big K.R.I.T., Common, Dilated Peoples, Jurassic 5, Kid Cudi, Talib Kweli, Tech N9ne, the Wu-Tang Clan, and one of our favorites – Immortal Technique – plus many others.
Undoubtedly, the biggest surprise has been the announcement of special appearances from fallen rappers Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Eazy-E, which will be projected via hologram, much like 2pac‘s “appearance” with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg at Coachella 2012 (watch video below).
Click the festivals below for detailed info:
- Rock the Bells San Bernadino (September 7th to 8th at the San Manuel Amphitheater).
- Rock the Bells Mountain View (September 14th to 15th at the Shoreline Amphitheater).
- Rock the Bells Washington, D.C. (September 28th to 29th at RFK Stadium).
- Rock the Bells Rutherford, NJ (October 4th to 5th at the Meadowlands Racetrack).
Tickets for the DC event go on sale this Saturday, May 25th at 10 AM EST. Tickets for the other cities have already gone on sale.
5gig.com – Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Concert and Festival Guide
Who doesn’t love Memorial Day, the family get togethers, the barbecues, the unofficial start of summer, but what we at 5gig.com really love are the rockin’ music festivals that go down the entire weekend across the country. Each year there are more festivals, with bigger and badder lineups. People are ready to party hard Memorial Day Weekend, and the majority of the festivals are catered to that, with an electronic, dance, and hip-hop vibe. However, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone, both in festival and concert form.
We’ve prepared a list of the most attractive events going down, including festivals with stacked lineups of all musical styles and genres, and individual concerts with your favorite bands. This list isn’t all-inclusive, but it includes this weekend’s biggest events. Please let us know what we missed, and, more importantly, the events YOU’LL be attending this Memorial Day Weekend, whether they be music-related or not!
Festivals: list of the biggest music festivals happening over Memorial Day Weekend
- Dates: May 23rd to 26th
- Location: Cumberland, MD
- Selected Lineup: Carolina Chocolate Drops, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Campbell Brothers, Younder Mountain String Band, Trampled By Turtles, Trey Anestasio, The Del McCoury Band, The Infamous Stringdusters.
- +info.
- Date: May 25th
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Selected Lineup: David Guetta, Steve Aoki, Knife Party, Morgan Page, Flosstradamus, Dillon Francis, Danny Avila.
- +info.
- Dates: May 24th to 26th
- Location: New York City
- Selected lineup: Aaron Dilloway, Kilt , Skin Graft, Jean Sébastien Truchy, Clang Quartet, Pulse Emitter, Kakerlak, Jason Crumer.
- +info.
- Dates: May 24th to 26th
- Location: Chillicothe, Illinois
- Selected lineup: Thievery Corporation, The Avett Brothers, Keller Williams, moe., Yonder Mountain String Band, Gramatik, Trey Anastasio Band, Umphreys McGee, STS9, Big Gigantic, Zeds Dead.
- Tickets.
- Dates: May 24th to 26th
- Location: Pyror, Oklahoma
- Bands: Guns N’ Roses, Korn, Hollywood Undead, Bullet For My Valentine, Ratt, Escape the Fate, Skillet, Black Veil Brides, Papa Roach, Asking Alexandria, Alice in Chains, All That Remains, Clutch, Dokken, Cheap Trick, Halestorm, Bush.
- Tickets.
- Dates: May 24th to 26th
- Location: Humboldt, IL
- Bands: Benny Benassi, Magnetic Man, Dash Berlin, Skream, Diplo, Benga, Duck Sauce, Morgan Page.
- +info.
- Dates: May 24th to 26th
- Location: Monterey, California
- Matisyahu Slightly Stoopid The Expendables Don Carlos Collie Buddz Rebelution Katchafire.
- Tickets.
- When: May 24th to 26th
- Where: Thornville, Ohio
- The Wailers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dark Star Orchestra, Marco Benevento, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Greensky Bluegrass, Rumpke Mountain Boys.
- +info.
Electric Daisy Carnival Chicago
- When: May 24th to 26th
- Where Chicago, IL
- Selected lineup: David Guetta, Armin van Buuren, Tiësto, Avicii, The Bloody Beetroots, Kaskade, Above & Beyond, Markus Schulz, Empire of the Sun, Dirtyphonics, Sander van Doorn, Dash Berlin, Borgore.
- Tickets.
- Dates: May 24th to 27th
- Location: Las Vegas
- Selected lineup: Bad Religion, The Casualties Lagwagon, Devo, Turbonegro, Subhumans, Lower Class Brats, Swingin’ Utters.
- +info.
- Dates: May 24th to 26th
- Location: Clarks Grove, Minnesota
- Bands: Savoy, Railroad Earth, EOTO, Papadosio, Tea Leaf Green, Steve Kimock, Eliot Lipp.
- Tickets.
- When: May 25th
- Where: El Paso, Texas
- Bands: Molotov, Best Coast, Martin Solveig, Dragonette, Wolfgang Gartner, Paul Banks.
- Tickets.
Detroit Electronic Music Festival
- When: May 25th to 27th
- Where: Downtown Detroit, Michigan
- DJs: Richie Hawtin, Moby, John Digweed, Dave Clarke, Magda, Paco Osuna, Derrick May, Carl Craig, Luke Slater, Kevin Saunderson, Squarepusher.
- Tickets.
- Dates: May 25th to 28th
- Location: George, Washington
- Selected lineup: Arctic Monkees, The XX, Cake, Vampire Weekend, Dropkick Murphys, Sigur Ros, Steve Aoki, Mumford & Sons, Andrew Bird, Primus, Tallest Man on Earth.
- Tickets:
- When: May 25th and 26th
- Where: Boston, Mass
- Bands: Andrew Bird, The National, The Shins, The Walkmen, Portugal. The Man, Fun., Ra Ra Riot, Cults.
- Tickets.
- Dates: May 25th to 26th
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisanna
- Selected lineup: Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Rodney Atkins.
- Tickets.
- Dates: May 25th to 27th
- Location: Topanga, CA
- Bands: Lee Rocker, Cecilia Noel and the Wild Clams, Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps, Bordertown, Jim Crawford Band.
- Date: May 26th
- Location: San Antonio, Texas
- Bands: Guns ‘N Roses, Alice in Chains, Bullet For My Valentine, Skillet, Asking Alexandria, Halestorm, All That Remains, Clutch.
- Tickets.
- Date: May 26th
- Location: Shakopee, MN
- Selected lineup: Tech N9ne, Snoop Dogg, Atmosphere, Busta Rhymes, Kid Koala, Aesop Rock, Mac Miller, Juicy J, Joey Badass, Schoolboy Q.
- Tickets.
Rap/Hip-Hop
Pusha T/Fabolous
- May 22nd at Gossip Nightclub in Vancouver
- May 23rd at Fabolous at Encore in Edmonton
- May 24th at Flames Central in Calgary
- May 25th at the Odeon Event Centre in Saskatoon
Kendrick Lamar
Big Boi
- May 23rd at the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston
- May 24th at the Backyard in Austin
- May 25th at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas
Rock & Indie:
The Rolling Stones
The XX
- May 22nd at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton (with Hundred Waters)
- May 24th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver
- May 27th at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, OR
Paul McCartney
- May 22nd at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin
- May 23rd at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin
- May 26th at the FedEx Forum in Memphis
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- May 23rd at the Beacon Theater in New York
- May 25 at the Beacon Theater in New York
- May 26th at the Beacon Theater in New York
Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran:
Alice in Chains:
- May 22nd at The Centre in Evansville, Indiana
- May 24th at the Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater in Lincoln, Nebraska
- May 26th at the AT&T Center in San Antonio
Soundgarden:
- May 24th at the Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston
- May 25th at the Austin Music Hall in Austin, TX
- May 26th at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas
- May 28th at the 1st Bank Center in Denver
Carlos Santana at the House of Blues in Las Vegas
Fleetwood Mac
- May 22nd at the HP Pavilion in San Jose
- May 25th at the Hollywood Bowl in LA
- May 26th at The Pearl in Las Vegas
- May 28th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California
The Dillinger Escape Plan
- May 22nd at the Launchpad in Albuquerque
- May 23rd at Tricky Falls in El Paso
- May 24th at Mohawk in Austin
- May 25th at One Eyed Jacks in New Orleans
Fun.:
Fall Out Boy:
The National
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Country:
Mumford and Sons with Michael Kiwanuka, and Mystery Jets
- May 22nd at Rexall Place in Edmonton
- May 24th at Holland Park in Surrey, BC
- May 27th at the Rose Garden in Portland, OR
Lady Antebellum and more
- May 25th at LSU Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge (with Miranda Lambert, Thompson Square, Love and Theft, Darius Rucker)
- May 26th at the Amphitheater at the Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama
Florida Georgia Lines
Electronic/Dance:
ATB
Major Lazer
Armin Van Buuren
- May 23rd at Stereo Live in Houston
- May 24th at the Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas
- May 26th at the Ocean Club in Quicncy, Mass
John Talabot:
Listen to New Queens of the Stone Age Tunes in Honor of Josh Homme’s B-Day!
Today, back in 1979, little Josua Homme was born in Joshua Tree, California. In honor of the Queens of the Stone Age frontman’s 39th birthday and the band’s forthcoming release, …Like Clockwork, we’ve decided to gather all the new material that has recently hit the internet in one nice blog post.
QOTSA have been letting new songs trickle out over the last week, both in audio and lyric music video from. Pay special attention to creepy, crawling, grinding opening track “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” that we can’t get enough of!
Check them out below:
“Keep Your Eyes Closed” animated lyric video
“If I Had A Tail” animated video
“Kalopsia” animated video snippet
“I Sat By The Ocean” live on Later… with Jools Holland
“My God is the Sun” live on Later… with Jools Holland
…Like Clockwork represents the sixth studio album from the Homme-led group, which constantly enjoys a revolving door of collaboration musicians. The album is set for a June 3rd release date and features collaboration and guest appearances from the likes of Dave Grohl (drummer on 2002 release Songs for the Deaf), Trent Reznor, Elton John, Joey Castillo (Eagles of Death Metal), Jon Theodore (The Mars Volta), Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, QOTSA), among others.
Full …Like Clockwork tracklisting:
“Keep Your Eyes Peeled”- “I Sat by the Ocean”
- “The Vampyre of Time and Memory”
- “If I Had a Tail” (featuring Alex Turner, Nick Oliveri and Brody Dalle)
- “My God Is the Sun”
- “Kalopsia” (featuring Trent Reznor)
- “Fairweather Friends” (featuring Elton John, Trent Reznor, Nick Oliveri and Mark Lanegan)
- “Smooth Sailing” (featuring Jake Shears)
- “I Appear Missing”
- “…Like Clockwork”
Justin Timberlakes Announces Solo Tour in Addition to Co-Headlining Tour with Jay Z. New Album Due Out in September.
Having previously blogged that the recently released comeback album The 20/20 Experience was the first of a two-part album JT has in store for fans this year, we have been patiently waiting news on official release dates.
Just this Monday we were pleasantly surprised as details emerged on the new album AND a winter 2013/2014 solo headlining tour.
Dance/pop superstar Justin Timberlake and hip-hop king Jay-Z had already announced their plans for a co-headlining 2013 Legends of Summer North American tour, which is slated to kick off July 17th at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, before skipping around the U.S. to play in several iconic stadiums including: New York’s Yankee Stadium, Chicago’s Soldier Field, San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, LA’s Rose Bowl, Detroit’s Ford Field, Boston’s Fenway Park, Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, and Miami’s Sun Life Stadium, to name a few.
The new set of dates will feature Timberlake taking the all the limelight and starts up Halloween night, October 31st, at the Bell Centre in Montreal. From there, he’ll drop down into the U.S. and work his way West during the months of November, December, January and February. As of now, the February 10th show at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha represents the final stop of the 23-concert leg of this tour, but more dates could always be announced.
Tickets for concerts on the 20/20 Experience World Tour go on sale as early as Monday, March 13th and are available here.
The 20/20 Experience Part 1 came out March 18th and has represented nothing but a successful return to the music for Timberlake. The 20/20 Experience Part 2 comes out September 30th. Details on the album including the tracklist are scare. Watch this space for further updates.
Watch Justin Timberlake perform “Mirrors” on Saturday Night Live
The Muggs Interview Part 5: Rapid Fire Questions.
And, to conclude our five-part interview with The Muggs, who are heading out on their 2013 Spanish & European Full Tilt Tour in support of newly released live album Full Tilt, we’ve caught up with bassist Tony DeNardo (Tonymuggs) and drummer Todd Glass for a series of rapid fire questions talking about anything from their favorite songs and venues to play live to their favorite Spanish tapas! Enjoy!
Favorite Muggs song?
Tonymuggs: “Monster”, “Get It On”, “6 To Midnite”. One off every LP.
Todd: it changes all the time, but right now it’s “Doc Mode”.
Favorite song of all time?
Tonymuggs: “Strawberry Fields Forever” by the Beatles
Todd: Impossible to answer
Favorite song to play live?
Tonymuggs: “Slow Curve”
Todd: Again, it’s always changing, but “Doc Mode” again. It’s so fun to just groove that tune live. To me, it’s a perfect mix of funky Detroit influence and blues-rock improvisation.
Favorite place to play in Spain?
Tonymuggs: There is no bad place to play in Spain. I love the ENTIRE country!
Todd: This is hard but stand outs for me are Rocksound in Barcelona and Salason in Cangas.
Favorite place to play in the U.S.?
Tonymuggs: Cadieux Cafe of course
Todd: The Cadieux Cafe in Detroit, Michigan
Favorite bands of the past? Biggest influences?
Tonymuggs: The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Big Star, Captian Beyond, James Gang, Led Zepp, STP, Beck, Neil Young, ELO, Bob Dylan, Groundhogs, Steppenwolf, Paul Simon, Leon Russell, Humble Pie, WEEN, The Who, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, The Flamingos, The Hollies, The Kinks, Grand Funk, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Taj Mahal, Savoy Brown, Pink Floyd, etc
Todd: Beatles, Stones, Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie, Deep Purple, Bob Dylan, Ten Years After, The Who, Fleetwood Mac (Peter Greens’), Beach Boys, Tom Waits, Anything that was recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Albert King, Freddie King, BB King, all the “Kings” The Kinks, I could go on. The biggest influence on me as far as Rock? Led Zeppelin and The Beatles.
Favorite bands of the moment? Current influences?
Tonymuggs: ELO (Eldorado), Big Star (#1 Record), Bob Dylan (The Freewhelin’ Bob Dylan), Neil Young (After The Goldrush), Rodriguez (Cold Fact & Coming From Reality), Groundhogs (Who Will Save The World? The Mighty Groundhogs), Beck (The Information), Led Zepp (Presence), Stevie Wonder (Fulfillnesses First Finale), Willie Nelson (Shotgun Willie), Savoy Brown(Raw Sienna & Shake Down)
Todd: I’ve been digging Alabama Shakes and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Also, I’ve been listening again to Afro pop stuff from the 70′s Fela Kuti.
What would your dream tour be?
Tonymuggs: Spain (1,000 seat auditoriums), Germany, France, The Netherlands, the U.K., Australia and Japan!
Todd: A true world tour, I want to tour the entire world. In complete luxury of course. : )
Favorite radio stations?
Tonymuggs: Contemporary FM radio is horrible. I listen to CDs or iPod because free FM radio bores me. NPR is great but they don’t really play music save for a couple of 1 hour shows.
Todd: 101.9 WDET Detroit and a mysterious radio station in Santa Maria Del Parma, No talking, no commercials and I’m pretty sure it’s one person broadcasting from their home. It was the greatest radio experience of my life and I can’t wait to hear it again. If anybody reading this knows what I’m talking about please contact me and let me know. : )
Favorite Spanish food?
Tonymuggs: Sea Knives….Navajes!
Todd: The seafood in Cangas, Galecia, Spanish Choriso and of course the bocadillos with your wonderful cured meats!!! Cervesa y Chupito!
Thoughts about this Rodriguez character?
Tonymuggs: I think Rodriguez is just wonderful. Cold Fact and Coming From Reality are really deep, thoughtful, artist LP’s. Songs like “Establishment Blues”, “Forget It”, “Rich Folks Hoax” blow me away. Then of course, “I Think Of You” gets me every time because I’m a self proclaimed ‘love song writer’! Yet another star risen from the ashes of Detroit.
Todd: Great story, I dig his stuff but I like Dylan better. I play with a guy named Chris Spedding from the UK and he played on the 2nd record although Chris doesn’t remember doing the session. Ha.
Anything else?!?
Tonymuggs: Dannymuggs had answered questions to this interview. He spent hours on it, only for his laptop to crash and his gmail somehow didn’t save anything. When you see Danny in Spain, give him a hugg!
Todd: I can’t wait to get there and see all of our friends, fans and I hope we get to meet some new ones. We shall rock you España!
A huge thanks to Tony, Todd, and Danny for taking the time to answer our questions! We’ll see you in Madrid in a couple months! And thanks for making sure Detroit still is rock city, babay!
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Follow our entire five-part feature on The Muggs:
- The Muggs Interview Part 1: The Muggs Release Live Album ‘Full Tilt!’.
- The Muggs Interview Part 2: Getting to Know The Muggs.
- The Muggs Interview Part 3: 2013 Spanish and European Tour.
- The Muggs Interview Part 4: Tony DeNardo is DUDE.
- The Muggs Interview Part 5: Rapid Fire Questions.
The Muggs Interview Part 4: Tony DeNardo is DUDE.
Below you’ll find the fourth installment in our five-part feature covering Detroit blues rock band the Muggs.
Although the Muggs are set to spend the months of May and June touring Spain and Europe, we’ve caught up with bassist Tony DeNardo to chat about topics ranging from his role in the Muggs, the impact music had on his recovery from the stroke he suffered at age 28, to his 2012 solo album Kid Gloves, which just won the Detroit Music Award for ‘Outstanding Rock Instrumentalist’.
Those that follow the band closely know that there almost wasn’t a Muggs as we know them today. You suffered a stroke in 2001 at the age of 28, causing the band to go on break while you worked your ass off to recover, causing you to change the way you play music all together (standard bass guitar to piano Rhodes bass). How do you think being forced to change the way you play, having to learn an entirely new instrument, and being limited in the way you play has effected your musical style? Has it made you a better musician? Has it given you an increased knowledge and appreciation of music and music theory?
Tonymuggs: First off, I can say without a doubt, I owe so much to my health and success to my dear friend, Dannymuggs [Muggs singer/guitarist Danny Methric]. He gave me the hope to dream the impossible and still be relevant as a musician. Hadn’t Danny done that (waited for me to recover when he could have easily replaced me in the Muggs), I don’t know if I would have given up on life or not, as I was very depressed during those early days.
I have always approached music with a childlike wonder. I don’t want to know it all because I love stumbling across melodies and/or bass lines organically. There’s a magical quality to it when it just ‘happens’ and it makes me feel so alive and filled with joy.
That being said, I approached learning the Fender Rhodes Piano as a bass in the same way. I just threw myself into it not even thinking that perhaps, I was in over my head. I got to know my new instrument for 3 hours a day for about 4 months straight. In doing this, it gave me the working knowledge and the building blocks to succeed as a musician again. I always say, “You can’t bullshit a three piece.” I didn’t want people to say, “Poor Tony, the Muggs aren’t the same anymore.” We had to be BETTER. And I took that seriously. Has my handicap made me a better musician? I suppose so because over the years, I’ve had to think about how to get around some traditional rhymes that a piano just cannot physically achieve.
In previous interviews, you’ve stated that you and Danny are in a handful of other bands, ranging from originals to Fleetwood Mac and Ween cover bands. However, over the last few years, you were compelled to write and record your own music. What went into the process of creating your own solo album?
Tonymuggs: I was so fortunate to work with top musicians in metro Detroit. That being said, I worked up the beds of my songs (bass, piano, guitars) with my good friend Bobby Emmett and then had cats like Todd Glass [Muggs dummer] come in and play drums. I had ideas for violin, and horns too. Some songs I actually composed the guitar solos. It was great. I felt like Brian Wilson, with all these excellent musicians, and I was the conductor.
Of course, I sang and harmonized on the songs as well. It took me over 3 years to complete, mainly because Bobby kept leaving on tour with Shooter Jennings at that time. So he’d come back into town, and we’d pick up where we’d left off. It was actually better for me in retrospect, because it gave me the time to imagine several different scenarios on how the song ‘could’ play out. Looking forward, I like that formula and will apply that same kind of patience on my next DUDE album.
The final output is a psychedelic, feel-good, rock record full of local Detroit talent that you choose to only sing on, opting to not even play bass. That takes the cliché “searching for your own voice” to new levels, what was your decision behind that?
Tonymuggs: I’m not that good. haha. I had more than capable musicians to play on my album. So I saw it as, “I could play my own bass lines and try to get it right (it might take me hours) or I can mouth the bass line to Bobby and he’ll nail it in probably 5 minutes.” So it was an easy decision to make. Plus we had so much fun doing it like that. I’m not a ‘do it all on yer own’ type of guy.
How was the experience working with such a diverse group of local musicians?
Tonymuggs: I loved it. It was a little odd at first because some ideas I came up with I had not recorded as demos, so I would have to sound out or hum the ideas to the musician while the track was playing. It all worked out great and every one of the songs came out the way I intended them to thanks to all the great musicians and the patience they showed in allowing me to relay my ideas.
How did the song-writing and recording process work?
Tonymuggs: Me and Bobby would lay down the piano and bass first. Then depending on time constraints, we’d do the vocals, harmonies or start adding layers to the songs. I had to coordinate schedules too. That was kind of frustrating, especially if I was renting a block of studio time and someone didn’t show. But all in all, it worked out just fine.
Where did these songs come from? Are they something you’ve had stored away for a while, or were they the result of a sudden batch of inspiration?
Tonymuggs: About half I wrote back in my early 20′s. “In The Next Pocket” is one of my first attempts at writing an actual ‘song’. The other half was from 2002 forward. I had to prove to myself that I could still write songs. It was like therapy for me. I had to relearn how to speak after my stroke and the chip on my shoulder was enormous. Many of those songs are about me dealing with (or not dealing with) my stroke. Tales of being in the hospital for 2 months, friends that saved my life, contextually and literally, and on. Heavy times when I think back to it.
What’s the story behind the title Kid Gloves? And why the name DUDE (instead of releasing it under you real name)? Do the title and pen name symbolize anything in particular?
Tonymuggs: A dear friend once said, “Man, sometimes you have to handle me with Kid Gloves!” And that always stuck with me. I guess I’m saying the same thing to my fans. These are heavy songs. I tend to write about things that are bothering me or inspiring me, and this particular batch of songs is very dear to me. So I’m saying, “please know this and weep or celebrate with me.”
DUDE came about from hanging out with my 4 darling nieces. Because I was the long haired uncle, they’d say, “Uncle Dude is here!” Or “hey, what’s up dude?” I always have thought, “What’s in a name?” If yer songs are amazing, the name will be cool, if yer songs stink, so will the name. I think DUDE is alll riigghhtt!!!!!!
Kid Gloves (Tony DeNardo aka DUDE’s debut solo album), which was nominated Outstanding Rock/Pop Songwriter, Outstanding Rock/Pop Recording, and Outstanding Voice/Independent Budget in the 2013 Detroit Music Awards, has an entirely different vibe from any Muggs record. It’s much more psychedelic, fuzzy, and distorted, yet full of harmonies. Why the difference? What are your major musical influences? What were you trying to accomplish with the album?
Tonymuggs: I’m so lucky to be a part of the Muggs. Danny is the songwriter for the Muggs. I would never think of stepping on his shoes trying to write the amazing blues rock songs he comes up with. He really blows me away with his writing. I’ve been writing like this since I could make 3 chords. I’m a love song writer….that loves the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Big Star, Beck, Bad Finger, and on and on. More than anything, I wanted people to know that I could compose and arrange music with the best of them.
I was unfortunate in that, if I hadn’t suffered a stroke, I probably would have had an album out much sooner. But I’d rather rock out live, and save my poignant, introspective songs for listening purposes only (for the time being anyways). I have achieved so many highs playing bass with and accompanying Danny over the years. The Muggs are my heart and soul.
April could prove to be a big month for you, as you’ve been nominated for three Detroit Music Awards and The Muggs are set to release Full Tilt with a live show at the Magic Bag in Ferndale on Friday, April 26th. What are you most excited about?
Tonymuggs: Just being a part of the conversation is enough for me. It tends to be a pissing contest sometimes, which I want no part of. I’m most excited about the Muggs and this new release. Full Tilt is an amazing record. It’s so heavy to my ears. I’m so proud of Danny and Todd too! They laid it down that night and nailed everything.
And then, if that weren’t enough, we’re fortunate to be going back to Spain and parts of Europe for a 4th time. I’m excited more than ever about how Full Tilt will be received by our fans across the world.
This just in…….When I first answered this question, it was prior to the 2013 Detroit Music Awards night. I just found out that the Muggs won ‘Outstanding Rock Band’ and I won ‘Outstanding Rock Instrumentalist’!
You showed off your singing chops on Kid Gloves? Any chance we’ll see you add harmonies or singing an entire song on an upcoming Muggs song?
Tonymuggs: I have been harmonizing more with the Muggs. Not a whole lot, but where it’s appropriate and also, if I can pull off my bass lines and sing. I envy cats like Paul McCartney that could always play a complicated bass line and sing a harmony or lead vocal. I could never do that. I may be singing a song or two on this 2013 Full Tilt tour. Mainly to give my man Danny a vocal break. People don’t realize just how tough it is to sing yer ass off for an hour and a half straight. Yet another reason to love Dannymuggs!
In a featured done for the Detroit Metro Times, you said “melody is king” when it comes to music and, specifically, Kid Gloves. In a recent video interview with The Garage, Danny Metric said The Muggs are “holding the torch for blues rock.” Do those two statements go hand in hand? Are they contradictory? What role does melody plays in The Muggs’ music?
Tonymuggs: I think they are two different statements. “Melody is king” refers to every song that has ever inspired me as an amazing melody and so I try like hell to write melodies that are interesting and inspiring. Songwriters who can put a melody around 3 chords and make you cry can be millionaires. A guitar player who can do the same thing are a dime a dozen. I should have said, “Songwriting is king!” Now, you can say that is all up to the listener and I can’t disagree with you.
The other statement is more factual. The Muggs are keeping the blues rock torch lit for future generations. In the U.S. at least. Europe seems to be doing fine in that respect. Americans, generally, tend to ‘follow’ the trend than ‘lead the way’. Without getting too musically political, I’ll put the question to contemporary FM radio. “Where’s the rock?” Melody plays a big role in the Muggs. But lets think of melody in every way. Sometimes the bass line is carrying a melody. Dannymuggs solos are chalked full of melody and raw emotion. His vocals carry the song as well and tell wonderful stories. That’s my take on it. Danny always says, “The Muggs are an amalgam of the Beatles and Zeppelin.”
For more things Tony DeNardo and DUDE, be sure to read “‘Have to have a voice…’ – DUDE: Tony Muggs’ new album” from the Detroit Metro Times.
Kid Gloves was released last March and represents Tony DeNardo’s solo debut. The album can be previewed and bought here.
Kid Gloves tracklisting:
- Not Exactly Where I Should Be
- Gotten Over You
- Sweet Danielle
- In the Next Pocket
- Two Minutes Hate
- For Judy
- Angels Looking Over Me
- What Made Her So Right
- Yer Big Year
- Before the Day Got Away
- Soliloquy
Watch music video for catchy track “In the Next Pocket”:
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Follow our entire five-part feature on The Muggs:
- The Muggs Interview Part 1: The Muggs Release Live Album ‘Full Tilt!’.
- The Muggs Interview Part 2: Getting to Know The Muggs.
- The Muggs Interview Part 3: 2013 Spanish and European Tour.
- The Muggs Interview Part 4: Tony DeNardo is DUDE.
- The Muggs Interview Part 5: Rapid Fire Questions.
The Muggs Interview Part 3: 2013 Spanish and European Tour.
Welcome to part three of our five-part feature on the Muggs. They just released their fourth album, Full Tilt, a double-disc live album and the perfect preview of what Europeans fans can expect once Danny Methric, Tony DeNardo, and Todd Glass touch down on the other side of the Atlantic in just a couple weeks.
We got in touch with Muggs bassist Tony Denardo and drummer Todd Glass to find out what they have in store for rock fans in Spain, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, and how the whole European tour came about:
This Full Tilt tour represents the band’s fourth stint in Spain. When and how did things start for you guys here?
Tonymuggs: It all started back in January of 2007 when the Paybacks, a Detroit band Danny was still in, invited the Muggs to open for them. I think we had 12 dates. Not a big tour by any means, but it really wet our appetite for touring in Spain. As soon as we got back home, I tried for a couple years for the Muggs to return.
In 2010, it finally happened with a promotion company out of Barcelona called Funhouse Productions. Really good guys. Edu, was especially cool when that Icelandic volcano grounded all flights to the States. We were stuck in Barcelona for what turned out to be an extra week! He set us up for a weeks worth of shows. Edu….he’s still a douche bag!!!! haha. That’s an inside joke.
How was the reception been for a raw, in your face blues-rock band like yourselves in Spain?
Tonymuggs: Just great. As far back as 2007, I can remember playing cities like Bilbao and Vitoria seeing the beautiful Spain men and women singing along to “Gonna Need My Help”. All of us, me, Dannymuggs and Todd, are elated to be coming back for our 4th tour of Spain.
Detroit and Spain are one and the same to me. Beautiful people full of culture and a lust for life. Not the richest in terms of money, but Spain is all heart and soul man. And Spain has it all. It blew me away when I realized that you only have to travel 1 1/2 hours going east from say, Cangas on the Atlantic coast, to have an entirely new and beautiful landscape.
Todd: The reception has been exciting. The people respond to every nuance of the performance, a guitar solo, a breakdown in the song. They really listen. Also, there is feeling of appreciation that we are there, they thank us a lot for coming to their city or country. That’s nice
How did your music reach Spain in the first place and, perhaps, become better known than in the United States?
Tonymuggs: My guess is the internet and websites like Myspace.com. Back in 2005, we decided that the only real impact a small band like the Muggs could make was an ‘online impact’. I would spend hours every day contacting promotion companies from all around the world asking if they would distribute the Muggs, or have us on tour, or radio websites to play our music. I got quite obsessive about it. But I couldn’t stop thinking to myself, “I HAVE the time to promote the Muggs like a manager or label would, so shame on me, if I don’t”.
You hear bands gripe about it all the time, “Why aren’t we bigger?” or “How come we didn’t get asked to play this bill or festival?” To me, there are no excuses. The internet is your friend and ally if you are prepared to work hard for your cause.
Do you see a difference in the reception towards your style of blue-based rock depending on the country you visit?
Tonymuggs: Not really. Thankfully, people in general are very receptive towards the Muggs. We’ve played to 15 people at shows and we’ve played to 2,000 at festivals. What I love about Dannymuggs and Todd, (and myself) is that we always play like our lives depend on it. I think that translates to the crowd, be it big or small, and so it goes, the Muggs always play to win.
Todd: I definitely see a difference in Europe as opposed to the US. I notice a real feeling of excitement/anticipation there that you don’t get maybe in the U.S. Also, there are more young people at the shows in Europe. Blues Rock has gone underground for the moment over here but it seems alive and well over there.
Your last Spanish tour was your longest yet, and took you to places such as Germany, France, The Netherlands, and Switzerland? How was the overall experience playing new countries and even festivals?
Tonymuggs: Incredible. It’s so humbling when you do something, like play in a blues rock band, and you are so well received. We had some fans say from Spain that we were mythological! That was the highest compliment ever. In the digital age especially, because every one and everything has been de-mystified through the internet.
In Germany, one venue in particular said we were the best band to blow through in over 4 years. Even in France, on a Monday in Strausburg, we rocked 15 college students and afterwards, they took me and Dannymuggs on a tour of the city. We passed around bottles of wine and laughs. It took me back to my college days when I’d visit Dannymuggs up at Michigan State University and do some of the same things.
Todd: That’s one of the best things about being a musician, period. The experience of travelling itself is a blast. In some ways, a gig is a gig, but driving into a new city/country drives your performance because these people haven’t seen you before and so every song takes on a new meaning and it renews your comitment to the moment. Not to mention, I’m from Detroit so to visit places like Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, etc. is a dream come true!
I’m sure you’re particularly looking forward to playing events like The Freak Valley Festival in Germany. Do you prefer playing festivals or headlining rock clubs? What is your typical venue and crowd type to play to?
Tonymuggs: We are looking forward to playing the Freak Valley Fest in Germany. I always say that we are a FESTIVAL band. I love the atmosphere of festivals. In the US, we are lucky enough to play Arts, Beats and Eats festival in metro Detroit every year and 2,000+ people come out to see us.
Actually, I love seeing all types of people at our shows, not just the ‘rockers’. It gives me hope to see that our music can impact someone and affect them so deeply, it makes them change. In Torredembarra, Spain last year at La Traviesa, there was this cute little kid, had to be 2 1/2 years old, with an AC/DC shirt and headphones to protect his hearing. His mother and father were great! Those are the fans we love to play for!
Todd: The Freak Valley Fesival is exciting because we weren’t able to make it last year due to Scheduling conflicts and Germany in general has been very good to us. I prefer clubs and theatre myself sound wise, but festivals are something I think we would like to do more of. Festivals are a great way to take in other bands and performers and you tend to play to more people as well. Typically we play clubs and small theatres, but in the summer here in Michigan, every city it seems has a music festival and we play most of those.
What does a typical Muggs tour consist of? I’ve personally seen you guys play several times around the metro-Detroit area, and here in Madrid last year. Obviously there’s a lot of jamming, extended intro and solos, and energy. How do you go about constructing a setlist for each gig and, in turn, how did you decide to construct the setlist for the Full Tilt Live EP?
Tonymuggs: We used to write out setlists prior to our shows. Since our 2012 Born Ugly Spanish and European Tour, we’ve been calling them out on the fly. We all know these shows so intimately now that all Dannymuggs has to say is, ” let’s start the show with ‘these 3′ and then I’ll just call them out.” It’s fun and how can Todd or I bitch, when Dannymuggs has to sing all the songs in the first place. Danny’s our fearless captain!
As far as the 2013 Full Tilt Tour goes, we have some surprises. It’s important to us and to our fans that we stay one step ahead of the game. We want to continue to be creative and push the envelope. Sure we could play the songs EXACTLY like the studio LPs, but we’ve done that in prior years. Now it’s time to stretch out. More people are becoming familiar with our music, so it only makes sense to us to make the live show as different and exciting as we can.
Do you have any time to explore Spain (and Europe) while on tour, or is it just mostly jotting around from gig to gig in a van?
Tonymuggs: Unfortunately, we never have enough time to explore. Since working with DejaMeDecirTe Promotions company and Veovoces Tour Management, we have been working our butts off. They are great. We want to be busy. Last year was the first time where I actually felt like this was a REAL tour. No slant on our 2007 & 2010 promotion companies either. That just speaks to the professionalism Natalia and Juan Pablo bring to the table. This tour we only have 5 days off out of 32 days abroad. Bring it on!!!!
Todd: Mostly jotting around, but we have a knack for taking in as much of a particular city as humanly possible. I wish we had more time to explore though, it’s painful to drive by a Museum or a section of a historic city and know you can’t stop and look around.
What do you most like about the country/culture?
Tonymuggs: That’s not to say we don’t ever have an hour or two to explore close to our hotels. Every country has its’ own particular ‘flavor’. My heart belongs to Spain probably because I know Spain better than any other country in my life currently. Germany has been great to us as well. German fans love our brand of Detroit blues rock. The Netherlands too. We only played two shows in France last year and they were on a Sunday and Monday so I don’t think that counts really. I am looking forward to our last show on Sat. June 8th in northern Italy. It’s not official yet but I’ve been through northern Italy in 1999. Monterosso, Verona, Florence and Venice. I hope this festival happens!
Todd: What don’t I love about Spain?? Number 1, the people. The way people have taken us into their homes and hearts has been so cool. In general, the mood is very relaxed and hearts and minds open. The FOOD! Particularly in Cangas where we were treated to the best seafood I’ve ever had. I honestly feel at home there, more so in a lot of ways than here in the US! I must have some Spanish blood somewhere! :)
What type of concert can people expect to see on your 2013 Full Tilt Spanish and European Tour?
Tonymuggs: New Improvs! Of course, a mix from all three of our previous studio LPs, The Muggs (2005), On With The Show (2008) and Born Ugly (2011). We are learning new and exciting covers to pepper into to our set too. I might have a couple songs to sing to give Danny’s pipes a rest. We’ll play at least 1 1/2 hours. I think our longest set was at La Traviesa last year on a Sunday in Spain. 2 1/2 hours!!! The fans were so worked up. I love that. We’ve not divas…we’ll play every last song if our fans want us to continue. I don’t get that ‘rock star’ mentality. It annoys me and comes off so ugly and negative.
As mentioned above, The Muggs are out touring in support of their new live album, Full Tilt, which came out this past Friday, April 26th and features 22 tracks from all three Muggs studio albums.
The Spanish leg of the tour takes off May 9th at Kafe Antzokia in Bilbao and continues strong until their May 27th gig at Rocksound in Barcelona. Along the way, they’ll be making a stop at Wurlitzer Ballroom in Spain’s capital city of Madrid on May 22nd. After their Barcelona show, the Detroit trio will continue their trek Northward into Europe, playing in France, the Netherlands, Germany, and possibly Italy!
Complete Muggs tour dates and tickets.
Watch The Muggs play “Kitchen Sink Blues,” “6 to Midnight,” and “Down Below” Live at Trackside:
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Follow our entire five-part feature on The Muggs:
- The Muggs Interview Part 1: The Muggs Release Live Album ‘Full Tilt!’.
- The Muggs Interview Part 2: Getting to Know The Muggs.
- The Muggs Interview Part 3: 2013 Spanish and European Tour.
- The Muggs Interview Part 4: Tony DeNardo is DUDE.
- The Muggs Interview Part 5: Rapid Fire Questions.
The Muggs Interview Part 2: Getting to Know The Muggs
Yesterday, we published part one of our five-part series on modern blues rock road warriors, The Muggs.
Today, we’re going to get to know The Muggs a bit better and find out what really makes this trio tic.
Below you’ll find out how the band has evolved over the years, what went into making their third original studio album, Born Ugly (2011), and what each individual member means to the band:
For us, Born Ugly represents a bit of departure from The Muggs’ style on the first two albums. The raw, blues-based rock is still there but, in a way, it seems fuller, almost grungier. How do you see Bory Ugly as an evolution from previously albums The Muggs and On With the Show?
Tonymuggs: Definitely. First off, Dannymuggs [singer/guitarist] is one hell of a songwriter. We are always trying to ‘one up’ our previous work. On With The Show I think was a graduation from our first LP The Muggs. Especially tracks like , “On With The Show”, “Somewhere Down The Line” & “Curbside Constellation Blues”. I think Danny made huge leaps forward and so that set the table for Born Ugly. Danny was and is always reading. For that matter, so is Todd. So a lot of the rife imagery that Danny’s lyrics conjure is directly related to the authors and art that inspired him during the writing of Born Ugly.
Todd: it was a departure, and quite ballsy of Danny looking back on it. It was my first record with the guys and I think we talked about approaching the song arrangements differently. It’s Dan’s masterpiece as far as songwriting. Danny’s lyrics don’t get as much spotlight as they should, it’s a deep record and I think the music reflects his personal lyrics. I could tell it was a challenge for Muggs fans but they went with it.
The songs on Born Ugly have a similar sound and feel to them, as opposed to previous records that seem to have songs coming from different directions. On Born Ugly, we find a heavier, weighty sound, almost like it continuously beats down on your eardrums (in a good way!). Would you agree? Is there a story behind the songs on Born Ugly?
Tonymuggs: Born Ugly is conceptual. Much darker than our previous 2 LPs no doubt. Danny never likes to say really. He would prefer to let the listener come to their own conclusions about what the songs mean. There are obvious references to books, “Blood Meridian”, “Dear Theo” , “Notes From Underground”. “Hats Off To Mr. Beardsley” is in reference to Aubrey Beardsley, a contemporary of Oscar Wilde in 1890′s who was a brilliant artist. It’s as if the Muggs are saying, “OK. You like our songs. We’ve hidden little messages within these songs. Books, artists, things that inspire us. Unlock them for yourselves. Dig deeper than just the surface.” That’s one kind of fan we’d like to attract.
What has the addition of Todd Glass meant to The Muggs? What changes were brought about in the song-writing process while recording your third album, Born Ugly. Do you think the band’s sound as a whole has change/evolve due to his addition?
Tonymuggs: Everything. Quite honestly, hadn’t Todd joined the Muggs, there might not have been any more music. He’s that important to us! I always thought of Matt Rost, our original drummer, as our Mitch Mitchell. Todd Glass is our Keith Moon! Todd brought so much of his talents to the Muggs. He is known as THE best drummer in Detroit. He plays out almost every night in a number of different bands. His meter is exceptional!
What does Todd Glass bring to The Muggs?
Tonymuggs: Todd is hilarious and so much fun to be around. A very attractive ‘old soul.’ He makes me a better bass player no doubt. The Muggs love to goof around, especially at the bars before we go on. You know, we like to get loose. Todd was a perfect fit when he joined because he fit right in with mine and Danny’s drinking problem….just kidding? haha. But Todd is also the most excellent, professional drummer I have ever worked with. He has brought amazing ideas to the Muggs. We get along famously on the road. If it weren’t for his egregious snoring problem, he’d be perfect. haha!
What does Danny Methric bring to the Muggs?
Tonymuggs: Danny is my best friend. We’ve been friends for 27 years now. We can read each others minds. It’s a little weird at times. I couldn’t see myself playing with any other dude. Danny has always been amazing on guitar too. After only 6 months of teaching himself guitar, he was already soloing, and they were good solos. Always interesting and always went somewhere with his solo. Anyone can tell that now. Just listen to “Said & Done” solo as one of many examples. Yeah, we are brothers. And he IS the Muggs. He’s very humble, but I can brag about him. Not only does his riff his ass off, but he also arranges and writes these songs for the most part. Just incredible! Danny leaves it all on the cutting room floor. Ha. That’s one of his lines! He’s so quotable.
What does Tony DeNardo bring to The Muggs?
Todd: Tony is the spiritual leader of this band. I’ve known the guys since they started the band and all along Tony has been an inspiration both personally and proffesionally. Of course going through what he went through and coming out of it with such a positive spirit is huge, but, his undying belief in what the Muggs are and could be is a big reason we’re still going strong. As a bassist, he follows the tradition of all the great Detroit bassists, hard driving, funky playing. There is a certain push and pull between the drummmers and bass players that happens when you come up in Detroit and we have that together. Also, it has to be said that while Danny and I are at a bar somewhere in Detroit on a day off drinking with our girls, most likely Tony is at home on the computer and phone working hours on promotion, bookings, connecting with fans and doing the accounting. He is the reason we are coming to Spain/Europe. I love him, even though he’s painfully jealous of my masculinity and good looks.
Now that the live album is finally out, any plans to head back into the studio and work on a fourth album of Muggs originals?
Tonymuggs: Yes! When we return from our 2013 Full Tilt tour, we plan to relax for a couple weeks, decompress and then jump right back into writing and recording mode. We already have 3 new songs on the ballot. The Muggs are just hitting our stride. I hope to be doing this in 30 years from now. That would be hilarious. Ahhh, the Stones are doing it so so can the Muggs!
In a recent segment with The Garage, Danny mentioned carrying the torch of blues rock. What does that mean to you? What importance does that hold to the band?
Tonymuggs: It means allot to all of us. Let’s hope that real rock n roll gets popular again, because let’s face it, we all know that contemporary FM radio wants NOTHING to do with rock n roll. That being said, we feel like we are carrying the blues rock torch. I love seeing young kids look at Danny with wonder in their eyes at festivals and they are affected by his playing. Todd’s drumming is amazing and he has young fans watching him. I did what I had to do to get back in music because I loved music so much. All three of us bring something special to the Muggs as individuals but as one, the Muggs are bigger than just the individuals. I would hope that in 100 years, the Muggs will be mentioned as one of the bands that ‘kept blues rock going in such a turbulent time where the music industry model had failed’. That’s just my two cents.
Todd: This is the music that inspired me to be a musician, to me it’s natural to play this music, I don’t really think it’s in danger of disappearing from what I’ve seen.
Watch The Muggs’ entire segment with The Garage including live performances and an interview with singer/guitarist Danny Methric:
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Follow our entire five-part feature on The Muggs:
- The Muggs Interview Part 1: The Muggs Release Live Album ‘Full Tilt!’.
- The Muggs Interview Part 2: Getting to Know The Muggs.
- The Muggs Interview Part 3: 2013 Spanish and European Tour.
- The Muggs Interview Part 4: Tony DeNardo is DUDE.
- The Muggs Interview Part 5: Rapid Fire Questions.
The Muggs Interview Part 1: The Muggs Release Live Album ‘Full Tilt!’
The Muggs, a band in constant rotation here at 5gig.com HQ, are off to a hot start in 2013. Having spent much of 2012 on the road (both in the United States and Europe) in support of 2011 release Born Ugly, they are back with yet another album, Full Tilt, and some Detroit Music Awards trophies to boot!
Featuring 22 tracks, Full Tilt represents not only the band’s fourth overall release, but their first live album ever – showcasing the blues rockers in what many fans consider to be their element – a live, in-your-face club performance.
Full Tilt was released this past Friday, April 26th in high style, as The Muggs rocked the Magic Bag in their hometown Detroit, Michigan as part of a celebratory CD release party.
Over the years, we’ve seen The Muggs several times in different bars across the metro-Detroit area, as well as having been lucky enough to catch them at Sala Sol in Madird, Spain on their 2012 “Born Ugly” European tour. To us, it’s obvious the three-piece (Danny Methric – guitar, Tony DeNardo – rhodes bass, Todd Glass – drums) has a special sound, with three down-n-dirty, blues-based rockin’ albums - The Muggs (2005), On With the Show (2008), Born Ugly (2011). However, when you see the band live, you truly realize the power of their music.
The songs gain their own personality when played live. Everything sounds louder (without losing a bit of quality). The riffs become raunchier. The intros get extended. The solos last longer but leave fans wanting more. The drums and baselines pound relentlessly, almost offsetting your heart beat. Perhaps the best two words to describe a Muggs show are “raw” and “energetic,” and that’s exactly what fans encounter when listening to this Full Tilt live recording!
We were lucky enough to catch up with bassist Tony Denardo (Tonymuggs) and drummer Todd Glass for a lengthy interview about the band, their newest release, their upcoming Spanish and European tour, Tony’s solo album, as well as many other topics.
Below is the first part of our five-segment candid interview with The Muggs regarding new album Full Tilt:
So, The Muggs have finally recorded and released a live album, which will showcase them in what many consider to be their natural environment – the energy-filled world of a live performance. What made the band decide to record a live album?
Tonymuggs: Our fans!!!! Our fans across the world have been saying to us for years, “You know, yer stage presence and live show is so much fun and energetic, you should really consider recording a live LP.” Initially, we only planned on making a single full length album. But when we heard the entire concert, all 22 songs, it was much harder to decide which songs would NOT make the final cut. Dannymuggs [singer/guitarist Danny Methric] had the brilliant idea of the double album. Our songs are not your typical 2 1/2 minutes songs. In retrospect, it HAD to be a double album. Every song on Full Tilt is interesting. The Rory Gallagher songs turned out amazing too. All in all, I hope Full Tilt puts us in a league of our own and tells the world, these three guys, these five hands can make some serious music!
Todd: It’s my favorite record with the band. It truly represents what we do, it’s that simple. A great night at our home club with all of our friends and supporters, a few cocktails and a great engineer by the name of Jim Kissling. Jim is really the hero of this record for me, he’s truly the best at what he does. I’m hoping the next record of new material is recorded this way. Maybe set up at the Cadieux and just run the tunes down and be done. It’s how most of the music I love was made anyway.
We can’t wait to get our paws on the live Full Tilt album (hopefully you’ll have a few for sale on the Spanish tour). It was recorded at Cadieux Café in Detroit, Michigan. Why was that venue chosen as opposed to a more traditional rock club?
Tonymuggs: Because of our unique history tied to the Cadieux first of all. Danny and I both worked there as bus boys in our high school years. One of our best friends, Andy Misuraca, known as the Miz, his family owns the Cadieux Cafe. In our early twenties, we’d hang out there. The Cadieux hosted a Hootenanny on Sunday nights and that’s is where Danny and I got the courage to start getting up on stage and performing. By 1996, Danny was working as a bartender at Cadieux and still holds residency as the oldest employee. Then there’s the ‘family’ aspect. Ron Devos, aka Uncle Bunky and Paul Misuraca own the Cadieux Cafe. There are like family. I’m in a WEEN tribute band with Paul and Andy Misuraca. Add in the fact that Cadieux has allot of wood interior and carpet which makes the acoustics desirable. The last show before my stroke was at the Cadieux Cafe. I had a fundraiser at the Cadieux in December 2002 in which I raised over $10,000 in one night. When I returned to the Muggs with my Fender Rhodes Bass, the very first show back was at……..guess where? Cadieux Cafe. It is without a doubt, my favorite bar and the Muggs second home.
How special was it to record the live album there, in a non-traditional music venue full of history and so closely tied to The Muggs?
Tonymuggs: Very special to me, Danny and Todd. It was like playing for your friends in a basement party. I was so comfortable playing that night. Todd and I really locked in and Danny….he’s always other-worldly. 200+ Muggs fans packed in to the Cadieux. I’m so proud of our fans too. They were so very respectful of the Cadieux and waited patiently for their drinks and lines for the bathrooms. Our fans rule!
How was the crowd that night? Revved up I bet.
Tonymuggs: I was just getting to that in my last answer. The crowd was electric. We feed off our crowds. They bring the best musicianship out of us when we sense a connection with our fans. We like doing special things for our fans. We came up with numbered tickets for the show and we had our graphic artist, Jason Seaman design the numbered tickets to correspond to a numbered and signed poster, limited edition of course. That was our way of saying thanks to our fans for making this sold out event so special.
Is there a favorite track on the album?
Tonymuggs: CD1 “6 To Midnite”, “Born Ugly” “Mississippi Sheiks”. CD2 “Get It On”, “Never Know Why”, “Said & Done”, “Monster”, and “Doc Mode”.
Todd: Right now I’m digging “Doc Mode” the most.
Do any songs stand out in particular?
Tonymuggs: Every song has it’s charm. I’m inside it too much to have an unbiased opinion.
As previously alluded to, Full Tilt is a double album featuring 22 songs from their three original releases: The Muggs (2005), On With the Show (2008), Born Ugly (2011). So, what you get is an album full of the “best of the best” of what The Muggs have to offer, plus covers paying trubute to their favorite artists, like Rory Gallagher‘s “Used to Be.”
The double LP is available for digital download and in physical CD format, and can be bought here.
Full Tilt tracklisting:
- 6 To Midnite
- Sturm Und Drang
- Hats Off To Mr. Beardsley
- I Take What I Want
- Need Ya Baby
- Born Ugly
- Mississippi Sheiks
- Notes from Underground
- Dear Theo
- Preachin’ Blues / Help!
- Slow Curve
- Leanin’ Blues
- Used to Be
- Get It On
- Never Know Why
- Down Below
- Said & Done
- Kitchen Sink Blues
- How Do You Sleep?
- “Monster
- Gonna Need My Help
- Doc Mode
A special vinyl version has been relased via Bellyache Records with only 500 copies being printed worldwide.
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Follow our entire five-part feature on The Muggs:
- The Muggs Interview Part 1: The Muggs Release Live Album ‘Full Tilt!’.
- The Muggs Interview Part 2: Getting to Know The Muggs.
- The Muggs Interview Part 3: 2013 Spanish and European Tour.
- The Muggs Interview Part 4: Tony DeNardo is DUDE.
- The Muggs Interview Part 5: Rapid Fire Questions.
Black Sabbath Expands 2013 Reunion Tour with More U.S. Dates!
It is indeed a Happy Friday with news that legendary and pioneering metal band Black Sabbath have added a bunch of new shows to their 2013 World Tour.
The new concerts were announced last night and fit right in between the previously announced tour dates.
Lucky cities on Sabbath‘s trek include:
Complete Black Sabbath tour dates and tickets.
Black Sabbath have spent the past week playing New Zealand and Australia and everything we’ve read seems nothing but positive. The band sounds as tight as over, playing with energy, and Ozzy is hitting the mark on vocals. As Faster Louder claims, “Ozzy may look like a granny running for a bus but Sabbath still rock…”
Take a look at their most recent setlist, from last nights gig at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (via Faster Louder):
- War Pigs
- Into the Void
- Under the Sun
- Snowblind
- Electric Funeral
- Black Sabbath
- Behind the Wall of Sleep
- N.I.B.
- End of the Beginning
- Fairies Wear Boots
- Symptom of the Universe (Instrumental)
- Drum Solo
- Iron Man
- God Is Dead?
- Dirty Women
- Children of the Grave
- Paranoid
Watch Black Sabbath play “War Pigs” live at the Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand:
