Naked and Shameless = Drunkabilly

Complete the sentence. Naked and Shameless are...

Drunkabilly (good times and strange salvation).

Describe how the Beer-Naked wedding came about.

Buck realized how much he loved beer. Dave said, "if you love beer so much, maybe you should marry beer." It was a phenomenal event.

What is essential to every Naked and Shameless song?

A theme or a concept and a boatload of references.

Every Naked and Shameless show?

A quorum of drunks to whoop and holler.

Why should I have your music in my collection?

Because there will be times where you'll have to tell someone to check something out...because it really shouldn't exist...the kind of stuff you'll remember at 3am when the party makes that turn...

If you could write and perform a song with one artist, who would you choose? Why?

Buck: Tom Waits. He has a man crush on Tom Waits.
Dave: Mojo Nixon. Unbeknownst to Mojo, he's the godfather of drunkabilly. Or William Shatner.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

We get into plenty of trouble, even without the music. We're always looking for other ways to document the madness.

Big John Bates and the Voodoo Dollz: music for committing evil deeds

Dear reader, I am doing my level best to span the globe and bring you the best in independent music. Big John Bates and the Voodoo Dollz is a band from Vancouver that is a blend of blues, psychobilly, and burlesque. Tristan discusses the band's sound, influences, and what sets the band apart.

Where would you file your music in a record store?

We'd file it under either "Trash Blues" like the John Spencer Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash, Reverend Beatman, or White Stripes. Or to create our own category: Hot Rod Blues. That's a nod to our jump-blues past but with the tinkering and rock and roll feel of the Kustom Kulture scene.

What sets Big John Bates and the Voodoo Dollz apart from other bands?

Musically we have a lot of different influences - everything from Alice Cooper to The Black Keys. Our music is constantly shifting but always more embellished on the reocrds with mandolin, marimba, and oran. Onstage, it's a three piece so we tour with our stage show, The Voodoo Dollz Burlesque, and that helps to entertain the crowd as well.

If you could put together a bill with three other bands (active or defunct), who would you share the bill with? Why?

The Doors, The White Stripes, and Cab Calloway - all great musicians and entertainers.

If you could write and perform a song with one artist, who would it be? Why?

Tom Waits. The man's use of musical structure is brillant and I really enjoyed Mule Variations.

Why do I need your music in my collection?

If you ever need a soundtrack for commiting some evil deeds, or a score for a party then this music is required content in your collection. It also tends to get people up and dancing which is never a bad thing.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

Racing motorcylces or boats - anything that goes fast over land or sea.