Interview wish Brad Rudyk of Soundskraper!!

Brad -ok.....just gotta fix me a drink first
BSK-fuck yeah dude im gunna grab a couple brews too!

Bard-scotch, beer.....good to go
BSK-Fuckin eh man lets get into it! .. first off I have to say I have always liked your stage shows .. what is your favorite song to play on stage?

Brad-Well, that seems to change every show!! I like "Sheep" because it seems to be more recognized from the video that Doug Raffan made for us, but I would have to say my personal favorite is "Krawl," it just has such killer energy and its how we've been ending the set lately.
BSK-hahaha I was just watchin the vid for Sheep and it is phenomenal .. i will post a link on the interview ...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Mtrjo-49Y

Brad-awesome!
BSK-When did you start playing and what was you musical development like to get where you are?

BRAD- I started playing guitar when I was about 15. Just sitting in my folks' basement learning Sabbath and Metallica riffs ( yeah, yeah....original....right??). I started writing my own little riffs and jammed on them with my good friend and fantastic drummer Scott, who helped me appreciate changes and dynamics. I kept at that and began writing more riffs and sequences, playing with any musician who wanted to jam; almost never a full band until Soundskraper. We played together for a couple of weeks and then Sy (singer) said, "Ok, I booked a show for us." My God!! Put up or shut up time!! lol. I never bothered to learn or try solos before Soundskraper either, but hey made me do it....and I'm very happy they did!
BSK-I'm happy they did too! ... The steps from playing garage to bar shows is a hard transition for some up and coming kids out of high school and on that have never played a live show at a bar .. what would you say to them about that?

Brad- What helped me was knowing that it was just another jam; except with a few more people. If you fuck up, chances are no else knows unless YOU make it known, just keep playing, and have fun up there; after all that's kinda the goal. Everyone goes to shows to have a good time, and that should include the musicians too
BSK- Very well said!! ..
What is the cool shit coming up with soundskraper ?

Brad- Well, we have some shows lined up and a few new songs that have shaped up nicely, and our friend SJ from Lykana Ink in Ireland has designed our album art which should be out by the end of the year.
BSK- fuckin eh! .. well let get to some fun questions.. If you were to open for any band living or dead who would it be?

Brad- Sharon, Lois, and Brahm. Definately.  lol I always kinda thought it would be cool to open for Lamb of God or Orange Goblin, dead I would have to go with Burtontallica, or GWAR. But then again there's a bajillion to choose from ><
BSK-   R.I.P Oderous for sure .. speaking of the dead .. If the world was infected by a virus and made a bunch of flesh eating zombies what would you do?

Brad-  Grab some brews and head to the mountains. Nature would deal with there inability to deal with the cold and terrain. I should probably grab my guitar too.......
BSK-Fuckin eh! .. you ready to be the first to get speed rounded on questions?

Brad-  scotch refill and then yes
BSK-lemme know when and then we hit it!!

Brad- ready bro
Bsk-favorite cheeseburger?
Brad-fatburger double
BSK-best place to play?
Brad-Republik
BSK-favorite band?
Brad-Sabbath. Always and forever.
BSK-Have you ever seen a monkey throw poo?
Brad-you tube only. Mind you my son did once......
BSK-last time you swore at a cop?
Brad-Wrongful arrest doing late night contract work downtown. LEGIT contract work!!!
BSK-Cheesecake or mac and cheese?
Brad-Mac and cheesecake, duh!
BSKGirlfriend or guitarBrad- what's the difference??
BSK-I'm the one asking the questions lol

Brad-lol! Fair enough! I'm just saying that both are fun to play with
BSK-Well put my friend! I can wait to see you guys play again !! anything to say to my readers?

Brad-Local music in Calgary right now is better than I can remember, with bands like Mass Control, Negative Earth, The Buffet, Escaping Evil, and the many others you can catch on any given weekend, get out there, support, and have a GOOD TIME!! (especially if Soundskraper is playing of course)
BSK-Dude it was a pleasure chatting with you! Share the shit out of this it will be posted soon and i will tag you and the band!

Brad-Thank you so much Brad! I'm glad for the opportunity, and next time we meet the brews are on me brotha!!
Fuckin eh! I will hold ya to that hahaha
Cheers!!!

Interview with local artist - Jason Lai!!!

BSK-yeah man lemme grab a brew and my questions and get this fucker going!

JL-ahhhh yussss

BSK-lets getter going! Jason Lai ! .. Lets start off with what you do and pride yourself in with the arts industry.

JL-I play guitar on the front lines liberating people with my music!

I also draw abstract art on the side

BSK-I know that you have been working with bands .. is that something you would pursue?

JL-Being in a band for me is a hobby. Growing up in an asian family, everyone always tells me (And I suppose the idea is now implanted in my head) that music and the arts are always secondary.

I would most definitely pursue it if I were signed though

BSK-Being signed limits you in massive ways artisticly btw .. I hope you know that.

JL-I do. But I'm just having fun as I go. I'm assuming if I was signed doing something I liked, that I would be going down a right path

But I suppose that's always a problem when a hobby becomes a job.

then it's never as enjoyable.

BSK-who would be you biggest influence ?

JL-Having an extremely broad taste in music, and being influenced by everyone, I can't say i'm more heavily influenced by certain artists more than others.

But if I had to choose, I'd say my biggest influence in art would be CS Lewis. The writer of "Alices Adventures in wonderland and Through The Looking Glass"

BSK-C.S. Lewis was a great inspiration for many! can ya tell me more about the new band you are heading?

JL-I'm in an Experimental punk band right now called "One Empire Down".

We call ourselves "Experimental" because each member has a different background in music and style.

Our frontman (Tyler) has a 90's punk sound most of the time for his riffs and songs. Our bassist (Chase) has a more metal edge to him. And I'm kind of like the old rock/heavy blues kinda guy.

When we all come together, it sounds like shit, but I love it. I can just focus on having fun, instead of constantly be under the pressure of being good all the time. But I guess it all sounds pretty good in the end. hahahaha

BSK-what would you think that the music industry needs?

JL-Right now I believe the music industry solely needs variety.

Both the hollywood scene and the rock/metal scene.

Once in a while there's a really funky sound that comes up, and then everyone else tries to be that funky sound. there needs to be more uniquely funky sounds if you know what i'm saying

BSK-for my last question as you may know homie  .. what would you do in a zombie apocalypse ??

I'd grab my bag, pack First Aid kit, pack my pre vaccuum-packed change of clothes, pack my compact survival pack, grab my foldable shovel, grab my machete, throw on my travel clothes, pack my travel pack, phone and ipod with their respective cables and a crank charger, and meet my crew at a specified location and drive to the edge of the city, loot some small towns, and hole out somewhere in the countryside until we need to relocate to the mountains.

I'm ready for this shit. hahaha

Check out Jason Lai's Band One Empire Down Here!!

And Some of his artwork for ya!!!

Cheers!!

This weekends shows!! Happy Friday 13th!!

Tonight!!
Frankie McQueen CD release w/ Alkatine and MANcub
Check it out here

Risky Endeavor , Oh Shit, The Ativans , Mayland and the Detractions @Dickens pub.
Check it out here

Timber Timbre @ Republik w/ Andy Shauf ..
Here is the event.

Friday the 13 show!!
Sparrows over spain w/ The Fangles , Wookhawk and Paliser are all playing down at VERNS
event here

Saturday!!

Pups on the patio @Ranchmans ..Fundraiser.

Jenevive album release w/ Big City , Run Deer Run and more @ Republik
check it out here

SENTIENT @VERNS w/ Hive and Broken Authority
check it here

HAVOK , Wretched , Shrapnal and Doberman @ Palomino Smokehouse
check it out here

Get out and have some fuckin fun on Friday the 13th !! Stay safe!! Cheers!!

Band of the week!! - Moosifix

This weeks band of the week is Moosifix!
The last time I got the see these guys live was quite some time ago but since then I have heard more and more about how well they are moving around the scene like bosses. I wouldn't be surprised to see the next big move to be something killer!! .. picture rotting teeth being shit kicked out of the mouths of an army consisting of blood thirsty metal heads with one mutual goal! - Moosifixion!

I have seen so much of this band mixed into some of the greatest lineups with a whole ton of great local and touring bands! 

make sure to check out the Reverbnation page here

Bandcamp page here.. To listen to some of their tunes! 

Cheers! -BSK

Tonight!! - METALFEST KICKS OFF!!!

This show deserves some recognition on its own outside of the whole festival because of the killer lineup of Calgary "legends to be" bands including ALKATINE, Throne Of Vengeance , Open Air, Million Dollar Fix and the great Chron Goblin!!! its wednesday you say? Well fuck you take the day off tomorrow and go to the Ship and Anchor on 17ave tonight!!!

Cheers! - BSK