Postmortem Remains

Interview with Jacques LaMore from The Projection

2012-01-27T15:56:00.005-05:00

Can you tell us bit about yourselves and the history of the bands beginnings? What first got you into punk music? Have you ever toyed with any other genres?

Jacques started the band when he was 13 and the band was originally called “The Other Way”. We were just 6th grade kids with one horrible original song and playing shitty renditions of Green Day covers. We became The Projection in 2005 because fans accused us of being gay for calling ourselves "The Other Way". In 2006 we put out our first EP "Never Too Early, Always Too Late" and in 2008 we released our first full length "Thanks For Caring". All along the way playing many shows. Since then, there have been many different members but The Projection keeps moving along trying to make their mark.

“My older brother Josh first got me into punk music when I was around 9 or 10. He was 4 years older than me and started a band of his own. He slowly started teaching me how to sing and play bass. Later, I started teaching myself guitar. At that time, albums like The Offspring’s “Americana”, Green Day’s “Nimrod” and “Warning”, Blink-182’s “Enema of The State”, and MxPx’s “The Ever Passing Moment.” Came out. And I picked up on it right away. I’ve been hooked ever since. The Projection is the only band I’ve ever played in. I’ve never tapered with another genre other than being involved with musicals and chorus in high school. I do enjoy many other types of music. My second love is swing/Jazz. Like Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin.”– Jacques

“At the end of my sixth-grade year my two best friends and I traveled to see Simple Plan at the state fair. My first punk rock show was a crazy memory. Ever since I’ve been jamming stuff like blink-182, new found glory, etc. I like to listen to a variety of genres but have mainly stuck with playing punk/pop-punk.” -Travis

What has been the highlight for you guys so far since you’ve been performing?

Without a doubt, playing The Kevin Says Stage at The Vans Warped Tour in 2008 was a very eye opening experience. All the bands on that tour really work their asses of and we got the real taste of what the music industry is really like. I would say our latest highlight over the past year has been working with our producer/engineer Enoch Jensen from Eastlake Recording Studio in Massachusetts. Enoch has worked with major cats in the Industry and has become a topnotch producer/engineer himself. He really brought the best out of us when recording our new album “While You Were Out.” Enoch is very professionally but also layed back and knew exactly how to craft us to bring us our polished sound.

Also, just playing any kind of show or party with all different kinds of bands and meeting new fans. That’s always a highlight. Especially when some of those bands are doing well for themselves now.

If you had a giant pinata what would you fill it with?

Could we just make a giant piñata made out of pizza instead? And then fill it with pretzel M&Ms?

What do you think it is that you got that would help music lovers relate and will fish you out of this ocean filled with artists?

We think it’s the fact that we stand out from newer wave pop-punk bands. We have more of an old school pop-punk flavor to us but, with just tiny little twists here and there. Almost like a flashback to the late 90s/early 00s but new!

Give us a truck stop road recipe that you had to create while desperately hungry?

Granola bars and Pop-Tarts.

What should we expect from The Projection in the near Future?

Expect a new, addicting pop-punk record from us, touring the U.S, and Sumo wrestling on Tuesday’s nights starting next week!

OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.theprojectionband.com
TWITTER
www.twitter.com/projectionband
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/theprojection
YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/theprojection

Interview with Jeremy Dubs

2011-12-20T21:26:00.003-05:00

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How you first got into music ? What was the first instrument you started playing?

My first memory of realization that music was what I wanted to do is when I was a young child in the early 80's listening to some song on the radio on vacation with my family. I was bopping along and my mom told me I had a really good beat. And I remember thinking, "yeah that's right, I do." My second most vivid memory is when I was about 9 or 10, my brother gave me a cassette tape of The Beatles' 1967-70. He told me that they would probably be my new favorite band (at the time it was The Monkees). He was right. From that moment, all I wanted was to be one of The Beatles. I dabbled in keyboard and ukulele as a kid, but the first instrument I really learned how to play was the drums. My parents bought me a drum set when I was in 8th grade. In high school I played percussion in marching and concert band, and also sang in Chorus. My senior year, I decided I wanted to learn how to write songs so I sold my drum set and got my first guitar.
A little more about me and how I got into music: I am 33 years old. I grew up in a wheelchair, in and out of hospitals because of a genetic disorder I have called Osteo Genesis Imperfecta. Not being as mobile as other kids, I adapted by learning how to live in my head to keep me happy. Music was the perfect outlet for me to feel like I belonged in the world. I am lucky to have had an amazing family who taught me how to find joy during hard times. I found that this was always the key to surviving. Speak! is the closest I have come, musically, to communicating this message. The genius and spirit of Harry Nilsson helped me discover that inner joy and my ability to express it.

So tell me about other music projects you are or were involved in? Also I read you are originally from Pennsylvania how did you end up in Northampton ?

Yes I am from central Pennsylvania originally. My first rock band was The Bennies. I met Frank Black after a FB and the Catholics show in 1998, gave him a tape of some of our demos. He liked it, and he and I became friends/pen pals. In 2000 I asked him if we could open for the Catholics at the Trocadero in Philadelphia and the 9:30 Club in D.C. He said yes and those turned out to be the first of many shows we would play together. The Bennies toured the whole east coast with the Catholics in 2002, and then we opened 7 shows for the Pixies in 2004. That's what brought Jack Godleski (best friend/bass player) and I to Northampton. When the Pixies got back together, we were still living in Pennsylvania. We knew that if we were going to have the opportunity to open for them, that we better get our shit together. We had no drummer at the time, so we moved up to Western Mass to find one, and we ended up loving the area so much that we didn't want to leave. In 2005, Jack and I were very serious about making our band better. We enjoyed all the fun we had in Bennies, but after the tour, we knew it was time to really start expanding and growing as a band. Suddenly we felt fearless and adventurous, and wanted to go as far out as possible while still remaining a tight unit. This became Bunnies, a science fiction project full of weird and big ideas. We recorded an album with Mission of Burma's Roger Miller as producer, called Music for Dinosaurs By Dinosaurs. Currently, we're writing another album. This one is Devoted to the Process of Action.

Since moving to Northampton, I've developed a lot of awesome friendships which have led me to other musical projects, such as... Rabbit Rabbit, in which I play the drums and co-write songs with the band's creative force, Louise Chicoine. And most recently I have been playing double drums (alongside Bunnies drummer Matthew Newman-Long) in the Albany band Severe Severe.

Tell me about the cover art to your cd "speak"?

The cover art for Speak! was done by my friend Amanda Michael Harris. She is the girlfriend of Nico, who is in Severe Severe. I was very familiar with her work and a huge fan. Another one of her paintings is on my living room wall. I knew she would do a good job. I didn't know exactly HOW good though until she showed me the front and back cover paintings. I had only sent her 2 songs and told her to do whatever she wanted. She described where the album is coming from perfectly. I was already thinking of it as a place where Harry Nilsson and I were able to meet up and make these discoveries together. Amanda showed me what that place looked like.

What work do you do outside of music ?

It is not exciting work. I have a part-time job as a research interviewer at a calling center. I perform health surveys and opinion surveys over the phone. The reason I like it is because it's flexible and is an easy way to earn some income while being busy in 4 bands. Haha.

If you could live in a parallel universe ... What would it be like ?

My parallel universe would probably look similar. The people in my parallel universe would be the same as the people in my life now. You know, come to think of it, my current life happenings are similar to what I would have wanted my parallel universe to be like.... I'm all about making dreams come true. My biggest dream is to meet Paul McCartney. Can you help me make that happen?

In my parallel universe we would all be a lot more in tune with the cosmos, like Carl Sagan, maybe even more in tune than Sagan. We would all be happy because we would be in constant awareness of how amazing life is, all the time. Does that mean it would be a constant party? Yes it does.

What will be some of the things we can expect from you in 2012 and beyond?

Well, all four projects I am involved in are working on new material for new albums. I am 8 songs into the sequel to Speak! Bunnies plan to complete Devoted to the Process of Action in 2012. Rabbit Rabbit is busy writing a nature album. Matt and I just joined Severe Severe recently, but there is already talk of recording.

As far as Speak! is concerned, expect a new music video for "Listen, the Snow is Falling", directed by Matthew from Bunnies and SS. We filmed it last week and it will have an internet release very soon. The next album will continue where the first one left off, and go even deeper into the Speak! world.

CD Available here ->The Bureau Records

The Law Abiders @ Mai Thai

2011-12-20T21:23:00.001-05:00

Interview withTrevor Jones AKA Poor Boy's Soul

2011-08-01T17:20:00.003-04:00

For someone who never heard of Poor Boy's Soul how would you describe yourself to them?
I would say that you could call my music outlaw blues. It sounds like a freight train rolling along at midnight in a lighting storm. On a sharp curve going just a little to fast. Almost tipping but some how making it.

Can you tell us some of your best and worst experiences while hitching and riding trains?
Well when you travel like a tramp you come to see it all as part of the adventure. Even the bad times end up making really funny stories. But I would say that getting stuck in Alabama in early September when it was 98 degrees was pretty bad. Myself and a friend had meant to go to Atlanta and had gotten on the wrong train. We had spent the night before in Memphis stumbling around the train yard until 3 in the morning trying to find the right train. We finally found what we thought was the right train. But it took us all the way to Alabama. Once we got to the yard are train died. So we had to find a new one. We ended up in a swamp getting eaten by huge biting flies and trying not to get caught. We finally found our way out and on to a good train. It ended up taking 12 hours though. But I will never riding into Alabama again.

And of coarse going to jail a few weeks ago is up there on the list of lame times on the road for sure.

How long did it take you to write the songs on you forthcoming album "Burn Down"? What were some of your inspirations that brought these songs to life?
I wrote most of the songs in about 6 or 7 months. Annalisa was a song I wrote a few years back and felt it was time to put it down on wax.

If you could travel through time and change a event in history what would it be and why?
One event or series of events that I would change if i could would be the rise of capitalism. If i could go back and stop that from happening I believe we would not be in the mess we are in today.

What are the current and future plans for Poor Boy's Soul?
I plan to keep writing song and performing. I hope to record a few more songs in August for a 7inch vinyl record. Also I plan to get some more traveling in before the weather gets to cold. And just keep having fun.

T. JONES AKA "POOR BOY'S SOUL
on Reverb Nation

Interview with Happy Jawbone Family

2011-07-26T19:33:00.003-04:00

How did you come up with the name Happy Jawbone Family Band ?
Well as for the happy jawbone part that all started in this true story of this girl in australia who killed herself by jumping into the polar bear cage at the zoo. i read about it in an authoritative report on bear-related violence. then i thought alot about it and about whether or not she had been influenced by inuit literature. and then i thought about a group of concerned citizens that would censor inuit culture as a result, and the sorts of tactics they would use. one tactic i thought up was a rock and roll band called "happy jawbone" that would hide subtle anti-inuit messages in their songs. i don't know, i guess at the time i was really into inuit culture and it was good for me to step back and think about its influence on me.

It was around this time i started playing rock and roll with francis and bobby and elspeth and alamo schuman, under the name "muslims in space" and it was mostly kinks covers and fugs covers and it was a mess. alamo actually punched me in the face at our first and only show because i was hogging the microphone. you see we only had two and we had three singers and francis wouldn't share his. but then we started writing more of our own songs and ditched alamo cause he was a lousy drunk (since then he got heavy into the occult and he really pulled himself together and got a small dog.) then it got to be something and we had to name it so i had this band name in my head. everybody liked it. it stuck. but not the anti-inuit thing. we only include positive references to inuit culture now.

As for the family band part that was francis. he just put it on our internet site at the time. i guess he had noticed that alot of the people who were playing music with him were related in some way. it's worked out in our favor because most people tend to take us less seriously. also it's like the ramones. they were all brothers, did you know that?

I recently picked up your Album The Return of Hotel Double Tragedy.... Why is it you choose to release it in Cassette form?
Tape is the softest of all recorded media. that sort of album is the kind that just needs to be that soft. i mean so soft that you just disappear.

Can you tell us where Julia acquired her piano?
No

Pick a few of your favorite songs you wrote and tell us the background stories behind them?
People always ask me about "don't tread on the museums of your youth." and i tell them, "you know the museums of your youth are generally quite nostalgic areas. this really disgusts people. it's a natural reaction. they are pulled into these museums almost as if against their will and they are confronted with an unbearable coziness. a sort of heavy, suffocating coziness. the kind that can sink a person. as a result they attack the museum as a whole. it is better for them to just get rid of it all than to have to sort through all those trinkets and souvenirs. but this is the easy solution. it never works. there is always a new museum that always turns out to be the same museum after you explore it for a while."

Then there is the song "fireflies made of dust." this song is basically about my distrust of fireflies. people seem to accept them on the whole. they find them pretty and they ritualize their appearance. but i'm not convinced.. i'm uneasy around them.

How would describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?
I usually call it rock and roll music, but sometimes i call it mer-punk.

What would you like to see floating inside a mold of jell-o?
You know it's funny you ask me this right now. we all just moved into this new house which is a duplex. and i thought cause we're in a band we need all the help we can get. i wanted to make this guy a jello mold. but i didn't want to come off as a wuss so i thought i would put plastic snakes in it. i never did make that jello mold but the neighbor turned out to have 6 boa constrictors. i figure how many snakes can a guy have?

Can you tell us a bit about your newest release "O.K. Midnight You Win".. How did you come up with the Title? How did you go about writing the tracks and recording them? Where are you able to obtain a copy?
So after we stopped being "muslims in space" we just recorded for a while. then we realized that no one would listen to the songs if we didn't play them somewhere. i started getting really mammalian feelings towards the songs. so we manipulated some friends into helping us play. but it's never sounded like the recordings. i always thought it was cool, but it's not the same. then, at a certain point it started getting better than the recordings and then ted from feedingtube records said i'm gonna make you big stars! screw all this small time stuff! and he had us record with justin pizzoferrato who records j mascis and people like that. we were gonna call it "live from the hotel double tragedy" and make it a fake live album by fading in audience noise but we got lazy. as for the big stars thing i think ted was kidding but it does sound really good. it's really different than anything we've done and that's cool. just the other day my friend kyle said it's cool to do different things. i agreed with him on that one and i still do.

the cd just came in today, so if you look it up on feedingtuberecords.com you will find it under CDs. the vinyl should be in real soon and that will come with a free download card. i think there will be a straight up download option as well. you can also buy it somewhat cheaper in the feedingtube store in northampton MA. it's a real good record store. you can go there and buy thurston moore's old records. i bought one of his old records that was english rap about butts. i gave it to some lesbian friends.

well that name comes from a book about a boy and a horse. the horse is called midnight cause it was black and also it was a bad horse and it was cruel the way that midnight is. but the boy loved that horse. he had to have it. his parents warned him about the horse. i can't remember if he died but there was this one picture where midnight bucks him off and the caption says, "OK midnight, you win!" and that's where i got that one.

What else would you like people to know about you guys?
I think i would like people to know that we are there for them if they need us.

Happy Jawbone Family Band

Interview With Soul Khan

2011-06-23T17:29:00.003-04:00

Can you tell is a bit about your history? What got you into the rap ? How
did your name originate? How did you become part of brown bag all stars?

I was born from a womb of maggots and rusted iron. I got into rap because nature hurled me into it. My name was taken from an old episode of Family Feud. I became a part of Brown Bag AllStars just as any of them did, by working at Fat Beats with the crew.

What are some of the messages you want to get across with your music? Tell us a bit about your new e.p.?

To the listeners, I wish to tell them that there is something worth hanging onto in life. To the rappers, I wish to tell them that this is hell and there is no escape except through surrender. The new EP, Acknowledgement. It is about self-worth, mine and yours.

What Kind of jobs have you done over the years to get by?

None that include the words, "hand," "blow," and "rim." Therefore, I consider myself luckier than many in the world.

If you were main character in a slasher flick how would you off your first
victim?

I would look directly into the camera and say to the audience, "Movies cost more than twelve dollars and you're still spending such a sum on this piece of shit? Fuck it, I'd rather kill myself than live among such idiots." And then I'd just commit seppuku.

What can we be expecting from you in the upcoming months?

The rapture, just sans salvation and only women will float out of their clothes. Aside from that, more EPs, another album, touring the planet, and other Herculean feats.

Soul Khan

Interview with Writer and Artist Adora Lee

2011-05-02T16:30:00.003-04:00

When did you start putting words together in the form of poetry and how would you describe your writing style?

I listened to biomommy's 60's hippy rock music as background sound usually blaring, while growing up. As a kid I was trained to recite children's nursery songs/rhymes, bible hymns, and wiccan spells the best I could, but those examples of noise came from outward poetry. I innocently used crayons and colored pencils/markers on cards for people to write/illustrate notes of love and nature as gifts for people but I consider my style to have developed when I was a pre teen with out of control hormones and changing perceptions of reality. That is what I want to let go off, finally, by offering this zine to end that phase and enter a new one of more clear understanding and grasp of stability. I was too hysterical to write sentences, so i would write down lists of words of how i felt. the chain effect would result in inspiring similar words, similar meanings, repetitions of similar sounds, i sounded like a thesaurus, which i thought might help communicate with people who couldn't / wouldn't understand me- if they could have options to choose from in what they saw, read, or listened to- then i might not have confused them as much and i would be less alone and accepted. this method of process failed and i was surrounded by many pages of nonsense, which have traveled through various stages of construction with me, as proof of my own phases and places i've encountered. The themes of topics, heavy and mournful for me; was the learned ostracization, the angst of accepting disappointments, memories of how silence felt,

I have bleed and I have cried over this book
I have trembled and shook
I've given and I've took,
I've been alone and I've fucked
I've been in love and hated
I've prayed, slept, and awakened
I existed, and hid
I've disappeared and re appeared
I've imagined and I've fasted
I've riddeled and I've lasted
I've created and been abandoned
I've controlled and let go
I've been medicated and seen miraculous things
I've beaten and I've defeated
I've fallen and got up
I have relapsed and lied
I have hoped and lost
I testify, I have demonized and personified
I've been human and listened
I've spoken and regretted
I've fretted and forgotten
I traveled and I've forgiven
I've failed and fled
I've taken tests and passed
I have hoped and lost again
Again and Again,
I've been blah and in panic

Bible hymns... Are you a religious person? What do you believe in?

I grew up with a pseudo wiccan biomom, who rebels against a catholic upbringing, I transitioned into Atheism, but began relating to spirituality again through shamanism. I remain weary of religion, but I wear my passed grandmother's cross now and have experienced deeply positive and moving connections with faith/belief through church groups and super natural individuals (who found me when I didn't know what I was looking for exactly, but were open and receptive to hearing) which I respect and want to pay tribute to, their words and actions may help benefit others too.

You speak a lot about Drugs in your writings... What drugs have you taken or became addicted to? What are some of the affects you have experienced do to taking them?

Im guilty of self medication in the past, although I have never felt guilty about those wrong choices. I regret the consequences and being naive and repent the ignorance, but I've learned more about my mind and body since and advocate sobriety. I was trying to make helpful decisions for my past situation, I was trying to die, I was trying to fly, I was trying to pass through life, I was trying to be numb enough I to hold myself together. I used descriptive language of how the drugs felt on different levels and pet names that understate their power- because of an innocent misconception I held and shared with other youthful users. Sometimes the actual words can be triggering and I appreciate how people who have experienced drugs differently can still relate on some of the same reasoning, similar illogic, and feelings of why they choose to abuse themselves. The flux of reactions ranged from calming and peaceful, to anxiety and catatonic states, to profound thoughts to confusing voices to delirious schizophrenia.

You also speak about Mental Health... Have you been diagnosed with something or is it a self diagnosis ?

I am amused and disgusted with my history with the 'official' modern mental health industry, where being cared for means being a case in a system of terminology i would never use to describe myself. 'A record of ADD, a history of behavioral disorder'- a friend told me recently I obviously don't know how to behave myself (in a silly manner)! In my new zine, I hope to share a holistic approach of perspective to healing that is more reassuring and confident in identity because I will not rely on negative language to portray my reality.

You also speak of relationships gone wrong.... What are your feelings on the world and how people interact ?
What are your thoughts on love?

My sense of the world was like topsey turvey flowing concrete mix that hadn’t hardened into cement yet but was still just as thick and clingy and stagnant. Its about reflecting on how one holds or lets go of their conflict with self image. Everything had felt transparently violent. I thought I was invisible and was shocked when people tried to interact with me like I existed as a material thing. Except for the hat of negative concepts I wore and was trapt by, I was so unattached I didn’t think I was tangible. That’s the presence that walked around with me and entered into rooms like a question mark to others that I didn’t expect to offend people by, but it did and caused uncomfortable petty confrontational games void of resolve or conclusion. Misanthropes didn’t have much care for mercy, I was dry of compassion. My only capability was to seriously focus on faults, day in and day out. That was the burden complex of my identity.
Committing myself to surrender and be vulnerable with another who does the same for me (in their own unique way) were the only times I had been happy. I will be unlucky again and again, but god may just often giving me fortunes in that form. I live for those moments of solace in a trusting embrace, now, instead of suffering without the support, I wish I was devoted to a more attractive (less dramatic) distraction- but love is the most powerfully inspiring stimulant that offers to balance my sense of worth, I depend on an equal as a destination for hope when I cant see it. Love is being acknowledged as a human being, its about being cherished, its about awkward sex that may not be right but feels somewhat natural, valid to do on a regular occasion, and vital. Love is the unexpected positivity I can never earn, but deserve, love is not a purpose or romantic promise, but a momentary gift without too much controllable intent- which will effect me for a life time and I will never believe I survived and want to for ever survive for.
I’m trying to figure out why I am still labeled as strange, I embrace myself as ‘normal’ now (after much philosophical debate and turmoil) and am intrigued with the curiosity that is the undiplomatic injustice of being ostracized as ‘strangely different’, put off, unwelcomed , out, unsafe. I see a difference in how I carry myself with a new atmosphere, but still feel an old, oddly similar stigma despite my leaps in communication and forming sentences.

You got a taxidermy giraffe , a case of bubble gum, a cap gun and tire swing... How does this scenario turn out?

Im on stage at the Main Street Museum, its the Grotesque Burlesque show and my act is to be deviant on a tire swing to Kimya Dawson's related title rock song. In my mind the audience becomes taxidermied animals and instead of money being thrown at me, I imagine a special giraffe shooting sticky bubble gum all over on me.

Final question where can we find your writings and what else do you have in the works?

I am going to pimp out 75 copies. Most, 99% are going to be free and found through friends sharing them and leaving them in new locations for some else to take home and pass on to another down the line. I traded two copies with Second Hand Books in Hanover, N.H.- the owner needed local poetry material, so she is going to sell them for $1.50 each and I got a white stripes CD there! I also left two copies in the Script section at the Five College Book Sale Scholarship Fundraiser, there wasn't a price on either of them but I imagine they were sold after all because they were gone the next day! I recommend people picking them up at the Hopkins art center, I put them in the info bins for the Flux show and the security guards or space set up people may move them. The Haven, the Junction, the Co op, the Tip Top, the library in Lebanon/Hanover/Kilton, the Main St. Museum, either opera house, The Cartoon College, a fistful of places. But it is also downloadable on What Doth Life.com!

I am having fun working on ideas with local innovators and DIYers, collaborating roles to live life as performance art.

Blog
Facebook

Interview with Candice Douglas ( A Rising Star)

2011-05-01T11:46:00.004-04:00

Who is Candice and what do you have to offer the world?

I am Candice Douglas. I like to keep things positive and jolly. You know what they say; a little goes a long way. I think that I could offer the world a smile! I hope to someday have one little smile stretch across the globe. Passed along to brighten someone else's day one person at a time.
I love to sing songs and compose original music. It's really my passion in life. I'm aged 33 years and still not perfect!

Have you released any of your music? If so where could we find it? Also is there any tuba solos in any of the songs you compose?

I have a couple of original songs up on my Soundcloud. (Hehehe that name makes me envision a cloud filling up with sound about to burst into a heavy rainfall of song.) I've composed a couple more multi-track recordings on my computer which I plan on releasing soon. I also have a myspace which has old karaoke recordings Candice Douglas on Myspace. As for tuba solos... I haven't tried my luck on any yet, but I do come up with some great tunes when I'm in the tub! I plan on recording an album in my bathroom someday.

What's your soundcloud pages address?

Candice on Soundcloud

What are your thoughts on animal abuse? Have you abused any animals as of late?

My thoughts on animal abuse? I'll tell you that it's a very sensitive subject for me. I've seen my fair share of documentaries about the way humans take advantage of the poor little things. It's heart wrenching and stomach turning what human beings are capable of. My opinion is to leave animals alone unless you are going to treat them like gold. As far as abuse of animals myself? Well I like to throw my cat in the air and catch her like a baby. She isn't physically hurt by this, but I think she gets a bit humiliated. Also, I ALMOST ran over a squirrel the other day, and probably squashed a few frogs when it was raining... whoops!

I hear you are getting married? How is that going?

OH yes yes yes!!! The marriage is my favorite thing to talk about as of late. We were thinking of having a fall wedding, but this morning Ned called me up and said that he didn't want to wait that long, and begged to get the ball rolling for early summer! Our colors are red, white, blue and PURPLE! how zany right?! I've saved myself for this moment and I'm really very nervous about the wedding night but also so excited!

What is your vision of the perfect Ice cream sundae?
A perfect ice cream sundae would start with the purest of vanilla ice cream. I'm talkin' very real simple ingredients: cream, sugar, and vanilla. It would then have some hot fudge drizzled all around the sides and a few zig zags over the top followed by mounds and mounds of fresh real whipped cream and pralines!!! I know it doesn't sound too elaborate, but it's the quality that counts for me.

If you were to make a mix of music someone what would be the top 5 songs/artist you would begin it with?

Oh what a question. I would take a very long time deciding since I do enjoy making personal mixes. The artists would probably include:

Roy Orbison
Marylin Manson
Dolly Parton
Crazy Town
Ringo Starr

Maybe you just inspired me to make a new playlist!

How are you going to obtain world domination?

Teehehe world domination. A dust bunny behind a church door I began, and a dust bunny I will become. In between I plan to grace the earth with kindness, and be the best Candice I can be!

Interview with David McWane From Big D and the Kids Table

2011-04-26T14:50:00.002-04:00

Who are the members of Big D and the Kids Table and what roles do they play in the band?

On the new record, For The Damned, The Dumb & The Delirious, we had…

David McWane - Vocals
Steve Foote - Bass Guitar, Ukelele
Nick Pantazi - Guitar
Derek Davis - Drums
Ryan O’Connor - Saxophone, melodica
Chris Lucca - Trumpet
Paul E. Cuttler - Trombone
Daniel Stoppelman - Trumpet
Kyle M. Bagley - Trombone
Sean P. Rogan - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Gabe Feenberg - Accordion
Anthony Carone - Piano / Organ
Paul Dussault - Baritone Saxophone
Gabe Rossi - Fiddle
Sirae Richardson - Vocals
Hayley Jane - Vocals
Brianne Finn - Vocals

Within the 14 years of playing music what would be some of your highlights and downfalls you have experienced along the way?

I would say some of the best highlights of being in Big D and the Kids Table are traveling to different countries, that I would never be able to go other wise, hearing that our music has helped people through tough times in their lives and how much my folks, sisters and high school friends like that I play in a band. They feel special when you get them in for free and give them free beer.

What do you think is missing from the music scene in this current day of age?

I do feel bad for kids these days with music. When I was young, bands were celebrated for being odd, avant-garde and different. Yet today it seems bands are more applauded for being the same, playing the game, with the goal of just trying to make the most poppy catchy chorus they can. The art is missing. The ‘fuck you, this is who I am’ is gone. Everything has gone the way of Disney and tweens and what I mean by that is - bands seem to write music for a younger audience, rather then writing about adult matters, that then young kids feel daring to be listening to. Also when I was young if you sold out that was a bad thing, while today you have to sell out just to be out there playing. Musicians are now vehicles for companies to sell products. If you don’t have an endorsement deal and/or a commercial, than you haven’t made it yet. It’s a shame; I like the artsy days of music more.

If you could be any animated cartoon character who would it be and why?

Either Roger Rabbit, so I could be married to his girl Jessica or Archer from Archer, because he seems to have a fun life.

Tell us about your forthcoming release ‘For the Damned, the Dumb, and the Delirious’ What can we expect? Can you tell us a bit about the songs?

This record is a bit more like our records Good Luck mixed with How It Goes. Our last release was very positive for us because it was a very positive time – Obama became president, I was going to get married, I moved into a nice apartment and I got two cats. Yet now, the GOP & Tea Party are being insane, I left the chickanna, am living in a cabin on a lake and one of my cats was killed – so this album is a bit less positive. But to be even more truthful for you, we loved the songs of our last record Fluent In Stroll, but the tunes just aren’t as fun to play live. We want that canine licking, biting into lightning vibe back in our tours.

What has been on your mind lately ?

Finishing the record & artwork.
Getting ready for Warped Tour.
Finishing my 3 books & audio book that will be out this summer.
Collecting and splitting firewood for my cabin.
How my ex got pregnant by a guy she just met, how crazy girls are and how I dodge a serious bullet ;)
And my grant application that’s due in July.

What else can we expect From Big D and the Kids Table this year?

Oh just a lot of touring. We should be touring for a little more than a year. Warped Tour – Head Lining Tour then England / Europe.

Big D and the Kids Table Website

Interview with The Law Abiders

2011-04-17T00:33:00.003-04:00

Can you tell us a little about yourselves and the instruments you rock out on?
Matt: I'm on guitars. I draw black and white pictures. I like cute stuff.
Katie: All your bass are belong to us.
Austin: I play guitar because of its sexy six string set up. Also my inspiration for playing is most likely Axl Rose.. although not a guitar player, he is sexy.
Levi: I think it's important to listen to at least two radios at once. That kind of helps me throw up. When I'm not listening to the radio, or maybe some nicer music is on. I like to play the drums and cymbals. Does anyone else hate when drummers say that?

When will you be putting out some recorded music?
Well that's easy, like next week. Signed, The Law Abiders.

Can you tell us a bit about where you get your inspiration for your lyrics?
Katie: I'm a mute. No, don't jump! There's wolves down there!
Levi: Katie, just look at me. SHUT UP!
Austin: I just want to say, I got all the inspiration for the lyrics from MattI can FINALLY write a song!
Levi: My lyrics come from Matt who writes them. I help him sing them. He's brilliant.
Matt: Aw, shucks! Thanks!
Levi: Your welcome, Matt. Don't be such a modest prick. I also like how you call your message machine from work to remember lyrics.
Matt: That I do. Hey, I'm doin' my best here!
Katie: [We also draw inspiration from] Tommy Wiseau's The Room.
Austin: Oh, hi doggy! [dictated, not read]

If you could invent something, what would it be and what purpose would it serve?
Austin: I'll answer that one, motherships. They would serve the purpose of floating while housing.
Katie:I'm gonna go with holograms. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.
Levi: Lava lamps with different shapes.
Matt: Hey! That could help with peoples home decor.

What are some things that you think people should be aware of?
Matt: Cool science!
Katie: Teen pregnancy.
Levi: Solar flares. Also probably fisher cats. I chased one and cornered it in a stonewall.
Austin: Don Coburn
Levi: We're also planning a tour with The Paramore, so be aware of The Paramore.

Interview with Daniel Rosler of A Fire With Friends

2011-03-28T08:57:00.003-04:00

How did you guys meet, how long have you been writing music together?

It's difficult to answer this question without going in to a really long winded explanation about how the band came together, but I'll do my best to give a short, accurate answer. I started writing songs a few years ago and "A Fire With Friends" was this three piece acoustic side project that I guess I accidentally started. Eventually, the amount of members grew with several people coming in and out of the band until we eventually ended up with the lineup we're working with now. This lineup has been together for a little under a year, and is what I believe to be the strongest we've had. Most of us have been in other local bands around the Scranton area before this one and that's how we met. Otherwise, we've met through mutual friends.

What was the first musical experience that made you want to be a musician and the instrument you choose to play?

I can only speak for myself with this question, but my Dad was the first to push the idea that I should pick up an instrument. He's a really great musician. At some point or another I decided to listen to him and then it took over my life. I don't know if he expected that.

If you could have a super power what would it be and why ?

My brain is a little fried and I don't know how to answer this. I just called Eric, who plays the synthesizers and some percussion in the band, and asked him what he would pick. He said he'd like to to be able to never sleep so he could conquer the world in the twilight hour...or be able to spit fire. I guess I agree with that.

What are some of your favorite venues to play outside your home area and why?

We played this venue in South Carolina called "Homemade Genius." The people who run the venue actually give a damn about music and the musicians that come through their town. They also have local art displayed on the walls, which reminded me of a venue we play a lot in our hometown called "The Vintage Theater." I love the atmosphere at both of those places. We played last night at "Main Street Museum" in Vermont and that was one of the best experiences I've ever had playing music. From what I could tell, there's a really strong scene there. The bands were great, the owners were nice, and the people who came to the show were respectful, responsive, and supportive. Met a lot of nice folks there, and we shared beers and good stories. What more could you ask for? Oh, and there's a place called "The Empty Glass" in West Virginia. We showed up like eight hours early for that show and they fed us copious amounts of free alcohol. The bartender that night was a sweetheart. I wouldn't mind playing there again.

Could you tell us a bit about the songs on your cd happily haunted... Are there any stories or themes behind them?

Most people's criticism about "Happily Haunted" is that it lacks a flow, and feels more like a mix CD than a complete thought. I can't really disagree with that. Don't get me wrong, I'm very proud of that EP, but when I listen back to it, I can hear the differences in where we were as a band with each song. There was a lot of growth during the recording of that EP. So I can't say that "Happily Haunted" is a very thematic album outside of the fact that "Not As Amused" and "Pat U Pat (U Pat)" were both born out of relationship anxiety. But even they are different in that sense. I don't know. "American Standard" was a song written by Ed Cuozzo, who has since left the band, and "Picture You Picturing" was a song we all wrote together one day in a garage at like 2:00 AM in the winter. That's a memory I'm really fond of. "Caliente!" was the last to be written for the EP. I guess that's more of the direction we've been heading in. There isn't necessarily a story behind that song, more so putting together several images that are intended to sort of convey a feeling of disappointment, regret, and frustration. I suppose it's a bit misanthropic as well. Other people might listen to it and hear sunshine though. So who knows? If anything, I'm proud of our arrangement of that track and I think that's something we've been focusing on a lot since.

How would you describe your music to someone who never heard it before?

I never really know how to. Plus sometimes people hear influences in your music that you never intended or don't even agree with. I suppose we're an "Indie" band, whatever the hell that means these days. I don't think we're afraid to wear our influences on our sleeves, but at the same time I hope we come across as an original band. If you put Arcade Fire, Margot & The Nuclear So and So's, Weezer, and Modest Mouse in a blender then the loud, seven piece shake you've created might be us.

In closing tell us what's been on your mind as of late? Also what are the plans for A Fire With Friends this year?

Aside from normal life drama, the record we're working on has been on my mind a lot lately. I think everyone else would agree with that. The working title for the album, which will be our first full length, is "Like Giants Sleeping In Basements." It's been making me lose my mind in the best of ways. We've been recording it in a studio, a trailer without operating heat in the woods, and Chelsea's Dad's house. There's a lot of DIY spirit behind it. When it comes out I think people will deny it's conceptual at all, and instead tell me that it's lack of flow and poorly thought out track listing makes it sound more like a "Hipster: Best Of" mix you'd play at some bar where everyone is judging each other, then a record. Or people will get it...I hope. We've also been planning out a tour. Both weekends and an extended one in late summer after the record is finished and released. We can only hope for the best, but the hard work we've been putting in to the band seems to have been paying off as of late. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it continues.

A Fire With Friends Facebook Page

Interview with Daniel Johnston

2011-03-18T05:39:00.008-04:00

Interview With Daniel Johnston by Postmortem Remains
Interview Questions were asked by Daniel's Brother Dick Johnston.....
Hi, How are you?

Yeah. Oh Yeah What about it. Oh Fine. Thank You.

If you could paint your perfect world how would it look?

Just the same as Usual you know. (Holds up his Art) (Dick Johnston "His Perfect world is his cartoons")

If you could spend the day in someone else's mind for one day... Who would it be and why?

Well of course I .. I've been as close to the Beatles as any other group and I listened to their bootlegs it's like I've been there for years. Pretty much know behind the scenes with them.
(Dick Johnston "So you would choose to be a Beatle for the day if you could?")
I'll tell you what my music the new stuff I'm working on sounds like Beatles music. I listened to so much Beatles it's original Melody but it's a lot of Beatles tricks and stuff in it.

If you could change any part of your life what would it be and why?

Well I would love to get a girl and get married cause I'm getting older. Someone to help take care of me and have them spend my millions of dollars.

Are you concentrating more on music or art now a days?

Well I draw a lot but I've been trying to play the piano more so that's going a lot better.

What are the most important things to you in your life right now?

Well, it is so fun going to Austin like we did today and uh shopping is what I love to do. Margery takes me shopping too. My Brother takes me to go get groceries of course. When I get to go out and go somewhere that's the fun times.

Daniel Johnston Website

Interview with Giant Travel Avant Garde

2011-03-14T16:36:00.012-04:00

The name of your band is epic. How would describe your music to someone who never heard it?

Luke-Short songs.A lot of them start with the E Chord.

Ryan-Fuzzy pop nestled between sheets of sparse pleasantries and out-there experimentation.

Brendan- Frustrating, nirvana wannabes.

You released two CD's in 2010.. When's the new album coming out ? Also are you sticking in the same direction with your music ?

Ryan- A new 12 song album is expected to be done late spring/early summer. Although there is always an evolution with songwriting we are honing down more to 'what works' best for us. Im thrilled with the juxtaposition in our most recent direction of short catchy pop songs mixed with the more improvisational based elements.

Brendan -Im hoping it sounds watery-er and messy-er as thats what i think we sound like in practice.

If you had to live in a store for a week what one would you camp out at and why?

Luke-Wal Mart.1)So I could pass out communist leaflets and 2)They have everything you could possibly need or want.

Ryan-The Sharper Image has so many different vibrating toys and chairs, ways to tell the weather, bbq accessories and fun bullshit, i would be entertained well beyond 1 week!!

Brendan - Vermont Salvage in White River because I feel like the secrets of the universe are in there somewhere

I know you guys play in different bands... Can you tell us a little something about your other projects?

Luke-I do a good amount of solo recording:lukechrisinger.bandcamp.com And I collaborate with my friends in recording projects such as I Love Jounal,Chinese Death Room and Colour En Bloc.

Ryan- I play Drums in Hannah and the Wooden Spoons. It is piano driven singer/songwriter stuff by a girl Hannah Hoffman. I really enjoy playing drums for her, setting a mood for her songs and such. Its quite different than GTAG so I get to play around a lot within the more rigid song structure. There are more rules, which I need sometimes. I have also played guitar for years in a band called Heavy Winged, a noise/improv/drone band. We started in brooklyn but all moved away. We get together once a year or so to record and tour. Our newest record streams on the Type label site at:http://typerecords.com/releases/sunspotted-2-2. I also work on electronic music under 'civildawn'. I also produce a few demos and such for people here and there and have a few more bands/projects I work on. Too many!

Brendan- Bass in giant travel, The Pilgrims (fun mrgoodtimes rock), the demons (rollacosta). guitar in ralph (windsor yumcore) and The Jobz(going to bring it back yall). drums in beast meats (someday released projectile w/ rhebert). all things in the strawberries (with luke C) occasional filmaker for music videos and bordome as soul bank/ garry poppins.

What are some of the obstacles you had to face finding venues to play around the Vermont/ New Hampshire ?

Ryan- This is a huge issue for us and our crew. There are very few places or even bars that host original music in our immediate area. The ones that are around are at least an hours drive and are hard for us to promote in, as we arent from there. The internet can only get you so far. Playing other towns/cities is great but we are really tryin to cultivate a better local community for original bands to play.

Brendan - We've been asked to play some shows out of our area and when we get there, we play for the other bands and get 14 dollars. this sort of bothers me, but this is pretty much my life experience. I love playing music, but have learned that sometimes its a lot more fun to sit in the practice space and let people come hang rather than going out. playing rock n roll (hell doing art) is a hedonistic venture in its own right, but performance is only fun when the crowd wants to be there. in WRJ, the crowd always wants to be there.

Luke-It's not my job to find venues but sometimes I do have to sit in the car for a good amount of time while Ryan drives us to some distant place.

Finishing off tell us what's on your mind as of lately!?!

Luke-I really want to buy two houses.One for me and one for the spirits that haunt me.

Ryan - I really want to buy a house! Having a dedicated studio space of my own would make me more productive and I wouldnt have to always drag my shit around! Everyone is poor and the country is broke so at least being happy in my own little world would be nice.

Brendan- I have no interest in buying a house.

Giant Travel Avant Garde

Interview With Roch

2011-03-07T17:41:00.002-05:00

Can you give us a look inside your mind by giving us some insight behind the tracks on Light Weight Bi Polar Mania?

Inside my mind huh? Well the tracks on Lightweight Bipolar Mania happens to be my first completed solo project. It displays my ability to sing haunting soundscapes, R&B, Hip-Hop, jazzy riffs, to more Alternative edgy Rock influenced sound and rap. Being that I love most genres of music and all my emotions from my experiences in life helped me write and choose the production for the album, I named it Lightweight Bipolar Mania. I feel like we all suffer from an acute case of Bipolar Mania. My life or emotional roller coaster I like to call it is reflected through my music. With that said my struggle for a balance with my ups and downs fuels my music.

Growing up what groups influenced you the most?

What didn't influence me! I loved sneaking through my parents stuff and finding CDs, tapes and even 4 tracks I'd play in my dads 79 Lincoln town car. Anything I could get my hands on. Otis Redding, The Beatles, The Mighty Sparrow, Temps, and my fav, Jimmy Hendrix all played a major part!

If you could go inside books like Gumby which book would you enter and why?

I've alway, always wanted to be in a character in a Dr. Seuss book like Horton Hears a Who or Green Eggs And Ham. The way he rhymes, and frequent use of trisyllabic meter is so appealing to me. His characters are drawn with such a unique style. The best!

What was the main reason for going solo after being in groups for many years?

Well being in a 8 man super human group, ThunderHut didn't allow me to make as many decisions as I wanted to. I needed to be able to be free and be to make any type of music I wanted to. All though being in ThunderHut made me into the artist I am today!! I fucking love those dudes and will always make music with them. Their my brothers for life!!!

How would you describe your song writing process?

The writing process for me is difficult some times. I draw inspiration for the lyrics and the dynamics of each song primarily from my current emotional status hens the tittle Lightweight Bipolar Mania. I'm an emotive writer. I love to write in my mind when I'm doing everyday normal things like brushing my teeth, showering, on the pot, cooking ect... I use past experiences, movies and interpret my dreams for concepts for songs. A little relaxation and herbal remedies help as well *WinkWink*

What are you goals for this 2011?

My goals for 2011 is to better solidify my persona in the minds of my audience. I want people to connect with me not through just hearing my music but through the visual experience of seeing me not only an artist but as a human being first and foremost. I'm also looking forward to connecting with my audience on a bicoastal level and potentially on an international level as well. Continuing to develop as an artist and experimenting with new sounds and ideas. Im also pursuing collaborations with other artist of different sounds to expand my musical horizons.

ROCH Website

Interview with Canterbury

2011-02-28T15:38:00.002-05:00

Tell us about where your from and how it influenced you to start creating music?

We're from around the Hampshire/Surrey area in the South of England. There's some pretty awesome festivals around here like Reading Festival for example which was a big driving force behind wanting to be in a band and make music.

How would you describe your experiences so far being together as a band?

Awesome, testing, exhausting, energizing, depressing, uplifting, tiring and rewarding.

Who is your Idol in the Music industry and if you had a chance to meet that person what would be the first question you would ask them and why?

We've all got different people we look up to, that's a tough one, no answer sorry.

Have you ever played in the US / If not would you ever tour over here? Where would you want to play the most?

We've never played in the US no, but we're making plans at the moment to hopefully get over there in the not too distant future. We don't really know the States all that well so it's hard to say where we'd want to play the most. According to our online statistics most of our American fans are based in California, so around there.

Have you ever had a onstage embarrassing moment? if so what would that be?

Plenty, most famously, Mike passed out once, Luke tripped backwards over a monitor and fell flat on his back and as a result of an end of tour prank when on tour with Billy Talent Scott started playing a show once to find talcum powder pouring out of his hi-hats.

What would you like everyone to know about you guys to make them listen to your music?

It's always tough trying to convince people to listen to your music with your words, it's just good catchy, some times danceable, a lot of the time singalong-able, rock music. We like it a lot and you can currently download our debut album for free from Canterbury so go hear it for yourself!

Canterbury

Interview With Campfire OK

2011-02-23T08:35:00.004-05:00

First off How did the name of the group originate?

Brandon: Similar, to the stories behind our songs, this is a bit of an opaque mystery. I suspect Mychal went into the woods on a spirit walk and hallucinated the band name.

Andrew: I think he was in a bar and it came to him.

Mychal: It was a total fluke to be honest with you. I made it up one day long before the record was made and I just couldn't shake it.

With all the members being able to Play a multitude of instruments …. Have any of you made a instrument from scratch just to play something that no one ever heard before?

Mychal: There is some trash can on the album. No joke.

Brandon: When I started recording music as a teen, I didn't own many actual instruments so I improvised percussion using scissors and cutlery.

Andrew: Before I owned an electric guitar, I built one out of plywood and parts of a guitar that we found lying in the grass, getting wet from sprinklers. I also modified a straight mute for a trumpet to include a telephone mic so I could run my horn through a guitar multi-effects pedal. I think Mychal did some of singing into a similar effects pedal on this album.

If you were the serial killers of the Music industry what bands would you dismember first and why?

Mychal: I would not dismember any bands. They are our friends.

Brandon: I don't have a good answer for this because sometimes when a band is truly awful, I might accidentally like them...ironically.

Do you feel that Videos that basically go viral and make a band famous overnight is a good thing or bad and why?

Mychal: I think it can be very very good for a band if they are seasoned musicians. If a band is full of young musicians who have not yet seen the business side along with the creative side, it can destroy them. But if a band is full of hard working, level headed, talented musicians then I think it is an amazing phenomena.

Brandon: There's really two ways something goes viral - one because it's really exciting and connecting with a lot people, quickly. The other way, alas, is when something is catastrophically and horrifically stupid. Let's avoid that shall we?

With so many members in Campfire OK is there a main writer of the songs or are they a collaborated effort?

Brandon: Mychal is the main songwriter, but we all find ways to put our stamp on things. I play guitar, bass & piano too so I clearly can't be made to shut up. We're very supportive of each other though, and we often try every twist and flavor of a song first before figuring out it might have been better "the way we played it first."

Mychal: True, I write the "songs" and we all contribute to the instrumentation of them. We have a very fluid musical collaboration effort. I put songs in bunny ears because most people refer to a song as the basic chord structure and the lyrics.

What can we expect from you guys this year?

Mychal: A lot. Surprises. Tours.

Brandon: More beautiful strange sounds.

Andrew: Yeah, making more videos and new acoustic recordings.

Campfire Ok at Oddfellows from Christian Sorensen Hansen on Vimeo.

Campfire OK

Interview with Vinthoven AKA Vthov

2011-02-18T11:49:00.002-05:00

Starting at such a early age learning how to play piano and being exposed to all types of music... what led you more on the path to doing rap music? and if you stopped what direction would you go next?

Well being from the inner city of Orlando, the rap genre has always appealed to me. I think many people underestimate how musical rap can be. If a rap artist properly utilizes cadence, rhyme scheme, and delivery... the music can have a very alluring effect. If I stopped hip hop, I'd probably try my hand at jazz or gospel... or gospel jazz lol.

If I started a verse like this " The center of gravity. Everything revolves around me. " How would finish it?

"My pull is universal and involves about three/ components... live, laugh, love installed around G's/ I called about the (long e sound like thee)/ problems solved without ease/ To the whack emcees/ Evolve your sound please"

If you were hanging out with the president. Where would you take him and what would be the first major question you would want the answer too?

I would take him to the park in my hood so we could shoot some hoops. It would give him a chance to see what it's like out here and we'd converse along with other young men over a friendly game of 21. My first major question would be "What is your strategy in getting the people to overcome the divides in our country such as race, gender, political affiliation, and economic status to bring about a spirit of unity and quell this climate of hate?"

What would be your dream collaboration?

Ludacris. He is one of my favorite rappers and I think he is a lyrical genius with a delivery that hits very hard. He is very musical in how he approaches his craft. I also know that he can make positive music because I've heard it before. It suits him nicely I think.

What is the main message you are trying to get out through your music?

My main theme is that everyone has potential waiting to be unlocked. There are a plethora of factors that get in the way of that potential. The lack of focus due to the shallow materialism that permeates hip hop culture is one example. Others are self-hate, self-doubt, generational curses, lack of faith, lack of hope, glorification of crime/violence, and peer pressure just to name a few. If my music helps anyone over these stumbling blocks then I will consider my music career a success.

Is there anything else you would like to share with everyone?

Yes, if you believe in my music please share it with your friends. Money can't buy the best promotion there is which is word of mouth. My music is a grass roots effort and it's success is contingent upon the endorsement of it's supporters.

Official Vthov Website

Interview with Ivory Drive

2011-02-18T00:26:00.003-05:00

What was the first spark that initiated your love of music and led up to creating Ivory Drive?

Ivory Drive basically started because of a local Battle of the Bands show in ‘07. Our singer/main-songwriter Van Wampler had signed up to play the gig and assembled a trio just a couple days before the show. Needless to say, we did not win the battle, but we went on to add a couple more members, record some music, and things progressed from there.

For each band member, the first sparks of music-love occurred before we can remember. It’s just something we’ve always done.

You have a great blend of music genre's going on in your songs...... how would you explain your sound to someone that never heard you before?

Our sound is really hard to categorize, and I don’t think we’ve ever done a great job of it. We’re rock n roll with elements of jazz/blues/folk thrown in. Not really fusion, not really indie rock either, just something in between. Someone once said “acid-folk” which would probably work for some songs. Imagine 5 guys who grew up studying jazz, and now just play rock, but without a guitar.

Do you feel musicians need record labels in this day of age? What are your steps of getting your music out there for people to hear?

A record label is probably not 100% necessary in this day and age. The internet makes it easy to get music out there and sell it. However, labels certainly can help, especially for emerging bands like us. Funding recordings, publicity, tour promotion, etc, would be nice. To become a top act in the pop/rock world, I imagine you would need a label at least at some point.

What drives you to keep performing?

We keep performing, basically because we like doing it. We all love to play, so I don’t foresee us stopping anytime soon. We also want to develop as musicians and take Ivory Drive further.

If you were able to travel through time what era would you want to live in and why?

Approximately 65 million years ago, give or take. Bring rock to the dinosaurs! Maybe we could even add a raptor on guitar.

What would be the missing piece to complete the puzzle for Ivory Drive?

We’re always trying to refine and dial-in our sound, and to create new songs that may be successful and reach a wide audience, but distinctly Ivory Drive and not compromising our uniqueness. The raptor might actually be the missing piece, though.

Ivory Drive Website

You Tube

Facebook

Interview with Nick Charyk from Pariah Beat

2011-02-09T17:17:00.002-05:00

Can you give us a quick glimpse inside the minds of the members of Pariah beat and why you choose the instruments that you play?

Tough to speak for other folks... I play guitar, and that's about it. Billy can play almost any instrument he picks up, which is something I occasionally, in my weaker moments, am jealous of. Emily is the really cool one. Girl bass players are cool, as evidenced by the Talking Heads, Devil Makes Three, The Pogues whose original bass player was named Cait but left the band to marry Elvis Costello, and finally, A Perfect Circle, who aren't cool in my book, but had a cool girl bass player.

What styles of music do you mainly draw from when writing your songs?

Speaking purely for myself, the Clash was the first band to really get inside my head, and I followed the influences in their music and got into Reggae, rockabilly, Woody Guthrie, Stax soul, and about a thousand other sounds. The next person that really blew me away was Steve Earle. He seemed to be coming at the American country music tradition with the same intensity as the Clash did with their music. From Earle, I started listening to a lot of outlaw country, Hank Williams and bluegrass. The idea with Pariah Beat was to do what someone like Steve Earle or Joe Strummer did with their influences, work with them in a contemporary way, not trying to reenact past sounds. Another way of putting it, I wanted to do to the American folk and hillbilly music tradition what the Pogues did to Irish music.

If you were a costumed character in a amusement park who would your choice character be and why?

I'd like to be in a Pig Costume selling chicken... I think that would be funny.

How would describe the atmosphere at any given Pariah beat performance?

Raucous, rowdy and lots of fun. Folks have, almost without exception, a good time at our shows - otherwise they wouldn't come. Even when we've played badly, it is usually fun to watch. If we play extra bad, we do the audience the courtesy of ending the show in a big pigpile, or some other type of shenanigans. I think our shows are a positive thing for all involved. It's a pretty disparate set of characters that turn out, and the fact that they are in the same room, dancing together is pretty incredible. It will get sweaty, I will usually tell at least one dirty joke, and we will give it our all. That's the Pariah Beat guarantee, and if you don't like it you can always sneak in the back for free.

What is going on in your video Elvis in Jerusalem and are you going to put out another video soon?

I don't want to give away the game, that's up to you the viewer to decide. My thoughts as a viewer? Perhaps the video is an elaborate metaphor for conflict between East and West, young and old, religion and the secular? Then again, maybe it is an excuse to dance funny, get a man in a gorilla suit and make someone slip on a banana peel. That's not up to me. Tough to say what the next video will be, but I don't doubt there will be one.

What will we be expecting from Pariah Beat within the next few months?

More shows, new songs, and good times. I'm enjoying myself maybe more than ever with the band, and am living in Vermont again. It's a challenge making it happen, but we always have found a way. I'm pretty excited about our new album, and already working on the next one... Now all I have to do is learn a few more dirty jokes.

Interview with Steven Delopoulos from Burlap To Cashmere

2011-01-31T13:28:00.004-05:00

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....

2011-01-26T18:43:00.005-05:00

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

Facebook Page

CD Baby

Interview with Michael Scondotto singer for The Last Stand

2011-01-11T16:35:00.006-05:00

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.
The Last Stand Website

The Last Stand on Myspace

Don't forget to get The Last Stand 7" on 1124 Records