mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 1
2 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
SPF Editor-In-Chief Janet Adamana
Associate Editor Ally Sigurdson Promotions Director Steff Shields
Contributors & Photography Credits Ally Sigurdson Cole Vincent David Lehr Debra Heather Liv Mayes Nicholas Herzog Spencer Marr Steff Shields Special Thanks Kyle Burgess Rob Whytock Harrison White Taylor White Andrew Dyce Patty Walters Ben Biss Andy Westhead Patrick Foley Alistair Testo Brandon Yeagley Jake Figueroa Paul Figueroa Chris Bishop Nick Long Jake Carroll Josh Hall Aaron Lindauer Zach Carroll Brody Rollier Sam Banigan Brad Hosler Owen Hamilton Geoff Hermann Richard Titheradge Steve Isted Simon Glover Will Smithers Tanner Jones James Dagg Andy Anaya Trevor O’Hare Sound, Phrase & Fury is a Canadian music magazine out to help promote musicians not usually covered in mainstream media. All music, photos and articles used are for the sole purpose of spreading the knowledge of these artists and their music. We always encourage readers to support every act through purchasing releases, merchandise and attending live shows.
mar/apr 2014 For A Heart So Big A dedication to Joshua Bentley Wild Boys wecamefromwolves & their new EP, Paradise Place
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Mind Over Matter As It Is and their new album, This Mind of Mine
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Intergalactic Rock ‘N Roll Crobot and The Legend Of the Spaceborne Killer
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Sweet Theraphy Feature on My Sweet Fall
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Recommends 18 We share our artist picks Golden Boys Edmonton’s Nothing Gold Can Stay
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Sound Spotlight Six Time Champion and their EP, Old Friends. Loose Ends.
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Five Minutes With... You Blew It! takes us through Keep Doing What You’re Doing
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In Review A closer look at some releases
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info@sound-phrase-fury.com @soundphrasefury facebook.com/soundphrasefury Sound-Phrase-Fury.com
mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 3
Editor’s Note
for a heart so big It is with great honour that our team at Sound, Phrase & Fury dedicate this issue of our magazine in loving memory of friend and musician, Joshua Bentley. Music helps each one of us find our unique path in life; it brings together those who share similar interests and makes us all feel like we belong. Familiar songs help us recall special moments in our lives; a great concert, a first kiss, a special moment with a friend. Any musician knows this fact. It’s one of the main things that drive them, wanting to help others connect, reminisce, have a sense of belonging. Josh knew this, and through his band, Empty Hands, gave his heart and soul to his art. He successfully brought people together to enjoy and indulge in the wonders of music, his or any other. Josh will be remembered for his creative and artistic soul, his drive for music, and his passion for life. He’ll be forever admired and missed by all that knew him, and what he leaves for us here is the constant reminder that anything is possible for those who dare to try. on behalf of the SPF Team,
Rest In Peace Ally Sigurdson Associate Editor
Joshua Jerome Bentley 1995 - 2014 4 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
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Q&A
WILD BOYS Scottish alt-rock band, wecamefromwolves, barge into the new year with their new EP, Paradise Place. Matching moody and introspective lyrics with upbeat, indie-pop elements, the Perth-based quartet hope to shake things up and leave their mark on the international scene.
words by Steff Shields 6 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
Vocalist/guitarist, Kyle Charles James Burgess, takes us through his imaginary battle with a cow and the making of Paradise Place.
Q&A
SS: Title track, “Paradise Place,” shows a distinct shift in style from your previous release, COPE. Was this intentional or was it just a matter of artistic evolution? KB: The new EP, as a whole, isn’t a million miles away from COPE in terms of genre. I would agree “Paradise Place” is a shift in style. It’s no coincidence that it was the last song written for the EP and the first song we wrote with all our new members, so new writing styles and influences obviously come into play. However, when the song breaks into the crescendo and the higher singing, the melodies on display are very much signature WCFW. We have been writing quite a bit since recording the EP and the newer material has definitely taken on a darker undertone. However, there will always be a melodic hooky vibe at the core of our music. It’s a massive part of our sound. SS: What can fans expect from Paradise Place that they haven’t heard before? KB: It’s very difficult to be 100% original and offer up material no one has ever heard before. What we have tried to do is ensure that each song has it’s own vibe and is a standout single in it’s own right. There is definitely something for everyone on the record: emotive, stylish, straight-up rock and a catchy, honest number. The lyrics in every song are brutally honest and based on self-evaluation, surrounding areas and the people in those areas. I believe a lot of people will relate to these songs as well as enjoy some great music.
SS: WCFW has obviously struck a chord with crowds in your hometown and surrounding areas - how do you think a North-American crowd will receive your music? KB: I think our sound will go down well with the American scene. Many great American bands, heavily influenced us, and most of our contemporaries, and they have been the main players in shaping the genres we belong to so I think we will fit in well. With our un-apologetically local viewpoint to lyrics and subject matter, we give our own story and deliverance to a style they may have heard before, but not like this. SS: Lastly, I want to ask about the cow. The one mentioned in your song “The Cons and Pros of a Roman Nose.” Is there a story here? KB: That song is about not to being too hard on yourself with regards to flaws, or at least realizing everyone goes through the same thing, and your flaws are probably not relevant to anyone else. I personally have some issues with my appearance, a problem many people have, and I needed to remind myself that no one cares about my faults. I wrote a very honest letter to myself, and anyone else who wanted to open up to the song and the message.
The particular line you are referring to is a play on the fact I have a cows lick: a rubbish fringe, which renders any hairstyle I try to wear, other than a side sweep, impossible. This has decremented me being “cool” and keeping up with the latest trends! SS: What are your upcoming plans? To tackle this, I took the word literally and insinuKB: Touring is our number one priority along with ated that I’d been having a running battle with the writing and recording new, and better material. We cow that licked my hair into such an awful shape. hit the road in March, all over Scotland and Eng- Genius…I know. land, over to Paris and then our first trip to Germany. We can’t wait! After that it will just be more promotion for the record and playing as much as Paradise Place comes out March 3, 2014 via we can. Hopefully play some festivals and sessions Saraseto Records. Grab a copy at to get the songs out there! In the background, we WeCameFromWolves.Bandcamp.com have started writing for our debut album, so we are going to be very busy this year!
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Facebook.com/AestheticHeartPromotions mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 9
Q&A
JA: Tell me all about your new EP, This Mind Of Mine. PW: We wrote the entirety of This Mind of Mine collectively in one room, which was a new, demanding, and awesome experience for us. Previously, one of us would write a verse or a chorus at home, bring the idea into a practice room, and then we’d structure the rest of the song around it. We would try to tick boxes and represent various structures, time signatures and lyrical themes. When we wrote This Mind of Mine, we stopped thinking and just enjoyed writing. That’s how we want to keep writing.
which was really fucking cool. I grew up near Kingston, and I remember You Me At Six and Fightstar going into Stakeout to record. We worked with Jason Wilson to record four songs in five unfathomably stressful and exhausting days. We were recording gang vocals in the last two hours we had in the studio. It was a lot of pressure to work under, but it honestly made us so much closer as a band.
JA: I hear it’s inspired by some old-school emo elements. Why go with this stylistic throwback? PW: Ben and I are especially nostalgic about emo JA: Where did you record? Who did you work bands, probably because we’re the more insecure with? and pathetic ones. We’re probably to blame for it. PW: We recorded at Stakeout Studios in Kingston, There was no definitive moment or decision to try
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mind over matter words by Janet Adamana
q&a
Negative thoughts constantly pollute fragile young minds. Doubts and fears overwhelm the heads and hearts of those we hold dear. As It Is vocalist, Patty Walters and his band of musical brothers, capture this pessimisism and spatter them against a melodic backdrop of pop-punk pep, creating a soundtrack suited for any masterful coming-of-age story.
a more emo-influenced sound. It’s just what happened organically. JA: This Mind Of Mine, centers on perpetual unhappiness. You’ve explored sensitive topics like self-loathing, fear of death and the hopelessness that often comes with growing up. What’s it like digging up those feelings while writing/recording, and even performing? PW: Some days it feels like a huge weight off your shoulders, just venting the hate-filled thoughts about yourself. Other days, you remind yourself of every way you’re unhappy and unsatisfied with who you are. It was always an exhausting process. I’ve definitely never addressed my insecurities to such a dark and plain extent. The thought of my parents hearing lyrics about me hating myself was a big fear to overcome. It almost held me back from writing them to the extent that we did. JA: This was a crowd-funded EP. Tell me about that whole experience. What made you decide to use Kickstarter? PW: We understood how important this EP would be in the grand scheme of the band, so we sought the help of our fans. We created and gave away some seriously awesome stuff in exchange for their funding, but I think the fact that they’re the sole reason this EP happened and sounds as good as
it does, is the real reward. We have such an overwhelming online following. We couldn’t be more grateful. JA: You guys received a huge amount of support. Did that add any pressure to the process of creating the EP? PW: Definitely! More than their money, the people that funded This Mind of Mine put their faith in us. It would be devastating to disappoint the people that believed in us, so every piece of me is hoping that won’t be the case! JA: You’re self-proclaimed John Hughes junkies. If you could rewrite the soundtrack to one of his masterpieces, which one would it be? PW: Almost definitely The Breakfast Club. We’ve all got our burdens and we’ve all got our expectations to live up to, whether they’re our own or somebody else’s. JA: What’s next for As It Is? PW: We just want to tour our asses off right now, play as many cities and meet as many cool people as we can! We’re pretty stoked to start writing again as well.
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This Mind Of Mine comes out March 17th on AsItIs.Bigcartel.com, iTunes and Bandcamp.
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inter galac rock 'n Q&A
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q&a
ctic
DH: Can you tell me how Crobot all began? BY: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...at the first sunset after the harvest, the first marbled bird of the moth flew over the horizon, signifying the birth of the bearded ones...long story short, dragons were slain, princesses were ravaged, and kings were dethroned.... thus Crobot was formed.
Sci-fi loving rock band, Crobot, takes a taste of extraterrestial life and serves it to us in the form of sweet, sweet rock and roll. Vocalist, Brandon Yeagley tells us about their debut album, The Legend of the Spaceborne Killer.
words by Debra Heather up with the name? BY: The name came from an old wives’ tale that floated around our moon base, back before the bug raid...The tale of a Spaceborne Killer. A mythological fable if you will. We feel it’s a very good representation of who we are as a band.
DH: You guys are now signed with Windup Records and working on your follow up album to TLSK. Can you briefly describe your music making process? BY: We just get into a room together, drink a few beers and jam. We really like to let the ideas snowball. It certainly helps that we love the same styles of music, with our own auditory appendages in DH: Do you guys have a favorite venue? BY: Well, the recent Clutch/The Sword tour was other eras. incredible and we played a lot of really cool venues on that run. The ones that stick out are the Capital DH: Where do you guys see the band five years Theater in Port Chester, New York. The Theater was from now? incredible and the light show was amazing! The BY: We want to be the first band to have a concert Machine Shop was also awesome in Flint, Michi- in Outer Space. DH: That would be wicked. I’ll be in the audience gan. Those cats know good music. for sure. DH: I’d like to talk a bit about your debut album, The Legend of the Spaceborne Killer. I Keep your eyes out for their upcoming release, slated love the title. I have to ask how you guys came for spring 2014. Stay connected at CrobotBand.com DH: What are some of your musical influences? BY: From Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd to Prince and Beethoven. We really dig a lot of obscure stuff on our van rides to gigs. It’s the beauty of Spotify.
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profile
sweet
therap
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py
profile
Established in 2011, pop-rock Indianapolis natives, My Sweet Fall, are sure to impress you with their new full-length album, Cheap Therapy. Not only is their new album lyrically beautiful, My Sweet Fall has matured musically, straying from their old sound and creating a new, bolder image for themselves. photos by David Lehr words by Liv Mayes
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profile
This incredibly talented band consists of vocalist
Nick Long, bassist Aaron Lindauer, guitarists Jake and Zach Carroll and drummer Josh Hall. Their offstage friendship transfers brilliantly onstage. This goes beyond chemistry. This is brotherhood. One of the best things about watching My Sweet Fall perform, is that you can tell they are all having an incredible time. For Long, performing is a huge release. “It’s very therapeutic. I stress about a lot [of things] and the world really gets to me, but when I’m performing I can go crazy and I’m all right until the next show.”
I stress about a lot of things and the world really gets to me, but when I’m performing I can go crazy and I’m all right until the next show.
With each member bringing their own element to the music, the writing process can be challenging. Although it can be difficult, it has made for an album that everyone is happy with. “Because we all had opinions and we all got to voice them, it resulted in something we really liked.” Lindauer explains, “We made sure every part was how we wanted it, rather than one person doing everything.” My Sweet Fall has written relatable and meaningful lyrics that have the ability to bring tears to your eyes. Their comforting words are like a friendly reminder that everything will be okay. The album features refreshingly original lyrics that show their true emotions. “Music played a big part of me getting over the things I needed to get over.” Long explains, “Without music, I would probably still be sad and bummed out.” Every song My Sweet Fall creates is a true work of art. Whether you’re looking for music to get you through a tough time or you’re seeking some good tunes to dance to, My Sweet Fall is the band for you.
Music played a big part of me getting over the things I needed to get over. mar/apr2014 2014 16 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • jAN/FEB
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profile q&a What’s closest to the hearts of My Sweet Fall is the support they receive from their fans. As their fanbase continues to grow and strengthen, it continues to strengthen the soul of the band. “We are a band who has continuously grown and we’ve had people who’ve stuck around for it all. So, thank you.” Long says. Lindauer goes on to say, “Just stick around a little longer. It’s going to get good.”
ber With The Friends You Won’t Forget will always be treasured and will never be forgotten.
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Stay connected with My Sweet Fall at Facebook. com./MySweetFall. Their new album, Cheap Therapy is available through iTunes and MySweetFallMusic.Bandcamp.com. View an exclusive acoustic version of one of their new songs, “Black Eclipses Their new album, Cheap Therapy shows a wonder- Everything” at Youtube.com/LivMayesTV. ful evolution of their work. While they’ve released new music, their first EP, Nights You Won’t Remem-
JAN/FEB 2014 mar/apr 2014 • • Sound, Sound,Phrase, Phrase,&&Fury Fury 17
recommends
Illustration by Nicholas Herzog
Bleed American is Winnipeg’s newest pop-punk
words by Cole Vincent
vocals) to complete the Bleed American line up. band. Their band name stems from a classic Jimmy This quartet wasted no time in making their presEat World album – quite a bold move. I was excited ence known; their sudden and unpublicized release of their debut track entitled “Skid” caught the local to see if they could do it justice. scene off guard. When Jordan Ngantian (guitar) and Jarrod Mikolajczyk (drums) stepped down from their After a first listen of the track, it is blatantly eviduties with a former band, rumors of a new proj- dent that these four have harnessed their craft; ect quickly began to circulate. The two seemingly the structure, arrangement and production show vagabond musicians had joined forces with broth- that Bleed American is nothing less than a finely ers Jay (vocals/guitar) and Matthew Voth (bass/ tuned machine. “Skid” jumps into full gear after a 18 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
recommends
subdued version of the main guitar riff which has a similar vibe to earlier works by The Story So Far. From there the song rarely slows down, intertwining strong vocals with the combination of powerfully sequenced, fully strummed chords and the calm touch of its companion, arpeggiation, both of which are perfectly placed. These types of subtle choices are strewn about the entire song. The soaring bridge is accompanied by Mikolajczyk’s tastefully placed drum fills; he even plays an unexpected alternating ride and hi-hat that breaks the rhythm briefly enough for the eighth-note crashes to end the section off in a fury. The only time this song slows down is in a typical post-bridge fashion, where the pre-chorus comes back in a stripped down manner, making way for a softer vocal. This of course sets up the final chorus to come trampling back with a bigger head of steam than ever before. Following Voth’s final scream of “Far down below, I’ll meet you there,” the band brings the song full circle with a beefed up version of the introductory chord progression.
tiger lily
band would not be complete without touching on the literary side of music, written by Jay Voth, the primary lyricist. This guy has a way with words that is quite impressive. While this song encapsulates the typical struggles and insecurities involved with opening up to others, he manages to be quite introspective, while providing a well defined story that is relatable to a broad audience. Bleed American has struck a similar chord with me that Misser (Transit and This Time Next Year side project) did when they released their debut album, though I do find Bleed American to have a much more appealing production all around – kudos to the Voth brothers who tracked this in their basement. These guys stand at the forefront of an ever evolving genre and, while not breaking entirely new ground, their ability to dive in head first, with a no holds bar attitude, feels genuine and honest.
Every ‘pop-punker’ should get a copy of this album, available through BleedAmerican.Bandcamp.com. They are one band I look forward to following in After spouting lyrics like that, I can’t tell if these their debut year. guys are pessimists or optimists. With that said, an introduction to Bleed American’s first venture as a
indie-rock
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BleedAmericanMusic.com BleedAmerican.Bandcamp.com Facebook.com/BleedAmericanMusic Twitter.com/BleedAmericanCA mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 19
q&A
golden boys It’s no question that being in a band is a lot of work, and for the guys in Nothing Gold Can Stay, their experiences are definitely no exception. From making big decisions to putting aside personal issues, the Edmonton, Alberta poppunk quintet have been through a lot. It shows in their music and their friendship, but they all can agree on one thing: they love playing music. Members, Owen Hamiltion (drums), Brad Hosler (guitar and back-up vocals), Brody Rollier (vocals), and Geoff Hermann (bass), talk band fights, trashing ex-girlfriends and their plans for the future. 20 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
q&a
photos and words by Ally Sigurdson mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 21
q&A
AS: What is the inspiration behind your band name? OH: It was inspired by New Found Glory and their album, Nothing Gold Can Stay. They had been a big influence to us in the past. It is also the name of a poem by Robert Frost. That [poem] really spoke to us as a band, so the name seemed to fit.
AS: What are the biggest influences in each of your musical careers? OH: All Time Low has been the biggest influence for me personally, and for my views on the direction of this band. I try to make decisions based off of what I think would help our band continue to grow. BR: For my vocal style and lyrics I look to Parker Cannon (The Story So Far). I just like how he’s AS: What is your favourite song to play live? able to trash people and speak his mind and his voGH: For me, I would have to say “Teal.” cal style is borderline hardcore. That’s something I OH: “Twenty Ten” for me. really admire. BR: “Teal” for me as well, because we throw in a BH: My biggest pop-punk influence would defipart of “Seventy Times Seven” by Brand New and nitely be New Found Glory. Their tunes are just it’s always really cool to see the crowd react to that. real rad and I enjoy them so much. I try my best to BH: “Sick of It All” is my personal favourite because write similar music. I also listen to a lot of hardcore it’s sick. (Laughs) music and if you listen to our songs you can hear a bit of that influence which we’ve thrown in there. AS: Honestly, what is it like to play in a band with your best friends? AS: What’s your greatest achievement as a BR: It’s always so up and down for us. We have times band? where it will be really good, fun and energetic, and GH: I think going into the studio and recording two then it comes time to make a big decision and we EPs is a huge deal. It’s a lot more than some bands get into a huge band fight. We all have such dif- can say they have done and we’ve really furthered ferent opinions sometimes but we just get over it our musical career by doing so. and continue on as a team. It’s always a lot of fun OH: I think a great achievement for us was when regardless. we almost got the opportunity to open for All Time OH: It’s really tough sometimes when members Low when they came to Edmonton. They gave our start fighting for stupid reasons that affect the band a shout out on stage, which was really cool, band. I remember there was one point where two and then we got to meet them. It’s always awesome members got into a pretty big fight before we went to meet your major influences. into the studio and I had to play mommy. For us, BH: Honestly, we have some pretty unreal merch, putting our personal issues aside and coming to- and that’s something we’re all really stoked on. It’s gether for recording and shows is something we are really cool that that exists, it has our name on it, all pretty good at. We have fun and remember why and people are buying it and wearing it. It’s a weird, we started this in the first place, and that seems to but amazing feeling. be our closure on any fight. BR: I agree with Brad and Geoff. It’s cool that we BH: Most of the time being in a band with these have professional merch and hardcopies of our muguys is a lot of fun. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it. sic that we love, and people are buying it to enjoy. GH: I love being in a band with my best friends. We We can show people our CDs and they’re impressed try and keep a democracy type of idea, and some- by our hard work, and it makes me feel pretty good. times that’s difficult to do because we want to honour each other’s feelings as well.
22 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
q&a
AS: Who does all the song writing? OH: Well, I write all the drum parts for our songs, Brad takes over for the guitars, and then we leave the lyrics up to Brody. Finishing up a song is done between everyone in the band. So really, our songs are a group effort. BH: When I’m writing a song I just sit in front of my computer, plug my guitar in, and goof around until I feel like I’ve found something I really dig. From there, we all shape it to sound like something we all like and can be stoked about. BR: I write lyrics depending on how I’m feeling at the time. I’m usually just getting my hard emotions out. I trash my ex-girlfriends, or people I don’t like. It’s an anger outlet and it’s pretty therapeutic for me.
AS: Any future plans for Nothing Gold Can Stay? BH: First thing on our list is to save up enough money to get into the studio and record our new single. We hope to release that and hope that it catches on. We have plans to play a show in Calgary, and after that, we hope to head on a spring break tour through Western Canada. So really, studio and tour are what we are hoping are our next step as Nothing Gold Can Stay.
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Connect with Nothing Gold Can Stay through Facebook.com/NGCSOfficial. Grab their latest EP, Silver Lining at NothingGoldCanStay.Bandcamp. com.
I’m usually just getting my hard emotions out. I trash my ex-girlfriends, or people I don’t like. It’s an anger outlet and it’s pretty therapeutic for me. mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 23
sound spotlight
Words by Steff Shields The Brighton boys of Six Time Champion, meld their love for pop-punk with hardcore elements, creating a debut EP beaming full of honesty and catchy melodies. We spoke with STC drummer, Richard Titheradge about Old Friends, Loose Ends. SS: Give us a brief history of the band and how it became a reality. RT: Initially, Six Time Champion was a side project between Simon Glover (guitar) and myself. We were playing in a hardcore band together and wrote a couple of pop-punk tracks for a bit of fun. When our hardcore band came to an end, we discussed doing something with these songs and basically just looked online for people looking to do a similar thing. James Dagg (vocals) and Will Smithers (Guitar) happened to be looking to start a project along the same lines and had an advert on a musician website. It just went from there really.
covery and actualization. Is this an intended theme or just the result of creative motion? RT: James is pretty secretive about the actual meaning behind his lyrics. Everything he writes is very personal to him, but from the response we’ve had, a lot of people seem to relate to what he’s saying and find their own meanings in them. I wouldn’t say it’s out of creative motion as it’s just honest and I think that’s an important aspect of what this band is about, both lyrically and musically.
SS: What’s the relationship like between you guys? Is it more friendship and camaraderie or just music as a business? SS: What sets Six Time Champion apart from RT: There’s definitely a big aspect of friendship between all of us, which is awesome considering we other emerging pop-punk bands? RT: That’s a pretty tricky one to answer as there is were basically two sets of strangers that met for so much talent coming out of the national and in- the first time at our first practice six months ago. ternational scenes right now. We have quite a broad So whilst our friendship was initially based on a range of influences in and outside of pop-punk and mutual interest, it has definitely gone beyond that. that’s reflected in our music. Whilst our music is We’re more a group of friends that enjoy playing torooted in pop-punk we’re not really afraid to try dif- gether rather than doing it purely for the music. We ferent things, but we’re not trying to break bound- all have the mindset that we want to have fun and aries either. We just want to play music that we en- see where it takes us! joy.
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SS: Old Friends, Loose Ends boasts lyrics that Grab Old Friends. Loose Ends. from take a large step in the direction of self-dis- SixTimeChampion.Bandcamp.com
24 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
q&a DH: How did you guys form You Blew It? TJ: When I moved away to college, I figured I was through with music. After about a week of excruciating, crushing boredom, I realized I was a moron. I played music that I hated with ballad pop punk bands for a little bit, but eventually I convinced Tim [Flynn] to find some drums and write some music with me. Him and I lived together at the time, and we had met our then-singer, Matt Messore, through playing shows in our old band. Somehow we found a kick drum, a snare, and a high hat, and wrote our first EP. We had no idea we’d still be doing it 5 years later.
From my perspective, it’s Grow Up, Dude on steroids with hopefully a little more intuitive. The loud parts on this record are way louder, and the gentle parts are way gentler. Song structure was another big focus on this record. Most of Grow Up, Dude was focused on individual parts laid over very basic, elementary song structures. This time around, we were more focused on songs as a whole. DH: What has been your biggest challenge as a band so far? TJ: Maybe this is a complete cop-out answer, but I don’t really think we’ve had any kind of exceptional challenges as a band. I mean, nothing outside of the obvious work vs. school vs. touring conundrum, but every band goes through that. I can either attribute that to luck or our mindsets. We’ve always said that the moment this stops being fun is the moment we quit. We write music and go out on the road for fun. I guess you could call financial stability a challenge, but before we started finding ways to make the band work financially, it never really bothered us. We were happy to eat shit and pay gas out of our own pockets. We were just stoked that we had the opportunity to do it and we still are.
DH: Can you tell me about your new album, Keep Doing What You’re Doing? TJ: This is the proudest I’ve ever been of anything we’ve released. On past releases, we definitely limited ourselves, at least creatively. On The Past In Present and Grow Up, Dude, there were tons of things we wouldn’t let ourselves do: certain picking patterns, playing styles, song structures, etc. Not to belittle those records by any means, but we very much stayed inside of our comfort zones. On Keep Doing What You’re Doing, we were more honest with ourselves. I never would have dreamed of writing a palm-muted part on Grow Up, Dude. If Keep Doing What You’re Doing is available at you had asked me to put a solo vocal track on The TopShelfRecords.Bandcamp.com Past In Present, I probably would have scoffed and made some kind of fart noise. But there they are, littered all over KDWYD. We’ve definitely gotten some shit for it, but we stepped out of our comfort zones and I’m very, very happy with the way it came out.
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five minutes with..
Tanner Jones, frontman for punk-rock band You Blew It, takes us through their new album, Keep Doing What You’re Doing.
Words by Debra Heather mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 25
in review
triggers Self-Titled
Review by Cole Vincent
Triggerswpg.Bandcamp.com
Triggers, hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, repre-
sent a pop-punk quartet whose roster possesses a level of musical experience, musicianship and diversity most bands could only hope for. With a history that stems back to the mid 2000’s, some of Triggers’ members have been involved in their local scene for close to ten years now. When the word came out that Braeden Wilks (vocals/guitar) and Andrew Free (bass) had been writing and waiting to release a new project, I was all ears. With the addition of their long time cohorts Kyle Monkman (guitar) and Joel Leonhardt (drums), their wolf pack was complete and recording of their selftitled debut began.
punk influences are prevalent throughout, as fast shredding guitar riffs and straight forward punk beats take the rein. Wilks confesses in the chorus that “These six strings keep me honest” and I couldn’t think of a better way to describe his delivery – unabashedly honest. Triggers doesn’t waste its time with gimmicky bells and whistles and this only adds to the band’s immediate appeal.
These guys don’t hide behind post production because they don’t need to – creativity, sheer technical skill and relatable lyrics speak for themselves. Fourth track, “Gaining Ground,” drives these points home. Wilks, the primary lyricist, is heard pushing his vocals to the limit as he shares a story of struggles and the subsequent growth and understandEP opener, “Upward, Onwards,” makes its presence ing that come with them; you can tell this song is known hard and fast with a rhythmic guitar chug cathartic for Wilks, who belts out a gleeful ‘Woo’ reminiscent of From First To Last’s “One Armed when all is said and done. Boxer Vs The Guillotine.” The band’s similarity to the poster boys of mid-2000 screamo definitely The track exudes a mature feel, one where the heart ends there with the rest of the song feeling like The is definitely worn on the sleeve. This is particularly Wonder Years colliding with Four Year Strong evident in Wilks’ line “The biggest of hearts are the (yes, Wilks even sports a beard). Their heavy 90’s hardest to mend.” Overall this song is a breath of
26 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
In Review
fresh air as it manages to stay upbeat and encouraging; it’s a burst of positive energy and, with a fantastic arrangement, the song manages to steer clear of any dull moments.
a pleasant surprise. This track manages to catch the listener off guard in all the right ways, making it far too easy to hit the replay button.
Triggers made the right choice in showcasing these The drums in the second verse drop off into a tom two songs prior to their release as they each dembased rhythm which leaves space for an immedi- onstrate a different style, while still maintaining a ate and crushing group chant of ‘Are you pleased?’ signature sound. Wilks, who stands well over six feet tall, would be a powerful enough presence, but having the whole “Onwards and Upwards” is more technical and band join in? Well played guys. This section sets a heavy, whereas “Gaining Ground” exhibits their precedent for the rest of the song, one that is up- ability to write a catchy, well arranged song. The held quite flawlessly. rest of the EP is a nice blend of these two approaches and never strays far from their punk roots. The bridge introduces a change of pace, with a rhythmically catchy guitar riff that fades into an I’d say this is a pop punk band that everyone should open canvas, one that Wilks leisurely paints with check out, for the simple fact that they cover the final chorus. As the listener is quickly lulled into enough ground to appeal to a wide audience. Hats a false sense of calm, another group vocal brings off to each member, who have managed to meld the noise like a smack in the face. While this pro- their varying influences into a well defined, coheduction technique can easily be overused and pre- sive unit. dictable, these guys pick their spots well, keeping it
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mar/apr 2014 • Sound, Phrase, & Fury 27
In Review
distances Boulders
Review by Ally Sigurdson
DistancesMusic.Bandcamp.com
Without question, Distances is a well-known and
respected band in Winnipeg’s music scene, and when news broke out that they were back in the studio, it’s not surprising that friends and fans alike were ecstatic. If you haven’t heard of them, Distances is an alternate-punk band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The band had a very successful 2013, from selling out local shows, recording a fulllength, to opening for A Day To Remember, it’s easy to say that Distances made this last year a fantastic one; and now they’ve started 2014 with a bang. Members Flo Maier, (guitar) Dylan James, (vocals) Matty Hallick, (drums) DJ Sangalang (bass) and their new guitar player and bandmate, Zach Allard, have just released their new EP, Boulders, and trust me when I say, it does not disappoint. The lyrics are what grabbed my immediate attention. Completely raw and honest, lead singer Dylan James has simply outdone himself. I can guarantee Distances will have no problem getting crowds to scream their lyrics back at them. James put his heart and soul into his lyrics, and in EP opener, “Heavier Than You Know,” he starts describing a feeling many of us can relate to; “So much to tell / 28 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014
no one to tell it to / feel trapped inside / I’m trying to break through.” It’s about becoming strong and fighting through. The song ends on an optimistic note, with James wailing “So much to tell, (found) someone to tell it to,” leaving a hopeful spin and leaving the listener empowered. “Heavier Than You Know” also showcases Maier and Allard’s talents, with the opening riff screaming “High Regard” from The Story So Far, which will make any poppunk fan completely swoon at first listen. Catchy and very appealing, James shows a hint of Dan O’Connor (Four Year Strong) influenced vocals during this particular tune. Hallick and Sangalang work very well together, constantly complimenting each other, making the song my personal favourite and one that will be on my iPod as soon as humanly possible. Boulders was very much worth the wait, and Distances has completely outdone themselves, leaving fans and reviewers thoroughly impressed and excited for their upcoming endeavours. Boulders is available on iTunes and Bandcamp with their upcoming full-length (Peaks/Valleys) headed our way in summer 2014. Tell all your friends, and don’t take my word for it, listen and fall in love all on your own.
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30 Sound, Phrase, & Fury • mar/apr 2014