tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48270678198850229432024-03-13T13:50:03.253-04:00hearts bleed radioAn unknown blog for unknown music from a very famous city. HBR covers the rock scene in New York City, with a focus on Brooklyn indie... but don't be surprise to see articles about anything. Everything is connected. Nothing is random. Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-17812169496202642582021-04-30T10:55:00.001-04:002021-04-30T11:10:06.434-04:00Now That's What One Calls Music, Theoretically<p>Warning: Don't get your hopes up. This isn't a comeback. </p><p>A ton of friend's stuff has come out while I've been busy pushing my own single/album pre-sale, and it seems a lot easier to make a blog post here, than to make several different social media posts. </p><p>So without further ado, here's a bunch of new shit you should seriously sit down with:</p><p><br /></p>
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<p><br /></p><p>The new Ilithios video is a great expression of the sadness that comes with happiness, especially when you're yearning for the past.</p><p><br /></p>
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<div><br /></div><div>The new Cedarwell album is a moody and beautiful record that places roots-y acoustic ballads in an incredibly sophisticated soundscape.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3628251637/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://cedarwell.bandcamp.com/album/dia-luein">Dia Luein by Cedarwell</a></iframe></div><div><br />
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<div><br /></div><div>Early Spring's new release is a collection of lofi tracks that rarely clock in over 2 mins. It pairs some aggressively unrefined production with sparse beats and mellow vocals. It sounds like an early Magnetic Fields album if it were recorded in the style of the noisier Psychocandy tracks.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=4058111309/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://earlyspring.bandcamp.com/album/in-my-room">in my room by early spring</a></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
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<div><br /></div><div>No More Summer Songs from Phantom Handshakes is a bedroom dream-pop gem that definitely merits a listen and a download. Dare I say, these might indeed be someone's summer songs.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=79985470/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://phantomhandshakes.bandcamp.com/album/no-more-summer-songs">No More Summer Songs by Phantom Handshakes</a></iframe><div><br />
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</div><div>Atlas Engine's new single is also a little dream-poppy, with lush textures and a driving bass line. There's something excitingly maximalist about the production. Give it a listen.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1929653380/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://atlasengine.bandcamp.com/track/modern-mind">Modern Mind by atlas engine</a></iframe><div><br />
<hr /><br /></div><div>Our new label-mates, WE ARE JOINERS, came out with this energetic bedroom punk track. If you've had enough bedroom pop after PHs and AE, this is the shot you need.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=792122469/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://wearejoinersband.bandcamp.com/track/black-blue">Black & Blue by WE ARE JOINERS</a></iframe><div><br />
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</div><div>Ok, ok, we're not done with dream-pop yet, though the new Veda Rays video has a dark goth-rock feel. Maybe I just think that because of the graveyard shots in this vid. Makes me want to communicate with the dead.</div><div><br /></div>
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And maybe we're not done with bedroom pop either. Another label-mate, Sock Jock released this track today, and I hear shades of Frente! in it, which might be a reference lost on everyone, but I really liked Marvin the Album.</div><div><br /></div>
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<div><br />Introspectre by A Very Special Episode is a full on sonic stampede that will leave you wanting for more. Luckily, there's a full length album on the horizon.</div><div><br /></div>
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<hr /><br /></div><div>And last, but certainly not least, NOICE dropped a new LP. A bunch of well-written tracks from local hero Jamie Frey and the NOICE team, it's a great sounding album with a bunch of songs that will get stuck in your head. Listen to it ALL NIGHT, EVERY NIGHT.</div><div><br /></div>
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2185562102/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="https://noice.bandcamp.com/album/all-night">ALL NIGHT by NO ICE</a></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>PEACE & LOVE PEACE & LOVE</div><div><br /></div><div>-SP</div></div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-41628401456454039002015-06-22T13:49:00.001-04:002017-06-23T16:38:41.315-04:00Hot Summer Car Jamz: Super Nostalgia Edition!I think the beginning of summer makes me nostalgic; I totally had the urge to listen to Liz Phair today. I always get a little sad too, realizing that the days will get shorter for the next six months. Whip-Smart got thousands of plays in my car's tape deck, back in the day. Before the mp3 revolution, people had that connection to music; you'd buy something, and that would be it, you better like it, cause it's gonna be a week before you have disposable income again. You looked for reasons to like it. There were plenty of albums I didn't really dig, but I committed to giving them 3 or 4 listens, because dammit, I bought it! And you know what? Sometimes, you'd catch something on that third listen and the album would end up in permanent rotation. Nowadays, it's the opposite, you look for a reason to hit the skip button; to go ahead and find the next thing. It's hard, cause a lot of the music I love didn't instantly grab me. I really think that most people will like an album if A. they culturally identify with it, and B. they are familiar with it. These days, I need to actively decide to get into something and then see how it plays out. It works for me, but it's not the same.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqcBCqY9DIQ/VYhIZ5KG0XI/AAAAAAAAA1I/rvsT3yuN4p4/s1600/throwbackmix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wqcBCqY9DIQ/VYhIZ5KG0XI/AAAAAAAAA1I/rvsT3yuN4p4/s400/throwbackmix.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div><div>One thing that kinda sucks about living in NYC is that you don't spend any time in people's cars. I know it sounds weird, but there's an intimacy factor; it's probably as close as you get to someone until you get into their bedroom, if you ever get that far. A lot of the music that really sticks with me, and would guess most of you too, has a strong person/place/time connection. In a car, you instantly had person/place association. Whenever I hear "Only in Dreams," I'm baked out of my mind in the back of Chet's police issued Crown Vic with four other kids, parked down by a lake where no one would bother us. Whenever I hear "Mayonnaise," I'm cruising around with Meg in the middle of the night, feeling lost and hopeless, but also feeling like we belonged; if not to the world as a whole, but at least to each other. Whenever I hear "Marquee Moon," I know it's exactly as long as it took me to drive from the giant Victorian house I split with six other people across from the JCA in Amherst, to Rachel's two bedroom apartment on Randolph Place in Northampton, provided it was late at night and there was no traffic on Route 9.</div><div><a name='more'></a>There were albums that found longterm homes in my tape deck/CD changer (located in the goddamn trunk, which made changing out discs a pain in the ass). Here are 12 of them, plus a playlist including a song from each. I intentionally skipped over the Siamese Dreams and Ok Computers of the lot, because you can google search "90's playlist" and hear all that shit whenever you want (not that it isn't excellent). It may be nostalgia for those of you in your 30's, if you're younger, here a list of awesome stuff you maybe haven't heard. (playlist at the bottom)</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>Whip-Smart</i>, Liz Phair, 1994</div><div><br />
</div><div>I think Exile might be a better album overall, but there's bunch of slow stuff at the end that kinda make the album drag. Phair's lyrics are meaner, nastier, dirtier, and angrier on Exile too, and that spoke to me in high school. I bought this album for "Go West" (which was also on a mixtape my girlfriend made before our summer road trip across country). I went through a period of just always wanting to hear it, and that's a good thing, cause I'm pretty sure my CD player broke and I only had like 10 tapes in my car.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>1977</i>, Ash, 1996</div><div><br />
</div><div>The drummer of my high school band was totally into Lookout Records and not much else, but he insisted I listen to this album. I was kinda shocked that it was alt/indie rock, but damn, he was right to force it on me. It's overly sentimental, but it played right to my teenage heart. It holds up as a great pop album; four legit singles and decent album tracks.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>Transmissions from the Satellite Heart</i>, The Flaming Lips, 1993</div><div><br />
</div><div>The Lips really changed the game with The Soft Bulletin, but this album is so guitar heavy, I just absolutely love it. You probably know the single, "She Don't Use Jelly," but the rest of the album is maybe even better. You'll find a bunch of fuzz, monster drums, and slick pop song writing from Wayne Coyne before he was Wayne Coyne. Regardless of what you think of the modern Lips, crank this one and give it a listen. The last track, "Slow Nerve Action," is the best example of the drum and guitar production. Just. So. Fucking. Huge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNa5IW-PA1o/VYhLXehqqGI/AAAAAAAAA1k/Asmj1EVhP2c/s1600/young%2Blips.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNa5IW-PA1o/VYhLXehqqGI/AAAAAAAAA1k/Asmj1EVhP2c/s320/young%2Blips.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lips, back in the day</td></tr>
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</div><div><i>Bricks Are Heavy</i>, L7, 1992</div><div><br />
</div><div>Another loud album, I think the only true grunge album on this list. Y'know, grunge was pretty bad in retrospect, but this is a fine album. Three legit singles, and fun album tracks. Donita Sparks is at the top of her game as a songwriter and the Butch Vig production... Damn, he knew the sound that my teenage ears wanted to hear. There was nothing like putting on shades, lighting some smokes, and cruising around listening to "Shitlist."</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>Downward is Heavenward</i>, Hum, 1998</div><div><br />
</div><div>It's a nerdy sci-fi album with heavy guitars and elongated swooping leads, I mean, come on. I actually drove all the way to Birmingham, Alabama to see a reunion show in 2003. It was worth it, though they were just as uncomfortable in front of a crowd as you'd imagine. It's a pity, I feel like a lot of crap emo and like, straight up bro music was inspired by these guys, but if you can get on board with this album, you'll find it to be really rewarding and unique.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>The Modern Lovers</i>, The Modern Lovers, 1976</div><div><br />
</div><div>There was a little closet-sized record store we used to hang out at and the dude who ran it was super cool, but not it a modern record store way; he was just chill, not judgey, and would suggest new stuff. I think I remember him being like, "Hey, try this, my wife went to high school with this guy," and handing one of us a copy of this album. Ok, so we were teenagers aimlessly driving around Massachusetts and half this album is about teenagers aimlessly driving around Massachusetts, but I feel like the underlying themes will hold up in any state.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>The CD Version of the First Two Records</i>, Bikini Kill, 1994</div><div><br />
</div><div>Riot Grrrl was the most important and interesting social movement (maybe the only real social movement) to come out of Gen X culture. Being a kid, and being picked on, being beaten up, being treated like a disease and having people call me a "fag" all the time... I really gravitated towards outsiders, especially artists who wanted to say "Fuck you!" to uber-masculinity, which I felt was behind a lot of the torment I received.</div><div><br />
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</i> <i>Get Lost</i>, The Magnetic Fields, 1995</div><div><br />
</div><div>69 Love Songs would be the obvious choice from this band's discography. If you attended a small liberal arts school in 1999, they practically handed it out in the dining hall next to the steamed broccoli and clumped-up spaghetti. But to me, Get Lost is a more compact (if admittedly not as noteworthy a release), and dirtier album. I really came to enjoy the drum machine, distorted guitars, and strong keyboard leads on this album. It just doesn't seem like as much of a production.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>Murmur</i>, R.E.M. 1983</div><div><br />
</div><div>I had this and Chronic Town on cassette, so when my CD player broke, they both got a lot of action. Most of my generation grew up with "Losing My Religion" and "Everybody Hurts" all over the radio. I like that stuff too, but thanks to BMG/Columbia house I picked up everything R.E.M. ever did (Monster was the newest at the time), and I totally fell in love with the early stuff. This album is a clinic in good bass playing.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>Deserter's Songs</i>, Mercury Rev, 1998</div><div><br />
</div><div>This album was given to me as the entire side B to an extra long mixtape, in preparation for a long road trip. It's one of the more perfect nighttime driving albums. True to it's name, a lot of the tunes feel as if they're about leaving something behind. Deserter's Songs was recorded by Dave Fridmann in the same studio, at the same time as The Soft Bulletin, and you can definitely hear similar textures if you listen to the two back to back. If you haven't heard this album and you're a Neil Young fan, give it a couple chances, trust me.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>Bakesale</i>, Sebadoh, 1994</div><div><br />
</div><div>Another tape that was floating around when a trunk flood wiped out my CD changer. This is the best Sebadoh album, though my favorite Sebadoh tracks (Brand New Love, Soul and Fire, Perfect Way), are all on different albums. There are a ton of great rockers on this one too though. Lou Barlow is such a good and prolific songwriter, he definitely belongs on the lo-fi Mount Rushmore, if one were ever carved.</div><div><br />
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</div><div><i>Dirty</i>, Sonic Youth, 1992</div><div><br />
</div><div>I grew up on this sandbar which extended 55 miles out into the middle of the North Atlantic. No colleges, no indie rock clubs, no decent radio, some of us had access to 120 mins, others didn't. I think we got into this band through the generations of weirdos before us. In the dog eat dog social world of high school it was simple, you either knew of SY and were an ally, or you didn't and were a possible enemy. If I was around SY fans, I knew they were people who cared enough to seek out something different; that they placed value on being unique and arty. They weren't going to give me shit about dying my hair or wearing a dress to the junior dance. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I think Sister is my favorite album, though I think Washing Machine or Evol is the best. Thousand Leaves is the most interesting, and Daydream is probably the most popular. Dirty is the best teen age rocker though. Another Butch Vig gem, by the way. It's loud, catchy, and political; perfect for a sunny day cruise through a teenage wasteland.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Here's a sampling of each album, enjoy! (oh and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio">like HBR on Facebook</a> when you get a sec.)</div><div><br />
</div><div><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Auser%3Awagonzilla%3Aplaylist%3A0uS6Lk2HPC8dSmdIBzTRRw" width="300"></iframe><br />
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</script>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com188tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-7663423973973372302015-03-17T15:24:00.000-04:002017-06-23T16:39:17.424-04:00Brooklyn - New Jersey Mix Tape SwapWe exchanged mix tapes with CoolDad Music, a NJ based indie rock blog. I'll let Jim take it from here:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwU8-sZ1yoo/VQh-yUY9wUI/AAAAAAAAAwA/1_fC1L7vNBw/s1600/DENTISTBAND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mwU8-sZ1yoo/VQh-yUY9wUI/AAAAAAAAAwA/1_fC1L7vNBw/s1600/DENTISTBAND.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dentist kicks off Jim's playlist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><blockquote>It's been one of my goals since starting CoolDad Music to bridge some of the too-wide gaps that exist between the Jerseys North and South, between New Jersey and New York, between Asbury Park and Brooklyn. I love seeing and hearing new bands, and I love the idea of bands expanding their sphere of influence beyond their neighborhood and their circle of friends. That was all kind of my motivation for this little "mixtape swap" with Hearts Bleed Radio. I want my readers to hear some of the great bands that Stephen has been championing at his site, and I want to give some great New Jersey bands wider exposure. Even if it's just in a small way. </blockquote><blockquote>This is a compilation that includes Asbury Park bands like surf poppy Dentist, hardcore Hot Blood, party rocking The Battery Electric, modern rocking Smalltalk, and the early aughts indie influenced Prehistoric Forest. It includes New Brunswick bands like poppy basement dwellers ROMP, prolific indie song machine Sink Tapes. Roy Orbitron bring their unconventional song structures from Trenton. Grand Mariner do the surf / garage / punk thing in Howell. The Off White are dirty and gritty all the way down in LBI. Paper Streets are half-Brooklyn / half-Jackson, NJ disciples of all things jangly and classically indie. Almost all of these bands are my friends, and they all deserve to be heard far and wide. </blockquote><blockquote>I hope you like it. Lots of these bands make the occasional incursion into Brooklyn, so keep your eyes peeled. Hey. Come on over to CoolDad Music, and I'll be sure to keep you posted. Thanks for listening. </blockquote><blockquote>-Jim<br />
CoolDad Music</blockquote><br />
Check out the mix below! (and check out my mix on <a href="http://www.cooldadmusic.com/2015/03/brooklyn-new-jersey-mixtape-swap-with.html#.VQkIlRDF8Yc">CoolDad Music, here</a>)<br />
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</script>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-62987402339613790382015-03-03T13:26:00.002-05:002017-06-23T16:39:52.255-04:00Spring Fling (perhaps the most random-ass article in the history of HBR)Hey, it's March. I know there's still snow everywhere, but guess what? It's less than a week until the clocks spring forward. Honestly, it's my favorite day of the year. Some of you complain; "oh, we lose an hour, we have to get up early, wah wah..." Well guess what? You're ass is going to feel just as hungover and shitty waking up at noon on Sunday morning as it would have felt to wake up at 1. IMO, the only real crime is that NYC bars effectively close at 3am on Saturday night, but it's becoming exceedingly rare that I'm out at that hour.<br />
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</div><div>Also, I think the day when we get an extra hour and bars effectively stay open till 5am, should be a holiday where we stay out until 5am, BUT, I don't think we should spread the word too much, cause I want it to be chill and not full of dickhead frat-boys.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A0YWFAH6VbI/VPXzTE7AvtI/AAAAAAAAAvE/PUcIYuH55i8/s1600/DOEUK.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A0YWFAH6VbI/VPXzTE7AvtI/AAAAAAAAAvE/PUcIYuH55i8/s1600/DOEUK.jpeg" height="167" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doe is the real deal (more on them later)</td></tr>
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</div><div>Anyway, it's always a weird time when winter starts to fade, but it's surely not springtime yet. So here's a weird collection of some shit that's going on, has just come out, an interview, some shit about Wednesday's show... And away we go!</div><div><br />
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</div><div><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/themeaningoflifeband">The Meaning of Life</a></b> released Diamonds and Junkfood a week or two ago. Give it a listen. Texturally similar to their earlier albums, but with an added funk, it's a step in a new direction. Wow Wow Wow is the track. Oh, they play ZeroFest this weekend too.</div><div><br />
</div><div><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2091622892/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://themeaningoflife.bandcamp.com/album/diamonds-junkfood">Diamonds & Junkfood by The Meaning Of Life</a></iframe><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/grizzlordestroys">GRIZZLOR</a></b> is noisy metal post punk punk. They are loud and from CT and playing <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/405612269595528">Acheron this Friday</a>. This is the show to go to if your a headbanger but way more interested in counter-culture than Metallica.<br />
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</div><div><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2816980026/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3110821760/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://grizzlordestroys.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep">S/T EP by GRIZZLOR</a></iframe><br />
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<b>Since we're on the topic of shows</b>, we (HBR) are throwing a show this Wednesday, 3/4. It's an unofficial ZeroFest show and will probably be the best show of the week. It's at Trash (which is closing). Trash was the place that looked the most (cause it changed the least) like the Williamsburg I met 10 years ago. It was never a super desirable place to play; it's wasn't a joint that broke bands, or a place where you'd run into even D-rate rock and roll celebs (though I did see Dee Snider shooting a B-movie out front one evening). BUT, literally every musician in my generation (born mid 70's through mid 80's) played there (and probably had a good time). <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/909710329052993">Here's the link to that show</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Oh, and the second ZeroFest is happening this weekend too. Should be a good time, just like the last one. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/336510276538834">Four days of local bands, March 5-8</a>. Bars, DIY spaces, all types of venues! I mean, just look at these guys, don't you want to hang out with them?</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVAw9mawhv4/VPX1ChuWIII/AAAAAAAAAvQ/TD0j0v7PhIo/s1600/ZF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVAw9mawhv4/VPX1ChuWIII/AAAAAAAAAvQ/TD0j0v7PhIo/s1600/ZF.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#bloodfeudpostponed</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brothers-in-Yarn/385554234937474">Brother's in Yarn</a></b> is the newest project from New Jersey's Shawn Fogel. It's a hybrid book club/song of the month thing, where Fogel composes and records a new track every month for an entire year. It's a cool idea, here's hoping that he makes it through all twelve! Here's January's track:<br />
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</div><div><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/188658506&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/salemwolves">Salem Wolves</a></b> are some random band that posted their EP on my Facebook wall, and it's actually interesting for a couple of reasons; it's lo-fi and it's really about witches and shit like that. I don't know if these guys are crazy or think they're being funny, or actual Wiccans, or what, but I like this track.<br />
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</div><div><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3619983683/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2503979171/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://salemwolves.bandcamp.com/album/black-books">Black Books by Salem Wolves</a></iframe><br />
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<b>Jason Maksymilian Szkutek</b> (pronounced Szkutek), is in a couple of bands, but we know him best as the lead singer of the power pop/indie rock group, <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Darlings/145197002168317">American Darlings</a></b>. He took a moment to chat with me this afternoon, and here are the results:</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: So you play in several bands, but for this interview, we're gonna concentrate on American Darlings. When did you start the band, and what inspired your name?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: Our drummer Daniel Vincent, responded to a Craigslist ad I posted in the Summer of 2010. By Fall we played our debut show at Otto's Shrunken Head in the East Village, followed by a CMJ show at the National Underground. We finalized our name at that Otto's show - I think our bassist at that time, John Alexander coined the name officially, but I recall tiki drinks and some 1950s pinup movies being on the TVs there and the words "American Darlings" just fit the vibe. Better than some of the others we joked about; The Lorna Era, The Mistresses...Wax Cactus.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: I really like Wax Cactus. Some of the AD shows I've seen have been noisier, other's have been a cleaner pop sound. Obviously, a lot of that has to do with the club, the quality of the sound, etc. What are you shooting for? Hi, mid, lo-fi?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: I think while yes it does depend on the venue for technicalities, trying to find that sweet spot between lo-fi and hi-fi is key, in my opinion. Think of it like a mood or a feeling that can fluctuate-that goes for a song, a whole album or shows. If the songs are there, than I think the production value can vary-makes it more fun. You hear a lot of strong songs by bands like Sebadoh or Guided By Voices recorded to 4-track cassette and officially released. Go figure. As for live performances, there are times when a song can be polished and then go into a noise interlude, and then back to the "polished part" so to speak...keeps things more dynamic in my opinion. I don't really see the band as being held to one sound, lo-fi or hi-fi. The songs/performances will decide themselves.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: I know that Superdrag is one of your biggest influences, but unfortunately, not that many people are familiar with their catalog. What's the gateway album? What should we be listening to?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: Ah man glad you brought that up. Those dudes recently started a new band called The Lees of Memory, teamed up with Nick Raskulinecz for their debut album Sisyphus Says, and are playing their first show at SXSW. Go check that out first. If you mix up Phil Spector's wall of sound, Pet Sounds, Loveless, and God knows what else, with John Davis' stellar songwriting skills you get the uniquely original brand of music that is The Lees of Memory. Brandon and John's dueling Jazzmasters are one Voltron-sized guitar sound. As for Superdrag, I'd recommend starting at the beginning with the Darla Records stuff if you can find it; The Fabulous 8-Track Sound Of Superdrag and Stereo 360 Sound. "Bloody Hell" never gets old.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: What's the best rock and roll movie ever made?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: Another great question!...Let's see... "The best" is a pretty steep mountain to climb...</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: Ok, what I meant to say is "your favorite."</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: "Dig!" the movie with Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols is a pretty mind-blowing underground film that captures much of the raw life emotion of playing in a band. They're both great bands too. As far as "favorite" goes from a more fantasy perspective, I've watched "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!" too many times to count. "That Thing You Do" was the soundtrack to my childhood, but then again so was "Empire Records". I spent New Year's eve watching the movie "Head", by The Monkees. Best opening ever - music movie or not.</div><div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--r7loCgmKTU/VPX3PLEZ0VI/AAAAAAAAAvc/xCqYTAvpygQ/s1600/AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--r7loCgmKTU/VPX3PLEZ0VI/AAAAAAAAAvc/xCqYTAvpygQ/s1600/AD.jpg" height="167" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Darlings</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><b>HBR</b>: If the Ninja Turtles were a band, what instruments would each one play?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: Really?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: Yes.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: Donatello would be the synth/keys, multi-instrumentalist 'cause he's brainy. Michelangelo would shred on guitar, but like one of those Randy Rhoads Jackson flying Vs. Leonardo would play bass and write all the tunes (cuz he's the unofficial leader I suppose). Raphael would be upfront, singing like Danzig cuz he's angry. I dunno, Leonardo could be lead singer...I just wanted to drop the D-bomb...Danzig. When are we playing the TMNT Arcade Game at Barcade?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: I got $25 in quarters in my change cup, but we still need two others on the team. Oh, and I think we need to draw turtles out of a hat; everyone want's to be Donatello cause his reach so long.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: Oh I never thought about that actually..</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: I kinda thought Michelangelo would be the drummer...</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: ...he's so goofy. And guitarists are typically goofy.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: ...cause drummers are always like, kinda dumb and goofy. I see Leo as being a guitarist.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: But yeah, that's the thing about the Turtles. They're so unique in that they have their own personalities but can be interpreted multiple ways. Genius. I'm a guitarist and I'm goofy.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: Yeah, but I don't think you fit the mold.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: I could be the fifth turtle?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>HBR</b>: Casey Jones? </div><div><br />
</div><div>"Oh man have you heard the new TMNT album with fuckin' Casey Jones on it and he's playing all those fucking synth parts? WTF, you're a hard rock band, not a new wave band. I want to hear guitar solos. At least Shredder hasn't sold out."</div><div><br />
</div><div>What's next for American Darlings? You guys got more shows, releases, recordings coming up?</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Jason</b>: Next up we're playing this Friday March 6th at Cakeshop with Big Quiet, Golden Alphabet and Lost Gloves. Tommy, our second guitarist/synth player also plays and sings in Golden Alphabet so that'll be fun. Our two songs recorded at Converse will be out on vinyl at the following show at Piano's April 15th. And we'll be playing with The Shackeltons so I'm really amped up for that. Also putting together some out-of-state shows and working on new songs so we can put out another record in the Fall.</div><div><br />
</div><div>You can check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/436231463193251">American Darlings this Friday, 3/6, at Cake Shop</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Speaking of goofy</b>, <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/onesieband">Onesie</a> </b>just released this video for The Ballad of The Boomerang. Listen to it three times and it will be stuck in your head all day, promise. Oh, and they're also playing this weekend, check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/394511367397577">Facebook event, here</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qL1D6gLCDws" width="560"></iframe><br />
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</div><div><b>If you're into something more mellow</b>, check out U.K. transplant <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Ellis/203524836489112">David Ellis</a></b>' bouncy number, When Love Is Caving In. Ellis moved to NYC recently, so keep your eyes peeled for him at Pete's Candy Store, and other low-key joints. (<a href="https://soundcloud.com/david-ellis-group/when-love-is-caving-in">tunes here</a>)</div><div><br />
</div><div>In the same vein as Ellis, check out NYC's own <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/bayunomusic">Bay Uno</a></b>. Bay is releasing a full length album next week. The release party is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/330717830472629">3/7 at the new Living Room in Brooklyn</a>, below is a stream of Catalina, off the upcoming album.</div><div><br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1851905254/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3446260729/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://bayuno.bandcamp.com/album/bay-uno">Bay Uno by Bay Uno</a></iframe><br />
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Longtime HBR buddy, and ex-New Yorker<b>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/haileywojcik">Hailey Wojcik</a></b> is also about to release a new EP. Check out the video for XO Skeleton below (especially if you're into stop motion and insects).<br />
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</div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQfge7DcGsU" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/radicaldads">Radical Dads</a></b> dropped a new album this week. Universal Coolers is an all around tight album; poppy, loud, dirty when it needs to be, riffy too... It feels like a perfect followup to Rapid Reality. Rad Dads are incredible. Don't Go is the track, IMO. Check it out.<br />
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</div><div><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=758053309/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://radicaldads.bandcamp.com/album/universal-coolers">Universal Coolers by Radical Dads</a></iframe><br />
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At the RD's UC release show I had the pleasure of catching <b>UK band <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hellowearedoe">Doe</a></b>. Hopefully they come back to the states soon. There was one song that really grabbed me, but I haven't been able to find it sifting through their stuff. No matter though, it's all good.<br />
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</div><div><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1846343312/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://regiciderecords.bandcamp.com/album/doe">DOE by DOE</a></iframe><br />
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I hate how dance-y music is usually overproduced. Half the reason most of that shit sucks is how inorganic it feels. <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hellowearedoe">Happy Lives</a></b> fixes that with their track Wanna Go Dance. It's nice to hear analog sounding dirt on slick beats. It's kind of subversive that way, dig?</div><div><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/193119572&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<b>Our buddies <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EULAMUSIC">EULA</a></b> have a new video out and a new album on the way. Check out Meadows below. It's post-punk ballet school at it's finest!<br />
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</div><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/120013360?byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/120013360">EULA - Meadows</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/famousswords">Famous Swords</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div><div><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/findingfiction.nyc">Finding Fiction</a></b> is a garage pop lofi rock Brooklyn band with a sweet new cassette out. Go to their Bandcamp and buy one. There's only 100 and you should have one. I don't know you, and I don't even know the band that well, but I know you should be in possession of this tape.<br />
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</div><div><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1680695525/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://findingfiction.bandcamp.com/album/reinventing-wheels-limited-edition-cassette-ep">Reinventing Wheels: Limited Edition Cassette EP by Finding Fiction</a></iframe><br />
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<b>LASTLY, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/passperu">Passenger Peru</a></b> has a new tape out too. Light Places is sold out, but you can download it for only six beans. Give it a listen.<br />
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</div><div><iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=755365234/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://fleetingyouthrecords.bandcamp.com/album/light-places">Light Places by Passenger Peru</a></iframe><br />
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<b>OH YEAH ALMOST FORGOT</b>. Saturday in Bayonne, NJ is the Serious Rockers NY release show. Check out the comp below, and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/308060586071967">show deets here</a>.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3410427552/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 120px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://unblinkingearrecords.bandcamp.com/album/serious-rockers-an-unblinking-ear-mixtape">Serious Rockers - An Unblinking Ear Mixtape by Unblinking Ear Records</a></iframe><br />
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OK, people, that was exhausting. Hope I turned you on to some new tunes. If you have anything to send my way, email me or post it on the Facebook page's wall. We here at HBR have a bunch of new projects on tap for the spring, hopefully we'll be ready to share them with you soon. Until then...</div><div><br />
</div><div>PEACE OUT.</div><br />
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Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-24231120812613833592015-01-21T15:13:00.000-05:002017-06-23T16:48:44.993-04:00The Very Best of The Four Track Challenge!<script>
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We created <a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">The Four Track Challenge</a> last fall as an excused to screw around with a fun, somewhat forgotten technology; really for no other reason than we thought it would be neat. The response was overwhelmingly positive, which isn't too surprising given how nostalgia driven our counter-culture has become. Over a two month span (more or less), artists were asked to create an EP using an analog four track as the main recording device. We had 110 artists sign up, and to date, 40 of them have turned in projects, which is a pretty decent completion rate when you're dealing with musicians (or anyone).<br />
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In order to help you dig through this wonderful mess of lo-fi and mid-fi recordings, we had some guest writers make top ten lists of tracks/projects. Thoughts? Snubs? Leave them in the comments sections below. And OH YEAH, we'll be running challenges twice a year, with submissions due in May and November. If you're feeling inspired to participate, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/4trackchallenge/" target="_blank">join the group on Facebook</a>, or sign up for <a href="http://eepurl.com/4sZK1" target="_blank">our email list</a>.<br />
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</div><div><a href="http://www.squarezeros.com/2015/01/hearts-bleed-radio-4-track-challenge.html" target="_blank">Oh, and check out the incredible write-up/top tracks lists from Jon and Bettina over at Square Zeros!</a></div><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxI6K55Xl28/VMAGc1euuvI/AAAAAAAAAtU/m0lXCE0B9Fs/s1600/kid4track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxI6K55Xl28/VMAGc1euuvI/AAAAAAAAAtU/m0lXCE0B9Fs/s1600/kid4track.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta start 'em young.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div>Without further ado, here are the lists:</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Alex Heigl</b>, bassist in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bestbehaviorband" target="_blank">Best Behavior</a>, ex-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MayorCreep" target="_blank">Mayor Creep</a> </div><br />
(in no particular order)<br />
<div><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq">10. Person Whale, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/connections" target="_blank">Connections</a>"<br />
Some people turned in really polished and beautiful recordings with this challenge, but to me, this is exactly what I was expecting. Everything's overloaded within an inch of its life, the vocals are incomprehensible, and it's AMAZING. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">9. Adam Balbo, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/demons" target="_blank">Demons</a>"<br />
"Demons" is the best song in this collection, but it's not the best-titled song. That would be "Shit Is So Fucking Sad." Regardless, quality folk-punk. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">8. David Redbranch, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/cycle-hum" target="_blank">Cycle Hum</a>"<br />
The best song about lightbulb frequencies that William Elliott Whitmore hasn't written yet. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">7. Beemish, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/the-ballad-of-bill-and-mary" target="_blank">The Ballad of Bill and Mary</a>"<br />
I was kind of underwhelmed by this song at the beginning, but it builds and swells and swoons and by the end I was a little choked up. Did I say choked up? I meant boned up. (I had an erection.) </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">6. Kevin Kerby, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/this-wilderness" target="_blank">This Wilderness</a>"<br />
Many of you may not have made it as far as Kerby's contributions, listed last as they are on the Bandcamp page. If that's the case, you're a dumb idiot and I hate you, but you should hate yourself more, because you're depriving yourself of Kerby's wistful, witty folk songs.<br />
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5. Dreadful Crows, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/ash" target="_blank">Ash</a>"<br />
Grinding. Smashy. Catchy. Awesome. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">4. New England Axe Factory, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/aloha-empire" target="_blank">Aloha Empire</a>"<br />
Jon Mann and I were talking about this song over the weekend, and he described it as a "Joe Walsh verse meets a Built to Spill chorus." I was too busy fist-pumping to respond. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">3. Chris Schnaars, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/you-seem-confused" target="_blank">You Seem Confused</a>"<br />
The so-bad-it's-good snare tone on this and the overall Ramones-y vibe makes me want to hop on the Amtrak back to Harrisburg, PA, blast this on my old Sony stereo from high school, and tell my parents they don't understand me when they ask me to turn it down. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">2. Dagger Shores, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/saints" target="_blank">Saints</a>"<br />
It's like if Suicide and The Jam hung out, made a sweet album and then decided they couldn't stand each other. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">1. Jason Maksymilian, "<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/watch-you-glow" target="_blank">Watch You Glow</a>"<br />
Robert Pollard, is that you?</blockquote><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>D.K. Wilson</b>, bassist/vocalist for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RichWolvesBand" target="_blank">The Rich Wolves</a>, bassist for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orca.age" target="_blank">Orca Age</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq">10. Demons, by Adam Balbo, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/in-their-grip" target="_blank">In Their Grip</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">9. Can You See With The Lights Out? by Person Whale, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/tree-huggin" target="_blank">Tree Huggin</a>’” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">8. Can You See With The Lights Out? by Person Whale, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/unruly-boots" target="_blank">Unruly Boots</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">7. Little Pilot, by May Oskan, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/the-glitter-from-the-broken-glass" target="_blank">The Glitter From The Broken Glass</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">6. Space Wars 2069, by Giga Herbs, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/nails" target="_blank">Nails</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">5. Breakfast for Dinner, By Chris Schaars, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/factions" target="_blank">Factions</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">4. Queen of the Garbage Water, by Old Night, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/love-colored" target="_blank">Love Colored</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">3. …And Then The Cops Came, By Vansanity, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/and-then-the-cops-came" target="_blank">… And Then the Cops Came</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">2. MoreTrak, by THE EARGOGGLE, “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/backwards" target="_blank">Backwards</a>” </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">1. Empty Apartments (Supporting Actors), by Michael Sincavage, <a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/side-a-empty-apartments" target="_blank">Side A (Empty Apartments)</a></blockquote></div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdSqw0135yg/VMAGvqJNwwI/AAAAAAAAAtc/92BGtrJYSIc/s1600/methen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdSqw0135yg/VMAGvqJNwwI/AAAAAAAAAtc/92BGtrJYSIc/s1600/methen.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm going to track down this analog wizard and get him to produce my next EP.</td></tr>
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</div><div><b>Daniel Kasshu</b>, Guitarist/Vocalist of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialoguefromasilentfilm" target="_blank">Dialogue From A Silent Film</a></div><div><br />
</div><div><blockquote>So, here we have it… the moment no one in particular is waiting for… the Daniel Ka$$hu spin on the Four Track Challenge! Oh, and if you have no idea who I am, that's fine, I often don't know who I am either… but I'm vocalist/ guitarist of Dialogue from a Silent Film and have been known to have highly contradictory feelings concerning phone calls versus texting… First up, as a disclaimer for this review, you'll have to forgive me for my straight-up musical bias… (you actually don't have to forgive me for anything) I mean, I grew up listening to a lot of Sisters of Mercy and The Cure. Sure, later that branched out into things like Mogwai and My Bloody Valentine, but my point is I generally can't escape being a sucker for things dark and post-punk… I did TRY not to have completely predictable picks though… seriously! Anyway, there ended up being quite a few things that stuck out to me among this batch of music! Let's give this list a go, shall we? </blockquote><blockquote>And, in no particular order at all (Yes, you read that right… these are just ten that stuck out to me, not a top ten… bite me) we have… </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/forest-acid" target="_blank">"Forest Acid" by VideoGiant</a><br />
All the analogue synths and drum machines reminded me a bit of some of early Crystal Castles… glitchy beats, cool textures, but without the harsh vocals of Alice Glass. That's not it, though, I hear a few nods to French cold wave (Asylum Party, Kas Product, etc.,) and some Kraftwerk in there too. Sweet stuff. Really great lo-fi electronic music is a rare find, and the emphasis here is certainly on quality. Also, if you're a gear nerd… read the gear listing and have yourself a little drool fest….<br />
NEXT! </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/a-hans-solo-project" target="_blank">"A Hans Solo Project" by Hans Viets</a><br />
The first thing I have to say about this set of songs is that I wish Hans had given more insight into the "found instrumentals" aspect of the recordings. With that out of the way, I was immediately struck when the background music seemed to go a little out of sync/ off-key/ sounded like it was speeding up or slowing down. It was like a combination of the effect of rocking your hand back and forth on the tremolo of a guitar while playing… except… on the whole backing track. At any rate, the whole result… a sort of weird psychedelic country mini EP that somehow brings some shoegaze, vaporwave, and Daniel Johnston to mind. The songs come together with the "found music" and Hans' voice and the lyrics sometime seem a bit twisted, resulting in a pretty cool package.<br />
AAAAAND HERE WE HAVE… </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/morgantown-central-four-track-fuzz" target="_blank">"Morgantown Central Four Track Fuzz" by Jason Maksymilian</a><br />
If there's someone who can write a damn catchy pop song just LOADED with hooks, it's Jason Maksymilian. The songs just make perfect sense… guitar, bass, drums, vocals. It brings to mind a combination of elements ranging from garage-pop bands of the 60s through 90s acts like Sonic Youth and a little early emo… but, like, Sunny Day Real Estate emo… not mid-2000s garbage. The result is super hook-laden ear candy… sweet!<br />
WHICH BRINGS US TO - </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/what" target="_blank">"What" by Sursum Verbo</a><br />
Sursum Verbo are a post-punk band, right to the point. Their sound has bass-driven melodies like Joy Division or Gang of Four, unexpected tempo and time signature switch-ups kind of like The Fall, crunchy rhythmic guitars with some simple and sparse lead lines, and female vocals that fall into the right combination of slightly confrontational and shoegazily (oh whatever, sometimes made-up words convey a point better than real words) buried in the mix. Personal favorite track on this EP is "Car on Fire."<br />
YOU CAN FOLLOW THAT NICELY WITH…. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/mouthy" target="_blank">"Mouthy" by The True Jacqueline</a><br />
I heard that distorted bass tone, the fast drum fills, and the warbly tremolo on the guitar and knew I didn't even need to listen to more than ten seconds to be certain this was a favorite. It's fun, it's loud, it's a lot like all the things I will always love about Dinosaur Jr without it being derivative. The cymbals and super distorted guitar aren't at war at all, shockingly enough, and the vocals sit nicely in the mix with really soothing harmonies punctuated by blasts of no-wave noise. Love it.<br />
SO TO KEEP ON GOING… </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/the-haunt" target="_blank">"The Haunt" by Ghost Funk</a><br />
This is a really cool little collection of atmospheric instrumental tracks. The guitar is often punchy and surfy sounding, the drums are just plain tight, the grooves are solid, and every once in a while we get some really trippy effects. Personal favorite touches include the warped reverb/ delay on the drums a couple of times. All in all, I can't say much more other than this is really good… Solid grooves, really cool tones, and an overall good kind of vintage spooky vibe. This is a rare time that the name actually sounds exactly like the music. If this ain't what ghost funk sounds like, what the hell WOULD it sound like? That's right. You don't have an answer. Because the point I am making is THAT irrefutable.<br />
HOLY CRAP YOU'RE STILL READING MY WRITING! </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/desert-music" target="_blank">"Desert Music" by Clouty and the Imaagine Nation</a><br />
So this immediately had my attention, what with its whole minimal electronic thing. "Takeoff/ Desert" does indeed start off with a sound that wouldn't be too out of place in, like, Flight Simulator 98… or whatever the hell that was that I got with my Compaq back when it was totally cool to own a Compaq with Windows 98 and a flight simulator on it. Anyway, the music is surprisingly "warm" despite its minor key leanings… but, uh, the "surprise" lead later in the first song… well, that had me beyond sold. So, unlike what I hear during Showtime on the L train… the best nation is NOT a donation, at the time that I am writing this, it's Clouty and the Imaagine Nation. Of course by the end of the week it'll probably go back to being Nation of Ulysses. Look, man, I find it tough to stick to any one thought for longer than a moment, okay? <br />
MOVING ON… </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/dagger-shores" target="_blank">"Dagger Shoes" by Stephen Selman & Derek Hawkins</a><br />
Well, god DAMN. Where the hell was this in 2005?! (Aside from not recorded yet.) I'm about 90% sure this would have been put out by Hungry Eye Records alongside The Weegs and Black Ice. This epitomizes every thing that made this li'l goth revival that was happening in the mid-2000s (you probably missed it) fun. Hell, there was this band from Brooklyn from around then I liked called Baby Shower that had a similar kinda thing going on… drony mostly monotone vocals atop dissonant keys, minimal guitars, and punkish drums… but then, when you least expected it, sometimes everything just gets up and punches you in the face. I can't even pick out a favorite track 'cause this whole damn EP is so cool. I mean, just… just listen to it.<br />
SO NATURALLY, NEXT WE HAVE... </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/queen-of-the-garbage-waters" target="_blank">"Queen of the Garbage Waters" by Old Night</a><br />
I'm a sucker for a killer bass line, so this drew me in REALLY easily. The bass lines pretty much carry the entire thing here, serving both as the anchor as well as often being the primary source of melody as well. The vocals and occasional guitar aren't too audible, aside from the fact you know they're present… just barely. Not a bad thing, at all though, as the spoken and often whispered vocals just sound cool on top of the rhythm-heavy foundation. I think Nightmare Canvas is my favorite of the bunch, with its off-kilter mechanical sounding drums.<br />
FINALLY! LAST BUT NOT LEAST… ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS IN NO ORDER AT ALL… </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/album/serenia" target="_blank">"Serenia" by EARTHSTAR</a><br />
It's an 8-bit video game sound track. I mean… what… There is literally nothing else I can say to explain why this is cool. Also, congratulations to Stephen Selman for making my list TWICE. Admittedly, you did send in like 500 different projects, each a completely different genre of music… but point is… I guess I didn't really have a point. I dunno, you're doin' good stuff, man. </blockquote><blockquote>That wraps up my li'l opinion article. Didn't like it? I'm sorry. Liked it? I'm sorry. Anyway, yeah, it was tough picking these (as opposed to only picking the tapes done by my close friends, which would have been easy) but I feel like I can sleep soundly with the decisions I made. Or I could have. Shouldn't have had that coffee if I was thinking of sleeping. Catch you next 4-track challenge or whenever the hell I get my hands on a 4-track. PEACE.</blockquote><br />
<b>Rebecca DeRosa</b>, <a href="http://tomtommag.com/" target="_blank">Tom Tom Magazine</a>, drummer for <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FistyNYC" target="_blank">Fisty</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lovesnakemusic" target="_blank">Love Snake</a><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/howitzer" target="_blank">Howitzer</a> by Little Pilot — This is really beautiful piano music. I listened to this on a rainy day with my cat snoozing at my feet. I think this is the song Laura Palmer wrote to Bob. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/what-song" target="_blank">What Song</a> by Nova Luz — Quiet and introspective. I’d like to listen to this while waiting for test results at the doctor’s office. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/dead-waves" target="_blank">Dead Waves</a> by Dagger Shores — A little bit Black Sabbath-y, but with some Link Wray thrown in. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/hard-to-fucking-imagine" target="_blank">Hard to Fucking Imagine</a> by Adam Balbo — Don’t let the name fool you; this was very folky. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/suicide-hotline" target="_blank">Suicide Hotline</a> by Rules — I like how there is no intro, it starts right on the verse. I also like the shared male and female vocals. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/the-pines" target="_blank">The Pines (second song)</a> by Meat Priests — Nice drumming! </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/watch-you-glow" target="_blank">Watch You Glow</a> by Jason Maksymilian — Solid song with nice structure and a hook (remember hooks, kids?) </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/inside-the-bottle" target="_blank">Inside the Bottle</a> by Missing Footage — Put me in a daze in a good way. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/float-away" target="_blank">Float Away</a> by Dreadful Crows — Has a great 90s sound, kind of like Built to Spill. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/a-fae-story" target="_blank">A Fae Story</a> by Doug the Eagle — This is what I would have listened to while smoking pot when I was 15 and lived in the country.</blockquote><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYtiaOiAXDE/VMAHA_E0knI/AAAAAAAAAtk/dQwbDSHe6gc/s1600/blowing4track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oYtiaOiAXDE/VMAHA_E0knI/AAAAAAAAAtk/dQwbDSHe6gc/s1600/blowing4track.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope this random dude is still as cool as he was when this picture was taken.</td></tr>
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<b>Aaron Lloyd Barr</b>, <a href="http://www.aaronlloydbarr.com/" target="_blank">Illustrator/Rocker</a><br />
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<blockquote>Adam Balbo - Great album. The whole thing is solid. Great songs. Curse words in song titles are just fine with me but “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/in-their-grip" target="_blank">In Their Grip</a>” is just a great fucking song. </blockquote><blockquote>Kevin Kerby - Straight forward folk music. Raw, very true to what the project is about. “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/this-wilderness" target="_blank">The Wilderness</a>” is the one. Great song with moving lyrics about how we’re lost in our own materialism in the modern world. </blockquote><blockquote>David Redbranch - Love how he went into the details of the challenge and approach to each song even though lot of it was lost on me. “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/soldiers-claimed-the-harvest" target="_blank">Soldiers Claimed the Harvest</a>” is great. The only acapella track in the whole project I think. Like Nick Cave covering Eagles covering a sea shanty. Nicely done. </blockquote><blockquote>Old Night - Sounds like a 4 track. Brings back that sound that i remember well. No idea what he’s saying but that’s okay. “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/time" target="_blank">Time</a>” is the one. </blockquote><blockquote>Dreadful Crows - Vox sound is really great. Got some great pro sounds out of the 4 track. “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/red-shift" target="_blank">Red Shift</a>” is the one. Great intro. Well constructed song with a hook.. “burn out hard… just like a red star” </blockquote><blockquote>Dead Bonsai - I love “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/burning-pallets" target="_blank">Burning Pallets</a>” and the employ of 4 track effects like the wobbly pitch control thing. Is that what they’re doing? </blockquote><blockquote>Tommy P - For me, this guy gets it. He kept the tracks simple so it sounds as if he could have done this in a proper studio. “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/one-thousand-lives" target="_blank">One Thousand Lives</a>” .." mistaken my anger as a source of warm…". That's a nice line there, Tommy P. </blockquote><blockquote>Women of the Night - These guys should only record on a 4 track. It’s a great match for their sound. It’s like another member of their band. “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/most-magazines" target="_blank">Most Magazines</a>” is the one. </blockquote><blockquote>EARTHSTAR - Very clever. That’s why they’re on the list. Not to mention the melodies and sound are cool. Using a 4 track to create an 8 bit soundtrack. All performed. “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/according-to-legend" target="_blank">According to Legend</a>.” </blockquote><blockquote>New England Axe Factory - “<a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/track/tender-kicks" target="_blank">Tender Kicks</a>” is just a great hooky song that goes well with the lo-fi recording. </blockquote></div><div><br />
</div><div>Check out all the projects over at <a href="https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/">https://4trackchallenge.bandcamp.com/</a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Don't forget to Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">Hearts Bleed Radio</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/squarezeros" target="_blank">Square Zeros</a> on Facebook!</div>Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-65996328261496665052015-01-05T14:05:00.001-05:002015-01-06T18:00:17.565-05:00New video from The Meaning of Life (and more!)Brooklyn three piece (and Hearts Bleed Radio favorites) <a href="https://themeaningoflife.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">The Meaning of Life</a> released a video just before the holidays and I wanted to make sure you guys didn't miss it. "I Want To Do With You What The Spring Does With Cherry Trees" (a nod to Pablo Neruda for all you South American lit. majors out there) is dream pop with a danceable bass line and metronomic drumming that feels right whether you're the type who likes to shake your ass, or stand in the corner staring at your shoes. Punctuated by ringing guitars and smooth, echoey, ethereal vocals, the track is classic TMOL with a slight rhythmic twist. A step in a new direction, yet you wouldn't mistake them for another band.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whatever is behind that door is kept safe by TMOL</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1949011658"></span> The video itself is a mix of eye candy, symbolism, absurdism, and flat out rage. Shot throughout NYC and featuring some local musicians, the visuals lock in with the driving beat and bass line. The smashing of instruments is becoming a <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2013/08/laura-v-video-from-meaning-of-life.html" target="_blank">theme throughout TMOL's video work</a>, and personally I love the contrast between their sweet and pretty tunes, and this unrestrained act of aggression. Check out the video below.<br />
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While you're at it, check out this new video from Lost Gloves. It's a puppeteer love story! Check out Brian puppet's HBR tee shirt.<br />
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While, you're really at it, check out this video from Art School Dropouts.<br />
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And if you're really feeling it like a motherf@cker on MDMA, check out this video from Madam West:<br />
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Like The Meaning of Life on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themeaningoflifeband" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Like Lost Gloves on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lostgloves" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Like Art School Dropouts on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/art.school.dropouts.band" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Like Madam West on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/madamwestmusic" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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And Like HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-20267057279455409262014-12-17T13:27:00.001-05:002014-12-17T13:27:39.968-05:00Dialogue From A Silent Film releases "Grey Skies" video.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialoguefromasilentfilm" target="_blank">Dialogue From A Silent Film</a> is post-punk indie-goth trio from Brooklyn, NY. Back in November, they released a video for their new single "Grey Skies." Shot one afternoon in, on, and around <a href="https://www.facebook.com/petrescuestudio" target="_blank">Pet Rescue</a> (which lies squarely in a no-neighborhood industrial area where Williamsburg meets Greenpoint meets Queens and Newtown Creek), the video follows the band through a somewhat abandoned warehouse complex, eventually giving way to the almost Montana-esque big sky of the building's large, flat roof. I sat down for a brief chat with vocalist/guitarist Daniel Kasshu. Here's the transcript (the video is at the end):<br />
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<b>Hearts Bleed Radio: </b>Grey Skies is the new video from Dialogue From A Silent Film. What's the concept behind the video?<br />
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<b>Daniel Kasshu: </b>The concept is, well, three guys being angst-y and loitering around Pet Rescue. Or something like that. ACTUALLY, I think it's a bit more about being lost. Katrin pretty much directed us as she felt matched the song's atmosphere. I think she did a great job with it.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>You shot the whole thing in Pet Rescue? How long did it take?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>It was a nice simple shoot, all of us (myself, Brian, Brandon, Katrin, and Zak) all met at Pet Rescue in the early afternoon, drank coffee, hung out, and shot until the evening. The whole thing probably took about five hours.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dialogue in full concert glory.</td></tr>
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<b>HBR: </b>So it was just you being directed, moved around, etc... and then Katrin disappeared into the editing room and that's that?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>There was a LOT of joking around, too. I mean, of course. The best part was when I slammed myself in the face with my guitar. The video was actually edited by Jennie Vee, who did it a great job and really quickly, too.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>How did you sync up the performance (you singing/strumming) with the audio, was that done in the editing phase?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>We just played the song off of Brandon's phone, which we had hooked up to this tiny little portable speaker my mom bought for me from the Home Shopping Network, so I guess you could say my mom played a pretty important role in the video.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>Yeah, she should get a credit...</div>
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<b>DK: </b>I still have to show her the video actually... Added to the list of responsibilities for the week.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>I like that shot in the aluminum alley-like thing, with the razor wire on one side. Is that there to keep thieves out, or to keep you in?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>It's there to keep in all the sadness. All the FEELINGS. My life is one dark room. One. Dark. Room.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>What's next for Dialogue, you have another single coming out?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>Yes! In fact the day after the release of the Grey Skies video, I was back in the studio. The next single also has a guest appearance by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MarikosMusic" target="_blank">Mariko</a>, which is pretty exciting.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>The same place you recorded Grey Skies?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>Yes and no. Grey Skies was recorded in two locations, partially at Brooklyn Brewery and partially at 3PM Manhattan. The next single was also recorded partially at Brooklyn Brewery, but the rest at the Sojourn Records studio in Elmont. It was an honor to have Mark Ambrosino engineering the session.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>How do you guys record? Do you live track the core (bass, drums, guitar) and then overdub the rest?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>It varies depending on the song. Usually we live track everything and then spot-check/ re-do until we're all satisfied with the result.</div>
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<b>HBR: </b>Are you ever really satisfied with a recording?</div>
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<b>DK: </b>Sort of. There are a lot of great things about the recordings, but I also prefer the live version, too... it's easier to view the recordings and live versions of the same songs as completely different animals. Sometimes we'll be rehearsing and one of us will do something random or cool or different and I'll be like "Ah, maannnnn, I wish that could've been on the recording!" So, yeah, I'm pretty satisfied with the recordings. I think they're generally a very good representation of my writing and composing in a controlled environment and an advertisement to see the same songs performed with reckless abandon and additional profanity in a grimy Brooklyn bar.</div>
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Check out the video for "Grey Skies"</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/imaNbabe9VY" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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Like Dialogue From A Silent Film on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialoguefromasilentfilm" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Like HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Cheers (and Happy Holidays)!</div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-49916691842462203382014-11-03T19:21:00.000-05:002014-11-11T13:57:16.904-05:00CMJ Wrap Up and My Unsolicited Advice for Future Festivals This was the first CMJ I had a badge and no job, SO, it was the first Music Marathon that I really got to fully experience. It was pretty much five straight days of being out and about from 2-2, living off mostly beer and pizza with a healthy mix of dumplings, night nachos, and Vita Coco thrown in for good measure. I didn't do a great job taking notes/videos/etc. I figured the sets that were worth remembering would stick in my head. I could have made it out to more shows (like Northside '13 when I saw a whopping 38 bands (not counting the 2 I played in) in three days), but seriously, it's not a contest. Anyhow, you'd have to be sharper than I to digest all those tunes into something other than a throbbing grey blob of hip haircuts, PA feedback squeal, and wobbly half-drunk "good-set-man" after show handshakes.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgi45nSDEpU/VFgTDeImJXI/AAAAAAAAAos/Dss4ovguB2w/s1600/panorama%2Bfrom%2Bhotel%2Br.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgi45nSDEpU/VFgTDeImJXI/AAAAAAAAAos/Dss4ovguB2w/s1600/panorama%2Bfrom%2Bhotel%2Br.jpg" height="85" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the artist lounge at the The Hotel Rivington. I'm really not classy enough to be up here.</td></tr>
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For those of you who don't know the history of the festival, here's a brief rundown; CMJ (College Media Journal) was started in the late 70's as a sort of Billboard charts for college radio stations (and still functions in that capacity today). Beginning in 1980, there's been a yearly gathering of these bands, at first mostly in NYC's Lower East Side, but now split between the city and Williamsburg/Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This was bomb shit for the music industry back in 1984; you could see all these regional bands in one place and scout new talent without having to send your minions out to Athens or Minneapolis or any other nowhere town that didn't begin with "New" and end with "York City."</div>
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Needless to say, media has changed a lot over the years. Spin magazine, 120 Minutes, Alt-rock becoming mainstream, and lastly (but most importantly) the emergence of the internet, all contributed to CMJ's steady decline as a taste-makeing powerhouse. Buzz that was once generated by hand now rolls off an almost entirely automated assembly line. There isn't a band who doesn't want college radio airplay, but it's nowhere near the priority it once was. Despite the ability to stream college radio from almost anywhere in the world, it's becoming more and more rare for anyone, even in hardcore indie circles, to turn to college radio as a discovery vehicle.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZ8OKOP1R68/VFgT016gf0I/AAAAAAAAAo8/o8YXzbDqreI/s1600/floppy%2Bman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZ8OKOP1R68/VFgT016gf0I/AAAAAAAAAo8/o8YXzbDqreI/s1600/floppy%2Bman.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captured on Instagram as I begin my CMJ vision quest.</td></tr>
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So what does this mean for the CMJ Music Marathon? I don't know. It seems like they are trying to patch a relevancy gap by adding more bands and a few already well known headliners. Makes sense, but I'm not sure it will get any real results. I know the changes I'd make, and I'll address them after the recap. For now though, here was my strategy more or less for the weekend: see some out of towners (there'll be time for Brooklyn bands next week), stay well fed and hydrated, take care of logistics and still have enough energy to play well on at my own shows, and get a free JanSport backpack. </div>
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<b>Here are some highlights:</b></div>
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(apologies for the video quality, most of the audio is good though)<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wearepins" target="_blank">PINS</a>. Four girls from Manchester playing darkened indie-pop. Part manicured model-pop, part Brit-punk working class curled upper lip attitude, they're a band to watch. I think they have an album coming out soon and I bet the establishment shits a brick over it (calling it, Pitchfork 8.6). The drummer has a second floor tom instead of a hi-hat and I LOVED IT. (ps. I pretty much only watch drummers now).</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/tE2Y7YOMr2w" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenumberonesdublin" target="_blank">The #1's</a>. Four dudes from Ireland who we were lucky enough to get for the HBR unofficial showcase at Hank's Saloon (basically the whole reason we booked the show in the first place). Power-pop/garage pop, they're tight minimalist rockers with hooks galore and GREAT bass playing (like all pop music needs, IMO). </div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/literatureband" target="_blank">Literature</a>. Philly Brit-poppers. Clean ringing arpeggios and quick hitting pop melodies. I got a decent recording of an unreleased track in Cake Shop's basement. Check it out, and check out their album, <i>Chorus</i>.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/splashh.band" target="_blank">Splashh</a>. Another UK (+Australia?) band, they do the massive post-Radiohead wall of sound thing. A little over the top at times, but overall, striking texturally, if not always melodically. The have sound worth getting into like, with a deeper analysis and understanding then the AM radio quality memory samples you leave a show with. Check out <i>Comfort</i> if you're into that sorta thing. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uW_ueg5_d00/VFgUTp64RKI/AAAAAAAAApE/zm6QpcS6HdQ/s1600/splashh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uW_ueg5_d00/VFgUTp64RKI/AAAAAAAAApE/zm6QpcS6HdQ/s1600/splashh.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splashh at The Knit. Brits in flannel was a running theme.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/rmrnnr" target="_blank">Roomrunner</a>. A Baltimore act, straight forward loud indie with heavy riffs. They were the last act I saw at like 1:30 am at Silent Barn on Saturday. I was so tired, and kinda bored of bands by that point, but they really woke me up. In my old age, that's really a mark of an excellent act. Lots of kids at that show too; really refreshing.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNqO6l1vd0g/VFgVBDO_9nI/AAAAAAAAApM/GTdgZ87FDeg/s1600/burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aNqO6l1vd0g/VFgVBDO_9nI/AAAAAAAAApM/GTdgZ87FDeg/s1600/burger.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't get a pic of Roomrunner, so here's a shoot of the burger I ate after the show.</td></tr>
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My favorite all around set was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HondurasBand" target="_blank">Honduras</a> late Thursday at our unofficial showcase down in Boerum Hill at Hank's Saloon. I was pumped to play with The #1's and have a pretty decent crowd out for an unofficial showcase that was kinda off the beaten path.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SunsetGuns" target="_blank">Sunset Guns</a> opened up our official showcase minus guitarist/vocalist Derek Hawkins. They still rocked as a three piece though. (Sorry, the lighting in Legion was terrible).</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/COMe1nDanDs" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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I caught local act <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Wh.sk.yB.tch.s" target="_blank">Whiskey Bitches</a> at Cake Shop one early afternoon. It was a really strong set to start the day.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BJuFQCmKX58" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/welcometogreengerry" target="_blank">Green Gerry</a> was a random friend of friend's band that came all the way from L.A. and was looking to play an extra show or two. We were lucky to have them open up the 10/23 Hank's show for us.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thejeanies" target="_blank">The Jeanies</a> are an incredible local garage-pop outfit, and they also played our official show. If I'm not mistaken, they have an album in the works. Definitely keep your eyes open for that one.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5863sglIApA" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theblackblack.nyc" target="_blank">The Black Black</a> are a local post-punk trio with a super tight rhythm section and loud melodic/counter melodic guitar riffing. Always a high energy, fun show; they played our official showcase.</div>
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Last, but not least, here's a video of power-poppers, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Darlings/145197002168317" target="_blank">American Darlings</a>, rocking at Hank's Saloon on 10/23. Seriously, a magical night.</div>
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Make sure to check out the other awesome bands who played our showcases: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigQuiet" target="_blank">Big Quiet</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lighttherapyband" target="_blank">Light Therapy</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwownyc" target="_blank">pow wow!</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanesNYC" target="_blank">The Planes</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ghostpunchband" target="_blank">GHOST PUNCH</a>. I didn't have time/presence of mind to get video of all of them.</div>
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<b>Things I learned at CMJ...</b></div>
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If you want to know what shows to go to you're better off asking three photographers, than reading all the blogs in the world. They're on the front lines of everything and have no reason to hold back their opinions.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eeH7HzRuPuw/VFgW7v7803I/AAAAAAAAApo/lT7X0PqqVjI/s1600/dean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eeH7HzRuPuw/VFgW7v7803I/AAAAAAAAApo/lT7X0PqqVjI/s1600/dean.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dean knows how to maintain the intensity for a full 5 days.</td></tr>
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All slices at the place across the street from Cake Shop are $2 before 6pm. There is no limit to how many you can buy.</div>
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Just because it wasn't ok for kids who grew up in the '90's to make '90's music in the '00's, doesn't mean it isn't ok for kids who grew up in the '00's to make '90's music in the '10's, in fact, it seems like it's encouraged.</div>
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"Wake up - Water - Shower - Coffee - Bagel - Water - Beer - Beer - Water - Beer - Pizza - Water - Beer - Beer - Water - Beer - Dumplings - Water - Whiskey - Beer - Beer - Water - Beer - Water - Whiskey - Beer - Whiskey - Nachos - Sleep" when started at 11am and paced evenly until 3 am, will ensure the best overall results.</div>
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The price of rent is really affecting the quality of young artists here in NYC. I don't have any empirical evidence to support this, but it feels like there's a lot more good stuff coming from Philly/Baltimore and the rust belt cities. Don't get me wrong, it's great for those scenes, but my gut feeling is that those were all kids that went straight to Brooklyn a decade ago right after college or even high school, and now they're staying put or seeking an alternative. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QpJ8FAzCHXI/VFgTYRSqADI/AAAAAAAAAo0/XhkNa6LqHSQ/s1600/The%2BWytches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QpJ8FAzCHXI/VFgTYRSqADI/AAAAAAAAAo0/XhkNa6LqHSQ/s1600/The%2BWytches.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Wytches at The Knit. They were really good when they weren't trying to be Nirvana.</td></tr>
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<b>What I'd like to see happen to CMJ...</b></div>
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Put bluntly, I don't think that I should have been allowed to throw an official show. Letting anyone be a curator defeats the purpose of curation. I don't think small local bloggers, small promotion companies/record labels, or just small time rock promoters in general should be involved, unless the festival has some reason to believe they are actually important tastemakers. Now don't get me wrong, I think people in my situation should take advantage of whatever opportunities they can. But there's like 1,400 bands or something insane like that. Hell, there were like 100 singer songwriters at friggin' Rockwood Music Hall who were official CMJ acts. C'mon, are any of these people getting serious play on college radio or really being artistically relevant at all?</div>
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I think 1,400 bands is way too much; too much to make any sense, and too much to make the festival feel special. I think they should cut that number in half (or even down to a couple 100) and try to make a point of curating the curators. Let's put an emphasis back on the Lower East Side and on college radio. Why not get the top 25 college radio stations to each curate a show, 5 a day for each of the 5 days of the festival, and make a point in promoting them as the premier events? At it's core, CMJ is a throwback trade show, and I think there's more integrity and appeal in returning to that form than there is trying to morph into SXSW-like festival with a billion acts and big headliners.</div>
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Props to CMJ for avoiding the tech conference that turned SXSW into spring break for fratboy bro-grammers, and keeping an arms-length from the mainstream music industry. Personally, I don't think bands like Slowdive and Shonen Knife belong anywhere near the festival, though it's nothing like Kanye, Taylor Swift, and whoever the fuck else plays at SXSW and makes them a ton of money. I think the festival has done an incredible job of maintaining itself, given how drastically the media landscape has changed in a relatively short period of time. I don't want you to think I'm a hater of CMJ. In terms of relevancy, coolness, and discovery potential, it blows SXSW out of the water.</div>
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The final thing we need to address is Sonicbids. CMJ isn't the only festival that uses it; I'm only singling them out because they were the last big thing to happen. For those of you who don't know, Sonicbids is a website that allows you to make a EPK (electronic press kit, basically something you can easily make on your own), and apply for spots on festivals, showcases, etc. If you don't have a personal connection to a booker, or are really blowing up, or paying the right promo company, this is the only way to get into the festival. I remember back in '08 they were charging $35 to apply to CMJ. So basically, it's pay to (maybe, but probably not) play. Sonicbids is bullshit, and I've never met a musician who speaks favorably of them, just check out their <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/sonicbids-corporation-boston-2" target="_blank">Yelp reviews</a>. Why would a festival want to partner with a company that musicians universally hate? Are they really making that much off application fees? And if they are, isn't it even kinda worse that this whole thing is funded by the broken hopes and dreams of some starry eyed kids off in some suburb somewhere? </div>
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So there you have it:</div>
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1. Cut down the number of acts.</div>
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2. Condense the festival geographically.</div>
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3. Focus on well curated showcases by actual tastemakers (maybe make curators apply).</div>
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4. Find a more better way for bands to apply then Sonicbids.</div>
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5. Try to capture the throwback appeal. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MZFdd_RuNHA/VFgXMTMHrEI/AAAAAAAAApw/mz5xJ8DzVEo/s1600/steve%2Band%2Bjason%2Bat%2Bhanks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MZFdd_RuNHA/VFgXMTMHrEI/AAAAAAAAApw/mz5xJ8DzVEo/s1600/steve%2Band%2Bjason%2Bat%2Bhanks.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Jason from American Darlings, clearly NOT being haters.</td></tr>
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I hope that CMJ sticks around. I hope there's a spot for my bands to play, and I hope there's a chance for me to be involved, but I'd rather it became special again... But as long as there are $2 slices and free day shows, I'll be happy. </div>
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Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-87048689790349253332014-10-20T20:14:00.001-04:002014-10-21T12:06:21.273-04:00CMJ Music Marathon 2014 (extreme shit-show navigation and survival edition)Hey, do you like bands? Yea? Good thing, cause they are about to invade the city like a plague of skinny jean clad locusts. I bet some of them will even have those tiny headbands that I hate. It's CMJ Music Marathon time again. I'm sorry if I sound jaded, but I think the whole thing is kinda dumb at this point. It's an outdated clusterfuck of posers trading handjobs with wannabe tastemakers for 7pm Tuesday slots at fucking Lit Lounge.<br />
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Ahh... but I guess I'm one of them.<br />
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And I do like, I mean, I LOVE, the idea; bring deserving acts from all around the country/world to NYC for a festival that puts a giant spotlight on the best and most unique new artists. This isn't SXSW, where pop stars play sold out shows to d'bag central; there's a real understanding that this is a discovery festival. There's still plenty of reasons to want to be a part of the festival too. Of course, it's just fun to roam around the city, see bands for free, maybe get a free backpack or tote bag. And despite the fact that college radio has lost a big chunk of it's taste-making power in an internet dominated media landscape, there's still a couple of acts that get a solid boost from killing it at the festival. Here's a rundown of the bands that are playing our shows, some recommendations on who to catch, and a few notes on getting around NYC.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k71mVOkvPIk/VEWkDm6ogCI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/fOzOfKLi1pA/s1600/PITY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k71mVOkvPIk/VEWkDm6ogCI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/fOzOfKLi1pA/s320/PITY.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumped for some Pity Sex...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1501388126778035/" target="_blank">Hearts Bleed Radio Unofficial CMJ Party, Hank's Saloon, Thursday 10/23 8pm</a><br />
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This is a FREE unofficial show that basically came together so we could get an extra show for The #1's. It's a long way from Dublin to NYC, glad we could help them make the most of it. Here are the bands:<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HondurasBand" target="_blank">Honduras</a>. These guys are local Brooklyn rockers who bring an energetic live show, some catchy tunes, and all around good vibes. At times danceable, at times mosh-able, they're a treat, check 'em out.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1694995948/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3784175732/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://hondurasband.bandcamp.com/album/morality-cuts">Morality Cuts by Honduras</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenumberonesdublin" target="_blank">The #1's</a>. Hailing from Ireland, the #1's are a power-pop outfit that combine UK punk with 60's American garage rock. Another upbeat, catchy band (are you starting to see a theme here?), we're so lucky that they made it all the way to NYC. You need to catch these guys at friggin' Hank's. It's going to be one of those special CMJ nights to remember.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=274303148/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=4228389296/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://staticshockrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-number-ones">The Number Ones by The Number Ones</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/bigquiet" target="_blank">Big Quiet</a>. This Brooklyn trio combines 80's jangle rock hooks and 90's indie slack-ability. Their first full-length album was recorded this summer, and mixed by Mitch Easter (R.E.M., Helium, Pavement). We're all excited to hear it!<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=3057466242/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://bigquiet.bandcamp.com/track/another-one-for-the-record-books">Another One For The Record Books by big quiet</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Darlings/145197002168317" target="_blank">American Darlings</a>. Another NYC act, American Darlings are a guitar-first indie pop band. With an emphasis on songwriting above all else, they're a full on melodious fuzz attack.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=340303456/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2435133787/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://americandarlings.bandcamp.com/album/american-darlings-ep">American Darlings EP by American Darlings</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/welcometogreengerry" target="_blank">Green Gerry</a>. A late addition to the bill, this L.A. chillwave/slowwave/sleepwave/reverbwave band plays drenched pop music with a touch of psych-rock sensibility. They kick off the night. Make sure you show up at 8 to catch them!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1bo01zH30hY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1504840443088142/" target="_blank">Hearts Bleed Radio Official CMJ Showcase, Legion Friday 10/24 8pm</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ghostpunchband" target="_blank">GHOST PUNCH</a>. Pukerock? A genre or a state of being? They play late, they have a cassette, you had too much to drink... But it's like an awakening of a sort. You see things. You forget them. You wake up in the morning with the cassette in your pocket and a giant bruise on your arm. You remember where you got one of them. Which one will it be?<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3033312937/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2132757020/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://ghostpunch.bandcamp.com/album/puke-city">Puke City by Ghost Punch</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanesNYC" target="_blank">The Planes</a>. HBR's house band, wherever that house may be. You know what to expect. They have a new single coming out next month. I bet they play it twice.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3012721304/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3941323833/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://theplanesnyc.bandcamp.com/album/echo-forever-forever-echo">Echo Forever/Forever Echo by The Planes</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwownyc" target="_blank">pow wow!</a> These guys have been around the block too. HBR favorites who never disappoint. They bridge the gap between sock hop and mosh pit.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3330774085/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=4199866281/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://powwow.bandcamp.com/album/dont-stop-to-look">Don't Stop To Look by pow wow!</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lighttherapyband" target="_blank">Light Therapy</a>. Big drone-y post rock inspired non-post rock (think about it). I was promised "The most attractive band in history." We'll see...<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thejeanies" target="_blank">The Jeanies</a>. Well crafted songs with a touch of a throwback garage feel. I guarantee you'll be humming at least one of their songs in your head after the show.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2042634934/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=1658992666/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://thejeanies.bandcamp.com/album/the-jeanies-sneak-peak-album-preview">THE JEANIES (SNEAK PEAK ALBUM PREVIEW) by The Jeanies</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SunsetGuns" target="_blank">Sunset Guns</a>. Who are these guys and why won't they leave me alone? No seriously. I hope they get evicted from my head.<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/138562198&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SunsetGuns" target="_blank">The Black Black</a>. Brooklyn based post-punkers with a bass heavy groove in each song. They could pull off clean respectable dance pop if they were clean respectable people. We're thankful they're not.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=2057087380/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://theblackblack.bandcamp.com/track/until-death-do-us-party-2">until death do us party by The Black Black</a></iframe><br />
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<br />
<b>All this is great, but who should I check out when I'm not at an HBR showcase? </b><br />
<b><br />
</b> That's a great question, friend. Lucky for you, here are some recommendations (on mostly out towners) from the greater Brooklyn music community.<br />
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For starters, I recommend:<br />
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<a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$shiloh/1286" target="_blank">Shiloh</a>. These are the poor Chicagoans who are playing at Lit on Tuesday. But you know what? They fucking rock, and they are the perfect way to start your festival. If they bring it like I know they can, they could be one of the top 5 acts you see all week.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=69113925/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=131449985/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://shilohchicago.bandcamp.com/album/last-time-for-everything">Last Time for Everything by Shiloh</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$honey-wild/1638" target="_blank">Honey Wild</a>. Sweet Brooklyn-based dream reverb-gaze/klono-pop outfit that just came out with a cassette-based EP last week. Track them down and get your hands on one, it's a limited run. They play a couple of shows.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1455296507/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2479213085/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://honeywild.bandcamp.com/album/honey-wild-ep">Honey Wild (EP) by Honey Wild</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$wildhoney/1543" target="_blank">Wildhoney</a>. Stumbled upon these guys while I was looking for Honey Wild. I'm happy I did. I think I love music from Baltimore. I should move there. Check them out.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2989186570/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2715902928/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://wildhoneysound.bandcamp.com/album/seventeen-forever">Seventeen Forever by Wildhoney</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$cheerleader/20" target="_blank">Cheerleader</a>. A big sound from a Philly five-piece. Honestly, if you can consistently schedule band practice with five musicians, I think you deserve a write-up somewhere. These guys feel a little like the last band to get hugely popular after playing CMJ (and who kinda crashed the party last year too).<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/128059096&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$roz-and-the-rice-cakes/808" target="_blank">Roz and The Rice Cakes</a>. Proggy, math-y, but still groove-able, we almost booked these guys for an HBR showcase over the summer, but it just didn't work out. They made the trek all the way from sunny Providence, RI, just to play for all of us on Tuesday at the Parkside Lounge (note, not really near a park).<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vWnLI_3uMx0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$flagland/162" target="_blank">Flagland</a>. A Brooklyn pop-punk/power-pop band that I find exciting for some reason. I wasn't gonna mention locals, but these guys (and Honey Wild) snuck in, cause I like 'em, and I haven't even mentioned them or booked them.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3566931257/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=111989102/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://flagland.bandcamp.com/album/love-hard">Love Hard by Flagland</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$pity-sex/2475" target="_blank">Pity Sex</a>. A damn good band from Michigan or somewhere. The biggest band I'll recommend to you. You should check them and if the line isn't too long. That being said, they're good enough to get me to consider going to a show at Baby's. Can you tell I'm already getting burned out on CMJ? Seriously though, <i>Feast of Love</i> was one of the better albums of 2013.<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:4G7MAOJFv98Oi6XjbczQA3" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Anna from local band <a href="https://www.facebook.com/partylightsband" target="_blank">Party Lights</a> recommends <a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$nude-beach/703" target="_blank">Nude Beach</a>. Generally, a name like that would turn me off (no beach names allowed anymore!), but she's right, they're awesome.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1984846005/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2666921421/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://nudebeach.bandcamp.com/album/ii">II by Nude Beach</a></iframe><br />
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Jon from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theblackblack.nyc" target="_blank">The Black Black</a> recommends <a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$roomrunner/3263" target="_blank">Roomrunner</a> (another Baltimore band) and Pity Sex (but not the band; he actually recommends having sex with someone you pity, or who pities you).<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3884754159/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=1510204923/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://roomrunner.bandcamp.com/album/ideal-cities">Ideal Cities by Roomrunner</a></iframe><br />
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Eddie from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/powwownyc" target="_blank">pow wow!</a> recommends local Brooklyn act <a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$haybaby/573" target="_blank">Haybaby</a>.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2699842955/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=4106240237/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://haybaby.bandcamp.com/album/superpresent">SUPERPRESENT by Haybaby</a></iframe><br />
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Jeff from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanesNYC" target="_blank">The Planes</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orca.age" target="_blank">Orca Age</a> recommends <a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$the-point/1248" target="_blank">The Point</a> and <a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$the-grownup-noise/725" target="_blank">The Grownup Noise</a> (note, I was almost in The Point's video for "Lost Your Chance").<br />
<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/122688702&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YcUKpcgSqvA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Incredibly talented photographer <a href="http://www.maryanneventrice.com/" target="_blank">Maryanne Ventrice</a> has published her <a href="http://maryanneventrice.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/cmj-2014-preview/" target="_blank">own CMJ preview</a>, and recommends Ballet School.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=3447334482/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://balletschool.bandcamp.com/track/ghost-2">Ghost by Ballet School</a></iframe><br />
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Heidi from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/earlyriserrr" target="_blank">Early Riser</a> recommends <a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$tigers-and-monkeys/202" target="_blank">Tigers and Monkeys</a>.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Sv6Sf-o95qw" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Kate from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ghostpunchband" target="_blank">GHOST PUNCH</a> recommends OBN IIIs, and Sarah from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ghostpunchband" target="_blank">GHOST PUNCH</a> recommends Potty Mouth. I'm not sure how to pronounce "OBN IIIs," but it doesn't matter, cause I know how to pronounce "rule," and that they do.<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=806369313/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3556534365/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://theobniiis.bandcamp.com/album/third-time-to-harm">Third Time To Harm by OBN IIIs</a></iframe><br />
<iframe seamless="" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1524571402/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2007591793/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://pottymouth.bandcamp.com/album/hell-bent">HELL BENT by Potty Mouth</a></iframe><br />
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And last, but certainly not least, Daniel from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialoguefromasilentfilm" target="_blank">Dialogue from a Silent Film</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanesNYC" target="_blank">The Planes</a> recommends <a href="http://www.cmj.com/marathon/cmj-2014-artists/#!programmation=artist$tennis-system/788" target="_blank">Tennis System</a>.<br />
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:album:5OYjid5hhhJ9n9KYcNLaxA" width="300"></iframe><br />
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OH, and make sure you duck into Glasslands to catch a band or two. One of the city's most highly regarded art/music DIY spaces is closing down on at the year's end, because society hates people like us. <a href="http://www.theglasslands.com/calendar/" target="_blank">Check out their schedule here</a>.<br />
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<b>GREAT! So I'll see all these bands, but what the hell else should I do in NYC?</b><br />
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Ok, here's the super quick HBR NYC travel guide...<br />
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Things to do that aren't super touristy: If it's nice/ok outside, walk the High Line, take the Staten Island Ferry, picnic on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade/Central Park/Prospect Park, people watch in Tompkins Square Park or McCarren Park. Transmitter Park in Greenpoint is my favorite for a view of the city. There's a little park in Williamsburg where Grand Street hits the river. They won't throw you out at nightfall, and it's not a bad place to get high or make out. We love our parks and we all hang out in all of them when we can. Oh, and walk over a bridge if you get a chance, it's a super unique way to see the city.<br />
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If it's crappy out, there's a ton of world class museums, and if it's a weekday afternoon, they probably won't be too crowded. The super famous museums you probably already know about, (they're all great in their own way). MoMA PS1 and the Museum of the Moving Image are both in Queens; a little bit off the beaten path. The Brooklyn Museum is a pretty chill spot to kill a couple hours too. The New Museum is pretty small, but it's close to the rock clubs on the Lower East Side, and it's free from 7-9 on Thursdays.<br />
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Food is everywhere, all the time. Most bodegas (corner stores) will make sandwiches. The are fine to eat. I know there's a cat sleeping on a loaf of bread next to a dust caked box of off-brand, Reagan-era laundry detergent... BUT we all eat egg sandwiches from these places everyday. They cost like $2 and they won't kill you. Don't be afraid about street carts of any sort either. Pizza is everywhere and IMO, it's all pretty good. I like Vinnie's in Williamsburg, the place across from Cake Shop in the LES, and Stromboli in the East Village. My other late night non-pizza pig-out spots are Oasis falafel or Criff Dogs off the Bedford L, Bagelsmith off the Lorimer/Metro stop, Papaya Dog on 14th and 1st, and Pomme Frites on 2nd Ave and something I forget. OH! And Vanessa's in the LES/Chinatown and Williamsburg. Ask for your dumplings spicy. TRUST ME.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxPpiuwO5-4/VEWk5P1BtuI/AAAAAAAAAoY/rESOcZ2Ef_Y/s1600/china%2Btown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxPpiuwO5-4/VEWk5P1BtuI/AAAAAAAAAoY/rESOcZ2Ef_Y/s1600/china%2Btown.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See that wonderful-ness on top of the dumplings? That's the spicy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Now I feel bad for giving away a little bit of a secret, but if you're hanging with a crew in Brooklyn between the Montrose/Graham/Lorimer L and the Broadway G area, the after hours spot for food is Grand Morelos on Grand and Graham. It's cheap 24 hour diner that can seat a band and your buddies at any hour. Not the fastest service or best grub in town, but when you see the bill, you'll be shocked you're in NYC. It's also a block away from a strip of chill bars that are mostly open till 4am every night, just incase your crew gets a second wind from that plate night nachos.<br />
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It's not a bad idea to check the internet for info on train delays, especially if there's a show you really want to get to. NYC's subway is dependable, 24 hours, and safe. Delays, happen, and some trains don't run their full routes on the weekends and late at night. The MTA website has a lot of info on that. Check the Weekender for weekend status. Cabs are cheap if you're rolling with 3-5 people. If you're leaving Manhattan, make sure to get into the cab before you tell them. Green cabs can't pick you up in Manhattan under something-or-other street, so don't be upset if they don't stop for you. Uber works well too; get it if you're planning on moving around a lot.<br />
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<b>ETIQUETTE!</b><br />
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Don't stop in the middle of the sidewalk. Tip bartenders, waiters, AND cabbies/car drivers ($2-$4 depending on length of the trip). Most New Yorkers give directions by the nearest cross street, not street addresses. Don't feel like New Yorkers won't/can't talk to you; don't mistake the fact that we're in a hurry for rudeness. I can honestly say that the people here are as nice as anywhere in the world, it's just that the pace of life is different. OH, and please, if you like a band talk to them! Buy 'em a beer and shoot the shit, you'll have a new best friend; every musician likes to talk about the set they just played.<br />
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OK, so that's it! There's a shit-ton of annoying crap. There's a healthy amount of gold too. The nice thing about NYC is there's so much going on, if you don't like CMJ, you don't even have to see it. Remember when we hosted that Super Bowl? Me neither.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-2039566435910991482014-09-18T17:26:00.002-04:002014-09-18T17:28:40.714-04:00Ten Tracks + CMJ Anouncement It's really been for friggin' ever since I sat down and wrote something, ANYTHING, about actual music. I have a slight amount of free time on my hands, and I wanted to share with you some excellent tunes I came across this summer while working, setting up shows, playing music, etc. Also, I figured some random eyes might find this blog through the <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/p/4-track-challenge.html" target="_blank">4 Track Challenge</a>, and I wanted to greet them with an article that wasn't about baseball.<br />
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OH, and we're throwing a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1504840443088142/" target="_blank">CMJ showcase</a> featuring Ghost Punch, The Planes, pow wow!, Light Therapy, Sunset Guns, and The Black Black. It's going to be a free back-room Legion party. Swing by if you're out and about on 10/24. I'll buy you a beer if you buy me some chicken rings after the show (only half kidding).</div>
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Ok, here's an indie-pop heavy (for HBR) ten song playlist of new releases from the spiring/summer. Enjoy!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg95rQZc1k0/VBtMVvPkdOI/AAAAAAAAAnM/DK39iunfcmE/s1600/CLAM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vg95rQZc1k0/VBtMVvPkdOI/AAAAAAAAAnM/DK39iunfcmE/s1600/CLAM.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clam and what I believe is a DOUBLE RAINBOW.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
<b>The Underground pt. 2 (More Underground) - Clam</b></div>
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I love the desperation in Johnny's vocals on the second go around. A noisy crescendo that peaks right as it ends, this is end of summer jam #1. Also, Clam is an excellent live band, I highly recommend catching them. Bonus: there are a ton of interesting videos on their <a href="http://www.clammusic.com/pages/videos" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=4232941977/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=609150659/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://secretclam.bandcamp.com/album/the-underground-pt-2-more-underground-chicka">The Underground pt. 2 (More Underground) / Chicka by Clam</a></iframe><br />
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<br />
<b>Sleep Alone - The Teen Age</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> A catchy barroom rocker with some washed out reverb-y lead licks reminiscent of 80's guitar pop. Their next show is at the soon to be shuttered Death by Audio, with Spirit System and HBR favorites Clouder on 10/9. You should be there.<br />
<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2719717547/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2886317367/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://theteenagemusic.bandcamp.com/album/ways-to-adapt-ep">Ways To Adapt EP by The Teen Age</a></iframe><br />
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<b>Fake French - Little Racer</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> The Teen Age's label-mates Little Racer, continue the theme of catchy, simple, but lush sounding tunes. Fake French is minimalist with a lot going on, if that makes sense. It's a simple tune with a rich sonic palette. <br />
<br />
<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1902825354/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=1170842222/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://littleracer.bandcamp.com/album/modern-accent">Modern Accent by Little Racer</a></iframe><br />
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<b>Fall - Souvenir Stand</b><br />
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</b> I hear so much late era Beatles in this track; I absolutely love it. I haven't caught this band live yet, and I can't make their next gig (10/2 at Cake Shop), so I might just have to book them for something down the road.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1192773845/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2143712864/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://thesouvenirstand.bandcamp.com/album/surprise">SURPRISE by Souvenir Stand</a></iframe><br />
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<b>Sorry, You're Breaking Up - Franny & Zoey</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> A super fun pop act from The Dominican Republic (who happen to spend loads of time in NYC). This short number is my favorite track, but all of <i>Bottled Up & Ready To Go</i> is worth checking out. Twee, but not annoying, they remind me of an updated version of one of my favorite all time bands, and I won't say their name, and I don't have to.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3067289191/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2951701010/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://frannyzooey.bandcamp.com/album/bottled-up-and-ready-to-go">Bottled Up And Ready To Go by Franny & Zooey</a></iframe><br />
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<b>May 29, 1913 - Flying Pace</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> Flying Pace is a thinking person's rock band; time/feel changes and jagged rhythms pull their tunes along under the silky voice of vocalist Kristie Redfield. Redfield is one of the more interesting lyricists on Brooklyn these days, and it really shows on <i>The Spectacle</i>. You should catch them live (but please don't start a riot).<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1422383509/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2869897328/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://flyingpace.bandcamp.com/album/the-spectacle">The Spectacle by Flying Pace</a></iframe><br />
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<br />
<b>Dollar Store - Filmstrip</b><br />
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</b> I'm fairly certain that Filmstrip lives in their tour van. I've seen this Cleveland three-piece play in New York more than most local bands. They are road worn, always tour tight, and some of the nicer dudes you'll come across. I love the guitar tone on this track.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=739012376/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2033071733/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://filmstrip.bandcamp.com/album/feeling-like">Feeling Like ∞ by Filmstrip</a></iframe><br />
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<b>The Ballad of The Boomerang - Onesie</b><br />
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</b> I'm a sucker for arpeggios. It's such a simple thing, but it gets me every time. We're expecting more tracks from Onesie soon, this tune feels like the opener to an album. Keep an eye our, I'll see if we can premier one on the blog (exciting)!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/160885702&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<b>Fear - Heathers</b><br />
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</b> These guys played an HBR showcase back in the spring and absolutely killed it. They're from L.A. and were out here for NYC Popfest. Definitely check them out if you see them playing within 100 miles of you.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3295468170/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://hhheathers.bandcamp.com/album/fear-7">Fear 7" by Heathers</a></iframe><br />
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<b>Carte Blanche - Clearance </b><br />
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</b> A random find. A Chicago band with a familiar feel, but kinda thicker tone than the boys from Stockton, CA. Haven't listened to their full length yet, but this single (and the B-side) are a great introduction. Enjoy!<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2071490817/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2997267552/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://clearance.bandcamp.com/album/carte-blanche-plus-one">Carte Blanche Plus One by Clearance</a></iframe><br />
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<br />
If you're into DIY/analog/creative projects, check out the 4 Track Challenge ---> <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/p/4-track-challenge.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
(and here's the link to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/4trackchallenge/" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>)<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ygzpp-lPh4g/VBtLohwDRHI/AAAAAAAAAnE/XJZ-7jRLgqo/s1600/oct24banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ygzpp-lPh4g/VBtLohwDRHI/AAAAAAAAAnE/XJZ-7jRLgqo/s1600/oct24banner.jpg" height="147" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's another like to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1504840443088142/" target="_blank">CMJ Music Marathon Showcase</a>.<br />
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And hey, like us on Facebook while you're at it... <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-21410174322336435882014-08-06T23:48:00.000-04:002017-06-23T16:40:26.799-04:00Farewell, Mr. Jeter I was supposed to write the 3rd part of my baseball/guitar series on which classic guitarists would play what position if they were on a baseball team. It turns out, I don't know nine classic guitarists well enough to write that piece. It's true. Here are the ones I could think of: Hendrix, Harrison, Clapton, Page, EVH, and like, that's it (I thought of Brian May while I was writing this). I know the names of dudes like Jeff Beck and Randy Rhodes... but I don't really know their music well enough to say what position they'd play on a fictional baseball team. I guess it turns out that I know way more about baseball.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ-9QWLpNG0/U-L2HsDpinI/AAAAAAAAAlg/hS5OgiNkXrc/s1600/jeterasg-elsa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pZ-9QWLpNG0/U-L2HsDpinI/AAAAAAAAAlg/hS5OgiNkXrc/s1600/jeterasg-elsa.jpg" height="276" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What rivalry? Jeter says goodbye at the 2014 ASG</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I watched pretty much every Red Sox game of the '04 and '05 season, and listened/watched 80% of games of the '06 and '07 seasons. It didn't really feel like an obsession; if you lived in Massachusetts during those years, it was pretty normal. Almost every blue collar job had a radio playing the game somewhere, NESN probably got better ratings than ESPN, even the random transplants who moved to the Valley for academic pursuits/careers got in on the action (spreading Sox nation like a virus when they all graduated and moved away).<br />
<br />
Most days for me began around noon with a cup of coffee and whatever stimulant I could get my hands on. I'd go to work for 4-6 hours cleaning office buildings in town, or washing dishes. I'd come home, make food, and watch the game. Me, my roommates, maybe a friend or two... we'd watch the game, drink a little, maybe smoke some pot. The game would end between 10:30 and 11, and I'd walk into town, have some drinks at Hugo's or the Watering Hole, try to talk to Smith girls, get too drunk, and wander home around 2. I had a band or two on and off, I had a girlfriend at one point, I was going to take the GRE... but nothing every really happened; it was just that same day on repeat more or less; from graduation till I woke up one day and realized most of my friends had moved to New York. I knew I needed to move on. I landed a pretty good warehouse job for the growing season in one of the farm towns north of Northampton. I saved money, even spending a month sleeping on friends couches and in my car. When the Sox swept the Rockies to win the '07 World Series, I watched from my new home in Williamsburg.<br />
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Since then, my baseball life has been in steady decline. I don't equate baseball with laziness, just a way of life that I can't maintain in NYC. I moved here to be involved in music, and you just can't do that if you're sacrificing 7pm-11pm every night. I'm a sports fan, I make time for the big games if I can. Watching the one of 162 games which no one really cares about just didn't happen once I moved here, save catching the Mets if they happen to be on Pix 11 on a Saturday afternoon when I'm super hungover. The less you watch, the less you know, the less you need to watch. It really works the exact opposite of getting into the sport in the first place. It's like someone presses the rewind button on your level of interest. In addition to that, the PED thing is crazy, games are too friggin' long these days, the World Cup was excellent, and my team isn't any good... all these things add up to me having the least amount of interest in baseball since 1998.<br />
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I flipped on Fox when I got home from band rehearsal, expecting to catch either the late news, or a rerun of 30 Rock (I've seen all the episodes in syndication, but I still enjoy watching them). The All Star Game was on. It was the ASG, but it was really all about Derek Jeter. It pulled at my heart strings in a weird way that I didn't really expect, and not just because I'm a Red Sox fan.<br />
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Like a lot of little boys from small towns in New England, I was raised to like sports. I grew up playing baseball. I remember the made us our own baseball cards and all the kids listed their favorite ball player. There were 15 kids on the team. I think about 15 of us listed Jose Canseco as our favorite player. Sure, the Sox had Clemens and Wade Boggs, but the team wasn't any good. They made the Buckner World Series, but that was a couple of years before we were really aware of such things. We liked the A's and our parents didn't care. There was no Red Sox Nation and Fenway was almost always half empty (and considered a dump and a good place to get stabbed).<br />
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I stopped playing sports in high school cause I wanted to hang out with my friends and play music, and fuck around in the wilderness where adults wouldn't bother us... and generally be a screwup. The Jock/Alterna-teen line was clear cut in high school, and I knew which side was mine. I had good friends though, we watched Clerks and The Year Punk Broke a million time over. We lived in a compact, simple, and friendly world of inside jokes, hand jobs, and $20 bags of schwag. When you really identify with people at that age, you kinda become them. We were our own stoner ethnicity. Things changed when I went to college.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4cMVwbMq1U/U-L2RIAcU7I/AAAAAAAAAlo/BQB8hqFgGrg/s1600/ny_jeter_02_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y4cMVwbMq1U/U-L2RIAcU7I/AAAAAAAAAlo/BQB8hqFgGrg/s1600/ny_jeter_02_800.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeter as a kid, when they made him wear a suit and carry around Don Mattingly's spittoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I got into baseball, and really back into sports in general, slowly but surely. The beginning of this was the 1999 MLB playoffs. Long story short, the Sox looked to be to out of it against a strong Indians team, but improbably came back (Pedro's incredible relief appearance sealed the deal). It had been since the Celtics of the '80s that New England had a legitimately dominant team, a thirteen year drought. Now, we had our best pitcher ever, and our best hitter since Teddy Ballgame (Garciaparra) headed to a clash with the division rivals, The New York Yankees. However, it soon became apparent that the Sox weren't there yet. Except for a masterpiece performance by Martinez against Clemens, Boston was totally out gunned.<br />
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I don't know how or why I caught those games. I went to a hippy school, we had a hall TV... I don't know, they were just on (or maybe I put them on, I can't remember). It was the birth of the modern rivalry that would carry the game's popularity to new heights, even as a major steroid scandal was about to engulf its biggest stars. A couple years later the world was treated to the 2003 ALCS, which was one of the most dramatic series in the history of any sport, ever. The 2004 series seemed like a movie. I'm still not sure it was real.<br />
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More or less, sports fans are always going to like sports, at least when the local team is in the running. The Sox/Yanks rivalry in the early 2000's reached aspects of society that are generally untouched by popular sporting events. The game's focus shifted to two of it's oldest teams, just when the predominant counterculture became obsessed with authenticity as cultural capital. It isn't coincidence that Fenway and Pabst Blue Ribbon came back into style at the same time. I made the change as a 19 year old; from baggy clothes and long hair to tight tees and girls jeans. I remember the one bar that was cool because they had PBR and literally everywhere else had only Bud or Coors. Baseball seemed like a legit experience; not flashy corporate polished product. It seemed real. On top of that, the emergence of Sabermetrics pulled in a sector of society usually at odds with the popular sports fan; nerds. An entire generation of Dungeon Masters traded their 20 sided die for WHIP and VORP. I don't know the numbers, but I would reckon baseball was more culturally relevant in '03 and '04 then it had been since before movies were invented. <br />
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Anyhow, I don't know who from the 1999 playoffs is still playing the game, let alone at a high enough level to still hold their own amongst all stars. After this year, when Jeter retires, everyone from that 1999 series will be gone. One of the weirdest things about getting older is remembering things that aren't there anymore. It starts with single things, your dog, your father, the original World Trade Center; things that can disappear in a second. That's weird, but it's not nearly as surreal as realizing that an entire generation of dudes are fucking gone forever. Serious time has passed.<br />
<br />
To a sports fan there's three realizations between you and middle age:<br />
<br />
#1. None of the guys you worshipped as a kid are still playing.<br />
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#2. None of the guys you rooted for/against as a college-aged drunkard are still playing.<br />
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#3. You're older than the oldest guy in the league.<br />
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My friends, at the end of this season we pass step #2.<br />
<br />
You screwed my team a million times Jeter. I hated you more than anything... but fans like me, who were lucky enough to get back into the game in time to be very knowledgable for '03 and '04 series had a ride like no other sports fans in history. You lost that '04 series, but both the Yanks and Sox won a couple more, so we're all square in the end, right? To be clean and be successful in an era of rampant cheating makes you worthy of respect from event the most hardened Sox fan. Also, you stayed with one team your entire career. Granted it was a wealthy team who could afford to keep you, but still, that's incredibly special in this day and age.<br />
<br />
There are few players who close the door on an entire generation of the game when they retire. You are one. For all of us 30ish-37ish, the not quite Gen X, not quite Millennials, (the C:\ generation), you're the last page of the book.<br />
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I'm sure that Jeter's retirement means something slightly different to every ball fan of my generation. For me, happening upon the ASG was a much needed reminder that your soul can get extremely tight if you don't allow yourself to be occasionally passionate about things that are inherently silly.<br />
<br />
Go team.<br />
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Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-77735230923950316282014-07-05T14:18:00.002-04:002014-07-05T14:20:06.050-04:00HBR AMERICA SPECIAL REPORT: If NL teams were guitars.<div class="p1">
Hey everyone, here's part two, the NATIONAL LEAGUE!</div>
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<b>NL EAST</b></div>
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<b>Atlanta, Fender Telecaster</b>: Basically, the South's team get country music's favorite solid-body guitar. The Braves are a classic team, sometimes embraced by the whole nation (NL East fans aside). Tele's are kinda similar; they've always kinda been there.</div>
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<b>Washington, Fender Squire '51</b>: Traditionally, expansion teams come prepackaged with kid friendly colors, a big goofy mascot, and a ton of crazy marketing gimmicks. The idea is that, hey, we can't compete right now anyway, and the adults probably aren't going to give up on the team they've been rooting for their whole lives, so let's go after the kids, grow with them, and in a decade, we'll have a generation of fans to support us when we're finally ready to compete. Most adults hate expansion teams for this very reason. The Nats are different (not really an expansion team, I know they came from Montreal, but still, they basically started from scratch), they branded themselves right off the bat (intentional pun) as a continuation of D.C.'s baseball heritage. That what the '51 reissue is, a new-old guitar. </div>
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<b>Miami, Fernandes Vertigo</b>: They pushed these guitars pretty hard in the late 90's. It seems like the stopped manufacturing them in bright colors, which it's kinda a shame because I though they looked awesome (except for the headstock) and the price was decent. They might have blown their load a couple years too early with the marketing campaign. Anyhow, the pastel Vertigos scream "South Beach" louder than any other guitar I could think of.</div>
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<b>NY Mets, Fender Squire Stratocaster</b>: Oh the Mets. They are specifically the Strat from the Strat starter pack. They are the expansion team that kinda started that whole "get the kids hooked" thing. Mr. Met, the home run apple; shit the Yankees would never consider... Squire Strats were really cool for a heartbeat in the 80's (neat colors, oversized headstock, a little more attention to consistency on the part of Fender), as were the Mets (though the coke parties and booze binges quickly took their toll).</div>
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<b>Philadelphia, BC Rich Warlock</b>: You have to have, like, aggressively poor taste to play one of these guitars, or just be so deep into metal that you cannot clearly see the world around you. Playing one of these is just like being a Phillies fan. I get it, it's cool, you feed off the hatred. Just please try not to vomit on children.</div>
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<b>NL CENTRAL</b></div>
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<b>Milwaukee, Mosrite</b>: Classic lovable guitars. It's kinda impossible to have a strong opinion either way. I don't think I've ever know a guitarist personally who has played one of these, and I don't think I've ever know a Brewers fan. Of both the team and the axe, I'm certain of two things: they exist, and they look kinda cool.</div>
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<b>St. Louis, Gretsch Anything</b>: Well, preferably the ones with the Bigsby. The Cards are a good solid old team. I always thought that Gretscheseses's were the best of the old school hollow bodies. Drink some Buds, listen to Chet Atkins, put the Cards game on the radio. It all makes sense.</div>
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<b>Pittsburgh, Silvertone</b>: Yeah, the one with the crappy amp in the case. The Pirates are old as hell, and haven't been good in two decades, but they are still kinda badass and cool. Pittsburgh is a tough hardworking town, and Sears Silvertones were probably the first guitars for a lot of kids from Iron City</div>
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<b>Cincinnati, Peavey T60</b>: Another working class town, the dirty 'nati itself, let alone the Reds, are definitely a Peavey T60. One of the heaviest and most indestructible guitars I've ever played, the T60 is the best guitar that Peavey ever made. You are Charlie Hustle when you play one of these badboys; nothing flashy, and gritty to the core.</div>
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<b>Chicago Cubs, Rickenbacker 360</b>: Beloved by their fans for their history, classic look, and unique style, yet largely ignored by the rest of the world, the Cubs are the Rickenbackers of baseball. They have their years, but haven't been able to really sustain success, and haven't won the world series since the days of the Ottoman Empire. Ricks have faired much better over the years, but haven't broken through into the mainstream guitar market, despite their undeniable coolness.</div>
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<b>NL WEST</b></div>
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<b>LA Dodgers, Fender Stratocaster</b>: Fender's signature model screams SoCal design. In fact, I think you have to credit Leo Fender with shaping a large chunk of California culture. Just picture a 60's convertible with a long board and a Strat sitting in the back seat, like, with a neon In-n-Out Burger sign flashing overhead. The Strat is a big part of that equation. The Dodgers are an old franchise who have had their ups and downs, much like the Stratocaster, but have remained iconic. Both have a large and very diverse fan base and are considered to be the year in and year out, one of the best teams/guitars.</div>
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<b>San Francisco, Fender Jaguar</b>: Another classic team that has recently (within the last decade) become very popular nationally, I consider the Giants situation to be kinda similar to the Red Sox, so I'm comfortable with them as the Jag/Jmasters of MLB. I feel like there's a certain indie kinda coolness to the Giants that really reminds me of the Jag.</div>
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<b>San Diego, Yamaha Pacifica</b>: The Pacifica/Peavey Predator, were kinda like the Harmony/Silvertone of my generation (and the Squire Starter Pack of the current generation). For the record, I don't think that San Diego is a second rate version of Los Angeles, and I'm not trying to imply anything of the sort. Team wise though, the Padres kinda feel like a goofier younger brother. They are kinda the Mets to the Dodgers' Braves, if that makes sense. It's fitting then that they are a knockoff guitar. Also, Pacific ocean, Pacifica... that connection.</div>
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<b>Colorado, Any Paul Reed Smith</b>: It's a dumb new-ish team and a dumb new-ish guitar company. PRS is like, so slick that it sounds like your fingers are covered in vaseline and the guitar's sound waves are actually lasers. There's no raggedness to it, no grit, no personality. It's beyond me why someone would spend so much on one when they could just buy a really nice Strat or LP. Anway, jam bands like PRS and Colorado is full of hippies, right?</div>
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<b>Arizona, Steve Vai Ibanez</b>: I think the D'backs are stupid and I think this guitar sucks. It's the Strat-ish knockoff with the Floyd Rose and the stupid handle. Y'know the one. I'm sure Steve Vai plays sold-out concerts in Arizona. It's too bad, cause I love deserts.</div>
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Ok, that's a wrap for the NL. <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2014/07/hbr-america-special-report-if-al-teams.html" target="_blank">Check out the AL</a> if you haven't already.</div>
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Stop by tomorrow to find out who plays what position on my baseball team made up of famous guitarists.</div>
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PEACE OUT!</div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-44825801432110958962014-07-04T18:23:00.001-04:002014-07-04T18:24:40.183-04:00HBR AMERICA SPECIAL REPORT: If AL teams were guitars.Happy Independence Day everyone! I wanted to do something super American, so I'm doing a three-parter on baseball and guitars. Part one, published below, is a list of all the teams in the American League, and what guitars they'd be if they were guitars instead of baseball teams. Part two will be the National League, and part three will be what position famous guitarist would play if they were on a baseball team.<br />
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Here we go! (teams ordered by standing on 7/4/14)<br />
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<b>AL EAST</b><br />
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<b>Baltimore, Guild Starfire</b>: A respectable guitar that produced a lot of hits, and has been in and out of style since the 60's.<br />
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<b>Toronto, Gibson Firebird</b>: John Gibbons is Canada's team's manager, so I figured they should be a Gibson. The Firebird would be the #1 guitar if it were made by most other companies. Over the course of the last 15 years, there's a couple of Jay's teams that could have finished first in most other divisions.<br />
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<b>NY Yankees, Gibson Les Paul</b>: Yup, I'm a Yankees hater AND a Gibson hater. It's the kinda guitar that rich dicks would have, and it's a team full of rich dicks. That being said, both are incredibly popular for a reason. I don't know if you can debate the fact that they have the most consistent quality of any guitar/team in history.<br />
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<b>Boston, Fender Jazzmaster</b>: A classic second tier/second rate guitar that became nauseatingly popular in the 00's. I'm a Sox fan and a Jazzmaster owner, but that first sentence wasn't at all difficult to write. I'm amazed at the price that people will pay to A. own a Jmaster, and B. go to a game at Fenway. In 1980, you literally couldn't give those things away. However, there is a certain coolness to Fenway, and the Jazzmaster's design that make both the guitar and the team deserving of a large chunk of their fandom.<br />
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<b>Tampa Bay, Danelectro U2</b>: I feel like the Rays rebranding (dropping the "Devil," changing the uniforms) is cosmically similar to Danelectros re-emergence in the market. Pastel colors and a cheap price tag, BUT surprisingly good (at times). Really, you could choose any Dano, but I picked the U2 because I feel it was the first reissue they really pushed.<br />
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<b>AL CENTRAL</b><br />
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<b>Detroit, Epiphone Sheraton</b>: Similar to the Starfire/Baltimore relationship, just a little older. You can't argue with the Tigers as a franchise, or the Sheraton.<br />
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<b>Kansas City, Peavey Wolfgang</b>: They were kinda good in the early 80's but that's about it, so why not hook up the Royals with Eddie Van Halen's custom guitar? Peavey came out with this crappy axe in the 90's, just when grunge and alcoholism were about to end EVH's guitar dominance. The Royals might have finally righted the ship, about a decade after America was looking to jump on the bandwagon of a bunch of perennial losers with a cool stadium.<br />
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<b>Cleveland, Fender Mustang</b>: Kinda retro, kinda ok... I play one of these guitars most of the time. Cool, but definitely not a top tier axe. I love 'Stang because it fits really well in the mix, though every now and then, it can jump out and take the lead. That's kinda how the Indians are in the AL Central.<br />
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<b>Chicago Sox, Harmony Rocket</b>: Old crappy guitar that some people like cause it's old and crappy. I get it, I think it's cool too. Harmony, for most of it's existence (both as an independent company, and when they were owned by Sears) was based in Chicago.<br />
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<b>Minnesota, Gibson Explorer</b>: Minnesota is full of Scandinavians, and Scandinavians like metal, (as far as I know). So let's hook them up with friggin' metal axe that's worthy of their Viking heritage.<br />
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<b>AL WEST</b><br />
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<b>Oakland, Epiphone Les Paul</b>: Some Epiphone Les Pauls are as good as Gibsons at one tenth of the price. Basically, Oakland is trying to be sometimes as good as the Yankees with one tenth of the payroll. This one was a no brainer.<br />
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<b>LA Angels, Gibson SG</b>: Another pricey guitar for a club with a big payroll. The Angels are kinda an alternative to the Dodgers, both geographically and culturally. The SG always felt like, "Hey if you're looking for a quality instrument that's not a Strat or LP, check this our. Least fun fact of all time: SG stands for "Solid Guitar."<br />
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<b>Seattle, Ibanez GR series</b>: Could really be any Ibanez, since Raul Ibanez played most of his career with the Mariners. When I was a kid, I feel like Ibanez was really trying to cash in on the metal-er side of the grunge market. I think the modern GR series look the most like whatever the hell they were pushing on 13 year olds in Guitar Player in 1994.<br />
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<b>Texas, Washburn Whatevers</b>: Welcome to Texas. We play metal riffs on these crappy guitars. I don't know, these could be any Washburns, as long as Floyd Rose has something to do with the bridge and they look like a guitar that I would never buy.<br />
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<b>Houston, Flying V</b>: The Astros are cool because of the silliness of 60's space age design. The Flying V kinda fits with that motif. It seems pointless to me that mission control is in Houston (probably just LBJ playing favorites), and it seems pointless to design a guitar that is almost impossible to play sitting down. I do however, take great pleasure in knowing there were all these designers in the 50's and 60's who thought the 1980's would look exactly like the Jetsons.<br />
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Check back tomorrow morning for part II, the National League</div>
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<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-46972655131456541562014-06-25T00:15:00.000-04:002014-06-25T00:16:00.527-04:00The Black Black plays Cake Shop (twice), will release a new album (eventually), and loves Les Pauls I hope you're all enjoying the summer so far (all 5 days of it). I'm still recovering from a booze filled Northside weekend followed by a full week of band practice, recording, and gigs. We're slowing down with the booking thing (more on that later), and we're trying to focus more on covering some sweet local bands. Honestly, I felt a little bad about how mean I was to Gibson lovers in the <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2014/06/if-you-could-have-any-three-guitars.html" target="_blank">article on guitars</a> that I wrote two weeks ago, so I thought I'd do a quick Gchat with Jon Daily from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theblackblack.nyc" target="_blank">The Black Black</a>; a well known Gibson-a-phile.<br />
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Here's the transcript:<br />
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<b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: Start off by giving me a little history of The Black Black...<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: I started the black black in the fall of 2011. I was frustrated with my band at the time in every way possible, so I tried to create the antithesis band to it. I recorded three demos in my bedroom with my electronic drum kit. I sent the demos to my long time friend Chris and asked if he'd be interested in playing the bass (he was), and then Craigslist turned up our first drummer Johnny. It was super easy, and the band was just fun and easy for the first year with the three of us. We recorded twice, played a bunch of shows and it was just... fun.<br />
Johnny moved to CA, and then we spent a year looking for a new drummer. We had six guys do it in a year. It was pretty awful. Then Tomo came on board, and we finally got moving again... fast forward another year and we just finished recording our first LP. It'll be out on Money Fire Records in September (probably). The band was created as a cross between Big Black, McLusky, and LCD Soundsystem. I don't know if those influences are still obvious, but that was the initial idea.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwpkPHRRsbc/U6pLNcVjRDI/AAAAAAAAAjk/5vwO2pmpVUI/s1600/TBB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwpkPHRRsbc/U6pLNcVjRDI/AAAAAAAAAjk/5vwO2pmpVUI/s1600/TBB.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L.E.S. Les Paul action at Pianos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>HBR</b>: You're playing a lot these days, you have a record coming out... But I want to talk about guitars for a second... I'm a Fender guy, you're a Gibson guy... I don't want you have to defend Gibson, but what do you like about Les Pauls? What do they do for your sound that no other axe will do?<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: First and foremost it's playability. I like the way the neck and the fretboard feel on the Les Paul more than Fenders. Maybe I'm just so used to it by now, but it just fits my hands properly. The guitar playing in TBB is a lot more licks than it is strumming chords, and I think the Les Paul is more suited to that than a Strat.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: The weight sits differently too, once you get used to it, it's hard to change. What was your first guitar?<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: Yea, that's definitely true. My first electric guitar was actually a Fender Squier...but it wasn't one of the Strat knock offs... then I had an Ibanez for years that was a total pain in the ass. I actually just about stopped playing guitar because the thing was so awful to keep in tune. My first Les Paul actually got me playing guitar again for real like ten years ago. I liked the way it felt so much that I just wanted to play all the time. It totally sparked a new creativity in playing for me. I just loved playing it, and it got me writing a ton. Also, I should at least mention that GNR was a huge influence on me as a kid, so the fact that Slash plays a Les Paul is definitely a strong contributing factor to me playing one.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: So Gibson saved your musical life. I understand, I guess I never had that moment... but it's like that with bands too, there are a lot of groups who I'm like, "Hey, I know they're good, but I just didn't get into them.." What are you listening to these days?<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: Hmm... good question. I stream KEXP all day, so whatever they are playing for sure...the new Liars stuff sounds cool, and the new Orwells also. Locally, my two favorite records recently have been Slothrust, and Big Ups. Oh, and the Speedy Ortiz record is really great as well. But really I'm still just listening to the same Fugazi, LCD Soundsytem, and Built to Spill records that I have been for years.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: What's you favorite Fugazi album? I like <i>Red Medicine</i> best, and everyone thinks I'm stupid.<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: I don't think that's stupid. <i>Red Medicine</i> is great. I'd put <i>End Hits</i> up there as well. I think those two go really well together. <i>The Argument</i> is probably my favorite though...at least it's the one I find myself putting on the most.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITwiVsPJF58/U6pLemAh2TI/AAAAAAAAAjs/7pSqKCCQtwE/s1600/JD+LES+P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITwiVsPJF58/U6pLemAh2TI/AAAAAAAAAjs/7pSqKCCQtwE/s1600/JD+LES+P.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon Daily, equipped for battle</td></tr>
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<b>HBR</b>: Were you into Dischord in general?<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: Yea, for sure. Well, I basically love all of the 90s DC stuff. But Jawbox, Q and Not U, Beauty Pill, and Black Eyes are all bands from there that I love. All those records are so great. Oh, and pretty much everything from Dismemberment Plan as well. I'll never forget the first time I heard <i>No Kill No Beep Beep</i> by Q and Not U. Definitely a moment where I was like, this is what I've been looking for.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: You're from Pittsburgh. What was the local music scene like there when you were growing up? I assume there were bands in your high school, etc?<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: Yea, I played in high school, but I wasn't involved in any scene that existed outside of my parents basement. I played in the punk scene there in the early 2000s though for a little while. It was actually pretty solid there. House parties, and a decent bar scene. People would really come out and support the bands there. I guess there wasn't a lot else to do, so it was kind of the most fun option on any given night. The bars we'd play would always have the stages right with the bar, so people would actually hear you. It was a pretty solid scene...not sure what it's like these days though.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: You have an album recorded. I've heard it (thanks). It's strikes me as being really groove based. Do you approach a song from a bassist's perspective? How are songs assembled in your mind?<br />
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<b>Jon</b>: Oh yea for sure. All but a few of our songs are written on the bass, and then generally worked out as a bass and drum tune. It's all about the way the rhythms work between the bass and the drums. Guitars are layered on top usually to accentuate the groove, or add melody. Bass is king for sure, and guitar is totally secondary. I guess on that note, what does it really matter what kind of guitar I play?<br />
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We'll save the dream bass article for another date. For now, check out The Black Black at Cake Shop, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/244819002382118" target="_blank">tonight</a> (playing with HBR favorites, <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2013/07/clevelands-filmstrip-plays-brooklyns.html" target="_blank">Filmstrip</a>), and on July 5th.<br />
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"Like" HBR on Facebook ----> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-39056985544826931432014-06-10T22:54:00.000-04:002014-06-10T23:04:11.182-04:00If you could have any three guitars... You make art with a guitar in a way that is rather unique; it's not unlike the way you make art with a classic car, if such a thing were possible (in my book, it is). In and of themselves, guitars are art. Playing a song with a guitar is kinda like carving David with the Venus di Milo. Anyway, it's almost <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NorthsideFest" target="_blank">Northside</a> weekend here in Brooklyn, I'm about to see a million bands, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't silently judging the guitar choices of each and every last one. Don't think I'm a snob though, I don't give two shits about how much an instrument costs. That being said, there's a legitimate reason to judge bands by their instruments.<br />
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I'm a Fender guy, and every guitar I've ever owned has been a Fender or Fender-knockoff (except for my acoustic, but that was a gift). This is because as a teenager, I was obsessed with Sonic Youth. Gibsons, to me, stood for dick-head frat boy jock metal/grunge crap. Bands show their influences by the guitars they choose, almost as much as notes they play. I hate to divide the world into two camps based on gear, because it's more complicated than that... but if you can find me a decent band that includes a guy playing a Les Paul through a digital multi-effects processor into a Mesa Boogie full stack, I'll buy you a beer. Hell, I'll buy you a case.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qQMo61cSo0w/U5fD4pSC-VI/AAAAAAAAAjI/gAp0_BNVUkM/s1600/SOMER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qQMo61cSo0w/U5fD4pSC-VI/AAAAAAAAAjI/gAp0_BNVUkM/s1600/SOMER.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I only had time to grab one pic for this article and this is it. Scrawny punk, Mustang, Hendrix hands. Deal.</td></tr>
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There are clubs/DIY spots in this city where the sound is so bad, it actually makes more sense to judge a band buy it's gear. At least you'll know where they came from.<br />
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I asked a bunch of local guitarists what they're playing, and what their three dream guitars would be. I'll start it off:<br />
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Stephen from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanesNYC" target="_blank">The Planes</a><br />
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Current Guitar: White Fender Mustang, Japanese made from 1997. Bridge pickup switched out for a 90's stock American standard Strat pickup. Pickup switching rigged up like a Les Paul.<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. Jazzmaster with a stock neck pickup and a super high output humbucker in the bridge.<br />
#2. Squire Strat from the 80's with the giant headstock (surf green or sonic blue).<br />
#3. Mustang with Jmaster style tremolo; an actual Fender version of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jay-Turser-JT-MG-IV-Solid-Body-Electric/dp/B00DKXXICG" target="_blank">this</a>.<br />
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Micah from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theteenagemusic" target="_blank">The Teen Age</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Sunburst and cherry red Mexican Telecasters.<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. Gretsch G5810 (note. that's the rectangular Bo Diddley guitar)<br />
#2. Music Man Albert Lee HH<br />
#3. Fender Pawn Shop Jaguarillo<br />
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Marisa from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigQuiet" target="_blank">Big Quiet</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Rickenbacker 330 in fireglo.<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. Rickenbacker 360 12 string in montezuma brown<br />
#2. 1958 Gretsch 6125 in smoke green -Cadillac anniversary edition<br />
#3. Phantom mando guitar in Salmon<br />
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Mark from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Summer-Saints" target="_blank">Summer Saints</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Thinline Tele<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. Black Rickenbacker 330<br />
#2. 60s Strat with the big headstock<br />
#3. Bob Mould's Flying V<br />
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Josh from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freeoldmonk" target="_blank">Old Monk</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Gibson faded SG special - worn brown.<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. Gibson SG vintage (early 60s) with 2 P-90s, and a bigsby - red<br />
#2. Gibson SG Custom with 3 PAF humbuckers, gold hardware, and a bigsby - white<br />
#3. Gibson SG Custom with 2 coil-tapped PAFs, and a bigsby (duh) - black<br />
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Amanda from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/123crazypills" target="_blank">Crazy Pills</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Offset Fender build Jazzmaster assembled by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/totallywiredguitars" target="_blank">Totally Wired Guitars</a><br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. '59 Gibson es335<br />
#2. '67 Fender Telecaster<br />
#3. '30s Martin D28<br />
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Jeff from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/deadstarsmusic" target="_blank">Dead Stars</a></div>
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Current Guitar: 2008 Mexican Classic Player Jazzmaster (black)</div>
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Dream Guitars:</div>
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#1. 70's Fender Mustang (light blue)</div>
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#2. 60's Fender Jazzmaster (sunburst)</div>
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#3. 60's Guild Jetstar (red)</div>
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Stephanie from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GhostessTheBand" target="_blank">GHOSTESS</a></div>
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Current Guitar: American standard Strat, champagne</div>
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Dream Guitars:</div>
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#1. Gibson Les Paul.. faded tobacco, ice tea or black i'm not good with decisions... </div>
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#2. Telecaster, all black</div>
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#3. Gibson Memphis</div>
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Jessica from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Heliotropes" target="_blank">Heliotropes</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Mexican made Strat with Seymour Duncan humbuckers.<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. American standard strat, with red silver and white lace sensor pickups: I want the cream color.<br />
#2. A Mustang, because I'm 5'4 and sometimes get sad when I am dwarfed by my instrument.<br />
#3. I want one of those semi-hollow Teles too. They sound incredible.<br />
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Jon from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theblackblack.nyc" target="_blank">The Black Black</a></div>
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Current Guitar: Black Gibson Les Paul Studio -> Black Gibson Les Paul Special</div>
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Dream Guitar: </div>
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#1. Black/Maple Fender Telecaster Standard</div>
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#2. Telecaster Deluxe</div>
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#3. Fender Jaguar or Mustang I guess...</div>
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Leslie from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/haybabyband" target="_blank">Haybaby</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Ibanez artist series<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1-3. I dont have any specifics. I dig Danelectros and Silvertones, but practically every guitar I've ever had has been an Ibanez. I like their metal sustain and wide necks because I learned to play punk guitar on a classical acoustic.<br />
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Gavin from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/libelmusic" target="_blank">Libel</a><br />
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Current Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Special, Fender Jaguar (MIJ)<br />
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Dream Guitars:<br />
#1. Fender American Standard Telecaster (preferably vintage)<br />
#2. Gretsch Hollow Body (not sure which - vintage preferred)<br />
#3. Vintage Gibson Acoustic (50s preferably)<br />
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Christian from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themeaningoflifeband" target="_blank">The Meaning of Life</a></div>
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Current Guitar: 2 Fender Stratos that I got on craigslist very cheap. And a 90's Korean Squier Strato that I got with my first paycheck EVER back in Santiago de Chile.</div>
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Dream Guitars:</div>
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#1. John Lennon's guitars. Should I go to visit Yoko @ Dakota and talk to her? Guild Starfire.</div>
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#2. Rickenbacker 355... </div>
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#3. or that blue-ish Fender Strato.</div>
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Somer from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/clinicaltrialsmusic" target="_blank">Clinical Trials</a></div>
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Current Guitar: Mid 90s Fender Mustang</div>
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Dream Guitars:</div>
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#1. Another mustang- older vintage, maybe from the 60s. </div>
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#2. Another mid 90s one (mustang), and mod it with something fun like a P90. Yeah, I know, it seems like a Cobain obsession. The thing is, both those guitars are super light, perfect for a scrawny punk like me. An the neck of a Mustang makes my hands feel fast and huge like Hendrix.</div>
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#3. Univox Hi Flier</div>
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Tarra from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharkmuffin" target="_blank">Sharkmuffin</a></div>
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Current Guitar: Fender Jaguar and a Danelectro 12 string.</div>
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Dream Guitars:</div>
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#1. Fender Mustang</div>
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#2. That Silvertone guitar that has the amp built into its case.</div>
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#3. Eastwood blue shiny baritone guitar</div>
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Jeff from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/orca.age" target="_blank">Orca Age</a></div>
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Current Guitar: Thurston Moore Jazzmaster</div>
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Dream Guitars: </div>
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#1. An all orignal 59 Jazzmaster!</div>
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#2. Neil Young's Old Black (given that in this alternate reality he can keep playing at as well)</div>
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#3. My own custom Jeffmaster - Natural vintage tinted amberish color - reddish but still brown tort pickguard, regular JM pickups, maybe a tele in the bridge. vol tone knobs but bypassable (direct to output) no rhythm circuit. 7.5 radius but med jumbo frets. </div>
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Michael from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lowfatgettinghigh" target="_blank">Low Fat Getting High</a></div>
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Current Guitar: Currently I rotate between a Fender custom shop Strat, it's daphne blue with the middle pickup removed. The pickup selector is a dial with a tone mod in the circuit. I also use a Mexican Fender Jazzmaster with swapped out pickups. The neck is a custom gold JM pickup made by Curtis Novak, and the bridge is a Seymour Duncan JM standard pickup.</div>
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Dream Guitars:</div>
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#1. Seafoam green Italia Mondial</div>
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#2. Distressed white Fano alt de facto sp6. (had my eye on this before Fred Armisen popped up on the Seth Meyers show with this thing too....)</div>
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#3. Gibson SG standard. Walnut.</div>
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Robin from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/slangkingband" target="_blank">Slang King</a></div>
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Current Guitar: Two SGs, one is a silverburst, the other is black, a reissue of the '61 that I got in 1997.</div>
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Dream Guitars:</div>
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#1. SG GT in muscle green even though I've heard it's a terrible guitar.</div>
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#2. Fender '59 Strat (American Vintage), in Sherwood green metallic</div>
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#3. The last one I'm not sure. Maybe a bass. SG or something better...I'd have to try some out or get recs from bass playing friends... Though just for ridiculous kicks, what about a flying V, hahahahaha!!!!</div>
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Steve from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClouderNY" target="_blank">Clouder</a></div>
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Current Guitar: Gretsch Electromatic</div>
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Dream Guitars: </div>
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#1. Any Rickenbacker</div>
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#2. An old ass Fender Jazzmaster</div>
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#3. A coral electric sitar</div>
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And there you have it! Les Pauls rank pretty low on the list here. Strats make a stronger showing that I would have thought. Seems like Fender would be wise to make more giant headstocks. Rickenbackers are popular among this set, despite their relatively small market share in the outside world. </div>
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Thoughts? Come find us at any one of the three Hearts Bleed Radio showcases this weekend and let us know! <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2014/05/hearts-bleed-radios-official-northside.html" target="_blank">Check out the preview</a>, and RSVP below.</div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/781235625234087/" target="_blank">June 13th</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/702791543113525/" target="_blank">June 14th</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/683489548385466/" target="_blank">June 15th</a></div>
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Don't forget to "like" HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-71373074407668703042014-05-28T00:13:00.001-04:002014-05-28T00:20:05.014-04:00Hearts Bleed Radio's Official Northside Showcase Previews! The <a href="http://northsidefestival.com/" target="_blank">2014 Northside Festival</a> is right around the corner. We're looking forward to four days of music, whiskey, food, and musicians being treated like they deserve to be treated all the time. The best thing about Northside is it's walkability; it never feels like you're more than a five minute walk from the next venue. If I'm not playing a show, I'll be bumming around North Brooklyn in an endless loop of whiskey, tacos, and rock 'n roll. That being said, most likely, I will be playing/hosting a show. This year, Hearts Bleed Radio is proud to bring you two and a half showcases. We'll cross paths with you at some point. It was meant to be.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bcnawfeia6o/U4Vgzi3LTHI/AAAAAAAAAig/mPSl7AkPS44/s1600/the_teen_age.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bcnawfeia6o/U4Vgzi3LTHI/AAAAAAAAAig/mPSl7AkPS44/s1600/the_teen_age.jpg" height="318" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Teen Age, probably trying to find the entrance to Pet Rescue</td></tr>
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/781235625234087/" target="_blank">SHOWCASE #1 </a></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/781235625234087/" target="_blank">Friday, June 13th</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/781235625234087/" target="_blank">Pet Rescue</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/theteenagemusic" target="_blank">The Teen Age</a> are one of those bands that effortlessly brings a vibe that, I guess in my head I refer to as "beer drinker's energy." I wouldn't want to call them a "high energy" band, because I don't want you think they're punks or anything like that. They have good energy; it's the kind of energy that comes from beer calories. They are a fucking blast. They are kicking off our weekend.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=778698498/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=952462553/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://theteenagemusic.bandcamp.com/album/matador-7-single">Matador 7&quot; Single by The Teen Age</a></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Teenage-Stride/48281173836" target="_blank">My Teenage Stride</a> is the long time project of the multi-talented singer/guitarist/producer/king of Facebook; Jed Smith. Jed is one of the best songwriters I know, and I know a lot of songwriters. MTS is a songwriting clinic in action. Enjoy their music, and learn something too. Funny story, I realized last year that I saw Jed's old band open for Superdrag at Pearl Street in Northampton, MA like, in '99 or '00. Brooklyn feels like a weird "LOST" island more and more every day.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=3068029620/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://myteenagestride.bandcamp.com/track/pilot-mice">Pilot Mice by My Teenage Stride</a></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanesNYC" target="_blank">The Planes</a> get good gas milage and fit into the tiniest parking spaces, but still have enough horsepower to pass a semi on one of those scary ass dotted yellow line highways. They are kinda the HBR house band. You know them by now, right?<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3012721304/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3941323833/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://theplanesnyc.bandcamp.com/album/echo-forever-forever-echo">Echo Forever/Forever Echo by The Planes</a></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharkquestionmark" target="_blank">Shark?</a> Yes, dammit, SHARK?! Is it a shark? We tried to book these guys a couple times in the past, but nothing ever materialized... until now. This band is too good to be contained in a small place like Pet Rescue. I don't know what exactly is going on in this video, but I promise you there will be no weird predator aliens at the show.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mQCWNDoVLY/U4VhNEBdFMI/AAAAAAAAAio/IX9-qp5PbtA/s1600/CLOUDER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mQCWNDoVLY/U4VhNEBdFMI/AAAAAAAAAio/IX9-qp5PbtA/s1600/CLOUDER.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found this pic of Clouder online, it was taken by Bryan of <a href="http://mountsharp.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Mount Sharp</a></td></tr>
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/702791543113525/" target="_blank">SHOWCASE #2</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/702791543113525/" target="_blank">Saturday, June 14th</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/702791543113525/" target="_blank">Matchless</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/themeaningoflifeband" target="_blank">The Meaning of Life</a> is like a cool drink on a hot day. Their tunes are smooth and simple, without dragging or getting boring; but also lush and texturally deep without getting sonically crowded or muddy. Get to the show early (The Planes are opening this one up), and have a strong cocktail with this band. Let them part the seas for you.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/haybabyband" target="_blank">Haybaby</a> is kinda like a bottle of soda that you shake up and throw in the air. When it hits the ground, it explodes like actual dynamite, and you're like, "whoa." They are a throwback, but also modern. They can do a bass groove grunge-y thing, and mix in the occasional guitar riff explosion. Good live vibes.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=2699842955/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=4106240237/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://haybaby.bandcamp.com/album/superpresent">SUPERPRESENT by Haybaby</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/freeoldmonk" target="_blank">Old Monk</a> is releasing an album at this show. I take this to mean that they'll probably be famous soon. They are my pick for this year's "band that should be on everyone's radar." Old Monk are unbelievably tight. The can do all sorts of proggy left hand turns, abrupt stops, and dynamic changes, and the caveman Ramones fan inside of me can still follow the melody. Josh Carrafa might be my favorite local guitarist.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=1159272445/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://oldmonk.bandcamp.com/track/seymour-single">Seymour [Single] by old monk</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/miniboone" target="_blank">Miniboone</a> is a party in a can. Or they are a spring-loaded snake that pops out of the can and hits you in the face. Either way, you're in for an experience. I saw them play last at Mercury Lounge and it was incredible. We're lucky to have them in a joint like Matchless. You have a good time at a Miniboone show; even if you get dumped, mugged, or injured. They have band magnet waves the alter your internal compass.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClouderNY" target="_blank">Clouder</a> is a riot/party waiting to happen. In fact, it's not really fair to the venue to have Old Monk/Miniboone/Clouder back to back to back. I'm not sure the place can take it. Clouder draws on influences from 60's garage to 00's indie, and most everything in between, while maintaing the feel of a hard talking, hard drinking, bar band. Eric Gilstrap plays the archetypical rock 'n roll lead singer like few others. It's a sort of homecoming show for the band. Don't plan on being anywhere too early on Sunday morning.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1899268429/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3490501372/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://fleetingyouthrecords.bandcamp.com/album/clouder-sister-raygun">Clouder- Sister Raygun by Clouder</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZO2FXmQYcI/U4VhsxnDQmI/AAAAAAAAAiw/O9TIOlRshfs/s1600/LBLnside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BZO2FXmQYcI/U4VhsxnDQmI/AAAAAAAAAiw/O9TIOlRshfs/s1600/LBLnside.jpg" height="241" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let's Be Loveless. Haha, I love press photos. Seriously though, this band is rad.</td></tr>
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<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/683489548385466/" target="_blank">SHOWCASE #3 HBR/NOISE LOVE</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/683489548385466/" target="_blank">Sunday, June 15th</a></b><br />
<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/683489548385466/" target="_blank">Matchless Matinee</a> </b><br />
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Provided the joint is still standing, and we're all still functioning (I plan on sleeping over), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BigQuiet" target="_blank">Big Quiet</a> opens up the show on Sunday afternoon. The Brooklyn/Glasgow (I had to) three-piece is known for their short catchy songs; college/jangle rock with slight indie-punk overtones. They rock harder than almost any band that uses a distortion pedal less than 5% of the time.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/track=999754935/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://bigquiet.bandcamp.com/track/why-do-we-bother">Why Do We Bother? by big quiet</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/LetsBeLoveless" target="_blank">Let's Be Loveless</a> bribed me with hot sauce from Belize, but little did they know I would have put them on this bill anyway. I can't believe that festival organizers weren't all over these guys. They are so good at their own unique kind of shoegazey dream-pop star particle explosion. They are a solid band who plays to their strengths and makes it easy for the crowd to get on their wavelength.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3277596436/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3908582914/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://letsbeloveless.bandcamp.com/album/lets-be-loveless">Let&#39;s be Loveless by Let&#39;s be Loveless</a></iframe><br />
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I was at a picnic with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/livingkills" target="_blank">The Living Kills</a> last weekend, and I didn't even realize it. That's what happens in this world where we do business be email and you don't see what people look like till you get to the show. We're pumped to have them on the bill. I love it when bands have a kind of psych thing AND a lo-fi punk thing going on, 'cause I feel like in real life, those two crowds didn't get along great. It's kinda like we're rewriting history.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/123crazypills" target="_blank">Crazy Pills</a> are no stranger to HBR showcases, though this time, the credit in booking them goes to Kelly from Noise Love. They are a garage/rockabilly band who at their most frantic sound to me like punks trying to play country music (I mean that in a good way). The Pills are no strangers to well written hooks and strong grooves, and put on a hell of a show.<br />
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1494844301/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=3544816819/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://crazypills123.bandcamp.com/album/restless">Restless by Crazy Pills</a></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/easternhollows" target="_blank">Eastern Hollows</a> is the last of the bands we're personally involved with (though official Northside stuff will be going down into the night). We booked these guys back in March, but it was Kelly who wrangled them this time around. I missed that show because I was in Austin for SXSW, and I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to catching their set as much as anything else going on this weekend. And they're a small band, in a small bar, at 5pm, for 5 bucks.<br />
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And that's what's cool about Northside. Some people might think the festival isn't a big deal because their aren't that many big headliners, their isn't a ton of media coverage, and there aren't all these tales of little bands getting discovered and "making it" because they played a great set in front of the right person. But seriously, I don't care about any of that bullshit. To me, it's just nice to be a part of something that square society hasn't had a chance to ruin.<br />
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Apologies to bands who we didn't have room for, and to local bands who didn't make it into the festival this year. I know exactly what it's like. I've been a musician in this city for eight years, and more often than not, I've been on the outside looking in. I know most of you act cool, like it doesn't really matter, and I think that's a testament to how classy you are. But it does suck to feel left out, especially when you spend the rest of the year playing the same dives, lugging your crap on the same train, sweating/freezing in the same crappy practice space, and dealing with all the challenges that make being a musician here, well, downright hellish at times. I know it's a small thing, but for anyone who has played an HBR showcase and didn't get a wrist band this year, shoot me an email and I'll guest list you for all our festival shows. I don't even care if there's 50 of you and house fees don't get met and I go broke/get fired. Fuck it. It's your community and I want you here.<br />
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Fingers crossed for nice weather, free hoodies, and the energy to rock as hard on Sunday afternoon as I will on Friday night.<br />
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Like The Northside Festival on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NorthsideFest" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Like Hearts Bleed Radio on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Check out our Fridays at Matchless <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/403228253153718/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1418242568448971/" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/720987344611519/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-37582442823883759182014-04-25T00:09:00.000-04:002014-04-25T00:11:34.572-04:00A Boy's Irrational Bedtime Fear: Let's Be Loveless Talk Recording and Nightmares<br />
It feels like it's been forever since we've done a good old fashioned chat interview here on Hearts Bleed Radio. In my defense, I've been doing a shit ton of booking (May has 5 friggin' Fridays!). This week we have a showcase on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/233919726809849" target="_blank">Friday at Matchless</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/684841451578620" target="_blank">Saturday at Pet Rescue</a>. You should probably come to both of them, because, whoever you are, I don't seen you enough and we need to hang out more. So... Friday's lineup is great. Opening up is me, Stephen Otto Perry, playing solo, like I never do. Second we have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whitelikefire" target="_blank">White Like Fire</a>, all the way from Pittsburgh, PA (they are awesome!) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shelterdogstheband" target="_blank">Shelter Dogs</a> (Brian LaRue's other other band, which he fronts). Next is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LetsBeLoveless" target="_blank">Let's Be Loveless</a>, and closing out the night is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theblackblack.nyc" target="_blank">The Black Black</a>. I can't say enough about this lineup, it's diverse but it works. Anyway, we had some chat action with Abby and Eric from Let's Be Loveless. Here's the transcript:<br />
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<b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: You guys have been busy in the studio. You have a single and a B-side dropping this week and an EP on the way?<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Well, we just mixed/mastered 2 songs out of about 7 tunes we've been painstakingly writing/recording. It's been a year process. We get a little obsessive when recording. We are hoping to drop one of them this week, and maybe another in May to keep people interested.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: We are super excited to release these songs.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Which one is dropping this week?<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Well, not sure. Which one do you think works. Stephen, You are like the 3rd person to hear them. Ha.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: We'll get back to you on which single we're releasing, but it will either be "Hostages" or "A Boy's Irrational Bedtime Fear" or "Death to the Moon."<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Do you enjoy recording?<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Recording is actually my favorite part of the process. Liquor helps a lot when doing vocals.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Really? Haha, it's my least favorite.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Yeah, I'm a fan of writing/recording. It's when I feel like I'm actually creating something.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Yes, it's like giving birth.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z76zcsNtgH4/U1neNkwN-cI/AAAAAAAAAhs/Y_uN9Lrp0uY/s1600/LBL+%231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z76zcsNtgH4/U1neNkwN-cI/AAAAAAAAAhs/Y_uN9Lrp0uY/s1600/LBL+%231.jpg" height="333" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abby and Eric, I'm not even going to describe this picture, it's too perfect.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>HBR</b>: I think "A Boy's Irrational Bedtime Fear" is the first single.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: I think so too. It's a rocker, and has awesome Smiths'y title.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: What's that song about?<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: I'm a pretty fearful person, so it's a play on all my worries. I imagined tons of monsters (like most kids) did when I was younger.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: My bedroom in the house I grew up in was the room in which my great aunt died. The title of the song brings back some freaky memories for me.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Whoa!!! That is freaky.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Eric, were you afraid of anything as a kid?<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Bees, dude, they sting! Still am honestly. There, I just opened up to you guys.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Here's just a few of my fears: monsters, spiders, the water/ocean, heights, robbers, bad guys, etc... I was always afraid of all those horror movie villains, esp. cause I have long hair like most victims do.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Oh, and the incredible hulk TV show. That guy freaked me out.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: What? Lou??? No way.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Abby, you're afraid of the ocean? You seem like a seafaring person. (is that a weird thing to think about someone?)<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Yep, sure am. I may be one of the few Californians who gets anxious at all the beautiful beaches. I can't swim. So yes, scared of drowning. Maybe Lou could save me... But anyway, the lyrics may also be a reference to The Walking Dead and zombies. I was thinking of a mom singing a twisted lullaby to her kid during a zombie apocalypse.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sxtK5XMOFjI/U1neX9zGy1I/AAAAAAAAAh0/vGcqEH0cZ4s/s1600/LBL+band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sxtK5XMOFjI/U1neX9zGy1I/AAAAAAAAAh0/vGcqEH0cZ4s/s1600/LBL+band.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a normal day in the fictional Let's Be Loveless house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>HBR</b>: How do you guys work, like, as a band? Where do songs come from and how do they get finalized?<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: We all have such rigid schedules that we have to be insanely prepared when we get together. Especially with Chris and Gary since they travel far to get to our space. Usually we jam out ideas until it feels good. If Abby gets inspired by some of the ideas, we demo the crap out of them at my place with layers and layers of vocals. It's really a test of working within boundaries. We don't have time like we used to when we were younger, so it's really a matter of making sure we make the most of our time together. From everyone. Between the four of us there is so much talent that we need to solidify our best assets and make the end means our best statement with out stepping on each other toes... And within 3 min pop songs.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: How do you think that affects the end result? How would it be different if you all lived in the same house?<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: In San Francisco, I was in a few bands and did live/date my bandmate, and it can be really great... But it can also get messy. I think Let's Be Loveless is really efficient with the writing, We'd probably hate each other if we lived together. Lots of pillow fighting... Unless we got a dog, then the Band Dog would make us all friends again.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Sometimes I kinda like having limited time because it helps you focus.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: I agree with that too stephen. I like writing songs with 2-3 chords sometimes. It trims the fat.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Ha, you only need 3 chords in rock n' roll. But the truth is, we have so much material, it's great to finally get a lot of them out.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Actually, I don't think we made it to 4 chords yet? Or did we Abby?<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: I haven't been keeping track. Hee.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: A lot of your stuff may be simple chord-wise, but it has a really interesting and complex texture. How do you guys get that sound, and are you generally on the same page as far as like, the "sonic color" of everything is concerned?<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Well, Our secret weapon is our rhythm section. They are like the best.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: I'm a huge fan of dreamy vocals and oohs and ahhhs, Beach Boys stuff, but I think we all bring something unique. Chris and Gary are great, Eric's guitars really are special, and then my soft vocals just finish it.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: I don't know what we would do without them. Gary and Chris lay down a solid beat and rhythm, and it gives abby and I a good foundation to experiment and add as much color as we need to.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: J Pop meets The Jesus Mary Chain.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Eric, give me the pedal rundown real quick.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Ha. I hate pedals. I'd have one if it was in vogue.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Your sound is great though, tell us your secrets!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1nAD8LCqjk/U1neDiQes6I/AAAAAAAAAhk/gMdJyYg32Pw/s1600/eric's+guitar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B1nAD8LCqjk/U1neDiQes6I/AAAAAAAAAhk/gMdJyYg32Pw/s1600/eric's+guitar.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric's rig from his POV.</td></tr>
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<b>Abby</b>: sssssecreeetttts... to a cauldron, add one part dog fur and one part whiskey. Broken heart tears... poof!<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: No secrets. Just hours of noodling scales on my couch while watching TV. If a player has more than 4 pedals he/she doesn't know what he/she is doing. (unless you are the Edge) Also, I'm a little old school when it comes to tone. I like getting different tones from where I pick and how hard I pick. and volume and tone knobs are there for a reason. No point in buying a $200 pedal to help with that.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Do you guys dream a lot?<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Sleep dream? Yes.<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: I dreamt I was getting eaten by cats last week.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Yummy<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: For them!<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Eric, what do you think that means?<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: I think I know what it means...<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Oh god, I don't know. I'm sure I'm emotionally stable. No worries here...<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: sssseeeecrettts... I'll just say I think it's about women. Funny, I often have animals in my dreams. One recurring nightmare I have is a wolf chasing me at a picnic. It started as a kid and I'll still have it once in a while.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Is that an anxiety dream?<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Yes, I'd love to turn it into a music video of some kind.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: I have one where I'm driving a car over a bridge and the incline keeps getting steeper and the lane keeps getting narrower, and it feels like I'm going to fall over backwards, and then I wake up.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: Whoa, All 3 of these would be great short films.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Concept album?<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Ha. Maybe? That's quite an endeavor.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Ok, I'm going to let you guys go. We have the single coming out, the show on Friday (which is also Eric's birthday), what else do you have coming up?<br />
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<b>Eric</b>: Northside Fest. New EP, and a Release Party.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Northside HBR show! Almost forgot.<br />
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<b>Abby</b>: We have some videos we'd like to release soon too, some will be an acoustic version of our songs. So excited about all these things!!! We love HBR!<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Haha, awwww. Well thanks for taking the time! I think it's best we all go to bed now and dream our hellish anxiety nightmares.<br />
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Sleep tight kids! Remember, you can find us most Friday nights at Matchless!<br />
<br />
RSVP to Showcase #17 ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/233919726809849" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
RSVP to Showcase #18 ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/684841451578620" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Like LBL on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LetsBeLoveless" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
And Like HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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See you at the show!<br />
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<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-31902998529707543822014-04-04T00:13:00.000-04:002014-04-04T17:47:20.751-04:00Sunset Guns release "Not Clean" EP, to play HBR showcaseI love writing a title like the above... like I work for Brooklyn Vegan or something... like you're supposed to to know who the band is, like it's as clear as "Germany invades Poland, to annex Austria." But I never know who any of those fucking bands are.<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SunsetGuns" target="_blank">Sunset Guns</a> are sweet. We've <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2013/06/shooting-shit-with-sunset-guns.html" target="_blank">interviewed</a> them before. There was an injury to the drummer of <a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2013/03/summer-saints-spring-rock-out.html" target="_blank">Summer Saints</a>, so SG's jumped on the bill, cause that's the kinda guys they are; they are true homies. We have three Sunset Guns plugs. Here goes nothing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UKsH8rje_I/Uz4wiYSCcyI/AAAAAAAAAhE/zMAg8yowhKI/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6UKsH8rje_I/Uz4wiYSCcyI/AAAAAAAAAhE/zMAg8yowhKI/s1600/photo+(10).JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The EP, pictured with the Bearcat.</td></tr>
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<i>Not Clean</i><br />
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</i> This EP (cassette tape/download) rocks. It's pure 'Guns. On paper, the tempo isn't that fast, but SG's put so much energy into everything, it gives a high velocity illusion. John Wooden said, "Be quick, but don't hurry." The 'Guns are the musical embodiment of that quote. "Eviction Notice" is my favorite track. "There's no next door anymore," gets looped in my stupid, broken brain. Wait, did I pay rent this month? <br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/26002676&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/648981821834882/" target="_blank">HBR Showcase at Matchless 4/4/14</a><br />
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Because of the song "Pride" by U2, I'll always know that MLK was shot on April 4th. I like U2 up until about 1998, and I'm not afraid to admit it. ANYHOW, we got Sunset Guns playing the unglamorous, but very necessary, 8:50-9:25 slot, between a solo opener with no friends*, and an out of town act. See what I mean about being true homies. Come support them. I think there will be free cassettes!<br />
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<a href="http://www.squarezeros.com/" target="_blank">Square Zeros</a><br />
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Jon and Derek (SG's guitar playing singers) have a sweet ass podcast, the origins of which can be traced back to this very blog. What was a neat project that I totally thought they'd get bored of and give up on after 3 episodes, has blossomed into a pretty interesting collection of interviews. It's a musical show and tell; musicians bring in recordings of their earliest bands and basically explain what they were trying to do. So far, everything has been either good or funny. You know what they say, "A ghost will haunt you for a night, but your past will haunt you forever." (no one says that, but they really should) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/squarezeros" target="_blank">Like them on Facebook</a> to keep up with new releases.<br />
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THAT DOES IT.<br />
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See you at the show tomorrow, and for Pete's sake, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">like HBR on Facebook</a>. It makes my Mom think I'm famous.<br />
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*Daniel can take a joke. I think.<br />
<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-11268739594369311452014-03-30T19:38:00.001-04:002014-03-30T19:40:19.020-04:00The guitar guy played real good feedback... The top 5 Lee Ranaldo Sonic Youth songs. When I was a teenager I had the world subdivided into two sets of people, those who liked Sonic Youth, and those who did not. They were the most famous obscure band in the world. Obscure to the general population of course, not the arty-intellectual types like my friends. During a time when grunge and hip hop were breaking into the mainstream, most kids were exposed to at least some decent music, just by turning on the radio. If you were into Sonic Youth, it meant you dug a little bit deeper. SY fans weren't going to be jocks, call you a fag for having dyed hair, probably read books other than the ones required by school, and generally, were less likely to be total dicks.<br />
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When Thurston and Kim split up, I gotta say, I didn't really care. Maybe I'm just jaded, old, cynical, but I'm an adult now, they are people, shit happens, whatever. I like the newer Sonic Youth albums, but I really haven't been deep into a SY release since <i>A Thousand Leaves.</i> It's not them, it's me. I don't think they ever put out a bad album maybe unless you count <i>Cicconne Youth </i>or whatever your least favorite SYR EP was, and that's really incredible. That's NINE albums that I love and another handful that are somewhere between good and very good.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShchNqy2XBM/Uzio6IE0ViI/AAAAAAAAAgs/757xSBD1HUI/s1600/SYearly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShchNqy2XBM/Uzio6IE0ViI/AAAAAAAAAgs/757xSBD1HUI/s1600/SYearly.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing will ever be as cool as this. Deal with it.</td></tr>
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I saw Lee Ranaldo play one of the last shows at Maxwell's (RIP). The timing of it all; the Kim and Thurston split, the SY breakup, and Lee releasing a strong album of very accessible rock songs, really put a spotlight (for me at least) on Ranaldo's work in SY. Part of me wanted to avoid gossiping or even realizing that the couple who defined the band that basically shaped my existence has broken up. Part of me was pumped from seeing a really good show, with a band member who had always been a supporting actor finally in the starring role. For the first time since hearing <i>Washing Machine</i> back in 1995, I really saw Sonic Youth with the indie-camelot folklore stripped away.<br />
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It made me go back through Lee's songs and really look at them side by side. I wonder if there were a lot of ideas that got scrapped because he was only going to be singing a song or two per album, and that's why most of his songs are awesome. Then again, SY always seemed like band that jammed songs out. I assume a lot of great parts in Kim or Thurston songs were written by Lee, (and vice versa), so for the purpose of our studies, "Lee songs" are going to be considered songs where Ranaldo is the lead singer throughout. Anyway, here's the list.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfW0-nrO_f4/Uzio2GFqykI/AAAAAAAAAgo/al0wkiYPbKo/s1600/lee-ranaldo-new-york.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfW0-nrO_f4/Uzio2GFqykI/AAAAAAAAAgo/al0wkiYPbKo/s1600/lee-ranaldo-new-york.jpg" height="291" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern day Ranaldo. Guitar wizard/scientist meets bleeding heart songwriter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>#5 Skip Tracer</b><br />
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Lee does the kinda spoken word poetry thing a lot. It's his calling card, though he does have a very clear and honest singing voice when he chooses to use it. "Skip Tracer" is a diary entry, or a travelogue. It's road weary, but proud. Hyper-hip, but self aware and aware of the foolishness of it all. If you had to pick one Lee song to show an alien, this might be the one. I think he's hands down the best lyricist in the group.<br />
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<b>#4 NYC Ghosts & Flowers</b><br />
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This is another spoken word heavy, winding track. It's a sad remembrance of someone's former life. Whether it's Ranaldo's own, or a character's, is irrelevant to me. It's fourth on this list for personal reasons. In the spring of '00, Sonic Youth played the fair grounds in Northampton (it was some sort of small festival). It was my first year in college. I dropped acid with my girlfriend and a small mix of college and high school friends. I tried to time it so I'd peak during SY's set, and be functional by the time we had to leave, but even good acid can be unpredictable. I was spaced out and weird the whole time; waves of fuzzy energy, building into something unknown. We worked our way to about 40 feet from the stage. The sunny day had turned overcast. Lee walked up to the mic and said, "We're going to play a rain dance." The band broke into NYC Ghosts & Flowers. On the "Left out in the rain," line a single raindrop landed squarely on my forehead. The acid kicked in like a motherfucker. I spent the next five hours not on planet Earth.<br />
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<b>#3 Eric's Trip</b><br />
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To me, this is like, THE Lee song. So good that a pretty <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric's_Trip" target="_blank">sweet band</a> if named after it. It's more of a straight up rocker; driving, with the snare on the beats and that super jagged mid-era SY guitar sound. They got better as a band, and they got to work with better studios, and the sound got way less rough and DIY sounding. There are plusses and minuses to that. <i>Daydream</i> is the last album before DGC, and at that point, they are produced like any other decent band of the era. I wish I could hear <i>Jet Set</i> or <i>Dirty</i> produced like <i>DN</i>, not that it would be better, just probably really different. Full disclosure, I think "Hey Joni" is just as good, or maybe better, but for some reason "Eric's Trip" always pops into my mind when I think of Lee. You can't go against your gut.<br />
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<b>#2 Wish Fulfillment</b><br />
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Personal reasons on this one too. I had a crush on a girl who loved this song, or at least I thought she loved this song. I don't know, you're young and everything is wrong, and here's this sweet love song... It wouldn't surprise me if this track was #1 on the "15 year old's crush mix tape" charts from 95-97. Hell, hopefully it's still there today. I think this will be the song selection that most disagree with, but whatever. If you have the relationship with this song that I do (and I'm betting a ton of you guys do) you'll understand. If not, just put "Karen Revisited" or "Genetic" at #5 and slide everything else up.<br />
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<b>#1 Pipeline/Kill Time</b><br />
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This is a fierce fucking song. It's got that mid-era roughness, the kinda cyber-punk-future-porn dystopian theme that runs wild on <i>Sister</i>... shit, it's kinda the opposite of "Wish Fulfillment" in most ways. It's one of the darker Lee songs for sure. I think what is so special about this track is the duality of "Pipeline" and "Kill Time." The "Pipeline" section being a well composed rock song, and "Kill Time" being two minutes of noise, feedback, and primordial pedals. It's really Sonic Youth in a nutshell.<br />
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Listen to the tracks. Leave your feedback. Twister, Dust-buster, Hospital Bed. I'll see you, see you, see you on the highway.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:wagonzilla:playlist:6m4neXdKKaKi4GnxlMwgsr" width="300"></iframe><br />
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Don't forget guys, we have another awesome showcase this Friday at Matchless! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/648981821834882" target="_blank">More info here</a>.<br />
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And don't forget to like HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-86701407340055648652014-03-23T18:24:00.000-04:002014-03-23T18:36:11.322-04:00Eastern Hollows release video for "Summer's Dead" and hit the studio!<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/easternhollows" target="_blank">Eastern Hollows</a> are a great local band who are hopefully poised for gaining more popular and critical attention. It seems to be a busy spring for the Brooklyn-based quintet; we were lucky to have them perform at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/596660417093761/" target="_blank">showcase #12 (3/14/14)</a> and hopefully will get them again for a show in the future. Easter Hollows sounds part shoegaze, part C86, and part post-punk. Imagine a poppy guitar driven British band the 80's and add more washy reverb, and better/more modern guitar pedals. They are familiar, but not stale. Interesting enough, but simple enough to be catchy. Jeremy and Travis were nice enough to exchange some emails with me regarding their newest video, which was released last week.</span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: This starts out with very muted colors, cuts of the city... I was preparing myself for another "band on a roof" video, but it really takes off and becomes colorful and exciting. Where did the inspiration come from? How did the concept evolve?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Jeremy</b> (drums/percussion): The concept and idea evolved naturally from the aesthetic that we have followed on all of our artwork to date - colorful images always involving flowers. The design and artwork all came from Cassandra Gibbons (she is also the unnnamed hooded figure in the video placing the flowers). She is a great artist and has been responsible for all art direction by offering up different samples and concepts for us to choose from. This video was her idea that she developed along with the director, Julian Kauffmann. "Giant paper flowers that grow and eventually take over the entire city" was the main idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>HBR</b>: The song is titled "Summer's Dead," which I assumed meant "Summer IS Dead." Upon watching the video, I guess it means, "The Dead belonging to Summer." Correct? What is the song about? (and thanks for inadvertently teaching me a grammar lesson)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Travis</b> (lead singer/rhythm guitar/lyric writer): "Well, it was meant as "summer is dead." Not ownership. I thought it could be either depending on the context. Maybe I need a grammar lesson. It was loosely about a Smith's lyric I had always heard wrong and about the time of writing the song. Summer was just ending, getting sentimental about a great summer and that lyric. [Smith's] lyric is: "I want the freedom and the guile"---I always thought it was guide and not guile. This is in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfXnhcL4I0&feature=kp" target="_blank">"I Won't Share You"</a> I loved the idea of wanting both freedom and guide because that's how I feel all the time. Wanting freedom but then unsure what to do with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>HBR</b>: How long did it take you guys to shoot? Any interesting stories from production?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Jeremy</b>: There were a few days of shooting. Cass, Sean, and Julian shot the scenes where she is going around placing the flowers. The scenes of us playing on the rooftop were shot a few weekends later. That footage was shot on the roof of Castlebraid (that apartment building in Bushwick). It was the middle of the summer last year and we wanted to start early - I think we got all of our gear there around 9 am - but we couldn't actually get on the roof for a few hours. We wound up kinda just sneaking up there and setting the gear up and shooting as quickly as we could, but it took most of the day. There were probably like 10 takes of us miming along all edited together by Julian into the final product. Sunburn wound up being pretty brutal, but it was worth it. Julian took all the footage and edited it all together and then animated all the flowers in. It was a lot of work on his part, but he did a truly fantastic job. We are hugely proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with someone so talented.</span></div>
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</b> <b>HBR</b>: Nowadays, the industry is different, technology is different... What do you think is the role of the music video these days? More important or less important? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Travis</b>: I think videos are so accessible today that they can be a really good introduction to a band. You get the visual sensibility of the band's style. It's a chance to give a more complete song idea by adding visuals to the audio.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Jeremy</b>: Definitely a great thing to have supporting a single or release. Everyone is obsessed with content and everything is just kinda flash-in-the-pan, having a cool video like this just helps people care about your song more. </span><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">HBR</b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">: What's coming up for the band this spring? Any plans to record, tour? New releases?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Travis</b>: We are recording another EP next week at Galuminum Foil in Brooklyn and then just supporting those releases with shows throughout the spring and summer.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b>Jeremy</b>: "Summer's Dead" is the lead single off our forthcoming self-titled debut LP. The record will be out on vinyl and digital on May 19th via ClubAC30 records and there will be a limited edition 7" of "Summer's Dead" on electric blue vinyl out May 5th. That actually just went up for pre-order today - <a href="http://store.clubac30.com/products/526488-eastern-hollows-summers-dead" target="_blank">get your copy now</a>. Rest of the year will be spent writing and recording new material and playing shows / touring in support of these releases.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To keep up with Eastern Hollows, like them on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/easternhollows" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don't forget to RSVP to next week's HBR showcase at Matchless ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/212815762246192/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">And super don't forget to like HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/212815762246192/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-46302319020067975212014-03-22T18:50:00.004-04:002014-03-22T18:52:19.606-04:00Quiet Loudly's LAST FRIGGIN' SHOWHey people!<br />
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I've been insanely busy and I haven't written ANYTHING in FOREVER. I'm breaking my silence to let you know that you all must go to Fort Useless in Bushwick tonight. It's the last ever Quiet Loudly show and the opening bands are great and we're all going to miss them! </div>
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<a href="http://www.heartsbleedradio.com/2013/06/quiet-loudly-rock-it-proudly.html" target="_blank">Here's an interview with Max from last year</a>.</div>
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Here's a picture of Max that has been saved on my desktop for a year for some unknown reason.</div>
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Here's the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/248805108633963/" target="_blank">RSVP link to the show</a>.</div>
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And here's my favorite QL song:</div>
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<iframe seamless="" src="http://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=1175147320/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/transparent=true/" style="border: 0; height: 42px; width: 100%;"><a href="http://quietloudly.bandcamp.com/album/go-into-the-light-smiling">Go Into The Light Smiling by Quiet Loudly</a></iframe></div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-16788746414598426372014-02-12T20:01:00.000-05:002014-02-12T20:02:48.294-05:00Chillin' With ChuckGood news ladies and gents... I survived my birthday weekend. I have enough booze left over to last me till 2015, and 1/4 of a working liver with which to process it. That 1/4 of "old brown bag" that's still in action is going to have a busy fucking weekend, because goddammit, it's Valentines Day on Friday. We're having our annual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/268911619931048" target="_blank">V-day showcase showdown this Friday at Matchless</a> in Greenpoint, and we'd love for you to come share the misery with us. Opening up the night is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/burnchuck" target="_blank">Chuck Burns</a>; a local bluesman/folk anti-hero. We sat down for a little back and forth on Gchat. Here's the transcript:<br />
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<b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: We usually book indie rockers for HBR shows, but it felt right to go in a really bluesy direction to open up our Valentine's Day show. How do you feel about V-Day? For it or against it?<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: Well, in general, I would say I am against the holiday itself, mainly because it is a big money making venture for the Hallmark Company. But we're really looking forward to the show. we're gonna make the theme of our set a cynics Valentines Day, one for the broken hearted. We'll be raking up an ancient song of mine called, "Fuck You, I Love You," which I'll be singing as a duet with Sophie from Madam West<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Awesome! I think I agree with you on Valentine's Day, on the other hand it's hard to really be upset at a holiday so pointless...<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: Well said. I think its a perfect irony for us to be playing on V-Day, because so many of my songs come from this place of heart break.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck, looking the part.</td></tr>
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<b>HBR</b>: Who are your biggest influences? Are they passionate or cynical in their delivery?<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: I guess my biggest influences, at least lyrically are the underground traveling singer-songwriters, people like Paleo and Jeffrey Lewis. That said, I get a lot more aggressive in my singing, which I suppose I owe to Tom Waits, and old school growlers like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters ets.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: How does it feel to growl like that? I think my voice would break. Does it come from the back of your throat? Is this a stupid question?<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: The first band I sang for was dredge metal, and I've found there's a lot of overlap between low-down blues singing and some types of metal singing. It's really about getting just the right amount of air from your lungs to distort, but not so much to make your vocal chords crack like a pubescent boy. The trickiest thing is getting the air going through for a growl, and not losing your pitch.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: How long did it take you to hone your skill? And do you have any recordings of the metal band?<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: That was ages ago, I unfortunately don't. It was way back in high school that I was in that band, and I forgot about growling for a long time until I started writing songs again in college. I was actually singing a lot of soft falsetto, but wanted to add an accent to the more bitter lyrics, so dug that lost skill up from the past. That was about 4 years ago that I started working on songs that would become what today is Chuck Burns Band.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Do you feel like the blues is antiquated? Can it be modernized? Should it? Or is it timeless?<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: I think it definitely can be modernized. While old recordings will always be timeless, it's instinctual for an artist to cross genres. A natural blend that I wanna hear more of is blues and grunge. We're really going for that on the upcoming EP, there's a fair amount of familiar chord progressions, and references to the road, and bluesy things like that, but we're trying to not be afraid of breakdowns, distortion, and reverb. By no means is the blues sacrosanct.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Have you heard <a href="http://slothrust.com/" target="_blank">Slothrust</a>? They are total blues/grunge, in their own words even. You should check them out, they're local.<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: I have not, will do... Listening now. Digging it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The band in action at Arlene's</td></tr>
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<b>HBR</b>: Other than the sweet show on Valentine's Day, what else is on the horizon for Chuck Burns Band? You mentioned working on new material this evening...<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: Yeah. Well, the main thing is we'll be having an EP out by the end of the month and will be doing a small tour of Philly, D.C, and Richmond in April. Our new material will be sprinkled out as singles, and takes us in a much more psychedelic direction than we're used to.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: So before I let you go, one last question.<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: Yeah?<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Say a single person comes out to the show, looking for some Valentine's day magic... Do you have any advice?<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: I'm gonna need to think about that a sec.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Haha, take your time<br />
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<b>Chuck</b>: Well, to this hypothetical person I would say that love crops up when you least expect it, so if you want to find romance, don't go looking for it. Just relax and have a beer with the band. Then have another beer, and know that someone else feels that gray New York loneliness too. Valentine's day doesn't have to be all about romance, it can just be another Friday night where you might find another human feeling the same way you do. That's enough for me.<br />
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Check out Chuck Burns Band's newest (leaked last night) tracks on <a href="http://chuckburnsband.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Bandcamp</a>.<br />
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Like Chuck Burns on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/burnchuck" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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RSVP to the show ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/268911619931048" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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And Like HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-15782030913854866532014-02-10T01:37:00.001-05:002014-02-10T01:37:32.757-05:00Talkin' Music Magic With THE SUZAN Valentine's Day is in the air, is it not? It's very obviously February outside. Winter fatigue has set in city-wide. A dusting of snow that would have been considered beautiful in December feels about as welcome of pigeon shit falling out of the sky. So it's time for winter's last holiday to rear it's ugly head, pass us by, and allow the springtime healing season of rebirth and romance to engulf us all. As an expert on being single on well, basically every day of the year, I highly recommend going to a show. You don't have to talk to anyone though there will be other people around, it's totally ok to spontaneously dance or stand in the corner and look at your shoes, and there will be all the alcohol you need (and then some).<br />
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We're really exited for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/268911619931048/" target="_blank">Hearts Bleed Radio 2nd annual Valentine's Day show</a>. Closing out the night is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wearethesuzan" target="_blank">THE SUZAN</a>. Transplants from Japan, they are always an engaging live show, as they transition between bubblegum pop and arty noise assaults. I spoke with Rie, Saori, and Nico via email. Here's the transcript:<br />
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<b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: Were you exposed to a lot of rock and roll growing up in Japan? Were your parents into it, or was it something you had to find on your own?<br />
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<b>THE SUZAN</b>: Rock and Roll is not so major in Japan, so we had to find cool foreign music on internet or music stores on our own.<br />
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<b>Rie</b>: My parents loved R&B or Soul music, Dance music.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Who are your biggest influences?<br />
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<b>Rie</b>: The Beatles.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: You guys switch between bouncy pop music and noise punk. Does one style feel more natural than the other?<br />
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<b>THE SUZAN</b>: We are genre-less band. We have a lot of styles of music. Last week, we had a studio session, and made a dark heavy rock song. We play the music that we want to play. It's natural.<br />
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<b>Nico</b>: Best: $1pizza!!<br />
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<b>Saori</b>: Worst: The garbage collection management method & Monster Rats.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Is Valentine’s Day celebrated in Japan? If not, what do you think of it?<br />
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<b>THE SUZAN</b>: Yes, We celebrate Valentine's Day in Japan. But it's different from the American celebration style. On Valentine's Day in Japan, girls give handmade chocolate or presents to boys.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: What’s the best Valentine’s day you ever had? The worst?<br />
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<b>THE SUZAN</b>: Best: Last Year, We had a Valentine's Day party gig in Standard Hotel. Had a gorgeous Valentine's Day ever.<br />
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<b>Nico</b>: Worst: A few years ago, It was a day of the presentation time limit of the graduation thesis of the university.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Do you have any advice for a single person who is looking for a little Valentine’s Day magic?<br />
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<b>THE SUZAN</b>: Don't expect anything from Valentine's Day magic. COME TO OUR SHOW. THE SUZAN is gonna put the music magic on you!!!<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: When is your next recording coming out? Do you have any big plans for this spring?<br />
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<b>THE SUZAN</b>: WE hope to release a NEW ALBUM this year!! And we'll have some tours in the US this spring!<br />
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We hope to see you at the show on 2/14. THE SUZAN is going to put some serious magic on your ass, and we guarantee that you're going to find the man/woman/beer/band of your dreams. It's just up to you to recognize them.</div>
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RSVP to the show ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/268911619931048/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Like THE SUZAN on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wearethesuzan" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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And like HBR ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-64186884563391816352014-02-04T20:28:00.001-05:002014-02-04T20:29:55.786-05:00V-Day Is Almost Here! Kill The Anxiety With Madam West.It's been awhile since the last legit interview we've done. HELL, it's been a bit since we've posted anything at all. There's some new tunes on the horizon which we'll check on next week, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/429808490498984" target="_blank">Steve's B'day</a> is this Saturday at Legion, AND we will be booking every Friday (almost) at Matchless, starting in spring. For now though, we're going to focus on the (drum roll) <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/268911619931048/" target="_blank">Second Annual Hearts Bleed Radio Valentine's Day Show</a>! (trumpets blare). Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Sophie Chernin of the wonderful <a href="https://www.facebook.com/madamwestmusic" target="_blank">Madam West</a>!<br />
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<br />
<b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: For starters, give me a little history of Madam West.<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Well, Todd and I met in early 2011. We found out quickly that we had the same musical tastes - we both had named our dogs Elliott Smith, for example - and so we started covering our favorite indie tunes every week in his basement room in Bushwick. We started out as a duo, writing solely electronically (on Logic), but once we decided we wanted a live sound, it was natural that we recruited Todd's long-term friend Mike from AZ (where they went to school). So he was on drums, and I recruited Christine and Will, who both played with me in our college folk band, Feste. Now the band has a few different combinations - as a duo, I play drum machine and Todd plays synths, and as the onstage group changes we shift a few of the instruments around. And that brings us to today!<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Do you have a favorite lineup? When you're all together?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: I change my mind all the time! If you had asked me last summer, when Todd and I had played as a duo in montreal, I would have said the full band. I got really horrible stage fright and a case of sticky fingers with the drum sequencer. I almost cried onstage. I just wanted Mike there, drumming and pumping us up! But now that I'm more comfortable with the electronics, I don't really have a preference. It's nice to have the flexibility to say yes to a show on the spot, without making sure everyone's available that date.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Is that the most embarrassed you've ever been onstage?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Probably. Montreal, to me, is like the holy mecca of indie bands. All of my favorite bands were from there growing up. It was insane that we got to play there, so I really built it up in my head before I got onstage. I think I was most embarrassed afterwards, when I was crying so hard I forgot to man the door (all of the bands were switching off door duty).<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: But you survived? The show went on?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Of course! And then when I listened back to the recording, most of my mistakes were barely noticeable, of course.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Yeah, that's how it goes<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: But in my head, it was total chaos.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kh929WpC1Y8/UvGSmHkInuI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/A2QtQ_XXqKs/s1600/sophiepromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kh929WpC1Y8/UvGSmHkInuI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/A2QtQ_XXqKs/s1600/sophiepromo.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie ponders the cultural significance of V-day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_1183883553"></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>HBR</b>: Where does the name "Madam West" come from?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Todd and I have a bad portmanteau habit. We love wordplay. It's probably infuriating to be around us most of the time. So Madam West is Mae West+Adam West... I forgot that "Madam" means "chick who runs a house of prostitutes," but oh well.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Haha, I was wondering if it was a play on Adam West.<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Yep! Most people think we spell it "Madame," which would be great if I didn't have to worry about them ever finding us on the internet.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>HBR</b>: If Madam West was a real person, what would she do for a living? Would she run a brothel or something else?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Yeah, probably a brothel, but it would look exactly like that place on Twin Peaks. (But hopefully no one would get super murdered).<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: But you never know, it's a tricky business...<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Ha! Yeah, guess not...<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Your voice is central to the sound and vibe of the band. When did you start singing?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: I started singing very young - I was in plays and community theater shows from elementary school on. I took formal voice lessons from the ages of 9-12, but have probably ruined most of that by smoking.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Did you ever consider becoming an actress?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Yeah, actually, I went to school for theater, but I didn't fit in at all. I started playing shows at this little dive called Banjo Jim's and various East Village bars, and I was finally like "Hey, yeah, THESE are my people". It was such a relief.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: What is the biggest difference between theatre folk and music folk? You'd think they'd be similar, but they aren't...<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Absolutely. I think that there's a lot of ego in both fields, but musicians tend to hide it better. Same goes with twenty-something life drama; actors are very loud about it, whereas musicians will a) write a song about it or b) soothe their sorrows over a glass of whiskey.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: There are a lot of musicians who are like, really shy, but they are on stage all the time none the less.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vLmYbsIiKCo/UvGTapoFInI/AAAAAAAAAeg/W2UmSYeFJiI/s1600/MWguys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vLmYbsIiKCo/UvGTapoFInI/AAAAAAAAAeg/W2UmSYeFJiI/s1600/MWguys.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Band, doing what bands do.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sophie</b>: Totally! Have you ever seen videos of Elliott Smith onstage?<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Yeah<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: There was this one special he did with Jon Brion, where he barely spoke above a whisper.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I mean, it's like, your instrument is a shield, or a weapon really...<br />
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<b>Sophie</b>: Yes!<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: ...even if it's your voice.<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: It's nice to have that barrier. I mean, in a way I think music is scarier, as a songwriter, at least.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: No, not our kind of music! Not rock and roll, I don't think...<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Because you don't have a part or character to hide behind. I just mean it creates a lot of vulnerability.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Yeah, but you also don't really have a script to fuck up!<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: That's true...I really, really sucked at memorizing lines. My one huge role in college, I paraphrased and jumped around the whole script for two hours...Those poor freshmen running lights and sound! They were so lost.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: So there's the vulnerability of the performance... But there's also the vulnerability of the creative process.<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Right.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: How does MW write songs?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: It usually starts as a 'space jam' with just Todd and I. I carry a Moleskine around all week to write down potential lyrics, so I'll try some stuff out, and we record everything. We send the recordings to the band and try the new tunes out at our next rehearsal. Then we drill down to specific parts, chords, solos etc.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saQVvWHG_Hg/UvGTLPVljZI/AAAAAAAAAeY/9CFL9LaeuxE/s1600/1173885_638451302841349_1102587826_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-saQVvWHG_Hg/UvGTLPVljZI/AAAAAAAAAeY/9CFL9LaeuxE/s1600/1173885_638451302841349_1102587826_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performance of what was once a space jam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: How does it feel the first time that someone hears your lyrics?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Haha! I wish I could say 'liberating,' but usually the boys are in their own worlds while we're writing. So when I tell them what a song is about, they're just like, "What?! I had no idea."<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Yeah, same thing here... And I'm kinda glad it's that way!<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Right! When my mom used to come to shows in college, she'd be like, "So what boy was that sex song about?"<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I'm sorry... I'm really happy that my mom just, I don't know...<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Haha, my fault for playing it.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Do you think you could write lyrics collaboratively?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Probably! I think it would be easier if we chose a story or a central theme first. I've always wanted to turn a literary corpse into a song. You know, that game where each person writes a phrase or a sentence? They read like James Joyce.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Yeah. Personally I couldn't function that way. If I could write words with someone, they'd probably be my soulmate.<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: That's adorable.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I think that local bands should do more stuff together though, collaborations are always fun. I'd like to do a show where each band is made up of two bands.<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Absolutely. Supergroups!<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Supergroup Showcase Showdown<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: We had our friend Ty Rone from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/burnchuck" target="_blank">Chuck Burns</a> play steel pedal with us the other night on a song at Cameo, and then they played. We've been talking about doing some vocal duets as well, on their tunes. It's been really awesome playing with them and this other group, The Private Eyes. Just to have someone else keeping an eye out for bookings, and promoting, and working their asses off in obscurity helps.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: What's on the horizon for Madam West?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Haha! A lot more shows, a single release, and recording in the spring. We're might be booking a music festival on the West Coast in the summer, so fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Sweet! We will cross our collective fingers for you!<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: We're super pumped for V day though! It's gonna be one for the books.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I hope so, last year's was fun.<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: We should each have a bottle of champagne and some rose petals to pour out on the audience full of everyone missing out on their sexy dates at home.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Before you go, do you have any advice for a single person coming out to the show, looking for some V-day magic?<br />
<br />
<b>Sophie</b>: Yeah! Have enough beers to dance with a special someone, but not enough beers to puke on their shoes.<br />
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<div>
And with that pearl of wisdom, Sophie is out. We'll see her on Valentine's day. It can be kinda a shitty holiday, y'know? We can't make it perfect, but we're there for you, like, we really always have been, and I, I guess I just didn't realize it till I saw you walk in with that dress on, and hair, I mean, your hair is so.. and I was just wondering, if you.. you... KSDHGIHSDKFGHSKJLGKJSKBSKBFK O;IJF;GSH;KFJHSMFGH;SKJFG KLJHFKMSHFBN;SDNB;JSKDHGBN;JN;BKFNB;JN;KBJNS;JBNSJ.FBN;SJKJNSJFBNSKFBJ;SKB;SKBNSBGNSB;SBG;SGBJSNG;BN </div>
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aww shit. sorry about your shoes.</div>
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<div>
RSVP to the show ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/268911619931048/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<div>
Like Madam West on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/madamwestmusic" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Like HBR on Fbook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4827067819885022943.post-22599010678170083962014-01-13T14:14:00.000-05:002014-01-13T14:15:19.353-05:00Hey Haybaby! Nice to meet you.Hope you all made it through the polar vortex in one frozen piece. Thirty-five degrees feels like springtime to me. Anyhow, we have the first showcase of the year this <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1445911072294851" target="_blank">Wednesday at Cake Shop</a>, and we're really excited for the lineup. <a href="http://heartsbleedradio.blogspot.com/2013/08/whiskey-and-fuzz-tonic-check-out-mad.html" target="_blank">The Mad Doctors</a> are up first, followed by <a href="http://heartsbleedradio.blogspot.com/2013/05/crazy-pills-cats-gear-gigs-and.html" target="_blank">Crazy Pills</a>, <a href="http://heartsbleedradio.blogspot.com/2013/06/holy-cow-pow-wow.html" target="_blank">pow wow!</a>, and then Haybaby. Doors at 8, don't be late. Check out this chat with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/haybabyband" target="_blank">Haybaby</a>. Try to control your excitement. Save it for the dance floor.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Hearts Bleed Radio</b>: Can you start us off by telling us a little about the band?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Leslie and I met at a show of a band I played in called Bad and the Ugly, and then a while later I asked her to join a band with my ex girlfriend called Peter Pan, which became Peter Pan and the Lost Boys once Leslie joined. I also played in a band called Steer at the time and we played a show with Sam's other band called Spaces.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Did this all take place in NYC?<br />
<br />
<b>Leslie</b>: We started as Haybaby when Zach and his ex broke up with our friend Caleb. He was on bass at first then wanted to switch to lead guitar so we had Sam join on bass, then Caleb moved back to Boston so we were just three again. Yeah, all in Brooklyn.<br />
<br />
<b>Zach: </b>That pretty much sums it up, although my ex did not break up with Caleb, but my ex and I broke up.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: I play guitar, Zach drums, and Sam's on bass. We all sing, but Zach and I share lead.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Do you think that bass players need to have a good sense of humor because they are kinda the "losers" of the band?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Definitely think so which is why Sam is perfect.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: Sam definitely is the biggest loser in the whole world but he is also the best at bass in the universe.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: True and it's awesome that he's not here to defend himself 'bout his loserdom.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: I think he would agree.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: True, but he is the baddest ass at bass that I know.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kN0bUUWW_g4/UtQ5diQndxI/AAAAAAAAAds/ysKDSAyFuEY/s1600/252238_321957071219539_79120186_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kN0bUUWW_g4/UtQ5diQndxI/AAAAAAAAAds/ysKDSAyFuEY/s1600/252238_321957071219539_79120186_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare pic of a NYC band in a non-taxi automobile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>HBR</b>:Well, in all honesty, bass players aren't "losers" but it is kinda a thankless instrument, right?<br />
<br />
<b>Zach</b>: Not when you play like Sam. He thanks the powers that be with every note. I just think that they are in fact losers.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I'm going to pay special attention to that on the 15th. So, how do you guys go about songwriting? Is it a group process?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: I think in a lot of bands the role of the bassist is pretty boring, holding down root notes or whatever but that definitely is not the case in Haybaby. Sam pretty much defines the groove of the whole song and I just noodle around it.<br />
<a name='more'></a><b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Usually Sam plays a really simple ridiculously awesome bassline then I start playing the drums then Leslie noodles out some genius riff and one of us will start singing.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: Yeah most of our songs are born from jams.<br />
<br />
<b>Zach</b>: We usually just go for a while on an idea record it and then listen back and determine part lengths and other melodies and all that.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Are you guys like, of one mind musically? Or are you coming from different backgrounds?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: I would say different backgrounds with an underlying theme.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Did you grow up with drum-nerd shit?<br />
<br />
<b>Zach</b>: Haha no. I don't even own a drum. I played guitar all my life until Haybaby<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I know how that is, I just became a drummer in like, 2012.<br />
<br />
<b>Leslie</b>: Totally different, I'd say. I had a classical background that I hated and never practiced and was really horrible at many instruments until I discovered drums and I wanted nothing more than to play rock. I switched to guitar a little after that but I've always loved drumming. I started off playing with Zach as his drummer.<br />
<br />
<b>Zach</b>: I was always in bands with rad drummers though and when I started I feel like it came pretty naturally from all the radness I had surrounded myself with. Yeah so you know how that goes with the drums. Just hit 'em.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: People are like, "Who are your biggest influences as a drummer?" and I'm like, "Uh, the 5 random dudes who have played drums in my bands over the years..."<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Yeah that's exactly how I feel.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Leslie, you mentioned a classical background, what was your first instrument?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: Piano, then violin, then flute, then viola, but I really hated it.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Flute?! You should totally shred a flute solo at our next show!<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: It's hard, like, I never really cared for music until I realized how to write a song and find my own voice. It's sad that music education is so focused on repetition and recital, isn't it? Yeah, I back that flute solo idea.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Yeah I agree with that I've always been pretty resistant to the theory or science of music cause it can take away from the magic.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Don't sweat it if Sam takes forever or doesn't make it, this isn't Rolling Stone.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: I think he's here now.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>HBR</b>: Do you feel his presence?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: I'm reeeally bad at flute... No we are roommates.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Ahhh.<br />
<br />
<b>Leslie</b>: Also we are psychically bonded.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: As you should be. I'm actually a big fan of music theory, but it's just like, usually presented in a very colorless and academic way. But we won't get into that right now...<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Yeah sometimes I wish I knew more but then I fear I wouldn't be as creative in other ways<br />
Got to find the balance... But yeah back to the interview.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Yeah, but you learn other ways to be creative... You got to be creative with your creativity yo.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Truth.<br />
<br />
<b>Leslie</b>: I think I'm better at my instrument because I'm bad at it.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>HBR</b>: Are you guys taking a little while to adjust to it being 2014? Like, I filled out a check 2013 today.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: I still fill out checks for 2012.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: No, I always get excited for the new year and pointedly write 2014 each time.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Haha.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>:I was just starting to get used to 2013 then BAM...<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I made a reference to Mayor Bloomberg yesterday and my co-worker was like "DUDE, he's not our mayor anymore." It's been 12 years, it's going to take some time to get used to a new mayor.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Haha, nice. Yeah I'm super out of it when it comes to anything time oriented. That's why I play drums.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-caP-ljFIo/UtQ5nHrlSWI/AAAAAAAAAd0/7NHLrCu5iFI/s1600/1185418_510152425733335_2118356300_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K-caP-ljFIo/UtQ5nHrlSWI/AAAAAAAAAd0/7NHLrCu5iFI/s1600/1185418_510152425733335_2118356300_n.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The natural glow of radioactive hay is so f'ing beautiful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>HBR</b>: Do you find them to be more stressful than guitar or bass?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: Sam is really drunk.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>HBR</b>: Haha. Put him on!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Only because there is more pieces to keep track of.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: There's a lot of stuff. And like, there's a lot of shit to fall apart... And a lot of wrong things to hit.<br />
<br />
<b>Zach</b>: Yea, other then that though I think they're kind of less stressful. But also my drums usually sound like shit cause I don't stress about them. I used to stress more about guitar. Yeah but the wrong things to hit are pretty far away from each other and as long as you hit something in time it's usually not the worst. On guitar if you hit the wrong note which often times is right next to the right note it can just fuck everything up.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>HBR</b>: The worst is when you go to hit a cymbal and you just totally whiff.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Or make it way better... that's true missing is the worst on the drums.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: Most of my parts are born from hitting the wrong note.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: There are no wrong notes though... But you can always tell when the beat gets screwed up. That's why I find drums stressful. But a good bass player can cover your ass.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Yeah totally dropping a beat is the worst, but you just can't give up. Gotta hop right back on and keep going.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Do you guys keep up with like, modern rock and roll?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Definitely not enough, although I guess that's subjective.<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: Can anyone really keep up enough though? It's crazy now, there's too much music.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: Not really. I should, but I'm so lazy and there's so much new stuff coming out every day. I mostly just listen to my peers' stuff and then random stuff from older times.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Exactly I just get tired of trying and stick to stuff I like usually.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: My boyfriend has been introducing me to a lot of sweet 90s bands. I'm super into Butterglory lately. Also doo wop. I've been listening to a lot of the Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs station on Pandora.<br />
<br />
<b>Zach</b>: Although when someone shows me something new that I like, I get sooooooo excited.<br />
<br />
<b>Sam</b>: Oh hey!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Leslie</b>: Oh there you are!!<br />
<br />
<b>Sam</b>: This reminds me of being in high school, when AIM was a thing.<br />
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<b>Zach</b>: Hey Sam.<br />
<br />
<b>Sam</b>: I stopped listening to music when I was 20whatever, when I was in college my favorite thing to do was to find new music... but the more I got into making music the less I was willing to spend myself finding things that other people had done.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Yeah I was just telling my roommate how I haven't had a good chat since Instant messenger.<br />
<br />
<b>Leslie</b>: It is so weird to be sitting next to Sam and just chatting.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sam</b>: You're too DruuUUuUUnKK!<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: I'm frantically trying to think up the Gchat version of a field sobriety test...<br />
<br />
<b>Sam</b>: You know what I got back into lately? When I was first starting to get super stoked on music as a thing that made life better... I listened to a lot of Chopin, then I started to think that maybe Chopin was a little cheesy, like it's in so many movie soundtracks, but a while ago I heard a melody and I realized it was quoting from Chopin... and then I realized I'd written this guitar part that was quoting from Chopin.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: So you've gone back to your roots?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Sam</b>: So I went back and listened to a lot of it and holy shit, Chopin is sooo so beautiful, it's the greatest, it's really the best there is.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Do you guys think it's good that there's so much music? Or do you think that as an art, it's kinda lost direction?<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: I dunno, I think there are a lot of people lately doing music because it's like a cool thing to do but they aren't actually doing it because they love doing it and as a result there's a lot of the same stuff happening and it's just uninteresting.<br />
<br />
<b>Zach</b>: I think it's cool that there's so much music but it's really hard to pay attention to it especially when trying to make so much of it (like you said before).<br />
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<b>Sam</b>: Yeah, true.<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: But there's always someone doing something cool and different/.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Yeah, Leslie, I hear you, cause rock is really so easy. To sit down and try and be like Chopin, that's impossible almost.<br />
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<b>Sam</b>: It's not impossible the thing that's great about Chopin is that it's so modern - hooks, rad melodies, etc.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: But you know what I mean. Maybe it's living in Brooklyn, but everyone plays the guitar, right?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: I also feel there is a lot of pretty poop music out there these days cause anyone can just make an album, but who am I to say what's poop. I feel like the music world is at a place where nobody's really making it to make money (the people that are kind of suck) which I think makes for really awesome music. Music made for no reward other then to make it.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: No, you're absolutely right about it being poop.<br />
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<b>Sam:</b> Haha.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: It's not even debatable as to the (lack of) artistic integrity of so much copycat music that pushes no envelope whatsoever, and has little cultural or political value.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: I think Brooklyn has a little bit of a reverb addiction... Yeah half the time I have no idea what anyone is saying or even feeling like the only thing I know is that they really like reverb<br />
<br />
<b>HBR</b>: But it begs the question, like, what it's about really? Do you think that music can really evolve if we're still playing guitars?<br />
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<b>Sam</b>: There's a lot of poooo but we're in a weird place where we worked really hard to prove that virtuosic chops doesn't mean anything, I mean punk and garage have been these really important movements showing that chops aren't what it's all about, and at the same time I think we miss craft to a certain extent, we miss the devotion to music that craft represents. One person's copycatism is another person's scene.<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: Oh tooootally. I find that I can make a different crazy sound with an electric guitar almost every time I pick one up.<br />
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<b>Zach</b>: I think people need to start valuing words again and not being afraid, (and covering) everything up with layers and layers ear candy.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: What do you think the future holds for rock and roll?<br />
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<b>Sam</b>: Rock and roll has been dead for years dude. Didn't anyone tell ya?<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Haha, I mean, in a sense, it's still the primary folk music of the Western world. But artistically, you might be right.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: I think rock and roll will never die, but will probably never flourish again. There will always be true rock and roll somewhere.<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: The computer Sam's on just crashed. I don't know about the future. I think the internet is going to do something.<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: That computer doesn't want to believe that Rock will live forever!<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: LOL.<br />
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<b>Zach</b>: I think the internet might have already done something...<br />
<br />
<b>Leslie</b>: Have you heard of Hatsune Miku?<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: I have not.<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: She's a hologram. A Japanese hologram that makes music and sells out concerts. Robots and internet music ehhhhhhhh...<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>HBR</b>: What about the future of Haybaby? You guys have the show on 1/15, what else is going on?<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: Okay, Sam is going to bed.<br />
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<b>Zach</b>: Goodnight Sam.<br />
<br />
<b>Leslie</b>: He just put his fist in the remnants of my Chinese food.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Zach</b>: Yeah Sam show that shit who's boss!<br />
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<b>HBR</b>: Are you guys thinking of recording another EP, or a full length?<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: It'd be cool to do a full length. It'd be cool to do an EP. We have kinda been cranking out the jams lately but we just blew all our money on the last EP so it'll be a while before we can afford to record again.<br />
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<b>Zach</b>: Eventually. We definitely have enough material. Just a matter of when and how..<br />
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<b>Leslie</b>: Unless someone magically gifts us loads of money for being awesome, which I think will probably happen tomorrow or something.<br />
<br />
<br />
Perhaps this interview finds the eyes of a foreign billionaire with nothing better to invest in than local Brooklyn bands. I'm hoping that once they buy up all our property, they move on to buying our art. Makes sense, right?<br />
<br />
RSVP to the show ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1445911072294851" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Like Haybaby on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/haybabyband" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
And don't forget to like HBR on Facebook ---> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartsBleedRadio" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
See you at the show!<br />
<br />Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09154196145591901791noreply@blogger.com0