UGLIES NATION!!!!!

Brandon - Who was/is your inspiration for your music? I hear a lot of SKA/Punk influence in your earlier material and was wondering what bands/groups you would attribute that too?

i'm gonna answer this, but its gonna require a lot of writing so i'm gonna come back to it later!

Hi brandon! if you had to pick one of your own songs, which one is your favorite and why?

Greetings from Chile!

whoa! would love to make it to south america one day. right now my favorite song is called optimism in F#. its the last song on the record we're about to release. i struggle with depression and tend to see the worst parts of situations and i wrote that song as a reminder to myself that i don't want to think or live like that. i don't listen to my own music or anything, but there's something therapeutic about being able to look back at a thought that you wrote out and thinking 'ok, i thought like that. i can think like that. lets think like THAT, and not like THIS.' not sure if that makes sense, but essentially it helps pull me out of funks when i'm feeling depressed.

Is that the song y’all sang last in Pensacola when there were a few minutes left in the set?

ya

Why did you choose Cleveland for your CD release party?!? Was it because CLEVELAND ROCKS!!?? 😂😂

as a band we're infatuated with drew carey. there really was no other choice

Is it "boy's soul" or "boy's hole"? It sounds like you're saying "boys hole".

little boy, pretty boy, baby boy, i need you

Biggie or 2pac?

Pac

What are your favorite parts and least favorite parts of being on tour?

being away from my wife and dog sucks. tour in general is very lonely. you're constantly around people but you still feel alone most of the time. it's bizarre. i love meeting people who've been touched by our songs and i love actually performing, but thats a very small part of how your time is spent. most of it is spent driving and eating shitty food.

Tits or ass?!?!

booty!

If you were a WWE or WCW (let’s be honest WCW was the best) wrestler what would your intro song be?

all-star by the mouth

Yo! What's the craziest thing you've ever had happen to you while on stage? Much Love from South Dakota!

Ugliesnation!

man its hard to pinpoint, but one time we played a festival next to a corn field and somehow or another wolfie ended up with an ear of corn. he proceded to play a gnarly slapbass solo using the ear of corn and the crowd lost their shit. it was incredible

Love you guys! Beyond stoked for your Long Island gig.

Question for all members - What is one "big name" band that you would love to tour with? Do you all have a set one, or do you each of you have your own "dream band" to share a stage with?

we definitely all have different ones. i'll ask.

brandon - slightly stoopid

tj - iggy pop

chad - papadosi

wolfie - the slackers / miley cyrus

carl - goldfinger

justin - the dude from youtube who turns every song into allstar

When’d you get into reggae?

honestly i got into reggae after i got into ska/punk. i don't really consider sublime reggae, they're a melting pot of a lot of sounds, one of which is reggae. i'm not sure exactly when i got into it but it was sometime in my early twenties. i was immediately really drawn to dub like scientist and king tubby. i loved the psychedelic aspects of it. been really into chronixx lately too. his latest album is insane.

Hey man! Any chance you can perform at the restaurant I work at in Davidsonville when you come back home?? My boss would be so pumped. He even has a dessert he’s waiting to do named after you guys!

ha! what restaurant? i do a lot of acoustic stuff when i'm not on tour so i'd be down to do something like that there

What was the inspiration behind the lyric "Hit them in their eyes with my creamy surprise"? 🤣🤣

that line will haunt me until my dying day

Acoustic or Electric Guitar?

i'm way more comfortable on acoustic

Where is your favorite place to perform and why (or why not) is it The Saint in Asbury Park?

I don’t really have any other questions but wanted to say thank you, your music has gotten me through some hard times.

thank you, that means a lot. that's all you can hope for as a songwriter. I really do love Asbury Park, the energy is always insane. Would have to be Asbury Park or Ohio in general. i love it when the crowd is raging.

I used to love this band called Sweet Wet Earthly Desires ever heard of them?

http://www.livememe.com/kdzw08x

You guys have been my favorite band for many years now. I got to see you perform back in 2013 and is still one of my favorite memories. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to make it to any shows since but please come back to central Florida soon!

Q: is there any one song of yours that you ever get tired of playing?

Uglies Nation!

anything can get tiring if you're doing it every night. whenever we get bored of playing something we'll phase it out for a week or two. we'll be back to florida in the fall!

What has been your favorite tour stop so far? if you can't pick one, how about top 3?

oh man, thats a hard onw. for this leg i'd have to say Tulsa followed closely by St Pete. HUGE crowds, and crazy energy at both shows. Tulsa was a bit more wild, which i like

Who in the band has the worst farts?

that would be me (brandon). I believe that I'm lactose intolerant and I refuse to adjust my diet.

Hi Brandon... long time listener, first time caller! My question is would you rather fight one horse sized duck or one hundred duck sized horses? #ugliesnation

HA! This guy reddits. One hundred duck sized horses, every time. A giant beak has the potential to be catastrophic

Hey Brandon, what is the greatest city in the US and why is it Annapolis?

all jokes aside, i love Annapolis and am super proud to call it home. we've got a dope music scene, a great art district, and slammin food. i will live continute to live in annapolis as long as i can afford to do so!

thanks for the reply dude! Annapolis is awesome. I’ve been a fan ever since I got your CD Ninjah Reggae Assasins as a handout at The Whiskey.. rip

ugh everytime i drive by that taco bell it kills me inside a bit

But do you go there or go all the way to Edgewater?

i'm ashamed to admit that i go there

Who's more stoked about the album, the band, or Uglies Nation?

i think Uglies Nation, the hype has been real!

Hey Brandon! I'm gutted I will miss the show in my home town tonight :(. Hope you guys have a good time! Would love to see the band at Mercury Ballroom here in the ville sometime.

My question is how do you start the songwriting process? Do you lay down music then words or vice versa, does the band come together as a group, drums first etc?

i usually write everything myself on an acoustic guitar and then we get together and turn it into a band song

Brandon, my wife and I met you at the Urban Artifact in cincy ohio.

She got smashed and screamed "i love tropidelic!" And then gave you a hug and told you she wouldn't let go until you sung to her.

Do you remember that? Because if you do I will tell her and she is going to be super embarrassed.

Also, what was your favorite song to work on?

And what is your favorite Ballyhoo! song?

Ha!!! Yes that was super funny. Yall gonna be there on Thursday?

My favorite song to work on is on the new record, it's called Apathy. Super crazy instrumental outro. Favorite Ballyhoo! song is either Close To Me or The Struggle. I like the sad boi jams

Hey Brandon! I know you guys get into some crazy antics on the road. What is the worst injury anyone in your crew has sustained while on tour? and is there an epic story behind it?

our original drummer had his ankle broken in an accident in new orleans in 2012 or 2013. we were dropping our trailer and some lady took a turn too sharp and hit the trailer. it pinned his ankle between the trailer and the curb. it was horrific.

Have the police ever stopped a show?

every house party, ever

not really a question, more of a request. can y’all please avoid playing at house of blues in the future? thanks!

haha we'll do our best! sorry you had a bad time at the venue. we'll be back this summer and the show is definitely not at HOB

Hey Brandon - Loving the new songs that were released early on the pre-order of Beast from the East!! Thank you!! Do you plan on adding a horn section for your live shows soon?

YES! we have a horn section that will be playing the album release leg of the tour (louisville, toledo, cinnci, cleveland, grand rapids, and chicago). I want to have a full time horn section but we're just not there yet so for the time being we're going to be using them when budget and space allows for it. usually around festivals and bigger support gigs. one day I hope to be in a place where it can be a permenant thing. i love horns!

WHERE IS THE TABLE FROM THE WHISKEY?

its in my basement!

Carl or Justin?

Carl is light, Justin is dark. Carl is Luke, Justin is Vader. Different twin for a different job

What is your favorite way to eat crabs?

with a can of beer!

Who can chug a beer the fastest in the group?

Brandon

My question is for Mr Wolfie. How sir have you managed to be such a safe driver over the years?And how often do you let Brandon drive?

Wolfie: Practice. Keep it between the lines. As little as possible.

What do you guys do in the van when touring for fun or to just pass the time?

listen to talk radio and stare at our phones

What is your mentality when it comes out to pumping out so many versions of the same song? (I love it)

I write everything on an acoustic guitar so everything kind of has an acoustic version ready to go. We've had a bunch of line-up changes over the years and every new player bring a new vibe to the songs so sometimes we'll get really excited about a new arrangement and want to record it

2pac or lil xan?

is lil xan a real thing?

Hey Brandon, I'm a horrible singer, so what's it gonna take for me to get on stage and sing a song with you guys?

learn a verse from the limp bizkut song of your choosing and we'll have you up on hard liquor

Sativa or Indica?

sativa

Why did the guitar part in Snowflake change so much from Load In/Load Out to Keep it Together? Seems like the main lick was simplified.

Also, how about an encore with "Struggling" or "They Remain" next time you're in Houston? I haven't heard those live and they're some of my favorites.

Next time we're in Houston we won't be headlining so we won't get an encore, but if you hit us up on one of our socials I'll def play you those songs by the merch table or out back.

So the live version of snowflake was with a different drummer. When TJ joined the band he changed the drum groove to the song and the lick wasn't sitting well over it. The new groove was super dope so we changed the lick to make it work

Hey Brandon- Currently listening to White Boy Reggae, by far my favorite song of yours. What is your favorite song that you have written?

Also, I feel bad because I don't know the names of everyone in the band, what are they? And how long has your bassist (He goes by Wolfie I think I read somewhere) been growing out his hair and beard?!? That shit is majestic AF!

Love you guys so much!!

Hell yea! Right now my favorite song is Optimism in F#. Wolfies been dreading his hair for like 4 years now. They require their own green room at this point.

What’s up Brandon, fellow musician here. I’ve always been curious as to what your writing process is for songs? Do the lyrics come first or the music?

it varies from song to song. my phone is filled with lyrics in the 'notes' section and riff ideas in the 'voice memos' section. eventually they meld together to form a song

Hey Brandon! Big fan from the ATL :) will you guys be coming to Georgia any time soon?

we'll be in ATL this summer!

First song you ever wrote?

a really shitty love song that i played in my high school talent show. i don't remember it, i just remmeber that it was bad

Hey! Could y’all do me a huuuuge favor and meow more please? Your meowing is significantly lacking.

MEOW

You’ve come a long way from playing at Looneys! What is your idea of a successful musician and would you consider yourself one?

Success is such a tricky thing to measure. I think there is artistic success and economic success. For me, artistic success is getting across whatever I’m trying to say in a way that makes people feel something. It varies from song to song. Some songs are success, some songs are failures. Economic success for me is being able to support myself off my art. It’s a work in progress, but’s it currently working so it’s currently successful.

Beast from the East has been getting amazing reviews - do you think this is your best album to date? What is your fave song to play live off of it?

I love it! It's definitely our best work sonically. Hard Liquor is a lot of fun to do live, especially when we get people to do guest verses. Keeps it fresh and exciting.

Hola friend, can we get a shout-out for Rombello? Love you guys!

Also, how did Stan get his name?

FAMBELLO!!!! God, I hope they bring that back. So much fun. No great story for Stan's name, we just thought Stanley was a cute name for a dog.

Ever gone drag?

Currently in drag.

What are some current bands that you would consider in your same genre?

Ballyhoo!, Passafire, Tropidelic, The Skints, The Movement

If you were a potato how would you be cooked and why?

scattered, smothered, and peppered

Brandon! Did you catch the rick and morty episode that was streaming on the Adult Swim website yesterday?

haha the other guys did. i saw about 30 seconds and decided i'd had enough

Which band member / team member would you pick to have your back in a street fight ?

TJ. Hands down. He's got the fire in his eyes

Did you go to prom with that guy in Dallas? Awkward prom pose..

He wouldn’t put out :(

What's your favorite place to play in Lincoln, NE and why is it Bodegas Alley?

Haha that place got wild!

Love you guys to death, but what's the craziest on tour story you have?

got caught in a hail storm / tornado warning last summer in western kansas. shit was terrifying

Any Netflix recommendations?

bojak horseman!

What's your favorite kind of whiskey?

if we're talking strictly whiskey i'm gonna say jamesons. been really into scotch over the last few years though. i really like laphroaig

Is Rick and Morty season 4 ever coming out???

IT BETTTER

Hey Brandon, big fan and fellow song writer here. I'm just curious about your writing process. I know you out a lot of thought in your song writing and it shows.

What I'm wondering is if you sit down and force yourself to write or do you wait for it organically? Do you start with a catchy concept or hook first?

the ideas have to happen organically. you can't force a hook. once i have a good hook i can usually sit down and make myself write something. the best songs are the ones that just pour out of me though

With rising popularity, is it hard to fight off the massive amounts of pussy being thrown in your direction? Especially with a band name like Bumpin Uglies - I mean you guys fuck amirite?

3 of us are married or in serious relationships so TJ is the unquestioned president of slam town. It’s right next to Space Mountain, if you’re curious.

I'm a little late to this as I live in Guam now, but I saw you at Vinoy Park, St. Pete, Florida last year (?) Or the year before that at Reggae Rise Up.

The set changed my life and been a fan ever since we made eye contact and took a shot, yours was a flask, mine was a sunscreen bottle.

Anyways, did y'all enjoy your time at the festival and would you go back? ...or were you too drunk to remember most of it, like me!

Cheers from Guam!

Also everyone loves you out here if you ever wanted a vacation/overseas show

oh HELL YES, that was a great festival! florida is a hot bed for our scene and RRU does a great job with their production. would love to do that festival again in 2019!

would love to make it to guam one day too! fingers crossed....

Fave video games to play?

PUBG!!!

Pc or xbox?

xbox these days cause a bunch of my friends play on there. way better game on PC, though

candy, candy canes, candy corn, or syrup?

candy!

When can we jam man? I'd love to pick up a few techniques! I've almost perfected Grind, just that first chord after the intro trips me up. I play two versions of that chord and I'm not sure which one it is.

But about the jamming.....I'll definitely drive!

next jersey show we'll find some time!

Not a song writer, but a writer writer. Do you ever get nervous about sharing such personal stuff, and if so how do you over come it? Also you guys rock please come to Minnesota more! Also if you go on reddit a lot, r/vandwellers is right for you! Would love to see the kind of set up you have!

i dont really get nervous anymore unless i'm putting someone elses business out there. i'm an open book, but i'd had to fuck up a relationship with a friend because i wrote about something that they don't want being out there

I don’t know how but I never knew you guys were from MD! Probably because I’ve never discovered a scene around here. So basically, how is the scene in MD, and how do I get involved in it? (I’m from Maryland if I didn’t make that clear)

its dope! go out to shows and open mics. thats what i did

Any advice on how to be a ska band in 2018? Asking for a friend who is not me and definitely does not play in a ska band in 2018.

try to make it work with as few members as possible. you gotta tour to get noticed, and the more mouths you have to feed on tour the harder its gonna be. we have horns all over our studio shit but we cant afford to tour with them so we don't. it's all about minimalism

How hygienic are you living in a van? How often do you shower?

so living in a van is kind of a metaphore. we're on tour about 6 months of the year and we spend most of that time driving so it feels like we're living in the van at times. we crash at friends houses most of the times and we get hotels when we can't find somewhere to stay for free. try to shower daily.