Category Archives: Download This!

Cincinnati, Download This!, Hip Hop, Music, Music Video, Pop, Punk, Random, Rap, The Awesome

The Awesome: Mixtapes (& Their Alter Ego, Wooky Stax)

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Maybe it was the excessive beer intake last night, but I woke up this morning to the strangest dream I have had in a while.  Not to bore you with details, but the dream ended with me in a convertible telling Ryan of Cincinnati/Detroit pop-punk act Mixtapes about this other dream I had within the dream that involved a James Bond like India adventure.  He looked at me like I was high and then got mad at me when I asked him what it would take for him to sing me some Wooky Stax.

I took that as a calling today to write a little something something about Mixtapes as well as their alter ego known to many as Wooky Stax.

For those of you who do not know of the pop-punk act Mixtapes, you my friends are missing out.  

The male and female front-kinda-sorta-duo sing about everything from thinking that Strung Out is a “mediocre version of the skate punk 90s” to not staying up all night and just kicking it at home drinking Diet Coke.  The band is unique in that they are not looking for the fame and do it for fun (well at least I think they do).  Most of their material has been released for free on the interwebs through various sites and they never seem to stop touring.  They also have a handful of 7″ vinyls out for all you collectors out there.

They are a prolific band you need to check out.  I’ve seen them live a couple times and it is a riot.

Visit the Mixtapes Bandcamp page

Download Mixtapes Maps on Death To False Hope Records

Check out other Mixtapes releases on Animal Style Records

Then there is Wooky Stax…

Wooky Stax is Mixtapes’ alterego rap project.  I do not care what anyone says, I love it.  It is far from the greatest hip hop and probably was created as a joke to the ever so hardworking rap music industry (can you sense the sarcasim?).  Ryan and Maura do their best to rap over samples and honestly…it’s kind of catchy and it’s hella free.

Download the Wooky Stax EP Smile

Country, Download This!, Folk, Music, Punk, Rock

Download This: The Enablers cover T.I.’s “Whatever You Like”

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Yeah, I am a couple years late jumping on the bandwagon on this one…

Recently Rob Coe, front-man of The Enablers,  emailed me a link to a kick ass T.I. cover that his band did a few years back.  I had heard of his Gainsville, Florida, punk act before but for whatever reason never got to check them out.

The Enablers actually are made up of other bands you may have hear about.  Rob Coe is from Fay Wray and their bassist was in some band called Dashboard Confessional.  They sound familiar…

The cover of “Whatever You Like”, originally written by the currently incarcerated rap star T.I., is brilliant.  I have listened to it over and over and just can not get enough of it.   One might be fooled upon hearing it not thinking it is a cover.  Here, check it out for yourself:

The Enablers - Whatever You Like

This cover does sound more like Lucero, but the rest of The Enablers is more like a Social D, Husker Du sound with a little Springsteen vocals added to the mix.  Not as fast and furious when it comes to the punk sound, but not exactly to be considered rock.

Here are a couple other songs I found online if you want to hear some of their original material.  I know I am digging it.

The Enablers – “Drink Beer”

The Enablers – “Tomorrow”

I am going to be searching for their material online.  I believe there is an EP out there waiting for me to purchase.  This is stuff I need to have in my vinyl collection.  I am not sure how active they are these days but I know Rob Coe did play the Suburban Home Records anniversary show last summer.

I guess there is only one way to find out…  Let’s see if Rob wants to do an interview.  Stay turned.

Download This!, Music, Music News, Punk

Download This: Crow Bait – Three Tickle Guys

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I came across a new demo from a new band called Crow Bait.  Not only is the band’s name awesome, but the band also features members of: Jonesin’, Iron Chic, Wax Phantom, Sister Kisser, Halfway To Hell Club & more.  That right there is damn awesome!!!

Check it out if you dare:

Austin, Download This!, Folk, Indie, Music, New Release, Review, Rock

EP Review: The Wealthy West – Volume 1 – An EP

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I am back.  That’s right folks, I survived the mean streets of West Virginia once again.  After a week-long escape from everything, I am back.  I have a test already in the class I decided to take this summer so most of this weekend will be focused on studying for that.  I am, however, in need of a break so I thought I would hammer out a quick review of a pretty sweet up and coming folk act.

I would imagine that most of my readers know I have a certain love for Austin, TX.  I think everyone needs to check out that amazing city at least once in their lifetime.  I know I am itching to get back there one day soon.  Anyways, I speak of Austin because that is where Brandon Kinder who goes under the moniker The Wealthy West resides.

Many may know Kinder from The Rocketboys, an indie rock group that he supplies lead vocals to.  Kinder decided to try something on his own, a more personal folky project he calls The Wealthy West.  Fans of soft-spoken indie / folk music (Americana) will really get a kick out of his five song EP entitled Volume 1 – An EP.  It is powerful in the heartfelt department and can easily be compared to Ray LaMontange, Joe Purdy, Frightened Rabbit, and even that of the Avett Brothers.

“Love Is Not Enough” starts off the EP with a nice acoustic riff accompanied by piano playing making for a fun track that just seemed to end way too soon.  “Another Bad Idea” followed in a more gentle indie rock sound that included background vocals and even chimes.

Once I heard “Give Me Resurrection”, I could not help but think of Purdy and LaMontange as Kinder sings slowly over a faint playing acoustic guitar accompanied by whispering background vocals.  The song was really a beautiful piece to check out and had powerful lyrics focusing around the strength of love.  “Home” picked things up in the EP with harmonica joining Kinder’s signing.  “Not A Pretty Pair” ended the quick EP with a more driven sound throughout although singing of remaining stationary due to lack of time.

It’s no mystery anymore, Americana is where it’s at these days and Kinder has no problem writing his own songs to accompany the latest and greatest of a very solid genre of music.  Volume 1 – An EP was a nice and quick listen leaving me, the listener, wanting much more to hear.  With only five songs, I am curious to see what else Kinder has to offer in the near future.

The Wealthy West - Love Is Not Enough
Download This!, Electronic, Indie, Music, Music News, Rock, The Awesome

Download This!: Minus The Bear – Hold Me Down EP

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One of my favorite indie/rock/happy bands, Minus The Bear, have decided to post their new EP titled Hold Me Down for free download (see below for link). 

The EP features the title track (off of OMNI), three live tracks recorded at the Dangerbird Records studios, a b-side titled “Broken China” and a “My Time” remix.

Did I mention it is free? I think I did. You know what to do…