KIVELRECORDS

Thanks Bud!!

Hey CureTheSane Thanks for the honest and optimistic feedback. ALWAYS good to meet a person that is virgin to the band and their music. Inbox me....since you dont have the back catalog. Ill offer you a flat rate/discount. Im WANT you to have these releases and im willing to make it enticing enough that theres minimal risk to you as a buyer. Thanks John Kivel

Hey Folks!!! How does one have an album called BULLETPROOF and with a straight face claim it's an album where every song is about relationships. Of all things. Well Tango Down lead Guitarist sits with You the reader to break it down. 1. Punching Bag: The label wanted a new set opening song, so we could retire Crying to Me. Which has been our set opener since 2010. So I wanted to write a song with a mean nasty gritty groove. Nice low down and dirty. When i wrote it, i played it over and over and over a million times. Trying to get it just "right", and its a slide song, not played with a slide. So my finger being the "slide", because i didn't want it bright like when you play with a slide bar, so i used my finger instead. So when i was done, i wore off the skin on my index finger. I couldn't play guitar for a week after i was done getting it right. So i bleed for the listener. Actual full on blood here people. There are photos, I kind of needed the pics when the label was asking me why i was inactive for a week. The message of the song is finally having enough of the troublemakers in your life, turning around and putting them in their place. Push me, i punch back. This was one of the first songs i got to collaborate with some new writing partners on. This song went through a few hands in the lyric dept. I know sometimes too many cooks ruin the soup, but this time it proves to work. Shawn Pelata, John Kivel and Pete Newdeck helped deliver on this song. Good Form men! Of course, Chas stepped up to the plate on this song. The bridge is a little tip of the hat to Thin Lizzy. So yes you are not imagining that. 2. Give me a Reason: I was going for a Ladies Night in Buffalo (David Lee Roth type feel) when i originally started writing it. But the back and forth with Jace Pawlak who i collaborated it with, it ended up taking a new life of its own. John and i argue over the message behind the song. You can take it about being between a Guy and his Girl , you can also take it from a person questioning their faith. Funny story, at first, some people were not "sold" on the song. John pushed for it to be on the album, and said it will be one of the stand outs, and to trust him. Flash fwd to Rock N Skull. This girl comes up to us at our meet and greet asking us for a copy of the song (which had yet to be recorded) and said the song made her cry. Literally bawling in the front row. In fact , she was still visibly emotional, and she had to have it. As a musician and song writer, you always want to spark emotion and have your art touch someone. I never thought i'd ever make someone cry though. Strange, but cool at the same time. So i guess everyone can agree it making the album was the right call. Certainly a song that will be cemented in future live sets. Chas really brings the emotion to this song that it was needing. 3. Bulletproof: We reached out to Jace to help come up with this one for us. John Kivel had explained what he was calling the album, what the story behind the concept was and all that stuff. When he sent over the demo. My first thoughts were Kingdom Come. So i was all over it. We were really making a effort to make this the best Tango Down album yet. As well as do new things we hadn't tried before. When we started the mixing process i decided to go back in and recut the solo. Not that the solo i did was bad. I just felt i could do even better once i heard the early mixes Ty Sims was sending over. What he was doing with the mix inspired me to kick it up a notch. This song is about paying no mind to the shit talkers and green eyed monsters that have something to say about who you are, what you do and where you are going. Tell them to Take Another Shot! Because you're Bulletproof baby. 4. Carry On: Started out where i wanted to write a Judas Priest type song, but then it took a left turn into a Van Halen drop D sound. In the end, Its text book me. Has all the elements of what i like to do in a song guitar wise. I like to collaborate with outside writers, Im just always selective of who i write with. I want that chemistry. I want someone i can feed off of and back and forth with. Jace has always been that guy. This time though we tried bringing in some new people. On this song , John Kivel suggested i send it to Pete Newdeck. I said, why not. He came back with Carry On , and we all loved it. This is about finally coming to that realization where you deserve better. Obviously a song that is about telling that particular person in your life to take a hike!! Instant set list mainstay song from here on out. Chas really sells this song and I love how he takes the song out . 5. When we were Young: Simply put.....feel good Anthem! Like the lyrics say. "Music is My Time Machine and it takes me back". I gave it a little Tom Cochrane "Life is a Highway" In the beginning, i felt it fit the song and vibe. Song has some Bon Jovi flavor to it as well. The song is self explanatory in regards to topic . Thinking back to those friendships that were unbreakable bonds and you could do no wrong or be told you can't live your life at the edge of your seat. The best relationship song on the album possibly. Friendship and Youth 6. Going Under: ARENA Hands in the air rocker. Demo was very Journey esque. We did our best to keep it 99% close to that as no need to mess with a great song. I just added my little flavor to it. A song about how love can just pull you under even though you have those doubts. 7. Superstar: My fave song on the album!!! This about trying to walk in someone else's shoes. Thinking celebrity life may not be what you think it's all cracked up to be. Grass isn't always greener. Like the saying goes, money can't always buy happiness. 8. Edge of Goodbye: THE BIG BALLAD!! This is all about the song. I just played along with it. There was no real place for a "solo" , so i got to ride out the song with a big arena solo. It ended up working that way. Message is self explanatory. Being at the end of a relationship. You've given your all, but it's time to say goodbye. 9. Anything Can Change: This song i co wrote with Jason and was intended to go on his recent PROMISE cd (plug plug) It's a Happy Dappy feel good song. Original demo had a Cars meets the first Poison . I was trying to be Elliot Easton on it. Again it morphs as we take it through the process. The sound may have slightly changed, but the message was always there. It's about never being too late to make a change in your life, who you are or who you have a relationship with. Life, Love, Job, ANYTHING CAN CHANGE 10. Broken Heart: Last song does not mean worst song. We started with a punch and wanted to end with a bang. A song about mid life crisis? Consequences of poor decisions ? Bottom line, careful what you wish for. Normally i want a gritty guitar solo. But i knew a lot of eyes would be on me on this song. So i stepped a little outside of my comfort zone. Tried some new things and a slightly different approach. Hopefully will be well received as much as i am proud of it Shout outs to all my song writing partners, Ty Sims and Erik Johnson for their hard work helping this album sound Glorious. Our label and everyone that has been involved one way or another with this album. The end of the day, we don't think we made a good album, or even a great album. We made the BEST album of our career thus far as a band. Everyone stepped up on this one. Johnny says this one may actually be tough to beat. I say, Nah....i got this. We're just getting started.....

Very cool

awesome!!! Looking fwd to it!

So what does everyone think so far of Bulletproof?

First official "review" http://thededicatedrockersociety.blogspot.com/2016/08/cd-review-bulletproof-by-tango-down.html?m=1

some samples https://soundcloud.com/kivel-records/tango-down-bulletproof-promo-30sec?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

You need soundcloud to hear this https://soundcloud.com/kivel-records/tango-down-bulletproof-promo-30sec?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

all good! Dindt take it that way, but being you presented the question and others may read it, i felt i would shed some light on that question . No ruffled feathers . Did you order it direct from me or another outlet? Inbox me if direct from me, ill check on its status.

Valid request. But lets review. TANGO DOWN has been around 11 years. So i would cut them a little slack on the singer changing. Also there were valid reasons that lead to each parting of ways. Would people rather have the band fold shop and we all lose out on some great music? David did two albums with the band. Thats as many as some established bands. With the exception of the first album with Phil. Each singer lasted quite a length of time in the band. Again as long as some established bands during their hey day. So i wouldnt call it the revolving door as it may seem . With that said, of course we hope Chas stays on as long as possible. If for some odd reason that is unknown to us he does move on. We will have made the best album of the bands career, and will look forward to the next chapter. Lastly, all i care about and the band cares about....IS that you enjoy this album as much as we all do. Hope that clears up any assumptions or questions. Maybe one day ill write a book no one will buy. LOL

awesome!!!!! Thanks so much for the kind and honest mini review. Look fwd to your thoughts once youve digested it more. JK Have been through it a couple times now and have to say I'm liking it quite a bit. I love that there is more variety in the song structures this time around as it keeps the album more interesting IMO. The songs that are standing out for me are Punching Bag, Give Me A Reason, Edge Of Goodbye and my favorite song is probably When We Were Young. I really like the harmonies and vibe of that song and that should be a single of some sort IMO. Bullet proof, Carry On and Going Under all sound pretty good too and bring some "rock" to the album. And I like the sound of Anything Can Change as well. About the only song I'm really not feeling is Superstar...Not sure why.....Just not doing much for me and kinda plods along. Also not sure on the last song Broken Heart yet...I kinda only half listened to it because I wanted to skip back to some other songs I'm not sure if it's my favorite Tango Down album as I really loved Identity Crisis....Songs like Alone, Blame, Corners Of My Mind, Enlighten Me and Back to Life were all just awesome. However, there were 3 songs on IC I didn't care for (Dream Child, Calling Out, Magic Pudding) so Bullet Proof for me may just be more solid from top to bottom. Overall, I really like the more melodic side of Tango Down and this album delivers on that end with good use of backing vocals, great guitar work and variety in song structures. Thumbs up THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK!! Great review!! Of course no wrong answers. We wanted people to be able to have their own take away from this album. So you may not like superstar (which IS fine) but to some others its their fave. That is what we want. Where there are so many differant take aways/faves. KEEP spinning and enjoying it!!! THANKS JK

awesome!!!!! Thanks so much for the kind and honest mini review. Look fwd to your thoughts once youve digested it more. JK

Thanks Geoff!!!! Glad you like. Always appreciate your feedback. Did you pre order it yet? Will be in stock this coming week. Thanks JK

Hey Heavy Harmonies!! Thought we'd give everyone a little peek ;-) Artwork Proofs Approved and EVERYTHING (art and masters) is finalized and we are off to the Races. One Step Closer to BULLETPROOF If you haven't pre ordered it yet. I suggest you do so NOW and be one of the first. Pay pal $16 to RockHausemusic@hotmail.com OR www.nehrecords.com And through our wonderful distribution partners at Boonestock/Retroactive Time to take Another Shot with Tango Down!

I forgive(I guess!) LOL. With that said, what ya think?

Glad to see the LOVE is ALIVE and Well for TANGO DOWN. I REALLY think/HOPE you guys love it as much as we/I do. It really is everything and the kitchen sink on this one. There is a song called GIVE ME A REASON that is sorta the sequel to Blame. Both topic wise and stylistically . Here's a live clip i found of the guys doing it at RNS. Give it a once over and YOU tell me what you think of it. Also the album has everything from the in your face Skid Row (1st album) type songs. To the BIG arena type songs. Here ya go ENJOY > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4mvY3Wci-g FORGIVE THE QUALITY lol

AWESOME!!!! Thank you. Hope you pre ordered your copy

Thanks JLPROCKS!!!! Look fwd to your feedback on the whole album when it drops!! Did you pre order your copy yet? ;-)

awesome!!

Hey everyone Appreciate all the kind and respectful feedback. I respect that some did not embrace DEVIL as we thought they would. We get why. With that said, a lot of people LOVED that album. So you can't please everyone. I personally enjoy CHARMING DEVIL. However i Understand that it is a different beast than IC. In a way, i guess Charming Devil was the bands Slave to the Grind album. Heavier, angrier. But i think it was good that Scott and CO got that out of their system. With all of that said, we set out to make a conscious effort to bridge the gap between the two albums. So IMHO, Bulletproof is the best of all the past Tango Down albums. There is noooooooo shortage of backing vocals on this album. As you can see to some extent on Punching Bag. As much as i love that song, its not even the BEST song on the album. Tango Down has always been about surpassing themselves and no one else. Both band and Label will continue to strive to that level. This album is just the tip of the iceberg. How fortunate are we , that we can honestly say that the bar keeps getting raised with each release. I Sincerely hope you enjoy the product of all of our work. As it was truly a labor of love and a team effort for all involved. BTW.....If you saw what we did with the CHARMING DEVIL "Charm Box" promo thing we did. Wait til you see what we have planned for Bulletproof!!! Now how didnt place their pre order? ;-)

Glad you like!!!

Awesome bud!!! Thank you so much for the nod. >slides bag of money under the table< ;-)lol. With that said, this album really has something for everyone. There are in your face tunes like this. there are arena anthems. the big ballads. there is one song that is actually heavier than this. If i was to compare. Bulletproof is a mix of SKID ROW s/t and Motley Crue Dr Feelgood. In the sense of the diversity of those albums. REALLY excited and hope everyone digs it as much as we do. BTW As much as i LOVE this song. Its not even the best song on the album!!!! LOL JK

Hey Lettard NOPE. We are pretty sure August is a LOCK. Once it goes off to the manufacturer , we will be updating everyone when we have a firm date of having it in our hands. Inbox me here or on FB to verify i have your up to date shipping address. Did you check out the new tune? Curious on your thoughts Thanks JK

Hey Everyone Fear not, it is just a play on words as we close the chapter on the bands past. Nothing more. When the idea for the BEST OF was made, it was to coincide with SUCKERPUNCH and close the chapter on the past before moving fwd with the new beginnings. After all CRUNCH came out in 2004. That's 10 years ago!! LOL. Being that we are throwing EVERYTHING and then some into this release, the title will still hold true. As it will be a 20 song 2 CD set. We promise that it will be a must for the fan base! Thank You JK