Music Spotlight: The Metal Mascarade Ball

It’s Evansville is starting a new recurring feature that will spotlight local and regional musicians that are playing shows around Evansville. If you are a local musician, contact It’s Evansville editor Justin Williams to schedule your profile.

What’s the name of your band and what’s the origin of it?

Keith: Metal Mascarade ball. The origin is that we all went into space and got blasted with cosmic radiation!!

Chuck: I came up with it. I thought a Rock Show should be like a Masquerade Ballroom Ball but in a freaking metal way. Hence, the Mascarade Ball. You get the music and the show. Everyone dresses up in their best metal clothes. I changed the spelling to fit with Mascara like in the make up we wear.

How long have you been together?

Keith: 100,000 years!

Chuck: About one year. We’ve been kicking ass ever since we started. We were getting booked before we were even ready!

Who is in the band and what instruments do they play?

• Keith Alvey - lead vocals, guitar and mass hatred for mankind (our Star Child)
• Val Batts - bass guitar/ one large thunder stick and grease can trix (he’s not looking for love just the warm velvet glove)
• Chuck Gee - lead guitar, back up vocals, and microwave sitar (Has anyone seen Joey Starr?)
• Bert - Chancellor/drums, vocals, keys (and romance)

How did you get together?

Keith: The need for that dirty green and the urge to play umpteen Bon Jovi and Warrant songs..

Chuck: We all came from the time when a band not only played the music but also put on a show. We don’t stare at our feet like a lot of bands do. We blow it up big: big hair, big make up. We’re here to rock and show the younger bands how it was really done.

What type of music do you prefer playing?

Keith: Neo-classical noodle shred and satanic polka

Chuck: We can play anything but we choose to play 80’s music, all the hair metal bands, anything from Kiss, Bon Jovi, Warrant, Judas Priest, Poison, Motley Crue, etc.

What band(s) do you most sound like?

Keith: Motley Crue, Judas Priest, Ratt, with a touch of Abba and the Bay City Rollers.

Chuck: Same here except we would have only done the chicks in Abba, not play their music.

Where is the best place to play in town and why?

Keith: mmmmmm let me get back to ya on that

What is your favorite song to play live? Why?

Keith: You Got Another Thing Coming! It’s the Priest! Need I say more infidels? Bow down my children.

Chuck: That’s a tough call, I especially like playing the Motley Crue tunes and Kiss tunes! They have an attitude about them.

Who’s your favorite local band (besides your own)?

Keith: Deliver Us From Evil. Very heavy and fast. They are the best new American metal since Lamb of God.

Chuck: I’m going to have to go with Akacia. Lee, the bass player, has really supported us.

What are your musical aspirations?

Keith: To play faster than Michael Angelo and defiantly have more money than him.

Chuck: To get back out on the road. Been there, done that and want to go back and rock the masses!

Where can we see you play around town?

Keith: Soup kitchens and barn raisings. Val is going to be Spider-Man this year at the Shrine Circus.

Chuck: We are currently booking shows for next year. We will be at Bullock’s Nov 30 and Dec 1. We’ll be at Late Nites in Jasper Dec 7 and 8. If your looking for a balls out metal show with smoke, lights, blood splitting and in your face real rock, come out and see us and remember to wear your eyeliner!

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photo courtesy of Alchemy Photography