Spring 2013 New Music Preview

With spring only just a week away, I thought it would be a great time to preview the new albums that will be coming over the course of this spring. Typically the winter months to begin the year are a slow release period for new albums, and the spring sees the release schedule ramped up considerably with new offerings from The Strokes, Phoenix, and Vampire Weekend in our midst relatively soon. And without further ado, here are a few of the upcoming new releases for 2013:

The Strokes - Comedown Machine (March 26th)

The Strokes are about to make their return with Comedown Machine, the follow up to 2011's Angles. The disc is expected to take a slightly different direction than their previous work, and one song released from the album "One Way Trigger", was a bit of a underwhelming track at best that didn't accurately portray the new sound of the album. "All the Time" was a better, true representation of what the new album will sound like, and Julian Casablancas and co. will surely be at the top of their game with this new effort.

Phoenix - Bankrupt! (April 9th)

Versailles, France's alt-rockers Phoenix are set to make their long awaited return with their first studio album since 2009's Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The highly anticipated release sees the group amping up their velocity considerably with the discs first single "Entertainment" impacting alternative radio as we speak, and is a melodic blast that is quite similar to what we experienced on the last album with "1901", "Lisztomania" and "Lasso". This album is sure to be one of the top albums of 2013 if the rest of the album matches what the first song was able to deliver.

Paramore - Paramore (April 23rd)

Alt-rockers Paramore are expected to make their long awaited return with their self titled release. The first album since Josh and Zac Farro infamously departed the band 2 years ago sees the band whittled down to a trio, and Hayley is sure to express her true feelings on the whole situation somewhere embedded deep within the lyrics. The first single "Now", has so far failed to make any dents in radio airplay, but we hope that the rest of the album matches the melodic intensity that their previous releases displayed in explosive fashion, and this new song is just a fluke filler track that doesn't belong on here in the first place.

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City (May 7th)

NYC's indie rock sensations Vampire Weekend are set to make their reappearance with Modern Vampires of the City. The follow up to 2010's Contra should mark another quality effort and an maturity over their prior two albums, which have shown consistent growth in the band's style, and sees the band experimenting with different genres that offer up a little bit of variety to the listener, and makes the band stand out prominently from the current crop of indie bands out there in music today.

Any other albums that are coming out soon that I failed to mention? Let me know in the comments section directly below, or get at me via Facebook and Twitter to let me know what albums you can't wait to see the light of day this year!

Artist Spotlight: Gentlemen Hall

Proud to start off the week with another all new edition of Artist Spotlight. Today, we keep it local with a burgeoning synth-rock band emanating right from the Boston suburbs by the name of Gentlemen Hall. The band consists of Gavin Merlot on lead vocals and guitar, Cobi Mike on vocals and lead guitar, Ro Richard on bass, Bradford Alderman on synthesizers, Phil Boucher on drums, and Seth Hachen on flute. The band has a dreamy, synth heavy new wave mixture that hearkens back to the mid 80's new wave era, but manages to incorporate elements from their more modern contemporaries such as fellow Bostonians Passion Pit and Imagine Dragons with a strong melodic output that is omnipresent throughout all their music and guarantees that you will have a great time listening to them. I've heard of the band by name only, but never got the opportunity to check them out until recently, and they have an unbelievable musical presence that encapsulates everything there is to love about the Boston music scene and the depth of talent constantly leaking out of the area. A great upstart act that is only getting better as time rolls along. Some recommended tracks for you to have a listen at include "All Our Love" and "Tame the Beast".

For more information on the gents in Gentlemen Hall, click on their Facebook page here and don't forget to 'Like' the page as well while you're there. The band can also be followed on Twitter right over here where you catch up with the guys to see what they're currently doing this very minute. Their music is available from a wide array of sources including via the Music link on their FB page, Soundcloud right here, and on iTunes and Amazon MP3 as well among fine digital music retail outlets.

Alexander Join I Am Mighty Records Roster, Gearing Up For New Album and Tour

Durham, United Kingdom based band Alexander has officially joined the roster of artists over at I Am Mighty Records. The band has been gaining some traction recently in the U.K. indie rock scene, and the band recently just released their debut single "You Lost Yourself" on a worldwide basis for music lovers around the world to hear. I'm impressed with the amount and wealth of talent emanating from England, primarily from the I Am Mighty Records roster, and I'll continue to feature these bands here on the blog as they represent the true spirit of the British music scene, which is quite similar to the bands here in America. The band's debut album "Say Hello", will be released sometime shortly within the next few months. The band will also be headed out on tour later this month to play the new single along with some other assorted tracks. Here is the band's full itinerary:

March 22nd - Rippon, The Matrix
March 24th - Leeds, The Library
March 25th - Glasgow Ivory Blacks
March 26th - Edinburgh, Electric Circus
March 27th - Newcastle, Think Tank

If would like to download their single "You Lost Yourself", you may do so at iTunes right over here.
The band can be 'Liked' on Facebook at this link right here and can be followed on Twitter directly here. The band just released their music video for "You Lost Yourself" which you can view directly below:

Interview w/ The Foresters

Proud to present to you yet another installment in my ongoing interview series. Today, we have a sit down chat with the boys of The Foresters. The Bethany, CT based trio have been featured heavily here on the blog, most notably as an Artist Spotlight feature, and took home the Artist Spotlight of the Year award just last year! The boys took some time away from their schoolwork and band practice to talk a little bit what made them want to start a band in the first place, and what drives their will to succeed both in school and with their music as well. Here is the transcript from that interview:

Tell us your names and roles in the band?

 Evan, 13 Guitar and Vocals. Hayden, 11 Bass guitar and backing vocals. Liam, 10 drums.

 

How did you settle on the name "The Foresters" for your band and when did it form?

We live next to 900 acres of state forest in Connecticut. Before we settled on The Foresters, our previous names were Time For Blood [A little on the weird side] and then Looking For Lightning Bugs! We formed the band about six years ago, but none of us knew how to play anything.

 

When do you first remember being exposed to music?

Our parents have always been determined to expose us to music. Our folks would take us to the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (in Hillsdale, NY) and the Meriden Daffodil festival (in CT) every year since we were babies. Our first official rock concert was a Green Day show in 2010. We left that show thinking we HAD to start our own band! None of us knew how to play instruments, but that wasn't going to stop us... We figured out who would play what (well, actually Evan did because he's the oldest:) and convinced our parents to let us use our savings accounts to buy starter instruments. They waited almost a year before getting us any lessons because they wanted to see if we would actually stick with it.

 

How much of an impact has playing music had on your overall lives?

It's been pretty huge for us. We've played all over our state (CT) and have met so many interesting and supportive people! We practice several days a week and play about 3-4 shows a month. Even though this takes a lot of our free time away, we are finding it very rewarding. Our band is like our sport...we put hours into it each week like a kid would do if he were playing baseball, etc.  

 

Being brothers and all, how well do you all get along making music and being on the same page while making songs?

Evan will come up with an initial riff for a song, and I (Hayden) will write a bass riff and Liam will make up a beat. Lastly, Evan will write lyrics and I'll choose harmonies that go along with the vocals. Evan usually writes the song lyrics last. We do get on each other's (and our parents':) nerves at times, and sometimes just need a break from one another. 

 

What was the recording process like for your self-titled debut EP?

It was a real eye opener because we didn't realize how intense the whole process was. Our first song "Better" took us like 4 or 5 takes! Then we did vocal layers and guitar layers on top of everything. It was hard work but really fun!

 

What music do you like to listen to in your spare time and how have they influences your sound?

We listen to a lot of musical genres! Our favorites are pop punk, 90s rock (like Nirvana, etc) and alternative. 

 

Besides schoolwork, what do you boys like to do in your spare time away from making music, any sports/hobbies?

 We all have separate interests too...Liam and Hayden love video games (like Minecraft), swimming and soccer. Evan spends a lot of time making digital art and videos and teaching himself things like Final Cut Pro and Blender. Of the 3 of us, Hayden is the social media "expert" who uses Twitter, Instagram, Vine, etc. He's a good promoter!

 

What do you have planned for the band moving forward this year?

We are planning on going back into the studio next month to record some of our new songs. We have a lot of shows lined up for CT over the next 2 months. We are currently working out a trip to Rochester, NY in May. We are also planning a mini tour of New England from CT up to Portland, ME in early July. We are currently looking for venues to play along the way (in Boston, etc). 

 

Any words to those who may be reading this?

 

We are currently taking place to play the Vans Warped Tour in CT this summer! Please visit http://www.battleofthebands.com/u/forestersct and give us a vote. Also please visit our Facebook page at www.theforesters.us and follow us on Twitter @forestersct. We hope to see you at one of our shows! Thanks for your support, and thanks to you, Pete, for having us on your blog!

 

Thanks once again to Liam, Hayden, and Evan for being so awesome in taking the time to do this interview. I'm totally enthralled by the depth of talent these boys have, and also for the level of maturity they have displayed at such a young age. It's truly inspiring to see kids making the most of what they learned to school, and applying it towards a possible career in music if they so desire should the path lead them that way. Please take the time to check them out on Facebook and 'Like' them here and follow them on Twitter over here.

Schedule Announced for 2013 Rock N Roll Rumble

The performance schedule has been announced for this year's annual Rock N Roll Rumble competition. The preliminary round begins on Sunday April 7th and lasts for 6 nights, with an off day happening on Wednesday. The bands who advance will go to the semi-finals on Thursday, April 18 and Friday, April 19th, with the grand finale taking place on Friday, April 26. Here is the schedule of bands performing on the designated nights:

Preliminary Night #1 (4/7): The Okay Win, Cancer Killing Gemini, The New Highway Hymnal, Velah
Preliminary Night #2(4/8): Endation, The Deep North, Herra Terra, Camden
Preliminary Night #3(4/9): Eddie Japan, Super Machines, Glenn Yoder & The Western States, Black Button
Preliminary Night #4(4/11): Mount Peru, Whitcomb, LifeStyle, Twin Berlin
Preliminary Night #5(4/12): Coyote Kolb, The Field Effect, The Suicide Dolls, White Dynomite
Preliminary Night #6(4/13): Parks, JBvs.DLP, Ruby Rose Fox, The Daily Pravda

All shows will be taking place at TT the Bears in Cambridge, MA. For more information on the competition, and how to purchase tickets, please visit their official website right here for all the latest up to date info.

Interview w/ Brian Medlin

Today, it's yet another installment in my ongoing interview series. Today, we have a thorough and in-depth chat with Philadelphia, PA based singer-songwriter Brian Medlin. Brian has been a featured veteran here on the blog a few times before, first with Person L, then with his other project Brian Medlin & The Elk Band, and his most recent effort that was reviewed just last week on the blog, Ghost Away. I caught up with Brian via e-mail to get a sense of what his beginnings were, the multiple bands he's in, and his undying passion for music that is quite evident with the multiple musical hats that he's wearing at any given time. Without further ado, here is the transcript from that interview:

Give us your name and where you're originally from?

Brian Medlin. I live in a town called Ardmore outside of West Philadelphia. I grew up a little further out in the suburbs in a town called Lansdale.

How much of a role or impact did music have on you growing up in PA?

Living near Philadelphia always gave me the opportunity to see any kind of band I was interested in. And in my hometown, there was a growing hardcore and punk scene that I got involved in through playing and attending shows.

What was your earliest recollection of being exposed to music at a young age?

The earliest I can remember really loving a piece of music was when I was 4 years old. It was Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight". I remember running behind a coffee table or something like that, and pretended it was a drum set. Either I had drums in my blood, or that sparked my love of them, because I never sat behind a drum set until I was a teenager. I had no idea what I was doing, but it came to me very naturally. And I picked up the basics very fast.

Tell me about the first band you were in, what type of music it was, and the experience of being in a band?

My first band had only a couple practices. It was something to do during a teacher's strike when I was in middle school. I was the vocalist. We were called Red Ink. I loved Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails, so I probably thought we sounded something like that. Of course we probably sounded nothing like that. The first "serious" band I was in, as in a band that practiced regularly and played shows, was a band called Relapse that later changed its name to Inkling. I played drums in that band when I was in high school. We were a hardcore band but we also incorporated singing parts and odd time signatures. We started off being heavily influenced by The Deftones and even some other melodic bands like Weezer and The Get Up Kids. But we also listened to heavier bands like Coalesce, Converge, and Deadguy. The easiest part about being in that band was that it was with all of my best friends. Not only did we love hanging out with each other, but we all listened to similar music. So it was a blast to create music together. Our practice space was a hangout for our whole circle of friends. For me, playing and touring with your friends has always remained an essential part of making and performing music.

What were some other bands you were involved in and how were they different from your prior musical ventures?

After Inkling, I was in a band called The Minor Times. That band had many of the same members, but we focused strictly on the heavy, aggressive, angular stuff. We were a band for about 7 years. We practiced very very hard, got things incredibly tight. We all had particular tastes in what we liked and didn't like in heavy music. And we took it very seriously. Every year got better and better, signing to bigger labels, writing better songs, performing better. But we were such perfectionists that I feel like we started to wear ourselves out. Plus we were getting older. There's lots that go into it. Towards the end of that band, I started playing drums in Person L. That was a big shift for me because it was a more loose style of playing. And even the practices had a more loose, jamming kind of environment. The hard work part in Person L came with all the touring we did. I toured a bunch with The Minor Times and even Inkling, but nowhere near as much as with Person L. All in all, I enjoyed playing in both bands because of the 2 different schools of thought it gave not only my drumming style, but my attitude towards writing and interacting in a band. One was very regimented, disciplined and rewards you in the end, and the other was relaxed, laid back, and keeps things alive and fun.

Tell me about the recording process of your latest effort with Brian Medlin & The Elk Band and what the recording process was like?

Recording this album was a dream come true for me. With every solo release, I have always wanted to record in this fashion. I wrote and recorded demos of all the songs, plus a few more that didn't make the cut, with an acoustic guitar and vocals. I selected a group of people I wanted to record the songs with, which I dubbed "The Elk Band". My friend Andrew Torre had recorded the songs for the Person L split with Weatherbox, and he had mastered a single I released called "Hey Koda". At the time, he was building his own studio with help from Nate Vaeth (keys/guitar in Person L). Both Nate and Andrew were trading, collecting, and restoring vintage gear for a couple years, and it is a lot of this gear that made up the studio. This was right up my alley because I wanted the album to have a warm, classic feel. Other than a few guitars, all the instruments and amps on this album are from the 60s and 70s. Andrew is a great drummer, so I asked him if he would be interested in recording and playing on the album. Nate had recorded organ for a couple songs on my previous full length, but I knew I wanted him to play on this whole record, with his BEAUTIFUL Hammond B2. Then I asked Charlie from Person L to play bass and my friend Nick to play guitar because I was familiar with their styles, and I knew they would be a perfect fit. I had met Vince before from a show Person L played with his band Cheap Seats. Andrew recommended he join, and Vince said he was interested in playing piano. I'm not sure how it worked out but I'm glad it did. The piano was the last addition I needed in making this sound that I wanted. I listen to a lot of classic rock from singer-songwriters like Neil Young and Bob Dylan, to bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones. You know, all the obvious ones, I guess you could say. But I also had modern influences that were influencing me immensely when writing these songs like Dawes and Wilco. All of the aforementioned bands recorded many of their albums live and it's something we attempted to do. Unfortunately, due to technical issues, we didn't get to do it that way. Only the 3 acoustic songs "Beacon of Light", "Sink or Swim", and "Making a Change" remained live. With the other songs, we would just listen to the acoustic demo, then work it out together as a band, then track it. It was incredibly freeing to just hand over my demo idea of a song, and just see where a group of people take it. I trusted the musicians I was playing with immensely, and I wish I could always play with them. I just can't thank those guys enough for putting the time into making it without getting anything in return, other than a great sounding record, an album I am incredibly proud of.

What other interests do you have besides music, any hobbies/special interests/sports?

I grew up with a family of film buffs and I think I became one myself. Movies are almost as a big an influence on my life as music is. And just like music, I don't stay within a particular genre. I watch and enjoy everything. I also enjoy reading and learning about film history. I am into directors the same way I am into bands. I definitely have my favorites: Stanley Kubrick, The Cohen Brothers, Ingmar Bergman, Terrance Malick. I could go on and on.

How much of an impact has music had on your life up until this point?  

It's had a major impact on my life because it's defined my life. I have a full-time job where I spend every weekday, essentially 9 to 5, but music is where my heart is. I've always got multiple projects I'm working on. I'm always listening and being inspired by it. It's what I think about, it's what I read about, it's what I talk about. It's the center of the majority of my social life. All of the friends I have are because we have a common interest and passion for music. I always want to be playing it, performing it, and listening to it. I can't imagine my life without it.

What other bands and/or projects are you involved in and what else can we expect from you in the coming year?

Well, very recently, my band/recording project Ghost Away released our 2nd full length titled "We Didn't Ask For This". It's a 2-man project I have with my friend Eric Haag. It's something we work on very casually, in the sense that it takes us years to finally release something. We are both crazy about Radiohead. They aren't the only influence, but definitely play a big part. You can download the album for free at www.wedidntaskforthis.com

I have a noisy punk rock band called Wives that plays out occasionally. Right now, we are recording a follow-up to our self-titled EP, which at the time was also a 2-man recording project. After that EP, we were asked to play shows and decided to form a full band. We've played together ever since and wrote a bunch of new stuff together. It should be out in the next few months. You can download the old EP for free at thepinktriangle.bandcamp.com

I'm playing drums in a couple projects. It's too early to know what, if anything, will come of them. The one with the most progress so far is with Brendan, guitarist from Circa Survive. We're playing heavy stuff. And since 2005, I have released a solo effort at least once a year. I don't expect that to change this year. As always, you can get all of my releases for free at www.brianmedlinmusic.com

Thanks once again to my friend Brian Medlin for taking some time out to do this interview! Brian is an immensely fascinating, talented, and creative individual whose undying passion for music speaks volumes about his craft and just how unique he is. Take some time and check out his music from his various projects from the aforementioned links above.

Artist Spotlight: 7bit Hero

For this Friday's edition of Artist Spotlight to wrap up the week, we fly over to Brisbane, Australia and uncover the electro infused sounds of 7bit Hero. The trio consists of Hans van Vliet, Richie Young, and Phil Evans. The group's music is largely inspired by video game effects from the 80's presented in an electronic based music format that is largely melodic in nature and contains sonic drifts that pile up as the music progresses. I had a blast listening to these guys, and it took me back to when I was kid playing Nintendo, and the music reminded me of all those times playing video games with my friends and the great times I had while doing it. The vocals add an air of authenticity that leads to a fun and worthwhile listening experience that only gets better with each repeated listen. A great upstart act that is getting ready to make that next jump on the road to success. Some recommended songs for you to have a listen at include "Come on. Stand out." and "Side Quest".

For more information on the gents in 7bit Hero, 'Like' their Facebook page here to find out more information on the group and trace the roots of their beginnings. Their Twitter feed is located over here where you can find if the group will be stopping stateside and say hi to the guys while you're at it! Their music is available to stream on their Bandcamp site located right here and on their official website as well located here.

Artist Spotlight: Ritz Gnarlton

For today's edition of Artist Spotlight, we head west to the city by the bay known as San Francisco, CA and check out the eclectic sounds of Ritz Gnarlton. The group consists of Karl Rodgers on lead vocals, RJ Goulden on lead guitar and backup vocals, and Drew Lee on guitar. The trio has a vivacious, reggae infused sound similar to the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sublime with a strong emphasis being put on melody and style, and these guys have clearly mastered that with a strong set of tunes that defines the area in which they live, which has a vibrant music scene spanning all sorts of genres. I'm quite thrilled to stumble across these guys, as they have a clear image of who they want to be as a group, and are striving to achieve that next level of success that so many other bands out there yearn and strive to achieve for. A terrific live act that is primed to take that next step up the musical ladder. Some recommended tracks for you to take a listen at include "Deep Blue Sound" and "One Way To Survive".

For more info on the boys in Ritz Gnarlton, click on their Facebook page here and give them a well deserved 'Like' if you enjoy what you hear. The band's music is available via their Bandcamp site right here and also on their SoundCloud page as well here plus it's on Amazon MP3 over here among digital music outlets.

Bear Language To Perform At SXSW, Embark on First Tour

Boston based indie collective Bear Language have just announced they'll be performing at this year's annual South by Southeast music festival in Austin, TX. The festival is a hotbed for upstart acts to get noticed by thousands of fervent music listeners from all over the country, and will definitely expose the band to an even wider audience and put them on a higher pedestal in the indie music stratosphere.

The band will also be embarking on their first ever national tour around the Northeast that will open up even more opportunities and avenues for the band. Here is the full list of tour dates in addition to the aforementioned SXSW dates just recently announced:

3/13/13 Austin, TX @ RedGorilla Music Fest
3/14/13 Austin, TX @ STPPFest x The Deli Magazine SXSW Showcase
3/15/13 Austin, TX @ Berklee College SXSW Showcase
3/16/13 Austin, TX @ Heart of Texas Rockfest
3/18/13 Nashville, TN @ Springwater
3/20/13 Gambler, OH @ The Village Inn
3/21/13 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire
3/22/13 Saratoga Springs, NY @ Falstaffs
3/23/13 New York, NY @ The Bitter End
3/30/13 Boston, MA @ The Middle East Downstairs

Melanie Lynx - Naked Heart EP

Boston based singer songwriter Melanie Lynx has released her much anticipated debut EP Naked Heart. The disc is a wonderful collection of compositions that presents Melanie as a burgeoning singer-songwriter coming into her own and discovering her voice that doesn't need to rely on the instrumentation at hand, it just does its own thing.

We start things off with "Wasted", an downtempo tune with a slight electronic twist to it that adds a air of diversity and a certain level of anticipation as to what to expect as we delve further into the disc. My favorite track off the EP is the upbeat "Perfectly Flawed", a slice of heaven with breezy instrumentation and Melanie's voice hitting a high benchmark that encapsulates the entire sound of the effort as a whole and what her overall musical goal is moving forward. "First Time" is a song you may already be familiar with as it released before the EP came out, and is the perfect track that highlights the sheer power of Melanie's voice, its capabilities, and what emotions it elicits in its prospective listeners. "I Spy" evokes the sound of Katy Perry, and features some nifty guitar arrangements and Melanie's vocal abilities once again doing their thing and powering the song all the way to the finish line. We wrap things up with the EP's title track, a haunting, emotional powerhouse with Melanie's voice expressing her innermost feelings and stripping the song down to its bare bones essence that shows the skeletal outline of a well composed and written track that allows the disc to come full circle in its offerings and close things out the way it was intended to. I've had the pleasure of featuring Melanie on the blog as an Artist Spotlight feature several months back, and it's really refreshing to see artists willing to put their emotions on display, and show the raw abilities that they've been eager to showcase to a willing and devoted listening audience that is clamoring to know more about her as a person as well.

In retrospect, a terrific and well constructed debut effort from Melanie Lynx, who is a different breed of singer-songwriter who is not afraid to bare all emotionally, and put it all out there for everyone to catch a glimpse of and just stand there in awe of her presence.

                                                                                                                                    EP Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. Wasted
2. Perfectly Flawed
3. This Time
4. I Spy
5. Naked Heart

Interview w/ Me vs. Gravity

Today I present to you another installment in my newly relaunched interview series. Today, we take a look at one of Boston's fastest rising young acts Me vs. Gravity. The band have been been playing relentlessly throughout the area, and have built up quite a sterling reputation as a band that acts as a beacon for today's youth, someone that really connects with the pulse of today's teenagers. I recently got the chance to interview the band just before they hit the stage at their show this past Friday at Cafe 939 in Boston where I got a sense of the band's beginnings and they're impeccable repoire with their listening audience. Here is the full transcript from that interview:

Give us your names and what you do in the band?

Ben: My name is Ben Meyers and I play drums.
Zach: My name is Zach Nelson, I sing and play guitar.
Jeff: I'm Jeff Kinsey, I play bass and do backing vocals.
Dave: My name is Dave Colicchio, I play guitar and sing backing vocals as well.

Can you take us back to the beginning and how the band formed?

Ben: Yeah, well it actually started with me and Zach at Berklee the first week of school, we met each other and then very soon after, we met Jeff and Dave and became friends and kind of started a little thing.

What was it like to be at Berklee surrounded by countless musicians?

Zach: It's awesome, you get to collaborate with alot of people. I came from a small town so there's not a ton of music going on. For me, it was cool to be able to always see something going on that you feel supportive of what you're doing.

Dave: It's a really great environment for any musician to be in, everybody is really supporting each other and you just learn even if you're not trying to learn, you're just learning so much from the talented people around you.

Jeff: It's a really cool perspective to have so many people that are passionate about more or less the same thing, but so stylistically different to see how so many different people go about essentially as far as careers go.

Can you recall what your earliest experience was with listening to music and how has that helped shape you today?

Dave: I think my earliest memory was my dad is a music teacher and he used to teach at summer camps and I would be going to the camp, he would show me Billy Joel songs, Beatles songs, he's a huge Beatles fan and I think these are the first songs I knew, one day he says that I told him to go to the next song because the song that was playing "Fool On The Hill" by The Beatles was making me sad and he says that was the moment he realized I probably wanted to become a musician, he knew I was getting it.

Zach: The first time I ever sang in front of anyone, I was a terrified, shy kid and my mom and dad convinced me to sing "Yankee Doodle" as a part of this church musical, and I was this shy, awkward kid in suspenders in front of 2,000 people at my church and I was terrified, but I didn't stop singing after that.

What is the one thing you enjoy the most about playing live and how it makes you feel?


Ben: I would say probably the crowd, the main reason of playing live is the crowd and the energy that you get from watching their energy and their smiles, and just how excited they are to watch you. That's probably one of my favorite parts, and the sound obviously in the venue is so much better than the practice space, so those are two of the most exciting things for me.

Jeff: I think definitely the emotion behind music, we do this essentially so we can help people feel the emotions they're trying to express and so to do that, and basically get a room full of people that are feeling the same thing hopefully, the energy that comes through that, you can just feel this tangible energy at the same level and the emotion.

Take us behind the recording process of your latest EP "Begin" and what the whole experience was like?

Zach: We met this guy named Tom Schleiter who was formerly in a band called Bad City on Atlantic and a band called Powderspace on Fueled by Ramen, two of our favorite labels, so we went down to Chicago, wrote a couple of songs and recorded all 4 in 5 days at Groovemaster Studios in Chicago. It was alot different from our first EP recorded in Ben's dorm, this time we got to go to a major studio, it was just a totally different experience, it was really fast too so we had to be on our game, it was kind of scary, we're all really happy with how it came out.

What themes and/or subject matter typically run through your music and how well does it resonate with your fans?

Zach: I sing alot about heartbreak and hope, seeing light at the end of the tunnel. There's a song called  "When You Are Broken" which we haven't played a whole lot live recently. It's alot of lyrics about hope, and not giving up because I think there's alot of younger, confused teenagers and letting them know they're not alone and how they feel. Then just musically, we can be there for them.

Have you had any memorable run-ins or experiences with fans after one of your shows?

Dave: Every show is a different experience. There's always someone who hasn't seen us before and it's funny there's this one girl that moves stuff for us and does merch for us a whole lot, she brings her younger brother to a show and he's very quiet most of the time, he's helping us out a whole lot and at one point after the show, we bring all the stuff back and he stops us and says, "Guys, I just have to say this is my first concert and other than seeing 3 Doors Down, this was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life and thank you guys". And he was just so happy about the show and we were like "Oh my god, I thought you were bored"!

Ben: And I'd say on top of that, we had this one show where we just had so many baked goods from fans, we feel so fat and happy, I'm talking alot of pounds of food.

What do you guys like to do in your spare time when not making music?

Ben: Well, I edit all day. We all kind of have different things we do all day, so yeah I pretty much edit.

Jeff: I spend alot of time going from rehearsal to rehearsal. As a bass player, I can get work for some of the other members of the Berklee community as well. I get to do alot of playing which is fun and I'm studying production so I spend alot of time in recording studios.

Dave: I love movies and I love songwriting, I'm just constantly trying to get better at songwriting and one day maybe doing some music supervision for movies. I think that just would be a dream job of mine, meet some of my favorite actors, you know being involved in the process.

Are you guys planning on playing any more shows or releasing any new music this year?

Dave: Oh yeah, a whole lot of shows. We're lining up a whole bunch for the summer, not really a tour per say, shows here and there, March 7th in Hamden, CT is a big date for us, going to be a whole lot of fun. And April 13th is Love You Dance Machine's last show at The Middle East, it's going to be great and then we've got a whole bunch for the summer, we're just trying to book more, trying to have fun with it and have a good time.

Lastly, why do you think guys should check you guys out in concert or listen to your music?

Zach: I think that there's hope in our music, and I think it makes you feel good and there's other songs like a song called "Alone", which is about you know being pissed off and depressed when you've been screwed over by someone you care about. So I think there's a range of emotions that you can experience, not just listening to our music, but any music.

Ben: I just want to add on to that, I think it's kind of cool we're kind of one of the few bands on the scene kids just kind of look up to us individually. I feel alot of the other bands there's a lot of substance abuse, a lot of things that aren't good for kids to be looking up to, so that's kind of a cool thing, if people should listen to us, that's a reason.

Jeff: We're pretty much about community and inclusion, showing the positive side of the rock world to kids and anyone who wants to listen and hang out.

Thanks once again to the boys in Me vs. Gravity for being so gracious with their time and letting me hang out with them before the show! If you want to pick up their latest EP, "Begin", you can download it right now on iTunes or pick up the physical CD from their Big Cartel site right over here. 

Artist Spotlight: Bad Books

Today's edition of Artist Spotlight comes to us from an indie group based out of Brooklyn that has quickly been gaining some steam and ever growing recognition from the press and the general music listening public alike, Bad Books. The group consists of Kevin Devine, Andy Hull, Robert McDowell, Chris Freeman, Jonathan Corley, (all from Manchester Orchestra fame), and Ben Homola. I must admit that I've heard of Kevin Devine before as a solo artist and was also aware of his work in Kevin Devine and The Goddamn Band, but have neglected to actually check out any of his music, so I apologize in advance for not covering his music sooner! As I listen to his music for the first time, I find his vocal abilities to be pure, passionate, and completely unadulterated both in style and form and on this effort with Bad Books, I find delicate, passionate melodies ruling the roost here and presenting another platform for Kevin to express his musical desires, along with some of his close friends to help back him up. What I find most intriguing about Kevin is his knack for writing lyrics that conjure up images that apply exclusively to me, in other words one song might mean something to someone, but it will be interpreted in completely different ways by another listener, making it a truly intuitive and exclusive listening experience that you are bound to enjoy immensely from the get go. A truly stellar artist with a whole wealth of success coming at him right down the road. Some recommended tracks for you to check out include "The Easy Mark & The Old Maid" and "The After Party".

For more information on Bad Books, cruise on over to their Facebook page here and get accustomed to Kevin Devine's latest creation right away. The band can be followed on Twitter as well over here and find out where the band will be headed out on tour next. Their official website is located right over here featuring more wide ranging information pertaining to the band, and if you would like to check out their latest release "II", it's available for your listening enjoyment on Spotify and on iTunes as well among fine digital music outlets.

Lineup Announced For 2013 Rock N' Roll Rumble

The lineup was announced last night for the annual 2013 Rock N' Roll Rumble. The event will be held over a span of 9 nights at TT the Bears in Cambridge as a way for fans to check out their favorite bands duking it out for supremacy over the Boston music scene. Here is the full lineup as it was presented last night by Angelle Wood of Boston Emissions on WZLX:

Blackbutton
Camden
Cancer Killing Gemini
Coyote Kolb
The Daily Pravda
The Deep North
Eddie Japan
The Field Effect
Herra Terra
Jack Burton vs. David Lo Pan
Lifestyle
Mount Peru
The New Highway Hymnal
The Okay Win
Parks
Ruby Rose Fox
The Suicide Dolls
Supermachine
Twin Berlin
Velah
Whitcomb
White Dynamite
Glenn Yoder and the Western States

The preliminary round begins on April 7-9 and again from the 11-13th. The semifinals begin on April 18th and 19th with the big finale taking place on April 26th. It's a great way to see 24 live bands in action all battling against one another and is also an opportunity for fans to be exposed to tons of new music over such a short span of time. Passes for the whole 9 night event go on sale this morning via Ticketweb, while individual tickets go on sale next week after the matchups are announced.

  

Artist Spotlight: The Antics

Wrapping up the week and beginning the month of March with another all new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head down to Skillman, New Jersey and find out about The Antics. The group consists of Luke Meisenbacher on lead vocals and guitar, Derek Rosengarth on guitar, Kyle Hammerschmidt on bass, and Josh Reitan on drums. The band has a tough, gritty garage rock component to them similar to The Strokes with a little bit of Interpol mixed and thrown in for good measure. I've heard of this band previously, but never had the opportunity to check them out until now, and they're well worth your listening time with fast paced guitar riffs that get their message across pretty quickly, and a strong vocal charge that allows the band to stand out from the hundreds of other bands out there today. A great band that proves that Jersey boys know how to rock and roll with the punches. Some recommended tracks to check out from them include "Touch the Sky" and "Honeycomb Diploma".

For more information on The Antics, check out their Facebook page located right here and don't forget to 'Like' it as well while you're there checking out the page. The band can be followed on Twitter as well right over here where you can follow the band to see what they're up to this very minute and find out if they'll be playing any shows near you sometime soon. Their official website located here has a list of broad and wide ranging features pertaining to the band, and if you would like to check out their album Running Faster, it's available on their BandCamp site over here and for purchase on iTunes as well.