Interview- Ben Blackwell of The Dirtbombs and Third Man Records

The cover of Blackwell's 2010 solo album

Over the past month, I’ve been able to talk to Ben Blackwell, the so-called ‘Pinball Wizard’ at Third Man Records, the record label started in 2009 by Jack White III. Mr. White is a former member of The White Stripes, and member of The Dead Weather and The Raconteurs. Third Man holds true to the vinyl format, releasing 45’s and 33 1/3’s regularly. The label also has a subscription only Vault membership, where you can get exclusive content and records that are not available anywhere else. During the past 12 years, Blackwell has been a drummer for The Dirtbombs, and has established his own record label Cass Records. Blackwell released his first solo album, “I Remember When All This Was Trees” in 2010.

Jarrett Koral: Has there been any rivalry between Cass and Third Man? Even an occasional friendly one?
Ben Blackwell: No, there's not a rivalry between Cass and Third Man. It's kind of hard to have a rivalry between two things you are a part of.

JK: I know you’ve been asked in every single interview, but how did Cass Records start out?
BB:I noticed a lot of music that I liked wasn't being released right around the same time my mom refinanced her house. It all worked out pretty well from there.

JK: Have you gotten used to the Dirtbombs shows after all these years? Does the energy ever fade out?
BB: After 12 years, yes, I feel like I've finally gotten used to it. But those first ten years...those were arduous.

JK: At the moment, do you have a favorite new band?
BB: I really like D. Watusi from Nashville.

JK: Thinking about any new solo work after your last album?
BB: I tested myself with a cover of Beck's "Pay No Mind" that is currently just languishing on my laptop.

JK: Why has Cass never released Record Store Day exclusive items? Is it a big enough label to have a major release?
BB: At Cass Records, every day is Record Store Day.

JK: Will there ever be a TMR staff jam session with Jack White, Ben Swank (of the Soledad Brothers) and yourself?
BB: Still waiting for this one. Someday.

JK: How do you feel about Detroit's music scene?
BB: I love it. I miss it.

JK: What is the favorite record in your collection?
BB: It's always changing, but I'm always pretty fond of my hand-painted "Lafayette Blues" single

JK: What can we expect next from Cass Records?
BB: In the making for over 8 years, I will finally be able to release the Vegetarian Cannibals recordings.

JK: One of the Cass releases is by a band called Tin Knocker, which was never available for sale. Can you tell us anything about this mysterious record?
BB: An awesome band. My uncle and a family friend who did some solid jams in the garage. One of my favorite things I’ve ever released.

JK: Aside from your favorite new group, what band has/had the best ever stage presence?
BB: That's a really good question, and a difficult one to answer. Instinct dictates the MC5 and/or the Stooges, but a to dig beneath the surface bands like the Cramps, Viva L'American Death Ray Music and the Clone Defects were all pretty amazing in their own way.

JK: Could you name your top 5 favorite albums of all time right here right now?
BB:
CW Stoneking "Jungle Blues"
Richard Ristagno and Soular self-titled
April in the Orange "The Glittering Fish Were Stars"
Dan Sartain "Too Tough To Live"
The Hentchmen "Ultra Hentch"

JK: On every Third Man release, there is a message in the dead wax of the vinyl. Sometimes they make no sense, but sometimes they’re complete genius…
BB: It's the best way to communicate a secret, there's a meaning behind all of them.
-Jarrett Koral


-Originally posted on the Metro Times Blogs on July 8th, 2012
Link-  http://blogs.metrotimes.com/index.php/2012/07/teen-a-rama-the-ben-blackwell-interview/

Review From The Grave- After Dark Amusement Park's 'Walk Alone...Skin N' Bones'

On the first album from this super group of musicians, They keep to their glam rock roots, and hard rock influence. The group composed of Gregory Beyer (Grayling, Sherry, Ty Stone and The Truth) Eric Hoegemeyer (Crud, Gold Cash Gold) and Troy Gregory (The Dirtbombs, The Witches) are all but underground, having performed at UDetroit recently, among other full house gigs. From the first track on the album Jack Knife, you know this is going to be great experimental, powerhouse rock. Holy Roller Suicide; another jam, is packed to the rim with musicianship, and great lyrics. “I love the band. I first met Eric when I was 14, recording my first demo” says Beyer, the guitarist and vocalist in the 3-piece band. “It’s a pure power trio. I want others to discover the music and realize how cool their sound  is. We’re in the studio finishing up our 2^nd release, and It’s gonna be awesome!” Troy Gregory, a Detroit native and legend, makes a great addition to this band musically, and in the sense of star power. Hoegemeyer adds just as much with his insane fills and wild beats that leave you hankering for more. A fan favorite from the album, Spector, is meaningful, and beautiful in it’s own right. “I’ll be waiting, I’ll be waiting today” a line from the song, shows how much insight into your future these cats have. Prior to the vinyl release, ADAP will be selling the album in download form on Bandcamp.
It's cool. Check it out.
Really.It's great.
http://afterdarkamusementpark.bandcamp.com/

-Originally published on the Metro Times Blogs on May 11th, 2012
Link-  http://blogs.metrotimes.com/index.php/2012/05/teen-a-rama-walk-alone-skin-n-bones/

Review From The Grave- Record Store Day: Twenty Twelve (Inch)

Jarrett Koral just turned 14. He's the world's youngest rock critic.

One of my favorite things is visiting a local record store. The dusty feel of undiscovered vinyl leaves you coming back and back again for that one record you'd wished you picked up.  Record Store Day was created in 2007, based on the celebration of your local mom & pop vinyl store. Every year, bunches of companies have banded together to unleash a bevy of releases for you to pick up on vinyl. Here is a few releases you should pick up. Prepare for Record Store Day, which falls on April 21st.

David Bowie 'Starman' picture disc for RSD 2012!

-David Bowie: "Starman": A 7” picture disc with the remastered version of "Starman" (There’s a STARMANNNNNNNNN waiting in the sky…) On the flip, is the Top Of The Pops performance of said song, which is really cool. It’s a picture disc, it’s Bowie, buy it.

Lips unleash the Psych mayhem!

-Flaming Lips: The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends: Hot of their set of collab LP's, the Lips unleash a new set of tunes to drive you wild! It's the Flaming Lips with Ke$ha and Bon Iver. BUY IT! On randomly mixed colored vinyl, and it may or may not be made of the bands' blood. It's insightful. It's groovy. It's ... weird!

Foster The People, the best band on the indie scene right now.

-Foster The People "Broken Jaw/Ruby": My new favorite band is back with two previously unreleased tracks that sound like they’re popped right off of their debut album Torches. If you liked "Don’t Stop" and "Pumped Up Kicks," run for the counter.

-Iggy & The Stooges "All Tomorrows Parties": Tracks from Iggy’s performance, hand selected by Papa Stooge, with an interview. (Iggy is this years’ Record Store Day Ambassador!)

Totally rad, but do we need to see him shirtless again?

This years' releases may cut a little short on the "amazing" factor, but it's worth it if you're the completest or every day fan who wants to own said plate of wax. Have fun, and I hope to see you at your favorite local record store.






 -Originally published on the Metro Times Blogs on April 16th, 2012
Link- http://blogs.metrotimes.com/index.php/2012/04/record-store-day-twenty-eleven/

Shows- Saturday At The Hangout-The Story Of My First Blowout w/ Kim Fowley and Dan Auerbach

It was excruciatingly hard getting into bars at 9 o' clock and convincing others that I am a Metro Times writer (he's 13 years old, came in with his old man! -- ed.) but it all paid off. After a quick filling of Crepes at Polish Village Cafe I headed upstairs to catch the beginning of Greater Alexander, a twangy folk project which showed that the Blowout isn't all Rock 'n' Roll. Sadly, leaving that behind *sob* was a hard decision, but in the end it was worth it for what came next. I caught the wonderfully spunky Amy Gore And Her Valentines, a power pop quartet whose main goal is being loud. (In a good way!) The After Dark Amusement Park were especially great live, featuring Greg Beyer (Ty Stone & The Truth) and Troy Gregory (The Witches, Dirtbombs). They busted out a killer mamma jamma set of songs (that phrase was embarrassing. Bear with me ...). Then, checked out Kim Fowley's Psychedelic Dogs back at the PNA, where I stayed for the rest of the night. I met Kim two days earlier when he spoke at the School Of Rock. He told me to write a book and become the next Cameron Crowe.

With the one and only Kim Vincent Fowley

 I caught a bit of The Dirtbombs set, but by then, my eyes were practically falling out. I can't wait for next year's Blowout, and hope it's as good as this. Until next time~JK

  

"No fanboys here!" Dan Auerbach (right) and  Koral mix it up.

-Originally published in the Detroit Metro Times Blogs on March 5th, 2012
Link- http://blogs.metrotimes.com/index.php/2012/03/teen-a-ramasaturday-at-the-hangout-the-story-of-my-first-blowout/

Review From The Grave- Jeff The Brotherhood's 'Hypnotic Nights'

From the very first tune, you know this is going to be a weird album. Jake Orrall of the two-piece Nashville band (neither of whose members are named Jeff, actually) snarls, "I want a place where I can smoke meats." It makes no sense at all, much like the Brother Orrall's (Nicknamed the Bogus Bros by fans) other lyrics. But, the brothers aren't new to the business aspect of music either; Jake runs a record label, Infinity Cat Recordings, which has released such artists as PUJOL and Cy Barkley. Their first brotherly recording, a 2002 CD by the Sex (their first band), shows their raw punk upbringing at a young age. They also released a single and a live LP on Jack White's Third Man Records in 2011. To sum up the boys in two words, Nashville reps. On their 7th studio album, their sound progresses much from 2011's We Are the Champions, and it is produced by mega-music-mogul Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. When most people hear that Auerbach produced an LP, they think of an overproduced album by an artist who just needs the extra push. Luckily, this new jam collection shows that nothing will change Jeff and their punk ways. I think that's a pretty good thing.

-Originally published in the Detroit Metro Times on September 12th, 2012
Link-  http://metrotimes.com/music/jeff-the-brotherhood-hypnotic-nights-warner-brothers-infinity-cat-recordings-1.1371535

Review From The Grave- Alabama Shakes' 'Boys And Girls'

The radical stuff erupts out of "Hold On" with such anguish that I'm amazed that singer Brittany Howard's vocal chords are still intact. In fact, I'm amazed so many people have heard it. When "Hold" dropped as the first single, nobody ever heard of Alabama Shakes, and three months later, the CD is available at every Starbucks location in the United States. Such hipster trending! When the Shakes began making TV appearances, (Conan, Letterman, etc...) the public began investing in (or stealing) this little chunk of Southern soul, and that's a good thing. Better this than Kelly Clarkson. 
"Hang Loose" takes a drive through the Motor City circa '63, and Miss Howard can wail like young Aretha. The disc also has its fair share of piano ballads, with little more than a crash cymbal and some light guitar inter-working. The title song and standout, "Boys & Girls," shows how ballads can work magic when the singer means it. Anyone who loves blues-rock must get this. There are lots of surprises to be found in this little band from Athens, Ala., who are suddenly getting all the boys and girls with true authenticity.

-Originally published in the Detroit Metro Times on June 6th, 2012
Link-  http://metrotimes.com/music/alabama-shakes-boys-girls-atc-1.1325469

Review From The Grave- Dr. John's 'Locked Down'

The Doctor is back, and finally you can get a little taste of what he's prescribed.
Giving off the flare of voodoo funk, this time with Black Keys front-man Dan Auerbach, he delivers what you wish the Black Keys sounded like. Even though this is more like a Black Keys plus Dr. John album, the tunes are all but arena rock. The first single, "Revolution," is driven with an underlying baritone sax, something that's not often recognized in rock anymore. It's catchy as hell too, and halfway through, Dr. John bangs out a crazy organ solo, which, with Auerbach's catchy riffs, throws naysayers in the dumpster. "Big Shot" sounds like it's a modern soundtrack for a talkie, (dang those newfangled talkies!) but it comes off as much more. By the finale, "God's Sure Good," Danny boy pulls off a modern rock riff, but combined with Rebennack's "organistics," it emerges as something special — straight outta 1972, kids. But it's something out of 2012. It comes out of anywhere where there's great music, and now the good Doctor is reborn. So, yeah, the Doc delivers his magical healing powers: "Let's all just pray on it ... right now."

 -Jarrett is 14 years old. His album collection is massive because he knows good music isn't relative to a recording date.

-Originally published in the Detroit Metro Times on May 9th, 2012
Link- http://metrotimes.com/music/dr-john-locked-down-nonesuch-records-1.1312157