The new album is preceded by the first single, "The Frat House", available now for download.

Beginning March 1st, 2011 the Swapmeet Ensemble will release one free downloadable song a week

leading up to the launch of One Man's Trash, dubbing it The SwapLeak series.

ONE MAN"S TRASH - Imagine you are strolling around an open air market and one stand in particular catches your eye. Two slightly disheveled men are perched on worn-out lawn chairs selling their wares while listening to Tears For Fears on and old transistor radio. On their table is a collection of some of the most random items you’ve ever laid eyes on. There are a couple a few dusty Che Guevara & Huey Newton biographies, a moose head the likes of what you’d see at a college frat house, a Wu-Tang cd, an empty bottle of Carlos Rossi, 1 Vogue tire, what appears to be a pint of blood, a Spice 1 poster, some paint brushes and several clearly-NOT-NEW-but-your-sure-they-were-seductive-at-one-point women’s g-strings. The men at the table not only look at you non-apologetically, but they seem almost unsurprised that despite your shock, confused and repulsed expression…you can’t seem to leave their display. I introduce you to The Swapmeet Ensemble!

One Man's Trash also features appearances from Mean Doe Green, IVAN, Tony Vic, Kristo of The Freshmen, Priscilla Cruz, Izriel (Mr.Town), Raulie Barron, Rae Resario, Kisura Hendrix, Blayze McKee, Shark Sinatra and production from Poach Stevens, Bitter Rocc, Finlizm Paper Son and Yung EFX.

Silence Dem ALL

has been featured on mixtape circuits in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Brooklyn, South Africa, and all throughout the Bay Area. He put out the San Jose compilation Tank Bizness, to rave reviews, as well as contributed to the albums of several local and international artists. Most recently, Silence just came off of a tour in South Africa, where he and producer/CEO Draztik are working on rap's first American/African collaborative album. They also filmed a music video for the first single off of the project on location in Johannesburg and released it online & to media outlets. He has performed all around the country and in showcases throughout California.

Poach Stevens 
has opened for the RZA, Ghostface Killa, San Quinn, Company Flow and De La Soul, and has toured with the Handsome Boy Modeling School and was showcased along side the likes of Rass Kass, Eminem, Talib Kweli, Souls of Mischief, Thurstin' Howel the 3rd to name a few on the Lyricist Lounge tour. He has done frequent work with the Rondo Brothers, his vocal talents and songs used in commercials, movies and video games. He recently has worked on projects as both vocalist and producer with Northern Cali heavy hitters Mean Doe Green, J Stalin, Kaz Kyzah, Stevie Joe, Ike Dola (Keak Da Sneak's Farm Boyz) Tower, Ashkon, PZ and (Nas and Commons DJ) DJ Fresh.

For all things Swapmeet Ensemble, including press photos, cover art and tour dates, visit: 
http://www.poachstevens.com/swapmeet

http://theswapmeet.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Swapmeet-Ensemble/135760646088

http://www.myspace.com/itsthatswapshit

http://www.youtube.com/user/theswapmeetensemble

twitter: @SilenceDemALL & @poachstevens

Jan2011

"The Plunge" mixtape

Mike Petrone spent time on the frontline in Iraq. The experiences have flavoured his new album The Last Hundred Yards. I asked him a few questions.



1.Two military tours in Iraq is impressive: As the US now exits Iraq, would you consider Operation Freedom a success or a failure? What lessons have we or should we have learnt from the wars in Iraq?
Well, it’s still too early to tell if the Mission was a complete success or not - either way, something had to be done over there. We went over there, we did a job that had to be done and now it’s definitely time to come home. Those people definitely needed our help and now its time for them to stand on their own!

2.The single being touted is ‘Crank It’ – my personal choice off the single would’ve been ‘Baghdad’. I feel it’s a better song and is pertinent. Who made the choice to go with the first track? Was it due to the political content that ‘Baghdad’ was not pushed instead?
‘Baghdad’ was actually the first single because of the video for it. I felt like you did and that it’s a more powerful song but at the end of the day, more people would dig "Crank It". Being an independent artist, all final decisions go through me so it was ultimately my decision - both are singles off the album.

3.‘Night Life’ shows a disco club-side to you – while in the army, did you hear a lot of dance music?
In the army, you hear a lot of everything! There is so many different people and personalities - that everyone listens to different music. I actually got the idea for ‘Night Life’ when I was in the army. A friend of mine I was deployed with was pumping Styx one day and "Mr Roboto" came on. It gave me the idea for the sample and for the song.

4.‘80’s Baby’ is a fun track – you pay tribute to the bands, who inspired you while growing up. Do you come from a big family? Who was playing these tunes or was it the radio?
I do come from a big family, but ‘80s Baby’ was just a tribute to when I feel like music was fun. 80's music is some of the most innovative music and artists were making music because they loved doing it. It was fun and full of life. I heard a lot of these songs on the radio growing up and it just inspired me to bring some of those classic songs to light again!

5.The PR material has you in a Guns ‘n Roses t-shirt – what do you think of ‘Chinese Democracy’ and what other rock bands do you listen to nowadays?
Guns N Roses are amazing. I think ‘Chinese Democracy’ was a very decent album. I don't think it was at the same status of ‘Appetite for Destruction’ or anything, but I think it was definitely a good comeback album after being gone for so long. I grew up on classic rock and I love the blues so I still listen to Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin heavily. I probably should’ve been on the cover with a Led Zeppelin Shirt, to be honest! (Lol)

6.Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia – it is clear from your lyrics - that honesty and trust is very important to you. Do you feel these qualities are missing in today’s society?
Absolutely. I feel like they’re missing in music and in society in general. It’s a very Dog-Eat-Dog world and everyone is out to get over on the next man. I feel like everyone loses when you live like that. I'm all about helping the next man and being fair. It’s really sad the way people scheme and get over on each other. The world could really be a better place and I like that to be known.

7.‘Chump Change’ reminded me of a DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince song – do you sometimes feel torn between the heartfelt hard raps and the lighter dance songs you write?
I don't - and the reason for it is because I'm an artist but I'm also human. I have a wide range of emotions like any other person, so sometimes I feel like writing a heartfelt song when the inspiration hits me and sometimes, I feel like writing the lighter dance songs. That's not to say the heartfelt song isn't genuine – it’s just what I was feeling as a person and an artist at that moment in time.

8.I’m about to fly to the US on Sept 11, ‘Flight 175’ is a chilling account of someone on one of the hijacked planes. What were you doing when Sept 11 happened?
I was actually a freshman in high school - when the Towers were being hit, I was in the principal’s office being kicked out of school for causing too much trouble. They were in the process of sending me to an alternative school so I was sent home for the day. I was home all day watching the events unfold.

9.‘Generation Kill’ tackles the topic of youngsters, weapons and war – this is a worldwide problem – how do you suggest we help solve this issue?
Teach our youth. Stop the brainwashing. Unplug our TVs. Educate and love. We can’t teach the youth if we as adults aren't educated ourselves!

10.What advice do you have for any rappers who want to get into the industry, any tips?
It’s a tough business to be in! You have to make sure it’s what you really want to do and then you need to do it and not look back. Give it all you got. Make sacrifices, put 100% into it and believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself- no one else will.