Venture Mag #2 by Venture Mag

MAG

VENTURE

AUTUMN 2012

J O E

B R O O K S

WILLIAM BECKETT // WARPED TOUR // ANARBOR

V E N T U HELLO, STAFF:

WRITERS MELISA BAYKENT / ELIZABETH TOLBERT / BRYSON SCHMIDT / JEN GRIMBLE / JULIA PURCELL / MEGAN SAUERS / MONICA PARTOSA / HELEN WHITTLE / ASHLEY BARBER / NCIOLE THOMAS / MAUREEN GINLEY.

PHOTOGRAPHERS KYLE KOTAJARVI / STEPH BROWN / DEVIN DEROSE / SYLVIA LINARES.

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R E M A G INSIDE, 5

ANARBOR INTERVIEW.

UK VS. USA FEATURE.

WARPED TOUR FAVOURITES.

JOE BROOKS INTERVIEW.

SET IT OFF SHOW REVIEW

UK FESTIVAL SPECIAL

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Front Page / Joe Brooks / William Beckett

Relient K / Hands Like Houses - Steph

- Sylvia Linares

Brown

Anarbor - Megan Thompson

Set it Off - Natalie Bisignano

Chapel Club - Marc Hibbert

Warped Tour - Kyle Kotajarvi / Steph

The Good Natured - Daniel Sannwald

Brown / Devin DeRose / Sylvia Linares

General Fiasco - Pip

Ponty’s Big Weekend - Ashley Barber

Saint Motel - Liza Mandelup

City and Colour -taojonesphotographer.com

DWNTWN - Edward Chang

We Are The In Crowd - Tom Falcone

TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS By Nicole Thomas

Would you like to start off by introducing yourself? My name is Jason and I work with an organization called To Write Love On Her Arms. TWLOHA is a non-profit movement trying to find help for people who struggle with things like addiction and suicide. When did the organization start? We started in February of 2006 just trying to help out one girl who was at a bad time in her life. We printed t-shirts to help pay for her treatment and shared her story on websites like MySpace. We received a lot of feedback from people all over the country saying that they wanted to help out as they could relate to her story. So we soon realized that with just one personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story, we could connect with a lot of people. Do you guys go on tours often and why do you think music tours fit well with TWLOHA? Yeah, this is our 6th year on Warped Tour, and we are a part of many other tours and music festivals. We just try to reach out to as many people as we can. I think music kind of transcends language into emotion, and music is a place that feels a lot like home to people. How can fans get more involved? We have high school programs and college programs where we go and speak with the students and share our story. We also have a street team and intern programs. We are also looking at doing a string of music events, hopefully jumping on some bigger tours starting in January or February so keep an eye out for that. I know you work a lot with music festivals, but do you have plans to expand into other events? We just started working with the action sports industry, and we picked surfing specifically, so we are using that to our advantage and sharing our story and hoping to branch out even further. Where can our readers go to learn more and keep up with TWLOHA? Our Facebook is Facebook.com/towriteloveonherarms and our website is (www.twloha.com). Our website is where we have our story/mission, our webstore, ways to get involved, and most importantly our help page. I really encourage people to visit the help page if they are ever struggling or seeking help. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great way for us to communicate with people, and we have phone numbers/websites we direct them to if they need someone to talk to. 10

Rising Hopeless Records stars Anarbor are becoming more and more popular as the weeks progress with their catchy pop-rock tunes and infectious energy. Our writer, Melisa Baykent, got a chance to chat with Slade Encheverria who does vocals and plays bass for the band.

V: So we’ve heard that you’ve been working on a new album could you tell us what the recording process was like and what we can expect from the album? SE: It was great. We did it in Nashville with a guy named Matt Mahaffey and we were there for like three weeks. We stayed in his house and it was really nice. He had this loft underneath where we all just could chill after we recorded.

V:First of all do you think you could give us a brief history of the band? SE: Basically we were just friends in high school and we were going to summer school camp. One day we were like: “hey guys, let’s start a band.” We liked music and we liked going to shows so by that Christmas we all had instruments. We started playing in Greg’s, our drummers garage and one thing led to another. We started playing shows, and labels were kind of interested in us so we signed to Hopeless Records right out of high school. We started touring a bunch and since then we’ve just played all over the world and it’s been amazing. It’s been absolutely amazing.

It was a really really nice process, Dave Melillo was on it with us. He’s the guy that’s been working with us since Adam left the band. It was a good process though, you know everything went really smooth. I’m really excited for this record, it’s gonna be really good, we did a bunch of co-writes with different people. So all the songs are really good. I love it, I’m excited for everybody to hear it. V: Would you say your sound has changed from when you first began?

SE: I mean I think that all bands kind of mold as they grow you know? So I mean definitely, we’ve definitely changed as a band. I still think the main points are still there of the band you know? You know like the rock aspect is still there. So that’s still definitely a part of it.

but when you come back home it’s a lot more mellow and you kind of just wanna hang out and not do much, you know just kind of sleep. V: What are the top 5 things you need with you on tour? SE: Well I need my cell phone for sure. I definitely need a pillow because if I don’t have a pillow then I’ll be sleeping with my head on nothing and just a backpack full of goodies.

V: What’s your favorite song to play live and which song would you say means the most to you? SE: I’d say my favorite song to play live is an old one we have called “Always Dirty, Never Clean” just because it says a lot and it means a lot. It’s basically what our band stands for so that’s a really fun one to play live.

V: What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever gotten from a fan? SE: We’ve gotten shot glasses with our names on them, as well as car straps with our names on but I think my favorite gift was when a fan brought me a Spain soccer Jersey. I don’t really wear it often, but I love soccer and I love Spain.

The one that means the most to me is probably a song called “Useless” because it’s just about being on the road, you know missing your family and your friends and going through the struggles of being gone and not knowing where you’re at.

V: Do you have any hidden talents you would like to share with us? SE: I can touch my tongue to my nose.

V: What’s your top played album on your iPod, or what you think it is? SE: Ah man, I don’t know. I’ve been listening to a lot of different music lately. I mean I listen to Envy On The Coast all the time, they’re always playing on my iPod, but Miike Snow’s record. I’ve been listening to his old one a lot lately, just randomly. Also Young The Giant’s record is really really good.

V: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? SE: I’m probably not allowed to say that, but I’m trying to think of something that’s pretty crazy that I’ve done. I try to stay you know pretty low key. No I don’t know, I’m sorry I can’t answer that. V: What’s something on your Bucket List? SE: Hmmm. Well I’ve always wanted to go to like a crazy secluded island by myself and well, not by myself maybe with somebody, but have the whole island to myself and get like treated with like breakfast and look at the ocean and have a nice

V: Who or what inspired you to start making music? SE: My parents. My mom mostly. I was playing soccer for a long time and she was like you know you need to get into something when soccer isn’t going on. She was like you need to do something with yourself when you’re not doing anything and I was like okay well, like what? She’s like you’re always singing, she said I’m just going to put you in singing lessons. I was like that’s kind of for girls, I don’t really want to do that. Well, I mean I never knew I was going to be in a band and you know it would actually help me out and now it’s like it’s awesome. I’d like to thank my mom for doing that.

time. V: Lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans? SE: Yeah, I mean we love you guys. Thank you for all the support, you guys have been amazing. We’re coming out with new music, so don’t you know don’t stray off, stick around. We’re gonna be on the road here pretty soon, so come out and see us and hopefully we’ll see you soon. Love, Slade.

V: Do you guys have any upcoming tour plans? Like I know you guys have a show in August. SE: Yeah, we have that show here in August but I can’t say anything about that. I’m sorry. But we definitely will be on the road soon, very soon.

Be sure to keep up to date with Anarbor by visiting their Facebook and Twitter sites. You can also follow Slade on Twitter @AnarborSlade

V: What would you say tour life is like and how does it feel to come back home after a tour? SE: Touring is always crazy, you never really know what’s going to happen because of the people in the different bands so when we are on tour we meet a ton of other bands. It’s a crazy experience, 6

FACEBOOK.COM/ANARBOR T W I T T E R / @ANARBOR

U.K

Chapel Club are a five piece indie / alternative group

By Bekka Collins

from London. Through self promoted gigs and hard work came media attention and a loyal fan base. Chapel Club’s sheer determination and talent left them with top songs on the radio and a few proud single releases under their belts. Their next challenge was creating their debut album release, and so ‘Palace’ graced the world in January of 2011. It has received praise from fans and critics alike. With a variety of tracks, Chapel Club show their strengths with ease. With a voice you won’t tire of, riffs you won’t stop dancing too, and lyrics you won’t stop trying to unravel. Chapel Club have no trouble

CHAPEL CLUB GOOD

expressing that they’re a talented bunch.

FACEBOOK.COM/CHAPELCLUB

THE

The Good Natured are a trio that are slowly taking the UK by storm. Originally beginning as a solo project for singer / songwriter Sarah McIntosh she quickly recruited her brother, guitarist Hamish McIntosh and drummer George Hinton after deciding to leave University. Equipped with a ready band, and strong influences from the 80s era ranging from Siouxsie and the Banshees to Human League, The Good Natured were ready to start releasing some material. Their self released material shows the trio have a knack for constructing mystical tunes with thought-provoking lyrics. They recently

NATURED

By Bekka Collins

General Fiasco are a quartet from Northern Ireland and have been working hard to cause a stir within the music scene. Since their formation back in 2007, General Fiasco have already had the pleasure of playing alongside several notable acts and have received constant praise for their previous releases. This year they continued to impress with the release of their second studio album ‘Unfaithfully Yours’, which is a 12 track release filled with infectious tunes, singalong choruses and positive vibes. ‘Unfaithfully Yours’ is a massive step up from their previous album ‘Buildings’ in more ways than one. Not only is their sound more perfected, but the maturity of the things their writing about is much more apparent. With tours in progress and an album that is pleasing to the ears, General Fiasco are ones to watch out for this year. 7 FACEBOOK.COM/GENERALFIASCO

signed to Regal/Parlophone records which gave us their fourth release the ‘Skeleton EP’. This trio are ready to take a hold of the world one fierce track at a time. FACEBOOK.COM/THEGOODNATURED

GENERAL FIASCO

By Bekka Collins

U.S.A

By Melisa Baykent

From the massive city of Los Angeles a band full of energy emerges, this band is no other than Saint Motel. The four piece band, consisting of A/J Jackson (lead vocals/guitar), Aaron Sharp (lead guitar), Dak (bass), and Greg Erwin (drums), have formed a distinct sound that brings joy to the listeners. With one album and an EP under their belt, they are ready to head down a road of success. Each song of theirs, whether it be off of ‘Voyeur’ or ‘ForPlay’, contains the upbeat sound that instantly gives you the urge to tap your foot. Having been described as “dream pop”, “garage glam”, “indie prog”, and “indie pop”, they are a band that is worth the listen. Along with their music being fun and intriguing, their videos are equally as enjoyable, with each one being pleasant to the eye. This band is definitely worth checking out and putting on your Fall playlists.

SAINT MOTEL Electronic folk music may seem like a strange combination, but DWNTWN manage to captivate listeners with their unique sound. Formed in 2010, the LA duo consists of lead vocalist Jamie Leffler

FACEBOOK.COM/SAINTMOTEL

DWNTWN

and instrumentalist/vocalist Robert Cepeda. DWNTWN have been compared to Ellie Goulding and M83 and dream of touring with The Killers. Their debut EP ‘Cowboys’ features four folksy electro-pop songs and can be downloaded for free on their website. When it comes to songwriting, Cepeda is the mastermind behind the music and production while Leffler creates the lyrics and melodies. Leffler states that her lyrics are about love, specifically a recent bad breakup. DWNTWN expect to release a follow up EP entitled ‘Indians’, due later this year. With their unique sound and smooth vocal harmonies, DWNTWN are definitely a band to watch out for. FACEBOOK.COM/DWNTWNMUSIC

By Elizabeth Tolbert

THE CALL OUT

New Jersey's four piece band The Call Out is making waves in the American pop rock scene. While they are still young, they've already captured thousands of fans, and earned themselves spots on The Vans Warped Tour and The Bamboozle music festival. Stylistically, The Call Out does not contrast most other pop rock bands, but they are characterized by the rare combination of young energy and mature dynamics.Their recently released album 'Closer' displays their most polished sound, and their greatest melodic and rhythmic achievements. They are scheduled to be on tours until the end of the year, so make sure you catch these guys if they come near your town! FACEBOOK.COM/THECALLOUT

By Bryson Schmidt

Artist: Futures / Review by: Helen Whittle ‘The Karma Album’ is UK indie rock band Futures’ debut album with their record label Indigo Records. “Start A Fire” opens ‘The Karma Album’ perfectly; a simple and rhythmic rock song with unique and captivating vocals, enthralling you to keep listening. First single from the album “Karma Satellite” starts softly with gentle vocals accompanied by keys which build up with vibrant guitar riffs and percussion into a huge, shining chorus. A highlight of the album, it seems to encapsulate the band’s energy and talent. The expansive chorus and vocals “It feels like I’m flying…” of "Get Out" are immediately catchy. "Million Lights" is another highlight of the album – a gentle, melodic track capturing a different mood, along with “We Had It All”. “Say My Name” and “Aeroplanes’ are similar tracks in that they have excellent hooks and drums but are too predictable and lack an exciting punch. “The Boy Who Cried Wolf”, an old song, loses its vibrancy and bounce through over-production but is still a melodic and catchy track, as is "The Rescue". ‘The Karma Album’ has many shimmering, original indie hits that will keep fans happy but a few tracks lack personality and excitement to make them unforgettable.

Artist: Seapony/ Review by: Bekka Collins Indie-pop trio Seapony from Seattle have been hard at work on their sophomore release, ‘Falling’. This 12 track release oozes warmth and creativity right from the beginning.

Opening with “Outside” this chilled out and repetitive track eases us into the catchy nature of “Tell Me So” and lets us bop around to “What You Wanted” which is one of the most upbeat tracks on the record.

“Be Alone” offers simplistic melodies which contrast well to the playful natures of “No One Will” and “Never Be” which execute more power through the drums and riffs. “Sunlight” and “Fall Apart” are slower jams, and utter gems on this record. Although the feeling of the album is mystical and slow paced anyway there’s a genuine vibe to these two tracks. Album closer “Nothing Left” leaves you with the feeling of wanting more and this is an album that you won’t want to miss out on.

Artist: William Beckett / Review by: Megan Sauers It was not that long ago that lead singer William Beckett of The Academy Is… announced he would be going solo. Beckett's first EP of his own, ‘Walk the Talk’, was released this past spring. Only a couple of months later and Beckett has released a second EP, ‘Winds Will Change’. It is no secret that this Chicago based singer/songwriter is on a role. ‘Winds Will Change’ is a mile stone in Beckett's career and definitely worth a listen. The EP offers four tracks. What makes it so unique is that each song has its own style. Beckett definitely has a fresh new sound, and fans will love it. The EP opens with "Great Night," which is guaranteed to have everyone singing along. In fact, it actually features a sing-along chorus. The voices in the background and everyone singing along does the song title justice. The second track titled "Warriors" is more of a rock tune. It isn't as laid back as the opening song, but more intense and upbeat. "Scarlett (Tokyo)" is the name of the third track which is calm, yet still upbeat. It has more of an acoustic vibe to it. The final song, "Dig a Hole," may be the most impressive of the whole EP. The lyrics are complex and full of emotion and overall a very captivating track. ‘Winds Will Change’ is fun, upbeat, and has something for everyone. Beckett's talent and love for songwriting shines in each of the four songs. Be sure to check it out!

Artist: Thought Beneath Film / Review by: Jen Grimble Canadian 5 piece Thought Beneath Film, are back with a brand new E.P, ‘Detours.’ Known for their upbeat pop-rock music, the band don’t disappoint with their latest offering. ‘Detours’ presents 5 tracks of addictive riffs and sing-along lyrics that will stay in your head all day. The E.P’s genres range from pop-punk to indie-rock, each sounding perfectly systematic.

“If I Could Fix You (You Know That I Would),” is by far the catchiest track on the E.P, with powerful guitars and enduring punk hooks, the song is one to dance alone to, like no one is watching.

The entire E.P has a smile on its face. It is a non-stop, fun-filled adventure, giving energy and pleasure to all that come across it. Masters of memorable pop-rock, Thought Beneath Film’s energy and their perfectionism makes their music endlessly enticing. So grab your copy of the E.P, out now on vinyl, CD or cassette, and play them loud.

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TONIGHT ALIVE BY STEPH BROWN

S Y L V I A L I N A R E S

D E V I N D E R O S 14

JOE BROOKS

Interview by:Monica Partosa

Photographs by:Sylvia Linares Indie-pop sensation Joe Brooks from Southampton, UK has been working hard touring and preparing for the release of his upcoming EP.

While on the US leg of his world tour, Joe took some time out of his schedule to hang out, chat and take some photos with us.

V: Let's start with an introduction as to who you are. J: My name is Joe Brooks. I am originally from England and I am a musician, singer, songwriter. I play the

acoustic guitar, and now the harmonica as of this year. It started out a little rough and got a little better. V: For those who haven't heard your music before, how would you describe it? J: Epic. No, I would describe it as . . . Oh God, I don't know. That's tough. It's real music; honest music. V: How did you get started in music and when did you decide that you wanted to pursue it full time? J: I was sixteen when I first picked up the guitar and I just loved it. I used to play tennis from the age of 4 to 16 and I just switched the racket for the guitar and that became

my dream. Originally, it was to win Wimbledon and then it became to make a career out of music. I never really thought it was possible. I went to university to study sports, become a coach, but really, while I was at university when I was meant to be writing essays, I was writing songs. That's really how I started and from there I just put my stuff online on MySpace and YouTube. V: You released your fan funded EP ‘A Reason To Swim’ back in 2011, how was that experience for you and what was the reaction from your fans? J: It was amazing! Honestly, I couldn't have asked it to go any smoother. The fans showed their support immensely by funding the EP. We raised about $30,000 and it was received very well. Maybe I don't have the same amount of hits on YouTube as Bieber or the same amount of ratings on iTunes as Taylor Swift, however, the quality of the ratings and reviews and comments on my music is something I'm very proud of. Obviously I hope the hits and the sales get bigger, but something I'll always concentrate on is the quality. I feel like ‘A Reason to Swim’ matches that high quality I try to set for myself. I'm very much a perfectionist, although that's a good thing. I feel like the quality is then high, it also a bad thing though because it takes forever to finish things. I was very, very pleased with ‘A Reason To Swim’.

V: When it comes to releasing new music, can you tell us what your usual writing and recording process is like?

whichever way they want. I'm done with trying to explain my lyrics because I feel like it takes the magic out of them slightly.

J: It varies immensely; from song to song, producer to producer, and from writing session to writing session. Every time is different.

The whole EP plays on this whole childhood imagination and using it in life today. There's this magical element to it, this kind of whimsical, circus factor. There's a song called “Carousel” which talks about the way the world goes around and it compares it to a carousel. There's a song called “Six String Soldier” which is about my experience in the music industry and my bond with the fans. The whole running theme generally is about the last couple of years of my life as a musician and finding ways of expressing that kind of child-like manner.

Something that I focus very strongly on is the lyric. I am slightly dyslexic when it comes to writing, reading, and spelling. I'm pretty atrocious, and it actually brings out a creative side. There are studies that show people with dyslexia are generally more creative, although I wouldn't class myself as someone with dyslexia as mine is only slight. Yet there's something about writing lyrics that really allows me to escape from reality and just have my own time with a notebook. It's an absolute pleasure. That doesn't always mean that I write some crazy, metaphorical, elaborate, poetic lyric though. Sometimes it just has to be honest and get to the point. Writing those metaphors and painting a picture using words in a unique way is just something I love to do. All of my huge influences did that, Cat Stevens, Simon and Garfunkel, all those kinds of singer / songwriters did an amazing job of painting what they were trying to say with words in a really unique way. So, it's all based really, for me, around a great lyric. V: Can you tell us about your new EP, "The Boy and the Broken Machine"? J: This record for me is again independently funded. There's a general theme in there which talks about life and my experiences in life. People can take the name

V: Is there a certain message you try to convey through your music or does it change with each album? J: It honestly changes with each song. That's what I really like. My mentality has always been to just write what I want to write about. I think I've begun to worry less about what people think. When I first started, I was worried about what people would think. I started writing when I was in school, so the last thing you want to look like in school is uncool or like an idiot. Maybe not so much for girls, but for guys, expressing yourself can be quite difficult, especially when you know your family is going to be listening to it and they could question, "Oh, what's he writing about? Oh, his feelings for a girl?" You don't necessarily want your parents at first to listen to what you're really feeling, but for me, right now, it honestly doesn't matter. I am prepared to write about whatever.

Although I don't feel like this record necessarily has anything that's going to make you shocked, it's all honest and it all comes from a place of what I wanted to say when I was writing it. V: What do you think are the best and worst things about touring? J: I love touring! It's literally everything. As a musician, the live show is honestly my favorite thing and the reaction of the crowd. We recently came off tour with Tyrone Wells in the US, and my favorite part of that was going out each night and playing to a crowd that didn't necessarily know who I was. Obviously I had plenty of my fans there, but some nights it was 21 plus, so it was all his crowd pretty much. I loved that! I loved going out there and winning them over. I was singing my songs with full confidence knowing that if I delivered well, and we all performed well as a band, that we could win over anybody in that room and we did night after night. The response was fantastic! " So my favorite thing is definitely the response from fans and the response from the audience, and the banter with the boys; it's a lot of fun. My least favorite thing is probably missing people. You do have rough nights every now and then. Every tour you have one or two rough nights, maybe it's because it's a poor crowd, or maybe because you've fallen out with a band member, or you're just really missing home. In those moments, you really do wish you were back home with your family or with your friends just for a night or two. That can be hard if you're out on the road for 2 and 1/2 months.

Recently and unfortunately, I was on the road when my Grandad passed away. It was really difficult, because I was in a Catch 22; I couldn't leave the country, because I didn't have my passport. My passport was in LA, I was in New York, and I couldn't leave, but I wanted so desperately to go home. I couldn't leave the country and I wouldn't be able to get back in. I also had show after show after show for the next two weeks. That's when he went into the hospital and then he passed away on the second to last show of the tour, so I fortunately got to go home for his funeral.

the airport. More often than not, there's fans waiting in the airport. Once you've landed, you don't see your luggage until you get to the hotel.

Those are the tough moments, those are really tough decisions. You're on the road pursuing your dream, it's everything you ever wanted, you're working your ass off, but there are family things and real life things to also consider and to take care of. I felt that was a serious low point of the year. There are definitely ups and downs when it comes to touring.

I think the male singer / songwriters do very well in Asia, because there's a big fan base for it. I love touring over there, but hey, I love discovering the US too! Each time we go out, it's always different.

V: Do you have any must have items that you have to have with you on tour? J:Â Phone, phone, phone. I'm on my phone the whole time in the van, and I never have any battery because I had the back row of seats and there was no plug for my phone. For two and a half months, my phone was always dead. I would be on the back of the van on the internet. My favorite app is the BBC News! I'm fascinated by it. You go on there and you read about what's happening in every part of the world in all the different genres of news. I'd just be constantly passing my phone forward to get it charged and everyone got really, really, really annoyed with that. My phone is an absolute must. V:Â For such a young artist you've travelled a lot already, do you have any favorite places to tour and any places you wish to visit? J: I love Korea. I love Hong Kong. Asia is just a fascinating place. The people are welcoming and we've just had such good experiences. We've played some really cool festivals and had some really great promotions in Asia. I go through Sony over there. We go through Priceline in the US, and we stay in two star or three star hotels, and then you go to Asia and it's only five star. I've never stayed in a four star hotel in Asia. You get limo service, you get picked up from the airport, you get the sign, and there's always gifts at

One time, we had shuttle service from literally stepping off the plane and we got in one of the golf buggys and we got zoomed through immigration. It feels amazing! Then you get back to the US and you're like "Oh, okay nevermind" just because in the US market, there's so many options, so many bands, so much music, it's 10 times more difficult to make it as a musician.

Of course I love coming back to England, because the crowds there are mental. We're playing London in September and that's going to be 800 screaming people, and I'm headlining. It will be pretty much my biggest show I've ever done as a headliner. I've never sold 800 tickets before and it's just going to be great and awesome. I can't wait! V: Besides seeing family and friends, what's your favorite thing about being home? J:Â I've always said there's this mentality in England that I'm not saying is better than America, it's just different. There's this genuine kind of culture where people are just really to the point and really honest with you, and it's very refreshing. Sometimes it comes across as rude. There's not a lot of bullshit and I feel like in America, although I think America is more welcoming, there tends to be this kind of "show". It's always about networking and who you are and sometimes that gets really tiring. I like that in England, I feel very much grounded and down to earth. V: You always seem to be working pretty hard and keeping yourself busy, what do you do in your downtime to relax? J: To be honest, I just sleep and play Fifa. I really do try and work hard and try to stay busy. I went to New York last September with family for a week, and I just remember working the whole time on my email. I'm just addicted to work. I really want to make a name for myself and I want my music to be heard by as many people as it possibly can. So, I'm just going to keep doing that until either I burn out, or I wanna move on to something different, or I die. 18

V: Who would you identify as your inspirational artists? J: So many. Lyricists: John Lennon, Paul McCartney; amazing songwriters. Cat Stevens. Simon and Garfunkel; great, amazing harmonies. Real music: James Taylor, Ray Charles, Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson. The first kind of acoustic music I heard was Jack Johnson. Just so many artists and everyone that you would expect as well. V: Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with? J: I would love to collaborate with Taylor Swift! I would love that! I think that would be awesome! Oh, Chris Martin! Those two would honestly be just the absolute dream and my career would do a lot better after that.Â V: The music industry is tough and a lot of people sometimes feel like giving up, what motivates you to keep going? J:Â The love of the industry and the fact that I feel like it's in a moment where if you're clever and hard working, I think you can do whatever you want, and independently too. People don't need to rely on labels anymore and there's so many different income streams, that you can make it work as an independent artist. That's exactly what I've managed to do. So, the love for music, and the love for being creative, and all the crazy, wonderful things that come with it. V: What advice would you give to an aspiring artist? J: Have the biggest pair of balls you could imagine because you gotta wave through so much bullshit. Literally the answer to everything is "No" because it's bullshit and you've gotta see that. Also, just trust in your own instinct. Don't ever feel like you have to do what someone says just because they're an executive of a label. Don't feel like just because they are who they are, that they're right. Nine times out of ten, your instinct is going to be right. 19

V: What are the rest of your plans for 2012? J: I'm releasing the record in September, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Boy and the Broken Machineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, please go and buy it! It will be on iTunes and it's going to be on my store. We're going on the road September in the UK, we're going into Europe, all the dates will be on my website. Then, we're just about to announce the US run for October / November. Then, we're going out on the road to do some Asia dates. Then, I'm going home for Christmas and then we'll start back again next year. V: Is there anything else you'd like to say? J: One thing I'm trying to put together is a Brooks tribe / Brooks army type thing where I want to get young, enthusiastic, talented people involved in promoting the record. I did an intern program a couple years ago where I brought on some interns, one being a photographer, one being an online girl who's just fantastic with social media, all sorts of different things. They come out and do merchandise around the country and all that. I want to do something similar to that, but just take on a lot more people. That was about 12 people, I want to get a good couple hundred people that are going to be actively promoting it online. So, please join the Brooks tribe!

JOE BROOKS FACEBOOK.COM/JOEBROOKSMUSIC

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@JOEBROOKSMUSIC

SET IT OFF

SHOW REVIEW BY JULIA PURCELL

When I walked into the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey last Thursday, I had every intention of reviewing the headlining band that night, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, a band whose reputation precedes them. Whether you remember their break out hit “Face Down” or saw them run around Hollywood with Lauren Conrad on The Hills, you’ve heard of them. While I waited for the band to come on, three unassuming openers took the stage, including an overly melodic local band whom your mom would probably enjoy, a surprisingly good girl band whose vocalist actually DID sound like Hayley Williams, and a sugary power-pop band, all of whom seemed starkly out of place, considering who the headliner was. 21

When the fourth band came on, I honestly wasn’t expecting much. However, when Set It Off, started to play, I was blown away. This five-piece band from Tampa, Florida literally roared onto the stage and sucked the audience in. In terms of sound, Set It Off fall somewhere in between Panic at the Disco and Pierce The Veil. The band clearly has a flair for the dramatics, their music focusing on sweeping guitars and enormous choruses. Lead singer Cody Carson’s performance follows suit, emulating show-mans like Craig Owens and Billy Joe Armstrong. Carson is seemingly possessed onstage, to the point that it’s almost startling when the song ends and he turns back into a normal person. Set It Off stole the show without a doubt. They were undoubtedly entertaining and had a good range of songs in their set, including their ballad, “MIssing You.” The band had the crowd’s undivided attention from the first song to the last. I think that is the true testament to the show they put on. You can catch Set It Off as they finish up The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Tour or on their short run opening up for Chiodos later in August.

Check out the band on Facebook: www.facebook.com/setifoffband and Twitter @SetItOff Their new album ‘Cinematics’ drops September 18th.

THE NEWS FEST On Saturday 21st of July the Ynysangharad Park opened its gates to thousands of music fans for the 5th annual ‘Ponty’s Big Weekend’. The sun welcomed eager fans into the park to the sound of the opening act; X Factor’s John Adams. Following John on the huge line-up was Ladies Love A Superhero, Lucie Jones, Lilygreen and Maguire, Angel, Diana Vickers, Cover Drive and headliner; Olly Murs. All artists were welcomed by screams from the excitable crowd. The night’s headliner ‘Olly Murs’ performed a stunning set jam packed full of crowd pleasing hits. Overall, the day was a fantastic experience for all involved and I thoroughly recommend you all check out next year’s event.

BY ASHLEY BARBER 23

ABOUT UK IVALS BY BEKKA COLLINS Reading and Leeds Festival is considered as one of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finest music weekends. Starting back in the 1960s the festival takes place at the back end of August in both Reading and Leeds. The festival usually has around 7 stages which showcase a range of different artists.

This year we have one of the best line ups with The Cure, Kasabian and Foo Fighters headlining the three day festivities. Not to mention bands such as Paramore, Two Door Cinema Club, Enter Shikari and Foster The People will also be performing!

80,000 are expected to attend Leeds festival alone, which is the biggest attendance to date.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE & CITY AND COLOUR SHOW REVIEW

I had woken up on the morning of July 3rd to a loud clap of thunder, and a torrential downpour that made it seem as if no outdoor activities, would be happening that day. This was a particular bummer for me, as I was going to attend a concert at Jacob’s Pavilion, and outdoor venue in downtown Cleveland. What concert was I so concerned about being rained out, you ask? Death Cab for Cutie with opener City and Colour. Around Noon, things started to clear up, so I realized all my worrying had been for nothing, and that I would be heading to the concert in no time. Life was good. As I walked through the venue’s gates and saw the stage almost all set up with people running all around putting last minute touches on things, a mass of butterflies started to flutter around in my stomach. There’s something special about live music; the feeling of euphoria I get when at a concert is only matched by the feelings I have when I write, or when I eat a really good meal of breakfast food. In other words, I was really excited. First up: City and Colour. I have been a fan of Dallas Green and his live band for a while now, so it was really cool to experience the songs that I listened to more often than not when walking to class or cleaning my room. City and Colour’s set was almost too good. I felt like I was living in the music video for “Save Your Scissors” or “The Girl”, all of the songs were performed so well. While it was not music I could dance or move my feet to, it was fantastic nonetheless, and when the set was over, I was left wanting more.

After what seemed like the world’s longest break between acts, Death Cab finally started playing. I was at a counter buying a shirt when they began playing “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” as their opening song, and I distinctly remember sprinting through the rain (it had begun to drizzle again) and back to my seat, where my friend and I sang along, cried, and reveled in the glory that is Death Cab live. The set, which lasted about an hour and a half (I honestly could have listened to them for several, several hours and not grown tired.), was flawless in every single way. With singer Ben Gibbard’s soft, melodic voice, and the storm rolling in off the lake, everything seemed otherworldly, ethereal even. What I was most impressed with, though, was Death Cab’s set list.

With a seemingly endless catalogue of incredible songs to choose from, how could the band put together an assortment of their tunes that would satisfy both older and newer fans? Well, they did that and then some. While they played a handful of tunes off of Codes and Keys (the bands most recent release), they also played quite a few older songs, off albums such as Something About Airplanes and The Photo Album. Each and every song was performed to perfection, and I often find myself recalling certain performances; in particular, “Marching Bands of Manhattan” and “Soul Meets Body”. The whole evening was like an out of body experience for me, as odd as that sounds. Like I said, there is nothing quite like experiencing music live. And for me, seeing two of my favorite musical acts perform in one night was just the out of body experience I was looking for to make a rainy, dreary day about a million times better. FACEBOOK.COM/DEATHCABFORCUTIE

FACEBOOK.COM/CITYANDCOLOUR

BY MAUREEN GINLEY 26

WE ARE THE IN CROWD INTERVIEW BY NICOLE THOMAS V: Hi! Would you like to start out with an introduction? C: Hello, I’m Cameron. J: Hi, I’m Jordan we play in We Are The In Crowd.

V: What song off your latest release, ‘Best Intentions’, means the most to you? J: I would say Rumor Mill probably. C: Yeah, throughout the whole recording process we’ve watched that song gain popularity. J: That was actually the last song we finished in the studio, it just came together randomly one day. C: But it’s one of the oldest ideas, from that cd. So yeah, Rumor Mill is a good one.

V: So last night you guys had Warped Tour Prom, how was it? J: It was a blast C: Actually, I didn’t really do much. We went there, stood outside and took a hilarious picture that you can find on Twitter, and then I left. J: It was very similar to my high school prom experience, I just sat outside and drank the whole time. C: And didn’t go home with a girl.. J: Yes. I went home empty handed.

V: How was the recording process during ‘Best Intentions’ different from ‘Guaranteed to Disagree’? C: It wasn’t too much different. We kind of went into the studio with the same feelings we had with the EP so we wouldn’t stray too far away and things didn’t get weird. We recorded with the same people at the same studio, and watched the same movies all over again. J: And we’ll do it all over again in the spring!

V: Any crazy pranks going on at Warped this year? J: I don’t know, not really. C: Yeah, now would be the time for them to start doing them. J: We need to get them going, thanks for reminding us!

PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEPH BROWN 27

V: You guys just announced you’re going on tour in the fall, do you know who else is going to be on the tour? C: Yes, Yellowcard and The Wonder Years. The Bro Tour 2012! V: What are three things you guys can’t tour without? J: A cell phone. C: Yes, a cell phone. Clothing; I usually like to be clothed. J: It’s true. C: Instruments. I also like to play an instrument. So those would be the three main things. J: You need someone to drive you around from place to place, we need our van. C: Yeah, we could walk, but the routing would be ridiculous, and shows would be expensive. J: (laughing) So it’s a good thing we have a van. V: Recently the industry has been shifting to digital releases, rather than physical. How does that affect you, do you guys support this, or would you prefer physical copies? C: Even if I was against it, it wouldn’t matter. It’s going to happen. If people want to go and buy music online, or steal it online, there’s nothing I can do about it. We just need to make people want to hear our music. I would like for you to buy our music, that would be great, but if you’re listening to it, I’m happy. But I do l like the feeling of the physical CD. I’m just saying, you guys are missing out. J: If any of you out there reading this have Limp Bizkit’s Significant Other, smell it. It’s like a drug. C: Do what you want to do, but you’re missing out real hard on physical copies. J: Defend compact-discs! C: Defend it, keep it alive! V: What’s the most embarrassing song you have on your iPod right now? C: Our own music. J: I have Carly Rae Jepsen. C: That’s not that embarrassing. J: I could probably go through it and find something real messed up! But I won’t. V: If you could write a song with any other artist, who would it be? C: I want to write a song with a clone of ourselves. J: That would be awesome. C: So we could just argue.. with ourselves. I want to know what my clone likes. J: Clone me! V: Any final words? J: You can find all our info at wearetheincrowd.com. We love all of you and if you haven’t seen us in a while, come out in the fall! We’ll be out with Yellowcard and The Wonder Years. C: Keep buying physical cd’s, or don’t. Whatever you want to do, we love you. Keep up to date with We Are The In Crowd:

FACEBOOK.COM/WEARETHEINCROWD TWITTER.COM/WEARETHEINCROWD 28 29

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