Antiseen Conquered Muddy Roots, Hear More From Mad Brother Ward

Mad Brother Ward and Antiseen about to take the stage, first show ever without the almighty Joe Young

A great write up and article can do many things. It can shape the way a memory is collectively thought about and also help to give deeper clarity to an exact moment. Reading Mad Brother Ward's article about his thoughts on Muddy Roots and playing the first ever show in Antiseen's 30 year history without the almighty Joe Young, was quite enlightening. I was damn stoked how the fellas charged right into their set and proved that they haven't missed a beat with Joe Young's passing.

That Time When Billy Don Burns and Billy Joe Shaver Sat Down For A Conversation

Billy Don Burns and Billy Joe Shaver talking for the BDB documentary currently being filmed

A few weeks back we were able to sit down with Billy Don Burns and Billy Joe Shaver for a quick chat for the BDB documentary. Can't tell yall how thrilled we are with the amount of folks asking to go on record and sing praises about Billy Don Burns. True character will always shine through and watching these two chat was akin to watching a great novel unfold. 

Billy Don Burns on Facebook

Stevie Tombstone And Billy Joe Shaver

Stevie Tombstone and Billy Joe Shaver

"Words of wisdom from the original Honky Tonk Hero: I had the honor and chance to work with Mr. Shaver last winter and we had a few hours before show time to catch up and compare notes on mutual friends and talk about life in general. When the subject of my current situation and the music business came up he laid a few pearls of wisdom on me, I’m glad he drove the point home. Billy Joe said "the record label works for you , you don’t work for them son and don’t ever forget it”. These words never rang truer, in the age of DIY labels and the fall of the majors, its still a “tough row to hoe" finding your way through the gauntlet of bottom feeders and folks willing to throw you under the bus. You can spend a whole life trying to please folks who’ll never love you. Now there are a lot of great indie labels out there and promoters who put blood sweat and tears into the acts and never make a dime. My hat is off to them and I can see the tide is turning, until then we may only rely on our loyal fan bases and ourselves. Do yourself a favor and support independent artists and respect those who paved the way for us. We are part of what makes our culture unique and so are the fans, grassroots labels and artists." - Stevie Tombstone

Do yourself a favor and keep up with Stevie's Tumblr page, as he is one stand up dude. Proud to call him my friend!

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

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