A couple months back I headed out to see one of my friends bands play and was both surprised and absolutely blown away by one of the other bands on the bill, The Handsome Bandit. Up to that point I hadn’t even heard of the band, but after their set I knew these guys had something special. The trio which contains only vocals, bass, keys and drums had put something together that I thought was both very fresh and creative. The closet thing I can compare them to would be Panic! At The Disco, minus the electronics of their first album.

I truly think these guys have a chance at blowing up and creating some very kick ass music. You can check out their recently released video for “Worth Keeping?” below or view their Myspace to check out two additional tracks, one of which I think is their strongest track titled “Absence of Color“.

Even though both releases garnered great reviews and underground buzz, The Sleeping have yet to be able to break into any sort of mainstream success. After giving their newest album titled “The Big Deep” a once over I can definitely say that this album is more than solid, but once again lacks that big hit single that will break them into the spotlight.

Honestly at this point I think The Sleeping seem perfectly happy creating the music that they want and have built up a very loyal following from that attitude. If you are a fan of the past couple CDs you should dig the new jams. And if you have yet to site down and listen to The Sleeping you definitely owe it to yourself. Check out the video for their newest single below:

They are also hitting the road with Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, PM Today and Finger Eleven in the upcoming months. Check out the tour dates at: www.myspace.com/thesleeping

When singer Ray West abandon Girls Of Porn, rumored to be in negotiation talks with labels, 4 guys were left with just this dilema. To retire the band and let there dream and music die, or embark on the long journey of becoming what they are today, the respected rock band Five Points, the band in which the movie “State of Rock’ is filmed around.

While the entricacies of what went down with the metamorphosis of this band are difficult to follow, the end result has led them down paths so intriging to a music fan that not only has producer Anthony Arkin completed this full length documentary about it, but he is following it up with a series called Road Pigs.

The odyssey includes at least 4 name changes, an American Idol darling, and a lot of Patron.
Read their strange tale here, and then go see the movie, or just find the guys at, of all places, a NASCAR event.

www.myspace.com/5pointsrock

Who is the current line up of Five Points?

Craig Jordan: Vocals Rob Math: Guitars Randy Rollner: Bass Rik DeLuca: Drums

What name and member changes have you gone through over the years?

Rik:

Oh my god there’s been so many let see, as far as band names we were Girls of Porn, 11211, Lotus and Blood Orange, Inc.thats all I remeber right now. as far as band members we had Ray West was on vocals Tim Rockmore on guitar then there was Yosuke Arai on guitar who lasted several years John Bectal on vocals then there was Constintine Maroulas, I’m sure you all heard of him. At the time he wasn’t very good so we had to let him go and he was replaced by Mike Hemmes. We did a little recording with him but he didn’t have the goods.

There where many many nameless other singers and guitar players that auditioned. After some time with very little result I gave an old friend a call who can sing his ass off, his name is Craig Jordan now lead singer of the band. Craig and I used to play together years ago along with this guitarist Pete Testa and that was the begining of Five Points. Pete lasted about 8 months and quit a day before a show, I think it was too much for him to handle. Craig gave a call to another monster guitar player we used to play with, Rob Math, who ironically replaced Pete once before! Rob fell in love with what we where doing and jumped on board and there you have Five Points!

How were you initially approached to do the rock-doc State Of Rock?

Randy:
Anthony and I use to be neighbors in the same loft building in Brooklyn. We became friends through our similar taste in art and music. Anthony witnessed the daily grind of what it was like to be an up and coming artist. He thought it was an interesting topic not yet done before. All the hard work that might or might not get you the success you’re looking for. So basically a Hard Days Night, but before there is a Hard Days Night.

What was it like to be followed around, having your lives captured on film for four years?

Randy:
At first it was a little weird, well maybe the first day. After that it was like having Anthony and all our friends around all the time, you don’t even know there was a camera on. The strangest part was watching the film, seeing your life on film was a bit unsettling.

Rik:

At first it was kind of strange there’s all these people around filming everything and you try to put up this front looking cool and shit but thats not what Anthony was after. He wanted to capture us being us. After some time you forget that anyone has a camera and all this great stuff comes out. Eventually you just start acting like yourself.

How soon after the loss of Girls Of Porn’s singer did the filming start?

Randy:
About nine months, we were looking for a new singer when Anthony began filming. Some of the early scenes of the movie where shot by friends and family.

What is your relationship like with former singer Ray West?
Rik:
I still talk to him from time to time just to catch up that’s about it.

Randy:
Ray West… who???

How deep into your personal lives does the movie delve?

Randy:
Straight to the heart, what you see is what you get, we never asked Anthony to remove a scenes because we were assholes or we looked foolish. It is as real as it gets.

Were there times when you wanted to say “Turn off the F-ing camera? Did you ever say that?

Randy:
Never. I think most of the time we were too drunk to care.

One of the auditioning singers went on to some TV notoriety. Can you give us a sneak peak at that story?

Randy:
Constantine went on to be a contestant on American Idol. He placed in the final 8. The chemistry and writing wasn’t right, we just did’nt jell with him. I always thought his talents would be best suited on Broadway. Constantine is now staring in Rock of Ages on Broadway. Good for him!

Any idea how many total hours of footage were taped over the years?

Randy:
Over 500 hours were shot!

What important life events were inadvertently captured during the filming? (Events that were not directly band related, like marriages, divorces, children, etc. )

Randy:
Rik got married to his smoking hot wife Janet.
I dated about eight girls (all relationships ending horribly.)
Yosuke disappeared off the face of the earth, we haven’t heard from him since the wrap of shooting.
Rik and I continued with the project to where we are today!

The director of the film, Anthony Arkin, is rather well known. What was it like working with him?

Randy:
Anthony’s the bomb he’s one of my best buds. Many many laughs and many bottles of Patron.

How do you feel his involvement will give the film a stronger chance of success?

Randy:
I think Anthony is telling a universal story. It’s about the underdog’s and the dream chasers of the world. At the end of the day music has very little to do with the message in which the director is trying to convey. Go out there and throw it all on the line for what one’s passion is. I think our song “Never Letting Go” pretty much sums up the story of the band. Never give up never surrender.

How does it feel to watch the movie now?

Randy:
For a while there was nothing happening with the band, so it was really depressing to replay all the disappointments. Now I feel really fortunate to have had the experience. It’s not everyday you get a big chunk of your life on film.

When is the movie stated to be released, and how and where will it be available?

Randy:
Right now we are negotiating a distribution deal for the band and the movie. We are hoping to have it released by the end of the summer. Along with the DVD a bonus single will be added to the package. If everything goes to plan both the movie and the band’s record will be available at all major retail stores and all digital outlets. So pick one up!

What are the next steps for the band and the movie?

Randy:
The band will be touring throughout north america in support of the release of the movie and the record. We will be appearing in many in- store events and screenings of the film as our schedule permits. For a complete tour schedule and a list of upcoming events please visit us at www.myspace.com/5pointsrock
We will also be at many NASCAR events! So come out and give us a hell yeah!

By: Tyler Hoppel

Do you remember Stutterfly? A sing-scream band that was once on Maverick Records but received relatively little publicity. Fast forward to present day, a name change and the band Secret & Whisper decided to take a stab at a different approach. Their product Great White Whale (Tooth & Nail), was such a highly-regarded debut that, in fact, caused many to nick­name them “The Better Saosin”. Lets not go that far, we can’t compare S&W to Saosin. Saosin made popular this kind of style (high-pitched backed by fast guitar riffs). Teenage Fantasy is a fast paced album that can hold its within this genre. Charles Furney’s vocals can high notes with the best of them (Anthony Green, Cove Reber). S&W has expanded their Saosin sound-alike skills and have come out with an atmospherically impacting rock album with screamo influences that take awhile to take in lyrically, but no time at all musically.

Its quite easy to see that Teenage Fantasy could have been what Saosin would have created with their next album if Anthony Green never left. Lead-off track “Youth Cats” sounds like a continuation of Great White Whale, Furney’s vocals soar high over the fast paced guitar riffs which leads to a huge chorus. The collection of synths is the only addition since their highly-touted debut. Teenage Fantasy has finally got a well deserved production upgrade from Great White Whale.

Teenage Fantasy is very similar to Great White Whale. The general ideas in the music have been carried over with some contrast. In some ways Teenage Fantasy is a little heavier at times, with a strong post-hardcore feel. Most noticeably, it lacks a definite single like “XOXOXO,” although “Warrior (Southern Arrowwood)” and “Famous for a Century” make courageous attempts at filling that role. There certainly are tracks that are just as heavy, but they are less catchy and not as energetic. At the same time, “Bedroom Galaxy” and “Youth Cats” are among the best I’ve heard from the band on either album. Fans of Great White Whale who prefer the more random post-hardcore influences will find a lot to enjoy.

As a whole, Teenage Fantasy is not quite as memorable as Great White Whale was. It’s a little less adventurous and consequently less powerful. As a result, it takes more time to grow on the listener. But in the end, it turns out to be a solid and enjoyable release, one that is sure to satisfy both old and new fans.

Teenage Fantasy stand-out tracks – “Youth Cats” and “Bedroom Galaxy”

Teenage Fantasy track-listing -

01. Youth Cats
02. Warrior (Southern Arrowwood)
03. Bedroom Galaxy
04. Tiny Sparkle
05. Famous for a Century
06. Edge of Wilderness
07. Pretty Snarl
08. Star Blankets
09. Blush
10. Whale Bones
11. Silver Mountain
12. Untitled
13. Upset Seventeen

Score: 4/5
Similar To: Saosin, Ivoryline, Lower Definition

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/secretandwhisper
Purevolume: http://www.purevolume.com/secretandwhisper

Here is a little more information on the band as well from their latest press release:

“For those yet to experience the propulsive, driving rock from this instrumental three-piece, they’ll have a chance to see them push the envelope of tone and dynamics in an intense set. Their catchy, sometimes ambient brand of molten-core will appeal to fans of Sleep and Isis, but discerning listeners will know the trio peddle a uniquely atmospheric take on angular rock. Kerretta has shared the stage with the likes of Explosions In The Sky, The Breeders, Mono and …And You Will Know Us by the Trail Of Dead and their debut album Vilayer earned them a nomination for the “Taite Music Prize” (New Zealand’s equivalent to the UK’s Mercury Music Prize).”

Myspace: www.myspace.com/kerretta

I was also given the opportunity of interviewing Kerretta, so here it is for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

1. Tell us about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

Kerretta are three-piece instrumental rock band from Auckland New Zealand, who are currently a long ways from home… who have also meet some amazing people here in America and made many new friends along
the way.

2. When did Kerretta first form and what inspired the name?

Oh we made it up, we wanted our own word, no other reason than that, it is slightly borrowed from a small town in the Coromandel region of New Zealand.

3. How would you describe your music and style?

We joke around with the name “Molten Core, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, always devastating!

4. What influences your music the most?

Our lives and the culture that surrounds us; if you want a musical influence it would be bands that are innovative in what they do. It’s 2010 and we want to sound like that. We’re not rehashing music from previous decades, and we hope our records sound great now and great in 10 or 20 years from now.

5. What is the writing process like for you guys?

We have luxury of having a studio in Auckland, so most of our writing is recorded improvisation, which we then listen back to and work on parts that we think we can take further.

6. Where did the cover artwork for your debut album Vilayer come from and who designed it?

Our good friend- Auckland based Artist/Designer Mike Charlberg. He has worked with us on every release. It’s important to us to have someone to keep the visual aspect interesting and consistent.

7. What do you feel sets your music apart from other notable instrumental rock groups such as Russian Circles and Explosions in the Sky?

Who knows, it’s not something we would have thought about so much. We just try as to push the sonics and arrangements as far as we can, as I’m sure those bands do as well.

8. You just got done playing SXSW a little while back, how did that go for you guys as I’m assuming this is your first time playing stateside?

Yes, SXSW was great and it was the first time Kerretta have been in the States. A couple of us have been here in previous bands so we knew what to expect in Austin, seemed to be just as crazy as I remembered!
It was a great time; we meet some great people and the shows went well.

9. What can fans of Kerretta expect going forth in 2010?

Well we hope to have the next record wrapped up in July, writing has already started…it seems to have taken a more rhythmic approach again. We are just trying to experiment with new sounds and to try not to repeat ourselves. I mentioned that on a phone interview not so long ago and the guy was like “No don’t do that! Please just make ten more Vilayers!” which is cool. So, still a few months of writing and recording to go. Who knows how it will end up, we should know, but we don’t.

For fans of: Explosions in the Sky, Russian Circles, Isis

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kerretta

Check out Kerretta’s music video HERE

Like sitting by the camp fire with a guitar, a drum, and anything else you can get your hands on, the calming harmony of opening track “Any Day Now” from Jon and Roy’s third official album leaves you in awe-state and dying to hear what’s next.

Victoria locals John Middleton and Roy Vizer, and their band, are following up to their critically acclaimed second album, “Another Noon” (2008), with a 14 track gem, “Homes”, dropping this April 13th. The combination of melodic strokes and cheerful whistling all chiming to the tune of reggae chords, African drums, and wise lyrics puts a new meaning to this genre of folk music.

Recently coming off of having their single, “Another Noon”, featured on a commercial for Volkswagen, the group seems to be putting an even greater effort in to exploring their plethora of musical variations. Perhaps it’s the recent expansion of their band, with Dougal Maclean on Violin and friend Ryan Tonelli on bass, that has helped them with the continued success and achievements, playing some of Canada’s largest music festivals, and having their music featured in movies and TV shows. Perhaps it’s the quaint and cozy atmosphere of Vancouver Island, where they spent countless hours recording the new album, that has kept them so lively in their music.

My song of choice from Homes has got to be “Giddy Up“, which seems to highlight the entire album for me, as well, reminds me so much of their previous works.

Bottom line, this album is simply wonderful if you’re in to softer, more melodic folk music, and I can see it possibly being an album anyone would like, even if the folk genre isn’t their cup of tea. Jon and Roy also make for a good live performance, and you can catch them live if you’re in the Victoria area April 1st, as they’re playing their CD release party at the McPhereson playhouse.

My Rating: 4½ out of 5

For your listening pleasure you can download “Worry About You” for free here: http://www.tinyurl.com/2amworry

I had the opportunity to interview Marc and Tyler of 2AM Club about what they are about what we can expect from them in the upcoming months! Enjoy!

Tell us about yourself, who are you and what do you do?

Marc – I’m Marc Griffin I sing songs with my friends in the 2AM CLUB.

Tyler – I am Tyler, I play the vocals with 2AM Club.

When did 2AM Club form and what inspired the name?

Marc- We are named after a wonderful drinking establishment 10 minutes north of San Francisco in a town called Mill Valley. Matt (guitar) and I were raised there.

How would you describe your music and style?

Tyler – Sweaty, lovely, crazy. It’s hopefully smart dance music that you can vibe out to alone or turn on at the party and put the night in the right direction. We grew up listening to everything, hip-hop, rock, soul, etc., and I think a lot of our generation did the same, so when we write, it really combines everything we love.

What influences your music the most?

Tyler – Relationships with our friends, family, women, and trips we’ve taken, the terrible nights and the wonderful ones.

What is the writing process like for you guys?

Tyler – Usually we just sit in a room together and throw out whatever we’re feeling. If someone has an idea and everyone is connecting with it, we try and see it through and make a song.

Marc – We all walk the streets with little ideas floating in and out of our minds. When we get together it’s just about blending them in the right way. Sometimes that means hours of arguing and a general loss of plot, ha, but we really value that process now because we believe in the work that spawns from it.

You released your first single, “Worry About You” as a free download. How do you feel about piracy and does it affect your music?

Tyler – I love how easy it is to give people music these days, we wanted to throw our song out before it goes to itunes or radio or anything, so that people who want to get on board with us can have the inside scoop. It’s sort of like, come to the back room, we’ll pull down the velvet rope for you and if you want to stay, come with us on this journey.

Is there a back-story to your first single “Worry About You”?

Marc – Yes. It’s a classic story I guess, the love you have to let walk away but you forever hold onto that one you always worry about. I first thought of the melody walking around the Third St. Promenade in LA, our first recording of it was as an up-tempo rock record. We re-imagined it working with Jerry Harrison and Eric Thorngren in the bay area and turned it into what you hear today.

When can we expect your debut album to be released?

Tyler – This summer! We’re so excited we can’t deal.

What is your favorite venue that you have played in thus far?

Marc – I’d have to say Union Hall in Park Slope. It reminds of the Tiny Porno shows we used to play in LA when we were first getting out there.

Tyler – We played a show out in Lexington, Kentucky with our good friend Mike Posner at this huge warehouse type place and it was just incredible. The venue was a little dirty and a little weird, and there was almost a riot outside, but once we started playing, the whole mood shifted and turned in the right direction, which made this old warehouse have a little magic in it.

What can fans expect to see from 2AM Club going forth in 2010?

Tyler – Everything! It will be the first dialogue between our music and the world around us, and we will tour EVERYWHERE. Hit us up if you want to see us at your school/city/whatever! And if you like our stuff, send our music to your friends! MUCH LOVE!

Marc – Us making something crazy happen in their city

For fans of: Maroon 5, Gym Class Heroes, Justin Timberlake

MySpace: www.myspace.com/2amclub
Facebook: www.facebook.com/2amclub
Website: www.2amclubmusic.com

Originally starting out as a solo project by Craig Minowa, Cloud Cult has blossomed over the past 15 years into a band that has managed to stay independent and true to themselves. Here is an interview we recently did with Craig!

For fans of: Menomena, Mates of State, Anathallo

Check out Cloud Cult on:
www.myspace.com/cloudcult
www.cloudcult.com

For those of our readers who may have never heard of Cloud Cult, tell us about yourself; who are you and what do you do?

We’re a band from the Midwest working on our 9th album. We write and perform music for the sake of spiritual exploration.

How would you describe your music and style?

It’s very eclectic, as some songs are folky, some have electronica. We use a lot of orchestration, so we’ve been called orchestral rock.

What would you say influences your music the most?

The Grand Mystery. The big unknown. The hereafter. The search for the purpose and meaning of life. Ghosts, life, aliens and magic.

What is the writing process like for you guys?

I have a recording studio at earthology here in the woods of Wisconsin. I spend my days writing and recording. I send those recordings to the band, and we figure out how to make them better.

Your record label that you formed, Earthology, is environmentally and socially friendly, focusing on sustainability and being environmentally and socially responsible. Why do you think that you are the only record label to go this route thus far?

There are other record labels that have taken steps in that direction since Earthology’s inception in the late 90s. It’s getting to be a trendier thing to do, and more people are starting to understand the importance of trying to establish some sort of balance when it comes to looking at how our businesses impact the environment. As human animals, I think our evolution has taught us to usurp as many resources as possible, because there’s always been plenty, but our population and our massive consumption levels have tipped that into a new paradigm where our educated brains need to override the genetic desires and consciously make choices to live in moderation.

What do you think more bands/artists could do to be more “green” such as Cloud Cult is?

There are very simple things that can be done to minimize your ecological footprint. Look at your merchandise first. Look for 100% postconsumer recycled packaging for your cds. Don’t fall for the “recycled” sales gimmick, if it’s not “postconsumer” content, then it’s not truly recycled. Yes, it costs more to do organic t-shirts, but cotton is the most pesticide intensive crop on the planet. We need to take responsibility for our
actions. You can’t poo-poo the Exxons and Monsantos of the world, if you aren’t taking the steps to run your own business in a responsible fashion. Just because it’s a smaller business, doesn’t mean you can’t afford to run it ethically. Get creative with your merchandise. In the early days, we’d buy used t-shirts in bulk and sew our logo on them. They were cheap to make and they were totally green. You can also minimize your touring
footprint by planting trees to absorb our greenhouse gases and buying wind power from companies like nativeenergy.com to fuel the grid for what you consume.

I have never seen anything like live paintings being done during a show before, and think that it is a totally unique and amazing! What is the concept/reason behind having the paintings going on during the live
performances?

The painters are Connie Minowa and Scott West. One is my wife and one was one of my closest friends in college. They went to school for painting, so they were painting around me a lot when I was writing
music. It just felt natural to bring that to the stage in order to bring another artistic dimension to the performances.

I love the artwork that is on the cover of your latest releases this past December, both the Limited Edition “Lost Songs from the Lost Years”, and the double-disc of “They Live on the Sun” and “Aurora Borealis”. Who did the cover art for those albums?

The artwork on “Aurora Borealis” was done by Scott West. The artwork on “They Live on the Sun” is a photo by Joshua Mohr of our son, Kaidin. I did the artwork on “Lost Songs”, but 90% of it is manipulated imagery of old archived public domain artwork of fairy tales.

After being in the music industry and performing for over 15 years now, what kind of advice do you have to give to up and coming bands/artists?

Don’t fall for the old myth of instant success. You have to be totally in love with creating music if you want to survive the years of uphill struggle. But if you’re in it for the true love of the art, the struggle
won’t be as noticeable. Also, don’t think that you have to get signed to be successful. You can do it on your own and oftentimes make it more profitable at a smaller level, because you aren’t paying someone else
to do all your work. Learn the business and get active in taking care of yourself.

What can fans expect to see from Cloud Cult going forth in 2010?

We have a new album coming out this summer and a national tour to follow.

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/09/cloud-cult-talks-to-us-about-music-art-and-being-green/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/01/the-rocket-summer-of-men-and-angels-cd-review/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/01/the-rocket-summer-of-men-and-angels-cd-review/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:14:41 +0000 Tyler Hoppel http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=3249 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> The Rocket Summer – Of Men and Angels CD Review

By: Tyler Hoppel

Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, The Rocket Summer is a guitar driven side project of Bryce Avary. Not only does Bryce play every instrument on his records, he also writes and produces his them himself. He is widely known as “the epitome of a hardworking musician”. After three years of relentless touring and recording The Rocket Summer has finally resurfaced with a new album. With Of Men And Angels (released February 23, 2010 on Island/Def Jam), Bryce Avary gives his long awaited fans what could easily be his best record yet. Mixing TRS’s piano and guitar driven rock with a classic pop rock flair, the fifteen song collection is both fun and thought-provoking.

The opening track “Roses” sets the pace for Of Men And Angels, the topic of faith is quickly introduced and seems to be an under-tone for the record. “You Gotta Believe” and “Hills and Valleys” are fast paced piano driven songs, which some listeners might remember from the You Gotta Believe EP released in October of 2009. Next, “I Want Something To Live For,” has a beautifully catchy chorus and will have you singing along long after the song is over. The tempo slows a bit with an emotional song called “Walls”. There’s no stopping Bryce’s rhythm as “I Need A Break… But I’d Rather Have A Breakthrough” picks up where he left off, just in time. Two songs that shouldn’t have made the album is “Japanese Exchange Student” with cheesy lyrics: “So, hey, be nice to the Japanese exchange students, Cause’ people wouldn’t know them, right when they show up” and “Tara, I’m Terrible”, are both let downs. “Hey!” sounds exactly like you’d expect and is a relief to hear after the two songs that preceded it. “Light” concludes the album with a great lyrical ending, “But I will trust it’s not the end, But a great beginning”. This is not the end of The Rocket Summer, it’s a great beginning to launching him to the next level.

Bryce called Of Men And Angels “the most substance-filled Rocket Summer album to date.” The description is not entirely true but certainly not entirely false either. Lyrically, the record is miles away from previous TRS material. Consequently, there aren’t a whole lot of defining moments musically in Of Men And Angels. But The Rocket Summer wouldn’t be The Rocket Summer without the catchy melodies and the simple joy in each song. Of Men and Angels happy songs can save your day, no matter your mood and it’s infectious nature will certainly improve it.

4/5

For fans of: Cartel, Something Corporate and Relient K
Of Men and Angels Track stand-outs – “Roses”, “You Gotta Believe” and “Walls”

Of Men and Angels Track listing:
01. Roses
02. You Gotta Believe
03. Hills And Valleys
04. I Want Something To Live For
05. Walls
06. Pull Myself Together (Don’t Hate Me)
07. Of Men And Angels
08. I Need A Break – But I’d Rather Have A Breakthrough
09. Nothing Matters
10. Japanese Exchange Student
11. Tara, I’m Terrible!
12. Hey!
13. Let You Go
14. This Is A Refuge
15. Light

Website: http://www.therocketsummer.com

Purevolume: http://www.purevolume.com/therocketsummer

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/therocketsummer

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/03/01/the-rocket-summer-of-men-and-angels-cd-review/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/18/the-academy-is-metro-chicago-show-review/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/18/the-academy-is-metro-chicago-show-review/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:30:30 +0000 Sarah Seemiller http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=3049 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> After forming back in 2003 and having many ups and downs along the way, The Academy Is has reached a milestone celebrating the 5-year anniversary of the release of their debut album Almost Here. On February 6th the band played to a sold out crowd at the Metro in their hometown of Chicago IL.

Local favorites such as Mark Rose, Cavashawn and Minneapolis natives Sing it Loud were the openers for the night and got the crowd pumped and ready for TAI to go on.

I was surprised at how many younger tweens and teens were at the show, but it was not unexpected. The punk/pop scene that has exploded over the past couple of years with breakouts such as Fall Out Boy, Cobra
Starship, and Boys Like Girls to name a few, and has brought a new age group to the scene that was once dominated in the late nineties by boy band fever. At least nowadays the so-called boy bands play their own
instruments and write their own music (well, most of them anyways)!

The crowd was pretty mellow during most of the openers but once Sing it Loud went onstage, you could tell that people were ready for TAI to go on and the crowd immediately got a lot more energetic. As The
Academy Is came out onto the stage, the crowd went crazy. I haven’t seen these guys play in over a year, so to me they were definitely a lot more clean cut than I remember them being! William Beckett was sporting a much shorter hairstyle that was a bit slick and to the side, and the other guys in the band also had much shorter hair than I remember. Over the years, I have probably seen The Academy Is close to ten times, if not more, and this was by far one of their best shows. A lot has to be said about playing on their home turf though; I think that is where you definitely will get the most support!

The set started with the album Almost Here, as they were going to play the album from front to back in its entirety. ‘Attention’ was the first track, and the band sounded better than ever; TAI has never failed to meet my expectations at a live show. Going through the tracks, eventually they got to Black Mamba, which is one my personal favorites. The whole album is really upbeat and has a lot of energy; it made for a great ending with the title track ‘Almost Here’. At one point in the show William Beckett even joined the crowd, by crawling on in with everyone to perform…no stage diving, but there was quite a bit of crowd surfing going on with the fans. The guys then performed three tracks from the album Santi and three tracks from the album Fast Times at Barrington High to round out the end of the set.

I really cannot believe that Almost Here has been out for over 5 years now, but I am definitely looking forward to seeing what The Academy Is has in store for us next! Here is the set list for the show that night and I highly recommend checking them out the next time they come around to your city if you haven’t seen them yet. You will not be disappointed!

Set List:
1. Attention
2. Season
3. Slow Down
4. The Phrase That Pays
5. Black Mamba
6. Skeptics and True Believers
7. Classifieds
8. Checkmarks
9. Down And Out
10. Almost Here

11. Everything We Had
12. We’ve Got A Big Mess On Our Hands
13. Seed
14. Summer Hair = Forever Young
15. About A Girl
16. After The Last Midtown Show

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/18/the-academy-is-metro-chicago-show-review/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/11/review-jamies-elsewhere-they-said-a-storm-was-coming/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/11/review-jamies-elsewhere-they-said-a-storm-was-coming/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:13:36 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=2788 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a little late to jump on the Jamie’s Elsewhere bandwagon. Jamie’s Elsewhere has been one of those bands that I have seen their name pop up for the last couple years and for some reason I just haven’t taken the time to give them a chance until now.

Their latest release through Victory Records titled “The Said A Storm Was Coming” has definitely caught me off guard. Within the first minute of “The Mapmaker” I immediately started scorning myself for not taking the time to listen to these guys earlier.

Their new vocalist Aaron Pauley immediately impressed the hell out of me. While most Screamo/Rock bands are lacking a polished and unique voice Pauley dominates and immediately separates Jamie’s Elsewhere from many of their peers. The band overall is just plain solid, with every member of this six piece monster pulling their weight. I’m extremely impressed with the use an implementation of the keyboards. A lot of bands that I come across that have keys either sound forced or just to overbearing, but JE has found a great balance with the keys that highlight and add to their songwriting instead of taking away.

Overall I really dug “The Said A Storm Was Coming”, while it isn’t anything groundbreaking it does enough that it sets itself from other records by similar sounding bands. If anything this record shows you just how far you can push music in extremes. One minute you will be getting your face pummeled in with unrelentless double bass, blood curdling and crushing guitars, then the next second you wont be able to help but sing along to the incredible harmonies and voice of Aaron Pauley.

If your into Saosin, A Skylit Drive, Devil Wears Prada definitely take a second to check these guys out.
4/5

www.myspace.com/jamieselsewhere

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/11/review-jamies-elsewhere-they-said-a-storm-was-coming/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/10/keaton-henson-set-to-release-mini-album/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/10/keaton-henson-set-to-release-mini-album/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:40:25 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=2770 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> For those of you not familiar with Keaton Henson’s work take a quick second to view our previous interview with the extremely talented artist.

When Keaton emailed me to check out his music project I must say I was more than surprised. First off I had absolutely no idea that Keaton had was involved with music and wrote songs secondly I was even more surprised at the quality of the songs.

Looking back I guess I shouldn’t have been that surprised that his music would be this good, I mean everything the guy has put out as an illustrator is pretty much pure gold, and I guess art and music can go hand in hand.

As far as the “Keaton Henson” sound I would have to sum it up in one word “chilled”. His tunes are extremely mellow and laid back. While this isnt something that I could listen to everyday, it is definitely something that I would turn on to relax the nerves and even try and do something creative.

Between Keatonhenson.com and Myspace.com/KeatonHenson he has released 7 songs with four of them having accompanying videos. As with everything Keaton puts his hands on, the videos are extremely artistic and creative.

Keaton is planning on doing a mini album release in which he is going to draw each CD cover by hand! Definitely take a second to check out the videos below as well as keatonhenson.com to view his artwork and check out the tunes.

‘Sarah Minor’ from Keaton Henson on Vimeo.

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/02/10/keaton-henson-set-to-release-mini-album/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2010/01/27/review-of-never-shout-never-what-is-love/ http://iamthetrend.com/2010/01/27/review-of-never-shout-never-what-is-love/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:28:48 +0000 DoubleDance http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=2411 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> Stemming from the 18 year old brain of a boy who started uploading his music on MySpace, the lyrical bliss of Christofer Ingle Drew of Never Shout Never’s glistening voice has certainly evolved in his progression from a one-man act in to a full-fledged signed, touring, band. Along with the group, their all-around sound has evolved, especially with their latest full length release, “What Is Love?”

With getting ready to headline the 2010AP Tour and seeing so much main stream publicity lately, it’s hard to believe that the sextet has found time to record and produce a new, full-length, album; but it’s certainly about time that we finally see one, as they’re stepping up from 4 EPs and a few singles—the string of 3- to 6-song releases was starting to get a bit tedious, and kept us dying for something we could actually listen to for more than 15 minutes at a time. Alas, the day has finally come. What Is Love?came out January 25th from Loveway Records, the bands own record company (which also includes his other hardcore alias, eatmewhileimhot)—but don’t get too excited just yet, as the album probably isn’t as exactly as you expected it.

Maybe it’s the cliché lyricism of an angsting boy, or the addition of more members in his group, but Christofer just didn’t do it for me this time around. I found that as I progressed throughout the album, I noticed a trend in the music: Christofer has a noticeably higher-pitched voice, as opposed to his older singles, almost a nasaly whine which gets on my nerves a bit. But hey, maybe it’s just me. You can decide for yourself. Also, did anyone else catch the choir-esque Beach Boys chant in “I Love You 5″?

However, I can’t be too negative, because the group redeems themselves more than a few times and displays a more finished product near the end of the album. Perusing the lyrics of “Past Times” implies an almost nostalgic feeling, and the meaning behind a bonus track, “Fifteen”, has real depth and meaning behind it. Lastly, my track of choice is, in fact, the title track, “What Is Love?” The single is a well-rounded representation of the album solely, and has a southern feel to it throughout. I’d say that it was a good pick to release as the single.

The album as a whole didn’t impress me too much, and I’d definitely say that Christofer and the group have a lot more potential. But in general, it’s good listen.

(3/5)

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The new trend is here: Releasing not an entire album, or even an EP, but throwing a release party and touring based on one 3.5 minute single. In the case of Striking Back’s title track “Restless” it’s just as much reason to celebrate as any other.

Produced by award winning producer Jim Wirt, (Live, Hoobastank, Jack’s Mannequin), the single is a tale of heartbreak and longing and all things pop and roll. February in Seattle just got less dreary and more heart strings.

Iamthetrend’s Alexis Paige converses with singer Jordan Thomson about the expectations associated with this release and the implications to his career.

What are your ultimate goals for this single; this EP?

Well, I suppose my ultimate goal with the current recording is to share with it with people! I’m so excited by how well it turned out, it’s hard to think about it. Business-wise, I’m hoping what I have now is enough for a great record deal. From there, I’d like to finish out the full album, sell millions of records, and tour the world.

What are your plans to release the rest of the EP?

Right now it’s all about shopping record labels, and getting the word out as much as possible. We’ll have the EP available in a touring edition (which means we will only sell it at shows so it is still technically unreleased), but we want a solid record deal before we do a full release.

I heard a couple of the songs off the EP. What made you choose Restless as the single, as opposed to one of the others? How does it represent your work more than another choice would?

We felt like “Restless” really represented what I’m trying to communicate with my music overall right now. It’s such a fun mix of pop and rock. It’s about real stuff, performed in a real way–and you can still sing along to it. Am I making any sense? In all honesty, it also just represents me so well as a person–I’m extremely Restless and perpetually unsatisfied.

Jordan Thomson is the entirety of Striking Back, with hired guns and axes backing you up. Who will comprise your band for the CD release and the following tour?

I got a really kick-ass line-up of musicians I’ll be playing with. Some of them are familiar faces from bands of the past, and SOME I’ve dug up from the depths of Seattle’s talent pool. The live show is going to be so freakin cool. I’m not QUITE really to share the line-up yet, but it is rad.

How does working with someone the caliber of Jim Wirt effect your music and the arrangement of the songs? Your outlook for the album?

I feel like I’m a pretty talented musician. But, when I explain Jim’s talent to people, I say it like this: “If the size of my talent was represented by a ping-pong ball, Jim’s would be represented by a beach ball.” I wrote some catchy songs, but Jim has used what I have to create a real “sound.” That is something that is very hard to create these days. I love the man!

How will the Restless effect the future of rock-n-roll?

If it does anything, I think it shows that you can combine elements of blues, metal, punk, and power pop all into one song–and it can sound great. When I listen to Restless, sometimes I get Mayer. Sometimes I get Kravitz. Sometimes I get Hoobastank. Sometimes I get Nirvana. I love that.

For more info on the release go to www.myspace.com/strikingbackmusic

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Four pretty boys in skinnies? Check. With an outlandish name? Check. Catchy riffs? Check. Terribly addictive lyrics? Check. And just today tipped by iTunes as their artist to watch in 2010? Double ch-check. It must be my new favourite band Fenech-Soler that are getting indie kids everywhere hot under their Fred Perry collars by marking every box.

Who? You may ask, what an unusual name you may think. Correct, an unusual name – they’ve already checked that box remember. But it was thought through and not just an off-the-cuff decision, their bass player has the surname Soler and it’s based around a Maltese patriot who was alive and kicking in the 1700′s. If you don’t want to look like an idiot in a store when you purchase the new tune or when you tell your friends about them I’ll sound it out for you “phen-ick so-laar”. Now we’ve got that sorted I’ll tell you a bit more about their sound and why I think they’re ever so delightful.

Recently signed to Andy and Jaymo (off of BBC Radio 1)’s Moda Music label, their first single to get major airplay is called ‘Lies’ and no that wasn’t just by our dj duo. They also featured on BBC Radio Lincolnshire (UK) as part of the new music show. The band appeal to all ages and have great club appeal, highlighted by remixes of ‘Lies’ from Alex Metric and Tom Staar. I asked the guys how it feels to hear their song on the radio and whether they have a good old knees up when hearing their tune in a club – “it’s very gratifying to hear our song on the radio… that (Alex Metric’s) remix certainly did get us dancing although we kept it to the studio! Alex is a very talented musician. Well so are these four lads, and they sure can put on a show. They explain; “We perform our songs rather than just play them… electronic music can be difficult to get right live but it’s all about energy and passion on stage for us.” This was clear to see when the band took to the world’s smallest stage in the world’s most crammed room for Huw Stephen’s ‘Introducing’ night at The Social in London. “The Social was really good fun! Sometimes shows like that are even better as you can create and control an atmosphere very quickly.” I found myself singing along to songs I’d heard for the very first time, how is that even possible? Granted I probably looked like a four year old trying to recite the Alphabet at the time but I enjoyed the process! And I enjoyed their exciting array of garments, like a magpie looking at something shiny – or just me looking at something shiny? I asked how they create and hone their style; “We really like Fred Butler. We wore some of her pieces for a few shoots we did in the summer. We just pick up stuff as we go along. The ‘Lies’ outfits were found in a second hand store in Paris.” Long-live the Charity shop!

‘Lies’ is one of the most catchiest tunes I’ve heard this year, and that’s saying something considering that we’re on the edge on a new decade. I strongly believe that Fenech have a place in the future of the Electro/Indie scene so watch this space and download their ‘Lies’ EP.

For more on the UK’s up-and-coming bands and djs or to make sure that your iPod is in fashion then head over to my blog

Links -

Alex Metric – www.myspace.com/alexmetric
Tom Staar – www.myspace.com/iamtomstaar
Moda Music – www.thisismoda.com/moda-music
Fred Butler – www.fredbutler.com
My blog -http://ardentlyvanquished.blogspot.com

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2010/01/07/band-on-the-rise-fenech-soler/feed/ 1 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/18/free-music-awesome-sauce-2-christmas-edition/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/18/free-music-awesome-sauce-2-christmas-edition/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:43:28 +0000 Beau Dorn http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=1851 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> Well hello there everyone, with christmas fast approaching a time where we get to well wish our friends and family with our wallets I thought i would bring some free christmas music via the internetz for your listening pleasure, all of these are covers and most of you will be familiar with all the artists so with out further explanation simply enjoy.

First up on our list, Belle and Sebastian – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Belle and Sebastian come to us by way of Scotland and albums are some of my all time favorites having said that, this cover comes to us by way of “It’s a Cool, Cool Christmas” charity compilation album (2000), this comp also has the likes of the eels and flaming lips if you ever happen to come across it, you might just enjoy it.

Next lets kick move a little east and pick it up a notch with Austrian death machine’s cover of Jingle bells. Whats not to like about a band thats called Austrian death machine and solely references the governor of California. Formed As I Lay Dying vocalist Tim Lambesis to mock Aronalds films they actually bring the rock in a very thrashy manner. This cover can be found off their Christmas theme EP titled A Very Brutal Christmas.

Lastly i thought i would include an artist that never ceases to amaze me; Sufjan Stevens. His rendition of Joy to the world is like a glass of holiday egg nog, smooth. If you’ve never heard of Mr. Stevens check out his most heralded of work Illinois. This track comes to us by way of his Songs for Christmas.

From myself and the whole IATT staff have a great holiday season.

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/18/free-music-awesome-sauce-2-christmas-edition/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/11/free-music-awesome-sauce-1/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/11/free-music-awesome-sauce-1/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:41:44 +0000 Beau Dorn http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=1702 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> What do you get when you take a classically trained jazz pianist and a spoken word poet while adding in a melancholy environment like Seattle? The answer is Blue Scholars. If you’re a fan of ohmega wahtts and dig regional flavored hip hop then check out their latest release bayani redux; it’s a re-release of ‘07s Bayan with three additional songs.

myspace.com/bluescholars

If there was ever a band to give credence to the idea that knowing how to play your instruments can take a back seat to your musical vision than Dead Man’s Bones wrote the book. Normally not knowing how to play can be a recipe for suck, but not in this case. Ryan Gosling of Oscar nominated fame and best friend Zach Shields team up with a children’s choir to deliver some amazingly haunting melodies with pure hook.

myspace.com/deadmansbones

Joshua Davis aka Bit Shifter, comes to us by way of net label 8 bit people. What can I say I’m a sucker for the chip scene. This next track comes from his release Information Chase with Hexadecimal Genome, feel free to download the whole release for free here http://www.8bitpeoples.com/discography/8BP059

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/11/free-music-awesome-sauce-1/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/08/band-on-the-rise-summer-of-aden/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/08/band-on-the-rise-summer-of-aden/#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:24:12 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=1703 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> With influences ranging from the zombies to elliot smith Summer of Aden hail from Boston mass and bring a fresh perspective to acoustic indie pop. High school friends Dan Aronov and Brendan Ledoux formed the acoustic rock project and have recently produced a free 8 song demo

For fans of: Elliot Smith, Belle and Sebastian, The Shins

Download their 8 song demo by clicking HERE

Also check out their myspace at: myspace.com/summerofaden

When did you form Summer of Aden? and what inspired the name?

Brendan and Dan:

We’ve played music together since our freshman year of high school, which was almost 7 years ago now. Back then we were mostly into punk and hardcore. After high school Dan and I started writing more mellow music, mostly acoustic and indie-rock. So I guess that’s when Summer of Aden was formed. During one summer in Cape Cod our friend Pat gave us fake names as a joke (his name was Aden Glace) so that when we met girls, we would sound more mystifying. The whole joke was really silly and we never used the names. The name “Summer of Aden” is just a reference to those younger days.

What brought about the making of your demo, and making it readily available for download and what is your stance on piracy?

Brendan and Dan:

We’ve been playing music for a long time and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. We had barely created this style of music before, so it was a new path we could take to develop as musicians. I bought a cheap but good condenser mic with a gift card I got from my girlfriend at the time. This was fortunate because Dan and I had hardly any money to record this demo. We constantly bought equipment, used it for the demo, and then returned it. Since this project barely cost us anything, we didn’t feel the need to charge people for it. We also considered the fact that not many people would pay for a demo that was made by an unknown band. Having the music free is a good start in getting out there and becoming known. At this stage it’s not about monetary compensation, it’s about getting our music known.

What was your favorite video game growing up?

Brendan: Halo 2 on Xbox Live.

Dan: I don’t have one.

What influences your music the most?

Brendan:

There are these limitations that creep around the corners of my life. They stay hidden either because of failure to realize them or straight up denial of them. Then these limitations can be traced back to one or two flaws. Once these flaws are realized one can understand how these flaws build an intricate spider web of limitations throughout your life. It’s a constant struggle to deal with these flaws, and the options are either denying them or accepting them with new perspectives. So, I’d say my music is a product of me dealing with these flaws and limitations.

Dan:

Definitely any art is derived from an artist’s limitations in one form or another and I cannot speak of my inspirations any differently than that. But the force of these limitations actually brings out a sense of unlimited freedom, kind of like an attitude of nothing left to lose. Because of these constant limitations in our lives, we feel a stronger urge to have dreams and aspirations in order to fill the void that I feel is “no man’s land”, or the place that we feel we cannot get to but still strive to be happy at the end of the day. So because of these defense-mechanisms we have against the things that hold us back, we can always have a brighter side to look at since there is always a darker side to be pushed into. This is kind of the essence of the music we have created to this day: an awareness of the uncontrollably fucked atmosphere of our world, but also, homage to a new day.

How is the search for other members going? and how do you think that will affect the writing process going forward?

Brendan and Dan:

Right now we have our friend Alex filling in on drums, Sonya playing bass and other people in mind for other things. The writing process will change from jamming with a recorded playback to having a real band to play with. This is good and bad at the same time. We can’t have a band play a song 100 times in a row like we could on a playback. It would be too much to ask. For now we will still be pressing repeat because we already have new material. On the other hand, it’s good having a real band to play with because more people will be contributing to the writing process (which hopefully won’t bring up conflict). But I’m hopeful for our future girl and guy members.

Once you fill out the rest of your lineup can your fans expect a proper tour or is it going to strictly be the east coast?

Brendan and Dan: Probably not a tour but definitely shows around the east coast.

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/08/band-on-the-rise-summer-of-aden/feed/ 2 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/01/whats-a-girl-to-do-an-interview-with-5-up-and-coming-girl-bands/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/01/whats-a-girl-to-do-an-interview-with-5-up-and-coming-girl-bands/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:43:57 +0000 Alexis Paige http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=1541 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> Equality is running rampant these days in most aspects of our society. Women are doing better in the majority of job markets than ever in history. Yet, it seams like an unwritten rule that, unlike male performers, female singers have to be ascetically attractive, with talent and charm being a nice bonus. Wasn’t that what triggered the collective reaction of millions when Susan Boyle stunned the audience; bringing many to tears, not just at her angelic voice, but because of their previous judgment of the older woman?

While it is standard on tour to get clean shirts by swapping merch with other bands (No, you can not dig into your own merch bin for a clean T.), women in music tend to be expected to be dressed in fresh, clean, and sexy clothes, even when on the road; have good hair; celebrity quality make-up.

I talked to the women of indie bands Andale! and Goodbye Gadget; metal band Oblivious Signal; and rock bands Hydrovibe and Ten Year Vamp about life as rocker chics. These 5 bands each have various experiences and musical styles, but they share one quality: dynamic female ‘frontmen’.

Questions answered by:
Heather St. Marie – Hydrovibe
Debbie Gabrione~ Ten Year Vamp
Cristina T. Feliciano~ Oblivious Signal
Memorie Morrison and Natasha Sebring~ Andale!
Ana Isabel and Jess Loberstein~ GoodBye Gadget

How is it really different being a female lead in a band? Are their extra pressures placed upon you as a woman?

Heather: I think some people have lower expectations performance-wise from female lead singers; in general, a great number of female singers (mostly the diva-types) are worried about the hair and makeup. So when fans see me keeping up with the boys and flinging my hair around… sweating on stage… they are really a bit shocked. Also, there’s way more attention paid to what I wear onstage than the guys; fans will comment if they see me the same piece of clothing later in a tour. haha! But, for the most part, I think it’s liberating to be a girl in a band. The world needs more strong female role-models out there, and I’m happy to be a part of that movement to prove to the younger girls that they can do anything they want!

Cristina: To be honest, in some ways being a female lead in a band makes some aspects in regards to catching attention and marketing a little bit easier. It’s easier to appeal both to male and female demographics because you are the eye candy for the guys, regardless of whether many like to admit it or not, and in turn the girls look up to you. With these two elements though, I do have more to think about then the guys. For example, though I’d hate to admit it, I do have to worry about my looks and being healthy is always an issue. I can’t go out and eat all the fast food with the guys as much as I’d love to sometimes. I have to be careful with what I say or do, because unlike the guys…people tend to remember what I say a lot more clearly. I also have the pressure of attempting to remember who is who at shows, unlike the guys, because I tend to stick out more in the metal scene as a female singer. There are a lot things that come with being a female singer, but to be honest none of it matters in the end because it’s a kick ass career.

Ana: Having some semblance of a stage presence is required of any lead singer. I guess if I was the only girl in the band, I would probably feel an intense kind of pressure to ensure the rest of the band doesn’t get swallowed in the typical chick focus shadow (Don’t Speak video, anyone? Ha). Because I am in Jess’s band (she hates when I say that), because I do what she says, because she is WAY cooler than I could ever hope to be, because the boys are the ones the girls are going nuts for, the pressure to be everything, is basically reduced to wanting rainless good hair days and fishnets with no holes. Wait. That makes no sense.

Jess: Though it’s not the case with every band, I do think that in general there tend to be some pressures with being girls vs. being guys…I’ve seen guys go up on stage with greasy hair and they’re smelly and haven’t taken a shower in weeks, and girls in the audience are drooling. Take that same show with a lead singer chick that smells and has greasy hair and it definitely doesn’t come across the same.

Oh, and it’s NOT my band lol. (Why does she always say that!?)

Memorie: I can’t say if it is different, because i have never been a guy fronting a band.

Tasha: I’ve never been the male or female lead in any band…. The pressures that others may put on us are nothing compared to the pressures we put on ourselves, I think that is more because we’re musicians, and musicians are crazy.

Debbie: Really….there’s an up side and a down side to every situation. It’s nice getting treated like a lady at times…someone will offer to carry my guitar for me or get me a drink. At the same time though, I’m thinking that I don’t need help and I can carry my own stuff just like the other guys. There are time we’re over looked for gigs because they assume we’ll be ‘lame’ or boring because we’re female fronted. Then there are times when we’re selected just because we’re female fronted and they wanted to have at least one female on the bill or they wanted some “eye candy” …the bottom line is that when we get on stage there’s no hiding behind genders.

Are you the person in your band that is expected to keep up the business end of things, or is it a shared responsibility?

Memorie: I guess that I’m in charge if that stuff and I am terrible at it. The band had an intervention and told me to get on medication, because I’m obnoxiously OCD about the whole thing. With minimal therapy i have since been able to relinquish some control. Now everybody gets to experience some of the joys that come with turning fun into work.

Ana: Jess is the boss. I have no further comments.

Jess: Daaaahhhhhh. Lol. Yes, I handle a lot of the ‘business’ side. Booking/promoting/marketing. I have some experience with sales & marketing which I think helps a lot. But we each have our ‘areas’ in the band that we handle. For instance with contracts…I always send them to Ana. I suck at reading legal jargon (is that a word?). Design stuff like fliers tends to be Pave.

Heather: Hydrovibe definitely shares responsibilities; we’re a team. Our guitarist Mat usually does business at the end of the night if we don’t have a tour manager with us. I handle the finances and accounting. But that’s more because I’m a computer geek than because I’m a girl!

Cristina: Our PR girl at our management company told me a funny story once about having a client who felt like she was dragging the boys in her band along in a picnic blanket. I could not stop laughing and have had the mental image for my band members since. But in all truth, though I take care of the business aspect of my band, the guys do a lot in the band that I myself can’t really do. For example they go out and randomly flier, they create the demos, take care of the website and so much more. Our band business aspect has grown so much that we had to break up responsibilities at one point or I would have gone crazy!

Living out of a van must make fixing your hair and makeup a nightmare, yet you are expected to look a certain way at shows. How do you get ready to go on stage while on tour?

Ana: We actually live on people’s living room floors on tour. (sunflower seed shells in our hair. Yay!) Showers can still be a dream and the term wrinkle release takes on a whole new level of the divine, but we manage. Sometimes though, I’m sure Queen Elizabeth 1 herself would be grossed out.

Jess: I think Ana forgets the time we were changing in the car before a show and told the guys ‘whatever you do, do not unlock the car-the lights will go off’…

Cristina: Aside from hearing “hurry up”, “you look fine”, “you should unbutton that”, or “it’s not that big of deal”…after all that from the guys, I get ready in the van/car on the way to a show. Oh, and it also depends who is driving …I don’t want to be on the news for driving on a busy road and poking my eye out with eyeliner. Luckily though picking out an outfit is not that hard…I’m an all black kinda girl. It’s just attempting to make all my clothes look straight after being in a suitcase for hours that drives me insane. As far as hair goes, I have an adapter for my car that allows me to plug in my hair straightener.

Debbie: I think I self impose the chore of looking good. No one ever told me I have to look hot….but I certainly feel more confident when I do. I carry a blow dryer, straightener, brush and makeup in my backpack at all times.

Tasha: we plan on taking an support vehicle dedicated to our wardrobe and toiletries, so we expect it will be just as frustrating as it is at home to decide what we are going to wear.

Are you really any different than the guys when living in a van? Do you eat nothing but taco bell for days and wear your jeans until they walk away from you?

Ana: We joke about Slim Jim’s and pistachios for breakfast but that was literally what we resorted to somewhere deep in New Mexico. Breakfast of champions! P.S. Baby wipes are a hot commodity and tour jeans aren’t meant to be smelled. Ever.

Jess: I don’t think it’s very different. It’s really hard to eat healthy on the road. It’s cheap, and you don’t have a lot of money. Then also you’re in the middle of nowhere so your options are limited. We’ve learned that there are certain items that are great to have on tour, like the baby wipes for instance. Also baby powder (my friend calls ‘show ass powder’).

Tasha: I only own one pair of jeans and I do constantly chase after them.
Memorie: Although I change my jeans often, I tend to not shower, does that count?

Debbie: I def don’t eat fast food like the guys do…..but I will wear my jeans a little longer then I probably should. Eating right is def something I need to do….for staying in shape, for having the HUGE amounts of energy I need to perform, and just to feel confident with my appearance. Clothes, however, is another story. We just don’t have room for me to bring a million pair of jeans. I’ve learned that Fabreeze does the trick just fine.

Heather: As a girl, I’ve found my own little ways to live out a van comfortably, and because of me (and Lysol and Febreeze) we have one of the cleanest vans on tour. haha!

We’ve got so many great fans who have become friends that we usually stay at people’s houses on the road. So, I am able to change, clean up, etc. in the comforts of their homes. I am on a restrictive diet due to allergies, so I have very specific things I eat. And actually, everyone in Hydrovibe eats as healthy as possible… And my jeans have never walked away from me, either.

Cristina: Okay…so lets just put it this way. I do things in front of band that I would never EVER do in front of my regular friends haha and so do they! Fast food is something I try to cut down on, and the guys are conscious of their intake too…I mean we have to make room for all the bean and cheese dip, Doritos, and energy drinks we consume on the road. I will admit, I am the first one to wear my crocs, jeans, and one tee consecutively while away… the rest is all for performances and appearances. But, it’s when it matters I need to look my best.

Do you ever worry about your writing being called ‘too girlie’? Do you ever reconsider a line based on whether or not the guys in the band or fans might label it ‘chic music’?

Cristina: YES! All the time. But, I look at it as being respectful to my band members to an extent. The music composition is something we all take part of, and when it comes to lyrics I try to run it by them also. The band is “us” not “me” and I like to write lyrics that are based on things that portray our thoughts. I write the lyrics so they are open to interpretations, but also mean something to me and the guys. …to comprise, I tend to write the lyrics to something we can all say represents us individually. It took a lot getting to know the guys in the band to really achieve this type of lyricism. It’s not easy thinking on behalf of everyone.

Ana: When Jess and I were in IHG there was a song called I Wanna Be that did make me wonder if it was too anthemic and cliché girl powerish. Then I said f it and wrote it anyway. Take that, Spice Girls. The funny thing is that relationship songs are what men and women write about. It’s the navel gazing ones that tend to maybe seem more feminine. If people complain I’ll just kick their ass.
Ok. Just kidding. Jess will.

Jess: Yes, but honestly I think no matter what lines we write or how hard we try there will always be someone that labels it ‘chic music’ just because there’s a female lead singer. Sucks but it’s true.

Heather: No, I maintain that songs usually write themselves. If I’m hearing a particular phrase or word… I go with it. If I start to over think the music, then it becomes less sincere. And that is the elemental foundation of Hydrovibe: making sincere, passionate music!

Tasha: I don’t worry about it, Mem worries enough for the whole band, but probably not about being too girly.
Memorie: yeah I worry so much about sounding stupid or trite that i cant even write a girly song, I cant even write a bad song right now.

Debbie: Me ?!?! Too girlie. Hells no. I’m def a new generation kinda gal. I value independence, strength, beauty, confidence with sexuality, etc.. I sometimes worry about whether or not women will be able to identify with my writing, because I write from a dominant position, rather then submissive.

Each of you has slightly different styles, but in general all of you have the attitude that you aren’t girls in a band as sexy eye candy, but musicians who just bring an added female flair to the mix. Which celebrities do you think uphold those ideals, and which ones just make you cringe for playing up their sexuality over their talent?

Ana: I will forever love Shirley Manson of Garbage. I like Maja Ivarsson of The Sounds too. Though I have full respect, I think I couldn’t be comfortable with the uber sexy card played by Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil. I actually laugh at some of the magazine spreads I see many actresses and pop stars do and wonder who told them it was a good idea. I mean, dressed like Aeon Flux and being photographed licking a melting ice cream with a snake on my leg as I frolic in a bath of mineral oil in a sudden chilly windstorm is nothing short of my worst nightmare.

Jess: I agree with Ana on Shirley Manson. She was hot and held her own. And I don’t think anyone can say shit about Hayley from Paramore. She has such an amazing voice-and when she plays live it’s jeans, a t-shirt and Nike’s. And she is still hot –not many can pull that off. Sexuality over talent? Brittany Spears. Maybe that’s unfair. She’s an easy target.

Heather: The female artists I most admire are: Janis Joplin, Imogen Heap, Pat Benetar, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Sia, Stevie Nicks, Bjork, Aimee Mann, etc.

I’m not gonna name any who make me cringe… My mama taught me that if you don’t have anything nice to say… you know the rest!

Debbie: I’m def a fan of Ani Difranco, Missy Elliot, Tori Amos, Lady Gaga, and Haley (from Paramore) (to name a few).
As much as I’d love to name names off the endless list of women who I feel give the rest of us a bad name…I’m not one for putting down other artists.

Memorie: katy perry is a poser. Other than that I don’t really care what body parts anybody chooses to exploit to get attention. I guess I would do it if I wasn’t severely dysmorphic, is it considered sexy to wear a burka while performing? That would be keen.

Cristina: Everyone has their own preferences and their own lifestyle. I am so tired of wasting my time getting upset over who I feel doesn’t have talent and only has looks. The truth is, we never really know how much work that specific celebrity really put into attempting to break out. Talent now a days not only is reliant on looks or skill, but on a great marketing team. Anyone can really make something of themselves if they really try and play their cards right. I personally started doing music back in my tomboyish stage… I was not very attractive, but I gained the respect of a lot of guys, who eventually came to find me attractive… Soon I realized what power marketability had in the music industry. It sucks to say this, but the more marketable you are to a company, the easier it is to get the hook ups in the industry. You don’t have to be a skanky slut, but the music industry is what it is, and looking presentable goes a long way. It’s the same way the world outside of music. …So, over time, I myself started playing the part. I fixed myself up (make up and good clothes go a long way), and now everyone pays attention to me, and I am able to put my music out there and make a difference.

Do any of the guys in the band ever dare to ‘advise’ you on what to wear or how to dress?

Ana: I used to perform in jeans and converse and have a problem with getting my makeup and hair right. Pave advises ME what outfits he prefers, when to get my hair done, and even when I should burn a dress shouting obscenities at the designer that dared will it into existence.

Jess: In all fairness, sometimes it’s US advising them

Debbie: No. Thankfully they leave me to me. Every now and then they’ll start up (jokingly) that my shirt should be lower cut in the front…but it’s truly all in jest.

Heather: You know, the guys in Hydrovibe are so awesome. They don’t ever tell me what to wear, but they DO notice my outfits, hair, and makeup each night. And they often compliment me on the stuff they especially like. And I appreciate that they notice and take the time to comment… It makes it worth the effort of getting ready in a van cruising down the road at 70mph!

Cristina: On occasion I actually rely on them to help me pick something out prior to a show, or even when shopping for a show outfit. They usually help me determine the metal/sexy factor for my outfits. For the photo shoot outfit, I spent 3 hours in the mall sending them pic texts until my guitarist finally told me what he suggested and liked, which ends up being what will be on the album photographs.

Memorie: That’s probably why we need a support vehicle dedicated to our wardrobes.

For more information and to listen to each of the girl’s bands check out the links to their websites which are listed below!

Hydrovibe
Tan Year Vamp
Oblivious Signal
Andale!
GoodBye Gadget

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/12/01/whats-a-girl-to-do-an-interview-with-5-up-and-coming-girl-bands/feed/ 5 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/11/30/band-on-the-rise-tubelord/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/11/30/band-on-the-rise-tubelord/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:47:50 +0000 Beau Dorn http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=1502 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> For Fans of: Foals, Billy Talent, At The Drive-In, Hot Cross

www.myspace.com/tubelord

Why you should listen:

We live in the post-moderen era so what; its all been done before or so i’ve heard. That might be the case but Tubelord brings a fresh approach and likeabilitty not often seen in a first proper release “Our First American Friends”, to a genre that has been under a microscope for the past five years . Based out of “Kingston up Thames England” and consisting of Lead Singer and Guitarist Joe Prendergast, Backing vocalist and Drummer David Catmur and Bassist Damien Fabien Gabet. Their sound has been described as “Pop song for Rock Kids”. The first time this album graced my ears was like the first time i drank a pepsi with poprocks, awesome.

When did Tubelord form and what inspired the name and is this the first incarnation?

Tubelord formed erm…it must have been late 2005/early 2006. To be honest, I’m still just as clueless as to the inspiration behind the name today as I was when Dave first blurted it out, but yes, this is indeed the first incarnation.

With the queen recently announcing the digital commerce bill and the three strike rule and an 80,000 pound fine if your caught downloading; what is your stance on piracy?

What you just mentioned in the question above can be seen as the initial foundations of constructing a sustainable future for the music industry as a whole. We have to realize they (future business models) are to help provide a way for music to be sold (through new vehicles of distribution – mobiles, internet providers, gamers et cetera) and not illegally stolen, thus ensuring the music industry and its commodities are kept economically buoyant, errr so consequentially to the aforementioned, internet piracy is kept at a frozen figure, unable to develop and increase above the actual sales of music. You can see the Digital Commerce Bill as a means to provide for the creative individuals who are losing out on their ideas and recorded efforts being heard and appreciated but not paid for. Yet the effect of piracy on the audience is just as important if not MORE than the individuals selling their music for produce, the display of ownership over the musical recordings helps create a sense of the ‘self’ in relation to the musical act. With this in mind, what is the effect of music piracy in relation to the audience’s own awareness of the ‘self’, if the cultural artefacts of music are bandied about for free without any form of tangibility, what happens to our own self-awareness or… Self-righteousness!… if what we once used as a catalyst for the creation of personality leaves the grip of our hands.

What brought about your teaming up with hassle records, is your goal to segue from hassle to vagrant, and since joining hassle how has that experience helped your band?

What are your feelings towards Hassle? I’d love to hear (or read) what an American perspective is towards the label, perhaps we can talk about this through uStream in December? But yes I digress, hang on errrrm…I think they dug the album and wanted to release it..yeah that sounds correct to me.
As for segueing from Hassle to Vagrant, that process literally, has never crossed my mind. Yet we’ve (David and myself) been having secret van discussions about the second album material, we can’t help but feel that the second album content would be a more suitable release for Full Time Hobby! Hassle have helped us tremendously though and we totally feel like family fuzz-hug-bum-love. Thanks Hassle!

I love the artwork for the album, who created it and what inspired it?

Leemun and Kirst from Kraffhics (art collective based in Leeds – www.kraffhics.com), and myself spent an intense weekend of October ’08 crafting the set from toilet-rolls, glue, hairdryers, paints, paper and pens. Our vivacious photographer friend Stacey Hatfield (www.staceyhatfield.co.uk) then drove up to meet us in Leeds and photograph the set, which is what you can see as the album artwork and booklet. The moose was cut by Jack Hudson (http://jackhudsonillustration.blogspot.com)…the story-line and structure of the artwork was created by Stacey and myself, with Leemun’s desire to materialize his dreams of mountainous terrain as a reality what fuelled the rich landscape.

How was the writing and recording experience for our first American friends? and is the title an inside joke; could you explain where the title comes from?

The title is KIND… of an inside joke… Except that it’s not really a joke but is more of an experience, an experience that took place outside, on a pebble-beach in the South of England with our first American friends and the intoxicated minds of us all.

What influences your music the most?

eFactism

What can your fans expect going forward into 2010?

That they will remember maybe halfway through February, something of intense, personal value of theirs was left under a rock on the beach of 2009.

When can stateside fans expect to see tubelord?

When several people spanning the states would like us to perform in basement at a cost of travel expenses and a single secret.

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/11/30/band-on-the-rise-tubelord/feed/ 2 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/29/a-look-at-upcoming-band-the-balconies/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/29/a-look-at-upcoming-band-the-balconies/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:59:11 +0000 Beau Dorn http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=734 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> The Balconies
myspace.com/thebalconies

Hailing for toronto, this trio of classically trained ottawa university students(home of the braves for those of you following at home) just recently released their debut self titled full length.

At the core of the Balconies is sister-brother duo; steve and Jacquie Neville. Steve plays the bass and Jacquie holds down the guitar, backing both of them is Liam Jaeger. Since their inception in 2007 they’ve cultivated a ever growing fan base. Known for their high energy live shows and well cultivated indie pop. The balconies harmonies and sound in general is rich and inviting. After listening to their 11 song debut i find myself loving every song more and more, there really isn’t a weak link across the board.

They’ve played some stand out shows as well sharing the stage with Mother Mother, Land of Talk, The Bicycles, Sister Suvi, and more. The hype they’ve been stirring up in the underground is well deserved.
for fans of the most serene republic, my first earthquake
myspace | myspace.com/thebalconies

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/29/a-look-at-upcoming-band-the-balconies/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/24/hot-spur-is-blowing-up-and-we-have-the-interview/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/24/hot-spur-is-blowing-up-and-we-have-the-interview/#comments Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:05:29 +0000 Beau Dorn http://fight-design.com/wordpress/?p=312 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> Hotspur is fresh of their win of MTVu’s battle of the band contest. Winning this contest has landed them in rotation on MTV/MTV2/MTVu, that is if and when they play videos! Things definitely are looking up for this powerpop rock outfit!

Website:
hotspurmusic.com
myspace.com/hotspur

Music Video for Chandelier:

IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/24/hot-spur-is-blowing-up-and-we-have-the-interview/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/24/say-anything-chicago-il-show-review/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/24/say-anything-chicago-il-show-review/#comments Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:50:42 +0000 Sarah Seemiller http://fight-design.com/wordpress/?p=472 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> This past Friday, October 23rd to be exactly, Say Anything headlined a sold out show at the Vic Theatre in Chicago Il. This was the first time I had ever seen Say Anything live, and I can honestly say that for only knowing them through their albums, they put on an amazing live performance! The opening acts that night were Moving Mountains, Moneen and Eisley. One thing that I learned throughout Say Anything’s set was that lead singer Max Bemis had just recently married Sherri Dupree of Eisley this past April.

At first when Say Anything was just about to go on, I thought there was no way that this show was sold out, as it didn’t look that crowded from my perspective. I was way off on that observation because the second that they walked onto the stage and started the song Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too, the crowd was immediately full of energy and singing along with every word. I was amazed at how passionate and responsive the crowd was to not only every song on the set list but to Max Bemis as well and his theatrics and flamboyance in his performance. Here is the set list of what Say Anything performed during the show:

Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
Alive With the Glory of Love
It’s a Metaphor, Fool
Shiksa (Girlfriend)
Hate Everyone
Yellow Cat (Slash) Red Cat
Have at Thee!
This is Fucking Ecstasy
Eloise
Woe
Baby Girl, I’m A Blur
Mara and Me
Slowly, Through A Vector
The Futile

Encore:
Crush’d
Spores
Admit It!!!

Rounding out the show were classics such as Alive With the Glory of Love and Woe, and they performed a few new songs such as Eloise and Hate Everyone, off of their soon to be released, self-titled album available on November 3rd. A touching moment during the set was when Max Bemis came out for the encore and did a solo acoustic set for the song Crush’d, which was a song he wrote for his wife Sherri Dupree. Then by the end of the show, the closing song, Admit It!!! really picked up the energy in the room. The opening bands began stage diving and mingling amongst the crowd surfers, and Max Bemis was practically throwing himself into the front of the crowd. This mixed with the singing and chanting in unison of the crowd and just the overall atmosphere really made you feel like if anything, that this crowd had in common, it was Say Anything, they really love this band and rightfully so. It was one of the best performances I have ever seen and I would not hesitate to go see them perform live again!

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/24/say-anything-chicago-il-show-review/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/23/review-of-pet-lions/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/23/review-of-pet-lions/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:34:37 +0000 Adam Hendle http://fight-design.com/wordpress/?p=342 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> Review of Pet Lions by: Beau Doran

Website:http://www.myspace.com/petlionsmusic

I came across Pet Lions while watching an episode of Heave Media off of youtube. Their music came across a bit refreshing so I decided to download their 5 song EP “Soft Right” they recorded it with Brian Zieske (The Academy Is… & The Hush Sound). Immediately they struck me as a more juvenile version of The Strokes; and i liked it.

This is an up and coming band based out of Chicago that will soon be showing up in all the zines that often line the stalls at your favorite dive of a venue. The band started in 2007 when bassist Shuhei Yamamoto and Karl Ostby began writing songs together. Their style is my humble opinion can be best described as bubbly melodies that just seem to drift away and very smart lyrics that might leave a paper cut while walking out of a study hall. Most people who will listen to this EP will immediately say Roman History is the money track but I’m going to take a different approach and say that “i will track you down” really sealed the deal for me. I think this EP is a great jumping off point for a very promising group about to break onto the national radar in the very near future.

I don’t do ratings per-say, so lets just suffice to say that I’ve been listening to it on at least a 72 hour basis.

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Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/23/review-of-pet-lions/feed/ 0 http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/20/band-on-the-rise-conditions/ http://iamthetrend.com/2009/10/20/band-on-the-rise-conditions/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:51:01 +0000 Adam Hendle http://iatt.bluetideproductionsdevelopment.com/?p=726 Thanks for reading this IAMTHETREND Article!]]> A few months back I was cruising along purevolume.com and saw that they had released their top 21 Unsigned band list for the year. After stumbling in and out of a few of the band’s pages I came across the Conditions page, and was blown away. It has been some time since I have found a band that has really excited me! If your into bands such as Saosin, Funeral for a Friend, or Secret & Whisper, Conditions is right up your alley.

Here is a quick list of the accomplishments this band has achieved all while being unsigned.
-Top 21 Unsigned Bands on Purevolume.com
-Overseas tour with Paramore
-750,000 listens on myspace.com
-Over 10,00 friends on myspace.com
-Shot a music video for Keeping Pace with Planes

Myspace: myspace.com/conditionsband

I honestly feel that this band could be one of the next to blow up.

And now, on with the interview!

Alright so who is your daddy and what does he do? Wait I mean who are you and what do you do?

Haha…sadly I’m just plain oldBrandon Roundtree…and instead of being a killer robot or a last action hero…I just sing

So how and when did Conditions form?

Conditions came together about 2 years ago…we formed from the dismembering, or deaths, of previous bands around Richmond…we’ve all known each other forever and thought it would be fun to play together

Well you guys sound great together! Do us all a favor and keep this lineup!

Haha…you’re gonna make me blush my cheeks off! They’re all good guys…I like them…and ill make sure we stay together forever

Huge congratulations on being selected as one of the top 21 unsigned bands on purevolume.com! Did you guys have any idea that you were going to be apart of that list? And has it opened any for you guys?

Thank you! we were excited to hear that we were among the lucky few. We had no idea…we just play music and let what’s gonna happen happen. It definitely came with perks though…I mean…we have this cool banner on our myspace page now

Well I must say that I’m not alone when I say how are you guys not signed yet? have you guys been entertaining any offers?

Ah yes the label question! Haha….with this band, we wanted to “keep it in the family”, so to speak, until we hit a ceiling…until we absolutely could not do anymore by our lonesome…being in previous bands, and watching the music business and its trends, we just want to make sure that this band is taken care of…because we really believe in what we are doing…on another note, we are band that thrives off making real deep connections in every aspect…we love our fans, we know them by name, we know its them who allow us to do what we do…and whose to say we can’t have a relationship like that with a label? That’s what we are after…less business, more family…thus the hold out..we haven’t found it yet

That’s a great attitude to have! That brings me to my next thought. From the outside looking in you guys look and sound signed. You have even done things such as tour with Paramore and shoot a music video. How have you guys been able to accomplish these feets by yourselves?

Haha it may be overly Utopian…but we can’t help the way we work…. We are all perfectionists…it gets a little clashy with differing opinions and stubbornness haha, but I guess the end result is what we’re striving for….we want to look and sound and conduct ourselves very “put together” because, as I’ve said, we are very proud of what we are doing…we believe in it.

As far as the things we’ve accomplished…we’ve simply been fortunate enough to come into contact with people who believe in us too…its awesome…and I always say that we are a band of over 1000 people…we’re a little army haha

You guys have been releasing a new song every week for the past few weeks. How many do you plan on releasing and when can we buy them!

The new songs that we plan on posting, are all posted haha…and we honestly don’t know when our beloved public will be able to buy them…goes back to the ever elusive label haha

Its such a tease being only able to listen to them online!

And I hate teasing you! If I had my way, I’d give them all out for free because lyrically these new songs mean the most to me and I want people to know what I’m thinking, and maybe, that they’re not alone if they feel the same way

So do you have a favorite city to play in?

I love everywhere…but if I had to choose I’d probably have to say new york city…every time its just been a party

So what have you been listening to lately?

Lots of kings of leon…radiohead and NIN as always…and a little of my guilty pleasures katy perry and lady gaga…laugh all you want

LOL, Amazing! I guess we all have our guilty pleasures! Katy Perry did look pretty hot in her fruit dress on the Grammys!

Yep….don’t be surprised if the next song from Conditions is a club banger

Couple quick questions, Favorite movie:

Snatch

Favorite website?

PORN haha….nooooo…either goal.com or premierleague.com….I’m obsessed with English premier league soccer.

Last but not least what are you looking forward to most this year?

Going to places we haven’t been before…meeting new people and sharing knowledge…and if all goes according to plan, finding Conditions a label…specifically so we can stop answering the why not signed question haha…

LOL, you know I had to ask! Well good luck and keep rocking! Thanks for taking the time to sit down and do this interview!

Haha…yeah yeah, Thank you my friend! It was fun!

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