Joe Dunn Interview

Joe Loves Crappy Webzine Interviews: Joe Dunn vs. Totally Crushed Out
By Ryan Pangilinan

As newspapers start to taper off at an alarming rate, the Internet has been a haven for comic artists who are bypassing the traditional publishing route. Comics such as Penny Arcade and Nothing Nice to Say have all found solid niches online. One such artist is Joe Dunn, the man behind the hilarious comics Joe Loves Crappy Movies and Another Video Game Webcomic, two strips that take to task the film and video game industries respectively.

Dunn’s bright use of colors and matter-of-fact sense of humor (check his Kate Hudson-Grimace comic) make his comics some of the funniest in Internetville. Recently, Dunn sat down and answered some questions that were burning in our pantalones.

TOTALLY CRUSHED OUT: What initially captured your interest in being a cartoonist?

JOE DUNN: It’s hard to say really. I’m going to give you one of those cliché answers that says, “I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember.” It’s the truth though. I sort of always knew I would eventually be drawing for a living and in a certain way that makes me lucky. I know a lot of friends and family that struggled to figure out “what they wanted to be when they grew up.” I was on the artistic path pretty early on.

Like a lot of comic creators, I grew up on comic books both as comic strips and superheroes as well. At one point or another we all have lofty dreams of drawing Spider-man but a lot of us find that we have our own stories to tell. That was the beginning of what lead me to the strips I’m working on today.

Joe Loves Crappy Movies and Another Video Game Webcomic are steeped in other media. How did you come up with the idea to mix being a movie/game reviewer with comics?

Well it started with a love of movies. I found myself watching movies constantly always with the desire to discuss with others. I knew I wanted to make my own little commentary on film with a webcomic but I also knew that it couldn’t just be the comic. We’ve got enough of those on the internet. It wasn’t worth doing unless I was adding something.

The comic/review combo felt like a good fit and it offered me a variety of ways to talk about humor and film. I like to say these days at conventions when I’m trying to attract new readers that “I make fun of the movie in the comic and completely over analyze it in the review.” It’s an exaggeration but there’s definitely some truth to it.

Another Videogame Webcomic came on years later when I persuaded my good friend and writing partner Phil Chan to take a similar comic/review approach to his passion of gaming. It’s been going for about a year and has come along pretty well. Even though I’m only the artist on that strip I’m proud of what we’ve developed in such a short period of time.

There are elements, it seems, of your personal life that work their way into the comics. Has anyone ever objected to the way they were portrayed, or situations becoming embellished for comedic purposes?

I try to be fair when I use the people in my life in my comic world and luckily most people have been totally cool with it, which is a little surprising considering some of the terrible things I’ve had the character Irv do in JLCM. Real life Irv is a pretty easygoing guy though. True friends will show their true selves when you draw them into a comic dressed as a hooker.

My wife has taken issue with me a few times, usually when I portray her in a sexy way. She has every right to feel uncomfortable with me sharing that aspect of our relationship but I make an effort to make it less about her sexuality and more about my obsession with her sexuality. When all else fails, make yourself the punch line. Self-deprecation will always win out over targeting others.

Have you thought about compiling any of your comics into a collection?

As a matter of fact, collections of JLCM as well as two other comics I’ve worked on are currently available online or at any of the many conventions I travel to over the year. Putting together a book with comics, reviews, commentaries and sketches was a daunting task but very rewarding. It’s a unique thing to hold something that you created.

In the past, you've collaborated with Mitch Clem (creator of Nothing Nice to Say and My Stupid Life). Are there any other artists you'd be interested in working with?

Tons. I’ve met so many great people that I would love to work with someday. In fact, I’d love to return to working with Mitch. I had a blast working on his Coffee Achievers series. Sadly like a lot of folks I’ve got a lot going on and certain priorities take center stage. The problem is that we’ve all got stories we want to tell and it sometimes leaves no time to tell all the other ones.

What are some movies that are coming out this year that you think would make prime candidates to be Crappy Movies that you love?

That’s a tough one. I like to keep an open mind when it comes to any movie. I strongly believe that there is some good in everything, but there’s a ton of crap on the horizon. It’s one of those things though where the crappy season will be over soon. Before you know it we’ll be into the summer blockbuster season and at least then even the crappy movies have big budgets.

What plans do you have for 2010?

2010 will see a collection of year one of Another Videogame Webcomic as well as the first trip for my company (DigitalPimp) to San Diego Comic Con. We’re a bunch of east coast boys so it’s an exciting opportunity to cross the country and meet a whole new potential audience. Plus it’s comic con: comic, movie and video game heaven. Should be a good week and hopefully an even better year!

See some of Joe's work on Digital Pimp Online

Suzanna Fisher (Supergenius Tattoo) Interview

Super (Duper) Genius: Suzanna Fisher vs. Totally Crushed Out
by Ryan Pangilinan

I’ve known Suzanna Fisher for the better part of a decade as we worked together at an unnamed video chain store in the early aughts. After we both escaped the dreaded corporate video environment, Fisher went on to greener pastures, first as a University of Washington graduate, then as a tattoo artist at Seattle’s popular Supergenius Tattoo shop. I have the utmost confidence in Fisher’s ability – as she’s tattooed everything that’s on my right arm, as well as Totally Crushed Out’s Janice Benton and Michelle Morris – so I thought she should kick some raps about being an artiste in a male dominated industry.

TOTALLY CRUSHED OUT: You've been illustrating for as long as I've known you. What first piqued your interest in art?

SUZANNA FISHER: I have been interested in art for as long as I've been able to grasp a drawing utensil. There is no point in my life that I can remember not doodling or being the "arty person" in school or in my social circle. The more I've done it, the better I get, which makes me want to make more art. It's a never-ending cycle.

How did you get into tattooing?

When I was 11 or 12, I watched a Discovery program on tattooing and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Being a tattooer was next on my list to being an actress, both of which were professions that I mentally filed under "probably not going to happen but it would be cool". My dad wanted me to go to college, which I did, but I didn't discover anything that interested me as much as tattooing. I ended up getting tattooed, hanging around shops, asking a lot of questions and eventually getting a job running the front counter at a tattoo and piercing shop. This led to an apprenticeship, which led to a professional tattoo job at Supergenius, and here I am:)

What is your favorite medium to work in?

Of course I love permanently marking folks, but man, a pen or pencil and a piece of paper can make me really happy. I also enjoy making three dimensional art: jewelry design (mostly in silver) and woodcarving are some mediums that I get a kick out of. I like materials that are unforgiving; when you make a mark, you've committed and there's no turning back.

Do you ever get hit on by random dudes that you end up tattooing?

Haha, yes I do get hit on by random dudes I tattoo, but being situated right next to The Wild Rose (a rather infamous lesbian bar) opens up the field for every gender. Usually the most forward folks are older women or drunk men. I don't really get cute young groupies like the boys do, but someday when I've attained cougar status, that may change;) I like this industry because if you are inappropriate and I don't like you, I can tell you to fuck off and it's perfectly ok.

Who are some artists that you're inspired by at the moment?

Well I like to be inspired but the folks around me, so my coworkers at Supergenius are always pushing me to do better. As for other visual artists, I currently, and have always, adored Robert Crumb. I also am a fan of Tim Burton, Ramiro Rodriguez, Audrey Kawasaki, Gustave Dore, and El Greco, to name a few. Lately I've been inspired in my tattoo work by other tattooers such as Jeff Gogue and Darcy Nutt. Music is also always inspirational and necessary for me to make art, and my tastes run the gamut.

Suzy's Facebook page

Joe Kimmel Interview

Joe Kimmel Interview
by Janice Benton and Ryan Pangilinan

Mixing pop culture and a self-referential style, Joe Kimmel is an artist who is more precocious than pretentious. A rising name in the Portland art scene, Kimmel has had a few showings in the Northwest and recently chatted with Totally Crushed Out to discuss his inspirations and what he would save from a burning building.

TOTALLY CRUSHED OUT: How did you know that you wanted to be a professional artist?

JOE KIMMEL: Art began for me when I was little, and it befriended me and gave me some kind of a relaxing state. Today, I was looking at a large sketchbook that I had just finished within two months. Looking at each picture, I can remind myself of what I was thinking and what I was being motivated by, however, I don't know if I could tell you where I physically was when I was working on them. I do have a art studio in Southeast Portland that is my escape location, but not all art happens in the office.

When you ask me how did I decide to become a professional artist, I am taken aback because, although my heart is fully genuine and professional towards art, I do not feel professional in art. Ha.

My main inspiration or rather what I am propelled by seems to be states of wonderment and questions…. I have heard a amazing quote somewhere about the power of asking questions, but it is beyond me now. I have been bulking up on my reading recently, and I am amazed at the base ideas of the reading topics. I have been reading [a science] fiction story [that] is based on a "What If ?"question on life. Taking inspiration from the "What If ?" storyline and crossing it over into my artwork.

If I had to save one piece of my art from a burning building? Well, I wouldn't risk my life on that attempt. I have a lot of wonderful connections to my life written into my artwork, but I hope that I am not so stuck on a past success that I cannot go to the future challenge with a clear mind. The painting that has been following me around for a long time is a painting of a break up between me and a girlfriend. I love it a lot, because I put my feelings into it, and than I showed it to everyone at a art show and acted like it was not really my pain in front of them.

What other interests do you have?

I am loving making stickers. I have always loved stickers and have tried to make one of a kind stickers over the years. It was not until I arrived in Portland that I found a formula of material and products to make stickers that I love. I am trying to put together a art show comprised of stickers. I still have not found the location that I want however, so I feel like I am dragging my feet on the follow through. The sticker show would be my interpretations of the Edgar Rice Burroughs stories of Tarzan of the Apes. I have already made a wonderfully large Tarzan sticker and an ape sticker as well. My goal is to cover the wall with the floating images, displaying key points of interest and conflict in Tarzan's life.

Do you have any upcoming shows or projects?

Currently, I am…working with a guy who is making bike bags. I am doing all the original art to decorate the bags. big production of those will not begin till summer. Did I also say that my day job is making feather earrings? I lose my heads most days on it, listing to large playlist and popping Tylenol to [hold] my headaches.

With art, I am waiting for direction. I am waiting for childlike wonderment to take over. I fill a lot of my time up with reading and I don't know that all my reading is helping my current art, but I know that it is required to further my schema and my filters of my thoughts in art. Art is a living journal so often for me. I have [moved] to a new city and I don't really know anything for a certainty right now. I am not complaining, I am just gathering. Take courage, you know.

Joe Kimmel on Facebook

Ryan's Top Picks of 09

09’s So Fine; Or My Very Belated Favorites List
By Ryan Pangilinan

I didn’t really know what to write for this, only because the year was blur, but I did get an awesome girlfriend out of it, which is always a plus in my book, right? The latter part of the year was more of a banner success than the first half (which totally sucked, by the way). Anyway, here are some arbitrary lists that you can judge me on (but not really because, to quote the late, great Tupac, “Only God can judge me”).

Favorite burger: Two Bells
During the year, I used my food blog to go eat a bunch of hamburgers with Michelle. After much debate, Two Bells and their gourmet burgers and tip-top service won me over. This bar was also the place where we started working on our current comedy project.

The Castaways
Redefine asked me for my Top 5 records; I gave them 10 (here are the ones they didn't publish):

Polar Bear Club, “Chasing Hamburg”/Heartsounds, “Until we Surrender
Raekwon, “Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II”
David Bazan, “Curse Your Branches”
Owen, “New Leaves”
Sourpatch, “Demo”
Brand New, “Daisy”/Kevin Devine, “Brother’s Blood”/Brian Bonz, “From Sumi to Japan”/Thrice, “Beggars” (they all roll together, so they get a collective spot)

Favorite blogs:
Polar Blog Club
Burger Conquest
Dealbreaker (and not because they posted one of mine, but because it’s genuinely funny)
Scotch and Plaid (R.I.P.)
Look at this Fucking Juggalo

Corey Ball's Top 10 (aka the Mostesses) of 2009

2009 Mostes
by Corey Ball

I'm not a Top 10 list kinda guy. More a Conan fan, than Internbanger. Err, Letterman. So instead of a list I've created a few catergories that incorporate the word 'Most' in it. A nice cross section of my year, highs and lows. With that, I present the Mostesses.

(Brandon Lee approves of Corey's use of 'The Business' [pka 'da biznass])

Song Released in 2009 Most Likely To Be Included On a Wes Anderson Soundtrack:

The Dirty Projectors - Two Doves

It's got it all. Lilting strings, plinky keys and an overall feeling of nostalgia. You hear that, Mothersbaugh? Hire me already.

Movie I walked into Most Excited and Exited Most Disappointed:

This honor is bestowed to District 9. I remember liking the short they released on youtube, and was excited to see the full length, fleshed out (so to speak) feature. Sadly, the flick for me suffered under the weight of an unsympathetic, unlikable main character. I just couldn't muster up any concern if he lived or died. Which usually determines the life or death of a film of this sort. That said, the aliens, weapons and robot suits were pretty damn cool.

Most Watched Fake Talk Show on the Internet:

It has to be 'Between Two Ferns' with Zach Galifanakis. Everyone's favorite fat bearded comedian brings a form of anti-comedy with a mixture of aloof-osity, awkward innuendo and general hilarity in this FunnyOrDie.com exclusive where he interviews some of the hollyweird's biggest stars. This would have originally gone to The Michael Showalter Showalter but they haven't made one of those in hella. Much to mine, and many others chagrins.

Slang Term Most Used By Me In 2009:

The business. As in, "This song/bailout package/heavy handed, but visually stunning movie is the business".

Most Absurd Music Related Conspiracy:

This definitely goes to the charge that the Carter family (Jay-Z and Beyonce) are pushing a Freemason/Pagan friendly agenda due to imagery in Be's 'Sasha Fierce' and Jay-Z's 'On To the Next One' video.

[Seth & Amy] Really?!? [/Seth & Amy].

I don't know where people find the time or energy to create such outlandish assertions, but I prefer my conspiracy theorists like Mel Gibson in the movie of a similar title. That is, with combination locks on his coffee, obsessed with 'Catcher In the Rye' and in love with Julia Roberts. Take notes, new jacks.

Free Local Rap EP Most Repeated on IPod:

The Physics - High Society EP

2009 was the year of the free EP for Seattle hip hop. A cohesive product from this Southend crew that I would have gladly paid for. With standout tracks like 'Callin', 'I Just Wanna Beat', and 'The Session'- it was a perfect Summer soundtrack. I'm excited to hear what they come with next.

Honorable mention to the Drobots Saga EP by They Live!

Most Impressive Live Show:

Say Hi/David Bazan at Neumo's 11/07/09

Not being very familiar with his past work with Pedro the Lion, I was formerly introduced to David Bazan because a good friend's brother played drums for Say Hi and Bazan on their last regional tour. As that tour progressed, I learned (and listened) more and more of David Bazan via his latest album, 'Curse Your Branches.' Their last stop was a hometown show at Neumo's and by the time that rolled around I was definitely intrigued. In a live setting I found Bazan every bit as transparent as his music, candidly doing Q & A's and answering if not always eloquently, honestly, the questions shouted out at random by the enthusiastic, shoulder to shoulder crowd. I don't really care for Say Hi too much but David Bazan more than made up for it as the members of Say Hi joined with Bazan's crew and formed a type of indie rock Megazord for his set. They had great chemistry and provided the perfect backdrop for Bazan's revealing lyrics. A+! Would watch again.

Most Fun I Had For No Money:

Multiple times in 2009 I ventured over to the Balagan Theatre in Capitol Hill and attended their variety show night known as Smorgasborg. Every time I went I was greeted with a friendly bartender, witty banter and grab bag of performances by the talented, crazy and crazy talented. Aside from churning out quality theatre, all that inhabit the space are good folks. Guests, regulars and company members alike. It's a good vibe there. Very recommended for a recessional constitutional.

So there's my Mostesses for '09. Out with the Aughts, in with the... other things. This also marks my first contribution to TCO! I'm feeling all tingly inside. I hope to have that feeling a few more times this new year. Here's to a clean slate!

You can read more of Corey's musings on his blog, Lawn Darts Anyone? and his Tumblr.

Michelle Morris' Top 10 Jews of 2009

Michelle and I are friends for a reason. For one thing, we both share an affinity for those of the Hebrew persuasion. I gave her free reign for her Top 10 and she gave Totally Crushed Out a list of her favorite Jewish men and women of the 09.



Jon Favreau: This man is number one for numerous reasons. First off, I know, he’s technically not fully Jewish. His mother is Jewish which means he’s mostly Jew, and that is good enough for me. This man has done nothing but provide Iron Man 2 foreplay via Twitter for the entire year. He also had a few very memorable cameos in some of the best comedies of the year. How can we forget Barry in I Love You, Man and Joey in Couples Retreat? He should be number one for merely taking a face full of vomit.

Christoph Waltz: This Austrian Jewish wonder finally won over the hearts of the American population with his not-so-loving portrayal of Hans Landa, the “Jew Hunter”, in Inglorious Basterds. He has been dropping panties all over Europe for decades with his acting skills in the movies and on stage. At the Cannes premiere of Basterds, he snagged the Best Actor award. If you just google images of him, you’ll find millions of this handsome bastard. If you google images of young Christoph Waltz, your panties will inevitably drop as well. Ps. He’s divorced and living in London. Have at it!

Judd Apatow: First off, he’s fucking Judd Apatow. Second off, he wrote and directed Funny People. This was one of the best movies of the year. It was so darkly humorous and yet you knew that everything was spawned from some real life event; just like Freaks and Geeks. The movie was full of fabulous Jewish men, too many to list actually. Thank you Judd for writing something close to the heart again.

Emmanuelle Chriqui: I can’t clog up this top ten with the Jewish men I would like to randomly find nude in my bedroom. As an Entourage fan, I was thrilled to see the return of Sloan. E was an idiot to dump her to begin with, blah blah blah. Hopefully the Sloan return wasn’t because of the shit movie she did in 2008 with Adam Sandler. Somebody get a hold of her agent or manager. They need a swift kick in the shin for Zohan. Ps. somebody hire her.

Lorne Michaels: Supposedly this man is a complete douche and a possible dick. I don’t know either for a fact. What I do know is that he is responsible for SNL and 30 Rock. I scoured all the writers and actors of 30 Rock to find a plausible Jew to nominate here to no avail. By scoured I mean I looked at people that their last name was possibly Jewish and went from there. Basically, 30 Rock is the best. They killed at the Emmys and the editor of this zine has a Tina Fey tattoo. Lorne made this possible. Thanks douche!! B.J. Novak: This gorgeous, blue-eyed Jewish man has won our hearts as Ryan Howard on The Office, as well as the “Little Man” in Inglorious Basterds. The reason he is on the list isn’t because of either of his acting skills, or singing skills (see Subtle Sexuality); he’s here because of what he’s been doing behind the camera. No, it’s not me. I wish though. He’s become an avid producer and now director of The Office. This clearly means that he has grown some balls and is now taking control of the backside. Swoon.

Seth Rogen: Sigh. Seth is my dreamboat. There actually wasn’t much this year that could make him on this list, sadly. I’m putting him here because of his amazing performance as Ira in Funny People. Also kudos to the man for getting in shape to play the Green Hornet. His dream, and pretty much everybody who was born in the early 1980s, of writing an episode of the Simpsons came true. He delivered. The writers of the Simpsons had to feel like shit after the season opener where he killed. Chubby Seth or svelte Seth, he is still dropping trou across the globe, or just in my bedroom.

Sarah Silverman: She’s the Jewiest Jew and damn proud of it. She’s on the list because she was nominated for an Emmy for her show; the name of the show eludes me at this moment. 2009 was not the best year for Sarah. She got an Emmy nod, no Emmy though. Jimmy Kimmel dumped her (ewww). A sex tape scandal with Jimmy Kimmel (double ewww). However, towards the end of the year; things started looking up. She snagged Rob Huebel, who is actually handsome despite his appearance in I Love You, Man. I’m not a Sarah fan, but after the year she has had, I would buy her a drink if she would have it. It’s a lady thing. We support each other in rough times.

Adam Sandler: I wasn’t sure I should even put him on this list after Don’t Mess with the Zohan. That was horrible. Seriously. BAD. His brilliant performance in Funny People was too dead on for him to not make my top 10. That movie was the perfect magnifying glass into the dark world of aging comics. Judd Apatow, as previously mentioned, wrote it but it does seem rather autobiographical for Mr. Sandler. Such is life. Kudos Adam for bringing your best acting chops to the table for this movie.

Jason Segel: Have you seen I Love You, Man? No really…have you seen it?? Jason Segel is impeccable. The premise of the movie is painfully real. The casting is flawless. Mr. Segel is at the bottom of the list because I am very biased (http://mrssegel.tumblr.com/). Also, this was not 2008 where he had tons of movies coming out that he had written. This is the year where he played Sidney Fife and started writing a Muppets movie.

Honorable mentions:

Eli Roth: He can’t act for shit. Hostel 2 had the worst ending. He was in Inglorious Basterds, where he gained 30 pounds of sexy muscles for the part. He did bring it when the ONTD ladies asked for it. And by it I mean very sexy photos of him eating blueberries. The photos make panties moist everywhere (See above or below). He should stop writing, stop directing and stick to playgirl type photos. Or he can retire now…in my bedroom.

Tom Arnold: He hasn’t really been doing anything lately. He is 20 years sober now and the fact that he held an emergency intervention speaks volumes to his character. Kudos Tom. Ps. Tom is Jewish because he converted for Rosanne Barr.

Samm Levine: He’s a Basterd! He is also a Jew. He has also been killing it with his stage performances. He’s participated in so much lately, including the live Yo Gabba Gabba with fellow Freaks and Geeks castmates Martin Starr and John Francis Daley.

The Ambulars Interview

There’s No Wah-mbulance Here: The Ambulars vs. Totally Crushed Out
by Ryan Pangilinan

I first came across Washington DC’s The Ambulars through I Could Die Tomorrow, one of the best mp3 blogs on the internets. They wrote up this great description that piqued my interest (as all pop-punk bands that don’t sound like Fall Out Boy are apt to do). What I ended up with were two really great EPs that played non-stop on my iPod for nearly three weeks. When we decided to start Totally Crushed Out, The Ambulars were on my short list of bands I wanted to interview. I reached out to them via their Myspace and they were all cool enough to answer my questions.

TOTALLY CRUSHED OUT: How did the band get together?

MIKE: The three of us have known each other for a long time, though we had never played music together. Jen and Andy approached me at a show with the idea of doing an Alkaline Trio cover band just for the summer. It quickly evolved into an actually band with our own songs. The idea was to do an ephemeral summertime pop-punk band before Jen moved to Chicago.

The sound of the Ambulars has very little in common with contemporary pop-punk and seems to take a cue bands like The Promise Ring and Weston. Was this a conscious decision to not latch on to what kids consider "pop-punk" these days?

M: I think this is more of a product of our influences. We all grew up listening to pop punk bands so we have that common vocabulary, but I know at least my writing influences were not pop punk bands. They were more along the lines of 80's and 90's indie rock and shoegaze bands and K-records-type indie-pop, not that we necessarily sound like it. I think we all approached the songwriting with different musical points of reference, but we still had that shared common ground. I think “pop-punk” to us means something different than what it refers to nowadays in its current form.

JEN: That's true, for me personally, when we were starting up I'd been listening to a lot of the type of pop punk you'll hear at Insubordination Fest mixed in with a couple 90s favorites like Gin Blossoms - New Miserable Experience, Dinosaur Jr, and tons of Jawbreaker. Super summery driving sing along music.

ANDY: Our influences seem to come from all over the board, and for me this band is kind of a great attempt to balance the old with the new. The influence of pop punk and emo bands that I loved when I was a bit younger, like Saves the Day and Lifetime, has been really present for me in the writing process, in addition to music that is more currently relevant to me right now, like Bruce Springsteen and Dinosaur Jr.

The "Summer Fling EP" and "The Summer of the Ambulars" are sonically different in terms of recording and the stylistic approach to the band, but they still share a vulnerability. How did you choose which songs from the acoustic EP to record electric?

J: We wanted to represent as much of our whole range as a band as possible when we did the acoustic EP, so we each have at least one song on it where we do the main vocals.

M: “Summer Fling” was recorded more out of necessity than anything else. We had already begun to record “Summer of the Ambulars” [and] it was taking longer to record and mix than we had budgeted for. We wanted to have some sort of release for when we played a pair of out of town shows so we recorded an acoustic EP. Two of the songs were already electric live songs, we just decided to take a few and strip them down for a quick release. These two songs were recorded acoustically after a band practice. I think we just picked songs that we thought would make interesting acoustic versions. The other two were written and recorded at home specifically for the EP.

A: I read an interview with Thurston Moore where he said something like "if you can't play it on the acoustic guitar then it's not a real song." While that may not be totally true, I do see what he means, how you should be able to strip a song down to its barest parts and still find something there that is tangible and relatable. That's been the cool thing about this acoustic EP, is discovering the songs below the loud crunch of the guitars and the drums.

Are the writing duties split individually or is it a collaborative effort?

M: One of us will show up to practice with an idea or rough skeleton of a song. As a band, we build upon it and all contribute to it until it's done.

J: We noticed right away that writing music together was totally not stressful and actually a lot of fun. I think the lack of pressure to be a certain way or fit into a certain genre or to have only one lead vocalist or whatever led us to explore our various interests together while writing and try combining different/new things that maybe we wouldn't have otherwise. Also, because we work on all the songs together (including some lyrics), I think thematically everything became really intertwined. Practices became times for us to sit and talk about all the huge changes going on in our lives and around us at the time, dredging up old memories but also looking forward to making new ones. So dealing with change/growing in general is probably the hugest common thread in what we've written so far.

I noticed that the band is split up by cities, does this limit your touring time?

M: Well, we don't really tour. The distance thing is still being worked out. The plan was to have the band just exist for one summer and then break up (thus “Summer of the Ambulars”) but we all had too much fun to let that happen and our friends supported us. We play shows when the three of us are in town together, though the band is not constantly active.

A: It would be cool to tour...one day we'll rent some old station wagon and tour around like National Lampoon's Vacation.

There's a real DIY sensibility that the band has that aren't really present anymore. Would signing to a label be in the cards for you or even something that you'd welcome if given the opportunity?

M: The three of us met in a DIY punk scene, putting out zines and playing in hardcore bands so it's natural for us to continue with that sensibility. I think we would be open to working with a label in some capacity, though it would obviously need to be the right label and the right kind of relationship. I think we are happy with our station as a DIY pop-punk band, and getting signed isn't something we've really talked about and it certainly hasn't been a goal of ours.

A: it would all depend on what we have time to do as individuals in the future. i would certainly welcome the chance if it was presented. being DIY doesn't mean instantly turning down potentially neat opportunities when they come your way. but it's hard to tell if it would permit in our life schedules at the moment. in your early to mid twenties life changes a lot very rapidly i am discovering, and commitments take you different places, both geographically and mentally, and you have to stay true to your path. you never know what's coming down the road though, and I'd like to think we'd be open to many different possibilities.

Finally, what do The Ambulars have planned for the future?

M: We plan on playing shows whenever we can and possibly writing and recording a 7”, though all plans are purely speculative. This band quickly outlasted its life-expectancy so we still don't know what we want to do yet.

J: We'd also like to do a longer tour, since we only had time to play local shows and a very small weekend tour this past summer. Since we're all so busy with various things (grad school, other musical projects, multiple jobs, etc) the likelihood of us even attempting to make that happen before summer '10 is pretty slim, but you never know!

A: The future won't know what hit it. we're already constructing a practice space fit for underwater environments for after the polar ice caps melt. i guess that'll make our station wagon obsolete but we'll get some underwater hovercraft like in "Life Aquatic" and tour around to the different underwater punk houses and play cool shows.

The Ambulars Myspace

Download The Ambulars EPs Here and Here

(The Rains from Summer of The Ambulars)

David Woods' Top 10 of 2009

I'm a little late to posting these, but the website had to take a backseat to the wonders of the holiday season. For his Top 10 of 2009, Dave Woods (otherwise known as D or the handsome white guy from Shoes for Imelda), put together a mini mixtape that you kids can download. Because he's a busy guy, Woods gave me the tracklist, the link and not much else. You can get a sense of why he liked these records on his blog, Strength and Vision. Anyway, here's what Woods had to say about his Top 10:

Here's my short but actually somewhat varied tribute to 2009. I've never tried to compress a mix before, but I numbered the tracks so they should come up in order if played in iTunes. But here's the playlist anyways.

1) Narrows - Newly Restored
2) The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
3) Raekwon - Surgical Gloves
4) Shook Ones - Birds On Ice
5) David Bazan - When We Fell
6) Converge - Cutter
7) Royce da 5'9" - Dinner Time (feat. Busta Rhymes)
8) Keaton Collective - We Ride
9) Baroness - A Horse Called Golgotha
10) Lee Fields & The Expressions - Ladies

Download Here

Dan Meth Interview

Method Man: Dan Meth vs. Totally Crushed Out

Dan Meth can be best described as a kid in a candy store who has run amok by sucking all the color out of Red Hots and Twizzlers and using his saliva to paint pictures on the walls. Though the bulk of his work is seen online (check any one of the Gawker sites), Meth's talent transcends codes, wires and dot coms and brings a little bit of smiles to everyone's hearts.

TOTALLY CRUSHED OUT: Can you briefly talk about some of your early dabbles in art?

DAN METH: The first artistic thing I ever did was a really swell birth-fluid fingerpainting on the doctors smock when I was born. Then i didn't do much for a year or two until I got really into crayons. From then on I pretty much was drawing nonstop. The progression of subject matters was roughly as such: monsters, dinosaurs, sharks, miners, spies, spaceships, knights, heavy metal dudes, superheroes, naked chicks, and now I'm back into monsters. The cycle begins again.

I watched your Influences video and there's so many such as Harryhausen and Henson and many more staples. Are there any newer artists that have wowed you?

My Influences from Dan Meth on Vimeo.

Some new artists that I really love are Tim & Eric, Brad Neely, Benjamin Marra, Marc Bell, Paper Rad, Matt Furie, Rad Rox.

Based on your bio, it seems that you've been able to make a go with being an artist in several mediums on a platform that is pretty fickle (aka the Internets). How have you avoided that weird internet limbo that many memes and trends fall into?

Well, I have a sort of ADD about material and style. I find the idea of just doing cartoons about the same character in the same style for years and years would be really boring. I can't really even stick with one visual technique. Although it's more fun for me to switch it up all the time, it would probably be a better business method to just come with something marketable and milk it for decades like Garfield.

A good chunk of your work takes its cue from pop culture references and absurdity (one of my favorite examples are the Beach Boys shirts). When you're coming up with ideas, do you ever wonder if people will have some of the same reference points so it's not just something that visually interesting, but also something that engages the memory as well?

Well you kinda have to have two categories for your work: The stuff that everyone will understand and the more esoteric stuff that you are really passionate about but few will understand. The best is when you hit that middle zone, where it's not embarrassingly broad but it's also not so obscure that it hits the audience like a dull thud. I get a real kick out of making many people laugh but I also have many interests that aren't exactly mainstream.

I realize that a majority of the work that people know you for is largely satirical, but when I saw the "Untitled" painting post recently, it was an image that struck me as being a little bit more personal and haunting. Are there any other experimental pieces that you'll want to share on your site as time passes?

Yeah, I think I will be posting more personal stuff occasionally dispersed with the "crowd-pleasers". Abstraction and experimental work is always kind of personal since it's rare to get a huge response from the audience with it (unless your name is Jackson Pollack and it's 1949). You aren't concerned with how many re-blogs it gets. Of course, my whole career is based on re-blogs so I'm not going to suddenly drop the humor anytime soon.

Is there a particular medium that you favor over another?

I guess my favorite medium will always be good old paper and pens. Its the purest for me to express myself. I have stacks of filled-up sketchbooks. Making animated videos is such a bulky process and it requires so much time, people, and software. There's nothing as free as doodling on paper.

In the past couple years I've gotten really into collage and drawing in collaged books. You get a lot of ideas when you find yourself drawing on any color but white blankness.

What are some of your plans for the near future?

Alot! Music videos, new animation techniques, an encyclopedic book about a country I created, a comic book about spies, some collage posters, more and more Tumblr hits, T-shirts, and more. Keep abreast of it at danmeth.com

At Our Heels Interview

Better than On Your Knees: At Our Heels Unplugs the Bright Lights of Nu-Hardcore
by Ryan Pangilinan

“I really wanted something that was just our logo and people would see it and recognize it as our thing,” said Alex Pulisci, the man behind Bay Area thrash hardcore outfit At Our Heels.

In a day when punk and its subgenres have turned into theme songs for movies and commercials (has anyone seen the Johnny Rotten butter commercial?), it’s quite refreshing to find a band like At Our Heels, a DIY group with limitless potential.

Coming from a situation with a rotating lineup, Pulisci found himself at a musical crossroads and started At Our Heels.

“We had, like, 15 different members or something,” he said. “I was doing the bulk of the writing and my writing style kind of changed, so I figured that starting a new band would be a good idea. Start fresh with new songs, a new name and new members.”

When the dust had settled, Pulisci’s project became more of a solo endeavor than anything else.

“The member situation didn’t work out so well and it ended up being just me. It ended up that it was a better way for me to work.”

Calling on friend and Heartsounds’ Ben Murray to man the drums, Pulisci wrote and recorded 2009’s self-titled seven inch (Heart in Hand Records).

Taking cues from the likes of American Nightmare, The Misfits and (early) AFI, At Our Heels’ doesn’t let up for a second and runs through six tracks in a little over seven minutes.

The band’s rampant, non-stop sound has also put them on the same bills with likeminded acts such as Trap Them, Verse, Final Fight, Lewd Acts and Pulling Teeth, to name a few.

Currently, Pulisci is splitting his time between school and a new At Our Heels full-length on Creator-Destructor, which he hopes will be finished next year.

“I’m trying to use my free time to polish up some songs…. We have three new songs that we’ve been playing live. We’re going to have a 10-13 song full length coming out,” he said.

“I’m pretty stoked on the new songs,” Pulisci added.

If their seven inch is any indication, then naysayers should take note: people may like their ‘core watered down or cut with neon colors, but for kids who still jam out to “Astro Zombies” before heading off to work or school, At Our Heels is the best band out there.

At Our Heels Myspace

Creepfest 09

This is a response to James and Jathan's challenge to come up with a mixtape with a theme of creepin'. I was going to wait on this for a couple of months because of another project we're working on, but consider this a Christmas gift.

Download Here

Alanah Bruce (Akemi Salon) Interview

Hair Today… Alanah Bruce vs. Totally Crushed Out
by Janice Benton

For a number of years, Portland, OR-based stylist Alanah Bruce has been putting her spin on cutting edge hair styles. Bruce is currently working at Akemi (3808 N. Williams Ave Ste. D, Portland, OR) and “sheared” some of her thoughts with TCO.

Totally Crushed Out: What sparked your interest in being a hair stylist?

Alanah Bruce: Honestly, it was people. I love being around people and being involved in something that shapes them and molds them into who they are. I believe a person’s self image is rooted so deeply into what they portray to the world.

Is there a particular style that you adhere to or favor?

Not particularly, I enjoy anything that is "cutting edge." I like taking people out of their box, but at the same time taking them somewhere they feel comfortable and a place where they can still be who they are.

Where are you currently working now?

I work at an amazing salon called Akemi. It's a vegan salon, all our products are free of animal testing and have a lot of amazing healthy ingredients that are great for your hair. I love all the people who I work with, I am so fortunate to have found a salon where I can honestly say I enjoy every minute I'm there.

What direction do you think the industry is heading in the near future?

I really think people are realizing that we have such influence in peoples lives as stylists. I have clients who the moment they sit in my chair they talk about so many details of their lives that so many people would never know. I enjoy being able to speak into my clients lives not only in a physical sense but in an emotional way as well.

What are your ultimate goals, career-wise?

I want to continue to do what I'm doing, make people look like who they are inside, bringing people out of their shell, and making them realize who they are. And above all, I want to be a full time mom!

Akemi on Facebook

Akemi on Myspace

Critter Caravan Interview

Critters Among Us: Non-Profit Group Helps Displaced People with Animals
by Janice Benton; Introduction by Ryan Pangilinan

While Seattle’s one of the most beautiful cities in the Pacific Northwest, it does have a rampant homeless problem, especially as nearby metropolitan areas like Bellevue and Portland start edging out displaced people who have to look for shelter elsewhere. Many of the homeless have found companions in dogs, but the care for these animals are somewhat problematic. This is where Maribeth Topalanchik and her organization Critter Caravan comes in.

Totally Crushed Out: What is your community project, Critter Caravan?

Maribeth Topalanchik: The goal of Critter Caravan is to provide basic medical care, food, clean water and supplies to pets of the greater Seattle homeless.

What made you want to get this started?

I have always loved animals, and dogs especially. Seattle is reported to have between 7,000-24,000 homeless people. If only 1 percent of those people have pets, then I want to make help available to them.

There is currently one "free" clinic, The Doney Clinic, which has been around for about 20 years. This clinic is held twice a month in the basement of the Union Gospel Mission downtown. The staff are all volunteers and do a great job of taking care of pets. Clients must furnish photo ID, proof of residence in Seattle, and either a medical coupon from SSI or their food stamps authorization (not just their food stamp card).

Clearly, there are people and their pets who do not qualify. I want this project to fill the gap.

Both pets we met last weekend would not qualify. One couple was from out of state and the other had no identification at all.

What areas of Seattle are in the most need?

We are still in the assessment process on this point. There is a large contingent of youth homeless who make Capitol Hill home. Some people are living out in the U District (University District), and some park (living in their vehicles) down around the Seattle ferry docks.

We need volunteers to organize and canvass the city. Make contact and ask people with pets what they want and need.

Next is to get a plan in place to collect and distribute supplies.

What is your plan for severe, at-risk pets (ones that cannot survive on the street)?

We have not yet seen this situation. There are many foster programs available both through the Seattle Humane Society and non-profits in the area. Outside of the usual public programs I think it's safe to say that I know a half dozen people who would consider taking a pet until a suitable home was found for them.

What are some of your goals for 2010?

The goal in 2010 is to touch 20-200 pets creating the possibility of life, health and happiness for them and their people.

What do you need help with and what kind of volunteers do you need?

In order of unfolding:

Another 5-10 volunteers who are willing to canvass, interview and takes pictures of what they find. I want to get more facts and provide a visual on my facebook page and to potential media, contributors, etc.

A vet and/or vet tech who is willing to donate a few hours a month and do it on a mobile basis.

One volunteer has located a donation bin at her business in Kirkland. The basic needs are food, collapsible bowls, water, blankets and leashes.

I dream about having someone get involved who has fundraising and media experience.

The cost to establish ourselves as a non-profit will run about $2,000. Many organizations function for years before they take this step but once it's done we can apply for and accept grant money and take monetary/cash donations which are tax deductible.

Where can people go to get involved?

Ideas/help can be communicated to me by either becoming a fan and following us on Facebook, emailing me or giving me a call. I'm also available to meet w/anyone who would like.

Honestly, we are making this up as we go along. I'm open to any and all help/ideas and expertise. We have a lot to learn and I'm sure the program will morph over time.

Critter Caravan’s Facebook

Like Bats Interview

Winged Rodents and Midwest Punx: Like Bats Vs. Totally Crushed Out
by Ryan Pangilinan

The Midwest seems to breed great punk bands like there’s no tomorrow. One such group is Indiana’s Like Bats, a band that mixes punk ferocity with melodic instrumentation and harmonies, not unlike J. Church or the Lawrence Arms. Their 2009 demo (recently reissued on Traffic Street Records) was one of the surprise EPs of the year and subsequent splits with Young Devilry, Strait A’s, and Rumspringer have only whet the appetites of kids who are paying attention.

Like Bats is gearing up for a winter tour, playing alongside the likes of Jettison and Lemuria, as well as a new 7” entitled, “Look on the Bright Side” (Traffic Street). Recently, singer/guitarist Mike let Totally Crushed Out pick his brain a bit about the workings of being like a bat.

TOTALLY CRUSHED OUT: How did Like Bats get together?

Well, Like Bats was a band I started when I was 16 with completely different people and a kind of different; way shittier sound. It went through a couple line up changes before it died. Then in October 2008, I broke up with my girlfriend and started writing songs that became our demo and I wanted to get a band together to play the songs. And I just really like the name Like Bats for some reason, so I decided to kind of extend it off of that.

On the demo, there's an influence of fast melodic bands like Lawrence Arms, Screeching Weasel and 88 Fingers Louie. Is it fair to say that you guys have a pension for 90s punk?

Yeah man, 90's punk is definitely one of my favorite styles of music. We all love bands like Jawbreaker, Red 40, Crimpshrine, Pezz and bands like that. But 90's emo bands definitely plays a role as an influence as well.

Lyrically, the songs have been about the negative aspects of a relationship; are the songs autobiographical and if so, have you heard any responses from whom they might have been about?

Yeah, the songs on the demo are about a specific break up I went through. She actually got really pissed at me when she first heard it and didn't talk to me for a while. Haha. But whatever, I don't care.

Your tours, by and large, have been centered around the Midwest and parts of the East Coast. Are there any plans to tour out west?

Well this winter, we're doing a southern tour. And in the summer, we're going to do a full US, which will definitely include dates out west.

The demo has been reissued on Traffic Street and you have a 7" on the way; what other plans are in store for Like Bats?

Well, we got the tour this winter, and the 7" should be out early or mid January. After that, more touring and hopefully some splits and I just started writing the full length, but I have no idea when that will happen.

Like Bats Myspace

Traffic Street Records

Heartsounds Interview

Beating Heart Baby: Heartsounds Pump Blood into Punk Rock

by Ryan Pangilinan

No more than a few years ago, Bay Area metal act, Light This City, was one of the most revered underground bands out there. Their ability to find fans in hardcore kids and metal purists was not as common as in the years that passed as genre bending became the norm. When Light This City ended, drummer Ben Murray and Laura Nichol started Heartsounds, a pop-punk outfit that’s heavier on the punk and less on the pop.

“The idea to start Heartsounds came a month or two after LTC called it quits and returned home from tour,” said Murray. “Laura and I have been listening to punk rock for years and way before Light This City even started. We just happened to be fans of metal as well.”

Taking cues from bands like Strung Out and Jawbreaker, Heartsounds deftly combines melody with a punk rock sensibility. Also like those bands, Murray and Nichol don’t rely on sappy, vapid words for their lyrical inspirations.

“Laura wrote five songs lyrically, while I wrote seven,” explained Murray. “It has been a tough few years for me and a lot of the lyrical content is about the hopelessness I felt waking up every morning.

“I suffer from extreme anxiety which plagued me during Light This City…. It’s very unhealthy and writing about it was an amazing catharsis for some of these emotions and feelings.”

Working with Light This City producer, Zach Ohren, Murray and Nichol recorded their debut full-length “Until We Surrender,” which saw a release in August on Murray’s label, Creator-Destructor.

The album is non-stop from the opening chords of the artists’ call to arms, “The Song Inside Me” to the bombastic drums on “Our Last Hope,” “Until We Surrender” rarely lets up, though there are somber moments that could be found in the mix.

“The song ’10,000’ on the record is about [my dad’s diagnosis with Stage 4 brain cancer], and most of my songs’ content is influenced by that situation,” said Murray.

The bleak visuals that are the basis of Heartsounds’ lyrics contrast to the pop nature of their music, which surprisingly, has found an audience in some of Light This City’s fans.

“Tons of LTC fans have checked it out and loved it. While there are remnants of metal hidden in the record, it’s a pretty drastic change of style,” said Murray. “Needless to say, we didn’t think the reception was going to be great from Light This City fans, but we were proven wrong.”

Though the band’s shows have been regional affairs (both Murray and Nichol are in school), Heartsounds does intend to stick around and take on touring duties when their schedule allows it.

“We can’t be road warriors like we were in LTC, but I do know that both of us want to pursue this band as far as we can…. [There’s also] big news and plans in the works but you’ll just have to stay tuned,” teased Murray.

“Until We Surrender” is available through Creator-Destructor Records, as well as RevHQ.

Heartsounds Myspace

Dawhud Interview

The Meeting of Minds: Dawhud vs. Totally Crushed Out
by Ryan Pangilinan
The story of white suburban kids discovering hip-hop is a pretty tired tale at this point. For all Asher Roths, Snows, and Brian Austin Greens that pass through pop culture infamy, there’s guys like Miilkbone who are relegated to the dollar bin. Then there’s guys like Indiana-transplant-by-way-of-Seattle, Dawhud (nee: Dave Thomas) who have cultish sensibility and exist in a backpacker limbo of sorts.

Dawhud’s self-released debut album “Basement Sessions” came out last year to critical acclaim, landing on top 10 lists and heralded as another return to the boom bap. Since his 2008 record, Dawhud has been hard at work on the Revisionist Project, a record that covers classic jams with underground emcees.

Recently, Dawhud chatted about his start in hip-hop and gives a little detail on hip-hop in the Hoosier state.

Totally Crushed Out: Okay. So the first time I remember hearing about you, you had the radio show in Olympia and you used to take a bunch of pictures of events and what not. What made you want to stop observing and be an actual participant?

Dawhud: Well... hate to break it to you but I didn't take too many pictures. Maybe that was Aaron. HAHA. But, I got interested in doing music since I was about 11-12.

I remember coming home from elementary school to see Yo! MTV Raps and I'd try to write some party raps like Kid N Play.

In sixth grade I got a Casio Rapman keyboard. It was this wack little keyboard that had a fake jog wheel that made "scratch" sounds and a mic that you could change the pitch of your voice with.

I remember those. My kid has a similar one

Yeah... I still got one. I've even used the mic effects on a couple of the tracks I've been working on lately.

Fast forward to high school, the group I was in with my friends I'd dig up records and we'd go over to this guys house and have him make the beat on his EPS-16. I'd give him the samples and tell him how to make the beat, but he'd actually do it on the sampler. About a week later, duke would say he "lost" the disks and then we'd find out that one of his boys was using the beat that I basically made.

So then you started going for self?

Yeah. I never originally thought I'd go into making beats, but it just ended up happening because we were sick of dealing with cats that would steal our tracks.

My senior year, I had my parents lump X-mas, B-day and senior grad presents into a Gemini mixer, a 4 track, some belt drive turntables and a Yamaha SU10 sampler. That was the real start for REALLY getting into making beats.

Were you already collecting source records for sampling?

A little, mostly getting stuff from people's parent's collections.

That's the way to do it. What was the first break that you copped on your own?

Grover Washington's Mister Magic. Found it in a free bin at one of my fav spots. I threw that LP on and was like, “WHAT?!” Oh... there's another... but this is more sample source than break, Bob James “Westchester Lady,” and here's the story behind that.

My man's dad had a big porn stash and one time I was over at his house and he put in this "comp" porn video. It had a ton of old 70s porn and there was this one where they were playing that Bob James track. I was like, "Oh I've got to get this." I ended up recording the porno onto tape so I had the sample.

Haha.. That's fresh.

I still probably got it somewhere

That's got to be a serious hidden track

You could hear mostly the music, but in the background you could hear some deep throat action. Ha.

On the “Basement Sessions,” you reunited your radio crew, Late Night Marauders, for a skit, which was hilarious. id you ever think of doing a podcast with the old crew?

Yeah, I've thought of stuff like that, but just recording those skits was kind of hard. They were trying so hard to sound professional and the whole thing about our show was that we were just phawking around.

So what made the LP were really the outtakes.

Carlos (aka DJ Say Ten) sent me a HUGE box of our old shows and I've been meaning to digitize them.

That's awesome. Will that be recurring in Dub Styles or other projects?

We'll see. Dub Styles will have a DJ/host vibe to it. [Dub Styles is] the mixtape that is referenced on [Basement Sessions]. But, it'll be me on the mic, as host, djing, etc.

Are you going to do multiple voices?

Naw, it'll be like B-Mello doing a mixtape.

You should get B-Mello to do it with you!

Yeah... I originally was going to have him on the version of "Dub Styles" that was featured on my LP. He said he was down, but it just never ended up happening.

He's a busy guy. He's still grinding and being a dad.

What you actually hear at the end of the track was the demo I did for B-Mello so he would know what I was wanting him to do

Are you still working on the Revisionist project?

Yeah, it's just taking time. I want to do that project right and well... MONEY

Do you have any semi-completed tracks?

Yeah, a Prince Po, Moka Only track over a flip of “I Got Cha Opin,” a flip of “Microphone Fiend” with Wildchild, Frank (Fash-1) and Verbal Math from Dolla Bin. A track with Rusty from the Mudkids on a collage of several classic tracks

Have you ever thought of shopping what you have to a label to get some support that way?

Yeah, I just haven't kissed the right babies. But, yeah, I've been wanting to shop it around, but just haven't gotten that far with many people.

I know Ubiquity said they thought my LP (Basement) was good, but not the type of music they wanted to do, so to speak. I think the issue is more... what labels are interested in some DITC type boom bap.

Ubiquity is mostly downtempo. Have you thought about being a true Seattlite and head towards Massline?

Never really thought that because I thought that my sound and subject didn't fit in with their general vibe.

I like those guys and Ra actually said he was down to work on Revisionist History.

That's cool. What's Indiana's hip-hop scene like?

It's like Seattle when [Tribal Records’ compilation] Do the Math dropped. Like there's stuff going on, but it just hasn't clicked. Rhymefest was originally from Indy

Then he abandoned it to roll as a Chicagoan, eh?

And Rusty from the Mudkids battled Eminem at the 97 Skribble Jam.

I remember that

Yeah... but I understand, Chi is 2 1/2 hours away and a MUCH bigger city. But there's stuff going on here. The thing that DOES suck is that most tours skip over Indy. They'll hit Chi and the next day be in Columbus, OH or Cinci.

But, there are some dope acts here. Mudkids, Twilight Sentinals, Ace-One, and some real dope producers here too.

That's cool. You can lead the scene, my man. So what's in the works for 2010?

I'm hoping to have Dub Styles out by the spring summer. A lot of it is done, just trying to finish up a couple tracks. Dub Styles ended up also creating another LP, which will be more of a true follow up to Basement Sessions. On some good old fashioned boom bap.

That's the best. Are you going to press Dub Styles yourself?

Well, I'll probably do a preview/leak online and see how that goes. The WISH is to do a promo pressing on tape. I am also thinking about doing a pressing on CD as well, but we'll see.

Aiight man, I gotta rap this up, so last question: what's your favorite Group Home lyric?

HAHA That's dope. "Yo, I'm coming up with mad rage/ 18 and hittin' the front page/ You know I'm makin' it/ and if I can't have it... I'm takin' it

Your pick is much better than mine, D.

What's yours?

"Hit your moms over the head with a metal pipe"

Oh, I think yours is better.

Dawhud's Myspace

Buy "Basement Sessions" at CDBaby