Enter the Donkey DVD Soundtrack - Paddle Sports Professional in Whitewater Kayaking, Video Production, Photography and Sales


BUY ENTER the DONKEY - SOUNDTRACK - PRODUCER COMMENTS - PREMIERES - BRAYING ASSES - DONKEYS Welcome to ENTER the DONKEY, a kayaking video/dvd produced, edited and shot by Spencer Cooke, Chris Gragtmans and Joey Hall. You may PURCHASE the DVD for $14.99 here. now buy the sequel... Music incorporated into video is what ingrains memorable images of video into our minds. Here are links to the talented and generous musicians as well as the record labels we had the pleasure of working with while making Enter the Donkey. We said we don't have any sponsors for this video, but if we had to give someone that title it would certainly be the musicians. They have given us an incredible resource - their art, their talent. Please support these bands. Bands are listed in order of the segments in Enter the Donkey 1) Intro Segment band: the OATMEAL CONSPIRACY song: postal contact: myspace.com/theoatmealconspiracy These guys are a Jazz/Pop trio from Raleigh, NC and they offer a bunch of free mp3s on their myspace page. They are really worth checking out. They are mostly instrumental but have recently released a couple vocal tunes that really hit home. Also, they have a pretty entertaining podcast that the do weekly where you can hear them bullshit with one another for an hour, plus the introduce you to a ton of new bands. band: the JANUARY TAXI song: girls with six strings album: keep quiet, they might hear us label: vacantcagerecords.com This band is from Phoenix, AZ. A really awesome punk/pop sound that our friend Garrett Bryant turned us on to. You may know Garrett from the Mustache growing contest here at Effort.tv. He also used to work in retail at NOC and is now the retail manager at the new US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Thanks for hooking us up with January Taxi Garrett! They rule. 2) Appalachia Segment band: CLUTCH song: la curandera album: blast tyrant label: DRT Entertainment, Inc. pro-rock.com Clutch is about the sickest hard core band in the world. If you don't listen to Clutch already you are sorely missing out on one of the greatest bands alive. 3) Canada Segment band: PUNCHLINE song: heart transplant album: action label: fueledbyramen.com Punchline is a emo/punk/pop band that is gaining in popularity. A similar sound to Fallout Boy. Not a band to be missed. Very fun sing-along songs. band: PANDA & ANGEL song: danderous label: jadetree.com Panda & Angel is a new band for our beloved Jade Tree. A really awesome sound that you have to try. Jade Tree is a label out of Wilmington, DE that has hooked us up to no end. Our favorite record company by far. There is hardly a song or band off of the Jade Tree label that we don't absolutely love! They got the goods. band: GIRLS AGAINST BOYS song: bff album: you can't fight what you cant' see label: jadetree.com Again, Jade Tree is the absolute deal for music. We recommend buying most or all of your music from them. You can't go wrong. Girls Against Boys is a punk band that's been around for years, since the early 90sish. From the Washington DC area with a DC punk rock feel to boot. band: the OATMEAL CONSPIRACY song: postal contact: myspace.com/theoatmealconspiracy More of the same song from the video intro. Awesome instrumental, electronic. Very cool. 4) North Alabama Whitewater Festival Segment band: AVAIL song: clone album: dixie label: jadetree.com Two incredible entities coming together, Avail and Jade Tree. Avail is arguably the best punk rock band to ever come out of Richmond, VA, rivaled only by Strike Anywhere. A few of Avail's early albums, previously released on lookout, have recently been re-released on Jade Tree. All of Avail's albums are classics and must haves for any punk rock enthusiast. Some may argue that one album is better than the next but when it comes down to it, Avail writes no bad songs, period. If you love one you love them all. Avail is awesome to see live, if you ever get the opportunity. Originally, the NAWF segment in the video had the Avail cover of "pink houses" but we were unable to use it to to copyright issues. It was really fitting with the whole Alabama/Dixie/Southern motif but alas we had to change it to the song clone, which works well too. 5) East Coast Surf Kayak Segment band: HOT WATER MUSIC song: floor album: finding the rhythms label: noidearecords.com Sorry to hear while writing this that Hot Water Music has decided to break up. You can read the news on the No Idea web site. After around two decades of some of the most energetic, grinding, original punk music, the Gainesville, FL, HWM has amicably decided to call it a day. The song "floor" on Enter the Donkey is from an early 90s album of HWM. Like Avail, all HWM albums are a story within themselves, and the whole collection is a chronicle that must be listened to all the way through, no excuses. This band is like no other. 6) Green River Narrows Segment band: ESTER DRANG song: smoke and air album: rocinate label: jadetree.com When the Ester Drang cd came in the mail it stayed in the player, playing for many many rotations. This band's instrumental/electronic sounds set you in a relaxing yet motivating state that makes you want to get stuff done in the office, at home, on the water or wherever. The song "smoke and air" sets the tempo for an epic little segment on our home river, the green. Another Jade Tree A+. band: CHALLENGER song: blackouts album: give the people what they want in lethal doses label: jadetree.com Again and again, Jade Tree has all these killer bands. Challenger may remind you a little bit of Jawbox if you were ever a fan. These guys are punk rock and punk rockers like punk rock. 7) Colorado Segment band: ESTER DRANG song: caledonia album: rocinate label: jadetree.com Another soothing instrumental number off of the album "rocinate," and another great reason to buy this album. 8) Ecuador Surf Kayak Segment band: ROY song: t-town concrete label: fueledbyramen.com Cowboy Punk best sums up the band ROY. They have some surfy, punky/pop/country sounds that are catchy sing-along tunes as well. ROY hails from the Northwest, Washington perhaps. Give them a listen, you won't be sorry. band: HELLBENDER song: untrusting you album: con limon label: reservoir Hellbender was once a Chapel Hill, NC band in the early 90s, transplanted to the Northwest, Portland, OR, revealed in the song "I-95 is tattooed on my brain" fromt he album, "con limon." Hellbender is definitely an acquired taste. It seems that the band is now defunct but it is well worth finding their two latest albums from the early 90s, "con limon" and "footprint of the american chicken." A lot of Hellbender's songs are heartfelt messages about life, girls, love, living and reality. As before, it's an acquired taste but once you get to know the music it really hits home. band: AVAIL song: mid-town west album: over the james label: jadetree.com Another one of Avail's re-releases on Jade Tree, "over the james" is an album named after Richmond's very own, James River. The song "over the james" lyrics about a beautiful day with the sun shining over the james. The James in downtown Richmond is a really fun class III run and a unique one at that. There aren't many river runs where your horizon line view is that of skyscrapers and I-95 traffic. But, Avail epitomizes the good and bad things about Richmond and the James on this album and all their albums. Again, this song was substituted for another Avail song that we had to take out of the video at the last minute due to some copyright issues. Originally, we had used their acoustic, living room recording cover of "come on feel the noize," off of Whirled Records' "Best of the 1980's Foot Not Bombs benefit tape," which was perfect for this segment, but we had to cut and paste in "mid-town west" which worked out great. Thanks again to Jade Tree and Avail. 9) Uganda Segment band: Local Ugandan artist??? band: FALLOUT BOY song: tell me he just made y list of things to do today album: take this to your grave label:fueledbyramen.com Of course Fallout Boy is the biggest thing going right now in the emo/pop/punk scene. Fallout boy carries the torch of sing-along love, life and emo songs after Green Day's introduction of this kind of music to the mainstream a few years ago. 10) Southeast US Play Segment band: DEAD THINGS song: "epic of reckless treason" & "cold houses" album: ...because sometimes you just want to ride your bike to the show... label: myspace.com/deadthings Dead Things was a punk band from Asheville, NC spawned from key members of an older Boone, NC punk band, Pink Collar Jobs (some songs were in Buck Fever). Lynn, co-singer in Dead Things has the most energetic, ripping, female, punk vocals, you've ever heard. Coupled with two male vocalist these guys have one of the coolest hard core punk sounds you may ever be priveleged to hear. CD might be hard to find now but if you can get your hands on it you will be special. Check out their myspace page. They have some profound things to say about punk music. band: the OATMEAL CONSPIRACY song: 2 contact: myspace.com/theoatmealconspiracy This song is another cool instrumental by Oatmeal that we layed a bunch of ambient audio, recorded at the Saluda Race, under. If you get a chance to hit the Oatmeal web site you should check out their new song's Shady Shack and Still Breathing. They are free downloads. 11) Transylvania County NC Segment band: DESPISTADO song: if relationships a construct then i'm a construction worker album: the people of and their verses label: jadetree.com One more smokin' hot band off of Jade Tree. If there's one cd you have to have off of Jade Tree, this is it. Despistado is hands down the favorite off of the Jade Tree label. If you like Sparta, At the Drive In, Modest Mouse, the Shins, Arcade Fire or other bands of the like you will have a very hard time not liking Despistado. These guys broke up just after recording this record, but they had another one right before it that is freakin' off the hook too! It's funny, if you look at the link off of the band name above it takes you to the band's bio on Jade Tree. The guy one the right looks just like Mefford Williams. I knew Mefford was punk rock and he just wasn't telling anyone. Anyway, Despistado is from the coldest place on the planet, Saskatchewan, central Canada, so it's no wonder they play so vigorously, seeing how they had to keep warm. band: STRETCH ARM STRONG song: faces album: free at last label: wporecords.com OH BOY! is what comes to mind when Stretch Arm Strong comes on. Click on the Stretch Arm Strong link and the song that plays once you hit their site is "faces," the last song on Enter the Donkey. Stretch Arm Strong is out of Columbia, SC, Joey's home town and home town to many a rippin' paddler - Ray Cotton, Joey Hall, Andy Grizzell, Bo Wallace, Riley Cathcart, Chris Harjes, Bobby Harthridge and many more, plus many new rising stars to come. Also, Columbia happens to be the location of our World Premiere of Enter the Donkey, hosted by none other than Ronnie Pender, Saluda River local. Anyway, Stretch Arm Strong has four of the most balls to the wall, rippinist, badest assest, togetherest, tightest, hard core/metal/punk albums you have ever laid your delicate ears on. "Free at Last" is their latest album, which leaves nothing to be desired. Just when you are literally up to your ears in the screaming vocals and cutting guitar riffs they bust out the most melodic, memorable chorus that drives you to the edge of musical bliss and leaves your blood and adrenaline boiling. Buy any Stretch Arm Strong album and you will be a happy camper, but you won't get any sleep. You'll be way too excited and you'll have to go boating immediately. Please support all these incredible musicians. They stand here in support of your sport and deserve our gratitude in return. BUY ENTER the DONKEY - SOUNDTRACK - PRODUCER COMMENTS - PREMIERES - BRAYING ASSES - DONKEYS

BUY ENTER the DONKEY - SOUNDTRACK - PRODUCER COMMENTS - PREMIERES - BRAYING ASSES - DONKEYS

Welcome to ENTER the DONKEY, a kayaking video/dvd produced, edited and shot by
Spencer Cooke, Chris Gragtmans and Joey Hall. You may PURCHASE the DVD for $14.99 here.

now buy the sequel...

Music incorporated into video is what ingrains memorable images of video into our minds. Here are links to the talented and generous musicians as well as the record labels we had the pleasure of working with while making Enter the Donkey. We said we don't have any sponsors for this video, but if we had to give someone that title it would certainly be the musicians. They have given us an incredible resource - their art, their talent. Please support these bands.

Bands are listed in order of the segments in Enter the Donkey

1) Intro Segment
band: the OATMEAL CONSPIRACY
song: postal

contact: myspace.com/theoatmealconspiracy
These guys are a Jazz/Pop trio from Raleigh, NC and they offer a bunch of free mp3s on their myspace page. They are really worth checking out. They are mostly instrumental but have recently released a couple vocal tunes that really hit home. Also, they have a pretty entertaining podcast that the do weekly where you can hear them bullshit with one another for an hour, plus the introduce you to a ton of new bands.

band: the JANUARY TAXI
song: girls with six strings
album: keep quiet, they might hear us

label: vacantcagerecords.com
This band is from Phoenix, AZ. A really awesome punk/pop sound that our friend Garrett Bryant turned us on to. You may know Garrett from the Mustache growing contest here at Effort.tv. He also used to work in retail at NOC and is now the retail manager at the new US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, NC. Thanks for hooking us up with January Taxi Garrett! They rule.

2) Appalachia Segment
band: CLUTCH
song: la curandera
album: blast tyrant

label: DRT Entertainment, Inc. pro-rock.com
Clutch is about the sickest hard core band in the world. If you don't listen to Clutch already you are sorely missing out on one of the greatest bands alive.

3) Canada Segment
band: PUNCHLINE
song: heart transplant
album: action

label: fueledbyramen.com
Punchline is a emo/punk/pop band that is gaining in popularity. A similar sound to Fallout Boy. Not a band to be missed. Very fun sing-along songs.

band: PANDA & ANGEL
song: danderous

label: jadetree.com
Panda & Angel is a new band for our beloved Jade Tree. A really awesome sound that you have to try. Jade Tree is a label out of Wilmington, DE that has hooked us up to no end. Our favorite record company by far. There is hardly a song or band off of the Jade Tree label that we don't absolutely love! They got the goods.

band: GIRLS AGAINST BOYS
song: bff
album: you can't fight what you cant' see

label: jadetree.com
Again, Jade Tree is the absolute deal for music. We recommend buying most or all of your music from them. You can't go wrong. Girls Against Boys is a punk band that's been around for years, since the early 90sish. From the Washington DC area with a DC punk rock feel to boot.

band: the OATMEAL CONSPIRACY
song: postal

contact: myspace.com/theoatmealconspiracy
More of the same song from the video intro. Awesome instrumental, electronic. Very cool.

4) North Alabama Whitewater Festival Segment
band: AVAIL
song: clone
album: dixie

label: jadetree.com
Two incredible entities coming together, Avail and Jade Tree. Avail is arguably the best punk rock band to ever come out of Richmond, VA, rivaled only by Strike Anywhere. A few of Avail's early albums, previously released on lookout, have recently been re-released on Jade Tree. All of Avail's albums are classics and must haves for any punk rock enthusiast. Some may argue that one album is better than the next but when it comes down to it, Avail writes no bad songs, period. If you love one you love them all. Avail is awesome to see live, if you ever get the opportunity. Originally, the NAWF segment in the video had the Avail cover of "pink houses" but we were unable to use it to to copyright issues. It was really fitting with the whole Alabama/Dixie/Southern motif but alas we had to change it to the song clone, which works well too.

5) East Coast Surf Kayak Segment
band: HOT WATER MUSIC
song: floor
album: finding the rhythms

label: noidearecords.com
Sorry to hear while writing this that Hot Water Music has decided to break up. You can read the news on the No Idea web site. After around two decades of some of the most energetic, grinding, original punk music, the Gainesville, FL, HWM has amicably decided to call it a day. The song "floor" on Enter the Donkey is from an early 90s album of HWM. Like Avail, all HWM albums are a story within themselves, and the whole collection is a chronicle that must be listened to all the way through, no excuses. This band is like no other.

6) Green River Narrows Segment
band: ESTER DRANG
song: smoke and air
album: rocinate

label: jadetree.com
When the Ester Drang cd came in the mail it stayed in the player, playing for many many rotations. This band's instrumental/electronic sounds set you in a relaxing yet motivating state that makes you want to get stuff done in the office, at home, on the water or wherever. The song "smoke and air" sets the tempo for an epic little segment on our home river, the green. Another Jade Tree A+.

band: CHALLENGER
song: blackouts
album: give the people what they want in lethal doses

label: jadetree.com
Again and again, Jade Tree has all these killer bands. Challenger may remind you a little bit of Jawbox if you were ever a fan. These guys are punk rock and punk rockers like punk rock.

7) Colorado Segment
band: ESTER DRANG
song: caledonia
album: rocinate

label: jadetree.com
Another soothing instrumental number off of the album "rocinate," and another great reason to buy this album.

8) Ecuador Surf Kayak Segment
band: ROY
song: t-town concrete

label: fueledbyramen.com
Cowboy Punk best sums up the band ROY. They have some surfy, punky/pop/country sounds that are catchy sing-along tunes as well. ROY hails from the Northwest, Washington perhaps. Give them a listen, you won't be sorry.

band: HELLBENDER
song: untrusting you
album: con limon

label: reservoir
Hellbender was once a Chapel Hill, NC band in the early 90s, transplanted to the Northwest, Portland, OR, revealed in the song "I-95 is tattooed on my brain" fromt he album, "con limon." Hellbender is definitely an acquired taste. It seems that the band is now defunct but it is well worth finding their two latest albums from the early 90s, "con limon" and "footprint of the american chicken." A lot of Hellbender's songs are heartfelt messages about life, girls, love, living and reality. As before, it's an acquired taste but once you get to know the music it really hits home.

band: AVAIL
song: mid-town west
album: over the james

label: jadetree.com
Another one of Avail's re-releases on Jade Tree, "over the james" is an album named after Richmond's very own, James River. The song "over the james" lyrics about a beautiful day with the sun shining over the james. The James in downtown Richmond is a really fun class III run and a unique one at that. There aren't many river runs where your horizon line view is that of skyscrapers and I-95 traffic. But, Avail epitomizes the good and bad things about Richmond and the James on this album and all their albums. Again, this song was substituted for another Avail song that we had to take out of the video at the last minute due to some copyright issues. Originally, we had used their acoustic, living room recording cover of "come on feel the noize," off of Whirled Records' "Best of the 1980's Foot Not Bombs benefit tape," which was perfect for this segment, but we had to cut and paste in "mid-town west" which worked out great. Thanks again to Jade Tree and Avail.

9) Uganda Segment
band: Local Ugandan artist???

band: FALLOUT BOY
song: tell me he just made y list of things to do today
album: take this to your grave

label:fueledbyramen.com
Of course Fallout Boy is the biggest thing going right now in the emo/pop/punk scene. Fallout boy carries the torch of sing-along love, life and emo songs after Green Day's introduction of this kind of music to the mainstream a few years ago.

10) Southeast US Play Segment
band: DEAD THINGS
song: "epic of reckless treason" & "cold houses"
album: ...because sometimes you just want to ride your bike to the show...

label: myspace.com/deadthings
Dead Things was a punk band from Asheville, NC spawned from key members of an older Boone, NC punk band, Pink Collar Jobs (some songs were in Buck Fever). Lynn, co-singer in Dead Things has the most energetic, ripping, female, punk vocals, you've ever heard. Coupled with two male vocalist these guys have one of the coolest hard core punk sounds you may ever be priveleged to hear. CD might be hard to find now but if you can get your hands on it you will be special. Check out their myspace page. They have some profound things to say about punk music.

band: the OATMEAL CONSPIRACY
song: 2

contact: myspace.com/theoatmealconspiracy
This song is another cool instrumental by Oatmeal that we layed a bunch of ambient audio, recorded at the Saluda Race, under. If you get a chance to hit the Oatmeal web site you should check out their new song's Shady Shack and Still Breathing. They are free downloads.

11) Transylvania County NC Segment
band: DESPISTADO
song: if relationships a construct then i'm a construction worker
album: the people of and their verses

label: jadetree.com
One more smokin' hot band off of Jade Tree. If there's one cd you have to have off of Jade Tree, this is it. Despistado is hands down the favorite off of the Jade Tree label. If you like Sparta, At the Drive In, Modest Mouse, the Shins, Arcade Fire or other bands of the like you will have a very hard time not liking Despistado. These guys broke up just after recording this record, but they had another one right before it that is freakin' off the hook too! It's funny, if you look at the link off of the band name above it takes you to the band's bio on Jade Tree. The guy one the right looks just like Mefford Williams. I knew Mefford was punk rock and he just wasn't telling anyone. Anyway, Despistado is from the coldest place on the planet, Saskatchewan, central Canada, so it's no wonder they play so vigorously, seeing how they had to keep warm.

band: STRETCH ARM STRONG
song: faces
album: free at last

label: wporecords.com
OH BOY! is what comes to mind when Stretch Arm Strong comes on. Click on the Stretch Arm Strong link and the song that plays once you hit their site is "faces," the last song on Enter the Donkey. Stretch Arm Strong is out of Columbia, SC, Joey's home town and home town to many a rippin' paddler - Ray Cotton, Joey Hall, Andy Grizzell, Bo Wallace, Riley Cathcart, Chris Harjes, Bobby Harthridge and many more, plus many new rising stars to come. Also, Columbia happens to be the location of our World Premiere of Enter the Donkey, hosted by none other than Ronnie Pender, Saluda River local. Anyway, Stretch Arm Strong has four of the most balls to the wall, rippinist, badest assest, togetherest, tightest, hard core/metal/punk albums you have ever laid your delicate ears on. "Free at Last" is their latest album, which leaves nothing to be desired. Just when you are literally up to your ears in the screaming vocals and cutting guitar riffs they bust out the most melodic, memorable chorus that drives you to the edge of musical bliss and leaves your blood and adrenaline boiling. Buy any Stretch Arm Strong album and you will be a happy camper, but you won't get any sleep. You'll be way too excited and you'll have to go boating immediately.

Please support all these incredible musicians. They stand here in support of your sport and deserve our gratitude in return.

BUY ENTER the DONKEY - SOUNDTRACK - PRODUCER COMMENTS - PREMIERES - BRAYING ASSES - DONKEYS