CVWW December 2014 - CV WorldWide Magazine

DECEMBER 2014
THE Lifestyle Magazine for Custom Vehicle & Music Enthusiasts
ALWAYS FREE
Earth to Ashes
Robin McAuley
p. 4
Contents...
From the City of Roses to your playlist, Earth to
Ashes is a local Portland, OR band with a huge sound and
talent that should not be contained in the Pacific NorthWest.
With a sound reminiscent of Iron Maiden or classic
Queensryche, Earth to Ashes is claiming their rightful spot
in the NorthWest metal scene.
p. 24
Cover Photo by Sherry Keith
In Memoriam: Wayne Static
03
Raiding the Rock Vault Collage
12
News You Can Use - Cars: CPO Basics
14
Gear the Pros Use: Earth to Ashes’ Matt Dorado
17
Order in the Chaos: Brien DeChristopher’s Music Blog
18
At the Scene: Sin City Rock Party (B Fox)
20
News You Can Use - Motorcycles: Your Significant Other
36
Gear the Pros Use: Earth to Ashes’ Mark Raney
39
Tattoo Gallery...Baseball Ink, in honor of the World Series
40
Jamie Paulus
Spokane’s music scene is
alive and thriving; this month, Jamie Paullus, always our eye in the
city, brings is 3 Pill Morning and
Black Veil Brides.
Page 34
Sherry Keith
In conjunction with our
interview of legendary singer Robin McAuley, Mystic Photography
takes us on a pictorial tour of his
show: Raiding the Rock Vault.
Page 12
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A letter from CV WorldWide Magazine…
This past month, rock icon, musician extraordinaire, and “man with the HAIR”, Wayne Richard Wells,
better known to the world and his fans as Wayne Static,
passed away suddenly at age 48. The outpouring of sympathy, support, and love from his fellow musicians, to
Wayne‟s family, his band, and his lovely wife Tera Wray
Static, was incredible; but to this day, the music world
mourns the loss of one our own, taken from us suddenly
and for seemingly no reason.
Wayne was a friend to CV WorldWide, and especially Mystic Photography‟s Sherry Keith...we join people
everywhere in saying “Wayne, your time here was too
brief, but boy did your star shine brightly…”
To all those close to Wayne, our sincere condolences and prayers are with you in this time of loss. To
Wayne...Godspeed our friend, you will always remain on
our playlist…
the Pres & Sherry K
Wayne Static / 1965 - 2014
CV WorldWide: Tell us what you’re doing these
days, what musical projects are you involved in?
Robin McAuley: As one of four (4) singers I
perform in Las Vegas @ The New Tropicana in a
“Classic Rock Show” called Raiding The Rock
Vault. Shows are Friday through Wednesday @
9pm. Go to www.raidingtherockvault.com for pics
and update info.
Before that McAuley Schenker Group
(MSG), Survivor, Grand Prix, Far-Corporation,
GMT, Bleed.
CVWW: Tell us about the beginning, what was
the catalyst behind you diving into music?
RM: I grew up in the Ireland and while surrounded by the great traditional sounds of Irish
music which I love, I always found myself listening
to Motown. Great melodies, lyrics and just great
voices. I was big on the Four Tops, The Temptations etc. Just great music.
Then I discovered Paul Rodgers and FREE.
This guy could really sing and with the same soul
and passion that I loved when listening to Motown; great melodies and great guitar riffs that
were and still are unforgettable. I wanted to be a
great rock drummer and played drums in small
bands for a number of years. Occasionally singing
background vocals, I was later convinced that I
should be singing lead. Not something I had set my
mind on and even to this day always wish I had
been that drummer.
CVWW: Do you think you got your musical ability from your mother and her accordion? Growing up around horses, did you ever thing to follow your father’s path instead?
RM: Funny thing about that accordion! My
Mother was very good at playing the accordion
and being one of a row of houses close to the nearest Pub, many people would spill out after closing
time and end up at OUR house where the music
continued. (Not an unusual occurrence in all parts
of Ireland after closing time). I kinda grew to dislike that instrument over time. :)
Now of course I think very differently and
wish I had learned to play it like my older Brother
Jim and my Sister Joan. I'm sure I inherited my
Mothers music ability but I‟m just not an accordion player. Ha!
I was forever around the stables with horses
as a young lad. My Father brought many an Irish
Thoroughbred into this world during his lifetime.
He was also a soldier and fought the Germans in
the trenches. I lost him to a road accident when I
was only 13 (Thirteen).
I still miss him greatly. I was in the Irish National Guard so I followed that path. Won Trophies for sharp shooting and was an acting corporal for a time.
CVWW: Interesting that you starting major effort as a cabinet maker, tell us about that focus
and of course, your eventual decision to abandon that for music, what was the catalyst?
RM: One of my uncles had a woodturning
business in the city of Dublin. As a kid out of
school, trades were always encouraged by parents
with the idea that, if you had a trade you would
always have work! Hmmm!!!! Anyway I had an
interest in architecture but was offered an apprenticeship after Technical College. There I landed
and studied Cabinetmaking and Chairmaking; reproduction period furniture mostly. Queen Anne,
Regency, Chippendale etc.
I was out playing the clubs as a drummer
during this time in addition to my time in the National Guard.
I headed to London some years later and the
sound of music just got louder and louder!!!
CVWW: And once in England, you were convinced to be a singer instead of a drummer…was
that a big change for you, how did you accept
that advice?
RM: I was only in London about two
months, and was literally thrown on stage in the
local pub by my brother-in-law. I sang something
or other and was soon approached by the band to
come sing with them. I gave them the whole drummer thing but ended staying with them for about
two years. Played every pub and club in London
worth playing and got paid for same. A winner all
round. :)
It was in this local Pub in West London that
I was approached by members of who would later
become Grand Prix.
CVWW: Alright, fast forward to Germany, and
(eventually) MSG. Tell us about the meeting with
Michael Schenker - do I hear it right that you actually met once and refused an invite before
joining him?
RM: Michael Schenker came to see Grand
Prix perform at a club in London. With him was
the late and great Cozy Powell (Drums), Andy
Nye (Keys) Chris Glenn (Bass).
Cozy's press agent called me the next day
and said Michael really liked my voice, and invited
me to the studio where MSG was rehearsing.
Grand Prix was set to tour that same week to support my first CD with the band “There for None to
See”! I declined the offer of MSG due to tour commitments. I received some bad press as a result of
me declining the offer. :)
“Young Irish Upstart refuses offer to join MSG!!!”
producing. We were signed to EMI not long after
and appeared at the “Monsters of Rock” in Germany with Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, OZZY, Bon
Jovi and more.
We released our first “MC AULEY
SCHENKER GROUP” CD “Perfect Timing”, and
was the first appearance Michael had had on MTV
with the release of „Gimme Your Love’, our first single from that CD.
CVWW: Alright, fast forward to your success in
the USA…tell us about the Headbanger’s Ball
hosting experience, and how did that come
about?
RM: Riki Ractman was the host of HeadCVWW: But the second time you met, when you banger‟s Ball and I believe McAuley Schenker
accepted the gig, what changed your mind?
were the first to appear on the show! This was a big
RM: Four years later I was on a promotion- step for MSG as Michael had little to no exposer at
al tour for Far Corporation (German studio pro- TV or Radio in the US.
ject) in England. We had released a remake of
“Stairway to Heaven” which went to #8 on the CVWW: You toured with Def Leppard & RUSH in
English charts and went on to sell 2 million sales. support for “Perfect Timing”, but very soon after
MSG management contacted me and arranged a you move to headlining your own dates…what
meeting to set up an audition. Rudolf Schenker allowed that decision to me made, how did you
heard the song on radio, and Michael now looking make the leap from opening act to headliner?
to form a new lineup, was on the hunt for me. I
RM: I guess it‟s the usual progression once
was once again reluctant to proceed given you release something new - the opening slot on a
Michael's reputation but I flew into Hanover in big and highly successful record from Def Leppard
Germany and in Rudolf's studio met Michael and with maximum exposer and large audiences. It‟s
we worked endless hours on songs, some old and also important for the Label to get in touch with
some new material. A week after returning to Lon- the bands fan base for marketing etc. Headlining
don Michael called me and asked me to join but as gave us the opportunity to build our own followers
his equal partner in the band? He said Rudolf, not forgetting that Michael Schenker is one of the
Klaus Meine, and management agreed I should be most revered rock guitarists ever. UFO has such a
his new frontman.
huge following so we'd perform a number of UFO
tunes in our set and people would go ape shit, not
CVWW: Michael Schenker became “McAuley
Schenker” - whose idea was that?
RM: Explaining he needed someone he
could trust and rely on, he also pitched the idea of
a new name. I told him I loved the MSG logo and
changing it would be a recipe for disaster. He had
already given it some thought it seems, and decided that because of the lettering and our name initials we could still keep the MSG logo except Michael (M) should be McAuley and the rest as they
say!!!!!
We began writing together and wrote about
10 songs or so. Recorded at Rudolf's with Rudolf
Jon Anderson, Lou Gramme, Paul Rodgers, Bobby Kimball, Micky Thomas, Rob Halford, Bruce
Dickenson, Joe Elliott, Jimi Jameson (RIP) Ripper
Owens, Jon Bon Jovi, Ozzy (YES OZZY), David
Coverdale, AND the great ROBERT PLANT himself, etc. etc. All very different styles but one common goal, to mesmerize and make you sit up and
listen, And to perform on the same stage with all
the above. Man 'O Man!!! In awe, honored and extremely humbled for sure. Makes you feel incredibly small.
CVWW: Do you think you’d do anything different
up to this point, give the wisdom of time?
RM: Always room for improvement of
course, but I‟m so so grateful for everything.
CVWW: How do you think you’ve grown as a
band and as musicians?
having seen either Michael or UFO perform for
RM: Respect is very important. Be honest
quite a while. It was awesome….
and kind to those around you. No need to be arroCVWW: “Save Yourself” was a smash hit follow
up, and you’re now touring with Great White &
Whitesnake - all heavy hitters in the 80’s hair
metal scene - how crazy was it, really?
RM: Power ballads were the staple of a lot
of the 80's bands. We released the single
“Anytime” from the “Save Yourself” CD and it
was well received at radio and MTV. Gaining
some ground the opportunity came to tour with
Whitesnake, which was incredible as they also had
amazing exposer at MTV right at the same time. It
was planned to tour all of Europe with Whitesnake
but due to some issues Whitesnake only toured
England which we did with them. We returned to
the US and toured the “Blues and Boogie” tour
with Great White.
This was such great time to tour. Audiences
were crazy and you never saw so much hair in
your life including my own :) I think a lot of that
FUN element is missing today!!!
CVWW: The list of people with whom you’ve
played is incredible and represents the pantheon of rock musicians - what lessons have you
taken from those times?
RM: I find myself constantly learning.
When you meet the likes of say Glenn Hughes,
gant, it's a bad trait to have and gets you nowhere.
CVWW: What would you tell a younger version
of yourself?
RM: Get out while ya still can! Ha! Seriously though, do your best and try to be the best at
what you do BUT have fun doing it! It makes it
that much easier and don't take yourself too seriously.
CVWW: What advice would you give to young
musicians today?
RM: Pretty much the same as above. Learn
the business early so you don't get ripped off! Careful what you sign and who you sign it with.
CVWW: Okay, on to Sin City and Raiding the
Rock Vault…tell us how the idea came about and
how you became involved. Do we read right that
the first show was in LA, not Vegas? How did the
process come about where you took the show to
Vegas then?
RM: John Payne (ASIA) called me to discuss singing on a few tracks at his studio in Glen-
dale, CA. He filled me in on this idea from Simon
Napier Bell (YARDBIRDS, WHAM, GEORGE
MICHAELS) and Sir Harry Cowell who had managed ASIA and worked with STING. It was to be
a Classic Rock show covering a period of the 60's70's- and 80's.
He asked if I was at all interested should it
come about, to which I replied “Yes!” We recorded a number of songs and some months later, got
the call again about performing a showcase at
“The Mayan Theatre” downtown LA. This took
place in November 2012.
Come January 2013 Sir Harry called me together with John and told me about been offered to
perform the show at THE LVH in Vegas.
CVWW: What can fans expect to see at a Raiding
the Rock Vault show?
RM: Fans have seen to date some 370
shows and love it. #1on Trip Adviser for the past
year. Best show in Best of Las Vegas. Moved from
The LVH/Westgate to the New Tropicana on the
strip.
The story of Classic Rock taking you
through some 30 plus songs in 2 Hour show. With
HD Video and a State of the Art Light Show. Stories with vignettes performed by actors and dancers
throughout. and of course the live band.
Guitarist and MD of the show, Howard
Leese, (Heart & Bad Co) - Guitars, Doug Aldrich,
(Whitesnake & Burning rain), Drums - Jay Schellen (ASIA), Keys - Michael T Ross (Lita Ford &
Missing persons) Bass - Hugh McDonald (Bon Jovi) - Vocals - Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt & Quiet
Riot), Vocals -Andrew Freeman (Lynch Mob, Offspring), Vocals - Carol-Lyn Lyddle, (Masters of
Rock), Vocals - Stephanie Calvert (Starship), Vocals - Robin Mc Auley (Mc Auley Schenker, Survivor)
CVWW: Given its popularity, do you foresee any
expansion in the US, or maybe overseas?
RM: Touring has been discussed but no
plans as yet that I am aware of.
CVWW: Who do you count as your musical influences?
RM: Paul Rodgers. Lou Gramme.
CVWW: What other bands do you listen to dur-
ing downtime and relaxation, what’s on YOUR CVWW: Now, tell us about a show that made you
music player?
think “damm, is this really worth it?”
RM: Literally everything. Depends on my
RM: Hmmmm!!! This is the music business.
mood. I listen to it all as long as it has melody.
Remember what advice I gave earlier. Learn the
business and try not to get ripped off? There are
CVWW: What motivates you to keep improving, egos out of control. We all have them. If you keep
to keep expanding your horizons as a musician? this in mind and be prepared for occasional disapRM: There's still much to do. Writing is the pointments it can be of enormous help. Doesn't
best way to stay in the now provided it's heard of make it better, just easier…..
course. I'm still hoping to get that big movie soundCVWW: Any REALLY crazy stories you are willtrack. One can only keep trying, right!!
ing to share in our pages?
RM: The first record from FARTell us about a particularly memorable show
that really made it all worthwhile for you - any CORPORATION “Division One” was an instant
top 40 chart success. The "Stairway to Heaven" reshow, any time.
RM: That's a relatively easy one to answer. make reached #8 in England and sold over 2 milLou Gramme, being one of my all-time fav' influ- lion singles. With many TV appearances Farences, spent a week as special guest of The Rock Corporation was in everyone‟s living room. The
Vault. Every night he performed “I Wanna Know debut of the single was on the "Thomas Godshalk
What Love Is” especially his last night, I got really Saturday Night Show" and had a viewing audience
emotional. Here's my hero, the voice I can listen to of 80 million. It so happened that Robert Plant was
forever and learn so much from, and here I am also on the show that same night. You can imagine
singing background vocals with him on this beauti- the awkwardness of him seeing the black and silver
ful song that was a huge hit for Foreigner. Every- backdrop with the very large words “STAIRWAY
one is singing along including this awesome choir TO HEAVEN” on it. He stared me down until I
we had called in especially for his performance. directed him to the Producer. He really liked our
version and we ended up laughing and drinking
Unforgettable!!!
quite a lot that evening.
CVWW: Given your incredible accomplishments
We're talking Robert Plant here folks!!! and musical road, is there really anything left
for you to achieve?
That's pretty crazy in my book!
RM: I have a beautiful wife, Gina. Two
CVWW: Let’s talk about the music industry to- awesome twin boys, Jamie and Casey, what an
day...and social media...music distribution is achievement for me... So Happy!!!!!
much different now, do you see that as progress? The ability to market/sell individual CVWW: Okay, what’s in store for the remainder
songs, does that benefit the industry as a whole? of 2014 and into 2015? Any other big projects
RM: Social Media, yea!!! Use it, it's free are in the works?
most of the time. Record, post the link and voila!
RM: Maybe, but for that you have to stay
Instant access….
tuned……
The Major labels still work well for the Major Artist's. Great!! But what about the little guy
CVWW: Any final words you would like to convey
with great music and no means to get to “that” mato your fans and our readers?
jor label? Home studios and recordings have for a
RM: From the bottom of my Irish heart,
very long time filled that gap. Thankfully.
thank you all so very much for the years you have
Sounds awesome, right? Cost's very little aflistened to my music and indeed all the wonderful
ter equipment purchase. Post to YouTube, Facemusic made available to us. Be well always and if
book, on your own web page. Do your own packyou have a wish or a dream, then follow it closely
aging and mercy. Now wait for all this likes, invite
and with perseverance.
them to shows and sell your music there. In perStop to pray sometimes and say thank you
son. Some Indie labels are also good for lesser
always. Don't take anything for granted. Give beknown bands. It's usually all about $$$
cause you want to and not for the glory of others
CVWW: What is it about your music that you feel else you'll be disappointed.
appeals to fans?
Love like it was your last…
RM: Hell I don't know! I'm just happy that
there are people who listen to it and like it. That Much LOVE to you all
Robin McAuley
they relate in some ways to it lyrically or just like
the melody. It's kool either way and I thank everyone who has ever listened and mentioned it to their
friends and their friends. Keep listening please. I
love you all….
CVWW: Do any of your songs speak to you on a
deep personal level?
RM: While penning each one of them my
head was for sure in a particular place at that time.
Life brings many new gifts and surprises. Experience and heartache, happy or sad, we learn a lot
and manage to somehow press forward only to
come out the other end with only a few cuts and
bruises. If we're lucky...
CVWW: Where do you think you are in your musical journey?
RM: Right now, in my hotel room at the
New Tropicana, Las Vegas, trying desperately to
finish this before showtime. Ha!!!
Gilbert
German Shepard
Australian Cattle Dog
3 years old
Male
81 Pounds
My adoption fee includes:
microchip, neuter, free exam,
reduced-cost training class, 1
month pet health insurance,
leash/collar, food sample, toy
& treat packet.
Certified Pre-Owned: an Overview
from KBB.com, reprinted with permission
Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) cars are essentially top-quality, inspected used cars
backed by manufacturers' warranties.
You may have noticed that many vehicles
formerly known as "used" are now termed
"Certified Pre-Owned" or "CPO." These programs originated in the Luxury category due to
the high rate of off-lease vehicles populating
the market in the recent past. Because these
vehicles were in great shape and had lower
mileage, manufacturers took a serious interest
in ensuring that they delivered a positive purchase and ownership experience. As a result,
they began to "refurbish" these vehicles and
add warranties and special financing.
What are some of the features of a CPO vehicle program?
A variety of organizations have jumped
on the Certified Pre-Owned bandwagon, including dealers and several third-party suppliers.
Most certified used vehicle programs:
 Include only vehicles that are under 5
years
 Have mileage limits of less than 100,000
 Use only vehicles that have had no major
bodywork from prior accidents
 "Refurbish" the vehicle after a multi-step
inspection
 Provide an extended warranty
Additionally, some programs offer:
 Consumer cash incentives
 Low interest loans


Lease programs
An exchange policy
Certified Pre-Owned Pros and Cons
During these hard economic times, credit
is a lot harder to get than it used to be. Shoppers who would ordinarily have searched for a
new car might no longer qualify for a loan of
that size. Fortunately, they have a less-costly
alternative: the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) car.
Regular used-car buyers also are tempted by CPO vehicles, which reduce some of the
inherent risk. No used car is perfect, but certified models undergo a comprehensive, pointby-point inspection. Certified Pre-Owned cars
also include warranty coverage.
Some people simply won't be satisfied
with anything that's not new. Others are wholly
content with used cars. They're willing to take
on the possibility of dealing with a few problems.
Pro: Certified cars produce "peace of mind"
A sense of security is the main attraction
of purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned model.
Like new-car buyers, folks who drive home a
certified used car shouldn't have to worry
about breakdowns and costly repairs. Although
it's secondhand, the certified used vehicle is a
late-model that's been inspected prior to certification.
Nearly
all
manufacturers
offer
a certification program, backed by the factory.
Other programs are established by the dealer
or another organization, without factory sponsorship. Some include a vehicle history report
from CARFAX or AutoCheck, which provides
details on past accidents, and prior ownership.
Pro: CPO cars are pre-selected and inspected
Factory certification programs, backed
by the car's manufacturer, have limits on age
and mileage. Depending on the automakers,
cars eligible for certification must be no more
than four to six years old, with a maximum of
50,000 to 80,000 miles on the odometer. Toyota stretches eligibility to seven years, and Porsche to eight.
Dealers follow a checklist of inspection
points: typically, 100 to 160. Because they
count those spots differently, the exact amount
isn't important. You just want to know that the
inspection has been comprehensive.
When inspection reveals significant
problems, repairs have to be made. For that
reason, dealers would rather pick the "cream"
of the lot for certification. If the car is found to
be in good condition as it stands, little additional investment is needed to turn it into a
Certified Pre-Owned model.
factory warranty expires.
Con: Certified used cars cost more
Inspection costs money. So does making
any repairs. Dealers may also pay a fee to the
manufacturer to participate in a Certified PreOwned program, and the warranty has a price.
As a result, CPO cars are more expensive
than a comparable non-certified model. How
much more does a certified vehicle cost? For a
low-budget model, the price difference might
be only a few hundred dollars. For a luxury car,
it could be several thousand. Larger nonluxury cars might have a certification premium
above $1,000. Kelley Blue Book adjusts its used
-car values to reflect the added cost of a certified model. To help ease the blow, Certified Pre
-Owned buyers might be entitled to special financing, with more attractive terms.
Con: It's still a used car, with potential for
problems
No matter how carefully it's been inspected, there's no guarantee that a certified
used car will suffer no troubles over the next
few years. All certification can do is reduce the
risk.
What To Look (and Lookout) For In A CPO
Program
Pro: Certified-car repairs are covered
When checking out some of the certified
through warranty period
used programs available, here are some tips to
CPO vehicles include a manufacturer- insure your own peace-of-mind in the transacbacked warranty that typically covers repairs tion:
for a specified time period after the original
Certified Pre-Owned: an Overview (cont)
from KBB.com, reprinted with permission
Tip #1: Inspect the points of the inspection
Each program can boast well over a hundred points of inspection. It is safe to assume
that the vehicle has been refurbished in these
areas if it passed the inspection through to certification. The key to looking at these points is
in identifying the major fixes that would have
otherwise cost you a bundle. Remember, many
of these points would be covered in a tune up,
detailing or might even be part of a state safety
inspection required for all used cars sold by
dealers.
Tip #2: Get the warranty the vehicle warrants
Each Certified Pre-Owned program offers a specific, non-negotiable warranty. When
reviewing the warranties offered, research
whether the particular model has a history of
maintenance issues or transmission failures
and make a judgment call from that perspective. If the brand of the vehicle is known for
quality and low maintenance, it might justify a
shorter warranty.
Most programs offer an extended warranty beyond the CPO warranty, but each proKey inspection points:
gram differs in cost and features. You also may
 VIN Inspection (emissions, service & re- want to research whether the vehicle still has
call, VIN code issues, etc.
any of the original warranty left on it -- this
 Road Testing (automatic transmission will only add to the length of the warranty
shift points/slippage, drive axle; clutch; overall.
steering; brakes/ABS, gauge operation)
 Body Exterior (frame damage, accident Tip #3: Look for special incentives and finance deals
repair)
One of the most unique features of Certi Interior (airbag, dash light operation,
fied Pre-Owned vehicles is that finance and
smoker car?)
 Powertrain (fluid leakages, water in oil, lease deals are being extended to a used vehicylinder compression reading, timing cle - which was virtually unheard of in the past.
Look closely to see what you can find...
belt)
 Fuel System (fuel pump, fuel lines, oil
pressure)
 Suspension/Steering (control arms, ball
joints, tie rods, tire wear, alignment)
 Brakes (calipers/cylinders, rotor, hydraulics, etc.)
Gear the Pros Use!
Hailing from The Stack (Hayward, CA),
Matt got his first guitar at age four. Since then a
guitar, music in general, has always been close
by and an integral part of his life. Around age
13 Matt also started playing saxophone. This
guitar/saxophone combo continued through
high school and college. During his early twenties Matt played with various bands ranging
from rock to jazz to traditional Latin and Portuguese music.
Around 1994 Matt moved from the Bay
Area in California to the Portland, Oregon area. For about ten years music took a back seat
to work and family. It was during this time that
Matt married his wife Michelle and the two of
them started a family and a construction business.
After a few years Matt had returned to
school and earned a degree in Civil Engineering. While in back in school, the urge to play
music became too much to ignore, so in addition to his engineering course load, Matt also
took some music classes and played for several
years in a local cover band.
Tiring of the cover band scene Matt returned to original music in Jan 2010. It was at
this time Earth to Ashes was formed.
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'06 Ibanez S470 DXQM
'04 Ibanez S470 DXQM
'90 GMP Cus tom Prototype
'88 Ibanez RG-56 0
'84 Fender Stratocas ter
MESA Mark IVA
Morley Bad H orsie Wah
Morley George Lynch Dragon
Wah 2
Digitech DS P 212 0
D'Addario XL (009-04 6)
Dunlop Ultex Jazz III picks
Mogami cables
Order in the Chaos
Helpful Band Tip #10 - Knowing Your Tube Amp...
When you've been playing guitar for as long
as I and many others have, you begin to appreciate
tone over volume. Or, you look for the holy grail
of scenarios by having tone and volume together in
one amp.
Now, for me to break down every amp/cab
scenario and every type of guitar or style/genre of
music you play would just be silly, and nobody
would read it anyway. Because it would take a
novel, not a blog, to express everything. So I will
only talk of personal experiences and knowledge.
First off, if you don't know already, I play
hard rock guitar. And I grew up styling after all the
guitar gods of the 70's-80's-90's. What that style of
guitar playing entails is a loud, agressive core of an
amp with the ability to pull harmonics out (both
natural and pinched), and deliver them clearly. All
while the amp is delivering massive sustain, tone,
expression, and controllability.
Ah-hah... got ya, didn't I?
The
very
last
word
is
the kicker. CONTROLLABILITY. The thing that
is so often sacrificed in order to acheive all the others.
You see, it isn't all that hard to pull a good
tone or good volume/sustain from a tube amp of
any type... if you drive it enough. But to keep it
from screaming like a banshee when you stop playing is almost impossible when you have the amp
that juiced up. And the hiss when you roll back on
your volume on the guitar is almost unbearable if
you plan on having any conversation with your
band mates.
To get all these terrific adjectives into my
scenario, I switched away from Mesa Boogie and
back to older Marshalls. When I say "older", I am
talking 90's. I chose the JCM2000 DSL series. Not
the re-issue that has no soul. But the tone-monger
100 watt dual channel terror of the 90's club scene.
I have my Presence maxed, my treble at 9, mids
at 2, bass at 10, and my ultra gain at 10. That head
should be screaming like crazy. Especially when
I'm running two of them at the same time, both at
about 3.5 on the volume.
But they don't.
They run warm, and quiet. But have such a
massive crunch and when I stop playing on a
dime... my amp follows me in. It doesn't continue
a harmonic, or a buzz, or a hum, or a mushy
squash-out of the chord or note. It just stops existing. Now, some of that may be attributed to playing style, we can't discount that, but maybe my
style has been developed more articulately because
I trust my amp?
Now we're talking.
I also get magnificent sustain that will decay
into a fluid and "blue" feedback that just soothes
out the phrase delicately. Not that irritating "red"
feedback that just grates the nerves and rattles your
ear bones to dust. Think old Nugent (he had that
cold, ice-blue feedback that sounded like a wounded rhino).
Now, just how do I get what I want out of
my amps, consistently night after night?
Easy, I took the time to understand what my
amps can do. And if they couldn't quite do what I
needed it to do, I investigated what it would take
to acheive it. And I virtually FORGED my sound
over years and trial & error.
Does all this mean I am saying my Marshalls are any better than Mesa Boogie? Hell no!!!
It's just that they were what I NEEDED to obtain
the sound I wanted as opposed to what
was given to me at the time of purchase.
So, whatever amp you choose, ask yourself
a few questions about it:
 Is my amp appropriate to my style
of MUSIC?
 Is my amp appropriate to my style
of PLAYING?
 Does my amp properly project what it is you
are trying to do on the fretboard?
 Is my amp LOUD enough? Or is
it TOO loud for my genre?
 If I make a change on my guitar (switch out
pickups, change brands/models) will it adversely affect my amp's tone?
 Is my amp able to be MODIFIED?
 When was the last time you had your amp
biased? Tubes changed out?
These are all highly important things to consider and address before you can let yourself go
and trust your amp. Because, let's face it, nothing
sucks worse than when you step to the front of that
stage and hit that amazing note you've been working on only to have it fail to set you up into that
killer solo...
Brien DeChristopher is the guitarist and primary songwriter for Seattle Seale-based hard rock
band "Agents Of Chaos". He has played in numerous
live and recording bands over the years where he
has logged countless hours on stage in live performance, and studio recording time.
You can see this and other Pearls of Wisdom
at http://www.blogster.com/briendechristopher/
The "Sin City Rock Party"
by "Guitars Under the Stars" took
place at the Hard Rock Cafe and
was without a doubt one of the
heaviest nights of hard rock in 2014.
Opening up the night was
"The Paul Hernandez Trio" from
Riverside, California. I know, the
opening act is always supposed to
be the less-talented, up and comer
trying to get their foot in the door.
Not so on this night... not so at all.
The 21 year old Paul Hernandez took the stage with his beaten up gold Fender Stratocaster and
made it abundantly clear that he and
his band were not going to mess
around. Their set was filled with
heavy, bluesy rock that was the textbook definition of the word "tight". I
mean, this kid is barely old enough
to buy himself a beer and I kept
waiting; patiently waiting for him to
miss a lick, to "call it in" or do
something to expose his
"inexperience"... he didn't. Not
once. "Mr. Hernandez" (as I now
respectfully call him) played every,
single note in his set perfectly and
no doubt, schooled a few long time
"Guitar Gods" in the crowd on the
proper way to play a guitar.
Immediately after the set
ended and the applause died down,
I looked around at the crowd's reaction. Every person in attendance
stood there with their mouths agape
-- stunned. It was nothing short of
amazing and would have made
greats like Stevie Ray, Clapton and
Hendrix nod in approval.
If you're lucky; a few times in
your life you will witness one of the
true greats in action, a musician
who just seems to have been born
with "the gift". Someone who can
pick up an instrument and effortlessly push it to its limits. This was one
of those rare nights. And this was
just the opening band!
Reigning next on the bill was
"Leona X". This band from Seattle
is fronted by smoking' hot front
woman "Leona X" who hits the
stage like a sexy lioness sporting a
skin tight, black leather outfit com-
lead and takes her six-string
Epiphone all the way to the ground;
Jimi Hendrix style. She proves to
the captivated onlookers that she's
not only incredibly sexy and a great
musician... she's also an amazing
entertainer. Leona X demands your
attention and once she has it you
can't look away.
From the first note to the last, they
brought a heavy, upbeat sound and
had the wildest, most high energy
set of the night. "Divide the Day"
clearly plays to the beat of their own
drummer and in a world of knockoffs and copycats, their originality is
a beautiful thing.
plete with stiletto boots featuring a
big "X" on the side. She's oozing sex
appeal and gets my attention right
away. This three-piece proceeds to
belt out their own brand of hard and
heavy rock and the fists in the
crowd immediately go up in the air.
Midway through the first
song, Leona X goes into her solo
and now the word is out on the
street... this woman can play.
Near the end of the set on
Up next was Valora… First
their song "Love at First Feel",
"Divide the Day" -- a 4 piece of all, take a second to imagine your
Leona X goes into another blistering from L.A. was the next on the line favorite rock band. Now imagine
up of great bands who hit the stage your favorite rock band without a
that night. Don't be fooled by their
mustaches and starched white shirts.
These guys know how to rock.
guitar player. So where am I going
with this?
Well, it turned out that Valora's guitar player was a no-show at
the last second. I only got to hear
what Valora sounded like... minus
the guitar. They put out a good effort and each member gave it 100%
but I really can't give a fair assessment of their performance without
the guitar. They had a sound similar
to Evanescence... without the guitar.
Needless to say, after the gig, I
checked out their videos "I Waited
for You" and "Extreme" and they
are a solid band. It's just a shame
they weren't at full strength that
night.
The final band to perform on
this epically memorable night was
"Nadir" – a profound mix of hard
rock and heavy funk. This four piece
fusion band is fronted by veteran
rocker "Nadir D'Priest" of the '80s
glam metal band "London" (you
may remember "London" from the
legendary '80s metal documentary
"The Decline of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years"). Nadir
D'Priest not only rocked the vocals
that night, he also rocked the tambourine, maracas, drums and a slew
of other instruments as well. This
front man truly defines the term
"more cowbell" (yes, he plays that
too).
Nadir's musicianship is technical and precise - but seriously
smooth and fun. Their style: hard
and heavy - yet groovy and carefree.
Their performance: high energy -yet laid back and cool. It's clear that
Nadir is a group of veteran musicians who have "been there and
done that". They've seen trends
come and go. Seen the gimmicks
come and go. At the end of the day,
they know why they're still playing
music. They know what they like,
and they know what they want to
hear.
Everyone at the "Sin City
Rock Party" -- musicians and attendees alike, all had the same thing
in common. We weren't there for
"status" or "money" or to "pose".
We all went for the same reason.
We all wanted to rock out and to
have a good time. We all went there
for the music.
100% original progressive/power metal from the Pacific NorthWest
CV WW: Tell our readers who's
in the band and their role?
Matt Dorado: Currently, the line
up consists of Mark Raney on
drums, Larry Massengale on guitar, Angelo Jensen on bass and
lead vocals, and myself, Matt Dorado, on guitar and lead vocals.
CV WW: Tell us about the beginning, who founded the band,
what was the catalyst behind
it?
Matt: Well the band started in
January of 2010. Angelo and I
had been in touch for a while but
had never really had a chance to
get together. Finally, it turned out
that we were both available and
looking for a new original project. So, we got together for a jam
and a few beers. It seems like
there is always beer, and/or alcohol involved when Angelo and I
get together. HaHaHa I had been
in a cover band for about 7 years
and was really ready to do something original. If I had to play
Mary Jane‟s last dance again I
just might have gone on a shooting spree. Anyway, that was the
birth of E2A, Angelo, me and our
original drummer Rochelle
Parche. Man that chic could
pound the crap out of a drum set.
CV WW: Tell us about the name,
where did it come from?
Matt: Well, we kicked around
names for a long time. Probably a
good 6 months. Finally, Angelo
and Ro said that we should just
call the band Dorado. I was
against it at first. I really wanted
the band to be a “band” and not
considered my project. But I do
like my name and it had some
good imagery aspects. Unfortu-
nately, there was already a band
here in Portland called Dorado
and they had been here for over
10 years. When I called them to
find out more about why they
chose Dorado, turns out they
were really cool guys, too. So,
one day at rehearsal we were going through tunes. One of our
tunes was a reworked version of a
song Angelo had written called
Earth to Ashes. After practice I
mentioned that I thought Earth
to Ashes was a great band name.
The other two agreed and the
name stuck.
CV WW: Talk to us about the
journey to find the right combination of musicians ...
Matt: Is the journey over? I don‟t
think so. Finding the right people
to play in a band with is a pain in
the ass. I mean think of how hard
it is to find that right person to
marry and spend your life with.
Now add to that in a band the
person has to have a specific skill
like guitar or bass. They have to
like what kind music you‟re doing… The list goes on and on.
With this group it was Angelo
and me. Then we added Ro who
was the wife of a coworker. Over
the last three years we have added Larry on guitar and Mark is
our 6th drummer. We‟ve had a
heck of a time with drummers.
But I think we‟ve finally found
our guy. We‟ve been kicking
around the idea of adding a keyboardist but it has mostly been an
internal discussion.
CV WW: What is it about THIS
combination that you think
works so well?
Matt: You know I don‟t know. I
guess finding the right group of
people is a bit like how that judge
described porn. Something along
the lines of you can‟t really define
it but you know it when you see
it. This group of guys just clicks
musically and as people. We all
get along really well. The wives
all get along. Which when you‟re
married and in a band, having
the wives get along is HUGE! No
one wants to deal with that drama.
CV WW: Who do you guys count
as your musical influences?
Matt: As a group we have a very
wide range of influences. Angelo
is a big fan of 70‟s rock like KISS,
Aerosmith and Priest. Larry is
more of a jam band kind of guy
but also like quirky stuff like Zappa. He‟s also a big RUSH fan.
Mark is also a big RUSH fan but
also likes some of the more progressive stuff. Me I‟m a big prog
guy now. But I cut my teeth on
Motown and funk stuff, didn‟t
really get into rock until I was in
about the 8th grade.
CV WW: Have you guys always
wanted to play music, or were
there other interests when you
were younger?
Matt: You know I haven‟t had
this discussion with Larry or
Mark so I don‟t know. But as for
Angelo and I it has always been
music. I remember my dad coming to see me play one time in
San Francisco. I was about 24
and playing in a Latin Rock/
Latin Jazz type band. After the
show he said “This is really what
you want to do with your life, isn‟t it?” I just looked at him. I
mean I‟ve been telling him for
about 20 years that it was what I
wanted to do. Pretty much since I
got my first guitar at age 4.
CV WW: What other bands do
you guys listen to during downtime and relaxation, what’s on
YOUR music player?
Matt: In the times that we have
gone on road trips Mark and Larry overdose on Zappa and
RUSH. Our last few they have
been very heavy on the Zappa.
Angelo likes a lot of Power Metal
like Primal Fear, Kobra and the
Lotus, and of course Judas Priest.
Me, I am pretty heavy prog guy.
Right now on the phone I have
Pagan‟s Mind, Symphony X, An-
dromeda, Circus Maximus and of
course Dream Theater. The play
list is rounded out by some old
and new Accept and some Alcatrazz with both YJM and Vai.
CV WW: What do you hope to
accomplish with your music,
what message do you try to
convey?
Matt: Hmmm good question. My
thought is that there are two
kinds of musicians, one plays because they like to and one plays
because they have to. I am definitely one of the latter. It is such
a part of me as a person. I need
to play in order to keep centered
and to feel normal. If I go too
long without playing I really start
to get stressed out and irritable.
So, creating and playing music I
do first and foremost for myself,
then if people like it, all the better. For what message I guess I
should talk about the writing process. For E2A I write 99% of the
music. Angelo writes 99% of the
lyrics. Sometimes I‟ll have a riff
that I‟ll bring in or (like with
Curse Invoked) Angelo gave me
song titles and I wrote the music
off the song titles. Then Ange finished out the lyrics to tell the story. I guess what I‟m trying to say
is there is no real message other
than “Here is what I was feeling
or thinking at this moment. I
hope you like it.”
CV WW: What motivates the
guys to keep improving, to keep
expanding your horizons as
musicians and a band?
Matt: Funny, Ange and I just
had this conversation last night. I
personally can‟t stand to just sit
and be stagnant musically. I
mean there is ALWAYS something to learn whether it‟s a playing technique, things about my
gear, recording, orchestration,
songwriting… the list goes on
and on. As a musician I listen to
other players like Petrucci or Vai.
You know, guys that have in-
spired me for years. But I also try
to keep up with new players like
Andy James, Marco Sfolgi and
Guthrie Govan. Those guys are
incredible and there is so much to
learn. Really, you listen to those
guys and you are either inspired
to practice and get better or
throw all your gear in the fireplace.
CV WW: Tell us about the Portland music scene - what are
your impressions of local music
there?
Matt: You know Portland is
strange little city. Of course it is
known for the whole indie/alt
scene and strip clubs of course.
And that is still what dominates
the music scene here. But there is
a growing metal scene and some
really good bands. But I don‟t
think it will ever be a harder
rock/metal town. Too many hipsters, hippies and lovers of the
squishy singer songwriter stuff.
HaHaHa
So, as a band we have been made
it a focus to get out of Portland as
much as we can. Pretty much anything within 300 miles is fair
game. It is a time when you regret living out west. Things are so
spread out that even with a 300
mile radius of Portland there are I won‟t play due to various reaonly three other larger metro are- sons but for the most part we just
as: Seattle, Spokane, and Boise. always look forward to the next
show.
CV WW: Do you guys feel any
“friendly competition” with the CV WW: Tell us about a particularly memorable show that reSeattle music scene?
Matt: Ha, another recent conver- ally made it all worthwhile for
sation and the answer is no. To you guys. Now, tell us about a
me it‟s just another city 2.5 hours show that made you think
away with worse traffic than “damm, is this really worth it?”
Matt: Hmmm that‟s a tough one.
Portland.
Honestly, I can‟t think of one
CV WW: How has the response show that made me go “Yes, this
been from the shows you are is it!” Granted there are shows
playing?
that are better than others. We
Matt: The shows always get a have a couple sayings in the
good response. We are more band. One is “Getting closer.”
known for our live show than our Because things are never perfect
studio work. I mean I think the but if we work hard we can get
CD is cool and I put a lot of closer. The other is “One fan at a
blood, sweat and tears into the time.” That‟s how we are buildrelease. But if you really want to ing our fan base, one fan at a
experience E2A I think you need time. So if we are playing a show
to get out to a show.
to the bartender and his dog, they
are going to get as good as a
CV WW: Do you have a favorite show from us as a 10,000 seat
city or venue to play?
arena. And our goal is to make
Matt: The next one. I really like that one person a fan for life.
the venues here in Portland. All
the staff at the local venues treat CV WW: What kind of pressure
us well and do their best to make do you feel, if any, to produce a
us look and sound as good as successful record? How much
they can. There are a couple ven- pressure is there to “produce”
ues, I won‟t mention names, that with every new musical offer-
ing?
Matt: Well I think you feel that
with every recording you do. Or
at least you should. I mean really
who wants to put a piece of shit
recording out there? But, our
pressure is internal since we released the CD on our own label,
Iron Taco. We don‟t have the
concern of a record label executive canceling our project or our
contract. We are in complete
control. Of course that comes
with its own list of pressures like
“How the hell are we going to
pay for all this shit.” and if the
recording sucks musically, mixing whatever, everyone knows
who to blame. HaHaHa
CV WW: Let’s talk about the music industry today...and social
media...music distribution is
much different now, do you see
that as progress? The ability to
market/sell individual songs,
does that benefit the industry
as a whole?
Matt: The music industry,
hmmm. Wow this is a whole
conversation in itself. For starters, the music industry has never
been about the musician. And
this goes back centuries. Musicians, hell artists in general, have
always needed some sort of patron. Bach had the church. Michelangelo had Popes Julius II
and Leo. Mozart had the Archbishop of Salzburg. And since the
50‟s there were the record companies. The issue with the system is
that the musician, although doing
the creating and the performing,
is not the business person. And if
you‟re not a business person,
you‟re gonna get screwed. That‟s
just the way it is.
Now, with social media and digital media, the artist can take com-
plete control of their music. And
you‟re able to get your music our
there via FB, Twitter, Youtube
and all the music sites that pick
up your stuff. I found a couple
sites yesterday that I didn‟t know
existed, that had all our stuff.
This is a plus and a minus. You
may be able to get exposure but
that doesn‟t necessarily translate
into album sales. Music is so accessible that people are not as eager to pay for it anymore. Not
that musicians ever made a lot
from album sales but the industry
as a whole has seen the revenue
stream cut down a lot. So now
you are basically relegated to
touring and merch sales. But then
making a living as a musician has
always been a crapshoot.
CV WW: Sooo, Social Media platforms...savvy PR tools or necessary
evil?
Matt: Both. A necessary evil that
you really need to be savvy at.
CV WW: What is it about your
music that you feel appeals to
fans?
Matt: I would like to think that
people like the groove. Yet are
kept interested by the small time
changes and left turns I try to put
in the songs. I would also hope
that on some level they can relate
to the lyrical content. Ange has a
way of writing that leaves the listener with a lot of room for interpretation and space for their imagination to fill in the gaps.
CVWW: What can fans expect to
see
at
a
show?
Matt: 100% effort! We really try
and give everything we have for
the time that we are up on stage.
And like I said earlier if you really want to experience E2A, you
have to come to a show. Ange is
really fun to watch. I do my best
to keep up but mostly just try to
stay out of his way. Hahaha
CV WW: “CURSE INVOKED”
came out July 3rd, 2014 how
has it been received so far? Tell
us about the process of putting
out a CD - was it harder or easier than you expected? If I read
it right, that was your first “full
length” CD…
Matt: Yea the cd came out in July. It‟s done ok so far considering
outside of a small Portland community we are an unknown band.
Despite that we have sold cd‟s
around the world. I have person-
ally shipped CDs to Columbia,
Brazil, Ireland, Wales, Germany,
Greece… It still amazes me that
these people even know who we
are.
The cd was a lot of work. From
conception to printing was about
16 mos. Even though we had
plenty of material to record I convinced the guys to start from
scratch and write a whole new
album. This was met with blank
stares and disbelief. But I felt that
the older material, while cool,
was not representative of the current lineup. And I really wanted
that new cohesive voice to come
through on the project. There
were too many lineup changes
that occurred over the first three
years that all the songs have a
very different feel.
So with Curse we decided to
write 11 new tunes. Not only 11
new songs but, we decided to do
a concept album about a cursed
serial killer.
So like I said the process was
about 16 months in total. The
drums and vocals were recorded
at Opal Studios here in Portland.
Then all the guitars and bass
were recorded at my home
“studio” which is really just a
computer and a desk where you
have to dodge the kids and the
dog.
Then we went back to Kevin
Hahn at Opal Studios for mixing
and mastering.
It was a lot of work and there are
so many things you have to do
besides just record like promotion
and artwork. The artwork, by the
way, was drawn by Angelo‟s
brother Frank. I think he did a
fabulous job in capturing our ideas and making them real.
CV WW: “Guitars under the
Stars” in Lebanon, OR - were
you a bit intimidated by sharing the stage with some of
those heavy hitters? What, if
anything, were you able to take
away from that experience?
Matt: The whole Guitars festival
was incredible. The two guys that
put the festival on, Jeff and Jason, have cahones the size of
Manhattan. They have put on
other shows in Oregon but nothing of this magnitude. For a first
year festival it turned out really
well.
As far as intimidated, I don‟t
think so. I mean I can only play
the way I play. Maybe nervous
about not playing well is a better
way to describe how I was feeling. I really wanted to play well
and do what I do to the best of
my ability. I‟ll probably never be
a MacAlpine. I mean that guy is
so clean it‟s scary.
What I took away really had
nothing to do with music really
but more had to do with the
sense of community. Getting to
meet Tony MacAlpine was great.
Super cool guy. I also got to
spend some good quality time
with Nilli Brosh, Bruce Boulette,
Gary Hoey, and Larry Mitchell.
That time was really the highlight
of the weekend. Sitting around
drinking beer, talking music and
gear. In getting back to your earlier question about what was a
memorable show that made me
think “yes!” this is so what I
want to do. It would be this
show. Actually you guys should
come out next year. It‟s a great
weekend of music in beautiful
Western
Oregon
in
August.
CV WW: Do any of your songs
speak to you on a deep personal
level?
Matt: You know I think because
I don‟t write the lyrics the songs
have a different meaning to me.
When I think of songs that touch
me on a personal level it‟s normally because of the lyrics. A
song like, this is not going to be
very metal, „Butterfly Kisses” hits
me hard because I have two
daughters (NOTE: the Pres has a
daughter and understands). So
the story in that song really hits a
vulnerable place in my heart. An
instrumental song that touches
me would be the theme from
Schindler‟s List. The melody is so
haunting and Itzak plays it with
such passion. Ugh my stomach is
in a knot just thinking about that
song.
For our songs they are normally
centered around something I
wanted to do musically as opposed to something emotional. I
try and set a mood but as best I
can based on the titles but that‟s
about all I can do.
CV WW: How do you think
you’ve grown as a band and as
musicians?
Matt: I would like to think that
we grow every week. Just getting
more and more used to each other‟s tendencies as players and gelling as a band I think happens
every time we get together. I
hope our song writing continues
to evolve. There is so much to
learn musically about how to set
a mood or set up a chord or key
change. And yet you also have
your own creativity and are really
only limited by your imagination.
As musicians we are constantly
growing. I play things now that I
couldn‟t have done 10 years ago.
Angelo talks about this a lot.
How he had been a “play the
root” kind of bassist. And now I
have him playing inversions and
time changes. I told him on the
next cd he going to have to learn
some tapping riffs. I got the stink neering income. Our goal over
eye for that. HaHaHa
the next 3-5 years would be to
record a few more cd‟s and to
CV WW: Do you think you’d do
break into the overseas market.
anything different up to this
Play some of those festivals in
point, give the wisdom of time?
Europe. That would be so aweWhat would you tell a younger
some!
version of yourself?
Matt: Take more chances. That CV WW: Okay, what’s in store
would be my advice. I‟ve always for the remainder of 2014 and
been a fairly safe guy. Methodi- into 2015? What other big procal. I‟m not very emotional. And jects are in the works?
I think I missed out on some op- Matt: Well we have one last
portunities because of that. On show in December here in Portthe other side my life now is land. We are going to be pergreat. I have an awesome wife forming Curse in its entirety
that I‟ll be married to for 20 years along with some older stuff. Set
come December and two daugh- timed out at a little over 90 min
ters that are the world to me. So for 17 songs. So it should be a
maybe I did make all the right pretty epic night. For 2015 it‟s
play, play, play. January is the
choices.
annual trip to Anaheim for
CV WW: Where do you think you NAMM. It‟s always a great party
are in the journey of Earth to and a chance to meet up with
Ashes? Where do you see the people from all over that you
band in 3-5 years? Idealistic don‟t get to hang out with very
and realistic?
often. We have also started preMatt: Idealistic, we are the next production on 11 of the older
Iron Maiden!! HaHaHa Really tunes. And release that CD hopethe goal would be to be able to fully before Xmas. All the while
play music full time. But realisti- writing the next CD. We have a
cally to break even at the end of few tunes written already but I
the year would be great; to be don‟t see those songs getting recable to support the band off the orded until late 2015 early 2016.
band income and not my Engi-
CVWW: Any final words you
would like to convey to your
fans?
Matt: If you‟re in the NW and
can get out to a show please do.
We really enjoy meeting and talking to people. If you‟re somewhere else in the world stop by
the FB page or the website and
post something even if it‟s just
“Hi” The beauty of the internet is
being able to make and keep connections, so let‟s do that.
EARTH TO ASHES
Facebook
ReverbNation
5 Ways to Convince Your Girlfriend to
Let You Ride A Motorcycle
from AskMen.com, reprinted with permission
You’ve got that itch to
get out of your cage on wheels
and experience the world for
what it is. Some way or another, you’ve realized that
"operating" a car is like watching reality television on steroids -- only the couch moves
and the sound system is
(possibly) better. But the question is: How do you convince
your girl to let you ride on two
wheels without foregoing intimacy for a week, or a month
or… ever?
The answer requires art
and science, plus a little bit of
luck. Whatever combination
turns out to work for you,
there is something to be said
for appealing to both her rational and emotional sides,
with a little bit of nostalgia
thrown in for good measure.
So here are five ways to help
you convince her to let you live
the good life on two wheels.
All The Cool Dudes Are
Doing It
Elvis
Presley,
Steve
McQueen and James Dean all
earned their leather jackets.
Brad Pitt rides with Angelina
across various countries with
various quasi-adopted children.
Shaquille O’Neil and Arnold Schwarzenegger are both
badasses on motorbikes. Tom
Cruise made the Ninja iconic in
Top Gun. Ben Affleck rides
(perhaps with his Oscar in his
backpack), while Ryan Gosling
uses one as a quick escape
from the pre-teen hordes who
hound him to relive various
scenes from The Notebook.
George Clooney looks better
on one than he did in Ocean’s
Eleven. Ewan McGregor, aka
Obi-Wan Kenobi, uses it to tap
into the force and run over
dark Lords of the Sith (known
in Hollywood as PR professionals). Harrison Ford had
one, which makes up for his
horrible fourth Indy moviein
Hollywood as PR professionals). Harrison Ford had one,
which makes up for his horrible fourth Indy movie. James
Bond has been known to ride
in a tux. Jay Leno owns more
than I care to count. Michael
Jordan straddled an engine, as
did Charles Lindbergh, Clint
Eastwood, Lawrence of Arabia,
Marlon Brando and Bob Dylan.
Hell, even Fabio knows what’s
up.
economy, perhaps you should
point out that motorcycles
save you money, both up front
and in the long term. To start
with the obvious, there’s the
typical price of buying new.
While a top-of-the-line 2013
Kawasaki ZX-6R will set you
back $12,699, a stock Toyota
Corolla will cost you $16,230.
One of these goes 0-60 in a
matter of seconds; one makes
sure you won’t get laid on a
first date. You can often pick
up a decent used bike for anywhere between $2,000 and
$4,000, or a brand-new entrylevel bike in the 300 cc category for around $5,000. The only
used car I know that costs
$2,000 has a giant dildo attached to the hood, as seen in
the very adept comedy Idiocracy. Then there’s the insurance
factor. Insuring my bike costs a
grand total of about $200 per
year.
Finally, you can talk
about gas. A tank that can take
you 200 miles costs $14 to fill
up, with premium. The result:
You can take her on a romantic
trip to Paris. Or buy her jewelry, or other things that actually
matter more than jewelry. Like
a microwave oven. That statement is not chauvinistic if your
girl likes to cook. Which, if
true, means you should probably also buy her a ring with all
More Money To Spend On your savings.
Her
riding with a cape might be a
little much, but rolling up to
the party in full leathers is
completely acceptable. If you
want to get her thinking about
how good you’ll look in front
of her friends, take her to your
nearest bike shop and put on a
helmet and some body armorreinforced leathers. Dare her
to tell you that you don’t look
like the modern day equivalent
of a knight. The advances in
motorcycle gear these days often give you the appearance of
sporting a Halo suit. So, if you
ever find yourself in a tough
spot, needing to back up a buddy or defend your girl’s honor,
you’ve got a leg up on anybody
who’s dumb enough to try and
touch you. Then there’s the
whole saving the planet thing.
Better MPG means your carbon footprint isn’t nearly as
big as that bro in his raised
truck or even the chick in the
Mazda 3. In other words,
you’ve got that Captain Planet
thing going on.
In the extremely rare Everybody Wants to Date a
case you’re not making mil- Superhero
Time Is Important
lions in this super-awesome
Unless you’re Batman,
Time is money and mon-
5 Ways to Convince Your Girlfriend to Let You Ride A Motorcycle (cont)
likely be this hater tomorrow.
The Ultimate Sell…
Take Her For A Ride
ey is time, but if you had to
pick one, it seems that time is
the thing we never have
enough of. So instead of wasting two hours of your life every day commuting in traffic, it
might be a good idea to highlight how much time you’ll
save (and get to spend with
her) if you commute on a bike
rather than in a car. This will
also help with your anger management issues, as you’ll be
less apt to succumb to road
rage due to grandma and
grandpa chilling in the fast
lane. Trust me when I say this:
There’s nothing better than
zooming by hundreds of people sitting in bumper-tobumper traffic who all inherently hate you and want to be
you. (DISCLAIMER: Lanesplitting is only legal if you live
in California.) You’ve probably
been this hater yourself. Unless you get a bike, you’ll most
That means no popping
wheelies between semis. The
thrill of riding will be such that
her arms will automatically
wrap around you. If you’re
good, you’ll be rewarded in the
end for being a time-, moneyand planet-saving superhero
whose alter-ego is named Elvis
Schwarzenegger of Arabia.
In Toto...
If you really think you’re
a minivan type of guy, then you
shouldn’t have started reading
this article in the first place.
But if you’re serious about exploring the two-wheel lifestyle,
then you best get out there.
Life is short and all too often
people go their entire lives
without really living. So swing
a leg over an iron steed and enjoy the wind in your face. If
she’s worth it, she’ll understand.
It’s easy to be against
riding motorcycles, until you
ride one, that is. The best sell:
have her hop on the back
(after you’re experienced
enough to handle her added
weight, of course). The easiest
way to make this happen
might simply be to roll up to
her house with an extra helmet. If she’s the adventurous
type, she’ll hop right on. If she
AskMen.com
requires a little more convincing, you might need to use
But if she doesn’t and all
those crazy good negotiating else fails, there’s always Plan
skills you’ve perfected through B...good luck with that...
your parents, or guilt her into
giving it a shot so you’ll finally
forgive her for that time she
went out with her girlfriends
to Chippendales. Whatever
method you use, make sure
you don’t act like a total jackass when she’s riding pillion.
Gear the Pros Use!
Allegra Granite Drum kit
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22" kick drum
10" rack tom
12" rack tom
13" floor tom
15" floor tom
13" snare
Zildjian Cymbals
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Born and raised right here in Portland,
Oregon, Mark was gifted with his first drum
set when he was only 5 years old! His early
influences were Motown and the Beatles,
then he heard Led Zeppelin and Rush, and
the rest is history. He started playing seriously at age 14, with his brother Rick on the
bass. He has played in a variety of bands, including Sacred Ties, Burn Again Mission, Josephine Ocean, Cement, and Sky Blue Mind,
to name a few.
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15" Zildjian Custom A crash
16" Zildjian Custom A crash
18" Zildjian Custom A crash
22" Zildjian Ping ride
20" Zildjian China
8" Zildjian splash
10" Zildjian splash
8" Zildjian bell
13" Zildjian hi hat
DW 8000 DP pedal
DW Hi hat stand
DW Hardware and DW 9000 cymbal stands
Pork Pie throne
Vic Firth 5A Hickory sticks
Remo heads
Mark took time off from playing live a
couple years after getting married to his wife
Jennifer in 2000. He continued to practice
and did some studio work. He was lured back
into playing live at the Monsters of Rock initial show at Dante's in 2012. Hooked up with
Larry at the 3rd MOR show in February of
2013, which eventually led him to Earth to
Ashes.