This morning I was fortunate enough to have the chance to catch up with the very busy Ace Annese, co-host/producer of Realty Check TV who happens to now be managing SF Bay Area metal greats, SKINLAB!
HJB: ACE!!! How have you been? What's up with you and what's up with SKINLAB?
ACE RCTV: Hi Jenn! I'm doing pretty well. Been busy as usual!
I suppose I should preface this by saying that I'm now managing SKINLAB...again. We briefly worked together previously, and have always been good friends, so when the chance came up again, I jumped on it. RCTV has done 2 videos for the guys, and we're shooting the upcoming show this Saturday night, Jan. 22nd at The Uptown in Oakland for a potential DVD release later in the year.
So, 2011 is looking like it'll be a big year. Our plan is to put out an EP with a couple new tunes, and maybe 5 tracks of "influences"--bands that have contributed to the Skinlab feel. The band's current label, STAND & DELIVER, will be putting it out, hopefully by the Spring. The band is doing a January 2011 "mini-tour", with 2 California dates and 4 dates in Oklahoma & Texas, which is the stomping ground of their new axe-slinger, Provo Provenzano. He was in a cool band called Rikets, and is a friend/fan of the band, who is fitting in well. Skinlab is also slated to perform at SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST in March, which should be fun. Then, we plan on more touring and a full-length record by the end of the year.
As far as Reality Check TV, we're approaching our 500th Episode, and our 20th Anniversary!
HJB: Congratulations on the new job! And congratulations on 20 years of Realty Check TV!!! Will the filming at the Skinlab show in Oakland be part of the 500th Episode? What are some of those "influences" on Skinlab?
ACE RCTV: As far as the 500th episode, not giving anything away yet. We'll just have to see!
Skinlab's influences are many and varied. Rest assured, however, there will be a Bay Area band or two who'll be represented!
Yes, being coy for the time being...
HJB: Okay, okay, ya can't blame me for trying!! What is like managing Skinlab? Are you going to Oklahoma & Texas with them?
ACE RCTV: Skinlab is a veteran act, so they know the ropes, and that's good. They also seem to be ready to do whatever it takes to make stuff happen, which is always a good thing.
I will probably go to Modesto, but I don't think I'll be going to Texas. I plan to go with them in March to SXSW, which I've never been to, and I don't think they have been previously, either. As far as other touring, I hoping to be out with them as much as my schedule allows. Maybe double as Tour Manager to cut down on costs...who knows? I've done some touring with them before, and we had a blast. So, we'll have to see how that pans out. I just want to see them perform as much as possible--they are a crushing live band, and their new material is as brutal as ever. We're all excited to make good things happen!
HJB: YES!! I've been reading Steev Esquivel's status statements on Facebook and he seems to be getting back to his roots, ultra motivated and full of energy. I love that.
I know you refuse to spill the beans on the new tracks...but do you think they will play them at the upcoming shows?
And I'm also dying to hear how the AVN Awards were?
ACE RCTV: I'm not sure if they'll play the covers at shows--possibly after the EP comes out, they'll play some of them. That's more a question for the band. I'm more on the biz side, if ya catch my drift...
Now, as for AVN, we had way too much fun as always in Vegas. Reality Check TV goes every year to the Adult Entertainment Expo, and it's an excuse for us to see our pals, do interviews and have a great time doing it. Unfortunately we can't show/talk about everything we do there--it IS Vegas after all, and you know what they say...
HJB: Well then we will just have to go to the shows and find out!! I am so looking forward to Saturday and the EP! Is there anything else you'd like to add?
ACE RCTV: I suppose I should plug the SKINLAB websites:
http://myspace.com/skinlab for the music, and
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SKINLAB-Official/292846018595#!/?sk=messages&tid=1370608883501 for the latest updates. To download, do the itunes thing:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/skinlab/id29255719 and for you smartphone junkies, try the rdio.com page:
http://www.rdio.com/#/artist/Skinlab/
Essentially, Skinlab has something for every listening device...
RSVP to the 'Lab Event page for the Oakland show here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139313022790987
The Tour dates are:
Thurs. Jan 20 - Fat Cat - Modesto,CA
Sat. Jan 22 - Uptown - Oakland, CA
Fri. Jan 28 - Bricktown Live - Oklahoma City, OK
Sat. Jan 29 - The Rail - Ft. Worth, TX
Sun. Jan 30 - Clicks - Tyler, TX
Now for Reality Check TV, I suppose
http://realitychecktv.com/ is the best place to go. On Facebook, our page is here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reality-Check-TV/74318066363
I also have a Twitter page:
http://twitter.com/AceRealityCheck, and I recommend everyone who can't watch the (uncensored) cable TV version of RCTV (which airs EVERY Fri. nite at 1:00 AM --Sat. morning if you're using a DVR--on San Francisco Comcast cable ch. 29) on Mevio online at
http://realitychecktv.mevio.com/
A little bit later in the year, we'll have a big announcement for a planned extravaganza at a large venue in or around SF, which is tentatively planned for Oct. 1st. It'll tie-in to the 20th Anniversary, and be a mix of the stuff we love, with bands and burlesque!
Other than that, I want to express my thanks to everyone who supports me personally, as well as Reality Check TV, Skinlab and all of the projects/endeavors I/we are a part of. Nothing is any fun if people don't support it, and we've been very lucky to have great friends and fans--both Skinlab and RCTV. So, know that we appreciate it!
HJB: Thank you Ace!! Everybody near Modesto go check out SKINLAB, THURSDAY, January 20th at FAT CAT and all us here closer to SF we will see you SATURDAY, JANUARY 22nd at UPTOWN NIGHT CLUB!! THANKS!!!
