Friday, December 18, 2009
High Times Pot 40 - February 2010
#10 on the February, 2010 issue of the High Times Pot 40! Send them more votes at - pot40@hightimes.com
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Glide Magazine review
From Bob Lange's monthly vinyl roundup at Glide Magazine.
"Brooklyn-based Mighty High recently self-released their Drops a Deuce 7". I can't decide what I like best about this one, the pure, wild rock n roll, the R Crumb-style artwork or the groovy blue (or as Guitarist Woody says, "Viagra-colored") vinyl. Really, you can't go wrong here, so pick up a copy on the band's site (http://www.mightyhigh.net) or Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/mightyhigh). This is one that no one might know now, but in 20 or 30 years, it'll be commanding huge prices like the 60s and 70s psyche and proto-metal that inspired it, so it's an investment that pays off now and later!"
"Brooklyn-based Mighty High recently self-released their Drops a Deuce 7". I can't decide what I like best about this one, the pure, wild rock n roll, the R Crumb-style artwork or the groovy blue (or as Guitarist Woody says, "Viagra-colored") vinyl. Really, you can't go wrong here, so pick up a copy on the band's site (http://www.mightyhigh.net) or Myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/mightyhigh). This is one that no one might know now, but in 20 or 30 years, it'll be commanding huge prices like the 60s and 70s psyche and proto-metal that inspired it, so it's an investment that pays off now and later!"
Friday, November 13, 2009
Record release show - Fryday the 13th, November 2009
Record release partay for Mighty High Drops A Deuce 7" single. Friday the 13th of November at the beautiful Hank’s Saloon in downtown Brooklyn (corner of Atlantic Ave and 3rd Ave). Special guests - The Saloonatics!
Set list: Ramblin’ Rose; Breakin Shit; Dusted; Tokin N Strokin; Drug City; Cable TV Eye; Hands Up; The Ram; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Speedcreep; Don’t Panic, It’s Organic; Drug War; Kick Out The Jams; Buy The Pound; Hooked On Drugs; Stone Gett-Off.
Set list: Ramblin’ Rose; Breakin Shit; Dusted; Tokin N Strokin; Drug City; Cable TV Eye; Hands Up; The Ram; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Speedcreep; Don’t Panic, It’s Organic; Drug War; Kick Out The Jams; Buy The Pound; Hooked On Drugs; Stone Gett-Off.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
High Times Pot 40, January 2010 issue
#2 on the January, 2010 issue of the High Times Pot 40! Send them more votes at - pot40@hightimes.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Potcast
Check out the interview with Mighty High on The Ripple Effect's potcast from 10/28/09. Fascinating topics include our new single Mighty High Drops A Deuce, the problem with young people today and Mott The Hoople's reunion shows in London earlier this month.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Ripple-Effect
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Ripple-Effect
Monday, October 12, 2009
Mighty High - Drops A Deuce new 7" single out now!
Brooklyn’s #1 regressive rock act returns on wax in 2009 with a brand new single. Released on their homegrown label Mint Deluxe Tapes it expands on their patented Black Flag Railroad sound. “Cable TV Eye” can be found on Side Mint of the 45 and is a tale of ordinary paranoia at the check cashing place. Side Deluxe features a rowdy take of “Hands Up!(Live N Nasty)” captured in the raw at one of their deafening concerts. Recording and mixing was handled by Jason LaFarge (Devendra Banhart, Khanate, Angels of Light) at the historic Seizures Palace studio in Brooklyn. Original artwork was created by longtime Mighty High illustrator Wayne Braino Bjerke, whose work has also graced the cover of The Dictators D.F.F.D. album and plenty of Iron Maiden and Zep vests.
Side mint - CABLE TV EYE
Side deluxe - HANDS UP! (LIVE N NASTY)
Front cover
Inside cover
Illustrations by Wayne Braino Bjerke
Mighty High head shop
Buy direct from us via paypal! If you want to send us a check or take your chances with cash in the mail, contact us via email for instructions.
Mighty High Drops A Deuce 7-inch single on colored wax. CABLE TV EYE b/w HANDS UP! (LIVE N NASTY)
Drops A Deuce single - $5 postpaid in the USA
Drops A Deuce single - $10 postpaid international
Mighty High...In Drug City CD, 12 songs and 40 minutes of stone gett-off.
...In Drug City CD - $10 postpaid in the USA
...In Drug City CD - $15 postpaid international
Stone Gett-Off t-shirt, the red & the black ink on a white shirt. (please specify size - S/M/L/XL)
Stone Gett-Off shirt - $10 postpaid in the USA
Stone Gett-Off shirt - $15 postpaid international
Mighty High Drops A Deuce 7-inch single on colored wax. CABLE TV EYE b/w HANDS UP! (LIVE N NASTY)
Drops A Deuce single - $5 postpaid in the USA
Drops A Deuce single - $10 postpaid international
Mighty High...In Drug City CD, 12 songs and 40 minutes of stone gett-off.
...In Drug City CD - $10 postpaid in the USA
...In Drug City CD - $15 postpaid international
Stone Gett-Off t-shirt, the red & the black ink on a white shirt. (please specify size - S/M/L/XL)
Stone Gett-Off shirt - $10 postpaid in the USA
Stone Gett-Off shirt - $15 postpaid international
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Mighty High 2009 official biography
Brooklyn’s #1 regressive rock act returns on wax in 2009 with a brand new single. Released on their homegrown label Mint Deluxe Tapes it expands on their patented Black Flag Railroad sound. “Cable TV Eye” can be found on Side Mint of the 45 and is a tale of ordinary paranoia at the check cashing place. Side Deluxe features a rowdy take of “Hands Up!(Live N Nasty)” captured in the raw at one of their deafening concerts. Recording and mixing was handled by Jason LaFarge (Devendra Banhart, Khanate, Angels of Light) at the historic Seizures Palace studio in Brooklyn. Original artwork was created by longtime Mighty High illustrator Wayne Braino Bjerke, whose work has also graced the cover of The Dictators D.F.F.D. album and plenty of Iron Maiden and Zep vests.
Mighty High’s 2008 full length debut album …In Drug City earned rave reviews from Classic Rock Magazine (8 out of 10 stars), Julian Cope’s Head Heritage web site and Revolver Magazine among others (see below for exciting pull quotes). The editors of Classic Rock selected the song “Hooked On Drugs” to appear on a compilation CD entitled Guitarmageddon! that was included with the October 2008 issue. Mighty High sounded ridiculous in between songs by Dream Theater, Extreme and Megadeth but managed to attract a new international audience. Now everyone from teenage burnouts in California to old guys in Wales who saw Saxon on the Wheels Of Steel tour get baked listening to Mighty High. The band can also be found towards the top, if not #1, on High Times Magazine’s monthly Pot 40 chart that is voted on by its readers.
A power trio trapped in the body of a quartet, the band was formed in 2002 by Woody High (guitar/voices) out of sheer necessity. Mighty High existed as a band name, concept and denim jacket long before a single note of music was ever played. In fact, when Woody came up with the band name he couldn’t even play guitar (and still can’t). After years of bragging how great his band would be, his friends challenged him to put up or shut up. Tommy Blow (bass), TJ Whippets (guitar) and Jesse D’Stills (drums) share Woody’s blurred vision for a total assault on our dull, sober society.
To date, Mighty High is the only band in the world to have ever played with both Thor and Valient Thorr. They have also shared the stage with great bands such as Angry Samoans, Viking Skull, The Brought Low, Federale, Backwoods Payback, Puny Human, The Saloonatics, The Suede Brothers, The Black Hollies, Goat Horn and Mess With The Bull. They also love playing with tribute bands such as Sabbra Cadabra (Black Sabbath), Gimmiehead/Lizzyhead (Motorhead/Thin Lizzy), The Murderlators (Misfits) and The Scrooges (The Stooges in low budget Santa outfits).
Mighty High Drops A Deuce is only a whiff of what’s to come in 2010. The band has half of their next album recorded and are frantically writing the other half of it. There will be plenty of live assaults in the remainder of 2009 to keep the band under police surveillance. Stay high and survive!
“Mighty High…In Drug City effortlessly surfs the tsunami thrown up by AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock-period as though redirected through Grand Funk.” – Julian Cope, Head Heritage
“Positively relentless and gorgeous in its shameless vulgarity. Awesome.” – Classic Rock Magazine (June 2008)
“As the name suggests, their cues come from whatever chemicals they’ve just ingested, but near-lethal doses of MC5, Blue Cheer and Grand Funk contribute to the chaos as well.- Classic Rock Magazine (October 2008)
"Fucking insidious drug-punk riff shift combo veering between 1971 (The MC5's High Time) and uh... 1971 (Grand Funk's E Pluribus Funk).” - Craig Regala, Lollipop
“Sounds like Black Flag tokin', snortin', and shootin' up with Grand Funk Railroad.” – Revolver Magazine
“It’s more than just a clever name — these dudes are seriously fucked up.” - JJ Koczan, The Obelisk
“This band launches into its songs with a strong bold mighty rock ‘n’ roll like something AD/DC or Ted Nugent might have done back in the day.” – New York Waste
“Too punk for metal and too metal for punk, Mighty High revives the other late 80s punk/metal crossover scene than spawned the likes of Gang Green and SNFU and they also draw on the wild, inebriated humor of Adrenalin OD.” - Rock and Roll and Meandering Nonsense
“I can’t imagine anyone not liking this. Unless you are put off by lyrical topics such as drugs, drugs, drinking, drugs, drugs, violence, drugs and drugs.” – The Sluge Swamp
"Mighty High basically sounds like a classic rock cover band who decided to take their cues on what was cool from a couple of fourteen-year-old stoners with leather jackets and a Steve Miller fixation." - Razorcake
“The album actually has a bass solo, just to prove that too much drugs really can fuck you up.” – I94Bar.com (Australia)
“Come on what the fuck is this?” – Johnny Taint, Punk Rock Review
“Bought it, played it and didn't like it...oh well, its not the first time!” – Amazon.com customer review
Mighty High’s 2008 full length debut album …In Drug City earned rave reviews from Classic Rock Magazine (8 out of 10 stars), Julian Cope’s Head Heritage web site and Revolver Magazine among others (see below for exciting pull quotes). The editors of Classic Rock selected the song “Hooked On Drugs” to appear on a compilation CD entitled Guitarmageddon! that was included with the October 2008 issue. Mighty High sounded ridiculous in between songs by Dream Theater, Extreme and Megadeth but managed to attract a new international audience. Now everyone from teenage burnouts in California to old guys in Wales who saw Saxon on the Wheels Of Steel tour get baked listening to Mighty High. The band can also be found towards the top, if not #1, on High Times Magazine’s monthly Pot 40 chart that is voted on by its readers.
A power trio trapped in the body of a quartet, the band was formed in 2002 by Woody High (guitar/voices) out of sheer necessity. Mighty High existed as a band name, concept and denim jacket long before a single note of music was ever played. In fact, when Woody came up with the band name he couldn’t even play guitar (and still can’t). After years of bragging how great his band would be, his friends challenged him to put up or shut up. Tommy Blow (bass), TJ Whippets (guitar) and Jesse D’Stills (drums) share Woody’s blurred vision for a total assault on our dull, sober society.
To date, Mighty High is the only band in the world to have ever played with both Thor and Valient Thorr. They have also shared the stage with great bands such as Angry Samoans, Viking Skull, The Brought Low, Federale, Backwoods Payback, Puny Human, The Saloonatics, The Suede Brothers, The Black Hollies, Goat Horn and Mess With The Bull. They also love playing with tribute bands such as Sabbra Cadabra (Black Sabbath), Gimmiehead/Lizzyhead (Motorhead/Thin Lizzy), The Murderlators (Misfits) and The Scrooges (The Stooges in low budget Santa outfits).
Mighty High Drops A Deuce is only a whiff of what’s to come in 2010. The band has half of their next album recorded and are frantically writing the other half of it. There will be plenty of live assaults in the remainder of 2009 to keep the band under police surveillance. Stay high and survive!
“Mighty High…In Drug City effortlessly surfs the tsunami thrown up by AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock-period as though redirected through Grand Funk.” – Julian Cope, Head Heritage
“Positively relentless and gorgeous in its shameless vulgarity. Awesome.” – Classic Rock Magazine (June 2008)
“As the name suggests, their cues come from whatever chemicals they’ve just ingested, but near-lethal doses of MC5, Blue Cheer and Grand Funk contribute to the chaos as well.- Classic Rock Magazine (October 2008)
"Fucking insidious drug-punk riff shift combo veering between 1971 (The MC5's High Time) and uh... 1971 (Grand Funk's E Pluribus Funk).” - Craig Regala, Lollipop
“Sounds like Black Flag tokin', snortin', and shootin' up with Grand Funk Railroad.” – Revolver Magazine
“It’s more than just a clever name — these dudes are seriously fucked up.” - JJ Koczan, The Obelisk
“This band launches into its songs with a strong bold mighty rock ‘n’ roll like something AD/DC or Ted Nugent might have done back in the day.” – New York Waste
“Too punk for metal and too metal for punk, Mighty High revives the other late 80s punk/metal crossover scene than spawned the likes of Gang Green and SNFU and they also draw on the wild, inebriated humor of Adrenalin OD.” - Rock and Roll and Meandering Nonsense
“I can’t imagine anyone not liking this. Unless you are put off by lyrical topics such as drugs, drugs, drinking, drugs, drugs, violence, drugs and drugs.” – The Sluge Swamp
"Mighty High basically sounds like a classic rock cover band who decided to take their cues on what was cool from a couple of fourteen-year-old stoners with leather jackets and a Steve Miller fixation." - Razorcake
“The album actually has a bass solo, just to prove that too much drugs really can fuck you up.” – I94Bar.com (Australia)
“Come on what the fuck is this?” – Johnny Taint, Punk Rock Review
“Bought it, played it and didn't like it...oh well, its not the first time!” – Amazon.com customer review
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
High Times Pot 40, December 2009 issue
#3 on the December issue of the High Times Pot 40! Send them more votes at - pot40@hightimes.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
High Times Pot 40, Frank MariNovember 2009
Only #2 on the November issue of the High Times Pot 40! Send them more votes at - pot40@hightimes.com
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday 9/12/09
Raged the stage at Southpaw with Angry Samoans and Dirty Tactics. Photos by Jason House (thank you).
Set list: Drug City; Cable Tv Eye; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Drug War; Stone Gett-Off; The Ram; Breakin Shit; Dusted; Hooked On Drugs; Kick Out The Jams.
Set list: Drug City; Cable Tv Eye; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Drug War; Stone Gett-Off; The Ram; Breakin Shit; Dusted; Hooked On Drugs; Kick Out The Jams.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Zeptember Celebration Day
Fryday Zeptember 4 at The Charleston in Brooklyn (174 Bedford Ave btw N.7th & 8th St).
$7 got you this killer line up –
08:30PM Whooping Crane
09:30PM Mighty High
10:30PM Sun Gods In Exile (Small Stone Records)
11:30PM Stone Axe (Roadburn Records)
Set list: Cable TV Eye; Mooche; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Buy The Pound; Drug War; Tokin N Strokin; The Ram; I Live To Get High; Drug City; Kick Out The Jams!
$7 got you this killer line up –
08:30PM Whooping Crane
09:30PM Mighty High
10:30PM Sun Gods In Exile (Small Stone Records)
11:30PM Stone Axe (Roadburn Records)
Set list: Cable TV Eye; Mooche; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Buy The Pound; Drug War; Tokin N Strokin; The Ram; I Live To Get High; Drug City; Kick Out The Jams!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Sunday August 2 at Southpaw
Odd Fest 2009 at Southpaw on Sunday 08/02/09 with Smokewagon; Mighty High; Luff; We Are All Savages; DCO; Zoe Sundra. Club info - spsounds.com
Set list: Mooche; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Don’t Panic, It’s Organic; Stone Gett-Off; Tokin N Strokin; Shooting Spree; Breakin Shit; The Ram; Hooked On Drugs; Hands Up!
Set list: Mooche; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Don’t Panic, It’s Organic; Stone Gett-Off; Tokin N Strokin; Shooting Spree; Breakin Shit; The Ram; Hooked On Drugs; Hands Up!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Heavy Metal Time Machine interview
Metal Mark was nice enough to interview us on his excellent Heavy Metal Time Machine blog. Check it out here.
Mighty High might be as much of a statement as it is a band name. This is also the first time I have interviewed a band that began as a fictitious band. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing vocalist/guitarist Woody to find out more about this history of this band and what they are up to.
MM-Hello. Tell us a little about the history of your band.
Woody-Mighty High started off as a fictitious band. I started teaching myself guitar at the age of 31 as a hobby and would tell everyone that my band Mighty High kicked ass. Eventually my friend Brain O))) painted a denim jacket with a logo on the back. Once I saw the band name in acrylic on denim I got serious about writing songs and putting a band together.
MM-How did you come up with the band name?
Woody-My wife and I were on a road trip and I was telling her about something stupid I did in high school when I was stoned. She said “you must have been mighty high.” There was a long pause and we both said it would be a good band name at the same time. I later found out there was a great jazz album by Milt Buckner called Mighty High as well as a gospel song called “Mighty High” by the Mighty Clouds of Joy.
MM-Who are your musical influences?
Woody-We describe our sound as Black Flag Railroad. The basic concept is to sound like Black Flag covering Grand Funk’s Live Album. Other big influences on the band include Motorhead, MC5, The Stooges, Humble Pie, Killdozer, ZZ Top, The Ramones, Mountain and anyone else with a great live album.
MM-What are you currently up to?
Woody-Right now I’m in the process of blowing a ton of money to put out a 2 song 7” single later this year. It’s mixed, mastered and on it’s way to the pressing plant right now. Our artist Brain O))) is working on another incredible cover for it. We’re also writing some new songs and have some local shows lined up.
MM-Who have you shared a stage with so far?
Woody-I’m proud to say that Mighty High is the only band to have played with both Thor and Valient Thorr. Other great bands we’ve played with include The Brought Low, Federale, Puny Human, The Saloonatics, Mess With The Bull and Backwoods Payback. We also love playing with tribute bands! We used to play with the Black Sabbath tribute band Sabbra Cadabra at the Continental in NYC before they stopped having live music. We’ve also done shows with The Murderlators (Misfits), Gimmiehead (Motorhead), Lizzyhead (Thin Lizzy) and The Scrooges (holiday tribute to The Stooges).
MM-What have been some of your most memorable shows? Why?
Woody-We played Viking Skull’s first ever show in the USA last summer at Trash in Brooklyn. That was pretty cool. The crowd was drunk and rowdy. People are still talking about the Hoboken Holocaust of 2005 when we played Maxwell’s with Thor. A really funny one was when In This Moment opened for us in February 2007, also at Trash. Not long after that they were on tour opening for Ozzy Osbourne and White Zombie. We once played with a band called Monolith who’s singer was arrested for murder about a month after the show.
MM-Is this the only band for everyone involved or is anyone in other projects as well?
Woody-Our drummer Jesse also plays in another great band called Smokewagon. Check them out. He’s also in a Misfits tribute band called The Murderlators. The rest of us jam with friends occasionally but nothing really serious.
MM-You were voted Number 1 again on the High Times Pot 40 in the July 2009 issue according to your Myspace page. How cool is that? Did they contact you and tell you this or is it something you had to put in for?
Woody-The Pot 40 is voted on by the readers of High Times magazine and is compiled by John Holstrom of Punk Magazine fame. Anyone can nominate anything for it by sending an email to pot40@hightimes.com. It’s a huge thrill to be on there. I just found out that we’re #3 in the August 2009 issue. Our friends and fans nominate us month after month, but we stuff the ballot box, too.
MM-Your album “…In Drug City” came out over a year ago. Have you been working on any new material? If so then how does it compare with your other songs?
Woody-We have 6 songs recorded for the next album and a bunch of new songs in the works. Some of the songs are much faster with a strong early 80’s hardcore feel. Others are slower with a much more pronounced Deep Purple and Mountain influence. The main difference is that the songs have better arrangements. The songs are still simple but have a few more twists and turns to keep everyone interested. The lyrics remain about getting high and stupid shit like that.
MM-Obviously you are influenced by a number of 1970’s acts. What do you think was so good about acts from that decade?
Woody-Easy – EVERYONE was high. The audience wanted to hear righteous jams that sounded good when they were stoned. The musicians were also high and eager to oblige. Bands used to sell more concert tickets than records but unlike now, there was less competition for the short term attention of young people. The artists also worked on putting on a show and the crowd would go nuts.
MM-Was it a better decade for music than this decade? If so then why?
Woody-Just about any decade is better than this one for music. That’s a big reason I started the band. People stopped creating the type of music I like around 1982.
I’m a big fan of most American music from the mid 1940’s to the mid 1960’s. There’s so much incredible jazz, blues, country, western swing, rock & roll, soul music, etc that you can spend your entire life trying to discover it all.
The 1980’s was a great decade. On the surface it was all crap like Mr. Mister, The Outfield and Huey Lewis but I was too busy with all the great metal, hardcore and weird underground stuff to pay any attention. Personally, I thought the 1990’s was pretty lame. I was so burned out from all the killer SST, Touch & Go, Megaforce, etc bands that Sub Pop stuff just didn’t do it for me.
MM-Why should someone listen to Mighty High?
Woody-Because we rock! Hard! And all the songs are about getting high.
Not many people listen to Mighty High, but I wish more would. I know a lot of people are turned off by the humor in the lyrics, but fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke. Musically we seem to confuse people, too. We play too fast for the stoner rock crowd, too slow for the punk crowd, not heavy enough for metalheads, and too metal for garage rockers.
MM-What are some of the best albums that you have heard so far this year?
Woody-I like the latest Mastodon record a lot, Crack The Skye. Some of their older fans don’t like it at all but I think it’s great. The new Kylesa record Static Tensions is also really good. Anyone who doesn’t like the new Masodon should pick it up. Same with Quiet Earth by Bison. That’s a really heavy duty album. I just heard the new Firebird album Grand Union and like that a whole bunch. They do a great cover of Humble Pie’s “4 Day Creep.”
Older records that I’ve newly discovered include Paul Kossoff’s Back Street Crawler, Leslie West’s 1st solo album called Mountain, Brain Capers by Mott the Hoople. I also finally picked up B.B. King’s Live In Cook County Jail. I was reminded when I read a recent interview with Angus Young when he mentioned it was one of his favorite albums of all time. It’s a killer!
MM-What do you hope to accomplish in the remainder of 2009?
Woody-Put out the new single, play more shows with great bands and write more songs.
Any plans for a new album in the near future?
Hopefully we’ll be doing more recording at the end of this year or early 2010. I already have the album title, cover concept and most of the music and lyrics. We just need to get into the practice space and jam on the riffs and sharpen them up into good songs.
MM-Pick the band from each of the following pairs that you prefer and tell why you picked them.
Woody-
AC/DC or KISS
AC/DC all the way. I love Kiss Alive but not much else by them. The Bon Scott era is my favorite but Back In Black is an all time classic and Flick of the Switch is an underrated gem.
Thin Lizzy or UFO
This is a tough one, I love both bands but will give it to UFO by a hair. I listen to Strangers In The Night all the time. Michael Schenker, please get your head together. We need you!
Aerosmith or Ted Nugent
Based on 1970’s output I should say Aerosmith, but am gonna go with Ted just because his music gets me so pumped up and belligerent. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ted about 10 years ago. He told me he invented the middle finger.
Black Sabbath or Deep Purple
Tie. I can’t choose one over the other. Black Sabbath is one of my all time favorites but I rarely listen to them, but listen to Deep Purple all the time.
MM-Is there anything else that you would like to say about your band, your music or anything else?
Woody-Thank you Metal Mark for the interview. It’s an honor to be part of the Heavy Metal Time Machine. You have horrible taste in music! (Just kidding).
Mighty High might be as much of a statement as it is a band name. This is also the first time I have interviewed a band that began as a fictitious band. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing vocalist/guitarist Woody to find out more about this history of this band and what they are up to.
MM-Hello. Tell us a little about the history of your band.
Woody-Mighty High started off as a fictitious band. I started teaching myself guitar at the age of 31 as a hobby and would tell everyone that my band Mighty High kicked ass. Eventually my friend Brain O))) painted a denim jacket with a logo on the back. Once I saw the band name in acrylic on denim I got serious about writing songs and putting a band together.
MM-How did you come up with the band name?
Woody-My wife and I were on a road trip and I was telling her about something stupid I did in high school when I was stoned. She said “you must have been mighty high.” There was a long pause and we both said it would be a good band name at the same time. I later found out there was a great jazz album by Milt Buckner called Mighty High as well as a gospel song called “Mighty High” by the Mighty Clouds of Joy.
MM-Who are your musical influences?
Woody-We describe our sound as Black Flag Railroad. The basic concept is to sound like Black Flag covering Grand Funk’s Live Album. Other big influences on the band include Motorhead, MC5, The Stooges, Humble Pie, Killdozer, ZZ Top, The Ramones, Mountain and anyone else with a great live album.
MM-What are you currently up to?
Woody-Right now I’m in the process of blowing a ton of money to put out a 2 song 7” single later this year. It’s mixed, mastered and on it’s way to the pressing plant right now. Our artist Brain O))) is working on another incredible cover for it. We’re also writing some new songs and have some local shows lined up.
MM-Who have you shared a stage with so far?
Woody-I’m proud to say that Mighty High is the only band to have played with both Thor and Valient Thorr. Other great bands we’ve played with include The Brought Low, Federale, Puny Human, The Saloonatics, Mess With The Bull and Backwoods Payback. We also love playing with tribute bands! We used to play with the Black Sabbath tribute band Sabbra Cadabra at the Continental in NYC before they stopped having live music. We’ve also done shows with The Murderlators (Misfits), Gimmiehead (Motorhead), Lizzyhead (Thin Lizzy) and The Scrooges (holiday tribute to The Stooges).
MM-What have been some of your most memorable shows? Why?
Woody-We played Viking Skull’s first ever show in the USA last summer at Trash in Brooklyn. That was pretty cool. The crowd was drunk and rowdy. People are still talking about the Hoboken Holocaust of 2005 when we played Maxwell’s with Thor. A really funny one was when In This Moment opened for us in February 2007, also at Trash. Not long after that they were on tour opening for Ozzy Osbourne and White Zombie. We once played with a band called Monolith who’s singer was arrested for murder about a month after the show.
MM-Is this the only band for everyone involved or is anyone in other projects as well?
Woody-Our drummer Jesse also plays in another great band called Smokewagon. Check them out. He’s also in a Misfits tribute band called The Murderlators. The rest of us jam with friends occasionally but nothing really serious.
MM-You were voted Number 1 again on the High Times Pot 40 in the July 2009 issue according to your Myspace page. How cool is that? Did they contact you and tell you this or is it something you had to put in for?
Woody-The Pot 40 is voted on by the readers of High Times magazine and is compiled by John Holstrom of Punk Magazine fame. Anyone can nominate anything for it by sending an email to pot40@hightimes.com. It’s a huge thrill to be on there. I just found out that we’re #3 in the August 2009 issue. Our friends and fans nominate us month after month, but we stuff the ballot box, too.
MM-Your album “…In Drug City” came out over a year ago. Have you been working on any new material? If so then how does it compare with your other songs?
Woody-We have 6 songs recorded for the next album and a bunch of new songs in the works. Some of the songs are much faster with a strong early 80’s hardcore feel. Others are slower with a much more pronounced Deep Purple and Mountain influence. The main difference is that the songs have better arrangements. The songs are still simple but have a few more twists and turns to keep everyone interested. The lyrics remain about getting high and stupid shit like that.
MM-Obviously you are influenced by a number of 1970’s acts. What do you think was so good about acts from that decade?
Woody-Easy – EVERYONE was high. The audience wanted to hear righteous jams that sounded good when they were stoned. The musicians were also high and eager to oblige. Bands used to sell more concert tickets than records but unlike now, there was less competition for the short term attention of young people. The artists also worked on putting on a show and the crowd would go nuts.
MM-Was it a better decade for music than this decade? If so then why?
Woody-Just about any decade is better than this one for music. That’s a big reason I started the band. People stopped creating the type of music I like around 1982.
I’m a big fan of most American music from the mid 1940’s to the mid 1960’s. There’s so much incredible jazz, blues, country, western swing, rock & roll, soul music, etc that you can spend your entire life trying to discover it all.
The 1980’s was a great decade. On the surface it was all crap like Mr. Mister, The Outfield and Huey Lewis but I was too busy with all the great metal, hardcore and weird underground stuff to pay any attention. Personally, I thought the 1990’s was pretty lame. I was so burned out from all the killer SST, Touch & Go, Megaforce, etc bands that Sub Pop stuff just didn’t do it for me.
MM-Why should someone listen to Mighty High?
Woody-Because we rock! Hard! And all the songs are about getting high.
Not many people listen to Mighty High, but I wish more would. I know a lot of people are turned off by the humor in the lyrics, but fuck ‘em if they can’t take a joke. Musically we seem to confuse people, too. We play too fast for the stoner rock crowd, too slow for the punk crowd, not heavy enough for metalheads, and too metal for garage rockers.
MM-What are some of the best albums that you have heard so far this year?
Woody-I like the latest Mastodon record a lot, Crack The Skye. Some of their older fans don’t like it at all but I think it’s great. The new Kylesa record Static Tensions is also really good. Anyone who doesn’t like the new Masodon should pick it up. Same with Quiet Earth by Bison. That’s a really heavy duty album. I just heard the new Firebird album Grand Union and like that a whole bunch. They do a great cover of Humble Pie’s “4 Day Creep.”
Older records that I’ve newly discovered include Paul Kossoff’s Back Street Crawler, Leslie West’s 1st solo album called Mountain, Brain Capers by Mott the Hoople. I also finally picked up B.B. King’s Live In Cook County Jail. I was reminded when I read a recent interview with Angus Young when he mentioned it was one of his favorite albums of all time. It’s a killer!
MM-What do you hope to accomplish in the remainder of 2009?
Woody-Put out the new single, play more shows with great bands and write more songs.
Any plans for a new album in the near future?
Hopefully we’ll be doing more recording at the end of this year or early 2010. I already have the album title, cover concept and most of the music and lyrics. We just need to get into the practice space and jam on the riffs and sharpen them up into good songs.
MM-Pick the band from each of the following pairs that you prefer and tell why you picked them.
Woody-
AC/DC or KISS
AC/DC all the way. I love Kiss Alive but not much else by them. The Bon Scott era is my favorite but Back In Black is an all time classic and Flick of the Switch is an underrated gem.
Thin Lizzy or UFO
This is a tough one, I love both bands but will give it to UFO by a hair. I listen to Strangers In The Night all the time. Michael Schenker, please get your head together. We need you!
Aerosmith or Ted Nugent
Based on 1970’s output I should say Aerosmith, but am gonna go with Ted just because his music gets me so pumped up and belligerent. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ted about 10 years ago. He told me he invented the middle finger.
Black Sabbath or Deep Purple
Tie. I can’t choose one over the other. Black Sabbath is one of my all time favorites but I rarely listen to them, but listen to Deep Purple all the time.
MM-Is there anything else that you would like to say about your band, your music or anything else?
Woody-Thank you Metal Mark for the interview. It’s an honor to be part of the Heavy Metal Time Machine. You have horrible taste in music! (Just kidding).
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Free, live & dirty at Hank’s – Thurs 6/25
FREE show Thursday June 25 at the beautiful Hank’s Saloon in downtown Brooklyn (46 Third Ave at Atlantic Ave).
Also on the bill was the crucial hardcore sounds of D.B.C.R.
Set list: Drug City; Mooche; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Cable TV Eye; Drug War; Don’t Panic It’s Organic; Tokin N Strokin; Hands Up; The Ram; I Live To Get High; Dusted.
Fuzzy photo by Chef Vin Jovi
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
MusicSpades interview
Two interviews in 1 week! This one's with Music Spades and you can read it here.
1. What’s your name and the name of you band?
This is Woody and I do guitar and voices for the band Mighty High.
2. How would you describe your sound for anyone who hasn’t heard it yet?
Loud. I describe our sound as Black Flag Railroad. Others have said Motorhead meets Cheech & Chong, which is also accurate.
3. Do you still have all the same members?
No, only our bassist Tommy Blow and myself remain from the original line up that first played together in the summer of 2002.
4. What was the influence behind forming the band?
I started teaching myself guitar about 10 years ago at the age of 31. All I wanted to do was play along with my favorite records. When I discovered that I couldn’t learn other people’s songs I decided to write my own.
5. How did you all meet?
I started the band with my friend DD Smack. He’s a good guitarist and he took interest in my musical ideas and encouraged me. When it was time to start putting a band together he suggested Tommy Blow, they had been in a few bands together over the years. Tommy brought in our original drummer Colin O’Dope.
DD Smack moved to Washington, DC in late 2003 and TJ Whippets was drafted in as his replacement by Tom and Colin. Then in 2006 I needed to change drummers in order to move the band in the direction I wanted to go. Luckily my friend and bartender Jesse D’Stills was interested.
6. Where was your most memorable show/gig?
Probably our record release show at Southpaw in Brooklyn, March 2008. It was one of the best shows we ever played. The owner and staff are friends of ours so they treated us great and let us play really loud. Also, our good friends The Saloonatics and Federale were on the bill with us and DJ Wake N Bake played tons of great tunes between sets. A very memorable night.
7. Your album "…In Drug City" cover is very psychedelic looking. Who and what was the idea behind it?
The cover art and concepts were created and executed by my friend Wayne “Brain O)))” Bjerke. All I had to tell him was the title and he created the artwork. It’s loosely based on Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels album cover, but much sicker and drugged out. It definitely does not glamorize drug use.
8. You also have posters of the cover. How can everyone get one who wants one?
Buy a CD or t-shirt and I’ll be glad to give you a poster for free. I have tons of them so just ask. If you only want a poster, send me a bunch of stamps and I’ll send you one.
9. How did the name for the band arise?
Many years ago my wife and I were driving in the car somewhere. I was telling her a story about something really stupid I did in high school when I was stoned. She said “you must have been mighty high.” There was a pause and we both realized it was a great name for a band. I started telling everybody how great my band was even before I started playing guitar.
10. You are the only band to have played with Thor and Valient Thor, what was that like?
It is an honor that I don’t take for granted. People are still talking about the Hoboken Holocaust that took place at Maxwells in July, 2005. I’ve been a big fan of Thor and his incredible film Rock N Roll Nightmare since I was a kid. Thor and his band were very cool. He loved the flyer that Wayne did for the show. I just hope he comes back to the NYC area so we can have a rematch.
Playing with Valient Thorr at Trash in Brooklyn January, 2006 was also great. That was probably the biggest crowd we ever played to. The guys in VT were very cool and their bass player was really impressed with my Mighty High denim jacket. They all have VT patches on the back of their denims, but acrylic paint is way cooler.
11. What is the last movie you saw and what did you think of it?
The last movie I watched was Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona and I thought it stunk! I don’t have time to watch many movies so it’s a big bummer to waste time on a crappy film. The last movie that I really liked was Pineapple Express, for obvious reasons.
12. How did the title Drug City come about?
The song “Drug City” was inspired by the song “Love City” by Sly and the Family Stone even though it sounds nothing like it. When I was trying to think up a title for the album I just thought Mighty High…In Drug City sounded cool.
13. If every member of the band could compare themself to a musical icon who whould it be?
That’s easy – Tim wants to be Eddie Van Halen, Tom wants to be Billy Sheehan, Jesse reveres Phil Rudd and I worship at the alter of Mark Farner.
14. If you could jam with any artist from the past who would it be and why?
I would be afraid to jam with anyone since I’m not very good, but I’ll say Link Wray. He’s one of my favorite guitarists and I know how to play some of his songs. Plus, he’s the guy that invented really loud rock & roll guitar playing. It’s always best to learn from the source.
15. What was the first show or concert you saw?
My first concert experience is mildly embarrassing. It was Styx at Madison Square Garden in 1980 or 81. For the record, I NEVER liked Styx. The only reason I went was because my friend’s dad got free tickets and I just wanted to see a rock concert. The show was pretty lame but we were up in a VIP booth so I could watch The Dukes of Hazard on TV while the band played. I also stole a can of Miller out of the fridge.
My first real concert was The Ramones at Iona College in my hometown of New Rochelle, NY. It was the spring of 1982 and it was a total mind blower and about as different from Styx as you can get. It was so loud. I stuck my head inside the PA stacks and was amazed that my hair started blowing around. I went on to see the Ramones many, many more times through the rest of the 1980’s.
16. You have appeared in some great publications what were they?
We were lucky enough to appear in Classic Rock Magazine from the UK twice last year. First they gave our record a great write up and a few months later they included our song “Hooked On Drugs” on a CD that was included with another issue. We made a lot of new friends and fans because of them.
Julian Cope was also nice enough to write about us on his excellent headheritage.co.uk website. And I’m very proud of the fact that we have been featured on the High Times monthly Pot 40 chart consistently for the past year. It’s something that people send in votes for and we’ve been #1 a few times.
We’ve also received some really bad reviews that are very entertaining. One writer said it sounded like a bunch of 14 year olds in leather jackets and a Steve Miller fixation tell us how to write songs. They’re all up on mightyhigh.net for your enjoyment.
17. When and where are you playing next?
Our next show will be Thursday June 25 at Hank’s Saloon in Brooklyn. Hank’s is a total dive but is a very fun place to play and to see bands. It’s free and there are always plenty of local drunks and weirdos in the place to keep things interesting.
18. Do you have a myspace page?
Who doesn’t? We are at myspace.com/mightyhigh. We’re also on facebook at facebook.com/pages/Mighty-High/12157315873 and LastFM at last.fm/music/Mighty+High/...In+Drug+City
19. Do you have a website?
Yup, mightyhigh.net or mightyhigh.blogspot.com – they are one and the same.
20. How can people get in touch with you?
I check all of the above pretty regularly but the best way is via email at mightyhighrocks@yahoo.com
21. Anything you would like to add?
Our music is available from itunes, Amazon, CD Baby and direct from us. Go to mightyhigh.net for all the ordering info.
Lastly, thanks to MusicSpades for taking an interest in us. Cheers!
1. What’s your name and the name of you band?
This is Woody and I do guitar and voices for the band Mighty High.
2. How would you describe your sound for anyone who hasn’t heard it yet?
Loud. I describe our sound as Black Flag Railroad. Others have said Motorhead meets Cheech & Chong, which is also accurate.
3. Do you still have all the same members?
No, only our bassist Tommy Blow and myself remain from the original line up that first played together in the summer of 2002.
4. What was the influence behind forming the band?
I started teaching myself guitar about 10 years ago at the age of 31. All I wanted to do was play along with my favorite records. When I discovered that I couldn’t learn other people’s songs I decided to write my own.
5. How did you all meet?
I started the band with my friend DD Smack. He’s a good guitarist and he took interest in my musical ideas and encouraged me. When it was time to start putting a band together he suggested Tommy Blow, they had been in a few bands together over the years. Tommy brought in our original drummer Colin O’Dope.
DD Smack moved to Washington, DC in late 2003 and TJ Whippets was drafted in as his replacement by Tom and Colin. Then in 2006 I needed to change drummers in order to move the band in the direction I wanted to go. Luckily my friend and bartender Jesse D’Stills was interested.
6. Where was your most memorable show/gig?
Probably our record release show at Southpaw in Brooklyn, March 2008. It was one of the best shows we ever played. The owner and staff are friends of ours so they treated us great and let us play really loud. Also, our good friends The Saloonatics and Federale were on the bill with us and DJ Wake N Bake played tons of great tunes between sets. A very memorable night.
7. Your album "…In Drug City" cover is very psychedelic looking. Who and what was the idea behind it?
The cover art and concepts were created and executed by my friend Wayne “Brain O)))” Bjerke. All I had to tell him was the title and he created the artwork. It’s loosely based on Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels album cover, but much sicker and drugged out. It definitely does not glamorize drug use.
8. You also have posters of the cover. How can everyone get one who wants one?
Buy a CD or t-shirt and I’ll be glad to give you a poster for free. I have tons of them so just ask. If you only want a poster, send me a bunch of stamps and I’ll send you one.
9. How did the name for the band arise?
Many years ago my wife and I were driving in the car somewhere. I was telling her a story about something really stupid I did in high school when I was stoned. She said “you must have been mighty high.” There was a pause and we both realized it was a great name for a band. I started telling everybody how great my band was even before I started playing guitar.
10. You are the only band to have played with Thor and Valient Thor, what was that like?
It is an honor that I don’t take for granted. People are still talking about the Hoboken Holocaust that took place at Maxwells in July, 2005. I’ve been a big fan of Thor and his incredible film Rock N Roll Nightmare since I was a kid. Thor and his band were very cool. He loved the flyer that Wayne did for the show. I just hope he comes back to the NYC area so we can have a rematch.
Playing with Valient Thorr at Trash in Brooklyn January, 2006 was also great. That was probably the biggest crowd we ever played to. The guys in VT were very cool and their bass player was really impressed with my Mighty High denim jacket. They all have VT patches on the back of their denims, but acrylic paint is way cooler.
11. What is the last movie you saw and what did you think of it?
The last movie I watched was Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona and I thought it stunk! I don’t have time to watch many movies so it’s a big bummer to waste time on a crappy film. The last movie that I really liked was Pineapple Express, for obvious reasons.
12. How did the title Drug City come about?
The song “Drug City” was inspired by the song “Love City” by Sly and the Family Stone even though it sounds nothing like it. When I was trying to think up a title for the album I just thought Mighty High…In Drug City sounded cool.
13. If every member of the band could compare themself to a musical icon who whould it be?
That’s easy – Tim wants to be Eddie Van Halen, Tom wants to be Billy Sheehan, Jesse reveres Phil Rudd and I worship at the alter of Mark Farner.
14. If you could jam with any artist from the past who would it be and why?
I would be afraid to jam with anyone since I’m not very good, but I’ll say Link Wray. He’s one of my favorite guitarists and I know how to play some of his songs. Plus, he’s the guy that invented really loud rock & roll guitar playing. It’s always best to learn from the source.
15. What was the first show or concert you saw?
My first concert experience is mildly embarrassing. It was Styx at Madison Square Garden in 1980 or 81. For the record, I NEVER liked Styx. The only reason I went was because my friend’s dad got free tickets and I just wanted to see a rock concert. The show was pretty lame but we were up in a VIP booth so I could watch The Dukes of Hazard on TV while the band played. I also stole a can of Miller out of the fridge.
My first real concert was The Ramones at Iona College in my hometown of New Rochelle, NY. It was the spring of 1982 and it was a total mind blower and about as different from Styx as you can get. It was so loud. I stuck my head inside the PA stacks and was amazed that my hair started blowing around. I went on to see the Ramones many, many more times through the rest of the 1980’s.
16. You have appeared in some great publications what were they?
We were lucky enough to appear in Classic Rock Magazine from the UK twice last year. First they gave our record a great write up and a few months later they included our song “Hooked On Drugs” on a CD that was included with another issue. We made a lot of new friends and fans because of them.
Julian Cope was also nice enough to write about us on his excellent headheritage.co.uk website. And I’m very proud of the fact that we have been featured on the High Times monthly Pot 40 chart consistently for the past year. It’s something that people send in votes for and we’ve been #1 a few times.
We’ve also received some really bad reviews that are very entertaining. One writer said it sounded like a bunch of 14 year olds in leather jackets and a Steve Miller fixation tell us how to write songs. They’re all up on mightyhigh.net for your enjoyment.
17. When and where are you playing next?
Our next show will be Thursday June 25 at Hank’s Saloon in Brooklyn. Hank’s is a total dive but is a very fun place to play and to see bands. It’s free and there are always plenty of local drunks and weirdos in the place to keep things interesting.
18. Do you have a myspace page?
Who doesn’t? We are at myspace.com/mightyhigh. We’re also on facebook at facebook.com/pages/Mighty-High/12157315873 and LastFM at last.fm/music/Mighty+High/...In+Drug+City
19. Do you have a website?
Yup, mightyhigh.net or mightyhigh.blogspot.com – they are one and the same.
20. How can people get in touch with you?
I check all of the above pretty regularly but the best way is via email at mightyhighrocks@yahoo.com
21. Anything you would like to add?
Our music is available from itunes, Amazon, CD Baby and direct from us. Go to mightyhigh.net for all the ordering info.
Lastly, thanks to MusicSpades for taking an interest in us. Cheers!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A Sunday Conversation with Mighty High
Many thanks to the Ripple Effect music blog for interviewing us as part of their "Sunday Conversation" series. Check out the interview here -
The Ripple Effect
Long before we knew him, and long before he joined us here at the Ripple, lending his practiced ear and pen to writing some dynamite reviews for the Ripple, Woody blew us away with the fuzzed out, punked up, adrenaline-filled wail of rock that emanates from his band Mighty High. First conjoled into writing with us, we next convinced the Mighty High Woody to join us on the red leather Ripple Interview couch and shed some light on his musical roots.
RIPPLE: When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkle, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears.
WOODY: I've had many musical epiphanies in my life but 3 really stand out. The first was Christmas, 1974 getting a copy of Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe LP as a gift from one of my older brothers. He thought I’d like the poo poo jokes, which I did, but I also loved the music. The next was Motorhead’s Ace of Spades. I read an article about them in Creem magazine when they were opening for Ozzy on the Blizzard of Oz tour in 1980. I just knew this band was for me, and they still are. Lastly, hearing Grand Funk’s Live Album in November, 2000 completely blew me away and gave me the inspiration and direction to create Mighty High.
RIPPLE: Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?
WOODY: Usually music comes first. I’m not very original so most Mighty High songs begin with me trying to learn a cover song and not being able to figure it out. I’ll jam on a few parts and variations while watching TV so I don’t think too hard about what I’m playing. I read once that Joe Perry used to like to watch Godzilla movies when he was writing music for the first few Aerosmith records. Maybe he should go back to that technique.
Once I have a rough idea of how the music is going to go I start to think about the mood of the song and if I have any slogans or song titles that match it. I have a long list of potential song titles and keep a catalog of lyrical fragments in my head.
I’ll usually have about 75% of the song done before I bring it to the rest of the band. We’ll jam out on it and see where it goes. I’ll also have some spare parts in case we hit a brick wall. A song will often change direction once I hear it with the full band.. I like to try and play them live at our shows as soon as possible. If too many people start playing with their phones, then I’ll adjust the song right away. Lyrics are important and they’ll often go through a lot of revisions until I come up with the stupidest shit possible. They’re loaded with inside jokes that confuse most people but are hilarious to me and a few friends.
RIPPLE: Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
WOODY: I get tons of inspiration from discovering semi-obscure classic rock albums. About a year or so ago, a friend gave me Come Taste the Band by Deep Purple. I had no idea how great that record was. It helped me solve a few musical problems I was having with some songs I was working on. I have no problem admitting I steal a lot from other bands, Deep Purple especially. Lately, I’ve been listening to the 1st West, Bruce & Laing album Why Doncha. I’m sure some of that will wind up in our next batch of jams.
RIPPLE: Genre's are so misleading and such a way to pigeonhole bands. Without resorting to labels, how would you describe your music?
WOODY: I’ve always describe Mighty High as a loud hard rock band. Categorization has been a big problem for us. The stoner rock crowd says we’re too punk, the punk crowd says we’re too stoner. The garage rock crowd thinks we’re a metal band but the metal crowd doesn’t think we’re metal enough. The fact that the lyrics are humorous makes a lot of people mad, but the joke’s on them since they don’t know how to have a good time. I like to pretend that I’m Duke Ellington and say that we are “beyond category.”
RIPPLE: What is you musical intention? What are you trying to express or get your audience to feel?
WOODY: Our intention is to play louder than hell and to kick ass. We’d love it if our audience would go wild but it’s usually about 20 stoned dudes holding their beer cans and nodding politely.
RIPPLE: In songwriting, how do you bring the song together? What do you look for in terms of complexity? Simplicity? Time changes?
WOODY: I never try to make the songs more complicated than they need to be. We keep the jams lean n mean with a few left turns here and there, but we’re not talented enough to get too progressive. In fact, we refer to ourselves as Brooklyn’s #1 regressive rock act.
RIPPLE: The business of music is a brutal place. Changes in technology have made it easier than ever for bands to get their music out, but harder than ever to make a living? What are your plans to move the band forward? How do you stay motivated in this brutal business?
WOODY: Luckily I have a good job so I’m able to finance this ridiculously expensive hobby. I’m thrilled that people all over the globe have discovered and enjoyed our music but it would be nice if a few more of them would pay for it. If there was some money coming in than we could make even cooler t-shirts and record more often. The economy is hitting everyone hard and attendance at shows is way down but we really appreciate anyone who shows up and gets loaded. I knew when I started the band that Mighty High would have an extremely selective appeal.
RIPPLE: Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
WOODY: A few years ago I lent someone from another band my guitar tuner to use. When they were done with it, they re-calibrated it to a different tuning so when I used it my guitar was completely out of tune. We start playing and I’m convinced that our other guitarist TJ Whippets is out of tune. I start yelling at him to tune his guitar during the first 2 songs. He keeps tuning and nothing changes. Finally I realize I’m the one out of tune. I felt about 3 inches tall. Luckily I had a spare guitar and the rest of the gig went great.
Another great one was the time we played a party using another bands gear. During the first song both guitar amps blew up and I broke a string. There was a big crowd staring at us while we spent about 10 minutes repairing everything. Our bass player used to unplug himself a lot on stage, but luckily that has happened in a long time.
RIPPLE: Where do you see you and your music going in ten years?
WOODY: Good question. In ten years I will be 51 years old with an 11 year old daughter. I will have a lot of explaining to do. The original concept of Mighty High was to sound like Black Flag playing Grand Funk’s Live Album. In a few years I’d like to make it sound like Black Flag playing BB King’s Live at the Regal.
RIPPLE: What makes a great song?
WOODY: A great riff and a good slogan. It should make you want to step on the gas or punch someone in the face.
RIPPLE: Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
WOODY: The first song I ever wrote was called “Slow Gin” but I never finished it. It’s basically a medley of “Slow Ride” by Foghat and “Cold Gin” by Kiss but came out more like “Sister Ray” by the Velvet Underground. The first song I ever wrote and finished was “Dusted” – track #1 on Mighty High…In Drug City.
RIPPLE: What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
WOODY: All the songs are near and dear to me, but it’s usually whatever song I’m working on at the moment. I didn’t start playing guitar until I was 31 years old. I’m completely self taught as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter so finishing a song is always a huge achievement since I really don’t know what I’m doing.
RIPPLE: Who today, writes great songs? Why?
WOODY: Jeez, this is a tough one. There are a lot of bands I like out there but most of it is so derivative of older stuff (I’m including Mighty High in this statement). Off the top of my head, I’ll say Mastodon. I think they write great songs that you can rock out to but are also interesting musically and lyrically. Locally, I’ll give it up to Federale and the Brought Low. When they play new songs I’ll still remember them when I sober up the next day.
RIPPLE: Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
WOODY: All 3. I know it’s heresy these days, but I do think CD’s can sound the best. When ZZ Top remastered Tres Hombres I compared it to my old LP. The CD sounds much better, but the gatefold of enchiladas looked so much more appealing on the LP.
We’re already starting to see artists issuing their stuff on vinyl that includes a CD or mp3 download. This will probably be the choice of serious music fans, but the general public will take whatever they can get for free.
RIPPLE: What's the best record store in your town?
WOODY: My favorite store closed just about a year ago – Slipped Disc Records in Valley Stream. It was a metal/punk/hardrock specialty store out on Long Island with incredible selection. It’s where I was able to track down tons of imports and out of print stuff plus cool shirts, books and DVD’s. The owner was a great guy and had excellent taste. He sells at some record shows now, but it’s just not the same.
I wish NYC had a store the caliber of Amoeba in California or Waterloo in Austin, TX. Generation Records in the West Village is pretty good. Passout Records in Brooklyn is a small but good punk/garage spot that also has live music. J&R has the best prices but their selection is a little conservative. Other Music in the East Village has some great stuff but they insist on filing everything in frustrating little micro-genres.
Awesome, Woody. Great stuff. Keep the Mighty High madness coming our way and thanks for all your great writing for the Ripple.
The Ripple Effect
Long before we knew him, and long before he joined us here at the Ripple, lending his practiced ear and pen to writing some dynamite reviews for the Ripple, Woody blew us away with the fuzzed out, punked up, adrenaline-filled wail of rock that emanates from his band Mighty High. First conjoled into writing with us, we next convinced the Mighty High Woody to join us on the red leather Ripple Interview couch and shed some light on his musical roots.
RIPPLE: When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkle, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears.
WOODY: I've had many musical epiphanies in my life but 3 really stand out. The first was Christmas, 1974 getting a copy of Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe LP as a gift from one of my older brothers. He thought I’d like the poo poo jokes, which I did, but I also loved the music. The next was Motorhead’s Ace of Spades. I read an article about them in Creem magazine when they were opening for Ozzy on the Blizzard of Oz tour in 1980. I just knew this band was for me, and they still are. Lastly, hearing Grand Funk’s Live Album in November, 2000 completely blew me away and gave me the inspiration and direction to create Mighty High.
RIPPLE: Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?
WOODY: Usually music comes first. I’m not very original so most Mighty High songs begin with me trying to learn a cover song and not being able to figure it out. I’ll jam on a few parts and variations while watching TV so I don’t think too hard about what I’m playing. I read once that Joe Perry used to like to watch Godzilla movies when he was writing music for the first few Aerosmith records. Maybe he should go back to that technique.
Once I have a rough idea of how the music is going to go I start to think about the mood of the song and if I have any slogans or song titles that match it. I have a long list of potential song titles and keep a catalog of lyrical fragments in my head.
I’ll usually have about 75% of the song done before I bring it to the rest of the band. We’ll jam out on it and see where it goes. I’ll also have some spare parts in case we hit a brick wall. A song will often change direction once I hear it with the full band.. I like to try and play them live at our shows as soon as possible. If too many people start playing with their phones, then I’ll adjust the song right away. Lyrics are important and they’ll often go through a lot of revisions until I come up with the stupidest shit possible. They’re loaded with inside jokes that confuse most people but are hilarious to me and a few friends.
RIPPLE: Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?
WOODY: I get tons of inspiration from discovering semi-obscure classic rock albums. About a year or so ago, a friend gave me Come Taste the Band by Deep Purple. I had no idea how great that record was. It helped me solve a few musical problems I was having with some songs I was working on. I have no problem admitting I steal a lot from other bands, Deep Purple especially. Lately, I’ve been listening to the 1st West, Bruce & Laing album Why Doncha. I’m sure some of that will wind up in our next batch of jams.
RIPPLE: Genre's are so misleading and such a way to pigeonhole bands. Without resorting to labels, how would you describe your music?
WOODY: I’ve always describe Mighty High as a loud hard rock band. Categorization has been a big problem for us. The stoner rock crowd says we’re too punk, the punk crowd says we’re too stoner. The garage rock crowd thinks we’re a metal band but the metal crowd doesn’t think we’re metal enough. The fact that the lyrics are humorous makes a lot of people mad, but the joke’s on them since they don’t know how to have a good time. I like to pretend that I’m Duke Ellington and say that we are “beyond category.”
RIPPLE: What is you musical intention? What are you trying to express or get your audience to feel?
WOODY: Our intention is to play louder than hell and to kick ass. We’d love it if our audience would go wild but it’s usually about 20 stoned dudes holding their beer cans and nodding politely.
RIPPLE: In songwriting, how do you bring the song together? What do you look for in terms of complexity? Simplicity? Time changes?
WOODY: I never try to make the songs more complicated than they need to be. We keep the jams lean n mean with a few left turns here and there, but we’re not talented enough to get too progressive. In fact, we refer to ourselves as Brooklyn’s #1 regressive rock act.
RIPPLE: The business of music is a brutal place. Changes in technology have made it easier than ever for bands to get their music out, but harder than ever to make a living? What are your plans to move the band forward? How do you stay motivated in this brutal business?
WOODY: Luckily I have a good job so I’m able to finance this ridiculously expensive hobby. I’m thrilled that people all over the globe have discovered and enjoyed our music but it would be nice if a few more of them would pay for it. If there was some money coming in than we could make even cooler t-shirts and record more often. The economy is hitting everyone hard and attendance at shows is way down but we really appreciate anyone who shows up and gets loaded. I knew when I started the band that Mighty High would have an extremely selective appeal.
RIPPLE: Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?
WOODY: A few years ago I lent someone from another band my guitar tuner to use. When they were done with it, they re-calibrated it to a different tuning so when I used it my guitar was completely out of tune. We start playing and I’m convinced that our other guitarist TJ Whippets is out of tune. I start yelling at him to tune his guitar during the first 2 songs. He keeps tuning and nothing changes. Finally I realize I’m the one out of tune. I felt about 3 inches tall. Luckily I had a spare guitar and the rest of the gig went great.
Another great one was the time we played a party using another bands gear. During the first song both guitar amps blew up and I broke a string. There was a big crowd staring at us while we spent about 10 minutes repairing everything. Our bass player used to unplug himself a lot on stage, but luckily that has happened in a long time.
RIPPLE: Where do you see you and your music going in ten years?
WOODY: Good question. In ten years I will be 51 years old with an 11 year old daughter. I will have a lot of explaining to do. The original concept of Mighty High was to sound like Black Flag playing Grand Funk’s Live Album. In a few years I’d like to make it sound like Black Flag playing BB King’s Live at the Regal.
RIPPLE: What makes a great song?
WOODY: A great riff and a good slogan. It should make you want to step on the gas or punch someone in the face.
RIPPLE: Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?
WOODY: The first song I ever wrote was called “Slow Gin” but I never finished it. It’s basically a medley of “Slow Ride” by Foghat and “Cold Gin” by Kiss but came out more like “Sister Ray” by the Velvet Underground. The first song I ever wrote and finished was “Dusted” – track #1 on Mighty High…In Drug City.
RIPPLE: What piece of your music are particularly proud of?
WOODY: All the songs are near and dear to me, but it’s usually whatever song I’m working on at the moment. I didn’t start playing guitar until I was 31 years old. I’m completely self taught as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter so finishing a song is always a huge achievement since I really don’t know what I’m doing.
RIPPLE: Who today, writes great songs? Why?
WOODY: Jeez, this is a tough one. There are a lot of bands I like out there but most of it is so derivative of older stuff (I’m including Mighty High in this statement). Off the top of my head, I’ll say Mastodon. I think they write great songs that you can rock out to but are also interesting musically and lyrically. Locally, I’ll give it up to Federale and the Brought Low. When they play new songs I’ll still remember them when I sober up the next day.
RIPPLE: Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?
WOODY: All 3. I know it’s heresy these days, but I do think CD’s can sound the best. When ZZ Top remastered Tres Hombres I compared it to my old LP. The CD sounds much better, but the gatefold of enchiladas looked so much more appealing on the LP.
We’re already starting to see artists issuing their stuff on vinyl that includes a CD or mp3 download. This will probably be the choice of serious music fans, but the general public will take whatever they can get for free.
RIPPLE: What's the best record store in your town?
WOODY: My favorite store closed just about a year ago – Slipped Disc Records in Valley Stream. It was a metal/punk/hardrock specialty store out on Long Island with incredible selection. It’s where I was able to track down tons of imports and out of print stuff plus cool shirts, books and DVD’s. The owner was a great guy and had excellent taste. He sells at some record shows now, but it’s just not the same.
I wish NYC had a store the caliber of Amoeba in California or Waterloo in Austin, TX. Generation Records in the West Village is pretty good. Passout Records in Brooklyn is a small but good punk/garage spot that also has live music. J&R has the best prices but their selection is a little conservative. Other Music in the East Village has some great stuff but they insist on filing everything in frustrating little micro-genres.
Awesome, Woody. Great stuff. Keep the Mighty High madness coming our way and thanks for all your great writing for the Ripple.
Friday, May 15, 2009
#1 on the High Times Pot 40 July 2009
Thanks again to everyone who voted to keep us #1 on the list. If you want to vote for us again just send an email to pot40@hightimes.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Free Mighty High bootleg
We recorded our show at Trash in Brooklyn on 4/25/09 on a digital recorder and also through the soundboard. Our personal baker Chef Vin Jovi mixed the two sources together under the influence of hashish the other night. The quality is still pretty rough and there's tons of mistakes, but if you want a sneak peak at some of our new jams and relive some old favorites, feel free to download this High N Nasty document·
Set list - Mighty High; Breakin Shit; Shooting Spree; Cable TV Eye; The Ram; Come On! I'm Holdin'; Stone Gett-Off; Drug War; Hooked On Drugs; Kick Out The Jams.
Get it here here.
Set list - Mighty High; Breakin Shit; Shooting Spree; Cable TV Eye; The Ram; Come On! I'm Holdin'; Stone Gett-Off; Drug War; Hooked On Drugs; Kick Out The Jams.
Get it here here.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
#1 on the High Times Pot 40 June 2009 issue
Once again we top the charts of High Times Pot 40 proving that we are indeed better than Cheech & Chong!Saturday, April 25, 2009
4/25/09 at Trash in Brooklyn
AN EVENING OF REGRESSIVE ROCK
3rd annual Goat Throat Festival was Saturday 4-25 at Trash in Brooklyn -
08PM Mighty High
09PM The Suede Brothers
10PM Another Saturday Night
11PM The Brought Low
12AM Federale
Set list: Mighty High; Breakin' Shit; Shooting Spree; Cable TV Eye; The Ram; Come On – I’m Holdin’; Stone Gett-Off; Drug War; Hooked On Drugs; Kick Out The Jams.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Obelisk
Review from theobelisk.net, a great heavy music blog run by JJ Koczan, former editor of sadly defunct Metal Maniacs.
It’s more than just a clever name — these dudes are seriously fucked up. Like “Set your phasers to ’stoned.’” So high that when the album showed up the cover was sideways. Really, really, really high. That’s apparently their thing.
I always wonder what bands like this say to their parents. Granted, I’m pretty sure Jesse D’Stills (drums), TJ Whippets (guitar), Tommy Blow (bass) and Woody High (guitar/vocals) are using stage names, but even so, when mom calls and asks how the band is, does Tommy Blow answer, “Well ma, we’re really fucking high. How’s dad?” I sure hope so, because that would be awesome, and Mrs. Blow would never see it coming.
Mighty High do one thing and do it well. Their brand of junkie punk encompasses a narrow scope and even “T.S. Eliot” is about getting high and fucking shit up. On last year’s debut, …In Drug City (released through their own Mint Deluxe Tapes), they come off like a druggier (obviously) Easy Action, and Woody has a regional aggression in his voice more fitting the band’s New York City home than their penchant for killing brain cells. As songs like “Dusted,” “Hooked on Drugs,” “Stone Gett-Off,” “Buy the Pound,” “Mighty High,” the title track, “Albert Hofmann” and “I Live to Get High” would suggest, they know what they like and they stick to it. As they say in the aforementioned closer “T.S. Eliot,” “You don’t like it?/So what?/We do/Tough fucking shit.” It may not have made the cut as a basis for foreign policy throughout this decade, but coming from Mighty High — who, like the guy being dragged out by security dangling a Ziplock baggie full of green nuggets, “aren’t hurting anyone, man” — it’s positively charming.
Clever, juvenile quips like “Your lack of weed is sad indeed” and “Take a chance/Pull down your pants,” from “I Live to Get High” only serve to highlight the fact that what Mighty High are offering is harmless fun with …In Drug City. Even the album’s angriest moment, “Shooting Spree,” seems to have been inspired more by a game of Grand Theft Auto or a basic need to vent than any real desire for bloodshed. Likewise, “Breakin’ Shit” is hilarious.
I’ve long been a proponent of bands who talk about themselves in their songs, and aside from the track named after them, Mighty High liberally drop their moniker throughout the record. I had to look twice to make sure “Escape from Daytop” wasn’t “Mighty High” since Woody talked about the band so much. Good times.
Whether or not you get high, if you have any kind of sense of humor, you’ll at least crack a smile at …In Drug City, the music of which isn’t just throwaway sloppiness either. It’s ballsy stoner punk and the vocals might be a little high in the mix, but that’s obviously just so you don’t miss the righteous shit being talked the whole time. Lighten up and enjoy yourself.
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2009/03/31/mightyhighreview/#more-1357
It’s more than just a clever name — these dudes are seriously fucked up. Like “Set your phasers to ’stoned.’” So high that when the album showed up the cover was sideways. Really, really, really high. That’s apparently their thing.
I always wonder what bands like this say to their parents. Granted, I’m pretty sure Jesse D’Stills (drums), TJ Whippets (guitar), Tommy Blow (bass) and Woody High (guitar/vocals) are using stage names, but even so, when mom calls and asks how the band is, does Tommy Blow answer, “Well ma, we’re really fucking high. How’s dad?” I sure hope so, because that would be awesome, and Mrs. Blow would never see it coming.
Mighty High do one thing and do it well. Their brand of junkie punk encompasses a narrow scope and even “T.S. Eliot” is about getting high and fucking shit up. On last year’s debut, …In Drug City (released through their own Mint Deluxe Tapes), they come off like a druggier (obviously) Easy Action, and Woody has a regional aggression in his voice more fitting the band’s New York City home than their penchant for killing brain cells. As songs like “Dusted,” “Hooked on Drugs,” “Stone Gett-Off,” “Buy the Pound,” “Mighty High,” the title track, “Albert Hofmann” and “I Live to Get High” would suggest, they know what they like and they stick to it. As they say in the aforementioned closer “T.S. Eliot,” “You don’t like it?/So what?/We do/Tough fucking shit.” It may not have made the cut as a basis for foreign policy throughout this decade, but coming from Mighty High — who, like the guy being dragged out by security dangling a Ziplock baggie full of green nuggets, “aren’t hurting anyone, man” — it’s positively charming.
Clever, juvenile quips like “Your lack of weed is sad indeed” and “Take a chance/Pull down your pants,” from “I Live to Get High” only serve to highlight the fact that what Mighty High are offering is harmless fun with …In Drug City. Even the album’s angriest moment, “Shooting Spree,” seems to have been inspired more by a game of Grand Theft Auto or a basic need to vent than any real desire for bloodshed. Likewise, “Breakin’ Shit” is hilarious.
I’ve long been a proponent of bands who talk about themselves in their songs, and aside from the track named after them, Mighty High liberally drop their moniker throughout the record. I had to look twice to make sure “Escape from Daytop” wasn’t “Mighty High” since Woody talked about the band so much. Good times.
Whether or not you get high, if you have any kind of sense of humor, you’ll at least crack a smile at …In Drug City, the music of which isn’t just throwaway sloppiness either. It’s ballsy stoner punk and the vocals might be a little high in the mix, but that’s obviously just so you don’t miss the righteous shit being talked the whole time. Lighten up and enjoy yourself.
http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2009/03/31/mightyhighreview/#more-1357
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
St. Patrick's Day Massacre 3/17/09
Live & Dangerous at Europa. Set list: Mooche; Hands Up; Cable TV Eye; I Live To Get High; Drug War; Don’t Panic - It’s Organic; Breakin Shit; Hooked On Drugs; The Ram; Stone Gett-Off.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Mighty High return to the studio this weedkend
We're heading back into the awesome Seizures Palace to record six new songs with Jasonic Lafarge working the boards again. Two songs will be coming out on a 7-inch single (and mp3) towards the end of 2009 and the rest will be stockpiled for the next full length Mighty High tape in early 2010. Brain O))) is already working on the artwork and it's going to be incredible as usual.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Lollipop.com review
Writ by Craig Regala
Fucking insidious guitar, guitar, drums, bass drug-punk riff shift combo veering between 1971 (The MC5's High Time) and uh... 1971 (Grand Funk's E Pluribus Funk) from guys who're exactly as beautiful as Blue Oyster Cult when Nixon's boys were breaking into Watergate. As tots/post-tots, they most certainly slapped AC/DC, The Dictators, The Nuge, Motörhead, The Damned, Dead Boys, and other worthies on the turntable during ye olde "parents are away house party," ruining any possibility of congress with the "fairer sex." Ah, art over society'n'shit. Cool move.
Then, as the late '70s back broke ('82 ish), and hardcore reared up to chew its way through arena rock and post-punk's soft white underbelly, I'll bet they liked it, especially those great early SST bands/tours and vicious Australian rock-punk (Cosmic Psychos, Celibate Rifles). So yeah, let's redefine'm as grub-drug punks: Armed with a with a wah-wah, picture of Eddie Hazel taped on every amp, and Stooges and Black Flag tapes blasting in the van. What separates'm from the more expansive (here's where I think the "hardcore" influence is), freewheelin', soulful stuff their influences chucked up is a "get at it" barking, surly, stomp mimicking kickin' in the door of some fuck whose "holdin' yer dope and money, cuz, he thought you wanted it tomorrow." In this respect, they're like the masterful Green River, a churlish mid-'80s band of miscreants who shit-smeared '70s kick-ass and sneering thug punk into a regenerated hard rock later called grunge.
The disc has a loose garage hard rock feel, not unlike some of the early NWOBHM units (as 1980 surfaced), before they got recording budgets and completely metalized. The tunes are grunty and straight-up, the lyrics are declamatory and funny, and when the guitars break off a solo, it's classic Lizzy, buck-shuckin' like Shame Club or Bible of the Devil. It's more "rock" than "metal." The funky churn's not far off Aerosmith/Rose Tattoo/G'N'R minus the arrangements and niceties. This one really belongs on wax, people. Gatefold, so the seeds can bust up the spine after yer done cleaning that ditchweed your cousin brought back from Meigs county. Like Billy Jack woulda said, "Hey man, when it's wild, it's free."
http://www.lollipop.com/article.php3?text=2009/02feb/mightyhigh.html
Fucking insidious guitar, guitar, drums, bass drug-punk riff shift combo veering between 1971 (The MC5's High Time) and uh... 1971 (Grand Funk's E Pluribus Funk) from guys who're exactly as beautiful as Blue Oyster Cult when Nixon's boys were breaking into Watergate. As tots/post-tots, they most certainly slapped AC/DC, The Dictators, The Nuge, Motörhead, The Damned, Dead Boys, and other worthies on the turntable during ye olde "parents are away house party," ruining any possibility of congress with the "fairer sex." Ah, art over society'n'shit. Cool move.
Then, as the late '70s back broke ('82 ish), and hardcore reared up to chew its way through arena rock and post-punk's soft white underbelly, I'll bet they liked it, especially those great early SST bands/tours and vicious Australian rock-punk (Cosmic Psychos, Celibate Rifles). So yeah, let's redefine'm as grub-drug punks: Armed with a with a wah-wah, picture of Eddie Hazel taped on every amp, and Stooges and Black Flag tapes blasting in the van. What separates'm from the more expansive (here's where I think the "hardcore" influence is), freewheelin', soulful stuff their influences chucked up is a "get at it" barking, surly, stomp mimicking kickin' in the door of some fuck whose "holdin' yer dope and money, cuz, he thought you wanted it tomorrow." In this respect, they're like the masterful Green River, a churlish mid-'80s band of miscreants who shit-smeared '70s kick-ass and sneering thug punk into a regenerated hard rock later called grunge.
The disc has a loose garage hard rock feel, not unlike some of the early NWOBHM units (as 1980 surfaced), before they got recording budgets and completely metalized. The tunes are grunty and straight-up, the lyrics are declamatory and funny, and when the guitars break off a solo, it's classic Lizzy, buck-shuckin' like Shame Club or Bible of the Devil. It's more "rock" than "metal." The funky churn's not far off Aerosmith/Rose Tattoo/G'N'R minus the arrangements and niceties. This one really belongs on wax, people. Gatefold, so the seeds can bust up the spine after yer done cleaning that ditchweed your cousin brought back from Meigs county. Like Billy Jack woulda said, "Hey man, when it's wild, it's free."
http://www.lollipop.com/article.php3?text=2009/02feb/mightyhigh.html
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Stonerrock.com review
Brooklyn’s Mighty High marked their fifth year of existence by releasing ...In Drug City. It's an energetic release that is sure to satisfy many.
As one might assume by the band’s name, Mighty High is a fan of the green (or of drugs in general). This album is full of twelve high octane anthems in praise of illegal substances. There seems to be a tongue in cheek and party vibe to these songs - the song titles are reminiscent of Bongzilla's (i.e. drug related). Punk dominates Mighty High’s sound, and though the style is not known for its musical techniques, these are some talented musicians. The guitar solos are economical and fit the songs well, and the bassist has very tasty lines ala Steve Harris. This is another of those bands who sound like they would be great to see live.
Mighty High want to get high and have the listener get a contact buzz. Their anthems will have you hooked, just like an addict.
Reviewed by Matthew Tranker (StonerRock.com)
http://www.stonerrock.com/forums2/allposts.asp?Forum=ap809241559&ID=44596&StartAt=0
As one might assume by the band’s name, Mighty High is a fan of the green (or of drugs in general). This album is full of twelve high octane anthems in praise of illegal substances. There seems to be a tongue in cheek and party vibe to these songs - the song titles are reminiscent of Bongzilla's (i.e. drug related). Punk dominates Mighty High’s sound, and though the style is not known for its musical techniques, these are some talented musicians. The guitar solos are economical and fit the songs well, and the bassist has very tasty lines ala Steve Harris. This is another of those bands who sound like they would be great to see live.
Mighty High want to get high and have the listener get a contact buzz. Their anthems will have you hooked, just like an addict.
Reviewed by Matthew Tranker (StonerRock.com)
http://www.stonerrock.com/forums2/allposts.asp?Forum=ap809241559&ID=44596&StartAt=0
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Jan Kotik memorial - Feb. 7
Mighty High played a short set as part of the annual Jan Kotik memorial. Set: Hands Up; Don't Panic It's Organic; Stone Gett-Off; Mighty High.
Ink N Sleaze review (Holland)
Alright, this band is called Mighty High, and their album is called “In Drug City” so whatya think the songs are about?
Right, their about drugs, gettin’ high and scoring shit.
The music on this disc reminds me of old-school Motörhead.. but with a bigger punk influence and maybe some AC/DC. No time for slowing down these songs start fast and end fast. This is loud, fast and drugfueled music and I love it.
“Hooked On Drugs” starts off with an AC/DC kinda feel but as soon as you get used to it the Motörhead drive takes over the song. The vocals really fit the music on this album.. it’s aggressive and loud, just like the music.
The song “Mighty High” is a real punk tune. I dunno how this band does it but it seems like every song on this album makes me wanna bang my head (even though I’m still recovering from a really bad fever and my head feels like I’ve been drinking Jack allnite) and just chant along with the chorusses. This song makes me wanna do just that maybe most of all..
“Buy The Pound” was a suprise for me, ‘cos this song has got a nice blues feel to it. I love the distorted slide guitar intro and the bassline is killer. And i think the vocals contain the most emotions on this song, the emotions being frustration, anger and whatever else falls into this categorie.
So if your into old-school Motörhead, AC/DC and punk, you should devinatly get your fat ass off your chair and go buy this damn record! Though I think you can better order it on the internet.. So just keep your fat ass in your chair and order it!
http://inknsleaze.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/a-stone-get-off/
Right, their about drugs, gettin’ high and scoring shit.
The music on this disc reminds me of old-school Motörhead.. but with a bigger punk influence and maybe some AC/DC. No time for slowing down these songs start fast and end fast. This is loud, fast and drugfueled music and I love it.
“Hooked On Drugs” starts off with an AC/DC kinda feel but as soon as you get used to it the Motörhead drive takes over the song. The vocals really fit the music on this album.. it’s aggressive and loud, just like the music.
The song “Mighty High” is a real punk tune. I dunno how this band does it but it seems like every song on this album makes me wanna bang my head (even though I’m still recovering from a really bad fever and my head feels like I’ve been drinking Jack allnite) and just chant along with the chorusses. This song makes me wanna do just that maybe most of all..
“Buy The Pound” was a suprise for me, ‘cos this song has got a nice blues feel to it. I love the distorted slide guitar intro and the bassline is killer. And i think the vocals contain the most emotions on this song, the emotions being frustration, anger and whatever else falls into this categorie.
So if your into old-school Motörhead, AC/DC and punk, you should devinatly get your fat ass off your chair and go buy this damn record! Though I think you can better order it on the internet.. So just keep your fat ass in your chair and order it!
http://inknsleaze.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/a-stone-get-off/
Thursday, January 22, 2009
We're #1!
On the High Times Pot 40! Check it out in the new March 2009 issue of High Times magazine on sale now. We always knew we were better than Lou Reed and David Bowie, now this confirms it. If you want to vote for us to stay on the list, send an email to pot40@hightimes.com.
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