BALLYHOO! is undeniably turning the world of music upside down and sideways as they blur the lines between rock, reggae, punk and pop to craft their own hybrid of music that can’t be held down to one definitive genre. This signature sound of theirs is one they have been perfecting since their high school days in Aberdeen, Maryland - the sweet melodic voice of lead singer and guitarist Howi Spangler; the hard hitting beats set forth by brother and drummer Donald “Big D” Spangler; the skillfully added funk of bassist JR Gregory and Scott Vandrey (aka DJ Blaze) rounds it out on the turntables and keys.
BALLYHOO!’s unique sound, hardcore devotion to the road and to their fans, partnered with their irresistible “life of the party” approach have pitched them into the position of America’s favorite feel good party band. They didn’t get here by accident; rather, they had been single-handedly growing their empire through unparalleled hard work and dedication until Jan 2011, when they got a well-deserved nod from LAW Records and were signed to the Hawaii-based independent record label. Yesod Williams of the dub rock music mega-sensation PEPPER and owner of LAW Records says of his newest addition, “Having BALLYHOO! join the LAW Records family is a perfect fit. They are an incredibly talented band with a really catchy style”. Now, with the backing of LAW, 2011 promises to be a paramount year on BALLYHOO!’s trajectory destined for greatness!
BALLYHOO! has toured the country with some of the biggest and most respected names in the reggae rock genre – 311, Authority Zero, Pepper, The Supervillains. “It’s always intimidating when playing for another band’s crowd, you never know how they’re gonna react,” explains front man Howi, “but then you see that they’re enjoying it and the worry goes away. You’re free to rock at that point!”.
BALLYHOO! will start their tour of the southeast with fellow label mates Iration in February 2011. Their rigorous, nonstop nationwide touring schedule has certainly been the catalyst for the exponential growth in their fan base. BALLYHOO! fans are some of the most loyal and enthusiastic fans out there and their love for the band runs deep.
In 2006, BALLYHOO! released Do It For The Money! which “opened a lot of doors for us and spread like wildfire in the underground” says Howi. Their follow up album, Cheers!, was released in May of 2009 and was an opportunity to work with 311’s Scotch Ralston as the producer. In addition, BALLYHOO!’s stellar rendition of “40 Oz. To Freedom” is featured on the compilation album, Forever Free: A Tribute to Sublime, and helped stimulate a surge in their popularity. Fans can also hear their songs on the Rock Band Network and in feature films.
BALLYHOO! currently has a single out on iTunes (“The Front Porch”) and when they aren’t on the road, they are in the studio, finishing their new album, which is slated for release on LAW Records in the summer of 2011.
http://www.ballyhoorocks.com
http://www.facebook.com/Ballyhoo
Bad Credit
Ballyhoo! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and i got no one left to blame
and i'll always have this pain
sick of playin this old game
woah my head is swollen
and im sore with bloodshot eyes
i got this reposession
come on down the price is high
we'll take away your dreams
steal up all your money
along with your dignity
and it gets so rough...
when my life goes down the drain
and i got no one left to blame
and i'll always have this pain
sick of playin this old game
poppin pills dont pay the bills
cant smoke it all away
cant press rewind cant change time
im livin it day to day
no walkin to the bank today
dont answer my telephone
i know its the blood-sucking leeches
the bill-collecting greedy hos
and it gets so rough...
when my life goes down the drain
and i got no one left to blame
and i'll always have this pain
sick of playin this old game
so charge it up, charge it up
aint got no cash today
and charge it up, charge it up
platic's the american way
and charge it up, charge it up
and got no cash today
and charge it up, charge it up
plastic's the american way
and it gets so rough...
when my life goes down the drain
and i got no one left to blame
and i'll always have this pain
sick of playin this old game
The song "Bad Credit" by Ballyhoo! is a reflection on the struggles of financial hardship and debt. The lyrics describe the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of debt, constantly being pursued by creditors and unable to escape the consequences of poor financial decisions. The singer is tired of playing the same old game and suffering from the pain and stress that comes with the constant financial burden.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the physical toll that financial stress can take on a person, with descriptions of a swollen head and bloodshot eyes. The singer describes the temptation of drugs and temporary escapes from reality but recognizes that they don't provide a solution to their financial problems. The song uses biting sarcasm to criticize the shallow values of American consumer culture, with lines like "plastic's the American way" and references to the greed of bill collectors.
Overall, "Bad Credit" offers a perspective on the real-life struggles that countless people face every day. It calls attention to the importance of responsible financial planning and the destructive nature of debt and consumerism.
Line by Line Meaning
when my life goes down the drain
When all is lost and I don't know what to do next
and i got no one left to blame
When I've run out of excuses and people to blame my problems on
and i'll always have this pain
When I know that the consequences of my actions will haunt me forever
sick of playin this old game
When I'm tired of living my life in a cycle of failure and heartache
woah my head is swollen
When I'm stressed and overwhelmed
and im sore with bloodshot eyes
When I'm physically and emotionally exhausted
i got this reposession
When I've lost something valuable that I can't replace
such a thorn up in my side
When my loss feels like a constant burden
come on down the price is high
When I'm in a situation where I'm being taken advantage of
we'll take away your dreams
When someone is stealing the things that matter most to me
steal up all your money
When I'm being robbed of my financial stability
along with your dignity
When I'm being treated unfairly and with disrespect
poppin pills dont pay the bills
When I'm trying to cope with my problems but it only creates more issues
cant smoke it all away
When I can't escape my problems with drugs or temporary distractions
cant press rewind cant change time
When I can't undo my mistakes or change the past
im livin it day to day
When I'm just trying to survive one day at a time
no walkin to the bank today
When I have no money to deposit or cash out
dont answer my telephone
When I'm avoiding phone calls because I know they're about debt or bills
i know its the blood-sucking leeches
When I'm being harassed by debt collectors who won't leave me alone
the bill-collecting greedy hos
When I'm being taken advantage of by people who only care about money
so charge it up, charge it up
When I'm relying on credit cards to get by
aint got no cash today
When I don't have any money to spare
platic's the american way
When society encourages us to rely on credit and debt
Contributed by Owen R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.