This, the final Tuesdays with Riley is again, not on Tuesday. thepaintedslacker apologizes, but I promise that reading this, on any day, will give you a smile, as well as more insight into the genius of nerdrocker, Shael Riley.

You busy?

Hi

Got a few minutes to rock and roll?

I should have said “rock and/or roll”. It would have been more clever.

Yeah

So, let’s jump right into it. The topic was media that has changed your life.

Let’s start with the obvious, music. What music has changed your life and why?

Chris Cornell, Alice in Chains, Weezer, Nobuo Uematsu, Ben Folds, Mindless Self Indulgence.

I guess they’ve all been pretty big influences.

I don’t know if you can hear a lot of it, though. I always think they’re influences.

I used to be in an Alice in Chains cover band when I was, like 14. lol

I think “Angry Chair” is one of the first songs I ever really learned to play well.

Probably the first song I could sing and play at the same time, on bass and then on guitar.

I really don’t listen to Alice in Chains at all anymore, but I did a lot when I was a young teenager.

Actually, I don’t know if they have much influence on my current stuff. Better scratch them from the list. lol

No doubt. We’ll put a line through them…

Right on.

Hmm

Ozma.

I love them too.

I listen to a good bit of chiptune stuff. Bit Shifter. Nullsleep, etc….

Been listening to a lot of I Fight Dragons lately.

I used to listen to the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack on loop for hours in my room.

Just over and over and over again.

That music is just amazing.

Wow. I thought I was a nerd.

You like football, Chief.

Nerds can like football, as long as they make sure to follow the game with a session of Nerdcore Rising… which I watched last week, BTW.

Loved it, what did you think?

I thought it was very well done.

Certainly enjoyed it. Made me nostalgic for 2006.

So, back to FF and video games, what games have changed your life?

That’s some pretty dramatic language. I don’t know if I’d couch it in those terms exactly, but I sure have sunk a lot of time into the Street Fighter series and I guess that was a part of my development as a kid, so maybe you could say that changed my life.

And then I was a music director for the remake of Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, so that was great.

The Street Fighter series is my absolute favorite of all time.

How’d you end up doing that?

I’d directed an album of fan arrangements. Capcom found it and sought me out, asking if I could tweak some songs for use in their remake of Super Turbo. We wound up re-doing most songs completely.

Final Fantasy VI was a great game too, aside from having great music.

I’m pretty sure I’m one of, like, fifty people who actually liked the Resident Evil Outbreak series too.

Definitely a precursor to Left 4 Dead.

I love the developments we’ve made in social gaming in recent years.

Never got into most of those, but, WOW about the SF stuff. That’s super rad. SF and MK are my favorites of all time. My wife and I play fighting games every now and again, just to pass the time. More so before the rugrat was born.

That’s awesome.

I never got into WoW.

I don’t see too much of a gamist element there; it’s, like, ALL social. You know?

Yeah.

I played it a bit and I didn’t feel like I was making meaningful choices.

Got bored real fast.

I am not much of an RPG guy, other than Knights of the Old Republic and Kingdom of Loathing.

It’s a shame; I like the concept of the MMORPG genre but I’ve never played one that I liked in execution.

People tell me KoL is pretty cool. It’s a genre parody, right?

Yeah.

Funny, entertaining, I fall in and out of it. Haven’t been on in a year or so.

I did like Forum Warz, but that’s not really an MMO.

Never heard of it.

I used to play BBS door games a TON as a kid.

That was my real introduction to social gaming.

Text-based, ANSI RPGs on dial-up BBSes.

Usurper. Legend of the Red Dragon.

Ever heard of those?

I lived for Legend of the Red Dragon when I was in 6th grade.

Maybe 7th.

I did that kind of stuff a bit.

I used to run a BBS in middle school.

No way!

How’d you get an extra phone line?

I didn’t at first, I just clogged up my parents from when I got home from school until I went to bed.

lol

or until I got yelled at.

It was mostly my friends, so they all knew my hours of operation

Yeah. I did my fair share of phoneline clogging.

I did the whole AOL hacknig thing around that time too.

In fact, a friend I introduced into “hacking” and programming got arrested by the feds when we were 16.

He has an FBI probation agent until he was 21.

Yikes!

And the agent was a 6′9 black dude named Adolf

Better than a white one, with that name.

Yeah…

without a doubt.

Who names their kid Adolf?

That what I always said!

Anyway.

So, off topic… as if we were actually on one… how you been feeling?

About the same.

Well, for what it’s worth your in my prayers…

Thanks.

So… how about books, TV, movies? Anything revolutionary in your life?

I’ve never had an epiphany brought on by a piece of media.

I’ve had media that I’ve loved, but it’s never been a dramatically life-changing experience to watch, play, or listen to something.

What has created epiphanies in your life?

I don’t know, man.

Can’t say I’ve had too many.

How about when you met your wife? Haha.

I’ve had dramatic realizations, but they’ve all been from my learning something I didn’t know.

And I can’t think of any specific instances right now.

When I was a kid, though, I saw Vampire Hunter D and I was fucking floored.

I was stunned to learn that animation didn’t have to be just for little kids, that they could show blood and boobs in an animation.

Crazy enough, I’ve only ever seen the second VHD.

I was absolutely enchanted by it.

You gotta see the first.

I don’t know if it’ll have much of an impact on you at your age, but man, it was so amazing as a kid.

Actually, if I’ve ever had an epiphany from a film, it was then.

I will rock it on Netflix.

I got way into anime when I was in Junior High, back when it was mostly available in the US. via fan subs.

I used to watch Sailor Moon every morning in Junior High.

I’d get up ass early to see it.

And I had one friend who was into anime too – he had the fan sub connection.

As I don’t know much about anime, what would you recommend to me for where to begin?

I’m not a big anime fan by today’s standards. I grew out of it really quickly when it became a commercial market and we started getting a flood of severely censored, mediocre series and films.

But I do recommend Serial Experiments Lain for interested adults.

Also Boogie Pop Phantom.

Cool.

I’ll check them… and the first VHD.

For sure.

If you can get fan subs, check out the Japanese Sailor Moon.

The DIC dubs made in the 90s, while not bad in and of themselves, don’t do it justice.

Ok.

And there’s the whole issue of their never having even touched the final season, with its more adult themes.

How about non-anime movies? What do you dig?

Fight Club.

How cliché.

Yeah. I know.

It’s my favorite movie, though. Honest.

I could have said Star Wars. That would have been worse, right?

Fair enough. As for FC, I own it, so I can’t talk.

Ever read it?

I have.

I prefer the film.

I haven’t watched it in a long time. I wonder if it would still resonate with me the way it did when I was 18.

I’m actually worried I’d ruin it for myself.

I recently watched it for the first time since college and it doesn’t do much for me anymore at all.

So, don’t watch it.

Yeah. Maybe I should re-watch, though. Get it over with.

Nah. No reason to shy away from the truth.

I’m not sure what my favorite film would be, though, if I didn’t like Fight Club anymore.

I can’t think of even a distant second.

Kung Fu Panda?

Kung Fu Hussle?

Touche!

I’ve never had the attention span for films.

In college, my nerd friends always wanted to have movie marathons.

That’d drive me crazy.

Hmmm… TV? What shows do you follow?

I do like TV, mostly non-fiction.

Good Eats is just about my favorite show ever.

I’m a simple man. lol

I love the old Adult Swim shows.

I love Food Network, but I just got rid of cable. Adult Swim is great.

Space Ghost Coast to Coast? Brilliant.

Home Movies? Awesome.

Aqua Teen? Pretty great.

I’m a big ATHF, Space Ghost, and Metalocalypse fan.

I like a good sketch comedy show too.

SNL has been something I’ve watched on and off since I was a toddler.

The State just came out on DVD.

Nice. I’ll have to check that out.

I like No Reservations a lot, back on the non-fiction side of TV.

And The Daily Show.

Well, this is our last chat for the site for awhile, though I hope to keep up with you from time to time.

Right on.

I feel like we need to bring our chats out with a bang, any suggestions?

You ever get into tabletop gaming?

No, just Magic.

Huh.

So tell me about football.

What’s the appeal? lol

It’s a sport where people hit each other. For me, it’s another thing to geek out about.

Why not boxing?

Or MMA?

Those are all about hitting.

I know all the stats of my squad, follow every little thing.

So it’s a stats thing?

I can understand that.

Stats, news, rumors, everything.

What made you choose your team?

I live near Philly, hence, Philly.

As a kid, I lived near NYC, but I hated the Giants and was indifferent to the Jets.

That’s kind of arbitrary. You didn’t think maybe you’d get more into, say, Orlando’s team than Philly’s if only you’d get to know them?

Orlando doesn’t have a team… but I see your point.

You never had that thought?

To me it seems like school spirit.

I was a 49ers fan as a kid, I drifted here and began following the Birds. It is kinda like school spirit, though.

But my fandom is more accurately a geek thing.

I am more accurately a geek than any other kinda of nerd.

Once I like something I geek out on it totally.

When I was in high school, we had pep rallies that I’d just look as annoyed as possible at – we had to go and I’d only stay if I couldn’t sneak out.

Kids would come up to me and be like “Where’s your school spirit?” I’d tell them it was comepletely arbitrary that I happened to be going to this school; I didn’t chose to go here, so why should I take pride in it?

You sound like one of those scary goth kids in school… ha. Not really though, cuz I feel ya.

You’ve never been into any sports?

I totally had an off-putting, goth mentality. I just didn’t wear black or listen to Depeche Mode.

I’ve never been into any sports.

I’ve tried to like them, but I just don’t see the appeal.

Sports can totally be nerdy nowadays with fantasy teams and sports RPGs.

Maybe you can help me. How can I sit down this Sunday and enjoy a game of football? What kind of mindset should I have going in if I want to enjoy the game?

Pick a team, grab a six pack of GOOD beer and some of your favorite snacking food.

Then, sit down in front of a tricked out HDTV.

Ok. How do I pick my team?

I need to really like them better than their opposition and I’m afraid that’s going to be hard.

Hmmm? I’d say the home team, but since that’s the Giants, screw that

What’s wrong with the Giants?

I like their name.

I just hate the Giants, choose them if you wish, but I despise them.

Let’s think about your interests and who may line up with them? You like video games, video game music, anime, and..

I like sex.

And beer.

All booze, really.

I like sex.

Boobs and stuff.

Ooh!

Politics.

And philosophy.

Then choose a team with hot cheerleaders

But that’s not the team; that’s their cheerleaders.

I don’t see the connection.

Politics? Washington Redskins, though they suck.

I can’t get invested emotionally in a team if I only like something peripheral.

I like trolling.

I like to get on Second Life and fuck around with people.

Is there a football team I could back that would be, like, kind of trolling football or something?

Some kind of severe underdog I could like because everyone else hates them?

What would be the team of the provocateur?

How about the Jets, they actually are kicking ass, but they weren’t expected to be good and they talk shit on everybody else.

And they are local to you

See, that’s the most compelling reason to back a team I’ve heard so fart.

*far

hahaha

Alright. Cool. So now I back the Jets. It’s official.

When is the next Jets game on?

Sunday at 4 vs. New Orleans

on CBS

Ok.

Maybe I’ll check that out.

I’ll have to check in with you about how that goes.

So, I need to run… but I have a question?

Ok.

Would you perhaps offer up a track for a remix contest like the one I did this past month? I’d like to make it a monthly thing.

Yes!

I’d just need to post the original song for the listeners and an accapella track for remixing purposes.

Any track you’d like.

Yeah. Probably can do that at some point soonish.

Nice, email me, you gots my info yo!

You got it.

Holla at Beef for me!

Ok.

I’m out, expect his up tomorrow when I get home from work. Thanks for these past few convos, I’ve enjoyed them.

Sure thing. Thanks for having me.

We’ll keep in touch. If you ever come through Reading, PA you’ve got a guest room to stay in.

Thanks a lot.

We can watch a Jets game.

Take care dude, get better!

I’m looking at playing Philly this Winter with Double Ice Backfire.

Thanks.

See you around.

Hi guys, I can honestly say that I know little to nothing about you and your band, why don’t you introduce yourself to me and my readers?

Brad Rhoades: Haha… well I can honestly say that whoever is reading this probably knows little to nothing about us, as well, but hopefully that will change soon. Anyway, I am Brad Rhoades. I play guitar and sing back-up vocals.

Bradley Boyce: Hello, race fans! I’m Bradley, and I sing and write words and some of the music! Very pleased to be doing this and introducing new folks to our sound.

You told me that you are working on recording your debut, how’s that going.

Yeah, we just started recording our album with our buddy Chris (who actually introduced us to each other back in the day). We’re re-recording 10 or 11 of our songs using Chris’s amazing studio gear. He’s a really great producer. He knows what sounds good. It’s going to sound awesome! We’re still in the middle of tracking guitars right now.

Yeah, Chris is amazing… Some of his solo stuff is just so outrageously phenomenal… It’s just… sick. It’s going amazing.

So, who are some of your musical influences and/or favorite artists?

My biggest influences are probably Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World. I also listen to a lot of hip-hop, bubblegum pop, and even old 50’s doo-wop music. I like lots of music.

As a singer, I love Michael Jackson, Anthony Green, Frank Sinatra and Jonah Matranga. As for bands; I love Far, Sigur Ros, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Eat World.

Cool. If you were trying to sell your band to the readers, how would you pitch your upcoming debut?

Every song is on it’s own. We aren’t recording an album to fit in to a particular genre. Every song is different. We have weird Postal Service-ish electronic type songs, slow pretty songs, fun poppy songs, and big rockin’ songs! It’s really going to be awesome to get all of the songs together on one CD. I think there’s a little something there for everyone. But while every song sounds different, they somehow all sound like us still.

I think that if you’re looking for a true emotional indie rock experience and are tired of bands half-assing it… look our way, please! There’s nothing easy, safe or simple about this band. Every song is it’s own separate and weird, emotional thing. We have a lot of really big parts, too! Big, huge melodic riffs, with big emotional vocals and catchy choruses.

Don’t forget to send me a copy once it’s ready, I’ll definitely review it and let you know what I think… not as if what I think means anything. So, let’s veer away from music for a moment. What else interests you? How to you spend your free time?

My spare time is pretty much full of listening/downloading/making music, hanging out with my girlfriend, and working a job. I’m also in the market to buying a couple gerbils. Haha.

I’m a really huge baseball geek, so I’m always at a ball game, watching a ball game, looking up stats from a ball game… etc.

Have you caught any movies this Summer? Planning on catching anything else? If you haven’t seen it yet, may I recommend the new Harry Potter flick?

Yeah, my favorite movie of the summer so far is The Hangover. That was soooo funny! I’ve seen it twice already. So good. I also really enjoyed Up. I haven’t seen Harry Potter yet though. I need to still see most of the other ones… I’m behind.

Up! Amazing flick…

Hmmm… ok, so let’s get deep for a minute. While this site is not about pushing forth any type of ethos (outside of hocking good music and beer), I am a Christian and I like to ask some of those I interview about their beliefs. Do you believe in God or a higher power?

Well, being from Utah, we’re surrounded by the Mormon community. Basically, everyone here is born and raised Mormon. I moved here from California when I was in 4th grade, and the very first question anyone asked me on my first day of school was, “Are you Mormon?” and I had never even heard of that before, so I was very confused. My family took my brothers and I to church for a few years and everything. I think we mostly went to fit in. I stopped going to church many years ago because I realized that it was not for me; way too much brainwashing and stuff. I don’t believe that any organized religion is “the true” one, really. I don’t think God, or whoever, cares what religion I am. This is a topic that Singer B and I could both go on and on about, so I will leave my two cents at that and let him answer the question.

I’m going to be honest here… don’t take me as offensive, ok? I’m just giving my info… you have to believe in a talking snake, things that are easily explainable by science (for instance, when God opened up the earth and swallowed the soldiers has already been scientifically proven to just have been an earthquake by geologists examining the area, they didn’t have any science when they wrote the Bible, so anything out of ordinary that happened, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, forest fires, etc, was all just thought to of been God, instead of natural occurrence) to believe fully in the Bible. Not to mention the fact that there are more than 10 gods before the Jesus story, all having the exact same story line (born on Dec 25, born of a virgin, died and resurrected after 3 days, 3 kings adorning, 10 rules or commandments, etc.) that have been historically proven before the story of Jesus even happened. Start with Horus, the sun god of Egypt, then move up to Mithira, Krishna, etc… I never understood why history has ignored these gods that had a story way before Jesus… The Egyptians based all of Horus’ story on astrological allegory that can all be perfectly explained by nature. People just need to do a little research. Again, not to be offensive… But I find it offensive that people don’t even bother to look up Horus or Mithira, to be honest. It really is the EXACT same story as Jesus, before Jesus, and the evidence of Horus and his story is absolute, written on pyramid walls thousands of years before Jesus.

Do you think your beliefs influence your art?

Yeah, definitely. I play music that makes ME happy. I’m not pretending to be something that I’m not.

I think life influence my art. Music has been the only way that I have found to say what I want to say… That’s why I do it.

Despite the fact that being a Christian means knowing that God is in control somehow, I can’t help but notice the darkness of mankind. For example, I’m from Reading and spend time in the greater Philadelphia area, out here there has been a lot of press on a sad story about 3 guys beating another man to death outside a Phillies game. Word is that the fight began over spilling a beer… anyway, my question here is this: what can one person, like you or I, do to make this world a little less dark and dreary?

That’s a good question. Honestly, I think people need to just try and be happy, and let petty things go. Just do what makes you happy, be around the people that make you happy, etc. The Phillies game fight/murder was 100% avoidable. If people weren’t so tight-assed and just let things as simple as that go, something as terrible as that would have never happened. I really wish people could try harder to just be happy and enjoy their lives. It’d be such a better place…

Nothing has caused more death in the world than religion. The Crusades, Dark Ages, now, forever… Look….. The reason why we’re scared of Muslims is religion, the reason why the Israelis and Palestinians can’t get along is religion, the Jews and the Muslims, the Christians and the Mormons, the Catholics and the Jews and Muslims… What is it all for? Sooner or later we’re all just going to have to start looking at each other as humans, not what religion we are… I’m a human, and I love and have alot of respect for you interviewing and being interested in us, I have a lot of respect for your readers for the same. Let’s just start with something simple like that, ok? I’m a human, and I’m trying my best to make people see past labels and that’s what religion is, labeling. Hi, I’m a Christian or Mormon! No! This is not the right way…. Hi, I’m Bradley, and I’m a human being. I share this earth with you, and I want things to be better and people to get along, without the labels. Let’s all try, ok?

Thanks for indulging my probing into your mind. Let’s get back to music. What is you favorite song from 2009?

Hmm… I don’t know. I listen to so much music. It’s hard to pick just one favorite. I’ve been listening to the new P.O.S. album a lot though. Every song on that is golden.

Anything off the new Bob Dylan. He’s still amazing.

I think mine is MC Lars’s “True Player for Real”. Speaking of, are you familiar with Lars or the whole Nerdcore movement?

I am a little familiar with MC Lars. The Nerdcore movement has been around for years, I think. Weezer was considered Nerdcore right? Haha.

I’m not, no. I wear dinosaur t shirts and watch Star Wars at least 20 times a year, so it sounds perfect for me.

I must say, I think I identify with the Nerdcore thing mostly because I am a giant nerd. Do you have any specifically nerdy tendencies?

Singer Brad is the nerdiest one in our band. Haha, just kidding. I’m sort of a nerd. I know a lot about blue whales and gerbils. Hahaha.

I’m the nerdiest person anyone knows. People never know how to react to me.

Cool, well I am thinking about doing a nerd themed week in August, be sure to check it out. Also, coming early in August will be TPM’s first monthly mixtape, a new feature where I will post 10 free downloads for the readers. The first one looks like it should have some great stuff on it, including a track from you called “Night Sleep Maybe”. Can you tell us a little bit about the song?

“Night Sleep Maybe” is just a really fun song! It has a strong keyboard line that I like a lot. I’ll let Singer B talk more about the lyrics.

It’s a song about time. Making the most of it, watching it go, trying to make something of it while it’s here. Kinda romantic and fun at first, then it comes to a realization at the end that every second after you’re born, you start dying. Man.. So serious… I should’ve just wrote it about eating candy and watching baseball.

Great. Well, I look forward to hearing more from you. Thanks a lot for taking the time to say hi to my readers. Any final thoughts to leave them with?

Thank you so much for doing the interview! Let us know if there’s anything else we can do for your site. My final thought is: Believe in what YOU want and do what makes YOU happy.

I’m not as mean an ornery as I sound on some of these questions… That’s the net and answering like this… Anybody who pays attn means an awful lot to me… I don’t know you, but you’ve taken the time, and means the world to me. I’m a person, you’re a person; let’s just try and be one thing, which is people, instead of so many labels, ok? Thank you so much for taking the time to interviews us.

Take care and keep in touch!

We will for sure keep in touch, man!

20 questions for everyone’s favorite werewolf hepcats… and AWAY WE GO!

First off, let’s get this out of the way… owwwwwWWWWWW! Now that I got that out of my system, let’s start the way I start most interviews. Who are The Young Werewolves?

A band of shape shifters stalking the countryside with electric instruments, evil intentions and axes to grind. Nick Falcon on guitar, Dana Kain on bass and Jonny Wolf on drums. We all sing lead and background vocals and Jonny plays a stripped down drum kit while standing up.

How did you all get together?

We were all journeymen musicians in Philadelphia, each of us into our own versions of the local indie, punk and goth nightmare scenes. We hooked up over the internet, originally with two additional members-lead vocals and alto sax. We boiled down the unit to a lean rhythm section and started howling harmonies into the mic as a trio.

As a Philly band, you must get to play with tons of great local acts. Any favorites?

There are a lot of really good bands in Philly. Some of our favorites (in no order) are Full Blown Cherry, Thee Minks, The Sharkskins, Clashing Plaid, Mondo Topless, Jukebox Zeros, Soraia, Carfax Abbey, and Strychnine Babies.

One of my other favorite Philly bands is Mercury Radio Theater, as they too specialize in a certain brand of Horror Rock, I assume your paths have crossed. Do you know the guys?

Yes. We connected a couple of times over the years trying to organize shows but schedules, venues or other calamities got in the way of making the shows happen. I’m sure we’ll share a stage somewhere down the road.

Cool, how about on a larger level… what other bands that play Sci-Fi/Horror influenced music do you listen to and/or endorse?

Within the genre, some of the cool acts that we’re friends with and deserve more attention are PsychoCharger, Ghouls Night Out, Calabrese, Gein and the Graverobbers, The Memphis Morticians, Sasquatch and the Sickabillies.

There was a cabaret punk band I had seen back in college called World
Inferno Friendship Society used to actually play a song worshiping “The Great Pumpkin”. While as a whole I enjoyed the experience, something about them actually kinda freaked me out… but I guess that was somewhat their goal. Do you like to try to freak people out a bit or are you just more about having fun?

We are really about the music. We enjoy performing and putting on a show, but our thing is about executing the songs so they do the entertaining. That’s more our bag. If we can get asses shaking, we are doing our job. It sounds like fun but it really takes work and discipline to play and sing your parts right.

Ok, so enough about other peoples’ music, let’s get back to you. On
this last album, you got to work with B-Movie legend Sid Haig, how was
that?

Sid’s a cool cat. He’s a jazzbo from way back. He’s a talented drummer that gets pigeonholed as playing the big bad guy as an actor but he’s got mad acting and music chops.

How’d you get hooked up with him?

Sid was working on a werewolf film and heard the tunes off of our first record. He reached out to us about using our song “I Can’t Resist” for the end credits. The film fell through but Sid stayed in touch and he offered to help out with our project after he heard the early demo’s that eventually became Cheat The Devil.

I, personally, am most partial to his role as Captain Spaulding in Rob
Zombie’s films, specifically in The Devil’s Rejects, what is your
favorite Sid Haig role?

Although it doesn’t highlight his acting chops to a great degree, Sid as one of King Tut’s henchmen in the Batman television series is total fun.

While on the topic of movies, best of movie of 2009 so far? I’d say
Watchmen, but I’m expecting The Half Blood Prince to
beat it out.

If they release the re-make of The Wolfman this year, that may take top honors on any young werewolf’s list.

My favorite track on Cheat the Devil is “Tattooed Aliens”. I
love the Sci Fi lyrics. Do you have a favorite Science Fiction series? I’m
personally a big Star Wars fan and absolutely love the books
based on Bean from the Ender’s Game series.

The old school Outer Limits show is really off the hook. Even the Friday the 13th series that Fox had in the late 1980’s was pretty good, better than The X Files. We dig Dr. Who and appreciate the low fi production and especially the theme music (better than Star Trek). I don’t know if you’d consider it Sci-Fi, Sigmund and the Seamonsters was dope too.

Also, would you mind if I began referring to myself as a “tattooed
alien from the Planet 13″?

You won’t be the first!

As I’m typing up the questions for this review, I am listening to TI. Do you like any hip hop?

Early hip hop is cool. Especially what was coming out of Philly. Acts like Schoolly D, 3xDope, Hilltop Hustlers. Also, the New York white boys 3rd Base and Beastie Boys. Our first manager worked at Ruffhouse Records and played handclaps on the big Kriss Kross hit, Jump Around. So Young Werewolves have some hip hop cred, not to mention that Nick was one of the top graffiti writers in Philly during the early eighties.

Actually, I found this rapper named Mob Zombie recently that raps about zombies and stuff. I totally am trying to get through to him and he won’t return my emails, tweets, or anything. Maybe it’s because he’s dead.

That’s always the thing with rapping Zombies. Don’t you hate it when hot MC’s go cold?

Sorry, I guess that last one didn’t even include a question… let’s get back on track. I usually like to ask a few questions related to something outside of music and the band’s focus. I’ll start with one I ask a lot: While not a religious person, per se, I consider myself a man of faith, specifically I’m a Christian who isn’t really into the church but am into Jesus. If you wouldn’t mind sharing, what are your beliefs about God or a higher power or whatever?

Faith and religion can be healthy if ingested in moderation. It’s important to believe and have faith in oneself. Not in the ego-centric interest of selfishness but in the interest of creating an imprint that resonates. We are the gods of our creations, like it or not. If belief and faith in a higher power keeps you disciplined and out of trouble than that’s a good thing.

Do you think the music you make is in any way influenced by those beliefs, or on the other hand does it in any way conflict with those beliefs? That is to say, many Christians found it completely heinous when Jerry Only of The Misfits first discussed his being a Christian because of the lyrics and subject matter of many of his songs, but he’d contest to this day that his Christianity is a big influence on what he does as a member of the band.

There are themes we explore in our music that have religious implications, such as redemption, regret and reformation. The monster myth is in itself a reaction to the mysteries of religion. In essence, the monster (either man-made or released by man) symbolizes the Pandora’s Box that religion unchecked can cause. How many wars has man fought in the name of the devil?

Do you think an artist can have beliefs and lives outside of their art that in no way is reflected or influenced in that art?

Absolutely. Art is usually an interpretation, reaction or provocation. An artist is free to explore ideas that are in complete contradiction to their beliefs, in complete accord or anywhere in between. How you judge the person should be separate from how you judge their art. The nicest people sometimes make the shittiest art.

Thank you for indulging me with these questions. Since I’m running dangerously close to 20 questions here, I’d like to steer back to the subject on hand, the music of The Young Werewolves. I am hoping to come out and see you when you hit my home area of Reading, PA. What can I
expect when I come to see you?

There’s usually swing dancing and beer drinking, rock-a-billies and rock-a-betties trying to outdo each other and looking good while doing it. Every once in a while there’s a fight at the bar. Some gigs we play mostly rockabilly versions of covers from the 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. Other times we get the groove going with our original songs. Often times it’s a mix.

Where is a great brewery just south of Reading, in Adamstown, called
Stoudt’s Brewery. If you have the chance while you are out this way and want a great meal with some amazing beer, head down. You just strike me as
beer drinkers. Would this be an accurate assessment?

Beer and wine are great loves. Dana definitely appreciates a good wine and both Jonny and Nick like the bubbly suds, although they will pause to lift their snouts from the stout to taste the good grape too.

Okay, so we’ve discussed beer, music, movies, faith, and Sid Haig… seems like a logical time to move on. Let’s wrap this up with a final word from you. What would you like to leave as your final words to the readers?

Stay tuned for a new recording. We are putting together a collection of fun, cool tunes and also some hot new merch too. More mayhem and music is on the way.

Pictured below is Beefy w/ his buddies in Optimus Rhyme. Who is Beefy? Let’s find out.

Beefy? What’s up with the name?

I’m a big guy. Someone was trying to make fun of me on a message board once and called me MC Beefy Bee and I liked the Beefy part, so I used it. Then it just kinda morphed into Beef Thompson over the years. I likes it. How about you?

I appreciate that, I am also quite a large fellow… So, besides your name, tell the readers a little bit about you.

I’m a nerdcore hip-hop artist from Southeast Washington. I’m very much into my Xbox and iPhone and have been a comic book nerd for years. I’ve put out 2 full albums and a bunch of free EPs that you can get at my website and I’ve done shows with people like MC Lars and YTCracker in Seattle, Portland, and even Amsterdam. I’m also very sexy. Don’t deny me. You’ll just look foolish.

I have a couple of your albums, personally my favorite song is your cover of Frontalot’s “Nerdcore Hip-Hop”… not sure why exactly, I just dig it a lot. In fact, I like it a lot more than the original. Is Frontalot an influence on you, who else in the Nerdcore scene do you consider an influence on what you do?

Front is definitely an influence. I can’t write like him at all, but he’s cleaver with his concepts and is an amazing performer. I look up to the big acts in Nerdcore like Lars, mc chris, and YTCracker. I’m also a fan SJ the Wordburglar for his wordplay and punchlines. My favorite band and biggest influence is Optimus Rhyme, a Nerdcore Seattle act that sadly broke up recently. It sucks. Hard.

Nerdcore aside, who are some you you favorite hip hop artists?

I grew up on Notorious BIG and Jay-Z so that was my base. I’m a big fan of the first few Gym Class Heroes albums before it got really radio-friendly. Big fan of Lupe Fiasco and early Kanye West and Eminem. That’s honestly about it.

How about other music?

I’m a White Stripes fan. I don’t know if it makes me less manly but I dig Regina Spektor. Tenacious D is the greatest band in the world, but everyone already knows that. I’ve listened to Sublime’s 40oz to Freedom a million times and was in love with the first Gnarls Barkley album. I don’t know if that last one counts as hip-hop or not though.

Good stuff, Sublime is likely my favorite band of all-time and that is their best album, hands down. On the topic of other musical styles, what type of music is the scariest? I just re-read Lords of Chaos, about the Black Metal scene, but I find myself still most afraid of most Country music.

I don’t like music that seems like it’s pissed off at me. I don’t want my music to scream at me. I don’t get that whole scene. If it works for some people that’s cool, just not my cup of tea. I don’t know if I’m really afraid of it since it’s all just a big act when their on stage. I think balls deep Christian music scares me the most. Those people really really believe.

Christian music can indeed be a bit frightening. So let’s move beyond music for a minute, shall we? As a Nerdcore artist, I thinks it’s safe to assume that you are a self-proclaimed nerd (as am I). What are your nerdiest traits and tendencies?

Like a lot of nerds I can carry entire conversations using nothing but movie and TV quotes. It’s like speaking a different language. Besides that I don’t think there’s really one particular thing that is my nerdiest quality. I have a <3 and a Bullet Bill tattoo, so I'm clearly hardcore. Oh, I know, I've made albums worth of songs about things like Street Fighter and board games. That's pretty nerdy.

I actually got a Star Wars Father’s Day card from my 7th month old son, how awesome is that? You have any kids?

My girlfriend has a year and a half old daughter we call Nugget and she gave me a Batman chocolate box for Valentine’s Day. It might have been the greatest day ever. I’ve been involved with the little one since she was 5 months old so I get all the joys of changing diapers and cleaning up after her but lack the ability to make decisions or call her a daughter, so it sucks a little but I loves her so I allow it.

That’s really cool, great V-Day gift… so back to music… or rather, hip hop feuds. I believe the reason Nerdcore isn’t more prominent in the national scene is that there are no publicizedhardcore beefs and feuds like in every other sub-genre of hip hop. I am requesting that you start one now, by dropping me a short freestyle about a Nerdcore artist of your choice.

How out of the loop you are sir. Nerdcore started with nothing but beefs and fighting. I should know because it seems like I started 90% of them. It’s actually just finally calmed down. And I already made a diss song called “Diss Missed” that was on my Private Dick EP. People dug it. Not so much the people dissed in the song though.

Well, I guess I’m a late bloom in the Nerdcore scene… care to start a feud with me?

Fuck you. I hate you! Feud Status: IT’S ON!

Well, that’s just too much for me sir! This interview is over! By the way, take care and keep in touch.

I change my mind. I love you. Let’s be BFFs. Feud Status: BFFs!

thepaintedman rates this:

After years of previews and waiting for this freaking movie to come out, it finally has. With an extremely limited theater release in February, for most people (including myself) Fanboys being released on DVD yesterday was the first chance to see the film.

With an incredibly funny cast, tons of great dorky Sci-Fi references, and amazing cameos, Fanboys was worth the wait. Here’s what you need to know:

Three friends (Chris Marquette, Dan Fogler, and Jay Baruchel) are reunited with another friend from high school (Sam Huntington) at a Halloween party. Eric (Huntington) and Linus (Marquette) can’t see eye to eye after formerly being best friends, but when Eric is told by the others that Linus is dying of cancer, he realizes that he needs to fix their relationship. His plan: to carry through plans made in 5th grade to invade George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch. While there, they will steal the rough cut of The Phantom Menace and be the first fans to see the first in the prequel trilogy.

During the journey, the fanboys get arrested and bailed out by their friend Zoe (Kristen Bell). They encounter a group of Trekkies (led by Seth Rogen), pick up some hookers and fight their pimp (also Seth Rogen), get help from William Shattner, and eventually achieve their goal of getting into the ranch. Some of the nerds fall in love, some become best friends again, and some get to see Episode 1: The Phantom Menace in George Lucas’s private screening room.

May the force be with you… and next time you are fighting for the front seat in your friend’s car, remember to call “Chewy”.