A Conversation with Doug Benson

By Andy Green

The first time I noticed Doug Benson was during his appearances on VH1′s Best Week Ever. The fact that what he said was actually funny made him stand out against some of the lost, lame souls that have graced that show’s camera. He would be on there, and I would laugh. I had heard about the show he had done called The Marijuanalogs, and it solidified him as somebody who I am a fan of. Then, it happened. The release of Super High Me. I was working at a radio station in Michigan at the time, and a buddy of mine told me to come over and watch it.

Although I was extremely, almost irresponsibly high at the time of viewing; it was clear that the film was phenomenal no matter what your state of mind was. It was brilliantly thought out. Parts of that documentary were so hilarious, while other parts of it were groundbreaking, and thought provoking. Throughout the entire movie it becomes incredibly evident that Doug Benson was a person who went out and did something for the movement. His career has had him nominated as High Times’ Stoner Of The Year, and he recently wrapped up a comedy tour of the 13 states with medicinal marijuana. I had a chance to catch up with Doug right after he wrapped up his medical marijuana tour.

AG: So first things first, how are ya brother?

Doug: I’m doin’ good. I’m home for a brief couple of days before I head out on the road. I’m Payin’ some bills and enjoying my vaporizer.

AG: The vaporizer in Super High Me stopped me in my tracks and made my brain squeeze one thought…”Man that thing looks fun!”

Doug: It’s pretty cool! Obviously when I’m out on the road I don’t take the whole contraption with me.  When I travel I just use whatever is available, like a pipe, or a bong, or an apple!

AG: You gotta be a MacGuyver smoker when you are on the go like that!

Doug: Apple turned into a pipe..that’s my thing. I can’t roll a joint but I can turn an apple into a pipe. It’s the weirdest thing!

AG: You just wrapped up the Medicinal Marijuana Tour, how was that?

Doug: Yeah Doug Benson’s Medical Marijuana Tour. We did 13 states in 13 days, and managed to make it to every town on time and every show on time. It was alot of fun. We went from Rhode Island to Hawaii…and 11 places in between! (laughs)

AG: Did you notice any difference in the audience between the audience on this tour as opposed to other shows you have done?

Doug: Whenever I do a show anywhere I get a combination of comedy fans that know me from VH1 and Last Comic Standing. Some people come out because they are super into pot and they liked the movie. I get nice people coming out everywhere I go now. It’s nice to help get the word out in the States that lack legislation.

AG: Are  you gonna make the tour an annual thing?

Doug: I don’t know if it will be annual. The 13 states in 13 days was kind of hectic. As we were doing it we were like..it’s kind of cool that were doing 13 states in 13 days but what are we really proving? That stoners can make it from town to town. We would probably spread it out next time. That kind of schedule made me feel for bands, comedians don’t typically tour so heavy.  Yeah people don’t always see the unglamourous side of touring and performing. If you don’t like airplanes, don’t become a comedian. If you don’t like vans don’t join a band.

AG: So how did you get in to stand up?

Doug: Some friends of mine goated me into trying stand up. The idea was that we were gonna go up there and do it. The other two dudes bagged it, and I went on anyway. I got a few laughs, so I was encouraged. I kept doin’ it and have been doing it ever since and I love it. Alot of stand ups become successful actors and other things, but I hope to keep doing stand up the rest of my life.

AG: One thing about you is that I genuinely laugh at your comedy, and it’s easy to be kind of the stoner comedian. What separates you from that scene is that you put your money where your mouth is. At one of your shows you made a pot reference and the crowd cheered. You said “You people need to make it out to a voting booth once in a while!”

Doug: Alot of people don’t care if it’s legalized. Why stick your neck out to legalize it. Friends of mine say they don’t get their cards in California because they are afraid they are gonna end up on some weird government list, but to me- getting it from a dealer equals just as much trouble if not more!

AG: Who are some comedians you admire?

Doug: My standard answer is when I was a kid I would listen to comedy albums Cheech and Chong, George Carlin. I had all of them memorized. Now I am really into alot of my contemporaries and friends. People like Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Brian Posehn. I have been doing stand up for a long time, so I am friends with alot of comics. That’s part of what makes it really fun, working with my friends.

You can catch Doug’s comedy at his live shows all over the country. Check him out all over the net as well! Support a brilliant comedian who is doing his part to keep the movement going forward!

www.myspace.com/Doug_Benson

www.twitter.com/dougbenson

www.superhighmemovie.com

311, Almost 20 Years of Omaha Stylee
C.T.’s Andy Green chats it up with 311 bassist, P-Nut

By: Andy Green

311 is a band that from the very beginning, decided to evade the slimy corridors of conformity. These boys from Omaha successfully fused various kinds of music they appreciated, and created a sound that continues to resonate in the souls of music fans all over the world. Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney, P-Nut, Chad Sexton, and S.A. Martinez fill up venues across the land with three things, fans, positivity, and music that displays the group’s precision musical ability. Their music fits nicely along other greats of alternative rock like that of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime, while maintaining the semblance of their own original sound. Just when you think 311 couldn’t possibly be anymore awesome, you find out that they are devoted cannabis advocates, and use their influence to aid the movement and create awareness across our nation. Despite harsh critics and little embrace of their singles from commercial radio, 311 continues to show people everywhere exactly what makes them unstoppable! The Cannabis Times Magazine stalked and harassed 311′s bassist P-Nut, until he finally agreed to talk to the freak known as Andy Green.

How did you first become interested in playing bass?

I saw it as a great instrument with a lot of potential for growth. I saw it as it’s own rock n roll growth industry. It’s usually such a background thing, and it’s always gonna be supportive to some degree, but there have always been so many great drummers, of course so many great guitarists, and vocalists. I thought with  the short list of fantastic bass players that I would give a shot to add myself to the list, if I may be so bold. I wanted to use that useful “well I’m gonna show them what I can do” kind of idea. Tackling the bass just seemed like the right way to do it.

Where did your stage name come from?

My stage name came from rocking out in the garage. Who knows what we were playing?-Like Fishbone, or 24-7 Spyz, that first generation of “hybrid mix rock”- like they say in Japan, which we just got back from and it was great. I was rocking out and my friend said that my head looked like a peanut. We just kind of ran with it from there. It keeps me humble!

How did you meet the other members of 311?

I was playing in a 3 piece band, and we were calling ourselves 311. We switched drummers out and did a talent show at my high school. I was a sophomore, and we played under the name The 311 band, with our original guitarist Jimmy Watson and a different drummer. We did a Red Hot Chili Peppers song, the one they did for the Say Anything soundtrack. It was really fun, and I loved performing from that day forward. A couple of months later we got together with Chad Sexton. I met him at his house through a girlfriend. He was dating her sister at the time. She was like, “You gotta meet this drummer!” Her sister told Chad “You have to meet this bass player!” We have been musically joined at the hip ever since, and I will never let him go! Chad has been playing since he was like five or six. Chad’s parents were musicians. His lifestyle was always steeped in music, and it showed. He was in a band with Nick and Tim in high school.

Nick was still out here in LA under the band name Unity. They didn’t have Tim. Tim was out in Arizona going to school. I believe partying was his major. Tim came back, Nick saw me, Chad and Jim at a sock-hop at my high school when I was 15. Nick was gonna go to Germany to try get a band started. He came back a couple of month’s later due to the difficult language barrier. Nick wanted to get the band going’ with us, since he saw so much potential there. I met S.A. when I was twelve. He was friends with my older brother. S.A. would come on stage with us as a guest singer. He would do “Fuck The Bullshit” with us, and would just tear the roof off! We had to decide whether to bring him to L.A. with us. It was the easiest decision I have ever had to make. Of course we are bringing him. How many rock bands have two vocalists one who’s a tenor, one who’s a baritone, and who are both just rock n’ roll icons in the making.

Talk to me about the first time 311 hit the stage as a band.

Honestly, I can’t remember the first, first time. We did our first show with Jimmy Watson June 10^th 1990, opening up for Fugazi. That’s when we say our first anniversary is. We didn’t play with Tim until like December of 1990. I think I remember it. It was weird because Jim was my best friend at the time. We started together, gravitated toward each other’s styles, and were pushing each other along. When Nick and Jimmy weren’t getting along very well, and Jimmy was asked to leave the band, it was tough. When Tim came in, I was pretty resistant. It was hard to accept this new guy who was playing strings. Maybe that’s why I don’t remember, I block it out as a safety mechanism. Tim came to the table as a really good rhythm guitarist with a ton of soul. He has turned into an amazing soloist, great writer, and just a fantastic human being to hang out with. It is really great being in a band with him. It’s amazing, bands have to go through tough times like that in the beginning. We just learn from what we go through and keep carrying on!

I know there are probably too many too mention, but tell me about one of the most memorable moments from on the road.

Like you said there are tons of memories. The cool thing is that we can bring up hundreds of moments, and we are still blown away. Playing’ with Snoop Dogg and witnessing him getting our fans all riled up is one moment I won’t forget. We did  this one show where there was a little mini riot in the streets. We started throwing t-shirts at our fans, and they stopped traffic. It’s just fun being out on the road, you never know what to expect there, I met my wife on the road!

What is your favorite strain of bud?

I’m an o.g. kush guy. It’s an easy answer. I did an interview with B-Real on a radio show called Rockline. We were doing the Temples of Boom tour in 1996 with Cypress Hill. Those shows were sick!! B-Real was smoking’ during the interview. Afterwords, he floated me a kush bud. Kush is the only kind that really makes me scared to drive. I will always be a strong proponent of cannabis. It looks like things are turning in a good way for the movement. Partakers need to keep talking the talk and walking the walk. You have to be a positive cannabis user. It’s illegal status dumbfounds me. The herb exists whether we cultivate it or not. Marijuana is a gift and we should treat it accordingly. People getting arrested for it is the stupidest waist of money and resources in the country’s history. Lets use what’s good for good, instead of one-upping each other. We are all different and it is a beautiful thing!

The new album is Uplifter. Where did the name come from?

It came from a lyric in the first single “Hey You.” One of our managers grabbed on to that idea and we  unanimously agreed it was perfect!

I know it is hard to choose, but what are some of your favorite songs to play live?

It is hard! They are all pieces of the body of the 311 form. Tricky stuff is fun to play, songs like “Wake Your Mind up.” The riffs in that song turned into what I would consider a classic 311 song. “Come Original” always fires up the crowd. It’s fun being in a band where almost anything is allowable. I will come up with a riff and maybe it wont work for a little while. I will keep playing it for the other guys in the band until they get it. We want to be accepted by people, but not at the sacrifice of being as good as we can be. It’s cool to be in this band, I would never want to be in another band. The older we get the more refined our ideas become. We are always trying to make classic music that you won’t be able to tell what decade it came from. That’s our higher goal!

What’s next for 311?

We are touring in the fall. We are talking about going to South America to do some shows. We want to tap into those metal areas of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. We want to make 311′s rock a worldwide thing, and show them what kind of show we do. 311 day is coming up in March, it will  probably take place in Vegas. I am just enjoying the ride working hard on new songs. The band is trying to get together a lot more frequently to stay in the mode, as opposed to having an on off switch.
Pamper yourself with music of a higher quality. Check out all of 311′s albums, and buy there new one Uplifter, in stores right now! Support a band that supports the movement, visit there website for all things 311!

www.311.com

www.myspace.com/311

www.facebook.com/official311

www.twitter.com/311

Keller Williams is a great example of a rarity these days, a musician with actual musical talent. His live performances are truly a sight to behold. What separates Keller from the rest of the musical world, is his fundamental and dynamic understanding of song creation. Keller utilizes various instruments and loops them throughout the song. It’s almost as if he is building a wall of music. It is an awe inspiring thing to witness! He incorporates humor into his songs and really hits the mark. He extensively tours the US hitting all the big festivals on a fairly regular basis! If you get a chance to buy a ticket to see Keller, do it!

I was having a shitty day today, and listening to your album “Odd” turned that around

Good man! That’s great to hear, thank you very much

You are on an extensive tour right now and for a while

Yeah, ton of different legs right now

How did you get into music?

It just kind of hit me you know? I got a guitar when I was three and pretended to play it until I was like 12. I started to learn some songs on the radio and my first gig when I was like 16. It’s what I’ve known for most of my adult life.

Do you remember your first gig?

There was alot of restaurant gigs, where you wait until the 10 top finishes, you bus the table and then set up your stuff. I realized you could make more money doing covers on a stool, than I could at TCBY!

How did it occur to you to start utilizing the looping technology

In highschool and college, I did the band thing. As  I went on exploring music, there were so many avenues I wanted to go down, but didn’t have the money to afford other human beings.

Where did the songs on “Odd” come from?

They are alot of road tested songs, and some I made up right in the studio. Each record to me is like a period piece. I can go out on the porch and watch a storm and the song will just write itself.

I love how you incorporate humorous lyrics inside masterfully crafted songs, where does this side of Keller come from?

I appreciate your words, I take having fun very seriously and on the other end I don’t take this industry very seriously. It’s all an attempt to entertain myself. The audience can pick up on it!

.

You have a radio show now-”Keller’s Cellar.” What kind of music can people expect to hear?

It’s easier to say what kind of music I don’t play. There is no contemporary country, there is little to no opera, and no christian music. You might hear some bluegrass, whatever I’m into! Nothing goes into the hour long show that I wouldn’t listen to regularly.

What are a couple of moments, where a band you were on the bill with just blew your mind?

There is too many to tell, Zappa Plays Zappa is very interesting, Dumpster Funk, it happens all the time!

Are you paranoid being a cannabis smoker, traveling all over the country?

You got to be smart about it, it’s something you have to handle very lightly!

Keller is a phenomenal musician, a great guy, and a true warrior for the world. Check out his new album “Odd.” For all things Keller Williams be sure to check out his website www.kellerwilliams.net

Weird little side story for ya, I was at a KMFDM show and this idiot shithead thought it would be cool to rock out Nazi propaganda on his wardrobe at the show. This walking shit-stain was in line with a bunch of us waiting by the bus to meet the band after the show. The Cuntasaurus was in front of us, and when Sascha saw the guy, he immediately started making him understand what a cock he was! Long story short, the guy probably felt shitty for a bit, went home and continued to be a dick-hole!

If you have a brain and love industrial music you will find that KMFDM fits in great amongst your other speaker-juice!

Here are 5 of my favorites!

Megalomaniac

D.I.Y.

Anarchy

A Drug Against War

Money

     12 reporting commercial radio stations in medium and large size markets in the United States are currently playing the Black Keys, and that number is sure to keep on growing. The Black Keys, along with many other phenomenal musicians, took the stage at this year’s Coachella, in Indio, California on April 17th.  Whether you are a rocker through and through, an alternative junkie who laughs at the status quo, or a music connoisseur who has developed a particular pallet, The Black Keys will satisfy even the most voracious of musical appetites!  Be sure to hit up their website http://theblackkeys.com/

Check this mind-exploding nugget o’ sweetness out! Courtesy of Aussie television!

Nathan Explosion is the lead vocalist, and witnessed a drunk driver slaughter his entire class in elementary school, he has visions of his fellow bandmates dying due to an overabundance of crows, and it sends him into a paranoia driven quest for his G.E.D. Nathan Explosion was also Governor of Florida for a brief period. William Murderface, a homely, self-hating bass player, witnessed the axemurder-suicide of his parents, and grew up under the tutalage of his Grandmother, and Grandfather…Stella and Thunderbolt Murderface….it doesn’t get much funnier than that. Skwisgaar Skwigelf is the lead guitar player from Sweden, he plays death metal with motherf*&%in authority, as he shreds tasty riffs, he lays down some of the best quotes you will ever hear such as “Why are we at the food library?”, in reference to a grocery store! Toki Wartooth is the friendly Norwegian rhythm guitarist of Dethklok, with abs of steel, and a heart of gold. Toki suffers from a severe inferiority complex in Skwisgaar’s advanced metal-spinning abilities shadow, he also loves clowns, and is good friends with Dr. Rockzo, the cocaine loving, rock n roll clown! Pickles the alcoholic, drug abusing drummer, saw success in a previous band called Snakes-n-Barrels, he participated in a reunion tour that brought the rehabilitated members of the band, in front of the temptations of a drug called ultra cool liquid Alabama black snake, ..er something like it, they freaked out on stage!!! While all of this hilarity is going on it is sprinkled, and dusted with metal that simply put…IS THE SHIT!  A phenomenal subplot involving the government, religious leaders, and other ghastly bastards, is plotting against Dethklok, who is a force to be reckoned with. Dethklok’s album sales can fuel or squash the economy! If you haven’t seen the show, head on over to Adultswim and fuckin’ watch it!

Also check out Dethklok Headquarters: Die For Dethklok 

Dethklok in a cross-over with popular Dark Horse Comics’ character The Goon…Hysterical promo, check it!

Check this shit out!

NOW CLEAN YOUR BRAIN MATTER UP OFF THE FLOOR BITCH!!!

“I suppose (former bass player) Duff (McKagan) could play guitar on something somewhere but there’s zero possibility of me having anything to do with Slash,” Rose said.
“In a nutshell, personally I consider him a cancer and better removed, avoided — and the less anyone heard of him or his supporters the better.”

…And now Axl doing the one thing he excels at…BEING A HUGE ASSHOLE!

PRICE MENU:
$7
-Digital Download of “Since 1972″ (including 3 videos)
$15
-CD/DVD Double Disc Set -Digital Download
$50
-CD/DVD Double Disc Set -T-shirt -”Thank You” phone call from Josh for buying Since 1972. You can tell him what you like about the record that you purchased, or what you thought sucked. Ask whatever you want, like “Is Maynard really THAT weird?” or “Which on of Sting’s mansions has the comfiest beds?” or “Are Devo really Suburban Robots that monitor reality or just a bunch of Dads from Ohio?” or “Why don’t the Vandals play more stuff off the first record?” It’s your 5 minutes to yack it up. Talk about whatever you want.
$250 (limited edition of 25)
-Signed CD/DVD and digital download. -T-shirt -Signed Drum Head and Drumsticks. -Go on a lunch date with Josh to PF Changs or The Cheesecake Factory (whatever you’re into.)
$500 (limited edition of 15)
-Signed CD/DVD and digital download -T-shirt -Signed Cymbal and sticks -Meet Josh in Venice, CA and go floating together in a Sensory deprivation tank (filmed and posted on youtube) -Dinner at Sizzler (get your $8.99 Steak and “all you can eat” Shrimp on)
$1,000 (limited edition of 10)
\
-Signed CD/DVD and digital download. -T-shirt -Signed Cymbal, Drum head and Drumsticks. -Josh washes your car OR does your laundry….or you can wash his car. -Have dinner with Josh aboard the “Queen Mary” in Long Beach, CA -Get drunk and cut each other’s hair in the parking lot of the Long Beach courthouse (filmed and posted on youtube of course)
$2,500 (limited edition of 5)
-Signed CD/DVD and digital download. -Get a private drum lesson with Josh or for all you non-drummers have him give you a back and foot massage (couples welcome) -Pick any 1 member of the Vandals or DEVO (subject to availability) to accompany you and Josh to either the Hollywood Wax Museum or the lunch buffet at the “Spearmint Rhino” -Signed DW snare drum. -Take 3 items of your choice out of his closet (first come, first serve) -Change diapers and make bottles with him for an afternoon (after hitting the strip club)

$5,000 (limited edition of 3)
-Signed CD/DVD and digital download. -T-shirt -Josh writes about a song about you and make available on iTunes. -Co-direct a video with him for the song about you and throw it up on the youtubes. -Josh gives you and a friend a private tour of Disneyland -Get drunk together. If you don’t drink we can go to my Dads place and hang out under the “Tuba tree” -Stone from Pearl Jam will send you a letter telling you about his favorite song on “Since 1972″
$10,000 (limited edition of 1)
-Signed CD/ DVD and digital download -T-shirt -Signed DW snare drum from A Perfect Circle’s 2003 tour. -Josh gives you a private drum lesson OR his and hers foot/back massage (couples welcome, discreet parking) -Twiggy from Manson’s band and Josh take you and a guest to Roscoe’s Chicken n’ Waffle in Long Beach for dinner. -Josh takes you and guest to “Club 33″ (the super-duper exclusive and private restaurant at Disneyland located above the Pirates Of The Caribbean) and then hit a couple rides afterwards (preferably the Tiki Room, Haunted Mansion and The Tower Of Terror) -At the end of the day at Disneyland drive away in Josh’s Volvo station wagon. It’s all yours….take it. Just drop him off on your way home though please.
$20,000 (limited edition of 1)
-Signed CD/DVD and digital download. -T-shirt -A signed drum from the 2008 Nine Inch Nails tour. -Maynard James Keenan, Mark from Devo and Josh take you miniature golfing and then drop you off on the side of the freeway (all filmed and posted on youtube) -Josh gives you a tour of Long Beach. See his first apartment, the coffee shop on 2nd St where his buddy paid Dave Grohl $40 to rip up tile just weeks before joining “Nirvana.” See the old Vandals rehearsal spot, the liquor store he got busted using a Fake I.D. at when he was 17 (it was Dave from the Vandals old ID). Go check out Snoop Dogg’s high- school. For an extra 50 bucks see where Tom and Adrian from No Doubt live.=2 0For another $25 he’ll show ya where Eric from NOFX and Brooks from Bad Religion get their hair cut. -Spend the night aboard the Queen Mary and take the “Ghosts And Legends” tour. (separate rooms…no spooning.) -Josh writes 2 songs about you and it’s made available on iTunes and appears on his next record (you can sing back up on em, clap, play the drums, triangle, whatever….) -Drum lesson OR foot and back massage (once again…couples welcome and discreet parking available) -Pick any 3 items out of Josh’s closet.
$75,000 (limited edition of 1)
-Signed CD/DVD and digital download -T-shirt -Go on tour with Josh for a few days. -Have Josh write, record and release a 5 song EP about you and your life story. -Take home any of his drumsets (only one but you can choose which one.) -Take shrooms and cruise Hollywood in Danny from TOOL’s Lamborgini OR play quarters and then hop on the Ouija board for a while. -Josh will join your band for a month…play shows, record, party with groupies, etc…. -If you don’t have a band he’ll be your personal assistant for a month (4 day work weeks, 10 am to 4 pm) -Take a limo down to Tijuana and he’ll show you how it’s done (what that means exactly we can’t legally get into here) -If you don’t live in Southern California (but are a US resident) he’ll come to you and be your personal assistant/cabana boy for 2 weeks. -Take a flying trapeze lesson with Josh and Robin from NIN, go back to Robin’s place afterwards and his wife will make you raw lasagna.

….Oh yeah, and he can play the drums