In preparation for Revolver’s March 15 Raw Power Management/The Agency Group SXSW showcase in Austin, Texas, we asked the guys in Chiodos to comment on their five favorite things about Texas.

Here goes!

01. Best BBQ Food: Rudy’s BBQ, known for its famous slogan, “The worst BBQ in Texas.” It’s always attached to a gas station, but don’t let this fool you. The food is incredible and the BBQ sauce is to die for.

02. Best Craft Beer: Real Ale’s Full Moon Rye Pale Ale based out of Blanco, Texas, which is in the Hill Country

03. Best Late-Night Mexican Food: Chacho’s. I dare you to try to defeat the notorious King Kong Nacho platter!

04. Best Summer-Time Activity: Toobing down the Comal River in New Braunfels

05. Most Underrated Band to Come Out of Texas: Recover.

Visit Chiodos on Facebook, and look out for the next Top Six Fave Things About Texas blog post!

Revolver‘s SXSW showcase will take place this Friday, March 15, at the Dirty Dog Bar, 505 E. 6th St. in Austin. The show, which is presented by Raw Power Management and The Agency Group, kicks off 8 p.m. (doors 7:30 p.m.). Here’s the lineup: 8 p.m., Immanu El | 8:45 p.m., Monster Truck | 9:30 p.m., Crossfaith | 10:15 p.m., Young Guns | 11 p.m., Of Mice And Men | midnight, Chiodos | 1 a.m., Lacuna Coil

The show is presented in association with Revolver, Drop Dead Clothing and Tillys. Poster art (below) by Brian Ewing.

The show, which is presented by Raw Power Management and The Agency Group, kicks off at 8 p.m. (doors 7:30 p.m.). Here’s the lineup:

8pm – Immanu El
8:45pm – Monster Truck
9:30pm – Crossfaith
10:15pm – Young Guns
11pm – Of Mice And Men
Midnight – Chiodos
1am – Lacuna Coil

The show is presented in association with Revolver, Drop Dead Clothing and Tillys.

Poster art (below) by Brian Ewing.

Black Roses
“This, in my opinion, is the best rock-and-roll horror movie of all time. Released in 1988, with a soundtrack full of Tempest and King Kobra, a band comes and rocks a dull Midwestern town. Typical young kids rebelling, older generations lashing out against rock and roll, plenty of pointless topless shots, and every kid they turn into a rocker…also becomes a monster! You couldn’t come up with a better plot if you tried.”

KISS Meets the Phantom of the Theme Park
“This movie will always stick out as a turning point in my rock-and-roll-filled life. My father, a huge fan of KISS, had always forced the sloppy pop rock-driven influence of KISS down my throat as I grew up, almost forcing their music and hooks into my subconscious. However, not until he sat me down and made me watch this movie did I understand how intense the KISS Army really was. In this movie, a gimmick is taken about as far as it can be, when all of the members of the band KISS…fight robotic cyborg versions of themselves!

“KISS? Fighting? What? Aren’t they just a bunch of rock dudes that wear makeup, and that one dude has a long creepy tongue? Well, this movie reinforces the image of the band as superheroes, just like in the previously released comic books, and other clever trademark merchandising scams. With Paul Stanley shooting a beam from his eye that allowed him to control minds; Ace Frehley being able to teleport, and shoot beams from his hands; to Gene Simmons breathing fire, and having the strength equal to Superman, or Marvel’s the Thing; all the way to Peter Criss who could jump, and had the reflexes of a cat?

“This movie was an amazing reinforcement to how ridiculous, possessive and straight up badass this genre can be. Making me feel like I am really only living about 10 percent of the rock-and-roll life I probably should be leading…”

04/01 – Calgary, AB, Canada @ MacHall Ballroom (University of Calgary)
04/02 – Edmonton, AB, Canada @ Avenue Theatre
04/04 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
04/05 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
04/06 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
04/09 – Toledo, OH @ The Jamboree
04/10 – Louisville, KY @ Expo Five
04/12 – Nashville, TN @ Rockettown
04/13 – Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
04/15 – Greensboro, NC @ Greene St
04/16 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
04/17 – Albany, NY @ Northern Lights

REVOLVER How long have you been tattooing?
It's been around 15 years or so. There's been times where I've tattooed both full and part time over that span of time. Still trucking. 

How/why did you start?
Myself and all the friends I came up with were into tattoos and were getting tattooed by a friend of ours who ended up moving away shortly thereafter. It was a time when we didn't know much outside of our hometown aside from traveling to see bands, and there weren't many local people that were into the stuff we were into. I had been drawing my whole life and was interested in learning myself. With great trust and support from my friends–and their bravery in letting me tattoo them so early–I taught myself. Not something I would recommend nowadays, but sometimes you gotta make your own options I suppose.

Where do you tattoo?
I do a lot of traveling and tattooing on the road. When I'm home, I'm excited to have recently started tattooing by appointment at Olde City Tattoo in Philadelphia. It's always been my favorite tattoo spot in Philly since before I moved here a couple years ago. Whenever I was in town on tour I would go there and just look at all the flash for an hour. Call and make an apt! www.oldecitytattoo.com

What piece are you the most proud of?
I think like a lot of people who do different kinds of art, I'm constantly trying to learn and get better–so much so that any excitement of a sweet high fiver is short-lived. I almost completely replace my tattoo book every few months as hopefully continues to evolve. That said, I know my dad still talks about a portrait of a pit bull I did like 10 years ago. Even though it wasn't that awesome by any means, I like to say that's my favorite piece just because nothing ever impresses that guy, so it's kind of funny.

How would you describe your style?
I try to keep rounded and I like doing different stuff, however, my favorite stuff tends to be Traditional American. Bold lines, lots of black, with a contrast of bright colors. I like tattoos that you can read from a block away and look good for a long time.

Have you tattooed any other musicians?
Yes sir. Lots. Bros from Bring Me The Horizon, Silverstein, AlexisOnFire, Anti-Flag, Gallows, POS, Chiodos, Bayside…to name a few.

What’s the most annoying client you’ve ever dealt with?
I tend to be an idealist, and therefore am continually fascinated by people in general and the different ways they approach getting tattoos, so I get more amused than annoyed. Obviously, some are more challenging than others, but that's part of being a tattooer is giving your advice and opinions and ultimately making the person the most stoked. You don't always get to do a skull on a forearm…but that's what keeps it interesting. Two bits of advice: 1) Quit moving around. 2) Flex your tips yo.

Mike Ski photo by Kencredible