HIGHLIGHT
featuring
Anthony Green
MAGAZINE
ELECTRIC TOUCH // MY GIRL FRIDAY // PARADISE FEARS // STATES & MORE
HIGHLIGHT STAFF Press & Publicity – Photography – Editor– Co-Founder Ashley Osborn
Production – Art Director – Photography Cara Bahniuk
CO-founder – Writer McKenzie Hughes
Features Editor – Writer Liz Brossard
Online Editor
Jenn Stookey
Contributing Photographers
Derrick Austinson, Cara Bahniuk, Lauren Brown, Nicole Busch Mike Danenberg, Lauren Ewing, Lori Gutman, Arielle Johnson, Erica Livoti, Charlie Martel, Tara Novak, Josh Olson, Heather Phillips, Joel Pilotte, Brittney Tambeau and Nesha Torres
Contributing writers (Online & Publication)
Logan Anne, Liz Brossard, Tamara Fuentes, Jessica Klinner, Sophie McCaul, Jade Middleditch, Marina Oliver, Taylor Pittman, Patrick Quiring, Anna Schultz, Kristy Siciliano and Morgan Waldorf
BECOME SOCIAL WITH US website - www,highlightmagazine.net facebook - www.facebook.com/highlightmagazine twitter - @highlight_mag
WANT TO ADVERTISE WITH US? contact ashley@highlightmagazine.net for more information
INSIDE FEATURES
12 ANTHONY GREEN
INSIDE FEATURES
8Lo current trends 18 My Girl Friday 26 show reviews Fidelity started out as a clothing Hailing from Arizona, My Girl Friday Highlight went to two must-attend (or company but has quickly turned into a music group as well. Read to find out how it began and what is in store for 2013.
has made a mark in the music industry along with many others. They aren’t letting a recent line-up change hold them back in achieving their goals.
10 label highlight
20 Paradise fears
Last Gang Records prides themselves on creating meaningful music. Check out a few of this Toronto-based labels roster in this issue.
Sometimes a bump in the road can help bands out. Read to find out what happened with Paradise Fears and how they overcame these struggles.
11 Photo Highlight 22 States Jay OByrne started taking photos in 2007 and since then has toured with some pretty big named acts. What is in the future for Jay? Read to find out.
Coming from bands such as Lydia and Copeland, States has been working to make an individual name for themselves. Read to find out how!
16 Electric Touch
24 album Reviews
Highlight sat down with Electric Touch to learn more about their musical process. Read to find out for yourself and what is in the future.
should have attended) shows this month. Check out photos from Foster The People and Anthony Green to see what you may have missed out on (and should never miss again!)
THank you
We would like to send out a big thank you to Anthony Green, Atlantic Records, Big Picture Media, Catherine Powell, Electric Touch, Jamie Malerba, Jay Obyrne, Photo Finish Records and Tiffany Taylor as well as all the bands that took time out of their busy schedules to work with us. Also, thank you to everyone who supported us and checked out the first three issues. We hope you have enjoyed what you have seen!
Need new music to listen to? Want to read someone elses’ opinion on your new favorite album? Our album reviews should be your stop
INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHS page 6-7
states
Anthony Green
Foster The People
kimbra
Two Door Cinema Club
My Girl Friday
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Paradise Fears
Heather Phillips
Congress Theatre, Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn
Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD, Cara Bahniuk
Rams Head Live, Baltimore, MD, Cara Bahniuk
Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn
Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD, Cara Bahniuk
Catherine Powell
Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL, Ashley Osborn
Want to post news online? Contact ashley@highlightmagazine.net
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 5
states - 22
foster the people
two door cinema club
clap your hands say yeah
12 - anthony Green
kimbra
18 - my girl friday
20 - paradise fears
TRENDS YOU’LL LOVE
Lo Fidelity Clothing was began by Jamie Malerba in her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. She never expected it to get to the point of hiring Senior Partners or hosting her own music festival. Come read about the Lo Fidelity Clothing, Music Group and Jamie. Check out more at www.lofidelityinc.com.
COMPANY: Lo Fidelity Clothing LOCATION: Raleigh, NC OWNER/FOUNDER: Jamie Malerba SENIOR PARTNER: Adam Puckett SENIOR PARTNER: Seth Titus CLIENTS: MOD SUN, Troubel, Follow Your
Hero, Live The Story, The Ethnographers, Austin Gibbs, To Speak Of Wolves, American Verse, Carson & The Future Is Me
How did Lo Fidelity come about?
Lo Fidelity Clothing was and still is the brain of everything we do under Lo Fidelity Music Group. Our loyal supporters and the talent we guide in fulfilling their dreams keep us going everyday. A lot of people have called us pioneers. I think they are right. We are pioneering a new way of doing things in the industry. We have a clothing brand that gives back to musicians, we offer booking and management services under LoFi Music Group, and we produce Festivals and soon to be Tours for the independent artist. We make our own rules and help talented musicians move toward with what feels right to mold and pursue a sustainable and successful music career. Music is universal, and powerful. It will never go away. It is our job to make sure those honest and hardworking people get where they are meant to be.
8 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.net
We’ll never stop doing, we’ll never stop dreaming, and we’ll never stop believing. You can have whatever you want in life as long as it’s real to you.
What you feel your designs represent?
Each Lo Fidelity merchandise design reflects on the company’s mission and dedication to the ‘Do It Yourself’ minds in the music community.
Why people should check out your brand?
Lo Fidelity Clothing is a homegrown company dedicated to helping unsigned musicians around the world fulfill their dreams. Profits from our threads goes to grant funds to fuel their music needs (touring, recording, equipment, etc.) Our clothes are for the artist and the music lover.
LOFIDELITY MUSIC GROUP Company Story?
Lo Fidelity Music Group stemmed direction from Lo Fidelty Clothing.
What do you feel Lo Fidelity Music Group represents?
We are pioneers of a new music industry. We make our own rules. We support and guide talented musicians to mold a stable and successful music career for themselves. Lo Fidelity Music Group produces RaleighPalooza Music Festival, created The Comeback Tour that will be launching in Spring 2013, and our clothing line gives back to unsigned musicians to help with their music funds.
Reason you started Lo Fidelity Music Group?
I wanted to find a way to support musicians that are sometimes overlooked and don’t get the exposure they deserve.
Three personal favorite company moments and why?
Bamboozle 2010, Unsilent Night in Dallas, Texas in December 2011, and RaleighPalooza 2012 have definitely been some favorite moments since Lo Fidelity began. I get to do what I love with my best friends. We have the best jobs in the world. We work hard and we are kind to others, and we get to help bands that have that very same mentality.
Why people should check out your company?
FUN FACT Did you know Lo Fidelty founded and organized the entire Raleighpalooza festival earlier this year?
We don’t compromise the integrity of the artist. We all have the same values and goals. We prefer collaboration over competition. We’re just a group of full time music lovers helping talented musicians chase their dreams.
Keep updated with Lo Fidelity www.lofidelityinc.com @loficlothing
RaleighPalooza is an all day music festival bringing popular genres of music on multiple stages that began at the Raleigh Convention Center on May 5th, 2012. Lo Fidelity Music Group and the creators involved hope to bring a positive and unforgettable experience to North Carolina through the universal language we all know, music. Missed it this year? Make sure plan and purchase your tickets for next years festival which will take place in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, April 20, 2013. Keep update with RaleighPalooza at www.raleighpalooza.com @raleighpalooza
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 9
label highlight
WRITE-UP: Logan Anne
Last Gang Records was founded in response to a torn music industry afraid to take risks on bands interested in creating meaningful music. The label, rooted in a passion for sharing music and the desire to let music be heard, actively pursues the realization of the motto, being part of something “bigger than yourself.” Formed at the Pop Montreal Music Festival in 2002, Last Gang Records started out as a joint venture and DIY experiment between music industry lawyer, Chris Taylor, and concert promoter, Donald Tarlton. The Toronto-based company launched Metric, Death From Above 1979, and MSTRKRFT and has successfully released artists such as Boys Noize and our June issue featured artist, LIGHTS. Take a listen to these Last Gang releases!
The Kickdrums -
Alex Fitts and Matt Penttila have made livings over the last five years producing songs for artists like Kid Cudi and 50 cent. This Brooklyn duo known for rock and rap met at a studio in Cleveland, Ohio and decided to play with mixtapes, releasing them online for free. Now they’re a production duo turned band, putting out a pretty combination of rock and hip-hop that’s drum-machine focused but laden with rock guitar and electronic elements. It’s a balancing act of genres that may take you a step out of your comfort zone, in a good way. Their first album, Meet Your Ghost, is packed with hazy undertones, pop melodies, and orchestral interludes… with a hip-hop backbone. Listen to their new album, Follow the Leaders, but don’t overlook their mixtapes.
Listen to: “Love Can Drive Your Mind Wild”
Nightbox -
The five members of Nightbox hail from Wicklow, Ireland where they met as classmates in Catholic school. In 2010, they relocated to Toronto to reform and record their self-titled debut EP. The band’s dance rhythms are contagious thanks to a kick-drum and, “a punchy bass, chiming guitar and dynamic synth.” Let’s call it up-tempo rock with dance grooves, syncopated rhythms and pop melodies. They’ve taken their high-energy, electrifying performances to some big UK festivals, gaining top honors. Last Gang is distributing their four-song-long EP, produced by Al-P from MSTRKRFT and Death From Above 1979’s Sebastien Grainger. If you are in the mood for a road trip, see them in person at the Hillside Festival in Ontario, Canada from July 27-29.
Listen To: “Pyramid” Purity Ring - One of the newest and freshest additions
to the Last Gang roster is Purity Ring. The melodious Montréal duo of Megan James and Corin Roddick set the blog community abuzz with their electronic “Future Pop”. Both artists were in the band Gobble Gobble before collaborating in 2010 for a one-song project-turned-band, featuring vocals by James and a hybrid musical instrument/lighting machine that Corin built. Heavy with synth and chopped beats, the duo’s sound is calming, dark and catchy. They are on a mission to create music that “lingers with people”, laying incredibly personal lyrics over poppy melodies. Purity Ring is already scheduled on the festival circuit and is currently touring with the Dirty Projectors. Watch for their debut release Shrines, due out on the 24th of July.
Listen to: “Loftricries”
Highlight of
jay obyrne Name: Jay OByrne Location: Winnipeg, Canada Website: jayobyrne.com Clients: Action Theory Records,
Fearless Records, Warner Brothers Records, Alternative Press, Atlantic Records, The End Records
How did you get into photography?
I started taking photos back in 2007 by just shooting local hardcore & punk shows in the town I went to high school. It would usually be friends’ bands playing to 30-40 kids but it was always the highlight of the month. After a while I realized taking photos was something I really enjoyed so I started shooting bigger shows and getting my name out there, I started doing small Cross Canada tours, and tagging along for a few dates on Warped Tour and just kept building a long the way. I got another big break in November 2010 through a tour with my now good friends This Century, and from there met a lot of great people and continued on to tours with bands like Good Charlotte, The Maine, Versa Emerge, and more.
Career highlights?
Shooting Blink-182 for AltPress on the 2009 reunion Tour, Shooting & Touring at Madison Square Garden in New York City with Linkin Park and Does It Offend You, Yeah?, Directing a feature film documentary “This Is Pioneer” with The Maine.
What do you still want to accomplish?
I don’t have too many accomplishments that I can personally think of. I don’t see this as a list of things I want or need to do, more something that I love to do and enjoy doing more than anything. I feel like if I started putting an achievement list on things I wouldn’t be doing it for the love of it, more just to do it.
Favorite tour memory?
In January 2011 while on tour with Linkin Park and Does It Offend You, Yeah?. We played Madison Square Garden in NYC to one of the biggest crowds all tour (15,000+ people) and the next night drove out of the city to CT for a private sideshow with 55 kids in a restaurant basement. It was the craziest 2 days ever going from a show at MSG to a basement style show. I’ll never forget it.
Keep updated with Jay www.jayobyrne.com @jayobyrne
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 11
anthony green HOME: Philadelphia, PA NOW jamming: Beautiful Things [Photo Finish Records] CURRENTLY: Preparing for the release of Circa Survive’s new album
Music legends are rare in this
day and age. All too often, the airwaves are filled with onehit wonders and other soon-to-be-forgotten artists. But this is not the case for Anthony Green. He is a man whose endeavors have touched a wide spectrum of people over course of his career. He has done it all; from Grind-Core to Ambient music, and is continuously writing and dipping his hands into new musical ventures. Green had just hopped back on the Beautiful Things Tour fresh out of the studio from recording Circa Survive’s fourth full-length album, Violent Waves, due out August 28th, 2012. I sat down with him in a tiny brick room hidden in the back of The Bottom Lounge in Chicago, IL - where he radiated pureness in an instant within our introduction. I was looking forward breaking into the mysterious confines of his mind to gather up some information about everything from his creative process to how he balances being a musician and father. Q: What is your writing process like? How does it all get spilled out? A: I’m always writing just ideas and little poems. The writing process is different for Circa Survive than it is for me. I’ll come up with an idea a lot of the time just from singing it or I’ll pick up a guitar and it will just start happening. With Circa a lot of the time they will write music and I’ll sing over it, and then they’ll tell me what they like about it and don’t like about it. Then we go back and fuss with it. Sometimes we write together, sometimes I write and bring it to them. It’s constantly changing, there’s never a method. I think that’s why you feel the way you do – that it’s vast and covers a lot of ground. Because it really is covering a lot of different methods of creative collaboration. Even on my solo music I still utilize a lot of collaborative tools with my friends and the people I play with. Q: How do you develop a style within each your musical entities? Do you want it to sound like something specific or does it, again, depend on who you’re working with? A: I never really go into anything thinking ‘I want this to sound like this.’ Sometimes there has been times where I’ll be writing and I get an idea. For example, when I was writing, “When I’m On Pills” on my acoustic, I remember thinking I wanted it to be real trippy and dubby. For the most part, you kind of have to let the music dictate itself. You let it find its own little space. Sometimes, little accidents happen that create an unintentional direction and that’s usually the direction you should follow.
Q: As far as getting ideas while writing and inspiration go, like what occurred while writing ‘When I’m On Pills,’ does that tend to happen frequently? A: When I sit down with an acoustic to write, and something just feels good and I get that feeling where I’m proud… It’s a pride thing I think. Where I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m proud of that. This feels good.’ It has to make me feel good when I say it and hear it. Just from picking the chords, choosing the words, or singing the melodies – you get a feeling. The process all has to do with how you’re feeling at the moment and then that is sort of reflected back upon you. Q: When it comes to writing, what areas do you most frequently feel challenged in? A: I feel most challenged from myself to make sure I do the right thing when I’m writing. I have to not give up on myself or give into doubt. The thing that challenges me the most is having to deal with the second guessing or caring about what others are going to think. When you know people are listening, doubt becomes a difficult thing to filter out. You have to pretty much ignore the fact that people listen to you and expect things from you or else you wont ever move forward with anything. Judgment is inevitable and you can’t worry about it or think about it. As long as your happy with it, no matter what happens with it, you’ve done something good.” Q: I definitely needed to be reminded of that right now, haha. A: We all need to hear that all the time, and we need to hear it within ourselves, which is the weirdest thing. Q: Do you ever go into your live performance with that mindset? A: There are parts we set up so that we can improvise the movement and vocals. That’s my favorite thing I think… to just get into a grove and sing whatever’s coming to mind and to just hear melodies and repeat them. There are things that are planned out as well that may sound improvised. It goes both ways but sometimes you have to plan out a space for improvisation and that’s my favorite. Q: Yeah? Do you do that a lot in your music? A: Yeah! And that’s how I write, I mean, I sit down and I get a melody or a groove in my head and I just start improvising on it. The first thing that really jumps out at me, I start messing with and if that doesn’t stay with me for a while, then I just keep going. It’s like an endless jam
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 13
until you end up going into the studio and recording it. Even after that you come up with ideas and you’re like, ‘Oh, shit.’
and to start feeling like I did anything other than just play a song that I really believed in and made me feel good to play. You know?
Q: Do you ever go into the studio and record and wish you had changed things after finishing?
People are very powerful and sometimes you need to be inspired by something. Art is powerful and you have to pass it along and that’s all I’m doing. For me to start thinking about if I’ve saved somebody’s life or not is just too heavy for me.
A: I’ve been listening to the new Circa Survive mixes for a while now. I’m getting ready for the record to be released and there are things now that I hear and I’m like ‘aw, I wish I could go back and do this,’ you know? But it lives how it lives. Art is never finished it’s only abandoned. You’ve got to let go of it sometime. Q: What gives you that reassurance of ‘I’m doing something I’m supposed to be doing?’ A: I think that throughout my life I’ve been helped so much by music, art and poetry. There’s a god feeling when I connect with someone’s art or music where I feel like close to God – whatever he or she is. I like making music because that brings me there and if I can be apart of that feeling that I get from other people’s art, and produce something from that feeling and be apart of that cycle, that’s really wonderful. I think that’s my favorite part of it. Being able to say ‘This saved me, this music saved me’ and being able to make something that makes me feel like that, and being able to perform that, and lose myself to it and have it be therapy for me and then being able to have people listen to it that feel the same way about music to continue that cycle is crazy. I feel just as close to all of them in the sense that music is constantly saving my life. I love the time it affords me to spend with my family because when I’m not touring I’m home with them all the time. I love that. I’m always writing and I’m always home but when I’m home I get to be with them and be a full-time dad. I just love music so much. Being around it all the time just makes me so happy. Q: How do you feel when people say your music saved their lives? A: I try not to feel that. I can’t really feel that. I feel like there’s a dimension of my being set up to shield me from feeling anything about that. Because it’s not important to me. I’m not saying it’s not important that they said that, it’s not important for me to take that that information in and take that on and own it, because it’s not really true. They saved their lives. They got themselves through the moment. We just played some songs. That’s what reminds me about music and that’s another part of the cycle. That’s what I tell them when they say that. It’d be a very poor decision of mine to start taking credit for those things 14 - HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.net
Q: You brought up family earlier. We don’t have to talk about it if you’d prefer. But how do you balance your life? I can’t imagine how you do all of this. A: It’s really tough. There are not enough hours in the day to get done the things I need to. Trying to be creative, work on all of these different things at once and be there for my wife and kids, to be a good husband and good father is hard. I haven’t learned how to balance it all yet, it’s definitely challenging but I’m learning. Q: How do you step back from all of the madness that surrounds you while trying to balance it all? A: I don’t really have anything. I used to love to get fucked up but I can’t really do that anymore. I mean, I could, but I would just be a shithead father and a shithead husband, and that doesn’t really solve any problems. I’m not really filled with turmoil towards my work. I like to work. I find so much solace in making music and playing music. This never feels like a job to me, it usually feels like a labor of love, like I’m working in the pastures of some beautiful meadow. I never feel like I’m doing anything against my will. I love being with my family. It gets hard at times but I take the good with the bad. Q: What do you think the most fulfilling part about being a father is? A: Ah (Green carries a very peaceful adoring tone now), just the feeling you get when you’re holding them and they just hold you. The little smiles and the little laughs you have with them over funny things. When they fart or something and you both laugh so hard. When you’re chasing each other around the isla nd of your kitchen and you’re cracking up just like kids. Kids laugh, and they’re just like… hysterical. I hadn’t laughed like that in a long time until I had my children. There’s so much I’m grateful for, there’s so much light they bring to my life that has been missing for years. Well, maybe it wasn’t missing; I just wasn’t letting it in. They kicked it in. I love them so much.
Q: Has there been a part in your life where you didn’t know if you were supposed to be playing music? A: I thought about it last night. I think about it all the time. I guess I think more or less now about stepping away from touring. I’d never stop making music. Sometimes I wonder if I should be touring, or selling music. But… I’m not going anywhere for a long time. At least I hope not.I’m not going to stop touring, it just becomes difficult when you miss people, and it’s such a self-indulgent job. You go out there and people are like “ahhh, you!” You go out there and you’ve got to step into that role a little bit. Because it is you to a certain extent, but a lot of it is just them reflecting themselves off of you, and all of the things they see in themselves but wont allow themselves to see it within themselves so they need you or whoever they identify with to take on this role. It’s not really me, it’s really just all the power in them reflected. I’m just like them. So I think about not touring sometimes because it almost makes me feel guilty. But, I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Q: What have you come to be most thankful for within your creative life and career?
INTERVIEW STORY AND PHOTO: Ashley Osborn
A: I just really want to thank everybody that has been listening to me, especially the ones who have been
listening to me for over ten years. I feel like we’ve been able to expand and grow every year and to me that’s just phenomenal. The slow powerful growth of everything and the strength of our fan base combined are both so special. I just want to take every opportunity I can to say thank you. If this interview doesn’t make you a bit more excited for Anthony Green’s future, I’m not sure what will. Along with the upcoming Circa Survive release and their large scale fall tour plans, Dannel Escallon (cinematographer) happened to fly into Chicago the same day this interview was conducted. We can share with you that Los Angeles based director/photographer, Megan Thompson (featured in our April 2012 issue), has been working with Green on a documentary project that will be released in the future. With more than a decade under his belt, Green has clearly become a creative force to be reckoned with. Even with continuously changing trends, he has been able to remain relevant by making monumental art, and as many creative minds can state, this is something that is not easily accomplished. I believe that twenty years from now Anthony Green will still be continuing to grow as an artist and I’m grateful that he has now been apart of Highlight Magazine’s pages.
electric touch
HOME: Austin, TX NOW jamming: Never Look Back (Island Def Jam) CURRENTLY: Working on new music!
Austin, Texas is in many ways
the Mecca for indie and rock music beginnings, and for the band Electric Touch, it was exactly that. There was a gravitational pull to Austin for the four American and one British member who all met through a mutual friend. They shared a love for rock and roll music and a passion to perform. Upon meeting, they decided to get a place together and Electric Touch became their lives 24/7.
As previously mentioned they take real-life situations and make them their musical backbone for their songs. Lawlor said that their music comes from the heart, yet they are not necessarily autobiographical. “Themes are real but I want our songs to be relevant to as many people as possible,” said Lawlor.
The band, which began in 2007, consists of Shane Lawlor on lead vocals as well as bass and piano, Lois Messina Jr. on the drums, Christopher Leigh on lead guitar, Portland Musser on Bass, and Isaac Strycker on keys as well as vocals.
Their sophomore album, Never Look Back, was released in March of 2012, amid the band’s tour with noted American rock band Evanescence. This will be followed by a tour with the AMA’s best new artist, Hot Chelle Rae. This is not their first time touring, though. Electric Touch spent last summer making appearances at Coachella, SXSW and the Vans Warped Tour.
We had the opportunity, here at Highlight, to catch up with Lawlor and Leigh to learn a little bit more about their musical process and why they are so in love with being musicians.
According to Lawlor, Never Look Back was treated in the studios as if it was the last album they were ever going to record. The order of the album means something, and it is not just a random collection of songs.
“Shane and I shared an outstanding passion for melody and it just so happened that I knew where to find a killer back beat; my brother,” said Leigh.
“We wanted to celebrate love in the 21st century in all of its glory, fickle and foible,” said Lawlor. “We are really proud of the record and we poured our heart and soul into it.”
Lawlor grew up listening to musicians like Chuck Berry and the Beatles and always dreamed of coming to America and being in a rock and roll band. When he met Christopher and Louis, fraternal twin brothers out of Houston, he found his “rock and roll brothers.” Lawlor said that the biggest influence to their band and coming together came from the life around them, love and musicians like the Beatles and the Strokes.
Previous to their sophomore album being released, they signed with a major label; Island Records. Their first album was recorded on an indie label out of Austin; Justice Records. Islands Records took notice of them and upon signing with the label they traveled to New York and Los Angeles to record demos and spend time writing on the now-newly-released album.
“We play from the heart and have fun. It’s as simple as that. Our influences naturally come through because it is part of who we are,” said Lawlor.
“Lots and lots of playing will get you noticed eventually. It’s hard work that pays off, but this is just the beginning,” said Leigh.
The mission statement of Electric Touch is; Tales of the ordinary life in glorious Technicolor. For Lawlor and Leigh, this means an optimistic perspective that looks gritty to an alien world. They make music to connect with people and write songs about real life and what they know, all centered around love.
This is, indeed, just the beginning for Electric Touch. They are showing what it means to love what you do and they are a prime example of how hard work and love will evidently lead you to where you want to be.
“Our songs explore the human condition and we celebrate it on stage,” said Lawlor. Electric Touch combines a love for classic American rock with a strong passion for British punk. Leigh uses punk rock as an example for the vibe of the band. He said that it was a style that was never prejudiced to the unwanted, shadowed places in society. Punk rockers created their own sanctuary and filled it with beauty and safety pins, and in doing so, shook the world.
“Every day is a new experience and we just need to capture it. A momentary situation that calls for just doing it,” said Leigh. “Yesterday was fun, today’s going to be even better and I can’t wait to find out what tomorrow brings.” INTERVIEW: Ashley Osborn STORY: Liz Brossard PHOTOS: Madeline Gbur
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 17
my girl friday
PHOTO: Catherine Powell STORY: Liz Brossard INTERVIEW: Ashley Osborn
HOME: Phoenix, AZ NOW jamming: American Kids - EP (Self-Released) CURRENTLY: Writing their follow up to ‘American Kids’
To explain the music of My Girl Friday
in words would be almost impossible. They are a mix of country, alternative and punk all wrapped up into a delicious package for their listeners. The music jumps over the boundaries of genres, but this Phoenix-based band will never cease to impress their audience. My Girl Friday was formed in 2009 in Phoenix, Ariz. by Tyler Horton and Ryan Steele, and they quickly added Justin Godsey, Logan Thayer and Vic Chan. Since then, they have released four EPs. The band released their first EP, “Livin’ off the party scene,” in February 2010 and they continue to look forward, selling 24,000 singles and releasing their fourth EP, “American Kids,” that includes six new songs, in December of 2011. In early 2012, My Girl Friday had to say goodbye to Thayer. He had decided to pursue other avenues outside of the band, but they are content to move on and the relationship ended amicably. “We are just going to stay a four-piece band,” Godsey said. My Girl Friday has released every EP, up to this point, independently and according to Godsey, the band is happy with their current situation. But, if the right opportunity was there and it made sense for them at that moment, they wouldn’t turn down a deal with a record label.
is creating a name for themselves as an alternative country band that is a force to be reckoned with. “We have always been into country music and I feel like “American Kids” was the first EP where we kind of didn’t worry about what we sounded like and just wrote,” Steele said. “We did what we wanted to and it just kind of came out country.” But, while the band has turned a blind eye to genre constraints, Godsey said that the band has grown and evolved by keeping a steady watch on their peers. “Just watching what other people do,” he said. “You learn a lot from other peoples successes and mistakes.” As of May of 2012, My Girl Friday, began touring for the summer. Their first stop was Raleighpalooza in North Carolina on May 5, where they played with The Early Novemeber, The Ready Set and Plug in Stereo, just to name a few MGF is continuing their summer tour with Paradise Fears through the Midwest, including Chicago where Highlight was able to catch up with the band. MGF has had the opportunity to play in many different cities recently, but for Godsey, the opportunity to play at Highline Ballroom in New York City in 2011, was the biggest highlight for him since he became a part of the band. As for what is next for the band, only time can tell, but surely they are a band that will continue to surprise their fans.
Since the band’s inception, they have relied heavily on social networking to promote themselves and build hype and buzz whenever possible, especially through Twitter and Tumblr. Due to this, and playing local shows and instore performances throughout Arizona, My Girl Friday
“We definitely want to put out more music by the end of the year,” Steele said. “We have been kind of changing our direction a little bit with the sound, and I think the next step is just doing this - getting out with the people.”
follow My Girl Friday On Twitter
follow My Girl Friday On instagram
Band - @MGFband Justin Godsey - @justingodsey Ryan Steele - @ryansteele Tyler Horton - @tylerchorton Vic Chan -@chandals
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HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 19
paradise Fears HOME: Vermillion, SD NOW jamming: Home (Single) CURRENTLY: Writing and preparing for their tour with Forever The Sickest Kids!
The road to hitting it big in the music
industry is never easy. Every successful band has a story to tell about their struggle to make it to the top. But Sam Miller, lead singer of Paradise Fears, wins when it comes to a few bumps in the road to success. He recounts a gig in La Crosse, Wisconsin at a venue called The Warehouse. The day started with a bad breakup, relentless rain, and three flights of stairs that weren’t exactly ideal for heavy band equipment. It ended with a crowd of zero. A day like this may be a reason to throw in the towel. But for Miller, it sparked a completely different reaction. “I remember sitting in the van that day and thinking something has to change. I didn’t put off school to do this. I didn’t pause my life to do this.” With a little change came huge opportunities and little doubt that Paradise Fears would be making an impact on the music scene. Hailing from a small town in South Dakota, the band never had an advantage when it came to jumping on popular tours and opening for well-known bands. “Our opportunities were obviously super limited. I would frequently lust over bands that got to open for Breathe
Carolina when they came through Minneapolis,” says Miller. However, the band has their jealousy to thank when it comes to motivation to work harder. “It ultimately made us hungrier in the long run and I think it’s the lack of opportunities that forces you to make your own.” With this hunger, all six members decided to make their own success in true do-it-yourself fashion. In 2011, they decided to follow big acts like All Time Low and The Ready Set and share their music with anyone who would listen. Little did they know they would actually land a spot opening for the two bands on the “Rise and Fall of My Pants” tour in the fall and in 2012 they opened with a spot on the “Everything’s Fine Symphony Soldier” tour with coheadliners The Summer Set and The Cab. According to Miller, it was this tour that helped the band gain a large fan base. “People really started caring, and we started to matter so to speak,” he explains. The band gained such popularity as openers that they were able to do a mini-headlining tour in support of their latest single, “Sanctuary.” Although it was released in 2010 on their EP Make Them Believe, the song was released again this past year after undergoing a bit of a transformation. “We took it and definitely matured it up a little bit. We gave it a new feeling, a new vibe,” explains Miller. The transformation has proven beneficial as “Sanctuary” has become an anthem for those facing a personal battle or struggle. With relatable lyrics and a passionate spoken word piece, the song is definitely a
HOME: Vermillion, SD NOW jamming: Home (Single) CURRENTLY: Writing and preparing for their tour with Forever The Sickest Kids! crowd pleaser. Needless to say, the tour has been very successful with several dates selling out. “It’s amazing,” says Miller. “Everybody knows all the words to every song. It’s a wildly different experience.” With several songs written for a new release, the band is planning on staying with this more mature and passionate sound. Miller explains that a lot of their new music incorporates spoken word like the speech in “Sanctuary” almost to the point of rap. “We’re trying to take the things that we do well and put them in place of things that we don’t do well. We spent a long time trying to sound like Mayday Parade, the terrible part about that is I can’t sing like Mayday Parade.” As the band has grown over the years, it’s clear to see they have sorted out their strengths and weaknesses in order to develop a unique sound. Fans can expect new music from Paradise Fears to sound a bit like Maroon 5 and One Republic with the passionate lyricism of The Script and Parachute. However, Miller assures fans that the new music won’t differ too much. “It still has the heart of the bands that everybody fell in love with like The Starting Line and New Found Glory. I don’t think we could ever lose that passion.” To keep fans satisfied as they wait for new music, the band has been releasing cover songs on YouTube of “Call Me Maybe” and “Payphone,” both of which have hit over a million views.
As their popularity has grown exponentially over the past year, it is no surprise that the band has considered signing to a record label. “We want to do what’s best for our band and we’re pretty good at making calculations like that so if that is getting signed, we’ll sign to somebody,” says Miller. However, he does mention that none of the labels they have looked at has even come close to providing them with what they want when it comes to resources since they are completely confident in continuing with their do-ityourself work ethic. “We definitely are not underestimating our own self-worth.” Up next for the guys in Paradise Fears is a tour with headliners Forever the Sickest Kids and fellow openers It Boys! and Plug In Stereo. The band has signed to an agency group and has several tour dates planned, which means their days of playing to an empty venue are obviously over. Surprisingly, Miller is grateful for those days. “It’s ultimately better because it’s the same theory that people who are rich never really appreciate the wealth they have,” he explains. Not only do the guys in Paradise Fears truly appreciate all of their wealth in terms of fans, tours, and music, they obviously deserve it. STORY: Taylor Pittman PHOTO AND INTERVIEW: Ashley Osborn
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PHOTO INTERVIEW AND STORY : Heather Phillips
states
HOME: Nashville, TN/Orlando, FL NOW jamming: Room To Run [Tooth & Nail] CURRENTLY: Touring!
Although they might not be a household name yet, a Florida and Nashville based band, States, are full of familiar faces to the music scene. Front woman Mindy White hails from the band Lydia, while guitarist Stephen and Bryan Laurenson, drummer Jonathan Bucklew used to once grace the stage with the indie band Copeland.
Although they came from such distinctive bands, the music they form together in States sounds far from the music of their past. Mindy describes States’ music to a first time listener as simply, “magical, you literally get magical powers when you listen to it.” It is a pretty accurate description upon listening to States’ music and seeing the band live. They bring such a positive energy and honest feel with their music that one doesn’t see much of these days. The band all came from musical backgrounds, not just with past bands but ever since they were children. Stephen claims music was always a top priority for him and his brother Bryan, “we had home videos of ourselves when we were younger with brooms running around the house dancing and acting like they were guitars.” Their father was always constantly listening to a Beatles vinyl or James Bond soundtrack making it almost impossible to not take a major interest in music at such a young age. Singer Mindy also knew from a young age that music was something she envisioned herself doing for the rest of her life. Drawing influence from classical singers, such as Judy Garland and Aretha Franklin as well as modern singers like Adele and Amy Winehouse, who still continue to influence her every day. It is clear upon hearing Mindy’s voice where she draws her inspiration from but also that she has a completely original vocal style that she brings to the table in States. The members met in 2008 when their former bands happened to tour together. While both bands had a great impact on the music scene at the time, Mindy admitted that she wanted something more. “I joined Lydia to sing, but it turned out to be 90% piano and that just wasn’t what I wanted to do.” When Mindy announced she was parting ways with Lydia in early 2010 it was around the same time that Copeland happened to be disbanding and soon States would be on the verge of being born. After Stephen moved to Nashville, he and Mindy began to
mesh ideas together with the help of Bryan, who still lived in Florida, and then States came in to being. The band released their debut EP “Line Em’ Up” in 2010 and their full length “Room to Run” in 2011. Notably both albums received great feedback from the fans new and old, which is very impressive for a band doing it all on their own. Going from a band where Mindy mainly played piano to one where she is the main attraction proved to be a big change. She described it as being a full 180 from what she was once used to and confessed that she never told her band mates that she was scared to death to get onstage when the band first began playing shows. “I was scared to dance and move around because I knew it came with the title, but it honestly feels good to sing and be able to do a full set and just do our own thing.” Even though she admits she was timid at first, anyone that has seen the band live would never be able to tell. The band has such an energetic and humble stage presence that fits together perfectly. In May of 2012 the band went from Do-It-Yourself to signing to Tooth and Nail Records. When asked how it felt to go from being independent to a label the band seemed excited for the opportunity. Stephen claimed starting off as DIY had pros and cons, “It was a good start for the band and exciting to have complete creative control, but also difficult because you don’t have all those people to call or a budget to get things done.” The label recently rereleased the band’s full length, Room To Run, and enthusiasts can expect some extra bonuses including remixes, demos, acoustic versions, and two unreleased songs. States is clearly on their way to becoming a household name, with some major tours already under their belt, including Circa Survive, Anberlin and The Rocket Summer. The band plans to spend the rest of 2012 writing and most importantly touring; “We want to be touring all the time, it’s like home,” Mindy energetically claims. With their incredible passion for music and recent label signing, fans can expect to see much more of States in the future; their chapter is just beginning.
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review: Morgan Waldorf
artist:
Pierce the Veil album:
Collide With The Sky rating:
sounds like: Sleeping With Sirens Woe Is Me The Used
recommended tracks: “Hell Above” “King For A Day” “Bulls In The Bronx”
tracklisting: May These Noises Startle You In Your Sleep Tonight 2 Hell Above 3 A Match Into Water 4 King For A Day (feat. Kellin Quinn) 5 Bulls In The Bronx 6 Props & Mayhem 7 Tangled In The Great Escape (feat. Jason Butlet) 8 I’m Low On Gas And You Need A Jacket 9 The First Punch 10 One Hundred Sleepless Night 11 Stained Glass Eyes and Colorful Tears 12 Hold On Till May (feat. Lindsey Stamey) 1
release date: July 17
website: piercetheveil.net
In the five years since Pierce The Veil’s debut album, A Flair For The Dramatic, was released the band has toured constantly with the likes of A Day To Remember, Bring Me The Horizon and blessthefall and have gained a great number of fans. The hype around their third full-length album, Collide With The Sky, has been enormous and the album doesn’t disappoint. The album was given it’s July 17th release date intentionally so it would be right in the middle of the Vans Warped Tour where Pierce The Veil will be playing on the main stage all summer. The record shows growth with the strongest, fullest progressive hardcore sound of the band’s career. Lead singer, Vic Fuentes, gives a better vocal performance than he ever has with hard-hitting drums and an excellent bass and guitar sound to back him. Some of the albums highlights are it’s three solid guest spots that strengthen it’s hard hitting sound. Strong first single “King For A Day” features Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens, whose voice fits wonderfully with Fuentes’ vocals. The track “Tangled In The Great Escape” includes vocals by letlive. singer Jason Butler with a very prominent keyboard and guitar sound. The final guest spot is Oh No Fiasco’s Lindsey Stamey’s vocals on “Hold On Till May,” a notable track that closes the record just as strongly as it starts and is bound to leave the listener with the urge to press replay. This album is sure to please Pierce The Veil’s loyal fans and attract new listeners as well. I think it’s safe to say they can expect to draw big crowds at each Warped date this year considering they’re supporting what most would probably agree is their best album yet.
Artist: Fiona Apple Album: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping
Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
It is nearly impossible to describe Fiona Apple’s new album, ‘The Idler Wheel…’ without using the word incredible. Apple’s a lyrical genius that truly lets you know who she is through every track on the album. She is dramatic and creative, and beautifully sad and happy all at once. It has every element that a great album should have, melodically and lyrically. For those of you who haven’t been fans of Apple’s in the past, keep an open mind. The song “Werewolf” will certainly remind you of her ability to use pop melodies with strong words that seem to come straight out of her diary. The opening track “Every Single Night” begins like a lullaby out of a music box and quietly leads you into Apple’s insanity. This album may not be as powerful as her 2005 album, but all the bated-breath waiting on this album was worth it.
recommended tracks: “Werewolf” & “Hot Knife” review: Liz Brossard
Artist: Maroon 5 Album: Overexposed To say that Maroon 5 is officially back would be an understatement. They’re back and bigger than ever with their latest album Overexposed. The entire album mixes rock, funk, pop, and even reggae as heard in their leading track “One More Night”. Maroon 5 takes us on a journey through these different genres but don’t leave their original sound. Adam Levine’s versatile voice does not disappoint as well, as he still manages to adapt his soulful voice throughout every song. The entire band also shows off their talents in various genres as each of the songs, showing us that Maroon 5 can truly do anything. Even the deluxe version of the album proves worth it, especially with the band’s rendition of Prince’s “Kiss” that allows the band to add their own added touch to an old song while still managing to get any girl swooning after just one listen. Old fans might not be used to their new direction, but after a few listens anyone can truly fall in love with this album.
recommended tracks: “Lucky Strike” & “One More Night” review: Tamara Fuentes
Artist: Motion City Soundtrack Album: Go Before beginning work on their 5th studio album and follow-up to 2010’s My Dinosaur Life, Motion City Soundtrack made the decision to part ways with their major label and have since returned to Epitaph Records who the band was previously signed with. The band headed to their hometown of Minneapolis to begin recording their 5th full length, Go. The result of this return back to doing things on their own created a record that is completely different from anything they have ever done before while also maintaining the distinct Motion City Soundtrack sound fans love. Songs like “Circuits and Wires” and “True Romance” stick to Motion City Soundtrack’s classic formula of up-tempo catchy melodies. There are also tracks like “Son Of A Gun” and “Boxelder” which push the boundaries of what most would expect from a Motion City Soundtrack song. With Jesse Johnson’s prominent moog sound and a darker, melancholy mood to some songs the album contains a great balance of maturation and signature sound that not all bands can pull off.
recommended tracks: “Son Of A Gun” and “True Romance” review: Morgan Waldorf
HIGHLIGHTMAGAZINE.NET - 25
WHERE: Congress Theatre, Chicago, IL PHOTO: Ashley Osborn
foster The people
WHERE: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD PHOTO: Cara Bahniuk
anthony green The Rocket Summer WHERE: Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL PHOTOs: Ashley Osbrn
WHERE: Crofoot Ballroom, Pontiac, MI PHOTOs: Ashley Osbrn