Hopsin puts the FU in Funk Volume!!

Hopsin Shows Us Why He Puts The FU in Funk Volume!! (Funk Volume Show Review 10/28/12) 

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. There is just something about the smell in the air, like delinquents and chocolate, that really get the blood pumping. Its the time of year when you can get away with adding liquor to your coffee, when you can hide under layers of clothes and eat without people seeing the weight gain, and when amazing acts like Hopsin grace the stages of the Hawthorne Theater for an amazing night like no other seen before.

When Thrasher first emailed me about the show, he asked me if I knew who Hopsin was and if I thought he would sell at all in Portland. I was so excited to get this email and I knew this would be an amazing opportunity for all of Portland to see the genius that my closest friend, Joe, has been shoving down my throat for months now. I responded to Thrasher that yes, I knew about Hopsin, that he was amazing, and that I would sell the show out and that we would love to play the show. So the deal was made and history was in the making for Portland. This would be Hopsin's first time ever here and I was going to be a part of this incredible event.

So our team began working feverishly to let everyone know that this was not a show to be missed. Many of you may not know, but Hopsin got his start on TV and is no stranger to the camera and lime light. In 2001 Hopsin had a part as an extra on the Disney movie Max Keeble's Big Move, he had a small part in 2002 on That's So Raven (which is were many people may recognize him) and he even had a guest appearance on the remake show Fame. Hopsin has always been a musician, but had a difficult time originally starting off on his career.

Eventually Hopsin did get going and started off with Ruthless Records in 2009, but Hopsin eventually left Ruthless Records due disagreements with the record label.  His debut album, Gazing at the Moonlight was dropped in 2009, but without a lot of backing it only sold 42 copies. After that Hopsin decided to do what many intelligent artists do, who see that the money is in the production, he started his own independent label, Funk Volume.

Presently Funk Volume consists of Swizz, Hopsin, Dizzy Wright, DJ Hoppa, and Jarren Benton. Together these guys heading, like a tornado, to Portland. Leaving a path of hung over partiers, broken relationship (fans), and exhausted venue owners behind. The fans of Portland counted down the days to the show, watching Funk Volume's Facebook posts about previous shows anxiously, and waited to see what they had in store for us. What we were to see would surpass my expectations by far and I would experience a moment during Hopsin's set that I had never witnessed by any other artist before him.

When I arrived at the show, there was a line practically around the block. Even in the pouring rain, fans were ready to get in and waited over and hour for the doors to open, just to get a coveted spot up front, close and person with the artists.

The first artist of the night was a local group. We sat diligently through the group waiting for the artists of the night and getting drinks and food out of the way.

Next up was Tragedy 503, a local favorite. With Tragedy tonight was fan favorite Knothead, Art Hardy (the amazing voice all over Tragedy's album), and Merax. Merax treated us to an amazing dance and some very special Halloween pop and locking, for an 8 year old he is truly an amazing talent. Tragedy had the crowd jumping and we even got to see a crazy mosh pit erupt in the middle of the venue.

As the show progressed we got amazing songs from Swizz, a very funny joke from Hoppa about Justin Beiber coming out to do a song with him, and incredible tracks by Dizzy and Jarren. I thought it was amazing for Hopsin to come out before his set and grace the stage with other artists for collaboration songs, which many artists won't do before their set.

Finally the lights went down, and Hopsin appeared on the stage. He sang out hit after hit and the crowd was jumping, singing, screaming, and girls were taking their tops off. Hopsin was having some great banter with the front row and really bringing the crowd in. Then Hopsin backed up on the stage and we could all tell what he was going to do, stage dive. One of the crowd favorites and a change for people to reach out and touch the star that they so idolize. What happened next no one would have guessed. During Hopsin's crowd surfing event, he rolled over, got the crowd to support him by the knees, slowly stood up, and finished his song..on the top of the screaming fans, in an almost super hero pose, and to everyone's excitment and enormous applause.

In my 13 years of working in music and doing shows, I have honestly never seen an artist do this and I was genuinely happy to have witnessed it. I know you may say that his is not a diffficult feet, but think about it. These fans were not prepped before hand. This was completely spontanious. These people held him strong, stable, and he gave an ultimate showmanship by giving the audience something to go home and talk about for years to come. I guarentee that next time Hopsin comes to town, the show will sell out twice as fast and people trying to get on it will flood the promotors email box. Just know Hopsin, I was the first to give ya a chance and I won't be the last. Keep selling out shows and keep doing what you do best, entertaining.

Underground Artist of The Week: Grayskul

 

For The Power of Grayskul!





This weeks Underground Artist Review, has the pleasure of bringing to you, the group Grayskul. For those of you who have not been privileged enough to see these amazing artist live, you will get an overview today that will persuade you to do so and soon. Grayskul is made up of members Onry Ozzborn, JFK, and Rob Castro. These great artists are currently residing on Rhymesayers Entertainments' label. 

The first time I saw Grayskul was at a Tragedy show in the amazing, and long gone, Rock and Roll Pizza (that used to reside on 112th and Powell in Portland OR). Though the venue is now long gone, Grayskul still lives on and grows more talented and masterful each day. Grayskul put on an incredible show that night and even gave me an exclusive interview after that show, that will appear on the Tragedy DVD, release date TBD.  The band has continued to prove themselves worthy of such a great name after all these years. With their debut release of "Deadlivers" (2005), Grayskul paved the way for a new idea of Hip/Hop that has been a supervillian's design of music takeover. Set on nothing less then world and music domination. With great songs like "Action Figure of Speech" and "Deadlivers" the album gave the fans a great amount of lyrical stylings that were well written and full of actual content. 

The only complaint I had was that many of the songs and rhythm styles seemed the same. As I moved from song to song on the CD I felt the way the band put their lyrics to song was very similar in sound (same inflection on each verse of each song on the CD) but if that is the worst thing on the CD they are doing better then 98% of underground artists out there, that I could write a page of what they are doing that bothers me musically. 

Grayskul also released these albums in 2005: Creature, Wand and The Gun. 

The next CD I came across was Bloody Radio (2007). This CD shows amazing growth, improvement of talent, and infliction in lyrics that I had previously found disheartening in the first CD. The song shows that with time and practice comes better quality and more toned skills. I enjoyed songs such as "Missing", "Is It Me", and "Us". If Grayskul was able to maximize their growth from CD  to CD, like they have done here, in just two years then I am looking forward to reviewing what is next. 

Grayskul also released these albums in 2007: Facefeeder, Scarcrow, and Prom Quiz

The next CD that Grayskul put out is called Graymaker (2009). I enjoyed the change of pace in this album. The tempo was slowed down a bit, but the lyrical content was till present. Songs that make you think and see things in our world that many people turn a blind eye too or may not recognize, made for amazing songs that will last the test of time. Songs from this CD that really stood out for me were "Bread and Wine", "Duece Duece", and "Drapes". The album had a mix of slower beats and quicker tempos. I feel that each album has shown more growth and more lyrical maturity then the previous CDs. 

Grayskul has not released an album since 2009, which makes for the longest time period between albums since 2005. I hope that Grayskul has something amazing in the works for fans. The last Facebook post showed they were playing in Seattle in Sept 2012. So we know that Grayskul is still working and producing music, and until they release another anticipated album we will be patiently waiting. For the power of Grayskul can not be contained nor eliminated. So tell your Grayskul fans that the band is in the midst of their "super special, awesome ultra special, sexy transformation sequence...go! (Grayskull quotes). 

Artist of the Week: Moonshine Bandits

Out Of The Darkness, Shines the Moonshine Bandits, To Light The Way.

The Moonshine Bandits get their name from their deep  family roots running illegal booze during prohibition.  This all took place in Northern California during the years of the Great Depression. Now the Moonshine Bandits have their own actual 99 Proof "Outlaw Moonshine" Spirit which was set to hit liquor and grocery stores legally in 2011 and it is produced by Valley Spirits Distillery in California.  Now the Moonshine Bandits are not only known for their liquor  but also for an amazing lyrical talent that has put them in the midst of such great musicians as Tech N9ne, Rehab, Vanilla Ice, Kottonmouth Kings, Tragedy 503,  E-40, Twiztid, Haystak, , The Expendables, and many more. One of the most amazing honors and opportunities requested of these talented guys was when they received a phone call from the United States Military to perform at Fort Irwin, CA. The Moonshine Bandits performed on July 4, 2010 at the Fort Irwin Military Base located in the Mojave Desert for thousands of our U.S. Troops. They were able to give our troops a much needed release and a performance worthy our men and women of honor.

The first time I had ever heard about the Moonshine bandits was back in the early 2000's when they contacted Tragedy 503 and requested him to be a part of their Whiteboyz In The Game compilation (featuring mainly white rappers and artists) in the industry, also known as the underdogs (in an industry like this, we'll just accept that as most truth). This record was in no way meant to be any sort of a race recognition or to say that any race was better then another, but to give some people who are usually known to be underrated in the industry the chance to show some talent. I am not sure how the CD did in the end, but I do own a copy and I think that the concept may have been flawed looking back now, but the idea was of good heart at the time.

The Moonshine Bandits have come out with their fair share of CD's these past years, moving up with hard work and determination to be a part of SubNoize's amazing lineup. Some of those great features are Divebars and Truckstops (Which features one of my favorite songs "Fists and Jager") , Prohibition,  Soggy Crackers, and theirs newest album to drop Whiskey and Women. The Moonshine Bandits recently hit up the Seattle are doing a tour with Rehab called United Shiners of America USA Tour. The show featured stops all across the US. The boyz just recently hit back home in Cali and from their Facebook status updates are grateful for the experience, but even more grateful for a moment home and with family. 

The Moonshine Bandits look like really fun and interesting guys, but they are quite the enigma of a group. Don't get me wrong, they are fun, great to watch live, and have an amazing gimmick going on, but how did this come about? Cowboy rappers from Cali? Was this part of a great game of truth or dare that went very wrong? "Hey truth or dare".."Dare dude...okay I dare you to start a rap group (drunkin snickers) and do it looking like cowboys. " (Drunkin laughter erupts . "No way dude its not gonna happen...Ya I'm ma do it, I'm totally gonna do it. " Years later their friend stare sitting at home watching them on TV thinking to themselves, man I had no idea that they would do it, let alone be famous. Maybe you shouldn't have dared him to f*%$k my mom either that night asshole!! (insert funny sitcom sounds duh duh duhhhh).  So no matter how the idea got passed around, it worked. You can even find the Moonshine bandits songs featured on CMT of all places. 

Well the sun will only shine on the days that Moonshine bandits have left to offer us great music and great shows, and the moon will light there way to the stadiums filled with fans and cheering crowds. Like a photographer at night aiming for the best picture of the orange moon rings, I'm gonna shoot...on out of here and leave you to do the rest of the research yourself. 

Restaurant/Bar Review of The Month

American Dream Pizza is a mouth full of amazing!










This months restaurant/bar review was of a place I stopped in at, during my lunch hour from work, called American Dream Pizza. The restaurant is located at 4620 Northeast Glisan Street  Portland, OR 97213. At first look, I thought it was just any other pizza dive that you would find off Hawthorne or in some local suburban neighborhood. Once I was inside, I could tell it was a totally different experience.

When I walked in the door, I could tell that the first major asset that American Pizza has, is their amazing staff. They set the place apart from all the others. The person at the front register had to be one of the funnies and most engaging people I have ever seen. He was patient with me, being I had never been there and didn't know what the menu entailed, and let me take my time with my order. He was extremely funny and made me want to come there to eat every day just to see him again. Also, during the ordering process, they were listening to Van Halen's Panama, and at the chorus the whole staff yelled out PANAMA and I just wanted to laugh and clap all at the same time. The charisma in the building and the staff having fun like that made the place a great environment to take a lunch break in and get away from a hard days work. The walls of the restaurant are lined with pizza take out boxes artfully colored by the customers who enjoyed their pizza and service as well.

I ordered the lunch special of single topping pizza and single topping salad (I got Canadian bacon on my pizza and smoked Gouda on my salad). It was great pizza. You could see the seasonings and the spices in the crust and you could taste the ingredients were fresh and that they cared about what went into their pizza. The staff checked up on me a few times to see if everything was great, which I like. They have a serve yourself style to get silverware and water, which at first confused me because I didn't know were these things were. I did finally figure it out and was glad I could do this for myself haha. Also you bus your own table, which I"m sure keeps the prices down to have people take care of their own mess. I am perfectly capable of busing my own table, so I had no problem with this.

Some specials they run was a happy hour of beer and pizza for only $5 from 8-10pm. This is great because most happy hours end right after people get off work and then you miss it. This gives people the ability to get off work at a later time and still make happy hour.

Overall I give American Pizza a 9 out of 10. I would definitely visit them again and hope to get a chance in the future.

Still Stomping Way Over Your Expectations!

Knothead Never Throws In The Hand Or Folds UP!

For those of you who are not familiar with Knothead, if anyone like that exists, he is one of the most determined and hard working underground artists out there. His determination has made him one of the most coveted promoters out there and has landed him a spot on Strange Music's promotion crew for the NW.  Knothead has had his hands in so many musical projects and invited to be on so many amazing shows, you would wonder why he is still underground music!

Knothead comes from a small town in Washington called Port Hadlock. A town, until I met Knothead, I didn't know even existed. With a population of approximately 3500 people, you can see why it may be less likely to be heard of then, lets say Spokane, with a population of approximately 471,000. During Knothead's darker days of drug use and life lessons, he credits his decision to becoming an artist to some "tweaker" kids he saw writing raps and songs. His first goal was to be better then they were at it. Knothead credits is recovery to music and meeting his wonderful wife. I have met her and she is definitely a rare treasure.

Knothead moved to Spokane to start pursuing music and his career. Knothead battled his inner demons and did something many people never do in their life time, he kicked the drug habit and grew from it. Becoming a person that you could trust, work with, and enjoy in your corner doing music and being a part of the event.

Knothead and his wife met up with local artist Tragedy 503 while doing shows and the friendship between them became strong. Knothead made the move closer to Portland and the area by relocating to Vancouver WA. From Vancouver Knothead can attend shows in both Portland and in Spokane, Kennewick area.

Knothead has come out with some amazing records and built a fan base that is full of ride or die fans who will drive hours to a show. Some of the albums to check out, and that can be found on his facebook, are Hadlock for Life, Knothead's Back 2.0, K.N.O.T. (the) Radio Vol. 1, and Never Fold Up. Knothead's music has grown in strength and maturity through the years. His lyrical content has gotten more in depth and his song style has shown that with age comes experience and the ability to put out quality work.

Knothead has new music videos out as well and having produced two music videos recently, that are going viral online, had boosted his credentials even more. The first release is Can't Count The Demons in which Knothead talks about dealing with addiction and recovering from those things that can hold you down and keep you from being successful in life. Next was the highly anticipated release of Never Fold UP, about dealing with life and every day struggles, staying strong, and never giving up.

I foresee much more to come from Knothead. He has a great support system in life, a great fan base, and the will power to rocket himself in to fame and fortune. If I had any advice to give you Knothead, it would be to Keep Stompin, right over the faces of anyone who tries to hold you down or talk shit. Cause we know you will NEVER FOLD UP!!

Full Moon in Sept. Brings Out Yelawolf!!

Yelawolf Slaughters The Music Scene in Portland on 9/7/12.

Yelawolf came through town during NW Music Fest, slyly like a a wolf in sheep's clothing, blended in with many local artists and without much publicity. For those of you who were lucky enough to catch it, you were in for a real treat. Yelawolf gave a performance to be remembered and shook the house to the ground.

Yelawolf is an Alabama native, bringing with him a Southern Style like no other can. His down roots and his ability to charm the masses with amazing songs like "Daddy's Lambo" and "Pop The Trunk". He can also be found in a feature spot on Stevie Stone's song, and a favorite video of mine, "Dollar General".  Yelawolf has the ability to jump from musical genres to different styles with ease. “I can go any direction – arena rap or even the bluegrass hip-hop shit. I would never sign myself down to any style,” Yelawolf said (Facebook insert).

For those of you lucky enough to get a ticket before the show, Yelawolf graced the stages of the Roseland Theater on Sept 7th 2012. The feed back from the show has been amazing. Fans are saying he was at his best ever and that his sound is maturing and growing. Many times when a group goes from poverty to fame, their message can be lost and their song content can change, due to the struggles that most of us can relate to, being no more. I am hoping that with the music I hear in the future that is not what is in store for Yelawolf. With a past that is as tramatic and yet adventurous as "Joe Dirt" you would hope that he keeps those times at heart and keeps his music centered on those who need it most.

What does Yelawolf have in store for us next you may ask? Yelawolf has a new project coming up with Travis Barker called Psycho White. The new artwork for that is amazing and I feel a lot of talent went into it. Check it out. You can find out more about the projects he has coming out and Yelawolf blogs here.

Yelawolf has fans and haters alike, just like anyone else does. I feel that if you really take the time to open up to his music and see that even in his simplistic ideals he is quite talented and can catch you with just a few words in a song. I got a chance to see Yelawolf really shine at a show he did with Tech N9ne at a Eugene outside venue last year, and I was blown away with his set and how great he was with the crowd, how he was able to keep my attention throughout the whole set, and that he seemed truly humbled by the respect and admiration he was getting from his fans. Merax also got a chance to meet him and get a quick pic. He was great with his fans and took the time to show them he really appreciated their time and the love they showed him.

I will always have a soft spot for the amazingly tattooed, handsome, and strangly familiar southern man, Yelawolf and his first album "Trunk Muzik 0-60". I have so many fond memories of haning with my friends and listening to that album. I hope to continue to write great things about Yelawolf and to only have good reviews. Only time will tell and I look forward to what he has coming in the future. So for all you haters out there I say, watch out for the full moon, when man becomes beast and Yelawolf comes looking for you. Baaahhhh!

Complaint Department....Take a number!

ARGH YOU ARE KILLING THE UNDERGROUND!!








As an underground music artist, I can tell you one of the things killing my ability to make music, is that fact that every one out there wants it....FOR FREE.

Being underground doesn't mean I don't want to make enough money to live, to support my family, and to have a few extra things in life because I work so hard to bring the people music that they like. If you like it enough to download it, then you should lke it enough to buy it and help me to keep feeding my kids, my family, and the many people who choose to couch surf at my spot from time to time so they don't sleep on the streets. My damn dog is starving!!

Supporting people that you enjoy is what allows that artist to continue to bring you music that you love. How am I suppose to record new tracks, I hear it every day. "Hey man, when you coming out with a new album?" "When are we gonna see a new video for you soon?" How are we suppose to do that when we can't afford to buy roman with how many people are "borrowing their friends CD and burning it".

Underground doesn't mean under-paid, it means under appreciated by the masses!! If we don't die out from hunger any time soon, maybe I'll release a new song next month, but first I have to have a garage sale!

Complaint Department....Take a Number!

MUSIC MUSH, FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY MOUTH!







What is with music today? Do people not care about content or about quality any more? If I wanted to listen to music that my 6 year old niece could make up on her own with paper and a crayon, I would record her and play it on loop. The songs I am hearing today have no structure, no message, nothing!!! If I hear one more song about bitches, hoes, money, and drugs that actually talks about NOTHING I will break this CD into a million pieces over their head. Music used to have meaning, a message, and used to talk about something involving life. Now its all about beat and gimmicks, catchy tunes, but no content. I say boycott new music and we'll just by the old stuff. The good stuff. Music that actually has something to say, instead of just things like "Black and Yellow" and "Superman", what the hell is wrong with the youth of today? Maybe lack of education in schools makes more informative music to hard for them to understrand!

Underground Artist Of The Week: Libretto

This weeks underground artist of the week is Libretto. 

I had never heard of Libretto before, but was excited to see 5 of my favorite music people in the industry were friends of this artist. The first thing that Google brought me too when researching this artist was a YouTube show called Don't Move Here, which I found very interesting. How we can be Portlanders who are so into the scene and into what is going on in music and never hear of these side projects baffles me. It is either poor promotions of these ideas of just us with our heads in the sand. The show takes a look at local music and why people are doing what they are doing, but let's get back to Libretto. Libretto came from L.A. to Portland and joined the Portland underground music scene. With mutual friends like Chillest Illest, DJ Fatboy, and Yamio, I was ready to hear some amazing music from an artist that seems to deserve more lime light. 

The first song I found from Libretto was called Volume, which you can also download for free from the link. I was very impressed with the lyrical quality of this artist. He had really well done beats, simple but clear, and a talented voice and ability to add inflection to his words (something that I have continually said artists in the underground seem to be lacking any more). He added variety to his song and the lyrics were catchy.  The next song I checked out by Libretto was called Ride To Dat. I found the video for this on You Tube. The song starts off slow, but the beat is good. The song had pretty hard lyrics that made you think and then the chorus was more laid back. So the mix was okay, but I would have liked the chorus to reflect the true talk coming from the lyrics about life and hard times. I believe he was trying to show that no matter how hard life is that we are all ride or die with our lives and we need to just enjoy the better things in life and relax. 

All in all I was pleased with what I heard and I feel this artist really deserves to be checked out. The full bio, CD information, and location to order songs or albums can be found here. So I would have to give Libretto an 8 out of ten on my underground artists worth paying to see scale, and if you see him playing some were soon hit me up, we'll ride to dat!!

Getting The Right Education with Kutt Calhoun- Show Review Sept 6th 2012

Kutt Calhoun Teaches a new kind of education in Salem OR!

Last Thursday night was a great time to catch Kutt Calhoun in town, one night only at Moonlight Events, 4764 Portland Rd NE in Salem, OR. Kutt Calhoun passed through our small local town of Salem on Sept 6th and gave the crowd a show that was seldom seen on such a personal and intimate level.

I had never been to this venue before and on first look I thought it looked a lot like a wedding reception hall. The venue holds a maximum of 600, but after talking with the owner, would hold more like 1500 once they make some changes and upgrades. The stage had a catwalk in the middle to allow artists to get closer to their fans and the sound system was better then expected ( I believe that was brought in by Tragedy 503 Promotions though or an affiliate). They had ample security for the event, and they were easy to talk with and seemed to be enjoying being there (which is rare for security).

People were lined up before I arrived and there was BBQ going on the side of the venue. People seemed to be having a great time talking in the parking lot and relaxing before the event. There was no bar inside, so people were starting their night in their cars and across the street at the local bar. Before the event began we all had a quick scare when a local fan, in line, fainted due to not having eaten that day. We came to her aid and then a member of her family came and picked her up. It was sad she had to miss the event, but everyone came together to get her water and make sure she was okay.

I went in for sound check and got to spend a moment hearing what the local artists and Kutt had in store for us that night. After helping make sure the set list was with the sound guy for the night, we got the artists their passes and prepared to open the door.

Fans piled in and headed straight to the front for what would be a great night of friends and excellent music.

First up was MOB. I was not familiar with this artist so I decided to stay inside and check out what he had to offer. He had a good style and I hoped his sound and lyrics would match. I was quite impressed with his music. I thought he had great talent on stage and engaged the crowd well. I wondered why he was opening a show when he seemed to have a lot of talent. It came down to fan base and who brought the most fans though. I will say that with a talent this good, people who support MOB should really come out and show support at his shows. One of the main ways that artists get good spots on shows it by pre-selling tickets and showing a substantial fan base. I hope to see MOB some where near the middle of the set next time I attend a show with him, because musically he's worth it. If you are a fan of MOB, make that happen by attending his events.

Next up was EWOK. I had not heard the band before and I don't believe I've ever seen them play until now. They were nice guys, whom we talked to before the show, and they had a fan base that seemed to enjoy their music. EWOK gave their all while on stage even when dealing with technically difficulty and some mistakes during the set.

On stage next was local favorite Beatwalkers.  This was my first time hearing this group as well. The group got a lot of love from the get go. They had a unique sound that was pleasing to the ears and that had a lot of depth. I didn't focus a lot on the lyrics as I was distracted by other items of business going on. The only critique I really had for them was that they did not move around much on stage. They seemed to just stand in a line behind the next while on the cat walk and didn't give much variety with movement, which could be why I was so easily distracted with other things while doing their set. All in all I give them a thumbs up and I would be interested in seeing them play again.

Finally, local favorite Knothead, was about to take the stage. I heard the loud speaker from outside and immediately ran in to see the set. I really enjoy Knothead's energy on stage. You can see his love for the music and his dedication in every word and every movement. I sang along with my favorite songs and snapped a few pictures. I even saw a little fan about 5 years old with her parents in the crowd. Knothead has a new CD out right now that I highly recommend you pick up called "Never Fold Up". Knothead is one of the most dedicated artists I know in the NW and no one can out shine his hustle in the music industry.

Ebonix, a long time friend of mine, was up next. Ebonix was previously a member of the group PWC and also 2Sic. His talent has definitely grown and matured over the years and I will have to say that I was very impressed with were he has gone with his sound. He has matured as an artist with practice and with dedication and has matured as a person as well. I look forward to seeing were he goes in the future and hope to see him at a show near by very soon. If you are not familiar with Ebonix, I recommend you check him out.

Next up was local legend Tragedy 503. I can always expect an entertaining show when Tragedy gets on stage. Tragedy was ready to rock the stage and came on to the cheers  of his fans chanting his name, Tragedy, Tragedy, Tragedy. The show was amazing and he played all my favorite songs. The crowd went wild and they were pumped up and ready for Kutty to come out. Check out more Tragedy news and music and even purchase his new CD at www.tragedy503.com .

Last, but definitely never least, was Kutt Calhoun. For more detailed review of Kutt Calhoun's set, see the blog "Don't Assume You Know Kutt Calhoun" on my blog. Kutt opened the show with banter from his set and himself, engaging the crowd, and getting everyone ready for 45 minutes of true lyrical genius. Kutt played favorites like "Bunk Rock Bitch" and "Colors". We even got a taste of Kutt's special "walk" that he does for the crowd on occasion. The crowd got a real treat with Kutt that Thursday evening and if you missed the show you really missed out on an event that may not come around again. The venue offered a rare one on one contact with Kutt that doesn't happen often in music, with an artist of such caliber. For those of us who made it we took notes and learned a great lesson. Kutt really "Took "EM Back to School" that night and Kutt will always be my favorite. I believe so many others may agree when they say that they are "hot for teacher".

Don't Assume you Know Kutt Calhoun-from the Green Room

Many people may think they know all there is to know about Kutt Calhoun, but don't presume you know anything about this talented artist till after you read this. Kutt Calhoun sat down with me before the Taking 'Em Back To School show in Salem, OR on 9/6/12 and gave me some insight into who he is as an artist, a man, and a performer. 

The crowd was anxious in anticipation of this event, lining up outside hours before the doors were to open. I couldn't wait to get off work and head to Salem to see what was in store for us that night. We had worked so hard on promotions and I knew the event would be worth the drive (an hour each way, by the way). I caught a ride with some good friends and we headed out to the event. When Kutt arrived, Tragedy and I whisked him away to a private room were he could relax and prepare for the nights show. But before I could let him start to prepare, I had to ask for an interview, being we all have so many questions that needed to be answered. Kutt Calhoun is an artist, that I believe, is way underestimated on Strange Music's label. The talent that Kutt Calhoun emanates from his person, his lyrics, and the mesmorizing way he brings forth his message in his songs,  makes him a talent that will not be lost in the side lines of the many other talented acts on his label. Kutt stands out in a way that demands attention and will not be left wanting. 

When I sat down with Kutt, I will admi,t I was a bit nervous. I have done one on one interviews with many members of Strange Music (Big Krizz, Big Scoob, Irv Da Phenom, Tech) while working for the Strange Music blogs, but I have never done an interview with Kutty. I wasn't sure what to expect. Kutty, being the handsome lady killer he is, just oozes a kind of sex appeal and style that could make the most hard core business women ( like me) blush and stumble on her words. I found Kutty to be very kind and easy to talk to and the interview that he gave left me feeling like there is another side of Kutty most don't get to tap into, as is true with most artists, and I hope I can give you a glimpse of that tonight. 

One of the first things I asked Kutty, was what was the inspiration for his new EP Kelvin. Its been 2 years since the last release of Raw and Unkutt and we have all been waiting to see what Kutt had to offer us next. Kutt said to me " I think I had to prove something, to myself. I (wanted to prove) I didn't have to depend on songs like "Callin My Name" to get notoriety from my fans." People were going to like him or not, so Kutt said "I'm just gonn do Kutt and to squash the rumors that I had left Strange Music or had a falling out or anything like that." Kutt said he was going to do something that was just what he wanted to do no matter what anyone else thought of it and was coming back tenfold. 

I asked Kutty, "What influenced you to do music?" Kutt got a grin on his face like most artist do when I ask this question. With most artists its something that is deep down in their being and the question was never what made them do it, but what brought it out of them at the right time. Kutt said "It just kind of happened. I was in the right place at the right time. I was hanging around people  years ago who were rapping and free styling. So I went home and I decided to write my own rap to the best of my ability and what I thought was good. I took it to them and they loved it. They said I had a lot of talent. I remember listening to artists when I was a kid like Spice 1, NWA, and Too Short and rapping along with them (on the radio)." I asked Kutt then , "Well, what made you go with Strange Music?" Kutt said, "I was again in the right place at the right time." He said that he was in the studio recording some music and the producer happen to have been in a group with Tech N9ne and that Tech recorded at that studio. The producer liked what Kutt was doing and Tech was quite the big time around the area, at that time. Everyone was really into him. "So I got him on a song on my album for free and Tech liked what he heard and it just went from there." Well I can say I am so glad he was in that studio at the right time. I think the dynamic from Tech and Kutty is one that is unmatched in many groups that are touring at this time. The energy that they give while on stage and the way they feed off each others energy brings a whole new level to their tours that pack the house night after night. 

I am always curious to know what songs and albums are the artists favorite. I usually know what ones are the fans favorites by reaction when the song plays at the show, at a party, or buzz online, but what do the artists think about their own songs? Which ones do they like the best? So I asked Kutty, "What was your favorite album to make?" He seemed excited to hear that question and maybe no one has ever asked him. He thought for a moment and said, " B.L.E.V.E. would have to be my favorite album. It was my first and I was so excited to be doing it. It was like the being a virgin. You never forget your first or the best sex you have ever had, you just don't forget it. B.L.E.V.E. was like my de-virginizing." I believe all Kutty's albums have there own reason for being great, and I have my fan favorite of course (Feature Presentation), but nothing will ever replace the feeling an artist gets with their first. The ability to finally put their thoughts and their ideas from their paper to the CD and share it with everyone. It's gotta be like having your first child and watching it grow up and mature into an amazing musical career. 

So then I asked Kutty, "What are your favorite songs to perform live?" Kutty smiled and thought again for a moment. If anyone has a million dollar smile, it would have to be that man. You can see such happiness in his face and realize that he really enjoys what he does and that each song must have a place in his heart for different reasons. Kutty said, " Well it would have to be a three way tie between Bunk Rock Bitch, Smiling Faces, and Colors." I was happy to hear that because those are two of my own favorite songs. Bunk Rock Bitch was one song I really enjoyed after years of seeing girls back stage do just what the song describes. I love smiling faces, like most of America does, because the song really gets to the heart of how people treat each other anymore. How people will smile at you while the rob you blind, stab you in the back, and sign your death certificate. I think today that most people know you can't trust anyone anymore, not even your family or your friends. We all have to watch our backs and the world has become very much, " I gotta get mine no matter what it does to you." I feel that song, as I listen to it now, really explains how no one really knows what is underneath that person's smile except that person. 

Well Kutty, what do you have planned for the future for us? We are all fans and feel that you have so far to go. What does the future hold? Kutty said, " Well I plan to put out more albums. I want to reach a success level to MY standards and I want to be the CEO of my own label. I want to A&R other talent and help them to be successful and grow in the industry." We all look forward to more albums, as Kutty gets better with each release and shows a level of lyrical genius that is hard to top. With so many songs out there that talk about nothing in general, its a breath of fresh air to hear Kutty slip in so much music that speaks to much more then just money and sex, but also to how we should view the world and open our eyes. 

Soon after, Kutty hit the stage and put on a show that was amazing, full of new music, and lyrically superior to  many acts I have seen in the last few months. He was decked out in a lot of blue. Tragedy asked Kutty, " How can you get away with wearing so much blue?" Kutty replied, " It's okay to wear blue, if you outline it in all red."  We all shared a good laugh. 

Kutty presented many new songs from his upcoming EP, he wooed the chicks and even gave everyone a show that will never be forgotten, but if you weren't there, then you will never know. Kutt even performed my favorite, Colors, while dancing to the Michael Jackson beat in the background. That is always my favorite part of the show. Few artists are quite as talented in the art of dancing as Kutty.  Kutt Calhoun even gave us a snip-it of information on the new EP. Contrary to popular belief, Kelvin is not short for Kutt  + Melvin, but is a gauge of temperature. The night ended on a good note and fans were able to get pictures and autographs from Kutty. Then off they went to Spokane to rock another great show for an amazing crowd.  Kutty, thank you for the interview and I hope you enjoy reading this some day. We at Bullette Music will always be a fan and our readers feel the same, K U T T Y ain't nothing to fuck with. 

Underground Artist of the Week: Mighty

This weeks underground artist of the week is Mighty. If you wonder how I come about my means to select the artist, its one of two ways. The preferred way is a suggestion from someone into my inbox, but if that is not found and all else fails, I Google it and select the first lucky one to pop up, which has yet to fail me in my mission.
Mighty's story states that he was once part of a group called DX (formerly Dynamix) and that this group was well known. I, myself, do not know who Dynamix was so I looked it up online and couldn't find anything. I looked on you-tube, Google, and found no traces of this group. His info on Facebook says that he still regularly does shows with DX but I could not find show info online either. This of course is not super important being I am focusing on Mighty, so let's get on with it. Mighty's name drop list features people like E-40, Down aka Kilo, and Mighty performed at Hot Portland Nights with Pitbull for Jammin 107.5 when that was still its name. Mighty has two CDs I found on CD Baby, One Way Ticket and Like A.
I started off listening to One Way Ticket, which was also the title of the first song. Mighty has the ability to be fast with his lyrics which was nice, but I wasn't expecting the voice I heard when he started. He does have a higher pitch voice then I would have assumed, but I am not knocking it. It was a breath of fresh air to not hear the same old bars and beat that most people put out anymore. Sometimes I feel like rappers are afraid to put inflection on their words, when that is what grabs my attention. As I continued to listen to the album I enjoyed song 3 " Like A" which was also the title of his second CD listed on CD Baby. It was fun, had a great beat, and kept my attention. I enjoyed "Bonnie and Clyde" as well, even though that concept has been done many times.
The songs I didn't find so appealing were "Your so high" mainly due to repetition as well as "Punchin" for the same reason. All in all the album was good and I would buy a copy if I had seen Mighty at a show slinging CDs after his set.
Album number 2, " Like A" was actually a single for sale on CD baby. This song is definitely my favorite, by Mighty, and I can understand why he showcases it by itself. The Whole CD can be found for $9.99 or you can buy individual songs for $0.99 a piece.
Mighty's look online showed me that again having the time and money to afford a good photographer and take some good pictures goes a long way. His pictures showed me a level of professionalism that is important in the business and that he was serious about the product he was selling, himself. I felt that Mighty was an underground Portland act that I would pay admission to see and I would recommend him to a friend. All in all I gave him an 8 out of 10 and look forward to what he has to come in the future. So look for Mighty coming to a local venue near you and maybe one day to pack a stadium far away. Good luck Mighty and I wish you the best. Just remember, all it takes is to bust your ass (and musical talent).

Bar Review of the Month: The Hutch

This month's Bar review took place on my lunch hour at work for a few reasons. One, because I thought it would be fun to let people know the different kind of places out in Portland to find good food and activities. Two, because the waitress was super bitchy when I first came in and I thought I would spice things up and make her worried that I was with the Mercury or something. Let's just say when I started writing the review and she saw, service got stellar.

So this month's review takes place at The Hutch on 4606 Northeast Glisan St in Portland Oregon. This is located right across the street from Providence Portland Hospital. Hence, that is were I stopped in for lunch on my hour lunch period. At first glance I thought it was just a dive bar, which it is, but with some very different extras and a fun atmosphere.

At first look inside I noticed a very nice ambiance that made me feel like I was in some pub located in another country on a side alley were everyone went to drink. The bar tender/ waitress was wearing long black biking stretchy pants and one of those European biking shirts, you know what I mean. Tight, neon stripes down the sides, and looking like she was about to bike a marathon. She had short pixie cut blond hair and I am not going to assume she was a lesbian, but she was (joke).

When I came in I asked for a menu and she seemed bothered that I didn't already know what I wanted by just being in the location. She asked if I wanted a drink and I said "No, I have to go back to work and they frown upon that." in which she responded with a eye rolling glance and walked away. The wonderful orange lights hanging from the table warmed me from the cold of the bar staff.

The menu she handed me was filled with a lot of variety that I would not assume to see in a dive like this. I was thinking onion rings, chicken strips, and some sort of slider. The prices were a bit higher then I thought I would find at a bar or pub, but the selection was worth it. I found many entrees including delicious choices like fried clams, which i quickly ordered. I requested a water and sat down to wait for my food. She seemed to be getting bitchier by the moment, so I whipped out my legal pad and started looking around the restaurant and writing things down. I titled the page Monthly Restaurant/Bar Review and jotted notes. She came over to give me more water and I saw her glance at the paper. Suddenly service improved ten fold. She then brought over fresh silverware, a napkin, ketchup (which I quickly pushed to the other side of the table, being I am no longer able to eat it after my father told me horror stories of grandpa's days working at the ketchup factory. You don't wanna know. Thanks dad.) and dipping sauces.

I looked around the wall and found a lot of interesting information you may want to know about this hidden treasure.

1. Portlandia showing @ location every Friday night @ 10pm.
2. Karaoke Thur/Fri/Sat nights @ 9
3. Trivia Wednesday nights @ 8pm
4. Happy Hour 4-7pm Every Day
5. Taco Thursdays
6. Everyday Cash specials
    a. $1 PBR
    b. $2 Drink of the day
    c. $3 Micro Brew of the day

This gives the average bar goer many choices every night of the week to socialize and wet their whistle. The music playing during lunch consisted of oldies and soft rock, so it was easy to concentrate on the food and atmosphere and would be easy to socialize with others as well. There was ample seating, but the array of furniture almost made the inside look like a rummage sale or a thrift shop.

Finally my food arrived, and my newly friendly bar staff told me to enjoy and smiled very nicely. I think I may write a review every time I go out now so that I can get amazing service. The food was good, not excellent, but pretty darn good. I wasn't making enjoyment moaning noises as I ate like I have at some restaurants, but I was smiling while I chewed, except when I bit into the coleslaw. Not only was it flavorless, it seemed to be stiff and had little to no sauce, nothing but cabbage in a bowl. So I passed on that one. The fried clam strips were amazing. They were crispy, had great spice, and made me want to savor each and every one. My only complaint was that the cook through them on top of the fries and must have them mixed them with some tongues, because I felt like I was Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark, desperately searching for any clams that may be hidden from my knowledge. The fries were average but very crispy, which I love. The highlight of the lunch was the amazing dipping sauce for the clams. It was tangy, spicy, and like shrimp sauce all at the same time. I'm sure it comes pre-made in a store bought bottle, but if I could get my hands on it I would keep it in stock at all times.

So all in all with each individual category of style, food, events, and staff, I would give The Hutch a 7.5 out of 10. It passes, but wouldn't be my first pick of places to go. Until next time, waiters and waitresses be wary, cause there just might be a fake food inspector in your fine dining establishment.