F O C U S
MAY 2014
ISSUE#3
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Foxy Shazam | Jaxin Hall | Our Last Night | Mansions & More FOCUS MAGAZINE | 1
STAFF Founders Penelope Martinez Mariana Patino
Editor-in-Chief | Designer Penelope Martinez Art & Managing Editor Mariana Patino Content Editors Lori Gutman Writers Kelly Fadden Taylor Hancock Mariana Patino Luzzei Tsuji Nicholas Turner Photographers Jenn Curtis Leah Dirckerman Lori Gutman Penelope Martinez
Connect focuszine.com facebook.com/focuszine focuszine.tumblr.com @focuszine Contact Us info.focuszine@gmail.com THANK YOU Handguns, Christina Reynier, Pep Talk Media, Mike Cubillos, Earshot Media, Foxy Shazam, Cursed Sails, Our Last Night, Jenny Douglas, Mara Frankel, Mansions, Rich Dyke, OUR STAFF AND YOU!
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INSIDE EVERY ISSUE
6......................Artist of the Month 10.........................Behind the Band 12......................................Arts n’ Stuff
FEATURES
14......................................Cursed Sails 16.............................................Mansions 18..................................Foxy Shazam 20..............................Our Last Night 22........................................Handguns
REVIEWS
30..................................................Album 32.....................................................Show
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ARTIST OF THE MONTH
photos | Matt Lingo // Provided interview | Penelope Martinez
J A X I N H A L L
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Jaxin Hall is a multi-talented individual. From acting and playing music, to being a graphic designer, he is a co-owner of Key Street. Key Street is a popular clothing line dedicated to bringing you unique and affordable apparel; from t-shirts and hats, to cool cellphone cases. We recently got the opportunity to ask him a few questions about how he started and how he has overcome some serious struggles these past few months, thanks to his family and the support of those around him. Q. When did you start designing? I’ve always loved drawing but I only translated that to creating designs for clothing in 2006. Q. What is your role in Key Street? I am one of the two owners. I am head of design, I run our warehouse, and I take care of the day-to-day running of the brand: production, warehouse management, marketing, etc. I really enjoy being super hands-on with everything we do here. I love what I do, and I want to make sure that every step we make as a brand is something I can be proud of. I do almost everything that I can do myself. Q. What made you want to begin your own clothing line? I grew up in New Zealand and, when I first started making clothes in 2006, I felt like there wasn’t really a brand that I had access to that really spoke to me as an individual… at least not in the area where I lived. I was a wannabe-punk/hardcore kid and all I cared about was music and skateboarding. Needless to say, the brands that were available to me, Quiksilver and Rip Curl, weren’t really something I was into, and all the skate brands in New Zealand are ridiculously overpriced. I saw brands on the Internet from the USA, like To Die For, Atticus and Kill Brand, which I was really inspired by. We didn’t have those brands in New Zealand and I didn’t have access to a credit card to buy from them, so I decided to start my own brand. I hoped that people like me would be able to find some kind of affinity with my designs and what I was trying to do. Q. What’s your favorite part of your job? Least favorite? My favourite part of the job is seeing people out wearing our brand. I was recently in the UK on the tube in London and there was a guy sitting across from me with one of our shirts on. I waited for him to make eye contact with me and he did right when he stood up to get off the train. I said “Nice shirt dude!” and he looked at me like I was crazy as he proceeded to exit the train. I guess he didn’t know who I was so it was quite funny in a way. But I like that even more. He had no idea who was behind the brand. He just liked it for what it was and wore the shirt just because. That means I’ve done something right. My least favourite part is the time between when we get a new line back ‘til we release it. I tend to overthink everything and, because I make all the designs myself, I feel like I put a little bit of myself into each one. So I am constantly worrying about whether or not people will like them, because I feel like it all falls back onto me personally. So until the line is released online and the sales come in, I am very busy worrying about whether I’ve done a good job or not. Q. Who has been a great influence on you? Well, the people behind two of the brands I mentioned earlier, To Die For and Kill Brand, actually kind of became friends and mentors for me when I was first starting out. They’re great people who really helped me see what it took to create a great brand and what kind of work goes on behind it. I also have a friend, Curt Everitt, who is an amazing designer and artist in general, who took me under his wing and really gave me a solid foundation on which to hone my design skills. He showed me how to use the design programs properly and gave me not only a computer and a Wacom tablet, but also somewhere to live when I first came to America. He’s an amazing friend and I owe him a lot for that. Q. What’s been a proud moment for you? I recently became a father! That was an incredibly proud moment for me. The fact that I started this company from nothing and am now able to support my family from it is something that I am very grateful for.
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Q. How do you get inspired when you have to design something new? One of the things I do is keep a folder on my phone called “inspiration” in which I put all the photos I take of stuff that I like as I knock about each day. Anything from an old Hawaiian print shirt at a thrift store to a cool old hunting club patch at a flea market to a photo of a rugby club on the wall of an old diner can inspire me. I snap pictures and file them away under “inspiration” and, when I’m working on new designs, I flick through them until something clicks and I start sketching away.
“
Q. How did you overcome the problems you’ve had over the last few months with your headquarters burning down? What a nightmare that was! Well, the biggest thing that helped me push through that was the overwhelming love and encouragement from those that support our brand. It was the last thing I was expecting to wake up to that day and it was so defeating to look at the damage and try to comprehend the task ahead of relocating, reproducing and recovering from the mess. But every day I got so many messages of support and encouragement from people I had never met. They cared about this little brand and wanted me to know that they were there to help in any way. It was so incredibly touching and the best motivation to get back on our feet. So we did. Q. What are you focusing on right now? We are working on showing at the Summer trade shows, showcasing Spring 2015, so I am madly working on the final touches to that range, hoping that we can come in hot and get some awesome new accounts. Also, Fall/Holiday ‘14 is due to arrive soon. Mass production organization is always a fun adventure. A lot of our stuff is made in China and communication can be a little tricky sometimes, so there’s always an aspect of, “Oh I really hope it all comes out ok!” Haha. Also, as we have recently relocated, we have been building our new storefront and warehouse HQ and getting them ready to open up again. We’ve pretty much done/built everything ourselves. There’s not much time left for anything else!
The mistake and bump along the w are the mo valuable less you’ll ever lea
Q. Do you have any advice for those wanting to get into design and starting their own company? Don’t spend precious time hoping other people will do all the work for you. I get emails asking me that all the time and the best advice I can ever give is to just get out there and do it. If you want to make clothes, go make clothes! The mistakes and bumps along the way are the most valuable lessons you’ll ever learn and I promise you’ll be far more grateful for what you learn that way over someone’s advice… ironic, since I’m giving that as advice. Q. What would you be doing right now if Key Street hadn’t begun? If I wasn’t making clothing for my own brand then I’d probably be doing it for someone else’s. I really enjoy designing and creating so I would for sure find a way to do it one way or another. Q. Anything else you’d like to add? Thanks to Key Street’s supporters for the opportunity to do this as a “job.” I’m incredibly grateful and I love what I do. Thank you.
Key Street
http://www.keystreet.co https://www.facebook.com/keystreetco https://twitter.com/KeyStreetCo http://blog.keystreet.co/ http://instagram.com/keystreet
Jaxin Hall @jaxinhall
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es ps way ost sons arn.
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B e h i n d T h e B a n d INFO CARD
John Ja mes Ryan Jr. NAME_____________________ Tour Manager/Dad JOB TITLE__________________ The Wonder Y ears, A RESUME___________________ Loss For Words, Four Y ear Strong
___________________________
JohnJamesRyan Jr Q. How did you begin working in the music industry? I started out touring with my own band, The Flaming Tsunamis, by doing countless amounts of DIY tours in our vans and then in camper-fied shuttle buses. After a few years of that, I joined a band called We Are The Union and toured with them nonstop. At this point, I started taking over most of the business side for both bands, as far as booking, settling, and advancing. In August of 2008, The Flaming Tsunamis called it a day, so I concentrated harder on We Are The Union. Come May of 2009, I departed the band and it wasn’t more than a month before I hit up my great friends in A Loss For Words and told them I wanted to be on the road. Thankfully, they said, ‘Heck yeah!’ and that’s when I started TMing and taking care of my boys. We did a tour with The Wonder Years and I’ve been with them ever since, from November 2009 until now. I’ve done some other stuff with A Loss For Words, and, more recently, I have started helping out my buds in Four Year Strong. Touring is cool. Q. Many people recognize you from the house shows that The Wonder Years used to play. A lot of them remember how you would catch crowd surfers, and really do anything to help the fans while also helping the band. How has your job changed as the band has gotten bigger? Well it hasn’t changed too much. We have done arena tours now but we still have shows with no barricades as well. This last tour we did had me in front of the stage catching kids to make sure their heads didn’t slam on the monitors. But as far as change, it really is just everything I’m used to doing but on a larger scale. Earlier load-ins, more crew members, bigger numbers, larger vehicles, etc. But the core of my job is still the same: having fun while making sure everyone performing/ attending is also having fun, and taking care of business so each day runs as smoothly as possible! Q. Favorite tour so far? Warped Tour 2013. We had so many friends out on the road with us and had a great click of buds rolling with us for every off day. Floyd was cutting hair and Dan was tattooing. That was such an incredible summer for me. Q. What are your pet peeves on the road? 1. Having someone on crew that doesn’t like having a good time. 2. Sitting around on off days instead of being out having a good time. 3. When people don’t eat an obscene amount of food at every meal, thus causing a non-good time.
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Q. Any bad experiences that you’d be willing to share? There has been one band that I used to love growing up that we got to be on the road with. Looking back, I wish we never did the tour because it ruined those childhood memories. The tour wasn’t that fun and some of the guys really were a bummer. We hate being treated like trash when we are supporting, so we make sure to take care of all of our buds out with us when we headline tours. Q. Most important lesson you’ve learned so far? Exactly what I wrote in response to the last question. Treat everyone how you would want to be treated. Everyone is equal and every person on a tour is important. When everyone feels good about the daily routine, everything happens with ease. Also, always have a laser pointer. It’s fun to shine in people’s eyes when they’re performing. Q. How do you stay organized while on tour? I use my Swiss bag and print everything out. I keep everything in separate folders, both physically and in my Gmail inbox. Labels and envelopes really help with keeping track. I also write notes to myself all over my body with very permanent sharpie… or do I? A question within an answer? Ballin’. Q. What is the most stressful thing about your job? How do you handle it? I’d say it’s being away from home. As much as I love the road, I am also a huge family man. It’s tough to be away from my sisters, mom, grandpa, dogs, and friends. Definitely one of the cons of being an American Gigger. I handle it by FaceTiming home and doing things that I love to do at home as I’m on the road. Trampoline places, board games, eating insanely, watching wrestling, etc. all simulate being back in Long Island. It brings a smile to my face knowing that my worlds can collide into one.
“always have a laser pointer. It’s fun to shine in people’s eyes when they’re performing.”
Q. Best thing about your job? “The food alone is worth the trip.” Seriously though. Being able to eat my favorite vegan dishes from my favorite restaurants in the world is incredible. I’m salivating right now thinking about that country fried seitan from Watercourse and that chocolate chip cookie dough peanut butter milkshake from the Chicago Diner. #guyswhoeat
Q. What would be your dream tour? Ah. The infamous question. I feel like most readers won’t know these bands butttt... Weird Al Yankovic, MU330, The Blue Meanies, Link 80, Andrew WK, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Potshot, and The Vandals, with in between DJ sets during changeovers by Fat Boy Slim. Q. Being on the road for so long can be difficult at times, I imagine. What do you do to stay grounded and keep a little bit of home with you? Board gaming. Seriously, it’s one thing I really do at home that keeps me happy no matter what. When we bust out the folding table on tour and game for a few hours, it takes me back home and into a better state of mind. Q. Anything you’d like to add? Sure. Interview | Penelope Martinez Photos | Provided
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Arts N' Stuff I tend to buy too much nail polish, and in the end they end up drying out. Recentely, i went to target and saw some gorgeous glass things, but were a bit too much money for them being just everyday jars and cups. I decided to go into my own cabinet and try to replicate the ones I saw at the store.
Finished Product
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Materials *Nail Polish *Old glass jar *Plants *Water FOCUS MAGAZINE | 12
Grab the jar and begin to paint it with the nail polish, making different paterns such as dots, lines, zig-zags ect. Add more colors f you want.
1.
Let it dry for about 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, pour some water in and add your plants!
2. Money Spent: old jar .............. $0 old nail polish....$0 Total....................$0
Time Spent: 30minutes
Try it yourself and put your own touch! Tweet or Instagram a pic and tag us so we can see your style. Mention @focuszine and tag #focusart FOCUS MAGAZINE | 13
Q. Can
you give us a little bit of background info on the band and its members?
Cory and Ben came from the band Woe, is Me. Brent came from Decoder. Omar is a friend that lives in the surrounding area that we decided to pick up... It just kinda happened!
Q. How
did you come up with the name
Cursed Sails?
There was a lot of debate on the band’s name in the beginning and it was getting close to a time where we absolutely needed a name. So, out of all of our options, we liked it the most. It has an interesting eerie persona behind it. It’s also cool and relevant because some of us had failed endeavors with our previous bands, but we haven’t allowed that to hinder us. Hence “cursed sails.”
Q. Who
are your biggest musical influences?
We all listen to so many types of music… anything from country, to rap, hip-hop, jazz, and more. As a whole, we draw the most influence from bands like Rob Zombie, Slipknot, etc.
Q. Do
you play any other instruments besides the ones that you play in
Cursed Sails?
Well, I play bass in CS, but I also play guitar, a little piano, and trombone!
Q. What
has been your biggest obstacle as a band so far?
We’ve only been a public band for a few months, so there hasn’t been too big of an obstacle thus far. I think the hardest part in the beginning was keeping our music and the overall idea of being a band secret from all of our friends and fans on social networks.
Q. What
is your greatest accomplishment so far?
As a band, I would have to say getting a Warped Tour offer without being public yet. We all felt great after seeing that a lot of people in the industry had faith in us before we even started.
Q. What
are you most looking forward to about being on tour?
Well, personally, I’m super excited to be back on the road again after taking a two-year break. Seeing all of our old and new fans gets me so stoked! Walking out on stage and seeing people sing along and just have fun to our music brings it all back again. I can’t wait to see everyone else on these upcoming tours.
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Relatively new band, Cursed Sails, is the outcome of former Woe, Is Me members Cory and Ben Ferris. Signed to Rise Records and Velocity Records, the band will release their new LP Rotten Society, today. Bringing along their good friends (and now bandmates), Omar Magana and Brent Guistwite, the band will be doing a handful of tours this summer, including Vans Warped Tour (June 13-29), the Thawed Out Tour and will be appearing in this year’s Skate and Surf. Check out what they had to say about the new project and what they have in store for those seeing them soon!
Q. What
songs are you most excited to play live?
We love playing all of our songs, but the ones people know--”Thunderbird” and “Dead Daze”--are always better. The crowd is just always more fun when they know the songs.
Q. How
would you describe your new album?
Different. There is a song for everybody. You’re all just going to have to wait until May 13th!
Q. Why
should the readers come out to see you on tour?
Because we’re a bunch of bad mamma jammas!
Q. What
are your goals as a band for this year?
We want to play music for people that want to hear it. We also hope to meet every single girl, boy, mom, dad, grandpa, grandma, uncle, aunt, baby, dog, cat, and zebra that wants to meet us! PHOTO | Provided INTERVIEW | Kelly Fadden
Stay Connected https://www.facebook.com/cursedsails
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MANSIONS
PHOTOS | Penelope Martinez INTERVIEW | Mariana Patino
Q. I’ve noticed that there isn’t a concrete group of people listed as an official part of Mansions, and it seems more like a collaborative effort. So, who would you say are the greatest contributors towards the musical development of
Mansions?
It’s true that we’ve had a lot of different people play in the band over the years, but, in the past two years or so, we’ve settled on a pretty definitive lineup: John Momberg on drums and Robin Dove on bass. They both played on Doom Loop and are a big part of the band. John is a ridiculously good drummer, and Robin has been involved with the musical direction of the band since long before she was an official member.
In our case, it really just took a long time to find the right people. That’s often the hardest part.
Q. Who are your biggest influences, musically or lyrically? Ryan Adams has had a big influence on me, along with Spoon and old Weezer.
Q. Your lyrics come across as powerful, yet simplistic. How do you go about the writing process to create this style?
I try not to overthink the lyrical process too much, but usually it comes down to what feels right and natural. I’ve always enjoyed music that’s direct enough to where you can make a guess as to what it’s about, but still with enough mystery that it’s not obvious. Using language and phrases that are more like natural speech help get that across.
Q. Keeping the previous statement in mind, do you believe that this unique arrangement of Mansions is what distinguishQ. What’s the story behind the name of your latest album es your sound from other musical groups within the “indie release, Doom Loop? rock” scene? I’d say that most bands we’ve met have one person at the center of it all, particularly creatively. Even some of the ones that really seem like true “bands” have that one person who’s always a little more involved/obsessed than the rest, so I wouldn’t say we’re especially unique in that way. In our case, it really just took a long time to find the right people.
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It refers to a sort of negative self-fulfilling prophecy, where one bad thing leads to another and so on, in a cycle that can be impossible to break.
Q. The recording environment—an apartment—for Doom Loop constrained your sound. Did you initially see this
factor as a disadvantage while recording?
I think limits are one of the most important parts of recording. Especially now with digital recording where the possibilities are infinite, you sometimes need to make an artificial boundary for you to work within. The fact that we were in an apartment meant certain things were possible and some were not, which ultimately helped us focus in a really organic and productive way.
Q. Would you consider recording in your apartment or somewhere similar again? Or would you prefer to record in a more traditional environment?
Absolutely. Big studios are fun when you can afford it, but there are a lot of luxuries that come along with recording at home that are hard to duplicate in a traditional setting.
Q. Doom Loop differs from your previous release, Dig Up the Dead, because it wasn’t entirely self-produced, recorded, and mixed. Did you prefer this production experience?
It didn’t feel too different since we still did the majority of the recording and production ourselves—everything but the drums. Having Steve mix it was really fantastic though. Just the chance to get a fresh set of ears and a different perspective was really helpful, and also affirming to have someone else say “hey, this is good.” It felt good to have a few more voices in the room this time around.
Q. Would you ever consider releasing EPs as frequently as you did in 2008? Why or why not? (i.e. Mansions EP, Remixed Best Pals, etc.)
I really enjoyed that period, but nowadays I’m just way too busy with normal life to be able to produce at that level. Maybe someday....
Q. What is your dream mansion like?
Infinity pool, hot tub, soundproof studio, maybe a barn, and lots of green grass.
Stay Connected
http://www.thisismansions.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thisismansions @mansions
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Q | Can you give us a little bit of background as to how the band was created and who it consists of?
Technically speaking, the band was created through billions of years of accidental and implausible evolution (or, depending on your religious beliefs, the benevolent acts of a divine creator) possibly including, but not limited to: the big bang, random collisions of atoms to create molecules, the formation of solar systems and planets, the unlikely survival of life on one of those planets, and thousands of years of upheaval in human societies that caused our parents to end up having sex when and where they did, thus giving birth to us and allowing us the geographical proximity to meet and play music together. We consist of the same particles that form the building blocks of the entire known universe. Heavy stuff.
Q | You recently self-released your new LP and made it free for the fans. Why did you want to do this?
We released it online for free because a friend of ours bet us a couple hundred bucks that we wouldn’t... which technically means we made more money off releasing this record for free than we did with the last two combined.
Q | Why did you decide to leave your label? Do you think this has made it easier or more challenging for you to release music now? We didn’t really leave. The label sort of stopped being a label around the same time we were getting ready to make another record, or something like that... Even though we liked everyone who worked there, I doubt we would have done another record with them if they still existed. Doing it ourselves is more challenging, but also more rewarding.
FOXY SHAZAM
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Q | What has been the feedback on your new album?
Drastic. Some people love it, some people don’t feel it. We’re not hearing a lot of neutral responses.
Q | The album is definitely different from your last releases, but good different. How do you guys feel about it? I don’t personally find it that different, but I’m in the band, so my perspective is going to vary from that of an audience member. I feel great about it, and, I think as a band, we found it an invigorating album to make.
Q | What can people expect from your upcoming tour? They should expect us to drive in a van from city to city putting on the most unbelievable shows possible every night. They should probably expect us to eat and sleep in between those shows as well, but not necessarily while driving. Q | What have been your greatest obstacles?
A tree in the road as we’re driving somewhere is a pretty great obstacle. Fortunately it’s 2014 and we can use GPS to find another route.
Q | What are you most proud of as a band?
As a band, we are most proud of how much hard work we’ve put into being an awesome band and following our own muse, no matter what the cost.
Q | Anything else you’d like to add?
We are touring with Larry and His Flask, who are dear friends and a really special band for me... I’m really excited to be around them and watch them play every night. Other than that, we put out a record for free. It’s called Gonzo, and you can download it here... http://fs-gonzo.bandcamp.com. Thanks for paying attention. Namaste. PHOTO | Provided INTERVIEW | PENELOPE MARTINEZ
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OUR LAST NIGH PHOTOS + STORY | Jenn Curtis
Q: What’s it like to be touring with Chiodos again after the short tour with them last winter?
Q: You mentioned “Dark Horse.” How have fans reacted to it?
listening to and they’re all really cool people. Trevor: It’s cool to tour with them so soon after. Usually you tour with them, don’t see them for two years, than maybe tour with them again. It’s cool that we just made friends with them and now we get to tour with them again.
we thought it was going to be. It probably has the most people singing along. Trevor: Even if people don’t know our band, everyone knows that song.
Matt: It’s pretty awesome to tour with a band we grew up
Q: Individually, what’s your favorite song to play live and why?
Matt: It’s really crazy. The reaction was way better than
Q: Do you guys have any summer plans?
Trevor: We plan on doing a little summer co-headliner
Trevor: “Same Old War.” We usually open with it, and we
with our friends, which should come around here (here being Philly, so get excited!). Keep an eye out for that. Matt: Nothing’s confirmed, but keep an eye out for it. News about it should be out soon.
Matt: We’ve also been playing our cover of “Dark Horse,”
Q: Is it a band you’ve toured with before?
Matt: “Never Felt This Way.” It has a lot of energy to it and it’s a crowd favorite.
have a cool intro that gets the crowd going.
which is super fun. It’s been a favorite for me. Woody: “I like “Dark Storms” because of the energy. Group: We like every song... the entire set list. Tim: I was going to say “Never Felt this Way” because the drums are really fun to play.
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Trevor: Yes, it is. It’s a secret though.
Q: Are you going to go into the studio at some point soon to record a new album?
Matt: Yes, probably in the fall. Trevor: We wait for our touring schedule and
plan everything around that. We record pretty much whenever we have time. Matt: I would say sometime in the fall. Trevor: We record pretty much everything ourselves, so, whenever we have off time, we can write and record.
Q: What’s your biggest fear on stage?
Matt: It would suck to maybe pee my pants. Trevor: That’s what I was going to say! It would
suck to poop my pants. Something like that. I’ve tripped on stage, which is pretty embarrassing, but I can sort of pull it off. There are videos of me falling on YouTube called Trevor falls part one and part two. Matt: We’ve all fallen. Woody: Except for Tim! Trevor: It’s not even a fall, it’s a trip. I just look like an idiot, pretty much. Matt: Some girl roughed him up and put him in slow motion like four times. It was brutal.
HT
with all of us. The guitar amps were literally falling over and we were holding them up. Tim was just stuck behind his drums. Trevor: It’s crazy but we can’t really be mad about it because they’re just so stoked.
Q: If you could create a line up for your dream tour (including your band), who would be on it? Have as much fun with this as you want.
Group: Ke$ha, One Republic, Linkin Park—so some peo-
ple might actually like our music, Beyoncé, Iggy Azalea, Baha Man…
Q: Do you have anything to say to fans?
Trevor: Thank you for the support! If you haven’t picked up our EP, Oak Island, please do. We love you! Woody: And we should have a video coming out in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for it. Trevor: Subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Stay Connected
http://ourlastnightband.tumblr.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ourlastnightband @olnband
Q: I’ve asked Tyler of State Champs that question. He gets a little worried about the people who crowd surf for the purpose of stage diving getting too close to equipment and knocking things over.
Trevor: Interesting. I’m all about that. Matt: Anyone can come up on stage doing our
set. They can punch my guitar amp as hard as they want as long as they like our band. Trevor: We actually had a show in Cardiff where the kids just stormed the stage. They were trying to take pictures
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featuring
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O
n the heels of releasing their debut LP, Angst, and, more recently, a sold out tour supporting All Time Low, the guys in pop-punk band Handguns are proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with. The band formed in 2008 and is originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Currently, the line-up consists of Taylor Eby (vocals), Brandon Pagano (guitar/vocals), Kyle Vaught (guitar/vocals), and CJ Wilson (bass). Ryan Pyle has been filling in on the drums since their former drummer, Woody Sparkas, has parted ways with the band.
“
With all this increased exposure, there can’t always be smooth sailing. The music industry never stops evolving and continues to grow exponentially, and the pop-punk scene is no exception. Brandon believes that “you have to keep up with the times and adapt to the ever changing music industry.” For an up and coming band, there are bound to be struggles with entertaining with the crowd and piquing people’s interest. Brandon shares that Handguns has had difficulties with proving themselves to an audience and also staying true to the bands that have influenced them while still trying to keep things refreshing. Despite the obstacles, their fanbase is growing with every tour.
you have to keep up with the times and adapt to the ever changing music industry
These past few years have been a whirlwind for Handguns. They self-released their first EP, Anywhere But Here, in 2010. The following year, they were signed to Pure Noise Records and released another EP, Don’t Bite Your Tongue. In the fall of 2012, they released their first full-length album, Angst. Ever since then, it’s been full steam ahead. In 2013, they had a full run on Vans Warped Tour in both North America and Europe. After that, they supported The Wonder Years on their fall European tour.
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Considering one of the top political issues today is the debate on firearms, it’s easy to wonder if they’ve receive any backlash due to their name. According to Brandon, the name came from an old member. “It doesn’t really mean anything. We’ve never actually received any criticism for the name alone, mostly because we don’t really embrace the image of guns to market the band. It’s just a name.”
“People don’t always get the chance to live out their dream, so why would I mess up the chance to live mine?” Brandon asks. He brings up a good point; building a career, especially in an industry with so much talent and competition, is never easy. This band has come a long way, but sometimes it can be hard to stay focused on the goals that they’re striving to achieve. But in Brandon’s case, his family has taught him to work as hard as possible no matter what it is that he tries trying to accomplish, and that mindset has definitely proven successful. “If I had to pick a lesson I’ve learned along the way that might be helpful to someone, it’d be to do everything yourself if you want it done right,” asserts Brandon. He laughs and admits that he is still working on following this rule himself. However, at the end of the day, his goal with music is to just write a song that he likes. FOCUS MAGAZINE | 23
“People don’t always get the chance to live out their dream, so why would I mess up the chance to live mine?”
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Already, the guys of Handguns have accomplished some great things. Brandon’s proudest moment with the band so far has been playing to a sold out crowd of two thousand people while supporting All Time Low on their A Love Like Tour. “I never in a million years expected my band to see that kind of exposure, and we were all very proud of each other and the work we each put into this band,” he explains. When asked about the future of Handguns, Brandon is quick to reassure. “Everyone has their bad days, but I’ve never actually felt like [our current lineup] was going to fall apart or that I was ever going to leave. It’s actually really cool to have a solid feeling that the band isn’t going anywhere and that we will continue on until the wheels fall off,” he declares.
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Currently, Brandon and the rest of Handguns are focused on their upcoming tour and their sophomore LP, Life Lessons, which is set to drop on July 8th. “Each song on the record serves its purpose as a lesson learned in the past year since the release of our last full length. The themes of the songs range from the loss of loved ones, to the sacrifices made to be on the road, and the urgent sense of rebuilding that we felt after a big lineup change within Handguns,” Brandon conveys to us in regards to the new album. Handguns are arguably one of the most promising pop-punk acts of this year, and they are more sure of themselves than ever. While the dudes prepare for the release of Life Lessons later this summer, be sure to check out the album’s first single, “Heart vs. Head.”
Photos, Interview + Story | Leah Dickerman FOCUS MAGAZINE | 26
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https://www.facebook.com/handgunspa http://handgunsband.tumblr.com Twitter | @handxguns FOCUS | 27 Insta |MAGAZINE @handguns_band
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In Hearts Wake
Earthwalker
Australian hardcore/metal group In Hearts Wake have recently released their third studio album, and it’s safe to say that Earthwalker did not disappoint. The album kicks off with a fifty-nine second instrumental track, “Gaia,” which is a nice introduction to the album. It leads into title track, “Earthwalker,” which is one of the strongest songs on the record. “Earthwalker” starts with a sixteen second instrumental before unclean vocals kick in. This song is the perfect start to the album, as it showcases the skill and precision of front man Jake Taylor and his vocals. The guitar riffs are also evident throughout the song and display the talent of guitarists Ben Nairne and Eaven Dall. The track is a good middle ground for the overall sound of the album—it is certainly not the heaviest, but it isn’t the softest either. It is sure to be a fan favorite for its catchy choruses. Highly relatable lyrics, such as “You’ll give anything just to feel alive,” and “We keep dreaming, this feeling does not need to hide,” are sure to resonate with listeners. “Gravity” is one of the later tracks on the album, and it is significantly heavier. Taylor’s vocal range and ability to control his clean and unclean vocals are evident in this song, as both styles are beautiful interwoven throughout. “Rebirth,” on the other hand, is entirely instrumental, and it illustrates the group’s ability to captivate fans with sound alone. It really gives Earthwalker a unique flare, in my opinion. Overall, Earthwalker is a fantastic album that fans will be able to connect to and enjoy both in audio form and live. by | Jenn Curtis
Foxy Shazam, a glam rock band from Cincinnati Ohio, have recently self-released their fifth album, Gonzo. This nine-track album is different from their previous sound and maybe there’s a reason it was self-released for free. Unlike the glam rock and roll sound they’ve produced in the past, Gonzo fell flat. The instrumentals are similar to their usual sound but, this time around, the songs lack the passion and funk that usually gets fans rocking along. The highlights of the album are the jazzy trumpet and the catchy tunes played by Alex Nauth. The vocals in this album, done by lead vocalist Eric Nally, aren’t nearly as good as Foxy Shazam has produced in the past. They seemed whiny and were often difficult to understand. The album is a mishmash of different ideas, but it does have a consistent theme of letting go of the past and moving on to a new beginning. This theme starts off in the opening song, “Gonzo,” with the transition from “caterpillar into butterfly.” It picks up again in the song “Don’t Give In,” with the words “cut your umbilical cord and stand on your feet” putting the message across. It is echoed again in “Story Told” with the line “you better ask yourself who you are.” This overall theme of discovering yourself and letting go of the past is probably one of the stronger parts of the album, as it makes Gonzo relatable to listeners. Fans are also able to connect to several pop cultural references, i.e. “hero is a thing the foo fighters song about”, “poison like a black swan actress”, and “Glenda the good witch told Dorothy.” Despite everything, some songs seemed incompatible with the rest of the album and were somewhat unpleasant to listen to. In my opinion, “Brutal Truth” is the only track that really has that Foxy Shazam sound that we all know and love. As a whole, the album doesn’t quite fit, but it’s a decent try for being their first self-released album since 2005. by | Taylor Hancock
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Foxy Shazam Gonzo
Miss May I
Rise Of The Lion
I had high expectations for Miss May I’s fourth album. I had heard a lot about this album in the months before its release, and I enjoyed their previous albums. After finally giving it a listen, I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed with Rise of the Lion. The opening song, “Refuse to Believe,” was definitely the best way to introduce listeners to the new album. This track is all about believing in yourself and refusing to believe that you are nothing. There is a lot of power behind the track, and I’m tempted to say that it’s my favorite song on the album. “Tangled Tongues” is another great one; between Ryan Neff’s hypnotizing voice and Levi’s harsh, albeit, beautiful unclean vocals, there is a raw sound that perfectly matches the lyrics of the song. The final track, “Saints, Sinners and Greats,” provides good closure to the album. It promotes the idea of living life how you want to live it. Your time on Earth is limited, and you should do as much as you can within that time. Overall, a broad range of emotions was covered within the album, and it is comprised of well thought out lyrics and instrumental parts. I believe that Rise of the Lion has a song on it for everyone, and that this is definitely an album that I will have on repeat for many months to come. by | Kelly Fadden
After I listened to Savages all the way through, I picked out some favorite songs and ultimately thought it was a great follow up to their previous album, Hell Is What You Make It. After listening to the album a second, third, and even a fourth time, I found myself liking it more and more. Each song builds off the previous one and each one has a different element to it. There’s a song with unclean vocals, one with a more R&B feel, and even a track with a hip-hop influence. One thing that all the songs have in common, however, is their ability to showcase how Breathe Carolina’s music has matured and improved since their last release in 2011.
Breathe Carolina Savages
The whole concept of ‘savages’ on this album represents how Breathe Carolina will stop at nothing to produce the music they love. They don’t care if people hate it because they “do it for the ones still clapping.” “Sellouts” is one track that really stands out, because, ironically, it’s the one that is most similar to their older music. It is also the only song with unclean vocals, which are done by Asking Alexandria’s Danny Worsnop. Another standout track is “Shots Fired,” which slows the tempo down but continues to drive home another relatable message. It’s about losing a relationship with someone you were once incredibly close with. “Please Don’t Say” pays homage to the regular synth-driven choruses that are associated with Breathe Carolina, but the intro and verses of the song take a new approach for them with the help of an acoustic guitar. The band wasn’t afraid to push the envelope and try different things for Savages, and it’s a risk that’s paid off. With their latest release, the guys in Breathe Carolina have proved that they have staying power and that they will be around as long as there’s still someone listening. by | Leah Dickerman
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TAKING BACK SUNDAY ft. The Used | Tonight Alive | Sleepwave
In all honesty, when Taking Back Sunday announced that they were doing some solo-headliners in between dates of their co-headlining tour with The Used, I was still most excited about seeing Tonight Alive. Seeing as how the show was actually in my home state of Rhode Island, I couldn’t miss it. I had a feeling that this show was going to be one for the books. The first supporting band was Sleepwave, the new band of the former Underoath front man Spencer Chamberlain. I found them to be the heaviest of the three bands on the lineup. They played a decent set that everyone was able to get into. Still, it seemed like the majority of the crowd was going along with it out of common courtesy. Personally, I wasn’t all that into their set. Next up was Tonight Alive. Their chemistry on stage and Jenna McDougall’s interaction with the crowd really got people up on their feet. The crowd was much more responsive to Tonight Alive than to Sleepwave. Fans were so excited that Jenna ended up communicating her surprise at the fact that the band even had fans in Rhode Island. Overall, they were able to bring the energy level up and were an excellent precursor to Taking Back Sunday. When the lights went down and the intro track, “Preface,” began, the crowd started to go wild. Once the whole band appeared on stage and started with one of their newer, faster songs, “Stood A Chance,” everyone got into it. One of the highlights was definitely when front man Adam Lazarra went into his signature move and began swinging his mic around. Throughout the whole set, the energy was through the roof. It was obvious that these fans had been listening to TBS for a long time, and many had probably been fans since their debut album, Tell All Your Friends, in 2002. The passion and love the fans have for this band made this show unforgettable. The guys of TBS could felt that and gave the crowd everything they had. They played classic tracks like “Timberwolves at New Jersey,” “A Decade Under the Influence,” and “Cute Without the E.” Although the crowd was most responsive to their older songs, a majority still gave it their all when the band played newer tracks, such as “Beat Up Car,” “Better Homes and Gardens,” and “Flicker Fade.” For me, this show proved that Taking Back Sunday is one of the best live bands that I’ve seen thus far. If you missed seeing TBS this spring, be sure to catch them in the fall. Trust me, you won’t be sorry!
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Photos+Review | Leah Dickerman
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twenty one pilots
Photos+Review | Leah Dickerman
ft. NONONO | Hunter Hunted
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Seeing Twenty One Pilots live is such an experience, especially at a sold show at the House of Blues in Boston. Despite the number of times I have seen them, they never fail to impress me. Most recently, they brought Hunter Hunted and No! No! No! along with them on their spring Trips For Concerts tour. Hunter Hunted opened up the show by entering the stage to the Game of Thrones theme song. Because that is my favorite show, I was automatically sold and couldn’t wait to hear what they had to play. I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Their arrangement was certainly unique; they had a violin player who also played the keyboard and guitar on some songs. I was blown away by the band’s talent, and am amazed that they have yet to release a full-length album. It was truly the perfect way to start the show. As No! No! No! got ready to perform, I found the energy of the show slowing down a bit. This was the band’s first time touring America, as they are originally from Sweden. At the beginning of their set, they seemed fairly nervous to be playing for a brand new audience. Luckily, towards the end of their set, they were able to bring the energy back up with their recent hit, “Pumpin’ Blood.” When Twenty One Pilots burst onto the stage, the crowd erupted in screams of excitement. Once Tyler Joseph started singing, the crowd screamed the lyrics louder than he delivered them. The amazing thing about this band is the fact that they are a duo with such a strong stage presence that the two of them can carry a whole set without ever losing people’s interests. Joseph is always either on his piano, playing his ukulele, or running around the stage while Joshua Dunn stays at his drum set. Their ability to perform live and truly work a crowd sets them apart from many live acts that I have seen. Honestly, I’ve never seen a band put on a show like they do. These guys have some of the best crowd interactions, considering they literally make the crowd a part of the show. During “Semi-Automatic,” Josh Dunn and crew brought out a drum set so that he could play on the crowd as they held him up. During “Holding Onto You,” Josh did his signature back flip off of Tyler’s piano. The duo’s quirks and tricks really make the band unique and their shows so upbeat and lively. Before they ending their set with “Trees,” they played their most recent hit, “Car Radio.” When played live, this track allows so many emotions to flow. You can pour your heart out to the first few verses and choruses, but, once the electronic elements hit your ears, you’re allowed to let go of everything and just jump to the beat. During “Trees,” both Josh and Tyler played a drum to finish off the night. As always, Tyler ended the show by saying, “We are Twenty One Pilots and so are you,” which is very fitting considering how they involve the audience in their performance. I have never experienced a show that compares to this one, and it’s crazy to think that this is just the beginning for them. If you’ve never been to one of their shows, I highly recommend you get tickets to the Quiet Is Viølent Tour this fall. Don’t sleep on it, because they will go fast!
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twenty one pilots by | Leah Dickerman
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By | Jenn Curtis
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The Amity Affliction By |Penelope Martinez
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SILVERSTEIN Penelope Martinez
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All Time Low By | Leah Dickerman
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twenty one pilots by | Penelope Martinez
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