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There is no Xcuse to not Listen.

Ike’s Wasted World – Heavy Genealogy

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One of the cool parts of doing interviews for RadioRadioX is that I’m finding all kinds of great music for my lawless joyrides. And as I daydream of launching Molotov cocktails at polite society, I hope that Ike’ Wasted World will be on rotation.

Hard-driving and in-your-face, Ike’s Wasted World is fronted by Eric Joseph “Ike” Baestlein, a veteran singer in the metal scene. Joined by Chris Adamson on bass and Sean Teeter on drums, this band spits in your face and records a laugh track. We sit down with Ike Joseph to discuss, you know, things…

RRX: Ike, I don’t want to list all of the bands you’ve been in because I’m lazy, and the fact that my laziness keeps me from doing it is a testament to all the bands you’ve been in. If you don’t mind, take us through your resume. Is there anything that people couldn’t find on the band’s Facebook page?

Ike: Liam, I’d like to thank you and RadioRadioX right off the bat. You guys have a great channel happening. My first band was Black Juju. We formed in Colonie (Albany, New York) High School around 1981.We stole the name from an Alice Cooper song, because we worshiped Alice and still do. We were about as loud and noisy as you can get, but we made up for that with theatrics. We had fake blood and generally smashed things up.
In 1983 we formed Blind Legion and became pretty well known in Albany. We played QE2, NYC Cafe 2, JB’s Theatre and some bars, too. We opened for Trouble and Anvil and did an album which was released finally a couple of years ago on vinyl by Blood and Iron Records, and a single “Nice Guys Finish Last/Used to Be Blind” which did well and now is worth some bread on the internet.


In 1987 we moved to LA and formed Lost Breed. The Sunset strip was magic at that time and although we despised glam it was a rock and roll wonderland. Absolutely the place to be if you wanted to make it in a band. Lost Breed went through some changes and had several singers. We recorded a demo with ‘Wino” from St. Vitus and The Obsessed and did some shows with him as well. That was released a few years ago on vinyl on “Death To False Noise Records” as the Lost Breed “Wino Daze” album.
We really started to kick ass on the Strip when Gary Tocco from Blind Legion moved to LA and joined the Breed as lead singer. We were playing good shows at the Troubadour on Santa Monica Blvd and got an offer from Hellhound Records in Germany. However, Gary quit and although I consider us to be grunge before it was a thing, grunge and Seattle killed L.A.. It was no longer the place to be and the city never really recovered, but like good little headbangers we soldiered on and recorded for Hellhound, doing two albums for them: “The Evil In You and Me” and “Save Yourself “with Pat Lydon our recording engineer on vocals.

After that we formed The Vengeance Brothers. The lineup was myself on vocals and guitar, Vinny Augustine on bass and Jamie Silver on drums. It was really Lost Breed without Pat.

At that point we couldn’t get arrested in LA, really not much was happening on the street and we went from clubs to dives, but Blood and Iron records did release the Vengeance Brothers album as Lost Breed “Bow Down” a few years ago. We still do several songs from it in the Ike’s Wasted World set. Also, Blood and Iron released Lost Breed, “World of Power” with Gary Tocco and Chris Roseberry on vocals a couple of years ago.

In 2002 I moved back to Albany and formed Blackjack Blades with Chris Adamson on bass and “Cousin” Vinny Renzo on drums (RIP). We had a blast playing bars and biker rallies and released “The Way of the Blade” album on Helltown Records. In 2007 we formed Cardiac Noose (Wayne “The Beast” Grippin on vocals, Johnny Rapp on drums and Dino “The Hawk” Ferrerase on bass”) and did two albums on Helltown and one for Blood and Iron. The titles are “Bled to the Bone,” “Get Back Home” and “Girl Named Misery.” We did well playing bars, biker rallies, and several Lisha Kill Jamfests which drew great crowds. Some of them topped a thousand people and it was always for a great cause. Well, that brings us to Ike’s Wasted World.

RRX: I guess this question is simple, but it lends itself to stock answers, so if you can dig deep for specifics, that would help. What’s the perfect show for you? And can you name a show that came close? What about it made it close to perfect?

Ike: I don’t think we ever played a perfect show, but we’ve played a ton of great ones. There always seems to be a mistake somewhere in the set, but I don’t really worry about the band. We know what we’re doing, but I always fear equipment failure.

RRX: I’m sorry I missed you guys when you played the Black Friday show with The Erotics and Blackcat Elliot. Now you have a show coming up with Michale Graves and Bad Mothers, the Xmas Strings acoustics show at the Hangar on the Hudson. As I said in the beginning, you guys have a very hard-driving sound, so I’m trying to picture you guys doing an acoustic set. How can a band keep their rock/metal feel when they “cut the cord.”?

Ike: I don’t think you can keep a rock/metal feel when you play acoustic. It is a totally different thing. I started playing acoustic shows at Valentines in Albany when I moved back from LA. I didn’t have a band, so I would work out a set and do it at open mic night. I’d get there early and practice in the park and quite often I’d wind up crashing in my car, because we played and partied all night. I wish I could remember the dude’s name who ran it. More often than not it was just us. I’ve been doing acoustic shows ever since.

RRX: I noticed that Chris Adamson came from your former band, Blackjack Blades. Considering how many bands you’ve been in, I imagine it’s common to work with the same people in newer projects. But in that case, was it difficult to maintain a balance between having a former band member, and incorporating a new member like Sean Teeter? Is how long each person’s been around a factor, even if it’s not meant to be?

Ike: Chris and I have a long history now. It helps because we have many songs to choose from. Also, we’re great friends and there is no BS to deal with. Sean is working out nicely. He’s a great drummer and it is cool to have some young blood in the band. Also, he’s a vet so once again the BS level is at zero.

RRX: I watched your videos on Youtube. Pretty kickass. I love videos, cause it’s yet another way to communicate your message. Let’s say you robbed a bank and got away with it clean. You can pretty much make any video you want, but you gotta spend all the money on a video, so no skimping out. Think ridiculous production values. What are we going to see on Youtube in six months?

Ike: If I had endless cash for a video, I guess we’d blow shit up. My videos are made on no budget, but I think they came out pretty good. I think they represent the music pretty well. Leather Forever was a fun one to make. Mindy and Jenn were great to work with and it still cracks me up when I watch it.

RRX: I always reserve the last question for shout outs and propers. We’re trying to get the word out about other musicians, bands, venues, etc. – especially ones that don’t get the press they deserve. So, names – fire away.

Ike: The band we do the most shows with is The Erotics. Mike Trash and I have become friends and we hang a lot. It is always a good time. The King’s Inn in Schenectady is our home base, so stop in and have a drink. Ralph Renna has always helped us for which I’m grateful. See you at the show.

Be sure to check out Ike’s Wasted World at the Xmas Strings concert at Hangar on the Hudson on December 15, starting at 8 pm, along with Bad Mother’s, which Michale Graves headlining.

And as always, be sure to keep one tab on your laptop or phone set to RadioRadioX.com, the station that makes a cold Capital Region eight hour day feel like five.   

Brick by Brick – Music and Message

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One thing I’m learning from doing interviews is that you come up with lots of good questions that you don’t want to repeat, because every question is a fragile little gem, then you get a band that makes you dust out the best of those questions and beat them into service. Meet Brick by Brick.

Brick by Brick has a long and storied career which reads like a documentary on all that’s upstate and heavy as fuck. With five CDs and three 7” records out, (and a baby on the way,) they’ve opened for metal legends and became legends in the process. We sit down with Mike Valente, guitarist, promoter and, soon, secret Santa.

Mike Valente. Photo Credit James F. Wertman, Jr.

RRX: So Mike, million questions to ask. Let’s start with a roll call. Who plays what, and what gets everybody out of bed in the morning besides the need to pay the bills?

Well, we are all proud, blue collar guys. Working class schmucks. You got Jameson, our drummer. He’s a psycho. He teaches martial arts and is a barber. Then there’s Andy that plays bass. He’s mellow on the outside. He’s very technical in his approach to writing. Very versatile and talented. He does HVAC and has a family. Then there’s Ray, the nomad. He’s been fronting the band for four years now and is a powerhouse on vocals. He does cyber security in his spare time. Lastly there’s myself. I’ve got a love for music that is unparalleled. I sacrifice money, time and sanity for it. I’m a so-so guitarist that catches shoplifters as a trade. We like to have fun, bring the fun and ensure fun for everyone.

RRX: February 22nd. Hive Mentality. Sounds like it’s going to slam. Now I know you put out the vinyl for last year’s Thin the Herd earlier this year, and the compilation Upstate Records. But you guys are lining up a little heat for the late winter icebox. Tell us about the upcoming studio album. What can we look forward to?

It’s metal. We have always been the odd man out on Hardcore bills. We’re metal band with the Hardcore attitude, never claimed to be anything else. This record has the best production to date that we have done. All thanks to Jason Bourdeau. We have guest spots on this record from Tony of Municipal Waste, Vincent of The Acacia Strain, and Jessica of Alekhines Gun and she’s on the Netflix TV show Orange is the New Black as well.

Andy Parsons. Photo credit James Wertman Jr.

RRX: As you just mentioned, you have a few some guests on the new release. And I’ve seen a lot of collaboration in your videos that are so definitive of the hardcore/metal scene here. What are the benefits, and maybe even the challenges, of working “across borders” like that?

It’s all about the attitude. There are some bands and some genres that are not Hardcore but have the Hardcore mentality. Take Johnny Cash for example; Hardcore as a motherfucker. The best part about having a hardcore attitude is that there are no prejudices. A lot of metal bands failed to embrace an open mind mentality. It seems that the more underground the bands are the more receptive they are to all genres. I never want to lose that.

RRX: Mike, everyone in the scene knows that you are one of the promoters of record here in the 518. And I sure hope that lots of starting-out bands read this article. What do new bands need to know about the old order? What do old bands jumping back in need to know about the new game?

Music is what you make it. If you’re lazy you’re gonna get lazy results. I rarely see bands going out and promoting their own shows. I am slowing down with booking shows because agents ruin friendships. It’s difficult to make money in this scene. Everyone thinks that there’s a boatload of cash to be made and there’s not. Bands need to realize that there is a process called paying your dues. What that means is you’re supposed to promote your shows and build up your fan-base, while cultivating friendships with out-of-town bands and trading shows. No one seems to get it.

I have tried numerous times to help bands and it just doesn’t happen. The only way to ensure that the Metal and Hardcore scene thrive is to keep bringing younger and newer people into this culture. Young bands just starting out, be prepared to work. Don’t expect anything to be given to you. I’m sick of the self-entitlement bullshit of social media. Paying your fucking dues like everybody else is done. Older bands that are jumping back into the scene, you have a sense of responsibility to the younger kids to help them and guide them.

Let’s relax on the agents. A lot of these agents bump up the price to where they are astronomical for a smaller market. A majority of the bands that I book, I’m friends with, and they know what the capability that the 518 has. It’s not New York City, so a thousand people are not gonna show up for Madball, However, in New York City they will. So why should I have to pay the same amount that they’re charging in New York City? So the help of the band is detrimental and can make or break a show.

James “Jameson” Muller. Photo credit James F. Wertman Jr.

RRX: You guys are having a Toy Drive benefit show at Chrome in Waterford on December 22nd. I’ve noticed you guys are always doing something to help people out. Whether it’s supporting family through a rough patch or putting in for the Smash Cancer benefit last year, you guys give back. Can you talk about the role benefits have in metal/hardcore culture?

The Madeline Hardcore scene is very family oriented. All the kids that come to shows, or in bands, or promote all have a sense of responsibility to those less fortunate. I am no better than the next person. We just have different paths in life. Someday I may need help and I would hope that’s someone would give me a hand in succeeding rather than kick me when I’m down.

The Acacia Strain and Brick by Brick have raised over ten-thousand toys for underprivileged kids in the past few years. We have raised thousands and thousands of dollars for kids … that need money for the help. We have donated literally a ton of food to shelters. These are the people that are in our scene. These are the people that need help.

I do whatever I can to have a positive reflection on music that is looked at as so negative. The lyrics may be negative, the pits may be violent, the riffs may be heavy, but do not be fooled, this is a real music. With a real message.

RRX: I like to ask people to give me they’re wildest road story. Some bands have played ball, so let’s see. Give me something, keep it beyond any statute of limitations – save us both a headache. Strange, bizarre, mind-blowingly messed up – all of that. What do you got?

There are hundreds of stories. There is not one regret that we have. We have been accused of inciting riots. We show up, we do our jobs, we party, we leave a lasting mark. One time in California, Ray decided to jump in the pit and grab a guy in a wheelchair and motor him through the pit. The wheel of the wheelchair broke off. He dumped his poor guy onto the ground like a sack of potatoes. There is so much more to that story but that is essentially the gist of what began the shit-storm following. Ask me in person it’s funny.

Toy Drive. Don’t be cheap.

RRX: What else do you have in the works? Anything on the horizon that we haven’t talked about here?

We definitely have plans. I’m going back to Europe, the west coast, the east coast, and of course keep your eyes out for new merch.

RRX: Shout outs. We’re trying to build an upstate music Wiki on here. We can manage the names, but we’re looking for the grimy geniuses who never see the light of center stage. Help us spread the word. Who’s in the shadows?

Jason Bourdeau – producer
Overit Media – studio
Alan Douches – Mastering
Mario Cangemi – Upstate Records.

Brick by Brick actually has a Wikipedia page. Look it up. Interesting. Visit our Reverbnation page, or Facebook page, and we are on Instagram.

Catch Brick by Brick at the Toy Drive on December 22nd at Chrome in Waterford featuring The Acacia Strain, Recon, Kill All Betrayers, Year of the Knife, Vatican, Chamber and Beast. $15 with a toy. $20 without.

Mark your calendars.

Be sure to also mark February 22nd off your 2019 calendar for the CD Release of Brick by Brick’s Hive Mentality at Upstate Concert Hall, with Dying Fetus, Ramallah, Iam, Snapmare, Assault on the Living and Close to Nothing. Doors at 6:30 pm – $25 at the show.

Blackcat Elliot – Nine Lives of Rock

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Sometimes you just want a good old-fashioned hard-driving garage rock band to get the liquor flowing, the tongues wagging and the boogey pumping through the floor with the high-hat hiss and the bass thumps. Blackcat Elliot is just such a band. With Gus on Guitar and Vocals, Marky Balboa on drums and Fast Eddie on the bass, Blackcat Elliot is forever at the ready to come to your table and piss in the mash potatoes. We sit down with Gus for a keg-side chat.

Gus, vocals & guitar. Photo by Aprilio

RRX: Blackcat Elliot formed in 2001, so quite literally a generation grew up with your music on the CD player, or your live shows at a park somewhere. Was this a continuous relationship, or has Blackcat Elliot gone through a few lineups?

Gus: First off, I’d like to thank you and RadioRadioX for the support of our local music scene. It’s great to see the scene constantly evolving and we’re all on the same boat. And people like yourself, keeping that boat of possibility afloat and staying above water. So, like the saying goes, cats have nine lives and just like that saying, Blackcat Elliot is no different. The only way this band is still together is by the tight bond that Marky and I have. Since high school actually.

So, the only lineup changes we’ve had are only in the bass guitar position. Jamie St. Denis, Steve Gregory and Johnny Mystery. All have helped us pave the way in becoming labeled as Albany’s Favorite Garage Rockers. We were even blessed to have Big Frank from Big Frank And The Bargain Bingers step in for a few shows back in the day. He was a “big” help to say the least! Our current bassist Fast Eddie has been in the band since 2007-2008

RRX: Let’s say I win the Powerball, and I want a Blackcat Elliot-themed “I’m rich!” party. I’m throwing cash at you guys, and you can set the whole tone. What should I expect when I show up?

Gus: If we were asked this question a few years ago, the answer would be completely different. Now, as we have matured as people, as a band and our music as well… I think we would play your party just like we perform any of our regular shows. We always try to perform with the same amount of electric energy, rawness and have an overall good time with our audience. No matter what, where or when. We want people to leave their reality at the door and come on into our world. Raise their fists in the air with happiness, and walk out with big smiles and their hearts afloat.

RRX: I noticed that, when I saw you guys play at the Hangar, that you have really cool merch. How do you feel having cool merch helps you? Is it just a cash issue, or an advertising issue, or is it something more? Is it a part of the experience?

Blackcat Elliot (L to R) . Marky Balboa, Gus, Fast Eddie. Photo by Michael Klein.

Gus: Well, thank you for the kind words Liam. I’m glad you noticed our merchandise. We definitely focus a tad more on our merchandise because of my background in graphic design and advertising. It’s my full time gig and I try to utilize that with Blackcat Elliot. Advertising is as important to me as my music. Growing up and listening to bands like KISS, Cheap Trick, The Ramones, The Beatles and several others, I learned the importance of branding your musical act and trying to find the audience that will enjoy your music. It takes years to figure out who you are and what you are. Once you find your genre, there’s nothing that you can’t do to help your music along the way with the right brand.

RRX: So, I’m hearing of weekend bar brawls and avoiding stalkers. I’m also hearing of cheap beer, cigs and tequila. I challenge you to put all of those in one story. Or just give us a few smaller tales of degeneracy. What do you say?

Gus: Oh man. Where did you find this biography bit? I remember writing that a while ago. I better revise that soon. Umm. Let’s just talk about this one thing. There’s a couple of New York State Troopers out there that have an album or two of ours after a couple of run ins. Next question

RRX: Every musician has a love/hate relationship with their equipment, and they write whole books about brands, effects, whatnot. I’d like to ask you guys if there’s a brand, an effect or a piece of equipment that you use (or avoid) that you all have strong feelings about?

Gus: When it comes to guitars, Fast Eddie and I are Fender guys. I have an Orange amp for rehearsal. I also have a Sovtek head and Marshall cabinet for bigger venues. If not, Ill use my Fender Blues Deluxe. Marky plays on Ludwig drums, Tama snare and a Tama iron cobra pedal. Sabian cymbals and 5a sticks.

RRX: Blackcat Elliot has been a fixture in the 518 music scene. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing a few bands and players now, and I can’t talk fixture bands without mentioning fixture venues. Can you dig deep and talk about a show you played that really brought together player(s) and venue?

Positively 4th Street was our second home back in the day and Art [Fredette] was our go to guy for years. God bless him! Let’s see… Savannah’s, Valentine’s, Kings Tavern, BR Finley’s, QE2, The Continental in NYC, Trash Bar in NYC, The Fuzebox, Otto’s Shrunken Head in NYC, The Low Beat, The Hollow, The Hangar and a bunch more…

RRX: This is where you call upon the other great musicians and acts in the Capital District (and beyond) to stand up and be recognized. We’re looking for the unappreciated, the “unsung heroes” playing dive bars, garages and back yard barbecues. Make ‘em shine!

Gus: Blackcat Elliot has been playing the scene since 2001. I’ve been performing for 30 plus years and for each of us to sit down and name all the bands that we love and have been involved in helping us and other bands in the scene would be absolutely difficult. Not just that, if we happen to forget anyone, it’d be a shame.

Keep Blackcat Elliot on your radar as they head into the studio in January to begin working on their next album. They’re pretty tight lipped about the title, so if you want to know, we suggest you buy them shots the next time you see them. Maybe they’ll let it slip.

Metal and hardcore music comes to Radio Radio X 2019

Art Fredette
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In 2019 we’re going to blow a few speakers, the loud hours are coming!

Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers – Americana on the Hudson

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At the General Store down the river, go about five miles south past the last Cow Crossing sign, where the trucks in the lot all have mud finishes and if they don’t sell it, you just don’t need it, and you might just find Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers kickstarting Judgment Day.

With Frank Novko on bass, Johnny Hoffman and Bob Resnick on guitar and drums respectively, and everybody pitching in on vocals, Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers have here, there, and a little bit of everywhere. We sit down with Big Frank for a chat.

Photo credit: Joanna Palladino Resnick.

RRX: I’ve heard you all described as “swamp rock” and having heard some of your stuff, I can definitely see that. Can you describe your sound to our readers? How else would you describe yourselves beside swamp rock?

BF: Our sound is the sum of our influences, varied as they are, with the common thread being what is now termed the Americana music/genre. Which is an all-encompassing term itself, being a mix of blues, rock, classic country, Motown/Stax and R&B. Beside “swamp rock” I would say our sound would be what you would hear in a roadhouse somewhere out in Oklahoma in, say, 1964 – a bit of country, some R&B, a little surf, some rock, a bit of garage rock, etc…

RRX: You guys are a three piece. There are a lot of power bands that are three piece, like Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Rush… what do you think are advantages of being a three piece band?

BF: For one it’s easier to get everyone together for rehearsals and scheduling gigs. Also it’s a purity of sound; with fewer members, it’s easier at times to give the music space, and also lets us all have our moment to stretch out.

RRX: Can you tell us how Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers came to rock the Capital Region? Is your current lineup the lineup you’ve always had, or have there been other players throughout the years?

BF: The genesis of the band came about as I was tired of being reliant on singers/front people. I was writing songs, and wanted to do something different, something that incorporated originals and covers you don’t typically hear.

The lineup, as with many groups, has changed a little over the years, with the constant members being Johnny Hoffman (guitars, vocals) and I. We’ve cultivated a good musical dialog over the years. I joke at times; it seems we have the Spinal Tap drummer curse. We’ve had a few talented people on drums – former members are Johnny Long, Matt Robbins, and Corey Hough on guitar, harmonica and vocals. We use the guys as fill-ins when Bob has another commitment.

RRX: You guys have been bringing joy to the region for a long time. Can you think of any notable shows you played? Any notorious shows? Do you have a place around here that you really like to jam out at?

Big Frank. Photo credit: Billy Francis LaRoux

BF: A more recent notable show was last year at The Hanger on the Hudson, we opened for The Fleshtones (we’ve opened for them a few times.) This gig, we played a couple of tunes from their back catalog, songs they hadn’t played in years as an unannounced tribute to them. The feedback from Keith Streng (Fleshtones guitarist ) was very positive; he enjoyed what we did.

Notorious shows – well there’s been a few. A gig in Herkimer at Brownies with a group called Boneslaw, a crazy night with a packed house the typical rock debauchery. Many gigs at Positively 4th Street with Black Cat Elliot, the Lawn Sausages, Phillips Head…

Places we like to play – pretty much anywhere that will have us, but of note, The Ale House in Troy and the Lost and Found in Albany. We did a Sunday session there this past spring/summer. Also The Olde English Pub and Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery.

RRX: Following from the previous question, you all have been in the local scene for a long time. You’ve probably seen it change considerably over the years. So, broad question: what do you think has changed around here since you started playing? And just as important, what has stayed a constant in the 518 music scene?

BF: The obvious answer, the venues to play at have changed, opening/closing. Places to play original music is limited. Gigs start earlier (which isn’t a bad thing.) New opportunities have risen at the local breweries that host live music which is nice to see.

The constant is the level of talent in the area; we have some damn fine musicians, talented songwriters, and the camaraderie of bands and musicians is good.

RRX: We’re all influenced by people, but I hate asking people to list influences. So I try to be creative. Discuss this among yourselves and compose a super group that you’re going to open up for. The players all must be from different bands. What’s the lineup?

BF: As I’m writing this alone here’s my supergroup (Frank) it does not reflect the opinion of the Bargain Bingers

OK here’s the group:
Vocals: Big Mama Thornton
Drums: Charlie Watts
Bass: (upright) Ron Carter
Keyboards: Jon Valby
Guitars: Roy Nichols, Rick Miller, Steve Ferguson
Horns: the Blood Sweat and Tears horn section from 1973

Photo credit: Julia King.

RRX: Sharing is caring. Share for us some local musicians, in your genre or not, that you’d like to show some love to. And to add to this, say one thing about them to pique our interest. Who do you love?

BF: Skip Parson of Skip Parson and the Riverboat Jazz band. Skip has been playing in the area forever, and now in his 80’s he’s still bringing it on clarinet. Dixieland and trad. Jazz, he’s the real deal. Catch him at The Fountain on New Scotland Ave, Albany. He’s been playing there since 1971.

Got to shout out to Black Cat Elliot. I played bass for them a few years ago when they needed a player. Great tunes and fun guys to hang with.

Guitarist Bernie Mulleda, from the 1980’s Albany band The Stomplistics. If he’s out playing, catch him, be it gypsy jazz, R&B, or slinky Stones rock. He crushes it.

Catch Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers at the Radio Radio X-Mas Rock and Roll Show of Shows at the River Street Pub in Troy on December 7th, with Blase Debris and Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band.

Blase Debris – the Phoenix and the Christ

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Blase Debris. Photo credit: Richie Sorensen.

Punk to me is a raw force that pushes back against the tide of bullshit that seeks to suck the sand from beneath our feet. And metal, which I’ll admit is my favorite of the two genres, hate mail be damned, is like that razor’s edge that carves through all the garbage bags to show the world what it’s throwing away. Okay, these analogies suck, but imagine finding a band with the raw angst of punk and that technical, melodic savor of metal, pretty boss, right? That’s Blasé Debris.

Blasé Debris, currently composed of singer and guitarist Duane Beer, lead guitarist Patrick “Ginsu” Ginnelly, bassist Charlie Monroe, drummer Bill Ketzer and saxophonist Justin Birk, has been an established name in the Capital Region and elsewhere since 2002. Kids born to Blasé Debris’s first jam are just now getting their learner’s permits, for perspective. We sit down with Duane Beer for a few questions.

RRX: I read your bio, and it said that you set out to close the gap between classic metal and punk rock. I watched the video for Collecting Stares; it had a really full sound, something I thought was missing in some of the music I hear from either genre. Can you talk a little bit further about how you all met, and how you all were put on this musical quest?

DB: Jamie, Tony, Rob, Earl, Karl, Billy, JJ, Charlie, Patrick, Ketzer, Justin and myself make twelve. A dirty dozen different members over the years. I remember telling Tony (aka Sewers) that no matter what happens, no matter how many different members, it is Blasé DeBris from this day forward. We “all” have known each other prior to playing together.

In the beginning we were looking to do double kick punk rock with a Broadway-esque style live show. Something with sort of a Oliver-meets-Rocky Horror vibe. We were a wild live band that felt right at home within the Horror Punk genre. We signed to Altercation records fairly early on, released the “collecting stares” video you referred to, and hit the road in support of our 1st full length album, entitled Creep Cool.

We played some really cool shows and burned the candle at both ends. Driving from state to state in a van with one tire in the grave is nerve wracking. There were breakdowns and boozed filled nights that would make nearly anyone question their sanity.

RRX: Being as how you all exist in a bit of cross-genre, do you have any issues with metal purists or punk purists in your fandom, like those music trivia arguments that happen around the music? Have you hybridized your fan base, or is there a state of friendly rivalry between metal and punk?

DB: We have transitioned fairly smoothly from our horror punk beginnings into a “this is DeBris” rock band with a solid old school punk and classic metal foundation. I love what we are doing now, and I like what we had done and had attempted to do in the past. We had lofty aspirations and carried on despite countless setbacks.
Our fan base locally is mostly made up of friends and fellow musicians. When you have been around as long as we have you will see “the scene” change multiple times. I feel like most musicians do a real decent job of supporting each other.
I highly doubt we would be near the top of any punk or metal “purist’s” playlist. The majority of folks I find myself talking to at our shows enjoy listening to the Ramones as much as they do Black Sabbath. Really, that’s us, our band, our friends, and hopefully our fan base.

RRX: You all have played in monster venues and festivals, and you’ll be playing in smaller spots like the show coming up here. What do you guys see as the benefits and drawbacks of big stages vs. little stages. Is one preferable? And which type of venue, real-world or dream-world, do you all think is the perfect vehicle for your sound?

DB: Larger stages tend to have better monitors and sound systems. Smaller stages force the band to be closer to each other. It’s kind of cool to feed off of each other’s energy.
Personally, I like to be able to move around on stage. Give me a big stage and a crowd that is hearing us for the 1st time, and for me, that is exciting. That being said, I am “most” comfortable in a well air conditioned, smaller club with a cool stage and rockin lights. The old QE2 setup (downtown Albany) with its stage, cage, sound, lights, artwork and eclectic clientele was what dreams are made of. Simply put; it was the coolest hang out.

RRX: You have Justin Birk on sax in your latest line-up. You don’t expect to hear sax in anything metal or jazz. What do you all see it as bringing to the sound your putting out there? And are there other instruments you’d like to see brought in to the blend?

DB: Loving the current lineup with Justin on sax. [He is] a sax player with a solid background knowledge of classic punk and metal. Why didn’t we think of this sooner? There is a time and place for everything I suppose.

When putting our latest album together in my head I could hear horns on a handful of songs. Did I know it would work on everything? Nope, I did not hear that coming. It’s good to be surprised.
As soon as we started working everything out it was obvious to all of us that this was the direction we would be headed in. Playing together felt right and sounded fantastic. Justin’s playing really solidifies the new sound of DeBris. The five of us make up the band, but when it comes down to recording, we will always be soundscapably adventurous.
Gimme piano, gimme cello, trumpet, xylophone, fiddle and endless imagination.

 

Gauze, 2018.

RRX: On your Facebook page, in About, it says that you guys are “greaser punk meets classic metal in a rocky horror hypothesis…” I like that. It’s very visual. If you can, can you take a song, or a favorite album, and tell us what it is, and give us a visual description of the world you all put into that song or album?

DB: I will gladly elaborate on the song Up in Smoke, off of our latest album. It is a song of reincarnation and immortality. You can draw parallel lines between the life of Christ as it is most often perceived and the mythical lives of the phoenix. Musically it was important to be open and comfortable in the verses.

I wanted the vocal to feel like it was landing on a hotel collection soft standard pillow. It tightens up and gets more resounding in the chorus and closes with a fury of chaotic drum fills before landing on the pillow once again for the finale.

If given the choice between reincarnation or immortality which would you choose?

As the phoenix, you would live a solitary life. As it is written, only one phoenix can exist at one time. It is endless reincarnation. Both Christ and the phoenix (sometimes referred to as God’s pet) have the ability to heal. Christ chooses to heal others as the phoenix can heal itself.

When the phoenix reaches the end of its life, it sets the nest and itself on fire and is burned to ashes. Only to rise again and begin its life anew. It just sounds lonely to me. To be the only one of your kind. I choose immortality. To lift a line from the chorus, “immortality is worth the wait”.

RRX: I just had a chance to check out your new CD, “The Gauze.” Such a great mix of songs you got there. How about I shut up at let you all talk shit about how your CD can beat up everybody else’s CD?

DB: “Beat up everybody else’s CD”??? Nah, I just don’t approach music that way. It is certainly us against us. I visualized hearing this album “the gauze” long before beginning the recording process. It was always a, “see this through”, you must “see this through” sort of thing. Try not to settle, and then make peace with the recording.

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I said to the engineer/producer (Arthur Scott Verner, DMS Studios) I know no one will hear the difference here except for myself. But, I can assure you that no one will listen to this recording more than myself. Art gets it and is great to work with.

Now that I am able to step outside of myself and listen to the album as a whole I love it. From start to finish it just flows well. From the artwork to the tom drum outro, it is all DeBris.
We have created a signature album that deserves to be heard. Go out of your way to give it a listen and get out there and catch a live show. Until then, Thank you for your time and attention.

PS: We will be performing at the Radio Radio X-Mas event on Friday Dec. 7th at the River Street Pub. 194 River St. Troy NY along with Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band and Big Frank and the Bargain Bingers. Also, keep your eye out for a soon to be released vinyl version of Blasé DeBris’s latest album The Gauze with two bonus tracks. (via Cacophone Records)

Special RadioRadioX Bonus!

Here are the full lyrics to the song Up in Smoke, mentioned above, with permission from Duane Beer.

UP IN SMOKE

of yin and of yang
with the neck of a snake
don’t get carried away
on tombs and on graves

red hot is the heat
that fans itself with the flames
don’t get ash in your eye
there is no escape

and so I call on this flesh of mine
if I’m to burn with celestial rays
let’s go up in smoke, this ain’t no joke
immortality is worth the wait

quit the body that dies
rediscovering life
don’t let Eve get away
with her looks and her lies

creep cool on the coals
I’ll be a loner for life
don’t you ever get cold
don’t hand me a line

Celebrating a lifetime of punk rock

Art Fredette
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24 hours of Punk Rock sponsored by Collar City Tattoo Troy.  RRX   is digging into an arsenal of music (1969 to current). Your input is encouraged email us info@pzf.rsq.mybluehost.me.  We Compiled a mighty list of  requested bands   (The Queer’s, Black Flag, Rise Against, The Dicks, Sonic, Youth, The Heartberakers,  The Business, Sex Pistols, Sheer Terror,  U.S Bombs, The Melvins,  7 Seconds, The Ramones, X,  Patti Smith , Fear, Cro- Mags, The Stooges, Pansy Division, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Quicksand, Talking Heads, The Clash, Violent Children,  The Clash, Husker DU, Negative Approach, Bad Religion, New Bomb Turks, Sleater Kinney, Jerry’s Kids, Agnostic Front, The Replacements, AFI, Misfits, The Offspring,  to name a few) We will do our best to include all requests.  Send us pictures of your old punk show flyers

“Is celebrating punk rock, the right punk thing to do?”  Short and simple, the answer is yes! It really depends on who you ask.   Everyone has their own opinion on what punk is and identity, we will respect that.  Book shows, make flyers, pass out mixed tapes.  We all have hung out with the dude who know’s everything about punk and only likes the demo. We still hang out with him.   D.I.Y. ethic (do it yourself), and of course the worldwide  underground family.  While thinking about this too much, we decided to do some research.   We decided quickly, Thursday January 31, Radio Radio X will play 24 hours of punk rock music.

Punk Rock was said to be invented in the 1960’s with extreme garage rock?   The experts say it was The Ramones and Sex Pistols in the 1970’s.  National Punk Day is a holiday celebrated all over the world. where people dress punk rock or like there favorite punk bands. The day being January 31, because it’s Johnny Rotten’s birthday,  Radio Radio X should and will provide the soundtrack.  24 HOURS OF PUNK  Starting at midnight January 31, 2019.  Your opinion, input, & requests are welcome please email Ralph@pzf.rsq.mybluehost.me

A Piece of Basstory Comes to Town

Art Fredette
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It looks like heavy metal story tellers is coming to town? Noodles, Hammer on’s, hotel rooms , and  theory? Well all the reviews have been gold from local metal heads, bass players, press and fans alike. Most of who, have already traveled to see this rare show.  They will be in attendance this Wednesday night as well.

Grammy award winning Megadeth bassist, author, businessman and legend, David Ellefson Lands at Chrome in Waterford this Thanksgiving eve with his Basstory tour, with special guest Bumblefoot (ex-Guns  N’ Roses, Sons Of Apollo) and opener Dead By Wednesday,  get there early to support the locals I Recant, Deveria, And Uncivil Liberty. For more info see below or Chrome Food & Spirits   Wednesday November 21, 7:00pm

(see below for details).

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