Dec / Jan Issue #74

SAN FRANCISCO FINALS

JAN. 15

San Francisco

CLUB SIX

COMPANY CAR ONE PUNCH MACHINE GUN THE PAPER SONS TOKYO RAID CERVANTES DISGUST OF US RATCHET Schedule Subject To Change.

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Rock To Roll Charity Show with NOFX, Wax, Dead To Me ...............................8 Live 105 Not So Silent Night ..............................................................................12 KISS: Alive 35 Tour .............................................................................................14 Snoop Dogg Comes To Santa Cruz ..................................................................17 CD Reviews .........................................................................................................18 Interview: Bless The Fall’s Eric Lambert ..........................................................21 YMO Band Interview: Omnidemic .....................................................................23 Thrash’s Triple Threat: Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust, Lazarus A.D. ...................24 Toots & The Maytals In Santa Cruz ...................................................................26 Interview: DJ Quickie Mart.................................................................................27 Interview: Andreas Kisser of Sepultura ...........................................................28 Norcal Metal Report............................................................................................30 “In The Pit” Photo Centerfold............................................................................32 Interview: Monkey ..............................................................................................34 YMO Band Interview: Sexciety ..........................................................................36 YMO Band Interview: Beneath The Rapture ....................................................37 YMO Band Interview: Awaiting The Apocalypse .............................................38 Your Music Olympicks Calendar .......................................................................39 YMO Band Interview: The Stalking Distance ...................................................40 Interview: Counter Clockwise ...........................................................................41 PHOTO REPORT: San Francisco Your Music Olympicks ...............................42 Interview: The Paper Sons.................................................................................44 PHOTO REPORT: Santa Cruz Local Scene ......................................................46 Interview: Crimson Ivy .......................................................................................50 Interview: Saints Of Ruin ...................................................................................52 The ACL Diaries: Austin City Limits .................................................................54 California Club Calendar....................................................................................58 The entire staff at Your Music Magazine and Lyon Entertainment would like to wish our readers a prosperous and happy 2010! We would also like to thank all of our advertisers and partners at Casey Printing and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. We could not have published this free magazine for 7 years without you.

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Contributing Writers Mat Weir, Kevin Madness, Numerous, Darien Lomeli, Dave Pirtle, Josh Pierson, Jon Hermison, Marisa Lopez, Tanja M. Alvarez, John Lewis, Danielle Negrin, Matt Young, Brandon Adler

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Contributing Photographers Alan Ralph, D.J.Dougherty, Caroline Reid, Brian Crabtree Video/Online Media Daniel Lopez, Josh James ISSUE #74 December 2009/January 2010 Copyright 2010 Lyon Entertainment Publishing. Your Music Magazine is a registered trademark owned by Mike Lyon. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any manner or form without prior written consent of the publisher. Lyon Entertainment and the Your Music Magazine staff is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Your Music Magazine is published monthly by Lyon Entertainment.

Photos & review by Brian Crabtree With a headline that read: Fat Wreck Chords and SideOneDummy Records, Charity Event in San Francisco, there was no way of resisting an invitation.

For most, the simple combination of NOFX and San Francisco is enough to sell out a show. But with the addition of Wax, 90’s Los Angeles punks; Dead To Me, local San Francisco’s own signed to Fat Wreck Chords; and Nathen Maxwell, the former bassist of Flogging Molly, & The Original Bunny Gang to the ticket, the night was bound to be one epic show.

The reason for this whole show, “The Rock to Roll Charity Event”, was raising money for the UCP WHEELS FOR HUMANITY. According to UCP WHEELS FOR HUMANITY, “It is estimated that more than 100 million children and adults worldwide need wheelchairs and do not have them either due to lack of access, lack of money, or both. Their lack of mobility stems from accidents, birth defects, war injuries, debilitating diseases, aging, natural disasters and land mines. To address this need, UCP WHEELS FOR HUMANITY begins with volunteers collecting over 230,000 pounds of discarded wheelchairs and wheelchair parts each year from around the U.S. Since a wheelchair in a developing country is an unimaginable luxury, Therapeutic seating specialists then deliver and individually fit the wheelchairs to disadvantaged children and adults free of charge.

Since 1996, UCP WHEELS FOR HUMANITY has helped over 44,000 children and adults living in the poorest of conditions, in developing countries such as Zimbabwe, Vietnam, Ukraine, Mexico, Mongolia, and many others.”

It was no surprise that thanks to Nathen Maxwell the show was off to an impressive start. The interruption

by Fat Mike, asking about the Nathen and the Bunny Gangs set, was cut short by the wave of young females asking for a photo opportunity. The shocking encounter with Fat Mike fed into my feelings of about the night. Following Nathen Maxwell, the guys of Dead To Me ripped up the stage and dropped many of the songs off of their new album African Elephants. Playing their first Northern California show in years, the L.A. based punks in Wax graced the stage at Slims as if we were still in the heat of the 90’s. The guys in Wax may have

looked a bit aged, but when it came to rocking out these guys did it like a bunch of teenagers.

A short movie about the charity was a little hard to hear over the growing group of NOFX fans endlessly chanting. A big check was brought out and given to the charity, for the first Rock To Roll Charity Event in San Francisco had raised over $17,000 towards helping people in need to get some wheels of their own. The presentation of the big check was drowned out by the endless chanting of the continuously growing crowd.

One thing is certain; there is something special about every NOFX show. The group has just released their 12th album, Coasters, and another EP called Cokie the Clown. In addition to the new albums NOFX is about to go on tour with Fat Wreck Chords artist Swinging Utters and Dead To Me through Central America, Europe, and Japan. With the introduction about this being a charity event and how they were not getting paid, they clearly stated that they didn’t care about how they were going to play. But I think I have gotten that warning at almost every NOFX show. In the pit the craziness started right from the beginning, one song after another.

After a couple stops for alcoholic beverages, the show went off without a hitch, except for the guy who almost broke his neck stage diving into the crowd, at which Fat Mike took the time to explain the ironic setting of being at a charity event for wheelchairs and breaking your neck to ending up in a wheelchair. Even though the set list for NOFX consisted of some old songs and some news songs, the fans loved it just the same.

The combination of NOFX and San Francisco set the stage for a great show, yet add to that Nathen Maxwell, Dead To Me, and Wax, all together in the name of helping disabled people everywhere, and what you get is an amazing show. And for those of you planning for the future, they announced that the Rock To Roll Charity Event will be an annual event, so I can’t wait to see who is on the ticket next year.

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MUSE, AFI, 30 SECONDS TO MARS, VAMPIRE WEEKEND, METRIC Fire, Water, (and Even Some Silence)

photo credit: www.mrx.no

It’s easy to say that 2009’s Not So Silent Night was the biggest thing in the Bay Area on December 11th, even through rain, sick performers, technical mishaps and a fire. Featuring a blend of both fresh artists and Triple-A acts, the LIVE 105 event brought Metric, Vampire Weekend, 30 Seconds to Mars, AFI and Muse under one roof to bring the rock to Oakland at the packed-out Oracle Arena.

The night featured a diverse rock lineup, with Canadians Metric and New York’s Vampire Weekend starting things up.

Metric, who could have easily held their own higher up on the bill, played through songs including their still-hot “Help, I’m Alive.” Vampire Weekend has also been raising their profile with what is described as their “African pop-influenced” sound and 80’s fashion sensibilities.

Actor/rocker Jared Leto and his band 30 Seconds to Mars did a commendable job of going through their set, even though he was, as he said, “sick as a g*ddamned dog.” That fact didn’t spare them from technical problems, however. They were in the middle of their last song, “Kings and

MUSE

Review by Matt Young Queens,” when the sound went out. They went on to restart the song after the ten minutes of silence, ending their energetic set.

Oakland locals and longtime punk/ alternative band AFI went through their bit without incident. Frontman Davey Havok, a bit incongruous in a light-colored suit, upside-down cross and sporting a pompadour, lead the band through a number of hits, including “Girl’s Not Grey” and their new single, “Medicate.”

While excited to be playing a show in their hometown, the band seemed to be running out of tricks, and Havok’s voice has been losing its power for a few albums now.

Britain’s Muse proved from the start just why they were headlining with an electric, high-energy set.

Featuring songs from their last three albums, Muse triumphantly played through their new hit “Resistance,” as well as crowd favorites including “Supermassive Black Hole” and “Hysteria.” People likely thought the smoke seen hitting the stage was intentional, but it was from an actual fire that started on the mid level of the arena during AFI’s set. Employees were hastily setting up trash cans to catch the deluge from sprinklers that were seen spraying water in a bar area. Hey, that’s the magic of live music!

An offshoot of the Parliament Funkadelic band, starting with the help of GEORGE CLINTON himself, and lead by the notorious bass player & vocalist NORWOOD FISHER of Fishbone, TRULIO DISGRACIAS is an amazing funk masterpiece, incorporating outlandish performances of the “nuttiness,” lavish riffs, heartpounding one drops & valleys into one seamless 2-hour set.

Formed in the 1987, TRULIO DISGRACIAS has been touring the country since then, with a revolving all-star line-up that is hand selected by Norwood Fisher, combining powerhouse music veterans and up-andcoming stars on one stage. The Trulio family includes current and former members of Fishbone, Parliament Funkadelic, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Brains, Freestyle Fellowship, Spearhead, Weapons of Choice, Ozomatli, the Untouchables, Gap Band, Suicidal Tendencies, Slightly Stoopid, and the list grows stronger every year.

An evening with Trulio Disgracias has been defined as “the ultimate dance party”, leaving crowds dripping with sweat from too much heat on the dance floor. Multiple percussionists, musicians, vocalists, rude boys and dancers fill the Trulio stage with energy that astonishes even the most skeptical.

SEE TRULIO LIVE! NEW YEAR’S EVE 2010 The Brookdale Lodge In the new Pool Room!! tix @ clubzone.com

nja M. Alvarez Review by Ta lan Ralph Photos by A

I vividly remember forming my very first memory of KISS as an extremely frightened 5-year-old sitting alone in front of the television.

Like it was just yesterday, I can still see the face paint, the blood, and most of all Gene Simmons’ demonic appearance in front of me. Several decades have passed since then, and although I now truly enjoy the band’s music and find their antics more fascinating than scary, I have never managed to see KISS in concert. Finally, for their 35-year anniversary tour and release of their new studio album I got to see the legendary group and experience first hand what has made them into icons of the rock world.

Unfortunately for the opening act Buckcherry, the arena was only half-filled when they took the stage. Although the band appeared to struggle a little bit through their first song “Tired of You,” they played a straightforward set of good old rock and roll consisting of a mixture of new material from their latest album “Black Butterfly,” as well as highlights from their previous record “15.”

By the third song of the evening, Buckcherry was completely warmed up and there was no stopping them. Frontman Josh Todd appealed especially to the female audience with his raw energy and provocative gestures. Halfway through the set he became serious for a brief moment as he dedicated the song “Rescue Me” to Dave Pelzer, who endured horrific childhood abuse at the hands of his own mother and authored the book “A Child Called It.” Immediately after that followed “Highway Star,” the Black Sabbath cover turned Nascar theme song. The set ended with an energetic version of “Crazy Bitch,” which was much appreciated by Buckcherry fans.

Finally, it was time for KISS, who were about to deliver two hours of old classics, great visuals and pyrotechnics. Their journey onto the stage was captured by two big screens and their arrival was signaled by massive green fireworks.

Then appeared a bare-chested Paul Stanley and a gruesome-as-usual looking Gene Simmons. The two new members of the band, guitarist

Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer, blended in well closely resembling former members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss.

The possibly soon-to-be Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees did a great job of packing well over 30 albums into a two hour live show. Highlights included “Dr. Love,” “Parasite,” “100,000 Years,” “Shout It Out Loud,” “Lick It Up” and the last number of the evening “Detroit Rock City.” In addition to the old favorites, KISS also introduced two songs from the latest release “Sonic Boom,” which marks their first new studio album in over a decade.

As legendary for KISS shows, the special effects were spectacular. During “Hotter Than Hell,” the 40-plus TV screens lining the back of the stage displayed bright yellow flames. Eventually, the spotlight was exclusively on Simmons who finally got to spit blood and look evil during “I Love It Loud,” which he partly performed from above the stage, standing on nothing else but lighting rods. And because every good rock show needs confetti, five giant pieces of equipment turned the entire arena floor, including spectators, into one gigantic white carpet while Stanley and Simmons were elevated on hydraulic

platforms high above the stage during “Rock And Roll All Nite.”

The audience appeared to enjoy every moment of the show, and I was glad to finally have witnessed the KISS live spectacular. If I had to criticize one thing, it would be Paul Stanley’s repeated challenges to the audience to sing along with him and to outdo previous nights’ audiences, which became redundant and silly after a while. Although the show was entertaining, there was less blood and fire-spitting than I anticipated. However, in the end, I got to witness a show that was pleasant and maybe a little more conventional than I expected, which just might have provided a corrective emotional experience, curing me of occasional nightmares stemming from my early childhood TV escapades of witnessing blood gurgling demons with painted faces.

photo credit DJD Photography

by Danielle Negrin

The Catalyst, Santa Cruz || November 17, 2009

The crowd roared. A strong aroma of cannabis flooded the room. The energy in the sold-out venue was accelerating by the minute. Every head in the room was drawn to the stage like they were being pulled by a magnetic force. A hip hop legend and icon was in the small town of Santa Cruz, California. Snoop Dogg was in the house!

I am openly going to admit that I had very low expectations coming to this show. Although, I was surprisingly taken back and thoroughly impressed. I have never seen an artist so incredibly engaged with his audience. Not only was Snoop strongly connected with the crowd, he put on an epic performance that I will never forget. He pumped the energy in the room to the highest degree I have ever seen at the Catalyst in downtown Santa Cruz. He had arms waving, booties shakin’ and everyone shouting out his lyrics line by line. Sweat poured from each body in the audience as Snoop Dogg delivered an impressive performance, spitting lines out of his sparkling, rinestone-decorated microphone.

I expected Snoop to only play his new songs to promote his latest album release, but he brought us back down memory lane. Having been following this talented rapper for over 10 years, I was pleased to hear all of his oldschool songs that everyone and their mothers know.

He played songs such as “Gin and Juice,”

“Last episode,” “I Wanna Love You,” “Lodi Dodi” and even “Drop It Like It’s Hot.” And trust me, we dropped it like it’s hot. My legs are still sore from dancing all night.

Although he is now in his 40’s, Snoop took hip hop to a whole new level.

Not only was this hip hop idol strongly backed-up by powerful MC’s, he had a whole live band projecting his original beats. There was a live bass player, drummer and even someone on the keyboard. I was pleasantly surprised - I thought that there was only going to be a DJ in the background. Snoop put so much effort and energy into this show, and really showed appreciation for his fans. The venue was packed and my girl and I got the primest spot in the house; we had a clear vision of Snoop and his entourage from the 21-and-over upstairs section. We had a perfect view of Snoop all night long.

Following the show my friend and I spent quality time in Snoop’s tour bus with the opening group “Hustle Boyz.” They introduced us to the crazy life on tour, and we got a glimpse of what life is like for the famous hip hop artists. The tour bus was packed with rappers, groupies and blunts. A perfect ending to an epic night.

I never thought I would admit this, but it was probably one of the best shows, out of dozens of concerts, that I have ever been to. For shizzle my nizzle!

Alice In Chains

NOFX

Black Gives Way to Blue

Cokie The Clown Fat Wreck

Virgin It’s been 14 years since the last Alice in Chains’ album. Since, the musical landscape has changed, former front man Layne Staley died of a drug overdose and pop punk has cluttered the airwaves. Black Gives Way to Blue marks the triumphant return of one of alternative music’s heaviest and most-missed bands to the music stage. Armed with new rhythm guitarist and vocalist William Duvall, singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell, bassist Mike Inez and drummer Sean Kinney, the band brings back the oft-imitated, never-equaled, sound they created. The trademark harmonies, beautiful acoustic interludes and punishing metal-tinged wall-of-sound are intact, and DuVall and Cantrell’s voices blend as well as Cantrell did with Staley. Moments in the album evoke prior releases, and this stands as a sort of bridge between 1992’s Dirt and 1995’s self-titled release.

“Last of My Kind” recalls Dirt, while “Private Hell” could have been a single from Jar of Flies. From the opening notes of “All Secrets Known” to the closing moments of the Elton John-featured title track, Alice in Chains tackles all the baggage head-on, leaving the listener with a sense of guitar-driven hope. This is a mandatory album for any hard-rock fan.

- Matt Young

Dead To Me African Elephants Fat Wreck From the beginning of this album’s dubinspired song “X,” I knew I was going to be hooked. African Elephants, from Dead To Me, was one fun and endless ride. The three piece from San Francisco really stepped this album up from their debut release, Cuban Ballerina. The new album has a variety of sounds, yet in each song it is easy to find the sound and passion of Dead To Me. The humble trio claims, “We never thought about getting signed or going on tour, we just wanted to hang out and play music for a few hours after work.” Yet these guys are about to go on a tour of Europe and Japan with fellow Fat Wreck Chords artists Swingin’ Utters and NOFX. Dead To Me seem to have no need for their jobs when they’re on tour with two other great bands. The new album African Elephants displays why this San Francisco group is on its way up.

- Brian Crabtree

If there is one thing certain, there is something special about every NOFX album that is released. From the first time I listened to 1999’s The Decline to 2006’s Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing, NOFX has always been on a quest to challenge themselves and the limits around them. With the drop of their twentieth EP Cokie the Clown, on Fat Wreck Chords, NOFX seems to pay tribute to the sadder inner workings of their chaotic life. The title song Cokie the Clown portrays another one of those sad untold stories, finally told by the band. The Ep is only five songs that will leave you, like normal, wanting more from this punk rock band. From Fat Mike, “I think this year you definitely get to see the inside of NOFX instead of the goofy exterior...and people seem to enjoy it” a summary of the past few years. The album fits in the pattern of CD’s and Ep’s released by the group. A few new songs, a couple old ones reworked, and some short and some long. The fifth and final song on the album, My Orphan Year is reworked and played slower than on the original track on Coaters. Slowed,

New Wave of Teen Bands Almost Chaos A Simple Spark of Insanity Independent One new album that really has blown my mind is A Simple Spark of Insanity from Almost Chaos. I was taken by surprise when I learned about this young band of three teenagers from the Santa Cruz area who have finished their new seven-track album titled A Simple Spark of Insanity. The album is packed with jamming riffs from Derek Mather—makes you really wonder how long he’s been playing—who lets loose and shreds his guitar, the jamming bass line and vocals of Jose Picazo, and clean drumming from Mack Hesson. The album was recorded at Indigital Recording Studio of Santa Cruz. The mix of sounds found on the album shows that these young boys are skilled musicians and something to look forward to. The good thing for the Santa Cruz area is that these guys are playing shows all over, and from the looks of it, you might have to find them to ask about getting your copy of this album.

- Brian Crabtree

By Itay K

the track portrays the recent death, 2006, Fat Mike’s mother and his feeling and experience of the event. The slowing of My Orphan Year contributes to overall dark and sad feel of the album. For a short five song, Cokie the Clown is defiantly something special from NOFX, and I hope there is best still to come. - Brian Crabtree

Blood of Saints Demo CD Independent This three piece from Santa Cruz, CA. may sound like they recorded each song all at once on one mic, but what this CD lacks in production quality, it makes up for in sick riffs, fat breakdowns and heart. If you’re into melodic, brutal hardcore, this demo should have you kicking and screaming like an infant going through a wood chipper.

Musically, it sounds a bit like a cross between old All Shall Perish and old Unearth. If I could ask for anything more, I would definitely want more blast beats, but I am a blast fiend. I also like some of the guitar tones they employ; very raw and under-produced. And while am a fan of raw recording, there are a few times in this demo where it becomes hard to tell exactly what the guitar is playing, which is sad because the guitar work is really quite good. Luckily those murky sections do not comprise the majority of the CD, and we are left with a nice, juicy hunk of brutality.

- Brandon Adler

Stick Figure Smoke Stack Independent Someone get an extinguisher because a new reggae album is on fire! “Smoke Stack,”

by Stick Figure, took roots reggae to a whole new level. A local San Diego band consisting of four young artists, Stick Figure is the next up-and-coming reggae group that definitely has a bright future ahead of them. This CD conveys a whole new collection of 14 tunes that speak of honest confessions and positive messages. Mellow yet energetic, simple yet lyrically complex, these new tracks that Stick Figure developed leave us only wanting more. The delivery of the beats is precise, and the singer/songwriter Scott Woodruff’s voice is incomparable. His passion and energy just radiates throughout the uplifting reggae instrumentals.

Each song’s so incredibly unique, that it’s almost hard to put this album in a specific genre because of its strong originality. Written, recorded and self-produced

by Scott Woodruff, “Smoke Stack” made it to the #1 reggae album on iTunes for November 2009, and I am not surprised. This is only the beginning of a long and exciting journey for Stick Figure, and I cannot wait to see these modest artists become stars!

- Danielle Negrin

CHEW Vol. 1 w. John Layman a. Rob Guillory Image Comics Detective Tony Chu, is a cop with a secret. As a Cibopath, Detective Chu gets a psychic impression from whatever he eats which means he can be one hell of a Detective if he can stomach a little nibble on the evidence, be it a severed finger, mysterious plant, or just a pile of crap. Now that his secret is out, the government has plans for him, whether he likes it or not. A blend of comedy and horror with a touch of Law & Order inspired cop drama, CHEW has it all! Now in it’s second arc, Detective Chu is reassigned to his old partner who, due to careless cop work had taken a sharp axe straight to the face resulting in his current Robo-Cop state. There’s a reason that every issue of this book has sold out since it first hit shelves. The pairing between writer and artist is brilliant and I look forward to seeing Rob Guillory’s career unfold. With the story set to last a whopping 60 issues, make sure you get on it early! The trade paperback, Chew Volume 1: Taster’s Choice is out now and would make a great gift for you or a friend at only $9.99!

Locke & Key: Crown of Shadows w. Joe Hill a. Gabriel Rodriguez IDW In our interview with author Joe Hill a couple years back, Welcome To Lovecraft, the first arc in his perfectly crafted comic series Locke & Key had just begun and he had been nominated for an Eisner award for best new talent. Well, though the Eisner didn’t make it back to New England with Joe, the book as a whole left a lasting impression on the comic industry. Not since the days of Preacher and Transmetropolitan had the marriage between an artist and writer worked so well, and so flawlessly. (Note: See also ECHO by Terry Moore - brilliant story) To think that they live on two different continents and can create a book that is so seamless is mind-blowing. In the third and most recent arc, Crown of Shadows, the Locke children, now living in their parents’ home town are about to discover a bit more about their troubled family history. Secrets are revealed and tensions rise - at times even forcing a clenched fist and stiff bite to the lower lip by the reader. Handsdown, this remains the most well-written and exciting series out there.

Guitarist

Eric Lambert How about a little introduction?

I’m Eric, the guitar player in the band Bless The Fall. We have been out on the Atticus Tour for the last two months, so that is pretty rad. We are approaching the end; we only have a few California dates left and are about to wrap up the tour.

Yeah, I saw that you had thirty-six shows in forty days on the Atticus Tour.

Yeah, pretty gnarly. I think that we had two days off, because the other two days we booked extra shows. I would rather do it that way. On days off I normally get bored pretty fast, so it’s nice just to play shows.

How has the tour been overall?

It has been good overall. A lot of tours are not doing so well right now, but ours is doing really well, which I am stoked on because this is our first headlining tour that we have ever done. We just released our CD in October, so this is kind of our CD-release tour. The numbers are awesome and the kids have been super stoked, so it is going sweet.

How has it been on tour with Finch and Drop Dead Gorgeous?

Finch is definitely weird. I used to listen to that band my entire life, and they got me into screaming. So going on tour and knowing all of their songs have been great.

Every night has been rad. I just stand on the side of the stage and listen to them or crowd surf or something. Drop Dead are really good friends of ours; we did our first outof-town shows with them. We have been buddies from the get-go, so it is good to have them on. Lets Get It is on the tour and they are super cool guys, and all the other bands have been super rad.

I saw that you have one show in Mexico and then you are jumping over to Europe for another 16 shows in 18 days.

I know, but I guess that is the life we choose. But yeah, we do a headliner in Mexico City and it is us, Finch and then I think Senses Fail is on it, which is cool because that is another band that I grew up listening to. After that it is over to Europe for the Commotion Over The Ocean

Interview by Brian Crabtree

Check out the full video interview at www.yourmusicmagazine.com Tour, which is another headliner for us. It is going really well so far. A lot of our shows are really selling, so it should be a good time.

What is that name of the new album and where can people get it?

It is called Witness. And you can get it anywhere.

How does this album compare to your other two albums?

The first albums were like mix tapes . . . there are pop songs and there are heavy songs. On this album, we really found our sound. And then pressed and drilled that sound to make a better-put-together album. It’s not like a huge mixtape. We finally have our defined sound.

How has it been on Fearless Records?

Fearless is awesome. We get along with Bob really well.

The GM over there is just awesome. They have our back 100 percent. They really supported us and got us back on our feet again, which we were so thankful for, and they have been just killing it for us. Promotions have been awesome. They helped us get our CD to over twelve thousand [sales] in the first week. It was just a real surreal thing to happen. We weren’t used to having a legit label.

We were on another label called Science, which was a subsidiary of Warner Brothers, which was cool and all, but Fearless is just leaps and bounds better.

Interview by Jon Hermison

This is Jon with Your Music Magazine interviewing Omnidemic after their Your Music Olympicks show Nov. 20th at The Boardwalk. First, can we start with the lineup?

Dallas: I play the guitar.

Josh: I play drums.

Sammy: Lead vocals.

Mark: Bass.

How long has the lineup been like this?

Dallas: Five months. Omnidemic has been around for two and half years, and there have been a lot of lineup changes.

Josh: Basically, we lost our lead guitar player.

Are you trying to get another guitar player for a five piece?

Josh: You would have to ask this guy (Dallas).

Dallas: We are ok right now, but we have talked about it.

Mark: We definitely don’t want to change the lineup we have now. This is what is up right now. We don’t need to change or take away anything.

Coming off the first round of the Your Music Olympicks Sacramento, how do you feel about the event overall?

Josh: Yeah, we loved it. We got a good response from the crowd.

Do you feel like you have reached some new fans?

Dallas: Definitely. A bunch of teenagers that were there came up and bought a bunch of our stuff and talked to us, so there were some good perks. They found us on the internet as they do.

Mark: I had a good time with the other bands.

It was fun to be with the crowd and the other bands. We have always talked about putting together a big event like this.

Have you ever played with any of the other bands?

Group: A first.

Sammy: I played in Prylosis, like nine months ago.

Have you guys seen the other bands that are going to be competing in the next shows?

Dallas: Are you talking about Awaiting the Apocalypse? They are our homeboys.

Mark: They definitely thrash.

Josh: The lead singer used to be in Omnidemic.

Sammy: That’s kind of funny, because Sexciety is playing with them that same night, and I used to be the singer of Sexciety.

Dallas: We are an orgy of Bands.

Sammy: The switch-a-roo.

Are you guys recording something right now or about to?

Dallas: We just finished recording a couple songs: Vail and Forever. People can check them out at Myspace.com/omnidemic.

Are those the first tracks with this lineup?

Dallas: Yes. The new Omnidemic. We are hoping to put out a few more in the coming months.

After checking out your Myspace, and I have only one question. Who are the Omnidians?

Dallas: Those are the ladies that come and support Omnidemic.

Sammy: On Call. (Laughter) Dallas: They are cool. They made t-shirts Josh: They are fans of Omnidemic.

Mark: And they are strictly girls.

Josh: So, any girls out there looking to join.

That’s nice that you have your little sexy army of promoters.

Mark: Yeah they are our little street team.

Well wrapping up here, any last words?

Mark: Check us out.

Dallas: Check us Jan. 22nd with Primer 55.

Performing live January 22nd @ The Fire Escape with Primmer 55, Stepchild, Damage Over Time and Grey Atlas.

Tickets available at www. myspace.com/omnidemic

Booking Contact: Steve Chastain - Adrenaline Trigger Productions ph: 916-835-2451 Or Sammy Karlin ph: 916-821-9805

www.myspace.com/omnidemic

There are very few thrash bands around nowadays. You still have the old school bands playing shows here and there like D.R.I., Death Angel, and Exodus to name a few, minus the Big Four of Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax, who never faded away. However the only bands out of the Big Four that you might still be able to catch playing old school thrash would be Slayer and Anthrax, as they usually still perform a lot of their old material. The 80’s for Metal, I would say, was the best time ever.

Thrash opened the doors and inspired several subgenres: Groove Metal, Death Metal, second wave of Black Metal, and definitely its cousin Crossover. You also had two distinctly different brands of thrash, on

By Joshua Cardona the West Coast you had thrash bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Testament and Exodus (Bay Area thrash) who were focused on aggression and speed. On the East Coast you had bands like Overkill, Anthrax, and Nuclear Assault, who tend to be more punk and hardcore influenced but still had the main ingredient: Metal. Put both West Coast and East Coast styles of thrash together and you get crossover. Several great bands came from this merge, such as The Accused, Cryptic Slaughter, Rigor Mortis, Suicidal Tendencies, S.O.D., Agnostic Front and D.R.I.. D.R.I. had such an impact on the scene that they originated the name crossover, and in doing so released the album Crossover in 1987, which was focused on the fusion and the scene. However as great as thrash was, it fell victim to grunge and changing times. A lot of bands quit, members left due to wanting to settle down, drug problems, alcohol, and sadly enough, even death. Some bands stuck it out and survived through the harsh times on the road and the new music emerging and still played shows, but never gained stardom like the Big Four. Thrash lasted about 10 years give or take…or so we thought.

Several thrash bands are bringing thrash back but keeping it to more of the underground scene.

However if someone were to ask me what are some great modern thrash bands right now, I would easily answer with Lazarus A.D., Municipal Waste and Toxic Holocaust. These bands have really made a name for themselves in the thrash scene, and just like in the 80’s when you had Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax called simply the Big Four, well now you have Toxic Holocaust, Municipal Waste and Lazarus A.D., thrash’s triple threat. Lazarus A.D. is a phenomenal band from Kenosha, Wisconsin that dishes out straight up heavy metal thrash, fast as hell and with more than enough aggression. Originally formed as Lazarus in 2005, the “A.D.” was added to avoid potential legal issues. Lazarus A.D. consists of Jeff Paulick - Bass, Lead Vocals, Dan Gapen - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals, Alex Lackner - Rhythm Guitar and Ryan Shutler - Drums. It wasn’t until this year that they got a record deal with Metal Blade records, and re-released LAZARUS A.D. their record “The Onslaught,” which is great modern day thrash. I got a chance to see Lazarus A.D. perform earlier this year, having never heard of them or their CD. I was blown away by their performance. I wouldn’t compare them to Slayer, but they definitely sound like “Reign in Blood” Slayer and a little “Ride the Lightning” Metallica, and obviously have their own sound and style with their crazy fast as hell guitar riffs, bass solos, and double bass. Lazarus’s performance was one of the best I’ve seen; they definitely know how to get the crowd going and loved talking to the audience and getting everyone involved. I have no idea how a band can headbang through their entire set. Pray and hope that when you see Lazarus perform they play “Thou Shall Not Fear,” “Last Breath” and “Who I Really Am;” you’ll definitely be waking up sore in the morning. All around Lazarus A.D. is a great thrash band to check out, and to see live. Lazarus has opened for the mighty Anthrax in the past, recently toured with thrash gods Testament, and just wrapped up another tour with Bison B.C. on the “Baptized in Beer” tour. Just the other day I was having a conversation with some guy who is into alternative music and apparently a big fan of Deathcab for Cutie. He knew very little of metal, but to my surprise this dude was like “have you heard of Lazarus A.D.?” It was awesome to see that thrash really is making a comeback and people who haven’t heard new or old thrash are discovering this lost art. It goes to show that thrash is music everyone can enjoy and it’s making an impact on fans of other genres of music. Lazarus A.D., definitely a band to check out.

Another addition to Thrash’s Triple Threat is Toxic Holocaust from Portland Oregon who started

in 1999 with vocalist Joel Grind, and originally wrote and recorded all of the bands music himself. In 2003 Joel released first full length album “Evil Never Dies”, in 2005 “Hell on Earth” was released and again wrote and recorded himself. In 2008 Joel released “An Overdose of Death” with band mate Donny Paycheck on drums and Joel on Vocals, Guitar, and Bass. Toxic’s vocals are more on the deep heavy side which give them more of the death metal feel, yet maintain the thrash structure. They are very hardcore punk, very thrash and also have the crossover sound. They incorporate everything there is to do with thrash with their own spin on it. You can tell they are very influenced by hardcore punk and thrash metal bands Discharge, Hellhammer, Venom and Possessed. I’ve listened to their latest album “An Overdose of Death” , which is simply amazing. Hands down one of the best releases in metal this year, I however had no idea Joel played every instrument besides drums and that live it was just a three man piece. I was lucky enough to catch Toxic Holocaust in Santa Cruz at The Catalyst for the Decimation Of The Nation tour, which was a great tour to check out different types of metal, you had Dying Fetus, Winds of Plague, Chimaira and Hatebreed. Toxic Holocaust opened up the show which limited them to about twenty to twenty five minuets but damn did they perform the best twenty to twenty five TOXIC HOLOCAUST minutes a band can play. They definitely stood out the most in my opinion, originality, brought something new and fresh, it wasn’t generic metal and it wasn’t traditional thrash. Now there are several bands that have three members but with Toxic Holocaust before seeing them live and reading up on them I thought it was another five plus group, they go to show you that you don’t need more than three to have an amazing sounding band. Their performance at the Catalyst was insane, there energy, stage presence and unique Thrash sound was literally “An Overdose of Death”. They performed every song near perfection, their whole set was amazing, they played songs off all their albums, some worth mention are “War Dogs”, “Nuke the Cross” (awesome video by the way), and “War is Hell”. If toxic holocaust was around in the 80’s and sounded the way they do, they would be right up there with Slayer and Metallica. Toxic will be playing at Slims in San Francisco, October 10th. Now check them out and thrash!

The last band I’m going to mention is Municipal Waste. Municipal Waste started in 2001 and hails from Richmond, Virginia with current talent from Tony Foresta - Vocals, Philip “Landphil” Hall - Bass, Vocals, Ryan Waste - Guitar and Dave Witte - Drums. Now unfortunately I have yet to see this talented band but from what I’ve heard on all their albums thus far and from many fans they are one to be reckoned with. With four full length albums already out they’ve toured with At the Gates, Toxic Holocaust, As I Lay Dying and Lamb Of God to name a few. They’ve also played several festivals including the well known “Download Festival” in 2008. Two of their finer albums I would say are “The Art of Partying” and there latest release “Massive Aggressive” which is definitely a lot more mature than all there previous albums. Massive Aggressive is more structured and definitely more mature lyrically, it’s a bit slower than previous material but still a great album. The Art of Partying however is a lot faster and has more fun lyrics, and it was with this album that they were compared to D.R.I., one of the best thrash crossover bands ever. Municipal Waste and D.R.I. are very similar in several aspects, vocally the resemblance is uncanny, the way they both sing really fast then at times really slow, both have fast songs and also slower songs, both great Crossover bands. You can definitely tell D.R.I. and Nuclear Assault are some of their big influences.

They definitely have a Short Sharp Shock (SSS) sound. They are also being called the masters of Crossover, I wouldn’t go that far but I will definitely say they are one of the best Crossover bands right now. You can catch Municipal Waste November 21st at Slims in San Francisco with The Accused.

For all thrash bands including Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer thrash did die, however as time went on for these bands they adapted to the time and grew away from thrash. Most of their later albums are just straight Heavy Metal and don’t get me wrong great albums just not thrash. However you can still see some old school thrash bands like Testament, Kreator, Overkill, Anthrax and Slayer who do play a lot of new material but still play there old stuff, its kind of like yea we made it but we’re never going to forget where we came from. Its sad to see such great bands and musicians disappear as times changed and Grunge made its big debut. It was either stop playing thrash or do something different.

As time went on a new wave of “New Metal” not to get confused with “Nu-Metal” emerged and metal made its rise again.

Now you have a lot of great metal bands in several different genres and its widely accepted and now with Thrash’s Triple Threat here and several other thrash bands coming out and a lot of old forgotten bands coming back playing their old school thrash songs. Thrash is making its comeback and it’s stronger than ever. Whether you’re just getting into thrash or your one of the old school thrashers with your jean jacket full of patches, one of the greatest thrash crossover bands will be touring…D.R.I.. D.R.I. or Dirty Rotten Imbeciles were and still are one of the best bands ever, I cannot stress that enough. They haven’t toured since September 2004 when they had to cancel a winter tour when Spike Cassidy was diagnosed with cancer. In June of 2008 Spike bounced back beating cancer and has made plans to get back on the road and thrash, however not being Metallica, bills have pilled MUNICIPAL WASTE up. Right now there is a cancer relief fund for Spike, it’d be great if all Thrash fans and all fans off metal could help out, just go to this link and you can donate whatever you like (http://www.dirtyrottenimbeciles.com/spike/donate/donate.htm). Touring starts November this year and hits home January 10th in San Francisco, home of thrash! So go and check out one of the pioneers of thrash crossover while you can. This article goes out to two of the craziest thrashers I know, Ben and Sean who’ve been thrashing since birth, Thrashing in the streets, at shows, garages, cars, you guys are truly thrash, and to Liz who’s been there with them at every show. To all the old school and new school fans of thrash, to everyone in their jean jackets with patches all over, high top white sneakers, and tight jeans. Thrash will always live, it’s in our blood. Thrashing’s my business and business is good!

WHOA! This guy knows how to mash it up, no joke. I just checked out his new project, “Brain Salad Surgery,” and it’s been awhile since I’ve been impressed by a mash up album (last one was DJ Axel) but these tracks blew me away. Check it out online and buy it if you can, you won’t be disappointed. Here’s a peek into our recent conversation…

Interview by Numerous

How would you define your artistic style of creating music?

Space Monkey Radio.

What projects have you recently finished and what are you working on now?

I just finished three projects. “Brain Salad Surgery,” which is an all-original mash up CD. I did a second volume of a hip hop series called “Haze Diaries Vol. 2” with New York-bred Gotham Green, which also features Buff1, Freddie Gibbs, El Prez, Omni, Tunji, Truth Universal, and even Nick Swardson from Reno 911. Most recently I collaborated with Ben Ellman from Galactic to create “The Gypsyphonic Disco,” which is Klezmer and Eastern European music fused with New Orleans bounce music. Ben conceived the idea, and I helped execute it. The Gypsyphonic Disco is in a genre of its own.

Right now I’m working on Haze Diaries Vol. 3 with Gotham Green, as well as a bunch of remixes.

Who has had an impact on your career

as an artist and how has it affected your progress?

There are too many artists and DJs to list that have inspired me. Watching an artist perform that I enjoy pushes me to be a better artist. Meeting a dope artist that is not an asshole is always refreshing too.

What do you enjoy most about being a professional musician?

Free travel, Sky Mall magazine, and making people happy is fun too.

In light of digital piracy affecting the music industry, how has this been a disadvantage and/or advantage to your career?

I don’t mind it so much myself, some people still like to buy it, and if they want a physical CD or vinyl then they’ll buy a copy.

If you could be anywhere with your music, both artistically and professionally, what would be your ideal future?

Anywhere and everywhere, continuing to please crowds worldwide.

FREE MUSIC & MORE at: www.djquickiemart.bandcamp.com

What made you decide to put out an all acoustic album?

I’ve been working on it over the last six years. I really took my time. I wasn’t really in a hurry. I received an offer from Mascot Records six years ago to do a solo album and I thought it was a great opportunity to pull from ideas I’ve had over the years and all the other projects I’ve done. They let me do anything I want with open freedom. I tried to do everything myself but I couldn’t do it. I did do all the guitars and I played some bass. I did some vocals, percussion, and all the rest that I couldn’t do I just called musician friends to finish the songs. It was just a great experience - a very free album. Totally different from anything I’ve ever done, I think.

names and stuff like that.

How do you feel that die hard Sepultura fans are going to receive it?

I don’t know man, I mean, I don’t care too much. I know it’s a very different album. I don’t know what to expect. I didn’t do the album for any specific crowd.

I did the stuff I really like - a lot of blues and classical music. Lots of Brazilian music; The melodies and percussion. It is a very free album, very open. I have songs for my kids, my wife and my football team, so it’s just a very exciting experience for me. It was also a learning experience because I did most everything by myself.

Who are some of your influences as a guitar player?

Mostly the heavy metal guitar players like Black Sabbath, Jimmy Page, and Ritchie Blackmore...

Slayer and Metallica, Iron Maiden... All of those guys. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and BB King. A lot of different styles, but I really like metal. It’s always been my favorite.

You said you’re on a football team?

Yeah, yeah. The São Paulo Football Club. And I finally did a tribute for the fanatics, you know the football fans. There’s a lot of music involved with football like samba, but I tried to do something different.

Is that the last track on the album?

Yeah, the last one of the acoustic album. In Portuguese of course. It’s a style of music that is popular in the North where two guitar players challenge one another. There’s a lot of improvisation.

It’s a story from the streets. So I asked this guy to do the lyrics about the football players and the team

What influenced some of the classical guitar tracks on the album?

I studied classical guitar for many years. I actually started with the acoustic guitar, but I never really felt either one of them. But kept both always by my side. I love studying and learning on the classical guitar and I’d always loved classical music since I was very young. I had many albums from Beethoven and Hyde, many German composers. It is a style of music that can prepare you for anything pretty much.

The technical training on the classical side is very complete. You can learn many different exercises for both your right and left hand on the guitar.

I noticed that you said Jimmy Page...There’s a song on the album called ‘Page’. Is it a tribute of some sort?

Yeah, definitely. Jimmy Page was the master of different styles. And I was messing around with my new acoustic guitar on a tour bus somewhere recording ideas. Later I was listening to what I had recorded and got the inspiration for that song. It’s definitely dedicated to Jimmy Page because he was such a creative musician. He knew all the tricks in the studio to get the great tones. I definitely get a strong influence from his playing.

Are you planning on touring at all or just releasing the album?

I really want to get that on the road, I actually did some shows in Brazil already and I had a great time.

Hopefully I’ll have a chance to tour for this project in America soon.

Review By Danielle Negrin

Coming all the way from Clarendon, Jamaica, Santa Cruz was fortunate to have the reggae/gospel/ska group Toots and the Maytals deliver an exciting performance at the Catalyst. I entered the venue when the opening band was playing and the room was empty. I was shocked.

But as soon as Toots came out, it was as if he was honey and they bees suddenly swarmed in. Toots shined onstage in his orange jump suit, passionately singing and playing his guitar to his old school rhythms. His tone of voice was so soulful, expressive and full of emotions.

As a huge reggae fan, it was such an honor to see some of the ambassadors of reggae perform in my hometown. He played songs such as “54-46 was my number� which made the crowd roar and brought a huge smile to my face. Two beautiful back up singers, one being his daughter, supported his lyrics and danced like angels. The Maytals rocked their instruments so confidently; they made it look easy. The crowd flooded the floor and was so engaged with this group; we were all lucky enough to be a part of a show of reggae icons.

Finally got around to watching ANVIL! The Story of Anvil recently. This should be required viewing for all metal bands just starting out, a solid portrait of what it takes to survive in the music business: drive, determination, perseverance, and passion.

If you’re only willing to do this for a few years, maybe you shouldn’t do it at all. If you’re willing to do it for 30 years, then just maybe you’ll be able to. Perhaps the next big rock documentary will be based around one of the bands in this month’s edition of the NorCal Metal Report.

By Dave Pirtle Shockingly, Geryon has called it quits. Following rave reviews for their debut album Aspirations of a Great Demise and a successful US tour, things were looking bright for the youngsters. It started going downhill as they faced problems with their label and scheduled studio time, and culminated in guitarist Kyle Mendes announcing his departure, effectively ending the group’s run. Guitarist Sean Siino, bassist Daniel Ghelfi, drummer Bernt Strom, and vocalist Jacob Wilcox are all currently working on new projects. Shame to see them go, but I look forward to what they all do next.

There have been some shakeups in the world of Bomb & Scary. Elena Luciano (Machine Called Man/ex-Imagika/Mother Earth) has been announced as the band’s new bassist, and Burton Ortega (ex-Kaos/Heathen) is taking over behind the drum kit. The new members have injected a new energy into the band, which will be integrating a few never-before-played-live tracks into their set along with some new tunes. Keep your ears pricked up, doors cracked, and night lights on for more information on exactly when they will be returning to the stage.

Skitzo are currently working on their 18th (or is it 19th?) CD, which will be entitled Dementia Preaycox.

They are once again looking for a label to press and release the disc, having split with Open Grave Records due to, er, religious differences. In related news, frontman Lance Ozanix’s Black Sabbath

Skitzo tribute band Sweetleaf (also featuring guitarist Steve Smyth) will make their annual live appearance on December 26th at the Last Day Saloon in Santa Rosa along with Smyth’s The Esseness

Project.

SF-based industrial metallers We Got This Far released their debut album Blunt Force Volume in Europe this past summer, and just recently here in North America. As it continues to draw praise from both regions, the band finds themselves featured on the soundtrack to the online game Vector Conflict: The Siege. Add to that a recent successful national tour with 16 Volt and inclusion on a number of industrial magazine compilations, and you’ve got a band making some very loud waves in the underground.

Rejection Trigger is back (once again) with yet another line-up change, with bassist Marcos Carriles (Red Sunday) stepping in to replace the departed Mark Eichner. They are also wrapping up a new 4-song demo that should be available

Rezn by the time they hit the stage again at Homestead Lanes in Cupertino on January 16th along with Unconventional Thought Process and Kinetik.

Rezn is about to make their way back into your faces. After a hiatus that started with an extensive vocalist search and grew to include back surgery for drummer Jimmy Walker and a handful of surprise shows, the band introduced new members Wade Thomas (guitar) and Sanchez Michaels (vocals) and has completed pre-production for their new album Reznate. You can hear the demo mixes at www.myspace.com/rezn and catch them live again in 2010.

Oh, and in case you hadn’t noticed, Heathen’s heavily anticipated new full-length Evolution of Chaos was not released this past July as originally planned.

After a number of tweaks and delays, it will finally see the light of day via Mascot Records on March

31st, 2010 (January 25th in Europe). The band will also kick off a European tour in March, starting with an appearance at the UK-based Hammerfest.

Alright, that should about do it for this month.

Looks like things maybe got a little backed up after a quiet previous month. Just goes to show that you can’t stop progress, you can only keep it under the radar. If you want to get your progress on the radar, send your news to norcalmetal@ksjs.org and I’ll throw it out there. All it takes is that one lucky break to move you from the barroom to the ballroom, but you’ve got to work to make it happen.

NORCAL UNLEASHED

Top 10 Playlist for period 10/22 – 11/19 (NorCal Unleashed airs on 90.5 FM KSJS on Thursday nights from 11pm-midnight. Contact madman@ksjs.org for information on how to submit your music for airplay) 1. Taunted - Bleeding Black 2. Cormorant - Metazoa 3. Vengince - A Turn For the Worst 4. In Virtue - Delusions of Grandeur 5. Saviours - Accelerated Living 6. Black Cobra - Chronomega 7. Mystic Rage - Revolution EP 8. Mudsoc - Mudsoc Rd. 9. Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine - The Audacity of Hype 10. Claymation Horror Show – Self Titled QUICK BITS: I forgot to mention last month that you can pick up In Virtue’s Delusions of Grandeur CD on line at http://www. invirtue.bigcartel.com/product/delusionsof-grandeur-album . . . Agenda of Swine, featuring former members of Benumb and Vulgar Pigeons, have posted the brand new track “Rooted In Spite” on their MySpace page, and will release it as part of a split 7” release next year . . . Saviours have parted ways with bassist Cyrus Comiskey, and recruited Chris Grande (Annihilation Time/ Lecherous Gaze) to fill the slot for current US touring activities . . . still riding the wave of their Strike Force debut, Zombie Holocaust has been busy writing new material, which they have wasted little time in integrating into their live set . . . Hellhunter is looking for a drummer . . . Imagika have completed work on the new album Portrait of a Hanged Man, and are still on track for an early 2010 release via Metalville Records . . . Echo of Souls are wrapping up work on their next release, expected to be a 7-song EP, slated for release next year with regional shows to follow . . . not to be outdone, Conducting From the Grave are well on their way to completing the follow-up to their When Legends Become Dust debut . . . Beerijuana will be releasing their long-awaited video for “Drunk Power” in January.

Sat Dec 5 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino Cremation Chamber, Shepherd's Gate, Madman's Lullaby, ZED Wed Dec 16 @ VooDoo Lounge A Four Star Affair, Bells Shake The Sky, Addison Redline, Sherwood Rebellion Sat Dec 19 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino California Is Burning, Easier Said, Distance From Shelter, James Perry, Stormy Strong Sat Jan 9 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino Northern Son, Musical Charis, more TBA Thurs Jan 14 @ Slim's Scraping For Change CD Release Show w/ Forget About Boston, Raelin, Scene Of Action Sat Jan 16 @ Homestead Lanes Until We Sleep, Kinetik, Unconventional Thought Process, Rejection Trigger Sat Jan 30 @ Britannia Arms Cupertino The Golden Hour, Pounders, My Monster

For Booking please send email to:

barbrocks@gmail.com

More info online: www.barbrocks.com www.myspace.com/barbrocks

C I S U M L A C O , CA L E S O R J U N A O S Y by: Danielle Negrin

Monkey is an eclectic group of six passionate artists that spread energy like wildfire. They are a Reggae/ Ska group from the South Bay Area. I got the opportunity to interview this band and discuss their viewpoints and successes. These guys will get anyone off their seats and onto the dance floor.

Dani: How long have you guys been together, and how does the band get along?

Monkey: The band has been together for 14 years.

We get along fabulously... One big family!

Dani: I’m really glad to hear that you guys are so close.

A band with great chemistry really shines through in their music. You guys have a very unique sound. Where do you get your inspiration?

Monkey: We take the Classic Jamaican-style Ska of the 60’s and the British 2 tone Ska of the 70’s and mix it up with elements of Rock, Reggae, Latin and Soul to create our unique sound.

Dani: That’s why I like your music, because it is so well-rounded with a great variety of influences! I see that you won a prestigious California Music Award, how did that feel?

Monkey: Honestly, it felt great to win the award, but at the time, BAM magazine was folding, and the after party was lackluster... We still went home happy, though. How can you not be happy to be part of something as large as that?

Dani: I agree, that’s a really great honor, especially since there are so many talented bands out there. On the other hand, what is the most difficult part about trying to make it in the industry?

Monkey: Seriously folks... There hasn’t been a “Hit-Machine” since the early 90’s. The advent of electronic media has single-handedly redefined music’s role and destroyed the possibility of really earning any serious money. If you play music, now... it’s because you love it and can’t live without it.

Dani: I like that answer. It’s not about the money, it’s about the music. I like your philosophy, it’s refreshing to hear. If you could go back and change anything in your musical career, what would it be?

Monkey: Hmmm... Well, I’d probably change the name. Monkey is a great fun name, but it’s hard to find in a web-search (too many bands with Monkey in the name). Plus, it does shock people when they listen to the lyrics and realize that this band has a lot more to say than just “Have a good time.”

Dani: Hahaha that’s funny, and true. It took me a while to find you guys based on your name. But hey, it could be worse. Lastly, where do you see yourselves in the next 5 years?

Monkey: Probably playing music and eating tacos...

Mmmm Tacos.

S A C R A M E N T O

Sexciety video interview Host: Jon Hermison

Bryan: And it is always good to have a little healthy competition.

YMM: Yeah the way the shows are being booked they seem to have the same genres.

Jeff: Yeah, we are friends with the other bands.

Joshua: We are really good friends with Awaiting the Apocalypse. I don’t know if we have ever played with the other bands.

Marshal: Bands that normally suck don’t go into competitions. They are weeded out.

YMM: Yes, Your Music Magazine weeding out the bad bands. Your welcome Mike, we got you a new tag. Also you guys are working on a full length CD? Joshua: We work out little snid-bits at a time.

We record two songs here, release it as a demo, two songs there, as a demo. Lose a member. Erase those. Record two more songs. So in a few months we will record two more songs, or maybe go crazy and record three songs. Then we pull it all together and release it all at one time. But yeah, we would like to come out with a full length album.

YMM: How do the samples work into the group?

Joshua: Well on the new stuff we have some crazy dub step shit. Between all of us we are trying to figure out material to fill in the spots.

And then it goes to some guy punching people in the face.

Marshal: But we love the electronics, you can make any sound. You can sample movie clips that might have to deal with the song. With electronic music these days you can make any beat, we play drums, bass, guitar, and vocals but then you throw in samples you can make any sound. Our music is really brutal, but most of our clips are funny.

Joshua: When you got brutal ass music that makes you want to punch someone in the face, it also has little jokes in it. With that little bit of humor intertwined, it makes it that much better.

Bryan: Hey Freddy Krueger has a sense of humor.

Jeff: It is great to look out in a pit and see it stop, everyone laugh, then go right back into a pit.

YMM: Well January 15th at the Broadwalk is going to be one hell of a show, going out what is one word to describe your band?

Marshal: TacoSauce…

YMM: Hi this Jon with Your Music Magazine visiting with Sacramento’s own Sexciety.

Sexciety will be appearing at The Boardwalk on January 15th for the Sacramento Your Music Magazine Band Olympicks. How about we start with a line up. Your name and what you play.

Marshal: Guitar Jeff: Vocals and samples Joshua: Drums and samples.

Bryan: Bass YMM: Has the line-up been this way for a while?

Jeff: About a year now.

YMM: Just finalized you, Jeff, as the vocalists?

Jeff: Yeah.

Joshua: I think that December is our oneyear anniversary as a four piece.

YMM: How do you guys feel as a four piece?

Joshua: It is a lot easier for us all to get along and it is not as much shit to move around.

Marshal: We had to down size because of the economy and all.

Bryan: Not so many drunk people to track down at show time.

YMM: So this is not your first time with Your Music Magazine?

Jeff: No. YMM: A couple of YMM battle of the bands winning in 2007?

Marshal: And a couple issues.

YMM: How does the YMO affect your performance?

Check out this video interview @ Joshua: I really like it for that reason that we www.yourmusicmagazine.com perform for people who wouldn’t normally see us. We get tons of people out from other bands, and the people that wouldn’t go to a normal show might go to a Your Music Magazine Band Olympick event. They get to see us play along with all the other bands that night that they wouldn’t see on a regular basis. I think that is the best part about it.

Your Music Olympicks @ The Boardwalk Jan. 15th

Beneath The Rapture By: Brian Crabtree

Dalton (drums) Your Music Mogley (vox) Michael (guitars) Olympicks @ The Aury (guitars) Boardwalk Jan. 15th Dustin (bass) YMM: How did Beneath the Rapture form?

BTR: We formed the actual band in January 2007 with Dalton, Mogley, Noah (guitars), Nick, that’s when we decided to seriously play music. Zack joined the band later and we played our first “real show” in April of that year. All those members besides Mogley and Dalton have left for either differences in personal preference or based on skills.

After a bunch of minor line up changes we got close to what we are now. Mike and Dustin joined the group around this summer, with our new guitarist Aury joining a few days ago.

though. That’s our biggest show priority.

YMM: I saw that you are working on a new EP, when is that coming out? And how does that album reflect the group?

BTR: Its gonna show our whole new heavier and all around better musical change, we have really talented members this time YMM: What is the sound of the group? around. It’s going to BTR: Were just a heavy death core be a completely difband, I think were heavy enough to get ferent and better exkids to really move, without losing any perience. technicality.

YMM: I saw you were YMM: How do you feel about competing working on a Spring in the 2009 Your Music Magazine Band Break tour, any ideas Olympicks in Sacramento? Do you where you are going to guys enjoy a little healthy competition perform yet? between the bands in the area?

BTR: We really want to BTR: Yeah these kinds of things are hit different states on good. It gets really talented bands to- this tour, maybe Cali, gether playing, networking, and get- Nevada, Arizona, some ting exposed to new audiences. I think close states since were they’re really good for this scene. I don’t sure to be pretty do-itthink its really about competition. yourself on this one.

YMM: What do you think of the music scene in the Sacramento area?

BTR: It’s pretty positive we have a lot of good bands coming out of here that are really talented. More kids are starting to come out to shows that have more local bands on the bill. I hope kids can get all their negativity out in the pit and keep things positive in other places.

YMM: What are some of the top venues that you would like to see Beneath the Raptures play over the next year?

BTR: Well, I think The Boardwalk is the best venue in Sac, and their sound guy and everything about there is incredible. We really wanna get out of town

YMM: What is a good place to find information about Beneath The Rapture?

BTR: You can definitely find us on our myspace.com/beneaththerapture. One of our members is always on there and I like to bebelieve we’re all pretty nice people. We’ll answer any question and just all around dig talking to people that are listening to us.

S A C R A M E N T O

S A C R A M E N T O

Your Music Olympicks @ The Boardwalk Jan. 15th

Awaiting the Apocalypse Video Interview

By Jon Hermison

YMM: Hi, this is Jon with Your Music Magazine. I am here with Awaiting the Apocalypse. We are kicking off the start of the Sacramento Your Music Olympicks. How about we start with the line up and what you play?

John: I play guitar.

Ben: I play bass.

Tyler: And I play with a microphone.

Jim: I play the drums.

Marcos: I also play guitar.

YMM: How long has this line up been like this? I know you guys started off . . .

Tyler: Yeah, it’s a long story. John joined in September, Ben in October, and what, it is November now? Jim started like three years ago with the group, and me and Marcos started five years ago.

YMM: How did Roseville take to your metal scene? Or are you still kind of battling?

Marcos: They used to take our equipment and confiscate it. Roseville PD loves us.

That’s why we are here now and have been for the last five years.

Tyler: Roseville didn’t like us because we were loud, and we also used to be pretty bad back then. It wasn’t really anything you wanted to listen to; we sucked.

Jim: That was before I joined the band.

YMM: So has it taken time to form what is now Awaiting the Apocalypse?

Tyler: Yeah, there are always people that don’t work out like people that do drugs or decide to go to college. Unfortunately they go do drugs, become addicts and then get kicked out of college.

YMM: So there’s no bitterness?

Tyler: Oh no. They are still our friends, actually. It’s just funny because they say, “I have to quit the band and go to college.” Then come back “Oh, can I play with you again? I got kicked out of college.”

YMM: So back to the battle . . . are you guy’s veterans of this kind of thing?

Marcos: I wouldn’t say veterans, but this is not our first rodeo.

YMM: Do you know the other bands?

Tyler: I think that we have played with every band, except Beneath the Rapture.

We played with Journal. We have played with Sexciety a few times.

YMM: With the environment of the Your Music Olympicks, do you guys get speed off of the event? Do you see it as an opportunity?

Tyler: I don’t want to go into competitive mode and be like, screw these guys. It’s more like a show and a place to have fun.

And if people vote for us and we move on to the next round, that is awesome.

YMM: Beyond that, what about the possibilities of connections?

Tyler: Yeah. For example, you might meet someone from Your Music Magazine, and they are like you: may not have moved on.

But we like you and give us a deal on a half page ad, or a review in the magazine. We just got offered a review, so we sent it in and a year and a half later, still no review.

YMM: So are you in the middle of something?

Tyler: Yeah, we have about six songs, but we want to have a full twelve songs—a good sixty-seventy minutes of metal.

YMM: You guys and Sexciety, and your use of samples? Do you see any future in that?

Tyler: It is good for the CDs and stuff. Sexciety- that is like their whole thing. They have the sample board right there. They have all their stuff timed out to that, and that’s awesome. We are not that technologically advanced.

Jim: We use an iPod. Tyler: But I know that our next CD will have some sampling.

YMM: So, to conclude . . .

Tyler: Oh that’s it ?. . . bring it on.

YMM: It is January 15th @ the Boardwalk, and like many others, I am Awaiting the Apocalypse!

Band: Hell Yeah!!!

View this video interview @ www. yourmusicmagazine.com

X B M L J O T X F M D P N F

Factory service for: Marshall/Vox, Mesa Boogie, Fender, Ampeg, Gibson, and Orange.

Home of the Tubesonic “Blues 10” guitar amplifier, handbuilt in Sacramento, CA USA. www.tubesonicamps

S A C R A M E N T O

Your Music Olympicks @ The Boardwalk Jan. 22nd

The Stalking Distance By: J.P. Sacramento’s rock scene is so over-infested with bands that it’s very rare when one band pops up in the scene that actually stands out and is doing something different. At first glance, The Stalking Distance appears to be just another Sacramento punk rock band, until you see them live. Jose (vocals and guitar), and Darryl (Bass and vocals) started a project two years ago with the help of Eli (Drums), and Delzer (Lead Guitar) that has now started to define it’s own scene in the area. They are one of the few bands that has the ability to bring in Punk, Metal, dingy Rock N’ Roll, and old school Hardcore and make it all work together. With that, their fans range from old school, to new school, to even little skater kids that are catching on!

When you ask the band to define what kind of sound they have, you don’t just get one answer; you get a whole slew of replies because there are so many different genres and influences coming together at once.

YMM sat down with the guys this past week to get some information and see where the guys were at: YMM: We haven’t heard much from TSD over the last few months. Can we expect new music/touring in the near future?

TSD: Yes and yes. We are currently mixing 4 new tracks to be released early next year & we plan to be out in support of it.

YMM: Any big shows you’re looking forward to besides the Olympicks in Sac? TSD: Well, most are being speculated at this point. We are playing the Your Music Magazine band Olympicks on Jan. 22nd at The Boardwalk. Another show we have coming

up is with Death Angel. I’m a long time fan so I’m really looking forward to it. One of thrash metals finest. Horns!

YMM: TSD’s sound is unique, what are some of the influences that bring this particular sound out when writing? Is it a group effort when you guys are writing?

TSD: Everything is in an influence. The range is pretty broad with band members. From early Thrash Metal, Punk, Sleaze Rock, & Metal to everything current. You know, stuff we’ve grown up on, material we get turned on to, influences from local & indie bands too. Yeah, we try to make the writing process a group effort. Mostly Daryl & I (Jose) bring riffs to the table and jam’em out with Eli. Then we’ll have Delzer (our shredding lead guitarist) come in and lay down some sweet Delz.

Yeah leads over everything. He’s a great guitarist, versatile and easy to work with.

YMM: What can old and new fans of TSD expect in the future?

TSD: Well, both old and new fans can expect LOUD high energy shows as usual, along with bigger shows coming up this year. Our fans can also find us on a CD Compilation included with the Re-issue of Nikki Sixx’ Autobiography due for release sometime in the near future. I have no date for this. Ahhh the business end..Lol….

YMM: What are your expectations of 2010 with the new year quickly approaching?

TSD: We never aim too high. So, we are just releasing some new music & looking forward to the book coming out. Hopefully that will give us some exposure, since it’s being released globally. The rest, we’ll just leave to our booking: 344 Productions to surprise us with.

YMM: Where do you see TSD a year from now?

TSD: Playing with bigger acts and touring.

It’d be nice to have a distribution deal and be able to do some overseas touring. So like I said before, we’ll leave that up to our booking.

C I S U M L A C A C O , Y L E R E R T N U O O M

Y

Interview with Counter Clockwise By: Brian Crabtree YMM: To begin, tell me about your band Counter Clockwise?

CC: Counter Clockwise is from Monterey CA, we are a metal band with powerful grooves that move People. We are a raw, straight up rock n’ roll band with a sharp metal edge toying with reality.

YMM: Just wondering, is there a special meaning behind the group name “Counter Clockwise”?

CC: Counter Clockwise is a machine. To us it means strength, integrity, creativity, motivation, longevity and unforgettable ass kicking music.

YMM: I know you guys have been together as a group for a while, what is your key to staying together?

CC: We like each other. Ha ha. Friendship is real important!!! There’s a great chemistry between the four of us. It’s magic! When we write a tune it’s instant. We know what each other wants out of a song. Our creativity is through the roof. We have like 50 tunes and counting; they just keep coming. We also just finished our second full length CD “Dance on My Grave” and another is already in the making.

YMM: How has the music scene been in the Monterey area over the past couple months?

CC: The Monterey music scene is doing quite well. There’s a lot of love in Monterey between the local bands and fans even in a crazy economy. If you’re a good band you’ll be accepted here.

YMM: I saw on your website that the band was on the “Beer Run on the Short Bus tour” with Pride Subject over the summer. Was that your first out of state tour? How was the experience on the road?

CC: Yes, we needed more beer!!! We drove through 4 states to get it and it was good. That was our first out of town experience. It was great to be on the road with all of our buddies. There were some good times for sure! We got to meet a lot of new people and made new fans. We got the response from the crowds we hoped for. We are going to head to Texas next! Summer tour 2010.

YMM: What is a good place for people to find information on the group, shows, and contact information?

CC: You can get all your Counter Clockwise info from our web site: www.counterclockwiseworld.com and our Myspace page: www.myspace.com/counterclockwiseworld.

YMM: Any last words?

CC: Thanks for the interview Your Music Magazine. We hope to rock the world and shake the nation!! Thanks to Monterey Music for supporting the local monterey bands and all the support Your Music Magazine has given us and others over the years.

S A N F R A N C I S C O s

ELEMENT LOUNGE

YOUR MUSIC MAGAZINE S. F. BAND OLYMPICKS FINALISTS COMPANY CAR, ONE PUNCH MACHINE GUN, THE PAPER SONS, TOKYO RAID, CERVANTES, DISGUST OF US, RATCHET

S A N F R A N C I S C O

ELEMENT LOUNGE

YOUR MUSIC MAGAZINE S. F. BAND OLYMPICKS FINALS - JAN. 15TH AT CLUB SIX .

YOUR VOTE DETERMINES THE TOP 3 BANDS. GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE WINNERS SPLIT A $5,000 PRIZE PACKAGE. -www.yourmusicmagazine.com for info

S A N F R A N C I S C O

ELEMENT LOUNGE

Interview with The Paper Sons By: Numerous YMM: Welcome to the Your Music Magazine interview with The Papersons lead singer Tom McCullough. How are you doing Tom? Tom: I am doing good.

YMM: So I hear you guys are working on a new CD? Tom: We are actually working right now in Mike Wells at Mike Wells Mastering. We are finishing up the last six tracks. We are planning on dropping that whole album late February, and it is going to be called “In The Throes…”

YMM: What made you come up with that title?

Tom: Well, it has been a tough year. At certain points it was hectic but that was when we were the most creative. Even in that chaotic state, we were able to pull through it and came up with songs that have that feeling.

YMM: What has been the most challenging part of the album?

Tom: The most challenging aspects were shift through certain songs; finding out which were better for the concept of the album. Generally it went pretty smooth. There were not too many difficulties, maybe tightening up at the end while trying to pick up the pace. But I think we came up with a good product.

YMM: Have you put out any demos or EP’s?

Tom: Yeah, we have put out two demos.

The first one was “Fine Line”, and the second called “Underground”. We are actually mastering those five tracks and going to rerelease those too. All of that should be out by early January.

YMM: How has “In The Throes…” different from our other work?

Tom: A big part of it was the contrast like the Deftones. We try to have a heavier low end guitar style, stronger beats, and I kind of even it out a little bit smoother with the voice. We try to have a soft and hard contrast.

YMM: Kind of a tension release?

Tom: It is a little more common response. We have metal fans of the group, and a lot of alternative fans. It varies among tracks but we do want to carry the hard and soft all at once.

YMM: Is this your first time working with Mike Wells Mastering ?

Tom: It is our first time mastering with Mike Wells (mastered Sound Tribe Sector Nine’s “Peace Blaster”). And so far so good. He is a big metal fan so we have his expertise there with the heavier side. We also recorded with Willy Samuels at Nu Tone in Pittsburg (Green Day, Iggy Pop, Dead to Me). They are fair acquainted with each other, so it has been going really smoothly and the mastering is going well. It has been handled quite professionally.

It is really hard to find the perfect people to do the right thing, and the stars are a lining here, so we really lucked out.

YMM: How do you feel your songs differ from being recorded to being played live?

Tom: Well, that is what we try to capture. Recording is a very intense process, but we have practiced on how that live performance is going to sound. And in the end, the live performance is where you want to be. It is defiantly more intense in the live show.

YMM: Do you guys have any shows coming up?

Tom: We will be playing the Your Music Olympicks Finals January 15th. After that we don’t have anything lined up specifically. But we do plan to have a tour in the spring of 2010.

YMM: Is that to promote the release of the new album “In The Throes…”?

Tom: Yeah. We are having the CD release, we hope, in late February. Then we will have some shows after that, followed by the tour in the spring.

YMM: In October you signed with Minus Head records, how has it been working with them?

Tom: It has been great; Bret Hardie is the head of the record label. He has been influential, and a good producer for this. He has a good ear for the music we want to play. He is very business-like. It has just been really great.

YMM: With the release of the new album, any fears about internet piracy?

Tom: I hope that people would steal it if they like it that much. At this level we would be honored to have people want to take the music. It is a matter of getting out there at this point. You can find us on our websites www.thepapersons.com and MinusHead .com. Also, check out our myspace: myspace. com/ThePaperSons

The

SAN FRANCISCO FINALS

BOARDWALK

Jan. 15th San Francisco SACRAMENTO

SEXCIETY AFTER THE APOCALYPSE JOURNAL SIPHON SOUL BENEATH THE RAPTURE

Jan. 22nd

The Stalking Distance Smash The Glass Beyond All Ends The Battle of Midway Ashes of Icons The

BLUE LAMP

Jan. 23rd

Your Music Olympicks Vocal Solo Comp. +4 Bands TBA

JAN. 15

San Francisco

CLUB SIX

COMPANY CAR ONE PUNCH MACHINE GUN THE PAPER SONS TOKYO RAID CERVANTES DISGUST OF US RATCHET Schedule Subject To Change.

CHECK OUR WEB SITE FOR CALENDAR UPDATES www.yourmusicmagazine.com

Fire’s Fury @ Blue Lagoon 11.21.09

Photos By Brian Crabtree Visit Your Music Magazine Online: www.yourmusicmagazine.com to see more photos by Brian Crabtree

Interview w/ Mason of Indigital Studios & Mountain Animal Hospital -Host Brian Crabtree YMM: This is Brian Crabtree here at Indigital Studios. Today is December 1st, 2009. I am here with Mason. How’s it going?

Mason: Good. What’s going on?

YMM: Just wondering if you could give us a little update since I last talked to you?

Mason: Always tons of new stuff. We just picked up some new gear from UA. I got some LA3A’s that I am really stoked about.

Some really cool compressors. We bought a new snake for the tracking room, and we are doing a complete rewire of the studio. We plan to replace the majority of the cabling, and upgrading a lot of stuff next week. So, I will be completely ripping out everything, reorganizing it, and then redoing all the patch bays. I have really needed to nerd out on that for a while to get that done. Band wise, I finished this stuff for a kid in New York. He goes under the title Hot Sugar, and he just does massive, electronic, circuit bent, crazy hipster electro stuff. I finished up a track for him, and one of the editors from Tim and Eric is doing a music video for that. That compilation should be out really soon (check it out now at Hotsugar.biz). I also mastered another seven songs for him, so he has all this going out with the launch of his web site, which should be in the next week or so. Still working with the Moon Cadillac boys on their record. It is sounding really-really good. I am stoked for those guys. And now I got these friendly young gentlemen in here, which is Mountain Animal Hospital. We are doing the mixing and vocals on their album. On the Hip Hop front, I had Cali B & Kcaz just finish up their record, “Shooting Stars.” They have already gotten it pressed and it is out there.

I just got my copy, so I am stoked for them. I have had Johnny Rockz and FMZ in here. They’re doing an album together. Just a bunch people around all the time, we just had the Made of Guillotinez come by today.

YMM: So it sounds like things are going good around here,

how about you introduce these guys Mountain Animal Hospital.

Jeff: Bassist.

Chris: Guitar.

Nick: I play drums and vocals.

Cameron: I am mainly the vocals, but I play some guitar and keyboards. So, today I have been recording the vocals.

YMM: You guys have said you did most of the recording somewhere else. What brought you to Indigital Studios?

Nick: Mason could just get us in a lot more days of the week. So, we were excited to come in here and get some space for us.

Not to mention. there is great gear here.

Mason’s rad, so we are stoked to be working with him.

YMM: Who has been doing most of the recording here? Are there any equipment or computer components that help your recording process?

Cameron: Yeah, I have been doing most of the recording here, but Nick has just started some. For me the mic selection, they have a huge selection of mics to choose from. I found the one I wanted to use because I have worked with it before. So, we were able to dial in a sound that I really enjoyed. And the fact that their computer setup is so sleek, it just makes it really simple to get things going quickly.

Nick: Streamlined.

Cameron: It is definitely streamlined for efficiency. Things have been going smooth with the vocal tracking. We really dialed in a good sounds that I wanted; we are just finishing up the vocals now. I think the experience with the vocal tracking is going great.

Nick: We are doing the mixing here but we might have it mastered in a studio up in the bay.

YMM: Does anyone else do any recording here?

Chris: No. Mason: But you have recorded here.

Chris: Well, yes. The three of us (Nick and Mason) are in Brown Irish together, and we recorded that whole EP here which was fun.

YMM: So when are you hoping to get this new album out?

Nick: Early next year, maybe late winter - early spring. Somewhere within that time frame.

YMM: Any title to that album?

Nick: Yeah, “Better Children.”

YMM: Well this is Brian Crabtree at Indigital Studios, thanks for letting me drop by.

Check out the full interview online @ www.yourmusicmagazine.com

I spoke with Crimson Ivy on the state of the scene, emerging Goth artists, and radio just before their performance at Union of the Snake on 11/14/2009.

What is Union of the Snake?

DENNIS: Union of the Snake is all of the different genres of Industrial music gathering together as one.

Draykh, you’re the newest member of the band. How did you end up meeting the other 3/4’s of Crimson Ivy? DRAYKH: Twitter. Ha Ha! Seriously though, I met these guys and we clicked. We’re planning on doing a record.

Cool. What are your plans for the upcoming album?

RUSTY: We plan on collaborating with other artists, most of which we met through online networking.

We plan to work with bands like Seraph of Treason (out of Florida) and hopefully Magnetic Stripper (SF).

It seems like you guys do a lot of communication through online networking with a lot of people from this scene.

What is your main goal with Crimson Ivy in terms of promoting this scene and bringing more people together?

RUSTY: You said it exactly. I mean, we do a lot of networking through things like My Space and Facebook. We’d like to get universal people out there who like Crimson Ivy from a long while back.

What keeps you guys getting motivated to be in this scene and make Industrial/ Goth music?

DENNIS: Just the whole eclecticism of it and what the message is all about.

RUSTY: The resonance of dark music has always been attractive to me.

DRAYKH: The aspect of bringing together these different types of sounds and being able to create something that hasn’t been heard or played before is entirely unique. It’s the constant progression and true message, keeping the challenge of musical creativity. That’s what’s so attractive to me about our music.

Crimson Ivy has recorded previously.

Where can people access this material?

RUSTY: Well, the most recent album is called YOUAREWHO. It hasn’t been physically released, but you

can download it off various places on the web.

What would like to see for the future of dark music?

RUSTY: I’d actually like to see it back on the radio. I know a lot of people who love this kind of music that don’t even listen to the radio because the music they want to hear isn’t even played anymore. I’ve been listening to this music for more than 20 years and I think it’s a crying shame that it isn’t played on commercial radio. You hear mostly poppy music like Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers played over and over again. That music isn’t necessarily bad, but there are a lot of talented artists that I’ve discovered through social networking that deserve broad passive exposure that regular play on the radio brings. Unfortunately, radio has shunned Industrial and Goth music in favor of the pop sound you hear on LIVE 105. I mean, they started out at LIVE 105 as being cutting edge, but changed to favor a pop sound. I’d like to see them go back to the cutting edge.

Do you think that radio would benefit by playing Industrial music?

RUSTY: For so many in the listening audience, I think (radio stations) kind of went in the wrong direction. Even on college radio, Industrial is played but on a far more limited basis than in the past.

Long story short, yes radio would benefit because I think there is a much larger population open to listen to (Industrial/Goth) music.

DENNIS: If it weren’t for events like tonight, DJ’s at the BOX (Santa Cruz), and Death Guild at DNA, the music of this scene would be almost extinct in terms of an accessible fashion.

What’s your advice to Goth/Industrial artists who want to get their music out there into the hands of the listening public?

KARL: I would have to say that if you’re a killer band and you can’t get your music out there on MySpace and You Tube then something is wrong. I mean, back when we started, we did the whole stapling flyers to telephone poles thing and now bands are lucky to have such an amazing promotional tool as the Internet. Anyone can do it. I actually think that this scene is reviving itself, so things can only get better from here.

GOLD COAST TATTOO

www.GoldCoastTattoo.com

639 Lighthouse Ave Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 642-9404

Interview by Marisa Lopez

You guys just released your newest record, Nightmare. How is that going for you?

RUBY: At long last! We’re happy to have the CD out, yes.

This year has had a bigger impact and your fan base has grown significantly.

You must be pretty excited about that.

RUBY: Yeah, I think we’ve grown up a lot this year. We’ve learned how to get out there more and have acquired a number of fans. I think with Nightmare, it can grow a lot more. (We) put all this work into the new record, and I mean, it took us nine months to complete. By this time we really had to get it out there and not simply have it be an EP type of thing.

You have worked a tremendous amount this year. This has led you guys to becoming (at press time) the #1 unsigned Goth Rock band on MySpace.

Considering the world-wide usage and how many goth bands are out there, this is a significant jump in your careers.

What’s that feel like?

TOMMY DARK: Well, I don’t know exactly how that happened, but I was checking up on different ratings. We happened to be on the listing and we suddenly jumped from 7, 5, to #1 in a matter of weeks. It could mean that more people are hitting up our MySpace page and listening to our music and discovering us. Sure enough we’ve been in that spot for the last couple of months.

How would you describe Nightmare as being different from the stuff you’ve done in the past?

TOMMY: Honestly, what’s Goth about Saints of Ruin is the stuff that comes from us as writers. I would say fairytale is one thing, but Nightmare became a story. From beginning to end, it’s dark and uplifting at the same time. There are songs about life, death, falling in love, an anti-suicide song, even an anti-hunting song...It’s got an enlightening something that pushes you up and makes you feel good when you listen to it. There’s a lot of positivity coming from our side of the Goth, let’s put it that way.

RUBY: The title track, Nightmare, is really an anti-lullaby. All of the songs really follow a thread and have this dark, dreamlike quality.

In these days of soulless image, how important is it for you as a band to have a message?

RUBY: I think having a message is really important because if you wouldn’t have an identity. So, even if you might reinvent yourself little by little, you won’t have a personality unless you can actually define it (in your music).

Are you guys thinking of touring in Europe?

RUBY: Well, nothing is official yet, but yeah. I think with the addition of the CD release, an international tour is certainly one of the next steps we’re considering, hopefully within the coming year.

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SAINTSOFRUIN

Jagermeister Presents

Sat Dec 12th The Quarternote Sunnyvale 6:AM 10 Year Anniversary Show Sat March 20th Oakland Metro Bands4Bands 10th Annual Awards Program

Preconceived Notions: Just being alive is to be constantly assaulted with music: bass vibrates the frame of a passing car, a homeless man sings out to Jesus, strange and unfamiliar rhythms come from the basement of a Brazilian club downtown. There are dozens of stations on two radio bands and a bad DJ in every bar in town. You just have to use those ears.

It’s a musical world. It’s a soundtrack. It’s an overdose.

Our cups runneth over.

A festival takes this concept and builds it into a superstructure, a very expensive superstructure ($185 three-day pass). For this money you can see a variety of bands, 50 on the outside, but to do that would take a lot of planning. Fuck planning. These things work out better if you just follow your ear and try to take in the experience as a whole.

The ACL Diaries

Right or wrong, rain or shine, it’s a musical shit-storm and we must enter it head-on.

Take out your ear-buds and enter the gate.

By Kevin Madness Day 1: Zilker Park is immaculate. It’s roughly where the big Colorado River meets the tiny Barton Creek in central Austin. Already the go-to nature spot for the urbanAustinite, today it has the feel of an untouched golf course, with finely mowed green as far as the eyes can see.

It’s midday and I’ve slept through the first 20 or so bands… no sweat. I head straight to the Austin Ventures stage to see local legend Daniel Johnston’s set. Daniel is world famous from the documentary “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” regarding his mental illness. He is beloved by music fans for his honest sounding songs. Today, he’s dressed in wind pants and a stretched out t-shirt, hulking over a microphone, which he holds with a death grip.

He’s singing “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” and his simple kid-like vocals kick the shit out of The Beatles.

Most of the set he was backed by a group of young, ultrahip musicians that visually clash with Johnston’s unkempt freeness and frankly it’s creeping me out.

To shake the vibe I dart through tight masses of 19-yearolds drinking $8 cans of Bud Light to get a good listen of Bay Area DJ Bassnectar. The hordes passed bowls and danced the way you do when you only have four inches of clearance in any direction. Bassnectar enthusiastically hit them with some of the best experimental electronic music on the planet. Both a craftsman and a conductor, he brings his hour long set to a close by teasing the audience with a series of crescendos that never break into anything.

Just silence.

The atmosphere is perfect; the air is warm and the sun is setting on the skyline…oh and I’m about get my face blown off by Them Crooked Vultures.

Make no mistake. I’m not the type of guy to get a boner over

some Josh Homme side project, but this band happens to have Dave Grohl on drums and Zeppelin’s coolest member John Paul Jones on bass. Distinctly heavy and eminently poised, the band takes the stage, sips beers and plays a set that sounds a little like a firefight.

Holy shit! This is one of the tightest rhythm sections I have ever seen: high energy, shifting gears with perfect execution ending every song with either a souped-up reprise or a manic coda. John Paul Jones is terrifyingly casual and either I’m really high or the inlays on his bass are shining blue lights at the crowd (it turns out to be both). Watching Grohl drum reminds me of a perfect world where the last four Foo Fighters records never happened.

Only Homme’s mumbly vocals bring me back to reality, reminding me that this is, after all, his side project.

A decision must now be made: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs or Kings of Leon. MTV or VH1- something your girlfriend listens to or something your girlfriend’s mom listens to.

Alright. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are better than I’d thought.

Much better. They’re playing some fast songs slow and some slow songs fast, which I like, and every one of Karen O’s movements is essential: jumping, falling, costume changes, running along the edge of the crowd and ultimately smashing the mic. She has that quality that Iggy Pop and Marilyn Manson have where they toe the line between “great lead singer” and “total ass” and always end up on the right side.

Speaking of lead singers, I just caught the end of Kings of Leon. Eddie Vedder came out and sang with them. He was wearing a Fear shirt and throwing tambourines into the crowd. What the fuck?

Trudging around after Lewis’ set, I’m drawn in by the slippery sound of a fat man fiercely frailing on a slide guitar. It’s Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band (ironically consisting of only guitar, washboard and drums) playing the kind of songs that get stuck in your head for days.

With chorus like “Your Cousin’s On Cops” and “Wal-Mart Killed the Country Store” Peyton’s simply lyrics resonate with me as cultural commentaries of the highest caliber.

What year is it anyway? I’m looking at tonight’s schedule and it’s Ben Harper, The Toadies and Pearl Jam. Could I have unknowingly time traveled back to 1996 or is ACL the death throes of popular music? I don’t have time to contemplate that now because Clutch is about to play.

I’m pretty keyed up because Clutch is the heaviest band at the festival, but I get the feeling that I’m one of the few.

In fact “the pit” is a large group of families camping out for Pearl Jam, grumbling at people for stepping on their blankets.

DAY 2: Then came the rain.

Remember those fields of green? Mud. Deep, smelly, fucked-up mud. I love it. The Saturday showers have destroyed 2.5 million dollars worth of landscaping. Dillo Dirt, a local soil mix made of plant matter and treated sewage has risen and diffused through the grass to produce a formidable poo-odor. I’d gauge the impact on the crowd somewhere between a native rain-dance and the wedding scene from the “November Rain” music video.

The weather doesn’t seem to have affected Flogging Molly’s spirits; they are playing like a band possessed. It will be the only time all weekend I see a moshpit or crowd surfer. I think every song is the last because they’re playing with such balls. Later that night, bassist Nathen Maxwell told me how much fun they had during their set---I sensed no bullshit.

The only relief from the rain is a tented area called The Wildflower Center. It smells like the inside of my bong-that’s because Eek-A-Mouse is performing. I walk all the way to the front, which is always easy at ACL because the audience is a lot of pussies sitting in camping chairs. Eek and his four-piece band can make me conscious of the low end of my hearing like no others can. The best moments are a tremendous version of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and Eek-A-Mouse leading call and response singing with the crowd. Ha. Impossible.

The impending line up for tonight: The Decemberists… no. Ghostland Observatory…no. Dave Mathews Band… hell no. What have I gotten myself into? I argue with the 14-year-old girl who lives inside my head for a few minutes and she loses. I’m gone.

DAY 3: This place reminds me of a refugee camp: ankle-deep mud, overflowing trash piles, passed out bodies and just a general vibe of desperation and fatigue.

The distinct barnyard smell seems to have deterred very few. The morning crowd is thick for local rhythm and bluesers Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, who are blowing up nationally. Taking the soul of Motown and the raw energy of The Stooges, they have the old school/new school vibe that seems to please all kinds of people.

Clutch is playing new songs. “50,000 Unstoppable Watts,” “Motherless Child” and “Abraham Lincoln” are coming through loud and clear and Neil is delivering it to us with the stance and candor of a southern preacher. Every time I see them, they take one step farther away from the metal genre and closer to a signature sound that can only be called…Clutch.

I was under the impression that the lead singer of The Toadies had died in the 90’s. I’m serious. It’s not the case, though, because I’m one of thousands of people watching them play on the massive Livestrong stage and it sounds exactly like the recordings. Then, something happens: they start to play “Possum Kingdom” and I begin to see red. I’ve just heard it too many damn times. Against the grain I walk away pushing my way through a sea of people singing “I will treat you well, my sweet angel, so help me Jesus.” It infuriates me.

I take a walk, looking for a floor-score, something good stuck in the mud. Instead I find a way-too-goofy Girl Talk set and a too-ambitious Dan Auerbach set.

When I return for Pearl Jam, Vedder is mumbling between songs. How can he sing so clear, but talk like someone who’s had four strokes? They play forever. I like “Do the Evolution” and “The Fixer” for the directness and energy.

For the first time all weekend, there is only one band playing right now so everyone is there and everyone is 25 percent watching and 75 percent socializing, finishing their weed and beer and saying their goodbyes. Ben Harper comes out and plays slide guitar. Later Perry Ferrell comes out and sings “Mountain Song,” they close with “Rockin’ in the Free World,” but I’m staring at the ground.

I’m looking down at forsaken footwear, particularly a pair of Crocs, abandoned in six inches of poo-infested mud.

It seems significant. In my mind, Crocs are emblematic of tasteless, middle-class, white America. It’s fitting for a festival obviously marketed toward the pocketbooks of pale yuppies.

This weekend a wrench was thrown into the gears. The forces of nature, combined with shortsighted landscaping practices, have shaken things up enough to make the weekend a memorable experience---one where you had to kick off your shoes and say, “Fuck it.”

San Francisco The Fillmore 12/27 Railroad Earth 12/28 Railroad Earth 12/31 Les Claypool 01/10 Sonic Youth 01/16 State Radio 01/20 Rebelution 01/21 Rebelution 01/22 City and Colour 01/23 Cold War Kids 01/24 UTADA 02/06 The Anvil Experience 02/19 Los Lonely Boys 02/21 Medeski Martin & Wood

The Warfield 12/20 Brian Setzer Orchestra 12/31 The Roots 01/16 Umphrey’s McGee 01/17 Styx 02/08 Editors 02/19 Eddy Griffin

The Regency Ballroom 01/09 Switchfoot 02/8 Arch Enemy/Exodus 02/12 Bad Fish: Tribute To Sublime 03/26 HammerFall

Bottom Of The Hill 12/22 Lord Loves A Working Man 12/23 The Bridge 12/26 Small Change Romeos 12/29 The Better Maker 12/30 Disastroid 12/31 Morning Benders 01/02 Bird by Bird

Slim’s 01/02 Psychefunkapus 01/08 Devildriver 01/09 DRI 01/10 Strung Out 01/14 Barb Rocks-Scraping For Change, Forget About Boston, Raelin,Scene Of Action

01/17 Behemoth 01/18 Between the Buried And Me 01/20 Steve Morse Band 01/21 Anti-Flag 01/22 Kapakahi 01/23 Dizzy Balloon/ Forrest Day

Santa Cruz The Catalyst 12/19 Andre Nickatina 12/20 Lee Scratch Perry 12/31 The Devil Makes Three 01/16 Jackie Greene 01/17 Rebelution 01/28 AFI 02/06 Y & T 02/09 BadFish- Tribute To Sublime

Hip Shake (Blues Band) 01/19 @ The Windjammer 12/31 @ Severino’s Feb. CD Release Party

Brookdale Lodge 12/16 Harper Simon 12/19 Dawes 12/31 Trulio Disgracias, Monkey, Vibrant EYEris, MC Nerd Nate, Forrest Day, Sound Mind, DJ’s in the Fireside Lounge 01/29 Bowerbirds

San Jose Voodoo Lounge 12/19 The Shizzznet 12/20 Bring It Back 12/23 Preachers That Lie 12/26 Soul Glo. 01/14 Ying Yang Twins 01/17 Agnostic Front 02/07 The Dwarves

The Venuez 12/31 New Years Party 01/09 Hellhound, Desecrator 01/16 Michael Paul Band 01/23 LaazRockit, Attitude Adjustment, Becoming

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Homestead Lanes

01/16 Barb RocksUntil We Sleep, Kinetik, Unconventional Thought Process, Rejection Trigger

Mountain Charley’s 12/31 New Year’s Eve Bash w/ DJ Frank Morales 02/18 Erica Lee

Britannia Arms (Cupertino) 12/19 California Is Burning, Easier Said, Distance From Shelter, James Perry, Stormy Strong 01/09 Northern Son, Musical Charis 01/30 The Golden Hour, Pounders, My Monster

Sacramento The Boardwalk 12/18 40 Oz to Freedom 12/19 98 Rock- All Star Jam 12/26 Dismalapse 12/31 Sedona 01/ 2 Smile Empty Soul 01/8 Strung Out 01/9 The English Beat 01/14 Four Letter Lie 01/15 YOUR MUSIC OLYMPICKS Awaiting the Apocalypse Sexciety Journal Siphon Soul Beneath The Rapture 01/16 LookALive 01/17 Steve Morse 01/22 YOUR MUSIC OLYMPICKS The Stalking Distance Smash The Glass Beyond All Ends The Battle Of Midway Ashes of Icons 01/27 Never Shout Never 01/28 Carcerys Vale 01/29 Nile

The Blue Lamp

12/19 San Similar 12/29 Abstract Rude 12/31 NYE 2010 Three Bad Jacks 01/02 Black Tar Caviar 01/07 LBC Tribute To Sublime 01/08 Brazillian MusicSamba Da 01/09 Prieta 01/15 Stereo Earth 01/16 Ape Machine 01/23 Your Music Magazine Band Olympicks

Club Retro 12/19 Christmas Party 12/31 New Year- Carverys Vale/ 2 Josiah James, Hazel And Vine 01/9 Fate Under Fire 01/16 K Sera 01/17 Arsonists Get All The Girls

Chico

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Big Room 12/31 New Year’s Eve Gala 01/12 John McCutcheon 01/26 Harp Tribute to Muddy Waters

Monterey Blue Fin Billiards 12/23 Tornado Rider 12/31 New Year Bash

West Hollywood The Whisky 12/11 Holy Grail 12/15 The Faceless Dying Fetus 12/17 Aloha Kid 12/20 Black Veil Brides 12/27 Twenty7 01/10 Warbringer 01/14 Adema 01/23 Wild Child 02/4 Redemption

Key Club Closed for reconstruction

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Jan. 15th San Francisco SACRAMENTO

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The Stalking Distance Smash The Glass Beyond All Ends The Battle of Midway Ashes of Icons The

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