Sometimes You Get To Meet Folks That Leave An Indelible Mark

 

Old poster by Chuck Sperry for a Family Dog Production featuring Phil Lesh

Nothing beats a good story and for this Throw Back Thursday, if you work around a cast of characters befitting a Seinfeld episode then surely you have some yourself. I used to work live shows in the early 2000's as a front of house manager at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. It's one of the premier music venues in the entire country due to the great sound, history and overall ambiance of the room. One of the awesome folks I got to meet and get to know over the years there was Chet Helms. He was a legend in the Bay Area for concert promotion as his polar opposite and rival was Bill Graham, who went on to revolutionize the live concert industry. Chet was absolute salt of the earth and was a genuine soul. Although I am not a fan of the jam band style of music, I always enjoyed working with these folks as they became good friends and had great conversations. 

Zakk Wylde Starts New Music Gear Company, Wylde Audio

Zakk Wylde Starts New Music Gear Company, Wylde Audio

New products within any sub category are a good thing. Competition breeds creativity and pushes boundaries that hopefully excel everything as a whole. It's no different in nature and is the catalyst for evolution as we know it on planet earth. If only the soccer moms would realize that not every kid should get a trophy, except if they are the best team and did it honorably. Congrats to Zakk Wylde for pushing forward to the next level and starting his own company. Now I am curious as to whom is actually producing the gear.

Husky Burnette Spring Tour Dates On The Discount Food Revival Tour

Husky Burnette Spring Tour Dates On The Discount Food Revival Tour

Husky Burnette has just announced his batch of upcoming tour dates on whats being dubbed the "Discount Food Revival Tour". Does this mean that you have to bring a canned food to each venue or that he is touring soup kitchens? Not the case, but the truth is that you need to stash your coins and get out to these shows. The home cooked remedy of the dirty blues stewed up by ol' Husky is about to boil over. Get some!

Great Handmade Items Found On Etsy

The Dreaming Gypsy, handmade by Contrive to Charm on Etsy

Not a day goes by that we don't log into Etsy, check our sales and or cruise around to see the great work crafted by makers all over the world. It could be custom leather work, armor to be used for live action role playing or even custom knives. The amount of talent within the Etsy marketplace is daunting and equally exciting. Go check out some of the makers on the site and have a glimpse from some of the great items, we recently found.

Are Music Sales Really Dead? CD Sales Are Still Huge and Digital Streaming Points To The Future

 

Are Music Sales Really Dead? photo - Lucas Jackson/Reuters

Vinyl records might be the next wave in the minds of diehard music fans, but as a label, I can tell you that we still sell more cd's overall. Even for one of our biggest selling albums, we still have not sold out of the original run of vinyl that was pressed, purchase here. Vinyl is ultimately the better medium relating to album art, sound, presentation and overall vibe, but is only for the true audiophile collectors. Hopefully these buying audiences will grow in volume as more of the bands within our music group, gain a larger foot hold and appreciate the superior packaging.

Black Eyed Vermillion and Motobunny Have Featured Songs On The White Trash & Whiskey Bent Show On Real Punk Radio Network

Black Eyed Vermillion and Motobunny Have Featured Songs On The White Trash & Whiskey Bent Show On Real Punk Radio Network

Sick of terrestrial radio and need a dose of punk infused rock n' roll? Look no further than Real Punk Radio to help quell those sentiments and to get a solid dose of great tunes streaming to your magic box. Huge thanks to Jason Vapor over at the Whiskey Bent show for including new tracks from Rusty Knuckles very own Black Eyed Vermillion and Motobunny, alongside of the GodDamn Gallows, Off!, Nashville Pussy, Zeke, the Dwarves, Cutthroat Shamrock and many more.

Motobunny Debut Their Brand New Video and Single - Let's Go Out

Motobunny Debut Their Brand New Video and Single - Let's Go Out

With their debut album coming out this spring Motobunny are about to embark on tour dates on the West Coast and hitting the East Coast later this year. Their brand new video and single for "Let's Go Out" further hones in on their trademark garage rock sound. You also might have heard of them from their other projects in the The Love Me Nots and the Woolly Bandits. This is one hell of an album and we cannot wait for it to be unleashed on the masses!

Aaron Rodgers Is One Of The Best Sound Engineers Anywhere To Be Found

Aaron Rodgers Is One Of The Best Sound Engineers Anywhere To Be Found

A few years back we were able to put out an amazing album, that is still being discovered by many far and wide. This album is filled with adventure, motorcycles, good times and all penned by one of the most standup folks I know, none other than Billy Don Burns. Another part of the tale that most folks rarely hear about is one of the players and engineers, that is a quiet man behind the scenes. This impresario is none other than Aaron Rodgers. His guitar work is above and beyond, along with his mastery behind the knobs of the recording console. If you really want to get to work and have a great recording that will stand the test of time and reach the upper echelons of recognition, here is all the proof that you need. Congrats to both of yall for being hombres and true professionals. 

What Is More Valuable, Two Starbucks Drinks Or A New Album?

What Is More Valuable, Two Starbucks Drinks Or A New Album?,  Ask Noel Gallagher

"People are more than willing to sit in a coffee shop and spend a tenner on two coffees and talk about the weather to their friends, and that coffee will last 45 minutes. Yet they will physically get angry at you for asking you to buy an album for a tenner which will last a lifetime and might even tell you something about yourself and might even change your life."  -- Noel Gallagher

Easton LaChappelle, Is A Teenager With Wisdom And Vision Beyond His Years

Easton LaChappelle, a teenager with wisdom and vision beyond his years

Reading and viewing articles about interesting individuals is something that propels every day forward for us here at Rusty Knuckles. If you are a casual reader of our blog and or news feed, surely you have noticed the breadth of articles that we post. If you are just noticing our site for the first time due to seeking out great music, new products or just a random Google query, we thank you for checking us out. 

Custom Leather Camera Straps From Rusty Knuckles

Custom Leather Camera Straps From Rusty Knuckles

Every time a piece of leather is cut, new ideas come together. The resilience of the material, lends itself to a myriad of uses and ways it can be stamped, cut, stitched or lashed together. For a good while we have been plotting on some Camera Straps, as a few customers have been asking on them, along with other key items that will slowly emerge this year from us. In the back of our minds, we always try to think through what new products to offer, and ones that will also directly link back to the bands on the label. Great photos and great bands, go hand in hand. Now we can also support the photographers far and wide with the same quality leather found on our guitar straps, just reconfigured to work with most DSLR cameras. Go out and make life happen! 

Check out these camera straps and more on our Etsy page

Watch Frye Cowboy Boots Get Made From Start To Finish

Factory worker at one stage of the process in crafting a Frye leather boot

Great products take a solid amount of effort and a capable team to make it all come together. The more custom items that we development, the more ideas we continue to dream up and look to larger manufacturers for ideas. After running across this cool process video from Frye Boots over on Hypebeast, we knew it was one to be enjoyed as we sure as hell enjoy a great pair of boots.

Motobunny Will Launch Their Second Single and Video - Let's Go Out On January 22nd

Motobunny Will Launch Their Second Single and Video - Let's Go Out On January 22nd

With their debut album coming out this spring Motobunny are about to embark on tour dates on the West Coast and hitting the East Coast later this year. This clip for their second single "Let's Go Out" further hones in on their trademark garage rock sound, that will debut on January 22nd. You also might have heard of them from their other projects in the The Love Me Nots and the Wooly Bandits. This is one hell of an album and we cannot wait for it to get to the masses!

Custom Leather Guitar Strap For A Martin Guitar, From Rusty Knuckles

Custom Leather Guitar Strap For A Martin Guitar, From Rusty Knuckles

When a custom order for a guitar strap comes in, we generally never know the full details of what type of instrument it is intended for. But when we receive photos such as this one from an elated customer, about our craftsmanship and gracing a beautiful Martin Guitar, we can't help but smile with a huge grin from ear to ear. Martin Guitars were established in 1833 and it is our goal with every custom product made to have that piece outlast it's owner and to be passed on to the next generation. We strive to keep Rusty Knuckles surging forward for decades to come.

A Big Giant Sword And One Man's Craftsmanship Spark New TV Series On Discovery

A Big Giant Sword And One Man's Craftsmanship Spark New TV Series On Discovery

Science fiction and the realm of fantasy within pop culture and more specifically video games are designed to break down boundaries into a new form of reality. One element that we earth bound mortals work with daily and that we still don't have a solid explanation for is the force known as gravity. The reason that gravity comes into play when speaking of sci fi is that we have a new craftsman about to launch on Discovery with his colossal swords. Their design and build is well put together but the size and weight create some very interesting visual tension about how a weapon should perform. Do yourself a favor and watch some of the youtube clips as Michael Cthulthu has built his reputation around fire and steel.

The Legendary Shack Shakers Launch A Pledge Music Campaign For Their New Album

The Legendary Shack Shakers Launch A Pledge Music Campaign For Their New Album

In case you missed the tour dates last year or weren't at Muddy Roots, the Legendary Shack Shakers are once again taking the stage. They have launched a Pledge Music Campaign to buy their new album as a pre-sale with a variety of packaging options to allow for any level of music fan to have access to their new tunes. Link over to check out what they have cookin'.

Sabu and Antiseen, The Perfect 5 man Tag Team Match

Sabu and Antiseen, the perfect 5 man Tag Team Match

To make the perfect match up, you need a bit of crazy and a whole lotta talent. For all the diehard wrestling fans, the name Sabu connotes a hardcore legend of the squared circle. From the high flying finishing moves, converting tables, chairs and ladders into readily available weapons and the wildly insane demeanor, helped to cultivate the mystique around Sabu. His level of acumen would become the inspiration for one of Antiseen's wrestling tribute songs that has been heard far and wide. The Boys From Brutalsville, finally got their 5th member!

Brand New Custom Belt Buckles Crafted In Aluminum and Bronze From Rusty Knuckles

Using a propane torch to work on brazing for custom belt buckles

Got our brazing technique for aluminum and brass in check. Also just made a custom bending tool for shaping the hooks for the back of the belt buckles. So damn stoked on where all the designs are going for our new line of custom buckles. DIY til the day we die!

Steve Albini Is Unmatched In His Sonic Vision, Listen To His Keynote Speech And Understand Why

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Throughout his career within music, Steve Albini has pushed boundaries. His resume is deep with punk and rock albums that adhere to his sonic mindset from a recording aspect. But if you really want to understand the vibe that he creates sonically, it can only be listened to live. The sound, the textures and without a doubt, the absolute tone, that his handcrafted and personalized music gears resonates with on stage is unmatched.

Can Russians Actually Ride A Motorcycle? From Russia With Love, Great Mishaps On Motorcycles

Can Russians Actually Ride A Motorcycle?

From the looks of this video with great "mishaps" by Russian motorcyclists, the hottest new business in Russia just might be insurance sales. If anyone has any leads on this and how to avoid dealing with Putin we are all ears. The description below is loosely translated from their youtube page.

Motobunny Makes The Best Of Video List For Phoenix, AZ Metro Area

Motobunny Makes The Best Of Video List For Phoenix, AZ Metro Area

Huge shoutout to the Motobunny crew for making the best of list for new music videos in the Phoenix, AZ area. If you haven't checked out their damn great new video for "Motobunny" view it below and peep the shout out from the Arizona Republic.

Find out more on Motobunny



Motobunny is a brand new, Iggy-Pop-meets-Icona-Pop, American rock n' roll band. Comprised of dual front women and a band of musicians coming off international tours, Motobunny will release its debut full-length album on Rusty Knuckles Music in February 2015. With singles already spinning on Sirius/XM, KROQ (LA), WFMU, KEXP, and other legendary rock stations around the USA, music videos ready to drop, tracks in a feature film, and corporate sponsors in place, Motobunny will debut its live show with US tour dates starting in Spring 2015.

When you arm two wild front women with Detroit-laced hooks, you get MOTOBUNNY — Iggy-Pop-meets-Icona-Pop, brand new, American rock n’ roll! The debut album will be released in early 2015 on Rusty Knuckles Records. With radio singles already spinning around the USA and a US tour in the works for Spring 2015, this bunny is ready to roar. #VROOM

Directed By: Matt Eskew - Generation X-Ray Films
Produced By: Jessica Luhrssen
Director of Photography: Anthony Pietromonaco
Animator: Francisco Enciso
Art Director: Paul Springer
Hair / Makeup: Mo Meinhart
BTS Camera Operator: SpookyDan Walker
Production Assistants: Christina Lopez, Kelly Gordon Sahr
Audio Playback: John Cassissi
Triumph Bonneville Provided By: Katherine Tessier

Motorbunny is Sponsored By: Foxes Cosmetics

Filmed at All American Speed Shop - Van Nuys, CA

Aluminum Belt Buckles With Soda Etched Designs From Rusty Knuckles

Aluminum Belt Buckles With Soda Etched Designs From Rusty Knuckles

Making custom belt buckles has been on our radar for a few years now. The one thing that we didn't want to do though is to have to farm out the production and in the process have to order a huge amount of minimums with large manufacturers. The costs and effort just didn't feel right in our DIY mindset, so of course we had to learn how to build our own. 

Our first round of blanks were just cut out and the designs are finished, now to transfer the designs and start cleaning up all of our blanks for the proper heat transfer. Once we have our first models ready to release, we will have them for sale on our main store page and etsy store front. Damn stoked to say the least.

Custom 10 Ounce Leather Belts With Your Name Carved, From Rusty Knuckles

Custom 10 Ounce Leather Belts from Rusty Knuckles

Having a good quality belt that will last for many years to come is something to spend your hard earned dollars on. The products we create for ourselves and customers are built to last, especially our leather items. These belts are made from heavy duty 10 oz vegetable tanned leather and can be custom ordered with your name or phrase embellished into them in a plethora of colors. Hit us up directly or check them out on Etsy or ralph.knuckles at gmail.com

Custom 10 Ounce Leather Belts from Rusty Knuckles for the Crude Crew

Custom 10 Ounce Leather Belts from Rusty Knuckles for the Crude Crew

Hazan Motorworks Walks The Line Of Beauty And Ridability With This Old Ironhead

Hazan Motorworks Walks The Line Of Beauty And Ridability

Reading through many blogs on music, art, design and of course motorcycles, there is a never ending parade of thoughts about how to walk a straight line. And to what exactly that proverbial straight line is vastly depends on what sub genre or niche is being spoken about. Unspoken rules are the norm and it takes a scholar to navigate through all the landmines, but then again if you are into the subject, you are generally a lifer within these niches.

Punk rock and hardcore is one of our mainstays and has been since late 80's as a young teenager. This genre seems to attract more diatribe than any other we have ever encountered because it is chock full of idealists and individuals whom are all relatively intelligent and the music is pure emotion spanning all subject matters. Sure, there may be fists flying and bodies moving in a form of break dance fighting that Zoolander would be baffled by, but it's fueled by passionate individuals whom challenge whats considered the norm.

What gets interesting though relating to thoughts about punk rock ideals on a bike build such as this one by Hazan Motorworks, is the fact that it is clearly a motorcycle and walks the tight rope of beauty and ridability. The same mindset of form and function that envelops punk rock is also a similar vibe within the motorcycle community. Every motorcycle becomes an extension of the rider through the physical riding stance and the way a rider adorns their machine. When looking at a few sites such as BikeExif the bike builds tend to get torn apart by readers and verbal assaults are the norm. Purists want a motorcycle too look great and seem ready for all types of riding. Artisans want to build a rolling sculpture that looks as good sitting in the garage as it does glistening down the highway. 

Hazan does one hell of a job of landing square in the middle and I can bet that with just a backpack with some basic tools and maybe some oil, a weekend 500 mile run is easily doable and heads will turn at every corner. Builds such as this one are a great reminder that individual creativity should be honed and perfected over time. Anyone can go buy pair of Red Wing boots, grow a beard and ride an old bike. Creating a new vision from scratch is the punkest thing one can do and is pure DIY through and through.

Is it an art deco barn find or a machine built from a singular vision?

The raw metal details speak volumes on the craftsmanship

Clean lines and ready for the wind

Harley never could imagine a futuristic build as this for an Ironhead

Desktop lathe and the remnants of aluminum shavings

Old To Gold, 6 Motorcyclists Reimagining The Way A Bike Should Flow, From Dice Magazine

Old To Gold, 6 Motorcyclists Reimagining The Way A Bike Should Flow, From Dice Magazine

Learning the details about why someone puts together a bike a certain way or their philosophy on things is a huge interest to me. Seeing the ideas behind the machine and the way an individual articulates their form of expression through two wheels is a feeling that will never fade away. Dice Magazine did a great job on this documentary and hope to see more.