We had a blast chatting with musician turned filmmaker, Rudy Cervantez. Originally from Del Rio, TX, Rudy moved to College Station after high school and began performing with bands and teaching guitar while attending college. Along with a passion for guitar, movies (even really bad ones) were always an interest, and it was not an uncommon scenario to find early 2000’s Rudy and musical cohort Skunk picking out the themes to bad movies and classic video games on guitar while pushing the boundaries of musician’s insomnia.

In 2006, Rudy relocated to Dallas where he began practicing photography and studying film at the University of North Texas. There he earned a bachelor's degree in Radio, Television and Film. Currently working towards an MFA in Documentary Production and Studies, Rudy’s debut documentary about the world’s largest video store in the  world, I Luv Video, in Austin, TX, will be released on November 20th 2020.

On this podcast we discuss various films, directors and composers as well as attempting some not so impressive Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonations. We also ask Rudy for an “explosive” story regarding  untimely bodily functions and he does not disappoint.

Mark Sean joins the Eclectic Soundtrax crew today.  Hailing from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, this guitarist found his way to Austin and adapted the rock n' roll lifestyle playing with acts such as Foxy Dangerous, Revolution Wild, and presently one of Austin's most prestigious rock bands, Black Hearts Saints.  Mark talks about his musical career, the importance of touring and connecting with fans at shows, and promotes protein powder. 

This episode has been reviewed and approved by The Lizard People. 

This episode on Youtube 

Bobby Bookout joins us on the podcast tonight.  He’s a singer/songwriter based out of Austin, Texas. After a stint in the U.S. Navy, Bobby used his GI Bill to earn a degree in Commercial Music from South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. In 2007, he graduated from SPC and moved to Austin to begin work on a full length self-titled debut which was released in June of 2010. Eight long years went by… after a wedding, a couple babies, a couple moves, and a few jobs, Bobby was finally able to wrap up production on his second record, released in October of 2018 and simply titled: B.

He states he will not commit to a genre. Having eclectic tastes (see what we did there?) he enjoys free form and getting to create without limitation. As you're listening to either of his records, you’ll quickly notice that each song is a total departure from the last. You may not like everything you hear, but he’d love if you'd at least give everything a listen.

You might have come across a few discussions where we talked about buying music simply because the album artwork stood out at you.  Imagine then taking that curiosity to another level.  That's exactly what our next guest did.  Today we sit down with Donald Chapa of Comal County Rebels Art Gallery and Boutique, located in New Braunfels,  to talk about how that fascination with with album art turned into a family business.  

"We love art, you love art.  Let's be friends."

Prepare to be #Wallin'd

Today on the podcast we chat with the members of Tibetan Sky Burial.  Formed in Austin during 2019, Texan natives Rick Fernandes and Bryan Stevens wrote a concept album about loss and the five stages of grief. Tibetan Sky Burial's debut 'Lamenta' released this year with a video debuting December 3rd.  We dive into the bands history, talk about a bold new marketing strategy that Rick has planned, and what it means to be "Wallin'd". We also share some BTS magic on a professional podcast at the end of our discussion.

Blackened Post-Metal, Cats the Musical, The Hub, Oreos....this session has it all. 

The Invincible Czars are a multi-faceted collective of musicians that entertains audiences with artsy, cinematic music that sometimes-but-not-always rocks.  On today's podcast, we talk with the band members Josh Robins, Phil Davidson, Henry Vines, Craig Fischer, and our own Skunk Manhattan about the band history, projects in the works, writing scores for silent movies, and musical inspirations.  

Ulrich Ellison is an accomplished and prolific musician who has performed, toured and recorded with a wide variety of artists including his own band, Ulrich Ellison and Tribe. This eclectic and energetic "axe" wielding Viking rarely leaves a gig without making an impression. He was once referred to as the "Mozart of Blues Rock".

A native of Austria, Ulrich relocated to the United States and chose to continue his study of guitar and music at the University of Texas in the live music capital of the world. It didn't take long before he was gigging practically every night of the week with local blues and rock bands, as well as working with jazz ensembles at the school. In recent years, Ulrich has produced a number of projects for other bands and musicians along with his own music and also took on the role of Jose Feliciano's band director which led to extensive worldwide touring.

Currently residing in Turkey, but always on the move, we were able to catch up for a quick 'Part 1' of a podcast while Ulrich was in Washington DC for some production work.

Today on the podcast, we have our good friend Jon Simpson.  Jon is a veteran of the Austin music scene playing with bands like Meyvn and the Witch Diaries.  On this session we talk about what Jon’s been up to, his musical education, putting on Covid weight, and brewing beer.  We also recall the Strum days and how to grab the attention of the UT women’s rowing team.... no guitar needed fellas.  

Skunk’s wardrobe and Vic’s ambiance provided by the Samuel L. Jackson “hat of the month” Club and the Stripper Shack.

Intro Song - Jon’s cover of “Isn’t she lovely”

Outro Song from Skunkfest ’18 - Jon joins A Good Rogering and Skunk to perform “Silent Lantern”

Jon's YouTube Channel 

We had a blast chatting with the charismatic renaissance man known as Scott Banco. Scott is a singer and multi-instrumentals who fronts the progressive desert rock band, Finite Fidelity. This band has a knack for hooky songwriting and is explosively entertaining onstage. Imagine if QOTSA and Clutch had a baby but a touch of Freddie Mercury's DNA got mixed in. Yes, they're that good and so is Scott's mustache, and that's why FF is one of Skunk's favorite Austin bands and well worth checking out since Skunk's musical taste is immaculate and always correct.

In this podcast we talk music (obviously), but also chat about another of Scott's passions, beer. As it turns out, Skunk and Scott have several things in common including hat collecting; the shared birthplace of San Antonio, TX; and a love for beer; but Scott actually knows his beers and is not one of those "I'm so cool because I exclusively drink IPAs" people. In fact, Scott and bandmate Ryan Monahan have actually completed the first series, Electric Pilz Nerdz where they discuss and compare various beers and guitar pedals. What? Are they qualified for such? Yes. Scott works at the long running and prestigious South Austin Music and Ryan works at Oak HIlls Brewing Co.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming Finite album! Scott's music is as spicey, diverse and awesome as his homemade salsa and you should ingest it with the same vigor that Skunk inhales a plate of nachos.

Skunk's wardrobe & hat provided by Gentleman Bird Feeders Inc.

It was great catching up with professional drummer, music school owner and soon to be dad, Dan Welby. In 1999 this Massachusetts native set out to attend the prestigious Musician's Institute in Los Angeles, driving cross country in a van packed to the gills with music gear and band mates from the young and hungry east coast thrashers, Hostile Groove. By 2003 HG was on the cover of the LA Weekly and played to a packed house as they debuted their Unleash The Mass Attack album at the world famous Whiskey a Go Go club in West Hollywood.

Along with touring, session work and other various musical endeavors, Dan developed a passion for teaching which eventually led to the creation of his own music school, SoundCheck Music School, with wife and bandmate Electra Barakos. These days, when not busy teaching and managing operations at the school, Dan can be seen performing in the LA area with Electra Barakos or Time and the Dragon.