Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Bryce Avary of ;[ to discuss his new album, Shadowkasters, that will release this Friday, May 12th. In this interview, I asked Bryce about the legacy of The Rocket Summer, how he typically composes most of his music, as well as the unique merchandise items for this album cycle. You can pre-order the vinyl/cassette options for Shadowkasters here.
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You never forget your first love. Sure, they may leave you heartbroken and picking up the pieces of where to turn to next, but those scars cut deep. Fall Out Boy arrived on the pop-punk scene with their debut LP, called Take This To Your Grave, that featured slick hooks and sing-a-long choruses that made this band destined for superstardom. The band was technically signed to Island Records through a “first-ever incubator type of deal” that gave them money to sign a one-off record deal to put their debut out on Fueled By Ramen to grow a steady following before their major label debut. This seemed to pay off big time for both Fall Out Boy and Island Records, as the band would become one of the hottest acts around by the time From Under The Cork Tree was released. The now-iconic cover photo of the band sitting on a broken futon was actually the second choice from the label, as the initial concept of a live photo was rejected. The lyrical material is largely based around fractured relationships, falling in and out of love, and traveling, while it became a point of contention between bassist Pete Wentz and lead vocalist Patrick Stump. During the recording of the LP, Wentz and Stump argued for days on end about the direction of the lyrics, but they ultimately believe that through this conflict came something beautiful.
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Recently I was able to hop on a call with Girlfriends (Travis Mills & Nick Gross) to discuss their upcoming EP, Over My Dead Body. In this interview, I asked the band about their current tour overseas, plus the opportunity to play the states with artists like The Used, Pierce the Veil and Avril Lavigne. Over My Dead Body hits streaming services on May 12th via Big Noise.
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Record Store Day is the annual celebration of indie record stores that is paired with special vinyl releases across all genres that get fans of the music format excited to join in the party in hopes of obtaining the release(s) they absolutely need for their collection. In this article, I’ll be outlining some of the special releases that brought music fans to the stores in droves, what I was noticing from the in-person and online feedback from attendees of the event, what was working well as well as a few recommendations for future years, and the aftermath of purchasing RSD leftovers online from various indie record stores.
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On the final chapter of his trio of EPs, Cal Stamp is releasing LEATHER, that takes dead aim at 80’s pop-rock royalty similar to Bon Jovi, Journey, and Tom Petty. The great part about the songs in this set is that Cal is able to recapture the spirit of this era of music while still adding some modern flair to make it sound refreshing and new. When speaking on his trilogy of EPs, Cal Stamp shared, “All of these songs could easily coexist on the same record. It’s basically my take on 1980s pop-rock, but within that you’ve got the synth-driven yacht rock of NYLON, the acoustic heartland rock of DENIM, and the straight-ahead rock ’n’ roll of LEATHER – each representing a different strand of my own musical DNA.” By injecting a fresh take on the pop-rock genre, Cal Stamp delivers the goods on LEATHER.
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A blistering guitar riff filled my ears. Pummeling drums echoed throughout my head. Sultry baritone vocals singing about a love that ached like death took the song home. My friend sat in front of me with a goofy grin waiting for my reaction. “I love this song,” he said. “It’s good, right? They’re a Finnish band called HIM.” We typically spent mornings before 10th-grade history ranking our favorite Green Day songs and debating if they or Blink-182 were the true kings of pop punk. Then one day, it was all about HIM. He started wearing their shirts every day. He obsessed over their music videos. His notebook was slowly taken over by poorly drawn Heartagrams. He spent days taking me through their discography in a desperate attempt to convert me. Nothing really clicked. It’s not that I didn’t like them. They were just okay in my book. But, he didn’t give up convinced he would find the song that would turn me into a fan.
Another morning before history. By now we had the routine down: he’d scroll through his iPod searching for the perfect song, hand me the headphones, and hit play. But this time, something changed. A serene swirling piano greeted me followed by energetic percussion and gentle acoustic guitars that took the song to a different level. The crooning baritone I’ve heard many times before came in sounding sweet and gentle. It was unlike anything I’d heard before. I looked at my friend. He grinned. “The Sacrament” was my introduction to Love Metal and the song that made me a fan. 20 years later, it remains my favorite HIM song.
Read More “Love Metal at 20: The Album That Awakened My Love for HIM”
Oscar Wilde once said, “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” The fourth album by Sarah and the Safe Word, The Book of Broken Glass, tells a story that weaves a tangled web and adds just enough new elements into the band’s sound to keep the listener coming back for more. The set was produced by veteran hit-maker Jim Wirt, and this slick collection of songs moves the needle in the right direction for the band’s overall development. This album also features three tracks with outside collaborators, and yet these extra voices only add to the mystique that this artist has perfected through their mix of cabaret, emo, punk, and rock elements. With a wide range of emotions shown on these 13 songs, Sarah and the Safe Word make their most dramatic stamp on the music scene to date.
After a brief introductory song to set the stage for the chaos and tragedy that outlines the path ahead, the band kicks into full gear with the lead single, “Ruby Off The Rails.” The track features a great, heavy riff from Kienan Dietrich that sets the tone for the song that rocks with pointed purpose. The second half of the chorus, “She has a voice like tea and money stirred into your darkest worries / If the room is getting blurry, there’s no need to hurry / Hurry up and wait / Time is largely a construct,” is orchestrated to take the audience on a thrilling ride. The current single, “Old Lace” follows the driving, hard-hitting song with a balanced blend of cabaret and rock music as Sarah Rose laments on the first verse, “I wish they’d drop the bomb, I’m wearing thin / And if I’m drowning in my sorrows, I say bathe in them / I’m falling out of circadian / Lord, bless me with a sleepless night again.” The band does a great job with their improved chemistry, while violinist Susy Reyes showcases some great playing to keep the interest high.
Read More “Sarah and the Safe Word – The Book of Broken Glass”
Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom interview with Sarah Rose (lead vocals) and Kienan Dietrich (guitars/vocals), of Sarah & The Safe Word, to discuss their thrilling fourth album, The Book of Broken Glass. The new record was produced by Jim Wirt (Jack’s Mannequin, Hoobastank), and will be released everywhere music is sold this Friday, April 7th via Take This To Heart Records. In this in-depth interview, I asked these two band members about what went into the writing/recording of the new LP, plus what fans can expect on their current tour with Shayfer James.
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The third studio album from Alternative rockers, Filter, came with immense pressure to deliver after their first two records (Short Bus and Title of Record) both went platinum. The band was also battling with lineup changes, lead vocalist/band leader Richard Patrick’s addictions, and a record label wanting Filter to deliver the goods with another hit. The Amalgamut found moderate success due in large part to the lead single “Where Do We Go From Here,” and “The Only Way (Is The Wrong Way)” getting a prominent placement in a Hummer commercial. Recently reissued on a beautiful gatefold double LP set, and making its debut on vinyl for the first time via Craft Recordings, Filter’s third album gets its moment in the limelight.
Read More “Filter – The Amalgamut”
I’d like to introduce everyone to a great Alternative rock band called Arcane Ghosts. On their latest EP, called Distant Youth, they capture the spirit of the glory days of the pop-punk genre, all paired with breakneck hooks, impeccable band chemistry, and pop sensibilities to make sure these five songs stick in your head for days on end. The band is comprised of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Jason Diaz, Steven Wolwyn on bass and backing vocals, and drummer Eric Mitz. With a sound that fits somewhere between Midtown, The Starting Line, and The Early November, Arcane Ghosts could very well be the next exciting band to take this scene by storm.
Read More “Arcane Ghosts – Distant Youth”
Has there ever been a more reliably enjoyable punk rock band over the past three decades than The Bouncing Souls? The band has returned with their 12th full-length studio album, called Ten Stories High, and they sound as energetic and focused as ever. On the title track, lead vocalist Greg Attonito explained, “During the studio sessions we realized we wanted a song to summarize the process and tell the story of the project. One afternoon during the session we came up with the title ‘Ten Stories High’ and matched it up with a melody that Pete and Bryan had recorded earlier on their phones. We really liked how the title added imagery of ten people in a ten story building living out their own external and internal experiences. It was a perfect summary to the project. After a few hours of tinkering with the music and words we had our title track for the record!” The band will be embarking on a comprehensive US tour with Anti-Flag starting this April, and with a slick new record in their repertoire, it will be a show you don’t want to miss.
Read More “The Bouncing Souls – Ten Stories High”
There’s something to be said for the ability to come full circle to where it all began. Fall Out Boy have returned with their eighth studio album, So Much (for) Stardust, on the label that started the entire hype train, Fueled By Ramen. From being the band that arguably got their biggest break from a “You Hear It First” MTV vignette that showcased the band’s raucous live shows and built up the anticipation for their Take This To Your Grave album. The rest was history, as the band would reach atmospheric success on their major label debut From Under The Cork Tree, which would go on to sell over two million copies in the U.S. alone. The funny thing about the “reinvention years,” or the post-hiatus albums that came after Folie à Deux, is that this new record is the perfect balance between the two “versions” of Fall Out Boy. It has the charm of the early albums, paired with the studio experimentation of the post-hiatus LPs, all honed into a crisp delivery courtesy of veteran producer Neal Avron. From the homage of getting their “elder-emo status” on the music video for “Love From The Other Side,” to the most recent single being the most logical progression from “This Ain’t A Scene…” to now. So Much (for) Stardust achieves the near-impossible: it satisfies both longtime fans and FOB-newbies into a crowd-pleasing package of songs that tug on the heartstrings of emo kids everywhere.
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Recently I was able to catch up with Charleston-based indie rock band, Whitehall, to chat about their upcoming new LP Maizy, out everywhere music is sold on May 5th. Whitehall is Paddy Mckiernan (Vocals/Guitar), Avery Green (Guitar), Brennan Clark (Bass), and Davis Rowe (Drums). I asked the band about their approach to writing great singles like, ”Pull,” as well as what they hope others will take away from listening to their music. The band has toured with pop-rock giants like the Goo Goo Dolls, and appear poised and ready for their moment.
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Pop rock band, PHNTMS, have returned with a new, vibrant single called “Heat of the Moment” that features The Chain Gang of 1974. The new song was produced by Courtney Ballard (Grayscale, Armor for Sleep) and is dripping with dark synths, paired with vocals by Kamtin Mohager (of The Chain Gang of 1974). What PHNTMS do best on this track is pay direct homage to 80’s electronica bands with a twist of modern flair in the guitar parts to keep things feeling fresh.
The song opens with syrupy-thick synths before breaking away into a great guitar riff by Adam Jessamine. The second verse of, “So when did love become so deceiving? / Something I can’t define / You’re playing tricks in my mind / Face it, we are simply just human / And this is not apathy / Just let me go and get high / Oh my my,” tackles the difficulties of navigating a one-sided relationship. The anthemic chorus is well-constructed, and if the song has any faults, it’s that it ends too soon. “Heat of the Moment” is sure to be stuck in your mind for days on end.
Recently I was able to catch up with Aaron Louis of The Clamor to discuss his debut, self-titled LP. The new album was released today, March 17th, and we premiered the record yesterday.
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