From the Desk of the Pres
Well, here we are with our second issue of CV SouthWest Magazine. I cannot tell you how excited the team here at CV WorldWide is about becoming a part of the Las Vegas music scene; I have met so many amazing musicians already who play their hearts out in support of LOCAL music that it’s truly awe-inspiring to be allowed to work with them and support their efforts.
This month the Mag features Vegas icon Stoney Curtis, a blues legend with no equal. To Stoney, we add Michigan rockers WAYLAND, local guitar hero Jerry Vayne (from Outta the Black) as his alter-ego, the Haunt Rocker, more News You Can Use (always interesting and relevant), an incredible photo collage by our friend Mystic Photography of Adrenaline Mob, and another feature from our partner about the town, Kevin Lastovica. Kevin also gives us the skinny on the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - congratulations to the 1980’s! CV SouthWest is honored to be present in Vegas, we are proud to support YOUR LOCAL music scene, and look forward to the future where we will be providing you with interesting stories, great advice, killer concert photos, and anything else we can fit in these pages.
CV Northwest Magazine Locally Owned / Nationally Known Contact Us - Info@cvworldwidemagazine.com CV SOUTHWEST MAGAZINE © 2012-13 is published monthly and NO reproduction of content is permitted without Publisher’s prior approval. Publisher assumes no financial responsibility for the errors in ads beyond the cost of space occupied by error; a correction will be printed. Publisher is not liable for: any slandering of an individual, or group as we mean no malice or individual criticism at any time; nor are we responsible for the opinions or comments of our columnists; and promises, coupons, or lack of fulfillment from advertisers who are solely responsible for the content of their ads. Publisher is also to be held harmless from: failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond control; all suits, claims or loss of expenses; this includes but is not limited to, suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a persons name or photograph.
Cover Photo by JoAnna Jackson
<CV SW> Okay, we know you're the MAN, but let's give some love to your posse, tell us who else is in the band, and their role.
The local band that I use in Las Vegas is Barry Barnes on Bass and Shon McKee on Drums. I've also used Jeff Tortora recently and some others. I've been lucky enough now to have met some of the most amazing musicians that help me take my music to its highest level. The musicians on my last 2 records (Cosmic Conn3ction and LIVE) are Steve Evans on Bass (Steve is a monster player who plays with many international blues musicians including Chris Cain and Coco Montoya) and on Drums is Aaron Haggerty. They are both from Northern California…monsters!
<CV SW> How long have you been playing guitar, and do you play any other instruments?
I've been playing the guitar since I was 12 years old. I do love to play the drums, bass and make noise on keyboards.And I love the kazoo!!.
<CV SW> Where did the name come from?
The name came from the Flintstones. When I started the band, many years ago, I started it as a Blues band. The singer I had at the time was a big Flintstones fan. When we discussed naming the band, he suggested that Blues bands are usually just the name of the main guy. Well, Feliszak isn't
ThereisNOdiscussingVegasguitarlegendswithoutmentionStoneyCurtis,simpleasthat.
StoneyCurtishasbeenpackingthehousesall throughouttheVegasforyears...butnotjustintheCity ofSin,he’sbeenplayingtofullcapacityalloverthe world.
StoneyCurtishasbeencalledavirtuoso,aguitar manwithatruegift...hiseffortlessplaying,passionfor blues,andhisstagepresencearesomethingtobehold. Heisinanotherworldonstage,intenseinthemoment, grabbingholdofhisaudienceandcapturingtheirimagination.
Ifyouhaven’tcaughtaStoneyCurtisshow, you’remissingoneofthetreatsofVegasmusic.
the coolest Rock Star name (CV SW: I’m not sure about “Cary Granite” either). So, he suggested Stoney Curtis, me being Curtis, people just figured it was me, it stuck and here we are.
<CV SW> When was the moment when you got hooked on the six string, when you decided "this is what I want to do!"
I'm lucky enough to have a brother and sister that are 9 and 12 years older than me. My sister was a big music fan who turned me onto Motown and rock music. My brother was into (at the time) Floyd, Zeppelin, etc. 70's Rock. We had one of his friends living with us at the time, this was
back in Chicago. He gave me KISS Destroyer when I was about 9 years old. Listening to that guitar and that music, with the visual, I was hooked. I've been a junkie ever since.
<CV SW> The band has been in existence for several years, tell us about the process of finding the right group of people. Actually, I released my first record for Shrapnel in 2005. I was signed by Mike Varney in '04. I have had the Stoney Curtis Band since the mid 90's. I have gone through many players. Charlie Glover and Colby Smith are the original guys I had in the band during the recording of the first 2 records, Acid Blues Experience and Raw & Real. Finding great players is an ongoing process. I've been lucky enough the past few years to have met and played with many. I love great players. I continue to try to get better, and I like playing with cats that push me to be the best I can be. But it's all about chemistry.
<CV SW> What do you feel is the strength of this lineup as opposed to prior ones (if any)?
Well, the guys I play with now are just better players for what I do. More experience, chops, etc. We've all advanced.
Mike Varney is always pushing me to play with the top of the heap, so I've been trying to do that and not settle. The more I network, the more my music gets out there, the more killer performances, the more players that seek you out to play with you. It's a good feeling, but again, it's a lot of work. And you got to show up, every time you
make any kind of appearance. You gotta deliver the goods, it‟s pressure but in a positive way.
<CV SW> Who are your musical influences?
Everybody that makes art. To be honest, I have so many influences, so many different styles and players that I love, it would be hard to say “well, this guy and this guy”. If I have to lay some of them out. Robin Trower, Ace Frehley, SRV, Jimmy Page, Michael Schenker, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, BB King, Ernie Isley, Albert King, Travers, Black Crows, KISS, UFO, Priest, Maiden, Floyd, Zeppelin, etc. There‟s just so many. I love great singers and balladeers as well. And of course, many not so big name guys. And really, everyone I hear and see has an influence. I just love all of it.
<CV SW> When you drive down the highway, who is on your playlist?
Depends on the mood. Again, I love everything from Elvis to Zeppelin to Neil Diamond to Iron Maiden to Isley Brothers to Robert Johnson, Waylon Jennings. etc. <CV SW> Did he just say “Neil Diamond”?
<CV SW> Which of your songs speaks personally to you?
Well, they all do in one way or another. I wrote them, so they have some meaning to me. I write from the heart and what I feel.
<CV SW> What about your music do you think appeals to people?
It's music from the heart and soul. I deliver it with conviction, I believe it, I live it.
<CV SW> What do you hope to accomplish as a band, and with your music?
To continue on this journey. I love making music. I've been blessed to be able to do this for a living. I want to continue to grow as an artist, a player, singer, performer and song writer. I'd like to get into working with other artist as well.
<CV SW> What do you want people to think & feel when they attend a Stoney Curtis show?
Absolute power and energy. I want people to be blown away. I want people to walk out of there and go. "WOW".
<CV SW> Tell us about one of your most memorable shows.
Hmmm. Yeah, so many. Just recently playing with Jeff Tortora on drums was nuts. He's just a beast. Playing festivals in Europe, some shows in London were big for me. Hard to pin point. But, I like to think they're all memorable. Most great, some that just make you laugh and go… what the hell was that?.
<CV SW> What inspires you when your write music?
Life... Or just a bad ass guitar riff!
<CV SW> What is going through your mind when you are on stage, the lights are bright, and the crowd is jammin’.
When I'm on, I'm not thinking of anything. I go into my world and just create.
<CV SW> You were featured on "Rockpalast" in Europe (Germany), tell us about that experience.
That was a huge honor. We were on our 2nd tour of Europe on the Acid Blues Experience record and were invited to do the show. It's a HUGE show in Europe and the longest running music show on TV, about 40 years now. Everyone who is anyone has done the Palast. Just a great honor. They show a whole hour of the concert. Just unbelievable exposure.
<CV SW> What do you think are some of the differences in fans from Europe vs fans in the US?
That's always a tough question. I just think, some people get it and some don't, it doesn't matter what part of the world you're in. They either dig your style and music or they don‟t. But I seem to do OK. I do have a large audience in Europe, but I'm selling a lot in Japan now, doing better in USA too. So, it's all on an upswing right now and I'm so happy that the hard work is paying off.
<CV SW> Growing up in the South Side, what was the epiphany that said "I need to move to LA to pursue my music"?
I always had the California dream, moving to LA and pursuing music. But, it just kinda fell into place. My mother was moving west, she ended up in Phoenix, and I had to make a choice to stay in Chicago or do whatever. I chose to take the chance and I went for it. I moved to Los Angeles 2 weeks after my 19th birthday. I've been in the west since. I moved to Las Vegas permanently about 2 years ago. I love it here. I've really
embraced Vegas and it has embraced me. After coming here for around 12 years to do gigs, it's now my home.
<CV SW> Talk to us about influence of BB King in your music and inspiration to play the blues.
I was young teen when I met the blues. I was at Chicago Fest. As I was leaving the grounds after catching a rock show, I passed by the Blues stage. BB King was playing. I stopped dead in my tracks and thought to myself. What is that!? It was my introduction to my birth right and my blood. Chicago. Blues. YES!! I have been a Blues junkie since. BB King is in everything I do.
<CV SW> The Joe Bonamassa website called you "The best Blues/Rock Power Trio in the World!" - does that intimidate or inspire you? What does that say about all the sweat and hard work over the years?
It was very flattering, humbling and inspir-
ing. I try to live up to that every time I walk onto a stage. Some may know or not know. I've been doing this a long time. I was doing this kind of Blues Rock since the late 80's. long before a lot of other guys. Anews paper in Austria once said “It's the greatest fusion of Hard Rock and Chicago Blues ever” I don't buy into much of that stuff, BUT it does give you the drive to get better and be the best you can be.
<CV SW> You were included on "Burnin Blues Shuffles" alongside heavyweights Leslie West, Pat Travers, Michael Schenker, tell us what that means to you.
It's strange to think these are label mates of mine. They are my heroes. Mike Varney including me on the compilation is a great honor and humbling experience. I'm forever grateful for his belief in me.
<CV SW> After all these years, how do you keep it fresh and exciting?
I never rest on my laurels. I always strive to get better and better in every aspect of the game.
<CV SW> Tell us about the support of your better half, how has she stood by you all this time, and what does it mean to you?
The best thing to ever happen to me. She is my rock. She has never stopped pushing me to strive for the best. She is much more outgoing than myself. I'm very shy and reserved. She forces me to get out there and network. When I'm
down, she gets me up. We are a team and the only team we need. She rode my ass during the recording of the LIVE record and made me get out there and kick ass. She is very bright and observant. She sees things for what they really are. I love her to death. At the end of the DVD and on the LIVE record it says. "You're my whole world Jacque Bleu". I mean it.
<CV SW> Tell us about Count’s 77…it’s a new project, what can we expect?
I love this band. We came together about a year and half ago. We are working on originals and plan on recording an album; there is so much going on with this band. We just filmed a show at VAMP'D for Danny's TV show on HISTORY called COUNTING CARS. We're going to be on the show. It's really taking off. Great tight band. 70's Rock n Roll. We lay it out!!! We have a lot of shows coming up around the country for the rest of year, might take it international. I'm just enjoying the ride. It has opened my vocabulary as a player and performer. I love being in the band. I just get to be the lead guitarist and rock! Danny is such a strong personality, it's so much fun to back him up and continue to grow as a unit. One of the many things I admire about Danny is his ability to surround himself with people that are really good at what they do. I believe the members of COUNT'S 77 are really good at what they do. It's an amazing show!!
<CV SW> How strong do you feel the Vegas band scene is these days?
Totally on the rise. Incredible music scene here. Everyone supports each other and it seems we have just the most amazing players here. More and more keep coming and moving here every day. Vegas is the capital of the west for music
now. “Time to get on board folks.” And with clubs like Vamp'd, it's just the place to be for music nowadays. I love it here and I'm so happy to be a part of the Las Vegas community.
<CV SW> Where do you go from here, what’s the big news and your plans for 2013?
Looking to do another STONEY CURTIS record, do some touring in the US and Europe. We have a Japanese label that is working with Shrapnel now and they have my last 2 records out on P-Vine, I'd like to get over to Japan too. But, I'm going to continue doing the STONEY CURTIS thing and also expand and do some things with other artists as well. Should be a big couple years coming up. Hard earned, so I'm going to enjoy the ride. I've also been working with a gentleman out of Arizona that is working on moving my career along and get some other things going for me.
LIKE him @ https://www.facebook.com/STONEYCURTISBANDpage FIND him @ http://www.reverbnation.com/thestoneycurtisband
Photos courtesy of JoAnna Jackson, Leah Burlington, Kevin Lastovica, & Darrell Craig Harris
ForeverGirl Designs
Not only is she the ass-kickin’ frontwoman for WITCHBURN, she’s also a talented picture ARTIST! Jamie Nova allowed us to talk to her about her personal art pieces and showcase some of her incredible work! We also got to delve a bit into her artistic mind...
CVNW: Why do you paint, what is your inspiration? I have always loved painting. getting lost in the colors and the feel of my brush against a canvas. It is an extension of my soul, like my music. My inspiration is life, the vitality of existence.
CVNW: Do you sell them personally, or as an official company? I sell them personally, through my Etsy site (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ ForevergirlDesigns) and also on my website (www.jamienovarocks.com)
CVNW: How do you decide what to paint? Most of the time it is whatever inspires me that day or whatever my mood is. There are a lot of times that I have pieces commissioned and then I work with the buyer as to what inspires them and then I incorporate their ideas into my style.
CVNW: Are they usuable drums or display pieces?
The drumheads are for display only but I have been commissioned to paint some Kick Drum front pieces that will display my art without taking a beating from the drumsticks
CVNW: Do you do special commissions? Absolutely! Canvas, drumheads, wall murals, t-shirt designs, tattoo designs.... you name it I will do it!
Turning old instruments intoart!
Instrument Art is something Terry at Guinner Graphix has been doing for years for many people that have a love for instruments. Terry has found, since being back in California, that local music stores have a endless source of instruments to bring back to life. He will personalize your drums, guitars, and any instrument you
have. He is currently working on a Mandolin Jewelry Box, a custom base for a member of the all-female band Zepparella, a commemorative CV WorldWide guitar, and somebody even asked him to do something with their piano! He can make a piece of furniture out of an unusable or
unwanted instruments, hedoes it all.
Terry has now expanded his repertoire to include different instruments, everything from mandolins to guitars of all kinds, making custom pic guards and head stock art. He is constantly on the go, working with different vendors and personalities to generate great art pieces, manyforcharities
In Terry‟s words; “to be able to save these drums and unwanted instruments or cherished mementos and see the appreciative faces of the people for whom I have made them is what truly makes me happy. I‟m excited to say that Drumiture has many new clients contacting me daily, and the donations of numerous unwanted instruments, which I see as „unfinished art‟, is helping me make my dream come true.”
Terry‟s hope has always been to work with many wonderful people in many creative and unique ways, and in accomplishing that he is living his dream. He loves to save vintage or valuable drums in any way, using them to make individual, personal, one-of-akind pieces, his skill and perfection borne of his love of drums and art. Saving drums, meeting great people, helping those in need, and creating some very unique drum furniture is, to Terry, his life‟s calling, and one can see the passion and skill in his work.
Always On Tour!
WAYLAND...hailing from the great state of Michigan, gives definition to the old saying “the hardest working band in show business”. The band’s motto “Always on Tour” is the way the live their lives...they have been on the road since January 2012 taking barely a week off, but with the goal of bringing their talent, energy, and incredible music to the US and their fans.
CV WorldWide first saw them at the NAMM JAM in Anaheim, and became an instant fan! But the road is a hard one, and although they love their life, the band values their rest time...the Mag had a change to talk to Mitch Arnold, lead singer, during a well deserved break in the tour...
<CV WW> Band interview questions 101: tell us who’s in the band, and their role.
MitchArnold – Vocals (& guitar)
Phill Vilenski – Lead Guitar
Dean Pizzazz – Bass
Tyler Coburn – Drums
<CV WW> How did the current lineup come about, tell us about getting this group of 4 together in the band.
Phill Vilenski and I have been playing music together since we met when we were 18. We actually started playing acoustic music on the streets for money in Huntington Beach, CA. At the time, I had never been in a band before and Phill vowed that he would never be in a band again. We eventually wanted to get louder. Both of us were listening to a lot of The Black Crows, Zeppelin, Blues Travelers, The Beatles, Stones… I can‟t say or remember if we were into modern or current music back then. Either way, all the bands we admired were loud with slamming drums, ripping guitars and wailing vocals. We decided to make the jump and began playing with musicians we knew around town. We spent a lot of time playing with other line ups…people there in LA, transplants from Michigan…well, almost everyone in LA is a transplant from somewhere but some of them are actually lifelong residents of California. We had a couple of roommates and
one of them was Dean Pizzazz. I‟ve lived with him since I graduated high school and he came to every show that we played. There came a time when our bass player was done playing shows and wanted to make the move back to the Midwest and knowing that Dean had studied ragtime guitar growing up, we asked him to quit his job, learn the bass guitar and join the band. Dean Pizzazz has been our bass player ever since….always will be.
We spent years looking for the right drummer. We auditioned probably a hundred drummers and played a lot of awkwardly tense shows. Tyler Coburn was living in Middleville, MI at the time. He got word that a rock band in LA was looking for a drummer and checked out the material. He contacted us with interest in coming out to audi-
tion. After going through all the auditions we could tell by the way a drummer set up his drums whether he was going to cut it or not.
Second test… an auditioning drummer would get past the set up and hit his snare drum. One pop and we would know. With that in mind we didn‟t want Tyler to fly out to LA, set his drums up and us knowing he wasn‟t going to work. We suggested he video tape himself playing our songs on the drums and send us the tape. He set up a PA in a room, and played our entire record on the drums with our songs blasting through the PA. He also spoke into the camera, introducing himself. Tyler is one of the kindest people I know and his charm and personality shined on the video. Needless to say he made the grade and the four of us have been together playing rock n‟ roll for over 7 years. When Ty joined, we were called Whiskey Circus.
<CV WW> What do you feel is the strength of this lineup as opposed to prior ones?
The strength of this lineup is far and beyond any other group of people I‟ve played with. We all have our faults, but the four of us bring out each other‟s strengths and we all love making music together very much. It also helps playing as much as we do. Wayland played 332 shows last year, took 6 days off at Christmas and returned to the road this year, January 3rd. A band gets really tight playing that many shows together.
<CV WW> Where did the name come from (our readers might not be familiar with your
hometown)?
We named ourselves Wayland after Phill‟s hometown. We wanted a name that represented blue collar America, hard-working families from the great state of Michigan. Originally, I am from Bloomington, IN but the rest of the guys are from Michigan and we all live there…well, to clarify, we store stuff in a small apartment in Grand Rapids but that‟s where we call home. In 2010 we had just got finished recording our 4 song EP “Welcome To My Head” and we all felt like we needed a fresh start. We decided we wanted to go on the road but we were going to tour out of Michigan instead of LA. We had never had a big release before so we thought it was a perfect time to change the name. We arrived in Michigan and asked to carry the torch of middle America. We‟ve had the privilege of keeping that fire lit ever since.
<CV WW> Who are your musical influences? When you drive down the highway, who is on your playlist?
We all listen to different stuff. Generally, we all love Shinedown, The Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Audioslave, anything Jack White touches, Green Day, Kid Rock, blues based hard hitting, slamming life changing rock n‟ roll, STP, Foxy Shazzam, Royal Bliss….that list is pretty general and across the entire board. Personally, as a kid I was influenced by singer song writer Marc Cohn, the band Journey and Zeppelin. Right now I‟m listening to a lot of
Mumford & Sons, they are incredible song writers and have two records I can listen to front to back, which is rare these days. I‟m listening to the new
Imagine Dragons record, and of course everyone else I‟ve already mentioned. But I have to confess I secretly listen to Taylor Swift. I think she is incredibly talented and though some people might give me shit for this, bottom line is she writes great songs with memorable melodies about real life feelings. She‟s relatable and what she sings about you can touch. I admire that. That‟s what I love about the music I love…you can reach out and touch it.
<CV WW> Tell us about Wayland's first show...standing there in the dark, hearing your name announced, what was that like?
Our first show as Wayland was at The Mint in LA. That stage has been graced by Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and the Wallflowers to name a few. We were playing a lot of shows there when we lived in LA. We worked well with the promoter and had a good draw. I can‟t say I remember what it felt like before that show. I thought of things differently back then so I couldn‟t say.
<CV WW> Tell us about one of your most memorable shows.
We played with Shinedown at the NAMM show this year. I think all of us will never forget that.
<CV WW> Well, yeah, on your
site you say "sounds like"...and list some serious bands, including Shinedown...and there you are on the bill with Shinedown at NAMM Jam, how did that feel?
Incredible. We were invited to open for them because we share a guitar, bass and drum endorsement with them. Dean and I play Dean guitars and Tyler plays DDrums. Wayland became a part of that amazing roster early this year. They saw us as a band on the rise and wanted us on the show. We had no problem accepting.
<CV WW> Which of your songs speaks personally to you?
The song “On My Knees,” speaks to me every night that we play it. The subject matter is almost always applicable in a life on the road and sonically I love how it sounds.
<CV WW> What about your music do you think appeals to people?
People connect with our music because our music is, to use an earlier word, touchable. We want to be a band of the people, a voice for the people to fucking let it out! Cut loose, have a
great time at a rock show and let it the fuck out. We write lyrics that are a part of our lives. It‟s real. I think people relate to that.
<CV WW> Your 4 song EP came out in 2011, but being on tour like you have, how many more originals do you have in the hopper for
a follow up?
Phill and I have been writing a lot lately. We‟ve got about 20 new songs written. We‟re going to finish up writing in June and in the middle of 2013 we plan on releasing a full length album. Of course plans will change and get bigger as the year goes on but other plans consist of staying on the road. We are always on tour.
<CV WW> You guys have been on tour across the US since Jan 2012, and seemingly zero plans to stop, how has life on the road been to you guys? I know it goes along with your slogan "always on tour", but it can't be THAT easy...
We‟ve been on the road since January 5th 2012. Last year, we played 332 shows. We toured a lot in 2011 as well but we really pulled the roots up at the beginning of the year last year. You have to love doing this to keep it up. It‟s not always a big party and it‟s the hardest work I‟ve ever done in my life. If a band doesn‟t love touring like this, they will fall apart playing this many shows out on the road. It‟s hardly ever comfortable and you have to be ready for anything. You might be sleeping on the floor of a closet, on a bench seat inside the van or a sofa. If you‟re super lucky, everyone gets a soft spot to sleep on but it doesn‟t happen often. We have incredible support out on the road and a lot of times we stay with friends. We‟re lucky in the sense that we have a lot of people in America that help a lot like that. There are four band members and two crew guys so when someone takes us in to house and feed us
that‟s six grown men they are taking on. That can be a lot. There is something new every day. You‟re playing a different club every night and in front of a different crowd. You have to learn to be adaptable, flexible, positive, and you have to understand when it‟s time to step up and kick fucking ass when you just might not feel like it. We call it pulling from our toes. It‟s a beautiful life but it is far from glamorous. We love the road.
<CV WW> "Welcome to my Head" is a kick ass song, heard across the US on radio stations, how does it feel to hear YOURSELF on the radio?
It‟s a joy to hear your song on the radio. We‟ve heard our songs on the radio a thousand times in a hundred cities. We all still get a kick out of it and crank it up where ever we are. It‟s like being a proud parent. “Hey! Listen to my kid!!” Your songs are your babies…they are our children.
<CV WW> The band is always touring, but is active on social media like Facebook (VERY active, which is great) - how do you think that social media has changed the musical game for Wayland?
A lot of people knock social media and complain about the hype. I do believe we as humans need to balance it a little better and rely more on actual human interaction rather than so-
cial media to communicate, but it has made our music and our band 100% accessible. It‟s a very clear window into our world and our music. That‟s why we stay so active on it.
<CV WW> You're also ranked #1 on Rock on ReverbNation, what sense of accomplishment does that give you, and how does it motivate you for the future?
Being ranked #1 on ReverbNation is an honor for all of us, but honestly there are so many bands and so many bands that not many people have heard about that we look up to very much. I‟m not sure how a band gets ranked on that but it‟s humbling for us. If you look too long at your latest accomplishment, one tends to forget about the work that is left to do. We have a long way to go and a lot of work to do.
<CV WW> You've been described as "Michigan's Hottest Rock n Roll export"...considering that there are some heavy hitters in that conversation (Teg Nugent, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper just to name a few)...what does a statement like that mean to the band? Those are some pretty big acts to fol-
low, does praise like that intimidate you or make you nervous?
It‟s an honor to even be named with the other bands that have come out of Michigan. If anything, it‟s given us as a band a sense of responsibility to not only represent our state with grace but to carry the torch of rock n‟ roll. We‟re not trying to live up to anyone‟s expectations, we‟re just trying to move forward and be better every day. If we can keep doing that, then I think America will keep letting us carry that torch.
<CV WW> Where do you guys feel you are in terms of the "evolution" of Wayland?
It‟s hard to even see the evolution of our band let alone seeing us currently evolve. It‟s like being in the eye of the storm. We‟re always trying to out do ourselves so we learn from bands that we look up to so we can push ourselves. Every once in a while I‟ll see a video and say, “Holy shit, look at that. Wayland has really come a long way and changed a lot over the years.” We have to keep growing, evolution will come with positive growth.
<CV WW> What do you hope to accomplish as a band, and with your music?
We want to write music for people to connect to. We want to play shows for people to cut loose and have a good, positive time at and we want to spread this feeling of freedom all over the world and to whoever wants to listen. Ultimately, I want to write music that people hear that
makes them want to be better people. When a song makes me want to be better, I usually hang on to that song forever. Music is forever.
<CV WW> Are you guys at a point where you see the light at the end of the "touring tunnel", maybe think about getting ready to record a full album?
Light at the end of the tunnel would just be to keep seeing this grow. For Wayland to
"PREPARING
play with bigger bands and headline bigger shows. Sure, it‟s great to take time off but all of us get a little anxious off the road.
<CV WW> Where do you go from here, what’s the big news and your plans for 2013?
We are taking a week in May to catch our breath and during the summer we‟ll finish writing our full length record and should have a full album released this fall. Find them @ www.WaylandtheBand.com
Gear the Pros Use!
I really love all of my TAMA drum kits, and have been a huge fan and owner of TAMA drums for many years. My newest addition is the TAMA "Silverstar" all birch set. It's a really well crafted kit that sounds great right out of the box! For it's size, it's a VERY big sounding kit that lends itself to virtually any style/application- I LOVE it!
On another note, I'm really excited about the Vic Firth "Danny Carey" signature drumsticks. They were recommended to me by good friend and amazing drummer, Paul DiSibio (Count's 77, John Zito Band, The Crush). After playing several shows with them, I'm SO hooked on these sticks, they ROCK!
Lastly, I'd have to say after moving to Las Vegas a little over a year ago - this town ROCKS. There are always great bands to see, jams happening- the music scene is blowing up. The camaraderie amongst players here is amazing. From fans and friends alike, the support is massive... it's like Hollywood back in the day, and there's no place I would rather be right now.
Cheers, Danny Robert - Drummer (Independent)
SMALL VENUE KIT:
TAMA "Silverstar" (Birch) in "Sky Blue Sparkle"
22" x 18" Bass Drum
12" x 9" Rack Tom
14" x 12" Floor Tom
16" x 14" Floor Tom
6.5" x 14" Pork Pie "Big Black" Brass Snare Drum
CYMBALS:
14" Sabian HHX "Manhattan Groove" Hi Hats
16" Paiste Alpha "Medium" Crash
18" Paiste Alpha "Medium" Crash
22" Paiste Alpha "Rock" Ride
18" Wuhan "China" Type
HARDWARE:
TAMA "Roadpro" Snare / Cymbal Stands
TAMA "Iron Cobra" (single) Kick Pedal Pork Pie "Round" Drum Throne
STICKS:
Vic Firth "Danny Carey" Signature Drumsticks
HEADS:
Bass Drum: Remo "Powerstroke Pro" Clear
Snare: Aquarian "Hi-Energy" Batter
Toms: Remo "Pinstripe" Clear
MISCELLANEOUS:
LP "Bell Diablo" Cowbell
LP "Cyclops" Tambourine Puresound snare wire(s)
Road Runner Cases / Bags
Back Up Snare (Live): 5" x 14" Tama "Silverstar" Snare Drum
LARGE VENUE KIT:
TAMA "Starclassic" (Maple) in "Dark Cherry Fade"
24" x 16" Bass Drum
13" x 12" Rack Tom
16" x 16" Floor Tom
18" x 16" Floor Tom
6.5" x 14" Pork Pie "Big Black" Brass Snare Drum
CYMBALS:
14" Sabian HHX "Manhattan Groove" Hi Hats
13" Sabian AA "El Sabor Salsa" Splash
14" Zildjian "A Custom" Splash
18" Paiste Alpha "Medium" Crash
20" Paiste Alpha "Medium" Crash
22" Paiste Alpha "Rock" Ride
18" Wuhan "China" Type
HARDWARE:
PDP Rack System / Tama Roadpro Stands
TAMA "Iron Cobra" (single) Kick Pedal
Pork Pie "Round" Drum Throne
STICKS:
Vic Firth "Danny Carey" Signature Drumsticks
HEADS:
Bass Drum: Remo "Powerstroke Pro" Clear
Snare: Aquarian "Hi-Energy" Batter
Toms: Remo "Pinstripe" Clear
MISCELLANEOUS:
LP "Bell Diablo" Cowbell
LP "Cyclops" Tambourine
Road Runner Cases / Bags
Back Up Snare (Live):
5" x 14" Tama (Vintage) Imperialstar "King Beat" Snare
Gear the Pros Use!
In the 23 years since I first picked up the guitar, I’ve learned a lot...in years past I dragged around racks of gear thinking I had the right tone and setup. It turns out as I got older and wiser I came to the conclusion that the less shit you have the better. All that gear does not make you sound better - it makes you think you sound better. My personal choice is minimal FX through a vintage tube amp. The less you have between the guitar and amp the better it sounds to me. I'm a vintage tube amp guy and you can't convert me to the new solid state amps just yet. I prefer my tone a bit on the dark side with a touch of reverb. By the way, my live gear and studio gear are the same.
Guitar: 1957 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty - 3 pickups with a Bigsby tailpiece - I commissioned Gibson to build this guitar in 1997. It took them 6 months to finish it. Since then, it has been my #1 guitar. It's beat up and worn down, but plays like a dream. It's all solid mahogany with ebony fingerboard. I feel the mahogany wood adds to the deep tone. This is an official Historic Reissue model.
Volume Pedal: an Ibanez VL10 Volume Balancer which I just run mono on channel 1.
Guitar Effects: all my distortion is handled by the superbly incredible and versatile Suhr Riot pedal. I keep the voice switch in the middle and have my distortion at 2 o'clock, tone around 12 o'clock, and level around 10.8. I use the Pod XT Live for delay, reverb, and effects for some of our songs. I plan to replace the Line 6 with three stomp boxes to make things more simple. The Line 6 has more stuff on it than I need and I find it takes too much sound away in the path. I'm looking at purchasing the Paul Gilbert AF2, MXR Delay, and TC Hall of Fame Reverb.
Amp: 1967 Fender Bandmaster head: this amp has been in my family ever since my father purchased it in ‘67. We still have the original cab but I prefer a 4x12 instead of the original Fender 2x12 straight cab. I use the Fender head because of the clarity which resonates from it. It's vibrant and pure. I run through channel one with the bright switch to ON. Volume is usually around 5 for practice and live setting with mic. and I'm always messing with the other EQ knobs to get the right tone for the right place. Generally my settings are Bass 4 Mid 5 and Treble 6.
When I run this clean through a modern 4x12 it's not what you normally hear from a pristine-looking vintage Fender amp. It’s darker - a force to be reckoned with. And when I unleash the Riot pedal it thunders. This is something that I planned from the beginning when I joined Guillotine Necktie. It was a prefect compilation to the other musicians in the band. It balanced everything out.
Strings: my strings always have and will be Ernie Ball Super Slinky's (9’s). The exception is if I drop tune I will use Power Slinky's.
Picks: I prefer Moshay nylons in large .04's, but I will always use whatever I can get my hands on if it's not too flimsy.
Cables: I use a 30' monster cable from guitar to FX, but I'm not too picky about the rest; as long as they're well-made and reliable that works for me.
As you can see my gear layout is simple. I'm always looking for new cool effect pedals to replace older ones. I'm not a fast guitar player and I'm certainly not a technical player. I'm just me. It took me 23 years and cycling tens of thousands of dollars of gear to get where I am and I’m happy with that.
Keep it simple and have fun!
Gabe Nickelson
Guitarist - Guillotine Necktie
The Las Vegas local music scene was honored with the induction of the 1980's into the Las Vegas Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The second show in the last 3 years, with the 70's show held in 2011, the 80's was an over-the-top of the Who's Who of the Las Vegas local music scene. Celebrating, honoring, and reuniting the bands of the 80's, the show went a step further and honored the Las Vegas Promoters, Bookers, the Clubs and even the Roadies by inducting them into the Hall of Fame. With 20 bands performing over 2 days, it was a nonstop concert that seemed to last 24 hours. Venues like the Moby Grape, Shark Club, Captain America, Troubadour, Cracker's and a handful of others were honored and bar managers, owners, doormen, etc. were all on hand to partake in the festivities. Saturday's show was held at the infamous Tommy Rocker's and Sunday was held at the Cannery Hotel & Casino.
In association with Metro Arts, ALLPROCEEDS from the concerts & raffle will be going through the charity "IMAGINE" which provides musical instruments and supplies to the schools in Las Vegas and Clark Country whose music budgets have been decimated by the current economy.
https://www.facebook.com/messages/SinCityExaminer
10 Things Teens Should Know About Cars and Driving
When a teenager gets a driver license, it signifies freedom and the lure of the open road. But with this newfound freedom comes a host of new situations and possible problems that most teen drivers have never encountered before. It's a good idea to review these scenarios with new drivers in your family, and discuss how to handle them before they happen for real.
What to do when you're stopped by a police officer…
Safely pull to the side of the road, turn off your car, roll down the window and keep your hands visible. Don't make any sudden moves or argue with the officer. Do your arguing in traffic court.
How to deal with a flat tire...
Pull completely off the road, even if it means destroying the tire. Call roadside assistance and let that person change the tire. If you have a spare (many cars now only have an inflation kit) and know how to change the tire, make sure you are out of traffic and in plain sight of oncoming traffic before changing it yourself.
What to do when the "check engine" light comes on…
If there is any change in the car's performance, any mechanical noises, smoke from the tailpipe or electrical smells, stop the car and call for assistance. If there are none of these symptoms, take the car to a dealer and let them diagnose the problem. However, if you just bought gas, the light might just be indicating that the gas cap is loose. Tighten the cap and continue driving. The light should go off on its own.
How
to deal with a friend who is about to drive under the influence…
DO NOT get in the car. Do anything not to drive with an intoxicated person, and that includes calling your parents for a lift or paying for a taxi. Your next move is to try to prevent your drunken friend from hurting themselves or someone else.
How to drive safely while talking on a cell phone..
Most states ban all cell phone use by novice drivers, so be sure you know if these provisions apply where you live. If it's permissible to use a cell, always use a hands-free device so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Learn how to pair your phone with the car's Bluetoothsystem. Don't even think about texting while driving (no, not even at stoplights).
How to get an honest quote for an automotive repair…
Search Edmunds.com's Car Maintenance Guide or the Web to get an estimate for how much the repair should cost. Search online for garages with high customer ratings and ask friends for recommended garages. Call the garage
and ask for a ballpark estimate and let the garage know you are contacting other places for their best quote. Use your intuition to make the final decision on whom to trust.
How to buy a new car...
Don't just wander onto a dealership's car lot. Instead, contact the Internet department of several dealerships to get multiple quotes and compare these with Edmunds.com's True Market Value® price for any car you're interested in. Make sure you check incentives and rebates. Follow up with phone calls to the Internet managers of these dealerships to verify the terms of their offers. Finally, ask the dealership to deliver the car to your home or office to avoid the hard sell in the finance and insurance office.
What to do after an auto accident…
If the car is drivable and there are no serious injuries, turn on your flashers and pull safely out of traffic. Call the police to report the accident. Exchange insurance information with the other driver but refrain from discussing the accident and who is at fault. Make notes and use your cell phone's camera to take pictures of the cars involved.
How to drive in rain and snow...
Reduce your speed and leave more room between your vehicle and those in front of you. Understand how to handle skids. If possible, practice reacting to skidding in safe conditions, such as a snow-covered empty parking lot. Understand that a car might hydroplane on a rain puddle on the road and learn how to react to driving with reduced traction and visibility.
How to avoid road rage situations...
Understand the severe consequences to you, your car and your driving record when minor disagreements escalate to life-threatening situations.
When someone offends you, take a deep breath and know that your anger will dissolve in minutes. Don't anger other drivers by cutting them off or tailgating. If you've inadvertently angered another driver, don't get drawn into interacting with them. Ignore them or, if necessary, change your route. Finally, repeat this phrase: It's just not worth it.
Making a good pair of sticks begins by selecting the best wood possible. We manufacture many different models of sticks using Canadian maple and American hickory. Our maple is considered to be the best in the business and our hickory from the southern USA is known the world over as the top choice for stick manufacturing. We also use red hickory which comes from the heart of the tree, making it stronger and more durable for those who need a bit "more" from their sticks.
We use only the finest grades of wood. Every dowel is hand inspected to ensure that the grain is straight and free from any defects. Only then does it go to our lathes to be turned into a LOS CABOS DRUMSTICK. When you purchase a pair of our sticks, you are investing in quality craftsmanship. With nearly two dozen models to choose from, Los Cabos Drumsticks offers something for every drummer.
Contacts
• Website: www.loscabosdrumsticks.com
• Blog: www.loscabosdrumsticks.tumblr.com
• Twitter: @loscabossticks
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/loscabossticks
You know him as one of the guitarists for Outta the Black ( highlighted in last month’s issue of CV SouthWest) , but you might not know his dark secret. Also known as the “Haunt Rocker”, he has been a staple in the Haunted Attraction industry since 2006, after his piece “When Hinges Creak” was first aired on Rotting Flesh radio. We dug him up from his mausoleum to delve into his dark musical world...
<CV SW> When you and I first spoke, you mentioned the massive industry that is part of the “haunt culture”, tell our readers a little about it. It’s a massive industry, isn’t it?
Halloween is the 2nd largest holiday and the haunted house industry is a $1B dollar industry. We have our own convention season as well, usually starting in late Feb/March. There are about 67 conventions/trade shows across the US; Transworld in Chicago, HauntCon, National Haunters Convention, West Coast Haunters Convention, East Coast Haunters Convention and Midwest Haunters Convention, which is the one I attend as well as where I sell my CD‟s.
Plus you have the smaller ones like Horrorhound, Dead Winter Con, Flashback weekend…to name a few that are more horror-based. There are also magazines like Haunted Attraction Magazine, Haunt World, Fright Times as well as some really good podcasts like HaunTopic, Scarehouse and Big Scary Show, for which I am the Music Coordinator, one of the (G)Hosts and I have my own segment called “De-Composing”.
One thing I like is that the haunt community is very close-knit. It‟s like a family…albeit a demented, psychotic family… LOL
<CV SW> What sparked your interest in making music for this genre? Truthfully, from Foxy Roxx to Poison’d, it seems like such a big
step & change to jump into Haunt Rock. Yeah, that was a definite change. To be honest, I prefer heavy music. Foxy Roxx was supposed to be a fill-in gig at the Roxy in L.A. back in July 2 ‟94. It was a good fit and I was with them until 2001. Both bands were the same 4 guys. Foxy Roxx was a glam rock band. We released 2 CD‟s and a home video and were known worldwide, which was very exciting. Poison‟d came about because people said our Poison covers sounded better than Poison, so we put that together and it did REALLY well and we became the very first Officially Sanctioned Poison tribute band.
After both bands broke up, I was asked by my good bud Don Hambrick, who owns Whoopie Kat Productions in San Diego, if I wanted to be a guinea pig for the home studio he put together… that resulted in my 2002 demo CD “Disillusions of Granduer” which was a hodge-podge of original songs and a couple covers.
One of the track that didn‟t make the CD was an instrumental called “When Hinges Creak”. I am a big Disney fan and a HUGE Haunted Mansion fan. I recorded a metal version of the organ melody complete with audio from the ride. The basic tracks were done in 2002 while doing the CD and I finally finished the track in my home studio in mid-2006. I posted it on my MySpace page and somehow it fell into the hands of the podcast “Rotting Flesh Radio”,
which at the time, was the podcast for the Haunted Attraction Industry. The song was played on the show and my inbox lit up and it started from there.
<CV SW> When you started making music, did you just give it a go, simple as that?
Yeah, it was an accident that started with the Haunted Mansion track I did and went from there. I did some custom tracks, mostly redoing other songs for the podcast, but 2008 I was asked to compose an original track for the compilation CD “RFR Presents: Dark Pandemonium “ADescent into the Labyrinth of the Mind"”. The podcast was going to release which became 2 tracks “Dark Pandemonium: Enter The Labyrinth” and “Zombie Stomp: March of the Undead” which featured my buddy, Timm Tantrum from Snake City Playboys on bass. The CD debuted at
HauntCon in 2008 and within a week after it came out I was flooded with emails asking if I had a CD out.
At the time, the haunt industry mainly used dark gothic music like Midnight Syndicate who were the pioneers of the industry. There really is only a small handful of musicians in the industry. Midnight Syndicate, NoxArcana and Virgil Franklin are the “Big 3” but in the last few years others like Shadow‟s Symphony, Verse 13, Gravetone Productions and Prelude ToANightmare have surfaced and offer a wide pallet of music to use. I‟m the only one doing “Haunt Metal”… or “Haunt-Strumetal ™“ as I call it.
Some haunts were using extreme metal, etc in the haunts but in the last few years the record industry cracked down on them for not paying royalties; several haunts were threatened to be shut down if they continued. It seems I popped up by accident at the right time when all this started. <CV SW> What gives you the idea for certain pieces, what is your inspiration?
Depends on what I am writing at the time. If it‟s a custom track for a haunt, I‟ll put pictures up on another monitor to draw inspiration or watch their YouTube videos. I did a track for a company called Screamline Studios recently that wanted a HEAVY track for their website. I looked over the props they make which are called the “Meat Mangler” series and they have these huge mallets, hammers, etc. all bloody and the idea for the song came from that.
In the case of my CD‟s it varies on the theme for the CD. “Damnations Embrace” was a Vampire / Dark Carnival theme so I pulled it from “the Lost Boys”, Bram Stoker‟s Dracula and “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. It was originally going to be loosely based on “The Lost Boys” but I didn‟t like the direction. I ended up writing a short story for it with the help of my friend Sean Patrick Thompson who is a writer in the BayArea. Once I had that written the CD wrote itself.
With “Soul Collector”, I used various themes ranging from Zombieland, Interview With
A Vampire, Criminal Minds and the book “Beautiful Creatures” to name a few as well as from actual haunts I had seen pictures or videos from online.
“The Attic” was inspired by the movie “Rosemary‟s Baby” and King Diamond‟s “Abigail”, which is one of my all-time fave CD‟s.
<CV SW> What do you use to make the sounds for your haunt-strumentals?
My imagination. Alot of the sound effects I use come from Royalty Free sound libraries. I don‟t have a synth so a lot of the strings you hear are actually my guitars the heavy delay and volume swells and for cellos, my basses. I try to use different tunings like drop D, C, B and A to get creepier tones as well as some tunings Jimmy Page used as well. One song on “The Attic” called “Ghost of Marianna Odile” I actually have each of my 5 guitars tuned in different tunings as well as my 2 basses in different tunings which really made it open up.
<CV SW> What equipment do you use to make the tracks? Where is your studio?
I do all my recording in my home studio "Vayne1 Music/Haunt Rocker Productions".
My setup is so lo-tech it's stupid. I have a bud with a Protools rig that told me his stuff doesn't sound as good as mine! LOL!! But I use Sony Acid Pro recording software as well as Sony Soundforge editing & mastering software. For my guitars I use a Line 6 Pod (one of the original ones) and for bass I use a Line 6 Bass Pod (original one as well) and I run an 11 band DOD EQ pedal in the signal but only run it on the right channel guitars.
For guitars, I primarily use my Dean Eric Peterson Signature "Old Skull" V with EMG 81/85 pickup setup as well as a '96 Epiphone Les Paul Standard, a Dean Eric Peterson Signature "The Hunter" V (both with Duncan JB's in the bridge and a Duncan '59 in the neck). I also use a '04 Jackson Dinky Pro with a Duncan JB in the bridge (I use this guitar mostly for clean tones and any whammy crap). For basses, I use a Dean
Zone and Cort Genes SimmonsAxe bass.
For drums, I use Beta Monkey Music's Double Bass Mania II as my main drum library but I do use as well Double Bass Mania, III, Punk Rock, Drum Werks II, IV & V depending on the feel I need or the project I am working on.
<CV SW> 2011, The Dead Matter wins “Best BMovie Soundtrack”, tell us about that, and how that validates your efforts.
Midnight Syndicate is one of my inspirations. I try to do with heavy guitars what they do with synth & strings. I am no virtuoso my ANY stretch of the imagination so instead of showing of my lead chops I show up my rhythm playing and try to create a mood of fell rather than “Look at how fast I can play!”
I told them once that when I listen to some of their songs I can hear guitars over them and they were curious and asked to me show an example so I did. Both said some day we might want to expand on that. Well, when it came time
for them to put together the soundtrack to their movie “The Dead Matter” they contacted me to record a proper version of that idea so I took their original track “Dark Folk (Shadows)”, which was simple strings and piano, and built a band around it as well as some ambient effects. It took about 2 months to do. I‟ve been told that it‟s considered a favorite among their fans, which is an honor. Having that credit definitely pushed my sales up and opened me to a whole new audience.
<CV SW> Where have your sounds been featured in the US? But also internationally, what are some of the more known places?
Wow, a lot of haunts actually. Last year was about 45 I think? Netherworld, Hundred Acres Manor (I make up 85% of the music in their haunt), Nightmare New England, Wells Township Haunted House, Trails To Terror, The Haunted Hotel, the USS Nightmare, The Haunted Gin… just a few.
Most of them are on the East coast, Midwest and Southern states and I am slowly creeping into Canada. I was featured in a UK Magazine as well and had a haunt there register as well as one in Japan.
<CV SW> Tell us about “The Back Room” from Grindhouse, how did their feature of 3 of your songs come about?
My song “Feast” (from “Damnations Embrace”) was using as the end credits for another film called “Feast” done by Scared-E-Cat Productions back in „09 and they had heard me from it and asked if they could use a couple for their film. They ended up using “Penance” and “Pieces Of You (Dismemberment Blues)” in it. The movie came out in late ‟09 or early 2010. The movie is a “Grind House” style film from Threedt Productions.
<CV SW> What do other people say… truthfully, you have an outstanding reputation for making creepy, macabre, haunting music, how do people react when you tell them?
I get a look of “wha?” when people ask. It‟s kinda comical. Many expect me to be all goth‟d out, satanic or something. I‟m just a very normal guy who loves haunted houses. It‟s very humbling to be honest because I didn‟t expect anything to come of it. I‟d sell a couple CD‟s and that would be it but here I am 4 years later with 3 CD‟s, a compilation, the song on the movie soundtrack, songs in 2 indie films and several custom tracks and I‟m loving it.
I‟m currently wrapping up my newest CD “Virus 308” which I hope to have out digitally in August. I already have 4 songs done for a possible EP called “Bodies In The Bayou” as well as 2 songs written for 2 other projects.
<CV SW> Where can fans sample and buy your work?
You can check out samples on my site http://www.JerryVayne.com.
You can also find me on MySpace at myspace.com/jerryvaynemusic.
You can also find and purchase my 3 CD‟s on iTunes, Cd Baby, Amazon MP3 as well as other major download sites. You can buy all 3 CD‟s as well as my compilation on Reverbnation.com under The Haunt Rocker, Jerry Vayne.
You can also find me on Social Media:
On Facebook by searching for The Haunt Rocker On Twitter at twitter.com/hauntrocker
There was a time when being a motorcyclist also meant being a mechanic – or at least being mechanically inclined.
Far better designs and production quality have made modern motorcycles pretty reliable. Numerous fail-safe features and improved technologies make it theoretically less likely that a malfunction could put you down, but this does not mean it‟s now OK to disregard all caution.
Getting to know your bike as well as you can still makes a lot of sense. Learning how things work and what systems or components need the most attention will at least reduce your bike‟s chances of a premature failure and could also prevent a crash. There is also something to be said for a properly functioning, wellmaintained machine. Riders who take better care of their bikes benefit from a more precisely operating motorcycle, and this improves the quality of the whole experience.
A safety inspection – if required in your state – is really just a baseline. Many items need regular inspection, cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing. Acquainting yourself with the maintenance schedule in your motorcycle operator‟s manual (MOM) is also just a starting point.
Following are some things to consider, as loosely derived from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation‟s “T-CLOCS” inspection checklist.
Tires
As many a rider could tell you, you can install a new tire and have to immediately replace it. How? By picking up a nail, screw, or other piece of metal is a common way. A puncturing piece can hold air in so you may not immediately know anything is wrong unless you see it. How-
ever, if you have a blowout, you‟ll be sorry you didn‟t check. Catching the metal in a tire before any damage is done could prevent having to repair or replace the tire at all.
Regularly rolling the tires and inspecting them may be the single most important check you do. Being able to identify worn treads or wearing patterns in them is also a prerequisite to your safety and control.
A rear tire can be ready for replacement before it;s down to the wear bar if you have done burn-outs, hard launches, or lots of wheelies. Squared off tires can be ridden, but they are not ideal. As for the front tire, practicing hard braking – especially with big sport bikes with soft compound tires – while otherwise recommended, is also a sure way to cup or feather the front tire‟s center tread area and prematurely wear it out.
Knowing what cold pressure to set tires to is also important, as is checking it at least weekly. The MOM will tell you about the original tires, and the tire manufacturer is the best info source for aftermarket tires. Not all pressure gauges are accurate either. And as a precision instrument, if you drop a dial gauge, for example, it can affect the calibration.
Wheels
Slamming a pothole or steep driveway lip or anything else can dent or crack wheels. Don‟t take them for granted. A good time to look them over is if you regularly clean them. Lifting the wheels off the ground, and inspecting bearings for tight seals, proper adjustment and operation (smooth, quiet, no side-to-side slop) is also recommended.
Suspension
Do you know how to adjust sag, rebound and compression damping? These affect how you control the bike and how fun it is to ride. There are a few methods out there, and usually involve a buddy or two helping you take measurements while you sit on the bike.
Oil and coolant
How‟s the engine oil level? If the bike is liquid-cooled, how‟s the coolant? Do you change the fluid on time? Have you done enough research on the best oil for your needs, and longevity of your bike? We are not going to touch the hot ongoing debate over “the best” oil or lubrication issues here, but you should still ask around, read, and be sure of your decision.
Critical fasteners and plugs
Even if you have all your work done at a shop, if you are unfamiliar with their work it does not hurt to recheck tightness on critical components if they serviced them, especially the oil
drain plug, axle nuts, front axle pinch bolts, brake caliper retaining hardware, and shaft drive drain bolts. Otherwise, you should be sure these items are tightened to spec. If any fasteners normally use retaining clips or cotter pins make sure they are in place.
Hand and foot controls
A snapped clutch cable can make getting home kind of tough. An out-of-adjustment throttle cable – assuming you don‟t have fly-by-wire –makes for less precise control. The molded ball ends on levers are there so you don‟t skewer yourself in any situation. Lubing control cables and making sure they are not frayed and are properly adjusted is part of bike ownership.
Brake system
Brake lines should be replaced when the manufacturer says they should. Yes, they can last twice as long, but why take a chance?
Do you know how to look at brake pads and see what shape they are in? Brake fluid level should be to spec, and changed on schedule.
When you need to replace components you might want to look into upgrading to a higher quality aftermarket stainless or Kevlar brake line if the bike did not come with them. Adding higher friction pads for improved stopping is another option. This is not saying original equipment is bad, but there may be better choices too, and brakes –especially the front – are never something to skimp on.
Electrical
Is your brake light working, and does it come on when you want it to for both brakes? How about your signals or running lights? If you run accessories or extra lights do you know the output of your charging system?
While on the subject, if you use devices like Bluetooth, GPS, CBs and the like, are these items excessively distracting you? According to Dennis Martin, owner of Martin Motorsports, a multi-brand dealership in Boyertown, Pa., about
40 miles outside of Philadelphia, “this is well documented with cars but nobody knows how it is affecting motorcyclists.”
Overall
Riding a motorcycle is ideally a more personal and involved experience. If you ride a cruiser, sport bike, dual purpose, or touring bike, there are issues particular to your bike beyond the general ones touched on here.
For example, do you know how much fuel your bike holds, and how many miles per gallon you can expect with easy riding versus hard charging? How far can you go on reserve before you run out of gas? If you don‟t want to be stranded someday this is good to know.
Ignorance is not bliss. One MSF-certified instructor recently recalled a conversation with someone who‟d been riding for 20 years who told him his bike weighed 1,100 pounds. Turns out this rider had looked at the gross vehicle weight rating (bike weight plus max carrying capacity), and had it in his mind that this was what his bike weighed.
Another rider told him that because he takes off for months in the winter, he has to “relearn” to ride each spring. With reliable electrically heated clothing and other great winter gear readily available, some might want to think about at least some riding year-round. You won‟t get as out-of-practice that way, and if it can be made comfortable and safe, why not?
The idea is to keep learning. Being proactive in seeking out what you need to know, taking refresher courses or self-teaching to stay sharp, and interacting with other knowledgeable riders are good ways to continually improve.
Metal Messiah Radio is a twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week, international internet radio station. Metal Messiah Radio had DJs from all over thh world, spanning FIVE of the seven continents, all bringing you the very best music to get you through your day, no matter what time zone you are in. The station is dedicated to bringing their listeners the very best music there is to offer because we are… YOUR METAL MUSIC MESSIAH!!!
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April came blasting into Vegas for the local music scene. The boys from Smashing Alice filled the house again at Vinyl, the new club inside the Hard Rock, putting on a monster birthday bash for yours truly. Members from numerous bands that were off that night were in attendance and too many to mention here. One of their best performances to date, from what I can remember of it. Smashing Alice continues to rock one of the Fremont Street Experience stages on a weekly basis as well.
One of Vegas‟ favorites, Outta The Black, brought an even newer set of songs back to Vamp’d with special guests Brazen and rocked to an extremely full house. Bringing even more new and original material, the boys in black continue to surprise their fans. The girls from Brazen brought their own brand of shock and awe to the stage and ripped out some amazing covers of their own. Outta The Black is set to play the Laughlin River Run April 26-27 at the AVI Hotel & Casino but will be too late for publication for May‟s issue, and may be covered in June.
Bluff Control announced a change in their lineup recently. Sally Bartlett, the gorgeous bassist that has been rocking with the boys for the last year, has decided to start up a new funk rock band; details on the new venture will be coming soon to CVSW. Stepping into the slot will be an extraordinary musician, Wayne Carver. Performing with multiple bands, he will bring his diverse talent to an already rockin‟set of musicians. You can catch Bluff Control regularly at Club Fortune Casino.
Anewly revamped live music venue, Legend’s Sports Bar & Grill, out on Boulder Highway & Russell, is trying to draw the live music fans down to the southeast side of town by hosting a recent Battle of the Bands over a few weekends. Numerous bands entered the contest with a great cash prize offered, trying to get the music scene going again in an area kind of devoid of any quality places to play. One of the Finalists, Redline, is a group that was a staple in the southeast Vegas & Henderson area back when the Tailspin & Redhawk were the places to be on any weekend.
Cheyenne Saloon, in the northwest
part of the valley, continues to book solid acts 4-5 nights a week and to be able to cover all the shows there would take an army of photojournalists. One show coming to the Cheyenne that I will hopefully be covering will be Powerman 5000. We will hopefully have photos of this event in the June issue. Stay tuned for all the antics that my arm gets easily twisted to cover and of course party with all of these talented musical acts.
In the deep south part of Henderson, a newer Pub has decided to bring in some bands in the area once dominated by the legendary Redhawk. Shakespeare's Grille & Pub brought in the new Power Trio 'Acoustic Arena', consisting of Danny Robert from Bluff Control, Merry Adin from Brazen & the multi-talented Tim Mendoza. The performance was a success and the trio will be back again the first Friday in May. After speaking with the owners that were on hand for the event, Live Music will be ongoing now on weekends at Shakespeare's, so be sure to check them out. They are located just south of St. Rose Pkwy on Eastern at Coronado.
Kevin Lastovica
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