BOBAFLEX bassist Jerod Mankin

Kingskippy2001 · #1 10-05-2008, 02:35 PM

Wanted to post to talk about Jerod Mankin of Bobaflex... All the guys from Bobaflex are from out little piece of nowhere, Mason County West Virginia and Meigs County Ohio. Bobaflex always plays local when they are home and not on tour.

Jerod is a great guy, fun to talk to and learn off of. He has IMO some great stage pressence. He has fun and gets a little goofy. Most local peoples favorite is when he gets up on the bar and sings and dances to a Jackson 5 song. For a rock/metal group he incorperates some different styles into their music, finger, pick, slap, pop. I am just starting out playing so I think it is amazing the different ways he plays his bass, upside down, straight up, like a gun, high on his chest. There are some youtube videos if people want to check them out. Search Youtube for "bobaflex court street grill". If you know them, tell me what you think.

NKUSigEp · #2 10-05-2008, 02:46 PM

Sounds ok, looks like they're having fun but it annoys the piss outta me when people hold their instruments way up above their heads like that. I don't really know why but I guess it just reminds me of this emo/screamo trend. I dunno...

Poor Tom · #3 10-05-2008, 02:53 PM

When I see people hold their instruments way up above their heads, I feel as if I am looking at a 5 year old going, "O O O LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME!!"

Kingskippy2001 · #4 10-05-2008, 05:27 PM

Ok, I see your opinions.. He is a fun guy, doesn't just stand there. If you are into that type of music you ought to try to go see them sometime. Jerod is a good guy to talk with. The entire band is sponored by KUSTOM. They really enjoy being home, goofing off and hanging with their local friend when they can.

Deluge Of Sound · #5 10-05-2008, 05:33 PM

Yeah, I've seen them live before (this was in '05, I think), and they're a bunch of cool guys. At least, they were real cool to me and my buddy when we struck up a conversation with 'em.

I definitely think their first record, Primative Epic, was their best, though. Their harmonies were really good, and they brought a lot of real interesting ideas to their genre (Tears Drip is a great example of this: A Rap-Metal band taking legitimate pointers from Queen?). The albums since then have kind of reigned in their unique qualities and they've suffered from that, in my opinion.

NKUSigEp · #6 10-05-2008, 06:06 PM

Music really ain't too bad from the song or two that I heard. I'm glad to see someone from that area getting out there though. I used to hunt over that way and there wasn't much around at all!

Kingskippy2001 · #7 10-05-2008, 07:38 PM

I have a feeling that it will be getting even better for them real soon. I was talking to them last week and they are in the process of getting FULLY clear from their old label TVT. TVT went bankrupt. They have done some "talking" with MAJOR lables, as soon as they are clear they bill be set. They did good at "Rock On The Range". It is awesome to see some good "small town" guys do good for them selves. "HOME" is their best selling song from the newest CD "tales from a dirt town".

NKUSigEp · #8 10-06-2008, 06:18 PM

Not to drag this off topic, but major label interest is not always what it's cracked up to be. You basically get a loan from them for shirts, CD's, and other costs and you're expected to sell so they get their money back, plus a little bit, and then you get whatever is left over.

It's the only way to get BIG big, but not the only way to be lucrative.