Having our own history working in big box record stores, we know that Tuesday’s tend to be big release days in the entertainment world. In light of it being a Tuesday,(and honestly, what else do Tuesday’s really offer?) we bring you this installment of our ‘List of 5′ series:
5 New Albums Out This Week
(Click any of the album covers to check out more information.)
Monday, August 30th
Betta Promotions Showcase
Volcanoes Make Islands (EP Release)
Scott Lucas & The Married Men
Mutts
The Sacred Robe of the Ancient Psychedelic Monks
DJ Caural
Schubas
Show at 8pm 18+ $6
Almanac
Cody Copeland
Pat Hull
Zikr
Ronny’s
Show at 8pm 21+
Sixdollarsuit
Michael Miller Crusade
Rhona Kelly
No Hay Banda
Elbo Room
Show at 8pm $8
Tuesday, August 31st
Silver Wrapper
Orgone
The Right Now
The Right Now
The Dirty Diamonds DJs
Lincoln Hall
Show at 8pm 18+ $10
OnYourMarx
Drew Matia Band
Lee
Jason Baker
Elbo Room
Show at 8pm 21+ $7
Sarah Jaffe
REGO
Schubas
Show at 9pm 21+ $8 adv/$10 at the door
Wednesday, September 1st
Elizabeth Cook
Ernie Hendrickson
Schubas
Show at 7pm 21+ $12 adv/$14 at the door
Community College
Seafarer
House Sounds
Richardson Richardson
Subterranean
Show at 8:30 21+ $8
CAT or Mouse
David Hayes
Marcus J. Austin (8:00pm)
Elbo Room
Show at 8:30 21+ $8
Thursday, September 2nd
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Telekinesis
The Kickback
Lincoln Hall
Show at 9pm 18+ $12 adv/$14 at the door
Girl360 welcomes…
Sarah VonderHaar (Record Release)
Martha Berner
Schubas
Show at 7pm All Ages $10
Wolf in a Spacesuit
Dale Earndhardt T JR. JR.
The Single Helix
Earth Program
Subterranean
Show at 8:30 17+ $10
Swingin’ Utters
The Mezingers
The Stranger
The Please & Thank You’s
Reggie’s
Show at 6pm All Ages
Plague
Sons of Mary
Trigger Fish
Beyond Words
Souldub
Elbo Room
Show at 8:30 21+ $9
redmoon presents…
J.O.E. (Joyous Outdoor Event)
JC BROOKS & THE UPTOWN SOUND
South Belmont Harbor (Belmont at Lakeshore)
Show at 6pm All Ages $25 Adults/$10 Kids under 10/Free Kids Under 3
X is for Eyes
Lowtalker
The Snips
Belmont Transfer
Beat Kitchen
Show at 8:30 21+ $8
“About five years ago, I quit my band, quit my job, broke up with my girlfriend, moved back in with my parents, and went to law school. I thought I was done with music. But at the same time I found myself some old ProTools gear and started recording new songs. Turns out I really couldn’t give it up.” (Andrew Spitser)
Having survived the instrumental identity crisis all musicians fear, Radars to the Sky front-man Andrew Spitser managed to complete his law degree while exploring DIY recording, thus maintaining his music while evading the strangle of the white collar world on his creativity. The end result is a band formed with the help of law school classmate Kenny Kupers, and later on, classically trained pianist Kate Spitser. A little hiccup in the line up led to the replacement of a guitarist and a bassist, swapping in Rob Danson and Pete DiBiasio respectively.
Taking what was initially an EP started two years back and adding in new songs to match their new line up, the band has spent the last eighteen months recording their first full-length with David Newton, recorder of The Little Ones, The Happy Hollows, and The Henry Clay People, among others. “ In the past we’ve done a lot of the recording ourselves (with inferior equipment) but this time we decided not to cut any corners, and turning it all over to Dave was the best idea we’ve ever had.” (Andrew Spitser) Recently releasing that very full-length, the band proudly presented Supra/Infra to the public last week.
An even dozen tracks, Supra/Infra is a record that’s bound to vex to the independently owned music shops that categorize their albums by genre- this is a record that seems entirely resilient to a label. Opening with tinkling ballad “Take It To Heart”, the male-female vocal exchange, harmonies, and horn section bring a poppy swell of “ba-ba’s” with its heartache before being taken over by a plucky guitar and more dual vocals. “The Apple Never Falls” takes on a bit of a Brit-rock vibe, its male vocals reminiscent of Interpol and over all giving off a vibe of “The Smiths + Synth-pop”.
Starting with a simple strum before giving way to a bouncing melody, “As The Nurses Scurry” won our heart with the simple but sweet lyrics, “As the nurses scurry/ I wish that they’d hurry and leave us alone/ And as I’m taking/ my last breath/ I will take one more and
whisper, “I love you”. The cutesy pop of Radars to the Sky’s guitar takes on a grittier quality in tracks, “As Much As You Love You” and “The Rat” before falling into the full-on gale of wailing guitar in “1624”, a closer that roughly croaks “And I’m sorry/ I’m sorry for fucking this al up/ And I know now it was my fault/ Its all my fault” starkly contrasting the melodies we met at Supra/Infra’s beginning.
A pleasant surprise from a town that seems all too well known for one-dimensional talents, Radars to the Sky make a lasting impression with this contribution to the world of Indie Rock. Supra/Infra may not be the flashiest record in town, but its definitely one of the most earnest we’ve seen churned out as of late, and this band’s heart-on-their-sleeve sound is sure to win over anyone with a taste for melodious melancholy.
Andrew Spitser talked with us from the West Coast, sharing the bands biggest influences, their plans for the next year, and the most memorable concert he’s ever attended.
Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?
Andrew Spitser: It’s probably very different for all of us in the band. Kenny and Pete grew up listening to a lot of classic rock and even some proggy stuff. You can hear that in their playing a bit. Kate is a classically trained pianist. And Rob started life as a metal head but quickly became a Sonic Youth/ Pavement/ Pixies guy. In fact, I like that we don’t all have the same influences. I think it keeps us from
becoming one of those bands whose songs all sound the same.
As for me, I’ll cheat a little and not just give 3 bands but say this: I grew up in a house that listened to lots of John Denver, Kingston Trio, and old folk tunes. I think the melodicism and emphasis on lyrics of that stayed with me. Then I became a huge Smiths/ Cure/ Depeche Mode fan as a teenager. I think you can definitely hear traces of that stuff in our music. And then in college I learned about Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Pavement, Archers of Loaf, etc. Totally blew my mind. Doug Martsch is still probably the biggest influence on my songwriting, though I’m trying to break the spell a little.
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Andrew Spitser: When I was in 4th grade, I saw a trombone being played and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Unfortunately, I got the name wrong and told my mom and dad I wanted to play the saxophone. My dad had one (he’s a clarinet player) and so they gave me that. I took lessons for 8 years. But I’ve still always wanted to play the trombone.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Andrew Spitser: I haven’t been able to stop listening to Avi Buffalo’s album. I’m a sucker for The National and just went back to their latest album again a bunch of times. They are absolutely perfect headphone music. And I really like the Henry Clay People album. That’s been in the car for quite a while.
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Andrew Spitser: It would be a dream of mine to record an album with Phil Ek. He’s produced so many of my favorite bands and albums (Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, The Shins, Irving, etc.). That would be pretty fun. Plus, I’ve played basketball with him and he’s a beast down low.
Reviewsic: What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?
Andrew Spitser: I used to live right at the Sunset Junction; literally at the junction itself. We could hear the main stage from the apartment building. One year it was late in the day and it was so crowded and we were so, um, “tired,” that we went back to our place and listened to Sonic Youth’s set from our patio. That was pretty amazing.
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
Andrew Spitser: So many good ones. For our record release show, we’re playing with three of our favorites. Our old guitar player, Seamus’ band, Smokers in Love, is really good – kind of Constantines meets Joy Division. Death to Anders is criminally underrated, but that is about to change. Rob’s new songs are even better than the old stuff. Really, really talented. And The Henry Clay People are one of the best live bands in the world. Period.
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Andrew Spitser: Built to Spill, just cause they’re my favorite band, and one of the only bands I can imagine watching every night without getting bored. The Smiths, cause they’re the one band of my all-time favorites I’ve never gotten to see. And I would simply corner Johnny Marr at all times and ask him to show me stuff on the guitar. And The Airborne Toxic Event. I’ve been friends with Mikel since we were kids, and it would be incredible to finally get to go on tour together after dreaming abou it for so long.
Reviewsic: Tell us about Supra/Infra - is there a particular concept behind it? What do you hope first time listeners take away from the album? (Feel free to include any other thoughts on the album you want to toss out there)
Andrew Spitser: We’re a band that does a lot of different styles. We have songs that are kind of a throwback to 90′s era indie rock. We have other stuff that’s more folksy. Other stuff that’s more straight ahead rock. So the idea of Supra / Infra, which translates roughly to
Things Written Before / Things Written Later, is that some of our stuff is kind of backward looking musically and some of it is kind of forward-thinking. And the lyrics are kind of the same. The first song on the album is the oldest — I wrote it more than 5 years ago and recorded it as a solo tune. It, and a couple of others on the album, are about an old ex-girlfried — kind of a mini-breakup album in the middle of the larger album. But others are really recent, and kind of forward looking. So I liked the dichotomy of those two terms.
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at the point of this new release as opposed to when you first began playing together?
Andrew Spitser: The lineup has evolved. Rob is now playing guitar, and he’s just an amazing musician. He is focused more on nuance and texture than maybe we were in the past. Pete’s on bass, and his playing is so well suited to Kenny’s drumming style. Overall, I’d say we’ve just continued to grow as musicians. I’ve been making a concerted effort to write songs that are more in my range, and we’ve been experimenting with some different styles.
Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities and/or venues to play? Any places in particular that you haven’t played yet, but are looking forward to getting to?
Andrew Spitser: Truth is, because of where we’ve been in life (small kid, serious jobs) we haven’t gotten to play out of town much in the last couple of years. But we’re looking to change that. We’re planning a tour up north, and we’re booking a show in San Diego and Orange County for later this year. The goal is to branch out. We’d really like to make it out to South by Southwest this year. Our little girl is old enough we think she’s ready for some extended road trips.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Andrew Spitser: Playing Sunset Junction was amazing. Having lived there and having seen so many good shows there over the years made being on that stage the realization of a long-time goal. Playing the El Rey was incredible, too. That was the largest venue we’ve ever played, and having such a positive reception from that many people was pretty overwhelming.
Reviewsic: What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit”?
Andrew Spitser: As I said, we’re pretty green when it comes to touring, but I’d guess: a couple of good books, extra contacts, a hand-held recorder to work on new songs together, and some time away from each other.
Reviewsic: Where would you like to see yourselves as a band this time next year?
Andrew Spitser: Truthfully, we try not to plan too far ahead. We’d love to be out on the road playing every night for new people. That’d be ideal. But at this point, just making the best music we can is the immediate goal. We definitely won’t let it go too long before recording again.
Having spent a number of years as friends, members of The Shams Band have been dabbling in music together since high school. Guitarists Donnie Biggins and Paul Gulyas, along with bassist Brian Patterson returned to their musical and familial roots after college, playing open mics around their native Illinois and taking up residency in Biggins’ parent’s garage in order to practice what eventually became the band they’ve shaped since. Insisting on a communal effort, the guitarist Donnie Biggins detailed the bands writing process as such: “Paul, Brian and I are all songwriters for the band. It allows us to cross different styles and genres of songwriting. It also encourages us to constantly write and improve at our instruments. When a song is presented, all members add their own flavor to the song. Which then turns a song into a group effort and production.”
Relatively new in their inception as a full band, after adding drummer Doug Hill and the occasional banjo accompanist Ben White in the last year, The Shams Band has begun to play such noted venues as Lincoln Hall, Schubas, and Double Door. In addition to being frequently billed on local shows, the folk-rock four-some is an avid supporter of their local Chicago scene. “We work tirelessly to support the local Chicago music scene on a daily basis. I think all of my money goes to cover’s and beer tabs at music venues. We believe that other artists should share the belief that supporting one another will help us all go farther than trying to do it alone.” (Donnie Biggins)
Taking cues from favorites like Tom Petty and Wilco, The Shams Band delivers a slight southern drawl soaked in Midwestern charm, at times touting the lifestyle of the “Working Man” and at others a regaling tales with a little more heartache like in “The Des Plaines River” crowing with lyrics such as, “Take me to the Des Plaines River/ and drown me in the dirty water/all around me a prisoner in the mud”.
Twangy and pitchy in all the perfectly whiskey washed ways you’d expect from a blues/folk-rock hybrid, The Shams Band and their boot stomping beats are the good natured kind of folks who will give you a tow with their truck and can BBQ the hell out of some ribs. 
The Shams Band’s very own Donnie Biggins talked with us recently to dilvulge some details on his summer playlist, what the band has been up to, and who he would take on the road with him in his “dream tour”.
Reviewsic: Can you give us a quick recap of what the band has been up to this summer?
Donnie Biggins: After opening the Chicago Farmer’s Market at Daley Plaza with Mayor Daley in May, we spent June playing two Chicago festivals: Ribfest-Chicago and the Taste of Chicago. We have also been working hard to finish Champagne so we can get it out to our friends as soon as possible.
Reviewsic: What are your top three musical influences?
Donnie Biggins: Mine personally: Jeff Tweedy, Woody Guthrie and Gram Parsons. Band: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND!!!!!!!!!!!! (just kidding)
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Donnie Biggins: Tuba
Reviewsic: What are some of the songs/bands in your summer playlist this year.
Donnie Biggins: New Deal Crew – Hip hop group out of Chicago that are making great hooks and beats.
Dan Price – www.myspace.com/kajanjan. He is a world traveler and a great friend of mine. His songwriting is some of the best I have ever heard in my life.
Stephen Paul Smoker – http://stephenpaulsmoker.com/
Ornery Little Darlings – I am listening to them all day every day. http://www.myspace.com/ornerylittledarlings
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Donnie Biggins: I’d love to work locally in Chicago with a label like Bloodshot Records. We don’t ever want to leave Chicago… maybe we’ll go to Nashville for a little bit of fun.
Reviewsic: What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?
Donnie Biggins: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1995. I was 9 years old and will never forget how bad I wanted to be up there with the band. I also learned what pot smelled like from the folks around me.
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
Donnie Biggins: Derek Nelson and the Musicians,Rachele Eve, Ornery Little Darlings
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Donnie Biggins: The Rolling Stones – let’s party, James Brown – let’s dance, Ornery Little Darlings - let’s party and dance
Reviewsic: Tell us about Champagne - is there a particular concept behind it? What has the process of putting together the LP been like?
Donnie Biggins: Champagne is a toast to all of our friends, family, and supporters that have come out to all the gigs we have done in the past year. It also represents the hard work and time we have put into our first album. We are very proud and there’s no better way to
celebrate than with a glass of champagne.
Reviewsic: How would you compare yourselves as musicians at this point as opposed to when you first began playing together?
Donnie Biggins: We have gone from kindergarten to high school graduates. Practicing 2-3 times a week will do it. This isn’t just a hobby for us, this is what we want to do with our lives.
Reviewsic: What are some of your favorite cities and/o venues to play?
Donnie Biggins: Beat Kitchen, Lincoln Hall and Double Door.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Donnie Biggins: The best moments have been the first 2 Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival at Congress Theater. We have shared the stage with many historical acts (Bela Fleck, Avett Brothers and Dr. Dog)
Worst moments – 9 hour car ride to Bloomington, IN in a blizzard.
Reviewsic: What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit”?
Donnie Biggins: Peanut butter, snick-snacks, and (trunk) whiskey. Oh yes, and water!
Reviewsic: What are your plans for music in the next year?
Donnie Biggins: To play in as many cities across America. Complete our second album.
Originally Posted: April 5th 2010
A slight and humbled smile accompanied Andrew Belle onto the Schuba’s stage along with five other musical talents. With a
clear, crisp striking of chords Belle started his headlining set with the title track from his recently released full-length, The Ladder, to a venue packed all the way to the bar at the back of the room.
As impressed as we were when The Ladder appeared in our inbox a few months ago, it couldn’t prepare us for the live set the Midwestern native delivered this past Sunday. On stage it was obvious that Andrew is someone who has truly grown comfortable in his own musical skin over the years. Coming off as controlled and confident, knowing just when to back away from or belt into the microphone, the singer/songwriter’s skills were enough to calm the chatty crowd multiple times in the night- no easy feat in a room full of friends and booze.
With a full band playing behind him, songs from The Ladder took on a more broad, spacey indie vibe, which we found to be a pleasant and smooth transition from the acoustic based songs that started out his musical career. The talents backing 
Belle allowed him to rock out a little, and as much as we enjoy the more subdued feel of his records, we have to say we loved this even more. The night was not entirely without flaw, but even those hiccups weren’t anything worth picking on too much. A dropped, then apologetically restarted song, as well as a late return from the band after a duet between Andrew Belle and Allen Stone, were over shadowed by the quiet confidence and clean sound weheard the rest of the night. In fact the latter slip up turned out to be a bit of a blessing, because it extended the earlier duet between Andrew and Allen by a song and honestly, who can complain about something as beautiful as that?
Though Belle himself has been blowing up more recently, gaining popularity through a few of his tracks being featured on a number of television shows, he remains level headed about his new found fame. In our time spent with the 23 year-old we found him to be nothing but hospitable and totally grounded in spite of the currently glaring limelight that surrounds him.
With that said, it seemed all too suiting to be sitting with the up and coming musician amid the posters of great Schuba’s shows past that wall paper its greenroom walls, as we talked to Belle about things such as his musical growth, favorite albums, and best moments thus far in his career.
Reviewsic: How did you get your start in music?
Andrew Belle: Well, in high school I played in bands. That’s kind of where I learned to appreciate and love music, then in college I started a band and became the primary songwriter for that, and that’s how I fell into song writing. My senior year of college as Taylor University I was debating whether or not I should pursue business and get a marketing degree, or if I wanted to pursue song writing- because I always felt like I had a little bit of a niche for it.
So I just kind of took a gamble. I thought “Well, I’m 21, I can do other things later and give this a shot now.” So after I graduated college I moved home to Chicago and started playing in bars, bookstores and coffee houses- you know, just…wherever. I recorded an EP and that sort of got the ball rolling, then did the album last year and just put it out now. That brings us up to speed with everything.
Reviewsic: What were some of the venues you tended to frequent starting out in Chicago?
Andrew Belle: Well my first gig was at a Border’s bookstore open mic, in the Seattle’s Best Coffee area of Borders. I played Potbelly’s Sandwich shop very regularly, and there’s a bar here in the city called Rockit Bar & Grill, and they’re the ones that kind of really gave me my start because they gave me a regular Sunday gig and that’s where I really started to get in a repetition of performing every week, and kind of figuring out what I was doing.
Reviewsic: How would you say you’ve changed since you first started out?
Andrew Belle: I’ve evolved in the last four years vocally a lot. It took me a while to find my sound as far as my vocals go. I used to idolize Chris Carraba of Dashboard Confessional and Ben Gibbard, you know, people that can sing really high, and I used to try that, but it just wasn’t working. Then I started to cover bands like Dave Matthews, Coldplay, and John Mayer, those guys that have a throatier, lower tone, and that’s where I found my niche vocally. I also used to only write for solo acoustic, and over the years my music has evolved into this full-blown pop-rock type music.
Reviewsic: What are some of your biggest musical influences?
Andrew Belle: Coldplay, Greg Laswell, Damien Rice, Landon Pigg, and Lovedrug. Oh, and Death Cab For Cutie, course.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums you listened to?
Andrew Belle: The Paper Route, Absence- they’re a band from Nashville and they’ve got kind of a Radio Head-ish thing going on, but a little more poppy. Radio Head, I listened to In Rainbows the other night on our way home from Kansas City. And the third record I believe was Bright Eyes, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning.
Reviewsic: If you could collaborate with anyone in the music business, who would it be and why?
Andrew Belle: I really want to work with Greg Laswell because he produces and engineers his own stuff, and I’m a really big fan of his music. When I was making my last record I had all my demos and asked him to produce it but he was too busy with his own stuff and had just started touring. But somewhere down the line I would really like to work with Greg. He influences me a lot and I think he could really help me bring out a lot of those things I’m looking to do.
Reviewsic: If you were to book your “dream tour”,who would you want on the bill?
Andrew Belle: Off the top of my head…I would love to do an Andrew Belle, Death Cab for Cutie, and Lovedrug tour…but they’re only allowed to play Pretend You’re Alive. Every once in a while Coldplay could make a surprise appearance if they wanted to.
Reviewsic: Any festivals you’re hoping to get to in the future?
Andrew Belle: Well there’s that really cool tour in L.A. called the Café Hotel Tour, and they had to shut down because I think they went bankrupt…but if they ever get that thing going again, I’d love to be part of that. I would love to do Bonaroo, or Lollapalooza here in Chicago. I don’t think I’m quite indie enough to do Pitchfork haha Coachella, you know, I wouldn’t turn them down. I’d also love to tour over seas at some point.
Reviewsic: Any particular cities or venues you look forward to playing when on tour?
Andrew Belle: Well definitely, here at Schuba’s. It’s kind of a home venue for me in Chicago- in the last fourteen months or so I’ve played here I think seven times, so we’re here a lot. I really like the Hotel Café in Los Angeles, and we’re just starting to build somewhat of a fan base in New York City so we played the Living Room there, and it was a lot of fun. Nashville…I like because a lot of my friends are and it’s such a great place to be for music, but I honestly don’t really like to perform in Nashville just because it’s so much of an industry town. Shows there are difficult as far as the audience goes because it’s usually a bunch of cross-armed musicians eyeing your chord changes, it can be a little snooty.
Reviewsic: What would you say the best and worst music moments so far in career are?
Andrew Belle: It’s a toss up for me. We played my CD release here at Schuba’s two months ago and it sold out, that was just a really cool moment because I love this venue and it was the first time I ever sold it out. It was the first time I ever headlined here too, so it was really special. But I don’t know if it beats our final Ten Out of Tenn Tour show that we did for Christmas this past December in Nashville. It was 600 people crammed into this venue and I love that tour so much, and always wanted to be part of it. So to be part of it with all of these artists that I idolized and to play this giant sold out homecoming show, there were justseveral moments that night where I was so happy that this was my life. So that might be the best show I’ve ever played, at the Exit Inn in Nashville.
The worst…might be this past summer, when we hadn’t really gotten things going the way we have them now. I played a show here in Chicago at the Beat Kitchen, which went great, and then my manager booked me a second show the next night, and I remember thinking “We probably shouldn’t play back to back shows…” and then we get to the venue, set up, and literally one person came. We ended up calling off the show and just had dinner with that person. Which proved to be really pleasant, but it would have been nice if people came.
Reviewsic: How would you compare the EP to the new full-length?
Andrew Belle: I’ve gotten a lot more confident and grown to understand my vocals a lot more, like what I’m capable of. I think my writing has gotten a tad better. I’ve never really looked back on any of my writing and bad mouthed it, I know there are some musicians that hate anything they’ve done in the past. Whatever they’re currently working on is always the best thing they’ve ever done haha. But I’ve never been that way, I’ve always been pretty proud of what I do. I will say that I’ve grown though. On this record we captured a lot more of what my sound really is- it’s a pop rock kind of sound, and I wanted the production to be done intelligently, with maybe a few things just a little left of center. I wanted there to be elements that came from a more organic sound, rather than just completely pop produced- which is how it is on the EP, everything on that record is super clean, super produced.
Reviewsic: Is there anything you don’t play that you wish you could pick up?
Andrew Belle: Well drums- I can play drums, but I’m not good. I would love to buy a drum kit and actually get good. That’s one instrument that I think I could put on headphones and just be happy to play all day. Guitar, I’ve been playing for a while and I think I might just want a break from it sometimes. I’m just starting to learn piano a little bit more, and I’m loving that but drums is one that I think I could be happy just sitting at all day playing along with all my favorite records.
Reviewsic: If you had to listen to five records for the rest of your life, what would they be?
Andrew Belle: Radio Head- Kid A, Coldplay-A Rush of Blood to the Head,Lovedrug-Pretend You’re Alive, Deathcab for Cutie- Transatlanticism, and…. number five, I’d say Deja Entendu by Brand New.
Reviewsic: Where would you like to see yourself in the next year musically?
Andrew Belle: Well pretty soon we’ll be releasing a music video Katie Herzig and I did for ‘Static Waves’, we’ll be doing some college touring in the spring and heading out some more over the summer. So in a year I would like to have a lot of touring under my belt and hopefully continue all the momentum we have now as far as album sales and fan base growth. It’d be great to get to the point where I could tour nationally and expect people to be there.
Be sure to cast your vote for Andrew Belle in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest
Friday, August 27th
She Likes Todd
The Tired and True
Loudmouth
The Atrocities
Ronny’s
Show at 8pm 21+
Cameron McGill & What Army
Horse In The Sea
Kevin Andrew Prchal
Rachele Eve
Metro
Show at 9pm 18+ $11
Coliseum
Sweet Cobra
Burning Love
Fight Amp
Reggie’s
Show at 7pm All Ages
Riot Inside
Room 101
Arma
Echo Son
Subterranean
Show at 8:30 17+ $6 adv/$10 at the door
Drag The River (Acoustic)
Cory Branan
Schubas
Show at 7pm All Ages$10
Spitalfield
Just Left
The Forecast
Beat Kitchen
Show at 9:30 17+ $12 adv/$15 at the door
Brent Puls
Death Ships
The Glory Singers
Schubas
Show at 10pm 21+ $8
White Mystery
The 1900s
Lover!
Lincoln Hall
Show at 10pm 21+ $10
Saturday, August 28th
Memoryhouse
Twin Sister
Yawn
Distractions
Lincoln Hall
Show at 9pm 18+ $10 adv/$12 at the door
UR Chicago Online & United Welcome:
One Night Stand- Featuring:
Team Bayside High
Zebo
Alex Zelenka
Lucky Date
Soundwave
Broken Disco 1980
Metro
Show at 10pm 18+ $6 before 11pm/$8 after (first 100 in the door get in FREE)
Highball
Be My Doppelganger
The Neutron Bombs
Sore Subjects
Ronny’s
Show at 8pm 21+
Tub Ring
Dr. Killbot
Dr. Manhattan
Mose Giganticus
Subterranean
Show at 8:30 17+ $12
Sunday, August 29th
The Megabangers
Fain
Illusions Fate
Aftermath
Lay Z Boy
Felon Love
Hessler
Reggie’s
Show at 6:30 18+ $5
TV Torso
Radar Eyes
The Lighthouse and the Whaler
Schubas
Show at 8pm 21+ $7
ALERT
BECKON Q
ROOTS 101
Jessi Kay Q
John Christopher
Beat Kitchen
Show at 6pm 17+ $10 adv/$12 at the door
Proceeds Benefit: Grip Outreach for Youth and Asian Youth Services
Carioca Trio featuring…
Carioca – Guitar & Vocals
Dimos Goudaroulis – Cello
Luis Guello – Percussion
Lincoln Hall
Show at 8pm 18+ $15 adv/$20 at the door
Teenage Bottlerocket
The Reaganomics
Love & Squalor
Subterranean
Show at 8pm 17+ $10 adv/$12 at the door
The Square Affair is an event that will be held at the Logan Square Auditorium on August 27th in order to celebrates Logan Square’s history, residents, businesses, artists, musicians, and more. Along with regular hang outs every Sunday and a neighborhood tumblr, Logan Square is getting all the love it needs thanks to its committed community.
Friday’s line up will include:
Logan Square Auditorium
Doors at 8pm 17+$8 pre-sale/$12 at the door
Originally Posted: February 24th 2010
Nothing creates fun-filled musical fusion better than friendship, and that’s just what Garden State dwellers, It’s a King Thing have been doing for years. Though the band has gone through some line up changes, having previously featured guitar by Into it. Over it. musican Evan Weiss, and spent time in other bands such as Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, they’re proud to announce their first full album as the five-some they are today. Released to the World Wide Web just last week, It’s a King Thing’s Buffalo buffalo Buffalo, buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo is twelve tracks of infectious indie power pop done exactly the way it was meant to be. “I think the album benefits from everyone’s input. There’s a good chemistry between us and we have fun and it comes off great on the record.” (Brian Mietz)
Citing such influences as The Lemonheads, Weezer, and Weston, it’s no wonder that these five have the witty indie wherewithal that they do. The homonym- homophone inspired Buffalo… casually cloaks the bands satisfying instrumental compositions in humorous and lighthearted lyrics. “My life is one awkward moment to the next. Most songs are about those moments. Some are sweet and some are mortifying. I like taking something that isn’t a big deal and shining a light on it.” (Brian Mietz)
However, don’t let lines from songs like “Mush Mouth” (“Your S’s sound funny when you say Mississippi/ I couldn’t see you weren’t pretty”), its accompanying background of slushy s’s or the occasional scream filled outtakes between tracks fool you into thinking this band is nothing more than a good time. From the more sentimental “Everything Backwards”, the poppy
“Old Hobbies” to the melodic and catchy “Bill Haverchuck”, It’s a King Thing has managed to be cohesive without being repetitive, and to take a shine to the indie pop sound we know and love without totally ripping off the bands we already have in our collections.
The balance between the silly and serious in the songwriting of this album shows a maturity that we plan to keep in our arsenal of defense for anyone who scoffs at the idea of power pop. Buffalo… is up for free on the band’s site, where it can also be streamed in its entirety. You can also follow the band’s progress as they create corresponding videos for all the songs on the album, a few of which are already posted on the band’s site, as well as youtube. With the ethereal easiness of Nada Surf, the high quality quirkiness of early Weezer, and the price tag of a Chipotle Halloween burrito, there’s not a single good reason not to own, love, and rave over these Haddon, Hills, and Heights housed New Jerseyans’ new album.
It’s a King Thing Online
Itsakingthing.com
Myspace
CD Baby
It’s a King Thing front man Brian Mietz took some time out of his busy schedule being startled by “fast moving shadows that he thinks are cats” and writing songs with the perfect blend of “ ‘I can’t believe my mom just caught me masturbating’ and winsome anti-folk vignettes” to answer a few questions with us this week about who he’d team up with in the industry and just what a comic book of It’s a King Thing Would read like.
Reviewsic: Can you give us a quick recap of what the band has been up to?
Brian Mietz: One of the goals for this record was to do videos for all of the songs. We’ve been working on one for “Kira”, one for “Hangin’ Out” and another video is in the works that’s going to feature the most insane, drum set I’ve ever seen.
Reviewsic:What made you decide to put your album online for free?
Brian Mietz: We didn’t have any money put into the record. Steve and his business partner Dave Downham own a studio so we recorded for free. Putting it online for free made the most sense. This way we don’t charge up our credit cards to buy CDs and people get to download a great record for free. Everyone wins.
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Brian Mietz: The Lemonheads (Atlantic Records Years), Weezer (Matt Sharp era) and Weston during the Chuck era. The songs those bands recorded during those times are imprinted in my brain and I’d love to see them played live every night.
Reviewsic: How did you get your start in music?
Brian Mietz: Santa Claus gave me my first guitar in 7th grade. My cousins showed me how to play and I would put CDs on and play along with them to get the hang of everything. I did that a couple summers ago for the first time in ages. It was a blast. From the past. A total gas.
Reviewsic: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
Brian Mietz: I saw Van Hagar at the Spectrum in 1995 with my brother and my Uncle Tom. I remember I wore a shirt that had Kermit the Frog dressed as Forrest Gump. This one…
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Brian Mietz: I wish I could play the piano really well. I’d need bigger hands though. I have little girl hands.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Brian Mietz: The last 2 Dr. Dog albums, the new Juliana Hatfield album and I made a playlist of the Pavement “Quarantine the Past” retrospective that’s coming out soon. My boss also is playing My 106.1 Philly and it’s gross.
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Brian Mietz: I wanna write a song with Tom Petty. He never writes a stinker.
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands (past or present)?
Brian Mietz: Dixon Ward, Brooke McAleer and Ages. Dixon Ward was Steve’s old band. Brooke and I are in a band called The Not Fur Longs and she sings backups on a couple of the Buffalo songs. Her voice and songs are incredible. Ages is the best band in the South Jersey / Philly area, hands down.
Reviewsic: If your band were to be fictionalized into a comic book what would your powers be, who would be the villain, and what would be the plot/conflict?
Brian Mietz: My power would be the ability to morph into someone else so I could be them for a day, Steve’s power wouldbe the ability to suppress his boner when he slow dances with his wife, Johnny’s power would be Pavement Power (any time an off-note/chord is played, it automatically corrects it. Not auto-tunes it, but just makes it sound “right”) Jay would be able to duplicate himself so he can be in two places at one time and Mike would have supersonic wit.
The story is sort of a Back to the Future, meets Angus, meets Beverly Hills 90210 Season 1. We’d all be attending a prom. Marvin Berry and the Starlighters would be performing. After arriving at the prom in 2 Chevy Malibus, we’d find that a band of misfits (not the actual Misfits) had broken Marvin’s hand and the head misfit had infiltrated the Prom King and Queen voting and was voted king. After Mike used his super wit and wisdom to find this information out, Jay would duplicate himself 1,000 times and rush the band of misfits, minus the head misfit, out of the prom. After all had returned to normal, Johnny and his Pavement Power would take over Marvin’s guitar duties. Jay would then re-enter the prom and pair off so there’d be 500 Jay Tagmire’s dancing with each other. During the announcing of the Prom Queen and King, Brian would morph into the king misfit and make fart noises into the microphone during his acceptance speech, thus embarrassing King Misfit into hiding . Steve’s powers would fail. Boners all night.
Reviewsic: What are your top three favorite venues?
Brian Mietz: Maxwell’s in Hoboken and Johnny Brenda’s in Philly are my favorites to play. Seeing shows at both of those venues is lots of fun too. For me, Johnny Brenda’s is like the Bait Shop in season 2 of the OC.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Brian Mietz: My favorite moments were opening sold out shows for the Lemonheads and Weston. I had to poop real bad before a couple shows if that counts for bad moments.
Originally Posted: May 22nd, 2010
Supporting talent from the shores of the East Coast Beartrap PR offers small bands an outlet and resource for getting themselves heard. Through the use of their biting wit, impressive beards, and an ear for good music, the men behind this publicity operation have honed their DIY skills to deliver awesome bands to the public ear.
Doing double duty running Beartrap as well as the independent label Tiny Engines, the roster of bands these three handles is nothing short of impressive. The purveyors of such delights as the Everyone Everywhere Blog Tour that Reviewsic had the pleasure of taking part in last month, Chuck Daley, Will Miller, and the newly hired Jeff Meyers are three creatively minded members of the music community that are worth crossing paths with.
Being a bunch that so often touts the talents of others, we thought it was about time that we shed a little limelight on these music promotion masterminds. Chuck, Will, and Jeff were kind enough to tell us more about their plans for Beartrap/Tiny Engines, offer advice to upcoming bands, and share some of their favorite music with us in this intimate interview (or at least as intimate as an email can get.)
Reviewsic: What is your personal background in music?
Chuck: In my early days, I worked at my college radio station and for a short time published my own little zine titled “Against The Grain,” which was totally cut-and-paste / photocopied but still looked pretty sweet. I honestly had no intention of becoming a publicist or working in the music industry at all, but as fate would have it, I was presented with the opportunity to join Deep Elm Records in early 2000. Thinking that it would be a great adventure with a label I really dug and that it would allow me to put my skills / education to good use, I took the plunge and moved to Charlotte, NC with absolutely no clue as to how it would all turn out. For the duration of my 7.5 years there, it was mostly just the label owner and I – although Will worked with us for about two years (and LOVED it) – so I participated in almost all aspects of day to day operations. It was truly a great education on how a successful indie label works.
After Deep Elm, I started Beartrap PR in 2006, which has been one of the most challenging, rewarding experiences of my life. And about a year ago, Will, Jeff and I decided that we weren’t happy with simply being poor … we wanted to be in debt as well … so we created Tiny Engines.
Will: I worked at Deep Elm Records for close to two years where I met Chuck. I actually quit Deep Elm in early 2005 for various reasons and started a music blog called Sound As Language in late 2005. I finally gave in to Chuck’s advances and joined him at Beartrap in early 2007. And then we started Tiny Engines in 2008.
Jeff: I started putting on shows when I was in high school at local vfws in my area (Bucks County). It was mostly for my friends and sometimes for touring bands. I was just sort of getting a feel for it. I became more interested in expanding and so
I ended up putting together shows in Philadelphia at a few different venues towards the end of high school. When I started college at Temple University, I wanted to keep it going so I ended up creating my ownstudent organization that gave me flexibility to bring touring bands to a place called The Owl Cove. I did that till I graduated and then I started to tour the country with Jena Berlin. I booked all of our own tours and I did that for about 3-4 solid years and now I am laying low and booking tours for other bands through Beartrap.
Reviewsic: How did Beartrap come to be what it is today?
Will: I’m sure Chuck gives a better answer to this because I wasn’t there in the very beginning. Like I said I came on in early 2007. I like to think I’ve had a positive influence on Beartrap’s growth and I think we’ve been successful cause we only work with bands we love, treat them like family and at the end of the day, we like to think we do a really good job. Adding Jeff to come on as the Beartrap booking guy in late 2009 was another big step for us.
Chuck: Ha … and what is that? A charity PR firm for poor punk rock bands and labels? Assuming you’re insinuating that Beartrap is sorta successful and we have an awesome roster of bands and labels, that just came from me deciding that I would never work with anyone whose music I didn’t love or couldn’t stand behind 100 percent. Great music has always been the foundation of this company. That, and a DIY ethic supported by a strong community of like minded people.
At the beginning it was really tough. I had to struggle to find bands to work with, even though I had tons of experience at Deep Elm. Money was really tight and I wasn’t really sure what the hell I was doing. I still don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but I’ve stuck to my guns and somehow Will and I have created something moderately successful. With Jeff on board now, I think it’s even better. We’re very good at what we do and we work with some amazing people. Money is still tight, but we’re always busy with new projects and tours and our reputation is strong enough that our best advertising is word of mouth from clients on the roster.
Jeff: I just joined on officially as a booking agent for Beartrap PR last month. Its been in the works for a few months though. I threw out the idea to Chuck since I had a lot of experience doing it through Jena Berlin and I wanted to try to help others. I was really reluctant to become an “agent” for awhile because I know how ruthless some booking agents can be. I dealt with some in the past when I was booking shows and I just know in general that being a booking agent can sometimes have a stigma with being an asshole. I try my best to make sure the bands I work for are taken care of but have a certain kind of knowledge of the promoters and venues/houses I’m working with and just trusting people without giving them unreasonable demands.
Reviewsic: How did Tiny Engines come about?
Chuck: I don’t know, really. Honestly, I had no intention of ever having to do anything with a label ever again. I think that it was more Will’s dream and he would often hint at the idea. For me it only became a reality when we started talking to our good buddies in Look Mexico about releasing a 7″ for them. It got me really excited at doing the whole label song and dance again, and while I think that running Tiny Engines is can be a little more frustrating than doing Beartrap, I often find it more creatively stimulating. There’s a much bigger risk / reward in releasing records compared to simply working the publicity side … which I kind of dig.
Will: Well, Chuck says it was my idea so I guess I’ll take credit for it. It’s definitely true that I always wanted to start my own label. That’s one of the reasons I jumped at the chance to work at Deep Elm. I wanted to see how it all worked from the inside out. So, I guess I planted the seed after leaving Deep Elm and once I joined Beartrap it was probably just a matter of time before we would start a label. Chuck had discussions with Jeff and of course I knew of Jeff’s band Jena Berlin from way back when we got their record at the Deep Elm offices. So, it just materialized from there between the three of us. The initial idea was to just be a seven inch label but that lasted all of two releases. I think now, all three of us want to do as much as we can and give the label a good go.
Reviewsic: What guides/most drives you in your line of work? Essentially, what made you chose to work with music in this way?
Chuck: The obvious answer would be that I love music, and I love the close-knit, community feel of DIY punk rock. I’ve done plenty of tough jobs in my life, but this one definitely feels the most rewarding. One of the best surprises in choosing this line of work – at least for Beartrap – is creating my own business and being my own boss. Working from home is the bomb, and now that I have two boys under the age of two, it has allowed me so much freedom in terms of being a stay-at-home dad. Of course, now I have to work very late hours to ensure that Beartrap and Tiny Engines is still a viable company, but it’s totally worth it.
Will: I think for me, I’ve always had this need/want to try and find great new music. I’m always searching for it and it’s almost like an obsession. Sound As Language has been great because it has given me an outlet to write about all the stuff I find and love and to an extent that’s what I do with Beartrap as well – I’m just trying to get people to listen to records I’ve already fallen for. But, sometimes I have to stop and remind myself to pay attention to the music I already have, know and love before I go endlessly searching for the next thing to hear.
Jeff: I know how tough it can be to book a tour and I try to use my knowledge and experience to make the process a little bit easier. The idea is if I take the time to book a tour for a band, they will have more time to work their day jobs, promote their band, write songs etc. It can be very gratifiying to see a band grow and helping them achieve whatever goals they are striving for. Plus I am really happy to be working with bands affilitated with Beartrap PR since I really trust Chuck and Will’s decisions on who they work with and I like to be apart of it.
Reviewsic: What are the three bands/albums you’re listening to the most right now?
Chuck: Because we’re releasing LPs for both bands (and because I frigin’ love the songs), Everyone Everywhere’s debut full length and Castevet’s The Echo & The Light have been getting ridiculous spins from me over the past few months. There’s a ton of other Beartrap / Tiny Engines stuff that I’m listening to as well: Annabel, Junior Battles, Ludlow Lions, Lighten Up, Summer People, The Saddest Landscap and Grown Ups. If we’re talking about something other than what I’ve been working, I’ve been really diggin’ The Swirlies, Silkworm and Kudgel. Most of my personal music selections have been from the 90′s lately. Not sure why.
Will: I would say there are four bands that I have listened to the most in 2010 and of course they are all Beartrap-affiliated. First, Tiny Engines #3 of course, Everyone Everywhere’s Self-Titled debut LP, which I have listened to a ridiculous amount of times and I think people are really going to be floored by it. It’s the perfect spring/summer record. Then second would be It’s A King Thing’s Buffalo etc. album which fans of the first two Weezer records need to have. Also there’s a band from British Columbia, Canada called Animal Names. Sadly they have broken up but their new album “Let It Been” is amazing…for fans of indie/power pop type stuff. And fourth would be Museum Mouth from NC. They’ve got kind of a noisy, lo-fi indie punk feel to them.
Jeff: 1) Cassino- Kingprince, 2) Communipaw- Self-Titled, 3) Torche- Meanderthal
Reviewsic: Is there a certain genre of music you prefer working with or are looking to push?
Chuck: Not necessarily, but I do only want to push music from bands I love … and it just so happens that I’m more into punk / hardcore / emo than say, twee pop or black metal. Beside all that, most of the people in the media that I have strong ties with seem to lean more toward the punk side of things. Even though I really dig Bluegrass, I’m not sure that I would be the best person to work that type of music because it’s not the area in which I’m strongest.
Will: Well, I’m still a pop/punk kid at heart so it’s hard to believe I have not worked more records in that specific genre. Hell, I would definitely love to do more pop/punk but for whatever reason it just has not happened. On the other hand, I’m happy with the fact that I have been rather diverse in the albums I have chosen to work since I started at Beartrap two years 
ago. From post rock to power pop to singer/songwriter to emo, it really is all about finding albums that I think deserve to be heard no matter the classification. And that feeds into the fact that I am never really looking for any specific genre when it comes to the bands I want to work with. I think when I came on at Beartrap I was hoping to (and maybe Chuck was hoping I would as well) expand the roster outside the realms of punk and hardcore. And while Chuck and I might not agree on every single band, I have been fortunate that he has given me the trust to work with the bands I want. All that being said if you are a rad pop/punk band who is looking for press work please get in touch!
Jeff: You would think we have a particular type of genre we want to release since Look Mexico, Tigers Jaw and Everyone Everywhere kind of fit together. The funny thing is the 3 of us listen to tons of different types of music. What we really care about is if we enjoy the songs and we think other people would to.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst moments so far in your music career?
Chuck: Too many good ones to count and the bad ones aren’t even worth remembering. I’ve been pretty lucky in that respect.
Will: Honestly, I think the best moments are yet to come. I am really excited about the future of Beartrap and Tiny Engines. I think we have a lot left to do and a lot of great music to uncover and spread to willing ears. I would say my worst was while working at Deep Elm because that place made me fairly jaded in regards to labels in general. But, at the end of the day that was a great learning experience for me to have so I don’t look back and regret it one bit.
Jeff: My best moment for me was touring Europe (props to Antillectual). My worst moment was having a nervous breakdown in Alabama after I had to drive an Uhaul with all our equipment back to Philadelphia.
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
Chuck:
1) Andy Fenstermaker, AKA Andy The Doorbum: so far, the only local artist I’ve ever worked with. Andy is a dirty punk rock yetti who works at the best venue in the world, The Milestone
2) Grids: Sweet, sludgy hardcore. Rob works at Lunchbox Records, the best indie record store in the world.
3) Calabi Yau : now defunct, but played weird / good noise / math rock. Now they’re all part of this collective of bands and artists who really seem to be active in the Charlotte scene, putting on shows and releasing records from locals.
Will: I’m going to give you four again and I’m doing SC bands in general:
1) Death Becomes Even The Maiden - This band has a very unique sound I think. It’s kind of grungy but also kind of slick post-punk type stuff.
2) The Dirty White - Noise rock…think the South’s version of McLusky.
3) Schematics - Buddies of mine who hardly ever play out. Not sure what the future holds for them but the songs they’ve recorded are a blueprint for the type of stuff I love. For fans of indie/emo/pop/punk.
4) Thank God - Members of Guyana Punchline and while the thrash remains, there is some melody hidden in the band’s brand of spazz rock.
Jeff:
1) Band Name
2) Algernon Cadwallader
3) Among Criminals
Reviewsic: If you were to choose three bands to share with someone who had zero musical knowledge, who would you introduce them to and why?
Chuck: Ugh … how the hell do I pick? Do I go easy on them and introduce them to bands that are a bit more digestible … or do I throw them in the deep end with something really crazy?
Let’s say Chavez, because I love to mention Chavez every possible chance I get … and they were totally awesome and didn’t get enough recognition back in the day. Next I would say Suger because Sugar was sweet (get it?) and could possibly lead to that person discovering Husker Du, which would be a nice bonus. And finally, Fugazi. Obviously a terrific, seminal band and one that continues to influence so many artists today. More importantly, I’ve never read an interview with Ian MacKaye where he didn’t sound like the wisest punk in the entire world. That should count for something.
Jeff: Bear vs. Shark- this band was on to something great and it sucks they ended too soon. Put out two amazing full lengths. Trial by Fire- wrote a damn near perfect punk rock record on Jade Tree and then disappeared. Sunny Day Real Estate- still my favorite band
Will: Now, that’s a tough question because my favorite bands probably aren’t the ones I would share with someone who had zero musical knowledge. I’m just going to say The Weakerthans though cause even if they had no musical knowledge they could appreciate the lyrical genius of John K. Samson who I may or may not have a man crush on.
Reviewsic: What advice would you give to bands looking to establish a business relationship that like ones you hold with musicians?
Chuck: I would tell them that they need to work with people who are passionate, that believe in the band and show a willingness to go that extra mile. Almost as importantly, you should work with people who are organized, efficient and run their businesses in a professional manner. Just because it’s punk rock doesn’t mean it has to be an unorganized clusterfuck.
Jeff: Trust your instincts and feel people out. Don’t be so quick to jump on board to something. Take your time and find people that really understand your intentions and have your best interest at heart. The music world can be a very cruel place and you just need to know what your band is capable of doing and have a good idea of how you want to make it work. Also I always tell bands to be up front and honest. Don’t be cowards.
Will: Write good songs, tour as much as possible, have respect for what you do and be kind to your fellow bands.
Reviewsic: What would you say your “guilty pleasure” band/musician is? (Not that we think you ought to be ashamed…)
Chuck: Justin Beiber’s “One Time.” How fucking awesome is that song? I also own Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway and every time I hear that Taylor Swift song “You Belong With Me” I kind of smile on the inside. Taylor Swift has such a horrible voice, but she makes it work. Most pop music is crap, but every once in a while there’s a pop song that transcends all the crappyness and despite its origins, it just wins you over.
Will: Probably the one I get the most flak about is Tegan And Sara but I could listen to those gals any day of the week. But like I said earlier I’m a pop/punk kid and those Blink-182 albums are still sacred to me.
Jeff: I thought The Dangerous Summer’s new cd was pretty freaking catchy and good but I don’t listen to it regularly. I did for a few weeks. Would the Postal Service be considered a guilty pleasure?
Reviewsic: Who was playing the first concert you ever attended?
Chuck: I’m pretty sure that my first real concert was Lallapalooza 94. It was the one with Green Day, Beastie Boys and Smashing Pumpkins. I also saw Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms and the Eagles reunion tour around that time as well. I listened to a lot of music (mostly my Dad’s classic rock albums) growing up, but I always lived in small towns, so there was never a “scene” or anything like that. My experiences with live music didn’t come until college. Late bloomer, I guess.
Jeff: I fell asleep at a Michael Jackson concert when I was 5 years old. I guess the first concert/show I went to on my own accord was Foo Fighters back in 1995? It was right when their first album just came out
Will: The only big mainstream concert I can remember going to was Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Faith No More. The first punk show I remember going to was The Queers probably. Or maybe 7 Seconds. It was one of those two but I can’t remember which came first.
Reviewsic: If you were to book your “ultimate show” who would be playing and what where would it be held?
Chuck: It would probably be all my favorite emo bands from the 90s that I never got to see – Indian Summer, Current, Policy Of 3, Amber Inn, Moss Icon, Sleepytime Trio – playing at The Milestone in Charlotte. Oh, I would also like to see Hoover, Jawbox, Edaline, Tiny Hawks and Spy Versus Spy. And Chavez, of course.
Will: I use to have this fantasy about being able to start my own label and sign any five bands I wanted to so I guess this is somewhat similar. I’m assuming I can bring bands back together. Let’s see The Weakerthans (of course), The Dismemberment Plan (Travis Morrison = man crush #2), Samiam, Hot Water Music (Forever And Counting-era) and Jimmy Eat World (Static Prevails and/or Clarity era). And perhaps The Lawrence Arms could open. And the show would be in my back yard of course.
Jeff: Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbox, Handsome, The Casket Lottery at The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, PA.
