I’m not a huge Cypress Hill fan. Nor am I a stoner. But the biker-style video for “It Ain’t Nothin’” off of Cypress Hill’s upcoming album Rise Up (to be released April 6th) looks awfully familiar! I think someone’s been watching a lotta Sons of Anarchy…

press release:

Despite the countless motorcycles still in hibernation in garages across the country, the countdown has officially commenced.

Now only over six months out, the Legendary Buffalo Chip has already begun preparations for the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2010. The epicenter and purveyor of the ultimate Sturgis experience; the Legendary Buffalo Chip has once again set out to provide rally-goers an array of entertainment, art, vendors, food, amenities and a myriad of raucous memories.

By bikers and for bikers, The Legendary Buffalo Chip has consistently proven itself as the best party in Sturgis. Synonymous with providing patrons a world-renowned assortment of musical acts, this year’s lineup is sure to deliver. Locked, loaded and ready to grace the Chip’s infamous main amphitheatre stage is rock and roll luminary, ZZ Top. That little ol’ band from Texas is sure to deliver the familiar and intricate riffs that landed them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in the hearts of fans the world over. The notoriously bearded blues-rock power trio will be celebrating their 40th Anniversary next year and is looking forward to ringing in this musical achievement with a rowdy crowd of Chipsters.

Another musical powerhouse booked for this year’s festivities is hard-hitting American rock band, Disturbed. Since the band’s inception in 1996 they have sold over 11 million albums worldwide, making them one of the largest grossing rock bands in recent years. They have also released three consecutive studio albums that have debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

An additional can’t-miss attraction at this year’s Sturgis Rally Week is Michael Lichter’s 10th Annual Motorcycles as Art Exhibit. An internationally renowned exhibition showcasing the works of the most influential master builders and artists in motorcycling, Motorcycles as Art has become the token exhibition of the annual Sturgis Rally. The exhibit curated by legendary motorcycle photographer, Michael Lichter, has been successfully captivating rally-goers for the past decade and has effectively touched on a variety of relevant and significant themes within the motorcycle community.

Last year’s 2009 exhibit entitled “Rebel Rousers- Motorcycle Icons that Inspired Us to Ride” inspired thousands of enthusiasts to come out and witness for themselves an array of revered images and sacred memorabilia central to the biker culture. Quickly becoming the most eagerly anticipated exhibition of its kind, the Motorcycles as Art exhibition provides Sturgis rally-goers with an unforgettable experience.  This year’s theme soon to be announced, is guaranteed to follow in the rich and unforgettable Motorcycles as Art tradition.

The Third Annual Legends Ride has also been confirmed for Sturgis Rally Week 2010. The Legends Ride is your ticket to join celebrities, world-class bike builders and over 500 riders on a stunning, 50-mile ride from historic Deadwood, SD to the Legendary Buffalo Chip. All proceeds from the ride benefit two local Black Hills charities including the Black Hills Children’s Home and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. Within the past two years, the Legends Ride has quickly become the premier charity-celebrity ride of the motorcycling community and has raised nearly $100,000 for local charities. The ride is scheduled for Monday, August 9 with details still being worked out.

The Legendary Buffalo Chip offers visitors the ultimate Sturgis experience- there’s really no reason to go anywhere else. The countdown has officially begun so visit buffalochip.com now to secure your reservation for Sturgis 2010. Join ZZ Top, Disturbed, Michael Lichter and thousands of rowdy bikers at the Legendary Buffalo Chip for Sturgis Rally Week 2010 and join in the celebration. It’s going to be a wild ride!

You may have heard that last week Massachusetts had a history-making special election to fill the late Ted Kennedy’s senate seat. Massachusetts, mainly consisting of Democrats, elected Republican Scott Brown to fill that empty seat. Something that hasn’t happened since 1972.

Recently I learned that I have yet another reason to be glad that I voted for Scott Brown: he rides a motorcycle, a Victory at that. Senator “Beefcake” (we’ve all seen the Cosmo centerfold that he was in 20+ yrs. ago) may be the bain of MA democrats and causing Washington  to back pedal in a major way, but I just want to gather some of my fellow biker buddies and go for a long ride with him leading the way!

Senator elect Scott Brown a.k.a Senator "Beefcake"

Senator-elect Scott Brown & his Victory (photo lifted from bostonbiker.com)

Sure, our senior senator John Kerry, also rides a bike. He used to ride BMWs until he ran for president in 2004, when he made the switch to Harley-Davidson to appear like a True American. But somehow I just don’t get the impression that Kerry would be as cool to hang out with. I guess I still have a bad taste in my mouth from his presidential campaign run.

John Kerry going for a spin on an HD

Undoubtedly, two senators have differing opinions when it comes to politics, but I bet they can share a story or two about a past time that we can all get behind. I wonder if having two motorcycle riders for senators will help federal motorcycle rights legislation…

Motorcycle Authors Ed Milich and Photographer Christina Shook embark on week long Northern California book tour.

What do you do in January when it’s too wet or chilly to ride your motorcycle? How about heading out for a night of motorcycle related literature and photography? Christina Shook and Ed Milich will be touring motorcycle destinations in San Francisco and northern California beginning January 26 2010 to promote their recently released motorcycle books: Milich’s “Wrenched: Man and Machine” and Shook’s “Chicks on Bikes“. Milich recently completed a 10-day West Coast book tour in December of 2009 with Mark Gardiner (Roadracer X, Classic Bike), author of Riding Man. Shook shared the Werkstatt SF tour stop with Gardiner and Milich, and the idea for January’s “Wrenched Words and Chick Pics” Tour was born.

Christina Shook is a San Francisco East Bay based professional photographer. “Chicks On Bikes“, Shook’s first book, compiles her photographs of and writings on female motorcyclists drawn largely from the San Francisco Bay Area’s diverse population of female riders. The book depicts female racers, commuters, cruisers, and mechanics in their natural environments from San Fransicso’s streets to dirt bike trails, to the racetrack. The hard bound “Chicks On Bikes” is 154 pages and is $24.99 from chicksonbike.us.

Chicks on Bikes by Christina Shook

Wrenched: Man and Machine by Ed Milich

Ed Milich is a Los Angeles based writer and contributor to Motorcyclist Magazine, Café Racer Magazine Sports Car Market Magazine, a national roadracing champion (WSMC, AHRMA), proprietor of motorcycle websites Guzzitech.com, Ducpower.com, and Motobastard.com and a professional Mechanical Engineer. “Wrenched, Man and Machine“, the first book from the Los Angeles based Milich, documents his motorcycle racing, wrenching and riding experiences in largely unrhymed free verse. In March of 2009, Milich debuted “Wrenched” at the Daytona International Speedway Bike Week Vintage Races where he punctuated the book release by winning four out of four races. *Wrenched, Man and Machine* is 142 pages and is $15 postpaid at wrenchedbook.com.

If you live in the N. California area I highly recommend you go see these guys and show them your support!

Biker jewelry from Nino925

Bikers are drawn to skulls. More specifically, bikers are drawn to skull jewelry. This is why I’d like to call your attention to the talents of Nino925.

Nino925 was established in 1989 by designer/owner Frank Zubieta and specializes in superior, handcrafted custom jewelry. Nino has a commanding presence in the biker world and is being worn by celebrities, movers and shakers in the music industry and celebrity bike builders. The Nino925 brand has also become a fixture at biker events across the country. You may have even seen some him featured in motorcycle magazines like Easyriders and V-Twin.

I’ve been collecting skull rings since I was a teenager. These are the kind of rings that I would have dreamed of owning to adorn my fat little fingers! They are the kind of rings that any quality collector would want to have.

And more than just rings, there is a nice selection of heavy, sterling bracelets to choose from as well.

Oh, let’s not forget about the pendants and necklaces…

If skulls aren’t your thing, don’t fret: Nino925 has a few non-skull designs with a flair of rockabilly/tattoo design influence.

I first heard of Nino925 from my friend, ArtBiker, who has not only been a longtime supporter and collector, but recently commissioned a custom piece based on his own logo design. Even from the photo alone you can see the quality of this piece.

Custom designed ring for ArtBiker by Nino925

For more information on Nino925 (or if you’re interested in shopping his online catalog), visit www.Nino925.com.

Follow Nino925 on Twitter: @nino925

Related posts:

• Ami James jewelry company launches new web site
• BadAss Jewelry
• Tidbits from the Web: Voodoo King Designs

Episode 2.7 “Gilead”

From the Scriptures, “Gilead” means hill of testimony or mound of witness, a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, situated in the present-day Kingdom of Jordan.

“You know, this club needs a healing, brother. And you’ve got to be the one to deliver it.” -Bobby to Jax

The boys are locked up in the slammer with no friends to watch their backs. Opie’s up to his elbows holding down the Teller-Morrow fort, trying to fulfill Clay’s requests & on top of it, his own kids. Gemma struggles to find solace while doing whatever she can to get her boys out of jail. Everyone is trying to make sense of it all and find some inner peace.  **Spoilers ahead**

Jax in episode 7 "Gilead"

Clay in his prison duds

The good:

• the vulnerability of SAMCRO in jail
• Helloooo Agent Stahl
• the Zobelle/IRA connection: guns
• Juice’s comical “romantic” endeavors
• Gemma calling in the favor on Elliott Oswald & the really sweet interaction with his daughter, a rape survivor
  
• Opie stepping up to the plate for the club
  
• Tara calling Lyla “porn girl” (it made me snicker)
  
• Agent Stahl’s tactics putting a bigger rift between Clay & Jax, leading to the inevitable blow-out
  
• the palpable tension and parting of ways when the guys get home, leaving Gemma & Tara perplexed
  

The not-so good:

• Juice getting shivved for his troubles
• Plan backfired and Sheriff Trammel getting popped.
  

Sons of anarchy news

Ratings:
TV by the Numbers reports that last week while Sons of Anarchy didn’t make the weekly cable top 40 by viewers (it was 49th, 3.312 million) it was the number three show with adults 18-49 on cable, trailing only ESPN’s Monday Night Football, and TBS’ coverage of game one of the NLCS between the Phillies and the Dodgers.

Sons of Anarchy was the only scripted show in the 18-49 top 10 last week and was also the only scripted non-animated show with adults 18-34 last week, coming in 8th.

Charlie Hunnam on Carson Daly
Kurt Sutter posted this video interview on his site last week. Somewhere in the swirling voids of my mind I knew that Charlie was English, but hearing him speak normally threw me off a little!

And speaking of…here’s an eyeful of man candy featuring young Mr. Hunnam for you ladies! Aww…so cute!

Next week:
Episode 2.8 “Potlatch”

Zobelle’s business dealings with SAMCRO rivals exacerbate divisions in the club, which is already riven by the Jax-Clay split. And complicating matters further, Georgie Caruso’s (Tom Arnold) thugs attack Luanne’s studio. Meanwhile, Clay comes to an agreement with Elliott Oswald; and Chibs’ estranged wife shows up at his hospital bedside. Tara’s professional and personal lives begin to collide.

Episode 2.6 “Falx Cerebi”

Falx Cerebri: n.
The scythe-shaped fold of dura mater in the longitudinal fissure between the two cerebral hemispheres.

“I got a bad feeling we’ll be walking right into a trap.”- Jax

A fortuitous quote in the first 5 minutes of the show. This episode’s title is representative of the conflicting leadership styles of Clay & Jax: Clay’s hellbent, emotive retaliation efforts vs. Jax’s strategic, overly-thought out plan. This time around, Clay wins out and sends the club out on a duck hunt for Zobelle & Weston. **Spoilers ahead**

episode 6: Falx Cerebi

The cop & the criminal

The good (and SO much of it!):

• Chibs is ok
• The Hale/Jax connection
• Tara’s look of realization as to why someone planted the car bomb
• Radioactive pee
• Seeing more of Polly Zobelle this week and realizing the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
• Weston’s brain-washed kids
• Could I love Gemma any more? Taking Tara under her wing, the hatbox collection (and the toy surprises inside!) and shooting up Trampy McTramp’s car
• Hale blackmailing Polly
• The well-planned ambush of SAMCRO

The not-so good:

• We’re just about half-way through the season!

Sons of anarchy news

Ratings:
TV by the Numbers reports that ratings stayed flat from last week (3.763 million) but up with adults 18-49, completely beating the pants off of ABC’s “The Forgotten.”

Kurt Sutter tweeted about the overall numbers for Season 2: “Sons of Anarchy season 2 avg. 3.7 million P2+ and 2.6 million A18-49, gains of +68% and +77% vs. season 1. Very impressive.”

**Spoilers**

E!Online is reporting that someone on the show is gonna get whacked in episode 8, “Potlatch”:

Brace yourselves, Samcro fans, because in an upcoming episode of FX’s ultragritty family drama Sons of Anarchy, someone close to the club gets dead. Majorly dead. Blood and brain matter dead. And when you learn who it is, your heart is going to break a little. So is it Chibs (Tommy Flanagan), who just took a car bomb to the head…or could there be someone else on the chopping block?…The good news is the death ain’t Chibs. The bad news is that it’s somebody else about whom the club cares deeply.

A lot of people are guessing that perhaps the unfortunate soul is Unser, but according to E!Online’s Spoiler Chat: We don’t want to give away the farm too early, but here’s another big hint: If you guessed a man in uniform, you guessed wrong.
Uh oh.

Next week:
Episode 2.7 “Gilead”
Since The League has SAMCRO members behind bars, the club must make new alliances in prison to survive. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agent Stahl uses this imprisonment to test Jax and Clay’s relationship.

Kurt Sutter tweeted yesterday: “next week’s ep 7, gilead, probably my favorite of the season. clearly “oz” was my favorite show. i think fontana is a genius. i aspire…”

Press release:

Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Announces Events for Biketoberfest 2009

The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse will return to the Doghouse Bar and Grill on Main Street in Daytona [Biketoberfest is from October 15th-October 18th]. The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse is also going to be a part of the brand new Irongate Biker Bar located right next to the Doghouse, be sure to stop by and see the newest addition to Main Street Daytona. In keeping with The Doghouses’ reputation as “the place to party in Daytona,” this year’s Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse line-up will feature some of the industry’s best custom bikes, builders, and special events.

Bikertoberfest 2009

In addition the Doghouse main stage will feature live music from bikers favorite southern rock bands Rebel Son and DB Bryant on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Friday and Saturday night will also feature, the Betty Bangs bikini contest. Sure to be a crowd favorite, Betty Bangs brings a crew of the hottest models from South Beach and adorns them with her limited edition bikinis. Prepare to be BANGED by Betty and her crew of stunning South Beach models!

Friday night will be a Military Tribute for active duty service members and veterans. You can also party at the Doghouse with Phil Pitzer and Sheree Wilson from the movie “Easyriders The Ride Back” along with their bikes. Biketoberfest at the
Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse wouldn’t be complete without bike builders and their bikes. Industry giants Dave Perewitz and Eddie Trotta along with relative new-comers Lefty Brother Cycles will all have motorcycles on display at the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse.

With over 30 years experience building and customizing bikes, Dave Perewitz is truly an industry legend and leader. His custom-fabricated motorcycles are a delicate blend of engineering, design, power, performance and beauty. A self-taught designer, mechanic, painter and fabricator Perewitz’s creations have been featured on a number of magazine covers and television programs. He has also built for an array of celebrities including Hulk Hogan and Tony Stewart.

Custom bike builder, Eddie Trotta has been designing and building custom motorcycles for over 30 years and in so has created the Thunder Cycle Design Legacy. He has quickly become one of the planet’s pre-eminent custom motorcycle designers. His personal touch, imagination and craftsmanship have awarded Trotta a long list of honors including V-Twin Magazines’ Bike Builder of the Year and the Biker Picaso Award at the Discovery Channel’s Ultimate Chop Awards Show. He is currently working with Lorenzo Lamas to produce a limited number of custom motorcycles unlike any ther production custom out there.

Founded in 2005, Lefty Brothers Cycles has taken the motorcycle industry by storm. Izzy and his crew, all active duty military soldiers, are passionate about creating unique rides that ride as good as they look. Lefty Brothers Cycles have established a presence in the industry by producing quality custom one off bikes and their one of a kind creations have been featured in several national magazines.

"ROMY" by Lefty Bros. Cycles

[Additional information that I wanted to share about this bike from the Lefty Bros. Cycles website: "This bike is being dedicated to a very very dear friend. A friend who has always been considered "family"...Romulo was shot in the neck while in a gunfight  fighting the war on terrorism. The gunshot caused severe damage to his vertebrate. Romulo is now facing another fight. A fight to regain the use of his body!"]

“Biketoberfest is always a great time because it’s a chance to get a little more sun before Winter sets in,” said Carrie Repp, event coordinator for the Roadhouse and owner of R&R Promotions. “This year with Rebel Son playing every night, the hot girls of the Betty Banged Bikini contest and the three great builders we have on display it’s sure to be perfect place to fill up on fun before Winter.”

Episode 2.2 “Small Tears”

“Unraveling the matriarch will destabilize them. They’re all little boys who need a strong mommy.”

A lot of Twitter feedback from last’s episode was that it was “boring.” I disagree. The thing that everyone has to keep in mind with Sons of Anarchy is that the writing is very sophisticated (despite the subject matter) and there’s more happening in the show then following a group of lawless, badly-behaved bikers. There’s a lot of stuff going on that you have to pay full attention to, a lot of it very subtle, and if you don’t you can get a bit lost.

Gemma stole the show in episode 2 "Small Tears"

Cultural Learnings wrote a fantastic post about last night’s show. It’s more than a typical episode recap. I highly recommend giving it a read. Do not read it if you didn’t see the episode as it would SPOIL your viewing.

See? I said SPOIL as in, possible SPOILERS ahead!

Highlights:

• One word: Gemma. I don’t think I have to say anything more.
• Seeing show creator, Kurt Sutter back as jailbound Otto
• the uncomfortable scene of Tig & Opie being “pals”-made my skin crawl
• great Sopranos reference

Lowlights:

• Crashing that sweet Cadillac
• Tom Arnold. He’s sleazy, but not sleazy enough as a porn mogul

Sons of Anarchy news

The season premier sets a ratings record:
The second season premiere of Sons of Anarchy on FX debuted to a series high Sept. 8.  Anarchy drew 4.29 million total viewers, including 3.03 million P18-49. The program grew 95% over its series premiere in the key 18-49 demo, the largest increase ever for the second season premiere of an FX series.

Screen Rant has some tid bits to share about the show

• When SoA premiered, it drew in 1.5 million viewers, despite going up against a Sarah Palin speech.  These numbers were the highest since Rescue Me premiere for the network.
• Clay (Ron Perlman) is based on King Claudius & Jax on Hamlet. It’s not quite Hamlet, but it would seem to be the guiding force of inspiration for the series.
• Before Sons of Anarchy, Ron Perlman had never been on a motorcycle.

Monsters & Critics interviewed Henry Rollins recently. Here’s an excerpt describing his physical transformation for the role of AJ Weston.

M&C: Your physical transformation is noted…you had a more lithe, yoga lean physique that you previously shared was due to a more vegan diet you adopted the past ten years.  Tell me what your training and changes entailed when you signed on for this role?

Henry Rollins: I was asked if I could put on some more muscle for the part. I upped the daily caloric intake and lifting poundage. Hopefully I got the size they were looking for. I don’t train like that anymore, it’s hard on the frame and I don’t really need the mass.

M&C: At the TCA’s, you shared that the cast and crew were exceedingly kind and talented.  Whose performances within this series have impressed you the most, and which particular scenes were the hardest for you to shoot personally in this complex second season?

Henry Rollins:  I think that all of the cast are very talented. Charlie Hunnam and Ryan Hurst stand out in my mind as being exceptionally impressive. The hardest scene for me was the assault scene in episode one. It was very important to the plot, but it was a relief when it was behind me.

It was not an enjoyable experience.

Rollins at the premiere for SoA

M&C: Will your character have more curt power struggle exchanges or face-offs with Darby, the reigning Charming supremacist?

Henry Rollins: Darby and Weston don’t like each other and it’s a small town, so there may be some future friction, you never know.

M&C: The tattoos you have, which are yours, and which are transfers applied by the makeup department?  The one on your lower neck, what does it symbolize?

Henry Rollins: Only one tattoo is applied to me for the part.

It’s the life rune at the base of my neck. Here’s an explanation: http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/groups_national_alliance.asp.

M&C: How long do we get the pleasure of AJ Weston this season, will he remain in Charming until season three?

Henry Rollins: The lifespan of AJ Weston is not in my hands.

E! Online
I have to link to this article at E! Online because I just love the title: What the hell just happened on Sons of Anarchy?!

Charlie Hunnam promises a major showdown between Clay and Jax
TV Guide reveals their take on season 2 and bits of an interview with Charlie Hunnam:
“There’s going to have to be a reckoning at some point, and Jax tries to do it in a way that’s the least damaging to the club,” Hunnam says. “But it builds and it builds and it builds to this violent confrontation. It’s a pretty hairy sequence, but I think it’s worth the wait.”

Isn’t it great to have something to look forward to every week?

The first episode of season 2 is in the can after much anticipation, hype and reviews.

What can I say about last night’s episode? Whoo doggy! And there was an unscheduled full moon last night: helloooo Charlie Hunnam bum shot!

gratuitous nekkidness!

To be honest I had higher expectations for the season premier. First of all, there were way too many commercials for my liking and I thought the “horrible event” was a bit…cliché (but I think maybe I have more of a Teflon coating than most viewers). However, I do expect the show to escalate over the season, much like it did last season, and I think we’re all in for some good storytelling. 

Highlights:

• Katey Segal still great as Gemma. And how many black, lacy shirts do you think that woman has in her wardrobe? Amazing.
• Rollins, Rollins, Rollins! He brought amazing coldness to his character. And unlike the majority of the SoA cast, those tattoos are real, kids!
• The title for last night’s episode was “Albification” which by definition means: the act or process of making white.

What did you guys think of it?

Sons of Anarchy news: warning some SPOILERS ahead

EW says aside from Katey Segal’s Emmy-worthy performance as Gemma, there are 5 things to watch for in Season 2:

1. The arrival of recurring guest stars Adam Arkin and Henry Rollins. They play white separatists determined to do whatever it takes to get the club to stop selling guns to gangs. “It’s no mystery how that’s gonna unfold ultimately,” Hunnam says. “It’s gonna be bloody.”

2. A brutal final few moments of the season premiere. Something happens to Gemma that will make you want to punch someone and/or your TV. Just know it serves a storytelling purpose. “There’s a slow build in the resentment between Clay and Jax that comes to a head in the middle of the season in a very explosive and violent manner, and we needed something that huge to bring us back together. The event is concealed from the vast majority of the club until Gemma realizes that she needs to pull the trigger and finally reveal this awful thing that happened to her in an attempt to unify us,” Hunnam says. “I think it was a very smart thing that [creator Kurt Sutter, Sagal's real-life husband] has done actually. I totally agree that it could potentially put people off a little bit because it is just so horrifying, but if you stay put through the course of the season, there’s a really nice payoff at the end.”

3. Jax getting the club involved in the porn business. Big Otto’s wife Luann runs into trouble keeping her porn studio afloat, and Jax brings the club in as a partner to bail her out. In addition to affording an opportunity for much-needed levity, it gives Sutter a chance to fulfill Hunnam’s one request for season 2: That Jax play a much bigger role in the day-to-day mechanics of the club. “Through the course of the first season, Jax was very reluctant to engage in a lot of the business of the club, mainly running guns, which is something I always liked that he was against. But I also felt like Jax is a gangster, and gangsters like to make money. He needs to prove that if he was the president of the club, he’d be a strong leader, bring in some money, and do a better job than Clay.”

4. Jax’s son, Abel, being a quiet baby. Drea de Matteo, who played Abel’s mother, Wendy, is headed to Wisteria Lane, which means Jax is now a full-time father. “Which is fun, but boy, it’s kind of hard working with babies,” Hunnam says. “It’s all adorable and very sweet when they’re cooing and inquisitive and playing with my beard and grabbing my hair. They stay at that level for a couple of minutes, and then they get bored and start crying and we have to bring in a rubber baby. We’ve just opted for Abel sleeping a lot.”

5. Two shower scenes! Jax is committed to making his relationship with Tara (Mad Men’s Maggie Siff) work, though their ongoing issues ruin what could’ve been a romantic shower scene in the season premiere. But, Hunnam promises, “the second shower scene later in the season is a little more hot and steamy.” The actor doesn’t have a problem with nudity. “I had such a baptism of fire since my first job was [the UK] Queer as Folk, and I had to be 18-years-old, fully naked, and engaging in pretty graphic sex scenes with another man,” he says. “After that, anything that Sons of Anarchy can throw at me is pretty much a cakewalk. I’d still say the baby is more difficult.”

Katey Segal & Ron Perlman as "Jemma and Clay"

Ron Perlman has been making the rounds with two similar sounding but different enough interviews, one at Pop Culture Zoo and one at IESB.com. I liked hearing his take on the show and of his character, Clay. Oh, and it would seems he’s finally put some decent time in the saddle and gotten a little better with his riding skills!

Chicago Tribune thinks SoA has definitely upped it’s game this season.

“The pacing is better, the plotting is tighter and the supporting cast is full of gems.”

TV Gal from Zap2It falls into the camp that is too squeamish to watch SoA:

“I’ve watched the second season premiere and the show simply isn’t for me. But I can appreciate why so many of you enjoy it and I’ll continue to check in on it as the second season progresses.”

She should just stick to Vampire Diaries and So You Think You Can Dance. This show is way out of her league.

Clay & Jax, Sons of Anarchy Season 2

*Tweet tweet*

Kurt Sutter is on Twitter (at least for the time being until he deletes his account “’cause i will feel frivolous and shameful“): @sutterink
Katey Segal is also on the tweets as well: @kateysegal

SoA Party in a Box giveaway is still happening!
The FX network is encouraging fans to throw Sons of Anarchy viewing parties and are having a Party In a Box giveaway! All you have to do is register and the first 100 fans to register will get an exclusive Sons of Anarchy Party-in-a-Box with branded party gear including SOA shot glass, banner, tattoos and more.