This music video for Grammy nominated producer King Henry’s tenth single "What About Me" starts in with a thumping trance like beat. Visually you are introduced to a team of stuntmen for what is referred to in the video as spinning; while the car turns circles the stuntmen also take turns cavorting from the moving vehicle. The song’s lyrics tell something of a thwarted love story; the precariousness of the stunt work in the video is a rather good metaphor for the tenuous nature of this longed for relationship. About once a minute there is a nice hip hop drop out which goes nice with the juxtaposition of slow motion and regular time video here. The music is a nice slow jam with not a lot of complicated changes; definitely something that would be good for a movie or television placement. It is not really surprising to learn that King Henry has worked with the likes of Major Lazer and The Weeknd as "What About Me" could easily fit in the set list of any nightclub. This new single never feels overdone or longwinded and the video itself is a perfect, pun intended, vehicle for the music. King Henry is definitely keeping busy and is one to watch as he is producing and co-writing a forthcoming album from Sasha Sloan.
By Brooke Trout
"Watching all of these legends on stage one last time was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible night of rock n' roll, and felt it put an exclamation point on what turned out to be a masterclass by five of the most talented guitarists on the planet today."
I remember seeing Crossroads in my youth, a movie about a bluesman having a showdown with a rock and rock demon at the climax of the film. This was a favorite movie of mine and wore out the VHS quite a bit by the time I grew into other films. This movie is all kinds of cheesy, but one the things still great in this movie is the guitar work. Little did I know at the time, but this was my very first exposure to Steve Vai, a god amongst modern guitarists who can play any genre of music as if he studied at Juilliard for years to master it. Steve Vai has always been an icon in the guitar world, but I had never imagined I would see him live. I just rarely go to shows with heavy guitar featured in them, and always assumed I would leave with a throbbing headache after not experiencing a full range of music during a show. That all changed last week when I was asked to cover Generation Axe.
First in this night of transcendent guitar work was Tosin Abasi, who I had not heard of before this night, so I relaxed and listened. What came out of this lonely player who took the stage to the far right was nothing short of beautiful and melodic and worldly. His sound really relaxed my soul and some tonality in his playing reminded of some of the post-rock and shoegaze bands and musicians I’ve listened to over the years. Abasi was quite something and I will be sampling his wares in the coming months.
Nuno Bettencourt, who I mainly had known of through his membership in the band Extreme, was next up. He took the stage like a pro and kicked off his set with the Extreme classic, "Get the Funk Out". Bettencourt's live version hit on all cylinders and took the studio track to a whole new level. It was like listening to the album again and not feeling like something was missing from the live performance (which is typically the case). Next up was "Midnight Express", followed by a medley of Extreme songs as well as a few others he was paying tribute to. It wasn’t too long before a ripped, long haired mountain man (with a beard I could only envy) joined Nuno on stage. It was the infamous Zakk Wylde. I have admired Zakk for years, and it was amazing to see him on stage for a few tracks with Bettencourt before he broke off into his own set. Wylde covered a couple Sabbath songs, which included one of my favorite rock songs ever, "War Pigs", and it was perfect. I don’t want to sound sacrilegious here, but it’s doubtful Ozzy (in all of his omnipotence) could do much better. "War Pigs" went on for quite some time, during which Wylde trolled the audience and paced through the crowd like a beast. People were clamoring to be close to the guitarist and those of us covering the show, stuck up front, could only be jealous.
Before long, Bettencourt came back out to join Wylde on stage and they eventually went back into the now capacity crowd. The 2 guitar-men mounted a few chairs near the middle of theater and began a bit of a 'guitar-off' with one another, which was yet another epic moment on Thursday night. Luckily, I was close to this part of the theater when this occurred. As they were playing, I heard (through the massive cords) a 3rd guitar join in. I couldn’t tell where the sound was coming from, as Bettercourt and Wylde were still surfing those chairs. It turned out to be Vai himself, the man behind the mayhem, and he played for a moment before all three legends took back to the main stage.
Vai's set was on point, and made his Ibanez guitar sing in a way that made his incredible fretwork look all too easy. I was impressed watching him though the three songs he had to himself - including "There's a Fire in the House", "The Animal", and "Whispering a Prayer". I think had a religious experience watching him, and his performance truly changed my opinion of guitar laden rock shows. His closing song was "Frankenstein" (made famous by The Edgar Winter Group), before which he called the previous musicians back to the stage. They rocked the albino’s (yes, Edgar Winter was albino) song for 12+ minutes, during which Wylde again descended into the crowd.
Immediately following "Frankenstein", all of the bright lights dimmed and The Grove transformed into a sea of yellow and red, signaling the arrival of the only musician on the bill not yet seen - Yngwie J. Malmsteen. He took to the stage like a evil spirit ascending from hell for a one-night engagement in Orange County (I could see it). He came out playing guitar like a demonic Beethoven, flicking his tongue as he played and hucking picks into the crown of onlookers. It was perfect that his first track was titled, "Arpeggios From Hell". Yngwie's stature was small, his hair big, and overall sound monstrous. I was taken aback by the sounds and visuals of the moment and was simply awestruck. Malmsteen never took a break and his entire set sounded like one big symphonic masterpiece. His performance culminated with an incredible cover of Deep Purple's 1973 masterpiece, "Burn" featuring the entire Generation Axe lineup including Abasi, Bettencourt, Wylde, and the ringmaster himself, Mr. Steve Vai. Watching all of these legends on stage one last time was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible night of rock n' roll, and felt it put an exclamation point on what turned out to be a masterclass by five of the most talented guitarists on the planet today.
For more information on this years Generation Axe tour or to by tickets (including VIP packages), click HERE
We can't get enough of SAINt JHN's new single "Lust" feat. Janelle Kroll. The video will make you want to surrender to your guilty pleasures, escape into the desert, and take a ride with him and his ladies. SAINt JHN and Janelle Kroll's voices are layered imperfectly creating an ecstasy of ear candy making us lust for more. The artist shows off his original style in his newly released project Collection One where we can hear his unique sound influenced by his upbringing and life experiences growing up in New York and South America.
If you haven’t listened to Collection One, you should as soon as possible. The 13-song LP only features Janelle Kroll as a guest appearance and boasts popular singles such as “Roses,” “Reflex,” “3 Below,” and “Heard You Got Too Lit Last Night.” SAINt JHN is creating waves and "Lust" is just one taste into his world.
Hot Tub Johnnie plays the SAINt JHN single "McDonalds Rich" in his DJ sets, Hunnypot Approved!
-Sara Bard
If Hunnypot promoted and sold a plush bear it would have Hot Tub Johnnie's signature Fez hat, Ryan Taalbi's cool shades and DJ Spectrum's (Jeff Gray) harmonica necklace. It would be perfect as a motorcycle companion, as a camping buddy and cuddling on those cold Los Angeles nights. Perhaps we'd call it Humpy Bear.
We also had Hunnypot Live show #404 on Monday night.
Hot Tub kicked off the night with a "Gund shot" of hard rockin hits. Clay Busch landed in the tub with us to talk about his journey from sports, to music to cannabis marketing and slayed with a set of Heavy Grass jams. The 131ers played Velveteen smooth pop rock tunes, Wrong Wolf came from a killer Cabbage Patch to rock us hard, Skatenigs stuffed us with evil riffs and lyrics, Moon Riot was heady Teddy of psychedelia, Hollywood Nightmare had us all clamoring for a Plush bedtime companion and Hot Tub sewed up the night with another fantastic dance party set. 11/12/2018
An alumni of Chapman University, Clay Busch joined Heavy Grass in 2018 to run all marketing, creative and brand vision for Heavy Grass.
Prior to joining Heavy Grass, Clay Busch was the first hire for Danny Wimmer Presents (the countries largest independent live events promoter) in 2011–marking the company’s first hire–and was been a key part in the company’s rapid growth.
Other prior experience includes marketing, consulting, creative, event management and A&R. Clay got his start as an intern for AEG Live at the Kodak Theatre, moving on to work with the Staples Center and the LA Kings. From there, he transitioned to music marketing and publicity at Columbia Records where he interned before transitioning in the finance and sales departments at Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records.
Later, Clay ran the West Coast Lifestyle Marketing at Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records, helping with the early development for artists like Lady Gaga, LMFAO, The Pussycat Dolls, The All-American Rejects, and Tokio Hotel. Clay was also a Product Manager at Universal Music Group’s Interscope/Geffen/A&M Records for artists including Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and White Lies to name a few.
Clay has been an successful independent marketing consultant for many years, with clients such as the Hard Rock Cafe, Maloof Family Ventures (including the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas and the Maloof Money Cup), Marilyn Manson, Idol Roc Entertainment, Synergy Global Entertainment, Monster Energy, Revolver Magazine, Regime Management, Zippo Lighters and more.
Clay is also credited with discovering one of music fastest rising artists and Grammy nominated band, Nothing More.
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Neon. Rust. Chemical plants and railroad tracks. Industrialized particulate set ablaze by the setting sun. These common sights litter the east side of the township of Torrance, CA. This is also the birthplace of the vibrant indie collective, The 131ers.
Founded in 2012, the band has grown from a two-piece blue-veined American folk project to a full scale quadraphonic tour de force. The solid foundation of friendship between founding members Kaleb Davies (vox/guitar) and Ryan Dawson (drums) permeates every note, eventually shepherding fellow members Chris Graue (bass) and Greg Wilmot (guitar) into the fold. The 131ers have claimed their own unique genre-bending sound by successfully infusing rock n’ roll with funk, edge, passion and soul.
The band came together in pieces. Kaleb and I met in high school Track and Field. We hated each other at first but ended up bonding over the band Young the Giant and started playing music together. We would actually ditch track practice, buy taco bell, and go rehearse at Kaleb's house” – Explains Ryan.
Modern yet vintage, the sonic pleadings flowing from Kaleb’s brain triggers unbridled nostalgia that seems to force you to look over your shoulder while simultaneously compelling your spirit forward to the unknown future. The pulsating rhythm from Ryan hijacks your heart rate, while you are propelled by Chris’ bass line, while Greg exposes one infectious riff after another.
“We've tried to force ourselves to write songs or prepare material to bring in and show the others, but it never works that way. The songs are really born in rehearsal. Someone starts playing something, then someone else piggy backs on their idea. Then we argue about structure and ideas for a really long time and usually throw the whole song away. But sometimes after we fight for a while, we all end up agreeing on something, and Kaleb goes away and writes the lyrics when no one else is there to bother him” says Chris.
The name of the band comes from an error in early MP3 tagging technology. These files carry data including title, artist, album, and more. The genre tag options were severely limited, and many artists found themselves unable to fit neatly into any of the boxes they could check. Several of these artists would leave the field blank, generating an error displaying “131” in the genre column of music playing software. As a child, Kaleb noticed that several of his favorite artists carried this error and would later go on to call their box-breaking sound “indie rock.” 131 later became the short code to define this genre in MP3 tags.
Following up their 2016 debut, self-titled album, the band has been gearing up for their sophomore release. Recorded mostly in their self-built warehouse studio, they’ve enlisted talents such as Vince Walker (Suburban Legends) and Ryland Steen (America) to help produce. Their first single and video, “Face On,” premiered in May 2017, with a full album coming summer 2018.
“Our music is definitely influenced by Southern California. A lot of our favorite bands are local, Chris is also involved in making music videos for a lot of SoCal bands which lead to Vince Walker, singer of Suburban Legends, coming in to produce our new album” says Kaleb.
In August of 2017, Kaleb and Ryan found themselves caught in the middle of Hurricane Irma during what was supposed to be a vacation in Puerto Rico. They had to participate in preparation efforts with people they had just met and now call friends while they rode out the storm in a hostel. When they returned home they deeply wanted to find a way to help so they founded Artists for Disaster Relief (www.afdrmusic.com), an organization they set up to bring musicians together to fund charity efforts around the world. Their first project, “Arecibo” is a compilation album released in January 2018 via Pledge Music with all proceeds going to Friends of Puerto Rico (www.friendsofpuertorico.org.)
The band has also taken the reins as organizers, bookers as well as performing at the Avaline Music Festival which will take place May 25-28 at Avaline Ranch, located near King City, California. A fundraising event for the Guidry Foundation, an arts and education charity. Four days of camping, swimming in a natural water hole, hiking and live music on May 26 and 27.
Look for the band to crisscross the country in 2018 in support of their new album Nothing's as it Should Be to be release this June.
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WRONG WOLF has a fresh sound for the metal scene. Influenced by the likes of Alice in Chains, Audioslave and Deep Purple, they are young, energetic, experienced performers with amazing stage presence - this band will rock the house and blow your mind. “It’s an 80’s and 90’s metal sound with a current feel” says Garrett Holbrook when asked about WRONG WOLF’s sound. After playing covers of popular 80’s & 90’s metal mixed in with original work, when WRONG WOLF is done for the night you’ll be begging for more.
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Do you live life to the fullest? This is a question that for thirty years now has been challenged by a formidable group known as the Skatenigs. A band of heathens that has survived like cockroaches navigating life’s ups and downs making no excuses for their unconventional lifestyles or lack of. Phil Owen (aka Phildo) developed a brand of music that stole from every aspect of outlaw genres such as punk rock, heavy metal, rap, hillbilly and every sacred rock and roll anthem vulnerable to its taking. After landing a deal with the Chicago based Wax Trax Records, through an introduction from his Revolting Cocks cohort and Ministry’s main man Al Jourgensen, Phildo penned the now classic song “Chemical Imbalance.” Years of reckless abandon would result later signing with Megaforce Records, known for their connection to breaking Metallica, a classic episode of “Beavis and Butthead,” video plays on MTV’s Headbangers Ball, several successful tours with Ministry, KMFDM, GWAR, FEAR etc. and a failed European tour with TOOL which brought the band to a break up that would later be revived by Phildo. 2016 brought the release of the band’s most current album Adult Entertainment for Kids which features videos for the songs “Taste” and “At War with Myself.” This album currently is streamed in 51 countries and has assured the Skatenigs are anything but forgotten! Join Phildo and his band of creetons as they rise from the gutter to bring you an undeniable experience that is sure to be on your bucket list!
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Moon Riot is an American psychedelic band based in Los Angeles. The current lineup is a four piece that incorporates elements of 60s psychedelia and garage Rock. The band is currently recording their first full-length album tentatively titled "My Spirit Animal is on Parole."
Hollywood Nightmare is a 6 piece act based out of Hollywood California.
Attention Marijuana enthusiasts: Hunnypot is again offering a very special private Cannabis tasting event.
This Tasting Session is sponsored by the fine folks at White Buffalo,
Our event is located in the Green Room directly behind The Mint. Their will be surprises and give-aways throughout the night, bring a friend or two!
+21, 7-11PM
Green Room (behind The Mint)
6010 W. Pico Blvd.
LA, CA 90035
Neil Fallon for President of the United States of America? Yes please!
Clutch have released their second single off their album "Book of Bad Decisions". This video is sending interesting and playful political messages to viewers. ‘How To Shake Hands’ traces its lineage back to Ry Cooder and John Lee Hooker via the song ‘John Lee Hooker for President’. In that song Ry Cooder impersonates JLH giving a stump speech on what will happen when he becomes President. He sings, "First thing that I'm gonna do is disclose all those U.F.O.S, Put Jimi Hendrix on the 20 dollar bill, And Bill Hicks on a five note, Hot damn! The democratic process, What a time to be alive, Oh, I'm ready to give the people what they want, And what they want is straight talk and no jive!".
Clutch’s original idea of covering the Ry Cooder song was soon abandoned as Neil Fallon said he couldn’t do the song justice. Instead, Neil put his own lyrics in the style of Ry Cooder/JLH to a new Clutch song which ended up becoming the fast-paced ‘How to Shake Hands’. We love the creativity and fun that Neil shares in his lyrics.
Twenty-seven years, twelve albums, five EPs & several live recordings. If you haven’t heard of Clutch by now, you’ve been missing out for a long, long time. A hybrid of punk, hardcore and rock & roll, this foursome of school friends – Neil Fallon on vocals and guitar, Tim Sult on guitar, Dan Maines on bass and Jean-Paul Gaster on drums – have stayed true to their youthful roots while expanding their sound and their lyrics to stay modern in a classic rock obsessed music galaxy.
Valee's new song "Awesome" is just that. The track, which features a guest appearance from the young Matt Ox, who we can't get enough of. Valee first caught our attention with his single "Womp Womp ft. Jeremih". The Chicago rapper's fresh style of rapping cannot be taken for granted. He has set a unique trend and has been imitated by many other rappers in the industry. His approach is fresh and we can't wait to hear what he drops next. Although the "Awesome" video does not feature Valee himself, it is still artistically inventive and is emphasizing his lyrics.
Born Valee Taylor in the Robert Taylor Homes, a high-rise housing project in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, he grew up all over the city’s South Side. As a kid, he was fascinated by taking stuff apart and learning how to put it back together; today, his approach to music seems to follow a similar ethos—an obsession with the mechanics of rap, and with figuring out new solutions to old problems. “If a lot of people say things one way, I gotta take it, twist it, mend it, and bend it in a way that feels fresh,” he says.
Sheck Wes's single "Mo Bamba" turned heads and likely shocked many. He uniquely sings holding long notes out with his almost obnoxious voice, that no doubt will get stuck in your head. Sheck brings raw energy and life out of his fans in his new single "Wanted" that was released November 5th. The title of the song says it all. The video captures his fans chasing him through the streets and subways of New York, hungry to get just a taste of his wild nature. His fans seem to love living life on the edge, even risking complications with cops. Sheck's energy is contagious and his songs make people unafraid to push boundaries and let lose. Sheck is definitely "Wanted" by his huge fan base and we are patiently waiting for how he will surprise us next.
Sheck grew up in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City and has gained very loyal fans from his hometown. Don't miss out on the hype Sheck Wes has created! We love that he is unafraid to take risks with his music. His lyrics maybe offensive to some, but he leaves his audience wanting more of his fuel and fire...
-Sara Bard
King Henry's tenth single "What about me" will take you on a wild ride. The song was released on Black Butter/Duke City on October 11th and is growing in plays and views. If you want to take a moment to escape, this video will do just that. The race cars gliding, stuntmen jumping off moving cars, combined with smooth dreamy vocals will take your minds for a spin.
Henry shares, "My aim with these new releases is to make songs that you can listen to late at night walking the streets of any big city but could also close your eyes and vibe at a dark nightclub somewhere."
Since relocating to LA from New Mexico at age 18, Grammy-nominated Henry has emerged as one of contemporary music’s most sought after producers, working closely with Diplo and Major Lazer, on tracks like the chart-topping ‘Cold Water’, and 'Know No Better', as well as ‘All Night’ from Beyoncé’s landmark album Lemonade, and ‘Nothing Without You’ from The Weeknd’s 'Starboy'. Recently he produced the LSD(Labrinth, Sia, Diplo) single 'Thunderclouds' and has just finished producing and co-writing the upcoming Sasha Sloan album.
Having originally trained in classical guitar, the musically gifted multi-instrumentalist will be joining Gorgon City in the U.S on their long run of dates this October- November.
Sudan Archives' "Nont for Sale" masterfully transforms her pain into an unwavering show of self-love. “Nont for Sale” begins with anxious, plucked violin and a no-nonsense directive: “You only call me/When you need something/I need to be free.” The song expertly showcases Sudan Archives’ voice, her chanted lyrics rise confidently above the jittery instrumentals as she continues to warn a toxic friend to back off.
The 23-year-old producer/vocalist Sudan Archives mixes Northeast African folk violin with electronic music, creating a complex web of sounds that includes percussive plucks, swooping orchestral strings, and looped beats. Signed to Stone Throw Records Sudan Archives is making her mark and bringing us into her expressive and vibrant world.
-Sara Bard
Hollywood Nightmare is a 6 piece fully independent young Metalcore band based out Los Angeles, California. The sound of the band incorporates elements of early Linkin Park's Nu-Metal electronic concept mixes with the bouncy grooves and screams like Slipknot.
The band was founded by front man Marcus Menace and lead guitarist Scott Mik in October, 2016 at Musicians Institute, two friends had been writing music together since then, they have the same vision of building a influential heavy metal band and maintain the spirit of the angry kids from 2000s. In the beginning of 2017, the band teamed up with EDM/Dub-Step artist Rafal Maciejski as their sample designer and keyboard player, and this bring the band's music to a new level. In February 2018, with the joining of bass player/vocal Kyle Davies, drummer Luke Couse and rhythm guitarist Logan Alger, the whole band officially came together. In April of 2018, the band finished writing and recording their first 7 songs EP Scary AF with Eric Mata as producer.
Hollywood Nightmare started playing local venues in Hollywood, Long Beach areas since June 2017. With the new forces, the band had been putting on more bills in 2018 including Whiskey a gogo, Musicians Insitute, Dipiazza's, Airliner Nightclub, The Boardwalk, SAGE, Slidebar and more.
The band released their debut single "Influence For Confidence" on July 31 2018, check out this banger from the new generation!
Hollywood Nightmare are performing live at our Hunnypot Live At The Mint Party on November 12th, doors at 7:00pm, all ages, no charges, 420 friendly! We are also having Heavy Grass as our sponsor, which means, we will smoke you out! This is definitely the Rock N Roll night you don't wanna miss!
