SXSW 2012 - Another Banner Year

When attending festivals such as SXSW, the general modus operandi is to get out and meet up with as many folks as possible to network and see new acts. As life would have it, our batch of miscreants did just the opposite. We rolled out fifteen deep and created our own party wherever we went and never looked back with Rory Kelly, She Rides, Hellbound Glory and many of our local friends in tow.

Best Bloody Mary's in Austin

Leroy and Rico of Hellbound Glory with Billy of Rory Kelly

Hill Country Live at SXSW 2012 with Hellbound Glory, Billy Joe Shaver, Shooter Jennings, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lukas Nelson, Chip Taylor, Roger Alan Wade and more

At the Hill Country Live showcase on Friday night, we had to break up bar room brawls (leave that to proud Texan Preston), we were to hush up so he could actually be heard by Ray Wylie Hubbard, as we were having to good of a time and they wouldn't even allow Jamie Johnson in the side door by the stage, saying it was too packed. Add in Dan from She Rides standing on tables and dancing, Hellbound Glory blowing away the stage and the one cool mofo that is Shooter Jennings and friday night will be going down, as a night of legend.

Billy Duffy of the Cult on the big screen

Local wrassler Cowboy James Claxton's koozie

Saturday brought about an easy laid back day in which we all decided to chill out at our mother hen's house in Austin with Tammy. Hospitality is known throughout the south but what we witness every year in Texas is beyond comprehension. Tammy's humble abode turns into a band camp and the beer and whiskey flow like a wild river. With that type of good time already on tap, who needs the crowds of sixth street or the cool factor. 

Zeke's leg is a living canvas of late night tattoo's

Rory Kelly rockin' the Headhunters stage

Once we had finally decided to leave the creature comforts we embarked on a mission to catch the Cult. Legendary act and rightfully deserved through Billy Duffy's supreme mastery of the guitar and the commanding presence of solid rock n' roll chops. Our main goal for the night though was to get over to the XSXSW Showcase at the Austin Moose Lodge for the weekend showcase put together by Hillgrass Bluebilly, Saving Country Music and Muddy Roots folks. We were able to catch the sets by Hellbound Glory, James Hand and Sunday Valley, but most of all we got to hang with Keith over at Hillgrass and talk shop on some new projects we are going to team up with. 

A "Bastard" sportster chop we saw outside of the Cult show

Zeke is a good buddy of ours and master spoons player, cigarette roller and metal fabricator

Guitar legend in the making, Rory Kelly never fails to smoke every band playing with them

As things are shaping up, 2012 is going to be a banner year in our camp. After hanging out with quite a few friends and making many new ones in Austin, be on the lookout for quite a few new projects coming out to the masses and for all the rowdy ones in Rusty Knuckles Music to be invading your local clubs sooner than later.

Billy Miller and Pops of Rory Kelly bringing the thunder to Texas Rock Fest

Andrew the drummer from She Rides

Hellbound Glory smokin' the packed house at the Saxon Pub for Hill Country Live

Rico of Hellbound Glory's pedals

Rusty Knuckles Music Featured Acts At SXSW 2012

Gonna be a killer week in the Rusty Knuckles camp as we have three of our heavy hitters hitting up the annual SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas. As fans and bands descend onto the Texas State Capital this week we should thank the folks who put on such a great event from year to year. From the founders to the volunteers even to the police directing traffic in the downtown melee, we hope to see another great SXSW music festival go off without a hitch.

Learn more about SXSW

Rusty Knuckles Music at SXSW 2012 with Hellbound Glory, Rory Kelly and She Rides

Hellbound Glory Becomes Featured Act During SXSW

SXSW has already started in Austin, TX with the film and interactive conferences, but as of Wednesday, bands world wide will begin to descend on the state capital. If you have never been to this great music conference do yourself a favor and get out there for a few days. Even if you don't care to pay for the passes that for the actual festival which cost around $750, go for the atmosphere, the free day time parties and all the other music showcases outside of the SXSW endorsed showcases. 

We are stoked that Hellbound Glory is a featured act on Friday, March 16th at the Saxon Pub with Billy Joe Shaver and Shooter Jennings. Tomorrow we will also be posting a flyer for all the shows that Rusty Knuckles Music will be a part of next week. 

"Sandwiched between Chip Taylor and Ray Wylie Hubbard and followed by Billy Joe Shaver, Hellbound Glory bible-thumps its leathery Americana all the way from Reno, Nev., to the South by Southwest choir."

Link to article on the Austin Chronicle

Hellbound Glory featured in Austin Chronicle

XSXSW 5 - The Real Country Party In During SXSW

Saving Country Music did a great write up for 2012's XSXSW - 5 which will feature Hellbound Glory as one of the main acts along with Possessed By Paul James. Below is the full post from Saving Country Music and it looks to be a great event.

Link to original post on Saving Country Music

I am very excited to announce a unique partnership between Saving Country Music, Hillgrass Bluebilly Records & Entertainment, and Muddy Roots Music (The Muddy Roots Festivals) to bring together the 5th Annual XSXSW showcase, aka XSXSW 5, as part of the annual mid-March gathering of the tribes in Austin, TX known as South By Southwest.

The idea is to create a larger and more robust footprint for underground country and roots music at what is the yearly premier music event for the independent music industry, held in the “Live Music Capital of the World.” Unfortunately over the years, SXSW has become more “industry” and less “independent” as the festival has grown, and it has become a logistical nightmare for bands and fans alike to attend. SXSW is in essence a “pay to play” event, asking for non-refundable money for artists to be considered for officially-sanctioned showcases, and the event overtakes the entire downtown corridor of Austin for official SXSW use.

The spirit behind XSXSW is to offer fans and artists an alternative to the SXSW madness, while still giving them the opportunity to take advantage of the massive collection of talent, resources, and networking capabilities SXSW affords, and unlike many SXSW events, it is completely open to the public. This is the 5th year Hillgrass Bluebilly has thrown the XSXSW event, and Saving Country Music and Muddy Roots are coming on board to give the showcase that much more support and impact. Previous XSXSW acts include Los Duggans, Left Lane Cruiser, Hillstomp, O’Death, Austin Lucas, & The Harmed Brothers.

And this is not just important to artists and people in and around Austin. XSXSW 5 will be a national event, with a national focus, yet still in the original spirit of SXSW of showcasing local talent next to national acts. For folks from Texas, the Southwest, or anywhere else that can’t make it to other big independent roots events like The Muddy Roots Festival, Farmageddon Fest, The Deep Blues Festival, etc., this might be your chance to take part in a large scale event. And for those that can’t make it at all, the event will be broadcast right here on SCM LIVE, giving rise to national, and international participation via the web.

And since the event is being held at The Austin Moose Lodge on the east side of town, just outside of the SXSW madness, it offers an alternative to Austin locals who regularly avoid the annual festivities because of the headache they create. Ample parking, huge indoor/outdoor facilities, 3 stages, yet not too far out of the city makes the Austin Moose Lodge the ideal location. And as Hillgrass Bluebilly founder Keith Mallette states, The Moose Lodge embodies:

…a revival of “lost America”, for our friends and family to have a place of our own. A place that IMPROVES & BUILDS FOR US as we bring them beautiful, exceptional music that you just flat out cant get anywhere else… and prove once again that you never know where a song might take you!

This initial lineup of bands is just the tip of the iceberg of what the two day event will include, but we wanted to make folks aware of what will transpire. Florida’s Cracker Swamp Productions is also involved, and other entities and sponsors will be coming on board soon. Stay tuned to Saving Country Music for more announcements and information on XSXSW 5 as March gets closer.

• Hellbound Glory
• James Hand
• Possessed by Paul James
• Rachel Brooke
• Husky Burnette
• Lone Wolf
• Ruby Jane
• Restavrant

Hellbound Glory will be a headliner at XSXW - 5 in Austin, TX - March 16 - 17th 2012

More SXSW Photos

Just in case you didn't see what we had cookin' over on our flickr page, have a look at some of the photos from the action yall missed at SXSW.

Green lady Killers

She Rides

Hellbound Glory

Homemade Guitar From Piece of 600 Year Old Tree

If you had recently found a really cool old piece of wood in the Mississippi River what would you do with it? Well, as it turns out a buddy of Leroy from Hellbound Glory decided to let his brother, who is a custom furniture builder, have a crack at it. He shaped the piece of wood and smoothed it all down to make a custom guitar. After adding a few more low budget modifications, tuning devices and "pickups" a new three string guitar was complete.

You don't have to spend loads of money to create the perfect noise machine. Get creative and find new ways to build yourself whatever custom item that comes to mind, whether it be guitar, car or bike. Enough with thinking in a period correct mindset, make it cool and make it your own, as that is being truly non conformist and DIY.

Leroy Virgil & The Excavators - New Song

Nothing better than 3am jam sessions on the road. Leroy Virgil of Hellbound Glory and the new project The Excavators keeping the neighbors up all night in Austin, TX during SXSW.

Jonathan McPhail Photography

We were lucky enough to have Jonathan McPhail at our showcase party during the madness of SXSW to get some great new band press photos. Needless to say Jonathan has quite the extensive music portfolio so have a look. With great shots of Motorhead, Valient Thorr, AFI, Crank County Daredevils and many many more, this dude has quite the eye. Hoping to work with him more in the future and also when our bands are touring through New York.

Jonathan McPhail Photography

Green Lady Killers

She Rides

Reno Divorce

Rory Kelly

Hellbound Glory

Green Lady Killers - Austin Shows During SXSW

Here are a few shows the Green Lady Killers will be hitting up during the residency in Austin this week. Are you ready for these Femme Fatales on the big stage? Yep, so are we...

The Green Lady Killers - Linger On by RustyKnuckles

The Green Lady Killers - My 45 by RustyKnuckles

Texas Rock Fest

If you are going to be patrolling the streets of Austin during SXSW, why not check out another festival going on simultaneously and within the same area. She Rides and The Green Lady Killers will be rocking the stage on Friday the 18th so get over there and check it out. After that meet up with the rest of us at the Volcom party to catch Valient Thorr.

Austin Declares March 8th Officially - Motorhead Day

The fine folks of Austin including their worldly Mayor, truly understand the power of rock n' roll. In their infinite wisdom they have declared this fine day of Tuesday March 8th to be officially dubbed "Motorhead Day". Being that we won't be in town until next Thursday, a celebration will have to be done remotely. Turn on youtube, open up itunes or just jam whatever Motorhead tracks are close by and crank it up to 11. Lemmy you are a national treasure!

Link to article on Blabbermouth.net

Reno Divorce Is Invading Our SXSW Showcase

Gettin' stoked for SXSW, check out a tune Reno Divorce called "What Were You Sayin" as they are on the showcase and coming on right after She Rides...

SXSW - The Unofficial Insiders Guide

If ya haven't already heard, we are having quite the FREE showcase blowout during SXSW in good ol' Austin, TX at the Dirty Dog Bar. There are numerous sites catering to all that is SXSW and promoting the event and bands. We just launched our profile page on the Unofficial Insiders Guide to SXSW brought to you by SXSW Insider. If you are heading to the festival be sure to come by and have a beer on us, gonna be a great time. Also check the SXSW Insiders guide for other showcases and parties.

Unofficial Guide to SXSW

Unofficial Guide to SXSW - Rusty Knuckles Showcase

Biker Metric - Rusty Knuckles Writeup

Thanks to Trent over at Biker Metric for thinking of us and doing a solid writeup on all we do, here is the post in it entirety.

Link to article over on BikerMetric.com

do you like music? do you like rock-n-roll music? how about hillbilly agro? or simple one-man-and-his-guitar tunes? do you understand that johnny cash was the first punk rocker? 

then you will dig rusty knuckles.

and i haven't gotten to the motorcycle part yet.

rusty knuckles is a custom merchandise company and a record label which reflects the bands and lifestyle which exemplify the mindset of, um, fuck you, you god damned yuppie prick.

or something like that. i made the last part up. rusty will let me know if it isn't true.

their mindset is punk rock, fuck you if you hate, and be aware that dichotomy is violence vs. poems paraphrased from jesus. it is the world we live in and rusty knuckles produces the green lady killers. they are two of my favorite bands from rusty's long list of kickass motherfucking music:

rusty knuckles promotes bands and musicians that kick ass. not over-produced crap for mass consumption that parents of teenagers approve of because they are too busy calling psychiatrists seeking medication for the kids they'd rather drug than become involved with.

have you ever contemplated, "should i spend my last five bucks on food or on getting more fucked up?" i have. and as i write this the last inch of my 40 ouncer is being guzzled through a throat dionysus would envy.

rusty knuckles bands has contemplated that great dilemma, and this is what happened.

all bands should own their music and rusty works directly with each band to bring forth the vision they feel within them. they don't tell them what to do. rusty finds what the band wants to be.

rusty knuckles is currently working with crank county daredevils:

leroy virgil:

hellbound glory:

antiseen:

jay berndt:

she rides:

and the green lady killers. yeah. you wanna fuck them. i bet they don't care.

you gotta band? rusty knuckles designs, markets from print to social media, album packaging, custom garments and brand outreach blah blah blah. you have something real and true, go to rusty knuckles and prove it.

rusty digs clients from the custom motorcycle, hotrod and entertainment industry and brags of past clients from tom waits, the boston celtics, ufc, the chicago bulls, hurley clothing, mtv, and others too numerous to brag about since the bragging was just done.

them's braggin' rights. i'm diggin. even though the celtics and bulls suck.

trent = PHX suns fan.

if rusty knuckles isn't busy working on new ideas, drawing band shirt designs, or creating album packaging, they are downstairs wrenching on their ever-increasing array of custom motorcycles and plotting the next road trip.

here is a pic from tim bradham 's shop, dresch frame:

and if you're hiting sxsw this march, hit the dirty dog to see these bands:

also, while in austin, drunk and hungry, get your food anywhere but casino el caminio. go to franks, or the jackalope. eat more and pay less without the attitude from people who are all from l.a. and the northwest who pretend they're locals and act like you're lucky to be in their bar.

plus, rats won't have run over your burger the night before when the meat was left out. how do i know? i opened that place for 20 months. eat rat meat like it's chicken, pay eight bucks for it, or go somewhere else.

if you do go just to get the vibe of "how to get ripped off" ask bartender joe lifto when was the last time he got a boner. tell the owner, casino, he's a crook and i'm coming for him.

goodness. revenge makes me want to put a sweater on 'cause i'm chilly.

but hey, everybody who works there can tell you who is there to buy a twenty bag of half-assed coke from. so they've got that going for them.

not that you want to do that. if you mention my name they will tell you i'm a liar and a drunk. only half of that is true. so, from the dirty dog, walk up 1/2 block on neches from this concert to visit lovejoy's. it's nice there. the real bikers are there. you can tell by the machines parked in front.

as for the dirty dog, the bar with the stage that will be playing all of rusty's bands? they are cool with me. you might even see a large bikerMetric banner hanging from the rafters from the party we had there last summer.

now for something about revolution:

"some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. the one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. the first is a patron, the last a punisher."

 - thomas paine, "common sense"

rusty knuckles produces artists who understand this principle.

now for more motorcycles. ralph, the man behind rusty knuckles, built a wicked troublemaker out of a rare honda cb650. yes cb650. according to ralph, he "had a bitch of a time finding parts and had to make quite a bit of shit to get it right."

that's what it's all about. fighting and getting it right.

Rusty Knuckles SXSW Showcase

We couldn't be bringing a huge shindig to town without some help in the right places. Huge thanks to Metal Freaktress Tammy and Wendy with Rank And Revue. Come check out the showcase on Saturday March 19th from 12 to 5pm at the Dirty Dog Saloon in the heart of Austin, TX

Dirty Dog Bar - Austin, TX

Rank And Revue

HONKY Is Now Added To Our Showcase During SXSW

Just got word that Honky has been added to our showcase in Austin, TX during SXSW. For those of yall not in the know about the legend that is Honky, well they dig callin' it just "Dirty White Boy Rock N' Roll" but its far bigger than that. 

Check out what was written on them:

 "From Texas, home of all the great American power trios, Honky hammers its riffs with demented fury on its self-titled debut (Honest Abe's Custom Records). Great for setting the mood at parties, but you might want a metal detector at the door."

  -  Playboy Magazine

"The first thing you see on the flyer for the Honky show at the Funhouse is what’s in parentheses: "(J.D. Pinkus of Butthole Surfers)."  "If people come to see a psychedelic show, they’re definitely going to leave having seen something different," says the parenthetical Pinkus of his new band.  While "the Butts," as he calls them, incorporated a 17-year-old Pinkus in 1985 on their way to patenting their acid-dipped Southern art-punk freak-out, Honky is straightforward rock and roll.

 "We’re not trying to be groundbreaking; this is the most timeless music there is," says Pinkus in an Austin drawl, adding that the band’s sound is "so basic it’s hard to explain." But let’s give it a shot: Put an old Molly Hatchet record on the spinner and put your Urban Cowboy tape in the VCR.  Turn up the record player, turn down the TV, and hit yourself about the head–hard–with an iron skillet.  To hear Pinkus tell it, Honky makes the ladies shake their butts, which in turn makes the men buy more beer. "A winning combination," he calls it. "When we have 300 people at our shows, they tend to drink like they’re 600."  

Despite the acid-fried/Southern-fried distinction of the two very different bands, there are similarities, however thin.  On songs like "Your Bottom’s at the Top of My List," from House of Good Tires, Honky’s third full-length (a fourth will be out on local label Dead Teenager this spring), Pinkus and crew closely approximate the way the Butts lulled you in with a whispered folk song, then dragged you out through a sludgy jam on the other side.  Are the two bands different sides of the same coin?  That’s a bit of a stretch, but if it’s me–or one of the many longhaired unkempt acid diehards–who’s tossing, I’m going to bet on the Butts to land faceup.  "I have a band that’s a little bit more like the Butthole Surfers, too.  In fact, we’re probably more like the old Butts than the Butts were," Pinkus says of Areola 51, in which he is joined by guitarist Brett Bradford from Scratch Acid and drummer Max Brody from Ministry.  Dead Teenager’s putting that one out, too. Me and the longhairs can’t wait to hear it."

  - Laura Cassidy