Interview with Dope and Team Cybergeist Drummer Angel Bartolotta

DOPE
Photo credit-Stephen Jensen

If you've ever attended one of the JJO Bandcamp annual summer shows in Madison WI, then you've very likely seen the chaos and thunder that hits the stage when Dope takes their turn. It's a dirty, shameless, tattooed, sun-drenched mess of bodies, people with their fists in the air, singing along; it's the epitome of crowd-surfing, moshing, beer-slinging, f-word screaming fun. I didn't honestly have a clue I'd nearly fall in love with a song titled "Die Motherfucker, Die," but weirder shit has happened. Over the years I've quietly added one Dope disc after another to my collection with no regrets. They're hard core, seriously unlike anyone else, especially live; maybe a bit intimidating at first and from a distance, but nonetheless, down to earth guys that love to get up on stage and tear shit up. There's a reason 94.1 WJJO keeps asking them back year after year and if you're going to Bandcamp this time around, for 2011, you better not miss their set! You will regret missing it when the Youtube videos start popping up on facebook! To date, the band has released five full-length studio albums, their most recent being No Regrets which was released in March 2009. I'm hoping, as are hundreds of Dope fans, that we'll get some news about the making of a new album sometime soon...we're crossing fingers.

One of the things we keep seeing happen over recent years is "side projects" that band members come up with. Drummer Angel Bartolotta is one of those musicians that has his own thing going on when he's not touring or working with Dope, so he's been very busy with TC while Dope's been....well, not busy.. His collaborative work with his own band Team Cybergeist has channeled attention nationwide from both music lovers and fellow musicians and seems to appease a good deal of Dope fans chomping at the bit for new music.


Angel took some time to share a few things about himself, both in his professional music career and also in his personal life, with his new bride. Remember the lovely, metal babe with long blue hair that rocked the stage and made heads turn at last years Bandcamp? Well, that was none other than Sally Debauchery, bassist for Team Cybergeist, now the new Mrs. Bartolotta. We also talked with Angel about some past experiences at Bandcamp and what he's been up to.

Nonpoint Performs "Billie Jean" on New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, Hard-Rock-Reviews.com staffers had the pleasure of attending an acoustic show by Nonpoint, Aranda and Edisun presented by 94.1 WJJO.  

Easily one of the biggest highlights of the night was Nonpoint's acoustic rendition of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." Now I know most of you reading this are going to say, "Why in the Hell are you posting a video of "Billie Jean" on a HARD ROCK website?!" Well it's because this goes to show how eclectic, dynamic, and incredibly talented Nonpoint can be.  Not often do we come across a band with talent enough to rock your faces off on a nightly basis and then turn around and pull off an acoustic performance such as this.  What a hell of a way to start 2011! 

(Thanks to Jenny Furnish & Angela Villand for the video!)

Miracle

© Hard-Rock-Reviews.com

Written by Aaron Manogue

Video filmed by Jenny Furnish & Angela Villand

All Rights Reserved

ang@hard-rock-reviews.com or manogue4@hard-rock-reviews.com

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