Thursday, July 28, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Our friend Chris Ross recently hit us to let us know that his band, Torchbearer, just finished recording tracks for a brand new LP. The record will be released on August 30th via All Ears Music. You can check out the press release below:
New Jersey’s Torchbearer have posted two new songs from their pending full-length “The Dirty Swagger” as well as an internet-only bonus track. The songs can be found at https://www.facebook.com/TorchbearerNJ
“The Dirty Swagger” was recorded at CDR studios, and was mastered by Carson Slovak (Century, Armsbendback) at Atrium Audio . The record is currently scheduled for a digital release on August 30th via All Ears Records, with a limited pressing on vinyl to follow.
The full-length is the follow-up release to 2009’s “The Worst is Yet to Come” 7-inch on Soul Rebel records, and sees the band (which features current and ex-members of Nora, Ensign, and For the Love of) expanding upon their own personal blend of Deadguy-inspired metalcore to incorporate new influences from the entire spectrum of hardcore, metal, noise, thrash and beyond."
You can check out tracks from the upcoming release by clicking here: Torchbearer
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Posted by xjustinx | File under : Acacia, Goodfellow Records
Acacia came out of Ontario, Canada and unleashed this EP called "Untune The Sky", which I have always felt is one of the most criminally underrated releases in the early canon of Goodfellow Records. They had a chaotic sound akin to early Botch, but with more prevalent metal undertones. Aside from this EP and a track on The Difference Between Us comp, I'm not aware of anything else Acacia recorded and put out, so if anyone has physical copies or mp3s, please get in touch.
Acacia - Untune The Sky
[Goodfellow Records - 1998]
Saturday, July 23, 2011
In the late '90s, a lot of bands around Europe took inspiration from bands like Arkangel and Morning Again, some good some bad. Here's a pretty good one which doesn't get mentioned all that much, Envision from Parma, Italy. The band started out in 1998 and after a 4-song demo they recorded the 'The Season Of Indifference' MCD, which was released on Next Sentence Recordings in 1999. Next Sentence btw was a label run by one of the guys in Negate, a Belgian metalcore band from the French part of Belgium. This MCD rules from start to finish. While Envision didn't break any new grounds on this MCD, it's well-executed and is just plain damn solid metalcore. The band was (partially, I think) veggie/vegan sXe and supported all kinds of socio-political, enviromental and animal rights groups, something which also reflected itself in the lyrics.
After the release the singer left and Nicola, one of the guitarists took over vocal duties while still playing guitar. In 2002 their full-length album 'Ecoillogical Babel' was released on NoBrain Records out of Italy. It had a slightly different sound, leaning more towards modern metal with some nu-metal influences. It's not something I'm into all that much, but it's again well-executed and the band knows how to write songs and play them. The nu-metal influences kills it for me tho, I definitely prefer the MCD. But in this style it's a solid release.
Afterwards the band went thru some line-up changes and recorded a demo for a follow-up release, but the release never happened and the band ended sometime in late 2004/early 2005. After the band folded, singer/guitarist Nicola 'Busso' Bussoni joined Hidea, an Italian hard rock band. No idea what the other band members did after Envision folded.
Envision - The Season Of Indifference MCD
Envision - Ecoillogical Babel CD
After the release the singer left and Nicola, one of the guitarists took over vocal duties while still playing guitar. In 2002 their full-length album 'Ecoillogical Babel' was released on NoBrain Records out of Italy. It had a slightly different sound, leaning more towards modern metal with some nu-metal influences. It's not something I'm into all that much, but it's again well-executed and the band knows how to write songs and play them. The nu-metal influences kills it for me tho, I definitely prefer the MCD. But in this style it's a solid release.
Afterwards the band went thru some line-up changes and recorded a demo for a follow-up release, but the release never happened and the band ended sometime in late 2004/early 2005. After the band folded, singer/guitarist Nicola 'Busso' Bussoni joined Hidea, an Italian hard rock band. No idea what the other band members did after Envision folded.
Envision - The Season Of Indifference MCD
Envision - Ecoillogical Babel CD
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Posted by xCHIPxSEM |
My friend Mike is selling some records on Ebay...he's got some pretty good stuff so if you have a chance, check it out
http://shop.ebay.com/mwar5409/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562
http://shop.ebay.com/mwar5409/m.html?_trksid=p4340.l2562
Posted by Anonymous |
As you xStuck In The Pastx regulars no doubt already know, I (Andrew Jacobs) am quite a big fan of Chilean singer/frontman Philippe Arama's band Remission and have done quite a few posts for them because of that. What can I say? I've always been and always will be a sucker for hook-laden and catchy as hell hardcore. And naturally, I'm a big fan of Arama's indie rock band Invierno as well. Enjoy the interview. - Andrew Jacobs
How did you get into hardcore?
I first heard hardcore music through skateboarding videos. Bands like Minor Threat, Dag Nasty and 7 Seconds all sounded cool to me, though it took me a while to investigate and explore what they were all about. I liked classic heavy metal and it wasn't until I met two of my best friends that I made the switch to hardcore. They were punk rockers who had a light notion of hardcore and together, we started buying cassettes & CDs and checking out their thank you lists (to discover more bands) and all that kind of stuff. It was very exciting at the time and I've been hooked for 10 years now. Today's excitement comes in different forms but it's still there.
Although your band Remission has been around since 2008 and is quite prolific in terms of the number of records that you've either released or appear on, you have yet to tour either the United States or Europe. Why exactly is that?
Bad timing and money but we expect that to change. In September, we are going to the U.S. west coast to play as many shows as we can for two weeks' time. We wish to do the whole stretch, from San Diego to Seattle. This tour has been planned for almost a year now, so a lot of saving has been done and we couldn't be happier right now. I think travelling is any band's dream and soon, that'll become a reality. If we ever want to go to Europe (which we do), then we'd like to at least wait out another year to save up plane money for starters and secondly, we want to put out a new LP with React! Records.
What are some of your favorite Remission songs and why?
The song "Remission", because of it's pace and aggression; "Love" for it's words and guitar solo; "Burden Of Shame", because it defines us as a left-wing group; the entire Winds Of Promise 7", especially "Isolation" as it's the painful narration of what my father must have felt the three months he spent in prison. And finally, "Empty Glass", since it picks up on a heavier and angrier style of hardcore which we sort of drifted away from by throwing in so much melody on the latest songs.
As a singer and a frontman, who/what are some of your influences and why?
Who: Chris Jones, Dave Smalley, Ian MacKaye and Rob Pennington, to name a few.
Photo taken by Gary Go
How did you get into hardcore?
I first heard hardcore music through skateboarding videos. Bands like Minor Threat, Dag Nasty and 7 Seconds all sounded cool to me, though it took me a while to investigate and explore what they were all about. I liked classic heavy metal and it wasn't until I met two of my best friends that I made the switch to hardcore. They were punk rockers who had a light notion of hardcore and together, we started buying cassettes & CDs and checking out their thank you lists (to discover more bands) and all that kind of stuff. It was very exciting at the time and I've been hooked for 10 years now. Today's excitement comes in different forms but it's still there.
Although your band Remission has been around since 2008 and is quite prolific in terms of the number of records that you've either released or appear on, you have yet to tour either the United States or Europe. Why exactly is that?
Bad timing and money but we expect that to change. In September, we are going to the U.S. west coast to play as many shows as we can for two weeks' time. We wish to do the whole stretch, from San Diego to Seattle. This tour has been planned for almost a year now, so a lot of saving has been done and we couldn't be happier right now. I think travelling is any band's dream and soon, that'll become a reality. If we ever want to go to Europe (which we do), then we'd like to at least wait out another year to save up plane money for starters and secondly, we want to put out a new LP with React! Records.
What are some of your favorite Remission songs and why?
The song "Remission", because of it's pace and aggression; "Love" for it's words and guitar solo; "Burden Of Shame", because it defines us as a left-wing group; the entire Winds Of Promise 7", especially "Isolation" as it's the painful narration of what my father must have felt the three months he spent in prison. And finally, "Empty Glass", since it picks up on a heavier and angrier style of hardcore which we sort of drifted away from by throwing in so much melody on the latest songs.
As a singer and a frontman, who/what are some of your influences and why?
Who: Chris Jones, Dave Smalley, Ian MacKaye and Rob Pennington, to name a few.
What: feelings, observations, discontent and the need to express myself.
In addition to Remission, you also sing in a Texas Is The Reason-influenced indie rock band called Invierno. For the gringos like myself reading this, what does Invierno mean in English?
Invierno means winter in Spanish. It's the name we went for since that was the present season when looking for a name. Plus conceptually, it's pretty emo, right?
Does Invierno have any plans to record a full length? If so, please discuss. If not, why not?
We've been jamming all year to record an LP. We're finally done writing the songs, so I'm guessing it'll be out by October. 8 new songs we're very pleased with. I'm actually so glad it's almost over because since Invierno is made up of almost all of Remission's members, it has been the main reason for us being on hiatus. We never jam anymore unless it's for an hour and it’s the day before playing a show. This year, Remission has only played five times, which bums me out. I'm really hoping that after we record the Invierno LP and we return from the U.S. trip, we can get things moving much quicker than we have in the past.
How are you effectively able to juggle two bands and your personal & professional lives?
It works out fine because music has become a weekend thing from the shows we play. During the week, we jam sometimes but at night, after our more serious duties have been handled, like working or going to college. I no longer have a girlfriend who can get pissed off at me for having too many shows during the month, plus we don't take music very seriously and have learned to balance out everything.
How long have you been both Straight Edge and vegetarian?
Straight Edge for 10 years and vegetarian for 4 months.
Why have you chosen to be Straight Edge and vegetarian?
At first, Straight Edge was an ideal that appealed to me because it reinforces individual choices, free from pressure and tradition. Add to that being a teenager who disliked seeing his friends drunk and saying & doing things they normally wouldn't. Also, having divorced parents who would ocassionally fight and argue because of my father's heavy drinking for some years. I have no interest in alcohol or smoking as I feel that it would alter my natural condition and damage my health. Being Straight Edge makes me feel good and natural. Vegetarianism has been around me for a long time but I didn't make the choice until very recently. I guess it came from soul searching and it has everything to do with ethics. If you consider yourself to be compassionate and humane, then try to apply it to almost everything, including your food supply.
Living in South America, is it difficult to maintain a vegetarian diet? Why or why not?
Chile may not have as many vegan products sold in supermarkets but there are specialized stores where we can get our products. I think South American vegetarians stick more to lentils, beans and salads for that reason. The North and South Americas are pretty even on the cultural level since it remains a minority within the population and there's obesity and people into junk food & barbeques everywhere. I don't think it is difficult at all to maintain this ideal/diet, it just takes some figuring out, like what can I eat at what places? Simple as that.
Feel free to shameless plug any of your other musical or non-musical endeavors here.
Thank you for the questions Andrew and for doing this blog with your friends. You guys have been very supportive towards Remission by reposting our news and releases. Like I said before, look out for the U.S. west coast shows from mid to late September, primarily React! Records' Showcase on September 23rd and 24th. You can pick up our 7" EP from React! or our LP and split 7" with Police & Thieves from Amendment Records by checking out the sites I'll include in the bottom of this entry. I'll just say we love our closest friends and appreciate the support & interest from the global hardcore community. We'll keep the ball rolling and reactivate soon.
In addition to Remission, you also sing in a Texas Is The Reason-influenced indie rock band called Invierno. For the gringos like myself reading this, what does Invierno mean in English?
Invierno means winter in Spanish. It's the name we went for since that was the present season when looking for a name. Plus conceptually, it's pretty emo, right?
Does Invierno have any plans to record a full length? If so, please discuss. If not, why not?
We've been jamming all year to record an LP. We're finally done writing the songs, so I'm guessing it'll be out by October. 8 new songs we're very pleased with. I'm actually so glad it's almost over because since Invierno is made up of almost all of Remission's members, it has been the main reason for us being on hiatus. We never jam anymore unless it's for an hour and it’s the day before playing a show. This year, Remission has only played five times, which bums me out. I'm really hoping that after we record the Invierno LP and we return from the U.S. trip, we can get things moving much quicker than we have in the past.
How are you effectively able to juggle two bands and your personal & professional lives?
It works out fine because music has become a weekend thing from the shows we play. During the week, we jam sometimes but at night, after our more serious duties have been handled, like working or going to college. I no longer have a girlfriend who can get pissed off at me for having too many shows during the month, plus we don't take music very seriously and have learned to balance out everything.
How long have you been both Straight Edge and vegetarian?
Straight Edge for 10 years and vegetarian for 4 months.
Why have you chosen to be Straight Edge and vegetarian?
At first, Straight Edge was an ideal that appealed to me because it reinforces individual choices, free from pressure and tradition. Add to that being a teenager who disliked seeing his friends drunk and saying & doing things they normally wouldn't. Also, having divorced parents who would ocassionally fight and argue because of my father's heavy drinking for some years. I have no interest in alcohol or smoking as I feel that it would alter my natural condition and damage my health. Being Straight Edge makes me feel good and natural. Vegetarianism has been around me for a long time but I didn't make the choice until very recently. I guess it came from soul searching and it has everything to do with ethics. If you consider yourself to be compassionate and humane, then try to apply it to almost everything, including your food supply.
Living in South America, is it difficult to maintain a vegetarian diet? Why or why not?
Chile may not have as many vegan products sold in supermarkets but there are specialized stores where we can get our products. I think South American vegetarians stick more to lentils, beans and salads for that reason. The North and South Americas are pretty even on the cultural level since it remains a minority within the population and there's obesity and people into junk food & barbeques everywhere. I don't think it is difficult at all to maintain this ideal/diet, it just takes some figuring out, like what can I eat at what places? Simple as that.
Feel free to shameless plug any of your other musical or non-musical endeavors here.
Thank you for the questions Andrew and for doing this blog with your friends. You guys have been very supportive towards Remission by reposting our news and releases. Like I said before, look out for the U.S. west coast shows from mid to late September, primarily React! Records' Showcase on September 23rd and 24th. You can pick up our 7" EP from React! or our LP and split 7" with Police & Thieves from Amendment Records by checking out the sites I'll include in the bottom of this entry. I'll just say we love our closest friends and appreciate the support & interest from the global hardcore community. We'll keep the ball rolling and reactivate soon.
Listen: http://remissionhc.bandcamp.com
Labels: www.itstimetoreact.com // www.amendment-records.com
Contact: www.facebook.com/remissionhc // remissionhc@gmail.com
Monday, July 18, 2011
Posted by Anonymous |
seeking the simple is a painstakingly detailed vinyl blog created by Kyle Whitlow. There's not much else I can say that isn't extremely well documented in the blog by Kyle himself via photos and text, so click below to have your vinyl hound mind completely blown. - Andrew Jacobs
"After collecting punk vinyl for 15 years, I am calling it quits. More and more I’m coming to realize the aged truism: we don’t own our possessions, our possessions end up owning us. It’s time for me to pass on a lot of this for others to enjoy, who will eventually pass on to another, etc etc. This is just the natural cycle of collectors of any kind, and I think it’s a fun thing to be a part of. I’ve enjoyed compiling several different collections; so much so, that I’m taking the time to document many of my favorite “sub-collections” here in photographs. I’ve also included little stories about each photo regarding little fun facts about how I came to own some of these, etc. I don’t have a specific time table for any of this, and I’m not selling everything. I’ll be keeping one copy of every single release I own, because I do want the artwork and the music! I just don’t need multiple copies of the same release anymore. That means I won’t be selling my one original Antidote 7″ or my only copy of Victim In Pain, etc. I’ll also be keeping all of my Minor Threat, Youth Of Today, Carry On, Champion, and Rivalry releases – these are all bands that had a significant influence on me and/or I was involved with the bands. I will post things for sale at my own pace, in no order other than “whatever is easiest to part with first”. First and foremost this is just a visual documentation of my collection. Not everything you see in photos will be for sale, though much of it will be. I’ll make separate “sale posts” when I identify pieces that are ready to sell. Enjoy the stories and photos!" - Kyle Whitlow
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Posted by Anonymous |
Interview with Hitman bassist Radomir Jankovic coming soon!
From Hitman's Facebook and Reverbnation pages:
Hitman is a hardcore punk band from the Balkans (Belgrade, Serbia). We started this whole thing in 1994 as a side project along with our original bands (Definite Choice, Wipe Out, Shackle Me Not) back then. In the past 17 years, we made the foundation of the hardcore scene on the Balkans stronger by connecting all the scenes between the countries from the Balkan area and we made our voice be heard all over the globe!!!
We believe that the true spirit of this whole thing we are in is based on the friendships we make along the way! We also believe in a positive attitude towards every part of our lives!!!
We shared stage with bands like: Murphys Law, Sick Of It All, Strech Arm Strong, Napalm Death, Municipal Waste, Agnostic Front, Madball, Adolescents, Movement, The Business, DRI, Pro-Pain, Max Cavallera, Misfits, Intesinty, Manifestation, Suicidal Tendencies and, of course, with many of our good friends from the Balkan hardcore scene!
FRIENDSHIP, UNITY, RESPECT
We have four releases until this day:
(1998)"stories we tell" - Tape
(2000)"...and what about the flame we use to feel..." - Tape
(2000)"stories we tell about the flame we use to feel" - CD/containing both tapes
(2004)"Balkan hardcore split 2004" - Split CD with Last Hope (Sofia Bulgaria)
(2010)"Overstand" - CD SWELL CREEK - SUPERHERO RECORDS
We also appeared on the following Samplers:
(1996)"Witness of the first Discussion" - CD Sampler of Serbian Hardcore, Metal, Industrial, Grind
(1999)"This is the light" - Serbian Hardcorepunk Sampler - Tape
(2004)"All from the Heart" - CD Serbian Hardcore Sampler
Friday, July 15, 2011
Posted by Anonymous |
Mike Judge & Old Smoke guitarist Todd Schwartz was kind enough to take a picture of himself giving me a shout out in front of his mounted Sights LP on clear vinyl (yeah, it's a big deal). And if that wasn't cool enough, Mike Judge himself alerted me to the fact that 4 previously unreleased Mike Judge & Old Smoke songs are up on the band's Myspace for all to hear, so click here and enjoy. Well, I'LL enjoy anyway. - Andrew Jacobs
Monday, July 11, 2011
If my last.fm charts from the last month are any indication, the new "Years of Defiance. Years of Disgust" 7 inch from Harvest is hard to put away. In the few weeks that I've had it, the tracks have received well over 100 plays on my computer, phone and in the car.
With this new 7", Harvest were presented with a bit of a challenge. Members of the band live in Minneapolis, Toronto, and Sau Paolo, Brazil, which means that each member had to complete their tracks and then forward them along the line so that another member could complete their tracks. Given the years that Harvest spent playing together in the 90s, the chemistry still shines through in this recording despite the challenge presented to them.
The record kicks off with two brand new songs that build upon the sound Harvest became synonymous with during their tenure in the heyday of metallic staccato rhythms. One of those tracks, "Our Legacy", can be heard over at NoiseCreep. None of the instruments take up too much space in the mix, yet the songs still remain heavily guitar driven. The bass sounds fluid and smooth, but still presents the right amount of grit to keep it a little dirty. Dave's vocals are in a more raw form than of most previous Harvest recordings, and I'm a big fan of them. I always tend to be disappointed when a singer's voice is buried under studio effects, and much prefer to hear a representation closer to live show vocals, which is how they sound on this 7 inch.
Following the two new songs is a track that Harvest had written and played live just prior to breaking up, called "Torture Inhibition." Although it was written over 11 years ago, it fits in perfectly with the new songs that Harvest has crafted, and also provides a perfect bridge to the songs that follow. In the 90s, Harvest appeared on a few compilations with songs that were recorded on a 4 track, and two of them have been re-recorded to round out "Years of Defiance. Years of Disgust". First is "Soul Burn", which originally appeared on The Difference Between Us cd comp on Goodfellow Records. Following it on the digital version only is a re-recording of "Conditioned", which can originally be found on the Twin Cities Hardcore 7" comp, and of course, the Transitions cd on Trustkill. Although I loved the power of the original recordings for those two songs, it's great to hear them achieve their full potential with a crisp recording.
Overall, this is as solid of a comeback record as one could possibly hope for. Although most of their contemporaries have gotten softer over the years, Harvest return as angry as ever with a powerful burst of metallic hardcore.
With this new 7", Harvest were presented with a bit of a challenge. Members of the band live in Minneapolis, Toronto, and Sau Paolo, Brazil, which means that each member had to complete their tracks and then forward them along the line so that another member could complete their tracks. Given the years that Harvest spent playing together in the 90s, the chemistry still shines through in this recording despite the challenge presented to them.
The record kicks off with two brand new songs that build upon the sound Harvest became synonymous with during their tenure in the heyday of metallic staccato rhythms. One of those tracks, "Our Legacy", can be heard over at NoiseCreep. None of the instruments take up too much space in the mix, yet the songs still remain heavily guitar driven. The bass sounds fluid and smooth, but still presents the right amount of grit to keep it a little dirty. Dave's vocals are in a more raw form than of most previous Harvest recordings, and I'm a big fan of them. I always tend to be disappointed when a singer's voice is buried under studio effects, and much prefer to hear a representation closer to live show vocals, which is how they sound on this 7 inch.
Following the two new songs is a track that Harvest had written and played live just prior to breaking up, called "Torture Inhibition." Although it was written over 11 years ago, it fits in perfectly with the new songs that Harvest has crafted, and also provides a perfect bridge to the songs that follow. In the 90s, Harvest appeared on a few compilations with songs that were recorded on a 4 track, and two of them have been re-recorded to round out "Years of Defiance. Years of Disgust". First is "Soul Burn", which originally appeared on The Difference Between Us cd comp on Goodfellow Records. Following it on the digital version only is a re-recording of "Conditioned", which can originally be found on the Twin Cities Hardcore 7" comp, and of course, the Transitions cd on Trustkill. Although I loved the power of the original recordings for those two songs, it's great to hear them achieve their full potential with a crisp recording.
Overall, this is as solid of a comeback record as one could possibly hope for. Although most of their contemporaries have gotten softer over the years, Harvest return as angry as ever with a powerful burst of metallic hardcore.
Pre-orders are currently available for "Years of Defiance. Years of Disgust" via Goodfight Entertainment, which includes a 7"/t-shirt bundle, or the 7" on its own.
There is also a show exclusive color for the vinyl version that will be available at Harvest's comeback show, which also serves as the final show for Disembodied on July 16th in Minneapolis. Harvest also have several other shows coming up on the West and East Coasts, and you can get information about them on their Facebook page.
Posted by Anonymous |
This interview is very significant to me as it's the first interview with a female in the hardcore scene that I've posted in my 2+ years here at xStuck In The Pastx. I have sent interview questions to a number of female scenesters but for whatever reason(s), I haven't received a completed one from any of them until Jenny Jensen at Revelation Records sent me hers. I will continue to make it a point to interview as many female scenesters as I can because I strongly believe that they're still not getting the attention and representation in the scene that they rightfully deserve. Enjoy the interview. - Andrew Jacobs
You are the Marketing Director for the Revelation Records label. When and how did you discover Rev?
I should say that I am actually the Marketing Director for RevHQ and RevDistribution, which are separate from Revelation Records, but I help with the marketing for Revelation and the other labels that we distribute. Jordan usually makes the final decision on everything that the label does.
As far as how I discovered Revelation Records, like most, I was in high school at the time – we’re talking mid '90s here. Quite a few of my friends were Straight Edge and it was only natural that Revelation Records was one of those labels that put out some classic releases that my friends would listen to. It wasn’t really until the emergence of emo (in its original cardigan clad, black t-shirt self vs. the current flat ironed hair, girl jean self) when Rev was putting out stuff like Texas Is The Reason and Elliott that I felt like I could really identify with the releases on a deeper level.
Discuss the process of marketing a record label like Rev in the digital age.
This is a tough question to answer because Revelation Records is sort of an anomaly of a label. With most of our releases, people have already formed their opinions about them, especially whether or not they want to own a Revelation release. We’re not bringing out any new bands with our recent releases, so everything is very quintessentially “Rev”, if you will. For the catalog titles that are sold digitally, people usually know if they like it, so it’s almost predetermined if someone is going to want it or not. Really, we want to be sure we’re making quality digital files available from albums that most people have heard one time or another in the past.
Vinyl came back into vogue with a vengeance right around the time that you became the Marketing Director at Rev in 2006. How has the vinyl resurgence affected your marketing strategy?
I came into the industry at this kind of awkward stage between the decline of CDs and the resurgence of vinyl. Luckily, hardcore and punk have both have been genres that were already heavily steeped in vinyl collectability, so it was a pretty easy transition for me. I like that nowadays, you have the option to put more emphasis on your vinyl versions; special colors, special packaging, heavier weights and so on. You don’t really get that with CDs and digital only albums. The strategy is very simply to appeal to people’s sense of wanting to own tangible items that they feel represent part of their personal tastes. Back to basics, as the saying goes!
Are there any plans to do vinyl repressings of any of Rev's now classic '90s catalog that you can talk about?
Well, Texas Is the Reason’s self-titled 7” was recently repressed and we did Elliott’s U.S. Songs LP for Record Store Day.
You never know what special repressing we may have up our sleeve – that’s why you should subscribe to our weekly email newsletter (send an email to Subscribe@revhq.com); that’s your best bet for staying up to date with what we have coming up!
Is Rev ever going to completely phase out CD releases? Why or why not?
I think like any label, we’ll do what makes sense for each particular case. I definitely think that we should keep titles like Start Today available on CD. Why? Because it still sells. We all know the drill - supply and demand.
What are some of your favorite Rev releases and why?
Well, I talked a little bit earlier about the mid '90s era emo type releases that Revelation has done in the past as being a part of my formative teen years. I also went to school in Northern California, which had a huge impact on what I was listening to at the time. I’d have to say though that WHVN by Will Haven will always hold a special place in my heart. I want to say that in 1996, I distinctly remember WHVN written in sharpie on most of my friends that wore windbreakers’ backpacks. Haha.
As a woman working for one of the most popular and well known hardcore record labels in the world, what sorts of experiences (good or bad) have you had?
There is no doubt that hardcore has traditionally been something of a boys' club, even though there is a lot of welcoming of participation by women in the scene. Some of my favorite emails to get are internship applications from young women looking to cut their teeth in the industry. Some find that this type of environment doesn’t fulfill them but some find that this climate is exactly what they need to feel that they are progressing in their paths – be it career-oriented or if it’s their personal journey. Helping to put that in perspective for young women is one of the most rewarding parts of my job for sure.
What sorts of experiences (good or bad) have you had in the predominantly male hardcore scene in general?
I haven't had any negative experiences with any of the hardcore scenesters that I’ve met while working for Revelation. We’ve had plenty of guys come through the office and I work with a lot of people over email daily that I have a great rapport with. There have been so many people that I’ve been able to build working relationships with over the years, so it’s hard to isolate one good incident from another. I think most importantly, I’ve never felt like I’ve been oppressed or held back because of my gender in this scene. It’s one of the reasons that I think I truly enjoy and appreciate what I get to do every day.
Where do you see yourself and/or where would you like to see yourself in the next 10 years?
I’d still like to be involved with what I’m doing now. I think that I’ll adjust to wherever the industry takes me. It’s undergoing some major shifts that are both exciting and scary at the same time, but I’d like to try to hang on for the ride for as long as possible. It’d be nice to have a small business of my own one day – what the premise of that business would be, I’m not sure of yet but I know I’d apply a lot of what I’ve learned at Rev to whatever venture that may be. Hopefully, there’s still a bit of Rev work down the line for me too. Ya never know!
You are the Marketing Director for the Revelation Records label. When and how did you discover Rev?
I should say that I am actually the Marketing Director for RevHQ and RevDistribution, which are separate from Revelation Records, but I help with the marketing for Revelation and the other labels that we distribute. Jordan usually makes the final decision on everything that the label does.
As far as how I discovered Revelation Records, like most, I was in high school at the time – we’re talking mid '90s here. Quite a few of my friends were Straight Edge and it was only natural that Revelation Records was one of those labels that put out some classic releases that my friends would listen to. It wasn’t really until the emergence of emo (in its original cardigan clad, black t-shirt self vs. the current flat ironed hair, girl jean self) when Rev was putting out stuff like Texas Is The Reason and Elliott that I felt like I could really identify with the releases on a deeper level.
Discuss the process of marketing a record label like Rev in the digital age.
This is a tough question to answer because Revelation Records is sort of an anomaly of a label. With most of our releases, people have already formed their opinions about them, especially whether or not they want to own a Revelation release. We’re not bringing out any new bands with our recent releases, so everything is very quintessentially “Rev”, if you will. For the catalog titles that are sold digitally, people usually know if they like it, so it’s almost predetermined if someone is going to want it or not. Really, we want to be sure we’re making quality digital files available from albums that most people have heard one time or another in the past.
Vinyl came back into vogue with a vengeance right around the time that you became the Marketing Director at Rev in 2006. How has the vinyl resurgence affected your marketing strategy?
I came into the industry at this kind of awkward stage between the decline of CDs and the resurgence of vinyl. Luckily, hardcore and punk have both have been genres that were already heavily steeped in vinyl collectability, so it was a pretty easy transition for me. I like that nowadays, you have the option to put more emphasis on your vinyl versions; special colors, special packaging, heavier weights and so on. You don’t really get that with CDs and digital only albums. The strategy is very simply to appeal to people’s sense of wanting to own tangible items that they feel represent part of their personal tastes. Back to basics, as the saying goes!
Are there any plans to do vinyl repressings of any of Rev's now classic '90s catalog that you can talk about?
Well, Texas Is the Reason’s self-titled 7” was recently repressed and we did Elliott’s U.S. Songs LP for Record Store Day.
You never know what special repressing we may have up our sleeve – that’s why you should subscribe to our weekly email newsletter (send an email to Subscribe@revhq.com); that’s your best bet for staying up to date with what we have coming up!
Is Rev ever going to completely phase out CD releases? Why or why not?
I think like any label, we’ll do what makes sense for each particular case. I definitely think that we should keep titles like Start Today available on CD. Why? Because it still sells. We all know the drill - supply and demand.
What are some of your favorite Rev releases and why?
Well, I talked a little bit earlier about the mid '90s era emo type releases that Revelation has done in the past as being a part of my formative teen years. I also went to school in Northern California, which had a huge impact on what I was listening to at the time. I’d have to say though that WHVN by Will Haven will always hold a special place in my heart. I want to say that in 1996, I distinctly remember WHVN written in sharpie on most of my friends that wore windbreakers’ backpacks. Haha.
As a woman working for one of the most popular and well known hardcore record labels in the world, what sorts of experiences (good or bad) have you had?
There is no doubt that hardcore has traditionally been something of a boys' club, even though there is a lot of welcoming of participation by women in the scene. Some of my favorite emails to get are internship applications from young women looking to cut their teeth in the industry. Some find that this type of environment doesn’t fulfill them but some find that this climate is exactly what they need to feel that they are progressing in their paths – be it career-oriented or if it’s their personal journey. Helping to put that in perspective for young women is one of the most rewarding parts of my job for sure.
What sorts of experiences (good or bad) have you had in the predominantly male hardcore scene in general?
I haven't had any negative experiences with any of the hardcore scenesters that I’ve met while working for Revelation. We’ve had plenty of guys come through the office and I work with a lot of people over email daily that I have a great rapport with. There have been so many people that I’ve been able to build working relationships with over the years, so it’s hard to isolate one good incident from another. I think most importantly, I’ve never felt like I’ve been oppressed or held back because of my gender in this scene. It’s one of the reasons that I think I truly enjoy and appreciate what I get to do every day.
Where do you see yourself and/or where would you like to see yourself in the next 10 years?
I’d still like to be involved with what I’m doing now. I think that I’ll adjust to wherever the industry takes me. It’s undergoing some major shifts that are both exciting and scary at the same time, but I’d like to try to hang on for the ride for as long as possible. It’d be nice to have a small business of my own one day – what the premise of that business would be, I’m not sure of yet but I know I’d apply a lot of what I’ve learned at Rev to whatever venture that may be. Hopefully, there’s still a bit of Rev work down the line for me too. Ya never know!
Posted by xCHIPxSEM | File under : Deathwish Ihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnc., New Age Records, Ressurection
For the last 2 (or is it 3) years now, Deathwish Inc. has been telling us that the Ressurection discography was finally going to the see the light of day. Well Deathwish just put up a player featuring 2 songs from the discography and man does it sound incredible. If you happen to own the original release of their full length "I Refuse" on New Age Records, you'll know its a bit of a hard listen. The recording wasn't that great as the band has little money to spend so it suffered from that. The ENTIRE discography has been remixed and remastered and it sounds the way it should have been when it came out back in 1993. If you don't know who Ressurection was, the band featured ex and future members of 108, Floorpunch, Texas Is The Reason, Judas Factor, Shelter and more. The label hasn't put up a release date yet or tracklisting but the band is reuniting to play This Is Hardcore in Philadelphia this summer so it must be soon. You can check out 2 songs from the release by clicking the link below.
Ressurection "I Am Not: The Discography" Audio Player
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A couple of months back, we posted a statement about Jose (Abhinanda, Desperate Fight Records) finally getting a new band together. Well they finally released their 4 song debut and its a rager. Give it a listen if you dig fast hardcore in that American Nightmare vein.
Out Of Vogue
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Posted by Anonymous |
Derrick Hachey is the bassist for the relatively new vegan hardcore band Olde Ghost. Being the red meat 'n cheesy potatoes man that I am, I don't know that much about veganism but I plan on finding out more about it as well as interviewing more vegan hardcore folks. Enjoy the interview. - Andrew Jacobs
How did you get into hardcore?
When I was young, I listened to The Clash, Ramones, Stiff Little Fingers and the like after being introduced to them by a friend’s brother. And then in 1987, I went to see 7 Seconds and Dag Nasty play at the Living Room in Providence, RI. That’s when I really fell in love with hardcore and started to identify with the music and community... the spirit and unity of it. I was fortunate to grow up in Rhode Island at that time. Verbal Assault was in their prime and there were a ton of bands that came through. My friends and I were at shows all the time.
One of the unique things about your band Olde Ghost is there are two singers, a male and a female. How exactly did that come about?
To take that a step back, Olde Ghost (Chris LaPointe, Kirby Johnson, Ego, Sara Russert and myself) started as a band for the sole purpose of friends playing music together that we loved with none of the pretense of "being a band", making music for the fun of it like we all did in high school. No drama, no trying to "make it" or whatever. Early on, we wrote a song that we thought would be much better if we had our good friend Sara sing a back-up on it. It went great, and very soon after that, we thought that the dynamic between Chris and Sara would work really well on more, if not all, of our songs in more of a co-frontperson scenario. Since she was such a good friend and she was interested in our approach to being a band, we asked her if she’d like to join and she was nice enough to say yes.
Discuss Olde Ghost's upcoming recording plans.
We will probably do something by the end of the summer. It sort of goes back to what I said earlier about the pretense of being a band - of being expected to record, tour and play every show you can. We just aren’t interested in doing that. That said, we are very proud of the songs we write and are interested to hear them recorded and to have other people hear them as well.
What are some of your favorite Olde Ghost songs and why?
At the moment, one of my favorites is a newer song called "Serpent’s Maw". It's a song that came together really organically and has an amazing interplay between Chris and Sara. Another favorite is "They Can’t All Be Winners", a song about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which prohibits any person from using force, violence or threats for the purpose of damaging or interfering with the operations of an animal enterprise. Basically, it’s legislative protection for those who choose to enslave animals against those who are trying to end this barbaric practice. It is being used to prosecute people for things like whistleblowing, undercover investigations and disseminating information. No other industrial sector in America has ever been granted such protection and frankly, it unfairly singles out Animal Rights activists. Not only does this song address this important subject, it also features some stellar guitar work from Kirby. I swear, sometimes it takes all that I have to not stop playing a song and just watch him shred.
As a musician, who/what are some of your influences and why?
There are seriously so many! So many bands that have made or continue to make music influence me on a daily basis, both from a musical and personal standpoint. 7 Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits, Terror, Swiz, Descendents, Bad Brains, Another Breath, Unrest and so many more.
From a bass-playing perspective - Arthur Smilios, Doug Carrion, Kim Coletta, Karl Alvarez, Darryl Jenifer, Nate Newton, Kira Roessler and so many others have been and will always be a huge influence on me and my playing.
People from the hardcore community who, through different ways, give back to the community and beyond also influence me tremendously - Greg Bennick, Anika Lehde, Josh Harper, Jake Conroy and Toby Morse to name but a few.
How long have you been vegan and why did you choose veganism?
I’ve been vegan for about 5 years or so. After being vegetarian for almost 20 years prior, I just decided that I should be doing more for the welfare of non-human animals. I want no part of imposing my will on any living being. Animals are not ours to do with as we please.
Even though you live in the Pacific Northwest, is it still somewhat of a challenge to maintain a vegan lifestyle in terms of food costs, restaurant variety, etc.?
No, it’s not a challenge at all. I’m very lucky to live in Seattle. There are enough grocery stores and restaurants here to keep food costs down and to keep competition up in terms of choice. The vegan community here is so strong and so full of amazing people trying to do their part - from people who organize vegan bake sales at shows to raise money for animal sanctuaries and the like, to direct-action warriors who sacrifice their own personal freedoms in the name of animal liberation, to so many other people doing whatever they can.
There are countless Straight Edge hardcore bands whose core members are no longer Straight Edge. Are you aware of any vegan bands whose core members are no longer vegan? If so, what band(s)?
Sure, there are some. I’m not going to call them out. They made a choice, and while I don’t agree with it, it was theirs to make.
You'll be turning 41 in August (the same day as me, in fact). What is it about hardcore that keeps you so involved in it?
Hahaha, I’m sure you get this question yourself all the time! I know hardcore is often thought of as "kid’s music" or something like that but I honestly don’t think that I could ever stop loving it. Hardcore bands new and old continue to amaze me musically. I challenge anyone to listen to Run with the Hunted and not feel more alive after than they did before. Or Trial, or 7 Generations, or Warzone, or so many other bands. The spirit of, and involvement in, community is nourishment that I need to live. The energy of the music keeps me young. I know that sounds cheesy but it’s the truth. Hardcore gave me a family and is responsible for so much of who I am. And as long as Kevin Seconds is still out there rocking like a teenager, I know I’m still doing okay.
Feel free to shamelessly plug any of your other musical or non-musical endeavors here.
I’d just like to encourage everyone to get involved in something. There is a lot that can be done to better our lives and the world around us, get into it! If you’d like to know more about Olde Ghost, you can follow us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/oldeghost.
How did you get into hardcore?
When I was young, I listened to The Clash, Ramones, Stiff Little Fingers and the like after being introduced to them by a friend’s brother. And then in 1987, I went to see 7 Seconds and Dag Nasty play at the Living Room in Providence, RI. That’s when I really fell in love with hardcore and started to identify with the music and community... the spirit and unity of it. I was fortunate to grow up in Rhode Island at that time. Verbal Assault was in their prime and there were a ton of bands that came through. My friends and I were at shows all the time.
One of the unique things about your band Olde Ghost is there are two singers, a male and a female. How exactly did that come about?
To take that a step back, Olde Ghost (Chris LaPointe, Kirby Johnson, Ego, Sara Russert and myself) started as a band for the sole purpose of friends playing music together that we loved with none of the pretense of "being a band", making music for the fun of it like we all did in high school. No drama, no trying to "make it" or whatever. Early on, we wrote a song that we thought would be much better if we had our good friend Sara sing a back-up on it. It went great, and very soon after that, we thought that the dynamic between Chris and Sara would work really well on more, if not all, of our songs in more of a co-frontperson scenario. Since she was such a good friend and she was interested in our approach to being a band, we asked her if she’d like to join and she was nice enough to say yes.
Discuss Olde Ghost's upcoming recording plans.
We will probably do something by the end of the summer. It sort of goes back to what I said earlier about the pretense of being a band - of being expected to record, tour and play every show you can. We just aren’t interested in doing that. That said, we are very proud of the songs we write and are interested to hear them recorded and to have other people hear them as well.
What are some of your favorite Olde Ghost songs and why?
At the moment, one of my favorites is a newer song called "Serpent’s Maw". It's a song that came together really organically and has an amazing interplay between Chris and Sara. Another favorite is "They Can’t All Be Winners", a song about the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which prohibits any person from using force, violence or threats for the purpose of damaging or interfering with the operations of an animal enterprise. Basically, it’s legislative protection for those who choose to enslave animals against those who are trying to end this barbaric practice. It is being used to prosecute people for things like whistleblowing, undercover investigations and disseminating information. No other industrial sector in America has ever been granted such protection and frankly, it unfairly singles out Animal Rights activists. Not only does this song address this important subject, it also features some stellar guitar work from Kirby. I swear, sometimes it takes all that I have to not stop playing a song and just watch him shred.
As a musician, who/what are some of your influences and why?
There are seriously so many! So many bands that have made or continue to make music influence me on a daily basis, both from a musical and personal standpoint. 7 Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits, Terror, Swiz, Descendents, Bad Brains, Another Breath, Unrest and so many more.
From a bass-playing perspective - Arthur Smilios, Doug Carrion, Kim Coletta, Karl Alvarez, Darryl Jenifer, Nate Newton, Kira Roessler and so many others have been and will always be a huge influence on me and my playing.
People from the hardcore community who, through different ways, give back to the community and beyond also influence me tremendously - Greg Bennick, Anika Lehde, Josh Harper, Jake Conroy and Toby Morse to name but a few.
How long have you been vegan and why did you choose veganism?
I’ve been vegan for about 5 years or so. After being vegetarian for almost 20 years prior, I just decided that I should be doing more for the welfare of non-human animals. I want no part of imposing my will on any living being. Animals are not ours to do with as we please.
Even though you live in the Pacific Northwest, is it still somewhat of a challenge to maintain a vegan lifestyle in terms of food costs, restaurant variety, etc.?
No, it’s not a challenge at all. I’m very lucky to live in Seattle. There are enough grocery stores and restaurants here to keep food costs down and to keep competition up in terms of choice. The vegan community here is so strong and so full of amazing people trying to do their part - from people who organize vegan bake sales at shows to raise money for animal sanctuaries and the like, to direct-action warriors who sacrifice their own personal freedoms in the name of animal liberation, to so many other people doing whatever they can.
There are countless Straight Edge hardcore bands whose core members are no longer Straight Edge. Are you aware of any vegan bands whose core members are no longer vegan? If so, what band(s)?
Sure, there are some. I’m not going to call them out. They made a choice, and while I don’t agree with it, it was theirs to make.
You'll be turning 41 in August (the same day as me, in fact). What is it about hardcore that keeps you so involved in it?
Hahaha, I’m sure you get this question yourself all the time! I know hardcore is often thought of as "kid’s music" or something like that but I honestly don’t think that I could ever stop loving it. Hardcore bands new and old continue to amaze me musically. I challenge anyone to listen to Run with the Hunted and not feel more alive after than they did before. Or Trial, or 7 Generations, or Warzone, or so many other bands. The spirit of, and involvement in, community is nourishment that I need to live. The energy of the music keeps me young. I know that sounds cheesy but it’s the truth. Hardcore gave me a family and is responsible for so much of who I am. And as long as Kevin Seconds is still out there rocking like a teenager, I know I’m still doing okay.
Feel free to shamelessly plug any of your other musical or non-musical endeavors here.
I’d just like to encourage everyone to get involved in something. There is a lot that can be done to better our lives and the world around us, get into it! If you’d like to know more about Olde Ghost, you can follow us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/oldeghost.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Posted by Anonymous |
Jeff Terranova is hardcore royalty. From being one of the founding members (as well as singer/frontman and bassist) of New York hardcore staple Up Front to being the sole person behind the quarter century old Smorgasbord Records label, Jeff is one of the few people who has been an integral part of both the '80s and the '90s hardcore scenes. In 2011, he's as active in the hardcore scene as he's ever been with Smorgasbord, photographing shows and a new band called Confidence Crisis. Enjoy the interview. - Andrew Jacobs
What is the current status of your band Up Front?
With members in NY, VA, MA and SoCal, we play out when we can, which is pretty rare nowadays. We actually get offers to play all of the time but it's rare when all five of us are available at the same time and can pull it off.
Up Front was active throughout the entire decade of the '90s. What '90s hardcore bands do you recall playing with during that time?
On the East coast: Edgewise, Onion, Seven League Boots, Lifetime, Mouthpiece, Face Up, Vision, Release and Sick Of It All.
On the West coast: Outspoken, Farside, Strife, Chorus Of Disapproval and Drift Again.
Do you have any interesting and/or funny tour stories from the '90s that you'd like to share?
The early '90s was an interesting time in general for me due to the fact that I went from playing bass in Up Front to being the front man and center of attention. I had grown my hair in and had a mustache and was singing fast melodic hardcore. I started shying away from wearing my hardcore shirts because they were all mostly too big for me and I didn't want them to get ripped or stolen at shows. I would wear paisley button ups over thrift store finds like Barbara Mandrel, Dee Lite or Jackalope t-shirts. Even though I had a lot of pride in the band and our music and message, I tried really hard not to take myself too seriously and I was sick of always having to wear the hardcore uniform to fit in and to be taken seriously.
When we toured the US in the summer of 1991, we decided that we were going to steal a lawn gnome from a random person's yard, take it on tour with us, take photos of it in front of every state road sign that we passed and as many tourist sites as possible, then return it home with the photos when we returned... and that is exactly what we did. Here is a link to a section of the Up Front website that has a newspaper article in a local paper about it as well as some photos - http://www.up-front.org/finnigan01.html
What are some of your favorite Up Front songs/records and why?
I love the Spirit LP for the simpleness of it... just high school friends writing songs from the perspective of young hardcore high school aged kids. No hidden messages, no deep between the lines meanings, just straight forward honesty and the sincerity and righteousness of youth. I also love the Daybreak 7" because it was the first time that I sang in the studio and I tried really hard to make my own mark. I am far from a good singer but somehow, those songs moved me in such a way that brought out something deep inside of me.
My favorite song to play bass live is "Second Thoughts". There is something about the riffs and the way that my fingers need to move around the neck of the bass that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
As a musician and a songwriter, who/what are some of your influences and why?
In the early days of Up Front, I had just crossed over from the metal scene to the hardcore/punk scene. Two of the main reasons why I played bass was Clif Burton of Metallica and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, they shaped my playing early on and taught me how to be riffy. When Up Front formed, we enjoyed fast, fun, positive hardcore like Minor Threat, 7 Seconds and Uniform Choice, so I guess that we subconsciously modeled ourselves after these bands. Over time, I grew to love and appreciate Big Country, The Hellacopters, Catherine Wheel, Gluecifer, Airbourne, Paul Collins, The Romantics and countless other rock 'n roll and power pop bands. I think that nowadays, my influences are drawn from a weird combination of power metal, hardcore, thrash and power pop.
What is the current status of your record label, Smorgasbord Records?
The label has switched gears and now releases digital download only releases but currently, most of the back catalog is in print and available. Once the current physical stock runs out, it will not be repressed but will remain available digitally.
What '90s hardcore bands, if any, did you put out on Smorgasbord?
Standpoint, Follow Through, Fast Times, Show Of Hands, Hatebreed, Coalition, Fury For Another and Trouble Is...
What Smorgasbord release(s) are you most proud of and why?
The Wide Awake discography CD because it took a very long time to get all of the music back from various sources and I always felt that the band's 7" should have been on Smorgasbord originally. I am proud of the content, the layout and also the fact that the original band reunited for a handful of shows to support the CD back in 1998.
I am also proud of the recent AWARE! download only discography release that was released in December of 2010. I have been friends with and a fan of AWARE! for many years and have always felt they were not appreciated as much as some of the other bands of their era because they were not on Schism or Revelation or even Smorgasbord Records. I wish that times were different and this release could have seen a proper CD or double LP packaging but it just wasn't feasible.
Discuss your new band, Confidence Crisis.
Basically, I had been living in SoCal for about a year and had taken time off from playing music. I had been meeting a ton of people while here going to shows and hanging out and Unreal Ditch mentioned to me that he wanted to get a "youth crew" type late 1980's style hardcore band going. He started posting on Facebook about looking for members and was advertising on Craigslist for members. I decided to tell him that I would jam with him and whoever else he could recruit and see what happens. He found a drummer and asked if I would be willing to play guitar and see how it goes. We walked away from that one practice with 3 complete songs and the shell of a 4th. Three drummers and two bass players later, we decided that we had something worthwhile, so we starting booking shows and picked a name for the band. We currently have 5 completed songs, two in the works, a remake/cover of a Trouble Is... song and two covers. We played our debut show on 6/25/11 with Doggy Style and The Pegs and our second show is 7/17/11 at the Riff Haus in Fullerton.
You've become an avid photographer in the last few years. What do you enjoy about photography?
I enjoy walking into a venue and having to instantly adapt to the environment. The lighting is never the same from venue to venue and sometimes, it even differs from band to band or show to show at the same venue. You only have one chance to capture the live action and that is thrilling to me. I shoot everything manually, I control everything the camera is doing at all times, so if I misjudge the lighting and my settings, I walk away with crap. I am too old to stage dive and get into the pit but I love being in the front row singing along and taking photos. I also love being in the photo pit and on the stage, there are so many aspects of a live show to capture, from the band members and the instruments to the crowd singing along and stage diving, etc.
I also enjoy shooting nature and outdoors, which has some of the same challenges as live shows in regards to lighting and it constantly changing on you. It can be sunny one second and cloudy the next or sunny and shady in the same shot. Same with wildlife, the majority of the time, you only have once chance to capture them before they are gone, so if the settings are off, no luck. But that is how I like it. Anyone can buy an expensive camera and set it to automatic and get a decent looking photo. Me, I like a challenge and a photo that I can look at and be proud of.
Feel free to shamelessly plug any of your other musical or non-musical endeavors here.
Up Front - http://www.up-front.org
Smorgasbord Records - http://www.smorgasbordrecords.com/
My photography collections - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreyterranova/collections/
What is the current status of your band Up Front?
With members in NY, VA, MA and SoCal, we play out when we can, which is pretty rare nowadays. We actually get offers to play all of the time but it's rare when all five of us are available at the same time and can pull it off.
Up Front was active throughout the entire decade of the '90s. What '90s hardcore bands do you recall playing with during that time?
On the East coast: Edgewise, Onion, Seven League Boots, Lifetime, Mouthpiece, Face Up, Vision, Release and Sick Of It All.
On the West coast: Outspoken, Farside, Strife, Chorus Of Disapproval and Drift Again.
Do you have any interesting and/or funny tour stories from the '90s that you'd like to share?
The early '90s was an interesting time in general for me due to the fact that I went from playing bass in Up Front to being the front man and center of attention. I had grown my hair in and had a mustache and was singing fast melodic hardcore. I started shying away from wearing my hardcore shirts because they were all mostly too big for me and I didn't want them to get ripped or stolen at shows. I would wear paisley button ups over thrift store finds like Barbara Mandrel, Dee Lite or Jackalope t-shirts. Even though I had a lot of pride in the band and our music and message, I tried really hard not to take myself too seriously and I was sick of always having to wear the hardcore uniform to fit in and to be taken seriously.
When we toured the US in the summer of 1991, we decided that we were going to steal a lawn gnome from a random person's yard, take it on tour with us, take photos of it in front of every state road sign that we passed and as many tourist sites as possible, then return it home with the photos when we returned... and that is exactly what we did. Here is a link to a section of the Up Front website that has a newspaper article in a local paper about it as well as some photos - http://www.up-front.org/finnigan01.html
What are some of your favorite Up Front songs/records and why?
I love the Spirit LP for the simpleness of it... just high school friends writing songs from the perspective of young hardcore high school aged kids. No hidden messages, no deep between the lines meanings, just straight forward honesty and the sincerity and righteousness of youth. I also love the Daybreak 7" because it was the first time that I sang in the studio and I tried really hard to make my own mark. I am far from a good singer but somehow, those songs moved me in such a way that brought out something deep inside of me.
My favorite song to play bass live is "Second Thoughts". There is something about the riffs and the way that my fingers need to move around the neck of the bass that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
As a musician and a songwriter, who/what are some of your influences and why?
In the early days of Up Front, I had just crossed over from the metal scene to the hardcore/punk scene. Two of the main reasons why I played bass was Clif Burton of Metallica and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, they shaped my playing early on and taught me how to be riffy. When Up Front formed, we enjoyed fast, fun, positive hardcore like Minor Threat, 7 Seconds and Uniform Choice, so I guess that we subconsciously modeled ourselves after these bands. Over time, I grew to love and appreciate Big Country, The Hellacopters, Catherine Wheel, Gluecifer, Airbourne, Paul Collins, The Romantics and countless other rock 'n roll and power pop bands. I think that nowadays, my influences are drawn from a weird combination of power metal, hardcore, thrash and power pop.
What is the current status of your record label, Smorgasbord Records?
The label has switched gears and now releases digital download only releases but currently, most of the back catalog is in print and available. Once the current physical stock runs out, it will not be repressed but will remain available digitally.
What '90s hardcore bands, if any, did you put out on Smorgasbord?
Standpoint, Follow Through, Fast Times, Show Of Hands, Hatebreed, Coalition, Fury For Another and Trouble Is...
What Smorgasbord release(s) are you most proud of and why?
The Wide Awake discography CD because it took a very long time to get all of the music back from various sources and I always felt that the band's 7" should have been on Smorgasbord originally. I am proud of the content, the layout and also the fact that the original band reunited for a handful of shows to support the CD back in 1998.
I am also proud of the recent AWARE! download only discography release that was released in December of 2010. I have been friends with and a fan of AWARE! for many years and have always felt they were not appreciated as much as some of the other bands of their era because they were not on Schism or Revelation or even Smorgasbord Records. I wish that times were different and this release could have seen a proper CD or double LP packaging but it just wasn't feasible.
Discuss your new band, Confidence Crisis.
Basically, I had been living in SoCal for about a year and had taken time off from playing music. I had been meeting a ton of people while here going to shows and hanging out and Unreal Ditch mentioned to me that he wanted to get a "youth crew" type late 1980's style hardcore band going. He started posting on Facebook about looking for members and was advertising on Craigslist for members. I decided to tell him that I would jam with him and whoever else he could recruit and see what happens. He found a drummer and asked if I would be willing to play guitar and see how it goes. We walked away from that one practice with 3 complete songs and the shell of a 4th. Three drummers and two bass players later, we decided that we had something worthwhile, so we starting booking shows and picked a name for the band. We currently have 5 completed songs, two in the works, a remake/cover of a Trouble Is... song and two covers. We played our debut show on 6/25/11 with Doggy Style and The Pegs and our second show is 7/17/11 at the Riff Haus in Fullerton.
You've become an avid photographer in the last few years. What do you enjoy about photography?
I enjoy walking into a venue and having to instantly adapt to the environment. The lighting is never the same from venue to venue and sometimes, it even differs from band to band or show to show at the same venue. You only have one chance to capture the live action and that is thrilling to me. I shoot everything manually, I control everything the camera is doing at all times, so if I misjudge the lighting and my settings, I walk away with crap. I am too old to stage dive and get into the pit but I love being in the front row singing along and taking photos. I also love being in the photo pit and on the stage, there are so many aspects of a live show to capture, from the band members and the instruments to the crowd singing along and stage diving, etc.
I also enjoy shooting nature and outdoors, which has some of the same challenges as live shows in regards to lighting and it constantly changing on you. It can be sunny one second and cloudy the next or sunny and shady in the same shot. Same with wildlife, the majority of the time, you only have once chance to capture them before they are gone, so if the settings are off, no luck. But that is how I like it. Anyone can buy an expensive camera and set it to automatic and get a decent looking photo. Me, I like a challenge and a photo that I can look at and be proud of.
Feel free to shamelessly plug any of your other musical or non-musical endeavors here.
Up Front - http://www.up-front.org
Smorgasbord Records - http://www.smorgasbordrecords.com/
My photography collections - http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreyterranova/collections/
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Recently, Justin conducted an interview with Dave Walker, vocalist for one of my all time favorite hardcore bands, Harvest. If you've been following us regularly (if you have been, thank you), we've been trying to keep you on top of everything going in the Harvest camp. Someone recently requested an upload for Season Of Fire, Dave's band after Harvest broke up. I checked and apparently both SOF records are no longer available so here you go. I ripped both CDs as VBRs so they sound great and scanned the covers for nice, high resolution images. I also uploaded the band's demo which has the "Office Space" sample before the song "The Dare". The sample was left off the EP version and to be quite honest, I feel like it adds to the track. Unfortunately, the demo is ripped at 128 kbps. This is what I got it at off of Soulseek many years ago so I apologize if it doesn't sound incredible. The band was around more or less for about 3 years, from 2001 to 2003 and did a pretty good amount of shows during that time. Definitely still worth checking out especially if you dig the direction Harvest was going towards on their least record. I spoke to Dave and this is what he had to say about the band:
"Season of Fire was a band that I did around 2001 after taking a hiatus from playing music post Harvest. It was fun while it lasted and underwent many phases in it's short 3-year lifespan. Thanks to Chris and Goodfellow Records for putting these out and most of all for putting up with our antics. During our brief stint, SOF had the opportunity to do some small tours with the amazing bands Bloodjin and Taken. For those who care to hear these, I thank xstuckinthepastx for making it possible." - dave walker
Don't forget that the Harvest reunion is next week...I wish I could go but won't be able to so make sure to go nuts for me.
*NEW LINKS*
Season of Fire - Demo
Season Of Fire - Torture Inhibition
Season Of Fire - From Here On Out We Bleed
Friday, July 1, 2011
Posted by Anonymous |
In addition to this, for the entire month of July, all Kill Rock Stars digital albums are available at Amazon for only $5 each! All KRS vinyl and CDs are also on sale at Amazon throughout July. KRS itself is also having a huge sale on CDs through July 5th and will be having a huge vinyl sale starting July 5th as well.
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