Texas Hippie Coalition playing Welcome to Rockville

With Texas Hippie Coalition’s latest release Dark Side of Black out April 22^nd, the heavy quartet will be heading south to the Welcome to Rockville Festival, before playing the Carolina Rebellion, Rock on the Range, Rocklahoma, and River City Rock Fest, amongst other dates around the country. 

With Cord Pool rocking guitar, John Exall on bass, Timmy Braun keeping the beats on drum and Big Daddy Ritch fronting the group, the band known simply as THC will be living up to its name with a Colorado album release party.  I caught up with Big Daddy Ritch to find out more of the details.

Author Marisa Williams:  The last time we got together was a couple of summers ago, chatting on the top floor veranda, overlooking the Ambassador Hotel where Jeffery Dahmer had his second kill in Milwaukee.  That’s when you were on the 2014 Mayhem Festival. 

Big Daddy Ritch of Texas Hippie Coalition:  Yeah, I remember that.

Marisa:  What have you been up to since then?

Big Daddy Ritch:  Just a lot of killing, taking up where Dahmer left off.  (Laughing) Nah, you know, we’ve just been putting miles on tires, bringing music to the people, or as I like to call it, saving the planet.

Marisa:  On your new album, what is different from previous albums?  Did you try any different musical techniques?

Big Daddy Ritch:  What’s different is we didn’t go to California, Nashville, or Detroit.  We stayed in Texas.  We wanted an album made in Texas by Texas.  One of the different things musically is that we concentrated more on our dark side, so it’s a little dirtier, a little uglier, and a little meaner.

Marisa:  On the album, you worked with producer Sterling Winfield, who has worked with Pantera, Hellyeah and Damage Plan.  How did you get hooked up with him, and what was that experience like?

Big Daddy Ritch:  I had hung out with Sterling a few times in the past, a few years ago.  We put back a lot of whiskey together.  A lot of those guys like Grady Champion and Sterling, they’re a lot like us.  They like to have a lot of fun, and they have thick skin.  I crack a lot of jokes, and if I can take a fat joke, everyone else should be able to take a joke.  I just dug the dude. When we went to do the album, they sent us a list of available producers who were interested in working with the band.  There were a few names on there that I was glad were interested in working with us, but I asked the label if I could hand pick a producer that was not on this list.  They said I had made a lot of decisions in the past, and it worked out for us, so I hand-picked Sterling Winfield.  It’s almost exactly what I wanted.  There were a few time restraints that kept us from being able to do everything, but I’m very happy with this album.  If I was guna play dodgeball, I’d pick Sterling to be on my dodgeball team.

Marisa:  Tell me what your album release party is going to be like.

Big Daddy Ritch:   Every year we do a 4/20 celebratorial party.  We’ve done it in Texas, Oklahoma, and last year, we did it in Colorado.  They wanted us to come back.  We were happy to, so we had it set up.  We usually drop an album in the middle of the year, but we had been asked to move it up a little, to release in April to help the tour that’s coming up.  The label wanted us to have the album come out then.  At 4/20 shows, all chapters vote on the Top 5.  The Top 5 vote getters get an official patch as part of the family.  I add my own personal ones, just because people don’t know to vote for them. This year, the Hateful 8 will be inducted at the CD release party.  There’s a lot of whisky, weed and women at these parties, which we refer to as the WWW.; for anybody illiterate, that’s booze, buds and bitches.

Marisa:  At the end of the month, you will be down here in Florida playing the Welcome to Rockville Festival in Jacksonville.  Are you going to take any personal time to have any fun in the Sunshine State?

Big Daddy Ritch:  These festivals are always so entertaining.  Like at Mayhem, you could often catch me in the audience to watch Korn and other bands.  At a show in Tennessee, I went into the audience to mosh for Mushroomhead.  Of course, I’m guna be checking out the bands on that show.  There’s some I really want to see, so I will definitely be taking time out to see bands.  I’m wanted in Florida.   They literally told me, “never come back here,” but I’m an outlaw, and I’ll do what I want.  So, here I come Florida.

Marisa:  What are you wanted for in Florida?

Big Daddy Ritch:  I’m wanted for THC. 

Marisa:  Well, hopefully that will be on the ballot here in November. 

Big Daddy Ritch:  It’d be a wise decision for Florida to legalize.  Decriminalization is what we’re pushing for.

Marisa:  For you, what’s the biggest difference between playing festivals versus your own headlining shows?

Big Daddy Ritch:  Your own headlining, you’re in charge of everything, like when you eat and when you go on stage.  At festivals, it’s totally different.  There’s timelines and guidelines.  There always seems to be a little more rigamoral.  When playing your show, they’re all your fans, your people.  It feels great, and that’s the nice thing about it, knowing these are my people. In the same retrospect, with festivals, of all these people out there, some are in a moment of discovery.  Some never heard of THC, never seen us, don’t know who Texas Hippie Coalition is, and you see yourself winning over fans.  There’s cat calls, whistles, people turning your way, and we’re pulling them in.  We leave with more fans than when we arrive.  That’s the great thing: the masses, the people, the lovers of the music.

Marisa:  With all the different shows on your summer lineup, is there any that you’re really looking forward to playing?

Big Daddy Ritch:  Every one of them.  I can’t wait to fight.  Fighting is not something anyone wants to do, but when you do it for a living, you look forward to it.  I want to kick their ass.  It’s like you went to a UFC fight, and you thought you were just going to watch the show.  Then, someone calls your name.  “Making their way to the ring…”  You get thrown into the fight.  I’m coming to kick y’alls ass.

Marisa:  What are your plans for after the summer tour?

Big Daddy Ritch:  This summer tour comes to an end on June 1^st, then we come back after 4^th of July, running ‘til Labor Day.  We take off the month of September, then tour October and November, hitting Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kansas and all through there.  January and February next year, I’m taking off to work on my country project.  We’ve got the year planned out for us, but I know in June, I’m going fishing.  There’s going to be a lot of fishing. 

Marisa:  What kind of fishing doing you like?  Saltwater or freshwater?

Big Daddy Ritch:  I like it all.  I was a fishing guide for nine years, then I got a divorce, sold everything, and started this band.  When I left, everyone thought I was crazy, as I made a pretty comfortable living being a fishing guide.  As much as I love fishing, I love music, and I always wanted to try my hand at it.  Frankly, it fascinates me that I’ve made it this far.

Marisa:  Tell me a little more about your country project.

Big Daddy Ritch:  I’m writing with a lot of great song writers right now.  I’m heavily influenced by Johnny Cash and Weiland Jennings.  A lot of fans run THC from country genre, that red dirt music. Toby Canada and Johnny Cooper always told me I should try my hand at country stuff, so I started fiddlefarting around with it.  People came at me with heavy interest.  There’s some big labels interested in the project, but I want to try to keep it as independent as possible.  We’ll see what happens in the end.  The country project is called BDR and the Rockin’ Rodeo.  I want to come into town and have people feel like the circus, rodeo, and all that good stuff is coming to town.

Marisa:  Instinctively, when I think of country and metal cross over, I think of Hank Williams III.  Knowing that you rub elbows with a lot of his type of people, it makes me curious if you would ever team up with him to go on tour.

Big Daddy Ritch:  Way back in the day, I slept with Hank III’s girlfriend, and he’s out to whip my ass for some reason.  We call him Triseasus.  I had a dog named Boseasus who lasted 13 years, an old hound dog.  Later on in life, we got another hound dog, and they wanted to name him Boseasus, but I said name him Triseasus.  When it goes to all the Hanks, you gotta love the attitude of the music.  I want to bring that red dirt outlaw metal to my country music, have that rockin’ rodeo, this ain’t your daddy’s country band.

Marisa:  Have you decided on the band members of the band yet?  Will any of the Texas Hippie Coalition guys be in the country band?

Big Daddy Ritch:  It’s going to be completely different band members.  I love all three of those guys.  John’s been with me forever, from the beginning, and for somebody to be with me that long…  I’ve seen him go through three wives during that time.  Timmy, this will be his third album with us.  Cord, he’s the young whippersnapper.  When I brought him in, I told people he will grow up to be a guitar hero.  Everyone was against me.  When it all panned out, on this new album, Cord is a big part of the writing process.  With the leads, he’s really shining through, letting people know that the Texas Hippie Coalition guitarist is a bad ass.  All three will have to sit in on one song on the country album, but I’m using a lot of different musicians.  There’s going to be a lot of good old boys on the touring package.  Texas music, of course, is so awesome that it has its own billboard.  We want to be on Texas charts.  A lot of Texas guys shy away from Nashville, but we want to embrace all country music.  If Nashville puts up a fence, it’s only guna trap them in.  Give some love to this Texas Boy. 

Marisa:  Do you have any producers picked out yet?

Big Daddy Ritch:  I’m narrowing list of producers down.  I’m not in a big hurry.  Half the writing is done.  The other half will be done over the summer, and we’ll get the whole thing knocked out in January and February.

Marisa:  Will you be playing Sturgis at all this year?

Big Daddy Ritch:  We have a bid in for Sturgis right now.  We played Buffalo Chip last year.  This year, there’s a bid in for up there.  We just want to make sure we’re not stepping on any toes, but I’m sure it will be lined up pretty quick.  We love Sturgis.  Last year, some of the most fun on tour was in Sturgis.  Them people at Buffalo chip, they’re some stand up guys.

Marisa:  Any closing comments?

Big Daddy Ritch:  Anybody out there who doesn’t know Texas Hippie Coalition, Google it.  Check it out, and see if this is something for you.  People either love it or hate it.  We don’t let negative energy get to us.  We embrace it as well.  Love one another right now.  In other words, get naked.  Get out there and get new album, Dark Side of Black.  Let everybody see your dark side.

TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION Tour Dates:

Headliner w/ local support:

4/19     Minot, ND @ The 'Original Bar                      

4/20     Mandan, ND @ Rock Point                            

4/21     Spearfish, SD @ ZBar & Nightclub    

4/22     Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep            

4/23     Denver, CO @ Herman's Hideaway - Official Album Release Party

"Dark Side of Black" Tour w/ Sons of Texas:

*Festival appearances in bold - NO Sons of Texas on festival dates

4/29     Shreveport, LA @ Riverside Warehouse        

4/30     Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade - Hell           

5/1       Jacksonville, FL @ Metropolitan Park - Welcome to Rockville

5/3       Knoxville, TN @ The Concourse                   

5/4       Richmond, VA @ The Broad berry                

5/5       Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club                  

5/6       Winchester, VA @ Blue Fox Billiards

5/7       Concord, NC @ Rock City Campgrounds - Charlotte Motor Speedway - Carolina Rebellion

5/8       VA Beach, VA @ Shaka's                              

5/10     Cambridge, MA @ Middle East - Upstairs (NO Sons of Texas)         

5/11     Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance                              

5/12     Manchester, NH @ Jewel Nightclub               

5/13     Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall           

5/14     Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop           

5/15     Louisville, KY @ Trixie's Tiger Room

5/18     Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe                  

5/19     Fort Wayne, IN @ Pierre's                              

5/20     Battle Creek, MO @ The Music Factory                     

5/21     Columbus, OH @ MAPFRE Stadium - Rock On The Range

5/22     Libertyville, IL @ Austin's Fuel Room           

5/24     St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird 

5/25     Omaha, NE @ Chrome Lounge          

5/26     Des Moines, IA @ Wooly's                            

5/27     Lawrence, KS@  Granada Theater      

5/28     Pryor, OK @ Catch The Fever Festival Grounds - Rocklahoma

5/29     San Antonio, TX @ One AT&T Center Parkway - River City Rockfest

For more on the Texas Hippie Coalition, visit www.thcofficial.com, www.facebook.com/texashippiecoalition, www.twitter.com/thcofficial, www.instagram.com/thcofficial, and www.youtube.com/thcofficial. For more by Marisa, visit www.lulu.com/spotlight/thorisaz, www.facebook.com/marisawilliams, and www.twitter.com/booksnbling. 

Caveman to play Detroit April 30; new album June 17

New York indie rockers Caveman will be playing with Frightened Rabbit at St. Andrew’s Hall in Michigan on April 30^th.  With their new single, “Never Going Back Again,” Caveman has been gaining acclaim with the critics.  Their new album Otero War will be out on June 17^th via Cinematic Music Group, so I caught up with Matt Iwanusa to get a little person and find out about his latest project.

Author Marisa Williams:  How did you get started in music?  Did you come from a musical family?  What were your biggest musical influences?

Matt Iwanusa, guitar player and lead singer of Caveman:  I came from a musical family. Growing up, I sang opera.  Both my parents are musical.  My dad is bass player and composer.  My mom is a saxophone player.  My sister and I both did music growing up.  There was a lot of opera, The Beatles, jazz, but then I broke away and got into Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears and stuff like that.

Marisa:  What instruments do you play, and how old were you when you learned to play them?

Matt:  In the band, I play guitar and sing, but I started as a kid singing around six or seven.  Around 10, I played drums, which was my main instrument for a while, before I went on to play guitar and do singing.  I started guitar at 12 or 13.

Marisa:  What was your first concert that you attended, and how did that compare to the first concert that you played?

Matt:  First concert I ever attended was REO Speedwagon, and that was a little different.  Our first ever show played was the day I graduated high school.  That was a lot different.  There was like no one there.  I had played random shows at street fairs, but we were not REO Speedwagon, obviously.

Marisa:  What was the first album you purchased?

Matt:  Well, great question.  I don’t really remember the very first one I purchased.  The first one I remember is Foo Fighters, Color and the Shape.  That was the first one I bought and was proud that I bought it, but I don’t remember the very first one I purchased.

Marisa:  How do you go about writing music?  What comes first for you: drums, guitars, vocals or something else?  Has the process of writing changed for you over the years at all?

Matt:  It’s always different.  Usually, it starts with a drum beat.  Every record, part of the songs star with drum, while some start with a chorus on guitar and going from there.

Marisa:  What is your favorite musical technique?

Matt:  For me, it’s like to write, getting like sounds that maybe I’m really into and changing it after that.

Marisa:  What is something people might not expect on your latest album?

Matt:  The voice is a lot more up front.  The record’s a lot cleaner, which we were trying to make sure happened. 

Marisa:  What is the scariest thing about being on the road?

Matt:  For me, I’ve got tons of things I deal with, but people driving crazy.  I’m paranoid.  We almost hit a deer yesterday, but somehow Sam, our keyboard player, did the most amazing move to avoid it.

Marisa:  Best or worst tour moment?

Matt:  Best tour moment ever, Bonaroo, sneaking in to see Lionel Richie play in the VIP section for sure.  Worst?  There’s a lot of ups and downs.

Marisa:  What's your favorite way to travel and why?

Matt:  I spent a few days on a tour bus.  That’s my favorite way.  I had my own bed, could walk around and wake up in next city.  We just found a new Sprinter, which is kinda nice.  I can stand up in it.

Marisa:  What's your favorite place to travel to, and is there anywhere you have not been to that you would like to go to?

Matt:  My favorite place is the Bahamas.  We did the Weezer Cruise, a cruise to the Bahamas, and that would be my favorite place.  I’d like to go to Hawaii.  Never been to Hawaii.

Marisa:  What's your biggest musical fantasy?

Matt:  It would be to sing a song with Frank Sinatra; that’d be my biggest musical fantasy.

Marisa:  I have three personality questions that I ask everyone.  They might sound like hogwash, but I promise, there is a psychological basis to the answers ;-)  First, if you were an unicorn, and you could be any color but white, what color would you be and would you have any special powers?

Matt:  Very good questions.  I’d probably be a nice light blue.  Probably time travel would be a nice special power to have.  We have been traveling for three days straight without playing any shows, and it would be nice to just be there and play.

Marisa:  If you were yogurt, what flavor would you be (feel free to be creative, as this does not have to be a traditional flavor) and how would you be served?

Matt:  As a kid, I always thought I was allergic, but I’d be dairy free, a disgusting BBQ flavor or something, because I don’t want anyone to like yogurt.  I’d be served in a massive tray that people have to scoop out of.

Marisa:  Describe yourself as either a dog, a cat or a cartoon.

Matt:  Dog, obviously, I’m a good champion.  I’d say dog, six pack, looking like a champion.  Definitely all the other dogs, cats and cartoons would like me.

Marisa:  Do you collect anything?

Matt:  Not off the top of my head, just a collection of old Star Wars toys and Nintendo games.  I have a ton of Nintendo games that I would never get rid of.

Marisa:  What's your biggest guilty pleasure?

Matt:  Video games.  I play multiple video games a week.  I should probably be writing music, but I play video games.

Marisa:  Do you have any hidden talents or special skills?

Matt:  No.  I put it all out on the table.

Marisa:  What's the most important thing to remember?

Matt:  My wallet and my cell phone.

Marisa:  What was your most influential moment?

Matt:  Probably getting stuck on an elevator as a kid, getting freaked out, not forgetting it, so I try to stay close to the ground and have been influenced by that.

Marisa:  If you were not doing music, what would you be doing?

Matt:  Playing in the NBA, professional basketball player, and I’m not the only one who would say that, too.

Marisa:  What are three things you must have with you when you are on the road?

Matt:  My Epi-pen, my dudes, and probably like a beer would be nice.

Marisa:  Any advice for musicians starting out?

Matt:  Yes, just do it.  Don’t listen to anybody.  Basically, people think they know everything, and they’re wrong, so don’t believe them.  It sounds negative obviously.

Marisa:  Where can people find your music?

Matt:  www.cavemantheband.com, www.facebook.com/cavemanband, www.instagram.com/cavemanband, www.myspace.com/cavemanband, and www.twitter.com/cavemanband  

Marisa:  Closing thoughts and additional comments?

Matt:  Tell people to check out the record; it comes out June 17^th.

The author of more than 100 books, Marisa Williams earned her Master's in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University; for more on Marisa, visit www.lulu.com/spotlight/thorisaz and www.twitter.com/booksnbling.