Monday, December 28, 2009

2009 End of the Year List

I feel almost unqualified to make a year-end list for 2009. I've been slowly working my way back into music, and I barely scratched the surface of what was released this year. So, consider this a partial list, and please feel free to tell me about someone I'm missing, or leave your own lists in the comments.



01. As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You
As Tall As Lions have long been branded "the American Radiohead," and with this album they have taken that title and run with it. YCTIWY is highly atmospheric, deeply introspective, and extraordinarily beautiful. They've expanded their sound to create a world of their own, and this album invites you along for the trip.



02. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
To be honest, it took a long time for me to like this album. I am so attached to I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child that it was difficult to let new MO songs in. Once I got it, I got it though. Careening between calm and rabid, METN is a dirty, messy rock album about things that shake your core. I am so excited to watch these guys get better and better.



03. fun. - Aim & Ignite
I'm pretty much on board with anything that former Format members are up to, but fun's debut album also makes my list on its own accord. Though not musically that far removed from Dog Problems, this album is clearly a separate entity. The creative instrumentation and the way Nate Ruess deftly guides the listener through his wide range of emotions is what makes this album great.



04. Brand New - Daisy
Continuing in the vein of The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me, Brand New gives us a darker album, full of ruminations on marriage, death, and learning how to grow up. Jesse Lacey does less and less actual singing with each album, but it works here. His raw emotion is what carries this album, and you can't help but feel like you're falling down the rabbit hole with him.



05. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!
In the past, I've always liked what I heard from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but never enough to latch onto a whole album. With It's Blitz!, Karen O gives us a few of the ragged songs she is known for, but she also shows us a more focused side of herself. The band easily could have gotten stuck in a rut, but instead they tried some new things and polished older ideas into something new and exciting. This album isn't perfect, but it sets the stage for something great.



06. Avett Brothers - I And Love And You
This band came way out of left field, at least for me. I'm a relative newcomer to the stripped down, folky sound, and the Avett Brothers show everyone how it's done with this album. So many songs on the record are just completely heartbreaking, and that's a good thing.



07. Thrice - Beggars
Thrice could have continued in a thousand directions after The Alchemy Index, but they chose to start anew. The band is working as a tight, cohesive unit, while opening up to a broader rock sound. Thrice have always pushed their limits to make themselves better, and Beggars is no exception.



08. Sherwood - Qu
Listening to Qu feels like hugging an old friend. Sherwood took everything that worked for them in the past and dropped everything that didn't (cough "Alley Cat" cough). It's clearly crafted with love, and sounds just like an evening bonfire on a California beach - warm and inviting.



09. Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
I think Wilco finally stopped trying to find a niche, and instead just decided this is who they are and they're sticking to it. Wilco recalls the pre-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot days, but this time the band appears to actually be enjoying it. Sure, everyone's saying But It's Not Perfect...but who cares? It's a good album with good songs, and as long as Jeff Tweedy's happy, so am I.



10. Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist
I wasn't thrilled with last year's Censored Colors, but this album restored my faith in this band. Intricately wrought instrumentation combined with John Gourley's vocal acrobatics create P.TM's trademark acid trip of a style. Their winding, erratic songs make this album easy to get lost in.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Brand New, Thrice, & Crime In Stereo 11/14/09

Brand New, Thrice, and Crime In Stereo at the Electric Factory, 11/14/09.



This was night one of two sold out shows at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia. It was also Thrice's last night on the tour (Glassjaw joined the following night). I knew it was going to be a great show at a great venue, and I was not disappointed.

Crime In Stereo was the opening band. I'd heard good things about them, so I was interested to see them. While they had a lot of energy, none of it translated to the crowd - everyone stood stock still while they played. Their singer had a great raw voice, but he just couldn't get the crowd into it. Maybe the crowd was just saving themselves for the headliners. They did note that they were from Long Island, which is probably why they were on the tour. Unfortunately, it's not the first time I've been less than impressed with Brand New's opening act - I actually fell asleep during Colour Revolt's set a few years ago. CIS' set list was:

*new song*
Small Skeletal
XXXX (The First Thousand Years Of Solitude)
Third Atlantic
But You Are Vast
*new instrumental*
Almost Ghostless/Above The Gathering Oceans
Orbiter

I was very excited for Thrice since I've never seen them before (gasp!) and I have been listening to them for a long time. They came barreling out of the gate and hardly stopped at all. Dustin Kensrue sounded great, and their set was efficient, for lack of a better term. This band clearly knows what they're doing. I was a little disappointed that they didn't play "The Artist In The Ambulance," but I wouldn't want to play one song every night of my life either.

Of Dust and Nations
Silhouette
All The World Is Mad
The Weight
Helter Skelter (Beatles cover)
In Exile
Doublespeak
A Song For Milly Michaelson
The Arsonist
Beggars

After pushing the break between sets as far as they could, Brand New finally came on stage. It was every bit as good as it always is. Jesse Lacey's voice sounds more raw every time I see them - I'm not sure if it's for effect, or if his voice is just that torn up. They used almost exclusively their own lighting setup - white spotlights from the ceiling, the tops of their amps, and on the floor behind them, plus warmer yellow lights behind them on the side. It created a welcoming but eerie feel. About halfway through the set during "Vices," a projection screen kicked in and began showing disjointed black and white images. I'm not sure if they meant it to begin during that song, or whether that was a technical malfunction. Can anyone comment on that? However, I did this it funny that they used Lyndon Johnson's 1964 "Daisy" campaign ad during the song of the same name. They also appeared to be filming for a live DVD or something - there was one guy running around with a video camera and another with a handcranked camera.

Welcome To Bangkok
Sink
Degausser
You Won't Know
Okay I Believe You, But My Tommy Gun Don't
Sic Transit Gloria
Jude Law And A Semester Abroad
Seventy Times 7
Limousine
Vices
Gasoline
Daisy
Sowing Season
Archers
You Stole
Jesus Christ
Bought A Bride
At The Bottom
Play Crack The Sky

I think they did a great job of pulling from all their albums, especially Your Favorite Weapon. The crowd of course FREAKED OUT when we were presented with "Jude Law And A Semester Abroad" and "Seventy Times 7" back to back. I thought it interesting that they opened with "Welcome to Bangkok" since they had taken to closing with it. And while they did have a second drummer on stage with them, notably missing was the group jams with a dozen or more people. That is not to say that the show suffered because of it, but it was just different. There was still force and passion behind the songs - very much so. I felt that all the songs across all their albums flowed well with each other, despite the older songs being so different from the new songs. Brand New has learned not only to work a crowd, but how to have them eating out of the palm of their hand. As for me, Brand New shows are always a bit of an emotional experience - sometimes for just remembering what a song used to mean to me, and sometimes just for the sheer force of the music. Because of that, I will never miss a tour, even if I have to go to Philadelphia to catch it.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Say Anything, Eisley, Moneen, & Miniature Tigers 11/8/09

Say Anything, Eisley, Moneen, & Miniature Tigers at the Recher Theatre 11/8/09.

It's been years since I've been out the Recher, mostly because it takes so long to get out to Towson. Granted, I was driving there in Friday rush hour traffic, but it was worth it for this show. Say Anything and Moneen are two of my favorite bands, and I'd never seen Eisley, so I was pretty excited.

I had not ever heard of Miniature Tigers before they were announced on this tour. I got to the Recher just as their set began, and it was good. They reminded me a lot of Vampire Weekend, and they had a good time using some odd instruments (I don't think I've ever seen anyone use a rain stick before). I missed the end of their set to go get some food, so I can't tell you much about their set list.

I dashed back in time for Moneen's set. They are one of my favorite bands to see live, since they just have SO much energy. To be fair, this wasn't their best performance - a little rougher around the edges than I've seen in the past. They were still having a good time with it and it was fun to hear their new songs. I don't remember their full set list, but what I can remember is:

Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can't Do
The World I Want To Leave Behind
Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now
There Are A Million Reasons For Why This May Not Work... And Just One Good One For Why It Will
The Passing Of America

The mood in the room got much more focused and excited when Eisley came on. Their live show was every bit as good as people say it is. The womens' voices blended beautifully together, and they recreated the ethereal feel of their recorded songs. Their set list was something like:

I Could Be There For You
Mr. Pine
The Valley
Golly Sandra
Ambulance
Smarter
Memories
Invasion
Marvelous Things
Many Funerals

I was happy to hear quite a few songs off Room Noises, and of course Max Bemis came out to sing a song he wrote with Sherri Dupree. Despite all the drama their marriage has caused, they really are a cute couple.

The room exploded when Say Anything came on. They had set pieces that looked like the buildings on the new album cover, and the tiny windows even lit up. Max was his usual flamboyant self, and he was genuinely pleased that people were already singing along with the new songs.

Fed To Death
Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too
Alive With The Glory Of Love
It's A Metaphor, Fool
Shiksa (Girlfriend)
Hate Everyone
Yellow Cat (Slash) Red Cat
Have At Thee!
Cemetery
This Is Fucking Ecstasy
Eloise
Woe
Baby Girl, I'm A Blur
Mara and Me
Every Man Has A Molly
Ahhh...Men
*****
Crush'd
Spores
Admit It!!!

I think they did a great job of mixing up the albums, and even if I'm not stoked on the new album, it works well live with the older stuff. The set lasted about two hours with the encore, which was quite a treat, even if I was exhausted by the end of it. I thought about skipping out during the encore, but I'm am glad I stuck around and heard "Admit It!!!" Just hearing Max's voice fall back and hearing the crowd take over was worth it. I'm glad to know they haven't lost it.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Interview - Apl de Ap

I recently interviewed The Black Eyed Peas' Apl de Ap for Corduroy Magazine's blog. You can read the profile I wrote here. Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Interview - Sherwood



It's been about a year since the last time I spoke with California's Sherwood, so there was lots to catch up on. Read on to see what they have to say about the past year, as well as years yet to come.



PPJ: First, please tell us your name and what you do in the band.

Mike Leibovich:This is Mikey. I play keyboards and tambourine in Sherwood.

PPJ: It's been a few years since A Different Light was released. What's been going on in the meantime?

Mikey: Since A Different Light was released in 2007 we have toured America five times, toured England/Europe three times and spent two weeks touring Japan. We spent the second half of 2008 and the first half of 2009 writing and recording our new record Qu.

PPJ: How did you go about writing songs for Qu? What was the recording process like?

Mikey: For this record we wanted to have more time to flush out songs and be creative with the knowledge that we would chase a lot of dead end roads, but that we would be left with the best of the best. We rented an apartment in Oakland, CA with a sound proof rehearsal studio so that we could spend the better part of seven months writing music full time. We set a schedule for ourselves, put in at least six hours a day (often much more than that), and wrote over 85 songs. When we were finally satisfied with the best twelve songs, we moved down to LA to record with Brad Wood at Seagrass studios for two months.

PPJ: How does Qu differ from your previous releases?

Mikey: Qu is comprised of better written songs. For the first time we really started to see the collective vision for Sherwood come together. There are more vocal harmonies and melodic hooks, more diverse instrumentation, more rock and more pop. The lyrical content of the songs is also much more mature, exploring topics outside of ourselves, more inspired.

PPJ: You guys tour pretty hard for most of the year. How do you find time to create new music while on the road so much?

Mikey: When music is what fulfills you the time just makes itself available. It is difficult to balance the creative part of the job with the business and entertainment side, but it becomes nourishing and cathartic in ways that can't really be ignored.

PPJ: What is it about California that gives it so much airplay in your songs?

Mikey: California (and really the entire West Coast) has been so inspirational to us. We wrote A Different Light while living in a beach house in Mexico for six weeks and spent this record-writing up near the Golden Gate. From Lake Tahoe to San Francisco to Santa Cruz to San Luis Obispo to San Diego....specifically the rolling hills and quiet ocean towns of central California. Just so incredible.

PPJ: What is your favorite part about the whole process of writing, recording,
and touring?


Mikey: Albums have always served as a marker of time for me. Writing an album is such a personal process and marks a period in our lives as the creators. Every record that means something to me has had emotions and memories attached that I hope people will find with this album as well. I still meet people who love to tell me where they were and who they were at the time they were listening to one of our earliest songs, "The Summer Sends its Love," written back in 2003.

PPJ: Why have you stuck with MySpace Records? I don't mean that in a bad way, but surely you've had major labels knocking at your door.

Mikey: MySpace Records has been such a supportive label that I couldn't imagine trying to do what we are trying to do on another label. The staff is like an extended family to us at this point and they give us so much independence. We have really been fortunate retain control of all of our creativity.

PPJ: What happened with The Sherwood Show?

Mikey: Nothing has happened! We are recording several more episodes for a second season. Keep an eye out for them!

PPJ: Do Dan and Joe still work with We Shot The Moon?

Mikey: When Jonathan first started We Shot the Moon he did not have a band with him. Dan and Joe were always just a temporary part of the beginning to help get that first record out. He has a really great band of guys with him full time now.

PPJ: What are your plans leading up to and following the release of Qu?

Mikey: We are just finishing a two week tour supporting Better Than Ezra and begin a tour with Hanson and HelloGoodbye from Oct 1- Nov 12. Our album will be out on Oct 13th, and we may be looking at possibly doing a headline tour early next year.

PPJ: What do you hope people will take away with them when they listen to your music?

Mikey: Ha ha. I have about five cliché sentences that come to mind, about being sincere, or about being classic. But really, I think we made a really good album and I would be delighted to find out what you take away with you.

PPJ: Finally, please tell us three bands you think we should be listening to.

Mikey: Grizzly Bear, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Passion Pit. Each of their latest
records are outstanding.


Thanks again to Mikey for taking time to answer my questions, and to Gary at Stunt Company for arranging the interview. Be sure to pick up Qu on October 13th and to catch Sherwood on tour this fall.

Friday, September 11, 2009

As Tall As Lions at Jammin' Java 9.10.09

I'm pretty sure I've already said as much as I can say about the perfection of As Tall As Lions' live show, so I will just leave you with a few photographs.



































Thursday, August 27, 2009

Cobra Starship 8/26/09

Cobra Starship, The Audition, The Friday Night Boys, & DJ Skeet Skeet at The Rock & Roll Hotel, 8/26/09.


This is far and away the smallest venue I have ever seen Cobra Starship at, and it was every bit as exciting as past shows. Cobra’s music is built for packed rooms where everyone is wedged in, sweaty and dancing like crazy.

DJ Skeet Skeet was the first opener, playing a bunch of dance remixes along the lines of Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, and 3OH!3. The crowd was kind of into it, but clearly saving their energy for the real show.

As for The Friday Night Boys, this was a hometown show for them. It’s the first time I’ve seen them since they signed with Fueled By Ramen, and they haven’t changed a bit. They’re still dance rock, still having fun, and still not taking it too seriously. The new songs sounded good – as a whole their music has become more rock and less electronic over time. It was a bit sad that there was no "Sorry I Stole Yo Gurl," but I probably would be sick of playing that one too. The funniest part was when someone in the crowd catcalled, "My Favorite Highway is better!" which launched a discussion among the band about Andrew Goldstein’s tenure in My Favorite Highway. Their setlist was something like:

Suicide Sunday
High School
Permanent Heartbreak
That's What She Said
Molly Makeout
Stuttering

The Audition was next. Their shows are always solid, and last night was no different. I’ll be honest – I haven’t listened to them in a long time, and I was surprised at how dance-oriented their new songs were. Not a bad thing – a very good thing, in fact. They were fun, and working hard to get the crowd motivated for the rest of the night.

My Temperature's Rising
You've Made Us Conscious
Love With a Motive
Hell to Sell
Los Angeles
The Way You Move
Warm Me Up
Don't Be So Hard

After a seemingly interminable interlude from DJ Skeet Skeet, Cobra Starship took the stage to dozens of screaming and grabbing girls. Gabe Saporta was loving it, and loving playing to a small venue. I have never seen a lack of enthusiasm from these guys. Gabe dances and slides all over, spending plenty of time right at the edge of the stage. Due to R&R’s lack of air conditioning, he was quickly dripping everywhere, and so was the rest of the band. Vicky T. wore a purple tube dress that was shorter than short, and everyone was just having the time of their life.

Pete Wentz is the Only Reason We're Famous
Send My Love to the Dance Floor, I'll See You in Hell (Hey Mister DJ)
The Church of Hot Addiction
Kiss My Sass
Damn You Look Good and I'm Drunk (Scandalous)
The Ballad of Big Poppa and Diamond Girl
My Moves are White (White Hot, That Is)
Hollaback Boy
The World Has Its Shine (But I Would Drop It On A Dime)
Smile for the Paparazzi
The City is at War
Bring It (Snakes On A Plane)
***
Good Girls Go Bad
Guilty Pleasure


"Damn You Look Good…" through "Hollaback Boy" were performed as a sort of medley. It was odd that for the "Hot Mess Across the US" tour, there were only three songs from Hot Mess on the setlist. Gabe did make a comment along the lines of "this is the last time we’ll be playing some of these old songs," and kept saying the old songs were for the old fans. This tour is clearly a sort of send off for them – a gift to the fans before they head out on a couple of big name, big venue tours. Sad, but I am glad I caught this round. A few people came up on stage throughout the set, including Friday Night Boys’ Chris Barrett covering one of Travis McCoy’s raps, and a young boy named Connor who got brought up to do the "Guilty Pleasure" dance and generally just hang out on stage for being so young and in the front row.

One of the best things about seeing Cobra Starship is watching how much Gabe interacts with and thanks the crowd. He took a number of small gifts from people in the audience, and he always spends much of the banter between songs talking about how dedicated the fans are and how grateful he is that they have put the band where they are today. It’s nice to see someone give back a little like that.

Overall, Cobra was just as explosive and entertaining as always, and I can’t wait to see where they go next.

Monday, June 15, 2009

No Doubt, Paramore, & The Sounds 6/14/09

No Doubt, Paramore, & The Sounds at Nissan Pavilion 6/14/09

I was SO excited for this show. It’s been years since I’ve seen Paramore, and I had never seen No Doubt before. Sad, considering how much I love both these bands.

I got to the venue a little after 7 PM and got the nice surprise of seeing the end of The Sounds’ set – I had no idea they were playing this date. Unfortunately I only saw about a song and a half. Maja Ivarsson sounded a little screechy, but I have to commend her for being able to sprint around the stage in heels.

Paramore were their usual energetic selves, with Hayley Williams dashing around and the rest of the guys jumping and flipping all over the place. I felt that they left a few key songs out of their setlist, "Emergency" being the most notable one. They did play a couple of new songs off their upcoming record, and both were pretty fast, hard songs. Their setlist was:

Misery Business
For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic
Pressure
Ignorance [new]
CrushCrushCrush
Decoy [new]
When It Rains
Where The Lines Overlap
That’s What You Get
Let The Flames Begin
Decode

I thought "Decode" was kind of a weak way to end the set, but probably a strategic choice due to the Twilight soundtrack. I was pleased with how long their set was – I was expecting much less.

No Doubt got on stage around 9:30 PM, and there was just so much excitement in the air. They began with their shadows projected on a white sheet, waving at the audience. It looked like absolutely everyone in the audience was taking photos of it. When the sheet dropped, they had an all white, futuristic looking setup with the band members on ramps and stands – it kind of looked like a spaceship. Even the stage floor had been covered in white material, and all of the band was dressed in black and white. There was also a big screen behind the band, showing shapes, colors, and videos in sync with the songs. Gwen Stefani sounded a little rocky for the first minute or so, but then she warmed up and sounded fantastic. She has such a powerful voice and knows how to project it.

As for their outfits, No Doubt was definitely harkening back to their early days. Stefani’s hair was tied up in knots, and she was wearing a cut off tank top and cargo-like pants. The rest of the band looked the ska/punk part too.

The set list went something like this:

Spiderwebs
Hella Good
Underneath It All
Excuse Me Mr.
Ex-Girlfriend
End It On This
Simple Life
Happy Now?
[new song]
Guns of Navarone
Hey Baby
Running
Different People
Don’t Speak
It’s My Life
Just A Girl

Rock Steady
Stand And Deliver
Sunday Morning

No Doubt is one of those bands where you think it just can’t get any better, but they keep pulling out one huge song after another. They played all their big hits, plus some older stuff – fan favorites and such. Their setup was so slick and well-produced, and the whole band seemed to be having a great time. Stefani was swaggering all over the stage, and everyone kept running up and down the ramps and jumping around.

What really struck me was how Stefani kept talking to the audience in the pit. Most bands will address the crowd generally, but Stefani kept expressing gratitude and talking to individuals who were near her. She took a few presents from the crowd, and asked people about their signs they were holding. One man had a sign asking for a hug, so she told him, "Well, come and get it." She hugged him up on stage, talked to him for a minute, and let him take a picture with her. It’s really great to see such a huge band be that kind and welcoming to their fans.

I was also blown away by the sheer number of people there. Nissan Pavilion holds up to 19,000 people. I don’t know if the show sold out, but it looked pretty close. It was just people dancing for as far as you could see.

Stefani had two costume changes – once into a sparkly silver and black minidress with black tights and boots, and the second time into a sparkly black polo shirt with bleached out jeans. The only other band member to change clothes with drummer Adrian Young, who put on a rainbow colored tutu near the end.

For "Stand And Deliver," a bunch of freestanding drums were brought on stage, and all the members of Paramore and The Sounds came out to play, with all three women singing the song. Stefani also dropped and did ten or fifteen pushups during the intro to "Just A Girl." There was a lot of call and response singing as well. If any of the band members are tired of playing these songs, you would never know it.

Overall, I was very happy with this show. It was so great to hear all those songs I love, and to see the band having a good time. It was also nice that I got to see the leg of the tour where all three bands were female-fronted – that is something that very rarely happens, especially at this level. I envy one girl in the crowd that Stefani talked to – the girl had seen 11 stops on this tour and was planning on seeing 10 more. I’d definitely love to be able to do that!

Interview - Mark Capicotto



Glamour Kills Clothing is probably one of the most recognizable brands in the music scene - everyone knows and loves those bright colors and bold designs. Most people, however, don't know much about the company's creator, Mark Capicotto. I asked him a few questions about what it's like to be one of the leading clothing designers out there right now.



PPJ: First, tell us who you are and what you do.

Mark Capicotto: I am Mark Capicotto and I am the owner and Head Designer here at Glamour Kills Clothing.

PPJ: What kind of music did you listen to growing up? How did you get involved in the current scene?

Mark: I grew up listening to punk rock in all its forms: NOFX, Bigwig, Osker, blink-182 to name a few. All of those bands had a huge influence on me. A lot of my friends were in bands and locally we had a great music scene with a lot of shows. It was a weekly tradition to go see as many bands as I could.

PPJ: How did you come up with the idea to start designing clothes and creating your own lines?

Mark:I did a lot of designs for my friends in bands growing up and started working freelance for some bigger acts. Everyone seemed to love my artwork so I questioned, "Why don’t I do this myself?" and Glamour Kills was born.

PPJ: What does the name Glamour Kills mean?

Mark: It really has no significance, haha! I had the idea, concept and tee designs down but didn’t have a name. It sounded cool so it stuck.

PPJ: What are your inspirations as a designer? Do you have any favorite designers?

Mark: I draw a lot of inspiration from everyday things; music and pop culture in general fascinates me. If I had to pick a designer it would be Rob Dobi. I grew up loving his work - he is Godly!

PPJ: How do you choose which bands Glamour Kills will sponsor?

Mark: Well first off, we have to dig the band musically. They also have be genuine hard working good people.

PPJ: What do you look for in employees? How do you keep a team following the same design aesthetics?

Mark: It’s difficult, but as the company grew I started hiring a lot of my friends who share the same interests and visions as I do. You get a few bad eggs along the way but the team we have now is amazing and I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

PPJ: What sort of trends do you look for to stay ahead of the thousands of other clothing companies out there?

Mark: I wouldn’t say trends, but we try to stay ahead of everyone and think what we would like to see - create the trends so to speak. There are a lot of other companies out there big and small that like our stuff so much they make it their own, haha.

PPJ: How have social networking sites helped Glamour Kills?

Mark: Amazingly. When I was starting out I had little to no money, and with social networking I was able to reach thousands of customers without spending anything in advertising. If you use it right social networking can be a very powerful tool.

PPJ: Are you planning on opening any more physical locations?

Mark: Yes, we have plans for moving to NYC and California in 2010 and across the pond in 2011.

PPJ: Finally, tell us three bands you think we should be listening to.

Mark: The Dangerous Summer, The Dangerous Summer, The Dangerous Summer.


Thanks again to Mark for answering my questions, and to Jay Taylor at Quite Great Communications/Decade PR for arranging it. Be sure to check out GK and all their great clothes!

glamourkills.com

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Interview - Dance Gavin Dance



You might think Dance Gavin Dance are just another generic band with a weird name. I think you should take a second look and see what these guys are all about - genuine music, a love for what they do, and yes, a funny name.


PPJ: First, tell us your name and what you do in the band.

Zachary Garren: Zachary Garren, I play guitar and yell random things when I can.

PPJ: How did Dance Gavin Dance get started? What drew you to this style of music?

Zachary: The band started like most every other band, people who liked music playing music. A handful of member changes have happened over time for the better. We don't really know what "this style of music" is because we're trying to just play things other people aren't playing, but bands like At The Drive-In influenced us in the beginning, and then we just kept going from there. We listen to as much music as we can and try to throw that all into a blender. We recently tackled weird hip-hop on our new CD, hopefully we can throw in some dub next?

PPJ: You've had quite a few member changes. How did you manage to keep going and to keep the band going in the same direction?

Zachary: We've been lucky to always find really talented people to replace those who have to leave. It's basically just survival of the fittest. Right now our line up is pretty solid, I don't see anything happening any time soon.

PPJ: How did you get hooked up with Rise Records?
Zachary: I think Craig was looking for some new bands and Eric Rushing from Artery Foundation told him to check us out and that's as complicated as it gets. Maybe?

PPJ: What do you say to people who complain about how unoriginal music with screaming in it is these days?

Zachary: I'd probably agree. The state of screaming music has become a huge joke. This scene used to be about intelligence and being different than the mainstream, but now it's just as bad as the mainstream. Musically, it's kind of like when you copy a VHS tape multiple times and the quality gets worse each time... bands copy other bands that copied other bands that copied other bands and it just keeps getting dumbed down and worse. Bands rely more on their looks and fleeting musical trends rather than actual creativity, talent, and experimentation. I guess I can't be mad at the bands, it's the listeners' fault for supporting them.

PPJ: Tell us about recording "Happiness." How do you think you've grown as a band and as people since your previous albums?

Zachary: There wasn't really anything different about the writing process, we just get together and jam. The only difference is that we've become better musicians and have grown in our musical tastes.

PPJ: How did you react to your album leaking so early?

Zachary: We were just stoked that we weren't the ones that leaked it. It happens, I guess we're just happy to be in the position to where people care enough to do that. We figure if the music is good enough, people will buy it anyways. We're just glad people get to hear it and enjoy it.

PPJ: Are you excited to play on Warped Tour this summer?

Zachary: Very, aside from the heat. I don't know about the other guys, but I grew up going to Warped Tour so it's exciting to play it finally. Plus, one of the bands that made me want to start playing music 8 years ago, Thrice, is playing for about a week.

PPJ: What do you think are the pros and cons of playing festival shows versus club shows?

Zachary: We enjoy both. I like playing outside, I feel more free. The sound can be bad, but that happens in clubs, too. I guess this would be a better question to ask us after Warped Tour since we've only played a few festivals.

PPJ: Do you have any plans for after Warped Tour?

Zachary: We're doing a tour with a certain old singer's new band, I don't know if we're supposed to say?

PPJ: Finally, tell us three bands you think we should be listening to.

Zachary: Tubelord. They are from England and they've been blowing my mind lately. Foals. They are also from England and they are also mindblowing. Mystery Jets. They, three, are from England and they also participate in the blowing of the mind. Americans, take some notes from England... Thanks for the interview, sorry if anything doesn't make sense, that tends to happen when you're typing all your thoughts out at once and don't proof-read!

Thanks again to Zachary for answering my questions, and to Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media for setting it up. Be sure to check out Happiness, and to go see Dance Gavin Dance on Warped Tour.

MySpace

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Interview - Jean Reno



I recently did an interview with French actor Jean Reno for Corduroy Magazine. The profile is in Issue #5, which is on sale now in their store. It's a great magazine full of interviews, art, and fashion. Please pick one up!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Interview - Karate High School



Karate High School might just sound like a novelty band name, but it's been a long time since I've heard a band as genuine as this one. Take a minute to hear what they have to say and maybe you won't judge a book by its cover.



PPJ: First, tell us your name and what you do in the band?

Paul McGuire: Hi, I’m Paul, and I’m the singer/songwriter/producer guy.

PPJ: Karate High School is a band that's often described with lots of hyphenated genres. What exactly do you think your style of music is? How did you arrive at that sound?

Paul: Billy Joel said it best: "Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound / Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me." It’s all just different sub-genres of rock music, right? After that, my head starts to hurt and my vision gets blurry. For example, I honestly couldn’t tell you the difference between the genres of Industrial and Post-Industrial music. I mean, I know that a difference exists – but I can’t listen to an electronic European noise track and tell you which sub-genre it falls under. I just don’t care enough to learn which details shove a band from one yard and into another. If I like it, I like it. I’m well aware that I’m not doing anything shockingly original with my own tracks. I’m just playing music I like to listen to, that’s all. I’ll allow the three people that actually listen to my music to decide how many hyphens that deserves.

PPJ: What drew you to start making music?

Paul: If you’re like me, music is all you have. It’s what keeps you sane. It’s the only real thing in a world of zombie neighbors, co-workers, and bosses. It allows you to vent when you’re bummed out, to laugh when you’re happy, and to dance alone in your room as you sing Britney Spears at the top of your lungs. Music is the only loyal companion you’ve ever known. Music was there for you when you totaled your dad’s Ford Focus after you stole his keys last Halloween, it was there for you when you won that karate tournament by one roundhouse kick, and it was there for you in eighth grade when you told everyone that Jodie Meyers had sex with Derek Micklebee even though it wasn’t true, and then everyone found out that you lied and wouldn’t talk to an established gossip hound for six weeks. And perhaps most importantly, music was there for you when your girlfriend decided not to be. All of these things inspire me to write music. To establish a connection, to express my own thoughts and ideas the way all of my musical heroes have. Because I want to give back, and create something timeless for myself. In other words, I have absolutely no idea.

PPJ: What do you think touring so hard to support your first two albums did for you as a band?

Paul: There is no substitute for quitting your job, neglecting every important, personal relationship in your life, and hitting the road in your disgusting, filthy van and playing shows in basements and VFW halls around the country to three kids at a time. The experience has allowed me to become both a better musician and a better person. Once off the main interstates, there are endless amounts of beautiful open roads and generous, loving people that connect with your music and invite you into their homes. Do I sound like a hippie yet? Good, because I haven’t showered in three weeks and I thought I’d start acting the part. But really, touring and performing is one of my favorite things, just under (or perhaps tied with) creating the actual music itself.

PPJ: How did you hook up with Eyeball Records?

Paul: After touring for two years with absolutely no support whatsoever, we decided to contact the one label that we’ve loved and respected for years. Ray (my keyboard player) contacted Eyeball, and both parties decided to meet each other and see if our vision and passion for music matched up. Luckily, everyone at Eyeball is super awesome and the experience has been amazing. I couldn’t be happier.

PPJ: Tell us about what went into recording "Invaders."

Paul: That’s a big question. Like, how is the album made from start to finish? I usually lock myself in my room in front of my keyboard and guitar, and I stare at the wall until inspiration strikes. And no, I’m not kidding. During the writing of the new KHS record, I didn’t leave my room for weeks on end. I’d get up at 6:30am, and just play and write and play and write until 8:00pm. Then I’d take a walk around the block, read for a while, and go to sleep just to do it all over again the next day. That seems to be a very clear pattern in my life: I work all day until I’m satisfied with something, then wake up the next morning and think that everything I created the day before was absolute garbage. And then...repeat. In other words, it’s exactly like the average person’s work day, except I don’t get paid and 13 year old kids criticize the things I create from the comfort of their laptop-equipped bedrooms.

PPJ: What do you think sites like Facebook and Twitter have done for your band?

Paul: Social networking has completely revolutionized the music business. But I’ll spare you a 10,000 word topical essay on the rapidly changing corporate music business model. Instead, I’ll simply say that as a band, the entire point is to get your music heard by as many people as possible. Web 2.0 has allowed this to happen with incredible, stunning ease. In other words, it’s a good thing.

PPJ: On your myspace, you talk about how there are no original sounds left and that you'll never write a "Hey Jude" level song. So what makes you keep doing this? And how do you try to make yourselves interesting in all the repeated sounds?

Paul: Just in case someone reading this hasn’t read what you’re referring to, I’ll be insanely pretentious and quote myself here: "But c’mon, folks, let’s face it: there are no original sounds anymore. Everything has already been done. The Beatles already wrote every great song many years before I was born. I’ll never write a Hey Jude. Heck, I’ll never write a Yellow Submarine. The only thing I can do is put as much honesty and creativity into the songs that I can, and hope that they connect with you." The last sentence answers your question, I believe. Just because every song and story has already been written, it doesn’t mean that you can’t put your own unique spin on a timeless tale. For example, you can reduce the television show LOST down to simply being about the timeless struggle of Good VS. Evil. That doesn’t mean the way they told that story wasn’t fresh and original, it simply means they put their heart into articulating a universal theme and made it their own. That’s the same thing I try to do with my songs. Expressing yourself never gets old or boring, it’s an exhilarating and necessary part of Trying To Understand What Life Is All About.

PPJ: What are your plans after the record release?

Paul: Well, the new album, Invaders, is on sale on iTunes right now, or you can buy the retail copy in stores on May 19th, 2009. We’ll be touring for the rest of the year in support of the record. In other words, my immediate future will be comprised of sleeping in a disgusting van, "showering" in Wal-Mart bathrooms, and eating two hot dogs for one dollar at 7-11s across the country. Oh, and I’ll be doing my part to thwart the (hopefully not) inevitable robot takeover of the human race. Are you in?

PPJ: What do you hope people will take away with them when they listen to your CD or see your shows?

Paul: Pretentious Answer Alert: I suppose the ultimate goal is to inspire. When I went go to shows, I love watching music be performed. I connect with the music, and I feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself. Music has always been there for me: it’s pulled me through the toughest of times and comforted me when no one else could. In a sense, I feel like performing is my way of giving back, my way of trying to contribute something that has genuinely moved me and affected my life in a real, meaningful way. If someone sees my band play, and is inspired enough to think, "hey, I want to do that too," then every night I spend sleeping in Wal-Mart parking lots is worth it. Oh, and if they can walk away with some merch too, that would be awesome.

PPJ: Lastly, tell us three bands you think we should be listening to.

Paul: I’m going to limit my choices to one, since I don’t have any cool, hip band suggestions that you aren’t already listening to. That said, I would like to continue my streak of plugging The Streets in hopes that Earth enters an alternate reality where Mike Skinner finds this interview due to placing a Google alert on his own name, and finds it charming that an American rock producer with absolutely zero money, fame, or talent wants to record a song with him. If so, then hey Mike, please email me. He’s a personal hero of mine and I think his work is ridiculously underrated in America. Everything Is Borrowed was one of my favorite records last year. Brilliant stuff.

Thanks again to Paul for thoughtfully answering these questions, and to Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media for arranging the interview. Be sure to pick up Karate High School's new album and to catch them on one of those endless tours.

Website | MySpace

Friday, May 15, 2009

Straylight Run, Lovedrug, & Good Old War 5/14/09

Straylight Run, Lovedrug, & Good Old War at the Rock & Roll Hotel, 5/14/09.

It's been a long time since I've been to R&R, but it's still a great small venue. I was very excited to see this lineup in such a small space - they are all perfectly suited for it.

I had never listened to Good Old War before this show, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Their songs were folksy and upbeat, and their singer pranced around the entire set, obviously enjoying his job. Usually if a band I've never heard is opening a show, I can't wait for them to finish. With Good Old War, I wouldn't have minded if they kept playing. I'll definitely be keeping my eye on them.

Lovedrug was up second. They are one of my favorite bands, and this was my first time seeing them. They sounded off, mostly due to the fact that the bass was extremely loud to the point of drowning out the vocals. Apart from that, the band was on point. I was pleased to see that Shepard's voice sounds the same live as it does recorded, even the impossible falsetto notes he hits. They played a fairly even mix of songs from Everything Starts Where It Ends and The Sucker Punch Show, with the nice surprise of "Spiders" also thrown in.

The venue was still half to three-quarters empty when Straylight Run went on, something that was surprising to me. Maybe I overestimate their popularity, but I expected a bigger crowd. This is the second time I've seen the band since Michelle Nolan left, and they are managing it better than the last time. They did have issues with their recorded loops, but the rest of the music sounded great. I always like them better live than I do recorded. I think their songs sound fuller and more intense live. John Nolan's vocals sounded perfect, and they all appeared to be having a good time, as did the audience, who clearly love this band a lot. Unfortunately, I had to leave early in time to catch the Metro home, but Straylight Run are always wonderful to see.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Interview - Attack! Attack! UK



The U.K.'s Attack! Attack! play music that sounds just like their name - hard, fast, and fun. I caught up with them recently to see how things are going in their fast-paced world.


PPJ: First, tell us who you are and what you do in the band.

Neil Starr: I am Neil, singer and guitarist in Attack! Attack! UK

PPJ: I don't know much about Cardiff, Wales. What is it like for someone growing up there, and in terms of the area's music scene?

Neil: Growing up in South Wales was great fun! the local music scene here is amazing, just think of all the great bands that have come from a 20 mile radius of each other: Lostprophets, Bullet For My Valentine, Funeral For A Friend, Skindred, and loads more including Tom Jones, haha! It's inspiring growing up and watching bands like Lostprophets become international stars; it really gives you belief that you too can, with hard work, become an international success.

PPJ: How did you arrive at the kind of music you play in Attack! Attack! UK?

Neil: We are all into the same kind of bands and really love melodies and rocking out. We just love writing catchy songs with passion and energy!

PPJ: How do you go about writing your songs?

Neil: 2 main ways. Either one of us will write something that resembles a song and bring it to rehearsal to show the rest of the band and jam it out or we just write spontaneously as a collective whilst in rehearsal. To be honest there are no rules with song writing we just go with the flow.

PPJ: What was it like working with Stuart Richardson from Lostprophets?

Neil: Awesome! He had some really good ideas for our songs and took the album in the direction we wanted! I have known Stuart for a long time from being in other bands, and we used to hang out a lot growing up. When he moved to LA I didn't get to see him very much so it was awesome to spend a month together hanging out, having fun and of course recording the album.

PPJ: What's it like to hear your songs on the radio and to be nominated for
awards?


Neil: Kind of surreal to be honest with you. Personally for me the most satisfying thing is to hear positive things from fans and things like radio and awards can only help you expose your music to new people and help you grow as a band.

PPJ: Are you still on tour with Funeral For A Friend, or are you out with Save Your Breath now? Where are you now, and how is it going?

Neil: Right now we have a few weeks at home, which is amazing because we get to see our family and friends again! We finished the Funeral For A Friend tour and go out with Save Your Breath in 2 weeks. As much as we are enjoying being home we can't wait to get back on the road again!

PPJ: You guys were also just at SXSW. Was that your first time there? How was it and who did you see?

Neil: Yes, and it was an amazing experience. It was also our first ever live show in America and we really loved the experience. We drank a lot of alcohol and generally had a blast whilst watching bands like Gallows, You Me At Six, Fighting With Wire, The Meat Puppets, Cancer Bats, Alesana, plus loads loads more.

PPJ: What is your favorite venue to play at?

Neil: London Astoria was an amazing venue and we were lucky enough to play there twice before they closed it a few months back. It was such a shame they closed it, especially as it was destroyed to make way for a train tube station for the Olympics in 2012! Wrong in my opinion!

PPJ: What are your plans after this tour?

Neil: We basically are gigging until September, plenty of shows and festivals in the UK and mainland Europe. We plan on writing more new songs as we are the kind of band that likes to release things sooner rather than later so expect new tunes from us towards the end of 2009.

PPJ: Your MySpace says you're going to be on Guitar Hero. What song, and how did that happen?

Neil: It's "You and me" and we are SOOOOO stoked about it. Its a game we have all been fans of for ages and is always on whilst we are traveling to venues in the tour bus. To cut a long story short we were chosen by the top guys and gals at Activision (the game makers) from a whole host of bands that submitted to be on the game. It was very flattering that we were chosen over hundreds and hundreds of bands.

PPJ: What do you hope people will come away with when they listen to your music?

Neil: We hope after hearing the CD they will be inspired by the music and that it can offer them something positive. From the live shows we try and be interactive with the crowd so we hope people go away with a smile on their faces, covered in sweat and ready to spread the word of Attack! Attack! UK to everyone they see.

PPJ: Finally, tell us three bands you think we should be listening to.

Neil: Fighting with Wire, Twin Atlantic, and The Blackout.


Thanks again to Neil for answering my questions, and to Melissa Berlin at Rock Ridge Music for arranging the interview. Be sure to check out Attack! Attack! UK and try to catch them on tour!

Website | MySpace

Monday, March 9, 2009

Interview - Breathe Carolina



Lots of bands choose one style of music and stick with it. Breathe Carolina take a bunch of different styles and smash them together. What they come up with is their own unique brand of sound. Frontman Kyle Even happily took a break from all this creativity to answer a few of my questions.



PPJ: First, tell us your name and what you do in the band.

Kyle Even: I'm Kyle and I sing in Breathe Carolina!

PPJ: What initially got you interested in music? Who were some of your favorite bands growing up?

Kyle: My step brother was a huge influence because he would show us all kinds of bands and groups - started me on Green Day, White Zombie- then got me into 2pac and Bone Thugs! Those were some of my favorites as well!

PPJ: How did the music you were playing with your old bands evolve into what you're doing now with Breathe Carolina?

Kyle: Screaming in other bands helped! But musically nothing really stands out - I wouldn't be here without those people believing in me though! But the music is so different in writing, recording and playing that we had to figure out a lot on our own.

PPJ: You have a bunch of musicians who tour with you. Are they different people every tour? Do you ever consider making them permanent members - why or why not?

Kyle: They are the same every tour unless they don't want to come out- but it's been the same for a year now so I don't see it changing any time soon!! They are permanent to us - just 'cause they aren't in pictures doesn't make them less important- they'd still be doing the same things and nothing would change- we'll have to see what the future holds.

PPJ: What went into writing and recording It's Classy, Not Classic?

Kyle: We had to finish the record on the road cause we did it ourselves - David wrote, recorded and produced the whole record.

PPJ: Where did you come up with the name for your album?

Kyle: David thought it up- it's about living life as hard as you can without worrying about the past and future.

PPJ: What do you think of your fairly rapid rise to the public eye?

Kyle: Things have definitely grown quickly! I just hope people are having fun with what we've created! It's been amazing getting to play venues that we could have only dreamed about!

PPJ: How do you think you managed to grab peoples' attention so quickly?

Kyle: I don't know? I think that secret is with the people who have been listening to our songs! I have no idea!!

PPJ: How did you get in with Rise Records?

Kyle: Our manager is good friends with Craig from Rise- he sent our songs to him and he sent us a contract! We signed about 3 months later but he was the first to offer us a deal!

PPJ: What's the music scene in Denver like? Is it easy or hard to break out from there?

Kyle: It's easier than some places- the local scene is great! People are very supportive! No matter where you live it's gonna be hard to break- but Denver definitely gave us a step up!

PPJ: Have you been writing new songs? What are you hoping to do with your music now?

Kyle: Ya we have! We just want to make fun songs - songs we want to write and play - hopefully they'll reach someone on a deeper level- but as long as they hit us hard then that's all I can ask for!!

PPJ: What do you hope people will take away with them when they listen to your music?

Kyle: Have fun and be yourself!

PPJ: Finally, tell us three bands you think we should be listening to.

Kyle: Bring Me The Horizon, Emarosa and Anarbor.


Thanks again to Kyle for answering these questions, and to Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media for coordinating the interview. Be sure to pick up a copy of It's Classy, Not Classic and to see when Breathe Carolina is playing near you!

MySpace | PureVolume

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Interview - The Bigger Lights



The Bigger Lights hail from my hometown of Fairfax, VA, and I jumped at the chance to interview a band I've been watching grow and grow right in front of me. Guitarist J.K. was kind enough to answer my questions for him.



PPJ: First, tell us who you are and what you do in the band.

J.K. Royston: My name is J.K. and I play guitar and piano. I'm also one of the primary songwriters.

PPJ: You guys are from my hometown, Fairfax, VA. What was your experience with the music scene there? How do you think living so close to DC affected your band and your music?

J.K.: I'm not sure that the Northern VA scene really affected the type of music we play as much as I think it gave us an audience to expose it to. From day one, we set out with the intention to do something with a strong pop influence. Northern VA just happened to be the perfect scene for the type of band that we naturally gravitated towards being. We're really proud of our scene though. Between My Favorite Highway, The Friday Night Boys, and us, we've had three signings in the past year and I'm pretty sure that The Downtown Fiction is soon to follow. It's a really strong area for music right now.

PPJ: Tell us about how The Bigger Lights began.

J.K.: Dan and I were in a different band all throughout college. We hadn't been super happy with where that group was headed and made the decision to leave right before we graduated. We spent about nine months auditioning new players and working on different ideas before we discovered Topher singing in an upstart project. We quickly found that we all shared similar creative beliefs and decided to explore the notion of pursuing a project together. We started writing songs together and from there, The Bigger Lights was born.

PPJ: Where does the name of your band come from?

J.K.: The name was actually our friend Clint Herring's idea. It's taken from a Shakespeare play in which one of the characters refers to the stars as "the bigger lights." The reference was used as symbolism for the great unknown in life, which we thought was really cool.

PPJ: It seems like you guys have a page on every social network out there. Do you ever feel like you're putting too much of yourselves out there, or does the connection with the fans outweigh that?

J.K.: I think that social networking is a huge part of connectivity in today's social climate, so putting so much of yourselves out there has almost come to feel like a prerequisite to exposure. Of course, there are definitely downsides to being so connected to everything all the time but I think that in our case, the positive effects that social networking sites have had on our band's growth and exposure far outweigh the negative ones.

PPJ: What was it like to transition from local shows to nationwide tour dates?

J.K.: It's been an amazing experience. We're learning a lot about what it takes to put on a high caliber performance night after night and succeed on the road. Thankfully, we've been lucky enough to tour with some incredible bands that have been kind enough to teach us things they've learned along with way. I think we're definitely growing into a band that will be able to hold its own on any stage.

PPJ: Tell us about what went into writing and recording Fiction Fever.

J.K.: Fiction Fever was written over the course of about a year. Some of the tracks were recuts of tracks that were on our previously self-released EP while some of the tracks were new songs that we'd written since the release of our first EP. Ultimately, we wanted to make an EP that we thought was infectious and attention grabbing. We chose to work with producers Kenneth Mount and Zack Odom after having the chance to record a few demos with them right before signing to Doghouse. We're all really happy with how Fiction Fever turned out, but we're definitely excited to get back into the studio and explore new ideas for our next record.

PPJ: Do you have a favorite song you've written? Why or why not?

J.K.: As cliche as I'm sure it sounds, I think that we're proud of every song we release. I don't think I have a personal favorite because each of our songs holds a different place in my memory and affects me in a different way. All I know is that we will never release music we don't love and believe in with all of our hearts.

PPJ: How did you get hooked up with Absolute Management and Doghouse Records?

J.K.: Nano actually discovered us only a few weeks after we debuted our first demos online. He and Keith ended up coming to meet us at our third show. We spent about a month getting to know them and exploring a possible working chemistry before making the decision to work with them. Thankfully, they have become two of our closest friends and definitely our two most trusted opinions in this business. Doghouse actually took an interest in the band about six months after we launched. We showcased for several other labels around the same time but ended up making the decision to sign with Doghouse because we felt like they had a more natural passion for what we wanted our band to be.

PPJ: What are your favorite things to do while you're out on tour?

J.K.: Obviously, playing shows and meeting new fans is our favorite thing to do on tour. Other than performing, we love to find Panera breads and steal their wifi. We definitely watch a lot of Family Guy and read a lot in our van during the longer drives. Whenever we have time, we love to go see landmarks or explore cities we've never been to before.

PPJ: Do you have any future touring or recording plans yet?

J.K.: We'll likely be touring for most of the spring and summer before we head back into the studio to record our debut full length this August.

PPJ: Are you coming back to play at Jammin' Java anytime soon?

J.K.: I'm not sure exactly when we'll be playing Jammin Java again but I'm positive it won't be too long. That's one of our favorite places to play and we always love playing for our hometown friends and fans there!

PPJ: Finally, tell us three bands you think we should be listening to.

J.K.: Recently, I've been hooked on "In Rainbows" by Radiohead, "Only By The Night" by Kings Of Leon, and "How The Lonely Keep" by Terminal. You should definitely check all three of them out!


Thanks again to J.K. for answering these questions, and to Mike Cubillos at Earshot Media for arranging the interview. Be sure to check out The Bigger Lights on tour and pick up a copy of Fiction Fever!

MySpace | PureVolume | Facebook

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Interview - K'NAAN

I've recently done some work for the wonderful Corduroy Magazine, and you can see my interview with the artist K'NAAN over on their blog. Enjoy!