Incognito Music, Models, and More #1

FeaturingThe Mighty RegisSexy Tana AllureThe DustaphonicsEarw

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IncognitoMusic, m

odels, and more

Premiere issue

March 2012

Incognito Music, Models, and More

incognito #1

Chief writer: Gary SchwindCopy editor: Arshi KhanContributor: Jessica Lee

Copyright Groovy Rutabaga Publications 2012

Submissionsgmail: incognitomusicmagTwitter: incognitomagmail: PO Box 2070Mission Viejo CA 92690

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Welcome to incognito

We at Incognito want to thank you for checking out the premiere issue of this magazine. This is where we are supposed to give you some mission statement, but you know something? We put this magazine together because we cannot abide the mission statements and team‐building exercises of the cubicle farm.That being said, here is what you can expect from this magazine. We are dedicated to independent music, but we don’t care about street cred. We like music that we can feel, preferably in the groin area. We are all for music that gets us moving. You want a mission statement? Try this one on, pally. This is a magazine for the musical omnivore. It could be bluegrass, heavy rock, funk, soul, jazz, blues (you get the picture). If the music makes us feel something, we are open to featuring it in these pages. It is also for the music that you find when you are on sites like Bandcamp or Pandora and you hear a band that makes you say, “Who is that? I need to check out more of that stuff.”Now, don’t think that we are music fascists. We are not going to tell you that you have to like any particular band or album. We merely present what we like and hope that you will look beyond the commercial sludge to the bands that live in tour vans, eating fast food, drinking cheap beer, and making only enough money to get to the next town and the next gig. Oh, and hot chicks. We like hot chicks.So thanks again for checking out our publication. We hope you like what you find here. And if you don’t like what you see, by all means send your recommendations. Seriously, we are open to suggestions. We are always on the hunt for more music that gets us moving. If you are a music artist or you know an artist you think is worthy of a feature, drop us a line.

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the Mighty Regis: Punk, celtic and Folk having a drunken fistfight

Describe The Mighty Regis for someone who has never heard the band.

(Franky) ‐ The Pogues meet The Mighty Mighty Bosstones with some Clash mixed in...maybe a hint of The NKOTB...ok, not them, but the rest is pretty accurate. We play Celtic punk, but every member of the band listens to different types of music so you can hear different influences in what we do.(Gavin McLoud): We are a Celtic Punk band. We combine the percussive foundation of aggressive drums and bass from punk music with the lilting and memorable melodies of traditional Irish songs. The lyrics vary on content and tone but generally hold a positive uplifting message. Hopefully, listeners will have a great time as if attending an amazing party.(Ben Wise): Punk, Celtic and folk music having a drunken fistfight.

What were those early Molly Maloneʹs shows like for the band?

(Franky): I loved playing at Molly Maloneʹs early on. It was our ʺOfficeʺ. We got to play every Thursday night and just work on what we were trying to do. We knew the staff and they were like family to us so no matter how big or small the turnout was it was great to be there on 6th and Fairfax with a show every week.(Gavin): The early Molly Malone’s shows were vital. When we first started out, we were pretty rough around the edges; some of us had never even been in a band before. So, since we were playing every week, it forced us to rehearse more and get better at our instruments while growing tighter as a unit. It also established the strong philosophy that the development of a song evolves when performing it live in front of an audience.

How has the band evolved since its first album?

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(Franky): We did Co. Sligo in two days so the albums that followed we took more time to record. The sound is a bit more aggressive now and we went from a five‐piece pub band to a seven‐piece punk band. Gav had to play mandolin and bass on the first record because we didnʹt have a steady bass player at the time. Iʹll always love that record, it was our first and the album cover is actually a picture of my family (The OʹHaras) when they first arrived in the states from Co. Sligo in Ireland.(Gavin): The first album The Mighty Regis accomplished was an awesome endeavor and a surprising struggle. We recorded eight songs in two days and then mixed for another two. It was self‐financed and engineered by us. We were excited, rushed and naïve but we muscled through. What we lacked in skill and experience we made up for in energy, ambition and devotion.Since then, we have lost members, gained new ones, and recorded two other albums as well as our latest EP. Our sound has become more defined and our experience has been raised exponentially. TMR’s most recent EP included three new songs (“Walking Around Lucky”, “Scullycap Mob”, and “Slugger O’Toole”) and we spent more time in the studio than ever before making sure we got what we wanted. Currently, we are a seven‐piece band: lead vocals Michael OʹHara (AKA Franky); vocals and acoustic guitar and tin whistle Marypat Farrell (AKA Ryan OʹNeill); vocals and electric guitar Ben Wise; mandolin Brett Pearsons (AKA Gavin McLoud); accordion Dave Goldstein (AKA Paddy McRibb); bass Keihl Smit (A.K.A. Darby); and drums (Mike McCurdy). With every new member we strengthen our sound, skill and performance. In the past, we were limited to our abilities and experience. Now, we are only held back by our creative imaginations.

What is the best part about touring (and what are some of your favorite places to play)?

(Franky): Getting out of L.A. and seeing how we do in other cities and towns is the best part of touring. Itʹs cool to meet people from different parts of the country and Canada who know your band and were psyched to come down and see you play. I really loved playing in Boston and New York, and Toronto is a blast.(Gavin): Shows. Shows.

Shows. The more we play the better we are. We feed on performing live. Plus, doing shows one after the other allows us to explore the tunes in subtle ways and hone a set list since we are playing for different audiences. Another thing, being on tour and playing for the different audiences is great because they are either brand‐new and ready‐to‐be‐converted fans or they have seen/heard us before and want to see/hear us again. People are usually very receptive when they discover you’ve traveled hundreds of miles just to

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play for them. Those places are great to play because the energy of the audience is kinetic.(Ben): The kindness of strangers who become fans/friends. Lincoln, Nebraska; New York.

What is the worst part about touring?

(Franky): Being away from home and family is the worst...plus we are a DIY band so we travel in our own little bus and itʹs not the kind decked out with flat screens and lounges on either end. We rough it a bit and arenʹt 17‐ and 18‐year‐old kids anymore. (Gavin): Lack of sleep. When it’s back‐to‐back shows that are several hours away from each other, it can be trying to get a good night’s sleep on the tour bus.(Ben): Having zero label support and next‐to‐no booking support thus far and mostly hoping to break even.

Why should I have your music in my collection?

(Franky): We are different than a lot of stuff you hear these days and our music is solid. We do what we do and arenʹt trying to sound like everybody else...thatʹs what makes us ʺPunkʺ. We just do what we want to do. Even in the world of Irish folk‐infused punk rock TMR just sounds different. So if you like punk or folk or just rock and roll I think weʹd be a good fit in your collection. If you are looking for more Vampire T‐shirt Carnival Fire Killer Kings in Jackets & Sons…we ainʹt it. (Gavin): Because our musical influences are so varied within the band (ranging from classical to folk to blues to rock to traditional to alternative, etc.), there is something for everyone in our music. Although we are in the specific genre of Celtic Punk, we bring unique layers to our songs that, upon different listens, different qualities are heard.

What would you be doing if you werenʹt making music?

(Franky): I do a lot of different things but if I was playing music Iʹd play center field for the New York Yankees or run for the Senate...or both.(Gavin): I would first say acting and writing but if all artistic careers are excluded… I’d say either a mortician or a toy maker.(Ben): Lying in a coffin or spread across an NC mountaintop.(Ryan OʹNeill): Hmmmm, if I had never had occasion to make music, I would likely be raising children destined for the psychiatristʹs office with severe mother issues.

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Tana AllureTana Allure is a Puerto Rican‐Peruvian model from Brooklyn. She has been on the cover of Dream Magazine, HipHopWorld Magazine, Stiletto Talk Magazine and SoFine Magazine. She has featured in music videos and various publications. She is not only beautiful (just check out those pictures), but also a delightful person. Oh, and she was a source of inspiration for this very magazine. She discusses her start in modeling, paintball (hope you end up on her team), and being a vegan.

How long have you been modeling? How did you get started?

Iʹve been modeling for about 2 years now and I was found by Desi Adorn. Back then I promoted clubs with an all‐female company called Elite Parties and Events Management Inc and I was the Promotions Director. The CEO (Sheana Stokes) wanted to do a shoot for the company site and Desi Adorn was the contracted photographer which was the day we met.

What do you expect in every photo shoot?

I expect complete professionalism from everyone involved and a memorable time. I would also like to have something new that I learned from each one.

Youʹre a vegan and an animal advocate. Do you have a particular cause that is dear to you?

I am a huge animal lover and yes, I am a vegan. Anything that causes harm, pain, or suffering to animals I am against but to name one of many would be the petition against horse carriages in New York and anywhere else that allows that type of animal labor.

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Can we expect to see you in a PETA ad in the future?

I would be truly honored to do an ad with them but I do intend on putting together my own.

If Iʹm on a paint‐ball team against you, which one of us is going down first?

This is a funny one but to be

honest I am very competitive so most likely you would go down first. No hard feelings though. (laughs)

Your goal is to inspire. How do you think you inspire people?

Yes, one of my main goals is to inspire people and I believe I will accomplish that by setting an example to everyone that modeling is more then what it is stereotyped to be. Iʹd like to be known as the model that set a standard that distinguishes a certain class of models from the rest. Being able to be a part of productions that shows her true talents freely without having to do unnecessary acts to be involved. I look forward to this day and I truly believe Iʹm the model that will get that done!

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Who are some people that inspire you? Why?

My biggest inspiration would have to be Desi Adorn. I feel honored to have someone like her who has been in this industry for 10+ years truly believe in me, constantly pushing me and always there when needed. Sheʹs a jack of all trades yet mastered the art of being a true friend. My second person would have to be Noel ʺVegan Fitness Modelʺ because heʹs living proof that you do not need animal protein to have a fit body, his videos are incredible, and his actions speak louder than words.

What is one goal you hope to accom‐plish?

One of my biggest goals I will accomplish would be the day an upcoming model comes up to me and says ʺThank you for being the change this industry needed where everyone gets treated equally.ʺ twitter.com/tanaallure

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John Bowles of Paddy Rock Radio

Tell us about you. What keeps you busy besides your podcast?

Well easy enough to say I have been told by many that my life is consumed with music and possibly this life is going to kill me in the end. (laughs)Other than working a 9 to 5 job which keeps me level headed and in touch with the normal life outside of music... I am consistently going to see bands perform, conducting interviews, and putting together articles/compilations/promoting on all the websites I work with (Onekindradio.com, Blueswebradio.com, and Paddyrock.com) for the remaining hours of each day.

What was it that drew you to Paddy rock?

I grew up with the music playing in my home as a kid. From The Dubliners to The Fureys to Scandinavian Folk music (since my mother came over to this country from Denmark and brought the music with her) and then as I got older was introduced to The Pogues by my oldest sister when listening to a radio show that... in turn made me wanted to get into radio in the 80s and 90s called ʺRock Over Londonʺ. Then came the 90s. I was really into the punk/ska scene in Chicago and was going to a ton of local bands’ shows…one of which was a local Chicago band by the name of The Tossers. I was doing a local music‐only radio show at that time on the FM dial in the mid to late 90s which then turned into the website Onekindradio.com on April 2000.So in March of 2000 I decided to stray a bit from the Local music only format that I was doing on Onekindradio.com at the time and did a streaming radio show for St. Patrickʹs Day for the month of March 2000. This first show was the standard one hour show and featured The Pogues, The Tossers, The Skels, Dropkick Murphys, Black 47, a few traditional bands from years past, and a brand new band that was just about to release their first CD ̋ Swaggerʺ by the name of Flogging Molly. This one‐off radio show not only took me by surprise as the biggest listenership of any radio show I had done at the time, but it got me 7 interviews from magazines/radio/media throughout the country all within that one month. So, after that... I decided to start a new online radio show by the name of Paddy Rock Radio (Paddyrock.com) on June 1, 2000... and the rest is history.

What are the five Paddy rock albums that you have absolutely worn out?

Wow! This is a hard question here since Iʹve wore out thousands of records/cds over the past 11 years of doing Paddyrock.com. Tell you what... here are the essential 5 Paddy Punk & Paddy Rock albums I canʹt live without:Paddy Punk:• If I Should Fall from Grace with God by The Pogues• The Valley of the Shadow of Death by The Tossers• Sing Loud Sing Proud by Dropkick Murphys• Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly• Irish Punk Collection The Mahones (It’s a Best of compilation, but still amazing).Paddy Rock:• With All Due Respect, The Irish Sessions by Young Dubliners

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• Play by Great Big Sea• Dealin' Craic by The Sandcarvers• Immigrant Roadshow by Scythian• Standards by Blaggards

If you could put together a Paddy rock show with two openers and a headliner, who would you get to fill the bill?

Thanks Gary…another hard question. (laughs) Since I am more of a person who likes to see bands at smaller more intimate venues or at pubs than the large festivals or mega‐theaters, these are the bands I have had the best time seeing live and I think would fit my tastes right now.The headliner would have to be Sir Reg and the two openers would be The Sandcarvers and Darby Oʹgill & the Little People.I think that would be a great night of drinking and a good combination of Paddy Rock & Punk right there.

Why should I tune in to your podcast?

Paddy Rock is dedicated to Celtic Rock & Punk music from bands throughout the world most of which are independent musicians that I scour the web for and even find at some local pubs throughout the country and we get their music out to our vast numbers of fans throughout the world. I love the music just as much as the fans do so I try not to talk too much on my podcasts since itʹs not about me as much as itʹs about the music getting into the ears of the fans. Paddyrock.com is much more than just a site for podcasts however... we have a streaming radio show that plays the best in Celtic Rock & Punk 24 hours a day which is streaming in pubs and houses around the world everyday. It was weird when I called a pub last week to see what Celtic Rock bands were playing at their pub on St. Patrickʹs Day and they were playing the Paddy Rock Radio streaming show in the background when I called. I asked the manager so you like Paddy Rock huh, and he said that was where he got introduced to the bands he had come play at his pub. It was a humbling experience.

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Have you heard...

The Dustaphonics (London) will grab your attention even before you hear a note on the album Party Girl. If you don’t believe me, just look at the album cover. The first song we heard from this band ʺShowman Twang Instrumental,ʺ a tremendous surf song in the tradition of Dick Dale (hey, if youʹre going to borrow, borrow from the best). The guitar is drenched in reverb. The end of the song features not only that reverb guitar, but also a trumpet fanfare. This is an amazing tune.From there, the band moves through some R&B (real old‐time R&B, not the electronic stuff that passes for R&B these days) and garage, fronted by a soulful vocalist who brings Detroit Cobras to mind. While this

band incorporate a lot of influences into its sound, The Dustaphonics doesnʹt really sound like any other band. If you want some high‐energy soulful rock and roll, this is a band you need to check out. Check out the bandʹs tracks at ReverbNation. Albums are available from Dirty Water Records.

Earwig (Columbus, OH) is a band that plays anti‐pop songs. Donʹt get me wrong. This bandʹs songs have a tendency to be very catchy and after a couple listens, youʹll probably find yourself singing along. But they are anti‐pop in the sense that they are not your standard verse‐chorus‐verse sort of songs. There are a couple good reasons to get to know Earwig. First, while the lineup has changed over the years, Lizard McGee has been the one constant. He has been writing Earwig songs for 20 years. Secondly, Lizard McGee just writes a good song. He has a way of writing songs where you donʹt know whatʹs coming next. The one thing you can be sure of is that the music (live or recorded) will be played with a lot of energy. This is definitely a band to check out if you like indie rock, but want something different than most of the indie rock out there.

Spiff Wiegand (Brooklyn)

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When you search out music on a regular basis, you are bound to come across something completely different. Yes, the cynical can say that there is nothing new in the world of music. And they may be right. For as long as humans have been making music, maybe there is really nothing new left to do. Still, there are some musicians that stand apart from the rest.Like a guy who can play more than 20 instruments. Yes, think about that. If you have ever tried to play even one instrument, you know that the learning process is pretty difficult. Not for Spiff Wiegand. Yes, this guy plays more than 20 instruments (not simultaneously, that would be a record or something). And you need look no further than ʺUp the Hillʺ to see just how eclectic this guy is. This song veers from reggae to roots rock to a little bit of bluegrass (particularly in the fiddle) with a dash of psychedelic. Just mull that over for a moment. How many music artists do you know that can blend that many things into one song and make it cohesive? By all means, share those artists with us. Weʹd like to feature them.Eclectic is really the best way to describe Mr. Wiegand. He incorporates a lot of different sounds, and well, we have to ask if there is an instrument he doesnʹt play. His music is available on Bandcamp. Check it out. Donʹt cost nothinʹ.

The Bucky WaltersThe younger generation of bluegrass has established itself as the summer outdoor concert staple ‐ limited to a predictable hybrid of classic Americana rhythm and modern country instrumentation ‐ the genre entirely defines every band it encompasses, extinguishing any hope for variety or personality. Bluegrass is bluegrass,

enjoyed passively at best, rear in lawn‐chair, beer in hand. Enter The Bucky Walters, a band that so wildly layers unpredictable sound onto the classic bluegrass structure, your ears will have no choice but to leave the realm of the passive, and enter the rompin’ stompin’ realm of bluegrass redefined. The six‐member group has offered up two studio albums thus far (both self‐titled), packed with syncopated rhythms, lightning‐fast picking, fantastic vocal harmonies, and undulating dynamics that make you feel like the floor is moving. Perhaps it is. Because The Bucky Walters should not be confined to the studio ‐ when you see them live, there is no doubt that every foot in the house is stomping for the entire set. The music moves effortlessly through unexpected territory ‐ polka beats paired with pedal steels on “Mercedes Thighs” more reminiscent of My Morning Jacket’s “Into the Woods,” than anything rooted in classic bluegrass; jump blues war‐time vocals in

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“Count Your Chickens”; a sweet Simon & Garfunkel‐esque road song in “Carolina” ‐ and brings you abruptly back into traditional bluegrass before you even know what hit you. Over and over again, as if reeling in a big fish, they let out the line and bring it back in. Never has bluegrass been so surprising and satisfying. The Bucky Walters is without contest one of the most entertaining and inventive bluegrass bands on the scene to‐date. (Jessica Lee)

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FlashbackIn the premiere edition of the flashback, we give a listen to 14 Frenzied Shakers by Les Sexareenos. If you have never heard this band, you are truly missing out. At least we think so. It would be foolish to think that this album is for everyone. But then, we donʹt specialize in music for the masses.This is a lo‐fi band that sounds like it recorded in a basement. Frankly, that is not usually a bad thing. The formula for this band is simple: take your standard band lineup, add some Farfisa and crank out high‐energy lo‐fi songs of two and a half minutes or fewer. This album was recorded in 2001, but it sounds like it could have been recorded in 1963. And that is just one of the things that makes it great. It is raw and wild and it is probably more punk than most of the punk that has been produced in the past 20 years or so. These songs are bound to get you moving. If you love the retro garage sound, you will love this album. I guarantee that when you reach the end of this one, you will want more. So freak out your friends and play this album the next time you have them over. At first they might wonder what the hell is coming from the speakers. But you know something? Theyʹll get their heads moving whether they want to or not.

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ReviewsFanfare Ciocarlia vs. Boban and Marko Markovic ‐ Balkan Brass BattleYou know those people that tell you they like all kinds of music? Try this with one of them. Ask that person if he or she has any Balkan brass band music in his or her collection. If the answer is no, then play some of this album for that person and see the sort of response you get. We certainly haven’t heard every brass band out there, but we have heard our fair share, particularly of brass bands from New Orleans. We had never encountered a Balkan brass band until we heard this album. And you know something? It is crazy good. This is upbeat bright‐sounding music that will get you moving. Oh, and how about a brass version of “The James Bond Theme?” Or “Miserlou?” Yes, that’s right, the song made famous by the king of surf guitar Dick Dale. Just imagine that melody played by a bunch of horns. So are you one of those people who professes to like all kinds of music? Put that to the test with this album.

Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons ‐ Exercise Your DemonsWe found this London band on the GaragePunk network. Unsurprisingly, a name like Pussycat and the Dirty Johnsons caught our attention. I think you’ll agree that the album artwork also demands attention. And then you hear the music. There is nothing terribly subtle about this band. From the first notes of “Trouble with the Devil,” This band provides an all‐out assault with uptempo songs that are as trashy as the album art. This band believes in two things: tempo and volume. And Pussycat delivers the vocals with an old‐time punk snarl that has kind of gotten lost in a sea of pop‐punk bands. Not to mention that this band has some of the best song titles we have encountered in a while: “Wolfman Sideburns” and “Orgasmic Pizza” to name just a couple. If you like high‐volume, lo‐fi, trashy garage rock, this is a band you need to check out.

The Fallen Stars ‐ Heart like MineThe Fallen Stars is kind of an unlikely concept when you stop to think about it. A guitarist‐singer‐songwriter originally from Massachusetts moves to southern California and starts a twangy rock band. This is the band’s fourth release and takes a distinct turn toward country or alt‐country, particularly with the song “Part‐time Cowboy.” That song is way more country than just about anything coming out of Nashville. This album is filled with earnest story songs and healthy doses of pedal steel guitar that bring to mind bands like Drag the River or even Flying Burrito Brothers. The band also has some real rockers like “Truckin’ Song.” We recommend this album if you are a fan of alt‐country or Springsteen‐style songwriting.

The Zambonis ‐ Five Minute Major (in D Minor)One way for a band to set itself apart is to create its own genre. That is exactly what The Zambonis have done with hockey rock. Yes, this entire album is about hockey (or hockey references). But even if you have never watched a game, you can appreciate this band for its super‐catchy 60s‐style songs that are bound to get you moving and singing along. For example, just try to sit still when you hear “I Got a Concussion (When I Fell for You”).

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Our Sponsors

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in our next issue

One of Atlanta’s finest: Sexii Davii.PlusGet to know Orange County (CA) singer‐songwriter Carly Layne.Four music artists we think you should get to know.Flash back to some early Drag the River.

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Thank you

We want to thank you again for choosing Incognito. We hope you like what you saw and that you will be just as interested in the next issue in a couple weeks. Thanks also to the music artists and Tana Allure for being a part of the premiere issue.We know that we have kept it pretty brief in this first issue, but we can promise that more entertaining sections and features will be added as we go along.

Music artists and models, if you want to be considered for this magazine, submit your material to us. Also, if you are a writer and you want to be a part of Incognito, contact us: Gmail: incognitomusicmagTwitter: incognitomag

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Incognito Music, Models, and More #1