Roots Radical...

This little diddy features some of the dudes I have encountered on this journey called life... Some of these dudes I went to school with and some I have had the pleasure to have met or know. All are artists in their own right, creatin' music on their own terms. They are all outlaws if you will.

Steve Fontenot

Steve Fontenot - This dude I went to school with, he graduated one year before me. Steve is a stand up dude with a positive vibe and a gentle spirit. His music is simple, organic, real, and good. Steve is a laid back guy, a dude you can drink a beer with, and on occasions back in the day, that is exactly what I did with him. Check out some of his tunes...

A bit more colorful now, but this is Steve!

Westley Allen aka Big Vinny aka Westley Dotson

Westley Allen aka Big Vinny aka Westley Dotson of The Plainfield Butchers, Big Vinny and the Cattle Thieves and The Half Empties - Wes is a filthy garage punk rocker and a radio sensation for Erratic Radio!. One could say ol' Wes and I have a thing or two in common, the ability to baffle people with bullshit and subtly pursuade people to listen to tunes. Here's a tune from his latest group, The Plainfield Butchers...

Plainfield Butchers - Truckstop Urinal by mmcizmar

Westley Dotson aka Big Vinny aka Westley Allen.

John "Douche Bag" Fenney from No More Heroes - Let me set the record straight... John is a only a "Douche Bag" for not invitin' me to a Rancid show! No hard feelins' John! John was unfortunate to become acquainted with me through my family, as I have been dishin' him shit every since! He is a good dude, with a level head, a great sense of humor, and has professional schooling in the art of recording equipment in his back pocket. He pounds the skins in a punk band, No More Heroes from Arizona. I think his playin' style resembles the style of Animal from The Muppets, all over the place!!!

The real John Fenney minus the physician costume! Whata fuckin' poser!!!

No More Heroes are currently workin' on their new album. I for one, am lookin' forward to hearin' what these punkers produce! Check 'em out...

SAVAGEKAT and the LUV THUGZ

Savagekat and the Luv Thugz - Savagekat led by Mr. Savagekat himself, Shawn Maloy, create fun in the sun tunes similar to the music bySublime only with their own style, expression, and a baked in the sun lovin' Southern Colorado River vibe that can't be beat! Shawn has been tearin' up the desert near the Colorado River for years. I was fortunate enough to catch him in the earlier stages of his musical career in the a group he led called Splifrydm.

Savagekat rockin' a red bandana, flyin' V guitar, and a harmonica. Now that's multitaskin'!!!

JESSE DEL QUADRO

Jesse Del Quadro from Thee Swank Bastards and 1/2 AST - I was in the same class with this guy. Now Jesse and his fellow band mates are in a class all by themselves! Thee Swank Bastards stole a page from Pulp Fiction's wardrobe, as they rock the stylish black suits and skinny black ties. Thee Swank Bastards are carryin' the tiki torch The Ventures mastered, that being the the art of surf music. Jesse plays a mean guitar! He and his band mates are currently tearin' up Sin City. Hang Ten Motherfuckers!!! Please check out their website (click on their name): Thee Swank Bastards to listen to their bitchin' surf music!

Jesse Del Quadro of Thee Swank Bastards hailing from Sin City.

That cool dude in disguise playin' the bass is Jesse from 1/2 Ast.

And know this... "Some class is better than no class at all" - Black Crowe '11

A little word of advice for all you facebookers...

If you don't want your shit borrowed, raped, and pillaged then don't post shit public on your page, dumb asses!!! learn it, love it, live it!!!

Credit where credit is due:

Animal from The Muppets photograph via:

http://www.motifake.com/tags/muppet

All other photographs are from each of the respective artist's facebook pages. One could say I stole them. I merely borrowed them, so fuckin' get over it would ya!!!

All music is from each of the respective artist's facebook pages, also borrowed.

Thee Swank Bastards website:

http://www.theeswankbastards.com/bio.htm

A song for you...

I am not unlike many music enthusiasts, I listen to many "genres" of music. However, I have a particular fondness for music from the decades of 60's and 70's. This is in large part due to my loving parents raisin' me on tunes from the likes of The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Statler Brothers, Merle Haggard, Don Williams, Gene Watson, Waylon Jennings and the list goes on and on...

One of my fondest memories of my youth is goin' to see a Waylon Jennings concert with my Dad. Thanks Dad. I am fortunate to have an older sister who influenced my musical tastes too. I credit her with bringin' the sweet sounds of the Violent Femmes into my life. Growin' up, my Dad sat many a day singin' and playin' tunes on a guitar. On many occasions, I remember askin' him to play the song, "Proud Mary" and boy let me tell you what, he could strum the rhythm of that song like no other. If you ask him, "Who is your favorite music artist?" undoubtedly, you will receive the answer of, "Merle Haggard." I come from a family of six, two sisters and a brother. Both sisters have beautiful voices and a brother who plays a mean guitar. My Mother can sing and play guitar as well. I my friends, am the odd ball. Oh, I sing... to myself, but that is the extent of my musical talent. I like to think of myself as more of a student of music and recollections of its storied past.

A song for you...

This guy is a what I call a reclusive musician, a musician at heart, in mind, body, and soul. What he lacks is the courage to embrace the mentality of, "fuck it, I'm playin' whether you fuckers like it or not! So listen up you sons of bitches," in order to share his talent in front of a live audience(s). The talent is apparent, unless you are a fuckin' idiot! His videos can be found exclusively on youtube under "DukeMac4" playing creative, low-fi, and low-down renditions of some good cover tunes. Some of his covers are half-ass, as they are only partially completed, but nevertheless, the music is good. Music isn't about makin' pretty videos, its about creatin' good music! Learn it, love it, live it! If you are fortunate enough to have gotten a hold of a few of his bootleg cover tunes in the form of mp3 format, good for you! I do tip my hat to him for postin' this video and his others on youtube. Hell, the talented singer/songwriter, Jackie Greene posts unplugged home videos of himself singin' and playin' guitar on youtube, so why the hell not!!!

If this mysterious musician ever gains the self-confidence needed to sit in a bar and/or a coffee house and play the tunes he knows, who knows... ... ...

youtube.com

Please allow me to introduce myself...

Good mornin' to you all!

All this technology/computer shit is a bit overwhelming to me with facebook, twitter, and blogging, having to post this, blog that, tweet here. Shit, I can't keep up with the times! One could say I am outta style. Hell, I have never been in style! Unless, you consider someone who regularly wears blue jeans and a white t-shirt in style. My opinion on all this technology/computer stuff can be summed up best by Mr. Merle Haggard, "I wish a buck was still silver." If you are wonderin', "Who in the H -E - Double Hockey Sticks (translation, L - L) is Merle Haggard?" then I highly suggest you google him, I will leave it at that. A wise man once said to me, "Simple, is better." I am your garden variety family, beer, sports, and good ol' cosmic rock n' roll, shit-kickin', boot-in-your-ass country music kind of a dude. In summary, I am a simple guy.

Rules of Engagement of "My" blog:

My blog is, just that, my blog. I will be honest in my thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics. Hence, the name of my blog, "As I See It." This means I'm not gonna sugar coat shit, love it or leave it. I do however, welcome all others to express their comments and opinions. We all are entitled to our own thoughts and opinions and it is our differences that help distinguish us as individuals.

I believe in "The Golden Rule," "Treat others the way you want others to treat you." I have never encountered a single person who wanted to be treated like shit. I make a conscious effort to treat all people with courtesy, dignity, and respect. On occasions, I do fall short of this, as I am human. If you leave my blog and never return, please leave with "The Golden Rule." If you make a conscious effort to live your life in accordance with the wisdom of "The Golden Rule," your life will be better because of it and so shall the lives of all others you encounter.

Oh yeah, by the way... I'm Black Crowe. May peace be with you all...