Sketchy Conversations With John M Ellison IV: Recent Episodes
John M. Ellison IV
"Sketchy Conversations With John M Ellison IV" is podcast where host John M. Ellison IV interviews subjects from the worlds of music, animation, wrestling and elsewhere.
Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak’s project Silk Sonic started to form in 2017 when Anderson Paak was on the European leg of the Bruno Mars 24k Magic World Tour. They hit it off and bonded over James Brown, Stevie Wonder and just anything funky and soulful. Once acquainted, they started recording with the iconic Niles Rodgers of Chic and Guy Lawrence of Disclosure. Out of nowhere, Silk Sonic drops “Leave the Door Open” in March of 2021. The song and video was a smash on YouTube and went viral. Even the harshest of Bruno Mars critics hearts softened towards him. Around July, another single was released titled “Skate.” A pastiche of disco and pop that makes you feel like getting a pair of roller skates and show out in a roller rink somewhere. For the sake of authenticity, the album was recorded on a Solid State Logic mixing board and used Ludwig drums with Remo Ambassador heads, a Clavinet D6 keyboard, a Danelectro sitar. They even used the same minimal mic techniques a lot of albums of that era were recorded with. “Silk Sonic Intro” Kicks off with a James Brown like count off…cool surprise with Bootsy Collins on the intro. Also sets the tone of the album. “Leave the Door Open” Anderson. Paak’s vocal in the verse is conversational whereas in contrast, Bruno’s vocal in the pre-chorus and chorus compliments Paak’s vocal. Both know their strengths and weaknesses and compliment each other well. Anderson. Paak’s drums are appropriate too. Even though he could show off, he knew when to play for the song. “Fly As Me” Has a west coast funk feel to it. I hear elements of Tower of Power in it. This track feels like it came from an alternate universe where hip-hop started on the west coast in mid 70’s. Kind of feels like Big Boi of Outkast flow wise in some parts. “After Last Night” (Feat. Thundercat and Bootsy Collins) Bootsy Collins Rubber Band era energy throughout the composition and his ad libs add something special to this. D’Mile is no slouch on guitar and the three note “Purple Haze” paraphrase was a nice touch. Although I would have preferred to hear Bootsy Collins play bass, Thundercat holds it down. “Smokin’ Out the Window” This has a William DeVaughn “Diamond in the Back” energy. This was a decent riding tune except for that ONE lyric of “THIS BITCH!” ruins the vibe for me. Unless there were studio outtakes, you didn’t have R&B guys swearing like that back in the 70’s. Actually, it’s almost like a Saturday Night Live sketch. “Put on a Smile” If you’re going to have a 70’s R&B album. It doesn’t hurt to have a “crying in the rain” song. In a way “Put on a Smile” is an answer/apology for “Smokin’ Out the Window.” Paak is more confident vocally in comparison to the previous tracks. “777” Bruno Mars shows and reminds us he can play guitar. Also Anderson doesn’t mess around on drums either. Hell, this makes me we wanna shoot dice right now. “Skate” This one had to grow on me and could have been a bigger Summer anthem if the world wasn’t a COVID-19 snotball. Not a bad number at all. Has a good roller skate feel. “Blast Off” Basically a psychedelic soul anthem to sparking one up and vibing. Bruno’s guitar solo gave me the stank face. Overall, It feels like the 70’s R&B and Funk albums and singles I grew up hearing and listening to around the house and hearing on Magic 102.3 as a kid. The project has elements of Philly Soul, West Coast Funk and Motown. D’Mile isn’t a slouch on bass. Bruno Mars and D’Mile have a good ear for production and capturing a pastiche of funk. Using Bootsy Collins as a narrator and voice of reason throughout the album is a nice touch. Vocally, Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak compliment each others strength and weaknesses. The string section, horn section and sitar was a nice touch. Another smart move was having this project be only nine tracks (one intro and eight songs) since albums had a shorter track listing. If they do a sequel of “An Evening With Silk Sonic” I would love to see an 80’s Funk pastiche/homage but with cameos from Dam Funk, Suga Free, Chromeo and Snoop Dogg.
John talks to wrestler Jake Logan about the promotion Control Your Narrative.
John talks to animator/cartoonist/producer Tom Ruegger of Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Freakazoid...his fingerprints are pretty much somewhere on 90's animation. We talk about his body of work, differences between working at Warner Bros. and Disney and other topics.
Tom Ruegger's New Project
Will You Wear a Mask I Ask?
John chats with DC 101 radio announcer Mike Jones. We talk wrestling, The Ramones and other topics.
John talks with rocker Juan Blak of the band Blak Sunday. We talk about his influences, Indiana's music scene compared to L.A.'s music scene and other topics
John talks with "Ill Will" Will Dorsey Jr. of Body Count about his roots in the Baltimore music scene, how he got into Body Count and also being the drum tech for punk band The Offspring.
John chats musician/model/actor Avant Strangel. We talk about the differences between living in the U.S. vs France, France's film scene, David Ryan Harris, Fencing and other topics.
John talks with director Dan Bynum. Dan Bynum has worked with wrestling promotions such as World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) World Championship Wresting (WCW), Ring of Honor (ROH) and Major League Wrestling (MLW) also has worked with the PGA. We talk about how he got into the business and other topics.
John talks with Bob Vennum of Punk/Soul band the BellRays. We talk about punk rock, how the first BellRays albums were recorded, going on tour with British punk band The Damned and other topics.
John talks with guitarist/singer Kaia Fischer about Rainer Maria, Wisconsin's music scene, their solo work and other topics.
John talks with drummer Kenny Kaos about old school wrestling, his band Dead City Empire and other topics.
Kenny Kaos Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/KennyKaosdrummer/
Kenny Kaos Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kennykaosdrummer/
John talks with guitarist and singer/songwriter Gabby Logan about her band the TxLips, her being featured in Guitar World, coming up in Georgia and other topics.
John talks with Coreh of the podcast Metal for Brains about wrestling and other topics.
John talks with drummer Alien Warr about backing Tech N9ne, Wacka Flocka Flame and also being kicked out of every band he's been in.
John talks with guitarist Brooks Anderson II about being a rock guitarist in a go-go band and other topics.
John talks with rapper Daniel Jordan about his new album "Dark Night of the Soul" and other topics.
John talks with producer/DJ James Nasty about Baltimore Club Music, scene politics and debunks the rumor of the "Squirt Off" at The Crown. Check it.
John talks with NAAW (Nation of African American Wrestling) founder Jabari McIntyre about the Facebook e-group NAAW.
John talks with guitarist and singer/songwriter Julie O. aka Julie Outrage about her music, filmmaking and other topics. Check it!
John talks with Drummer/Studio Owner/Songwriter/Manager Tom Bowker about the Florida scene, run ins with a pre-fame Marilyn Manson, Chino Moreno of Deftones, managing and playing drums with R&B legend Clarence Reid aka Blowfly and other topics.
John talks with controversial cartoonist and animator Mike Diana. We talk about his comic Boiled Angel, The Angry White Male tour, when him and his friends saw G.G. Allin and other topics. Check it.
John talks with singer/songwriter and all around bad ass Deekah Rox. We talk about her learning how to play guitar, her festival Cosmic Slop Festival, Detroit and other topics. I cut this back in October 2020 so yeah...check it.
John talks with host/musician/singer Militia Vox about Woodstock '94, her stint at Fuse aka Much Music USA, her singing lead in Judas Priestess and other cool shit.
https://www.militiavox.com/
http://instagram.com/militiaismyname
http://www.twitter.com/militiaismyname
Also check out my band Jenny Hates Techno's EP Alien Pond
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks with Mega Ran about growing up in Philadelphia, working his way up the studio system, wrestling, his new book Dream Master.
Mega Ran's website
https://megaran.com/
Mega Ran's Book "Dream Master: From the Stoop to the Stage to the Stars"
Also check out my band Jenny Hates Techno's EP Alien Pond
Alien Pond
John talks with guitarist Mark Phillips. Currently, he's the guitarist of Fishbone. We talk about his previous bands, him scoring a lot of TV and Film and yes Fishbone fans...I ask THAT question.
http://markphillipsmusic.com/
Also check out my band's album "Alien Pond"
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John chats with drummer Jake Deal of Mother's Oven and Capital Chill. We talk about how he got his start playing drums, playing live on TV, his new projects and other topics.
Capital Chill
http://www.instagram.com/capitalchillband
http://www.facebook.com/capitalchillband
http://www.twitter.com/Capital_chill
http://www.bandmix.com/capitalchillband
http://www.storefrontier.com/capitalchillband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZD0x-DaSGtv63ObSSZrSbQ
Mother's Oven
http://www.facebook.com/mothersoven
http://www.instagram.com/mothersoven
http://www.twitter.com/mothersoven
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx-9Z0CfQvOOKSL-bNHHbFg/null
Support
https://mothersoven.bandcamp.com/
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mothers-oven/1095553022
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3re4rAtq9JBBGf316lATD5
DieselDeal
https://www.youtube.com/user/DieselDeal
http://www.bandmix.com/DieselDeal
John talks with DMV producer Judah about his studio Syence Lab, D.C. Hip-Hop, work with rapper Wale, his solar powered studio and other topics.
https://judah.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/judahusedtomakebeats/
https://twitter.com/JUDAHontheBEATS
The Syence Lab
Also check out my band Jenny Hates Techno's album Alien Pond
on Bandcamp, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube
https://linktr.ee/JennyHatesTechno
John talks with R&B/Soul producer/engineer/vocal coach/studio owner Tobari Fingal about the music business, going to Berklee and other subjects...
https://www.instagram.com/itsmecoacht/
https://www.instagram.com/HavenHouseMedia/
John talks with Petey and Danny DeVaney about Fishbone, Maryland's abundance of reggae-rock bands, going through the vaults song wise and some other topics.
Higher Education website
https://www.highereducationband.com/
John talks with vocalist Jenko Veli of Verge of Umbra. We talk about rap-metal, New York's scene, Bob Marley being an influence and other subjects.
Verge of Umbra
https://vergeofumbra.bandcamp.com/
Also check out Jenny Hates Techno
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks with rapper Eva Rhymes. We talk about growing up in Maryland, musical influences, Baltimore's rap scene and some other things inbetween.
https://evarhymes.com/home-of-eva
https://linktr.ee/EvaRhymes
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks with old friend and collaborator Kelvin Lee. We talk about his project Parker, grafitti, how he started playing drums, cooking. Check it!
https://parker1.bandcamp.com/releases
https://www.bandlab.com/paletero
Also check out Jenny Hates Techno
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John chats with his old bandmate Chris Boone about how he started on drums and picked up bass, his former band Here's To, experience in Jenny Hates Techno, how we met. Basically two old buds catching up.
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks with comedian/podcaster Kyle Lewis. We talk about his tenure on wrestling podcast Busted Open, stand-up comedy and The Simpsons...check it.
https://twitter.com/KeepItFiveStar
https://www.instagram.com/keepitfivestar/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/user/KeepItFiveStar
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks to Faraji Jackson aka Brotha Numsie whose quick witted posts have gone viral often on Facebook. We talk about his background in theater, taste in music and how the Brotha Numsie account came out.
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks with rapper Xavier James about growing up in Maryland, how Tech N9ne amd Jamie Madrox are influences, playing bass and some other topics.
https://twitter.com/mrxavierjames
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/xavier-james/1530273993
https://xavierjames.bandcamp.com/
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John chats with his old Afropunk bud Fast Eddy. We talk about how he got the name Fast Eddy, why he kept a low profile on the OG board, how he got into metal, when he was in the Navy and gives a glimpse into what the old Afropunk board was like.
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks with Tromobonist and vocalist Jay Armant Jr. formerly of rock band Fishbone and currently with bands Year of the Dragon and Electric Gremlin. We talk about his tenure with Fishbone, we geek out about gaming and funk a bit too.
https://m.twitch.tv/latrombonist
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
John talks with musician/actor/dancer Orlando Greenhill from Long Beach, CA. Orlando is the founder of Create(!), bass player for Havalina Rail Co. and played on numerous other projects. We talk about the old Afropunk board, his project Black History of Rock and Roll, his appearance in the short film featured on Adult Swim called "The Pound Hole"...Check it!
Check out Jenny Hates Techno on Bandcamp
https://jennyhatestechno.bandcamp.com/album/alien-pond-2
On today's episode, John talks with multi-instrumentalist and former manager of H.R. of Bad Brains fam, Grant Garretson. We talk about Chucky Sluggo and his new project Sluggo's Revenge, him playing drums with controversial and The Mentors, the Andy Dick incident and...folks this is probably the wildest episode of "Sketchy Conversations with John M. Ellison IV"
https://www.instagram.com/thedcog/?hl=en
John talks with Boo Dixon of Supreme Commander. We talk punk rock, pro wrestling, Go-Go, "D.C. as Fuck" and other topics.
Website
https://www.crushingdc.com/
Music
https://supremecommander.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/rushingoo
Podcast
https://www.facebook.com/districtofmisfitsshow/
On today's episode, John talks with Rodcore of Hope Fiend and formerly of Year of the Dragon. We talk about how he was almost lead singer of Faith No More, the L.A. punk scene and how martial arts got him out of a jam back in the day...to put it mildly.
https://twitter.com/palmerthewriter
John talks with wrestler Mr. Grimm about working the indies, his appearance on WWE, AEW, MLW, Maryland's wrestling scene versus Tennessee's wrestling scene and actually contacted to "take care of people."
https://twitter.com/mrgrim_is4_hire
https://www.facebook.com/HIREMRGRIM/
Told y'all he'd be back. On this episode, John chat's with LAW* about singing background for Amy Winehouse, working the corporate gig circuit, his long awaited album "Psychotic Chamelon", New Kids on the Block and Danzig?
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/lawplanet12
https://twitter.com/planet12law?lang=en
On today's episode, John talks with Gina Rose about being a solo artist, performing on "Showtime at the Apollo" and "Apollo Live!" and also difference being an artist in a Go-Go band and being a Go-Go artist.
https://www.instagram.com/msginarose/
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/GINAROSE1
Website
http://www.gina-rose.com
On today's episode, John talks with wrestler Barrington Hughes. We chat about his run in MLW, similarities between wrestling and punk rock and other topics.
https://twitter.com/BlaqueThanosBH
On today's episode John chats with alternative R&B artist Cruz Soul Omega. We talk about the differences between L.A.'s music scene and Baltimore music scene, the making of his videos and his albums.
Bandcamp
https://cruzomegasoul.bandcamp.com/
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/user/prodegycruz/videos
On the Halloween episode of "Sketchy Conversations with John M. Ellison IV" we chat with wrestler Trevor Aeon. We talk about him getting smartened up, wrestling overseas, the left hand path and other topics.
John talks with multi-instrumentalist OriSoaring formerly of Go-Go Symphony. We talk about the DMV music scene, her musical roots and other topics.
John talks to wrestler Roni Big Bang Nicole about wrestling on the indie circuit, wrestling in Japan, Wrestling Horror Story and other topics.
John talks with bandmate Danielle Williams of Jenny Hates Techno about growing up on Christian Rock, going to Bowie State University, how they both met on Afropunk and other topics.
John talks with multi-instrumentalist LAW* of 420 Funk Mob, Enema Squad and founder of Planet 12. Talking about appropriation vs appreciation, interesting social media exchanges and the possibility of a funk revival in the mainstream.
John talks with R&B singer/songwriter Christopher Barnes about his musical roots, favorite Michael Jackson and Prince demos, how he almost went into animation, experiences at NAMM in this informative interview.
John talks with rapper Daniel Jordan about the current climate of Arizona, punk and rap's similarities, his influences, how he told Kid Rock's people to fuck off.
On today’s episode of “Sketchy Conversations with John M Ellison IV” I chat with engineer/producer Jared Hassan Foles of Shrine for the Black Madonna, Sweet Fuzzy Itsy Bitsy and owner/founder of his studio World Eater Recordings about old New York, we geek out over engineering stuff and talk about collaborators getting ahem comfortable too...check it out folks!
John talks to multi-instrumentalist/session musician Palo Roy Henderson. We talk about unusual gigs, racism, how the music business is being affected by COVID-19, playing live with rappers Onyx, Palo being the "lost" member of Fishbone and other musings.