The Dead Prophets
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The Dead Prophets

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"CD Reviews - The Dead Prophets: Bonus Edition"

Buddy Magazine & My Texas Music

"Absolutely brilliant!" Melody Syre, Assoc. Editor, Buddy Magazine

"The Dead Prophets are here! Mike Clark, B. Isbell, and Ms. Morgan bring Dallas to life with their unexpected brand of music. This trio of cross-influenced musicians brings retro feel with new ideas to create a blend of innovative tunes that exemplify the braggadocios-ness that is Texas music. Isbell is the trio’s songwriter, but for a co-write with Clark on "Mountain King" & "Am Blues", a Doors cover and one Dylan/ Jagger/ Richards adaptation. At times the music can be ’in-your-face" and at times a little more psychedelic. The disc contains two reprisals of "Camille" which can be heard on Isbell’s solo EP. This band’s music explodes with artistry at every turn as the multi-dimensional arrangements speak volumes about how rock music has evolved. Each song sounds like an old song and like a new song, giving rise to a level of listening comfort not always present in today’s rock bands. Hats off to the DPs! This Bonus Edition is the definitive Dead Prophets collection. Get it now!" Lucky Boyd, MyTexasMusic.com - My Texas Music and Buddy Magazine


"Interview with Big Mike Clark - Lead Guitarist"

Interview with Michael Clark, lead guitarist of The Dead Prophets, by Andrew Logan, freelance journalist.

Andrew: I saw your show last night and I thought the jam pieces were incredible at times. So, I guess a good place to start is to tell me a bit about your musical influences.

Michael: Well, I'm glad you came out to see what we're up to! In terms of musical influences, I'd have to say that Peter Green, Eric Clapton of the Mayall and Cream era, and Jimi Hendrix are influences. But, so are many of the blues guys like Otis Rush, T- Bone, PeeWee Crayton, Gatemouth Brown, B.B. King, Magic Sam, Hound Dog Taylor and many other great players. Dick Dale is an influence. So is David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. And, Hollywood Fats for sure.

Andrew: So you blend these styles into your playing?

Michael: I don't really know. It all goes into the psyche somehow and comes out the way it does. I don't consciously try to do anything but play what seems to be emotionally wanting to be heard.

Andrew: So your sort of a conduit?

Michael: Exactly. My goal is to get out of the way. Let the guitar become transparent. Just be an expression of what seems to want to be heard at that moment. That's my goal, anyway.

Andrew: But many players I have spoken with seem to really admire your library of guitar licks.

Michael: Ha! I appreciate that, but I don't think I have any licks per se. I mean, I guess I do within a certain context. But, I don't think of guitar playing in terms of licks.

Andrew: How do you look at it?

Michael: In terms of phrasing. In terms of pure expression. Telling a story. A story that's not so much my story. It's the story that's being given to me at that moment.

Andrew: By whom?

Michael: I don't really know. The spirit guides I guess.

Andrew: Does this relate to your interest in psychedelic music?

Michael: Psychedelic music plays a role. Maybe an important role. At least if we look at some forms of psychedelic music as having the goal of expanding the mind musically. Sort of putting Huxley or Leary or certain philosophical constructs to music.

Andrew: So psychedelic music is a big influence.

Michael: Well, not all of it. Not very much of it, actually. I would say mainly the 13th Floor Elevators. They changed the way I looked at music probably as much as Hendrix did.

Andrew: How?

Michael: When I saw them for the first time, I was in a band that played Beatles, Stones, Animals stuff. We opened for the Elevators. We were all dressed alike in our Beatle boots, matching jeans, silk shirts. We did our set and then the Elevators played. I was transported into another place. I knew I could never go back to how I was maybe an hour before. So, I joined the psychedelic music scene. I got into "The Psychedelic Sounds Of" very deeply. I'm still there, today!

Andrew: And you bring that into your playing today?

Michael: I attempt to. It's my interpretation, of course. But, it's in my blood. Maybe I should say it's in my mind! Or in my cells! Ha!

Andrew: Do you like any of the current guitar players?

Michael: Sure. Jim Thomas of the Mermen is fantastic. The fellow who plays with Radiohead is cool. I like some of the Nine Inch Nails stuff in terms of what they do with the guitar. The guy who played with Portisehead was very tasteful.

Andrew: What is intodown all about? What does it mean?

Michael: It is a state of mind, a feeling, a place of origination. "Down" is sort of that mind state that is below the radar. Somewhere melancholy. Pensive. It is where the mystery lives. It is that in-between place of here and there. The rabbit hole. I invite people to join me there. intodown.

Andrew: So it's a state of being?

Michael: Perhaps a state of non-being. It's a trance state of sorts where you step outside yourself into another world or dimension. I give control over to something else. I get out of the way. I release my grip on things. It's like jumping into river with a slow - well sometimes slow - moving current. Just go with it. No questions. No answers. No right or wrong. It's go with it and try to stay in it without trying too hard. Trying too hard will take you out of it.

Andrew: So that's where some of the great guitar playing comes from?

Michael: Yes. But, please know that I don't take ownership of it. It's being given to me. It's up to me to be a good translator. To be able to play on the guitar what is coming through me. My job is to build sufficient facility on the guitar to perform an adequate translation. My task is facility. The more facility, the more I am given to express or translate.

Andrew: Well, I really look forward to hearing the CD! And thank you for your time!

Michael: Thank you for your interest! I've enjoyed speaking with you.


The Dead Prophets also encourage you to check out Mike's solo project intodown: http://www.myspace.com/intodown - Andrew Logan, Freelance Journalist


"Beth Places 2 songs in finals of 2008 USA Songwriting Contest!"

TDP frontperson Beth Isbell landed 2 songs as finalists in 2 separate categories in the 2008 USA Songwriting Contest ... way to go Beth! - USA SONGWRITING CONTEST


"Review of Mike's Solo CD Brave New World"

SKOPE MAGAZINE Review of
intodown: Brave New World

Michael Clark leads the psychedelic decent into the rabbit hole with a variety of drummers, bass players and multi instrumentalists.

Brave New World is a skillfully executed instrumental rock album that reverberates below the radar of mainstream pop with Clark making exquisite us of power chords, riffs, and improvisation. Clark has studied the blueprints of early hillbilly rock, black blues, the late-'60's Clapton-Green-Page mob, and past and present garage bands. He relies exclusively on the use of a Gibson guitar and Hi-Watt amp, which provides sonic consistency as the band effortlessly, trips from an epic musical muse to an extended wild-ass jam.

The arrangements on the album range from 5 to 20 minutes in length, and although one is getting a great musical value, and one heck of a magical adventure, the songs may be too long for today's attention deficit disordered consumer. As Clark and his band of subterranean lurkers speak in musical tongues about the past, art and existentialism they may very well be the future of rock'n'roll. Review By: S.D. Peer - Skope Magazine


"Review of Mike's Solo CD Brave New World"

REVIEW intodown: Brave New World

Falling down in the Rabbit hole is easy and the feeling you get when listening and watching Michael Clark perform. With his channeling of Stoner-rock, Surf-rock, Prog-rock, Blues and the Psychedelic 60’s mixed with all his musical and poetic influences you can only imagine the experience that you will take on this journey into the deep trance that is intodown.

“There are times when playing music opens the door to another dimension, to another world. It’s a world of sonic ecstasy. No rules. No judgments. Just existing in the flow of a great, powerful energy. A trance state of sorts. Free. The state I call ‘down’. My goal is to find my way into down and to hold the door open for those who wish to enter.” A perfect description of Clark’s emotional and powerful expression of what he calls music. Music full of mystery.

Watching Clark play you soon realize that he is not playing like any other guitarist or musician. He is playing with an energy that is coming from another place. A state of non-being or a trance state of sorts where you step outside yourself and into another world or dimension. Something that is lost among many artists today. His listeners have said that “the music takes them on a trip, transports them somewhere, sort of opens them up.” Just the impact that his influences have been trying to do for years.

Set lists are thrown out the door when it comes to his shows. It is a very creative and powerful experience. The opening act, if there is one, could be a very strange poet, some sort of electric magician, or maybe a very large puppet explaining philosophy. His performance is usually lit by candles and an alter with a dull red spot shinning on the area where Clark stands. The alter is there to bring energy of truth, organic, realness and earth to the show and to him. There will also be a large screen that some members of the band will actually be animated characters. These characters will sing and talk and even emerge in real form on stage. The show is a psychedelic experience; it’s stepping outside the normal rock show format. The audience can get in on the action as well. With microphones set up around the floor the audience can step up to them and express themselves and contribute to the music. It’s not really a rock show but more like a musical experience with Clark playing what is coming through him as he give control over to something else. He tells a story that has been given to him at the moment. You never know what sound or expression will come out of his guitar, show and music. For one to fully understand who Mike Clark is, as a person, musician, magical man, all they would need to do is put his record on.

- Heavy Planet (music blog)


"TDP Song Nostradamus Wins Awards"

The song's writer lead guitarist Mike Clark tells the story of the TDP song "Nostradamus" and it's creation:

I played this song as a pure in the moment piece one night during a Dead Prophets show in Dallas. (March 5, 2005 @ Texas Tea House--we actually have "the" original on tape). As I finished the song, a fellow comes up to the stage and hands me a package wrapped in brown paper. He said, "After hearing that song, I want you to have this." I opened the package. It was a book on the prophet, Nostradamous. Hence.

Awards:

Track of the Day: 11/23/05, Instrumental Rock, GB.com
Best Guitar: Week of 11/21/05, Instrumental Rock, GB.com
Best Beat: Week of 11/21/05, Instrumental Rock, GB.com
Best Mood: Week of 11/21/05, Instrumental Rock, GB.com
Chill-Out Track: Overall, Week of 11/21/05, GB.com
Chill-Out Track: Week of 11/21/05, Instrumental Rock, GB.com

The recorded version which appears on Mike's solo CD intodown: Brave New World ...and... can be heard at www.intodown.com and features TDP members Mike, Carol & Andy!

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Mike's song "intodown" on the same CD is also a song TDP frequently plays live. (If you check out the band video on our myspace profile, Beth leads the band into "intodown" following Ms. Morgan's amazing drum solo! www.myspace.com/thedeadprophets)

Both Mike and Beth have quite different versions of "intodown" on their solo CD projects.
Beth's version:
www.mytexasmusic.com/bethisbell
www.myspace.com/bethisbell
Mike's version:
www.myspace.com/intodown
www.intodown.com - Guitar magazine


"TAXI picks Beth Isbell as Top 10 artist/songwriter for July 2008"

From TAXI (A&R Mgr Craig Streaman)

Hello Beth,

Congratulations – you have been chosen as one of TAXI’s Top Artists for the month of July! Each month, the A&R staff handpicks some of our favorite artists to be featured on the site, to both provide a little more exposure for you – as well as help us to feature our best and strongest talent!

You can find the page here : http://www.taximusic.com/search.php?top10

In addition, we are requesting that you please send us 5 hard copy CD’s and email over a hi-res photo, so that we can give you a little extra push if we see an opportunity that would fit your material. As with anything – there are no guarantees in this crazy industry, but we hope to help as much as we can.

Please mail CD’s and any ancillary goodies to:

Craig Streaman
TAXI
5010 N. Parkway Calabasas
Suite 200
Calabasas, CA 91302


Please feel free to call or email me with any additional questions / thoughts that you may have. Thanks, and have a great 4th of July Weekend!


Craig Streaman
Manager A&R
Craig@TAXI.com
818-222-2464

- TAXI


"Interview with Beth Isbell - Vocalist, Guitarist & Songwriter"

Q: What made you realize that music was your path?
A: The way I feel when I write & perform.

Q: How would you describe the music that you typically create?
A: I write in most genres ... Rock, Alt-Rock, Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Blues, Blues-Rock, Folk, Americana, Country, and even Gospel. I love the blues, but have not written much blues yet, because I hold this genre in such high esteem - it's easy to write a crappy blues song, but difficult to write a great one that will stand the test of time. I learned how to play guitar & perform sitting around campfire circles at Folk Festivals in Texas which still inspire most of my Folk/Americana/Country - which is more traditional or outlaw country - I really despise the current Nashville trend towards infusing 80s pop into country. My favorite songs to perform are my original acoustic (or electric) rock pieces – dark, haunting , moody, & compelling, and the blues ...

Q: Who are your biggest musical influences?
A: Neil Young, David Bowie, Lou Reed. The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Luther Allison (blues), Eric Clapton, SRV, the 3 Kings (Albert, BB & Freddie), Nancy Wilson of Heart, Dave & Kurt (of Nirvana/Foo Fighters), Alice in Chains.

Q: What makes your music unique?
A: I try to deliver my soul to the audience in every song and in every performance. And when I get a great band around me - I am one of the best front-persons around.

Q: Has there been one particular moment in your musical career that you're most proud of?
A: My Good Woman Waltz song going #1 in Texas and then being picked by TAXI recently (July 2008) as one of their Top 10 favorites was pretty sweet. Headlining a 10 band radio station concert earlier this year. Playing a festival in Atlanta with 50,000 or so in attendance the day I played.

Q: What's next for you?
A: Continue touring across the US playing festivals & concerts, hopefully to bigger and bigger audiences; writing and recording new songs for an upcoming alt-rock album, and then for a separate blues album, hopefully to be released in 2009; getting more & more songs on the radio & eventually into the Top 40; hopefully playing SXSW in 2009 :) ... and developing my career as an artist and in the music industry into one that will sustain my family & allow me to fulfill all the dreams and desires of my beautiful twin daughters Abby & Bella!

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To hear Beth's radio/audio interview by Jeffrey Rubin / Banana Peel Radio, Vancouver, Canada, discussing The Dead Prophets magical, mystical & spiritual connection and her solo tour, cds, and projects, go to this link:

http://www.bananapeelradio.com/beth.htm

(Please give the interview about 2 to 5 minutes approximately to pull up & start playing) - Jeffrey Rubin - Banana Peel Radio


Discography

The Dead Prophets: Bonus Edition (2008).
http://www.myspace.com/thedeadprophets
(Several songs from this CD - "Mountain King", "Camille", "Cobainity", on college & indie radio playlists, AND this CD was recently picked up for radio, club, and industry promotion, and digital distribution, in Europe).

Click the "Press" button to read the excellent reviews received to date.

Photos

Bio

NEW: PLEASE DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES ABOUT THE DEAD PROPHETS TO: roxybeast@hotmail.com
OR TO OUR MYSPACE PAGE - www.myspace.com/thedeadprophets
OR TO BETH'S SONICBIDS PAGE:
www.sonicbids.com/bethisbell

Texas' best psychedelic rock band! If you hate the endless stream of crappy bands we're subjected to on radio and local stages these days, ... if you like bands that dominate their instruments, ... if you like great songwriting and killer arrangements, ... & love smoking live performances that leave audiences spellbound, ... come join our psychedelic scene!

This Dallas, Texas, based band has played most all of the bigger venues in the DFW area, tours regionally, and has tracks spinning on college radio stations across America, both through the band and their various solo projects. The band would like to bring their hypnotic classic rock jam band sound to a wider audience in Europe and the rest of America.

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To check out all TDP songs AND for more pics & info:
http://www.ourstage.com/fanclub/thedeadprophets

2 songs in Broadjam Rock Charts Top 10!:
Roadhouse Blues (#3 or #4 Psych Rock for 1 year+)
Camille (the little filthy skank)-Grunge Version (was Grunge Rock top 10 & selected for Expose Your Muse 2009 MIDEM compilation CD)

TDP’s Mike Clark's Nostradamus has been Track of the Day, Best Guitar, Best Beat, Best Mood, & Best Chill-Out Track ("intodown: Brave New World")

Misunderstood - Finalist 2008 USA Songwriting contest (Best Lyrics)
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Shortly after the turn of the century, in a land far away, as rock was evolving and the cauldron was stirring, a legendary Texas trio was creating the direction of rock that is, was, & will forever be …............... welcome to the foundation of, the neo-classic rock movement.

“The Dead Prophets are here. Mike Clark, Beth Isbell and Ms. Morgan, bring Dallas to life with their unexpected brand of music. This trio of cross-influenced musicians brings retro feel with new ideas to create a blend of innovative tunes that exemplify the braggadocios-ness that is Texas music. The band’s music explodes with artistry at every turn as the multi-dimensional arrangements speak volumes about how rock music has evolved. Each song sounds like an old song and like a new song. Hats off to the DPs!!!” My Texas Music.com
“Absolutely brilliant!” Melody Syre, Ass. Ed., Buddy Magazine.

This band is a true cult classic! Psychedelic rock fused with Texas blues & punk influences result in a tasty blend of the new and the familiar & a new direction for rock!! What separates this band from the pack is great songwriting, killer guitar work, and dynamic live performances. This Dallas, Texas, based band has played most all of the bigger venues in the DFW area, tours regionally, headlines festivals, and has songs on college and community radio stations all across America, both through the band and their members’ various solo projects. The band would like to bring their hypnotic psychedelic classic rock jam band sound to a wider audience in North America and all across Europe.

Lead guitarist Big Mike Clark may be one of the best guitarists to emerge since the height of the great 70s rock band movement. You can hear the influences, nuances, and technical prowess of David Gilmour, Peter Green, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton (during the Mayall and Cream era), and even legendary surf rocker Dick Dale, in every note he plays. Clark cut his teeth learning the blues styles of Otis Rush, T- Bone Walker, Pee Wee Crayton, Gatemouth Brown, B.B. King, Magic Sam, Hound Dog Taylor, Hollywood Fats, and many other great blues guitarists. In the late 60s, he incorporated rock into his playing and his band at the time eventually opened for The Doors & The Byrds. It was when he opened for the 13th Floor Elevators in the 70s that his guitar playing found a different direction and a completely different gear – their psychedelic sound and show changed the way he looked at creating music. “I wanted to interject a bit of the mysterious in my guitar playing; to get out there somewhere and musically find my way back, like Jimi Hendrix did during some of his live shows. To convey the moods and feelings of another world. Today, people will hear a combination of English and American blues styles combined with my interpretation of the mystery of the psychedelic. I attempt to create an experience. My goal is to get out of the way. Let the guitar become transparent. Just be an expression of what seems to want to be heard at that moment. The psychedelic music the band and I create has the goal of expanding the mind musically. My desire is that the listener join me and the band inside the experience.”

Lead vocalist, acoustic guitarist, and chief songwriter Beth Isbell may be one of the most interesting front-persons since the late Jim Morrison. In fact, The Dead Prophets have already received comparisons in the press to The Doors. Beth’s sound has been