Issue #38

ISSUE 38

HIGHLIGHT

MAGAZINE

H AV E M E R C Y – W I L D C H I L D – T H E C O L O U R I S T – PA L I S A D E S – B AY S I D E & M O R E

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editor-in-chief jenn stookey

IGHLIGH

co-founder – art director cara bahniuk co-founder – photo editor ashley osborn managing editor jessica klinner online editor nick yacovazzi copy editor courtney dondelinger digital marketing manager olivia adams co-founder – legal – finance mckenzie hughes contributing photographers

cara bahniuk, demi cambridge, jordan fischels, charlie martel, savana ogburn, ashley osborn, heather phillips, sam polonsky, sam roenfeldt, nicole fara silver and kara smarsh

contributing writers (online & publication)

haley black, jennifer boylen, geoff burns, haley buske, colleen casey, rebecca del castillo, madison convey, ally fisher, trevor figge, annette hansen, jessica klinner, catt kruger, jordyn lockwood, zoe marquedant, bridjet mendyuck, theresa pham, alyssa schmidt, nick yacovazzi and bailey zeigler

digital marketing team

geoff burns, tim mcgovern, megan shea and catie suliga

news posters

caroline hall, kristen torres, michelle loebsack, samia mirza and sarah akomanyi

_________________________ website twitter highlightmagazine.net @highlightzine facebook instagram facebook.com/highlightmagazine @highlightzine _________________________ thank you

thank you to cartel, jen appel, the catalyst publicity group, kevin lyman, terror bird, big picture media, clean bill music, secret service pr, autonomic media, sacks & co, earshot media, warner music and all of our readers who allow us to do what we do!

_________________________ 06 cartel mike wilson

07 bayside demi cambridge

wild child jordan fischels

you, me, and everyone we know ryan blewett

the colourist cara bahniuk

have mercy demi cambridge

alex & sierra cara bahniuk

palisades kurt cuffy HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 3

april

05 this or that 08 clothing highlight 11 label highlight 12 venue highlight 14 highlighted artists 15 film highlight 16 industry highlight 18 you, me, and everyone we know 20 have mercy 24 wild child 28 the colourist 32 palisades 36 bayside 42 cartel 56 tour round up the maine mayday parade night riots paradise fears alex & sierra george ezra major league silverstein 64 reviews

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THIS

MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS

OR

50%

50%

73%

27%

50%

50%

THAT

GRIMES

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CARTEL 42

WILD CHILD 24

THE COLOURIST 28

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TOUR ROUND UP 50

36 BAYSIDE

18 YOU, ME, AND EVERYONE WE KNOW

20 HAVE MERCY

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32 PALISADES

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STAFF Christopher Bunt (Creator) & Mike Orion (Co-Founder/Designer) LOCATION Bristol, UK

V ORT EXCL OTHIN G . B IG C A R TEL. C OM HOW DID VORTEX CLOTHING BEGIN? We met on Tumblr and both had high follower counts (sounds a tad pretentious but that is how we met somehow, around 2 to 3 years ago). We both had an artistic vibe and just thought that we could make something. We were friends for a while, and one day decided to make the company. It was at around 4 a.m. in the summer, and we both had always wanted to be involved in fashion, so we thought, “Yeah, let’s do this.”

WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR BRAND REPRESENTS? Unisex and alternative clothing, not sure how to sum it up better but that’s the general idea!

WHY DID YOU START YOUR BRAND? Same as the story above really. We just had always dreamed of doing it when we were younger.

THREE PERSONAL FAVORITE DESIGNS? Deer, Wolf, hoodie with the wolf emblem – The first two were original drawings that Mike did. They took a lot of time to do, and it seemed quite a new thing. I know people have hand drawn things before, but it just felt so great being able to do that.

The blue mountain was more of a graphic idea, and it didn’t go down so well. People definitely loved the originals, and we will be sticking to that now since we deep down love it the most, but we had to at least try new things After all, you never know what may or may not go down well!

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CHECK OUT YOUR BRAND? This is a difficult one, but I suppose if you take it from the unisex, alternative and original angle then it could work! f /vortexcartel | t @vortexcartel HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 9

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YOU MAY WANT TO LISTEN TO...

South By Sea is a four-man team based out of the country music capital of the world, Nashville, Tennessee. Founder and producer Brandon Metcalf brought on general manager Dave Conway, marketing guru Andrew De Torres and A&R rep Johnny Minardi to help run the label. All three of Metcalf’s partners are involved in A&R, seeking out new talent for the label and keeping track of their progress. As one of the newer record labels in the music industry, South By Sea has just begun building their roster, which already has several promising artists. Frankie, Team*, Kaptan, You, Me, and Everyone We Know and Little Envy all call South By Sea home and provide them with a nice variety of genres including pop, indie, punk rock and alternative.

FRANKIE Some of the best pop music comes straight out of Los Angeles, and Frankie, a sassy solo artist, is no exception. Her fashion and musical influences draw heavily from the ’90s, giving her a quirky vibe, which flows directly into her music.

“New Obsession” is Frankie’s first single, which is one of five tracks that will be featured on her debut EP due out Fall 2015. South By Southwest shows off some of the best breakout artists from across the world, and Frankie and her band were among the numerous artists performing at various showcases last month. For now, she is playing locally in Los Angeles, but is anticipating a tour in early 2016.

Listen to: “New Obsession”

LITTLE ENVY Joseph de los Reyes and Koosh Saxena make up the San Francisco rock duo, Little Envy. Their debut self-titled record, which was released in December 2014, has been praised among multiple publications, as Sam Pura, who has worked on albums with popular bands like The Story So Far and State Champs, produced it. Fans of Sleeping With Sirens and Pierce the Veil will love Little Envy with their similar style and the potential to be Warped Tour regulars. The duo will be touring throughout the year, including this month across the western United States as openers for No Tide and Seasons Change on the Please Don’t Leave Tour.

Listen to: “Colour”

YOU ME, AND, EVERYONE WE KNOW You, Me, and Everyone We Know has been in the music scene for some time now. With the dramatic departure of five band members in 2011, the news hinted that their history was coming to a close. Frontman Ben Liebsch refused to give up on YMAEWK and was left with the fate of the band fully in his hands. The split occurred soon after the release of the debut full-length, Some Things Don’t Wash Out. Now, the solo artist has continued the legacy of the Pennsylvania pop punk band onward through signing with South By Sea and recently releasing a six track EP titled Dogged. Liebsch has been playing his new material this spring on tour with Have Mercy and Head North.

Listen To: “Does it Amaze Thee?”

WORDS: Haley Black

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VENUE HIGHLIGHT TROCADERO THEATRE - PHILADELPHIA, PA

HISTORY In the heart of Philly’s Chinatown, you will find the unique music hall that is Trocadero Theatre. When the venue first opened in the 1870s, it was home for comedies and musical acts. As the years went on, it was refurbished to be a cinema and fine arts theatre. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the Trocadero was transformed into its current state as a concert hall and live music venue. While “the Troc” has undergone remodeling and changes, its architecture gives the venue incredible character with its unique burlesque style appearances. The venue is a noted historic location and the only 19th century Victorian theater still operating today in the United States. Check out the venue on Monday nights for their “Movie Mondays” feature films.

WHY PLAY HERE? There are many notable venues in the Philadelphia area, but the Trocadero can hold 1,200 people on its general admission floor while its welcoming feel and set up still provides an intimate experience. The venue also has a balcony, where smaller acts can play to an area of 250 people. Some notable acts that have played here include Weezer, The Starting Line, Dashboard Confessional, Anti-Flag and a whole lot more.

t /thetrocadero f/trocaderotheatre

WWW

thetroc.com

APRIL 9TH

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Hidde In A Plain View

RX Bandits

Skizzy Mars

Kid Ink

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REVIEW: Colleen Casey

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HIGHLIGHTED

ARTISTS EQO Location: Atlanta, GA Current Single: “I Only I” Members: Kity Faya – Vocals, Daisy Bellis – Vocals, Kai Vaughn – Guitar, Yosh – Bass & Jet Pierce – Drums

An ocean of soul on a boat of melodies, Atlanta’s Eqo will steal you way. With mystifying guitar tones and swooning harmonies that carry their music, the members of Eqo bring a sound unlike any other.

NORTHERNMOST Location: Taunton, MA Current Single: “Sonder” Members: Tyler Bragger – Drums, Jesse Field – Guitar/Vocals, Kayla MacNeil – Guitar & Scott Myers – GuitarVvocals Formed together by the forces of emo and hardcore, Northernmost shows its face. The four-piece hailing from Massachusetts combines frazzled reverb rock with complimenting melodies and vocals.

SURVAY SAYS! Location: New Jersey Current Single: “I Aim To Misbehave” Members: Henry Menzel – Guitar/Lead Vocals, D.Jay Menzel – Trombone/Vocals, Michael Fenton – Saxophone/Vocals, Ricky Coates – Trumpet & Brent Friedman – Drums Loud and rowdy, New Jersey’s Survay Says! will give you the dosage of dirty ska that you need. With four full-length albums, these guys know how to get the crowd moving and dancing.

The band is currently on tour this spring across the U.S.

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WORDS: Nick Yacovazzi

HIGHLIGHTED

FILMS

TRAVIS & JENNY CLARK

Since their early success with the unforgettable hit, “Check Yes Juliet,” We The Kings has continued writing songs, including one track entitled “We’ll Be a Dream” with Demi Lovato. The band has gained a new member, received a nomination for a Teen Choice Award and took a few laps on the Warped Tour. One of the most notable endeavors that the band, or rather its frontman, has undertaken is a vlog. Sure, everyone has a YouTube channel these days, but something about the lead singer of my old favorite band having a daily video journal peaked my interest. A couple episodes in, and I was hooked.

Many viewers may take the route I did and choose the episode with the best title to start their journey, but my suggestion would be to start at the top. Begin as Clark did in January 2014 when he launched the channel. His first vlog is fairly casual and, save for some jump cuts, bared few marks of editing or curation. In the vlog, Clark roams around a friend’s house, playing beer pong and prepping for the New Year. Viewers can pick out the familiar face of Danny Duncan, We The Kings’ drummer. Another person who quickly becomes a main feature of the series is Clark’s then-girlfriend, Jenny.

Now his wife, Jenny stars in the series title (Travis & Jenny Clark) and its intro. During the first few seconds of every vlog entry, the pair, represented by two dancing stick figures, pop up on screen. In unison they recite, “Once upon a time there was a boy (with a dog) who met a very pretty girl. They fell in love and started a vlog in hopes to make the world a better place. This is our story.” It’s an apt introduction to what has become a fairly thorough chronicling of the couple’s life together. The episodes can be funny (e.g. “TRAVIS OPENS UP ABOUT HIS ADDICTION,” which features Clark buying a comical amount of socks) or somewhat more serious (“WE DECIDED TO ADOPT!!!!!” in which the couple sponsor two children via the World Vision program). Over the course of the past three hundred or so episodes, viewers have been treated to an eclectic mix of events. The two seem determined to share their world with everyone and are perfectly comfortable doing so. They shared their proposal, wedding and honeymoon with viewers and even included their address in their comment section.

Most recently, viewers got to see a mix of Clark’s two lives when the couple released “Table For Two,” which features both on vocals.

Together, the vlogs form an interesting look at the life of Clark, who some of us only know as a frontman with characteristically crazy orange hair. In under a year, Clark and Jenny have created a refreshing version of the vlog. It’s extensive without being exhaustive and honest without over sharing. Their installments are funny and smart, rising above the din of the other daily vloggers. Whether you’re a fan of We The Kings or not, Clark’s vlogs are definitely worth a watch.

REVIEW: Zoe Marquedant

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KEVIN LYMAN INDUSTRY

HIGHLIGHT

”ITS OKAY TO FAIL, EVERYONE DOES, AND HOW YOU LEARN FROM IT DIRECTS YOUR FUTURE” 16 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET

WHAT DO YOU GIVE THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING? A brewery? Label partnership? How about one of the longest standing summer tours in history? For OG-punk Kevin Lyman, it’s not about being given these things; it’s about creating them.

advances are in place, the bands are ready and all the sponsors are happy, because they are the life’s blood of the festival. Warped Tour has only made money off of tickets, and that was 2005.”

Since 1995, Kevin Lyman has served as the patriarch for all things punk.

“The lineup that year was mainstream, and we had a lot of bands that were featured on programs like MTV’s TRL such as All American Rejects, Gym Class Heroes, Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance,” Lyman added. “It was different though, because those types of listeners weren’t out skating, they weren’t hanging outside, so we had a new fan base that we had to appeal to.”

For more than 20 years, Lyman has managed and operated the Vans Warped Tour— shaping it from the backyard skate show it once was to one of the world’s most renowned festivals. From acts such as NOFX to Katy Perry, Lyman has watched and guided the evolution of pop, punk, metal and countless other genres, specializing in taking DIY to the mainstream currents.

“Warped Tour has always been a festival with a DIY attitude, like a backyard party,” Lyman said. “I believe it’s really inspired people to pick up an instrument, start a band and just play. Warped Tour has really sparked an entrepreneurial spirit for people to create brands, perform, and open minds and people to different types of music.”

That same entrepreneurial spirit is what built Warped Tour from the ground up. But in 1995, Lyman had no idea it would lead to all of this.

“I first started out working at a night club in California and received my degree from Cal Poly University in Pomona in Recreation Administration. I like to think I run the biggest summer camp in the world. I wanted Warped Tour to be a place where kids could come skate, listen to music and have a good time,” Lyman said.

Since then, Lyman has gone on to run the Rockstar Mayhem Festival, Taste of Chaos and many others. Like Warped Tour, these festivals travel across the United States and beyond, making the idea of a touring festival a unique notch in Lyman’s belt.

“Hauling Warped Tour across the country in the summer is tricky,” Lyman confessed. “We have early mornings and long nights every day. We have to make sure all our

Since the unparalleled success of Warped Tour, Lyman has gone on to explore other endeavors, including ownership of St. Archer Brewery, a partnership at SideOneDummy Records, and his newest project, The Entertainment Institute, a program dedicated to bringing entertainment industry studies to classrooms.

“Back in 1995, being a teacher was maybe on my checklist. I figured eventually I had to go off and get a real job,” he said. “I look at Warped Tour as one of my biggest classrooms, and I love the education system. I love American colleges and how they can make you so wellrounded. Kids aren’t coming out up to speed in real time, so we need to supplement the education of the school with programs such as TEI, and work in real time.”

The empire that Lyman has built is all thanks to one small word— failure. It has served as the driving force behind so many of Lyman’s projects, and he believes it can do the same for others.

“To be successful, you have to be all in. You can’t be 50/50. You have to invest your time, money and emotions into whatever you want to do whether it’s running a music festival or managing artists,” Lyman said. “It’s how you handle failure that matters, because it’s okay to fail, everyone does, and how you learn from it directs your future.”

WORDS: Nick Yacovazzi

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HOME: Lancaster, Pennsylvania NOW JAMMING: Dogged EP CURRENTLY: On tour with Have Mercy, Head North and Weatherbox

FLASH BACK TO 2011, AND YOU, Me, and Everyone We Know almost closed the book on their musical career. Fast-forward to 2015, and You, Me, and Everyone We Know has not given up. Even after an indefinite hiatus, frontman Ben Liebsch now has a full lineup behind him. They released a new EP entitled Dogged last month and have extensive plans for the future.

While on their way to kick off their current tour, Liebsch discussed emotional trials and tribulations, the new EP, and what the future looks like for You Me and Everyone We Know, all while giving directions to the venue. A few years ago when five members of the band left, right before the release of Things Are Really Weird Right Now, YMAEWK was stuck in limbo, but it didn’t take long for Liebsch to announce he was still writing music. He said that even though he had his doubts and felt like he was not sure if he could pick himself back up again, he kept moving forward with YMAEWK. For him, the highlight of his career has been being able to get the ball rolling again when it felt like the whole world was against him. He adopted this resilience as a child and continues to know that he is going to pull through whatever hardships come his way.

“I refuse to be held down by my own or anyone else’s limitations or expectations,” he said. “I just try. It would be a bummer to give up. Giving up never feels good. I’m just stubborn when it comes to somebody telling me I’m going to fail.”

The band’s new line up came together rather organically, with mutual friends connecting them. Liebsch thinks this lineup will be in it for the long haul.

“It took nearly all the time that the band has been off tour as a full band to make it happen, but I think its come together in a great way,” he said.

Recently, the group signed to South By Sea, and they could not be happier with the partnership. Liebsch said they are great people to work with, and although a whole slew of things went into the deal, it really meant a lot that South By Sea reached out and wanted to continue to work with him.

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process emotionally, but it appears to be paying off; the highly anticipated release has been well received, and Liebsch considers it the best thing he has released to date.

“I kind of had a mental breakdown while recording it,” he explained. “[Questioning] whether or not I should be doing it, whether or not I still had it in me to do the band. 1,000 questions and instances of self-doubt. It’s a record about picking yourself back up.”

You Me and Everyone We Know is definitely headed on an upward spiral. Simply leaving for tour this time around was a huge accomplishment for Liebsch, and there is no sign of stopping anytime soon. This year is looking to be quite busy for the band with lots of touring and writing for a new record. “[We’re] just doing what a band does when it’s in full throw of passion and music making,” he said. “We got plans, we got plans.”

PHOTOS: Ryan Blewett INTERVIEW & STORY: Jennifer Boylen

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HOME: Baltimore, Maryland NOW JAMMING: Split EP with Somos CURRENTLY: On tour with You, Me, And Everyone We Know, Weatherbox and Head North

FOR MOST BANDS, BOOKING

a nationwide tour is hard enough. After four years, Baltimore’s Have Mercy was at that point. A curveball was suddenly thrown at them when major allegations against their tourmate, Jake McElfresh aka Front Porch Step, were brought to Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman’s attention.

The band quickly realized that these allegations could not only damage McElfresh’s reputation but also theirs simply by association.

“We’ve been working hard, and to have any of that negative attention brought our way would totally jeopardize it,” frontman Brian Swindle said. “I don’t know the guy, but stuff like that doesn’t just come out of nowhere.”

The other supporting acts on the tour, Alcoa and Head North, also quickly dissociated themselves from McElfresh.

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However, the problem became whether or not to cancel the tour. Have Mercy’s manager, Zack Zarillo, quickly began trying to book them as a headlining band. While definitely gaining popularity, the band wasn’t quite sure they were ready to carry a tour. Eventually, they were able to secure Head North as well as Weatherbox and You, Me, and Everyone We Know for a U.S. headlining tour.

“We thought we were another year away from even trying to do it,” Swindle said. “With every decision we make, we always have to think about doing it a little bit bigger each time. It could be awesome or it could jeopardize us, but why not take the risk.”

The risk seemed to pay off as the first four shows of the tour sold out, including Webster Hall in New York City. All of this was made possible by their breakthrough release,

The Earth Pushed Back, which debuted on Topshelf Records.

According to Swindle, this record was incredibly rushed with only a week in the studio. While they weren’t able to go back and tweak certain things, the record’s passion and heartache resonated with listeners. For the band’s sophomore release, A Place of Our Own, they signed with Hopeless Records and went into the studio with Paul Leavitt (All Time Low, The Dangerous Summer).

toy piano and different guitar tones all day. He really just gave us a lot of creative freedom.”

“This time we spent a month in the studio, which felt like an eternity compared to last time,” Swindle said. “We were able to go in and rewrite songs a bunch of times so it really came out the way we wanted.”

“We’re in our mid-twenties. We like sitting in comfortable chairs and not being out in the sun all day,” Swindle joked.

“Mostly, I’m looking forward to catering everyday, beer and hanging out with friends.”

Leavitt also facilitated a strong creative and experimental attitude within the band. Swindle specifically mentioned the song “Inch By Inch,” which they recorded live, despite what most producers allowed.

Since the release of A Place of Our Own, Swindle said that the band has reached milestones in their career. Recently, Swindle finally quit his day job of fixing cell phones, and he doesn’t plan on returning to it anytime soon.

“I was very adamant that we record that song live,” Swindle said. “We did all kinds of weird things like play with a little

Their success has led them to new opportunities, including playing Warped Tour for the first time. Swindle expressed that they never had any initial aspirations to play the tour, but when they received the offer, it was something that they couldn’t say no to.

PHOTOS: Demi Cambridge INTERVIEW & STORY: Alyssa Schmidt

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WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FOLK,

a little bit of pop, a little bit of jazz, Austin, Texas based band Wild Child has a sound that’s a little bit of every thing.

However, it’s just the right kind of everything. Drawing on the influences of seven different members with instruments ranging from the cello to the ukulele, Wild Child has been making a name for themselves over the past five years with their quirky, pop folk sound.

The band started out as way to pass the time on tour when founding members Kelsey Wilson and Alexander Beggins serendipitously both ended up playing with Danish band The Migrants on their American tour. The creative chemistry was instantaneous. When the tour ended, Wilson and Beggins headed back to Austin only to realize that they lived two streets away from each other. The collaboration continued, turning into a sound that captivated people.

“Early on we had a lot of validation from our friends,” Beggins recalled. “They told us, ‘This has got some kind of special magic to it. You guys should do something with it.’”

Humble, yet somewhat wary of the spotlight, Wilson and Beggins were reluctant to start Wild Child. They had always been the background players. The spotlight was something new to them. With a few more nudges from a friends and the passion for their music driving them, the duo began adding the rest of their now much cherished band members.

“When we first started out, we would look at each other basically the entire time,” stated Beggins, thinking back on those first few shows. “People thought we were deeply in love. It takes awhile, and you have to have positive criticisms come your way. Now, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Once they got their music out there, Wild Child became a hit. The sweet, jazzy coos and soulful sound of Wilson’s voice combined with the whimsical melodies and thoughtful, yet weighty lyrics create a sound unique to Wild Child.

While their sound has always revolved around this distinct vibe, their music has grown with the band. With instruments ranging from cello to ukulele to piano, no song sounds alike. Each instrument gives them a little more character.

Originally a softer sound, the band’s music has started picking up a more energetic, fuller force as they started adapting their songs for the live show experience. This is apparent after listening through their albums.

The first album, Pillow Talk, is soft and demure; while their second album, The Runaround, creates a chill, party-like atmosphere. This change was spurred by Wild Child’s experience on the road as they fought against the roar of a boisterous bar. Even though the band spends a fair amount of their time on the road promoting their music, they’ve already finished their third album.

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Recorded in Savannah, Georgia, after the band fell in love with the city while on tour, their third album is the fullest and most confident expression of Wild Child yet.

“It’s a perfect hybrid between our first two albums, but with a lot more confidence,” Beggins reflected. “We didn’t really know what we wanted sonically in the first two albums, but this time we knew the songs, our sounds, just everything.”

Not only does this album promise to be the truest expression of Wild Child yet to be heard, but it also has the most emotionally charged atmosphere of any of their albums to date.

“Basically, our albums are time pieces in our lives. What we sing about and write about—it’s what we’re going through. There is some really stupidly heavy stuff on this album. We’re just trying to expose the truth in our lives,” Beggins said.

As the band has been searching for the right way and the right label to release the new album, Wild Child has kept busy touring the United States and Europe. Their live show has always been what fueled the band and won them many of their fans; the band manages to bring their all to every performance every time. Even though they are on the road some 200 days out of the year, they always power through the fatigue for the fans.

“Even when we’re dead tired, if we go on stage and have hundreds of fans screaming because they’re so stoked to be there—there’s this energy where we just want to make sure they have the best show ever,” Beggins expressed.

In just five years, Wild Child has experienced massive success, going so far as to open for Elton John at Bonnaroo.

However, the musician’s road is not an easy path. Like every other life style, it has its low points. Beggins put it best when he said, “I think the hardest thing is looking at the people you grew up with who are starting to get married and move into their houses, always wondering if we made the right decision. At the end of the day, it’s a no brainer. Of course, I love doing what I’m doing. Sure there are sacrifices, but there are sacrifices with everything.”

Wild Child is a band unlike any other. Brought together as if by design in an incredibly saturated music scene, they’ve got a budding staying power. Currently in talks with several different labels, they are in the process of choosing which label is right to release their much-anticipated new album.

As Wild Child looks to the future, it’s very bright.

PHOTO: Jordan Fischels INTERVIEW & STORY: Haley Buske

HOME: Austin, Texas NOW JAMMING: “Rillo Talk” CURRENTLY: On tour, new album in the works

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THE COLOURIST NEVER HAD A PLAN B. Music was the only thing the Southern California quartet wanted to do in their career. That’s a good thing because since starting in 2009, the band hasn’t stopped climbing the ladder of success. By this time, you’ve probably heard their song “Little Games,” and if you haven’t, it’s time for that to change. The Colourist, made up of vocalist/guitarist Adam

Castilla, vocalist/drummer Maya Tuttle, keyboardist Justin Wagner and bassist Kollin Johannsen, blend male and female vocals with insanely catchy rhythms to create dance tunes that will be stuck in your head for days. We caught up with Castilla to get the scoop on the band’s new music, future tours and the importance of being a multi-instrumentalist.

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In your first year as a band in 2009, you racked up the #1 spot on Hype Machine for your song, “Little Games.” How did you take that? Did you see it as a clear indication of what you could accomplish?

I think that was more of a sign that we were doing something right, and we were just being ourselves doing that. The fact that we got that as one of the accomplishments did mean a lot. [It] just showed us to keep doing what we’re doing, and that’s what we’re doing now.

Are there any new instruments or techniques you have learned since becoming a band?

One of the things in this band is you kind of have to know how to play other things just to get your ideas out. I think that’s pretty important. If you have a vision, you have to be able to execute it, and by playing multiple instruments, it becomes a lot easier to get your ideas out.

Back in October, you released a remix EP. Your music is really fun and dancy, so what caught your attention to do that? Were you just like “Okay, our music kind of fits this anyway so it would be cool to do” or was it something else?

Working with these talented people who remix these songs one by one, we were just like ‘Wow! These sound awesome,” and another artist takes it and makes it their own in a way.

We did that over a year, and we had St. Lucia and Magic Man and handful of other guys. We were pretty picky about who we wanted to do it, and we decided that this stuff had never actually been released to be downloaded. Why not just put it together in an EP form? It was really exciting. We were lucky we got to work with talented artists.

Yeah, I liked how you picked artists who are sort of similar to you to do the remixes instead of some random DJ from Germany or something.

Yeah. A lot of it was based off of friends. It was just awesome. Our music is really personal to us, and we didn’t want to have just anybody do it.

You’re currently album right?

recording

your

sophomore

We are recording. We’re coming out with something that we are really excited about and hope that we will be announcing something shortly, but I can’t say. But definitely new music is on its way.

Now you’re also on tour currently. So how is touring and recording simultaneously going?

Well, we actually do it in sections. So before we left for tour, we wrapped up a few songs, and on tour, we’re always

writing and making adjustments. Actually, this tour has been awesome because we’ve been testing a lot of the new stuff that we’ve never tried before live, and it’s going well. We kind of use it as a gauge to see how the audience responds to the ideas. They’ve been extremely positive which we’re really excited about as well.

So have you been playing all of the songs you’ve been working on or just the ones you think you will most likely go with?

Yeah, like a few of our favorite picks. [It’s] definitely helping us decide which songs we’re going to come out with. It’s a strong gauge. I feel like it’s really important when you hear the song live, and their first reaction is really important to us…So far, like I said, it’s been extremely positive.

You have played with some big names and festivals. Do you think you will be headlining soon, maybe for this next album cycle? Or do you have prospects of bands you really want to tour with for this next year and be support and gain more fans?

I think, obviously, the goal is to headline again. We just wrapped up a headlining run not too long ago. One thing we do like about touring with other bands is you get your music to new ears that have never heard your music live, and it grows like a snowball effect. I think with the new stuff, we are definitely planning on putting together a headlining run. It’s not announced, but it’s definitely in the works. Get bigger rooms. It’s going to be great.

What has been the biggest struggle of your career, and how have you overcome that?

There are always struggles, but we’re very solution based.

We are like cats. If you were to base us like an animal, we always land on our feet. We’re pretty agile. I think that if there’s anything in particular that we’re fixing, then we’re always improving. There are always bumps in the road, but it’s been a lot more good than bad so we’re very fortunate.

What do you think has been the highlight of your career so far?

As far as a highlight, just being able to do what we do for a living. We get to travel and meet new people, and show new people [and] fresh ears our new music and old music, and see the reaction it gets. I think that’s a big highlight other than sharing the stage with a lot of our favorite bands and seeing a lot of the parts of the world that we would never have seen before. I think that’s overall a pretty big highlight.

PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk INTERVIEWER: Jenn Stookey WORDS: Jessica Klinner

HOME: Orange County, California NOW JAMMING: “When I’m Away” CURRENTLY: Recording their second full-length album

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HOME: Iselin, New Jersey NOW JAMMING: Mind Games CURRENTLY: Prepping for Warped Tour 2015

IT’S THE EARLY STAGES OF MEMPHIS

May Fire’s Take Action Tour in March. Guitarist Matt Marshall is on the phone, while he and the rest of his posthardcore/EDM band, Palisades, are traveling to another venue in Florida for the next show.

“We just really wanted to have fun with it,” Marshall said.

“We were just like, ‘Let’s just do us on this one and let’s do what we like to do.’”

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The guitarist is referring to Palisades’ second and newest album, Mind Games, which was released earlier this year.

After releasing their EP, I’m Not Dying Today and gaining enough interest to sign onto Rise Records at the end of 2011, Palisades went on to release their debut album, Outcasts, in 2012. The record was made for people to understand the musical direction Palisades wanted to embark on and led the band to develop a growing fan base. It was about being different from what other bands and artists were

doing. But first, the six-member band needed to get to know each other.

believed in, the process of going into the beginning stages for Mind Games had more direction.

“We were all like 20 or 21, and it was either go to college or be in a band,” Marshall said. “With Outcasts, it was kind of like we were trying to get to know each other. We didn’t know exactly what we were capable of doing. We were just playing shows and trying to write music. When Earl [Halasan] wrote ‘High And Low’ in the studio, we were like, ‘Wow, this is big.’ Then we thought this is what we should be doing.”

“On this one, we were like, ‘Now we know what we want to do.’ We know what’s fun for us, what people like and what we like. We really just found ourselves,” Marshall said.

After making it through the initial stages of being in the band, getting to know each other and finding the right kind of mentality in making music each member personally

Palisades are now known for mixing in many different genres of music such as hip-hop, alternative rock, EDM, post-hardcore and much more into a single song. It’s what defines the band.

Marshall said each member in the band has a background in many different genres of music, which contributes to the songwriting. Another aspect of the overall vibe of a song while writing depends on the tempo.

“Earl is really great at producing hip hop, EDM, and rock music, and we all understand it because we’ve been listening to it for so long,” Marshall said. “Depending on the tempo, you can mix different styles of hip hop or EDM with styles of rock for one thing. On ‘Bad Girls,’ for example, I really wanted to incorporate a Limp Bizkit type of deal, and Earl wanted to incorporate a real hip-hop deal with it and that’s what came out. So it was just a really fun song to do, and that’s typically how we do it.

It just depends on the tempo and what kind of deal we want to do and what fits our writing for it. It’s also what we can throw in to make it sound weird or cool or however we want it to sound like.”

After releasing Mind Games in January, Palisades’ schedule has been non-stop. While the Take Action Tour just wrapped up this month, the band is going to film another video for a song, which has yet to be announced, heading to Europe to support Our Last Night on their world tour starting April 15, and will play the entire Vans Warped Tour this summer.

“This is something we’ve really wanted to do, and we finally are getting in the rhythm for playing the tours we really wanted to and we are finally there,” Marshall said. “I just want everyone to know that we want to have fun with everyone. That’s all we want is for you to have fun and to come out to the shows.”

PHOTO: Kurt Cuffy INTERVIEW & STORY: Geoff Burns

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HOME: New York, New York NOW JAMMING: “Dancing Like an Idiot” CURRENTLY: Just wrapped up their 15 year anniversary tour in the US

STICKING TOGETHER FOR 15 YEARS

is a milestone that many bands will never get to see. Having that kind of longevity in the volatile music industry takes a certain level of determination, creativity and resilience.

Bayside decided early on that making music their career was important. They have managed to keep a strong foot in an industry that is constantly ready to move on to the next hot new act. They have proven in their 15 years that long-term success takes much more than just being the next big thing.

“I don’t think any of this is happening necessarily by accident. We’ve all had the mentality of treating our career more like a marathon and not like a sprint. It has been a pretty conscious decision to take steps in our career that would ensure that we wouldn’t just go away,” O’Shea explained. “A lot of that is avoiding things that we think are gimmicky and trying to never play to or pander to trends. I think a lot of that has helped us to become a band that has been able to stick around for that long.”

Starting back in 2000, Bayside— consisting of vocalist/ guitarist Anthony Raneri, bassist Nick Ghanbarian, guitarist Jack O’Shea and drummer Chris Guglielmo— has become a staple name in the alternative rock music scene. With six full-length albums, a dedicated fan base and a whole discography of music that is nothing short of 100 percent true to their sound, the band has done nothing but continue to push forward and grow. Bayside’s continued success can be attributed to the intentional nature in which they approach their career.

The music industry and the alternative music scene are not the same as they were when Bayside first emerged onto the scene. In a new era where the Internet rules the game and recognition is hard to come by, the band has had to find their place and not get swept away in the madness.

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“We don’t really fit neatly into any real specific genre.

We weren’t really ever a strict pop-punk band, we weren’t really a hardcore band, we weren’t really a metal band,” O’Shea described.

For Bayside though, lacking a distinct classification was a blessing in disguise.

“I’ve felt like that’s helped us stick around. We’ve never really been into that whole follow the trend thing. We’ve never been like, ‘Oh hey let’s do this one specific style of music that seems to be doing well now,’” O’Shea added.

The band is no stranger to technology’s role in the industry and how it’s changed the landscape of music business.

From learning to stand out amongst a sea of artists to surviving the ups and down of paying the bills by playing music, Bayside has conquered these struggles that consume so many others.

“With the lack of support from record labels these days, the entire music industry got shifted so hard, and with the internet being so prevalent and everybody being able to produce content at their will, it’s just like it’s been flooded.

It’s become saturated with music,” O’Shea said. “Everyone’s got an opportunity to get out there, but it makes it much more difficult to become a viable working entity.”

Early on, Bayside learned a great deal about self-reliance during their time with Victory Records, the label that released released four of their albums. Much of what they learned gave them the tools they needed to survive in a tougher industry where a band can really only rely on itself.

“There’s a lot to be said about the way that we came up with Victory Records, who’s a label that takes a lot of heat, but they did teach us very early on to just become self-sufficient as a band and to never really rely on the handouts. We had to think for ourselves, and we had to be responsible for our own destiny as a band.” O’Shea expressed. “Because of the upbringing we got with that label, it’s probably part of the reason we’re still around.”

As well as having the smarts to stand on their own feet and weather the ups and downs of a career in music, Bayside has cultivated a following that has stuck by their side for the last 15 years, continues to grow, and has played a huge role in their career. The band calls their fans a cult for a reason, and they continue to live up to the title.

“Early on, we just had a really strong, close relationship with fans that made less of a fan/band relationship and more of ‘we’re all in this together’ relationship,” O’Shea explained.

That mentality is not lost on the band as they continue to build that relationship and create music that fans will be proud of.

“The fans are getting older, and I think we’re doing our best to stay true to what they liked about us 10, 15 years ago and still try to keep developing ourselves as a band and

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ourselves musically and personally,” O’Shea later added.

“I’m noticing the same intensity of fans that we’ve always had. We’ve just been very lucky to maintain that.”

Maintaining the sound that Bayside fans yearn for means creating a truly unique brand of melodic rock with honest lyrics that is capable of captivating fans for years. While at times the band’s unique sound has caused them to have trouble fitting into any particular genre, it’s the same signature sound that has drawn listeners in and kept them listening.

“I don’t think we’ve ever tried to sound like anything other than what we wanted to sound like. The four of us all come from very different places musically. So the music that we play is kind of what we want to play. It’s never been what we have to play or what we should sound like,” O’Shea said. “The only thing we’ve ever tried to sound like has been us, has been the band that we are.”

Sometimes to make something work all it takes is sheer willpower. Over the years, Bayside has found their rhythm when working as a team. The band has made their work together a priority and have all been able to hang on to that mindset.

“I work with three other really crazy, incredible people. We all serve to keep each other pointed in the right direction.

One of us will be in a funk and then there are three other people to get the other person out,” O’Shea expressed.

Not only is there a dedication to the craft and to the fans, but to each other as well. The members have been able to count on one another to keeping moving forward.

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“Again, I’m lucky to make music in a band with three other people that are pretty hard working and dedicated to keeping this going,” O’Shea said. “For as tough as it’s been, there haven’t really been a lot of moments where the option or the idea of even doing something else has come up.”

After 15 years together, Bayside is more than content with how far they’ve come and where they are at the moment.

As far as the band is concerned, their goals and dreams have been met beyond their expectations.

“I remember when I first joined this band I had this idea that if I could just make enough money and tour around the country in small clubs I would be totally okay with that, and we’ve exceeded that by a lot,” O’Shea explained. “Every day that goes forward, our band gets bigger than it was before which is great. That’s a very rewarding feeling.”

Through the years, Bayside has managed to move a cult of fans with their music and leave a lasting mark on the alternative scene without having to compromise who they are as individuals and musicians. Not many bands can say they have been as lucky, and O’Shea and the rest of Bayside are well aware of that.

“I wouldn’t trade any of it,” he said. “Just to see what I’ve seen, to be able do what I’ve done, to be lucky enough to have people to care enough to meet me or come out and see the band that we’re playing in. The fact that it means anything to anybody, it’s all just remarkable and I don’t take that for granted.”

PHOTOS: Demi Cambridge INTERVIEW & STORY: Annette Hansen

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HOME: Conyers, Georgia NOW JAMMING: “Honestly” CURRENTLY: On the Chroma 10 Year Anniversary Tour

THE YEAR IS 2005.

President George W. Bush has just started his second term as President.

Hurricane Katrina has ravaged nearly the entire state of Louisiana.

Revenge Of The Sith has been released to theaters, and five young men by the names of Will Pugh, Joseph Pepper, Nic Hudson, Kevin Sanders and Ryan Roberts are preparing for the release of their first full-length album, Chroma.

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LITTLE DID THESE MEN KNOW THAT THIS ALBUM WOULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER. Cartel formed in 2003, during their time as undergrads Georgia State University. After releasing their first EP, The Ransom, their fan base expanded rapidly, and the poppunk outfit eventually inked a deal with the Militia Group.

Two years later, the band released Chroma, which received unparalleled attention and began climbing charts across the country, earning a spot at #2 on Billboard’s Heatseeker’s chart and #1 on SoundScan’s Alternative New Artist Chart.

The album’s tracks have made their way onto countless iPods, TV shows and video games with the tracks “Honestly” and “Say Anything (Else)” serving as alternative anthems

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for millennials. Eventually, Cartel signed with Epic Records, one of their first major moves as indie artists.

With all the unexpected positive reception and success, the band was sailing in a sea of fans. Yet, from vocalist Will Pugh’s perspective, the band felt as if they were on an island instead of riding the waves.

“It was pretty weird for us when Chroma started to get popular,” said Pugh in a phone interview. “I don’t think we reacted the way people expected us to. In the beginning, we were excited about the attention, being on TV and having people come up to us about the record. Then after

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awhile, the effect began to wear off. We moved past the ‘break out the cigars like we’re having a baby’ mentality and saw all of it as the first huge step in our career.”

From performing on Cartoon Network to countless plays on Fuse, Cartel was everywhere. Selling over 3,000 copies of Chroma in its first week marked the Militia Group’s biggest release to date, and those numbers continued to grow with over 250,000 sales worldwide.

Even in the wake of all the fame and fortune, Pugh still attributes the best times of the band’s Chroma era to his moments spent on tour.

“The Chroma tour was the first time we were all out on the road together. When we were kids, we would play a bunch of shows, but leaving the state to perform and travel with each other was liberating,” Pugh remarked. “Going to California for the first time ever and having only 20 people come out to see us was so amazing because [we] had no idea that that many people even knew who we were let alone came to see us play. We were seeing the world for the first time together.”

From 2005 to 2007, Cartel’s popularity skyrocketed. The band earned a spot on Alternative Press’s “100 Bands You Need To Know,” had music featured in the 2006 film, John Tucker Must Die, and video game, Madden NFL 2007, and served as tour support for veteran pop-punkers, New Found Glory.

Inevitably though, Cartel’s rise to the top came with some tough growing pains.

In 2006, Cartel parted ways with Ryan Roberts, one of the original band members. Although Roberts’ departure was mutually accepted, the band still needed someone to fill his shoes. That’s when longtime friend Jeff Lett stepped in. With a full roster, the group was back at it once again.

It wasn’t until 2008 that Cartel underwent another major transition. After two years on Epic Records and a self-titled album produced on MTV’s Band In A Bubble (where the band literally wrote and tracked in a plastic dome), the band was ready for a change and made the move to WindUp Records.

“Once we left Epic, it was a strange time for all of us. We weren’t seeing eye to eye with them, and Wind-Up kept asking us to join. It was scary for us because it was the next big transition for the band,” Pugh said.

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Now, a decade later and several trips across the U.S. and beyond, Cartel is gearing up for Chroma’s 10-year anniversary tour, one that Pugh expects to be a homecoming for old feelings and old places.

“When Chroma was out, it was a much more fun time being in a band, really before real life and… well, record labels started happening,” Pugh said. “It was a time where it was purely momentum and not talking about the business side of things; it was just happening. It will be great recapturing some of that energy with this tour and what drove us to the point that we’re at today. Back then we were just along for the ride and enjoying ever moment of it, so we’re excited to go back and relive all those memories.”

Despite 10 years and four albums, Pugh believes not much has changed.

“We’re older, about 20 pounds heavier, and musically, we’ve progressed, but I would say we’re all still very much the same. We still have that chemistry with each other,” Pugh said.

Pugh also believes that Cartel’s legacy resembles that of a lone wolf, but they still have much to accomplish.

“Cartel was always about bucking the trend, and we never jumped on any bandwagon. There [were] some bands that were lone wolves in their genre and did their own thing, while others, you had assumptions about their music if they were signed to a specific label. I don’t think we directly sounded like anyone else, and we never gave people the chance for them to say that we were like another band,” Pugh said.

“As for what I still want to accomplish, I would like to see us go gold for our single ‘Honestly.’ We’re so close, and I would love to see it happen,” Pugh added.

Chroma’s 10-year anniversary tour kicks off on April 9 and will run through late May with support from Hit The Lights, Team and Driver Friendly. As for their plans after the tour?

Well, we will just have to see if they have to say anything else.

POSED & OLD SCHOOL LIVE PHOTOS: Mike Wilson NEW LIVE PHOTOS: Heather Phillips INTERVIEW & STORY: Nick Yacovazzi

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TOUR ROUND UP PHOTO: Heather Phillips

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PHOTO: Heather Phillips

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PHOTO: Heather Phillips

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PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk

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PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk

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PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk

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PHOTO: Charlie Martel

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PHOTO: Charlie Martel

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album

reviews ARTIST

All Time Low ALBUM

Future Hearts RATING

SOUNDS LIKE The Summer Set Blink 182 Tonight Alive RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Missing You” “Bail Me Out”

TRACKS 1

Satellite

2

Kicking & Screaming

3

Something’s Gotta Give

4

Kids in the Dark

5

Runaways

6

Missing You

7

Cinderblock Garden

8

Tidal Waves feat. Mark Hoppus

9

Don’t You Go

10

Bail Me Out feat. Joel Madden

11

Dancing With a Wolf

12

The Edge of Tonight

13

Old Scars/Future Hearts

RELEASE DATE April 7th, 2015

WEBSITE alltimelow.com

All Time Low is back with its fifth full-length album, Future Hearts, and this time the music is catchier than ever. Filled with epic choruses and sugary sweet melodies, this latest addition to the band’s discography proves once again that All Time Low is the master of creating irresistibly fun tunes.

With a bit of bitter-sweetness the band opens the album with the words “wishing on a star that’s just a satellite…” on the intro track “Satellite”. The song seems to speak of going through life leaving the little things that get us in the back of our mind and pushing forward regardless, hanging on to that youthful carelessness and “growing up with eyes glued shut.” In just two minutes they have already given a fresh taste of maturity, but that doesn’t mean that All Time Low has totally grown up. The band’s sound is just as bubbly and energetic as it’s been from day one.

The album’s more traditional All Time Low sound is evident on the buoyant track “Kicking & Screaming” and single “Something’s Gotta Give.” The band’s later tracks lean towards powerful, anthemic tracks is evident on songs like “Kids in the Dark.”

Still, All Time Low is not afraid to take things in a bit of a different direction. This is most notable on the songs “Missing You” and “Bail Me Out.” Both songs feature prominent acoustic guitars and still maintain the band’s trademark pop/rock style while giving off a more laidback feel than would be expected from All Time Low. This by itself makes the tracks stand out above the rest.

If All Time Low has any faults it’s that they doesn’t take enough risks. All Time Low always sound undeniably like All Time Low. Either way, the band knows who it is and that seems to be working out for the group just fine. Future Hearts is a fine example of All Time Low doing what All Time Low does best.

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REVIEW: Annette Hansen

ARTIST The

Wombats ALBUM Glitterbug Liverpool’s the Wombats’ new album, Glitterbug, has been four years in the making. Since their last release, The Modern Glitch, in 2011, the band has matured, and the album is well worth the wait.

Glitterbug is playful, complex and unpredictable, yet has the band’s trademark wit, self-deprecation and shamelessly radio-friendly danceability. But behind the spunky melodies and inventive wacky beats are dark and pessimistic concepts and lyrics. This juxtaposition is what makes Glitterbug exhilarating. Behind each song on the album, there is a profound twisted surprise in the lyrics that might not be so evident during the first listen. The highlight of the album is “Give Me a Try.” The song is exactly what I envision a modern take on the perfect ’80s dance party tune to be – pure magic.

Glitterbug is brilliant, irresistible, and most certainly one of the best albums that I have heard this year. Let’s just say I have caught the “glitter-bug” and soon enough, so will you.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Give Me A Try,” “Pink Lemonade,” “Isabel” & “Sex & Question Marks” REVIEW Theresa Pham

ARTIST Lord

Huron ALBUM Strange Trails Ben Schneider’s songs are a mystic work of fiction, brimming with playfulness, imagination and mystery. Lord Huron’s previous album, Lonesome Dreams, has a similar concept, but Strange Trails is 14 tracks of condensed fables of completely unique characters and stories.

A Western aesthetic weaves through each individual track, giving them a sprightly vibe despite the lyrical content. “La Belle Fleur Sauvage,” “Fool For Love” and “Louisa” are the luminous tales of love, more on the lighthearted side of the spectrum. Strange Trails takes the audience through deserts, mountains and frozen forests, often transitioning beautifully into the next track. The folklore shines in songs like “Dead Man’s Hand,” “The World Ender,” “Meet Me In The Woods” and “Cursed.” Although just as animated and bustling as the more happy-go-lucky tracks, there is a sense of darkness in the stories of the characters in these specific songs that is enthralling. There is a solid mixture of emotional highs and lows.

The compositions resemble literature more than lyrics, which give the album a dazzling charm.

Strange Trails is best defined as a vivid collection of artwork.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “Love Like Ghosts” & “Frozen Pines” REVIEW Haley Black

ARTIST Teenage

Bottlerocket ALBUM Tales From Wyoming Tales From Wyoming is a great punk rock album; however, it does have its shortcomings. Every song on the release sounds like the last, and every one is fast, short and punk. None of this is necessarily bad; it’s just as punk as punk rock gets. Songs like “I Found The One” bring back memories of the early days of punk rock when bands like The Ramones ruled the charts with “I Wanna Be Sedated.”

The album is a bright, shining light amongst a dark sea of hundreds of modern pop punk bands yelling and screaming until they loose their vocal chords. Teenage Bottlerocket has always been a punk rock band through and through. Despite their label changes, no one has been able to change their style or their sound. Their short, hard songs played at break neck speeds is their calling card.

Lead singer Ray Carlisle has an iconic voice that is so punk you’ll check your calendars to make sure that it’s not the 1980s and that you’re not listening to The Ramones. This shines through with songs like “TV Set” and “They Call Me Steve,” which are catchy enough to be immediately engrained in your memory after the first listen.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS “TV Set.” “They Call Me Steve” & “I Found The One” REVIEW Trevor Figge

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