New Album Wednesday with Dan M | Leftover Crack – Constructs Of The State (2015)

24-Feb-2016 By Leave a Comment

Leftover Crack – Constructs Of The State (2015)

Leftover Crack rose from the ashes of the mighty band Choking Victim, and mainly consists of ex-Choking Victim guitarist and vocalist Scott “Stza” Sturgeon and friends. Of the curious band name, Stza once said that, since they were leftover C.V. tunes, they were essentially, well, leftover crack. Currently signed to the FatWreckChords label, this is their third release.

BACKGROUND | LOC are a band who have never shied away from controversy; most of their songs involve combating political and societal injustice with a dash of comedy thrown in for good measure to lighten the mood. LOC was part of the late 90s punk era when the genre as we knew it was evolving in many different directions: pop punk was dying and the emo/post hardcore scene was on the rise. Back in a time when the Warped Tour was predominantly 90s punk bands I remember hearing LOC among many others.

They stood out because they were experimental, pushing the boundaries of punk music.

BREAKDOWN | Leftover Crack’s first album in 11 years leaps out of the gates with “Archaic Subjugation”, a full metal assault of a song that is over as soon as it starts.

Track “Don’t Shoot” has a very familiar sounding riff for fans of this band. It’s a good example of their sound that is not extremely hard or soft.

The aptly titled “Love and Heartache” is as close as you will get to a 90s pop punk number. I didn’t like it at first, but it’s grown on me.

“Slaves to the Throne” is another short but fierce metallic bullet that has Stza spitting venom about how the world slaves away for the benefit of a few. “Corrupt Vision” has more of a ska element to it, but quickly turns into a blazing fast metal song in between the ska parts. This one is a good example of the Crack Rock Steady Ska sound that was more prominent in their earlier material.

“Last Legs” is one of my favorites. It’s probably their softest song and starts out like a folksy ballad. The thing I really like about it is how it starts off slow and takes its time building up. It never gets super crazy, but the lyrics go with the mood and shifts of the song perfectly.

“Poliamor Fiesta Crack” is a really fun song combating sexism and is the third and final ska-tinged one. This song also has one of the best features from an unnamed female vocalist who appear on songs throughout the album. The opening of this song almost has a Mariachi feel to it which I dig.

“Amanecer De Los Muertos” takes a break from serious political commentary and talks about their life on tour, squats, and playing weird venues. It’s pretty upbeat and nice.

They finish the album with all guns blazing on “The War At Home” which is a call to arms to end all wars and take the world back through revolution before it’s too late. Even though the song is fast and upbeat they choose to tone down the guitars a bit as far as heaviness goes and to add keyboards. While I don’t know if I would like it if they made an entire album in this style, it works well for this song, because the lyrics are front and center and I am pretty sure that’s what they wanted to showcase in this song. It’s a great one; another of my favorites.

The official close of this third installment of the LOC series is a song called “Untitled instrumental”. It’s mostly a folksy sound outro that really doesn’t add or take anything away from the album. It’s oddly calming, if we’re being honest.

FINAL THOUGHTS | As a fan who has listened to all three albums in their body of work I feel like their debut album was more ska-heavy and their sophomore album was more punk/folk-oriented while still keeping their experimentation and edge. To me, this latest album mixes a lot of what I liked from their first two and keeps it really fresh. There’s enough diversity here to keep you interested. Run time on this baby stays under an hour so you get maximum bang for your buck with little-to-no filler. If you like this band or this type of music in general, you will definitely like Constructs Of The State. BONUS: They are really fun to see live and have spawned many side projects worth checking out, including but not limited to Morning Glory and F-Minus.

I give this album m/ m/ m/ m/ out of 5 horns.

The Three P’s of Recording

18-Feb-2016 By Leave a Comment

Last week, I went into White Room Studios in Austin, Texas to begin work on Of The Sun’s new EP, Before A Human Path. This marks possibly the 17th anniversary of the first time I’ve ever “laid down tracks”, as they say. While most of my experience in recording has been in either makeshift or home studios, I’ve done more tracking than I can even remember, and the same principles apply to whether you’re making your first demo or you’ve been invited for a guest session at Abbey Road.

P #1 : Be prepared. Practice. Practice. Practice. If your art means anything to you at all, be sure that you know how you want it to sound and that you can play it the way you want it to sound. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a crust punk band that’s supposed to sound crappy; practice your crappy-sounding part until you can make it sound the way it’s supposed to…every time.

I’ve seen the nicest engineer I’ve ever met turn into a fire-breathing dragon because the band he was recording couldn’t nail a riff in one of their songs, and they “didn’t know what the problem was”. After take 100-something failed and they started in with their excuses, my friend cut them off and said, “Well maybe you should go home and practice!”

It doesn’t matter how much you’re paying for studio time: if you can’t play your song right, no producer can help you.

P #2: Be patient. I know that time is money, recording doesn’t come cheap, and the pressure is on, but if you’ve taken care of the first step, then only a modicum of patience should be required in the first place.

If you or another member of the band fall off the metronome on your first few tries, relax: it’s cool. You can chalk it up to nerves. And it’s okay to be nervous, but you can’t let that shake your resolve to make the record sound as perfect as it can.

If need be, don’t be afraid to take a break and clear your head. Relax. The old adage that says, “You can’t rush art” does have it’s merits.

P #3: I would have to point to persistence.

This is where the other two also come into play. You’ve practiced your parts ad infinitum, and you’ve sat through your bandmates’ tracking sessions, and now it’s your turn. When I was younger, I used to take pride in being able to go in and knock out my bass tracks in one day, most tracks taking one or two takes. But when the final product came out, I would always hear parts that I could have played better. Don’t settle for good enough.

The mix of performance anxiety and pressure to not rack up an exorbitant studio bill will be in the back of your mind, of course. Yet don’t let that dissuade you from making the best use of your time. If there’s something just a little off about your last attempt, keep going. Your best take could be your next.

7 Inescapable Things You’ll Find at Every Typical Music Festival

10-Feb-2016 By Leave a Comment

Heading to a music festival this year? Be prepared to encounter some weird, wacky and wonderful spectacles. Certain trends seem to pop up year after year – by now, music festivals wouldn’t feel complete without them. While many could be seen as examples of how strange we’ve all become, not all are crazy premeditated stunts. Some things are just inescapable.

Shoulder Rides

It seems as though sitting on somebody’s shoulders is an essential part of the festival experience. This may have been promoted by TV coverage that seems to make ‘human chairs’ festival icons.

Good Points: More chances to get your face on TV; better view of the acts onstage.

Bad Points: A nightmare for those behind you.

Warm Drinks

Not talking about tea or mulled cider here! The warm weather seems to play havoc with refreshments. Drink cups emblazoned with “best served chilled” have no hope once festival season rocks up.

Good Points: It’s still a drink.

Bad Points: It tastes like an evil genius has set a plan in motion.

Tents

If you were surveyed for a family TV quiz show and asked to name ‘Things You’d Find at a Festival’, chances are tents would be pretty high up in the responses. If you haven’t been to a festival before, you won’t believe your eyes when you see the sheer amount of canvas sleepers that appear before you. Be ready to sleep virtually head to head with the guy next door.

Good Points: You need a tent to sleep (or not) and store your possessions; being so close to others makes socialising and meeting new people a doddle.

Bad Points: Claustrophobia Central; sleeping next to a canvas covered toe is still sleeping next to a toe.

Merchandise

T-shirts, vests, hats, bags; anything you can think of is being sold (and bought) onsite. Some people kit themselves out with one of everything while others look on in disgust.

Good Points: An everlasting reminder of a great festival; could come in handy if your clothes fall victim to the elements.

Bad Points: May end up looking like a walking advertisement; probably not going to touch this stuff ever again once you get home.

Fashion Statements

You name it, it’s probably been a fad at some stage. Face paints, fedoras, headbands and even hairstyles have come and gone down the years. Even religious items, such as rosary beads and bindis have become mainstream – often to mixed reception.

Good Points: It’s fun to dress up – even if it means following a crowd; adds to the feel of everybody having fun.

Bad Points: Looking at those photos a few years down the line and wondering why anybody would ever want to wear hair beads.

Wristbands

Wristbands are an essential piece of a festival-goer’s kit. They’re essential to the whole party and some even create custom wristbands to spice things up.

Good Points: Eternal memorabilia; custom wristbands add a sense of personality; seem to last forever even when untreated.

Bad Points: If left too long can become a hive of bacterial activity; some people like to show off their wristbands six months after the fact.

Queues

Whether it’s for an overpriced burger or a race to get to the front of the stage, chances are you’re going to have to wait – either that or unceremoniously barge your way through (not recommended).

Good Points: Gets you excited about what’s coming up; a bit of quality time with friends while nothing is happening.

Bad Points: Who likes waiting?

MY FIRST TIME: youbloom | HEADROOM #12 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival

08-Dec-2015 By Leave a Comment

The last installment of HEADROOM for the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival goes live tomorrow. The very next day, we clean the rust off our dancing shoes (and dance moves) and make tracks for northeast Los Angeles, where three of Pasadena’s finest bars will host over fifty of the choicest independent bands and solo artists in the world.

They’re coming from Chile. Ireland. Haiti. Hell, there’s even a Canuck in the mix, along with homegrown sounds from states far and wide.

Here at youbloomHQ, it’s regrettable to see the end of what has turned out to be a lively, illuminating outing on a kind of heavy metal hay wagon with bockety wheels and a passed out driver. HEADROOM is a unique space where artists who will be sharing stages also get to share stories about the one thing bringing you all together: sweet, sweet tacos.

Wait, what?

It’s not tacos??

Well, what on earth could possibly…can somebody get our source on the line?

I swear, one of these days…OH. Right. Riiight. It’s music. I knew that, think I was just hungry. Can somebody get a taco delivery on the line?

On the reals, though, it’s been dope. Much obliged to all the artists who participated in this digital confession box. (I mean, if you hadn’t, we’d have bugged your phones and gossiped about you anyway, but high five! You saved us an absolute fortune and raised eyebrows from the guy at the electronics store. So it’s win-win!)

This batch of performers have some pretty insightful things to say about the first time music made an impression on their tiny spongey minds – including one guy getting smothered in the name of soul (hint: it’s about boobies). Way to take one for the team, brother.

We’ll leave you to your reading, friends, and thank you once again for making HEADROOM LA ’15 the most fun yet.

Don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for the final goss, give us the thumb of approval on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Soundcloud, and, of course, get on down to the fest. It starts Thursday. Don’t miss it or you’ll be eating your sweet sweet tacos alone. Take it from someone who knows.

Kevin Proctor (songwriter/keys/guitar, Direct Divide), MY FIRST TIME: “I grew up in a sports dominated family that loved football. Every Sunday, football would be on and when the afternoon games were over, my family would blast some classic rock and alt rock as we wound down the day. Although I didn’t begin playing an instrument until after high school, hard rock and alternative 90s rock were always a part of me.”

Razz: (songwriter/vox/violin, Direct Divide), MY FIRST TIME: “My parents sang to my brother and I every night from the time we were born until we were teenagers! My dad still laughs at the fact that “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” by the Beatles was one of my favorite songs.”

It’s a curious thing, the electric violin. At once impossible to ignore and signature (what would The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly” be without it?), it’s a rarity in rock and pop music; it’s full range of sounds as yet uncharted in the more well-known genres. Putting it front and center are what Direct Divide do, which is both brave and intriguing, their unique sound complemented by tight rhythms, searing vocals, and intelligently placed guitar melodies. For fans of: Lourds, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Andrew Bird’s darker stuff

Julian Schonscheck (guitar/keys, DENMANTAU), MY FIRST TIME: “I remember (doing) a tennis exchange with families in France. My family and I lived with a French family for a week. In the evenings when we finished playing tennis a few of our hosts took out their acoustic guitars and played wonderful cover songs; I was very fascinated by it. It was the first time I experienced live music and it was like magic for me. I immediately knew that I wanted to play guitar too, but my hands were still way too small at just six years old or so. It took me around three more years to really start playing the guitar and I’ve never stopped.”

They arrived in Los Angeles on a mission: to be the biggest band in the world. German born and bred, they’ve honed their chops and are stopping at nothing to share their tight, bohemian, insanely danceable music with every pair of ears from here to the moon. Set to be a highlight show at youbloom LA, you really need to see these guys. For fans of: the good Pearl Jam stuff, Jack Penate, Paolo Nutini

Anwar (guitar, Feli and the LemonShakers) MY FIRST TIME: “I remember going on fishing trips with my dad when I was about four or five years old. He would always be playing some Jimi Hendrix and old school R&B. It wasn’t until around 14 that I actually began playing guitar. After seeing one of my friends’ cousins play, I was hooked.”

They sound like sunshine and cocktails, and have no shortage of musical chops, with caressing vocals, dreamy pop guitar melodies, and infectious, hip shaking rhythms. Even the empty spaces have style. One to watch. For fans of: Goodbye Chanel, Bombay Bicycle Club, Blondie

Robert Blue Moon (poet/emcee/other vox, Crvscxnt Moon), MY FIRST TIME: “When I was young I heard The Fugees “Ready or Not”. (It) made a huge impression on me; by far it’s the song that drove me towards music the most. It had such a groove to it; I couldn’t help but try and learn the words so I could sing and rap along with it. A few years later two songs hit it out of the park for me: Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” and Nas’ “I Can”. These two hip-hop artists showed the world that they were here to stay.”

Whip smart and acerbic, yet feel-good and uplifting, this is a group with cunning musical abilities and a tangible desire to venture beyond the well-tread environs of intellectual hip-hop. Crvscxnt Moon blend soul and gospel into a refreshing helping of music with something to discuss. For fans of: J. Cole, Blackalicious, Mr. Lif

BJ Smith (singer, composer, soul man), MY FIRST TIME: “When I was about four years old I went to a private school. I had a preschool teacher who used to play the piano and sing to us. She was a red-haired, well-built woman (I wasn’t aware of that kind of thing at the time, but I do recall every time she would hug me after I sang while she was seated at the piano, her large breasts darn near smothered me!) She used take me to convalescent hospitals, churches and other functions to sing. I remember (the) first big song she taught me: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”. I remember how happy these elderly people were to be entertained by a cute little boy with a voice and a big smile.”

Cool, clever, and impassioned, the masterly BJ Smith has the kind of industry chops you hear whispered about across the bartop when he walks into the room. He produces. He sings and plays. He writes songs. He tours with top brass; picks his own band members; slides an R&B song your way like passing a love note. He’s impeccable. Don’t miss him. For fans of: Luther Vandross, Freddie Jackson, your own heartbeat

BEFORE I DIE: youbloom | HEADROOM # 10 with Featured Artists from the youbloomLA Music Festival

30-Nov-2015 By 1 Comment

“Before I die, I need to make sure I properly load the dishwasher, choose a stable career in something like insurance, and be in bed by 10pm every night.” SAID NO MUSICIAN EVER.

Goals like these, while perhaps completely acceptable for Arnold Accountant over there, lack a certain…je ne sais rah! for the discerning musician. I mean, sure, you’ve got aims. They’re just less…traditional. Writing hit songs and playing Wembley? Now you’re talking.

Whatever instrument you play – whatever your genre as an artist – you’ve invested a lot of time and energy already to get where you are. So the things that make your list are real-deal, life-is-short kinda things. Unless you’re writing the blues, there’s no time for regrets, and only one way to go, which is, of course, up.

Jim Priest (singer/songwriter):

1| Perform my musical adaptation of the Upanishads on a mellotron. (I haven’t read the Upanishads and I can’t play the mellotron, but this is about “before I die” so I think I still have time.

2| Make the bartender at The Viper Room cry with my music. Any bartender at the Viper Room. If I can wrench a tear from one of those heartless bastards, I’ll know I’m an artist of the highest calibre.

3| Busk on the streets of Hollywood. Oh wait, I’ve done that. Nothing says “musical integrity” like getting chased across Sunset Blvd. by a rent-a-cop. Before I die I’d like to busk somewhere less repressive – like Riyadh, maybe…

Hypnotic acoustic guitar meets wrong side of the tracks storytelling, leading us down a dark alley of spoken-word intrigue; it’s tangible, like a newspaper headline – we wonder where it all went wrong. Jagged harmonicas tear in, reminding us that we’re only listeners, but we’re involved, guilty by association. Jim Priest is not to be missed. For fans of: Tom Waits, Loudoun Wainwright III, Sage Francis

BJ Smith (singer, composer, soul man):

1| Motivate, encourage, and unite people across the world, on some level, through my music. You can be at a festival, a concert, a club, or just riding in your car, and whether you’re familiar with the material or not, masses of people will come together and unite, party, or groove to music. Music has been used throughout the history of mankind to bring us together. Whether it’s been to signal ancient tribes for war, a feast, or a celebration, music is a universal language second only to love! Our heart produces a musical beat as we live and breath; it’s within all of us.

2| I want people to reflect and give love a chance through our worldly camaraderie within music.

3| Hopefully I can become an “influencer” to future generations and gain acknowledgement and respect from my musical peers. Being able to inspire people to want to sing, make music, or at least respect and love each other a little more, can hopefully touch the mind, body, heart, and soul of others with my voice, my lyrics, and my message. To inspire something positive, or help someone get through a moment, or remember a unique moment creates infinite emotional connections. Any other rewards bestowed upon me and additional financial security are just extra blessings!

Victoria Scott (lead vox, The Blue Dolphins):

1| I want to play Glastonbury with The Blue Dolphins.

2| I also want to play some mega venues around the world, including Mexico City.

3| I’d like to be a part of a history or humanity-changing concert, like Live Aid in the 80’s. I would like to write a sweet and sensitive song that connects with a lot of people all around the world.

The once acoustic-driven sound of The Blue Dolphins has evolved, blending clear, pretty vocals with south-of-the-border, surfy sentiments, and something altogether harder to pigeonhole. Unabashedly succinct, feel-good tunes from a duo who, from the sounds of it, are just getting started seeing what they can do. For fans of: The Sleepovers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, a sweeter, less fuzzy Mika Miko

Anthony Greene aka. Prada Gino (fresh rhymes):

1| I have always told myself that before I can even begin to look at success, I need at least three Grammys.

2| I need to have at least five platinum singles as well.

3| Major sponsorship from a leading company (like Nike, Adidas or Prada)

4| Perform at a major awards show and also host one as well!

5| Breakthrough artist of the year at least twice.

6| Be inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame!

Yes, I have lots of career goals, but they are all possible.

Sincere prose is woven through thoughtfully chosen samples and surprisingly sultry and classy beats. Belongs on a list of the top intellectual rappers in the game. Hometown Chicago oughtta be proud. For fans of: Kid Cudi, Illogic, Eyedea & Abilities

Matthew Irwin (rhythm guitar/lead vox, Foreign Affairs NI): My biggest musical goals are quite simple! I want to do this forever! I don’t care on how large of a scale! I want to wake up in the morning and the only thing I have to worry about is music. I won’t be happy until I’m at a place in my life where I can make enough to survive off (of) music alone!

That said, some nice things I’d like to happen:

1| I’d love to support an amazing band on a tour.

2| I’d like to play even more amazing festivals like SXSW and Reading and Leeds.

3| Finally, I’d like to record an album with a musical inspiration of mine, like Billie Joe Armstrong or Justin Pierre.
An ardent, sincere take on a well-loved genre. Sounds are clean and tight. There’s energy and storytelling in spades. Foreign Affairs NI show up with their hearts on their sleeves, ready to sleep on your kitchen floor if you’ll let them play a gig. This is how the best pop punk should be. For fans of: The Ataris, You Know The Drill, The Get Up Kids

Featured Artists from the youbloomLA 2015 Music Festival, hitting Northeast Los Angeles this Dec 10.11.12. Click the link for full lineup and ticket info.