Issue 4 by Symphonatic Magazine

founder/ editor in chief/ photographer & designer SHANA MYERS

co-designer & photographer BRANDYNN LEIGH

PHOTOGRAPHERS

abby gillardi, abby griffey, amanda jensen, amanda puglisi, anam merchant, brandynn leigh, brian baker, cassie deadmond, chelsea gresh, evgeniya, kait rairden, kelli coyne, kim cisneros, kylee gregg, lauren zaknoun, lindsy carr, lori gutman, maeva valbousquet, meaghan brown, melanie jacknow, mika schmeling, penelope martinez, priten vora, sami wideberg, shana myers. taylor novak, victoria george

WRITERS

branda cavanna, candace carter, caitlyn tanner, josie adnit, lu lu green, maisie king, mike martin, mila hrisimova, naomi lugo, sarah kempster, scarlett grant, victoria george

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NOV2014 2013

Album Reviews 5 nick santino and the northern wind 5 hellogoodbye 6 katy perry 7 the wanted 7 korn 8 sky ferreira

Show Reviews 12 man overboard 14 john legend 16 hoodie allen 20 our last night 22 3oh!3 24 the neighbourhood

Interviews 26 dear genre 30 late nite reading 34 stages & stereos 36 state champs 40 anything goes 46 dads 50 tauk 52 the maine 56 no tide 58 first things first 62 cease and desist

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on the cover 44

cease & desist

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ALBUM REVIEWS

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ARTIST: NICK SANTINO AND THE NORTHERN WIND ALBUM: THE ONES YOU MEET ALONG THE WAY RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 22, 2013

Former singer of ‘A Rocket to the Moon’ has come back to the music scene on his solo project Nick Santino and The Northern Wind. He has worked hard in his new projects with self-releasing two EPs, with the last ‘The Ones You Meet Along The Way’. The EP has soared the charts and reached #4 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts. After listening ourselves we can understand why. Firstly optimism starts us off with ‘The Story You Should Tell’ providing a country beat, with lyrics of reassurance. Singing about understanding the normal knocks of life we all face from day-to-day, cleverly done in a comedic way. Straight away our attention is held with the new sounds that is The Northern Wind. Next up is ‘Love, Love, Love’ a lullaby that encapsulates the honest loneliness that can come with love; seems like I don’t have a clue, well darling, neither do you. We can get lost and more isolated than we were at the start, not finding anything except that we don’t really know our expectations, or our fellow person. Releasing the heart wrenching truths through a soft percussion, which eases the realisation of these harsh realities onto us. We are smoothly carried through to ‘Goddamn’ that talks further on the loss of love. Instead we have a more intricate melody of banjo, with a delicate husk to Nick’s voice that delivers the genuine heartache of missing what you once had. Incredibly touching to say the least. The sound picks up to a striking Elvis-esk and Skynard tone that is ‘Hell of a Woman’. We have an introduction of backing vocals for the first time, and electric guitar to create a bop-a-long tune. Lyrically it’s reflective of old Country Rock songs which declared their

appreciation of a confident woman. The tone changes once more with ‘Something left to hide’. The track is stripped back to a simple acoustic and Santino’s harmonious vocals, as we get a confession of a state of mind. This is a relatable song for everyone in walks of life. The simplicity invites us to connect together in the universal feeling of feeling alone. ‘I’m still around’ seems to be the song that tells of Nick’s personal triumph, of still releasing these beautiful songs I would imagine. But nonetheless, it’s still relatable for anyone who needs that celebration of their strength for still pushing through. Finally, the collection ends with ‘Too Good’ which is poetically beautiful. It’s a song that is the essence of heartbreak, and will harness all your emotions with everything you need to hear. The pain is tenderly released through the softness of vocals. It is a perfect creation to end a highly recommended compilation of great music.

REVIEW BY: SARAH KEMPSTER

ARTIST: HELLOGOODBYE ALBUM: EVERYTHING IS DEBATABLE RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 29, 2013 The band is back finally with their third album ‘Everything Is Debatable’. Following the huge success of ‘Would It Kill You?’ The guys offer similar messages, with arguably stronger sounds to support them. From the introduction ‘And Everything Becomes a Blur’ the techno is here to stay

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once more. It’s a song for the appreciation of life, and reminds you to show yourself some recognition. Then ‘(Everything is) Debatable’ is catchy soulful beat, albeit you’ll dance along but that’s the irony. The backing vocals will encourage the sing-a-long, with a hazed breakdown to encourage you to really understand the song. Cleverly questioning particular situations you can be so certain of, as the album suggests with this titled song, everything is debatable. ‘The Magic Hour Is Now’ and ‘Summer of the Lily Pond’ act as the mellow heart ache tracks. Both similarly talk of holding onto to something that is slipping by, with a more simple melody to allow our ears to appreciate the unique vocals that is Kline. Personal favourite has to be ‘Just Don’t Let Go Just Don’t’ which offers something new. Featuring blues electric strings intermixed with mellow synthesizer beats, to create a catchy tune. ‘I Don’t worry (As Much As I Should)’ leading onto the most stripped back track on the record. Piano keys work beautifully to accompany such confessions. The instrumental end finishes the track off nicely with a burst of emotion. In contrast we have ‘How Wrong Can I Be’, ‘An External Force’ and ‘Swear You’re in Love’ taking a more indie-pop beat, all quite heavily electrified. Does indeed create some optimism which is followed through with ‘Die Young, Die Dumb; Not Soon’ feel good song that reminds us to not waste ourselves away, strive to life and experience as much as we can. Then finally we have ‘A Near Death Experience’ following the theme of the album of appreciating what you can, as not everything is as it seems. The finale of the record hits us where it hurts; when we could lose the chance to appreciate someone we truly care for. The record finishes with soft percussion and ultimately ties up well. The journey hasn’t been easy for the band, but the album offers a lot of emotions to let lose upon fans – fair to say they have found their place and sound within music.

REVIEW BY: SARAH KEMPSTER

ARTIST: KATY PERRY ALBUM: PRISM RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 22, 2013 The third album for a band or an artist is often the turning point in their career, in which they seek out new ideas and inspirations to use in their music and develop as an artist. But is Katy Perry able to do this with her third album ‘Prism’? The album starts with her first single, Roar, which does nothing outstanding or unusual in it’s lyrical or instrumental structure. It’s what the public wants as their background music, hence it’s mass commercial success. However, the second track, Legendary Lovers, provides a more experimental element one expects when listening to a third album. Providing foreign and exotic beats to a wispy-sounding Katy Perry. Although it isn’t a track that one can dance to in the club, and more for a solitary enjoyment, it is still a great track on the album nonetheless. ‘Walking On Air’ provides the club supplement from a mainstream pop album, with a steady beat fresh from the 1990’s (which if still on trend is still very popular right now), which played at the right volume should it all the right buttons in a nightclub. ‘This Is How We Do’, is possibly the closest Katy Perry has come to making a hip-hop or R&B song. Which is a mixed bag, Perry’s vocals fit with the song but the lyrics remain subpar, but if you don’t pay much attention to the lyrical content in a song, this will be fine for you. ‘This Moment’, provides an introduction beat that sounds remarkably similar to Perry’s breakout hit, I Kissed A Girl. However, after this minor coincidence, the sound transforms into a big-voiced ballad, in which Perry tries to demonstrate the impressiveness of her voice. Does it work? Not exactly, as Perry’s vocals don’t seem to deliver on that

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strength. In conclusion, is Prism a departure from Perry’s previous work? Yes. Does it work? Not every time. But as long as Perry is peddling easy-listening contemporary pop songs ready for radio, I don’t think anyone should be panicking.

REVIEW BY: SCARLETT GRANT

ARTIST: KORN ALBUM: THE PARADIGM SHIFT RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2013

ARTIST: THE WANTED ALBUM: WORD OF MOUTH RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 2013 The Wanted is a band ready to conquer the world, with three albums, an EP, and a hit TV show it is no wonder their newest album, “Word of Mouth,” is so popular. The Wanted released their third full length album last month and with singles like Chasing the Sun, I Found You, Walks Like Rihanna, and We Own the Night you are bound to hear this record on every radio station around the world. Word of Mouth starts out with the song “We Own the Night,” is a fastpaced song with a lot of energy that I found myself singing along to almost immediately. The next songs “In the Middle” and “Running out of Reasons” have a mixture of both slow and fast moments, allowing for a fun dance song which still showcases the amazing vocal ranges of the boys in The Wanted. My personal favorite is “Love Sewn,” this song is a fast ballad which shows off the boys’ voices very well. “Glow in the Dark” follows and has more electronic elements to it, reminding me of the way a DJ may remix a pop song to fit in with club music. The album is filled with a variety of catchy songs proving that The Wanted is not your average boy band.

After their last album ‘The Path of Totality’ (2011) which featured production of such artists as ‘Skrillex’, ‘Kill the Noise’ and ‘Noisia’, the American Nu-metal band are back with their eleventh studio album, The Paradigm Shift. It seems that the return of guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch, who exited their ranks in 2005 after becoming born-again. As a result, ‘The Paradigm Shift’ does contain ferocious rockers (‘Prey for me,’ ‘Punishment Time’), but however, they haven’t lost sight of their electronic or ‘Nu –Wave’ dalliances (‘Never Never,’). ‘Love and Meth’ balances with the best of both worlds – heavy riffs and some streamlined synth lines- and contains what is most probably the album’s most catchiest melodies. Yes, in many cases, dark, depressing and angry lyrics are exactly what heavy metal is all about and that’s no surprise. However, while much of The Paradigm Shift reaches back to KoRn’s best years musically, the album does miss the boat on something else KoRn had in spades during their best years: lyrical diversity. This may not quite be KoRn’s best album ever, but The Paradigm Shift is KoRn’s best album since ‘Untouchables’ (2004) and metal fans could do a lot worse than that.

REVIEW BY: LUCY GREEN

REVIEW BY: BRANDA CAVANNA

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‘Night Time, My Time’ sounds like nothing Sky Ferreira has released before. Those who came to know her through the Ghost EP will be disappointed if they expect re-hashes of ‘Everything’s Embarrassing’. Gone are “Dev Hynes’ tinkering signatures”, in their place a grunge-worship pop that pushes her soft and raspy vocals towards a more powerful live experience, which the album was patently written in mind for. ‘Night Time, My Time’ is a defiant and assured listen. Its attitude draws from the aesthetic cornerstones of prized female pop culture avants and then pulls them through the pained, modern experience of a woman whose teenage life has been meticulously documented for all to gawk at. Night Time, My Time effortlessly blends 80s motifs of tenderised vocal hooks, coin-slot video game samples and chiming synth melodies (‘I Blame Myself’, ’24 Hours’ and ‘Love In Stereo’) into hazy renditions of indie rock (‘Omanko’, ‘Kristine’ and ‘Night Time, My Time’). In that way, ‘Night Time, My Time’ serves as an almost-too-literal assessment of Sky Ferreira’s career to date: an awkward, too youthful beginning flows into a promising if unpolished middle before ending with a flurry of mastery. Whether she cashes in on this foundation or not, the next step should be just as fascinating.

OTHER GREAT RELEASES

ARTIST: SKY FERREIRA ALBUM: NIGHT TIME, MY TIME RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 29, 2013

REVIEW BY: LUCY GREEN

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I had initially heard of pop-punk band Man Overboard in 2010 and was instantly hooked. Though the songs were short and somewhat repetitive, they were insanely enjoyable. The last time I had seen Man Overboard was Warped Tour 2012. I was excited for their set as they had put on an energetic, fun show the last time I had seen them and they had put out a new record, Heart Attack, since. As the band walked out into the fog and colorful lighting, the crowd began to cheer, visibly getting more and more excited. Guitarists Justin Collier and Wayne Wildrick began playing “Secret Pain” with drummer Joe Talarico and guitarist/vocalist Zac Eisenstein joining in on guitar a few seconds later. Bassist and vocalist Nik Bruzzese sang into the mic, “In more ways than one, I’ve been fighting the gravity. It pulled me back to you.” Quickly joined by Zac singing, “You could find yourself or the true side of loyalty…”. They went on to play several songs, new and old, and closed with a fan favorite, “Love Your Friends, Die Laughing”. Overall, the set, while short, was enjoyed by all, fans of the band as well as fans of the headliner.

PHOTOS AND REVIEW BY:ANAM MERCHANT symphonymagazine.net

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JOHN LEGEND

PHOTOS AND REVIEW BY: BRIAN BAKER

John Legendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance was rather energetic. The crowd was so alive and happy to be there, screaming from the moment John Legend walked onto the stage. It pretty much stayed the same throughout his performance, and his vocals were as if you were listening to an album. I thought it was an entertaining show and more than worth attending.

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It’s the end of the show and only a few people remain in the venue. Memories of the night are smeared across the floor in the form of squirt gun-soaked vanilla cake and soggy pieces of rainbow confetti. What might’ve been a bad night for the Cannery clean up crew was a great one for Hoodie Allen fans. Hours before the show started on November 12, pre-teens, high school students, college kids and a surprising amount of middleaged men and women were lined up outside Cannery Ballroom, underdressed and shivering in the cold. At promptly 7:00, they stampeded into the venue, fighting for that one spot in the front where they might have the possibility of touching Hoodie Allen’s hand in a 5-second brush of fame. Brooklyn-based hip-hop artist D-WHY opened up the night with a energetic 20 minute set accompanied by enough room-shaking bass to knock fans off their feet. His several-song set was just enough to get the crowd hyped for the infectiously happy hippie rapper Mod Sun who took the stage next. A personal favorite of the night, Mod Sun rapped in front of a tie-dyed tapestry, wearing John Lennon-esque sunglasses and totally rocking his locks of shoulder-length brown hair. “You should be happy as fuck,” is the independent artist’s mantra, and after seeing him hop around on stage with a full-faced smile, radiating positivity through his lyrics, you can’t help but be happy as fuck. After two openers, the crowd was wound up and chanting “Hoodie” as the stage crew came out to prepare for the third act, OCD. Maybe it was the disappointment of another act delaying the appearance of Hoodie, or maybe they were just that unimpressive, but OCD managed to create the least amount of excitement in the crowd, and left an unmemorable impression. By the time Hoodie Allen hit the stage, the suspension had built so much that the crowd erupted with not only wild cheers and screams, but dancing and pushing and an overall heightened energy.

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HOODIE

ALLEN PHOTOS BY: SAMI WIDEBERG REVIEW BY: LAUREN CRADDOCK

Hoodie played hits like “No Faith In Brooklyn” and “No Interruption” for rookie listeners like me, but didn’t forget to play old tunes for his day-one fans. He even covered Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” and skaterpunk rock outfit Sum 41’s “Fat Lip.” Needless to say…he actually did them a little bit of justice. About halfway through the set, Hoodie and his crew came on stage playing “Cake Boy” and carrying cakes, which they proceeded to throw into the crowd for the first surprise of the night. For the die-hard fans posted up front, a little cake-littered hair wasn’t an issue as they started a sitcom-worthy high school cafeteria food fight. Throwing dessert on people wasn’t the only trick up Hoodie’s sleeve. He played a three-song acoustic set, crowd surfed on a float, shot copious amounts of confetti from the stage, and soaked his fans with water guns at the end-of-show dance party. Every Hoodie fangirl and fanboy that set out that night to see a good show surely got what they wanted - but not at all what they expected.

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PHOTOS BY: SAMI WIDEBERG

OUR

Walking downtown from the bus stop to House of Blues, I see the line moving to go inside the venue. It’s 5:15 and doors opened at 4:30. ‘I’m probably late already,’ I think to myself. As I head up the stairs to the pit, I notice the energy from the crowd. In the floor I can see guys and girls, while the balconies are full of families here to see the show. I checked the time to start getting my gear ready, it was 5:30. Minutes kept passing by and the curtain still had not opened. While the crowd was getting anxious, someone started chanting ‘Start the Show.’ The chant spread like wildfire and finally Our Last Night hit the stage. After the first song, vocalist Trevor Wentworth explained why they were late; technical difficulties. That didn’t stop them though. They got the crowd up and jumping by the second song, including those in the balconies. Regardless of their short setlist, Our Last Night left a lasting impression on everyone who hadn’t heard of them before, thanks to their energy on stage as well as the lyrical, heavy music. Make sure to get their new EP called Oak Island out now!

PHOTOS AND REVIEW BY: PENELOPE MARTINEZ

LAST NIGHT SOCIAL MEDIA

facebook.com/ourlastnightband @OLNBAND ourlastnightband.tumblr.com

3OH!3 PHOTOS BY: SAMI WIDEBERG REVIEW BY: LAUREN CRADDOCK

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NOSTALGIC THOUGHTS OF BEING A 16-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AT WARPED TOUR CINCINNATI RUSHED BACK AS DOZENS OF REtired scene kids crowded the stage at Cannery. This was the night that every punk-pop loving teenager had been waiting for - and having been in their shoes before - I can’t say I blamed them. LOS ANGELES-BASED PUNK BAND NEW BEAT FUND STARTED THE PARTY WITH A SHORT BUT ENTHUSIASTIC OPENING SET, AND HAD THEY not mentioned that they were rookies promoting their first released EP, no one would’ve ever guessed. There was never a dull moment in their half hour set, and the attractive members’ retro style was easy on the female eye. They exposed their genuine new-band zest and gratitude that every fan loves to see on stage. FOLLOWING NEW BEAT FUND WAS THE EQUALLY AS SPUNKY WALLPAPER. THEIR SET BET EACH AND EVERY AUDIENCE MEMBER THAT THEY couldn’t stand still. Every song was just as danceable as the next, and every lyric promoted endless drinking and late night bar sessions. Wallpaper’s drunk party pop had every tipsy fan spilling their beer and every sober wishing they had pre-gamed. THE SUMMER SET LEAD SINGER BRIAN DALES WALKED ONTO THE STAGE AFTER WALLPAPER AND THE SING-ALONG BEGAN. CROWD PARTICIpation was at an all-time high for the night and fans knew every word on the pop band’s setlist. Dales wooed girls with his boyish charm and smooth vocals, and they played a variety of old and new songs. The show could’ve ended there and the crowd would’ve left content. But the fun wasn’t over yet. CANNERY BALLROOM SEEMED SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER AFTER 3OH!3 HIT THE STAGE WITH COLORFUL FLASHING LIGHTS AND ENERGETIC RAP/pop/punk party tunes. Boys and girls crushed themselves against each other in the front to get a better look at Nathaniel and Sean, the Boulder, CO crunkcore duo. The two didn’t bring anything unexpected to the table, but with their stage presence and hysterical betweensong commentary, they managed to put on a pretty deceent show. The best part came at the end, when members from every band of the night joined together for a song they wrote specifically for the tour. The show was officially finalized with a personal favorite, the timeless party anthem “Don’t Trust Me.”

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THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

RETURNING LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER PLAYING a fall welcome concert on MU’s campus, entertaining a packed house on October 22, at the Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri was The Neighbourhood. OPENING FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WERE ENERGETIC GROUPS such as Ghost Loft and Lovelife. Ghost Loft is an electronic DJ, which has tracks currently on the market sampled from artists like Two Door Cinema Club and Atlas Genius. Danny Choi, the voice behind Ghost Loft, adds smooth beats to his tracks that will put you in a trance. His tracks remind me of slowed down 80s synth pop, with a modern twist; a perfect tempo to open a show for a band such as The Neighbourhood. LOVELIFE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS VIVA BROTHER, IS A BRITISH all-male group. Claiming their new name to fame, their sound includes dark and sinister electronic sounds with the help of an auto tune sound. “Your New Beloved” was a track that stuck out to me during the show. The autotune in Leonard Newell’s voice has a deep tone to it that sets a dark tone to the rest of the set. This track’s by covering Destiny’s Child Say My Name/Cry tempo allows for movement, and by the end of the song, the entire crowd was either swaying or Me a River mashup. Right before ending the set dancing in some way. A definite thumbs up in my with opinion. WDYWFM, they covered this mashup and the crowd THE NEIGHBOURHOOD IS A GROUP ON COLUMBIA RECORDS FROM instantly began singing along. I love that feeling when you’re at a show and your favorite song, California. For this tour, they play tracks from or a throwback everyone knows, begins to play their most recent album, ‘I Love You’. Before and there’s that sense of community between the seeing this performance, the only song I was listeners and it creates a personal connection familiar with was their radio single Sweater with the artist and the audience. Weather, but was pleasantly surprised when I heard the entire set. I got a Californian Urban TO END THE SHOW, THE BAND SANG THEIR RADIO HIT AS AN feel with their versus’ in songs like WDYWFM and Afraid. Jesse Rutheford’s vocals have this subtle encore, and thus the crowd goes wild and sings along. Overall, it was a great show with sex appeal that are perfectly cohesive with a different kind of vibe from what I have seen the pulsating strums of the guitar. Rutheford from indie pop in the past, so it was a refreshing was recovering from a cough that night, but persevered was able to end the show with only sound. minor interruptions. I WAS ESPECIALLY IMPRESSED WHEN THEY SURPRISED THE CROWD PHOTOS AND REVIEW BY: KYLEE GREGG symphonymagazine.net

DEAR GENRE “

I STARTED PLAYING DRUMS WHEN I WAS 4. IT ALL STARTED WITH HOW I WAS INTRODUCED TO MUSIC THROUGH DRUMS. MY INTEREST CONTINUED TO GROW.

”

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WHEN DID YOU FIRST START PLAYING?

I started playing drums when I was 4. It all started with how I was introduced to music through drums. My interest continued to grow.

WHEN DID DEAR GENRE FIRST FORM?

Out of boredom in 2010 in highschool out of sheer disatisfaction with high school life, myself. I wasn’t planning on making it a band. I didn’t think it would be anything. It started with some songs, that turned into a record, that eventually formed a band

MUSIC INFLUENCES:

I never say the same influences in interviews, so people probably think I’m lying. Right now I’m into Pink Floyd. Defiently grew up on Nirvana, integrated into my soul for sure. I’m pretty fond of Lo-Fi music in general, Wavves, Best Coast. Then the classics like the Beatles, Bowie,

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ALBUM YOU’VE RECORDED THUS FAR?

Astronaut EP. It came out on June 1st, 2013. It’s my first project I got to do on my own without much outside expertise. Just me in a studio in a basement, so no right way or wrong way. Usually I have to get ideas past producers to get something on a record, but this one I had to be critical of my own music and it really challenged and help me define my style.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOPES OR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

I’m now working with new management. Dear Genre hopes to broaden our horizons in general and get our lyrics out there. My whole mission is about one on one exchange with whomever I can through my music.

FAVORITE TIME OF DAY: Night SPIRIT ANIMAL: Monkey FAVORITE CANDY: Carmel Apple Suckers IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND SEE ANY BAND: Pink Floyd ANDRE CATALDO IS THE PRODUCER, WRITER, AND COMPOSER FOR DEAR DENRE. GIVE US A BRIEF BIO ABOUT YOURSELF, ANDRE:

Born in Curitiba Brasil Adopted at a few months old, came to rest in St. Louis MO Began playing drums at age 4 Expiramented with different instruments & sounds until the release of “You Put the Fear In Atmosphere” in 2010. Released “Rip Raw Shapes” with producer Kevin Gates in 2012 Released the self recorded “Astronaut” EP in June of 2013

PHOTOS BY: KYLEE GREGG INTERVIEW BY: ERICA WHYMAN symphonymagazine.net

DEAR GENRE

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEW BY: PENELOPE MARTINEZ symphonymagazine.net

WHEN YOU START HANGING OUT WITH FIRE TRUCKS THAT SHOOTS CAPTAIN MORGAN, YOU KNOW THINGS ARE GOING DOWNHILL.

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“He’s in a food coma.” Brady Szuhaj- bassist of Late Nite Reading- says about drummer, Drew Cottrell. FROM SUBURBIA INDIANA, LATE NITE READING BEGAN IN 2009 WITH BRADY SZUHAJ and vocalist, Dalton Wixom. 2 years later, Drew Cottrell and Clayton Collins joined. “It wasn’t really serious until about two years ago when we got these guys. They made the band, the muscle behind the band, the brain, the good looks.” BEFORE THE 4 MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE LNR, THEY WEREN’T EXACTLY friends. “We went to high school with these guys. We hated each other.” Brady says about Drew and Clayton. “They were in different bands, and we were from the same town. We were always like, ‘Our band’s better than your band!’” Dalton remembers as he looks back in high school. “It was one of those things where, we were in different bands but these were the four guys who were serious about it,” Brady says about LNR. IT’S FUNNY TO THINK THAT AFTER HATING EACH OTHER, THESE 4 GUYS ARE NOW touring together, traveling across the US and Europe, all because of a phone call made in the bathroom. ‘I was taking a shit and called Dalton’ - Brady says with the most serious look on his face. “Yeah he was taking a shit, calls me, and says, ‘Hey do you want to start a band?’ And I was like, ‘yeah.’” Dalton remembers while laughing at Brady. “We didn’t expect to do anything; it was like a summer fuck-around thing.” “THE STORY I REMEMBER IS, WE WERE AT OUR FIRST PRACTICE AND WE’RE LIKE, ‘We need to name it.’ One of our old members was eating orange chicken and threw out Late Nite Reading,” Brady says about the band’s name. “ We thought LNR, like the letters, were sweet and it was an inside joke; something about a library. Someday we’re going to come up with a great story of how we came up with our name, and you’ll know the truth but that’s it.” Dalton says. (Funny thing is, they actually took pictures at a library) -“I thought they told you not to talk about that.” “Yeah, anything we did like a year from now is just embarrassing.” -Brady and Dalton say about their old pictures. Although they never thought they’d grow up to be a part of the music industry, LNR has been involved with music ever since a younger age. “I started singing because I wasn’t great at sports, I started with violin, then singing. I wish I still remembered how to play the violin.” Dalton says about the his first musical experience. Brady, on the other hand, was influenced by other musicians. “I used to be into Blink 182 and used to watch them on MTV. It was one of those things where I was like, ‘That’s one of the coolest things in the world.’ I tried guitar and it wasn’t easy, so I tried bass.” Clayton though, blames his mom. “My mom bought me a guitar for my birthday in 8th grade and ruined my life from there. Thanks mom.” Drew takes a moment to think back on why he started playing the drums. “I started playing drums back in 6th grade, My cousin got me into playing the drums.” Even with the musical influences, The band never thought they’d be playing music as more than a hobby. From wanting to be a meteorologist to not knowing at all, the band talks about what they once hoped they’d become. “I wanted to be a marine biologist or geneticist. I’m fucked now,” says Brady laughing. “For career day I was a roller coaster engineer,” comments Dalton. Clayton was the most prepared of all of them, “I wanted to be a business major or meteorologist. I had a weather radio and everything.” Drew on the other hand, had no idea.”I didn’t know what I wanted to be. I wanted to go to school and figure it out.” While the band teased him for not knowing what he wanted to study, Clayton confessed he actually wanted to become a fire truck- that’s right, a fire truck. “I wanted to be a fire truck.. I

wanted my sister to be the fire woman and my other sister a pearl necklace that my sister wore while working. I thought you could go to college and study to be a fire truck! I was like four or five. Sorry I have an imagination. I would have been a cool ass firetruck though. I’d be a black fire truck. It wouldn’t be water that came out, it’d be Captain Morgan. Everywhere I go it’d be Lil Wayne ‘I’m the Fireman’ playing.” I think he still wants to be a fire truck seeing as how he has it all planned out. “I would have been best friends with you,” says Drew CONTINUING TO BE A BAND STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, LNR HAS FOUND success everywhere. Performing with one of their main influences, All Time Low and now headlining the Pup Fresh Tour with support from Jocelyn, 7 Minutes In Heaven and more. The band has also been busy filming the music video for their song Writing on the Wall off of their new EP, Walls. “Basically, a lot of the songs are about getting through things and we like the name walls because people put up walls. It’s about kind of trying to break down the walls. And All Time Low.” Brady says about their third EP. “We almost didn’t name it Walls because of All Time Low.” Clayton states after mentioning his All Time Low tattoo. AFTER NON-STOP TOURING IN 2012 AND 2013, THE BAND HAS BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL all around the U.S. and Europe. Many times they’ve had to play shows with no barricade, which they love but at the same time get scared for their fans. “I always get scared that these kids crowd surfing are just going to fall on their head.” Brady says about the shows they’ve played. “Especially because there’s so many girls and they’re like ‘I can’t carry them,’” Dalton adds. While the band is growing up as musicians and people, they’ve had an opportunity that not many other bands have- to get to see their fans grow up as well. “It’s pretty cool to see all of our fans grow up. They see us grow up,” Drew says about the fans. LNR is well known for their constant interaction with the fans, or as they call them “old friends.” Although they might not always remember the fans’ names, they remember the faces of those whom they have met. “It’s kinda weird seeing how many faces you can recognize.” Brady mentions, “Yeah, like with names, I can barely remember these guys’ names.” adds Dalton. pointing to the rest of the band. A BAND WITHOUT SUPPORT WOULD BE NOTHING. NOT ONLY DOES A BAND NEED THE support from fans, but also from their families. “Clayton’s grandma loves us. His step dad knows more about us than we know.” Brady says about Clayton’s family. “My little sister is our test when we’re writing new songs,” explains Brady. “Yeah we’re like, ‘Is this catchy?’ And if she’s singing it the next day we’re like ‘yup that’s going on the record.’” If it wasn’t for the band’s family, Drew’s goldfish and the fans, Late Nite Reading wouldn’t be where they are right now. Through the touring and traveling, the band has had some experiences they’ll never forget; from traveling to the UK to almost dying in New Mexico. “Going overseas is awesome in general,” Dalton states. “The drinking age is 18.” Clayton comments, “I had just turned 18 when we went so that was great,” Dalton adds. Although the US and UK fans like the same music, they’re very different in the sense of how they act around the band. “London’s crowd was very respectful. Here it’s like a mob, not that it’s a bad thing. Over there they got in a line by themselves. They were like ‘Could you please sign this?’ I was like ‘Yes of course! Punch me in the face!’” Clayton says about the UK fans. “Here everyone’s like ‘I’m going to grab your ass, like ‘Oh, alright,’”comments Dalton, - “It was weird to not have my ass grabbed. We made up for it though.” “I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT NEW MEXICO. WE ALMOST DIED. WE HAD TWO

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bands on tour; they were in our vans. We had double the gear, double the merch, double the people. We were driving through the mountains and with all that gear in the back, it made our breaks just go out. We almost flew off a cliff. Bernie was driving, the slightest tap on the brake coming off of cruise control made me wake up.” Clayton begins to say. “Bernie was the one who saved us. He was bent over, his head was in the console of the vehicle, putting all his weight on the wheel, trying to fight this curve,” adds Brady. Even now, Late Nite reading love what they do and have no intention in stopping any time soon. “We are working on more music videos. We’ve done a lot of tours and we’re doing one

more.” Says Dalton. “Look forward for new music too.” They might have a busy schedule for the end of this year and 2014, but the band will continue to have time for their family and friends. They do have one more message for the fans: Stay golden, ponyboy. We’re having caribou chilli tonight boys! (in case you don’t know, that’s from Jimmy Neutron) We love our fans. They mean the world to us. We wouldn’t be anywhere without you guys.

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STATE C

CHAMPS

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEW BY: KYLEE GREGG

WHEN AND HOW DID STATE CHAMPS BEGIN? TO REMEMBER. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SHARE HAVE YOU HAD ANY WEIRD EXPERIENCES State Champs began in March of 2010 when THE DATE WITH THOSE MAJOR ARTISTS? WITH FANS? Bill asked Tyler if he wanted to start a band. Tyler said yes and they grabbed Derek and

started writing and playing! The rest is history.

It feels great to see people tagging us in things with ADTR. We saw a lot of people picking up our record and theirs which is crazy to us because we never thought people would hold us in the same light as bands we grew up listening too.

ARE TYLER, DEREK, WILLIAM, TONY AND EVAN THE ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS OF THE BAND? IF YOU WEREN’T WRITING MUSIC RIGHT Tyler, Derek and Bill are all original. Tony and NOW, WHERE YOU BE OR WHAT YOU BE Evan came later in the fall of 2012 DOING? I’d probably be finishing my Masters degree HOW OLD IS EVERYONE? and becoming a college professor.

Of course. One time a girl met Derek and was literally speechless. She couldn’t talk. It’s weird to us because we’re just a bunch of twenty-something’s making rock music.

IF YOU HAVE MERCH, WHERE CAN WE ACCESS THAT? Allinmerch.com

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM ‘THE FINER THINGS’?

Derek is 21 Tyler and Bill are 22 Evan is 24 Tony is 25

IS THIS YOUR FIRST TOUR?

11 songs that we worked very hard on! You can expect songs about girls, depression, good things, bad things and the like.

WHERE ARE YOU GUYS BASED FROM?

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?

Albany, NY

Buffalo Wings!

AS A LISTENER, WHAT BANDS WOULD YOU COMPARE STATE CHAMPS TO?

ARE YOU ON A RECORD LABEL?

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING TO EAT ON TOUR?

Yes, Pure Noise Records.

Nope

Pizza, Wings, Burritos, Burgers, etc.

WHAT ARE OTHER ARTISTS ON YOUR RECORD WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT LABEL? The Story So Far, Handguns, Forever Came BEING ON TOUR? Calling and many more.

Sleep deprivation and poor hygiene.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE SHINING MOMENT OF STATE CHAMPS THUS FAR?

DO YOU HAVE A NIGHTLY RITUAL BEFORE A SHOW?

Finishing our debut LP with Steve Klein and Sam Pura. That or touring with New Found Glory.

WHAT BANDS DID YOU LISTEN TO GROWING UP? We all listened to a ton of stuff growing up but the most influential are probably Green Day, Blink 182, New Found Glory, Allister, and a bunch of other early Drive Thru bands.

DID THIS BANDS INFLUCENCE YOU TO START WRITING MUSIC OF YOUR OWN? Yes.

I KNOW YOU’RE ON TOUR WITH MCS, BAYSIDE AND WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE NOW, BUT IF YOU COULD TOUR WITH ANY BAND IN THE FUTURE, WHO WOULD IT BE?

A Day to Remember, The Story So Far, Fall Out Boy, Blink 182, The Wonder Years, New Found Glory, Bayside, Motion City Soundtrack.

Kind of. We usually gather side stage about five minutes before our set time. Talk to each other, get pumped up. Some of us stretch, I just try to get all my nerves out by shaking my limbs and making weird noises.

HOW DOES YOUR FAMILY FEEL, HAVING A SON/BROTHER IN A PRETTY POPULAR BAND?

People like to compare us to early Fall Out Boy.

WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR MAKING MUSIC? To write songs that make people feel not so alone. If you can listen to our songs and understand we go through the same shit you do, and you can find comfort in that, mission accomplished.

WHAT WOULD YOU LABEL YOUR SOUND AS? Pop rock with punk influence.

WHEN YOU GO TO PRODUCE MUSC, DO YOU FOCUS ON THE LYRICS OR MUSIC PRODUCTION, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH? Both!

OKAY, FUN ONE! WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MILEY CYRUS AND HER NEW ALBUM SINCE EVERYONE IS TALKING? HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO LISTEN?

They love it. They think it’s so cool! They’re also The singles are awesome. We Can’t Stop and very supportive and interested in what we do, Wrecking Ball are played daily in the van. 23 it’s great. is also great. You have to embrace an artists progression!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE CRAZIEST EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN STATE CHAMPS, THAT YOU’VE HAD SO FAR? Someone stole my stepsisters phone in her class to get my phone number... I swear I’m not that cool.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY EMBARASSING/EXCITING/FUNNY/ MEAN EXPERIENCES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, SINCE BECOMING A PART OF SO YOUR LP DROPPED THE SAME DAY AS MI- STATE CHAMPS? LEY CYRUS, PANIC AT THE DISCO, AND A DAY Not really!

FOLLOW STATE CHAMPS Facebook.com/statechampsny Twitter.com/state_champs Instagram.com/statechampsny

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ANYTHIN

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEW BY: BRANDYNN LEIGH

NG GOES

HOW ABOUT WE INTRODUCE EVERYONE FIRST, SO YOU CAN STATE EACH MEMBER’S NAME AS WELL AS THEIR POSITION IN THE BAND?

A: Gladzy is the drummer, Mariella is the pinch-hitter bassist, Vanessa is a vocalist, Jessica is the Keyboardist, Joe is the vocalist and guitarist and Trent is the lead guitarist.

Cursive. I could probably watch either of those bands play every night if I could. JOE: I would love to tour with Macklemore, Neon Trees, Down With Webster, or the Midnight Beast!

WHAT IS THE MEANING, FOR YOU, BEHIND ‘ANYTHING GOES’?

GLADZY: I think the meaning behind ‘Anything Goes’ is this: Play music, have fun, and go grazy. I want to spread all the GLADZY: Life. “goodness” when people hear our music. VANESSA & JESSICA: Inferno VANESSA: ‘Anything Goes’ means the freedom to express JOE: ‘Life’ has an amazing message, and ‘Inferno’ has so much feel—it always sends surges through my body every ourselves. time we play it, so naturally, I want to run around and jump JESSICA: ‘Anything Goes’ pretty much explains our outlook on life. Stuff happens, but anything goes. It’s saved us from off things. stressing out quite a bit for gigs; it’s a great saying. JOE: The meaning of ‘Anything Goes’, to me, is broad. As IF YOU COULD TOUR WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD YOU GO an individual, I pour everything into what we’re doing; My thoughts, my own personal struggles, my strange, my WITH? heart and my soul, and my wallet. ‘Anything Goes’ is meant MARIELLA: Fugazu or The Replacements, but those are both kind-of impossible so instead, I’d say Mean Jeans or to inspire goodness, but not only that. We stand for fun,

IS THERE A FAVORITE SONG OF YOURS TO PEROFRM?

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freedom, and good times; pure and simple. We’ve been gaining momentum and people naturally want to be a part of that. With all those people tuning in, we should be giving them something positive back. ‘Anything Goes’ holds that message high.

destructive person I know when we are stagnant.

WHAT MUSIC OR ARTISTS SPECIFICALLY HAVE BEEN INSPIRING YOU LATELY?

GLADZY: One-Ok-Rock, Maroon 5, Hillsong MARIELLA: I’m sort of rediscovering all this really cool more IS THERE ANYTHING THAT DOES NOT GO FOR YOU? off-the-radar music from the past four or five decades that GLADZY: The one thing that does not go for me, I guess, I somehow missed the first time around. Stuff like Count is when we get invited to events that are not really as Five, The 13th Floor Elevators, Them, and The Kinks, and organized or doesn’t put enough value/attention to us lots of more modern Garage/ Power-Pop/ Punk stuff. Pretty before preforming. I guess I’m used to just performing and much anything Dirtnap or In The Red puts out, really. I’m not the behind the scenes part haha. Spoiled brat. paradoxically into Japanese math rock bands like Toe and MARIELLA: Insincerity in art / music / film, whatever. When LITE as well. people do things or make things just because they think it’ll VANESSA: Ever since I was a kid I’ve always been inspired by be popular, or it will sell, with absolutely nothing of their own Madonna, Michael Jackson, and No Doubt. genuine love or self in it... just sets my teeth on edge. JESSICA: I’m always into different kinds of music. If a song VANESSA: Things that do not go for me: drugs, gluttony, visible leaves goosebumps on my arms and a tingle down my panty lines. spine, I know it’s a good song. JOE: The only thing that doesn’t go for me is stagnation. Whenever we stop writing music, rehearsing or marketing AG, I have no idea what to do with myself. I’m the most

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SOME OF YOU ARE INTO COSPLAYING. DOES THAT EVER COME INTO EFFECT FOR YOUR STAGE PERFORMANCE?

GLADZY: Cosplay DOES affect my performance. It’s not that easy! Especially the first time I performed with the band in my Silica cosplay. My wig kept falling and my costume kept getting stuck. I kept tripping. I should just wear something easy and comfortable. VANESSA: I’m really hardcore into cosplay. However, I don’t bring it to the stage unless we are at an appropriate event. Comic conventions and Halloween parties are perfect! I’ll try to get our costumes to co-ordinate someday!

ARE THERE ANY FAVORITE MEMORIES AS A BAND?

GLADZY: One of the most memorable events was when we all slept on a concrete floor the night before the gig. Not saying it’s my favorite though, haha. But I can’t help but laugh with the craziness that we went through. However, in terms of performing, my favorite event was when we were playing during the Parade of Wonders; I was sitting at the side of the pick-up truck playing drums, then we went underneath the TD building before the last chorus of “Slip Out”. I hit back the drums with everyone else building up. But yeah, we sounded really solid and it felt magical because of the acoustics within that spot. It was just perfect timing! MARIELLA: Maybe once my body unfreezes from the photo shoot for this articile being in the frozen rain, that memory will qualify. JOE: Favorite memories with the band are most likely the times in between gigs. The moments before we step out into the spotlight. All the nerves, excitement and dry heaves some of the members get. Hanging out in hotel rooms, just kicking back and the moments after a successful show—we all share this camarderie after each successful gig. It feels damn good.

WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO SEE THE BAND IN FIVE YEARS?

GLADZY: I don’t really know. It’s just a mystery. I don’t have a vision or anything because I live in the NOW. I didn’t even think we would go this far. VANESSA: In five years, I want to be headlining shows! An album! I want to be on the radio. Seriously, singing has been my lifelong dream. JESSICA: Honestly, I hope to see this band succeed in the next five years. More fans, bigger gigs, more original songs being played. Our band has amazing members. I really hope we all stick together for the years to come. This band has let me escape reality and explore the value of music. It’s the perfect medicine for my stressful busy life. JOE: Five years? [laughs] My mind is spent on tomorrow, and where we can be in the next year. We have big plans for 2014. Mainly, expanding our reach. Playing in places where we never thought we could.

If you’ve ever come across a Tumblr page where most of the posts are questions asked anonymously and they claim not to be dads, then you’ve successfully been introduced to Dads. This two piece band made up of John Bradley (drums/vocals) and Scott Scharinger (guitar/vocals) from New Jersey began back in 2010 with all the right sounds for any occasion. While touring with Drug Church this fall, I got the chance to talk with them for a couple of minutes before their Chicago show.

FIRST OF ALL, TELL ME ABOUT WHERE YOUR NAME CAME FROM.

JOHN: It’s a joke. There’s no actual meaning behind it. It was a joke that went too far and we also didn’t realize that it would go this far. SCOTT: If we could redo it, we would.

YOU WOULD REDO YOUR NAME? WHY? IT’S A PRETTY COOL NAME TO BE HONEST. SCOTT: Yessss, and no it’s not. JOHN: We’ve gotten a lot of things from people that could help us out that decided that they didn’t want to because they didn’t think that we were serious enough with our name. SCOTT: Yeah, or a lot of like ‘Can you be my dad?’ ‘Are you actually dads?’ ‘Do you have kids?’

IS THAT WHY YOUR TUMBLR IS WEARENTDADS? SCOTT: Yeah

THAT MAKES SENSE. ALRIGHT, WELL HOW DID THE BAND BEGIN THEN?

JOHN: We met through house shows and we were in different bands. We usually hate the idea of “jamming” symphonymagazine.net

DADS

with people. It’s a very awkward thing to do but it was something where I had a break from college for like a week and I got a free drumkit from somewhere and I was like ‘how about I come over to your house?’ and we just jammed. I came over and that was basically it. He was more in like an emo band I was in like a weird indie band. And then we started a metal band. SCOTT: Yeah, we were specifically like “We don’t want to play emo.” And as we kept going we were like, “This is what we know how to write.”

SO YOU GUYS HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MUSIC, WHICH I’M A BIG FAN OF BY THE WAY, BUT WHERE DOES THE INSPIRATION COME FROM? DO YOU JUST GET A LOT OF DIFFERENT MUSIC AND PUT IT TOGETHER IN A SONG? JOHN: It’s half making music that you want to listen to and- I don’t know.. I don’t know that I listen to a lot of music like this.

SCOTT: Lyrically, I don’t think it’s influenced by other bands. I think it’s mainly our weird dumb minds. JOHN: It’s hard because there’s not many in this scene where I’m like ‘this is where I get my inspiration’

AND WHY DID YOU START PLAYING IN THE FIRST PLACE?

JOHN: Honestly, not even on a musical level. I grew up with my dad always playing music. He was always playing guitar so I was like ‘I want to play guitar.’ SCOTT: My grandpa had an organ in his house. He wrote country songs and would sell it to artists in the 50s and 60s. When I was 13 I started playing guitar and well, here I am.

WHO’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTER SO FAR?

SCOTT: John JOHN: Ha, um our parents, Derek McNelly, fans. SCOTT: There’s like a group of fans that have been so symphonymagazine.net

amazing to us. We’ve become good friends with them. but this is a monument. To us this is a goal that we’ve reached. Even if this show did nothing, it’s a goal we’ve obtained. Venues are cool because of the legendary THAT’S ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR. SO YOUR LAST EP WAS aspect of them; also because there’s a PA where you RELEASED THIS SUMMER, ARE YOU WORKING ON can hear the lyrics. We’re a very lyric-centralized band ANYTHING NEW? and you can’t do that in a basement. The basement is JOHN: Not really. I mean like, we’re pretty much booked cool because it’s very intimate. Someone here might up with this tour, the Europe tour, and then the Reggie feel like ‘I’m too far from the band,’ because there’s and the Full Effect tour until February. We know of a lot stage that’s like chest or waist high, depending how tall of bands that we grew up listening to who would tour you are and they might say, ‘Well that’s not punk, I don’t forever and then would break up because they would want to do that.’ never take a break. We have lives outside of this now, where there was a point in time where we didn’t, this WELL YOU’RE LUCKY BECAUSE YOU’RE PLAYING AT THE was all we did so we know it’s smart for us to take SUBTERRANEAN NEXT YEAR. IT’S AN INTIMATE YET COOL breaks when we need to. Otherwise we would just burn it. VENUE. JOHN: Is it? That’s awesome, as long as there’s room for YOU SAID YOU HAVE LIVES OUTSIDE OF THIS, DOES THAT people to come out.

INCLUDE A JOB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

BOTH: This is it. JOHN: This is our job. We have girlfriends, very serious relationships and family. Just in general, knowing when to relax is very important, and I think that a lot of bands that work as hard as we do, forget that and end up breaking up. SCOTT: Just go home to your dogs, go home to your pets, to your friends. JOHN: Yes.

NICELY SAID. AND, WHY ARE YOU A TWO-PIECE BAND?

JOHN: It’s easyyyyy. SCOTT: We tried bass players. It has worked, it’s just the chemistry between us. If we were like, ‘we’re not really feeling this song tonight,’ we would just look at eachother like (gives look to John) and we’d know. It’s a lot easier than having five people where you all have to huddle up. Ease of communication.

SMART. DO YOU GUYS PREFER DOING SHOWS AT VENUES OR HOUSE SHOWS LIKE BEFORE?

JOHN: Both have their perks. We answer this a lot and we stand by this answer. Like, we’re at the Beat Kitchen now. When I first started playing in Dads and was checking out venues and seeing where my favorite bands were playing, Beat Kitchen was one of the first venues where I was like, ‘I want to play a show there, I want to do this,’ and now we’re headlining it. It’s whacky because to some people who are way bigger than us, they’re like ‘Ha I remember my first beat kitchen show,’

HOPEFULLY IT’S ALL AGES THEN.

JOHN: It should be. All the shows that aren’t, we’re at least trying to hook up with the local record shops in town and do in-stores. It sucks and the only reason we do what we do is because we went to shows. I don’t ever remember in Jersey not being able to go to a show just because of the show. Scott: Yeah our tour whatever, Carly, doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, had to get a fake ID just because she wanted to see shows. JOHN: Yeah it’s a bummer, I never did that, I’m a wuss. I’d be scared to get caught. SCOTT: How do you even find those people? Ha. Okay, so do you have any goals for the rest of the year? JOHN: Europe! SCOTT: To get home from Europe? JOHN: Europe is something that we’re achieving and something we’ve been wanting to achieve. I remember when Dads first started, I was talking to my friend and she was dating someone from another band and she was like ‘ Yeah so and so just got back from Europe,’ and I’m like they went to Europe?? Still until we come home from Europe, it won’t hit me. SCOTT: After that we move to Michigan and then the tour with Reggie and the Full Effect. Wow, tight schedule. Alright well this is the last one. On Tumblr, you guys are always answering questions and giving advice, what drives you to do that? JOHN: I don’t know where it started. When you’re in a symphonymagazine.net

band like this, you’re either working more than you have hours, or you are sitting. So a lot of tour you are either fucking in the van orSCOTT: Yeah we’re fucking in the van. JOHN: You’re fucking in the van doing nothing, or you’re busy to the bone. When you’re in the van doing nothing, you need to fill up time so I started answering questions. In the tour we did with Pity Sex, both Britty and I would answer tumblr questions. It’s fun, it’s fun to be able to interact. We never want to get to the point where we can’t interact with the people. I’ve known so many artists where it gets rough because there’s so many people and I understand it’s overwhelming, but I always want to have some sort of touch with the fanbase.

SCOTT: If you can’t communicate or be a part of anything with your fans, then you won’t have fans and there’s no reason to do it because if none of the people here at the show weren’t here, we wouldn’t either. JOHN: With technology nowadays, music is more than just a CD or a vinyl, it’s an art and people forget there are no rules. We can be more than just an album, we can be more than a song or musicians and tumblr, twitter etc. allow us to do that. SCOTT: Yeah and people are like, oh we follow you on twitter, I follow you on tumblr and checked out your music and you’re actually good. Without the fans we’re nobody.

DADS

PHOTOS AND INTERVIEW BY: PENELOPE MARTINEZ

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT DADS ON BANDCAMP AND BUY THEIR EP, “PRETTY GOOD.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK

facebook.com/dads420

TUMBLR / TWITTER @wearentdads

WEBSITE

wearentdads.com

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TAUK

FIRST, CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES & EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS YOU DO IN THE BAND? Hey, whats up everybody!? My name is Alric Carter and I’m the keyboardist in TAUK.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? WERE THERE ANY DISCOURAGING MOMENTS WHERE YOU THOUGHT THINGS MIGHT NOT WORK OUT LIKE YOU WANTED? IF SO, HOW DID YOU GET THROUGH IT? We got started back in High School and would have informal jams during free periods and after school. There weren’t too many kids that played music so once we found each other, we continued to play and became friends. Through the years, we’ve faced our fair share of discouraging moments. However, we realized those situations are inevitable. It’s how you deal with those moments that determines the outcome and your success. Thats not just specific to music.

INTERVIEW BY: SHANA MYERS WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE PART ABOUT TOURING? Sleeping in really bad hotels and/or soggy couches.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE, BEING IN A BAND? It’s hard to practice and write new songs on the road sometimes.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG YOU’VE EVER WRITTEN? I’m not sure yet, still working on it ha. We have a new song called, “Sweet Revenge” that has been growing on me. Keep an ear out for that!

WHAT MADE YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BE IN A BAND? I couldn’t say it was one thing in particular. All I know is that playing and creating music is a natural inherent feeling. It’s something I can’t avoid.

ARE THERE ANY ARTISTS / BANDS THAT INSPIRE YOU TO share the joys we do onstage and get them hips movin’! KEEP GOING? I really enjoy what bands, like Robert Glasper Experiment and Snarky Puppy, have been contributing to the live music scene. It’s great to see the music they create, receiving the credit and respect it deserves. Their music is capable of many things and is a reflection of a thought out and tactful approach. It helps set a path for bands like TAUK to leave our own mark.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE DIRECTION THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS HEADING? I feel that there is a lack of direction in the industry and that things are kind of a toss up at this point. There isn’t one set method bands have to stick to which is great in my opinion. It’s smart for bands to apply themselves as much as possible in regard to marketing, promotion, placements, and licensing.

CAN YOU BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WHEN ATTENDING A SHOW? We definitely pack our shows with high-energy, danceable music. We want our fans and friends to

WHEN YOU’RE ON STAGE, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE UP THERE PERFORMING WHILE EVERYONE IN FRONT OF YOU ARE SINGING ALONG TO EVERY SONG? Well, we’re an instrumental band. So it’s not too often that people are singing along because our songs have no words, hence instrumental. However, we reel people in when we play covers they know. Its pretty powerful when a big crowd of people sing the covers we play. It’s humbling to connect with an audience through your music. I can’t think of anything else that feel remotely as liberating.

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THE MAINE PHOTOS BY: PENELOPE MARTINEZ INTERVIEW BY: MEGAN PIETZ symphonymagazine.net

Q. Is there any album that is a consistent influence on so lucky to do what I love. you? When you made your new record, what albums were you listening to? Some musicians find inspiration in other forms of media, like TV shows, books, and movies. Have any of those three forms had an effect on you? If so, what specifically? A. I don’t think that there is one record in particular that directly influenced Forever Halloween. I think you are influenced by everything you hear and experience in some way or another, So it is hard to pin point just one thing or another. The biggest thing we were trying to get across with this record is putting out music that was not touched by a computer and edited to perfection. We were influenced by music; we love to keep things real and raw.

Q. On all of your tours, you’ve picked great openers

that maybe not as many may have heard before. How do you go about picking an opener? Have you yourselves listened extensively to the opener before picking them? A. Yeah on our own tours we are very picky on who we bring out and are always fans of the music first. It is just a matter of finding something that we all love and that we think our fans would enjoy and try to expose them to new tunes.

Q. One thing that’s quite noticeable about the band

is that the sound has really matured along with your fans. Do you think that’s what makes people keep coming back to you? Have you tried to figure what has this already bean to affect the new music you’ll you think your magic touch is? put out? Does this change the recording process for the band in a positive way? A. I would hope people are coming back for that reason, and that they are connecting to each new record in a different way. I think A. We did build a mini studio in the back of the 8123 offices and have done some recordings but have not had enough time to really people that listen to us want us to make the music we want to make dive in completely. We did work on something that will come out at and for us to grow. Plus their tastes are evolving as ours are, most some point and i think having our own space allowed us to spend a people are not into the same music at 20 as they were at 15 ya lot of time on creating the mood we were looking for on watch part know? I think as long as we keep being honest with that we create which was cool. It also allows us to use the studio as an instrument in the right people will listen. As far as magic… not sure if we have any a way that we couldn’t do with someone else controlling the board. but thats not for me to say. I think it is going to grow into something really special in the future Q. You have recorded what seems like thousands of and allow interesting things to happen. live shows. Will there be any releases of that in the future in an ep form or album form with maybe a ‘best Q. Is there any one moment you can remember that of the maine’ spin? consistently reminds you about why you continue to make music? If so, explain in detail. Why do you think A. Yeah we try and record a few shows a tour at least, and have for some time now. We will see what comes of that stuff but we end that this moment has stuck with you? Will anything be up releasing bits and pieces along the way anyway. We are always able to surpass that moment? Why or why not? A. I am constantly reminded everyday when i play music and enjoy coming up with special ways we want to release things so i never rule anything out! it. I realize why i’m doing this. When i see people affected by what Thanks for taking the time to ask questions! Hope to see everyone we create and willing to support everything we do, when i see people working jobs that they are not happy with, i realize that I am out on the road this fall in the U.S!

Q. You recently built your own recording space. How

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WHO WERE YOUR MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS? The band that really got me interested in music, and for the most part, gave me the idea that I wanted to be in a band is Green Day. I started out on all the big pop punk bands of the early 2000’s and spread out from there with my personal music tastes. WHO MOTIVATED YOU TO START A BAND, AND/OR CONTINUE PLAYING MUSIC? As mentioned before, bands like Green Day had a big influence on me as far as knowing I wanted to be in a band. My dad has always played in bands and he taught me to play guitar, so that’s definitely another influence by just having music always in my family. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER? We started No Tide in 2011, so it’s been a couple years now. WHEN DID YOU START TO PLAY MUSIC? I started playing guitar at age 10, but before I found guitar I had played a bit of piano, as well as the snare drum in school, but none of

that really stuck. WHAT KIND OF VIBE DO YOU WANT YOUR MUSIC TO HAVE? I feel like our music needs to point someone towards a specific emotion, which could definitely differ from song to song. In my opinion, the best music makes you feel a certain way as soon as you hear it. That’s what I want our band to do as well. HOW DO YOU WANT IT TO AFFECT YOUR FANS? With a band like ours, energy is key. We try to put off as much energy on stage as we can and anything we can get back from the audience is appreciated. Stage dives and singing along are always good. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT YEAR? We have the split 7” on Take This To Heart Records coming out next month which we’re excited about. We will have a few tour dates in December as well, to close out the year. For 2014, we are planning to record a new release early in the year. We will also be doing quite a bit of touring, not much I can announce

NO TIDE just yet, but if you’re interested in seeing our band chances are we’re coming near you. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM BEING ON TOUR? There are a million and one funny stories that we’ve had while on tour, but overall just being able to do what you love and being with your best friends at the same time is the best memory about being on the road. IF YOU COULD GO ON TOUR WITH ANY MUSICIAN OR BAND, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Tough question. Probably something crazy like Queen. They’ve played massive shows that changed peoples’ lives and that would just be cool to see. IF YOU COULD TELL YOUR FANS ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Thank you to anyone who has given us a listen, whether online or at a show. It means more to us than you know, and to those who have given us continued support, (we probably know you by name). You rule.

WHAT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH? For me it’s the same drive I had since I started. The idea that being in a band is what I’m supposed to do. There isn’t any other option to me. There’s always time in life to go to school or do whatever it is that people seem to think they need to do. But I feel like less and less people are going for what they really want in life. This is what I want, so I don’t even think about it. I decided my career path a long time ago. INTERVIEW BY: CAITLYN TANNER

FIRST THINGS FI

PHOTOS BY: SHANA MYERS INTERVIEW BY: CAITLYN TANNER

IRST

WHO WERE YOUR MUSICAL INSPIRATIONS?

A ton - we all grew up listening to the great rock and roll icons of our generation, but what truly inspired us were the other amazing local bands that emerged and made it out of Philly. That’s really all we wanted - music to get us out and into the world.

OTHER INSPIRATIONS?

Friends, family, life experiences. We’re young but we’ve all seen the darker side life can throw at you.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING TOGETHER?

The band is two years this December 2013; with our EP “The Brighter Side” released 6 months after formation.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START A BAND TOGETHER?

(York) Being in a band is the only endgame for me. If I wasn’t in first things first, I would be in another band. Music is the only thing I want to be apart of. Our members have come and gone through the years because of that reason - some are in it to win it, others just for the weekend.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE NEXT YEAR?

Our goals for 2014 are pretty normal - write and release great fresh music, keep the band moving forward and staying creative in songwriting and direction, play some shows on another continent, and of course keep touring and pushing through whatever comes our way.

WHAT IS LIKE GOING ON DIY TOURS?

DIY tours are the real bones and veins of the business. They keep the scene alive. A new city everyday, unexplored personal and physical territory, with influences and inspiration surrounding us. That being said, it is a tremendous amount of work, physically and financially exhausting, and emotionally taxing. After this tour, future tours will go down a little differently to keep as safe and secure as possible. We do it because we love it, though. Without touring, we wouldn’t know most of what we know and more importantly, what we’re capable of.

WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF DIY TOURING?

(Band all laughs together) We could give a novel on that. Our biggest challenges, in no order, are dynamic. From finding a place to sleep every night with friends, strangers, the van or a hotel, to finding a good cup off fresh brewed coffee in the morning after sleeping on someone’s hardwood floor. Van travel is expensive too - especially with gas prices these days. The biggest difficulty though is choosing between Wendy’s or Taco Bell for after-show food...

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WIN JOURNEY’S BACKYARD BBQ BATTLE OF THE BANDS AND MTVU’S THE FRESHMAN?

Taking home both of those wins were something we can’t describe. It’s like getting a promotion at work from janitor to manager. It knocked a couple different items off our personal bucket lists - being on tv, playing alongside our idols, seeing people going nuts for us in the parking lot of the mall we walked 15 years prior. It was incredible.

DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM BEING ON TOUR TOGETHER.

Several 1. Hitting Cali for the first time as a band. We were so humbled and felt so accomplished. 2. Sleeping on the side of the road, and then playing to a sold out show in Boston during

a crazy snow storm 3. Eating the greatest meal of our lives at “girl and the goat” in Chicago, then immediately getting $30,000 in gear, computers, and personal items stolen from the van during a break in. 4. Everything about Biloxi, Mississippi - but legally we can’t talk about anything that happened...

WHAT KEEPS YOU GUYS MOTIVATED WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH?

We’ve hit a far share of hardships over the last several months - and what has been our main motivation is the incredible outpour and support from our fans. Tons of Tweets, messages, emails, merch sales - these kids are the backbone to keeping us out here refusing to quit. Also a daily dose of frisbee in the cold for an hour, and hanging out in puppy stores across the tour will keep us motivated. If you give up, then you lose, and this will all be for nothing.

HOW HAS PLAYING MUSIC CHANGED YOUR LIVES?

Playing in the band has gotten all of us opportunities to do things we couldn’t accomplish anywhere else. Traveling, experiencing, remembering... All the nights in a rest stop at 20 degrees outside on 2 hours of sleep- to driving through the MoJave desert at 115 degrees outside. We drive around the country in a van playing songs we write - and people come out to listen. That will make anyone experience life in the present. It’s vivid and addicting. Our priorities tend to be much different than friends who live normal 9-5 lifestyles. Playing in a band also causes tension in a lot of relationships - both with friends and family. We’ve all lost good friendships because of the band. Also, being on the road 6 months a year isn’t exactly what most women look for in a guy. That being said, the experiences we have in one night seem more surreal and incredible then 10 years of of someone’s normal stable lifestyle and that’s what keeps us at it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG THAT YOU HAVE PRODUCED?

It’s a tough decision. Our favorites are our new single “We all fall down” and ur older single from MtvU “love is for the _____”.

HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR MUSIC TO AFFECT YOUR FANS?

We highly encourage twerking to our songs. Realistically - Our music is an extension of our thoughts - and if people can connect with the songs, then they can connect with is as people. That’s the best part. Meeting them and hearing the fans tell us about what they get out of it.

IF YOU COULD TELL YOUR FANS ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? We can’t encourage people to drop out of school, get rid of limitations, write music and release a cd, buy a van, and tour the country in it... But it worked for us.

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ON THE COVER

Cease & Desist

PHOTOS & INTERVIEW BY: BRANDYNN LEIGH

LET’S GET YOUR NAMES AND POSITION IN THE BAND AND TELL ME A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF.

those bands influences ourselves as well, based on their lyrics. I’ve found with issues I’ve been JAMES B: My name is James, I sing, something about dealing with in my life, I really connect to bands that have powerful lyrics. So that’s kind of what I myself... think we take from that and bring into our music, JEREMY: You have long hair. ‘cause we know we’ve been in that position JAMES B: I do have long hair, I like talking to people, I’m a friendly guy, I don’t know I just like where those lyrics have helped us with stuff, so to sing all the time. That’s kind of what keeps me we feel like we’re kind of giving back in a sense, sane. Yeah, I’m not really that interesting, all I do to write and be honest with our feelings and hopefully somebody can take something away is... sing. from that. JAMES W: I’m other James, I play bass, and I like JEREMY: Those bands have messages, and that’s Pokemon and go to University, so, there’s that. a good thing. It’s like you need to build a RICHARD: I’m Richard, I play guitar and I like message to get your point across. All those playing guitar, pretty much the same as James. JEREMY: I’m Jeremy, I do vocals and I like to draw. bands that we have named all have a certain message that gives off positivity.

HOW DID YOU ALL MEET AND COME TOGETHER?

JAMES B: That’s a funny story, I’ll tell this one! It’s kind of like a love triangle of bands. I’ll start from the very beginning. Originally Jeremy and I were in High School together; best friends. We started a band with Jordan, our other guitar player, and that band kind of went places. I wasn’t in the band at one point in time and that band ended up going in separate ways and Jeremy and Jordan were kicked out of the band. Wait, I should back up. Jeremy was originally a part of this band. JEREMY: I was the first vocalist. JAMES B: Josh and Richard had a band and I messaged them on Facebook because they needed a vocalist and I just wanted to be in a band, so we jammed and I brought Jeremy along and another guy along. That’s how it all kind of got started but then Jeremy left to focus on his other band and then they got kicked out and they came and joined our band here. It kind of all came full circle. JEREMY: And we played with James’ band all the time. JAMES B: We each kind of met through going to shows and stuff.

WHO ARE SOME INFLUENCES IN YOUR MUSIC?

RICHARD: Well, Counterparts, Being As An Ocean, The Ghost Inside, No Bragging Rights, letlive., Bring Me the Horizon, La Dispute... it’s just a combination of everything we like. JAMES B: I think for myself and Jeremy, a lot of

HOW HAS THE PROCESS OF CREATING AN EP BEEN?

RICHARD: It’s like, really fun. JEREMY: It was weird just because me and Jordan joined the band and they had one song with the music and everything. We came in and Richard had just written a bunch of new songs and I just went to jam with them then we wrote like ‘Floating Away’, in one day. Just one after another we kept on building songs and they just got better and better, and then we would go back and be like “change this” and it was pretty smooth. JAMES B: I feel like we were kind of lucky as well ‘cause as soon as we got one or two songs in we just kind of clicked with each other and it became so much easier to write songs. We just kind of understand each other. JEREMY: It’s weird, because no matter what, when we are writing something, when James isn’t even at practice, and I’ll write something about a song, then he’ll come to practice, hasn’t heard the song, just has the chorus and he’ll have the exact same thing, like we wrote about the exact same thing, that happened with like... three songs on the EP. We randomly wrote parts, and they made a song. Same wavelength.

HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE LOCAL SCENE HAS INFLUENCED YOUR MUSIC? JEREMY: It’s given us gateways to a lot of things. Like, playing shows, and before I was in the band, just because of the music scene and symphonymagazine.net

how big it was, though it’s kind of starting to die down, but they got shown with Being As An Ocean and Liferuiner. The music scene in Calgary just pushes local bands, like, it doesn’t really matter where you start. If you just start to make noise, or a ripple then you blow up. JAMES B: The support from the local scene is really good actually, ‘cause it just makes us that much more excited to keep doing what we’re doing. I mean, we get excited enough because we are doing what we love but having the support from everyone is just unbelievable. RICHARD: It’s a cool feeling to come to a show to have people come to a show to like, see what we’re about.

work with someone who thinks that they are a lot better than everyone. Ugh, egos for sure. So yeah, just Jeremy and egos JAMES W: A big one for me is when people pay ten dollars to go to a club but can’t pay five dollars to go to a show. JAMES B: I’m going to agree with that 100%, also when people go to shows only to see a certain band, and don’t go to watch the opening bands.

LASTLY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR 2014?

JAMES B: The EP will be out, we would like to be doing some tours. We’ve already had some talks with some people about doing some tours, but I can’t say too much. WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE THAT ANYONE HAS GIVEN YOU? JAMES W: A lot of it is up in the air, but we do have JEREMY: Well, Joel from Being As An Ocean, he was an EP show. talking and he was just like “be honest, and be JAMES B: That should be announced fairly soon, a humble.” Well like, if you write something and it music video will be coming. More music, maybe wouldn’t be something that wouldn’t come out recording new stuff. Expect new things, come to of your mouth, don’t say it. If you say anything, shows, come to talk to us! someone can hold it against you. Make sure everything you say is honest. JAMES B: The ‘be humble’ part as well with that, where no one has to say “you did a really good job” or anything, I think it’s humbling in itself to have people come up to you and say “hey, man, you did a really good job.”

WHO WOULD YOU LOVE TO GO ON TOUR WITH?

JAMES B: Definitely Being As An Ocean, they are actually very, very good friends of ours and it would be wonderful to tour with them. Just bands that have influenced us, like the bands we mentioned before. JEREMY: Fall City Fall, and Kingsland, Beartooth, The Color Moral, and Bring Me the Horizon. JAMES W: The main ones though, Counterparts, Being As An Ocean, and Bring Me The Horizon.

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WHAT ARE YOUR PET PEEVES?

JAMES B: Jeremy JEREMY: James Ward JAMES B: Tardiness, Unorganizedness... is that a word? RICHARD: So us? JAMES B: Yes, so everything we do. But, egos are lame, those are just the worst. It’s so hard to symphonymagazine.net

JEREMY RICHARDSON

JAMES BUNKER

RICHARD GOLBECK

JAMES WARD

JOSH BARTLETT

JORDAN RUMRILL

ANBERLIN

PHOTO BY: AMANDA JENSEN

PHOTOS BY: SAMI WIDEBERG

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PHOTOS BY: SAMI WIDEBERG

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PHOTOS BY: SAMI WIDEBERG

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PHOTO BY: AMANDA JENSEN

PHOTO BY: AMANDA PUGLISI

BEFORE YOU EXIT

ALEX COSTA

RADIO ACTIVITY

PHOTOS BY: AMANDA PUGLISI

FOUNTAIN BLVD.

STRONG SOUL

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