Interview with Steven Delopoulos from Burlap To Cashmere

After over a decade of not releasing a album as Burlap to Cashmere what brought you back together?

Well Johnny (guitar player) and I are family, cousins. So being artists and not having other trades, we realized we needed to make a living with our music. It was the only way we knew how to make a dime in this world. Also our old drummer (Teddy Pagano) came back from London and wanted to get the band back together. This was a big glue factor. Teddy is really good at the daily grind and keeping the ball rolling. So we picked an excellent manager who tried to sign us to Universal years back....got signed to Sony, and now we are officially back to working on our new ventures as a band.

You've been playing a lot of warm up shows in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn where you sort of started off. Is it a back to your roots, fresh beginning thing?

Yes in a way back to our roots, but thats not the intention. It's more to play together before we start booking shows as a full band in the city, under Burlap to Cashmere again. Keeps us warm and gives us ideas for live arragements. Remember our live shows were always different from our recordings in the past.

When will your new album officially be released. What will the title be?

New album will be released sometime in April. Not sure of a title yet

When I listen to your music it feels like it comes straight from your hearts and souls, What are some of the inspirations that helped you write your new album?

When I write for a record or just in general, It's like having a bunch of old paintings around your studio. Some you use the way they are, some need to be worked on, and others need to be trashed. Most of the material was just in my rep of songs already. I did write 4 new ones close to the recording of the record. This record seems to be a bit darker then most of my recordings of material. It will be interesting to see the reactions. This record has been inspired from a dark illness I have been experiencing. Also my cousin was almost killed in an accident so we have alot of expressing to do.

What would be some advice you would give to a artist entering the music business ?


Do it because its your love, don't depend on it to make a living . Especially in this day in age.. Make Art, love life, enjoy your walk on earth...just stay away from illusions.

Burlap To Cashmere

Interview with Thomas Monda from Thank You Scientist....

How did the members of Thank You Scientists meet?

I (tom) met Odin (drums) through a mutual friend. We started jamming with some random people and I invited Ellis (sax) who I knew from music school to come jam with us. We had trouble finding other musicians who wanted to put in the time to play the tunes...we took a break for a bit, during which our bass player Greg's former band broke up, so we asked him to join our group. Sal found us through a classified ad, right when his former band Hello Eden was slowing down. We filled out the line up with some other great musicians I knew from music school, Russ (violin) and and Andrew (trumpet). Before Andrew joined the band we had George on keyboards (he played on The Perils of Time Travel). He had to go away to medical school to be come a brain doctor (bad financial choice) but we still love the little guy.

What steps do you take to write these intense progressive songs?

The song writing process is interesting. Since we have such a wide array of instrumental timbres in our band, it's different from writing for a typical rock band. In addition to the fact that we have a 7 piece band, much of the music is pretty technically involved. It sounds deceptively simple sometimes, but there is always a lot going on underneath the surface. What helps us a great deal is that each of the members are great sight readers, and have a pretty eclectic knowledge base as far as harmony is concerned (we all perform in both jazz and classical settings in addition to doing the rock thing). I will typically score some of the more difficult sections of songs, or just provide the guys with a rough score of a song and we work-shop it together with regards to the exact arrangement. Some material has been written exclusively in rehearsal, with all the members in the room bouncing ideas back and forth, though ideas are usually fleshed out and scored afterwards. Sal usually takes care of everything in the vocal department, but we all suggest melodies, vocal harmonies, etc. Everyone is always adding to the pot, it's a great vibe. No shortage of ideas that's for sure.

If the 7 of you were placed in a episode of the smurfs what would the names of your characters be and how would the episode pan out?

We would get removed from the episode because ellis would make too many "that's what she said" jokes. Plus I'm pretty sure Sal exceeds the maximum height for smurf village. Actually smurf village maybe somewhere in the eastern quadrant of his beard.

Your album is incredible. Intense, Epic, Progressive, technical, melodic..... How has your CD "The Perils of Time Travel" been perceived so far ? How would you describe it to someone who never heard it before?

First of all, thank you for your kind words! It was a risky record to make, as we weren't sure how listeners would take it. We really poured ourselves into the writing and rehearsing process. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and needless to say we are quite happy. We've been getting messages from people all over the world telling us how they dig the record. We've had massive turn outs at all of our shows. Our fans are super supportive and we can't thank them enough.

To be general I would describe thank you scientist as "prog" but not in the sense that "thank you scientist sounds like (insert the name of prog band)." More in the sense that it's rock, and it's "different." We love "prog" bands, but we are influenced more by the spirit of those bands, rather than trying to sound like them. I would venture to say that people who enjoy stuff like King Crimson, Yes, Mr. Bungle, Tool, Mahvishnu Orchestra, and Yes would like us. Thank You Scientist is really the sum of our collective musical experiences in the rock, jazz and classical realms.

How would you describe the NJ music scene and the role Thank You Scientist plays within it?

There are a TON of bands in the New Jersey scene. It's really quite unbelievable... hopefully we're doing something different enough for people to take notice. We'll just continue developing our "thing" and be as musically honest to ourselves and our audience as we can. That's all you can do as an artist, right?

If you were a fortune teller give us a little glimpse into the future of Thank You Scientist .......

We get a label behind us and can tour to promote our music. Logistically it's near impossible to get a seven piece band on the road with out some kind of label assistance. Ellis becomes the next Justin Bieber and we ride his coat tails to stardom. Greg becomes a millionaire off sweat pants/jeans ("sweans"). Sal's beard gets it's doctorate in Anthropology. But in all seriousness we just hope the influx of love we've been getting from "The Perils of Time Travel" continues, and we raise enough fund-age to make another record soon! Nice chatting with ya fred!

Thank You Scientist

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Interview with Michael Scondotto singer for The Last Stand

I always thought inhuman had schizophrenia with it's blend of all types of punk, metal, hardcore elements.... Is the last stand more of a straight up hardcore band or is the style going to be switched up?

Although Inhuman's schizophrenia will continue ( the next release will be BRUTAL) , yes, The Last Stand is absolutely more of a straight up Hardcore band for sure, on purpose. TLS exists for simple reasons - to play real HARDCORE, put out records, play shows and have fun. I look at Dion, Steve and Jimmy as my brothers having known them for ages so it is a good vibe.

Does anyone joke if this is a sequel to shutdown since it's the same band but with a different scondotto as the frontman?

You know, this is only the 2nd TLS interview ever so no one has called us a sequel band yet, ha! But, this is not a sequel since Shutdown has not broken up. TLS is a real band on it's own and will not do any Shutdown or Inhuman material. Just new songs and of course, covers of HC classics.

With a 7 inch already being released ... Is there a full length already in the works?

The 7" is the demo with an extra track called "Change", which was recorded the same time as the 4 songs on the demo, but left off of it. We may have had a premonition though, as we left it off because we knew we wanted it on a 7" and sure enough, it will be! No full length in the works as of yet, but we will soon have enough songs for one. Hopefully sometime in 2011.

Will the last stand primarily play on the east coast or will you hit the road and tour elsewhere?

For now, East Coast, but we will go as far as we are asked to play. Will this band tour? Absolutely.

How would you say the nyhc / punk scene is right now?

I think it is honestly pretty good. It could be and has been worse, that is for sure. Cb's is gone and missed dearly, but there are places taking chances on HC shows like the Bowery Electric, Webster Hall, The Gramercy Theatre. And smaller Brooklyn spots like The Rock Star Bar, Union Pool etc. We need a few more smaller spots in Manhattan proper though.

What bands do you think people should be on the lookout for?

Newish stuff - a band from Mass called The Rival Mob, PA's Mother of Mercy and Stick Together and a band from not sure where Product of Waste. As far as bigger bands go - Sick of It All, Agnostic Front, Madball, Terror - my 4 faves. Also very glad to see back - Sheer Terror and Breakdown!

If you were a tree falling to the ground what public figure would you fall on and crush to death and why?

Kim Jong-il or Osama Bin Laden. A tie for either of those guys. No celebrity deserves death in my opinion - we made them.

Place your forthcoming goals here!!!!

I'd like for TLS to play a ton of shows, get the 7" out for February and eventually make a full length. I'd like for myself to get a real job and be happy.
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Don't forget to get The Last Stand 7" on 1124 Records