MAG
VENTURE
SUMMER ISSUE 2012
FEATURING
THIS CENTURY FUN. REEL BIG FISH & MORE!
VENTURE SUMMER 2012 // ISSUE [[ONE]]
S T A F F FOUNDER | PRESS | EDITOR | WRITER | LAYOUT AND DESIGN
- BEKKA COLLINS
HELLO,
and  welcome  to  Venture’s  first  Summer  issue.  In Â
EDITORS
this  issue  we  have  recommended  our  top  summer Â
-
AMY REBAIR
-
BREANNE GILL
tunes,  featured  some  incredible  artists  who  you Â
WRITERS LAUREN LAVERIA / BRYSON SCHMIDT / MAUREEN GINLEY / AMY REBAIR / BRITANY GIBBS / JEN GRIMBLE / HELEN WHITTLE / CODI TROSPER / KYLE KOTAJARVI / MELISA BAYKENT / JULIA PURCELL
PHOTOGRAPHERS KYLE KOTAJARVI / NICOLE THOMAS / DEVIN DEROSE / STEPH BROWN / BRYSON SCHMIDT
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE?
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR
wont  want  to  miss  out  on  and  interviewed  some  up  and  coming  industry  folk.  From  all  of  us  at  Venture,  have  a  brilliant  Summer,  remember  sunscreen  and  attend  as  many  shows  as  you  can!
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- BEKKA COLLINS
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INSIDE... 3
5
FUN.
7
ALBUM REVIEWS.
PHOTOGRAPHS // MINI FEATURE &
WANT SOME NEW MUSIC OR SOME OPINIONS
A SHOW REVIEW OF ONE OF THE
ON NEW RELEASES? CHECK OUT OUR
BEST UP AND COMING TRIO’S FROM
REVIEWS OF NATHAN K, MOTION CITY
NEW YORK.
SOUNDTRACK, METRIC & MORE!
LABEL HIGHLIGHT.
11+
FEATURES.
AN INSIGHT INTO MANCHESTER BASED
THESE ARTISTS ARE ONES WE’RE KEEPING AN EYE
LAB RECORDS.
ON THIS SUMMER. SEE ARTICLES ON CONDITIONS, YOUNG KATO, IAMEVE AND I CALL FIVES.
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GO RADIO. A MINI FEATURE ON THE SUNSHINE STATE MELODIC ROCKERS GO RADIO,
15+
INTERVIEWS. WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING THE LOVELY THIS CENTURY, AND THE TALENTED
ACCOMPANIED BY SOME SHOW
MATT BURKE.
PHOTOGRAPHY.
PHOTOGRAPHS . . .
Front Page & Page 3// Fun. // Nicole Thomas & Kyle Kotajarvi Page 5 // Futureproof // Ian Collins Page 6 // Go Radio // Devin DeRose Page 11 // I Call Fives// Mitchell Wojcik Page 12 // Conditions // Chris Ebarb Page 13 // Young Kato // Dan Broadley Page 14 // IAMEVE // Jacob Rushing Page 15 & 17 // This Century // Dirk Mai Page 19 & 20 // Matt Burke // Mike Colletta Page 21 & 22 // The Pioneer Tour // Steph Brown Page 27 & 28 // Rend Collective Experiment // Bryson Schmidt Page 29 & 30 // MOD SUN & WATIC // Steph Brown Back Page // Model: Sophie Cash // Photos: Ben Walker 2
FUN. Formation: 2008 Present Label: Fueled By Ramen Currently: Touring Known for: Hit Single “We Are Young”. Based in New York City, Fun. live up to their name. The alternative indie-rock group are nothing short of exquisite live. From the moment Nate Ruess, Jack Antonoff, and Andrew Dost step on stage until the moment they walk off anyone and everyone will be captivated by their performance. The group’s first album, ‘Aim and Ignite’ was released in 2009, and highlights of this release include, “All the Pretty Girls”, “Barlights”, and “The Gambler”. These songs, along with the others on the record, display the bands talent for soft, melodic tunes, as well as their penchant for rocking dance numbers that leave a smile on the face of anyone listening. Fun.’s second record, ‘Some Nights’ includes tracks such as “We Are Young”, “Carry On”, and “Some Nights”. Much like the songs off of their first record, these tracks have the piano backing and upbeat melodies that Fun. are known for. As stated, Fun. is a fun and energetic group. If you’re looking for a good song for any occasion, check ‘em out! Photographs by: Nicole Thomas // Kyle Kotajarvi Words by: Maureen Ginley
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LIVE AT THE MYTH . . .
Show Review by: Kyle Kotajarvi
“Fun” is defined as “enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure,” but it is also the name of the up-and-coming Indie-Rock trio from New York City. It honestly couldn’t be more fitting. Their bubbly, yet intelligent music is an ode to their moniker. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to be in attendance of their sold-out performance at the Myth Night Club in Maplewood. It was incredible to say the least. When I arrived at the venue approximately an hour before doors there were already a couple hundred people lined up. I was on the guest-list for a photo pass, so I was shoveled quickly through the door and after an hour or so of waiting for everyone to get into the venue, the opening act began. Miniature Tigers, an Indie-Pop band from Brooklyn, New York soothed the crowd with their bubbly, but extremely indie melodies. They were embraced accordingly by the crowd of three thousand and something patrons, but it was obvious that everyone in the building was holding their breath for the next band. As was I. Fun. walked on stage to a thunderous applause and inexhaustible screams. Rather than start with a cheesy intro, they hopped right into their first song, “One Foot.” Although not my favorite song off of their new album ‘Some Nights’, it sure got everyone’s blood going. After racing through their next two songs, I made my way to the back of the crowd and I realized the scope of what was happening. The pure euphoria of the night was just radiating off of lead singer Nate Ruess and everyone else in attendance. Ruess belted out his songs with such emotion that it really made me feel the intuition of his lyrics. Not only is he great performer, but also he can sing well live. His band-mates Anthony Dost and Jack Antonoff also performed impressively, playing a very healthy mix of new and old songs. The most breathtaking part of the night occurred before the end of their regular set. After identifying his father in the crowd prior to a song, Ruess broke down in tears on stage and cited the hardships he’s experienced throughout the last 10 years and how he has finally brought himself to this prominence. It really has been a journey for Fun. After all being in unsuccessful bands prior to the formation of Fun. it must have been a relief to be performing to three and half thousand fans and have a number one hit in the charts, “We Are Young.” The transition they’ve made to stardom has been smooth, though. They stuck to their guns and didn’t act jaded at all. Rather, they respected their fans by appearing for two encores, and thanked fans multiple times for supporting them throughout the years. Their performance was inspirational to say the least. They exceeded expectations by performing 14 songs in a more than respectable manner. I certainly enjoyed the show and recommend that you attend a Fun. show if the opportunity presents itself. Look for them to do big things this year, and in the words of Nate Ruess, “I put one foot in front of the other one, I don’t need a new love or a new life, just a better place to die.”
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Label HIGHLIGHT LOCATION: MANCHESTER ESTABLISHED: 2007
LAB Records are a pop-rock record label based in the UK. With over four years of experience under their belt, this still young record label pride themselves on a strong ability to spot and develop young talent.
Dedication to the craft, hard work and nurturing the talent that they work with
allow LAB Records to really influence and support their artists work, which can be shown through the tens of thousands of copies they have sold through their 45 catalogue releases.
A few members of their label include Hellogoodbye, Not Advised and Portia
Conn. Other artists we recommend you check out are below!
Katie Sky
FUTUREPROOF
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GO RADIO Formation: 2007 - Present Label: Fearless Records Currently: Touring Known for: ‘Lucky Street’ Album Tallahassee, FL, is the hometown to the four-piece band that is Go Radio. Made up of Jason Lancaster (Vocals and Guitar), Alex Reed (Guitar), Matt “Burns” Poulous (Bass) and Steven Kopacz (Drums), the quartet have been producing breath-taking music since 2008. Starting with their first selfreleased EP, ‘Welcome to Life’, in 2008, they hit the music industry by storm with their raw talent and heart-felt lyrics alongside powerful melodies. Since then, they’ve went on to produce a second EP, ‘Do Overs and Second Chances’ which was released in 2010 and have just released their ground-breaking album ‘Lucky Street’, through Fearless Records. Touring is an essential part of their life in the band which has lead to such a fast increasing, but also incredibly loyal fan base. With such hard work and the intense passion they have for music it won't be long until they really hit it big.
Photographs by: Devin DeRose Words by: Amy Rebair 6 6
Album Reviews Artist: Metric / Review by: Maureen Ginley Metric’s fifth full-length studio release is not one that disappoints. The eleven songs, while each different and unique, all blend together to give listeners a nice mix of music that shows off the seasoned vets’ range as musicians. The tracks within ‘Synthetica’ are all toe-tapping numbers that could potentially urge you out of your seat to dance around a bit. The use of synthesizers, steady drum beats, and fast-paced guitar riffs on numbers such as “The Void” and “The Wanderlust” are ones to watch for. Metric’s newest release also showcases a rock influenced vibe. “Youth Without Youth” and “Lost Kitten” are two numbers in particular that portray this with steady bass lines and drum beats. ‘Synthetica’ is an album that anyone can listen to. Whether you’re looking for a record to get you pumped for the day ahead, or an album to relax to after a long shift at work, Metric’s newest release is the one for you.
Artist: Motion City Soundtrack / Review by: Helen Whittle As the album entitles, ‘Go’ is loaded with upbeat, momentous and care-free tracks that thankfully pursue the band’s unique and favoured sound that punk-pop fans have stuck around to hear. ‘Go’ is a distinct album for the band, focusing on more enigmatic themes with melodic and sometimes sombre tracks that creates a deeper and more thought-provoking venture. The first single, “True Romance” is a prime example of why Motion City Soundtrack will never stop increasing in popularity. This song is on the verge of easy listening with simple synth melodies and guitar riffs intertwined with repeated vocals. Although sparse in terms of depth and musical progression, you cannot deny the brilliance of Motion City Soundtrack’s song-writing abilities. “Son Of A Gun”, on the other hand is far from lacking in musical depth as the verse vocals have an immediate punch and the guitar melody is a delight. “Timelines”, and “Give Up/Give In” also act as hidden gems alongside “Circuits And Wires” which deserve as much acclaim as the songs at the middle of the album. While the majority of songs on ‘Go’ leave Motion fans excited, impacted and proud, some do not. “Boxelder” and “The Coma Kid” seem to lack the impact needed to really capture an audience. However, devoted fans of the previous Motion City Soundtrack eras will love these songs. Even though they do not present a new depth to the band, they still provide the fans with what they know and love.
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Album Reviews Artist: The Tallest Man on Earth / Review by: Bryson Schmidt Kristian Matsson of The Tallest Man on Earth softly serenades us through what sounds like a tin can, appealing to a less often acknowledged, softer, and more sophisticated side of our musical desires. He is without a doubt a leader among the folk bands that embody such a style, and his most recent release, ‘There’s No Leaving Now’ is impressive. It is warm, enchanting, and effortlessly mysterious. An interesting, and instantly perceivable thing about this album, is that most of the songs lack a sort of definition that we see in most modern music. Almost as if each track was sent through one condensing reverb-ish filter, giving the album as a whole some sort of sylvan resonance. But even so, the songs have as many creative musical layers as anyone would hope. The smooth picking, the piano playing, and the open bright guitar tones are translated perfectly, even through the echoey filter. In comparison to past albums, ‘There’s No Leaving Now’ hasn’t changed much style-wise, but it is an improvement if I’ve ever heard one. The already captivating characteristics of The Tallest Man on Earth’s music have been polished and refined to an incredible extent. The album is a masterpiece to say the least. Most songs on the album could successfully stand alone as a single, but such perfection doesn’t hinder the flow of the album in any way at all.
Artist: Canterbury/ Review by: Amy Rebair The South of England is home to a four-piece band called Canterbury who began writing songs back in 2005. Their latest release ‘Heavy In The Day’ may just be full of their best sounding songs to date. The album begins with the title track, which incorporates mellow tones and chilled melodies producing a sound that is unique to Canterbury. Picking up the speed in their next song “Something Better”, I couldn’t help question why this band are so underexposed, because their talent is exceptional. Already available prior to the release of the album are songs such as “More Than Know”, “Ready Yet?” and ˜Gloria” which really portray how much their music has developed.“Wrapped in Rainbows” was unexpected, but is still an enjoyable song that managed to climb into my brain for hours on end. My favourites include “Saviour” and ˜Drive Ride Drive”, as both are riff-fueled songs with the potential to show old and new listeners the genuine talent the band possess. These really are a band that never fail to disappoint their fans. 8
‘Heavy In The Day’ easily proves to be one of my favourite releases of 2012. With bags of talent and passion for music, need to hear. I’m convinced that this is only the beginning for Canterbury, they haven’t received a fraction of the recognition they deserve. Watch out for these guys, they’re gonna be huge.
Album Reviews Artist: Nathan K / Review by: Bekka Collins Nathan K’s experimental techniques earn him bonus points regarding his latest release, ‘Dishes’. Filled with mellow tracks, Nathan’s unique vocal chords make this listening experience all the more interesting.
The melodies are simplistic yet comforting. ‘Dishes’ is an extremely personal record, drawing from real life experiences Nathan has had to deal with, including the death of his grandfather, making “Hospital Walls” one of the most emotional, yet heartfelt songs on the album.
Nathan has no trouble turning his lyrics into an active storybook, allowing you to picture and feel almost everything he sings about. Although the album has a somewhat nervous vibe to it, “Phonebooks” and “Leave Them” are tracks that I feel overcome this, standing out from the rest.
Despite being a little repetitive in parts, this album has great potential and is incredibly relatable.
Artist: The Mynabirds / Review by: Melisa Baykent The Mynabirds’ album, ‘Generals’, released on June 5th is their sophomore album which is full of smooth tunes mixed with aggressive beats. Taking a turn from their first album (‘What We Lose In the Fire We Gain In The Flood’) their sophomore album is filled more with powerful beats but still contains the same strong vocals that Laura Burhenn holds. ‘Generals’ contains songs that have a mysterious and haunting vibe, which make you want more. The opening song, “Karma Debt”, starts off with Laura’s soothing voice and a soft beat in the background, allowing Laura’s voice to be the main focus. “Radiator Sister” contains the rough recording like sound mixed with the glam rock found in the early 70s. “Body of Work” and ‘Disarm’ are different from the rest of the album and contain a tribal/tropical sound. ‘Generals’ is a great summer album and will give you the effect that you are in a tropical forest or somewhere far away. 9
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I CALL FIVES
Words by: Jen Grimble Proving that Pop Punk is definitely not dead, say hello to I Call Fives straight out of New Jersey. Since forming in 2006 the band have established themselves as touring machines, playing constantly across the USA. The release of their 2010 E.P ‘Bad Advice’ was the bands breakthrough and offered listeners catchy choruses and feel-good beats. However, since they signed to Pure Noise Records last December, the band have had an eagerness to write their next album, especially with help from top producer Paul Leavitt, of All Time Low fame, on their team. Their latest offering ‘Someone That’s Not You,’ released last March, is a 4 song E.P of loud, energy-filled tracks that kick you right in the face and force you to pay attention. The E.P is fun and contagiously memorable, bordering on annoyingly so. Listen, and the band will have their highly infectious tunes dancing in your head for hours. 11
This summer on 10th July, I Call Fives will be releasing their first full-length album on Pure Noise Records, a big step for the band. With no agenda and no gimmicks, this album is sure to provide us with some good oldfashioned Pop Punk. I Call Fives will be bringing back some of the originality to this often over-crowded genre. Building themselves up with a reputation of being the next big thing, this 5 piece are leading the next generation of energy fueled Pop Punk. Hitting us between the eyes in a similar way that Sum 41’s ‘All Killer No Filler’ did back in 2001, their up and coming L.P is definitely worth looking out for. So put down your morning coffee, because I Call Fives are the only daily stimulant you will need from now on. For more information, visit the bands website at www.icallfives.com
Since 2006, a distinctive sound of rock constructed by five young men has been coming out of Richmond, Virginia. With a strong list of influences such as Jimmy Eat World, Brand New, Muse, and more, you know Conditions have had nothing but good inspiration to rely on. With quite the resume backing this lively group, it’s certain they aren’t calling it quits any time soon. So what or who are the minds and souls behind Conditions? Brandon Roundtree takes care of main vocals, receiving occasional support on backup from Jason Marshall and Alex Howard, who both also handle the work of guitar and Corey Thomas brings the low-tone of the bass. To bring everything together, Ryan Tinsley sits behind the drums creating the foundation for every track. Besides trying to make a name for themselves, what does every band dream of doing? Touring, of course! Conditions are road warriors and no stranger to going across the country. Supporting some legit tours such as the Alternative Press 2011 Spring Tour and Destroy Rebuild Until God shows the band are prepped and ready to play. Earlier this year they also headed across the world to Australia to play Soundwave and immediately after flying home from that, they jumped on the Sleeping With Sirens 2012 headlining tour as well. They are many things, but quitters are not one of them. Their fans hold strong to the heart-felt lyrics and have proved their support by purchasing over 4,000 songs off of the EP ‘You Are Forgotten’ within the first month of its release. The band have since released their full-length ‘Fluorescent Youth’, through Good Fight Music, which includes eleven tracks that will make your ears love you. Recently, they released the music video for “When It Won’t Save You” and wrapped up a run on the Zumiez Couch Tour. It’s safe to say we can be expect some exciting things from Conditions in the future!
WORDS BY: BRITANY GIBBS
Facebook // Twitter //
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“When It Won’t Save You” Video
YOUNG KATO
Young Kato are a six-piece
supported pop artist Olly
big pop chords." Not only
Alternative Pop band based
Murs in Bristol and this
have they joined to a record
in the UK. The band formed
gained them more
label within a year of
in 2011, under 'The Dirty
popularity and awareness. In
forming, the band have
Tricks' and came runner's
April 2012, the band singed
received critical acclaim as
up in the Live and Unsigned
to LAB Records and
well as appraisal from the
competition held at London
announced that their
likes of Gary Powell (the
O2 arena.
first EP 'Young Kato' will be
drummer of the Libertines),
released 27th July 2012.
Tom Deacon (comedian/
After legal issues with a
On 2nd June, the band also
broadcaster) and Annie
band of the same name, the
played alongside Pixie Lott
Nightingale (of BBC Radio
band adopted their new
in Bristol.
1).
band stated: "[we]feel this
With influences including
Head to http://
name change also coincides
The Vaccines, Friendly Fires
youngkato.bandcamp.com/
with the new direction our
and Bombay Bicycle Club,
for a free download of
sound is taking as we are
frontman Tommy Wright
Young Kato's new single
making music a lot different
stated: "We are pop, and
'Lights', and make sure you
to when [The Dirty Tricks]
we're not afraid to say
check them out on iTunes.
was first formed".
that” - "People describe us
facebook.com/
as having an Eighties'
weareyoungkato
In November 2011, newly-
influence, with our synth
twitter.com/youngkato
named Young Kato
and guitar combination with
name 'Young Kato'. The
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IAMEVE
Tiff Randol is the mastermind behind the musical project that is IAMEVE, and has just released a 12-track concept album entitled ‘The Everything Nothing’ which explores the journey of Eve Ami from selfdestruction to self-love. Each month a new track from the album is released, alongside a portrait series that accompanies each song illustrating her journey.
Constantly traveling between LA and NYC, Tiff expressed that when writing these songs for her record, they felt like they weren’t her own. This then led to the creation of IAMEVE, a name that came to her in a dream.
“Throw Me A Line”, “Another Day”, “Self Sabotage” and most recently, “When I Was Young” are the four tracks that have been currently been released. You can listen to these at iamevemusic.com and can expect the release of “Temptress” in August 2012.
With tour dates and shows to be confirmed, it’s certain that IAMEVE is definitely one to watch this summer.
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Words by: Bekka Collins
THIS CENTURY
Pop-rock quartet THIS CENTURY from Phoenix, Arizona have been working extremely hard on their upcoming album. Lead singer Joel Kanitz took some time out of the bands busy schedule to answer some questions for us. V: Hello! Would you mind starting off by introducing yourselves and your role in the band? JK: I (Joel) sing, Sean plays guitar, Alex plays bass/keys and Ryan plays drums.
V: So you guys formed back in 2007, how did the idea of starting a band come about? JK: Sean and Ryan were doing different bands for some time and eventually decided to do their own thing. That's when they recruited Sean's brother Alex to play bass and Alex then recruited me after I transferred to his high school. Â V: I always find band names that are infused with the concept of time interesting. Is there a
story or reason behind the name 'This Century'? JK: There is a story, but it's probably not as interesting as one might hope. About a year into making music, we decided to change the band name but struggled to come up with one. At some point, Sean said that we'd be "lucky to find a band name some time this century". This Century stuck with us for whatever reason and we eventually decided to make that the official name. Â
Interview by: Bekka Collins Thanks to @TeamCenturyUK for submitting
Photographs: Dirk Mai
fan questions!
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V: You're in the process of working on your new album, can you tell us a bit about what your writing and recording process is usually like? JK: Usually a song will start off with either a melody or guitar riff that we think is catchy enough to pursue further. Lately, Sean and I will work together to get the melody and lyrics of the song written and then Alex and Ryan will help to bring in the percussive elements and add finishing touches. Everyone has their area of expertise and over the years we've fine tuned our songwriting system. It wouldn't feel like a This Century song if any one member wasn't a part of that process. From there we usually demo the song and wait until we can get into the studio to record it. V: You have just released your brand new single "Bleach Blonde", why did you choose to release this as the first single and how have your fans reacted to it? JK: We felt "Bleach Blonde" was a refreshing transition from our prior releases and it also seemed to be the one that everyone was getting stuck in their heads. It's worked out to be a nice summer anthem and the fans seem to dig it. V: How do you feel your debut release 'Sound of Fire' differs to the sound of your new album?
JK: ‘Sound of Fire’ was an album that was written and released under the influence of a major record label. While the album is still true to who we were at the time, there were a lot of compromises that we had to make. I also think we were trying to figure out exactly who we were going into that first record. With this new album, we've had the freedom to write and record whatever we want and it's been exhilarating. We feel like the songwriting has gotten stronger and that the album overall has a bigger sound. V: Is there a certain message that you hope to convey throughout the new album? JK: There is but I'll have to wait to talk about that. The message is made clear in the album title and I don't want to spoil it. V: Who would you identify as your inspirational artists? JK: This is always a hard question. As a band, we find inspiration in any music that we're regularly listening to. There's just way too much that we listen to for me to narrow it down. Personally, I look up to Brandon Boyd (Incubus) and Brandon Flowers (The Killers) because both are phenomenal frontmen. V: What has been your favourite tour memory so far?
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JK: Probably the show that we just played in Manila, Philippines. It was held in a coliseum and the fans were incredibly enthusiastic and appreciative. It was just one the those shows you won't ever forget. V: What do you think the best and worst things are about touring? JK: The best thing is definitely getting to meet and become friends with amazing people all around the world. The downside is that you're away from home so any relationship with family, etc. is harder. V: For someone that hasn't seen you perform before, what three things could they expect from a show? JK: They can expect to sing a lot, sweat a lot and get the best performance we can give them. FAN QUESTIONS
We asked some This Century fans what did they most want to know and they asked: What can we expect from the new album, are there any surprises? JK: You can expect a sound quite a bit different from our last album. We all agree it's a much bigger sound. Do you have plans to do a Europe/ UK tour within the next year?
JK: As of now, no plans are set in stone, but know that we are working very hard to make that happen! Who in the band would make the most convincing woman? JK: Probably me because of the long hair. Â If you were stranded on an island, which 3 albums would you have with you? JK: "A Beautiful Exchange" by Hillsong Live, "Continuum" by John Mayer and "Bleed American" by Jimmy Eat World. What do you have planned for the rest of 2012? JK: We're aiming to do more national/ international touring and hopefully get a new record out! Â And finally, is there anything else you would like so say? JK: We always want to say thank you to our fans, we can never tell them enough how much we appreciate them. Expect big things!
facebook // twitter 17
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AN INTERVIEW WITH:
matt burke Matt Burke is an entertainment photographer based
BY: codi Trosper
in Atlanta, Georgia. Matt has worked with the likes of Blink 182, Radiohead, Trivium and several other impressive artists.
Matt was kind enough to answer these questions to help give aspiring photographers a better idea into the industry.
CT: What’s your name, age, and where are you from? MB: My name is Matt Burke, I am 28 and I am from all over the place. At the time of this being printed I have absolutely no idea where I will be. CT: How did you get started taking pictures and what made you decide that you wanted to do this for a living? MB: I was taken out on tour when I was 19 and I wanted to document everything, so I used to pick up disposable cameras and take pictures of everything. As time went on I got more legit cameras and continued to make friends with different bands. Whenever friends would come through town they would set me up with a photo pass and I got addicted. I decided I wanted to do it for a living when it started to consume all of my time and I felt like taking a huge risk. CT: What was the first tour you embarked on as a photographer and how did that come about? MB: The first tour I have been on SOLELY as the photographer was the Lucky Street Tour with Go Radio. I have known those guys forever now and we have always talked about me going on the road with them, but nothing ever worked out. After seeing them at the Atlanta date of Lucky Street I talked to each of the guys and told them they needed a photographer on the road with them to document everything. Luckily for me, they agreed and took me out for the last month of the tour.
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CT: What types of camera and equipment do you use when partaking in a shoot? MB: I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II with a 50mm 1.4, and a 24-70mm 2.8 lens. When I shoot shows I only have the house lights to rely on since I do not have a speedlite. When I have photoshoots I use Alien Bee lighting and modifiers. CT: What did you expect when you first started out, and did it meet your expectations? MB: I honestly had no idea what to expect when I jumped into this world full time. I knew that there would be struggles and I knew that I would sacrifice a lot to make this life a reality, but it’s been worth it all, absolutely.
CT: What do you think are some misconceptions about being on the road as a photographer? MB: I think the main misconception is that tour is just a huge party. Regardless of position on a tour, you’re ALWAYS working on something for the tour. It was unreal the amount of hours we would be working compared to our minutes of downtime.
CT: What shoot or tour has been your favorite thus far? What made it so special? MB: Last September I had the last minute opportunity to shoot Blink 182 when they were on the Honda Civic Tour. It was so last minute that I didn’t even have a pass, so I was escorted to the photo pit by one of Mark Hoppus’ personal security guards. While shooting the set, Mark walked over to where I was and posed for a few photos and waited for me to give him the ‘I got what I needed!’ thumbs up and he nodded at me and walked off. Those photos were what made me shoot exclusively music and were also a huge personal accomplishment. CT: Do you have any fellow photographers or inspirational people you look up to when it comes to photography? MB: Adam Elmakias (www.adamelmakias.com) has been an absolutely huge inspiration. He is an absolutely ridiculous photographer and just an all around good dude. I have learned more from him in these last few years than I
have in all of my years of holding a camera. Another person would be Mike Colletta. (www.mikecollettaimages.co m)He’s a great friend of mine from Atlanta and an incredible photographer. I definitely hope to work with both of them again in the near future. CT: Who haven’t you photographed yet but would really like to? MB: The Bouncing Souls. They were the first show I went to when I was 11 years old, I have a mash up of their logos tattooed on my neck, and they are the reason I am who I am. I would also love to do a portrait session with Travis Barker. CT: What has been your proudest moment in your photography career so far? MB: When I got a phone call from Esquire Magazine asking to buy a photo I had taken of Radiohead. That was a mind blowing moment, to say the very least. CT: What advice would you give to kids trying to get into this business and would you encourage them to do so? MB: If you want to be an artist, make sure you are in it for the right reasons. The odds of fame and fortune are long gone, so if that’s what you’re looking for you’d be better washing windshields with a newspaper. Be prepared to eat nothing, sleep never, and scream often. It will be the best time of your life. 20 19
CT: Do you think you’re going to continue your career is photography for years to come? MB: I definitely hope so! I wake up every morning excited to work... not many people can say that, so I’m going to make the absolute most of this as I can. CT: Any last words? MB: Live for what you love and never change for anyone. We're all here for a reason, find yours and live it.
TWITTER TUMBLR WEBSITE
THE PIONEER TOUR
Photographs by Steph Brown
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SUMMER PLAYLIST BY
LAUREN LAVERIA
A LIST OF THE TOP 20 SONGS THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR SUMMER PLAYLIST.
11 Karmin- Brokenhearted
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Demi Lovato - Give Your Heart
Alex Clare - Too Close
A Break
Nicki Minaj - Starships
Pitbull - Back In Time
Hey Ocean! - New Dance
Ellie Goulding - Lights
5 Usher - Scream
Marinas Trench - Desperate
Fun. ft. Janelle Monae - We Are Young Maroon 5 - Payphone
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Ten Second Epic - North Star Hedley - Kiss You Inside Out
The Front Bottoms - Flaslight
Faber Drive - Do It In Hollywood
Kimbra - Open Up Your Heart
Down With Webster - Jessica
Gotye ft. Kimbra - Somebody That
10
Measures
I Used To Know
The Wanted - Chasing The Sun
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With Summer finally here it’s time for some fun in the sun, total relaxation and of course time to spend with your friends.No summer, however, is complete without the magic of music. We hope you enjoy this summer playlist as much as we do!
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EMILY CHESTER
PHOTOGRAPHY
EmilyChesterPhotography.bigcartel.com
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SHOW REVIEW: Reel Big Fish
BY:JULIA PURCELL Ska shows are truly a unique breed of
The Beautiful Bodies had some sound issues,
concert. This much was evident upon
the stage presence of frontwoman Alicia
arriving at the Starland Ballroom in
Solombrino was infectious. Suburban
Sayreville, New Jersey, for the Summer of
Legends’ set featured a cover of “Under the
Ska Tour featuring The Beautiful Bodies,
Sea” from The Little Mermaid. Big D’s set
Suburban Legends, Big D and the Kids Table,
had a cameo from David McWane’s girlfriend,
Goldfinger, and Reel Big Fish .
Brianne Finn, who absolutely killed it on vocals. Goldfinger’s set was probably the
The ages of people standing in line ranged
craziest of the night. It was lead singer John
from 10 to 50+. Ska shows seem to warrant
Feldmann’s birthday and the 16th
the most bizarre costumes and hats you
anniversary of he and his wife’s meeting at
could find in the back of your closet. By the
the Stone Pony, another local Jersey venue.
end of the night, I had seen a gorilla suit, a
His wife, Amy, made two appearances during
banana suit, a spiderman morph suit, a
their set: first, she stage dived; the second
sombrero, and probably 50 fedoras.
time, she came bearing a cake and a
However, I wouldn’t have expected anything
stripper. She may go down as the coolest
different. The overall vibe of the show was
wife in history of mankind. Goldfinger’s set
just that of one giant party. At most other
also included a wall of death, silly string, and
shows, the pushing and moshing is
guest vocals from Alicia Solombrino.
centralized to the pit. In contrast, at a ska show, the whole crowd erupts into a huge pit. Everyone had a smile on their face and the aim of it was to just have fun, not to
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Reel Big Fish never fail to put on a fantastic show. The horn players, fondly known as Saxel Rose, Johnny Christmas, and Dan Regan, are some of the most entertaining musicians I have ever had the pleasure to see live. Reel Big Fish played all their hits, including “Beer, Sell Out”, “Thanks for Not Moshing”, and “Take On Me” among many others. To my dismay, they did not play She has a Girlfriend Now, but the set was still great and the crowd loved it.
You were hard-pressed to find someone not enjoying themselves at Summer of Ska. Even the security guards were singing and clapping along, which is something I have never seen at Starland. Everyone was ska dancing, or skanking, and having a good time. The bands were extremely entertaining, even if you didn’t know many of their songs. The show, as a whole, was just good, sweaty fun.
NEW
ALBUM
OUT
JULY
31ST
2012
Rend Collective Experiment
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By
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Bryson Schmidt
WARPED TOUR 2012
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEPH BROWN 30
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