Saturdays Were Made For Leather

Banjo Buck pulling out a freshly bought Ox Blood full hide ready to cut some guitar straps

On any given Saturday, or better yet, make that many days of the week we are cranking out on a plethora of projects. We haven't posted our full process of showing how our custom leather guitar straps come together so this past weekend, we put a full video together and took quite a few photos along the way. 

Jay Berndt Is Known To Move Mountains With Sound Waves

Day 3 at The Power Station NE: Starting to track vocals

Leave it up to Jay Berndt to show so much humanity in the photos from his latest recording session. He is in gear heaven and couldn't be more proud about the direction things are going in. With the full album sound that he and the band are culling together, to the overall vibe of the recordings, here is a man that knows who is he and where he stands. This is what you call a true musician's musician. Congrats hombre, as I know how much time and effort you put into all the work. Can't wait to hear the final masters with fresh ears.

Could Steam Be Another Fuel Source For A Motorcycle?

Could a steam engine motorcycle actually work?

All great ideas have to start somewhere. It could be loose association and just let the pencil or pen start to magically scribble away. Or maybe it is a series of strung together thoughts that is pure mental challenge versus a machine designed to drive thousands upon thousands of miles.

Give it up for design student Colby Higgins for working through ideas that aren't conventional in the least and maybe, just maybe could actually be built. Either way, this back yard fabricator is diggin' this unconventional motor idea.

1,000,000 Views Is A Milestone, Thank You To Everyone That Views Our Flickr Page

We hit a milestone on Flickr, we reached 1,000,000 views

We reached a milestone on the Rusty Knuckles Flickr page by receiving 1,000,000+ views. Maybe that number doesn't mean a lot to some of you, but to us, it's validation for all the hard work that has been involved in creating a music label and custom merch company from the ground up. Thanks to everyone over the last few years for all the comments, feedback and support on the Flickr page. Those simple elements help to keep the fires lit and to keep it honest and true to the craft.

An Old Style Skeleton Key Atlas Padlock Equals New Kinds Of Cool

Old Style Padlock Equals New Kinds Of Cool

Old technology can sometimes get lost in the busy nature of how fast we are living our lives. This is where an old idea can resonate like no other though. The replica Atlas padlock has a vintage feel but is all modern with its heavy features and skeleton key lock mechanism.

Gas Monkey Garage Has An Original Wink Eller Custom Built Chopper For Sale

 

Gas Monkey Garage has an original Wink Eller custom built chopper for sale

Act fast, bid on this bike now on Ebay


"Unique opportunity to own a rare 1949 Harley-Davidson Pan Head Chopper built by Land Speed Record Holder Wink Eller in a 70's Easy rider style in SoCal & offered by Gas Monkey Garage. When I found this I was looking for a cool bike to display in a specific area and while the length was good at 11' the height was too tall at 59". Wink Started with 1949 Tedd Cycle frame cut & raked at the neck, added an original uncut 36 over Harman front end, Invader wheels with a rare star rear hub center with a 5.0X16 Coker Classic White Wall in the rear & a 3.0X16 IRC up front(this set up allows you to steer side to side with a single hand). A freshly built original 1949 Harley-Davidson Pan Head engine with a new Joe Hunt Mag, M74B Linkert Carb & custom hi-rise exhaust driving a new 4 speed gear box. Custom paint by Harpoon Kustom Paint on a custom asymmetrical 3-D fuel tank (see all pics), Hi-rise sissy Bar with a King& Queen saddle, custom Trapezoidal Head Lamps & a single cool leather Stash Bag on the left side . If you’re wanting a Kick Ass chopper to go looking for adventure or whatever comes your way you won’t find a better example that’s priced to sell ! This is a great bike for riding (a little over 500 miles have been put on since the build)"

Harley Davidson Innovates The Live Wire Into A Multicultural and Forward Thinking Machine Of Change

Profile full body photograph of Harley-Davidson’s 2014 battery powered motorcycle, taken on June 5, 2014 at the Harley-Davidson headquarters in Milwaukee, WI.

Innovation is what keeps a company ahead of the curve. For many years now Harley purists assumed that chrome and a loud engine were all that was needed to keep the Milwaukee bred spirit alive. Today is a new day though and Harley as a company wants to expand across cultures and multiple generations. Bravo to their design team and forward thinking engineers for creating one of a hell of a ride.

Get Out To The Midwest Mecca of Bar Hoppers, Hot Rods and Real Music

Get Out To The Midwest Mecca of Bar Hoppers, Hot Rods and Real Music

Find out more on Facebook

OH IO is where the action is this weekend. Get out to first annual Midwest Mecca of Hot Rods and Choppers with Carolina Still, The Damned Angels, Husky Burnette, Fifth on The Floor, Shooter Jennings, Eddy Francis and Hellbound Glory. Should be a damn good time.

One Hell Of A Barn Find, Check Out This 1950 Panhead, All Original

1950 barn find Panhead ready for a new home

 Bid on this bike now on Ebay

Country Music Royalty Joins ALTCO and Mastodon Gets A Special Guest, The Latest From Altco Music

Gary Lindsey OF Black Eyed Vermillion contemplates a haunted piano. Photo Joetta Velasquez

Follow all things Altco Music

ALTCO is more than happy to announce a new addition to our roster! The Rhinestone Princess Shelli Coe. Shelli and her Manager / Bass player John Duer have been a part of our extended family for nearly a decade and we are glad to have them aboard. The daughter of Country Music legend David Allan Coe has been in the business all her life performing, writing and recording. We will be re releasing her full length disc "A Girl Like Me" in the next few weeks and giving you a little more insight on her brand of real Country Music.

Next little matter of business we have to discuss regards a certain Mr. Gary Lindsey of Black Eyed Vermillion. He will be appearing courtesy of ALTCO Recordings as guest vocalist on the upcoming Mastodon release Once more round the Sun available June 24th from Warner Bros. Gary and the guys in Mastodon share a mutual history and musical family tree from band like 4 hour Fogger and Knuckle.

As we mentioned in an earlier post the new Black Eyed Vermillion release is under production as we speak and promises to be the most creative work to date. The Box Of Pine Single is out in digital format.

Dream Too Big And The Castle May Crumble, How Popularity Doomed Streaming Darlings East Village Radio - From Fast Company

East Village Radio was a beacon of hope

Dream too big and your castle might crumble. Dream too small and you never even get to witness the bricks being assembled to build your grand idea. This is the case for the fine folks that started East Village Radio. In the case of music rights and royalties, we walk a tight rope about who should be paid and always think about saving the "arts". 

Businesses are always in flux, but the only constant is change. With this notion, if you are in any way, shape or form a part of this beast called the music industry, learn to swim with the tide and wait for your wave, but don't ever expect it to be an easy paddle in to ride the good surf.

Will Youtube Sink Indie Music Labels?

Will Youtube Sink Indie Music Labels?

Nothing in life is fair or balanced. As much as we wish it to be, some things just don't add up, especially when the almighty dollar is involved. Myspace was a major hit in the mid 2000's especially for bands. Now the migration has shifted to Facebook, but the one constant since 2005 has been the omnipresence of Youtube. 


Sooner or later youtube would tighten its grip on the its service of world domination and it seems those days are coming sooner than later. Below is quite the interesting read and or listen about how this will affect indie labels such as Rusty Knuckles Music. Do yourself a favor and keep up to date with these tech stories as music promotion and listening habits are as much as in flux as listening tastes of the music audience we are all a part of.

Colonel JD Wilkes And His Custom Banjo With Hobo Nickel Portrait

Custom banjo being built for JD Wilkes by George Banjos

Often we create and craft things in life and we never know what happens after it has left our hands. I am absolutely proud and beyond blown away that JD Wilkes of the Dirt Daubers and Legendary Shack Shakers fame added the portrait i carved of him on a hobo coin to his brand new custom banjo being made by George Banjos. What an absolute honor. May many a great song and show emanate from this instrument, damn i feel so sincerely humbled. 

Rory Kelly Gets Up Close and Personal With His Fans

Rory Kelly's Triple Threat en directo en SalaSon (Cangas do Morrazo)

Spain Has Found A New Guitar Hero In Rory Kelly

Rory Kelly on tour in Spain, June 2014 - Photo: Javier Fernandez Menendez

Photographer Dennis Goodwin Never Fails To Capture A Spectacular Finish

Photographer Dennis Goodwin Never Fails To Capture A Spectacular Finish

Enjoy fast cars and beautiful women? Follow Dennis Goodwin on Flickr...

Maker Faire North Carolina Is A Well Of Inspiration

Maker Faire invaded Raleigh, NC on June 6th

Maybe you are asking yourself, what the hell is Maker Faire? Maybe you already know all about it or have heard of Make Magazine. Anyhow, you are now hearing all about it from us. What it is in a nutshell is a gathering of tinkerers, craftsman and anyone that wants to share their knowledge of DIY building principles and push the boundaries. This type of event left me scratching my head with ideas and thinking on just how we can be a part of it next year. 

Do yourself a favor and dive into the links and become part of this of great cast of characters.

Beauty Through Simplicity, A 1948 Panhead That Needs Little To No Introduction

1948 Panhead found via ebay, which is now no longer for sale.

"I do believe in simplicity. It is astonishing as well as sad, how many trivial affairs even the wisest thinks he must attend to in a day; how singular an affair he thinks he must omit. When the mathematician would solve a difficult problem, he first frees the equation of all incumbrances, and reduces it to its simplest terms. So simplify the problem of life, distinguish the necessary and the real. Probe the earth to see where your main roots run." - Henry David Thoreau

Stevie Tombstone Deep In Thought While Recording New Song

Stevie Tombstone deep in thought while recording new song

Its a rarity to find someone as dedicated to their craft as Stevie Tombstone. A consummate professional on and off stage and one hell of a songwriter. Damn proud to be partners with him in Altco Music. Here is ol' Stevie on point and running shop in a mega studio in upstate New York, perfecting a single with Joshua Morningstar all the while keeping his eye on the prize.

Reno Divorce Takes You On A Ride Filled With Sunsets & Corvettes

Ruben of Reno Divorce on the video set of Sunsets & Corvettes

When Reno Divorce dropped their latest album Lover's Leap, we all worked together on getting one amazing mini movie together for their song Sunsets & Corvettes. Turned out to be an awesome project and one of the best rock videos i have ever seen. So damn proud of the video and working with Brent, Tye, Ruben and Johnny. Hard working dudes that put their all into it, day in and day out. Stoked to hear the new material they are working on. Nothing like a shot of Ruben bringin' the rhythm on a Hollywood sunset! 

Rory Kelly, Billy Don Burns and Shooter Jennings Talkin' Shop

Rory Kelly, Billy Don Burns and Shooter Jennings talkin' shop

With Rory Kelly, Billy Don Burns and Shooter Jennings talkin' shop, why not hit a three track jam from them and get in the know...

Hellbound Glory Review Of LV From Something Else Reviews

Check out the original post on Something Else Reviews

"After 2011′s Damaged Goods, it looked like Reno’s Hellbound Glory might be on the way to stardom. They landed an opening spot for Kid Rock, a coup for an independent underground country act. There was talk of a fourth album to come soon. Then, they just sort of disappeared.

Rory Kelly Has Just Conquered Spain, Next Up, More Of Europe

Have beer, will travel. Rory Kelly on tour in Europe

Word on the streets of Madrid to Barcelona and onto Burgos is that Rory Kelly is starting to truly cultivate his European crowd. After being recognized on the streets of Barcelona and then playing multiple sold out shows in a row, the hard work and dedication is starting to pay off. Huge congrats to Rory, Pops, Billy and Nancy for getting across the pond and bringing their brand of Southern Rock to the hungry audiences.

Get A Van, Hit The Road And Thank Yourself Someday - Road Tales With Husky Burnette

Yattie and Husky following the road less traveled

Keep up with all things Husky Burnette on Facebook

Buy his latest album, Tales From East End Blvd.

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For musicians that tour around the regions, countries and the world, the road is a crazy place. There are lows and highs both, but if you have the right mindset and do it for the right reasons, it can be pretty damn magical and rewarding. 

Life on the road can be very satisfying. It can be the Devil and your worst nightmare as well. Regardless of how it ends up on any given night, there's just something about getting out there and playing your music for people that nothing else can compare to. 

 

When I was young I heard the word "tour" and thought of Led Zeppelin and the likes, playing huge arenas on huge stages with huge record deals and huge crowds. Once I started playing out, I did a few out of town shows in Tennessee and Georgia while playing with Roger Alan Wade, nothing major. 

Original 1949 Panhead Ready To Be Yours

Original 1949 Panhead up for sale

Bid now on this gem on Ebay

"This is a very original 1949 Panhead, first year hydraulic fork and so first year Hydra Glide. Original Harley frame, motor, gearbox, wheels, etc. Almost all original sheetmetal. Fork shroud, toolbox, air cleaner and horn may be reproduction. Matching belly numbers. Original hand/tank shift, foot clutch. Rebuilt top end with quality parts, new battery, rebuilt original Linkert carb, original 6-volt system, with ignition retard/advance in left grip. New brake shoes and new tires. Paint is in very nice condition as is the chrome, not a show bike but very presentable. Small split in back of original leather seat skirt. Great compression. Runs very strong. Clear California title in my name, VIN matches original Harley engine number and no blue tag!"

Billboard Debuts Charts For Music Trending Via Twitter, From Mashable

Twitter #Music is now chartable on Billboard

Link to article on Mashable

"Billboard debuted the Billboard Twitter Real-Time Charts on Tuesday morning. The four interactive music charts will rank trending songs from popular and emerging artists based on how often they are mentioned in tweets in the United States.

Twitter first teased this partnership in March, with Bob Moczydlowsky, Twitter's music head, describing it as "the new industry standard for tracking and surfacing the conversation around music as it happens."

The ranking system is a new music strategy for Twitter, which earlier this year shut down its Twitter #Music app, a short-lived service that launched in April 2013 but failed to gain mainstream attention in a market full of rival music apps.

Hank 3 On Earning Respect In Doing What He Loves, From Examiner.com

Hank 3 dishing out quite the great interview with Jessica Blankenship

Read the original post on Examiner.com

"Tuesday night at the Mercury Ballroom in Louisville, Hank 3 will bring his own blend of country and rock music to the stage. We got the chance to speak with Hank 3 in regards to his spring tour, new music, life on the farm, family, and more. Be sure to get to tonight's show before 8:00 p.m. as it will start promptly at that time with no opener. Bring a little bit of extra cash to spend on merchandise and music directly from Hank 3.

New Logo For The Damned Angels

Logo design for the Damned Angels

A few years back there was a band from the western hills of North Carolina that was a full blown charge of dynamite waiting to blow at any minute. Unfortunately the fuse on that stick of mayhem was burned out too quickly and things had to shift gears. Now in 2014 head honcho Scotty P and founding member of Crank County Daredevils is back in the southern sleaze saddle with his new project the Damned Angels, to bring back the nasty...