Threat Con Nation Magazine Issue 4 by Threat Con Nation

JAN 2014

Fat Cat Studio’s

SEAN STACK Highland’s Finest Tattoo What is

HUGGIEWORKS?

Vacaville’s

THEY WENT GHOST A Look Back At

THREAT CON RADIO Jan/Feb

FLYER GALLERY

Threat Con Nation Magazine, is an independently owned, local music news and events publication available on a monthly basis for free. Content is property of Threat Con Nation. We encourage sharing, but please ask for permission before using any excerpts or images in other published work via internet or print. Please feel free to contact us with any comments, questions, or suggestions. Threat Con Nation would love to hear from you! The band/ artist interviews and narrative sections may have opinions and suggestions that are not endorsed by Threat Con Nation.

Front Page: Once An Emoire Other image Credits: Victor Lane E, TallBoy, Some Fear None, They Went Ghost, Highlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest Tattoo, White Minorities Marketing / Advertising Director: Shawn Ernst Editor: M Montez

INSIDE

24 20

04 10

Once An Empire 04 Sean Stack 10 They Went Ghost 15 Highlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Finest 16 Huggieworks

That Metal Chick

Love Bites

Threat Con Radio

Jan/Feb Flyer Gallery

ONCE AN EMPIRE

ike bitter sweet, black and white, and so on: Opposite sides of the spectrum have been known to compliment each other. Such is the case for Sacramentoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Once An Empire. They serve up modern rock with a heavier influence than you might expect and a sugary vocal style with itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own melodic charm. Somehow, like a culinary masterpiece, the contradictory ingredients work well together. 4

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Members Melissa - Vocals Mike - Guitar Jess - Guitar Levi - Bass Steve - Drums

How did Once An Empire get Started? Mike- So, Jess and I were meeting up with a friend of ours for a bachelor party. Jess and I go back to high school and the bachelor party we were attending was for a high school buddy. It had been years since we had seen each other musically. We met up and after a few beers, we figured we should jam. I was playing drums. Jess was playing guitar and Andy, the bachelor, was playing bass. Back in high school, we played different instruments. I played guitar, Jess played drums, and Andy played guitar. We were just going to hit it, have fun, see what happens. and get together. I think it was only one session, when I’m like wow. I suck at the drums and Jess is pretty damn good on guitar. I immediately called up Steve. Steve and I were in a band previously like 7 or 8 years ago. We jammed for a couple years and never ended up finding a singer , although we auditioned Levi at that time as a singer, but we just never went anywhere with that. I switched back up to guitar, Steve came on board and the 4 of us were off pretty much. Jess- There was a time when we all realized, I think from early recordings., that we were on to something. We started taking it more serious. We all had families, so originally it was just jam once a week at the time, but all of a sudden, material started coming out that we really thought was good. We wanted to press forward with playing more and actually getting out there and playing shows. It became a goal. At first there wasn't a goal I don’t think- besides recording because it was free.

Steve- After I came on, the old bass player had left, and we were still looking at this time for bass players. We had gone through a bunch and we weren’t finding the right fit, then out of the blue, I kind of went, big duh, and I called Levi. We played in a band together. So I called him. We already had a handful of songs that were done and we had the idea that we would just tell them, here’s the notes, go for it. Audition towards it, whatever. Jess- I think Levi was the first person to show interest in what we were doing too, because it is different. I mean it’s not like we’re reinventing the wheel. We definitely have our influences, but Levi was the guy that came along and was excited to be a part of it. Usually, you try guys out and they give you the list of bands they like and there’s not too much crossover. You’re not sure how it’s going to work, so that’ s kind of why it didn’t work with the other guys. Levi just showed an interest in wanting to be a part of it. I think that’ s huge when someone wants to put in the effort and time. He has a family too. He has obligations. Asking somebody to show up a couple days a week, or whatever and record an album over the course of a weekend when he was only in it for a month- that’s a lot of commitment to ask a guy right out of the gate. Levi- For me, it was funny because Steve hit continued

Our bass player had other responsibilities and obligations, so we put ads out on Craigslist for a bass player and a singer separately. We got some hits. We focused on bass first and we had a lot of people come out. A lot of strange people came out. In the process of auditioning bass players, Levi came, but I believe he was trying out for singing. Threat Con Nation Magazine

me up asking if I want to play bass. I hadn’t played in a band formally since he and I split up in our band when we were 20. So, this has been 10 years. I had my son early and I had to just stop playing music because this was when I was, like, done. This was when I had done a lot of acoustic singer/songwriter stuff. I didn’t want to do this unless it was worth it. I wanted to try singing at first, but I went out and it was pretty clear that vocally, my styling didn’t work too well as the lead in this type of music.

Melissa- So my situation was a little weird. I was kind of in the background of everything. Steve and I work together, so he was always telling me that he had joined this band, and he was getting together with his bros, and doing all this stuff. I do graphic design at my work, so he was coming to me for creative ideas, for band logos and typography. I had been singing since I was about 10 or 11 years old doing vocal lessons and more of a classical style. He started talking to me about looking for a singer and it was just like, I totally wish that I could do this with you I didn’t really want to play bass at first. I hadn’t played bass since I was 14 or so, but then Jess guys. I thought that would be awesome. I cried about it for awhile and kept dicking around with played and he made it impossible. That initial lick and I was thinking, that’s kind of good; I re- the logo stuff. ally like that. These guys call it, what? You’ve Then they started auditioning singers and Steve been served. When Jess plays a lick and you’re started sending me tracks of all these guy singjust like, in your head. That’s what it was for me. ers. A lot of it was just him coming to me for adThe next song they played was Mole Hills and vice about what sounded good and what I would that song was the sound that I had in my head listen to. I was like, well, this guy is kind of good for years. I could never find the right musicians and this guy is rad. His lyrics are kind of weird to put it together and all of a sudden here were and this is cool. Maybe you could go with that. I these guys, they were my friends and they had told him I used to sing a little and asked him, the exact sound I had in my head. I was hooked “Are you guys interested in a female singer at all right there. I was like, I’m playing bass for sure. or maybe talk to the guys about it?” 6

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Guys- We were like 98 or 99 percent sure we So I did that and I guess the guys heard it and they liked something about it. At that point it was were going for a guy singer. still, well, write to this one. I just kept floating So you turned her down for the audition? along. I was kind of excited, but kind of reluctant at the same time. Steve- I didn’t turn her down, but I just said, Finally, it was one night, I remember this vividly. I “Well, we’re in a position where we are looking was in the backyard and they were all sitting out for a guy singer.” there. Mike stands up and he’s says, “So I feel Levi- This guy did a demo and it was really cool, like I’m asking you to prom, but we’d really like but it was really feminine. One of the guys we you to join our band. Are you interested?” tried out. We never saw him, he never came out. It was right around my birthday and it was just Mike- That’s right, because we had the tracks. so exciting for me. It was pretty awesome. I was We’d send the Craigslist people the tracks and super stoked. then say, before you come out, just cut someMike- When I heard her on 4am, which is the thing. I don’t care if it’s on your phone or what. first song, I was blown away. So we can at least hear what’s going on. Steve- I think we were all blown away. Melissa– That’s what sparked it for me. It was Mike– We all thought, well, we know we like hearing a more feminine voice. I was like well what the guy singer did, and we like what she f@ck your 1 percent or whatever. I’m going to record something to your song and I’m going to did, now how did she do on one of our heaviest send it to you and you’re going to listen to it.

continued

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rock songs? It was We Will Rise. I got to track her on a good quality mix and after that, we decided. Again, I was blown away. Once we heard her on We Will Rise, it was like, ok, we got this end of the spectrum and we have the rockin end of the spectrum. I was good.

What separates Once An Empire from other female fronted bands? Melissa- I think for me, it’s vocally there’s not many Sacramento female fronted bands. The ones that are out there do have more of that grungy, angry, sort of voice. I’m a small person, so I have a far more delicate voice. Sometimes I belt it out but my voice is far more feminine and delicate than you find in other Sacramento female fronted bands.

It took me two songs before I knew. I think the hardest thing for us on our end since we were 98 percent sure that we wanted a dude singer was, she’s awesome and rocks. Are we ok with having a girl singer? You know, are we cool with that? It was more us than her that had an issue, Steve- I think it’s a combination too. Some of the stuff we’ve grown up with going through the but it worked out. grunge scene and Seattle blowing up and all this Levi- What’s really impressive about her and no and that. The 4 of us bring a lot of the rawness, one will really know this, we had all recorded back to that original rock in our own version and these songs already. We recorded them in July in our own form. She brings along that sweet2012 at Mike’s house and when she came on, ness yet rawness. the record was 4 months into production. The songs were already written, so she really had to Jess- There’s a bit of a contradiction going on. Some of our songs are pretty heavy and then make it work with every single song and that’s you have Melissa singing this angelic over the hard to do, that and writing lyrics. Every song top open as opposed to screaming there with kicks ass. I couldn’t be happier with the way it us. has turned out. continued

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Levi– For me, the thing that was most important for her is she has a knack for vocal melody that nobody had that auditioned for us. You can totally hear it in the record. It can go over to us being airy and ambient to us being heavy and crunchy. There’s just a lot of versatility she provides us.

It was my first day in 7th grade. I played tuba and he (Steve) played trombone. He sat right next to me and we’ve been playing music with each other forever. 20 years now. So I know I had that with him all these years. We could stop playing together and in 2 or 3 years, have our jam session and be right on page. What’s crazy is I have that with these guys too. Before this band, there were only two or three other guys I had that with. I’ve never found that with any other musicians and all of a sudden, I have that with all these guys.

Jess- What I loved about the 90’s is the 90’s kind of took the best of the 60’s, 70’s, punk in the 80’s, and it melded it. At the time, those bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the rest of them were this perfect molding of everything that happened in the last 30 years. I hope that What do you want out of 2014? we’re looking back, and now we’re taking 50 years into account. I hope our music has some Melissa- Lots of shows. To keep growing. kind of spectrum where it’s not all one time periJess- Get out of Sacramento at least a little bit. od. We can play in Sacramento all day long, but Explain the group hug you guys do before a how are we getting new people to hear our music comes in question. It’s not about money, but show. it’s just how do we get these songs in people’s Mike- It just brings us into our world because up hands and we’re not going to make money off of until the show starts, we’re hanging out with all record sales obviously. It’s just how can people our friends. We’re drinking some beers and tell people and give people that buzz. How can we’re nervous. We get into the group hug and we get people at a show to come up to us and it’s, let’s focus,. Let’s get back into our little mo- just say, hey, my friend told me about you guys. ment of Zen. I think for each one of us, it does I figured I’d give you guys a whirl and you guys mean different things. For me, it’s to remember impressed me. I will come back for more. why we’re doing this. This is important to me. Levi- In 2014, I just want us to keep growing. Right now. You get to show everybody what you like and of course when we talk, we say things Steve- If the way we keep going at it, which I’m like, we have to remember to slow down. Topical a little scared, but we’ll probably have enough stuff, but for me, I think beyond that. I think here for two albums by the end of 2014. We are constantly writing. We’re improving. There’s a lot of we go, this is my chance. things we do that are way ahead of our game, Steve- I think it’s no different than an NBA team but we’re still holding that course of just going at coming out and they all huddle around each oth- it, looking for shows, bigger shows, better er, or a football team when you see them all to- shows. gether and it’s like, we’re in this, let’s do this. Mike- We had spent a couple of years in the garage looking for a bass player and singer, sitLevi- There’s a connection between us that ting on a bunch of songs forever and we finally you’ve probably heard other bands talk about. I’ve played with a ton of guys and some of them just finished this record. It’s this open story since the inception of this band really and now that we were just not good enough. Some were too just released it, we finally get to hear some feedgood. There wasn’t this creative connection. I back on it. That’s going to be the most exciting know I can look at any of these guys and we to me. don't have to speak. Threat Con Nation Magazine

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SEAN STACK OF FAT CAT RECORDING STUDIO

going on. I bugged Jack, the owner of Fat Cat, over the years and he ended up bringing me in on sessions. I interned on a lot of projects. Do recording engineers specialize in certain genres? Should a band in the market to record choose a recording engineer based on their work in a particular genre?

It’s a good idea to listen to the engineer’s bio How did you get into sound engineering? or work to see what they've done. For me, I’ve done a lot of different genres and a lot of Probably about 10 years or so ago, I was people don’t even know I’ve done country starting to learn about recording. I’ve been a and I do rap. I also do metal and everything musician, playing guitar, drums, and all sorts between pop and hard rock. I’ve done a lot of of things since I was 8 years old. I started genres. Some specialize, some tend to learning about recording and figuring out how branch out a little more. I like to try different to get a band that sounds like it does live to things and over the years, I’ve learned how actually sound like it does on record. Once I different genres should sound and how you started seeing behind the scenes, how it got record them. You mix them differently. I like from A to B, it just peaked my interest and to try to do as much as I can and learn as from there, I knew that I really wanted to do many genres as I can. this. I didn’t legitimately think I would, because it’s a really competitive industry and I Do you prefer a particular genre? was doing other things. I actually went to Sac State for a PR in Marketing. I have a degree A good song is a good song whatever genre from there. I learned recording from being in that song is done in. If the bones of the song a band and learning things from different pro- are good, that’s what makes it. The chord progression and the lyrics. That said, I guess ducers and engineers. I was that annoying guy that asked as many questions as I could the best songs that I feel like I’ve been a part of have been in pop punk bands, alternative during recording sessions. pop punk, and some of the hard rock bands, How did you get good at what you do? but whatever the genre, it’s song based. That's really what it comes down to. I was really persistent. I spent a long time anI want my mixes to be larger than life. I want alyzing recordings that I loved and trying to the drums to be punchy and I want to make hear for myself what they were doing, then figuring out how to reverse engineer what’s continued Threat Con Nation Magazine

sure you feel that. I want to make sure there’s enough high frequencies because especially with smaller studios and even the bigger studios around, the mixes that I hear are so dull compared to commercial mixes. That’s something that I really like to hammer home is comparison, listen. Is there a golden rule to recording?

a lot of harmonies for singers and help them figure that out too, but if at all possible, they should come up with harmonies or at least have an idea of where they want them to be. Some singers have told me they don’t want harmonies because they want to sound exactly like how they sound live. I will ask them what song or band they love, pull music up in the studio and it’s layered in harmony. They usually don’t realize that.

I don’t think there’s a golden rule. A lot of it as far as from a band standpoint is they need Is the feeling you get when you hear the to be prepared and they need to have realis- work from a completed album similar to tic expectations going into the process. the feeling of being on stage? What do the bands need to do to be prepared to come in and work with you?

It’s the best, that for me is probably the same as that on stage feeling of a performance. where you know you’re killing it. I definitely I would like to have some kind of demo. I get that same feeling. It’s my favorite part of want to make sure you’ve got your song di- any project because I know we went from the aled in to be the best it can be. Some bands demo that every band has, (the demo they that I work with, they essentially want me to apologize for the quality of) and I can hear it. press record and mix their record. I’m a little I can see what we can do to take it from point more hands on with it. If they send me a A to point B and when it’s done, that’s the demo, I could listen to it and give them crea- best thing. When I hear it on Local Licks or tive input. Being prepared with that, and something, that’s a fantastic feeling. That’s practicing basically. Every person in the band definitely the best part of it because I rememshould be able to play their part without eve- ber what went into making that song. rybody else in the band playing. They shouldn’t be dependent on waiting for cues. What are your main goals? They should know exactly where they need to come in. Everyone should be practiced. Obviously, I’d like to help bands grow. I want You should try to figure out what the tempo to work with bands that are serious and are of the song is and everyone should practice ready to help me get what they want out of it, with a metronome. You can download a free whether it’s recognition on a local level, or AP on your smartphone that will give you a whether they just want to make an awesome tempo. Every person in the band should do sounding record. For me, I’d like to have that. Singers should think about harmonies. If bands that are serious and want to shoot for they can’t come up with harmonies, I create something big. 12

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THREAT CON PRESENTS Every second Sat at

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They Went Ghost Genre: Rock/Reggae From: Vacaville, CA There are so many good things to say about the Vacaville band, They Went Ghost. The vocals are smooth and melodic, the guitar and drum work is insanely skillful and the way their songs are put together really stands out. The technical skill behind the music is prevalent in every song on their EP, Elmira Sessions. They have fused Rock/Hard Rock/Reggae in a way that I have never heard before. The song, Polar Bear, is a good example of the wide ranging musical skills and influences they have. Take a listen to their EP Elmira Sessions. Threat Con Nation Magazine

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ighland’s Finest Tattoo has an interesting project brewing amid the regular business of crafting quality body art and modification. Tattoo Tales: From Concept To Contest, a documentary Filmed/Directed by Mike Douglas and his team is currently in it’s pre-production stages. Tattoo artists will give you a glimpse of the industry as they guide you through the process of conceptualizing a one of a kind work of art to the final showing at tattoo competitions. Kenya Bell, Manager /Owner at Highland’s Finest, talks shop, tattoos, and her future ambitions with us. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How long has Highland’s Finest been in business? Why did you decide to open a tattoo shop? It’s been 2 years. Most of the artists here have been tattooing for over 5 years. There wasn’t a tattoo shop in this area and a few artists that were tattooing were doing it out of a garage or someplace where they really shouldn’t be tattooing. They were still laying down some really great ink, but the state of California made a new law in July of 2011, called AB300. It’s a violation to tattoo anywhere other than inside a licensed tattoo shop and everyone has to be certified to know what they’re doing. I think it’s a great thing. It’s a good thing for the industry. That being said, all the fabulous tattoo artists out there on their own needed a place to work. Have you ever turned down a tattoo for a client? Yes. We all have our own beliefs and I’m not going to ask anyone to do something that they are not comfortable doing. There was a guy who wanted a gang tattoo on his face and my tattoo artist decided that wasn’t something he felt comfortable doing, so he didn’t do it. I stood

behind him completely. That was a personal decision for him and we’re not going to promote any of that at all. I work off of Karma, so I try to stay away from all that stuff as much as possible, but again it’s their own personal choice. We’ve seen some tattoos come in that are just so scarred up that you can’t really do much with it for cover up, but It’s pretty rare when that happens. The tattoo artists here are pretty good at covering and changing so that illusion is there that it’s covered, but there have been some people that come in and it’s just so deeply scarred that we can’t go over it. Whoever their tattoo artist was before didn’t know what they were doing. When someone comes in with an idea that is just not realistically possible or not translated well as a tattoo, our artists can usually consult with the client and come up with a variation that still holds the client’s original theme. It comes out looking just as good, if not better than what the client originally imagined. Does each Highland’s Finest tattoo artist have their own specialty? Each artist has their own technique and their own style of art. No artist in here does the same as anyone else. We do anything from traditional, Japanese, black and gray, to photo realism. You name it, we have an artist in here that specializes in it. A reality show is in the process of being filmed here at Highland’s Finest. Can you give us more information about that? A lot of the reality shows that they’re doing right now for tattoo shops are just the end result and really these guys put a lot of work into before you actually get the tattoo. There’s hours of research that goes into a custom tattoo. Drawing, sketching, re drawing, resketching. Some people go off of references whether it be wildlife or landscape. They go out for a hike and take their sketch pad or they continued Threat Con Nation Magazine

things that it takes to get to the end result. They’re going to come up with designs and lay the ink on models. The models are going to go out and enter competitions. We’re going to travel around and do contests and do all the different events that are going on in the Sacramento area. So we can see how they rank. Learn, change, get support on it and go onto the next contest. We did a casting call and the chosen models met with the artists. I just wanted to make sure that the artist and model were well matched and had good chemistry. After each model was paired with an artist, they collaborated from there.

bring in leaves. They do internet research and they find references off of there. That’s the thing it’s based on. Nothing is just traced right off of images you see, but it’s based off of images they see, they create ideas from that and We’re really looking forward to a nice show once that’s something I don’t think is out there. we get it cut and put together.. People don’t know how much energy and work goes into a good tattoo. You can go in and get anything laid on your skin, but to actually get an artist that will create your vision for you is For more info, go to: something that’s a little bit different. That’s where the concept of the show comes from. It’s www highlandsfinesttattoos.com all the research in the background and all the

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Rock 1 Papa Roach

Metal 1

Lifeforms

2 Tesla

2 art of chaos

3 Frank Hannon

3 havenside

4 Restrayned

4 plague widow

5 The Andromeda Project

50 black

6 deadvolt

6 Lifeforms

7 1950 studios collab/jam sessions

7 dead in seconds

8 contraddiction

9 I wish We Were Robots

9 Zeroclient 100arden park roots

8 Jack Ketch 100 war paint

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Art

often reflects the personality of the artist. Never is that more Alive than in Huggieworks art pieces. Even more apropos, since this is a music publication, Hugs gets his inspiration for each piece through the music he listens to. There is a parallel to putting into creation on canvas just how you feel. Just like a musician writing an original song, expressing a thought or feeling, some emotion that translates into that song. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been lucky enough to walk Hugs studio with him and see all the different styles, love, and passion he pours into each individual work. I set out to do an interview and post that here, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve found there is more of a story or column to connection of Huggieworks and the Music Scene. 20

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There were many phases and influences in the art pieces he showed, hundreds of pieces; each carrying its own story and its own flavor, but there seemed to always be a common thread that connected the tapestry. There was a piece that caught my eye with lots of blues and whites, abstract, but it reminded me of some comfort of my youth. Hugs explained that when he was young, and in church, he would be drawn to the stained glass windows. He would wonder about the colors. Why were there windows you couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see through? The way the light reflected images. With this piece and his collection of art, it mimics stained glass in that depending on what angle, height, or light you observe the painting it changes. Just like a song written, it may have several different meanings for different people. As I tried to photograph his art, I decided to show only 2 pieces but with different angles and light to show how to lose yourself in the imagery. There are many common strings between musicians and artists, weather it be artists, designers, photographers, or any one who

creates an expression for themselves and others to enjoy. First, we all want to create because we have a passion and love for what we do. For many of us it will not be what makes us the most money, what we are best known for, or maybe it will be what we are the most misunderstood for. Yet there is something there that drives us, it’s a passion, it’s therapeutic, it’s a struggle. Sometimes we wonder why we do it, does it make a difference. We may even get to a point where we want to give up because you want people to get it, to see it, or hear it. To enjoy it as much as you the creator does… In the end, you only keep going because that is where the Art is. To bring this full circle, that is what you see, what you hear, and what you feel when you experience a Huggieworks art production. If you would like a unique piece done for your music, or music you like to listen to, or if you just would like a piece of art where every time you walk by you see something different, get a Hug. That is the magic of a Huggieworks piece.

To meet Hugs and see his art or find his open galleries and shows email: sdwilly73@hotmail.com

–Victor Lane E of The Monomyth Inception Threat Con Nation Magazine

If you didn't know any better, you'd think it was a fight Really it's a Camaraderie, a unique Friendship we all share A chance to find unity, for those brave enuff to dare Time to play rockstar; I throw my horns up in the air I step into the Pit, as if I didn't have a care With my senses overloaded, I can hear each and every sound Kinda like â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;whats-his-nameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Matrix, it's slow-motion all around As this sweaty-dude slams in, I prepare and keep my stand I really love the Mosh pit, it's the greatest I know to keep an 'Eye-out', while still focus place to be on the band A place to ease your mind and live a life born Crowd Surfers passing over head, it's time to -free show some love Our lives are so complex, with pressures so I raise my hands to keep them going, reconfound spectful care when high above From bills - to chores - to family, there are I know this seems overwhelming, like some challenges all around crazy-twisted land Our heart n' souls seek solace, want to esAnd, if you weren't there - then you really cape that daily grind can't understand For some the answer's Yoga, or Meditation I will date myself and say, I've been doing of some kind this for years. Me? -I need an outlet, I need my heart to Pantera's 'Walk', a Classic - "Peace Sells" race moves me straight to tears So I head out to the concert floor and settle Next time you feel down and think No one into place ever understands It starts out really slow, with Roadies prepSit back with your music and shuffle through ping gear your bands But, then the floor gets crowded, as the Choose one that gets ya' going, and makes Opening draws near your juices flow As they tune-up their equipment, I set my Then get yourself some Pit tickets -Just get feet down square up, get out and go! I'm Resolute. Adjusted. And, I'm ready to Check all your worries at the door and hit fight bear that floor with pride Once the lights fade down, an eerie hush Once you know the ropes, you're in for one falls on the crowd. Hell'uva ride But I know this break is short, Cuz, it's about Remember when you're out there, look to get real loud around to make fast friends As the band hits the stage, Mayhem will en- You safety may rely on those around that sue comprehend Like the clash of titans, some win and some That could be me there next to you, So, gimwill lose me a wide-smile The panicked leave the floor, perhaps from Trust me when I say to you. You're about to uncertainty and fear feel Alive! While those of us who really know, see a chance to push-in near -Johnna Dean Quite soon after, a Pit forms to my right

The Pit

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WolfHouse

FallRise

Anchors for Airplanes

Grunge/Blues Bluesy jam band with expressive vocals.

Hard Rock/Metal Award winning Metal from Sacramento.

Hard Rock/Metal This Reno band can throw down!

Wolfhouse Reverb

FallRise Reverb

AFA Reverb Threat Con Nation Magazine

THREAT C A LOOK ON RADIO BACK Some of you may or may not be aware of the decision to retire Threat Con’s internet radio station. We officially signed off at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, but we decided to crack open the Threat Con vault. Let’s take a peek at some of our favorite Threat Con Radio memories and highlights.

he decision to shut down Threat Con’s internet radio stream was Sometimes change is a good thing, a bitter sweet kind of thing, like when not an easy one, but our Threat you’re craving a taco late at night and Con baby is growing bigger and our ambitions are evolving with it. We saw you have to dig in the couch how we could better serve the commu- cushions because you’re broke. You nity through other outlets and in order know you got plenty of change in to meet our new goals, we needed to that couch for a taco. make some changes. The following months will be a busy and exciting time for us. We look forward to publishing Threat Con Nation Magazine and providing the community with FREE printed copies that will be available at a number of local businesses. Yes, to touch and hold in your ever loving hands. Threat Con Nation Magazine will soon have a new website and as always, MORE LOCAL MUSIC! More Threat Con Shows, more articles and interviews, more new stuff, and more of what you want. 24

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TallBoy Progressive/Metal/ Rock Born: 2007 Medford, Oregon Every once in a while, the stars and moon align, the winds shift and fate puts you in the right place at the right time. You won’t see it coming at first and you’ll go along with your night without knowing you will be forever changed. This is how I recall feeling at my first TallBoy show at a small venue in Sacramento, CA. They were an out of town band from Medford, Oregon and I had never heard nor seen them before. I wasn’t expecting what I was about to witness. TallBoy is by far a must see. They engage the crowd as if everyone is a close personal friend. Although the music is brutal, you can’t help but feel the love. The little nightclub was packed shoulder to shoulder, but that didn’t stop Jimmy Roberts (lead vocals) from moving

through the crowd and jumping onto bars while he performed. Every member of TallBoy offers up the same energy with amazing speed and talent. A TallBoy show feels like you’re participating in an event that will go down in musical history. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day, my kids are listening to TallBoy on the radio and I can say to them, “I saw those guys back in 2012.” I’ve seen them perform a few times since that first encounter and I still feel that magic that I felt that night when the stars and moon were aligned, the winds shifted and fate put me in the right place at the right time.

TallBoy’s New Self Titled Album is now available at iTUNES Threat Con Nation Magazine

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here is a certain vibe to Some Fear None, a dark and sultry vibe that Their Sound? Heartfelt. The vocals are captivates the audience and inhypnotic, setting the tone for a humble vokes the same kinds of feelings that one richness that is reminiscent of Eddie Vedcan relate to a first kiss or first love. der (Pearl Jam). The driving rhythm of the Some Fear None was formed in 2010 by bass and melodic riffs give a unique members that have over a decade of ex- grunge/alternative sound while retaining perience. They have an impressive list of the grit and punch of hard rock/metal. performances at well-known venues like Their Shows? No Gimmicks. No bells The Whisky a Go Go and charitable and whistles, just good music by true artevents like The Susan G Komen Race for ists who are moved by the moment just as the Cure benefitting breast cancer remuch as their audience. The music itself search, treatment and community educais the show and needs no over the top tion. Some Fear None is proof that Rock representations. You will come away from is still alive and kicking with heart and a Some Fear None show feeling inspired soul. and in love with their vision.

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identify with. The music itself is filled with emotionally intense screams and grinding riffs that break down into interesting eep in the trenches of the Sacra- and funky melodies. mento local music community is a band called, White Minorities. Their shows? White Minorities shows are It's hard to imagine anyone in Sacramen- unlike any other shows I've seen. They come with lots of energy and they often to not having the pleasure of seeing come up with interesting themes. Their them perform live. A White Minorities fans are one of a kind and do get down show is always just around the corner in the mosh pit. If you see a gorgeous and Sacramento can't get enough of blonde woman standing up on stage, them. that would be the band's own sign lanAre they Hardcore Metal? Rap Metal? guage interpreter for the hearing imHip Hop? Well, all of the above. The best paired, giving a whole new spin to persub-genre I've heard to describe White formance art. Minorities would be Ghetto Metal. Hardcore Metal with a little Rap and Funk fused into a signature sound unlike any other Sacramento band.

Their penchant for providing plenty of gigs for their fans to attend has earned them the acclaim of fans and media. In May of 2010, 98 Rock's Local Licks awarded White Minorities the highly sought title, "Artist of the Month" and in 2011 White Minorities was bestowed the annual "Sammies Award" for best Hardcore Band. Their Sound? White Minorities is not unlike psychotherapy; A frightening acceleration of angst fueled rage that winds down to a hypnotic relief. Their lyrics give everyone something they can

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Once upon a time, there were three dudes on the internet radio waves. They called themselves Ghost, Muzzy and Snow and they brought you interviews from some of the best Sacramento artists. In the Fall of 2012, they interviewed Chino Moreno from the Sacramento band, Deftones and the rest as they say is history. Your lyrics on some of your songs kind of trip me out. How do you step into that zone to write some of the lyrics such as stasis and realm and some of the songs of that nature? Honestly, when I write, the first thing I do is come up with some of the melodies and rhythms and different patterns or cadences. It’s weird because I don’t really consider myself a lyricist per se, but I guess I am because that’s what I end up doing as a singer. I don’t sit around and write poetry. I don’t have notebooks filled with stuff. I mean, I write to the music and the music usually gives me some sort of drive. I guess I kind of go with that. The melodies and everything pretty much comes first. I’ll just sing sort of like, syllables and different vowel sounds, then I’ll listen back to it and I will sort of put words to it. It’s like putting a puzzle together in that way, but it seems less contrived and more in the moment. The song just feels a certain way and I just start writing. A lot of the words I choose, I

usually try to, I don’t know, just sort of branch out a little bit from the typical things that people talk about. A lot of the stuff about different realms and things like that are things that I’m interested in. I always like to think that music is not connected to this place, meaning this planet or this time, time or place or anything. It’s very open to me. When I think like that, It makes me feel like there's no walls and I’m not confined to anything specific to the way that I feel inside or what’s happening today in my life. I never really write songs about specific people or certain things that are actually going on around me. I think of it as a much bigger picture. So those are the kinds of things I like to, I guess, flirt with lyrically. I try to take it away from just being connected to this place here and now. We were able to hang out with you and your family at the Warfield in San Francisco during a Deftones show. I thought it was really cool how bonded you guys are; How tight knit everyone was there. continued

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You guys have been around since the Does that change the way early 90’s. You’re still out there, touring you perform, because your family is and putting out albums. What’s the secret watching you, or does that not affect to your longevity and ability to keep true you? to your sound? Not Really, I mean it is in the back of my mind somewhat that they are there and it doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable. If anything, it’s a little comfort to know that they are there. Maybe earlier on, I felt a little more uncomfortable just because I was maybe a little more shy when I was younger, but it’s been really cool for me, especially when I was young. It’s not like I got famous making music, then all of a sudden, my family was there. My family was always very supportive even early on. One of your earlier works, you did a track for The Matrix called, The Passportal, for Team Sleep, and later on you produced your Team Sleep self titled album. Is there anything on the horizon for Team Sleep? I see a lot of fan base that definitely would love to see something come out from you guys again. Is that a possibility? We are talking about it, especially recently. I’ve been in contact with everybody from that group. It kind of stopped when I moved to LA about seven or eight years ago because all the guys were from Sacramento pretty much, but I would love to do it if we could all find the time.

It’s pretty simple. I think the main thing is that we enjoy what we do. That’s pretty much a big part of it. It is a job obviously, because even if you don’t feel like playing a show or traveling, you have to do it. I’m a homebody, that’s the only thing I would complain about is the fact that I don’t like to go places when I’m at home and that’s something I have to do. It’s not something I just do when I want, whenever I want. I have commitments. We have to work. The bottom line is 98 percent of the time, I actually enjoy it and I really enjoy who I do it with. That’s probably the main thing is that we were very good friends before we even started a band together. Although it is like a brotherhood in a way, we do have our ups and downs, but we actually like each other and we enjoy making music together. I think that’s far and few between with even a lot of the contemporary bands that came up with us around the same time. We are friends. We hang out even when we’re not making music and I think that’s an important thing we have. I think a lot of people see that and hear that in the music. That goes farther than having any kind of hit songs.

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——————————— JAN/FEB 2014 Threat Con at Old Ironsides every 2nd Sat @8pm Threat Con at Back 9 every last 2 Sats @9pm

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