BOOK REVIEW: Jessie May – Money Hacks for Metalheads and Old Millennials


One of the few regrets of my life so far is I never really learned how to handle and invest money. While I squarely blame myself for my misspent youth and years when I made higher salaries and still failed to save, I have to wonder why they don’t teach personal finance in High School, as opposed to say, calculus most of us will never use after that semester is over. Even in my long-run at undergrad and graduate school to earn multiple degrees, no one explained to me how much my student loans would dwarf my expenses and even salary in some years. All the while during this time, I played in middling successful bands with a regional following or ran a series of heavy metal websites for the last 15 years. Do we abandon all hope, ye who goes to the ATM to see a negative balance? Or is there a hero coming out of the dark to demystify the seemingly impossible Mount Doom-style odds against working-class musicians? 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Vestal Claret – Vestal Claret 


While a self-titled album often serves as a summary of an artist’s particular style, Vestal Claret’s third full-length is unlike anything else they’ve done before. The Doom Metal that defined the occult collective’s past efforts has been completely phased out in favor of a subdued presentation that is somewhere between Folk and introspective Psych Rock. An esoteric aura still wafts with vocalist Phil Swanson (Hour of 13, Sumerlands) offering his signature mournful, nasally wail, but the vibe has more in common with Hexvessel or Sabbath Assembly than Pagan Altar. Continue reading →


Dumb and Dumbest Episode #348: Jessie Of Alternative Control Returns!


Time Management is one of those things that one tends to overlook but can be a huge workflow suck if you are not mindful of it. Jessie May (Alternative Control blog, Owlmaker, Turkey Vulture) joins Keefy and Curtis to discuss her take on getting organized and getting stuff done! Check out Dumb and Dumbest Episode #348: Jessie Of Alternative Control Returns! Dumb and Dumbest is hosted by Matt Bacon (Dropout Media, Ripple Music, Prophecy Productions), Publicist Curtis Dewar (Dewar PR) and Keith Chachkes (Ghost Cult/BDWE Media). In addition to the podcast, Matt, Curtis, and Keith all host The Music Marketing Challenges: low-cost, super high-value private training to bands and artists.  And we just launched a Get hands-on practical experience to market your band like a pro today! DM Matt or Curtis at the links below for details Continue reading →