Flat Tires Featured In Latest Episodes of Cafe Racer TV

Cafe Racer TV has been an amazing series so far. From the different types of builds to the varying characters finding new angles and ideas to create killer machines, the show is just damn cool. One of the best aspects in our minds overall though is how down to earth everyone appears to be. Ego is abundant anywhere and everywhere, but the show has done such a great job of really honing in on the distinct personalities of the builders, creating a timeless series. Huge congrats to all of those involved to make the show happen and we are even more proud of the fact that Flat Tires and Reno Divorce have both had music featured in the series.

While they are airing currently, do your best to check out Season 3 episodes 11 and 12 and hear some music from the Flat Tires while Stan Lipert is racing his vintage Honda 350.

Dig into all that is Cafe Racer TV

Cafe Racer TV - Season 3, features music from the Flat Tires

Ready To Bleed For Your Craft?

How jealous are you of those viral video stars who rack up millions upon millions of plays on youtube? Oh yeah, you can play far better than them or maybe they have never toured and lived on $5 bucks a day per diem. Are they are smarter than you? In much simpler terms they figured out how to be heard. Maybe its a fleeting marketing pitch on their part, but it does work in certain regards, same as the Snuggie captured attention for a few months and became a pop culture phenom.

We can sit around with some cold beers or over coffee and talk ideas all day, on how to best get the word out to the masses. Don't forget the biggest piece of the entire puzzle, at any time. Write great music and the crowds will follow. Shit, how easy is that to say and still seem like great advice? The truth will set you free and in this case it boils down to leveraging talent, skill and plain ol' street smarts to be heard.

There is no exact path, except hard work and a dedication to your craft. If you truly believe that your music needs to be heard and this career path for which you were born to live, then bleed for it. Honesty and integrity are severely lacking in this "gimme" and disposable culture, which we live in now. Create something with a long a shelf life and truly believe in it, for that is just step one.

After hearing our diatribe, listen to Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins lay it down. Here is a dude that has been there and done that. Can you measure up?

Link to original article on Mashable.com

"As guitarist and co-founder of the Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan was at the forefront of one of the most important music movements in recent history. And he’s not finished. The Pumpkins have a new album coming out in June, and Corgan is splitting time between music and helping artists take back control from labels. He wants talented musicians to have more lucrative careers and engage their fans. At the same time, he’s calling on fans — who play a more critical role in artist success than ever before — to invest in the artists they love.


Corgan, who’s no stranger to controversy, believes that the music industry is currently structured to prevent artists from achieving the type of success his band enjoyed. In fact, Corgan doesn’t believe the Pumpkins could achieve the success they have, or anything close to it, if they debuted now.


In March, Billy and I took the stage together at SXSW Interactive and for a discussion that sent a series of shockwaves throughout the music industry. As he said in Austin, artists are becoming much like sex workers — once you’ve scored a record deal, “you’re just the fresh stripper.”


Sensationalism aside, his point is that both artists and fans must assume responsibility for the future of music if it is to mean something more than viral videos and hit singles. This is about engagement. This is about sustained relevance.


While we were in Austin, we took some time to also record the season three premiere episode of Revolution."

Become the best at what you do to be remembered

Social Music Mash Up Gaming, Is It The New Guitar Hero?

For all of there nerds out there such as ourselves who dig understanding social media and where technology is heading, constantly keep in the back of your mind, video games. Now don't think of the adventure games that suck you into a time warp and make days go by where your identity then becomes something in the realm of DragonSlayer666 or CultOfAragorn. Rather think on the apps that you use on phones or with Facebook.

If you have seen the data on the use of apps and the amount of users, what is most compelling is how games are top of the food chain. We get hit up often about creating a Rusty Knuckles music app or one for the bands, but in all honesty, the traffic just isn't there. But, this is where a company such as Songster is taking things in the direction that Guitar Hero did a few years back. Their plan of attack is stupid simple. Pair up gaming and music to create mashups and let it reside in the world of Facebook. Read on it more below and see what ya think. 

Gaming dominates mobile apps - Link to article

Link to Songster

Original article below found on Mashable

Songster launched this week through Facebook

"Dr. Dre never had it this easy. Music-creation social site, Songster, launched at SXSW on Wednesday for the music portion of the conference. Songster lets you feel like a musician and mix various beats and vocals to make your own tracks.


To access the game, you need to sign-in with your Facebook account. Songster lets users chose from rap, rock and alternative music to mash together and create their own song. Users can share their tracks on Facebook and connect with other Songster players. Players can also use virtual coins to progress to bigger and better gigs. The virtual venues can be selected from a cartoon map.


Songster is the first game by Atlanta-based startup, Mowgli. Founder and CEO Marshall Seese, Jr. came from a legal background, practicing entertainment and technology law for seven years while balancing that with his own music career (Seese is a musician, too). He combined his expertise in entertainment and passion for making music to create Songster.


“As a musician, I’m really passionate about people connecting through music,” he told Mashable. “So I wanted to enable anyone to make great songs, not just sounds. Social gaming seemed like a great fit because it embraces user creation.”


Players can step in the shoes of a struggling musician (as least virtually) and work their way up the ranks of the music industry. Players start by doing gigs at frat parties and eventually arenas — depending on how well they do. Because music is so subjective, Seese said, they plan to track the success of a song by how many “Likes” and comments it gets rather than an AI component. The feedback songs receive will translate to virtual record sales, enabling players to progress faster through the game based on how popular their songs become.


As more players join, the team at Mowgli can work out any issues and add more features such as charts, which will be available within the next couple of months. Players will be able to see how their songs compare against their friends’ songs based on shares and “Likes.”


Currently, Songster is in beta but it’s open to the public now. The game is free for everyone.
“Most song packs can be bought for in-game currency, which can be earned by playing the game,” Seese said. “Only premium features and unlocking things early costs money at this point.”"

Fast Women, Fast Cars and A Bank Heist, Need More?

Vimeo never ceases to be a great source of entertainment, especially when it comes to high end film making and more specifically music videos. In one of our many random searches we found this video by Puretone and the hottie singer, Amiel. Keystone cops chasing gorgeous females is easy on the eyes, so dive in, as Mad Max lives on in the chase seen...

Is Mad Max just a character played by Mel Gibson or his true self?

Puretone | Addicted To Bass | Music Video from Fastback Films on Vimeo.

Link to more on Amiel Daemion

Amiel Daemion, Australian actress and singer

News And Updates From Banjo Buck Thrailkill

Our good buddy Buck Thrailkill recently posted up his newsletter and after reading it, we realized just how much cool stuff he has going on and wanted to get it out to the masses. If you haven't heard much of Buck's banjo pickin', you are in for some amazing songs this year. With feature releases coming up with us and Farmageddon this year, Buck will be hitting stages across the country and showing how a banjo should be played.

Link to Buck Thrailkill on Facebook

Banjo Buck Thrailkill

"Hi Everyone, I hope you all had an AWESOME February... 

The NEWS just keeps coming for you so here we go...

There will be a lot of new recordings coming out this spring and fall with all of the groups I am involved with. There is also bunches and bunches of new merch, t-shirts, mugs, and more coming in. Almost have the song list finished for the SOLO Album. I have one more piece to finish writing, which will also be on the new album with Ronnie Hymes and Frank Ehlinger this summer from Rusty Knuckles Record Label. I also had the honor be being asked to record a track for upcoming artist Larry Frick for his new album. Check his band out. They are awesome.... And a true honor is going to be to record with my dear friend Erik Smallwood this year. His latest album 'You Love' just came out in January so please go check his incredible sound out with Neil Ray and many other guest artist.

Still want to make this year big on getting my ReverbNation page and Facebook Pages out and I will need your help getting as many email addresses as I can here, as well as the Venue's and other Band's ReverbNation pages. So help get the word out for the News Letters, Seasonal Letters, Gig Updates for Special shows, and so folks have an easy way to access me to send ideas for music, merch, or whatever. You can also contact my good friend Sheila Barker at Ready to Roll Street Team on Reverb or Facebook for information as well.

Working in 'Ronnie Hymes and Carolina Freight', with Ronnie Hymes and Frank Ehlinger, we finished and released a brand new demo CD called '5 Tracks' back in January. You can go to our ReverbNation page to have a listen or on the Reverb Store and purchase the song and/or ringtone for any of the tracks you like. We just finished up recording our New Album coming our summer via The Rusty Knuckles Record Label with almost all new original tunes written by us and a few friends. We also have some great GIG dates coming in March and April around the Carolina's. 

Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight, Rusty Knuckles © 2012

Coming up:

Thu Mar 1 2012 - Hellbound Glory

The Black Cat Lounge-Fayetteville, NC

Sat Mar 10 2012 - Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

Puckett’s Farm Equipment- Charlotte, NC

Sat Mar 24 2012 -  D.B. Bryant Band

Buckshot’s-Salisbury, NC

Fri Mar 30 2012 -  Billy Don Burns

The Black Cat Lounge-Fayetteville, NC

Sat Apr 7 2012 - Polecat Fisher & The Rank Strangers

Main Street Pub & Deli-Marion, NC

Fri Apr 20 2012 - Ronnie Hymes & Carolina Freight

The Twisted Spoke-Pendleton, SC

Be sure to check the show dates on my ReverbNation page as well as RH&CF's ReverbNation Page. There is also new merch from the Freight as well so check us out...

Working in 'JB Beverley and The Wayward Drifters', with JB Beverley and Frank Ehlinger, we have a brand new CD in the recording works right now of all originals that will be available from Farmageddon Records by the spring/summer as well as some really awesome GIG dates coming up. Farmageddon Music Fest 2012 in Montana is coing up this year for the first annual. Already have an incredible line up. Also the 3rd Annual Muddy Roots Music Fest in Tennessee in September. BIG NEWS HERE. Dr. Ralph Stanley will be preforming at MRMF 2012. One of my all-time banjo hero's!!! 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this mail and please fell free to send to your friends and ask them to check out some or all the projects for 2012.

Have a BANJOWONDERFUL Day...... Buck sends..."

5 Alternatives to Consider After Spotify’s Free Music Cutoff From Mashable.com

Is your Spotify free account service about to run out similar to ours? Well friends there are quite a few options for ya. If you are like us, then you have already been naturally listening to the FREE stations on Itunes Radio for years. Or better yet, hopefully you are enlisted with Sirius XM satellite radio. That will be a service we continue to pay for as its for home, shop and most of all mobile. 

Spotify is definitely a great service and it has been quite enjoyable to listen to whatever pops in mind but we are definitely in league with quite a few other labels and artists on the front of, where are all the dollars going. Their streaming rates don't account for much in revenue and we get the monthly proof, but it is a shit ton better than other places who don't bother to pay at all. This is sort of like many of the other labels out there who have never paid their bands or told them they didn't sell squat in streaming or downloads. Spotify is an amazing product and we really hope that it will continue to get better.

Folks its a brave new world for digital music so do yourself a favor most of all, get out to see bands live and continue to support them by buying their music directly from the bands themselves or their stores. These funds go directly back to the bands who will then continue to create the music we all enjoy hearing.

Link to original article on Mashable.com 

If you’re an early Spotify user, you may be looking for a new, free music-streaming service as Spotify’s six months of free listening comes to an end.

Trendsetting music lovers who signed up for Spotify when it first hit the U.S. on July 14, 2011 will soon encounter roadblocks. For instance, come the six-month deadline to switch to Spotify Unlimited ($4.99 per month) or Spotify Premium ($9.99 per month), Spotify users will only be able to play their favorite songs a maximum of five times, and free streaming will cap at 10 hours per month.
It’s no doubt the unlimited access to a huge library of music — about 15 million tracks — is one of the features that loyal Spotify users love.





SEE ALSO: Shazam’s New App Wants to Be Your Music Player  
Other features include the ability to make playlists of favorite songs (up to 10,000 tracks per list) and social integration to Facebook. Songs you play automatically display on your Facebook Timeline and desktop sidebar. Plus, access content via share buttons and a convenient search bar. With Spotify Premium, users enjoy an offline mode, which means they can listen to playlists on the plane, train or beach. Finally, radio stations specifically tailor to a user’s specific artist or genre preferences.
As fun and convenient as Spotify is, for many, the honeymoon phase is over with the service’s free music cutoff. Here are five free music-streaming websites and applications that act as alternatives to Spotify.

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1. Grooveshark

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Grooveshark interface screenshot

Grooveshark is a comparable service that provides free on-demand music streaming with ads. Over 30 million people use Grooveshark globally.

How it compares to Spotify: Comparable features include the option to share songs or playlists with friends on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and other social networking platforms. Like Spotify, Grooveshark offers a downloadable desktop application. Other capabilities include radio-streaming and uploading your own music. Grooveshark also offers song and artist suggestions related to your listening habits.

Differences: Since anyone can upload music to Grooveshark, audio quality of tracks may vary. With Grooveshark, there is no monthly limit for free accounts, as opposed to the 10-hour cap soon to occur on Spotify. However, ads play on both systems.
Size of Music Library: Over 7 Million Songs

Paid Options: Grooveshark-Plus ($6 per month) provides unlimited, ad-free listening. New application Grooveshark-Anywhere offers to-go music streaming at $9 per month.
Mobile Availability: Free radio streaming or on-demand access to music with paid subscription for Android, Nokia, Palm, Blackberry and “jailbroken iPhones,” as listed on Grooveshark’s website.

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2. Pandora

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Pandora interface screenshot

Pandora‘s desktop and mobile free radio-style music-streaming service provides tailored sets of tunes based on the artist or track you input.

How it compares to Spotify: Pandora allows users to easily listen without having to search for tracks or create a playlist. “The Music Genome Project” behind Pandora generates music related to your search terms. The radio will tweak itself according to your thumbs-up or thumbs-down ratings. However, there are limits to songs skipped per hour. Pandora’s social sharing capabilities are pretty weak compared to Spotify’s wide range of Facebook, Twitter and Messenger capabilities.

Differences: Spotify is clearly better if you want a wide selection of on-demand music streaming. Pandora Internet radio plays from a smaller collection of 700,000 songs, compared to Spotify’s 15 million-song vault.

Size of Music Library: 700,000 tracks

Paid Options: Pandora One ($36 per year) comes with unlimited music play, higher-quality audio, unlimited song skips and no advertisements.

Mobile Availability: Free radio streaming and premium listening via Pandora One options are available on Android 1.6 and later, BlackBerry, iPhone, iPod touch and Palm Pre devices.

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3. Rdio

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Rdio interface screenshot

Rdio is a desktop music streaming application that allows new users in the U.S. to access ad-free, on-demand music streaming for an undisclosed amount of time a month. From the co-creators of Skype, Rdio began to offer Rdio Free with a set amount of ad-free, free on-demand music with its Facebook integration in October 2011.

How it compares to Spotify: Both non-paying users of Rdio and Spotify can play music on-demand, share their playlists and favorite songs on numerous social networking websites, receive music recommendations and listen to artist-tailored radio stations. We like how Rdio and Spotify allow free users to browse and listen to top tracks lists, albums and new releases.

Differences: Rdio Free comes ad-free and on-demand, whereas Spotify plays ads in between song sets. The company will not disclose how much time is free for users who opt out of the premium service. Rdio states, “We’d rather do it this way than bombard people with ads…When you run out of free music in any given month, you can choose to upgrade to any of Rdio’s existing pricing plans or start free anew the following month.”

Size of Music Library: 12 million songs
Paid Options: Rdio Web ($4.99 per month) offers unlimited web streaming from browser or desktop platforms. Rdio Unlimited ($9.99 a month) offers unlimited web streaming plus unlimited mobile streaming. Unlimited Family ($17.99) offers two unlimited web and phone subscriptions.

Mobile Availability: Available on iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android 1.6 or higher, Windows Phone 7 devices and Blackberry phones.

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4. MOG FreePlay

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Mog interface screenshot

MOG FreePlay is the free version of its original subscription-required application.

How it compares to Spotify: Like Spotify, MOG FreePlay offers free music streaming with ads. However, for 60 days, new users can listen to MOG FreePlay without ads. Similar to Spotify, MOG FreePlay logs users in through Facebook and shares music with friends. The service provides recommendations based on bands and artists you have Liked on Facebook. Both players have options to create playlists, favorite songs and much more.

Differences: MOG FreePlay also offers an undisclosed amount of play, like Rdio; however, this platform gives you a chance to earn more free music every month by earning points for inviting friends to join MOG.

Size of Music Library: 13 million songs

Paid Options: Paid options for unlimited music include a MOG Basic plan ($4.99 per month), which comes with unlimited, on-demand music for your computer, sans mobile access. The MOG Primo plan for $9.99 per month comes with computer and mobile access and unlimited streaming to your phone.

Mobile Availability: Only available through Primo plan to iPhone, iPod Touch and Android phones.

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5. YouTube

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Youtube interface screenshot

While YouTube is a video player, we recommend using YouTube for free, on-demand music streaming if you love listening to songs on-demand. You can use YouTube Disco to find songs by artist. A search for Beyonce turned up 100 videos, mostly from her official VEVO site.

How it compares to Spotify: Create playlists of your favorite songs for listening at work or play. You can also easily share YouTube videos on various social networking platforms.

Differences: Listening to music on-demand on YouTube may be more work — you will have to search for songs to listen to them. However, access plenty of playlists others have pre-packaged.

Mobile Availability: YouTube’s pre-installed application works on Android and iOS devices. Downloads are also available on Windows Phones. Web-based versions are available for most smartphones.

What music streaming applications or services do you use? How do they compare with Spotify? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Image courtesy of Flickr, Andreas Blixt

The Story Of American Folk Music Part 1

What is Americana? What is truly being "American"? For those of you whose grandparents or parents are first generation American, or second generation, how about this, take a step back and think on why your family emigrated here. For those of us whose families have been here for hundreds or thousands of of years, we need to step back and analyze why and who we are in the midst of this new history, for which we are our own guides. Our brick and mortar familial foundations, have become the binder to build upon these great shores, but it is within all of us to become something bigger.

To become something bigger, I believe is the tenement of Americana Folk Music. The notion that the greater good or the vast amount of folks want to create a change that is for the benefit of society as a whole. Was Bob Dylan wrong in saying "There's no black and white, left and right to me anymore; there's only up and down and down is very close to the ground. And I'm trying to go up without thinking about anything trivial such as politics. They has got nothing to do with it. I'm thinking about the general people and when they get hurt." 

It is these notions which drive change. The type of change which is felt within music, within creativity and within politics. So ya wanna make change, dig within yourself to start.

This type of change defined what we know now as the American movement

Shooter Jennings Top Albums Of 2011

Sirius XM Radio is an amazing medium for all the music we enjoy. In a few clicks we can pop on any station we enjoy and hear quite the variety of music to which we leave going all day. As soon as we started to hear Shooter playing Hellbound Glory on the outlaw country channel we knew many folks far and wide would really tune into the sound of Reno's finest. 

As we know it, terrestrial radio or FM is for the most part dead. Our local rock station has fired all of its DJ's and we have heard far better playlists on college stations for years rather than what is considered mainstream. When bands ask where their music can be heard, the best place I want to tell them is live. Online radio is just one format but its flat and lacks the pure connection that live shows have with an audience. Bands now have to go full circle and take their music into the venues and clubs to win fans one by one and use social media as just another tool, not the be all end all.

We thank folks such as Shooter Jennings for his continual promotion of great bands such as Hellbound Glory and cluing his listeners in to their music. Below is his write up on Hellbound Glory's, Damaged Goods as one of his top ten picks of 2011.

Link to original article over on MoonRunners

Hellbound Glory - Bastard Child by RustyKnuckles

Shooter Jennings votes for Hellbound Glory as one his top albums for 2011

"As for Hellbound Glory, well then right after I'd gotten comfortable with Scott's record, in comes "Damaged Goods". Like a Merle Haggard record for the apocalypse. This record is proof why Leroy Virgil will transcend the underground scene based on his writing alone. It wouldn't surprise me if this dude's songs were being covered by contemporary country artists in the years to come. The danger he exudes in his words and the inventiveness and smarts when it comes to writing traditional country music with a twist of the ugly modern world gives Mr. Virgil quite the leg up on most. Plus he's got just enough Hank Jr. to appeal to the fans of the photocopy-of-a-photocopy-of-a-photocopy of Hank Jr guys that are currently topping the charts.  Either way, the band rules, the singer has a great voice and the songs are top shelf. I'd advise both of these albums as MUST-HAVE-STOCKING-STUFFERS." - Shooter Jennings

Jay Berndt Featured On New Releases Now

As hard as it is to get press in our currently flooded market of new bands and artists on the rise, Jay Berndt is a one man army and true musician's, musician. After being featured on the Itunes New and Noteworthy charts for over three weeks, his cover track of Waylon Jennings "Lonesome On'Ry and Mean" is now being picked up as a single world wide. We couldn't be more proud to be working with Jay Berndt for a few years now and look forward to all his new projects.

Link to New Releases Now for more info

Jay Berndt featured on New Releases Now for "Lonesome On'ry and Mean" Digital Single

Todd McLellan's Photos In Motion

Tinkerers we all may be, but how well do we really understand how a camera works? Leave it to a photographer who enjoys gadgetry to create some amazing pictures of items with a plethora of moving parts. Taking things apart and putting them back together has been a life long hobby of ours and seeing the work of someone such as Todd McLellan takes tinkering to another level visually. His photos seem quite scientific in their approach and then the explosion of parts images seem to be a sort of cubist series of paintings in which hyper reality is the real medium of choice. Really dig the work and check out his site.

Todd McLellan Photography

Flip Clock in pieces - Todd McLellan Photography

Vintage lawn mower in pieces - Todd McLellan Photography

Flip Clock exploded view - Todd McLellan Photography

Vintage lawn mower exploded view - Todd McLellan Photography

Vintage Pentax Camera exploded view - Todd McLellan Photography

Vintage Pentax Camera in pieces - Todd McLellan Photography

Old Clock in exploded view - Todd McLellan Photography

Old Clock in pieces - Todd McLellan Photography

Samurais, Blood Shed and Animated Movies From Rusty Knuckles

We have a HUGE new project in the works and 2012 is already stepping up to be our biggest year within Rusty Knuckles to date. Not only are we working on our first animated video but it is also for an amazing metal band that will be signing to our music label. Many details will be coming up and in a few days we will be showing a teaser video, but for now here are two images to get the ball rolling...

White pastel pencil on black paper for Samurai mask

White pastel pencil on black paper for Samurai mask - detail

Rdio Starts Free Streaming Music

Have yall heard of Rdio? If not, well dive in. Rdio is a streaming content platform that is now offering its content for FREE, yes FREE. Now we all understand that nothing great lasts forever so if you start to enjoy the program they are offering various levels of enjoyment, but definitely give it a shot.


Link to original post from Mashable.com

Rdio users in the U.S. have just been given a huge gift: free music streaming privileges.

The streaming-music startup announced its free, on-demand music offering Thursday, touting it as the only ad-free, zero-cost plan available in the U.S. market.

Members can now stream any of Rdio’s more then 12 million tracks free of charge — until they cross an undefined threshold for the month. A green meter atop the user profile will track usage and give the user a visual, albeit mostly ambiguous rendering of how much free streaming she has left each month.

The amount of free music will vary per user and will depend on a number of factors, Rdio says.

Rdio’s free access plan is available to users on the web and via its desktop application. Users can choose to upgrade to the Rdio Web plan for unlimited streaming via browser or desktop for $4.99 a month, or they can purchase Rdio Unlimited for $9.99 a month and receive mobile streaming privileges as well.

The free access plan keeps the startup — brought to you by the founders of Skype — competitive with Spotify and MOG. It should also help Rdio appeal to the 800 million Facebookers who might happen upon any of its tracks via Facebook ticker.

Evolution of Music - Statistics

Cool video created by pr and social media firm SimplyZesty talking about the evolution of music through statistics, found on mashable.com

"PR firm SimplyZesty manages to cram the evolution of digital distribution into a punchy three-minute video. Starting in 1970, the video tracks the rise of digital sales, the fall of vinyl, piracy and major milestones like Michael Jackson’s video for “Billie Jean” and the most expensive guitar ever sold (a Fender Stratocaster for $2.7 million). In truth, the video is less the “evolution” of music and more an interactive infographic that highlights the uncomfortable balance between the music industry and its digital challengers. The video clearly serves to hype SimplyZesty’s ability to make cool videos, but it’s also a nice little rip through how drastically different the music industry now is."