Saint's 7 with Desperate Endeavour

17-year-old Katie Marie has always had the passion of music living and breathing deep inside her. In the summer of 2009, she decided it was time to enter a Desperate Endeavour and make her dreams a reality. Don't let her outer exterior fool you, this petite Fayetteville North Carolinian packs a mighty powerful voice. (They always said good things come in small packages.)

The dictionary definition of “Desperate Endeavour” roughly means a dangerously reckless attempt to achieve a goal. What exactly does Desperate Endeavour mean to you? How does it relate to your music career?

To me, a Desperate Endeavour is not necessarily a dangerous and reckless attempt to achieve something, but more so the journey that you find yourself on to get where you want to be.. And how willing you are to let that journey carry you where it needs to. I think a “Desperate” Endeavour is how far you are willing to push yourself, and how much you will do to reach your destination. As time goes on the more meaningful the name proves to be, especially in terms of the Endeavour I find myself on a daily basis, both with music and personal matters as well.

On your Myspace page, you emphasize the fact that you’re fairly new to music and did not start to consider pursuing your dreams until this past summer. Who or what influenced you to make that jump into pursuing what you loved? What were you doing before Desperate Endeavour?

That’s a good question! My whole life I’ve known I wanted to surround myself with music, whether it was performing or working in the business aspect of the industry, it was what I wanted to be doing. On October 2008, I went to my first concert. After that I fell even more in love with music and realized how much I NEEDED to be doing it. It wasn’t even a want any more. From there Myspace.com kind of took the wheel to be honest. (laugh out loud), I started getting more and more friend requests from all of these great unsigned artists that nobody had ever heard of. This made me realize how much undiscovered talent existed, and how much I wanted to help all of these musicians get where they needed to be. This was when I started Savage Promotions, which is a myspace account where I promote unsigned bands (found on my top friends). Over time I became close friends with more and more artists and bands who initially gave me hope that I could actually do what I wanted, to perform. I kept that dream inside of me until the summer of 2009, when I finally asked my mom if I could start taking guitar lessons. I was fortunate enough to be able to work with Baxter Clement, who immediately threw me into the industry and had me writing songs in less than a week and playing shows in two.

Your Myspace also says you played your first show two weeks into learning how to play the guitar. Many artists always talk about how nervous or excited they felt the first time they got on stage. How did you muster enough confidence in yourself to play a show so quickly and what went through your head/what feelings came into play as you performed for the first time?

Ohhhhh Gosh… (laugh out loud) I will never forget when Baxter told me I was going to be playing my first show. I had JUST started playing guitar and I was soooo new to everything, I was terrified! Haha.. I had never played for anyone, I always refused to sing for anybody and I had terrrrrrible stage fright prior to him telling me this. Luckily I had some pretty great friends who dragged me out to places like our local pool and parties with my guitar and made me sing for people there, to get used to playing for a crowd. Then the more I thought about it the more ridiculous being scared seemed to me, if my goal was to be playing music for people all over the world, then I’d have to just suck it up and have fun with it haha. Which I did, when I first got on stage I think I remember rapping into the microphone to start off my show? (laugh out loud).. I was there to have fun and to make sure other people did too, so walking up on stage was not nerve racking at all for me. After that first show, I could not have been more excited to jumpstart my career!

So you’re currently working on an upcoming EP. How’s that going? Have you picked out a name for it, how many songs do you expect to have on it, and do you have a release date in mind yet?

I know I’m gonna have around 7 or 8 songs on the EP.. But as far as the release date and the name of it go. That’ll just be a surprise to both of us!! Hahaha =)

Have you ever heard of the show Diva Duets? (If you haven’t it’s an annual show put on by VH1 to raise money for Save The Music that has considerably young up and coming female “divas” (this year it was Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Adele, etc.) perform collaborations with bigger established artists such as Celine Dion, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder etc. If you were given the opportunity to be able to sing a collaboration with any big name artist who would it be and what song would you choose to sing with them?

This is such a good freakin’ question!! Haha, good job! Umm… I think if there was an epiphany and something happened wrong in the universe to where I was lucky enough to be given that change, my choice would be Ordinary People with John Legend.

What are your ultimate goals for the future of Desperate Endeavour?

I feel like any artist that you ask would give you the same answer: “to have my music heard.” And while that is definitely something I want to achieve, I think I want more than anything to give hope to all people that they can follow their dreams too, and that NOTHING can stop them if they want it bad enough. I want to be able to wake up every morning knowing I get to spend another day playing music. My ultimate goal is to become somebody people can look up to. I want to surprise my listeners, and gain new ones everyday. But more importantly, I guess I just want to be able to spend my life doing the one thing that has never failed me, music.

Any last words you’d like to leave the readers with?

HELP ME OUT!! I can’t do this without any of you reading this right now!! As an artist, I need listeners.. So please put my banner or songs on your page, tell your friends about me, listen to my songs, anything that you can think of helps! And I love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for giving me this chance! :)

No Inside's Late Nights and Early Mornings cd review

No Inside’s album, Late Nights and Early Mornings, without doubt has a pop-punk/emo sound to it. It starts off with “Open Late,” a song that starts to set the mood for the album. “Hot and Cold” is the next song that includes likable hooks that will get stuck in your head such as “fake it baby, fake it.”

The way “Push Us Back” flows into “Lullaby” is unique. It comes to a close with someone talking as if you’re listening to the news on the radio, and it goes into “Lullaby” just like that the guitar part starting. This song’s a different one. “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,” is sung in the song which caught my attention – it’s definitely something I haven’t heard before in this genre of music.

“Drowning” is a well written song with good lyrics that will have you singing along in no time. Following that is “Don’t Tell Amy” which starts off at a slower tempo, but proves to be a really great song. “Let it Fall” is personally my favorite song on the album, and seems to have the most distinctive sound to it.

Listening to “Honesty is the Best Policy” I was curious to hear it live. It sounds like it’d be a great song to play at a show. “Hanging Up the Cape” has a catchy beat to it, and I noticed I was subconsciously nodding my head along to the song the first time I listened to it. Instantly when I heard “*67” I wanted to pick up a guitar and learn how to play the song. It has a great guitar part throughout the whole song, and with lines like “I’m sorry you fell for a rock star,” you’re sure to be setting that as your new Facebook status.

The second to last song “The Forecast Song” was like “Hanging Up the Cape” for me; I nodded my head along to it, and I thought it was appealing. The last song on No Inside’s CD is “Watch It Burn.” Listening to the beginning I was wary about the song, but as I got further into the song I truly enjoyed it.

Late Nights and Early Mornings is a pretty good CD for a local band. It’s not the perfect album, but what actually is? Check No Inside out for yourself, and you’ll see their music is satisfying.

This review was written by Ms. Jenn Carroll of PurelyGangsterRadioNJ//JennyHero

Shooting the breeze with Jeremy of The Bled

PGRNC: First off, how are you doing today man?

Jeremy (The Bled): I’m good, doing good.

PGRNC: So we know you guys are on tour right now, where'd you guys play last?

Jeremy: Monday night we played in Vineland, New Jersey. It was a really fun show. We stayed in Richmond, Virginia last night.

PGRNC: Last month The Bled signed to Rise Records. They're one of the fastest growing labels in the business. How do you feel about being a part of their family?

Jeremy: They actually contacted us when they found out we were divorced from Vagrant Records. They asked us on a date, and we really hit it off. We didn’t kiss on the first date. Things progressed and we moved to kissing, French kissing, and we let them feel us up.

PGRNC: So you didn’t put out?

Jeremy: No we put out, and they didn’t pull out either. We have a record coming out because of it. We're speeding up the 9 month cycle so it’ll be a little premature. We just hope it has all of its limbs intact.

PGRNC: Side question. What’s your tattoo of?

Jeremy: They’re all from Shell Silberstein’s poems. Where The Sidewalk Ends. Shell=Love

PGRNC: The past year has been difficult for you guys as a band. Was there ever a time when you didn’t think The Bled would make it?

Jeremy: Towards the beginning. It cost us a lot of money to tour and we went into debt. We all had to go home and get shitty 9 to 5’s to help pay all of our expenses. We split it up between everyone evenly and worked on paying it off. Our bass player decided to go back to school, and our guitarist moved to Texas, and our drummer went on to play for another band. I started a side project with some of the other members of The Bled. I wasn’t happy with the way the side project was going so that ended pretty quick. We managed to replace the drummer, guitarist, and bassist. It was a real smooth transition because we knew the new guys previously and knew how they played. Once we taught everyone the parts, we got to writing new material. This band has always been five friends. That’s the way music is supposed to be. I don’t think I would have continued the band if I had to choose 3 strangers to replace them.

PGRNC: Were you worried about how your fans would take the new lineup change?

Jeremy: Well I always wrote 90% of the music. We wanted to have a demo before we started promoting the new lineup. We're a band that thrives off of change. The music scene is fickle but at the end of the day you have to fulfill your own happiness.

PGRNC: How does it feel to be back on the road after everything that’s gone on in the past year?

Jeremy: It feels awesome. We actually had a little warm up tour with The Used on the West Coast. It gave the new guys a feel for the band and how being on tour works.

PGRNC: You’ve only been on tour for a few weeks so far, but what’s the craziest experience that you guys had had on this tour?

Jeremy: Nothing too crazy really. Not to us at least. Nothing terrible has happened. We played a festival in Illinois where some kids from another band stole an amp head from We Came As Romans. WCAR found out who stole it and approached the other band. One of the members walked up as they were arguing and one of the big guys in WCAR asked him how old he was. He said "19" and without hesitation, the big guy just smashed him in the face. It’s good to see justice on the road.

PGRNC: We're just going to have an attack badger in our trailer to make sure people don’t steal.

Jeremy: How do you domesticate a badger?

PGRNC: We're not sure just yet. Ok. So what’s the most fun show you guys have played on tour so far?

Jeremy: Well it definitely not Omaha, Nebraska. It was just a bad show in general. The venue requires kids under 18 to get a waiver signed and have it legally notarized to get into the show. There were about 50 kids staring deadpan at us while we played our hearts out. I was sweating and they were just staring. So I sat down on stage and stared right back at them while I was playing. I used the old and jaded card on 'em. I don’t need kids wind milling and shit, but give me a nod or smile or something. Allentown, PA was pretty awesome and so was Fargo, ND. We didn’t expect that one, but it was a good show.

PGRNC: So you guys are releasing your 4th record on Rise near the beginning of next year. 4 albums is an amazing accomplishment for any band. What’s significant about this album to The Bled?

Jeremy: I’m just stoked to be writing for The Bled again. This album is a lot like our first album. I’m personally producing everything on this record. We're writing at home and recording in Tuscan. I’m really proud of all of the new songs. The new guys came in with a fans perspective and brought what they liked about The Bled into the album. We're all on the same page and it makes things so much easier.

PGRNC: Well man that’s all the questions we have for you today. Thanks for the interview; we had a lot of fun. We can’t wait for the show later.

Jeremy: Thanks for interviewing me guys. I had a good time.

10 Questions with Chris Fafalios of Punchline

#1. How are you guys doing today? You just started touring with Farewell, if I'm not mistaken, how's it going so far? Any memorable stories or amusing anecdotes you'd like to share with us?

The tour is going great so far. Probably the best thing that happened so far was that Pat and I brought Steve and Jon breakfast in bed this morning. You should've seen the look on their faces when they saw the eggs, sausage links, warm biscuits, muffins, bananas, and cups of OJ! It was delightful. We love surprises, as a band in general.

#2. Last night at the Brewery, your bassist Chris Fafalios (who has an incredibly eponymous and witty shirt in most of your pictures) and Farewell's Buddy got into an epic bass-off. How did that tradition start? What's the next step, a hot-dog eating contest between Steve and Marshall? I want to see that in person.

It was actually our first bass-off. I would definitely say that I won the bass-off, based on the fact that I'm me. I've been playing bass for a while now, and there is no doubt that when it comes to bass competition, I always put my best foot forward.

#3. Who are the Punchkids? Fanbase or child abuse advocates? If so, why do you seem to enjoy striking children enough to name your supporters after them? I know it's easy, the "Free Hat" episode of South Park taught me that. But feel free to elaborate.

When we started our band, we were just kids and we bought the domain name because Punchline.com was taken. Now we are full-grown men with a very childlike domain name. We can't do anything about it though because literally every domain name is taken, and we're not gonna get into that .biz bullshit.

#4. On a personal note, I have to ask you this. If John Stamos, Full House's Uncle Jesse and all-around badass with a heart of gold, proposed to you right now, would you marry him?.

I think he most definitely is the most handsome man, but the thing about it is that I'm straight. I'd watch him get married though.

#5. You have pictures of performing at the Middle East on your MySpace. Is it a venue stateside, or did you go to the same crystal castle in Iraq that Stephen Colbert did to shave his head? I know you saw that special. It was hilarious.

Performing for the troops in the Middle East was definitely a great experience. It was very humbling. They are guys who giving their lives for our country and we would do anything to help boost their morale, especially play music. Actually, we didn't go there, but we would.

#6. You also have pictures of yourselves in classy suits. But do you have any red velvet smoking jackets? Every true gentleman has one. Look at Hugh Hefner. Hell, even I have one. I go to keggers in it. Any distinguished clothing you fellows made a normal routine? Lucky boxers? Tell me what you're wearing right now, big boy.

I'm wearing my jeans that I wear every day, a Mickey Mouse shirt, and my Pirates hat. Some lady asked me "Did the Pirates used to be called something else?" I said "No, they've been the Pirates for about 100 years". She was the lady working the Continental Breakfast. What a fucking idiot.

#7. Back on to business for a minute. You have two full records and an EP produced by Fueled By Ramen. How did you happen to snag that deal? What unspeakable acts did you have to perform to receive this boon from one the mightiest pop-punk gods of the industry? Slay a village of Juggalos?

I am a Juggalo. It had nothing to do with getting signed though. They came to our show back in the day and liked us. Then we put out 3 albums on their label. Labels are for cans brother!!!

#8. When I spoke to Steve last night in the snug Brewery men's room last night, he mentioned that he also ran a record label. Care to elaborate a little on that? Tell me a little about yourself, tiger.

Modern Short Stories is the name. You can check out our "site" at modernshortstories.net. We put out our newest album, a book that my friend Tony and I wrote called "Whistle Pig", and Justin Oliver's soon to be released "For Rose" album. Its an awesome album. I think everyone would love it. We will be putting out many more things, and we're not limiting that to just music. Any great piece of art that needs to be exposed to the world, we'll do it.

#9. You guys played the Brewery in Raleigh last night. It was our first time seeing you. Was it your first time in Raleigh? And if it was, was it good? I thought it was good. God I hope you thought it was good. =/

I thought it was freakin awesome. I loved the show, the club, and Cook Out. I ate there twice in 3 hours.

#10. Lastly, a trademarked 3AM hypothetical question. Do you think Jesus could microwave a burrito so hot that he himself could not eat it without burning his mouth?

GOD BLESS JESUS!

Thanks again guys. Any closing remarks from these great men?

BEST WISHES!!!

Check out Punchline at Myspace.com/Punchline

-Jeremy (PGR NC)

Saint's 7: In Pursuit of Tomorrow

In Pursuit of Tomorrow is a five piece screamo band from Hackensack, Minnesota. The band started in January 2009, with a fresh kickoff. Many fans were brought towards the band immediately after the first show. They released their first EP in March 2009, which boosted them to 63 for Unsigned bands in the United States for their genre in April 2009. In the summer, the band will be working on their second EP, which is to be expected this fall. The band claims that this EP that is coming out is to feature "heavier, and sicker breakdowns."

Who or What are your musical influences? What did you grow up listening to? Be honest!

Our music influences vary. We like a lot of heavier bands, such as The Devil Wears Prada and what not. But we also like the pop bands like All Time Low. So it's all mixed up :) A lot of us listened to classic rock, like Tesla and Cinderella. Derrik always listened to As I Lay Dying though, haha.

Tell us about the recording process of your upcoming EP?

We are going to be hitting the studio sometime in September, as it's seeming, to lay down five new songs for the EP, that is untitled as of now.

We had problems in the studio this July, and had to cancel our four day stay in Minneapolis to record our planned EP.

It'll be out sometime in October, so hopefully many fans will be ready for something new from us.

IPOT is unsigned. What label would you want to go to if you had a choice & why?

We'd go for Rise Records or Fearless Records. Mainly because it features some of the bands that got us to play the instruments that we play. Derrik has learned many vocal styles from bands such as The Devil Wears Prada, and what not, and it'd just be sweet to be on a label like Rise, knowing that one of our main influences was apart of that family as well.

What advice could you give to fellow unsigned bands?

Just to never give up. Music is fun, but at the same time it's just as stressful then fun. You lose more money than you make, but in the end it's all worth it, y'know? You can't really expect to become a millionaire off of local shows, you just need to work your hardest to get heard. If you don't put in effort in it, you'll get beat to the record label's by other competeing bands, y'know?

IPOT will be doing a fair amount of touring in the upcoming months, for those who have never seen you live, what can they expect?

Well for us, we always make sure that when we play a show the fans leave happy as ever. We want to give our fans their money worth, and make sure they aren't disappointed. We always change our setlist live, and play songs at random, just so it's not the same ol.'

What are your favorite song to play live?

Our favorite song to play live is probably "Scattered Words," just because we usually open with that song, and it just gets people pumped.

Do you have any last words? Shout-outs?

We'd like to thank all the fans for the support since we started in January. More music to come soon! :)

Saint's 7: Get The Girl

Where in the world is Antioch California and what kind of music do they make over there? We're sure that James Heller, Jordan Davis, TJ Martell, and John Lasack who make up the band Get The Girl could tell you. Another thing we're very sure of is that when they release their demo 1..2...3...Adventure! they'll be sure to win the hearts of many with their songs Imaginary Girlfriend and Sleep Tomorrow in Class.

Where does the name Get the Girl come from?

The name Get the Girl comes from an AOL chat TJ and Jordan were having about band names and we all had hopes that being in a band would help us "get the girl" and that's when it hit Jordan for a name. We all loved it and now its our name.

According to your myspace bio, each Get the Girl's band member came from a different band and came together to form GTG. What kind of advantages (or disadvantages) does this give the band?

Well even though we were all in other bands before Get the Girl we all knew each other before GTG. James and TJ have been family friends for a long time and John and TJ met each other in middle school and formed a band called legend with friend Jackson. Jordan and James were in many bands together until Jordan went to Deer Valley and met TJ and joined their band changing the name to the undecided. Later at TJ's birthday party we added James and Jackson had left the band a while back. Its an advantage because we all knew what we wanted to be at that point witch made it easier.

You guys have released individual songs to name a few...Sound of Summer, If I were a Surgeon, etc. but no EP or full length album. Do you have any plans to release either in the near future?

Actually all those songs are on our DEMO called 1...2...3.. ADVENTURE! but we haven't set a date to put that out yet.

What's the hardest thing about being in a band?

Making times for band practice with everyone's schedules is the hardest part by far. Also groupies (j/k)

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In our spare time we all have side projects James has various bands and Jordan TJ and John are in a band together called Playing in the Streets. We all like to hangout with each other and go shopping (Laughs)

What bands are you guys listening to right now?

We are listing to old Blink-182, Some All Time Low, and a bunch of other stuff I cant think of at the moment.

And here's your shameless self-promo spot: anything you'd like to add about yourselves, the music, or anything else?

Our music is all about things that happen to us and we hope you like it. You should all check out our other bands and comment us! :)

Saint's 7: Blameshift

Hungry for more time on the road, Blameshift is on yet another summer tour to rock your jocks off. In this interview, bassist Joe Meyer, talks set lists, dream tours, and killing time. Check the dates above and make sure you get your ass out to see these guys (and gal) in a city near you!

You guys are astonishingly still unsigned. What would you guys look for in a label when those offers start coming in? Have any labels contacted you thus far? If you could choose which label you could be signed under who would you choose & why?
Ultimately, we're looking for a label that is as stoked to work with us as we are with them. We're a very hard-working band, and we expect the same in return with a label. We have some label interest so far, and the feedback from the new music is very positive so far. Right now though, I won't say who the interest is from because I don't wanna jinx anything or start rumors. We don't have an ideal label in mind - just anyone who is as hardworking as we are really. Of course, some strong financial backing would be critical, and advertising is something we need the most.

Blameshift is currently headed on yet another tour. Will you be playing songs off The Test, newer songs such as Saints & Sinners, or a mixture of both?

It's gonna be a mix of both. Songs off "The Test" were written with the live show in mind, so they translate well to the stage. Some of the newer songs we got experimental with, and they benefit from some studio production and and slower tempos. We like to keep the energy level high and flowing when performing.

For those who have never seen Blameshift live, What can we expect from your live show?

We have a new and improved light show!! I have longer hair, so you'll be seeing less of my ugly mug on stage. Aside from that, everyone now has a microphone again, so expect alot of witty banter and off-color jokes.

If you could choose anyone dead or alive. Who would be on your dream tour?

Our dream tour...man that's a tough one. A lot of great bands have a great live show. I'd have to narrow it down to a couple though. My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, Story of the Year.

What do you guys plan on doing to kill time while on the road?

Repairing the bus mostly. HahA !! As I write this, on day 2 of this tour, we've already got bus issues. It's beign repaired 60 miles away, and we're stayign with friends in Pittsburgh.

When we're not doign that though, we all keep real busy. Jenny sleeps alot. Tim drives the bus alot. James is studying hibachi-style cooking, and I am experimenting with different ways of being rejected by girls.

What are 3 of the most unnecessary items you tend to bring on tour with you?

Tim, James, and Jenny. Every time I get in the bus, there they are - taking up all this valuable real-estate on the couch and bunks, breathing all the air.

I don't really have anything unnecessary with me. I've got a check list of everything I need to get by. I'm a guy, so it's a pretty short check list. Some say the light show might be a little excessive, but I enjoy doing that. We still play places that don't have a light show, and we really pride ourselves on bringing the whole show.

Any last words? Recommendations? Shout-outs?

I recommend everyone try and make all the dates on the tour. We've got 9 Hot Topic Acoustic shows this summer, so we'll be hangin' out and blowin' it up in malls Tiffany-style all across America. The Summer De-Tour is upon you all !!

Saint's 7: The Expensives

With early influences of Britney Spears and The Backstreet Boys, a name spawned from a band name generator, and their debut album, Love Sick Commotion just released, The Expensives are here to take over the world.

I guess I'll just start off with some background information first- How did The Expensives come to be?, where does the name come from?, and all that good stuff.


Well, we first started in 2005. Fawn (the guitarist) and I went to middle school together and we both had this identical passion for music. So we were like, "Hey, let's start a band!" So for like 6 months, we were running around looking for a drummer. We finally found our current drummer Bean in May of 2006. She originally was the second guitarist but it wasn't working out. so we started writing songs with her on drums. At the time, we didn't even have a drum set. We ended up using pots and pans for about two months! and then we went through millions of ridiculous band names (i.e. The Above Average Goldfish, The Hickups) before we went online to a band name generator and found "The Expensives." It was an instant hit.


That's amazing. (Laughs.) You probably knew this question was inevitable, so we might as well get it over with: What's it like being an all female band in a mostly male dominated industry?


(Laughs.) I was expecting it! We obviously have to face extra challenges being an all-girl band. It's harder to be taken seriously. For example, it gets ridiculous when you're about to go on stage and this amazing guy band just gets finished and then you go up there and the crowd is like, "Oh, take your tops off!" like we're just some joke. But we try to stay headstrong and keep the music the most important thing. We know how to handle situations like that. We've prepared for it.


Are there any common misconceptions people have about all female bands that you would like to put to rest?


I guess some people still view most female bands as "whiny little girls" who have nothing better to sing about but boys. Honestly, some of this may be true. We do write about getting our hearts broken and falling in love. But situations like that are very drastic and relatable, which is why it makes perfect sense to sing about them. We base our songs off of personal experience. Whatever comes to mind at the moment gets jotted down, whether it be about finding a new boyfriend to ripping someone's head off. (Laughs.)


Right. right. What would you say makes your band stand out from all the other girl bands out there?


We have this discussion a lot within our band. We often find ourselves wondering where we stand in comparison to other local and well-known artists. All we can really agree on is that our music is far from anything we have personally ever heard before. I mean, we try to incorporate our influences in our music but it still comes out completely unique. Just recently, we had a guy from one of our shows tell us that we sounded like Tegan & Sara mixed with Tsunami Bomb. Up until then, we couldn't even pin-point what bands we sounded like. I guess that's what makes us stand out.


I’ve got a question about influences in just a moment, but we'll save that for after this: You gals recently released your debut album Love Sick Commotion, can you tell us a little about it? Sound wise, the recording process, how it feels to release a debut album, anything to give an insight into the cd.


It feels INCREDIBLE to finally have a full-length CD out. Some of the songs on the album are way old, like from three years ago. And some are brand new. It has a mix of different time periods and various emotions, which is where the CD gets it's name. A lot of the songs are about love and pain. We kind of recorded it all in a rush but we've had most of this material for so long and we felt as though it needed to be heard. Over all, it's amazing knowing that we can finally show everyone what we've been doing for the past three or four years.


Speaking in terms of the past, how do your childhood heroes/earliest influences compare to your current heroes/influences?


Personally, I grew up listening to Britney Spears and The Backstreet Boys! I was a total pop-star since day one. But as I grew up, I started to get more into hip/hop and then mainstream rock, which eventually led me down the road to more underground punk/alternative. Although, I still listen to a lot of mainstream rock. But I think I can speak for the entire band when I say we are obsessed with Paramore.


A large variety never hurt anyone! Finally, is there anything you'd like to conclude the interview with? maybe tell the readers where they can find love sick commotion or a message to your dedicated fans?


We love our fans to death! They should know that by now! Love Sick Commotion will be on iTunes, Napster, and Amazon very shortly, but fans can message us via MySpace for a hard copy. We will also be touring the East Coast this summer hopefully with our friends Subjunk, The Fallback, and maybe even Forgotten Fall for a couple of dates. So make sure you keep checking our MySpace for updates!

10 Questions with Canon of Last Chance Studio

Hi Canon, how?s it goin??

Hey Luis...may I call you Luigi for short (Mario Kart fan what can I say)? But getting to your question.... "IT'S" going thru a hard time. Lots of self doubt and image issues. But I keep reminding "IT" that everyone goes thru this sort of period in their lives and to keep "IT'S" head up. But I'M doing ok, 'busy as a one armed cloths hanger', as my dad would say (which I don?t fully understand but whatever it still sounds deep). But thanks for asking about "IT" rather than me, real profesh man, real profesh.

That?s good, that?s good. So you ready for some hard hitting questions? Wow, so you?re gonna breeze past what I just told you? I'm a little offended about your lack of interest in MY "goings" and you just brush that off without even noting it? Great this is shaping up to be one blasty blast of an interview.

Ok. (Great!) Let?s get started. (Fine.) You run Last Chance and you?re the lead singer for Hey Euphony! How do you make time for both?

Well it?s a simple matter math and quantum mechanics. You see I was able to break down the molecular mapping structure of my DNA and extrapolate the core elements of my genetic makeup, which I then synthesized with bio compounds familiarly found in mosquitoes (yes kinda like the Jurassic Park movie theory, but they really dumbed it down, skipped past the more data heavy parts of the whole process...they basically turned a Dragon Force song into a Blink 182 one, in a guitar playing musicianship parallel sort of way). Long story short, I took a note out of Michael Keaton's book (look up MULTIPLICITY on imdb.com) and solved all my problems.

It seems like having so much responsibility is pretty stressful, is it as bad as people think?

It?s almost as if you?re not even listening to anything I?m saying. And no, thru my ingenuity I?ve found a way to make time for everything in my life, while falling into silly subplots involving myself dating my other self?s girlfriend (who is more sensitive, which highlights my inner inability to commit fully to my relationships due to my dedication to my jobs), which ends with a hilarious series of events leading to me learning my lesson, and to be more open and prioritized to love, and how I should put my construction business...err...I mean my studio and band on the backburner of importance in my life....

So you record bands for much cheaper than the average studio ($25 an hour). Why did you decide to settle on that price? How can you afford to record for that price? Do you think other studios overcharge musicians?

You know what, I wasn't really done with what I was saying, and don?t appreciate you cutting me off. BUT, we've tried various prices and methods to getting bands into our studio, and feel like our current rate of $25 an hr for tracking and $50 per song for unlimited mixing, works the best. Cause trust me when I say the mixing aspect to getting a song sounding its best is the key factor...and that?s where most studios make their money. We spend at least 6-9 hours per song on the mixing alone but only charge bands for 2 hrs worth. It?s our way of saying "thank you for recording with us." And to make this even more of a special thing...any band reading this right now, I?ll give you an hr of tracking free. Just mention this interview when booking.

I've been to your studio myself, and I have to say, its pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Why did you choose to have your studio so far out?

Well shesh that?s not a great sell on our studio haha. YES we are kinda further out in the country than most studio's, but good studio's aren?t exactly like McDonald's or Starbucks...there?s not one on every corner...no matter what, you're gonna have to make a decent drive to your studio of choice, so what difference does a few minutes make? Ya feel me? And it?s been working out, so I think people get that.

Do you think the scenery and location help you and the other musicians work better?

Absolutely! I've heard on countless occasions from multiple musicians that our studio is very relaxed and comfortable, and the being out in the country is very soothing. When things get stressful a musician can take a quick walk out in the field and get their head straight and anxieties worked out. It?s really amazing how laid back it feels out here, while still being a very serious process to us. We are really fortunate to have such a great spot.

I see that you also do graphic designs and printing for a very low price. You busy, busy man, how do you do it!?

Yes sir, that all came about while doing my own bands merch. I just stepped back and realized how sketchy most places that do shirts are, and saw an opportunity to reach out to other bands in our position. When I say we have a very low profit margin I?m not kidding or exaggerating. I don?t do this to make money; I do it to help bands get everything together to start making their OWN money. The two things every band needs in order to get things rolling is a good sounding CD, and shirts. And why go thru 2 completely different companies for what you can get from one? That?s kinda my motto.

I see that Last Chance has their own nifty shirt....can I have one?

Every band that prints shirts with us gets a free LAST CHANCE THREADS one to sport on stage and in photo shoots (or at least that?s what I hope for). We also offer bands a sponsorship with our clothing label, meaning we put our logo on the back of their shirts (at our cost). I guess I should preface that with, "A band with shirts is cool, a band with shirts that are sponsored with a logo on the back, and shirts from that company that they wear, is better" and makes them look like a bigger band. People see logos and label names and they make assumptions as to the size of a band...it just makes you seem more important. And while that may be sneaky and giving away our legitimacy, I insure you that we are working daily on getting our name bigger and better. And as far as getting a free shirt, more importantly, the same theory of what I?ve been saying applies to record labels...you need to have shirts that YOU and bands under your label should be wearing out everyday. We should talk details. ;)

Ok. One last question and then we're done here. Let the people know what sets you apart from any other studio in the area and why they should come to Last Chance instead of any other place for all of their recording needs.

Well I guess it wasn?t much of a question. But still. Well seeming how there was no punctuation in that entire numbered paragraph indicating an Q&A type response, aka there was no question mark (?), I?m just going to make one last point, because I feel I?ve listed a number of reasons as to why we are not only more affordable, but more understanding than other studios. You know that feeling you get when you show a song you recorded from scratch to someone in their car/house/computer/meth lab? That feeling of anxious excitement waiting for their reaction to your song. Be it in their words or facial expressions, everything is important. That is what got me into this business. I LOVE THAT PART!!! And nothing can ruin that moment more than a poorly recorded and produced song. So do yourself a favor, give me a call (919.210.2108) or email (cmo1106@gmail.com) and let?s setup a recording session. -Canon O'Briant (LCS)

Oh and for most of this to make any sense, you're gonna have to go rent MULTIPLICITY, WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW and JURASSIC PARK...all three well worth the watch btw.

Well that was a damn good interview sir. We truly appreciate it. We should discuss quantum mechanics in detail at some later point. That?ll be the video interview. So if you?re in the state of North Carolina and need a good place to record, go check out Last Chance Studio. DO IT!

-Luis of PGRNC/3AM

Saint's 7: Girl in a Coma

Finding an all girl band is hard as it is. Finding a great all girl band...forget about it. When I heard the music of this trio for the first time, I couldn't believe my ears. There is nothing more satisfying than the vocals and guitar riffs of Nina Diaz, basslines of Jenn Alva, and drum licks of Phanie Diaz. This is Girl in a Coma. Under Blackheart Records, they rise beautifully above the rest. And are quite amazing live might I add. Their music is the kind of music you can put on in the car and just coast for miles. It's also the kind of music that will get stuck in your head for days because it's just that great. I honestly don't think I will ever get tired of listening to their last album Both Before I'm Gone on repeat. But for now, I'm happy to say yes, they are back again with another amazing album and in due time I will have a new favorite cd (You know, those round plastic things of the past that hold a limited amount of songs) to pop in by the end of this month. This new cd is not to disappoint. It brings the same energy and passion Both Before I'm Gone brought if not more. The album drops June 2, 2009.

How's it going? What are you up to right now?

We have a new record coming out!! So we've been busy prepping for that. Practicing our live show and gearing up for the road.

So tell us a little about the title of the new cd.

It's called Trio B.C. and it was recorded in Tornillo Texas at Sonic Ranch. A cool place outside or El Paso. We named the record Trio B.C. after our grandfathers band in the 50s. We started writing it during our tour for our last record Both Before I'm Gone. We brought back Gabe Gonzales to produce and also worked with Greg Collins.. who has also recorded with U2 and Gwen Stefani. Joan Jett and Kenny Laguna also produced two tracks.. Vino and Joanie In The City. Joan also sings on Joanie In The City.

How does this record compare to Both Before I'm Gone?

There really is no comparison. We did work with Gabe again but we did alot more experimenting on this record and played alot of different insturments. Jenn came up with key parts and Nina is also playing keys. Jenn also shot a Winchester gun in Slaughter Lane. We took a whole different approach to this record and were alot more open minded about trying new stuff out . We are really excited to get this album out.

Which song have you written so far means the most to you as a band? Is there a particular lyric that you have written that really touches home?

I think Trail for us right now has alot of meaning behind it. Every lyric in that song has a deep meaning to each of us.

What was your biggest challenge in making this record?

The time we had to make it. We knew we wanted it out at a certain time so we had to get it done quickly but make sure we were also doing this right to make it a good album.

What are you looking forward to most this summer?

Touring!!

Any last words or messages to your fans?

Keep supporting live music and thank you all for coming to our shows. We can't wait to share this record with you. See you on the road!

Saint's 7: A Scenery In Motion

So tell us a little about A Scenery In Motion.

We are just 5 friends doing what we love and trying to make it in this music world.

How do you think the combination of a hardcore and pop-punk style helps or hurts your music career?

I dont think it really hurts the career because everybody wants to hear something new and not just the same old genre.

Who or what is your biggest influence?

Definally Paramore..hands down. And A Day To Remember.

Over the past year since we began Purely Gangster Radio, I have met many bands from North Carolina. What are your feelings about the current state of NC's music scene?

Hmmm well the music scene near us is very southern rock so its kind of hard for us to get our music out there, but I totally love Greensboro's music scene -very talented bands come out of there.

For those readers who have never seen ASIM play live, what can they expect to take away from one of your sets?

Our drummer is VERY crazy on the drums and we just have that get up and move kind of vibe. We like to get the crowd to join in with us so you would leave our show with either two things...1. Wow they are very entertaining or 2.Their drummer is insane. (laughs)

What are you looking forward to most this summer?

TOUR!!!

Do you have anything to say to your fans or any other last words?

We hope to see all of you out on our tour this summer and future shows. And remember,never give up on what you love!

20 Questions with Zac Seif

We're proud to end our "20 Questions with..." series of interviews with this guy right here. He's ranked #2 unsigned pop artist, #1 unsigned electro artist, and #2 unsigned indie artist in Texas, single, and currently recording his new EP. But you can call him Zac Seif. This Italian, Middle Eastern, German acoustic guitar playing born and raised Texan has what it takes to really make it in the music industry with his attitude of knowing the importance of connecting with fans and perfecting vocals through good old fashioned practice makes perfect.

So give us a bit of background info, how did you get your start in music? Who or what is your earliest musical influence?
I got interested in music 5 years ago with System of a Down. ((very lame , I know)). Over the years, my music has changed and matured very much. I started off in metal, then switched over to what I'm doing now, more acoustic//pop type stuff. My main influence would probably be the postal service sleeping with Jason Mraz.

Out of curiosity, what is your nationality and are you originally from Texas? How do your roots help or hurt your musical career?
I am 50% Italian, 25% Middle Eastern and 25% German. I have lived in Texas all of my life. My roots have not effected it very much yet, but it may in the future. I'm not sure.

From who, what, or where would you say most of the influence comes for your music?
Well, I’m influenced from bands I sound nothing like. My favorite artist is John Mayer, but I don't sound anything like it. I have a good mix from bands like Josephine Collective ((poppy)) to artists like Jason Mraz ((more chilled out, well, for the most part))

What is it that fuels your passion for what you do?
I love making music. I love when people enjoy my music; it's such a cool feeling to have people sing along to your stuff when you play it. To be honest, that really helps drive me. I love meeting new people and seeing new places as well.

In this day and age, a lot of people have the style of music in which they use pitch correctors and auto tuning. We noticed on your myspace profile you clarify that you are not an artist who uses either. Why did you feel that you needed to clarify this?
This is my touchy subject! I think it's perfectly fine when people have the style of music where they drown music in autotune ((T-pain, Breathe Electric)) I love both of them. That's the style. When people take it outside of that style and turn it into 'cover-up's' it becomes embarrassing to us. Us being the people who really work on singing hours a day etc. I have heard so many people clouded with autotune and pitch correction that it takes away from the music. It takes the blue note away, the note that is not quite perfect but gives the music soul. Pitch correction on the other hand is used by many people, mostly in studios, to correct small errors in the studio. I just kept re-singing it over and over again until I had it perfect, so it wasn't a machine.

We also noticed that on your myspace calendar, it said you’re “recording more”. Are you currently recording for an upcoming EP or cd? If so, when can fans expect it to drop?
I record all the time. I am still working on an EP. I am sorry it's taking so long!

Where does the inspiration for your songs usually come from?
Life experiences, loved ones, and x-girlfriends. I say x, because I don't have one right now. I have been in love before, and that emotion carries with me through my music and gives me the ability to express things I normally wouldn't be able to.

Which song have you written so far means the most to you as an artist? Is there a particular lyric that you wrote that really touches home?
It's a song called "We Need To Go Now." It is not released yet, it's still in the works right now. One of the lines is "my arms are steady but my hands they won't let go".

For those who haven't seen your live performance, can you tell them what they should expect?
They should expect a fun time. They should expect to have their singing hats on as well. After all shows I love hanging out with all the kids and taking hawt picz.

When people meet you, what is the first thing they will say about you/your music?
Hmmmmmmm. I would hope they think I’m a pretty cool dude. I hear from a lot that my music gets stuck in their heads which is good for me! ha

What has been your best or most memorable show?
House of Blues with Jason Mraz. We made it rain out there.

What’s your opinion of the current music scene in Texas?
I love Texas music. We have bands like The Secret Handshake , FTSK, Artist Vs. Poet, Play-Radio-Play, and the list goes on. There are so many different venues and a lot of good listening fans!

With technology like Myspace and Facebook many artists have told us that they would be no where without them exposure and connecting with fans wise. How would you say the internet has contributed to your music career? How important to you is it that you make connections with fans?
Fans are everything. Myspace ha changed the way music works. You need to be on top of your game talking to people all the time. Without fans, you’re not a band. I talk to my fans on and off the website all the time. I make a lot of appearances at shows and when people recognize them I always say hey, give them a hug, and take a pic!

For all the curious ladies out there, is there someone special currently in your life?
Neigh. Single.

What are some of your favorite things to do when you’re not being a heartthrob and serenading fans with your voice and guitar?
Haha well phrased. I like to watch movies all the time. I can out quote ANYONE on Step Brothers, Anchorman, troy, and Starsky and Hutch. And I literally mean everyone. I wish they had real competitions for that stuff. Besides that, I go to a lot of shows, and I hang out at a local coffee chop called the White Rhino.

What are you currently listening to? (Top 5 artists in your most recent playlist)
Artist vs. Poet, The Rocket Summer, Dashboard Confessional, Forever the Sickest Kids, and John Mayer

What’s something that your fans would be surprised to know about you?
I played World of Warcraft for a long, long time. I am a closet-gaming nerd. I raided pre-wotlc and had mostly t6/sunwell gear.

What are some goals for your music this year?
Meet new people, tour the United States, and just keep doing what I'm doing!

Where do you want to be in five years?
Not sure. Depends where music takes me. I am going to DBU in the fall to study international business.

What is the overall message you want to send to fans?
Tough question. You know, never shout never really did say it well. We do live in a sad world =( I notice is every time I leave my house. It bothers me to see people upset. I want to make something people can connect to, RELATE TO, and give them a smile.

Any other last words?
Sorry this interview took so long. I fail at life. Thanks for all my fans that supported me. Right now I’m ranked #2 unsigned pop, #1 unsigned electro, and #2 unsigned indie, here in Texas, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS!

20 Questions with Rising Tides

With their new 4 song EP out this week, Rising Tides will be making their first ever tour this March with their framed photo of Clint Eastwood to envelope you in a wave of sound of real music.

Tell us about the name of the band. What were other names considered for the band?
Ryan Came up with the name. We were trying to think of a name that implied hugeness, something that we felt fit with the sound of the band and the vibe of the music. I'm sure we ran through quite a few names before deciding on Rising Tides, but I honestly can't remember any of them.

So with the name in place how did you become a band?
It was an odd and laid back process. Ryan and I had been friends for awhile, and had discussed doing a project together, mostly for ourselves. We started jamming together and put together the songs that are on the EP, along with a few others, and decided to record them. We liked what we were doing so much that we decided to play a few shows, and invited Brad to play guitar and our friend Ken to play bass. The shows went really, really well, and in September of last year we decided that this would be our full time band. Ken was a little busy with life things and his day job, so, he gracefully bowed out, and Steve joined us on bass, he had recorded the EP, and was already hanging out with us at shows, so, he was a natural fit.

On your myspace you have a one line bio that reads “Headlights shine, lead designs in winter skies.” What does this mean collectively to you all as a band?
It's a line from "the floor says hello" It was put up in lieu of a bio, because we felt that everything we needed was in the vibe and sound of the music. It's my favorite line in the song, to me it's just about the cold gray damp weather that we're living in all the time.

How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard you before?
That's a hard one. I usually find it hard to try and describe what we sound like. People usually connect something new to something they know, so, I usually throw out the names of a few bands that people have said we remind them of. Or, "loud melodic, sometimes spac-y rock"

Who would you say are your major influences?
Lots of late 80s and 90s music. Smashing Pumpkins, Failure and Swervedriver are all big influences on me personally.

So we guess your first EP will be dropped on February 26th and it’s kind of a big deal. What can you tell us about the process of recording it? How long did it take you to write and record it? How many tracks are we looking at?
The EP is really a teaser for the next record, that will be out in early summer. There are four tracks on it, and were some of the first that Ryan and I wrote together. Those came together pretty quickly, and the recording process was involved, but, relaxed at the same time. We ended up doing a lot of production and arranging in the studio, as opposed to just going in and laying down tracks. We'd record basic tracks and then listen to them and Steve and Ryan and I would talk, discuss Ideas, figure out what we felt the song needed or didn't need, and then go back in and lay down more tracks, the pre-production demos, especially of "the girl who loved aeroplanes" sound much different than the final tracks on the EP.

What is your favorite song on it?
I keep going back and forth between "aeroplanes" and "the floor says hello"

What can fans expect from this EP?
Really, it's an introduction to Rising Tides. We kept it at four tracks so people could get a sense of who we are and what we sound like, without having to get real deep into a full length album. I think it's a well put together little record, and that people who dig it will end up being excited and ready for the next record.

What is it that inspires your lyrics, and is there one particular lyric that means the most to you?
I think I quit writing songs that are about specific things a long time ago. I tend to draw from memory, from what I see or hear, or just a particularly good line, and try to sort of paint a picture as opposed to telling a story. To convey emotion and imagery, but leave the lyrics open enough to allow for personal translation. It's not something I really try and do on purpose, just the way I write. It keeps me interested in the lyrics, because the meanings I attach to the songs constantly change depending on what's going on in my life.

After two cd release parties you’ll be hitting the road for a tour throughout March to Oregon, California, Nevada, and Utah for the first time. How are you all feeling about this? Excited? Nervous? Indifferent?
Oh, all of us are really giddy. It will be Ryan's first long tour, so, I know he's stoked, and we all love being on the road. When you're out, you just have to worry about driving, playing shows, and finding a place to sleep. All the everyday, day to day worries just sort of fade to the background, and you're just doing what you love to do day after day. To me, being transient is therapy. I like waking up in a different place and interacting with different people every day. We will be doing the tour with our friends Microtia, and that makes being on the road even more fun, having another band that you really like and get along with playing every show with you.

If you could choose anyone alive or dead. Who would be on your dream tour?
Hmmmmm....dream tour. I think as far as the band goes, It would be amazing to tour with Team Sleep. I love the vibe of that band and their music, and they just look like they get really into their stuff and have a good time on the road. Personally, if I could be on ANY tour, alive or dead, I think I'd really like to be on one of the very, very early rock and roll tours. It would be awesome to be on the road in those days, before all the big buses and big business, getting to play with and watch guys like Eddie Cochran, Roy Orbison, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry. All the guys who pioneered the way rock bands tour and act. If I wanted total insanity, I'd choose Butthole Surfers or Black Flag back in the early 80's.

For those who have never seen you live before and want to decide whether to go check you out or not, what can you tell them they can expect to see or experience at one of your shows?
Sonically, a wall of sound, for sure. We like to really try and envelop ourselves(and by proxy, the audience) in a blanket of sound, and all four of us just get into the groove of what we're doing and the sounds we're making. It's nothing heady, nothing really elaborate, no lasers of smoke machines or anything like that. Just us playing music and having a good time.

How do you get ready for your shows? Do you guys have any pre-band rituals?
usually sitting in the van and taking a few shots of Bulleit and talking. tuning guitars. Just relaxing and getting loose.

What song do you enjoy playing live the most?
I think I like to play a newer song called "aspect ratio" the most. It's a heavy, dron-y, shoegaz-y kind of song, and really easy for me to just loose myself in.

What do you guys plan on doing to kill time while on the road?
Most of the time killing will be driving or sleeping. I'm sure we'll hang out with some friends we haven't seen in a long time, and maybe see some sights. I like going to the Ocean when we're in San Diego.

What are 3 of the most unnecessary items you plan to bring on tour with you?
Everything we bring, from the hair product to the booze to the framed picture of Clint Eastwood, is an absolute, undeniable, necessity!

What kind of sacrifices have you made for your band?
Being in a band, and making that band your life is a sacrifice in itself. God, I've made too many to really count. Going far beyond money or time, you kind of give your life to music. Lots of people don't understand musicians....it's like a drug or a religion, it becomes something that you just don't love, you need it, can't live without it, so, you sacrifice thousands of tiny things and hundreds of big things, and usually the only payoff is writing a song you love, or playing a good show, but, that's enough to keep doing it and keep sacrificing for.

What advice would you give someone who wants to form their own band?
Don't worry about all that "life" stuff. Throw yourself into it 100% there's always time for girlfriends or school or a job or a career or whatever. If you want to be in a band, and you really want to do that, just go for it, play what you love to play and write how you want to write, regardless of what's popular. Get on the road, make friends with other like minded people, and have fun.

What are your plans for after your one-month long stretch of a tour?
We will be playing local shows in April and May, and doing demos and pre-production stuff for our next record, and I'm sure that we'll probably write more songs in that time too. we try to write constantly, regardless of how busy or free the schedule is.

What are the major goals you hope to accomplish with your music this year?
I want to make another good record, and I want to get the music out to people who like what we're doing. I try not to over-plan things, and just go with the flow. I just want to make good music and have people hear and appreciate that music.

So in honor of this being one of our last “20 Questions with…” series interviews. We’d like to give you the last word. Feel free to shamelessly promote yourself or leave a message for current and future fans.
I just want to thank everyone who's gotten on board with us. We've only really been a band since September of 08, and we've had so many people who have gotten involved with us, doing sound, designing shirts and posters, spreading the word, and being supportive. It's a great feeling to have a network of people around you who feel as passionate about what you are doing as you do, so, thanks!!! and thank you guys very much for the opportunity to rant and give longwinded answers to your questions!

20 Questions with Life Like The Movies

Life Like The Movies is a mix of musicians from all corners of the United States, inspired by The Used and their love of movies. With their influences of Underoath and Saosin to Lost Prophets and Taking Back Sunday, they're quickly on a mission to win the hearts of many music lovers around the world.

On your myspace page you say, “The name "Life Like The Movies", was created to be interpreted by the fans and for their own unique take on it. When it comes to what it means to the band, they say that most people don't find enough excitement in life...seeking more of a life....like the movies.” What we want to know is how the name actually came to be.
Well it all started off with Charlie coming to the idea of having a name with something a bit more diverse, something that could roll of the tip of the tongue and have a ring to it that would match our sound, image, and performance. From there we were highly obsessed with movies, loving the stories, the characters, the influences of modern day life with a twist of imagination, thus came out the name "Life like the Movies".

How long has Life Like The Movies been around?
A good 2 years now, we have gone thru a few member switches but have found the right lineup to match with the right attitudes.

How do the individual roots of each member help or harm the band’s success?
Well everyone is very different in their own ways, we kind of see ourselves as a Real World crew, coming all from complete different sides of the United States, you can say we bring the best out of each other as if we were all family.

Who or what is your earliest musical influence?
Great question. Well it definitely ranges from earlier hits from the Used. All of us have always found ourselves at a point were we have been neglected, rejected, with no money or food that left us with struggles on day to day basis, and bands like the Used show that all it takes is dedicating love and friendship w a talented edge to be able to show the world that their are better things in life than all the materialistic things we are forced to live in.

What other bands do you guys listen to that you draw your influences from?
Anything from Underoath and Saosin to Lost Prophets and Taking Back Sunday

You guys recently released two new demo songs (“Earthquake” and “Je Ne Comprend”- I Don’t Understand) that you recorded with Falconi Productions. Are there any plans to record and release an EP or full length cd this year?
We're actually planning on recording mid-June a complete ep that should really show a stronger edge of where we come from and a lot of our situations and outcomes from life. But we definitely will be releasing bonus songs that we've been recording in the studio in the very near future!

You currently have 3 of your songs (“C’mon C’mon”, You’ll Believe Anything I’ll Say”, and “Don’t Kid Yourself”) for purchase on your myspace page, but you also have your two new songs “Earthquake” and “I Don’t Understand” along with again “C’mon C’mon” and “You’ll Believe Anything I Say” for free download on your Pure Volume page. In the music biz, there has been quite a lot of controversy over illegal downloading of music. What are your feelings on this?
We feel that too many bands are worried about making a quick buck rather than really interested on what’s more important, sharing your music with new fans, new friends, new family.We understand that it is very hard for bands to get around without having the luxury of affordable recording and merchandise, but we feel that sometimes you can make a bigger impression between selling a song to a stranger and offering a part of what we enjoy doing to our friends/fans.

Who writes your songs and where do they usually draw the inspiration for the songs from?
We all actually right our individual parts, we help each other with certain ideas here and they're but can fairly say that everyone is as hard-working as the next member

What's your typical music making process like from creating lyrics to putting down music and recording?
We really couldn't give a good answer on this one (Laughs) it can be a random guitar riff to a catchy lyric or poppy bass line that catches a certain special mood we share

What has been your favorite song that you have written and recorded so far?
Well once again, we couldn't give you an exact answer but it would probably have to be between "You'll Believe Anything I Say" and " Earthquake".

From what we’ve seen through videos your stage presence has a lot of energy, what are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
Thank you, we definitely appreciate the positive feedback :) We actually practice 2-3 times a week and normally give every single minute of practice as much intensity as we do our shows live.

You guys have a quite a few shows coming up in the next few months. What do you always hope fans leave the venue saying? What will you hope they take away from your performance?
That we are easy-going, fun-loving, good hearted people that are happy to have gotten a chance to share our feelings through our music with new and upcoming friends!

What is your favorite part of being on stage?
The crowd feedback, even playing with complete different genre bands and fans we have still gotten great feedback that we cant help but to shine a wide smile :)

With your style, how do you stay fresh? How does Charlie keep his voice alive?
Just like every other band, road trips and oldie sing-a-longs (Laughs.)

What has been your biggest challenge as a band so far? Biggest accomplishment?
Biggest challenge we can say is traveling around FL, as much as certain people are very dedicated to their local loving bands the economy is changing to the point that its all about money and have literally been stranded cause of agencies that booked us shows and never gave us a cent even for gas. Biggest accomplishment would definitely be opening for Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, amazing show!

What’s the music scene like in South Florida?
Depending on the sound and location, certain parts of South FL are amazing! But of course you always have your bad seed spots.

If you could collaborate with any artist (local, global, dead or alive) who would it be and why?
The Used, the attitude, the music, the strong family they have with each other, its very rare to find bands that can still be so close and loving with each after such a long time that we definitely respect.

If you had to cover any song what song would you want to cover?
The Police- Message in a Bottle

What have you learned so far about the music business that you can give insight to others on?
If your hungry for the money your in the wrong profession (Laughs) If your interested in making a career, make sure your dedication and patience is strong and never ending cause in the end that’s what matters, love.

What are your major goals you hope to accomplish with your music this year?
Expanding our name, sound, and love with the rest of the music lovers around the U.S!

That’s 20 questions boys and here's your shameless self-promo spot: anything you'd like to add about yourselves, the music, or anything else?
We thank you for this amazing interview and just to let you and our fans know, we have plenty of brand new things coming your way so definitely stay in tuned with us thru our myspace and youtube, this is only the beginning!

20 Questions with After-11

After-11 is yet another PGR sponsored band who we believe is the next Bloodhound Gang, with their crude lyrics and catchy beats off their latest cd Donuts are Rad.

How did you get the name After-11?
If we told you, you would have to grant us the rights to your first born child.

What inspired you to make music together?
(Joel Says) Cody’s mom.

You guys proudly embrace being a pop punk hip hop band. Do you think that genre doesn't get enough respect?
Well, not really. We have not really ever heard another band with that genre.

You guys mention that you are "just three kids who love acting our shoe size, not our age.” How this does comes through in your music?
We sing about dumb shit.

Your album, "Donuts Are Rad" is a great cd to throw on during parties or when you want a good laugh. Could you ever see the band changing directions and writing more 'serious' songs?
See song 13 on Donuts Are Rad. We do serious songs when we need to, but an album of serious songs, we cannot see that.


Your cd went up on iTunes in November, how was the recording process for that, and how has that been received by your fans so far?
Fun, but stressful. And our fans love to run naked to it.


What is your favorite song off that cd?
That’s like asking a parent to pick their favorite child.

You guys incorporate a variety of sounds in your music. What is the writing process like?
Well, really it all depends. Sometimes we have a great melody and write words off of it. Or sometimes, while sitting in health class Cody will come up with some lyrics.

So, your new demo “Peter Time” is now up on your page. How would you say this reflects how your music has developed since you first started out?
We are much more musical, have a smarter sense of wit about us, and we are more sexually retarted.

What are some bands that you guys have most enjoyed playing with?
Scarred For Life, Schmegma, and China Man Rage (A.K.A-Beard Eats Face)

For those who haven't seen your live performance, can you describe your live show? What they should expect? What gets the best reaction from the crowd?
Be on the lookout for energy, musicality, Joel crying, and Cody’s penis. (that’s why joel is crying)

What is your favorite part of being on stage?
The boner from crowd participation. Without the crowd, we would be ass holes on stage, not a band.

What is it that fuels your passion for what you do?
Our dive to the Grammy’s. (Laughs) We just love making music together and we can’t see ourselves doing anything else

What has been the biggest moment for the band? What has been the biggest challenge?
8-8-08

Name one guilty pleasure. Anything!
Cody-i wear a jock strapp, all the time

Josh-I sniff peanut butter, when im alone

Joel-I eat kittens.

What is one piece of clothing that you can't live without, and why?
Cody-Dickies

Josh-Converse

Joel-tube thongs

Who would you wanna win a date with?
Cody-Tom Cruise and Santa Clause

Josh-Travis Barker and a goat

Joel-Coney Cody

What are you currently listening to?
All These Things Ive Done-The Kilers

What are some goals for the band for this year?
Nationwide recognition

What's next for After-11?
Big plans, stay tuned

Anything you’d like to add to conclude this interview?
that’s far out, coney’s, and roshambo, candy mountian

20 Questions with Christine of Scene Trash Magazine

Scene Trash Magazine is a regional monthly print magazine as well as a promotions company that is just as dedicated as PGR to helping bands out. We had the pleasure of having Christine answer 20 of our questions to give a little bit of an insight to how things work.

Who are you and what is your position for Scene Trash?
I am Christine Osazuwa (stalk me on Facebook?), I'm a sophomore at UMBC, and I was born in the 90s. I am the president/editor/CEO/everything else of Scene Trash Magazine & Promotions
How did you come up with the name "Scene Trash"?
I'll be honest, I remember having a conversation with a friend I no longer talk to, and it was the best idea ever, at the time, but the meaning has developed over time. It's not because we trash the bands or we like to "whore 4 whore" or whatever else crazy kids are doing these days. It just kind of combines all things "scene." Not like dinosaurs and bows because if you're over 13 years old that's probably tacky-looking (unless you can do it right), it's about the music and the lifestyle it conveys including the companies, the bands, the people, and yes, even the clothes. It sounded a lot better than "scene salad" plus it really gets your attention, doesn't it?

What made you want to enter the publishing world?
Well, I never thought I was that wonderful of a writer. I never had a life-long dream to be an editor or something like that. I just really liked to promote when I was 14, and it seemed like a great way to promote that no one else was doing.

How did you decide what kind of things you wanted to put into the magazine?
Since we're all 20 and under on the staff, and all actually go to shows we know what kids want to read, for the most part, because... we are them. So if we hear that one of our bands is putting out an album we want to know about it. We want to ask our favorite bands what type of cereal they like, and ask our favorite bands managers which bands they actually listen to. We figure bands have their "influences" and their "bio" on their MySpace so why not ask them what we know everyone else is thinking?

What are some of the problems you faced producing your first issue? Ongoing issues you still face today?
The first issue came out a week late. Guess you can consider that a... problem. We just had problems printing and how exactly we should put it all together, etc. Then my graphic designer quit 5 issues in, so I had to learn how to use publishing software. We still face price issues, because it's expensive to print definitely, but thankfully we have subscribers & advertisers now that help cut down costs some.

How did you approach advertising sales on your first issue?
We didn't. I didn't even think of advertisers until maybe the 7th issue or so. I don't think if I was someone interested in advertising I would have wanted to advertise with Scene Trash in the first issues, they were terrible! We may have had one or two scattered about from friends but nothing anyone actually PAID for, that was unfeasible for a while.

After the first issue, when and why did you decide on having more people help with your publication?
Well we started off with 5 people I believe, maybe 4. None of which are on the staff anymore, of course. I knew I couldn't do it alone so I just asked a bunch of my friends, which was obviously a mistake but I was 15 when Scene Trash started. Oh to be youthful and innocent...

How has your magazine changed from when you first started out?
I'd actually read it now. The first four/five issues were God awful. Now, it's full of some great articles by some amazing girls. It covers bands you've never heard of and bands you listen to daily. It's a nice blend and every issue there's always an article that turns out to be my favorite where I really do learn something new even though I'm the editor.

For those readers who have never picked up an issue of Scene Trash Magazine, what can they expect to get out of it?
It depends on what you want to get out of it. If you pick it up thinking, this is such a joke, that's what you'll get out of it. We like to have fun over here at Scene Trash, so what you'll pick up on is our use of "LOL" in an article, or an article dedicated to how stupid girls act in relationships. We think both of these things are great but Scene Trash is about more than that. If you come at it with an open mind, you'll see the articles about bands that can't seem to catch a break, history about some amazing labels, interviews with ridiculously talented people that we're insanely jealous of. You'll find at least one thing you identify with, be you a musician, fan, or in the industry.

How much does an issue of Scene Trash cost? How much does a subscription cost?
An issue costs $2 in person (at tables, from me or the girls directly), $2.50 online due to postage, and $3 in stores because the stores take a cut. A subscription for 3 months is $6, and six months is $10. Subscriptions come with a free back issue of your choice, also.

How do you usually select people to join your staff? Do you have an application, position postings, and/or require portfolios?
We have people send us an "about me" as if they were writing on their MySpace. It includes their favorite bands, best show they've been to, where their from, etc. They also have to provide a link to their MySpace. I go through the applicants and see who made me actually want to click their MySpace link... I figure if you can't write about yourself, how can you write about 5 boys in a band? There's also little Scene Trash staff secrets rules that I don't want to reveal here but, we frown on obsessions, we don't hire sluts, and it helps if you present yourself well.

For many fans, interviewing favorite bands such as The Academy Is… and Cobra Starship would be a dream come true. How did you achieve such feats?
It was simple really. Build up a relationship with the labels and management. Once they know you're not a screaming fan, and you're pretty legit, they're pretty receptive to most of your requests. Mind you, I'm probably not going to be interviewing Fall Out Boy anytime soon, regardless of the relationship I have with PR companies and managers, but it could happen one day. Oh and as for a dream come true, what was better than the interviews themselves is that... the bands actually liked the articles. That's the dream come true.

Which person or band has been your favorite interview so far?
Wow, I can't name just one, I've done amazing interviews and they all had very different vibes. I'll say 2007 was a great year and I should follow up on most of these interviews. Cobra Starship because they played Mario Kart throughout the interview. The Academy Is... because it was the realest interview I've ever done, very heart on the sleeve type. All Time Low because it's always great to catch up with those kids again and show the world who they really are.

If you could interview anyone in the world (that you haven't already) who would it be?
I got to interview Kevin Lyman (the creator of Warped & Taste of Chaos) which turned me into a little fangirl on the inside, but I have a heroes section on my MySpace and any of those people would be amazing: Mike Shea, Jason Tate, John Janick, Sean Combs. (I'll let you look up who they are). I've gotten to the point where I'm pretty jaded about being around "rock stars" but people that own record labels, put on festivals, or have created a brand turn me into an idolizing little girl, and I have to stop myself from trying to get an autograph.

Which issue (if any) is your favorite? Why?
My favorite issues are the ones that have great interviews with bands usually, because I just want to show them off. I'm also a fan of all the issues with The Scene Trash Awards because they stir up so much controversy but finally get people talking about all the things they were afraid to say, since I (or someone else) already said it first.

How has the internet helped you with your publishing venture?
We try to be all over the internet on sites like MySpace, Twitter & Facebook of course, in addition we've got great relationships with sites such as thedailychorus.com & fuckthatband.com, that we advertise with a lot. It helps spread the word definitely, plus it's the easiest way to order magazines from us. We like seeing people in person though so the internet is a means to something more. We have a print magazine because we like the tangible a lot more than some words on a screen.

What types of marketing and advertising have you done to promote your magazine?
Word of mouth, especially from our bands is always great. Anytime a band says "our great friends at Scene Trash" on stage or on their blog we always have a spike in page views and friends on MySpace. We also try to put together contests & get our banner out online on all the sites we said above. We're all about doing things that no one else is doing though so putting together compilations, and have prize packs like a "show survival kit" really sets us apart and have people looking our way.

How are you managing your circulation and distribution?
The best way I can. I handle all the circulation, distribution, shipping, and finance. So needless to say, it gets a bit tough somehow but PayPal and Excel are a life saver.

What tips can you give others on getting their first issue produced?
Don't do it. It's more trouble than it's worth, most of the time (especially if you're in school). I, on the other hand, am an over ambitious crazy person, so I probably like the torture/lack of sleep deep down somewhere. Do something else, come up with something that makes me go, damn I wish I would have thought of that. Chances are we'll want to team up! I think we need someone out there to start making music videos and band DVDs!

What do you hope to achieve this year? Any plans to expand into other states maybe?
We have plans to expand again, eventually. We're at a staff of 16 girls or so, so that's really overwhelming at the moment. We plan to finish up the lower part of the East Coast eventually, i.e. Georgia & Florida. We also have a lot of plans that go beyond the magazine, but I don't want to spill the beans just yet. What I can says is that our compilation comes out in a few days, and we hope to grab some merch to give away to our bands before the summer.

Is there anything you'd like to add to conclude this interview?
I guess I just want to say thanks for the interview, seriously! This is the first time I've ever been on this end of the interview process, and it's pretty cool, now I guess I know what all the hypes about. Oh and I hope I don't sound like too much of a tool bag...