Today’s Feature – November 27-28: Zona Jones
It’s kinda funny to me that the bio of country singer Zona Jones opens with the line, “While George Jones was the first to put Beaumont on the country music map…” Sure, George Jones has quite the history, but honestly, Zona Jones is blazing a path unique and captivating on its own – he doesn’t need to follow in anyone’s footsteps. Here’s the abbreviated version of the background:
“After working as a kid after school and during the summers on the ranch for his dad, Zona decided education was the ticket to getting a job somewhere there was air-conditioning. Zona received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He went on to earn a law degree which, in turn, landed him a job at a prestigious firm in Beaumont, Texas. It was there, much to his surprise, Zona found a booming musical community. After forming the band SwingWest, Zona began hitting the Texas club and dance hall circuit.”
Today, Zona is riding solo and has signed with Rocky Comfort Records to continue his already successful musical career… all the while still practicing friggin’ law! How impressive is that? Somehow he’s found time to release an album titled, “Harleys & Horses,” which has been all over the Texas Music Charts, including the a hit with plenty of radio play called “Two Hearts.” Jones talks about the collection, “Well, this record was really neat because it has a lot of flavor to it; it had a lot of texture to it and a wide variety of music that speaks to people from top to bottom.” Definitely check it out, and keep an eye out for the future album called “Prove Me Right.” You can already buy one single off it on iTunes; the attention grabbing “You Should’ve Seen Her This Morning.” There’s still much to learn, so get into the XXQ’s for a lot more.
XXQs: Zona Jones
PensEyeView.com (Richie): Hey Zona, where’d I catch you right now?
Zona Jones (ZJ): I’m actually on the road right now. We have a show outside Houston.
Richie: Speaking of being on the road how is life on the road for you?
ZJ: You know, it’s great! We enjoy playing music and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. To play and to be out on the road is great… it’s the stress of being away from home that isn’t always the best. It’s all worth it to be out on stage though (laughs).
Richie: Where is home for you?
ZJ: I live in Beaumont, Texas.
Richie: What kind of music were you listening to growing up?
ZJ: All man, everything. Everything from Journey, Elvis, Beatles, country of course. All kinds of music.
Richie: I have to ask you about your name… Zona is an interesting name.
ZJ: Well yeah, it’s pretty rare. But actually now that I’ve been out more, I’ve had some people say they know a Zona as well. But the “Reader’s Digest story”, goes like this, my dad was on the rodeo circuit and when my mom was pregnant with me, about to go into labor, he missed a big rodeo that was in Phoenix, Arizona. So since he couldn’t be there he and my mom decided to name me Zona, short for Arizona.
Richie: What kind of environment do you have to be in to write music?
ZJ: Well, let’s see… I just have to have no interference – no phone calls… where it’s quite and then a pencil and paper.
Richie: How has your performance changed since your first time on stage to where you are now?
ZJ: My first all time performance was in Jasper, Texas. And I’d say from where I am now from them, there are a lot more people watching (laughs).
Richie: Well, I’d say you come quite a long way since then (laughs).
ZJ: We did it ok then but now we just do it a lot better (laughs).
Richie: Tell us what can people expect from your latest release, “Harleys & Horses”?
ZJ: Well, this record was really neat because it has a lot of flavor to it; it had a lot of texture to it and a wide variety of music that speaks to people from top to bottom. So when we have the new record that will be out next year, I think we have an even better record on our hands.
Richie: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about you?
ZJ: Well, most people are surprised that I’m a lawyer and I have my own practice.
Richie: That is pretty interesting! I didn’t know that. What was it like when you made the switch from lawyer to musician? I would think that a lawyer is a much steadier career path.
ZJ: Well, I still practice. It wasn’t a real transition for me. I started playing music years ago with my band. When I started my practice it became successful and being the boss I could allow myself to go and play some shows… I mean no one was going to tell me I couldn’t (laughs). But I am still very involved in the practice.
Richie: And when you’re not playing, practicing law or touring, what can we find you doing in your spare time?
ZJ: Hunting and fishing. It something I really enjoy doing and try to whenever I get a chance. It feels good to get out there and go hunting and fishing.
Richie: So, what’s next for Zona Jones?
ZJ: Well, we’re going to keep on doing what we’ve been doing. We’ve been fortunate enough to play regularly now. And we are getting ready for the release of the new album.
Richie: Well thanks for taking the time out with me Zona and best of luck on tour.
ZJ: Thank you very much, I appreciate the time brother.
For more information on Zona, check out: www.ZonaJones.com
Today’s Feature – November 25-26: White Lies
Don’t be fooled – while UK-based band White Lies has formed a clearly advanced sound, they’re not some band who burst onto the scene just this year. They were known as Fear of Flying from 2005 until earlier this year, and put out some great stuff including two double A-side vinyl singles: “Routemaster/Round Three” and “Three’s a Crowd/Forget-Me-Nots.” However members Harry McVeigh, Charles Cave and Jack Lawrence-Brown soon realized their music was taking them to a level they’d never been before; a place that a band like Fear of Flying couldn’t exist. Thus the introduction of White Lies, complete with a compelling, darker sound, something they feel is best described as “Cathedral Pop… cinematic and yet tender at times.”
In preparation for their new record, “To Lose My Life” (available January 12th), White Lies has released an EP called “Death,” a sort of appetizer for what is to come. Harry, Charles and Jack have a unique approach to their music; an approach that also operates as sound advice to any emerging artist. They say “if you start with bells and whistles, there is going to be a hollow belly underneath which will eventually be exposed. With us, lyrics come first and then we try different things to establish the mood we want to take the song in. We layer and layer and strip way until we are happy with how the arrangement sits.” Admittedly, “Death” and “To Lose My Life” has its definite influences, but Charles says it is still “uncompromising and comes very naturally to us. I also think that our sound is very bold compared to a lot of other bands at the moment.”
As the date for the new record approaches, White Lies continues to tour forcefully. They know their stuff, and they know exactly how to bring it to the people. So check the schedule as they start their UK tour with Glasvegas, work their way to the NME tour in the UK before returning to the states. There’s a lot more to learn in the XXQ’s, so jump in.
XXQs: White Lies – Charles
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Tell us about how you first jumped into becoming White Lies? Was it an instant connection for the band?
Charles: As with everything to do with White Lies. The creation of the band came from the creation of songs. We wrote unfinished Business and Death very close together and knew in our hearts that we were finally proud of ourselves musically. It was a moment in time for us that needed to be named so White Lies for us, represents not only a future of writing important music but a very definite time for us personally where we were finally happy with our creativity.
PEV: Hailing from Chiswick in West London, England., what kind of music where each of the members listening to growing up? Do you guys argue on different kinds of music? What was the first concert you attended?
Charles: Yes we argue about music and always have. i always hope to. I find there’s three things you can talk about to get someone heated up, religion, politics and music. We all grew up on different things. Harry was classically trained from an early age, although that doesn’t come into the work of White Lies much. I was brought up on Paul Simon and Brazilian music my Dad listened to a lot. But we’ve all agreed on a few bands over the years that will always be important to us like Talking Heads, Echo and The Bunnymen more recently.
PEV: Tell us about your creative process… What kind of environment do you have to be in to write music?
Charles: We have to be somewhere where we can sit down and relax. Harry and I always come up with the basic ideas for songs on a keyboard and then it gets handed over to the gang as a whole and we rip it to shreds. David Bowie reportedly wrote Life On Mars with two fingers on an out of tune piano (apparently he wasn’t a good player at all) but which ever producer working with him at the time, heard it in that simplistic and crude form and knew it was an exceptional song. We have adopted that technique in some ways. if you start with bells and whistles, there is going to be a hollow belly underneath which will eventually be exposed. With us, lyrics come first and then we try different things to establish the mood we want to take the song in. We layer and layer and strip way until we are happy with how the arrangement sits.
PEV: Having performed together for quite some time, what can fans expect from a live show?
Charles: We have got to the stage where we know the songs and can play them well. So for us, the excitement and fun starts now with our live show. We can now totally engage with each other and people watching in a non vocal way. We dont like to say much on stage. Everything we have to say that is worth saying is already being sung in the different songs. We love to be very involved in our lighting and we view our shows as a performance but not an act.
PEV: Tell us about your first live performance as a band. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?
Charles: We will never forget our first show. It was the most pressure I think any of us have ever felt. Knowing we were basically going into the lions den. Family, friends, record labels, producers, you name it, we all there willing to listen but as is the way in London, ready to go “it’s all hype” after two songs. At the end of the set, there were actual tears coming from some men and our families and friends were speechless. It sealed the deal for us in our confidence in our music and also proved a lot to those who had always believed in us. It also impressed a lot of record people.
PEV: What can fans expect from your latest EP, “Death”? What was the collaborative process for this album?
Charles: The Death EP is a small taster of what is to come next year. It features the song Death which is the first track off our forthcoming album and a big moment in our live show. it also features one B-side track and two remixes. One of those remixes was done by Crystal Castles which we were and are still flattered to have had that done. It wasn’t a collaboration in that we didn’t Ethan (CC) any rules or guidelines. The collaboration came from his ideas and a song we had written. We are very pleased with how it turned out. he has really put his fingerprint on that.
PEV: How is “Death” different from others out right now?
Charles: Our music is not un-influenced. It is not even unfamiliar. But it is uncompromising and comes very naturally to us. We dont worry about what other people will think too much, but rather hat we will think of a song three months later. I dont think too many bands can say that these days. I also think that our sound is very bold compared to a lot of other bands at the moment. Its very emotive and powerful.
PEV: How would you describe the sound of White Lies? How do you plan to stand out above the other musicians in your genre?
Charles: The best description of us has been “Cathedral Pop”. We like that term. Our sound is cinematic and yet tender at times. However we have no qualms about rocking out in some moments. We do what is right for each song. We plan to stand out by maintaining our integrity, by exploring things that we find interesting whether it be string arrangements
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about the members of the band?
Charles: Perhaps something about all of us is that none of us can drive…
PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you?
Charles: I think we are still hoping that will be true but we’re not even a year down the line of doing it properly yet.
PEV: What one word best describes White Lies?
Charles: Sincere.
PEV: How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts? Any fun stories?
Charles: Life on the road is very lonely at times. We all miss home and it is hard to stay sane. However playing the music we love every night makes it very worth while. Not really any funny stories. We like to go Go-Karting when we can though and that usually gets pretty competitive.
PEV: In all your travels, which has been your favorite city to play (US or International)?
Charles: I would say Reykjavik in Iceland. The people are lovely and the atmosphere is amazing because of their culture. The scenery is breathtaking and really suits our sound.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your success?
Charles: Everyone is happy for us but it does mean that we dont get to see people as much as we would like. At the end of the day, everyone is so thrilled that our hard work seems to be paying off.
PEV: What can we find the members of the band doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
Charles: Watching films. Writing, going Go-Karting, listen to more music. Normal stuff.
PEV: Which artist would be your dream collaboration? Why?
Charles: Scott Walker. He is always pushing any country in sight and it would be really interesting to see what he might see in us.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
Charles: Yes, Violens.
PEV: If you weren’t playing music, what would the members of the band most likely be doing for a career?
Charles: Id like to study film. We would all be involved in something creative. That’s just who we are. There never felt like we made a choice to do what we do.
PEV: So, what is next for White Lies?
Charles: We are currently feeling like dragons sitting on a pile of gold. Our debut album is ready and we are so proud of it. We can’t wait for people to hear it when it comes out early next year. We are doing a UK tour with Glasvegas. Early next year we are going to play on the NME tour in the UK before returning to the USA and Europe/Japan etc to play the album to everyone.
For more information on White Lies, check out: www.myspace.com/whitelies
Today’s Feature – November 23-24: Mitch Roth
When you read through the interview with out latest feature, Mitch Roth, you may ask yourself the same question I did: “This guy is hilarious… but would I want him as my lawyer??” Not to discredit the skills of Mr. Roth – the guy drives a Mercedes for a reason. But as far as lawyers are concerned, Mitch is one I’d definitely have a drink with at my corner bar.
Truth be told though, Mitch Roth isn’t on PensEyeView.com because of his talents in the court room. He’s also an artist and writer of two comics – “Assholes” and “Law School is Fun School.” Roth talks about how he got into the trade – “So I partially got into comics simply because they are an easier delivery system for my jokes, even though I can’t draw at all, which Law School is Fun School (LSFS) will demonstrate. Shortly after that, my friend Josh Eiserike, who I have known all my life and who has won the Ignatz Award for comics, approached me to do a joint book – so it made sense to do a full graphic novel.”
How LSFS is put together each week is funny in itself – Roth simply uses two saved stick figure characters he made in photoshop and moves them around from week to week. Pretty sweet. And as far as “Assholes” is concerned… well the name just makes sense. It’s all about the stuff you want to say… but probably don’t (for good reason). So when you read some of his work, “expect to be offended. But to laugh A LOT.” Get into the XXQ’s for a whole lot more.
XXQs: Mitch Roth
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Lawyer, artist, short stories, writer… where should I start? Well, we know how most people pursue a law degree but tell us how you got involved in art, comics and writing?
Mitch Roth (MR): I’ve always been involved with creative writing – and have been writing short stories since high school. However, it’s really difficult to get someone to sit down and read a whole short story. You’re like – here’s this thing, and its great – but it’s 20 typed pages and will take 30 minutes of your life. Unless people already like your stuff, or love reading, that can be a hard sell.
But a comic strip or a comic book – that’s something that people can look and instantly get the joke. It’s much easier to digest and much more low effort for the reader. So I partially got into comics simply because they are an easier delivery system for my jokes, even though I can’t draw at all, which Law School is Fun School (LSFS) will demonstrate. Shortly after that, my friend Josh Eiserike, who I have known all my life and who has won the Ignatz Award for comics, approached me to do a joint book – so it made sense to do a full graphic novel.
Also, I have no attention span, so writing text for about 24 pages of a comic at a time is perfect.
PEV: Now calling Baltimore, Maryland home, what kind of writing were you listening to growing up? Any writers that made you want to pursue a career in writing and in comic strips?
MR: A.M. Holmes and Brett Easton Ellis were definitely huge inspirations on my life, as they are extremely edgier writers who push the envelope and then keep pushing it and pushing it, until the reader is somewhere they never expected to be. The other interesting thing about A.M. Holmes is that is the adopted daughter of my high school guidance counselor. I was having a session with her, and she said, you look writing, my daughter is a writer – you should read her stuff. And she turned out to be one of my favorite authors. I used to read a few comics when I was a kid, and I like some indie artists like Alex Robinson, but there really aren’t any other comics out there like Assholes – which is why I wanted to write the book that I did.
PEV: Tell us about your creative process… What kind of environment do you have to be in to write?
MR: I am naturally a very social person, so sitting down and writing is actually very hard for me. I literally have to turn off my cell phone and lock myself in my room with a bottle of bourbon for the night – or I write during weekend mornings – early, before any of my friends are up yet.
PEV: Tell us about your comic strips, “Assholes” and “Law School Is Fun School”?
MR: LSFS is funnier if you’ve ever gone to law school, and is just a ridiculous 2 person talking-head strip with stick figures. And I was too lazy to redraw the stick figures each week, so I just saved them to photoshop and moved them around. There are some pretty good one liners though – the most controversial one was published when Hillary
Clinton was gaining popularity, and one character says: “Do you think a woman will ever be president” and the other character says “No.” Then the first character says: “You’re right, she’ll probably bleed all over the constitution.”
Assholes is the story of two friends going on a binge-drinking/trying to get laid adventure, across the US, Mexico and Canada; very much in the vein of Tucker Max and Wedding Crashers. Although, I like to think that I’m not as more good natured than Tucker Max, and push the envelope way more than Hollywood ever does.
PEV: What can readers expect from these strips?
MR: To be offended. But to laugh A LOT.
PEV: How are they different from other out right now?
MR: I don’t think anyone else’s stuff, aside from Tucker Max, is as far over the line as my stuff is right now. And I don’t think there’s ever been a comic book like this before – a Rated R comedy, that is meant for people who have never read comic books before, and is mostly about sex and drinking. I want to do for comics what the Simpsons and South Park did for cartoons.
PEV: Tell us about your first stories and works of writing. How have you changed since that first pieces to where you are now?
MR: Oh wow, I think back in high school I thought I could write a short story that could change the world and really inspire peoples’ emotions. Now, I just want to make people laugh and write stuff that is entertaining.
PEV: You pursued a career in law as a result of comics and short story
writing not being the most guaranteed of careers. So tell us, what it is like trying to get a strip launched or a story published?
MR: I think it is nearly impossible to get a strip launched or a story published in any reputable place. Newspapers want strips like Marmaduke, and like 3 national magazines publish short stories and they only want well known authors. That’s why we put the entire first issue of Assholes online for free; we just want people to read it.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about you?
MR: I really love Romantic Comedies.
PEV: You said your life as a lawyer is pretty dull. What’s the best and worse part about being a lawyer?
MR: That I have to sit and read the fine print of contracts that no one else in our society wants to read. The best part is that I drive a Mercedes and get to drink expensive coffee.
PEV: What one word best describes your comic strips?
MR: Inappropriate.
PEV: Give us an average day in the life of a lawyer.
MR: It’s mostly dealing with clients and seeing what’s on your plate that day. Drafting various legal documents like corporate articles or minutes, reading contracts, doing legal research, learning about new areas of law, making sure that contracts are drafted right, drafting memos. Sometimes, there’s an emergency and I’ll have to research something really fast. That’s about as exciting as it gets.
PEV: PensEyeView.com is a arts and music magazine, so what kind of music are you into?
MR: I love indie rock – I listen to Left of Center on Sirius religiously.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your comic strips?
MR: My family hates them, they can’t understand why I can’t just be a nice Jewish Lawyer and do PG rated comedy on the side. My friends all have the same sense of humor that I do.
PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from writing and practicing law?
MR: I have a motorcycle – that I’m really good at falling off of. I also play a lot of social sports, but mainly because I like going to the bar afterwards with a bunch of people that are all wearing the same color t-shirt as me.
PEV: If you could sit down to dinner with one writer, alive or deceased, who would it be and why?
MR: Hemmingway maybe? Just because it’s fucking Hemmingway.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
MR: For local music, I love Caleb Stine. Oh, and I’m still waiting for Cat Empire to blow up, even though I’ve been listening to them for years.
PEV: If you weren’t a lawyer and writing wasn’t in the picture, what would you most likely be doing for a career?
MR: Something in the advertising field.
PEV: Where do you see your career – both in law and in comics – ten years from now?
MR: I would love to be have a more creative day job – not sure if that will involve law at all or not. As for comics, I’m hoping that Assholes and my writing will have built a loyal following by then. I’m probably not going to famous, but I totally want to be.
PEV: So, what is next for Mitch Roth?
MR: Another sad day at the office.
For more information on Mitch, check out: www.mitchroth.net, www.assholescomic.com, www.josheiserike.com
Today’s Feature – November 21-22: Rise Against
Not since the days of Bad Religion and NOFX, have I been this excited about a band on the punk-rock scene – and while Chicago-based Rise Against categorically doesn’t define itself with the type of music bands like Bad Religion produced, they are indeed putting some muscle behind the scene. They have all of the key ingredients; a powerful vocal leader that’s impossible to ignore and drums and hooks that punch you in the stomach, but keep you coming back.
What makes this all even better – is how several of my buddies first discovered Rise Against. Madden. Remember when “Drones” appeared on that soundtrack? Without a doubt the best single on it! Tim McIlrath (vocals, guitar), Joe Principe (bass guitar), Brandon Barnes (drums) and Zach Blair (guitar) are the men behind it, and while they may seem relatively new to stardom to some of you, the fact remains these guys have released five albums, a rare material EP, even a DVD.
You’ve heard of “Siren Song of the Counter Culture” and “The Sufferer & the Witness” with some of my favorite hits such as “Swing Life Away” and “Ready to Fall,” but right now the talk is all about “Appeal to Reason.” And it’s for good reason to boot. The latest record opened at #3 on the Billboard 200, so if you had any question before – the band is no doubt sticking around for years to come. Have you seen the passion these guys play with? It’s unreal! They have the gusto and will to make sure everyone understands that their music has cause, and that they mean everything they put out there. Check out a performance for yourself and pick up “Appeal to Reason.” There’s a lot more to learn, so get into the XXQ’s.
XXQs: Rise Against
PensEyeView.com (Richie): Hey Joe. So where did I catch you?
Joe Principe: We are in San Diego. Just got done eating dinner and we’re just hanging out.
Richie: How’s the tour going?
Joe: Really well. It’s one of my favorite tours we’ve done in a long time. We’ve worked with bands on tour before but when you work with bands that you are fans of, it makes it all worth while.
Richie: How is road life treat you?
Joe: It’s good. It’s kind of all we know – we’ve toured so much. The only downside is when you get sick, you can’t shake it. It’s not the healthiest life style.
Richie: I mean, it sounds things are going well. The album “Appeal To Reason” opened at #3.
Joe: Yeah, it’s great. We’re all just in shock with everything.
Richie: With the album doing so well, when you first came into the music industry did you automatically click? With an album this well, it seems like you must have?
Joe: You know, I don’t think we realized it or saw the success that we’ve had. We started and that’s what you do – I mean we grew up in the punk scene and wanted to play music, so we joined a band. You would get together with some people and it’s like, ‘Ok, let’s play a few songs’. And let’s record a demo now, send it out to labels and see what happens. Then we sign with Geffen – it was all very grassroots.
Richie: Was there a certain point when you realized music was going to be a full time career?
Joe: I don’t know. When a song came out and it was doing better and better as a band. We started thinking that we can do this for a long time.
Richie: What can fans expect from Appeal To Reason?
Joe: It’s a representation of us being a band for so many years – how we’ve evolved and stuff we’ve experienced and dedication.
Richie: What can fans expect from a live Rise Against show?
Joe: Very energetic. We like our fans to sing along with us. The show is a release in your own life.
Richie: Well, the fans are definitely reacting. I’ve seen the site and fans are getting tattoos with the logo on them.
Joe: Yeah, it’s awesome.
Richie: Has there been any crazy tattoos you’ve seen.
Joe: Um, well, some girl had a tattoo of Tim (laughs). That’s pretty crazy. I mean it will be on her body forever. But people are that dedicated. It’s fun to meet them and talk to them.
Richie: The band is very outspoken about war and politics. What is your view on the upcoming election? (NOTE: This interview was done prior to the recent Presidential election).
Joe: Well, I already voted for Obama on an absentee ballot. I think they need to focus on is that Obama is raising a family now. He knows what it’s like to live in a world like this now. McCain has already lived his life. Obama knows what is flawed and what needs to be done.
Richie: Being so outspoken, has anyone in the music business tried to quiet you on being outspoken?
Joe: Um, no. We’ve been pretty lucky. They tend to leave us alone. They let us do what we need to do. It’s pretty obvious what we do as a band.
Richie: What can we find you doing when you are not touring?
Joe: Well, we have families, so anything with my family and wives is the best. We are not home very often, so we like to make good use of our time.
Richie: What do you think you’d be doing for a career if it wasn’t music?
Joe: You know, I have no idea. I went to college to be an accountant and it was miserable.
Richie: Where did you go to college?
Joe: I just went to a community college by my house. If I liked it, I figured I would go to a university. But I never got that far. I dropped everything to play music. Luckily it worked out (laughs).
Richie: Has there been a favorite city for the band on tour?
Joe: Southern California is great. And our hometown of Chicago is always fun. And for some reason we have a big following in Canada. Huge crowds, everyone singing along with us.
Richie: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about you?
Joe: I think there is a misconception that we are like real serious people because of the content of our music. But we are all real quirky kind of people and just like to have fun together.
Richie: Where do you think you’ll be in ten years?
Joe: Hopefully we’ll have the same kind of relevance as Bad Religion. Hopefully people are still taking interest in our music. As long as we are still relevant and having fun, we’ll still be a band.
Richie: What kind of environment do you have to be in to write?
Joe: I like to write without distraction, late at night when my wife is sleeping. Sometimes I like to drive. For this record, I stayed in this cabin in the woods a couple times. That is very peaceful. It’s a great environment to write music in. That’s what I did (laughs).
Richie: Is there a band we should all be looking into now?
Joe: If you haven’t heard of them yet, try Gas Fire Anthem.
Richie: So, what’s next for the band?
Joe: Just touring. We are going to Canada in December, Australia in March, then back to the states. Just touring.
Richie: Well best of luck on tour and thanks again for talking with me.
Joe: Cool man, thanks a lot.
For more information on Rise Against, check out: www.riseagainst.com
Today’s Feature – November 19-20: Our 300th consecutive feature, Third Eye Blind
It’s hard to describe what it’s like writing day in and day out about new artists – work that needs to be completed at least once every 48 hours (300 times over as of today). I have friends who wonder why I get so much out of writing – they wonder what exactly it’s doing for me. I’ve said it before: I’ve learned more about the world’s talent in the past year and a half than I have about anything else; seen and heard genres of artistic expressions I’ve never thought possible. Now, that’s not to say at times it can be difficult – I’m not going to climb onto some high and mighty mount and tell you I have loads of experience with every artist we feature prior to writing about them. Truth be told, I sometimes know nothing about the band/writer/painter/etc. until we actually select them to be interviewed. So it’s not always easy to write… but today is a different story.
I sat across from my father out at dinner a few nights ago, talking to him about PensEyeView.com, where it’s at and who we’ve had on recently. My father is no music head, and when I rattled off a good eight names, he had no idea what I was referencing. But when I got to today’s feature – he knew exactly what I was talking about. So while this is our 300th feature… that’s not the story here.
Love em’ or loathe em’ – you know about 3eb. You know the music, you know the stories, you know about Stephan Jenkins partying and screaming his ass off. It sounds insane to me now, but I first heard “Semi-Charmed Life” when I was in friggin’ middle school. Middle school. Now that I’m an old man, I have the experience to tell you that these guys haven’t lost any of that edge they earned playing the clubs of San Francisco. But we’ll get to the latest that Third Eye Blind has to offer in a moment; right now, I wanna reminisce.
When I first heard “Semi-Charmed Life,” I called it that happy go-lucky “do, do, do, do, do, do, do” song. All I knew was that it put me in a great mood. I was barely a teenager – I had no idea what the hell Jenkins was telling us. But the song ended up being something I revisited again and again – from high school to college to the so-called “real world.” The song simply kept transforming for me, taking on new meanings, new significance, new ways to define that time in my life. Yea, yea; this all sounds a bit overdramatic. Maybe “Semi-Charmed Life” didn’t keep coming back to you, but I know something did. That’s’ what kicks so much ridiculous ass about music.
I could go on about the obvious places songs like “Jumper” and “Graduate” had in my life, but I’ll spare you… for now. The facts are that Third Eye Blind has sold a trillion records, played a billion sold out shows, and now they’re finally releasing a fresh batch of new music via the digital EP, “Red Star.” Drummer Brad Hargreaves says of it, “Third Eye Blind music has often dealt with common emotional themes; SJ just has a masterful way of building narratives around those themes that tend to hit you in the gut. Those themes will continue to be explored in our music but there are also some ironic comments being made about American culture, which is new to 3eb music.” I don’t need to tell you to check this thing out. And you know all about the live show. If not – see what you’re missing out on. Finally, after “Red Star,” keep an eye out for their next full-length album, “Ursa Major.” Dive into the XXQ’s for a whole lot more.
XXQs: Third Eye Blind – Brad Hargreaves
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Having been together as Third Eye Blind for quite some time, was it an instant connection for the band when you first came together? Do you remember the first time you met to practice?
Brad Hargreaves (BH): I met the band when I came in for an audition underneath the bass players house on East 14th street in Oakland, CA. I had their demo and really liked some of the songs. It felt very natural playing with them even though auditions are generally strange.
PEV: Hailing from San Francisco, what kind of music where each of the members listening to growing up? Do you guys argue on different kinds of music? What was the first concert you attended?
BH: San Francisco had an eclectic music scene and even a couple radio stations I liked would play a diverse catalog of music. We were all into rock but hip hop and beat based music had a big impact on us.
I think my first concert was Van Halen. It sounded horrible and DLR was wasted.
PEV: Tell us about your creative process… What kind of environment do you have to be in to make music?
BH: We generally work on music as a band at sound checks now. An interesting thing about Third Eye Blind is how little we actually discuss any music including our own. We will mention some music we like or production we think is good but creatively, very little is said.
Music in Third Eye Blind is written in a lot of different ways with different members collaborating in different combinations. There is not really one specific way our music is created. Sometimes SJ brings in pretty well completed songs, sometimes the band jams and comes up with music, and sometimes Tony brings in demos that he has made and songs are built up from there.
PEV: Known for fantastic live performances, what can fans expect from a live Third Eye Blind show?
BH: We always strive to make a real, genuine connection with our fans during the course of our live show. Community is not something that is easily manufactured so we attempt to create an environment where people can relax and live in the moment for a couple hours.
PEV: Tell us about your first live performance as a band. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?
BH: I am not sure I remember our first live show. There were some memorable shows early on like opening for Oasis at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium and some shows at the Fillmore. I like to believe our band’s performances have evolved a great deal over time, and they have. But I recently watched some YouTube footage of us playing the 1997 Fuji Rock Fest in Japan during a monsoon, literally, and I was impressed with our genuine, unabashed delivery of the songs.
PEV: Getting ready to release your first batch of new songs in five years via a digital EP, entitled “Red Star”, on November 18th, 2008. What can fans expect from this?
BH: Living up to fan expectations is not always easy. We have set a bar with our previous albums and I have realized that people expect to feel a certain way when they listen to our music. Third Eye Blind music has often dealt with common emotional themes, SJ just has a masterful way of building narratives around those themes that tend to hit you in the gut. Those themes will continue to be explored in our music but there are also some ironic comments being made about American culture, which is new to 3eb music.
PEV: How is “Red Star” different from other albums out right now? As well, now is it different from your past albums?
BH: I can’t really compare it to others band’s records because everybody is so different. Lyrically, Ursa Major is somewhat of a departure from past Third Eye Blind records and the performances are a bit more spontaneous. Because we were able to play this new material live over the last couple years, it was easier to just go into the recording session and nail the songs on the first or second take.
PEV: How would you describe the sound of Third Eye Blind? And what do you think it is about the band that has made you so successful for so long?
BH: Lyrically people have really related to the thoughts and emotions being conveyed. I mentioned that SF had a diverse music scene. I think 3eb was inspired and really benefited from all that different music. We have all been into rock music but beat based music, hip-hop, electronic music, has always been a part of our influences as well. Consequently we are a combination singer song writer/rock band with diverse rhythmic influences.
PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you?
BH: I never even considered doing anything else and I don’t think the rest of the band did either. We are often asked if we can give any advice to aspiring musicians and bands. Our advice is to do something else. It is incredibly hard to accomplish anything in music. But, if you absolutely can’t consider doing anything else, then you will figure out a way to make music work. It takes an amazing level of commitment.
PEV: What one word best describes Third Eye Blind?
BH: Brilliant…hahaha.
PEV: As musicians, you live a lot of your life on the road. How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts?
BH: Life on the road has its ups and downs. It is a pleasure to play music every night and I feel lucky to have seen much of the world in a very intimate way. The cost of those experiences is not having a very normal home life and not always being where you want to be on any given day. I will say it is most definitely worth the sacrifice and I would not change anything about how my career has unfolded.
PEV: In all your travels, which has been your favorite city to play (US or International)?
BH: I love playing all over the world. I really like playing in Chicago but then a place like Poughkeepsie, NY or a small Spanish city will just go crazy when we show. We like to play wherever an audience is really willing to engage the moment. Playing in Japan is really fun because the fans are so attentive. Playing in Holland and Belgium is great because people are so into music.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your success?
BH: They are pretty used to it. My family thought it was cool until my brother and sister each had children of their own and now I am pretty low on the totem pole.
My career is just a part of who I am so my friends are slightly intrigued by it but really don’t give a f@#% at the end of the day.
PEV: What can we find the members of the band doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
BH: Tony lives in San Diego, SJ is in San Francisco and I live in Los Angeles so I don’t really know what they do in their down time. I have another band called Year Long Disaster signed to Volcom Entertainment so I am often touring with them when not working with 3EB. I am kind of a homebody when I get off the road. People don’t realize that I am basically at a club or concert every night of my life when I am on the road so that does not hold much appeal for me when I come home.
PEV: Having played with and worked with some of the greatest acts in music is there still one artist or group that would be your dream collaboration? Why?
BH: Creatively I am pretty satisfied by Third Eye Blind and Year Long Disaster. Stevie Wonder sat in with Third Eye Blind and that was a major highlight of my career. I would love to collaborate with a really creative DJ just to doing something very different from what I do now and maybe produce a band that I really like.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
BH: Year Long Disaster. Ha! Seriously, I have played with a few bands recently that I really like. Let me just say, if a band is not great live, I don’t care how good your demo sounds. The first band I really like is Wallace Vanborn from Belgium. They are a new band but have strong songs, interesting production, and good musicianship. I don’t like where heavy metal has gone over the last 20 years but I really like The Sword who are a great live band a really cool people from Austin. I also like the Suede Brothers from Cleveland. They play some old school rock and are 17 and 18 years old.
PEV: If you weren’t playing music, what would the members of the band most likely be doing for a career?
BH: I think SJ wants to go into politics, I would be in the covert intelligence business, and Tony should be a comedian although he never would.
PEV: Tell us what an average day is like for the life of Brad Hargreaves?
BH: I am generally on the road. I either wake up in a hotel room or on a tour bus and immediately seek out a large cup of tea. From there, my life is a blank canvas that gets painted differently depending on the city. The goal on the road is to make the two hours you perform at night to be the best two hours you have to offer. I find that seeing something interesting during the day, maybe some art, or something that is unique to the city, helps to inspire me at night.
PEV: So, what is next for Third Eye Blind?
BH: We are going to release some music. The Red Star EP is coming our Nov 18 and that will be followed by the full-length album Ursa Major early next year. We will continue to play shows and do more extensive touring as the music is released. I am looking forward to it.
For more information on Third Eye Blind, and their new EP, The Red Star, check out www.3eb.com
Today’s Feature – November 17-18: Lovedrug
Cleveland, Ohio natives Lovedrug are doing something that some bands dream about their entire careers… but never realize the following feat: a musical genre of their own design. But Michael Shepard, Jeremy Michael Gifford, Thomas Bragg and James Childress are on a “mission to start the new and mildly erotic genre known as ‘Cloud Rock.’” And to be honest, “Cloud Rock” sounds exactly as it sounds – a free-flowing style of music and lyrics flowing together beautifully as one unique strain of melody.
Shepard, Gifford, Bragg and Childress call themselves “an arrangement of soothsayers, psychics and soul searchers;” a group of guys (no matter what you want to call them) that are completely insane about music. Completely dedicated, passionate and devoted to music. You can hear their honest output on the new album, “The Sucker Punch Show.” The record is “chalk-full of sex and dirty thoughts, confessions, revenge and such things that one needs to get off of ones’ chest.” In other words, “Cloud Rock” is fairly informative.
Lovedrug prides themselves on bringing a true rock edge to their live shows; a gritty performance that true fans will more than appreciate. And you gotta see them. Otherwise, they see themselves “in the worst filth ridden gutter you can possibly imagine” in the next 10 years. And we wouldn’t want that. The band will be supporting “The Sucker Punch Show” in Europe soon, and then focusing on another record. Get into the XXQ’s for a whole lot more.
XXQs: Lovedrug
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Tell us about how you first jumped into becoming The Sucker Punch Show – the new album and Lovedrug? Was it an instant connection for the band?
Lovedrug: Well… we didn’t become it. We’re just a part of it. Living in it and this is our view on all the what not that happens.
PEV: Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio what kind of music where each of the members listening to growing up? Do you guys argue on different kinds of music? What was the first concert you attended?
Lovedrug: Our musical tastes are fairly consistent in the fact that it’s all good music so to speak. We all like different styles. It’s like this; in ANY genre you can find an artist who does it exceptionally, whether it’s rock, hip pop, blues, country… whatever. We like all that stuff, as long as it moves us we dig it and pull inspiration from it.
PEV: Tell us about your creative process… What kind of environment do you have to be in to write music?
Lovedrug: Usually I need to be alone, at least for a while during the process. I am the most creative when I’m standing outside with a cup of coffee, smoking a cigarette, thinking about what I want to say… in apposed to jamming or something like that.
PEV: Having performed together for quite some time, what can fans expect from a live show?
Lovedrug: An honest rock show. We can’t afford lights or fire or spaceships so the fans just get us on stage getting into what we do… it’s fairly simple right now. That’s not to say that we don’t want a spaceship though
PEV: Tell us about your first live performance as a band. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?
Lovedrug: Well naturally it was an exhilarating nightmare. I’m sure we sounded horrible, but that doesn’t matter when you have that rush of being in front a live audience for the first time. It’s not much different now except we have less technical problems and we probably look a bit more confident.. or at least we’ve learned how to be comfortable faking some sort of confidence. I have a clinical fear of crowds… so for me it’s harder. Ha. Fuck.
PEV: What can fans expect from your new album, “The Sucker Punch Show”? What was the collaborative process for this album?
Lovedrug: It’s chalked full of sex and dirty thoughts, confessions, revenge and such things that one needs to get off of ones’ chest. The collaborative process was amazing.
PEV: How is “The Sucker Punch Show” album different from others out right now?
Lovedrug: It’s more confessional and honest. The music is more direct too.
PEV: How would you describe the sound of Lovedrug? How do you plan to stand out above the other musicians in your genre?
Lovedrug: There’s no real way for me to answer that. I feel like we’re still honing in on our sound and we’re three records in! I suppose that’s a bad thing to confess.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about the members of the band?
Lovedrug: We’re all really nerdy about almost everything we do.
PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you?
Lovedrug: Yes, I was 12 and I saw my friend’s brother grinding on his axe and butchering an Anthrax song. I was hooked and I knew that guitar and music were going to be a part of my life from there on out.
PEV: What one word best describes Lovedrug?
Lovedrug: Eclectic
PEV: How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts?
Lovedrug: It’s a love/hate thing. Love playing for the fans. I hate the other shit that we have to endure; the sleeping on dirty floors, eating bad food, getting sick, getting no sleep on a nightly basis, losing weight(in a bad way), etc… you get the idea.
PEV: In all your travels, which has been your favorite city to play (US or International)?
Lovedrug: Tokyo.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your success?
Lovedrug: They are proud. Honestly we’re not that successful. I just think they’re more proud of our endurance and unwillingness to give up on our dream.
PEV: What can we find the members of the band doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
Lovedrug: Painting houses, fixing cars, writing, whoring day jobs, ect.
PEV: Which artist would be your dream collaboration? Why?
Lovedrug: Tom Waits. Because he’s the most brilliant lyricist I’ve ever heard.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
Lovedrug: Yes, Lovedrug.
PEV: If you weren’t playing music, what would the members of the band most likely be doing for a career?
Lovedrug: Binge drinking, because we wouldn’t have a purpose.
PEV: Ten years down the road, where will the band be?
Lovedrug: Either on top of the world or in the worst filth ridden gutter you can possibly imagine.
PEV: So, what is next for Lovedrug?
Lovedrug: A headlining tour, Europe, and then another record.
For more information on Lovedrug, check out: www.myspace.com/lovedrug
Today’s Feature – November 15-16: Pointe Claire
It’s comes up all of the time, but yet remains a topic we here at PEV rarely touch on – the greatness that is CraigsList. Seriously, I have friends that owe half of what they own to the web site. And like other past PEV alum, Pointe Claire, a group out of West Hollywood, came together on CraigsList when Jonathan Fessenden found vocalist Kate Zenna and DJ Paul Laski to “create a collection of electro-pop songs that have since been described as soothing, soulful and sultry.”
That collection has a name; it’s called “I Asked For You… First.” They call it “good, clean, honest and toe-tapping tales of the heart… certifiably organic electro-pop with zero sodium and absolutely no artificial coloring.” We call it progressive; a sound that accents all of the strengths that Pointe Claire commands – from irresistible beats to angelic vocals that will easily retain your attention. They’re not building on someone else’s idea – this is new music, plain and simple.
While the group did once try a traditional approach to their live show, they eventually had to give in to their undeniable style, again utilizing their strengths with “laptops, synth key guitar and of course vocals.” Expect big things from Pointe Claire in the future – they’re a new band just beginning. Pick up “I Asked For You… First” right now, check their schedule and learn a whole lot more in the XXQ’s.
XXQs: Pointe Claire
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Tell us about how you first jumped into becoming Pointe Claire? Was it an instant connection for the band?
Jonathan: We met on Craigs list in L.A. I was looking for a vocalist to sing on a song and after that song we decided to do more, and BAM we become a band. I also found Paul on Craigs…
PEV: Calling West Hollywood home now, what kind of music where each of the members listening to growing up? Do you guys argue on different kinds of music? What was the first concert you attended?
Kate Zenna: I grew up on 80’s UK pop. We never argue. Depeche mode concert.
Jonathan: Haha well I share a lot of the same interests with Kate and Paul musically, but I probably listen to a lot of other different things. I grew up on rock , classical, and started to later love jazz, world and of course electronic music of the 80’s 90’s and current electro. My first concert was Chicago, my parents took me. I don’t remember much but it was loud.
PEV: Tell us about your creative process… What kind of environment do you have to be in to write music?
Kate: Write lyrics anywhere, often while driving in la. The songs arrive in the studio, preferably a studio with at least three cats strutting around.
Jonathan: I write the music whenever there is a certain feeling around me, could be a great movie that inspired it or a memory or someone stepped on my heart…Usually the last is most frequent.
PEV: Having performed together for quite some time, what can fans expect from a live show?
Kate: A meltdown if there’s a power surge. In that case, I will read poems.
Jonathan: We have changed our live show to laptops, synths keys guitar and of course vocals. We used to have more of a traditional band approach, but felt this change…
PEV: Tell us about your first live performance as a band. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?
Kate: We are slimmer and more compact.
Jonathan: Hmmm I am having a hard time remembering the first show.
PEV: What can fans expect from your debut album, “I Asked For You… First”? What was the collaborative process for this album?
Really I think people will always relate to things Kate is saying lyrically. Also the music just sounds cool and different. I wrote most of the music at my apartment and Kate would come over and lay down a part that would just be great. Of course sometimes it was not easy and we would have to work on some songs a lot harder and longer than others…. Kate also came with songs she had done on guitar.
PEV: How is “I Asked For You… First” different from others out right now?
Jonathan: I’ll leave this one for Kate.
Kate: Good, clean, honest, and toe-tapping tales of the heart.
PEV: How would you describe the sound of Pointe Claire? How do you plan to stand out above the other musicians in your genre?
Kate: We are certifiably organic electro-pop with zero sodium an absolutely no artificial coloring.
Jonathan: I think we have great songwriting going on and I feel these songs will sound good in the years to come.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about the members of the band?
Kate: Kate doesn’t burp, Jonathon doesn’t argue with Kate, and Paul doesn’t believe peanuts aren’t good for you.
Jonathan: Kate never stresses out!
PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you?
Kate: Is it our career?
Jonathan: I wanted it to be a career in High school, and I really worked and continue to make that happen constantly.
PEV: What one word best describes Pointe Claire?
Kate: Here.
Jonathan: Emotion.
PEV: How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts? Any fun stories?
Kate: Let’s hope it’s in the air, on private jet.
Jonathan: We really have not traveled outside of L.A. at this point. We plan on doing that in 2009… Soooo, if your reading this request us to your town.
PEV: In all your travels, which has been your favorite city to play (US or International)?
Jonathan: I loved playing in Ohio, they are wild there.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your success?
Jonathan: My family usually sees success as how much money I am making so this band does not seem that important to them at the moment.
PEV: What can we find the members of the band doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
Jonathan: Cooking for my wife… Paul and I hang out a lot going to clubs in L.A. seeing bands, and or playing Rock Band.
PEV: Which artist would be your dream collaboration? Why?
Kate: Matt Johnson/Lloyd Cole/Morrissey/Depeche mode for me.
Jonathan: Well I would love to collaborate with Vernon Reid (guitarist), Brian Eno, and Vienna Philharmonic… Brian Eno I feel could take our band to another level. Vernon Reid was my guitar idol growing up, and I always thought a guitar/ orchestra duo would be great with him. My dream is to conduct an orchestra of music I have written, rather fond of Vienna.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
Kate: Uh… Yeah…
Jonathan: Pointe Claire for sure
PEV: If you weren’t playing music, what would the members of the band most likely be doing for a career?
Kate: The wiser choice would be ski instructor or hoteliers perhaps.
Jonathan: I have tried to do other things but songs run through my head at night and it is hard to sleep. So music is it for now hmm maybe a career change might bring me sleep.
PEV: Ten years down the road, where will the band be?
Kate: I will be running a dog rescue foundation from home in Bali.
Jonathan: I have to live only in the moment.
PEV: So, what is next for Pointe Claire?
Jonathan: More music is coming and of course reaching more great fans. Paul our third partner has started to write with us on the new stuff.
For more information on Pointe Claire, check out www.myspace.com/pointeclaire
Today’s Feature – November 13-14: Dark Dark Dark
We’ve all seen it discussed at length; the fact that the current music industry is saturated with new and emerging acts, all trying to bring something new to the table. It seems harder than ever to carve out your own musical niche – every band in every city putting their sounds up on MySpace. We here at PEV think it’s great and have been beyond impressed by the amount of talent out there – and we’re equally impressed when an act can make a stake for itself in the business. Dark Dark Dark has done just that – Nona Marie Invie, Marshall LaCount, Todd Chandler and Jonathan Kaiser have discovered a chemistry between one another that they could very well not be able to find anywhere else. They’ve released a debut album showcasing this unity, a record called “The Snow Magic.”
LaCount says “It’s intimate and dynamic storytelling. It’s American folk music, but wait…its all mixed up! Accordion, banjo, cello, and bass played in ways that can’t be contained by one genre, or two! It’s fresh and unique, and those youngsters clearly have old souls!” The group pulled the collection together during the late months up north, songs “about death, lost love, despair, decaying corpses, and the harsh Minnesota winter.” Not only does “The Snow Magic” contain melodies all its own, but the album’s packaging includes an 8 page booklet of photographs by Timothy G. Piotrowski.
The band is currently recording on its own label, Blood Onion. Check that out while you’re looking into Dark Dark Dark. Their shows are usually a part of other music related projects, such as when they kicked off their European tour with their art collective’s opening in Holland. They’ll be back in the states by December, performing and taking on a multitude of other work. Want to learn more? Get into the XXQ’s below.
Qs: Dark Dark Dark
Answered by Marshall LaCount
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Tell us how Dark Dark Dark first came together. Was it an instant connection the first day you practiced together?
MLC: Nona and I met over pizza, like all great rock and roll bands do. We played music together out of loneliness and lack for inspiration to do anything else, and magically it worked. I say magically because I’ve never found the same musical chemistry with anyone else.
Jonathan has been the best cellist I’ve known for as long as I’ve known cellists, he is an amazing musician aside from the cello. We had to beg him to stay, and to do a lot of unconventional touring, and to deal with us.
I met Todd on a riverboat on the Mississippi, when we were doing a skit together, in which we each played the banjo while wearing the same pair of large pants. Since Todd joined we’ve each shared pants with him. We have had instant connections between all of us, yes.
PEV: What would each of the members be doing for a career if it wasn’t playing music?
MLC: I’d say that music and art are the closest thing that any of us have to a career, but officially none of us have any career that would qualify us for any sort of career benefits.
PEV: What was it like for the band when you were first breaking into the music business? Before you were getting press, and regular gigs?
MLC: It was and is experimental touring, installation and film art, and gigging. We travel and play music and work on music related projects all year long. For instance, our European tour kicks off with our art collective’s opening reception in Holland.
PEV: What can fans expect from a live Dark Dark Dark show?
MLC: You mean physically? Because we play sitting down. We probably play sitting down because the music and our voices are too powerful for us to maintain our balance. True story! No, we do this because we are most interested in expression using our voices and our instruments, not jumping around. We play like a chamber quartet with pins in our chairs. Our fans have to listen with care, but that’s what they love.
PEV: The name Dark Dark Dark is definitely unique. Is there a story behind the name?
MLC: There is a story, the short version is that a writer should write the way that is natural to them, about things they know about. Just like Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer say. I was worried that no one wanted to sit around and listen to slow or quiet or spooky songs, they’d rather be ‘partying.’ My friend encouraged me that that isn’t always the case, and that one can always take what they do further. Hah!
PEV: How have your shows evolved from when you first started out?
MLC: Just because we now play for hundreds of people doesn’t mean we don’t play for 6 people sometimes.
PEV: Any embarrassing or crazy live show stories? There has to be tons, I’m sure…
MLC: One time we were playing on a small wooden barge in the Hudson River that almost tipped over as the tide went out. Our friend Chicken John saved us mid-song, just as we realized our stomach muscles
were getting tired from trying to stay upright as we tipped backward.
PEV: If you could collaborate with one artist out today, who would it be and why?
MLC: I think we’d all like to score a film, but I don’t want to name drop our favorite directors, since we’re still in the stalking phase. Several people in Copenhagen seem to think we should get in touch with Jim Jarmusch. He has an extreme realism with the right amount of magic.
PEV: As well, is there an up and coming artist right now that you think we should all be looking out for?
MLC: For film, Todd Chandler and his movie Flood. For music…wait, check us out!
PEV: Tell us, what can fans expect from your debut album, “The Snow Magic”?
MLC: It’s intimate and dynamic storytelling. It’s American folk music, but wait…its all mixed up! Accordion, banjo, cello, and bass played in ways that can’t be contained by one genre, or two! It’s fresh and unique, and those youngsters clearly have old souls!
PEV: How is “The Snow Magic” different from other music out today?
MLC: Well, we play a seemingly strange combination of instruments when you’re talking about new music, but we’re writing new music.
PEV: When you sit down to write an album like “The Snow Magic” what kind of environment do you surround yourselves in?
MLC: You sleep in a matte black van for two months in New Orleans during the rainy season, then you drive to New York for winter, then you drive back and forth to Seattle and San Francisco from New York twice, then you go back to Minneapolis.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about the members of Dark Dark Dark?
MLC: They are all actually quite nice if you talk to them first.
PEV: How have your friends and family reacted to all your success?
MLC: Friends usually say, “You’re famous,” with little enthusiasm. Family usually says, “You’re FAMOUS!”
PEV: If we were to walk into your practice studio right now, what’s one thing we’d most likely find?
MLC: 15 other people from the Miss Rockaway Armada tacking scraps of wood together with bent nails.
PEV: How is life on the road for you? Good parts? Bad parts?
MLC: Our host in Holland is an amazing chef, and soon we get to go to Belgium and France, but living out of a van or a suitcase means you
can’t bring your hat collection everywhere.
PEV: In your opinion, is there a certain city (US or International) that you find to be the best city for music?
MLC: Minneapolis: experimental dance, dirge, and goth folk, most bands per capita in the everywhere, maybe…
New Orleans: most skilled musicians.
Brooklyn: most people wearing net shirts and gold chains.
San Francisco/Oakland: most steam punks screaming.
Paris: don’t know yet
PEV: As well, where’s one place you haven’t played, you would like to? Why?
MLC: Maybe some big South American cities, because we’ve never been there, but I read about a lot of interesting art there. I know, I know, ‘there’ is huge and varies greatly.
PEV: Where will Dark Dark Dark be ten years from now?
MLC: We will have released a record and toured with a large choir, we will have released another record, we will have scored movies, we will have spent periods of time working on personal projects, we will have the resources to pay our friends to work with and for us, we will have scored a play. We will be burned out and buying red convertibles and dating again.
PEV: So, what’s next for Dark Dark Dark?
MLC: We have to finish our France tour in November, then do a short December tour in the Midwest and on the East, then go to New Orleans for two months, then score Flood the movie (floodmovie.com), then do a feature-length film/live soundtrack tour, sometime in there make a new record with Supply and Demand, and also accommodate all the spontaneous things that come up, and go to Minneapolis for a while, mostly for the best breakfast in the world.
For more information, check out: www.myspace.com/darkdarkdarkband
Today’s Feature – November 11-12: Nate Stone
Nate Stone brings a fresh perspective to this business – having seen much of what it has to offer. While the guy certainly doesn’t look it, he’s been in the business for ten years – six of which were spent with his Atlantic Records band, Mercy Fall. You may have picked up their album from back in 2006, perhaps even caught a bit of their national tour. Stone was seeking fame and fortune, and he seemed well on his way with his major record deal… but when the business turned around on him, things weren’t so great.
That’s when Nate realized he wasn’t making the music for the money. He would no longer allow the success of his band to direct where his life was going. He says, “I feel that my desires in the past have been selfish and unimportant and I’ve learned that I am unwilling to let success or failure define me as a person and as an artist. I feel that the only way to become successful in life and in music is to become truly happy with myself. With that said, I am embarking on a new journey, in life and in music.”
And what better way to mark such an occasion than the debut album, “Love & Tragedy.” It’s a record based in song writing, built from the lyrics up and around an acoustic guitar. Working with Bob Hoag out in Arizona, his songs have been developed with the help of a full blown band, and are more than worth your attention. It was recorded on 2-inch tape – no digital influence. So check out “Love & Tragedy” and keep an eye out for more music in the future. Dive into the XXQ’s for a whole lot more.
XXQs: Nate Stone
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Tell us about how you first jumped into the music business? Was it an instant connection for you?
Nate Stone (NS): I was seventeen when I made the decision to pursue music. I am a really motivated and tenacious individual, which I think you need to be to enter the music business, which is a really ugly business and a pain in the butt most of the time. It’s definitely a love/hate relationship.
PEV: Hailing from Flagstaff, Arizona, what kind of music where you listening to growing up? What was the first concert you attended?
NS: I was raised in a strict Christian home so the only music I listened to growing up was gospel music. The first non-Christian music I was exposed to was Pearl Jam and the Counting Crows. I would sneak the music into my room and listen to it quietly so my parents wouldn’t know. Those were the first bands that really got me excited about music. My first concert was The Steve Miller Band.
PEV: Tell us about your creative process… What kind of environment do you have to be in to write music?
NS: There is no rhyme or reason to it for me. I just have to pay attention and if I start feeling inspired I hope my guitar is close by.
PEV: Having performed for quite some time, what can fans expect from a live Nate Stone show?
NS: Well, if I’m having a good night they can expect a really honest/inspired performance. I’m very moody and depending on the feeling in the room it can be an inspiring night or (I hate to say it) a train wreck. So bring the good vibes and I won’t let you down.
PEV: Tell us about your first live performance. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?
NS: My first performance was at a car show when I was thirteen. I sang cover songs to a backing tape. It was hilarious! I sang “Route 66” and “Fire and Rain”. Now I play all original music and I don’t use backing tapes.
PEV: What can fans expect from your debut album “Love & Tragedy”? What was the collaborative process for this album?
NS: I was trying to make the album kind of an introduction to Nate Stone hoping people would get a sense of what I’m all about. I worked with my producer Bob Hoag in Arizona. I brought him the songs on an acoustic guitar and he pretty much took it from there, building the band around it. I had a definite vision for the album and he pretty much made it happen.
PEV: How is this album different from others out right now?
NS: We recorded the album on 2 inch tape instead of digitally and didn’t use pro tools at all. I don’t think that happens much anymore.
PEV: How would you describe the sound of Nate Stone? How do you plan to stand out above the other musicians in your genre?
NS: I would say my music is folk/pop. I really focus on my songwriting and I hope that makes me stand out.
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about you?
NS: I work in a machine shop.
PEV: Was there a certain point in your life when you knew that music was going to be a career for you?
NS: Oh yeah, I was very young when I realized that I was a lifer. This is not an option for me. I will be making music until the day I die.
PEV: What one word best describes Nate Stone?
NS: Hopeful
PEV: How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts?
NS: Touring is tiring, but I can’t complain. It’s worth it getting to play in front of new people. Best part: playing, Worst part: driving.
PEV: In all your travels, which has been your favorite city to play (US or International)?
NS: There are so many great cities to play, but I think I’d have to say Columbus, Ohio. I’ve never played outside the US.
PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your success?
NS: They’re proud and supportive.
PEV: What can we find you doing in your spare time, aside from playing/writing music?
NS: Going to school, skateboarding, and hanging with my dogs.
PEV: Which artist would be your dream collaboration? Why?
NS: James Taylor: He is one of my favorite singers and I would love to pick his brain about songwriting.
PEV: Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?
NS: Another Flagstaff band called Telescope. I co-produced their record “For The Rest of Us”.
PEV: If you weren’t playing music, what would you most likely be doing for a career?
NS: I’d be a scientist.
PEV: Ten years down the road, where do you hope your career will take you?
NS: Hopefully I will just keep getting the word out. Being able to make music for a living would be unbelievable.
PEV: So, what is next for Nate Stone?
NS: Hopefully touring and continuing to work this record. Then make another record and do it all over again.
For more information on Nate Stone, check out: www.natestonemusic.com, also on myspace.com/natestonemusic and it is available on iTunes.
Today’s Feature – November 9-10: Paul Freeman
Any fan of classic rock has got to love where Paul Freeman is coming from – an artist that looks to the Beatles as true music masters, creating pop songs absolutely under their influence. Freeman is even named after Paul McCartney – a namesake he certainly isn’t letting down. It was back in high school that Freeman began taking his own path to discovering a musical voice – working at the legendary studio north of Oxford, Linford Manor. There he witnessed sessions with guys like Paul Weller, Julian Cope and Skunk Anansie as Britpop was making way for the new guys on the scene of Brit rock, a scene that would include amazing acts such as Oasis. But it was still Britpop that Paul wanted reflected in his songs, and he’s done just that with his collection, “That’s How It Is.”
“That’s How It Is” doesn’t buy into any trends or any easy pop recipes. Freeman focuses on the songs themselves above all else. “I’m about songs and that’s it,” he says. “It doesn’t matter what the drummer is doing if the songs shit so I try and focus on writing as good as songs as I can… I’d like to give people something to believe in that isn’t dressed up in a political package.” And Paul is anything but political. He dives into topics that are always on the radar, and apply to anyone, anywhere – “working class issues of life and death.”
Without a doubt, Freeman is well on his way to some amazing success – so it would make pretty good sense to head to a show as soon as possible, correct? It’s a fun show believe me; Paul means what he’s singing, but certainly isn’t one of those artists that takes himself too seriously. And check out “That’s How It Is” while you’re looking at his performance schedule. Get into the XXQ’s for a whole lot more.
XXQs: Paul Freeman
PensEyeView.com (PEV): Was there a certain point in your life when you realized the music was going to be career for you?
Paul Freeman (PF): I was 12 years old and my dad took me to see Paul McCartney play it was my first ever show and about halfway through live and let die, when the fireworks were going off that was the moment I thought that’s the job I want after that it was just a question of working my arse off.
PEV: Born in South Wales, what kind of music were you listening to growing up? Do you remember the first concert you ever attended?
PF: The first music I had access to as a kid was pretty much my dads whole record collection so anything from the Beatles to tom petty, Bruce Springsteen, elo, and then I started playing guitar so I discovered Brit pop which was still very sixties/seventies influenced so it was a smooth transition from my dads albums to oasis
PEV: Was music always, constantly around you or was it something that you discovered outside of your home, on your own?
PF: Although no one in my family actually played anything it was always around I never really listened to trends in music so while all my friends were listening to which ever band the NME decided were going to save your life this week I was listening to early genesis. I got loads of shit for that….
PEV: What was it like for you when you were first breaking into the music business? Before you were getting press, regular gigs and touring around the country?
PF: I have always been happy to be just doing music, I don’t buy into the trying to be famous crap I just love playing music so everything that happens is just an evolution of me focusing on writing songs that I hope will out live me, its all about having fun weather its in my local pub or in front of thousands of people for me I have a great time regardless.
PEV: What can fans expect from a live Paul Freeman show?
PF: The most important thing is that people have a great time and maybe forget about life for a while there are so many other things people can do with their time these days so its my job to make their experience as much fun as possible don’t get me wrong I take the music seriously I just don’t take myself seriously, life’s too short.
PEV: How have your shows evolved from when you first started out? Is there a certain time that you started to get more comfortable on stage?
PF: They’ve changed dramatically my first show was when I was 13 so you can imagine how crap that was, confidence is everything I think when I was playing guitar for other artists was when I realized how easy it is and how much I just really enjoy connecting with people even if its just one person to feel them get into it is really special..
PEV: Any embarrassing or crazy live show stories?
PF: We did a show in la and for some reason there were all these life-size cardboard cutouts all over the venue so halfway through the show I decided to jump off stage and grab one of Anne Hathaway and park it right next to me for the remainder of the show, I would then use musical breaks to kiss it occasionally, then some how the top half off it went missing and was found in my drummers freezer at 3 in the morning, weird I know but half of Hathaway is better than none..
PEV: If you could collaborate with one artist out today, who would it be and why?
PF: Bruce Springsteen hands down, he’s got the secret I want to try and steal a bit of it..
PEV: As well, is there an up and coming artist right now that you think we should all be looking out for?
PF: Just me
PEV: Tell us, what can fans expect from your new album “That’s How It Is”? How is this different from other music you’ve worked with?
PF: Its just song based stuff really in the classic Beatles, petty kind of way, I don’t buy into to trends with music I’ll leave that stuff for guys that live in silver lake I’m about songs and that’s it, it doesn’t matter what the drummers doing if the songs shit so I try and focus on writing as good as songs as I can.
PEV: You said you titled this album the way you did “because it’s direct and it’s real. It’s one of the songs of mine that people really seem to like.” What was the underlining inspiration for this album? Did you find yourself going back to one feeling or emotion more than others?
PF: I guess the key emotion for me on this record is hope we at such a crucial place as human beings that id like to give people something to believe in that isn’t dressed up in a political package, cause we all get enough of that, its mostly working class issues of life and death.
PEV: When you sit down to write music what kind of environment do you surround yourself in?
PF: I tend to write most of my stuff after 11pm or whilst i’m moving in a car or on a plane, there’s something very inspiring about being in motion
PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about Paul Freeman?
PF: I used to fit carpets for a living and I have a pet squirrel named Shaun.
PEV: How have your friends and family reacted to all your success?
PF: They’re all extremely proud it’s really beautiful to have so much support.
PEV: When you are not touring and performing, what can we find you doing in your spare time?
PF: I love playing golf, running and I’m addicted to soccer on my Xbox wild horses couldn’t get me off that thing when I’m in full swing..
PEV: How is life on the road for you? Good parts? Bad parts?
PF: I love it all actually, I really love meeting new people and hearing there points of view, and seeing parts of the world that you wouldn’t usually get to see, we get to be inserted into peoples lives momentarily and then leave again, its really quite inspiring.
PF: In your opinion, is there a certain city (US or International) that you find to be the best city for music?
PF: I love Austin and Nashville equally; the standard of players in these cities is amazing they’re both full of really great bands and musicians.
PEV: Ten years from now, where do you see your career?
PF: Hopefully still writing and playing they’re my favorite thing to do so whatever happens I like to think that no-one can take that away from me.
PF: As well, where’s one place you haven’t played, you would like to? Why?
The record comes out in Asia early next year and I really cant wait to play in Japan something about the history of their culture fascinates me.
PEV: So, what’s next for Paul Freeman?
PF: A shower and then another show on the long road to success…
For more information on Paul Freeman, check out: www.paulfreemanofficial.com
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