Final thoughts on Bodog Battle from Cloak Posted: Mar 11, 2008

guess It's only fair to finish off my last personal thoughts on the Bodog Battle. First of all riding home on the bus sad was not awesome, it sucked. I had a lot of time to think about life and what I want to do with my life. It' s easy to blame Bodog for cheating or somehow not being honest with their voting system. It's easy to blame band members for personal issues that may have changed the outcome of the show. It's easy to blame the world for not being ready to change, only choosing to be force fed the same old shit. Nothing in life worth keeping will ever come easy. So it's much harder to go back to the studio and keep writing songs people may never want to hear. It's hard not be bitter and carry around negativity in my soul. It's hard for me personally to walk through this life with no back up plan and keep believing that this is what I was put on this earth to do. In the words of Nina Simone" I hold no grudge". Against the world, against any of the other bands, against Bodog and most certainly not against myself. I did my best and thats all I can do. This competition brought out the best in me, it made me hungry again. It made me realize how much I really want to have my dreams come true. It gave me something to write about, it gave me something to laugh about. This is not the end of the world, it just reconfirms what I believed my whole life. Tis but a scratch' 'A scratch?! Your arm's off!' 'No, it isn't.' They may have won this battle but the fucking war is far from over!

Bodog Battle tonight @ House of Blues Posted: Mar 9, 2008

all of us are excited as fuck, and most definitely prepared to tear it up & bring another one home for the M-A-D, some of us are going crazy about this shit, some of us are calmly focused, but we're all extremely thankful: • first, to all the fans that have supported us so far: we couldn't have done this (or anything really) without your unmatched support for us and what we love to do. you guys are the mothafuckin' shit! i mean, we just SOLD OUT a fucking party bus full of 50 of you crazy fucks to come down and watch 4 songs that you've all heard 20 times! i still can't get over that shit. • second, for getting this opportunity to show a wider audience the music and performance that we've worked so hard to hone. you all know how seriously we take this, and now we know that you and us aren't necessarily insane: we are actually pretty good and now we're being recognized for it. • third, for bringing us more together as a band. nothing like a good old fashioned competition to bring a family closer.... *sniffle* • fourth, for all the fucking press we've already gotten out of this shit! check out these articles: --one of 5 bands written about in the 'Around the World recap' from the Bodog Site --Isthmus Interview w/A2the --We were one of only 2 bands mentioned in this 'Regionals Recap' of the last round --one short paragraph in the Wisconsin State Journal (dude, it's ULTRA rock hiphop, not hard-rock) + in the next few weeks a feature story in all of these fine publications: the Badger Herald, Maximum Ink, & the Wisconsin State Journal • fifth, we've gotten meet, connect with, and share the stage with a shitload of awesome bands (e.g. Shattermask, Satellite Hero, Sophia's Revenge, & many more) so basically, if we don't bring it home, yeah, we'll be disappointed (more for our fans who want us to succeed just as much, if not more, than us), but it's already been an awesome ride. we all know what's actually gonna happen down there though. you wouldn't be reading this far if you didn't think we had it in us... right? see you tonight! love, A2the (keys)

Personal thoughts on victory from Cloak Posted: Mar 6, 2008

I've been practically obsessed with wining this Bodog thing; I think about it all the time. I imagine yelling and celebrating our victory, I imagine noise of the crowd and the cheering. Really though I imagine 11 other bands losing and how they are going to feel on the ride home. I try not to let thoughts of us losing to enter my mind, but no matter how egotistical musicans come off they're some of the most insecure people in the world. It's natural to be worried when you lay it all out on the line and for some reason things don't work out. I love to battle other bands though, i didn't realize how fun it is. I hoping some of these bands sieze up and forget that they're in a battle and just make it even easier for me. But If they all bring their A game which they better, I will still go and get some. I've met some really cool bands doing this shit. Some of these bands are fucking extra good and they will suceed in this business for sure. Bodog is not the end it's just a hurdle that I'm willing to jump over to have my dream come true. I like watching the others bands play, I always think shit these guys are pretty good they have a good chance of wining, but I was wrong about all the bands I picked to win. I have no idea what these judges are looking for. The thing I love the most is a band is like a fucking sports team. All the fans believe their team is the best and their team is going to win. I love that so much, the fans are going to take the victory very personal. I believe our fans are the smartest fans in this whole competition. Our fans personify true energy. They stood by us when everyone else played the same generic bullshit. Our fans are not right now fans,our fans have a jump on the future. Lets not forget our friends, I can honestly say our friends are truly lovers of our music and the respect us enough to tell us if we suck. I feel real good about Sunday. I want to wish all of the bands who read this good luck with all your future endeavors. I'm normally somewhat nice, but when It comes to my dream and music I don't fuck around. I plan on sending a lot of people home sad that night, and if your smart you'll try to do the same to me. Cloak (Lead Rapper)

2 Shows: House of Blues- Chicago (3/9) & Madison- Annex (4/26) Posted: Mar 8, 2008

Booked 2 shows: one in Chicago at the House of Blues on March 9th & a fan appreciation show in Madison at the Annex (only $1.99!!!) w/our good friends from Minneapolis, Gingerjake & fellow Madison Bodog winners Sophia's Revenge. Check it out in our Events section. And of course, we're still working on the album, which is gonna kick ass by the way. Remember: patience is a virtue...

Onto Round 2 of the Bodog Battle of the Bands!!! Posted: Oct. 31st, 2007

On Monday, Oct. 29th, we played a Battle of the bands at the High Noon saloon for Bodog Music- an Indie Record label that puts on a reality TV show that's basically a battle of the bands. There are 5 rounds, and then the 10 bands that make it out of that go on to be on the show, which will be broadcast all accross the US, Canada, & Europe. Wish us luck!!! For more info and to vote for us, check out their webpage: http://www.bodogbattle.com