Country State of Mind

"I'm just laid up here in a country state of mind!!"  - Bocephus


So...it's been a while since the last blog entry, but that doesn't mean I ain't got some stories to tell.  It's kind've like catching up with that old friend that you haven't talked to in a while, but are able to jump right back into the swing of things...which usually involves story telling!  That's us...Ol Friends!

Well, as some of you might or might not know, SXSW 2012 has come and gone.  I chose to NOT write during SXSW, because I've already stated my piece on that :)...but on the other hand Snake Skin Prison was busy busy busy! 

Taking part in Red Eyed Fly's annual Pre-SXSW kickoff show, Snake Skin Prison took the stage, to standing (and moshing) room only blistering that familiar stage with songs of old and new.  The fan base and email list has grown to extreme proportions, just last week SSP officially busted the 5k mark with our email list.  You can join HERE and receive a free download if you haven't already!

New Merch is available on the website as well, and you can scope that out--> HERE <--

We just finished up last night in the studio with another song for our EP.  We've been working on this since December which seems like a stretch, but you have to remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.  When this thing is done, I think everyone will have no other choice but to Come and Take It!! 


Thanks to modern technology and Steve Jobs, we've had more live footage come available:

Be sure to check out other SSP Vids at the Snake Skin Prison Channel!!

Definitely more good stuff coming from the SSP Camp soon!!  Thank you to everyone that supports SSP, we love seeing your smiling faces at each and every show.  Spread the word, bring your friends, with Snake Skin Prison, everyone walks away a winner...

NEXT AUSTIN SHOW!!

 

We'll be celebrating my birthday, 31 years of pickin and a-grinnin!!  If this show follows suit (and it will) with our last 2 Austin shows, it'll be in your best interest to get your tickets early.  The lineup TBA, and tickets will be available soon :).  

"All in hope of a better tomorrow, for without hope, there is no tomorrow" 

See ya in the funny papers!

-M 2 da B

How the West was Won!!

"Where's all the cowboy hats and tumbleweeds??"  That's what one of my friends said to me over the phone when they landed @ DFW for a company function.  I laughed and thought back to myself when I first traveled into The Lonestar State.....


I remember coming down 35 in my Nissan Maxima, talking to my mom on my cell phone...excited...scared...anxious...bladder full...and as I gazed at the overpasses on top of overpasses I said, "Mom...you're never gonna believe this...they got roads on top of roads!!!"  She said, "Matthew...you hang up this phone right now and pay attention!!  I'm going to pray for you!!"  and the line was dead.

HAHA...oh man...talk about small town boy meets City Livin.

I also remember sitting in a little apartment in WV, anticipating my move to Austin, and had come across this tune that I promised myself...one day...my band would cover it!!

I love this city, love the people, love the attitude, and most importantly love the warm slobbery embrace Snake Skin Prison has rec'd from Red River and the Music Community.

I'm not going to try and fake the funk on the nasty dunk and act like I'm a Texas History Buff (that's Keef's job), but I have been to the Alamo...twice and I do pay attention.  One of the first things I noticed about Texas is the deep love for the state that the people have...those that are from Texas...the deep tradition, culture, and all around bad ass-ness.  I mean Davey Crockett himself said: "You can go to Hell, I'm going to Texas!!"  Or how about the "Eff  You I'm from Texas" shirt??  I saw that on 6th street and had to take a picture...lol.  With myself being big on family, friends, and taking care of each other...I felt right at home with this mentality.  


So, with all that being said, we're approaching an important date for the State of Texas.  Texas Independence Day (March 2)!!  And what better way to celebrate that then with Live Music, BYOB, and Camping??  Snake Skin Prison is super excited to be a part of this year's Texas Independence Festival .

There's a lot more going on with SSP...as a matter of a fact, we have updated our website...new merch...show dates...swing by and check it out!! 


Oh yeah, as for covering Blind in Texas...don't say I didn't warn ya:

I think we had had more than high balls in Houston that night !!

Keep it Real Peeps....Real Safe!!
San Angelo and El Paso...SSP is coming your way this WEEKEND!!
SALUTE!!
mb

A Whole Lotta Love

February already?? Man, where did January go?  Wait where did 2011 go?!?!? Well in the words of Early Cuyler, "Time flies when you're drunk!" 

We have a lot to discuss business wise so time to take a seat and grab something to wet the ol' kisser, cause this might take a minute.  Coming off a hot ending  to 2011, and SSP's amazingly successful "A Very Metal Christmas", SSP headed into the studio to work with Blue October's Matt Noveskey to lay down some thick, southern pumping tunes.  These are recorded and being sent off to be mixed and mastered, and I'm really anxious to get that out for your listening delight.

Along with that, we have also started giving the SSP Website an ol' fashioned facelift.  We've added new MERCH, streamlined the site, and will continue to add to it as we go along.  So stop by and check it out!!

Snake Skin Prison has some killer shows lined up, and they are all pretty awesome so it's hard to just focus on one...but here we go:

Next weekend, SSP travels back to San Angelo to our home away from home, The Deadhorse, then ventures farther out West to El Paso!!  Talk about how the West Was Won!! This will be SSP's first venture to The House of Rock , so if you got any friends/family in El Paso, tell em to get out to the show!!

Next up will be the Texas Independence Festival.  You can click HERE to visit their site, and remember if you want tickets to this event, SSP has them for $30!!  Email us HERE to get yours while they last!!  Last year Down and David Allen Coe headlined, and whereas I can't say for sure, this year's headliners will be BETTER!!  So you better grab up these tix while you can.

{whew...this is a lot of info!}

After that, comes the sometimes loved sometimes hated annual South by South West.  Now, I won't get on my rant about SXSW, cause I can, and it's not very pretty; my momma always said if you ain't got nothing nice to say, don't say nothing at all.

....[crickets....]....

Moving forward!!

Snake Skin Prison will be playing Red Eyed Fly's Pre-SXSW party!!  This packs the Fly every year...so you definitely won't want to miss this.  Click HERE for info!!  Also this same week SSP will be a part of Adam Brewer's Texas Rock Fest. Bringing in killer bands, on killer stages, requiring no killing of a sacrificial lamb to attend...aka...no $300 wrist bands...SSP is always pumped to be apart of this...CHECK OUT THEIR SITE and the List of BANDS ALREADY CONFIRMED!!


ALRIGHT!  Now that's out of the way...you have no excuse not get out and see SSP.  Festival Shows, Free Shows, Traveling Road shows, Home Shows...SSP has it all, also get on the website and grab up some merch, help fuel the SSP Train. 

Alright folks...well this message has been approved by SSP!
Love ya's
MB

Chronicle Caucus

Turn up The Radio!!  What's up fine ladies and gents that so graciously and kindly follow this blog.  I hope New Years wasn't too rough on ya, and hopefully you're filling the ol rock n roll gas tank for an awesome beginning to 2012. 

Now, not that I believe in that Mayan stuff about the end of the world happening in 2012, I do believe in this:  You have to live every day like it's your last, so this whole, "I'm living 2012 as if it's the last year on earth"...news flash...I've been living like that since May 10, 1981!!

2012 has a lot in store for SSP, and I can not wait to share it with you as we climb this mountain together.  So in the words of Kix: "Hold on...Hold on Tight...I'll Make Everything Alright!!" (that's right I quoted Kix!)

First order of business, all this talk of politics and voting and republicans and democrats, one can't get lost in all the YouTube babble and forget about the yearly Austin Chronicle Music Poll where you the listener gets a chance to voice your opinion.  Whereas there are a lot of awesome bands out there, here @ the SSP Camp we ask that you please take a quick second, click that link ( or HERE ) and vote Snake Skin Prison as Austin's Best Metal Band.  Last year we clocked in at number 6...so let's stuff those ballot boxes!!  Remember if you don't vote than you can't complain (my mom used to tell my dad that).  You can also check it out HERE on Facebook.

I typically despise voting contests, but will save you the ranting and raving, you can check out a previous blog entitled "V is for Victory" if you need some more rock n roll doctrine!

I'm also super excited to announce Snake Skin Prison has been invited to play The Texas Independence Fest.  This takes place the first weekend of March, at The Cotton Gin and Longhorn Ranch in Maxwell Texas.  Now if you're saying, "Where in the Eff is that??" as I did...you can hit their website HERE and they have all the info you need from Bands to Camping to Pictures from last year.  They have Early Bird Tix for $30!!  That's a steal.  Last year David Allen Coe and Down headlined, so I'm super pumped to see who the National Headliners are this year.

Alright, so in closing what did we learn here today?
-Vote SSP in the Austin Chronicle's Music Poll as Best Metal Band
-Get them presale tickets for the Texas Independence Fest...the biggest festival in Texas
-If you don't vote you can't complain
-I have gotten really good at creating hyperlinks within my blog

Over and Out!
MB

Smokin EggNog!!

WOW!!

Let me say that again...WOW!!

If you didn't make it out to this year's "A Very Metal Christmas" then I'm sorry to say you missed one helluva night. Shot Blocks...Chair Massages...Holiday Drink Specials...VIP...and much more!!  Final count through the door was 380 people...not too shabby for the weekend before Christmas.  I personally would like to thank everyone involved from Chronolung and Yayo for putting on great shows to The Parish, our sponsors: Insite Magazine, Massage Envy, and Grahams Treaty Oak  Wine and Spirits, and all those in the SSP Camp that worked hard to promote, sell tickets, and make this a night for the books.

We also had Austin photographer Debbie Jane there, and you can check out all the gnarly photos she took HERE .  So with all that being said, be sure to get your mind right for "A Very Metal Christmas 2" cause we are definitely doing this again next year!!

Now moving forward, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and got if not everything...most of what they asked for.  Among the awesome gifts I rec'd I was also pumped to get the "Ruff" mixes for the new tunes we recorded and I must say it sounds delicious!!  I can't wait for the final product to hit the streets.  Be sure to keep a close watch, cause we'll have more detail on that soon.

Also!! Snake Skin Prison is selling our SSP Hoodies...we only got a limited number printed, so you better get yours today...what better way to keep warm while beating the streets to all those live shows you like to attend :) ... Email us HERE for details!

I was asked this past weekend of my favorite Christmas Memory...and I had to think long and hard about it.  Now remember, I think it's safe to say that we were a middle class family, we definitely weren't rich, but weren't poor...bent but not broke as I like to say.  I can remember being a youngster and getting up @ 3am!!  and I can remember once older, after one too many spiked egg nogs wished I could sleep until noon.  Regardless, thinking back I want to say that my favorite...present...memory would be when my Dad got me my first electric guitar and amp.  I remember turning that baby on,   didn't know the first thing about Highs...Mids...Lows...the only thing I knew was to turn them all up!!  And that I did.  Luckily now I have Keef to help me with all that nonsense :) ... the guitar was an Ovation (yes Electric) Ultra GS.  That's when the beast was first fed...I dove into Early Metallica, Megadeth and Ozzy.  I also waded my way through piles of Lynyrd Skynyrd southern fried licks.  I fell in love with that guitar, and still love it to this day.  And believe it or not, I still play it almost every day.  I'll trade a car...I'll trade a pedal...I'll trade an amp...but I will never EVER sell/trade a guitar...and here she is to prove it...15 years later...

So remember kids...Snake Skin Prison loves ya and thanks you for your support through a VERY Successful 2011, and I already warned 2012, we're about ready to grab him by the balls...

I hope you all have a very safe New Year's...please don't drink and drive...in the words of my old boss Paul Ball, "we can always get another car, but we can't get another you!" ...

See ya on the streets...
MB

I Want my SSP!!!

"Now look at them yo-yo's, that's the way you do it
You play the guitar on the M.T.V.
That ain't working, that's the way you do it
Money for nothing and your chicks for free"

Well I ain't on MTV; definitely ain't getting money for nothing or chicks for free, but one might argue we could be close.  It has definitely been a super busy week for us here at the SSP camp!  Last night, we finished up a new song in the studio then hauled balls up to KLBJ to Rock with Loris Lowe on Local Licks.  We have been pumping the EFF outta "A Very Metal Christmas" and just released this promo video for your viewing pleasure: 

If you were witness to last year's show at the Parish, our album release for "9 Kinds of Bad", you know what kind of party we're talking about.  We have been pounding the pavement selling Pre-Sale tickets and I believe we might still have a few left...but they are selling as we speak (which is a great feeling).  You can get your ticket HERE .  I can't stress enough how easy it is to just hop online, place the order, have them set to "Will Call" and BAM...not only did you save money, but you don't have to keep up with a ticket.  Just show up!! 

Also, I know a lot of people were wanting to come in from out of town and were inquiring about a hotel.  Well, here in SSP Land, we try our best to take care of YOU first!  Management reached out to a couple hotels downtown, but unfortunately, our reputation precedes us...they were afraid of the "after party" factor, thus we were unable to get a block of rooms.  Seriously?? Snake Skin Prison...After Party...is that even real??  However, if you check on HOTELS.COM you can get hotels for as cheap as $70...and the last time I checked that's better than a DWI...remember kids...use your noggin!

VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP

We have VIP packages Available!!  for $30 (this doesn't include admission, so you would have to buy a ticket as well...$40 total) you get: 

VIP/Band Access only Full service bar
VIP/Band Access only Area
Snake Skin Prison Spiked Egg Nog (while supplies last)
3 Drink tickets includes SSP Holiday Shot Block
SSP Stocking Stuffer
SSP Holiday chair massage provided by Massage envy
Signed Official VMC 12x18 poster

You will be able to upgrade at the venue as well...fyi...remember PRESALE TICKETS HERE you know you're gonna wana...EVERYBODY's Doing it!!

VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP VIP 

Also...whew this is a lot of typing!  We will have new merch as well...just in time for those Christmas Presents!!  

Snake Skin Prison has been hard at work in the studio, but also in the Lab writing new music.  So get your mind right, this isn't just going to be a Snake Skin Prison show...This is gonna be A Very Metal Christmas!!! 

"Get your money for nothing, get your chicks for free
Money for nothing, chicks for free
Look at that, look at that
Get your money for nothing, get your chicks for free (I
want my, I want my, I want my SSP.)
Money for nothing and chicks for free
Easy, easy"

Aimed at You!!

 As most youngsters growing up in a hard working middle class family, I wasn't handed money to spend.  Once I got to a certain age and needed (or so I thought) things, I would bug the crap out of my parents, and most of the time their defenses were strong.  So, typical Matt Ballengee, instead of going without I started to hatch a plan on how I could make some cashola.  

I did several jobs, put up hay (twice...and that was enough), ran the clock for basketball games or kept the books for the slow pitch softball games (thanks Coach Boothe!)...but the one occupation I did regularly was mow lawns.  So on the hunt I went...in search of the lawn to be mowed.

So, a cousin's hubby, we'll call him...uhm...well how about Ed...lol...he took a chance and gave me the job of mowing his yard.  Now mind you, this wasn't a very big lot...not even half an acre...maybe not even 1/3 of an acre...but that wasn't the selling point for me...the selling point??  Self Propelled baby!!  Easy $$. 

I mowed a couple times and Ed paid me, and then one day I was in his living room, after working the mower, and he said, "ya know what you need??  Turn around there and pick a CD...that can be your payment..."  I turned around and man O man, there had to be a thousand CD's!!!  I was like, "holy Cow...CDs!!  These are better than tapes!!"  I thought for sure Ed was rich.  So I was looking and looking, keep in mind still fresh and developing my musical tastes...so I really didn't know what I wanted...or should take.  After several minutes, Ed goes, "Here...hell it ain't that hard...this is the one you need!!!"  

Now granted, he could've handed me Madonna...Vern Gosden...or Run DMC...but nope...he handed me a CD that I quote as a definite influence on myself as a musician...

PANTERA "COWBOYS FROM HELL"  

I remember going home and blasting that baby enough to where my parents thought I was gonna burn the house down and start a cult...they had never heard anything like this, my dad's like, "boy this ain't The Freebirds of Southern Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd!!!"  But something just kept me playing it...I can't explain it.  

And that my friends is how you know you got it.  When you can reach out across the country and infect people's lives, hearts, and minds with your music.  And regardless of what kind've music you're making (in my book as long as YOU are making it...be it with a guitar...a banjo...a trumpet...any INSTRUMENT)if your music does that...it's better than gold.  

"Better than gold??  Matt you're crazier than a shit house rat!!!"  <---that's probably what you're thinking...well actually that's exactly what I am :).  However...

This body is just a vessel and will carry us as far as it can...then we will move on...but the music...the music my friends will last for ever...whether there be an ear to hear it or not...it will never die.

Today is the day Dimebag Darrell died, and even though I never met Dime...he reached out and touched my life, changed my life, blew my speakers, and gave me something to strive for.  

For that I am very thankful.  

So crank the Dimebag of your choice folks, scare the parents a bit (it's good for them), sling a black tooth grin if you so choose...and remember....

WE'RE TAKING OVER THIS TOWN

Don't forget our Christmas EVENT!!

PRESALE TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE CLICK HERE!

PRESALE TIX AVAILABLE ONLINE CLICK HERE!!!