Within the Rhode Island “Local Music Scene,” there are a number of small sections catering to specific styles of music. There's a noise rock scene, a pop punk scene, a hardcore scene, and many many more. Among all the clutter of musicians and their various musical styles, there is a small group of bands who play Punk and Ska. They almost all share the same group of fans, and play at the same shows. Among these bands is where you'll find Soundoff. Soundoff is a high-energy high-fun punk band with music that is rivaled in energy only by their live performances.
Soundoff has been playing shows around Providence for almost 6 years now, and they're only getting better. They released a few new songs this summer just before frontman Eric left for a semester abroad in England. You can check those out at www.facebook.com/123soundoff and download them for free. They've been starting to gain a lot of popularity in the local punk scene since this summer, and have even had airtime on local Alternative radio station WBRU with their fan favorite “401 Pride.” If you like Punk/Ska, you should definitely check out this punk rock trio!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Speaker For The Dead "I Hope You Have Fun While You Sleep" Album Review
Under normal circumstances, Speaker For The Dead is a solo project of Worcester, MA local self proclaimed “folk-punk/hired-gun/community-organizer/fledgling poet/queer/DIY-idealist” Greg Mckillop who usually plays acoustic folk music. Although he seems to have changed things up a little for his newest record “I Hope You Have Fun While You Sleep,” beginning the record with instrumental track “Journal” which falls somewhere between post-rock, emo, and folk. The rest of the record follows suit as with songs landing in various spots of the music spectrum between folk, emo, post-rock, and indie, including a great cover of “Pile of Dirt” by Allenby Beardsly. I asked him about his reason for the recent genre jump and he said “Ever since I first started playing guitar everything I ever worked on was meant to be full band. All the bands I listened to were rock bands and come to think of it I never really intentionally listened to acoustic music. Most of my earlier stuff is actually full band songs recorded acoustic because that is really all I had access to. But then as I played more and more by myself I ended up playing with more and more solo folk players and my music got introduced to that line of songwriting. So surprisingly, by the time I got to my later albums and started playing full band, the songs were all written to be solo folk songs, but with other layers thrown over it.”
Overall, I would give this record a 4.5/5 simply because I wish there was more of it! I also got to ask Greg about other aspects of his music career, and he is wonderfully enlightening to talk to. When I asked about his reason for becoming such an active advocate of his community music scene, he said “I started getting involved with booking shows and open mics because point blank, growing up NOBODY would book bands that I was in. It was incredibly hard. Hell, even up until last year I had a hard time getting gigs. I don't think it should be that hard if some kid has a band with 4 songs and wants to play a show for ten of their friends. So I started booking shows. If the cool kids wont let you sit at their table, build your own table, right?” He spends nearly half of his time on the road, touring all across the U.S. Living an almost nomadic lifestyle. He makes his entire income off of his cd sales and donations. A bold lifestyle that requires true dedication and willpower which not many people seem to have anymore. Greg is both an amazing musician, and an amazing person. You can listen to his new record “I Hope You Have Fun While You Sleep” below.
Overall, I would give this record a 4.5/5 simply because I wish there was more of it! I also got to ask Greg about other aspects of his music career, and he is wonderfully enlightening to talk to. When I asked about his reason for becoming such an active advocate of his community music scene, he said “I started getting involved with booking shows and open mics because point blank, growing up NOBODY would book bands that I was in. It was incredibly hard. Hell, even up until last year I had a hard time getting gigs. I don't think it should be that hard if some kid has a band with 4 songs and wants to play a show for ten of their friends. So I started booking shows. If the cool kids wont let you sit at their table, build your own table, right?” He spends nearly half of his time on the road, touring all across the U.S. Living an almost nomadic lifestyle. He makes his entire income off of his cd sales and donations. A bold lifestyle that requires true dedication and willpower which not many people seem to have anymore. Greg is both an amazing musician, and an amazing person. You can listen to his new record “I Hope You Have Fun While You Sleep” below.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Hour 24
Hour 24 is a new band from Michigan that combines the guitar driven heavy metal style of bands like avenged sevenfold with the female vocal centered alternative style of bands like paramore and versa emerge to make music that will make you wish your stereo went to 11. “We like to write songs that are really catchy but also complex. We feel that the heavy guitar parts with female vocals really stands out from other music and the guitar solos really add a unique touch.”
But Hour 24 isn't the first band that their members have been in, according to the band, “ Dan and Cody had been friends for years before the band formed and played guitar together in a classic rock cover band. After that band, Dan joined another band with our singer, Rachel. About a year after that band broke up, Dan, Cody, and Rachel formed Hour 24 with Marcus and Luke.”
Hour 24 is fairly new, having only been around for a year, but they work together very well and bring together all of their seperate influences into their music. “All of us share musical interests but are also individually influenced by different styles. Cody listens to a lot of hardcore bands such as Of Mice and Men; Dan, Cody, and Rachel also like a lot of older rock groups like Guns N' Roses, and The Beatles; and Luke likes Ska, and funk music.
If you dig alternative music that's melodic, yet heavy, head over to facebook.com/hour24band and check out Hour 24.
Hour 24 is fairly new, having only been around for a year, but they work together very well and bring together all of their seperate influences into their music. “All of us share musical interests but are also individually influenced by different styles. Cody listens to a lot of hardcore bands such as Of Mice and Men; Dan, Cody, and Rachel also like a lot of older rock groups like Guns N' Roses, and The Beatles; and Luke likes Ska, and funk music.
If you dig alternative music that's melodic, yet heavy, head over to facebook.com/hour24band and check out Hour 24.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
LCF Interview
The music of LCF is unique to say the least. He combines elements of Folk, Punk, Garage rock, and Indie to make music that sounds like it came straight from Scott Pilgrim VS. The World. If I had to describe it, I guess I'd say it falls somewhere between early Beck and Readiohead, but there's no real easy way to categorize the music of LCF, so you'll have to check it out yourself at www.facebook.com/LCFMUSIC. I recently had an opportunity to ask him a few questions about his music.
Your music is pretty unique. What types of different influences do you have and how to they come together in your music?
My musical influences...man. I could go on and on. My main influences, are Nirvana, Radiohead, The Beatles, Neutral Milk Hotel, Pavement, and probably the Pixies.
I'm a son of my city though. Dayton's local music has really changed my life. The Motel Beds, Shrug, Smug Brothers, Astro Fang, King Elk...I could go on and on about all the local acts that
just really rock. One day, I'm hoping I can jump up into their ranks.
How long have you been playing music? How did you get into writing music?
I've been playing music for about 2.5 years. I started writing about 3 weeks after I started. My songwriting was never anything really decent though until I got
on my own, and just started exploring my thoughts and such. Nowadays, I'm much more proud of my music, than ever.
Have you ever played in any bands? What do you like more or less about playing solo as opposed to playing in a band?
LCF itself, was actually a band when it first started. Playing solo, I like that I get my very own, unfiltered ideas out into the world.
Bad parts for that are: No actual "shows". Have to stick to open mics and the like for now. And having to pay for EVERYTHING can be a pain sometimes.
What is the future for your music? Any big releases or shows coming up?
I plan on actually hitting up a studio soon. Hopefully put out an EP of some sort, maybe do a few shows around the Dayton area.
But I never really know. I've always got a trick up my sleeve, and I like it that way.
Your music is pretty unique. What types of different influences do you have and how to they come together in your music?
My musical influences...man. I could go on and on. My main influences, are Nirvana, Radiohead, The Beatles, Neutral Milk Hotel, Pavement, and probably the Pixies.
I'm a son of my city though. Dayton's local music has really changed my life. The Motel Beds, Shrug, Smug Brothers, Astro Fang, King Elk...I could go on and on about all the local acts that
just really rock. One day, I'm hoping I can jump up into their ranks.
How long have you been playing music? How did you get into writing music?
I've been playing music for about 2.5 years. I started writing about 3 weeks after I started. My songwriting was never anything really decent though until I got
on my own, and just started exploring my thoughts and such. Nowadays, I'm much more proud of my music, than ever.
Have you ever played in any bands? What do you like more or less about playing solo as opposed to playing in a band?
LCF itself, was actually a band when it first started. Playing solo, I like that I get my very own, unfiltered ideas out into the world.
Bad parts for that are: No actual "shows". Have to stick to open mics and the like for now. And having to pay for EVERYTHING can be a pain sometimes.
What is the future for your music? Any big releases or shows coming up?
I plan on actually hitting up a studio soon. Hopefully put out an EP of some sort, maybe do a few shows around the Dayton area.
But I never really know. I've always got a trick up my sleeve, and I like it that way.
Kid Disaster EP Review
Kid Disaster's debut EP kicks off with a great opening track “Paperweight” which begins with a surge of power that doesn't cease throughout the entire EP. They include everything a good modern Pop Punk record should have; energetic instrumentals, powerful guitars, impressive harmonies, and catchy vocal melodies that will be stuck in your head for days. This EP is consistently good from start to finish. 5 solid songs that are great by any standards. Though they stuck with a traditional modern Pop Punk style on this EP, I had a chance to talk with one band member who told me that they're currently working on their second release which will showcase more musical depth and different genres. Be on the lookout for that next month.
Since forming, Kid Disaster has made some great strides in gaining popularity in the MA scene. They had the opportunity to work with producer John Naclerio (Brand New, My Chemical Romance) on their EP and they even got to play at the Mansfield date of warped tour 2011. If you want to support them, you can hear their music on their facebook page www.facebook.com/kiddisaster. If you like bands such as Cartel, and Taking Back Sunday, you'll love Kid Disaster.
Since forming, Kid Disaster has made some great strides in gaining popularity in the MA scene. They had the opportunity to work with producer John Naclerio (Brand New, My Chemical Romance) on their EP and they even got to play at the Mansfield date of warped tour 2011. If you want to support them, you can hear their music on their facebook page www.facebook.com/kiddisaster. If you like bands such as Cartel, and Taking Back Sunday, you'll love Kid Disaster.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Send The City
Send The City is an alternative band from VA that will leave your mind- and your speakers- blown. Although STC has many obvious musical influenced in their music such as alternative, pop punk, and hardcore bands such as A Day To Remeber and Conditions, they also have a large range of other music influences which are incorperated into their music. Rhythm guitarist Alex sites bands such as Fleet Foxes and Rodrigo y Gabriela as influences on his playing style. Send The City has been a band almost since they all started playing music. According to Guitarist Andrew, “As of this month it's been a whopping 4 years [since the formation of STC]! A lot of that time was also spent improving our skill on our instruments, focusing in on our style, changing our band name twice, and just progressively getting better and better.”
Recently, STC has been gaining a lot of popularity in their scene. Lead guitarist Andrew says “ Each day I look at our facebook page, the likes and the positive comments just keep piling up.” They have 2 Eps out on Itunes and a new one coming out this February. If you're into alternative, pop punk, or hardcore, check out Send The City. http://www.facebook.com/sendthecity
Psycho Circus
"I wont let this bring me down" seems to be the modo of new pop punk powerhouse Psycho Circus that has taken the Rhode Island music scene by storm in the past year.They fuse together upbeat intros, catchy choruses, powerful verses, and earth shattering breakdowns to create a unique style of pop punk that is quickly earning them fans all over New England. Front man Chris Piquette, has been an advocate of the Rhode Island scene for years, owning and operating No Boundaries Studio in Providence. No Boundaries started as a small studio set up in his parents basement when he was in high school and has rapidly evolved into a very successful business catering to bands of all genres. They back up their music with fun, energetic live performances that will leave you in awe. You can listen to and download their music at http://www.facebook.com/psychocircusri and check out their music video for "Decisively Indecisive" Below.
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