As We Go On We Remember.....Now You Sing!

Hello everyone and welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  I am very pumped and excited for this weeks blog.  We had a stellar week back out on the road.  A huge thank you to Shelby, IA for the amazing street dance.  Most of all a big thank you to the underdog York, NE.  I wasn't sure if York, NE had what it took but I was proven wrong.  York, NE brought the threw a bigger and badder Rock N Roll party than some of the cities twice it's size.  Welcome to all our new friends and people just finding this blog.  I hope you stick around.  I have some big things in the works.  Rumor has it The Banditos will be making an appearance in Lincoln, NE this Friday, August 30th at The Salt Dogs Stadium and Saturday, August 31st at Septemberfest.  This could be your one and only chance to catch these masked avengers in the flesh.  Check out The Banditos back story here.

As our summer tour draws to a close, I am more excited and than terrified of the future.  Looking back we did so much this summer.  I can't even begin to list all the amazing things we as a band have seen and done along our summer 2013 tour.  I can tell you this, 2013 was the 8th summer tour I have ventured on with 3D In Your Face.  I can safely say this was the best tour I have ever been on.  The shows were wilder, the fans were louder, and the laughs were overflowing at every corner.  I think we as a band have become even closer, if that is even possible.  We see each other ever week for days on end and the laughs seldom seem to cease.  I couldn't imagine a week without seeing those guys.  A true Rock N Roll family we have become.  Sure we fight but what family doesn't fight?

Some of my fondest memories from this tour have been our over night trips and early morning escapades.  The parade during the Wayne, NE Chicken show was beyond cool where each of us only had three hours of sleep.  On a particularly chilly 40 degree summer night we got the opportunity to play after Warrant in Norfolk, NE.  Each and everyone of you wild Rock N Roll animals kept us warm that night.  Making the cover of the Fremont Tribune was a dream come true and doing a live interview at KHUB was the icing on the cake.  This summer saw our first and second fore into television with a live interview on NTV and The Star City Buzz.

Playboy called this the "Porta-pottie/shredded beef Tour" because for a while that's all we saw in every city.  We not only toured together but we lived together for a week in the 3D Studios while we recorded our new record.  We played so many different stages and venues.  From country clubs to barns to converted semi trailers.  I managed to land a radio or newspaper interview for almost every city we played in which is a massive chunk of radio time along with being on The Big O 101.9 every Saturday with HAIR IN THE AIR.  We saw some friends leave and some new friends step up.  I am thankful for everyone that has helped us lift the drum riser or change guitars.  A thousand thank you's can never be enough for all the support throughout our summer tour.  I know I missed a ton of towns and shows but as I am writing this the I am overwhelmed by the love from all of you out there.  I will say it again.  We can't do any of this without you.  Thanks for sticking by our side.

Since May I have not had a chance to unpack my suitcase, I have realized that I am not the kind of person that lives out of a dresser full of drawers and closets full of hangers.  In May I listed my tour essentials; sun screen, socks, ear plugs, 8 hours of sleep, extra pants, and plenty of water.  Here is my updated list for you.  I managed to go through an entire bottle of NO-AD SPF 60.  As for socks I followed through with my plan and went through about 5 new packages of socks, 8 in each bag.  We as a band used up 4 entire bottles of baby powder.  Due to a nearly catastrophic heat rash I learned the saving powers of Gold Bond can cure about anything.  Count me in for two bottles of that miracle drug.  We used around 20 cans of hairspray between the five of us.  I have not yet blown out my new stage pants, the backups are still there and we have three more shows to go.  The "Rock N Roll 8" rarely shines down upon me these days.  There is just so much I want to get done in a day that sleep seems tougher to come by.  As for "staying hydrated on tour" he have had our share of heat warnings but we have been very lucky.  Water has been a plenty and Playboy has even started to drinking Pedi-lite.  Our bus has also been upgraded with a coffee machine and I recently found the magical powers of Starbucks to be a life saver.  Also I didn't get a sun burn this year COUNT IT.    "Midnight Devils Summer Tour 2013" we made your our bitch (sorry mom).

As we prepare to set up our show for the last three times before it moves inside for the winter, I am happy to tell you that we are going all out for these last shows.  Friday, August 30th we will be making the trip back to Lincoln, NE to play the Totally Rad 80s Run at The Salt Dogs Stadium in The Haymarket.  The run begins at 7 PM and we start playing as soon as the run ends.  Tickets to see our performance are only $10.  Check out www.totallyrad80srun.com.  Saturday, August 31st we are making a quick stop in Omaha for Septemberfest in The CenturyLink parking lot.  Big stage = big show.  8 flame tours, confetti, and even video cameras to capture the magic of the evening.  Show starts at 10 PM after The Roller Derby.  Sunday, Sept 1st we will be celebrating Labor Day in Sutherland, IA.  You wont want to miss our last show of the tour.  Pranks and pranks and pranks and pranks.  Show starts at 9 PM just look for the fire.  That is all for now.  I can't wait to see each and everyone of you.  If I could have one request for our last three shows it would be MORE HOMEMADE SIGNS.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

ROCK N ROLL FOREVER

SPADE

Makin' Music With My Friends

Hello all you heavy metal maniacs.  Welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  I can't tell you how excited I am.  We didn't play any shows this week but I have been very busy getting things ready for the new album.  If you are just joining us, I previously announced that the new 3D In Your Face record would be released in September.  We have decided as a band that we will be pushing back our release date in order to give you the best possible album we can.  This entire new album process has been amazing and stressful all at the same time.  So in order to get all of our ducks in a row we are expecting a late October or mid-November release.  Just in time for Christmas.  Ehhh ehhh?  I am more than excited to get back out on the road with my best friends.  I am excited to step back on the bus and get some real livin' done.  HAIR IN THE AIR baby! It's not just a saying it's my lifestyle.  

Once again this week I was totally stumped on what to write about for this weeks blog.  Today I got a visit from one of my ex-band members.  We started catching up on what's happening in our lives and by the end I was very sad to see him go.  It seems over the last few weeks I have ran into more ex-band mates than in the last three years.  Each and everyone of these guys have been with me on the front lines of these Rock N Roll wars.  I trusted all these guys with my life and they trusted me with theirs.  The stories that we have, I could go on forever.  We have seen each other at the very best and the absolute worst. I have been feeling very nostalgic but absolutely looking forward to the future of 3D In Your Face.  The sky is the limit.  

I have said this before, the reason I was drawn to Rock N Roll initially was the escape it granted me from my small town life.  So I joined a band, a family of guys and our goal was to get out of Fremont, NE (not that there is anything wrong with Fremont).  The thing that I realized was that there were kids like us all over the country and they all felt the same.  We united under our love of Rock N Roll.  There were no attitudes.  There were no egos.  There was only the music.  I recently met a couple of amazing guys making a documentary about hair metal and their journey across America called Hair I Go Again.  Hair I Go Again, follows Steve and Kyle as they reunite their band from the 80's and try to get the supporting slot alongside one of their Rock N Roll heroes. Kyle and Steve showed me the same kindness and pure love of music that I experienced as a budding young punk rock guitar player traveling the country.  (Check out their crowd funding project here, there are only 8 days left on their project.)  I got word that a promoter right in my backyard was saying some negative things about 3D In Your Face.  At first I was enraged and wanted to tell this guy exactly everything I thought about him.  Right here I am going to take the high road and wish him the best of luck and God bless.  We are all in this for the exact same reason.  Nothing can ever change that.  The first time you heard KISS, your first concert, the bad times and the music that got you through those bad times, and the feeling you get when you crank your favorite band as loud as it goes cruising down the highway.  Dream big and never let anyone stand in your way. I would like to thank each and every musician I have had the opportunity to share a stage with.  We have overcome insurmountable odds to be where we are now and nothing will ever take those memories from us.  

This Friday our "Midnight Devils Summer Tour 2013" winds back up for our last two weeks outdoors.  We will be performing August 23rd in Shelby, IA at The Shelby Fun Days.  Show starts at 9 PM.  Only 40 East of Omaha on I-80 Shelby, IA will be the sight of our next Rock N Roll adventure.  Expect flame towers, lasers, smoke, confetti, the entire show.  We are going all out for these last five shows.  My new friends at KNOD out of Harlan, IA were kind enough to do an interview with me.  Tune in and listen for your SPADE sighting.  Saturday we will be traveling back across Nebraska to York for a private party.  I have already put this out there, but if anyone of you are in the area Saturday, August 24th I would love to hang out with you before the show.  Feel free to hit me up on Facebook.  Thank you once again for all the support.  I love you all.

ALWAYS LOUD

FOREVER PROUD

ROCK N ROLL FOREVER

SPADE

A 'Please' and 'Thank you' go a long way.

It's that time again.  It rolls around every week.  Welcome to HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  A big welcome back to all you faithful readers and a HELLO! is in order for all you first time readers.  So much has been going on in the world of 3D In Your Face.  I am so excited to fill you all in on our summer tour, the new record, and the in and outs of playing in a traveling Rock N Roll band.  I know that I do this every week, but I need to take a second and thank everyone that came out to The 21st Saloon last Friday for our homecoming show.  The room was packed and the energy was contagious.  Omaha you truly are an amazing town and we are proud to call you our base of operations.  The show was great and I saw so many smiling faces in the audience.  Thank you.  Also a special thank you is in order for those brave souls that came back the next day for the photo shoot.  We got all the pictures we were aiming to get.  If you weren't there you missed out on a once in a lifetime opportunity to be on the cover of our new record.  Imagine a cherry picker lifting Chappy into the sky as we everyone stands on the ground below him dressed in neon clothes.  Just think of what the neighbors thought.  Unfortunately I can't show you the pictures yet.  Chappy is still hard at work on them.  Check out this video for a behind the scenes glimpse into the photo session.  Thanks Rick Espejo.  

As most of you know I have become the publicity manager for 3D In Your Face.  As the publicity manager I have taken on the responsibility of getting media coverage for most of our shows and public appearances.  This isn't some easy meaningless job.  I put in a ton of hours emailing radio stations, newspapers, and morning shows.  I do this because I truly believe in our music and I believe that there is so much untapped potential out there.  This week as I was debating on what to write in this weeks blog, I got an email from Discover! Magazine and The South O'Brien Sun.  They wanted an interview with me to put in their publication about our appearance in Sutherland, IA on Labor Day.  Bing bang boom, I didn't even have to seek this interview out.  It makes me happy when things just work themselves out.  Now there is no stead fast rule to securing an interview and 90 percent of my emails get ignored.   There are two main rules to land the interview 1) Don't take an ignored email as a solid 'no' 2) Give the reporters a story, it makes saying yes that much easier.  Also manners are an absolute must.  A 'please' and 'thank you' go a long way.  Check out this video from The Star City Buzz in Lincoln, NE.  

Every interview is different and I rarely know what to expect going into them.  Because of that, I try and prepare and control everything as much as I can on my end.  Newspaper and radio are easier because I don't have to be dressed and ready to rock.  My trick every time is to wake up about an hour before the interview and start powering through as much coffee as I can.  I need to be awake, motivated, and my voice needs to be ready to project.  I also try and clear my head as much as possible.  Sniper taught me a good trick during the recording of our new record, "Just stare at the trees man,  it will ease your mind."  So I always stand up or pace back and forth will staring out my window or garage door.  I also got a good pointer from a friend "Always smile and speak with confidence.  Even though the person can't see your face they can sense when you are smiling".  Great advice.  For the most part the questions will always be the same, so I worked up some 'go-to' answers that I can bang out while I concentrate on the tougher questions.  Television is a whole other ball game.  Not only do I have to be prepared mentally and physically, I have to be dressed and ready by the exact moment the interview starts.  I have done Skype interviews at 7 AM and it took me longer to do my hair and makeup than it did to do the interview.  I am still working on my TV interview skills.  The most important thing is to not be nervous and smile a lot.  The interview needs to flow and sound like a conversation between two people.  The last and biggest thing I try and do in any interview I do is show that I am genuinely passionate about music and 3D In Your Face.  I love my job and the fact that I get to be on radio and TV is amazing.  Your passion and honesty should always prevail.  I love watching interviews and seeing celebrities that come across as real down to earth people.  Now I am no celebrity but I am real and I appreciate each and everyone of our fans.  

It is weird to say but this week our "Midnight Devils" Summer Tour is taking a break.  I am upset that we aren't playing but I am happy for a little catch up.  Don't get me wrong we will not be sitting out relaxing.  There is to much work to be done.  I am working on a new 3D In Your Face website.  The band is learning new songs for out return to The 21st Saloon on Sept. 13th.  The new pictures have to be approved.  We are also getting a new run of t-shirts ordered and I think you are going to like them a lot.  This Thursday Sniper and I will be heading into our oldest sponsor Gloss Hair Salon and Day Spa.  The girls are the true talents behind our hair.  I can't stress enough to you how amazing this group of women are.  If you live in the Omaha Metro area and you go to any other Salon, I feel bad for your luck.  Check out Gloss Hair Salon and Day Spa.  They have back 3D In Your Face from the beginning of this ride and I can't thank them enough.  Please don't forget about my radio show HAIR IN THE AIR, Saturday nights at 8 PM on The Big O 101.9.  I will be delivering all the 80's Rock N Roll you can handle.  

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

ROCK N ROLL FOREVER

SPADE

Nothing Can Stop Us Now.

Hello everyone out there in Heavy Metal Heaven.  Welcome to another edition of HAIR IN THE AIR, The Official Blog of 3D In Your Face.  Tonight I have a very special post for you.  We are going to dig real deep and take a trip to the past.  Before we start I would like to take one second and thank everyone for all the overwhelming support this weekend.  Our secret show at Dillon Bros. Harley was unique.  Even though we got rained out a lot of people made the trip out to see us.  I can't thank you enough for spending your hard earned gas money to come and watch us play.  We ended up playing 11 songs before the thunder and lighting put an end to our Rock N Roll fun.  A special thanks to all those people that came to the Lancaster Fair in Lincoln.  You know who you are.  That was one of the funnest shows we have played all year.  Also to each and everyone of you that came to Cappy's in Lincoln on Saturday thanks for all the hospitality.  Lincoln, it was truly our pleasure to stop in your town.  All you Lincoln-ites don't forget 3D In Your Face will be on the channel 10/11 News this Wednesday at 6:00 PM as part of the Star City Buzz.  We shot an amazing interview backstage that will run during the 6:00 PM newscast.  Tune in.  You don't want to miss this one.  It was a Playboy and Spade exclusive.  We will also be back at The 21st Saloon this Friday, August 9th.

This week has been full of ups and downs.  The stress of putting out a new record is not something I recommend to anyone.  As I am writing this blog post I am feeling very excited for this weekend.  If you haven't heard on Saturday, August 9th we will be doing a photo shoot for the new album cover.  We are inviting all of you, our friends and family, to participate in this photo shoot.  The photo shoot will begin at 12:00 PM, noon at The 21st Saloon.  We will be shooting a big crowd shot in the parking lot.  Everyone is invited but there is only one rule.  You must show up dressed in the brightest neon clothes you can find.  I'm talking full on 80's.  Bandannas, tank tops, leg warmers, studded belts, neon hair, anything that is loud.  Don't be afraid to put on makeup.  You can't over dress for this occasion.  The only wrong piece of clothing would be a dark piece of clothing.  This is a call to action.  You have three days to shop and gather up enough neon clothes to make the 80's ashamed.  This will be your chance to be on the cover of our new record.  This picture will be seen by the world and I couldn't think of a better group of people to share this experience with.  Saturday, August 10th 12 PM noon at The 21st Saloon.  Word has come down from the top that there will be a crane there to help with the shoot.  This is the big time.

I have been preparing all week for this shoot.  There is a lot riding on the line.  I was speaking with Sniper and I told him that I have never really had an amazing band photo/photo shoot experience.  In my life I have been in three different bands, mainly.  I have been playing in a band for ten years now and I have never had a photo shoot that went the way it was planned.  I have never got back a bunch of photos and been blown away by the results.  I have never looked back on a photo shoot and said "Wow, that was a great time".  This time things will be different.  My first band photo shoot was when I was 18 and my band OFFICIALLY TERMINATED was just crawling out of my parents basement.  I wanted to be KISS so bad I could taste it and the drummer wanted us to be the next Marilyn Manson.  Combine these two with two other guys that wanted to be hardcore punk rockers and you can see where things went a little to the left.  OT was a great band when we weren't trying to be anybody else.  We eventually found ourselves but there was an awful lot of trial and error.  My mom made this costume based off of Goodwill finds and Gene Simmons pictures. Yes, those are ladies nylons around my arms, under armor tights and military surplus boots.  You can't see it in the picture but I had a black loin cloth tassel that cover up my bulge.   The guys busted my balls so hard.  The picture itself was shot in an abandon school parking lot at 1 in the morning. What where we thing?

(This school building is no longer standing so I guess this is pretty classic)

The second photo shoot I ever did was for the Bandit Sound EP release.  We needed a photo to put on the CD insert before we could release the thing and go on tour.  The way I remember this, and I could be very wrong here, we went over to our drummers house in hopes of doing a killer photo.  We were an up an coming band and we were kind of taking Lincoln by surprise.  I showed up with all my stuff but I wasn't dressed.  Mitch our drummer meets me at the door and says "The photographer has to leave for work in 15 minutes and we need to get this shot.  It's our only chance."  The other guys didn't dress any different than they normally did but it usually took me about a half hour to get ready.  I slapped on some makeup and teased my hair a little and walked out to the backyard.  There we shoot the photo for the album in five minutes.  It was punk rock.  It was fun, but I was a little let down by the whole experience.  Later on I heard a radio DJ comment that this band sounded great but the band members all looked like they belonged in different bands.  I love Bandit Sound and it was on of the funnest moments in my life but the photo never really captured the magic that was happening at this time.  Not to mention I was wearing a New York Dolls shirt eyeliner and two different colored fish nets.  

(This house is scheduled to be torn down as well.)

The third photo shoot I was in was right when I joined 3D In Your Face.  We needed promotional posters and photos for the new website.  We scheduled a photo shoot at The Mac Rae Productions facility in Omaha.  I was jacked and ready this time.  I brought all my guitars and costume changes.  We set up lights and trussing and pyro towers.  This was the real deal.  We even got there early just because of the excitement.  The shoot was set for 2:00 and I was ready by 1:00.  Unfortunately Playboy, got a flat tire on the way to the shoot and was stranded.  We sent out help and they eventually got him there an hour later.  Not that I wasn't still excited but my adrenaline had worn off and everyone was getting grumpy.  We only came up with one idea so we stretched it as many was as possible.  I loved this photo shoot because I was my first real shoot but I look back now and realize that it really wasn't that good of a time.  Everybody was stressed and that shows in the pictures.  

On to bigger and better things.  I am going into this weekend with the most positive attitude I have ever had.  Not to mention I have been getting some much need encouragement from my band mates, friends, and fans.  Nothing will stop this record.  In true 3D In Your Face fashion we are taking this whole record over-the-top.  Starting with our return to Omaha.  That's right this Friday, August 9th 3D In Your Face will be back in the metro area for a one night only performance at our home bar, The 21st Saloon.  The "Midnight Devils Summer Tour" has been going great, but damn it we miss you.  This Friday we are pulling out all of the stops.  We are going to give you the Rock N Roll show that you deserve.  Bigger, louder, hairier, and nastier than any other band in Omaha.  Friday we will be partying all night and then get your sleeping bags out because the photo shoot begins the next day bright and early at the crack of noon.  Who is bringing the donuts because I got the coffee.  I can't wait to see each and everyone of you.  Nothing can stop us.

ALWAYS LOUD
FOREVER PROUD

HAIR IN THE AIR

SPADE.