BREAKING NEWS!! Oldies 103.3 To Flip To 103.3 AMP Radio At Noon Tomorrow!!

Another local radio station is biting the dust. It was announced a short time ago that WODS (Oldies 103.3) will be flipping formats and changing to a brand new Top 40 station known as 103.3 AMP Radio. The change was made because of the changing habits of Boston's music listeners, who have been clamoring for more pop oriented music that is heard on Mix 104.1FM and most prominently on Kiss 108. The new station will include more listener interaction, special live events, and exciting contests.

The old format of Oldies 103.3 will continue to be heard on a brand new HD-2 subchannel and will also still be heard streaming from their website at http://www.wods.com/ A full time PD for the new station, as well as a new lineup of live on-air talent will be named at a later date.

Hunter Parrish - Guessing Games EP

Hunter Parrish (who also plays Silas Botwin on the hit Showtime series Weeds), is starting to parlay his acting career into a burgeoning singer-songwriter. The Plano, TX native just released his debut EP titled Guessing Games, and the effort is a fresh, deeply introspective effort that shows he's more than just an actor, and is not afraid to take that next step and move into a more prominent role as a multi-faceted entertainer with more than just a pretty face.

The disc starts off with "Oh Mother" a melodic, diversely entertaining track that sees Hunter expressing all his emotions in one exquisite and all around solid track. Hunter's voice is extremely simple and has a wide range that enables him to adapt to the instrumentation around him rather quickly. "Down So Low" is a piano laden, downtempo number that sees Hunter revealing different layers of his musical persona one by one, and the many different musical hats that he's able to wear with remarkable ease on each and every song featured on this disc. "Sitting At Home" is a pop-leaning track that picks up the tempo from the preceding tracks and sees a song that is primed for radio airplay and also witnesses Hunter continuing to surprise us at every turn with his immense talents that set him apart from the other entertainers out there in the music world today.

We head into the disc's second half with my favorite song off the effort, "Easy" A bare bones, no frills song that fully and eloquently expresses Hunter's musical desires and has a simple structured acoustic guitar arrangement that you'll fall for almost instantly and will have you hitting 'Repeat' multiple times over to fully grasp the message behind this song, a very well composed track altogether. The EP's title track is a fun, breezy track that features more intricately composed instrumentation and sees Hunter continuing to evolve immensely from when the disc first started, and has delved into more deeper and intense sonic punches that we didn't see coming at all. The disc draws to a close on "Heart of Stone", a downtempo, melancholy track that wraps up the effort in a simple fashion with Hunter continuing to take his voice to places that were never thought possible and manages to sneak in elements from the other songs that came before it to put a proper finish to the effort and present it to a curious and willing listening audience. There are a plethora of entertainers out there who try to make the leap from acting into music, and some of those people fail miserably right from the get go and are unable to regain their footing back into their prior career. Hunter is definitely not in the category of those artists, and has shown clearly and vividly that he is a more than just an actor, but an all around entertainer who has the maturity and wisdom to parlay his talents into a fruitful and prosperous career as a singer-songwriter. His time on Broadway performing in musicals like "Spring Awakening" and "Godspell" certainly helped his cause quite a bit!

In retrospect, a solid and well orchestrated effort here from Hunter Parrish, who is taking a bold and creative risk and making a leap into a music career that really suits him well and shows that he's a multi-faceted entertainer who doesn't just know how to smile and look in front of a camera, but also knows how to craft deeply personal and heartfelt lyrics, and weave them around simply composed instrumentation that is a breath of fresh air from all of the other music currently out there today.

                                                                                                                              EP Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Oh Mother
2. Down So Low
3. Sitting At Home
4. Easy
5. Guessing Games
6. Heart of Stone

Go Behind The Scenes of Call Me Anything's "Celebrity" Music Video!

Hey everyone!

Boston based pop-rockers Call Me Anything (last year's Artist Spotlight of The Year winners), just released a behind the scenes clip of their music video shoot for "Celebrity", the title track off their debut EP. Shot just a few weeks ago, the clip features the band hard at work shooting party infused video footage, and also features candid shots of Will and Matt acting their normal, natural selfs, and just showing the band letting loose and having fun which is a very accurate portrayal of the band as I've had the opportunity to hang out with the two on multiple occasions, and they are some of the nicest, most down to earth guys that you'll ever meet!

The video for "Celebrity" will make it's exclusive world premiere on VEVO later on this summer. In the meantime, check out this behind the scenes clip of all the action taking place behind the scenes!:

Artist Spotlight: Blue Coin

Hey everyone!

Wrapping up the month of June with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we head over to The Big Apple, and uncover the eclectic sounds of Blue Coin. The duo consists of Brian Joyce and Patrick McGrath, and their music is a pleasant, folk influenced indie rock concoction that is deeply organic with sharp, poignant lyricism and heartfelt yet simplistic instrumentation that can be easily enjoyed by music listeners of all ages. If you love the sounds of Fleet Foxes and Bright Eyes, you'll definitely fall head over heels over this duo and their ability to transcribe musical soundscapes into something truly magical and one that doesn't come around too often enough these days. A great upstart act with plenty more musical voyages to follow in the coming years. Some recommended tracks for you to take a listen at include "The City" and "Devil To The Thespian".

To find out more information on Blue Coin, head on over to the duo's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bluecoinmusic While you're there, you can get the latest round of tour dates from the duo coming soon to your area. The duo's music can be listened to on their SoundCloud page located at: soundcloud.com/bryanjoyce11 and you can also listen on their official website at www.bluecoinmusic.com

WFNX Announces Programming Schedule For Final Days!

Hey everyone!

With the news this morning that WFNX will continue online courtesy of Boston.com, WFNX also announced their programming schedule for the rest of their time on-air. The final days will feature your favorite bands and listeners hijacking the airwaves and bringing their own blend of FNX programming to the masses, plus a special Z To A countdown over the 4th of July holiday, highlighting the artists that made the station what it was, a blast from the past featuring past FNX DJ's returning to the mic and giving their best wishes to the station, and it all culminates with a special sendoff party to take place on Saturday, July 21st. Here is the remainder of their programming schedule in full:

- Listener/Band Takeovers, Monday 6/25-Friday 6/29 @ 9am, 1pm, & 7pm
- Z To A Countdown, Monday 7/2-Wednesday 7/4
- WFNX Rewind, Thursday 7/5-Friday 7/20
- Sendoff Party, Saturday 7/21

The Starting Line To Make A Big Announcement on July 16th!

Hey everyone!

A countdown clock appeared on The Starting Line's website earlier this afternoon at www.startinglinerock.com along with a flatline meter counting down to 21 days from now on July 16th, which just so happens to be the 10th anniversary of the band's debut release, "Say It Like You Mean It". The major announcement could run the gamut from a vinyl re-release of their debut, to a 10th anniversary tour, or an announcement of a brand new studio effort. Whatever it is at this moment, I simply don't have enough information and I'll leave it all up to speculation at this point.

As you may have figured out, I'm a huge Starting Line fanatic and on the anniversary of its release on the 16th, I'll post a Flashback Review of "Say It Like You Mean It" and offer up some commentary on how the album has changed my life to this point. I'd also like to invite my fellow readers along for this retrospective down memory lane and have them offer up some of their favorite memories listening to this classic album. Keep an eye out on the blog for any further details that may develop leading up to the big announcement on the 16th!

Boston.com To Launch New Online Radio Station Featuring Former WFNX DJ's!

Hey everyone!

It was announced in a press release this morning that Boston.com, the website of The Boston Globe, will launch a brand new, internet only radio station featuring former WFNX employees. The DJ's who are being brought on board include former mainstays such as Henry Santoro, Julie Kramer, Adam 12, and Paul Driscoll handling program director duties. It's not known yet if the station will have any affiliation with the Boston Phoenix or carry the old WFNX call letters.

The station will feature the same elements from the old WFNX, including the latest alternative music along with contests, commentary, guest interviews, and exclusive web-only content that you can't get anywhere else. More details about the station, including the programming schedule and official launch date will be announced later on this summer.

Summer 2012 Playlist

Hey everyone!

With yesterday marking the official calendar start of summer, I'd thought I'd give you a rundown of some of the songs that have made it onto my annual summer playlist. With barbecues and bountiful trips to the beach destined to be in the minds of lots of music lovers, here are the songs that are the perfect accompaniment to those summer excursions and ones you can't escape that won't leave your mind for the rest of the summer, creating a lasting impression on those summertime memories. Here is this summer's handcrafted playlist for 2012 by yours truly:

Alabama Shakes - Hold On
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
fun. - Some Nights
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
Imagine Dragons - It's Time
Jack's Mannequin - Release Me
Metric - Youth Without Youth
Morning Parade - Headlights
Neon Trees- Everybody Talks
Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks
Passion Pit - Take A Walk
Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)
Vacationer - Everyone Knows
Walk The Moon - Anna Sun
The Wombats - Jump Into The Fog

Were there any songs that I may have missed that aren't on this list? Feel free to leave your comments here on the blog on songs to add to the playlist or tell me your own personal playlist that you'll be rocking out to all this summer!

Flashback Review: Underoath - The Changing of Times

The third album from Tampa, Florida's finest Underoath titled, "The Changing of Times" established the band as a force to be reckoned with in the future and cemented their reputation as one of the metalcore genres most consistent and longest lasting bands.

The disc starts off masterfully with my favorite track off the album, "When the Sun Sleeps" a melodic, slightly electronic tinged blast that features the pulsating screams of original frontman Dallas Taylor (who was replaced on the subsequent disc by current lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain) and former drummer Aaron Gillespie who contributed the melodic backbone of the group and enabled them to be heard on a different platform than some of their contemporaries on the scene at that time. A great starter track that sets the tone for the rest of the album to come. "A Message For Adrienne" is a no holds barred, edge of your seat thriller with unfathomable guitar riffs present at every corner courtesy of Tim McTague (who officially became a member of the group with this album and still remains a member to this day) and bassist Grant Brandell who does a terrific job of ensuring that the bass is heard prominently at every slot on this album to keep the listener tuned and in check at all times. The album's title track starts off with an intricate keyboard arrangement courtesy of Chris Dudley (who is still an extant member of the group today) and a wonderful, smooth transition between the electronic component and the hardcore arrangement that shows that Underoath are a band on a mission to deliver their musical message to whoever is willing to take their time and energy to listen to a completely worthwhile listening experience so far.

The disc's second half gets underway quickly with "Angel Below", an effort that brings down the kinetic energy a couple of notches, but still packs a potent punch with its indelible rhythms and Dallas's incessant vocal presence delivering all the tools necessary for a quality musical experience. "The Best of Me" is another consistent, palpable musical statement that shows off Underoath's musical prowess in one, fell swoop and all of their musical skills that are so profoundly real, it would be evidently noticeable by all listeners if one of the band members was not present during the making of this recording. "Short of Daybreak" features Dallas once again singing his heart out on an explosive and consistent rocker that feeds the energy from the song directly to the listener and makes them feel as if they're part of the act and at the concert watching this musical wonder being put on display. The album comes to a close on "Alone in December" a heavily melodic, somewhat downtempo number that sees the band trying something different for a change, but still retains the hardcore component that is such a part of their identity and is what current listeners most associate the band with and their style of affecting the listeners' life in one way, shape or form. Now, I'm not much of a hardcore fan and I only listen to bands within that genre sparingly, but Underoath was the band that was able to ease me into their collective consciousness and diversify my musical tastes in a way that cannot be duplicated by any other band out there today. Aaron's musical wisdom made him such a powerful figurehead and he is one of my favorite musicians out there today and one of my musical heroes.

All in all, a spectacular and career defining achievement for Underoath, who with this album set on the course to where they lead now, and will continue to be a powerful and formidable presence within the music scene for some time to come. Buy and rediscover this album if you haven't already!

                                                                                                                    Album Score: 5/5

Track Listing:

1. When The Sun Sleeps
2. Letting Go of Tonight
3. A Message For Adrienne
4. Never Meant To Break Your Heart
5. The Changing of Times
6. Angel Below
7. The Best of Me
8. Short of Daybreak
9. Alone in December
10. 814 Stops Today

Artist Spotlight: Keep It Cute

Hey everyone!

Starting off the day before summer with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight! This week, we head down South to San Antonio, Texas and uncover the sounds of Keep It Cute. The band consists of Ryan Alexander on lead vocals and guitars, Gabe Garces on guitars and backing vocals, Caysey Saur on drums, and Andrew Coldwell on bass and backing vocals. The band has a simple, straightforward, easy to understand pop-punk playing style reminiscent of Nevershoutnever and The Ready Set with an abundance of blasting rhythms and fast paced guitar riffs that will definitely have you hitting repeat multiple times over. There's something about this band that is very simplistic and is easy to comprehend musically so that music listeners from a broad range of ages can grow to appreciate the lyricism quite easily and relate it to their own personal lives. A great band looking to gain momentum as the summer begins to get in full swing. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "Action" and "Fairy Tale".

For more information on Keep It Cute, head on over to the group's Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/keepitcuteofficial While you're there, you can take a listen to the band's music and get a handle of where they'll be playing next as well. The band can also be followed on Twitter by going over to: www.twitter.com/keepitcuteband It'll also interest you to know that the band will be playing the Ernie Ball stage at this summer's Vans Warped Tour at their hometown stop on June 30th! To check out the band's latest EP "New Beginnings" on iTunes, simply click over here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/new-beginnings-ep/id504750338

Flashback Review: New Found Glory - Sticks and Stones

An album that just recently celebrated its 10th anniversary the other day, New Found Glory's sophomore album "Sticks and Stones" was a remarkabale achievement for the band and was the effort responsible for taking the Coral Springs, FL bred group to a new audience and help transcend them beyond the plethora of pop-punk bands permeating the scene throughout the early 00's.

The album opens up with a bang on "Understatement", an old-school, standard issue pop-punk gem that reintroduces you to lead singer Jordan Pundik and his dynamic vocals infusing the song with vivacious energy and melodic blasts left and right that will have you grooving along from the moment you hit 'Play'. My favorite track off the album and my favorite NFG song is "My Friends Over You", an insanely catchy and melodic delight that I will always look back fondly on and remember with such pleasure and enjoyment from the time that I first saw the video for this on MTV and just remembering how much fun the band was having while making this video and how accurately it reflected their diverse personalities and brought everyone together to join in on the action. "Something I Call Personality" is another uptempo number that keeps up with the melodic energy presented in the preceding songs and features excellent drumwork from Cyrus Bolooki and exquisite guitar work from Chad Gilbert and Steve Klein, and bassist Ian Grushka, who each have unique personalities that allow each audience member to identify and appreciate the individual talents that form the core of the group. "Head On Collision" brings the energy down just a wee notch but still poses a formidable presence in the collective group of well composed songs presented here in full force.

The disc's second half gets underway with "Forget My Name", a track that is classic NFG at its finest with dynamic pop-punk rhythms present at every corner and Jordan's vocals breathing a great deal of energy and tenacity to a well represented track at its core that defines their essence as one of the pioneers of the genre. "Never Give Up" moves at a fast pace from the moment it begins and never lets up until the song concludes, an old-school sounding punk track that gets its point across at just over 3 minutes. The disc starts to conclude on "Singled Out" a high energy, bombastic pop-punk blast that shows everyone pouring their heart and soul into a outstanding and thumping track that shows how dedicated the band is to their craft. "Belated" is the track that does the honor of closing the disc out with the energy brought down a couple notches for the group to conserve their energy and present to us a brief synopsis of all the different sounds that we've encountered in our journey up until this point and how each song represents different facets of the band's personality and how well they speak to the listening audience. Drive Thru Records in the late 90's and into the early and mid 00's was the label that represented the collective spirit of the youth that were in high school, including myself. Every album released on that label was a huge event and every band had immense and natural talent that really identified and connected with their audience because they were close enough in age and loved and appreciated music so much that it became a natural part of their everyday lives. If you asked me who my 3 favorite bands from the Drive Thru Records roster were, New Found Glory would be right up there along with The Starting Line and Something Corporate as each band represented a different sound from each part of the country with The Starting Line representing Philadelphia on the East Coast, Something Corporate representing the West Coast from California, and New Found Glory leading the South from Florida. Each band represented a different cross section of American youth but yet all had one thing in common: the bond of music to draw them both together and unify as one.

All in all, an outstanding effort from New Found Glory, who represent the heart and soul of pop-punk at its finest and this album was largely responsible for getting them on the next step to success and introduced them to a whole new group of listeners that still remain loyal to the band to this date.

                                                                                                                        Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Understatement
2. My Friends Over You
3. Sonny
4. Something I Call Personality
5. Head On Collison
6. It's Been A Summer
7. Forget My Name
8. Never Give Up
9. The Great Houdini
10. Singled Out
11. Belated

Artist Spotlight: Before You Exit

Hey everyone!

Back again with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight for the week! Today, I have a emerging pop/rock band straight out of Orlando, FL called Before You Exit. The group consists of Connor McDonough on lead vocals and guitar, Riley McDonough on backup vocals and bass, Braiden Wood on guitar, and Thomas Silvers on drums. The band has a vibrant, energetic pop/rock feel to them, similar to that of We the Kings with solid songwriting and indelible hooks featuring plenty of "na-na-na's" in the chorus that will have you singing along to their songs immediately after you hit 'Play'. I came across these guys after they started following me on Twitter, so I decided to give their music a try and if you like certain elements of pop music, these guys are definitely worth checking out as they don't water down their music too excessively, and have just the right amount of musical sensibility to set them apart from their peers on the scene and energetic personalities to match that is just what we need more of in today's music scene. Some recommended tracks for you to check out from these guys include "End of The World" and "The Best Thing".

For more information on Before You Exit, head on over to the group's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/beforeyouexit where you can check out their music plus get the latest tour dates from the group and see if they're playing in your area. The band can also be followed on Twitter by going over to www.twitter.com/beforeyouexit and see what the band are up to right now at this minute! You can also follow the band members' individual Twitter accounts as well directly from the page.

Interview w/ Steve McDonald of The Okay Win

Hey everyone!

Back with another in my recurring installments of interviews with past Artist Spotlight subjects to see what they're up to right now. Today, we check in with Steve McDonald of The Okay Win who has had a rather busy past year. After releasing their most recent full length "Common Nature" last year, the band has performed relentlessly throughout New England, and reached two of their career milestones in their relatively short career so far when they opened for Kevin Devine at Royale this last October, and opened for Portugal The Man at House of Blues back in April. The band just released their brand new EP titled "Leveled" this past Saturday at a release show at The Lilypad in Cambridge, MA and Steve was kind enough to devote some time for an in depth interview to see what he's been up to now and what lies ahead for the group in the future. And, here is the transcript from that interview:

-How have things been in the last couple of years Steve? The last time I interviewed you, you were getting ready to release your split EP with Big Big Buildings "Two Toned".

Things have been pretty great. That was just about 2 years ago, and since then things have just kept going up, both musically and personally. I feel incredibly lucky.

- How has the complexion of The Okay Win changed musically since a couple of years ago?

Well since that time, we had a bit of a lineup change. We were a 4 piece then and our drummer at the time ended up leaving at the end of 2010. There really wasn't any will and it just felt like the right step. Once he left though, we officially added two new members, Adam McElreath and Dave Chardo. Adam is Big Big Buildings, who we released "Two Toned" with, and Dave had filled in on drums for us before and had been playing alongside the guys for years. It was a natural fit, and if anything I was the "new guy". After all was said and done, we are now a happy family of 5.

- Tell me a little about the band's brand new EP "Leveled" and the concept behind it?

Leveled is the title track off of the EP. Generally, I just really liked the imagery and freedom of that word. Finding a balance, tearing apart you're own inner workings to find some sort of peace, etc. I had written the song after my Uncle died a year ago. It hit me pretty hard, and within the band this whole past year we just kept losing major pieces of our family. The whole concept of grieving was consistently on my mind, and the fact that a lot of people don't let themselves experience that moment. People in general often try to block out a lot, whether it's good or bad. If something good happens, people think they don't deserve the happiness. If something traumatic happens, people ignore the reality and it just ends up catching up with you. I used to just be very passive and keep my emotions to myself, but as I grow older I'm trying to wear my heart on my sleeve a bit. When it came to the song "Leveled", I was trying to describe an approach where people just let themselves feel what they want to feel. If you want to be happy, do it. If you want to be sad, do it. In the end, hopefully things balance out and it allows you to process the events better and be at some sort of peace.

When I brought the word to the guys, it was pretty much instantly agreed upon. 

We came up with the concept to allow fans to be a apart of it and potentially experience something they've always wanted to do artistically. We gave out each song to a different person and had them make a video, with no input by us. We also accepted art submissions too. The goal was to give a forum for people to express themselves, and hopefully share something they've never shared before, or try their hand at a medium they've always been interested in. Honestly, we didn't get a ton of art, and I get it. I was still excited about the project though.

- What is your favorite song off "Leveled" that speaks out to you the most?

I honestly love them all. Each one has a different feel for me. Maybe, right now, "Cliff". It's got a nice flow to it and it's so fun to play. I brought that song to practice and it wasn't clicking, and usually if that happens we'll just throw it to the side. We kept trying though, and once it clicked, it just felt right. The whole song is basically about the "grass is always greener" mentality, and being okay with your choices.

- How has your music progressed from your first album "We Are Bound" right up until "Leveled"?

I actually released a record called "Building Hands" before the "We Are Bound" in the summer of 2008. It was my first album, and was all solo acoustic, with a couple songs having drums. Since then it's been a whirlwind, and I've released 5 albums in total, with the last 4 being with The Okay Win. I recently went and listened to everything in order and it was crazy to hear the changes.

I definitely feel more confident overall. Back then my voice was so...weightless. Not that it's amazing now, but I feel like I've figured out how to sing the songs I write. I have a better sense of how I want a song to sound, and each album has been a learning experience too. There is always room for improvement.

Overall, the biggest progression was moving to a full band situation. It allowed me to be a part something that felt great, and we were able to take some chances that I couldn't do solo.

- Do you like playing as part of a collective group better versus playing solo?

I'd say the group. There are moments when playing solo is fun. I got play a show with just Kevin Devine and myself, at my favorite venue, this past January. For that night, it felt appropriate and really meant a lot to me on a personal level. There is a sense of intimacy too when its just you and a guitar. You have a certain freedom, and there isn't much separating you from the audience. 

With the band though, it's just so fun. To share in that experience with your best friends is unforgettable. ac yourselves into a car and drive 5 hours to play for no one, or to play the biggest club in your city in front of 1,000 people. It's a wonderful thing to be able to share those moments and be able to laugh at it. Plus, I am not the most talented musician. I feel bad even using that word. Ryan, JM, Adam, and Dave are all incredibly talented guys that bring something different to the table. It feels great to be able to put our ideas together.

- Let's flashback to the beginning, when was the moment you realized you wanted to become a musician?

I was always a really shy kid, with a lot of social anxiety. My friends were always out in the public eye in some way. One of my best friends works in the statehouse and is involved in politics, another is an actor in Chicago, and another is a comedian in Brooklyn. I was always the kid in the background, which I didn't mind because I always froze when put on the spot. During high school though, I'd be in my room at night with a fake microphone, pretending I was on a stage. I didn't play an instrument though. I had a guitar from when I was 13, but I knew nothing. It was all a pipe dream.

When I was in college, I came out of my shell a bit, but still had some anxiety problems. I wouldn't go to parties, and I would often just hide in my room. I'd get so in my own head that I'd stay in there forever just waiting for people to leave so I wouldn't have to walk by them. During this time though, I got really involved in radio though, which was a perfect gateway. I got to use my voice, but didn't have to have people look at me. While this was going on, I was also teaching myself guitar and kept saying, maybe I'll do an open mic. I never did though. 

When I got out of college I had a job interview for a radio promotions company and they asked me what my biggest weakness was. I responded with "I can be shy..." and it was all down from there. Never say that in a job that requires talking. Haha. It ended up being a pivotal moment though because I realized that if I wanted to be anything, I had to step out of myself. That night I went home and recorded two demos, and began showing them to friends. They were so poorly recorded. All mixed to the left, and I was barely audible. My fish tank was the most prominent part of the song, but people were supportive. I kept writing and recording, and eventually played an open mic. It was a blur, but after that I was hooked. Beyond the power of music, it has been easily the best thing I've been a part of. It's helped me in more ways than I could ever say. Relationships, self perception, etc.

- Do you feel that writing and/or playing music has a therapeutic effect on you?

Completely. There are times where I get incredibly anxious and just need that cathartic release. I don't do drugs, and alcohol doesn't really solve my problems, so music, as cheesy as that sounds, is what does it for me. You get up there and just rip through this intense set and let it all out, and at the end it's like a massive weight being lifted. There are times when it has the reverse effect and you're left feeling a little empty because now you're not sure what's next, but overall I'd say it definitely has a therapeutic effect on me.

- When you get up there on stage, what is your one main goal that you strive to accomplish each and every time?

This will sound mean, but when I first started, my goal was to make at least one person cry. Not out of being mean, but I was a confused and sad bastard, and I wanted my lyrics to hit people. Often times, I was able to too, which looking back makes me feel like a dick. 

Now though, my goal is to just create this energy. I don't ever claim to be the best, but I definitely think we bring an honest and an energy that gets lost sometimes in music. I want people to have fun, but I also want people to feel something. There seems to be this bad rep for writing songs that aren't just throw away lyrics about nothing. If you write anything that means something to you, or can be misconstrued as "sad" then you're depressing and "emo". I think all of that is BS. I want people to be able to move their feet, but at the same time take something away, whether it's from the energy or lyrics, and apply it to something in their life.

- What have you learned and picked up from other musicians you've played with over the years that you've applied to yourself both on record and on stage?

I'd say the biggest thing is being yourself and being honest. You can tell when people are portraying a persona, or they aren't being genuine about what they're saying. As a band, we just try and let ourselves shine through. People will respond to it, and from experience, even if they aren't a fan of the music, they still respect it. 

- Looking back, is there anything you've wished you' d done differently with regards to how your music sounded when you first started out?

Not really. I mean, hearing those songs are tough because I feel like I've gotten stronger. I mean, that first record came out and I hadn't even been really playing seriously for a year at that point. That's who I was at the time though and I have to accept it. I loved, and still do love, when it's just someone and a guitar. 

- Describe a moment when music affected your life so profoundly that it still has lasting effects on you today?

In regards to my own personal music, and this may because it's so fresh, but our EP release this past weekend. It was the most fun I've ever had playing and it was one of those moments I'll never forget. At the end, my voice was shaking because it was just an emotional moment and I'm still on a high from it. As far as witnessing other bands though, there are two shows that stick out to me. Most recently was Bon Iver at Mountain Park last summer. It was a rainy summer night on the side of a mountain and that show was beautiful. The rain just kept coming down harder and harder and I could have cared less. That guy gets some shit because his lyrics can be non-sensical, or because now that he's big it's not cool to like him anymore, but that guy is ridiculously talented. That show felt huge to me. Probably the biggest moment was seeing Kevin Devine at TT The Bears in June of 2009. I've seen him so any times by this point, and this past year got to play with him twice which was insane. That night though was perfect. I was going through some personal stuff and was in a weird state of mind. I wasn't necessarily taking the best care of myself, and I was doing some things I had never done before. That whole show though felt like it completely narrated my life, and felt like a major kick in the ass to get my shit together. I still replay the whole thing in my mind on a regular basis.

- What has music given you over the years that you feel you can never repay back and look fondly on?

Too much to even say. I don't know what I'd be like if it wasn't for music, and I don't even want to know what i'd be like. It's been everything for me. It's allowed me to become closer with people, meet new people, travel, meet my idols, play in these insane spots, laugh harder than I ever have. Seriously, it makes no sense sometimes. It feels like a dream.

- Non-musically, what are you up to these days during your time away from the band?

I don't really live a rock-star life. I live with my fiance near Boston and we're getting married in August. Work during the day. Tend to my vegetables. Cook. Walk to the library in town a lot. Try to remain focused. I'm at a really good place right now so I'm trying to keep it there, and progress a bit.

- Lastly, what does music speak to you that others cannot directly say?

The energy is just something special. Specifically, just the sounds, if you stripped all words away, it still speaks volumes. It's crazy how this assorted collection of vibrations has such power over people. There are moments though when a song builds, or this note comes in and it just is pure euphoria. It's just inspiring and makes you feel like everything will be ok.

Thanks once again to my friend Steve McDonald for carving some time out to conduct this interview! If you want to check out their latest EP "Leveled" or haven't already, please do so by going over to: theokaywin.bandcamp.com/album/leveled You can 'Like' them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theokaywin and follow them on Twitter by going over to: www.twitter.com/okaywin

Watch The Chicharones Latest Music Video For "Burn It Down"!

Hey everyone!

You may remember last week the two videos I posted about The Chicharones and the making of their music video for their latest single "Burn it Down", Well, I'm happy to tell you that the finished product is now available on YouTube for you to check out. The guys have worked feverishly on this video and they can't wait to hear what you guys think of it. I've embedded the video directly below for you to take a look at for yourselves:

Animal - Diatoms

Based out of Fairfield, Iowa, Animal has arrived on the scene with their debut release titled Diatoms. The duo have created an electronic leaning effort that pulls no punches and is a wondrous, experimental effort that throws the musical rulebook out the window and focuses on just playing the music that they want to their listening audience.

The disc opens up with "Burning Leaves", starting off with a gritty acoustic guitar arrangement before the vocals kick in, which are brought forth to us by Darla Murphy, whose warm, ethereal vocal presence immediately makes us feel at ease and starts off the album on a strong note. "Milky" is a purely experimental track with light xylophone arrangements that appear faintly reminiscent of windchimes and give off a bold, deep sound that reflects the album's overall goal that is still laying ahead. Philip Rabalais does a strong effort of ensuring the group's sound is well represented and sounds the way that they envisioned when this album was on the drawing board. "Biggest One" features a bevy of distortion that masks the vocals and gives the song a warped, disjointed feel that takes some time to get used to upon first listen. "Fall Around" is a toned down, moody track that is not like the others that came before it, and offers up a departure from the other non-traditional tracks that came before it and segues way consistently into the second half of the disc.

We start off the second half with my favorite track off the effort, "Beat01" an interweaving, downtempo number that best represents Darla's beautiful and captivating vocal presence and melds in together beautifully with the ever changing soundscapes that permeate the entire track. The disc starts to draw to a close on "January", a moody, atmospheric track that brings together some eerie and drab sounds that jump out and scare you ever so suddenly as you're listening to it, making this track one of the more strange yet satisfying tracks featured here on the disc. "People or Plant" ultimately closes out the disc with a terrific acoustic guitar arrangement, very similar to the one featured on the first track and takes those elements and transcribes them for us in easy to understand musical apertures and wavelengths that give us a sense of the musical makeup of each of these tracks and the chemistry between all of the tracks and how they interact with one another. Experimental/ambient music is one of those genres where rules need not apply to musicians, and the artists sort of adopt a philosophy where everything goes, even if it doesn't make sense musically or doesn't even belong there, the musicians just go ahead and do it, there's no reason not to go ahead and try to make some music out of what they have gathered together. Animal is one of those bands adopting this philosophy and putting it to good use here.

In retrospect, a well executed effort here from Animal, who have given us a well executed effort that shows what happens when two musicians gather together in a room and throw together everything they've learned musically and throw it all in one big, musical pot and wait and see what comes out of it.

                                                                                                                            Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Burning Leaves
2. Milky
3. Biggest One
4. Fall Around
5. Beat01
6. January
7. People or Plant

To check out "Diatoms" for yourself, head on over to the group's BandCamp Site at animalmusic.bandcamp.com to listen to the disc in it's entirety. For more information on the duo, head on over to the group's Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/animalsound

Artist Spotlight: Z-Train

Hey everyone!

Kicking off the month of June with an all new edition of Artist Spotlight. This week, we travel down to Hartford, CT and check out the reggae infused sounds of Z-Train. The band consists of Don C. and Sparkles on lead vocals, Ken on lead and rhythm guitar, Mike on rhythm guitar, Kyle on bass, Jeff S. on drums and backup vocals, and Drix on vocals and keyboards. The band has a pure, mellow reggae sound with obvious Bob Marley influences and an emphasis on getting the listener to relax and chill out to experience the full wave of relaxing melodies that are omnipresent throughout all of their songs. There is something about these guys that seems so pure and unadulterated that everything else pales in comparison. Alot of times, upstart musicians experiment with other genres such as funk and hip-hop, and it's alright to experiment with those genres sparingly, but other times musicians experiment way too much with other genres that the real musical message gets lost in the music and becomes difficult to decipher what the artist is trying to convey to the listener. These guys aren't like those artists and have a raw, dynamic sensibility to them that will carry them a long way in their careers. A great upstart act with plenty of potential for success in the future. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "She Loves Me Not" and "Secret Admirer".

To check out Z-Train for yourself, head on over to the group's MySpace page at www.myspace.com/ztrainct  to experience the magic for yourself. You can get all the latest updates directly from the band via their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ztrainct where you can also get the latest tour dates for the group coming near your area.

WFNX To Go Off The Air on July 21st!

Hey everyone!

It was announced earlier this morning that WFNX's final day on air has been determined. The long running Boston alternative radio station will go off the air for good on Saturday, July 21st with Clear Channel taking over operations on Monday, July 23rd. This information was made public on WFNX's Twitter feed yesterday. It is unclear what events will be planned for that day, but in the days leading up to the final day, past FNX DJ's will be making guest appearances to give their best wishes to the station and send it off right into the sunset. I'll be sure to keep you apprised of what events will be happening leading up to what will be an incredibly sad day in the Boston local radio scene. 

Kyoto Drive - The Approach

Birmingham, England's own Kyoto Drive have arrived on the music scene with their debut release, The Approach. The album is a dynamic and eclectic mix of rapturous hard melodies and thunderous, jaunting lyrics that grab a hold of you the minute you hear it and give you an idea right from the get go what their music is all about.

The disc gets underway with "Holiday" a simple structured, straightforward track that introduces you to the vocals of Adam Binder, who also handles bass duties as well and presents a more than capable frontman who can handle everything thrown his way with remarkable ease. "So Much Alive" is another melodic blast with a fury of guitars giving the band all it has to deliver a standout track that is a perfect example of the type of music that they regularly play. "Faking Laughs For Photographs" is a more toned down affair and settles into a mid-tempo groove, but still retains spurts of melodic breakdowns that were evident on the preceding tracks and shows off a little bit of diversity as well.

The second half of the effort starts off with my favorite track off the album, "Breathe", a song that strikes a perfect balance between hardcore rock and melodic pop-punk that hits on all cylinders here with wonderful vocal harmonies, and non-stop guitar riffs providing a spark of electricity that never gives out until the very end, a perfect and solid track all along. We get ready to close things out with "Chapters", a track that comes down a few notches in intensity from the prior one, but still packs a walloping punch with in your face melodies and wonderful vocals that give life to each and every song heard here on this album. The disc closes out masterfully on "You Never Knew", which starts out with a lush piano melody before settling into an appropriate downtempo groove that ties everything up together in one, neat little package and also allows us to take a look back at all the wonderful tracks we heard one after another. England's music scene hasn't gotten much coverage here on this blog, but after hearing Kyoto Drive's music here, a lot of this music isn't quite foreign to me because I love pop-punk and some hardcore music, and sometimes I think to myself why I don't cover music from this region more often. Alot of the music styles from England are quite similar to the music heard over here in the U.S., like indie rock, alt-rock, hardcore rock, and some hip-hop as well. Kyoto Drive is the latest in a long line of bands from the U.K. that will be looking to creep up on the shores of American listeners sometime soon down the road.

All in all, a wonderful listen from Kyoto Drive, who have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with, and are looking to be known not just within the confines of their home country of England, but beyond and eventually into the United States, where I think they will have a warm arrival and their music met with an enthusiastic response.

                                                                                                                            Album Score: 4.5/5

Track Listing:

1. Receive This Little Breath
2. Holiday
3. So Much Alive
4. Faking Laughs For Photographs
5. Breathe
6. Chapters
7. You Never Knew   

If you would like to check out "The Approach" for yourself, it's now available on iTunes and Spotify, among other fine digital music retailers.