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Here it is, the dog days of summer, and this is the first GEARHEAD newsletter since April. It really has been “dog days” for me: I put Gearhead on hold to raise a litter of 7 corgi puppies these last few months. Born May 1 to my dog Twix, it has been an incredibly wonderful, exhausting process. You can see pictures on Instagram using #gearheadmascot. The pups have now all gone on to their new forever homes, so I am once again able to pick up the wrench and start work again on Gearhead. While I’ve been raising these pups, I haven’t been idle. Several new products, including the new “Live Fast. Be Weird” shirt and a Gearhead Trucker Cap (in 3 different colors no less!) were under construction, and they’re now available in the web store.
I’ve also been hard at work on the details of GEARFEST 2016, the rock and roll/hot rod show that was revived last year to much ballyhoo and fanfare. Scheduled for Sept 24 at The Blue Lamp in Sacramento, the line up this year makes my heart sing: Sacramento’s Troublemakers, The Roxy Suicide from Colorado featuring Dave Mansfield from Gearhead recording artists The Mansfields, the long loved Bay area band Red Planet coming out of retirement especially for this show, and Pat Todd and the Rank Outsiders with special guest Leesa G from the Creamers (one of my all time favorite bands), performing a bunch of Creamers songs with the Rank Outsiders backing her!  At intermission the contest to crown Ms. Gearhead 2016 will once again take place, with the proceeds going to local women’s shelter Chicks in Crisis. Last year’s Ms. Gearhead, Jennifer Long from Thee Merry Widows, will be featured in the upcoming issue of Gearhead #20 (more info on that next newsletter). And of course there will be cars, food and other contests plus a cool poster for all participants! If you’re interested in being a sponsor, shoot me an email for more details. Our sponsors help defray the cost of putting on such an event and we treat your right! Finally, the vinyl frenzy seems to be picking up more speed every day. I can’t believe some of the old records being reissued now on vinyl. Lest you forget that Gearhead was WAY ahead of the curve on the vinyl thing, we’re running a Summer Sale on Vinyl. $5 LPs and $2s are yours to be had at the web store, but you only have until Monday August 15 to cash in on this crazy deal. Other out of print titles are also on sale, greatly reduced from their collector pricing, so hop on that as well.   Thee Merry Widows rock Reno's Lady Luck Tattoo Convention 2009 The Gearhead Anniversary Party/Gearfest is right around the corner! There is so much cool stuff planned for Saturday Sept. 26, 2015, but the biggest part of the party is the bands that will be performing. It's time to meet the bands and get familiar with them if you're not already! Headlining our event is the newest band to sign to Gearhead, Thee Merry Widows. Fronted by Eva Von Slut who also fronts The White Barons, these ladies (and now 1 fellow!) broke ground years ago as the first all-female psychobilly band. Having opened for such bands as Demented Are Go and Mad Sin, I fell in love with this band when they played the Gearhead Showcase at the Lady Luck Tattoo Convention in Reno, NV.  Thee Merry Widows Sexy, Classy, fun, and crazy talented, these ladies put on a show that will have you dancing and wishing you had dressed up in your ghoulish glam finest. Their first two records are out digitally now on Itunes, and a new record will be out in early 2016. Make sure you bring your video cameras! You'll want to share what you witnessed with everyone who missed it, trust me!  Pat Todd and Rankoutsiders I am so thrilled that Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders are joining the party! Based out of Los Angeles, you are in for a treat! No on rocks as hard as Pat! I'm gonna let our friends at The Big Takeover take it from here: " Pat Todd, from the legendary Lazy Cowgirls, has unleashed a fifteen track wrecking ball of rock ‘n’ roll upon the world. This is the third offering from Todd and his Rankoutsiders, and these grooves are as raw, dirty, and driving as ever. Thunder drums kick out from under broken bottle guitars, and the vocals snarl and sneer in pure rockin’ joy. Hints of the Ramones and the Rolling Stones, alongside, of course, them Lazy Cowgirls, fill out the tracks, but the sleazy swinging and smoke stained street smart songs remain purely Pat Todd. This is one of those albums that should be in the curriculum of every so-called “School of Rock”, because if you don’t know these songs, you should. (www.rankoutsiderrecords.com) Jack Rabid - The Big Takeover (Dec 1, 2013) Thank you Jack! I couldn't have said it any better myself!  The White Barons' new record Electric Revenge The party starts when San Francisco’s White Barons take the stage — and soon mushrooms into a legendary rager, energized by ripping riffs, shout-along choruses, and lyrics about no-regrets good times. The band has been trading in raw-boned punk ‘n’ roll brutality since 2007, the year the four-piece released its Gearhead debut, Up All Night with the White Barons. The songs range from broken-hearted barnstormers ("You Never Were") to a battery of unapologetic drinkin' and druggin' party anthems — "Wicked Ways," "How High" — that recall epic nights spent pounding shots at the bar and waking up the next afternoon stoked to do it all over again! Their brand new record, out on Gearhead takes the band in a slightly different direction, more 70s rock and roll. The towering pipes of Ms. Eva are especially suited to the new material!  Sacto Storytellers Mixing Ska, Punk, Reggae and Roots music, The Sacto Storytellers have taken Sacramento's music scene by storm. I'm thrilled to include them as the opening band for the party. What a great way to kick things off!
Each live performance generates a buzz among audiences, entrancing them with jazzy trumpet verses, strong rhythm, and groovy bass lines. Together, they bring a true familiar vibe and their performances are nothing but positive & powerful. The band takes the stage at 7 PM, with each following band taking the stage at the top of the hour. For a full schedule of events, click here!  To pull off a party like the Gearhead Anniversary Party/Gearfest, getting help from sponsors makes all the difference. Take a moment to read about each of our sponsors and please support them! Our main sponsor is locally owned So-Cal Speed Shop. Located at 1715 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento CA 95621. They are located just minutes off of Highway 80! and minutes from Downtown via Highway 160. Established in 2008, So Cal Speed Shop Sacramento is more than a Speed Shop or Auto Parts Store, it’s a destination for anyone interested in or dedicated to the tradition of old school hot-rodding and the automotive industry. Whether you have a 32 Ford, a low rider, traditional rod or kustom, the staff at So Cal can help you in finding that just right part, accessory, motor or complete body you need to finish, or start, your project. So Cal takes pride in having the best selection of traditional hot rod parts and accessories available in store, on line and on site at the nearly 20 shows we attend yearly. They also have a fantastic selection of t shirts, magazines, and other really cool shit to look at and buy, so there's something there for everyone that likes to support Mom and Pop style shops. Unique products, super friendly staff, and cool cars....what else could you ask for?  Sacramento Tattoo and Piercing, also one of our main sponsors, is one of the best and oldest tattoo shops in Sacramento. Originally opened in 1991, the shop has a staff of 3 full time tattoo artists as well as 1 part time tattoo artist and 2 full-time piercing artists. Sacramento Tattoo is a traditional street shop, open to anyone who comes in and wants flash or custom work. Everyone in the shop is open, friendly and willing to talk to people just toying with the idea of getting their first tattoo, as well as the seasoned customer who wants to add to their collection of skin art. I started getting tattooed here back in 2006, and was impressed with how cool and down to earth all the artists are here, no rock star bullshit! Located at 2722 X St, Sacramento CA 95818, between 27th and 28th St. at top end of Midtown, and the edge of Oak Park, they work on a first come first serve basis. The shop is open every day from 12 Noon until 10 PM. Call 916-737-8282 or email [email protected] for more information.  Our third main sponsor, originating in Wisconsin in the 1844s, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer has been the beer of choice for rockers and rebels for decades. Easy to drink and affordable, the company is also very dedicated to supporting the independent music industry. Having earned awards at US and international competitions, Pabst begins hand-tying a blue silk ribbon around the neck of each Best Select beer to identify it as a first-place winner. You know, because it was. Even without traditional advertising, Pabst Blue Ribbon continues to be one of the fastest-growing consumer brands in the country, embraced by a wide cross-section of the population. Including South Park fans. Now owned by American beer entrepreneur Eugene Kashper, Pabst remains American owned and operated, as they have been for 170 years.  Hand built in Southern California by a passionate family team, Tres Noir Optics are THEE choice of sunglasses for hotrodders, rock and rollers and anyone who just wants to look cool, but protect their eyes. Tres Noir is one of the sponsors for our Ms. Gearhead Contest, and whom ever wins will get a killer goody bag featuring a cool pair of sunglasses, cute t shirts and other delights! Each pair of glasses is handmade and comes with a heavy duty case to protect them when you're not using them. And best of all? They are guaranteed for life, so if they crack, or chip or whatever, they'll take care of you, no problem. I personally own a pair of their terrific glasses and am delighted to welcome them as a sponsor.  And finally, helping spread the word about the party and supporting the Ms. Gearhead Contest, we have Nor Cal Knockout based out of Sacramento.
Norcal Knockout is a nostalgic rock'n'roll car & bike show held annually on the first weekend in July at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo, California. Come join us for a day full of amazing Pre-70 American made Traditional Hot Rods, Kustoms, Bombs, Lowriders, Gassers, Nostalgic Race cars, and 40's - 60's style Choppers, Bobbers, & Cafe Racers. Owner "Hollywood" Hank and his wife Korena were at the original Gearfest in Sweden in 1998 so we're thrilled and blessed to have them join us for this US revival of Gearfest and Anniversary Celebration! 6 PM BLESSING OF THE CARS RALLY BY REV. MICHELLE HAUNOLD This will be a short non-denominational blessing free to all attendees, and held in front of the Blue Lamp. All participants will get a coupon for $1 off entrance fee for the show. 
Following the crash of the US economy and personal differences between the two co-owners, Haunold put Gearhead on hold for the last five years to assess the business and figure out what new direction to take the company. Moving to Elk Grove in 2013, Haunold rediscovered her passion for rock and roll and hot rods, and decided to revive the dormant lifestyle brand by releasing a new record by L.A. rockers The Lords of Altamont. She quickly followed that successful record with several new clothing designs created by Sacramento-based tattoo artist “Cuz’n” Bill Lorenz, from Sacramento Tattoo. “We’d worked together on several records and projects in the past, and asking him to draw up some new t shirt designs seemed like a logical step,” commented Haunold. The two had started dating several years previously and the personal and creative collaborations have been going strong ever since. “I’ve started to get the word out about the revival of Gearhead by vending at car shows up and down the state, and bringing it all back home to Sacramento with a party just makes sense! People have been so supportive and enthusiastic here, and this is agreat way to say thank you,” exclaimed Haunold. The party will start at 6 pm, in front of The Blue Lamp with a car rally and a non-denominational “Blessing of The Cars” performed by Haunold who is a minister. The blessing and rally are free and open to the public. “Any one with wheels can show up for the rally and blessing,” says Haunold. “Bring your strollers, bikes, cars or whatever!” All participants will be given a coupon for $1 off the entrance fee. Following the blessing, local reggae-rockers The Sacto Storytellers will take the stage at 7pm for the 21 and over portion of the party, followed by The White Barons, who will be playing selections from their new record Electric Revenge, out now on Gearhead. The first ever Ms. Gearhead contest will follow. Entrance to the contest is a $5 donation with all the money going to the SPCA. All women are encouraged to dress up in their best idea of what a Ms. Gearhead would look like and compete for a Gearhead Goody Bag and a a 2 page spread in a future issue of Gearhead, complete with photos and story. The contest is sponsored by Tres Noir, who will also provide a goody bag to the winner worth over $150! “Gearhead is run by a woman, and I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate a female’s perspective on what a Gearhead is, as well as raise some money for the animals in need at the SPCA,” claims Haunold, who is a passionate animal lover. Gearfest then continues with Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders, from Los Angeles, who play high-energy “punk ‘n’ roll”, a term coined by Haunold. The show ends with Thee Merry Widows taking the stage. The world’s first all-women Psychobilly band has an internatinoal following. They’ve shared the stage with international rock stars such as The Necromantix and The Misfits. Food Trucks will be available through out the party for hungry guests. There will also be an extensive merchandise table featuring the Gearhead brand of clothing, music and magazines. For more information, please visit the Gearhead website at http://www.gearheadhq.com Contact Information: Michelle Haunold Phone:916-897-2451 E-Mail: info[at]gearheadhq.com
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