APRIL 2012 FEATURES BELOW: - The Megaspeed Custom Car Show - The Greasemarks - Oddball Kustoms - The Koffin Kats LIVE - Eric Newstead - Okey Doke Tattoo Shop THE MEGASPEED CUSTOM CAR SHOW March 9th through 11th saw the first Megaspeed Custom Car Show take place at the Toronto International Centre and what a huge success it was. Hundred's of cars from the tricked out to the chopped, channeled and Z'd and everything inbetween. There was always something going on whether it be live music, pinstriping or even Mike Holmes signing autographs and with a steady flow of patrons coming through the door all weekend I think it's safe to say that next year will be bigger and better. Check out some photos nad video footage below from the weekend: THE GREASEMARKS The Greasemarks are a band that know what they like, do what they want and have one hell of a time doing it. Based in Guelph, Ontario this three-piece have been making some waves over the last year and with a brand new ep-cd called "Griddle Greasin' Daddies" just released it looks like 2012 is going to be a good year. If you're a fan of the old Johnny Burnette And His Rock-n-Roll Trio sound and similar artists then you will love these guys. I threw some questions at them about the band and thier new CD and this is what they threw back at me... TR: The Greasemarks have been around for a while. When did the band start and how long have you had the current members in the band for? Big Mark:  For a couple years we messed around with various line ups, not really accomplishing much. This line up got together June 2010 - the day Iggy Pop came to town to be exact. We met Heartbreak Mark at noon and by the time we left to catch Iggy it was obvious that this was gonna be the line up. He had the talent, and, for the first time, everyone in the band was on the same page musically and named Mark.  We hit the ground running with a second show in front of 400 people in Montreal, and its been great since. TR: What is the musical background of all three members? Were you all in other bands before The Greasemarks started? Big Mark: We all played in high school punk bands. I've had some lessons, but  Little Mark's the one with the extensive musical schooling. He knows some fancy chords. We all had campus radio shows, and have worked in various capacities as concert promoters. When it comes to music Heartbreak Mark is probably the most open minded of all of us, but we all dig Bad Brains, Elmore James and Derrick Morgan as much as we dig Gene Vincent. Little Mark:  and we all really hate John Mayer... (laughs) TR: What's the writing process for The Greasemarks. Is it a combined effort or one person bringing an entire song to the table? Heartbreak Mark: Big Mark has an extensive collection of fifties nudie mags, we hang out at his place and re-write the photo captions into songs haha. Big Mark: Lovely Lydia & her 46-26-36 Boogie... Little Mark: Sugar and Spice, and all her Vice... Heartbreak Mark: Otherwise one person brings a rough song to the table, and we'll all chip at it sorta thing. Big Mark: We try to write stuff that sounds like it was done in the fifties, musically & lyrically. It also has to jive with the Greasemarks mindset. Getting in that headspace is difficult; generation Y-ers from suburban Toronto don't innately have a whole lot in common with the guys born in Arkansas shacks who came of age in the decade after World War Two. None of us were raised in a musical vacuum either. In a perfect world it would be child abuse to expose your children to the likes of Bryan Adams and Dire Straits like we were in the 80's - but we're working through it. TR: What is the Greasemarks mindset? Heartbreak Mark: Young men not thinking much beyond the most base interests. (laughs) TR: Who are the band's greatest influences? Heartbreak Mark: Link Wray, the fear of God, & Girls in various stages of undress. Little Mark: Musically - the guys on the periphery of fifties rockabilly who were just too wild, or weird, to make it at the time. Guys like Jimmy Wages, Ray Harris, & Gene Maltais. We're influenced by the nineties European attitude towards rockabilly music - treating it with respect, playing it as it was played in the fifties, & not presenting it as a silly caricature. TR : You have just recently released your first CD-ep called "Griddle Greasin' Daddies". How has the response been to it so far? Heartbreak Mark: Yeah, it's been online for a while but we get constant requests at shows for CDs. The positive feedback we received for the recordings convinced us to do a physical release - although CDs seem to be more of a souvenir for show goers than anything. TR :  Yeah, the new "old-age" question…CD, vinyl or digital download?  Would you have liked to release the album on vinyl, and how have the download sales been? What's your take on the whole thing? Little Mark: The lion's share of digital sales have been in Europe weirdly enough, and we haven't done anything to push it over there. CDs move briskly at live shows, but we haven't sold that many online yet. You're reaching two different audiences, ultimately both are important, but I think on the level we operate you'd fail now if you didn't rely mainly on digital media to push you. The traditional media channels like college radio, and independent publications have largely been replaced by podcasts and fantastic sites like yours. Big Mark: You know what, we recently had a discussion on the topic of putting money into forty-fives or a semi-pro video. Discussion subsequently broke down over how many pin up girls we could hire for the video, but the consensus was for more media we could push online. Heartbreak Mark: Pin up girls please forward photos to "Heartbreak Mark". Little Mark:  Not sure about a full LP, we do want to do a forty-five - the ideal format for this music - but we're waiting on a recording we're especially happy with, considering the expense. TR: How did the recording for the album go? You recorded it all on fifties analogue gear, correct? Big Mark:  It was recorded over two days at Bharath Rajakumar's Regal Radio Studios, in Montreal. Bharath is a renowned harmonica player, he's set up a space with all analogue forties & fifties gear.  The stuff that comes outta there sounds so much like those Chess blues records its crazy. A mutual friend suggested it as the right place for us to record. Everything was recorded live, the levels were adjusted by the engineers on the fly, the echo was added in the moment with a second apex machine. What was on the tape at the end of the song was it. No over dubs, a few mistakes left in -  the perfect way to record the music we're doing. As far as the actual gear goes, we promised not to say. TR: The Greasemarks have a very unusual rhythm section with Little Mark playing the upright as well as a drum with his left foot. How on earth did you come up with this? Little Mark: Out of necessity. When our drummer quit six days before we were booked to play the Red Hot & Blue Festival we had to improvise. With no time to find, and rehearse, somehow we came up with that. At the time it was our singer who did the foot snare, but when Heartbreak Mark joined the band he indicated stage dives were high on his list of priorities. Heartbreak Mark: Heck yeah! Little Mark: So, I took it up. It cuts down on the bass theatrics; thankfully.  But musically it fits the sound we want. It's not as though there were massive drum sounds on rockabilly recordings - if there were drums at all. Big Mark: On the practical side it allows us to play smaller spaces, plus it's way easier to travel with three guys and no drum kit. Last year we drove to Montreal in a two door accord with all our gear. Heartbreak Mark: We didn't say comfortably. (Laughs) TR: I know you're all fans of the vintage amps and gear. What are your current set ups and what is it about the vintage gear that attracts you so much? Big Mark: Haha while Heartbreak Mark deals with female attention after sets, Little Mark and I often end up discussing our gear with.. not females. Heartbreak Mark: My guitar came from a dumpster... Little Mark: I use a '54 Kay plywood bass, with gut strings, and a fifties Ampeg tweed bass amp, when it works. Vintage gear is tricky with the bass. The technology to properly amplify a bass with a pickup didn't really come about until the mid 70s with the Underwood pickup. That's why I usually use a microphone on my bass live. It just sounds better. Big Mark: The guitars include a '59 Gretsch 6186, a '59 Airline, & a parts Telecaster. My amp is a 1966 National Newport - essentially the same amp as a Supro Thunderbolt. They're known for their overdrive but no one mentions the concentrated clarity they have clean. Part of it is a tactic connection to what we're doing - I mean if you're gonna spend a couple nights a week playing this music you may as well have a usable approximation of the gear it was created with; Star Wars dorks spend as much on Jar Jar Binks outfits. We've both spent years going through quantities of gear till we arrived at the stuff we've been happy with. Including a lot of not that great, expensive, modern, and vintage, Gretsch, Gibson, & Fender stuff. Comparatively it now looks like I have a pile of trashed old junk - but it all plays and sounds great, and no individual piece has cost more than $800.  The vintage guitar components, finish materials, and plenty time to age, help the tone, but I wouldn't say this stuff is necessarily good because it's vintage, the appeal is that it's good stuff that can be had cheap cause its old. Mass produced modern guitars and amps- even the top end stuff - tend to be sonically mediocre, in favour of a better bottom line. Boutique stuff can be killer, but its expensive. This is how I've gotten the most value for the money invested. I'm the furthest thing from a vintage gear collector, it all gets used constantly. Get within twenty feet of our gear and you'll see there's a reason we're not allowed nice things. Little Mark: We both have plenty horror stories about dealing with vintage gear, like four figure repair estimates for his Gretsch Anniversary, a tape echo that worked for 72 hours before becoming a paperweight, or the time I took on the aforementioned Ampeg's "death cap". TR: Big Mark - you've got some great pinstriping on your Gretsch. Who did the striping? Big Mark: No idea.. I actually get asked that a fair amount. I got the Gretsch from The Alley Dukes guitarist, Zak, right after their last show. I know the pinstriping was done at the 2004 Road Agents Rumble in Connecticut. That's a fantastic guitar, but it sounds better the harder it's played, and consequently there's less striping on it after every show. On the subject theres a guy in Guelph named Rollie who did some fantastic pinstriping on my Plymouth, and another Danelectro guitar I had. (Check out his website - http://rollieguertin.typepad.com). See photo of Rollie in above article painting the "MegaSpeed" cooler box) TR: I absolutely love the 3 videos you have up called the "Backyard Bench Sessions". The sound is great, the video is awesome and it somehow really catches that "live, rootsy vibe". How did that come about?  Big Mark:  Thanks! They were done in Waterloo by our friend Erik - who also plays in a hipster-punk band called The Decay. He recorded several 519-area bands playing acoustically in his backyard, I think our videos were the only ones that had the concessions of an amplified guitar. You can't see the mics but the songs were done live in the space, and captured us well I think. Only took about forty-five minutes, we went straight from there to play a show at a nearby Tattoo Shop. We joked for a while after that he did a better job recording us outdoors than some studios had, but those videos have got us some great attention. TR: So now that the album is done and released, what's ahead for The Greasemarks? Heartbreak Mark: In May we're playing a show with Tennessee Voodoo Coupe where we're going to play the Johnny Burnette R'n'R Trio album in its entirety, and TVC are gonna do the Shakin' Pyramids Skin 'Em Up. This July we're booked to head out to the East Coast, and in August there's a big car show in Rigaud, Quebec, we're excited to play. We're hoping to record a few songs with our friend - the fourth Greasemark - Sugar Brown. We have a bunch of weddings, car shows, and parties booked for the summer, there's always something, and it's always fun. Big Mark:  Haha, to be honest we don't really do well with making plans, we just kinda do what we do and see what we bump into along the way. Find out more about The Greasemarks at www.greasemarks.com. Photos: SarahTphoto.ca. ODDBALL KUSTOMS I have known about Oddball Kustoms for a good couple of years whether it be through online or in the magazines and there has always been something about the cars that come out of the shop that have really grabbed my attention. I was fortunate enough to meet Stony, the owner and brains behind Oddball Kustoms at the Megaspeed Custom Car show this year and was pleasantly surprised by his friendliness and eagerness to chat to an utter stranger. Now I am the first to admitt that I am not too clued up in the mechanics and metal shaping of building hot rods but I do recognise talent and passion, and Stony had it all. I was able to send Stony some questions on his shop and his life and thoughts on the hot rod world. Check it out: TR: Alright, let's start at the beginning.when did you get into building hot rods and building these monsters? STONY: Around 91 Started putting scooters and motorcycles together for myself, then people started asking me to do it for them. I got my foot in the door at Leitner and Bush and really started building whacky stuff -with all that tooling at our disposal you can build whatever your mind wants -then in 03 when I won the Monster Garage car show here in Toronto things took off TR: How long as Oddball Kustoms been going for? STONY: Although I've been called an Oddball all my life it started in 05 TR: What has been your favorite build to date? STONY: Always the next one... but for now The Bootch is still in my mind -complete custom from front to back TR: Megaspeed Custom Car Show has come and gone and you had two builds at the show. The Bootch and the 55 Ford. How was the response to the builds? STONY: The 55 Ford, although custom is very contemporary and receive 11 awards that night -The Bootch didn't fit any of the predesigned categories and got lumped into a special interest class with Tow Trucks!? And received 2nd place? Whatever.... I build cars that I like, I'm not worried about what people think. TR: The Bootch is quite an unusual car with that long nose. Tell us a bit more about the build and the details? STONY: I modeled the Bootch off the 1932 Bucciali -a really cool car that has great 30's period look, I found the dimensions online, downloaded some pics and started scaling to build a full sized version. TR: What were your thoughts on the Megaspeed show in general? It was a new show with new organizers. STONY: I think the show was tired and need a kick in the butt -Pat did a great job with the MegaSpeed show at it and I think it went over well, I'm sure it will be bigger and better next year. TR: Run us through an average day for Stony at Oddball Kustoms? STONY: Every day is a puzzle of car pieces to put together, Usually I'm trying to figure out the plan of attack or ordering stuff in for builds, or building -loads of cutting, welding, hammering, and repeat in various order. TR: Some of your builds have had some amazing paintwork. Is it done in house or do you have several artists you like to use? Who in your opinion are some of Canada's best pinstripers/automotive artists? STONY: I don't get involved with paint whatsoever, paint is finicky -if one thing goes wrong it looks likes butt, I try to introduce the customer to the painter then walk away -I can spray bomb stuff at best. Best painters... that a tough one depends on money show quality paint can get crazy -everyone has their own talents, As a recommendation I tell people to go with someone they can get along with, stay away from collision shops -crap quality, crap attitudes especially towards custom cars. Keep the painter happy, and he's happy to work on your car. TR: Who are some of your favorite builders here in Canada? STONY: To be honest, I very seldom look at the car, style is subjective -parts are parts, they can be made with good engineering or can be bubble gum welded pieces of junk -I look at the small stuff, the fabrication that makes up the car and how it flows together, I'm not sure if I have a favorite builder, I just like to see non contemporary stuff driving down the road, I don't care what shop it came from or who built it -a nice car is a nice car. TR: Summer is finally coming up. Are there any up and coming shows that you'll be showing some of your builds at? STONY: The Bootch will be out driving around all summer; I'm planning to take it to as many happenings as possible with the owner. TR: What's the next big project going down at Oddball? STONY: Finish up all the stuff that got left behind because of the Bootch and the 55 Ford truck! Me and my son picked up a 1944 Chevy CMP CGT -basically a 9' tall army truck that will have a post apocalyptic style -this will be the first fun vehicle that I've had for myself in 10years -eeesh. You can find out more about Stony and his Oddball Kustom world at www.oddballkustoms.com. THE KOFFIN KATS LIVE - 08 APRIL KOFFIN KATS - "OUR WAY & THE HIGHWAY TOUR" This trio blasted out of Detroit 10 years ago with the mission to not stop for anything and began what the KOFFIN KATS are known for - NON STOP TOURING. With their love for their fans and for the road they set out to play everywhere willing to listen to them, which helped to cement KOFFIN KATS as one of the top acts in the world of punk rockabilly. The new album released January 2012: "Our Way & The Highway", is a culmination of all things KOFFIN KATS with their rich history, road scars, and outlaw psycho punk blood running furiously through every ear-ripping track. Catch KOFFIN KATS LIVE IN TORONTO SUNDAY APRIL 8 @ 9PM 19+ $8 w/ the KATACOMBS and BLACK CAT ATTACK Bovine Sex Club - 542 Queen St. W. FACEBOOK EVENT: http://www.facebook.com/events/324222327645182 http://www.KOFFINKATSrock.com ERIC NEWSTEAD - OKEY DOKE TATTOO SHOP I met Eric Newstead by accident when I walked past his shop on College street while getting some prints made at a store a couple of shops up. Now I don't normally just walk into tattoo shops but I was blown away by the shop signage he had on his store front window. Today, most stores rely on some badly designed vinyl cut out signage that does nothing but bore the crap out of you and make the street look stale. So I stuck my head in to find the inside of Okey Doke Tattoos just as interesting and exciting as the outside and got chatting with Eric about his signage, the shop and tatoos. TR: What were you doing before you started tattooing? Eric: I was a petrolium flow co-ordinator. TR: How did you get started tattooing? Eric: I was offered an apprenticeship by Os parredes at Tatarama in 1995. TR: You now run and operate out of your own shop on College Street called Okey Doke Tattoo. When did the shop open and what was the reason for opening up your own shop? Eric: I opened this shop in September 2011. I had been on Queen St. at New Tribe for ten years, and I just figured if I was ever going to do it I better get to it. TR: How has business been so far? Eric: So far both Kyle Hollingdrake and I have been busier than we expected. Especially opening in the fall, which is typically when it slows down for tattooing. We also have a new tattooer named Alex Snelgrove who originally was doing hand poke tattooing but has made the switch to electric, and has been quite busy. TR: What are the pros and cons of running your own tattoo shop? Eric: The cons are now I have to remember to order supplies and pay bills, which never ends. I'm not an organized person by nature. The pro's are, I get to decide everything about the look and atmosphere of the shop. I also live in this neighborhood so i walk to work and my dog comes with me. Working on queen can get pretty crazy hectic so the change of pace is nice to. TR: Who are the other artists that work with you in the shop? Eric: Kyle Hollingdrake , Alex Snelgrove (BIG AL) , and Rollo. TR: Do you have a specific style of tattooing and subject matter that you prefer doing? Eric: We like to do all styles of tattooing, but I guess traditional japanese and classic western (old school) is what we are trying to focus on. If it looks like a tattoo I'm having fun. TR: What do you think of all the tattoo reality shows that have been popping up over the last couple of years? I presume it must be good for business, but do you think it's taken a bit of the "hardcore/edge" away from the tattoo lifestyle? Eric: The shows are kind of silly. I don't think it's made us busier, I think they made the shows because tattooing became more popular. So they should be thanking us. Anything that becomes popular in the media becomes more watered down, less tough, look at punk rock. When i first started tattooing it was hard to get a seat in a nice restaurant, but now they fall over them selves just in case you're famous. TR: Apart from the guys that you work with, are there any tattoo artists or artists in general that are really impressing you these days? Eric: There is too much talent to mention everyone! Passage Tattoo, New Tribe ,tcb, Archive, Speakeasy, Pearl Harbor Tattoo ..... TR: What is your biggest goal in tattooing? Eric: I just want to improve every day, same as anybody in a trade. TR: What's ahead for yourself and the Okey Doke Shop? Eric: Goofy hi-jinx, mysterious capers, revolutionary mop storage (this shop is really small). To find out more about Eric and his tattoo shop Okey Doke Tattoos visit their website at www.okeydoketattoo.com. PRE-FEBRUARY FEATURE BELOW: - The Matadors LIVE THE MATADORS LIVE Blacktooth Entertainment, in collaboration with Toronto Rockabilly, present a night of good ol' fashioned punk rock and all-around good times, bringing together The Matadors, Maximum RnR and Rehab for Quitters on February 18 at The Hard Luck Bar (812 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON). As creators of the horrorbilly genre, The Matadors have been wreaking havoc across Canada since the mid-90s, delivering a live show they describe is "like being in a funhouse that has been set on fire" and who could complain about that? "Since this is our last year on earth, we urge everyone to bring a helmet to the shows of 2012 due to the fact that each venue will be left in a bloody mess once we blow your fucking minds. It's considerations like these that make The Matadors the consummate professionals we are... It warms my heart that I have the capacity to be so charitable and magnanimous to allow these bands to pay tribute to The Matadors. Perhaps I will give them all pats on the head when they are kissing my ring right before they sweep up after the show." - The Great Hooch Joining the Kings of Horrobilly will be punk rockers Maximum RnR who have no less than two albums and over 300 tour dates behind them, as well as Rehab For Quitters, a band synonymous with, as they put it, "beer swigging good times and good ol' fashioned rock 'n' roll debauchery." Date: Saturday, February 18, 2012 Venue: Hard Luck Bar, 772 Dundas West Time: 7:30pm (19+) Cost: $15 at Door - $12 Advance. Tickets Available at Rotate This! (801 Queen Street West Toronto) & online through Paypal: send $12.00 to blacktoothentertainment@gmail.com Bands: THE MATADORS www.facebook.com/pages/THE-MATADORS/8773185843 www.thematadors.net MAXIMUM RNR www.maximumrnr.com http://maximumrnr.bandcamp.com REHAB FOR QUITTERS www.facebook.com/RehabForQuitters www.myspace.com/rehabforquitters In association with TORONTO ROCKABILLY: www.torontorockabilly.com DECEMBER FEATURES BELOW: - The Millwinders - New Years Eve with The Millwinders - "Big Stevie" Sharp Pinstriper THE MILLWINDERS I've said it before and I'll say it again...Toronto has a brilliant rockabilly scene, and one of those reason's is because of the band The Millwinders. Consisting of James Henry on guitar & vocals, Sarah Butler on bass & vocals, Johnny Gallagher on guitar & vocals and Glenn Kimberly on drums & vocals this four piece has been taking Toronto by storm. And with a new album in the works and a spot on next year's Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend line up, it looks like 2012 is going to be the year for The Millwinders. I sent John and James a couple of questions to find out how things are going and what's going on with the band... TR: Let's jump straight in. Where does the name The Millwinders come from, and how long have you guys been around for? James: A "Millwinder" is a hot rod term describing someone who drives their engine, or their "mill" pretty hard. Our bass player and singer, Sarah Butler's fiance Lorne Brand, came up with it actually. We had kicked around a few names, but it just seemed like the right fit. We have been playing together almost two years, doing our first gig in March 2010. TR: The last I heard you guys were in the process of recording a new album. How are things going with that? James: It's going well, we are just about there, putting the finishing touches on it now. These things always take longer than you plan for. We are pretty excited about it though. It was recorded completely on analog 2" tape at Chemical Sound in Toronto, using all pre 1960 mics and tube gear. Its got a great warm sound thanks to Jay Sadlowski and the crew at Chemical. TR: What's the writing process for The Millwinders? Is it a group effort or done by one member? John: I think we all contribute in one way or another. Sometimes one of us will write out some lyrics without any melody in mind and we'll all think of something for it, sometimes, at least in some of the songs that I've written, I'll have a melody or tune in mind and all the lyrics written out, and we'll check it out, tweak it here and there if it needs an adjustment, and it becomes a new tune as well. Some songs may be more "prepared" by one member at first, but I think we all get together, work on them, and they become something that every member has had some input on with varying ideas and such, and it becomes another Millwinders tune. TR: Do you have an expected date of release for the new album? James: We are looking at an early New Years release. We are gonna do a series of release parties in a bunch of cities for it. Keep your eyes peeled! TR: What are your thoughts on the decrease of CD sales and music sales in music world today? Is it a worrying factor for a band such as yourselves? John: I don't think Music is facing a decline in the total amount of sales or people listening etc. In face I think more people these days listen to music as a whole, as any time before now. The ways in which people are acquiring music has definitely changed, and there is a lot more downloading, buying online and sharing going on, as it is way easier than ever to share music these days. You used to dub a tape and it would take 20 to 40 minutes, and they you'd bring it to a friend. Now a days, you can download it, and send it to a friend in another country in 5 minutes. So I think it hasn't really declined as much as it has only changed. TR: You guys got invited to play at next year's Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. How did that come about and have you got anything exciting planned for that weekend? James: I had submitted some tracks and info just after the last Viva Las Vegas, and they got in touch offering us a slot. We are pretty excited to play. I have been down to the weekend probably around 7 or 8 times, and have always been impressed with the level of music. There is always one or two bands that I havent heard of that really surprise and impress me. I am hoping we can be that band for some folks in the audience. We got a great slot playing at 7:30 on the Friday evening. Should be a lot fun, and hopefully there will be a strong Toronto crowd there. We are just gonna try and do a great set, playing alot of original material and some choice covers, oh...and cocktails in my room after.......! TR: Who are some of your favorite Canadian rockabilly bands at the moment? John: Some of my favourites are first and foremost, the Royal Crowns. They are fantastic players, and great people too. Danny Bartley is a monster guitarist, and they have got to be one of the top acts in Rockabilly, not just Canada. Other acts and players I really like are The Swingin' Blackjacks and Matt Allen, Alistair Christyl, Ronnie Hayward, Ancient Chinese Secret (Brian Connelly), Paul Pigat and Cousin Harley, The Rizdales, Burnin' Ethyl (Great guys!), The Howling Bullets and Dano VonDrat. James: Yeah the Crowns are great, and good friends of The Millwinders. I have heard their upcoming record and it's killer. Definately worth picking up when it comes out. I have always been a fan of Matt Allen too. I think it is interesting to note that all the bands listed by Johnny and I there have one thing in common, they are all really nice people. It makes it even more of a pleasure to listen to them. TR: Are The Millwinders planning on hibernating this winter or will we be seeing some shows from you over the next couple of months? James: We will be out playing here and there. The real push will come when the record is released though. We are playing a nice little gig on New Years eve at the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville, so that will be fun. Stay tuned to torontorockabilly.com for more gig info! TR: What are your thoughts on the Canadian, and specifically Toronto rockabilly scene? You happy with the support it's getting? James: well this is probably the third wave of a "scene" that I have been involved in here in Toronto, and I think it is bigger than ever. The bands are great, old and new, the fans are great, and its seems that more bars are willing to take a chance on Rockabilly. I mean, its such a no brainer. Its upbeat, the fans are respectful, get dressed up, and they drink.....we are happy to be part of the Toronto "scene", as fans too. We get out to as many shows as we can. Its important to support the music. You guys are doing a great job with this website. It was much needed. TR: What can we expect in the future from The Millwinders? James and John (in unison): Total world domination!.....the Rockabilly world that is....... You can find out more about The Millwinders at their following sites: Facebook: www.facebook.com/themillwinders You Tube: www.youtube.com/themillwinders NEW YEARS EVE WITH THE MILLWINDERS The Moonshine Cafe in Oakville, will be boppin in the New Year with The Millwinders. This great intimate venue, will host a full evening of The Millwinders, playing a mix of covers and originals of their upcoming debut release. Music gets going around 10. Tickets are $20.00, and that includes Champagne at midnight. Don't delay getting tickets as this night will sell out. For more information and Tickets, contact the Moonshine Cafe at 905 844-2655. The Moonshine is Located at: 137 Kerr St. Oakville, ON http://www.themoonshinecafe.com "BIG STEVIE" SHARP PINSTRIPER "Big Stevie" Sharp is a man you just can't ignore...and I am not talking about his "larger-than-life" biker persona and great white beard. No, I'm talking about his creative ability with a brush and One Shot Ink. Studying the style of "Big Daddy" Roth and mixing it with his own flare "Big Stevie" Sharp is continuesly putting out amazing artwork that is thick with detail and color. A true master of his craft and if not already, becoming a legend in the Canadian Kustom Art scene. We threw some questions at "Big Stevie" Sharp and this is what he threw back. Enjoy: TR: What got you started in this crazy world of kustom painting? BIG: I've always loved the style, as a kid i was always pasting the walls with hot rod pics and kustom bikes! I just love the bike scene! TR: You've been in the screen printing industry since 1978. Are you still heavily involved with screen printing. BIG: I was in the screening bus. for a very long time. I owned screening shops, both at about 8 years each. I've also worked in various shops over the years. If I look back and think of how many stencils I've drawn and hand cut! I've done thousands and then some! I was 10 years at the last shop, but jobs just kinda went down and down, till my job was defunked! Now I've been out of screening for 3 years. TR: You seem to have a natural eye for the whole hot rod and Rat Fink style of painting. Was it something you grew up around? BIG: When i first saw "BigDaddy" Roth's work, i thought man!!! thats koool! His stuff did it for me! After awhile i would find myself drawing rat finks with my brothers on the kitchen table. Now a few years down the road, here I am still paintin em!!! When i paint finks I want to get the design as true to Roth's, the way he did back in the day. I've got big respect for those designs, so I want them to be how they were!! TR: Do you remember what your first paying job was where you got to sling One Shot Ink? BIG: I don't remember my first paying job using 1-shot but, I did start using it in the '80s!! I just loved the stuff.....painting on glass, doing window splashes and signs. I did alot of freelance stuff right of of school. Now shoot up to date... i'm real new to the striping scene. i've only started striping in january 2010. I just love working it, i'm learning new things every day. TR: Do you have a specific process for your paintings? Rough sketch first, then trace or free hand on to the panels, etc, etc? It looks like a lot of your art ideas gets sketched out on napkins. Is there a reason for that or do you just find yourself doodling while out drinking coffee? BIG: The process i use when starting a new piece....... I'll usually do a layout first. I'll do some sort of rough sketch, then when i'm happy I'll apply it to whatever with a transfer sheet called sorral, or for a quick one off job I'll just freehand it with a stabillo pencil, then I'll paint away!! I've always done art on napkins... I keep napkins in my pocket all the time and some sort of pen. You never know when your gonna get an idea and you need to put it down. I just love drawing cartoonies!! TR: With the obvious being Mr. Roth. Who else has influenced you in your painting career? BIG: Growing up I just loved ROTH stuff, but i also loved the big name fine art painters. I really liked "FRAZETTA" paintings and the underground comic scene. I liked "R CRUMB", "RICK GRIFFIN", "RAND HOLMS" and "STAN MOUSE"! Just to name a few. Their styles gave me a certain flavour all in their own. TR: Run us through an average day for Big Stevie Sharp? BIG: My day consists of checking out all my messages on the computer, post some art on the phl (Pinhead Lounge). Then I'll go out to the luv shack and prep for a paint job. Then 11:30 am leave for coffee, back at 1:00 pm and paint till 5:00pm in the winter months! In the summer months Im riding the scoot and painting!! TR: What would you say, has been your most favorite piece/job you've done to date? BIG: I'd say my best or favourite piece to date would have to be my wood coffinbox that I wood burned, and a large panel I striped called "you've been finked"! TR: It looks like you've pretty much done it all from cars to bikes, wooden panels to signage and even a cow skull. Is there a project that you would still like to do that you haven't had the chance yet? BIG: I'm still thinking about doing up my NEW SCOOTER!! I think she's gonna be a "rat fink" theme!! Well that's my idea!! I also gotta catch up on panel swaps!! TR: Now not only are you a killer painter but you seem to have a huge talent for wood burning. That is not an art form you see very often. What got you in to that? BIG: I love to paint, but I also love to wood burn, I used to do it as a little kid. I got back into it a while back. I bought one of those $10.00 plug in burners. I thought if you can draw, you can burn. Only set back is you can't erase boo boos!! I use a pro burner now, way more control on the heat! TR: A question we always like to ask, who are some of your favorite Canadian pinstripers and custom artists? Who's impressing you these days? BIG: A far as my favorite canadian stripers. I am very new to the style. So I'm just in contact with painters on the (PHL) pinhead lounge! But the old timer veterans on there are awesome people. So many great talents! On the top of my head, 3 guys stand out for me are "JACK LINDENBURGER", "AL "BRUSH" BATTISTA", and "DONNIE STROTHERS"!! They are the go to guys for me when I get in trouble!! But I tell ya, there are so many great talents on the PHL to list!! A great bunch of people!! TR: What's ahead for Big Stevie Sharp? Any big future plans? BIG: I have no big future plans ahead..... I'm still doing my thing in the love shack beside my house!! I just truely love the style and the people involved in it!! If you'd like to hire "BIG STEVIE" for a kustom job or would just like to see more of his work check out his site at Pinhead Lounge HERE. FEATURES ARCHIVE: OCTOBER 2011 SEPTEMBER 2011 AUGUST 2011 JULY 2011