This week’s Pick of the Week is for a band called No Drama, and the design was created by musician Bud Boyd. This awesome art with great color and fine detail was re-created on our acetal material picks. Here is a little info about Bud: “Since his older brother gave him his first guitar and a Led Zeppelin complete songbook, guitar playing has been in his blood.
After playing in local rock bands as a player looking for his voice, Bud started to dabble in other styles. Quickly, the warmth of acoustic guitar had taken hold. The quest to find a playing style that would incorporate the many genres of music is always being refined. Today Bud is working primarily as one half of an acoustic duo called No Drama. Bud still finds new ways to put a unique stamp on a song.
‘Guitar playing is a gift that I enjoy everyday and never take for granted. ‘”-Bud. Find out more about No Drama on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1459454274&ref=ts. Design and order your own customized picks today at claytoncustom.com!

Jimmy Valentine is from Chicago, he got his first music lesson at the age of seven years old from rock and roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis. When he was was 13 years old he got a couple intense music theory lessons from jazz legend Maynard Ferguson. Shortly after Jimmy was also fortunate enough to have received a few guitar tips from guitar icon Frank Marino. Jimmy records his music spot on live first take. Improvised from beginning to end, his songs do not exist before he records them. Jimmy was hired as musical director and guitar player by the legendary Sky Sunlight Saxon of the SEEDS to headline the GOODSTOCK 2007 music festival. In 2008 His CD “Pisces Rising” was produced by Sky. Currently Jimmy is working on a project with Mark Schulman from PINK and John Billings from Donna Summers band. Jimmy is also the founder and CEO of the Hoodilidoo music festival an annual event in Southern MI. Hoodilidoo is in it’s third year.

Jimmy has been endorsed with us since 2011, visit his website for more information:

www.jimmyvalentine.biz

This Venezuelan band integrated for: Leo Borges (bass guitar), Ricardo Sosa (guitar and vocals), Daniel Vargas (drums) and Enrique Márquez (guitar and synthesizers) began its musical trajectory in the year 2001. In the year 2003, 1st Edition emphasizes for his participation in the  National school band contest organized by the “Fundacion Nuevas Bandas” (www.nuevasbandas.com.ve), throwing them as indisputable winners of that year. In 2004, the band was invited to be part of a CD compilation of the prestigious magazine “Platano Verde” (www.platanoverde.com) with the song “Alguna Vez”. The same year 1st Edition took part in a contest organized by the television channel “Puma TV”, where there were selected 30 bands of the whole country so that by means of a song the public would had to vote for his favorite, 1st edition again was selected as the winning band, achieving hours of recording in Rock and Folk Studios. In the year 2006, 1st Edition was chosen to represent the national talent as the opening band for the prestigious Californian band, NOFX in their concert in Caracas.
In 2007 1st Edition was part of the lineup of bands that played in the URBE magazine awards (www.planetaurbe.com) For 2008 1st Edition releases their first studio album “Es Tiempo De Actuar ”, considered by URBE magazine as “ a collection of radial singles ”, placing 3 of them in the different juvenile broadcasting stations of the country, where the song “Creeme” came up to the position number 1 of the top ten of  “La Mega 107.3 FM” (www.lamegaestacion.com), and having a record of permanence of more than 12 weeks in the count. This same year the band goes on a national tour as support and promotion of their album, achieving this way a major attention and national expansion. In turn in the same epoch the band takes part in ” Battle of The Bands Warped tour 2008 ” where it obtains the attention of the American public being one of the bands with major acceptance from the visitors and fans. By the ends of the year “ Es Tiempo De Actuar” whas nominated in the first round of the Grammys Awards 2008 on the category of “ Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album ” this came along with creating an alliance with “ Ingenious Records “ in Miami, Florida, bringing as consequence an internationalization of the work and talent of this band. Also the band creates important partnerships with “World Sound Bank” (www.worldsoundbank.com) and “Pilla Discográfica” (www.pilla.keloide.net) to carry out a special edition of “Es Tiempo De Actuar” where can be appreciated three new songs that the band includes to show their fans the new sound that will represent their second album, which is in recording process right now. By the ends of this year, 1st Edition happens to be a part of the important catalogue of bands supported by the prestigious brands such as Vans, Fender, Gretsch, Bad Cat Amps and Trailer Trash Pedalboards, being the first Venezuelan band provided with so important alliance. 1st Edition brings to us a proposal loaded with energy, naturalness, and charisma that characterizes them both in their music and staging.The motivation of this band is as well as arises for obtaining the music that truly defines them, an innovative, high quality and captivating sound.

For more on the band check out their Facebook, they have been endorsed with us since 2010.

Dean and Chris of Sworn us Under have been endorsed with us since 2010…here is a little more about the band:

Heavy Metal Band “SWORN US UNDER” is a fresh sound of Metal Riffs and Daunting Vocals with a taste of Headbanging Grooves and a touch of Lead Playing Finesse from Guitar Duo Dean Mestas and Chris Gordon. Sharing the Syncopated and often times Melodic, ear-friendly experience are: Mark Walker on Drums, Lala Burchard on Bass Guitar and Dante Dominion on Vocals. Though the band has only been together for 2 years, they have earned a following in their native Grand Junction, Colorado sharing the stage with big name acts OTEP, Cephalic Carnage and From Sword to Sunrise. The band has gained local awareness in part thanks to an appearance in local Tattoo Artist’s Paul Roberts and Dave Bacon of Tattmandu Tattoo Shop’s T.V. Commercial. After several Live sold out shows the owners of the Tattoo Shop approached Sworn Us Under with their interest in working with the band on the Commercial. The band now enjoys permanent sponsorships with Tattmandu and a Local, Hip-Trendy Clothing Store TRENDS.
Along, with the T.V. appearances and numerous Live Shows, the band gets regular airplay from local Alternative Radio Station 91.3 KMSA. The band is the #1 Metal Band pick for the local station whenever it puts on a Live Show at local venues.
With a hard working attitude and dedication to their craft, Sworn Us Under are ready to explode their Unique Metal Sound on to the Masses!!

Visit them at www.myspace.com/swornusunder

The Shiny Darks have been endorsed with us since 2010, here is a little bit about their band:

It’s rock-n-roll with a kick to the face and a pat on the back. It’s true that “happy” and “positive” aren’t normally associated with aggressive music, but there’s more to The Shiny Darks than meets the eye. The thrillsome threesome from Houston, TX has managed to create a sound like no other- one that can start a pit and keep you smiling all at once. Epitomized in their newly released EP “Stab at Love”, The Shiny Darks’ transcend traditional punk, kick it up a notch, and slam it back down with some good ol’ rock-n-roll fun.
To create the magic, the Houston-based band took to the outskirts of the nation and found their resting place in Radiostar Studios (Weed, CA). It was there, through the eyes and ears of the great Sylvia Massy (Tool, Powerman 5000, Johnny Cash) and veteran studio/session musician turned producer Cameron McKenzie, “Stab at Love” came alive.
“Recording in Weed, CA with The Shiny Darks was definitely in my top five experiences of all time.” says Cameron. “Everyone there had nowhere to go but straight into rock history.”
“Recording The Shiny Darks could be the highlight of my career.” says Sylvia. “These guys live and breathe true rock-n-roll, dredged from the depths of dirty thoughts and high-school rejection. Bite marks bleed with the song ‘Stab’. Paul’s vocals and bass wrap around you like a warm strait-jacket. Gem’s drums drill into your temples like a lobotomy. Quenton’s guitars wake you up like a slap in the face. No kissy-kissy music here…”
“Stab at Love”, the first single off of the titular EP, explores loving and losing with the honesty of being freshly wounded. A heart that was, as the song pines, left “beating on the floor” now picked up and proudly displayed on the wounded’s sleeve.
“These songs are lyrically very personal to us. But everybody can relate. Love and loss in ‘Stab’ and ‘Photographs’, the desire for the ‘greener pasture’ and its ultimate disappointment in ‘Kennedy’, and surviving tough times in ‘Holiday’.” says Quenton Rockwell.
“Human nature is driven by two basic emotions: love and fear” says Paul Mendez. “These songs delve into the love side of things…mostly surviving the pain of it. We wrote about it and, to a degree, celebrate survival.”
Though “Stab at Love” boasts the flavors of rejection, pain, and agonizing heartache, the underlying theme which can all but be avoided is hope. The same could be said of each band member. Three very distinct personalities that are each tinged with optimism. “We want people to know that these times don’t last forever” says Gem Mendez (Paul’s baby sister). “There’s something else right around the corner. We wish for our music to touch those that have endured such pain and have fun with it, enough to take a peek at what good things are to come.”

www.theshinydarks.com

Frank Thebaldguy has been endorsed with us since 2010, he plays guitar in the band The Kid Henry. “The Kid Henry is a 5-piece rock band, featuring classically-trained vocalist Alexandra Lombardi, guitarists Dana Dentini and Frank Thebaldguy, Eammonn Dignam on bass, and Vincent Giordano on drums. The Kid Henry formed in 2008 and has been a fixture in the resurgent Long Island music scene ever since. The individuals that make up The Kid Henry bring their eclectic musical tastes and styles with them to create a distinct sound that is unique but very accessible. The Kid Henry pays homage to their influences, while creating a style of their own.” For more visit their facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itsthekidhenry

This week’s Pick of the Week is for a band called Open Sky, and we loved how their cool blue and black design came out on our acetal material picks. “After years of preparation, Open Sky is about to burst onto the scene with their debut full length album! Brothers Mike, Jared and Nathan, along with longtime friend Jon, have been tirelessly forging songs that feature infectious rhythms and powerful, heartfelt lyrics from their studio in Ottawa, Canada. Over the years, Open Sky has worked in various studios across Canada, including the prestigious Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, and has shared the stage with acts such as Starfield, Honeymoon Suite, Social Code and Grammy winners Leeland. ‘Hearing the lyrics of our songs is like reading a page from my journal.’ Mike comments on his writing style. ‘We just open our hearts and empty them onto the page.  Nothing fancy, just raw emotion.’ Adds Nathan. And finally, after years of writing, rewriting and fine tuning, Open Sky is set to bring their music and their hearts to the public. A message of hope prevails throughout the album, pushing the listener to press on through whatever life might throw at them. It’s this hope that drives Open Sky as a band and as individuals to live life to the fullest and inspire others, through their music, to do the same. It’s as the famous playwright Oscar Wilde once said, ‘We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.’ And we can only see those stars when there’s an Open Sky.’” Find out more about Open Sky at www.openskyband.com. Design your own custom guitar picks today at www.claytoncustom.com!

This week’s Pick of the Week was designed for musician Stefan Nagy. His simple and classic design was printed on our white delrin picks. Stefan Nagy is a Canadian Singer/Songwriter hailing from Montreal. After finding his father’s hand-crafted Spanish acoustic guitar with only 1 string on it in the closet at age 9, his talent quickly gained recognition with his fast-learning capabilities, nimble fingers and an inclined ear. Self-taught and influenced by everything from the Classic Beatles, Zeppelin, Tom Petty and Steve Miller to bands like Guns N Roses, RHCP, Nirvana and Sublime, Stefan soon developed a very unique and versatile style and sound. By the age of 15, Nagy had already played a variety of shows in front of crowds by the hundreds even landing a set in the local outdoor Canada day festivities where he covered songs by the great Neil Young and C.C.R. as well as originals. In 1999 he released a debut album with the punk-rock trio Antisocial called ‘Antisocial Society’ and went on tearing up the Montreal punk-rock/hard-core scene. After 5 years, 2 Bassists, a whole lot of shows and a conflict of interests, the band was forced to split , so Nagy packed up his broken-neck Fender acoustic guitar and hit the road in search of inspiration traveling the west-coast, Canadian Rockies and the Yukon, living on the road in between. Upon returning to Montreal in 2009 to work on a solo project, Nagy began producing his debut solo acoustic folk/rock album influenced by his travels, relationships and the will to succeed. Now on the road and working on the release of his debut album ‘Scattered Embers’, Nagy is playing live performances and is currently at the promotional stage gaining press interest as well as regular plays on CBC Radio3 among others. Find out more about Nagy on his sites at www.facebook.com/nagysacousticrock and www.reverbnation.com/nagy. Design your own custom picks today at www.claytoncustom.com!

Hollywood Doll is an Essex-based band whose musical style reflects the best of Glam, Punk and Sleaze Rock. The band was the brain-child of lead guitarist, Matt Rowe who approached bass player, KT Glitz and Hollywood Doll was born in June 2008. Matt and K.T. were later joined by Charlie Webster on drums. The band had two singers throughout the following year, neither of whom quite fit the bill. In May 2009 Charlie decided he’d rather play guitar, so in June 2009 Steve Doll was recruited as drummer. A more concerted effort was made to find a singer and the perfect representation of Hollywood Doll arrived in the form of Marie Repulsive in September 2009. In November 2009 Charlie decided to work on another project, leaving the band as a four-piece. The idea had always been to have a five-piece band and the line-up was completed with the recruitment of Graham Mortis as rhythm guitarist in February 2010.
In May 2010 Hollywood Doll played their debut gig at K.T.’s local pub, Shaw Farm, in South Woodham Ferrers. The gig was a success, the band were well received and within a week the band were booked to play again at another Southend bar. To check out more of Hollywood Doll visit their website www.hollywooddoll.co.uk

Endorsed with Clayton since 2010

Hey Clayton fans! Check out this awesome video that features Clayton picks!! It was created by one of our customers, John C. McCain. He is a teacher in South Portland, Maine, and he writes and records music at home. He uses our acetal small teardrop picks in a 1.52 gauge. It is a cute counting video that is also associated with learning music. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXz3lrERLXI