Interview w/ Jared Carrabis of SoxSpace

With baseball season creeping up just around the corner, I'll be doing some interviews over the next couple of weeks with some sports insiders as the beginning of the season come closer. Today, we do an interview with Jared Carrabis, founder and editor in chief of SoxSpace. If you're not familiar with SoxSpace, it's the most indepth source of information about the World Champion Boston Red Sox on the planet, with Jared's immense likability and humor injected into every single article that portrays stories better than they do on the afternoon sports talk radio shows. Jared took some time out of his increasingly busy schedule as SoxSpace returned after a brief hiatus to talk about the site's beginnings, his thoughts about the Red Sox going into this year, and a few music related questions thrown in for good measure. Here is the transcript from our chat:

Give us your name and your role at Soxspace?

My name is Jared Carrabis, and I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief at SoxSpace. I’m in charge of all of the content that goes on the site, and I manage the staff of writers.

When was your earliest recollection of becoming interested in baseball?

I’ve loved baseball for as long as I can remember. It was the only sport I played my whole life. I played from tee-ball, all the way until I was in my early 20’s. It was all I cared about when I was little and obviously that hasn’t changed much.

How old were you when you attended your first Sox game and what kind of impression did that leave on you?

It was July of 1997 against the Florida Marlins. They went on to win the World Series that year, so not a bad first opponent to see, either. I was eight years old, and I just remember being in awe of how huge the Green Monster was in real life. I had seen it on TV a million times, but you don’t really realize how big it is until you see it in person. And when you’re a little kid, everything seems ten times bigger than it actually is. I became addicted to the atmosphere and I’ve been going back for my fix ever since.

What inspired you to start Soxspace and how did it evolve over time?

It all happened by chance. I had a MySpace decked out in Red Sox pictures, and I got a message from a guy who had a MySpace page with a couple thousand “friends” and they were all Red Sox fans. He said he didn’t have the time to do anything with it and that he thought I would do a better job with it. I changed the name of the page to SoxSpace, applied my makeshift HTML skills to decorate it a little bit and started writing original blogs, and it took off. We went from around 2,000 friends when I took it over to over 100,000 in two years.

When MySpace started going downhill, I didn’t want the ride to be over, so I made a deal with Sully’s Brand that if they designed me a website that I would give them free advertising. That’s how the first site came to be. Then a few years later, I got picked up by the New England Baseball Journal, but I hated that. I can be Jared and write for print or another online media outlet with no issues, but I didn’t like being SoxSpace and having to answer to someone. If I don’t have complete creative control over SoxSpace then it’s not SoxSpace. After a year of hosting SoxSpace with Sports Reel Boston in 2013, I decided to launch SoxSpace independently again, and I launched SoxSpaceBoston.com in February.

Describe the experience attending the Sox World Series clinching game and the roller coaster surrounding the team from the year prior?

It was one of the most emotional nights of my life. I honestly felt like I was living in a movie that night. It’s one of those things that you always hope and dream that you’ll get to be a part of, but you never actually think it will happen. I obviously put my experience that night into greater detail on SoxSpace later that night, but it was just a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget and always appreciate.

Talk about the relaunch of Soxspace and why you took a break from it for awhile?

The relaunch of SoxSpace has been a dream come true for me. A lot of fan blogs that started out on MySpace went down with the ship, so to still be doing this in 2014 is an accomplishment in its own right. But I am extremely proud of what we’ve come up with for a new website this time around. And this is also the first time that SoxSpace will be operating with a full staff of writers. I must admit, it is a little weird for me right now to see someone other than me be saying, “Check out my post on SoxSpace,” but it is a welcomed change.

I walked away from the whole writing thing for a little bit because I had to reprioritize things. When I started SoxSpace at the age of 16, I kind of put all of my eggs into one basket. I was going to write for a living, and there was no Plan B. But around the time that I turned 24, I realized that it wasn’t a lifestyle that I wanted to live. A lot of these big-name writers are on the road and away from their families for significant periods of time and living in and out of hotels, living off of airport food, and that’s just not the life I wanted to live. I was also extremely bitter because of the way that I was treated by several people within the industry and thought it would be best to step away for a little while and finish college.

What kinds of music (artists & genres) do you listen to on a regular basis?

I was actually just talking about this today, how ridiculously random my taste in music is. I am a huge, huge, huge Pink Floyd and Beatles fan. I’ve seen Roger Waters twice, and I’ve seen both Australian Pink Floyd and Brit Floyd in concert. I love John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Michael Jackson, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Metallica, Oasis, and Yellowcard. As far as the local music scene goes, I love Mojo Kick, and the Red Star Super Giant EP has been in my car’s CD player for months.

If you were up at bat in a Sox game, what would your walk up song be?

This is a great question, and the answer changes all the time. As of right this second, I would have to say that my walk-up song would be “Special Op” by Jim Johnston. I’m a huge WWE fan, and that’s the entrance team for a faction by the name of The Shield. Gets me amped up.

Where can everyone check out your articles and contact you via social media?

All of my articles can be found at SoxSpaceBoston.com, and I’m on Twitter @Jared_Carrabis and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SoxSpace

Lastly, how big of a role has music and/or sports had in your development as a person today?  

I’d be nothing without both of those things. Depending on what you like, music is just one of those things that make you feel so alive. There is absolutely nothing like going to see your favorite band play your favorite album live. Now, for me, there is nothing like seeing your favorite artist play your favorite song in your favorite place in the world, and that’s what I got to experience when I saw Paul McCartney at Fenway Park. So I guess there’s your cross between the two. As far as sports goes, that was how you made friends. Your friends were your teammates. Beyond that, sports have given me something to be passionate about. I think everyone needs something to be passionate about, and sports and music are it for me.

Thanks once again to my friend Jared Carrabis for taking some time out of his busy schedule to do this interview. I've had the opportunity and pleasure of meeting him in person at a couple of Red Star Super Giant shows, and he is probably the most driven, dedicated, and passionate individual I've ever met. His relentless pursuit of maintaining his writing career and transforming it into something that goes way beyond the confines of anything he's ever imagined has inspired me and countless others. Definitely take the time to check out Jared's site and his social media links as they were mentioned above.

Monsters of Surf Compilation Now Available For Streaming Via Bandcamp

DingDong Records has just recently released their 22 song compilation titled "Monsters of Surf" This extensive compilation features an entire smorgasbord of songs from all across the gamut, in genres such as garage rock, metal, punk rock, indie, and a host of others. The disc does a pretty good job of displaying a wide spectrum of talent across multiple genres that gives the listener just passing by an idea of the type of music that the record label specializes in, and will give the prospective listener a deep selection of songs to choose from across more than one genre.

If you would like to check out the compilation for yourself, head on over to their Bandcamp site located here to stream it for free and you can download it there if you wish for the low price of $10.

Charlie and the Foxtrots Release Music Video For "The Man I Am"

Nashville based Charlie and the Foxtrots just released their music video for "The Man I Am". The video was filmed down south in Toomsboro, Georgia and is a fresh, Southern cooked gem with the band performing smack dab on the front porch of a house completely evoking the style and substance that the group wishes to evoke to its listeners. The song itself is a masterpiece with each musician in the band contributing a great deal to the overall success of the group, and creating a track that its listeners will closely identify with and become that career hallmark that people will recognize and say "I remember where I was when I first heard this song." This track is that real and authentic, and I'm so proud that I stumbled across this group that I have high hopes for moving forward.

For more information on Charlie and the Foxtrots, 'Like' them on Facebook here, follow them on Twitter here, and visit their official website right here.

Marco With Love Releases Music Video For "Will You Remember Poison Heart?"

Brooklyn based artist Marco Argiro has just released a terrific 7-minute clip for "Will You Remember Poison Heart?" under the moniker of his band Marco With Love. The clip takes us on a journey throughout the streets and subways of NYC with a terrific rocker that sees Marco evoking the image of some terrific musicians and luminaries to come out of New York including The Ramones and Julian Casablancas of The Strokes fame with his style and image being conveyed to some extent in Marco's appearance as he travels throughout his native city expressing his earnest musical desires in this very intriguing and well put together visual odyssey coming to fruition right here.

For more information on Marco With Love, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter here.

Artist Spotlight: The Wild Family

Heading into the weekend with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight rearing to go! Today, we head over to the Windy City of Chicago, IL where we stumble across the sounds of The Wild Family. The band consists of brothers Jake and Zack Schweitzer, Graham Young, and Kevin Koreman. The band's sound is a melodic blend of folk rock conjured upon a strong lyrical framework that is a mixture of Fleet Foxes and The Avett Brothers with a strong musical state of mind vividly displayed upfront for all to marvel over and be raptured into at the same time. I came across these guys when I caught their Audiotree performance, and I was mesmerized by their stage presence and their ability to weave strong lyrical poetry within their music and make you feel like you're actually playing the role within the song of what is being sung, something that is almost a rarity in this day of age. A terrific unsigned act that is deserving of some love and praise right here in Boston. Some tracks to familiarize yourselves with include "White Shirt" and "Gold".

For more information on The Wild Family, head on over to their Facebook page located here to see and hear for yourself what they've got going on. You can follow the group on Twitter as well right here and stay in touch directly with the gentlemen on a one-on-one basis. The band's music is available for listening consumption right over here on their Bandcamp site and let yourself be taken in by these extremely talented musicians.

Artist Spotlight: Sugar Bomb

Starting off your Thursday with another edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we get in touch with a local Boston band currently located in Brooklyn that goes by the name of Sugar Bomb. The band consists of Kat Hamilton on lead vocals, Emmett Ceglia on drums, and Marshall Beiver on guitars. The band has a down and dirty, no holds barred punk rock essence that is similar to The Distillers and a hint of Paramore with their own unique identity and individual personalities that set them apart immensely from the other on the rise acts looking to make it in the scene. You may remember them from my post the other day promoting the release of their upcoming single "Kiss Me", and I can definitely say that they have an awesome vibe and musical chemistry going to them that it's almost impossible to ignore. One thing I love about the band is each member's sole personality contributes greatly to the overall success of the group as a whole: Kat plays the part of the badass frontwoman extremely well with a bubbly, out there personality that is just plain charming, Emmett takes the role of the shirtless drummer with a sexy, suave edge to him that will arouse the attention of those in attendance with his sweaty bod glistening from the stage, and then there's Marshall who takes the reigns on guitar and represents as the band's primary musical linguistics master expressing their sound to the audience. A terrific unsigned act that is showing that their time is now.

For more information on Sugar Bomb, head on over to their Facebook page here and give it a 'Like' so that you can stay in the know and connect with their world. The band is on Twitter also from this location here and see when they'll be stopping by the Boston area soon for a show. Check out their official website right here for more in depth information regarding the band, and check out their Bandcamp site over here for all of their music as it's being released.

2014 Bonnaroo Lineup Announced

The lineup for this year's Bonnaroo festival has officially been unveiled and like past incarnations, this one brings a little something for everyone! Headlining this year's edition of the festival will be: Kanye West, Jack White, Elton John, Vampire Weekend, Frank Ocean, Arctic Monkeys, Phoenix, Lionel Richie, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Damon Albarn, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Skrillex.

Among other notable acts playing at the festival will be: The Flaming Lips, The Avett Brothers, Lauryn Hill, James Blake, Chromeo, Janelle Monae, Broken Bells, Andrew Bird, Dr. Dog, Okkervil River, Cage the Elephant, Umphrey's McGee, Fitz and the Tantrums, Grouplove, Jake Bugg, The Naked and Famous, and so much more.

The festival will be held from June 12-15 in Manchester, TN. For more information on the festival including other acts performing and to purchase passes, head on over to Bonnaroo's website right here for all the latest up to the minute info.

Kansas City Royals Player Music Roundup

Back with the 2nd installment of my ongoing MLB Player Music special! Today, we take a look at a team hailing from the Midwest that is slowly start to creep back into the upper rankings of the AL Central, the Kansas City Royals. The Royals had a strong start last year, finishing with a 86-76 record, clinching their first winning season since 1994. Anchored by a strong crop of newcomers including the red hot Eric Hosmer, the Royals are aiming to get into the playoffs and put their best foot forward to take what they learned in Spring Training and bring it to the next level. Here is a recap of some of the players and their song choices:

Aaron Crow: Swedish House Mafia - Antidote

Eat crow! This up and coming pitcher has the answer with this high energy electronic track that immediately makes opposing batters feel uncomfortable and a little bit unsure of themselves when they step up to the plate. This newcomer is ready for anything that comes his way with this delectable gem right here.

Alex Gordon: Ted Nugent - Stranglehold

This tune right here was featured in the soundtrack of one of my favorite films of all time, "Dazed and Confused" and is the walk up song choice of this slick fielding left fielder. The song immediately signals certain doom for opposing pitchers, and Gordy has a strong bat that can allow him to spray the ball all ovr the ballpark and deliver in clutch situations when needed.

Billy Butler: Cole Swindell - Chillin' It

This hard hitting DH has a high energy country track from a recent newcomer to the country scene. Billy's only job is to hit, but he delivers when his spot on tjhe lineup comes up and always finds a way to contribute in his team's victory in any way possible and also fills in occasionally at first base, providing for some versatility as well.

Eric Hosmer: Trillville - Some Cut

This scorching hot young up and comer has some Southern fried hip-hop as his walk up music. This much buzzed about first baseman has become the talk of the town down in KC, and has provided for some much needed offense in clutch situations and is my personal favorite player on the team as he evokes all the characteristics of a model player and is a terrific person off the field as well.

Greg Holland: Breaking Benjamin - Fade Away

The young closer has the hard rocking sounds of Breaking Benjamin in his entrance music. Holland was a big part of the Royals success last year, converting 47 of 50 saves and is firmly entrenched in the closer role for some time to come. This song ensures that the opposition will fade away in the end and will carry the Royals off to victory.

James Shields: AWOLnation - Sail

The former Tampa Bay Ray ace has this high energy track that was one of the top songs in 2012, and gives him an added boost when headed out on the mound. Shields has an impressive pitch repetoire that allows him to give players not what they expected, and make them swing out of their shoes and head back to the dugout shaking their heads and sulking in what has transpired thus far.

Luke Hochevar: Eminem- Bagpipes from Baghdad

This set up man has this hip-hop track as his warm up music. The former starter has converted into a reliever role after a disappointing stint as a starter, but he is always looking at improving and seems to be adapting to his reliever role as he will be counted upon in desperate situations where he may be needed to keep his team in the game.

Mike Moustakas: Problem - Like Whaaat

This fan favorite has a loose and limber hip-hop track to warm up to when heading up to the plate. When he steps in the batters box, the fans chant "Mooooose" which sounds like they're booing him but is definitely not the case as he has prvoided for some clutch at-bats when needed and has made some leaping grabs to perserve the game and make the fans happy.

Wade Davis: Shinedown - Begin Again

Another former Ray has exceptional music taste with this Southern fried rock track. Wade has brought some strong starting depth and versatility in the lineup and has helped his team deliver with pitching deep into ballgames, and passes the torch to the excellent core of relievers that can handle almost anything that is thrown their way.

The Royals are knocking on the doorstep in the AL Central this year, I have nothing but high hopes for them going into this year and I was a little bummed that they didn't get into the postseason as I was rooting for them hard to make it and cause some damage heading in. They clearly have all the pieces in place, now it's time for them to show everyone that it's their time.

PawnShop kings - PawnShop kings EP

SoCal natives PawnShop kings have arrived with their brand-new self-titled EP. The 5 disc collection is a welcoming mixture of down home folk sensibilities mixed in with a slight inspirational aesthetic that is subtly reflected in the lyrics, and gives those listening an idea of where these musicians come from and how their upbringing is reflected in their music.

We start things off with "Love Like Jesus", a rapturous, driven tune with a strong musical state of mind that shows everyone who Scott & Joel Owen are, two brothers who have a passion for what they believe in but don't force it down people's throats and express their sensibilities through the power of music. "Gonna Let You" is a pure, unadulterated folk tune with a strong lyrical framework built into the mainframe that allows the instrumentation to come out freely and is not forced out by any means and lets it do its own thing naturally. "Fall Apart" is my favorite song off the effort that features Scott & Joel's vocals working their magic yet again, but this time at a much higher level than the prior two tracks and with a stronger musical connection that allows you to be honed in with what they're feeling at the same time the instruments are being played, and gives you an immediate vision of what these guys really are like and how their musical kinship has evolved over the years. We begin to wrap things up with "When You're Holding Me", a downtempo, piano laden tune that showcases a different side of the duo that we haven't had the opportunity to experience much on this record, and works to a great degree here with the soft laced melodies working their way in quite well with Joel & Scott's tremendous vocal ranges. "Make Me Whole" concludes matters here with a soft, harmonic number featuring Joel & Scott's vocal abilities once again proving their mettle as they've done all throughout the record and gives folks a chance to retrace their steps from earlier in the record, and see what different musical soundscapes we've encountered in our journey home.

In conclusion, a decent effort from PawnShop kings, a group that are much more than just a Christian group if you listen closely, they are two brothers who thoroughly enjoy what they do for a living, and that is making honest and heartfelt music.

                                                                                                                               EP Score: 3/5

Track Listing:

1. Love Like Jesus
2. Gonna Let You
3. Fall Apart
4. When You're Holding Me
5. Make Me Whole

Liz Lawrence Releases Music Video For "Health & Safety"

Burgeoning U.K. singer-songwriter Liz Lawrence has just released her music video for "Health & Safety" from her forthcoming EP due out later on this year. The inventive clip features a compilation of random clips interspersed throughout that provides for a thorough and enjoyable viewing experience that coincides well with the laid-back and serene nature of her song,  and has that unsung characteristic to it that sets it apart quickly from the others and puts it on a pedestal all its own. Definitely one of the most enjoyable tracks of the year thus far, and Liz is one artist to keep an eye out throughout the year.

For more information on Liz Lawrence, 'Like' her on Facebook here and follow her on Twitter at this location over here.

Those Mockingbirds Kick Off Tour Today, To Play Middle East On March 9th

Montclair, NJ's own Those Mockingbirds are kicking off their tour today with a live performance on WDHA 105.5FM. The band recently won the mtvU Freshman competition which places the band in full rotation on the channel over the next couple of months. The band is also gearing up to release an album in the summertime that was recorded by Dean Baltulonis who also worked with Arctic Monkeys, and will be touring even more extensively after the new disc is released. The band also has coverage in this month's edition of Alternative Press and are available for spins in all AMI Jukeboxes nationwide throughout the month as well.

The band will be stopping by The Middle East on March 9th alongside Friendly People, a mainstay here on the site who are amazing musicians and terrific human beings as well. Here is their full tour itinerary:

2/18 WDHA 105.5FM -  Live Performance
2/19 Atlantic City, NJ - Le Grand Formage
2/20 Reading, PA - Reverb
2/21 Campbell Hill, NY - The Venue
2/22 Brooklyn, NY - Spike Hill
3/6 Hartford, CT - Webster Underground
3/7 Pittsfield, MA - Casey's
3/8 Providence, RI - Dive Bar
3/9 Boston, MA - Middle East
3/16 Middletown, NY - Sounds Asylum
3/27 Dunellen, NJ - Roxy & Duke's
4/9 Washington, DC - The Black Cat
4/11 Columbus, OH - Kobo
4/12 Buffalo, NY - The Forum

For more information on Those Mockingbirds, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter at this location here.

Sugar Bomb To Release New Single "Kiss Me" on March 4th

Boston's own Sugar Bomb are gearing up to release their brand new single titled "Kiss Me" on March 4th. The band is currently based in Brooklyn but calls Boston their homeland, and their new song is an infectious, groove laden affair with a non-stop punk edge to them that gives them attitude and a certain name cache amongst concertgoers who will fall for them almost instantaneously and their infectious tunes. I really enjoyed the new track, as it evokes the musical characteristics that they've meticulously set out to mold while in the studio creating this song and all their other outstanding jams. What is even more important is that they have a local connection which seals the deal on them and immediately has me tuned in.

For more information on Sugar Bomb, 'Like' them on Facebook here and follow them on Twitter right here. For those living in the NYC area, they will be performing a show at Arlene's Grocery the night of the single's release on 3/4 so make it your mission to attend the show that night, regardless of the weather conditions which will not halt your mission to see this incredible on the rise act.

Artist Spotlight: Rust Belt Lights

Starting off another week with a brand new edition of Artist Spotlight! Today, we head to Buffalo, NY birthplace of the wings where we come across the ever vibrant sounds of Rust Belt Lights. The band consists of Zach Dietsch on lead vocals, Pat McAndrew on guitar, Cody K. on bass, Tom Mayer on guitar, and Brochure on drums. The band's sound is reminiscent of the DIY movement that I grew up listening to high school, with elements of Brand New and Taking Back Sunday thrown in for good measure to balance the sound out and accentuate the high energy vocals that are present at every turn throughout their music. I found out about them through their recent performance through Audiotree, which has become my go-to source in finding the newest acts that are popping up outside the region, and it has given me a great barometer as to the depth of talent that is just outside the doorstep, and these guys are a perfect example of that diamond in the rough and have that extra spark that sets them apart from the other acts currently entrenched in the scene right now. A terrific up and coming act that is worthy of a spot here on the site. Some recommended tracks to have a listen at include "Haters Get Hated" and "With No Hesitation".

For more information on Rust Belt Lights, head on over to their Facebook page located here and give them a 'Like' to show your appreciation for their music and all that they do. Give the band a follow on Twitter over here and stay in touch with the guys directly to see when they may be stopping by your area sometime. Head on over to their Bandcamp site right here to listen to all of their music that they have released thus far.

Product Review: Sonos Play:1 Wireless Speaker System

The Play: 1 system is Sonos' newest and most affordable speaker. The set delivers crystal clear sound at an affordable price, without risking space in your house to put the speakers, or your wallet for that matter.

The speakers are slightly larger than I imagined, easily towering over my old Jam wireless speaker that I used on a regular basis. The set up for the speakers was a breeze, and had a handy locking mechanism for the power cord that prevents tangling and allow you to tuck the cords behind tables or other furniture, just allowing you to see the speaker itself plain and simple as intended without having to look at cords sticking out all over the place. The speaker works seamlessly via the Sonos Controller app available for iPhone, Android, and a host of other mobile operating platforms that fulfills the musical needs of all junkies out there who are constantly roaming around and want to control music wherever they are. Music can be controlled via a host of services, including iTunes, Spotify, Rhapsody, Napster, and the new Beats Music service, which is what I used to play music on this device. One thing I enjoyed about the device was the ability to add songs to the queue and adjust the order you want the songs to play, allowing you to play the tracks in any order you choose and skip over the ones you want to come back to later.

The sound on this speaker was purely sublime, delivering a crystal clear, streamlined sound that filled the entire room. It also allowed me to control music from two different zones in the house, I had one set up in the dining room and the other in my bedroom, and I could control songs from different endpoints in the house, creating a custom level of musical satisfaction and giving the power of choice right in my fingertips. One thing I would've liked from this device that I've seen from others is the portability function and internal battery. While this device is intended for use inside your house, I like the option of listening outside and the ease of use function without being confined to cords or worrying about a deluge of water suddenly converging overhead and having to unplug and cover your speaker before it gets ruined.

All in all, the Sonos Play: 1 is a formidable choice in the ever expanding wireless speaker arena, and delivers a high quality sound with the ease of use and the ability to listen to music from any source imaginable. A terrific choice for unwinding in your place and controlling the music wherever you are.

                                                                                                                                Product Score: 4/5