FEBRUARY 2016
SOUND SHIFT MAGAZINE
PRIMA VERA Why their new EP is taking over
OUND SHIF
founder/editor-in-chief brad laplante art director/photo editor katy meininger managing editor marissa galupi contributing photographers paige ciurlik, katy meininger, meagan nystrom contributing writers brad laplante, katy meininger, marissa galupi
website soundshiftmag.com
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thank you to prima vera, far from fiction, young lungs, the radiotypes, and all of the bands that made this first magazine issue possible. thank you to katelyn, marissa, paige, and everyone else at the sound shift team that helped with this issue. and especially, a huge thank you to the fans of the local music scene. without you, none of this would ever be possible.
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VENUE OF THE MONTH - 7
THE RADIOTYPES - 10
REVIEWS - 11
12 - PRIMA VERA
16 - YOUNG LUNGS
22 - FAR FROM FICTION
VENUE OF THE MONTH HATCHY’S HIGHER GROUND - UTICA, MI
WHY PLAY HERE? Hatchy’s is one of the most personal, enticing small venues in Southeast Michigan. The venue is split – its a concert venue on the top floor and a bar/grill at floor level. Not only is the atmosphere great, but the food is excellent, whether you’re having appetizers or a full entree. Home to some of the best local concerts, the venue might as well be everyone’s favorite. In the heart of Utica, it’s probably the best place to go.
website: hatchys.net facebook.com/HatchysHG
upcoming shows february 6: hour 24 SOUNDSHIFTMAG.COM - 7
A &
Q
JAKE LAYNE THE RADIOTYPES
twitter: @the_radiotypes facebook: facebook.com/theradiotypes jam: “i should say thank you”
Sound Shift: Describe your music for people who don’t know who you are. Jake Layne: We’ve been called some odd combinations. One person described us as Bad Brains meets Green Day, and another person referred to us as Ramones meet Jawbreaker, and my personal favorite was Black Flag meets Bob Dylan. Confusing right? Well, if you asked me I would say we are just an indie/punk band. We have fast songs, slower songs, mid-paced songs, and a butt load of energy to go with it. If our music makes you think of a band that you listen to, I take that as a compliment, however I can’t equate our songs to anything really.
I was real heavy on betrayal. So I came up with this idea for a character to be murdered by someone close to them, maybe a family member or a friend. While the protagonist is on the ground dying, this sudden realization occurs to them that the person who stabbed them in the back (not my most subtle metaphor) was never really a loyal companion, but only wished to appear loyal to them. Then as the song progresses the protagonist bleeds out and dies, where they find themselves in Hell making plans for revenge. Because that’s what we do. We get screwed and then we screw people back!
SS: Who are your biggest influences? JL: So many amazing bands and people have influenced us of all ends of music. Collectively, we are influenced by bands like Alkaline Trio, The Ramones, Green Day, Against Me!, Off With Their Heads, and bands of that sort. Austin, our drummer, pulls a lot of influence from Sum 41, Blink-182, and Avenged Sevenfold. Kevin is big with Jeff Rosenstock, The Replacements, Sleater-Kinney, and Chris Farren. Personally, the band that made me want to perform music on a stage was Slipknot. Watching videos of them playing blew me away.
SS: Who are some of your favorite bands to play with? JL: We’ve had the pleasure of sharing the stage with so many awesome bands! And it’s funny because most of these people become your favorite bands to play with because of the things that happen off the stage. Worst Case Scenario is a band we’ve played a great handful of shows with and its always a pleasure. Other bands we enjoy the company of include Dharma For One, Pines, Madhouse, Fever Haze, Sprowt, Far From Fiction, and almost every other band we’ve ever played with. But there are bands that we haven’t played with that we also love to hang out with! Victory of the People and The Vulnerable are bands we haven’t actually played shows with (yet!), but we would still have to throw them on the list!
SS: Why should someone come out to a show? JL: People should come out to a show just to see the next generation of music, because there are some amazing musical things brewing in garages, basements, and storage units around the world. People should come out to see The Radiotypes perform because we go that extra mile. SS: Are you guys working on anything right now? JL: We actually just finished recording an EP that we plan on releasing this year. Still working out the details and whatnot. However, we’re always trying to write new material so you always have a chance at hearing a brand new song when you come out to see us. SS: What is the most nostalgic song in your music library? JL: I’d have to say, for me, it would be Green Day’s “When I Come Around”. I said that Slipknot made me wanna perform, well Green Day (among other artists) made me want to write my own music. Pretty much every time I hear that song I want to grab my guitar and just sit in my room with a pencil and notebook for hours. SS: What inspired your song “I Should Say Thank You”? JL: Some of my favorite songs of all time are just stories set to music. Where the writer takes a concept and turns it into a tale. I wanted to challenge myself into taking a theme, or an emotion and turning it into a story just like many of these songs I’ve been adoring for years. So at the time
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SS: Do you have a timeline for release yet? JL: No official dates yet, but that E.P. will be coming out no matter what we gotta do to get it out! >>SS
album reviews River Oaks - EP River Oaks Shane Told has fronted post-hardcore rockers Silverstein for awhile now, but now the singer is launching a solo project under the name River Oaks. The project heeds personal lyrics with darker themes, almost to sound like an acoustic Silverstein from around 2005. Despite the catchy lyrics and heartfelt melodies in “Let You Down,” the following two songs are actually shining moments throughout Told’s story of regret, loss, and self-hatred. But these songs are almost as perfect as anyone could imagine them. In “Roman Holiday,” Told tells a similar story to “Let You Down,” however, this time making for a more aggressive than passive song. Told has been known for writing impressive stories within stories when it comes to full album projects. River Oaks’ self-titled EP is almost a makeshift concept EP. It highlights Told’s best work, while bringing out his strong suit – acoustic-themed music. This EP is just the beginning. Whatever Told brings to the table in the coming years is gold. - Brad LaPlante Replay Worthy: “Let You Down”
Death of a Bachelor Panic! At the Disco It’s been a couple of years since Panic! At the Disco released their last album. I remember exactly how they took over the world with that record; it was so good. I honestly never thought I would say this, but Death of a Bachelor is actually an improvement. The first two singles (“Hallelujah” and “Victorious”) left me a bit shaky, but when you actually take time to listen to the record in its entirety, it is one of the best alternative rock/pop albums I’ve listened to in quite awhile. The album explodes with the opening track “Victorious,” which I was not a fan of at first. After a few listens, however, the album began to grow on me. It certainly isn’t the best song on the album, but it works well and adds its effectiveness being the first song. “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time” is my favorite single that the band released, even though I loved “Emperor’s New Clothes.” Both songs show off Brendon Urie’s interesting and intense vocal capabilities, as well as his lyrical skills. The title track is decent; it’s not very upbeat, but it definitely works as more of a mellow track from the album. A lot of this album is the same, but it sounds different in so many ways, it’s just honestly a great album. If you thought Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die was good, this album will be at the top of your list for January. It’s a step above perfection. - Brad LaPlante Replay Worthy: “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time”
BACKBONE ROAM Establishing solid presence as a United Kingdom pop-punk band proves difficult these days. With powerhouse Neck Deep dominating the scene and smash success As It Is rising to the second-in-charge role well-deserved after last year, wiggle room for notary tightens. ROAM is no stranger to scraping for success, though, the band having battled eb and flow of self-sufficient startup life. EPs and joint tours early on with As It Is cemented a clear identity and dedicated fan base. Now ROAM rolls into commanding control with debut full-length Backbone, exhibiting punchy sound and emotion. One unique characteristic sinks in after the initial listen. Songs are sandwiched between a fake radio broadcast (The Desmond Show) like vertebrae on a spinal column, each a critical component in making a successful complication. This album is ROAM’s career backbone; a sturdy support among veteran competition. Pop-punk’s signature qualities are abundant and thoughtfully executed throughout Backbone. “Cabin Fever” unleashes steady, surging rock with an edgy bass breakdown. Lead vocalist Alex Costello and guitarist/vocalist Alex Adam belt just below Neck Deep’s tone with an added flare. (Image if Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low never left London and kept a brooding accent.) Even in slightly more mellow jams like redundant title “RIP In Peace,” persistent percussion patterns and lofty electric guitar ushering in the bridge keep ROAM distinctly within genre boundaries. For a first album, this consistency works well. Latch onto new listeners and keep long-time ones content. Half way through the track list, however, a sense-cleansing acoustic tune arrives before hackneyed tactics deplete value. “Tracks” proves an airy tone with delicate harmonies is within the band’s musical range. It resonates just beyond decent (courtesy of a catchy, empathetic chorus) and restores album balance. Backbone delivers what its namesake promises overall. The album stabilizes ROAM’s rawness and definite pop-punk prowess—a model inaugural full-length. - Marissa Galupi Replay Worthy: “Deadweight”
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Prima Vera
PRIMA VERA
How one man’s dream became the reality for three men
IT ALL STARTED WITH BRYAN AND HIS GUITAR. Now, it is much more than that, as the project has now gone full-band style with indie influences, a dash of blues, as well as ‘70s-inflicted Queen vocal arrangements. The endeavor is interesting, to say the least, but the band has actually come full circle when it actually comes down to it, the band shows poise for what’s to come. Not only that, but they are doing great things. After being featured on Punktastic and PupFresh, I think it’s safe to say that they are going places. Recently, we sat down with frontman Bryan Iglesias to talk about the new album, as well as what he has in store for the future of Prima Vera. Sound Shift: You guys have been making waves in the scene lately. Are you excited for the release of your new EP? Bryan Iglesias: Honestly, the response we’ve gotten to Floral Media has been nothing short of humbling. Personally, I’ve never been this excited about a release before and I can’t wait to show the entire world. SS: Tell us more about your new EP. BI: The new EP is a collection of 3 very different songs, which are very representative of what I’ve been going through for the past year. Each song has a different theme, and at times touches on subjects that I don’t really talk about too often. When we recorded this EP, “Old TVs and Memories” was one of the first songs that we wrote as a collective instead of just a solo project, so it felt right to put it out first. This one time I dated a girl and she stole a hoodie from me after we broke up, so I was bitter and I decided to write a song. Still miss that hoodie every day. SS: What was the recording process like? BI: The recording process for Floral Media went very smoothly. We made sure that all the tracks were very well prepared before we even stepped into the studio, so we knew exactly what we wanted to get out of each song.
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We decided to go back to Mick Maslowski/Zoinga Recording Studios since he did such a great job on The Seasons, and we’re really happy with how it turned out. Sound Shift: When is that EP release show? Bryan Iglesias: Our release show is going to be on February 9th at The Majestic Cafe in Midtown. We’re working with our good friends at Urban Geographer to put the show on and we are so honored to be supported by The Native Age, A Year In New York, Hot Mulligan and Woven Tangles. We want to help bring the Detroit local scene back to Detroit, and hope to make this show a community event. Tickets are only $5 and pre-sales are going fast, so make sure to pick them up soon. SS: How do you draw such a powerful fanbase? BI: It’s all about building a community. I’m not really concerned with drawing a powerful fanbase, as much as creating music that is honest and representative of how I’m feeling and sharing it with friends along the way. I hope that people connect with the words I’m saying, and enjoy the music, but at the root of it all it’s all self expression. That being said, I think it’s incredibly important to be thankful for any and all support that is shown to Prima Vera. I really can’t express how much it means to hear people tell me that my music means something to them, or has helped them through tough times; because this music has helped me get through tough times as well. SS: Do you guys have anything exciting planned for the future? BI: We’ve got a lot of cool plans in the works, hope to be hitting the road hard this summer and pushing Prima Vera the hardest and farthest we ever have. The band’s new EP will be released independently on February 9 and will be on iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, and all other major streaming outlets. >> SS Story and words by Brad LaPlante. Photo credit: Katy Meininger.
FLORAL MEDIA REVIEW An in-depth look at the new Prima Vera EP.
The emo-acoustic indie project Prima Vera started out as an endeavor by frontman Bryan Iglesias, but it quickly turned into a full band show after the additions of John Kick and Brendan Crocker. Prima Vera is built off of indie influences, but now it’s much more than that. The influences taken from in Prima Vera’s new three-song EP, Floral Media, are vast. The first song “Starting New,” for example, intervenes ’70s-like Queen-style vocal arrangements with other classic rock elements. Gritty elements of Detroit-style blues and jazz absolutely takes over on “Instigator.” Prima Vera does stick to their usual game plan in the final song and lead single “Old TV’s and Memories,” which visualizes a man who gets left by his ex-girlfriend and all he has left to cope with the loss is an empty thrift store. All-in-all, Floral Media is amazing. It’s all new, yet feels so nostalgic. This release might as well be one of the best of early 2016. - Brad LaPlante
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“From [their] lungs, hearts, and hands,” Pittsburgh proud Young Lungs offer an edgy, steady sound, clarion, relevant lyrics, and unwavering dedication to craft and career.
The pop rock pioneers foster an independent spirit while indulging in alternative vibes. Sound Shift recently contacted Young Lungs about building credit in the local scene, lyric-writing techniques, continued emergence in 2016, and more. Sound Shift: Were any members in other bands before Young Lungs formed? Meg Wills: Everyone has been in previous bands except for me. Ty and Andy were both in an Altoona-based rock band called On The Run, and Steve is also currently the drummer of a Pittsburgh punk band Mace Ballard. SS: What about Pittsburgh’s alternative scene influenced the three founding members to relocate from Altoona, Pennsylvania? MW: Pittsburgh has hosted Warped Tour along with shows consisting of our favorite bands for as long as any of us can remember. Its music scene is thriving and constantly spitting out new bands along with new styles. We’ve all had a taste of it and wanted to begin our band in the midst of it rather than where we grew up.
SS: Listeners pick out Paramore and Jimmy Eat World vibes from your music, but what local bands do you admire? MW: We absolutely admire our friends in Swiss Army, The Composure, and No Person. They’re all very different with their styles of music but some of the most hard working and creative people we know. SS: How do various covers Young Lungs releases define the band’s style? MW: We all listen to different genres and a wide variety at that. It’s just our way of having fun and showing a different side of who we are, as well as honoring the original artists.
SS: “What We Believe (What We Become)” is an upbeat, encouraging jam, while “Rain” is a sweeping, mellow tribute to a suicide victim (Meg’s high school classmate). How do you convert tough SS: Have you played in Altoona as Young Lungs? MW: We have! We played Altoona on August 28, 2015. personal topics into meaningful messages for a It was Steve’s first show with us as our drummer. millennial audience? MW: It’s all about taking the thoughts and feelings you’ve had during a tough time and making it into something helpful rather than hurtful.. 18 - SOUNDSHIFTMAG.COM
It’s kind of like instead of thinking that the glass is half empty, seeing it as something that can be changed and added to. We try to encourage rather than put down as well as being open and honest enough to admit fault and pain.
With that being said I think we’re all interested in doing some more narrative scenes such as the ones shot by Quincy Gardner in the “Rain” music video.
SS: Are you comfortable with maintaining an independent status right now, or are you looking for a label? MW: We’re not actively looking for a label at the moment but we aren’t opposed to the idea of being signed.
SS: Is an EP or full-length project in the works for 2016? More shows? MW: We’re working on an EP along with artwork and video ideas to go with all of it. And shows? Always more shows.
SS: In 2015, you completed a short acoustic tour. Would you ever revive that idea for a longer stretch of shows? SS: Paul Menotiades (Punchline) produced MW: Absolutely! We’ve already begun the planyour latest single “Fix Me.” How did his ning of tours this year and that’s definitely experience influence the final product? been an idea in the works. We have some new MW: The more produced sound definitely added a gear—including a ukulele—added to the mix pop element that drove the song to what it is today. as well, so that’s something to watch out for!
SS: How does being a photographer in the band help when developing and shooting music videos? Story and words by Marissa Galupi. MW: We’ve mostly filmed full band performances along with separate shots for the “Fix Me” music video.
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far from fiction A Q&A with the most non-fiction band ever Sound Shift: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done? Far From Fiction: Probably starting this band. SS: Tell us more about your song, “Supernova.” FFF: Sean and Brent wrote the music at the conclusion of a practice one night and we all decided it was a cool song. Mia wrote lyrics the following week and it was done! It’s still one of our, if not our absolute, favorite. SS: Do you guys have plans to release anything in the near-future? FFF: Yes! SS: What kind of music do you play? FFF: Gangsta country. SS: What was the best show you’ve ever played? FFF: Opening for New Years Day in Toledo was pretty rad. 12/12 Fest in Hazel Park was a lot of fun. We’ve only been an active band for a few months though. SS: Which bands inspire your music? FFF: We are all inspired by a vast array of artists. Most of our influences for the sake of this band come from what could best be described as the Warped Tour scene. Poppunk, metalcore, alternative, etc. SS: Why should someone come out to a show? FFF: To have fun. Lots and lots of fun. Just gallons of fun on top of a fun sandwich. SS: What do you think is the most amazing quality of the music scene? FFF: Probably the way it brings people together. When you can get a couple hundred people together into a small room on a weekend and everyone can leave happy, that’s really cool and very special. Far From Fiction is: Mia - Vocals Brent - Guitar Sean - Guitar Metz - Bass David - Drums
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