VIDEO: Black Knots @ the Glass 7/26

Yeah we got to catch a little of the Knots at the Empty Glass Saturday...





See if the footage is cool and definitely check out the Knots. We're experiencing technical difficulties but the players should work.

Q&A w/Greg Miller of The Whiskey Daredevils

We caught up with Greg Miller, frontman for Cleveland-based rockabilly outfit The Whiskey Daredevils, in anticipation of their show at The Empty Glass 7.26 with Huntington's Black Knots and The Big Bad.

WVRS: So how were the shows in Europe?
GM: Against all odds we have somehow become a viable live act in Europe. I don't really know what happened. People really like us there. At first I thought it was because of our good looks, but it turned out that our twisted take on American roots music appealed to the Euro sensibilites. Plus anytime you create a rockabilly Butthole Surfers cover, you're going to get a crowd. I guess Mosh from our label (Knock-Out) is really doing a good job over there. Or maybe the world is finally ready for Whiskey Mania...

WVRS: Any particular horror stories from touring over there?
GM: I wrote an extensive Tour Diary that people can check out at our web site. It turned out to be the cover story for the Cleveland Free Times. My favorite day was when we played two shows in Belgium. The first one was an outdoor festival where I was horribly hung over. Not two hours later we played a crazy biker party at a bar in the middle of nowhere. These people were savagely drunk on Belgian ale, not to mention having taken fistfuls of psychedelics. It was like driving into a smaller version of Altamont where most of the people kept their composure. Guys that can't stand are driving choppers around the Belgian countryside while we play at ear splitting volume. The guy that ran the party looked like Lemmy and as far as I know is still knocking back beers in his parking lot. Madness...

WVRS: I guess everything on a tour like that has to be lined out well in advance itinerary-style, instead of just showing up and seeing what the hell happens? (The Daredevils way)
GM: Thank God we were placed in the hands of the always uptight Germans. These guys handle all the details to the letter. "Greg, you guys will go on stage at 9:52 and play for 67 minutes. I told the promoter you were down to 7 beers, and he will be bringing 16 more. After the show, we can relax for 47 minutes, and then we can load out to go to the hotel. It is 14 minutes away."

WVRS: Is your drummer really the expert cultural guide for Europe? Sounds like he made some friends, huh?
GM: Leo usually has no idea what is going on in the larger sense. This aids him in unfamiliar circumstances. He is not fazed by not knowing where he is, who the people are that he is partying with, or where we are going to sleep. It's almost a zen approach. He is like a cultural surfer. He just catches the wave. I highly recommend traveling with Leo at any time. He has a few gifts that make him ideal on a road trip such as being able to sleep on command in any location, or the ability to stay awake for 4 days straight unaided by stimulants. Plus he can always find a good port in a storm. This is Leo's World and we all just visit.

WVRS: Your rhythm guitarist just had to quit the band, how do you see the band moving on? How close is the nucleus of you, yer brother, and Leo?
GM: Ken, Leo and I are definitely a unit. We know what we want to accomplish, and are all on the same page. By sticking together we have been able to accomplish some pretty great things. With the music we have made, we have been to Europe 5 times. How cool is that? We have been rehearsing with Gary Siperko from The Mofos to join the band, and we expect to start playing shows with him shortly. If that doesn't work out, Ken/Leo/I will find someone else that shares our idea of what rock n roll is and how to play it. As long as I keep having ideas, and people have some level of interest, we'll keep playing.

WVRS: Did Leo & Bobby end up getting voted best drummer & guitarist for Cleveland?
GM: Yes they did, and they are in fact the best in NE Ohio. Maybe anywhere in the state. Well, at least they were 6 months ago. Maybe someone else snuck up on them while we weren't paying attention. The best part of that whole thing is to watch the acceptance speeches they made. Bob's is already legendary and will be hard for any one to top. We think that whole thing is funny, because music is clearly not a competition. Although if there is a chance at a plaque, we are going for it!

WVRS: You just played the Rock n Roll HOF with Lords of the Highway, how did that show go?
GM: Surprisingly well actually...It was horribly hot, but a nice crowd of people that don't normally go to club shows came out. There were plenty of fans that were older. A bunch of parents that brought their kids. Then there was this mix of young people that had attended the Mt Dew Tour nearby. I met some cool kids from the Czech Republic, and we both lamented there was no good pills in the area. The Lords played really well that night. I thought we killed. Good time all around.

WVRS: You've played a lot of shows at the Glass, how are you guys received there?
GM: I love playing the Glass, although I would like to publicly say it is time for a remodel in the men's room. It's weird that there are little insects that buzz around in there in the dead of winter. However, it does match up with the rock paradigm...The worse the men's room, the better the club. I really like the people we meet in West VG. Really interesting folks with artistic ideas and open minds. I like that there is a mixed crowd of people in the club. I hope everyone leaves their air conditioned homes to come out to this show. It should be really good. The Black Knots are the real deal.

WVRS: You got some new Daredevils clothing made up? Will any be on sale at the Glass?
GM: We'll bring all the goods left over from the Euro 2008 tour. We've got some cool new work shirts and limited edition Leo t-shirts. It's Leo's terrifying passport photo with his name typed out below it. It's the feel good t-shirt of the summer!

WVRS: Will you have any Whiskey Daredevils ironic trucker hats?
GM: You would think a marketing machine like us would have made some up, but alas, I feel the ship may have sailed on the Ironic Trucker Hat.

Co-operating to save the Co-Op!

Billy Matheny didn't want to see the Mountain People's Market Co-Op in Morgantown close, so he and his rocker friends decided to do something to help. Next Friday, they'll rock The Blue Moose Cafe to raise money and awareness to help this locally (and, co-operatively) owned Morgantown institution.

"The people who work there live down the street from me," Matheny said. "I would much rather give them my money instead of giving it to whoever owns Kroger...I simply didn't want to see it close and it's really great that the community and other businesses have stepped forward in the Co-Op's time of need."

Matheny's bandmate Haley Slagle said the Co-Op's fare is a big part of her life, and that, in this day of lead-based cardboard dumplings from China and Salmonella-tinged tomatoes, she doesn't want to see it close either. "Eating organic and eating local are a very big part of my life. Without the Co-Op, I'm not sure where I would get my food. The Co-Op really focuses on trying to get local produce, meat, eggs and cheese. I really believe in being as close to your source of food as you possibly can. Without the Co-Op, we would be eating food from who knows where."

There have already been a few benefits, with Wild Zero Tattoos raising some serious cash money to help recently. 123 Pleasant St. in Morgantown will host a benefit show (as they have done so many times) in early August.

Aaron Hawley and his '85 Flood bandmate Dusty Hays will perform some stripped-down acoustic Flood tunes and some Hawley originals at the Blue Moose benefit. Hawley said the benefit was a no-brainer. "Besides the obvious benefits of organic and locally grown produce, the Co-Op also served as a meeting place for a lot of cool, like-minded folks. I also appreciate it because as a Townie, it's one of the few institutions that's been around this town longer than I have. I remember the Co-Op from when I was very, very young."

Hawley, who, like Matheny, has been involved with putting on benefit shows mainly at 123, seemed rightfully proud of the area bands who pitch in to help righteous causes. "The benefit shows that go on in Morgantown are one of the coolest things about this scene. Most musicians here are very aware that they exist in a tight-knit community here. Everyone wants to pitch in and help out and nobody lets their egos get in the way."

Matheny admitted to a kind of shock and awe at the power of the 123 Benefits. "All of those benefits raised over $1,000 for their chosen causes and it certainly opened my eyes to successful music benefits. Given the size of the Blue Moose Cafe, I don't think raising that much money from the cover charge alone would be possible, so we've asked local businesses to donate gift certificates (Thanks to Bead Monster, Inner Life Yoga, Ancient Wisdom Yoga, Black Bear Burrito, The Warner Theatre, Carvel, The Hotel Morgan and Leanna Richman) or gift baskets for a raffle that will be going on throughout the evening."

So these rockin' acts from Morgantown will again rock for a good cause. They all say that the Co-Op is too important and has been there too long to not help.

"The Co-Op closing would be a damaging blow to the town itself," Hawley said. "I would hate to see places like the Co-Op turned into Sonic Drive-Ins," Matheny summed up.

Related DA articles:
Saving the co-op

Local business raises money for co-op

"Full Fathom Five" -- live Clutch tour DVD

Here at WVRockscene, we revel in our conflicts with other states, like our sub-rosa dirty war with OhioRockscene. Everybody knows a Buckeye is a worthless nut, but that's not what this is about...

We're fans of Maryland-based Clutch. Even though from what we understand from listening to too much talk radio, Maryland is or will soon be fascissimo, and try to take Shepherdstown from us!

But no, we rocked out Robot Hive/Exodus, and now, Clutch has announced it will release a new tour DVD August 12. They're getting ready to go on a tour from hell, with daily shows for the most part over the next coupla months.

They just uploaded video of the song "Texan Book of the Dead" onto their MySpace profile. So see, MySpace serves some function sometime!

But no if you haven't heard of Clutch yet for some strange reason yet check them out...

Now they owe us $50, right? Does that work on Blogger like it does on MySpace?

Why no show go?

We came across a pretty pointed MySpace bulletin from our photographer friend Stephani up north in Wheeling. She'd let us use one of her killer pics of Treasure Cat for a Graffiti article we did on the band. Well, she was perplexed as to why nobody came to Saturday's show at Yesterday's Draught House & Stage.

We think her bulletin is a good jumping off point for the question: if fewer and fewer people are going to shows, why?

Gas? TV & the internet?

Here is her bulletin, reposted...

"Once again, Chuck books a good show at Yesterday's and once again, it's pretty damn empty there. Lo-Pan is amazing, their new vocalist kicks ass. And Rebreather... *whew* blew my doors off.

I left with a broken drumstick!

Now I haven't been out lately because of monetary concerns, but unless EVERYONE is as broke as I am, we've got to start showing our support for this venue, and the bands that play there.

If Chuck books a band you've never heard of, see if they have a MySpace page and see if you like the music, don't dismiss it because you've never heard of them.

FREE SHOW TUESDAY - didya see that? FREE SHOW.


Let's start showin' up and representin'!"

-- Have you decided to not go to a show for any particular reason? Ga$ money? Internet porn? Don't agree with the smoking bans (Yesterday's went through that) or just think area bands suck? Let us know, you've read this much...

SPECIAL UPDATE: We just came across this most rockin' MySpace blog from our show-goin' Charleston friend Jim, who was at the Glass Saturday and witnessed a similar phenomena; few people showing up...This show featured some bands from Ohio -- TheDAMNits and Razorbliss (which sounds like Marilyn from what we heard, and also, according to Jim, they played the Lords of Acid song "Pussy" -- we used to rock them out all the time back in the day when we stayed up all night...

Our only conclusion is that, as the bands at these venues were from Ohio, there exists a secret conspiracy among West Virginia rockers to not support Ohio bands. Well, we need to break this up by the 26th, when the Whiskey Daredevils come to town...

Whiskey N Waterbeds: way more punk (and smutty) than you!

We here at WVRockscene are fans of those who put bands and their music out on the internet, whatever format. Well, no format is more fun than that of WhiskeyBrian and Joey Fuckup at Whiskey N Waterbeds.

The Roanoke, Va.-based duo just released their 14th podcast, which no doubt includes some Colt 45 consumption mixed with a little smutty humor. Even though they're from Virginia, they've played some cool WV bands, so that's awesome. And -- we don't have to worry about them coming through our state, driving slow in the fast lane, then, merging over into the slow lane and speeding!

That's right -- our campaign against Ohio drivers has begun!

Oh, we mean check out W&W -- ye shall have a good time.

The Fiend gets re-animated!

We just heard that the young lads in The Renfields have brought their bassist The Fiend back to life! The Transylvania-based pogo punk band had been taking some time off while they prepared to bring him back to life with a new body. Apparently they were able to keep only %30 of his original brain, so they've set up a new MySpace profile for him.

We're glad to hear about this news and hopefully The Concept can get Team Transylvania back to Charleston sometime. Look for new stuff out of the band soon, we hope.

New WestByGod T-shirts

Our friends in WestByGod just announced they've got new shirts for sale. Check 'em out on their MySpace blog and check out WBG while yer there.