Chronicles of Super Bad Ass weekends ~ Oh God Yes!

This weekend was a twofer for me.  I was doing nothing on Friday night up until I decided with a friend we were going to go pick up tickets for a show on Saturday night we spontaneously wanted to go to.  So, 2 in the Chest made it clear they would be at Goathead Saloon... off to the saloon we went.  Expecting to have a couple beers, getting the tickets, then leaving (I had to work at 6am the next morning) we walked into a metal show.  Not just any metal show.

The return of Havens End.  More hard rock than metal, Havens End was a band I had not seen, yet knew of.  I was in and out during their set with other things, so really didn't have a chance to check them out. 

There were three bands we did really pay attention to, however, and totally shot my plans of sleeping for work out of the fucking water!  I hate when the talent on stage is soooo good I don't wanna leave!

Cactus Chainsaw.  An amazing metal band with superb energy and full on no shit taken music!  Check em out and go to a show! 

Throw the Switch, which is a hybrid of members of Cactus Chainsaw and another band, added more to my list of Pheonix metal I wanna get on CD.  Gebus these guys, on stage, drew me in like a fish on a hook!  Turbulant strings and lyrics that will take the paint off a car!  Which would be a good thing if you needed a paint job.  Or didn't care about your car.  Otherwise leave your car OUTSIDE! 

Then there was Unconscious Minds.This band was so rock steady they gave me whiplash from head banging.  Its wonderful when a band gives you so much enjoyment you actually injure yourself enjoying it.  Unfortunately, as with most clubs in the valley, we were given the "no slamming into each other" tap on the shoulder.  Killers!  After I acquired mysterious bruises all over my body.

Unconscious Mind is a band I will be following, and you should too!  A wondermous whirlwind of fuckin metal!  I got a demo CD, however as with most demos the music is ok.  This show was not just ok.  I strongly suggest seeing them live, as you will not be disappointed. 

After working 8 hours the next morning, I arranged to meet my friend at Big Fish pub for the Saturday show.  2 in the Chest, mother fuckers!  We arrived late so missed the first half of the show.  But it was still fantabulous!  It was my first time seeing them in full garb and with their new bassist, who by the way was just as bad ass as Mudrup.  Great show guys!  They now have an album out which fully portreys their show musically.  Wonderful job! 

There are two more bands I'd like to mention from this show. 

First one, Latency.  I'be heard about em, but never seen em.  They are one of those bigger, prolific local bands that everyone raves about but I miss because of other bands I love. 

Positioning myself next to the cabs, I enjoyed a rather excellent performance that lived up to the hype.  Despite my whiplash from the metal show I enjoyed the night before, my sore neck found itself enjoyably sore and moving!  I love a band where every member plays an instrument, especially a guitar slingin lead singin man.  And you gotta love a bass player that jumps around like he's a kid excited for his birthday.  In fact, every member of the band moved and reflected an energy as if the floor was on fire.  And facial expressions!  Man, this band had all the enjoyments of my almost perfect show!  If I had to pick an MVP for tonight, the bassist would be it.  This guy flailed his fingers across his stick like he was making rough, passionate love to it, all the while performing on stage with a vehement energy that surpassed a modern rocker's classic performance.  Its been a while since I saw faces emulating what was being expressed on stage. 

Song mention: "Slow".  My favorite song of the night.  Check them out if you haven't already been to a show.  Latency, cheers!  I look forward to your next show and keep the rock rolling!

Okay, admittedly I spent a lot of the set trying to interpret the stylings of the one individual on the floor who was moving to his own model of the music.  This boy loved his band, and it showed! 

I've heard covers of old SOAD songs, but Latency pulled out a version with its own flavor of a carnal voice mixed with a super heavy set of guitar and bass that SOAD is known for.  I really enjoy SOAD, and hate when songs get butchered.  I was excited to hear a good version played slightly to the differential but good at that as well!

The last band I saw Saturday night,and one that pulled my weekend to a super musically maelstrom of awesome full circle?  Oh God no.  They were uber heavy and super fun!  Oh God No had a huge commanding voice in such a small package as well as a well rounded supporting band.

I like seeing fans of bands that show especially high levels of love for their band.  Oh God no has one of those.  One fan was overly exhuberant in her support of the band and was not afraid to show it.

One of their songs has a story.  "Call the Cops."  A great punk song musically and in spirit, its about a practice they had where the cops were called on them to shut them up.  Long story short, the cop accepted a demo CD, popped it into the CD player in his car, and left blasting oh God no.  In this case, you can't exclaim fuck the police, but have to admit 5-0 has good taste in the electrified side of art.

Not only is this kid vocally talented but he plays an amazing guitar.  Predominantly punk, oh God no performs a variety of songs beautifly.  Diversely talented kids. 

Then they played a Pennywise cover!!  Taking me back to high school.  Love when that happens.  Their crowd showed love for them that made me happy in my soul.  Bringing music to the people, that's what local music is all about.

What a fantabulous show!!  Oh God no killed it, Latency lived up to its reputation, and 2 in the Chest rose up and proved zombies can play fucking music!  The metal Friday night started my weekend revelry with painful pleasuracity that apparently was an omen for a supurbluous end. 

God, I really love music.  I know you do to, Pheonix!  Support your local bands and fucking get to a show! 

Ta ta for now, see you soon at a venue! 

Band: Switchblade 77 ~ Horrorpunk/psychobilly

This summer I was adventurous enough to venture to Cali a few times for one reason or another.  One reason was to check out local Cali music.  The last trip I made out to California was bittersweet. The second day I was there I hit Hollywood to see Switchblade 77 at the Roxy. Though I am not a huge fan of psychobilly or horrorpunk, I had heard good things about them and their music online sounded like it promised a good show. They took the stage with confidence and energy. The lead guitar was a zealous flame of talent and flying fingers, providing a continuous complimentary wave of strings for the ball of energy that was the lead vocals. The Roxy itself was a dive bar setting with a VIP section, but what I really liked about it was the stage. Big and roomy, it allowed the members of the band not sitting behind the skins to move. And boy did they. Running around with more energy than the crowd SB77 gave a performance that was enjoyable and allowed me to experience this genre outside of Pheonix. 
Yes, my friends, they are not local.  But post worthy nonetheless! 
They do tour, and should be here in the valley again early 2013.

I was able to reach out to them and ask them a few questions.  Their answers beg the desire to travel once again to see another amazing show.  Virsatile, with a wide variety of background in music, both as a band and as individual members, SB77 outlines how they've come to be the band they are today. 

Introduce yourselves!!

Hello We Are Switchblade77!

(DANNY)  My Name Is Danny And i Play Bass And Do Vocals For The Band.

(ANDY) My Name Is AndyMunster77 and I Do Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar,

(MARCO) My Name is Marco and im The Drummer

(FREDDY) Im Freddie Gein and I Play Lead Guitar and Back Up Vocals

How did SB77 come to be: What is your history?

(ANDY) I Started The Band In Summer Of 2003 WIth Some Of My High School Buddies. The Original Line Up Consisted Of Myself On Guitar And Back Up Vocals,,, Jackie77 On Lead Vocals, Raul On Bass, and Missile on Drums. Yeah Thats Right i Wasn't The Original Singer We Had a Chick Singer at First I took Over On Vocals around January of 2005 After She Decided to Leave The Band. We Had Many Line Up Changes. 6 Different Bass Players and 3 Drummers. Danny Join The Band as a Drummer around 2005 and Recorded an E.P with us. Around 2006 He Left Due to his Hectic 2 Jobs. He Re-Joined As our Bass Player in 2010 After We Got Back From Our First American Tour. Marco Joined The Band In The Summer Of 2006 and Has Been Our Drummer since.. Freddie Gein Joined The Band As Lead guitar In The Summer of 2008. I Think This Is The Best Line Up We Ever Had. We Work Together to write music and We listen to each others critics.

Why the name switchblade 77?

(ANDYMUNSTER77) Why Not! LOL ha ha.... I always Been A Big Social Distortion, Misfits, And Elvis Presley Fan. The "Switchblade" Came Out Of A Social Distortion Song Called "Sick boy" the part That Says "He Carried a Switchblade Knife". and the "77" Came Out of The Year The Misfits Started which was also The Year That The Horror Punk genre Was born. It Was Also the Year Elvis Presley Died.

Have you always been horror punk? What is your musical background?

(ANDY)  We Were More of A Street Punk Band But We Been Maturing Over The Years. We All Grew up Mostly On Punk Rock. I also Listen To Horror Rock, Death Rock, Industrial, Rockabilly, Doo Woop and Country. Freddy Is Also A Big Heavy Metal Fan.

You guys describe yourself as having a mixture of psychobilly,  horrorpunk and death rock in your music. I think it simply falls into  place as being you. Do you have songs you play that are specifically  one genre over another?

(ANDY) I think The New Psychobilly Is alot Similar to Horror Punk Because of the Horror Theme and lyrics. We were always booked With Many Psychobilly Bands And It catches on after Many Shows. Even though we don't have an upright Bass Many People Always Compare us to or labeled us as Partial Psychobilly. I Think It Also Has To Do With My QuiffHawk. Too Bad, Because Im Cutting it off Soon ha ha LOL... We write Mostly Horror Punk/Horror Rock and Some Death Rock Tunes. I believe We Do have Some Songs That Are Specifically One Genre Over The Other. Example: "Your Blood" "Frankenstein Monster"and "Lets Go To The Graveyard" are Straight out Horror Punk. "House On The Lonely Hill" Is A bit More Psychobilly and "Demons' Is More Death Rock and Horror Rock. The New Songs are more on The Horror Rock Side.

YouTube video

Do you have bands you’ve heard in the past you look up to and idolized?

We All Do... Some of us Different than others.

(FREDDY GEIN) My Biggest Influences Are Ramones, Motorhead, Randy Rhodes, Chuck Berry, And Lil Richard.

(ANDYMUNSTER77) My Idols Are The Misfits (Glenn Danzig and Michale Graves), Motley Crue, Elvis Presley, Social Distortion, AFI, Wednesday13, The Cramps, The Damned....

(DANNY) My Influences are The Smiths/Morrissey, Misfits, Social Distortion, Depeche Mode, And AFI......

(MARCO) Rancid, Misfits, A Global threat, The Casualties, The Virus and Lower Class Brats...

What is your favorite club to play?

(FREDDIE) We Have Played Many Clubs Over The Years And Had My Share Of Good and Bad Experiences. So To Have an Absolute Favorite Is Hard To Say. I Have Always Enjoyed Playing At Character's In Pomona Because We played There Many Times and Its in My Hometown.I have always liked Playing Rip's When We Play In Arizona.

(MARCO) The Showcase Theatre in Corona.....

(ANDY) Too Many Good Places to Choose From But I Would Say The Roxy and The Whisky In Hollywood, The Showcase In Corona was One Of My Favorite Place To Play As Well. It Sucked When They Closed it Down Because i Seen Some Of My Favorite Bands there.. I Used To Like Playing At Angelos in Pomona as Well... Oh And Cant Forget About Zombie's in San Antonio Texas.....

(DANNY)The Roxy And The Juke Joint Are Probably My Top Two.

Do you have specific bands you look forward to playing with?

(MARCO) Fucking RANCID!

(FREDDIE) We HadA Show On September 23rd With Naked Aggression, Im Looking Forward to that Show. I Always Been A Naked Aggression Fan So Im Pretty Excited About That Show.

(DANNY)  We Played With Wednesday 13 Last Month. It was A Pretty Fun Show. I Would Definitely Do It Again IF Possible

(ANDY) I agree With Them 3. I Been A Big Rancid Fan All My Life So It Would Be Pretty Sweet To Share The Stage With Them. I Remember Seeing Naked Aggression When I Was 13 About 12 Years Ago, So that will Be Interesting. I Love Playing With Wednesday 13 so Far we shared the Stage With Them About 3 Times and We Always Make New Fans. I Would Sell My Right Nut Just To Play With Some Of My Idols Like Social D, Motley Crue Or The Damned :) Ha Ha We Actually Been Doing Pretty Good This Year Got To Play With 45 Grave, Calabrese, Wednesday 13, Frantic Flinstones to name a few.

Andy ~ Do you workout?

Yes I Do.. Whenever I Get The Chance... But Not only Me Danny Also Works Out. He's Been Doing Insanity.

Freddy and Marco ~ I understand you are both members of SB77 and another band. Is it difficult to balance both bands in your lives?  How do you balance the two bands and your personal lives?

(FREDDY) It Took Some Getting Used To With Playing More Shows and Preventing Schedule Conflicts, But It Has Been Going Smoothly Now & I am Having A Great Time With Both Bands as For Personal Life No..

(MARCO) Being In 2 Bands Is Difficult When It Comes To shows. We Have To Make Sure We Dont Double Book with both bands.Theres Times when We have to Turn shows down because We are booked with one or the other.My Personal Life is Difficult Due To My Job Hours. Being An Electrician Makes My Schedule Vary.

Danny ~ What drove you to play the bass versus guitar or drums?

(DANNY) I'm Actually A Guitarist, I Picked Up The Bass To Join Switchblade77, But Playing Bass is Fun, It Gives me The Freedom To Play Around With Songs In A Way That I Wouldnt be able to do on a guitar. I also Play Drums on Occasion.

How is your local scene?

(ANDY) Back in The Late 90's and Early 2000's It was At Its Best. I Think Economy Took its toll On The Scene as well... Back In the Day Freddy and I Would Hangout in Downtown Pomona with A Bunch Of Punk Rockers... It Slowed Down The Last 2 Years, But Its Picking Right up. There's More Promoters Having Shows In our Hometown More Often, Bringing More People To Our City. 

Where do you see yourselves in five years?

(ANDY) Been Doing This For Almost 10 Years and Not Looking Forward to stopping anytime soon.. We Will Be Doing More Tours Around The U.S and Out Of The Country As Well.

Are there any plans to come back to AZ?

(WHOLE BAND) Yes Definitely! We Love Playing In Arizona! We Will Most Likely Be There Early 2013. 

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

We Will Be Back! On The Meantime Sit Back and Stay Sexy!

You heard them, Pheonicians!  Relax, they will be back soon!!  You can check them out on their facebook page.  Give them a listen, invest in their CDs or mp3s, and take random road trips out to Pomona to support them in their natural habitat. 

Cheers!

Chronicles of live shows ~ New Lease on Life

I love cooler weather!  Puts me in a great mood.  Saturday night was no exception.  And what do i do when im in a great mood?  Listen to music!  And what better way to listen than to get to a show?

Recently I've been all over the place with kids, work, waiting for emails, and reading text books so I have not been out to see much.  Gawd I miss the therapy that is live instruments all but randomly meshed together into this that we call a "band". 

And yes... yes, if you haven't already figured out, I'm a nerd.  Like to read.  Not just fiction but books on history, science, political skewety and religious stations and how they relate to current politics and societal taboo.  With the presidential election coming up, everyone's mind is on the latter two topics, mixing in the religious angle with a slight yet obvious slip into smear campaigns and mudslinging.  Tomorrow is the election.  We have the internet.  Before you vote, let me suggest a research session into your friends facebook posts or twitter comments.  Facts can be stated as facts online, however as my step mom pointed out some of those facts are blatant misfacts.  I don't care who you vote for, just make sure that is your candidate before casting said vote.  Tumultuous times ahead, think to yourself, is this the man I want running the country?  Does he support my own beliefs and if it came down to it, would my rights and more importantly "self" be safe in his hands?  Of course, lastly on the subject, make a vote! 

Alright my slowly cooling people of the valley, onto the more enjoyable and unrelated to the above rant... music!!

I'll admit, I started at one place but the music was simply not catching my fancy.  Talented and definately mention worthy, Matt Woods from Tennessee was a one man country act that shared his amazing voice and guitar with the valley at Rips.  Admittedly I don't know much about it or listen to country, however when an act gets on stage and you can watch the guy, listen to his music and say, wow, this is something I could listen to in my car, it opens my appreciation for the genre I almost despised growing up just that much more. 

We left Rips shortly after Matt Woods performed to seek out something more fast paced and hyper fall night worthy.  So, we ended up in Scottsdale.  You can probably guess where. 

Now before I begin, I just wanna say that the shows I've seen recently prior to this one just didn't inspire note taking.  That's how I work, with my phone, noting names, descriptions, songs and sometimes ppl watching.  This night, for some cosmic reason of I know not what, I found my phone in my hand and realized I had started typing.  Emotional sobriety is a strange monster, my friends. 

We came in late and missed the first two bands.  Nonetheless, with the first band we caught, I felt a twinge in my foot.  It made its way up my leg then onto the rest of my body...  oh yea, first minute of music got me moving!  I love it when that happens. 

Their second song had interesting gypsy style riffs and a mixture of easy and purposeful vox.  If anyone can tell me the title, I'll give you a gold star!  They had a confidant natural air that exemplifies a casual, clear tone.  They also had strong strings and a  musical fortitude that simply flowed as if speaking to a friend, not onstage trying to impress anyone.  They are an alternative band with a classic and modern rock mixture.  The talent and originality was adequetly expressed with a clear execution. 

Lots of bands have their own renditions of "Land of the Rising Sun".  This band is no exception.  Calling themselves Jackson Difé, their rawr worthy version oozed a particular chill for me.  Other than the technical execution of the melody and lyrics, Jackson Difé brought another level to the song that I can't say rivaled the original but definately portrayed their subconsious ability to use a cover as an embodiment of their own musical precipitation. 

If you havent guessed the only dive in Scottsdale I've frquented, the answer is Rogue bar.  Rogue bar, despite my absence for a while, continues to impress me with a talented sound engineer and a sound system that rivals most local venues.  The music vibrates through the walls and floor with an atmosphere of a jovial crowd and cloud of music you can hear from every angle.  Your not just hearing the music, it seems to be all around you, like your in the track.  Perfectly balanced and loud the notes are pleasantly overpowering.  You are experiencing the music, inside the music.  As a true dive focused on local live music the Rogue fucking nailed it for me tonight. 

I had an insert of some people watching I did but I enjoyed the show so much I won't honor their douchbaggery with a specific mention.  Instead I'll just give Manny at the Rogue a smile and thank you for putting on some awesome shows and keeping the local scene as well as touring bands, primarily Indie and alternative, a home.

The second band we caught was O Henry.  They were high energy folk incorporating a fiddle and banjo in their whirlwind of foot stomping sincerity. Not at folk shows often, the music definately brings me a smile.  A different genre than I normally listen to, folk is upbeat and positive and brings me endorphins nonetheless.  The beat of the drums, twang of the strings and good 'ole boy vocals tend to associate my mind with the joyful portions of childhood. 

With an indirect connection with punk, rock and country, the O'Henry band caught my attention and brought a beat to my soul.  But what is music but a liason to every ounce of creativity and expression in ones being?  Regardless of genre, style or "fashion", a true talent and passion for that which vibrates thru the human condition is something to be appreciated and enjoyed.  Some say, "metal till I die" and exclude everyone else, "punk thru and thru" yet forget that roots of punk include country and Irish folk.  Some of these indivuals turn their noses up at other genres and the people who associate with them.  The basis of the punk mentality originates from creative self expression and simply being you, regardless of what others think or say.  So to belittle someone based on their musical preference is a self damaging attack on ones own beliefs.  I myself am an individual, I care not what others think of me.  It is to you, out there listening to rock, country, hip hop, rap, or even traditional heritage music such as middle eastern or Russian or native American, I say people will have their own opinions of you.  Listen to what makes you happy.  Don't be ashamed of your playlist.  If you listen to what your ancestors listened to for centuries, there is no need to hide, for without these, we would have no modern scene. 

Back to O'Henry.  Vocals are amazingly diverse and undertoned with a custom modern style.  Instrumentally they possess an array of a five piece creation that incorporates traditional folk pieces such as a banjo, as well as the afore mentioned modern vocals and bass guitar.  O'Henry... I tip my furred had to your mesh of original and twangy atmosphere of positive energy. 

Listening to their second to last song, with a heavy bass drum and a positive dramatic melody, O'Henry to me is more than just folk.Its one of those bands with a message of passionate adoration for what they do and for the diverse audience that came to the show.  They ended with a high tempo southern style gift of song that got everyone, be they typical pop appreciator or Hipster traditionalist, on the floor in front of the stage.  To O'Henry... keep it fantabulous!!

Yes I had a lot to say, but its been a while since I've shared anything so I hope you enjoy!  If anything, I hope this entertained you and encouraged you to check out these two bands!  Oh and occupy a fucking venue!  Cheers, my friends.  Until next time. 

Chronicles of live shows: Cali Bound

Road trips.  Business or for pleasure, jumping in the car and driving for hours across nothingness… highways, small towns, mountains, and iconic visions along the way.  Empty space, lonesome and free… knowing what awaits you at the other end of the road, an ever intriguing visit you feel unending comfort in.  No regrets in leaving behind your life for a few days, knowing relief from the woes of regular life will be stayed for a short while.  Heart and soul you know you look forward to this vacation from life and push on for the long trip ahead.  What awaits on the other side keeps your patience at an all time manageable level and your stomach flutters with anticipation… for this, this is what you know you have to live for. 

Five and half hours each way, driving across the California/Arizona border is no light feat without music.  Let me tell you about the radio stations along I10.  KUPD, my mainstay here in Phoenix, lasts almost to the border of California.  A godsend.  Hitting the mountains, the station becomes staticy but music still holds true.  A different station, however similar music, at least pleasurable music.  Getting further past the mountains, music tends to be either country or heavily religious.  Keeping with my local 97.9, there are a few hits with decent driving tunes.  Then, Coachella and Indio are hit.  The music on the radio is more diverse and indy, poppy at times as well.  Something to listen to.  Once Indio is hit, there is a plethora of radio stations driving into the more inhabited cities toward Los Angeles.  Every one of them have a seemingly non-related variety of music.  The first time I drove in, it was at 10 at night, and I was happy to hear a radio show playing some heavy fucking metal.  Fantabulous!  Earlier in the day, however, that same station and others are sadly lacking, though you can get lucky hearing some songs you enjoy.  I do have to say I love my Phoenix radio stations.  KUPD… I MISSED YOU!!  I am not a fan of California stations. 

Though the reason for my visit was not about the music, I saw a small sampling of what the local Cali scene has to provide.  I enjoyed it tremendously.  My first visit to the San Bernardino county included a pure punk show with bands Badass, Section 242, and a few other local punkers.  Great show.  At a private home, it was thrown together for a birthday party.  A half pipe was set up for the skaters, and as bands played in the spacious garage skaters aged from 10 to 40 tore up the ramps. 

Bad Ass, my favorite of the night..  Maybe it was femme bias love for a female presence in a band.  Maybe it was the pure energy of the music.  All I know is I enjoyed the fuck out of Bad Ass.  Tons of energy and a set list of songs with catchy titles and wholesome lyrics such as Cheater and Tuna Taco.  Tuna Taco is actually a gem of a song.  YouTube it!!  In addition to having a classic punk femme lead mic, she shares the duty of yelling with an equally lung'ed male counterpart.  The music oozed energy and puked class.  Section 242 is a close second in enjoyability live.  Onstage jokes and antics add to to their set list theme and angry attitude.  Both bands I hear are releasing cds later this month with Assault and Battery Records... catch a listen and buy their music!*

The second show I saw out in Cali was with the Dwarves and Narcoleptic youth.  Narcoleptic Youth is band I had been wanting to see for a while.  I heard them on one of the many internet radio stations I’ve visited and was glad to have the opportunity to see them live.  Larger in popularity than most bands I see it was no wonder they've made it beyond just being a "local band".  Their show was at a bigger venue, a club with a huge floor space and booth seating on the border walls.  There was a decent crowd at the show, though I heard referenced from a fellow patron it was a low turnout.  Contrary to the bands’ popularity, and expectance of larger crowds, it was disappointing to hear the show being cut short due to lack of audience participation.  When you get to a show like this, movement is mandatory!!  Leave the stripper shoes at home guys and gals.  Get in the pit!

The last trip I made out to California was bittersweet.  The second day I was there I hit Hollywood to see Switchblade 77 at the Roxy.  Though I am not a huge fan of psychobilly or horrorpunk, I had heard good things about them and their music online sounded like it promised a good show.  They took the stage with confidence and energy.  The lead guitar was a zealous flame of talent and flying fingers, providing a continuous complimentary wave of strings for the ball of energy that was the lead vocals.  The Roxy itself was a dive bar setting with a VIP section, but what I really liked about it was the stage.  Big and roomy, it allowed the members of the band not sitting behind the skins to move.  And boy did they.  Running around with more energy than the crowd SB77 gave a performance that was enjoyable and gave me a new found appreciate for the genre.  I did not stay to watch the rest of the bands, simply was not getting caught up in the other band's music.  Different strokes for different folks I guess.  However, Switchblade77, awesome show. 

I stayed almost a whole week in Cali that time, ending my trip tragically just before driving the five hours home to Phoenix.  Despite the bad taste of anguish my drive was peaceful and fulfilling, taking with me a great experience as well as a dedication to come back.  Next trip planned for the near future.  I would LOVE to see more touring bands from our neighbor state, as well as others, come through Phoenix.  Get on ovah heah!  If you haven’t played here, there is a lot of great local talent to play with, as well as music hungry fans who are biting at the bit to see more awesome bands.  And what did we learn from this whole experience kids?  Bring more cds, don’t let the horrible ending of a vacation take over your drive home, and GET INTO THE FUCKIN PIT!!


*Bad Ass' album has been pushed back to early 2013

Band: Spirit Level ~ Local Rock

A few weeks ago I found myself CRAVING something more than what I had been getting.  Something pumped up, crowded and enjoyable both musically and aesthetically.  So, it just so happened that a band Ive been following for a while was playing at Goathead saloon, locally and close to my home.  After the Arizona heat, stress and bullshit in my normal day life, it felt good to just know I'd be seeing some great music I knew never lets me down.  Over the ghetto and through downtown, to Goathead saloon I went... and was able to witness yet more newer and talented local individuals. 

The siren that took the stage first was a furious femme with a back ripped shirt and short skirt. My first impression of her during warm up was she was nervous and shy, however once the warm up was out of the way and after onstage banter and burns the real music started. Slow and strangely hypnotic, she burst forth with a set of lungs and verb that started my heart pounding. Akin to an Evanescence type vocal she transformed into a moving wonder of the stage. Shar also provided a strongly versatile set of vox, unlike the afore mentioned lady of mainstream. My favorite song of the night was an SOAD cover, Sugar. I am not normally a fan of covers but when you take a song and make it your own, its absolutely fantabulous! Originality comes from the soul; yes, the lyrics and melody is the same, however turned from first off a masculine vocal to a femme vocal that rivals the original, Shar… I salute you.

The instrumentals in this band were just as matching in originality and creativeness. The strings played fantastic solos and rhythm, with a flailing set of sticks. They currently don’t have any music recorded online, however they have a youtube channel.   Besides the SOAD cover, which I recommend hearing, their song Fall Never is one to check out as well. With the mixture of the siren vox, both melodic and extremely metal, the quality of instrumentals match her verve and ambition. The videos do them no justice, there is watching a band online, and then there is seeing one live.   You can check out and LIKE their FB page Spirit Level.  The Dirty Librarian recommends you see them live.  Ive seen them twice, and neither time was dissapointing.

And now, ye melting masses of musically intrigued residents of our very own Valley of the Sun,  here is Spirit Level...

Introduce yourselves.
Lead vocals- Shar Hayze
Drums- Mikey Lee
Lead/Rhythm guitar- Sam Murphy
Rhythm guitar- Jason Glover
Bass- Nathan Songé
 
How long has Spirit Level been a band?
Since late January 2012

Mikey is the founder of the band. He contacted Shar about thepossibility of auditioning for Top Dead Center, but after hearing her potentialhe felt that a brand new band could be taken to another level. So Mikey got Samon board, posted an ad on Craigslist for a second guitar player and met Jason.Mikey had brought another guy named Jason on as a bassist but he was unable tocommit.  So Jason (the second guitar player) brought us Nathan andthe rest is history.

How did you get the name Spirit Level?
Mikeysaw the name Spirit Level on a phone app..  We all immediately liked it& thus we became Spirit Level. 
“Thenwe actually thought...what would music sound like to a spirit? You would haveto play at spirit level..” -Sam



For me, you have a feel of a Kitty slash Evanescence, howeveryou portray both aspects superbly and in a fully original way.  Whoare your inspirations?
Thankyou!  We’ve got a pretty wide range of musical inspirations amongst the 5of us!  Anywhere from The Cult, Iced Earth, JohnCarpenter, JohnWilliams, Alterbridge, Fair to Midland, In this moment and Incubus


Give me an example of your writing process.
It starts with a guitar riff from either Jason or Sam (and on arare occasion, an acoustic guitar riff from Shar)..  Almost immediatelyMikey and Nathan jump in and follow, picking up on the riffs.  Once abasic structure is set into place, Shar will sing a few melodies over it to geta feel for the song.  Then, typically, she will record the song, take ithome & write the lyrics and vocal melodies.  Also some of our songshave been written right on the spot in their entirety.  Our 1st 4songs were written within the 1st month that we came together as a band.



You guys have an awesome stage presence and audience interaction.  What do you love about your fans the most?
Again, thank you!  Well our fan base is still developing,of course, but those who we do see at every show are awesome supporters &we really appreciate the loyalty.

When is your next show?  Or shows?
The next show we have coming up is looking to be prettybig!  It’s the 1st annual beach party at Joe’s Grotto onSaturday, July 14th!  Other bands playing include:  AnEarly Fall, We were strangers & Tome.

What albums have you released?  How can someone getsome music?
No albums or recordings as of yet, but this is something that isin the works and a top priority.  So we hope to have some recorded musicto release to the public within the next several weeks.

What do you like most about the Phoenix scene?
The biggest and most awesome aspect we love about the phoenixscene is the diversity.  So many different types of bands in differentgenres working together and putting on very diverse, entertaining shows! It’s fantastic to be a part of.  The fact that you can be inspired by other musicians that you can actually meet and hang out with, as opposed to“rockstars” that seem to live in a different universe altogether, is justamazing in itself. PS.. The guys like the hot chicks that come to the shows,too!

Is there anything else you would like to share with your Fans inphoenix?
You will see more of us!  That’s a promise!  We hope to see you allcontinuing to support us, as well as other amazing bands in the Phoenix localmusic scene. We appreciate the effort and it really does mean a lot!

Don't forget to LIKE their FB page... Spirit Level.  I am sure you will like them as much as I do.  Get to Joes Grotto next weekend too!!  Ladies... get your bikini power going and blow those boys out of the water.  Thats how we DO!

Until next time, Phoenicians! 

Band: Hollow ~ Local Rock and Roll

Music is my passion, my saving grace, my xanax.  If ever stressed, anxious or just downright blue, I turn to tunes.  On one particular hot summer day here in the Valley of the Sun, I had a specific need for some awesome music.  Music that would lift up my mood and save my sanity.  I headed to the Goathead, just down the road from my house.  That night was a band I always enjoy live, as well as a couple I haven't seen yet. 

Getting in the bar, I awaited anxiously the guitar riffs, thrumming beats of the drums, and the deep, dark rhythms of the bass.  No matter what type of music it was, I was looking forward to it.  Well, in my mood, I have to say that if it sucked I definately would have been dissapointed.  Honestly, I needed something special, something great, something epic... And yes, yes.... I have to say, I got it. 

One of the bands to grace the Goathead stage was Hollow. A handsome group of boys.  An energetic and audience encompassing entity from here in the valley, Hollow’s set and stage presence was exactly what I needed that night. Getting the crowd amped up for music and simple enjoyment, interaction at the very most, I have to say both bands pulled a crowd that filled the club pretty well. Loyal fans and friends, including one new one you all know and love, filled the empty space above the heads to the ceiling during Hollows performance with shouts and exuberant SCREAMS!!! Another great example of rock diversity, they go from great strings heavy songs which you can hear on their Facebook page “Break Me” and “Lie to Me”, to a fun audience inducing song “Come Alive”.   Oh and they have a website as well, Hollow Music.

As for the talent in Hollow, they provide a purely energetic portrayal of stringplay and vocals. Independant of the stage they contribute to the massacre of the floorboards, getting down and grungy with the fans. A continuous casual catastrophic assault of the virgin mind, there was no awkwardness, fauxpas or taboo with this band. At one point, an individual, forgive me as I have forgotten the name, joined Hollow on stage and was a match in angst and passionate veracity for the music he expressed from his face. His band, Element a440, is a band I am very much excited to see live. I checked em out on FB and if you like industrial, you'll like these guys. Back to my night... Check out Hollow!

Introduce yourselves. 

Hollow Ryan/Vocals
Cup of Joe/Guitars
DC/Drums
Adrian/Bass
Rick/Lead Guitars

How long has Hollow been a band?

I recreated Hollow about 5 years ago.

Where did the name Hollow come from?

It was the first time in my life where I hit rock bottom and was in a very dark place.  Instead of pulling the trigger I found an outlet in writing songs.  You can kind of hear where I was in songs Peel and So Hollow.  That's when the name Hollow came to me and it actually became a positive word.  In life things you have peaks and valleys and when you feel empty usually there is no place else but up!



Come Alive!

On your FB page you describe yourselves as alternative. Doyou really feel alternative?

I don't know what we are to be honest.  I believe we have our own sound

What are your inspirations? 

Life's challenges and human emotions

Give me an example of your writing process.

I usually wake up from a dream and have a song in my head.  I will hum it into my phone or my old tape recorder and then complete what I heard on an acoustic bass the next day.  Then next practice I will introduce it and we finish the song as a band.  Rick actually brought the song Inside to use and we built the rest as a band.

You guys have an awesome stage presence and audience interaction.  What do you love about your fans the most?

That you never know what they are going to bring to the table on any given night.

When is your next show? Or shows?

Joe's Grotto, June 29th------------------  Hard Rock Cafe, July 19th and then Sept 15th, a show for Luke Air-force Base.

What albums have you released?  How can someone get some music?

My son Colin is the merchandise manager.  We usually have the greatest sales at our show.  Maybe it's his big blue eyes and not so much our band in why we sale so many cds...lol




Torn (Awesome Song BTW)

What do you like most about the Phoenix scene?

That some bands will join together and support each other.  I love the music that Arizona has to offer and most clubs managers treat you fairly.  Unfortunately there is a flip side to some bands and one venue.  I will leave it at that.

Is there anything else you would like to share with yourFans in phoenix?

We love your support more than you will ever realize.  Every band works thousands of hours preparing for a 45 minute set and to see people have a good time means more to us than almost anything in life.  People that support the scene have our up most respect!  Thank you fans!

Friends of the music scene in Phoenix!!  Check out Hollow on their web site!  Like their Facebook page!!  Support these guys... they have some awesome music on their site streaming, I am listening as I type.  And most importantly, SUPPORT THE LOCAL SHOWS!!  Hit them up at Joe's Grotto later this month, or one of the two shows in July.  You will NOT be disappointed.  Support the scene, shop local, and buy band t's! 

Cheers to you, I know you haven't heard from me in a while, and its a great band I am sharing with you today.  More to come!!  

Show Chronicles: The BEST night in a LONG TIME!

What is better on a summer night than great music?  After the heat of the day, the nasty sweat, working, stress and longing for those who were so far away from me, the energy from a live show is what I was grappling for.  An energetic release of pent up negative energy.  I was fortunate enough that a metal show was about to start… What better way to cap off an awful summer day?

AWESOME FUCKING ROCK!!  Live.  I had been looking forward to seeing another band you all know I love, Sonic Cocaine, and the bands that they shared the stage with at Goathead that night gave me a renewed confidence in local rock.  Of course, Sonic Cocaine was not a let-down, as always, and as self-admittedly “sober and better sounding” than previous shows, the boys tore up the stage for the stragglers in the club after midnight.  After week after week of missed shows and checking out local hip hop I was in a rock mood… needing a fix only a furious guitar and voxtastic vocals can provide for the rawk monster inside me.  A wave of colorful musical aptitude filled with upbeat and heavy songs, the atmosphere was a fantastic cloud of energy.  Ahhhh, how much I’ve missed a good hardcore guitar and melodic vocals.  Ones that were as epic to the ear as aesthetically pleasing with the eyes.  This… yes, this show… fulfilled the hole in my soul I had been missing for the past couple of months. 

The siren that took the stage first was a furious femme with a back ripped shirt and short skirt.  My first impression of her during warm up was she was nervous and shy, however once the warm up was out of the way and after onstage banter and burns the real music started.  Slow and strangely hypnotic, she burst forth with a set of lungs and verb that started my heart pounding.  Akin to an Evanescence type vocal she transformed into a moving wonder of the stage.  Shar also provided a strongly versatile set of vox, unlike the afore mentioned lady of mainstream.  My favorite song of the night was an SOAD cover, Sugar.  I am not normally a fan of covers but when you take a song and make it your own, its absolutely fantabulous!  Originality comes from the soul; yes, the lyrics and melody is the same, however turned from first off a masculine vocal to a femme vocal that rivals the original, Shar… I salute you. 

The instrumentals in this band were just as matching in originality and creativeness.  The strings played fantastic solos and rhythm, with a flailing set of sticks.  They currently don’t have any music recorded online, however they have a youtube channel… click here to see a Spirit Level Video!!  Besides the SOAD cover, which I recommend hearing, their song Fall Never is one to check out as well.  With the mixture of the siren vox, both melodic and extremely metal, the quality of instrumentals match her verve and ambition.  The videos do them no justice, there is watching a band online, and then there is seeing one live.  The Dirty Librarian recommends you see them live.  I know Ima hit up their next show if possible. 

The second band to grace the Goathead stage was Hollow.  An energetic and audience encompassing entity from here in the valley, Hollow’s set and stage presence was exactly what I needed that night.  Getting the crowd amped up for music and simple enjoyment, interaction at the very most, I have to say both bands pulled a crowd that filled the club pretty well.  Loyal fans and friends, including one new one you all know and love, filled the empty space above the heads to the ceiling during Hollows performance with shouts and exuberant SCREAMS!!!  Another great example of rock diversity, they go from great strings heavy songs which you can hear on their Facebook page “Break Me” and “Lie to Me”, to a fun audience inducing song “Come Alive”. 

As for the talent in Hollow, they provide a purely energetic portrayal of stringplay and vocals.  Independant of the stage they contribute to the massacre of the floorboards, getting down and grungy with the fans.  A continuous casual catastrophic assault of the virgin mind, there was no awkwardness, fauxpas or taboo with this band.   At one point, an individual, forgive me as I have forgotten the name, joined Hollow on stage and was a match in angst and passionate veracity for the music he expressed from his face.  His band, Element a440, is a band I am very much excited to see live.  I checked em out on FB and if you like industrial, you'll like these guys.  Back to my night... Check out Hollow!

HOLLOW FANS ARE AWESOME!!

The last band was, of course, the boys at Sonic Cocaine.  Playing after midnight, there was less of a crowd than the previous bands but that is not an indication of the talent and energy of these guys.  Another great show, playing with ferocity and vigor, they made the audience scream as much as any other show. 

To the talent that performed that night at Goathead Saloon… Cheers!!  I look forward to seeing more of you and I say THANK YOU for putting on a great show and sharing your passion.  For all you musical anti-nemasai, check out Spirit Level, Hollow, and if you haven’t already, Sonic Cocaine!

Band ~ The Mod Zombies

I like regular bands at clubs.  A great way to support the scene and support bands that you know really rawk.  And a fantastic way to draw a regular crowd, individuals you wouldn't normally draw on, say, a Wednesday night.  One such band that has established themselves as a mid-week act at a great dive is The Mod Zombies.  They play every Wednesday at Rips in Phoenix.  They have also attracted a certain femme you all know so well.  Wednesday nights have never been so much fun!! 

Playing an all night set they enjoy their booze, their music, and their tobacco with breaks amidst their Cash, Social D and Country covers, along with a plethora of dark and surfy, thriving rock inspired by the middle of the century.  The band itself consists of three pieces of physical Mod Zombie splendiferousness.  With a guitar, a bass and a frequently hatted set of drums, they throw a wave of complete, prudently arranged musical ocean that rises and falls such as the tide on the shore.  Through this almost visibly blue audio arrangment it is easy to get lost in the notes themselves and practically drown from the energy. 

They are releasing their CD soon, though on what date it is uncertain.  Keep an eye out on their Facebook page and watch them finalize the date... and BE THERE!!  As mentioned below, it is May 9th.  Buy a CD, or a shirt, or even buy them a beer.  Don't forget to drop a dollar in their tip bucket... cab fare needs to be paid for a crertain someone to get home.

Allow me to introduce The Mod Zombies!  Get at em!

Guitar ~ Albert
Bass ~ Ringo
Drums ~ Pete

How did you guys get together?

-- Both Albert and Ringo were in two separate bands and happened to play a show together (one of those multi-band gigs), a few years ago. After a few more of those kinds of gigs, we started talking more about the kind of music we're interested in and decided to start a side project, playing music that we enjoy, but never really get to play.

Ringo, you have another project you're in, does this get in the way of the Mod Zombies?

-- I'm a full-time musician and most every weekend is booked with my other band. It can be very difficult to balance time for both bands, especially when a gig pops up for my other band and I already have something booked with the Mod Zombies. Basically, it boils down to having great communication with everyone and an understanding of commitment priorities.

Albert!!!  Who does your hair?? 

-- Why? Don't you like it? Actually, I have a team of hair specialists that I call "the Pit Crew."

(I actually love it... I think I could rawk the style as well as you do...)

And Pete, you seem to hold the group together pretty well.  Do you ever feel like a babysitter for these two?

-- I don't really feel like a babysitter...we all have fun together and even when it's time to "work" and make music, it's still time for fun.

(I have to say that the fun is absolutely reflected in your shows!)

Now, I found your Myspace page.  You have an illigitimate child (bandmate) listed.  How many members has your band cycled through until landing on your current roster?

-- Albert and Ringo went through quite a few musicians, trying to find the right fit. We wanted someone with a great attitude, loves the music, and knows what to add to the music and what to leave out. We knew we had "THE BAND" when Pete joined.

Why the name Mod Zombie?

-- We like the mod scene from the 50's/60's, plus the old B-movies from the 50's/60's, especially the zombie ones. We wanted to create a modern version of that whole style of music, pay homage to all the bands that gave us great music. As part of that, we play clips from old movies, to create a vibe that fits with that style.

Who are your influences (besides the obvious)

-- The Pretty Things, the Sonics, the Beatles in Hamburg, the Animals, early Yardbirds, Pixies, the Cramps, early Stones, Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters

Do you guys enjoy creating new music as much as you seem to enjoy playing other artists' originals?

--  Of course, that's really why we started playing music. When one of us writes a song, we'll all get together so the whole band can work on it. Everyone brings something to the table, a chord change here, a lyric change there, an arrangement idea, whatever. Sometimes, we just run through the song and all of a sudden, it's a magic moment when everything just gels together and we know we have it.

Will this upcoming EP be your first?  If not, what other albums have you released and how can someone get a hold of one?

-- This is our first official release. We've made demos before, but just for either our own reference or to book gigs. We wanted to wait until we had the right members and we could get the best possible sound. Recording was a breeze since we had the right group together. We recorded very similarly to how a lot of the bands in the 50's and early 60's recorded: all of the instruments at once, with no overdubs, and the vocals on a second day. Everything just fit and we have a sound that's pretty accurate to how we sound on stage.

How has the scene been to you?

-- As we mentioned before, we've been concentrating on finding the right members and getting our live show polished. We haven't been pushing to play many venues until we could give a great show, and since Pete has joined the group, we're ready. However, we have been playing at Rip's Bar for a while, and Davy, the owner, has been great to us. He's seen our vision and his support has been great.

What are your aspirations as a band?

-- We'd like to turn people on to great music and have fun at the same time.

(Remember... Wednesday Nights at Rips!!  This is a show worth driving for.)

What would YOU like to share with fellow music lovers in the Valley?

-- That's a really hard question. We guess we'd love to just play music that no one has ever heard, or if they have, never heard it live. Our EP release is Wednesday, May 9th at Rip's Bar at 10pm and you can catch us there every Wednesday as well.

Creatures of music!! I salute each and every one of you, support your scene and bands and clubs and smoke shops and record stores and coffee shops and tshirt stores and cafes and... and all that is local!! Without these, there would only be one world, mashed together into one brainwashed McEarth without originality. Appreciate the different music out there, the different food, different styles of everything. Sample, taste, touch, smell and listen.  Check out Mod Zombies!

Chronicles of live shows ~ A mixture of local love

This post is quite diverse.  Some great music regardless, so read the whole thing!! 

Goatshead Saloon

Goatshead Saloon was first.  The first band stormed the stage with a shirtless, caped guitar and a leather vested vox with a lamp reminiscent mic stand.  Starting off, they played a classic rock/alternative mix song which provided a great starting energy.  They were called Versions of You.  The first song was a warm up, according to those on stage... which I have to admit got me excited for the next hour and a half.  Further into the set the songs continued to be heavier than normal alternative.  For me, a plus, with love song lyrics. Who doesn't like harder, anti mushy love songs?  With the leather vested lead vocal, the only femme in the band started off off key, but built up to a supporring crescendo of a femme pursuasion.

The bass of the group supported a bluesy strain amongst the rock alternative mix.  I was happy to see they were a very versatile band. I always kinda loathe coming to alternative tagged shows, but this band boosted my confidence in local alternative. What is the norm anyway? Alternative... Does it simply cover "the rest" of what doesnt fall into a specific genre category?

Sidenote time:  god it was hot in there. Thus will be the days of summer shows. Even at inside events, the summer brings sweaty, sticky patrons and overheated artists, running up bar tabs and dehydrating party goers. Like every good club, however, water is readily available to re-electrolyte individuals.  Kudos to the clubs for keeping the summer months exciting... if we have to live in the heat, why not enjoy it from a sticky body melting musical portrayal of hell?

Back to the music...I hate to admit this, the bandwas good up to this point.  They attempted a harder song called War Machine. Short, metal vox, decent hardcore guitar... No solo, with a weak attempt at a split second screamo roar. Guys, i like what you play, but the alternative mixes work for you.   They played another harder song, For the Masses, which really fucking rocked by the way.  I don't normally do a play by play, but with an hour and a half long set I wanna make sure I cover all the bases with these guys. 

"We the Ppl" was an awesome slow, ska sublime like song about what else?  Weed. "I am the king of my universe, i remember when things were much worse..." The lyrics were very syncronized with the ska guitar.  And just when I thought these guys couldn't get more varied in their musical styling, for the next song they pull out a xylaphone!! I love the opportunity to hear bands provide obscure instrumentals. This song's vox was also performed by the femme back up.  I have to say, her back ups do her no justice. She exploded into a fierce vocal display that brought lighters lighting up the air im front of the stage.  It was a slower song, but her vocal performance validated the slower, anti metal performance brought by the rest of the band.   As for her back up vocals, I have to say that her performance as a supporting entity at times was appropriate for punk, yelling the repeating lyrics, with an apt melodic back up.

My favorite song from this large group of bandies? "Crazy." A song a bit reminiscent of of, again, a mixture of genres... 60s rock and the more modern 90s rock. Check them out on reverb to hear em!!

There were only two bands on the bill... The afore mentioned, and Classic Edge. Their first song... If it is to be a preindication of their set... Was the classic Born to be Wild. Classic. Dig it, yo. With a masculine lead, femme back up and truly metal talented instrental, so far the cow bell has my full attention.  Who doesntike classic rock? So far the band is chock full of covers. Good ones at that!! Original solos, owning the songs instrumentally as well as bursting with true rock energy. They bring a great energetic crowd. Albeit inibriated, they know how to act at a rock show. Fantabulous to witness!   The femme vocals could be more fierce live.  During her first song, despite the lack of volume, she brings a later than expected chorus that fills the crowd.  This girl is insane with her voicebox. Playing the lead with classic femme led songs, such as Criminal, I am appreciating an old school taste in this dubstep, hardcore world. A younger femme sharing the passion for a an older generation that a crowd as myself grew up in. This appreciation continues with some femme angst country.

Rogue Bar

Second half of the night I hit up the Rogue for hip hop. More white boys with more than talented and adequate lungs. Instead of Marshall Mathers type attitude the first act I caught had a stage energy more like the Beastie Boys. Fucking awesome. I thought this night was mediocre at best with the classic rock, but this boy onstage really made me want more. The energy and passion he put into his perfornance was evident by his tiring sit on stage.  He was TKLB?. 

Here are a couple tracks from TKLB?... My fav is the one titled "Lorax"


The second hip hop act I was there for was just as great.  (Forgive me, I failed to note the name.  If anyone knows, please comment below.)   Love the vocals. You all know the Dirty Librarian. Im a huge sucker for deep, carnal vocals.   This was hardcore with a deep beat. Much different than the horrorcore I experienced months ago with the Backwoods Butcher. More enjoyable, to a point; this guy expressed the screamo vocals better than the first band I saw tonight at Goatshead, fo sho. Vocally talented individuals, expressing their furvor as much as a rock band. If you people have been paying attention, you know thats what I gravitate to. Regardless of genre.

Throughout the whole show, they had an artist onstage painting. Shes fantastic too. Painting her canvas in the moment as the performer spins his own masterpiece through the mic. The art is actally very couture, unusual. Shit that catches the eye.  Creative, original, artistic... the mixture of the audio art and asthetic creativeness was really impressive.  If you have a chance to see a mutli art outlet show, do it!  It superbly adds to the musical aspects of the show. 

Local Hardcore Hip Hop... I have to say, you are giving me further reason to check out more shows.  Music lovers of Pheonix!!  Check out the artists, support them!  Hit up their shows.  Lets show our love to them for sharing theirs!

Cheers!

Band: Gone Baby Gone!! ~Rock

Gone Baby Gone, from San Diego, is a femme fronted band who rocks out like they are on the beach, their sound is devastatingly surfer rock reminiscent. And by devastatingly… I mean, this girl gets up on stage with such a fierce attitude, silky-corrosive voice and crashingly intense stage presence, its too bad for the boys she’s on stage and not on the dance floor. Vocals aside, the strings and sticks are just as passionate and into their conceptions of composition. Rock n Roll fans… Check out Gone Baby Gone!!

There is so much energy attached to their live sets.  Like most bands, they get up on stage and enjoy their time, however these crazy kids make a tornado of dynamic foursome oneness.  Playing their instrumentals, the three supporting members play as if an extention of a vocally ferocious body.  Equally fierce in talent, tone and agreeably tumultuous verve, all four members play a fantastic live set as well as record their energy onto their CDs.  A  fireball of GBG tangibility is genuinly translated onto that plastic round circle in my stereo. 

Be sure to click on the streampad below while you read, the answers will make sense.  My favorite song, Miss Bossy, is a personal dedication to  all those boys I've had the pleasure of meeeting in the past couple of years.  You all know who you are.  So, dwellers of the Valley of the Sun and beyond, I give you, Gone Baby Gone. 

Members:
Dizzy ~ Vocals
Sgt J ~ Guitar
Trips ~ Bass
Addy Gee ~ Drums

Who are you?

dizzy: um...  ex-rock n roll villains turned superheros… from san diego.

What inspired the name Gone, Baby Gone?

dizzy: the affleck brothers, mostly casey… we wanna lick his face.
actually, our band name is sort of a philosophical look at personal identity and other weird shit that we can't be bothered with discussing in detail bcus we have had too many fireball shots.

How did you guys get together?

addy: We usually have a few spots where we meet up and practice, so getting together usually involves us making some phone calls and driving to a predetermined place.

What albums have you released?

sgt J: We catch and release albums periodically accordance to state wildlife regulations.

Give me an example of your music and lyric writing process.

all: Ever see that old commercial where the guy with peanut butter runs into the guy with the chocolate bar? Its a very similar process.

What drives your music?

all: coffee, booze, more coffee. .. and happy brownies.

What inspires your music?

dizzy: my future ex husband zac efron
addy: bacon
sgt J: carmel sauce lattes

Does the fact you live close to the beach give muse to your creative process?

sgt j: Some say they hear a surf rock sound in our music. I have been to the beach to listen to some rocks in the surf and cannot find the correlation.

Veronica!! Where do you get your fierceness??

sgt j: She once lead a girl scout troop assault on a local dispensary. Turns out the pot brownies were out selling the Thin Mints. There were heavy casualties.
dizzy: rrawrrr

Do you have any inspirations or heros?

sgt j: voltron.
dizzy: barbie, that bitch has everything.
addy: mrs. robinson in the 4th grade... hand jobs after computer lab every tues and thurs.
trips: sting.

String boys, Tripps and Jay… What is the biggest challenge while on tour?

sgt j: Finding a joint that serves Jagger at night and Lattes in the morning.
trips: rocking sgt j to sleep

And Addy, what influences your stick styling? What keeps you going on tour?

addy: usually I go for sticks that are pretty long but not too thick. it also helps if they have a little bit of color to them. white ones tend to stain my cymbals.
as for what keeps my going on tour, the guitarist and bassist switch off every couple of days giving me a proper enema. nothing keeps me going like a clean rectum.
no seriously, the thing that keeps me going on tour is the constant threat of the unknown. Whether you're facing a bus on fire, a crazy stalker fan, or a guitarist that won't take no for an answer, you need to be on your toes to deal with it all.

Hows your local scene?

all: for this question we will defer you to our local music advisor jake skolnik  (feel free to call him directly at 619-320-0488)

Do you prefer playing large or smaller venues?

all: Ask any girl, size does matter!

Do you have a favorite artist to share the stage with?

dizzy: dahni harrison… bcus he's yum.
addy: no- 2 hr drum solo, yes please!
sgt j: I do like Van Gogh or George Seurat... you know he invented the pixel??

Do you have any suggestions for those visiting the San Diego area as far as where to go if they are looking for a fantabulous local music experience?

dizzy: bar pink..  gone baby gone's official secret lair. (except on fridays and every forth or last  saturday.)

Do have plans to come back to AZ?

sgt j: yes, we plan on shooting our next video while jumping motor bikes across the grand canyon. it'll be epic.
dizzy: yes in may. it's the only state on tour…. where our label gets me my own personal doorman on our rider.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the music fans in Phoenix?

trips: not herpes.
all: see you in may @ the rogue bar.

Citizens of Pheonix!!  You read right, they are coming back in May!!  The Rogue Bar in Scottsdale, get out there and support them.  I'll try to get the date, stay tuned on FB to check them out live.  And as far as the herpes, yes, leave that in California.  We don't need that here, YO!  You can check out Gone Baby Gone on Facebook, or you can listen to some tunes on Reverb.   Check out these crazy kids!

Chronicles of Live Shows ~ Showing my Alternative Closet

Alternative... A perfect genre for a depressed mood. Slow, practiced guitar, soft moody vocals... Very sweet. Very calming. Music for a damaged soul, a broken heart, possibly simply a frustrated with life punk vixen who so desperately needs a new lease on life. Am i betraying my heart by listening to such a calm and artistic genre? I found myself at the Rogue after a tumultuous day. The rogue is an awesome place for neighborhood amity. Lots of locals plus live music!! And a night club fav... rainbow shots!! I have to say, I am a beer girl myself but this was one shot that really put the sting in my night, in a good way.

The first act actually brought my mood to a suberbluous essence that increased as the night went on. I don't care what you say, genre does not define music. It’s the passion and fortuity behind it that creates local music. The emotion, the raw, just... Two guys up on stage, sitting on stools, creating a simplicity of musical means that surpasses any mainstream pop band. I found out later after talking to one of the guys outside whilst enjoying my paper and cancer leaves that this duo was more or less the result of an individual’s creativity and drive to prepare music that showcased his own talent. This man was called Jason Gerardo. As a past aspiring and current artist, his music is inspiring. From what I have heard and from the quote on his card, "be the change you want to see in others", it is clear that his focus is not to simply gain bitches and hoes by being a musician but to share what he does, and inspire those who need it. What is he inspiring? Perhaps he will be kind enough to share that with us in a future interview, meanwhile... as his personal interests as listed on his Facebook page indicate, "creating music with soul." My sincere weaver of a softer musical means, I mean it when I say I like what you are achieving. Happy music making!

The second act... Folk. Twangy, not quite country, fun bouncy... I guess i would call it twangy... Not really diggin it, but absolute talent nonetheless. Two individuals playing guitar and singing, mixing melody with harmony. They are the Driftwood Singers. As their name suggests, in conjunction with their genre entitlement, they emphasize a sound that hails from the a woodsy area of the country. They actually come from California. Los Angelas, to be exact. Absolutely a diverse area of the country, and absolutely a talented act from the famous West Coast. Check em out here!!

Another act worth mentioning was entitled Haymarket Squares. Described as Punkgrass Folk, listening to them enveloped me in a contented, I wanna say pink but I don't want to lose my street cred, cloud of non traditional rock and roll strings but a fantastically bouncy banjo and mandolin with their guitar. Included with the trio are harmonious vocals and... wait for it... kazoo and harmonica!! A plethora of instruments, involved in their ever cheerful yet at times lyrically course creative process, gives due to the Haymarket Squares as an entity from right here in the valley that is absolutely a must attend. You can check out their Facebook page and listen to tunes here.


The next act was very alternative and smooth, with an underlying folk/bluegrass impression. The Deckers... WOW. Hypnotic, folksy, alternative...y... I suggest going to their site, and buying a few tunes. In the Same Boat is a good one. They have a very distinctive sound, and their songs are quite diverse. Not one sound alike. They played a great set, and had me, as well as others in the audience, spellbound and superintrigued. An already established entity in Phoenix, they perform with the same soul and emphatic need to share as any punk or metal band.

The last act I will mention is Bad Lucy. Well, I just realized I mentioned all the acts in the show... I have to say that I really enjoyed my venture into folk. The same talent and soulful creativity that I know is the heart of the Phoenix scene is portrayed in many forms. From the many subgenres of rock and punk, to the various talents of rap and hip hop; from the country aspect to now the folk and alternative aspect, all remains the same: the talent that exists here in Phoenix is never lacking. So, my always eager inhabitants of my increasingly hotter Valley of the Sun, listen, share, and support. The local talent will never be shared if you don't do your part as well!! Remember, there is no mainstream without the local, it is fans like you who support and boost these entities into national and international fame.

Okay, back to Bad Lucy. Slower, more alternative than the previous bands, absolute smooth mood music. An ambiance of alternative power, the emotion oozing from these guys' music emulated exactly my mood for the day, not only soulbroken but heartbroken and crestfallen. Not to say their music was at all downbringing, but not exactly the faster, beating rhythm and energetic melodies that create playful times. Their music was simply... there. A melody for the soul, music to mend. That is what I am trying to get at. Altruistic typical alternative lyrics, they express a unique and artistic melody for love, happiness and musical integrity. Their song Knife, specifically peaked my ears. A poppy tune that inspires thinking of one's self and moving forward. One of the first lines, "I come along and cut free with my knife", emulates that instinct.  I am also a sucker for accapella melodies.  They have this song, performed live during the set, with a great choir of lungs they brough up on stage.  Its entitled, Halleluja.  Don't compare this to a church choir.  They have a good portion of the song with intrumentals, mostly drums, but once those girls started in, a somber cheerfullness took over the Rogue.  Technicalities aside, the song lyrics speak of beginning something, despite the feeling of life being over.  Inspiring, intriguing, and an alternative band I can definately follow.  Check them out and take a listen! Music can only be shared by me, you and everyone else who you share with.

As always, my passionate lovers of Phoenix, shop local and support the scene. Check out Bad Lucy! Alternative can be a good thing. Cheers!