The Journey So Far

This has been an incredible year so far! There are a lot of irons in the fire; we've made important new connections, reignited old connections that are promising in so many ways, and played some great shows at some fantastic venues with some amazing bands. All of these things are a blessing in and of themselves, and to top the cake, we are scheduled for one of the best Halloween parties we've thrown in years! If you haven't heard, The Unsatisfied will be celebrating at Songbirds, not only our anniversary, not only Halloween, but also the resurrection of one truly amazing album, and...the third release of our movie, Ambition Withdraw: Redux! Life keeps getting better, and we want to share some of the high points!

Be sure to stay in the loop for ticket announcements coming soon. The amazing Songbird's Museum has invited us back for Halloween, and we want you there, in costume, to help us celebrate! It's ALL AGES too! So grab the kiddos and bring the whole family out for our punk rock Halloween party!

One of the biggest contracts we initiated last year was our reconnection with Mark S. Berry of AMG International. AMG (Attack Music Group) is a Music, Film, and Television Company which handles Global distribution, publishing, and licensing, but AMG is much more than that; they are an integrity-based and transparent company, values The Unsatisfied also embraces, who are in the business of putting their artists first and empowering their carreers through income streams. In addition, AMG is run by a leader in the music industry with a long and verifiable history, Mark S. Berry, one of the most personable and down-to-earth people you're likely to meet, despite his affluent client list. Berry’s extensive production, engineering & remixing talents have earned him thirty-six international gold and platinum records for such notable Grammy & Juno-nominated musical icons as David Bowie, Duran Duran, Yes, Boy George, Billy Idol, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, Carly Simon, Joan Jett & many more.

The Unsatisfied feel blessed and excited to be working with such a reputable and talented personality in the music industry, and are grateful that all their years of hard work and perseverance have led them into his capable hands. Both parties are committed to sharing The Unsatisfied worldwide. Since the recent Outlaw Radio interview with both Eric and Berry (look for the video link later in this article), negotiations have also begun between both camps to publish, not only the Ambition Withdraw: Redux soundtrack, but all existing and future Unsatisfied albums, on AMG's music distribution partner, Universal (Yes, that Universal!). There’s still a lot to be considered before they sign. If the deal is right and if the relationship is as favorable and transparent as their union with AMG, it (Universal) will be the first major label The Unsatisfied has aligned with. Still, it must be on their terms without compromising their artistic integrity or music. We will keep you posted on the outcome. The Unsatisfied are also currently reviewing contracts for licensing their songs for movies, games, and television through this same union. Syncing is something they are more directly interested in. It is an investment with guaranteed returns. If the seeds of any of these deals bear fruit, The Unsatisfied will positively benefit from their creative works and finally receive the global notoriety they deserve. So, keep your fingers crossed for us; if all goes well, it promises to be an exciting decade, and we want our Tribe to be there for everything!

Follow our progress on the movie, soundtrack, and song licensing with AMG. One of our biggest dreams is to hear The Unsatisfied songs on film, games, and, dare we dream further, as the title track for a hit television series! Once Ambition Withdraw: Redux is out in the world, a large part of that dream will be realized. Thanks, Mark, so much for believing in us!

For further context of The Unsatisfied's history with AMG, here's how the two initially met. We will explore the finer details of these hot points in a dedicated BLOG on the movie coming soon, until then, here's the Cliff's Notes version. Around 2003-2004, when Ambition Withdraw (New Planet Pictures) was first released, it was shown through film festival circuits. Filmmaker/director Jason Eustice was determined to go for every opportunity, and while he and Eric were touring the movie, it began to win awards, including the coveted Audience Choice Award. This important and notable asset garnered attention from many reputable companies looking to market it. MTI was among the first to cast an offer, ready to sign the movie for immediate release in digital theatres, which, at the time, were an experimental concept. The movie was specifically formatted for this medium, making it a perfect fit. Simultaneously, it attracted the attention of Mark S. Berry. Berry's company, then Attack Records & Filmworks, presented Eustice with a contract for distribution. After some deliberation, Eric & Eustice felt the best opportunity for the movie's continued success was to choose global distribution, and signed for its release through Berry's company. Then, as often goes in the world of The Unsatisfied, some unexpected things happened, some things just went wrong; the movie was shelved, and while awaiting release, the deal expired. In that time, Eustice moved on due to personal reasons and relinquished the movie back to The Unsatisfied. Having no legal representation or a clue on how to proceed at the time, it sat in the band's archives awaiting another opportunity.

In 2019, Chris Braly, C.E.O. of B.I.G. (Braly Image Group), one of the original editors of the film and long-time friend of The Unsatisfied, took the project under his company title for reissue. The movie was revised, the length was reduced to 90 minutes, and it was released on Amazon Prime under the title: Ambition Withdraw: Rudux. This exposed the film to a waiting audience and introduced it to a new one, giving it a second chance to be enjoyed and circulated. A much-appreciated and rewarding experience for the band, who had always wanted the movie out in the world; it is their story, vision, sweat equity, and sacrifices for music; it is, quite literally, their lives on film. They always hoped for more for this project. Fortunately, the good Chris Braly believed in the band and the movie enough to use his resources and talents and gift them this revival - Thank You so much, Chris, for supporting us, you are the Best of the Best, and all you have done for The Unsatisfied will not be forgotten - Luv 'N Blood, forever, brother!

Last year, while still available on Amazon Prime, Eric reconnected with Mark S. Berry, wishing him a happy birthday and casually mentioning the movie. Within a week, Berry had sent contracts to distribute it worldwide, making good on his original promise and putting it in an even better position than the first time around. With Chris Braly's trusted help, it was relabeled with the AMG brand and is currently being shopped across various global platforms with a re-release date slotted for late summer/early fall of this year. Right now, it can be viewed through Roku's Fawesome channel. The band could not be more excited about its potential and the prospects for their music through the new licensing deal. Most would agree that The Unsatisfied's cinematic sound is a perfect fit for movies, TV, and games, and it is something the band has always hoped for!

In addition to Shame Records & Merch, The Unsatisfied's publishing title, the band introduced LyRic Unlimited Co., their new management & distribution brand, this year. The name, LyRic, is an amalgam of Lysa & Eric, who have always operated these family businesses together, keeping as much production in-house as possible to maintain the band's unique aesthetic and only working with outside sources that support and protect their creative rights & ethics.

The Unsatisfied have always been independent artists, working on music and merch predominantly in-house, paying for recording studios out-of-pocket, booking many of their own shows, and distributing their content their own way. Part of the reason The Unsatisfied remained on their own and only aligned themselves with smaller independent labels was that they would not compromise their vision or the integrity of their music to become mainstream. "Selling out" to a big label that wanted to change the image, sound, or even band members was not something founding member Eric was willing to consider. Sacrifice and hard work were par for the course, and risk was expected, but giving in was non-negotiable. The band has had many opportunities that allowed them to manage themselves and still reach levels of success not many unsigned bands achieve. Their latest album, Street Shaman, was recorded at Creative Workshop Studio in Nashville, a historic recording studio founded by famed songwriter and producer Buzz Cason in 1970. It has hosted a plethora of big names under its roof, including the biggest - Elvis, and it was one of the first independently owned studios built in all of Nashville. The album was engineered under the sound engineering magic of producer Joe Funderburk (Thunder Audio Productions), and features the guitar wizardry of guest guitarist Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard, Tomahawk, Hank III, & Legendary Shack Shakers) ripping licks with Johnny and Wayno on the A-side tracks! This is one example of the opportunities The Unsatisfied have leveraged independently. However, their struggles should never be minimized, as paying their dues carved their place in rock 'n roll. It was those moments that yielded the most positive and memorable outcomes. Eric often says he will not compromise or give up - it's to the death. He's proud of his scars because he earned them. While they have had offers over the years to sign with major labels to produce their albums, or distribute their works, The Unsatisfied have always chosen to propagate those opportunities that most aligned with their values and did not compromise the integrity of their music. It has only been within recent years, through connections with like-minded companies such as AMG and B.I.G., that the band has felt truly respected and their interests are protected, and they are grateful. It is a true advantage to have businesses with similar ethics managed by people with shared values involved at this stage of the game, and The Unsatisfied are willing to take the risks associated with such leaps of faith and are prepared to pay it forward.

Speaking of new and honest connections, The Unsatisfied have been spending time with their new friends at Outlaw Radio. If you haven't discovered them yet, let us be the first to introduce you! Jeff James and Mr. Moonlight are outstanding radio hosts. Their format includes radio airplay, live interviews, and even features a paranormal element. They have a casual yet direct style, asking uncommon questions of their guests that no one ever thinks to ask, and their podcast is produced with professionalism. Though their channel is barely six months old, they have many interesting guests visiting their show, they play a variety of hard 'n heavy tunes - a lot of local, independent, and original bands, including yours truly, and they're just great guys. On June 16th, they featured a drop-in interview with Eric to talk about Ambition Withdraw: Redux and the connection between Mark S. Berry and The Unsatisfied. They are following the journey of the movie on their podcast, and future interviews with Eric and Mark are anticipated. So, tune in and follow the links to watch the show, including the surprise interview with Mark S. Berry himself at the end. It is truly satisfying! <Like what we did there? And make sure to get involved with this Hard 'N Heavy Podcast!

Click HERE to watch this short interview with Eric, and be sure to catch Mark S. Berry's contribution to the conversation later in the show! While you're there, consider Liking, Sharing, and Subscribing to this channel. Podcasts like this go a long way toward the preservation of music and film culture. Jeff James & Mr. Moonight are working hard to support bands and radio, and they deserve our support in return. Through reciprocity, we will keep Rock 'N Roll and all its irreplaceable assets alive!

We will continue to share more information on Ambition Withdraw: Redux, as it evolves, and cover its journey in the dedicated BLOG we spoke of earlier. We are even working on a viewing exhibition combining a LIVE show and the movie, and possibly some more Halloween adventures! We'll keep you posted on this and all progress on the music licensing and distribution deals. We will continue leaking teasers and sneak peeks of the album's progress as we move along, but remember, some things are reserved specifically for this showcase event. We will share these couple of details: the set list for the Halloween show will include the entire album playlist, and possibly, the sound clips before each song. Next time, we may even have a little sneeky peek at The Unsatisfied-themed Halloween video loop for the immersive stage backdrop. The band and the venue encourage everyone to dress up in their favorite Halloween costumes and celebrate with us! This is an ALL AGES show, it will be a fun and exciting family-friendly event - Songbird's only requires that patrons 18 & under be accompanied by an adult - we don't want you to miss it!

This teaser reveals some of the features of the new vinyl version of Real Gone Pale Face. This time around, it will be offered, not only on CD, but on eerie 12" Green Vinyl! We may leak a few more highlights as we move closer to the Halloween Resurrection Show, but not all! We want the album's awesome new assets to be a surprise! Be sure to be there with us for its LIVE release on October 31st at Songbird's! seetickets.us/unsatisfied

Stay connected! Songbirds is already prepping to open ticket sales for this show as they are predicted to sell out fast! So check their roster HERE or watch our website HOME page for a direct link so you know when to buy yours.

We hope you have enjoyed this month's BLOG. It was fun to share some of our secrets and successes with you! Please keep following us on our website, socials, and BLOGs to stay in the know. We want to express how much we value our Tribe's support and attendance over the years, and we hope you will continue to join us on our continuing adventures; you are, after all, the best part of our journey!

If you haven't already, visit our website to enjoy all the perks listed above, and please consider signing up for our mailing list where you'll get first peek at all news, BLOGs, and extra surprises!

COMING SOON...

In the coming months, we will explore The Art of The Unsatisfied; officially welcome old friend and new drummer, the amazing Matt Reynolds; explore the origin of the The Unsatisfied name and the influences that shaped the band's evolution; and feature more history, plans, and discography.

We want your feedback on this and all things The Unsatisfied. Please send us suggestions, comment on this Blog, leave a review on your favorite Unsatisfied album, or email us at theunsatisfied2020@gmail.com with whatever is on your mind. As always, we value, want, and will consider Tribe input.

THE UNSATISFIED THANK YOU, from the bottoms of our black hearts, for believing in us!

Til next we meet, Luv 'N Blood, Tribe!