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by Keavin Wiggins
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Keavin’s anti-log - January 14, 2003 – antiMUSIC studios:  The day starts like most for me--I get to go through the mail and check out the new music that has come in. Januarys are usually pretty slow for new music, but on this day the mailbox was overflowing. So with hopeful ears I begin to delve into this new music in hopes of finding a hidden treasure, which is becoming more and more uncommon these days. 

The first CD up has a cover picturing what look like a cross between fratboys and wanna be ganstas with their sideways hats and baggy pants. The name escapes me at the moment, perhaps Lame-182 or Chumps-41? -- It’s with trepidation that I put the CD in and realize my worst fears; A really generic pop-punk band. The Ramones don’t have to fear being replaced anytime soon. -– Lame-182 seemed to have started a chain reaction as I forced myself to listen to the other CDs.—There was Earl Ham, a third rate Pearl Jam rip off. – The Dorks, a group of rich boys from NYC trying to steal from Iggy and failing miserably. – A couple of Korn Jr’s that didn’t get the memo that the trend is dead. – A sleep inducing singer-songwriter named something like Don Monksmith. 

At this point I feel like slitting my wrists, as my faith in the music industry is hitting a new low. Damn, 2004 is off to a bad start. There is one more CD in the pile to listen to and I open it with fear.  The name, “Dirty Rig”, catches my eye, because it is a bit unusual, no “the” or “-number”?. The title of the CD, "Blood, Sweat & Beer" really gets my curiosity going. I place the CD in the player and hold my breath… As the first guitar note kicked in, the sky opened up and a booming voice said “Let There Be Rock” and there was Dirty Rig!  (Ok, that last bit didn't happen. But it should have and I wanted an AC/DC reference in here somewhere).

My first response was “Holy Shit! This Rocks!” Dirty Rig delivers southern fried hard rock with a plate overflowing with guitars, bass, drums, beer and attitude. Even a one minute listen to their debut CD “Blood, Sweat and Beer” will put you over the legal limit in 47 states. 

For those disappointed that Down was cast aside for Superjoint Ritual, don’t fear because Dirty Rig picks up where Pepper and Phil left off and kicks that mother into overdrive. 

After listening to the CD a half dozen times over the next week, I fired off an email to their PR guy Steve Seabury.  “Dude! This CD kicks ass. Can we set up an interview for February the artist of the month at antiMUSIC?”  The band that was scheduled for the spot was s*** out of luck, Dirty Rig rolled right over them.  Steve was more than accommodating and with time running short I fired off some questions for the band in an email and Ed (vocals) and Buckshot (bass) fired em right back. 

The legend of Dirty Rig began a year and half ago in the most unlikely of places, New York City. “So many bands in Long Island and NYC have that same sound to them,” explains Buckshot. “If rap rock is hot then a lot of bands jump on that wagon. I can’t rap and f*** if I want to. Rock & Roll has been missing for far too long. We wanted to stay true and let people catch up to us. Bring back that party vibe to our shows. Cocaine, Beer and alot of hot chicks. I would have to say a lot of our influences range from AC/DC, Aerosmith, Clutch, Black Label Society and Metallica. Just some great bang your head music. 2's and 4's. Music you can get your girlfriend naked to and give her some hillbilly humping.” 

Ed explains how the band formed, “Buckshot and I have been drinking buddies for a long time. He basically stole me from a previous band that I was playing in. Alcohol puts you in some strange positions.”

Buckshot adds, “Then we met Chas and he just blew us away on the Les Paul. We got all f***ed up at a Black Label Society concert and I knew he was perfect for this band. The final piece of the puzzle was when we heard Dave our drummer play. f*** man he is truly amazing.” 

When it came time to name the group, Buckshot says he looked towards his roots and wanted to shake things up a bit on the boring Hipster NYC music scene, “I'm corn fed so when I moved to NYC to start a band I wanted to bring a little of that country sound to the big city. Dirty Rig just has a great ring to it and it represents all of the true hard working people in American.” 

When you visit the band’s official website (DirtyRig.com) you see that everyone that has heard them is singing their praises. Fellow musicians from bands like The Murderdolls, Soil, and Dry Kill Logic sing their praises and there is already a tremendous buzz building at rock radio over the band’s explosive guitar driven sound. 

Buckshot explains that Dirty Rig and the above mentioned bands are kindred spirits in the quest to bring real rock back.  “Those bands a f***ing awesome. They are all bringing back that Rock & Roll lifestyle to the scene. I guess birds of a feather flock together. In a new scene all bands have to stick together and fight the war together.” 

He then touches on why he thinks radio has been really receptive to the band, “As far as radio I just think people want to have fun again with their music and the program directors and the listeners want just that. I guess we are lucky and grateful to have people love our music.” 

Ed adds, “Radio really does seem to be catching on. I really just think people want to just rock again and have a good time with music.” 

And it is all about a good time. There once was a time when music was about escaping the riggers of life and saying “f*** it, let’s party”. But a lot of bands have lost sight of that and over the past decade we have been treated with music that comes across like someone’s therapy session, not a 10 kegger. 

The title of Dirty Rig’s CD, “Blood, Sweat & Beer” seems to epitomize that original spirit; One of working your ass off all week and letting loose on the weekend.  So I asked where that title came from.  Ed explained, “It is actually the chorus of ‘Leather Boots’. I guess as an album title it works. It’s blue-collar. It’s the American way. Plus it sounded so much better than ‘f*** you, Life sucks’”. 

Speaking of the “f*** you, life sucks” crowd, I ask Dirty Rig what they think of the current state of rock and what they can do to change it. “As the Governor of the State of Rock and Roll I pledge to Rock hard, Party harder, and call for regime change in every rock-rap band in this U.S of A.,” Ed proclaimed. 

Got my vote! 

Kicking a CD up to eleven and pissing off your neighbors is one thing, but I knew that a lot of our readers would be interested to know when the party was coming to town. So I asked them about their tour plans.  “Yeah we are going on tour for sure in May, “ Ed responded. “A quick Midwestern thing. The Heartland if you will. We are working on something bigger for the summer.” 

Something bigger for summer? That opens the door to one of my favorite questions, “what is your dream tour?”. 

“Shit, dream tour? I guess having Black Sabbath and The Rolling Stones open for us. I can dream right. hahahaha.,” jokes Ed. 

Buckshot was more than ready for the question, “My dream tour would be with Man O War in Europe. They get a lot of chicks and they are total metal. AC/DC would f***ing rule too.” 

Hell, AC/DC is working on a new CD, so that dream might be workable. And Dirty Rig on the road with the mighty AC/DC? That sounds like a fans dream tour too. 

But the burning question that everyone has, goes much deeper than “Blood, Sweat & Beer” or maybe it doesn’t.  I can’t help myself so I asked Ed and Buckshot what is the meaning of life? Ed doesn’t mince words when he responds, “f*** me if I know.”  Buckshot fires off “Live life like it’s your last day on earth. Party Party Party.” 

Sounds good to me. Speaking of living life to the fullest and as Paul Stanley once advised, living like your own vacation, I ask what about the immediate future plans for the band now that their CD is out and winning over rockers from coast to coast.

“We have alot of work ahead of us. Not really getting much sleep the past couple of weeks,” explains Buckshot. “Every week we are just trying to sell more records and get the word out about the band. We are getting ready to go on tour and send our party to different cities. We just finished production on our video for MTV2 and the Fuse Network which we hope will jump us up to a new level. I guess we will wait and see.” 

Is the world ready for Dirty Rig? Hell, yes. The world is not only ready; it craves the rock that this band throws down. One look at the Billboard charts and you see just how sad things have become but that’s ok because Dirty Rig are among “the few, the proud, the rockers” on a holy mission to help save rock n roll and remind us that life may suck at times but your music doesn’t have to. 

 Now is the time to hop in the car and drive down to the record store and buy “Blood, Sweat & Beer”. 

Now that you have the CD cranking… wait… go turn it up right now!... YES as loud as it will go! Screw your landlord… parents? Shit they can rock too…  Ok, now that we have that taken care of, lets get into the CD a bit more with Ed, who is going to take us track by track and give us a little insight into each song. 

Hitch Hiker
I was drunk. It’s about a running from the law all drugged up and not stopping for anything. One hand on the wheel and the other holding that last can of beer.

GTO
My favorite song. It just rocks. Pure American muscle. Nothing like driving a muscle and having your chick along for the ride. 

Throw Down
I wanted to write a love song. Unfortunately I really love cocaine so it just came from the heart.

Leather Boots
Chas is from PA. We went to his hometown for a gig one night. This place is right out of a John Mellencamp song. They have this statue in town as a memorial to all the coal miners. It just blew me away. I wanted to write something for those crazy coal mining f***ers.

Alcohog
I was even drunker. But if you ever do get the chance to meet the Alcohog, she is a real fine women who loves to take it all. I really can’t remember the story behind that.

Two
It just evolved from something and became something else, in turn that lead to something totally different and this is the bastard child that was spawn.

So there you have it, six kick ass reasons to have your faith in the god of rock n roll restored. I know the next time I get discouraged when facing a mountain of crap that the music industry seems to think that people want to hear but then are amazed that it doesn’t sell, I can put in “Blood, Sweat & Beer” and remember that rock is still very much alive and kicking some series ass! 

Dirty Rig- Blood, Sweat & Beer

Wait there is more! Dirty Rig wants to rock your TV too, so each CD comes with a bonus DVD featuring cool live cuts. 

Visit the official website for Dirty Rig

Hear Samples and Purchase Dirty Rig's music online!

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