1. Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and were you can be found at on the web. My name is Bret Mitchem. I am a starving artist, musician and writer. I have no qualifications for any of these but I never let that deter me. I have been playing in bands for many, many moons. Including Ugly Babies, Space Cake, Forkskin, menSana, 2G,  Gorilla Monsoon, 138, Calling Corners, and Goldy lockS.

2. Who are your musical heroes, influences & why? As a child, KISS was pretty much my whole life. They planted the seed of wanting to be onstage and rock out for people. As a teen, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and specifically Flea inspired me to a new level bass assault. A few years later I discovered GWAR, who continually inspire me to be creative and to carve a path of originality.

3. Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid? Playing music is probably the most pure joy I have found in life. It is a complete cathartic and creative release for me. If you feel it in your soul like I do, then by all means live your dream! But making a living at this is an extremely difficult task to pull off. It takes much more than talent or good looks. It takes endless devotion, sacrifice and a whole lot of luck to be successful. But I truly believe that anyone that sets their mind to a task can and will eventually accomplish their goals.

4. Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share? Well, I have more than a few great gig stories. A few would include playing at Mesker Amphitheater, Jimi Hendrix once played on that stage. Also getting to play onstage at the Gathering of the Juggalos with Rev. Fang Gory was a great experience. But most recently I would say playing for the troops in Kandahar, Afghanistan on the 10th anniversary of 9-11 was an unbelievable experience. We caught a Taliban rocket attack midway through the show. It was during band intermission when world class comedian Andy Hendrickson was onstage performing. The warning sirens went off and the crowd of 3,000 plus all simultaneously hit the dirt. Thankfully no one was hurt and after about 45 mins of taking pics and signing autographs in the bunker with folks, we got the all clear. Someone asked me if I was scared to go back up onstage? I replied I was scared that they would not let us. Luckily they did and we did. We got back up and finished the show, even though the huge crowd had greatly diminished by then.

5. On the same token as the above question. How about a “worse gig” ever story. Well, everyone has had their share of “not so great” gigs I’m sure. The kind where anything that can go wrong, does. It is a horrible feeling to be up there, in the zone, only to have your gear cease working for no reason. But shit happens. You just have to know how to roll with it.  Also getting drunk before getting onstage is never a good plan, lol.

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? I love creativity! I enjoy drawing, designing, painting, printing, writing and doing just about anything that involves being creative. I am also an avid video gamer. I regularly kick ass in the name of the Horde in World Of Warcraft. And still play the occasional game of Worms.

7. What do you think about the present music scene or lack of? Care to address that? I almost always reject present day popular music for no reason other than I hate having anything forced on me. But I have found that if you dig deep enough, you can find truly great music being made at any given time. Especially on the local level. Currently I find myself listening to more and more rap. I can’t get enough Tech N9ne. And as far a current band, I really like Silversun Pickups. I enjoy their albums more and more each time I listen to them.

8. Tell us something about each of your band members that we would not expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that… After a very busy year of touring, traveling and adventuring, I am currently taking a few months off to reset. So I am in between projects at the moment. However I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to some of my past band brothers and mention their current bands. Everyone should check these guys out: Sideshow Romance, Tenn Pound Hammer, Honey Roy, Old Union, Hen Tooth, Wedge, Gorgantherron. Also shout out to Aegaeon who are about to go on tour again. Oh and Austin Leslie, you beautiful bastard. Wherever you are…

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? Ummm, Mary Ann. She was the brunette right? Also while on the island I would await the day that the Harlem Globetrotters arrive so we can get a pickup game going. Curly rules!

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”! Ahhh, this question is pretty much the sole reason that I dropped my cherished veil of privacy. I wanted to bring attention to our troops that serve every day across the globe. Regardless of your opinion of the war, we need to support our brothers and sisters who spend years working and living in very difficult environments. At this time of year when familes all come together to enjoy the holidays, so many people have to spend it on the other side of the world, far away from their loved ones. I met so many awesome people on my tour overseas. And I found that a lot of them joined the service for no other than the are no other jobs available in their area. Whole squads of troops would be from the same town. And words just can’t do justice to what they go through and live with everyday. I’m not even going to mention the Poo Pond at KAF, lol. I was very happy to work with the Armed Forces Entertainment and the USO. It was truly an eye opening experience. We should all give thanks to these amazing people. And if you like like to help out in some small way, I encourage you cantact the USO. I know they have some great stuff going on right now. Like the Wishbook and the 10 Million Minutes program. Please check it out.

Bonus Questions

Without looking up it on the internet, do you know who “Rita Repulsa” and Lord Zedd” are and how do you know? I do not. Sorry.

Should singers and bands also be political too or just make music and keep  their opinions to themselves and not go “Bono” on everyone? I think it is a very fine line for artists to express their particular views on politics. On the one hand, most people listen to music for a care free release, and do not want to have someones views dumped in their laps. But on the other hand, artists and musicians are people and have just as much right as anyone else to share their opinions. I think it can be accomplished in a tasteful way. bands like System Of A Down and Rage Against The Machine have made a career of it and remain relevant to this very day. Another great band is MUSE. They have done a terrific job of not only being a top notch rock band, but have opened many minds to various topics the world over.

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? As I said above, If you are doing something that you truly love to do, then that is all that really matters. If you are only in it for superficial reasons: Money, girls, fame, etc… then your path will not only be difficult, but ultimately fruitless. With that said, if you have a dream, NEVER GIVE UP! Fight for it, live for it, die for it!

1. Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and

where you can be found at on the web.

We are an old school rock and roll trio forged in steel and Los Angeles. Nature hates a vacuum, and there was a black hole, void of the all important dirty, sexy rock and roll. So we came together, forming something much bigger than our separate parts, with the singular purpose of saving your soul through the medical spiritual application of the drug that is rock and roll. We can be located on the interwebs @ www.OurHospitality.com & www.facebook.com/OurHospitality & www.youtube.com/OurHospitalityMusic

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

We are informed and inspired the rock gods of the past- The Beatles, Hendrix, The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, Ronnie James Dio, The Band etc. We are influenced by Eagles of Death Metal, Nirvana, Weezer, Rush, Andrew Bird, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. We are also inspired in general by post-humanism, futurism, dirty sexy rock and roll, sports, and alcohol.

3. Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing

music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?

Recording your gigs is a great way to get better. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to think you sounded great or terrible depending on a crowd’s energy- listening back critically and always improving is the key. Other than that- practice, practice, practice!!

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

Our favorite gig was opening up for Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) and the Coattail Riders. Taylor is a goddamn rock and roll God, and playing on the same bill as him was an absolute dream. There were lots of cool folks in the audience like Flea, Chad Smith and Pat Smear. To top it all off, Jesus of the Sunset Strip was even in attendance.

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

story.

So far we’ve had an amazing string of great gigs. Wish we had some killer story but the rock gods have been on our side and have blessed us with some kick ass experiences.

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?

Libby and Dash are filmmakers. Libby has her MFA in Directing and Editing from USC, and Dash is an Emmy Award nominated TV producer and an aspiring writer. Phil brews his own mead (honey wine), plays dominoes, and does scrimshaw. We all are really active and believe that hiking, running, and exploring nature is a great way to feed the soul and help inspire our musical endeavors.

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

No matter where you are and no matter what scene is around you, you have the power to create and share music with those around you. We believe any opportunity to play live is as important as the next whether 5 people or 300 people are there to listen. So whether a scene is over-saturated with bands or under-saturated with opportunities there is always the chance to be heard, have fun and make a difference.

8. Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t

expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that…

Libby was on the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team staff for the 2010 (South Africa) World Cup and was on the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team staff for the 2011 (Germany) Women’s World Cup as a team videographer. Phil brews mead (honey wine) in his apartment. Dash is currently producing a documentary about The Tea Party.

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?

Luckily for us, we all have different tastes.

Phil- Ginger “she’s a movie star, duh.”

Libby-The Professor “smart is sexy”

Dash – Mrs Howell “older women are 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”!

Rock n roll is here to stay. Plug in and turn it up – if your parents yell at you just pop in your headphones but keep it rolling.

You know him as “The SandMan”. He can be found at 103.1 on the FM dial. We all have welcomed his voice into our homes, factories, backyard grill outs  and drunken naked beach parties. Hell, he was probably  there when  a few legs have been “tapped” too in some of your backseats. He kicks ass and is above all the others. The # 1 voice on the radio . And…

KICKACTS PROUDLY PRESENTS

1. Mike, welcome to KICKACTS. To the three or four people out there that have been locked in a closet with no radio for the past 20 years. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I have been on air doing radio in Evansville since Dec. 1979. Most of my time has been with 103.1, either as KC103 which it was in the early 80′s or in it’s current incarnation of 103GBF. I have also been the station program director since 1996

2. You have been a part of the # 1 Rock station in this market since its debut as KC103 back in the day. How has radio changed since then?

Technically it’s been a quantum leap. From vinyl to digital. As far as being a dj, it’s still pretty much the same. Try and cut through the b.s. and get the listener back to the music asap.

3. In your spare time, what do you like to do other than radio?

Spare time? That’s funny!! I like getting tattoos, hanging out with chicks, listening to music, watching movies and sports.

4. Do you have any way of knowing how many people call in each time you open up the phone lines for a call in contest?

Nope. No way of knowing that.

5. You are the #1 rated DJ in this area, in fact you are a local celebrity in your own right. Do you get recognized in public with your voice?

Yeah, I do. It’s very flattering. I just consider myself a dude with a cool job.

6. Where is radio heading? Will it all be automated eventually?

In small markets, it is to a large degree. I think people in towns our size and larger still want local air talent who can give them local info.

7. Most baby boomers associate the life of an on air personality to the lives portrayed in the TV sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati”. Is it anything like that at all? Are there any Doctor Johnny Fever’s or Venus Flytrap’s not forgetting to mention Bailey Quarter’s or Jennifer Marlowe’s?

Oh yeah. That show is definitely based in reality. I’m probably a more hyped up, tattooed version of Dr. Johnny Fever myself.

8. What is the craziest contest stunt you have ever seen in your career.

We had a guy walk down the median on Green River Road in front of the mall in a thong to win concert tickets. That was cool. Attracted lots of attention.

9.You probably have the southwest wing of your house dedicated to rock and radio memorabilia that you have collected over the years. What is the coolest thing you have?

I’m not really too much into saving stuff like that. I do have a few platinum album awards from bands we’ve broken over the years like Creed and Godsmack. I have a few autographed items as well. Mostly it’s good memories.

10.# 10 is called “SHOUT IT LOUD”. It’s where you get to say whatever you want to say… So go ahead Mike, and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!!

Talk about Perks... Mike having another "HARD" day at the office :) ed.

Bonus Question:

Are radio personalities like Howard Stern, Bob and Tom,and John Boy and Billy still relevant today?

Yes. Howard Stern is of course on satellite radio which is fading into the sunset to a large degree. But syndicated personalities have the power to attract big name stars onto their shows, which is something a station in a market our size couldn’t do on it’s own. I’ve never enjoyed John Boy and Billy personally. Too southern…too NASCAR for me. Bob and Tom offer comedy which has universal appeal.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity, Chuck!!

to contact The sandman

sandman@103gbfrocks.com

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1195064207

http://www.myspace.com/sandman103gbf

Listen live @ www.103gbfrocks.com