Giddy UP Cowboy!

Bottoms UP Bitches it's Thirsty Thursday!!!  Things are moving right along here at SSP HQ!!  We are currently booking up shows for the summer and have some great gigs coming up.  

On April 30, SNAKE SKIN PRISON will return to Hanover's in Pflugerville TX to blast the breeze between your knees!!  This is going to be an amazing night so mark your calendars and come throw down with the Loudest Band in Texas!!  

Click HERE to check out the event on FaceBook

After that comes the Liver Busting Annual Event otherwise known as "Matt's Annual Blackout Birthday Bonanza" ... errr...or something like that!!!  Always a good time that we never remember so we have to continue to do it in hopes of burning it in our brains!!!  May 14th at Dirty Dog Bar on 6th Street downtown ATX!!  

Click HERE to RSVP to the Event on FaceBook and be the coolest person in your neighborhood!!

This is a special show not only because we're celebrating the fact that Matt is still alive, but we'll be taking donations for the Texas Fire Walkers.  In a nutshell, the Fire Walkers are a charity organization that helps families that have been affected by Texas Wild Fires.  You can read more about them HERE.   This a free show so GET EXCITED and come GET SOME!!  

We also have a very special announcement...we'd like to introduce you to the newest member of the SSP Pain Train ... beating the skins like Ike beat on his first wife ... he's filled in and helped SSP in the past so it only made sense...Gary Tumnus!!  We'd like to welcome him to the intoxicating family that is Snake Skin Prison and are excited to continue to spread the disease!!!  

Be sure to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, PornHub and many other amazing social media sites!!  

...And as we wind on down the road...

Well look who it is!!  That's right, after a bit of a hiatus, we've decided to knock the dust off this ol yarn and see how things progress.  I checked and my last SSP "Booze for Thought" blog was in 2014!!  Well I can definitely say a lot has changed in the world of SSP...some good...some bad...and some just down right intoxicating.  After several complaints and compliments here we are again!

Most recently would be the release of our lastest EP "Lakota".  Cranking 3 new tunes, I feel like it's definitely right down SSP Lane.  You can check it out on iTunes HERE

Let's see what else...Oh...we have yet again changed drummers :).  I would like to say that it seems Keef and myself change drummers more than we change underwear...but I must admit, speaking for myself, I change my boozy drawers more than once every 5 years!!  All joking aside, SSP is very grateful for everything Marc brought to the table.  He will surely be missed and will leave big, unlaced, VANs to fill...but don't you worry your little head my pretties...the SSP train runs long and deep...far and wide. 

I'm personally excited about the future of SSP.  We have several cool things in the works, some things you might expect and some things you might not.  I promise to try and write more often, even if it's just to tell you my latest dirty joke!!  We have a couple shows on the books and working on more!!  If you have a venue, event, bachelorette party you'd like to book SSP ... check it out HERE. 

We'll be in Pflugherville at Hanover's on April 30!!  Click below for details!! 

Also on May 14 we'll be celebrating my annual Birthday Show!!!  I've lost track...this is the 5th...or 6th...or maybe 9th...who knows!!!  It'll be at Dirty Dog Bar downtown on 6th.  It's a free show!!  21 + and we'll be taking donations at the door for the Texas Fire Walkers.  You may or may not know about the Texas Fire Walkers, but you can read more about them HERE.  TFW are a charity organization that helps people needing to recover from fire and other natural disasters.  Very excited to have them on board!!  As well as the drunkest band in Austin (that would be SSP), we have special guest Broken Teeth joining the stage.  They just released a new EP "Bulldozer" and always leave the stage dripping with rock n roll juices that go on for days!!  

https://www.facebook.com/events/1564062150586496/

Wow...I started this blog and thought, "I ain't got shit to talk about!!"  Just need a little push from time to time.  Lord knows I got plenty to say and am hardly at a loss for words!!!  

Alright ... well hope to see you at a show ... share this blog with your friends, spread the word!!  Feel the breeze between your knees!!

\m/

dMb

Written on the Run!

I got my reminder to work up a new SSP blog and one word came to my mind...Thankful! 

As most of you know we had our 4th annual A Very Metal Christmas this past Saturday At the Dirty Dog.  

It felt as though a black cloud was looming over top of this event.  We dealt with everything from band having to cancel, photographers/light guys canceling, and even other events trying to use the same event title (there were more than 1) that we have used for the last 4 years!!!

At one point I looked at Marc & Keith and said I just want this event to be over...then something happened...YOU!!  People kept showing up and showing up and before you know it the venue is filled with the SSP FAMILY that I have come to know and love dearly.  

We had amazing sponsor on board with Hoek's Death Metal Pizza!!!  And trust me it was amaze balls!!

The show was great all bands destroyed it!!!   

Don't forget about Santa rocking out!!

I can't wait until year 5!!!  

Until then, have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!!!  

Much love 

dMb

\m/

If I had a dollar for everytime...

...someone said, "So what's new with the band?" ... I'd probably have ... oh maybe 15 dollars...a day!  HA! ...

Don't worry your pretty little heads, SSP is still blistering our way across The Lonestar State.  Shows are being scheduled, merch is being designed, livers are being busted!!

Probably the most exciting news is the upcoming release of new tunes!!  That's right, we just finished tracking vocals on 2 new tracks and will begin working quickly on a 3rd.  It seems today, that we do better releasing 'EPs' as compared to full length albums.  Times are changing everyday and so is the music industry.  Things are NOT what they were when I stumbled into Austin in 2006...and I'm sure they won't be the same in 2020!  I think the key thing here is not to get excited and continue to push and press forward...always willing...always ready.  Repetition I tell ya...that's how you win!!

Just so you know my money is where my mouth is here's a little snippet of what's to come...

I'm always excited for this time of year to roll around.  I love the holidays, it's the only time of the year where people expect you to drink a lot!!  You get up and start drinking at 2pm on a regular day of the week and people tell you you have a problem!!   You get up on Christmas day and start off with a nice totty followed by some rum and egg nog which leads into nice jar of holiday moonshine...well then by golly it's Christmas!!!   Another reason I'm excited for this time of year is our Annual Christmas Extravaganza!!  That's right!!   VMC...aka...A Very Metal Christmas!!  This will be our 4th year!!  Can you believe that??  Wow...I mean...some bands can't even stay together for 4 years!!!   This year will be held again at The Dirty Dog Bar located on 6th St. down ATX.  With a capacity of over 400, a big stage, great lights and 2 bars slinging drinks with amazing an amazing staff...we love playing Dirty Dog...

As always when I put together shows for SSP, I strive to bring you something different.  We want every show to be an event, something to look forward to.  This year we're bringing you our good buddies from Abilene  REAR NAKED CHOKE.  Also on the bill, closing out the party will be Austin's newest Hard Rock/Rock N Roll/Classic Rock Cover band, JUKEBOX.  They'll be providing the classic tracks you love to get sloppy too while you party with SSP and all the other's on the naughty list!!

Be sure to RSVP to the show HERE and be on the lookout, tickets ($10) will be available soon!!

Other shows to be posted soon include:  Midland, San Angelo, San Marcos, San Antonio!! ...

More news to come!!  Be sure to check us our on Facebook HERE

\m/

dMb

\m/

...The End is Only the Beginning...

It's been a minute...a long minute...since my last SSP blog entry.  Why?  Cause I'm f*cking busy that's why :) ... The Pain Train muscles through the blood and the muck regardless of blog updates :) ... never ceasing...never stopping...always ready...and always rocking!  Growing stronger every day...Bigger...Faster...Stronger...that my friends is the way of the Snake!

It's been an awesome year so far with SSP...playing some amazing shows, releasing some tunes that we're really proud of...and drinking cigarettes longer than our leg with some of Texas' best!

I recently read an interview with Gene Simmons about the current state of Rock N Roll in which he states: "Rock is Dead"...

...and I had to respond...

First and foremost, you cannot kill what you can't contain...bottom line.  Rock N Roll...Heavy Metal...Hard Rock...whatever you want to call it...is exactly that:  The Epitome of Rebellion.  I wonder if Mr. Simmons had an underlying motive by saying that...as if:  "If I tell them they can't do it...they will!"

Let's cut the crap and get straight to the facts...as long as there is a guitar...drums...attitude...alcohol...someone telling you what NOT to do...there will be Rock N Roll.  Does that mean that every guitar picker will make a mint playing their craft?...probably not...but that's life.

Times change...that's a fact.  What was cool yesterday isn't cool today, and what's cool tomorrow won't be cool in a week...BUT...one must focus on the constant...not the variable.  If we put all our stock in what the media told us we'd still be wearing New Kids on the Block tee shirts.  If we listened to what "they" said was cool...we'd be sucking our thumbs laced with Justin Beiber.

But guess what....wait for it...that's exactly what we DON'T do...because?????...we are Rock N Roll!!

Just because RnR isn't the most popular format right now...doesn't mean it's dead...if it's one thing I've learned...as we all should...is history repeats itself...always has...and always will.

Case in point:
SSP recently returned from playing in Midland at the "White Trash Bash 4" at Blue Max...and if anyone thought RnR was dead...well...they obviously aren't paying attention.  "They" aren't paying attention because "they" don't want YOU to pay attention.

Bottom line folks...you...we...me...us...the people...have the power.  WE can control what WE want to hear...support...get drunk to and dance!!

Snake Skin Prison is the poster child of this...I believe.  SSP has been slinging that southern fried whipplewill  since 2007 and we ain't changed a DAMN thing.   WE LOVE BEING THE DARK UNDERBELLY OF THE AUSTIN TEXAS MUSIC SCENE.

Do you do it for the fame?  Do you do it for the money?  Do you do it for the girls?  We do it because we can...and because we want to!!

Rock N Roll is FAR from dead...do you think that lack of $$...lack of promotion...lack of support...could stop RnR...hhahahahah bitch you better pack a lunch...because RnR has been doing that since day one!!  Ask Elvis, ask The Beatles, ask Robert Johnson...ask Metallica as they ran cross the country in a truck/van taking turns driving...ask Dave Mustaine as he was handed a bus ticket back to LA...ask ME...Matt Ballengee...as I drove 1200 miles from my home leaving my family and friends with nothing but my guitars and cheap vodka...

Support???  We never had support to begin with...what we don't have YOU can't take away!!

So Gene Simmons....is Rock N Roll Dead?  The answer is given to me when I strum my guitar and my 18 month old daughter walks up and smiles (then proceeds to bang on the strings)....it's FAR from dead...it's far from over...and if for ONE SECOND YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS ABOUT THE MONEY...??...??...well brother you are in this for the wrong thing.

Excuse the typo's and grammatical errors...I love box wine!

Come see us at Cowboy Harley Saturday at noon!!  BYOB Punks!

Always and Forever...
Waiting and Watching...
I'm drinking if you're buying...

DMB
SSP

Lost in the Middle Without You Again...

Dreams....

You say what you want, some say they don't even have dreams, others say they don't remember them.  But...I...do!!  I have had crazy dreams all my life.  I could turn this blog into a 25 page analysis of all the dreams I have had, but I came here for one dream in particular.

As some of you may know, Snake Skin Prison has released our 4th Installment:  "Blood in the Water"...

Typical EP Fashion, we have 3 songs on here (plenty more recorded, don't worry) and I honestly feel this is by far our best product yet.

Out of the 3 songs...there is one called:  "Lost in the Middle"

I was on KLBJ with Loris Lowe and promised to blog about this song and the lyrics...so here goes:

One night after drinking on a classy box of wine, and taking some sleeping aids...I found myself quickly fading from reality into a dark comatose state of sleep...

I quickly awoke and found myself in a desert.  I was confused as to how I got to this place, I knew (and have always been able to acknowledge) I was in a dream...thus choosing to take advantage of the playground in my head...vs being scared of it.  As I looked at my surroundings I noticed there were these (*1)TALL...like telephone tall crucifixes with bodies nailed to them.  I remember thinking, I don't have time to (*2) worry about that...I gotta get out of here!!  I turned around and who was there...??...no joke...(*3)Yayo...yes...Yayo from the band Yayo and from the band Cosmic Wolf (playing tonight at the parish).  I remember thinking, "Hell he's from here, he should be able to get us out of here!!"

As we navigated through this (*4) mind-field desert...remember this desert only exists in my mind...I noticed a long line of people...walking aimlessly.  As I got near them, I noticed they were (*5) slaves...and the guy in front would throw a (*6) rock just in any random direction...and that's where they'd walk.  Once they got to the rock...he would pick it up and throw it again...and off they'd go with no purpose...that I could derive. 

I remember thinking, "I just want to find my way back to Kelly..."  (that's my wife if you didn't know...ya know...the girl from 'Alcohol of Fame' Video...yeah that actually happened...) ... I was upset and missed her...and I remember thinking to myself, (*7) "I am literally lost in the middle of the desert with out her..." There was a huge feeling of sadness...like, "Will I ever see her again?" 

I came up to this (*8) hill...I guess sand dune...and when I got to the top...I literally laughed out loud...what did I see...a (*9)Vallero gas station...I thought, "only in a Texas desert would there be a Vallero..." 

So this is where the song stops, I actually have some more lyrics but in hopes of keeping the song at the proper length...we cut it there...for now!

To finalize the dream for you ... I made my way to this "gas station" (this was an experience) and once I got inside it's a whole other wild ride of fictional delusion and comatose creations(it was more of a mad house then a gas station)...so I guess the question to ask would be...did I ever make it out...well...hmmm....I guess I'll have to make you wait until I can musically spin that one!  

Here's the lyrics you can follow the notations above and see how they coincide...

(*1)Bodies hanging above me, bodies hanging and (*2)I don't care

In a (*4)mindfield of desert, a (*3)gun slinger with long black hair

(*7)lost in the middle without you again...Lost in the middle without you again

(*5)A slavery on the run now, follow the rock that he must throw

But just over the (*8)hill now, there is a (*9)place with much in store

lost in the middle with out you again, lost in the middle without you again

Lost in the middle without you again, lost in the middle without you again

Hope to see you tonight! 

here's the details: http://on.fb.me/1dEg6X6

Until then!  

\m/

dMb

BLOOD IN THE WATER

Cogs in the wheel...that's what you feel like sometimes.  Being in a band, an unsigned band at that, can be very frustrating.  I mean think about it...you work and you work and you work...you constantly strive to move forward in a world that is constantly pushing you backwards.  I guess that's life in general at times.  Heave...Ho...Heave...Ho...Heave...Ho...

I moved to Austin in 2006, started forming Snake Skin Prison in 2007...it is now 2014!!  That's 7 years ago!  The fact that we're still rocking and rolling is an accomplishment unto itself.  I have seen so many bands come and go.  So many bands with PROMISE...come and go.  It's sad at times, but you realize, just like the flying fish that leaps unknowingly into the jaws of an awaiting grizzly bear...not all were meant to make it.  Or...as Slash says, "So few can stand so close to the flame."

I haven't blogged on Snake Skin Prison in a bit, and for that I apologize, but don't fret, there has been plenty going on.  We have just finished our newest EP, "Blood in the Water", scheduling up 2014, and writing new material.  It's a juggling act for sure (along with the rest of your life)...but as I tell everyone around me..."The difference between winners and losers is winners do...losers don't." ...

Next Friday Night, Snake Skin Prison will return to The Parish for our EP Release.  The Parish holds a special place in my heart; it's where we released "9 Kinds of Bad" as well as "Smokin Whiskey" and it's hosted a couple "A Very Metal Christmas" events.  It's a great venue, with a killer stage and awesome sound.  I also like the fact that is has a green room (that's backstage room to all you rookies out there).  SSP has pre sold a ton of tickets for this, and anticipate a killer crowd! (AS ALWAYS)

There's 3 songs on this EP:  "Blood in the Water" ... "Lost in the Middle" ... "Loudest Night of My Life" ... I can't wait until they are available, cause I'm anxious to dissect them with you...here's a Teaser we put together...

We've got a killer line up with bands from Austin as well as a great band from Dallas, Redefine.  We've pulled together some amazing sponsors as well!  It's truly gonna be a night to remember...if you can remember!!   I hope you can make it, I promise we won't disappoint...I was wrong once...it was a Tuesday...in 2005 I believe...but hey who's keeping score?  You can get ticket info, line up info, show info...the whole works....at the FB event HERE

Get excited folks...we ain't going home!  A lot of times people will ask...how long are you going to do this?  My response...in the words of Robert E Lee as he charged over a hill and into Yankee territory...

"RETREAT HELL!!" 

Keep it on the sunny side and remember sometimes, "Slow is cool!" 

CHEERZ

dMb