from KICKACTS to YOU!! Happy New Year!!

Ten Questions with “Ugly Kids Club”

1. Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and were you can be found at on the web.

We are an electronic rock duo from Nashville.  We formed last summer and we just finished our first ep which will be out in January.  You can find us at www.uglykidsclub.com and www.facebook.com/uglykidsclub.  Bam.

2. Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?

Musically, we look up to The Police, Talking Heads, Nirvana, My Bloody Valentine, The Kills,  and Jack White.  We feel like rock and roll will and should live on despite the continuously changing and cross-pollenating landscape of musical genres.  We’re not sure exactly where we fit, but we like to think we are in the tradition of what used to be called rock and roll, but has grown into entirely new places as of 2011.  We also have a healthy amount of the punk/DIY spirit that drives us to do everything we can ourselves and make sure we like our music before anyone else does.   Many of our musical heroes were pioneers and genre-benders in this same way.

3.Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?

Love music above anything else.  Learn about songwriting early and always remain a student.   It is a skill that must be honed over many years.  Don’t wait on anyone to help you.  No one will ever care as much about your art and your music as you.  This is the music ‘business’, so become a business man/woman and you will have a much better chance at survival.

4.Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?

Well, we’ve only had one gig a couple weeks ago and I suppose it was our greatest :).

5.On the same token as the above question. How about a “worst gig” ever story.

Hasn’t happened yet.

6.Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps?Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?

We like to laminate things. Aliegh has a pretty weird obsession with touching laminated stuff and plugging in cords. Salsa dancing. We both love space. Anything to do with that and we’re sucked in. Aliegh collects anything with owls.

7.What do you think about the present music scene or lack of in your area? Care to address that?

Nashville is a strange beast.  Musically, we are pretty diverse.  Outside of New York, I think it may be the toughest town to play a gig.  Most people here that we know have a band, or are in the music industry in some capacity.  Therefore there is a very thick air at most shows.  Even when people are ‘into it’ they will typically listen with their arms folded and only give obligatory applause.  Not to sound cynical, because I have behaved exactly like this at many shows.  Nashville can do this to you, and it is important, I believe, as a band from Nashville to play other towns as much as possible.  That said, we do have many wonderful venues such as The Exit/In and the Ryman that are second to none in this country.

8.Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that…

Steve is a Grammy nominated producer and songwriter and he also is vegetarian who has dreams about flying to different planets.  Aliegh is a passionate salsa dancer. It’s kind of a big deal… She also loves her telescope and shooting guns!

9. Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you get to hook up with only one of the girls… Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell and why?

Is there any answer other than Ginger?  Now let’s see what Aliegh has to say…

Ugghh for me, Aliegh, I feel pretty weird about making out with chicks but I’d totally go for Mary Ann. Mrs. Howell is a close second. I like ’em old. More experienced.

10. # 10 is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s were you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!

(Steve) Um, I really don’t shout much.  But if you insist…I THINK SPOTIFY IS THE BEST THING IN THE UNIVERSE AND YES, IT BUGS ME THAT I DON’T KNOW HOW MUSICIANS WILL MAKE $ IN THE FUTURE, BUT I BELIEVE WE WILL FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE THE WORLD CLEARLY WANTS IT AND THEIR LIVES ARE HAPPENING TO THE SOUNDTRACK WE ARE ALL CREATING.

(Aliegh) STOP TRYING TO HAVE PERFECT HAIR AND HAVE SOMETHING REAL TO OFFER THE WORLD. LET’S ALL GO TO MARS! LONG LIVE NASA!!!

BONUS QUESTIONS:

Q: Without looking up it on the internet, do you know who “Rita Repulsa” and Lord Zedd” are and how do you know?

No idea. Makes me think of Rita Hayworth and the Legend of Zelda. Sounds like bad sci-fi names.Star Trek?

Q: Should singers and bands also be political too or just make music and keep their opinions to themselves and not go “Bono” on everyone?

It can be shaky ground for artists to go political, but some of the greats obviously have. (Dylan, Beatles, CSNY, The Clash) I think we appreciate when artists do choose to share their beliefs even at the potential alienation of some fans. These days, being an artist is more about finding like-minded people who love what you do, rather than attempting to gain mass appeal. If you share what you really believe, it will most likely draw some closer in, and push some away. We believe this is a good thing.

Q: At what point should someone that hasn’t made it give up on their dream and get over it or should they ever give up?

We believe this is the greatest time in history to be in a band. There is no need to have a record deal anymore just to make good recording, find fans, promote yourself, etc. The old dream used to be to conquer the world and achieve god-like status as an artists. These days artists and fans have the ability to have NO barriers between them. This is an entirely new paradigm. There is a place for everyone who feels the calling or the desire to express themselves in an artistic fashion now. It does not matter how big or small the audience is. Success is now however one defines it. If we are talking music as a full-time gig, there are not too many who can get there. But this does not mean that everyone who can’t do that isn’t worthy or capable of artistic expression. Some people ‘want’ to do music and they will mostly likely all eventually give up. Some people ‘have’ to do music. These people don’t have that option.

CHECK OUT THESE COOL VIDEOS!

James Hetfield throwing Metal, throwing Rocks…

While vacationing in Punta del Este, Uruguay for Christmas, Metallica’s frontman James Hetfield got annoyed and confronted a few photographers.

The rocker was spotted taking a moped ride with his son Castor in the countryside of Punta Del Este and the paparazzi would not leave him alone, so he took it upon himself to try and stop them. James confronted a few and even threw some rocks at some out of frustration.

We understand hes a hardcore rocker, and was annoyed by the paps, but he shouldn’t be throwing stones at them. Paparazzi have to feed their families too.

http://www.starfeine.com/metallicas-james-hetfield-attacks-paparazzi-in-punta-del-este-uruguay/

Van Halen’s Major Announcement with a cheap made video….

Didn’t they only spend 200 bucks on the “Jump” video? Man, they are super rich and tight…But it’s major news. Here’s the vid.

chuck

Merry Christmas and God Bless. Enjoy the video

Two Navy kisses Decades apart… Times have changed.

First up. V day 1945

Next up.  2011

Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen to kiss first upon a ship’s return

Living After Midnight – Christmas Pudding Style

Living After Midnight recorded live at the Alice Cooper Christmas Pudding. Vocals – Rob Halford, Bass – Chuck Garric, Guitar – Tommy Henriksen, Guitar – Bruce Kulick, Drums – Glen Sobel.

[youtubehd]1QJuMKAt3Ik[/youtubehd]

Vince Neil leaving Motley Crue…?

Vince Neil sparks fears of Motley Crue split

Ten Questions with “CIRYL da GREAT”

1. Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and were you can be found at on the web.

What up its ur boy ciryl da great, im 24 im signed reformatory records outta Chicago,,. That’s the family. Im also the founder and v.p of bad image m.g.l, I been rappin for 12 years and cant stop. It flows thru me, in my veins cut em open and u’ll see lyrics lol. Me and mike met bout 3 years ago and just something clicked, we mesh well and Im glad to call this place my home.

U can find my debut album “da birth of a great 1” on itunes, amazon, napster etc. u know the drill follow me on twitter @ciryldagreat. , I’m everyone the internets a motherfucker lol

2. Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?

Eminem and the diplomats. Theres more but I believe those 2 r solely responsible for me being me. Em brought out that “ima kill u” and have people except and even be on ur side by the end of the first verse. It’s a powerful thing when u can make somebody feel empathy just by listening to word u wrote. Its fuckin amazin, it still gives me chills. And as for dip set. They were the apitomy of battle rap, these dudes were fuckin sick. Hell rell 40cal juelez, cam, j.r.writer un kasa, nuff said. They made it cool to be a gangsta again and even though I aint tryin to embody that, it was def something that helped mold me

3. Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?

Id say watch ur ass, don’t believe everything they tell u. just do u and perform as much as u can. And what mike always tells me “keep ur mouth shut and ur ears open” that’s def. m,y best advice, everything else kinda comes to u as u go there aint no guide book for this shit. Bvecause everyones experience is diff.

4. Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?

5. On the same token as the above question. How about a “worse gig” ever story.

6. Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?

Lol lame but I watch jeaopardy and play madden that’s my shit. Other then that it’s the rap channel 24/7 in this mother fucker

7. What do you think about the present music scene or lack of? Care to address that?

Hell yeah I’ll address it. Its fucked, too many captains not enough ship hands. At the end of the day someone needs to convince us to work together. We have the most hateful community out of all the music genres and it makes me sick. That’s y here at refo we do us, and if u aint wit that, den get off the bus lol

8. Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t  expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that…

9. Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you get  to hook up with only one of the girls… Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell  and why?

mary anne, if we ever got rescued I could see myuself being with her country ass. Ginger would just want the money and fame fuck her lol

10. # 10 is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s were you get to talk about  whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!

I wana say thanx to everyon e who made this happen and continues to help make this happen. I love all my fans and id be nothing without u guys. My label , my family, my haters iots everything right now. I keep rising and I know it takes a village to raise a child , well since February 25th 2010 ive been the child dey raisin. And I think they doin a pretty good job. Send my love to white boy and nstrmntl . come home soon yall.

 BONUS QUESTIONS:

In your answer to #7, you said “We have the most hateful community out of all the music genres”. My question is, why is the rap community so violent? Or at least it appears that way to someone that is not in the rap community. I see East Side versus West side..East Coast against West Coast, and look at how much talent is has cost… Biggie..Tupac..etc

i think that the violence comes from the relation between our genre and drugs. Everybody wants to be scarface, everybody wants to be the dope dealer/gangbanger and they embody this in their music. Tupac rapped about thug life and everyone went crazy. what people seem to forget is that tupac was a thespian/dancer before he became a thug. stuffs sickining that all this talent must be sacrificed just to keep someone elses cred valid.

 

Without looking up it on the internet, do you know who “Rita Repulsa” And Lord Zedd” are and how do you know?

lol no, sorry can’t say that i do. Is that people off the power rangers?

Should singers and bands also be political too or just make music and Keep their opinions to themselves and not go “Bono” on everyone?

opinions are just that an opinion, no one has to believe or respect it. and just because we’re in the public eye does not change who we are and how we feel on the inside. i say be as political as you want, but be able to accept the consequences. piss off the wrong group and your screwed, its a viscious cycle. honestly though, i’d rather be honest with the fans from the get and let them make a decision that will stick.

At what should someone that hasn’t made it give up on their dream and get over it or should they ever give up?

When i started, i gave myself till i was 25. i said if im not broken and making substantial money by then, i’d hang it up. this is what inspired me though . it lit a fire under my ass. me giving up and walking away never sounds likely, its in my blood. and i think if you feel how i feel , you’d say the same. i guess it depends on the heart and talent level

of the person, i look at my camp and hope none of us ever give up. so there you go.

 

Itunes link to buy Ciryl

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/we-dem-white-boyz/id452430504?i=452430924

 

Reformatory Records Link:

http://www.reformatoryrecords.com/ciryl

Follow reformatory records on Twitter:@REFORMATORYRECS