the Ill Opinion #8: #OCCUPYLOCALSHOWS

picture above does not represent the only audience who should heed this message.

Howdy,

With #Occupy [insert city here] being all the rage recently, an interesting image came across my path, one both lampooning the #Occupy craze and also bringing up an important point:

People need to go to local shows more often. No, seriously.

I've been fortunate to see/hear a couple live acts in the past 2 months, such as Mojo Kick, The Brinks, Like Beasts, Comrades, World In Arms, 3MF and others. For what I paid to get into these shows, I got a lot more than what I paid for. CDs, merch, experiences, new friends, great photos (another story for another time), all things I left with.

And I left with one more thought on those nights: Shows like these deserve more attention.

While many don't attend to varying reasons (lack of interest/time conflicts/the band sucks), and some of them are with merit, let's kick the ballistics here: time after time, you're at home, doing nothing, wondering "man, i'm bored." Let's look at it further: you want to go out, get away from home for a night, be social and all that...and yet you have no initiative.

How do you fix this? You get edgy. You do some digging, realize friends are playing a show at a local bar, take those 10 dollars you would've spent on something lesser (beer/cigs/chips/some bad movie/"adult entertainment") and hand them to the guy at the door looking for ID.

I can't stress how awesome and how much fun you can have by being in the live show scene, especially the local ones near you. You meet people, see bands you would never imagine, hear songs you normally don't hear, get music you never would've been exposed to, and did I mention meet people in bands?

It's happened. I've met quite a few talented band members, such as the lead vocalist of Static Electric, all of Mojo Kick, some of the musicians in Like Beasts, World In Arms and others. That's another reason why the local scene is awesome beyond belief: everyone's down to earth and approachable. No one's got the ego that makes the big guys so uncool to hang with, because they too work the 9-5 jobs, go to the same schools, ride the same trains...wait a minute.

In a way, these musicians and others like them are just as similar as the fans themselves, they were fans who got their flames sparked by seeing/hearing live music, among other things and they chased it. What's my point?

Well, go to a live show and see. You never know, chasing a dream you have may start with one experience at a small local gig, whether it's in a small basement somewhere in the city, a converted VFW hall, a church on loan for the night, or a local bar.

Just give it a chance. That's all they want, give it to them.

This was the Ill Opinion. Stay gold.

the Ill Opinion: Musician-Politician

Howdy,

So it has been a few weeks since I last spoke here, and to be honest, it was almost a good thing this took so long, because the world gave me a great slab of evidence lately.

Musicians have almost always been known to be politically outspoken. Most musicians in the mainstream are of the liberal mindset, with a few conservatives out there (specifically in rock and country). And if you ask a lot of them the message is that of universal tolerance, peace, no war, and vote for [insert name here].

While these are noble messages to pass on, it's the fact that a LOT of these views are half-baked and for the most point made to create the controversy needed to push the upcoming album/single/tour to the top.

Sometimes musicians need to take five and not speak out, for reasons being that what they say can do more damage than good. Here's a quick example...

Soulja Boy may have killed his career with an ill-suited and really stupid throwaway bar dissing the troops. Had he not said anything, his extended 15 minutes of fame wouldn't be in serious doubt.

Hank Williams Jr was essentially set up for life. Cushy gig on ESPN/ABC for nearly 20 years and as long as he lived he would get extensive royalties from every time the opening notes of "All My Rowdy Friends" played. Not anymore.

By making irrational comparisons to Hitler and Obama than even caught GOP members aback, Hank lost all of that and now has a brief flicker of hope with a re-released diss song called "Hit 'Em Up 2011" "Keep The Change".

And there's so many other examples of fallout from being overly outspoken. Dixie Chicks fell off the radar forever after calling Dubya a disgrace overseas. Overseas.

Not smart.

So in all honesty, why do musicians say stupid and unprovoked remarks like that in interviews? Because they need the attention and what better way to get it than faking relevance with political comments that are half-baked?

There's nothing wrong with being political and edgy, just that half-baked ideology that goes nowhere,  that's what's wrong. By selling misinformed views, people get misinformed as well, and before you know it, people take it for face value and believe the muck they've been sold.

So musicians out there should take heed: you want to play politician, better have a great base to work off on and facts that you can back up in the moments of truth. Otherwise you get exposed...as a phony.

And no one likes that.

This has been the Ill Opinion. Stay gold.

The Ill Opinion #7 Part 1: One Song Is All It Takes

before I begin this blog, I have to disclose that this edition of the Ill Opinion was a rough topic to tackle and with my dislike of how people are using the following event to profit sickens me. However, it would be more of a disservice to not tackle this topic. With that said... let us begin.
Music can be considered therapeutic to many, for different reasons. A breakup, a bad day, a venting forum, anything you think of, there's a song written for that moment, that feeling.

But no one could imagine that one song could become a resonating sentiment in a nation's darkest hour.

That darkest hour is 9/11. That one song is P.O.D.'s "Alive" from the album satellite.

Before that day came upon us all, Alive was just floating around the radio, getting some solid airplay and people enjoyed it like most other songs. It was a hit, one that caught on, but no one could expect that it would have such a part to play in the recovery of America post-9/11.

The song's positive and soaring atmosphere became a refuge to many, and the video climbed the charts, becoming a TRL topper for a string of episodes. While many didn't know how to explain it, it wasn't rocket science, it was music being music.

Music, in it's essence is a way to vent, a release of what builds up, for both those playing and listening to it. Alive did that. With positivity amongst the dark and gloom cast over by the attacks, people liked it and connected. And before anyone knew it, P.O.D. went from being under the nu-metal heap to being atop the mainstream rock scene, without even trying.

So with that said, musicians can and will use their medium to bring about positives. However, sometimes, in order to bring about positives, some things have to be said that may be taboo...and some taboos you can't cross.

Continued in #7 Part 2: Shut Up and Sing/Rap/etc....

the Ill Opinion #6: Watch The Winds Of Change

Last week, a historic event happened in the way music is marketed and sold.

Last week, Jay-Z and Kayne West released Watch The Throne, and accomplished a lot of things that were considerably historic.

• High iTunes sales, a new record
• Exclusive to iTunes only and Best Buy for a period of time
• Made it to retail, without leaking on the internet beforehand

Look at the last 2 points. That's what I want to focus and highlight on: the conflict between independent record stores and Jay-Z/Kayne West, and how they beat the internet, which is nearly impossible nowadays.

Firstly, Jay-Z and Kayne West, with their huge amounts of clout, managed to cut deals with Best Buy and iTunes to get "Exclusive sales windows" of Watch The Throne, with the digital launching 1st, the physical version following a week or so after.

While this may not seem that major now...it can set a possible precedent for how albums are sold and how you, the listener gets it.

Consider this: a new major record comes out and obviously, you want it. But you want a CD version. Now, the act behind the new record cut a deal with internet distribution stores to give them an exclusive window to sell the album, and in turn, put the CD on the backburner for however long this period lasts.

If you don't understand what's happening, I'll spell it out for you: CDs are being gradually phased out. By putting the digital version 1st, the digital version will sell more, thanks to early adapters and pre-ordering, which in turn shows more demand for digital, less for physical.


As time wears on, digital will overtake physical CDs and make it as much as a novelty item made for the hardcore fan as vinyl releases are today.

Now, how does this relate to independent stores? The rise and overtaking of digital puts indie stores in serious trouble. Not only do they not get a big name album when everyone else gets it, they in turn get less of the big records later on, leading to a downturn of business and closure.

So in the end, innovation leads to casualties. A rough way to look at it, but the future isn't cheap to be a part of.

Secondly, and this is not as extensive but still worthy of note: Watch The Throne beat piracy with simplicity.

By keeping a USB thumb drive in their possession at all times with the masters of the album, leaks and other advance unveiling moments were thwarted. While I highlighted a negative in the first point, for artists who hate leaks, the industry may have found their way to preserve the cash cow of day 1 releases and stopped bootlegging.

We'll have to see if it's bound to be adopted by the rest of the industry, but if it is...don't be shocked to see your favorite artist walking on stage with a USB drive on their person.

And that was the Ill Opinion. Stay gold.

LeetStreet Boys' "She's So Kawaii" may have mainstream appeal

When Boston-based Otaku band Leetstreet Boys released the animated music video for their catchy single “Yuri the only One” in 2008, little did they know the video would become viral amongst anime fans and generate hundreds of thousands of views in the first few months. The song, which was featured on Japanese television and at prominent anime conventions around the world, put LeetStreet Boys at the forefront of the Otaku music world and launched the band into anime stardom.

After the release of two popular but less successful music videos in 2009, LeetStreet Boys is back at the forefront of the American anime world with the music video for their single “She’s so Kawaii,” the feature track off the band’s recently released full-length Otaku Hearts. The video, which debuted Saturday, has already shown viral qualities, accumulating over 20,000 views, and it could trump “Yuri the Only One” in popularity due to a major differentiating factor -- its potential mainstream appeal.

Leetstreet Boys founder and frontman Matt Myers, famous in the world of anime-related music for his fun, catchy lyrics, obviously put in the extra mile for “She’s So Kawaii,” as the song seamlessly incorporates both mainstream and Japanese culture references in its memorable, sing-a-long lyrics. Like “Yuri the Only One,” there are the references only fans of Japanese culture will get, like “fawning over Zach Fair,” a character from the Final Fantasy video game series, and “says she like to RP,” which stand for role playing, a popular activity where fans of anime dress up as their favorite characters. But unlike the popular 2008 hit, “She’s So Kawaii” makes reference to several pop-culture icons (“Edward Cullen is lame” and “met her at Gamestop” come to mind), which could ultimately push the song into music’s mainstream. Additionally, “She’s so Kawaii” is brilliantly composed and super catchy -- two factors that could ultimately have music fans of all types sharing the song with their friends and playing it over and over.

Aside from the musical components, the video for “She’s So Kawaii” is aesthetically brilliant, with a major step up in animation quality from “Yuri the Only One.” Myers teamed up with artists Heather Bloss and Brianna Plaud, as well as special fx /post-production supervisor Colby Peterson with hopes of taking American animation to the next level. He did just that, as the response to the visual components of “She’s So Kawaii” has been resoundingly positive. The video’s visual elements alone could have people clicking back over and over again, even if they’re not knowledgeable about Japanese culture.

Whether “She’s So Kawaii” serves as a bridge from the mainstream to the world of anime or is just so left of center that the average Joe won’t be able to take his eyes off of it, expect the video to match or even trump the high success of “Yuri the Only One.” Despite receiving a plethora of hate comments and a dislike swarm from the trolls of infamous forum 4chan, “She’s So Kawaii” is ultimately a great song coupled with a great video. And that combination usually leads to mainstream success.

This article was originally written by Dan Horgan of HorganEntertainment.com

My Latest Fashion - More than a Music Trend

The 21st century has seen an explosion of post-hardcore bands. A niche genre just eight years ago, post hardcore has nearly hit the mainstream, as thousands of post-hardcore outfits have found themselves tearing up the stages of Vans Warped Tour and prominent clubs throughout the country.

The recent upsurge has led to incredible albums and memorable tours, but post-hardcore’s popularity has created a saturation of the genre, as countless new bands are playing the same chords and singing the same lyrics that made post-hardcore popular several years ago. There is an element of artificiality in the genre now – bands both big and small have become carbon copies of each other, and the music has lost its organic creation.

Enter My Latest Fashion. The Augusta, Georgia-based four piece is anything but a frontrunner band. In fact, the name My Latest Fashion is rather ironic as the group is perhaps the most organic sounding band within the genre.

To know My Latest Fashion is to understand the struggle of young bands in today’s scene. In 2009, drummer Eddie Gleason and bassist Clay Veal were unhappy with the lack of commitment and constant member changes in their pop-punk band Avaria, so they took to the Internet to find equally dedicated members.

“We spent a lot of time looking for musicians in Augusta, we never thought to look out of the city, or even the state,” said Veal.

They ultimately came across Jared Graap, a Knoxville-based guitarist who was ready for a new chapter in his life and music career. Graap made the decision to move to Augusta and pursue music full-time through Avaria. Only now he would make the switch from guitarist to frontman, a role he had been coveting for quite some time.

But as Graap was set to make the move, he received news that Avaria‘s guitarist had parted ways with the band. The dream team Graap was ready to form was falling apart, and he had yet to even find housing in Augusta.

“That was discouraging for me,” said Graap. “I had no intention of joining a band that didn’t have a committed, full lineup.”

But Graap wasn’t ready to let the opportunity slip away. During one of his last shifts at a Knoxville restaurant, Graap told co-worker and fellow guitarist Kevin Armstrong about his planned move to Augusta. And as a shot-in-the-dark idea, Graap asked Armstrong if he wanted to make the move with him to round out Avaria.

“He accepted without hesitation,” said Graap.

So just months after meeting Gleason and Veal online, Graap and Armstrong packed up their belongings and hit the road to Augusta, intent on joining forces with musicians with the same talent and determination. The chemistry was instant upon arriving.

“I just picked up my guitar and we started writing together,” said Armstrong. “We all just clicked.”

Clicked, that is, in a way the band did not expect. Instead of churning out the pop-punk anthems Avaria was known for, the four-piece began taking a completely different sound, swapping power chords and cheery vocals for a heavier, more ambient direction. The band scratched all of their old material, began writing new songs, and decided a name change was in order. My Latest Fashion was born.

“We never really sat down and decided what kind of sound we wanted,” said Graap. “We started writing together and it all just came out. It was the kind of band I had always wanted to be in, and I know the other guys felt the same way.”

The band began backing up the hard work they had promised each other by driving to Ocala, Florida to record their debut EP “This is Romance” with former A Day To Remember guitarist Tom Denne. Sleeping in tents at night, the band’s members came together as they recorded one of post-hardcore’s most powerful EPs in years.

“We all grew even closer on that trip and really honed in on what our band was made of,” said Armstrong. “It’s a time we’ll never forget.”

As an unbreakable unit, My Latest Fashion spent the next year gigging locally and steadily gaining an online following. And within the past month, the group’s hard work has started showing dividends, as the band inked a management deal with Horgan Entertainment, earned a slot on the Atlanta date of this summer’s Vans Warped Tour by winning the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, and landed an endorsement deal with upstart clothing line Electrikk Clothing.

The recent success is only the beginning of what’s to come for My Latest Fashion, as the band’s talent, drive, and solidarity will undoubtedly take them to the top. My Latest Fashion is currently seeking a respected booking agent to put them on the road, where they can play their brand of organic post hardcore to a different city every night. The band is confident that the heart in their music will make it stand out from the pack.

“Nothing is original anymore,” said Graap. “Every note and every chord has already been played. We hope to accomplish with our music a sound that makes people want to go back and listen to it again and again. Catchy, but not mainstream. Lyrics that make you think, verses that are punchy, and choruses that soar. Something that stays stuck in your head all day. If we could be to someone what our favorite bands are to us, then we have succeeded.”

Visit My Latest Fashion on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/mylatestfashion. Listen to “This is Romance” at http://www.reverbnation.com/mylatestfashion.

Mr.Kitty Releases "Realms"; Free Download

Arlington, Texas-based electronic artist Mr.Kitty, fresh off of his appearance on Vans Warped Tour with Boston’s Sweetdiculous, has completed his latest release “Realms” — a four-track EP that mixes influences from synth-pop legends of the 80’s with modern electronics and mastering. Kitty, who has also shared the stage with Crystal Castles, believes “Realms” is his best work to date.

“It blows all of my other releases out of the water,” said the 19-year-old solo artist.

Kitty, whose real name is Forrest Carney, has been making electronic music for over eight years, putting out over 30 releases of breakcore, 8-bit, and IDM tunes. Only within the past year, however, did he begin adding vocals regularly to his songs. Realms, said Carney, “incorporates shiny synthesizers, haunting vocals, and drums contaminated with heavy reverb.”

In March, Carney released “D E A T H”, a 15-track full-length of dark electronics and powerful vocals. The album caught the attention of electro thrashers Sweetdiculous, who invited Carney to perform with them on this summer’s Vans Warped Tour. After playing dates in Darien Center, Boston, and Hartford, Carney returned to Arlington, where he put the finishing touches on Realms.

This EP, unlike past Mr.Kitty albums, is influenced by the likes of New Order and Depeche Mode, or, as Carney puts it, “music my mother used to listen to.” Carney and manager Dan Horgan hope Realms will be the breakthrough to the electronic masses the pair have been looking for.

“The formula has been proven over and over again with Mr.Kitty – the more people who hear his stuff, the more who become die-hard fans,” said Horgan. “It won’t be long before Mr.Kitty becomes a household name in the music world.”

“Realms” can be streamed and downloaded for free at Mr.Kitty’s Bandcamp page, http://mrkittydm.bandcamp.com/album/realms .

Visit Mr.Kitty on Facebook – http://Facebook.com/Mrkittydm.

the Ill Opinion #5: Anvil: The Story of Anvil

Stop me if you've heard this story before: Classic metal band that takes itself too seriously gets one more shot at the big time, and a camera crew is watching their every move, showing how much this band cares and wants to be as successful as possible.

This is not Spinal Tap. This is Anvil.

A Canadian metal band that started between two childhood friends in high school, Anvil has been hailed as influential on a generation of metal musicians (i.e. Slash, Lemmy, Scott Ian, etc.). And yet, the success has never been there, in sales, or in crowd attendance.

Why do I bring this movie up, you ask? For a lot of reasons in regards to musicians, bands, families, and the mortality of a band or musical act.

If you're a musician: watch this film. Watch it and notice how the passion and will to make something work in light of real life problems, and how friendship can sometimes make your passion for whatever you do that much stronger, that much more real.

If you're a band: get everyone together and watch this film. It's a much-needed slap-in-the-face for every band, because it shows you two things: the fact that yes, failure is very very likely. You may wind up to be just like Anvil. But...it's a sign of how the meaning of "success" can vary case by case. Sometimes, just putting that album out is the victory, not the sold-out tour dates.

If you're a family member of the above parties: watch this film. There's a lot to be said about families and musicians sometimes not seeing eye-to-eye, and this film exploits those relationships, examines them, and highlights how both the difference in opinion and the willingness to embrace the ambitions of a family member affect those around it.

In closing, with this film being on Netflix Instant, you really have no excuse to not see this film.

And this was the Ill Opinion. Stay gold.

My Latest Fashion to play Atlanta date of Vans Warped Tour

Press Release: Augusta-based post-hardcore outfit My Latest Fashion will play the August 1st date of this summer’s Vans Warped Tour at Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood in Atlanta, Georgia. The news comes for the band after months of competition in this year’s Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, who informed My Latest Fashion yesterday they had won the spot thousands of bands were vying for.

“This is just the first step of My Latest Fashion’s inventible journey to the top,” said band manager Dan Horgan. “There aren’t many post-hardcore bands out there who can match the talent and songwriting abilities of My Latest Fashion, so we’re thrilled they have this opportunity to display their ability on such a big stage.”

Formed in 2010, My Latest Fashion has been making waves on both a local and national level since they recorded their debut EP “This is Romance” with Tom Denney, former guitarist and songwriter for A Day to Remember. The five-track release is best known for its single “The World and A Place Called Home,” a track that evinces the band’s ability to mix brutal verses with catchy, melodic choruses. The EP can be streamed on the band’s Facebook page at http://Facebook.com/MyLatestFashion.

Where have you gone, Jemina Pearl?

Jemina Pearl is one of the most talented female vocalists in modern-day rock music, but she's been out of everyone's radar for over a year now. The former be your own PET frontwoman put out her first solo album in 2009, and made waves by appearing on popular series "Gossip Girl" when she covered "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" by The Ramones. After touring with Islands to support the record, however, Pearl has not been heard from.

Given the utterly awful financial state of today's music industry, it's understandable if Pearl has moved on to a somewhat normal life, where she can actually make money and not have to live in a moving vehicle. But I personally would like to hear from her. be your own PET, with their funky and spunky style of punk rock, was one of the best bands of the 2000's. And Pearl's solo album "Break it Up" was just as good, giving fans a slew of catchy punk-fueled rock songs such as "Heartbeats." Pearl could announce her retirement from music tomorrow and have already lived an incredible life within the industry, but I hope she's not done. Even if she were to hook up with an electronic musician and record part-time from her hometown, I would love to hear her voice on new songs.

The Ill Recomendation: WUGAZI

Fugazi + Wu-Tang Clan = awesome.

http://wugazi.tumblr.com/post/7565984457/up-from-the-13th

Shame on a nuh who got stuck in the waiting room....listen to it.

Nayo from DiamondShotgun Interview

With roots in the Land of the Rising Sun, DiamondShotgun is a unique entity in music, mixing many different genres into one blend that screams for attention. Read on to learn about the duo's history, the goals, and what language is harder to perform in...

The Ill Opinion #4: Independent Day

So on the most patriotic of days in America’s calendar, there’s an interesting observation to be made about the music industry and the name of today, Independence Day.

In the later years of the 2000’s, in the wake of the industry’s self-inflicted bleedout, tools became available to people that in a way, created the oft-mentioned but rarely done “musical independence”. The use of a label to “make it” in music, has died, and in its place, the world wide web, has opened the gates for artists to take their sound and take 100% control on who gets it, how it comes out, what it looks like, and what people think about it. While this is still being ironed-out, musicians can live D.I.Y. and be reasonably successful.

Or in wilder cases, get famous and outshine everyone. All because they did it themselves, and they did it their way.

It’s a lot of hit-and-miss, but trust me on this, when you look back and see what you’ve done on your own, it’s amazing beyond words.

So what’s the gist here? Simple: for musicians who still think a label is the way, you’re no longer a slave, the war for independence is being fought right now, and while they may never be a winner, there will always be a move closer to true independence. Be your own label/MTV/promo/fan club…and have some fun en route.

And that was the Ill Opinion. Stay gold.

The Ill Recommendations: 6.14

For anyone looking for brutal, uncompromising, and more importantly, GOOD metal, check out Naegleria from Dudley, MA. Their latest album is now streaming on Reverbnation, and if you're curious, check it out:

The Ill Opinion #3: Internet Killed The Rock Star

Hard to imagine that way back in 2005, when MySpace began it's path of world domination, the music industry was a lot different back then. Adapting to the advent of ".99 a track" and the ability of people getting any song any time they wanted was a hard thing to swallow for the draconian system of labels and musicians.

Turn your history books to 2011, and take a look, or better yet, a listen to the modern radio today. Now, how many songs tend to have a similar sound, i.e, the type of sound that you would associate with the now-fallen social media website?

The answer: lots of them.

In the course of 6 years, if you can believe that, the music industry has adapted for the internet. Not just in business, but the demand for songs are even more in-tune with the World Wide Web. With the rise of MySpace, "starting a band" and "putting music out there" is now easy enough that in the course of 1 week, you can have the amount of traction that would take weeks, months, even years, to obtain before MySpace.

Now how does that equate into the title? Easier than you think.

With the chance that a hit can come out of anywhere, the special feeling of being a "rockstar" is now commonplace, as in, it's no longer shocking.

And with this, music in general has become, almost cheapened. What was a needle in a haystack is now commonplace. That's not to say, good music is dead and gone, far from it.

The point is, the game has changed, and now there's an ease, a fast way in, which is great, yet also, awful. When every Tom, Dick and Hank can get famous now, what's the point in trying?

In closing, I want you to consider this: remember how special you felt when you did something "incredible"? Imagine seeing everyone else do it. Not so special now, is it?

This was the Ill Opinion. Stay gold.

The Ill Opinion #2: The Thin Line Between Truth & Hate

With the power of the internet and shortened attention spans, I have noticed a rather disturbing trend in music and the stating of opinions...

There is no in-between between "love" and "hate". Either you're down or you hate it.

It's a bad sign when you read interviews over the internet and people who know that something or someone isn't that good at what they do, that no one can actually say "I don't like this because..." without getting mouth-breathers coming online saying "OMG, F U hater! You're just jealous of what they did!"

This is a lot quicker write than the last one, because I'd rather not waste time with this point, but the fact is, if we can't come out and say "I don't like [so and so]", then the ability to critique and help people grow with their skills and talents via a fresh set of eyes and ears is dead.

And so is music. So in closing, there's a fine line between truth and hate, a middle ground. It's called "constructive criticism", don't be afraid to hear it, share it and who knows, maybe you can get something out of it, other than a reason to rage.

This was the Ill Opinion. Stay gold.

Exclusive Interview: Bobby, Spies Like Us

Basslines and Screams chatted with Bobby Fitzgerald, vocalist of the popular post hardcore band Spies Like Us, in an exclusive interview. See what Fitzgerald had to say in this one on one.

What inspired you personally to get into music?

Fitzgerald: I started playing piano at the age of 9. Since then I have clearly changed genres of music. I was essentially forced into screaming [laughs]. But I got into the genre I play when I was about 16 I'd say. Starting with Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold (when they were good :)), then listening to a lot of Whitechapel and Miss May I which is where my main influence comes from.

Who do you listen to most?

Fitzgerald: I'd say the bands I listen to most now would be Whitechapel, Miss May I, Memphis May Fire, Winds of Plague, Within The Ruins, and DevilDriver to be honest. A lot of different styles of the same music. I feel that having a variety in interests expands what I can do for my own band. I practice to those bands most and try to use all of the good things they do in my own music.

What are your thoughts on the music industry today?

Fitzgerald: My thoughts on the industry now a days are that it is not that same as it was and not how it should be. To everyone it's all about the money. Well, I shouldn't say everyone but to most. I just wish local shows weren't so expensive. The price to go see your favorite bands is ridiculous. Most kids' way to escape daily anxiety, depression, and overall problems is music, and I know from personal experience that seeing my favorite bands perform great live is so amazing; it's such a happy, uplifting feeling. There are a lot of changes that need to be made but most likely won't. But in the end without the industry no one would have the oppurtunity to do what we're doing and for that we all have to stay grateful for what we get. Life is very rarely fair, so make the best of what you have and always stay true to yourself. You come first. Thats how it should be.

Where will we see Spies Like Us five years from now?

Fitzgerald: I hope to see Spies doing the same but more in 5 years. I would do anything to be touring 8-10 months out of the year. A lot of great things are happening for us now and I have no one else to thank but all the people that have supported us from the start, having faith in us as a band. Everyone has to start somewhere and seeing from where we started I am very satisfied to the level we have come.

If you could show every music fan in the world one song of yours, what would it be?

Fitzgerald: I would show everyone "Happy Endings Only Happen In Movies." I feel that's the most progressive song we have. The lyrics, music, and everything in between have a lot to do with the direction we're heading and the inspiration we have. It shows that we're not looking to sell out. I want to always stay the way we are and honestly grow heavier as we go but, keep our melodic choruses to showcase Joe's voice and our harmonies live. The lyrics I wrote for that song came straight from the heart. This world is filled with a lot of corruption and lies and it takes yourself and no one else to overcome all of that and really take things into your own hands and do what's best for yourself because you are the only one that matters in the end. Thats the basic plot of the song and I love that song truly.

Anything in closing?

Fitzgerald: In closing I would just love to thank everyone that has been there for us, coming to most shows we play. The support means the world to me. To see people singing and dancing to all of our songs is the greatest feeling I have ever felt. I can make this promise and keep this promise that I will never become big headed, cocky, or conceded in anyway. It's all about the music, play what you enjoy, do what you love and do whatever it takes to keep you happy. Playing shows has become a part of my life I feel I could never lose. It's a dream come true to be at the level we are and I can't stress enough how grateful we all are to have the fans and amazing support we've been granted. I wish I could name off everyone to thank but, if you have ever supported us in anyway from buying merch, getting our song on Itunes, or just telling your friends about us, we are forever grateful and it's people like that that keep our dream going. We love you dearly and will continue to stay true to our fans and play shows strictly for the love of it and the fans we have.

Exclusive Interview: Austin AcYd

Basslines and Screams caught up with talented Kentucky-based nerdcore rapper Austin AcYd in a candid interview. Check out what AcYd has to say in this BLS exclusive.

Q) What inspired you personally to get into music?

A) I would have to say that the movie, "Pursuit of Happyness", inspired me to get into music. I had always had the dream of making rap music, but I just never thought I was good enough. People kept telling me that it was just some stupid dream I'd never accomplish. I watched that movie, and it just inspired me to keep working toward my dreams no matter what anyone says. "The wise man doesn't pursue happiness, he grows it from under his own two feet."

Q) Who do you listen to most?

A) I listen to a lot of rap artists. Some of my favorites are Eyedea & Abilities, Brother Ali, Wiz Khalifa, Wu Tang Clan, DMX, etc, but I'd have to say that the person I listen to most is myself. I just want to clarify that I'm not on a "high horse" by any means because of this. I listen to my music all of the time to see where I need to improve my lyricism and flow. I don't think I'm perfect by any means, and I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to my music.

Q) What are your thoughts on the music industry today?

A) I don't really listen to the radio much anymore, but I believe that mainstream music tries to change a lot of artists to become something they're not. Major labels like to cater a little too much to insure the artist's fame, and that can in turn make the artists a bit lazy. I believe in working on your music, putting as much passion into it, being real in your music, and it can be appreciated more. As far as the underground, it seems there is a lot of ''beef'' going on in underground rap and underground crunkcore. I believe that everyone should just get along, collaborate on songs together, respect each other, and build each genre to the fullest extent.

Q) Where will we see Austin Acyd five years from now?

A) Hopefully married to my girlfriend (I love you Kelsey), touring with my music, and just living life to the fullest. No drugs or alcohol, though. Real talk.

Q) Discuss the crunkcore movement in music today. Are the brokenCYDEs and Dot Dot Curves of the world good for music?

A) I respect every artist in every genre of music. I must stress this. I used to be a crunkcore artist, but I've changed my genre to just rap. A bit more nerdcore, I guess you could say. I suck at screaming. lol

They advocate drugs and alcohol, but who doesn't nowadays unless it's Christian music. As long as they don't bash God or Christianity (I am a dedicated Christian), I support them fully. I'm part of the "Crunk Fucking Core" group on Facebook. I talk to every one of the artists on there. They're all nice guys. I'm collabing with Jayreck and N!tro on a song for my album. I mean, I dislike country music, but I respect the artists to the fullest extent. Crunkcore just isn't me, I guess you could say. Crunkcore seems to be dwindling a bit, there's a lot of beefing going on, but all it needs is an evolution of some sort. That's what I believe. I feel like I may get some hate for these comments on this question, but I still stand by what I said.

Q) If you could show every music fan in the world one song of yours, what would it be?

A) One song of mine. Wow. I've never thought of this at all.
Uhmmm....I would have to say "No Matter What". That song has a very good meaning. It's about a musical artist that goes on tour all the time, and he misses his girlfriend/fiancee/wife. When he gets back, she has left him. He says that he'll wait for her until the day he dies, so it has a bit of "undying love" in the story told as well. I feel a lot of people can relate to it, not just artists.

Q) Talk about your record label, Stellar Squad Entertainment.

A) Stellar Squad Entertainment was started a couple years ago by my best friend/brother from another mother, Casper The Prodigy (AKA Aric Patterson), and myself. We started as a music group, and just evolved it into a record label. We are a universal record label, meaning that we sign every artist from every genre (except country). We currently record, mix, and master everything ourselves. I personally do everything in my bedroom. Casper does everything out of a room in his house. Rondo does everything out of his bedroom. Sonic does everything out of his bedroom. We're hoping to buy a building and transition our equipment into that. Actually have a place of business, ya feel me? We dedicate our lives to what we do. We put a ton of passion and hard work into what we do.
Our members include the following:

Austin AcYd: Rapper/CEO
Casper The Prodigy: Rapper/CEO
Rondo: Rapper
Sonic: Rapper/Producer
Raisi K. Mobele: Producer

Jake Nalley: Vocalist

Shadillac VG Firestyle: Vocalist/Screamo

I'm truly blessed to have these guys as partners/friends and they have done everything to truly help out our label. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. God has truly blessed me, fam.


Q) Anything in closing?
A) My debut album, "The Arcade", will be available for free download sometime this summer, so be on the lookout for that. It features a LOT of awesome artists including Dutch Vega, Madd Illz, Phranchyze, Logic, godAwful, Casper The Prodigy, Merkules, Jayreck, N!tro, Sonic, Aak, etc.

All of the beats sample either old school video games, old school cartoons, or anime. Shoutouts to Raisi K. Mobele for producing most of the beats for the album. He's a monster.

I urge you guys to check out Sonic's music, Rondo's music, Casper The Prodigy's music, and my music. I'll provide the links to each artist below. I'd also like to thank my grandmother, my girlfriend, and God for helping me throughout all of the hard times I've endured and the obstacles in my path. Shoutouts to Connecticut Battle League and family! Thanks for taking the time to interview me!

Austin AcYd's Music
www.reverbnation.com/austinacyd

Casper The Prodigy's Music
www.reverbnation.com/caspertheprodigy

Rondo's Music
www.reverbnation.com/imrondo

Neil from Rituals Interview

1. How did your band come to be?

Rituals came about when Julian sent me some demos he had been working on that were missing vocals. When I heard the tracks I asked him if I could lay some down and it kinda just went from there. We were only a two piece for a couple shows or a couple months. We knew we wanted to add a drummer pretty soon after to give us more of an edge, live feel, etc. We somehow managed to convince my good friend Pablo to come back from Australia to play drums in Rituals. Julian and Pablo were then acquainted at a seedy Japanese sake bar in Little Tokyo called "Bar C." It's where we like to go when we have business to discuss. They have a drink there called "The Galvatron." It's 1/3 Tequila, 1/3 Whisky and 1/3 Hate - it tastes like pure gasoline. I made both Julian and Pablo each do a shot with me and at that moment Rituals was born.

2. What was the first time getting the band together like?

Very Drunk. Also very exciting. You could feel the energy at the table.

3. What was the moment that made you think "this is it right here", the defining moment that convinced you this was for real?

The first time we used our signature light show at Club Moscow in LA, when we hit the down beat of "Red Moon" and I turned on the giant fluorescent triangle light around me. It gave me goosebumps.

4. What's your end goal for music? As in, what do you envision yourself getting out of music when all is said and done?

I personally see myself becoming a music producer and or manger in the future, although I don't ever see myself NOT creating music. I've been playing in bands since I was five years old. Music has always been the one and only thing that makes sense to me. As far as Rituals goes, I think we have a very bright future and have only begun to scratch the surface of our creativity. Our best work is ahead of us. The goal at the moment is to open people’s minds and break ground for a new direction in dance/pop music. We'd also like to be the first band that openly admits to hating indie rock... Hahaha

5. Dream tour: who would you love to share a stage with?

Depeche Mode, no doubt. But we also really want to play Live Earth too.

6. What are your 3 main influences on your sound?

Trench coats, blacked out sunglasses, and Gimps.

7. What does the future hold for your band?

Lots and lots of touring... extensively on the international side of things. We don't want to stay in America for too long. Our music will have it's time in the US soon enough but right now we need to be playing in Germany or the UK. It's a matter of time hopefully. Until then we will be in the lab creating the darkest, danciest music to the best of our ability. All the while continuing to explore other textures and sonic fibers that we can stitch into our sound. We are a young band, but all three of us are very creative and talented people. We won't stop until our music is as three-dimensional as our personalities.


8. Word association: when I say [insert word here], you think....

MTV - real world
File-sharing - napster
Radio - death
Touring - booze
Twitter - lady gaga
Fans - Gimps
Special thanks to Neil from RITUALS. check them out http://ritualsla.com/

My Five Favorite Metal Vocalists

By Cash Manfredo

I've always loved metal. Ever since I heard "The Sickness" by Disturbed in 2000, everything from doom metal to thrash has been blaring in my house, my car, and anywhere else I can raise my horns.

I recently put together a list of my five favorite metal vocalists. I feel these vocalists cover a wide range of metal and really reflect my taste in the genre. Enjoy.

5. Cam Pipes - Three Inches of Blood: Is there anyone with a better falsetto in the game today? I don't think so. Take one listen to "Silent Killer" and you'll see the talent this Canadian has.

4. David Draiman - Disturbed: Draiman is the man responsible for getting me into metal. He has so much range in his powerful voice - I haven't been able to get enough the past eleven years. "The Animal," though one of Distubred's most mainstream songs, showcases Draiman's voice and everything he's capable of.

3. Tony Foresta - Municipal Waste: He may not have as much talent as the latter two vocalists, but Foresta always brings it. His vocals are thrashy, powerful, and so fun to mosh to. Maybe the best singer in the thrash game today.

2. Liam Cormier - Cancer Bats: Cormier's voice wasn't always as good as it is now - on Cancer Bats' first album, "Birthing the Giant," Liam's screams, though powerful, lacked the substance they have now. But ever since Cancer Bats put out their single "Hail Destroyer," no one has gotten me fired up like Cormier. His voice is pure electricity.

1. Kenny Hickey - Seventh Void: Hickey, famous for his spot in Type O Negative, is now the frontman for Seventh Void. To me, no one sings like this guy. He's the best doom metal singer I've ever heard.

Press Release: Mr.Kitty Talks About "D E A T H"; Link to Free Download

For years, Arlington, Texas-based electronic musician Forrest Carney, better known by his stage name of Mr.Kitty, put out fun, energetic dance albums. From chaotic 8-bit beats to advanced IDM, Carney kept his fans moving time and time again, releasing over 25 albums of grooving tunes.
So in March when Carney released “D E A T H” — 15 haunting tracks of dark, electronic music — many of his fans were taken by surprise. The CD, Carney’s 32nd official release, featured Carney’s robust vocals prominently for the first time and swapped his cheery beats for nefarious ones. But the album has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response, garnering over 270 Facebook “likes” on the CD’s Bandcamp page (http://mrkittydm.bandcamp.com/album/d-e-t-h) and receiving praise from the online electronic music community. The hype around the album has many thinking Carney will continue in the darker direction.

“I wanted to take a step away from the whole ‘dance til I die’ mindset and do something real,” said Carney. “The album’s lyrics and the story may be unrelated, but I wanted to give people something to think about.”

The story, a fifteen-part voyage that follows two characters who fall in love, die, and eventually reunite, was inspired by Carney’s own personal struggles in life and love.
“The idea of this album came into play when a guy I was dating left me after three years,” said Carney. “We were about to be engaged and he left me for someone else. That is the moment when I ‘died.’”

But for Carney, who has shared the stage with Crystal Castles and been featured in The Dallas Observer, a metaphoric death meant a rebirth in his music. Citing a loss of trust in many people close to him, Carney began isolating himself from the world and experimenting with new sounds. The result was the new Mr.Kitty — a deeper, more sophisticated artist who drew upon touching subjects to make moving songs.

“Everything I began working on started to sound very dark,” said Carney. “I’ve experienced a lot of encounters with death in my life, whether it be family members, pets, or strangers. But I’ve never seen death as a negative thing. I wanted to find a way to express my sadness and anger without committing suicide. I wanted to take the album into a direction that would make the darkest of times feel comfortable.”

“D E A T H” can be streamed and downloaded for free at Mr.Kitty’s Bandcamp page, http://mrkittydm.bandcamp.com/album/d-e-t-h.

The Ill Opinion #1: Genre Bender

For years, the use of genres has been considered a necessity to organize different musical acts and albums for shelf spacing and purchasing at the stores.You could consider it to be a commercial innovation, something that caught fire with others and stayed around in music for years, an unquestionable part of the game, much like chords and the general structure of an average pop song.

For better or worse, genres have been an institution. However, a gradual effort to break the walls down and mix other genres with each other has slowly caught steam in the modern scene of music and what was considered an act of insanity bound for failure, is now seen as normal.

Exclusive Interview: Yesterday's Heroes

Bass Lines and Screams recently caught up with Kevin Gallant, guitarist and backup vocalist for Boston-based punk band Yesterday's Heroes. Hear what Gallant had to say in this BLS exclusive.

What inspired you personally to get into music?

Gallant: Personally, I started out playing violin at about age 6. I grew up in Dracut, MA and they had an awesome music program in the public schools. The violin teacher would come into the first and second grade class rooms and do a presentation. In first grade I really wanted to do it, but my mother said that if the next year I was still into it I could. And that started me on this. In about 5th grade I heard Pearl Jam for the first time, and that made me want to pick up a guitar. I started my first band my first year of high school. Granted we sucked something awful, but it was a ton of fun. At the time the scene in Lowell and Dracut was booming. There were shows every weekend, and the bands were fantastic. Going to these church halls and basements when I was 13 and 14 really made me want to get involved.

Who do you listen to most?

Gallant: The band with the most plays on my iTunes is Against Me. Really one of my favorite current bands. I tend to be all over the board. Everything from Springsteen to Lucero to The Fake Boys to Blood for Blood.

What are your thoughts on the music industry today?

Gallant: I haven't listened to the radio in god knows how long. Frankly I think 98% of it is absolute shit. With the advent of social media and the internet bands don't really need the "industry" any more. It's so easy to self release things these days, anybody can do it. But it's also a double edged blade. The market is so saturated and labels just aren't making the money, so a lot of bands that should be getting the financial support now just aren't. Wither it's labels unwillingness to take a risk unless someone is a sure money maker I'm not sure. As someone who puts most of his paycheck into his band and trying to make things happen it's a bit discouraging. Maybe I'm just a cynic.

Talk about the Boston punk scene. Do you see the scene growing or shrinking in the future?

Gallant: As far as I'm concerned, Boston and punk rock are synonymous. It's always been one of the strongest scenes I've seen anywhere and I'm positive it will be for a long time. There is always something going on and always awesome people to hang with. It can be tough to get people out to your show sometimes with the sheer volume of bands and shows going on, but too much of a good thing isn't a bad thing in this case.

Where will we see Yesterday's Heroes five years from now?

Gallant: Five years? Shit, we'll all be 30, broken down, and ready for the grave. Seriously though, who knows? Hopefully we'll still be recording, touring, and having the time of our lives. It's all about having fun, isn't it? We'll all probably have a little less hair, and we'll all be a little bit fatter.

If you could show every music fan in the world one song of yours, what would it be?

Gallant: It would definitely be one of our new songs called "Lost in Translation". We're headed down to Norfolk, VA to record an EP in July and it's going to be on it. It's really probably one of the most heartfelt and relatable songs we've ever written. I get so jacked up every time we play it.

Anything in closing?

Gallant: Get out from behind the computers and cell phones. Come to shows. Hang out. Buy us beer.

Exclusive Interview: Mongrel

Bass Lines and Screams recently chatted with Adam Savage, guitarist of Massachusetts-based hard rockers Mongrel, to talk about the band's latest EP release as well as what the future holds for the quartet. Check out what Adam had to say in this exclusive interview.

What inspired you personally to get into music?

Adam: I was inspired to start playing guitar watching the videos for (Guns N' Roses) "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child O' Mine" - watching Slash play was that defining moment of "I NEED to do that!"

Who do you listen to most?

Adam: My cd changer in the car almost always has at least one album from The Bronx and Slipknot (self-titled) in it. Also in regular rotation lately is Trashlight Vision, The Pretty Reckless, NIN, the upcoming Mongrel fulll length cd , Hate Gallery, Dead Boys, Amen, Ministry, Rolling Stones, Mindless Self Indulgence "Tight", etc...

What are your thoughts on the music industry today?

Adam: I'm kind of mixed on it, in some ways its amazing how much stuff you can do as an independent artist that previously you could never do without a bigger label backing you, however in some ways its almost harder to stand out from the pack and get noticed, and to finance the things you want to do since there aren't the labels picking up developing bands like they used to and with the rising price of gas, etc. it does make for challenging but exciting times.

Talk about your latest release, "Declamation." What's your favorite song on the EP?

Adam: We originally went in to the studio expecting just to do a new full length and things were going so well we ended up recording a couple of bonus tracks and decided to split it up into a 12 song album and the "Declamation" EP. My favorite track on the EP is probably "Fucked It All Away" - this was originally on our prior full length cd with our old singer and we did not intend to record it again but since we were doing so well time-wise and I loved how the song took on a new life and sounded so amazing with Jess singing it so we decided to re-do it. I'm really glad we did as I love how it sounds now and there's really just something about a female singer doing the line "I had it all and I fucked it all away" they way Jess does it that you just can't deny.

Why choose to cover a Misfits song on the new EP?

Adam: We'd intended to record this from the get go. This is a song we'd been covering for a while now that the crowd always loves and when Jess joined the band it was another one of those "we have to get her in the studio doing this one" kind of things. Dr Chud, who wrote the song when he was with the Misfits said we did a great job with it so obviously we made a good choice with this and when we split things up into the EP and album, putting it on the EP made the most sense.

When can we see the next Mongrel full length?

Adam: We are expecting the new full length "Reclamation" to come out in early July actually.

Where will we see Mongrel five years from now?

Adam: Hopefully in the midst of one of many successful US or international tours!

If you could show every music fan in the world one song of yours, what would it be?

Adam: Probably something off the upcoming full length album, there's a bunch of songs on there I think are the best stuff we've done to date... Zombies of War, Revisionist, Tarnished Halo, Wake Up...I'm not sure which ONE song it would be.

Anything in closing?

Adam: If anyone wants to get out our ep "Decalamation" you can get it on itunes, amazon, or http://mongrel.bandcamp.com/. Please visit us out at www.mongrelband.com where you can find links to all our sites (facebook, twitter, myspace, etc) and please keep in touch with us online or hang out at a show if you like what you hear - we're very big on talking to and keeping in touch with the people who support us!