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TABLE OF CONTENTS PG.9- ROB ZOMBIE PG.12- STREET DOGS PG.14- Inside the mind of EDMUND MCMILLEN PG.18- MC 2 EMCEE Featuring DANTE & BRAILLE PG.20- Best of 2008 Comics and Graphic Novels PG. 21- Reviews PG. 26- SUFFOCATION Interview with MIKE SMITH PG. 29- MINUS THE BEAR PG. 32- RANCID Centerfold PG. 34- Santa Cruz Newz PG. 35- S.C. Best of 2008 & Your Music Olympicks Winners PG. 36- San Jose Newz PG. 37- S.J. Best of 2008 & Your Music Olympicks Winners
PG. 38 - Monterey Newz PG. 39- Monterey Best of 2008 & Your Music Olympicks Winners
Photo by: Alan Ralph -photographn.com
PG. 40- FATE UNDER FIRE PG. 42- HALLWAY BALLERS PG. 44- OBITUARY PG. 47- THE NAYSAYERS PG.50 In The Mix featuring-ABSTRACT RUDE PG. 56- MAN MAN
So I hear there’s a new Rob Zombie album in the works... Yes, we’re almost finished. We will probably be finished with the record completely before Christmas, and it’s great. I mean actually, the unique thing about this record is, it’s the first time since White Zombie broke up that I’ve actually recorded with a band. In the sense that these are the guys that I tour with, that I hang out with. We’re a band and we record as a band. So the record, you know... it’s just got a much more solid vibe and it’s just going to be a much more intricate, interesting record. I think just due to the fact that we have four people that are in the room all the time, contributing and working. For me it’s great. Is it a different feeling than your previous solo albums? My solo records have been somewhat disjointed because there’s always a changing roster. The people that are touring are not the people that are playing on record... Great things usually come out of situations where you have a great vibe and you can usually feel it, and that’s what going on here.
D. They’ve all been with me now for probably two years, I guess. John 5, longer, but we’ve never actually recorded a whole record together. Part of ‘Educated Horses’ was John 5 and Tommy, but Matt wasn’t around yet and the other guys were still new. And so you know, this is the first full effort of us together. John 5 is an amazing guitar player - and a favorite here at YMM - what do you look for in a guitar player? What’s it like working with John 5? Well, I mean, the thing that I always look for first is somebody that I can get along with, because you’ve got to spend so much time with these people. Not just in the studio, but on tour. And when you’re on tour, it’s just day in day out. These people, they’re your family. So if you have somebody, no matter how talented he is, but you can’t fucking stand to be around him, because he’s annoying or something, then it doesn’t work. And you know unfortunately, trying to find someone who is a world class guitar player, and who’s also an awesome guy to be around, that you can be friends with, it’s hard.
What’s the band’s current lineup? It’s the same guys I’ve had for a couple of years - John 5, Tommy Clufetos and Piggy
That’s why John 5 is the perfect person. We’re like best friends. We get along great. We never have any
problems because he’s such a good guy. And of course he’s a world class guitar player, so it’s a perfect situation. So when the prospect of John 5 first came up, not knowing him, I thought oh, he doesn’t seem like somebody I’d get along with... But when we hung out, we hit it off great. So you know, we’re good friends now. I mean, I was well aware of how good he was, and I had seen him in Manson and I had seen him in Two, way back when and a bunch of other bands. But you know, he’s kind of like me where, how he’s perceived and who he is, are very different. And that’s why we hit it off. Because I’m kind of the same way you know, and everybody in
the band is kind of like that. It took 20 years, but I finally found a great guitar player that I can really vibe with. Have you ever thought of combining your music & movie projects? No, definitely not. I made a choice a while back after House of 1000 Corpses. House of 1000 Corpses had some of my music, but that was out of financial desperation to get the movie done. I took an advance on a soundtrack, and then put the money back into the movie to finish it. But after that, I always told myself I would keep music and movies separate and that I would never put my own music into the movies. I mean I might someday, if it’s ever appropriate, but to me it’s never been appropriate. I find it distracting to hear my own music. It takes me out of the film for some reason. Do you think your movie projects have been influenced in some way by your music career? I think they’ve influenced each other in the sense that each one makes you sort of appreciate the other one more because you get a break from it. You know, when it’s just music, music, music and that’s like all you talk about, all you do, you tend to burn out on it. I hit a place at one point, after Sinister Urge, where I was just burnt out. I was sick of the infighting among bands and being on the road with people that were always angry and tired. You just get burnt out. Just like anything in life, you do too much, you get burnt out. And you know, being able to make a movie - to have that experience, is awesome. But even when you get to the end of the movie you know after a year and a half of just the intensity of the movie it burns you out. And so, it’s been nice to do a movie, get away from it, make a record, do a tour, get away from it, go back, and do a movie. So either one has just really made me love the other more, I guess. I hear you’ve been working on an animated version of your comic series El
Superbeasto...’The Haunted World of El Superbeasto’ El Superbeasto is completely finished, and done, finally. I finished it about a week ago, finished mixing the sound and all that stuff. So, now we’re just trying to figure out when the best time for it to come out is. I mean, that’s really it. But as far as working on it, it’s done, which - after three and a half years, there’ s a nice feeling. I was hoping for one. With all your touring, recording and movie projects constantly going on, how did you find the time to put this White Zombie Box Set together. And why did you decide to release it now? You know, I’ve been trying to put it together for a long time. But I would let everything to take precedence over it. A movie, a new record... I am not big on revisiting the past. I like to move forward all the time. So, whenever anything else would come up, that would go on the backburner. And you know, I just had a little bit of a window, and just knocked it out. I figured that, if not now, when? By waiting longer, CDs aren’t even going to exist, so there will be no box sets. So, this seems like a good time.
White Zombie Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (Box Set) Compiling White Zombie’s entire catalog, including rare & limited releases, ‘Let Sleeping Corpses Lie’ is the perfect title to ring in the end of a band’s era. “There were two titles I had in mind” says Rob Zombie, “and that one went out. It’s pretty self-explanatory because I didn’t want everybody to think the box set was the beginning of something. I wanted everyone to realize it was the end of something. So this is such a perfect title.” The package includes a DVD with rare live performances by the band - of which not many exist. This box set is the perfect gift for any White Zombie fan.
By Joshua Cardona On October 16th at Slims, San Francisco had its hands full when The Drug Lords of the Avenues, Flatfoot 56, Time Again and the Street Dogs performed for the State Of Grace Tour. State Of Grace, the Street Dogs newest album, was released in late fall. I loved the fact that there was such a diverse crowd and not just punks. There were also the Metalheads like myself. You had the Irish men with beers in hand ready to have a good time, young kids, teens, adults, everyone just there to have a great time. Now I’ve been to a lot of concerts and majority of them being metal, however nothing could have prepared me for that show. The first band to perform was The Drug Lords of the Avenues I heard from word of mouth that they were a local band. They were a decent band with a decent sound, and seemed to have a few fans that sang along to most of their songs. They had some ska sound to them as well as the aggressiveness of punk. Being that I had never heard of them, I thought they were a good opening band. The only thing that sucked, well for me, was that just as the crowd and I were really getting into it, their set was over. The following band was Flatfoot 56 whom I’ve heard of before but never really listened to them. I heard they sounded similar to the Dropkick Murphy’s so I was excited to check them out. Before I say anything else, I must say Flatfoot 56 blew my mind! They consisted of three brothers (vocals, bass and guitar) and one bad-ass guy on bag pipes. As soon as they began, everyone went crazy, more than crazy. It was so intense. I was surprised to find out that these guys were Christian. It was so awesome to see a band standing for what they believe in, not preaching, but just singing songs of overcoming and encouragement. Bag pipes were blasting, the pit was going, this was punk/ Celtic/hardcore at its finest. They performed Warriors, Loaded Gun, Jungle of the Midwest Sea, just to name a few. They also played their own version of Amazing Grace which got the crowd going. Tobin Bawinkel (lead singer) had the
crowd so pumped up, I had never been so into a show and excited seeing a band before. After seeing Flatfoot 56, I would go to a show just to see them. Time again was last to perform before the Street Dogs. This was Daniel Dart’s (lead singer) first full performance since they joined the tour due to him falling ill. This band really reminded me of Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards, vocals and sound. “Lines are Faded,” “Outcast,” and “T.V. Static” were a few songs they performed, and all performed well. Time Again really knows how to get the crowd going and involved. Many of them would go up and sing along with Daniel and in between songs they would give the mic out to fans and who passed it around. Since Daniel was a little under the weather, Oren Soffer (bass) and Elijah Reyes (guitar) helped out with the performance. Oren was awesome on the bass; he was all over the place. Time Again is a great band and true punk, but after listening to Flatfoot, I was a little disappointed and to top it off I was really excited for the Street Dogs who were coming up next. Time Again was over and everyone was just hanging out, talking amongst themselves when a raw guitar version of the National Anthem start to play. Banner falls down, Street Dogs come out and begin to play “Not Without A Purpose.” From start to finish these guys did not let up; he energy they had was so strong it was as if it flowed out from them and into the fans. Whether or not you were a new fan or have been with them from the beginning like Stephen Lewis an old-time fan, whom Johnny Rioux (bass) gave a shout out to, you did not miss out. They played a nice mix of songs from each of their albums. A few of the songs off their set list were: “Fighter,” “Into the Valley,” “Final Transmission,” “Back to the World,” “Tobe’s Got a Drinking Problem,” and they threw in a sweet cover of Black Flag’s “Rise Above” which they play at every show. The lyrics and passion of the band was so powerful and strong, whether they were singing about the war, love, or alcoholism, you couldn’t help but to get involved. There was
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no one in Slim’s who was not either moshing, singing along, stage diving, or just moving to the music. The circle pit was amazing. I had not seen a real circle pit in a very long time, no twostepping, no kicking and punching, just good old fashion moshing. By the time the show was over, I was more or less covered in beer. Well just from the waist up. For the last song of the night, fans filled the stage singing along with Mike McColgan and the dogs in arms embrace, and even after their performance, Mike stayed around and talked to fans. All together the Street Dogs performance was amazing, one of the best shows I’ve been to all year. Their words had people crying (Final Transmission), as others used their songs as encouragement (Fighter). Time Again’s Daniel was a trooper coming out and sticking it through, performing their whole set.. All the bands that had performed gave it their all and gave outstanding performances. If you’ve never seen The Street Dogs or Flatfoot 56 live, you’re missing out on some great bands and I suggest you see them when they tour again. The State of Grace tour will be one to remember in my book.
With the release of a new CD collecting his entire life’s work, full of games, comics and a random assortment of deranged monsters & genitalia, acclaimed game designer Edmund McMillen of ‘Gish’ fame lets the world into his twisted mind... What got you started in video game design & comics? When I was a freshman in high school we had a guest speaker named Clay Buttler. He was a local comic artist who also had an animation in Spike and Mike’s stick and twisted festival of animation. I was in awe of him, I had no idea you could actually make a living off of your own personal creations. From the moment I saw his work, I knew I wanted to be a totally independent artist. I started my first indie comic a week after meeting him. After about 4 years of doing comics I took my work online, animating short flash movies and other interactive toys, hosting them on my site Thisisacryforhelp.com the same name as my comic series from high school. As I got more into animation I joined up with Tom Fulp (of Alien Hominid/ Castle Crashers fame) and started
working on my first game. A few months later I got a job working for Chronic Logic, I pitched Gish to them and the rest is history. Do you find it difficult to stay independent in the video game world? It’s difficult to stay independent over all. Right now the indie game scene is booming so it’s a little easier then it was when I started. It’s not like I’m making anywhere close to what I would make if I worked for a video game company, but it’s my personal goal to never have to work for anyone. I want to stay totally independent as long as I can to stay as true to the art as possible. There are the obvious downsides to being independent, but the plus sides are huge. Being independent means you can do whatever you want and take
huge experimental risks when it comes to design that a large company that invests millions of dollars just cant afford to take. It also means you can stay honest and have the freedom to say or do whatever you feel like doing in your work. If i feel like telling people to fuck off in a game I can, that isn’t something you can do in the mainstream. You were one of the first artists to use flash to design an online game...now the web is flooded with them....most not very good. What do you see being the next big thing in video games? Honestly I’m not sure where video games are heading... I’d like to think other independents will start taking bigger risks and make more personal and experimental games that push video games as an art form, but like you mentioned, the online game market is flooded with copy cat crap and that doesn’t help. I think either way there is still a market for what I do, a growing community of gamers and artists who appreciate what I’m attempting. So you never know, meaningful art games and experimental game play could be the next big thing. Where do your creepy characters come from? Who are some of your favorite artists? I was an animal control officer for over a year in Santa Cruz. I did a lot of my creature designs while I was between calls and most were inspired by roadkill so I’m sure a lot of that still comes through in my work now. As far as other artists go I’d say my main inspirations are: John K., Sam Keith,
David Lynch, Tim Burton, Lloyd Kaufman, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Alejandro Jodorowsky. Does music have any influence on your art? Who are some of your favorite bands? Music has a huge influence on my art. A lot of the themes in my work come from feelings and ideas I get from songs I’m listening to. When I was younger I was very inspired by Nirvana, Tool, NIN, and Radiohead. More recently I’ve been listening to The Mars Volta, Melvins, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Godspeed, MGMT and Beck. So, now that this collection is out, what’s next? Any games we can look forward to? Yeah I’ve released a game called Grey Matter that just missed the CD’s release. It’s an anti-shooter that plays inside the brain of someone plagued by mental illness. I just finished up Meat Boy 1.5 and will be starting on another experimental game called Onion later this month. Alex (co creator of Gish) and I are working on a pack of arcade games that we hope to release on PC/Xbla early next year. One of the more notable games on it is a 2d shooter where you fight against an army of Hitler clones. What are your top 5 albums of 2008? Beck - Modern Guilt Boris - Smile The Mars Volta - Bedlam in Goliath Melvins - Nude with Boots Strapping Young Lag - The Chaos Years
By Itay K 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft (J. Hill/G. Rodriguez) Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite (G. Way/G. Ba) Northlanders: Sven The Returned (B. Wood/D. Gianfelice) House of Mystery (M.Sturges/B. Willingham/L. Rossi) Sky Doll Vol 1: The Yellow City (A. Barbucci/B. Canepa)
Locke & Key
Umbrella Academy
w. Joe Hill a. Gabriel Rodriguez
w. Gerard Way a. Gabriel Ba
IDW Publishing
Oni Press
His major comic debut, Joe Hill’s Locke & Key: Welcome To Lovecraft has quickly become one of the hottest titles to come out all year and Gabriel Rodriguez’s art could not have been a more perfect match, having drawn popular horror titles for IDW such as Beowulf and George Romero’s Land of the Dead. A New York Times best-selling author and spawn of literary legend Stephen King, Joe Hill’s dive into comics will not be short-lived. Locke & Key is expected to continue for at least the next two years. “I just think it’s so exciting to think in terms of panels and reveals, you know,” says Hill, “And I like the flow of a comic... “ The new series, Locke & Key: Head Games comes out January 2009. Jamaica Batman: The Black Glove Octopus Pie Walking Dead The Killing Joke The Alchoholic Amy Freak Angels The Sword Local Fell Love & Rockets
Trisha Fables Runaways Echo Doctor Sleepless Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite
Although his band of Emo pretty-boys have managed to aid in throwing the music industry into the crapper with their whiny brand of punk rock, one thing My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way has a talent for is storytelling. Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite is about a family of orphan super-heroes who battle through their dysfunctional sibling rivalry all the while protecting the planet from the inevitable bad guys. This inner turmoil ultimately leads to one of the siblings, the least talented, to get brainwashed and turn sides. Oh…and did I mention Gabriel Ba’s artwork? It’s amazing. There’s a reason why this series sold out so quickly. The new series, Umbrella Academy: Dallas has recently hit shelves with issue #1 out now. Hillary All-Star Superman Batman RIP The Stand Echo Atomic Robo
Joe Billy Batson Tiny Titans Astro City Dark Age Sgt Rock: The Lost Batallion Joker HC
Sarah Jane
Smashing Pumpkins
Real
If All Goes Wrong DVD
Twins Entertainment
Coming Home Media
Blonde beauty Sarah Jane has impressed audiences in Santa Cruz and neighboring towns with her diverse songs, clever lyrics, and energetic stage presence for a few years now. After much anticipation, Sarah Jane released her debut album Real and I’m happy to report that every song is an instant hit! The album starts off strong with “Check Up,” then nicely transitions into her sexy California anthem “Suburbia, CA” and keeps flowing with her power-ballad “Fish on a Hook.” Plus fans still get to enjoy her classics “I Can’t Get” and “I Know,” two songs that originally caught my attention when I heard Sarah Jane perform over a year ago. My personal favorite is “21 to Life” with the catchy flamenco guitar riffs and powerful chorus. What impresses me most about Sarah Jane is how she incorporates various musical genres into one smooth, flowing album. It’s a striking combination of folk, rock, reggae, Latin, and hip-hop, and she pulls it off with such commanding ease. Audiences are always riveted by her performance, usually singing along with passion and adoration. Sarah Jane is the complete package; she has an amazing voice, a unique vocal styling, well-written lyrics, catchy songs, and on top of that she’s drop-dead gorgeous! Watch as she takes the music industry by storm! Check her out at www.myspace. com/sarahjaner - Barb Rocks
There was once a time when Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins were on top of the music world. Though, even now, their sound has influenced a whole new generation of depressed rockers. From their massive debut Gish to the now legendary Siamese Dream to the nine-time platinum Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness, the band has had a slew of hits, but this DVD is not about that era of the Pumpkins – it’s more of an introduction to the new band members, not to mention a little introspective view of Corgan’s mental health. In June 2007, the re-formed Smashing Pumpkins, opting away from a massive US tour established residencies at two venues, including 8 nights at the little-known Orange Peel in Asheville, NC and 11 sold-out nights at the Fillmore in San Francisco. The Orange Peel shows inspired the band so much that they ended up staying longer than expected – all the while introducing new music every night written during the residency. The DVD set also includes a full concert filmed in High Definition over five of the sold out nights in San Francisco. During these few weeks, the documentary “If All Goes Wrong” was filmed, tracing the band from the opening note to the final chord. “We xwent into residencies hopeful to play some new music, with the idea I would write during the day and we could maybe even play new songs that same night,” says Corgan. “ What I didn’t anticipate is how much the process would inspire me, positively and negatively, to report what I was seeing and feeling from the shows. The documentary shows that process in an interesting way that reveals the link between the band and our audience.” - Itay K
photo credit: Dennis Ho
Less Than Jake GNV FLA Deluxe Box Set Sleep It Off Records
Who couldn’t resist a box set that includes vinyl? Especially if it’s from your favorite bunch of ska-churning Floridians! Less Than Jake’s newest release, GNV FLA is just the tight sound you’d expect from a group of friend that have been playing together since college. “Obviously to people who’ve been following us for awhile, the title is a tribute to our roots in Gainesville, but others might not have any idea, which makes it a little cryptic,” offers drummer Vinnie with a laugh. “We did that on purpose to kind of use those six letters as a metaphor, it’s about chasing something better, though not necessarily better in a good or bad way. Take for instance ‘FLA,’ which used to be the abbreviation for Florida, but has since been changed. There’s an example of taking something that’s working perfectly fine and becoming something new even if you don’t need it! So thematically, it’s about chasing that shiny penny around or the fact that people find themselves chasing something they may not even need or want.” Included in this box set is the full GNV FLA album, a poster of the band, a DVD of in-studio footage arranged and edited by the band’s trombonist Louis “Buddy” Schaub and three super cool splatter-colored vinyl 7”s not available anywhere else consisting of live, acoustic and demo versions of album tracks as well as rare B-sides. Released through the band’s very own Sleep It Off label, this deluxe box set is a music lover’s dream. “Between the state of the industry and all the deals we’ve been in before,” comments Vinnie, “I just think it was our time to do it ourselves and to plug in our punk ethics with the way the industry is moving.” - Itay K
G’n’R tribute band Mr. Brownstone
Guns & Roses Chinese Democracy Geffen
Dear Axl, What The FUCK?! Did someone happen to slip a shiny pink leotard and some tights into your closet and you just up and decided: ‘Hey why not, they may just fit’? To think that I camped out overnight as a teenager to be one of the first in line to buy Use Your Illusion 1 & 2… regardless of Steven Adler leaving the band and you hiring a cheesy curlyhaired keyboard player... You know, you once made my angst-driven high school years bearable, but now, I just don’t know what to do anymore. I had such high expectations for this album. Honestly though, after nearly a 20 year wait, Chinese Democracy fails to relive the Guns & Roses of yore. Can we say overproduced much? I mean, come on… two Keyboard players?! You see, Axl, what made your band so cool back in the day was how raw and full of energy your sound was… and this album is far from raw – it’s been cooked, stewed, braised and left to dry in the hot sun for too long, leaving a nice, ripe layer of stank all over it. The shining grace for Chinese Democracy are the lightening-fast fingers of the chicken man himself, legendary guitarist Buckethead, who saves the day with his veritable shred-fest. You know what Axl? I think you need to cut off the silly braids, grab a fresh bottle of JD and get your shit together…start kicking people’s asses again…regain those balls and put something out that your fans will actually enjoy. Love, Itay K
Will the real Guns & Roses please stand up... Luca Spanio Queen Acoustic... ...and more Independent
Luca was born in Italy and is now living in Los Angeles in pursuit of a career as a guitarist/ vocalist. This self produced CD brings Luca’s acoustic versions of Queen songs along with some of his own originals. You can really hear the European influences with ballads reminiscent of the Scorpions. I was impressed by the polished sound of his acoustic guitar; it was able to stand alone. The electric guitar solos fit perfectly and don’t overshadow the vocals. The CD was recorded at L.S. Studios in Hollywood, mixed at Thud Studios in North Hollywood, and mastered at Barn Productions Los Angeles. Luca is touring all over California so log on to www.lucaspanio. com to get the latest dates. - YMM Staff
Last year I attended the premiere of “Get Thrashed” at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco. Since I was born and raised in San Francisco and grew up with thrash metal, this particular night had a special meaning for me. For starters, seeing a thrash documentary on the big screen had me intrigued. The significance was the reminder of my age … yikes! As I saw the line forming around the block, scores of people hanging out front and the anticipation floating in the air, I was definitely ready to “Get Thrashed.” With popcorn and devil horns in tow I make my way into the theater. Now a theater full of metal heads watching a movie on metal is a site to behold. You could say this was one of the most entertaining movie screenings I have ever seen. You had carte blanch to yell, scream, sing, and pump your fist in the air without being labeled mentally ill. “Get Thrashed” is the story of thrash metal, its history, its origins, and how it all got started. It schools the layperson on how thrash has paved the way for many artists that we see and hear today. In order to understand present day metal, you must study the history first. I asked producer Rick Ernst what stands out about Thrash Metal in general: “Thrash metal was the music I grew up on, the music I identified with and the music I still love to this day. I never grew out of it; it never grew tired for me. It’s part of who I am and I am proud of that. The thing that stands out about thrash is the extreme aggression, the speed and the musicianship. Most of these guys didn’t start out as great players but most of them ended up as great players. I have a lot of
respect for that. I was pissed off that the music I loved so much was constantly overlooked. There were books, films, TV specials, etcetera about punk, hardcore, grunge, death metal, black metal, etcetera, but nothing on thrash. I decided to take up the cause and started the film in late 2002. The first interviews were in early/mid 2003 with Nuclear Assault, Blitz (Overkill) and Testament”. Thrash metal is an interesting breed in its own right with its cool, chunky riffing and hooks that make you want to bang your head, jump off the stage, and start a circle pit. From Metallica, Exodus, Death Angel, Destruction, and Kreator, across the globe and worldwide, thrash has spawned a following that resonates today. The beginning of the documentary gets you gripped right from the start. With “Bonded by Blood” as its title track, it takes you immediately into some awesome archived live footage of some serious old school rituals. Ernst continued: “I reached out to the labels, the managers and bands directly to arrange interviews - most of them in New York City when the bands passed through on tour. Most of them were very receptive to the idea of a thrash metal documentary so it wasn’t much of a problem booking artists. The footage was more difficult to track down but I started with my own photos and footage, then friends contributed materials, then I got word out to the fans via the Internet. Then Associate Producer Rat Skates jumped on board and he had some personal photos and friends who contributed. From there, I was able to track down many of the photographers via word of mouth and/
or checking the back of album covers to see who took the photos back in the day. Google searches were great for tracking down these photographers. The video footage was supplied mainly by bands, fans and Walter Morgan, a thrash “historian” of sorts in the Bay Area who filmed many of the thrash bands back in the 1980’s.” Filmmaking is such hard work but the process can also be fun. I asked Rick about what stood out for him while making “Get Thrashed”: “That’s easy - the trip to the Bay Area was the thing that stood out the most because I love Bay Area thrash and this was like visiting the Holy Land! It was so cool to meet the bands that were my musical idols. It was insane to see the sites - old clubs, Metallica house, Paul Baloff’s grave, etcetera. I pretty much took a thrash tour of the Bay Area and most importantly, met some great fans and friends along the way. Thanks to Danny, Ace and all at Reality Check TV, the Concrete Coffin and Osmium guys, Tom Christe. It was so cool to be “accepted” by these fans who lived and breathed the scene out there. For the rest of 2008 I will be promoting the “Get Thrashed”
DVD, posting clips online, and giving fans even more than the DVD, which already includes the 100 minute film and 90 minutes of bonus material. I’ll be sharing with thrash fans for quite some time!” Get thrashed is a must see for all metal heads and this is one DVD you will need in your collection hands down. “Get Thrashed” teaches you about an important and special time in metal and how the music scene has changed. If you’re older and have had the privilege of seeing these bands in their heyday you’ll enjoy this film for sure. If your younger and didn’t have the opportunity to catch these bands back then, then you will appreciate this video and can bear witness to how metal ruled the world and still does. With such a large insurgence of thrash metal bands popping up left and right these days this DVD couldn’t have come out at a better time. As you know, times have changed and metal isn’t quite what it used to be, but watching this video will bring you back to the good old days of thrash metal. I will guarantee this, you will be thoroughly entertained by this documentary so do yourself a favor and pick up a copy and is available now at www.getthrashed.com
“Pop-music represents lollypop suckin’ and dancing in the street.” An interview with Suffocation’s Mike Smith. -By Mattie John Bamman You know you’re at a metal show when you leave the mosh pit with enough long blonde hair wrapped in your fists to make a wig. Recentlyreformed Carcass and Suffocation joined forces to grind through San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom this September, providing me and many others with an opportunity we thought we might never have: to see the masterminds behind my favorite music genre play Heartwork live. To prove that they can still be as f$cked as ever, Carcass showed clips of cocks covered in sores and bleeding for an entire song. The absence of original drummer Ken Owen, who could not tour for health reasons, was regrettable but Daniel Erlandsson, drummer for Arch Enemy, did an attentive job replicating Owen’s blistering beats. Throughout the set, lead singer Jeffrey Walker made several poignant comments like “Here’s a song made famous by the Bay Area bands that ripped it off.” Before Carcass, Suffocation played their brutal, no-bullshit set, which forced many in the audience to hit one another very hard. Drummer Mike Smith had some trouble with getting the mic in one of his bass drums to work, but eventually lead singer Frank Mullen said “We came here to play a set, and that’s what we’re going to do.” If one of Smith’s bass drums was indeed not miked, then he can play extremely fast single footed. It wouldn’t be a surprise considering that Smith has a blast beat named after him: The “Smith-blast” or “Suffo-blast.” Talking with Mike Smith before the show was truly inspiring. Among his long list of goals he includes learning the violin, destroying pop culture, and revolutionizing the music industry. Mattie: What’re some of the craziest things you’ve run over in your tour bus? Smith: Run over? Run over, I wouldn’t know cause we usually in our bunks at the time. But run into - I know we hit an eagle, which had a wingspan that was pretty much the whole windshield. Other than that, we’ve had pretty responsible drivers - not to run over dogs or any small children. Mattie: Thanks good. Where was that? Smith: I don’t remember where I was yesterday. Midwest I’d say? Mattie: What other styles do you like playing besides Death Metal? Smith: Pretty much every style. I grew up in a family that played everything from country to classical. When I’m not playing Death Metal I’m usually playing classical guitar. I think Death Metal is a unique form of music and its closest comparison for me is classical, in terms of its intricacy and depth. I just started playing violin, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful and heart-felt things you can play. Mattie: Guitar first, or drums? Smith: I started guitar when I was 5 or 6 and I got on drums when I was 8. Mattie: Are you working on a new album? Smith: Yeah. We’re in the middle of writing the music for the new album. It’s called Blood Oath, and it should be out early 2009 on Nuclear Blast records. It’s gonna be destructive. The music has really progressed and I think it will surprise our fans. Mattie: Is there anything you’d like to see happen in the next few years in the music industry?
Smith: Yeah, get the old people out of the record companies. They’ve been running it for decades - people don’t have any touch or feel for what the new music is. If you refresh it with the real musicians who actually play in the scene, I think the industry may be able to get out of the recession it’s in now. A lot of musicians out here are starving and begging and trying to get what these puppet-musicians seem to get overnight. You go into the record label, you have a nice face, and the record label builds you into what they want you to be. The Britney’s and all of those suckers who made millions on their first album. I think the industry needs to start taking musicians for what they are and start following what the musicians know. I think they’ll be led a lot deeper and with a lot more feeling than they are now. Mattie: We all know that pop is shit, but what do you think happens to a person who doesn’t get exposed to real music? Smith: I think it keeps them at a standstill. A dead standstill. Like zombies. They didn’t actually go out and search any underground clubs. They never listened to that, only to what’s been fed to them. Unfortunately, what’s been fed to them is run through the media and the media presents it the way they feel that you need to see it or hear it. That’s always create the weakest result, whether its politics, media, or sitcoms. The underground is always where you’re gonna find the true source of anything. Mattie: Do you think Death Metal is a reaction to that kind of music? Smith: For some it definitely is. It’s a rebellion. But at the same time, we live in a world that’s not a romper-room anymore. You really will get hurt, you really will get killed - you speak out of turn you get locked up… it’s really an outlet where you don’t have to curve your’ words and you can say whatever you want. Whether it’s cursin’ or Satan. We grew up in this time frame where we live in war and we live in anger - just disturbance - and pop music doesn’t represent that. Pop-music represents lollypop suckin and dancing in the street, when that’s the furthest from most people’s minds and reality. Mattie: How does it feel to have a blast beat named after you? Smith: It’s a beautiful thing. I’ll represent it until the end. At least it shows that I wasn’t here in vain and when I pass on my name will still hold up, like the other musicians before me. Mattie: Are there any mantras or life philosophies that hold up for you? Smith: Speak the true, whether it hurts, or not. It doesn’t matter who you’re talking to or when you’re talking it, speak the truth. Mattie: Anything to add? Smith: Come to the show and you’ll see why Suffocation is, cause we destroy all. Doesn’t matter if we’re headlining or opening, we’re never a weak link on a tour or a show, and San Franciscans will see that tonight.
Minus the Bear
THE TRAVELING BAND Words and Photography by: Jon Hermison There you are, alone with your computer on a Friday night clicking through the thousands of mp3s that you pirated. Then, all of the sudden, you come across a particular artist and think, “Will I ever get a chance to see this band live?” Frustrating, right? Well one thing is certain, that artist in question will never be Minus the Bear. Since the group’s debut in 2001, Minus the Bear has been on the road nearly a dozen times, with no sign in stopping soon, and still finding room in their calendars for three full-length albums and six EPs, including the latest one “Acoustics”, which was their first self-produced project. The bands reputation is constantly increasing, and this could be for many reasons. Sure, hard work, dedication, and passion for music could play a role. However, it could also be many other attributes; the progressive and innovative guitar riffs, the rhythm challenging percussions, the entertaining titles such as “They Make Beer Commercials Like This”, or “ Bands Like it When You Say ‘Yar’”, the stuffed animals on stage, or even the well-dressed hipster fans. Whatever factor it might be, Minus the Bear is showing no mercy. YYM received the opportunity to connect with drummer Erin Tate, so we can get to the bottom of this and we do not care who is at the top!
YMM: So how did Minus the Bear become the band it is today? Erin: We started as a side project, because we were all in different bands, and then after six months the other bands started breaking. YMM: Minus the Bear became the result, after the smoke cleared? Erin: Yeah, we all liked it and stuck with it. It was a step away musically. The other bands were more screamy and loud. It just gave us a chance to play something different. YMM: Since forming, Minus the Bear seems to be one of the most avid tour bands out right now, what keeps the band going back to the road? Erin: We all love to tour. I mean there are two great things about being in a band, writing/ recording, and touring. Being able to write music and record is great, but touring is just fun man. It is a chance to get out of town and play your songs, and seeing people loving it live or not loving it live. YMM: Whatever it might be its live, right? Erin: Yeah. YMM: While on the road, do you guys
demand any certain road food? Erin: Not really. We usually don’t eat fast food, but we are in Phoenix right now and it’s the first place, before you get to California, that you can get In-N-Out Burger, so we had to make a stop. YMM: It’s what it’s all about. While touring the U.S., are there cities that the band has to play, places that make the trip? Erin: Umm, we always hit the big cities (New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco), but at the same time, Cleveland is a fun city as well. We try to play at as many places as possible; we try to hit them all. YMM: Is there a big difference between 21 and over places and the all ages shows? Erin: We don’t play a lot of 21 and over shows. We did more in the beginning, because that’s all there was, but now when we play those older shows we get hundreds of messages of people who are mad at us, so we play as many all age shows as we can. YMM: This tour is a good sized U.S. tour, and shortly after this tour, the band is touring Australia. Is
Minus the Bear
there something in particular the band is promoting? Erin: Yeah, we just recorded an EP that we put out ourselves called “Acoustics”, it’s mostly an online only EP but we brought some with us. YMM: Is there a full-length follow up to “Planet of Ice” in the near future? Erin: We would like to start recording in the spring. When we get home, hopefully we can write all winter, we have some new songs but they have a ways to go. So, in the spring, that’s the goal. YMM: When you guys eventually reach the studio, how does the song writing process evolve? Erin: We usually don’t have or hear the lyrics until we are in the studio. We like to generate the music first, and then Jake takes the vibe he gets from that particular song, and writes lyrics around it. YMM: Jam it out and work out the kinks. Erin: Right. We spend as much time as we can alone to make the music as interesting as possible, before the lyrics get there. YMM: How has the addition of new keyboardist, Alex Rose, helped with the creative process? Erin: It’s been great! He is a really creative individual. When Matt (Bayles) was in the band, he never really wrote music with us. So now we have a keyboardist who fully participates. We all throw ideas around, now there are five people writing music instead of four, it makes a big difference. YMM: It changes the vibe when everyone is into it. Erin: Definitely. YMM: Who comes up with funny album and song titles? In addition, where does the Spanish influence come form? Erin: Well, we all come with some names for the songs and albums. As for the Spanish influence, the first time we went to Europe we toured in Spain with eight shows in twelve days, and is was the most fun we all had together as a band. It was our first time in Spain, just an amazing time we had together, and it set the tone for that entire record (Menos el Oso). YMM: Are you guys going back any time soon? Erin: Hopefully! YMM: Back to the tour at hand, how does it feel to end a long tour with your last show being at home in Seattle? Erin: It feels great; it’s like my favorite part. We used to start tours with the first show in Seattle; it was a bummer because friends would be like ‘Oh, great show!’ and then we would pack up and leave. Now, we try to plan our last show at home so our friends and family come out and welcome us home. It also gives the bands that we have been touring with, for the past months, a small glimpse into our lives. YMM: A good end to a good tour. Erin: Oh, absolutely! I love it, it’s awesome. YMM: Well, thanks a lot Erin, have a safe end to the tour, and I will see you in Sacramento! Erin: No problem. Thanks a lot man. Now I can eat my In-N-Out Burger.
GOLD COAST TATTOO
www.GoldCoastTattoo.com
639 Lighthouse Ave Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 642-9404
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - SANTA CRUZ SANTA CRUZ NEWZ:
listening pleasure. Tommy and the boys work hard to be the best they can, For those of you not yet aware, the and their music reflects this. Check Brookdale Lodge (now the Brookdale out their myspace (/20grit) to hear Inn and Spa) recently underwent new their music today! ownership, and in the last few months has made significant improvements For those of you looking for a new to the old place. What almost no one tattoo, be sure to check out our knows is that the new Inn has a killer newest advertisers, Salty Dog Tattoo music venue hidden inside, with (at 728 Water St.). Right next to room for 300+ and a decent stage to Gold’s Gym, this new shop deserves work on. Your Music Magazine has your consideration. So take off your been proud to host a once monthly blinders and stop in next time your show at the Inn, and as word has got shopping for new art. out each show has grown in attendance since we started working with them in On December 17th check out The September. Our latest show on Nov. NaySayers live at Moes Alley with 14th featured 5 excellent bands, with Wet Umbrella. Learn more about the members ranging in age from 12 to Naysayers on page 47. 30+ (oh did I mention that the Inn is the only venue in the county with Cypress Lounge has been having a full bar where 18+’s and 21+’s can some great shows. Go check them out mingle together?). A special thanks and have some dinner. to the bands- The Naysayers (see interview on page 47), Archer, Rapid Our friends over at More Music are Fire, Jackie Rocks, and Pariah having a Holiday Sale on Epiphone Faction- with their hard work this was products. See their ad on the back inside gloss page 68. Mention this ad a great night for local music! and receive a free guitar lesson. There’s a great show on Dec. 13th at Coasters Bar (down by the Boardwalk). Local favorites Honest Mistake, Who’s Holdin’, 3 Up Front, and The Devil Himself will be rockin’ this excellent holiday extravaganza. Can you have good clean fun mixed with total debauchery? Obviously you can, as anyone who went to this year’s Lodgeapalooza would already know. Don’t miss this show! Also at Coaster’s, on Jan 23rd local rockers (and loyal mag advertisers) 20 Grit will be performing for your
Numerous had a kick ass show on Nov. 20th at The Catalyst with his new Soul Science Band. Also performing was Against The Spread, Rawdiculous, The Outwitz, Clever Chris, and Lyrical I.
Poll taken on www.yourmusicmagazine.com throughout 2008.
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - SANTA CRUZ 2008 Favorites GOLD SILVER BRONZE Favorite Band:
Social Distortion
Radiohead
Lacuna Coil
Favorite Musician:
Mike Ness
Tech Ni9e
Sarah Jane
2008 CD:
The Devil Himself see no evil
Radio Station:
The Grouch The Bay To LA Ashkon Hot Tubbin’ KSCO
DJ: Record Store:
Song: Music Video:
Musical Instrument Store:
Bar/Club: Bartender: Website: Tattoo Artist:
Flogging Molly - Serj Tankian Elect the Dead Float Ashkon Like Ya Tech Ni9e Hot Tubbin’ Radiohead Rise Against All I Need Behind Closed Doors KZSC
KPIG
DJ AD
DJ Tiesto
Streetlight Records More Music
The Krate
Jon Michael 104.3 Logo’s
The Starving Sylvan Musician Music Coasters Britannia Arms Catalyst Bar & Grill Andy Rogelio Guzman Clifford Britannia Arms Coasters The Med yourmusicmaga- myspace.com/ soulscience zine.com music.com archer Mike Craig Young Pleasure Pt. Tattoo Salty Dog Tattoos Gio -Staircase
LYON ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: THE 2008 YOUR MUSIC OLYMPICKS GOLD BEST LIVE CYLINDER PERFORMANCE MORGAN BEST VOCALIST
BEST GUITARIST
PARIAH FACTION
SILVER
BRONZE
HONEST MISTAKE
MY STUPID BROTHER
SHANE
SEAN KROHN
CYLINDER
Dylan Archer
Jake FUBAR
Finn
Seth
BEST BASSIST
Serendipity Sapos Muertos Project
BEST DRUMMER
Jake 3upFront
Jason
The Devil Himself
Daniel
The Moderna Complex
Isaiah Archer (Tie) Zac
Who’s Holdin’
Jesse
My Stupid Brother
FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT OUR WEB SITE WWW.YOUMUSICMAGAZINE.COM
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - SAN JOSE SAN JOSE NEWZ: On Dec. 20th Red Bull is proud to bring Dark Heavens (featuring Drew Roulette from Dredg) and SJ Metal monsters Left of Christ to the Blank Club. This will be Drew’s 1st show with DH (as well as LoC’s CD release party) so don’t miss it! And don’t forget; both Dark Heavens and Left of Christ are fueled by Red Bull, the world’s #1 energy drink. At The VooDoo Lounge Dec. 18th check out Flaw, The Dreaming, Displaced, Stepchild, and In The Absence. On Dec. 19th it’s Audioaerobiks 6 Year Anniversary with performances from The Grouch, G&E Eligh, DJ Fresh, The Bayliens, Language Arts Crew, Moonshyne, and hosted by Dirtbag Dan! On Jan. 8th Lee Rocker and The Chop Tops. Here’s an update on the SJS situation from Andrew K. (www. pinupproductions.net): San Jose Skate was shut down by SJPD on November 30th, 2008. According to Pin
Up Productions, “they acted without formal action or consent from Code Enforcement or the District Attorney’s Office.” SJS was not shut down because of an event gone wrong, or because of the lack of a permit, and we were not given a reason as to SJPD’s decision. In short, SJPD operated under their own agenda and without the consent of the other offices of power in San Jose. At this point, we are asking everyone to do everything they can to help us get our venue back!!! San Jose Skate has served as a safe home for the adolescents and young adults in San Jose for the past 4 years, and has hosted some of the most amazing events the SJ local music scene has seen in the past decade. San Jose Skate’s only crime has been keeping kids off the streets and rebuilding a music scene that had crumbled without central leadership. I urge everyone strongly to spread the word as much as possible, and do everything possible in getting San Jose it’s local music venue back! See Barb Rocks ad on page 6.
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - SAN JOSE
Poll taken on www.yourmusicmagazine.com throughout 2008.
2008 Favorites
GOLD
Favorite Band:
Vampire Weekend
Favorite Musician:
Rob Zombie
Song: Music Video: Radio Station: DJ: Record Store:
Rasputin
Musical Instrument Store:
Bartender: Website: Tattoo Artist:
BRONZE
High On Fire
Dredg
Les Claypool
Drew Dredg Kings Of Leon
Vampire New Maps of Hell Deluxe Weekend Only By The Night Rob Zombie Dredg Kings of Leon War Zone Bug Eyes Sex on Fire Ashkon Feist Pink Hot Tubbin’ I Feel It All So What 98.5 KZSU 90.1 Live 105 KFOX Greg Kin Madden Kevvy Kev 98.5 KFOX
2008 CD:
Bar/Club:
SILVER
Streetlight
Amoeba
SJ Pro The Starving Guitar Center’ Drums Musician Arms The Voodoo The Blank Club Britannia Cupertino Lounge Craig Thane Raymond VooDoo Lounge The Blank Club Fahrenheit Lounge barackobama. www.routinefly. channel1049. com com com Andy Tattoo John Iggy -Idle Hand Metamorphic SJ Tattoo’
LYON ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: THE 2008 YOUR MUSIC OLYMPICKS BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Cylinder
Dimidium
Relapse
Dana
Naomi Nadia BEST Jade Of Days Letters Make Letters Make VOCALIST Words Words BEST GUITARIST
Jarret
Diamond Lane
Naomi
BEST Letters Make BASSIST Words BEST DRUMMER
Junior Jade Of Days
Brett
Perverse Recreation
Mike My Monster
Needles Relapse
Mark Dimidium
Tim Dimidium
George Funk The Band
FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT OUR WEB SITE WWW.YOUMUSICMAGAZINE.COM
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - MONTEREY some of the most talented artists MONTEREY NEWZ: showcasing that Monterey has to offer. You would be Good ol’ Monterey…a town where musicians work hard to keep the scene alive, and they’ve been doing a damn good job of it lately. As an ex-resident of Monterey, I’ve been keeping an eye on the scene for a while and it’s looking like 2009 is gonna be a stellar year.
hard pressed to find a more professional and sterile environment to get tatted up at. Stop by and check out their artwork, don’t miss their ad on page 31!
Bands who need videos: Wave Street Studios is now offering quite the deal for musicians to use their facility and record a high quality performance video which will First of all, The Lounge Underground has also be streamed on their website. Hit them been moving forward with some amazing up for more info. live shows and has been establishing itself as quite the valuable venue addition in the Doc Ricketts is up and running again county of Monterey. December 5th was a and sicker than ever! Tons of great shows prime example to the potential this venue coming in 2009 which features both the raw brings to the table. Pride Subject, Countertalent Monterey has to offer and collective of Clockwise, and Dimidum (our Your Music phenomenal out-of-bands as well. Nothing nd Olympicks San Jose 2 place Winners) blew has been confirmed yet…but there are rumors the roof off the Lounge Underground and that my band Soul Science might be playing showed M-Bay that rock is still pumpin’ full there the first couple of months in 09. Keep speed ahead! an eye out and I’ll keep you posted. Monterey Live is your source for a smooth blend infusing some of the best eclectic music that comes to town as well as some very prominent local artists. The atmosphere of their stage makes for quite the incredible experience for both the fans and the bands. Alex Lee performs with the Joint Venture on December 11th, don’t miss this intoxicating experience of Hip Hop from this highly successful Seaside-raised artist. Also…December 20th is the date Serpico and Beezle bring some straight-ahead highenergy rock to Monterey Live, you’d be a fool to miss this show!
Christmas gift idea: Head on out to J & S Surplus and pick yourself up a unique gift that your loved ones will both love and actually use. They got paintball guns, hunting / military gear, a spectacular selection of knives and who wouldn’t love a genuine samurai sword? I know I would.
And finally, for all those of you out there who have yet to become a musician yourself… never fret. Wise Music has EVERYTHING you need to get yourself started on your new career as a rock star! It just so happens that Wise Music is throwing a HUGE Holiday Sale RIGHT NOW! Check out the info on Need glass? The folks at NorCal Smoke page 7, get in there and save yourself a nice Shop on Lighthouse Avenue got you chunk of cash on your brand spankin’ new covered! Truly the best prices in town, a musical instrument! fantastic selection and some of the friendliest staff you will ever meet! If you’re looking So that’s it, a short run-down of the music for quality pieces that won’t take a chunk scene and the businesses that support outta your life savings, you NEED to hit up local music in Monterey. Seeing how this NorCal Smoke Shop. In fact…check out is likely to turn into a regular column, if you their ad in this issue on page 8 to find out have suggestions on which shows we should how you can get yourself a FREE PIPE! cover in Monterey send them to me at: JakeStudent@Your MusicMagazine.com Need Ink? Goldcoast Tattoos also on Lighthouse Avenue is Monterey’s Until next month…keep the music alive! premiere tattoo and piercing facility
Poll taken on www.yourmusicmagazine.com throughout 2008.
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - MONTEREY 2008 Favorites GOLD SILVER BRONZE Favorite Band:
Death Angel
Unearth
Steel Pulse
Favorite Musician:
Rob Trujillo Metallica Disturbed: Indestructable Rob Zombie War Zone SEETHER Remedy The Hippo 104.3 Jon Michaels 104.3
Rob Zombie
Paul Hastey
Machine Head The Blackening Blooddrunk
Amon Amarth
System Of DownHypnotize
Cute Without the E Taking Back Sunday
Hopecore.com
KPIG
Bobby Vegas
Alice Cooper
2008 CD: Song: Music Video: Radio Station: DJ:
Children Of Bodom
Twilight of The Thundergod
Rihanna Live Your Life
Recycled Amoeba Records The DJ Music Wise Musical Instrument Store: Booth Unlimited Music The Mucky Doc Ricketts Monterey Live Bar/Club: Duck Liza Sarah Pauly Bartender: Doc Ricketts The Hippodrome The Mucky Duck myspace.com/ yourmusicmaga- Hopecore.com Website: zine.com’ montereymusic Rick Sean Polland Rosie Tattoo Artist: Gold Coast Tattoo Gold Coast Tattoo Creative Visions
Record Store:
Vinyl Revolution
LYON ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS: THE 2008 YOUR MUSIC OLYMPICKS BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE BEST VOCALIST BEST GUITARIST
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Plaster
Cylinder
Embrace Forever
Shane Cylinder Brian Plaster
Roman Paul Counter Plaster Clockwise Bill Jake Pride Subject FUBAR
Russ Victor BEST Plaster/ Bloodprint BASSIST Dead Ringers BEST DRUMMER
Timmy
Drew
Zack Miseria Ted
Pride Plaster 3 Hour Shower Retributuion Subject FOR FULL DETAILS VISIT OUR WEB SITE WWW.YOUMUSICMAGAZINE.COM
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - SACRAMENTO FATE UNDER FIRE For fans of Jimmy Eat World, Muse, Foo Fighters, Snow Patrol, and Thrice. By Jake Arthur I knew after hearing only 30 seconds of Sacramento’s new alternative rock band, Fate Under Fire, that this band is going somewhere. Fate Under Fire is one band that you have to see live. I was fortunate to meet up with the guys at their last Boardwalk show in Orangevale CA to see what they have been working on and what to expect from the band in the future. After talking with the band, it was clear that they have the drive it takes to be successful in the music industry. The comradery between the four members of Fate Under Fire and the charisma that they all share is very prevalent on and off the stage. The band is lead by front man David James, who started the band in the Summer of 2007. David began writing and recording every aspect of the music from guitar to drums to vocals. After he had a few songs recorded, he began to look for members to complete the line up. Shortly after his search began, he found a solid drummer, Rob Pierce. For almost an entire year, the two of them went through many members until they found guitarist Chris O’Keefe. And then finally, in the fall of 2008, bass player Alvie Gonzalez proved to be the missing link to the Fate Under Fire line up.
A. We’ve been experimenting with recording the drums and cymbals on separate takes. We have also been using natural reverb on the drums by recording in different rooms though out the house. Other than that, just adding some extra percussion tracks like claps and tambourines, nothing particularly special. There’s probably some quirky things we do here and there, but we can’t tell you all our secrets. Q. When the record is released, which song do you think will stand out the most and why? A. It’s really hard to know. As of right now, the songs on the myspace page are a little bit harder then the newer stuff we have been writing. We think a lot of our fans might be surprised in the direction that the band is heading.
Q. Where did the name Fate Under Fire come from and what does it mean? A. the word fate is sort of like a dead fish floating down stream. Everything that happens in life isn’t just from chance happenings depending on the way Q. You guys have been working on a debut album, the wind is blowing that day. The choices we make, where have you been recording at and when can the thoughts we think, the way we live determine the we expect it to be released? future, and when you have fire under that concept, A. We are very lucky to have a San Francisco State you move. Audio Engineering graduate as the front man of the band. We have been recording the album at his Q. Have you had any near death experiences home-studio “Saloon Studios,” which gives us the since you have been in the band? time and ability to create a polished album. Between A. About a month ago, we went on a photo shoot in writing, recording, and mixing, we spend about 24 downtown Sacramento and we were almost stabbed hours a week on the record. We have been working by a crazy lady in one of the alley ways near the really hard on getting the album finished and we are capital. We were taking some photos when she expecting it to be done sometime in the Spring of approached us and started yelling profanities at us 2009. to get out of her ‘house’. At first we all thought she Q. Have you been using any special recording techniques to record the album?
was just a little drunk and that she was messing with us but we soon found out that she was not joking. Minutes later, she pulled out a 10 inch steak knife and
Poll taken on www.yourmusicmagazine.com throughout 2008.
YOUR LOCAL MUSIC - SACRAMENTO
2008 Favorites
GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
Favorite Band:
Metallica
Deftones
Slayer
Favorite Musician: 2008 CD: Song: Music Video: Radio Station: DJ:
Draiman Shifty Kirk Hammet David Disturbed Crazytown Disturbed: Deftones Vampire Around the Fur Indestructable Weekend SlipKnot Rehab Disturbed Psychosocial Inside The Fire Sittin @ a Bar Slipknot System Of DownSEETHER Psychosocial Hypnotize Remedy KWOD KRXQ KSEG 106.5 98.5 96.9 Mark Andy Hawk Montana Gilmore
Record Store:
Dimple Records
R5 Records
Musical Instrument Store:
Skip Music
Music Go-Round
Bar/Club: Bartender: Website: Tattoo Artist:
Beat Guitar Center
Onyx Club Jamie Jeremy Dana The Boardwalk The Fire Escape Shaker’s Pub myspace.com/ photographn. sithentertainment SacShows.com com Gavin Drew Ron -Red Dragon Exotic Capitol Ink Body The Boardwalk
The Fire Escape
started screaming at us to leave. Needless to say, it took us a matter of seconds to pack up our stuff and find a new shooting location. What do you usually write about in your lyrics? I would have to say the majority of the lyrics deal with inner struggles I have gone through. I know not everyone can relate 100% of the time, so curbing them to be a little more universal sometimes helps the listener to relate. Failures, getting over an ex, and relationships with loved ones name a few topics. Reaching out for Truth, and God are usually woven in most of the material too. Some songs deal with the typical “you did me wrong,” vibe, but honestly, I’m so sick of almost every song I hear playing the blame game. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think society should have a little more humility, and be a little more sensitive to see when “I did you wrong,” I’m sorry, and I love you. If I believe it, I’ll write it. I want this band to have a positive message. Q. What are the bands or artists that have inspired you to make the music you create today? A. All of us in the band have a variety of different tastes in music, ranging everywhere from classical music like Beethoven to metal like Between the Buried and Me. The thing that makes it exciting is when we write together; we all bring different creative ideas to the table because our influences vary from member to member. But, we all have a hand full of bands that we all listen to; a few of them include U2, Jimmy Eat World, Snow Patrol and Muse. Q. Do you have any shows coming up? A. Honestly, as tempting as they are, we have really been trying to lay off the shows so we can complete the album. As soon as we finish the CD, we plan on touring all over the place. We do have one show coming up at the Boardwalk on January 9th with Early States, Lynus, and Hero’s Last Mission. Find out more about Fate Under Fire at myspace.com/fateunderfire.
THE HALLWAY BALLERS Living the Baller Life By Mat Weir It’s Thursday night and I’m in Monterey at a fashionably hipster coffee house and bar called Monterey Live. The atmosphere is as thick as the red velvet curtains adorning the stage. My lady and I sit nursing our drinks while the usual Bay Area crowd files in---new college students, dope fiend surfers and old, burned out “heads.” My kind of people, except for the group of sloppy drunk bros and their “hoes” who will be 86ed before the night is over. It’s no surprise that a band coming from Moss Landing would pull a big crowd at a hometown show, but by just watching the audience you know that The Hallway Ballers are more than just a local phenomenon. Their sound is pure California; punk rock attitude riding the smooth wave of reggae. With brothers Dave and Raphiel Grijalva on guitars, Adam Huntress pounding out the beats and Nate “Trees” Hydie slapping the funky bass riffs, the Ballers play the kind of music that brings the party vibe, but with the subtle reminder that tomorrow is another day. So don’t go blowing your wad all at once. Ride the wave of life all the way and keep your head cool when the Mavericks appear. The easiest way to describe their music would be akin to Sublime, but that would be to the Ballers discredit. They’re jam band to the core, playing off one another in an impromptu tour-de-force. If they sound like anyone, it’s not because they tried but because they are that good. The Hallway Ballers played well over an hour that night, finally ending around 1AM while a still packed Monterey Live cheered for more. A couple days later I caught up with them at their practice pad where we discussed the finer points of life; music, surfing and the Baller lifestyle. YMM: How long have you guys been playing together? Nate: We started out as a three part crew-more of a blues band- six or seven years ago, now? We really started to get serious when we got Adam. We didn’t have a drummer--we’d just beatbox it-so when we met him we were able to start really locking down our songs and become a free-style, drunken jam band [laughs from everyone]. YMM: What’s the writing process for the Hallway Ballers? Dave: Basically, one of us writes a song at home and then takes it to the band where we just jam and combine our ideas. That’s usually when we come up with our best stuff. YMM: Well you know what you’re doing. Last week’s show at Monterey Live was packed. I went around talking to fans that night, asking them what it was about the Ballers that brought them out on a Thursday and a couple people mentioned your “Sublime-like” sound. What influences do you have? Raphiel: I like a lot of folk; “good ole” song writer-type stuff. Adam: Yeah, anything with a good rhythm. Trees [bassist Nate] likes tons of funk. Nate: Yeah, I grew up listening to punk. I was a little skater kid, you know, nine years old listening to Suicidal Tendencies and all that. Then, in high school, I started getting into reggae with stuff like Yellowman. YMM: [to Nate] I gotta say, you were going off on the riffs Thursday night. So what are some of your favorite places to play? Raphiel: I’d say Moe’s Alley; that’s pretty tight. Adam: Wherever there’s a crowd [laughs].
Dave: Yeah, we’ve had some pretty good shows at places you wouldn’t even expect. Like one time we did a private show at the aquarium. YMM: The Monterey Aquarium? So, did you guys play in front of the fishes or what? Raphiel: Hahaha, naw. It was this private wine and trade show thing. All the vendors went to the after party at the Pelican Tavern across the street on Cannery Row. It’s just this little wharf restaurant that you wouldn’t think would be raging so I was surprised. Adam: Yeah it also depends on who’s in the crowd. We played the Super Moto-GP in Laguna Seca a little while back. It was three days on an outside stage, which, acoustically, was the most fun. The sound just carries out into the audience. But I’d say we sound the best when we have our own gear. Nate: Yeah, when we can play louder than shit! [band laughs] Adam: It seems like a lot of venues have shitty monitors. Dave: We played for one person at the Atrium before [all members bust out laughing hysterically]. YMM: Well you gotta have that fan base, right? Adam: [laughs] Yeah we have some hardcore fans. Raphiel: This is our first band and we just started playing. That’s what you do when you’re in a band right? You just start playing shows everywhere you can. Adam: You start playing a lot of house parties. My first show with these guys was at a house party. Dave: And there are always some cool parties too. You remember that giant one in Big Sur? It was this tree house; this giant auditorium was a tree house! It was kind of like a high school gymnasium complete with hardwood floors. It was a trip. Adam: It’s called the Pfeiffer House in Big Sur. Raphiel: They have a giant pool and big ole’ slide that you can do drop-ins with on a boogie board. You shoot across the whole pool. Nate: Yeah and from the pool you can see the ocean, whales and whatever else is out there that day. YMM: You guys are known as really big surfers. What effect does the surfing lifestyle have on your music? Raphiel: It’s pretty much just “the lifestyle.” When singing about what you love to do comes easily to your music, you end up thinking about your favorite things all day. But you know, it’s an up and down balance because you are trying to accomplish other things in life too. Nate: We’re surfers and musicians--you know, the two go together along with other things like smoking a bowl (everyone laughs). It’s a package (laughs) Adam: It’s cool because whenever we tour the coast we always get to surf these really killer spots. It seems like even our sessions are better when we travel. In the nighttime we get music and in the daytime: surfing all day. YMM: So what’s in store for the Hallway Ballers? You guys just released a CDRaphiel: Actually we’re about to drop our first album. It should be out Oct 25. We’re pretty stoked because it’s been about three years total in the making. We recorded most of it here in our practice studio have done all of the sound management and production. YMM: Ah nice, well congrats. All DIY too, that’s pretty awesome. Dave: Yeah and our manager, Kenny, basically put in slave hours; listening to the same snare ten thousand times. Raphiel: When you’re in the studio you record something, listen to it, then record it again and again until it sounds the way you want. But then you start feeling like it never gets done. Dave: Exactly, because sometimes we are just in the studio, making this shit on the fly and then adding to it. But then all of a sudden the song sounds really different. So our manager would sometimes encourage us to continue jamming and the other times he’d just have say, “Alright, this is it, this is it. It’s done.” [everyone laughs]. YMM: (turning to the camera) Hey Kenny, would you like to say anything to the readers? Kenny: Check out the Hallway Ballers new album coming out! [laughs].
In Interview with Frank Watkins, Bassist for Obituary B By Holly English B A After a long hiatus, Obituary, one of Florida’s Pioneer Death Metal bands, F resurfaced in 2007 with Xecutioner’s re Return, their first studio release in more R th than 10 years. The series of events that fo followed the albums’ release included a slot in this years’ Wacken Festival, a new s h highly- acclaimed E.P and most recently, a North American tour with supporting acts Carnifex. bassist Frank Watkins during their San t Unleashed U l h d and d C if I mett up with ith b Francisco stop to get the scoop on what the band has been up to and what fans of Obituary should expect in the coming months. How’s your current North American tour going so far? Tours goin’ real good. We’ve been out for about two weeks. We started in Atlanta, which was a good show. Texas was a little bad cause we lost a show due to the hurricane that wrecked Houston, so they canceled the show ‘cause there was no power. That gave a bad vibe and it kinda messed up the whole tour, cause now we lose money and we have to pay for this tour bus so everything kinda went up in the wind. And a whole lot of fans in Houston were trippin’. We’ve played Houston 3 times in the last 4 years and we always play a great show, always a great place to be. So, for us to cancel was kind of a bummer for us. But we’ll definitely make up the show. We’ve been through California- were in L.A. recently which was a really amazing show. It wasn’t packed though cause it was a Wednesday night and Carcass was that previous Friday. I think tickets for that were like, forty or fifty bucks. So, for the kids to come on T Tuesday or Wednesday to see Obituary after the C Carcass show- I mean, I know that I couldn’t afford th when I was a kid. So, I wouldn’t expect kids that to today to do both shows. When I was a kid, tickets w were cheap but you barely saw any bands. You w were lucky to see Celtic Frost come through Florida a all Now, these days with technology, kids are at s seeing every band that’s out there, promoters are c charging a lot of money for way more shows, and k kids can be selective about what shows they see. Y You played Germany’s Wacken Festival, this p past summer. How did that go? W played amazing and sounded great, but We th there was a lot that made it suck. Like we lost our lu luggage at the airport. We landed in Hamburg, had to drive three hours to the Wacken Fest without a luggage. So, I was in shorts, a tee shirt and any flip flops, basically looking like a bum and having to p perform in front of 100,000 people! Then when we g there, we’re walkin’ up to stage room where we got ru into our friends in Hatebreed. We find out that run w we’re both playing at the same time on two different sstages. I was floored. It was like, “why do you want to torture the crowd like that?” Kids that wanna see
us are also gonna wanna see Hatebreed. I could understand us and Apocalyptica, or us and Nightwish. But Hatebreed and Obituary? It was so stupid, ‘cause we’re so similar. In the end though, I couldn’t even tell Hatebreed was playing. Our crowd was ridiculous. When I talked to the guys in Hatebreed, they said that their show was amazing as well. I guess with 100,000 people, it’s easy to split the crowd up. You have a new EP out, entitled Left to Die and plans to have a full- length out by next year. Why do an EP now? Is it sort of a lead in or teaser to the full length? To us, we’ve done an EP before. For our World Demise record, we did an EP called Don’t Care, which showcased a song from that record. Things are different this time- we wanted to put two songs we wrote for the next record as well as a cover (“Dethroned Emperor” by Celtic Frost) and we also re-did a song from Slowly We Rot. Back then we had different tuning/different overall vibe to the song so, we wanted to recreate that. The other reason for the E.P is to give the new upcoming album some hype. Even if we’re not touring, we still want to show kids that we’re working to get our music out there. Who were your biggest music influences growing up? Personally for me, mostly Punk/Hardcore bands like Bad Brains, Cro- Mags, Agnostic Front, Black Flag. As I was growing up, my father did stuff with the New York Dolls, Talking Heads and Blondie, so I heard all that. My uncle was also into punk, which was also a big influence on me. As I got older, I got more into Metal. Then, I wanted something heavier than Metal- by which case I got into Death Metal- bands like Possessed, and Slayer. Then, I got to a point where I was like, I’m gonna make a band that’s even heavier than that. Then I ran into Obituary. They were doing stuff that no one could else could touch. I thought to myself back then, I gotta join this band! When Obituary recorded Slowly We Rot, they were getting rid of their bass player. They were doing a tour for the album, needed a bassist- and I got the gig. I’ve been with the band since 1989. I guess you have to appreciate all different types of music in order to be a good musician, eh? Yeah, definitely. I mean, music-wise for influences, I don’t see too much today that’s new that hasn’t been done before- no one’s breaking boundaries. There’s a lot of stuff comin’ out and I like it, but it sounds like all the older stuff that had an influence on me. There’s gotta be another Jimi Henxrix one day- hopefully in my lifetime! Tell me a bit about the history of the band, that some might not know. You’ve been together as Obituary since when, 1988? That’s a lot of ground to cover, no? Actually, we’ve been around since ‘84. Back then, we were known as Executioner. Obituary started out in high school, performing in battle of the bands competitions. Back then they sounded more like Metallica. But the band evolved, started listening to bands like Slayer and Celtic Frost- from there, they progressively got heavier and heavier. At one point the band was about to fall apart; Trevor enlisted in the Navy. One of the Tardys’ went to college or somethin’ like that. But then, they started getting record offers, so decided it was either‘ are we gonna play in a band or do we go to college?’ Their heart and soul was to play, so they followed that. Do you think that the heart and soul of music in general is what has kept Obituary consistently putting out killer material for the last twenty years? Yeah. Through the years, everyone from managers to record labels try and tell us to lighten up, try new vocalschange it up a little. But, Obituary is Obituary. To me, if we were to change our sound- have clean vocals; etc., we’d had to change name of band. If we put out an album with melodic vocals- it wouldn’t be us. A lot of bands have done it, and it broke my heart. I wouldn’t do that to anyone- especially anyone who is a fan of my music. What Obituary album would you say, is most reflective of the band in general? For me, I’d say that it was our last record- Xecutioner’s Return, because it’s a combination of every album we ever did. That’s really what we sound like brutal, old-school death metal. Besides that, I’d recommend Slowly We Rot to anyone who hasn’t heard us; that’s the one to give. Our next record, which we plan to have out by March or April of next year, will be the “Back In Blac”’ of Obituary. We put so much time into it and have come up with so many really amazing songs. Two of the songs from our new EP are a taste from what’s to come. The new stuff is blowing my mind ‘cause we have a studio now so we can record stuff and remember it all the next time we go back in to jam. Back in the day, all that stuff got lost in the rift chamber. Now everything is locked into our computer. So much stuff we’re sifting through, that it’s inevitable that it will be put together perfectly!
YMM: Please introduceThe NaySayers. Name, position, and past bands: Murphy Park: Drums, Producer, MC/Beatbox Rob Scoma: MC Duffy Park: MC Jay “Birdman” Kaplan, Guitar (Undecyded, Independent Music Party) Tito Ballins, Bass (Independent Music Party) Mike Sladowski, Vocals YMM: How long have The NaySayers been around and how did the group form? Murphy Park:The NaySayers was originally a more conventional hip-hop group, consisting of me and Rob Scoma making songs in a cold basement. We started doin’ shows in and around Santa Cruz in 2006, and we had a lot of success pretty early on, performing with some of my favorite groups growing up; Dead Prez, Andre Nicaktina, Devin The Dude, and honestly just getting to share the stage was a huge deal for meRob Scoma: Yeah seriously, I remember watching Digable Planets do their sound checks and just thinking, damn, I grew up to this shit, it’s really just an honor to be a part of it now. Murphy Park: But within the past couple of months we’ve taken The NaySayers to a new level with the addition of Jay on guitar, Tito on bass, my brother Duffy Park as MC, and Mike Sladowski as our sex appeal. Mike Sladowski: Shut the fuck up. M.P: Just fuckin around, he does a lot more than that too, he makes sandwiches. No really though Mike steals the show, he’s our vocal backbone, and now I’m on the drums too, so he takes my place with a presence all his own. YMM: What is the general philosophy behind the music/group? M.P: Make music, make money, take drugs, lose money, make documentary. That’s our game plan. Our intentions are to make good music, too many people get caught trying to fill a void or play a role, but we just stay true to ourselves and trust our own instincts, and if you don’t like it, you have bad taste. YMM: What are your goals for 2009 and where do you see yourself in 5 years? Jay Kaplan: pawning platinum plaques. Duffy Park: …for drug money. M. P : Right now we’re just working hard, making music everyday, and we don’t really speculate on future success too much, but we definitely know we’re fucking with something special. YMM: How can we learn more about The NaySayers? Go to myspace.com/ thenaysayersmusic to listen to our music, stay up on our shows and to get our 17 track album “Headphone Food”. Or invite us over for breakfast. YMM: Contact info? Booking and all info through
myspace.com/ thenaysayersmusic
You’ve been on tour with Atmosphere for quite some time...how have the shows been? Shows have been good, kinda like artist development - setting me up the right way and introducing me to RSE (Rhymesayers) fans. How did you Rhymesayers?
get
involved
with
We all met back in ‘97 in Chicago - Ateam/ Atmosphere show on the southside in Chinatown. Then again in ‘99 at Scribble. From there on it was like being on tour with Eyedea and Living Legends and sliding thru their record store Fifth Element in Minneapolis for instore performances. RSE got at me at one of those instores about doing a record, now here we are. What’s in store for your first solo record “Dear Abbey”? And what’s taking so long to release it?
Good new music is in store. Relevant, feel good shit from the streets of LA with a global perspective, that’s how my lp sounds - fun, hip hop soul music. What took so long is us making changes, beats evolving into better ideas, and our hectic career/touring/survival schedules (Vitamin D & I). I probably should have never mentioned the lp until this year, but I hope the anticipation hasn’t gone away completely...and even if it has for some Dear Abbey won’t disappoint. Currently, we are leaking some sounds from it and made a couple recent changes to preserve it’s relevance for 2009. What are your thoughts on the recent Presidential Race? Do you think Obama will have a positive effect on the racial divide that plagues this country? What would you have done if McCain had won? I’m glad the race is over. I do think Obama will have a positive effect especially on people of color and all those who
felt previously disenfranchised and/or voiceless. He’ll even positively effect a lot of open minded free thinking white people who were tired of Republican government, BUT, I feel racial divides in some way are inherently human. Had McCain won, I’d have made a lot of doomsday prophet type songs. Now that Obama won, I can’t help but try to focus on the hope and change that could be versus the doubt and discension that is or was. Hip Hop’s been put through the ringer these past few years with the rise and fall of both Crunk & Hyphy... What do you see as the future of Hip Hop? I can’t call it - the youngstas seem to have something new, fun and totally left of what we all came up doing. I mean we all like to dance and had our own special dances coming up, but they on something else - slightly more materialistic than we were, but definitely just as fun and free spirited. I don’t diss it - never would I diss it, because I’d be a hypocrite. Older cats dissed us back in the 90s called us teenie boppers, then all of a sudden - they all wanted to make a living rapping like we was doing. SO I’m saying man, the future
is in your hands - all our hands - the Ogs, the young Gs, the babies - we make it what it is. As long as you keep doing what you do - that’s what the future of hip hop can be. As long as good artists keep making dope shit and new cats keep coming out pushing the levels- that’s the future of it - look around - go on youtube - facebook - myspace - it’s right there in front of yo face if u paying attention. Any other releases coming up? When does “Dear Abbey” officially drop? For now, we’ll just say “Dear Abbey” is next up in spring of 2009. I did make a cool holdover mixtape called Eyes Wide Shutish if you wanna cop that. What are your favorite 5 albums of 2008? Murs - Murs For President GZA - Liquid Swords The Grouch - Show You The World Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons... Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
by Itay K So, what are you guys all about? How would you categorize your sound?
Addamantium really a plumber?...like Joe the plumber?
ROSS ROCK: I’d say gritty hip-hop. The kinda shit that makes you instinctivly throw your hands in the air while you knock your head with a look on your face like you just caught a wiff of a landfill on a hot summer day.
ROSS ROCK: ADD came up with that one one night in the depths of a hard ether binge. It describes us perfectly. A lot of times we’re on stage doing our thing half-drunk spilling our Jack and Cokes all over each other while performing. We’ve even had certain crew members get in verbal arguments on stage in the middle of a show. Kinda like a soap opera, but it’s Slop Opera.
ADDAMANTIUM: old school slump..we’re always tapping into our hip hop roots to come up with a newer sound than the next crew... Our sound is all over the place since we’re made up of 5 mc’s with very different styles. our DJ, Mr. Bean hatches his beats from an old school method, the og MPC 2000. we work with many different producers all over the west coast. We’re about making the party crack off with high energy mixed with lyrical shadow boxing....till six in the morning....
ADDAMANTIUM: I am the Plumber. Done deal. Who needs solar thermal? There’s a big sale on Radiant heating systems going on now,holler at your boy. I’ll fix any problem...except no turdhurdeling...call Roto Rooter. I just started play the ‘Sawz All’. Been coming up with some trippy samples...
MR. BEAN: Crate-diggin’ boom-bap... Something for every hip hop fan to ride to.
Any upcoming releases? What’s in store for the future of Slop Opera?
What does Slop bring to the eclectic Bay Area hip hop sound?
ROSS ROCK: Well we’re currently recording our sophmore album “Sloppy Seconds” at one of the nicest studios in town. (Nurplistic Productions) Our buddy Aldojha is engineering the project and he definitely has the gift to harness the Slop members’ talents and turn it into more classic tracks. “Sloppy Seconds” will definitely be something we will all be proud of. Since our last album I think we have all come to a common ground for what we want our sound to be and it’ll show when it drops in the summer of 2009. And thanks to all the people who have supported the Sloppy movement and the “Gettin Amongst It” album (currently on I-Tunes).
ROSS ROCK: Well personally, I was into the Bay Area sound back in the mid 90’s and early 2000’s. Not to knock the new styles by any means. Maybe I’m just old school. I don’t think “Slop” really sounds like new age Bay shit, but I think our style meshes well with that style in live shows. Both styles are all about having fun and showing the crowd a good time. Just know that I was “dumb and retarded” when it was still an insult. Where did the name Slop Opera come from? Is
Takes a break from ripping at her home beach to talk to YMM about being a young new Skimboarder in Santa Cruz.
with people around me. Elfin: Most memorable concert experience? Jackie: The Expendables a little less then 2 years ago at the Catalyst in SC. At the end of the show the lead singer jumped off the stage and I carried him. Elfin: Favorite surfer/skimmer? Jackie: That’s a hard one. Morgan Just or Brad Donkey, both of their styles are fluid and they make it look easy. Elfin: Favorite band/album? Jackie: Courage to Grow by Rebelution. Elfin: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Jackie: Traveling and skimming in lots of contests. Elfin: High and low in 2008? Jackie: High was winning the O’Neill Surf Shop Skimbash. Low was hurting my shoulder a few days ago and the doctor saying I couldn’t skim for a month. I’ll be out there in a couple of weeks. Elfin: Anyone you want to thank out there? Jackie: O’Neill Surf Shop, Eric Roush, Drew Pinney, Surf Tech, friends and family and all that also. Elfin: Favorite saying? Jackie: Treat others how you would like to be treated. Elfin: Last word? Jackie: GNAR GNAR!
O’Neill Surf Shop Team Rider Jackie Gollbach
Elfin: How important is music to your Skimboarding? Jackie: It is very important because it gets me pumped up and ready to charge. Without music life would feel a little empty. Elfin: How would you describe the Skim culture today? Jackie: Pretty small, but really tight. You see a lot of the same guys every day and they’re super supportive. It’s like a solid community. Elfin: Skimboarders have tended to be the subculture of the surfing world. Is that still true today? Jackie: Well there all still some skimboarders that are beach bums, but it seems like more and more skimboarders are becoming accepted by the surf communities. Skimboarders are making a better name for themselves and getting more respect from companies, spectators and over all. Skimboarding is becoming a sport not just a subculture of surfing. Elfin: How long have you been Skimboarding? Jackie: About a year and a half. Elfin: What music best describes your style? Jackie: Something loud and heavy, P.O.D. or Rise Against. Elfin: Would you skimbaord wearing an IPOD? Jackie: If it wouldn’t break, if the cord didn’t get in my way and I was all alone I might rock out and skim with a IPOD. If I was with my friends I wouldn’t for sure, I like to talk and be present
What He Wants You To Know: Man Man Live @ Crofoot/ Pontiac, MI -By Kevin Madness Music just can’t be experienced through words. Attempting to orally convey the holy overtaking that is a great live show is always inadequate and reductive. Like jerking off with a belt around your neck, it is a dangerously indulgent pursuit. Still, some spectacles beg description. And at the risk of proverbially asphyxiating myself, I offer you my account of a recent Man Man
performance. Behold: Men take the stage, achromatically dressed and encircle an oddly assembled array of instruments. They begin a sing-along, “I can’t breath underwater like I used to, before I met you---owhhh!” And thus begins the volcanic build up that ushers in their manic concord: a dizzying spectacle of sharing instruments, madcap mannerisms and expressing joy through gloomy songs. A baritone guitar buzzes, feathers fly, feet shuffle. Mallets dance down the scales on a marimba, stand up-sit down, stand up-sit down, horns wail, someone throws a rubber snake. A masked man savagely beats a fire extinguisher, Honus croons, the band sings like girls, they sweat- I sweat. The piano waltzes, buckets rattle, everything surrenders to a drumbeat. The bass rumbles, powder flies, someone sequentially screams and beats a floor tom, back and forth, over and again. A stack of kitchenware is demolished and I think I can hear a man pouring water into a mortar. Dual keyboards carve out bizarre melodies, eyes connect-convey-converse, an authoritative whistle blows, wave goodbye, disappear… by and by the men return, lights low, settled and serene, playing valium-esque versions of fan favorites. One last crescendo, one last waltz, one last opportunity to spew a disgusting recipe of beer and baking soda out of your mouth and into your beard as you stare down the crowd. Getaway--stage left. Goodnight. Throughout this madness not a word is wasted: no introductions, no dedications, no explanations. No common stage cracks like “What’s up Detroit?” no “We’re Man Man from Phili,” not even a “Thank you and goodnight.” That’s why I took it upon myself to sit down with the voice behind the piano, one Honus Honus. As it was, his conversation turned out to be like his lyrics, confounding and profoundly absurd. YMM: What is the most peculiar instrument that has been used in a Man Man performance? Honus Honus: A penis on a floor tom. YMM: What’s the optimal atmosphere for a Man Man show? Honus Honus: If people are into it, they’re not too inhibited and they don’t care how other people see them. They just kind of let loose in a genuine way, not to mosh to fuck people up. It’s good if you’re feeling it and you let yourself get into it… kind of like an exorcism. YMM: Does the title of your latest release, Rabbit Habits, refer to sex and what role does sexuality play in your music? Honus Honus: Rabbits are very promiscuous creatures and also mother rabbits eat their young, so I kind of like that. Rabbit Habits is also the number one selling vibrator. YMM: Some of the lyrics on the record seem fatalistic towards love, is that accurate? Honus Honus: Yeah man. Love is wonderful and love can truly suck the marrow out of your bones, but if you don’t ever give it a shot then what’s the point? YMM: On the first record Man Man only had three members, how and why did the band expand? Honus Honus: We’ve been eating a lot of pizza after shows and it’s been causing us to expand a little bit. Why? Your tired at three in the morning and eating after midnight is bad news because you turn into a gremlin.
YMM: What is the greatest invention of the last 100 years? Honus Honus: The Bikini. YMM: Do you subscribe to the vaudeville descriptions your band gets? Honus Honus: Nah. YMM: Why not? Honus Honus: We’re not theater kids or anything, we’re just doing what we do and if it has an air of theatrics to it that’s only because we care about putting on a good show and getting into it. If something seems to take us over, it really is. YMM: Is your approach of “putting on a good show” calculated or does it come about naturally? Honus Honus: It’s all natural, you know, our sets are put together—we don’t just make the shit up before right before we play because there is an ebb and flow to things. Some songs work better here or there. We view it sort of like a torso or a Mr. Potato Head, you got the body, but then you can swap out the parts. The body has to be solid to work efficiently. If you played too many slow jams out front, then the momentum isn’t gonna feel right. If you have too many cocaine jams, it’s too much of one vibe. We’d like to be able to just do cocaine jams set and then have a chill-dog set at some point. We’re trying to experiment with that now, when we came out and did quiet songs. YMM: If you could choose any film to have a Man Man song in, what would it be? Honus Honus: Five East Pieces. YMM: Any particular song? Honus Honus: “Van Helsing Boombox.” YMM: What is the most intimidating situation your band has ever found itself in? Honus Honus: It’s when we were on a plane and we had to subdue some terrorists that were on the flight. We took ‘em down, we tied ‘em up, we threw them out the cargo hold and this all happened without people knowing because we didn’t want to alarm the passengers. YMM: Where do you see Man Man a decade down the road? Honus Honus: Fuck man! Four years from now the world’s gonna end, 2012. Don’t you read your Mayan calendar, come on! Unless we get our shit together and fly around the sun and go get a humpback whale from 1980-whatever and bring it back to stop the probe, the world will be destroyed.
San Jose
Barb Rocks
12/13 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino Test of Will/Frail Soul/ March Into Paris 12/20 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino Letters Make Words/ Ground In Gray/TBA 01/14@ VooDoo Lounge Bands TBA 01/16 @ Catalyst TBA/Silent Treatment/Getter 01/17 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino Getter, Fasten, and more TBA 01/21 @ VooDoo Lounge Bands TBA 01/24 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino Interseed/Dimidium/ Repaid In Blood
Voodoo Lounge
12/12 Sinners Birthday Bash Chop Tops/No Dice/RevTones 12/13 Soul Glo 12/16 DJ Treesus of TreeUnit 12/17 Barb Rocks Presents 12/18 Flaw/Dreaming/ Displaced 12/19 Audioaerobiks/Grouch/ Eligh 12/20 The Music Machine 12/27 Soul Glo 12/28 S.B. Hip Hop Showcase 12/30 DJ Treesus of TreeUnit 12/31 TBA
The Blank Club
12/12 High On Fire/Totimoshi 12/13 Big Sandy 12/16 Art Show 12/17 Airborne Toxic Event 12/19 Dead Souls 12/20 Left of Christ/Dark Heavens 12/26 Wayne Hancock 12/27 Frontier Wives 12/31 New Years Dance Party 01/02 Suicidal Barfly 01/03 The Go Getters 01/09 The Swingin Utters 01/10 Scissors for Lefty 01/16 Cash’d Out 01/17 The Sixteens 01/30 Marsugi’s Nightclub Reunion
San Francisco The Fillmore
12/12-14 Ozomatli 12/15-20 The Black Crowes 12/26 Two Gallants 12/27 Blackalicious 01/02 Reel
Big Fish 01/09 Hot Buttered Rum 01/10 Funky Meters 01/16-20 Willie Nelson 01/21 The Walkmen 01/22 Femi Kuti 01/23 Rebelution 01/28 Katy Perry 01/29 Adele
SJ Events Center
01/27 Disturbed/Sevendust/ Skindred (See ad pg.4)
SJ Civic Auditorium
02/15 TASTE OF CHAOS Thursday/Pierce The Veil/ Four Year Strong/Bring Me The Horizon/Cancer Bats
Bottom of the Hill
12/12 18th Dye 12/13 The Briggs 12/14 These Arms Are Snakes 12/15 401(K)boom 12/16 Liberal Elite 12/17 Hot Cherry Donut 12/18 Bart Davenport 12/19 French Miami 12/20 Jesse Michaels 12/23 Jubala 12/26 Two Seconds 12/27 Lord Loves a Working Man 12/30 French Cassettes 12/31 La Plebe 01/02 Ancestors 01/03 The Hooks 01/07 Dwarves 01/08 Swingin Utters 01/10 Angry Samoans 01/14 Good Hustle 01/15 Andrew Jackson Jihad 01/17 Meat Puppets 01/20 Wovenhand 01/25 Peachcake 01/30 Fruit Bats 01/31 West Indian Girl
Santa Cruz
The Brookdale Inn & Spa Monday’s in Dec.
Local Football Night $5 Pitchers
Tuesday’s in Dec.
$4 Well Drinks All Day
Thursday’s in Dec.
Winter Drink & Appetizer Specials 12/12 Solaren/Dark Horse
12/13 Table 4 3/The Todd Reid Band 12/19 Table 4 3/Alysha Xmas Carols 12/31 Happy New Year! 01/09 Amanda West & Friends 01/10 Backup Razor/ A Band Of Orcs 10/16 Yell Or Trolly 10/17 Positive View/
Dub Wise 01/24 Folk Yeah 01/30 Folk Yeah 01/31 The Substitute Teachers The Catalyst
12/12 Fainting Goats 12/13 Cylinder 12/14 Hoobastank 12/19 Al Frisby 12/20 Sun House 12/29 Snoop Dogg 12/30&31 The Expendables Dirty Penny 01/03 The Tubes 01/08 Picture Me Broken 01/09 Sashamon 01/14 3 Inches of Blood 01/15 Rock Band Contest 01/16 Silent Treatment 01/17 The Jakes 01/22 Rebelution 01/24-25 Pepper 01/28 Tesla 01/30 Butterfly Bones 01/31 Cylinder
Britannia Arms (Aptos) 12/20 The Clam Tones 12/27 The Rodger Steen Band 12/31 New Year’sEve Party The Vinny Johnson Band 01/10 Blackwater Station 01/17 The Repeat Offenders 01/31 The Juvenators Henflings
12/12 Wise Guys 12/13 Ty Oliver 12/19 Red & White Night 12/20 Joint Chiefs 12/27 Wredhorse 01/09 Back to Nowhere 01/10 Steppin’ Stone 01/16 Junior Boogie 01/17 Dough Knees 01/23 Fishook 01/24 Counter Clockwise 01/30 20 Grit 01/31 Wredhorse
Coasters
12/12 Steppin’ Stone 12/13 Holiday Havoc Honest Mistake/Who’s Holdin’/3upFront/ The Devil Himself 12/16 John Brown Comedy Show 12/19 Los Hightops/ The Revtones 12/31 New Years Eve Party Nightlife
Sacramento
The Boardwalk
12/17 Stick To Your Guns 12/18 Albatross Kneck 12/19 Fate
12/20 Aroarah 12/26 The Descolada Virus 12/27 S-Rawk 12/31 Tesla 01/01 Uprise Collective 01/02 Embrace The End 01/03 Drop Seven 01/08 Beneath The Rapture 01/09 Early States 01/10 Category 7 01/12 3 Inches Of Blood 01/16 Stepchild 01/17 Dance Gavin Dance 01/18 Secondhand Serenade 01/22 Millionaires 01/24 After The Flesh 01/26 Combichrist 01/27 Season Of Mist 01/28 (hed)PE 01/29 Katy Perry 01/30 Another Damn Disappointment 01/31 Voodoo Glow Skulls
West Hollywood The Key Club
12/12 Stick To Your Guns 12/14 Rock To Roll 12/15 Death Pilot 12/17 Deception 12/19 Blacklist Union 12/20 English Beat 12/22 Toy Robot 12/27 Particle 12/29 Hillbilly Herald 12/31 New Years Eve Bash 01/02 The Radiators 01/05 Outlet/Ladyjack 01/15 3 Inches Of Blood 01/17 Adlers Appetite 01/20 Cockney Rejects 01/23 Tainted Love 01/24 Powder 01/26 Steel Panther 01/28 Carnival
Whisky A GoGo
12/12 Static/Spektra 12/14 Flaw 12/15 Rachel Farris Band 12/17 Ankla 12/18 Red Hill Ave 12/19 28 North 12/20 Taron & Serene 12/21 Fozzys Hero 12/26 Legazy 12/27 Asesino 12/28 The Unborn 12/29 Inside The Black 12/31 Caustic Felon 01/06 Naughtones 01/09 Zarathusta 01/10 Untwined 01/13 Recro 01/14 Warbringer 01/15 God Forbid 01/17 Penny Dreadfuls 01/18 The Monopoly 01/23 Benevolent Tomorrow 01/26 Mason
Steppin' Stone Friday, December 12th 9:00-11:45 pm YYYYYYYYYYYYYY Holiday Havoc 2 Honest Mistake Who's Holdin' 3 Up Front The Devil Himself Saturday, December 13th 9:00 pm-1:00 am $5.00 Cover YYYYYYYYYYYYYY jLive Comedy Nightj John Brown Comedy Show Tuesday, December 16 9:00 -11:00pm $5 YYYYYYYYYYYYYY Los Hightops The Revtones Friday, December 19th 9:00-11:45 pm YYYYYYYYYYYYYY New Years Eve Party with Nightlife Wednesday, December 31 9:00 pm - 12:30 am
YOUR MUSIC
OLYMPICKS
Coasters Lounge and Lyon Entertainment would like to thank all the Santa Cruz bands for competing in the 2008 Your Music Olympicks!