| THE DML CARTEL |
Hard work and perseverance are paying off for Houston hopeful, Dodd Michael Lede, and his band, The DML Cartel. Lede has begun to see the fruits of his labors as his band holds the coveted top spot in the Texas Top Forty music charts with "St. Talisa" and has the number 8 spot with "Happy Ever After".
The DML Cartel debut CD, "Word Of Mouth", was released in the fall of 2007, while the band’s cover-band alter-ego, Bare Necessity, was still riding high on the crest of being the 2007 Houston Texans house band. The new CD has been greeted favorably by the critics and is poised to put Lede well on his way to being a recognized songwriter in his genre.
Along with playing the Texans 2007 season home games as Bare Necessity, the band still continued to perform its regular shows both as The DML Cartel and Bare Necessity. In addition, the band was also featured on local television, performing on the Great Day Houston show, and appeared on 94.5 KTBZ's local show, The Texas Buzz.
The DML Cartel was formed out of Bare Necessity, a working cover band based in the Galveston area consisting of a group of friends with a passion for music. Lede joined original members Derek Prather (guitar), Brooks Rogers (drums), & Fred Morecraft (bass) in September of 2004 replacing their previous singer to fill the bands need for a dynamic front man.
Bare Necessity quickly became one the hardest working bands in Galveston and its surrounding areas. Setting record turnouts for the venues that they performed, they were hailed as an "energetic party band" by the local press.
The inclusion of guitarist, John Rinkus, led to the creation of a second group — The DML Cartel, which plays original music, as opposed to Bare Necessity’s use of previously written material.
“I had been working with John in the studio recording tracks for what would become 'Word Of Mouth' and performing with Bare Necessity live. I was bouncing back & forth between the two projects, so it seemed like a great idea to join both forces and create something new.” says Lede.
The band has performed under both monikers for the past two years, but due to scheduling conflicts, has added bassist, Mark Head, and drummer, Jason Falzon, to perform exclusively with The DML Cartel.
“This is a rock & roll science project.” Dodd muses, “It all has to do with chemistry. The chemistry between the players, and the chemistry of combining various influences together just to see what if would have sounded like if they had thought of it first.”
Lede, who has two prior releases, 2002's "Whatever Happened to You", and 2004's "Sophomore Jinx", is no stranger to the business side of the music industry. Lede is the founder of Sonic Smack Records and has also released music from previous bands as well as Myrna Sanders 2003 release, "Riches to Rags" in which he also wrote the song, "Closure".
Each song on "Word Of Mouth" remains clear and focused. There is a sense of maturity about the songwriting, but there is no mistaking that the underlying influences are very rock & roll.
Melodic chord structures, vocal hooks and harmonies, and layers of guitar driven grace and tone, this catalog of songs should solidify Lede’s place as a songwriter in his own right. The inspirations and personal demons create an autobiography of true stories set to music. The end result is a collection of stirring and evocative songs.
Lede has a knack for stimulating the tired old clichéd sounds that are prevalent in much of today's music. He has stepped outside of the cookie-cutter box trap that most bands fall into, not to invent a new genre, but to redefine an existing one.
Other hats Lede wears quite frequently are guitar instructor, producer, promoter, and music publicist.
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
There have been a slew of articles recently about the decline of the current music industry. While the practices of many industry standards have been crumbling as newer technology unfolds, it has become increasingly difficult to establish signed artists.
Record companies have been hard at work trying to figure new and improved ways to control the environment in which they release their music, but to no avail, technology always seems to be one step ahead.
On the flip side of that same equation, technological breakthroughs have provided a valuable outlet for many independent artists. With the increase of digital downloads and inability to govern the process effectively, labels calculate that they are losing millions to the decline of CD sales.
This has not prevented emerging bands from making a name for themselves in the ruins of major label demise. Bands like the DML Cartel have carved out their own little niche by thinking outside-the-box. They have brainstormed a way to streamline their music directly to their targeted audience.
The DML Cartel has eliminated the CD manufacturing process. They simply decided to stop releasing CD's. Instead, they have opted to make their music digitally available on pin drives.
DML front-man, Dodd Michael Lede, says "The process is direct and almost stupid, simple. We simply put our entire catalog of music on a pin drive and sell it directly to our fans."
It’s cheaper, easier, and smaller than purchasing a traditional CD. It allows you to include additional information or alter existing information at any time the need arises. Almost like having a rewritable CD.
Although, The DML Cartel still has CD's available for sale, their CD sales are no longer their primary focus. You can purchase a CD for $10, or you can purchase their entire collection for $25 on a pin drive. It costs the band considerably less to produce and provides their fans with more bang for the buck.
In addition to providing their musical catalog on pin drives, they have also included band photos and music videos. To make it more personal, they will also include live video performances and behind the scenes footage.
"I think that the fans really get off to being a part of more than just a live experience. We are really trying to include them in this idea."
The DML Cartel is not claiming to be the first to try this new approach, but they are preparing to include several bold ideas which could possibly open various doors for themselves and other like-minded bands. It is also an idea they are willing to share with other bands.
"This is going to be huge,” says the charismatic lead singer of the DML Cartel. "I think that once this catches on, it is going to change the face of today’s music business, at least until the next technological wave breaks."
 
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The following review was taken from the May 2008 issue of
THE SCENE MAGAZINE.
Written by Jim Shortts
This project has 13 original modern rock songs, mostly written by lead singer Dodd Michael Lede. Total time is just over one hour. Musicianship and vocals are very good.
The CD opens with "Best Of Monday Night", a medium tempo tune about a young drifter trying to find himself.
"Temptation" is a guitar driven.....view more
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The following interview was taken from the May 2008 edition of
TWANG TOWN.
Written by Carson James
No longer solo, singer/songwriter Dodd Lede forms superb rootsy modern rockers the DML Cartel
Interview with Dodd Michael Lede
When we last heard from singer/songwriter Dodd Lede, he released an album called Sophomore Jinx that, given a major-label financial push, could’ve found its way alongside John Mayer and Jack Johnson on commercial AAA radio stations. Since then, Lede has formed the DML Cartel, a rootsy modern-rock outfit that was once Lede’s covers band Bare Necessity. Lede discusses their consistently good debut album Word of Mouth and how the DML Cartel enabled him to finally achieve the bigger sound he had been aiming for.
Carson James: The DML Cartel sounds like a full band effort, but....view more
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The following interview was taken from the May 2008 issue of
HELLHOUND ON MY TRAIL.
Written by Kyrby Raine
Houston Texans score touchdown with Southern rockers the DML Cartel
Interview with Dodd Michael Lede
Most fans of the NFL team the Houston Texans are already familiar with the DML Cartel. Dodd Lede, who impressed me a couple of years ago with Sophomore Jinx, and other members of the DML Cartel are the house band for the Houston Texans, Bare Necessity. But who are these guys, really? We are introduced to the DML Cartel via Word of Mouth, a tight-fisted classic-rock album with a Southern flavor and smashmouth grit.
Kyrby Raine: How did you guys get to be the house....view more
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The following interview was taken from the May 2008 issue of
OVERGROUND UNDERGROUND.
Written by Kit Burns
Texas rocker Dodd Michael Lede returns with the Houston Texans and new band DML Cartel
Interview with Dodd Michael Lede
Not too long ago, somewhere in the early-to-mid-’90s, the DML Cartel would’ve been hit with the “alternative rock” tag. Fusing country, hard rock, and the edgy corners of grunge, the DML Cartel pack enough guitar crunch and midtempo angst to be played alongside the likes of Live and the Verve Pipe. Well, alternative doesn’t mean what it used to, and these days the DML Cartel would be considered “adult rock,” whatever that means. If anything, the group is a cure for the emo blues. Lead singer Dodd Lede enters Underground HQ to explain how they came to be and he ended up slamming with the Houston Texas football team.
Kit Burns: Word of Mouth strikes a fine balance....view more
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The following was taken from the November 2007 issue of
THE GALVESTON COUNTY DAILY NEWS.
Written by Staff Reporter
Bayou Vista band releases first CD
[11/30/07]
BAYOU VISTA — After years of entertaining Galveston County residents, a Bayou Vista-based band will release its first CD.
The DML Cartel, whose members earned the honor of being named the Houston Texans’ house band earlier this year, will hold a release party for its first album, “Word of Mouth” on Dec. 1 in Texas City.
The release party will begin....view more
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The following was taken from the September 2007 issue of
ELECTROVOICE MAGAZINE.
PLASMA POWER FOR TEXANS TAILGATERS
Houston's "Bare Necessity" won the second Houston Texans-sponsored Battle of the Bands competition, held annually to find a house band to entertain pre-game tailgaters on Budweiser Plaza, right outside the entrance to Reliant Park. J&S Audio Visual, Inc. (Houston, TX) provide sound reinforcement and production for the stage, ensuring every home game sounds great with a PA including....view more
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The following was taken from the July 2007 issue of
THE ALVIN SUN.
Local band picked to play for Texans
[07-02-07]
Written by Regina Vigil
Successful Alvin businessmen will be jamming with the Texans this football season.
The band first learned of the opportunity to audition for the position through Camilo Rojas, the director of marketing for Silver Eagle Distributing, a part of Bud Light. Rojas saw the band perform live at the Pasadena Rodeo and Fairgrounds and asked if they’d be interested. Bare Necessity auditioned on the 50 yard line of Reliant Stadium and competed against last season’s house band, The Slags, as well as Guppies From Outer Space.
Their first official show....view more
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The following was taken from the June 2007 issue of
THE GALVESTON COUNTY DAILY NEWS.
Written by Princess McDowell
Local band to play for Texans
[06/12/07]
BAYOU VISTA — Bare Necessity has won the competition to be the house band for the Houston Texans during the coming season.
The band competed on May 19 against Guppies from Outer Space and The Slags, last year's house band, and then had to sweat out a two-week wait as Texans' fans voted online for their favorite.
The Texans' Web site stated that almost 3,000 fans voted....view more
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The following was taken from the May 2007 issue of
THE GALVESTON COUNTY DAILY NEWS.
Written by Sean Mitchell
Bayou Vista band awaits word on Texans gig
[05/25/07]
BAYOU VISTA — Dodd Michael Lede, Brooks Rogers, Fred Morecraft, and Derek Prather make up Bare Necessity, which is competing to become the in-house band for the Houston Texans.
The band got its chance of the football-team job when Camilo Rojas, regional vice president of marketing for Silver Eagle....view more
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The following was taken from the April 2007 issue of
STREET BEAT.
Written by Sara Kubrick
After hundreds of performances and counting, Dodd knows exactly what it takes to present a show. His high-energy antics and his manner of connecting with the crowd have garnered him much attention as of late. The press has been quite generous with their praises, as Dodd has introduced his brand of southern fried acoustic rock.
Difficult to pigeonhole, Dodd’s songwriting has been called....view more
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The following was taken from the October 2006 issue of
THE WIG THAT FITS ALL HEADS
Written by Karla Ash
[10-15-06]
Actually sounding less country than you’d expect from someone who counts Willie Nelson as one of his influences, Houston, Texas’ Dodd Michael Lede writes FM-friendly acoustic rock with a sharp ear for toe-tapping melodies and a finely-tuned sense of personal songwriting. Lede writes songs that are fairly deep but not enough that the masses wouldn’t understand. Far better than the likes of....view more
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The following was taken from the October 2006 issue of
INK 19.
Written by Kyrby Raine
With the recent comeback of Bob Seger, perhaps it's time for the return of the Texas-styled bar-band rocker. Although his voice isn't remotely like Seger's gruff delivery, the country-fueled rock and rhythm of Dodd Michael Lede packs a similar blue-collar punch, at least musically speaking. Lyrically, Lede's romantic angst comes from a self-doubting Generation X perspective....
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The following was taken from the October 2006 issue of
WHISPERIN' & HOLLERIN'
Written by Adam Harrington
Houston, TX-based singer/songwriter Dodd Michael Lede really doesn't have much of the South in him. Anybody expecting a straightforward roots-rock or alt country record will not have their expectations met. Instead, Lede's music is commercial pop/rock with the meat and potatoes heartland America flavours of John Cougar Mellencamp and Bob Segar. And don't let anybody tell you that there's....view more
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The following was taken from the October 2006 issue of
CD REVIEWS.
Written by Michael Sutton
[10-18-06]
Texas singer/songwriter gives Triple A rock an '80s makeover.
Dodd Michael Lede makes catchy, ear-pleasing guitar rock that's a little bit country and a little bit synth-pop. Say what? That's a slight exaggeration but there's no denying the retro keyboard touches on Sophomore Jinx. From the first song, "Camouflage," alone you can hear the added synth kisses that separate Lede from fellow singer/songwriters also surveying the Triple A field. On "Gone," "Man on a Chain," and "Irresistible," keyboards take on even a larger role in the arrangements. That's not to suggest that Lede has gone Depeche Mode on us. It's just that synthesizers have been a neglected instrument since the grunge-ridden '90s, and it's an eye-opener....view more
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The following was taken from the September 2002 issue of
HOUSTON PRESS MAGAZINE
Written by Daniel R. Huron
[Sep 26, 2002]
When you get your first look at the cover art for Dodd Michael Lede's Whatever Happened to You, electronica immediately comes to mind. What other genre of music would have a photograph of a man painted fluorescent, Linda Blair-puke green sitting in the middle of a city sidewalk?
Surprise, surprise! Lede's debut disc is actually a collection of straight-up folk-rock and '70s and '80s-informed pop-rock. The first half of the album shines as Lede indulges in his folk tendencies. The disc's opener and best track, "Blue Sky Felling," sounds reminiscent of Duncan Sheik, yet Lede's melodies and hooks lift the song beyond sound-alike status, and Lede's knack for crafting catchy, toe-tapping hooks is in full force throughout the album. Even when his lyrics....view more
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The following was taken from the January 2002 issue of
HOUSTON BANDS
Written by Mark A. Landrum
Dodd Michael Lede maintains a charismatic showmanship founded during his earlier band years, although these days performs regularly as a solo artist. He muses about having traded in his electric guitar for the quieter tones of an acoustic, but he is not willing to compromise his rock & roll roots. He continues to wear his rock & roll past on his sleeve like a badge of honor. "Rock & roll is like a full contact sport. It’s bruised knuckles and skinned knees. It’s admiration for all of the legends that have come before you, and a respect for all of the one’s that come after. It’s something you really have to believe in to be involved with."
In October of 2001, Dodd entered....view more
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The following was taken from the December 2002 is of
STREET BEAT
Written by Bill Ribas
[12-1-2002]
The disc opens with "Blue Sky Feeling," a mid-tempo, folky, rock-pop number that is quickly accessible. Lede's voice has a nasal tinge like early Bowie or Dylan, one that borders on the whiny, but never gets in the way. The second cut, "Here Til Tomorrow" has a southwestern feel to it, with big reverb guitar lines running in and out, rocking the chorus. A song like "Remember the Day" has a Don Henley feel to it, a ballad that gets a bit too big in the chorus for my tastes. The overall feel is one of....view more
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The following was taken from the October 2002 edition of
MY TEXAS MUSIC
Written by Jinelle Boyd
Dodd Michael Lede's new CD is "WHATEVER HAPPENED TO YOU" and it is a great one. Alternative rock tunes with deep-rooted Texas influences are the signature of this disc. Lede's voice is confident and suited to this lyric-based, slightly off-genre project.
This is an expert production from Mike BBQ at Space City Sounds. Dodd Michael Lede's writing is insightful and well-groomed for the times. Several cuts are radio-friendly and deserve spinning. There's not a bad cut on the project, and while....view more
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