Tubalr - Find Videos Easily For Bands You Dig

Sick of digging diggin' through youtube crap and not being able to find exactly the video you were after? Do ya want to just listen to one bands videos and see what they are all about? Well hell hombre, we have found the new aggregator for ya, check out Tubalr. 

Here is what they say about their service, "Howdy, friend, wondering what Tubalr is? Tubalr allows you to effortlessly listen to a band's or artist's top YouTube videos without all the clutter YouTube brings. To get started just type a band's or artist's name into the search box and select only or similar. Oh, and if you're interested in saving your favorite videos, register an account, it's easy!"

So dive in, rock out and turn off that cable box with horrible commercials

Check out Tubalr

Typed in "Crank County Daredevils" into Tubalr for their video selection

Hellbound Glory Tops Farce The Music's Top Albums Of 2011

"The boys went and growed up on us. While Hellbound Glory is still infatuated with the darker subjects - addiction, dysfunctional families and death, in particular - their songwriting has improved a great deal since their last album. Not that it was ever bad. It's just that this time around the songs are better developed. The hooks are hookier and the subject matter comes across more naturally - it no longer feels like they're trying to shoehorn in every deviant behavior and curse word they can, just because they can. This is a band on the rise and with material this good, they may eventually break down the wall between alt and country. Best tracks: Better Hope You Die Young, Knocked Off the Horse." - Farce The Music

Link over to Farce The Music

Hellbound Glory featured in Farce The Music's 2011 Top Ten List

The Full List of Farce The Music's Best of 2011

1. The Damn Quails - Down the Hatch My tastes were more oriented towards roots-music this year than any in recent memory and The Damn Quails put out a stunning debut that satisfied my yearnings like no other. The unique voices of Bryon and Gabriel combine for divine harmonies and their writing is the class of contemporary bands that fall into the "red dirt" scene, or nearly any scene for that matter. There isn't a weak song on the offering and what's more, nearly every tune spent time lodged in my brain on replay at one point or another. Brilliant work, epic even. Best songs: All of them, but if you must have 1 or 2 …"Fool's Gold" and "Mary" always slay me.

2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest Wrapped around the undeniable song of the year, "Codeine," is an album that more than pulls its own weight. Isbell fans may have hoped for something louder, but what they got was an artist-defining gem of a southern rock and soul record. Strong lyrics, excellent musicianship and plenty of easy-to-love melodies make this an album most anyone can appreciate, and true music lovers will adore. Best tracks: Codeine, Alabama Pines.

3. Hellbound Glory - Damaged Goods The boys went and growed up on us. While Hellbound Glory is still infatuated with the darker subjects - addiction, dysfunctional families and death, in particular - their songwriting has improved a great deal since their last album. Not that it was ever bad. It's just that this time around the songs are better developed. The hooks are hookier and the subject matter comes across more naturally - it no longer feels like they're trying to shoehorn in every deviant behavior and curse word they can, just because they can. This is a band on the rise and with material this good, they may eventually break down the wall between alt and country. Best tracks: Better Hope You Die Young, Knocked Off the Horse.

4. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO What else is there to say about Hayes? Rapier wit. Songwriting that recalls the greats of country and folk music. Memorable, affable voice. Actually has something to say. Just enough weirdness to keep him a little mysterious. Check, to all of those. This guy's the real deal; one of the few artists I'll buy an album from without hearing a single note. He never disappoints, never rests on his accolades. Thanks for another winner, Hayes! Best tracks: Another Like You, Chances Are.

5. Jimbo Mathus - Confederate Buddha Jimbo calls this "catfish music," and I see no better way to describe it. Confederate Buddha is a melting pot for southern music - R&B, rock, folk, country and swamp soul, all mixed, matched and sifted out at different times on the record. Mathus' writing is in turns poetic, straight-forward or abstract, all expertly crafted and emotionally performed. Best tracks: Cling to the Roots, Aces and Eights.

6. Cary Anne Hearst - Lions and Lambs Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin and Neko Case in a blender vocals. Transgendered Hayes Carll songwriting chops. That was weird. …this album is great. Best tracks: Are You Ready to Die, Hell's Bells

7. Butch Walker and the Black Widows - The Spade The in-demand producer of #6/former hair band member/former 90's alt-rock band, the jack - nay master - of all trades turns in this hook-driven smorgasbord of power pop, hard rock and jangly country-flavored rave-up goodness. This album alongside #8 would make a killer party soundtrack. Best tracks: Synthesizers, Suckerpunch

8. The Black Keys - El Camino If this is a sellout, I wish every artist who's been accused of such had such a well-done betrayal of ideals. The Black Keys expand their blues rock sound to (bluesy) glam rock and power pop without missing a step or making it sound contrived. Sometimes you just need to turn off your inner-critic and enjoy. Fun, fun, fun! Best tracks: Gold on the Ceiling, Nova Baby

9. Adele - 21 Adele somehow straddles the huge divide between modern pop and "old people" soul music with great success. Even the songs that lack lyrically are made great by Adele's huge (but never diva-esque) voice. There hasn't been an artist in some time that brought together so many people in mutual admiration. This is a chick album that dudes can be unashamed to love. It's an old-school album that kids can groove to. Excellence. Best tracks - Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You.

10. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival Sounding like the Black Crowes by way of Muscle Shoals, Ponderosa is a super-talented band of southern rockers who mostly steer clear of the clichés of the genre. Kalen Bush's lead vocals are stirring and the harmonies take their sound over the top. Ponderosa isn't reinventing the wheel here, but what they do, they do very well. Best tracks: Old Gin Road, Devil on My Shoulder.

11. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World

12. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog

13. Stoney Larue - Velvet

14. Drew Kennedy - Fresh Water in the Salton Sea

15. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

16. Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels

17. Wilco - The Whole Love

18. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous

19. Mastodon - The Hunter

20. Will Hoge - Number Seven

21. Scott H. Biram - Bad Ingredients

22. Miranda Lambert - Four the Record

23. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

24. Justin Haigh - People Like Me

25. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra

26. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones

27. Larry Hooper - Between Here and the Stars

28. Bon Iver - s/t

29. Sunny Sweeney - Concrete

30. Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

31. Bad Meets Evil - Hell (The Sequel)

32. Left Lane Cruiser - Junkyard Speed Ball

33. Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz

34. Big KRIT - Return of 4Eva

35. The Decemberists - The King is Dead

36. F*cked Up - David Comes to Life

37. Merle Haggard - Working in Tennessee

38. Eli Young Band - Life at Best

39. Adam Hood - The Shape of Things

40. JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound - Want More

41. Glossary - Long Live All of Us

42. Mike Ethan Messick - The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday

43. Blitzen Trapper - American Goldwing

44. Dawes - Nothing is Wrong

45. Cody Canada and The Departed - This is Indian Land

46. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

47. George Strait - Here for a Good Time

48. Robyn Ludwick - Out of These Blues

49. John Moreland & The Dust Bowl Souls - Everything the Hard Way

50. Jason Boland and the Stragglers - Rancho Alto

Motus Motorcycles MST Will Be Available Soon

We subscribe to the email blasts from Motus Motorcycles and it has been great to follow their growth over the last few years and it looks as though they will be releasing their new American Sportbike shortly. They posted up a few questions and answers and the coolest part is that the proprietary motors will be for sale as well. Fitting these into some custom bikes will make for a killer new look and sound in the chopper community. Have a listen...

Link over to Motus Motorcycles

Q: Where can I see, test ride, and purchase a Motus MST or MST-R?

Motus motorcycles are sold exclusively through existing, high quality dealers, a number of which are taking reservations now for mid-late 2012 delivery. Many dealers have inquired directly where others have been recommended by riders like you. If your favorite dealer may be a good fit for a new line of comfotable American sportbikes, or if you want to place a refundable reservation for an MST, please let us know here. And, please let them know you want to test ride a Motus.

Q: What are the differences between the MST and MST-R?

The base model MST and the premium MST-R are comfortable sportbikes designed for long range canyon carving, solo or two up. Both are exhilarating, charismatic machines powered by the mighty V4 Baby Block engine and both will be offered with various accessories and upgrade options.

Q: What are the expected retail prices of the MST and MST-R?

We will announce final pricing, options, and full production specifications for the MST soon. We are working with key suppliers to keep the MSRP affordable for a wide range of riders. Thank you for your patience.

Q: Does Motus have plans to build an adventure bike, street fighter, leaning trike, automatic transmission, smaller/larger displacement, turbo charged version, hovercraft, or track car?

Motus is focused squarely on building comfortable American sportbikes. We can neither confirm nor deny any other future plans…

Q: Can I purchase a V4 Baby Block engine for a different application?

Yes, we will offer crated, aftermarket engines in late 2012. Pricing, drawings, and specifications to be announced soon, but refundable reservations are being taken now for the first year of production. Contact us here for the Reservation Agreement.

Motus Motorcycles MST, American Sportbike

Motus Motorcycles Proprietary engine by Pratt & Miller

Hellbound Glory Voted No. 1 Local Album In Reno

Damn right, folks everywhere are starting to see the light and Supporting Real Country Music. Hellbound Glory has been voted as having the Best Local album in their hometown of Reno, Nevada.

Link to article on the Reno Gannet Journal

Hellbound Glory - Bastard Child by RustyKnuckles
 
"Original music continues to geyser from the bubbling ground of the Reno scene. Thanks to DIY software, high-tech microphones and download websites -- plus traditional studios in town -- a genre-spanning shower of indie-label or self-produced albums (physical and/or digital) spouted in 2011. This torrent shows that Reno could be called the Biggest Little Music City. Here are my picks for best local albums of 2011. Criteria inclue solid musicianship, clean production, freshness over worn-out format -- and the "earworm" factor: tunes that stick in your head.


1. Hellbound Glory, "Damaged Goods," outlaw country, www.rustyknucklesmusic.com, iTunes. Hot track: "Bastard Child."


The self-described "scumbag country" quartet's third album shines brighter than a rhinestone with singer Leroy Virgil's deft songwriting, and studio ringers wielding steel-string and Telecaster guitars. This ain't Nashville pop -- it's the whiskey-soaked country of Cash and Haggard. Virgil's brawling boogies and storytelling ballads hail bad hookups, failed rehabs, doomed rebels, cheated childhoods.
"I'm the salt of the earth and a real bad seed/All I'll ever be is all I'll ever need," he proudly snarls in his gravely twang in the anthemic "Bastard Child." He reminds a woman in "You Better Hope You Die Young," "Them haggard old bar flies that look like hell/lived like you and I and lived on to tell." "Damaged goods" is a bargain for lovers of real country."

Hellbound Glory is voted best local band in Reno, NV

New Photos From The Green Lady Killers

The Green Lady Killers are ramping up for a big year and should be hitting the studio for a new album sometime in mid 2012. In the meantime they are busy playing shows all over the west coast. Here are a few photos from recent gigs and being on the road.

The Green Lady Killers are Ivy Rose, Lady Van Buren and Cherry Bomb

The Green Lady Killers in El Mirage, CA at sunset

The Green Lady Killers muggin' it up

Lady Van Buren of The Green Lady Killers

Cherry Bomb of The Green Lady Killers

Oakland CA's - Saviours - Cretin

This video has worked its way around for a few months now but it still a gem. One page right out of the old 60's biker flicks with some modern day feel to it courtesy of the wild streets inWest Oakland. Makes us miss the killer riding in the East Bay and some of favorite bars down in Alameda and Oakland.

Living The Life - QBall Photos - "Lil Walt"

“Lil Walt” circa 197? from “Living The Life”, biker photography book.

Our old Club had a house affectionately known as the “Hut”. It was located in Baltimore city, and was the epicenter of our meetings, parties, brawls, drinking, more brawls, but also home to some of the brothers, sisters, and the fruit of their loins. We were generally good about protecting our little ones from the extremes of the biker’s world, but shit happens. It’s been said little pictures have big ears, and eyes. One day Lil Walt decided to show off, and give us the biker salute. With that another misfit hit the streets.

Long May You Ride,
Q-Ball

Get QBall's Book, Living The Life

"Lil Walt" By Qball © Doug Barber Photographry

Seeking Out A Small Block Chevy 350 Motor Reveals More In Eastern Carolina

Some days when you are on a mission to find a certain part of piece that you need for a build, too much hops in your path and you just have to scratch your head and consistently think on, why those items didn't cross your path before. Par exampla, rolled over to the coast today to link up with Mopar Rob to go and check out a lead on a 350 Small Block Chevy Motor and while waiting for our contact to show up at his shop we found all kinds of randomness. A 1950 Chevy 3100 truck that was being sold for 20k. Could easily see close to 10k but the rust spots and melted parts of dash were not a good sign. Then we happen to roll by a late 50's Chevy 4 x 4 longbed truck which was perfect for a shop truck, gotta check back in on that one. Also cruised by a shop called Combat Cycles which had quite a few builds out front but some just seemed to be a parts depot, compared to really though out for a killer ride.

1950 Chevy 3100 Truck

1950 Chevy 3100 Truck

Ironhead Sportster in a custom frame with springer front end and dual carbs

Patina'd out custom bobber with way too much motor and transmission for the frame

Patina'd out custom bobber with 6 speed Baker Trans and S&S 110" motor

Looks to be a custom bolt on hardtail section for a Triumph wtih a girder front end, fugly for sure.

Antiseen - Sweet Blood Call Video

This past year Antiseen was able to embark on an amazing tour with Zeke, Joe Buck Yourself and The God Damn Gallows. We put out a recent 7" vinyl record that has been a hot commodity and some photos from that tour are posted up in this video.

Buy the 7" Sweet Blood Call by Antiseen

Antiseen 7" Record entitled "Sweet Blood Call" featuring Joe Buck Yourself

Super Rat - Egg Salad - Bonneville Race Bike

The quest for speed is a haunting challenge. We have been slowly creeping up on our Buell race bike build but are stuck in limbo with the quest for parts. It is so damn inspiring to see other builds that are being made for Bonneville, El Mirage and now formerly our local track of the Maxton Mile. The Super-Rat build of a Rotax Motor matched to a flat track frame and custom fairing seems to be a killer combo. What we find the most interesting about land speed racing though is the camaraderie. Every time we go out to El Mirage with our friends in the San Diego chapter of the Bean Bandits there is such a solidarity on making every vehicle race ready. This bug has now infected us and hopefully 2012 will finally see the Buell hitting the 130mph to 145mph to which we are aiming for. Too much to do until then, so check out the Egg Salad build you see here. 

Check out more builds from Super Rat

Egg Salad from Chad DeRosa on Vimeo.

Super-Rat's custom Bonneville salt flats racer named Egg Salad which utilizes a 500cc Rotax Motor and Flat Track Frame

Super-Rat's custom Bonneville salt flats racer named Egg Salad which utilizes a 500cc Rotax Motor and Flat Track Frame

Egg Salad, land speed racer out on the Bonneville Salt Flats

Egg Salad, land speed racer out on the Bonneville Salt Flats

Antiseen - Black Eyed Susie Video - Featuring Joe Buck Yourself

This past year Antiseen was able to embark on an amazing tour with Zeke, Joe Buck Yourself and The God Damn Gallows. We put out a recent 7" vinyl record that has been a hot commodity and some photos from that tour are posted up in this video.

Buy the 7" Sweet Blood Call by Antiseen

Antiseen 7" Record entitled "Sweet Blood Call" featuring Joe Buck Yourself

Hellbound Glory's - Bastard Child Video

A while back when Hellbound Glory was on tour on the east coast they stopped into Kentucky and were able to film several quick videos with Blake Judd of Judd Films. Here is the one the they did for Bastard Child.

Link over to Judd Films

2000 Is A Lucky Number On Facebook

To say that we are damn proud of how Rusty Knuckles Music is growing would be an understatement. But we want the page to grow with more fans so we are offering something very unique. The #2000 person to "like" our Facebook page will receive a killer package of vinyl from all of our record releases. This means you will get a copy of these albums below on test pressing.

Link over to Rusty Knuckles on Facebook

Rusty Knuckles Music vinyl test pressings for 2000th fan on Facebook

Hellbound Glory - Damaged Goods on 12" vinyl

Antiseen & Flat Tires split 7" on vinyl

Antiseen - Sweet Blood Call 7" Featuring Joe Buck Yourself

GG Allin & Antisee 12" Picture Disc

Flat Tires & Joe Buck Yourself split 7" vinyl

Mac Miller: Indie Music's Savior? From Forbes.com

How does an indie artist turn into the number one selling album? The only other time this has happened was with the debut of Snoop Dogg on Death Row Records back in the early nineties. This is the power of social media and the death of the major labels and their bad bank loans to bands. Forget the 360 deals and corporate big wigs who have never toured in a cargo van, think on hard work and success that is earned and not given away. Forget shows such as X Factor, American Idol or the Voice. That system works for "pop stars", as I can equate them to a can of soda. On that initial burst from the can opening or bottle cap dropping away it tastes good, but goes flat more a few sips in. All that processed sugar and more chemicals with huge names meant to instill flavor do nothing but leave a sour taste in your mouth, same as most contestants on those shows.

We understand why that system exists and can applaud its purpose in a business discussion, but here is what it lacks, soul. Yep, something as simple as real soul. Having character, depth and a true value in relating to other folks while weaving stories to get them enthused and buying your music. Mac Miller has done this in spades as he went out and won over the masses the old fashioned way. Mac brought the message to them and believed in himself. We are not huge fans of rap by any means, but we can appreciate hard work and dedication to your craft. Hopefully Mac won't get corrupted by hip-hop's reliance on self indulgence and can keep his eye on the real prize, a long career in the music business.

Mac Miller from RagerLife.com

Link to original article on Forbes.com

At first glance, Mac Miller would appear unlikely to have a secret interest in art conservation. The 19-year-old rapper slouches into the Forbes Galleries sporting a pair of camouflage pants, a backwards baseball cap and what seems to be a week’s worth of facial hair. Upon noticing the Salvador Dali painting on the wall by the door, though, he suddenly snaps into curator mode.

“This is an original Salvador Dali painting? Who uses this room? Wait, so they just have a Salvador Dali painting here, and no one is ever in here?” He pulls out his iPhone to snap a picture. “If I had a Salvador Dali painting, I would cuddle it to sleep.”

Almost as unexpected as Miller’s interest in fine art is his rapid rise—and accompanying role as a possible savior of independent music. In November, the Pittsburgh-born rhymester released his debut album Blue Slide Park through indie label Rostrum Records; it sold 144,000 copies in its opening week and became the first indie album to top the charts since 1995. The success earned him a spot in the music section of FORBES’ first-ever 30 Under 30 list.

Miller went from mixtape maven to national sensation without the help of a major record label or a big radio hit. Instead, he’s relied largely on social media to build his following, releasing a new song for every 100,000 Twitter followers (he now has 1.4 million). His quirky, low-budget YouTube videos have clocked over 200 million views. One, titled “Donald Trump,” even elicited a video response from the billionaire real estate developer himself. His secret: opening the spigot.

“I flood the internet with what I feel is quality content,” says Miller, settled into a cushy red chair opposite the Dali. “I’m just looking for creative ways to get all that content out there. And just being reachable. Not necessarily sitting there and responding every tweet or every fan, but being a symbol of someone who doesn’t think that [he’s] anymore more special than anyone else.”

Adds Rostrum Records founder Benjy Grinberg: “He’s relentless … If he’s not doing a show, he’s in the studio writing music. If he’s not in the studio, it’s because he’s doing an interview or coming up with merch ideas.”

The buzz is there, and the money is starting to roll in. Miller played over 200 shows in 2011, grossing an average of $40,000 per night. He expects to play almost as many shows in 2012, and his nightly rate is now approaching $150,000. Miller also rakes in tens of thousands per night in merchandise sales, thanks largely to the wealthy suburban high school and college students who are the primary consumers of his music.

And unlike Pittsburgh pal Wiz Khalifa, who signed a multiple rights deal with Atlantic Records that calls for him to hand over a slice of all revenues to the company, Miller is still fully independent. He doesn’t enjoy some of the perks that often come with a major label deal—like the ability to tap into a broader publicity network and get favored status from radio stations—but he’s already connected, directly through Twitter, to his massive fan base.

“With Mac, we’ve proven that we—and other independent artists—can sell records by ourselves,” says Grinberg. “It just depends on how far we want to take it alone. We haven’t seen the ceiling yet.

Miller’s rise is all the more amazing when one puts his age into context. Born in 1992, he hadn’t yet started first grade when Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. were gunned down. At age six, he taught himself piano, drums and guitar (Miller hasn’t given up the latter, regularly reeling off rock hits like Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So” between rap songs; at a recent New York show, he flipped the guitar onto his back and played an impressive solo).

He started putting out mixtapes as a teenager, first as part of a group called Ill Spoken, then by himself. He released The Jukebox and The High Life in 2009, earning him a modicum of buzz on the Pittsburgh rap scene and throughout the internet. Miller soon caught Grinberg’s ear and signed with Rostrum the following year; his big break followed with the debut of the mixtape K.I.D.S. (Kickin Incredibly Dope Shit).

“I had been putting out mixtapes before that, and I had generated a little fan base, but K.I.D.S. was when I felt I did something that people really decided to take notice of who I was,” says Miller. “I feel like that gave me a platform to build and reach a bigger fan base for people to care.”

Miller built off that success with Blue Slide Park, an album that chronicles and almost glorifies suburban ennui. This is not the youthful rebellion music of the Baby Boomers; rather, Miller describes a world of endless adolescent possibility–albeit mostly concerning controlled substances and consenting females–a sort of figurative playground echoing the real one mentioned in the title.

And that’s precisely what makes Miller’s music so appealing to many middle class high school and college aged students. They grew up on hip-hop, but the music’s content didn’t always mirror their experience. In Miller, however, there’s a bit more with which to identify.

 

“The reason Miller’s mass of fans follow him is not because of his music, at least not completely,” wrote Pitchfork’s Jordan Sargent. “It’s because he looks just like them, because they can see themselves up on the stage behind him, if not next to him.”

Full coverage: 30 Under 30 – Music

Detractors dismiss Miller’s work as “frat rap,” pointing out that Miller’s subject matter rarely ventures beyond telling tales of teenage debauchery. The young rapper, they contend, spends too much time chronicling his herbal indulgences. Miller’s defense, as explained to audiences at his shows, is that he’s simply being honest: “I just so happen to smoke a lot of weed!”

That same what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude pervades Miller’s videos, which he makes with the help of pal and director Ian Wolfson. Far from glitz and glamor of a traditional hip-hop video, his tend to find glory in the mundane–take the video for “Frick Park Market,” which starts out in the aforementioned deli with Miller placing an order for a turkey sandwich.

“I always thought I’d look corny in the type of rap video in the club with girls and all that type of stuff,” says Miller. “I just didn’t think I could really pull that off. We always think it’s more fun and better just to go outside the box and to use our videos to show cool concepts.”

It seems unlikely that he’d be given the same creative freedom if he signed with a major (think of the feathers that might have been ruffled on a record company’s legal team by the idea of releasing a song called “Donald Trump”). There’s no reason Miller can’t keep making videos on his own—many of his earlier cuts cost less than $1,000 to put together.

Even  the newer ones are cheap. “Party on 5^th Ave,” a generalized celebration that involves motorized scooters and wigs, clocked in below $10,000, about one-tenth the cost of a typical big-budget video. It’s unclear whether a major would be able to give him a platform bigger than the one he’s already created for himself using little more than a computer, a video camera and his brain.

For his part, Miller says he’s not philosophically opposed to the idea of being involved with a major record label, and realizes that there are advantages.

“We’ve done something that’s historical independently,” says Miller, who’s already been contacted by multiple major labels. “If I reach a point where there’s things I can’t do—we haven’t reached that point yet—but if I ever reach a point where there’s something I can’t do and I need some help from a major, who knows.”

It doesn’t seem Miller will need that kind of help anytime soon, though. He’s already a teenage millionaire, and given his ambitious touring plans, he could earn $10 million in 2012.

A few more years like that, and Miller shouldn’t have any trouble affording a Salvador Dali painting of his very own.

For more on the business of music, see my book Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office and follow me on Twitter.

How A Manual Transmission Works

Any custom ride needs to have a solid transmission to mate up to that roaring beast you know of as the motor. The more tricked out the motor, the more torque to be pushed through the transmission and ultimately to make those wheels hitting the road burnin' the rubber. Transmissions are quite complicated and not to be undertaken without an affinity for complex puzzles where wrong torque specs, left over parts or cheap components will leave you stranded on the side of the road quickly. We found a killer video over on HowStuffWorks.com about gears, transmissions and clutches. These two videos should help to give mucho insight into how your vehicle is able to move forward. 

Manual Transmission Overview From Wikipedia 

Manual transmissions often feature a driver-operated clutch and a movable gear stick. Most automobile manual transmissions allow the driver to select any forward gear ratio ("gear") at any time, but some, such as those commonly mounted on motorcycles and some types of racing cars, only allow the driver to select the next-higher or next-lower gear. This type of transmission is sometimes called a sequential manual transmission. Sequential transmissions are commonly used in auto racing for their ability to make quick shifts.[citation needed] Manual transmissions are characterized by gear ratios that are selectable by locking selected gear pairs to the output shaft inside the transmission. Conversely, most automatic transmissions feature epicyclic (planetary) gearing controlled by brake bands and/or clutch packs to select gear ratio. Automatic transmissions that allow the driver to manually select the current gear are called Manumatics. A manual-style transmission operated by computer is often called an automated transmission rather than an automatic. Contemporary automobile manual transmissions typically use four to six forward gears and one reverse gear, although automobile manual transmissions have been built with as few as two and as many as eight gears. Transmission for heavy trucks and other heavy equipment usually have at least 9 gears so the transmission can offer both a wide range of gears and close gear ratios to keep the engine running in the power band. Some heavy vehicle transmissions have dozens of gears, but many are duplicates, introduced as an accident of combining gear sets, or introduced to simplify shifting. Some manuals are referred to by the number of forward gears they offer (e.g., 5-speed) as a way of distinguishing between automatic or other available manual transmissions. Similarly, a 5-speed automatic transmission is referred to as a "5-speed automatic."

Transmission Gear Assembly from a CAD drawing

Exploded view of a BMW X3 Transmission

2012 Harley Gear Box with exploded view of shift arm

CAD Drawing of automatic Transmission from a Honda

Here is how to ruin your vehicle and make rednecks excited world wide 

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

Hellbound Glory Poster From Ketchum Idaho

We are not quite sure who made the poster but it is so damn cool. Anybody got a link to who did it? This has Jerry Reed written all over it, hells yes.

Hellbound Glory Tour Poster from Ketchum, Idaho

Metal Evolution - VH1 Documentary Series

Finally, a great show about Heavy Metal called Metal Evolution and the storied history about where it really came from. VH1, you are alright in our books now and we cannot wait for the Thrash Metal show on December 31st. Our only gripe is that with the series listing, nothing is covered when it comes to Death or Black Metal? C'mon folks, this is a huge area to mine or maybe the suits over at Viacom were a bit nervous about talking to church burners and legions of the damned.

Nov 11: Pre Metal

Nov 19: Early Metal US

Dec 3: Early Metal UK

Dec 10: New Wave Of British Heavy Metal

Dec 17: Glam

Dec 31: Thrash

Jan 7: Grunge

Jan 14: Nu Metal

Jan 21: Shock Rock

Jan 28: Power Metal

Feb 4: Progressive Metal

About Metal Evolution:

Metal Evolution presents 11 episodes based on the much-debated Metal History "family tree" originally shown in Headbanger's Journey. This 24 sub-genre genealogical chart reveals the vast complex progeny of heavy metal--from Early Metal and Shock Rock to Thrash, from Progressive Metal to Grunge and Nu Metal. Using the chart as his road map, our host, metalhead turned anthropologist Sam Dunn, will crisscross the globe in search of the very essence of Metal, from bars and back alleys to the biggest open air festivals.

Get More: Metal Evolution

Some thrash classics...

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