Issue 7 | JUL 16
The Millenium Bringing Midwest Heart to Pop/Rock
Pierce The Veil | Free Throw | idobi Radio
Staff:
Carol Simpson
co-founder/editor-in-chief Karina Cordova
co-founder/Photographer Sam Lesser
photographer Sara Ruben
contributor/writer Mckenzie Holivay
photographer/contributor Daniel Finkelstein
photographer
Contact Us:
Email: UnderdogPress2012@gmail.com Website: UnderdogPress.net Issues: Issuu.com/Underdogpress
NOTE: no copyright infringement intended All written material is original. All rights for album artwork and promotional photos used go to their respectful owners.
Get Connected UnderdogPress.net Facebook.com/UnderdogPress Twitter.com/Underdog_Press Instagram: UnderdogPress
We’re always looking for new wirters and photographers with a passion for music! Get music industry experience while doing something you love. Email us to apply. **experience preferred**
Special thanks to: The Millenium Jet Black Alley Cat Jesea Lee at High Road Publicity Fearless Records Wendy Brynford-Jones Mike Fuentes Alyson Stokes Free Throw idobi Radio Big Picture Media
CONTENTS Album Reviews pg. 6 Jet Black Alley Cat pg. 10 Feel Good Emo: Free Throw
pg. 16
Mike Fuentes of Pierce The Veil
pg. 22
Cover Story: The Millenium
pg. 26
Industry Highlight: idobi Radio pg. 34
GALLERY
PG. 36
PHOTO BY SAM LESSER
Album Reviews
Artist: Trash Boat Album: Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been through
Trash Boat’s edgy and eclectic Hopeless Records debut release “Nothing I Write You Can Change What You’ve Been Through” could easily become one of the albums of the summer. Vocalist, Tobi Duncan’s ability to vary between clear powerhouse vocals and a slight screaming rasp brings a special element to each song. It also highly encourages singing along obnoxiously loud. “Strangers” opens the record on an unexpected and slightly deceiving light note. The guitar driven intro is beautiful and engaging. The transition into a loud fast paced track transports you to a happy place of head bobbing and air drumming along. Not to mention guest vocals from The Wonder Years’ Soupy adding an extra special element to this song. “Eleven” brings together loud vocals with intense drumming and steady guitar to create a rock marriage. “Second Wind” is a feel good pop-punk track. It’s light hearted in instrumentation yet brings the rock edge that Trash Boat maintain consistently throughout their record. “Catharsis” brings in strong lyricism to create a song full of heart. “Pangaea” is the one downside of this record. It doesn’t flow as well as the other songs. The song has a strong heavy element that makes it worth a listen. Once you get past the sloppy beginning to the arrive at the solid bridge and outro you realize it was worth the wait. Trash Boat are consistent and skilled. They are sure of who they are and it’s represented well in each track of this record.
Underdog Press | 6
Artist: Heirsound Album: Merge EP
Heirsound present a dark and dreamy EP filled with watery guitar riffs and soothing vocals. Simplicity is key on this record. While there are a couple of tracks that are less than dazzling and have a sense of going somewhere, but then it ends up in the same spot it just was. “Choke” opens with eerie and dark drumming reminiscent of the American Horror Story theme song. The vocals add to this with mysterious lyrics. “My Own” continues the dark with a soothing guitar filled intro. “A ghost at your bedside/I’m still alive” presents lyricism that fits the aesthetic of this band perfectly. “Fell Again” feels like it picks the EP up. It still carries the edgy feel of every other song, but somewhat on a lighter note. Not on a lighter note in that it’s a cheery song, but a lighter feel from the instrumentation. “We fell in love. We fell again” reminds you that this band is here to hit you with emotion. The songs flow like a continuation of each other to make one cohesive ep. It’s rich alternative music filled with personality. Even with that, the EP has some dull moments that are almost repetitive and lack luster vocals. Even though the songs are flowing well some aspects are like “I’ve heard this already. Now what?” Regardless of that though, the EP is still a good one to grab a bottle of wine and sit with your feelings for a bit.
Artist: Young Culture Album: YOU EP New York up and comers, Young Culture, recently released their exciting “You” EP. This band is a must listen artist for the summer. The EP opens with “Home To Me”. It’s an exciting, fast-paced track that introduces you to Young Culture. It’s lighthearted and simple in the lyrics and instrumentation, but that adds to the greatness of it. It’s a simplification of pop/rock that brings new life without sounding like an exact Underdog Press | 7
replica of established pop/rock veterans. “Ready For You” is a little slower and could very loosely be considered the ballad on the record. The honest lyricism holds the song together. While the vocals in the chorus could have been better the song is just as addicting as the rest. “Bedroom Floor” is my favorite on the record. It features State Champs’ frontman, Derek DiScanio. Even without his feature this song would be a hit. It brings Man Overboard-esque lyricism without the annoying, whiny vocals. “By Your Side” kicks things off with a catchy guitar riff. The oh so played out tale of seeing the girl across the room is backed up by a great song that will have you singing and bopping along to it by the end. “Stupid Kids” gets off to a very rough start. With shaky vocals and sub par lyrics It was almost categorized as a dud on the record, but it picked up and became just as catchy as the rest of the EP. Young Culture are a fun band. Their sound is easygoing, but not oversimplified. They’re still relatively young, but this EP is just the beginning of greatness for Young Culture. For fans of Real Friends, Mayday Parade, We The Kings.
Artist: Emarosa Album: 131 Emarosa’s “131” is an endearing and almost cinematic record. The band’s incorporation of heavy elements with Bradley Walden’s intense vocals. Every song is enticing and brings something new. The band’s strong lyricism shines through in between wonderful guitar riffs and spectacular vocals from Bradley Walden. “Hurt” is a soothing introduction to the record. The intro is beautiful and inspiring as it breaks into powerful vocals backed by intense guitar and drumming. It’s an impressive and compelling way to kick off a record. The song moves into a verse that perfectly balances the simplicity of the intro with the strength of the chorus. “if you are hurt I’m sorry because that’s what I’ve been through” “One Car Garage” features edgy vocals and even edgier lyrics like “I know I hate myself and probably everybody else”. “Sure” highlights the beauty of Walden’s hushed vocals contradicting his more powerful vocUnderdog Press | 8
als. The verse are smooth and subtle complemented by light drumming and faint guitar riffs in the background. The pre-chorus picks to build into a beautiful chorus that unites with subtle background “ohs” that add a haunting element. This song is definitely one of the highlights of the entire record. “Porcelain” opens with a piano and leads to an emotional ballad. The record was already faintly relaxing, but this song adds a calmer element to help the listener just ponder for a moment. “131” shows an evolved Emarosa. They are more comfortable with themselves and their writing. Walden has settled into his role as lead singer and this record is the beginning of a new era for the band.
More Hot Summer Releases
Artist: Gates Album: Parallel Lives
Artist: The Maine Album: Covers (Side B)
Artist: From States Away Album: Hypervigilant
Artist: letlive. Album: If I’m The Devil Underdog Press | 9
Underdogs on the Rise:
Take some Nashville, blend it
gle, vocalist Joe Jett says, “We worked with five well-dressed guys and throw with a guy named Roger Nichols. He’s in some rad pop/rock tunes with a a producer in Nashville. He’s kind of vintage flare and you have Jet Black like a friend close relationship that we Alley Cat. With catchy songs that are have built in town. It was actually one guaranteed to get stuck in your head our most challenging processes that and killer vocals from lead singer Joe we have done. It pushed us to a lot of Jett, this band is bound to be your limits, but I feel like we came out with newest obsession. Their latest single a pretty dope product.” “Roxy” is an eclectic and bright track Dope product is correct. “Roxy” that captures the listener. is an exciting and eclectic pop hit. Emerging from one of the counBacked up with raw talent and strong try’s strongest music scenes, Jet production value it was only appropriBlack Alley Cat have been making ate to match that quality with a “film”. the rounds along the east coast with The band refers to their music video many summer tour dates. Four out of for the single as a film. The film, which five members of was recorded the group met in Miami for the in college and most part, suits the drummer Bryant band’s aesthetic Lowry joined the perfectly. “We set band later on. aside two days to Their solid dynambe in Miami and ic has allowed two days turned them to progress. into probably 28 A well-known hours and out industry term that of that we were has been tossed around for decades just grinding the whole time. We got is having “it”. Whatever “it” is may be into town and we were just shooting, subjective to each listener, but there shooting, shooting. We shot about is no doubt that Jet Black Alley Cat 85% of it in Miami and then we shot a have “it”. A special something that will couple of the pick-up scenes back in help propel them through today’s very Nashville. The process was very cool. complex and competitive music indus- We like the idea of calling it a film betry. cause we like the idea of soundtrack Strong drumming on each track ing things rather than just calling it a with rich guitar tones and smooth yet music video.” Joe tells us. powerful vocals create a marriage of While it may seem like “Roxy” pop greatness. They’re single “Roxy” could be based on a particular indiwas what first lured me into this band. vidual it actually isn’t, but rather based The song was recorded at Electric off of an idea. Joe explains, “It’s not Thunder Studios in Nashville. Talking based on a particular person, but it’s about the process of creating the sindefinitely based off of an idea of peo-
“That ’s the idea behind our band. People listen to it. See it and feel they’re a part of something cool. I think we’re all young and we should be strong in that aspect.”
Underdog Press | 12
ple that we have in our lives and that are around us. Kind of a chaotic sense of youth.” They’re living that chaotic sense of youth as college graduates pursuing music in one of North Americas goto cities for a career in music. It seems like everyone in Nashville is trying to make it, but being surrounded by music doesn’t necessarily mean it makes easier to emerge from the local scene. Drummer Bryant explains, “I think it’s alive and well, but it’s not alive and well in what we do. There is a very heavy country and Christian vibe so if we try to book a show we have to strive to find a band that is in the like mind and strive to find fans that are in the like mind where it’s like I don’t want to just go to Broadway, where all of the country acts are. I want to go
to a cool vibe bar and go to a rock show. In that aspect I think it has taken a few years, but I think we’ve come around and found that audience.” Joe adds, “I think the city is the same as everywhere else. You almost have to be in the city, but you can’t be consumed in the city and try to just impress your city. You have to know what you’re doing I guess. You have to know that you’re able to branch out. It’s a good platform.” Now that they have got navigating the Nashville scene down, they are moving onto more summer plans. There are plenty of tour dates coming up and new music coming very soon. For now, two singles are confirmed to be released over the next few months. Joe mapped out the next few months of Jet Black Alley Cat’s journey for us.
“We’ve got the June shows coming up and then we’re already working on two singles to release. [We’re] just going to play a lot of shows, release those two songs, release another music video for one of them and that’s kind of where we’re at right now. I think the goal is to release one more song and then maybe package it together as a part one of our journey I suppose.” Jet Black Alley Cat have big plans. With a promising and growing fan base and the talent to back it up this band is definitely going to be everyone’s new obsession in 2017. Even though we’re looking forward to the band’s future, the band draws inspiration from the present and past alike. The one word Joe used to describe the band was “cool” and they’re pulling from the coolness behind characters of more visual works like movies and such. Joe tells us, “I think a lot of our inspiration comes from more movies and things like that. I feel like for me personally I’ve built a character off of Top Gun, Dirty Dancing, and Grease and that combination of strong character roles. I feel like that’s what each person has. Their own vibe and the way we bring it together. That’s the idea behind our band. People listen to it. See it and feel they’re a part of something cool. I think we’re all young and we should be strong in that aspect.” Be sure to keep up with Underdog Press on social media and at UnderdogPress.net for more updates about these groovy Nashville up and comers destined to take over the music industry very soon. PHOTOS + STORY BY CAROL SIMPSON
FREE THROW
FEEL GOOD EMO
T
hey might be the five happiest guys on the planet. Feel Good Emo may sound like a contradiction, but it’s the best way to describe this Nashville based band. With laid back attitudes and a thirst for good alcohol, Free Throw, started their summer off right with a slew of dates with Tiny Moving Parts and Prawn. The only word the band could use to describe these tour dates was “amazing”. From playing shows with their best friends to a very organic writing process, Free Throw have enveloped themselves within an environment that allows them to thrive as musicians. Their Facebook page says “Five dudes in a van trying to play shows, drink beer, and make friends.” There couldn’t possibly be a description more fitting for Free Throw than this… well other than that they are the “Drake of punk”. Thanks to a good friend of the band (and a lot of tequila) the description was pinned on them. Vocalist, Cory, told us the reasoning behind this, “He told us that we were like the Drake of punk because of the fact that it’s sad, but everybody fucks with it.” That statement continued to hold true during their run with Prawn and Tiny Moving Parts. The band chose to play two brand new songs on this tour. Even though they were initially unsure about how their audience would react to the songs they have never heard, they have been received very well each night. Kevin tells us, “We’re writing for another record. It was kind of a toss-up. We could play new songs [but] we weren’t sure how it was going to go and the kids don’t know the Underdog Press | 18
words to the songs. They went crazy for those songs. It’s really good to see people go off for a song they’ve never heard before. We feel encouraged that we’re writing the right songs hopefully.” Free Throw have been tracking demos since about March, but have spent just about a year working on new songs for the record. This longer process is providing them with a great creative space to produce some of their best work yet. Their creative space is very laid back which helps the band lead a very organic writing process. Kevin tells us, “We have a very laid back approach to writing. We come to practice and it’s not like a very structured environment. It’s like let’s get a couple of drinks in us and we’ll play some x-box then someone will have an idea and we’ll jam on it for a bit and we’ll jam a little bit more. Three hours later, we’re kind of drunk and we have a song and we’re happy about how it came out. It’s kind of an odd writing process. It works for us.” Their drinks of choice while writing vary from whiskey to beer to vodka to gin. Alcohol seems to be the common point of many Free Throw stories, including the one of how drummer Kevin Garcia joined the band. “I actually flew down to Nashville to try out for Free Throw. We did one day of playing the set and the next day we drank a bunch of gin and wrote new songs for the record. We couldn’t stand up at the end of the day, but we woke up the next day and we were like this is pretty good and they were like ‘Yo, Kevin you can be in this band.’” Kevin explains.
“We’ll take it as far as possible, but we’re already extremely stoked on what we’ve accomplished.”
The band is looking forward to new plans which include the new record and an upcoming tour with Somos and Get High Waisted. When asked to look even further than that at Free Throw in five years the band had some creative yet promising responses. Kevin says, “You’ll find us at midnight after a set doing karaoke to Rob Santana’s “Smooth” and it’s going to be lit.” But on a more serious note, Cory adds “With how good of friends we all are and with the music thing we kind of take it day to day and see where it goes. Hopefully, it’ll be even cooler and crazier than it is now. We’ve already been to Europe and stuff like that which is already insane for us, a band that started in a basement. We’ll take it as far as possible, but we’re already extremely stoked on what we’ve accomplished.” With a sense of humor that could light up any room, Free Throw are growing with each show and bringing their personalities with them. Their personalities that include an honest and caring side that could remind everyone what music is all about. Cory ended the interview on a positive note for everyone. “The reason I write music is to not feel so alone in the world. The things that I write about is because it’s an outlet for me. I hope people can relate to it in a way that they don’t feel alone as well. If anyone ever feels that they just want to reach out and talk about things, hit me up. I’m always an open door. Free Throw, we’re a fun band, but if anyone ever needs anything all they have to do is talk to us about it.” Be on the lookout for their new tunes and tour dates. PHOTOS + STORY BY CAROL SIMPSON
An Interview with
Mike Fuentes of
Pierce The Veil have spent the
Once that was set it was time for past few years travelling the world on lyrics. This writing processed melted toputting on high energy shows for their gether with the band’s endless dates of millions of fans. In between all of that the touring, but ultimately contributed to the band managed to create their latest record in a positive way. Fuentes explains, record “Misadventures”. The creation of “After we finished tracking the music this album didn’t come without difficulme, Tony, and Jaime left and it was up ty. It has been 4 years since the band’s to Vic to finish the lyrics. That took some last full length “Collide With The Sky” was time, finding the lyrics. We also had tours released. The band wasn’t using this time booked in the middle of the process too as down time though, they were hard at that were part of the misadventure and work. We caught up with drummer Mike actually kind of a blessing to us. We got Fuentes to ask him a few questions about to get out of the studio and play some the release and Pierce The Veil’s decade shows and see our fans and then get long run as a band. back in the studio and finish.” The band “Misadventures” is the San Diego didn’t expect the release to take off the quartet’s third full length album. Just like way it did. After a huge release show in with the creation of any record you may Mexico the band met their fate with a come across some road bumps along release that made it #4 on the Billboard the way. While Pierce The Veil found a charts and slot on late night television. comfortable spot with their producer Dan The band’s dedication to this release Korneff, who also worked with the band contributed to this success. “We just put on “Collide With The Sky”, the writing pro- everything we have into it especially with cess of this album met a few challenges this record. We put every drop of our along the way. heart and souls that we had into it. We’re “We didn’t plan on a huge gap just happy that the fans like it and people like that obviously. We went into this reare reacting to it the way they are” says cord like any other record we took about Fuentes. a year off to write [and] came up with How do you follow up such a strong about eleven songs and when we felt we release? Endless touring, which is somewere ready to go into the studio we went thing Pierce The Veil are no strangers in with Dan Korneff, our producer who to. Just while working on this record the did Collide With The Sky. We went in there band was on the Vans Warped Tour and and laid all the songs out and ended up a world tour with Sleeping With Sirens. cutting two of the songs early on. We had They’ll be bringing their “Misadventures” to write two songs in the studio, which to venues across the globe. “For the first we’ve never done. We have always been tour we’re playing the whole record, just pretty prepared going into the studio. We for that tour. It’s going to be something spend months and months on each song special for our fans to catch if they got pretty much. Having to write two songs a ticket. After that we’re doing multiple in the studio in a couple of weeks was tours around the world. We announced definitely a challenge for us, but it came an Australia run. We announced some out cool.” Fuentes tells us.Those two songs dates in Brazil and a UK/Europe tour. that were written in the studio made it on All those tours will be new and old and the record as the final tracks “Sambuka” they’re all headlining tours so we’ll have and “Song for Isabelle”. a long set to play as many new ones and
Underdog Press | 24
as many old ones as we want.” Just last year the band did about 300 shows, still working off of their 2012 release cycle. The band’s humble work ethic has allowed them to make it this far and this fall this year they’ll be celebrating 10 years of Pierce The Veil. “I think that’s part of why we are where are today because were not afraid to stay out on the road for as long as it takes and that’s what we’re going to do with this record too. Our friends and family they understand. They are 100% supporting us” Fuentes explains about putting themselves out there for the fans. With loyal friends and families back at home nothing is stopping these guys. Way back in the early days of Pierce The Veil it wasn’t always easy for the band. Fuentes explained to us the difficulty of needing to work a part time job at home to survive in between tour dates. “I remember when I had to have a job and we would go on tour and I would have to come back and work. It’s kind of shitty because the job I had was at a House of Blues. That’s a music venue and restaurant. I came home from one tour and they told me I took too much time off and they fired me. It was horrible because I didn’t have any money and they are supposed to be supporting me with playing music too, at least I thought.” Now that they are long past those days and looking back on it Fuentes believes
those bands that want it the most and are willing to work the hardest will make it. “It’s hard to make any money when you’re starting out. You pretty much have to live off of cup of noodles and try to sell as many t shirts and get out there and sell as many CDs to get gas money and eat. It’s hard, but I don’t think it’s going to change especially today with so many bands coming out with social media and how accessible they are. How much competition there is I guess? It’s kind of like whoever wants it more or whose ability and talent and wants to push themselves as far as they go. You just have to want it. If you can sacrifice not having money for a while you can keep going.” Pierce The Veil’s “Misadventures” is available for purchase in stores and online. Be sure to catch their high energy set at one of their upcoming tour dates. Check out our Twitter (@Underdog_Press) for a chance to win Pierce The Veil merchandise. PHOTOS + STORY BY CAROL SIMPSON
Underdog Press | 25
The Millen
Bringing M
nium
Midwest Heart to Pop/Rock
Midwest sweethearts, The Millenium, are a Pop/Rock group from Eau Claire, WI. They have established a loyal following in such a short amount of time and have been making their way across the country bringing their high energy stage presence and addicting songs to new places. They just wrapped up a headlining run on the Sleepless Summer Tour with Time Atlas, Royal Street, and Walkney. They are now looking forward to new adventures with their officially complete five-person lineup. Strong branding and talent to go along with it make The Millenium a very memorable band. Their music videos have scored them thousands of views on YouTube, thousands of listeners across streaming platforms, and plenty of followers on social media. The band originally started as a duo by vocalist Matt Hassenmueller and guitarist Kyle Culver. Their final lineup now also includes Kyle Featherstone and, more recently, Casey Sproatt, and Brandon Bruyette. Hitting the road with the lineup and new songs they received a positive reaction from the crowd each night of the tour. The band played three brand new songs on this run that have been recorded, but have yet to be released. Their revamped live set was carefully thought out. Kyle Featherstone explains, “We put in a lot of time to make the set different than what we had done in the past. That and the writing process is a lot different than the first record. We have fully integrated everybody. We feel a little more refreshed and rejuvenated than we have in the past. I think that in turn Underdog Press | 28
shows in the [live] show.” This tour has brought The Millenium to new places including Rhode Island where things played out a little differently than other dates on the tour. “Rhode Island was different because we have never played there before and we weren’t headlining. It felt to me like we were on our first tour because we had to earn the crowd’s respect. Whereas the last three shows the crowd came thirsty to sing with us. I’d like to think we did a pretty good job given the circumstances.” Vocalist, Matt tells us. The lack of predictability on the road each night and the financial burden of touring can add incredible amounts of stress to any musician on the road. The Millenium help ease some of the stress of touring with 4-hour driving shifts, crashing at friends’ places, and finding their alone time when needed. Even guilty pleasures like staring out the window and listening to music at the end of the day ease the stress. Little things like that add up to the band not totally losing it on the road and being constantly annoyed with each other. Kyle Culver says, “We have rotating drive teams that split drives into 4 hour chunks and we really try to find places to stay with friends. They are very generous with us. It takes a lot of stress off of us mentally and financially just to have a bed to sleep in. By doing that as much as we can it helps us prevent wear which will make us kill each other in the future.” While there are little intricacies about being on the road that may irritate the average person, The Millenium carry an ease and positive attitude about them that radiates to those
“We just want to be the best band we can be at all times.�
around them. Even while talking about the less fortunate parts about tour life bassist, Casey, jumped in to add a statement that displays the band’s grateful nature. “How can you be mad? It’s a beautiful Sunday night in New York City and we’re a thousand miles from home. Everything is great.” The band feels a sense of home on the road despite being so far away from home. They have cultivated lasting friendships in so many states. “Ever since I got back out here I have felt like I have more friends. Back at home I don’t feel like I have as many friends as I have out on the road. Everybody that comes out to the shows and puts effort into coming to see us. It sucks going home and being thousands of miles away from these people you just want to see and spend some time with and you can’t. It just kind of bums me out sometimes.” Kyle Featherstone Underdog Press | 30
admitted. The band is placed in an interesting juxtaposition where it makes being home that much more bittersweet. Even while surrounded by family at home they are missing their friends on the road, but while on the road they’re missing everyone at home. Despite all of this, the benefits of pursuing something they’re passionate about outweighs any negativity they may be feeling. Their home of Eau Claire, WI drives a scene that may not exactly fit The Millenium, but they’re perfectly okay with standing out. “It’s different for us. We’re one of the fewer pop bands in especially our city of Eau Claire. Eau Claire has a pretty wide indie niche of Bon Iver and the lineage beyond that. So we’re kind of the only Pop/Alternative band that exists in the city. It’s really kind of fun to play and be a little different in the city.” Kyle
Culver says. Just like they stand out in their hometown, the band is standing out on social media and streaming platforms with their captivating Pop/Rock songs. While many artists today are shunning streaming platforms, The Millenium are currently embracing discovery tools like Spotify to help build their following. Matt says, “For us right now it helps. It helps to get our name out there in an easy or cheap way for people. I can definitely see how if someone who normally sells millions of records would get upset at Spotify, but at the stage in the game we’re at right now, it’s the best thing.” Using Spotify to their advantage has helped spread The Millenium thus far, but with this lifestyle comes the downside of association of a stigma. When asked what is one thing they all wish could be changed about this Casey said “I would say the fact that everybody thinks that all of these bands are sex, drugs, and rock and roll and they don’t realize that we were up at 8am yesterday to drive to Providence to play a show and we got back at 4am to get up at 7am to come here today. So no sleep, a lot of driving, a lot of work. We don’t have time for the stereotypical band lifestyle.” That strong work ethic is now transitioning into post tour plans that include new music in the works. Matt tells us, “We’re working on music. When it’s finished, it’s finished, but we’re all working on it. Hoping for some kind of release in the fall. We’re going to go back and keep perfecting what we have been very fortunate to be able to do and that’s play music
and that includes writing. We just want to be the best band we can be at all times.” With the band generating so much momentum it may seem like the next step is to look towards signing with a record label, but they’re not seeking that just yet. Focusing on the moment and perfecting their craft seems to be a more reasonable option for the group as of right now. “I don’t even think it’s the record deal thing that’s so important now If we had a management or distribution or something pretty much anything to be able to reach” Casey says. They are pushing themselves harder than ever before they reach that milestone. Kyle Featherstone tells us, “yeah that would be amazing, but we’re just trying to take things a step at a time. You can’t sign unless you have music, unless you have fans.” While lead singer Matt called it the “romanticized band dream”, they’re well on their way and doing right by refining their sound and their brand before pushing forward with such a major decision. Their last words for our interview ranged from Brandon’s, “Blink-182 with Matt Skiba is not Alkaline Trio” and Casey’s “I still don’t know the difference between cold air pressure and hot air pressure in tires. Still trying to figure that” and Matt’s “Follow your dreams always.” The Millenium’s combination of personalities, work ethic, and talent will help them navigate their way through the music industry and be one of the biggest bands in Pop/Rock soon. PHOTOS + STORY BY CAROL SIMPSON
Underdog Press | 31
STORY BY KARINA CORDOVA
Industry Highlight:
idobi Radio was founded in 1999 by Tom Cheney, only a few short years after the first internet radio station was launched in 1993. idobi, as one of the pioneers in the industry have since drawn over 5.4 million listeners and become the #8 internet radio station and #1 alternative-rock online station in the world. They are known for bringing listeners their favorite artists and up and coming artists to their computers with notable radio shows like The Gunz Show, Rock the Walls, Gone Fishkin, and Eddie Jason & Chris. Eddie Jason & Chris (EJC), three high school best friends, pitched their show they had been doing since high school to idobi in 2001. They became idobi’s first weekly radio show. “Our high school didn’t have a radio program or club, or anything of the sort, so we did it ourselves! Eddie set up shop with his own DIY internet radio station and EJC a live show every week on it until it was picked up on idobi Radio,” EJC hosts tell us. Their dynamic as best friends works well on air talking about current events and interviewing musicians. “…[EJC] it’s a reflection of our personalities (sometimes exaggeratUnderdog Press | 34
ed). When the three of us hang out outside of the show, we joke, we’re sarcastic, listen to music and we have a genuine good time. We take that same energy and apply it to our live show each week.” They feel that idobi is “… paving the path for the internet radio industry and we’re able to be extremely creative while doing so. Along the way we’ve been able to meet some really incredible and fascinating people. Sometimes it feels like a dream, because it started out that way. If you have a dream, go for it!”
Patrick Walford, host of Rock The Walls, grew up in Canada and at the age of 16 he came to the realization that, “… 99% of Canadian Kids play Ice Hockey competitively growing up, I wasn’t making it to the NHL (laughs). I thought, why not do the next best thing and cover it by going to school for Broadcasting? I started doing Camera for live broadcasts of the Barrie Colts (Ontario Major Junior Hockey Team) and developed a real love for it.” As he got older and got into different music he became a huge fan of Motion City Soundtrack. “Becoming such a huge fan of the band and wanting to go to school for Broadcasting/Journalism, I decided to send a press request when I was 17 years old to Epitaph Records to interview MCS. To my surprise, they got back to me pretty quickly and the following week I was interviewing Justin Pierre (Vocals, Guitar of MCS). The first interview went well and I started to do it more over the next few months of writing for my high school newspaper.” By the time he got to College and became part of his college radio, where he was allowed to play whatever music he wanted and interview whoever he wanted. Waldorf did his show for two years at his college radio but as he was ending his schooling. He sent it in a demo of his show to idobi and it got picked up. He started his show with idobi on January 3rd, 2011. “I can remember being in the Radio Studio at school and working for 4 hours on a 5minute demo for the Station PD to give them an idea of what
my show would sound like if I got one. It paid off! Ever since I started doing my show, the love of it just became bigger and bigger. Getting to introduce/play new bands on my show and interview bands was something I basically have lived and breathed the last 7.5 years and I haven’t for a second stopped loving it.” Since the day Waldorf interviewed Motion City Soundtrack he has interviewed over 500 bands. Picking favorites was a hard thing for him to do, “… Tom Delonge was an awesome dude when I interviewed him. I was 18 and scared shitless. He was just the nicest guy ever which made it so much easier. Motion City Soundtrack would be another one. Those guys rule. It’s hard to pick favourites when I’ve met and became friends with so many awesome bands and people over the years. It’s the best job in the world.”
PHOTO BY JOSH MOODY Underdog Press | 35
Kids in high school and college apply to internships or small jobs in hopes of climbing up the ladder in an industry, and that’s exactly what happened for Fish, host of Gone Fishkin’. Fish started working for idobi in 2007-2008, when he was only 15 years old, on one of idobi’s radio shows ‘The Gunz Show.’ Fish tells us about the experience, “I was about 15 doing everything from helping coordinate guests, find new music and edit some interviews. Eventually I got my first on air gig at my college doing a few different shows and learning how to become a personality. After doing that for 2 years I met Eddie, our program director and he gave me a shot on air filling in for Gunz and the rest is history as they say!” Fish started his show in November of 2013, then he became idobi’s community manager in February of 2015 and after moving out to LA I’ve also become idobi Production’s office manager. Not bad for starting off small and working hard. A common theme for idobi radio is giving their hosts complete creative freedom, Waldorf says, “idobi gives us as hosts complete creative freedom and control to do whatever we want, with a lot of great guidance along the way. Having Eddie, Brad (Lopez, idobi Howl Music Director & Host of Metalix), and Tom (Cheney, one of idobi Radio’s owners) to be able to talk to and share our ideas with is amazing. They are great minds with a ton of experiUnderdog Press | 36
ence and perspective. It helps a ton and my show would not be what it is today without them. You could not ask for better people to work with.” idobi is not just an internet radio station for fans to find new music while listening to music they love, but it represents so much more than that. Fish says, “idobi represents the kids who don’t fit in with the top 40 crowd, kids who don’t fit in with jocks, kids who don’t fit in the punk crowd. They represent a community where you fit in for not fitting in. I was always a floater when it came to friend groups growing up. I was never a “jock”, never a “punk kid”, never an “honor student” but idobi I feel like I can fit in and everyone who I get to work with and meet through idobi seems to have the same story. It’s cool to see how many friends I’ve been able to make through idobi and I feel like it’s the same to everyone who listens to idobi and is a part of it.”
GALL
LERY
PHOTO BY SAM LESSER
VINNIE C
CARUANA
PHOTO BY CAROL SIMPSON
WALKN
NEY
BEART
TOOTH
PHOTO BY CAROL SIMPSON
THRICE
PHOTO BY SAM LESSER
ROYAL
L TEETH
I SET MY FRIE
NDS ON FIRE
PHOTO BY SAM LESSER
THE SUM
MER SET
PHOTO BY CAROL SIMPSON
PIERCE T
THE VEIL